AC Milan captain Mike Maignan is still yet to sign a contract extension at the San Siro, giving Chelsea or Man United a chance to sign him for free in 2026.
The France number one is classed as one of the world’s best shot-stoppers, and his availability on a free transfer next year is putting Premier League clubs on red alert.
Chelsea have long been after Maignan and attempted to agree a cut-price deal in the summer window.
Enzo Maresca also personally asked Chelsea’s hierarchy to sign a world-class new goalkeeper to replace Robert Sanchez (Graeme Bailey), with the Blues previously sensing an opportunity to go for Maignan to grant their manager’s wish.
Appearances
168
Bookings
8
Red Cards
1
Goals conceded
172
Clean sheets
63
Minutes played
14,963
via Transfermarkt
However, a major difference in pricing saw Milan refuse to sanction his move to Stamford Bridge, despite the 30-year-old’s eagerness to join them. Chelsea wanted him before their Club World Cup campaign, but snubbed the Rossoneri’s attempts to demand an extortionate fee because of that.
A deal for Maignan ultimately wasn’t revisited before deadline day on September 1, with Max Allegri since captaining the shot-stopper as Milan potentially give him something to think about.
They’re just three points behind Serie A leaders and Italian champions Napoli after three consecutive wins, and if Milan continue in this fashion, who knows, Maignan could be tempted to pen an extension.
In the meantime, though, he is set to leave for free at the end of the season, and reports suggest that Chelsea are ready to offer Maignan a pre-contract in January to end their reliance on Sanchez, who was sent off against Man United last weekend.
Mike Maignan decides whether he wants to join Chelsea or Man United
Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils are also after a reliable keeper, but according to journalist Graeme Bailey, Maignan wants to join Chelsea next year as things stand.
This comes as an almighty boost for the west Londoners, as Maignan is an arguably unmissable opportunity.
Why Chelsea need to sign Mike Maignan
All Premier League title-winning sides have one thing in common — the presence of a truly commanding star between the sticks.
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Chelsea acknowledge that Sanchez has displayed improvements lately, but the jury is out on whether he can still be Maresca’s main point of call if they’re truly serious about ending their long wait for a top flight crown.
Maignan, available at zero cost, is set to become Europe’s most available, high-pedigree keeper next year, with the former Lille favourite possessing years of top-level experience and proven ability.
He’s also highly-rated by his peers, like Liverpool’s Alisson, who recently explained why Maignan is one of the best in the world.
A free agent who has already proven himself in the Premier League earlier in his career could now be willing to make the move to Everton.
Garner reveals Everton's change in mentality
The Blues have won three of their opening three league games this season, with the early signs suggesting that positive times lie ahead under David Moyes.
Midfielder James Garner has impressed in the opening weeks of the campaign, scoring in the 2-0 win at home to Brighton, and he has spoken about a shift in mentality that has taken place at Everton under their manager.
“He said to us on day one that he’s not come here to take over a team that’s fighting against relegation – he said it again on day one of pre-season. He sets high standards and we know where we want to be.
“We’ve got a few more faces in over the summer and with the quality we have in the squad now, we all agree with the manager – if you want to achieve big things, then you’ve got to set your standards and your goals high. I think you can see it in us. There is a mentality shift. We’re playing with more confidence, going into games thinking how we are going to take all three points, it’s not just surviving.
“We’ve done that in these first few games. Obviously, the first game [against Leeds] felt like a blip, I don’t think we played well, but we’ve responded and now the aim is to keep building momentum. We want to keep winning and keep that winning mentality – that was the message in the changing room amongst all of us after the Wolves game.”
While Everton’s improvements this season are clear, it is also important that further quality is added to the squad, and they have now been linked with a move for a free agent.
"Brilliant" free agent could be keen on joining Everton
Speaking to Goodison News, former Toffees scout Bryan King talked up the idea of Everton signing left-back Sergio Reguilon on a free transfer, who could be “willing” to move to Merseyside.
“He’s a free transfer, so it would certainly be an option to look at. They’re a bit stretched across the whole defence at the moment, with Branthwaite’s injury concerns. I would imagine that Reguilon would be more than willing to go and join a club like Everton. It seems like Everton are moving in a forward direction, instead of being in a relegation fight.”
