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West Ham United have splashed the cash in recent years following their move to the London Stadium, with a period of ups and downs under numerous different managers.

A European trophy came the Hammers’ way under David Moyes, but there have also been struggles, with some big-money additions failing to hit the heights.

Weekly wages: West Ham United FC 2025/26 highest-paid players

The Irons’ biggest earners for the 2025/26 season…

ByCharlie Smith Sep 24, 2025

Here is a look at West Ham’s most expensive signings of all time to see which ones were a hit and which ones weren’t.

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

Lucas Paqueta

£51m

Lyon

2022

Sebastian Haller

£45m

Eintracht Frankfurt

2019

Mateus Fernandes

£42m

Southampton

2022

Max Kilman

£40m

Wolves

2024

Mohammed Kudus

£38m

Ajax

2023

Felipe Anderson

£36m

Lazio

2018

Gianluca Scamacca

£35.5m

Sassuolo

2022

Jean-Clair Todibo

£35m

Nice

2025

Edson Alvarez

£35m

Ajax

2010

Nayef Aguerd

£30m

Rennes

2022

James Ward-Prowse

£30m

Southampton

2023

Kurt Zouma

£29.8m

Chelsea

2021

Niclas Fullkrug

£27m

Borussia Dortmund

2024

Nikola Vlasic

£26.8m

CSKA Moscow

2021

Luis Guilherme

£25.5m

Palmeiras

2024

Crysencio Summerville

£25m

Leeds United

2024

Pablo Fornals

£24m

Villarreal

2019

Issa Diop

£22m

Toulouse

2018

Andre Ayew

£20.5m

Swansea City

2016

Said Benrahma

£20m

Brentford

2021

Marko Arnautovic

£20m

Stoke City

2017

Mads Hermansen

£20m

Leicester City

2025

Detailed look at West Ham's 10 most expensive signings… 10 Nayef Aguerd £30m from Rennes

Nayef Aguerd came in with a big reputation and a hefty £30m price tag but got injured almost immediately.

He spent just over three years at the London Stadium before being sold to Marseille for £20m in 2025.

9 Edson Alvarez £35m from Ajax

It was something of a coup for the Hammers to land Edson Alvarez, given the interest from both Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea in the midfielder in 2023.

However, just over two years on, the Mexico international was loaned out to Turkish side Fenerbahce.

8 Jean-Clair Todibo £35m from Nice

Jean-Clair Todibo initially joined West Ham on loan, but the defender’s move became permanent in 2025 for an eye-catching £35m fee.

After making 24 Premier League appearances in 2024/25, the obligation to sign Todibo became active from Nice.

7 Gianluca Scamacca £35.5m from Sassuolo

Despite scoring eight goals in 27 games for the Hammers – three of which came in the Conference League – things just never worked out for Gianluca Scamacca in East London.

While injuries certainly didn’t help, there was something that just never clicked with this move, and it’s hard to call it anything other than a flop.

6 Felipe Anderson £36m from Lazio

Felipe Anderson was undoubtedly a good player when he arrived at the club, but given that he came in as the club-record signing – a cool £36m – it’s hard not to view his spell as a disappointment.

The Brazil international made 73 appearances and provided 25 goal contributions, which feels like an underwhelming set of numbers. He was sold back to Lazio in 2021.

5 Mohammed Kudus £38m from Ajax

Mohammed Kudus cost West Ham £38m from Ajax in 2023, and the Ghananian was electric at the London Stadium for a period of time.

However, fast forward to 2025, he headed across London to sign for Tottenham Hotspur, although the Irons did make a profit by cashing in for £55m.

4 Max Kilman £40m from Wolves

During Julen Lopetegui’s time at West Ham, the club splashed the cash on Wolves centre-back Max Kilman.

A player Lopetegui worked with at Molineux, Kilman cost £40m and signed a seven-year deal through until 2031.

3 Mateus Fernandes £42m from Southampton

Mateus Fernandes

2 Sebastian Haller £45m from Eintracht Frankfurt

Sebastian Haller was a flop at West Ham, and an expensive one at £45m. He scored 14 goals in 54 games for the club and often looked utterly lost.

Since his spell with the Irons, the forward hit the best form of his career at Ajax, earning a move to Borussia Dortmund.

1 Lucas Paqueta £51m from Lyon

Top of the charts as West Ham’s record signing is Lucas Paqueta, and it’s probably fair to say he had a slow start to life at the London Stadium.

The Brazilian has gone from strength to strength with the Hammers and is under contract until 2027.

