All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

It’s been something of an up-and-down season for Arsenal this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been incredible in the Champions League and have a League Cup semi-final to look forward to, but in the Premier League, they have been subpar.

As things stand, the Gunners find themselves in third and nine points off league leaders Liverpool and have scored ten fewer goals, leading to fans and pundits suggesting they need offensive reinforcements next year.

1

Liverpool

45/17

45

2

Nottingham Forest

26/19

37

3

Arsenal

35/16

36

4

Chelsea

38/23

35

5

Newcastle United

21/11

32

So, it should come as no surprise, then, that recent reports have linked the club to one of the most exciting attackers in the league, someone who could spell trouble for Kai Havertz’s long-term place in the starting lineup.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal have a concrete interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha.

The report has revealed that the Brazilian ace is considered a more realistic target for the summer transfer window but that there is a world where he could join next month.

According to the story, the Old Gold would only sell their star attacker in January if an ‘astronomical offer’ was put on the table, which would be around the £90m mark.

Regardless of when the North Londoners make their move, they should be looking to sign Cunha, as he has been sublime for Wolves and could be a dream Havertz upgrade.

How Cunha compares to Havertz

Now, at this point in time, it’s Gabriel Jesus who is leading the line for Arsenal.

Yet, based on his poor form over this year and the fact he failed to put the ball in the back of the net against Ipswich Town on Friday, we would expect Havertz to find himself back in the starting striker role soon enough.

Therefore, were the Gunners to complete the signing of Cunha next year, it’s the German who would be his primary competition for a starting berth up top, but who comes out on top when we compare them.

Well, the first port of call for any centre-forward is their raw output, and this is where things get interesting.

For example, so far this season, the former Chelsea ace has scored 12 goals and provided three assists, whereas the “sensational” Wolves star, as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, has scored ten goals and provided four assists.

Appearances

20

25

Minutes

1582′

2022′

Goals

10

12

Assists

4

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

0.60

Minutes per Goal Involvement

113′

134.8′

However, the former did so in 25 appearances while the latter did so in just 20, meaning they averaged a goal involvement on average every 1.66 and 1.41 games, respectively.

Okay, how about their underlying numbers, then? Is it another narrow victory for the former Atlético Madrid forward when we take a look under the hood?

Indeed, it is, as in practically every relevant metric, he comes out ahead, and by quite some way.

For example, the “world-class” talent, as dubbed by writer George Lakin, produces more non-penalty goals plus assists, more progressive passes and carries, more shot and goal-creating actions, more successful take-ons and more shots and shots on target, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.56

0.61

Actual Non-Penalty G+As

0.81

0.55

Progressive Passes

4.10

2.99

Progressive Carries

3.93

1.52

Shots

3.12

2.37

Shots on Target

1.21

0.97

Passing Accuracy

71.4%

79.4%

Key Passes

1.85

0.85

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.97

0.49

Shot-Creating Actions

3.98

2.31

Goal-Creating Actions

0.46

0.12

Successful Take-Ons

2.25

0.43

Ultimately, Havertz has proven himself to be an incredibly useful player over the last season and a bit, and it seems unlikely he’d be totally jettisoned from the squad anytime soon.

However, Cunha appears to be quite comfortably the superior player, so if Arsenal have the chance to sign him next year, they must take it, even if that means decreasing the German’s importance to the team.

Jesus upgrade: Arsenal lead race for "outstanding" £60m goal-machine

The prolific forward would be a game-changer for Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 31, 2024

West Ham United could make a move for a “sensational” Premier League player this month, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Graham Potter off to a solid start

West Ham were made to work hard for their opening victory under Graham Potter, but they just about got over the line, edging Fulham 3-2 in a closely-contested match at the London Stadium.

With Potter’s first three points in the bag, the new manager can now start looking at making a push for the top half of the Premier League table, but he may be keen to aid his side’s chances by bringing in some new reinforcements this month.

