Newcastle United’s hunt for a striker is still ongoing, and Alexander Isak’s future has still not been resolved. Of course, the Magpies played against Liverpool on Monday night, the club that their striker wants to sign for this summer, and after the game, Fabrizio Romano confirmed on X that the Sweden international still wants his move to Anfield.

Regardless of what happens to Isak in the final few days of the summer window, Eddie Howe’s side are still in the market for a centre-forward. Callum Wilson departed the club at the end of his contract, and with Isak’s situation ongoing, William Osula is the only recognised striker at the club.

With days left in the window, the situation will need to come to a head soon.

Newcastle’s hunt for a striker

One of the names that has consistently cropped up concerning the Magpies’ hunt for a new centre-forward is Brentford star Yoane Wissa. However, they have already seen two bids rejected for the DR Congo international.

Transfer Focus

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

Now, it seems like the North East side could turn their attention to Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen. According to a report from the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, the Norwegian star was subject to a bid from Howe’s side. It was said to be worth £55m, but that was rejected by the higher-ups at Molineux.

However, that is not going to stop Newcastle in their pursuit of Strand Larsen. Hope revealed that they are “weighing up” another bid for the striker, who is said to be “keen” on switching to St James’ Park.

As for the price, Wolves could demand as much as £70m, according to a recent report.

Why Strand Larsen would be a good signing

Should Newcastle pull off a deal for Strand Larsen, they would be signing a striker who is already used to the pace and physicality of the Premier League. Last season, Magpies legend Alan Shearer described him as a “superb” striker on Match of the Day, and he certainly knows what he is talking about.

Indeed, the 25-year-old impressed during his first-ever season in the Premier League. He played 35 games in the top flight, finding the back of the net on 14 occasions and assisting four goals, too.

The 2025/26 season has already started off well for Strand Larsen, too. The former Celta Vigo striker bagged two goals in Wolves’ Carabao Cup second-round win over West Ham United, showing excellent instinct in the penalty box for each strike.

There is certainly a case to be made that bringing the Norwegian star to St James’ Park would be an even better addition than that of Wissa.

That is despite the obvious progression shown by the Brentford striker, who has impressed for the Bees over the past couple of seasons.

The DR Congo star bagged 19 goals last term for Thomas Frank’s side, the second time he has hit double figures in the Premier League after scoring 12 the previous season, although that was less than Strand Larsen’s 13 for Celta Vigo in the 2023/24 La Liga season.

An article from BBC Sport highlights one area in which Strand Larsen is better than Wissa, and in fact, most other strikers in the Premier League. As of March last year, his 69% shot accuracy was the most accurate in the top flight, making him one of the most efficient strikers.

The underlying stats from the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons also make for interesting reading. For example, in that time, Strand Larsen averaged 1.12 shots on target per 90 minutes, compared to Wissa’s tally of 1.08 shots on target each game.

Goals

0.45

0.52

Shots on target

1.12

1.08

Goals per shot

0.2

0.2

Shot on target %

50%

41.4%

Aerial duels won

2.31

1.13

It is easy to see why Strand Larsen could be considered an upgrade on Wissa. Not only is he a more accurate and efficient striker, but he has the goals to back it up in the Premier League, doubling Wissa’s tally from his first season of top-flight English football.

£70m is a huge investment for Newcastle, but one they need to make this summer to add to their striking options.

Gordon upgrade: Al-Rumayyan in talks to sign £65m "nuisance" for Newcastle

Newcastle are approaching crunch time in their drawn-out bid to sign a striker this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 26, 2025

Whilst they have since secured several reinforcements, Leeds United reportedly made an approach to sign an attacking addition who has scored in the Europa League earlier this summer.

Farke: Leeds not "ready for Premier League level"

Like Sunderland, Leeds have returned to the Premier League with plenty of intent. The Whites instantly turned towards the transfer window this summer, welcoming the likes of Sean Longstaff, Jaka Bijol, Lucas Perri and four others in an attempt to build a side ready to avoid instant relegation.