Liverpool meet Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. It’s a fixture typically freighted with emotion, one of the biggest and fiercest rivalries the Premier League has ever hosted.

But for the Anfield side, they know they need a big performance regardless, having fallen to three successive defeats before the October international break. These are uncharted waters for Arne Slot, both during his Liverpool tenure and previously in his Dutch homeland with Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar.

Despite slipping in the final stages of successive matches against Crystal Palace and Chelsea, Liverpool have fallen just one point behind league leaders Arsenal, and now they are back at Anfield.

The Red Devils have come away from Anfield with the spoils shared across both of the past two top-flight terms, but their own struggle for form under Ruben Amorim’s wing this season suggests that this is a fantastic chance for the defending champions to remind the Premier League what they are made of.

Who Slot should start up front vs Man Utd

Alexander Isak might have been called “the best striker in the Premier League” by pundit Jamie Carragher last season, but the debacle that was his summer transfer saga has disrupted his start to the season.

And Hugo Ekitike has only been too happy to take advantage and kickstart his own career in Liverpool. Having joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m fee in July, the Frenchman has scored five goals and assisted one more across ten matches so far this season, starting eight of those games.

Newly blooded in Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus set-up, Ekitike boasts a rare attacking profile, deadly in the final third but also mobile and intelligent and electric on the ball.

The Frenchman’s red card for taking his shirt off in celebration, already on a yellow, having scored the winner in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup tie against Southampton, likely knocked him down a peg in Slot’s estimation, and he only made a cameo during the defeat at Stamford Bridge, having previously been suspended for the loss at Crystal Palace.

Will Isak reprise the starting berth he held against Chelsea? It was a tough evening for the visitors, but the Sweden international showed off his quality to claim the assist for Cody Gakpo’s second-half equaliser.

With the cogs not exactly whirring across Liverpool’s frontline right now, it feels like the chance to rise in stature is there for the taking.

Indeed, Slot does have the option to go down a different track, should he choose. Without a doubt, Isak and Ekitike are Liverpool’s most talented and effective centre-forwards, but there’s another who should play a part against Chelsea and even overshadow Ekitike.

Liverpool play Man United this weekend, and this particular Redman could call upon the spirit of former star Xherdan Shaqiri at Anfield.

Liverpool's new version of Shaqiri

Whether Slot decides to deploy him from the opening whistle or as part of a second-half wave that, on the basis of evidence, may be needed, there’s no question that Federico Chiesa will be primed to play his part against Liverpool’s most notorious rivals.

The 27-year-old has been one of the sharper forwards in the Anfield squad so far this season, bouncing back from a testing maiden year in England, struck by injuries and overlooked by Slot after arriving from Juventus for a cut-price £12.5m fee.

But he’s so far been among the most clinical players at Slot’s disposal this season, bagging the winner on the opener against Bournemouth, netting again at Selhurst Park and setting up both Isak and Ekitike’s strikes during the win over Saints.

Hugo Ekitike

10

5 (1)

Mohamed Salah

10

3 (3)

Federico Chiesa

6

2 (2)

Cody Gakpo

10

2 (2)

Alexander Isak

6

1 (1)

Rio Ngumoha

5

1 (0)

Hailed as a “wizard” of a footballer by broadcaster Roger Bennett for his efforts with Juventus, Chiesa has that special ability to make things happen when his team needs him most.

And in this way, he could be the next version of Shaqiri on this important weekend. The Swiss international, now 33 years old, only played 63 matches across three campaigns for the Merseysiders, but he certainly left his mark, instrumental in beating Barcelona on that most historic of nights in the Champions League and popping up with some big moments in the Premier League too.

It was super-sub Shaqiri who came off the bench to score twice and help Liverpool along to a 3-1 win over Manchester United in December 2018, as Jurgen Klopp went neck-and-neck with Pep Guardiola at the height of his City dynasty.

Liverpool ultimately fell short that year, but triumph on the continent certainly helped cushion the blow. And anyway, Liverpool would triumph in the Premier League one year later, with Shaqiri in amongst the celebrations.

Like Shaqiri, Chiesa is an injury-prone forward, but he has immense quality and is now showing an ability to retain his quality in the English game.

Might he steal Ekitike’s thunder against the Red Devils? The Italy international will surely be hoping to grace the field after Slot kept him on the bench against Chelsea. After all, he has, on a number of occasions already this term, looked to be Liverpool’s focal threat.

