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It’s no secret that Chelsea have been targeting a new striker over the last 12 months, with Enzo Maresca still unable to land the talisman to take the club to the next level.

Nicolas Jackson has been the Italian’s main option at the top end of the pitch, scoring 10 goals in his 30 Premier League appearances throughout 2024/25.

However, there have been doubts over his long-term suitability for the role, especially after receiving a straight red card in the clash against Newcastle United for a deliberate elbow on Sven Botman.

Whilst he scored in the Europa Conference League triumph last night, his terrible first touch when bearing down on goal highlighted the need for new attackers this summer.

With the summer window rapidly approaching, the manager and the hierarchy have wasted no time in lining up potential options to lead the line in their title push throughout 2025/26.

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

Given Chelsea’s recent antics in the transfer market, it’s a surprise to no one that they are likely to be busy once again this summer to bolster Maresca’s ranks.

Viktor Gyokeres, Joao Pedro and Emanuel Emegha are just three names that have been mentioned as potential targets, but no deals have yet been completed for any of the aforementioned targets.

However, they may not need to pursue moves for any of the stars, with the Blues closing in on signing Ipswich Town talisman Liam Delap, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

He claimed on Wednesday that the Blues have taken the lead in the race for his signature, with Manchester United’s chances now decreasing after failing to secure any European football next season. Jacobs also confirmed that the Blues have held positive talks to sign the £30m star.

A move has progressed significantly on Thursday with everything now pointing towards the English talent joining. Fabrizio Romano reported on Thursday evening that he will sign his Chelsea contract in the next 24 hours.

How Delap could repeat Chelsea's Palmer success story

Cole Palmer may have endured somewhat of an uncharacteristic drought in front of goal over the last few months, but he’s still managed to play a vital role in the success endured by Chelsea.

The 23-year-old went 18 games without a goal across all competitions, before slotting home a penalty against league champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge – securing a huge win in their hunt for a top five finish.

Whilst he’s still not managed to score since that triumph back on the 4th of May, he has provided key moments for some of his teammates, including two assists against Betis in the Conference League final on Wednesday.

His latest contributions have taken him to 69 combined goals and assists in his 91 appearances for the club, after joining the Blues in a £40m deal from Manchester City back in the summer of 2023.

However, Maresca could land his next version of the English star this summer, with a deal to take Delap to West London appearing to be entering its final stages.

The pair both plied their trade together within the Manchester City academy as youngsters, looking to do the same in forward areas once again at the Bridge for the Blues in 2025/26.

Should the 22-year-old reach the levels set by Palmer in West London over recent years, he would be a splendid signing by the board, with his £30m clause potentially being a bargain.

When comparing his stats to those of Palmer this season, Delap has managed to outperfrom him in numerous key areas, offering the manager the focal point he craves in the first-team.

He may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has managed a higher goal per shot on target rate, showcasing his clinical edge within the final third.

How Delap compares to Palmer in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Delap

Palmer

Games played

37

37

Goals & assists

14

23

Shot-on-target accuracy

44%

36%

Goals per shot on target

0.3

0.2

Take-on success

47%

45%

Aerials success rate

43%

22%

Fouls drawn

1.8

1.6

Stats via FBref

He’s also completed more take-ons and drawn more fouls, therefore offering Maresca a more all-round option in the final third – which could take the side to the next level as a result.

Delap has also won more aerial battles than the current Blues star, handing the side the needed focal point in which the manager has desired since his arrival.

With a deal appearing to be edging closer to being completed, the Englishman would be an excellent addition, having the ability to develop further in the years ahead at the Bridge.

£30m in today’s market would be a super price for a striker who’s already proven his talents in England’s top-flight, potentially being the missing piece in Maresca’s Chelsea puzzle and creating a deadly partnership with Palmer once more.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb May 29, 2025

Regardless of how Tottenham Hotspur fare in the Europa League Final later this month, this summer has to be one of significant change at the club.

