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Leeds United are now seriously keen on signing a “fantastic” Premier League forward, who has started to attract widespread interest ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Leeds eyeing reinforcements after sealing title

Heading into Saturday afternoon’s trip to Plymouth Argyle, Leeds’ promotion from the Championship had already been confirmed, but they managed to go up in style, sealing the league title after Manor Solomon scored a stoppage-time winner.

Daniel Farke’s side have done phenomenally well to return to the top flight, reaching the 100-point mark, but surviving in the Premier League may be an even more difficult task, which means new reinforcements will need to be brought in during the upcoming window.

A new striker is of particular interest to the Whites, and they have now held internal talks over a deal for AZ Alkmaar’s Troy Parrott, while they are also making progress in their pursuit of Jamie Vardy, whose time at Leicester City is set to come to an end this summer.

Leeds celebrate title by eyeing £50k-p/w duo who have dominated for Celtic

The Whites are big admirers…

4 BySean Markus Clifford May 3, 2025

Not only are Leeds looking at signing an out-and-out striker, but they are also keen on strengthening their wide options in the upcoming window, and a Premier League winger has now emerged as a target.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Leeds are now seriously interested in signing Ipswich Town winger Omari Hutchinson, but there could be fierce competition for his signature.

Fellow promoted side Burnley are also in the race for Hutchinson, alongside some more established Premier League clubs, such as West Ham United, Aston Villa and Everton.

Amid the widespread interest in the forward, Ipswich Town are looking to hold out for a fee in the region of €30m – €35m (£26m – £30m), so any potential suitor may have to shell out a sizeable sum to get a deal done. The report even adds that Leeds, and by extension the 49ers Enterprises, feel ‘Hutchinson fits perfectly into their long-term plans’.

"Fantastic" Hutchinson showing promising signs at Ipswich

Ipswich haven’t quite managed to get to grips with the Premier League, with relegation already confirmed, but they have some quality attacking options in their ranks, including Liam Delap and Hutchinson, who have both impressed at times this season.

The 21-year-old has three goals and two assists to his name in the Premier League, while he has also received high praise from manager Kieran McKenna, who described him as a “fantastic player” last summer.

The youngster clearly has a lot of potential, having also impressed at international level, netting two goals in four games for England U21s, and he deserves a second chance to prove himself at Premier League level.

However, a price tag of £30m seems a little high for a player yet to set the world alight in the top flight, and Leeds should look to get a deal done for a reduced fee.

Chelsea have now held internal talks over a move for a “world-class” star after a surprise recent development, according to a report.

Blues' Champions League pursuit back on track

The Blues’ form has been shaky since the turn of the year, but they are now back on track in their pursuit of qualification for next season’s Champions League after defeating Liverpool 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Cole Palmer was back among the goals, netting a stoppage-time penalty to seal his side’s victory, which solidifies them in fifth place with just three games left to play.

As such, the west Londoners should be in a strong position to attract some top players this summer, and they are once again looking at bolstering their forward options, with signing a new winger on the agenda.

Chelsea hold talks with Ajax chief as BlueCo step up move to sign £42m star

It could be another busy summer for the Blues.

ByTom Cunningham May 3, 2025

Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman and Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens are among the main targets in wide areas, and there is also a feeling that Enzo Maresca could look at strengthening through the middle, despite having Palmer at his disposal.

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which states Chelsea are now holding internal talks over a move for Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, who is set to exit the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer this summer.

De Bruyne is very much the one that got away for the Blues, but he could now be in line for a return to Stamford Bridge. There is some surprise in Manchester that the Belgian is now open to remaining in the Premier League or Europe, as City had expected him to depart for Saudi Arabia or the USA.

The likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa could provide competition for his signature, while there also remains a possibility he makes the move to the MLS, with Chicago Fire now said to be in advanced talks.

Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Newcastle United (a)

May 11th

Manchester United (h)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (a)

May 25th

"World-class" De Bruyne still impressing at City

In many ways, it is a surprise that Man City are willing to let the 33-year-old leave on a free transfer this summer, given that he is still impressing, despite his age, most recently bagging a crucial goal in his side’s 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

During his time with Chelsea, the £400k-per-week maestro never really managed to stand out, but he has been a revelation at the Etihad Stadium, amassing a stunning 72 goals and 121 assists in 285 Premier League appearances for the Blues.

