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Newcastle United advanced their claim to secure a place in the Champions League next season with a 2-1 win over Brentford at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night.

The Magpies took the lead through their star striker Alexander Isak, who bundled the ball in from around six yards out after Jacob Murphy whipped a terrific cross in.

Thomas Frank’s team found a leveller, though, after Nick Pope gave away a spot-kick and allowed Bryan Mbuemo to score from the spot to make it 1-1.

Eddie Howe’s men eventually found the winner in the second half when Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali scored a bizarre goal to seal all three points for the home team.

How Sandro Tonali scored his wondergoal

The Italy international found himself in a crossing position out by the corner flag on the right flank, with Joelinton, Callum Wilson, and Joe Willock all in the box awaiting a ball in from the former AC Milan man.

Instead of a cross, though, those three players watched a shanked effort fly into the roof of Mark Flekken’s net, as the Bees goalkeeper was caught out by what appears to have been a mishit from the central midfielder.

It caught everyone, perhaps even Tonali, by surprise but it is a piece of fortune that the Magpies will certainly take, as it puts them one step closer to securing a top-five finish in the Premier League.

The former Serie A dynamo may have secured himself a place as one of the undroppable stars, alongside Isak – who has scored 20 goals and started all 26 of his Premier League appearances, after scoring that either unbelievable or fluke of a goal.

Isak and Tonali are not the only Newcastle players who should be undroppable after that performance against the Bees, though, as Joelinton bossed the middle of the park.

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Expand Collapse Why Joelinton is undroppable for Newcastle

The Brazil international showcased his quality in and out of possession in the win over Brentford with a terrific display in midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Tonali.

Joelinton, who has started all 25 of his outings in the top-flight this season, reaffirmed why Howe has so much faith in him with a dominant defensive showing, winning six of his eight ground duels and six of his nine aerial contests.

The former Hoffenheim ace also won three tackles without being dribbled past a single time by a Brentford player, which shows that he was a man mountain in midfield for Newcastle.

Vs Brentford

Guimaraes

Tonali

Joelinton

Minutes

90

90

90

Pass accuracy

70%

68%

85%

Dribbles completed

0/0

1/1

1/1

Duels won

4/10

5/7

12/17

Clearances

1

1

3

Tackles

3

2

3

Dribbled past

4x

1x

0x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Joelinton was also far more efficient in possession in comparison to his midfield partners, whilst also outperforming them defensively.

The 28-year-old bruiser has consistently delivered on the defensive end all season with the most combined tackles, interceptions, and clearances (4.7) per game of any midfielder in the squad, providing Howe with an immovable anchor in the middle of the park.

Joelinton’s physicality allows the Magpies to take the game to opposition teams by pressing high and winning the ball back in great areas to create counter-attack opportunities for the likes of Isak and Murphy to make the most of.

He is, therefore, an undroppable cog in Newcastle’s machine, as further evidenced by his sensational display against the Bees, and Howe must continue to select him for the rest of the season.

Related Top 1% for assists: Newcastle join race for £25m "future Ballon D'or winner"

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Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 2, 2025

Everton are “working” on a potential deal for an “outstanding” defender in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Graeme Bailey.

Moyes eyeing new signings for Everton

The Toffees continue to be linked with possible new signings this summer, with Greece and Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis emerging as an exciting option to make David Moyes’ side more of an attacking force.

The 26-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season, scoring a combined 21 goals in the Champions League and Primeira Liga, registering seven assists across those competitions.

Meanwhile, Everton have also been linked with a shock move for Liverpool winger Ben Doak at the end of the season, which would send shockwaves across Merseyside.

The Scot is on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough and there is no guarantee that he has a long-term future at Anfield, which could lead to Everton pouncing for one of their rivals’ most exciting young players.

Whether the Reds would allow him to join their arch-rivals is up for debate, though.

Everton want to sign "outstanding" left-back

Speaking to Everton News, Bailey said that Everton want to sign Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin at the end of the season, with other Black Cats players also mentioned:

“They are one of the teams who are looking at Dennis Cirkin, the left-back at Sunderland. We know Crystal Palace and Tottenham like him.

“Obviously, Everton are looking at Sunderland with Anthony Patterson, Chris Rigg and Dan Neil. The Championship is a division which David Moyes knows very well.

