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With Jobe Bellingham set to join Borussia Dortmund, Sunderland have instantly reportedly turned their attention towards the transfer market and an impressive Ligue 1 forward.

Borussia Dortmund set to sign Jobe Bellingham

Despite earning promotion to the Premier League, Sunderland have lost Bellingham to Dortmund this summer. The midfielder will follow in his older brother’s footsteps by swapping English football for the chance to play for the Bundesliga giants. It’s a path that led Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid and one that his younger sibling will hope to take with similar success.

As for Sunderland, whilst they’ll be frustrated to lose such a talented young player ahead of their Premier League return, they’ll at least have money to spend following his departure.

Bidding farewell to the 19-year-old in a deal which could eventually rise to as much as €40m (£34m), the Black Cats could instantly put that transfer fee to good use and set Regis Le Bris’ side up for first-time survival next season.

On that front, the rumours as to who could arrive have already been circling. Recent reports have mentioned names such as Tommy Doyle, who could replace Bellingham, and former Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga.

The latter would be a particularly impressive arrival. Following his Championship revival at Millwall, Tanganga is ready to step back into the Premier League and could yet do so courtesy of the Black Cats. It’s there that he could be joined by a talented Ligue 1 forward too.

Sunderland in direct contact to sign Matthis Abline

According to Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri, Sunderland are now in direct contact to sign Matthis Abline after they ‘sounded out his entourage’, rivalling Marseille for the Nantes forward this summer in a deal worth €20m (£17m).

The Ligue 1 forward enjoyed an impressive campaign in France, scoring 11 goals in all competitions in a Nantes side that only escaped a place in the relegation play-off place by three points. Now, after a standout season for his side, the Abline could yet be on his way to the Premier League.

Of course, Abline wouldn’t be the first French striker to arrive at the Stadium of Light. It wasn’t so long ago that Wilson Isidor was arriving and he has thrived ever since – scoring 13 Championship goals last season.

Sunderland now plotting 8-figure move for hugely in-demand Asian talent

He could become a star at the Stadium of Light.

By
Henry Jackson

Jun 9, 2025

The Nantes forward, once dubbed a “top talent”, could be even better than the Sunderland star, however. After outperforming his expected goals last season, whilst Isidor underperformed significantly, Abline has the potential to only increase his numbers with better chance creation around him. And at 22 years old, he may just be getting started.

Celtic have been incredibly busy in the early weeks of the summer transfer window as they look to bolster their squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan have already been unveiled as new additions to the team, with both players set to officially join as free agents at the start of next month.

As you can see in the graphic above, the Scotland international is returning for a second spell at Parkhead, having left the Hoops to join Arsenal in the Premier League in the summer of 2019.

Celtic are also set to complete the signing of FC Nordsjælland winger Benjamin Nygren, who is due to put pen to paper on a contract that could last five years.

Brendan Rodgers is also in the market to land a senior number nine, after a deal for young Fulham forward Callum Osmand, having been left with just Adam Idah since Kyogo Furuhashi left the club in January.

Celtic sold the Japan international to Rennes for a reported fee of £10m at the start of the year, ending what was a very successful time for him in Glasgow.

Celtic hit gold with Kyogo Furuhashi

The Scottish Premiership giants paid a fee of £4.3m to sign the attacker from Vissel Kobe in the summer of 2021, with Ange Postecoglou at the helm, and it is fair to say that they got their money’s worth.

Kyogo went on to rack up 85 goals and 19 assists in 185 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops in three-and-a-half years at Parkhead before his move to France in January.

That included a stunning return of 34 goals in the 2022/23 season, as you can see in the clips above, and these statistics show that the club hit gold by snapping him up for a fee of just £4.3m.

Kyogo also stepped up for the Light Blues in big moments during his time in Glasgow, as evidenced by his haul of eight goals in 17 games against Rangers.

As you can see in the table above, Hearts are the only team the Japanese striker scored more goals against for Celtic than Rangers in his time at the club.