Last season, opportunities were few and far between for Chiesa at Liverpool. However, he has proved himself as a testament to tenacity and unwavering self-belief. Now, the Italian is a secret weapon for Slot’s side.

In the past, Shaqiri came up trumps for Klopp when facing Man United. Now, Chiesa could repeat that trick.

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SRH captain Pat Cummins struck thrice and that helped restrict DC to just 133

Karthik Krishnaswamy05-May-20251:01

What did Cummins do right?

No Result Rain put an official end to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) IPL 2025 playoffs hopes and gave Delhi Capitals (DC) what could be a valuable point in their bid to finish in the top four. It certainly looked like a point gained for DC rather than one lost, after Pat Cummins took three new-ball wickets to put SRH in the driver’s seat at the innings break.Rain arrived soon after DC, sent in to bat, finished their innings at 133 for 7. By the time the weather cleared, the outfield was too sodden for the ground staff to clear by 11.42pm, the official cut-off time for a five-over chase.c Kishan b Cummins, again and again and againA grass-free surface at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium proved to be a tricky one, offering enough grip for balls banged into a hard length to misbehave, and Cummins is a master of banging the ball into a hard length.The SRH captain took the new ball himself with Mohammed Shami left out, and struck first ball, getting it to straighten and find Karun Nair’s edge. It was a sign of things to come, with the ball frequently stopping on the batter or – particularly if delivered with a wobbly seam – deviating sideways, usually just enough to find the edge.By the time he had bowled 19 balls, Cummins had taken three wickets and Ishan Kishan – keeping for the first time this season, relieving Heinrich Klaasen of the gloves – three catches.Pat Cummins wheels away after dismissing Karun Nair with the first ball•BCCI

With Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat also getting into the wickets column, DC were gasping at 29 for 5 in the eighth over. The fullish ball Unadkat bowled to dismiss KL Rahul, from left-arm around, summed up the conditions – on nine out of ten IPL pitches, Rahul would have probably middled the drive he attempted; this was the tenth pitch, and the ball straightened to kiss his edge and make Kishan the first keeper to catch out an entire top four in an IPL innings.Stubbs and Ashutosh steer DC towards respectabilityTristan Stubbs anchored DC’s recovery from that point, putting on 33 with Vipraj Nigam for the sixth wicket – Nigam sacrificed his wicket following a mix-up that left both batters at the same end – and 66 with Ashutosh Sharma for the seventh.As they have done in other recent games, DC named a bowler-heavy starting XI despite batting first, and brought Ashutosh off the Impact Player bench when the need arose. And Ashutosh was primarily responsible for a late flourish that brought DC 61 runs off their last six overs, hitting three sixes in a 26-ball 41. Stubbs finished unbeaten on 41 off 36 balls.Rain ends SRH’s hopesRain began soon after DC’s innings ended, leaving SRH waiting to begin a chase that eventually never took place.With three games left to play, SRH can finish the league stage with a maximum of 13 points. Four teams already have 14 or more points. DC, with 13 from 11 games, sit just outside that group.

Fulham have now opened fresh talks to sign a red-hot forward, who is open to a move to Craven Cottage this summer, according to a report.

Cottagers keen on new forward despite promising Muniz update

At one stage, it was looking likely that Rodrigo Muniz was going to move to Atalanta, but the Italian club were unwilling to meet the Cottagers’ demands, and they have since opted to sign Nikola Krstovic from Lecce.

Promisingly, it has since been revealed that Muniz is due to be offered a new deal, with the Brazilian eager to extend his stay at Craven Cottage.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey said: “I am told that Muniz is one of Fulham’s lowest paid players, he is very much due a new contract, and Marco Silva has made it clear to Fulham’s top brass he wants this sorting out. Muniz wants to stay and pledge his future to Fulham.”

As such, Silva may no longer need to bring in a new starting striker this summer, although an opening bid was recently submitted for up-and-coming Partizan Belgrade centre-forward Dusan Jovanovic.

However, having made no outfield additions to the squad up to this point, despite losing Willian and Reiss Nelson, Silva appears to be keen to bring in a new winger, and talks have now been re-opened over a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Kevin.

That is according to Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth, who states the fee and structure of the deal are currently being discussed, with Fulham encouraged by the fact the Brazilian is open to a move to Craven Cottage this summer.

Bid made: Fulham leapfrog Aston Villa in race for "fantastic" £860k striker

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ByDominic Lund Aug 20, 2025

However, there is currently a gap in valuation between the Cottagers and the Ukrainian club, with the west Londoners perhaps unwilling to match the huge £43m asking price.

