All posts by z3u9t.icu

La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid are said to be targeting another Arsenal star, amid their strong links to William Saliba, coming as new contract talks with the former take a negative turn.

Real Madrid still eyeing William Saliba despite signing Dean Huijsen

Some Gunners supporters may have been optimistic at one stage that Real’s signing of defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth would spell the end of their interest in Saliba, but this is unfortunately far from the truth.

Barcelona plan to pay La Liga star's release clause after offer from Arsenal

The Gunners appear set to compete with Hansi Flick’s champions for an “exciting” player.

ByEmilio Galantini May 27, 2025

The France international, who’s been a vital presence at the heart of Mikel Arteta’s defence since 2022/2023, having formed an indomitable partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, will leave the Emirates for nothing in 2027 as things stand.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal

8.07

Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

7.87

Arsenal 2-0 Man United

7.66

Ipswich Town 0-4 Arsenal

7.28

Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich Town

7.26

via WhoScored

Arsenal have opened talks with Saliba over a new contract in an effort to ward off Real, and while some outlets even claim an extension is all but agreed (Football Transfers), this appears to be wide of the mark for now.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Saliba remains a “dream” signing for Real, regardless of their Huijsen deal, and they remain watchful of developments regarding the 24-year-old’s contract situation.

“The dream target has always been William Saliba,” said Romano on his YouTube channel.

“My information is that Real Madrid understood at the beginning of May that Saliba this summer was impossible to reach as a target because, for Arsenal, he is a crucial player and they are discussing a new contract with William Saliba.

“So Real Madrid’s position on Saliba is clear – they will sign Dean Huijsen now, but Saliba remains a dream target for them. Arsenal will have the ball in their court to close the agreement, keep Saliba at the club and extend his contract. Otherwise, if this contract won’t be extended, Real Madrid will be there.”

Real Madrid eye Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arsenal contract talks go sour

In more concerning news for Arteta, it is now believed that Real are also keeping a very watchful eye on breakout star Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The Hale End academy graduate made the left-back spot his own this season, putting in some truly exceptional displays which have also resulted in Thomas Tuchel’s nod for the England squad.

The 18-year-old’s form is turning heads at the Bernabeu as a result, with journalist Jonathan Wilson telling The Guardian’s ‘Football Weekly’ that Arsenal’s talks over a contract extension for Lewis-Skelly have been going sour.

“They’ve got to sort out Myles Lewis-Skelly’s contract which expires next summer and I think talks have not been going well from what I hear,” said Wilson.

“Real Madrid are sort of sniffing around there. Imagine Real Madrid wanting a highly-rated Premier League fullback for free. Almost unimaginable, isn’t it?”

Losing the teenage sensation to La Liga, especially on a free, would be a truly dire situation for Arsenal, and it is little surprise Real are considering a Trent Alexander-Arnold-esque deal to bring in one of England’s brightest young defenders at no transfer cost.

Tying down Lewis-Skelly will now be even higher up Andrea Berta’s to-do list, especially considering the newly-found interest from Xabi Alonso’s side.

The return of David Moyes may have brought a smile back to Everton Football Club, although it’s fair to say that the shining light on Merseyside remains a certain Iliman Ndiaye, with the Senegal star enjoying a dazzling debut campaign at the club.

In a largely workman-like outfit, the 25-year-old is undoubtedly the difference maker, regularly popping up with a moment of magic – including his breathtaking brace amid an emotional Goodison Park send-off last month.

The manner in which the ex-Marseille man is able to jink his way through a sea of defenders truly is a sight to behold, with The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell rightly noting earlier in the season that he is the type of player who can “change an entire mood” at a club.

With a brighter future in store at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the £15m signing should surely be the centre-piece of the new Moyes era. On the same note, signings of a similar ilk should surely be on the agenda this summer.

Latest on Everton's search for new signings

Change is afoot on the Blue side of Merseyside – not least with the move away from Goodison – with the end of the Premier League season sparking a mass exodus from the club, with the likes of Ashley Young, João Virginia and Abdoulaye Doucouré all set to depart upon the expiry of their contracts.

That sea of departures has also seen the likes of Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom, Orel Mangala and Armando Broja return to their parent clubs amid the end of their respective loan moves, albeit with the temporary capture of Charly Alcaraz set to be made permanent for a fee of around €15m (£13m).

