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Darts world champion Luke Littler has offered transfer advice to Manchester United that involves Marcus Rashford, Victor Osimhen and Liam Delap.

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• Firepower to be sought in next window
• Can buy and bring loanees back
• Famous fan gives his take on business

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils have struggled for firepower throughout the 2024-25 campaign and are expected to address that issue at the next opportunity. The Premier League heavyweights are already being linked with several proven No.9s.

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  Ruben Amorim also has the option of absorbing loan stars back into his plans, with the likes of Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony currently taking in spells at Aston Villa, Chelsea and Real Betis respectively.

• WHAT LUKE LITTLER SAID

  Teen sensation Littler, who is a big United supporter, has told the of one big decision that he would make: “Rashford has spent years and years at the club, and he's obviously needed to go away to Aston Villa on loan in January. He's been scoring and assisting and we're wondering where that form was for United.

  “For myself, I'd like to see him back. I watched him score on his Europa League debut when he scored two, then Arsenal on his Premier League debut. I've just watched him for years and years.

  “He's obviously getting older, but he's still got the pace and you can see it at Villa. It worked out for his first few games under Amorim, and he scored against Ipswich. I'd love to see him back.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  When it comes to bringing in another goalscorer, Littler added: “Do you go for one of the bigger players, like Victor Osimhen, or someone like Liam Delap, who has outscored our strikers this season? I don't think Delap will want to be going back down to the Championship with Ipswich after this season.

  “I'd love to see him sign. I'd not like to see [Rasmus] Hojlund and [Joshua] Zirkzee dropped, but if they're not performing, then Amorim might go with Delap. Hojlund struggled to find his first goal in the Premier League, but he started scoring after his first league goal against Villa on Boxing Day [last season].

  “He scored a few in the Champions League, but as you said, this season he's not had the service. He can use both feet, but I wouldn't love to see him be dropped. I'd still want him in the squad.

  “That applies to Zirkzee as well, I think the fans are really starting to enjoy him. He is now fitting in, doing skills, so it was a big shame to see him pick up an injury because he was doing well.”

Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies shared his painful experience of recovering from an ACL injury, emphasising on his emotional well-being.

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• Davies suffered devastating ACL injury in March
• Expected to return by the end of this year
• Explained how painful rehab process has been

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Davies has opened up about the emotional toll of his recovery from an ACL injury he suffered back in March while on international duty with Canada, revealing that he suffered a mental breakdown during his rehabilitation. The 24-year-old admitted to bursting into tears and experiencing intense panic as he continues to regain full fitness.

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• WHAT ALPHONSO DAVIES SAID

  Speaking in a vlog on his YouTube channel, Davies said: "I have physio in 30 minutes. I had a mental breakdown. I don't know where it came from. I took a shower and then burst into tears and started panicking. Hopefully, it will get better day by day. We have to fight through this."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Davies tore his ACL less than 15 minutes into Canada's CONCACAF Nations League third-place playoff game against USA in March. Davies' agent, Nedal Huoseh, expressed deep disappointment with Canada Soccer's handling of the player's injury, claiming that Davies was pressured into starting against the U.S. despite not being fully fit. According to Huoseh, the 24-year-old was urged to play by Canada’s head coach, Jesse Marsch, even though Davies was struggling with his condition. The player's club, Bayern Munich, has also raised concerns, alleging that neither Canada nor Bayern were aware of the extent of the injury. It wasn’t until after the match, when Davies flew to Germany for further evaluation, that it was revealed he had torn his ACL. Subsequently, Die Roten threatened to take legal action against the Canadian Soccer Association.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ALPHONSO DAVIES?

  The Canadian full-back is set to face a lengthy spell out on the sidelines, with Bayern stating in their official medical report that he'll be out for at least six to eight months. That means that he won't be fit to participate in the revamped Club World Cup, which begins in June.

A report this week has shared what Newcastle United will demand to entertain selling star striker Alexander Isak, with Arsenal handed a potentially seismic summer discount, contrary to information from other media sources.