Kevin could be ready for Premier League move

The 22-year-old has made a flying start to the 2025-26 campaign, having already chipped in with six goal contributions in Shakhtar’s opening three Europa League qualifiers, while he has also impressed across the previous two seasons.

Season

League appearances

Goal contributions

2023-24

14

7

2024-25

24

10

The Shakhtar star tested himself in the Champions League last season, scoring two goals in seven outings in Europe’s elite competition, which suggests he could now be ready to cut his teeth in the Premier League.

That said, it would be a gamble for Fulham to shell out what would be a club-record £43m fee for the Sao Paulo-born star, given that he is yet to prove himself in a major domestic league, making just 11 appearances for Palmeiras before moving to Ukraine.

As such, Fulham should continue trying to get a deal done for a lower price, but if Shakhtar continue to play hardball, there are plenty of alternative options on the shortlist, with the likes of Reiss Nelson and Raheem Sterling being named as potential targets.

Ruben Amorim could face the sack should Manchester United fail to beat Sunderland on Saturday afternoon. Reports have emerged suggesting INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to stick by the former Sporting boss, but his stance could change should results not improve immediately. The Red Devils remain favoured against the recently promoted Black Cats, meaning another loss would seriously ramp up the pressure.

Amorim on thin ice ahead of international break

United's start has followed a similar theme to life under Amorim last term. They sit 14th in the table, with just two Premier League wins to their name and already dumped out of the Carabao Cup in embarrassing fashion by League Two side Grimsby. Nevertheless, the latest reports suggest Sir Jim Ratcliffe is still keen to stick with the man who replaced Erik ten Hag as head coach, and that the ex-Sporting boss has no plans to walk away from the gig. 

Despite the public display of support from Ratcliffe, there is an understanding across the media that if things do not take an upward turn for United – sooner rather than later – the hierarchy in Manchester will have no choice but to swing the axe and dismiss Amorim.

It would mark the removal of the sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, and another admission of failure to replicate the famed success of the Scotsman and Premier League icon.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesNo room for error when Sunderland come to town

United have lost just one of their three Premier League home games in 2025-26, and that was against a formidable Arsenal side. Since then, they have taken points from Burnley and Chelsea at Old Trafford, but the visit of Sunderland poses a new challenge for Amorim and Co. The recently promoted Black Cats have been in excellent form since returning from the Championship, sitting sixth, and four points ahead of their opponents. That gap could open up to seven with a win on the road this weekend, a result that could spell the end of Amorim's time at the club. 

Further reports have gone as far as to suggest a loss to Sunderland would be the final straw for the top dogs at the club. United were humiliated once again by Brentford last time out in the division, and Amorim's refusal to adapt his tactics or make so much as a formation tweak is causing growing frustration among both the fanbase and the staff at Carrington. 

Ratcliffe is certainly faced with a tough decision, as it would cost upwards of £12million to sack Amorim, another small fortune that would be added to the pile of wasted funds on replacing managers in the last decade. And after missing out on European football entirely last season – thanks to the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham – the Red Devils are desperate not to repeat that failure in 2025-26.

Dressing room faith faltering at crucial moment

Captain Bruno Fernandes has cut a frustrated figure in the opening six games of this campaign, and he is not the only one. The word behind closed doors is that a number of Amorim's squad is losing faith in his ability to lead the club of the dark and deep hole they have found themselves in, and the noise in the media will not be helping.

Several ex-players and pundits have piled criticism on United's current crop, something the head coach has validated. He said: "My players, I guarantee you, they are listening to you, all those opinions, and they are putting that inside because we are not winning games. But they have to believe in me because I watch more games [of United] than you guys combined. So my biggest problem is for my players [to] believe in you guys when you say the problem of our team is the system.

"I get crazy about that because I can see the team. I see this team playing in a different system and I can point you that the way we do or play in different systems, we need to play the same way, with the same power, with the same intensity, with the same focus. If you do that, it doesn’t matter the system. If you win, everything is OK. If you lose, you are doubting everything about yourself, about your team-mates, about the coach, everything. And that is normal."

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Getty Adapt or sacked for Amorim at Man Utd?

Amorim now faces a very tough decision. Does he stick to his beliefs and risk going down in a blaze of fire as we charge into the next international break? Or does he finally swallow his pride and make a few changes to guarantee more points on the board? Things do not get much easier for United after hosting Sunderland. When the players return from the break, they travel to Liverpool in a match that has the potential to cause unthinkable damage to both Amorim's and United's reputation. So the task is simple: Amorim must start winning, at all costs.

