Chelsea chiefs have decided that they will sell a player who manager Enzo Maresca loves for just £30 million this summer, with the Blues expected to orchestrate a major clearout ahead of next season.
Players likely to leave Chelsea this summer
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Alfie Gilchrist, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, João Félix, David Datro Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi are just some of the names facing uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge.
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All the aforementioned men were allowed to depart west London on loan deals this season, and it is unlikely any of them have a long-term future under Maresca, as BlueCo also look to trim Chelsea’s wage bill and balance the books.
Fulham (away)
April 20th
Everton (home)
April 26th
Liverpool (home)
May 4th
Newcastle (away)
May 10th
Man United (home)
May 18th
Trevoh Chalobah is also expected to leave Chelsea after being initially allowed to join Crystal Palace on a temporary deal for the first half of 2024/2025, before Maresca’s side triggered the re-call clause in his contract to instigate an early return in January.
Trevoh Chalobah in action for Chelsea
Félix was shipped out on loan to AC Milan in January as well, and while the Portuguese made a promising start to life at the San Siro, his form has since plummeted and Milan have already decided not to try and sign him permanently (Fabrizio Romano).
Interestingly, The Telegraph even shared news this week that Al-Nassr have developed a strong interest in Moises Caicedo, but Maresca’s key star will command a price tag north of £100 million, and it is unlikely Chelsea would even entertain selling.
However, the same cannot be said of versatile defender Renato Veiga.
Chelsea ready to sell Renato Veiga for £30m
Veiga was very keen to leave Chelsea in January, as he held a burning desire to play at centre-back when Maresca was utilising him far more in the left-back area.
Juventus eventually granted the 21-year-old his wish, signing him on loan for the rest of this campaign. Maresca is still said to be “crazy” about Veiga as a player, according to reports in Italy, but that hasn’t stopped Chelsea from making him available for a reasonable fee.
Renato Veiga for Chelsea.
As per The Mail and journalist Simon Jones, Chelsea will allow Veiga to leave for just £30 million this summer, with the defender set to be joined by Disasi, Chilwell and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as players almost certain to be up for grabs.
The Portuguese cost Chelsea just £12 million to sign from FC Basel last summer, so Todd Boehly and co will still be in line for a major profit if they find a buyer for over double his original price.
Since joining Juve, Veiga has started seven out of the Old Lady’s last 10 Serie A games as a centre-half, missing two matches due to injury and spending one on the bench.
Glasgow Rangers will be aiming for a solid summer transfer window under the 49ers as they seek to end their Premiership title drought.
Year after year, the club fail to improve their squad by signing players who either aren’t good enough for Rangers, or those who appear to be injury-prone and miss far too many games.
With a new era about to begin this summer, might this cycle stop? One can hope.
The Light Blues’ transfer activity has ranged from making bizarre signings – Rafael Fernandes and Kieran Dowell – along with bringing those in who failed to adapt to Scottish football – Robin Propper and Sam Lammers – over the previous couple of years.
One thing the club haven’t done for a while is sign someone who has Celtic on their C.V. However, might this change in the near future? Especially as Greg Taylor has been linked with a shock move to Ibrox this summer.
Greg Taylor has been linked with a move to Rangers
Since the end of the Second World War, only Alfie Conn, Maurice Johnston, Stephen Pressley and Kenny Miller have played for both Rangers and Celtic.
None of these players moved directly between each other, spending time somewhere else before making the move to either one of the Old Firm.
Taylor is out of contract this summer and could leave the Parkhead side for nothing. Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd has had his say on the matter and believes that the Ibrox side would be wise to make a move for the left-back ahead of next season.
“I know the rivalry between the two clubs but he’s Scottish and he ticks the boxes. You could ask the question,” said Boyd while speaking on the Scottish Sun’s YouTube channel regarding the defender.
“Is he a better player than Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz? Well, I think he’s shown for a period of time what he can do.
“This could actually generate funds if they sold one of the left-backs. They are potentially saleable assets.”
Greg Taylor’s statistics this season
Taylor has played 36 times for Celtic this term, scoring once while providing seven assists in all competitions.
The Scot has also created eight big chances in the Premiership, while averaging 1.4 key passes per game and succeeding with 56% of his dribbles, highlighting his impressive attacking skills.
Combine this with the fact he wins 54% of his total contested duels, makes 1.5 tackles and dribbles past only 0.3 times per game, it is evident that Taylor could be a reliable signing for the Gers.
