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It’s almost time for Chelsea to return to action.

The Blues will very much undergo a truncated pre-season schedule, having won the Club World Cup on 13 July, surprisingly defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final in New Jersey.

Thus, Enzo Maresca’s team will have just two pre-season fixtures before their Premier League opener, welcoming Bayer Leverkusen to Stamford Bridge on Friday night, before taking on AC Milan in West London on Sunday.

Before then, will the Blues continue to make more signings?

Chelsea's search for even more attacking talent

Fair to say, Maresca has plenty of attacking options at his disposal.

Estêvão Willian, Jamie Gittens, João Pedro, and Liam Delap have all already arrived this summer, but the Blues are far from done yet, with potentially two new forwards on their way.

First, as reported by James Olley of ESPN, Chelsea are close to signing Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for a reported fee of €50m (around £44m), with the Dutchman eager to make the move.

Meantime, as reported by Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are still pursuing Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, adding that “no talks” have begun just yet, but the Argentine is “keen” on the move.

Elsewhere, Romano notes that the transfer is “not expected to be imminent” but that Garanacho is prioritising a move to Chelsea, with the Blues focussing on outgoings for now.

Transfer Focus

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

Garnacho was told to find a new club by manager Rúben Amorim back in May. Currently part of Man United’s infamous ‘bomb squad’, not with the first-team squad in the US, rather left behind at Carrington, alongside fellow outcasts Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia.

Just a few weeks ago, it was reported that Man United valued Garnacho at £70m. Still, now that it’s public knowledge he has been cast aside, James Ducker of The Telegraph believes he is available for £40m, with Chelsea in pole position to snap him up.

What Alejandro Garnacho would bring to Chelsea

At the start of the window, Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian reported that Chelsea are ‘priori­tising the addition’ of a right-footed left-winger, with Garnacho very much their top target for this role.

​​​​​His performances for Manchester United have certainly caught the eye, with Statman Dave labelling him one of the two “brightest young talents on the planet” as recently as October, alongside Lamine Yamal, which is high praise indeed.

Elsewhere, Kurosh Moghtader of Total Football Analysis labels him a ‘reliable attacking outlet’ who still has ‘room for improvement’, with Andy Mitten of The Athletic believing his ‘work rate’ and finishing have both got better in recent times.

When looking to compare Garnacho to a former Chelsea player of the not-too-distant past, he is stylistically most similar to Joe Cole.

Like Garnacho, Cole arrived from a Premier League rival as a 22-year-old back in 2003, namely West Ham United, having come through the Hammers’ academy, and made quite an impact during his seven seasons at Stamford Bridge.

In Chelsea blue, Cole made 282 appearances, scoring 39 goals and registering 47 assists, winning three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the EFL Cup.

At his best, Tom Mason of The Guardian believes Cole was ‘breathtaking’, praising his ‘creativity, flair, technical ability and vision’, adding that he was ‘always willing to receive a pass and take on the responsibility’.

Meantime, Sam Wallace of the Independent heralds his ‘silky touch’, noting that his best years came under José Mourinho when deployed as a left-winger in a ‘clearly defined’ role.

Well, in Maresca’s current set-up, Garnacho, who was hailed as “electric” by Statman Dave, could certainly thrive in a similar way.

So, let’s assess how Cole at West Ham and Garnacho at Manchester United compare to one another.

As the table documents, when comparing Garnacho of the present day to Cole just before his move to Chelsea, the Englishman was more experienced, but the Argentine had produced a greater output in terms of goals and assists.

Cole arrived in the summer of 2003 as part of Roman Abramovich’s first spending spree, alongside Claude Makélélé, Hernán Crespo, Adrian Mutu, Juan Sebastián Verón, Scott Parker, Glen Johnson, Alexey Smertin, Geremi, Wayne Bridge, Damien Duff, and many, many others.

Well, 22 years on, Chelsea are adopting a similar approach in the transfer market, and all available evidence suggests that Garnacho could thrive in a similar way.

Chelsea looking to do "early deal" for potential £44m-plus striker after Hato

Another centre-forward signing on the horizon?

