Liverpool made some statement signings during the summer and are now fighting Manchester United to sign a Barcelona teenager.
Liverpool prepare to face Burnley in the Premier League
The international break is now over and supporters of Premier League clubs will be delighted to see their clubs back in action this weekend as the top-flight season begins to take shape.
Before their blockbuster Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, Liverpool travel to Burnley on Sunday as they look to maintain their perfect start to the season under Arne Slot.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot shakes hands with TV pundit and former player JamieCarragher
In a match that could signal Alexander Isak’s introduction for the Reds after joining from Newcastle for £125 million, Jermaine Pennant has taken the bold step of claiming the Sweden international is a better forward than Harry Kane.
He stated: “No, I would say Isak. Just because over the years, Harry Kane’s numbers in the Premier League have been fantastic, golden boots galore, but Harry Kane now, right at this minute, is not a better player than Alexander Isak.
“He’s not better than Haaland either. Isak is the best number nine in the world. When he’s fit, give him some games, give him some time.”
Recent developments suggest that Real Madrid’s interest in Ibrahima Konate is growing by the minute, albeit it remains to be seen whether replacing the France international is something that will leap to the top of their agenda amid his uncertain contract situation.
Regardless, Liverpool have maintained a keen focus on securing new arrivals at the expense of their Premier League rivals and could look to complete the trick once again as they pursue one of the world’s rising stars.
Liverpool battling Man Utd to sign Barcelona's Dro Fernandez According to reports in Spain,Liverpool are battling Manchester United to sign Barcelona rising star Dro Fernandez, who has shot to prominence this term after rising through the ranks at La Masia.
Chelsea and Manchester City are also courting the 17-year-old, and he is a regular in the La Liga giants’ second string. Making the step up to first-team level, he also scored against Vissel Kobe in pre-season.
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Dubbed “very special” by former coach Luis Perez, who likened Fernandez to Catalan icon Andres Iniesta, the attacking midfielder has two years left on his contract at Barcelona and is viewed as a prospect worth exploring due to his tactical understanding and efficient decision making in the final third.
Intriguingly, the next few months are said to be crucial to his future, and Liverpool appear to be positioning themselves for a swoop amid their excellent success rate when offering young talent opportunities to make their mark at senior level.
Spain Under-17 international Fernandez appears to be someone that could become a topic of conversation on the market, though it remains to be seen if the Reds can beat rivals such as Manchester United to his signature.
Chelsea have now made contact with the agents of an “amazing” Premier League star, who is open to a move to Stamford Bridge this summer, journalist Simon Phillips has revealed.
Maresca looking to bolster his backline
Enzo Maresca is proud of the strides his side have taken since last summer, having recently been crowned Club World Cup champions, with the manager saying: “For me, the biggest achievement this season is that exactly one year ago, no one was talking about Chelsea for football (reasons), but talking about the big squad, big money.
“Now, no one is talking about this, but they are talking about the way we play, and the way we win games. This is personally the biggest achievement of this season.”
The Blues silenced a lot of critics with their shock 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, but their squad arguably still needs to be trimmed down, with Nicolas Jackson now unhappy about potentially being behind Liam Delap and Joao Pedro in the pecking order.
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At the opposite end of the pitch, however, Maresca may still need some new recruits, given that Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah or Benoit Badiashile could be used as part of a swap deal for Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers.
As such, according to Phillips, Chelsea have now made fresh contact with the agents of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who is expected to cost around £40m, as he has now entered the final year of his contract and doesn’t plan to renew.
Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi with the FA Cup.
The journalist also added: “Guehi has a lot of interest and not just from Chelsea, and he is expected to depart his club this summer.
“Guehi is believed to be open to making a move back to Chelsea this summer but is also aware of other interest from big clubs in the Premier League.”
Guehi could be "amazing" signing for Chelsea
It could be difficult for the Palace defender to immediately force his way into Maresca’s starting XI, given that the Blues’ backline impressed considerably at the Club World Cup, keeping four clean sheets, including one against PSG in the final.
However, having proven himself in the Premier League over a number of years, the 25-year-old clearly has the talent to be a success at Stamford Bridge, with international teammate Harry Maguire even dubbing him as “amazing”.
