Everton and David Moyes have had a meeting with a Premier League attacker over a summer move to the club, according to an update from renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Everton plotting summer signings
A new era is dawning for the Toffees, with life at Goodison Park now over for the men’s team and a move to Bramley-Moore Dock taking place this summer.
The hope is that Everton will be able to make the jump from being a relegation-threatened outfit to a team pushing for Europe, but plenty of new signings are required in the summer transfer window.
Everton manager David Moyes
Nantes centre-back Nathan Zeze has been linked with a move to Merseyside, and Everton may have to be eyeing defensive replacements for Jarrad Branthwaite should the highly rated Englishman decide to head off for a new challenge ahead of next season.
Meanwhile, Galatasaray right-back Elias Jelert has also been mentioned as a defensive addition. Further up the pitch, Jamie Carragher has urged them to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, telling him to be a “main man” at the club.
Everton hold meeting with Premier League "monster"
Now, writing on X, Romano has claimed that Moyes has recently met with £30m-rated Delap, as they look to get a summer deal over the line for the England international:
Delap could be a great signing for the Toffees this summer, with Moyes badly in need of more firepower, especially if Dominic Calvert-Lewin moves on.
The Ipswich ace has impressed in a relegated team this season, scoring 12 goals in 32 Premier League starts, and teammate Alex Palmer has said of him:
“You look at him and he’s a monster. He’s a young lad that’s got the enthusiasm and energy – and also the talent. So for us to have him and him be playing as well as he is at the moment, he’s going to have a big part to play [in] the rest of the season.”
If Everton were able to beat the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United to the signing of Delap, it would feel like a major coup, potentially making other possible additions feel that Moyes is building something great at the club.
He's been better than Branthwaite: Moyes hit gold on Everton’s "revelation"
Moyes wants to make a wealth of summer signings at Everton, but he’s already found a gem or two.
ByAngus Sinclair May 24, 2025
Branded an “unselfish” player, the 22-year-old is still young and should only mature as a footballer for the foreseeable future, and he has the physicality and selflessness to thrive in a Moyes team, given the types of centre-forwards he prefers.
Australia left-arm quick signs as replacement for injured bowler Scott Boland
ESPNcricinfo staff09-May-2024Ben Dwarshuis, the Australia left-arm fast bowler, has signed for Durham for this summer’s Vitality Blast.Dwarshuis joins Durham as a replacement for Scott Boland, who was ruled out for the rest of the season with plantar fasciitis after playing in a solitary Championship match.Dwarshuis’s stint at Chester-le-Street comes off the back of a successful Big Bash League campaign with Sydney Sixers, for whom he was their leading bowler and player of the season with 17 wickets, including a match-winning 5 for 21 against Brisbane Heat. He also played a key role in Sixers’ back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021, including 24 wickets in the latter campaign.To date, he has played three T20Is for Australia, against Pakistan and India in 2022-23, claiming five wickets at 22.40. He has also featured for Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 Indian Premier League, and for Worcestershire in the 2021 Vitality Blast.”I am very much looking forward to joining Durham Cricket for the upcoming 2024 Vitality Blast season,” Dwarshuis said. “It will also be a great opportunity to play in front of the passionate Durham fans at the Seat Unique Riverside.”Durham has pulled together a really great squad this year and I’m sure we’ll give this competition a good crack. I can’t wait to get started!”Marcus North, Director of Cricket, added: “We are thrilled to have recruited Ben for our T20 Blast season, with the loss of Scott Boland and the T20 Word Cup being played through the tournament it was important we found the right cricketer who can play a key role for us this season.”Ben has a terrific record with the Sydney Sixers and is constantly up there as one of the top wicket takers in the BBL, his white ball cricket skills are a very good and we are pleased to have him on board.”The left-arm option gives a variety to an already strong bowling attack and he can also contribute with the bat.”