Mikel Arteta wants Alexander Isak as top Arsenal target

It is no secret that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is a huge fan of the Swede behind-closed-doors, and it really isn’t hard to see why, as Isak currently stands out as the Premier League’s most in-form marksman right now.

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The Gunners are expected to have a “big summer”.

By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 7, 2025

A less-than-ideal week saw Arsenal knocked out of the Carabao Cup semi-finals by Isak’s Newcastle, with Eddie Howe’s side sailing through to the final at Wembley after an impressive 4-0 win over the north Londoners on aggregate.

Isak played a starring role in their win over Arsenal at St. James’ Park on Wednesday evening, further emphasising why Arteta is so privately keen on bringing the former Real Sociedad sensation to the Emirates Stadium.

Reliable journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic recently stated that Isak is “top” of Arteta’s wishlist when it comes to possible Arsenal striker signings, claiming those within the club believe he’s “perfect” for their system.

“The way he [Isak] has developed and flourished is just spectacular, and it probably makes Arsenal rue their missed opportunity,” said Ornstein.

“There’s no doubt that he is the player that Mikel Arteta has at the top of his list. If he was to sign a striker, he’s seen as perfect for Arsenal’s system and everything he offers. But Newcastle fans will hate hearing that, because they’ve got him under contract for a few years yet. He’s their key player. He’s at the centre of what they and their Saudi-led ownership are doing.”

It would surely take huge money to even get Newcastle thinking about the idea of conducting a deal with Arsenal over the 25-year-old, who’s bagged a verySAky impressive 19 goals and five assists in 27 total appearances this campaign.

Sky Sports journalist Pete Graves recently claimed that the fee could be as high as £200 million, but now a Spanish media source states that the asking price is far lower, albeit still very expensive.

What Newcastle United are demanding to sell Alexander Isak

According to the report from Spain, Newcastle are actually demanding around £125 million for Isak, with Arsenal handed a potential £75 million discount on his previously mooted £200 million valuation.

In any case, Arteta’s side will still need to smash their transfer record to strike a possible agreement for Isak, and quite rightfully so. The Scandinavian superstar has barely hit his prime years, and he’s currently outperforming all of his Premier League counterparts in an exceptional run of form.

“For me he’s the best striker around,” said teammate Bruno Guimaraes to Sky Sports after Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Arsenal. “Nobody is performing better than him. We are lucky to have him and I hope he can keep it going.”

It would be fair to say that, so far, this season has not gone to plan for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have faced several problems this year, and while a sometimes wasteful frontline and inconsistent midfield are undoubtedly some of them, the most pressing issue has been the number of injuries they’ve had to deal with in the backline.

So, it wasn’t all that surprising to see the club go into the market last month and sign Antonín Kinský from Slavia Prague and Kevin Danso from RC Lens, although given the extent of their injuries, some would argue that wasn’t enough.

That must’ve been an opinion held by the club, as on deadline day, they made an attempt to sign a number of other defenders, including Axel Disasi, and while they failed, they can rest easy knowing that they already have a defensive stalwart worth millions more than the Frenchman.

Tottenham's defensive search

The objective coming into January was relatively straightforward for Daniel Levy and Co: sign at least one centre-back.

They achieved that with the signing of Danso on a short-term loan with an obligation to buy for around £20.9m, and while the Swiss international’s arrival is undoubtedly a welcome one, there is a feeling from some that it might not be enough.

It could be argued that the club feel similarly, as even after the deal was announced, links to other prominent defenders began appearing, the most notable being Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

According to the BBC, the North Londoners made an astounding £70m bid for the Englishman, which the Eagles rejected on deadline day, and while he would have been an incredible addition to the Lilywhites squad, they made the understandable decision not to increase their offer this window.

However, the 24-year-old wasn’t the only London-based centre-back Spurs were interested in, as according to a report from the Daily Mail, the North Londoners reignited their interest in Chelsea’s Disasi on Monday.

The story claimed that Levy and Co were keen to bring the Frenchman to N17 on loan despite the player initially rejecting them just a few days earlier.

