All posts by n8rngtd.top

The Club World Cup might be a mixed bag for Chelsea at the moment, but next season looks rather exciting.

Enzo Maresca will lead his side into the Champions League for the first time, and be hoping for an even better finish in the Premier League.

The best way for the club to help him with that quest is by delivering him the right players over the coming weeks and months, and while they’ve made a good start, there is still plenty of work to do.

Fortunately, the Blues continue to be linked to dangerous forward Hugo Ekitiké, and if recent reports are to be believed, they are now closing in on another attacker who’d be a dream teammate for him.

Chelsea move for attacking reinforcements

The links between Chelsea and Ekitike first started to pop up around late March of this year while he was scoring for fun for German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.

Transfer Focus

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

The links then quieted down for a couple of months before resurfacing again this summer, and based on stories from earlier this month, the club have been in talks to sign the Frenchman for around £84m.

There are, of course, other teams vying with the West Londoners for the forward’s signature, with Liverpool one of the more notable competitors, but if the last twenty years have taught us anything, it’s that the Pensioners are good at getting who they want.

However, while the prospect of signing the Frankfurt poacher is certainly exciting, it looks like the Blues are now closing in on another talented attacker from the Bundesliga.

At least, that’s according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has claimed that Chelsea have reached an agreement on personal terms with Jamie Gittens.

However, that does not mean the transfer is sorted, as the Italian journalist reaffirms that an agreement with Borussia Dortmund is yet to be reached.

While Romano does not mention how much the German side want for the dynamic winger, reports from earlier this week revealed that a fee of around £55m could do the trick.

It’s a lot of money, but given Gittens’ ability and potential, this is a transfer Chelsea should be fighting for, especially as he’d be incredible alongside Ekitike.

Why Gittens would be a dream teammate for Ekitike

This was well and truly Ekitike’s breakout year for Frankfurt, as while he’s been good in campaigns prior, he was near enough unstoppable at points for the German outfit this season.

For example, in 48 appearances, totalling 3644 minutes, the young Frenchman was able to score 22 goals and provide 12 assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.41 games, or every 107.17 minutes.

So, with that said, why would Gittens help get even more out of him? There are two primary reasons, and the first is the Englishman’s output.

Across all competitions this season, the most productive, primarily left-sided winger at Chelsea was Jadon Sancho, who managed to produce 15 goal involvements in 41 games but has returned to Manchester United.

After that, it was Mykhaylo Mudryk, who looks unlikely to feature for some time, and then in third is youth product Tyrique George.

So, in short, somehow, the West Londoners have found themselves looking short on numbers and quality when it comes to out-and-out left-wingers, which are two issues solved by the Dortmund star, as he racked up 17 goal involvements in just 2803 minutes across 49 games this season.

So, it’s not unrealistic to think that he could both help provide the Frankfurt ace with more goalscoring opportunities and get on the end of the chances he creates as well.

Finally, on top of the output, the 20-year-old “difference-maker,” as dubbed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, also has some genuinely impressive underlying numbers that could be useful for his potential new teammate.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons and shot and goal-creating actions from take-ons and then the top 2% for take-ons attempted, all per 90.

This shows that not only is the youngster someone who likes to try and make things happen by himself, but someone who is capable of doing that, and if he’s constantly creating opportunities from out wide, then there will be more space for Ekitike to operate down the middle.

Ultimately, Chelsea should be looking to sign the Frankfurt goal machine, but if they want to get more out of him and dramatically improve their left-hand side, they should sign Gittens alongside him.

Chelsea ready to offer £80k-p/w ace in exchange for "amazing" 17 G/A star

The Blues could have a transfer trick up their sleeve.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 24, 2025

Celtic made the bold decision to cash in on fan-favourite Kyogo Furuhashi in the January transfer window without replacing him ahead of the second half of the season.

The Hoops sold the striker to Ligue 1 side Rennes and opted to go with Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda as their two senior number nine options, which led to them winning the Scottish Premiership title.

Rennes reportedly paid a fee of £10m to sign the 30-year-old striker from Celtic, who struck gold by selling him to the French outfit for that price.

Why Celtic hit gold by selling Kyogo Furuhashi

The Hoops played a blinder by selling him to the Ligue side for a fee of £10m because he has flopped over in France and is now reportedly set to move on from the club after just five months.

Reports in Japan recently claimed that Kyogo is likely to sign for English Championship team Birmingham City, which would be a downgrade from playing in one of Europe’s major leagues, and from winning trophies with Celtic.