Taking all of this into consideration, and the £10m fee they got for him in January, it is clear to see that the Hoops hit the jackpot by signing Kyogo in 2021.

The Scottish giants did not sign another striker to take his place in the January window, but they are now reportedly eyeing a star who would be a dream replacement for the Japan international.

Celtic confident of deal for Premier League striker

According to Football Insider, Celtic are confident that they will be able to win the race to sign Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson this summer.

The report claims that they believe that they can strike a deal to land him on a season-long loan ahead of Premier League teams Everton and Nottingham Forest.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that Rodgers is pushing for the club to sign the Ireland international to bolster his options at the top end of the pitch for the 2025/26 campaign.

Former scout Mick Brown explained why the Hoops are a good option for the striker, telling Football Insider:

“Celtic can offer attractive opportunities to players like Ferguson. They’re going to be playing in the Champions League and competing for trophies, which would be valuable experience for a player of his age.”

It is now down to the club to agree a deal with Brighton before convincing the striker that a move to Parkhead is the best next step in his young career.

Why Celtic should sign Evan Ferguson

The Hoops should sign the Premier League youngster this summer because he is a talented number nine who is more valuable than his 2024/25 campaign suggests.

On the face of it, signing a striker who just scored one goal in 23 games for Brighton and West Ham combined is not too appealing. However, it is worth keeping in mind that a knee injury kept him out from April to August last year, which meant that he missed all of pre-season and played catch-up all season.

Ferguson’s form in the previous two Premier League seasons for Brighton, with a pre-season under his belt, suggest that he has the potential to be a dream replacement for Kyogo at Parkhead.

Possibly the biggest problem Kyogo had at the end of his Celtic career was his finishing, as he missed 46 ‘big chances’ in his last 18 months, scoring 27 goals in that time.

The Brighton youngster, whose finishing was hailed as “phenomenal” by James Milner, has shown that he has the quality to be very efficient in front of goal at Premier League level in recent years.

As you can see in the table above, Ferguson outperformed his xG in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns for the Seagulls, which speaks to his ability to find the back of the net effectively at the very top level.

These statistics show that the potential is there for him to come in as an upgrade on what they had with Kyogo in the number nine position, because he is a clinical finisher who may not miss as many ‘big chances’ as the Japan international.

The Premier League forward would also bring more physicality to the table than Kyogo, as he has won 44% of his aerial duels in the 2023/24 campaign – when he last played regularly.

Whereas, the former Hoops marksman won 33% of his aerial battles this season in the Premiership, and 26% of them in the 2023/24 campaign, which suggests that Ferguson would be more effective as a target man for the team to hit when they need to play a longer pass to break a press or clear the ball from danger.

Worth more than Kyogo: Celtic have hit the jackpot on "incredible" star

Celtic have hit gold with this star who is now worth even more than Kyogo Furuhashi.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 24, 2025

Overall, the 20-year-old attacker’s finishing quality and physical attributes could make him a dream replacement for Kyogo, as well as being an upgrade on him. The largest sticking point could well be a price tag, however, with Transfermarkt valuing him at £21m.

Southampton are now in advanced talks to sign an international striker who is represented by the same agency as midfielder Flynn Downes.

Southampton are expected to lose one or two key players over the coming months and therefore will have to enter the market to find replacements as they bid to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking under Will Still.

Done deal: Southampton have "agreed" £6.8m exit of "incredible" attacker

He has played his final game for the club.

By
Henry Jackson

Jun 20, 2025

Defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis could be considered their most important player, as he managed to stand out last season in what was a diabolical campaign for the club. His performances for the Saints earned him a call-up to the England national team, and that has now earned him the attention of Portuguese giants FC Porto.

According to Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas, Southampton have turned down a bid worth £19 million for Harwood-Bellis from Porto. Despite being under contract until 2028, the Saints are open to selling the defender in this transfer window, but they believe he is worth much more.

Southampton paid £15 million to sign the player from Manchester City last summer, so the likelihood is they’re going to want closer to double that price.

