With the deadline approaching, Aston Villa have reportedly set their sights on a shock late hijack to sign a player who is already in the final stages of a move to Manchester United.
Latest on Aston Villa targets
It’s been a difficult summer for Aston Villa. Not only have they been limited by PSR issues, but they’ve also missed out on targets when they have attempted to welcome incomings – the latest of which being George Mikautadze. Reports emerged that Villa had agreed personal terms with the Lyon forward, before Villarreal swooped in to agree a late deal.
The fact that Unai Emery revealed that he wants two players in every position indicates that Villa could work on further deals before the end of the window, but it remains to be seen just who arrives.
The Spaniard told reporters: “The club are working hard to get our structure as strong as possible with the players in the squad, trying to get two players for each position. There is still work to do, maybe even some players leaving more and we will have to sign and complete the squad with some players.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery watches on.
“The first reason now why we are missing something other in our structure and in our squad with our players because some players left one week or two weeks ago when we were expecting to a deal before.”
Since those words, rumours have suggested that former loanee Marco Asensio could be on his way back to the club, whilst a shock hijack on Manchester United could also take place.
Aston Villa eyeing late Lammens hijack
As reported by The Daily Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Aston Villa are now eyeing a last-ditch move to sign Senne Lammens ahead of Manchester United. Earlier reports from Sacha Tavolieri revealed that the Royal Antwerp goalkeeper is closing in on a move to Old Trafford and the transfer is in the “final stages”. The door, however, is still ajar for Villa to swoop in.
It would be an almighty blow for the Red Devils, but an excellent hijack by Aston Villa. The talented shot-stopper would instantly become the long-term successor to Emiliano Martinez, whose future is far from guaranteed in the Midlands these days.
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Given how advanced United’s deal reportedly is, though, Villa chiefs will need to act fast if they do want to pull of a sensational hijack. As the deadline approaches, the goalkeeper continues to be one to watch.
The unfolding situation might well be dripping with controversy, but Nottingham Forest will be playing in the Europa League next season as things stand, after UEFA’s decision to remove Crystal Palace from the European competition due to multi-club ownership came as a shock.
Last season in the Premier League, Forest were even dreaming of a Champions League adventure at one point, with just one point the difference in the end between Nuno Espirito Santo’s side competing in one of football’s grandest tournaments and Newcastle snatching fifth place.
Nottingham Forest managerNunoEspiritoSantobefore the match
Still, they have been handed a fortuitous lifeline by being gifted a spot in the Europa League, with Nuno no doubt now hunting down some significant buys to help them be a success story in the competition.
Nottingham Forest looking at move to sign £40m attacker
Of course, whilst this latest development will have given Forest fans a ray of positivity, there are some challenges still to be addressed at the City Ground involving player exits.
Anthony Elanga has already departed the building for pastures new at Newcastle United, and it did look as if Morgan Gibbs-White was going to be the next high-profile exit, only for his move to Tottenham Hotspur to hit a bump in the road.
Nottingham Forest's MorganGibbs-Whitecelebrates scoring their first goal with a shirt in support of their injured teammate Taiwo Awoniyi
It will be welcome news to Forest fans, therefore, that Yoane Wissa is still on their radar as an exciting addition in attack, but – as per a new report by the BBC’s Sami Mokbel – the race has livened up for the standout Brentford striker.
Indeed, the journalist states that the aforementioned Magpies now have Wissa on their list of striker targets owing to Hugo Ekitike favouring a Liverpool switch over a St. James’ Park move. Despite that, Spurs and Forest are both advancing with their plans to sign the forward who could cost £40m.
Why Wissa could be a dream for Gibbs-White
Wissa would have been booed relentlessly when he fired home this poacher’s finish against the Tricky Trees last season.
However, now, he could go on to be a beloved marksman in the Midlands, with Gibbs-White and the DR Congo international perhaps striking up a dynamite duo in attack if the equally in-demand Englishman remains put with Nuno’s men.
Bryan Mbeumo leaving the Bees behind this summer will, of course, be a demoralising loss if it goes through, but Wissa deserting West London during the same window will make Brentford’s bleak situation even more horribly soul-crushing.
After all, Wissa and Mbeumo combined last season to notch up a mighty 39 strikes in Premier League action, meaning they will leave a sizable hole behind.