Lyon’s rising star Malick Fofana has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in European football, with the French club setting a minimum asking price of £51.5 million (€60m/$71m) for the talented 20-year-old as several Premier League heavyweights, including Liverpool, Arsenal & Chelsea, scramble for his signature. The English sides are not alone in the chase, with Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, and Napoli also engaged in talks.
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Fofana's stock continues to risePL heavyweights battling for his signatureLyon put their demands on the tableFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to given the high demand for Fofana, Lyon are hoping an auction-style scenario emerges, allowing them to maximise the value of the player’s sale. His meteoric rise stems from a breakthrough season at the club, during which he registered 11 goals across 41 appearances.
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Fofana earned a maiden call-up to the senior Belgian national team last year. Though predominantly utilised on the wings, his ability to operate anywhere across the attacking line has added to his appeal.
DID YOU KNOW?
Lyon’s willingness to cash in on their emerging star is partly rooted in financial necessity. The club is currently grappling with economic issues that have led to their controversial demotion from Ligue 1, a ruling they are currently appealing. Regardless of the outcome, the need to balance the books remains a pressing concern. Their Europa League spot is now under review, a consequence of their off-field troubles. This situation may prompt the club to accelerate player sales, with Fofana at the forefront of that list.
AFPWHAT NEXT?
For clubs monitoring Fofana, Lyon’s predicament offers a potential opening. While the French side will try to drive the price up, looking for at least £51.5m, they may also be pressured to reach a deal sooner rather than later. It remains to be seen whether he lands in the Premier League or elsewhere in Europe. But given the clock ticking and interest surging, a resolution might not be far off.
“We’ll see,” he said after the loss to Australia. “Obviously you go to Asia [later this year], the make-up of the side changes”
Alex Malcolm11-Mar-20241:23
Southee: ‘Changing times for NZ as a Test side’
Tim Southee has conceded there’s no guarantee he will captain New Zealand’s next set of Test matches when they head to the subcontinent for to face Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and India later in the year.Southee cut a dejected figure after a heartbreaking three-wicket loss to Australia in Christchurch. New Zealand had Australia 34 for 4 and 80 for 5 defending 278, but were unable to finish the job as Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins guided the visitors home.It means New Zealand’s 13-year winless streak in Tests against Australia is set to extend while their 31-year drought at home against their neighbour becomes interminable with no future tour scheduled at the moment.Southee put his own form under the microscope before his 100th Test, at Hagley Oval, saying he had not taken the wickets he would have liked. He took just four for the series even as Matt Henry, Ben Sears and Will O’Rourke all bowled impressively throughout.Related
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Southee captained New Zealand’s most recent Tests in Bangladesh last year when they only picked two seamers and he is aware that his position is vulnerable.”We’ll see,” Southee said. “Obviously you go to Asia, the make-up of the side changes slightly with spin becoming the main threat in that part of the world. But we’ll see when we get there. We’ll deal with this tonight and look to move forward to what’s to come.”Southee’s captaincy came under the microscope on day four in Christchurch as Australia wriggled their way out of trouble.He opted not to bowl Glenn Phillips until the last over before lunch after Marsh and Carey had already reached their half-centuries and the pair had shared a 94-run unbeaten stand. Phillips had picked up both men already in the series, including Carey twice. He almost had Marsh out lbw on the stroke of lunch but was saved by an inside edge.Southee said there was enough there for the seamers that enticed him to stick with pace through the first 90 minutes of the rain-shortened session.”Hindsight is a wonderful thing,” Southee said. “But I think the amount of times we went past the bat in that first session, we felt that seam was the option. We created a few chances through that first session. I think we felt that seam was the right move.”He also defended the selection of Scott Kuggeleijn who only bowled three overs in the second innings despite being selected as a specialist bowler. Kuggeleijn only conceded 10 runs off the bat but his maiden included critical extras of four byes and six leg byes from three balls that were angled down the leg side.”He’s been a been a standout performer at domestic level,” Southee said. “He added a very valuable 40-odd runs for us batting in that No.8 position and when you play the four seamers you’re looking