Southampton in advanced talks to sign £7m striker

But while Harwood-Bellis may eventually be on his way out of St Mary’s Stadium, Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg reports some good news – Southampton are closing in on the signing of Damion Downs from FC Köln.

The 20-year-old is considered to be a top target for Saints this summer, and they have submitted a bid worth €8 million, which is roughly £6.85 million, to the German side. Downs is currently away with the USA for the Gold Cup, so a deal for the forward is likely to be completed once that competition is finished.

Downs, who has earned two caps for the USA national team, has been at FC Köln since 2020, when he joined their under-17 team. The young forward worked his way through the age groups and was finally promoted to the first team during the 2023/24 season, where he played 10 Bundesliga games. Downs became even more of a regular last season, as he played 29 games, this time in Bundesliga 2, and scored an impressive ten goals in the process.

Downs has just one year remaining on his contract, and Saints will be hoping that can work to their advantage, as the German side are likely to want to sell the player before he leaves the club for nothing in 12 months.

They may hold another advantage in the race to sign Downs too, as the striker is represented by agency Wasserman, who also represent current Southampton midfielder Downes, perhaps smoothing negotiations when it comes to agreeing personal terms.

Chelsea have the chance to seal their second trophy under Enzo Maresca when they face PSG in the Club World Cup final.

It will be a tough task, as the French side are arguably the best side on the planet, evidenced by their 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Enzo Fernandez will be crucial as the Argentine will be tasked with trying to keep possession for the Blues, while also aiming to stop PSG from mounting attack after attack in the final third.

That being said, despite Maresca signing plenty of attacking players this summer, might the former Benfica starlet be growing worried amid the club’s latest transfer link?

Chelsea enquire over Barcelona midfielder

The list of attacking players linked with the Blues is lengthy, but Maresca now looks like he could be set to add a midfielder or two to his squad.

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 Caught Offside, Chelsea, along with Arsenal, have enquired about the availability of Barcelona star Marc Casado this summer.

The Catalan giants are demanding €50m (£43m) should any club wish to make an official bid for the Spaniard.

He does have a release clause worth €100m (£86m), but due to their financial situation, Barcelona may be forced to accept a lower offer. If Maresca does sign the player, it could be bad news for Fernandez.

Why Chelsea must sign Marc Casado

Last season in the Premier League, Fernandez played alongside Moises Caicedo in the heart of the Chelsea midfield.

He registered 13 goal contributions in the top flight, while also creating 13 big chances and averaging 2.3 key passes per game for the Blues. The Argentine may be a more effective player going forward, but defensively, Casado has the upper hand.

Indeed, last season, the Barcelona starlet tackled a higher percentage of dribblers (48.8% vs 36.9%) per 90, along with committing fewer fouls (26 vs 52) and making more interceptions (22 vs 13) in their respective domestic leagues.

Furthermore, Casado also won more total duels per game (53% vs 47%) and lost possession fewer times per game (7.7 vs 12.8) than the current Blues midfielder.

With the club signing a plethora of attacking players this summer, shoring up the midfield now appears to be Maresca’s priority.

A move for Casado could have Fernandez fearing for his place in the starting XI next season, that’s for sure, with Caicedo seemingly a shoo-in to start, having been described by Maresca as “one of the best, if not the best, defensive midfielder in the world”.

Following Spain’s victory over Switzerland last November, Casado was showered with praise by teammate Bryan Zaragoza, who said: “He’s an animal. I don’t even know what to say about how he played. He’s barbaric.”

This sort of player is exactly the type of midfielder that Maresca would love to have available to him.

Aged just 21, Casado is only going to get better with age, especially by playing in the Premier League and Champions League for the Blues.

If the Stamford Bridge side can secure his signature for a decent fee, it might turn out to be one of their best signings of the summer, with Casado representing a perfect partner to Caicedo in the centre of the park.

For Fernandez, however, it could well be bad news in the long run.