“Cirkin is someone on their list, and they are doing work on the full-back position, I know that.”

Cirkin may be a Championship player, but he could be a great addition for Everton, having been such a consistent performer for Sunderland over an extended period.

Prior to this weekend’s action, the 23-year-old has scored three goals and bagged two assists in the league this season, highlighting the quality he can provide from left-back, which is five times the amount of goal contributions Vitalii Mykolenko had managed in the Premier League (zero goals and one assist).

Cirkin vs. Mykolenko in the league this season

Stat

Cirkin

Mykolenko

Appearances

34

29

Starts

29

29

Minutes played

2632

2544

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

1

Clearances per game

2.6

4

Tackles per game

2.5

1.8

Aerial duel wins per game

1.2

1.5

Cirkin is a player with plenty of admirers, including former striker Sam Parkin, who has described him as an “outstanding” footballer, saying:

“I think he has been one of the most outstanding players in the division this season. When you watch him live, he is a very good athlete. I think he gets up and down; it is eye-catching, the way he moves with the ball, but his decision-making on the ball and his ability on the ball have been top-class this season.”

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Posts BySean Markus Clifford Apr 11, 2025

At 23, Cirkin still has lots to offer, and the lure of the Premier League could be great if Sunderland fail to earn promotion, so Everton should be looking at him as an excellent option.

Leeds United are looking to sign a new dominant in the air player who is being compared to former Whites midfielder Marc Roca.

Leeds transfer rumours following promotion to the Premier League

The 49ers Enterprises haven’t been wasting any time since Leeds secured their promotion back to the Premier League from the Championship on Easter Monday following a 6-0 win over Stoke City and Burnley’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United.

In fact, Daniel Farke’s future as Leeds manager has been thrown into doubt, with the club concerned about his previous record in the top flight with Norwich City.

Talking after sealing promotion, chairman Paraag Marathe said that the club have been “quietly preparing the club” for the Premier League.

“The Premier League is where Leeds belongs, and our goal is to establish a long-term presence there. With that in mind, we have been quietly preparing the club for this moment. The road ahead won’t be easy but we are ready to step confidently into this next chapter. Above all, this is your club and your promotion. I want to thank each and every one of you, along with the players and every member of staff at Elland Road and Thorp Arch, for your tireless commitment in pursuit of this unforgettable moment.”

A number of new signings look likely to be made to give Leeds the best chance of Premier League survival, including former midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

Related Leeds and Farke race to sign "amazing" new 21 y/o defender for bargain fee

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Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 23, 2025

Currently on loan at Ipswich Town from Manchester City, Phillips is thought to be ready to return to Elland Road this summer. Elsewhere, loanee Manor Solomon is expected to make his move to Leeds permanent from Tottenham Hotspur, with Spurs valuing the winger at £15m-£20m.

Now, an update has emerged on another target with Premier League experience, something the 49ers are after when it comes to summer signings.

Leeds want to sign £18m Premier League "machine"

According to reports in the Czech Republic, relayed by TBR Football, Leeds could now sign Tomas Soucek from West Ham United ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The Whites have been named as a potential destination for the 30-year-old, who was signed by the Hammers for £18m from Slavia Prague back in 2020.

Since then, the central midfielder has made 240 appearances for West Ham, with almost 200 of those coming in the top flight. Everton are also thought to be keen on Soucek, who was dubbed a “machine” amid links to the Toffees.

Talking earlier this year, Soucek hinted at a potential move away if he wasn’t getting regular game time: “I know a few guys who are happy with the money coming into their account every month, they enjoy the life of a footballer and don’t care about the bench. I can’t do that. I need to play. I suffer on the bench.”

Players similar to Tomas Soucek

Club

Marc Roca

Real Betis

Julian Weigl

Borussia Monchengladbach

Boubacar Kamara

Aston Villa

Rodrigo Bentancur

Tottenham Hotspur

Joao Palhinha

Bayern Munich

Graham Potter has placed Soucek on the bench in West Ham’s last four games, and as can be seen, Football Transfers have likened the midfielder to Roca, who left Leeds for Real Betis.

As per FBref, Soucek has also been ranked in the top 1% over the past 12 months for aerial duels won (3.49 per 90), so he’d certainly bring a physical presence to Yorkshire, should a move go through.