for someone who can bat a bit.”Scott’s got a handful of first-class hundreds and we saw how valuable that 40-odd runs were.”Disappointing with the ball. But I think he’s still chimed in with a couple of important wickets in the first Test in Wellington and 40-odd runs here. It’s tough for everyone to play a role at times.”Southee also refused to blame his side’s fielding as a reason for the loss. They dropped critical catches in Wellington and Rachin Ravindra’s drop of Marsh in the second over on Monday morning proved very costly.Marsh was 28 at the time and went on to make 80. Although Southee did note that without the drop, which also cost a single, they may not have got Travis Head out next ball.”Guys don’t mean to drop catches,” Southee said. “Everyone works hard on the fielding. Obviously that one went down early in the day. But if we take that then we don’t get the wicket the next ball and who’s to say Head doesn’t go on and have an innings like Marsh. You look back on a number of things. But the guys work hard on their fielding.”Southee denied his side had a mental block against Australia but he couldn’t put his finger on why they continued to struggle in the crunch moments against them.”I’m not too sure,” Southee said. “They’re a tough side to beat, not only in Australia, but when they travel as well.”I think when you play the best you’ve got to be at your best for those periods, that little bit longer. We had moments through both Test matches where we could have been a little bit better at times and then things could have been slightly different. But it was just another great Test and there’s been plenty of those over the last few years.”
Athletic Club are set to report Barcelona to La Liga in an attempt to force a full financial audit as they bid to keep Nico Williams this summer.
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Athletic to report Barca to La LigaWant them to prove 1:1 rule eligibilityWilliams keen on move to Camp NouFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Per , Athletic have sent a delegation, comprising of president Jon Uriarte and general manager Jon Berasategi, to Madrid in a bid to force a full audit of Barca's financial operations amid their ongoing pursuit of Williams. They believe that the club have not complied with the league's 1:1 rule, which allows clubs to only spend what they have generated in revenue.
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Williams has communicated to Athletic that he wants to leave to join Barcelona, but report that Athletic are ready to fight to keep him, and insist they have not reached any agreement with the winger to leave this summer, after he signed a new deal in December. The Spain international has a release clause of just over €60 million (£51m/$70m), but his current employers will call on La Liga to stop any transfer until Barca prove they can meet the 1:1 criteria.
WHAT LAPORTA SAID
Laporta told Mundo Deportivo, via Barca Blaugranes: “We don’t have bad relations with Athletic, yes there have been a series of misunderstandings and incidents in recent years, but you can’t say we have bad relations, we are two clubs with a very long history and with relationships that go back a long time.
“I don’t understand the reactions they are having, with all due respect, each one should look after their own, I don’t understand why they are going to talk about Barça in La Liga, I don’t think it’s right, but they will know what they are doing.”
Asked about the 1:1 rule, he added: “We are working to be in the 1:1 rule, we were already in it in the winter market, all the steps have been taken to be able to sign normally, to not be financially intervened with the ‘fair play’ as happened until winter, we have to comply with certain parameters, which is what we are doing and depending on that we will be able to sign and register the two players we want to sign… or register.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Williams has made 167 appearances for Athletic, scoring 31 goals and registering 30 assists. He has a contract until 2027 and it is clear that Bilbao do not plan to let him go without a fight.
Chelsea are reportedly preparing a bid to sign a new striker target who’s been “surprising” on-lookers with his form this year, as manager Enzo Maresca and Stamford Bridge chiefs begin to make transfer plans for the summer.
Chelsea's rumoured striker targets for the summer window
Nicolas Jackson is still yet to score a single Premier League goal this calendar year, while Christopher Nkunku was left out of the matchday squad entirely for Chelsea’s last game against Fulham.
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The Blues have set their sights on a Premier League forward who has “blistering pace”.
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Maresca’s shortage of prolific strikers has forced the Italian to get creative in recent weeks, with Pedro Neto even being utilised as a centre-forward in that time. Chelsea’s boss will be very eager to fix this hole in the squad ahead of his second full campaign in charge, and it is believed the west Londoners are eyeing a few top striker targets for next season.