Reguilon could be a shrewd signing for Everton, especially with Vitalii Mykolenko picking up an injury prior to the international break, with the 28-year-old an experienced player.
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The Spaniard actually scored against the Blues for Tottenham in a 5-0 win back in 2021/22, and he has 81 Premier League appearances to his name.
Reguilon was once hailed as “brilliant” by Noel Whelan, and he could bring a good mix of defensive solidity and attacking thrust to Everton’s team, with a return to English football potentially appealing to him as he searches for a new club.
Leeds United have moved to add Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, and Gabriel Gudmundsson to their squad ahead of the Premier League season so far.
Since winning the Championship title in the 2024/25 campaign, the Whites have placed a clear emphasis on improving their options across the backline, as three of their four signings are defenders.
Daniel Farke now has plenty of quality to pick from when it comes to selecting his starting back four for the opening clash with Everton in the top-flight next month.
However, the West Yorkshire outfit have not made many moves to bolster their attacking arsenal, beyond extending Dan James’ contract and signing Nmecha.
Leeds swooped to sign the former Germany international on a free transfer from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, after his contract with his former club expired at the end of June.
However, the former Manchester City academy talent, whose brother Felix currently plays for Borussia Dortmund, may not have arrived at Elland Road as a frontline option to lead the attack for Farke in the Premier League next season.
Why Lukas Nmecha may not start for Leeds
Leeds, it should go without saying, will need to find plenty of goals from within their team next term to ensure that they are not relegated back down to the Championship at the first time of asking.
The Whites may not find a regular source of goals in the number nine position from Nmecha, though, if they were to select him as a starter week-in-week-out.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkebefore the match
Last season, the 26-year-old attacker only scored three goals in 20 games in all competitions for Wolfsburg, which does not suggest that he is set to arrive in West Yorkshire as the Premier League number nine that they need.
Nmecha has also failed to score more than four goals in a season in all competitions since the 2021/22 campaign, and has only scored more than eight league goals in a season in the Pro League in Belgium.
24/25 (Wolfsburg)
8
20
3
23/24 (Wolfsburg)
39
4
2
22/23 (Wolfsburg)
17
18
4
21/22 (Wolfsburg)
9
31
10
20/21 (Anderlecht)
0
37
18
19/20 (Wolfsburg + Middlesbrough)
4
25
0
18/19 (Preston North End)
0
41
4
As you can see in the table above, the former Cityzens youngster has struggled for goals and fitness throughout his career in England and Germany, with the 2020/21 campaign standing out as an anomaly.
Nmecha was a highly rated talent at the time, as shown by Jacek Kulig’s post, but he has failed to kick on, which is why he is unlikely to be a starter for Leeds next season.
Leeds have held talks with English forward
The Whites are said to be interested in a proven Premier League performer who could come in as a big upgrade on Nmecha for Farke, though, this summer.
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 Graeme Bailey, the Championship champions have held talks with free agent centre-forward Callum Wilson over a possible move to Elland Road.
Speaking to The Boot Room, the reporter said: “Leeds aren’t panicking, they’re letting the market come to them. They’re one of the teams that’s held talks with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and they’ve talked to Callum Wilson at various points this summer too.”
Newcastle United'sCallumWilsonsalutes their fans after the match
These comments from Bailey show that the former Newcastle United attacker, who left the Magpies at the start of this month, is one of a number of options on their striker shortlist.
If they do decide to go ahead with a swoop for the experienced marksman, though, then Farke could have a huge upgrade on Nmecha on his hands.
Why Callum Wilson is an upgrade on Lukas Nmecha
Wilson is a proven Premier League player who would come in with almost a guarantee of goals if given enough opportunities to showcase his quality in the final third.
A mixture of injuries and the generational talent that is Alexander Isak prevented him from getting those opportunities last season, as he ended the 2024/25 campaign with two starts and zero goals in the top-flight.
24/25
2
0
23/24
9
9
22/23
21
18
21/22
16
8
20/21
23
12
19/20
32
8
18/19
29
14
17/18
23
8
16/17
16
6
15/16
9
5
However, as you can see in the table above, Wilson has scored goals at an impressive rate when given starts on a regular basis throughout his Premier League career with Bournemouth and Newcastle.