The 30-year-old striker failed to score in six Ligue 1 games for Rennes in the second-half of the 2024/25 campaign and was an unused substitute on six occasions.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Kyogo’s market value has plummeted as a result of his form in France, going from £12m at the time of exit to £7.7m at the time of writing, as per Transfermarkt.

This shows that Celtic struck gold by selling him to Rennes for a fee of £10m, as his market value has already dropped below that figure, whilst they have also hit the jackpot with another Japan international who is worth even more than the striker.

Celtic have hit the jackpot with Reo Hatate

Former Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou was big on the Japanese market during his time at the club, signing the likes of Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, and Tomoki Iwata alongside Kyogo.

Hatate is one of the stars who the club have hit the jackpot on because he is now worth even more than the former Celtic striker, who was worth £12m on Transfermarkt in January, and left for a fee of £10m.

The 27-year-old star joined from Kawasaki Frontale in January 2022 and has been a key player in the middle of the park for the Scottish giants ever since.

He just enjoyed his most productive season to date in the Premiership, with a return of ten goals and 14 ‘big chances created’, and his soaring market value reflects that.

As you can see in the table above, Hatate’s value has soared by millions throughout his time at Parkhead and has risen all the way up to £11m at the time of writing, which is over £3m more than Kyogo’s current market value.

This shows that the club struck gold by bringing him to Glasgow in 2022 because they successfully identified a player who had the potential to develop and grow in value.

Hopefully, Hatate will continue to shine on the pitch and his market value will continue to soar, before the Hoops possibly make a profit on him in the future if they ever decide to cash in on him, as they did with Kyogo.

He'd be amazing with Hatate: Celtic now eyeing "Premier League-level" star

Celtic could find an amazing midfield partner for Reo Hatate by signing this star.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 23, 2025

Will Chelsea make any more signings ahead of the Club World Cup?

Last week, the Blues unveiled Liam Delap as their new signing, paying Ipswich his £30m release clause.

Now, Chelsea have until 7pm (BST) on Tuesday 10th June to register any more signings ahead of the Club World Cup, with their opening fixture against Los Angeles FC taking place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta the following Monday.

So, before then, will Enzo Maresca have another new centre-forward at his disposal?

Chelsea chasing another striker

The Blues are looking to significantly improve their forward line this summer with mooted interest in Frankurt forward Hugo Ekitike.

Transfer Focus

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

Further reports have suggested that a deal could be on the cards for Jamie Gittens too, with the club having held talks with his club side, Borussia Dortmund, ahead of a possible move. However, there are more targets on the horizon for BlueCo.

Indeed, according to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are targeting a move for Brighton & Hove Albion forward João Pedro, with Newcastle United also interested.

Fabrizio Romano claims that the Brazilian is ‘expected to leave Brighton’ this summer, after not featuring in any of the Seagulls’ final five Premier League fixtures this season, the first three due to suspension, before being left out of two matchday squads by manager Fabian Hürzeler following a training ground ‘altercation’ with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.

Reports in Spain claim that the Albion value their star striker at around £70m, with Football.London noting that Chelsea are willing to pay around £50m, so some sort of compromise will have to be made if Pedro is going to feature stateside this summer.

How Pedro and Delap could function together at Chelsea

Having only just signed Delap, pointedly presenting him with the number nine shirt too, it may seem peculiar that Chelsea are targeting another attacker.

Nevertheless, with Christopher Nkunku on his way out this summer, Matt Law of the Telegraph believes they are in the market for a versatile forward, but is Pedro actually a bigger talent than his potential future teammate?

Let’s try and answer that question.

As the table outlines, Delap is much of a penalty box presence, emphasised by the fact he registered more shots, a higher proportion of which hit the target, while also taking almost half the number of touches on a per 90 basis.

Pedro meantime, is a significantly more well-rounded forward, underlined by his higher number of chances created, passes completed and touches per 90 statistics.

Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard has hailed his “really magical” quality on the ball, while Adrian Clarke of the Premier League labelled him ‘hardworking, creative, and calm in front’, praising his ‘deft pieces of link play’ and believing he has started to show ‘a poacher’s instinct’ this season too.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout notes that Pedro ‘is capable of playing anywhere across the attack’, while Liam Tharme of the Athletic outlines how he is adept at ‘dropping deep to link play’.

Thus, this all suggests that Delap and Pedro could function in a team together, with the former holding his position in the penalty area, while the latter drops deep to link play alongside Chelsea’s abundance of other high-quality attackers.