Given that Niclas Füllkrug is set to be sidelined for several months due to a hamstring injury, bringing in a new striker may become a priority for Potter, and there are a few options being considered.

Sky Sports: West Ham in talks for £20m star who's scored 3 goals vs Irons

He averages a goal every 75 minutes against the Hammers.

ByCharlie Smith Jan 15, 2025

The Hammers are now in talks with Nottingham Forest over a deal for Taiwo Awoniyi, who could set them back as much as £20m, while they have also tabled a bid to sign Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran.

Not only are the Irons looking to bring in a new striker, but they are also keen on a new attacking midfielder, and Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has now confirmed they could make a move for Chelsea’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Dewsbury-Hall is yet to start a Premier League game for the Blues this season, failing to justify his £30m price tag since arriving from Leicester City back in the summer.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is not ruling out letting the attacking midfielder leave during the January transfer window, so it seems like a deal could be there to be done, should West Ham make a concrete approach.

Dewsbury-Hall was "sensational" for Leicester

Although the Englishman has failed to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, there are clear signs he could be a solid signing for the Hammers, given his previous exploits in the Premier League.

Brendan Rodgers praised the 26-year-old during his time with the Foxes, while also providing an overview of the type of player he is: “Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been sensational really since he has come into the team, and there’s so much more to go as well. He can add goals to his game. But his energy, his physicality, his concentration – he is playing at a really high level.

“It’s the type of player I love: a technical player, he’s got agility, he’s got a good tactical idea of the game, who doesn’t see it as a chore to run and work, he sees that as the obligation.”

The former Leicester man was also impressive in the Championship last season, scoring a brace to help his side overcome rivals Coventry City en-route to promotion.

As such, it is exciting news that West Ham could make a move for Dewsbury-Hall this month, and the player himself may well be keen on the move, given that his game time has been so limited this season.

West Ham United have made an offer to sign a forward who they were actually chasing as far back as 2021, as co-chairman David Sullivan looks to support now-official new manager Graham Potter with potential signings.

West Ham announce Graham Potter as new manager

On Wednesday afternoon, the Hammers confirmed Julen Lopetegui’s dismissal as head coach after just six months in charge, and it didn’t take long for the club to officially announce Potter as the Spaniard’s heir.

£120k-per-week Arsenal player decides to leave with West Ham approach made

An exit is seemingly beckoning.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 4, 2025

The tactician was out of work since April 2023, following his sacking by Chelsea, but is now back in the dugout and ready to try and turn around West Ham’s dismal fortunes under his predecessor.

Potter has put pen to paper on a two-year contract at the London Stadium, and he will take charge of his first West Ham game in the FA Cup against Aston Villa on Friday.

“I am delighted to be here,” said Potter after taking the West Ham job. “It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the Club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United.

Fulham (home)

January 14

Crystal Palace (home)

January 18

Aston Villa (away)

January 26

Chelsea (away)

February 3

Brentford (home)

February 15

“My conversations with the Chairman and the Board have been very positive and constructive, we share the same values of hard work and high energy to create the solid foundations that can produce success, and we are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short-term and then how we want to move the Club forward in the medium to long term.

“West Ham United is a huge Club, at the heart of London, with a tremendous fanbase and great support all around the world. I saw the scenes that followed their Europa Conference League victory in 2023, and it was clear that this is a Club with everything in place to become consistently successful, both on and off the pitch.”

With their managerial situation now resolved, attention turns to January, as West Ham seek to sign a new forward before deadline day on February 3.

West Ham make offer to sign Benfica star Arthur Cabral on loan

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, via Sport Witness, Benfica attacker Arthur Cabral is back on their radar. Interestingly, the Brazilian was a target for David Moyes, with West Ham holding meetings over Cabral as far back as 2021 – during his time at FC Basel in Switzerland.

Now, it appears Sullivan and technical director Tim Steidten have returned to the bidding for his services, and it is believed West Ham have tabled an offer to sign Cabral on loan with the option-to-buy.

