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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo is aiming to use the 2025 summer transfer window to bolster a squad which secured European qualification last term.

Given how well the club performed throughout 2024/25, Forest have a genuine chance of winning the Conference League.

Santo has shown admiration for plenty of potential targets, including Yunus Musah and Lukas Ullrich, but it appears as though one Serie A star has been linked more than most…

Latest on Nottingham Forest’s interest in Timothy Weah

As was widely reported earlier this month, including via transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio, Forest were believed to be interested in signing Timothy Weah this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Juventus appeared to be demanding just £12m for Weah, should they agree to cash in, which looked to be a solid piece of business by the club.

Last season, the American played 43 times for the Serie A giants, scoring six goals and grabbing five assists in the process.

In the top flight, he recorded an impressive goal conversion percentage of 24%, while also creating four big chances and averaging 0.6 key passes per game.

He played across several positions last year, predominantly on the right flank, a position which the Midlands side are keen to bolster.

After stepping up their pursuit of the one-time Celtic loanee, however, journalist Ben Jacobs revealed on Friday that Forest had actually walked away from any negotiations, despite the deal being “close”, after carrying out “extensive data analysis”.

As such, the City Ground outfit may need to turn their attention elsewhere, with one Brazilian star seemingly on their radar…

Why Nottingham Forest must sign Pepe

As reported by ESPN earlier this week, four Premier League clubs have opened talks to sign Porto winger Pepe this summer.

Forest have been named as one of those clubs, along with Aston Villa, Fulham and Burnley. The fact that Santo led them to Europe indicates that they could potentially be one of the frontrunners.

A fee of £21m has been set, which is more than affordable for the Midlands side, no doubt about that.

While Weah may be the cheaper option, Pepe is certainly the bigger talent. Last season, the Brazilian dynamo registered an impressive total of 11 goal contributions across all competitions.

When comparing the pair via their domestic stats last term, it becomes clear who enjoyed the more productive campaign. Indeed, Pepe not only recorded more shots per 90 (1.36 vs 1.15), but he also registered more shot-creating actions (2.71 vs 1.98), goal-creating actions (0.36 vs 0.16) and more touches in the opposition penalty area (79 vs 35), showcasing his superiority in these metrics.

South American football expert Tim Vickery lauded the winger when he was linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur a couple of seasons ago, saying:

“I certainly remember him as a winger with Gremio, little mosquito kind of winger, who can do either flank.”

His ability to play on either wing could also come in handy, giving Santo some added flexibility, especially if injuries start to play their part.

It is clear that the manager wants to bring those to Forest who have proven ability on the biggest stages. Having scored in the Champions League, Copa Libertadores and Europa League, as well as gaining two caps for Brazil, Pepe would be an excellent signing.

Nottingham Forest join race for one of the rising stars of U21 Euros

Anderson already knows all about his quality…

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 26, 2025

Newcastle United will be looking to recruit well this summer to give themselves the best chance of a strong 2025/26 campaign. The Magpies will be in the Champions League once again and will no doubt be hoping to turn themselves into top-four regulars in the Premier League.

One area in which Eddie Howe’s side might look to improve this summer is at centre-back. Just like they were in 2024, Newcastle have been linked with Marc Guehi, but Football Insider report they will face competition from Arsenal.

Either way, Howe seems intent on strengthening the existing centre-back options, which include the likes of Dan Burn and Fabian Schar. Another target has recently come to fruition, for whom the Magpies could make a move.

Newcastle's latest centre-back target

It will be fascinating to see, not only whether Newcastle are successful in their pursuit of Guehi, but also whether he is the only centre-back who will sign this summer. They have certainly been linked with multiple players, and could make a move for another Premier League defender.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from 3 Added Minutes, the North East giants have opened talks to sign Brighton and Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

The report from Charlie Haffenden explains that Newcastle have ‘initiated talks with the player’s representatives’ ahead of a potential summer move.