The England international made 44 appearances in all competitions last season, displaying his leadership abilities by captaining the Eagles, while also impressing manager Oliver Glasner.
Guehi could be a fantastic signing at just £40m, and Chelsea should have the funds to make a deal, considering their recent Club World Cup triumph.
Nottingham Forest are now “preparing to submit” an offer for an “elusive” forward “in the near future”, journalist Yakup Cinar has revealed.
Forest looking to sign Elanga replacement
It will be very difficult to find a replacement for Anthony Elanga, given that the Sweden international was one of the driving forces behind Forest’s unexpected push for Europe last season, amassing 17 goal contributions in the Premier League.
However, a number of exciting options have been identified, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealing the Tricky Trees and owner Evangelos Marinkais have now made their first move for Bologna’s Dan Ndoye, who has already given a move to the City Ground the green light.
However, with Serie A champions Napoli also in the race for Ndoye, it could be difficult to get a deal over the line, and Marinakis and the Reds are also planning to make a move for an alternative option.
That is according to Cinar, who recently revealed: “West Ham and Aston Villa wanted Baris Alper Yilmaz at half-time (January). I also recently met with his manager, Tuncay Maldan. Nottingham Forest are preparing to submit a €25-30m offer to Galatasaray for Baris Alper Yilmaz in the near future.”
With an offer of £22m – £26m set to be launched soon, it is clear that Forest retain a strong interest in the forward, but it remains to be seen whether Galatasaray are tempted by a bid in that ballpark, having previously been keen to hold out for £30m.
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BySean Markus Clifford Jul 19, 2025 "Elusive" Yilmaz impressing in the Turkish Super Lig
It is little wonder the Tricky Trees are planning to launch a move for the winger, given that he has been a regular source of goals and assists for Galatasaray for quite some time, and the 2024-25 campaign was the 25-year-old’s most impressive to date.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
2022-23
25
4
2
2023-24
37
6
7
2024-25
32
12
3
The Turkey international also scored in the Europa League last season, and that experience could be useful for Forest, given that they are set to embark on a European campaign of their own next season.
Baris Alper Yilmaz for Galatasaray.
Not only that, but the attacker has given one of the Premier League’s top defenders a tough time in the past, with Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk saying: “Baris Alper Yilmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive. It was difficult for every defender. He made it very hard for us. He couldn’t score a goal though. If we were to describe him in any way, he is a really important player.”
As such, Yilmaz could now be ready to test himself in England, and given that he is able to play on both wings, the Galatasaray star could be an ideal replacement for Elanga.
Newcastle United have bid farewell to striker Callum Wilson, who departs the Magpies after five years on Tyneside.
The centre-forward struggled with injury throughout his spell with the club, scoring 49 goals across 130 appearances.
Newcastle United'sCallumWilsonsalutes their fans after the match
However, with a Carabao Cup winner’s medal around his neck, he will leave Tyneside with fond memories of the club.
The positive news concerning his departure means that it does leave room for Eddie Howe to bring in another striker this summer, especially with European football on the horizon.
James Trafford and Anthony Elanga look set to move to St James’ Park in the coming days. Will another new attacker follow after them?
Newcastle in advanced talks for English striker
Howe was keen on bringing Joao Pedro to Newcastle, but Chelsea’s offer of £60m was beyond what the Magpies were willing to spend.
Despite Champions League football to look forward to next term, Howe is going to have to be diligent in the transfer market and hunt for alternatives.
Well, according to reports, the Toon are now currently in advanced talks to sign former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin following his departure from the Toffees.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin in action for Everton.
The Englishman has been admired for a while now by Howe, but he will have to fend off interest from Manchester United to secure his man.
Transfer Focus
Even though he has scored only 11 goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, could he return to form at Newcastle, however?
Especially with someone like Elanga creating plenty of chances for him.
Why Calvert-Lewin could be a good signing for Newcastle
Last season, Elanga notched up 12 assists for Nottingham Forest in all competitions. Furthermore, he created nine big chances and averaged 1.3 key passes per game in the top flight.
If that wasn’t enough, the Swede ranked in the top 6% for assists and in the top 3% for crosses when compared to his positional peers in the Premier League.
