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Chelsea have been contacted over signing a £50 million star from Barcelona, as the player now sets his sights on a move to the Premier League this summer.

Chelsea in the market to sign new forward before deadline day

Summer deadline day looms at the end of next month on August 30, and reports suggest Todd Boehly could still back new head coach Enzo Maresca with fresh faces before that point.

£25 million forward likened to Luis Suarez holds talks to join Chelsea

He’s been highly praised by Joe Cole.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 18, 2024

Official deals for defender Tosin Adarabioyo (free), striker Marc Guiu, homegrown starlet Omari Kellyman, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Portuguese ace Renato Veiga, alongside Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian, who'll join in 2025, set Chelsea back around £93 million.

The west Londoners, in total, have spent near-£120 million so far, including Chelsea's signings of Aaron Anselmino and Caleb Wiley from Boca Juniors and Atlanta United respectively, with the duo costing around £25.5 million (The Athletic).

Cole Palmer

7.48

Conor Gallagher

7.13

Nicolas Jackson

7.07

Moises Caicedo

6.85

Noni Madueke

6.84

Despite their serious investment in both senior players and talents for the future, co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley remain in the market for a new forward and centre-back.

Chelsea are believed to be prioritising a new winger as one of their top transfer wishes, with Maresca apparently keen on providing competition for the likes of Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk.

They hold no shortage of options, as reports heavily link Chelsea with the likes of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams and Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi lately.

Chelsea contacted over signing Raphinha from Barcelona

According to HITC, Chelsea may now have a chance to do a deal for Raphinha, who is said to be keen on making a move back to England from Barcelona.

The former Leeds United star, who is valued at around £50 million, scored six goals and registered a further nine assists in La Liga last season. HITC claim Chelsea have been spoken to about signing Raphinha this summer, but it is unclear whether they were approached by the Brazilian's agents or Barca themselves.

The 27-year-old's proven top-flight experience could be a draw for Maresca's side, with Raphinha attracting plenty of praise during his time in the Premier League.

“Each week we are seeing more and more of his repertoire. He has so much to offer Leeds United," said former Whites striker Noel Whelan on Raphinha during his time at Elland Road (Football Insider).

“That skill in the corner against Gary Cahill was a typical bit of Brazilian magic. He really embarrassed Cahill with a clever megs. He is a player now who continuously has an effect on a game, in a positive way. Even if he is not on the scoresheet, he will have played a hand in the goal. He is relentless.

“He gets on the ball, has great balance, is very dynamic and he takes the game to the opposition. What impresses me is that he is not afraid to do the horrible side. I get more and more impressed by his worth ethic.”

Liverpool meet Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. It’s a fixture typically freighted with emotion, one of the biggest and fiercest rivalries the Premier League has ever hosted.

But for the Anfield side, they know they need a big performance regardless, having fallen to three successive defeats before the October international break. These are uncharted waters for Arne Slot, both during his Liverpool tenure and previously in his Dutch homeland with Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar.

Despite slipping in the final stages of successive matches against Crystal Palace and Chelsea, Liverpool have fallen just one point behind league leaders Arsenal, and now they are back at Anfield.

The Red Devils have come away from Anfield with the spoils shared across both of the past two top-flight terms, but their own struggle for form under Ruben Amorim’s wing this season suggests that this is a fantastic chance for the defending champions to remind the Premier League what they are made of.

Who Slot should start up front vs Man Utd

Alexander Isak might have been called “the best striker in the Premier League” by pundit Jamie Carragher last season, but the debacle that was his summer transfer saga has disrupted his start to the season.

And Hugo Ekitike has only been too happy to take advantage and kickstart his own career in Liverpool. Having joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m fee in July, the Frenchman has scored five goals and assisted one more across ten matches so far this season, starting eight of those games.

Newly blooded in Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus set-up, Ekitike boasts a rare attacking profile, deadly in the final third but also mobile and intelligent and electric on the ball.

The Frenchman’s red card for taking his shirt off in celebration, already on a yellow, having scored the winner in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup tie against Southampton, likely knocked him down a peg in Slot’s estimation, and he only made a cameo during the defeat at Stamford Bridge, having previously been suspended for the loss at Crystal Palace.

Will Isak reprise the starting berth he held against Chelsea? It was a tough evening for the visitors, but the Sweden international showed off his quality to claim the assist for Cody Gakpo’s second-half equaliser.