These statistics show that the striker has scored more than four league goals in nine separate top-flight seasons, whilst Nmecha has only managed that feat twice, including one season in the Pro League in Belgium.
Wilson, who was once dubbed “clinical” by The Athletic’s Chris Waugh, has been there and done it and proven that he can score goals on a regular basis in the Premier League, which is a huge plus in his column when Leeds decide to make a final call on who they want to pursue as their starting number nine.
He would arrive as a huge upgrade on Nmecha, given the vast gulf between their respective goal returns at the top level throughout their careers, on top of the fact that he has done it in England and the German gem has not.
However, the elephant in the room is that the English striker has a worrying injury history that may make the Whites think twice about bringing him to Elland Road, even on a free transfer.
He has missed 57 matches through injury since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, which means that Leeds would not be able to confidently expect him to be available week-in-week-out to be a regular starter.
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If Wilson can overcome his injury woes to be a regular in the team, there is no doubt that he would be a huge upgrade on Nmecha. However, the injuries are a real concern and may cause the club to look elsewhere in their pursuit of a new number nine.
Manchester United’s hunt for new attackers has been evident throughout the summer window, with Ruben Amorim making his need for added reinforcements clear.
The 40-year-old took the reins back in November, but was unable to transform the situation within the final third at Old Trafford – with no player registering double figures in the Premier League last season.
Main striker Rasmus Hojlund only netted four league goals in 2024/25, leading to murmurs around his long-term future at the club, with Inter Milan just one of the sides interested in his signature.
His potential departure will likely raise some key funds for the manager within the transfer market, handing him the opportunity to improve the current situation at the Theatre of Dreams.
Numerous players have been touted with moves to join the Red Devils this window, with multiple deals appearing to be heading in the right direction over recent days.
The latest on United’s hunt for new signings this summer
Tyler Dibling has emerged as a key target over the last couple of days, with United just one side touted over a potential move after Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.
However, he would still cost a fee in the region of £55m this window, an extortionate price tag, especially considering that he only notched two combined goals and assists in the league last season.
It would be an expensive addition, but it wouldn’t be the only one, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo still a key target for Amorim this summer, according to Graeme Bailey.
The journalist claims that a deal is edging closer to being agreed, after the Red Devils had two offers rejected for the 25-year-old, with the latest totalling £62.5m including add-ons.
He also states that Mbeumo only wants a move to Old Trafford, with a £65m fee expected to be agreed between the two parties as personal terms are not expected to be an issue.
Why United’s latest target could be Amorim’s next Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres is a striker who’s arguably been one of the most in-demand talents this summer, unsurprisingly so given his phenomenal goalscoring record in recent seasons.
The Swedish international has registered a staggering 97 goals in his 102 appearances for Sporting CP after joining the Portuguese side back in 2023 from Coventry City.
Part of his incredible record in the final third came under Amorim, which has since led to huge rumours linking the 27-year-old with a switch to Old Trafford.
However, the Red Devils’ lack of European football appears to be a huge hindrance in their pursuit of his signature, with the Swede now fully focused on a move to join Arsenal instead this summer.
The United boss shouldn’t worry, with Mbeumo able to be his next version of the talisman, with the Cameroonian possessing a clinical nature as seen by his tally of 20 league goals in 2024/25.
When comparing his underlying stats to those of the Sporting star from last season, he massively outperformed Gyokeres in numerous key areas, handing Amorim the key talisman he’s lacked during his time in England to date.
Mbeumo, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, may have been outscored, but he has posted a higher goal per shot on target rate – demonstrating the clinical edge he possesses in front of goal.
Games played
38
33
Goals & assists
27
46
Goals per shot on target
0.44
0.41
Progressive passes
3.7
2.1
Passes into final third
1.7
0.5
Take-on success
47%
45%
Carries into final third
1.8
1.3
He’s also completed more progressive passes and more passes into the final third per 90, having the tools to provide other attackers with the chances to thrive within the final third at Old Trafford.
The Cameroonian’s all-round talent has been showcased in his ability to complete a higher success rate of take-ons, whilst also registering more carries into the final third – with Mbeumo being able to carve out an opportunity out of nothing.
