Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa has suffered a setback in his injury recovery, with Eddie Howe ruling him out for a further period of time.
The 29-year-old sealed a £55m move to St James’ Park during the summer transfer window, coming in alongside Nick Woltemade to make up for the loss of Alexander Isak.
While Woltemade has hit the ground running at Newcastle, becoming a firm favourite and scoring four goals in six Premier League appearances, Wissa is still awaiting his debut for the club.
The Congo international suffered a posterior cruciate ligament when representing his country in September, almost immediately after sealing his move to the Magpies, and hasn’t made it onto the pitch since.
There has been hope that Wissa could potentially make his Newcastle bow before the November international break, but a new update has poured cold water on that dream.
Wissa out for further period for Newcastle
According to journalist Craig Hope on X, Wissa is likely to remain injured for Newcastle beyond the internationals, in a new setback for him.
“Yoane Wissa is ‘not close’ to a Newcastle return and looks set to miss his proposed comeback date this side of the November international break.”
Meanwhile, Howe provided more depth on the situation, saying: “It (his comeback) is definitely not West Ham (on Sunday). He’s working very hard. He’s on the grass. He’s getting the fitness work in that he needs. I’d say he’s not close to training with the group at the moment, not through injury but through fitness, and making sure we build his robustness. I’m not trying to be evasive. I don’t know when the moment will be when he’s back with the squad.”
It has been such a frustrating start to Wissa’s Newcastle career, with the former Brentford man no doubt desperate to hit the ground running, only to be struck down by injury.
Thankfully, Woltemade has thrived since coming in, making his teammate’s absence less of an issue, but he can be such a potent weapon for the Magpies when he returns to full fitness, with Thomas Frank lauding him as “incredible” during their time together at Brentford.
For Newcastle fans, it’s a case of being patient with Wissa and accepting that it may be a while before they see the best of him in a Magpies shirt.
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Even when he does eventually make his debut, it is going to take time for him to find a full level of fitness, and he needs to be eased in with care by Howe, in order to not aggravate the issue further.
Woltemade 2.0: Wilson plots first Newcastle move for "phenomenal" £27m star
It’s simply too late to fix this mess. Perhaps we should all just give up.It’s not the most inspiring message to send to future generations, but that is the gist of the naysaying that surrounds the World Test Championship. As with climate change, or the fate of the rhinos, so it has been with the ICC’s sticking-plaster approach to the sport’s oldest, most endangered format.The flaws are manifest, and were recently excoriated from the pulpit of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, which decried this week’s final as a “shambles masquerading as a showpiece”.”The ICC cannot allow the championship to continue as if designed on the back of a fag packet,” Lawrence Booth, ‘s editor, wrote, as he railed against a format in which South Africa have been the inadvertent beneficiaries of a less-is-more approach.Related
England must engage with the WTC's oddities, not fight them
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Markram: Playing two-Test series throughout WTC cycle could help us in the final
Boucher: 'Winning WTC final could be the turnaround for Test cricket in South Africa'
The WTC final is the biggest match of Temba Bavuma's career, but he's dealt with this kind of pressure before
The fewer games a relatively strong team plays, the less chance there is of that precious points-per-Test ratio getting diluted. Hence a side that began this cycle by sending a C-Team to New Zealand, where they were duly routed in two Tests while the best players in the country stayed at home to take part in the SA20, have now marched all the way to the final off the back of seven wins in a row.And yet, buried within that very gripe is the proof of concept that this tournament so desperately needs.The two-Test series may well be the bane of the international schedule – too cumbersome to fit snugly into any given gap, yet too insubstantial to provide any real satisfaction to the combatants or their fans. But, as soon as it became clear in November last year – thanks to India’s shock 3-0 defeat on home soil to New Zealand – that a path was opening up for South Africa to storm into the reckoning, their subsequent home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan took on a life of their own.This is context, is it not? A means to make the meaningless meaningful, and to drag a few otherwise uninvested bystanders along for the ride – as was unquestionably the case at Centurion in December, when South Africa flopped over the line by two wickets in what Shukri Conrad memorably declared to be a “Camel classic”.And now the game has gathered at Lord’s, where the ICC’s blanket branding guidelines have conferred the grand old ground with that global-event feeling, and where on Wednesday, the third staging of the World Test Championship final will take place. Rare is the major tournament that does not have a few aggrieved teams wondering what might have been as they consider their early exit. But equally rare is a final that fails to crown a worthy champion.6:55