Liverpool are in the market for elite talent this summer and could now be prepared to take a step closer to landing one of their priority targets, according to a report.

Liverpool's summer begins with Alexander-Arnold bombshell

Despite a 3-1 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, you would be hard-pressed to find too much discontent among Liverpool supporters following their Premier League title triumph.

That discontent may have increased ever so slightly however with the news that Trent Alexander-Arnold is joining Real Madrid. Albeit a poorly kept secret, the official confirmation on Monday to follow on from Sunday’s result certainly suggests that Arne Slot has some work to do in the summer window.

According to reports, Liverpool could replace Darwin Nunez with Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui. Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is also on the agenda, but the Italy international may be a more affordable alternative at £50 million.

Despite potentially costing £100 million, the Reds are also keen on a swoop for Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, even if Manchester City and the Magpies also remain in pursuit of the Three Lions international.

From a Liverpool perspective, their remaining three Premier League matches are dead rubbers. Pride is at stake, though there is a wider acknowledgement that changes are set to engulf the squad this summer.

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Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb May 4, 2025

Excitement is in the air as FSG prepare to spend a considerable chunk on fresh blood, while departures are likely to unfold in the other direction to streamline Slot’s talented group of players.

With anticipation building ahead of a big window for all involved, Liverpool could now take one step closer to signing a talented import from one of Europe’s top-five leagues.

Liverpool prepare offer for Xavi Simons

According to Empire of the Kop, Liverpool are preparing a £51.1 million offer to sign RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons, though his current employers are more likely to sell the 26-cap Netherlands international for between £59.6 million and £68.1 million.

Labelled “amazing” by Dani Olmo, the former Barcelona star has registered ten goals and eight assists in 31 appearances across all competitions this season – the exact same number of created goals as Alexander-Arnold this term.

Xavi Simons’ importance to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga

Chances created

48

Shots on target

19

Completed dribbles

29

Pass accuracy

83.1%

Successful crosses

20

Intriguingly, Liverpool’s case to land Simons could be helped if RB Leipzig fail to qualify for the Champions League between now and the end of the campaign.

Capable of playing on either flank, in central midfield or behind the striker, Slot is confident that his large Dutch contingent of players could convince the Amsterdam-born man to make a move to Merseyside.

Versatility and end product from midfield are Simons’ main attributes, and he could now be destined for a shot at Premier League stardom as part of a Liverpool side that aims to conquer all in years to come. Now, it remains to be seen whether they can negotiate a package that suits all parties once the window opens.

Manchester City will end this season without a major trophy added to the cabinet after they were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

The Cityzens still have Champions League football to fight it out for in their last two matches in the Premier League, but a goal from Eberechi Eze ensured that their cup campaign ended in failure.

Pep Guardiola’s side did have a golden chance to draw level with the Eagles in the first half, however, when Omar Marmoush stepped up from the spot.

Omar Marmoush let Manchester City down

The Egypt international, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt in the January transfer window, was given the ball by regular penalty taker Erling Haaland to shoot from 12 yards for the first time in his Manchester City career.

Marmoush, after a long wait whilst VAR confirmed the decision, struck his penalty low to Dean Henderson’s right, not far enough in the corner to prevent the goalkeeper from getting a strong hand to it.

The former Bundesliga star went on to be substituted in the 76th minute without atoning for his missed penalty, which ultimately let the side down in the end as they lost 1-0.

Marmoush was far from the only poor performer on the pitch for the Cityzens, though, and Jeremy Doku just proved why Pep Guardiola must axe him this summer.

Why Jeremy Doku should be sold this summer

Manchester City should be aiming to win every competition they play in when they start a season and they need players who can provide consistent quality at the top end of the pitch in their forward ranks in order to do so.

Doku, simply, does not offer enough in the final third to be a regular starter for City, with six goals in 35 appearances in all competitions this season. In fact, Marmoush has offered more than him in the Premier League for the club despite only joining in January.

24/25 Premier League

Jeremy Doku

Omar Marmoush

Appearances

27

14

Goals

3

6

Conversion rate

13%

15%

Key passes per game

8

6

Assists

6

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Egyptian star has produced 12 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 14 appearances, compared to Doku’s 12 in almost twice as many games.