Serie A side Torino have done the same thing, but Benfica rejected both of their approaches – insisting that any temporary deal must include a mandatory purchase option. The Primeira Liga heavyweights want the buy-clause to be set at around £12.5 million, which doesn’t seem like much on the face of it, but Cabral hasn’t exactly been prolific over the last two seasons.

That being said, the 26-year-old centre-forward did finish 2022/2023 as the Europa Conference League’s top scorer with seven goals – the year West Ham won the competition.

Manchester United have reportedly rejected a £40 million bid for one of their young players who has struggled since the arrival of Ruben Amorim in November.

United escape against Southampton thanks to brilliant Amad Diallo

Amad Diallo was the hero for United as they came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 at Old Trafford on Thursday night and win a Premier League game for the first time in a month. After United had gone behind courtesy of a Manuel Ugarte own goal, the Ivory Coast international, who has been United’s standout player this season, scored three goals in the last 12 minutes to secure a vital victory for Amorim’s side.

Amad’s hat-trick was the first of his professional career and saw him become the first African player to score three goals in a game for United, and the second-youngest player in the club’s history to score a Premier League hat-trick, behind only Wayne Rooney.

“I’m so happy to score my first hat-trick, especially at Old Trafford,” the 22-year-old, who last week signed a new five-year deal at United, said after the game. “I’m so happy, especially for the win, because I think this team deserve it, and we have to keep going like this.”

Amorim, meanwhile, said: “He is having a very good season. Congratulations to him. I hope he enjoys tonight because he needs to appreciate these moments.

“He needs to continue. In football, one day, you’re a really good player. The next day, you have to do it all over again. He has a lot to improve. He played in a different position today and then, in the second half, we took advantage of his ability, with good assists from the players.”

Manchester United reject Garnacho bid

While Amad is thriving under Amorim, his United teammate Alejandro Garnacho has been struggling. The Argentine has failed to register a single goal or assist in nine Premier League games since Amorim’s appointment in November, and was dropped from the matchday squad for the Manchester derby last month, which United won 2-1.

Amid Garnacho’s struggles, Italian side Napoli have reportedly tried to lure the 20-year-old winger away from Old Trafford.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Napoli recently submitted a £40 million bid for Garnacho, which was rejected by United. Head coach Antonio Conte is said to be eyeing Garnacho as a replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is set to join Paris Saint-Germain. However, sources in Italy suggest that Napoli believe United’s asking price for Garnacho to be too high, and they are now looking at other targets.

Man Utd gem who left for £0 is now outperforming Garnacho & Foden in the PL

The former Manchester United ace has outperformed Alejandro Garnacho after leaving.

ByEthan Lamb Dec 11, 2024

Ahead of the win over Southampton, Amorim was asked if Garnacho, who won the 2024 Puskas Award with his flying overhead kick against Everton, has a future at Old Trafford.

He replied, according to the Metro: “That is clear. He has talent. He needs to learn to play in a different position. He needs to play better inside. He improves a lot recovering (his) position when he doesn’t have the ball.

“Sometimes he’s not in the right place to make transitions like he was in the past because I prefer to defend and then build up with all the team to reach the final third. He’s finding the best way to play in this system.”

A deadline day deal for Chelsea is “there to be done” for one highly-rated forward, according to a reliable journalist, with Enzo Maresca running out of time to acquire his desired new attacking options.

Enzo Maresca requests new attacker in recent Chelsea meeting

As per Simon Phillips, writing via his Substack, Maresca made it clear that he wants another forward at Chelsea in a recent meeting.

Tottenham make surprise late approach to sign £195k-per-week Chelsea star

Spurs are looking to raid their London rivals.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Feb 1, 2025

This apparently prompted Chelsea to make an approach over signing Jhon Duran, before he opted to make a big-money move to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia instead, and there have been many reports linking them with a wide-attacker as well.