Philander: ‘SA will put up massive fight against favourites Australia’
“I’m tired of speaking about it, to be honest,” Conrad said, ahead of South Africa’s training session on Monday. “We’re here and that’s all that matters. We get a chance to walk away as the World Test champions, playing Australia. It doesn’t get any bigger than that. So, yeah, what’s gone before counts for absolutely nothing at the minute.”The bells and whistles that surround the final – including a glitzy Hall of Fame induction dinner at the Beatles’ former fiefdom, Abbey Road Studios – serve as a reminder that the ICC is, first and foremost, an events organiser rather than cricket’s legal guardian. Notwithstanding the increasingly blurred lines in cricket’s upper echelons, it can only cut its cloth according to the share of the fabric that the game is willing to allocate.And so, not unlike the second edition of MCC’s World Cricket Connects, the high-brow symposium which took place in Lord’s Long Room over the preceding weekend, any attempt to gather the game’s great and good is infinitely preferable to no attempt at all – even if, in both cases, the short-term output has been frustratingly impenetrable.As Sourav Ganguly, the former BCCI president and chair of ICC Cricket Committee, put it in an official MCC release at the WCC’s conclusion: “It was a lovely event, with a lot of quality people.” If the same can be said of the WTC final by next Monday, it will have been a week well spent.The difficulty for Test cricket, and its eternal quest for context, is that it remains eternally judged by its past – and that phenomenon will surely go into overdrive in 18 months’ time at the game’s next Big Gathering, the 150th anniversary Test that is scheduled for the MCG in March 2027.This was also the case for England’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe last week – the first such staging since James Anderson’s debut series 22 years ago, and one which couldn’t help but be defined by the distance (economic, as much as temporal) that has grown between the two nations in the interim.It’s a point that Conrad leant into as well, as he assessed the compromises that South Africa have been forced to reach, with both their players and the wider format, in an era of the game that is so driven by the bottom line.”Whenever I go into the stores here, I start calculating what it costs. So it’s no surprise we can’t compete [economically],” he said. “So it’s about prioritising certain tours, and whenever we’re not playing and there’s an opportunity for them to earn some US dollars, then we’ll obviously encourage that.Shukri Conrad has overseen South Africa’s journey to the WTC final•ICC via Getty Images
“As long as we can plan things properly in advance, then absolutely, I’ve got buy-in from all of our players. They’re as committed to Test cricket as they ever have been, or more committed if that’s possible.”Could there have been an alternative path for the game? Hindsight suggests that the moment may have come and gone approximately a quarter of a century ago – before T20 cricket had been conceived, and when India and Pakistan were still on broad speaking terms.Back at the turn of the Millennium, West Indies were still the sport’s most recent powerhouse; Sri Lanka were still a rising force; South Africa were still in the throes of post-Apartheid release. England were beginning to get their act together after a decade of Australian Ashes dominance, but were still eminently capable of losing to all-comers.And, for the top table’s two newest teams, Zimbabwe embodied that sense that a small, well-drilled outfit with a common sense of purpose could still take the fight to one of cricket’s flabbier, more distracted big beasts. As for Bangladesh, their weight of population was an extraordinary asset that was crying out for a bit of meaningful investment.History relates that the sport chose self-interest over community development, and so we are left with this: an unsatisfactory shebang on the one hand, but – at least to judge by the first two stagings of the WTC final – a passable attempt to keep those five-day fires burning.At the inaugural final in 2021, New Zealand’s success was widely hailed as just desserts for a golden generation that had fallen inches short in a succession of white-ball campaigns. Two years later, Australia’s victory (again over India) completed the set for a mighty all-formats generation, and – in Steve Smith’s opinion – whet their appetite for this week’s defence.”It was great to be able to win a Test Championship final, and to be back here again and have the opportunity to defend our crown,” Smith said on Monday afternoon. “Every game is important with the Test Championship on the line. That’s the reason it came in, to make every Test more relevant.”The combatants themselves aren’t giving up on the concept. Nor, therefore, should we.