By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 2, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Na Arena Fonte Nova, o Bahia confirmou o seu favoritismo, bateu o Volta Redonda por 4 a 0 e avançou para as oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil. Os gols saíram com Cauly, Arthur Sales (2) e Vitor Jacaré. Na ida, o Tricolor havia derrotado o Voltaço por 2 a 1.

O jogo

Com a vantagem obtida na ida, o Bahia tentou ‘cozinhar’ o duelo. Quando tinha a posse de bola, explorava a velocidade de Biel, mas o time não acompanhava o ritmo do camisa 11 e quase nada foi criado.

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Por outro lado, o Volta Redonda se lançou mais, porém faltou qualidade na hora de complementar as jogadas. A melhor chance veio aos 26 minutos. Berguinho recebeu na entrada da pequena área e foi travado duas vezes. Na sobra, Samuel Granada chutou e Kanu salvou o Tricolor.

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

Na etapa final, o panorama mudou. O Bahia voltou disposto a definir a sua classificação e usou o lado direito para incomodar o Voltaço. Na primeira chance, Biel recebeu na grande área e tocou na saída do goleiro. O zagueiro salvou em cima da linha. Na segunda não teve jeito. Jacaré achou Cauly, que bateu cruzado: 1 a 0.

O gol derrubou o Volta Redonda e fez o segundo do Esquadrão foi uma questão de tempo. Ademir saiu em disparada e tocou para Arthur Sales finalizar: 2 a 0.

O Bahia estava impossível. Após análise no VAR, o árbitro viu o zagueiro do Voltaço bater a mão na bola. O pênalti foi marcado e Vitor Jacaré converteu: 3 a 0.

No último lance do confronto, Ademir recebeu pela direita, avançou sem marcação e cruzou. Após confusão entre os zagueiros, a bola sobrou limpa com Arthur Sales, que chutou e saiu para o abraço: 4 a 0.

BAHIA 4 X 0 VOLTA REDONDA

Local: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador (BA)
Data-Hora: 27/4/2023 – 19h
Árbitro: Savio Pereira Sampaio (DF)
Auxiliares: Daniel Henrique da Silva Andrade (DF) e Lehi Sousa Silva (DF)
VAR: Frederico Soares Vilarinho (MG)
Público/renda: 20.253 pagantes/R$ 449.166,00

Cartões amarelos: Vitor Jacaré, Daniel, Cicinho (BAH), Bruno Barra, Gabriel Bahia, Marcos Pedro (VRE)
Cartões vermelhos: –
Gols: Cauly, 11’/2ºT (1-0), Arthur Sales, 22’/2ºT (2-0), Vitor Jacaré, 30’/2ºT (3-0), Arthur Sales, 48’/2ºT (4-0)

BAHIA: Marcos Felipe; Kanu, David Duarte e Rezende; Vitor Jacaré (Cicinho, 31’/2ºT), Acevedo, Daniel (Yago Felipe, 12’/2ºT), Cauly (Diego Rosa, 32’/2), Matheus Bahia e Biel (Ademir, 21’/2ºT); Everaldo (Arthur Sales, 12’/2ºT). Técnico: Renato Paiva.

VOLTA REDONDA: Vinicius Dias; Wellington Silva, Gabriel Bahia, Marco Gabriel (Douglas Skilo, 17’/2ºT) e Marcos Pedro; Bruno Barra, Dudu (Henrique Silva – intervalo) e Samuel Granada (Macário – intervalo); Caio Vitor, Luizinho (Marcelo, aos 10/2ºT) e Berguinho (Mathus Alessandro, 10’/2ºT). Técnico: Rogério Corrêa.

Tottenham are expected to be one of the busier Premier League sides during the final few weeks of this summer transfer window, and technical director Johan Lange will have multiple plates spinning behind-the-scenes.

Lange is known to operate in secrecy when it comes to his transfer planning, with Spurs showing a tendency to agree out-of-nowhere deals since the Dane took over from ex-managing director Fabio Paratici.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The Lilywhites’ move for Wilson Odobert last summer took everyone by surprise, while their botched deal for Morgan Gibbs-White accelerated in similar fashion with very few leaks to the press – until the transfer was very close to being done.

