All posts by h716a5.icu

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side dropped two vital points in their 2-2 draw against Ipswich. However, it could have been far worse, having gone into the half time interval 2-0 down courtesy of goals from Julio Enciso and Ben Johnson.

In the first half, the Blues had 76% possession, generating 1.03 xG, creating two big chances and taking 15 shots, but didn’t manage to find the breakthrough.

This saw Chelsea come out far more aggressive in the second half, adjusting to Maresca’s attacking 2-2-5-1 shape at times and looking to take the game to Ipswich even more.

In the second half, the Blues had 72% possession, generated another 1.11 xG, created two more big chances and took a further 19 shots, this time managing to score two goals for their efforts, making it 2-2 courtesy of an own goal from Axel Tuanzebe and Jadon Sancho, taking a point from the game.

But, one point will be seen as a huge failure for Chelsea, as they now drop to sixth in the Premier League, sitting one point off Manchester City in fifth, two points off of Newcastle in fourth and three points off of Nottingham Forest in third.

Cole Palmer's woes continue

Cole Palmer has long been the star man for Chelsea, scoring 14 times this season, providing nine assists and totaling 2,962 minutes played.

However, despite adding another assist to his tally against Ipswich, the 22-year-old has been in disappointing form for some time.

Against Kieran McKenna’s side, Palmer had 77 touches, made four key passes and took six shots (only one on target), but the England international has looked off the pace in recent weeks.

He’s lacked confidence and conviction in his actions, having four of his shots easily blocked and losing his duels (seven of his nine in total).

Chalkboard

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

Whether Palmer can find some confidence and form during this last stretch of the season could be what stands between their Champions League chances, but he isn’t the only one struggling right now.

In fact, the Blues have a far bigger problem at the other end of the pitch, who continues to cost them points this campaign.

Chelsea's 5/10 flop must be axed

Chelsea continue to have struggles between the sticks, as Robert Sanchez put in another sub-par performance, being awarded a 5/10 match rating from GOAL, who wrote of his display that ‘the goalkeeper set a sour tone with incredibly poor distribution and looked a bag of nerves throughout.’

The 27-year-old has made as many as 28 appearances for the Blues this season, already conceding 33 goals, keeping seven clean sheets in 2,520 minutes played.

Sanchez often put Maresca’s side under pressure against Ipswich, looking to play out from the back, but only completing one of his nine long ball attempts in the game and having a 64% passing accuracy, losing possession and allowing Ipswich to attack the Blues when out of shape.

Minutes

90

Touches

35

Accurate Passes

16/25

Long Balls

1/9

Saves

2

High Claims

1

Errors lead to shot

1

These mistakes have been occurring all season. On certain occasions, the Spaniard has made some big saves to offset the criticism for his blunders, but that was not the case against Ipswich, as Sanchez only managed two saves, conceding two of the four shots on his goal.

Chelsea’s chances of playing Champions League football next season could fall flat due to their issues in this department, and whether they make it or not, big changes will be needed in the goalkeeping department next season, either from internal solutions or the transfer market. Sanchez must be axed, not just for their next game, but for next season.

He's like Estevao & Vini Jr: Chelsea plot £103m bid to sign Madrid star

Chelsea are looking for another new winger

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 10, 2025

49ers Enterprises have now made contact with a rather surprising new candidate over the possibility of replacing Daniel Farke at Leeds United, according to a report.

Latest on Daniel Farke’s future at Leeds

Despite talking about the fact that the Whites sealed automatic promotion to the Premier League last weekend, talk since then has been about the future of Farke, as the 49ers weigh up what to do with the German.

Shades of Pablo Hernandez: Leeds could sign "unbelievable" Aaronson upgrade

Leeds United could try to snap up this top EFL star now promotion has been sealed.

1 ByKelan Sarson Apr 28, 2025

It’s been reported that club chiefs could be ready to sack the former Norwich man and bring in a replacement before the new season begins in the top flight. The hierarchy are tempted to move on from the Leeds boss as they are not sure whether he is the right man to lead them in the Premier League, given his record in the division while in charge of the Canaries. A decision hasn’t been fully made yet, but already there are names being linked with a move to Elland Road.