That task will be easier said than done, however, and Daniel Farke has already admitted that his frontline is still short on Premier League quality following a friendly draw against Villarreal.

When it comes to attacking additions, it’s been a frustrating summer for those at Elland Road thus far. The likes of Beto and Rodrigo Muniz have threatened to steal the headlines, but deals for the two impressive forwards are unlikely at this stage. Meanwhile, Leeds and the 49ers also made an early approach to sign a former Premier League winger.

Leeds approached Moussa Djenepo

As reported by Africa Foot, Leeds approached Moussa Djenepo earlier this summer as they looked to swoop in and sign the Standard Liege winger, who earns around £18,000-a-week.

Ultimately, however, that approach proved unsuccessful and the former Southampton man remained a Standard Liege player. Whether that changes as the Whites become more desperate to bolster their attack will be interesting to see, but it’s then that they’ll potentially have to compete against clubs in Saudi Arabia and Iran for Djenepo’s signature.

Djenepo would certainly tick the box for Premier League experience, having previously enjoyed a four-year spell at Southampton and has even impressed on the Europa League stage with Standard Liege in the past – scoring three goals in five games.

Leeds now offered chance to sign "sensation" who has scored 38 PL goals

The Whites could finally add to their striking department.

BySean Markus Clifford Aug 5, 2025

As things stand, however, the 27-year-old is seemingly set to go down as a missed target at Elland Road, as Farke and the 49ers aim to transform Leeds’ attack into one of Premier League quality.

This summer has been one to remember for Chelsea.

On the pitch, Enzo Maresca’s side have looked sharp, making their way to the Club World Cup final with ease and then dispatching Paris Saint-Germain in the showpiece event without so much as breaking a sweat.

On top of that, the West Londoners have been active and purposeful in the transfer market, bringing in young, exciting additions to the team, like Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and most recently Jorrel Hato.

The young Dutchman could end up being an excellent addition to the Blues’ squad, although if reports are anything to go by, the club could be closing in on another talent who might end up being an even better signing.

Chelsea target better signing than Hato

Chelsea have been linked with Hato for some time now, with some reports touting the Dutchman for a move to Stamford Bridge as far back as the winter window.

Transfer Focus

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

However, it was over the last couple of weeks that the Conference League champions really stepped up their interest in the young defender, and, ahead of rivals like Arsenal, secured his services for a fee of around £37m.

As things stand, this looks like a brilliant bit of business from the West Londoners, but it looks like they are already working on another, potentially better signing this summer.

At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which has reaffirmed Chelsea’s serious interest in Alejandro Garnacho.

The report has revealed that Manchester United are ‘now looking to make around €50-60m’ from the player’s sale, which is between £44m-£53m, and that, as things stand, the Blues have ’emerged as the most serious contender’ for his services.

It would be a lot of money to invest in a player the Red Devils are seemingly intent on selling, but there is serious potential in Garnacho, and there is every chance that he could end up being a better signing than Garnacho this summer.

Why Garnacho would be a better signing than Hato

Okay, so we have to first say that we do really believe that Hato is a brilliant signing for Chelsea, and that he could develop into a massively important defender for them in the coming years.

However, goals win games, exciting players get fans on their feet, and, for our money, Garnacho has the potential to be an even better signing for the club, at least this season anyway.

One of the main reasons the Argentine could be even more important than the Dutchman is that, somewhat surprisingly, it does feel like the West Londoners could do with some reinforcements off the left and in central areas.

For example, after Cole Palmer, Maresca isn’t blessed with an abundance of exciting back-up options to fill in as the ten, and with Noni Madueke gone, and Tyrique George reportedly keen to leave, new signing Jaime Gittens could do with some more competition and back-up on the left flank.