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According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea have the likes of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, Ipswich Town starlet Liam Delap, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitiké and long-term target Victor Osimhen on their radar.
Sesko is a “very serious” potential signing for Chelsea, following another excellent campaign with Leipzig in the Bundesliga, while Delap is likely to be up for grabs this summer after Ipswich’s relegation to the Championship.
Sesko
The latter’s contract has a £30 million release clause tied with Ipswich’s relegation, so Delap could be a very astute option after his impressive season in an otherwise struggling team at Portman Road.
However, other elite clubs who are on the look-out for number nines will be fully aware of the 22-year-old’s exit clause too, and Sesko’s, which is rumoured to currently stand at around £62 million.
With Arsenal, Man United and Tottenham also in the market for proven forwards, according to reports, the competition will be fierce, so Chelsea may also have to think outside the box when it comes to solving their striker woes.
Chelsea preparing £43m bid for Como star Assane Diao
According to reports out of Spain, it is now claimed that Chelsea are targeting Como’s new striker, Assane Diao.
Assane Diao for Como.
The Senegal international only just signed for Cesc Fabregas’ side in January, and has enjoyed a rip-roaring first few months of his Serie A career with eight goals from his last 15 top flight matches.
There is now a belief that Chelsea are preparing a £43m summer bid for Diao after being impressed by his excellent form at Como, with the 19-year-old “surprising” critics after a prolific start.
Liverpool have also been linked with a move for Diao, so he’s clearly turning heads in the Premier League, with journalist Antonio Mango also calling the teenage talent “ridiculous” within his first few weeks as a Como player.
Arsenal are ready to swoop for a young centre-forward very soon, and it is believed Mikel Arteta’s side are in pole position to secure his signature ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool.
Andrea Berta to target new striker for Arsenal this summer
The club’s new sporting director, Andrea Berta, is set to target a new striker for Arsenal this summer.
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Berta put pen to paper on a contract to replace long-serving transfer chief Edu Gaspar around three weeks ago, according to Fabrizio Romano, and a new number nine is said to be high on the Italian’s agenda heading into this summer.
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Arsenal have already identified targets, with the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres all linked to joining Arteta’s side before the start of next season.
As well as the aforementioned trio, Arsenal have been sporadically linked with homegrown stars like Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, who former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood recently urged Berta to sign.
“That is a no-brainer for me,” said Sherwood.
“I put Delap in front of [Ollie] Watkins, considering what Arsenal need at the moment. And he’s ahead of [Benjamin] Sesko, who Arsenal have been touting around for. Ipswich would be consigned to the Championship already without him. I think £40m would get him now.
Liam Delap against Manchester United for Ipswich Town.
“He would really develop under [Mikel] Arteta and give Arsenal something different, he’s strong, holds the ball up, runs from deep. He knows the league. I think he is an absolute no-brainer for Arsenal. If Ipswich get relegated, his value will still be up there, about the same price. £40m is nothing for Arsenal, he’s got a huge future ahead of him.”
Both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz won’t be available for quite a long time after sustaining serious injuries, so a prolific new forward is quite simply imperative for Arsenal, with the only question being who is their most ideal fit.
Arsenal ready to make "imminent move" for Blackburn starlet Harvey Higgins
Alongside the senior team, Berta will be overseeing the development of their youth setup, and Arsenal reportedly have their eyes on one of England’s brightest, up-and-coming forward talents.
That is according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who writes that Arsenal are ready to make an “imminent move” for Blackburn Rovers sensation Harvey Higgins.
The Gunners are apparently “in the driving seat” to strike a deal for Higgins, who is “regarded as one of the most exciting talents in the country”. The 16-year-old is also attracting attention from Chelsea, City, and Liverpool, but Arsenal are hoping to win the race for his services by swooping first.
Higgins could even end up replacing former Arsenal youth striker Chido Obi-Martin, who departed N5 for Man United recently and has already made senior appearances under Ruben Amorim.