Unfortunately for Lange, he ended up missing out on Gibbs-White in what was a very bizarre transfer saga.

After losing club legend Son Heung-min to the MLS, and now James Maddison for the majority of the season, it is absolutely imperative that Tottenham’s technical director brings in a fresh, proven attacking alternative before the deadline on September 1.

Maddison will undergo surgery on an ACL rupture, Spurs confirmed today, with the 28-year-old set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Tottenham called Man City over Jack Grealish in the last few days, according to Fabrizio Romano, but face stiff competition from Everton, who have now opened formal talks over a loan deal for the 29-year-old.

Elsewhere, Liverpool sensation Harvey Elliott has been mooted as a potential target for Spurs after his exceptional Euro Under-21 Championships with England.

However, Bundesliga sides like RB Leipzig are offering Elliott the chance to further his development abroad, with sides across Europe now clamoring to reinforce their squad as we reach the final phase of this window.

Daniel Levy is dealing with a major headache when it comes to their pursuit of an attacker, and that botched deal for Gibbs-White is now looking all the more significant after Maddison’s injury.

According to Alasdair Gold, the most reliable Spurs source you could ask for, Levy and Lange have other items on their transfer agenda too – namely signing another new centre-back.

The club triggered Kevin Danso’s obligation to buy clause from RC Lens earlier this summer, and already boast the likes of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin among their crop of central defensive options.

Dragusin was recently handed Sergio Reguilon’s number 3 jersey, whilst Romero’s links to Atlético Madrid have practically died after Diego Simeone sealed a deal for David Hancko – so none of the quartet appear likely to be going anywhere this summer.

Tottenham ready to meet asking price for Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi

Regardless, Spurs are apparently in the market for another central defender, and they’re still contenders for Bournemouth star Illia Zabarnyi.

According to French newspaper L’Équipe, as translated by Sport Witness, the Ukranian’s switch to PSG is advanced, but Luis Enrique’s side are currently haggling over a few million.

PSG made a recent written offer to the Cherries for Zabarnyi – £52m whilst covering FIFA’s solidarity payment.

Bournemouth are prepared to accept this bid, if PSG include a further £3m in bonuses, which the Ligue 1 giants are currently refusing to do.

This has handed Levy an opportunity to hijack the deal, with L’Équipe reporting that Tottenham are ready to meet Bournemouth’s demands for Zabarnyi ‘immediately’ and are ‘pushing’ to sign the 22-year-old.

Spurs were actually in the mix for his former Bournemouth teammate, Dean Huijsen, before he chose a move to Real Madrid (Fabrizio Romano).

Now, Frank could win the race for another Bournemouth defender instead, but they’ll first have to convince Zabarnyi himself, who’s been chasing a move to Paris for quite some time.

It really is all happening for Arsenal at the moment.

Instead of the frustratingly quiet and slow summers fans have grown accustomed to, the North Londoners have been incredibly busy in the transfer market.

Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arizabalaga and Christian Norgaard are already through the door, and Noni Madueke’s £52m move from Chelsea has been given the ‘here we go’ treatment from Fabrizio Romano.

And yet the Gunners aren’t finished there, as they continue to be linked with more attacking superstars, like Rodrygo and an international who’d be his dream number ten.

Arsenal target Rodrygo's dream ten

The stories linking Arsenal with Rodrygo first started popping up over a month ago, after it was revealed that he was unhappy with being played out of position on the right.

Transfer Focus

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

The links might have taken a slight backseat in the last couple of weeks due to reports on Viktor Gyokere and then Madueke, but they are still very much there.

It seems like the Brazilian would cost the Gunners around £78m, and while that is a massive sum of money, he’s more than proven his ability to be a game-changer over the last few years.

Moreover, the North Londoners are also targeting an attacking midfielder who would not only improve the entire team but would be a dream ten for the Brazilian.

At least that is according to a recent report from Italy, which has reaffirmed Arsenal’s intense interest in Eberechi Eze.

In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the player has given the green light to the Premier League runners-up, and that talks between the two clubs are already ongoing.

A price is not mentioned in the story, but it has been widely reported that he has a release clause worth around £68m in his deal, so a final fee is likely to be near that figure.

