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Two-time Champions League winners FC Porto may not be the force they once were, but they still have a number of quality players on their books.

The Dragons have an annual payroll of €30,910,000 for the 2025/26 season, with the average player earning just over €1.1m per season. Every FC Porto player in the first-team squad has been ranked in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the season, with the help of Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

Rank	Player	Gross pay per week	Gross pay per year
1	Jakub Kiwior	€66,731	€3,470,000
=2	Luuk de Jong	€48,077	€2,500,000
=2	Jan Bednarek	€48,077	€2,500,000
=2	Pepe	€48,077	€2,500,000
5	Gabri Veiga	€38,462	€2,000,000
6	Alberto Costa	€36,923	€1,920,000
7	Samu Omorodion	€31,346	€1,630,000
=8	Diogo Costa	€27,692	€1,440,000
=8	Nehuen Perez	€27,692	€1,440,000
10	Alan Varela	€24,038	€1,250,000
=11	Pablo Rosario	€22,115	€1,150,000
=11	Borja Sainz	€22,115	€1,150,000
=13	Rodrigo Mora	€18,462	€960,000
=13	Victor Froholdt	€18,462	€960,000
15	Pedro Lima	€17,308	€900,000
16	Francisco Moura	€16,731	€870,000
17	Zaidu Sanusi	€15,000	€780,000
=18	Claudio Ramos	€11,154	€580,000
=18	Joao Costa	€11,154	€580,000
20	William Gomes	€9,231	€480,000
21	Stephen Eustaquio	€8,462	€440,000
=22	Martim Fernandes	€7,308	€380,000
=22	Dominik Prpic	€7,308	€380,000
24	Deniz Gul	€6,731	€350,000
25	Tomas Perez	€5,769	€300,000

Here's a detailed look at FC Porto's top 10 earners…

10

Alan Varela

€24,038 per week

Alan Varela signed a new deal with FC Porto in 2025, seeing his salary increase by €10,000 per week.

The Argentine midfielder has gone from strength to strength in Portugal and is now under contract until 2030.

9

Nehuen Perez

€24,038 per week

Centre-back Nehuen Perez made the move to FC Porto from Udinese in 2024.

The Argentina international was only on loan at the Estadio do Dragao, but he made a move permanent in 2025.

8

Diogo Costa

€27,692 per week

Academy graduate Diogo Costa made his senior debut for FC Porto in 2019 and hasn’t looked back.

The Portugal international has gone on to be first-choice for club and country in recent years and has even been linked with a big-money move away, so eventually, FC Porto could cash in on one of the best goalkeepers in the game today.

7

Samu Omorodion

€31,346 per week

It looked as if Samu Omorodion would be joining Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in 2024, but after a deal broke down, FC Porto came in and secured the forward’s services.

The youngster made an instant impact in Portugal, scoring 11 goals in his first 10 appearances in all competitions.

6

Alberto Costa

€36,923 per week

Portuguese full-back Alberto Costa returned to his native country in 2025 after a brief spell in Italy with Juventus.

The former Vitoria S.C right-back cost Porto €15m and signed a five-year contract.

5

Gabri Veiga

€38,462 per week

Gabri Veiga was handed the number 10 shirt after signing for Porto from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in 2025.

Like Costa, Veiga also cost €15m and signed a deal until 2030 and can play as an attacking midfielder or out wide.

4

Pepe

€40,385 per week

Not to be mistaken with the iconic centre-back who also played for FC Porto, Brazilian winger Pepe is one of three players on €48,077 per week.

After joining from Gremio in 2021, Pepe is under contract until 2027.

3

Jan Bednarek

€40,385 per week

After eight years as a Southampton player, Jan Bednarek swapped St Mary’s for FC Porto in 2025 in a deal worth €7.5m.

The centre-back signed a four-year deal and is set to earn €10m in wages during that time.

2

Luuk de Jong

€40,385 per week

Experienced striker Luuk de Jong was announced as a shock signing during one of FC Porto’s pre-season fixtures at the Estadio do Dragao.

He didn’t cost Porto a penny, allowing them to give De Jong a €2.5m per year deal.

1

Jakub Kiwior

€66,731 per week

Top of the list as FC Porto’s hughest paid player for 2025/26 is defender Jakub Kiwior, who is on loan from Arsenal for the season.

The Poland international found game time hard to come by at the Emirates and there is thought to be an obligation for a deal to become permanent in 2026.