Thus, he would surely be an excellent addition for the Blues, even if getting this deal over the line by Tuesday appears unlikely at this stage.

Shades of Hazard: Chelsea to make £59m bid for "generational" star

Chelsea could be about to land themselves a star who can follow in the footsteps of Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 7, 2025

The season may have only come to an end a few weeks ago, but silly season is in full effect, and it looks set to be a big one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side ended up finishing second in the Premier League for the third campaign on the bounce this year, and that failure to become champions appears to have motivated the club to get busy in the market.

For example, after much confusion over a supposed hijack from Real Madrid, David Ornstein reaffirmed Martin Zubimendi’s imminent move to North London, and after missing out on Joan Garcia, Andrea Berta and Co appear to have secured the services of Kepa Arrizabalaga for just £5m – which is undeniably great business for a second choice goalkeeper.

However, what most Arsenal fans want more than anything else this summer is a new striker, and the most likely candidate at the moment is Benjamin Sesko, although if he does join the club, he’ll have a valuation substantially lower than one of his competitors for game time.

Why Arsenal want Sesko

So, based on reports from the last few weeks, it appears that the price Arsenal will have to pay for Sesko will be around £67m.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

The question is, then, is he worth such an outlay? Yes, yes, he is.

The first reason why is that, as he’s only just turned 22 years old, there is still so much room for him to further develop, and under Arteta’s tutelage, there is no reason he couldn’t get better and better.

Secondly, the former Salzburg gem is the perfect combination of physical and technical attributes for a modern striker.

For example, he’s 6 foot 5 and able to hit speeds of 35.69 km/h while also being great with the ball at his feet, with FBref placing him in the top 8% of forwards in the Bundesliga for percentage of successful take-ons and the top 11% for outright successful take-ons, all per 90.

Finally, on top of that, the Radeče-born poacher is already producing a decent number of goal involvements, scoring 21 goals and providing six assists in 45 games across all competitions this season.

In all, Sesko looks like he’ll be more than worth the fee being reported, and yet even then, his valuation is far lower than that of one of his potential new teammates at Arsenal.

The Arsenal star worth millions more than Sesko

While they are yet to get over the line in any competition, this Arsenal team is stacked with brilliant players, from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka to William Saliba and Martin Odegaard.

However, in this case, the player worth millions more than Sesko is someone who can sometimes divide opinion among fans and pundits alike: Kai Havertz.

Yes, whatever you may think of the German international, he was valued at an astounding €130m by the CIES Football Observatory earlier this year, which converts to around £110m, or about £43m more than the reported price of Sesko.

Now, that might seem a little unfair on the Slovenian ace, especially as he has a marginally better average of 0.60 goal involvements per game to Havertz’s 0.55, but in defence of the Gunners’ ace, he is playing in statistically the toughest league in world football and did miss most of the second half of the season through injury.

Moreover, when we take a look under the hood and at their respective underlying numbers from this season, we see that the former Chelsea ace comes out on top.

For example, the “magnificent” dynamo, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, does far better in most relevant metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, shot-creating actions, passing accuracy, key passes and more, all per 90.

Finally, it’s also worth noting that the Aachen-born international has spent some time in midfield and will likely play many more games there next season should the Leipzig star arrive.

Ultimately, Sesko would be a fantastic signing, and it looks like he has the raw materials to be truly special, but Arsenal fans shouldn’t forget that they’ve already got a brilliant attacker in Havertz.

He's like Mbappe: Arsenal submit offer to sign £68m "powerhouse"

The prolific international would be a sensational and game-changing signing for Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 11, 2025

Every year, football’s elite gather in Paris to determine the winner of the Ballon d’Or.

Well, perhaps not if your name is Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian famously snubbed the awards evening in 2024 when he found out he’d been outvoted for the major accolade by Manchester City’s midfield sensation Rodri.

It was a landmark year for the Spaniard, who won the Premier League with City and also won the European Championships after defeating England in the final.

Having suffered a terrible ACL injury towards the end of the year, Rodri was not in the conversation to win the award again in 2025.

Instead, it was PSG’s Ousmane Dembele who reigned supreme, having starred as the Parisiens finally won the Champions League in 2024/25.

Ballon d'Or 2025 Final Rankings

Where did the 30 nominees finish?

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 23, 2025

What made Dembele’s triumph all the more remarkable was the fact that he’d never actually been dominated for the award before.

He beat off some stiff competition, including Lamine Yamal, but what does the future have in store for the Spaniard? Well, with the help of Grok, the next ten winners of the Ballon d’Or have been predicted.