Vinicius Junior's petulant reaction to be taken off during Real Madrid's 2-1 win over fierce rivals Barcelona on Sunday reportedly didn't go unnoticed by his colleagues. The Brazilian winger made straight for the dressing room when Xabi Alonso wanted to swap him with Rodrygo, briefly refusing to watch the remaining minutes of the match because he was too angry to sit on the bench.
Vini Jr angers team-mates
According to Barcelona-based , Real Madrid players and executives were not impressed by what happened when Vinicius left the pitch. Venting his fury after being removed with 72 minutes played, Vinicius allegedly pointed out that he has often started and not finished games this season.
"Always me," he is believed to have said, before adding that it would be better for everyone if he wasn't left to stew on his feelings. "I'm leaving the team, it's better if I leave, I'm leaving," the player said, before taking off back inside. Eventually, he returned and was involved in the furious post-match confrontations centred around Barcelona's Lamine Yamal.
Although he eventually returned to the bench for the final stages, and was then involved in the post-match brawl that ensued when Dani Carvajal and Thibaut Courtois both angrily confronted Lamine Yamal, the fact that he left the area at all caused an issue.
In the eyes of his colleagues it was "bad" and "wrong" for that to be his reaction to being substituted. Some club officials are claimed to believe Alonso made the wrong call withdrawing the 2024 Ballon d'Or runner-up when he did, but still cannot abide by what followed and are "very upset" over his reaction. That image is not what the club wants to project. Ultimately, the possibility is raised that Real Madrid are "seriously considering" sanctions.
AdvertisementAFPAlonso plays down Vini Jr's behaviour
Publicly, Alonso has done his best to frame what happened as unproblematic, and born out of a professional desire to be on the pitch at all times.
"The only thing Vinicius was missing was a goal," he told reporters. "It's true that he came off the pitch when he was feeling best and I could have waited a bit to replace him, but I understood that we needed fresh players to maintain control. Vinicius wanted to stay on because he was feeling good.
"Franco [Mastantuono] wanted to carry on playing too. He said to me, 'Are you taking me off?' And I said, 'Yes'. Something similar happened with Vini. He wasn't very happy, but neither was Franco. It happens to everyone, but I'm very happy with Vinicius's performance. The schedule is demanding and we have to keep going."
Incident could mark Vini Jr's Real Madrid future
MD's report adds the possibility that it all points to something much more significant. Vinicius is thought to have verbally agreed a new contract in principle with Real Madrid beyond his current deal that is due to expire in 2027, but it crucially remains unsigned. During negotiations, the player is said to have been asking for more money than the club is willing to offer, standing firm on their overall salary structure.
The plan for Vinicius is to wait and see, even to the point of not ruling out a free transfer in just under two years' time. That isn't something Real Madrid would not be willing to entertain – as it stands, he's valued at a monstrous €150 million (£131m/$175m), per . If it got to the summer of 2026 and still no signature is on the paperwork, Los Blancos would have to put him up for sale to ensure that a fee comes in. Whether being punished for his behaviour in El Clasico would make Vinicius less inclined to sign the proposed contract on the table remains to be seen.
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Getty ImagesVini Jr left needing to prove himself
Even though he is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world, Vinicius has reached a point where he needs to prove himself over the next few months. If the Brazilian was a credible contender for the Ballon d'Or off the back of 2023-24, he failed to reach those same standards last season and is still falling short of his previous best in the early weeks of 2025-26. Through 10 La Liga appearances, he has nine combined goals and assists, but they were squeezed into only six games and therefore he is lacking consistency. In the Champions League, meanwhile, he's still waiting for a goal involvement this season.
Alonso has shown his preference for rotation, trying to keep players fresher to win across multiple competitions. But if someone like Rodrygo has been more accepting of that, getting his head down and carrying on even if frustrated on the inside, Vinicius is having a harder time with it.
The worrying thing for the player himself is that Luis Enrique has proven at Paris Saint-Germain that great success can be had by dispensing with big egos and building a squad more focused on the collective than individuals.