Rohit Sharma confirmed that he would continue to play ODI cricket, where he is India’s captain

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-20252:16

Kumble: Straight from the heart, that’s Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect, meaning India will need to name a new full-time captain almost immediately after the end of IPL 2025, with India’s five-Test series in England scheduled to begin on June 20 at Headingley.”Hello everyone I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket. It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format,” Rohit, who had retired from T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup last year with him as captain, said in a post on social media on Wednesday evening.Rohit retires with 4301 runs in 67 Test matches, averaging 40.57 despite the poor recent run. He scored 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries over the years, with a best of 212, against South Africa in Ranchi in October 2019.Related

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Roger Binny, the former India allrounder and current BCCI president, paid tribute to Rohit.”Mr Rohit Sharma’s impact on Indian cricket transcends records and statistics,” Binny said in a statement. “He brought a sense of calm and assurance to the team – both as a player and as a captain. His ability to stay composed under pressure and to consistently put the team’s needs above his own made him a truly special player and leader. Indian cricket has been fortunate to have a figure like Rohit – someone who upheld the highest standards of professionalism and sportsmanship. He leaves behind not just a remarkable playing record, but a culture of discipline and selflessness that will inspire future generations.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

As recently as Tuesday, Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach across the three international formats, had said in response to a question on the future of senior pros Rohit and Virat Kohli that “Till the time they are performing, they should be a part of the team. When you start and when you end is your individual decision. No coach, no selector, no BCCI can tell you when you should call it quits. If you perform, then why 40, you can jolly well play till 45, who’s stopping you?”Rohit’s decision comes after poor home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand late last year and then a horror tour of Australia across December 2024 and January 2025, where he crossed 50 just once and averaged 10.93 from eight Test matches. India won both the Tests against Bangladesh, but were swept 3-0 by New Zealand under Rohit’s captaincy, and then lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia 3-1.Rohit missed the first and last Tests on that tour of Australia, the first to be at home in India for the birth of his child, and the last, in Sydney, where he “stood down”. At the time, he had stressed that it was just that, a reaction to his poor batting form, not a “retirement decision”, and that he was not “going to take myself out of the game”. Jasprit Bumrah is currently India’s designated vice-captain and led in the first and last Tests in Australia in Rohit’s absence.Speaking to ” during the Test match, Rohit had said, “I sat out of this match because runs are not coming off my bat. There is no guarantee runs won’t come five or two months down the line. I have seen a lot in cricket that life changes every second, every minute, every day.”I have confidence in me that things can change, but at the same time I have to be realistic as well. So life won’t change by what people with a mic, pen or laptop write or say. They can’t decide when we should retire, when we should sit out, when we should captain. I am a sensible man, mature man, father of two kids. So I know what I need in life.”5:13

Kumble on Rohit’s Test retirement: ‘You know when it’s time and you don’t regret it’

Immediately after returning from Australia, Rohit played a one-off match for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in January after the selectors in coordination with BCCI made it mandatory for contracted players to feature in domestic cricket. Rohit’s batting woes continued as he made 3 and 28 against Jammu & Kashmir.While the selectors decided to keep him as India’s captain for the Champions Trophy, Rohit was aware success in the ICC event wouldn’t guarantee his spot in the Test format. And, so, despite his leading India to the title in March, Rohit decided to bring the curtains down on his Test career.The development comes with little over a month to go for the start of India’s five-Test tour of England on June 20. The selectors are expected to finalise the Test squad in the coming weeks, but with Rohit retiring, the biggest question for the Ajit Agarkar-led panel would be naming the next Test captain.Bumrah is an option but putting that responsibility on a fast bowler, particularly one who has just returned from injury might not be easy. He shouldered a heavy workload during the Australia tour and was diagnosed with a stress reaction on his lower back, resulting in his being unable to bowl in the second innings of the final Test in Sydney. Bumrah missed the Champions Trophy thereafter and only resumed playing since April in the IPL where he represents Mumbai Indians.

Thomas Tuchel has told English players they can’t expect special treatment and must earn the right to play for Premier League clubs. The number of homegrown players has dipped alarmingly in recent years, but the Three Lions boss believes domestic clubs aren’t to blame as players must fight harder to earn a place in their team.

