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Chelsea have exceeded the £400m mark in spending this summer, however, there are indications that the Blues could have identified another target.

Todd Boehly could add to the club’s deadline day sign of Cole Palmer with their latest target, who could bring the fear factor back to Stamford Bridge in the future.

Who could Chelsea sign on deadline day?

According to Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad, negotiations are underway for the transfer of Club Brugge forward Antonio Nusa before tonight's 11pm transfer deadline.

The report claims that a bid in the region of €30m (£26m) has been offered by the Blues, with the idea that the 18-year-old would remain in Belgium for the remainder of the season.

It’s understood that Chelsea want to get the deal done before tonight’s deadline to secure the signature of the upcoming talent.

Who is Antonio Nusa?

Described by himself as a player who likes to “create chaos”, Nusa is versatile in his approach to play, having the ability to play on either flank or through the middle as a striker.

The 18-year-old, who has been lauded as a “star” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has caught the eye of the Premier League for his rise to fame in Belgium at such a young age.

Described by Mango as being a player with “blistering pace”, “flair” and “remarkable” talent, the winger has been compared to one of the most identifiable skillsters in world football by his former teammates.

Having been likened to Neymar Jr by his former team-mate Mats Solheim, the defender has tipped the teen to reach the levels of the Brazilian phenomenon one day, so Mauricio Pochettino could well land the second coming of the former Barcelona whiz.

“I can see similarities to Neymar in Nusa's movements and in the way he uses the ball, there is still a small gap between them, but he can get there.”

It's huge praise from someone familiar with his ability, suggesting the calibre of player that Chelsea could install into their squad when he has gained added experience.

Like Neymar, the teen has started young in his aim to gain attention at senior level, already scoring a Champions League goal for Brugge, as well as becoming a favoured forward in the side, as told by his 21 league appearances last term.

While at Santos, Neymar captured the eye of Barcelona by scoring 72 goals in 139 appearances, where he came from the shadows to grace European football for the majority of his decorated career.

Unlike the Brazilian, the "exciting Norweigen talent" – as lauded by journalist Tom Maston – has emerged in Europe, setting the pace for his career by scoring on his Champions League debut in a 15-minute cameo against Porto, suggesting his maturity and ability to stand out on the biggest stage in domestic football.

As relayed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, former Club Brugge captain Ruud Vormer backed the teen to stardom, saying:

“The best of them all. Just write down: Antonio Nusa. In the future, he will play for the biggest clubs in the world. Real Madrid, City… Remember my words.”

Chelsea are eyeing a host of young gems this summer, which could be added to with Nusa, who could be the player to follow in Neymar’s footsteps and become the next dynamic wide player to take the stage in Europe.

At just 18, the forward could become a fundamental part of Pochettino’s future squads at Stamford Bridge, with the club only hoping that such praise can pan out and hand the Blues one of the most exciting young talents.

Leeds United may have strengthened well in the summer, but there remain holes left by the damaging departures they were forced to oversee throughout a tumultuous summer.

The exit of Rodrigo saw them lose out on their key goalscorer, whilst Tyler Adams' move to AFC Bournemouth marked the second consecutive summer that they had lost their midfield orchestrator, after Kalvin Phillips' departure in 2021. Even Max Wober, who only joined in January, quickly grew into their most reliable defensive asset at the back, remaining solid when others could not.

So, with all three of them having now left Elland Road, it was no mean feat for Daniel Farke to find their replacements.

Joel Piroe is expected to offer an alternative to the former, whilst Glen Kamara hopes to be a like-for-like replacement for the USA international. However, when it came to the former RB Salzburg titan, Joe Rodon's signing arguably marked the most perfect one to fill such a vacancy, with power, poise and pure control at centre-back.

However, the only issue that remains is that the Wales international is not a permanent fix, having only joined on a loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur. No matter how bright his start, or how imperious he remains throughout the Championship campaign, the 25-year-old will likely be recalled next summer for Ange Postecoglou to reassess his future.

