Wolves agree £14.8m deal to sign new player compared to Morgan Gibbs-White

Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly agreed a deal to sign a £15m player compared to former Molineux ace Morgan Gibbs-White.

Wolves make left-back Moller Wolfe fourth summer signing

After losing both Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester United and Manchester City early in the transfer window, Wolves have slowly been splashing the cash in the transfer market.

The Old Gold have made four new permanent signings for manager Vitor Pereira, one of which being Jørgen Strand Larsen following his successful loan spell at Molineux last season.

The latest addition in the Midlands is David Moller Wolfe, with the left-back costing Wolves £10m from Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar. Talking after signing a five-year deal, Moller Wolfe said:

“I’m so, so happy and so proud to be a part of Wolves, so I’m over the moon right now. I felt incredibly wanted from the second I talked to Domenico [Teti, Wolves director of football] and the second I talked to the coach.

“Obviously, the Premier League is a big, big league, especially also in Norway. It’s the biggest league that people watch, so when a Premier League club came in, and Wolverhampton came in for me, I was extremely keen on joining.”

Incomings

From

Fee

Jorgen Strand Larsen

Celta Vigo

£23m

Fer Lopez

Celta Vigo

£19m

Jhon Arias

Fluminense

£15m

David Moller Wolfe

AZ Alkmaar

£10m

With a new left-back signed, attention is now turning to a right-back after Nelson Semedo departed the club upon the expiry of his contract.

Approach made: Wolves now make enquiry to sign "unbelievable" £15m striker

The Old Gold have made contact over a deal for a centre-forward, with Vitor Pereira looking to bolster his attacking options.

By
Dominic Lund

Jul 30, 2025

Sevilla’s Juanlu Sanchez has been the man heavily linked with replacing Semedo under Pereira, and a development has now emerged.

Wolves reach £14.8m agreement to sign Juanlu

According to reports in Spain, Wolves have actually reached an agreement to sign Juanlu from Sevilla. A fee is worth €17m (£14.8m), however, Wolves still have to convince the player of a move to the Premier League. The report adds that Juanlu actually wants to join Serie A giants Napoli and is waiting for them to swoop.

Therefore, despite shaking hands on a near £15m deal with Sevilla, a deal could still prove complicated for Wolves.

Primarily a right-back, Juanlu can actually play further forward when required as a winger or central midfielder.

Players similar to Juanlu

Club

John McGinn

Aston Villa

Adrien Truffert

Bournemouth

Morgan Gibbs-White

Nottingham Forest

Marcos Llorente

Atletico Madrid

Emerson Palmieri

West Ham

Interestingly, as per FBref, the Spaniard has even been compared to attacking midfielder Gibbs-White, who left Wolves for Nottingham Forest back in 2022.

Set to turn 22 later this month, Juanlu is capped at senior level by Spain and turned out in the Champions League with Sevilla last season.

He’s contributed to 14 goals in 74 first-team Sevilla appearances, and by the looks of things, a deal will be one to keep a close eye on following this development.

Rafael Leao still missing for AC Milan as Massimiliano Allegri reveals new target date for Portuguese attacker's return

AC Milan will be without star forward Rafael Leao for their Coppa Italia clash with Lecce as he continues his recovery from a muscle injury. Coach Massimiliano Allegri has ruled him out of Tuesday's game but has now targeted this weekend's crucial Serie A fixture against Napoli for his potential return.

  • Leao still sidelined

    Leao remains sidelined with a muscle injury and will miss Tuesday's Coppa Italia tie against Lecce, with manager Allegri now hoping that he can be fit for the upcoming headline showdown against reigning Serie A champions Napoli. In an interview with , Allegri confirmed the Portuguese star is not yet ready for action.

  • Advertisement

  • Getty Images

    Leao injury update and return timeline

    Leao has been out of action for over a month, having sustained a muscle problem in a match against Bari on August 17th. He has not featured so far in Serie A this season and will play no part in the Coppa Italia round of 32 clash at San Siro, with the club now set to assess his fitness later this week ahead of a potential comeback in the league.

  • 'We'll evaluate him for Napoli' – What Allegri said

    Providing an update on the 26-year-old's condition, Allegri set out a clear timeline for a decision on his return. 

    "Leao's return is definitely not tomorrow," the coach confirmed. "We'll evaluate him on Thursday and Friday and then decide whether or not he'll be available for Napoli." 