Steady decline of English players

The percentage of starters eligible for England this season has dropped to a record low of 23.2 per cent, which contrasts sharply with previous seasons under former boss Gareth Southgate, when it ranged from 30 per cent to 33 per cent. Before Southgate took the Three Lions hot seat the percentage of eligible players was above 38 per cent and when the Premier League first began in 1993 the number was a whopping 71 per cent.

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But boss Tuchel says that English players are not being overlooked, it is the clubs who are making the tough decisions: "It is competition. It is high level sport. The players have to fight their way to compete in the League. It is what it is. We have enough players to compete at a high level and they compete in the toughest League and they have to fight their way." And when asked if he's disappointed to see so few England players when he heads out on the road to watch matches, Tuchel added: "Yes, sometimes that happens. It is not frustrating. Of course I would love to see more English players. The more the better. But I come from club football and I know that no-one is holding anyone back. If anyone deserves to play, they will play so they have to fight for their place and I think they will. Quality will always find a way."

Wembley woe despite easy win

England secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Wales in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. The win was another strong performance under Tuchel, who’s been building momentum towards the 2026 World Cup. The Three Lions took control of the match early, with goals coming quickly in the first half from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and a stunner from Bukayo Saka. Despite the convincing win, Tuchel caused controversy by criticising the atmosphere generated by the home crowd at Wembley, stating that he could primarily hear the travelling Welsh supporters.

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The build-up to England’s clash with Wales was dominated by key absences to the Three Lions squad. Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Adam Wharton were all notable absentees. But Tuchel says there is plenty of time for them to return to the fold. Tuchel said: "The door is always open for anyone to jump in. Let's play a second game and then we decide. The nomination comes and then there is always an open door for top quality, top character. We are in October now so we go step-by-step. We can just acknowledge he (Morgan Rogers) did amazing, the team did amazing and he buys into that. He is a humble player. He is a physical player. And he is a very talented player, of course. And in a good way. We need more than just 11 at the moment."

And when asked if the team he selected to face Wales could play England’s opener at next summer World Cup, Tuchel said: "I am sorry but I don't follow that mindset. I am a football coach to coach the team that I nominate. And that is where my focus is. Let's cross the river when we are at the river. It does not help anyone if we think in bubbles about what can happen and about what cannot happen. We had the last one and a half days to influence the team and I am happy they responded in this way. I am a happy coach tonight. And on Saturday we keep on going."

England are next in action on Tuesday as the Three Lions face Latvia away from home. They will return to action in November, when they face Serbia at Wembley and Albania in Tirana. 

Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney remains one of the deadliest strikers to have played at Old Trafford, and it appears that he hasn’t lost his ability to score stunning goals, even after his retirement.

Wayne Rooney scores blockbuster goal in Nexon Icons match

While the Premier League begins to heat up again after the conclusion of the international break, football fans on the other side of the world were able to take in a thrilling match-up of legends in Seoul on Sunday.

In the latest instalment of the Nexon Icons 2025 Series, FC Spear and Shield United went head-to-head for the Nexon trophy and plenty of the world’s best at their craft were on show in front of their adoring crowd.

Rooney led the line for FC Spear, followed up by a support act of epic proportion, including Didier Drogba, Thierry Henry, Kaka and Steven Gerrard, among other star-studded faces.

On the other side, Carles Puyol, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Iker Casillas were just some of the names on display, but former Manchester United star Rooney grabbed the headlines, even if his side went on to lose 2-1 courtesy of strikes from Maicon and Joo Ho Park.

As seen below, the Three Lions icon delivered a magnificent effort from outside the area to level the scoring, one that bore striking similarities to his strike in Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat against Barcelona in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley.

Forever a legend at both Everton and Manchester United, he is enjoying life after his playing days and still has a God-given talent most footballers would kill to replicate. Now, it remains to be seen whether he dips his toe back into management.

Full transcript of line-ups from Nexon Icons match

Shield United: Young Kwang Kim, Iker Casillas, Alessandro Nesta, Michael Carrick, Marchisio, Gilberto Silva, Joo Ho Park, Sol Campbell, Claude Makelele, Ashley Cole, Maicon, John Arne Riise, Nemanja Vidic, Carles Puyol, Young Pyo Lee, Rio Ferdinand.

FC Spear: Bum Young Lee, Gianluigi Buffon, Ja Cheol Koo, Ki Hyon Seol, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Clarence Seedorf, Eden Hazard, Wayne Rooney, Gareth Bale, Kaka, Steven Gerrard, Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Ji Sung Park, Didier Drogba.