Thus, should Calvert-Lewin make the move to Newcastle, he would surely shine alongside a player like Elanga.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2024/25
26
3
2
2023/24
38
8
3
2022/23
18
2
1
2021/22
18
5
2
2020/21
39
21
5
2019/20
41
15
1
2018/19
38
8
3
2017/18
44
8
5
2016/17
20
5
2
While the previous few years have been tough, the 28-year-old did score 13 league goals in 2019/20 and 16 the season after, proving that when he is fit, the striker is among one of the best in the country.
It was around this time that the player received plenty of praise from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who said:
“Calvert-Lewin, I really expected him to make big steps in the next few years and he did. He has everything you need in a top striker: size, mobility, speed, desire, technically really, really good, in the air, finishing with his head, both feet.”
Signing the former Sheffield United starlet on a free transfer could turn into a shrewd piece of business for Howe. But only if he remains fit and healthy.
Adding both Elanga and Calvert-Lewin will certainly give Newcastle more depth in their attacking department and it could well be that the Forest winger is the chance generation machine that the latter needs to revive his career.
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Still only 28, the former Everton striker could shine in the northeast.
Their new Gordon: Newcastle "close" to signing "electric" big-money star
As Eddie Howe looks to bolster his attacking options, Newcastle are “negotiating” to sign an “electric” winger who will be sensational Gordon repeat.
Celtic are looking to improve their options in the wide areas during the summer transfer window ahead of the 2025/26 campaign getting underway.
The Hoops are already closing in on their first addition on the flanks, as reporter Anthony Joseph has claimed that the club have agreed a fee of £1.7m to sign FC Nordsjaelland attacker Benjamin Nygren.
The Sweden international, who scored 15 goals in 30 league matches for the Danish club this season, is set to arrive to compete for a place on the right wing, but the club are also looking at a left-sided addition.
Journalist Sacha Tavolieri has claimed that talks are ongoing between Celtic and Michel-Ange Balikwisha over a potential move from Belgian side Royal Antwerp.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha against Porto in the Champions League.
The Belgian reporter added that the 24-year-old winger is keen to make the move to Parkhead this summer, but it remains to be seen whether or not terms will be agreed between all parties to make it happen.
Celtic are looking to bring in a new left-winger after Jota suffered a long-term knee injury in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, and there are reasons for and against a move for Balikwisha.
The Celtic case for Michel-Ange Balikwisha
One of the reasons why Celtic may want to sign the Belgian forward is because he has the potential to deliver quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals at the top end of the pitch.
The right-footed flanker has produced 29 goals and 17 assists in 141 appearances in all competitions for Royal Antwerp to date, which includes four goals and three assists in ten games during the Pro League play-off round this season.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha for Royal Antwerp.
Balikwisha has shown that he has the potential to make a big impact in the final third at a good level in Belgium’s top-flight, which is why Celtic may feel that he could hit the ground running in Scotland.
At the age of 24, the Belgian forward is also at a good age where he still has time to develop and improve, but is not inexperienced, which could make him an ideal signing.
24/25
3
205
29
23/24
1
49
10
22/23
2
103
14
21/22
2
51
10
As you can see in the table above, though, there are also reasons to be concerned about a potential deal for the winger, as he has missed 63 matches through injury in the last four seasons combined, and this means that the attacker may not be available week-in-week-out.
Balikwisha has also only played more than 17 games in one role, as a left winger, in his career, which does not suggest that he is supremely versatile across the frontline.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Celtic could, however, land an even better winger signing this summer by moving for Blackburn Rovers dynamo Tyrhys Dolan over a swoop for Balikwisha.
Why Celtic should sign Tyrhys Dolan
The Hoops are reportedly in the running to land the 23-year-old attacker on a free transfer, as his contract at Ewood Park is due to expire at the end of this month.
This means that he would be significantly cheaper than Balikwisha, who has a reported price tag of £5m, and that would allow the Scottish Premiership champions to save money to spend in other areas of the pitch.
Not only would Dolan be a cheaper alternative, the English forward would also arrive as a player who is more likely to be a reliable option for Brendan Rodgers from a fitness perspective, as he has not suffered any notable injuries in his career, as per Transfermarkt.
The 23-year-old ace, who has racked up 210 appearances for Blackburn already, is durable and can be relied upon to be available most weeks as Celtic compete across four competitions, as he has been used to 46-game seasons in the Championship.