    Allegri also revealed that Christopher Nkunku could start against Lecce as he plans to rotate his squad, stating, "Tomorrow is a chance to see who has played less, but it's also a chance to move forward and advance to the next round."

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Milan in fine form heading into Lecce clash

    The Rossoneri enter the cup tie in strong domestic form, having won their last three Serie A matches. They will be favourites to advance, having already defeated Lecce 2-0 in the league earlier this season. Allegri will watch from the stands as he serves the final game of a two-match Coppa Italia suspension carried over from his time at Juventus, with his assistant Marco Landucci set to manage the team from the touchline.

WATCH: USMNT's Alejandro Zendejas stuns Keylor Navas with audacious chip in Club America's dominant win over Pumas

Club America's Alejandro Zendejas delivered a spectacular two-goal performance on Saturday night, punctuated with an audacious chip over Costa Rican icon Keylor Navas that put his side up 3-1 in a commanding 4-1 victory against rivals Pumas UNAM. The 27-year-old's masterful display continued his exceptional run of form in the Apertura 2025 campaign.

  • spectacular long-range chip to growing highlight reel

    The standout moment came in the 73rd minute with America already leading 2-1. Receiving the ball approximately 25 meters from goal, Zendejas looked up to see Navas slightly off his line. Without hesitation, the 27-year-old executed a perfectly weighted chip, from just inside the box, that sailed over the outstretched arms of the veteran goalkeeper before nestling into the top corner.

  • Advertisement

  • Getty Images Sport

    America's attacking prowess

    The emphatic victory extends Club America's impressive form in the Apertura 2025 campaign, with Zendejas' brace bringing his season total to five goals in eleven matches. The defending champions have now scored 23 goals through their first 11 fixtures, but are still one point behind league leaders Toluca.

  • Navas struggles after bright start

    For 38-year-old Keylor Navas, the match was rare off night following a bright start to his Pumas career since joining from Newell's Old Boys in July. The three-time Champions League winner had only conceded four goals in seven matches since he took over the starting job for Pumas. This loss now puts the club in 10th place, having won just three of their 11 league games so far, with four draws and as many losses.

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Getty Images Sport

    América prepare for critical showdown

    Following their dominant performance against Pumas, Club América’s squad now turns their attention to a crucial home match against 13th-placed Santos Laguna on Oct. 4.

Danilo upgrade: Rangers in race to land deal for "powerful" £4m-rated star

It is fair to say that the mood among the Glasgow Rangers fanbase is less than optimistic after the opening few weeks of the 2025/26 campaign under Russell Martin.

Two draws in two Scottish Premiership matches, a 2-1 defeat to Viktoria Plzen away from home, two goals conceded at home to Alloa, and, most recently, a 3-1 drubbing against Club Brugge at Ibrox.

There are, quite simply, a lot of reasons not to be positive for the future under Martin at Rangers, although it is still very early days and there is plenty of time left for this season to still be a success.

The summer transfer window is still open for business, for example, and that provides the Light Blues with an opportunity to dip into the market to improve their squad in the next couple of weeks.

One player that the Gers should be looking to upgrade on in that time is Brazilian centre-forward Danilo, despite his goal in the 3-1 loss to Club Brugge on Tuesday night.

Rangers may need a reliable number nine if they want to win trophies and enjoy a successful season this term, and the former Feyenoord man has yet to prove that he can be that player.

Why Rangers need to replace Danilo

Danilo’s goal from close range against Club Brugge helped to mask what was a largely unimpressive performance from the 26-year-old attacker aside from that.

The former Ajax man only won one duel and completed seven passes in 61 minutes on the pitch as the main number nine for Rangers, per Sofascore, which shows that he was not offering enough of a presence up front to hold onto the ball or bring his teammates into the game.

Danilo has produced one goal and one assist in six appearances in all competitions so far this term, per Sofascore, which shows that he has not been consistently delivering in front of goal to make up for the deficiencies in his all-round game.

The Brazilian forward has also only scored nine goals in 35 appearances in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues since his move from Feyenoord in the summer of 2023.

Danilo’s Rangers injury history

#1

#2

#3

Type of injury

Broken cheekbone

Knee injury

Knee injury

Date of injury

September 2023

December 2023

September 2024

Return date

October 2023

May 2024

November 2024

Days out

43

171

65

Matches missed

9

32

12

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, his availability has been severely restricted by injury issues throughout his time at Ibrox, missing 53 games in his first two seasons at the club.