West Ham (away)

Today

Brighton (away)

February 14th

Aston Villa (away)

February 22nd

Southampton (home)

February 25th

Leicester City (home)

March 9th

Bayern Munich starlet Mathys Tel, who can be deployed as a striker and winger, has also been attracting serious late interest from Chelsea (Fabrizio Romano) – but a move for the Bundesliga sensation hasn’t quite taken off as things stand.

Wantaway forward Christopher Nkunku and his potential exit from Stamford Bridge could play a major role in determining whether Chelsea bring in another forward before the deadline, and it is believed by some sectors that Man United could move for the Frenchman, given their own deal for Tel has reportedly stalled.

Reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking on the London is Blue podcast (via TBR), has shared an update on this and their chances of landing £70 million United forward Alejandro Garnacho.

Chelsea deal "there to be done" for Alejandro Garnacho

According to the reporter, a Chelsea deal is “there to be done” for Garnacho – provided they make a bid and something materialises from United in regard to Nkunku’s precarious situation.

“Perhaps there is a simple solution for Christopher Nkunku. Go off to Manchester United. And then we obviously at this point go through the hypothetical permutations of, do Chelsea want Garnacho,” said Jacobs.

“Are they going to bid late for Garnacho? If they do, there’s probably a deal there to be done. If they don’t come in for Garnacho, I think and Nkunku as a standalone deal becomes a bit less likely because I think that Chelsea would want some kind of option, obligation at a number that Manchester United can’t meet.

“And personally, I don’t think just a loan and Nkunku to Manchester United in the current state of where the squad is in their form. And then if he’s banging in goals and it’s only temporary and coming back, everybody’s kind of going to probably turn around, certainly within the fan base and say, if it’s not permanent, why just allow that loan to be sanctioned? Because he’s still squad depth and he’s still the second top goal scorer at the club.

“So I think it will all hinge upon this. Do you mean you want to go big if they miss out on Tel, which is currently the expectation, isn’t Nkunku a late window solution that can be viable because the ballpark valuations of and Nkunku and Alejandro Garnacho are the same. And then it comes back to Chelsea again.

“Do they want to bid? Because we’ve heard a lot of reports in the last week that Chelsea have bid for Alejandro Garnacho. It’s not my understanding at the time we are recording this. No formal bid has been placed for Garnacho. Will that change? That’s the thing we have to wait and see.”

Manchester United have tabled an offer which would double the salary of one of Barcelona’s talents, according to a fresh report, and the Red Devils have already received a reply.

Man Utd and INEOS target youth

Since the arrival of INEOS at Old Trafford, Manchester United have made a point of targeting younger players in a bid to rejuvenate their squad.

Ruben Amorim’s side signed Ayden Heaven from Premier League rivals Arsenal in January, as well as shelling out to sign Patrick Dorgu from Lecce in a deal worth up to £30m in their only major business of the transfer window.

Club move to sign £350k-p/w Man Utd star who INEOS will let go immediately

It would be a massive call with no way to replace him at Old Trafford.

ByBen Browning Feb 10, 2025

Meanwhile, they are also already exploring a move to sign Sporting CP teenager Geovany Quenda, with The Athletic reporting that a deal is expected to cost in excess of £30m this summer and the Red Devils already doing the groundwork to ensure that they land their man.

It is part of a new plan to spot talent before they explode into stars, with Sunderland’s Chris Rigg and Southampton’s Tyler Dibling also among those of interest to the Red Devils.

Now, it has emerged that they made a massive offer to lure a young star out of Barcelona, even offering to double his salary in the process.

Man Utd table bid for Barcelona talent Lopez

That comes as a report in Spain claims that both Manchester United and Aston Villa were ready to shell out up to €70m (£58m) to sign Barcelona talent Fermin Lopez in the January transfer window.

The Spanish international, who was a part of Spain’s Olympic winning side over the summer, has struggled for game time at Camp Nou since the arrival of Hansi Flick. He has made 15 appearances in La Liga but has started just five times.