Dolan, once hailed as “outstanding” by manager John Eustace, also has the positional flexibility to make him a useful option even when Jota is back fit. He has played 25 games or more in four different positions throughout his career, and is capable of playing on the right or left flank, as an attacking midfielder, and as a centre-forward.
This suggests that he is more likely to be a viable option in other positions than Balikwisha, who is predominantly a left-winger, would be, which is another reason why he could be a more valuable signing for Rodgers moving forward.
Goals
0.17
Top 45%
Shot on target percentage
44%
Top 11%
Non-penalty xG per shot
0.13
Top 22%
Goals per shot
0.12
Top 33%
Goal creating actions
0.48
Top 11%
Defensive actions leading to goal
0.06
Top 2%
Assists
0.17
Top 37%
As you can see in the table above, Dolan also caught the eye with his contributions at the top end of the pitch in the second tier of English football, ranking highly in a host of key attacking metrics.
He ended the campaign with a return of seven goals, seven ‘big chances’ created, and six assists, compared to Balikwisha’s haul of four goals, seven ‘big chances’ created, and three assists.
These statistics, with both his goal and assist numbers as well as his underlying data, suggest that the potential is there for the potential free agent signing to deliver quality as a scorer and a creator of goals for Celtic.
Overall, Dolan would be a better signing for the Scottish giants than Balikwisha because he would arrive at Parkehad for less money, offer more reliability with his fitness, offer more versatility with the positions that he can play, and offer a similar threat in front of goal.
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It is now down to Rodgers to push the board to strike an agreement with Dolan to bring him in on a free transfer instead of pursuing a big-money deal for Balikwisha this summer.
Chelsea’s activity within the transfer market has been there for all to see over the last couple of seasons, spending over £1.3b since the takeover in May 2022.
The Blues have wasted no time in already bolstering Enzo Maresca’s side this summer, landing Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr to provide depth in key areas of the pitch.
After securing Champions League football and winning the Conference League, the club are heading in the right direction, needing to build on the impressive work conducted in 2024/25.
If they want to go to the latter stages and Europe and mount a serious push for the Premier League, quality and depth are desperately needed, as seen by the business already conducted in recent weeks.
However, such moves don’t appear to be slowing down, with the manager and board already working hard to land more additions when the window reopens on the 16th of June.
The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for new additions this summer
Jamie Gittens has been the name on the lips of all Chelsea fans over the last couple of weeks, with the Blues having two separate bids rejected for the Borussia Dortmund star.
Maresca desperately wanted to sign the 20-year-old winger ahead of the Club World Cup, but no doubt will return after the competition to secure a deal for the Englishman.
However, he could be joined at Stamford Bridge by Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, after the England player emerged on their shortlist, according to Football Insider.
They claim that the Blues have been monitoring a deal for the 25-year-old in recent weeks, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s side demanding a fee in the region of £100m for his signature.
It also states that he wants to play Champions League football next season, something he could do in West London after Maresca’s side beat the Reds 1-0 at the City Ground on the final day.
Why Gibbs-White could be Maresca’s own Wirtz
Over recent weeks, Florian Wirtz has been a name almost every English football fan has become familiar with after Liverpool’s attempts to sign the Bayer Leverkusen star.
The German attacking midfielder has caught the eye in recent times, registering 30 combined goals and assists across all competitions, making him one of the hottest prospects in European football.
It’s been reported that he’s agreed a €150m (£127m) deal with Arne Slot’s side to move to Anfield this summer, massively increasing their chances of retaining their Premier League title.
However, Maresca could land his own version of the superstar this window by pursuing a move to sign Gibbs-White, with the Forest sensation having the tools to thrive at the Bridge.
When comparing his stats with those of the German international this season, he’s managed to outperform in numerous key areas – showcasing how much of an impressive addition he would be for the Blues.
Nottingham Forest's MorganGibbs-Whitereacts after the match
Gibbs-White, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one journalist, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has managed to register more goals per shot on target – showcasing his excellent ability in front of goal.
He’s also managed to match him for passes completed, with the Forest star registering more passes into the final third per 90, handing the attackers ahead of him the chance to thrive in the final third.
