Chelsea have a huge summer on their hands over the next couple of months to continue the development they’ve made on the pitch throughout 2024/25.

Enzo Maresca has led the Blues to a place within the top five with just two games remaining, sitting in pole position to claim a Champions League position at the first attempt.

The Italian also has the chance to win the Europa Conference League final against Real Betis in a couple of weeks time, adding another European title to the club’s collection.

However, despite their successes over the past few months, investment is still needed in key areas from the hierarchy if the side are to make the jump and compete for the Premier League title again.

One department in particular is desperately in need of added reinforcements, with the manager already wasting no time in pursuing new options this summer.

The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for a new striker

Despite the window not yet being open, Chelsea have already made moves for multiple strikers to bolster their ranks ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Liam Delap, Jonathan David and Benjamin Sesko have all been strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, but the aforementioned trio appear to be behind another player on their list.

Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen has once again emerged as a key target after previously being on their shortlist last summer before his loan move to Galatasaray.

According to FootballTransfers, the Blues are set to enter talks with the 26-year-old’s representatives over a potential move to West London during the off-season.

The report also claims that Osimhen wants a move to join Maresca’s men this summer, with the reported £60m fee not an issue, but his wage demands are the current stumbling block over completing a potential transfer this summer.

Why Chelsea’s £60m target would be a huge upgrade on Jackson

Nicolas Jackson has been Chelsea’s main talisman over the last couple of seasons after joining from
Villarreal, scoring 29 times in his 77 appearances to date.

The Senegalese international has provided key goals in important moments throughout his spell at the club, allowing them to be in their current league standing.

However, he’s often shown moments of head-loss, as seen in the recent outing against Newcastle United, being sent off for an elbow on defender Sven Botman.

He will now miss the remaining games of the 2024/25 campaign, undoubtedly having an impact on Maresca’s chances of securing a top five spot in the next couple of weeks.

Such an incident has once again proven that the hierarchy need to back the manager to hand him another option in forward areas, leading to a move for Napoli star Osimhen.

When comparing the Nigerian’s stats with those of Jackson this campaign, he’s massively outperformed him – highlighting what a sensational addition he would be this summer.

Osimhen, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, has managed to register way more combined goals and assists, along with a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing his threat within the final third.

Games played

28

30

Goals & assists

29

15

Shots taken

5.3

3.1

Shots on target

2.2

1.3

Shot-on-target accuracy

46%

44%

Aerials won

4.2

0.9

Aerial success rate

64%

36%

He’s also managed to register more shots per 90, whilst coming out on top in more of the aerial duels he’s entered – handing Maresca the added all-round threat that he has desperately been craving this season.

Whilst £60m would be another huge sum splashed out by the hierarchy this summer, it’s an investment that’s desperately needed if the club are to make the step back towards Premier League glory in the coming years.

His figures are evidence that he’s a top-level striker, having the skillset to cement his place at the top end of the pitch for Maresca throughout 2025/26.

Such a move may prove to be a blessing for Jackson too, having the opportunity to learn from one of Europe’s most potent attackers – developing into a better star as a result.

He'd be amazing with Palmer: Chelsea hold talks to sign dazzling £48m star

Chelsea are reportedly at the front of the queue to sign a star who would be amazing with Cole Palmer.

ByDan Emery May 13, 2025

Heading into Sunday’s clash at St James’ Park, both Chelsea and Newcastle United found themselves locked on 63 points in the Premier League.

But, come the full-time whistle, the gulf in class between the two Champions League chasing outfits was obvious, with both Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes sharing out the goal-load to hand Eddie Howe’s Toon a richly deserved 2-0 win.

Of course, the Magpies’ quest for a golden three points was undoubtedly helped by Nicolas Jackson receiving a red card deep into the first half, with the ex-Villarreal striker enduring yet another torrid afternoon leading the line for Enzo Maresca’s men.

Jackson's horror show on the road

The 23-year-old does have somewhat of a healthy goal return next to his name this season at 12 strikes overall, but all the main talking points from the clash on Tyneside would centre on his dismissal, away from his hot-and-cold ability to find the net.

Indeed, after planting an elbow into the face of Newcastle defender Sven Botman, the inconsistent Blues attacker would be sent off, meaning he is now suspended until the end of the Premier League season.

There was still 65 minutes of the match left after Jackson’s moment of madness, but the damage had already been done on Chelsea’s end, meaning Newcastle eventually strolled to a 2-0 victory to gain an upper hand to finish inside the coveted top five.