Faf du Plessis, captaining Delhi Capitals in Axar Patel’s absence due to a bad flu, won the toss and chose to bowl. Speaking about Axar at the toss, du Plessis said, “Unfortunate for him, really sick the last two days. Bad flu. We wish him all the best. Will definitely miss him today.”Madhav Tiwari and Mukesh Kumar have replaced T Natarajan and Axar for DC. Tiwari, a seam-bowling allrounder from Madhya Pradesh, was part of DC’s XI in their abandoned game against Punjab Kings but will be on debut as that game will be replayed on Saturday. KL Rahul has been named in the Impact Players bench after being hit on the knee in training on match eve and is most likely to be subbed in for the second innings.DC will be out of the playoffs race with a loss today. MI, on the other hand, will go through with a win. Hardik Pandya, MI’s captain, said he would have liked to bowl as well. Mitchell Santner replaces Corbin Bosch. One of Ashwani Kumar and Karn Sharma, who were part of MI’s previous game, will miss out tonight.So far this season, the average score batting first at the Wankhede stadium has been 174 for 7 and the chasing team has won four out of the six games.Mumbai Indians XI: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, N Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (capt), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit BumrahMI Impact Players bench: Ashwani Kumar, Corbin Bosch, Karn Sharma, Raj Bawa, Satyanarayana RajuDelhi Capitals XI: Faf du Plessis (capt), Abishek Porel (wk), Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Madhav Tiwari, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Mukesh KumarDC Impact Players bench: KL Rahul, Sediqullah Atal, Karun Nair, Tripurana Vijay, Manvanth Kumar
Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has made no secret of his desire for further offensive reinforcements before the end of the summer transfer window.
After the 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League, the manager said: “In defence and midfield, goalkeeper position and full-back position, we’ve done really good business. But we spoke quite open and honest about it, we would need to add some more quality up front.”
The Championship champions have only scored one goal in their first three matches back in the top-flight, which has placed further emphasis on the need for new attacking talent to arrive at Throp Arch.
Leeds in talks to sign new winger
With only a few hours left before the deadline passes, the club are reportedly looking to sign a player from one of their Premier League rivals.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to journalist Graham Smyth, Leeds United are in talks with Fulham over a potential deal to bring Harry Wilson to Elland Road in the coming hours.
The reporter does not reveal whether it would be a permanent or loan move for the former Liverpool man, who signed for the Cottagers for £12m in the summer of 2021.
Smyth adds, though, that he expects the club’s business to be done for the summer if they are able to get a move for Wilson over the line in this last-ditch approach.
What Harry Wilson could bring to Leeds
The Wales international is a proven Premier League performer who could slot straight into the side on the right wing as an upgrade on Daniel James.
Farke’s current Welsh winger has failed to create a ‘big chance’ or register a shot on target in any of his three starts in the Premier League so far this term, and only managed two goals and one assist in 24 outings in his last season in the top-flight with Fulham in the 2022/23 campaign, per Sofascore.
These statistics suggest that Leeds should not expect the former Manchester United man to deliver much in the way of quality at the top end of the pitch this season.
Harry Wilson (Premier League)
23/24
24/25
Appearances
35
25
xG
3.38
4.21
Goals
4
6
Big chances created
5
2
Key passes per game
0.7
0.8
Assists
6
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Wilson has delivered ten goals and seven assists in his last two seasons in the Premier League with Fulham.
These statistics show that the left-footed star, who was once hailed as “incredible” by Jurgen Klopp, can provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals on the right wing.
The Fulham forward has shown that he can score and assist goals at a decent rate in the Premier League and could, therefore, hit the ground running at Elland Road as an upgrade on Dan James, who has consistently struggled to deliver in front of goal at that level.
He has shown that he can make a bigger impact in front of goal than the current Leeds winger and that is why a move for the £12m forward could be a shrewd last-minute move.
Better than Buonanotte: Leeds eyeing Deadline Day move for £11m star
Leeds United could make a late move for a star who is even better than Facundo Buonanotte.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have spent big on a number of players over the years, with the Old Gold using their European links to full advantage.
The club have signed stars from the likes of Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and FC Porto, but who is Wolves’ record arrival? Here, we’ve taken a look at Wolves’ 10 most expensive signings.