To ensure next season isn’t as much of a disaster as this one has been, Daniel Levy and Co need to dig deep and bring in some genuine quality to improve the first team.

However, signing a load of talented players won’t be enough on its own.

On top of adding to the first team and squad, the North Londoners need to get rid of several players, including one who is being eyed up by one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The players Spurs should sell

Unfortunately, due to the nature of their campaign this season, there are several players Spurs should probably be looking to move on in the summer, such as Richarlison and Yves Bissouma.

Transfer Focus

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

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The former has never got even close to justifying the £60m fee he cost the club in 2022, and while there have been the odd moments he’s looked good this year, a return of five goals and two assists just isn’t good enough.

Likewise, Bissouma might occasionally put in a performance that reminds fans why the club signed him in the first place.

Still, there have been far too many games this season in which he’s looked entirely out of his depth, like away to Fulham, when he was hooked at half-time and given a 3/10 match rating by Alasdair Gold.

However, there is another player, one who is actually incredibly talented, who is being eyed by a major European force that the North Londoners should cash in on: Cristian Romero.

Yes, according to a recent report from the Sun, Real Madrid are now sniffing around the World Cup winner once again.

The report has revealed that incoming manager Xabi Alonso is a big fan of the Argentine, and with their defence considered to be their weakest area, the Spanish giants could make a move to sign the former Juventus ace.

The report does not mention a potential price, but according to stories from earlier this month, Spurs value their defender at £60m, a fee think they should accept for him.

Why Spurs should sell Romero

Okay, so the first thing to say is that we do not think Romero is a bad defender, far from it.

However, there are a few genuine reasons as to why it might be smart for Spurs to sell the World Cup winner this summer, with chief among them being his desire.

While there can be no doubt about his intense need to win when it comes to the big games – just look at his performance against Bodo/Glimt – there have been questions over his commitment to the club for some time now.

For example, only last week, a new report from GIVEMESPORT revealed that he is planning to push for a move to La Liga this summer regardless of what happens in the Europa League, and then last month, other reports claimed he had already held discussions with Diego Simeone over a potential move to Atlético Madrid.

Combine this desire to leave with the fact he’s got just two years left on his £165k-per-week deal, and it seems like cashing in on him now before he can drive the price down further seems smart.

Romero’s Spurs career

Appearances

123

Goals

7

Assists

3

Yellow Cards

33

Second Yellows

3

Red Cards

1

Points per Game

1.68

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, due to injury, the 27-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by journalist Charlie Eccleshare, hasn’t featured that much this season anyway, making just 25 appearances across all competitions and averaging just 1.56 points per game when he has played.

Finally, it looks as if the club would be able to replace him anyway, as they could either go back in for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi or even hand a considerable amount of game time to the incredibly exciting Luka Vušković, who respected analyst Ben Mattinson described as a “crazy” talent and a “monster of a CB.”

Ultimately, it’s not an ideal situation – far from it – but to make sure they aren’t left burned next year and to give themselves ample time to replace him, Spurs should look to sell Romero this summer.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 12, 2025

Celtic avoided back-to-back-to-back defeats against their city rivals with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon.

A goal from Cyriel Dessers in the first half gave the home side a commanding position heading into the second 45, but a fine goal from Adam Idah secured a point for Brendan Rodgers and his men.

Old Firm games in 2024/25

Date

Result

5th May 2025

1-1 draw

16th March 2025

3-2 Rangers win

2nd January 2025

3-0 Rangers win

15th December 2024

Celtic win on penalties

1st September 2024

1-0 Celtic win

It was the final Old Firm clash of the 2025/26 campaign, ending with two wins and one draw apiece, and it may have been the final Old Firm match for left-back Greg Taylor.

Why that may have been Greg Taylor's last Old Firm

The Scotland international is out of contract at the end of this season, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will put pen to paper on an extension at Parkhead.

It was reported by the Daily Record last month that the Hoops are planning to offer him a new three-year deal to stay at the club, but that he also has options from abroad, in the MLS, England, and Dinamo Zagreb.