Former footballer Paul McVeigh has also lavished the Belgium international with praise recently, describing him as “world-class” and “one of the greatest midfielders ever to play the game.”

As such, while there will be some concern about De Bruyne’s age, there are plenty of signs he could still have a lot left to give at Premier League level, and City’s loss could be Chelsea’s gain.

Liverpool have slowed down over the past few months, no longer performing at the full-throttle, uncontainable pace that saw Arne Slot steamroll through his opponents over the opening months of his Anfield tenure.

The early knockings of the season carried a sort of unfettered freedom within Liverpool’s squad, with rivals eagerly awaiting the almighty collapse after dramatic summer upheaval.

But this hasn’t happened. The Merseysiders are a whisker away from winning the Premier League, dominant and at the summit for the lion’s share of the term. Slot, truly, has enjoyed staggering success as Liverpool’s new driver.

The secret within Slot’s tactical sauce lies in the nuances of his system, his attention to detail, his fixed focus on the minutiae. He differs from his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, but one shared characteristic is a recognition of elite-level talent, of lifting good players and making them great.

Of course, he also shares with Klopp an understanding that his superstars are not easily replaced. That’s why tying down Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, both drifting toward their mid-thirties, was among new sporting director Richard Hughes’ primary responsibilities are being appointed last year.

The veterans are both brilliant, both two sides of the same coin, but failure to keep the skipper at the club could have been the most damaging outcome for the title-charging Redmen.

The importance of Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool

Van Dijk has extended his Liverpool contract by two years, which will take his Merseyside career to the end of the 2026/27 season, just shy of the decade mark, having won the full gamut, and with maybe even more yet to come.

Van Dijk is 33 but still among the foremost players in Liverpool’s squad. He’s played more minutes than any of his teammates this season (4,077), having completed 92% of his passes and won 68% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

The towering defender will captain Liverpool toward the Premier League title.

He may well be the best defender in the world, but Van Dijk’s influence stretches beyond that of simply a tactical sense, with his leadership and demanding attitude raising the bar and indeed the level of those around him.

We hate to caveat all this with some pragmatism, but the Netherlands captain is nearing his 34th birthday.

He’s still at the highest level, but he’s not getting any younger. Liverpool need to strengthen their rearguard this summer, signing a centre-half capable of succeeding the £400k-per-week titan in a few years.

Liverpool chasing the new Van Dijk

Liverpool need to sign a defender this summer, and they appear to have centred on Dean Huijsen, who is one of the hottest commodities on the market at the moment.

Transfer Focus

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

Bournemouth’s young star, 20, has a £50m release clause in his contract and is expected to be on the move.

According to Fabrizio Romano, though, FSG are determined to sign him, getting ready for a big push as the market prepares to swing open.

Speaking on GIVEMESPORTS’ Market Madness, he said: “Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool. These three clubs are really interested. I think he’s going to stay in the Premier League. There is interest from Real Madrid but at the same time, Madrid internally have not decided if they want to sign a centre-back this summer. The timing is helping the English clubs.”

Why Dean Huijsen has the potential to reach Van Dijk levels

He may be a Spain international, but Huijsen was born a Netherlands native, moving to the Iberian nation as a youth after being offered a scholarship with Malaga during his formative years.

Bournemouth saw an opportunity and pounced last summer, signing Juventus’ academy member in a deal worth £15m, Andoni Iraola identifying the youngster’s modern-angled skill set.

It would be a brave observer to argue against his success on the south coast, with analyst Ben Mattinson commenting that he’s “the most in-demand centre-back in the world” right now.

Two-footed, Huijsen has plied his trade on the left side of Bournemouth’s central defence this season, which suggests that he could be a suitable heir for Van Dijk when that dreaded time comes.

Matches (starts)

33 (33)

27 (22)

Goals

2

2

Assists

1

1

Clean sheets

14

7

Touches*

89.6

60.5

Key passes*

0.3

0.5

Pass completion

92%

85%

Ball recoveries*

3.2

3.4

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

3.0

Clearances*

5.1

5.9

Duels (won)*

4.8 (68%)

3.9 (56%)

He certainly wears the trappings of an elite-level centre-back, albeit he’s not there yet. Huijsen, like Van Dijk, is an aerially adept defender with a wide tactical remit that incorporates the defensive fundamentals with a forward-passing style that helps create from deep, establishing a wave-like flow.