£17m ace nearing Chelsea exit after Madueke, it'd free up space for Ekitike

Ekitike could be on his way to Chelsea this summer.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 11, 2025

Stepping up their push to seal his signature, Bayern Munich have now reportedly submitted their opening offer to sign a Liverpool star who is now keen on an Anfield exit.

Latest Liverpool exit news

Having already spent big to welcome Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong as well as picking up Freddie Woodman on a free deal, it could now be time for Liverpool to balance the books with a number of exits.

Already, both Jarell Quansah and Caoimhin Kelleher have sealed departures to Bayer Leverkusen and Brentford respectively, but the exit news may not be done there. After forming a squad now filled to the brim with talent, Liverpool could also sanction exits for the likes of Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott this summer.

For Nunez, all signs point towards a move to Napoli if he is to leave Liverpool ahead of next season. The Serie A champions reportedly see the South American as their dream Victor Osimhen replacement and talks are ongoing over a deal between the two clubs.

Elliott, meanwhile, is another player who could leave. The young, versatile midfielder enjoyed an excellent tournament with England at the U21 Euros – winning the Player of the Tournament – and has now reportedly attracted interest from the likes of Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers as a result.

Salah's dream CF: Liverpool make contact to sign "incredible" £85m talent

Liverpool are hoping to sign a centre-forward in the summer transfer market.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 10, 2025

Although the Reds are willing to let their young gem leave in pursuit of game time this summer, the same can’t be said for another player even as Bayern Munich step up their reported chase.

Bayern Munich submit opening £45m bid to sign Diaz

According to Christian Falk of Sport Bild, Bayern Munich have now submitted an opening offer to sign Luis Diaz worth €52m (£45m). Liverpool, however, have reportedly told the German giants that the winger is not for sale this summer and will reportedly demand around €80m (£69m) if that stance does change.

Into the final two years of his current contract with no fresh deal on the table, Diaz is reportedly keen on an Anfield exit to join the Bundesliga winners this summer in what could cause quite the clash with Liverpool’s sale stance. Whether the Colombian now pushes to join Bayern this summer will be the big question in the coming weeks.

Whilst a new contract remains unlikely, Diaz is still an important member of Arne Slot’s Liverpool squad after an excellent campaign helped the Reds win the Premier League title last time out.

Dubbed “really special” by former manager Jurgen Klopp, it’s no surprise that a side of Bayern’s calibre are interested in Diaz’s signature, but it’s also, therefore, no shock that Liverpool have so far retained their stance that he is not for sale this summer.

Sunderland have now made a “direct approach” to sign a “fantastic” midfielder, according to Fabrizio Romano, having also opened talks to sign Granit Xhaka in recent days.

Black Cats looking to sign new midfielders

The Black Cats have already secured the signatures of Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra this summer, while Enzo Le Fee made his stay at the Stadium of Light permanent, meaning Regis Le Bris appears to be relatively well-stocked in the central midfield area.

However, the manager will be under no illusions about how difficult it will be to remain in the Premier League next season, and he clearly believes that signing another central midfielder could boost his side’s survival chances.

It may also be a wise idea to bring in players with Premier League experience, and Xhaka ticks that box, having spent a number of years with Arsenal, and talks over a deal for the 32-year-old have now been opened.

However, the former Arsenal man is not Le Bris’ only target in that area of the pitch, with Romano recently taking to X to reveal that Sunderland have now made a “direct approach” to the agent of Napoli midfielder Frank Zambo-Anguissa.

The Black Cats are still “working on” a deal for Xhaka, but Zambo-Anguissa has also now entered the frame as a potential target, although it could be difficult to lure him away from Napoli, as the Italian side have already offered him a new deal.

As things stand, the 29-year-old has a £38m release clause in his contract, meaning the newly-promoted side may need to spend big if they are to get a deal over the line.

"Fantastic" Anguissa would be coup for Sunderland

It appears unlikely that Sunderland will be able to secure the Cameroon international’s signature, given that Napoli are “confident” he will commit to a new contract, but it would be a real coup if they were able to get a deal done.