What next for Wayne Rooney in management?

On the management front, Rooney is without a club after leaving Plymouth Argyle in 2024 after a run of five wins, six draws and 14 losses in 25 matches across all competitions.

Previously, he has also enjoyed spells in charge of Derby County, DC United and Birmingham City, albeit the Manchester United hero has enjoyed varied degrees of success at all four clubs.

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Speaking to The Rest is Football earlier this year, Rooney admitted he would like to take on a new challenge in the dugout, but only if it comes in the right set of circumstances.

“I would like to go back in (to management). But it would have to be the right club. Certainly the right club. I think you always have that ego, don’t you? You always have that confidence you could go in and get the best out of a bad or difficult situation.”

Coaching vacancies will become available throughout the next few months, though some would suggest that Rooney putting his boots back would be an even better use of his time!

Australian batter targets return in Sheffield Shield next month ahead of English season

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Feb-2025Cameron Bancroft expects to have fully recovered from his shoulder injury to captain Gloucestershire at the start of the 2025 County Championship season, and is targeting a return for Western Australia next month.Bancroft was involved in a sickening commission with Daniel Sams while fielding for Sydney Thunder in the BBL in January, and has revealed that he has suffered from a level of “trauma” since the injury. He has not played since after breaking his nose and shoulder, but is hoping to be back involved in the Sheffield Shield in March before heading over to England.Gloucestershire announced on Wednesday that he will captain their Championship side this year, stepping into the role after Graeme van Buuren stepped down at the end of last season. Bancroft told the club’s channels that he is recovering “pretty well” and “getting close” to full fitness.Related

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“The shoulder’s tracking alright. Obviously [there was] a little bit of trauma there to deal with and manage,” Bancroft said. “I’m definitely learning some things that I’ve seen a lot of other players experience. It takes time for the body to heal… I’m getting really close and looking forward to playing some cricket at the start of March.”Bancroft impressed across formats for Gloucestershire in 2024, scoring three Championship hundreds and finishing as their leading run-scorer as they won the T20 Blast. He is due back for the full season in 2025, and head coach Mark Alleyne said that his attitude last year made him the ideal choice as captain.”Cameron had an impressive year with us in 2024 and led by example in everything he did,” Alleyne said. “I love his dedication to preparation and his subsequent transference of that in the middle. His experience of playing Test match cricket and winning four-day titles gives him a broad base of experience which our players can feed off.”Gloucestershire finished second-bottom of Division Two last year, but Bancroft believes they can push for promotion. “We had great lessons last year,” he said. “We’ll draw on those lessons, keep working on our strengths and the things we’re really good at. If we can do that, we’re going to be a team that’s going to be really hard to beat and be really competitive.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers need new recruits between now and Monday’s deadline if they’re going to stay in the Premier League.

So far, Vítor Pereira’s team have played two and lost two this season, demolished 4-0 by Manchester City on opening weekend, before another defeat on Saturday, this time at the hands of Bournemouth.

Tuesday’s comeback win over West Ham United in the Carabao Cup may spark reason for optimism, however, not least with man of the moment, Jørgen Strand Larsen, netting twice off the bench to power the Old Gold to victory.

That brace was just the latest headline-grabbing occasion for the Scandinavian sensation, with Pereira’s side perhaps now seeking to replicate that success with another exciting acquisition.

Wolves set for another La Liga recruit

With Matheus Cunha having departed for Manchester United, Larsen will be Wolves’ main man in attack.

He scored 14 Premier League goals last season, a very impressive return, before making the move from Celta Vigo permanent for around £23m earlier this summer.

His importance is why the club rejected a £50m bid for the Norwegian striker from Newcastle United earlier this week, although the Magpies are still hopeful of getting a deal done.

Meantime, it is being widely reported that Ladislav Krejčí is close to joining Wolves from Girona for £26m, set to undergo a medical in the coming days.

However, he is not the only La Liga player seemingly Molineux-bound.

Transfer Focus

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

That’s because, according to a report by the Telegraph, Wolves have ‘agreed personal terms’ with Getafe midfielder Christantus Uche.

The Nigerian international is expected to cost around £17m, with reports in Spain suggesting Getafe are under pressure to sell in order to comply with LaLiga’s squad cost limit regulations, so will Uche soon swap Madrid for the Midlands?