It would be a sizable investment, but Eze has proven his worth and then some over the last few years and would be a dream ten for Rodrygo.

Why Eze would be Rodrygo's dream ten

The first, unavoidable and arguably most crucial reason Eze would be Rodrygo’s dream ten at Arsenal is his output.

In 43 appearances for Crystal Palace last season, totalling 3303 minutes, the game-changing “magician,” as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists.

In other words, the former QPR gem averaged a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes, and he was almost as effective in the campaign, averaging one every 134.41 minutes.

Appearances

36

43

Minutes

2285′

3303′

Goals

11

14

Assists

6

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

134.41′

132.12′

Just imagine how effective the Real Madrid ace, who racked up 25 goal involvements in 3452 minutes last season, could be playing with the Palace ace.

The second reason he’d be a dream teammate is that last season saw him prove that he’s not only a big game player, but someone who can help drag his side over the finish line for major trophies.

The 27-year-old scored in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and then the final of the FA Cup, so the Los Blancos winger will know that he can rely on the Englishman to be at his best in the most tense moments.

Finally, by looking at his heat map from last season, we can see that the former Santos gem likes to come inside when he’s on the wing, and conversely, the Greenwich-born star clearly likes to drift wide based on his heat map.

In other words, the two players would be able to interchange and get into their preferred areas of the pitch without getting in each other’s way.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to improve their attacking options this summer, and if they want to do that in a big way, then signing Rodrygo and Eze would be the way to do it.

Gyokeres' dream number 10: Arsenal weighing up move for £100m "machine"

Viktor Gyokeres could strike quite the partnership if Arsenal signed this Premier League star.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 10, 2025

Manchester United’s quest to return to their former glory has reached an all-time low in 2024/25, with the club registering their lowest ever Premier League finish.

The Red Devils only managed to pick up a total of 42 points from their 38 outings, also their lowest since the division’s formation in 1992, highlighting the work needed this summer.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager tasked with the responsibility of winning the league, after numerous other candidates tried and failed to end their now 14-year drought.

Sir Alex Ferguson was the last person to lift such a trophy at Old Trafford, with millions upon millions of pounds wasted on players who are evidently not at the level required for success in England’s top flight.

The current transfer window is an opportunity to learn from their mistakes in the past and secure top-level talents who can contribute positively to their end goal of once again being a force to be reckoned with.

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

Juventus star Dušan Vlahović has emerged as a surprise option for United this summer, with work already being done behind the scenes to complete a deal for the Serbian international.

He’s not the only one, with Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta another player on their shortlist after he scored 17 times this campaign and led the Eagles to an FA Cup triumph.

However, despite the interest in the aforementioned talents, progress has been made on a deal to land Eintracht Frankfurt talisman Hugo Ekitiké, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that talks have already been held with the Frenchman’s representatives over a move to Old Trafford, with a bid expected for his services in the coming days.

It also states that the hierarchy see the 22-year-old as a priority addition this summer, unsurprisingly so given his tally of 22 goals and 12 assists across all competitions this campaign.

One obstacle is likely to be the player’s asking price, reportedly valued at around £85m.

Why United’s latest target would be a better signing than Gyokeres

Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres is another striker who’s been firmly on United’s radar over the last couple of months, with the Swede undoubtedly one of Europe’s hottest prospects at present.

The 27-year-old has caught the eye with his bonkers goalscoring record, notching 54 goals in just 52 appearances across all competitions throughout the 2024/25 season.

Such form, coupled with his previous stint under Amorim, has seen him hugely linked with a move to Old Trafford, but concerns have been raised over his ability to replicate such form in the Premier League.

However, it appears as though the club could be set to miss out on his signature completely, with the talisman personally wanting a move to rivals Arsenal instead this window.

Such a decision will undoubtedly be a blow to the Red Devils’ ambitions within the market, but they shouldn’t worry, with fellow target Ekitike arguably a better addition.

The youngster has already proven his talents in one of Europe’s top five leagues, as seen by his tally of goals this campaign, demonstrating he’s more than capable of carrying such form over to England with him.