However, away from purely plugging gaps when and where they arise, the Madrid-born attacker could be a great signing because he is a supremely talented player and someone who, with the right coaching and in the right environment, could develop into something quite special.

Garnacho in 24/25
Appearances	58
Minutes	3568′
Goals	11
Assists	10
Goal Involvements per Match	0.36
Minutes per Goal Involvements	169.90′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, despite starting last season as a 20-year-old and playing in a historically poor United side, the “full-back’s nightmare,” as dubbed by former Manchester United winger Febian Brandy, scored 11 goals and provided ten assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3,568 minutes.

In other words, the young dynamo was able to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 2.76 games, or more impressively, every 169.90 minutes for a team that looked unable to buy a win for large swathes of the campaign.

Moreover, he is capable of the extraordinary at times, as you only have to look at his 2024 Puskas Award-winning goal against Everton, in which he pulled off one of the best bicycle kicks we’ve ever seen.

Ultimately, there is an element of risk in signing a player who’d fallen out with his coach so publicly, but Garnacho has the raw ability to develop into a superstar, and given Chelsea’s attacking needs, we reckon he could end up being a better signing than Hato this summer.

How many more signings will West Ham United get through the door before their Premier League opener against Sunderland?

So far, the Hammers have brought in Callum Wilson on a free transfer from Newcastle United, while full-backs El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters have also arrived.

Meantime, they also appear set to bolster their goalkeeping options, having reportedly agreed a £9m deal to sign Botafogo shot-stopper John Victor.

Now though, the Irons have their sights set on a midfielder, one who would belatedly replace Declan Rice, two years on from his departure for Arsenal.

West Ham United targeting a new midfielder

Fair to say, neither Graham Potter, nor his predecessor Julen Lopetegui, settled on a reliable, first-choice midfield combination last season, as the table below illustrates.

Tomáš Souček

35

30

2,567

Lucas Paquetá

35

27

2,380

Edson Álvarez

28

20

1,772

Carlos Soler

31

14

1,409

Guido Rodríguez

23

16

1,149

James Ward-Prowse

15

12

1,039

Andy Irving

10

1

166

As the table documents, aside from Tomáš Souček and wantaway Lucas Paquetá, none of West Ham’s midfielders were ever able to establish themselves as nailed-on starters, with both managers in charge chopping and changing their options.

As they seek to bolster that area of the pitch, Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider is reporting that West Ham have made a formal move to sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus on loan, amid interest from Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.

The Brazilian only moved to Turin from Aston Villa, for a reported fee of £42.3m as recently as last summer, but O’Rourke notes that la Vecchia Signora are eager to move him on following, as former-Juve player Alessio Tacchinardi puts it, a “disaster” of a campaign.

Transfer Focus

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

Luiz featured in only 17% of I Bianconeri’s minutes across all competitions last season, not winning over either Thiago Motta or current manager Igor Tudor, hence why O’Rourke asserts that it is ‘inevitable’ he will return to the Premier League, so could this be in East London?

How Douglas Luiz would improve West Ham

While Luiz did endure a nightmare campaign in Italy, it’s worth remembering that the reason Juventus spent big to sign him in the first place is because he was amongst the Premier League’s best midfielders during his last couple of seasons at Aston Villa.

Statman Dave heralded his “exceptional performances”, while his then-manager Unai Emery stated that he was “progressing a lot as a midfielder… adding goals and… being demanding”.

Meantime, Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines praises his ‘duel-winning capacity’ and ‘press resistance’ in possession, describing these as his greatest strengths, concluding that he would be a ‘valuable addition’ to any Premier League squad.

Adam Bate of Sky Sports agrees, noting that Luiz added goals to his game, starting to ‘showcase his creative qualities​​​​​​​’ during his final campaign in the Midlands, ‘often operating in more advanced areas’ and flourishing when utilised with a more solid midfield base behind him, namely provided by Boubacar Kamara.

