Leicester City have now held talks over the signing of a £30,000-a-week Leeds United player who could replace Mads Hermansen, according to a recent report.

Leicester could be set to lose goalkeeper as they eye a new midfielder

The Foxes are very much playing catch-up in the transfer market, as the time it took for them to decide to sack Ruud Van Nistelrooy and replace him with Marti Cifuentes means they are yet to make a signing in this transfer window.

Leicester City now want to sign 35-cap England star who may join for free

The Foxes could land an experienced midfield performer…

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jul 9, 2025

However, that could be about to change, as Leicester are among the teams interested in signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer. The former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder has agreed to cancel his contract at Besiktas and is now set for a return to England.

However, the Foxes are not the only team to be interested in a possible deal, as Burnley, Birmingham City, Ipswich Town, Sheffield United, Coventry City and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s former club Southampton are all keeping an eye on his situation.

Meanwhile, as the focus will be on incomings, the Foxes could be preparing for a big exit, as Ben Jacobs has revealed that West Ham are set to approach Leicester over signing goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.

It was reported at the end of June that the Hammers had set their sights on the shot-stopper, and now Jacobs believes a bid could be arriving soon, with Leicester looking to get a fair price, as he is under contract until 2028. His departure will likely mean Leicester will need to find a replacement, and they already have an idea who that could be.

Leicester hold talks over signing Illan Meslier from Leeds United

According to TBR Football, reporter Ben Jacobs has also revealed that Leicester City have held discussions over signing Illan Meslier from Leeds United.

Meslier is in the final year of his contract at Elland Road, and Jacobs believes he could be available for a transfer, given his recent form.

Jacobs told TBR Football: “Leicester at the same time are advancing on Asmir Begovic, who is available on a free transfer; they have discussed Illan Meslier at Leeds, who may be available because he didn’t finish strongly last season, so Leeds could be looking for a number one goalkeeper as well.”

Meslier, who earns a weekly wage of £30,000, cost the Yorkshire side £5 million back in October 2020, and given his contract situation, Leeds may be lucky to make any profit on the goalkeeper.

The Frenchman started every Championship fixture for Leeds up until their game against Luton Town in April, as his form took a dip and Daniel Farke decided to drop him, which meant he didn’t feature in the final seven games of the campaign.

Meslier remains a Leeds player and did feature in their game against Manchester United last weekend, but it remains to be seen if he is Farke’s number one choice heading into the new season.

Bayern Munich chief Uli Hoeness has admitted the club were priced out of a deal for Florian Wirtz after Liverpool sealed a £116 million ($157m) swoop for the Germany star. Hoeness claimed Der Rekordmeister would never pay such a fee for a player, insisting that the Reds’ spending spree showed a transfer market resembling 'Monopoly' this summer.

Bayern priced out of Wirtz as Liverpool spent £116mHoeness claims transfer rivals are “playing Monopoly”Bundesliga champions confident with Kompany’s squadFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Wirtz joined Liverpool in a record-breaking deal after shining at Bayer Leverkusen, with Bayern and Real Madrid also exploring moves. Bayern eventually pulled out as they refused to meet the £116m asking price, turning instead to other deals. Hoeness has now slammed Liverpool and, in turn, the Premier League's spending power in the transfer market by also highlighting Newcastle's big-money move for Nick Woltemade.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT HOENESS SAID

Hoeness told German media: “We’re very satisfied at FC Bayern. We are the real winners of the summer transfer window. We have a strong team and didn’t need to strengthen it much. Of course, we would have liked to have Florian Wirtz, but we’d never have bought him for €150 million (£130 million).”

He then added: “Other clubs are playing Monopoly. Newcastle paid big for Nick Woltemade when we were interested. That’s not how Bayern work – we won’t be dragged into that kind of game.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Bayern missed out on both Wirtz and Woltemade, with Premier League clubs flexing their financial muscle. Despite that, the Bundesliga champions kept their spending at a modest £75m while raising funds through major sales. Hoeness believes that Bayern's squad remains strong enough to compete across all fronts.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR WIRTZ?

Liverpool will hope Wirtz can justify his price tag after a slow but promising start under Arne Slot. Bayern, meanwhile, will count on their balanced squad and Kompany’s leadership to chase silverware. The contrasting strategies highlight the widening gulf between German and English transfer markets.

Southampton have now opened talks to sign an “unbelievable” winger, who could be brought in as a replacement for Tyler Dibling, according to a report.

