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Achraf Hakimi had to be helped off the pitch and looked to be in tears after being on the receiving end of a reckless challenge by Luis Diaz during Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Tuesday. The winger saw red for his challenge, while Hakimi is now facing an anxious wait to determine the severity of the injury. It's a huge blow for PSG and Hakimi, particularly with the Africa Cup of Nations now only weeks away.

• Diaz sent off for brutal challenge on Hakimi

  Diaz had put Bayern 2-0 up in the game at Parc des Princes but went from hero to zero when he lunged in on Hakimi just before half-time. The forward was originally shown a yellow by the match referee card but the decision was upgraded to a red after a VAR check. As for Hakimi, he was clearly in pain on the turf and had to be helped off the pitch. The Morocco star also appeared to be in tears and the fear is that he has sustained a serious injury that will keep him out of action for some time.

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• Morocco captain Hakimi to miss AFCON?

  Hakimi is not just a crucial player for PSG, he is also vital for the Morocco national team and captains the side. The 2025 AFCON tournament is due to start in December in Morocco, and the concern will be that Hakimi will not just miss game time for PSG, but he will also be ruled out of the tournament. Hakimi has spoken previously about how determined he is to lift the trophy on home turf. He told reporters earlier this year: "The tournament is approaching fast, and it remains our top priority. We have a big responsibility to win it in front of our fans. We know the expectations are high, but we’re ready to give everything for our country."

• AFP
  

  Hakimi spotted on crutches

  PSG must now wait to see how serious the injury to Hakimi is, although the defender was spotted leaving the stadium on crutches and wearing a protective boot after the game. Captain Marquinhos was quizzed on the situation afterwards and said only: "We have to wait for the tests, they've done some minor tests. They'll give you more information later."

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• Luis Enrique reacts to PSG defeat

  Luis Enrique spoke about his team's defeat after the game. He told : "At 11 against 11, Bayern were stronger, without a doubt. We gave the opposition some very nice gifts in the first half. We could have conceded more. In the second half, it was different because we had an extra player. Consequences? I can't talk about the future. We know our schedule is the worst. The next few will be difficult."

  Hakimi wasn't the only PSG player to suffer injury against Bayern. Talisman Ousmane Dembele also went off in the first half, and Luis Enrique offered a brief update on his condition: "I don't know. I think it has nothing to do with the previous injury. It's something new. We need to be very careful, we're looking to improve the players' condition."

After a dramatic victory on Saturday night for Chelsea, everyone at Stamford Bridge is feeling optimistic once again.

At the weekend, the Blues beat champions Liverpool 2-1, thanks to an absolute rocket from Moisés Caicedo, before the winner came deep in stoppage time, with Marc Cucurella’s low cross turned home at the back post by Estêvão Willian.

Enzo Maresca was shown a red card following a José Mourinho-esque dash down the touchline, but he surely won’t mind too much, given that his side had yielded just a solitary point from their previous three Premier League matches, making this a much-needed statement victory.

Plenty of Chelsea players caught the eye, but is there a future young star, currently out on loan at… yes, you guessed it, who supporters should be even more excited about?

How Estêvão Willian has announced himself at Chelsea

As has been their want, Chelsea have signed countless young attacking players in the last three seasons, but few surely boast as much potential as Estêvão Willian.

Despite only celebrating his 18th birthday as recently as March, he has already earned seven senior caps for Brazil, scoring against Chile at the Maracanã last month, making 83 appearances for Palmeiras, scoring 27 goals and registering 15 assists.

With the Verdão, he won a Brasileirão title as well as firing the São Paulo-based side to the quarter-finals of last summer’s Club World Cup, on target against his future employers in defeat in Philadelphia in July, giving Chelsea fans an amuse-bouche of what he would bring.

Thus, by the time he arrived in West London, he did so with sky-high expectations; former Chelsea player and manager Roberto Di Matteo for one asserted that he will become one of the best players in the world.

Well, having been somewhat in and out of the team to date, Saturday’s last-gasp winner against Liverpool could be the moment Estêvão announces himself to the world, but do Chelsea have an even bigger talent waiting in the wings?

Chelsea's next Eden Hazard could rival Estêvão

Chelsea acquire so many attacking teenagers that one often wonders if they remember they’ve signed them all, but in Kendry Páez, they may have stumbled across a future world-beater.