This is similar to the transformation undergone by Rice following his move to Arsenal; Mikel Arteta thought he was buying the best number six in the Premier League but, as outlined by Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian, he thrives as a number eight, set to be given even more attacking license this forthcoming campaign, following Martín Zubimendi’s arrival in North London.

Over in the east side of the capital, Luiz could do something similar because, if there’s one thing West Ham do boast, it is an array of defensively astute midfielders, namely Souček, Guido Rodríguez, Edson Álvarez and others.

So, let’s put that hypothesis to the test by comparing where these midfielders take their touches.

Douglas Luiz

2,373

22%

53%

25%

Lucas Paquetá

1,810

20%

55%

25%

Tomáš Souček

1,284

28%

49%

23%

Edson Álvarez

1,248

29%

55%

16%

James Ward-Prowse

851

21%

60%

19%

Guido Rodríguez

710

31%

60%

9%

As the table notes, when compared to the vast majority West Ham’s midfielders last season, Luiz took an exponentially higher proportion of his touches during his most recent Premier League season, in the final third, with only Paquetá’s figures comparable, and he will purportedly be on the move this month.

Álvarez, Rodríguez and James Ward-Prowse in particular do the vast majority of their work in the defensive or middle third of the pitch, which could be exactly what Luiz needs to thrive in a more attacking role.

Thus, all the available evidence suggests a move to the London Stadium could be the perfect fit for Luiz, where he could become the talismanic midfielder Hammers everywhere have been craving, ever since Rice waved goodbye.

Better deal than Wilson: West Ham reach verbal agreement for £9m "warrior"

After securing the signing of Callum Wilson on a free, West Ham might have a better deal on the cards…

Aug 5, 2025

Both players were due to be released from hospital in Perth on Saturday afternoon

Tristan Lavalette and Andrew McGlashan03-Jan-2025Cameron Bancroft is set to be ruled out of the remainder of the BBL with a broken nose and fractured shoulder while Daniel Sams faces at least 12 days out of action under concussion protocols following the scary on-field collision at Optus Stadium on Friday night.Both players were due to be released from hospital on Saturday afternoon following the results of CT scans which have not shown further significant injuries. They will remain in Perth, supported by members of Thunder’s backroom staff, while the rest of the squad travels to Brisbane.Being from Western Australia, Bancroft has family in Perth while Thunder have flown Sams’ wife across to be with him while he recovers. A decision on when Sams returns to Sydney will be made based on medical advice. There is a chance he does not feature again in the tournament.”Largely, the players are in good spirits,” Thunder general manager Trent Copeland told reporters at the SCG. “In the last hour, we’ve had confirmation that CT scans have come back largely pretty clear.”Cameron is with family in Perth, he had family with him at the hospital along with team staff. The likelihood is that he’s going to be out for the remainder of the BBL. Dan Sams doesn’t have that luxury, away from home, so we’ve flown his wife Dani over there today and we’ve had some team staff not go on the team flight to Brisbane for the Heat match tomorrow night. It’s a monitoring process from here. Hopefully through the next couple of days, we get some good news.”Ollie Davies and Hugh Weibgen were brought into the Thunder side as concussion substitutes with Weibgen going on to hit a crucial six in what became a final-ball victory. Davies was in the team hotel at the time of the accident with a virus and quickly made his way to the ground.”Sydney Thunder would like to thank medical and other staff on hand following the accident, including those from the Scorchers, Cricket Australia and our own staff,” a club statement added. “Cameron and Daniel have received the best care possible and we will support them and their families as they recover from their injuries.”The incident happen in the 16th over of Scorchers’ innings, when Cooper Connolly hit Lockie Ferguson aerially on the leg side. Sams sprinted from the infield with eyes on the ball. At the same time, Bancroft also ran in at full speed from the outfield. They crashed into each other, knocking their heads.The Thunder players quickly ran to the pair, who lay motionless on the ground, and frantically gestured for medical support, which came immediately.Sams was stretchered off in a mini-ambulance, while Bancroft managed to walk off the ground with a physio’s support with blood gushing from his nose.Play was halted for about 20 minutes as Thunder captain David Warner and the team’s coaches were involved in discussions with match officials.”I’m praying that they can come out soon and be back on the park,” said Sherfane Rutherford, who hit a boundary off the last ball to lift Thunder to a four-wicket victory. “I actually saw everything but when I saw the blood, I turned because I’m not a fan of blood. It was pretty tough. It was definitely motivation for us. We had a little chat before we went out to bat and it was just [do it] for them.”The collision took place close to where Hilton Cartwright was stretchered off after suffering a fielding mishap in the BBL season-opener.