It’s almost as if he’s tailor-made for a future in Slot’s Liverpool squad. Huijsen is making a key pass once every two Premier League fixtures, which is quite the feat and an illustration of his creative flair, his determination to push play forward.

As per FBref, he also ranks among the top 6% of central defenders in the Premier League this season for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries, the top 19% for aerial battles won and the top 2% for both of interceptions and clearances made per 90, further underlining that point.

The 6 foot 6 defender has the rangy, dynamic style to succeed Van Dijk, with such an interesting blend of talent surely suggesting that he could reach the same levels of his countryman, born in Holland as he was.

Given that he could spend a few years absorbing the fruits of Van Dijk’s late labours, this really does feel like one to get excited about.

As big a blow as Trent: Liverpool will rue selling "world-class" star

Trent Alexander-Arnold isn’t the only Liverpool star potentially on the move this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 22, 2025

As PIF get ready to truly flex their financial muscles for the first time since their arrival, Newcastle United are now reportedly in pole position to sign another attacking addition after Antonio Cordero.

Newcastle set to sign Cordero

Already getting what could be a busy summer of business underway, Newcastle are now reportedly set to complete the signing of Cordero from Malaga – fending off interest from both Barcelona and Real Madrid. The talented young winger chose to complete a move to St James’ Park over the two Spanish giants, highlighting just how far the Magpies have come in recent years.

They’re not done there, however, with reports coming thick and fast over further potential reinforcements in the coming months which includes links surrounding Luis Henrique and Facundo Medina.

The former would be a particularly interesting signing after the season that he’s had at Marseille. Whilst Rayan Cherki has stolen the spotlight at times, Henrique has quietly gone about his business and scored nine goals on top of his eight assists in all competitions.

What Newcastle are now doing in busy race to sign 7-goal gem after Cordero

He’s a future star…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 15, 2025

Seemingly doing enough to earn a place on Newcastle’s radar, the Brazilian is certainly one to watch in the coming months. Attack certainly looks to be the focus for those at St James’ Park this summer, given that they’re already set to sign Cordero and links are already emerging with the likes of Henrique.

It’s a focus which has also seen Newcastle turn their attention towards a Premier League rival too, and one who would offer Eddie Howe an instant upgrade within his frontline.

Newcastle leading race to sign Mbuemo

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Newcastle are now in pole position to sign Bryan Mbeumo this summer in a deal worth as much as £50m. The Bees have reportedly accepted the winger’s inevitable exit with a number of sides now lining up to secure what would be one of the most impressive Premier League signings of the summer.

Speaking to The Boot Room, Bailey revealed: “There’s a quiet acceptance at Brentford that he’s the next one out. Do they let Wissa and Mbeumo out? It’s possible this summer.

“I think Brentford have stagnated a bit, to say they’ve had a disappointing season would be a little bit harsh, but they have plateaued and I do expect Mbeumo to go this summer.

“There’s an awful lot of interest in him; are Newcastle furthest ahead in that interest? I think there’s a case they are at this point, but we know Arsenal have looked at him, and I think for Liverpool, if Salah had left, Mbeumo would have been an option there.”

Dubbed “unplayable” by Brentford boss Thomas Frank in December, the interest in Mbeumo should come as no surprise and he’s someone that Newcastle should be going all out for in the coming months.

The last five years at Tottenham Hotspur have been characterised by one thing: change.

The North Londoners have fired three permanent managers since Mauricio Pochettino was sacked, and with how things have gone this season, Ange Postecoglou could be the next.

On top of that, the team has undergone a massive overhaul, with all-time top goalscorer and England captain Harry Kane sold to Bayern Munich in 2023.

Mauricio Pochettino

July 2014

November 2019

Jose Mourinho

November 2019

April 2021

Nuno Espiriot Santo

July 2021

November 2021

Antonio Conte

November 2021

March 2023

Ange Postecoglou

July 2023

TBC

In fact, one of the last remaining stars from Pochettino’s team is Son Heung-min, and even then, it feels like just a matter of time before he is moved on as well, so it’s a good thing Hotspur Way might just be about to produce the perfect replacement.

