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Despite soaring up to the Premier League in dramatic fashion, Sunderland have found their summer so far to be testing.

Indeed, their playoff final goalscoring hero Tommy Watson has already departed the Black Cats for pastures new at Brighton and Hove Albion, with a second high-profile exit in the midfield ranks perhaps on the cards with Jobe Bellingham potentially moving on to German behemoth Borussia Dortmund.

To make matters even worse, Dan Neil has also been subject to many rumours surrounding his immediate Stadium of Light future, with a third quickfire departure surely too much for Sunderland to stomach.

The latest on Neil's future at Sunderland

On top of their homegrown captain allegedly eyeing a move away, standout defender Trai Hume is also finding his name to be on many a summer shopping list, as the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers begin to circle for the energetic Northern Irishman.

Whilst Hume leaving would obviously be a crushing blow, a trio of midfield exits would really deplete Regis Le Bris’ midfield options ahead of their Premier League venture, with reports suggesting that Neil is of interest to Serie A giants AS Roma for around the £15m region.

Bellingham might well steal most of the headlines in the midfield department, but Neil was the necessary glue for Le Bris last season in the middle of the park, leading to the 23-year-old only missing two league clashes all campaign long.

Averaging 5.7 ball recoveries per league match also shows off his relentless drive for the team, with a hope now that an equally spritely midfielder can come in and plug the gap of Neil if Sunderland’s worst fears are realised.

Sunderland's next "outstanding" version of Neil

Whilst losing the long-standing Black Cats servant would hurt in the short term, any wounds opened up by his exit would soon be sutured by a Premier League-ready midfielder entering the building.

As per a report from TEAMTalk earlier this month, Le Bris’ newly promoted side could target Tommy Doyle as a way to boost their reduced midfield numbers, with the report stating that the ex-Manchester City youngster could be available for as little as £3m after finding himself surplus to requirements under Vitor Pereira at current employers Wolves.

Before he tumbled down the pecking order at Molineux, Doyle did prove himself as a promising top-flight star with the Old Gold, as seen in his 50 Premier League appearances to date for Wolves, away from hammering home sublime strikes like the one above last year in the FA Cup.

Neil, of course, also has a fierce effort in his back pocket – with a hefty total of 12 goals and 20 assists next to his name on Wearside – with Doyle further showing off his similarities to the Roma target when previously shining bright in the Championship on loan at Sheffield United.

Games played

44

31

Goals scored

2

3

Assists

3

4

Touches*

57.5

43.3

Accurate passes*

36.6 (84%)

24.5 (78%)

Big chances created

4

6

Total duels won*

4.8

2.3

Looking at the numbers, Doyle would amazingly better Neil’s output on the temporary books of the Blades, with the Manchester-born ace also winning a respectable 2.3 duels per league clash when last battling away in the second tier.

He has since taken to the step up of the Premier League relatively well, with one of his former youth coaches in Mark Kennedy even once comparing his midfield game to that of Steven Gerrard’s when labelling Doyle as “outstanding.”

Ideally, Sunderland would keep Neil around for their daunting jump up to the top-flight, with Kristjaan Speakman revealing that there is a “conversation” to be had over the midfielder’s contract, as well as that of Dennis Cirkin.

But, if he does fancy a new challenge away from his boyhood side, Doyle could well step in and replace Neil adequately, with his game potentially elevated under the fresh methods of Le Bris.

Worse than selling Jobe: "Outstanding" Sunderland star wanted by PL clubs

This Sunderland star is being eyed up by Premier League teams, and his exit would be a bigger blow than Jobe Bellingham’s.

ByDan Emery Jun 4, 2025

Newcastle United swerved past PSR ramifications last summer and are now ready to make some proper investments in Eddie Howe’s team.

Though the mood was dour on Tyneside across the opening months of the 2024/25 campaign, with form at a low ebb after key targets were missed across the closing weeks of the transfer window, the Magpies ended up flying high.

Liverpool were thrashed at Wembley, the 2-1 scoreline flattering the losers in the Carabao Cup final, and a Herculean effort to seal fifth in the Premier League unlocked the gates back into the Champions League.

St. James’ Park presents an attractive project, for sure, but Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo threw a spanner in the works when rejecting the Magpies’ interest due to a desire to move to Manchester United.

Newcastle, as always, will adapt, and indeed have found the perfect alternative.

Newcastle open talks for Mbeumo alternative

Mbeumo might be out of reach, but at least Newcastle have got the funds to launch on a top right-sided forward, with Brentford demanding around £60m for their talisman.