Those at St James’ Park have ‘been keeping tabs on van Hecke’ this summer, but could still face competition from newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool.

As for a price, it was reported by Sussex World that the Dutchman ‘has a transfer guide price’ of at least £60m, but it could well be more.

Why Van Hecke would be a good signing

At 25 years of age, Van Hecke is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting centre-backs in the Premier League. This is perhaps highlighted best by the fact that he is a full international with the Netherlands.

Last season on the South Coast for Brighton, Van Hecke played a crucial role. He featured 34 times in the Premier League, missing three games due to a couple of separate, small injury issues and another with suspension.

As well as grabbing a goal and assist last term, he helped Fabian Hurzeler’s side keep eight clean sheets in the Premier League, featuring for all but one of those games across all 90 minutes. He is a pivotal figure at the back and could perhaps now be considered the leader of the backline at the AMEX Stadium.

If the Magpies were to sign Van Hecke this summer, he could act as a direct replacement, and an upgrade, for Blyth-born centre-back Burn. The England international is a well-loved figure at St James’ Park, but is now 33 years of age.

With that being said, the defender, who also moved to St James’ Park from Brighton, played in 37 games in the Premier League last season. He also scored a pivotal second goal in the Carabao Cup final.

However, to preserve his future in a Magpies shirt, and add an upgrade at the back ahead of the Champions League and top four push, signing Van Hecke would certainly be a smart move. He was described as an “outstanding” player by Pete Davey, a Newcastle content creator.

Indeed, that is a word that can be used to describe Van Hecke’s underlying stats on FBref, which are far better than Burn’s. The Dutchman is a superb progressive passer, which is his standout attribute.

Last season in the Premier League, he averaged 6.93 progressive passes and 3.98 ball recoveries per 90 minutes. In comparison, Newcastle’s number 33 averaged 2.03 progressive passes and 2.78 ball recoveries each game.

As the numbers showcase, Van Hecke would be a huge upgrade on Burn for a number of reasons. Not only is he a sensational passer of the ball, but defensively, he has very few weaknesses, particularly with the way he reads the game.

Burn is an icon of Newcastle United, but is not getting any younger, and the chance to improve their defence by signing Van Hecke might be too good to pass up for Howe.

Schar upgrade: Newcastle among favourites to sign "unbelievable" £40m star

Newcastle will be looking to improve their defence this summer

By
Ross Kilvington

Jun 16, 2025

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin is set to bring a new style of play to Ibrox when his team takes to the field for the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

The former Scotland international plays a ball-dominant style that will see the Gers look to dominate possession and break teams down next term.

In order to build a squad that is suited to the way that the former Southampton manager wants to play, though, there will be players who have to move on in order to make way for new recruits.

One player who looks set to be on his way out of Ibrox is centre-back Robin Propper, as it was recently reported in his home country that he has agreed a deal to return to FC Twente on a three-year contract.

The Rangers Review also recently claimed that the Dutch giant is ‘expected’ to leave the club, amid interest in Leicester City central defender Conor Coady, who could come in as his replacement.

Why selling Robin Propper is a good move by Rangers

This proposed move back to FC Twente is a good move by Rangers and a good move for the defender because he did not settle in well at Ibrox on the pitch.

Propper did not do enough in his performances to show that he was ready for the physicality of the Scottish Premiership, which was a clear problem early on in his career in Glasgow.

In December 2024, the centre-back lost 100% (2/2) of his duels and was substituted at half-time against St. Johnstone, which led to him being criticised by former Gers midfielder Derek Ferguson.

The BBC Sportsound pundit said: “Propper is struggling. He’s been pretty vocal over the last couple of weeks that he’s finding it tough in our league. He’s been asked the question early on. It’s quite worrying when you see him struggling as bad as that. Look at the body language – he’s looking for a way out already.”

As you can see in the table above, the 31-year-old centre-back also struggled with the physicality of European football in the Europa League, as he lost the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air.