With the cogs not exactly whirring across Liverpool’s frontline right now, it feels like the chance to rise in stature is there for the taking.

Indeed, Slot does have the option to go down a different track, should he choose. Without a doubt, Isak and Ekitike are Liverpool’s most talented and effective centre-forwards, but there’s another who should play a part against Chelsea and even overshadow Ekitike.

Liverpool play Man United this weekend, and this particular Redman could call upon the spirit of former star Xherdan Shaqiri at Anfield.

Liverpool's new version of Shaqiri

Whether Slot decides to deploy him from the opening whistle or as part of a second-half wave that, on the basis of evidence, may be needed, there’s no question that Federico Chiesa will be primed to play his part against Liverpool’s most notorious rivals.

The 27-year-old has been one of the sharper forwards in the Anfield squad so far this season, bouncing back from a testing maiden year in England, struck by injuries and overlooked by Slot after arriving from Juventus for a cut-price £12.5m fee.

But he’s so far been among the most clinical players at Slot’s disposal this season, bagging the winner on the opener against Bournemouth, netting again at Selhurst Park and setting up both Isak and Ekitike’s strikes during the win over Saints.

Hugo Ekitike

10

5 (1)

Mohamed Salah

10

3 (3)

Federico Chiesa

6

2 (2)

Cody Gakpo

10

2 (2)

Alexander Isak

6

1 (1)

Rio Ngumoha

5

1 (0)

Hailed as a “wizard” of a footballer by broadcaster Roger Bennett for his efforts with Juventus, Chiesa has that special ability to make things happen when his team needs him most.

And in this way, he could be the next version of Shaqiri on this important weekend. The Swiss international, now 33 years old, only played 63 matches across three campaigns for the Merseysiders, but he certainly left his mark, instrumental in beating Barcelona on that most historic of nights in the Champions League and popping up with some big moments in the Premier League too.

It was super-sub Shaqiri who came off the bench to score twice and help Liverpool along to a 3-1 win over Manchester United in December 2018, as Jurgen Klopp went neck-and-neck with Pep Guardiola at the height of his City dynasty.

Liverpool ultimately fell short that year, but triumph on the continent certainly helped cushion the blow. And anyway, Liverpool would triumph in the Premier League one year later, with Shaqiri in amongst the celebrations.

Like Shaqiri, Chiesa is an injury-prone forward, but he has immense quality and is now showing an ability to retain his quality in the English game.

Might he steal Ekitike’s thunder against the Red Devils? The Italy international will surely be hoping to grace the field after Slot kept him on the bench against Chelsea. After all, he has, on a number of occasions already this term, looked to be Liverpool’s focal threat.

Last season, opportunities were few and far between for Chiesa at Liverpool. However, he has proved himself as a testament to tenacity and unwavering self-belief. Now, the Italian is a secret weapon for Slot’s side.

In the past, Shaqiri came up trumps for Klopp when facing Man United. Now, Chiesa could repeat that trick.

Better than Semenyo: Liverpool plot bid for "one of the best RWs in the world"

Liverpool need to begin plans to replace Mohamed Salah on the right wing.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 15, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been given a boost in their pursuit of a new goalkeeper, amid claims of an offer being made by Fosun.

Wolves’ search for new goalkeeper after Sa and Johnstone struggles

No club has conceded more Premier League goals than the Old Gold this season, with both Sam Johnstone and Jose Sa being used by former manager Vitor Pereira.

In the 11 top flight fixtures to date, Johnstone has made seven appearances, conceding 14 goals, whereas Sa has turned out four times, letting in 11 goals.

New manager Rob Edwards will have a decision to make ahead of his first game in charge against Crystal Palace on Saturday, but looking further down the line, it looks as if he is after a new first choice shot-stopper.

Two names have been mentioned since Edwards arrived from Middlesbrough, one of which is Manchester City’s James Trafford.

Down the pecking order just months after returning to the Etihad from Burnley, Wolves are one of numerous clubs keen on signing the £30m Englishman.

City are open to a loan with an obligation to buy or a permanent exit in the New Year, with one Wolves insider telling TEAMtalk: “We need a keeper who can grow with the team. Trafford fits the profile perfectly.”

An enquiry has even been made by the Old Gold, although Trafford has his eyes on a move to Newcastle in 2026.

Meanwhile, Lazio’s Christos Mandas is another option for Wolves and Fosun as they look for a new ‘keeper, with Wolves ‘offering an initial loan deal with an option to buy’ for the Greece international which could be worth up to £8m.