This will make it all the more painful when they lose a man who is already maintaining a 7.13 average rating in the second tier, buoyed by his 92% pass accuracy, 100% dribble success rate, 1.3 interceptions and 3.8 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

The Whites have merely plugged a hole in signing the defender, with a long-term replacement for Wober still needed. Fortunately, they boast an academy full of talent just waiting to be unleashed.

How good was Max Wober?

Although an unassuming signing, given Jesse Marsch was merely recruiting another of his former players after the failures Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen proved to be, the Austrian stalwart quickly proved himself to be a cut above these two flops.

The 25-year-old had shone in his homeland, but translating those talents into the Premier League posed a completely different challenge, especially with the specifications his role demands.

Given how the modern-day centre-back is forever evolving, with power and strength just as important as ability on the ball nowadays, many wondered how the 25-year-old would stand up to the physical demands of a division famed for its high-octane games.

But, with a 6.84 average rating across his 16 appearances, it is fair to say he largely succeeded. An admirable figure buoyed by a host of stellar defensive statistics, his 71% pass accuracy was saved by his 1.7 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and four clearances per game, via Sofascore.

His rating actually made him Leeds' third-best performer in the league of those who started five or more games, and earned praise from Javi Gracia: "What I can say about Max, as everybody knows when he was available he played as a centre-back playing with Robin in the middle and he had very good performances."

The Spaniard would rush to laud him on another occasion too, outlining the immediate partnership he had struck up with Robin Koch: "In my opinion, both centre backs played really well today. They had a tough challenge. As you say with a very tall player and all the defensive line was very concentrated and the good work of the team meant we got a clean sheet."

So, to find a replacement for one of their few shining lights in an otherwise dull season will be no mean feat. Whilst many might suggest Charlie Cresswell as his natural successor from the academy, given his domineering characteristics and recent experience gained out on loan, there is perhaps another quietly shining in the background, biding his time before Farke hands him his chance.

Who is James Debayo?

James Debayo may be just 18 years old, but already he has begun making a name for himself in Yorkshire for his immense defensive displays for the youth sides.

It is a testament to both his maturity and his physicality that he has already been promoted into the U21s, having featured in their first four Premier League 2 games of the new season, three of which were wins.

To emphasise this point further, the teenage colossus actually already has 19 appearances for that side, and is just two shy of already matching the amount of games he has played for the U18s. The speed with which he is rising through the ranks is commendable and surely has caught the eye.

Even last year journalist Joe Donnohue sought to mark him out, highlighting one fine performance: "Only played first 45 but was impressive before taking an early yellow card. Had to be withdrawn at the break due to the booking."

Although only a small sample size, the two brief appearances he made in the Football League Trophy last season highlighted his defensive prowess, as despite averaging just 51 minutes per game, he still mustered 1.5 interceptions and two clearances per game, via Sofascore.

With Wober clearly being a defence-first centre-back, allowing his passing to suffer as long as he remains staunch at the back, it seems Debayo too shares this warrior-like trait which could help him to thrive in the Championship.

However, a clip shared from the Rising Ballers account instead showcases a trickery that could allow him to even surpass the Austria international, pairing his solidity with a silkiness that Elland Road has been lacking in recent years.

Then, as if the youngster needed additional aid in promoting his talents, he already has grown into a mainstay for England's U18s side, having been handed his debut by Neil Ryan.

Given Farke's ability to replace the talent he has lost, showcased throughout the summer, it is no surprise that with Wober he pushed the long-term option down the road with a shrewd loan signing. Perhaps this was merely a financial decision, or perhaps his eye has in fact been caught by one of the young defenders tearing up the academy scene, just waiting to be given their big chance to shine in the senior squad.

Newcastle United have endured a stop-start introduction to the 2023/24 Premier League term but will now be hoping that their much-anticipated return to the Champions League can kickstart their seasonal exploits under Eddie Howe's stewardship.

Having dazzled en route to a top-four finish last term, the Magpies ended years of suffering under the influence of their new, affluent owners, and now look poised to cement a spot competing both for and within European football with regularity.

The Toon have lost three of their opening five league fixtures of the campaign but did pick up a much-needed victory last time out, defeating Brentford 1-0 at St. James' Park. However, at the San Siro against AC Milan, Howe's side will need to produce a first-class performance to emerge victorious.