Jose Mourinho has been talked up about making a return to England and the Premier League, while Give Me Sport have reported that the Whites are interested in former Southampton manager Russell Martin. Leeds are said to be considering a move to appoint the Scotsman, despite the fact he was sacked by the Saints because of their start to life in the top flight. Martin has been sounded out about a return to the managerial dugout and what his vision would be.

49ers make contact with ex-Rangers boss to replace Farke at Leeds

But the list of possible replacements doesn’t stop there, as according to The Guardian, Leeds have made contact with Giovanni van Bronckhorst about becoming their new manager.

The report states that chairman Paraag Marathe is flying into the UK on Monday from San Francisco to talk to Farke about his future at Elland Road. The American will attend Leeds’ match against Bristol City before then holding a meeting with the German later in the week.

Marathe will need to be convinced by Farke that he is the right man for the job, as the Whites already have looked at managers who are out of work or would cost a low compensation fee given their financial restrictions. They have ‘sounded out’ van Bronckhorst, as well as Roger Schmidt and Davide Ancelotti.

Games

68

Won

42

Drawn

11

Lost

15

Points

137

Points per game

2.01

Van Bronckhorst, who managed Rangers between November 2021 and November 2022 and led them to the Europa League final in the process, has been out of work since leaving Besiktas in November last year.

The 50-year-old has experience of playing in British football, as he played for Rangers and Arsenal, but has never managed in England. Therefore, his arrival would be a huge gamble for the Whites and a baffling one at that, with Farke’s experience with Norwich likely better than none at all.

The bad news is that Arsenal’s campaign is set to end trophyless for a fifth year running; the good news is that there are only three games left until it’s over.

Mikel Arteta’s side had the chance to make it to only the second Champions League final in the club’s history on Wednesday night, but despite their fast start, they couldn’t get over the line.

Perhaps things would have been a little different if Kai Havertz had been fit and leading the line; as for all the criticism he gets, the German remains the club’s top scorer this season, even though he hasn’t played since early February.

However, even though he’s not been too bad when fit this season, he may well find his minutes reduced next year, as, based on reports, the club are looking at a striker who might just be an upgrade.

Arsenal's striker search

With the striker position being such a clear area to address, Arsenal have been linked with a plethora of incredible strikers in recent months, such as Jonathan David and Viktor Gyokeres.

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 has scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists in 47 games this season, and best of all would be available for free, as his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

Gyokeres, on the other hand, could cost a whopping £70m, although as he’s managed to score a staggering 52 goals and provide 12 assists in 49 games for Sporting CP, that may well be a fair price.

However, if Arteta and Co want to spend more money on other positions in the team, they might opt for a cheaper but still effective striker to come in, which would explain the interest in Evann Guessand.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in signing the French forward.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that West Ham United, Aston Villa and Newcastle United have sent scouts to watch him in recent games, while other stories have also credited Manchester United with an interest in the 23-year-old.

A potential price is not revealed in the report, but according to other stories from the start of the year, he could be available for around £25m, which would make this potential transfer feel like a no-brainer, especially as he could be an upgrade on Havertz.

How Guessand compares to Havertz

Now, while Guessand is more than capable of playing off the right of a front three, it seems incredibly unlikely that he would ever start there ahead of Saka.

So, were he to join Arsenal in the summer, he’d almost certainly be played down the middle, in turn putting him up against Havertz for game time, but who’s the better player?

Well, when we look at their raw output, it’s incredibly close.

For example, when looking at all competitions, the German has scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 34 games, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.7 games.

This is marginally better than the Nice ace, as his 12 goals and nine assists in 40 appearances come out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.90 games.

However, when we take a look at their league records, their bread and butter, it’s the Frenchman who comes ahead, with 11 goals and eight assists in 31 appearances to the Aachen-born star’s nine goals and three assists in 21 appearances, coming out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.63 and 1.75 league games respectively.

Interesting, and quite crucially, while there isn’t much to separate them regarding their output, things start to look a lot better for the “unpredictable” 23-year-old, as dubbed by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, when we take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.67

0.59

Progressive Passes

2.85

2.89

Progressive Carries

3.11

1.67

Goals per Shot

0.19

0.17

Goals per Shot on Target

0.44

0.43

Passing Accuracy

74.0%

78.5%

Expected Assists

0.17

0.08

Key Passes

1.11

0.78

Passes into the Final Third

1.70

1.27

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.96

0.39

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.15

0.05

Shot-Creating Actions

3.19

2.01

Goal-Creating Actions

0.56

0.15

Successful Take-Ons

1.59

0.44

Ball Recoveries

3.52

1.91

In almost every relevant metric, the Ajaccio-born poacher comes out on top, metrics including, but not limited to, non-penalty goals plus assists, expected assists, progressive carries, goals per shot and shot on target, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons, key passes and more, all per 90.