Son's recent form

So, it’s important to first recognise that, with a total haul of 173 goals and 93 assists in 450 games for the North Londoners, Son is both a legend of the club and, arguably, the Premier League as well.

However, he’s going to be 33 years old at the start of next season, and while he’s still a useful player, he’s not as devastatingly effective as he once was, which is hardly surprising, as according to research from The Athletic, wingers hit their peak at 26 and become significantly less effective in 1-on-1 situations when they hit 30.

It sounds harsh, but when looking at this season compared to the campaign in which he turned 30, the 21/22 season, it’s clear that he’s taken a step back.

For example, in that campaign, he scored 24 goals and provided eight assists in 45 games, totalling 3526 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.40 games, or every 110.18 minutes.

In contrast, he has scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 42 appearances, totalling 2981 minutes this year, which works out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.82 games, or every 129.60 minutes.

Appearances

45

42

Minutes

3526′

2981′

Goals

24

11

Assists

8

12

G+A per Match

0.71

0.54

Minutes per G+As

110.18′

129.60′

On top of that, according to FBref, he has fallen from the top 1% of attacking midfielders in the Premier League for non-penalty goals in the 21/22 season to just the top 32% this season.

In short, Son remains a player who could undoubtedly contribute for the next couple of years, but he is someone who will need to be replaced, and luckily, Hotspur Way may be in the process of brewing the perfect player.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Spurs' future Son replacement

So, while a number of you may be thinking of Mikey Moore, and understandably so, we are talking about an academy gem who’s yet to even make a first-team appearance: Lucá Williams-Barnett.

Now, for those who are aware of the superstar in the making, you might be confused about how an attacking midfielder could be the answer to Son’s eventual departure, but therein lies one of the 17-year-old’s big strengths: his versatility.

During his time at Hotspur Way, the tremendously exciting prospect has played in a number of positions, including central and attacking midfield, left midfield, centre-forward and, of course, on both wings, leading academy expert John Wenham to describe him as a “cheat-code.”

However, it’s not just his positional versatility that should excite fans and see him included in first-team games next season, but his sensational output.

For example, in 17 appearances this season, totalling 1375 minutes, the teenage phenomenon, whom analyst Ben Mattinson described as someone “to keep an eye on”, has already amassed a frankly absurd haul of 18 goals and nine assists.

Appearances

17

Starts

16

Minutes

1375′

Goals

18

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

1.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

50.92′

Incredibly, that means the Luton-born dynamo is averaging 1.58 goal involvements every game, or one every 50.92 minutes.

Ultimately, it’s too soon to expect Williams-Barnett to come into the first team and replicate his sensational youth form right away, but in the coming years, as Son is increasingly phased out of the team, we do not doubt that the teenager will get his chance and prove his worth.

Ange could soon unleash a "freak" Romero replacement at Spurs

The sensational teenager could be a game-changer for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 8, 2025

In pursuit of making an instant statement this summer, The Friedkin Group have now reportedly joined the race to sign an impressive striker for Everton who could be worth as much as £80m.

Friedkin plotting big Everton summer

A fresh attacking lead certainly seems on the agenda for the Toffees this summer, who have already been linked with a shock move the in-demand Liam Delap. The Ipswich Town star is set for Premier League relegation but could earn top-flight redemption following an excellent individual campaign.

That said, he’s not the only one on Everton’s reported radar. Friedkin have also reportedly set their sights on Liverpool’s Ben Doak in what would certainly steal plenty of headlines.

The Anfield academy star impressed on loan at Middlesbrough this season before injury disrupted an otherwise successful spell. That form may still not be enough to earn a place in Arne Slot’s first-team, however, potentially resulting in a move across Stanley Park.

Everton boss David Moyes recently had his say on what could be a busy summer at the club, telling reporters: “There’s going to be a change, and all those bits are still being pieced together at the minute.

“I’ve had one short conversation with Angus, that was all because he’s got his job to do at Leeds. And I don’t want to disrupt him whilst he’s working there. But we’re getting things together, we’re starting to plan, but obviously again the league position and league you’re in is all important.”

Everton poised to rival Liverpool in move to sign "superb" £40m DCL heir

He’s outscored Calvert-Lewin this season.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 8, 2025

Just how much Friedkin will spend this summer remains to be seen, but if they want to take the Toffees back into the top half then they’ll certainly need to make a statement or two. And that could yet include the arrival of a big-money striker in the coming months.