The deal to sign the South American starlet could be followed by another exciting capture over the coming weeks, with the Daily Mail suggesting that the Toffees have taken the first steps toward signing Manchester City’s James McAtee, having ‘made checks’ on him.

Transfer Focus

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

As per the report, both Nottingham Forest and West Ham United are also keeping tabs on the promising Englishman, while a raft of Bundesliga sides are also interested, namely Bayer Leverkusen.

The 22-year-old – who reportedly has a £25m price tag – looks destined to depart the Etihad amid his lack of game time. Merseyside, as it has been for Ndiaye, could be the perfect home this summer.

Why Everton need to sign James McAtee

While Everton were hardly taking too much of a risk on Ndiaye, considering the forward’s reasonable £15m price tag, that deal did present something of a gamble considering his difficult stint in Marseille prior to that, in which he scored just four times in 46 games for the Ligue 1 outfit.

In truth, the Toffees were largely banking on the then-24-year-old rediscovering the form he had showcased prior to his 2023 switch, having lit up the Championship with Sheffield United, after registering 36 goals and assists in 88 games for the Blades.

Much to the delight of everyone at Goodison, those heroics have now been replicated in an Everton shirt, with Ndiaye ending 2024/25 with 11 goals in all competitions, placing him ahead of Beto in the club’s scoring charts.

That gamble has more than paid off, hence why plumping for McAtee could reap similar rewards, with the England U21 international also previously shining during his two loan spells in Sheffield.

Indeed, between 2022 and 2024, the silky playmaker registered 22 goals and assists in 75 games at Bramall Lane, with that including a return of nine goals and three assists in the Championship in 2022/23. Ndiaye, lining up in the same side, provided 14 goals and 11 assists in the league that season.

Non-penalty goals

0.78

Top 1%

Shots

3.53

Top 6%

Assists

0.00

Bottom 1%

Shot-creating actions

1.96

Bottom 1%

Pass completion

80.7%

Top 22%

Progressive passes

3.33

Bottom 40%

Progressive carries

2.55

Bottom 29%

Touches in opposition box

5.88

Top 18%

Progressive passes received

9.22

Top 28%

Tackles

1.96

Top 11%

Interceptions

0.39

Bottom 41%

Blocks

1.96

Top 1%

*vs attacking mid/wingers in Europe’s top 5 leagues

Described as “a special player” by Pep Guardiola back in Manchester, McAtee has since had to bid his time with the Citizens, albeit while still registering seven goals from only nine starts in all competitions this season.

An intricate, left-footed playmaker who can operate centrally or off the right flank, McAtee’s quality has also seen him likened to Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard in the past, with pundit Carl Asaba stating:

That likeness certainly bodes well for the impact he can make if given a consistent run of game time at Premier League level, with the Toffees hoping he can follow in Ndiaye’s footsteps by shining in the top-flight.

Outscored Delap: Everton could sign their own Isak in "sensational" £42m ST

Everton manager David Moyes wants to sign a new striker this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 31, 2025

Preparing to spend big once again this summer, INEOS are now preparing to offer £13m-a-year in contract negotiations with one of their summer targets in the hope of luring him to Manchester United.

INEOS spending big despite financial cuts

Across the last 12 months, a lot has been made about Manchester United’s financial situation. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reiterated that any job cuts or attempt to lower the Red Devils’ budget off the pitch have been necessary for the club to maintain itself. And after Manchester United missed out on Champions League qualification by losing against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, more staff were informed about their redundancy.

Man Utd want Premier League target man to play up front with Mbeumo and Cunha

The Red Devils have already signed Cunha and submitted a bid for Mbeumo.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 6, 2025

It was always difficult to guess just how Manchester United would spend this summer. The redundancies and lack of Champions League football, or European football at all for that matter, suggested that they would need to sell big before they even consider spending.

Yet, in one of the earliest deals of the window, INEOS have already spent big to trigger Matheus Cunha’s £63m release clause and reports have since arrived which give a glimpse as to how the Manchester club have already spent such an impressive fee.

As The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell revealed, Manchester United’s revenue is up and their wage bill is down from what it was, with Ratcliffe’s ruthless redundancies contributing to that.

It means that, even after Cunha, those at Old Trafford still have room to spend and have already set their sights on their next target to do exactly that in the coming weeks.