And if The Athletic are worth their salt (they are), the Toon have been having discussions behind the scenes about signing Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo as they look to complete Howe’s frontline.

Semenyo, 25, was a revelation on the south coast last season, providing a prolific and dynamic threat.

Having proven himself across two seasons in England’s top flight, the Cherries would be looking for a £70m fee if they are to cash in, and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen.

What Antoine Semenyo would bring to Newcastle

Bournemouth signed Semenyo from the Championship’s Bristol City for £10.5m in January 2023, and he’s since gone from strength to strength under Andoni Iraola’s leadership.

The aforementioned Athletic report states that while Howe is determined to add some firepower to Newcastle’s right wing, balance and multi-positionality are factors which will play into the manager’s reckoning. Semenyo, luckily, embodies such tactical principles and could be a fantastic fit.

Having been shuffled about the frontline last season, the two-footed talent has demonstrated an aptitude across different areas, always retaining a strong degree of potency.

Left winger

20

5

4

Right winger

19

6

1

Centre-forward

1

1

0

Moreover, he’s been hailed as a “workhorse” and a “duel monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, owing to an underlying tenacity that speaks of his combativeness, his desire to win.

It is for these reasons that he might prove to be an ideal Mbeumo alternative. As per FBref, Semenyo ranked among the top 5% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers last year for shots taken per 90, and his unrelenting search for goals led the data-powered site to list Mbeumo as one of his most comparable players.

Semenyo’s incremental progress over the past two years makes a telling comment on his chances of succeeding in Howe’s Newcastle system.

He has the underlying qualities to mirror those of Semenyo, who finished the campaign having scored 20 goals from 38 Premier League appearances, but also having averaged 1.8 key passes, 1.4 dribbles and 4.7 duels per game, as per Sofascore.

If Semenyo can tune that ball-striking hunger, streamline it, he might become a sensational part of a Newcastle side that just continues to exceed expectations.

Newcastle's most expensive sales of all time

A look at Newcastle’s 20 most expensive departures.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 5, 2025

Arsenal are now expected to submit a bid for a Real Madrid target, with Mikel Arteta personally keen on securing his signature, according to a report.

Gunners in transfer tussle with Real Madrid

While they ultimately came up short against Paris Saint-Germain, the Gunners proved themselves to be a force to be reckoned with by dispatching of Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-final last season.

As such, the Emirates Stadium should be an attractive destination for some top players this summer, with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi thought to have chosen a move to north London ahead of remaining in Spain and signing for Xabi Alonso’s side.

Arteta is seemingly very keen to strengthen his midfield this summer, with Thomas Partey heading for the exit door, having also set his sights on Brentford’s Christian Norgaard, who has agreed to make the move across the capital.

However, Arsenal are also battling Madrid for the signature of a centre-back, namely Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera, with a report from The Guardian revealing Arteta’s side are now hopeful of getting a deal over the line.

The Gunners boss has identified Mosquera as his main target as back-up for Gabriel and William Saliba, and the north Londoners are expected to make an improved offer for his services, having already seen a £16m bid knocked back by the Spanish side.

Zubimendi 2.0: Arsenal ready to offer £35m for "barbaric" talent

With Martín Zubimendi set to arrive, but Jorginho and Thomas Partey departing, could Arsenal make a £35m offer to sign another Spanish midfield star?

ByBen Gray Jun 28, 2025

Personal terms aren’t expected to be an issue, so a deal could be relatively straightforward if the Premier League side are willing to increase their bid slightly, with it previously being revealed that Valencia are looking to receive a fee of just £21m.

"Dominant" Mosquera impressing in La Liga

Football scout Ben Mattinson has been left very impressed by the 21-year-old’s performances for Valencia, having praised the youngster for his ability in duels and possession of the ball.

Despite still being in the early stages of his career, the Spaniard has already cemented himself as a key player for Valencia, making 37 appearances in La Liga last season, which indicates the centre-back could make an instant impact at Arsenal.

That said, it will be very difficult to dislodge Gabriel or Saliba in the starting XI, while Jakub Kiwior also impressed in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, playing “exceptionally well” against Real Madrid, according to Martin Keown.

As such, bringing in a new centre-back shouldn’t be a priority for Arsenal, but signing Mosquera would provide them with greater strength in depth, in order to compete on all fronts next season.

There’s no hiding from the fact that Manchester United fell by the wayside last season, but Ruben Amorim is intent on bringing Old Trafford back to the fore.