Wolves’ most expensive signings of all time
Rank
Player
Fee
Signed from
Year
1
Matheus Cunha
£44m
Atletico Madrid
2023
2
Matheus Nunes
£38m
Sporting CP
2022
3
Fabio Silva
£35.6m
FC Porto
2020
4
Raul Jimenez
£30m
Benfica
2019
5
Nelson Semedo
£28m
Barcelona
2020
6
Goncalo Guedes
£27.5m
Valencia
2022
7
Tolu Arokodare
£24m
Genk
2025
8
Jorgen Strand Larsen
£23m
Celta Vigo
2025
9
Nathan Collins
£20.5m
Burnley
2022
10
Fer Lopez
£19m
Celta Vigo
2025
11
Andre
£18.5m
Fluminense
2024
=12
Jonny Otto
£18m
Atletico Madrid
2019
=12
Adama Traore
£18m
Middlesbrough
2018
14
Daniel Podence
£17m
Olympiacos
2020
15
Emmanuel Agbadou
£16.6m
Reims
2025
=16
Patrick Cutrone
£16m
AC Milan
2019
=16
Rui Patricio
£16m
Sporting CP
2018
=18
Joao Gomes
£15m
Flamengo
2023
=18
Sasa Kalajdzic
£15m
Stuttgart
2022
=18
Jhon Arias
£15m
Fluminense
2025
Here's a detailed look at Wolves' 10 most expensive signings… 10 Fer Lopez £19m from Celta Vigo
An attacking midfielder who can play out on the wing, Wolves won the race for Fer Lopez in 2025, spending £19m on his services from Celta Vigo.
Lopez, who was 21 when he put pen to paper on a five-year contract in the Midlands, will be looking to become a star at Molineux and the latest foreign star for the Old Gold.
9 Nathan Collins £20.5m from Burnley
Nathan-collins
Following Burnley’s relegation to the Championship in 2022, Wolves acted swiftly to secure the services of defender Nathan Collins in a transfer worth more than £20m.
However, Collins’ time at Molineux was short-lived, and 12 months after signing, the Irishman was sold to Brentford, at least for a small profit.
8 Jorgen Strand Larsen £23m from Celta Vigo
Jorgen Strand Larsen’s initial loan move at Wolves became permanent in 2025 for a reported fee of £23m.
The Old Gold quickly had the chance to make a huge profit on the Norwegian striker, with Newcastle making bids for his services the same summer. However, Wolves rejected those bids and kept hold of their star forward.
7 Tolu Arokodare £24m from Genk
Genk striker Tolu Arokodare
Wolves’ deadline day signing in 2025 was forward Tolu Arokodare, who cost slightly more than Strand Larsen at £24m.
The 6ft 6in Nigeria international signed a four-year deal at Molineux after scoring freely in Belgium with Genk.
6 Goncalo Guedes £27.5m from Valencia
After coming through the books at Benfica, Goncalo Guedes played for PSG and Valencia before signing for Wolves in a £27.5m deal in 2022.
But as one of many Portuguese stars to arrive following the influence of super-agent Jorge Mendes, the versatile forward struggled to make an impact in the Midlands, and in 2025, was sold to Real Sociedad.
5 Nelson Semedo £28m from Barcelona
Right-back Nelson Semedo was a regular for Wolves after arriving from Barcelona in a £28m transfer in 2020.
The Portugal international was named club captain in December 2024, taking over from Mario Lemina. However, the defender left the club after his contract expired in 2025.
4 Raul Jimenez £30m from Benfica
Raul Jimenez was a big signing following Wolves’ promotion to the Premier League in 2018, and his loan move from Benfica was made permanent for £30m just 12 months later.
The Mexico international scored 57 goals for the club in 166 appearances before signing for Fulham in a £5.5m deal in 2023.
3 Fabio Silva £35.6m from FC Porto
Fabio Silva
A big-money signing that didn’t go to plan for Wolves was for forward Fabio Silva, who arrived for a then-club-record £35.6m fee at the age of just 18.
Silva’s time at Molineux saw him loaned out to Anderlecht, PSV, Rangers and Las Palmas, scoring just a handful of goals for the Old Gold before being sold to Borussia Dortmund.
2 Matheus Nunes £38m from Sporting CP
Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes.