Now, a new update has emerged regarding Mandas’ future, which looks likely to be away from Lazio if he gets his wish.

Wolves given boost in pursuit of Christos Mandas

According to a report from La Lazio Siamo Noi, Mandas is becoming a man in demand and has actually asked to leave Lazio in 2026.

La Liga side Getafe are in the race for the shot-stopper, alongside Wolves and their Premier League rivals West Ham and Bournemouth.

Mandas is expected to leave in search of more game time as he is yet to make an appearance in 2025/26 after featuring 18 times last season, nine of which came in the Europa League.

His agent Diego Tavano heaped praise on Mandas last year, calling him a “strong” and “great player”.

“Mandas is a strong player who had several suitors in Italy. Lazio were the fastest to act and he believed it was the right choice. Initially, the club considered sending him back to OFI Crete on loan, but then Sarri decided to keep him. He is a great player who has now established himself and I’m happy because it was not easy to fit in – he has been great this season.”

Wolves could be the club to offer him regular first-team football given Johnstone and Sa’s struggles and the fact Trafford doesn’t fancy a move to the Midlands.

Wolves now in advanced talks to sign maestro who could be Edwards' first signing

The summer transfer window officially opened for business last month and Manchester City are yet to make a major addition to their first-team squad.

It was recently reported that the club are poised to snap up Brazil international Savio from French side Troyes on a five-year contract, though, to become their first signing.

Pep Guardiola's side endured a somewhat frustrating 2023/24 campaign as they ended it with only one major trophy to add to their collection – the Premier League title.

They failed to secure the League Cup, the FA Cup, or the Champions League to follow up on their treble-winning success in the previous season.

Guardiola may now want to make some additions to his playing squad to improve the team in order to give himself the best chance of winning more silverware next term.

The aim should be to compete for a second Champions League trophy, alongside domestic success, and the Cityzens are reportedly eyeing up a new midfielder to help with their goals.

Man City join battle for midfield sensation

According to the printed edition of O Jogo (07/07/24), as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City have joined the race to sign Portugal international Joao Neves from Benfica.

The Premier League champions are now battling with other top European clubs to land the Liga Portugal starlet, who was recently sent home from Germany after his country were knocked out of the European Championship by France on penalties.

O'Jogo claims that City have become more interested in Neves as the summer has gone on, amid speculation over Kevin de Bruyne's future, as they see the teenage sensation as a future star.

It does say that the the Benfica star is not a similar player to the Belgian superstar, although it could suggest that Guardiola trusts other players – like Foden and Bernardo Silva – to step up on the creative front.

The report adds that Manchester United and French giants PSG are also interested in the talented maestro and both are prepared to pay €70m (£59m) for his services.

However, that is unlikely to be enough to secure his signature as O'Jogo reveals that Benfica are looking for a staggering fee of €100m (£85m) for Neves this summer.

It now remains to be seen whether or not City are prepared to offer the €100m, €30m more than PSG and United want to pay, that is required to sign the 19-year-old talent.

If the Cityzens do press ahead with a deal to sign the Portugal international for £85m this summer then they could land a dream partner for Rodri in the middle of the park.

Rodri's midfield brilliance for City

The Spain international was sensational in midfield yet again for City during the 2023/24 campaign as he played an integral role in their Premier League title success.

His ability to brilliantly protect the defence with his sweeping play out of possession and his quality on the ball to be a metronomic figure in the engine room makes him the perfect number six for Guardiola's team.

Rodri started 34 of the club's 38 Premier League games last season and showcased his dominant defensive nature with a duel success rate of 59%, and aerial battle success rate of 71%.

This shows that he has the positioning and physicality to win the majority of his physical contests with opposition players to win possession back and cut out opposition attacks.

He also ranked within the top 1% of midfielders in the division for passes attempted per 90 (112.26) and the top 1% for progressive passes per 90 (11.55), which illustrates his ability to control matches and progress play consistently for the Cityzens.

Appearances

4

Sofascore rating

7.5

Pass accuracy

94%

Key passes per game

1.3

Tackles per game

3.0

Duel success rate

64%

As you can see in the table above, Rodri has also been in fantastic form in and out of possession in the current European Championship in Germany, in which he will play a semi-final against France on Tuesday night.

These statistics further illustrate the Spaniard's sublime qualities in and out of possession at international level, as it shows that he is a dominant defender who can break up attacks whilst also being reliable and creative in possession.