So, while their output is somewhat similar at the moment, the Nice gem has far better underlying numbers, so it wouldn’t be unrealistic to expect his goal and assist tallies to dramatically improve if he was in a better team.

Ultimately, Guessand is already a great forward, and with his age and the price tag, signing him this summer feels like a no-brainer for Arsenal, even if it could be bad news for Havertz’s future game time.

Arsenal line up move for PSG star who'd be a big upgrade on Martinelli

The incredibly entertaining international is just what Arsenal need this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 8, 2025

Rangers and the 49ers Enterprises are believed to be interested in signing an “incredibly athletic” player in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Sebastien Denis.

Rangers and 49ers eyeing new manager and signings

The Gers are coming towards the end of what has ultimately been a disappointing season, starting with the doomed reign of Philippe Clement, who allowed his side to drift too far behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race.

Barry Ferguson came in and steadied the ship in interim charge, guiding Rangers to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, but it looks like a permanent replacement will arrive in the summer. Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl has been mentioned as an option in recent days, with the German looking increasingly likely to leave the Owls at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, the likes of Steven Gerrard and Marco Rose are seen as the front-runners to come in at Ibrox as the 49ers plan for a busy first summer. In terms of new signings on the pitch, Bobby Clark has been linked with a summer move to Rangers, with the former Liverpool youngster currently at RB Salzburg. Playing time has been hard to come by, though, with just two substitute appearances coming his way in the Austrian Bundesliga this season.

Rangers want to sign "incredibly athletic" £6m+ defender

Now according to a new claim from Denis on X, Estoril defender Kevin Boma is a “very popular” option for Rangers, as well as Basel and Union Berlin, with the Scottish giants eyeing a move for him in the summer window.

He goes on to describe the 22-year-old as “already one of the best defenders in Portugal” and his current club could demand as much as £6.8m for his signature.

Boma may not be the most renowned Rangers target in recent months, but the fact that Denis speaks so highly of him immediately suggests he could be an exciting young addition for next season and beyond.

The Estoril ace has won two caps for Togo at senior international level, having previously represented France’s Under-18s, and journalist Kai Watson has described him as “incredibly athletic”.

The fee that Estoril are demanding for Boma doesn’t seem too steep, considering his long-term potential, so Rangers could be looking at him as a strong option to be a mainstay at the heart of their defence for years to come.

Rangers may join race for exciting coach who learned trade at Bayern Munich

He’s set to leave his current club.

ByTom Cunningham May 9, 2025

Becoming more defensively resolute will aid them in their efforts to close the gap on Celtic in 2025/26, with the Gers conceding 15 more goals than their rivals in the league, which has played a part in their title challenge petering out the longer the campaign has gone on.

Chelsea’s defensive numbers this season, Enzo Maresca’s first campaign in charge at Stamford Bridge, certainly catch the eye for the right reasons.

According to FBref, they have been one of the outstanding sides at the back, conceding just 43 goals across the entire campaign.

That was bettered by three sides, namely Manchester City, newly-crowned champions Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal. The West Londoners are also one of eight sides who have kept double-figure clean sheets this term, with ten to their name.

Yet, they are still not at the level they need to be in order to challenge for the title, highlighted by the fact that the top two in the league have conceded fewer goals. Thus, it may not be a surprise to learn the Blues are targeting a new defender this summer.

Chelsea’s new defensive target

If there is one defender who has been consistently linked with a move away from his current club, it is Dean Huijsen. However, with the Bournemouth centre-back heading in the direction of Real Madrid, they need to source an alternative.

That alternative could be Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite. With the rumour mill continuously in motion for 12 months or so, he could finally be on his way out of the club this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from former chief scout of Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers, Mick Brown, talking with Football Insider, the Blues have ‘been looking at’ a deal to bring Branwthaite to Stamford Bridge this summer.

However, the defender, who has played for England as recently as last summer, will not come cheap.