In a deal agreed over two years ago, the 18-year-old arrived from Independiente del Valle this summer for a reported fee of £17.27m, before being immediately loaned out to Strasbourg; must’ve been some tough negotiations.

Despite his youthful age, he has already accumulated 20 caps for World Cup-bound Ecuador, scoring during just his second appearance for la Tricolor against Bolivia in La Paz, before also converting a Copa América penalty as his side beat Jamaica 3-1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

His club performances in Ecuador, as well as in the Copa Libertadores, certainly caught the eye, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelling him a “pure quality talent”, while Jack Manship of Total Football Analysis praised his ‘remarkable feat’ and ‘dazzling’ dribbling ability, outlining how he can be both deployed centrally or on either flank.

Páez has adapted quickly to life at BlueCo’s other club, Strasbourg, scoring his first Ligue 1 goal last month, heading home at Stade Jean-Bouin as Liam Rosenior’s side beat Paris FC 3-2 in the capital.

So, let’s assess his statistics in France so far this season.

As the table documents, it is early in both Páez career in general but also his time at Stade de la Meinau, how ever long that may be, but he is already having an impact for les Bleu et Blanc.

His numbers in terms of progressive carries and carries into the opposition’s penalty area are both particularly eye-catching, reminiscent of, arguably, Chelsea’s greatest ever attacker, another winger who made his name in Ligue 1.

Before moving to West London in 2013, Eden Hazard featured 194 times for Lille, scoring 50 goals and registering 53 assists, winning both the Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France with les Dogues in 2011.

He would go on to star for Chelsea, scoring 110 goals in total, many of which were spectacular and mesmerising, none more so than this solo effort against West Ham in 2019, his best and final season for the Blues, scoring 21 times as Maurizio Sarri’s side picked up the Europa League trophy in Baku.

Well, if Páez turns out to be half the player Hazard was, the £17m paid to secure the teenager’s signature will prove to be money well spent.

In wide attacking areas, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Pedro Neto and match-winner Estêvão all featured during the victory over Liverpool, not forgetting the injured talisman Cole Palmer, but Páez could prove to be the best of the lot.

83 touches, 8 duels won: Chelsea star is even more undroppable than Caicedo

Estêvão Willian’s stoppage time winner saw Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 on Saturday, but another star in Blue impressed even more than Moisés Caicedo.

By
Ben Gray

Oct 5, 2025

It’s all going on at Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

The North Londoners moved quickly to fire Ange Postecoglou earlier this month and then, in a relatively quick fashion, appointed Thomas Frank to lead the club into the next season.

However, that’s only the start of the business the North Londoners will be doing this season, as recent weeks have seen them linked to a plethora of talented players, from Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo to RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.

Yet, perhaps the most interesting and exciting link has been to Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, even though his valuation is currently lower than that of a current Spurs star.

Why Spurs want Mbeumo

As things stand, it would appear as if Spurs and Manchester United are the two teams most interested in signing Mbeumo this summer, and while the fee required to do so is still in the air, Football Transfers has valued the Cameroon international at around €58m, which comes out to £49m.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Now, that is still a lot of money, but it would be hard to make a genuine argument against him being worth that and more.

For example, in 42 appearances for the Bees this season, totalling 3577 minutes, the former Troyes gem scored 20 goals and provided nine assists.

That means the 25-year-old phenomenon managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.44 games, or every 123.34 minutes, which is undeniably sensational and the sort of output that would seriously help the North Londoners next year.

Furthermore, the Avallon-born monster is reasonably versatile, as while his primary and best position is off the right, he has spent a not-insignificant period playing up top and as a second striker during his time in the capital.

Finally, while there might be cheaper and more exciting options elsewhere in Europe, the 22-capped international is Premier League-proven and, therefore, should easily slot into the Tottenham squad next season.

However, he will have to hit the ground running to see his valuation surpass one of his potential new teammates.

The Spurs star worth more than Mbeumo

So, even though Spurs endured a diabolically poor domestic campaign this season, the club is still blessed with an abundance of talented players, like James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Micky Van de Ven.

However, in this context, the player in question is fellow right-winger Brennan Johnson, who, according to Football Transfers, is currently worth €66.5m, which converts to about £57m, or £8m more than Mbeumo’s valuation.

Now, that might sound like a lot to some of you, but the Welshman actually enjoyed a pretty impressive season with the North Londoners this year.