Saints looking to sign replacement for Dibling amid Everton links

Following the Saints’ relegation from the Premier League, Dibling has been expected to leave the club, and Everton have emerged as one of the most interested parties, with David Moyes’ side having multiple approaches knocked back.

It has been widely reported the 19-year-old is training away from the rest of the squad, amid interest from the Toffees, and reporter Sami Mokbel has recently suggested the youngster could be heading for the exit door this summer.

Mokbel said: “The information varies depending on who you speak to. If you speak to people closer to Everton, they will tell you that the deal has reached an impasse and Southampton are asking for far too much.

“If you speak to those closer to the South Coast, there is a realisation there that maybe Tyler Dibling’s time is coming to an end.”

Amid the major doubts surrounding the starlet’s future at St. Mary’s, Will Still’s side have now set their sights on a replacement, and a report from Football Insider has revealed they have opened talks over a deal for West Bromwich Albion star Tom Fellows.

Fellows has been lined up as a direct replacement for Dibling, who has been the subject of a £40m offer from Everton, and a deal may be relatively inexpensive, with reports from elsewhere revealing the Baggies could look to hold out for just £10m.

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ByDominic Lund Jul 15, 2025 "Unbelievable" Fellows could be perfect replacement for Dibling

Losing one of their prized assets will, of course, be a bitter pill to swallow for the Saints, should Dibling complete a move elsewhere, but there are plenty of signs the West Brom winger could be the perfect replacement.

Most notably, the Solihull-born winger chalked up some very impressive attacking numbers in the 2024-25 campaign, picking up four goals and 14 assists in the Championship alone, leading to some very high praise from teammate Karlan Grant.

Grant said: “He’s an unbelievable young player. As soon as he does that step-over, I know the ball’s going to be arriving at the back stick and there’s going to be chances.

At just 22-years-old, Fellows could still have plenty of room to develop even further, but he is already a top winger at Championship level, and West Brom’s potential asking price of just £10m means the forward could be an absolute bargain.

There will be a 10-day period after both finals where clubs can sign players under certain conditions

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2024

The BBL and WBBL have introduced a new trade window which will allow clubs to sign players and swap draft picks for a brief period after the conclusion of both competitions.There has also been a change to the contracting embargo period – where no players can be signed – which will now begin after the home-and-away part of each tournament rather than after the final. The new 10-day trade period, dubbed the player movement window, will be the only time where clubs can make changes to their list once the embargo begins.For the WBBL, the new trade period will be from December 2 to December 11 and in the BBL it will run from January 28 to February 6. During the two windows, clubs cannot extend contracts of existing players which can only be done before the embargo begins or after it is lifted which is expected to be mid-March.During the new trade window, clubs can: Trade a player with another club, although this does not need to be reciprocal Sign a player from another club who is in the final year of their current contract. Trade overseas draft positions as part or independent of player trades.Previously, there could be no player signings outside the embargo window although non-binding agreements could be reached. One example of where the new model could have had an impact recently is Melbourne Stars’ interest in Matt Kuhnemann only for Brisbane Heat to be able to persuade him to stay before the contracting embargo period lifted.Clubs will also have to work within squad sizes: for the WBBL, there can be eight players on a list before the trade window and a maximum 10 afterwards and in the BBL the corresponding numbers are 10 and 12.Overseas players signed on multi-year deals count towards those squad sizes. Across both tournaments, that includes Marizanne Kapp, Amelia Kerr, Chamari Athapaththu, Lizelle Lee, Nadine de Klerk, Sophie Devine, Sam Billings, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert, Chris Jordan, Tom Curran and Finn Allen.The ability to trade players has been available in the BBL since 2013 although has been used in a limited capacity. Ahead of this season, Wes Agar was traded from Adelaide Strikers to Sydney Thunder as part of a draft pick exchange between the clubs. In 2023, Adam Zampa and Sam Harper were traded between Melbourne Stars and Renegades.”The introduction of Player Movement Windows immediately following the WBBL|10 and BBL|14 seasons will add another strategic dimension to our Leagues,” Alistair Dobson, the executive general manager of Big Bash Leagues, said. “The windows will add certainty and stability for players and clubs at a crucial period in the list management cycle.”

Newcastle United’s summer business has so far been defined more by frustration than fulfilment.

Despite a flurry of early talks and promising leads, the club has seen a number of potential deals fall through, including the pursuits of Bryan Mbeumo, João Pedro and Hugo Ekitike.

With pre-season now well underway, and Alexander Isak having withdrawn from the club’s tour of Singapore and South Korea, Newcastle’s recruitment team finds itself under increasing pressure to deliver.