Why Man City should sign Joao Neves

City should swoop to sign Neves from Benfica as he could be an excellent partner from Rodri in the here and now whilst being moulded into being the long-term replacement for the former Atletico Madrid star.

At the age of 19, the £85m-rated ace is nine years younger than the Spanish maestro and could be viewed as the future number six for the Premier League champions.

There is no sign of Rodri slowing down any time soon, though, at the age of 28 and that is why Neves should come in to play alongside him for the next few seasons, at least.

The teenage whiz enjoyed a fantastic season in the Portuguese top-flight last term and his statistics indicate that the potential is there for him to be a dominant partner for the current City star in midfield.

It is worth prefacing this with the fact that the 19-year-old gem is yet to prove himself outside of his home country and it would, therefore, be a gamble, but it is one that could be worth taking.

Passes attempted (80.85)

Top 1%

Progressive passes (6.66)

Top 13%

Successful take-ons (1.60)

Top 9%

Tackles (2.53)

Top 23%

Interceptions (1.36)

Top 16%

Blocks (1.91)

Top 9%

As you can see in the table above, Neves ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in a number of key possession-based and defensive metrics.

The "insane" prospect – as described by analyst Ben Mattinson – also won 57% of his duels across 33 appearances in the league for Benfica, which shows that he can be a dominant defender in midfield.

Man City make first move to sign "brilliant" £70m star ahead of Liverpool

The Citizens have reportedly registered their interest…

ByTom Cunningham Jul 7, 2024

These statistics show that the City target has the potential to come in and offer plenty of quality in and out of possession, like Rodri, and he could form a monstrous pairing with the Spain international as they both provide a physical presence and progression on the ball.

It's not been the busiest of summers for Arsenal so far this year, with just the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori so far in terms of new first-team players.

That said, it appears that the signing of Mikel Merino is a matter of days away from being completed, and in the last week or so, several top-class strikers linked with the club, such as Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres and Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

However, in the last couple of days, another name has consistently been touted for a move to the Emirates: Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke.

The Englishman might not have the same level of excitement around his name as the other number nines on the market at the moment, but he's Premier League-proven, a good age, and seemingly available.

He'd likely be a success leading the line for an increasingly dangerous Arsenal, although he could have a fight on his hands for the starting role with another attacker at the club who is worth considerably more.

The latest on Solanke to Arsenal

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are now interested in Bournemouth's Solanke this summer, alongside several other clubs, including North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

There appears to be some discrepancy in how much the former Chelsea ace would cost, but based on the report, his contract has a release clause worth £65m.

This would represent a significant investment from the Gunners, but based on his form last season and the fact that they missed out on the title by just two points, it would probably be worth it.

For example, in his 42 appearances for the Cherries across 2023/24, the Basingstoke-born dynamo scored 21 goals and provided four assists, which converts to a goal involvement on average every 1.68 games and would have made him the second most productive player at Arsenal.

However, even after such an impressive campaign for the South Coast side, Solanke is worth considerably less than one of Arteta's key men.

The valuation of Kai Havertz in 2024

Yes, the key man in question is last summer's £65m man, Kai Havertz, who is valued at a whopping €98M by Football Transfers. This converts to about £84m, or at least £19m more than Solanke, and while it's significant, it might be justified.

The German international began life at the Emirates in a midfield role, and in all honesty, he was rather ineffective for a large part of last season until he was moved up top, that is.

Following his change from left eight to starting nine, the former Chelsea ace became one of the most important players in Arteta's squad, alongside Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. He was one of the first names on the teamsheet during a period when the North Londoners were tearing teams apart.

He ended the campaign with 14 goals and seven assists in 51 appearances, but his numbers look a lot more impressive when you consider the games in which he started as the team's out-and-out striker.

In those 18 matches, the "magnificent" ace, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, scored eight goals and provided seven assists, which equates to a goal involvement on average every 1.20 games, and is actually more impressive than Solanke's average.

Appearances

42

51

18

Goals

21

14

8

Assists

4

7

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.59

0.41

0.83

Now, the question over the German's head is whether he could keep that rate of return up for an entire season, but it would make for an interesting dynamic to see him compete with the Bournemouth man in 2024/25.

Ultimately, signing Solanke would likely be a smart idea for Arsenal, as more firepower is always a good thing, but he'd have to really impress to permanently dislodge Havertz from the starting lineup and surpass his mammoth value.