Everton felt the excitement as they waved goodbye to Goodison Park and geared up for a new chapter at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, led once again by David Moyes.

But that excitement has been tempered by a frustrating summer transfer window, with the Premier League season now up and running and Everton still in need of a few more faces.

The Toffees were defeated at Leeds United in their season opener, and while the likes of off-the-bench debutants Jack Grealish and Thierno Barry illustrated the start of a new-look Everton, there’s no question that the performance was flat, and that it’s imperative that something is done before the closure of the transfer window.

Everton hunting more signings

Everton’s one-goal defeat at Elland Road left a lot to be desired, and it’s clear that the club need more sparkle going forward.

Grealish will be billed as one of the principal providers in that regard, but the Blues could do with a few more signings to assist the England international.

Though Everton need right-siders and perhaps another forward too, Moyes is considering a move that would bolster his central ranks, and he’s peering over the edge of the Premier League and into the Championship.

Well, according to Football Insider, Everton are now working on a deal for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, though they face stiff competition from Crystal Palace in the race for the 23-year-old.

A move to Ipswich Town has already fallen through for the English talent, with a £20m fee agreed between the clubs, but personal terms proving insurmountable at the negotiating table.

What Hayden Hackney would bring to Everton

Hackney has completed 116 appearances for Middlesbrough since graduating from the club’s youth academy, establishing himself as one of the maestros of England’s second tier.

An all-action player, Hackney is calm and composed when against the ball and sharp and intelligent when in possession, with his natural-born creativity allowing him to influence from the deeper fathoms of the midfield.

Last season, he started 43 times in the Championship, completing 85% of his passes and averaging 1.5 key passes and 6.5 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.

Such vast ground-covering performances would add much to Moyes’ Everton side, and the Boro star might even prove the perfect midfield partner to restore Grealish to his one-time level, having been untouchable during that final year at Aston Villa in 2020/21.

Matches (starts)

26 (24)

Goals

6

Assists

10

Shots (on target)*

1.9 (0.7)

Big chances missed

4

Pass completion

83%

Big chances created

14

Key passes*

3.2

Dribbles*

2.5

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

Total duels (won)*

8.9 (61%)

It was a truly remarkable year from the Three Lions star, one that saw him earn his record-breaking move to Pep Guardiola’s brood. However, Grealish has lost his sparkle over the past few years in Manchester and could rekindle that flame on Merseyside.

Everton aren’t blessed with the same depth of technical quality as Man City, but the Birmingham-born forward should have greater freedom to roam and make things happen, and with Hackney playing in balls from behind, the chances of a fluent system are only increased.

As per data from FBref, Hackney ranked among the top 5% of midfielders in the Championship last season for passes attempted, the top 1% for progressive passes, the top 8% for shot-creating actions and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90.

There’s no question that he bears the range of passing and the athleticism to add a dimension to Everton’s midfield, thus providing the fleet-footed Grealish with a constant supply line from which he can work his magic in and around the penalty area.

Hailed by former Boro boss Michael Carrick for his “immense” performance against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup during the 2023/24 season, Hackney has spent plenty of time developing his skills in the Championship and is surely now ready to take the leap forward into the Premier League.