The Premier League giants were grounded, finishing 15th. Having also lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, Amorim knows he has his work cut out, but with Matheus Cunha signed and conversations ongoing for the transfer of Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, there’s hope yet that a corner can be turned in the coming months.

However, it’s not only the frontline that needs repackaging. Indeed, the Red Devils are also hoping to make some changes in the central engine room.

The latest on Man Utd's midfield search

Manchester United need a midfielder, hopefully someone who can help to dynamise and widen the scope of Amorim’s ball-playing tactical vision.

Juventus’ Douglas Luiz has been placed on the radar, but after a disappointing season in Italy that led to only three Serie A starts, would he be the best pick?

Transfer Focus

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

Instead, United appear to be showing greater interest in Valencia star Javi Guerra, with reports from Italy claiming that the 22-year-old is actually close to joining United this summer.

A fee could be agreed for around €30m (£26m); this is an attractive figure, but it’s led to Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid also registering their interest.

United need to move quickly to get this one done.

What Javi Guerra would bring to Man Utd

While Christian Eriksen’s departure at the end of his contract takes away some experience from United’s ranks, last season’s travails have made it clear that some youthful exuberance would be a good thing for the progression of Amorim’s project.

Guerra would certainly offer that. His technical quality and trademark Spanish footballing IQ have led talent scout Jacek Kulig to liken him to Xabi Alonso, one of the finest playmakers of his generation.

More contemporarily, he’s perhaps cut from the same cloth as Martin Zubimendi, who has just signed for Arsenal in a deal worth £51m. In this way, United could land their own version of the distinguished Spain international, thus bridging the gap toward England’s leading pack.

Matches (starts)

36 (31)

36 (33)

Goals

3

2

Assists

3

1

Touches*

49.8

61.0

Pass completion

80%

84%

Big chances created

6

1

Key passes*

0.6

0.5

Dribbles*

0.8

0.5

Ball recoveries*

4.7

3.9

Tackles + interceptions*

2.0

3.2

Duels won*

3.5

4.6

Zubimendi is obviously the crisper and more refined player, with ex-Spain manager Luis de la Fuente even going as far as to name him one of the “best central midfielders in the world”.

Slightly more progressive and mobile, Guerra could add that robust number eight profile that the Red Devils so crave in the middle of the park. Guerra actually ranked among the top 17% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons and the top 18% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

Hailed a “serious talent” by Statman Dave, Guerra might be young but he’s already proving himself capable against the best of them, one of only six U21 midfielders to have won over 50 tackles and take-ons each across Europe’s top five leagues last year, a list that also contains Jude Bellingham and Barcelona’s Pedri.

It’s a profile that United don’t quite have at present, especially now that Eriksen has gone. This could herald a new wave of quality through to this great football club, looking to get back on its feet after quite the rough patch.

Man Utd open talks to sign Weghorst 2.0 who was "like Cristiano Ronaldo"

Manchester United are still hunting for a new talisman for Ruben Amorim’s side this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 7, 2025

West Ham United are now confident they can get a deal for an “explosive” midfielder over the line, having identified him as a key target, according to a report.

West Ham closing in on El Hadji Malick Diouf

With long-serving left-back Aaron Cresswell departing upon the expiration of his contract, one of Graham Potter’s main tasks this summer will be to bring in a new left-back, and the deal for Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf is now edging closer to completion.

Should the medical go smoothly, the Slavia Prague defender is set to become the Hammers’ first signing of the summer, but he is unlikely to be the last, given that Mohammed Kudus’ departure has left a major gap in the squad.

With Tottenham Hotspur shelling out £55m on Kudus, the Irons should have ample funds to bring in a new attacking midfielder, and they are now eyeing an ambitious move for Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, who could be available for around £40m this summer.

That is according to a report from The Guardian, which states West Ham are optimistic and believe that a deal will be possible, although there could be competition for the Englishman’s signature from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

West Ham may get Kudus revenge with £35m Spurs target tempted by Irons move

The Hammers have opened negotiations to sign a “phenomenal” player.

1 ByDominic Lund Jul 13, 2025

The 22-year-old has been identified as a key target for the Hammers, as Potter is looking to freshen up his squad with younger players this summer, having been forced to work with the oldest squad in the Premier League last season.

"Explosive" Elliott could be coup for West Ham

Back in June, the Liverpool ace made it clear he may have to think about leaving the Reds this summer, given that he has never really managed to solidify his place as a regular starter.

