Having lay dormant over the last year or so, Liverpool’s recruitment team have sprung into life this summer, enjoying a simply remarkable start to the window to only bolster Arne Slot’s already imperious outfit.

In deals akin to a Football Manager save, the Anfield side have moved swiftly and efficiently to strengthen their hand, having already confirmed marquee deals for Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez – alongside the goalkeeping duo of Armin Pesci and Freddie Woodman.

That has all come before the start of July, with the Premier League champions impressively improving, rather than weakening, their ranks, even amid Trent Alexander-Arnold’s eventual departure.

And there could be more to come yet. Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, now with just 12 months remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park, remains a top target for the Reds. A replacement for the seemingly departing Darwin Nunez will also need to be found.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, doubts over the future of Luis Diaz could spark the need for a new option on the flanks, with work already being done on that front…

Latest on Liverpool's search for a winger

Had things worked out differently, the Merseysiders may well have signed off on a particularly statement deal a year ago, with a move for Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon – which would have seen Joe Gomez head in the opposite direction – failing to come to fruition.

Despite subsequently adding Federico Chiesa to the fold instead, the desire for a new winger has certainly not abated, with recent reports suggesting that Liverpool could be among a raft of clubs in the mix for Lyon starlet, Malick Fofana.

Transfer Focus

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

According to TEAMtalk, while it is Everton who appear to hold the strongest interest in the 20-year-old, Liverpool – alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea – have also made an enquiry too, ahead of a potential swoop.

The race for the Belgian’s signature is said to be ‘open’, with top-flight clubs lining up to pounce on Lyon’s current woes, following their recent relegation from Ligue 1.

That dramatic drop into France’s second tier has left suitors hoping that they can secure Fofana’s signature for below the previous €50m (£42m) asking price, ensuring a potential bargain could be up for grabs.

Why Liverpool should pounce for Malick Fofana

For all the wisdom of looking within the Premier League for a ready-made figure like Kerkez, there is a real intrigue over plucking an exciting young talent from abroad, with the Reds already raiding the Bundesliga for one of their brightest stars, in the form of Wirtz.

Still just 22, the £116m man has arrived in English football off the back of a stunning stint at Bayer Leverkusen, having registered 122 goals and assists in just 197 games for the German side. In the words of The Athletic’s Bundesliga correspondent, Seb Stafford-Bloor, the playmaker is “already one of the best footballers [he’s] ever seen live”.

What also stands out regarding the rising star is his innate versatility, having showcased his ability to feature off either flank, as a number ten, or even as a false nine for both club and country to date.

That flexibility is seemingly shared by the “explosive” Fofana – as hailed by data analyst Ben Mattinson – with the former Gent ace having also operated on the left or right wing in his senior career thus far, as well as a centre-forward or attacking midfielder.

Where the Belgian is also akin to Wirtz is in their dribbling prowess, with the Lyon man ranking in the top 2% of his peers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, while his German counterpart ranks in the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

Jamie Gittens – Borussia Dortmund

8

4

12

Kenan Yildiz – Juventus

7

5

12

Eliesse Ben Seghir – Monaco

6

3

9

Malick Fofana – Lyon

5

4

9

Antonio Nusa – RB Leipzig

3

4

7

Jean-Matteo Bahoya – Frankfurt

2

3

5

Jesus Rodriguez – Real Betis

2

1

3

Mamadou Diakhon – Stade Reims

2

1

3

Yan Diomande – Leganes

2

1

3

Bazoumana Toure – Hoffenheim

0

3

3

Of course, the latter man is the superior talent – as his record of 22 goals and assists in the league showcased last term – but Fofana has also dazzled when given the chance, providing five goals and four assists in Ligue 1 in 2024/25, despite starting just 16 games.

That solid return has ensured that Fofana ranks in the top 10% of his European colleagues for non-penalty goals, at an average of 0.47 per 90, with that actually placing him ahead of Wirtz, who averaged 0.38 for that same metric.

Much like the ex-Leverkusen man ranked among the brightest stars in the Bundesliga, Fofana is a diamond in his own right in Ligue 1, having even been noted as being ‘Eden Hazard-like’ due to his ability to weave his way past defenders.