New Zealand fight back with bat and ball for eight-run win in series opener

Madushka Balasuriya28-Dec-2024It was a heist for the ages in Mount Maunganui as New Zealand secured an eight-run win in the first T20I, and with it took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. But more importantly it was a lesson in fight from the hosts, one the visitors would do well to take note of.For much of the game it had looked Sri Lanka’s to lose. The first instance was when New Zealand were reeling on 65 for 5 midway through their innings, and the second when Sri Lanka were cruising after a 121-run opening stand needing just 52 off 40 deliveries.On both occasions New Zealand fought back, and hard – initially through a 105-run stand between Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell to post a competitive 172 for 8, and then finally through a late strangle that saw Sri Lanka lose eight wickets for 38 runs after being in total control of proceedings.Jacob Duffy was at the heart of the collapse with a three-wicket 14th over, as he set the wheels in motion for a sterling New Zealand comeback – which also earned him the player of the match award. Sri Lanka though will be at a loss for words in attempting to explain how they let this game slip.A collapse for the agesSri Lanka thought they had done enough – and by all accounts they had. A 121-run opening stand in chase of 173 would in most cases have been more than enough. After all, when Kusal Mendis fell for a brisk 46, Sri Lanka needed only another 52 runs off 40 deliveries with nine wickets in hand.Sure, three balls later that equation changed to 52 needed with seven wickets in hand, after Duffy had made sure Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis followed Kusal to the dressing room. But, surely not?Nerves were eased a bit as Charith Asalanka joined Pathum Nissanka in the middle to chip away. But when he fell with 28 still required off 16, more doubts crept in. And then when Matt Henry removed Nissanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the span of a few deliveries, all doubt was removed. Sri Lanka needed 19 off 8, but only Wanindu Hasaranga could be counted on to strike the boundaries needed.Hasaranga being run out without facing a ball in the final over summed up Sri Lanka’s disastrous end to the game.Binura leads Sri Lanka’s early chargeMitchell Santner had been concerned about about a “green tinge” on the surface having been put in to bat, and after the first ten overs his concerns seemed warranted as New Zealand had stumbled to 65 for 5.Pathum Nissanka’s 90 from 60 balls seemed to have put Sri Lanka firmly in control•Getty ImagesBinura Fernando, playing his first T20I in nine months, proved the most effective of Sri Lanka’s three seamers despite never clocking more than 130kph. He showed admirable control and found consistent movement in the air despite bowling mostly on a good length or slightly further back; the wickets of Tim Robinson and Rachin Ravindra were just rewards, and he might have had another had Charith Asalanka not spilled Mark Chapman at mid-off.Binura’s opening burst of three overs went for just 12 runs, before a Hasaranga double-strike in the 10th over really rammed home Sri Lanka’s early dominance.Mitchell and Bracewell counter brutallyIf the first half of the innings belonged to Sri Lanka, the second was well and truly New Zealand’s. After a couple of overs treading water, Bracewell signalled his intent to shift gears with a pair of boundaries off Maheesh Theekshana in the 14th, before unloading on an off-colour Matheesha Pathirana an over later – a flicked six into the grass banks and a monster loft over wide long-off the highlights in a 22-run over.Bracewell’s power was on total display from then on as Hasaranga and Binura were also both taken for maximums over the next few overs. And there would be no respite for Sri Lanka at the other end either, as Mitchell struck in lockstep with his partner, the pair even bringing up their respective fifties off consecutive deliveries.In total, 107 runs were struck between overs 10-20, with 85 of those coming off the six-over period from 13-19. Only an excellent final over from Theekshana, where three wickets fell for just three runs ensured New Zealand were kept below 180.Pathirana’s off dayFour overs for 60 runs and a solitary wicket marked a bad day at the office for Pathirana, but it’s the three no-balls (and subsequent free hits) that will no doubt have Sri Lanka’s coaching staff pulling their hair out. That one of those accounted for the wicket of Mitchell, when he was on eight, will be particularly grating.Pathirana also struggled with identifying an effective length, constantly bowling fuller than ideal – surprising considering the success Binura had had by hitting the deck harder, not to mention the success Pathirana himself has had with similar lengths in the past.

If Liverpool’s 4-2 defeat to Milan on Saturday afternoon showcased anything, it’s that the recruitment team are in dire need of signing a central defender.

The reasoning is less about the scoreline but more about the situation Arne Slot’s men find themselves in.