Jackson didn’t even test Nick Pope with a single effort on goal before clashing with the Magpies centre-back, with Maresca now tasked with deciding who to start up top now in the remaining top-flight contests to come ahead of the suspended striker.

Other Chelsea first-teamers could also feel the wrath of the manager’s team selection moving forward, with this fellow underperformer in attack only lasting ten more minutes than Jackson before being hooked.

Chelsea's other big underperformer

Nobody wearing Chelsea blue would come away from the 2-0 defeat with much praise, with Romeo Lavia another who looked out-of-sorts in the midfield department, especially when his casual nature on the ball centrally led to Tonali’s speedy opener.

But, Lavia would at least see out 75 minutes on the St James’ turf, with Noni Madueke half a tactical substitution due to Chelsea being reduced to ten men, and half an alteration made purely out of his ineffectiveness in attack when he lasted just 45 minutes.

Minutes played

45

Touches

16

Accurate passes

8/9 (89%)

Shots

0

Successful dribbles

0/1

Dribbled past

2x

Total duels won

0/4

At times, Madueke was merely a spectator to the constant waves of Newcastle attacks, with the 23-year-old dribbled past more times than he could conjure up successful dribbles himself.

Moreover, the ex-PSV Eindhoven winger could trudge off the pitch at the half-time interval and not return off the back of failing to register a single effort on the home side’s goal, alongside failing to win a single duel from four attempts. In stark contrast, even as Newcastle bossed proceedings, Jacob Murphy would win four duels as a committed warrior for Howe’s hosts.

It could well be time for Maresca to experiment with something fresh down the left channel, therefore, with 19-year-old sensation Tyrique George capable of playing down that flank, alongside an equally hit-and-miss Jadon Sancho.

The Italian will just pray that any changes he does makes to his XI pays off, with the Blues now slipping down the league, whilst Newcastle bask in the glory of third position.

Whenever Chelsea seem to be settling into their groove, another bump seemingly appears in the road, with just two Premier League games now left for the Blues to make any European dreams come true.

The next Cole Palmer: Chelsea in contact to sign "generational" £60m talent

Chelsea are looking to make the new Cole Palmer their first summer signing

ByRoss Kilvington May 10, 2025

Aston Villa must win their remaining two Premier League matches if they are to secure qualification for the Champions League next term.

Depending on other results, it might still not be enough. But if Unai Emery is to continue signing world-class players, playing in the competition is imperative.

It will be a busy summer for the club in the transfer market, with plenty of ins and outs looking likely.

With Ollie Watkins’ future unclear, Villa will be in the hunt for a new striker.

Aston Villa’s chase for a new striker

Watkins has played second fiddle to Marcus Rashford since he arrived on loan in the winter window.

The striker claimed he was “fuming” after playing just 20 minutes against PSG I each of the quarter-final ties. Could this see him leave in the summer? Especially with Arsenal interested.

According to Caught Offside, Villa are showing strong interest in Atlético Madrid centre-forward Alexander Sorloth this summer, as they push to land the former Crystal Palace attacker.

Newcastle United also have the striker in their sights, and surely only a club that will be playing Champions League football next season stands a chance of signing him.

No transfer fee has been mentioned as of yet, as it appears Sorloth isn’t seeking a move away from Spain.

Should Villa submit a bid too good to ignore, however, things could change quickly indeed.

Alexander Sorloth could replace Ollie Watkins

“Ollie Watkins is very fantastic.” Said Emery after Watkins became the club’s highest ever Premier League goalscorer after netting against Bournemouth.

Not something he would say if Watkins was planning on being sold, but if a big offer arrives when the window opens, Emery might just strike when the iron is hot, especially with them needing to make a big sale.

A total of 87 goals across 221 games for the club will be difficult to replace, but in Sorloth, Villa had the ideal man to take over the mantle.

He has been in stunning form for Atlético this season. In 33 La Liga games, the Norwegian has netted 17 goals, with 21 his overall tally this term.

He was dubbed “legendary” after scoring the earliest hat-trick in La Liga history during a recent victory over Real Sociedad, netting three times in the first 11 minutes. Indeed, he finished the game with four goals.

When compared with his positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues, Sorloth ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (0.96) and in the top 3% for total shots (4.24) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

This suggests he would make for a dream replacement for Watkins should the Englishman be keen on moving away from the Midlands this summer, which is further evidenced by his strong form in LaLiga this term.