For example, he ended the campaign as the club’s top scorer, with 18 goals and seven assists in 51 appearances, totalling 3316 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.04 games, or every 132.64 minutes, which isn’t much worse than the Brentford star.

Moreover, he scored arguably the most important Tottenham goal in a generation in the Europa League Final last month.

On top of that, he stacks up reasonably well against the Cameroonian superstar when we take a look at their underlying numbers from this season.

For example, the 25-year-old comes out ahead in some metrics, such as progressive passes and carries, shots on target and shot and goal-creating actions per 90.

However, the “frightening” former Nottingham Forest gem, as dubbed by content creator HLTCO, comes out ahead in just as many other areas, including expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots, goals per shot and shot on target, tackles and tackles won, blocks and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Mbeumo might be the more exciting player at the moment, but Johnson fully deserves the valuation he has, and should the North Londoners get their hands on the Brentford star, there could be a fierce battle for that right-wing position next season.

He's like Isak: Spurs make contact to sign £47m Premier League "monster"

The reliable goalscorer would make Spurs far more dangerous.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 20, 2025

Viktor Gyokeres has been the name on the lips of Manchester United supporters over recent months, with the Sporting CP striker widely linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim previously worked with the forward during his time in Portugal, with such a scenario likely to have fuelled the rumours over a potential switch.

Talks have previously been held between the 27-year-old’s representatives and the United hierarchy, but no deal has yet to progress, with Arsenal also in the race for his signature.

Such a move is likely to create excitement within the fanbase, given his record of 54 goals scored in just 52 games across all competitions throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

However, with negotiations seemingly not heading any closer to completion, other targets will likely be considered ahead of next season, with numerous names emerging over recent weeks.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

United’s need for a new striker has become evident over the course of this season, with Amorim’s side only finding the net on 44 occasions in the league – an average of 1.15 goals per game.

Such a record is unacceptable, subsequently leading to links with the likes of Gyokeres and, in the last 24 hours, Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, who is also on the radar of Liverpool and Chelsea.

However, it appears that Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta has once again appeared as an option, according to Football Insider’s latest update.

It’s been claimed that the Red Devils have been in talks with Oliver Glasner’s side over a move for the Frenchman, who managed to find the back of the net on 17 occasions across all competitions.

The report also states that the hierarchy have been keeping a close eye on the 27-year-old’s progress at Selhurst Park, with a £40m price tag previously being mooted.

Why United’s £40m target would be better than Cunha

Over the last couple of days, United confirmed the signing of Brazilian international Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, forking out a fee in the region of £62.5m for his services.

The 26-year-old has made a huge impact in the Premier League in recent times, managing to register 15 goals and six assists in his 33 appearances in 2024/25 – undoubtedly the shining light of the West Midlands outfit.

Such a tally will massively bolster the options at Amorim’s disposal next season, hopefully looking to catapult the club back to the fringes of the Champions League places.

However, it remains unclear if he will feature as a striker or in one of the number 10 positions, opening the door to another attacking addition like Mateta or Gyokeres.

If the Frenchman is to move to the club this summer, it’s imperative that the manager drops the Brazilian into a deeper role and utilises Mateta at the top end of the pitch.

When comparing their respective figures, the current target has dominated the new United signing in the final third – showcasing why he’s better suited to the centre-forward position.

Mateta, who’s been labelled a “monster” by one analyst, may have registered fewer goals, but has a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – demonstrating his clinical edge in front of goal.

He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons he’s attempted, having the ability to beat the opposition with the ball at his feet before firing at goal, something which he’s done countless times this season.

The Palace star has also been dominant in the air, winning over four times more aerials per 90, whilst also posting a higher success rate in such a department – handing the side the focal point they’ve craved.

Such a fee appears to be somewhat of a bargain, with his experience in the Premier League key to the club’s ambitions of returning to their former glory in the coming months.

The prospect of the striker starring alongside Cunha at Old Trafford is one for the fanbase to get excited about, with the pair able to work together to overturn what’s been a dismal period for the Red Devils.

Van Persie 2.0: Man Utd set to be offered "incredible" Gyokeres alternative

Manchester United could be about to make a move for a player who could follow in Robin van Persie’s footsteps.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 12, 2025

Everton have now thrown their hat in the ring to sign a “crazy” rising star from Germany who is also wanted by Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid, according to a new report.