Mbeumo and Wissa
Those clinical goal-scoring powers on display from the striker when donning Brentford red and white surely won’t dry up at the City Ground with his trusty teammate no longer by his side, especially if he has the likes of Gibbs-White next to him supplying him with countless golden chances.
Last campaign in the Premier League, Gibbs-White struck up an equally fearful partnership with 20-goal titan Chris Wood, with the 5-foot-7 midfielder in dreamland even more if he’s able to link up with another potent attacker next season who needs very minimal touches to strike fear into opposition defences.
Games played
34
35
36
Goals scored
7
19
20
Assists
8
4
3
Touches*
51.1
29.1
23.0
Accurate passes*
28.8 (81%)
12.8 (79%)
8.7 (65%)
Key passes*
1.5
0.8
0.6
Big chances missed
3
17
15
Big chances created
10
3
3
Wissa’s impressive 19-goal tally across the 24/25 campaign came about even as he averaged just 29.1 touches per Premier League clash.
Amazingly, Wood averaged even less at 23 touches per match, as Gibbs-White routinely fed the well-oiled New Zealander with frequent chances to be Forest’s main leading man.
Throw the “exceptional” Wissa into the mix – as he’s been glowingly labelled by Jamie Redknapp – and Gibbs-White could elevate his game even more, with the 25-year-old managing to reach even loftier heights at the City Ground, over favouring a switch to Thomas Frank’s tempting Spurs.
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Morgan Gibbs-White might be convinced to stick it out at Nottingham Forest if this ambitious purchase gets over the line.
Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin will be hoping to keep hold of his top talents at Ibrox between now and the end of the summer transfer window.
The likes of Hamza Igamane, Nicolas Raskin, Cyriel Dessers, and Mohamed Diomande have all been linked with moves away from Scotland, but all remain with the Light Blues at the time of writing.
A whole host of English clubs, who are all due to play in the top-flight south of the border, are reportedly interested in signing Raskin from Rangers.
Losing the Belgium international, who delivered four goals and ten assists in the Scottish Premiership last season, would be a big blow to Martin ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Rangers eyeing up new midfielder
However, Rangers could soften the blow of potentially selling Raskin in the coming weeks by signing an Italian star they are reportedly keen on bringing to Ibrox.
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 The Boot Room, Martin is interested in a deal to sign Spezia central midfielder Salvatore Esposito for Rangers before the end of the window.
The report claims that there is plenty of competition to land the Italy international’s signature, though, as Everton, Sunderland, Celtic, Brighton, Burnley, Fulham, Brentford, and Fulham are also keen on him.
Salvatore Esposito for Italy vs England.
It adds that Spezia, who failed to earn promotion to the Serie A via the play-offs, are open to a loan with an option to make it permanent next summer.
Rangers must now see off significant competition from their closest rivals and teams in the Premier League in England to sign Esposito, who could be a Raskin repeat at Ibrox.
Why Rangers should sign Salvatore Esposito
The £9m-rated star’s form in the 2024/25 campaign suggests that he would arrive in Glasgow as the dream replacement for the Belgian ace in the middle of the park.
He could provide similar qualities in midfield as a number eight who can make an impact, with both goals and assists, at the top end of the pitch, whilst also being strong in his physical duels out of possession.
Esposito was once described as a “set-piece specialist” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and it is no wonder when you see the clip of his goal against AC Milan in the clip above.
He is more than just a set-piece whiz, though, because the Italian star ended the regular 2024/25 season with an eye-catching haul of seven goals and nine assists in the second tier in Italy.
Appearances
33
34
Goals
4
7
Big chances created
9
18
Assists
10
9
Duels won per game
6.6
7.3
Ground duel success rate
57%
68%
Aerial duel success rate
56%
51%
As you can see in the table above, Esposito offered similar qualities to the ones that Raskin offered Rangers in the Premiership, with his contributions on and off the ball.
These statistics suggest that the Spezia sensation has the play style and the quality to be a Raskin repeat at Ibrox as a central midfielder who can make a big impact at both ends of the pitch.
This is why Rangers should push hard to win the race for his signature in the coming weeks, because signing Esposito would mean that losing the Belgian star would be less of a concern for Martin.