A player well-known in those parts, Sandro Tonali, could well hold the keys to victory.

Will Sandro Tonali start vs AC Milan?

Newcastle enjoyed a lucrative summer of spending this year, bringing in prolific winger Harvey Barnes from Leicester City and signing talented youngsters Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento to bolster the full-back ranks, but it is £55m midfielder Tonali who will be at the centre of a tantalising affair in Milan.

The Italy international actually joined the Toon from Milan in July, and while he netted a debut goal just minutes into the season opener against Aston Villa – a 5-1 demolition that revealed Newcastle at their fluid best – he has not quite found his feet on English shores yet.

Indeed, after admitting that he found his move from his homeland to Newcastle challenging initially, he is now relishing life in England's North East, and will hope to produce a starring performance against his former club to really announce himself for the Magpies on the European stage.

How does Tonali's game rank across Europe?

A silky and elegant midfielder, Tonali is an adept ball player and a first-rate playmaker, capable of utilising his talents to slot the ball through the lines and effectively contribute to build-up play, praised as "incredibly gifted" by former Italy boss Roberto Mancini.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 24% for progressive carries per 90, illustrating his creativity and knack for surging forward into promising openings.

The £120k-per-week gem was among those told to "wake up" by talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor after a slow start to the campaign, but, in fairness, he has acclimatised to a new club in a new land and Newcastle have arguably endured the toughest start of any team in the Premier League, facing Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford already.

His innate ability to unlock defences could be crucial to bypassing a Milan backline already shown to be susceptible to incisive attacks this term, having just lost 5-1 in the Derby di Milano last weekend.

During that match, Inter's Henrikh Mkhitaryan – who is listed as a comparable player to Tonali on FBref – recorded a sensational Sofascore rating of 9.4, scoring two goals, creating two key passes and winning seven of his eight duels.

Tonali did not start for Newcastle against Thomas Frank's Bees on Saturday evening after picking up a slight muscular injury on international duty, but is fit and firing and will be expected to feature, potentially helping the club to begin their European voyage with a bang.

£63m club-record signing and star striker Alexander Isak was also relegated to the bench last time out, remaining an unused substitute, and has not scored since bagging a brace on the opening day of the term, but he will hope to start once again and it's entirely possible that Howe started Wilson in his stead in preparation for tonight's pivotal encounter.

Dubbed "the leader" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 5 foot 11 Tonali also knows the San Siro and the lion's share of its AC Milan players like the back of his hand; he knows their idiosyncracies on the pitch, just as well as their faults, and he could prove to be the difference-maker on a night of great importance for Newcastle.

The 23-year-old will have a point to prove after being shipped on this summer, and Howe will surely deploy him alongside the lethal Isak from the start in enemy territory.

Such a move could well give Newcastle the optimum chance of gleaning three points upon their two-decade-long wait for a taste of Champions League action.

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli has backed Christian Pulisic after the United States international received death threats from Lazio fans.

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• Pulisic involved in Lazio red cards
• Fans sent death threats to USMNT star
• Coach Pioli spoke out against abuse

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lazio supporters sent the American a slew of abuse and threats after his role in two of the three red cards their team were shown during the Serie A match at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday, which Milan won 1-0. Pioli was asked about the abuse on Wednesday and made a brief comment on the situation.

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  WHAT PIOLI SAID

  "Pulisic does not need to be defended. His story speaks for itself. Social media has become a place for insults and rudeness and Pulisic has all our support," Pioli told reporters ahead of his team's Europa League clash against Slavia Prague.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Rossoneri hope to make it past the Czech club and into the quarter-finals of the Europa League for the first time. The last time they progressed beyond the last 16 of Europe's second-tier competition was in 2001-02, when they reached the final four of the UEFA Cup.

  Still, Pioli believes his team can go on to claim the title, saying: "You have to think you can win this cup, then it's clear that in addition to thinking that, you need to demonstrate skills. The team is doing well but now there's a complex obstacle to face. We certainly all have a chance of doing well."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AC MILAN?