Appearances

25

Starts

9

Goals

5

Assists

5

Minutes per goal involvement

104

Despite this, he renewed his contract in Catalonia in October, penning a new deal through until 2029 worth £64,000 a week. But just months on from that, both Premier League clubs showed strong interest, and were reportedly “willing to invest around 70 million euros [£58m] to secure his services”.

It is added that they were also offering “financial proposals that practically double his current salary at the Barcelona club”, making a move financially attractive.

Lopez quickly shut down any interest, the report adds. It is claimed that the youngster “did not hesitate to reject both offers”, telling his entourage that “his only objective was to establish himself in the Barcelona first team.”

Lopez’s love of Barcelona is nothing new; in a 2023 interview, he revealed his desire to spend his career at Camp Nou, telling the media: “I want to stay at Barça forever. Man, I would like to be in the first team, to continue here. I hope I can always be here, but hey, you never know. It is the best club in the world and every year the best come. You never know.”

However, as has often been shown, Barcelona are not always able to make it work financially, and with their continued financial struggles, a deal for Fermin down the line could prove too good to turn down, especially given his limited game time under Hansi Flick.

Manchester United are clearly struggling to settle under new manager Ruben Amorim, completely changing their style of play, in an attempt to rescue their season. However, the Red Devils currently sit 15th in the Premier League, 14 points away from a top-five spot.

Back-to-back league losses against Crystal Palace and Tottenham has put their season in further doubt, as Amorim’s side are also now set to be without Amad Diallo for the remainder of the season, after suffering an ankle injury, which he will undergo surgery for.

With Diallo now out, United could possibly regret sanctioning the loan move of Marcus Rashford to Aston Villa in January, who has made some energetic cameos for Unai Emery’s side already since joining the Villains.

Marcus Rashford's start at Aston Villa

Rashford joined Aston Villa on an initial loan deal, already making two appearances for Villa, striking the woodwork against Ipswich from a freekick, which Ollie Watkins converted to make it 1-1.

The 27-year-old has already shown his versatility, playing as both a centre-forward and a left-wing option in his two games.

United lined up with Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho in their front three against Tottenham, with two “nines” and a typical touchline winger, who wants to operate in wider zones. Rashford could have offered something different, adding pace to the frontline and the ability to operate in multiple zones.

Rashford made 426 appearances for United, scoring 138 goals, providing 63 assists and totalling 28,596 minutes played, but INEOS may have made an even bigger mistake than allowing Rashford to leave in January, having let another academy graduate depart in the summer.

Man Utd's bigger mistake than Rashford

The Red Devils sold Scott McTominay to Napoli in the summer for a fee of around £21m plus £4.2m in add-ons. Since leaving the club, the 28-year-old has made 24 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing four assists.

Stats (per 90 mins)

McTominay

Mainoo

Ugarte

Goals + Assists

0.40

0.10

0.05

xG

0.22

0.08

0.04

Progressive Carries

1.52

1.41

0.50

Progressive Passes

3.36

3.78

2.88

Shots Total

2.42

0.79

0.49

Key Passes

0.71

1.15

0.50

Shot-Creating Actions

1.66

2.18

1.75

Tackles + Interceptions

2.19

3.50

5.75

Ball Recoveries

4.69

4.74

5.56

Aerial Duels Won

1.66

1.03

0.81

When comparing McTominay’s underlying numbers to Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte, who have often played in a double pivot for United this season under Amorim, you can see the extra goal threat the Scotland international brings from midfield, as well as physical presence with his 1.66 aerial duels won per 90.

McTominay may not have the same creative qualities as other United midfielders, making fewer key passes and averaging fewer shot-creating actions, but his overall impact in both boxes cannot be underestimated, alongside his mentality.

One-time interim boss Ralf Rangnick was impressed with McTominay’s “leadership skills” which led to the comment on him being a future “captain”, and it is this experience and extra presence that United could use in these testing times ahead.

With the Red Devils now left looking particularly light in midfield – with Ugarte, Mainoo, Toby Collyer and Christian Eriksen all missing the trip to North London – it could be said that moving on McTominay to Italy represents a bigger mistake by INEOS than sanctioning a loan move for Rashford.