The report suggests that Everton will ask for as much as £100m for their star centre-back, which is money they could reinvest into the squad as a new era dawns on the Blue half of Merseyside.

Why Branthwaite could be Chelsea's new John Terry

Should the West London outfit convince Branthwaite to swap the Blue of Everton for the Blue of Chelsea, he could become their new John Terry. The former Blues skipper is an all-time great, described by Jamie Redknapp as “the best Premier League defender” he’s ever seen.

The 44-year-old is a five-time English top-flight champion and also won one Champions League title for Chelsea.

He made an incredible 717 appearances for his boyhood club and was the club captain for 13 years.

There are certainly similarities between the two. Not only are they both England internationals, with plenty of potential, as the numbers behind Branthwaite’s season have shown, but they are leaders, too.

Of course, Terry was a huge leadership figure for Chelsea for over a decade, but Branthwaite has already captained England U21s as recently as March. He also has the potential to captain Chelsea one day, if his early forays into leadership are anything to go by. His performances on the pitch also do a lot of the talking.

Indeed, it has been yet another strong campaign for Branthwaite, helping to keep the Toffees in the Premier League after what was a poor start to the season. He has been a key player under both Sean Dyche and David Moyes.

This season, the 22-year-old, who was born in Carlisle, has played 33 games for Everton. 30 of those appearances have come in the Premier League, helping to keep nine clean sheets in the top flight so far.

Not only is he a “colossal” presence at the back, according to Statman Dave, but Branthwaite also offers a threat in the opposition box. Although he has gone without a goal this season, he has bagged four times across his short Everton career so far.

The numbers via Sofascore from Branthwaite’s last two seasons in the top flight show just how well he has performed in an Everton shirt. For example, this season, he has made 63 tackles and interceptions, although last term was even higher, with an impressive 116 tackles and interceptions.

Passes completed

981 (35)

1098 (31.7)

Long balls completed

73 (2.1)

85 (3)

Long ball accuracy

40.1%

45.2%

Tackles and interceptions

116 (3.3)

63 (2.3)

Aerial duels won

95 (2.7)

62 (2.2)

On the ball, the defender has an eye for a pass, which again is highlighted by the numbers. In the 2023/25 campaign, he has played 85 long balls at 45.2% accuracy, an improvement on last season’s 73 long balls with a 40.1% pass accuracy.

£100m is a huge price tag, but the West London side could finally replace Terry, something they have struggled, and ultimately failed, to do for a number of years now.

Maresca must finally bin £30m Chelsea flop who earns even more than Sesko

Chelsea must move on a few players when the transfer window opens

1 ByRoss Kilvington May 20, 2025

Crystal Palace have now joined the hotly-contested race to sign a “brilliant” new striker on a free transfer this summer, according to a recent report.

Nketiah reaches 50 goals in Crystal Palace win over Wolves

The Eagles followed up their amazing 1-0 triumph over Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday with an impressive 4-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in their final home game of the season, reaching a club record 52 Premier League points.

Crystal Palace now plotting quick deal to sign "aggressive" £20m midfielder

The Eagles are now eyeing a move for an attacking midfielder.

ByDominic Lund May 20, 2025

Oliver Glasner decided to hand striker Eddie Nketiah a rare start, and it was a move that paid off as he netted twice in a five-minute window to help the South Londoners on their way to victory. It meant Tuesday night’s game was a special landmark for the 25-year-old, as he netted his 50th career goal. After the game, Nketiah revealed he wants to contribute more next season.

“It is nice to reach that landmark. I know I can do much better and help the team. It’s a nice way to end the last home game, and I want to contribute more next season.”

Nketiah joined the Eagles last summer having decided to leave Arsenal in search of regular football. His move to Selhurst Park probably hasn’t quite gone the way he expected, as he’s made just nine starts in the Premier League, scoring only three goals, perhaps understandably struggling to get ahead of Jean-Philippe Mateta in the pecking order.

Crystal Palace join Leeds in race to sign £140k-p/w star on free transfer

Nketiah will hope next season he can contribute more, but his chances of doing so could be dealt a further blow, as according to Football Insider, Crystal Palace have made contact with Jamie Vardy over a move to Selhurst Park.

Football Insider reports that contact has been made between the South Londoners and Vardy’s camp, as they try to get an understanding of whether he would want to move to Selhurst Park. The 38-year-old, who scored in his final game at the King Power Stadium as a Leicester City player on Sunday, is planning to continue playing at the highest level.