Whilst he’s been outscored by Gyokeres, he’s managed to better him in numerous key areas that are vital for a top-level striker, highlighting why he’d be a more effective option for Amorim.

Games played

33

33

Goals scored

15

39

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Pass accuracy

75%

71%

Passes into final third

0.8

0.5

Take-on success

47%

45%

Carries into final third

2

1.3

Aerials won

1.8

1.1

Ekitike, who’s been described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey, has produced a better goal per shot on target rate, proving that he’s more effective with the opportunities that fall his way in front of goal.

His all-round play is also more impressive than the Swede’s, completing more passes and winning more aerial battles per 90, having the ability to link up with players around him and provide the side with a focal point should they need to be direct.

The French star has also shown evidence that he can produce chances out of nothing, registering more carries into the final third per 90 and completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, subsequently not relying on others around him to hand him an effort at goal.

There’s no denying that both options would massively bolster the attacking unit at Amorim’s disposal, but given the stats produced and the difference in age, there’s no doubt that Ekitike is the more attractive prospect.

If he can replicate such success at Old Trafford, he would certainly become a fan-favourite, potentially playing a huge role in their ambitions of ending their unthinkable wait for a title triumph in the years to come.

The new McTominay: Man Utd moving to sign "one of the best CMs in Serie A"

Manchester United have a player in their sights who could replicate Scott McTominay’s success.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 19, 2025

If there is one thing Arsenal need to add to their team this summer, it’s goals.

Mikel Arteta’s side finished as runners-up in the Premier League this year for the third time in as many campaigns, and while they produced the best defence in the competition, they scored 17 goals fewer than first-placed Liverpool.

So, it’s hardly been a surprise to see the Gunners so heavily linked with Viktor Gyokeres again recently, as the Swedish international managed to score 54 goals in 52 games for Sporting CP this season.

The former Coventry City star would be an incredible addition to Arsenal’s squad, and the good news is that, based on recent reports, they could be about to sign a wide attacker who’d be a dream teammate for him.

Arsenal's winger search

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other talented wingers who have been linked with Arsenal in recent weeks and months, such as Kenan Yıldız and Rafael Leao.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could cost around £68m and would certainly be an investment for the future, as while the 20-year-old enjoyed a good season with Juventus this year, he wasn’t exactly unplayable, racking up nine goals and seven assists in 48 games for the Old Lady.

Leao was a fair bit more effective than the youngster, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists in 50 appearances for AC Milan, but with a price tag of at least £84m, he might just be out of reach.

Fortunately, another exciting international has been heavily linked with the club, someone who’d cost a lot less than the Portuguese ace and could form a brilliant partnership with Gyokeres: Nico Williams.

Yes, according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are still incredibly interested in the Athletic Bilbao star.

In fact, Romano claims that the Spaniard is now at the “top” of the Gunners’ list of targets, although he has also revealed that German giants Bayern Munich are just as interested.

The Italian journalist reaffirms that the dynamic winger has a release clause in his current deal worth €58m, which comes out to around £49m, and that his salary demands could be a sticking point.

It looks like this could be a complicated and rather costly transfer to get over the line, but given Williams’ immense ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be unreal with Gyokeres.

Why Williams would be incredible for Gyokeres

Now, while there are likely many reasons why Williams could be an incredible teammate for Gyokeres, two take precedence, and the first is his output.

Since the start of the 23/24 season, the “electric” Spaniard, as dubbed by Statman Dave, has scored 19 goals and provided 25 assists in 82 appearances, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.86 games.

So, just imagine how devastatingly effective someone who’s racked up 97 goals and 28 assists in 102 games across the last two seasons might be with the Bilbao dynamo to his left and then Bukayo Saka to his right.

Not only would he have chance after chance created for him, but he’d also likely see his own assist tally increase.

The second reason why the Pamplona-born star will be so useful for the former Coventry poacher is that he’s incredibly direct and effective at taking on his opposite number.

For example, FBref places him in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe for successful take-ons and the top 7% for progressive carries per 90, which in turn will force defenders to focus more on him, leaving space for the North Londoners’ other attackers to exploit.

Ultimately, Williams is an undeniably talented and dynamic winger who will be an exceptional teammate for Gyokeres, thanks to his output and ability to terrify defenders.