And so, having already forked out for one exceptionally exciting talent in the form of Wirtz, Liverpool and Slot could now raid another of Europe’s top five leagues in similar circumstances.

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Liverpool have already hit the jackpot on this shrewd Jurgen Klopp signing.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 28, 2025

Opener Lees commands crease with 113 as Robinson takes bowlers on with gusto for 146 not out

ECB Reporters Network23-Jun-2024Durham 445 for 4 (Robinson 146* Lees 113, Bedingham 65, Ackermann 58*) vs Essex Alex Lees and Ollie Robinson’s contrasting centuries saw Durham pour a deluge of runs down on Vitality County Championship title rivals Essex.Opener Lees commanded the crease in his 113, while Robinson took the bowlers on with gusto for an unbeaten 146 – both grabbing their second hundreds of the campaign.David Bedingham missed out on a fifth three-figure score on the bounce but assisted the milestone-makers with a sublime 65, as he passed 800 Championship runs this year.Essex’s only positive on an otherwise dispiriting day, was overseas debutant Eathan Bosch claiming two wickets as Durham racked up 445 for 4.Durham elected to bat first on a pitch previously used for two T20 matches, and set about their work in lively fashion, after Essex legend Keith Fletcher had rung the five-minute bell.Michael Jones returned from Scotland duty to make his first Championship appearance of the season and blazed his way to 38 from 29 balls at the top of the order.His aggression came to the fore with Simon Harmer’s 10th-over introduction, with two sixes and two fours within the South African’s first seven deliveries, as 16 came off the spinner’s opening over.If Harmer’s early introduction was muted, Essex new boy Bosch’s was electric.The South African fast bowler has arrived on a four-match deal, with Sam Cook absent with a hamstring injury, and struck with his second ball when Jones loosely drove behind.Bosch’s curtain-raising wicket maiden was followed four overs later by the scalp of Scott Borthwick – who also edged behind to give Michael Pepper his second catch. His first five-over spell returned 2 for 25.But from then on, the blue skies, humid weather, fast outfield and a flat pitch made the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford a batting paradise.With those conditions, Bedingham didn’t need a second invitation to cash in.The South African was in the form of his life before the Vitality Blast interrupted the red ball season, with four successive centuries.Only Michael Hussey and Kumar Sangakkara had scored five Championship tons in a row, and when he strode to a 53-ball half-century, three figures looked inevitable.Bedingham is the leading run scorer in the country but at 860 runs in the season, and 65 on the day, he was Pepper’s third victim, this time via Harmer’s off-spin, to end a 95-run stand with Lees.Quietly around Jones and Bedingham’s gung-ho style, Lees was amassing his runs.There was an odd stylish chip for six, and a few nervy edges over and wide of the slips early on, but otherwise he was serene and demonstrated significant control.His first century since the opening round came in 184 balls, with Robinson’s fifty coming a ball later in a double celebration.Robinson decided the Jones-Bedingham approach was more appropriate, as has been the case all season with a season strike-rate heading towards 90, and out-scored Lees 81 to 47 in their 136-run alliance.Lees was lbw to Matt Critchley, but Colin Ackermann arrived to soak up the pressure for Robinson to reach his second hundred of the season, coming in 116 balls.The second new ball didn’t help Essex in the latter stages of the day.Robinson swatted the first delivery for one of his four sixes, as he and Ackermann – who reached 58 at a canter – sauntered to the close with a 131-run partnership, 445 runs and four batting bonus points, on the board after day one.

Birmingham City are reportedly in talks to complete the long-term signing of a top target in their third deal of matching kind this summer.

Birmingham have to be "picky", says Davies

The Blues are preparing for life back in the Championship, following such a dominant and memorable title-winning season in League One, with the club in an exciting place currently.

Manager Chris Davies has outlined Birmingham’s approach this summer, admitting that they now need to be “picky” with signings, which hasn’t always been the case under him.