Of course, there is no guarantee that the 24-year-old ace will be able to translate his form over to the Premiership, but the list of Premier League clubs chasing his services points to how highly thought of his talents are.
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Of course, in a dream world, Rangers will be hoping to keep hold of Raskin whilst also adding Esposito to the squad to provide competition for places in midfield.
With the summer transfer window in full flow, Aston Villa have made just one signing so far – Yasin Ozcan.
The Turkish youngster might not be the most exciting of signings, but aged 19, he is certainly one for the future.
With Unai Emery keen on ending the club’s near 30-year wait for a major trophy next season, bringing in several high-profile players is a priority.
Players such as John McGinn and Morgan Rogers helped the club secure a place in the Europa League next season. Could Emery potentially sign someone who is a hybrid of the two this summer?
Aston Villa transfer news
Villa have been linked with their fair share of attacking players this summer. Indeed, the likes of Jack Grealish, Nicolas Jackson and even Malick Fofana have been targeted by Emery.
Transfer Focus
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Much will depend on the funds Villa have to spend, especially as they seek to comply with Profit and Sustainability regulations throughout the summer.
According to reports in Brazil, however, the club have made contact regarding a move for Porto winger Pepe, with it said they have opened talks for the 28-year-old.
The Portuguese giants are willing to sell him this summer in order to sign other targets, and a price tag of €25m (£21m) has been set. A more than affordable figure by Emery’s standards.
Both McGinn and Rogers enjoyed plenty of success last season and by signing Pepe in the coming weeks, Villa could be landing a player who is similar to both.
Why Aston Villa must sign Pepe
Last season, McGinn registered ten goal contributions for Villa, while Rogers recorded 29 goal involvements in all competitions for the club.
This highlights how vital the pair were. Both players excel at dribbling and playing through balls during matches, supporting Ollie Watkins incredibly well.
With McGinn staring on the left at times, with Rogers operating in a more central role, will Emery manage to sign a player like them for the right flank ahead of next season?
Pepe certainly fits the mould. According to FBref, Rogers is the ninth-most comparable player to the Porto winger, while McGinn is the seventh-most comparable when taking into account their statistics from the Champions League last term.
In this competition, he ranked in the top 16% for assists per 90 (0.31), while also ranking in the top 14% for tackles (1.86) per 90.
Goals
3
Assists
2
Big chances created
5
Key passes per game
1
Successful dribbles per game
0.6
Shots per game
1
In comparison, McGinn recorded 0.25 assists and made 1.23 tackles per 90, while Rogers registered 0.18 assists and 0.79 tackles per 90 in the Champions League.
It is more the manner in which all three tend to have similar playing styles which could make a move for the winger an important one.
South American football expert Tim Vickery hailed the wideman a couple of years ago, saying: “I certainly remember him as a winger with Gremio, little mosquito kind of winger, who can do either flank.”
Porto's Pepe scores at the Club World Cup against Al-Ahly.
For the sort of fee Porto are demanding, bringing Pepe to the Midlands might be an interesting piece of business indeed.
An eye for goal while being able to create chances indicates that he could shine alongside players such as McGinn and Rogers next season.
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Leeds United fans will soon be welcoming back a whole horde of familiar faces to Elland Road when Premier League football gets officially underway.
The likes of Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray will all likely line up for their new sides in West Yorkshire, with Daniel Farke no doubt one to catch up with his past Whites servants before any niceties then go out the window on the pitch, considering their impressive spells donning Leeds white in the first place.
The German could even be about to win his next version of Gray this summer if all goes to plan, with Leeds reportedly having to spend big to land this new, versatile target.
Leeds interested in £30m star
It had been a relatively quiet window as far as incomings were concerned at Elland Road until Sunday when, out of the blue, Leeds managed to seal the signing of Felix Nmecha.
The striker arrived from Wolfsburg on a free transfer following the conclusion of his contract with the German club. So, who’s next on the radar?
Well, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Sport Witness) Leeds are now keen on adding standout Southampton gem Matheus Fernandes to their ranks.
Previously, Fernandes has been valued at around the £30m mark, but Sport Witness goes on to elaborate that a heftier asking price could now be in the offing if Leeds, Nottingham Forest or Crystal Palace want to win their desired man.