Therefore, the Light Blues could do with bringing in a striker who is more likely to be reliable, from a fitness and quality perspective, than Danilo has been in the past two years or so.

Supporters should be pleased to read that the Gers are now interested in a striker who could come in as an upgrade on the number 99, who Kris Boyd stated is not “working” for Martin.

Rangers in the race to sign LaLiga forward

According to El Chiringuito TV, Glasgow Rangers are one of a number of teams in the race to sign Villarreal centre-forward Karl Etta Eyong before the end of the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that the LaLiga outfit have already turned down an offer from Swansea to take the 21-year-old striker on a season-long loan.

It adds that Leeds United, Rangers, and Levante are also interested in signing the Cameroonian marksman to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

The Villarreal youngster is valued at around £4m by Transfermarkt, but it is unclear as to how much the Spanish side would demand to sell him to Rangers this summer.

Why Rangers should push to sign Etta Eyong

The Light Blues should be pushing to win the race to land an Ibrox deal for Etta Eyong this summer, whether that is on loan or on a permanent deal, because he could be a big upgrade on Danilo.

His durability plays a huge role in that assessment because the young forward has not had any notable injuries in his senior career, per Transfermarkt, and may be more reliable for the Gers from an availability perspective.

The 21-year-old starlet’s performances on the pitch for Villarreal’s B team and first-team in the past 12 months or so also suggest that he could be an upgrade on Danilo because of the quality that he can offer in front of goal.

Etta Eyong has scored two goals in five matches in LaLiga for Villarreal and found the back of the net against Premier League opposition in Arsenal and Leeds in pre-season, per Sofascore, after earning the senior call-up because of his outstanding form for the B team.

24/25 Primera Federación

Karl Etta Eyong

Appearances

30

Goals

18

Conversion rate

25%

Minutes per goal

140

Penalties scored

5/5

Assists

3

Duels won per game

7.7

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the £4m-rated centre-forward was a prolific scorer in the third tier of Spanish football last season, with 21 goal contributions in 30 games, which earned him a place in the senior set-up.

A return of two goals in five games in LaLiga since his call-up to the first-team also shows that he is not out of place in one of Europe’s major leagues, which is why he could be an excellent signing for Rangers in the Premiership.

Etta Eyong, who has been described as a “powerful” striker by analyst Kai Watson, carries more of a physical presence than Danilo, having won 7.7 duels per game for Villarreal’s B team last term.

This suggests that he can put himself about to cause problems for opposition defenders in physical battles, which is something that Rangers are not getting from the Brazilian at the moment.

Diomande clone: Rangers racing to sign £3m star in late Ibrox move

Rangers are in the race to sign a £3m-rated star who could be Mohamed Diomande 2.0.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 18, 2025

Therefore, Etta Eyong could come in as a big upgrade on Danilo because of his durability, his goalscoring prowess, and his physical profile in the number nine position, which is why signing him could be a shrewd move by the club.

‘I’m all in’ – Newcastle boss Eddie Howe sends loud and clear message after being tipped to replace floundering Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim

Toon boss Howe has delivered a simple rebuke to rumours linking him with the Manchester United job, confirming his commitment to the Magpies. Amorim’s job is seemingly hanging in the balance with Man Utd languishing in 14th place after a woeful start to the season, one point and one place above Newcastle. But Howe has moved quickly to squash any potential link.

  • Peter Crouch links Howe to Old Trafford

    The finger of blame for the rumours should be pointed firmly at former Liverpool, Tottenham and Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch, who said: "Someone mentioned Eddie Howe to me, right, to go to Manchester United. But why would he leave Newcastle?" 

  • Advertisement

  • Getty Images Sport

    Howe’s no nonsense response to Man Utd link

    Howe said: "I'm all in (at Newcastle). My commitment here is 100 per cent and always has been. My family is still here, and we are fighting every day to make a success of what we are doing. The season ahead could be a wonderful thing, and that is what we are trying to focus on, trying to make a success of the games we have coming up. It's never gone away, for me, the fragility of the profession that I'm in. Partly, I think that's healthy for me, though, because it drives me to work as hard as I do, because I want to stay in the job that I'm doing, and I want to be successful at it. You know I'm a believer – and I was the same in my playing career – you take your eye off the ball for a second, you get lazy, or you get used to the same habits, that's not going to work, that's not going to bring you results. You've got to continually think and push boundaries and get better, and to do that takes a lot of energy and a look of thought, which drives the people around me mad, I'm sure, but for me, that's part of what drives me and propels me forward."