His long, calculated passing puts him in a different category from Everton’s current midfield crop, and he would be the perfect kind of deep-lying playmaker to restore Grealish’s X-factor and ensure the Toffees make it a successful and exciting season.

Their new Stones: TFG begin talks to sign "special" £26m star for Everton

Everton still hope to make a few signings before the end of the summer transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 18, 2025

On Monday evening, Liverpool left St. James’ Park with all the goods, but Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United strengthened that tight bond with their devoted fanbase and proved once again their tenacity and will to win.

On face value, one point from the opening two fixtures of the Premier League is frustrating viewing for Magpies fans, but, strikerless and disrupted by the Alexander Isak saga that has shaped Newcastle’s summer transfer window, the squad have showcased remarkable togetherness against Aston Villa and the defending champions.

It seems that the next few days will finally shed light on whether Isak will stay or go, with Yasir Al-Rumayyan in town and leading crunch talks to reach a resolution.

In the event that the rebel Sweden striker does get his wish, Newcastle would require not one but two new number nines, and that might be tricky to achieve at the eleventh hour of his breakneck transfer window.

And, of course, the unsavoury situation has been exacerbated by Anthony Gordon’s red card, picked up against Liverpool on Monday night.

Anthony Gordon's night of anguish

Gordon apologised after the match: he apologised to the fans, to the club and to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. His intentions were pure. But even so, the versatile forward is now banned for three Premier League matches: Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bournemouth.

It’s a concern, for Gordon had started Newcastle’s opening fixtures as a stand-in centre-forward, and unless United act with rapidity in the coming days, Saturday’s visit to Elland Road will see William Osula handed his first top-flight start in England.

The 24-year-old Gordon, who won Newcastle’s 2023/24 Player of the Season, struggled to reach the same talismanic heights last year, but he returned to United’s pre-season camp with renewed vim and vigour, and is expected to play a defining role in the term ahead.

However, his passion got the better of him once again, his third red card as a Magpie.

Newcastle need to start getting some points on the board, and to achieve that, they must land themselves an out-and-out striker.

Luckily, PIF have just the player in mind.

Newcastle to bid for Premier League striker

According to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder, Newcastle are planning to launch another bid for Wolves striker Jørgen Strand Larsen, having already seen a £50m offer knocked back on Monday afternoon. The Toon, for clarification, remains in talks for the Norway international.

Previous reports outline the Old Gold wish to see £65m banked for the striker they signed on a permanent deal this summer, following his successful 2024/25 loan stint at Molineux.

Ryder intimates the 25-year-old Strand Larsen has been earmarked as a replacement for Callum Wilson, who left Newcastle at the end of his contract in June, with a move greenlit by Al-Rumayyan.

In other words, he is not considered Isak’s potential successor, and may yet play alongside the Sweden star this season.

Why Newcastle want Jorgen Strand Larsen

Newcastle have signed several talented players this summer, yet the focal striking berth remains untouched, with Wilson’s exit indeed depleting the ranks.

The England international was sidelined for most of last season through injury, so Strand Larsen would feel like quite the imposing fresh presence, having scored 14 times across his debut campaign in England’s top flight last year.

Following that thought, it’s unlikely that Newcastle would welcome both Strand Larsen and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, who is desperate to join the Tynesiders and has been the subject of a rejected bid, yet remains at the Gtech, with his employers not looking to sell.

Strand Larsen could be the perfect alternative, potentially even surpassing the DR Congo international. What we know for sure, in any case, is that the Norwegian would mark an upgrade on Gordon, who is a great player but not a striker.

Left winger

65

18

17

Centre-forward

10

2

0

Right winger

10

1

6

Attacking midfield

3

0

0

Sofascore record that Gordon has actually missed three big chances across his one-and-a-half matches in the Premier League this season, without scoring a goal.