Indeed, with there is a slim chance that the latter man could return to Old Trafford for next season, the Scotland star’s time in Manchester is now definitely over.

Not just Garnacho: Amorim was let down by Man Utd's 5/10 "tough watch"

The Red Devils slipped to yet another Premier League defeat on Sunday

ByJoe Nuttall Feb 16, 2025

Crystal Palace scouts are keeping an eye on a “freak of nature” midfielder ahead of the summer transfer window opening, according to a former high level scout.

Crystal Palace news and updates

The Eagles suffered a disappointing result at home to Everton on Sunday, but with them only sitting nine points behind eighth place Fulham and having a fifth round FA Cup tie to look forward to, there is still a lot for Palace to play for this season.

Imagine him & Mitchell: Crystal Palace must now unleash "exceptional" ace

Oliver Glasner can unleash “one of the best” alongside Mitchell to create strong dynamic for Palace

ByConnor Holden Feb 15, 2025

As Oliver Glasner will be focusing on the matters on the pitch, there will also be conversations about plans for current Palace players and what they want to do in the summer transfer window. It was reported last week that Glasner is pushing the club to hold contract talks with striker Jean Philippe-Mateta, as he wants them to secure his long-term future at Selhurst Park.

In transfer news, it’s also been reported that Palace are interested in signing SC Freiburg midfielder Merlin Rohl. The 22-year-old is said to have a £10 million price tag, but Palace are not alone in their pursuit, as Newcastle United, Liverpool and Everton are also interested in signing the attacking midfielder.

Crystal Palace scouts keeping a close eye on £20m gem

Rohl is not the only midfielder on Palace’s radar, according to the club’s former scout, Mick Brown, who has told Football Insider that Crystal Palace scouts are keeping an eye on Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham.

Brown, who has worked at top-level player recruitment for over a decade, believes Sunderland will listen to offers for Bellingham, and they will let him go if they get the right price, as several teams keep an eye on him throughout this campaign.

“I think Sunderland would let him go if they got a good price for him,” Brown told Football Insider. “Especially if they don’t get promoted this season, they’re going to listen to offers. It feels to me like they’re short of a couple of real top-class players.

“You’ve got the goalkeeper who’s not bad; he’s promising, and then you get Rigg, who’s the same. Then you’ve got Bellingham, and there have been questions about whether he’s good enough to make that step up at this point. Crystal Palace and Tottenham have had scouts watching him this season, so they’ll be two of the teams in the running if he is going to leave.

Apps

75

Goals

11

Assists

4

“So, it’ll be up to them to assess whether he’s ready to make that jump. From a Sunderland point of view, knowing the way the owners want to operate, I think if they get a huge bid for him, then they’ll let him go.”

Bellingham, who has been described as a “freak of nature” by teammate Dan Neil, has scored four goals and recorded three assists in 28 Championship games, as the Black Cats look to finish the season in the play-offs at the very least.

Palace are not unknown for looking into the Championship for their next star player, as they recently brought Adam Wharton to Selhurst Park from Blackburn Rovers, and he has turned into an excellent investment. The Eagles may be willing to do the same again, and it could cost them £20 million to get a deal for Bellingham over the line.

Chelsea have a lot of work to do this summer.

There’s no question Stamford Bridge has enjoyed progress under Enzo Maresca’s tactical guidance this season, but the last few months have exposed holes in the Blues squad.

This is a young team. Todd Boehly’s scattergun spending approach hasn’t quite been streamlined yet but there have been signs of refined focus over the past year.

The issue is that Cole Palmer is currently out of sorts, and Chelsea’s frontline is suffering as a result.

The recruitment team are going to be called into play, no doubt, but Chelsea need to rid the team of several pieces of deadwood too.

Who Chelsea need to sell this summer

Sadly, it hasn’t worked out. In 2023, Chelsea signed Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig in a deal worth £52m, but injuries and a struggle to identify his best position have left the Frenchman with only six starts and three goals in the Premier League this term.