This means that the 1-1 draw with Rangers on Sunday may have been his last Old Firm match for the Hoops, unless an agreement can be reached in the coming days.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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Taylor may not have been the only player to have played his final Old Firm game for the Scottish giants, though, as Anthony Ralston should be moved on this summer.

Why Celtic should move on from Anthony Ralston

The Celtic academy graduate started for the sixth time this season and, perhaps, showed why Rodgers has not relied on him more often, as he produced a disappointing display.

During Sky Sports’ commentary of the game, pundit Chris Sutton described his challenge on Nedim Bajrami as “daft” in the first half, before suggesting that the full-back had “brain freeze” when he watched Nicolas Raskin run past him in the second half.

There were many moments like the two Sutton commented on, including a dive late in the game that almost presented Rangers with a chance to create something in the final seconds of the match.

As you can see in the table below, Ralston lost the majority of his duels, losing seven of the 13, and offered very little in possession, with all four of his crosses failing to find a teammate.

Vs Rangers

Anthony Ralston

Minutes

90

Tackles

2

Interceptions

1

Error led to shot

1

Ground duels won

4/8

Aerial duels won

2/5

Key passes

0

Crosses completed

0/4

Stats via Sofascore

The Scottish defender, therefore, struggled on and off the ball throughout the match and did not prove himself to be a reliable option when called upon by the Celtic boss.

With Taylor possibly on his way out of Parkhead on a free transfer, the Hoops may look to revitalise their full-back option, and Ralston could be a player on the chopping block if they decide to make changes in those positions, which could make this his last Old Firm match for the club.

Or, if Ralston does stay at Parkhead, Rodgers should look to use other options from the start to avoid the defender from being a liability down the right flank, as he was on Sunday.

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Posts 1 ByDan Emery May 3, 2025

Manchester United’s season isn’t over just yet, not if Ruben Amorim can help it, although the same can’t be said for Marcus Rashford, with the exiled Englishman looking set to miss the remainder of the campaign through injury.

Currently on the books at Aston Villa, following his February loan switch to the Midlands, the 27-year-old will have to watch on as his parent club bid for Europa League glory – eight years on from playing a vital role in lifting that same trophy under Jose Mourinho.

In what was just his first full season in the senior ranks at Old Trafford, the then-youngster notably came alive in the knockout stages, racking up five goals and assists in total, including a stunning, crucial free-kick away to Celta Vigo.

That impact had followed on from Rashford’s emergence onto the scene a year earlier in the final few months of the 2015/16 season, having ended that campaign with eight goals in just 18 first-team games under Louis van Gaal’s watch.

Perhaps his prime years, however, came during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign, with the academy graduate registering 26 goal contributions in 31 Premier League games in 2019/20, followed by a further 24 in 37 top-flight outings in the following season.

Rashford’s last five Man Utd seasons (all comps)

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25*

24

7

3

2023/24

43

8

6

2022/23

56

30

11

2021/22

32

5

2

2020/21

57

21

18

*Not including record at Villa

Stats via Transfermarkt

A brief resurgence did occur in 2022/23, amid the forward’s 30-goal heroics, although recent years have showcased far too much inconsistency, with the Three Lions star now looking set for a permanent summer exit. A potential youthful replacement appears to have already been lined up…

Latest on Man Utd's search for a forward

Alongside the widely reported move for Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, the signing of a new centre-forward appears hot on the agenda for Amorim and INEOS this summer, with Rasmus Hojlund having scored just four league goals in 2024/25 thus far.

As outlined by GIVEMESPORT, the Red Devils have identified Liam Delap and Victor Osimhen as the prime candidates in the search for a new number nine, albeit with boths deals said to be ‘complicated’.

Indeed, there are doubts over whether the £30m-rated Delap is keen on moving to Old Trafford at this point in his embryonic career, while as for Osimhen, there are concerns regarding the Nigerian’s potential wage demands and willingness to actually feature for the club.