  • Why would Howe move?

    Amorim faces an uphill battle to improve Man United’s fortunes, including integrating new signings, goal scoring, and establishing consistent team performances. One of the main difficulties Amorim faces is adapting the squad to his preferred 3-4-3 formation, which is a significant change from the formations used by previous managers. While he has reportedly been given considerable backing in the transfer market to shape the squad, the team's performance has been inconsistent. United lost 3-1 to Brentford and suffered a Carabao Cup defeat by Grimsby Town earlier this season, increasing pressure on the Portuguese. The team hasn’t achieved consecutive wins under Amorim, and while he retains the backing of the United board, his long-term tenure remains uncertain without a significant upturn in results.

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Getty Images Sport

    The future’s bright, it’s black and white

    An emphatic 4-0 away win against Union Saint-Gilloise was a major boost, with new club-record signing Nick Woltemade impressing and demonstrating his potential as a new attacking focal point. New winger Anthony Elanga is also finding his rhythm, suggesting the team is starting to gel. And off the pitch, the club's financial situation is positive, with a 28 per cent revenue increase for the year ending June 2024, fuelled by Champions League participation and a focus on commercial deals, provides a strong foundation for future investment.

He's just like Eze: Spurs have "made some calls" to sign £60m Arsenal fan

Over the last couple of years, Tottenham Hotspur have parted ways with numerous top-level forwards who constantly produced the goods during their time at the club.

Harry Kane rose through the youth levels in North London, eventually making over 400 appearances for the Lilywhites – netting 280 goals – the highest individual tally in their history.

VIP Tickets

Secure your matchday experience with Seat Unique.

See at Seat Unique

However, he would depart the side back in the summer of 2023, leaving in a £82m deal to join German outfit Bayern Munich – with his legacy forever intact despite his departure.

Heung-min Son is another who has moved on to pastures new, joining LAFC this summer, ending his decade spell in the capital, which saw him and Kane break the record for the most combined goals between two players in Premier League history (47).

Losing such talents makes the job of replacing them a near-impossible one, but new boss Thomas Frank continues to hunt for added reinforcements ahead of his first season at the helm.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer

Savinho has been one of Spurs’ biggest targets over the last few weeks, with the hierarchy even submitting a £60m bid to try and land the Manchester City winger.

Such an offer was rejected, with further talks being held, but it now seems unlikely the 21-year-old will move to North London, with Pep Guardiola’s side wanting to keep hold of him beyond Monday’s deadline.

However, another name has entered the mix over recent days, with Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo reemerging on their shortlist, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

He recently claimed that the Lilywhites have “made some calls” to the Cherries over a deal for the Ghanaian, who penned a new contract until 2030 earlier this summer.

Romano also stated Frank’s side have stepped up their interest in the “last 24 hours”, but could have to fork out as much as £60m for the 25-year-old, who’s already scored twice in 2025/26.

Why Spurs’ latest target is just like Eze

Spurs’ hunt for a new forward has been a summer-long process, with numerous players constantly on their radar – including Eberechi Eze before his move to boyhood club, Arsenal.

The Lilywhites held constant discussions with Crystal Palace over a deal to land the England international – leading to terms being agreed between the two sides.

However, given Spurs’ inability to close other deals this summer, it was a surprise to no one to see a deal fail to cross the line, with the Lilywhites’ North London rivals swooping in at the 11th hour.

It was confirmed last weekend that the 27-year-old had joined Mikel Arteta’s side for a fee in the region of £67.5m, including add-ons, subsequently putting a huge dent in Frank’s ambitions of improving his front line.

Such a blow could be softened, especially if a deal for Semenyo gets completed before Monday’s transfer deadline, with the forward possessing numerous similarities to Eze.

He’s spent the last two and a half years at the Vitality, joining the Cherries from Championship side Bristol City – just as Eze did, when he linked up with the Eagles from QPR back in the summer of 2020.

However, despite their similarities, Semenyo, who’s also an Arsenal fan, managed to outperform him in numerous key areas last campaign – potentially offering Frank a versatile option across his front line in 2025/26.

The Ghanaian achieved a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate in the Premier League last season, a tally that could provide the new boss with the added ammunition he’s been craving within the final third.