Ten shots all told prove that Gordon has the hunger to moonlight as a striker, but when you’ve got someone like Strand Larsen who operates with a similarly relentless ball-striking emphasis, it’s clear that Howe would land himself an upgrade, for the Wolves star is equipped to score goals with consistency as the frontman of a side who have demonstrated their creative capacity over these past two matchweeks.

Indeed, data-driven site FBref have recorded that Strand Larsen ranks among the top 1% of Premier League strikers last season for shot accuracy, with 61.1% of his efforts hitting the target.

And anyway, Gordon’s pace and fleet running are best utilised out wide, sure to work in wonderful tandem with a target man like Strand Larsen, who was hailed by pundit Alan Shearer last season for being a “nuisance” of a forward who showcased at times some neat hold-up play and a willingness to use his focal role to promote the overall fluency of his team.

Strand Larsen is a top talent, to be sure, and he’s demonstrated across his debut year in the English game that he has what it takes to thrive as a chief goalscorer for a team battling against the threat of relegation.

Luckily, Newcastle’s sights are set on a different part of the league ladder, but there’s every chance that he could prove to be a wonderful addition for Howe’s side, who could do with a goalscorer such as him to mark an upgrade on Gordon, who has made it clear in recent weeks that he is not a viable solution to the conundrum at number nine.

Huge upgrade on Strand Larsen: Newcastle in talks to sign "special" £50m CF

Yoane Wissa isn’t the only forward Newcastle are trying to sign before the closure of the transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 25, 2025

West Ham United fans gathered in large numbers outside the London Stadium ahead of Saturday's Premier League encounter against Crystal Palace to demand the departure of the board. The Hammers have endured a torrid start to the 2025-26 season, with the fans having lost their patience with the current ownership. There have been calls to boycott the next home game, too.

West Ham owners urged to step down

Thousands of disgruntled West Ham supporters staged a protest outside the London Stadium, demanding the departure of owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady. Chants of “Sack the board” and “BS (Brady and Sullivan) out!” echoed as fans gathered near the directors' entrance ahead of the club’s latest Premier League fixture on Saturday.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFans threaten to boycott home games

Protest organisers have pledged to march before every home match this season and are calling for a boycott of the upcoming clash against Brentford on October 20. The unrest follows a letter of no confidence sent to the board earlier this month, to which the club responded with a 1,376-word statement detailing recent investments in the squad and infrastructure.

Despite West Ham's poor home form – winless at the London Stadium since February – protest leaders insist the demonstrations are not purely results-driven. Instead, they point to longstanding frustrations over the club’s management and the controversial 2016 relocation from Upton Park to London Stadium. Protesters even carried banners which read, "Long Live The Boleyn," a reference to their former home ground for 112 years.

Frustration boiling over among players and Potter

The season began with an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to newly-promoted Sunderland, followed by a 5-1 shellacking against head coach Graham Potter's former employers, Chelsea, at home. In the post-match press conference, Potter's emotions seemed to have gotten the better of him, with the West Ham boss interrupting one of the journalists by telling him "there's a lot of other people here that might want to ask a question."

Even the players have struggled to maintain their composure. In August, Jarrod Bowen had to be restrained by team-mates Tomas Soucek and Alphonse Areola, as well as stewards, as he attempted to confront a West Ham supporter following a 3-2 loss to Wolves in the Carabao Cup.

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AFPWill West Ham sack Potter anytime soon?

Following Saturday's 2-1 home loss to Palace, English media are reporting that the club is seriously considering sacking Potter. The ex-Brighton and Chelsea head coach infamously holds the record of earning the lowest points from his first 10 home games among any West Ham manager in history. Reports suggest that 42-year-old Gary O'Neil is being eyed as Potter's replacement, with the London-based outfit reeling at 18th position after four losses from their first five Premier League games.