Unfortunately, as we now know, nothing came from Tottenham’s renewed interest in the 26-year-old, whom Football Transfers values at up to €39m, which is about £32m, and he ended up moving to Aston Villa.

However, while missing out on another defender is far from ideal for Postecoglou, he can at least rest easily, knowing he already has a player worth millions more in that position.

The Spurs star worth millions more than Disasi

So, while there are a couple of defenders who fit the bill, the Spurs ace we are talking about is none other than Micky van de Ven.

The Dutch international joined the North Londoners from VfL Wolfsburg for £43m during Postecoglou’s first summer and has gone from strength to strength and, according to Football Transfers, is now worth up to €68m, which is about £57m, or £25m more than Disasi.

Now, that’s certainly a lot of money, especially for a defender who has endured his fair share of injury setbacks in the last year and a half, but it just shows how good he is when he’s playing.

The 24-year-old titan has been described as a “complete & dominant” defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and while that sounds like awfully high praise, it’s more than backed up by his underlying numbers.

For example, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across the Premier League, he sits in the top 1% of centre-backs for assists and ball recoveries, the top 2% for medium passes completed, expected assists and goal-creating actions from live passes, the top 4% for carries and more, all per 90.

On top of that, the Wormer-born monster is outrageously fast, setting a Premier League record for the fastest sprint speed when he reached 37.38km/h against Brentford last January, which is also why he is such an essential part of Posetcoglou’s ultra attacking style of play.

Ultimately, bringing Disasi in on deadline day would have certainly helped to alleviate some of the pressure on Spurs’ injury-prone backline.

However, with Van de Ven in the squad, the club already have one of the best defenders in the league.

Their very own homegrown Tel: Spurs must unleash "fearless" teen phenom

Spurs signed Mathys Tel on transfer deadline day but did they need to?

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Feb 4, 2025

Kevin De Bruyne has been linked with a potential move to Arsenal, however, Gunners legend William Gallas doesn't think that the move is very likely.

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• De Bruyne set to leave Man City this summer
• Belgian linked with move to City's rivals Arsenal
• Gallas thinks KDB would hinder Odegaard at Emirates

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  De Bruyne announced last month that he would be leaving Manchester City at the end of his contract this summer, as the Belgian wasn't given a new contract at the Etihad. After nine years with the side, it was expected that De Bruyne would move outside England and perhaps Europe to avoid coming up against his former side.

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  However, De Bruyne, who seems disgruntled at being forced to leave City, has revealed that he could end up staying in the Premier League past this summer. Reports have suggested that a number of clubs are interested in signing the Belgian, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea. However, former Gunners captain Gallas has suggested that if Mikel Arteta were to sign De Bruyne, his playstyle would 'clash' with Martin Odegaard and hinder the Norwegian's development.

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  WHAT GALLAS SAID

  Gallas was speaking to Genting Casino, who offer the latest live casinos, he said: "Kevin De Bruyne might be an option for Arsenal, but he would clash with Martin Odegaard. You can’t have two players in the same position and it might just make things harder for both of them."

  Gallas also talked about the same about Chelsea's interest in the Belgian and added: "Signing Kevin De Bruyne would be a good opportunity for Chelsea, but there is one problem. The issue is having two playmakers in the same position, it might harm the development of Cole Palmer because he would have to play out wide again.

  "It happened when they were both at Manchester City, that’s why we saw Palmer move to Chelsea and look at what he has done since. It would be exciting to see De Bruyne back at Chelsea, but it would be a very difficult situation for the manager."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR DE BRUYNE?

  Manchester City's season is almost over after having lost the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, however, their last two Premier League games will be crucial to their qualification to the Champions League. Pep Guardiola's side are also set to take on the challenges of the Club World Cup, but De Bruyne is unlikely to play for the side in the United States.

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has been discussing a possible England call-up for Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall after the young full-back picked up another assist in the win over Nottingham Forest.

Newcastle prepare for Liverpool at Anfield

The Magpies will be looking to continue from where they left off when they play Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night – although perhaps hoping to replicate their first-half performance against Forest over 90 minutes this time.