These statistics and the criticism of his play in the Premiership illustrate exactly why the decision to allow him to move back to the Netherlands is a good one for all parties involved.

Propper may not be the only first-team player to move on from Ibrox before the Martin era officially gets underway on the pitch, though, as another dud is attracting interest from elsewhere.

Five teams eyeing deal for Rangers forward

According to the Daily Record, a number of teams are showing an interest in Rangers winger Ross McCausland during the summer transfer window.

The report claims that FC Cincinnati, Plymouth Argyle, Cardiff City, Basel, and OH Leuven are all eyeing up a potential swoop for the Northern Ireland international.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that they are all keeping tabs on his situation at Ibrox heading into the summer, which shows that there is plenty of interest from clubs across the globe and in the UK.

The Daily Record adds that McCausland is keen to remain at Rangers and would like to be a part of Martin’s project, but that the Scottish head coach could be willing to listen to offers for the academy graduate.

It reveals that the former Norwich City centre-back is still assessing the squad and that no final decisions have been made either, which means that the attacker’s future is still up in the air.

However, Rangers must take advantage of the level of interest in McCauland, with five teams eyeing him up, and cash in on him this summer.

Why selling McCausland is as important as Propper

As aforementioned, it is a good call to sell Propper because he did not deliver on the pitch and the Light Blues need more strength and quality in that area of the park to be successful under Martin next season.

Since making the breakthrough as a first-team regular under Philippe Clement in 2023, McCausland has failed to prove that he is good enough to be a key player for the Scottish giants moving forward.

The 21-year-old attacker has shown some promise at times, including scoring his first goal for the club in the Europa League in the clip above, but has not delivered consistently enough in the final third.

To date, McCausland has scored three goals and provided six assists in 44 appearances in the Premiership, and racked up seven goals and seven assists in 66 games in all competitions for the first-team.

As you can see in the table above, the Northern Irish dud ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single goal to show for his efforts in the league, whilst he had as many red cards as goal contributions.

McCausland was once described as an “explosive” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, but he has failed to kick on since exploding onto the first-team scene at Ibrox. The winger has gone from an exciting young talent to just another one of the players, like Propper, who needs to be replaced.

Put simply, the Gers academy graduate does not offer enough in front of goal to be a key attacking figure for Martin moving forward, as shown by his lack of end product in the Premiership in particular, which is why it is as important to sell him as it is to sell Propper.

This could provide the new Rangers manager with a chance to replace him with another winger in the summer transfer window, with the hope that any new recruit could come in to offer more goals and assists to win vital points for the team moving forward.

The new Lundstram: Martin wants to make £18m star his first Rangers signing

As Russell Martin starts his overhaul of Rangers’ squad, could he sign a “class” midfielder in a deal reminiscent of John Lundstram’s move to Ibrox?

By
Ben Gray

Jun 8, 2025

It is now down to Kevin Thelwell and Martin, though, to field offers and work with the interested parties to find the best solution for all parties involved.

Nottingham Forest have now made an approach to sign a Champions League “gladiator” for free, according to a recent report.

Ins and outs expected as Forest prepare for Europe

The first part of the summer transfer window has just closed, but that doesn’t mean clubs are not actively working on transfers in time for when the window reopens again on Monday June 16. Forest are expected to be very busy this summer, as they prepare for European football and look to continue their fine 2024/25 form into the new campaign.

Nottingham Forest ready to sign £40m+ star who wants Premier League return

The Tricky Trees could land a midfielder with international pedigree.

2

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 6, 2025

Already the Reds have agreed to let one player leave the City Ground, as Fabrizio Romano has reported that Lyon have reached an agreement with Forest to sign goalkeeper Matt Turner. The French side are willing to pay €8 million, which is roughly £6.7 million.