Arsenal prepare bid for world-class Merino upgrade in blockbuster swap deal

The incredible talent would be an exceptional addition to the Gunners’ squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 5, 2024

Leeds United, likely to miss out on Jonathan Rowe amid interest from Marseille, have turned their attention towards another Championship winger who they're now reportedly in pole position to sign.

Leeds transfer news

It's no surprise that those in the Whites have been linked with attacking additions given how the summer transfer window, and more specifically the Premier League, has torn Daniel Farke's frontline apart. Of course, if Leeds fail to replace both Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter in the next 10 days, then their recent 0-0 draw against West Bromwich Albion could become an all too familiar sight.

Leeds could ruthlessly ditch Bamford in swoop for "powerful" £8.5m star

The Whites have been linked with an interest in signing the striker this month.

1 ByDan Emery Aug 19, 2024

It seems as though the 49ers are well aware of that too, with recent links to the likes of Jack Clarke and Rowe suggesting that the plan is to bolster their attacking options before the window slams shut. Reports have even claimed that Leeds submitted two unsuccessful bids to sign Rowe, with both failing to match Norwich City's £15m valuation and the winger setting his heart on a move to Marseille.

Set to lose out on their target, the Whites have reportedly turned their attention to another option. According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Leeds are now in pole position to sign Manuel Benson, who wants to complete a move to Elland Road this month with talks open and the idea of selling the winger on a permanent basis one that reportedly appeals to Burnley.

The 27-year-old is yet to make a Championship appearance under Scott Parker, forced to watch on as the Clarets got their campaign underway in fine fashion with nine goals in two games against Luton Town and Cardiff City.

With that said, the option that would suit all parties is a late summer exit, even if it is to promotion rivals Leeds. Desperately hoping to replace Summerville, Leeds could swoop in.

"Important" Benson can rediscover best form at Leeds

After struggling to make an impact in his debut Premier League campaign last time out, which far from helped Burnley in their failed pursuit of survival, Benson needs the chance to rediscover the form that propelled the Clarets to promotion in the first place.

At his best, the 27-year-old scored 13 goals and assisted a further five to earn the praise of former manager Vincent Kompany, who said via The Burnley Express: "There is so much more to come. I know his game and it goes in two ways, one is him getting to know the team, and two is the team getting to know him.

“There were a couple of really good balls he put in that, if you have that 100% understanding, then you have people running onto it, and that wasn’t the case yet. That increases the amount of chances you create.

“And you can see the moments where he goes inside to outside and runs to the touchline, so he is an important profile of player to have, especially if you are able to pin a team back like we were in the second half."

Earning a reported £25k-a-week, the Belgian helped fire Burnley to promotion in the 2022/23 campaign and could now get the chance to help Leeds secure the same achievement at his best.

Fabrizio Romano says one Chelsea forward is expected to leave, even after the summer transfer deadline day cut-off at 11pm on Friday, meaning supporters can expect even more activity in the coming days.

Chelsea spend £271 million on 13 new summer signings in busy window

BlueCo, as ever, splashed the cash on an array of signings at Chelsea, with their busyness in transfer windows becoming largely commonplace, and ever since Clearlake Capital's takeover of the club in 2022.

£62 million Chelsea star now battling for his future under Enzo Maresca

He needs to start impressing his new head coach.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 31, 2024

Joao Felix, Mike Penders, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Renato Veiga, Estevao Willian, Filip Jorgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Aaron Anselmino, Caleb Wiley, Omari Kellyman, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho all put pen to paper on moves to Stamford Bridge, with new head coach Enzo Maresca fiercely backed ahead of his debut campaign in the Chelsea dugout.

In total, including their reported £51 million acquisition of Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian, who'll join Chelsea in 2025, the west Londoners spent around £271 million in a serious shake-up of the squad.

Chelsea also attempted a late bid for Napoli star Victor Osimhen, but despite being in talks with his club and the player's representatives throughout Friday, the Blues couldn't get a deal for him over the line in time.

Appearances

25

Goals

15

Assists

3

Shots per 90

3.86

Key passes per 90

1.05

Successful take-ons per 90

0.73

WhoScored

A host of big names also left Chelsea for pastures new, including a pretty blockbuster exit to Arsenal for Raheem Sterling, which dominated the headlines on deadline day.