Everton now chasing two Liverpool players

It is not every transfer window you see Everton looking to sign a player from their arch-rivals Liverpool. In fact, in the early stages of this summer transfer window, the Toffees reportedly have their eye on two players from Anfield.

Everton want to sign another £85,000-a-week Liverpool player alongside Doak

He is now a two-time Premier League champion.

By
Henry Jackson

Jun 3, 2025

David Moyes is keen to strengthen his wide options this summer, and at the top of his list of new wingers is Liverpool’s Ben Doak, as Sky Sports revealed this week Everton are one of a number of clubs who want to sign the young international.

The Scotsman has a bright future ahead of him and his time on loan at Middlesbrough during the 2024/25 season has obviously done enough for him to emerge on Moyes’ radar. It is unclear where Liverpool stand when it comes to Doak, as he has the potential to be a player who could become a future star for the Reds, but at this moment in time they cannot guarantee him the football he will want.

As well as showing interest in Doak, the Toffees are also keen on signing defender Joe Gomez, who the Reds are open to selling this summer. Teams such as Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Leeds United are all interested in the Englishman, but Everton may hope the fact that he won’t have to relocate his family should he move to Everton could put them ahead in the race.

Everton join Woltemade chase

According to SportBild, relayed by Sport Witness, Everton are among the teams interested in signing striker Nick Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart.

The report states that the 23-year-old’s performances during the 2024/25 season, where he netted 12 goals in 28 Bundesliga games, have seen him appear on the radar of a number of clubs across Europe. Everton are one side that are keeping a close eye on his situation, but they face competition from Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as giants like Bayern and Atletico.

The German forward, who has been called up to the national team for their Nations League games, is under contract until 2028, and while he doesn’t have a release clause in his contract, it’s been reported that he could leave for as little as €20 million, which is roughly £16 million.

Stuttgart want to keep Woltemade beyond this summer and have been publicly clear about that. But should Woltemade, who has been dubbed “crazy” for his rise this term, star on the international stage for Germany, it could see more suitors arrive and force his club’s hand.

One of the oldest and most bitter rivalries in English football is between Chelsea and Arsenal. It is fair to say that there is no love lost between the two clubs, who hail from West London in Chelsea’s case, and North London for the Gunners.

Naturally, over the years, there have been players who have represented both clubs. One of those is currently playing at the Emirates Stadium, specifically Raheem Sterling, who is on loan from Chelsea. Perhaps the two biggest names are Ashley Cole and Cesc Fabregas, both of whom played first for the Gunners and then for the Blues.

Interestingly, the top-flight pair are battling it out to sign the same player this summer, rather than one man featuring for both, reigniting the rivalry off the pitch once more.

The player Chelsea want to sign ahead of Arsenal

There are plenty of good market opportunities this summer for players who are out of contract. One of the most prominent examples is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will leave Liverpool on a free and is set to join Real Madrid.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, Chelsea are set to go head to head with Arsenal to sign Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane. According to reports from Sky in Germany, the Blues are one of the clubs ‘ready for the winger’ this summer, if he doesn’t sign a new deal at the Bundesliga champions.

They seem to be ahead of the Gunners in the race, who are thought to have ‘distanced’ themselves from the move, instead targeting a younger winger.

As for Chelsea, the report suggests that ‘much depends on qualification for the Champions League’, but if they secure that, they have an excellent shot at bringing Sane to the club.

Why Sane could be another Sterling

29-year-old Sane is certainly no stranger to the Premier League. He has featured in the English top flight before as a Manchester City player, scoring 25 goals and grabbing 30 assists in 95 appearances. In total, he played three seasons and won the Premier League twice.

If he can replicate at Stamford Bridge what he did at the Etihad Stadium, Chelsea fans would surely be delighted. Sane was a chance creation machine.

Across his three full Premier League seasons at the club, he averaged 1.8 key passes per game in 2016/17, followed by 2.2 in 2017/18 and 1.9 in 2018/19, according to Sofascore.

Yet, as time has gone by, the winger has not quite had the same impact at Bayern as he did at City. Across all competitions for the newly crowned Bundesliga champions this term, he’s managed 13 goals and six assists in 45 games.

Whilst there has been a level of consistency in the top division of German football, with 11 goals and six assists, Sane struggled in the Champions League. In 13 appearances, the Schalke academy graduate scored once and didn’t register an assist, with his goal coming in a 9-2 thrashing over Dinamo Zagreb.