  Pulisic, 25, has scored eight goals and has seven assists in all competitions for the San Siro team since joining from Chelsea last summer. He will hope to shake off the weekend's abuse by helping his side to a first-leg victory against Slavia.

Everton find themselves hovering close to the relegation zone year after year and on the evidence of this campaign so far, face another battle to avoid falling through the trap door.

Initially, it looked as though the Toffees had turned a corner after posting an impressive 3-1 victory over Brentford, but their woes soon returned as Luton Town condemned Sean Dyche's side to an embarrassing 2-1 loss on Saturday afternoon.

Everton's rapid decline has boiled down to the lack of forward direction at the top of the football club and the board's inept decision-making has trickled into their transfer dealings.

Players such as Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Andre Gomes and Davy Klaasen – who arrived for huge fees and provided very little value – have epitomised their struggles in the market.

A similar trend played out in the summer of 2016 as the Toffees brought in Yannick Bolasie, Morgan Schneiderlin and Ashley Williams for a combined £56m (€65.5m).

While that trio massively underwhelmed at Goodison Park, Everton did unearth two hidden gems that summer who have gone on to become solid signings. One was Idrissa Gueye, who joined from Aston Villa for £7.1m, and the other was Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

How much did Dominic Calvert-Lewin cost Everton?

After finishing in 11th place in the 2015/16 season, newly appointed manager Ronald Koeman was given the funds to bolster his squad and lead them on a charge towards Europe.

The Dutchman kept most of his shopping on English shores and one of those deals saw him unearth Dominic Calvert-Lewin from League One side Sheffield United for a reported fee of £1.5m.

At the time, the England U20 international was a relatively unknown prospect after spending the second half of that season on loan at Northampton Town, scoring five times in 20 appearances.

Although those returns were uninspiring, the 19-year-old would soon prove to be a shrewd signing for the club, becoming the prolific striker that the Toffees were crying out for.

How much is Calvert-Lewin worth now?

According to Football Transfers, Calvert-Lewin's expected transfer value sits at £9m (€10.5m) – a 500% increase to their initial outlay of £1.5m – although the 27-year-old was once worth far more than that figure, however, his stock has taken a dramatic tumble following a series of injuries. Indeed, as recently as 2020, he was reportedly being valued by his club at a staggering £80m.

Cast your eyes back to 2017 – Calvert-Lewin had just helped spearhead the England U20's to a World Cup triumph, scoring the winner in the final, and the 21-year-old was ready to replace their departing talisman, Romelu Lukaku, who joined Manchester United that summer for £75m.

Speaking about filling the void left behind by the Belgian, the Englishman said: "With Rom leaving I knew there was going to be an opportunity for me to get more game time in my preferred position.”

Calvert-Lewin wouldn't get a chance to lead the line under Koeman, who instead stationed him out wide to find space for his newly assembled playmakers; namely Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Davy Klaasen.

With Koeman unable to find the right formula and Everton finding themselves in the bottom three, the Dutchman was sacked, and this moment proved to be the turning point in the striker's career.

How many goals has Calvert-Lewin scored?

While his goal-scoring exploits wouldn't take off in the 2017/18 or 2018/19 season, only netting ten times in the league, Calvert-Lewin became a phenomenon as the focal point in Everton's attack in the two that followed as the 6 foot 2 marksman hauled an impressive 13 goals in 2019/20 and 16 in 2020/21.

He drew plaudits from manager Carlo Ancelotti for scoring 21 goals in all competitions during the 2020/21 campaign with the Italian labelling him as a "top striker".

On the back of that monstrous season for the prolific forward, Arsenal, Newcastle and Manchester United all registered an interest in Calvert-Lewin but Everton were only willing to sell him for a very high price as his expected transfer value rose to £33m (€39m), according to Football Transfers.

Since then, however, Calvert-Lewin's career has gone on a downward spiral and so has Everton's, speaking volumes about how crucial the £100k per-week sharpshooter was to their success.

With the 27-year-old restricted to game time due to injuries, only featuring 34 times in the Premier League across the past two seasons, the former Sheffield United academy graduate has spent most of his time watching on from the stands, but now he's back and ready to help Dyche's side in their battle to avoid the drop.