Joe Gomez has flown home from Singapore owing to an injury, which has left Ibou Konate and Virgil Van Dijk as the only fit central defenders.

In fact, Ryan Gravenberch even had to play at centre half on Tuesday.

The obvious incoming would be Marc Guehi. Liverpool have been religiously linked with the Crystal Palace captain right throughout the summer window. A £45m deal could be on the table if Richard Hughes and Steve Parish get talking.

Yet, that’s not where all the excitement is right now. The suspense lies in Alexander Isak’s and Liverpool’s forward line.

What's next for Liverpool in the transfer market

The Reds may have welcomed Hugo Ekitike to Anfield last week, but that hasn’t cooled their interest in Isak.

The Merseysiders are believed to be the frontrunners for the Swede’s signature but would have to make a bid of around £150m before Newcastle United even consider selling their prized asset.

That sort of money could be funded by selling Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez and if they both did depart, another forward feels like they may well be needed.

Real Madrid winger Rodrygo has been linked but that’s not Hughes’ top target according to ESPN.

Indeed, as per Julien Laurens, it’s reported that the club’s sporting director is a huge fan of PSG winger Bradley Barcola.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, it’s unlikely the Champions League winners would be open to selling. That said, just like Isak, every player has their price.

Why Bradley Barcola would be such an exciting signing

Landing Isak this summer would be a remarkable piece of business, something that eclipses the £116m deal to bring Florian Wirtz to England.

Wirtz has become the most expensive player in Premier League history and before too long, Isak looks set to surpass that number.

Many view him as the best striker in the world right now and his haul of 27 goals last term certainly puts him in that bracket.

He’s an electrifying player, someone cut from the same cloth as Thierry Henry, in the words of Eddie Howe.

This isn’t a player Liverpool necessarily need after Ekitike’s arrival but signing someone this good cannot be passed up on. Only Mo Salah scored more than the Newcastle forward last term in the English top-flight.

So, it would take quite the player to be as exciting as Isak but that’s the category Barcola falls into.

The Frenchman proved himself to be “one of the best left wingers in Europe” in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson, certainly last season, and he’s only gone from strength to strength since switching Lyon for Paris.

For Luis Enrique’s men in 2024/25, the Frenchman scored 21 goals and also supplied 21 assists for his teammates.

Bradley Barcola's stats pre-Club World Cup.

For context, that’s two fewer assists than Salah managed across the same campaign, a statistic that illuminates the pairing’s ability to create and score on a regular basis.

Like Salah, Barcola is a duel threat from outside and his dazzling ability to beat players in 1 v 1 situations makes him one of the most exciting players on the continent.

Compared to positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year, the 22-year-old ranks among the very best for a whole host of metrics.

Barcola vs Diaz in 24/25 (league only)
Stat (per 90 mins)	Barcola	Diaz
Goals	0.58	0.49
Assists	0.41	0.19
Shots	3.06	2.66
Key passes	2.07	2.10
Progressive passes	3.97	4.12
Successful take-ons	1.40	1.99
Carries	35.3	29.2
Progressive carries	5.66	4.04
Stats via FBRef.

One of the most creative and progressive wide players around, Barcola would fit seamlessly into this Liverpool team, notably ranking in the top 8% of wingers in Europe for assists, the top 9% for progressive carries and the best 2% for expected goals.

In short, he’s a demon with the ball at his feet and regularly crests goalscoring opportunities not just for teammates but himself.

He also ranks favourably compared to Diaz, the man he’d likely replace, notably in the creative department. While Diaz scored 19 times in all competitions, he only registered eight assists.

Losing the Colombian to Bayern Munich would be a blow, but Barcola is a clear upgrade. Like Wirtz & Isak, he’d be a transformational arrival to Slot’s forward line.

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1

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Tottenham Hotspur are poised to wave goodbye to a key player this summer, and it would be a blow to manager Thomas Frank as the Dane gears up for his first full campaign in charge.

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Spurs are in the Far East right now on a pre-season tour of Asia, before returning to Europe for a clash against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Frank is getting a good look at his new squad, who’ve just taken on Arsenal in the first ever north London derby played overseas, but off the field, chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange are planning to reinforce the squad with new signings.

Specifically, Tottenham are working on an alternative to Morgan Gibbs-White after missing out on the Englishman in truly bizarre fashion.

Spurs were ready to trigger Gibbs-White’s £60m release clause and even booked a medical for the playmaker nearly three weeks ago (BBC), but Evangelos Marinakis blocked the transfer, threatened legal action and tied him down with a new £150,000-per-week deal.