Palace don’t have a clear run at signing the Englishman, as it’s already been reported that Wolves are already plotting a move to sign the striker, while Leeds are also advancing on a deal, and Everton are said to be leading the race to sign Vardy.

Apps

342

Goals

145

Assists

50

The 38-year-old, who has been hailed as “brilliant” by Gary Lineker, has scored nine goals in 35 Premier League games this season, taking his total top flight tally to 145, a number any striker would kill to achieve in one of the top leagues in Europe.

It isn’t clear if Vardy would be interested in a move to Palace, but if the Eagles have any chance of signing the striker, they are going to have to pay around the £140,000 mark for wages, as that is what Vardy currently earns at Leicester.

Full-backs in today’s game are a crucial position of the pitch, with modern-day managers wanting to see them effect the game in attack, while also being solid defensively.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been one of the best right-backs the Premier League has seen, but he has now left Liverpool for Real Madrid. But where does he rank in regards to best right-backs in Premier League history?

Ranking factors Appearances Longevity Titles Goals Clean sheets What others have said about them 20 best right-backs in Premier League history: in pictures 20 Dan Petrescu Sheffield Wednesday, Chelsea, Bradford, Southampton

Starting the countdown is Romanian icon Dan Petrescu, who was an attacking full-back best known for his time at Chelsea.

Petrescu cost the Blues a then-club-record £2.3m from Sheffield Wednesday back in 1995, but he starred at Stamford Bridge across a five-year spell before also featuring for Bradford and Southampton in the top flight, contributing to more than 50 league goals along the way.

Games

215

Goals

23

Assists

33

Clean sheets

42

19 Antonio Valencia Wigan, Man Utd

Starting out as a winger when he moved to England with Wigan, Antonio Valencia was slowly moved back to an attacking right-back role under Sir Alex Ferguson.

He still had that attacking output and was called a player who “has got everything” by Ferguson, with the Ecuadorian winning two league titles at Old Trafford.

Games

325

Goals

24

Assists

46

Clean sheets

105

Titles

2

18 John O’Shea Man Utd, Sunderland

Versatile defender John O’Shea would turn out as a right-back on numerous occasions for Man Utd and was also used as a centre-back and left-back during his career.

The Irishman, called a “great professional” who “never complains” by Sir Alex Ferguson, was a reliable performer and made more than 250 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils before going on to spend seven years with Sunderland.

Games

445

Goals

13

Assists

13

Clean sheets

115

Titles

5

17 Wes Brown Man Utd, Sunderland

Continuing the trend of right-backs to have played for Man Utd and Sunderland is Wes Brown, who won five Premier League titles with the Red Devils between 1997-2011.

Like O’Shea, Brown was used in a variety of defensive roles during his career and could excel at right-back. Sir Alex Ferguson, who knew his stuff, was also a big fan, calling Brown “the best natural defender in the country” back in 2009.

Games

308

Goals

4

Assists

9

Clean sheets

98

Titles

5

16 Seamus Coleman Everton

Arguably the best value-for-money signing in Premier League history, Seamus Coleman has been crucial for Everton since joining from Sligo Rovers in 2009.

Costing just £60,000, the Irishman has gone on to make more than 350 league appearances for the Toffees, coming in for praise from Frank Lampard who called Coleman “amazing”.

His longevity has been brilliant, and in his prime, Coleman has also been a real threat in the final third, contributing to 46 top flight goals.

Games

371

Goals

22

Assists

24

Clean sheets

96

15 Paulo Ferreira Chelsea

One of Jose Mourinho’s first signings at Chelsea back in 2004, Paulo Ferreira would enjoy a successful spell at Stamford Bridge, winning three Premier League titles.

The Portuguese defender sometimes went under the radar but played 29 times in the 2004/05 season which saw the Blues concede just 15 times in the league campaign.

Games

141

Assists

4

Clean sheets

56

Titles

3

14 Kieran Trippier Burnley, Tottenham, Newcastle

After coming through the Man City academy, Kieran Trippier made a name for himself in the Premier League with Burnley before spells with Tottenham and Newcastle.

A set-piece specialist from right-back, Trippier was dubbed as the perfect modern-day full-back by defensive icon Roberto Carlos and has scored and created numerous goals in the top flight.