Semenyo’s goalscoring ability is one thing, but he’s also showcased his superb technique to glide past the opposition – completing more take-ons than Eze, whilst also making over double the number of carries into the opposition box per 90.

How Semenyo & Eze compared in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Semenyo

Eze

Games played

37

34

Goals & assists

16

16

Shot on target accuracy

32%

27%

Progressive carries

3.9

2.4

Take-on success

51%

48%

Carries into final third

1.9

1.6

Carries into opposition box

1.9

0.7

Aerials won

1.9

0.2

Passes into opposition box

1.4

1.3

Stats via FBref

Such numbers would allow him to be a hit with the supporters, able to create an opportunity for himself out of nothing, before firing home and bolstering the side’s already potent attack.

However, he’s also able to be a provider, notching more passes into the opposition box per 90, with such a tally able to allow the likes of Richarlison the chance to build on their own impressive start to 2025/26.

£60m would be a huge sum spent on a new attacker, but it’s one that could prove to be a bargain if the forward can take his game to the next level in North London.

Missing out on Eze’s signature, especially to their main rivals, would have been a bitter blow, but it could prove to be a blessing in disguise if a deal can be reached for Semenyo.

Their own Rice: Spurs begin talks to force through "world-class" signing

Tottenham Hotspur have made their move to land a top-level European talent in recent days.

4

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 27, 2025

'The excitement overcomes me' – Alexis Sanchez explains why he celebrated scoring for Sevilla against former club Barcelona in thumping win

Alexis Sanchez admitted the 'excitement overcomes me' as he helped Sevilla dismantle a poor Barcelona side at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

  • Sanchez celebrated against Barca

    According to Barca Universal, Sevilla forward Sanchez has explained why he celebrated after scoring against his former club Barcelona in their stunning 4-1 La Liga victory on Sunday, admitting that the emotion of the moment "overcomes me". The Chilean international had previously stated he would not celebrate if he found the net against the Catalan club, but broke that promise after converting a 13th-minute penalty to open the scoring.

  • Advertisement

  • Getty Images

    What Sanchez said about his celebration

    Speaking after the match, Alexis clarified that his actions were driven by the heat of the moment rather than any disrespect towards his old side, for whom he still holds a great affection. "I had said I wouldn’t celebrate, but sometimes the excitement overcomes me, and the desire drives me to do so," Sanchez said, according to Zona Mixta. "In truth, I hold a great deal of love for Barcelona."

  • Sanchez opens scoring in dominant Sevilla performance

    The veteran forward set the tone for a memorable night at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, calmly dispatching a penalty to give his side an early lead. The spot-kick was awarded after a VAR review, which judged that Ronald Araujo had fouled Isaac Romero inside the box. Sanchez's opener was the catalyst for a dominant display from Sevilla, who overwhelmed the reigning champions with their aggressive and energetic style of play.

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Barcelona's defensive collapse at the Pizjuan

    The defeat was a disastrous result for Barcelona, who were defensively frail throughout the contest. After Sanchez's penalty, further goals from Isaac Romero, Jose Angel Carmona and Akor Adams sealed the emphatic win for Sevilla. A late consolation goal from Marcus Rashford did little to mask a poor performance from Hansi Flick's team, who were outplayed and outfought, ending the match with just 39% possession despite having more shots than their opponents.

New Silva: Man City plot shock move to sign £65m England international

Manchester City had the unenviable task this summer of replacing Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian left as a legend of the club and of the Premier League, having won the top flight six times, as well as the Champions League in City’s famous treble win of 2022/23.

Of course, when the Belgian was at the peak of his powers, he had the baton passed to him from David Silva. Another legend at the Etihad Stadium, Silva played 144 times with De Bruyne, before departing the club for his native Spain to return to La Liga.

Well, now City could be back in the market for a playmaking genius, who could certainly be seen as their new Silva.

The state of play at Manchester City

With days left of the summer transfer window, City could still plot a late move following their humbling 2-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Real Madrid star Rodrygo is one name constantly linked with a move to East Manchester.

Transfer Focus

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

However, he is not the only Los Blancos star who could move to City.

Remarkably, according to Caught Offside, Pep Guardiola’s side are said to be ‘keeping a close eye’ on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s situation at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The former Liverpool star only moved to the Spanish capital this summer, but after being dropped in favour of Dani Carvajal, questions about his future have already been raised.

That has led reports to suggest that the Citizens could launch a ‘sensational bid’ as early as January for a player valued at £65m, via Transfermarkt.