1

2026: A first crown for France's best

Kylian Mbappe

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi no longer the players they once were, it was always predicted that Kylian Mbappe would rise to the top.

A victory in 2026 would be a long time coming for Madrid’s latest Galactico but it would be an award well deserved. There’s a World Cup in 2026, too. Perhaps he’s just led France to a second triumph in three attempts?

2

2027: The wonderkid triumphs for the first time

Lamine Yamal

One of the favourites for 2025, Yamal finally gets the recognition on a global stage that he deserves in two years time. At the age of 17, he’s already won the Kopa Trophy for the best U21 player, and it feels only a matter of time before he’s officially crowned the best player in the world.

Cole Palmer already thinks he is, and with numbers like he’s achieved in 2024/25, scoring 18 and assisting 26, anything is possible. He is a generational talent, the rightful heir to Lionel Messi’s throne.

3

2028: A victory for the Premier League

Erling Haaland

Like Mbappe, Haaland has been tripped as a future Ballon d’Or winner for a while now but AI thinks we’ll have to wait another three years before seeing Manchester City’s goal machine given the gong.

Given the length of his contract, he’s set to stay in the Premier League for a long time and is likely to continue banging in the goals on a domestic and continental level. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he is the definitive best number 9 of all time once he hangs up his boots.

4

2029: Messi 2.0 does it again

Lamine Yamal

We told you he was generational. Two years on from his first success, Yamal is set to be handed his second Ballon d’Or, truly following in the footsteps of the great Messi.

At this point in his career, he’ll still only be 22 years of age. His potential is utterly frightening.

5

2030: Another win for Real Madrid

Vinicius Jr

Six years on from what he felt was a cruel loss at the hands of Rodri, Brazil’s heir to Neymar and Real Madrid’s heir to CR7, Vini Jr, will finally get his hands on football’s most prestigious individual award.

Although aged 30, AI thinks he’ll still be going strong for Real Madrid, and with it being a World Cup year, maybe, just maybe, Brazil have got their hands on the trophy again.

6

2031: Another Barca great does it

Pedri

Every player on this list so far has been a forward but Barcelona star Pedri is set to topple the Yamal dominance by winning the award himself, following in the footsteps of the amazing Luka Modric and Rodri, the last midfielders to win the award.

The Spaniard is only 22 at the time of writing but he had a captivating season for Barca as they reached the Champions League final and won LaLiga. He’s played 59 times in 2024/25, scoring six goals and assisting eight. If he does indeed win the Ballon d’Or in 2031, his longevity certainly will have been Modric-esque.

7

2032: Liverpool's new signing takes it home

Florian Wirtz

On the cusp of signing for Liverpool, who knows where Florian Wirtz will be playing in seven years time but AI seems to reckon that after securing a transfer to a Champions League giant and putting in strong showings for Germany, he’ll be the best player in the world.

Well, if it’s with the Reds, it would be their first Ballon d’Or winner since a certain Michael Owen back in 2001.

Wirtz is certainly one of the finest playmakers in the world already, contributing to 31 goals (16 goals, 15 assists) in the 2024/25 season when he was still with Bayer Leverkusen.

8

2033: More success for Germany

Jamal Musiala

Back-to-back success for Germany as Jamal Musiala picks up his first crown in 2033. This could be the start of a newfound dominance for Die Mannschaft, who with Musiala and Wirtz in tow, may well have won the 2032 European Championships.

AI is backing the attacking midfielder to trump everyone else due to Bayern Munich’s dominance, international accolades and consistent form.

9

2034: A third major honour awaits

Lamine Yamal

Rounding things off is a third triumph for one of the best players this generation has seen; Yamal.

In 2034, he’s be 27 and at the peak of his career with AI predicting him to cement his legacy as a generational talent. If he isn’t already, he’s now a truly household name, one of the best players we’ve ever seen in the game and right up there with Messi.

Only two players, Messi and Ronaldo, have won it more than three times, while Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten are the only other players to have all taken it home on three occasions.

10

2035: Brazilian follows in the footsteps of Vini Jr

Endrick

While Yamal will no doubt be in the conversation again after winning it for a third time, his reign is brought to a halt by another of LaLiga’s top wonderkids at the moment, Endrick.

AI predicts that the Brazilian striker will become a powerhouse over the next decade, potentially winning the World Cup 2034 Golden Ball before cementing himself as the best striker in the world in ten years’ time. Grok reckons that the forward’s physicality and finishing ability will give him the edge over Yamal at this point.

