It seems almost inevitable that Viktor Gyokeres’ remarkable goalscoring form will see him land a move to an elite European outfit.

The Sweden international – currently on 27 goal contributions in 18 games in 2024/25 – signalled his talents to the world once more during Sporting CP’s 4-1 demolition of Manchester City.

With the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester United understood to hold some interest in the forward, a summer transfer window move could very well be on the cards.

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It just remains to be seen who will stump up the required funds to meet the 26-year-old’s reported release clause of £83m. Albeit, it’s allegedly possible that Sporting will allow their top striker to depart for as little as £61m in the summer.

Man Utd could compete with FC Bayern

With the Red Devils struggling in the goalscoring department – particularly in the English top-flight – it’s far from surprising to hear of their maintained interest in Gyokeres.

“Manchester United are big competition for Viktor Gyokeres. It’s easier, of course, for United with Ruben Amorim having swapped Sporting CP for Old Trafford,” Christian Falk informed CaughtOffside in his exclusive Fact Files column.

“Also, Bayern already have Harry Kane in the squad, so Gyokeres won’t get so much playing time in Munich, which isn’t a great argument for Vincent Komapany’s side.

“The Red Devils are also interested in another Bayern Munich target in Benjamin Sesko (so you see the club is always competing with the Premier League).”

Bayern Munich have Gyokeres on their shortlist

The Bavarian giants would most certainly provide more than stiff competition for the Primeira Liga star’s services normally.

However, it’s fair to assume that a range of circumstances, not discounting the arrival of former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, will run in Manchester United’s favour. Former Red Devils star Dimitar Berbatov certainly seems to feel that this is a distinct likelihood. He told Sky Sports that he suspects the Primeira Liga attacker, currently ‘scoring goals for fun’ in Portugal, may very well join his former boss in Manchester.

Bayern Munich, for their part, are unlikely to stand in their way, should that eventuality come to pass.

“Bayern Munich have a number of strikers on their shortlist: Omar Marmoush, Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda,” Falk said.

“They’re not planning an immediate signing in the near future; it’s a list to keep in mind for the future. They are thinking about signing a striker, perhaps, in 2026. So any club that is moving now for these players has a big advantage whilst Bayern make the most of Harry Kane.”

On current form, too, Bayern Munich may very well have to accept that this top European talent is considerably likely to be snapped up by a top Premier League club in the summer.

The German reporter went on to add: “Gyokeres isn’t their top target at the moment, though they are very interested in him. Bayern would prefer to see the Swede stay in Lisbon longer so that they could join the market later for him (when his contract is closer to running out and the price isn’t so high).

“The problem is that he’s playing in the same position as Harry Kane and he’s unlikely to want to stay on the bench behind the England international.

“Still, you see how highly rated he is that Bayern see him as a potential successor to Kane. It’s perhaps too early for Bayern to move in for him, but the interest is concrete.

“I would say that, perhaps, after the match against Manchester City in the Champions League, a move to the Premier League could come more quickly.”

The post How Harry Kane could help Man Utd sign 66-goal demon who’s ‘scoring for fun’ appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Although Chelsea are seven places ahead of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League table just three points separate them, and both clubs will rival the other for the signature of a talented Premier League centre-back.

CaughtOffside sources have indicated that despite Bournemouth having only recently tied down Ilya Zabarnyi to a deal which keeps him with the Cherries until 2029, they will listen to clubs willing to offer around £50m for the Ukrainian.

Tottenham and Chelsea want Zabarnyi

Sources indicate that the North Londoners have been tracking the player for a while and are eager to add him to their squad.

Ange Postecoglou certainly has the Lilywhites playing some of their best football in many a year, however, the same could be said of Enzo Maresca’s impact at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian is also thought to be a huge fan of the defender’s playing capabilities and would make room for him in an ever-expanding Chelsea squad.

Of course, Bournemouth’s financial demands are factors that could complicate the transfer process, notwithstanding that sources further advance that both Tottenham and Chelsea are apparently willing to meet those requirements.

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Chelsea are already looking at beating Arsenal to one of their prime targets, whilst Tottenham could agree a pre-contract with a former Man United ace.

Zabarnyi has played in all 11 of Bournemouth’s Premier League games this season (transfermarkt), and his excellence in defence has see the South Coast side beat reigning champions Man City amongst others.