As such, a move to the London Stadium could make perfect sense, and the maestro’s performances at international level showcase what he could be capable of if Potter were to give him a consistent run in the starting XI.

The London-born midfielder scored five goals for England U21s en-route to their U21 European Championships triumph back in June, maintaining a fantastic record in front of goal over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.66 (99th percentile)

Assists

0.33 (86th percentile)

Progressive passes

8.80 (98th percentile)

As such, Elliott, who has been lauded as “explosive” by Arne Slot, could be a fantastic addition to the West Ham squad, and it is promising news that they believe he may be tempted by a move to the London Stadium.

Crystal Palace have now made an approach over a deal for an “amazing” defender, journalist Mike McGrath has revealed.

Crystal Palace set sights on Guehi replacement

Marc Guehi will forever be remembered for being the first captain to lead Palace to a major trophy, but with two Premier League clubs battling it out for his services, it is looking increasingly likely that the Englishman could be heading for the exit door sooner rather than later.

Newcastle United and Liverpool are keen on the defender, who could be available for around £60m, and the centre-back’s departure could be a real blow for Oliver Glasner, considering he was among the Eagles’ most consistent performers in the Premier League last season.

Crystal Palace’s best performers 24/25

Average rating (WhoScored)

Daniel Munoz

7.11

Eberechi Eze

7.09

Trevoh Chalobah

6.92

Maxence Lacroix

6.88

Marc Guehi

6.81

Amid doubts over Guehi’s future, the Eagles have started identifying potential replacements, and Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande has emerged as a major target, having tabled a bid for the Ivorian.

However, in a report for The Telegraph, McGrath has revealed there is another option from much closer to home, with Crystal Palace submitting an enquiry over a potential loan deal for Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong.

Palace have a history of doing deals with their London rivals, and Acheampong is now of interest, although only on a loan deal, with the reported asking price of £35m perhaps deemed to be too high.

Crystal Palace could make swift move for defender who pocketed Kvaratskhelia

The Eagles are very interested in signing a full-back, and could make an approach in the very near future.

ByDominic Lund Jul 8, 2025

Only one loan is allowed from a Premier League rival, and the defender has been identified as the perfect addition to Glasner’s squad, given that he is versatile, with the defender comfortable playing at both centre-back and right-back.

"Amazing" Acheampong could be fantastic signing for Crystal Palace

The 19-year-old is still in the early days of his career, but he is clearly very highly-rated in west London, having been praised by Enzo Maresca after impressing in the Europa Conference League last season.

Maresca said: “The one that I fell in love with [tonight] is Josh Acheampong, because potentially he can be a fantastic player for this club, and for football in general”.

Teammate Tosin Adarabioyo has been left similarly impressed by his fellow defender, saying: “Josh has absolutely everything to be a top, top defender. He’s quick, he’s strong, he’s amazing on the ball, and he has a lot of confidence which I love to see in a young defender.”

The teenager is still inexperienced at first-team level, having made just 14 appearances for Chelsea, but he is clearly very talented, and Palace have a good history of signing young defenders on loan from their London rivals.

Chalobah impressed Glasner during his brief spell with the Eagles last season, prior to being recalled, and the manager will be hoping that Acheampong can have a similar impact at Selhurst Park, should the Blues be open to a loan deal.

Newly-promoted Burnley have made an audacious approach to sign a Chelsea big-name this summer, with Enzo Maresca and BlueCo looking to trim their bloated squad before deadline day on September 1.

£80m Chelsea star tells agents to find him new club after becoming "unhappy"

He’s keen on leaving Stamford Bridge.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 25, 2025

Their £87.5 million financial windfall from winning the Club World Cup, alongside their estimated £100 million raised through player sales already, has put Chelsea in very good stead when it comes to the PSR threshold – even with their £145m splash on Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro.

However, Chelsea do still have to sell, mainly because of their recent pact with UEFA.

“Last week they came to an agreement with UEFA that basically said that if they want to register new players for the Champions League next season, they have to make sure that their transfer spend this season is balanced out this summer by the players they sell as well,” said Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol earlier this month.

“So they’ve signed players like Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. That means they also have to sell players.”

Chelsea were fined around £26.7 million by UEFA for breaching their FFP laws, and they could be slapped with an additional £51.2 million penalty if they fail to comply again in the next four years.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

That being said, the threat of a reduced Champions League squad list is even more pressing, especially as Chelsea try to upgrade further with potential deals for both Ajax defender Jorrel Hato and RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons (BBC).

Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Nicolas Jackson, João Félix, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Alfie Gilchrist have all been named as Chelsea players who could leave this summer and make room for new additions.

Chelsea will be particularly keen to offload left-back Ben Chilwell, who’s on around £200,000-per-week, and journalist Simon Phillips has an update on this.

Ben Chilwell set to leave Chelsea with Burnley approach made

The left-back once captained Chelsea but has suffered from crippling injury problems in the last few seasons, with BlueCo looking to part company.

Chilwell was never in Maresca’s plans right from the off, and was omitted from the squad last summer with Raheem Sterling, later joining Crystal Palace on loan for the second half of 2024/2025, where he impressed in flashes.

Now, Phillips reports that Burnley have made an enquiry about signing Chilwell from Chelsea, but Scott Parker’s side may only want a loan as things stand.

“Ben Chilwell will leave Chelsea this summer after spending last season on loan with Crystal Palace, which is considered a successful spell for the former England left back who was signed for Chelsea by Frank Lampard,” wrote Phillips.

“Chelsea want to sell him permanently, but most recent enquiries that have come in lately have been for a loan move only.

“SPTC sources have heard Burnley have made an enquiry to Chelsea for Chilwell to understand any conditions of a deal to sign Chilwell this summer.

“We are unclear what kind of deal Burnley would offer, but sources expect it to be some sort of loan deal. The ball will then be in Chelsea and Chilwell’s court in terms of what deal they will accept.”

Continuing their chase for a shot-stopper, West Ham United are now reportedly plotting a move to sign an alternative option to Botafogo’s John Victor this summer.

Callum Wilson: West Ham move a "great opportunity"

Of course, before the Hammers have got the chance to solve their goalkeeper problem, they’ve welcomed a much-needed attacking reinforcement in the form of Callum Wilson. The experienced Premier League striker has arrived in a bargain deal after leaving Newcastle United as a free agent earlier this summer.

Delighted to have completed a move to the London Stadium, Wilson told West Ham’s official website: “I’ve spoken with Michail, and he only mentioned positive things about the Club, said it’s a great opportunity, and yeah I think I’m looking forward to meeting the other players.

“I’ve been in the England squad with James Ward-Prowse before and you play against these guys week in week out, so I’m guessing they’ll have a different opinion of me when they meet me in the dressing room as opposed to when you come up against an opposition player.

“On the pitch, you obviously have to put away the smile and be a little bit more serious, a little bit more aggressive, so yeah it’d be nice to actually be friends with the guys rather than in opposition!”

Whilst there will be some concerns about his injury record, West Ham will be more aware than most just how clinical the 33-year-old can be in front of goal, given that he’s scored 12 goals against them throughout his career.

Now set to benefit from his goalscoring prowess, the Hammers can tick one of their top priorities off the list and turn towards a man to prevent the goals at the other end. And although they’ve already reportedly submitted an offer to sign Botafogo’s Victor, those at the London Stadium still seemingly have one other option in mind.

West Ham considering Viktor Johansson move

According to Swedish newspaper Sportsbladet, as relayed by Sport Witness, West Ham are now plotting a move to sign Viktor Johansson from Stoke City this summer. The Championship side reportedly value their shot-stopper at more than €8m (£7m) as they aim to at least make some profit from one of their key players.

Starts

46

25

Save Percentage

71.8%

64.3%

Saves per 90

3.28

3.07

Clean Sheets

14

5

In terms of being good enough to compete with Areola and potentially take his place, there should be no concerns about Johansson’s ability. Simply put, if West Ham fail in their pursuit of Victor, then signing the Stoke City goalkeeper would be their next best option.

Described as “ambitious” by former Stoke boss Narcis Pelach, Johansson could realise that ambition with a move to West Ham this summer. As the Hammers continue to chase a fresh shot-stopper, the Swede could find himself in a battle to join the London club against Victor.

Aston Villa have been offered the chance to sign another player after they finally sealed their first major outfield signing of the summer.

Unai Emery can breathe a sigh of relief with the arrival of striker Evan Guessand from Nice, who joins the Villans for an initial £26 million, which could rise to £30 million with add-ons (BBC).

Angers 1-4 Nice

9.31

Nice 6-0 Brest

9.03

Nice 8-0 St Etienne

8.76

Nice 2-0 Marseille

8.70

Nice 2-0 Lens

8.63

via WhoScored

It took months for the Midlands side to confirm a noteworthy arrival ahead of what is a vital Premier League campaign, but Guessand will now be available for selection ahead of their first league game of the season against Newcastle next Saturday.