Games played
34
31
Goals & assists
15
22
Goals per shot on target
0.4
0.2
Pass accuracy
78%
78%
Passes into final third
4.1
3.6
Aerials won
42%
20%
Tackles won
1.4
1.2
Key passes made
2.6
2.1
The Englishman’s talents don’t stop there, winning more aerials and more tackles, handing Maresca another excellent option without possession in West London.
While £100m may appear a ludicrous figure for the 25-year-old, he has the talents to take his game to the next level, especially if he’s operating around elite-level stars.
Given how he’s managed to outperform Wirtz in some key areas, it would be a superb signing and one that could catapult the club into a Premier League title battle in 2025/26.
A bigger talent than Gittens: Chelsea still looking at "special" £50m star
Celtic recently confirmed their first signing of the summer transfer window when they unveiled left-back Kieran Tierney as the newest arrival to Parkhead.
The Scotland international is joining from Premier League side Arsenal on a free transfer when his contract with the Gunners expires at the end of this month, six years on from his move to The Emirates in 2019.
Tierney, as you can see in the graphic above, won five Scottish Premiership titles during his first spell in Glasgow, and he will be hoping to add to that tally in the years to come.
Whilst the Hoops will be looking to add more options to their squad before the end of the summer transfer window, Brendan Rodgers will also have to deal with speculation over the future of his star players.
Brendan Rodgers
Football Insider reported last month that Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda have both attracted interest from other clubs this summer, and it remains to be seen whether or not they will remain in Glasgow beyond the end of the window.
Rodgers will, of course, not want to lose any of his star attackers ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as Kuhn, for example, would leave a big hole to fill on the right flank.
Why losing Nicolas Kuhn would be a big blow for Celtic
The German winger leaving Parkhead before the end of the summer transfer window would be a big blow for the Scottish giants because of the quality that he can provide at the top end of the pitch.
Kuhn, who joined the club from Rapid Vienna at the start of 2024, had six months to settle into the Premiership in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, before he hit his stride this term.
The 25-year-old ended the season with an eye-catching haul of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, which included three goals and one assist in ten outings in the Champions League.
Nicolas Kuhn (Celtic)
8
Ianis Hagi (Rangers)
7
Daizen Maeda (Celtic)
7
Danny Armstrong (Kilmarnock)
6
Shayden Morris (Aberdeen)
6
James Forrest (Celtic)
5
Nicky Cadden (Hibernian)
5
Martin Boyle (Hibernian)
5
Hyun-jun Yang (Celtic)
3
Glen Middleton (Dundee United)
3
As you can see in the table above, the bulk of his assists came in the Premiership, where he led the league for assists among wingers and in all positions.
The former Bayern Munich academy star also provided a big goal threat in the Scottish top-flight, though, with a return of 13 goals in 32 appearances in the division.
His contributions at the top end of the pitch, as both a scorer and a creator of goals, are why losing him would be such a blow for Celtic, but they are reportedly eyeing up a star who could be their next Kuhn.
Celtic in talks to sign £2m attacker
According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Celtic are in talks with Nordsjaelland winger Benjamin Nygren’s representatives over a potential move to Parkhead this summer.
The reporter claims that the Hoops have already approached the Danish club to seek permission to speak to the forward, and they are now in discussions with his agents.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Joseph adds that the Hoops will move on to talks with Nordsjaelland if they can agree personal terms with the attacker, as they are yet to agree a fee with his current team.
Meanwhile, CeltsAreHere adds that a fee of £2m will be enough to secure a deal for the 23-year-old star’s services, as his current contract with the Danish outfit is due to expire at the end of December, and that there is also interest from clubs in Belgium and Germany.
Celtic must, now, work hard to convince Nygren to make the move to Glasgow this summer because he could come in as a natural replacement for Kuhn, or as fantastic competition for his place in the team.
Why Nygren could be Celtic's next Kuhn
The 23-year-old star would be a fantastic replacement for the German attacker from a stylistic perspective, as they are both left-footed forwards who like to drift infield from the right flank.
This means that Nygren could play a similar tactical role to the one that Kuhn currently plays for Rodgers in Celtic’s team, which suggests that he could slot into the side with ease, either as a replacement or as competition for him.
The Sweden international, who was described as an “underrated” talent by Danish Scout on X, also has the quality on the ball to replicate Kuhn’s impact in front of goal in that position.