Greg Taylor’s statistics for Celtic this season
Metric
Champions League
Premiership
Assists
1
6
Big chances created
2
8
Tackles per game
1.8
1.5
Successful dribbles per game
0.1
0.4
Balls recovered per game
2.6
3.7
Via Sofascore
A clean injury record would also be a bonus, that’s for sure. At the time of writing, the left-back is currently valued at €4.9m (£4.2m) according to Football Transfers, meaning Celtic could be losing out on a decent transfer fee.
Signing Taylor might allow the new manager at Ibrox to offload either one of Jefte or Ridvan Yilmaz this summer in order to generate funds.
The Brazilian has endured a mixed campaign since making the move to Glasgow last summer, yet he is still valued higher than Taylor…
Why Jefte is a promising player for Rangers
The defender arrived from Brazilian side Fluminense on a four-year deal last summer as Clement sought to add some more youth prospects to his first-team squad.
Jefte
He spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Cypriot side APOEL, scoring three goals and grabbing four assists across just 31 league matches for the club.
On this basis, his attacking talents were there for all to see, with Scottish content creator Kai Watson praising the defender, saying: “He always looks to drive at the opposition defence and is comfortable going outside or cutting inside.
“He’s also not afraid of having a pop at goal and has a thunderous strike in his arsenal.
“He looks like he could be a creative threat while also offering some goalscoring prowess himself.”
It certainly appears as though he has found Scottish football harder, having registered only two assists in 28 Premiership matches thus far.
He has averaged 1.1 key passes per game in the top flight, however, along with creating two big chances and succeeding with 1.1 dribbles per match. Defensively though, the youngster has been a liability on occasions.
On average, he loses possession 14.9 times per game for the Light Blues in the Scottish top flight, while the Brazilian commits 0.9 fouls per game and regularly finds himself out of position trying to create chances in the final third.
Jefte
Over time, the former Fluminense starlet will mature, and his defence abilities will improve, but this has been a key weakness throughout the 2024/25 campaign. If the defender wishes to maintain his place in the squad, this is something he will need to work on, no doubt about that.
Jefte’s market valuation at Rangers
Whatever happens, should Rangers sell Jefte in the immediate future, they could rake in a decent profit on the left-back.
Indeed, according to Football Transfers, he is currently valued at €5.5m (£4.7m) and this figure will only continue to rise as time goes on.
When he made the move to Scotland, his valuation sat at less than £1m, proving that exposure to first-team football, especially in the Europa League, has allowed the player to increase his value.
Perhaps he would be best served playing in a more advanced position, which could allow the defender to play to his attacking strengths.
What is certain is that Jefte is currently worth more than Taylor according to Football Transfers and while a move for the Celtic man wouldn’t be a bad idea, might the Gers be better off developing Jefte in a position where he can contribute more effectively?
Rangers have hit the jackpot with the Brazilian defender, whose value has soared in his short time in Glasgow already, and they should avoid any controversial move for a Celtic dud to continue his development.
The summer transfer window could be an interesting time to be a supporter, especially if the 49ers takeover goes through in the next few weeks.
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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has had to think somewhat outside of the box in recent weeks in the absence of first-choice centre-forward Nicolas Jackson.
The 23-year-old Senegal international has been out injured with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last five Premier League games.
Although the Chelsea boss confirmed he will be available for selection against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night, it remains to be seen if he will start. Replacing him has not been easy; the 23-year-old has nine goals and five assists in 23 Premier League games this term.
One of the players tasked with stepping up in the absence of Jackson was Christopher Nkunku.
The latest on Christopher Nkunku’s Chelsea future
Nkunku’s numbers this season across competitions are more than reasonable. The Frenchman, who is a graduate of Paris Saint-Germain’s academy, has scored 14 times and grabbed five assists in 38 games.
Christopher Nkunku scores for Chelsea
However, just three of those strikes and two assists have come in the Premier League in 25 games. In the run of five games without Jackson, the former RB Leipzig star has scored and assisted just two goals, both of which came against Southampton.
However, his form across the season could well be a concern for the Blues. This could lead to Nkunku’s departure in the summer transfer window. A report from GiveMeSport at the end of March suggests the Frenchman will leave Stamford Bridge.
He was close to leaving the club in January for a fee reported to be £60m. A return to the Bundesliga was on the cards, with Bayern Munich supposedly interested. Now, it seems a departure is inevitable.