Three points for Eddie Howe’s side could see them end the evening in the top four, as their chances of returning to the Champions League look better and better with every goal Alexander Isak slams home.

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Would this make the Magpies stronger or weaker?

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By
Henry Jackson

Feb 25, 2025

Ahead of the game against Liverpool, Howe has been speaking about midfielder Lewis Miley, and he has backed him to be an “outstanding” player for Newcastle “for a number of years”. This comes as Miley scored against Forest on Sunday in what was his first Premier League start of the campaign.

“He can be anything – he could really solidify that position and be outstanding for us for a number of years. He’s going to need a bit of luck to do that – every player needs to stay fit and injury free – that’s why we need to look after him.

“He can do a bit of everything; he’s got the running capacity – the big lungs that enable him to physically produce what he needs to in those positions. He has all the technical and, most importantly, mental capabilities. He’s played some huge games but played them like he would in training.

“He’s very composed – one of our best technical players – so I see a bright future, but he will have all the pitfalls that young players have. He needs to stay humble and level, concentrate on his training, and listen to his coaches.”

Lineker reacts to England call-up talk for Lewis Hall

As Howe heaps praise on Miley, Lewis Hall has also received significant praise for his performances this season. Former England strikers Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer would not be surprised to see Hall get a call-up to the next England squad given his impressive form.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast (relayed by Give Me Sport), Shearer said: “I thought Lewis Hall was very, very good as well at left-back.

“I hope Thomas Tuchel has had a good look at him, and with an England squad not too far away, do not be surprised if he’s in it. Because he showed some really good form today, I thought he was excellent.”

Lineker then backed Shearer’s view: “I was just going to say exactly the same thing, Alan. I really like him, and he’s very impressive, both defensively and going forward.”

The 20-year-old, who joined the Magpies on a permanent basis in the summer, has featured in all the club’s Premier League games this season, starting 23 of the 26 games. Hall has yet to score this season but has five assists to his name, as he’s nailed down the left-back spot as his own, and he will now have his eyes on becoming an England regular.

Arsenal have reportedly opened talks with RB Leipzig over Benjamin Sesko as Mikel Arteta seeks more firepower after another trophyless campaign.

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• Arsenal keen to sign a striker in the summer
• Have already got in touch with Leipzig officials
• Bundesliga team could demand €80m from the Gunners

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Leipzig’s sporting director, Marcel Schafer, has initiated conversations with Andrea Berta—Arsenal’s recently appointed sporting director—to outline the framework for a possible deal. With Leipzig in need of income following their failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League, the Bundesliga side are expected to be open to selling their star forward.

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  While Sesko’s contract includes a variable release clause, reports suggest the club is aiming for a transfer fee in excess of €80 million (£67m/$91m). The striker’s current deal runs until June 2029, putting Leipzig in a strong position to negotiate, but their need for revenue may prompt a quicker resolution.

  Sesko has made 32 appearances in the Bundesliga, finding the back of the net 13 times and registering five assists. His combination of pace, aerial ability, and technical skill makes him an attractive prospect for Arteta, who wants to inject more dynamism into Arsenal’s frontline.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While Sesko appears to be Arteta’s top priority, Arsenal remain active on multiple fronts as they assess potential forward reinforcements. The North London club continues to monitor Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP, as the Swedish forward should be available for around €60–70m (£50m/$68m-£59m/$80m).

  Additionally, Juventus frontman Dusan Vlahovic remains on the radar. The Serbian striker has expressed a desire to move on from Turin and would reportedly jump at the chance to join Arsenal. Though he is valued at €50m (£42m/$57m), the 25-year-old could be available for a reduced fee given his contract expires in 2026 and Juventus’ own shifting priorities.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Arsenal’s ambitions remain high, and bringing in a top-tier striker is a priority to help the club compete for major trophies next season. Whether it’s Sesko, Gyokeres, or Vlahovic, the Gunners are making moves to ensure they have a reliable goal scorer at the heart of their attack after enduring another trophyless campaign.

Former Real Madrid and England boss Fabio Capello believes Cesc Fabregas is ready to take over as AC Milan coach this summer.