After starring with Sporting CP under Ruben Amorim and catching the eye of Pep Guardiola, it was Wolves who ended up signing Matheus Nunes for £38m in 2022.
The midfielder’s time at Molineux only lasted one season due to his impressive Premier League displays, with Guardiola and City taking him to the Etihad for more than £50m.
1 Matheus Cunha £44m from Atletico Madrid
Matheus Cunha
Matheus Cunha is currently Wolves’ most expensive signing of all time, with the Brazilian striker costing £44m from Atletico Madrid.
He moved to Molineux initially on loan in January 2023 with a permanent deal being activated that summer. Cunha went on to star in a struggling Wolves side, and as a result, moved to Man Utd for more than £60m.
The summer transfer window has been a turbulent one for Newcastle United.
Having worked tirelessly to strengthen multiple areas of the squad, the Magpies remain under pressure to solve their most glaring issue: the centre-forward position.
After a protracted saga with Alexander Isak, Newcastle have found themselves scrambling for solutions.
The opening two fixtures highlighted the depth of this crisis. Despite playing well against Aston Villa and Liverpool, Newcastle lacked a clinical edge.
The situation was made worse when makeshift striker Anthony Gordon was sent off against the Reds, leaving 22-year-old William Osula as the only recognised forward.
For a club intent on challenging at the top end of the Premier League, such frailty up front was unsustainable. That urgency forced Newcastle’s hand.
Out of nowhere, a £69m deal was struck with Stuttgart for Nick Woltemade, the towering 23-year-old who had impressed in the Bundesliga and at the European U21 Championships.
Bayern Munich had bids rejected for the forward earlier in the summer, but conversations with Eddie Howe convinced him that his future lay on Tyneside.
Now in a race against time to complete his medical and join the squad for Saturday’s clash with Leeds, Woltemade has the potential to be transformative.
Yet Newcastle’s ambitions do not stop with the German international.
Reports in Italy suggest the club tested the waters for one of Europe’s most decorated strikers – though the answer was swift and emphatic.
Newcastle make move for top-level striker
According to Calcio Mercato, Newcastle made an audacious approach to the camp of Lautaro Martínez, Inter Milan’s talismanic striker.
Inter Milan'sLautaroMartinez applauds their fans
The response, however, was one of firm rejection. Alejandro Camaño, the Argentine’s agent, did not return the Magpies’ call – a clear indication that Martínez’s focus remains solely on the Nerazzurri.
The refusal is hardly surprising.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Martínez is not only Inter’s captain but also he is a player adored by supporters and widely considered indispensable.
Podcaster Angelo Valdes recently described him as “the best No. 9 in the world,” a sentiment shared by many who have watched his rise since arriving in Serie A.
The timing of Newcastle’s approach is also telling.
Inter are still recovering from a bruising campaign in which they lost the Serie A title to Antonio Conte’s Napoli on the final day and fell to a humbling 5-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
Letting go of their most consistent goal threat was never a realistic proposition, particularly given his contract security and market value of around €95 (£90m) million.
Strong interest remains in Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, though both clubs have shut the door firmly this summer.
In that context, the dream of pairing Woltemade with Martínez might have seemed appealing – but in reality, it was always a step too far.
Why Woltemade would have thrived with Lautaro
While the Argentine international may be out of reach, Newcastle’s recruitment of Woltemade still provides intriguing possibilities.
Standing at 1.98m, the German forward offers a physical presence that contrasts with Martínez’s dynamism and low centre of gravity.
Both, however, are effective in their own right, and a comparison of their output last season reveals the distinct qualities they could bring to a top-level side.
Matches Played
31
28
Goals
12
12
Assists
3
2
Progressive Carries
34
31
Progressive Passes
68
62
Martínez’s pedigree is undisputed. At 28, he boasts 70 international caps for Argentina, with a World Cup winner’s medal from Qatar 2022.
Across 336 appearances for Inter Milan, he has delivered 154 goals and 51 assists – a record that speaks volumes about his consistency.
Statistically, Martínez excels in areas beyond pure goalscoring.
Lautaro-Martinez
He averaged 2.39 progressive passes per 90 and 2.70 shot-creating actions, while his defensive contribution – 1.05 tackles per 90 – illustrates his work rate out of possession.