Out of the versatile Ivorian’s 30 Ligue 1 starts last term, 10 of them came at centre-forward, with Guessand starting a further eight on the right-wing and nine as a second striker.

The 24-year-old also notched a brilliant 13 goals and 10 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions, so it is safe to say Emery has secured an excellent replacement for Marcus Rashford at a pretty good price.

It comes as a piece of great news for Emery, following a window dominated by PSR concerns and rumours of key men potentially leaving Villa Park.

Further encouragement for Villa supporters comes via reports that their side may not be done with Guessand, as links continue to surround a move for wantaway Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson.

The Senegalese, who worked with Emery at Villarreal, is expected to leave Stamford Bridge before deadline day on September 1 (Fabrizio Romano), and Villa’s head coach has already expressed his real admiration for the 24-year-old.

“We worked during the one year on his skill, he improved his understanding better, how he could exploit his potential, and playing minutes and getting experiences was the next step,” Emery told Sky Sports about Jackson.

“But his attitude as well was fantastic. He was always learning. He was always demanding to train more, to be focused. He was also being a professional every day out of training sessions at home because he was focused on football like the first priority in his life.”

Aston Villa offered Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson

Now, talkSPORT report that Villa have been offered the chance to sign Jackson. Enzo Maresca’s side value the African, who’s ready to leave the west London club, at around £80 million – which is just a no-go for most interested clubs.

However, there is a concession that Chelsea will most likely need to reduce their asking price for the attacker if they’re to find a buyer.

There is also the possibility of Chelsea green-lighting a loan deal for Jackson, which is far more feasible from Villa’s perspective, but the Blues would want an obligation to buy clause inserted into the deal.

Jackson bagged 13 goals and six assists in all competitions last season, but Joao Pedro and Liam Delap’s arrivals have now pushed him down Maresca’s pecking order.

The centre-forward has also scored just one Premier League goal since the turn of 2025 and got sent off during Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign, so Jackson could gain a valuable new lease of life working under Emery again in the Midlands.

Peter Crouch called Jackson “unbelievable” at points last season, and claimed the player deserves more respect for his contributions at Chelsea.

Celtic now look to be closing in on their eighth signing of the summer transfer window, in another boost for manager Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers "very pleased" with his Celtic side

The Scottish Premiership champions maintained their 100% winning start in the league this season on Saturday, sealing a routine 3-0 victory at home to Livingston. Speaking after the game, Celtic manager Rodgers was in positive spirits, with his side already six points clear of rivals Rangers after just three matches.

“I was very pleased. I thought the performance was really good. We started well and with the tempo that we wanted. There were a lot of changes but the fluidity in the team was very good and we got in to some good areas in the first half. In the second half, we had a good flow in the game and scored three very good goals.

“Defensively we’re strong, we’ve conceded only one goal in four domestic games. And today, against a team that are very compact and tight, we showed some really good moments of football.”

Now, the positivity appears to be continuing at Celtic, with the Hoops looking to be on the verge of completing another summer signing, following a new update.

Celtic close to completing 8th summer signing

Taking to X on Monday morning, Anthony Joseph reports that Celtic are closing in on the signing of Michel-Ange Balikwisha from Royal Antwerp, with a medical scheduled in the UK this week.

This is brilliant news for anyone of a Celtic persuasion, with Balikwisha a long-time transfer target who could make them even more of an attacking force.

The Belgian has scored 30 goals in 145 appearances for Antwerp, predominantly shining from the left wing, but also being able to do a good job on the opposite flank and in more of a central role.

Muscle injury

2024/25

21

3

Muscle injury

2024/25

57

9

Torn thigh muscle

2024/25

127

17

Knee surgery

2023/24

49

10

Muscle injury

2022/23

44

2

Torn thigh muscle

2022/23

59

12

Hip injury

2021/22

33

7

Hamstring injury

2021/22

18

3

That said, the one slight concern for Rodgers will be Balikwisha’s injury history, with the 24-year-old suffering plenty of absences during his career.

Talks open: Celtic in "negotiations" to sign full-back similar to Johnston

The Hoops could be busy before the deadline.

1 ByCharlie Smith Aug 24, 2025

But hopefully, he has rid himself of those fitness woes, coming in and being an immediate key man for Celtic, giving the Scottish champions the additional firepower that they have craved throughout the summer window.