Metric

La Liga

Appearances

33

xG

13.91

Goals

17

Shots per game

2.1

Goal conversion percentage

25%

Goal frequency (minutes)

87

Assists

2

Facing profit and sustainability (PSR) issues this summer, if they don’t make a big sale, Emery might be forced to cash in on one of his prized assets.

Given his age, Watkins might be the chosen candidate. If so, a move for Sorloth must be given the go-ahead because he has showcased his finishing quality and ability to find the back of the net consistently in one of Europe’s major leagues.

Aston Villa register formal interest in signing "dominant" contract rebel

Monchi and Aston Villa could make their move…

ByTom Cunningham May 15, 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

Glasgow Rangers face one of the most important summer transfer windows in their recent history.

After yet another trophyless season combined with Celtic’s domestic dominance, patience is wearing thin among the Ibrox faithful.

The saving grace is that 49ers Enterprises appear to be closing in on their takeover of the Light Blues, which could bring plenty of positive changes at the club heading into next season.

Members of the US consortium were given a tour of Ibrox during the week, and everyone associated with the club will be hoping a deal is signed, sealed and delivered sooner rather than later.

While a permanent manager is top of the to-do list, the first-team squad needs a major overhaul when the transfer window finally opens. No longer can the Gers splurge millions on players who won’t live up to expectations, nor waste wages on those who miss far too many games due to injury.

This could be seen as a change of approach in the summer. Lyall Cameron has already signed a pre-contract with the Gers, while they are also keen on bringing Josh Mulligan to Glasgow.

Signing young talents with a high ceiling appears to be the next strategy, much in a similar mould to the prior capture of Ryan Kent.

Ryan Kent’s Rangers statistics

Kent signed for Rangers on an initial season-long loan deal at the start of the 2018/19 campaign. By the end of that season, he had registered 15 goal contributions – six goals and nine assists – while even punching Scott Brown during an Old Firm clash.

Not a bad way to endear yourself to the supporters, and this led to calls for Steven Gerrard to splash the cash on him permanently in the summer of 2019.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2022/23

44

3

10

2021/22

46

3

19

2020/21

52

13

14

2019/20

33

8

4

2018/19

43

6

9

The next two seasons saw Kent at his very best. A tally of 14 goals were scored, and the winger recorded an impressive 18 assists, underlining how good he had become for the club.

The 2020/21 campaign was particularly impressive. Rangers went the entire league season undefeated, securing their first title in a decade, and Kent was unplayable at times.

Kent recorded 2.3 shots per game in the top flight that term, along with creating nine big chances, averaging 1.9 key passes and succeeding with 1.9 dribbles per match for the Ibrox side.

He gave opposition defenders no chance when driving towards them at full throttle, and this is what made him arguably the best winger in the country at the time.

His final two seasons saw him score only six goals before he left the club in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract.

Those first three years saw Kent at his very best. Could a certain Bobby Clark offer the same sort of qualities from the heart of the midfield?

Rangers transfer news

During the January transfer window, the Light Blues wanted to bring Clark to the club on a short-term loan deal until the end of the campaign. He made the move to RB Salzburg in the summer of 2024 for a fee believed to be around the £6m mark, but he failed to truly settle in Austria.

Transfer Focus

No move ever materialised for the youngster, but could he be back on the market this summer?

The £3.5k-per-week starlet could be ready to leave on loan as Salzburg are keen on letting him leave temporarily for the 2025/26 season. This could put the Ibrox side on high alert following their early attempts to secure his signature.

A former Liverpool academy graduate, much like Kent, the youngster could well look to emulate his compatriot at Ibrox…

Why Rangers should sign Bobby Clark

Starting his youth career at Newcastle United – aiming to follow in the footsteps of his father, Lee, who played for the Magpies – Clark ended up at Liverpool in the summer of 2021.

The youngster made his mark on the youth teams at Anfield before finally making his senior debut during the 2022/23 campaign under Jürgen Klopp.

He made 12 appearances for the Reds the following season, scoring once and grabbing two assists. His future looked bright indeed.

Journalist Lee Ryder discussed his potential in the past and compared him to a former Newcastle legend, saying Clark “reminds me a little bit of Gazza at the same age.” Which is high praise indeed.

Clark moved to Salzburg last summer, linking up with former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, although he was sacked just a few months into the role, and Clark failed to settle under new manager Thomas Letsch.

Despite his lack of game time in the Austrian Bundesliga, Clark still managed to record 0.4 shots per game, while also averaging 0.7 key passes and succeeding with 0.4 dribbles per match in the league.