It remains to be seen whether the newly promoted side would entertain a fee that’s higher than the already outlined £30m, but the daring capture of Fernandes could prove to be worthwhile down the line, particularly if the 20-year-old blossoms into Farke’s next iteration of Gray on his potential move to West Yorkshire.
How Fernandes could be Leeds' next Gray
Much like Gray was thrust into the spotlight under Farke during the 2023/24 season at Elland Road, Fernandes has been in and around the daunting environments of senior football for some time now without ever appearing to be fazed.
Indeed, the Portugal U21 international was gifted his senior Sporting debut under the tenure of Ruben Amorim when he was only the tender age of 18, with just ten senior appearances coming his way in the Portuguese capital before Southampton came calling.
Gray only experienced one season himself in the senior ranks at Leeds before his adventure in the big time also occurred, but whilst the 19-year-old did impress in flashes for Tottenham Hotspur last season when infrequently utilised, Fernandes was a constant bright spark for the Saints, even as they unfortunately succumbed to relegation.
In total, the 5 foot 10 starlet collected three goals and six assists at St. Mary’s in all competitions, with his Premier League journey rightfully not grinding to a halt if one of the aforementioned three top-flight suitors soon picks him up.
CM
68
7
9
AM
33
3
7
DM
6
0
0
RW
4
1
1
LM
3
0
1
LW
2
0
0
CF
1
0
0
RM
1
0
0
For Leeds’ sake, if the similarities between the pair weren’t already obvious, his flexible nature to perform all across the pitch when glancing at the table above will make him even more of a desirable target in their attempts to land their next Gray.
Indeed, the new Spurs number 14 routinely slotted into the full-back positions under Farke’s wing in the Championship to prove his worth to the Elland Road cause.
The “complete” Fernandes – as he has been labelled by football analyst Ben Mattinson – is willing to line up as an option down the flank too, away from feeling more comfortable slotting into a lineup as a number ten or into a more traditional central role.
The in-demand 20-year-old will also surely view Leeds as a worthwhile next destination, having seen what the club did for Gray, on top of the fact that the list of other promising young midfielders who have shone in West Yorkshire includes Kalvin Phillips.
Previously hailed as a “big talent” too by scout Jacek Kulig, it will be intriguing to see if Leeds are prepared to fork out a sum around the £30m mark to land such a hyped up star.
Mateus Fernandes for Southampton.
Their boldness could pay off if Fernandes goes on to be a similar success story to Gray’s, with the Saints’ number 18 just hopeful he can steer his potential new side to safety if he does join, over another relegation stain blotting his CV.
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Will Chelsea make any more signings before the Club World Cup transfer window closes on 10 June?
On Wednesday, the Blues unveiled Liam Delap, who has arrived from Ipswich Town, after Chelsea activated his £30m release clause.
Now, the West London side have until Tuesday to make any more new signings if they’re to feature at the newly revamped Club World Cup, with the Blues’ tournament opener against Los Angeles FC taking place in Atlanta on Monday 16 June.
So, by the time that fixture comes around at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, could the Chelsea supporters in attendance have another big-money signing to admire?
Chelsea looking to sign Sancho replacement
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Chelsea will not sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United permanently, choosing to, as outlined by Nizaar Kinsella of BBC Sport, pay a £5m penalty fee, rather than exercising a £25m obligation to buy.
Sancho scored just five goals in 42 appearances for the Blues this season, most memorably bagging a stunning curler against Real Betis in the recent Conference League Final in Wrocław.
The England international took to Instagram to thank his Chelsea “teammates, staff and the fans”, going to say that he was “grateful for the experience” so, while his own personal future is now uncertain, the Blues are searching for an upgrade.
Well, according to a report by Kaveh Solhekol for Sky Sports, Chelsea have been ‘offered the chance to sign’ Mohammed Kudus, who they claim has an £85m release clause in his contract at West Ham United.
It’s reported that Chelsea have not said ‘no’ and are weighing up whether to add him to their list of options this summer. A further report from BBC Sport notes that discussions between the Hammers and Chelsea have already taken place.