The club’s reluctance to sell Isak remains firm.

While interest from Liverpool is expected, particularly in light of Luis Díaz’s £65.5m move to Bayern, Newcastle have no intention of entertaining offers unless a suitable replacement is found.

Internal sources continue to stress that there is a realistic scenario in which Isak stays, returns to training, and features in the opening weeks of the Premier League season.

Newcastle's Wissa and Sesko alternative

Contingency planning are now in full swing. Benjamin Šeško remains on the radar, and talks are active.

However, club insiders have suggested that another name has quietly moved to the top of the shortlist.

According to The i Paper, Newcastle have made initial contact over a move for the Chelsea and Senegal forward, Nicolas Jackson.

Jackson is seen as a stylistic alternative to Yoane Wissa, who had emerged as the club’s preferred replacement for Callum Wilson before complications arose.

Wissa, who has spent the last four seasons with Brentford, is currently refusing to train in an attempt to push through a move.

Brentford, though, are holding firm on their £50m valuation – justifiable, perhaps, given Wissa’s level of output last season.

Only Mohamed Salah scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League, and Wissa finished the campaign with 20 goals and four assists across 3,072 minutes of football.

How Jackson compares to Wissa and Isak

However, Brentford’s stance has led Newcastle to explore different options. That search has led to Jackson, a player Chelsea value at £80m.

Newcastle would be prepared to pay closer to £65m, according to the i, roughly the same amount as Hugo Ekitike before Liverpool hijacked the deal.

Jackson’s season at Chelsea has drawn mixed reviews, but those close to the player, like former Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel, see enormous potential.

“It’s amazing to see that Nicolas Jackson is taking what I say on board and improving. People were telling me I’ve created a monster of a striker and that’s exactly what I want.”

Well, using data via FBref, Jackson stands out as one of the closest statistical matches in Europe to both Isak and Wissa.

The trio share a remarkably similar output when it comes to progressive attacking actions, shooting efficiency and off-ball contributions.

Alexander Isak

29 (23 goals, 6 assists)

Yoane Wissa

23 (19 goals, 4 assists)

Nicolas Jackson

15 (10 goals, 5 assists)

Last season, Jackson averaged more shots on target per 90 (1.38) than both Wissa (1.27) and Isak (1.34), and his shot-on-target rate (44.7%) placed him between the pair.

He also contributed 2.80 shot-creating actions per 90, slightly below Isak (3.01) but ahead of Wissa (2.13), while posting a solid pass completion rate of 75.9%.

In terms of ball progression, Jackson registered 1.90 progressive carries per 90, again narrowly beating Wissa (1.85) but trailing Isak (2.71).

The one area where he clearly lags is in build-up play: his progressive passing distance was just 35.8 yards per 90, compared to Wissa’s 49.9 and Isak’s 53.7.

Still only 23, he has the tools, and time, to grow into a more complete forward. In contrast to Wissa who turns 29 in September, well outside Newcastle’s preferred recruitment age profile of 24 and under.

Wissa will likely miss a significant stretch of the 2025–26 season due to AFCON. Discipline, however, remains a question mark.

Jackson picked up two high-profile red cards last season, once against Newcastle and once at the Club World Cup against Flamengo, both the result of needless petulance.

It’s a habit that would need to be ironed out under Howe’s structured and emotionally balanced setup.

What makes Jackson such a compelling fit though, is his physical profile. Like Isak, he’s quick across the turf, capable of stretching defensive lines and linking midfield with sharp, short touches. Like Wissa, he thrives on chaos, creating danger through movement and improvisation more than structured playmaking.

There are clear echoes of what Newcastle had hoped to gain from Wissa, and what they currently risk losing in Isak.

Jackson, in many ways, offers a synthesis of both: the explosiveness, unpredictability and penalty-box threat of Wissa, fused with Isak’s finesse and movement.

For a club that is beginning to gear up its squad for both the present and future, without the cushion of Champions League income, the Blues attacker could represent not just a stopgap, but a long-term pillar.

Elanga's new Wood: Big-money CF has agreement in principle to join Newcastle

A striker has reportedly agreed to join Newcastle United.