Christopher Nkunku in action for Chelsea
If he is to leave the club in the summer, perhaps Chelsea already have their dream replacement waiting in the wings, in the form of a young talent who is currently out on loan.
Chelsea’s in-house Nkunku replacement
Chelsea have infamously become known for buying lots of elite young talent over the past few summers and keeping them on the backburner until they are ready to make an impact at first-team level.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Well, one of the best examples of this is perhaps 19-year-old striker Deivid Washington. The Brazilian is currently on loan at Santos, the club from which he was originally bought from by the Blues back in August 2023.
He has only played two games and 28 minutes in his second spell at the Brazilian giants, and is yet to find the back of the net. However, he did score two goals during his initial stint at the club, after breaking through the esteemed academy that produced the legendary Neymar, now a teammate of Washington.
Santos strikerDeivid Washington.
The attacker, who can play as a centre-forward, out wide on the left or just behind the striker, has made a real impression for the Blues’ youth team so far.
Across two seasons, he has scored ten goals and grabbed an assist in 18 games.
Premier League 2 (2023/24)
9
5
0
Premier League 2 playoffs (2023/24)
2
1
0
EFL Trophy (2024/25)
2
0
0
Premier League 2 (2024/25)
5
4
1
He has also shown goal-scoring nous for Brazil’s under-20s. He has been handed eight caps at that level of international football, scoring three goals, including a fantastic diving header against Ecuador.
The Santos academy graduate was once described as a “highly talented” star by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and this certainly rings true when looking at what he has achieved in academy football so far.
With more exposure to senior football as a Santos player and, in the longer term, in a Chelsea shirt, the Blues could have an excellent player on their hands. He has already played three times for the West Londoners, and will surely hope to be given even more of an opportunity.
He is certainly a player Chelsea fans can get excited about, and if Nkunku does depart this summer, then Maresca might have a ready-made replacement waiting for his chance in 2026.
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Chelsea are targeting another player to improve the options within the final third.
Premier League rivals Man City and Liverpool are now believed to be targeting a Chelsea “superstar” this summer, with an approach already made for him ahead of the first window which opens on June 1st.
Chelsea's main transfer plans for this summer
As per reliable journalist Simon Phillips, sharing a fresh update on Enzo Maresca and BlueCo’s transfer plans, there are three main positions which they’d like to strengthen before next season.
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Chelsea are thought to be after a new centre-back, winger and striker as their three main priorities, and could even look to reinforce a host of other areas throughout the squad as well, but this will depend on many factors – like Champions League qualification and player sales.
“Chelsea’s priority is a new striker, centre back, and a winger,” said Phillips, via his Substack.
“But not just that. After those three, Chelsea are also discussing signing a new left back (or a defender who can play left back), a second centre back to arrive as well as the priority one (could be a hybrid CB/LB), a new goalkeeper, and a versatile attacker.
Everton (home)
April 26th
Liverpool (home)
May 4th
Newcastle (away)
May 11th
Man United (home)
May 16th
Nottingham Forest (away)
May 25th
“However, some of the latter will be Champions League-dependent as well as player sales-dependent.”
Their Club World Cup campaign may also be a crucial factor, as Maresca’s side are thought to be taking it very seriously with £100 million worth of prize money potentially on the line.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will most likely be looking to offload a host of players when the summer window opens, including the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Alfie Gilchrist, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, David Datro Fofana, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi and João Félix – who are all away from Stamford Bridge on loan and don’t appear to have a long-term future.
Joao Felix for AC Milan.
Trevoh Chalobah is also likely to leave Chelsea, after initially being allowed to join Crystal Palace on a temporary deal before Maresca and co activated his recall clause, and a few more current squad members could well join him as BlueCo look to raise funds.
Man City and Liverpool eyeing move for Chelsea star Cole Palmer
However, one player who Maresca won’t want to ship out the door is Chelsea forward Cole Palmer.
The England sensation was by some distance their Player of the Season last term, and despite a slight dip in performance level this campaign, Palmer remains one of their most crucial assets and a truly unstoppable force on his day.
Chelsea'sColePalmerreacts
His £42.5 million signing from City in 2023 was an absolute snip, but according to Phillips, Pep Guardiola’s side are actually eyeing a move to re-sign their former academy star.
As per the reporter, both Liverpool and City are targeting Palmer from Chelsea, with the latter even making an enquiry recently, even if it is unlikely that the Blues would even entertain letting him go.