The winger currently has an £85m release clause for Premier League clubs and a £120m exit clause for Saudi clubs which could complicate matters.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Ghanaian arrived in East London from Ajax for £38m two summers ago, making 80 appearances for the Hammers to date, scoring 19 goals and registering 13 assists.
Mohammed Kudus celebrates for West Ham
So, with the Blues on the lookout for a winger, could a move across the capital be on the cards for Kudus?
Why Mohammed Kudus is a Jadon Sancho upgrade
Kudus’ performances at West Ham have earnt widespread praise, with teammate Aaron Cresswell labeling him a “top talent”, adding that he’s “so strong, so quick and so sharp”, while George Addo Jr of BBC Sport is in awe of his “magic feet”.
Meantime, Patrick Boyland of the Athletic outlines how Kudus is ‘versatile’, capable of playing on either flank or centrally, describing him as a ‘prolific and effective dribbler’.
Adam Scully of Total Football Analysis agrees with this, stating that, ‘undoubtedly’, the Ghanaian’s best attribute is his ‘excellent’ dribbling ability, while Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines believes he has ‘world-class potential’.
On that evidence, he’d certainly be a great replacement for Sancho, another versatile forward player. The following statistics certainly support these assertions too.
Attempted take-ons
208
1st
Successful take-ons
92
2nd
Given how dismal West Ham were throughout this season, winning just 11 matches and finishing 15th, it is certainly very impressive that Kudus managed to attempt the most take-ons, second only to Jérémy Doku for successful take-ons too.
Nevertheless, the question still remains: would he be an upgrade on Sancho?
Statistics
Kudus
Sancho
Appearances
32
31
Minutes
2,603
1,765
Goals
5
3
Assists
3
5
Note: All statistics below are on a per-90 basis.
Shots
2.61
1.22
Shot-creating actions
3.72
3.57
Attempted take-ons
7.22
4.95
Successful take-ons
3.19
2.30
Progressive carries
3.40
5.20
Touches
52.2
53.7
As the table outlines, Kudus’ statistics are broadly more impressive than those of Sancho, despite the fact the Ghanian endured an underwhelming season in a very uninspiring West Ham side.
While not quite on the same level for progressive carries, more of his take-ons are actually successful and he’s a constant threat, taking more shots.
Mohammed Kudus for West Ham
As already established, Kudus is a top-class dribbler, so now he just needs the output in front of goal to match, and a move to a better team could be exactly what he needs to take his game to the next level.
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Whatever happens this summer in terms of incomings at Manchester United, there is likely to be nothing more crucial than the news surrounding Bruno Fernandes, with the talismanic skipper outlining his desire to stay put at Old Trafford.
The 30-year-old – who helped steer Portugal to Nations League glory on Sunday night – has opted to shun the Saudi riches in order to remain a central figure under Ruben Amorim, having reportedly turned down an offer of around €25m-per-season from Al-Hilal.
Bruno Fernandes
While there could be question marks over where the former Sporting CP star will fit in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system in the long-term, having frequently flitted between operating as a central midfielder or as a number ten to date, there’s no denying that United remain a better side with him in it.
Indeed, his tally of 38 goals and assists in all competitions last term says it all, with that return far exceeding anyone else in Amorim’s ranks, as Amad and Alejandro Garnacho finished in second place with 21 goal involvements a piece.
Season after season, Fernandes delivers the goods, with now the time to finally build a side around him that can compete for the top honours. Thankfully, it looks like that work is already underway..
Latest on Man Utd's summer rebuild
Matheus Cunha is already in the door, following his £62.5m switch from Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo appears next on the agenda, with a second bid for the 25-year-old seemingly in the works.
Thomas Frank’s expected move to Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly put a spanner in the works regarding that deal, albeit with it having previously been reported that United were the winger’s preferred destination – fresh off the back of scoring 20 Premier League goals in 2024/25.
The final piece of the attacking jigsaw could well be completed with the addition of Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres, with reports in Spain suggesting that INEOS are ready to make an offer for the prolific Swede.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Indeed, the report outlines that United are ready to go ‘all out’ for the signing of the 27-year-old, with the club willing to lodge a bid of around £60m in order to get their man.
The belief is that discussions are at an advanced stage, with hope at Old Trafford that an ‘understanding’ between the two clubs can be reached soon, amid prior reports that Gyokeres himself is open to making the switch.