Nygren produced 15 goals in 34 games during the 2023/24 campaign and 16 goals in 32 matches in all competitions this season, which speaks to his ability to make a difference on a regular basis in the final third.
xG
10.90
Top 4%
xG on target
16.95
Top 1%
Shots on target
40
Top 1%
Goals
15
Top 1%
xA
5.97
Top 8%
Assists
2
Top 50%
As you can see in the table above, he was one of the top-performing wingers in the Superliga during the 2024/25 campaign, ranking incredibly highly among his peers as both a scorer and a creator.
His meagre assist tally of two should not be a cause for concern because of his xA of 5.97, which suggests that he was let down by wasteful finishing from his teammates, rather than only having two assists due to a lack of creativity.
Therefore, Rodgers could find his next version of Kuhn by completing a deal to sign Nygren, because he is another left-footed right winger who has the potential to deliver goals and assists, or at high-quality chances created, on a regular basis for the Scottish giants.
It is now down to Rodgers and the club to convince the player to turn down interest from Belgium and Germany in order to win the race for his signature before the start of pre-season next month.
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Leeds United have now been hit with a worrying development as a key player is unhappy with the way contract talks are progressing, according to a recent report.
49ers chasing multiple transfer deals for Leeds
As with any team that is promoted to the Premier League, the Whites are expected to be in for a busy summer as they look to form a squad that is capable of doing what other promoted teams haven’t done in recent years, and that is staying in the Premier League. Daniel Farke and co. have managed to put together a very competitive Leeds team, but stepping up another level means the German will want more quality and depth.
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The Yorkshire side appear keen to strengthen the spine of their team, as it’s been reported that Leeds are chasing a deal to sign goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, who is seen as a replacement and upgrade on Illan Meslier. As well as looking to sign Fofana, the Whites are also interested in signing his teammate Himad Abdelli, who also plays for French side Angers. Abdelli is an attacking midfielder, and his potential arrival would bolster Farke’s creativity and midfield depth.
The Championship title winners also have targets to strengthen their defence and forward line, with the 49ers lining up a move to sign Dara O’Shea from Ipswich Town.
Meanwhile, Leeds have made contact with striker Rodrigo Muniz over a possible move to Elland Road. The Fulham and Brazil forward is very much a wanted man this summer, and now the Whites have added him to their list of attacking options.
Daniel James contract update
But while the Whites look at bringing in new players, they are also hoping to keep hold of some of their best talents this summer. According to Alan Nixon, relayed by The Leeds Press, Leeds are struggling to reach a contract agreement with winger Daniel James.
That is because the Whites have offered the Welsh international a two-year deal, but James is looking for a longer contract offer, as he feels his performances over the last couple of seasons have earned him the right to a long-term deal.
James, who is one of Leeds’ biggest earners on a weekly wage of £50,000, has been at Elland Road since August 2021, joining from Manchester United. After his season on loan at Fulham, James has taken his game to the next level, scoring 25 goals in the last two Championship seasons combined.
Apps
123
Goals
29
Assists
22
Back in March, James put Farke’s management style as the reason why his form has been so impressive, perhaps showing why he is willing to commit his future to the club but on the right terms.
He told BBC Radio Leeds: “When he first come in, he put his arm around me and said what he wanted from me. We had a good relationship from the start, and it’s one I’ve tried to continue with.
“The way he sets up the team suits me down to the ground, and that’s where I get the benefits from.”
Going into the final day of the Premier League season, the Blues kick off in fifth place, thereby occupying the final Champions League spot, but are far from guaranteed to remain there.
Their hosts, Nottingham Forest, are just a point behind Enzo Maresca’s team, so, defeat at the City Ground would see them slip out of the Champions League places and, assuming Aston Villa avoid defeat at Old Trafford simultaneously, the Blues would end up seventh.
This would mean, if they’re then also beaten by Real Betis in Wednesday’s Conference League Final in Wrocław, they would end up back in next season’s Conference League, which absolutely no Chelsea supporter wants to come to pass.
Given all of that, there is so much for Maresca’s men to play for on the pitch while, off it, plans are already coming together for next season, so could Chelsea land a new striker?