What Wolves fans should expect from Christantus Uche

The 22-year-old has enjoyed an “insane” rise in the last 12 months or so, as per one content creator, given that he was playing for Ceuta in the Primera Federación, Spain’s third-tier, as recently as the 2023/24 season.

His form there earned him a move to Getafe last summer, his top-flight debut coming almost exactly a year ago, making 33 appearances in LaLiga last season, uniquely deployed all over the attacking area of the pitch by manager José Bordalás, utilised as a striker, a winger and an attacking midfielder.

His tally of four goals may not leap off the page, but it’s worth considering the fact that Azulones scored only 34 times as a team, the second-fewest in the division, outscoring only rock-bottom Real Valladolid.

Uche also commenced the new campaign by netting during Getafe’s 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo at Balaídos on the opening weekend, assisting Adrián Liso to score the other goal too, so let’s further examine his importance to Getafe.

Minutes

2,486

8th

Goals

4

3rd

Assists

6

1st

Big chances created

7

1st

Shots

50

2nd

Key passes

29

3rd

Shot-creating actions

78

2nd

Goal-creating actions

10

1st

Progressive-carries

43

2nd

Average Sofascore rating

6.89

6th

As the table documents, Uche ranked in the top three at Getafe last season for all attacking metrics included, top of the pile in terms of assists, big chances created and goal-creating actions, underlining his importance.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout is certainly a fan, describing him as a “superb… box-to-box midfielder”, while elsewhere noting that “passing, physicality and work rate” are his biggest strengths.

So, why would he be such an excellent signing for Wolves?

Well, Uche is accustomed to playing for a struggling side, given that Getafe ranked second-bottom for average possession in LaLiga last season (41.2%), above only Espanyol.

During his own penultimate season in LaLiga, Strand Larsen also scored just four goals for Celta Vigo, before increasing that total to 13 prior to joining Wolves, and all available evidence suggests that Uche is capable of producing a similar increase.

Having seen the success that Tuesday’s Carabao Cup hero has enjoyed at Molineux to date, Wolves should well aim to repeat the trick with another exciting LaLiga import.

Romano: £26m star now set for medical with deal sealed ahead of Wolves move

The Old Gold are set to land their man…

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After flying out the blocks in the early weeks of the transfer window, Manchester City have now reportedly initiated contact to pick up where they left off by signing another impressive star.

Nypan "very proud" to join Man City

The most recent player through the door has of course been the young Sverre Nypan. The Norwegian midfielder has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, which has seen Pep Guardiola welcome one of the most exciting talents that Europe has to offer.

Speaking for the first time since arriving, Nypan told Man City’s official website: “I am incredibly happy and proud to have joined Manchester City. It’s a dream for any young footballer to become part of this Club and to join such a group of world class talent.

“I am still very young with a lot to learn but the chance to be coached by Pep Guardiola, the best manager in the world, will only help me to become a better player.

“There is already a special connection between Norway and Manchester City through Erling Haaland and Oscar Bobb, and I am very proud to have become the latest Norwegian player to have joined the club.”

Nypan’s arrival makes it five fresh faces for Man City, who have rebuilt their side in the last six months following their worst period of form during Guardiola’s entire tenure last season.

Even after signing Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Nypan and Marcus Bettinelli, however, those at the Etihad still reportedly have unfinished business in the summer transfer window.

As they set their sights on reclaiming their Premier League crown next season, Man City have now reportedly initiated contact to sign an impressive star who Guardiola loves.

Man City initiate James Trafford contact

In a shock twist, the Citizens have now set their sights on compiling Newcastle’s misery in what has been a summer to forget for the Magpies. According to Fabrizio Romano, Man City have now initiated contact to sign James Trafford in a deal that would see them hijack a deal that Newcastle had otherwise been advancing towards.

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The Manchester club reportedly have a buyback clause worth £40m, but are now attempting to negotiate a lower price with Burnley, who are also reportedly set to receive a £40m bid from Saudi PIF-owned Newcastle for their shot-stopper.

City’s unexpected pursuit follows a difficult season for Ederson, which may have forced those at the Etihad to ask questions of the Brazilian for the first time.

Dubbed “world-class” by Burnley boss Scott Parker, whether Trafford’s arrival would see Ederson step aside or head for the exit door is the big question that City may yet have to answer.

In a major boost in pursuit of yet another addition, one Glasgow Rangers target now reportedly wants to complete a summer switch to Ibrox as the 49ers continue negotiations.