Calvert-Lewin has scored twice in four appearances this term and has shown signs of the form that saw him once get labelled as an "exceptional footballer" by reporter Pete Graves.

The Eredivisie giants' form has fallen off a cliff since the former Liverpool captain's arrival in Amsterdam

The 2024 January transfer window provided frightfully little in terms of storylines. However, one saga that did cut through the radio silence was Jordan Henderson's much-debated decision to call time on his Saudi Pro League 'adventure' at Al-Ettifaq.

Just before the window swung open, rumblings began to surface of Henderson's desire to manufacture an early exit, due to concerns about the low standard of competition in the country ahead of the Euros and his family's inability to settle in their new surroundings.

Midway through the month, he got his wish, with Ajax snapping him up on a surprisingly-long two-and-a-half year contract. Speaking immediately after that move was confirmed, Henderson unsurprisingly spoke of his desire to draw a line under his controversial Saudi transfer, also hinting at his hope that he could fade into the background at Ajax and focus solely on his on-field performances.

"If any people from that [LGBT+] community feel let down or hurt I apologise. If anyone was offended or feel as though I upset them, that's on me, that was my decision and I apologise for that. It was never my intention. I just want to look forward now and concentrate on being the best player I can for Ajax. My beliefs have never changed and never will. Again I can only apologise if people feel let down," he said at his unveiling.

And while Henderson has found himself on the back pages on UK newspapers far less frequently since his arrival in Amsterdam, it's been far from plain sailing at Ajax so far.

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  Excitement sky-high

  There were few signs that Henderson's Ajax spell would be rocky when he arrived in the Netherlands. Prior to the ex-Liverpool captain's signing, the Eredivisie giants were enduring a quite miserable campaign, with off-field scandal being twinned with staggering underperformance on the pitch.

  Henderson, with his plentiful experience at the top level, was viewed as a potentially-calming head, capable of using his leadership skills to marshal the club through the remainder of a chaotic season. After his signing was announced, his No.6 jersey became the fastest-selling shirt in the club's history, and this clear excitement among the fans was matched by manager John van 't Schip.

  Following Henderson's Ajax's debut – a 1-1 draw with champions-in-waiting PSV Eindhoven – Van 't Schip beamed: "He has shown that he is fit and important for the team. He helps and coaches the boys, before the game, at half-time and on the field. He also tries to keep calm when he can. Sometimes you have to keep possession of the ball a little longer, he also told [Borna] Sosa at one point…. If you take all that into account, he played a good game."

  His coach's enthusiasm was mirrored in the Dutch football media early on, with Wesley Sneijder also praising Henderson after that PSV game. "That boy comes in, brings his experience with him and immediately ensures that everything is back in order," he said.

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  Results have nosedived

  But since that positive result, Ajax's form has nosedived dramatically. Indeed, in the six games that have followed the PSV encounter, Ajax have won just once. Henderson has featured in all of those, barring a 2-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar.

  Swerving that loss has done little to improve the midfielder's alarming seasonal record. At the time of writing, Henderson has been on the victorious side on just seven occasions at club level for Ajax and Al-Ettifaq this campaign. That averages out at a winning percentage of just 27%, in what has been a season to forget.

  Henderson can hardly blame the fixture list for his inability to win in the Dutch capital, either. Aside from the aforementioned PSV fixture and a Europa Conference League meeting with Premier League side Aston Villa, his club side have had a spell of favourable games.

  That Ajax failed to win just two of the nine games that preceded his arrival will only make this recent run even tougher to take. As will the fact that Al-Ettifaq have won three of their four fixtures since Henderson skulked away in January.

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  Criticism for playing it safe

  Amid this underwhelming collective form, Henderson has also received some personal criticism. A lot of this will be familiar to onlookers on the United Kingdom. Throughout his career, the 33-year-old has been derided – sometimes unfairly – for being overly safe in his passing and not influencing games enough from midfield.

  Rafael van der Vaart, who is never afraid to speak his mind, especially when it comes to Ajax, has continued this tradition since Henderson's return to Europe.