The saga of his proposed transfer this summer has been one that has dragged on for way too long, with a conclusion desperately needed in the coming days.
If he can replicate his levels from last season at United, it would be a phenomenal signing, handing Amorim the talisman he needs to replicate the level produced by Gyokeres in recent years.
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It’s set to be a busy summer transfer window at Newcastle United.
Ahead of the Toon Army’s Champions League return, Eddie Howe will want to bolster his squad, to avoid the mass injury crisis he endured during the Magpies’ last continental campaign two seasons ago.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe
James Trafford is poised to arrive from Burnley for £40m, thereby seemingly taking over from Nick Pope as the number one goalkeeper, but could Newcastle be about to make some attacking additions too?
Newcastle targeting a new right-winger
As reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Newcastle have had a £45m bid rejected by Nottingham Forest for winger Anthony Elanga.
Meantime, speaking on the Totally Football Show, Daniel Storey outlines how Newcastle actually bid £5m more for the Swedish international last summer, who has since enjoyed a “really good season”, and that owner Evangelos Marinakis “will have absolutely none of that”, believing that the “proven, young” winger is worth closer to £60m.
So, with this deal seemingly unlikely to come to fruition, Steve Kay of Football Transfers claims that the Magpies are ready to submit a bid worth £50m to West Ham for winger Mohammed Kudus.
They add that Howe has identified the Ghanaian as a ‘key target’ amidst his ‘uncertain future’ in East London.
Meantime, Jacob Steinberg and Will Unwin of the Guardian note that Kudus’ contract contains an £85m release clause, although he could be available for closer to £60m, given the Hammers’ ongoing concerns surrounding Profitability & Sustainability rules, with Tottenham also looking to do a deal with their fierce rivals.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
So, could Kudus swap the East End for the North East?
Why Mohammed Kudus would be a success at Newcastle
Since joining West Ham from Ajax for a reported fee of £37m two summers ago, Kudus has scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists in 80 appearances for the Irons.
West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus
His performances have come in for widespread praise, with host Dan Woffenden labelling him “electric”, while Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines describes him as an “explosive, skilful player”, adding that he possesses a “great burst of acceleration”, while his direct dribbling means he has the potential to become a “world-class winger”.
Adam Scully of Total Football Analysis agrees, asserting that Kudus’ primary attribute is ‘undoubtedly his dribbling ability’, impressed by his ‘sumptuous talents and low centre of gravity’.
Well, statistics from the Premier League since the Ghanaian’s arrival certainly back up these observations.
1st
Mohammed Kudus
221
Mohammed Kudus
208
2nd
Jérémy Doku
169
Jérémy Doku
201
3rd
Matheus Cunha
140
Morgan Rogers
160
4th
Luis Díaz
140
Iliman Ndiaye
143
5th
Eberechi Eze
140
Eberechi Eze
138
6th
Anthony Gordon
133
Rayan Aït-Nouri
137
7th
Bruno Guimarães
132
Matheus Cunha
137
8th
Raheem Sterling
132
Mohamed Salah
137
9th
Alejandro Garnacho
131
Omari Hutchinson
137
10th
Jordan Ayew
130
Antoine Semenyo
135
As the table outlines, since arriving in the Premier League, Kudus has topped the charts for attempted take-ons both seasons, while only Jérémy Doku, Eberechi Eze and Matheus Cunha have also featured in the top ten both times.
This goal against Freiburg in the Europa League is rather reminiscent of former Newcastle United hero Hatem Ben Arfa.
During his time on Tyneside, the Frenchman scored 14 goals in 86 appearances, but his occasional flashes of brilliance made him, as noted by Louise Taylor of the Guardian, ‘the sort of footballer fans adore’, praising his ‘exquisite touch… superior vision, perfect balance and elusive movement’.
Meantime, Jean-Baptiste Caillet of Opta’s the Analyst asserted that he was ‘France’s best dribbler since Zinédine Zidane’, while Peter McVitie of Goal will always remember his ‘dazzling firepower’ and ‘awesome displays of skill’.