Considering he averages only 41 minutes for the club domestically, these statistics aren’t the worst. If he can move to a club where playing consistently becomes a regular theme, Clark can continue his development.

A loan move to Ibrox would be an excellent chance for him to prove the doubters wrong, especially as he could feature in European competition.

Across six Champions League matches for the Austrian side this season, Clark showcased his abilities, averaging 1.7 tackles, winning 2.8 total duels and succeeding with 89% of his passes.

Playing against teams such as PSG, Atlético Madrid, and Bayer Leverkusen gave Clark the chance to perform at the highest level against some of the finest clubs on the continent.

It may not have gone well for the Englishman since the start of 2025, but all he needs is a fresh start and a chance to impress.

In that regard, Rangers is the perfect place for him – as it was for Kent.

Rangers can revive Tavernier by hiring manager who's "a level above Gerrard"

As the 49ers continue their search to find a new Rangers manager, they should hire “one of the most promising coaches in world football”.

May 2, 2025

The bad news is that Tottenham Hotspur picked up their 21st defeat of the Premier League season last night, but the good news is that there is just one more game to go.

In fact, the even better and more consequential news from last night was probably that the North Londoners didn’t lose any more important first-teamers ahead of the Europa League Final next week.

However, with all that said, Ange Postecoglou can’t be particularly pleased with his team, as even though they had some good chances and put in a far better showing than they did on Sunday, they’re still going into their most important game in years off the back of a defeat.

Aston Villa vs Spurs

Villa

Statistics

Spurs

2

Goals

0

1.56

Expected Goals

0.32

2

Big Chances

1

18

Total Shots

3

69%

Possession

31%

579

Passes

260

40

Touches in the Penalty Area

8

5

Fouls

12

15

Tackles

9

All Stats via Sofascore

Moreover, while some players made a good case for why they should stay in the team, like Wilson Odobert and Son Heung-min, other players most certainly did not.

Odobert & Son's game vs Aston Villa

So, while they might be rather small, let’s start with the positives then, like Odeobert and Son.

Performance in Numbers

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

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The former moved from the right wing to the number ten position in the absence of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, and while he didn’t exactly blow us away, he offered something fresh.

While he was guilty of a mistimed shot here or a dodgy pass there, the Frenchman was incredibly busy and, at points, interchanged with his fellow attackers in a way that could cause problems for Manchester United on Wednesday night.

It was a performance that left a somewhat favourable impression on the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick, who awarded him a 6/10 match rating.

He gave the same rating to Son, praising him for showing some of his ‘trademark bursts down the left flank’, which at points were the team’s best moves.

Moreover, while his end product wasn’t ideal, journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor argued that he looked “quicker with the ball at his feet than he has in months.”

In all, while it would be hyperbolic to suggest either player was fantastic last night, it would also be fair to say they both showed enough to be in contention to start the final, which cannot be said for one of the other starters.

The Spurs star who has to be dropped

Unfortunately, there were a few players who were rather unimpressive last night, such as Mikey Moore and Pape Matar Sarr, but the starter who has to be dropped ahead of Wednesday is Archie Gray.

Now, it should be said that the former Leeds United gem has generally been great for Spurs this season and has done an admirable job filling in across the backline.

However, just like last weekend against Crystal Palace, the versatile 18-year-old really struggled in the middle of the park.

If he wasn’t making a poor pass, he was struggling to cope with the defensive side of the game, and there was more than one occasion in which the Villans simply bypassed him without much trouble.

Kilpatrick wasn’t particularly impressed with him either, awarding the Englishman a 5/10 match rating at full-time and writing that he ‘struggled to impose himself on the game.’

Ultimately, while it was another night to forget for Spurs, Son and Odobert showed that they might be able to make something happen on Wednesday. On the other hand, Gray reminded Postecoglou that he is not ready to start in the middle of the park.

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The incredible talent would be an unreal signing for Spurs.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 16, 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

Ahead of Vitor Pereira’s first summer in charge, Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly moving to seal their move to sign a South American talent at their manager’s request.

Pereira already requesting Wolves incomings

With Matheus Cunha reportedly on his way to Manchester United this summer, it should come as no surprise that Pereira has requested attacking reinforcements in the coming months. Recent rumours have indicated that the Portuguese manager is a particular fan of Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto and has now asked Wolves to make a reunion happen between himself and his former star.