The international break came at the right for Arsenal. Trailing the league by 12 points, they’ve needed some time off to reset and prepare for a busy few final months of the season.
While the Premier League title now feels impossible, their chances in the Champions League are not done and dusted just yet. However, they do face Real Madrid. Good luck, Mikel Arteta.
Before then, they will hope for a fitter squad. Gabriel Martinelli is back in action now and Bukayo Saka’s return isn’t too far off.
They will be missing Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus though, two long-term absentees who won’t play again this season.
As a result, they will need to find more fortune in the final third. Finding form for your country could be key.
How Arsenal's players are performing for their country
The biggest story of this international break has undoubtedly been Thomas Tuchel’s first match in the Wembley dugout with England.
It wasn’t too much of a rip-roaring start, beating Albania 2-0, but there was a Three Lions debut for 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The teenager started at left-back and made an almighty impact, notably scoring the first goal of the Tuchel era, running in behind and getting on the end of a beautiful Jude Bellingham pass before finding the back of the net.
It was a magical moment. Only Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney have scored goals at a younger age for England.
Declan Rice also played a part in that win, assisting Harry Kane’s 70th England goal.
Elsewhere, Riccardo Calafiori was injured with Italy and we still await a prognosis of a knee injury after the defender fell awkwardly last week and twisted his leg.
Fellow defender William Saliba kept a clean sheet on Sunday night, subsequently helping France to the UEFA Nations League semi-finals after defeating Croatia. Mikel Merino scored last week against the Netherlands as La Roja sealed their place in the last four too.
That said, it hasn’t been productive for everyone away with their country. Just ask Leandro Trossard.
Leandro Trossard's performances for Belgium
This has been a tough season for Trossard who should have been able to kick on after a brilliant 2023/24 campaign.
Performance in Numbers
Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.
Only Saka scored more (20) than Trossard’s haul of 17 goals in all competitions throughout last term but he’s underwhelmed significantly through 2024/25.
The Belgian has found the net on six occasions and posted seven assists in 43 games but his recent record leaves plenty to be desired, scoring just once in his last 13 appearances at club level.
That record has now stretched to 15 matches for club and country, failing to net in Belgium’s recent matches against Ukraine, an initial 3-1 defeat and then a 3-0 win on Sunday.
In those games, the wide forward failed to deliver, with Belgian media notably unhappy with his performances.
In the first fixture against Ukraine, Belgian outlet Walfoot noted that ‘Trossard was only a shadow of the player he can be at Arsenal (and was at Brighton).’
Minutes played
80
69
Touches
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42
Accurate passes
24/32 (75%)
26/31 (84%)
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1
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Ground duels won
5/9
0/3
Aerial duels won
0/1
0
Lost possession
11x
10x
Meanwhile, after the 3-0 win over the weekend, Voetbalkrant handed a 5/10 match rating, writing: ‘He was deployed as right forward, but roamed everywhere in a free role. His efforts left much to be desired and he really wasn’t in the game. Too weak.’
It continues a pretty wretched run of form for the 30-year-old who is playing himself out of the team, not just for his country but for his club too.
With Saka set to return before too long, the Belgian could well find himself behind the likes of Nwaneri, Martinelli and the club’s iconic number 7.
There is said to be interest from Saudi in Trossard and over the summer, Arteta and Co simply have to be looking at cashing in on the attacker.
His recent run, including over the international break, proves he’s no longer good enough for the Gunners.
Arsenal's "huge talent" was the original Lewis-Skelly, then he left for £0
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly has made quite the impression at club and international level this season.
Everton looked like they were on course for an excellent victory over Manchester United at Goodison Park this afternoon.
Goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure gave the home side a two-goal advantage. Bruno Fernandes grabbed one back before Manuel Ugarte netted the equaliser with ten minutes remaining.
Everton managerDavidMoyescelebrates after the match
The result will sting for David Moyes, coming so close to securing all three points against his former side, but the qualities shown by his team mean relegation from the Premier League will be avoided this season.