Alongside Sterling, other players to seal a last-gasp move away from Chelsea come in the form of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Romelu Lukaku, Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah, with the quartet leaving either on loan or permanently.

Chelsea will be especially overjoyed to get Lukaku's previous £325,000-per-week wages off the books as they seriously trim their salary bill, and the Belgian could be granted a new lease of life under Antonio Conte in Serie A.

The pair worked together at Inter and helped to guide the Nerazzurri to an impressive Scudetto triumph in the 2021/22 season.

David Datro Fofana expected to leave Chelsea after deadline day

As per Romano, another forward in Chelsea ace David Datro Fofana could quit the club after Lukaku and Broja – despite the UK transfer window's closure.

Indeed, it is believed Fofana is expected to leave Chelsea after deadline day, with a host of windows still open. Belgian, Turkish, Dutch and Portuguese clubs remain capable of doing business, for the next 48 hours at least, while the Saudis could also offer the 21-year-old an escape route.

The Ivory Coast international spent the second half of last season on loan at Burnley, scoring four league goals and proving he can cut it at the highest level. Fofana could be a great opportunity for clubs abroad, as he doesn't look too likely to feature much for Maresca this term.

Leeds United took another step towards automatic promotion to the Premier League on Monday night with a fantastic 2-1 win over Sunderland at Elland Road.

A brilliant first-half goal from Wilson Isidor put the Black Cats ahead at the break, after he rolled Ethan Ampadu with ease and planted a strike into the far bottom corner.

However, substitute Pascal Struijk came on in the second half to score headers in the 78th and 95th minute to turn the game around and secure all three points for the Whites.

This result has left the West Yorkshire outfit seven points clear of third place with 13 matches left to play in the second tier, whilst they are also two points ahead of Sheffield United in second place.

It is getting to the point where Leeds supporters can already begin to think about a possible promotion to the Premier League and all that comes with that, including the summer transfer window.

Chalkboard

The Whites will need to bolster their squad to give themselves the best chance of survival if they do go up, and they have reportedly already been looking around to identify potential targets.

Latest Leeds transfer news

It was recently reported that Leeds are showing an interest in experienced Premier League full-back Kyle Walker-Peters, whose contract at Southampton is due to expire in the summer.

He has started 23 matches in the top-flight for the Saints this season and has the versatility to be deployed as a left-back or a right-back, which would provide Daniel Farke’s side with depth on both flanks.

The Whites are also planning to hold talks with Tottenham Hotspur over a potential deal to sign Manor Solomon on a permanent deal, at the end of his current loan spell.

Starts

17

xG

5.12

Goals

7

Big chances created

11

Assists

7

As you can see in the table above, the Israel international has provided a big threat at the top end of the pitch with a steady stream of goals and assists from the left flank, cutting in on his right foot to make things happen on a consistent basis.

Leeds are also reportedly looking at bringing in a new striker for a potential Premier League campaign. OnTheMinute recently claimed that the club have identified Manchester United centre-forward Rasmus Holjund as a target, amid uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford.

The outlet reported that West Ham United and Juventus are also interested in the Denmark international, who could be available for a fee of £40m in the summer transfer window.

It is interesting that the Whites are looking to possibly bring in an expensive number nine to bolster their squad ahead of a Premier League season when they currently have one of the top scorers in the Championship.

Joel Piroe's goalscoring exploits

Joel Piroe started the 2024/25 campaign as the second-choice number nine behind Mateo Joseph but eventually worked his way into the XI and has been the go-to option for Farke in recent months.

Only Norwich City’s Borja Sainz (15) has scored more goals than the Dutchman (14) in the Championship, and they are the only two players in the division with more than 12 goals – Isidor taking his tally to 12 with his strike against Leeds on Monday.

The left-footed marksman, who was signed from Swansea in the summer of 2023, has provided an efficient presence in the final third with a return of 14 goals from 10.58 xG.

Non-penalty goals

0.59

Top 10%

Non-penalty xG

0.44

Top 13%

Non-penalty xG + xAG

0.57

Top 10%

Shot on target percentage

39.4%

Top 50%

Non-penalty xG per shot

0.14

Bottom 46%

Average shot distance

15.6 yards

Bottom 22%

As you can see in the table above, Piroe ranks highly among his positional peers for non-penalty xG and non-penalty goals, which shows that his teammates are creating a lot of chances for him, and he is finishing them efficiently.

However, despite his strong form in front of goal, there is a concern that he may not have the physical attributes to make the step up to to the Premier League.