Yuri Alberto in 24/25

Record (via Transfermarkt)

Appearances

34

Goals

13

Assists

1

Having worked with the Brazilian before, Pereira will already know all about Alberto’s potential. At 24 years old, he has shown consistent promise at Corinthians over the years and only added to his goal tally this season – scoring 13 in 34 games.

The Portuguese manager also knows just how important it is to get recruitment right at Wolves in the coming months, having told reporters when asked about the summer transfer window back in April: “I expect to go with Wolves to the next level, the next step. This is what I’m thinking about.

“We don’t need a lot of money, we just need to make the right decisions and have a plan. My focus is on this team and trying to get the best results possible until the end of the season.

“Keeping almost all of the players (is important) because we have a very good group. I want to work for another level, I want to take the next step with this club.”

Signing South American talents seems to be the manager’s chosen route towards that next step, too, with another promising talent now reportedly on Wolves’ radar ahead of the summer window.

Wolves moving to seal Araujo deal

According to reports in Brazil, as relayed by Sport Witness, Wolves are now moving to seal their deal to sign Evertton Araujo, who has a release clause worth as much as €40m (£34m) at Flamengo. Whilst such a price may seem steep, reports suggest that Pereira has requested the arrival of the midfielder and the Midlands club have already made contact over a potential deal.

Pereira’s request should come as no shock and Wolves, themselves, are no strangers when it comes to signing Brazilian talents after welcoming Andre last summer.

Related Wolves now eyeing £14m Argentinian prodigy who's already met with Arsenal

He’s a wanted man.

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 22, 2025

Described as “strong” and “composed” as well as “aggressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Araujo could go on and make the same impact as Andre if he followed him to the Midlands in the coming months. Wolves’ transfer strategy has seemingly taken them towards Brazil once again and that should be seen as no bad thing.

While they haven’t always been the most successful team over the last 15 years or so, Tottenham Hotspur have been blessed with plenty of incredible players.

The likes of Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, Mouse Dembélé, Son Heung-min, and more have all dazzled fans and Premier League rivals alike with their sensational talent and ability.

However, for all the unreal stars who have pulled on the famous white shirt, there have been more than a few flops over the years.

One such disappointment was Roberto Soldado, and unfortunately, it looks like the club has their modern-day version of the Spaniard in the squad.

Soldado's Spurs career

In the summer of 2013, around a month before the then-world-record sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, Tottenham were looking for a player who could come in and help replace some of the goals they’d end up losing with the Welshman.

So, they looked to La Liga and decided to sign Valencia’s prolific striker Soldado for around £26m – a club record – which seemed like a brilliant piece of business at the time.

After all, across his final two campaigns with the Spanish giants, the Valencia-born poacher managed to score 57 goals and provide 11 assists in just 97 appearances, which worked out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.42 games.

Appearances

51

46

36

40

Goals

27

30

11

5

Assists

6

5

5

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

0.76

0.44

0.27

Unfortunately, such red-hot form did not follow him to North London. In fact, he seemed to lose almost all of his goalscoring abilities upon arriving in England, as in his first season, he managed a rather average return of 11 goals and five assists in 36 games.

Things got even worse in his second year with the club, as in 40 appearances across all competitions, the previously prolific number nine could muster up just five goals and six assists, which came out to an uninspiring average of a goal involvement every 3.63 games.

With Soldado an undeniable flop by this point, Tottenham agreed to sell him to Villarreal two years after signing him, only to make a similar mistake less than a decade later.

Spurs' new Soldado

Unfortunately for Spurs, they have made more than their fair share of bad signings since Soldado left the club, from Tanguy Ndombele to Vincent Janssen.

Chalkboard

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

However, when it comes to someone who could be described as the club’s modern-day version of the Spaniard, only one player comes to mind: Richarlison.

The Brazilian joined the North Londoners for a massive fee when Antonio Conte oversaw his £60m move from Everton in the summer of 2022.

Moreover, while the former Watford star was an effective attacker at his previous side, racking up 53 goals and 15 assists for the Toffees, he has failed to establish himself in the Lilywhites’ first team – just like the former Valencia star.

For example, in his first season at the club, the 28-year-old racked up a disastrously poor tally of three goals and four assists in 35 appearances, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every five games.

Appearances

35

31

24

Goals

3

12

5

Assists

4

4

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.2

0.51

0.29

The following campaign was certainly better as he scored 12 goals and provided four assists in 31 appearances, but then this season was once again rather underwhelming, as he scored five goals and provided two assists in 24 games.

The Nova Venécia-attacker is an incredibly “frustrating” player, per Ally McCoist, because, like Soldado before him, he’s undeniably talented, but he’s just not been able to show it enough since moving to the capital almost three years ago.