Transfer Focus

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

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With that in mind, alternatives to their pair are now being drawn up, with the report outlining that one of those whom INEOS are also ‘keeping tabs’ on is Eintracht Frankfurt sensation, Hugo Ekitike.

Previously on the books at Paris Saint-Germain – having also been heavily linked with Newcastle United in past – the Frenchman has dazzled in Germany this season, hence the interest in him from those in Manchester.

One major obstacle would be the 22-year-old’s reported £80m price tag, although if any kind of leeway can be found, then he may come onto United’s radar in a more concrete manner.

Why Hugo Ekitike is like a prime Rashford

Following a difficult few years under the Manchester United microscope, Rashford had looked like getting back to his best in a Villa shirt of late, prior to his recent cruel injury blow.

Indeed, the experienced forward notably scored his first league goal for the Villans with a breakaway goal on the counter against Brighton and Hove Albion, evoking memories of his goal against Arsenal at the start of 2022/23, or his second strike in the 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea on the opening day of 2019/20.

Against Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, the resurgent striker was also breathtaking at times as Unai Emery’s side bravely crashed out at the quarter-final stage, with Rashford teeing up Ezri Konsa following a stunning solo run down the right flank.

That speed and skill showed shades of the Rashford that United fans had seen in years gone by, with the polarising talent having looked almost “unstoppable” in his pomp – as noted by Erik ten Hag.

In many ways, the aforementioned Ekitike is showing exciting similarities to that prime version of ‘Rashy’, not least in his ability to sparkle off the left or in his usual centre-forward berth.

This season, in particular, has been a fruitful one for the former PSG starlet, as he has already registered 22 goals and a further ten assists in 45 games for Frankfurt across all fronts, including 15 goals and six assists in the Bundesliga.

He is then not too far off emulating Rashford’s best-ever Premier League tally, which came, as alluded to previously, in 2019/20, amid his record of 17 goals and nine assists during that Covid-impacted campaign.

Ekitike (2024/25) vs Rashford (2019/20)

Stat (per 90)

Ekitike

Rashford

Non-penalty goals

0.55

0.37

Assists

0.24

0.24

Shot-creating actions

3.68

3.24

Pass completion

75.8%

75.3%

Progressive passes

1.92

4.22

Progressive carries

3.41

3.58

Successful take-ons

1.88

2.04

Touches in attacking penalty area

7.21

5.18

Progressive passes received

7.80

8.51

Stat via FBref

Described as “one of the best strikers out there” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, Ekitike does mirror the United outcast in a range of attacking metrics too, when comparing those two seasons, with the Frankfurt talisman also something of a monster in that left channel.

That quality was on full display as the in-demand marksman netted in fine fashion against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League, running at his man from that left flank, before unleashing a delightful finish into the far corner.

It is difficult not to see an element of Rashford at his best when witnessing Ekitike in full flow, with the France U21 international potentially representing the perfect successor to the Red Devils’ 138-goal enigma.

United were his “favourite club” as a child, by the way…

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Posts ByRobbie Walls Apr 30, 2025

Rangers and prospective new owners the 49ers Enterprises have been making early moves for a new Ibrox manager in Europe.

Rangers and 49ers release statement on takeover

The rumours over a takeover at Rangers involving the 49ers have gone into overdrive in recent months, with previous claims suggesting that there was confidence of a deal being completed ahead of the 2025/26 season.

In recent days, Rangers and the consortium have issued a joint statement, saying to Sky Sports: “Rangers and its existing controlling shareholders are in productive conversations with the two lead members of the Consortium, Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises Global Football Group, about the potential for the Consortium to acquire control of the club and to inject additional capital. These discussions reflect a shared recognition of the importance of Rangers FC’s long-term direction, ambitions and management.”

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Posts ByRoss Kilvington Apr 26, 2025

One of their first tasks in Glasgow will be to appoint a new permanent manager, with the Gers currently having Barry Ferguson in interim charge until the end of the campaign after parting ways with Philippe Clement.

Ferguson is keen on the Rangers job on a full-time basis and vowed to make the club “better” if he is given the opportunity.