Why Alexnader-Arnold would be a good signing

It is fair to say that Alexander-Arnold would return to the Premier League with an incredible reputation. Manchester United legend Gary Neville once said he has the potential to become “the best right-back the world has ever produced”, and he certainly shone for Liverpool.

In 354 appearances for his boyhood club, the England international scored 23 goals and amassed an incredible tally of 92 assists, with passes such as this one back in 2023, a regular occurrence. He helped the Reds to two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

For a right-back to so regularly create chances to the level Alexander-Arnold did, you have to be a “maestro”, as Statman Dave once described him.

There were seven Premier League seasons where he played more than 20 games, and in four of them, he hit double figures for assists.

Trent assists per season

Season

Games

Assists

2018/19

29

12

2019/20

38

13

2020/21

36

7

2021/22

32

12

2022/23

37

10

2023/24

28

5

2024/25

33

7

Stats from Transfermarkt

City’s creative genius before De Bruyne was, of course, Silva. The Spaniard is City’s “greatest ever player” according to Jamie Carragher, and even has a statue outside of the Etihad Stadium paying homage to his genius.

The former Valencia midfielder pulled on that famous Blue shirt 436 times, scoring 77 goals and assisting 136 times on top of that. He was capable of operating all over the pitch in attacking areas, but did his best work as a number 10.

It is easy to see how Alexander-Arnold, who earned £180k per week at Anfield, could become City’s new Silva.

Firstly, this would be a signing from La Liga, and whilst he is more of a known quantity to Citizens fans than Silva may have been, creative signings from the Spanish top flight have tended to work well for them.

Both players have excellent creative numbers behind them, too. Alexander-Arnold’s record at Liverpool was sensational, and he already has two assists for Madrid. As for Silva, he had 39 assists to his name for Valencia before moving to City in 2010.

Of course, the key difference is the position, with the Los Blancos man playing at right-back rather than in midfield. Yet, there has been talk that he should move centrally, and he even began to invert into midfield under Jurgen Klopp, a role Carragher said was “almost perfect for him” back in 2023.

Whatever plans Guardiola hatches for Alexander-Arnold if he moves to City, he will look to get the best out of him creatively.

With the sort of influence he can have in the final third, his potential role in midfield and the fact he’d be moving from Spain, this really could be the second coming of Silva.

Man City exploring deal to sign Donnarumma alternative who's "like Alisson"

The Citizens have turned their focus towards a fresh option.

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 22, 2025

Newcastle strike massive blow to Nottingham Forest as Magpies prepare to poach sporting director from Evangelos Marinakis

Newcastle United are set to land Nottingham Forest’s Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson as their new Sporting Director, dealing a major blow to Evangelos Marinakis’ club. The 41-year-old has reportedly agreed terms to move to St James’ Park, where he will succeed Paul Mitchell. Wilson’s appointment marks another major step in Newcastle’s off-field restructuring under Saudi ownership.

  • Newcastle to sign Forest's Wilson as Sporting Director

    As per Alex Crook of talkSPORT, Newcastle United have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest’s Wilson to become their new sporting director. Wilson, who joined the Tricky Trees in 2023, has been a key figure in their recent rise, helping Forest qualify for European football for the first time in 30 years. Talks between the two clubs progressed swiftly, with compensation not expected to be an obstacle. 

    It had been reported in July that Wilson was Newcastle’s preferred candidate, with head coach Eddie Howe directly involved in the process. Howe’s strong working relationship with Wilson, developed during their shared time in English football, heavily influenced the decision. If talks conclude as expected, Wilson could officially begin his new role as early as next week.

    Wilson’s move fills a vital vacancy at Newcastle following Mitchell’s departure on June 30. Since then, the club’s recruitment operations have been managed on an interim basis by Steve Nickson and Andy Howe. Wilson’s arrival will now bring long-term direction to a sporting department that has undergone major change in recent months. 

  • Advertisement

  • Getty

    Newcastle continue building up sporting team

    This appointment represents another milestone in Newcastle’s off-field rebuild under the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The Saudi-backed owners have sought to modernise the club’s football structure by bringing in experienced executives from across Europe. Wilson’s reputation for aligning recruitment with managerial philosophy fits perfectly with that long-term plan.

    For Nottingham Forest, however, the timing is far from ideal. Wilson’s departure leaves a significant void in their football operations just months before the January transfer window. Having overseen a successful 2023–24 campaign that ended with European qualification, his loss will be a blow to Evangelos Marinakis’ ambitions for stability. 