Ultimately, while he played his part in the Europa League triumph last week, it might be in everyone’s best interest if Richarlison is sold this summer.

Spurs star who's shades of Mousa Dembele must not play for the club again

The iconic Spurs star should walk away this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 29, 2025

If Manchester United are to claim silverware for the third season in succession, then once again the Red Devils will largely have Bruno Fernandes to thank for that success, with the club’s talismanic skipper simply dragging his side to the Europa League final.

The 30-year-old has scored seven times in the competition this term – six of which have come in the knockout stages – alongside chalking up five assists, with the Portuguese’s ice-cold penalty notably kickstarting the stunning late comeback at home to Lyon.

Of course, as the captain of a side currently residing in 16th in the Premier League table, the playmaker is not exempt from blame. No player in the current squad is above criticism.

And yet, the murmurings surrounding a potential offer from Saudi Arabia for the former Sporting CP star have only served to reinforce just how vital Fernandes is to this struggling side. As Ruben Amorim put it, he is “one of the top players in the world”.

Perhaps the modern-day equivalent of the great Bryan Robson, a shining figurehead in a far from glorious era for United, Fernandes deserves to be part of a side truly challenging for Premier League and Champions League glory.

Premier League

34

8

10

Europa League

13

7

5

FA Cup

3

2

1

EFL Cup

3

2

2

Community Shield

1

0

1

Total

54

19

19

First, however, major surgery is needed to strengthen the side around him…

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

After the dismal Erik ten Hag-led transfer policy, which revolved around Eredivisie-based or Dutch imports, it would appear that the INEOS regime are seeking a change in tact this time around, amid reports that the club are ready to raid the Premier League for high-profile talents.

Indeed, the two leading candidates to arrive at Old Trafford this summer appear to be Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, with the exciting pair – who have scored 27 league goals between them – looking set to depart Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town, respectively.

Aside from that duo, however, Football Insider are also reporting that Amorim and co are now in ‘pole position’ to sign Bournemouth sensation, Antoine Semenyo, amid the Ghanaian’s standout season on the south coast.

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, the chances of United landing the 25-year-old are ‘likely to be boosted’ if they secure Europa League glory next week, with the club potentially needing to fend off Arsenal and Newcastle United in the battle for his services.

This comes amid recent speculation which suggested that INEOS were willing to fork out £38m to sign the former Bristol City man, albeit with it yet to be seen whether the Cherries would accept anything less than their £60m asking price.

If United can win the race for the forward’s signature, he could represent the perfect addition to help revive Amorim’s limp forward line.

Why Semenyo could thrive at Man Utd

As the defeat to West Ham United showcased, this is a Manchester United side devoid of energy and athleticism. As Amorim himself admitted, there was a real “lack of urgency” from his charges.

A particular problem, something which the 40-year-old has also regularly pointed to, is the club’s struggles with ‘physicality’, a factor that has perhaps explained the difference between their success domestically and on the continent.

Bringing Semenyo into the fold could then go some way toward changing that dynamic, with the 25-year-old a simply explosive and electric presence in attack, having been described as “almost unplayable” at times by journalist Ed Aarons.

As former Bristol boss Nigel Pearson stated in the past, the 6 foot 1 ace is “very difficult to play against” due to his “pace and power”, having scored nine league goals this season while operating as a striker or on the flanks.

A player who can stretch a difference with a searing run in behind, Semenyo could then strike up a devastating partnership with that man Fernandes, with United’s “creative machine” – as hailed by Kevin De Bruyne – simply a master at picking out his teammates with a lofted or threaded pass to unlock a defence.

That was notably evident with regard to the Portuguese’s relationship with Marcus Rashford in the past, having jointly contributed to 26 goals alongside the Englishman, while notably providing six assists for his exiled teammate in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign.

Interestingly, Rashford is actually noted as a similar player to Semenyo among those in their position across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref, thus further outlining that he has the attributes to potentially thrive in partnership with Fernandes next season.

While the captain’s long-term role in the side is yet to be decided, he is a creative weapon wherever he is deployed, be it as a number six or a number ten, having again topped the division this term for chances created (88).

All he needs now is teammates to properly thrive on those opportunities. Could Semenyo fit the bill?

Man Utd could sign £150k-a-week Aston Villa star if Bruno Fernandes leaves

He has enjoyed an outstanding season for his current team.

2 ByHenry Jackson May 12, 2025