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Jacob Duffy has also been included and Mitchell Santner will join the squad for the second and third Tests

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Nov-2024Kane Williamson has recovered from the groin injury which kept him out of New Zealand’s tour of India to take his place in the squad to face England while Wellington allrounder Nathan Smith has been handed his first Test call-up.Uncapped seamer Jacob Duffy is also part of the squad with Bear Sears (knee) and Kyle Jamieson (back) unavailable due to injury. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who took 13 wickets in Pune, will come into the group for the second and third Tests in Wellington and Hamilton. The opening Test takes place in Christchurch from November 28.Related

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Tim Southee to bow out of Test cricket at end of England series

Smith, 26, made his international debut in the first ODI against Sri Lanka earlier this week. In last season’s Plunket Shield he was the leading wicket-taker with 33 at 17.18 and in September was awarded a central contract. He also took 27 wickets at 21.14 for Worcestershire in last season’s County Championship alongside scoring three half-centuries.Ajaz Patel, who claimed 15 wickets against India, has not been included which means his record of taking all 85 of his Test wickets away from home will remain intact for now.Williamson’s return to fitness could put pressure on Will Young, player of the series in India, to retain his place in the XI.It was announced earlier on Friday that Tim Southee would retire from Test cricket after the England series unless New Zealand make the World Test Championship final.The 3-0 win in India has given them a chance of reaching the final again although even with a whitewash of England would not guarantee it.”It’s obviously a big series for the side in terms of the World Test Championship and to also now be farewelling someone like Tim Southee, only raises it up further,” Sam Wells, the New Zealand selector, said. “Tim has had a fabulous career and will go down as one of the great Black Caps.”I am sure the team and the public will want to give Tim a fitting send-off in what is a highly anticipated series. It’s also an exciting time for Nathan to be brought into the Test squad for the first time. Nathan is an exciting talent with a proven first-class record and I’m sure he will bring a lot of skill and energy to the group.”New Zealand Test squad vs EnglandTom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner (Tests 2 and 3), Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Martin Odegaard says he "doesn't care" about Arsenal legend Tony Adams' calls for him not to have the captain's armband.

• Adams calls for Rice to be captain
• Arteta sticks by skipper Odegaard 
• Norwegian "doesn't care" about criticism

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Last month, former Arsenal captain Adams opined that Declan Rice should be Mikel Arteta's skipper and not Odegaard. The Gunners manager defended the Norwegian to the hilt and decided to stick with the attacking midfielder for the season ahead. Now, the 26-year-old has had his say on the matter.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT ODEGAARD SAID

  He told reporters, "I don’t care that much, to be honest. Everyone can have their opinion and say what they want, and I’m all right with that. I can’t care about what everyone says. There’s a lot of negative and positive things to say, but I can’t let it affect me. That’s what I’ve thought throughout my career."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal will need Odegaard to be at his best this season if they are to end their 21-year wait for a Premier League trophy. If the former Real Madrid man doesn't, the calls for Rice to be captain may grow louder and louder. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Odegaard will hope to return to Arsenal's first team with a bang when they face Nottingham Forest on Saturday following the conclusion of the international break. Before then, Norway lock horns with Moldova on Tuesday in their next World Cup qualifier.

After landing an early blow on North London rivals Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur’s week could reportedly get even better after a breakthrough in talks to sign a new midfield enforcer.

Tottenham seal pre-season derby victory

It may have been a pre-season game that took place many miles away from North London and one that featured a number of changes on the pitch, but Tottenham would have still enjoyed their victory over Arsenal. Coming courtesy of Pape Matar Sarr’s lobbed effort after David Raya and the Gunners’ midfield combined for a rare mistake, Thomas Frank has taken a big step towards getting fans onside.

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Defeating direct rivals two weeks out from the start of the season is enough to hand any side a boost, but Frank will particularly appreciate it at the start of his tenure.

​​​​​​​Now, his focus will be on ensuring that his side are ready to take such a victory into when it matters. And to help on that front, Spurs could yet turn back towards the transfer market.

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On that front, the North London club have already signed Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel on a permanent deal, but still have around a month to get any other deals over the line.

Just who arrives is the big question, however. With Heung-min Son potentially on his way to LAFC, Spurs will need to find a replacement for their captain and the goals that he provides.

It looked as though Yoane Wissa could be an option earlier in the window, before Newcastle United emerged as frontrunners and then Brentford blocked his exit altogether. Whether Spurs or Newcastle return to question that stance remains to be seen.

Instead, the Lilywhites have seemingly turned their focus towards reinforcing their midfield with a player already familiar with the Premier League.

Tottenham agree £26m total package for Palhinha

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Tottenham have now fully agreed the details on Joao Palhinha’s loan move from Bayern Munich, which will cost around £26m if they decide to make it permanent, with just over £4m of that guaranteed spend as the loan fee. The Portugal international will undergo a medical and sign “as soon as possible”.