He may not be the only exit on the cards, as it’s been reported that Newcastle United have made contact with Forest over signing Anthony Elanga. The Magpies tried to sign the Sweden international last summer but failed, and they are now looking to wrap up a deal 12 months on.

The Reds are of course also working on incomings, and while they work on a potential deal for midfielder Douglas Luiz, they are also keeping an eye on Lucas Cepeda from Chilean top flight side Colo-Colo. The winger is said to have a release clause of just £4 million and is interested in making the step up to a major European League.

Nottingham Forest submit offer for Reinildo

Forest just announced their retained list this week and revealed Harry Toffolo would be leaving following the expiration of his contract. It now appears as though the club have already found his potential replacement, as according to reporter Ben Jacobs, Forest have submitted an offer to sign left-back Reinildo on a free transfer.

The 31-year-old currently plays for Spanish giants Atlético Madrid and has done so since January 2022. The defender’s contract has been extended to the beginning of August, so he can participate in the Club World Cup for Atlético. But after that, he looks set to leave the club, and as well as Forest, Sunderland and Leeds have made approaches over a potential deal, as well as teams from Saudi Arabia.

The 49-cap Mozambique captain, who has been dubbed a “true gladiator” by scout Jacek Kulig, has struggled to be a regular in Madrid. He finished the 2024/25 campaign having played 29 games in all competitions, 19 of which came in La Liga, regularly from the substitutes’ bench.

With Toffolo leaving and Alex Moreno returning to Aston Villa, it means Forest don’t have a recognised natural left-back in their squad, and therefore, there may be some urgency in beating the likes of Leeds and Sunderland to the signature of Reinildo, especially given his experience in European football.

Rangers’ hierarchy have got plenty of work to do this summer at Ibrox, and not a whole lot of time in which to do it.

The club are still searching for a new manager while, following a trophyless campaign, a mass-squad overhaul at Rangers is required.

Well, they need to act fast, because next season will commence early for the Gers, facing off in a Champions League qualifier on 22/23 July; the identity of their opponents will be confirmed on 18 June.

So, could the Light Blues be poised to make a statement signing?

Rangers targeting a new attacker

According to a report by Ola Gustavsson of Fotboll Direkt, Rangers are ‘interested’ in signing Oskar Fallenius, who is also reportedly a target for fierce rivals Celtic.

Transfer Focus

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

He is a 23-year-old winger who plays for Allsvenskan side Djurgardens, a key figure in the Blue Stripes’ side that reached this season’s Conference League semi-finals, ousted by eventual winners Chelsea.

Freddie Arnesson of TuttoSvenskan labels Fallenius’ performances ‘incredible’, but it is difficult to know his valuation, although, having arrived from Brøndby for just two million kronor, around £155k, two years ago, Djurgardens are likely to enjoy a massive return on investment.

So, could the attack soon be swapping Stockholm for Glasgow?

Why Fallenius would be a great Cerny replacement

Following the end of the Premiership season, Rangers announced that Vaclav Cerny will return to his parent club Wolfsburg, with David Irvine of the National inferring that he will not be returning, even though the Czechia has previously stated “every opportunity is still open”.

Well now, some reports now suggest that Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor have “opened talks” with Wolfsburg over a potential £9m move for Cerny, thereby surely pricing Rangers out of any potential deal.

This would be a major blow, with the table below underlining how important the winger was to Rangers last season.

Only Cyriel Dessers scored more goals for Rangers throughout the campaign, while Cerny’s tally of six Europa League goals was only eclipsed by Bruno Fernandes, Kasper Høgh and Ayoub El Kaabi across the entire tournament.

So, as it seems he will not be returning to Ibrox, would Fallenius be equipped to be his replacement?

Well, prior to Djurgardens’ extra time victory over Rapid Wien in the Conference League quarter-finals, manager Jani Honkavaara told Fallenius to be “the X-factor”, with Marcus Christenson of the Guardian adding that he is one of the Swedish club’s ‘key’ attackers.