The “superstar” forward, according to reports in Spain last year, could even cost as much as £165 million – so it appears Chelsea could price their man out of the market.
Aston Villa will have to go for broke when they welcome PSG to Villa Park in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
The Premier League side trails 3-1 after the first leg and, given how dominant the French side has been this season, it will be an extremely tall order for Unai Emery to mastermind a 3-0 win which will secure progress into the last four.
The club take on Southampton in the top flight this weekend. However, Emery will likely make a change or two, especially considering how important the second leg is.
Morgan Rogers shone against the Ligue 1 outfit, but the manager should rest him up ahead of the second leg.
How Morgan Rogers performed against PSG
Despite the 3-1 loss to the current French champions, Rogers was one of Villa’s shining lights. The Englishman opened the scoring after 35 minutes at the Parc des Princes with a nice little finish inside the box to give the away side a confidence boost.
Elsewhere, Rogers also created a big chance, made one key pass, attempted four dribbles – succeeding with one – and was fouled twice during his time on the pitch.
Southampton have already been relegated from the top flight after a dismal season. With this in mind, Emery must ruthlessly ditch Rogers from his starting XI in order to unleash a player who hasn’t had many chances to shine since joining the club from Borussia Dortmund in January.
Donyell Malen, however, scored in their last two league outings, against Brighton and Nottingham Forest respectively, indicating that he deserves another chance this weekend.
Why Donyell Malen must start against Southampton
The Netherlands international wasn’t included in Villa’s Champions League squad for the knockout rounds, hence why it makes perfect sense to bring him back into the starting XI this weekend.
Across nine league matches, Malen has scored twice, while having a 22% goal conversion percentage and has even missed two big chances, suggesting he might have had another goal or two with more accurate finishing.
Metric
Bundesliga
Premier League
Goals
2
3
Assists
0
0
Big chances created
0
1
Shots on target per game
0.8
0.4
Goal conversion percentage
22%
16%
During his spell in the Bundesliga, Malen received high praise from his former teammate Mario Götze, who said: “Donyell is extremely fast and very dangerous. If he has a chance, it’s usually a goal, too.”
In the first half of the season for Dortmund, Malen scored five goals for the German side, including one against Real Madrid in the group stages of the Champions League.
Hardly the most prolific tally in the world, yet when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Malen currently ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.64) and in the top 9% for total shots per 90 (3.47) over the previous 365 days.
These statistics make him the perfect choice for Emery against the Saints. Not only will it give Rogers a rest ahead of the second leg, but unleashing Malen will give him the chance to score for the third Premier League game in a row.
Therefore, the Spanish must axe the England international from the starting XI for his own good, rather than for performance-related reasons, to bring the January addition in.
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Nottingham Forest face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley later this afternoon, looking to book their place in next month’s final.
It is the first time the Reds have reached such a stage since 1991, with a win edging them one step closer to their first FA Cup triumph since way back in 1959.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s men come into the clash off the back of a 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night, handing them the momentum ahead of the crucial fixture.
However, they face Pep Guardiola’s side, who have dominated the competition in recent years, winning twice and losing in the final once in the last six seasons.
If the Reds are to continue their incredible season and claim another historic victory, they will have to do so without numerous key players who will miss the clash at Wembley this afternoon.
The players who will miss the clash with Man City today
Ola Aina has been missing from the Forest side since the 1-0 win over Manchester United back on the 1st of April, with it unclear if he will return this afternoon.
The Nigerian has been key to the success endured in recent months, with his return greatly welcomed, especially considering the situation Nuno faces in the capital.
Ryan Yates and Neco Williams are both suspended for the meeting at Wembley after both picking up their second yellow cards of the competition in the previous round against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Such suspensions are huge blows given their importance to the side, with the Reds facing a selection crisis at right-back should Aina fail to feature after his injury layoff.
With Williams suspended and Aina still a doubt for the meeting, the manager will have to utilise a player out of position, potentially shifting one first-team member into an unnatural role.
The Forest player who could start right-back against Man City
Forest have used the fewest number of players in the Premier League this season, highlighting the tight-knit squad Nuno has built during his tenure at the City Ground.
The likes of Anthony Elanga, Jota Silva and Williams have all featured in unfamiliar roles – with the latter cementing his place at left-back given his performances in recent months.