All of Ben Arfa’s talent was never made more abundantly clear than during this goal against Bolton Wanderers in April 2012.
Fair to say, Kudus and Ben Arfa – both left-footers who can operately centrally or on the flanks – share similar characteristics. Both could be described as precocious talents, who are occasionally unstoppable but often lack consistency.
Thus, if Elanga proves unattainable, Newcastle should do all they can to snap up Kudus, given that the Ghanaian would get Geordie supporters off their seats, if nothing else!
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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.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
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.
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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.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoin action with Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel Magalhaes
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.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.51
0.42
Non-Penalty G+As
0.61
0.58
Progressive Passes
2.69
3.72
Progressive Carries
2.21
3.43
Shots
2.13
2.08
Goals per Shot
0.23
0.18
Shots on Target
0.84
0.94
Goals per Shot on Target
0.58
0.41
Passing Accuracy
69.2%
66.1%
Shot-Creating Actions
1.72
3.80
Goal-Creating Actions
0.27
0.53
Tackles
1.42
1.29
Tackles Won
0.90
0.85
Blocks
0.97
0.69
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.
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The reliable goalscorer would make Spurs far more dangerous.
Manchester United have spent big on strikers over the years, as the club looks to bolster their ranks and consolidate their place as England’s most successful club.
However, their investment over recent seasons has massively hindered their progress in the Premier League, leading to their bottom-half finish in 2024/25.
Rasmus Hojlund has been the Red Devils’ main talisman since Ruben Amorim’s appointment, but he’s massively struggled to provide the goods – netting just four league goals throughout this season.
Rasmus Hojlund
As a result, he’s been touted with a move to join Inter Milan this summer, less than two years after his £72m switch from Atalanta, ultimately failing to live up to expectations as seen by his measly goal tally.
With the summer window reopening later this week, it presents the manager with the perfect opportunity to strengthen his squad and help them mount a charge up the table next campaign.
United’s hunt for new attackers this summer
Given the lack of goals scored by Hojlund throughout 2024/25, it’s no surprise to see the hierarchy targeting added reinforcements in the final third this summer.
The likes of Benjamin Sesko, Gonçalo Ramos and Liam Delap have all been linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, but no deals have been completed – with the latter rejecting Amorim’s side in favour of a move to Chelsea.
However, progress has been made on a deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres this summer, with United taking a huge step towards winning the race for his signature this summer, according to one Spanish outlet.
They claim that Jason Wilcox and Co are preparing an offer for the Swedish international, after Arsenal entered the race for the 27-year-old, who’s scored 54 times this season.
It also states that the Portuguese outfit are demanding a fee in the region of €80m (£67m) to part ways with their star man, but doesn’t say how much they’re set to offer for his services.
Why Gyokeres could be United’s answer to Haaland
Erling Haaland is a talisman who has taken the Premier League by storm in recent seasons, helping rivals Manchester City claim the treble back in the 2022/23 season.
Erling Haaland in action for Manchester City
The Norwegian forward has just completed his third year in the North West, scoring a total of 85 goals in his 97 league appearances – finishing as the Golden Boot winner in two of the last three campaigns.
Such form in England has made him one of, if not, the most deadly attacking options in Europe, with every side wishing they could rely upon a finisher as lethal as the 24-year-old.
However, the situation could’ve been completely different, with the Red Devils hierarchy rejecting an opportunity to sign the star during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure at the helm.
Gyokeres’ goalscoring record has undoubtedly caught the eye, but his underlying stats are just as impressive, outperforming Haaland in numerous key areas – becoming United’s own version of the Norwegian should he move to Old Trafford.
The Swede, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, may have outscored Haaland, but he’s also registered a higher shot-on-target rate – demonstrating his accuracy within attacking areas.
He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons that he’s attempted, whilst registering more carries into the final third, having the ability to create changes for himself rather than relying on his teammates.
Games played
33
31
Goals & assists
46
25
Shot on target accuracy
53%
52%
Shots on target per 90
2.2
1.8
Take-on success
46%
38%
Carries into final third
1.3
0.4
Aerials won
54%
53%
Gyokeres’ dominance doesn’t end there, winning more of the aerials he’s entered, subsequently handing Amorim the focal point he’s lacked since taking the reins back in November.