He is not the archetypal penalty-box poacher but a complete forward capable of linking play and setting the tone with his pressing. By contrast, Woltemade is still carving out his identity.
His 12 goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances for Stuttgart last season marked a breakthrough, and his performances at the U21 European Championships confirmed him as one of Germany’s most promising attacking talents.
His statistical profile highlights his potential versatility: 1.72 progressive carries per 90, 2.89 progressive passes, and an eye-catching 4.38 shot-creating actions.
His 50% shot-on-target rate was also superior to Martínez’s, suggesting efficiency when chances came his way. The differences extend to physicality and style.
Where Martínez relies on sharp movement and explosive bursts in the box, Woltemade thrives on aerial duels, hold-up play, and the ability to bring others into the game.
At nearly two metres tall, he offers a target-man option that Newcastle have lacked, particularly useful when matches become attritional.
His weakness, however, lies in defensive contribution – registering just 0.56 tackles per 90 compared to Martínez’s 1.05.
For Howe, this presents both challenges and opportunities.
Integrating a young striker into the Premier League is no easy task, but Woltemade’s profile complements Newcastle’s existing attacking talent.
Newcastle duo Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy
Should Isak depart – as appears inevitable – a partnership between Woltemade and another dynamic forward could provide the balance required to keep Newcastle competitive domestically and in Europe.
What this episode ultimately reveals is Newcastle’s growing ambition. Contacting the representative of one of the world’s premier strikers may have ended in rejection, but it signals intent.
Coupled with the acquisition of Woltemade, alongside earlier arrivals such as Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale, and Anthony Elanga, the Magpies are determined to push forward despite setbacks.
Bruno will love him: Newcastle open talks to sign "£100m-plus footballer"
Newcastle could make an ambitious late move, much to the benefit of Bruno Guimaraes.
O Sport fez bonito no começo da temporada, na Copa São Paulo, quando realizou a sua melhor participação na disputa. Competição essa em que teve Juan Xavier como um dos principais destaques do Leão da Ilha.
Diante do bom trabalho realizado na base, o meia passou a fazer parte do dia a dia do profissional. Momento de aprendizado, mas que não foge das dificuldades impostas em toda adaptação.
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– Eu acho que foi um início difícil, pois essa transição de sub-20 ao profissional nunca é fácil. O bom é que tive oportunidade de estrear profissionalmente e ajudar com uma assistência na ocasião. Agora é estar pronto para quando o professor precisar – disse antes de completar.
– Tenho evoluído muito no dia a dia com os trabalhos do professor e também pela competência do grupo que é de alto nível, então sempre preciso estar concentrado nos treinamentos – completou o prata da casa sobre uma das equipes que possui o melhor aproveitamento na temporada.
Para seguir crescendo entre os profissionais, Juan Xavier também destaca as orientações recebidas dos companheiros.
– Sou uma pessoa que procura escutar a todos que queiram passar algum conselho, mas Wanderson e Kaiky são os que sempre conversam. Sobre fazer jogadas curtas e sempre procurar o gol – contou.
Agora, para apresentar o seu melhor futebol e se desenvolver, o meio-campista também cita quais são os nomes em que se espelha do time pernambucano.
– Gosto muito dos que jogam na minha posição. Como são os casos do Jorginho, que é uma referência de camisa 10 no Brasil, e do Vargas, que é mais versátil. São dois jogadores com muita bagagem e que procuro olhar muito durante treinos e jogos – concluiu.
Tottenham are an extremely attractive potential destination after their Europa League triumph last season, with the prospect of Champions League football and helping to usher in Thomas Frank’s new era proving a real temptation.
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Frank and Spurs are already 10 days into pre-season training, as they prepare for their first friendly matches of the summer against Reading this Saturday and Luton Town a week later.
The Lilywhites then travel to Hong Kong and South Korea for their Asia pre-season tour, where they’ll be taking on north London rivals Arsenal in their first-ever derby match outside the UK on July 31, before facing off against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Bayern Munich will come as their last warm-up game of the summer before the competitive action starts, with Spurs braced for a blockbuster UEFA Super Cup clash against fellow European champions PSG midway through August.