The chance for Amorim to reunite with his 6 foot 2 goal machine appears to good to ignore, not least after missing out on new Chelsea man Liam Delap, with it a frightening prospect to see how Gyokeres could flourish with Fernandes behind him.
Why Gyokeres could thrive with Bruno Fernandes
Lauded as the “hottest striker in Europe” by ESPN’s Mark Ogden, Gyokeres is perhaps already reaching world-class status, having notably scored 97 goals in just 102 games in Lisbon – including six goals in eight Champions League appearances last time out.
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That said, the quality of the Portuguese top-flight ensures that doubts remain over whether he truly is in the top bracket of centre-forwards in Europe, with the Primeira Liga said to be just the seventh best league in the world, behind the Brazilian Serie A.
It would then be interesting to see if a player who never played in the Premier League during his time at Brighton and Hove Albion – and Coventry City – can translate his recent heroics in England’s top tier, with United in dire need of a success story following Rasmus Hojlund’s return of just four league goals in 2024/25.
Well, fear not – enter, Fernandes.
If anyone is to help Gyokeres to thrive, it is the Red Devils skipper, with the experienced playmaker possessing a magic ability to unlock a defence, having put together a highlight reel of assists or chances created in recent years.
Portugal's Bruno Fernandes in action with Denmark's Christian Norgaard and Portugal's RafaelLeao
Indeed, Fernandes ended last term as the player to have laid on the most chances in the Premier League for the third season in a row, having also created 16 ”big chances’ – despite registering ‘just’ ten assists.
In essence, the midfield genius – who also averaged 2.5 key passes per game – is in need of someone to finish off the plethora of opportunities he conjures up, with Gyokeres perhaps the perfect fit.
Bruno Fernandes
91
Cole Palmer
89
Mohamed Salah
89
Enzo Fernandez
79
Bryan Mbeumo
70
Dejan Kulusevski
65
Martin Odegaard
63
Mikel Damsgaard
63
Leif Davis
61
Yourie Tielemans
61
An “insane” ball-striker, as per analyst Ben Mattinson, the one-time St Pauli marksman netted a mammoth haul of 39 league goals last term, having scored once every 72 minutes with a goal conversion rate of 28%.
While he did miss 23 ‘big chances’, Gyokeres would almost be supplied with an endless stream of openings to convert by Fernandes, with the latter man notably teeing up Amad to header home with a delightful dinked pass against Aston Villa on the final day.
You can only imagine the success that Gyokeres would enjoy if supplied with similar service, with combining with Fernandes a way to truly elevate his game, thus confirming that ‘world-class’ status.
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Liverpool have reportedly made contact with an “unstoppable” player over a summer move to Anfield, looking to pip Arsenal to his signature in the process.
Liverpool pushing for Wirtz and others
Reds supporters aren’t only on cloud nine because of their Premier League title win this season, but also because of some of the stellar names being mentioned as summer targets.
In fact, reliable sources are reporting that Liverpool are on the verge of completing the signing of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, with the German becoming the most expensive signing in the club’s history if he does move there.
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak is also reportedly of interest to the Reds, who are even believed to be wealthy enough to sign both him and Wirtz at the same time, but the Magpies will do all they can to keep hold of their best player.
Meanwhile, another Leverkusen player, Jeremie Frimpong is also closing in on a switch to Liverpool, while on the left flank, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez continues to stand out as the leading option to come as Andy Robertson’s long-term successor at left-back.
Liverpool make contact with "unstoppable" striker
Now, according to a fresh claim from Football Transfers, Liverpool have made contact with Viktor Gyokeres’ representatives over a move to the club, as they look to snap up the Sporting CP superstar.
The 26-year-old is Arsenal’s top No.9 target ahead of next season, with both the Gunners and the Reds in need of an elite centre forward, and he is valued at just over £58m.
Gyokeres could be the perfect striker for Liverpool to sign in the summer window, following a frankly outrageous couple of seasons in a Sporting shirt.
The Sweden international has now scored 96 goals in just 101 appearances for the Primeira Liga giants, with an incredible 39 of those coming in the league this season.