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Andoni Iraola and his board clearly see the player as someone that should be staying at the club for the longer term, but are not in a position to keep him if any of their opponents come up with an offer that they can’t refuse.

From the player’s point of view, sources understand that he would be willing to make the move to the capital but is equally content at the Vitality Stadium, should any of the rumours come to nothing.

The post Exclusive: Tottenham and Chelsea to battle it out for £50m-rated Premier League centre-back appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Another Brazilian talent could soon be heading to English shores, but Crystal Palace face fierce Premier League competition to land Botofogo baller, Luiz Henrique.

CaughtOffside sources have indicated the the €30m-rated ace has drawn interest from a number of top clubs across Europe but his preference is to hone his talents in the English top-flight.

Crystal Palace keen on Luiz Henrique

Fulham and Everton are also reported to be keeping tabs on the 23-year-old baller, and all three Premier League sides have had scouts at the recent Botafogo matches against Cuiaba-MT and Vasco da Gama.

Sources say that all three have been impressed with the level of the right wingers performances and could be set to test the water with an offer.

It’s understood that the Brazilian club are not prioritising his sale at present as they know that Henrique’s potential and skillset make him a valuable asset in the transfer market.

Therefore, maximising his value will be uppermost in their thinking.

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More and more young Brazilian stars are making their way to Europe to further their careers.

Endrick has lit up the Santiago Bernabeu already with brief cameos at Real Madrid, and players like Luis Guilherme (West Ham United) and Estevao Willian (Chelsea in 2025) will surely do the same in due course.

Those more experienced, such as Raphinha – now finding his feet at Barcelona – and Vini Jr/Rodrygo at Real Madrid, are a blueprint for what’s possible if youngsters continue to work hard.

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It isn’t clear at this stage if Oliver Glasner will still be in place as Palace manager by the time Botafogo are ready to do business, however, there remains a link between the two clubs in John Textor.

Textor currently owns 46 percent of the Eagles and is also majority shareholder at Botafogo. Though Goal report he’s willing to sell his Palace shares, he’s likely to still have a say in any Luiz Henrique transfer.

If the South Londoners can also land one outgoing Chelsea ace and a defender with an £83m release clause as well as Luiz Henrique, it could yet be a successful 2024/25 campaign for them.

The post Exclusive: Crystal Palace face Premier League competition for €30m-rated baller appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United are reportedly preparing a transfer move for Viktor Gyokeres that could also see Joshua Zirkzee join Sporting Lisbon in return.

The Red Devils are eager to land Gyokeres after his terrific form this season, with the Sweden international scoring a remarkable 66 goals in 68 games for Sporting in total, including 23 in 18 games in all competitions this term.

According to the Daily Briefing, Man Utd are ready to try to swoop for Gyokeres under their new manager Ruben Amorim, who will of course know him well from his time in Lisbon.

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It could be that Zirkzee will be the player sacrificed in this potential deal, with the Daily Briefing reporting that the Dutchman’s future at Old Trafford already looks in some doubt.

Are Man United right to prioritise Viktor Gyokeres over Joshua Zirkzee?

On the face of it, exchanging a misfiring forward like Zirkzee for a goal machine like Gyokeres seems like a no-brainer, but should United perhaps show a bit more patience towards their recent signing?

Zirkzee looked an exciting talent at former club Bologna, and it was surely always going to take a bit of time for him to settle in in a new club and in a different league.

The 23-year-old might still come good for MUFC, and there’s also no guarantee that Gyokeres will be as prolific in English football as he has been in the Portuguese top flight.

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We’ve seen so many big names come to United and flop in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, and Gyokeres might end up going the way of the likes of Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez, Jadon Sancho and Antony.

The 26-year-old clearly looks like a tempting option for any top club, with the Daily Briefing noting that Arsenal and others are also keen on him, but he’s not the youngest, and was playing in the Championship less than two years ago.

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Arsenal and Newcastle United are among the clubs that have been scouting and monitoring Ajax midfielder Kenneth Taylor since the start of this season.

Sources close to the situation have informed CaughtOffside that the 22-year-old has been attracting plenty of interest with his strong performances this term, with Arsenal, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Napoli keeping tabs on his development.

Ajax are not keen on letting Taylor go, but CaughtOffside understands that a fee of around €35million could be enough to persuade them to sell the Netherlands international.

Taylor certainly looks like he could be ready to make the step up to playing for a bigger club, and Arsenal could be an ideal destination for him as the Gunners look in need of more bodies in the middle of the park.