  "They signed players with zero quality; you may have to sit this season out. They have brought in Jordan Henderson, who passes sideways and backwards all the time. That doesn't make anyone happy," the television pundit said after Ajax's underwhelming 2-2 home draw with Bodo-Glimt in the Europa Conference League play-offs last month.

  In keeping with the doomed vibe of Henderson's season, he would not be able to prove Van de Vaart wrong in the return leg either, missing Ajax's 2-1 victory in Norway with a knock.

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  Henderson bites back

  Henderson has not taken this criticism lying down, though. Speaking to at the beginning of the month, he responded: "That's football, right? There are always different opinions. I've experienced that so much, it doesn't bother me. You have to deal with it as a player and keep your focus on what you want to achieve."

  There may be reasons beyond his control why Henderson is being perceived as an overly-safe operator. His ability to spot team-mates' runs beyond the opposition defence has always been a strength – with his success in finding Moussa Dembele with this type of pass one of the only bright spots of his time at Al-Ettifaq.

  But recent injuries to Steven Berghuis and Steven Bergwijn have forced Van t' Schip to reshape his side into a 5-4-1 recently, with Brian Brobbey the only remaining forward capable of darting in behind the other team's backline consistently. And this lack of off-ball running might be forcing Henderson into these 'boring' passes.

  analyst Kees Kwakman certainly thinks so, explaining this month: "Henderson needs boys who he can send deep. That is of course a bit of the story, that he only gives balls sideways. But that is not entirely true, because he also did this at Liverpool with [Mohamed] Salah and [Sadio] Mane.

  "So [Henderson] benefits from having Bergwijn in this team, who he can then send away with these kinds of balls. And that's what he's really looking for. And he doesn't do that like [Andrea] Pirlo or [Joey] Veerman, 25 times per game, but he is looking for it."

Chelsea are now believed to be targeting a Liverpool star for manager Enzo Maresca, with the Premier League side joining Barcelona in a race for his signature this summer.

Chelsea eye new attackers for Enzo Maresca

The west Londoners were forced to cope without Noni Madueke, Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson against Aston Villa on Saturday, who all missed the clash through injury, with Chelsea short of attacking options overall.

Chelsea offered £302k-per-week Barcelona player by intermediaries

The Blues have been approached over his potential availability.

By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 22, 2025

João Félix’s loan move to Milan left Maresca another body short in the final third, and while the aforementioned trio are expected back after the international break (Maresca), this current situation brings attention to Chelsea’s failure to land another attacker in January.

Chelsea did hold some talks over Mathys Tel, who eventually ended up joining Tottenham on loan, and were linked with a host of other high-profile centre-forwards, but Maresca must now wait until the summer before BlueCo can take action and help to reinforce his squad.

It has been reported that Chelsea have laid some groundwork over a move for Liam Delap, who’s been on fire for Ipswich this season, while RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP hero Viktor Gyokeres are also under consideration (Simon Phillips).

More left-field targets are emerging on a weekly basis, with a report now sharing Chelsea’s interest in Liverpool forward Luis Diaz.

The Colombian has scored 13 goals and registered three assists in all competitions under Arne Slot, playing a key role for Liverpool throughout 2024/25, but he’s out of contract in 2027 and his future has been the source of some speculation recently.

The Reds would want as much as £67m to part company with Diaz, according to TEAMtalk, with Chelsea said to be on red alert over his potential capture.

Chelsea join Barcelona in race to sign Liverpool star Luis Diaz

A Spanish media source reports that Chelsea have joined Barça in the race to sign Diaz from Liverpool, and both sides view the South American as an ideal potential capture.

While a move to one of La Liga’s biggest clubs may well prove tempting for Diaz, a switch to London and remaining in the Premier League cannot be discounted at this stage.

Despite his star player status, the 28-year-old earns just £55,000 per week at Anfield, with Diaz said to be keen on signing improved terms. Until he puts pen to paper, Diaz’s future will remain at the centre of reports linking him with a Merseyside exit.

One thing is certain: Liverpool won’t want to lose the player if they can help it.

“The speed he has is insane,” said former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp during Diaz’s first season at the club after he joined them from FC Porto in 2022.