Doku, who was given a player rating of 5/10 by the Manchester Evening News, was also just as bad as Marmoush in the defeat to Palace, as he played the full 90 minutes without creating a ‘big chance’, and only one of his five shots found the target.

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The moment that summed up his performance, the day for City, and his season overall, was when he cut inside onto his weaker left foot and dragged a shot well wide from distance in the 110th minute, which was the last kick of the game for the Cityzens.

Ultimately, he lacked the quality to make a difference in the final third and that has been a feature of his career at City, as evidenced by the aforementioned statistics, on the left flank.

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He’s a rising star.

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 16, 2025

Therefore, Guardiola must ruthlessly move on from the Belgium international in the summer transfer window, and attempt to replace him with a forward who can provide goals and assists on a consistent basis moving forward.

Attackers have usually been the players to capture the hearts of the Manchester United fanbase over the last few years, catapulting the side to various levels of success.

Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy are just three attackers who have started at Old Trafford since the turn of the decade – helping the club win countless Premier League titles.

The Portuguese star has undoubtedly gone on to achieve massive things in the professional game, banking the Red Devils a huge profit after leaving in a £80m deal back in the summer of 2009.

However, fast-forward to the present day, Ruben Amorim doesn’t have such talent at his disposal within the final third, contributing to their lowly Premier League standing.

The summer transfer window presents a huge opportunity to strengthen such a department ahead of 2025/26, with countless players already touted with a switch to the North West.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Even though the transfer window is yet to open, the centre-forward position has been the one with the most interest, with various players in the frame to switch to United.

Liam Delap has been the name at the top of the list over the past few weeks, with the Amorim’s side said to be in pole position to trigger his £30m relegation release clause this summer.

However, he’s not the only forward who’s been strongly linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo also on their radar, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report claims that the Red Devils are preparing a £65m bid for the Cherries forward, who’s managed to register 11 goals and six assists across all competitions this campaign.

It also states that the interest in the 25-year-old has come directly from the manager, with the boss seeing the Ghanaian as the perfect attacking option to transform his side.

Why United’s £65m target would be perfect alongside Cunha

Matheus Cunha has been another name on the lips of United supporters over the last couple of months, with the Wolves attacker appearing to edge closer to a move to join the club.

The Brazilian international has been a key target in recent times, with various reports claiming that Amorim’s side are willing to trigger the £62.5m release clause within his current deal at Molineux.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed talks were still at an advanced stage between the club and the 25-year-old, with the prospect of no European football no issue to Cunha.

His tally of 15 goals and six assists in the league this season would certainly improve the current situation, operating in an attacking midfield role should he complete a switch to the Theatre of Dreams.

Cunha’s figures of two chances created and 2.1 successful dribbles per 90 showcase the threat he poses in attacking areas, handing Semenyo the ammunition to succeed alongside the Brazilian international.

The Cherries attacker has also thrived in England’s top-flight throughout 2024/25, which could see him form a deadly partnership with the current Wolves gem based on their respective figures.

Semenyo, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Sky Sports’ Sue Smith, has registered 3.6 shots per 90 this campaign, along with 1.2 shots on target per 90 – highlighting the threat he poses with the ball, offering the side a needed eye for goal.

Antoine Semenyo’s stats for Bournemouth in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

35

Goals & assists

14

Pass accuracy

78%

Shots taken

3.6

Shots on target per game

1.2

Dribbles completed

55%

Aerials won

1.9

Touches in opposition box

5.9

Stats via FotMob

He’s also completed 55% of the dribbles he’s attempted, along with 1.9 aerials won, handing Amorim an all-round option to run the channels and play off should they need a focal point.

The Ghanian’s impressive figures don’t stop there, averaging 5.9 touches per 90 in the opposition box per game – handing the Red Devils a ‘fox in the box’ type forward they’ve been missing.

£65m would be a huge fee for another forward from the Premier League, but Semenyo has proven over recent months that he’s more than capable of stepping up to the task at Old Trafford.

The prospect of a partnership between him and Cunha under Amorim’s guidance is certainly an exciting one, potentially playing a key role in leading the side back to their former glory.