Everton join £80m Pavlidis race

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin set to depart as a free agent this summer, those at Goodison Park have reportedly set their sights on an impressive replacement. According to The Boot Room, Everton have now joined the race to sign Vangelis Pavlidis from Benfica this summer alongside the likes of Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

The deal won’t come cheap though, given that the forward reportedly has a release clause worth as much as £80m in his current Benfica contract. Such a deal at such a price would certainly make the intended statement for Friedkin, especially if they fend off interest from their rivals, but whether they have that budget to spend is the big question.

It should come as no surprise that Benfica boss Bruno Lage – formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers – described Pavlidis as “important” earlier this month. After all, the big-money forward has scored 24 goals in all competitions and assisted another 10.

Lage told reporters following the forward’s hat-trick in a 4-1 thrashing of Porto: “He has done a lot of important work for us. It is important to have men who score a lot of goals, but in the end, this was mainly a real team effort.”

It’s been another frustrating campaign for Chelsea so far this season.

One week, Enzo Maresca’s side are able to keep Premier League leaders Arsenal at bay with ten men and tear Barcelona apart 3-0 in the Champions League.

Yet, the next week they’ll lose 3-1 to Leeds United and be held to a draw away to Bournemouth.

One of the big problems this season has been a lack of goals from their strikers, and the worrying thing for Liam Delap in particular is that Chelsea may already have a forward who could end his stay at Stamford Bridge early.

Chelsea's striker situation

Chelsea did not score enough goals last season; they ended the campaign having scored 22 fewer than Liverpool, eight fewer than Manchester City, five fewer than Arsenal and even four fewer than Newcastle United.

Chalkboard

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

So, on top of their other business, the Blues opted to send Nicolas Jackson out on loan and bring in Delap and Joao Pedro to compete for that nine position, with Marc Guiu then returning from loan after the Englishman suffered a hamstring injury in the third game of the season.

Now, while this looked like a reasonable plan from the outset, it would be fair to say that, so far, it has not really worked out.

The West Londoners have still scored fewer goals than the Gunners and City, and their forward options are a significant reason why.

Pedro, for example, may have been on fire in the Club World Cup and pre-season, but after the first few games of the campaign proper, he has underwhelmed.

For example, in 18 appearances, totalling 1377 minutes, the former Brighton & Hove Albion star has scored four goals and provided three assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 2.57 games, or every 196.71 minutes.

Moving on to Guiu, the Spaniard has barely been given a chance to play this season, but has scored and assisted a goal in 280 minutes of football across eight appearances.

That comes out to a reasonable enough average of a goal involvement every 140 minutes, or every four games.

Finally, arguably the most orthodox centre forward of the lot, and potentially the most disappointing so far, is Delap.

Games

18

8

11

Minutes

1377′

280′

453′

Goals

4

1

1

Assists

3

1

0

When not injured or suspended, the former Ipswich Town star has made 11 appearances for the West Londoners, totalling 453 minutes, in which he has scored just a solitary goal.

Unfortunately for the 22-year-old, he is now set to miss another eight weeks of action with a shoulder injury he picked up against the Cherries.

Now, there is every chance Delap could eventually come good this season, but if he does not, his stay at Stamford Bridge could be cut short by another exciting striker making his way there in the summer.

The Striker that could end Delap's Chelsea career

Following the news that Delap would be out for up to eight weeks, there was talk that Chelsea could potentially bring Emmanuel Emegha’s move forward to the winter window.

That now seems to be unlikely, but even so, the Strasbourg forward, who agreed to join the Blues in September, is the player who could be bad news for the Englishman next season.

Why is this the case, you may ask. Well, the first and by far most significant reason is the simple fact that he appears to be a reliable source of goals and assists.

For example, in 29 appearances last season, totalling 2408 minutes, the Dutchman scored 14 goals and provided three assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.70 games, or every 141.64 minutes. There’s a reason he’s been described as a “devastating” talent by scout Antonio Mango.

As if that wasn’t impressive enough for a young forward, the “simply phenomenal” goalscorer, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has gotten even better this season.

In 11 appearances, totalling 664 minutes, he has already scored seven goals and provided two assists, which comes out to a staggering average of a goal involvement every 1.22 games, or every 73.77 minutes.