More exciting than Xhaka: Sunderland make contact to sign £34m star on loan

Sunderland could seal a deal even more exciting than Granit Xhaka returning to the Premier League with this world-class capture.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 17, 2025

The 29-year-old played a major role for the Serie A champions in their title-winning 2024-25 campaign, making 35 league appearances, during which time he picked up six goals and four assists.

Former Napoli loanee Philip Billing was also left impressed by his ex-teammate during his spell in Italy, describing him as “fantastic”. Speaking about the Cameroon international and Scott McTominay, the Bournemouth man also added: “I stick to my own playing style but also try to learn from them.

“They are both incredible, great profiles both physically and technically. They run a lot and also score goals.”

That said, Xhaka may be a more attainable target, and it is an added bonus that the Swiss midfielder already has Premier League experience.

As Celtic gear up for yet another title defence, Brendan Rodgers now reportedly believes that they hold a key advantage in the race to sign an impressive midfield star.

Rodgers still aiming to "push" for arrivals

Despite welcoming as many as six fresh faces following another dominant Scottish Premiership campaign last time out, Rodgers admitted that he’s still pushing the Celtic board to secure more additions.

He told reporters: “We have gaps in the squad that are very clear. I have to convince the board to really push to get the players in that we really need. Clearly, I’m not doing that job well enough, but I will continue to push and hopefully we can get the players in by the end of the transfer window.”

Celtic make approach to agent of "very offensive" 20 y/o rising talent

Rangers also want to sign him this summer.

By
Henry Jackson

Aug 1, 2025

“When you lose important players, you want to fill those gaps. That attacking department is the strength of my team. It always will be. We were very, very good last year in that front in terms of both the score and both the creativity.

“I’m fairly confident that we will do the business that will fill those gaps and with the necessary quality that’s needed to keep the team moving forward, because that’s what we all want. That’s what the supporters want. They want to see a team that’s exciting and that can dominate games and really attack games and that’s our goal.”

Just who those additions will be is the question. It looks as though the Bhoys are at least set to welcome Manchester City youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan, but that’s not to say other targets have fallen away from their radar.

Those at Celtic Park have also reportedly set their sights on winning the race to land a bargain deal in the next month and Rodgers believes that they hold one key advantage over the rest of the chasing pack.

Rodgers believes Celtic have advantage in Brownhill race

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Rodgers believes that Celtic have the advantage in the race to sign Josh Brownhill this summer thanks to their Champions League place. Whilst the likes of West Ham United and Everton chase his signature, the Bhoys will be able to offer the 29-year-old his first taste of Europe’s elite.

Dubbed “brilliant” by Burnley boss Scott Parker, Brownhill represents one of the few bargain deals still on the market and one that Celtic should go all out to snap up this month.

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, with Reyna and Yunus Musah looking to debut with new clubs

And just like that, we're back. After two weeks of drama with the U.S. men's national team, several stars return to their clubs in Europe. The spotlight and pressure is back on, with several important fixtures for Americans. 

Gio Reyna spent the last two years fighting through uncertainty with his club in Dortmund. After his transfer, this weekend could mark his debut as a member of Gladbach, who host Werder Bremen.

In Spain, Johnny Cardoso could be a man on a mission when Atletico face off against Villarreal. With USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino stressing that his "real" squad and strategy will surface in October friendlies, Cardoso will want to send a message that he belongs.

And Christian Pulisic returns to AC Milan to face Bologna after a strong performance against Japan in the USMNT's 2-0 win earlier this week. 

GOAL looks ahead at some of the biggest storylines to follow among Americans Abroad this weekend.

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  Reyna's next chapter to begin?

  Reyna said it best. 

  "I believe I'll be there. That was one of the reasons for my move. I'm in open contact with the coach. If I play well at Borussia, I'll definitely find my way back to the national team," he told BILD. 

  The midfielder was referencing next year's World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Considering how Reyna's last World Cup went, with former manager Gregg Berhalter hinting he wanted to send Reyna home due to his showings at practice, the 2026 tournament could be a chance to turn the page.