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Posts ByRobbie Walls May 15, 2025

Manchester United have now thundered into the race for a “world-class” £84m forward, having expressed a concrete interest in securing his signature in the summer, according to a report.

Man Utd set sights on winger to replace Garnacho

While Man United managed to sign off the 2024-25 campaign on a high note, securing a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, the Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao will remain fresh in the memory for supporters.

As such, it is difficult to be too positive ahead of the summer, with the Red Devils’ summer transfer plans likely to be affected by the lack of Champions League football, and Gary Neville has expressed concerns they may choose to cash-in on some of their young players to raise funds.

Neville said: “I know it’s become a thing now whereby people sell players from their academy to facilitate PSR and financial fair play, but if Manchester United start to sell academy players to raise funds to bring in other players, I think that’s the thin end of the wedge.

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Posts ByDominic Lund May 26, 2025

Alejandro Garnacho is one of the youth products that could be on his way out, with Arsenal now being contacted over the possibility of signing the Argentine, and if the 20-year-old does end up being sold, it is likely a replacement will be necessary.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Man United may now have just the player in mind, having thundered into the race for AC Milan star Rafael Leao, who is looking increasingly likely to exit the San Siro this summer, with a £84m fee being touted.

United have now registered a concrete interest in signing Leao, who could be on his way out due to the lack of European football on offer at Milan, with Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Barcelona also keen.

"World-class" Leao could be Garnacho upgrade

It is unclear whether the 25-year-old would be interested in a move to Old Trafford, given that Ruben Amorim’s side will not be playing in Europe next season either, but the allure of playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs could be tempting for the winger.

Should the Red Devils manage to get a deal over the line, there are plenty of signs he could be an upgrade on Garnacho at left-wing, having outperformed the starlet across a number of key statistics for wingers over the past year. Leao also loves current Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes, having called him a “maestro” in the past while on international duty together.

Statistic per 90

Rafael Leao

Alejandro Garnacho

Non-penalty goals

0.32

0.20

Assists

0.26

0.17

Successful take-ons

2.83

1.31

Having also been lauded as “world-class” by football writer Carlo Garganese in the past, Leao could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, but a move to Old Trafford could be a tough sell after the Europa League final defeat.

Liverpool are in the final stages of wrapping up a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, having already signed the Werkself’s electric right flanker Jeremie Frimpong after meeting his £29.5m release clause.

Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez should follow, with the two Premier League clubs engaged in advanced discussions for the Hungarian’s transfer this summer.

While bringing in a new centre-forward is also on the agenda, Liverpool may have to contend with one or two reluctant sales, most notably of which concerns Luis Diaz.

The latest on Luis Diaz

Diaz has been a key component of Liverpool’s Premier League triumph this season, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists for the Reds across all competitions.

However, aged 28 and entering the penultimate year, it would make sense to cash in if a handsome offer were presented to FSG. With Barcelona and the Saudi Pro League’s Al Nassr both keen, this is something bound to be on sporting director Richard Hughes’ mind.

With a bid worth around €85m (£72m) being pieced together by Al Nassr, Liverpool could take the money and invest in a new star, especially with a world-class player in Wirtz already heading to Merseyside.

Especially when there’s a rising talent who’s been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent months who might just be the perfect long-term investment.

Liverpool could sign Wirtz-esque Diaz replacement

While Cody Gakpo has nailed down the left-sided forward spot at Liverpool, Diaz’s departure would require a direct replacement being brought in, even if Liverpool secured a new centre-forward too.

That’s why FSG should consider increasing their interest in Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, who has enjoyed a promising emergence in Bundesliga.

The 20-year-old has been hailed as a “very good finisher” by former Yellow Wall boss Nuri Sahin, also noted for being “incredible one-on-one”, and though he’s young, there’s enough there to suggest he could be the perfect Diaz heir.

He’s still got levels to scale, but Gittens has made an impressive start to life on the major stage, with his silky approach even leading data-driven site FBref to liken him to Wirtz.

Jamie Gittens – Bor. Dortmund Stats by Season (all comps)

Season

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

24/25

48 (34)

12

5

23/24

34 (18)

2

8

22/23

20 (5)

3

1

21/22

4 (1)

0

0

Data via Transfermarkt

Ranked among the top 15% of Bundesliga attacking midfielders and wingers in 2024/25 for goals scored, and the top 1% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, you can see he’s got some of the ball-carrying similarities of Wirtz, though Gittens is more of an out-and-out winger.

Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley even pronounced him “England’s best left-winger in 2024/25” earlier in the campaign, which is lofty praise indeed, given the calibre of competition he’s against.

Thomas Tuchel’s recently selected summer Three Lions squad perhaps doesn’t reflect that, but then Gittens is still in the fledgling phase of a promising career, having laid the foundations for something special.

As per Sofascore, Gittens averaged 4.9 successful duels per top-flight fixture this year too, showcasing a tenacious side to his game that could bear dividends in the Premier League.

The same could be said for Wirtz, who marries his absurd technical level with a combative underbelly. Given that the German has been profiled by FSG’s analysts and targeted in a club-record deal, Gittens might just fit the bill.

While he won’t be at the top of Liverpool’s shopping list, this could be a shrewd move to keep the champions firing on all cylinders over the coming years.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair May 31, 2025

Sunderland are set for a busy summer of transfer business before the window closes at the start of September, as they look to build a team that can compete in the Premier League.

The Black Cats have already confirmed their first signing of the summer as Enzo Le Fee has joined the club on a permanent deal, after spending the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland’s French whiz scored one goal and provided one assist, whilst averaging 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game, in his 15 appearances in the Championship as a loanee.

The 25-year-old added a touch of class to the team, as shown in the clip below, and Regis Le Bris will be hoping that he can deliver in the Premier League as well.

Le Fee was not the only loan star on Wearside during the 2024/25 campaign, though, as central defender Chris Mepham was on loan from Bournemouth.

However, they have yet to agree a deal to bring the Wales international back to the Stadium of Light for the next Premier League season, despite a recent report claiming that they were considering a permanent move for him.

Why Sunderland may not sign Chris Mepham

Football Insider recently noted that Mepham has signed a one-year extension with the Cherries, which means that he will not be available on a free transfer this summer.

This means that Sunderland would have to pay a transfer fee for the central defender to sign him from their Premier League rivals, rather than being able to snap him up for nothing.

Whilst it remains to be seen how much Bournemouth would want for the centre-back, this could put the Black Cats off a potential deal as it may be more costly than previously expected.

Fellow newly-promoted side Burnley have also been linked with a possible swoop for the Welsh colossus, who was a solid, but not outstanding, performer for Sunderland in the second tier.

24/25 Championship

Chris Mepham (per game)

Sunderland rank

Tackles

1.3

7th

Interceptions

0.9

6th

Clearances

6.2

1st

Blocks

0.9

1st

Pass accuracy

87%

6th

Long passes made

2.1

5th

Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, Mepham excelled in some areas of the game, notably making blocks and clearances, but was not one of the top-performing defenders at the club when it came to making tackles or interceptions.

Sunderland may feel that they could find better value elsewhere in the market, as they look to bolster their defensive options, which may be one reason why they may not sign him on a permanent deal.

In fact, the Black Cats are reportedly looking at a Championship central defender who could be an even better signing than Mepham this summer.

Sunderland eyeing deal for Championship enforcer

According to the Daily Express, Sunderland are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a deal to sign Millwall centre-back Japhet Tanganga in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Black Cats, Leeds United, and Burnley all have a ‘concrete interest’ in the former Tottenham Hotspur defender, as they look to bolster their defensive options.

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

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It states Crystal Palace are also keen on a deal for the 26-year-old enforcer, and that they could have an advantage in the race to sign him as a London club and a team with European football in the 2025/26 campaign.

The Daily Express reveals that he has a £1.2m release clause, that can only be activated by Premier League clubs this summer, which means that he could be a bargain signing for any of the interested teams.

It also reveals that Tanganga would like his future to be sorted by the end of the month, possibly to be ready for a pre-season with a new club, but it does not state what his preference is at this moment in time.

Why Sunderland should sign Japhet Tanganga

The Black Cats must now push to win the race for Tanganga ahead of Burnley, Leeds, and Palace because he could be an even better signing for the club than Mepham would be this summer.

Whilst the former Sunderland loanee is far from immobile, there may be concerns about how he would handle the step up in intensity and pace in the Premier League.