A new number 10 is imperative, amid reports that Tottenham are not completely averse to selling James Maddison after a stop-start season (Ben Jacobs).

Spurs have also been linked with an ambitious move for Real Madrid star Rodrygo this week, as club legend Son Heung-min edges ever closer to ending his 10-year stay in north London.

The South Korea star has etched his name into Lilywhites folklore with 173 goals and 101 assists, not to mention a once-devastating partnership with Harry Kane, since his £22 million move from Bayer Leverkusen a decade ago.

However, with just one year remaining on his contract as a 33-year-old, his memorable spell could be drawing to a close, and Los Angeles FC are offering him a route out to the MLS.

GiveMeSport reported earlier this week that Son is close to agreeing personal terms with LAFC, and now CaughtOffside have provided another update.

Son rejects "lucrative" Saudi offer as talks advance with LAFC

According to their information, Son rejected a “lucrative” offer from Saudi Arabia to leave Tottenham earlier this summer.

LAFC are also now in advanced negotiations over the “sensational” signing of Son, on both the club and player side this time, but the move won’t be completed until after their pre-season friendly against Newcastle in Seoul for commercial reasons.

Talks have apparently accelerated in the last few days whilst entering a “critical” phase, so if all goes to plan, these next few days could be Son’s last in London.

This also comes despite Frank publicly suggesting the winger could stay.

“I think first and foremost, Son’s legacy here is remarkable. He’s been a fantastic player for Tottenham, he is a fantastic player for Tottenham,” Frank said about Son in a recent press conference.

“I see a player that can play a very good role here next season. He’s come in [for pre-season], very good mindset, trained very hard, pushed the players. So I’m excited about it.”

West Ham United have made just three signings so far this summer, with one of those being Jean-Clair Todibo, who joins permanently after his loan spell last term.

With just a few weeks until the start of the Premier League season, Graham Potter still needs to bolster a few key areas, notably his attack department.

The supporters will be hoping a new striker or two arrives in the coming weeks, no doubt about that.

Could Potter, however, make a statement signing from a fellow Premier League side instead?

West Ham holding talks for top-flight sensation

Striker Callum Wilson is reportedly in discussions with the Irons regarding a move to the London Stadium, and this would help boost Potter’s attacking options.

While this deal may be seen as a priority for the club, it appears as though Potter is keen on signing another midfielder.

According to the Metro, West Ham have been in talks with Liverpool this month regarding a potential move for Harvey Elliott. Any move might cost them around £40m.

Transfer Focus

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The midfielder shone for England at the U21 European Championship this summer, but has made it clear he needs regular game time during the 2025/26 campaign.

It remains to be seen whether Arne Slot has him factored into his plans for the Anfield side. Perhaps a move to West Ham can bolster his World Cup hopes.

If so, Potter might just have his very own version of Cole Palmer – a player whom David Moyes came close to signing back in the summer of 2023, prior to his move to Stamford Bridge.

Why West Ham must sign Harvey Elliott

It would be an understatement to say that last season didn’t go quite as planned for the 22-year-old.

He made just 28 appearances for Liverpool, with only six coming from the starting XI. Despite this, Elliott still managed to score five goals and grab three assists.

His performances for England at the U21 European Championships, however, saw him crowned as player of the tournament. He scored five times as England retained their title.

According to FBref, Palmer is the eighth-most comparable player to Elliott across Europe’s top five leagues, suggesting that the young Liverpool starlet could offer a similar set of skills should he join West Ham. Like his compatriot and fellow left-footer, the playmaker thrives off the right flank or in a number ten berth.

Indeed, the pair registered similar statistics across a range of metrics domestically last term, including shots per 90 (4.12 vs 3.41), shot-creating actions (5.11 vs 5.7) per 90 and goal-creating actions (0.73 vs 0.42) per 90.

Elliott may have played fewer games than Palmer, but when given a chance, the Anfield gem certainly took full advantage. If he can go on to reach the heights of a player who boasts 72 goals and assists in just 97 games for Chelsea, then the Hammers would be on to a winner.

Goals

5

Assists

0

Key passes per game

1.7

Goal conversion percentage

25%

Shots per game

3.3

Successful dribbles per game

0.7

Previously hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig as an “outrageous talent” in 2021, Elliott has matured into a versatile player who can operate across a multitude of positions.

Wherever Potter decides to play Elliott, there is no doubt he can offer plenty to a side that struggled for goals last season.