Chelsea's search for a new striker
According to a report by Cahê Mota of Brazilian outlet Globo, Chelsea have made a €60m (around £51m) offer to sign Brighton & Hove Albion forward João Pedro, adding that the Blues are attempting to ‘speed up negotiations’, hoping to have the star in place ahead of the Club World Cup.
Well, the 23-year-old appears likely to be on the move at some point this summer because, as documented by Steve Sutcliffe of BBC Sport, Pedro will not be involved when the Seagulls face Spurs on Sunday, have also not been in the matchday squad to take on Liverpool last Monday either, following a ‘training ground altercation’ with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.
Despite this, the Brazilian is still a sought-after striker, with presenter Sam Ucko labelling him a ‘special player’ who is destined to go to ‘the very top’, so could he be on his way to Stamford Bridge?
Chelsea's search for their next great striker
As noted by Richard Jolly of Four Four Two, Chelsea have had their fair share of striker flops through the years; the names Andriy Shevchenko, Chris Sutton, Adrian Mutu, Mateja Kežman, and many others immediately spring to mind.
In fact, one could argue that Chelsea have not had a clinical centre-forward since the days of Diego Costa.
After arriving from Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2014 for a reported £32m, the Spanish international scored 59 goals in 120 appearances for the Blues, winning two Premier League titles and the EFL Cup, also named in the PFA Team of the Year at the end of his first campaign in England.
The table below outlines all the Blues’ highest-scoring centre-forwards in the last decade.
2014/15
Diego Costa
20
21
2015/16
Diego Costa
12
16
2016/17
Diego Costa
20
22
2017/18
Álvaro Morata
11
15
2018/19
Olivier Giroud
2
13
2019/20
Tammy Abraham
15
18
2020/21
Tammy Abraham
6
12
2021/22
Romelu Lukaku
8
15
2022/23
Kai Havertz
7
9
2023/24
Nicolas Jackson
14
17
2024/25
Nicolas Jackson
10
12
As the table outlines, no Chelsea centre-forward has reached 20 goals across all competitions since Costa’s departure, while noting that Eden Hazard in 2018/19 as well as Cole Palmer last season did reach this milestone, albeit, of course, neither of those are strikers.
Diego Costa
So, could João Pedro change this fact?
Well, let’s look at his statistics this season to help answer this question.
Minutes
1,948
170th
Goals
10
19th
Goals per 90
0.46
17th
Assists
6
26th
Goals + assists per 90
0.74
9th
Shots per 90
1.94
59th
Goals – xG
+1.1
65th
Shot-creating actions
72
72nd
Goal-creating actions
9
63rd
As the table outlines, despite limited minutes, Pedro has managed ten Premier League goals this season, thereby ranking very highly for goals-per-90 in particular.
This is on top of the 20 goals he managed last season, six of which came in the Europa League, a very impressive return during his debut campaign with the Seagulls and would have been the highest by any Chelsea striker since Costa left.
Adrian Clarke of the Premier League praises the Brazilian’s ‘versatility’ as well as his quick movement and ability to ‘dribble past players with ease’, while Liam Tharme of the Athletic underlines how his ‘technical prowess’ allows him to drop deep and get involved in the build-up play.
Meantime, Shay Hicks of Talent Football Scout asserts that Pedro ‘would thrive with higher-quality teammates’, so could he be on his way to Chelsea, possibly becoming the striker they’ve spent nigh on a decade searching for?
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And so, it all comes down to this. A pivotal game that could not only define a season, but also define the future of Manchester United.
Victory in the Europa League final would see United sneak into next year’s Champions League, providing the benefit of additional funds and an extra negotiating tool for upcoming transfer negotiations.
It would also provide a welcome boost for the early Ruben Amorim regime, a moment to kickstart a tenure that has been largely wretched on the Premier League front.
The Portuguese coach has repeatedly stated that winning the competition would not be enough to “save” the club’s season, although the prospect of potentially finishing empty-handed and in 17th in the table is too grim to ponder.
In truth, the Red Devils simply have to win. The problem is, the same will be true of Tottenham Hotspur, amid the need to end their own 17-year barren run with regard to silverware.
With so much riding on a game of immense magnitude, Amorim and co can’t afford any passengers – something which a certain Rasmus Hojlund is looking like right now.