Whilst £67m may seem like a hefty fee for a player who’s never played in the Premier League before, it’s a risk worth taking given his recent goalscoring exploits.
Should he get close to the levels produced by the City star over recent years, it would be one hell of an addition, proving to be a bargain despite the huge fee they would have to fork out for his signature.
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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set to be backed over what is expected to be another eventful summer transfer window at Stamford Bridge, especially after their now-confirmed qualification for the Champions League next season.
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While Maresca refused to get drawn into any questions about the summer window in his post-match press conference, there is little denying that Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday has seriously boosted the club’s recruitment strategy.
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Chelsea’s finish in the Premier League top five, courtesy of a second-half strike from Cobham academy graduate Levi Colwill against Forest, means BlueCo have been handed a significant potential windfall of around £64 million.
Rank
Team
Points
GD
3
Man City
71
+28
4
Chelsea
69
+21
5
Newcastle
66
+21
6
Aston Villa
66
+7
7
Nottingham Forest
65
+12
The Blues should earn around £48 million just from finishing fourth in the table, while Chelsea are also guaranteed £15.7 million from qualifying for the Champions League, even if Maresca’s side lose every game and go out in the league phase (Sky Sports).
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescacelebrates after the match
Alongside the financial boost, Chelsea will also have far more player-pull in the market, given they’ll be competing in Europe’s most prestigious competition next term.
In an x-rated celebratory statement, following their Sunday heroics, Maresca sent a message to his critics after Chelsea’s place.
“I didn’t have any doubt about the players. The doubt was from outside. All the ones that have the answers or the ones that have the truth, they were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough, they were waiting for Aston Villa to drop points for us to achieve the Champions League,” said Maresca on Chelsea’s finish to the season.
“They were saying that we were not able to win on this pitch because we are too young, because we are not experienced. Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong. All the ones that have the truth and have the answer to everything. So in English, how you say? F off to all of them, because the players deserve that. The effort they have been doing is fantastic.”
Chelsea could now sign two strikers with Liam Delap set for imminent decision
According to journalist Simon Phillips, their Champions League status now means that Chelsea could sign not one, but two, strikers this summer.
One of their key targets, Ipswich Town star Liam Delap, is set to decide on his next destination “this week”, and Chelsea are firmly in contention for the Englishman after holding talks with his camp (Fabrizio Romano).
However, Maresca’s side are keen on bringing in one of their two potential new centre-forwards before the Club World Cup, so given Delap’s desire to play at the Under-21 Euros with England, this could pose a slight issue.
In terms of other high-profile number nines who could join alongside Delap, it has been reported in the last two days that Chelsea are now “really pushing” for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.
What could have been a bleak summer transfer window now looks like it could be an incredible one for Tottenham Hotspur.
Thanks to their heroic efforts in the Europa League final last week, Ange Postecoglou’s side have a Champions League campaign to look forward to next season.
Moreover, competing at the top table of European football should allow them to attract more exciting players to bolster the squad.
In fact, if recent reports are to be believed, the club are already eyeing up a forward who’s an ideal upgrade on Mathys Tel or replacement, should the Frenchman not be signed on a permanent deal this summer.
Spurs transfer news
The last few weeks have seen Spurs linked with a multitude of brilliant attacking players, such as Jamie Gittens and Daizen Maeda.
Transfer Focus
The former is supposedly available for around £59m and has enjoyed a relatively successful season with Borussia Dortmund this year, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 48 games.
Maeda has been even more effective north of the border, scoring 33 goals and providing 12 assists in 51 games for Celtic, and could be available for just £25m.
However, it looks like Daniel Levy and Co could be shopping closer to home for a new attacker this summer.
According to a recent report from Spain, Spurs are now incredibly interested in Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku.
The report claims that the Frenchman’s departure from Stamford Bridge is ‘virtually assured’ and that the North Londoners are now prepared to negotiate a loan deal with an option to buy at €45m, which is just £38m.
It might not be the most popular transfer right away, but Nkunku was a force of nature at RB Leipzig, and if he were able to recreate some of that form in N17, he could be a perfect upgrade or replacement for Tel depending on where his future lies.