Rangers gearing up for crucial UCL second leg after Ibrox win

It’s an important week for Rangers and the most important of Russell Martin’s tenure so far. The Gers travel to Greek side Panathinaikos in hope of sealing their victory in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. With a 2-0 lead to defend, the Scottish Premiership giants already hold a key advantage, but will be wary of preventing any dramatic comebacks.

Of course, if the Greek side square up against the Rangers side that were just held to a 2-2 draw by Championship side Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly, then the Gers could certainly be in for a few twists and turns.

Left frustrated by the result, Martin told reporters: “The first half was a bit frustrating because we’re playing a good team. They’re athletic, they pressed really aggressively, but a lot of the moments that were uncomfortable for us were down to a lack of intensity on our part.

“And I said to the guys, I didn’t like the warm-up, there’s a bit of disappointment in a few people, maybe not in the team and all that stuff.

“But, if you’re disappointed and especially playing for this football club, you have to show it in being more aggressive and more intense, not being downbeat and sort of just being out there and letting the game pass you by a little bit. So they know that now. That can’t happen.”

The more that the former Southampton boss sees his side in action, the more he will learn and that has seemingly seen him turn his attention towards the likes of Abu Kamara and one other potential addition.

Rak-Sakyi now wants Rangers move

As reported by The Sun and relayed by Ibrox News, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi now wants to complete a summer switch to Rangers as the 49ers continue to negotiate a deal which could cost as much as £10m with Crystal Palace.

The talented winger spent last season on loan at Sheffield United and impressed many as he scored seven goals and assisted another two for the Blades. Even after impressing in England’s second division, however, the 22-year-old’s place in Oliver Glasner’s plans is far from guaranteed, and he has now set his sights on Ibrox as a result.

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Dubbed “fearless” by Crystal Palace fan account HLTCO, Rak-Sakyi would be following the likes of Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandes, Djeidi Gassama and Joe Rothwell on the list of players to swap English football for Martin’s Rangers side if he completes a move in the coming weeks.

The Gers have so far enjoyed an impressive overhaul, with the 49ers looking to make an instant statement, and the arrival of the Crystal Palace gem would only add to that.

Fair to say, West Ham United supporters are not coming into the new season with sky-high optimism.

Last time round, the Hammers finished 14th, only just above the disastrous duo that was Manchester United and Tottenham, while their tally of nine home league defeats was the most they’ve endured since being relegated in 2010/11.

Graham Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui in January, but this did not lead to an upturn in results, winning just five of his 19 matches in charge.

Thus, Potter will be under pressure to make a fast start to this season, but will need some new recruits if he’s to achieve this, potentially with his eye on an attacker reminiscent of a West Ham fans’ favourite of yesteryear.

West Ham's search for a new attacker

So far this summer, in a very unpopular move amongst the Hammers’ support, star winger Mohammed Kudus has departed to join fierce rivals Tottenham for a reported fee of £55m, becoming the first player to make such a move since Scott Parker in 2011.

Meantime, left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf has arrived from Slavia Prague for around £19m, but this has done little to get supporters back on side.

Well, that could change because, according to a report by Jack Johnson for talkSPORT, West Ham have made contact with Leicester City over the possibility of signing Bilal El Khannouss.

They add that Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Monaco also ‘hold a concrete interest’, while adding that the Moroccan international’s contract contains a £22.5m release clause, activated following the Foxes’ relegation to the EFL Championship.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

Loïc Tanzi of L’Équipe claims that El Khannouss has no intention of playing in England’s second-tier, prioritising a return to the Premier League, so could he soon swap the East Midlands for the East End of London?

How Bilal El Khannouss would improve West Ham

After arriving from Genk for £21m last summer, El Khannouss managed to impress during his debut campaign in the Premier League, despite plying his trade in a generally hopeless Leicester side, who infamously failed to score in nine successive home league matches, an unwanted new top division record.

The table below outlines the Moroccan’s importance to the Foxes last season.

Bilal El Khannouss’ Premier League statistics 2024/25

Statistics

El Khannouss

Leicester rank

Minutes

2,182

7th

Appearances

32

4th

Goals

2

5th

Assists

3

3rd

Shots

30

4th

Goals – xG

+0.7

4th

Progressive passes

128

1st

Key passes

42

1st

Passes into the box

31

1st

Shot-creating actions

78

1st

Successful take-ons

34

2nd

Take-on success %

56.7%

2nd*

Progressive carries

73

2nd

Carries into the final third

45

1st

*minimum 13 attempted.