  In many ways, that moment shifted Reyna's once-promising momentum and led to the turbulence that's followed him since. Still, as Reyna noted, he's got to play and play well for his new club. He might have a chance to do so Sunday, as the American could make his first appearance for the

  Early on, there's been positive sentiment towards the move as Reyna has reunited with NYCFC academy and USMNT teammate Joe Scally. He also dropped a stunning assist during the international break in a club friendly, playing centrally for the Bundesliga side. 

  Yet, friendlies and league matches are different realities, and Gladbach face a tough challenge ahead in Werder. Both clubs have gotten off to slow starts, sitting 14th and 16th in the table, respectively. Considering the stakes, it will be interesting to see if Reyna is given a spot in the starting XI or worked into the game as a substitute. In either case, Reyna appears hungry to get things back on track. 

  "I'm now at a point where I want to take the next step and take my career to a higher level. I feel ready for it – and that's why I came to Gladbach," he said. 

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  Cardoso with a point to prove

  The move for Cardoso to Atletico Madrid hasn't gone to plan. He was pulled at halftime during his league debut for Atleti, and while his playing time has increased in later fixtures, the team's fortunes have not. Expected to be a dark horse contender for La Liga and the Champions League, Diego Simeone's side has dropped points in its three opening matches.

  More worrying is the fact that the results have all come against clubs Atleti was expected to beat – Espanyol, Elche and Alaves. The pressure is higher than ever for Simeone, who is on the hot seat for the first time in his 14 years as Atletico's manager. 

  Things don't get any easier with Villarreal. are traditionally one of Spain's most competitive sides, finishing among of La Liga's European slots each season. With the international break done, can Atleti turn things around? Will Cardoso be more adjusted to his role after being given a break from the USMNT by Pochettino?

  The midfielder has had some solid moments, totaling seven tackles in his three matches, but needs to be wary of yellow cards – he already has two in three matches. Concern will build if Atleti remain winless, and with good reason. There is already speculation about Simeone's future. New managers often bring new philosophies and that could impact Cardoso, who is still trying to secure a role with the national team.

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  Pulisic back with the Rossoneri

  Pulisic put a summer of headlines behind him with a solid showing for the USMNT against Japan. Now, back with AC Milan, the American star will need to carry over some of his international success to the Rossoneri, who have gotten off to an uneven start this season.

  Under Max Allegri, Pulisic's fourth manager since joining the Serie A side two years ago, Milan were stunned by newly-promoted US Cremonese before getting back on track against Lecce. The team will look to build momentum when it faces Bologna, the team it lost the Coppa Italia final to last season. 

  Despite last year's cup win, Bologna have a terrible record against Milan – winning just two of the last 20 league encounters between the sides. And Pulisic has found a measure of success against the North Italian side. He has two goals and an assist in four Serie A appearances against Bologna, including a goal and assist in their last encounter on May 9, a 3-1 Milan win. Will it be more of the same? 

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  Musah set for a fresh start

  Another possible debut could come from Yunus Musah at Atalanta. Musah's future had been speculated upon all summer, and the midfielder appeared to indicate he wanted to stay at AC Milan. Yet, on the transfer deadline, Musah ended up joining Atalanta on loan, with a option for a future transfer. 

  Despite his desire to stay, Musah might have landed on his feet with Manager Ivan Juric apparently is a big fan of Musah's biggest strength as a footballer, his versatility, and reportedly believes the American is a perfect fit for his tactics. The midfielder can also count on playing Champions League football, something that wasn't on offer at Milan after they finished eighth last season. 

  Atalanta are searching for their first win of the season. The team opened the season with a draw in its first two fixtures, but it does get a slight reprieve in facing 17th-placed Lecce – a team Musah beat before the international break with AC Milan. 