Therefore, even if his salary demands are high and the competition is fierce, Arsenal should do all they can to sign him this summer.

Arsenal submit "concrete offer" to sign star who wants over £250k-per-week

The Gunners have lodged their opening bid.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 13, 2025

Everton have room for manoeuvre in the transfer market and could use their newfound stability to their advantage in pursuit of a Premier League star who has had a glittering career, according to a report.

Everton set to freshen up in attacking areas

With Beto emerging as the main force behind Everton’s climb up the table under David Moyes, there is plenty of work to be done in the window as the Toffees go about restructuring across their front four positions.

Jack Harrison and Armando Broja were among several loanees to depart following the conclusion of their loan spells. Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin appears destined to follow by leaving the club once his contract expires.

After missing out on Liam Delap to Chelsea, plenty of other contenders to add another option through the middle have begun to crop up amid Everton’s move to the newly-named Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Villarreal star Thierno Barry is on Moyes’ radar this summer and has a release clause of £34 million inserted into his current agreement at the La Liga outfit.

In addition, Fenerbache forward Oguz Adyin is being tracked by Everton and is capable of playing on either flank or through the middle, indicating that finding versatility may be the order of the day for the Friedkin Group.

Related Everton enter race to sign England full-back who can play on both flanks

He could be a brilliant addition for David Moyes.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Jun 7, 2025

Sourcing a reliable stream of goals is one thing, though many would argue that despite the Toffees being an extremely tough nut to crack, a lack of creativity was their undoing last term.

Seeking to negate a common theme of recent years, Everton have now received encouragement in pursuit of a solution to that problem.

Everton could sign Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City

According to Graeme Bailey in conversation with Everton News, Everton could have a plausible chance of signing Jack Grealish from Manchester City on a loan basis with an option to buy as long as they can find a way to foot part of his £300,000 per week wages.

He explained: “Grealish is the highest paid English player in the Premier League – over £300,000-a-week – what would and could Everton afford, maybe half at best – but who covers the rest.

Has Jack Grealish been a success at Manchester City?

Appearances

157

Goals

17

Assists

23

Transfer fee upon arrival

£100 million

Trophies won

3x Premier League, 1x FA Cup,

1x UEFA Champions League,

1x UEFA Super Cup

1x FIFA Club World Cup

“City know they will need to cover some wages, so it is not impossible – indeed, a loan with an option makes things plausible and the chance to stay in the North West, I wouldn’t rule Everton out. They are still in the market for a Richarlison, so imagine him and Grealish heading into the new stadium – would raise a few eyebrows for sure.”

Everton aren’t the only club circling to sign the Three Lions international, who has previously been labelled “excellent” by Paul Dickov.

Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa all keen on Grealish if the price is right, indicating that he still has more to give at the elite level.

Even in a disappointing campaign from a personal standpoint, the 29-year-old created 24 chances on Premier League duty as the Citizens claimed a place in next season’s Champions League.

Needing more minutes to stake a claim for England’s 2026 World Cup squad, Everton could be the ideal destination due to their dearth of options out wide.

After taking the reins back in November, Ruben Amorim has injected the feel-good factor back into Manchester United – helping the side qualify for the Europa League final.

However, there’s only so much success the 40-year-old can achieve with the players who were at the club after he took over from former boss Erik ten Hag.

The attacking department is the area in need of desperate attention in the coming months, with the hierarchy needing to back the manager with funds if he is to improve the lack of goals currently plaguing his centre-forwards.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are the two senior options at his disposal, but the pair have only netted a combined tally of seven goals in the Premier League after costing the Red Devils upwards of £100m.

If they are to take the next step under Amorim, a new striker is a must during the upcoming window, potentially ending the spells of either of the aforementioned talents in the process.

An update on United’s pursuit of new strikers this summer

Even though the summer window is yet to be open, United have already wasted no time in targeting new talent to strengthen the current first-team squad.

Liam Delap was once seen as the Red Devils’ main target for the centre-forward role, especially considering his £30m relegation release clause – but look set to face tough competition from Nottingham Forest in the coming months.