    Newcastle’s move also signals a change in recruitment strategy after a turbulent summer transfer window. With several targets missed and Alexander Isak pushing for a move, the Magpies struggled to complete key deals. Wilson’s appointment, following successful spells at Rangers and Southampton, is expected to restore structure and direction. 

  • Getty Images Sport

    Wilson's journey and relation with Howe

    Wilson’s track record explains Newcastle’s determination to bring him in. He began his career at Falkirk before moving through roles at Watford, Huddersfield Town, Southampton and Rangers — where he helped end Celtic’s dominance by guiding the club to their first league title in a decade and a Europa League final appearance.  

    At Nottingham Forest, Wilson reshaped the club’s recruitment and implemented a strategy focused on younger, data-driven signings. Working closely with Nuno Espírito Santo, he balanced short-term competitiveness with long-term planning, helping deliver a seventh-place finish last season and European qualification. 

    At Newcastle, Wilson will oversee all football operations, with new technical director Sudarshan Gopaladesikan reporting directly to him. His arrival follows that of new CEO David Hopkinson, formerly of Real Madrid, as the Magpies continue to build a continental-style executive structure. Wilson’s close relationship with Howe is expected to ensure alignment between recruitment and coaching, something missing under Mitchell.

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Wilson crucial to Newcastle's January plans

    Once confirmed, Wilson’s first task will be planning for the January transfer window, where midfield and defensive reinforcements are priorities. He will also review the club’s scouting and analytics structure to enhance synergy between data and recruitment. Newcastle’s goal is to create a more sustainable and efficient sporting model.    

    For Nottingham Forest, the search for Wilson’s replacement begins immediately. Marinakis must find a candidate capable of maintaining the progress made in recent seasons. With Newcastle strengthening both on and off the pitch, this move serves as another reminder of their growing power and intent to remain among the Premier League elite.   

Man Utd join race to sign £40k-a-week England int'l who's impressed Tuchel

Manchester United have now joined the race for an England international, who Thomas Tuchel was left impressed by against Andorra.

Man Utd remain keen on new midfielder

Ruben Amorim was able to make a number of improvements to his squad during the summer transfer window, but one position he failed to strengthen was central midfield, despite well-documented interest in Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.

It is clear Amorim isn’t overly convinced by Kobbie Mainoo, which could exacerbate the need to bring in a new central midfielder, with the 20-year-old featuring for just 45 minutes in the Premier League so far this season.

Amid a lack of game time, there were suggestions that Mainoo was considering a move late in the transfer window, so if Amorim doesn’t give the Englishman regular minutes before January, it seems feasible that he could push for a move this winter.

Man Utd ready to trigger release clause for £34m+ star similar to Upamecano

The Red Devils want to swat aside competitors to land their latest target.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Sep 8, 2025

Given a lack of game time, the youngster hasn’t been called up by England for the current international break, and the Red Devils have now set their sights on signing a different Three Lions midfielder.

That is according to former Red Devils scout Mick Brown, who revealed that Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is now of interest to United, in an interview with Football Insider.

Brown said: “Man United have been looking at Anderson,

“He’s done a tremendous job at Nottingham Forest and then he’s come into the England side and turned in a man-of-the-match performance. United see him as exactly the type of midfielder they would like to bring in.

“He gets up and down the park, he’s confident and secure in possession of the ball, and he’s not afraid to put in a tackle which is something they need.”

"Phenomenal" Anderson catching the eye for England

On what was his England debut against Andorra last week, the 22-year-old made a fantastic first impression, with Tuchel saying: “Very good, very, very good. He was a bit nervous this week but then did good, and we said let’s try it, and he did it. That was the test and I think he passed the test.”

The central midfielder has also been singled out for praise by international teammate Reece James in the past, with the Chelsea defender describing him as a “phenomenal” player, who should have received a call-up sooner.

Not only that, but the Forest star has made a fantastic start to the new Premier League campaign, averaging a 7.15 WhoScored match rating in the opening three games, which is the highest figure in the squad.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Assists

0.19 (88th percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.18 (89th percentile)

Tackles

3.07 (88th percentile)

Clearances

2.40 (87th percentile)

Aerials won

1.89 (89th percentile)

As such, Man United should undoubtedly make a move for the £40k-a-week midfielder if he is available, but it could be difficult to tempt Forest into a sale.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus