All posts by h716a5.icu

Manchester United have now reportedly submitted a huge offer to sign a much-needed attacking addition who would instantly make any potential Bryan Mbeumo rejection an afterthought.

Man Utd still chasing Bryan Mbeumo

For a moment it looked as though Manchester United were out on their own in the race to sign Mbeumo only for Tottenham Hotspur to burst onto the scene. With Thomas Frank now by their side, the Lilywhites have reportedly matched Brentford’s asking price and could instantly reunite Mbeumo with his former manager.

The new Martial: Wilcox ramping up move to sign "next Mbappe" for Man Utd

Man United are pressing to bring in a centre-forward with shades of Anthony Martial.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 16, 2025

United haven’t simply stepped aside, however. Reports are now claiming that they’ve reached an agreement on personal terms with the talented winger and club chiefs believe that they will complete a move to land his signature this summer.

There was always likely to be interest in Mbeumo following yet another excellent campaign at Brentford. At just 25 years old, there may not be a better time to move than this summer, but he must still get his next decision right.

As for United, whether it’s Mbeumo or another option, signing an attacking reinforcement seems to be at the very top of their wishlist. The Red Devils suffered going forward last season, with both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund at the centre of those struggles which culminated in a 15th-place finish.

Starts

14

23

Goals

3

4

Assists

1

0

Expected Goals

4.8

5.3

Ruben Amorim will be desperate for some added firepower and if it’s not Mbeumo, then rumours suggest that it could yet be an excellent alternative.

INEOS already proved that they’re willing to spend when they welcomed Matheus Cunha for around £63m and now they could spend more than ever amid reports that they’ve submitted a hefty £120m+ bid for one particular talent.

Man Utd submit shock offer to sign Barcelona star Raphinha

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United have now submitted a shock €150m (£128m) offer to sign Raphinha from Barcelona this summer. The Spanish giants have reportedly been left surprised by the bid, but their financial situation could yet force them to consider it.

It would instantly be one of the standout deals of the summer if Manchester United made it happen. The Brazilian winger is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or this year and would instantly ensure that the Red Devils forget all about Mbeumo.

Appearances

57

42

Goals

34

20

Assists

24

8

With 59 goal involvements in 57 appearances, it’s no surprise that Raphinha has found himself in Ballon d’Or conversations and, as talented as Mbeumo is, there is no denying that the Barcelona star is the standout option.

The winger earned plenty of deserved praise last season, including from Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who told reporters: “He has good dynamics with the ball and he has had an extraordinary match. His offensive and defensive dynamics, and his good technique, are something special. I have never had a player like him and he helps us a lot.”

Everton are “keen” on completing the signing of a Premier League player who has been called “phenomenal” and already has a full trophy case, according to Sky Sports.

Everton eyeing shock deal for Liverpool winger

David Moyes knows the importance of the Blues nailing their summer transfer business, at a time when the club needs to kick on in their new stadium and look to become a top-half Premier League team again.

Top-quality new signings are needed, ahead of what supporters hope will be a relatively free-spending window, and Liverpool winger Ben Doak is reportedly the subject of interest from Everton. No senior player has made the move between the two rivals since back in 2002, when Abel Xavier moved from the Blues to the Reds.

Meanwhile, Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill has been linked with a move to Everton, with the 29-year-old enjoying a magnificent season for the Clarets, inspiring them to Championship promotion and registering 24 goal contributions (18 goals and six assists).

Midfield certainly looks like an area of the pitch that the Mersysiders are focusing on, with Rangers ace Mohamed Diomande also mentioned as an option for Moyes’ men. The 23-year-old could add energy and quality in the middle of the park, as well as being a long-term acquisition.

Everton want "phenomenal" Premier League maestro

According to Sky Sports on Monday, Everton are now also “keen” on signing Brighton attacking midfielder Matt O’Riley in the summer window, amid plenty of competition for his signature.

O’Riley could be exactly the type of player the Blues need this summer, possessing guile in attacking midfield areas and creating chances for the strikers.

The 2-cap Dane had a tough first year in a Brighton shirt, with a serious pre-season injury setting him back immediately, and he ended up being limited to only 11 starts in the league.

O’Riley is a class act with a beautiful left foot, though, and he excelled during his time at Celtic, winning four Scottish Premiership titles and being lauded by Brendan Rodgers.

“He has been absolutely phenomenal really in his consistency. I think if we lacked anything as a team, it was probably that. But from an individual perspective his goal return.

“I think someone said he had scored his first goal [of last season] in January of last year. So to look at his numbers now, it’s huge testament to himself because the work he puts in, the focus he puts in every single day at training to improve and be better, that’s clearly been rewarded by his team-mates and everyone else.”

Everton battling West Ham to sign "brilliant" 29 y/o Player of the Year

David Moyes has tried to snap him up in the past.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 2, 2025

Everton should be an interesting proposition for potential signings, considering they are in a sparkly new stadium and Moyes has improved them greatly since coming in, so the hope is that O’Riley sees them as a leading option to move to.

Tottenham Hotspur have held negotiations over signing a colossal centre-back in the last few days, according to reports, with chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange working to strengthen the squad.

Spurs win Europa League but end Premier League season in 17th

Ange Postecoglou’s future hangs in the balance after what was a very mixed season for the Lilywhites.

£165k-a-week Tottenham star has told Levy he's quitting despite Europa win

He’s informed the Spurs chairman directly.

3 ByEmilio Galantini May 25, 2025

According to reports, Tottenham chiefs are currently ’50/50′ about sacking Postecoglou, with the Australian ending their 17-year wait for a major trophy whilst also leading them to a record-breaking 22 Premier League defeats this campaign, resulting in a lowly 17th-placed finish.

The emotional high surrounding their first European triumph since 1984 in the Europa League, coupled with Postecoglou’s rousing speech at the trophy parade, will be firmly stuck in Levy’s mind – and the chairman is now faced with an almighty conundrum ahead of next season.

“As much as you try to understand what a trophy would mean to these people, seeing them out there today, is why we do what we do,” said Postecoglou after their Europa League final win.

“That’s the priceless bit, for this feeling. I’m super pleased that these boys could deliver. All good things come through hard work, toil, perseverance and belief. This group have that in spades and I’m so pleased that we could crack that stone and now everyone can enjoy it.

“We had to dig deep, for sure, but what the history books will say is that we’re the Europa Cup winners, and it doesn’t say how we did it, just that we did it. I made family a theme from when I got here because I felt that we needed something to bring us all together and look further than just what everybody wanted. We had to form some sort of unity and the lads have been brilliant. They’ve shared their stories and got closer through the tough times like all families and now they share the reward.”

A decision on Postecoglou will need to be made and quickly, with the first of two 2025 summer transfer windows set to open imminently.

Tottenham hold "negotiations" over signing Pisa defender Francesco Coppola

Tottenham’s qualification for the Champions League gives Levy and Lange an almighty boost when it comes to the club’s recruitment drive, with reports suggesting Spurs are more confident they can tempt players like Marc Guehi as a result.

The Crystal Palace star isn’t their only defensive target, either, with Pisa Sporting Club’s rising star Francesco Coppola also on their radar.

The Italy Under-20 international spent 2024/2025 on loan at Serie C side Vis Pesaro, but his performances in the third tier have apparently impressed Spurs scouts – so much so that they’ve approached Pisa over signing him.

That is according to La Nazione, who write that Tottenham held “negotiations” over Coppola in the last few days, but these talks ended pretty swiftly.

Pisa are said to have rebuffed Levy’s advances for the towering 6 foot 5 defender, as they appear determined to keep hold of their highly-promising centre-back. If Spurs are to be successful in their pursuit, they may have to go back in with an offer which proves too good to resist.

If there is one thing Arsenal have really lacked this season, it’s goals.

Mikel Arteta’s side are set to finish second in the Premier League this weekend, but as things stand, they have scored 18 goals fewer than Liverpool.

With their attacking output such an apparent weakness, it’s hardly been surprising to see the Gunners linked with a host of brilliant strikers and wingers in recent weeks, with Rodrygo perhaps being the most exciting of them all.

However, if recent reports are to be believed, the North Londoners might now be looking at a potential alternative to the Real Madrid star, someone who’s been compared to Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal transfer news

Before we get to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other players linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Bryan Mbeumo.

Transfer Focus

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

The former has scored an unreal 53 goals in 51 appearances this season while providing another 13 assists for good measure, so even though he’d reportedly cost the Gunners between £60m and £70m, it would be hard to say he wouldn’t be worth it.

Likewise, Mbeumo has been on fire for Brentford this season, scoring 19 goals and providing nine assists in just 41 games, making his £60m price tag seem more than reasonable.

However, another name that has recently entered the picture, and someone who could be an ideal Rodrygo alternative, is Ademola Lookman.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are looking for a new winger this summer, and the Atalanta star is someone they are interested in.

In fact, Plettenberg claims that talks with the Nigerian international and other players “are in full swing.”

According to stories from earlier this year, the former Napoli star could cost the North Londoners up to £55m, and while that’s a lot of money, he’d certainly be worth it, especially as he’s won comparisons to Saka.

How Lookman compares to Rodrygo and Saka

So, before we get to why Lookman might be an ideal alternative to Rodrygo, let’s examine this comparison to Saka and where it has come from.

Well, in this instance it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the ten most comparable players.

By doing this, it has been concluded that the Englishman is the second most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Nigerian across the last 365 days.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.78

0.79

Shots

3.23

3.39

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.53

0.63

Live Passes

33.8

33.0

Shot-Taking Actions

5.44

5.93

Interceptions

0.12

0.16

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to non-penalty goals plus assists, shots, crosses into the penalty area, live passes, shot-taking actions and more, all per 90.

In short, there are a lot of statistical similarities between the “world-class” 27-year-old, as dubbed by the BBC’s John Bennett, and Saka, although were he to join the Gunners, he’d almost certainly have to play off the left – where he is still comfortable – which makes him an alternative to Rodrygo.

So, who comes out on top when we compare the pair’s output from this season against one another?

Interestingly, it’s actually the London-born dynamo who comes out on top, as in 39 appearances, totalling 2826 minutes, he has scored 20 goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an incredible average of a goal involvement every 1.44 games or every 104.66 minutes.

In contrast, the Brazilian international has scored 13 goals and provided ten assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3290 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.17 games or every 143.04 minutes.

Ultimately, Rodrygo would certainly be a statement signing, but should it not materialise, Arsenal may end up better off bringing in Lookman, as he’s both more productive and incredibly similar to Saka.

He's like Isak: Arsenal plan talks to sign £105m Gyokeres alternative

The free-scoring forward would be perfect for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 22, 2025

Glasgow Rangers went into Sunday’s clash already at Ibrox knowing that the result was more or less immaterial as their second-placed finish has already been confirmed.

Since their city rivals won the Scottish Premiership title at the end of last month, Rangers have known that they cannot finish as low as third and they cannot win the division, leaving the Light Blues stuck in second place with little to play for in the remaining games of the season.

The Light Blues should already be focused on what they need to do in the upcoming summer transfer window in order to turn the tide and compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign.

A new first-team head coach will be a big part of their plans because Barry Ferguson is currently in interim charge until the end of the season, having come in to steady the ship after Philippe Clement was dismissed earlier this year.

However, the Scottish giants will also know that they will have some difficulties on their hands when it comes to dealing with interest in their stars from elsewhere.

For example, Premier League sides Aston Villa and Leeds United are reportedly lining up moves for Nicolas Raskin, who is valued at £20m by the Gers, ahead of the summer window.

Why losing Nicolas Raskin would be a big blow for Rangers

If Leeds or Villa are able to complete a deal for the former Standard Liege star, losing the Belgium international would be a big blow for Rangers and the next manager to walk through the doors at Ibrox.

Raskin recently won the Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year at the club’s awards night, which speaks to how highly the supporters and his own teammates value his performances this season.

The central midfielder has combined impressive play on the ball, scoring two goals and providing nine assists, with dominant defensive work out of possession, making 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and winning 58% of his duels, across 31 appearances in the Premiership.

Raskin also caught the eye with his fantastic performances for the Light Blues in the Europa League before the club were knocked out by Athletic Club in the quarter-finals.

Appearances

12

Tackles per game

3.7

Interceptions per game

1.3

Ball recoveries per game

7.4

Ground duel success rate

50%

Aerial duel success rate

55%

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old dynamo excelled at winning the ball back for his side, with a whopping five tackles and interceptions per game on average, and more than held his own in physical battles.

These statistics reinforce how much of a blow it would be to lose the midfielder to Villa or Leeds this summer because of how impactful he can be in both the Premiership and the Europa League.

However, a fresh report has emerged on the club’s interest in a new central midfielder who could come in as a dream replacement for Raskin.

Rangers lining up move for £4m star

According to The Scottish Sun, the 49ers have Basel loanee Metinho at the top of their list of targets ahead of the summer transfer window, once their takeover is finalised.

The report claims that the Light Blues are lining up a move for the central midfielder ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, and that he is valued at £4m at this moment in time.

Metinho is currently on loan at Basel from Troyes, having spent the first half of the year at Sparta Rotterdam, and the Gers are hoping to reach an agreement with the French side in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

The Scottish Sun adds that there is also interest from several teams in the English Championship and that the 49ers want to fast-track a deal for the young star, which could mean that they bring him in before they even appoint a new manager.

Why Rangers should sign Metinho

Rangers must push to sign Metinho ahead of those teams in England because he could come in as the dream replacement for Raskin in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Signing the 22-year-old star from Troyes could soften the blow of losing the Belgium international, should he move on from Ibrox in the coming months.

The Brazilian midfielder struggled for game time with Sparta Rotterdam in the first half of the season, starting two of his 12 appearances in the Eredivisie, before a loan move to Basel sparked his campaign into life.

Since joining the Swiss giants, the £4m-rated star has been a key figure in the middle of the park, starting eight of his ten appearances in the Super League, and has caught the eye with his defensive work.

Appearances

10

Pass accuracy

86%

Tackles per game

3.1

Interceptions per game

1.1

Ball recoveries per game

4.7

Ground duel success rate

69%

Aerial duel success rate

45%

As you can see in the table above, Metinho has averaged 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game, which is more than the 3.6 that Raskin has averaged in the Premiership for Rangers this term, and won an eye-catching 69% of his ground duels.

Clearly, the Troyes starlet still has areas for improvement, including his success in aerial contests in the middle of the park, but he appears to have the raw defensive materials to be an excellent signing for the Scottish giants.

Metinho could be the dream replacement for Raskin by arriving at Ibrox to provide a similar level of defensive quality in midfield by breaking up attacks with tackles, interceptions, and ball recoveries at a similar rate.

In possession, the Brazilian star also ranks within the top 2% of midfielders in the Men’s Next 14 competitions over the last 365 days for progressive carries (3.49) and successful take-ons (1.83) per 90, which shows that he can provide quality as a progressive midfield player as well as being an excellent defender.

He'd be Gerrard 2.0: 49ers could hire "special" manager for Rangers

The 49ers could find their own Steven Gerrard for Rangers by hiring “pretty special” manager.

ByDan Emery May 9, 2025

At the age of 22, he is also two years younger than the Belgian star and still has time left on his side to develop and improve further, which is another reason why the youngster could be a fantastic signing for the 49ers to make, irrespective of who the next manager is going to be.

Crystal Palace have now made an enquiry to sign a 28-year-old on a free transfer ahead of rival interest from fellow Londoners Fulham, according to a recent report.

Palace shop for Glasner replacements just in case

Given how the season started for the Eagles and how it could end, it has been quite a turnaround for Oliver Glasner and Palace, as they remain in the hunt for a top-half Premier League finish and could win England’s oldest competition this month.

Sky Sports: Crystal Palace now want 4-2-3-1 manager should Glasner leave

Steve Parish has his eye on a new managerial target if Glasner departs Selhurst Park.

ByBrett Worthington May 6, 2025

Reaching the FA Cup final and guiding the club away from relegation trouble likely means that Palace chiefs are going to want to extend Glasner’s stay at Selhurst Park. However, the links of a potential move away at the end of the season are not going away. In the last couple of months, Glasner was linked with a move to RB Leipzig and it’s now being claimed that he is the number one choice for the Bundesliga side.

As well as RB Leipzig, Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in appointing Glasner as their new manager should Ange Postecoglou be sacked at the end of the campaign.

These links have made Palace put their own ducks in a row, and according to Sky Sports German reporter Philipp Hinze, Palace are interested in appointing Danny Rohl as their new manager should Glasner depart. However, they are not the only teams chasing the German, as Leicester City and Southampton are also keen on the Sheffield Wednesday boss.

Crystal Palace make enquiry to sign 28 y/o on free transfer

But while the future of Glasner remains up in the air, Palace chiefs are looking ahead to the summer and already have their eye on one player they would like to bring to Selhurst Park. According to TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace are now considering signing midfielder Yvan Neyou on a free transfer.