Season

24/25

25/26

Appearances

29

11

Minutes

2408′

664′

Goals

14

7

Assists

3

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0.81

Minutes per Goal Involvement

141.64′

73.77′

On top of this incredible output, the Den Haag-born poacher is also the captain of Strasbourg, so he should not feel intimidated by stepping up a level in the Premier League.

Finally, he is also 6 foot 5 and no pushover, so on top of potentially being a better goalscorer than Delap, he should be able to hold up the ball at least as well, if not better.

Ultimately, there is still time for the former Ipswich ace to come good at Chelsea, but if he doesn’t improve this season, Emegha could be the one to end his Stamford Bridge stay as soon as next year.

Estevao 2.0: Chelsea looking to sign "one of South America's biggest jewels"

Chelsea could pick up their next Estevao.

ByKelan Sarson 4 days ago

Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking to make a splash in the January transfer market and could sign a Premier League ace who loves playing against the Old Gold.

Wolves’ defensive and attacking problems Edwards needs to fix

The task facing new Wolves manager Rob Edwards is a big one after his return to Molineux involved club chiefs paying Middlesbrough around £3m in compensation.

Edwards, a former Old Gold defender, will need to shore up the Wolves defence, with no other Premier League side conceding more than Wolves so far after 11 games (25).

Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Edwards’ new side have also struggled to finish chances.

Still without a win and on two points from a possible 33, Wolves have scored just seven league goals, again a division low, and have failed to find the net in six of their 11 top-flight fixtures.

Fosun are looking to back Edwards in the January transfer market, and it appears as if Wolves are eyeing a new goalkeeper to rival both Jose Sa and Sam Johnstone.

Wolves and Edwards keen to sign "aggressive" £90,000-p/w Premier League flop

He’s cost £1m for every appearance made so far.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 14, 2025

A loan-to-buy bid for Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas is thought to be in the pipeline, whereas an offer is also in for Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia.

Wolves eyeing move to sign Everton winger Dwight McNeil

Now, according to reports from Football Insider, Wolves are also looking to sign Everton winger Dwight McNeil when the winter market opens.

It is suggested that both loan and permanent offers will be explored for the Toffees ace, whereas Man City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is another target for Edwards and Wolves chiefs.

McNeil made the move to Everton from Burnley for £20m back in 2022, and during his Premier League career, has enjoyed playing against Wolves for both the Clarets and the Toffees.

Games

12

Wins

5

Draws

4

Losses

3

Goals

1

Assists

6

The left-footed winger has registered multiple assists against the Old Gold, and his ability from set pieces even saw him compared to Arsenal star Declan Rice by pundit Chris Sutton.

However, McNeil has fallen out of favour on Merseyside under David Moyes this season following the arrival of Jack Grealish, playing just 51 minutes of Premier League football in 2025/26.

Therefore, a move to the Midlands could make sense for all involved, and by the looks of things, it will be one to watch over the coming months.

£55m spent & Hackney signs: Dream Wolves XI Edwards can build in January

Aston Villa are now plotting a £18m bid for a “tremendous” defender, who is also being targeted by Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, with Emiliano Martinez a big fan.

Villa keen on strengthening despite resurgent form

Villa have made major improvements over the past month or so, having won six of their last seven matches in the Premier League, which has propelled them to fourth in the table, and Unai Emery has been impressed by his side’s recent performances.

After the 2-1 victory away at Leeds United last time out, the manager said: “The second half (was) better, but overall, 90 minutes, I am so happy how we competed. Even the first half, we didn’t play brilliant, but we were always trying to set our gameplan on the field, and progressively we did it.”

The Villans went 1-0 down at Elland Road, with Martinez receiving criticism for his goalkeeping in the build-up to Lukas Nmecha’s opening goal.

However, a second-half Morgan Rogers brace turned the game on its head, with the goalkeeper’s blushes being spared, and Aston Villa have now joined the race for one of the Argentinian’s international teammates.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Villa are now plotting a €20m (£18m) opening offer for River Plate defender Lautaro Rivero, having tracked the centre-back for months, and Martinez has provided positive feedback on his compatriot.

The Villans believe the 33-year-old’s personal relationship with the River Plate star could give them the edge in the race for his signature, despite rival interest from Man City and Tottenham.