However, Nuno faces another situation in which he has to operate with someone out of position this afternoon, potentially dropping Nicolas Dominguez into a right-back role against City.
The Argentine, who’s primarily a central midfielder, has once played at wing-back for the Reds in the defeat against Aston Villa, but a role in the back four could utilise his strengths in a much better capacity.
He struggled to provide the width in attacking areas, whilst often being caught out in behind previously, but should the manager select Elanga in a right-midfield role, it could allow the pair to double up on the opposition wingers if needed.
Dominguez’s Premier League stats from the ongoing campaign make him the ideal choice to fill the void this afternoon, hopefully maintaining his popularity amongst the fanbase with another impressive showing.
He’s managed a huge 2.2 tackles won per 90 – the most of any player in the squad this campaign – whilst also coming out on top in 6.3 duels per 90, subsequently proving his defensive qualities.
Nicolas Dominguez’s stats for Forest in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
29
Goals & assists
1
Pass accuracy
88%
Tackles won
2.2
Duels won
6.3
Duel success rate
56%
Interceptions made
1.4
Stats via FotMob
In possession, he’s been just as impressive, completing 88% of his attempted passes, whilst also creating 0.8 chances per 90, allowing the likes of Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of him to cause City huge problems.
Whilst the selection problem is far from ideal for the Reds this afternoon, the players have proven time and time again that they are capable of stepping up to the occasion and thriving on the chances handed their way.
Harry Toffolo did just that against Spurs on Monday night, with Dominguez the next man up, potentially playing a key role in any success come the end of the meeting later on this evening.
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This summer could be an exciting one for Everton and their supporters, having the opportunity to strengthen the first-team squad with investment from The Friedkin Group.
It will be the first full transfer window David Moyes has to make his own mark on the side after taking the reins from Sean Dyche back in January – largely having to work with the players already at Goodison Park.
A move to Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season could play on the mind of any player linked with a move to join the Toffees, possibly being a star in a new chapter for the club and taking them to the next level.
Everton managerDavidMoyescelebrates after the match
It’s no secret that the side have been underperforming for numerous years, being involved in countless relegation battles, with the summer a huge opportunity to push the side closer to the top half of the table.
Rumours have been swirling over the last couple of weeks ahead of the opening of the transfer window, with a shock move potentially on the cards for one player already on Merseyside.
Everton planning shock move for £30m star
According to Football Insider, Everton are ready to target a surprise summer move for Liverpool’s young forward Ben Doak.
The 19-year-old, who’s spending the season on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough, could be available for £30m with the teenager unlikely to break into the first-team picture at Anfield.
trey-nyoni-ben-doak-liverpool-opinion
He’s had an impressive debut season in England’s second tier, notching three goals and seven assists in his 24 outings, playing a key role in Michael Carrick’s play-off push.
The report claims that the Toffees have a growing interest in the Scottish international, with Arne Slot’s side having no issue with selling him to their rivals should an acceptable offer present itself.
It would be a huge investment from the board, but one that could set them up for future success – potentially being their own version of a leading Premier League star.
Why Doak could become Everton’s own Salah
Mohamed Salah has been a leading talent in England’s top flight over the last few years, undoubtedly to the annoyance of Everton supporters.
Mohamed Salah celebrates for Liverpool
The Liverpool winger has notched 184 goals in the Premier League after his move to Anfield back in the summer of 2017, with eight of his efforts coming against the Toffees.
There’s no denying that he’s an elite-level talent, but Moyes’ side could land their own version of the Egyptian this summer should Doak move across Merseyside.
The similarities between the Scotsman and Salah are there for all to see, with the pair both having blistering pace and their desire to cut inside onto their favoured foot – with the obvious factor being that both currently are on the books of Slot’s side.
Joining from the Reds would undoubtedly be a controversial move, but one that could excite supporters, with Doak producing some similar stats to the Liverpool star – albeit in a lower-quality division.
How Doak compares to Salah in 2024/25 so far
Statistics (per 90)
Doak
Salah
Games played
24
31
Goals & assists
10
44
Shot-on-target accuracy
52%
46%
Progressive carries
6.8
4.2
Pass accuracy
79%
71%
Take-ons completed
1.8
1.6
Fouls won
1.3
1.1
Stats via FBref
The Scotsman, who’s been labelled a “generational” talent by one analyst, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has managed to achieve a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing the attacking threat he carries.
He’s also completed more take-ons per 90, whilst also achieving more progressive carries per 90, highlighting his superb talent with the ball at his feet.