So, how do his statistics compare to those of Cerny?

As the table outlines, Cerny’s statistics are, unsurprisingly, more impressive, albeit Fallenius’ numbers are largely comparable, coming out on top when it comes to both passing and shooting accuracy while he also more than does his job defensively, winning more duels and averaging a similar number of ball recoveries.

Thus, while it is going to be nigh on impossible for Rangers to find someone out there replicating Cerny’s output, the young Swede could be a low-cost, high-potential option.

Better than Martin: Rangers in contact to hire "amazing" 4-3-3 manager

Rangers could land an even better manager than Martin in a move for this reported target.

By
Dan Emery

May 28, 2025

Celtic ended the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw against St Mirren at Parkhead, having already clinched the title at the end of last month.

Jonah Ayunga’s goal gave the away side a shock lead at the start of the second half, but James Forrest stepped up in stoppage time to score a league goal for the Hoops for the 16th consecutive season – an extraordinary achievement.

As you can see in the clip above, central defender Liam Scales failed to get good distance on his headed clearance, which teed up Ayunga to rifle the ball into the back of the net.

Liam Scales' performance against St Mirren in numbers

The left-footed defender came into the side to replace Auston Trusty next to Cameron Carter-Vickers, with a chance to catch the eye ahead of the cup final.

Whilst he may not be happy with the goal that Celtic conceded and his part in it, Scales did a lot of good work in the match to keep the away side at bay.

The central defender ended the 90 minutes with eight clearances, four interceptions, and eight duels won, including seven out of 11 aerial battles won, which shows that he made a number of key defensive interventions.

Chalkboard

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

Meanwhile, central midfielder Paulo Bernardo was even worse than Scales and should be dropped by Brendan Rodgers for the SFA Cup final clash with Aberdeen next weekend.

Why Paulo Bernardo should be dropped

The Portuguese midfielder was given another chance to impress in the middle of the park ahead of the cup final, as Reo Hatate has been ruled out through injury.

There is a vacancy in the midfield next to Callum McGregor and Arne Engels, due to the Japanese star’s absence, and it should be Luke McCowan who is given the nod, not Bernardo.

In the clash with St Mirren, the former Benfica starlet lost 67% (4/6) of his duels and failed to create a single chance for his teammates in 54 minutes on the pitch.

This shows that he struggled in and out of possession for the Hoops and was even worse than Scales, who at least made numerous defensive interventions and completed 94% of his attempted passes.

As you can see in the table above, in the two matches since Hatate suffered his knee injury, McCowan has provided far more quality in possession from a midfield position in comparison to Bernardo.

These statistics suggest that the former Dundee man is more likely to make a big impact from the start at Hampden Park against Aberdeen next weekend, given his recent form in front of goal.

Therefore, Rodgers must take Bernardo out of the starting XI to bring the Scottish dynamo back into the side when the team takes to the field with the ambition of winning the treble.

Rodgers can sign Jota 2.0 in Celtic move for star who could be worth £30m

Celtic could find their next version of Jota by swooping to sign this star this summer.

1

By
Dan Emery

May 17, 2025

Sunday’s defeat to West Ham United proved yet another Premier League outing in which Manchester United failed to get on the scoresheet, with that 2-0 loss marking the 14th time that the Red Devils haven’t scored in a top-flight game this season.

A key crux of the issue is the woes of leading number nine, Rasmus Hojlund, with last term’s top scorer in all competitions having netted just four league goals thus far, while boasting just ten in total across all fronts.

At the weekend, the struggling Dane inexplicably failed to convert from point-blank range, having been denied by the sprawling Alphonse Areola, with the former Atalanta man unable to prove that he can be a 20-goal-a-season striker for an elite club.

That said, there remains the lack of service that the 22-year-old is being provided with, having actually only missed six ‘big chances’ in the league in 2024/25. For context, Ollie Watkins leads the way in the division with 26 big chances missed, albeit while having scored on 16 occasions.