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• Capello backs Fabregas as AC Milan’s next coach
• Ex-midfielder “ready” after promising season at Como
• Tipped as good alternative to Conte

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Milan's chaotic season ended with a disappointing eighth-place finish, depriving them of a place in next season's Champions League and Europa League. As the club scrambles to reset, their former legendary coach Capello has weighed in on who should lead the team next, naming Fabregas, not Antonio Conte or Massimiliano Allegri, as his top choice.

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  Capello’s endorsement of Fabregas signals a shift toward innovation rather than recycling established names. With Igli Tare likely to be named sporting director, Milan may be preparing for a fresh era, with current boss Sergio Conceicao expected to leave despite joining on an 18-month contract in December.

• WHAT FABIO CAPELLO SAID

  Capello praised Fabregas for his fresh ideas and the style of football he implemented at Como, telling : "It seems to me that things are a bit up in the air. I read about Massimiliano Allegri, who now seems closer to Napoli, in case Antonio Conte goes to Juventus… From the outside I see anything but clear ideas. And now it will be up to Tare to find a solution… If we have to exclude the usual names, I’d go with Fabregas. I like his football. At Como he showed interesting things. And he already seems sufficiently ready.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AC MILAN?

  Milan's first task is to confirm their new sporting director, with Tare expected to be announced imminently. The next major decision will be appointing a head coach capable of navigating the club through instability and fan unrest. Fabregas is a bold option with potential, but he has insisted he will remain at Como after being linked with the Bayer Leverkusen job, which has since been taken by Erik ten Hag.

One Chelsea player has failed to win over manager Enzo Maresca behind-the-scenes, and he’s open to the idea of signing for an elite club indefinitely for next season.

Chelsea beat FC Copenhagen 2-1 in Europa Conference League

The west Londoners kicked off an excellent start to their Europa Conference League knockout campaign with a 2-1 victory at FC Copenhagen in their first leg of their last 16 tie, with goals from Reece James and Enzo Fernández handing the Blues a one-goal advantage heading into their second leg clash at Stamford Bridge.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 6, 2025

It was Chelsea’s first away win in all competitions since their 3-1 victory at Kazakhstani minnows Astana all the way back in December, and while this tie still hangs in the balance, Maresca was relieved to finally clinch a win on the road.

“A long time [laughs]! Yeah, very important for many reasons,” said Maresca on the long-awaited Chelsea away win. “For sure because it’s away, for sure because it’s a knockout game now so you need that. And also for the performance.

“They surprised us because in the last almost three years with this manager, they played two games with a line of five, so we didn’t expect that. In the first-half, we controlled the game, we didn’t create chances. Also, when we planned the game, we also expected not to create many chances when we have Shim [Mheuka], who is 17-years-old, Ty [George] is 17-years-old; we knew we would struggle a little bit.

“Overall, we deserved to win the game, and it’s good because we gave chances to all of them to get minutes.”

Chelsea let a host of B team players leave during the January transfer window, which contributed towards Maresca handing a few academy teenagers some minutes in Denmark last night. One of the winter departees, João Félix, left west London to join Serie A heavyweights AC Milan on a temporary deal.

The Portugal international impressed during the early stages of his Milan loan, but he’s since failed to recapture that initially promising run of form, with the San Siro outfit’s stance on a permanent move now emerging.

João Félix open to joining AC Milan from Chelsea this summer

As things stand, Milan are not inclined to negotiate an extended stay for the £130,000-per-week attacking midfielder, even if the player himself would be keen on the idea.

According to GiveMeSport, Felix is interested in joining Milan from Chelsea this summer for the 2025/2026 season, but the 25-year-old would need to improve his overall displays to convince the Rossoneri to negotiate a deal.

Right now, Milan are not even entertaining the thought of discussing an extended loan, so Felix will need to put in a real shift from now until the end of this campaign.

GMS add that Felix has failed to impress Maresca or win him over back in London, so there is every reason for the ex-Benfica and Barcelona star to work his socks off in Italy.