Everton’s best and worst performers vs Man United
Since Moyes was appointed, several first-team players have stepped up of late. Against the Old Trafford outfit, Beto was certainly lively.
He scored after just 19 minutes, poking the ball past Andre Onana while also registering three total shots on target, creating a big chance and drawing two fouls.
Doucoure was also excellent during the game. Like Beto, he created one big chance and made a key pass along with winning 100% of his aerial duels against the Red Devils.
Elsewhere, James Tarkowski wasn’t quite at his best, completing just 74% of his passes, losing possession six times while committing two fouls.
At the heart of the midfield, James Garner won just 50% of his ground duels and completed only 16 of his 25 passes, amid a muted showing by the midfielder.
Abdoulaye Doucoure
Perhaps the worst performer for Everton was Jesper Lindstrom. He was subbed off just after half-time due to injury, but he struggled majorly against United’s Patrick Dorgu before that.
Jesper Lindstrom’s game in numbers vs Man United
The Danish winger is currently on a season-long loan at the club, but he has failed to score a single goal. Furthermore, he has registered just a solitary assist across 26 games in all competitions.
Unleashed on the right wing, Lindstrom was expected to give Dorgu a torrid afternoon. Unfortunately, it was the other way around as the Everton player struggled against United’s winter signing.
Everton vs Manchester United – Key Statistics
Metric
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Accurate passes
Bruno Fernandes (84)
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Beto (3)
Tackles
Idrissa Gueye (11)
Key passes
Jack Harrison (3)
Ground duels won
Idrissa Gueye (11)
Via Sofascore
During his 55 minutes on the field, he took 22 touches while completing 11 of his 14 attempted passes – 14 fewer than Jordan Pickford – as he struggled to do anything when he was on the ball.
Chalkboard
Lindstrom attempted two dribbles, but failed with both, and he failed to make a key pass or create a big chance during the match.
Defensively, he wasn’t much better. Indeed, the Dane won just one of his seven contested duels, lost possession ten times and was dribbled past once.
Jesper Lindstrom
Hardly the performance Moyes was expecting, and he was the weak link during the first half.
For his display, the winger was given a match rating of 5/10 by Liverpool World, and he must be dropped by Moyes ahead of the clash against Brentford in midweek. If not, the Toffees could hamper their chances of securing three points.
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He’d be one of the best players in David Moyes’ current Everton side.
Leeds United are looking likely to win promotion to the Premier League under Daniel Farke after spending two seasons in the Championship.
The Whites have made Elland Road a fortress and have been just as devastating away from home in recent months, with a 3-1 win at Sheffield United the latest highlight of an incredible campaign.
However, it hasn’t been plain sailing for Farke’s side, with goalkeeper Illan Meslier coming in for criticism during the season after making multiple mistakes.
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The first high-profile error came against Sunderland which cost Leeds two points, then another horror show led to more dropped points away to Hull City.
Against the Blades, Meslier looked extremely shaky early on and scored an own goal, with the Frenchman in the negative for goals prevented, as per FotMob.
But who could replace Meslier at Leeds? We’ve looked at a plethora of shot-stoppers that 49ers Enterprises could target over the summer.
1 Caoimhin Kelleher Liverpool
Liverpool's CaoimhinKelleher
Caoimhin Kelleher of Liverpool is likely to be a man in demand this summer. The Reds currently have Alisson Becker as first-choice and Giorgi Mamardashvili will link up with the Reds squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Therefore, Kelleher could be on the move. He has shown his quality at Anfield, keeping 23 clean sheets in 64 appearances. The Republic of Ireland international has won six major honours at Anfield and appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation.
2 Aaron Ramsdale Southampton
At the other end of the Premier League table are Southampton, who invested in Aaron Ramsdale as their No 1 after beating Leeds in the play-off final in 2024.
But things haven’t gone to plan for the Saints, who are on course to return to the Championship, which may result in a number of star players leaving St Mary’s.