The best XI of players to never win the Ballon d'Or

Some of these players were brutally snubbed for the golden ball.

By
Barney Lane

Oct 26, 2024

Liverpool transitioned from one era to another with the artful ease of champions. Now they are vindicated, proven right in their appointment of Arne Slot, who last month became a Premier League-winning manager. And in his first year at that.

Few saw it coming. None, perhaps, other than some optimistic Reds supporters around Merseyside and beyond. As Jurgen Klopp packed up and left last summer, Feyenoord’s boss stepped into his shoes after FSG were given an emphatic no when they sought to pull Xabi Alonso, now Real Madrid-bound, from Bayer Leverkusen.

Dubious heads abounded. Some Liverpool supporters would have held reservations, for sure, but the view from the rest of the Premier League was that the Dutchman was a stop-gap, a temp tasked with absorbing the leaden rain which would inevitably hit Anfield after the departure of a iconic, irreplaceable figure.

But then, Slot hasn’t replaced Klopp, not really. The managerial position is gone, archived for now. In its place, that of a head coach, with Slot working in a more focused role, his modus operandi angled toward that of tactics and the first team.

Transfers, not so much. He still has a significant say, of course, but he reports to overseer Richard Hughes, who wields the power but, in turn, reports to Michael Edwards, FSG’s footballing overlord.

However, it’s a hierarchy with the promise of success. Liverpool have held off on big-money moves over the past year, but the current interest in Florian Wirtz is genuine, all right, and the powers that be are unanimous in their desire to bring him to Merseyside.

Why Liverpool want to sign Wirtz

Last week, Manchester City withdrew from consideration. They admire Wirtz greatly and need his type of profile, given Kevin De Bruyne will play his final game for the club this weekend, but deemed the full package to be too expensive.

That’s not the case for Liverpool, who are aware Bayern Munich believe they sit in the driving seat but are working tooth and nail toward securing a deal all the same. With Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving for Real Madrid, Slot needs a new creative centrepiece and has green-lit the prospective transfer for Wirtz.

Bayer Leverkusen feel they have a generational talent on their hands, and though he’s approaching the penultimate year of his contract, are seeking a staggering €150m (£126m) figure for his release.

The 22-year-old was crowned last season’s Bundesliga Player of the Season after leading Leverkusen to their maiden top-flight title. Xabi Alonso’s side also lifted the DFB-Pokal, completing both domestic feats without a single blemish of defeat.

It’s easy to see why the German playmaker is such a hot commodity: as per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for goal contributions, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

Wirtz’s talent level goes through the roof, but he also marries his prowess, his skill, with a fixed baseline that has allowed him to maintain potency through the fledgling years of his career. As you will see below, consistency is key.

Anfield’s data analysts probably had a field day upon realising a deal could be struck. Should FSG prevail, though, some shuffling would need to be done.

To put it another way, a beloved talent would be sold this summer.

Wirtz would end star's Liverpool career

As Liverpool gear up for a title-defending campaign, Slot will know his side no longer wear the cloak of an underdog. Now, watchers will have heightened expectations.

With the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and rivals abroad all strengthening, Liverpool’s burning desire to add Wirtz to the ranks makes a lot of sense, even if it would break the bank. That’s why Harvey Elliott needs to be sold.

Elliott, 22, has been around for a while, leaving Fulham as a 16-year-old to move to Merseyside and join his boyhood club. Since his arrival, the creative midfielder has played 145 times for the men’s team, scoring 15 goals and providing 20 assists.

His fatal flaw lies not in technical quality but in athleticism. Elliott doesn’t win enough duels, nor is he mobile enough in the centre of the park to convince Slot he deserves regular starting roles in this high-flying, competitive Liverpool team.

It’s a shame, for Elliott is a “machine” when it comes to output, as per Liverpool writer Sam McGuire, ranking among the top 2% of positional peers this season for goals and assists combined per 90 (FBref).

But Slot simply hasn’t given the rising star the game time he wants or deserves this term, with Elliott making only his second Premier League start of the season during last weekend’s defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion. He, of course, bagged a goal and an assist.

He’s now open to leaving, unlocking a door he certainly won’t want to step through but has grown accustomed to the cold reality that Slot will not give him the minutes he needs to develop at this formative stage of his professional career.

As per Football Insider, Nottingham Forest want to replace Morgan Gibbs-White with the England U21 international, while Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers have also registered their interest. The Reds hope to bag around £50m for his departure.