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table outlines, El Khannouss was very much Leicester’s creator in chief last season, ranked first for a variety of passing, chances created and dribbling statistics.

Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines notes that he ‘boasts the vision to spot impossible passes’, adding that he ‘oozes composure’ and is capable of a match-winning moment at any time, asserting that it’s only a matter of time before he is plying his trade for one of ‘Europe’s biggest outfits’. Writing on X, Mattinson has described him as “a player made for the big stage”.

Well, that last part sounds just like arguably West Ham’s greatest player of the modern era, does it not?

When Dimitri Payet joined the Hammers from Olympique de Marseille for just £11m in the summer of 2015, no one could’ve forecast what would happen next.

In 60 appearances in claret and blue, the France international scored 15 goals and registered 22 assists, with Josh Fordham of talkSPORT asserting that he is ‘easily the most talented player’ of the club’s modern history.

Meantime, Roshane Thomas of The Athletic outlines how the “world-class” Payet “entertained supporters” with countless jaw-dropping moments, before forcing through an acrimonious return to Marseille just 18 months after arriving.

So, could El Khannouss be the next Payet? Let’s compare the pair to find out.

Bilal El Khannouss 24/25 vs Dimitri Payet 15/16

Statistics

El Khannouss

Payet

Goals

2

9

Assists

3

12

Shots per 90

0.9

2.3

Big chances created

8

16

Key passes per 90

1.3

4

Successful dribbles per 90

1.1

2.2

Dribble success %

59.6%

57%

Average SofaScore rating

6.91

7.68

All statistics courtesy of Sofascore

Of course, Payet’s statistics are more impressive, but this should not come as much of a surprise, given that, as noted by Harry Sherlock of Goal, he was one of the best players in the Premier League in the 2015/16 season, so much so that he was on the Ballon d’Or nominees list.

El Khannouss is certainly yet to hit those heights, but his numbers are comparable, especially when it comes to chances created and dribbling, so he too has the potential to light up the London Stadium.

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Liverpool have a proud tradition of identifying premium talent and bringing them through to the first team, and they could now be about to repeat the trick if reports are to be believed.

Liverpool continue train of arrivals after big-money deals

It goes without saying, but Liverpool have enjoyed a fantastic start to the window after confirming the arrivals of Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Armin Pecsi.

Despite Giorgi Mamardashvili officially linking up with the Reds after signing last summer, the Premier League champions are also set to sign Freddie Woodman to occupy their third-choice goalkeeper role, and he will fill a homegrown player slot into the bargain.

Not to be deterred after an early flurry, Liverpool have eyes on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi as an alternative to Jarell Quansah, once the AXA Training Centre graduate officially completes his move to Bayer Leverkusen.

Sending out a warning to their title rivals, new Reds full-back Kerkez believes his side are primed for more success, after his new side brought a second title of the modern era to Anfield last term.

He stated: “Yeah, definitely. This is a club that wants to win, needs to win. Of course, it’s a big thing last season, completely dominated everyone, I think, and of course, big congratulations.

Liverpool’s first five fixtures of the new season

Crystal Palace (N)

FA Community Shield

Bournemouth (H)

Premier League

Newcastle United (A)

Premier League

Arsenal (A)

Premier League

Burnley (H)

Premier League

“But always, you know, you need to want more, and definitely from last season, I think this season the club is going to build on it and only get a lot better.”

However, building for the future will also form an important part of Liverpool’s long-term sustainability, and they are now reportedly close to bringing in a rising star to strengthen their youth ranks.

Liverpool reportedly agree deal to sign Gabriel Schluter

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Gabriel Schluter from Blackpool for a six-figure sum, and he is set to undergo a medical next week ahead of finalising a switch.

His performances for the Seasiders at youth level have attracted the interest of several different clubs, including the likes of Fulham and Stockport County.

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At just 16 years of age, the left-winger made his first-team debut for Blackpool against Liverpool’s Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy, though he will almost certainly be viewed as one for the future if he completes a move to Anfield.

Harvey Elliot, Conor Bradley and Stefan Bajcetic are prime examples of youngsters who have been bought at a young age before being developed into senior stars, and it appears the Reds have spied an opportunity to carry out the same practice with Schluter.