How Nkunku compares to Tel
So, the first thing to say is that, like Tel, the Chelsea ace is someone who can and often does play all across the frontline, so should Levy and Co not sign the Bayern loanee on a permanent deal this summer, he could come in to fulfil the same role, or compete with him if he does join.
With that said, which attacker comes out on top when we compare their output from this season?
Well, this is an area in which the former RB Leipzig star comes out miles ahead, as in 42 appearances, totalling 2039 minutes, he has scored 14 goals and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.21 games, or every 107.31 minutes.
In contrast, the Sarcelles-born Lilywhites ace has scored just three goals and provided two assists in 34 appearances, totalling 1714 minutes, across both his teams this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 6.8 games, or every 342.8 minutes.
What about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out looking better when we take a look under the hood?
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.66
0.44
Non-Penalty G+As
0.69
0.21
Progressive Passes
3.18
2.52
Progressive Carries
1.97
2.76
Shots
2.53
2.57
Shots on Target
1.33
0.84
Passing Accuracy
88.6%
75.5%
Key Passes
1.27
1.17
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.21
1.41
Passes into the Final Third
2.49
1.17
Shot-Creating Actions
3.24
2.33
Goal-Creating Actions
0.58
0.25
Unfortunately for Postecoglou’s January addition, it’s the Blues’ “unstoppable” dynamo, as dubbed by European football expert Zach Lowy, who once again emerges victorious.
For example, he comes out on top in the majority of relevant metrics, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, shots on target, shot and goal-creating actions, passes into the final third, key passes and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, Tel is still a talented footballer, but Nkunku has the better raw output and underlying numbers while being just as versatile, so should Levy and Co regardless of whether they decide to activate the option in the 20-year-old’s loan deal; they should also be looking to bring the Chelsea ace to N17.
Only 2 passes made: Levy must ensure Spurs dud never wears the shirt again
Europa League winners Tottenham were trounced by Brighton to finish their Premier League campaign.
Tottenham Hotspur now hold a strong advantage over their Premier League rivals in the race for a £68m “superstar”, according to a report.
Spurs set out transfer plans despite managerial uncertainty
There have been widespread suggestions that Ange Postecoglou is set to leave regardless of the outcome in the Europa League final against Manchester United this week, with a European triumph unable to paper over the fact Tottenham are 17th in the Premier League.
Having famously stated he always wins a trophy in his second season, Ange will have a shot at European glory in Bilbao on Wednesday night, but the Australian could be replaced in the summer, with several potential options now on the shortlist.
Departing Ajax manager Francesco Farioli is now a top target for Daniel Levy, despite the Italian’s side losing the Eredivisie title in dramatic fashion, with PSV Eindhoven overturning a nine-point gap to clinch their 26th championship.
Fulham manager Marco Silva also remains an option, with the Cottagers’ 3-2 victory against Brentford on Sunday afternoon moving them up to 10th in the table, 16 points clear of Postecoglou’s side.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Ange’s future, Tottenham are still making plans for the summer transfer window, and there has now been an update on their pursuit of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze in a report from The Sun.
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The report states that Spurs have expressed an interest in Eze, alongside Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, with the Englishman determined to play in the Champions League, which could play a big part in his decision-making.
Although there is widespread interest in the 26-year-old, the Lilywhites are believed to hold a strong advantage over their rivals, but a deal is unlikely to be cheap, given that there is a £68m release clause in his contract.
"Superstar" Eze writes his name into Palace folklore
It has been the year of the underdog in England’s domestic cup competitions, with Newcastle United ending their 70-year drought and lifting the FA Cup, while Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph over Manchester City secured their first-ever trophy.
Eze played a crucial role in the Eagles’ shock victory, scoring the only goal of the game in the first half, which will no doubt only increase the interest in his services this summer, while it could also tempt the Englishman to remain at Selhurst Park a little longer.
Palace secured qualification for the Europa League with their FA Cup triumph, which means a move to Spurs may only be an attractive proposition if Ange’s side are triumphant against Man United and seal a return to the Champions League next season.
Having been lauded as a “superstar” by football scout Ben Mattinson, Eze could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham this summer, but their ability to compete for his services is likely to hinge upon Europa League success.