Why Joel Piroe may be on borrowed time

The former Swansea striker may be on borrowed time as a starter under Farke as Leeds eye promotion to the Premier League, as his physical data this season suggests that he may not be suited to the top-flight.

Liam Delap is a trending, and brilliant, example of the kind of centre-forward whose game translates well from the Championship to the Premier League. He is a willing runner and someone who thrives off getting into duels with defenders to create opportunities for himself.

The English forward, who has scored ten goals in 24 Premier League games for Ipswich Town, has won 43% of his aerial battles and won 4.5 duels per match.

Delap completed 1.6 dribbles per game and won 3.9 duels per match, winning 38% of his aerial duels, in the Championship with Hull City last season, which suggested that he had the physical attributes to make the step up – and that has proven to be the case.

Pass accuracy

77%

Dribbles completed per game

0.3

Tackles + interceptions per game

0.5

Duels won per game

1.3

Duel success rate

27%

Aerial duel success rate

21%

As you can see in the table above, Piroe does not excel at the physical side of the game, as he has lost a whopping 73% of his duels with opposition defenders in the second tier.

Leeds, if they secure promotion, will be fighting to avoid relegation and will need a centre-forward who can duel with centre-backs and carry the ball up the pitch when needed to alleviate pressure.

Piroe’s statistics in the second tier suggest that he will not be able to do this, as Premier League defenders would be able to dominate him with ease, as he does not have the physicality or pace to cause them many problems in a counter-attacking side.

Therefore, the Dutch lightweight may now be on borrowed time under Farke as Leeds inch closer to promotion, as he does not appear to have the potential to be an effective starting striker for the German boss in the top-flight.

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ByBrett Worthington Feb 17, 2025

Aston Villa failed to take advantage of Ipswich Town receiving a red card in the first half as Unai Emery’s side had to battle to take a point in the clash at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon.

More dropped points won’t help their chances of qualifying for the Champions League next year, as the Midlands outfit currently occupy ninth place in the Premier League table, trailing Manchester City in fourth by six points.

Of course, they can still claw this back, but they will have to make up some ground between now and May to do so. That means as few mistakes and dropped points as possible.

The club enjoyed a solid transfer window and with Emery leading his squad on three fronts, he will have to rotate wisely.

Ollie Watkins proved to be the hero on Saturday, scoring a late equaliser against the Tractor Boys.

Ollie Watkins got Aston Villa out of jail

Watkins’ effort was his 70th Premier League goal scored during his career, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

When Ipswich went down to ten men, it looked as though the home side could take full advantage, yet Liam Delap scored with just over 30 minutes remaining to throw a spanner in the works.

Metric

Highest-Ranked

Accurate passes

Youri Tielemans (88)

Key passes

Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers (4)

Tackles

Omari Hutchinson (5)

Ground duels won

Marcus Rashford (7)

Shots on target

Morgan Rogers (2)

Marcus Rashford’s free-kick smashed back off the crossbar, right into the path of Watkins, who duly converted and this goal secured a 1-1 draw.

While he was the man who rescued a point, it was Youri Tielemans who was arguably the true hero for Emery due to his stunning performance in the heart of the midfield.

Youri Tielemans’ game in numbers vs Ipswich

The Belgian midfielder controlled the game from the heart of the pitch against Ipswich, succeeding with 91% of his passes and taking 114 touches, exerting his control over the game.

Performance in Numbers

Despite this, the club couldn’t secure all three points. Tielemans also made three key passes, succeeded with 75% of his dribbles, won eight of his 11 total duels contested, and made one tackle.

This shows that he contributed to Villa’s play in and out of possession, whilst Watkins just had his goal, and that is why he was even better than the England international.

The former Leicester City star is now one of the key members of Emery’s squad. Journalist John Townley gave the player a match rating of 7/10 for his display on Saturday, stating ‘Ipswich’s red card limited his ability to pick the lock, but he was still the glue in midfield and helped Villa sustain pressure.’

Perhaps if he had faced a full team, Tielemans may have been more productive in the final third, but he was certainly Villa’s finest player on the day.

Villa next play Liverpool at home in midweek, a game in which the Reds will be keen to take all three points to bolster their title aspirations.

If Emery’s side plays how they did against Ipswich, Liverpool will win comfortably, no doubt about that.