Games

210

Goals

6

Assists

38

Clean sheets

52

13 Joao Cancelo Man City

Another brilliant attacking full-back, Joao Cancelo’s stay in the Premier League was relatively short, but he made a big impact at Man City under Pep Guardiola with his eye for a pass.

He won three titles in four seasons at the Etihad and was named in the PFA Team of the Year twice, while also being dubbed one of the best right-backs in the world by Nigel de Jong.

Games

98

Goals

5

Assists

11

Clean sheets

41

Titles

3

12 Gary Kelly Leeds

A one-club man with Leeds United, Irishman Gary Kelly was one of the best right-backs in the early years of the Premier League and made more than 300 top-flight appearances for the Whites.

Twice named in the PFA Team of the Year, Kelly was defensively sound but would also get forward when he could, averaging an assist every 10 appearances at Elland Road.

Games

325

Goals

2

Assists

31

Clean sheets

103

11 Stephen Carr Tottenham, Newcastle, Birmingham

Another old-school right-back, Stephen Carr made an appearance in 15 separate Premier League campaigns but will best be remembered for his time at Tottenham, where he was included in the PFA Team of the Year on two occasions.

Although he never got near to winning the title, Carr was extremely reliable and was a right-back who “had everything” according to Irish teammate Kenny Cunningham.

Games

377

Goals

8

Assists

17

Clean sheets

83

Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures for the 2025/26 season have now officially been released, as Blues fans everywhere begin to feverishly jot down where and when their beloved team will play all across the 38-game marathon.

Amazingly, Enzo Maresca’s men won’t have to leave the comforts of London behind for their first four top-flight clashes, with Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Fulham, and Brentford all coming in quick succession in August and September, before fierce ties with Manchester United and Liverpool then appear on the stacked calendar.

Before the Premier League excitedly kicks back into gear, however, Chelsea still have a Club World Cup tournament to compete in, alongside the hectic transfer window being in full swing.

The chaotic window is already throwing up lots of tasty transfer rumours involving Maresca’s men, with another high-profile name now being linked to enhance their attacking options even more.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

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ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025 Chelsea known admirers of 22-year-old PL ace

This has been a busy summer so far for the Blues and it’s showing no signs of slowing down amid rumours linking the likes of Jamie Gittens and Hugo Ekitike to the Bridge.

Transfer Focus

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

Now, as per a report from the Daily Mail Online, Chelsea are reportedly said to be keen admirers of Aston Villa superstar Morgan Rogers this summer.

The report does clarify that Unai Emery’s men aren’t entertaining the prospect of selling their standout performer, but with PSR issues lingering in the air, Villa could well need to sell up, with Rogers arguably their most valuable asset.

After all, it had been previously noted that Rogers could be available for an eye-watering fee around a £100m figure, with Arsenal also keen on the former Middlesbrough midfielder, according to the Mail.

It remains to be seen whether Maresca’s side or Mikel Arteta’s outfit would be willing to fork out such a high amount, but if Chelsea were ultimately successful in this ongoing race for the in-demand 22-year-old, they could well land a perfect partner for a growing Liam Delap to bounce off of.

How Rogers could make Delap even better

Delap is already up and running wearing his new Chelsea blue as opposed to his Ipswich Town colours, with his assist helping the Blues pick up a comfortable 2-0 victory over LAFC in the Club World Cup.

Still, the new £30m striker will be excused for feeling slightly nervous about Premier League action kicking off at Stamford Bridge, having only ever tasted top-flight football on the books of Kieran McKenna’s relegation-threatened minnows.

He will feel less apprehensive about the task ahead of improving his overall game, knowing Rogers has been in the same anxious boat and come out the other side stronger, with the 6-foot-2 attacker having to get up to speed with the Premier League mid-way through the 2023/24 season.

Rogers is definitely at home with the pressures of the top-flight now after firing home an encouraging three goals from 13 games during his debut campaign and then recording a stunning 14 goals and 15 assists in all competitions last season. That led to Jamie Carragher calling the in-demand 22-year-old “unstoppable” during this standout patch of form.

Games played

37

37

Goals scored

8

12

Assists

10

3

Big chances created

16

3

Big chances missed

11

10

Delap will pray he undergoes a similar transformation to Rogers, with the poacher clearly capable of being a reliable fox-in-the-box presence for a relegation-threatened outfit when collecting 12 league strikes for Ipswich.