Bayern Munich were reportedly interested in completing a move in January, but it didn’t come to fruition. Nkunku may well be sold at the end of the season, with Maresca backed to put more of his own flair on the team.

Maresca named Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka to be among the most probable permanent departures before the winter market. Chilwell did leave, but only on loan to Crystal Palace. Expect both to be gone next term.

Then of course, the goalkeeping department requires something of an overhaul, with both Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen enduring something of an error-stricken crisis this season.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is producing solid stuff out on loan with Bournemouth, but reports from February have suggested Chelsea have compiled a four-man shortlist ahead of the off-season and will act.

It’s clear the Blues need a new centre-forward to jockey with Nicolas Jackson. Nkunku might be off, while Joao Felix has only scored once in eight games on loan at Milan, and after failing to hit the ground running in London, it’s unlikely he will feature prominently next year.

Truthfully, this is a squad in transition and will need more facework if the loftiest heights are to be reached. There’s a player above all the aforementioned who must be cut from the books this summer, and like Felix, he’s not even a part of Maresca’s set-up right now.

Not just Nkunku: Chelsea's forgotten man is on borrowed time

Nkunku has flattered to deceive, sure, but he’s still got the potential to spark his career back to life at the highest level, perhaps back in the Bundesliga with Bayern.

Chalkboard

However, the same can’t be said for Raheem Sterling, whose regression over the past several years has reached its nadir at the Emirates with Arsenal.

Chelsea signed him from Manchester City in a deal worth £47.5m in the summer of 2022, and though Sterling impressed in flashes, Maresca’s arrival spelt the end of his west London journey.

Last season, under Mauricio Pochettino, Sterling served an important role, indeed scoring eight times from only 22 starts in the Premier League. But the cracks were starting to show, the wear and tear from an unrelenting career beginning to catch up with him.

He was severed from the first-team reckoning, with the club’s Italian head coach making it clear he wanted a different profile of winger. Arsenal handed him a lifeline, bringing him in on loan late in the day on summer’s transfer deadline day. You’re about to see the best of me, he cried. That hasn’t been the case.

It’s not worked out at Arsenal, with his failure to nail down a starting berth in spite of the Gunners’ injury crisis rather damning.

Reporter Ed Aarons has noted that he’s “struggling” and it’s difficult to see a positive way out for Sterling at either London club.

Limited to just six starts across the Premier League and Champions League, the five-time league winner has registered just one assist. He hasn’t scored. Moreover, Sterling is averaging only 1.5 duels and 0.7 dribbles per game in the top flight, underscoring his athletic depletion.

24/25

Arsenal

12

0

1

23/24

Chelsea

31

8

4

22/23

Chelsea

28

6

3

21/22

Man City

30

13

5

20/21

Man City

31

10

7

19/20

Man City

33

20

1

18/19

Man City

34

17

9

17/18

Man City

33

18

11

His decline has been a gradual thing. Growth and regression are not linear in football, and Sterling has played an almighty amount of football even at 30 years old.

Indeed, having played 391 Premier League matches, Sterling is the fourth-highest active appearance holder in the division, behind James Milner, Ashley Young and James Ward-Prowse.

He will return to Chelsea at the end of the season and is contracted until 2027. His value is plummeting – Transfermarkt record the England international is presently worth just £19m – but given he pockets £350k per week, he must be sold for the greater good of the club.

If Nkunku is sold this summer, Chelsea will need to invest in more depth and quality across the frontline, doubly so if Sterling is freed from the books.

However, such things need to happen. Chelsea are at a critical juncture and must act with incision – luckily, say one thing for Boehly, he’s never been without ambition.

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For every Cameron Carter-Vickers, there is a Maik Nawrocki. For every Nicolas Kuhn, there is a Luis Palma. As evidenced here, getting recruitment right at an elite club like Celtic is never an easy task.