Whilst manager Frank assesses his new team on the pitch, chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange are set to remain at work on restructuring the squad ahead of what will be a crucial Premier League season.
Tottenham have already backed Frank with the signing of Mathys Tel on a £30 million permanent deal from Bayern Munich, a £5 million move for Japanese sensation Kota Takai and the signing of star winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.
After Kudus, Spurs were also set to sign Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White, who was meant to have a medical last Friday, but the potential £60 million transfer is now being held up.
Forest are taking legal action against Frank’s side over what they perceive to be an illegal approach for the 25-year-old, which has seriously delayed his move down south, even though there remains an expectation that Gibbs-White will eventually seal his move to Spurs.
Morgan-gibbs-white-nottingham-forest
Those within Forest reportedly believe that they’ll be forced to green-light the Englishman’s transfer to Tottenham (Alasdair Gold), but for now, Spurs supporters are having to wait for further confirmation of their stunning £115 million Kudus and Gibbs-White double-deal.
Morgan Gibbs-White "clear" he wants to join Tottenham
Gibbs-White was a key attacking star at the City Ground last term, playing a major role in their qualification for Europe with seven goals and 10 assists in the Premier League alone, but he’s extremely keen to start a new chapter with Spurs.
As per TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, Gibbs-White has informed Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis of his firm desire to join Tottenham – making his stance “clear” behind-the-scenes amid this delay.
The former Wolves star, who Forest signed for around £43m in 2022, was forced to return to training on Monday morning as he waits for his London move to go through.
Marinakis is said to be “furious” over how Tottenham knew about Gibbs-White’s release clause, which is why Forest are complaining, but given it exists, there is little they can do to stop the player’s exit.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Spurs are confident they’ll get Gibbs-White done and dusted soon, but it is a “tense” ongoing situation.
Looking to continue their summer business, Manchester United have reportedly joined the race to sign an impressive 12-goal midfielder for Ruben Amorim this summer.
Rashford and four others ask to leave Man Utd
As much as results haven’t gone his way since arriving, there’s been no standing in the way of Ruben Amorim’s ruthless streak at Old Trafford. The former Sporting Club manager instantly showed Marcus Rashford the new and initially dropped Alejandro Garnacho before falling out with the latter altogether. Now, with the summer transfer window open, that ruthless streak looks destined to end in a much-needed exodus of players.
Without a role under Amorim, Rashford, Antony, Garnacho, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho have all reportedly asked to leave Manchester United this summer – sparking several exit rumours.
Rashford and Garnacho are two names that stand out the most in that list, with the former even reportedly attracting the interest of Barcelona. The La Liga giants just missed out on Nico Williams, who opted to sign a new contract at Athletic Bilbao, and have now set their sights on Rashford as a result.
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Meanwhile, Garnacho could yet decide to stay put in the Premier League in the hope of exacting revenge on Amorim and United amid links with a move to rivals Chelsea. At 21 years old, the winger is still a player full of potential and one who could realise that potential elsewhere if he avoids the problems that he has endured at Old Trafford.
With that said, all of these potential departures are likely to hand Manchester United a major boost, allowing them to return to the transfer market themselves this summer.
Man Utd enter race to sign Orkun Kokcu
Among the names that the Red Devils could turn towards as a result of departures this summer is an Inter Milan target. According to Caught Offside, Manchester United have now entered the race to sign Orkun Kokcu from Benfica this summer – rivalling the Italian giants as well as Liverpool for his signature.
Orkun Kokcu for Benfica.
The deal wouldn’t break the bank for INEOS either. Reports are suggesting that Benfica will let their midfield star leave for around €40m (£35m) this summer, which should hand those at Old Trafford a major boost.
Non-penalty goals per 90
0.17
0.17
Shots per 90
2.05
2.83
Assists per 90
0.24
0.29
Shot-creating actions per 90
5.06
5.86
Keeping up with Bruno Fernandes’ output is no easy task, but Kokcu is one of the rare few midfielders who manage to do so throughout Europe. Now, United could form the ultimate midfield partnership.
Dubbed a “leader” by scout Jacek Kulig during his Feyenoord days, Kokcu has only kicked on at Benfica since then and could be on his way to the Premier League after scoring 12 goals in all competitions last season.