With that inconsistency creeping in, perhaps there is a worry that Sane will struggle at Chelsea just as Sterling did. There are certainly similarities between the pair, given they both played for Man City in one of the most successful sides in Premier League history.

However, for Chelsea, Sterling wasn’t really as effective. He scored 19 goals and grabbed 15 assists in 81 games for the West Londoners, and never really played a consistent role in the side, constantly floating around different positions on the pitch.

There were some highlights, however, including this strike against Luton Town last season.

Perhaps these deals are just too similar for Chelsea. With Sterling a high earner, on £325k per week at Stamford Bridge last season, and Sane on roughly the same at Bayern, £323k per week as per Capology, it would also save the Blues some money.

However, he can be a “superstar” on his day, as football scout Antonio Mango described him, and there is no doubt about his quality. Perhaps Chelsea are willing to take the bet that Sane will be able to replicate his incredible output last time he played in the Premier League.

Chelsea must sell "lost" flop" who earns more than Isak & Delap combined

Chelsea could fund their striker search by cashing in on a high earner this summer

By
Robbie Walls

May 21, 2025

In a period that has seen fans and pundits alike become obsessed with ‘winning the transfer window’, Liverpool – intentionally or not – have bucked the trend, having proven that getting the best out of what you already have at your disposal can be just as fruitful.

Indeed, the Premier League champions have made just one senior signing since snapping up Ryan Gravenberch back in the summer of 2023, albeit with that man Federico Chiesa merely something of an afterthought under Arne Slot, having made just five top-flight outings this season – none of which have come from the start.

While the impending exit of Trent Alexander-Arnold – alongside the need for a new striker and centre-back – will likely see the Reds dip into the transfer market this time around, there should be a sense of caution this summer, amid the need to avoid upsetting the applecart.

The pursuit of a certain Martin Zubimendi last summer should be an example to follow, with the Anfield side deciding not to pursue an alternative to the Spaniard, after the Real Sociedad man turned down the chance to move to England.

The aforementioned Gravenberch – who has since started 35 league games in 2024/25 – has proven to be a more than worthy in-house solution for Slot, with Zubimendi’s rejection perhaps a sliding doors moment for the season.

By all accounts, the Euro 2024 winner will belatedly move to the Premier League this summer, but not to Anfield.

The latest on Martin Zubimendi's future

Jurgen Klopp’s final summer had seen a real overhaul in the midfield department, with four new faces brought into the fold in 2023, amid the departures of the likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fabinho.

That quartet were seemingly not deemed to be enough as far as Slot was concerned a year later, with the Merseysiders looking hellbent on bringing Zubimendi to the club, in order to replace Wataru Endo as the starting option in the number six role.

Despite having appeared convinced that the Sociedad star would be keen to leave his boyhood club, the midfield maestro ultimately opted against joining Slot’s ranks, having seemingly “changed his mind”, according to Sky Sports reporter Danyal Khan.

Fast forward less than 12 months, however, and it would seem that the 25-year-old has again had a change of heart, with the Independent’s Miguel Delaney revealing last week that a deal to take the £51m man to Arsenal has already been “wrapped up”.

That has since been followed by a report from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, with the Italian journalist outlining that Zubimendi has “verbally agreed to sign a long-term deal” with the Gunners, following in the footsteps of compatriot and former club colleague, Mikel Merino.

Liverpool have missed out, although it should well be Zubimendi left with the tinge of regret. While Slot’s men have claimed title glory, the Basque ace, meanwhile, has been part of a side that are currently 12th in LaLiga, amid a deeply disappointing campaign for La Real.

It would appear that things have worked out for the best as far as those at Anfield are concerned, not least with the club boasting a midfield superstar of their own.

The Liverpool star who's worth far more than Zubimendi

The revelation of the campaign, from a Liverpool perspective at least, has been Gravenberch, with club legend Jamie Carragher hailing the Dutchman as “the biggest surprise” of the season, due to his standout form.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

That said, the man who takes the acclaim as arguably the Premier League’s “outstanding midfielder”, as per Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, is his World Cup-winning teammate, Alexis Mac Allister, with the Argentine having again been simply masterful in 2024/25.

Signed for a minimal fee of just £35m from Brighton and Hove Albion in 2023, the playmaker has proven to be something of a bargain over the last two years, having played a central role in the club’s title success.