Like a thief in the night, Chelsea and Todd Boehly have pounced, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano announcing in the early hours of Friday morning that the Blues have struck an early deal for the signing of Sporting CP starlet, Geovany Quenda.

That swift capture has, quite literally, come as a bolt from the blue, with it having looked for all the world as if the 17-year-old sensation would be making a move to Manchester United this summer, reuniting with his former boss and compatriot, Ruben Amorim.

Indeed, The Athletic’s David Ornstein had reported during the January transfer window that the Red Devils were targeting a summer swoop for the teenager, with Amorim having handed the youngster his first-team debut earlier this season.

As it is, the versatile winger is set to make the move to Stamford Bridge rather than Old Trafford in 2026, with the west Londoners – who are believed to be forking out as much as €50m (£42m) – set to loan Quenda back to his current side for the 2025/26 campaign.

While the Blues will then have to wait a while to see their new man in action, such a deal represents yet another exciting acquisition in the Boehly era.

Why Chelsea have signed Geovany Quenda

The Portuguese starlet is a winger by trade, although had forced his way into Amorim’s side in a right wing-back berth, showcasing a tactical flexibility that will be invaluable to Enzo Maresca and Co.

Not set to turn 18 until next month, the raw talent appears to have the world at his feet, having already chalked up two goals and eight assists in just 43 appearances for the Lisbon side.

Described as a “highly unpredictable” winger by data analyst Ben Mattinson, the Sporting youth product’s strengths lie in his ball carrying and dribbling prowess, shown by the fact that he ranks among the top 16% of his Champions League peers for progressive carries, as well as in the top 15% for successful take-ons per 90.

While yet to make an appearance, Quenda has already been called up to the senior Portugal side this season, with national team boss Roberto Martinez stating that he has a “quality that is not normal at 17 years old”.

All the signs point to Chelsea having potentially hit the jackpot with such a signing, with the teen wizard set to provide further competition to an attacking department that already boasts Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto.

That said, Quenda may not be the biggest star who is set to arrive at Stamford Bridge in the near future, with Boehly having already made a handful of statement long-term signings in the recent past.

Chelsea already have a bigger talent than Quenda

Supporters may cry for further depth and quality in the defensive ranks, not least with first-choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez having made five errors leading to a goal in the Premier League this season, yet the priority for Boehly appears to be to continue raiding the globe for the best and brightest attacking stars.

In The Pipeline

Indeed, the signing of Quenda has not just come as a surprise due to its timing, with there a question to be asked of whether the club are actually in need of another teenage winger, having already moved to sign Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian.

Estevao, in particular, could represent an even bigger star than the Sporting ace on the flanks, with the 17-year-old Brazilian lauded as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by Mattinson.

Also hailed as a “world-class talent” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Palmeiras superstar was signed by the Blues back in May 2024 on an initial £29m deal, albeit having had to wait until he turns 18 to move to England ahead of next season.

A dazzling left-footer, in a similar mould to Quenda, the young diamond has already scored 20 goals and provided ten assists in just 58 first-team games for his current side, making the transition to life at senior level with ease.

Already in 2025, Estevao has scored five goals from just 12 league games, while creating two big chances and averaging 2.1 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

Quenda, for instance, has one goal and four assists in the league in 2024/25, while creating nine big chances and averaging just 1.9 key passes per game, albeit having played 25 times.

As evidenced by the table above, it is Estevao who comes out on top across a string of attacking metrics across the last 365 days, with excitement brewing over finally seeing him in action when next season rolls around.

As such, with Maresca already boasting a string of right-sided forwards in the form of Madueke, Neto and Palmer – and with Paez and Estevao soon to join the mix – the decision to also fork out for Quenda could be seen as overdoing it, with investment needed elsewhere in the squad.

On the flip side, having such an array of attacking stars to call upon truly is exciting, with the question now as to whether this youth-centric transfer approach will yield tangible success on the pitch.

Chelsea ready £67m bid for Premier League star who's keen on joining Maresca

The west Londoners are already preparing a serious assault.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 13, 2025