INEOS preparing stunning £13m-a-year Mbeumo offer

According to The Mirror, INEOS are now preparing to offer Bryan Mbeumo a contract worth £13m-a-year to join Manchester United this summer in what would be five times more than the £50,000-a-week he currently earns at Brentford.

What’s more, Ratcliffe and co. are also reportedly preparing to table a £60m offer to convince Brentford to sell their star man this summer – taking their spend to £123m in the space of just a few weeks.

Mbeumo only wants Manchester United, who are set to offer him a staggering £250,000-a-week to complete a summer switch. Whether the forward is worth such a price is the big question and one that many will disagree on.

Casemiro

£350,000

Bruno Fernandes

£300,000

Mason Mount

£250,000

Bryan Mbeumo

£250,000

Matthijs de Ligt

£195,000

Whilst some may disagree with Manchester United’s reported decision, the stats don’t lie. The Brentford forward hit the 20-goal mark last season and that alone should be enough to put him amongst the Red Devils’ highest earners.

Dubbed “incredible” by Brentford boss Thomas Frank last season, Mbeumo looks destined to become Manchester United’s second big-money signing of the summer.

Glasgow Rangers boss Russell Martin knows that he needs to bolster his attacking options before the end of the summer transfer window, which officially re-opened on Monday.

The Light Blues boss could be about to lose first-choice number nine Cyriel Dessers, who has reportedly agreed a contract with Greek outfit AEK Athens, with talks ongoing to agree a fee.

Whilst a transfer is not yet complete, the Scottish giants have to be prepared for the possibility of being without the Nigeria international in the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.

Dessers scored 18 goals in 35 matches in the Scottish Premiership in the 2024/25 season, but also missed 21 ‘big chances’, and they will have to find a striker to replace those goals if this move to Athens goes through.

He is not the only attacking player who will have to be replaced this summer, though, because the Gers have already lost Vaclav Cerny, who has returned to Wolfsburg after his loan deal came to an end.

Why Rangers need to replace Vaclav Cerny

The Czechia international was a huge player for Rangers in the 2024/25 campaign, after joining on loan from the Bundesliga outfit, and will need to be replaced because he provided a huge threat in front of goal.

Cerny ended the season with a haul of 18 goals and nine assists in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Gers, which shows that he offered quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the right flank.

The left-footed star, who liked to cut inside onto his favoured foot from the right wing, produced 12 goals and four assists in 33 outings in the Premiership for Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson combined.

Cerny also caught the eye in the Europa League for Rangers, as they made it to the last eight of the tournament, with goals and assists on the European stage.

xG

4.26

Top 3%

xG on target

4.29

Top 3%

Goals

6

Top 2%

Shots on target

15

Top 1%

Assists

2

Top 23%

xA

0.93

Top 39%

Chances created

14

Top 14%

As you can see in the table above, the Wolfsburg loanee was among the top-performing wingers in the Europa League this season, both as a scorer and a creator.

These statistics illustrate why it is so important for the Scottish giants to sign a replacement for the Czechia international to bolster Martin’s options out wide.

The Gers need a winger who can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis, and a fresh report suggests that they are on course to sign one.

Rangers set to sign new winger

According to TEAMtalk, Rangers are close to agreeing a deal to sign Kwame Poku from Peterborough United when his contract expires at the end of this month.

The Ghana international’s current deal with the League One outfit is due to expire in time for him to sign for a new team at the start of July, and this means that the Gers can snap him up for a compensation fee.

Transfer Focus

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

TEAMtalk adds that Rangers believe that they have won the race to sign the left-footed forward, who is now poised to become one of Martin’s first signings as the new head coach at Ibrox.

The outlet adds that the Premiership giants are set to beat off competition from teams in the English Championship and from abroad to bring the talented winger to Glasgow this summer.

It states that Birmingham, who have been promoted to the Championship, have been pushing hard to land the wing wizard, but it is Rangers who are now closing in on his signature.

What Kwame Poku could bring to Rangers

If the Light Blues get this transfer over the line, as this report suggests that they will do, then the club could have their next version of Cerny on their hands.

Like the Czechia international, Poku is a right-sided attacker who likes to cut inside onto his favoured left foot to deliver goals and assists in the final third on a regular basis.