Although the Argentinian has a €100m (£88m) release clause in his contract, River Plate would be willing to sanction a departure for considerably less, and there is a belief he could make an instant impact at Villa Park.

"Tremendous" Rivero has earned big Premier League move

Hailed as “tremendous” by journalist Juan Patricio Balbi, the 22-year-old may now be ready to test himself in England, having performed very well over the past year, placing in the 93rd percentile for tackles per 90, compared to other centre-backs, courtesy of averaging 2.27.

Aston Villa make Emiliano Martinez sale decision amid Unai Emery comments

There has been a key update on Martinez’s future, following the goalkeeper pushing for a move during the summer.

ByDominic Lund Nov 19, 2025

Villa are arguably well-stocked at centre-back, with Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa forming a reliable partnership as of late, but Tyrone Mings has been unable to put his injury problems behind him, and is potentially in the latter stages of his career at 32-years-old.

Tyrone Mings’ injury record

Games missed

12/08/23 – 30/10/24

70

Remainder of 2024/25

7

2025-26

17

As such, Emery could do with bringing in a younger centre-back, and having recently received his first cap for Argentina, Rivero could be capable of pushing for a starting spot.

It has not been the start to the season that many Chelsea fans were hoping for in the summer.

Enzo Maresca’s side are not necessarily playing poorly, but as things stand, they are ninth in the Premier League and have lost three of their last five in the competition.

The good news is that they have progressed to the next round of the League Cup, and Jamie Gittens finally put in a sensational performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

His three goal involvements in that game should take some of the heat off him, although with him starting to perform, another summer signing is looking even more perplexing, a signing who could be the new Jadon Sancho.

Sancho's record at Chelsea

Contrary to what many non-Chelsea fans believe, the Blues did, at one point, intend to sign Sancho upon the completion of his loan last season.

Chalkboard

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

The deal they agreed with Manchester United the previous summer included an obligation to buy for £25m or a fee of £5m to send him back, and so initially, the club looked to keep him on a permanent basis.

However, according to reports, the reason they eventually paid to send him back to Old Trafford was because the Englishman refused to accept a pay cut to his massive weekly wage of up to £300k-per-week.

Such an astronomical salary would have been a ludicrous waste of money, as while the former Borussia Dortmund star had his moments here and there, he never blew anyone away during his time at Stamford Bridge.

For example, in 41 appearances across all competitions, the 25-year-old was only able to score five goals and provide ten assists.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.73 games, which is hardly the output of someone who can demand the wages he did.

Moreover, those numbers start to look even worse when you dig a little deeper.

Games

41

Goals

5

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.36

For example, two of his goals and five of his assists came in the Conference League, and while it was great that the club won the competition, the opposition they faced to do so were subpar at best.

In all, while it seemed like a good idea at the time, signing Sancho on loan last season was probably not worth it for Chelsea, and it looks like they made a similar mistake this summer.

Chelsea's Sancho repeat

While they haven’t all settled in just yet, it would be fair to say that Chelsea made several quite exciting signings this summer.

However, one signing that baffled fans and pundits alike at the time, and remains even more confusing, is that of Facundo Buonanotte.

The Blues signed the Argentine ace from Brighton & Hove Albion on a season-long loan with no option or obligation to buy, and while it’s not a terrible signing, there are a few reasons which make it a poor one.

For example, and this is a crucial one, he didn’t exactly light the world alight last season.

In his 35 appearances for Leicester City, the supposedly “magnificent” youngster, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored six goals and provided three assists, with seven of those goal involvements coming in the league.

Such a middling return just makes the Blues’ decision to bring him to the club on a short-term basis all the more baffling, as it’s not like he was an output machine last year.

This leads to the second problem with the move, which is that, if he’s only meant to play the less important games, why couldn’t the club give their own academy products that chance?

Surely it makes more sense to build up the experience of your own prospects over that of Brighton’s.

Finally, when he has actually played for Maresca, he’s not impressed.

In his five appearances thus far, the Pérez-born gem has scored a single goal, and that came against the mighty Lincoln City in the League Cup.

Ultimately, Buonanotte’s lack of impact last season, his underwhelming displays so far this season, and the fact that he could be blocking the pathway for a Cobham graduate just make his loan move more baffling with every passing gameweek.

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