Liverpool will no doubt rue losing one of their own, a player whose potential stretches high above most others. Klopp did say, at the end of his illustrious Anfield tenure, that one of his biggest regrets was failing to give this nifty little playmaker more action.

But time’s have changed. Liverpool are Premier League champions once more and need to defend their trophy.

Wirtz is exactly the type of statement signing they need to make, and though Dominik Szoboszlai’s contrasting, tireless style denotes a prominent role for years to come, it’s hard to argue against Wirtz being an upgrade on Elliott, who could fetch a decent sum this summer to help with the investment.

All of a Liverpool persuasion would be sad to see Elliott go, but maybe a little touched too, waving goodbye like proud parents as their eldest heads out on their own for the first time.

If Slot can’t offer the young midfielder the playing time he needs to fully foster his skills, cashing in for a sizeable fee would be a good move.

Replacing him with Wirtz would soften the blow – just a tad.

Dream Wirtz alternative: Liverpool plot move for "generational" £34m star

Liverpool can forget about a move for Florian Wirtz, with another name entering the mix this week.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

May 22, 2025

The EFL can be a rich hunting ground for exciting talents if you’re a Director of Football at the head of a Premier League outfit looking for shrewd ways to strengthen.

Angus Kinnear, who will leave Leeds United and take Kevin Thelwell’s seat at Everton this summer, knows the myriad prospects across the Championship and will no doubt target a few stars this summer.

In fact, TEAMtalk revealed last week that second-tier Player of the Season Gustavo Hamer and Sunderland’s Dan Neil are both on Everton’s radar, with relegated Leicester star Wilfried Ndidi an option too.

However, Kinnear knows his stuff, and might have already recommended a shrewd purchase who could make a real difference on Merseyside next year.

Everton chasing Championship star

As per Football Insider, Everton have joined West Ham United in the race to sign Burnley centre-midfielder Josh Brownhill, a leading architect behind Scott Parker’s side’s promotion to the Premier League this season.

He’s out of contract this summer, and it’s understood that presently the Clarets have not convinced the 29-year-old into reaching a decision on his future but are ready to open talks pertaining to an extension.

With Celtic also keen, Everton will need to work fast if they want to seal his signature in the coming weeks. However, given that he’s been placed on the shortlist, their interest seems concrete.

What Josh Brownhill would bring to Everton

Burnley’s captain would be a brilliant, under-the-radar kind of signing for Everton. The leadership and experience he would instil (he has 111 Premier League appearances) are elements that Moyes is desperate to stir into his squad.

It’s something the Merseysiders achieved only a few years ago by signing James Tarkowski, who had just been relegated with Burnley and joined at the end of his contract in July 2022.

Hailed as an ‘incredible leader’ by Dyche, Tarkowski has been a solid, no-nonsense defender but also a galvanising presence, barking and baying at his teammates as he upholds strong defensive virtues.

Now, Brownhill could be the next version, walking the same path at a similar point in his career as a free agent.

TFG would be addressing a glaring issue in an astute fashion, as the former owners did three years ago. Everton conceded 66 top-flight goals during the 2021/22 season, and they have bettered that tally across the three years since, shipping 43 goals this year with three games remaining.

Fans eagerly await news of a talented striker to restore the attacking incisiveness, but Brownhill’s industriousness and creativity would be a great way to fortify the ranks.

While Burnley have earned renown for their steely defending this season, they have also been effective and economical in attack, with Brownhill blending an art for well-timed goalscoring with a fundamental playmaking quality.

Indeed, the midfielder has scored 18 goals and laid on six assists across his 42 league outings this term, as per Sofascore, creating eight big chances and averaging 1.2 key passes per game.

Ranking among the top 1% of Championship midfielders this season for goal involvements, his influence is illustrated further, something that could have a marked impact on an Everton side who won’t want to be overreliant on a new striker, whose success in hitting the ground running will be an anxious thing.

Given that the relegated trio are the only Premier League sides to have been outscored by Everton, it’s clear that a deep-lying goalscorer of Brownhill’s ilk could be the dimension-adding star Moyes needs.

Reuniting with Tarkowski in an Everton team looking to reach heights that haven’t been seen for several interminable years, Brownhill could prove a real difference-maker.

He might not have become the “superstar” that pundit Lee Johnson predicted he would shape into back in 2019, but Brownhill is a fiercely underrated player and would slot right into Moyes’ Everton midfield.

