Entering the second half of July, a storm of transfer rumours is providing fans with daily, often entirely fabricated, footballing sustenance.
For Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, there’s nothing quite like a new arrival to heighten the excitement ahead of a new season.
- READ MORE: Confirmed summer transfers for FPL 2025/26
Using our page of completed top-flight deals, we know that El Hadji Malick Diouf, Mohammed Kudus, Joao Pedro, Jeremie Frimpong, Rayan Cherki and Florian Wirtz have made their moves.
So, who else looks poised to join the English top-flight? Here we run the rule over the week’s latest transfer rumours, their likelihood of completion and what sort of FPL fit they would be.
FPL TRANSFER RUMOURS
Hugo Ekitike (Frankfurt) to Liverpool or Newcastle United
The whirlwind of Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Newcastle and Liverpool has dominated the last few days. And it’s been hard to constantly keep up with the latest ‘update’, when it’s clear that usually-trusted sources are only writing what clubs and agents want them to say.
Liverpool haven’t exactly been subtle with their interest in Isak, but the Magpies hold all the cards and have repeatedly said they have no intention of selling a star striker who has three years left on his contract and is happy at the club.
After missing out on João Pedro, it briefly looked on Monday like Newcastle would stunningly both keep Isak and buy 23-year-old Ekitike. But the excitement soon calmed down, as Liverpool instead used this to make a move for Isak.
Their £130m bid was met with a resounding ‘no’ and, as a result, the Reds are turning their own €90m attention to someone who permanently joined Eintracht Frankfurt last year for a cut-price €16.5m.
Although finding it hard to resist Paris Saint-Germain in 2022, Ekitike knew that the presence of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar would restrict his minutes. Sure enough, those 18 months brought a low 14 starts and four goals.
How likely?
Thursday afternoon reports say that Newcastle have pulled out of the race for Ekitike and will let Liverpool pay a huge amount for their number-two target.
It’s quite a statement from Arne Slot, continuing the summer splurge that has already brought in Wirtz, Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
Any FPL appeal?
The 6ft 3in forward is surely better than Darwin Nunez. Playing alongside Wirtz and Mohamed Salah could see him become FPL gold.
Then again, while Ekitike had a good Bundesliga year with 15 goals and eight assists, we’ve frequently seen attackers from that league fare poorly in England’s top-flight – Timo Werner, Christopher Nkunku, Jadon Sancho and Niclas Füllkrug, for example.
Another one, Sebastien Haller, is part of Frankfurt’s impressive recent list of ‘buy low, sell high’ forwards. It includes Luka Jovic, Andre Silva, Randal Kolo Muani and Omar Marmoush.
So there’s certainly some risk at that price but, for FPL managers, this is someone entering the game as first-choice centre-forward for the reigning champions. Expect his initial Gameweek 1 ownership to be high.
Still uncapped, perhaps a good season will insert Ekitike into France’s World Cup squad.
Yoane Wissa (Brentford) to Newcastle United
In response, David Ornstein says Newcastle are now looking in the direction of Wissa. It feels like every week brings more transfer rumours for the Brentford striker – last time, it was Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.
How likely?
Eddie Howe needs to reduce the age of his squad, so spending at least £40m on someone who soon turns 29 and will be away at AFCON for a month seems unlikely.
Yet a couple of strong seasons of sharing the load with Isak could still make it be good value.
Wissa started his Brentford career on the left wing, showing he adds an element of versatility. But the Bees have already lost their manager, goalkeeper and captain, plus star man Bryan Mbeumo’s saga keeps on going.
Any FPL appeal?
As mentioned last week, Wissa has more FPL appeal as a Brentford player. He’s proven himself to be a quality Premier League forward, especially since Ivan Toney left.
Wissa had a particularly excellent 2024/25, though. A total of 19 goals, all from inside the box, coming fifth overall for big chances (34). Not bad for someone without penalties.
In fact, he ranked second for non-penalty expected goals (NPxG, 18.59). That’s better than Salah and Isak.
Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town) to Brentford
In response to being picked apart, Brentford have appointed Keith Andrews from within, bought Caoimhin Kelleher in goal, then purchased Antoni Milambo and Jordan Henderson in Norgaard’s central midfield position.
Could Hutchinson be Mbeumo’s replacement?
How likely?
Reports say they offered to match his £35m relegation release clause in instalments, allowing Ipswich to reject the bid. His clause has since expired.
Traditionally good buyers, there’ll be a statistical database at the club that justifies this target.
Any FPL appeal?
Supporters may feel underwhelmed, though.
Last season’s 29 league starts brought in only three goals, three assists and 88 FPL points during Ipswich’s struggles. Hutchinson netted at home versus Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and former club Chelsea, but never scored more than nine points.
However, he did finish joint-sixth for attempted take-ons (137) and Brentford have an appealing run of early fixtures.
Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) to Aston Villa
So far, it’s been a fairly quiet summer at Aston Villa, having avoided needing to sell someone for PSR reasons.
Man United are desperate to sell Sancho, Antony, Marcus Rashford and Garnacho and the latter is said to be of interest to Unai Emery, following the Spaniard’s brief borrowing of Rashford.
An agreed deal could cost around £50m.
How likely?
Now that the Rashford and Marco Asensio loans are over, Emery’s depth needs boosting.
In June, Garnacho posted a photo of himself wearing a Villa shirt bearing Rashford’s name, knowing his relationship with Ruben Amorim has completely broken down.
In fact, it was against Villa in Gameweek 38 when Garnacho was omitted from the squad for being upset about his Europa League final benching. Reports later mentioned a dressing down from Amorim in front of teammates at training.
The 21-year-old wideman looks almost certain to depart; it’s just a question of where.
Any FPL appeal?
2023/24 was Garnacho’s breakthrough campaign, amassing seven goals, seven assists and 131 FPL points, all at a very cheap price. His stunning bicycle kick at Everton went on to win the Puskas Award.
A starter in every league match from Gameweek 11 onwards, he ended sixth for penalty area shots (81) and second for box touches (270).
The less productive 2024/25 still saw him come eighth for the latter (186), but six goals and four assists kept him off most Fantasy radars.
If Garnacho does join Villa, it’ll be interesting to see how this affects Morgan Rogers, considering both have been playing all across the attacking midfield positions.
Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United) to Leeds United
In their quest for a centre-back, goalkeeper and second forward, one departure that will give Newcastle further PSR wiggle room is that of homegrown talent Longstaff.
His potential move to Leeds is for an initial £12m, plus £3m in achievable add-ons – a deal that suits all parties.
A coup for the newly-promoted side’s survival hopes, Newcastle get decent money for a sixth-choice central midfielder whose contract has entered its final year.
Furthermore, it’s regular football for someone who has been part of some memorable Tyneside moments – a Champions League strike past PSG, an EFL Cup semi-final goal in 2023 and a winning penalty in round two of last season’s eventual trophy.
How likely?
It looks the closest of these five transfer rumours, with seemingly no obvious obstacles.
Any FPL appeal?
27-year-old Longstaff is theoretically a vital part of Leeds’ relegation fight, but he’s maybe not one for FPL managers. No attacking returns came last season and only one has delivered more than one goal – 2023/24.