Appearances
33
Starts
31
Minutes played
2804
Goals
39
Assists
7
Shots per game
4.2
Key passes per game
1.9
Dribbles per game
1.8
Gyokeres has come on leaps and bounds since impressing for Coventry City in the Championship, with former Swansea City teammate Jake Bidwell saying of him:
“With the way he plays as well, with his aggression, the two (qualities) go hand in hand with how well he has done. He all of a sudden realised how quick and strong he was and had the confidence to use it and mixed with the aggression, it’s made him pretty unstoppable.”
Liverpool fans are likely to be split when it comes to choosing their preferred No.9 signing this summer, with Isak, Julian Alvarez and Victor Osimhen also options, but Gyokeres could be a monstrous addition, bringing pace, power and relentless end product.
It is fair to say that for Chelsea this season, there has been a distinct lack of individual reliability in front of goal.
The Blues have seen their goals spread out fairly thin across the pitch, and whilst it is good to see a range of players finding the back of the net, it could also be seen as cause for concern.
As the stats show, the Blues have only had two players his double-figure Premier League goals. One of them is Cole Palmer, who has scored 15 times, and Nicolas Jackson the other, with ten goals.
With the summer transfer window almost upon us, it seems likely that the Blues will look to sign an attacker capable of hitting double figures, too.
Chelsea's latest attacking target
There does not seem to be a shortage of forwards Chelsea are linked with this summer, as BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella explained recently. He listed the likes of Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, and Victor Osimhen as targets.
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However, a new report has broken from The Telegraph journalist Sam Dean, suggesting the Blues could move for Joao Pedro of Brighton and Hove Albion.
They are thought to be ‘showing interest’ in the Seagulls attacker and are one of the clubs ‘among the Brazilian’s admirers’.
The key phrase there is one of, because Chelsea will face competition for his signature. Dean reported that Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool are also interested in a move for Pedro. TEAMtalk recently noted that those interested in signing Pedro could have to pay £100m.
Why Pedro could be Chelsea's answer to Morgan Rogers
After a strong debut season down on the South Coast for Brighton, it has been another impressive campaign for Pedro. He has helped his side put themselves in contention for a European spot, with the season drawing to a close.
This term, the 23-year-old, who joined the Seagulls from Championship side Watford, has managed ten goals and six assists in 27 Premier League games so far. His minutes per goal involvement ratio is excellent, too.
He’s featured for 1,953 minutes, and averages a goal or assist every 122 minutes. As football scout Antonio Mango has previously described him, the Brazilian is “top class”.
The attacker has put in several significant performances this season and has scored against some of the biggest clubs in the top flight. He bagged a late winner against Manchester United at the start of the season, scored away to Arsenal and grabbed a goal and assist in a 2-1 win over Manchester City.
As such, Pedro could make the perfect alternative signing to another Chelsea target, Morgan Rogers. According to a report from GIVEMESPORT last week, they are ‘set to make contact’ with Aston Villa over a potential £90m move for the England star.
Well, just like Pedro, the former Man City academy man largely plays as a second striker and has impressed greatly this season in a Villa shirt. He has 14 goals and 14 assists in 52 games this term in all competitions, which included a Champions League hat-trick over Celtic in the group stage.
Rogers may well be unattainable for the West Londoners this season. Given his importance to Villa, it remains to be seen if there is scope for him to depart the Midlands. If they sign Pedro as an alternative, he could surely be considered Chelsea’s own Rogers.
FBref suggest that the pair are both similar players and the numbers prove that. Indeed, having both registered eye-catching seasons for their respective clubs, Pedro averages 3.32 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, with Rogers slightly lower at 3.12 each game. As you can see, they are pretty neck and neck in other key attacking metrics.
Goals and assists
0.74
0.52
Goals per shot on target
0.33
0.42
Key passes
1.39
1.50
Shot-creating actions
3.32
3.12
Progressive carries
3.06
3.30
If Rogers does not make the move to Chelsea and they instead sign Pedro this summer, it would still be a fantastic addition. He is a proven Premier League goalscorer and could add more threat from a creative standpoint, too.
Brighton & Hove Albion'sJoaoPedroin action with Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov
There is no doubt that £100m is a hefty investment, but Pedro certainly has the quality to live up to that price tag and help take Chelsea back to the top.
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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.
Noni Madueke for Chelsea
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.
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