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Arsenal have also notably been linked with Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in a report from the Independent, but there could perhaps be a case for Taylor as an alternative.

For one thing, Taylor is younger than Zubimendi, so would be a more long-term option, while at €35m he might also prove the cheaper option.

Of course, Arsenal shouldn’t be afraid to spend big money on proven players, but it could make sense that Taylor ends up being seen as the smarter long-term investment.

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Newcastle could be one to watch in this saga as well, however, and it would surely be a good idea for the Magpies to plan for the future in midfield as there’s surely no guarantee they’ll be able to hold on to a star name like Bruno Guimaraes.

NUFC also looks a tempting project that should be able to lure in top talents like Taylor, and that’s certainly also the case for this ever-improving Aston Villa side under Unai Emery.

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Liverpool are understood to be considering a transfer move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi, who is also being looked at by other top clubs.

Sources have told CaughtOffside that Liverpool are currently showing the strongest interest in a potential deal for Pepi, while the United States international is also on the radar of other big names like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool could do with strengthening their attack amid doubts over Mohamed Salah’s future, while Pepi could arguably also be an upgrade on the inconsistent Darwin Nunez in that central striker role.

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The talented 21-year-old is in superb form at the moment and this has put Europe’s top clubs on alert as he could be available for as little as €25million, CaughtOffside understands.

Ricardo Pepi for €25m is surely a no-brainer for Liverpool

Liverpool have Salah nearing the end of his contract, so could possibly lose their top scorer on a free in just a few months’ time.

That alone is surely enough of a reason for the Reds to go all out and bring in a talent like Pepi if he’s available on the cheap.

The talented American youngster has five goals in just ten league appearances this season, and one imagines he’d only improve with better players around him.

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Liverpool have looked superb under new manager Arne Slot, and the Dutch tactician may also know Pepi well from his time managing in the Eredivisie.

Still, one imagines Pepi will have other tempting offers, so LFC might need to move fast for this one.

Sources have informed CaughtOffside that Liverpool’s scouts view Pepi as a good fit for the team due to his technical and mental qualities, so it will be interesting to see if this convinces their recruitment team to step up their pursuit of the player soon.

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The opening phase of the 2024/25 campaign has not gone to plan for Man City but one occasion that was celebrated by the Premier League champions was Rodri being crowned as the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner – an award Erling Haaland has now been tipped to win.

The Spaniard pipped Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior to the award in Paris after an exceptional campaign for both club and country.

The midfielder was pivotal in Man City winning another Premier League title while helping Spain win their fourth European Championship in Germany over the summer. The 28-year-old’s importance to the Manchester club can be seen now more than ever as Pep Guardiola’s side have lost four games in a row in the Spanish star’s absence.

Rodri was a deserving winner of the Ballon d’Or this year but two years ago, if people were to pick the first winner of the award from Man City, the logical answer would have been Erling Haaland.

Then Norway international just missed out on the 2023 Ballon d’Or after finishing second to Lionel Messi, while fifth was his position this year.

While speaking about the 2024 version of the award, transfer expert Ben Jacobs admitted that he believes Haaland will win the Ballon d’Or very soon.

Man City star Erling Haaland needs to “stay consistent” to win a Ballon d’Or

Haaland’s numbers have been frightening ever since moving to Man City in 2022 with the striker scoring 105 goals and assisting a further 14 across 114 appearances for the Premier League champions.

The 24-year-old is in a bit of a slump a present but the Norwegian’s numbers are not expected to dry up dramatically throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

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Speaking on the latest edition of CaughtOffside’s The Debrief Podcast, transfer journalist Ben Jacobs is confident that Haaland will win a Ballon d’Or should he “stay consistent” over the coming years at the Etihad Stadium.

“Haaland will win a Ballon d’Or in my opinion, eventually,” Jacobs said. “His goal-scoring is only going to continue to wow us but also stay consistent for four, five, six years still to come and therefore his day holding that Ballon d’Or trophy will be there.”

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Julen Lopetegui’s job appears to be hanging by a thread at West Ham, but that hasn’t stopped the Spaniard from demanding even more signings in January.

West Ham players remain unhappy with the Spaniard, the 0-0 draw against Everton at the weekend keeping the Hammers down in 14th position in the Premier League.

Their poor form since Lopetegui took over has even seen one elite manager tipped to take over at the London Stadium should the West Ham board decide that enough is enough.