The 23-year-old star, who former boss Darren Ferguson lauded as an “unplayable” winger at times, racked up 11 goals and seven assists in 39 appearances in the third tier in England in the 2023/24 campaign.

That was an impressive return for the young winger, given that he almost hit 20 goal contributions in total, but the whiz improved his output in the 2024/25 season for the Posh, as Poku proved that he can be relied upon to make a big impact in the final third on a regular basis.

xG

6.01

Top 11%

xG on target

7.74

Top 7%

Goals

12

Top 2%

Assists

8

Top 3%

xA

5.17

Top 7%

Chances created

33

Top 19%

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers target hit that 20-goal contribution mark this season in League One with 12 goals and eight assists.

This means that he scored as many goals as Cerny and provided four more assists than the Wolfsburg loanee did at league level this term, which suggests that the potential is there for him to offer even more in front of goal.

They appear to offer a similar goal threat but Poku could be more creative on the right wing, which would also make him a dream signing for whoever comes in to replace Dessers this summer.

Of course, the Peterborough star is unproven in the Premiership at this moment in time. However, his form down south is incredibly promising and, for a compensation fee, he appears to be an ideal signing to perfectly replace Cerny with a similar type of player on the right flank.

Goldson 2.0: Rangers initiate talks to sign Propper upgrade for Martin

Could Rangers sign the next Connor Goldson by snapping up a “highly intelligent” centre-back?

Jun 15, 2025

With Jaka Bijol signed and delivered, the 49ers have now reportedly turned their attention towards a fresh Leeds United move to sign a Bundesliga left-back.

Jaka Bijol "ready for the Premier League"

Welcoming their second signing of the summer for around £19m, Leeds officially unveiled Bijol earlier this week. The defender arrived from Udinese, signing a contract until 2023, and will be hoping to make an instant impact on Daniel Farke’s side as they return to the Premier League in August.

After putting pen to paper, Bijol told the club’s official website: “This is a big day for me, for my family and I’m happy to be here. Maybe the biggest one of my career so far, but I’m ready for it.

“I work for it and that’s why I’m here, because it’s a big challenge for everyone. It’s a big challenge for me, for the club, and we’re getting ready for it together. I think the club and myself are ready for the Premier League.

“I can promise that I will give everything, that I will give everything in every training as well to be ready for the first game of the season and then just go from there.”

Nmecha upgrade: Leeds make contact to sign a star who "bullied" Van Dijk

Leeds are reportedly eyeing up a star who would come in as an immediate upgrade on Lukas Nmecha.

1 ByDan Emery Jun 25, 2025

Even after Bijol and Lukas Nmecha, the 49ers have still reportedly got plenty of business planned. Names such as Nikola Krstovic have found themselves in the headlines as of late and reports have even gone as far as to suggest that Leeds have now got an agreement in place to sign the Serie A forward.

Meanwhile, those at Elland Road have now reportedly turned their focus towards a Bundesliga left-back who could replace the departing Junior Firpo this summer.

Leeds now targeting Lukas Ullrich

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, the 49ers and Leeds are now targeting a summer swoop to sign Lukas Ullrich from Borussia Monchengladbach. The left-back has been part of Germany’s side at the U21 Euros this summer and has seemingly impressed enough to find himself on the Whites’ radar.

Whilst those at Elland Road face reported competition for Ullrich’s signature from Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton, the fact that the German is represented by the same agency as Bijol may hand Leeds an advantage in personal negotiations.

Ullrich is certainly a talent worth the battle too following a breakout season in the Bundesliga which earned the praise of Gladbach boss Geraldo Seoane, who told reporters: “You can see that he’s got pace going forward and that he has a very good mentality. He’s confident, he’s active and he makes runs in behind. He brings a lot to the table playing as an attacking left-back”

Minutes

1,903

2,616

Assists

2

10

Tackles Won per 90

0.76

1.17

Ball Recoveries per 90

3.46

3.92

Whilst the numbers show that Ullrich still has a way to go before he reaches Firpo’s level, Leeds would be investing in a 21-year-old whose potential is undeniable.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are pressing on in their hunt for additions and are now advancing as they aim to bolster the forward ranks, according to a report.

Fer Lopez became the Old Gold’s first arrival of the summer window, and Jorgen Strand Larsen has since joined him at Wolves permanently after an excellent loan spell at Molineux.