A man who also ranks 180th in the league for shots per 90, at an average of just 1.52, Hojlund simply isn’t being given the chances. Nor, however, is he able to fashion them for himself.

Either way, after two years in Manchester, the £64m signing just isn’t cutting it. A new centre-forward has to be the priority this summer.

Latest on Man Utd's striker search

After signing Hojlund and £36.5m man, Joshua Zirkzee, across the last two summers, the Red Devils will once again head into a transfer window seeking a new striker, with a reunion with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres having been mooted for Ruben Amorim.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, the Old Trafford side have reportedly shown an interest in RB Leipzig starlet, Benjamin Sesko, as well as exiled Napoli ace, Victor Osimhen, albeit with competition likely to be rife for that trio.

The same could also be said of a man who appears to be United’s leading target at present, in the form of Ipswich Town talisman, Liam Delap, with journalist Ben Jacobs suggesting that Amorim and co are “optimistic” of winning the race for his signature, should they win the Europa League.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, Jacobs goes on to note that United and rivals Chelsea are the two clubs currently leading the race for the 22-year-old, with those at Old Trafford said to have already made a “strong pitch” to the Englishman.

Available for just £30m, amid the presence of a relegation clause in his Portman Road contract, the suggestion is that INEOS have the means to be able to sign Delap as well as Matheus Cunha, thus providing two ready-made, Premier League options.

While there may be doubts over whether Delap is simply just another Hojlund, as a young, relatively unproven addition, perhaps United should look to the past for reason for encouragement.

Why Man Utd could be set to repeat Carlos Tevez success

Amid the names being circulated at present, such as Gyokeres and Osimhen, it would be underwhelming in a sense to end up with Delap, a player who only scored eight goals in the Championship last season for Hull City.

Even this term, the England U21 international has chipped in with a respectable, albeit unspectacular return of 12 league goals for the Tractor Boys, having been unable to steer Kieran McKenna’s side to safety.

And yet, the case of a certain Carlos Tevez could offer a sense of optimism for those of a United persuasion, with the Argentine maverick – who was just 23 at the time – having also been plucked from a struggling side back in 2007, following what was also his first season at Premier League level.

Equally, it wasn’t as if the now-retired star had actually ripped it up throughout that 2006/07 campaign for West Ham United, having ended the season with just seven league goals, after only breaking his duck for the Hammers in early March.

Signed on an initial two-year loan deal by Sir Alex Ferguson that summer, Tevez – who scored against United on the final day to keep the Irons in the division – went on to form part of a devastating frontline alongside Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo over the next two years, with the trio notably steering the club to Champions League glory in 2008.

In all, the former Boca Juniors man would score 34 goals in 99 games under Ferguson’s watch, prior to his controversial exit to Manchester City in 2009, having particularly stood out due to his relentless work ethic. As Ferguson noted, he was “like a terrier” in his pomp when leading the line.

While a far more imposing presence at 6 foot 1, Delap does also boast that workman-like, all-action approach as a centre-forward, having been lauded as a “wrecking ball” by Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones.

Also dubbed a “huge talent” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the former Manchester City asset appears to relish the battle at the top end of the pitch, having repeatedly tussled with Harry Maguire during United’s 3-2 win over Ipswich earlier this year.

Of course, the young Tevez walked into a side that already contained world-class talents, while Delap, by contrast, would be expected to take on a leading role in Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up.

That said, for the Englishman to have impressed as part of a struggling outfit, much like Tevez did at West Ham, does bode well for the impact he can make in Manchester, not least having already been tested against Premier League opposition.

Whether or not the promising striker does end up at Old Trafford, this is a decision that Amorim and co simply can’t afford to get wrong.

Woodward sold Man Utd's 'big disappointment', now he's outperforming Cunha

Man Utd have sold one high profile star who’s actually now outshining Matheus Cunha

By
Robbie Walls

May 13, 2025

The race to finish inside those coveted Champions League spots in the Premier League is heating up with Chelsea having to make sure the wins keep flowing to stay put.