Lopetegui chasing Brighton and Hove Albion ace

If David Sullivan goes against the grain and decides to give his manager a while longer to implement his strategies, one player that Lopetegui wants is 24-year-old Brighton and Hove Albion ace, Tariq Lamptey.

CaughtOffside sources have indicated that Lamptey could consider leaving Brighton at the end of the season but, given that his contract ends in June 2025 (transfermarkt), a decision may be made by the Seagulls themselves as early as January.

Lamptey has shown no sign of extending his current deal, and sources understand that this is because the right-back is unhappy with how things have panned out under Fabian Hurzeler.

The Ghanaian international is certainly looking to move, though CaughtOffside sources note that the East Londoners could face competition for his services.

Premier League clubs Everton, Nottingham Forest and Brentford have already expressed interest in signing him, without taking things further at this stage.

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The former Chelsea academy player has been with Brighton since 2021, and whilst it’s understood his preference is to stay in the Premier League, foreign clubs such as Juventus are also showing interest.

Clearly, a decision needs to be made soon, and ultimately Hurzeler will be the one to decide whether Lamptey can be considered as surplus to requirements as early as the first month of 2025.

The post Exclusive: Lopetegui still demanding signings with West Ham keen on 24-year-old Premier League ace appeared first on CaughtOffside.

When Rodri got injured for Man City earlier in the season, it was immediately apparent that the combative midfielder was going to be out of action for some time.

A hush descended over the Etihad Stadium when the Spaniard stayed down after a challenge during the Arsenal game.

Coming as it did soon after Rodri had hinted that players could go on strike in protest at too many games being played – which could potentially lead to fatigue and injury – wasn’t the best timing.

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With City now having lost four games on the trot, there’s a clear need for the powers that be to authorise a move for a mid-season replacement.

According to CaughtOffside sources with knowledge of City’s transfer plans, the reigning Premier League champions are targeting a player Liverpool tried hard to acquire during the summer window.

Ultimately, the Reds were unable to get a deal for Martin Zubimendi over the line, but it’s understood that won’t stop Pep Guardiola ensuring that his club focus on the Real Sociedad talisman.

Were La Real able to resist further overtures from England, or indeed if Zubimendi again decides that he’d prefer to continue his footballing education in Spain, sources have indicated that City have other targets in mind.

Real Madrid’s hardworking and talented Federico Valverde, Atletico Madrid’s young star, Pablo Barrios, and Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson are all understood to be potential candidates who could add depth and quality to City’s midfield.

Clearly, the January transfer window can’t come soon enough for Guardiola.

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The recent run of poor form has seen City slip to five points behind Arne Slot’s Liverpool side, with the Reds taking on all comers at present.

Guardiola will know that any more slip ups will likely be fatal to City’s chances of retaining their English top-flight title too.

The post Exclusive: Liverpool’s failure to land world-class talent is set to benefit Premier League title rivals in January appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal will take their time over appointing a successor to Edu as sporting director.

I’ve seen lots of names mentioned already, like Tomas Rosicky and Tim Steiden. Even Per Mertesacker has been getting a mention.

But there will be no quick decision.

It’s going to be a thorough process because Arsenal want to make sure they get someone that they believe is perfectly suited to an important role.

Jason Ayto, who has been Edu’s assistant for the past year, will take on the role on an interim basis and is viewed as a very capable stop gap while the recruitment process takes shape. He could even be considered for the role full-time, although there is a feeling the opportunity might have come a bit too soon for him.

But he is highly respected and knows the current set-up better than anyone, given how closely he has been working with Edu for the past 12 months.

Arsenal talks scheduled soon

He is due to travel to the USA this week with Mikel Arteta, managing director Richard Garlick and director Tim Lewis to meet with the Kroenkes in Los Angeles.

It’s a scheduled meeting that always takes place in the November international break. It’s when the management group always lay-out their plans for the following summer to the owners.

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Obviously the hunt for a new sporting director will also be on the agenda and I know Arsenal are currently not limiting themselves to a certain type of candidate.

They will take their time and look across the globe as they consider who they want to go for. Obviously they will have certain names already in mind at this early stage, but they will not rush into anything.

To read more Arsenal news in my full Daily Briefing column, click here!

The post Exclusive: Arsenal set for meeting soon, new sporting director on the agenda appeared first on CaughtOffside.