“In terms of in the future, managing elsewhere, no. I enjoyed my role at Rangers before, and if that’s not going to be managing, then hopefully I’ll just go back to that and enjoy what I was doing. If I get the job, I will make my club a better club. If I don’t get the job I will still support the club.”

Rangers last 5 permanent managers

Philippe Clement

2023-2025

Michael Beale

2022-2023

Giovanni van Bronckhorst

2021-2022

Steven Gerrard

2018-2021

Pedro Caixinha

2017

However, it looks as if the 49ers have other plans in mind when it comes to a new Rangers boss, going off an update from The Athletic.

Rangers and 49ers hold manager talks in Europe

According to The Athletic, relayed by Give Me Sport, Rangers and the 49ers have been holding talks with managers in Europe ahead of a potential summer move.

No specific names are mentioned, however, 49ers technical director Gretar Steinsson has held Rangers discussions with managerial candidates across Europe.

There have been a few managers in Europe who have been linked with the Ibrox role, including Jose Mourinho who is currently in charge of Fenerbahce. As we know, Ferguson and Rangers got the better of Mourinho and Fenerbahce in the Europa League earlier this year.

Marco Rose, who has links with Red Bull and by extension the 49ers due to the connection at Leeds United, is another who has been mooted as a potential target after he left RB Leipzig in March.

It will be interesting to see what route the 49ers go down in regards to bringing in a new manager, but they aren’t wasting time with Steinsson working behind the scenes.

Tottenham Hotspur have some major rebuilding to do if they’re to become genuine Premier League title contenders, with two big names now tipped to leave as part of the process.

Tottenham seal Europa League semi-final place after Thursday win

After a hard-fought victory at Eintracht Frankfurt, where Ange Postecoglou’s side were forced to dig deep and display truly heroic, last-gasp defending over a dogged showing, Spurs have now booked their place in the Europa League semi-finals.

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025

Dominic Solanke’s penalty was enough to hand the Lilywhites a spot in the next round, where they will play fairy tale semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt, after the Norwegian minnows knocked out Lazio on penalties.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Tottenham showcased true professionalism to get the job done on a tough, hostile night in Germany, with Postecoglou’s side keeping their nerve on away soil and earning serious praise from their manager.

“Yeah, I’m delighted with many things, super proud of the lads,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s win at Eintracht.

“Going away from home, a quarter-final against a very good side, you know you’re going to have to work really hard, be really disciplined, and we needed to score. We had to show the quality we had as well.

“To a man, I just thought they were outstanding, so proud of them. In such a big game, they delivered a performance, and it means we’re through to a semi-final. I think over the two legs we deserved to go through. It could have been all over in the first leg, but we earned the right to be in the semi.”

Playmaker James Maddison put his body on the line to win Spurs the penalty which ultimately proved decisive, but according to talkSPORT pundit Troy Deeney, the England international is one of four players who could be sacrificed in the transfer market by chairman Daniel Levy.

Troy Deeney says Tottenham could let go of Son Heung-min and James Maddison

As well as Maddison, Deeney believes fellow big-name Son Heung-min could leave Tottenham soon.

The attacking stars, on a combined £260,000-per-week at N17, have both played mainstay roles under Postecoglou – but the pundit believes Spurs’ duo may well depart alongside the likes of Richarlison and Yves Bissouma.

“For me, he’s done a good job blooding the younger players and giving them the confidence to go and score a lot,” said Deeney on talkSPORT this week.

“Brennan Johnson, what is he on, about 16 goals now? I think they’re in a transition period, I think you could see the likes of Son [Heung-min] move on. Potentially [James] Maddison, [Yves] Bissouma, Richarlison, these guys will start moving on.

“And then obviously they have a lot of young players like Mikey Moore, but I still think they’re a little bit like Chelsea. They need one, maybe two, older pros just to be like, ‘We don’t do that here, this is how you win things.’

“And that’s the bit I think that they’re missing.”