An amazing Rooney repeat: Everton open to signing "world-class" PL star

Everton are at an important juncture as they prepare to reinforce David Moyes’ squad this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 6, 2025

It might be an old cliché, but a week in football is indeed a very long time, and Arsenal are evidence of that.

Before Tuesday night, morale couldn’t have been much higher among the fans, as following the demolition of Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, there was a belief that they’d beat Paris Saint-Germain at home.

However, the hosts found themselves 1-0 down in the first three minutes, and while they weren’t blown away, it was a disappointing result, and certain starters, like Martin Odegaard, were particularly poor.

It’s not been a good campaign for the Norwegian international, and if he doesn’t seriously improve next year, he could be replaced by one of Hale End’s most promising prospects, someone looked upon in a similar way to Lamine Yamal.

Odegaard's worrying form

After he won his second successive Player of the Year Award at the end of last season, it would be fair to say that most fans and pundits alike expected Odegaard to have another brilliant campaign this year, but unfortunately, that has not been the case.

For starters, he picked up an ankle injury on international duty in early September that kept him out of the team for two months, and since his return, he’s not looked like the mercurial midfielder of seasons past.

For example, in the 22/23 campaign, he racked up a brilliant haul of 15 goals and seven assists in 45 games, and then last year, he did just as well, scoring 11 goals and providing 12 assists in 48 appearances.

This season, however, he’s only been able to amass a rather middling tally of five goals and ten assists in 40 games.

It’s not just the output either, as while it’s harder to quantify, his impact on the flow of games has seriously diminished, with Tuesday night’s display a prime example, as content creator Connor Humm argued that he may as well have just “sat in the stands” as he was so anonymous in the middle of the park.

In short, Odegaard’s form has fallen off a cliff this year, and while it’s unlikely he’ll be replaced in the summer, another season like this one, and he could well lose his place in the team, especially as Hale End looks to have produced a generational prospect who’s been talked about similarly to how Yamal was, and it’s not Ethan Nwaneri.

Odegaard's future replacement

This season has seen the proper introduction of Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly into Arsenal’s first team, and based on how well they have adapted to senior football in such a short space of time, we reckon fans might start to see a lot more of Max Dowman next year.

Yes, the potential Odegaard replacement in question is none other than the next wonderkid of the Hale End production line, although based on his form for the junior sides and how those in the know are speaking about him, he might just be the best of the lot.

In fact, according to respected talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 15-year-old phenomenon is “the most exciting” prospect “since Lamine Yamal,” which, based on his incredible performance against Inter Milan last night, is supreme praise.

It’s not just him though, as Declan Rice, who has taken on a mentorship role with him, has described the youngster as “the best 15-year-old in the country”, analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as “a ridiculous player”, and academy expert Will Balsam goes one step further, describing him as “one of the greatest footballing brains that’s ever come through Hale End.”

It might sound hyperbolic, but the teenager’s statistics help to illustrate the point.

Despite being just 15 years old and primarily playing in midfield, the unreal talent has scored 16 goals and provided four assists in 21 appearances, totalling 1765 minutes this season.

That means he is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.05 games or every 88.25 minutes of action, which just isn’t normal for someone his age and helps explain why he’s being placed in the same bracket as Yamal by so many.

Ultimately, if Odegaard continues to perform this poorly next season, we would not be surprised to see Dowman slowly introduced in his place, as while he’s still so young, he is clearly a world-beater in the making.

Arsenal eye Gabriel Martinelli alternative who Tottenham bid for last year

The north Londoners are targeting one of Unai Emery’s key men.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 1, 2025

Strikers have been iconic over the years at Liverpool football club, with different generations of attackers giving the supporters memories to last a lifetime.

Luis Suárez is just one talent who’s captured the heart of most during his spell at Anfield, registering 82 goals in his 133 appearances for the club.

The Uruguayan spent three years on Merseyside before moving to Spanish giants Barcelona, leaving a huge hole at the top end of the pitch as a result.

Talents such as Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi and Diogo Jota have all operated at the top end of the pitch in recent years, with only one of them remaining during Arne Slot’s reign at the club.

However, the Dutchman could be about to land a player who could be his new talisman ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, looking to make it back-to-back Premier League triumphs.

An update on Liverpool’s striker situation this summer

Darwin Núñez is a player who looks set to depart Liverpool this summer after failing to deliver following his £85m transfer from Benfica back in the summer of 2022.

The Uruguayan has scored just 40 times in his 139 appearances, an average of one goal every three and a half games, leading to murmurs around his long-term future.