“Last season we found that we were convincing players and selling them a project. I was saying to them, ‘Look, come here and in 10 months’ time we won’t be in League One, we’ll be a Championship team’. Now they’re coming to us. A lot more are coming to us, ‘We want to be part of this’.

“You’ve got to be a bit more picky now about who you engage with. Birmingham is a club that is going somewhere and everybody wants to be at a club that’s going somewhere. A lot of people are talking about the club around the country, and internationally as well, so people want to come here. It’s important now that we make sure we pick the right ones.”

Birmingham are being linked with some exciting players, from Tommy Doyle to Demarai Gray, and now it looks as though they are looking to get another important piece of business over the line.

Birmingham in talks to sign Davies permanently

According to a new update from Birmingham World, Birmingham are in talks with Ben Davies over completing a permanent move to the club, following a successful loan stint from Rangers last season.

The Englishman only has one more year remaining on his current deal in Scotland, so they may be happy to cash in on him now, with his current market value said to be £2m.

The club have already completed two deals of this kind this summer, turning the loan moves of Alfons Sampsted and Taylor Gardner-Hickman into permanent signings.

In Davies’ case, the former Liverpool defender made 35 appearances in League One overall, 32 of which were starts, and he averaged 6.2 clearances and 4.1 aerial duel wins per game en route to the Blues comfortably securing promotion to the Championship.

Ben Davies’ 2024/25 stats in League One

Total

Appearances

35

Starts

32

Minutes played

2959

Clearances per game

6.2

Aerial duel wins per game

4.1

Tackles per game

1.1

Goals

1

Assists

1

Now 29, Davies is a hugely experienced head who could be a great squad option for Birmingham, with Klopp speaking fondly of him after he arrived at Liverpool in a shock deal in January 2021.

“He’s a really good footballer, looks like a proper leader in this Preston team, good in challenges, looks football smart, can play different positions because he played in a back three and a back four and all these things. That makes him really interesting so I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

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There are few negatives to Birmingham snapping up Davies this summer, and if he performs like he did last season, the Blues’ hopes of a good campaign will be improved instantly.

Tottenham Hotspur have Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze high on their list of attacking targets this summer, but Thomas Frank’s side have been told to consider one Chelsea star as a viable alternative to the England international.

Spurs’ serious interest in Eze isn’t exactly unfounded, with the former Arsenal academy man fresh off the back of another impressive campaign at Selhurst Park.

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He spearheaded Oliver Glasner’s men to their first ever major trophy at the back end of 2024/2025, scoring the FA Cup final-winning goal which clinched an historic 1-0 victory over Premier League heavyweights Man City at Wembley, and Palace are poised to enter Europe next season as a result of his heroics.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

In total, Eze racked up an outstanding 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, and the attacker’s form surely cannot be ignored by the footballing elite for much longer.

His £100,000-per-week pay packet at Palace is affordable, and could well be attractive to chairman Daniel Levy, who won’t be too keen on breaking Tottenham’s carefully organised wage structure, which allows them to be among the top-flight’s lowest-spending ‘big six’ clubs in terms of salary.

The ex-QPR star’s contract also includes a £68 million release clause, with reports suggesting that Tottenham are prepared to meet this asking price for Eze as the 26-year-old himself also eyes a move to north London.

However, Tottenham face fresh competition from arch rivals Arsenal for Eze’s signature (talkSPORT), so they might not have it all their own way.

In the event a deal cannot be done for him, Levy will need alternatives, and Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku could be one of them.

The £195,000-per-week Frenchman does command a hefty wage, but his stellar form at RB Leipzig and versatility makes him an attractive possibility. Nkunku can also play almost anywhere across the attacking line, including Eze’s positions as a CAM and on the left.

Commanding a price tag of around £59 million, the 27-year-old still managed 14 goals in all competitions last term despite hardly starting, which shows just how impactful the player can be.

Tottenham told to sign Eberechi Eze alternative in Christopher Nkunku

Former Spurs midfielder Steffen Freund, speaking to Hochgepokart, has certainly endorsed a potential move.

Freund believes that Tottenham’s potential signing of Nkunku could help to unlock Mathys Tel too, with the pundit urging Levy and co to consider a deal.