But, with a sublime teammate such as the Villa number 27 by his side – who created a bumper 16 big chances last campaign – he could soon soar to even loftier heights.

Alongside being a potentially phenomenal comrade to the ex-Manchester City attacker, Rogers could also slot into the Chelsea XI down the left wing if needed, away from the Blues’ ongoing pursuit of Gittens.

If Chelsea wants to kick on this forthcoming season and be genuine title challengers, adding in faces such as Rogers could be the next impressive move, with a top-flight foe in Villa severely weakened in the process.

Chelsea prepared to sell one of their "best players" who Enzo Maresca loves

The Italian could lose a key man this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 18, 2025

Whilst Rangers continue to close in on their first arrival of the summer, as many as seven clubs are now reportedly battling it out to deal Russell Martin his first exit blow at Ibrox.

Rangers closing in on first arrival

According to recent reports, Rangers are set to sign Josh Mulligan from Dundee in a deal which is now imminent. The young right-midfielder has undergone a medical and looks destined to become the first signing of both the 49ers and Martin era.

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As the new owners attempt to bridge the gap on Old Firm rivals and Scottish Premiership champions Celtic, Mulligan may just be the start this summer. The Gers desperately need fresh faces even after the Scottish sensation and recent transfer rumours have provided plenty of hope on that front.

49ers chairman Paraag Marathe only added to that hope with his first interview at the club too, telling Rangers’ official website: “At 49ers Enterprises, we have built a track record of sporting and business success, but our driving motivation is our deep connection to the clubs and communities we serve.

“We are excited to join Andrew and our other consortium of investors in a new era for this iconic club, and we are determined to build something that supporters can be proud of for years to come.”

Mulligan aside, Rangers have also been linked with moves for Flynn Downes, who worked with Martin at Southampton, and veteran defender Conor Coady. Both players would be excellent additions, there’s no doubting that, but whether the Gers can lure them to Ibrox will be the big question this summer.

It’s not just incomings that the 49ers have to worry about either. Following another disappointing season, Rangers could yet lose some key men and that may even include a breakthrough talent this summer.

7 clubs now chasing Igamane deal

According to Foot Mercato, as relayed by Sport Witness, as many as seven teams are now chasing a deal to sign Hamza Igamane this summer. Described as a ‘breakthrough’ talent, the 22-year-old forward enjoyed an excellent debut season at Rangers and has now attracted interest from West Ham United, Brentford, Everton, Lens, RC Strasbourg, Lille, and Stade Rennais.

To make matters worse for Rangers, out of those interested parties, Lens have reportedly taken one step further by making contact over a potential deal.

To say that he is a man in demand would be an understatement, handing the Gers an uphill battle when attempting to keep hold of their star man. Although the interest in Igamane should come as no shock, not many at Ibrox would have expected the forward to enjoy such a clinical debut season in front of goal.

Yet, after netting as many as 16 goals in his debut season fresh from Morroco, Igamane has become an unexpected star that Rangers should be desperate to keep hold of his summer.

A Rangers “hero” within the space of a year as described by scout Jacek Kulig, losing Igamane would be a frustrating way for Martin and the 49ers to commence a new era.

Ten points was the margin between Arsenal and Liverpool in 2024/25. With the arrivals of Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, the Reds are looking to make that gap even bigger next term.

That’s certainly a real expectation too, particularly as the Gunners are yet to sign their elusive striker.

Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko. Take your pick as far as Mikel Arteta is concerned. Either would significantly strengthen the squad at the Emirates Stadium, take them closer to Liverpool who will be gunning for glory again.

Who Arsenal pick will likely come down to price, but they are two different players we’re talking about here.

Gyokeres is the readymade goal machine. The Swede was the most in-form striker in Europe last season, scoring 54 goals in 52 games. Sesko, on the other hand, boasts immense potential but did only find the net on 21 occasions for RB Leipzig last term.

So, as Andrea Berta goes about improving Arteta’s forward line, he’s also moved to strengthen the middle of the park with Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard set to arrive.

Why Arsenal are signing Zubimendi and Norgaard

Principally, these deals are happening because the Gunners are set to lose both Jorginho and Thomas Partey.

The former has already departed the club and is now at Flamengo, who are currently at the Club World Cup in America.