“He gets our football 100 per cent. We thought we saw that at Porto. He fits like a glove to our football and that’s really, really special.”

England have revealed their new Nike home and away kits to be worn by their national teams from 2024 onwards.

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• Nike drop new England kits
• Retro-inspired white home shirt
• Bold purple away strip

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The home shirt is white, as you might expect, with a subtle collar in dark blue and vertical pattern across it. Drawing inspiration from classic England tracksuits and training gear from down the years, there is detailing on the sleeves and on the trim of the shorts, which will be blue. The socks are white.

  The away kit arrives in a bold purple colourway that is likely to divide opinion in a departure from the traditional red or blue. There are seven different colours in the playful graphic side panels, with gold detailing on the Nike 'swoosh' and Three Lions badge.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  England's men will don the strips for the first time in March as they prepare for friendlies against Brazil and Belgium at Wembley, and, of course, these will be their kits at Euro 2024 in Germany in the summer. Meanwhile, the Lionesses will give them their first outing when they begin European Championship qualifying as holders in April when they take on Sweden.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The kits feature Nike's Dri-Fit ADV technology, meaning the fabric is lightweight and breathable with the aim of keeping the players cool and comfortable on the pitch.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  The men's version of the kits will be on sale in all men's, women's and children's sizes from Thursday, March 21. Fans can register their interest by visiting the England store online, including in the goalkeeper shirt after the furore involving Mary Earps.

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Liverpool defeated Brighton & Hove Albion in a weekend that was dominated by talk of Mohamed Salah. This is nothing new, but the circumstances surrounding the Egyptian attacker certainly are.

The 33-year-old completed a lap around Anfield after the 2-0 win in the Premier League, much-needed after the issues throughout the campaign. He was the last one on the pitch, and emotion radiated from him.

But was that goodbye? It didn’t quite feel like goodbye. Salah is heading off to the African Cup of Nations now, and he will be absent for around a month. After his inflammatory outburst at Leeds United one week ago, all of a Liverpool persuasion have been on tenterhooks as to whether the club legend will leave in bitter circumstances this winter.

Regardless, Liverpool could do with a new forward, having struggled for fluency and collective balance this season.

Liverpool's January transfer plans

FSG believe that one or two calculated signings this winter would go a long way toward setting Liverpool’s problems to rights. And given the club’s abject, error-prone defending, many are calling for a new centre-half.

But balance across the frontline is just as important, with Hugo Ekitike something of an outlier in hitting the ground running in front of goal this season. In July, the Frenchman, 23, left Eintracht and signed for Liverpool in a £69m deal, and he has scored ten goals so far.

Salah’s ageing legs and the sale of Luis Diaz have impacted Slot’s side, and FSG feel that Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo could provide the answer to a few of their problems.

According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United’s interest in the Ghana international is getting stronger, but Liverpool remain the frontunner, with his preference being to join the Anfield side.

Semenyo, 26, has been among the Premier League’s most in-form forwards this season, and Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are also getting ready to present offers of their own but Semenyo prefers a switch to the current title holders. His £65m release clause goes live in a fortnight.

Why Semenyo could make Ekitike a superstar

Semenyo’s alliance of strength and skill and potency in the final third has created a truly special Premier League star. His form this season has opened the doorway to a big-money move to an elite club, and pundit Chris Waddle has even called him “the best winger in the country”.

A direct and dynamic wideman, Semenyo has that rare skill of two-footedness, at ease on his right or his left. Three of his Premier League goals this season have been scored with his right foot, and the other three with his left.

His unpredictability and fleet-footedness could help take Ekitike, already in fine fettle, to the next level. As per Sofascore, Semenyo has averaged 1.6 dribbles and won 6.5 duels per top-flight fixture this season.

This could be the spark for Liverpool’s new focal frontman, who is leaps and bounds above record signing Alexander Isak at this moment in time.

Against Brighton on Saturday, Ekitike scored a brace, his second in as many league outings. Not just a pinpoint striker, he is mobile and intelligent and electric when on the ball. The complete package, and on his way to becoming the player Liverpool paid £125m for in a ready-made version in Isak.

By adding width and energy to Liverpool’s flanks, Semenyo would create new pockets for Ekitike to shift into.