The 22-year-old will certainly remain on the shortlist, but potentially not at the top, with Moise Kean now the club’s main priority, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that Amorim believes he is the perfect option to fit into his 3-4-2-1 system at Old Trafford, having the right profile given positioning, pace and clinical nature.

Kean, who’s netted 23 goals in all competitions this season, is said to cost a fee in the region of £42m, given the release clause in his contract at Serie A outfit Fiorentina.

Why United’s £42m target would be unplayable with Amad

Amad Diallo has been a shining light for United this campaign in what’s been a year to forget in the Premier League, often providing the goods within the final third.

The Ivorian has registered 10 goals and seven assists across all competitions, with his latest coming against Brentford after his recent three-month injury lay-off.

His underlying stats at Old Trafford have been just as impressive, with his output handing other attacking options around him the ammunition to be a success at the club.

Amad has registered 2.2 chances created per 90 this campaign, whilst also completing 2.1 dribbles – often liking to take the ball into attacking areas at any given opportunity.

Such tallies could fall perfectly into the hands of transfer target Kean, who could well turn out to be the attacking saviour the Red Devils have been crying out for over the past few months.

The Italian, who’s been labelled “sensational” by content creator Elliot Hackney, has resurrected his career in the last couple of months after flat-lining following his breakthrough at Juventus.

The 25-year-old currently sits as Serie A’s second top scorer, registering 1.6 shots on target per 90 – benefiting from Amad’s service within the final third should he move to Manchester.

Moise Kean’s stats for Fiorentina in Serie A (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

30

Goals & assists

20

Shots on target

1.6

Pass accuracy

72%

Successful dribbles

1.5

Fouls won

1.8

Aerials won

57%

Touches in opposition box

4.7

Stats via FotMob

He’s also completed 72% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also completing 1.5 dribbles per 90, having the tools to return the favour to the Ivorian in the final third should he need to.

Kean’s talents don’t stop there, winning 51% of the aerials he’s contested, notching 4.7 touches in the opposition box per game – handing the manager the ‘fox in the box’ style forward he’s lacked since he joined the club.

The £42m fee touted would be an excellent deal for the club, potentially getting themselves a bargain and a player who can provide the goods for the club for many years to come.

The thought of the Italian forming a partnership with Amad is certainly an exciting one, handing the club the platform to recapture their success endured in previous years.

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Manchester United booked their place in the Europa League final last night, setting up a clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

Posts 6 ByEthan Lamb May 9, 2025

Manchester City are set to sell a £150,000-a-week player this summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man City players who could leave with De Bruyne this summer

The Citizens and Pep Guardiola are looking to finish the Premier League season in one of five Champions League qualification places, while also looking to win the FA Cup in what is Kevin de Bruyne’s final season at the Etihad.

The Belgian superstar recently announced his Man City exit when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

De Bruyne will leave after 10 years at the Etihad, and more Sky Blues stars could be following the attacking midfielder out of the door. Ilkay Gundogan is also out of contract at the end of June and may depart, whereas Jack Grealish could also be sold, according to recent reports.

De Bruyne heir: Man City target bid for "unbelievable" £34m Messi-esque ace

The Sky Blues have set their sights on an attacking midfielder, who could be brought in to replace Kevin De Bruyne this summer.

ByDominic Lund Apr 9, 2025

Another player who has an uncertain future ahead of the 2025/26 season is Kyle Walker. The right-back joined AC Milan on loan in January, with the Serie A giants having the option to buy Walker for around £4.2m (€5m).

Named in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, Walker has recently undergone surgery on a fractured elbow, and a new update on his future has been shared.

Man City to sell Kyle Walker this summer no matter what – Romano

As per Romano on X in the last 48 hours, Walker will be sold by Man City this summer, even if AC Milan pass up on their option to buy. Man City have their eyes on a new full-back signing, with Walker’s eight-year stint on the books at the Etihad to be “over”.

“The story between Man City and Kyle Walker will be over in the summer, regardless of AC Milan’s future decision. Milan have buy option clause for Walker but decision will follow with new director. In any case, Walker will NOT stay at City as they’ll bring in new fullback.”