Although things haven’t quite worked out in Germany, it wasn’t so long ago that Palhinha was starring for Fulham in England’s top flight and a swift return could result in a return to his best form.

Full of praise for his midfielder, Fulham boss Marco Silva described Palhinha as “great” in 2022, before he eventually earned a move to Bayern Munich. Now on the way to one of his London rivals, Silva will have to watch on as the defensive midfielder adds some much needed bite at Tottenham.

Leeds United are now making progress in their pursuit of a £50m striker, and there is a feeling he would be keen on a move to Elland Road this summer, according to a report.

Leeds set sights on new striker after Nmecha

With Daniel Farke looking to bolster his forward line, Leeds have already snapped up Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer this summer, although the Hamburg-born striker wasn’t exactly prolific during his four seasons with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

Season

Bundesliga appearances

Goals

2021-22

25

8

2022-23

16

4

2023-24

3

1

2024-25

19

3

As a result, the Whites are also working on bringing another striker through the door this summer, with it recently being revealed they are set to make a £17m bid for Besiktas centre-forward Semih Kilicsoy, and a meeting with the Turkish club has been penciled in.

However, it would be a risk for Farke to bring in Kilicsoy as his new starting striker, given that he is only 19-years-old and unproven outside Turkey, and it could be a smart move to bring in a centre-forward who already has Premier League experience.

Last month, it was revealed that Leeds are interested in signing Fulham star Rodrigo Muniz, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of the striker.

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According to a report from Leeds United News, the 49ers have now made progress in their pursuit of Muniz, and there are positive signs that he would be keen on making a move to Elland Road this summer.

Although the deal is still some way off completion, the 49ers are hopeful that it will be possible to lure the centre-forward away from Fulham, with the Brazilian now among their top targets.

However, it may take a sizeable offer to get a deal over the line, with previous reports revealing the Cottagers are set to hold out for a fee of £50m.

"Dangerous" Muniz impressing at Craven Cottage

The 24-year-old has now spent two full seasons in the Premier League, during which time he has maintained a solid, if not spectacular goal record, netting 17 goals in 57 appearances.

Marco Silva is clearly happy with how his forward has adapted to life in the top flight too, with the Fulham manager saying: “He’s getting stronger which is really difficult for the defenders to deal with. We know that if we provide for him inside the box then he’s really dangerous as well.”

It would be a real statement of intent if Leeds were able to steal a striker from an established Premier League side, especially considering Tottenham Hotspur are also keen, so it is exciting news that the deal is now progressing.

Mikel Arteta has been hailed as "one of the best coaches in the world" ahead of Arsenal's Champions League opener against Athletic Club. The 43-year-old is highly rated among his peers and the Spanish side's boss, Ernesto Valverde, has lauded him as one of the game's elite managers.

Arsenal boss Arteta lauded as one of the best

Ahead of Arsenal's Champions League trip to Athletic Club on Tuesday, the Spanish outfit's manager, Valverde, has extolled the quality of Arteta as a coach. He got to see what they can do firsthand in Arsenal's 3-0 win over his La Liga team in pre-season, and now he believes they are one of the favourites to win this elite European tournament as well.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhat Athletic Club boss Valverde said

When asked how highly he rates Arteta, Valverde said: "As one of the best coaches in the world, surely. What he is doing in Arsenal proves it. I do not say it just because Arsenal has great players, but because of what they do, how they play, their spirit, how they press you, how they do not let you play, how insistent they are in each duel. And then, at the time of the game, with the quality of technique they have, it is difficult to press them very high because they have resources to go out and play in the space. It is clear that when you are playing with one of the favourite teams to win the competition, it can be Arsenal, or one of the favourites to win the Premier League, it is clear that you have to tune very fine and take advantage of the opportunities that you can have and not concede too many. We have to admit that and we have to know what we have in front of us."

Time to deliver for Arsenal

Arsenal have their strongest squad in years and will believe they can end their 21-year wait to win the Premier League. They have never won the Champions League, and Arteta hasn't won a trophy for the Gunners since 2020. If Arteta wants to keep his job, he may have to deliver some silverware this season, and the Champions League would be the jewel in the crown.

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Getty Images SportArsenal likened to Real Madrid and Barcelona

Valverde added that preparing for this Arsenal clash is akin to getting ready to face Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

He said, "It is like when Real Madrid and Barcelona come to play at that level. You have to make a perfect game to show your virtues and try to minimise what they can do to you, which can be a lot. We just played with them recently in the pre-season, and we know more or less how they play and the level they have."