Indeed, this season has seen Mac Allister rack up five goals and five assists in the top-flight, with his thumping effort against Tottenham Hotspur sparking jubilant celebrations that even measured at 1.7 on the Richter scale, as Liverpool closed in on the title.

Not only the man who can provide that cutting edge in the final third, the midfield metronome has also averaged 1.3 key passes per game, while averaging 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game. In all, the 26-year-old ranks sixth in the division for tackles made this term, with 95.

That ability to thrive both in and out of possession is also showcased by how he stacks up against his peers across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref. For example, the former Seagulls star ranks in the top 7% for non-penalty goals and the top 6% for shot-creating actions, albeit while also ranking in the top 1% for blocks and the top 8% for tackles made per 90.

Unsurprisingly, such form has seen his valuation soar following that £35m move, with Transfermarkt deeming him to now be worth in the region of €90m (£76m). To put that into perspective, the aforementioned Zubimendi is valued at €60m (£51m) – thus matching his reported release clause.

Zubimendi may be a talent and could certainly thrive under Mikel Arteta’s watch next season. That said, even if he does make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League, Liverpool can rest easy knowing that they already have a far more valuable talent of their own.

He may not yet be of the status of an Alisson, a Virgil van Dijk or a Mo Salah, although on the evidence of 2024/25, in particular, Mac Allister is just as important as any of them.

Fewer touches than Alisson: Slot must axe 5/10 Liverpool dud after Arsenal

Arne Slot must drop this Liverpool dud who was worse than Conor Bradley against Arsenal.

3

By
Dan Emery

May 11, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are now willing to make an opening bid of £13m for a Premier League forward, according to a report.

Spurs set sights on new forward

As we approach the summer transfer window, Tottenham have stepped up their pursuit of a new winger, and they are particularly fond of AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, with the Ghanaian catching the eye in the Premier League this season.

Daniel Levy is now readying a £50m+ bid to sign the Bournemouth star, which would be enough to convince the Cherries to cash-in, and there is a belief that he would be a perfect fit in Ange Postecoglou’s side.

With Son Heung-min now arguably in the twilight years of his career at 32-years-old, the need to bring in at least one new winger this summer is exacerbated, and Spurs are in the race to sign Celtic forward Daizen Maeda.

Levy places Tottenham among strongest suitors to sign Inter Milan star

He’s got plenty of admirers.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 2, 2025

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham are also looking at signing an up-and-coming Premier League talent, namely Leicester City’s Jake Evans, who has managed to force himself into first-team contention this season at just 16-years-old.

Such is their level of interest in the teenager, Spurs are willing to submit an opening offer of €15m (£13m), which is considered a significant fee, given his age, although there could be competition for his signature from Manchester United.

Leicester also have no desire to sanction a departure this summer, as they believe he could make an impact in the Championship next season, so it could be difficult to get a deal over the line.

"Very exciting" Evans is one for the future

Despite only featuring briefly in both games, it is very impressive that the youngster has managed to make two appearances for Leicester this season at the age of just 16, and it indicates that he could have a very bright future ahead of him.

Those thoughts are echoed by football scout Ben Mattinson, who has praised the starlet for his finishing ability, while also claiming he could be capable of playing at striker.

The young Englishman has also been prolific in front of goal at youth level this season, netting ten goals in 14 Premier League 2 outings, which also demonstrates that he may be able to play in a central role.

£13m is a large fee for such a young player, but there are plenty of signs that Evans could go on to be a top player in the Premier League.

An “incredible” £100m midfielder who is among Liverpool’s top targets is now open to leaving his club this summer, according to a report.

Reds set sights on new midfielder

It has been an unbelievable first season in the Anfield dugout for Arne Slot, with the Dutch manager securing the Premier League title despite making very few additions to the squad he inherited from Jurgen Klopp.

However, it appears as though Slot is now looking to put his own stamp on the squad, and bringing in a new midfielder seems to be of particular interest as we approach the summer transfer window.

The Reds are now preparing to submit a £34m offer for Barcelona’s Frenkie De Jong, whose future at the Camp Nou is now uncertain, while they are also in the race for Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, although it will take £80m to prise the Englishman away from the Eagles.