Rasmus Hojlund's game in numbers vs Chelsea
While Ange Postecoglou took the decision to rest his key men against Aston Villa on Friday – with Micky van de Ven among those left out of the matchday squad at Villa Park – Amorim opted for a different approach at Chelsea, having deployed what could well be his starting lineup for tonight’s clash in Bilbao.
The worry for the former Sporting CP boss will be that despite an encouraging opening, which saw Harry Maguire’s fine finish chalked off for offside, the Red Devils still ended up on the losing side, having again failed to provide that cutting edge in the final third.
Amid what was the eighth league game in succession without a win for the Old Trafford side, chances were few and far between, with Amad Diallo coming closest with an effort from the angle late on.
For Hojlund, meanwhile, it represented yet another game this season in which he failed to even register a shot in the top-flight, having merely been a bystander to proceedings at Stamford Bridge.
Indeed, the struggling Dane lost the ball on 13 occasions from his 26 touches, as per Sofascore, having also failed to complete a single successful dribble, alongside recording a 65% pass accuracy rate.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
A particular issue remains the 22-year-old’s desire to engage in needless battles with opposition centre-backs, as he ultimately won just two of his 11 total duels, getting little change out of Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill.
Amorim subsequently stated that he is “really happy” with the former Atalanta man, although perhaps the Portuguese is merely attempting to gee up the misfiring marksman, amid the lack of an obvious alternative through the middle.
Games (starts)
14 (10)
Goals
6
Shots*
1.5
Big chances missed
4
Goal frequency
154min
Assists
2
Big chances created
5
Key passes*
1.3
Total duels won*
36%
Possession lost*
5.4
Indeed, it might be time to consider actually replacing Hojlund with a wildcard solution, even if it would be a risk in a game of such importance…
How Man Utd can replace Hojlund
With just ten goals to his name in 2024/25, including just four in the top-flight, Hojlund is approaching the end of a miserable second season in Manchester, having failed to build on a debut campaign that saw him finish as the club’s highest scorer in all competitions.
Those woes have ensured that it would be worth considering a potential centre-forward replacement for Wednesday night’s clash, albeit with options limited due to Joshua Zirkzee’s recent absence through injury.
The Dutchman has been pictured in training, alongside Leny Yoro and Diogo Dalot, although whether he will be rushed back into the action this evening remains to be seen.
One solution may be to trial Kobbie Mainoo in that role once again, following his surprise start as a striker against Crystal Palace in February, albeit with that experiment failing to work out as the youngster ‘faded after the first 15 minutes’, as per journalist Samuel Luckhurst.
Man Utd top scorers
The aforementioned Maguire, meanwhile, should surely only be a last resort in the dying embers of a game, with the Englishman needed to hold the fort defensively, amid concerns over the likes of Matthijs de Ligt.
With that in mind, Amorim may instead need to call upon talismanic skipper, Bruno Fernandes, to slot into a false nine berth, with the 30-year-old yet to be trialled in that role in this 3-4-3 system.
The Portugal star has previously played in that central berth in the past, having notably worked in tandem with Scott McTominay as part of a front two in last year’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
A player of invaluable versatility and quality, the playmaking “genius” – as hailed by Erik ten Hag – appears to thrive wherever he is deployed, with such a switch then allowing Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte to offer greater defensive solidity as part of the midfield two.
Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes, meanwhile, could then be flanked by two of Alejandro Garnacho, Amad and Mason Mount in the number ten berths, with that fluid frontline potentially able to cause problems for a Spurs side who have endured their own notable woes this term.
A further benefit of that switch would be Fernandes’ ability to drop deep and drag the likes of Van de Ven and Cristian Romero with him, rather than the alternative of Hojlund attempting to engage in a duel with the stellar duo.
As The Athletic’s Jay Harris has noted, ‘with Van de Ven and Romero in the starting XI, Spurs can play thrilling football and look capable of competing for trophies. Without them, they look mediocre.’
Trying to get the better of the centre-back pairing will be vital at San Mames, with Fernandes able to give the two men something more to think about, rather than being content in dealing with the hapless Hojlund.
Yes, it would be a bold call to make such a switch for a final, yet with his performance at Stamford Bridge having been so underpar last time out, Hojlund can’t merely be guaranteed of start simply because of the lack of alternatives.
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