After putting up a tally of 14 goals and five assists in the Black Country, the Norway international is now fully focused on improving on his exploits next term under Vitor Pereira.

He stated: “It’s been a good first season in the Premier League. I’m proud of what I’ve done. I’ve been able to take the steps earlier than I’ve done before. Previously, when I moved to a new country, I needed more time to get into it and score goals.

“As a striker, the team need you to score the goals and be on the end of the crosses, so to score 14 goals – and come back after my injuries and a little dip of form – it was a good season for me in that respect.”

Now prioritising other areas, Wolves are interested in Udinese defender Thomas Kristensen again after making a £12 million bid for the Dane during the January transfer window.

Wolves now closing in on deal to sign £4m+ colossus who "wants" PL move

The Old Gold have made progress in their pursuit of a “highly-rated” player, who is keen on a move to the Premier League.

ByDominic Lund Jul 2, 2025

Another potential solution at the back for the Old Gold is Brighton & Hove Albion star Igor Julio, albeit it remains to be seen whether the Seagulls will entertain selling to a Premier League rival.

However, despite Strand Larsen deciding to extend his stay, Wolves are now keen to land another centre-forward to star in the new campaign.

Wolves make approach for El Bilal Toure

According to Africa Foot, Wolves have made an approach to sign El Bilal Toure from Atalanta, though the 23 year-old is also wanted by Marseille, Stade Rennais, Paris FC, Como, Villarreal, Galatasaray and West Ham United.

In an injury-ridden campaign on loan at Stuttgart, the Mali international, who was previously labelled a “major talent” by Graeme Bailey, registered three goals and one assist in 17 appearances across all competitions, exactly mirroring his debut season for Atalanta in 2023/24.

Five similar players to El Bilal Toure (FBRef)

Mateo Retegui

Atalanta

Marcus Thuram

Inter Milan

Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea

Jonathan David

Juventus (to be finalised)

Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid

Nothing has been determined as yet, but the Serie A outfit are set to decide on Bilal Toure’s next move sooner rather than later as he isn’t expected to be a major part of Ivan Juric’s plans in 2025/26.

Wolves are a little short on forward options after Matheus Cunha’s departure. Besides, there is a suspicion the likes of Hwang Hee-chan, Fabio Silva and Sasa Kalajdzic could leave Molineux this summer due to their status as peripheral figures.

Bilal Toure has endured mixed fortunes since arriving in Italy. Nevertheless, a move to the Premier League could be the perfect tonic to get his career back on track.

Tottenham Hotspur are a side that have fallen below the expectations set for them in the Premier League in recent years, as seen by their standings last campaign.

The Lilywhites ended the year in a measly 17th position, only one place above the relegation zone and becoming the first side to survive in the division after losing 22 matches.

As a result, Ange Postecoglou lost his job, with Thomas Frank the man tasked with building on their European triumph and transforming their league form.

The Dane has already wasted no time in the role in North London, targeting countless players who could help improve the current situation at the club.

Whilst no first team additions have yet been agreed, work has been conducted behind the scenes, in an attempt to catapult the side to added success in 2025/26.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Mohammed Kudus has been a player firmly on their radar in recent days, even making a £50m offer for the West Ham United star, but the offer was swiftly rejected.

The Ghanaian was said to be wanting a move to join Frank’s men this window and The Athletic’s David Ornstein has since revealed that a £55m total agreement has now been struck for the 24-year-old.

However, despite the interest in the former Ajax star, moves have been made elsewhere, with Southampton star Tyler Dibling once again in their sights, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

He claims that the Lilywhites have made an approach for the 19-year-old star, despite suffering relegation back to the Championship with the Saints last season.

He also claims that Nottingham Forest and West Ham are other teams keeping tabs on the teenage star, who could be available for around £55m this summer.

Why Spurs’ £55m target could be a bigger talent than Kudus

Over the last couple of months, Spurs have showcased the attacking threat they possess, registering 64 goals in their 38 league outings last season.

Brennan Johnson ended the year as the club’s top scorer, notching 18 goals across all competitions, including in the Europa League final, subsequently ending the club’s 17-year drought.

Other players such as Dominic Solanke and James Maddison also managed to achieve double figures, highlighting the strength in depth currently at Frank’s disposal.