Whereas, Tanganga is an incredibly mobile and rapid central defender who can cover ground quickly and has the physicality to deal with top-flight attackers.

Carlton Palmer told Football League World: “He is capable of playing in the Premier League, he’s got the physical tools to cope with the demands of the top-flight with his positional play and reading of the game, while he has tremendous recovery pace.”

24/25 Championship

Chris Mepham

Japhet Tanganga

Appearances

38

40

Tackles per game

1.4

1.4

Interceptions per game

0.9

0.9

Dribbled past

0.5x

0.3x

Duels won per game

4.9

5.9

Ground duel success rate

55%

61%

Aerial duel success rate

63%

63%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Tanganga’s superior physical attributes in comparison to Mepham were on display in the Championship last season.

The Millwall colossus was dribbled past less frequently, which is because he has the pace to keep up with attackers when they try to knock it past him, and won a higher percentage of his duels on the ground overall.

This suggests that Tanganga would be more suited to dealing with Premier League attackers in one-on-one situations defensively than Mepham would be next season, due to his more impressive physicality.

Therefore, he could be a better signing for the Black Cats this summer because he is more likely to deal with the step up to the top-flight to help Le Bris’ side in their battle against relegation.

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It is now down to Sunderland to activate his £1.2m release clause and to convince him to make the move to the Stadium of Light, instead of joining one of the other three interested parties from the Premier League.

Hosts finish eight-down after taking on stiff run-chase through Labuschagne 64

ECB Reporters Network26-Jun-2024

Lewis McManus top-scored with 168 before Glamorgan clung on•Harry Trump/Getty Images

Northamptonshire came close to pulling off a remarkable comeback win over Glamorgan in the Vitality County Championship match against Glamorgan thanks to a career best 168 from Lewis McManus and wickets for Alex Russell and Liam Patterson-White.Northamptonshire declared on 472 for eight to leave Glamorgan a target of 262 in 39 overs. The home side made a good go of chasing down the stiff target with Marnus Labuschagne scoring his second fifty of the match but late wickets left Northamptonshire a chance of pulling off victory.Having been 211 runs behind on first innings, Northamptonshire had nine catchers around the bat in the closing overs as they pushed for the win.Glamorgan finished on 207 for eight with Northamptonshire two wickets short of victory.Northamptonshire resumed their second innings just 25 runs in front of Glamorgan but their biggest partnership of the match extended that lead significantly. Luke Procter and McManus shared a stand of 161 that lasted past lunch on the last day. As with the third day there seemed to be little threat from the quicker bowlers but Glamorgan were hampered in their pursuit for wickets by the absence of James Harris who was off the field with a quad injury.In the absence of Harris, Labuschagne came on to bowl seam and he generated some decent pace, albeit without managing a breakthrough. He also sent down a few overs of leg spin once the shine was off the new ball.The first wicket of the day came in the second session when Timm van der Gugten trapped Procter for 98, the second Northamptonshire batter to get out in the nineties in this innings after Ricardo Vasconcelos fell for 99 late on day three.Lewis McManus had past his hundred from 150 balls just before the fall of Procter’s wicket and he looked to be more attacking once he had reached his milestone, scoring at better than a run a ball as he looked to set a target for Glamorgan to chase.McManus passed 150 for the first time in first class cricket and took four consecutive sixes off Crane in the last over before Northamptonshire declared to leave Glamorgan needing to score at seven an over to win.Glamorgan were 30 for one at the tea break and after the interval they made a real push to keep the required rate under control, but that desire for quick runs brought about the demise of Billy Root when Labuschagne called him through for a very sharp single and both batters ended up at the same end.Carlson and Labuschagne kept up the intensity in their stand of 62 from 57 balls. Carlson was bowled by Alex Russell when he attempted a big shot to the shorter boundary on the Grandstand side of the ground.Labuschagne looked very keen to secure a win in his last home game in the Championship this season but he chipped a catch to point off the bowling of Liam Patterson-White for 64.Chris Cooke continued to attack but he fell for 27 looking to hit Russell over long off. Mason Crane was dismissed for a duck and Harry Podmore was bowled for 1 as Northamptonshire continued the late push to complete the comeback but Timm van der Gugten saw out the last over to secure the draw.