Liverpool make approach for "exceptional" £30m gem amid Brazilian scouting

The Reds are looking to fend off competition from elsewhere.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

May 3, 2025

Earlier this year, it was reported that Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White is a top target for Slot, and there has now been a positive update on the Merseysiders’ pursuit of the central midfielder.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Gibbs-White is now open to leaving Nottingham Forest this summer, with the Englishman set to consider his options if the Tricky Trees fail to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

Forest are keen to keep hold of the 25-year-old, but there is growing interest in his signature, with Manchester City and Newcastle United also in the race alongside Liverpool, which could make it difficult to keep hold of him if they fail to finish in the top five.

However, a deal will not be cheap, as Forest may only be willing to sanction a departure for a fee in the region of £100m.

"Incredible" Gibbs-White deserves big move

Despite a stellar campaign, it is looking increasingly likely that Forest will miss out on Champions League football, having now fallen to sixth place after a poor run, which could cause Gibbs-White to look for the exit door, and there are plenty of signs he could be a solid signing for Liverpool.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man has excelled since signing for Forest, most notably impressing in an attacking sense, picking up five goals and nine assists in 30 Premier League outings this season.

ESPN’s Janusz Michallik was also left impressed by the Forest star’s work rate in their 2-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur last month, taking to X to single him out for high praise.

At 25-years-old, there is every sign that Gibbs-White is now entering his prime, and he could be a top-quality addition to Liverpool’s midfield, but Forest are in a strong negotiating position, with the midfielder contracted until 2027, and shelling out £100m would be a risk.

A position often heavily scrutinised in Enzo Maresca’s system at Chelsea are his wingers, who are tasked with holding the width in the early stages of build-up, pinning opposition fullbacks and looking to isolate them 1v1 at any given chance.

However, the profiles of wingers Chelsea currently have at their disposal aren’t the exact archetype Maresca would favour, apart from Noni Madueke who fits the bill.

Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho are slightly different in style, therefore offering a plan B when needed.

Chelsea looking to improve their attack

Adding another direct type winger who is more akin to Madueke on the opposite side could take Chelsea to another level next season, giving them directness on both flanks to force the issue and create high xG chances.

Transfer Focus

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So, it will come as no surprise to learn they’re after one of the finest wingers in European football right now.

Indeed, according to reports from Spain, Chelsea are one of three teams who are ‘ready to make a move’ for Barcelona forward, Raphinha, with the Blues identifying the Brazilian winger as a “priority target”. The other two clubs interested are Manchester City and Saudi side Al Hilal.

The Blues were in for Raphinha back in 2022 prior to his move to Barcelona, with the Brazil international opting to join the Spanish outfit instead after leaving Leeds United for a fee of around £55m.

Raphinha has made 49 appearances for the Spanish giants in all competitions this season, scoring 30 goals, providing 21 assists and totalling 3,952 minutes played.

Barca are still on for the treble this season, and achieving this could see the 28-year-old become the front-runner for the Ballon D’or.

How Raphinha could benefit Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer has found himself in a bit of a rut this second half of the season, still having 14 goals and nine assists in 39 appearances this campaign, but going without a goal for the past three months, last scoring against Bournemouth back in January.

This campaign has been very different for the 22-year-old star, often being man-marked and focused on by opposition pressing schemes, limiting his time and space on the ball.

One thing that could help to open up those alleys of space Palmer loves to operate within is the addition of more relentless runners, something the Blues have missed at points this season. This is where Raphinha comes in.

When looking at the Brazilian’s underlying numbers alongside Chelsea’s central creator, you can see the former receives 10.8 progressive passes per 90. This is a big indicator that he is a focal point and outlet for Barcelona, often looking to penetrate the opposition’s defensive line with runs in behind.

This is exactly what Palmer needs in order to stretch the spaces between the opposition’s first two lines of contact, the first being their forwards/midfielders in the pressing unit, and the second being the defensive line.

Raphinha has even been labelled as “the best player in the world” this season by Statman Dave, and his incredible willingness to be direct and run beyond is one of his key characteristics as a player. Not to mention he’s scoring by the bucket load and creating heaps of goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.

Palmer has looked at his best when linking up with Nicolas Jackson and Madueke this season, Chelsea’s two most relentless runners in the front line, willing to run in behind in order to create space for the England international.

As a result, another with Raphinha would only benefit the England international, making it harder for teams to cut off his preferred zones of space.

Chelsea have signed "future Ballon d'Or winner" who's going to stunt George

Tyrique George could find his first team minutes at Chelsea are halted by the emergence of this sensational forward.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Apr 22, 2025