Signed from Tottenham in 2017, Walker will soon turn 35, so it appears to make sense to look to the future by selling the experienced defender.

Games

319

Goals

6

Assists

23

Minutes played

25,716

Trophies won

17

Guardiola hailed Walker following his move to Milan at the beginning of the year, calling him a “very important figure”.

“Kyle, thank you so much for the seven years you’ve been with us. The amount of trophies, the consistency and being a very important figure. I said it personally to him, I said it in front of the group, I wish all the best for him and his family. That is all.”

He’s still under contract at Man City on £150,000-a-week until 2026, and even if AC Milan don’t sign Walker, he won’t be seen at the Etihad for the new season.

The shape that defines this Test series is a sphere, and it comes in various forms

Alan Gardner16-Jul-2025There’s nothing the Light Roller likes more than panto season – especially when it arrives during the height of the English Test summer. England versus India began with lots of apparent bonhomie between the teams – most international players are IPL frat bros, one way or another, these days – so the introduction of a little niggle, the grit in the Lord’s oyster, was timely.Nobody threw any jellybeans, which is a pity, but there was lots of finger-pointing, verbal battles and crowd involvement as both sides sought an extra edge. We often talk about the “theatre” of Test cricket, which is presumed to mean heroic exploits, epic plotlines and grandiloquent stanzas of play. But it’s also worth getting in the popcorn when players start prancing around like they’re putting on at the Bedford Corn Exchange.The first shouts of “He’s behind you!” might have begun with England’s cute ploy of bringing the keeper up to the stumps in order to stop the Shubman Gill run machine in its tracks. But Gill then assumed centre stage during a fractious mini-mini-session at the end of day three, yelling at Zak Crawley to “grow some f***ing balls” and then miming for an impact substitute (back to the IPL again) when the England opener opted for the blatant time-wasting tactic of calling on the physio after a ball hit the middle of his bat.Related

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Perhaps, given the problems with the Dukes balls in this series, Gill was just trying to come up with a practical solution. Of all the England players, Crawley most looks like a member of the landowning class who might be able to dedicate farming resource to cultivating some sort of new-age alternative to cork and leather.Okay, so it’s more likely he was talking about cojones, certainly giving the accompanying hand gestures. And while Lord’s might be an improbable venue to stage a royal rumble – even with Alex Carey’s underhand/underarm antics to stir things up – there was an air of WWE to proceedings as Mohammed Siraj played to his “heel” status, copping a fine for his efforts, and Washington Sundar baited all and sundry with some ballsy chat of his own.To cap it all off, England tore up the saintly playbook they have adhered to under Brendon McCullum in order to generate a last-day atmosphere that harked back to the time when men were men and teams bowled 100 overs in a day. Then, when the dust settled, there were handshakes and hugs, solemn gestures of respect and brotherly love between combatants. Which is fine, so long as they go back to the Punch and Judy stuff when the series resumes at Old Trafford next week.Wiaan Mulder: not yet a legend•Zimbabwe Cricket

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“New balls, please!” It’s been Wimbledon fortnight, but nowhere has the demand for a replacement batch of projectiles been louder than at Test matches in England. The Dukes ball, as mentioned, apparently goes soft quicker than a millennial faced with an awkward social situation, and needs to be changed more often than Gen Z change their pronouns. Is this because the cricket balls of today can’t withstand a little corporal punishment? Are the cows of Brexit Britain no longer the leathery leaders in their field? Maybe it’s another symptom of the inexorable decline of Western liberal values? Answers on a postcard to the ECB.
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Of all the things we were not expecting to write about this month, the question of whether Wiaan Mulder should have backed himself to go on and break Brian Lara’s record for the highest individual score in Test history would be right at the top of the list (or maybe, after some time to consider over lunch, fifth). Mulder said afterwards that he felt “Lara keeping the record is exactly the way it should be”, clearly fully aware of the pelters he would have received had he gone on past 400 in what was a Test in name only, and effectively South Africa B against an under-strength Zimbabwe. As an aside, Mulder revealed that it was Shukri Conrad who advised: “Listen, let the legends keep the really big scores.” Never mind what the public thinks of him, perhaps Mulder should be more worried about how highly he’s rated by his own coach.