Atlético Madrid has been mooted as a possible destination for the 25-year-old, with the Reds demanding just £35m to sell him – resulting in a £50m loss on their investment.

However, such funds could be used to sign another star, with Benjamin Sesko the latest player touted with a summer switch to Merseyside, according to GIVEMESPORT.

The report claims that the RB Leipzig ace has a £55m release clause in his current contract, with the Reds impressed by his goalscoring tally of 20 goals in his 42 appearances throughout 2024/25.

It also states that he’s high on their shortlist, seen as an affordable alternative to Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, allowing Slot to have the goalscoring striker he’s been craving.

Why Liverpool’s £55m target would be an upgrade on Nunez

It’s safe to say it’s unimaginable where Liverpool would’ve finished in 2024/25 if it wasn’t without Mohamed Salah, with the Egyptian producing countless moments of magic at key points of the season.

The 32-year-old has registered a combined 56 goals and assists in his 48 appearances across all competitions, by far and away the most of any player in the first-team squad.

Luis Diaz sits as the club’s second-highest scorer in the league on 12 goals, a staggering 16 behind Salah, highlighting his importance to the side over the last few months.

Despite his new contract, he’s undoubtedly coming to the back end of his professional career, needing to land other targets in forward areas to spread the load rather than be reliant upon one player.

Sesko would provide exactly, with his goalscoring record in the Bundesliga, one that could the side to have that focal point they have often lacked despite the success they’ve endured.

When comparing his stats to those of current forward Nunez, the 21-year-old has massively outperformed him, highlighting how much he would improve the attacking department.

The Slovenian, who’s been labelled “the new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has registered more combined goals and assists than the Uruguayan, along with a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing his clinical nature.

He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst coming out on top in more of the aerial battles he’s entered – offering the side an all-round threat in the final third.

Whilst £55m may seem a risk for a player who’s never played in England before, it’s a deal worth completing, especially when taking his dominance over Nunez into account.

Given his tender age, he has the opportunity to improve further under Slot’s guidance, potentially becoming the club’s next star attacker to lead them to consistent Premier League glory in the years ahead.

A big Diaz upgrade: Liverpool make approach to sign future "£100m" star

Liverpool could be about to make a move for a sensation who could replace Luis Diaz.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 30, 2025

Liverpool find themselves on the cusp of Premier League glory and have now turned their attention to a prolific striker on the market, per reports.

Liverpool set to cement themselves as champions ahead of busy summer

Since arriving at Anfield, Arne Slot has earned due adulation as his side canter towards a second top-flight title of the modern era, which will undoubtedly raise levels of expectation heading into next season.

Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have committed their futures to Liverpool and have played a major role in upholding standards while on Merseyside. Still, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s uncertain situation threatens to become a sizeable blow should he depart for Real Madrid.

Work has to be done in the market this summer if the Reds want to retain their impending status as Premier League champions next term. Their rivals will likely tool up in the off-season to bolster squad depth in the face of a heavy fixture schedule.

Looking to make a statement, Liverpool are confident they can beat Manchester United to Hugo Ekitike after finding out that a fee of £80 million could secure his signature from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is a known Reds target amid his rapid rise to prominence, and talks have been held with his camp over the last few weeks.

Liverpool now preparing offer to sign forward who Man Utd have bid £70m for

Liverpool are now ready to join the race to sign an England international this summer.

2

By
Brett Worthington

Apr 17, 2025

For now, finishing the season with a flourish will be the priority before celebrations begin after Liverpool win the title. Slot and company will enjoy the moment, though there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes to ensure they aren’t knocked off their perch.

Planning for the future, the Reds boss now has a prolific marksman in his sights who could be the man to spearhead their attack come 2025/26.

Liverpool ready to strike for Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are closely monitoring Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins amid fears that they could be priced out of a move for Newcastle United star Alexander Isak. Marcus Rashford moving to Villa Park on a permanent basis could free up the England international, who has dropped to the bench in recent weeks as opposed to being a regular starter.

Labelled “terrific” by Phil Jones, Watkins has scored 165 goals in 455 career games and is firmly in his peak, which has also brought Arsenal to the table.

The outlet claim Luiz Diaz could be sold to create room for the former Brentford man on Merseyside. Liverpool may be tempted by a bid north of £60 million, with the Saudi Pro League emerging as the Colombian’s most likely destination.

Either way, there could be sizeable changes on the way at Anfield as the Reds go all out to retain their spot at the top of the English pyramid next campaign.