With the summer transfer window approaching, Aston Villa now reportedly lead the race to sign a Champions League striker who would cost them just over £33m in the coming months.

Aston Villa set to finally replace Duran

If those in the Midland believed that Unai Emery’s attacking options were too good to be true at the start of the season then they were quickly proven right in the January transfer window. The Villans were spoilt for choice with both Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran – both of whom were in excellent form in the opening stages of the season – but it was not a luxury that the latter appreciated.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Apr 1, 2025

Often forced to perform in cameo roles as Emery’s super sub, Duran headed for the exit door in January, swapping the Midlands for Saudi Arabia and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr side. And whilst since then Marco Asensio has joined Marcus Rashford to add more firepower to their frontline, Villa need a permanent solution away from their loan deals.

With money still to burn from Duran’s sale, a fresh attacking option could be on the cards given recent links to previous target Joao Felix and now another Serie A star.

According to TeamTalk, Aston Villa are now leading the race to sign Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus this summer ahead of their Premier League rivals. The Serbian striker has gradually fallen down the pecking order in Turn and new manager Igor Tudor has now reportedly been told to hand him game time in an attempt to maximise his value.

As things stand, Vlahovic is worth just €40m (£33.5m) in what would hand Villa the chance to land an undeniable bargain. Emery has already helped both Asensio and Rashford rediscover their best form and could now take a gamble on Vlahovic before doing the same next season.

"Amazing" Vlahovic needs Aston Villa move

Villa Park is the place to be for struggling stars to rediscover their golden touch and that may not be any different for Vlahovic. It’s worth noting that, even amid criticism as Juventus, the Serbia international has still scored 14 goals in all competitions in a record that could only improve given that he’s just 25 years old.

It wasn’t so long ago that the forward found himself at the centre of praise either, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig describing the Juventus man as “simply an amazing centre-forward when fully fit” midway through last season.

Juventus already made one mistake by letting Dean Huijsen leave for the Premier League last summer, before watching the defender thrive at Bournemouth. Now, a year on, Villa could take full advantage of their exit door swinging open once again as Vlahovic desperately seeks the chance to get back to his best.

Elite central midfielders cost a pretty penny in the transfer market in the modern day, but Manchester United are trying to find their next top talent in such an area.

Over the years, the Red Devils have previously been home to numerous incredible talents, with Paul Scholes one of the best midfielders to ever play for the club.

The Englishman made a staggering total of 718 appearances for the club over a 19-year period, subsequently winning every major honour available in the 1990s and 2000s.

He was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad that often dominated England’s top-flight, subsequently being a part of the squad that managed to win 11 Premier League titles.

However, in the present day, boss Ruben Amorim is yet to taste glory in the division, with the potential moves for numerous players potentially aiding his quest for success.

Man Utd ready big-money bid for new midfielder

Over the last couple of weeks, United have once again been labelled as one of the sides interested in a potential winter deal to land Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.

It’s been reported that Amorim’s men could look to revisit such a move in the months ahead, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side once again expected to demand a fee in the region of £100m.

However, the Red Devils are likely unwilling to fork out such a fee, especially after rejecting a move for the Cameroonian in the summer after a similar price tag was mooted.

He’s not the only midfielder currently in INEOS’ sights, as Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton has once again appeared on their radar over the last couple of days.

According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s men are set to make a €100m (£87m) offer to sign the 21-year-old when the winter window opens on January 1st.

It also states that the Eagles don’t want to part ways with their young talent, but could be forced to cash in if a bid of such a nature is to be made in the near future.

How Wharton compares to Caicedo

As previously mentioned, big money is currently being spent in the transfer market on midfield talent – with Moises Caicedo the best example of such a scenario in 2023.

The Ecuadorian international joined Chelsea for a reported £115m two years ago – a then English record – but it has since been broken by striker Alexander Isak.

However, such a deal now appears to be an excellent one despite the mammoth sum forked out for his signature, with the 24-year-old currently one of the best midfielders in Europe.