Former U.S. international Herculez Gomez offered his assessment of the hostilities between Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders ahead of their first meeting since last month's controversial Leagues Cup final. The former MLS striker referenced the postmatch altercation that resulted in suspensions for multiple Miami players.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Inter Miami has become the villain of MLS'

  Gomez highlighted the deep hostility between the two clubs, noting that both sides harbor real hatred toward each other after Seattle’s 3-0 victory over Miami in the final. The former MLS striker pointed to the post-match clash that led to several Miami players receiving suspensions.

  “Seattle Sounders hate Inter Miami, Inter Miami hate the Seattle Sounders, and I would go as far as saying the rest of MLS will be supporting the Seattle Sounders,” Gomez said on Futbol Americas. “Inter Miami has become the villain of MLS in the eyes of many hardcore MLS fans.

  “Hardcore MLS fans, they see a team that gets away with everything, they see players who get away with everything, they see Messi who gets everything. You have Sergio Busquets sucker-punch a 20-year-old in Obed Vargas, you have Luis Suarez spitting at an elder man in Gene Ramirez, and you have the rest of the players who didn’t get suspended or anything close to that putting players in headlocks."

  While much of the criticism has centered around Suarez, Gomez pointed to some controversial behavior from Lionel Messi as well. 

  “You have reports of Lionel Messi telling Pedro la Vega, ‘as long as I’m around on the Argentine national team, you will never be called in.' There are reports of Messi telling Obed Vargas, ‘you are sh*t and you will never get out of MLS.'“

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• Sounders out to prove a point

  Gomez suggested this history has transformed their upcoming fixture into more than just a regular-season match, with underlying tensions certain to surface when the teams meet again.

  “So, Seattle Sounders are not going to take that lightly,” Gomez explained. “They’re not going to stoop to the lows that some of the teams would stoop to, or maybe the Inter Miami team has stooped to, but they’re going to try to prove a point to Inter Miami at Miami in front of Messi, in front of their fans. They weren’t happy even though they won Leagues Cup…I think we’re going to see some fireworks here.”

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  Results aren't in Inter Miami's favor

  With only a handful of games left in the season, have had a tough run of things lately as they’ve only managed to win one of their last four games. 

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  Leagues Cup rematch ahead

  Following their 3-0 loss to Charlotte FC, Inter Miami will host the Seattle Sounders on Tuesday and will then welcome DC United to the Chase Stadium on September 20.

اعترف فرينكي دي يونج لاعب خط وسط برشلونة بأن فريقه لم يقدم أداء جيدًا ضد إشبيلية، وأشاد اللاعب الذي سينضم لمنتخب بلاده هولندا لخوض تصفيات كأس العالم، بتحسن أداء فريقه بين الشوطين.

وقد اعترف فرينكي دي يونج بعد هزيمة برشلونة أمام إشبيلية برباعية لهدف واحد بأن ذلك التحسن لا يعد كافيا.

وقال دي يونج في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “Telegrafi”: “عندما تخسر تشعر بخيبة أمل، في الشوط الأول لم نلعب جيداً وفي الشوط الثاني كنا أفضل لكن للأسف خسرنا”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. فليك بعد الهزيمة أمام إشبيلية: لست غاضبًا من الرباعية.. وسنعود

وأشار دي يونج إلى أن الجدول الزمني المزدحم والإرهاق البدني أثرا على أداء برشلونة في الآونة الأخيرة.

وواصل لاعب خط الوسط الهولندي: “أعتقد أن جزء من ذلك يعود لتراكم الإرهاق، هذا هو الواقع، لعبنا سبع مباريات خلال 21 يوماً لكن أحياناً يكون مطاردة الكرة أكثر إرهاقاً من أي شئ آخر”.

وسينضم دي يونج لقائمة منتخب هولندا في تصفيات كأس العالم القادمة، بينما سيسعى برشلونة لاستعادة مستواه المعهود تحت قيادة الألماني هانز فليك بعد عودته من فترة التوقف الدولي.