However, such depth clearly isn’t enough, especially considering the rumours around moves for Kudus and Dibling over the last couple of weeks.

Both would represent impressive options for the Dane, but given the nature of the fees touted for each player’s signature, it is crucial they land the right one during the off-season.

When comparing their respective stats from the Premier League last time out, the Saints’ youngster managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, despite the relegation – highlighting why he’d be a better addition.

Dibling, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Ivan Juric, managed to register a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate, whilst matching the Hammers star for goals per shot on target – showcasing the clinical edge he possesses.

Games played

33

32

Goals & assists

2

8

Shot on target accuracy

32%

28%

Goal per shot on target

0.2

0.2

Progressive passes

3.1

2.7

Passes into final third

1.9

1.6

Carries into final third

2.4

2

Fouls won

2.4

2.2

He also managed to register more progressive passes per 90, and more passes into the final third, subsequently having the tools to provide some of the aforementioned talents with added opportunities in front of goal.

The teenager’s dominance doesn’t end there, producing a higher tally of carries into the final third, whilst also drawing more fouls – showcasing the threat he poses to the opposition at any given time.

Whilst £55m may appear to be a huge risk for such a young talent, he’s already showcased he can thrive despite featuring for a side who fell well below the expectations set in 2024/25.

There’s no denying that Kudus would also represent an excellent pickup, but ultimately, Dibling has already outperformed him and has the tools to rapidly develop further, given his tender age.

Spurs eyeing "immense" £40m Kudus alternative who'd be their own Rodrygo

Spurs are looking at a £40m alternative to Kudus.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 9, 2025

Will yet another summer spending spree at Chelsea continue?

Already this window, the Blues have spent in excess of £220m to recruit eight new players, including Estêvão Willian, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, João Pedro and others.

Now though, the newly-crowned Club World Cup champions have their eye on a Premier League superstar.

Chelsea's search for more attackers

Of the new recruits mentioned above, suffice it to say that Pedro has made the biggest immediate impression.

On his full debut, having been on a beach in Brazil just a matter of days earlier, the striker scored two absolute thunderbolts against former side Fluminense in the Club World Cup semi-finals, before adding the third during the 3-0 final demolition of PSG a few days later.

Ahmed Walid of the Athletic outlines how he has made an immediate impact, despite extremely ‘limited training time with the squad’, suggesting the Blues would not have won the competition without him.

Nevertheless, Chelsea could now sign an even bigger Premier League star for even more than the £60m paid to secure Pedro’s services.

That’s because, according to a report by Mark Brus of Caught Offside, Chelsea have been in contact with Eberechi Eze’s representatives over a potential move, as they enter talks over a potential move for the attacking midfielder.

Ed Aarons of the Guardian has previously documented Arsenal and Tottenham’s interest in the England international, noting that his contract contains a £67.5m release clause, with Palace ‘adamant’ that he will only be allowed to leave if that price point is met.

The Gunners have appeared to be the front-runners to sign Eze, but could Chelsea usurp their fierce London rivals, just as they did to infamously sign Mykhailo Mudryk for a reported fee of £88.7m back in January 2023?

How Eberechi Eze would improve Chelsea

Eze scored 14 goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions last season, most notably bagging the winner in the FA Cup Final as Crystal Palace upset the odds to defeat Manchester City at Wembley in May.

His performances warranted rave reviews, with Statman Dave labelling him a “gifted player”, while Simon Collings of the Evening Standard praised his ‘ability to play off the cuff and create something out of nothing’, adding that supporters are instantaneously enamoured by his ‘flamboyant playing style’.

Meanwhile, Sam Tabuteau of Breaking the Lines notes that he is ‘thriving as the talisman’ at Selhurst Park, believing now is the right time for the 27-year-old to make the next step in his career.

So, how did he compare to Chelsea’s most recent, big-money intra-Premier League signing, Pedro?

Appearances

43

30

Minutes

3,303

2,136

Goals

14

10

Assists

11

7

All statistics below are per-90 and PL only:

Shots

2.2

1.6

Shots on target

1.1

1

Chances created

2

1.3

Take-ons completed

2.4

1.4

Take-on success %

51.9%

38.2%

Touches

54.9

48.8

Average Sofascore rating

7.28

7.15

As the table outlines, Eze comes out on top for every single attacking metric included, both in terms of overall and on a per 90 basis.