He was named as the Blues’ Player and Supporters Player of the Season for 2024/25, with clubs like United no doubt wishing they had their own version of the midfielder.

Whilst landing such a player would also cost a pretty penny, the Red Devils fans could get their wish of getting a similar calibre of player if they complete a move for Wharton.

The Englishman has been labelled as a similar player to Caicedo by FBref, with the Palace star even managing to outperform the Blues sensation in numerous key areas.

Wharton has registered more key passes and more passes into the final third per 90 to date, arguably making him a better ball-playing option at the base of the midfield.

How Wharton & Caicedo compare in the PL (25/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Wharton

Caicedo

Games played

13

12

Goals & assists

2

4

Progressive passes

5.9

5.7

Key passes

1.7

0.5

Clearances made

1.6

1.1

Tackles won

1.2

1.1

Take-on success

43%

31%

Recoveries made

5.8

5.6

Stats via FBref

Whilst being composed with the ball is key in Amorim’s system, the manager is desperately craving a dominant ball-winner who can sit and conduct the play in front of the backline.

The Palace star has demonstrated just that, even bettering the Chelsea star in that aspect, as seen by his higher tally of tackles won in the middle third of the pitch this campaign.

Wharton’s all-round dominance over the former English record addition is highlighted in his better take-on success rate and higher tally of recoveries made per 90 – which has led to one coach dubbing him the “best English midfielder since Scholes”. It sounds a stretch but given the numbers and clamour from many Three Lions supporters to see him alongside Declan Rice at next summer’s World Cup, it’s easy to see why that assessment has been made.

£87m may seem a mammoth sum for such a young talent, but it’s evident that the Englishman has bags of ability, but not to mention the potential to improve further in the years ahead.

If he can replicate such numbers at Old Trafford, he would certainly become a fan-favourite, potentially emulating Scholes in helping the club create new history in the Premier League.

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A CBF decidiu adiar jogos do Brasileirão que envolvem clubes gaúchos até o próximo dia 27, em razão da tragédia que assola o Rio Grande do Sul (RS), causada pelas chuvas intensas na região. A medida também vale para as equipes do estado que disputam outras divisões e modalidades do futebol nacional.

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A entidade optou por manter o andamento da competição para os demais clubes. A principal alegação para a decisão é o calendário da temporada, segundo apuração do Lance!.

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A CBF monitora os eventos climáticos no estado e planeja tomar decisões de acordo com o desenvolvimento dos acontecimentos. A instituição reforça o apoio e participação nas ações em benefício à população gaúcha.

O principal impasse alegado por pessoas da CBF é o calendário da temporada. No momento, não haveria como realocar tantas partidas adiadas, ainda com competições paralelas, como Libertadores, Sul-Americana, Copa América e Mundial de Clubes.

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As diretorias de Internacional, Grêmio e Juventude tinham a intenção de que todo o campeonato fosse paralisado. Contudo, não teria ocorrido uma união com a maioria das equipes da Série A para pressionar pela medida.

O Athletico-PR foi citado como um dos que, enfaticamente, foi contra o adiamento geral. Em contato com Flamengo, Palmeiras, São Paulo, Corinthians e Bragantino, o Lance! ouviu que os clubes não tornarão público um posicionamento favorável ou contrário ao tema. Todos promoveram ações em prol dos equipes e da população gaúcha.

Flamengo, Palmeiras e São Paulo colocaram estádios e centros de treinamento à disposição de Inter, Grêmio e Juventude. O Verdão vai reverter a arrecadação da bilheteria da partida diante do Athletico-PR, no final de semana, em doações. Corinthians e Vasco foram outros clubes que disponibilizaram suas estruturas para equipes gaúchas.

Veja a nota oficial da CBF:

“Em virtude do estado de calamidade pública no Rio Grande do Sul, decretado pelos Governos Federal e Estadual, decorrente dos eventos climáticos extremos ocorridos,a CBF manifesta sua total solidariedade à população gaúcha e reforça que o foco atual é o atendimento às suas necessidades imediatas e emergenciais.