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He’s one to watch…

ByTom Cunningham Feb 15, 2025

Liverpool are cruising toward the Premier League title, with a variety of scenarios meaning that Arne Slot’s side could have the quest wrapped up before the end of the week.

However, FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes will be hard at work on the transfer front, getting everything in order ahead of the summer window.

Although Liverpool have exceeded expectations this term, there’s a sense that the Reds carry a number of weaknesses that need to be ironed out ahead of Slot’s second season at the helm, with Mohamed Salah the architect of most of Liverpool’s success in and around the final third.

His contract has been renewed, but the 32-year-old’s form has also dipped, and it’s clear that work needs to be done in order to bring him back to his A-game ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Mohamed Salah's dip in form

Salah has gone six games without a goal in all competitions, with his performances in particular against Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United drawing criticism from some onlookers.

However, it’s hardly surprising that he’s plateaued of late, having carried the weight of a multi-title-challenging football club on his back for the lion’s share of the season.

Salah, for what it’s worth, has posted 32 goals and 23 assists across all competitions this season, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher saying he’s “one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen in the Premier League.”

And anyway, it’s not as if he’s been dismal of late. As per Sofascore, the 32-year-old has created seven big chances since last scoring in the Premier League four games ago, hitting the woodwork twice during the recent victory over Leicester.

Salah remains head and shoulders ahead of his goalscoring rivals in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot, even though it’s been four fixtures since he last made the net bulge.

1.

Mohamed Salah

33

27

2.

Erling Haaland

28

21

2=

Alexander Isak

30

21

4.

Chris Wood

30

18

4=

Bryan Mbeumo

33

18

His Liverpool teammates haven’t been the most helpful in front of goal, with FSG set to bring in some fresh firepower 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.

Set to win the English title, Liverpool are gearing up to aim big, with one of Europe’s foremost players on the club’s radar.

Liverpool learn conditions for world-class forward

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have learned that they could potentially sign Raphinha this summer, with financially-troubled Barcelona not against selling their most valuable asset.

With a vested long-term interest in the winger, Arsenal and Chelsea are both keen too and intermediaries have informed Premier League suitors that he could be available for around an £80m transfer fee.

Raphinha, 28, has indeed been one of the best players in the world this season and would significantly strengthen Liverpool’s robust attacking line, perhaps even restoring Salah to his absolute best.

Why Liverpool should sign Raphinha

If the money is indeed there to be spent on a rising sensation such as Raphinha, it feels like something of a no-brainer for a Liverpool side that will be desperate to consolidate its place at the top of the Premier League.

Liverpool have dipped in form and fluency over the past several months, with Slot unwilling to utilise his wider first-team squad with the rotation that perhaps some fans have hoped for. But with a player like Raphinha, Liverpool’s frontline would only go from strength to strength, actually restoring talisman Salah to full strength.

Like Salah, Raphinha has adjusted his tactical approach to suit his burgeoning prolific ability. There’s no denying he’s a high-level athlete, with a powerful gait and fleet-footedness that once led his former Leeds United teammate Dan James to hail him as a “magician” of a footballer.

On that note, Raphinha is also Prem-proven, which is always a bonus. Littered with flops is the road toward superstardom on English shores.

But he’s never played as well as he is right now, within Hansi Flick’s attack-centric La Blaugrana set-up.

As per FBref, the Brazilian ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goal contributions and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90, perfectly illustrating his newfound place among the game’s top brass.

There’s also the matter of Raphinha’s Champions League campaign. With 12 goals and seven assists from 12 matches on the continental front, it’s clear why he’s among the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or, something Liverpool fans will hold onto hopes that Salah will claim.

But with Barca challenging for a treble, there’s every chance that “Europe’s best player in 2024/25,” as he has been called by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, will swipe the crown.

Hypothetically, if Slot could succeed in capturing and preserving Raphinha’s ridiculous output, unleashing it on the left flank at Liverpool, then there’s no telling how dynamic and deadly his title-defending frontline might be next season.

Right winger

70

19

21

0.57

Left winger

54

30

20

0.93

Attacking midfield

8

1

7

1.00

Central midfield

1

0

0

0.00

Such a balanced attacking force could be exactly what Salah needs to stay firing next season, with the in-form Luis Diaz potentially playing in a centre-forward role to accommodate both players.

Salah’s multi-dimensional output would only be reinforced by Raphinha’s arrival, and even though £80m would make him one of the most expensive players in the club’s history, it’s something FSG will want to consider.

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