“Tottenham need another attacking option. I’d look at Christopher Nkunku if I were them – he can make the difference,” said Freund.

“He can play in behind the striker and up front, he’s already at Chelsea. He did an outstanding job at RP Leipzig; he’s currently underperforming but there’s a great player in there. Mathys Tel is a good signing, he can play up front, and, on the wing, he’d link up well with Nkunku.”

According to reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, Tottenham made an enquiry for Nkunku recently, so there has been concrete interest from N17 as well.

This could be one to keep an eye on, as competition is likely to heat up for Eze’s signature after his stellar season at Palace.

Newcastle United are starting to click into gear in the summer transfer market, launching a triple bid for some top targets: Joao Pedro, Anthony Elanga and goalkeeper James Trafford.

Frustratingly, all three offers have been rejected. The Telegraph have actually reported that the total package, put aside to reel in the targets, came in at £125m. What comes next is uncertain, but all three players are interested in making the move to St. James’ Park.

In particular, the Magpies could do with some more strength across the frontline. Eddie Howe worked wonders in guiding United back into the Champions League and picking up a Carabao Cup title last season, but Newcastle cannot afford to suffer another frustrating summer transfer window.

While efforts in the aforementioned will be redoubled, Newcastle have also covered their six, earmarking one of the Premier League’s most prominent forwards as a backup.

Newcastle chasing Premier League star

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle continue to monitor Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, with sources even claiming the Toon are putting serious consideration into making a concrete move.

Transfer Focus

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

Valued at £40m, the England international returned from a promising loan spell with Aston Villa last month but is not expected to remain at Old Trafford after falling out with Ruben Amorim.

Rashford’s preference is to sign for Barcelona, but with the La Liga champions prioritising the signing of Nico Williams, Newcastle are primed to complete their swoop.

Howe would like a loan move, so it remains to be seen how this one will pan out.

What Marcus Rashford would bring to Newcastle

Rashford is one of the most talented footballers to have emerged from the English production line in modern times, though he’s fallen by the wayside over the past couple of years and could do with a career change away from Man United.

The 27-year-old hasn’t reached the last-chance saloon yet, but he’s riding through his ostensible best years and won’t want to see them go to waste.

At his rip-roaring best, the wide forward – who can also play centrally – is a robust and dangerous player indeed, with his proven ability to score significant hauls across any given campaign even suggesting he could be a better signing than the likes of Pedro and Elanga.

24/25

25

6

4

23/24

33

7

3

22/23

35

17

6

21/22

25

4

2

20/21

37

11

13

19/20

31

17

9

There’s definitely an ebb and flow to Rashford’s top-flight career, but who can dispute the forward’s prowess when he’s on his A-game? Indeed, only two years ago, journalist Mazola Molefe declared him a “goal machine” for the Red Devils.

Pedro, who is 23, hasn’t yet demonstrated quite the same clinical aptitude. Indeed, the versatile forward has fired home 30 goals from 70 matches for Brighton, also laying on ten assists, but 16 of his strikes have come from the penalty spot, and with Alexander Isak assigned the spot-kick role for Howe’s outfit, there’s no guarantee that the Brazilian will hit the ground running.

As far as Elanga’s concerned, a deal for either Pedro or Rashford wouldn’t directly affect him, for the Sweden international plies his trade on the right flank, and thus would contest Jacob Murphy for a starting berth.

The Nottingham Forest star has been fantastic since leaving Man United, notching six goals and 12 assists for a high-flying team last year.

But even still, Rashford’s arrival would signify something more exciting than either deal, for if Howe can manage to get a tune from the fallen superstar, he would have a most invaluable attacking asset indeed as the club step back into Europe’s elite sphere.

Ultimately, Newcastle’s above-mentioned transfer offers suggest that Rashford is not at the top of the shopping list right now. Perhaps that’s because a loan move is indeed preferred for the £300k-per-week winger.

However, if Newcastle do end up signing him, Howe’s tactical grasp might just see Rashford return to his finest form and spearhead the next chapter in his thrilling Tyneside journey.