Thankfully, while there has been the odd miss along the way, the Parkhead giants have enjoyed far more hits on the transfer front in recent years, with Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers having overseen a golden period of domestic dominance for the Hoops.

Indeed, the Scottish champions have become renowned for sniffing out a bargain, with young Matt O’Riley perhaps the greatest example of the club’s scouting success. Signed for just £1.5m from third-tier English club, MK Dons, the Danish international was subsequently sold for a club record £25m fee last summer.

There may be a sense of frustration among some at being labelled something of a ‘selling club’, although that also goes hand in hand with being able to offer a clear pathway to help attract talented, high-potential talents in the first place.

Perhaps, having witnessed the fortunes of many of those who have opted to leave the Glasgow side in the hope of a brighter future elsewhere, the current crop may think again before securing too hasty an exit.

The fortunes of Celtic's record sales

Let’s begin with O’Riley. The current Brighton and Hove Albion man hasn’t exactly enjoyed the smoothest of starts in English football, picking up a cruel injury blow just nine minutes into his competitive debut for the Seagulls.

Now into March, the 24-year-old has only started five Premier League games for the high-flying side, albeit while notably stealing the headlines after scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City.

Meanwhile, six years on from leaving the Hoops to join Arsenal, Kieran Tierney is set to re-join the Old Firm side this summer on a free transfer, with the 27-year-old having endured an injury-hit spell south of the border.

The Scotland star will follow in the footsteps of another of the club’s notable sales, Jota, by making an emotional return to Celtic Park, with the Portuguese sensation lasting just 18 months abroad before making his way back to Glasgow.

Elsewhere, at the age of 28, Moussa Dembele – sold to Lyon for £20m in 2018 – now finds himself out in Saudi Arabia, while fellow striker, Odsonne Edouard, is now in something of an exile on loan at Leicester City, having signed for Crystal Palace for £14m in 2021.

As evidenced with the club’s five record sales above, the grass isn’t necessarily always greener elsewhere. Perhaps that might be something Celtic’s potential next big sale might want to consider…

Celtic's next big sale

Discussing those who could leave Rodgers’ side should well be viewed in a flattering sense, with talk surrounding the club’s key figures a sign that they are performing at a high level for the Premiership leaders.

Market Movers

Performing at a high level is exactly what this current Celtic team is doing right now, having come agonisingly close to seeing off Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16. Such a showing would have been unheard of earlier in the campaign, let alone last season.

A player who has been central to the improvements on the European stage, in particular, is Arne Engels, with the 21-year-old having enjoyed a stunning debut campaign in green and white.

Stat (*per game)

Augsburg (23/24)

Celtic (24/25)

Games

32

26

Goals

3

9

Assists

2

5

Big chances created

1

10

Pass accuracy*

75%

85%

Key passes*

0.6

1.7

Tackles*

1.0

0.8

Interceptions*

0.5

0.1

Total duels won*

48%

47%

Successful dribbles*

0.2

0.3

It hasn’t all been plain-sailing, with Rodgers coming out in defence of a player who he said “is nowhere near the finished article” following a quiet spell back in the Autumn, yet the £11m man has really taken it up a gear of late.

Brought in from Augsburg as Celtic’s record signing, it might not be too long before Engels breaks that £25m barrier as the club’s record sale too.

At present, the midfield maestro already has 22 goals and assists to his name in all competitions, a tally that includes four goal involvements in just ten outings in the Champions League.

Also described by Celtic legend Chris Sutton as a player he is “liking… more and more”, the promising Belgian has certainly gone someway to filling O’Riley’s void, even while carrying the burden of his hefty price tag.

That said, that £11m fee could now even be considered a bargain due to his soaring value, with CIES Football Observatory suggesting that he is already worth as much as €30m (£25m), thus marking a 127% increase on his initial cost.

Previously also tipped to be Celtic’s first £40m sale, Engels is certainly doing a lot right at this moment in time. Let’s hope, for both his sake and the club’s, that such form continues.

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