Chelsea do have a potential Conference League final on the horizon, but the main focus for the Blues this May will centre on ensuring they finish inside those top five spots, even as tense games against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest present themselves as upcoming hurdles.

The Blues will also be aware that a place amongst Europe’s elite again will help them out in the transfer window, with Enzo Maresca’s men looking to splash the cash once more if the rumour mill filtering out of Stamford Bridge is anything to go by.

Chelsea's growing list of targets

This summer won’t just see a whole host of incomings arrive through the door you imagine, with some players in Maresca’s camp also needing to be offloaded, as seen in the growing likelihood that Blues flop Christopher Nkunku will reportedly depart shortly.

New attacking recruits are already being lined up, with Viktor Gyokeres one centre-forward routinely linked with a switch to West London, on top of fresh winger additions in the form of Jamie Gittens.

Transfer Focus

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

But, it’s not all just attackers on Chelsea’s varied shopping list, with Ajax centre-back Jorrel Hato another face that has also been linked incessantly with a move to England away from the Eredivisie giants.

However, with Liverpool and Arsenal also sniffing around for the Dutch powerhouse, this could see the Blues opt to try and snap up long-term target Ousmane Diomande instead.

New reports from Spain indicate that Chelsea are in the running to finally snap up the Sporting titan for a fee around the £68m ballpark with Maresca personally keen on adding him to the Stamford Bridge ranks.

When comparing the 21-year-old’s strengths next to Hato’s, he could well be a dream alternative and even an upgrade on the Rotterdam-born youngster.

Why Diomande is be a dream alternative to Hato

Whilst there is so much hype around Hato’s name as a starlet tipped for big things, Diomande could be just what Chelsea need right now, particularly when it comes to his experience on stages such as the Champions League.

Indeed, this season saw Diomande line up for nine Champions League contests, whilst his Dutch counterpart had to make do with appearances for Ajax in the lesser Europa League.

Moreover, the 6 foot 3 enforcer has proven across 99 games in the Portuguese capital that he has an eye for goal, with six goals – usually powered home via a header – tallied up by the 21-year-old.

Hato does possess a similar reputation of being a young and hungry defender capable of joining in with attacks, but his goal number for Ajax currently sits at a lower four, even from nine more senior outings.

The table above further validates why Chelsea splashing out £68m for Diomande could prove to be a golden buy over snapping up the 19-year-old.

Indeed, the Ivorian betters Hato in multiple different areas of their respective defensive games, including when playing as both a composed passer of the ball, but also when it comes to regularly winning duels and being a full-blooded presence at the back.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has even lauded the Blues target as an “elite talent” previously, with Diomande himself perhaps edging for a chance to impress away from Sporting in a more challenging environment to further back up his glowing praise.

Chelsea have had their fair share of fighters defensively over recent years that can also put in classy displays – with the likes of Thiago Silva and John Terry springing to mind – with a hope that Diomande can also cement himself as a first-team regular if he’s given a shot at Stamford Bridge.

Best signing since Palmer: Chelsea could land a £60m Gyokeres alternative

Chelsea should sign a “clinical” Premier League striker instead of Viktor Gyökeres

By
Ben Gray

May 4, 2025

With promotion to the Premier League sealed, Burnley have reportedly already turned their attention towards the summer transfer window and the signature of a struggling Chelsea ace.

Burnley still fighting for Championship title

Promotion may be sealed for both Burnley and Leeds United but the Championship title is set to go down to the final day with the former desperately hoping for Daniel Farke’s side to slip up. As things stand, the Whites will win the title with 100 points on goal difference if both sides win on the final day of the season – representing the quality that both have shown throughout the majority of the campaign.