Birmingham City have now agreed a season-long loan move for a “fantastic” attacking player, according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

Birmingham eyeing double signing from Rangers

The Blues’ Championship return is now less than a week away, with Chris Davies’ side hosting Ipswich Town on Friday evening, which promises to be a memorable occasion.

In the meantime, Birmingham are still pushing for more signings to give them the best possible chance of reaching the Premier League, with a double deal for Rangers duo Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell being eyed up.

Davies spent last season on loan at St Andrew’s, playing a big role in them winning the League One title in relentless fashion, starting 32 league matches and winning an average of 4.1 aerial duels per game. For that reason, a permanent move to the Blues makes perfect sense.

Meanwhile, Dowell also was on loan at St Andrew’s and could be a shrewd addition to Birmingham’s midfield, with the 27-year-old already racking up 123 appearances in the Championship, possessing a huge amount of experience and knowing what it takes to be a success in the competition.

Birmingham agree deal to sign "fantastic" striker

Writing on X, Joseph claimed that Birmingham have now agreed a deal with Ajax to sign striker Chuba Akpom on a season-long loan deal.

However, since this update, it has emerged that Championship rivals Middlesbrough are looking to hijack the Blues’ move for the forward, with Akpom previously starring at the Riverside.

Akpom could be a brilliant signing for Birmingham, giving Davies the extra attacking quality that is needed to be promotion contenders in 2025/26.

The 29-year-old is now an experienced striker who has played at a high level, appearing in both the Champions League and the Europa League last season, as well as being praised by Michael Carrick during their time together at Middlesbrough, having reached 20 league goals in a season.

“It’s a terrific achievement. It’s not easy to score that many goals. He’s scored all different type of goals for us since I’ve been here. I thought his performance was fantastic. “He gets credit for his goals but his performance all round was terrific.”

Akpom is also a former Golden Boot winner in the Championship, highlighting his pedigree further, so he could prove to be a real coup for Birmingham if they can get a deal over the line in the coming days.

Double deal: Birmingham and Brady want £43k-p/w duo; advanced talks for one

Brady wants the Blues to keep spending.

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By
Charlie Smith

Jul 31, 2025

The loan nature of the move is arguably ideal, too, and if they win back-to-back promotions, an obligation to buy could be triggered, meaning Akpom may have played a big part in that potential success.

Gianluigi Donnarumma joked about not taking his mother to the Etihad Stadium for the Champions League opener against Napoli on Thursday. The Manchester City goalkeeper, who arrived at the end of the summer transfer window, revealed that his family members are big supporters of the current Serie A champions. However, he remains determined on helping his new team kick-off their continental campaign with a win.

• Man City to lock horns with Napoli in UCL opener

  After a rather underwhelming start to their Premier League campaign, Manchester City will turn their attention towards Thursday's Champions League opener against Serie A champions Napoli at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola's side will be eager to prove themselves after their pre-round of 16 playoff exit last season. They have responded by showcasing their financial muscle in the summer, including Champions League winner Donnarumma.

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  Donnarumma hopes his 'mother will get over' Napoli's defeat

  Speaking to reporters at a press conference on Wednesday, Donnarumma said: "I'm leaving Mum at home tomorrow night. I'm very attached to the city, I have many friends on and off the team, but I play for City and I hope to win this match. Mum will get over it."

• New goalkeeper has big shoes to fill

  The £26 million (€30m/$35m) signing has arrived on the back of a historic campaign with Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian was perhaps the best goalkeeper in the Champions League, as his heroics went a long way in helping Les Parisiens capture their maiden European title. However, he has started a new chapter at the Etihad, where he has replaced Ederson, who joined Fenerbahce. Given he is among the finest custodians in the world at the moment, he is likely to rise to the challenge. But question marks have already been raised about how he would fit in, considering his profile is completely different to what Guardiola usually prefers.

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  City confident after derby win

  Guardiola and his troops head into Thursday's clash riding high on confidence, as they registered a comfortable 3-0 victory over cross-city rivals Manchester United on Sunday. As per the manager, City are "apparently not one of the favourites" to lift the coveted European trophy this season.