Partey’s future has been a little less certain. He wants to stay. Arsenal want him to stay. Still, the latest reports have suggested that an agreement hasn’t been found and he now looks likely to depart at the end of the month.

Thus, the arrivals of Zubimendi and Norgaard are key. The Spaniard is undoubtedly the more exciting addition here.

Set to join for just over £50m, the midfielder will be coming in from Real Sociedad with a fine reputation for being one of the finest tempo setters in the game.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has hailed the 26-year-old as “one of the best midfielders in the world” while European football expert, Sid Lowe, has noted that he “is just about as good a deep-lying midfielder there is in Europe, apart from maybe Rodri.”

Norgaard doesn’t possess the same sort of calibre but as far as Jorginho replacements go, he’ll be a steady pair of hands.

Set to arrive in a £10m deal, Arsenal will be bringing in a Premier League captain who won’t play very many minutes for a bargain fee. Even if he doesn’t make a huge impact on the field, his experience off it will undoubtedly be key.

Goals

0.16

0.13

Assists

0.13

0.22

Goal-creating actions

0.42

0.32

Pass success rate

82%

83%

Progressive passes

4.92

6.11

Passes into final 3rd

4.38

4.36

Tackles

2.52

1.69

Succesful take-ons

0.22

0.42

Confirming the arrival of new signings is always an exciting time for fans, but has a more important deal now been announced?

Another exciting deal for Arsenal has been announced

While this summer is very much about strengthening the squad, whether it be through Zubimendi or the arrivals of a Sesko or Gyokeres, the Gunners also need to keep their best players at the club.

In 2027, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba’s deals are all set to expire, and while the threat of Saka leaving is minuscule, there is a real threat that Saliba could depart.

Real Madrid have been courting him and we know how that story usually ends. Thus, getting new deals sorted for those three players will be a key part of Berta’s strategy.

He’s already tied down Gabriel to a new deal and the next announcement has seen Myles Lewis-Skelly put pen to paper.

The club’s official channels revealed on Thursday lunchtime that he’d signed a new long-term deal in N5 and the youngster was absolutely delighted.

Why is this more important than Zubimendi? Well, several reasons, the most prominent of which is that Lewis-Skelly is one of the best young players in world football.

Just 18, the full-back/midfielder has burst onto the scene in a remarkable way. A year ago, he was yet to make his senior debut for the club. Now, he ended the campaign as an England international, notably scoring on his debut, and as a PFA Young Player of the Year nominee.

It was a hell of a campaign for the teenager who, despite a few issues with discipline at the start, became a major force on the left-hand side of Arsenal’s defence.

He had the cojones to mimic Erling Haaland’s celebration after scoring against Manchester City and sparkled during the club’s run to the Champions League semi-finals.

“I’m sorry, is Lewis-Skelly really 18?”, commented Rio Ferdinand during Arsenal’s quarter-final victory over Real Madrid. “His date of birth is right, isn’t it? He looks so calm and so cool in and out of possession. Before the game he was on a call, just talking and chilling. He is special.”

He also earned acclaim from Gary Neville, who stated: “He’s gone in there and has made it look like he’s always been there. That’s the biggest compliment you can give a young player.” Fine praise indeed.

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What makes Lewis-Skelly stand out so much is his temperament. As Neville says, he looks like he’s been playing at the senior level for years.

Not just boasting an elite mentality, his technical attributes aren’t bad either. His composure is remarkable and his ability to evade the press and draw fouls is first-class.

In 2024/25, no Arsenal player won more duels (6) per 90 minutes than the teen. No Arsenal player ended the campaign with a better success rate in duels than his 69.7%.

He’s a special talent and even finished the season as the most fouled player in this Arsenal side. Not many players can get near him.

1. Myles Lewis-Skelly

47

2. Leandro Trossard

46

3. Bukayo Saka

39

4. Thomas Partey

31

5. Jurrien Timber

29

6. Kai Havertz

23

What makes his rise even more incredible is that he’s a midfielder by trade. Coming up through the youth ranks, the English talent played in the centre of the pitch but he’s been crafted into an inverted full-back.

From that position, he’s not just become one of the best young players in England, but one of the best young players in Europe’s top five leagues.

Considering Madrid have also been sniffing around him, getting a new deal is absolutely vital. His future is immense; probably even brighter than Zubimendi’s.

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