Already, the new recruit has made mincemeat of many of Liverpool’s opponents, even against the backdrop of such drama and disharmony.

Perhaps his likeness to the summer-sold Diaz underlines sporting director Richard Hughes’ ambitions with this one. He is a player who has the capacity to thrive as a starring member of Slot’s title-challenging team, and teammate Justin Kluivert has called him a “world-class” player.

Ekitike, too, is cut from worthy cloth, and though it’s been a tough season for the Anfield side, there are signs of a side stabalising, and this could ensure that Liverpool return to their best form.

He's proven Carragher wrong: Liverpool star has become their best player

This Liverpool star is certainly in the conversation for the club’s Player of the Season accolade.

By
Kelan Sarson

1 day ago

Much like any club, Sunderland have endured their fair share of transfer heartache, making costly mistakes in the window by missing out on high-profile stars who have gone on to blossom elsewhere.

The most notable example that left supporters pulling their hair out in recent times was their failure to sign Virgil van Dijk in 2015 for just £8m.

At the time, the centre-back was plying his trade at Celtic and although Gus Poyet later recalled being "very very interested" in the Dutchman on the What the Falk podcast, he slipped through their grasp and instead joined Southampton six months later.

The rest, as they say, is history, with Van Dijk joining Liverpool for £75m in 2017 and becoming one of the greatest defenders of all time.

While missing out on the towering titan is something they'll live to regret for eternity, he isn't the only former Sunderland target to have ripped it up in the Premier League, ruing their failure to snap up treble-winning magician, Kevin De Bruyne.

Did Sunderland almost sign Kevin de Bruyne?

Back in the summer of 2011, the Black Cats had just recorded a top-half finish in the Premier League and Steve Bruce was attempting to assemble a squad that could challenge in the upper echelons of the table.

Acquiring the likes of Conor Wickham, Ahmed Elmohamady and Craig Gardner, the Englishman would have blown them out of the water, and some, if he had managed to capture De Bruyne.

It was reported that Sunderland was one of several clubs lining up a move to sign the 19-year-old Genk attacking midfielder.

Aston Villa were also said to be vying for his signature, but he ended up penning a deal to sign for Chelsea six months later, in January 2012.

While they wouldn't have known it at the time, De Bruyne would go on to become one of the greatest midfielders to grace the beautiful game, ultimately failing at Chelsea, making a name for himself at Wolfsburg before reaching the pinnacle of his powers as a world-class technician at Manchester City.

What has De Bruyne achieved since?

To have shown a keen interest in an all-time Premier League great when he was available for just £6m will likely sting as far as Sunderland are concerned, having watched him enjoy a glittering career in Manchester.

Winning countless personal accolades, including the PFA Player of the Year award in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns, the magician has reached an untouchable legacy at Man City through his wand of a right foot and his ability to conjure up moments of sheer brilliance.

Lauded by Pep Guardiola as "one of the greatest players of all time", the Belgian has become a killer pass specialist, excelling with his vision, almost unstoppable whipped crosses and sublime lofted through balls from deep.

As far as creative midfielders go, De Bruyne has everything in his locker and is the main contributor to Erling Haaland's insane goal-scoring numbers, assisting the Norwegian an impressive eight times last term.

For many years, the brilliant Belgian has orchestrated their dominance at the top through his impeccable ball-playing abilities, scoring 96 and chalking up an impressive 153 assists in 385 appearances for City.

With their dominance reaching new heights last season as Guardiola's side wrote their names into the history books by winning a historic treble, the assist machine was only praised further for the role he played in their path to success having recorded an eye-watering 25-goal contributions in 32 Premier League matches, 18 of which were assists.

Dubbed by Gary Neville as "the best player in the league", De Bruyne's influence is accentuated further when he's not in the side and since being sidelined with an injury, City have desperately the ease at which he unlocks opposition defences, penetrating low blocks with his relentless crossing ability.

The midfield magician, who is now valued at £31.5m as per Football Transfers, is reaching the twilight of his career and while his powers as a master creator will wane in the coming years, Sunderland will look back at what could have been for eternity.