The report states that Palace are among the clubs who have joined the race to sign Neyou, who is set to leave Spanish side Leganes when his contract expires. It is claimed that La Liga side Valencia are leading the race to sign the 28-year-old, but his performances for a struggling side have alerted the attention of Palace as well as Fulham.

The Eagles have now made an enquiry to understand if Neyou would be interested in a move to Selhurst Park, but have yet to make an offer. Neyou’s consistent form, defensively and offensively, in a side that is struggling at the foot of the table has plenty of appeal to clubs operating on a smaller budget.

Apps

28

Starts

25

Goals

1

Assists

1

Touches per game

49.0

Key passes per game

0.4

Passes per game (accuracy)

31.3 (87%)

Interceptions per game

0.9

Tackles per game

1.9

Balls recovered per game

4.0

Palace are of course wary of the interest in Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton – winning the FA Cup and gaining access to European football could be required to ensure Neyou joins the duo at Selhurst Park instead of replacing them.

Nottingham Forest soared back to third in the Premier League table on Monday night after they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 away from home.

The Tricky Trees are now three points ahead of Chelsea in sixth place in the race to secure Champions League football for the 2025/26 campaign.

Goals from Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood helped to seal the victory for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side on the night, whilst Richarlison’s late goal meant nothing in the end.

Anthony Elanga's performance against Spurs

Anthony Elanga was one of the stars of the impressive first-half display that gave Forest a commanding 2-0 lead heading into the break, as he set up the second goal.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

The Sweden international whipped in a teasing delivery that gave Wood the chance to rise above Guglielmo Vicario to make it 2-0, with a fantastic inswinging cross that caused chaos for the Spurs defenders and goalkeeper.

Other than that ‘big chance’ that he created, though, Elanga did fail with both of his attempted dribbles and lost five of his six duels before being taken off at the break.

Forest’s other attacking midfielder, Morgan Gibbs-White, meanwhile, had minimal impact with zero key passes, zero ‘big chances’ created, and a pass accuracy of 76%.

Meanwhile, the rarely-seen Harry Toffolo, starting his first Premier League game of the season, was even better than both Elanga and Gibbs-White with his excellent showing at left-back.

Why Harry Toffolo may have saved his Nottingham Forest career

The former Norwich City and Huddersfield Town left-back had only played three times, all as a substitute, in the top-flight prior to being named in the starting XI on Monday night.

He has been an unused substitute on 15 occasions in the Premier League, but has now given Nuno a headache heading into the final matches of the campaign after a fine display.

Toffolo’s best moment of the match came in the clip above, when Alan Smith claimed his clearance “defied physics”, when his intervention on the line prevented Dejan Kulusevski from finding the back of the net.

It was a crucial moment in the game because Spurs would have had a goal back with around 30 minutes still to play, giving them ample time to push for an equaliser, instead of the three minutes they had after Richarlison’s goal in the 87th minute.

Minutes

90

Clearances

4

Blocks

2

Tackles + interceptions

4

Duels won

3/5

Dribbled past

1x

As you can see in the table above, the left-back’s all-round display across the 90 minutes was impressive, making two blocks, four tackles and interceptions combined, and four clearances to go along with his goalline heroics.

These statistics show that he was even better than Elanga, whose all-around performance was poor aside from his brilliant assist, and Gibbs-White, who struggled throughout the game, as the full-back excelled to help Forest on their way to all three points.

He may now have forced his way into Nuno’s plans for the rest of the season, in ther bid for Champions League qualification, after sitting on the bench for most of the campaign so far.

Nottingham Forest racing Man Utd to sign £10m forward compared to Elanga

The Tricky Trees have joined the race for a forward, who is also wanted by Premier League rivals Manchester United.

ByDominic Lund Apr 20, 2025

Graham Potter will be looking forward to the 2025/26 season, where he will be able to put his own spin on this West Ham United squad. However, Julen Lopetegui took charge in the summer, having his say on quite a big spend ahead of the current Premier League season.

The Hammers spent €144.40m (£123.7m) in the 2024/25 summer transfer window, bringing eight new players to the club on a permanent basis, whilst also making two loan signings. This comes after significant spending in the 2023/24 season too, with an outlay of €144.56m (£124m).

Maximilian Kilman

£40.7m

Crysencio Summerville

£25.1m

Niclas Füllkrug

£23.1m

Luis Guilherme

£19.7m

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

£15m

Guido Rodriguez

£0

Wes Foderingham

£0

Mohamadou Kante

?

The reason West Ham were able to spend important funds for two years straight was much down to their record sale, Declan Rice, joining Arsenal in the 2023/24 summer window for a fee of around £105m.

Declan Rice going from strength to strength

Rice made his breakthrough at West Ham, signing his first senior contract with the club in 2015, receiving his first senior call-up in 2017 and making his Premier League debut from the bench in the 2016/17 season against Burnley during a 2-1 win.

The England international made 245 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 15 goals, providing 13 assists and totalling 20,580 minutes played. Rice went on to become the club captain, leading his side to UEFA Conference League glory in the 2022/23 season, securing his legend status at the club.

But the 26-year-old has taken it to another level in recent weeks, being awarded back-to-back man of the match awards against Real Madrid in the Champions League, scoring two unbelievable free-kicks and helping Arsenal to secure their spot in the semi-final of the competition.

West Ham fans will be dreaming of the next wonderkid to come through at the club, having seen the success that Rice enjoyed with them. Whilst he isn’t through their own academy, they could well have their next wonderkid already on the books.

West Ham's next wonderkid

West Ham made a significant investment during the 2024/25 summer window, spending £25.5m on a 18-year-old Brazilian from Palmeiras, with Luis Guilherme becoming Lopetegui’s first signing at the club.

However, the youngster has struggled for involvement in England this year, being given minimal chances to prove himself.

Goals + Assists

0.00

0.44

0.00

xG

0.11

0.20

0.07

xAG

0.19

0.50

0.07

Progressive Carries

5.47

6.00

2.14

Progressive Passes

4.53

4.00

2.14

Shots Total

2.11

2.22

1.43

Key Passes

1.88

5.00

2.14

Passes into Pen Area

2.34

2.00

2.14

Successful Take-Ons

3.44

3.50

2.86

When comparing Guilherme’s underlying metrics from his breakthrough season at Palmeiras, just 16-years-old, with his second season in Brazil and his first season at West Ham so far, you can see his numbers have slightly regressed, which could be attributed to fewer minutes and a tougher league.

Marcos Watts from Transfermarkt stated Guilherme would become a “top player” if he continued to develop along the same path. Whilst this seems to have stunted slightly at West Ham this season, only managing 118 minutes in his 11 appearances so far, the talent is still clearly there.

West Ham have some extremely talented wide players and attacking midfielders currently ahead of the “electric” Brazilian – as described by analyst Ben Mattinson – in the pecking order, but if he continues to work hard, there is no reason Guilherme can’t break through and start earning his minutes, going on to reach his true potential at the club.

It may not be long before he proves himself to be the Hammers’ next young sensation after Rice.

Their best CF since Tevez: Potter asks West Ham to sign "mind-blowing" star

West Ham could sign their best CF since Tevez as a Fullkrug upgrade this summer

1 ByConnor Holden Apr 16, 2025

Whilst Chelsea have progressed through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League, the Blues lost 2-1 to Legia Warsaw at home, in a game that will have many fans worried about the fate of the team at the back end of this season.

Enzo Maresca’s men held 70% of the ball, generated 2.00 xG, created five “big chances” and took 16 shots in the match. But Legia, with just 30% of the ball, managed to fashion 13 shots of their own, creating four “big chances” and generating 2.22 xG.

There were no real good performances from the Blues, if anyone it would have been Chelsea’s youngster Tyrique George, who came from the bench. One of the worst performers was their star man, Cole Palmer, who is struggling for form and confidence at the moment.

Cole Palmer's woes continue

Palmer’s last goal came against Bournemouth back in January, with the 22-year-old looking cold in front of goal recently – and no, not his type of cold. The Chelsea star looks off the pace in attacking areas, taking too long to make decisions and becoming visibly frustrated.

Chalkboard

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

He managed two shots against Legia Warsaw, both of which could have resulted in goals, given his red-hot finishing last season and what many fans have come to expect. However, one shot was easily saved and the other missed the target.

Palmer also lost possession six times in his 58 minutes played, only managed 31 touches in the game and only won two of his five ground duels.