Ben Doak in action for Middlesbrough
Doak is still only 19, having the ability to develop further down the line, subsequently taking his career to the next level with more minutes in the top-flight, something which he won’t receive with the Reds.
Whilst £30m would be a huge sum to splash out on a young prospect, he’s already demonstrated that he has the tools to make it at the top level, potentially being a bargain should he continue on his upward trajectory.
Should he get anywhere near the levels produced by Salah over the last few years, it would be a sensational piece of business, taking the side to new heights upon their move to the new stadium.
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Tottenham Hotspur are now believed to be in a good position to seal the astute capture of an “interesting” striker this summer, despite him attracting plenty of attention from elsewhere.
Tottenham play Liverpool as Postecoglou looks to avoid 19th Premier League defeat
Ange Postecoglou’s sacking at the end of the season is highly likely as things stand, according to reports, and it could occur regardless of what happens in their Europa League campaign (The Telegraph).
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Spurs have tasted defeat a woeful 18 times in the Premier League this season, and a 19th loss against Liverpool today would equal the Lilywhites’ record for most defeats in a single campaign since the competition was formed in 1992.
Liverpool (away)
Today
West Ham (away)
May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)
May 10th
Aston Villa (away)
May 18th
Brighton (home)
May 25th
Postecoglou’s side will come up against a side who could be crowned champions of England, so Tottenham will have to be at their very best to avoid a rout and bring confidence into their all-important Europa League semi-final clash against Bodo/Glimt.
“I think you want to do more than that,” said Postecoglou on whether Tottenham just want to come through Liverpool unscathed.
“You want to go there and compete against, obviously, a very good side, and compete well and its not just about getting through unscathed, you want to get through having played well against the top team. And I think irrespective of what’s on the horizon. That’s the primary importance.
“They have been brilliant in the league this year. They have been really consistent, maintained a really high level. They have had the best players playing all the time and playing at a really high level. That is a credit to Arne, his coaching staff and the players themselves. They have been close in the last few years and the fact they are on the cusp of potentially winning another title is a credit to everyone involved.
“In the cup game first leg, I thought we were really good, we took the game to them even though again we had quite a few absences and. worked really hard to get a win in that game, so we know it’s going to be tough at the weekend, but at the same time I think it’s a great challenge for us.”
Tottenham "well-placed" to sign Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond
Away from their tough trip to Anfield, news has come to light of the club’s transfer activity ahead of this summer.
According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, writing for Football Insider, Tottenham are now “well-placed” to seal a deal for Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond – who will leave the Eredivisie side on a free when his contract expires and could be a “bargain signing”.
The highly-rated 18-year-old, a Netherlands Under-19 international, has broken into the Feyenoord first team this season, making four senior league appearances, but they now look set to lose him for nothing as Spurs seek to take full advantage.
He is apparently regarded within the game as a real snip, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig labelling him among the Netherlands’ “interesting” crop of brand-new talents.
Manchester United are still alive in their quest to win silverware under Ruben Amorim this season and are now said to be leading the race to sign an imposing star who could help to rectify a problem position, per reports.
Manchester United's transfer activity hinges on Europa League outcome
Football fans around the world would’ve tuned in to witness events from Old Trafford earlier in the week, in a match between Manchester United and Lyon that will be remembered for years to come. Despite retaining a man advantage, the Red Devils inexplicably found themselves two goals down on the night before an epic comeback, courtesy of goals from Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire.
Ruben Amorim will now prepare his side to face Athletic Club over two legs alongside handling their remaining Premier League duties in a domestic campaign that is rapidly petering out.
Truthfully, there is only one competition Manchester United fans will be tuned into with keen eyes. In turn, the outcome of their Europa League endeavours will most certainly influence their summer transfer budget.
Manchester United’s potential Europa League prize money
Round of 16
£1.47 million banked
Quarter-final
£2.11 million banked
Semi-finals
£3.54 million for winning sides
Runner-up
£5.90 million available
Europa League winner
£10.95 million
Combined total based on Europa League accumulations and subsequent Champions League qualification
Manchester United could earn £85.8 million *minimum*, per The Athletic
Even then, squad planning can’t be contingent on circumstance. The Red Devils’ hierarchy are already hard at work and contact has been made over Jonathan David regarding a potential move to Old Trafford.