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While Afghanistan coach Trott believes “pressure is on South Africa,” SA coach Walter says burden of past losses should not be borne by current crop of players

Sidharth Monga26-Jun-20243:14

Rob Walter: ‘Getting over the line in close games gives us confidence’

At the risk of navel-gazing and giving too much importance to mainstream media, it is hard to contemplate team representatives outnumbering the press at a press conference before a World Cup semi-final. South Africa’s head coach Rob Walter arrived with their media officer and security officer to speak to a total of one member of the press. This is not the first time it has happened with South Africa during this World Cup – they kicked off their campaign on Long Island similarly – but there is something eerie about a semi-final creating no buzz in one of the most passionate centres for cricket at the T20 World Cup 2024.Well, almost one of the most passionate centres. For this ground – Brian Lara Cricket Academy – is located 50km from Port-of-Spain, on the outskirts of San Fernando. The Queen’s Park Oval, owned by a private club, has refused to upgrade with the times and has been left behind, but taking such a showpiece event away from the historic venue in the heart of Port-of-Spain to a ground that doesn’t necessarily hold more people is akin to cutting the nose to spite the face.Then comes the schedule, which doesn’t even give teams the time to train. South Africa at least held an optional training session after having arrived on Monday night, but Afghanistan finished their qualification well into the wee hours of Tuesday for a match on Wednesday. So excuse them for not training a day before the semi-final.Related

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Not that the ICC would have thrown open the gates to the public to watch the training anyway. There are lessons to be learnt from MCG in Melbourne and Eden Gardens in Kolkata, two of the few international grounds where people can come and watch the nets.Despite all this and other problems, the World Cup has been a roaring success. On TV, that is. Perhaps that’s the future of the sport? The fans at the grounds are just not worth the bother. The carnival atmosphere that World Cups of sports carry doesn’t seem to be a prerequisite for the cricket one to be a success.Not that South Africa mind. They allegedly freeze under the spotlight so perhaps it is best to stay under the radar? “This is an empty hall, which is a good sign, I think,” Walter joked when asked if it felt like a semi-final. Before he put the press in its place: “It’s not really about the press but about the occasion, isn’t it?”Walter did say that you can’t mislead yourself into believing it is just another game. Better to embrace it and the emotions that come with it. How does it manifest? Do you train differently? Do you not sleep well?2:11

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Walter again joked he is not the best person to talk about the quality of sleep since his is never “very good”. “I think there’s always an energy that you can feel that’s tangible when it comes to a semi-final,” he went on to say. “There’ll be a mixture of emotions which is with anxiety but excitement and I think anyone in any sport, if they get to this phase of a competition, feels that. And so really, it’s just acknowledging that and accepting it and then just understanding what you’ll do with that. We still want to play our best cricket in the key moments of the game tomorrow.”It is being said that this South Africa is different because it has been winning close games, but is a convenient, almost unfalsifiable claim: if they fail to win the title, it will again be said that they failed to win “when it mattered the most”. Walter chose not to argue that point but said whatever near misses have taken place, in the past, the burden is not theirs to carry.”The near misses in the past, they belong to the people who missed them,” Walter said. “To be honest, this team is a different team. We own whatever is ours to own. And so, our nearest reflection point is this tournament where we’ve managed to get over the line. So that’s what we think about.”That is exactly what another South African by birth, Englishman by nationality, and Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott is focussing on. “We go into the semi-final with no scarring or no history with regards to semi-finals,” Trott said minutes after winning against Bangladesh. “This is uncharted territory for us. We’re just going to go out there and give it our all. There’s no preconceived ideas on it all, or history of failure or success in semi-finals in past years. For us it’s a new challenge, and I think that makes us dangerous in the semi-finals as a side with nothing to lose and obviously a lot of pressure on the opposition.”Now that feels like a semi-final-level attempt at needling.

Leeds United have plenty of time ahead of them to dip into the summer transfer window to bolster their options ahead of a season in the Premier League.

The Whites know that they will have to recruit well to avoid the drop in their first year back in the top-flight, as the last six sides to go up have come straight back down again.