A CBF, na condição de entidade organizadora das competições nacionais, e atenta às suas funções institucionais, bem assim ao esforço humanitário que o momento reclama, reafirma seu irrestrito apoio às autoridades para que todas as medidas e ações sejam adotadas em benefício da população gaúcha, cujo socorro é a prioridade máxima.

Diante do atual cenário, tendo recebido na noite de 06 de maio de 2024 o ofício no. 57/2024, oriundo da Federação Gaúcha de Futebol (FGF), que encaminhou e endossou o pleito dos seus clubes filiados,a CBF informa que ficam adiadas todas as partidas envolvendo equipes do Rio Grande de Sul nas competições nacionais, como mandante ou visitante, previstas até o dia 27 de maio de 2024.”

Tudo sobre

Brasileirão

There’s no denying that Chelsea employed a scattergun spending approach in the early days of BlueCo’s ownership, but that has since been streamlined over the past few years, with Enzo Maresca proving the perfect man for the job.

Sunday’s Premier League clash is a big one, with Stamford Bridge playing host to a top-of-the-table clash between Chelsea and Arsenal. The second-place Blues will narrow the deficit to just three points with a win.

This is a team building toward a period of sustained success, and the tactical readings suggest that Chelsea are already one of the most exciting attacking outfits in the division, even if there is a sense that there are several levels still to be scaled.

Premier League 25/26 – xG Leaders

Club

Position

xG

Chelsea

2nd

22.1

Man City

3rd

21.8

Arsenal

1st

20.7

Crystal Palace

5th

20.2

Man Utd

10th

19.9

Data via FBref

However, a question mark lingers over number nine, with Liam Delap yet to prove he is the answer. Could Chelsea be looking to sign an upgrade?

Why Chelsea are searching for a striker

In fairness, Delap has spent a sizeable portion of his first months in west London in the infirmary. Still, since returning from a hamstring injury that has kept him out for much of the autumn, the English striker has started twice in the Premier League and failed to break his duck on both counts.

That said, he did net his first goal of the campaign for the Blues against Barcelona in midweek, coming off the bench and coolly converting to seal the 3-0 win after neat interplay between Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez.

However, the £30m summer signing from Ipswich Town has yet to prove he has what it takes to nail down a berth at the front of Maresca’s system, and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart are searching for a potential upgrade.

They may have found one. According to Sky Germany, Chelsea are among the outfits to have been informed that Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy is worth about €50m (£44m), applicable for a number of top European outfits.

Chelsea are in the mix, and though Delap and Joao Pedro make up a dynamic central strike force in west London, Guirassy’s clinical record suggests he could add an interesting dimension to a title-challenging side.

What Guirassy would bring to Chelsea

Guirassy, 29, might not fit the age profile Chelsea have focused on targeting in recent years, but his experience and maturity in the final third would serve as a neat counterpoint to the younger generation.

Delap caught the eye for Ipswich last season, a shining light as he scored 12 goals across 37 Premier League outings. Kieran McKenna’s side were relegated, but so many teams swarmed for Delap’s signature, and Chelsea won the race.

The 22-year-old has a future at Stamford Bridge, but Maresca’s side need someone in the now who can maintain a fight against Arsenal, while pushing deep into the Champions League too.

Guirassy is “one of the best strikers in Europe”, according to German legend Lothar Matthaus, and he ranks among the top 11% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

Serhou Guirassy – Last 4 Seasons (Bundesliga)

Season

Apps

Goals + Assists

25/26

10

5 + 1

24/25

30

21 + 2

23/24

28

28 + 2

22/23

22

11 + 0

Data via Sofascore

He’s hardly just a mindless poacher, with silky footwork and intelligent positioning that allows him to roam around the attacking half and link up with teammates.

But, at his core, Guirassy is indeed a goalscorer, and Chelsea may find that Delap earns fewer minutes with the Guinean striker in the mix.

It’s a tough one, but given the promising position Maresca’s side have placed themselves into, it might just be the move to make.

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