Ramsdale, despite conceding plenty of goals, is performing better than the likes of Nick Pope and Emiliano Martinez when it comes to Premier League goals prevented, showing that in a side with a solid defensive base such as Leeds’, he could be a shrewd addition.
3 Mads Hermansen Leicester City
Another newly promoted side who may come straight back down to the Championship is Leicester City, along with No 1 goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
The 24-year-old has been among the Foxes’ best performers this season, as per WhoScored, while also having a positive goals-prevented ratio.
If Leicester come straight back down, perhaps an immediate return to the Premier League with Leeds could appeal to the Dane.
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ByRoss Kilvington Jan 29, 2025 4 Joan Garcia Espanyol
If Leeds want to look abroad for a goalkeeper target, Joan Garcia of Espanyol could be an ambitious option. The 23-year-old, who helped Spain win Olympic gold last summer, has been outperforming Jan Oblak and Thibaut Courtois in the shot-stopping stats, as per FBref.
He has also been heavily linked with Arsenal in a £20m+ transfer, but the guarantee of first-team football at Elland Road may also appeal should Leeds be promoted.
5 Vanja Milinkovic-Savic Torino
Over in Italy, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic could be another potential European target for Leeds. The Serbia international, who currently plays for Torino, was once on the books of Man Utd in 2014 and is seemingly at the peak of his powers at the age of 28.
Milinkovic-Savic has made more saves than any other Serie A goalkeeper in 2024/25 and is also near the top of the charts for save percentage, while also preventing more goals than any other ‘keeper in the division.
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ByRoss Kilvington Feb 3, 2025 6 Conan Ledesma River Plate
Real Madrid's Joselu in action with Cadiz's Fali andJeremiasLedesma
One goalkeeper who was linked with Leeds during the January transfer window was Conan Ledesma of River Plate.
The Argentinian, once called “the best goalkeeper in the universe”, has plenty of experience in La Liga during his time with Cadiz, averaging a clean sheet every three games in the Spanish top flight.
At the age of 32, Ledesma wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but he appears to be a player on Leeds’ radar, and as he is second-choice at River, he could become an option even if it isn’t as a regular starter in West Yorkshire.
7 Noah Atubolu Freiburg
If Leeds want a young shot-stopper to come in and replace Meslier, Noah Atubolu of Freiburg could be their man. The Germany U21 international appears to be going from strength to strength, and recently set a record of saving four Bundesliga penalties in a row.
As we know with Meslier, his record of saving spot-kicks isn’t as impressive, and with Atubolu outperforming the likes of Gregor Kobel of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer for save percentage, he could be a shrewd signing.
8 Viktor Johansson Stoke City
Arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship at this moment in time is Stoke City’s Viktor Johansson. Picked up from Rotherham United over the summer, Johansson has continued to impress in the second tier and is the best ‘keeper in the Championship for goals prevented.
Statistically, Johansson has an Expected Goals on Target (xGOT) total of more than 55 but has only let in 44, as well as a better goals-prevented ratio than Burnley’s James Trafford. The Sweden international appears to be in his prime at the age of 26, so he may well be of interest to the Whites.
9 Guillaume Restes Toulouse
Called the second-best goalkeeper under the age of 24 in the media last year was Toulouse’s Guillaume Restes, who is still just 19 years of age.
The Frenchman has already established himself in Ligue 1, making more than 60 senior appearances for his current employers. Should Restes’ impressive rise continue, so will his price tag, but if Leeds are willing to spend their potential Premier League fortune on a new goalkeeper, he could be a smart long-term investment.
10 Michael Cooper Sheffield United
Although a repeat appears unlikely, we have seen a recent deal between Leeds and Sheffield United, with Jayden Bogle swapping Bramall Lane for Elland Road last summer.
Should Leeds win promotion and the Blades fall short under Chris Wilder, Michael Cooper could perhaps be a target for the Whites, with the shot-stopper starring after joining from Plymouth Argyle in 2024.
He has been one of the top ‘keepers in the Championship with Trafford and Johansson, and despite a lot needing to change between now and the summer, crazier things have happened.
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