One player who does not appear to be on his way to Elland Road this summer, however, is winger Manor Solomon, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan in West Yorkshire.

Journalist Graeme Bailey told The Boot Room: “I am told that Solomon still thinks he can break into the first team at Tottenham. He has gained so much confidence from his spell at Leeds and now feels fully adapted to English football. He is a very interesting option, Spurs like him and are ready to let him prove himself during pre-season.”

Solomon produced 12 goals and ten assists in the Championship this season for Leeds to help them on their way to the league title, and this update suggests that he will not be joining on a permanent basis.

The other Premier League player who was on loan at Elland Road in the 2024/25 campaign was Joe Rothwell, and the club should not be looking to bring him back.

Why Leeds should not sign Joe Rothwell

The Whites should look elsewhere in the transfer market instead of attempting to bring the English whiz back from Bournemouth, because he is not suited to the physicality of the Premier League.

Rothwell arrived in West Yorkshire to provide valuable back-up in the central midfield positions for Daniel Farke in the 2024/25 campaign, and that is exactly what he did.

As you can see in the table above, the 30-year-old maestro offered a reliable presence with the ball at his feet, completing 91% of his attempted passes, and provided creativity with his ability to assist his teammates.

However, Leeds will need different attributes when they are battling against relegation from the Premier League next season, and that is why the club should avoid a deal to bring him back.

In the 2023/24 Premier League season, Rothwell lost 53% of his overall duels and 100% of his aerial battles for Bournemouth across 11 appearances, whilst being dribbled past six times in three starts.

This suggests that he does not possess the physical attributes required to thrive in the top-flight, hence why the Cherries opted to loan him to the second tier, and Leeds are now being linked with a star who would be a huge upgrade in that position.

Leeds pushing to sign Premier League star

According to reports in France, Leeds United have identified West Ham United central midfielder Tomas Soucek as a target for the summer transfer window.

The report suggests that the West Yorkshire outfit are now ‘pushing’ to bring the Czech international over to Elland Road to bolster the manager’s options in the middle of the park.

Transfer Focus

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

It is said that there is a chance that the former Slavia Prague star leaves the Hammers this summer, and the Whites are looking to potentially take advantage of that.

Leeds have added the 30-year-old titan to their list of targets and are seemingly set to pursue a deal for the midfielder, given that they are ‘pushing’ for him.

The report further claims that the Championship champions are looking for experienced options to bolster their efforts to stay in the Premier League, and Soucek – who is valued at £19m by Football Transfers – is a player who fits the bill perfectly.

Why Leeds should sign Soucek as a Rothwell upgrade

The midfield star has racked up 194 appearances in the Premier League in his career with the Hammers so far, and 245 appearances for the club in all competitions.

This shows that Soucek is an experienced player who has proven that he can perform on a consistent basis at the top level in England, as shown by how long his career at the London Stadium has been, which is not the case for Rothwell.

Soucek is also a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, with a return of 36 goals in his top-flight career, whilst Rothwell – who is also 30 – has never scored at that level.

Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchcliffe described him as the most “dangerous” player in the box in the clip above, as he scored one of his nine Premier League goals this season against Wolves in December.

As you can see in the table above, Soucek also provides a level of physicality that Rothwell would not, as he wins duels at an efficient rate and is particularly impressive in the air.

As aforementioned, Rothwell did not win a single aerial battle in the 2023/24 season for Bournemouth in the Premier League, which shows that the West Ham star would be a major upgrade on him from an aerial perspective.

Soucek would add an imposing and physical presence to the Leeds midfield, with his ability to win duels and compete in the air, whilst the Bournemouth loanee would seemingly be a brittle option in the top-flight.

Therefore, hopefully, Leeds will win the race for the Czechia international this summer as a huge upgrade on Rothwell in the middle of the park, as he is a proven Premier League performer who can offer goals and physicality.

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Whereas, the Cherries outcast has not proven himself in the top-flight and does not offer enough physically to perform week-in-week-out at that level, which is why avoiding a deal for him in order to pursue Soucek would be a great move by the Whites.