Financial prudency will be expected should they fail to secure a backdoor route to the Champions League. Conversely, recent developments indicate there could be a change in tact on that front.
Manchester United leading the race to sign Antoine Semenyo
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United are frontrunners to sign Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo after the Ghana international was identified by Amorim as a candidate to lead a new-look attack next campaign.
The former Sporting boss is said to be a huge admirer of the forward, who could cost £70 million to bring to Old Trafford, which could also work with a lower fee and fixed add-ons depending on negotiations.
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Intriguingly, every club in the top-six bar Arsenal have put their name in the hat for Semenyo, while Tottenham Hotspur are another interested party.
Labelled a “powerful lad” by Lewis Cook, the 25-year-old has registered ten goals and six assists in 36 appearances across all competitions for Bournemouth, excelling either through the middle or on the flank.
Rasmus Hojlund has struggled in front of goal for Manchester United, heightening their need for a striker. Similarly, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony are set for exits, paving the way for a statement move to be made for Semenyo to address a frontline that is thin on the ground.
It’s no secret what Arsenal’s biggest weakness has been this season: their attack.
Injuries and poor form have seen Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all score more goals than Mikel Arteta’s side in the Premier League.
Yet, for everything that’s gone wrong this year, the Gunners have still got the best defensive record in the competition, largely thanks to the incredible centre-back partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Gabriel and Saliba
Unfortunately, the pairing could soon be broken apart, with Real Madrid now upping the ante in their pursuit of the Frenchman.
However, it’s not necessarily all doom and gloom, as recent reports have linked Arsenal with another sensational centre-back who could prove to be a perfect replacement.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Arsenal's search for Saliba's successor
Because he has been performing at such a high level for a considerable period now, Saliba has long been linked with Real Madrid.
However, a recent report from French outlet L’Equipe has claimed that the Arsenal ace is now one of Los Blancos’ primary targets and someone they want to come in and lead the defence next season.
Losing the Bondy-born monster would undoubtedly be a massive setback for the North Londoners, but if they can secure the previously reported £86m for his services, then they can at least go out and look for a replacement.
In fact, that appears to be what they are doing already, as, according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen, who is “the most in-demand centre-back in the world” in the words of data analyst Ben Mattinson.
Alongside the Gunners, Romano has revealed that Liverpool and Chelsea are also in the “race to sign” the Spanish international, who has a £50m release clause in his current contract.
It might be a lot to spend on a youngster, but given his ability and immense potential, it would be worth it, especially as he could be the ideal Saliba replacement.
Why Huijsen would be a great Saliba replacement
If Arsenal can get ahead of the chasing pack and sign Huijsen in the coming weeks and months, what makes him a potentially great replacement for Saliba?
Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen
First and foremost, even though he has only recently turned 20, he already has plenty of top-level experience.
For example, in addition to the two senior caps he’s won for Spain, the potentially “world-class” gem, as dubbed by one analyst, has made 33 appearances for Bournemouth this term, 27 of which have been starts, scored three goals and provided one assist.
On top of that, Arsenal fans will already be annoyingly aware of his immense ability, as not only did he start in the Cherries home win over the North Londoners in late October, he started in their win over the weekend, where he won his fourth Man of the Match Award this season and scored his third goal.
Finally, when we directly compare him to the Gunners’ supremely talented number two, the “perfect” Spaniard, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, actually comes out on top.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.15
0.10
Non-Penalty G+As
0.16
0.06
Progressive Passes
4.68
4.15
Progressive Carries
1.45
0.50
Passing Accuracy
83.4%
94.2%
Key Passes
0.56
0.22
Passes into the Final 1/3
5.89
5.42
Passes into the Penalty Area
0.28
0.19
Shot-Creating Actions
1.61
0.81
Goal-Creating Actions
0.12
0.03
Tackles Won
0.93
1.11
Blocks
1.45
0.74
Interceptions
1.98
0.65
Clearances
7.06
3.44
Errors Leading to a Shot
0.16
0.19
Ball Recoveries
3.87
4.52
Aerial Duels Won
2.58
1.80
For example, he does better in practically every relevant metric, including but not limited to, expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive and key passes, passes into the final third and penalty area, shot and goal-creating actions, blocks, interceptions, clearances, aerial duals won and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, while keeping hold of Saliba should be Arsenal’s primary objective, Huijsen looks like he’d be the perfect replacement.
If anything, he’s someone they should look to sign regardless of what happens to the Frenchman.
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