In fact, only four players attempted more take-ons than Eze in the league last season, while also ranking sixth for shot-creating actions, both according to FBref.com.

Pedro played around 500 fewer minutes in the Premier League, mainly due to the fact that he didn’t feature in any of Brighton’s final five matches to conclude the campaign, first sent off against Brentford, subsequently serving a three-match suspension, before being exiled following a ‘training ground altercation’ with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.

No such concerns surrounding Eze, who is a truly majestic player to watch, and would be a serious statement signing for Chelsea, even if they already boast plenty of options in attacking areas, as he could be even better than Pedro.

Their own Mbeumo: Chelsea in talks for "one of the best 10s in the world"

The international ace would be unreal for Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 18, 2025

Liverpool came into their pre-season clash with Milan full of optimism.

They’ve arguably had the best transfer window of any team this summer, namely signing Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.

Arne Slot’s team looks set to pack a firmer punch even than they did during their Premier League-winning campaign and things could get even better.

Indeed, the Reds are favourites to land Alexander Isak after the Swede made the hierarchy at Newcastle know that he’d like to explore an exit this summer.

That positivity, however, was not enough to carry them to a win over Milan who defeated Slot’s side 4-2.

Work to do then, largely at the back where options look sparse centrally for Liverpool. Still, they seem intent to taking steps to add more to the forward line.

Who could replace Nunez and Diaz at Liverpool

Any moves Liverpool complete between now and the end of the summer are likely to depend on what happens to Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.

It’s largely been expected that the former takes his leave but where he ends up feels a little uncertain right now. As for Diaz, his future will be in Munich with Bayern having agreed to sign the Colombian winger for a fee of around £65m.

Should Nunez leave alongside Diaz, then the Reds could turn their attention to a record-breaking bid for Isak.

Yet, with Ekitike already through the door, signing an out-and-out replacement for Diaz would make a great deal more sense.

That’s where Liverpool’s wide options come into the equation. Another Toon star in the form of Anthony Gordon has been linked but that feels unlikely.

What’s more likely is concluding a deal for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo. That’s according to reports in Spain.

Reports a few weeks ago noted that Liverpool had begun talks to sign the Brazilian and now they are said to be leading the race to sign him.

It’s alleged that Arsenal are now out of the race for the Madrid star, making the Reds firm favourites. That being said, they will have to sell in order to find a move for a player being valued at around £87m.

That’s certainly a lot of money, but for a player compared to Wirtz, it’s easy to see why they’ve cast their eyes in the direction of the 24-year-old.

How Rodrygo compares to Florian Wirtz

Described as the “best midfielder in the world” by former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes, it was some coup to get Wirtz to Anfield this summer.

Many think the classic number 10 has died out but in Wirtz, you sense Liverpool have signed the heir to Kevin De Bruyne’s throne.

He’s a creative machine, having assisted 15 goals last season, but he’s also more than competent in front of goal, netting 16 times in all competitions.

Not just capable of playing through the middle, Wirtz has also found a home in wide areas, just like Rodrygo.

The Brazilian isn’t much of a number 10, however, like Wirtz, he’s played as a false 9 and out wide. His statistical data is also very similar.

Indeed, according to FBref, the German is the seventh-most similar attacking midfielder and winger to Rodrygo in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year. Here’s why.

Goals

0.28

0.38

Assists

0.23

0.46

Shots

2.52

2.84

Pass success %

85.9%

78.3%

Shot-creating actions

4.95

5.66

Key passes

2.29

2.18

Progressive passes

5.05

6.74

Successful take-ons

2.29

3.14

Progressive carries

5.28

5.02

Progressive passes received

11.8

11.8

While Wirtz’s output is supremely better – Rodrygo scored 14 and assisted 11 in all completions – their data was comparable in other areas.

Looking at the numbers, it was actually the Real winger who bettered Wirtz for key passes per 90 minutes, although only marginally.

In the dribbling department, their ability to manipulate the ball in tight areas and advance beyond the defence is uncanny.

They’re dazzling with possession at their feet, something that’s backed up by the fact that they both average over five progressive carries per 90.

Teammates clearly recognise that too, as they receive an identical number of progressive passes, underlining their ability to be given the ball between the lines where they can impact proceedings in the final third.