But Chelsea fans will be much more worried about another forward who started the game, whose time may just have run out.

Chelsea's 3/10 dud is now out of time

Christopher Nkunku has struggled all season for the Blues, often being used out of position, having to fill in as a striker or off the left, whilst Palmer starts in attacking midfield. And it was yet another poor display from the Frenchman, earning him a 3/10 match rating from GOAL.

Minutes

90

Touches

51

Accurate Passes

38/40

Key Passes

2

Shots

1

Ground Duels Won

4/6

Aerial Duels Won

0/2

Possession Lost

6

Tackles

2

The 27-year-old only managed one shot in the entire game, which was on target, but was also easily saved. He also lost possession six times, lost both of his aerial duels but did win four of his six ground duels and made two key passes.

Whilst Nkunku has had many more stand-out poor performances than this one, it’s more what this one represented. 3-0 up playing against Legia Warsaw at Stamford Bridge, space to attack in behind and chances to make things happen, but still looking off the pace and disinterested.

It seems like it could be the end of the road for Nkunku at Chelsea, with fans losing their patience with the Frenchman and clubs already registering interest in the forward ahead of the summer window.

It could be the best time for the Blues to cash in and cut their losses.

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Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has been vital to their success over the last few years, cementing himself as one of the best defenders in world football.

The Dutchman, who’s out of contract at the end of the season, has won five major honours during his time at Anfield, including a Premier League and Champions League triumph.

The 33-year-old will go down in club history for his showings in Merseyside, making over 300 appearances for the first team, with many hoping he can add to his tally next season – but the hierarchy will need to sort his contract scenario out as soon as possible.

Whilst the £75m forked out for his signature back in January 2018 may have appeared to be a mammoth sum, he’s been worth every penny, catapulting the Reds to their various levels of success.

His big-money move is one of the biggest deals in the club’s history, but they could be about to land a move just as impressive in the summer, massively strengthening Arne Slot’s first-team squad in the process.

Liverpool preparing £115m bid for Premier League star

According to one Spanish outlet, Liverpool are preparing a £115m bid to land Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak this summer, but face huge interest from elsewhere.

Arsenal and Chelsea have also been credited with an interest in recent times, with the Magpies massively reluctant to offload their key man this summer.

The Swede has thrived this campaign, notching 24 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions, including in the Carabao Cup final against Slot’s side – denying him his first trophy since taking the reins.

The report states that Eddie Howe’s side do not want to sell their star man this window, but understand the Reds’ interest is serious, with the 25-year-old potentially able to leave should they fail to achieve Champions League qualification.

Whilst it would be a club-record transfer, matching the English record in the process, a move for Isak would massively improve the current attacking department, making Slot’s side an even bigger threat in 2025/26.

How Isak compares to Liverpool’s current striker options

Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota have often shared the responsibility of leading the line for Liverpool in 2024/25, but have often struggled during key moments.

The Portuguese striker may have notched the winning goal in the Merseyside derby last week, but has failed to deliver on a consistent basis, only scoring nine goals across his 31 appearances in all competitions.

As for Nunez, he’s also been a disappointment this campaign, evidently not being the man to take the Reds to the next level under the guidance of the Dutchman.

His tally of seven goals in his 42 appearances throughout this season, works out to just one in every 4.5 outings – a record simply not good enough if the club are to continue their dominance in the Premier League.

Such form could see Slot turn to Isak in the summer window, with the 25-year-old massively outperforming the aforementioned pair this year – highlighting the elite-level talent he possesses.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “the best striker in the world” by one analyst, has massively outscored the pair, offering another dimension to the club’s forward line.

He’s also managed to complete more take-ons and also completed more passes he’s attempted, offering an all-round number nine, something which the Reds have desperately lacked in recent years.

Games played

26

20

25

Goals & assists

25

9

7

Shot-on-target accuracy

46%

30%

39%

Pass accuracy

74%

70%

71%

Shot-creating actions

3.3

3

2.2

Take-on success

49%

39%

38%

Progressive passes

2.8

2.6

2

Whilst the touted fee would be a mammoth investment from the hierarchy, it would be a deal that would be worth every penny – taking the side to new heights under Slot.

Although competition will be high for his signature this summer, the club’s current league standing and European qualification could give them the edge in the race – making him the biggest deal since Van Dijk and arguably the most important for their ambitions of reaching the next level.

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