For £40m, it could turn out to be a shrewd piece of business by the Irons as they seek a return to the top half of the Premier League table.

West Ham launch approach to sign £25m+ ace who outscored Wilson last season

He outperformed Wilson last season…

ByTom Cunningham Jul 25, 2025

Jaydn Denly fifty caps strong day for hosts in second Youth Test at Cheltenham

ECB Reporters Network16-Jul-2024

Rocky Flintoff celebrates with team-mates, including Archie Vaughan, after taking a high catch•Getty Images

England U19 73 for 1 (Denly 57*) trail Sri Lanka U19 153 (Weerasinghe 77, Sharma 5-44) by 80 runsNaavya Sharma put the skids under Sri Lanka as England gained the upper hand on the opening day of the second Youth Men’s Test at Cheltenham.On a day when 25 overs were lost to rain, the Middlesex pace bowler served up an incisive display to return career-best figures of 5 for 44 and help dismiss the tourists for 153 inside 46 overs in their first innings. Harry Moore impressed on debut, claiming 2 for 38, while spinner Charlie Barnard weighed in with 2 for 35 in a disciplined England bowling and fielding performance.Sri Lanka were indebted to Gayana Weerasinghe, who posted 77 from 111 balls in a defiant innings illuminated by eight fours and a six to ensure England did not have things entirely their own way.Jaydn Denly afforded the reply early impetus, staging an enterprising knock of 57 not out from 59 balls, with 10 fours, as England reached stumps on 73 for 1, trailing by 80 with nine first-innings wickets in hand. Keshana Fonseka is unbeaten on seven and the home side will look to forge a meaningful lead when they resume in the morning.With bowler-friendly conditions prevailing, England captain Hamza Shaikh won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the tourists to bat, a decision which was quickly vindicated once Sharma and Moore went to work with the new ball.Bowling with express pace from the Chapel end, Sharma conjured a devastating burst of three wickets in 12 balls to rip the heart out of Sri Lanka’s top-order. Making the most of low cloud cover, the Isleworth-born teenager squared up Pulindu Perera, the left-handed opener sending a leading edge looping high to Rocky Flintoff at short extra as the breakthrough came in the third over.He then removed Sharujan Shanmuganathan and Mahith Perera with successive deliveries in the seventh. Playing across the line to a straight one, Shanmuganathan perished lbw, while Mahith, playing back to a length ball, was bowled via an inside edge. With the Young Lions rampant, Dinura Kalupahana survived the hat-trick ball, rapped on the pads by a delivery that was deemed to be going down the leg side.Awarded his cap before start of play, tall Derbyshire seamer Moore lured Mahith Perera into front-foot indiscretion, the diminutive opener losing his off stump and departing for a 16-ball duck as Sri Lanka’s batting imploded. England’s charge was then held up by the elements, steady drizzle forcing the players off with the score on 27 for 4 in the eighth over.England made further in-roads following the resumption, Noah Thain removing Dinura Kalupahana with his fourth ball after replacing Moore. Having scored an outstanding hundred in the first unofficial Test at Wormsley earlier this month, Kalupahana made just 16 on this occasion, slapping a half volley to mid-wicket.Sri Lanka were simply unable to construct a meaningful partnership and, when Moore switched to the Chapel end, he drew Diniru Abeywickramasinghe into a loose shot and Jack Carney took a diving catch behind the stumps to further reduce the tourists to 70 for 6.Only Weerasinghe offered genuine resistance, the tall right hander surviving a searching examination from Sharma and Moore to lead a recovery. Displaying the application demanded by a difficult situation, he initially reined in his attacking instincts, frustrating the bowlers and waiting patiently for the bad ball. Having played himself in during a truncated middle session, Weerasinghe gradually adopted a more expansive approach, driving slow left armer Barnard for six before rain forced a second break in play.Sharma returned at the Chapel end in the final session and immediately made his presence felt, pinning Vihas Thewmika lbw for six and then bowling Praveen Maneesha next ball as Sri Lanka subsided to 106 for 8.But Weerasinghe continued to muster defiance aplenty, going to his 50 via 75 balls and dominating a stand of 42 for the ninth wicket with Manuja Chanthuka. He was eventually bowled by Barnard, who then accounted for Chanthuka to terminate the innings.The tourists’ efforts were afforded perspective when England openers Denly and Archie Vaughan staged a partnership of 54 in 8.2 overs. Vaughan succumbed to Chanthuka’s slow left arm, but there was no stopping Denly, who raised a quickfire 50 from 34 balls as the Young Lions seized the initiative.