The former Tottenham and Liverpool striker gives his thoughts on the Premier League’s new strikers, Evan Ferguson’s move to Italy and his 2025/26 season predictions.
The Premier League season is almost here and I’m really excited for it to get underway. Plenty of teams look to have improved over the summer, but I think you have to say that Liverpool have had the most impressive transfer window. The players they’ve signed are brilliant.
Florian Wirtz is a really clever No. 10, and my team played against Hugo Ekitike last year when he was at Frankfurt. After the game I said to the guys: “he will be the next big thing who will go to England.” He was just unplayable at times.
Whether he plays as Liverpool’s No. 9, I’m not sure, as he can also fill in on the left now that Luis Diaz has gone to Bayern. If Liverpool do sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle then Ekitike will definitely play on the left more.
He can do both, though. He’s a very good player, quick, and technically very, very good.
There will be comparisons drawn between the strikers that the big clubs have signed this summer. Between Ekitike and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres, Ekitike has probably got more ability in terms of one-on-one situations and getting after people, and he can score goals.
Gyokeres is a good player, but he’s more of a striker who plays on the last shoulder. He played for my former club Coventry, and I know he was very rated highly there. He can score goals, but it’s a huge step up going from Sporting to the Premier League.
If you just look at the sheer number of goals that he’s been scoring, you’d say he certainly will be a good addition to Arsenal. They’ve been crying out for a No. 9, so it feels like they’ve been looking at him for a good while, and while it took longer than they’d have expected, they have him now.
Joao Pedro is also a good signing for Chelsea and he has done well over the summer, but at the moment I’d say Liverpool probably got the best one.
Son is a special guy, and a big loss for Spurs
I think Spurs have also done some good business in the transfer market. Mohammed Kudus is a good player, and I really like Joao Palhinha. I think he’s a great footballer – very aggressive, likes a tackle, can break up the play and is also good on the ball. Spurs look very strong in the middle of the park, but I think they need to strengthen elsewhere, especially with Son Heung-min leaving.
He’s going to be a huge loss for them. On the pitch, he did so much for the club over the years and I’m so happy that he won the Europa League last year. He deserved it because he’s not just a special player, but a special person off the field.
He’s a big loss for Spurs, there’s no question about that. It was clear from the reaction when he left that everybody was devastated, but respected his decision. He’s gone to Los Angeles now and I wish him all the best. I played in the MLS and I think the fans will love him there. The city of LA will love him, too.
As for who will replace Son, for me it was crying out for Jack Grealish, although it looks like he may now join Everton. Jack is a very clever footballer and can play in a few different positions. With James Maddison injured, I would go have gone all out for Jack.
Morgan Gibbs-White signing a new contract at Nottingham Forest was a kick in the teeth for Spurs, as well. They clearly wanted a clever player like him. Looking back now with Maddison injured, I’d imagine they’re gutted that they didn’t get him because he’s obviously a very, very good player who fits what they need.
Roma loan is a great opportunity for Evan Ferguson
Evan Ferguson has made the move to Italy with AS Roma, and I think it will be good for him to play in a new league and get some game time.
I went to Italy to play for Inter, but it was a different time back then and I think there’s now more opportunity for Irish and English players to go abroad and make an impact. Like Evan, I was a young player when I went to Italy, but I think now you’ve got more chance of playing time.
He’s obviously done well in pre-season, and he just needs to play, like any striker. I always tell the young strikers to just go and play as much as they can. The more you play, the more experience and confidence you get. Playing and scoring goals could only help him when it comes to the Irish national team.
My Premier League predictions
I think Liverpool will win the Premier League, with Arsenal second and Man City third. If Tottenham sign a couple more players, I think they’ve got a good chance of claiming fourth spot. I think it’s between them and Chelsea.
The Golden Boot looks tough to predict, with so many big-name strikers in the Premier League this year, but I’m going to go with Erling Haaland. Mo Salah was unplayable last year, but I think Haaland just looks fit and ready to go this season. If Isak goes to Liverpool, he certainly could be up there as well.
For relegation, it’s very hard to get away from the teams have come up, as the past tells you. Granit Xhaka is a great signing for Sunderland but I think they need a bit more quality and Premier League experience. The same applies to Burnley. In this league, you have to spend, and you have to spend wisely on players who have been there and done it.
Aside from those two teams, there are five or six who could be hovering around that part of the table. West Ham could be down there having sold Kudus, and Brentford have also sold a few players who they will need to replace. They have time in the window now, though, and the key to staying up is getting experienced players who know the league well.
I think Leeds have a good chance of staying up, especially with the unbelievable fanbase that they have. They’ve been desperate to get back in the Premier League, and they’re a huge club. I still think they need maybe a few more signings to keep them up. Maybe someone that can score you 20 to 25 goals a season. I think that’s key in the Premier League.
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