After being named the Manager of the Season, Burnley boss Scott Parker told reporters: “I’m really excited and proud of the achievement on an individual level, but of course, I couldn’t do this without a group of people and a group of staff that have supported and been the main driver all season.

“This is a group that has been on a journey this year, which has probably epitomised everything that a team may go through at times. I’ve witnessed the progression of this group as players and human beings to the point where they achieve success.

“We’ve worked hard as coaches, but you need a group of players that can engage. With the defensive record and everything else we have gone through this year, we’re well worthy of being promoted out of this division.”

Burnley want to sign Fulham ace who previously won promotion under Parker

Burnley are now looking to sign a player who has worked with their manager before.

By
Brett Worthington

Apr 24, 2025

Away from their promotion party, meanwhile, the Clarets are already reportedly thinking about Premier League reinforcements, which could yet include a struggling midfielder who’s desperate for a move this summer.

Burnley keen to sign "fantastic" Dewsbury-Hall

According to TeamTalk, Burnley are eager to win the race to sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall this summer, who is free to leave Chelsea after just one season at the club. The former Leicester City star has struggled for game time since arriving at Stamford Bridge and now needs to summer switch if he is to get back to his best.

Whilst his preference is to play European football, Dewsbury-Hall may have little choice but to revive his career outside of the spotlight and under Parker at Burnley next season. It’s there that all parties would benefit if the £80,000-a-week ace returned to his talented best in the middle of the park.

Despite his struggle for game time, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has never had to question his midfielder’s work rate, telling reporters in March: “I am very happy for Kiernan. He is now much better compared to the start of the season, probably because he is understanding his role. He is working very well every day in training, even if he doesn’t get many minutes in the Premier League.

“It’s not easy to work every day with the same intention, but he is working fantastic. He showed how important he can be for us, and hopefully he can be even more important from now on.”

Tottenham Hotspur are now very interested in signing a “sensational” Premier League forward this summer, and they are preparing a €60m (£51m) offer for his services, according to a report.

Spurs planning for the summer transfer window

The 1-0 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night was a stellar effort, with Ange Postecoglou’s side booking their place in the Europa League semi-final, but there is still a great deal of uncertainty lingering over Tottenham as we edge closer to the summer transfer window.

Given Spurs’ very poor Premier League campaign, Postecoglou’s future remains in doubt, and AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been invited for talks over a potential move to north London this summer.

The Lilywhites are also putting plans in place to improve their squad, and there could be a focus on bolstering their attacking options, with Athletic Bilbao attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet recently joining the list of targets, given the Spaniard’s goalscoring exploits.

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Signing a new winger is also on the agenda for Tottenham, and scouts have been left hugely impressed by Strasbourg’s Dilane Bakwa, having recently watched the Frenchman in action.

However, given that Bakwa remains unproven in the Premier League, it could be viewed as a risk to sign the 22-year-old, and Spurs have also set their sights on a winger from much closer to home, namely AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states the Lilywhites and by extension Daniel Levy are now preparing to make a €60m (£51m) offer for Semenyo, having been impressed by the forward’s performances in the Premier League this season.

Bournemouth are open to negotiations over a move, which suggests the door could be open for a deal, should the north Londoners be willing to stump up a sizeable fee.

"Sensational" Semenyo impressing for the Cherries

The Ghanaian made a flying start to the campaign, and he has continued to impress throughout the season, picking up ten goals and six assists in all competitions, most recently scoring the winning goal in his side’s 1-0 victory over Fulham.

Journalist Thierry Nyann lauded the Bournemouth star as “sensational” earlier in the campaign, and he has developed a reputation for scoring some spectacular goals, including a fine effort in his side’s 3-1 victory against Southampton in September.

The only concern about signing the winger will be the fact he is yet to prove himself at the very highest level, but he has shown remarkable signs of development throughout his career, working his way up from League 2 to the Premier League.

At 25-years-old, Semenyo still has time on his side to improve even further, and he could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham this summer.