While Rodrygo did go 17 games without a goal at one stage in 2024/25, his ability is obvious and if you’re a player earning comparisons to Wirtz, it’s clear you’re a very talented footballer. After all, he is a “world-class superstar” in the words of Luka Modric.

For Liverpool, this would be a great move if Diaz departs.

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Will Manchester City make one more statement signing before the Premier League season begins?

Already this summer, the recently dethroned champions have spent big on five new recruits, with James Trafford, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Sverre Nypan costing, in excess of, £155m combined.

This is on top of the almost £200m Pep Guardiola spent in January to bring Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, Juma Bah and Vitor Reis to the Etihad as recently as January.

Now though, with the Citizens’ one and only pre-season friendly coming up against Palermo, another club owned by the City Football Group, at Stadio Renzo Barbera on Saturday night, will they make the third-most expensive signing in club history, behind only Jack Grealish and Joško Gvardiol?

Manchester City targeting a new attacker

Of course, Manchester City do boast the goalbot himself, Erling Braut Håland, but one of their issues last season was that no one else was chipping in with enough goals, as the table below documents.

Erling Braut Håland

4,041

22

34

Phil Foden

2,994

7

13

Jérémy Doku

2,232

3

8

Omar Marmoush

1,700*

7

8

James McAtee

936

3

7

Mateo Kovačić

2,834

6

7

Bernardo Silva

4,171

4

7

*joined in January.

As the table outlines, Håland was the only Man City player to reach double figures in terms of Premier League goals last season.

21 players across the entire division achieved this, with Brighton, Brentford, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bournemouth and Wolves all seeing multiple players do so.

The output of Jérémy Doku in particular has been a disappointment, scoring just 14 goals in 84 appearances for the Sky Blues since arriving from Rennes for a reported fee of £55.5m two summers ago.

Thus, as they target an upgrade, reports in Spain claim that Manchester City are preparing an €100m (around £87m) bid to sign Rafael Leão from AC Milan, noting that he would ‘add an extra dose of explosiveness’ to Guardiola’s forward options.

Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland has previously reported that Leão has “informed” Milan of his desire to leave this summer, following I Rossoneri’s eighth-place finish in Serie A last season, thereby failing to qualify for any European competition.

A few months ago, Bayern Munich were purportedly the front-runners to sign the Portuguese international but, following Luis Díaz’s move to Bavaria, that’s now off the table, so could Leão swap Milan for Manchester?

What Rafael Leão would bring to Manchester City

Now 26 years old, Leão has been highly-rated for many years, moving to Milan from Lille back in 2019, winning the Scudetto in 2020/21, scoring 70 goals and registering 62 assists in 260 appearances for Il Diavolo overall.

Analyst Ben Mattinson asserts that he is a “world-class” game changer, adding that Leão is an “elite forward”, while James Cormack of Sports Illustrated agrees, describing him as a ‘superstar talent’ who is on the cusp of superstardom, noting that he is ‘absolutely electrifying’ when in full flight.

Meantime, Christopher Winter of Total Football Analysis documents how he is ‘equally as effective’ when attacking both out-wide and when drifting inside, able to occupy an entire left-flank by himself.

Aaron Barton of Opta’s the Analyst agrees, labelling him ‘direct, aggressive and skilful’, citing teammate Alexis Saelemaekers, who asserted that Leão “can win the Ballon d’Or”.

So would he represent an upgrade on Doku? Let’s crunch the numbers to find out.

Appearances

97

84

Minutes

7,047

4,403

Goals

27

14

Assists

27

20

Shots on target %

40.5%

35%

Progressive carries per 90

5.24

12

Take on success %

47.7%

52.4%

Goal-creating actions per 90

0.70

0.74

Big chances missed

19

3

Big chances created

37

17

Average SofaScore rating

7.4

7.3

As the table documents, even with the caveat that he has played significantly more minutes across the last two seasons, Leão is clearly more productive than Doku.

The Portuguese winger scored more goals and registered more assists, while a higher proportion of his shots found the target and he created more than twice as many Opta-defined big chances.

Doku remains the progressive carries king, ranked top for this metric across Europe’s top five leagues in both of the last two seasons, according to FBref.com, but with little output.

Thus, if Man City can get Leão on board, even if such a deal would cost a huge amount of money, he could be the man to elevate them back to Premier League supremacy.

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