All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

If you look closely, you will see that Everton are developing into a team of newfound modernism.

David Moyes is perhaps perceived by some as being something of a pragmatic manager, rooted in strong defensive principles and an acceptance of non-possession-based football, standing firm against the current and then attacking on the break.

But he’s long been more nuanced than that. Moyes won the Conference League with West Ham United, after all, hauling that Irons side into a team of consistency among European places. Sixth, seventh. And silverware in there too.

Everton are at a different stage, but Moyes, having only been at the club since January, when Sean Dyche was dismissed than the mood was low, has created a team that is showing signs of quality befitting a top-half-of-the-table finish in the Premier League.

Against Aston Villa at the weekend, Everton were the aggressors. It ended 0-0, but the team will take solace in their upswing in chance creation.

Man United

4

7.9

Chelsea

9

7.7

Man City

5

7.6

Brighton

4

6.6

Everton

5

6.3

Who might be the centrepiece of all this? Why, Jack Grealish, of course.

Jack Grealish's Everton rebirth

Last season in the Premier League, Everton concluded their campaign with an xG total of just 41.8, the lowest of any side not to get relegated.

It’s clear to discern a summer strategy catered toward creative additions, and Grealish has been the heart of this. Signed from Manchester City on loan for the duration of the season, the England international has returned to form spectacularly, assisting four goals across his first two starts.

A silky dribbler and an intelligent technician, Grealish had fallen from his perch over the past couple of years in Manchester, reduced to a fringe role that shunted his finer attributes.

Moyes has taken him off the leash and is being repaid with high-level creative performances. As per Sofascore’s data, the 29-year-old is averaging 2.8 key passes and 6.8 successful duels per game.

Grealish is in his prime; he’s not a young talent anymore. However, Everton might find that regardless of the playmaker’s future on Merseyside, they have a new version waiting in the wings in Tyler Dibling, who joined the club from Southampton for £42m during the summer.

But, in fact, there’s another rising star in Moyes’ squad who might prove to be Grealish 2.0.

Everton's next version of Grealish

Dibling might indeed appear the natural successor to Grealish’s place on the Premier League stage – and not just because of the hair.

The 19-year-old is fiercely talented and shares a proclivity for flashy, hard-to-stop progress on the ball.

But the man in question here is actually Charly Alcaraz, who spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Goodison Park before a permanent clause was activated and he became a fixed resident in Liverpool, leaving Brazilian side Flamengo for £13m.

A shrewd buy. So far, the one-time Southampton prospect has made 20 appearances for Everton, and he has scored three goals and provided three assists.

This season in the Premier League, the Argentina international has only started once. But then he made an impression on that opening-day defeat by Leeds United, completing both of his dribbles, winning six duels and completing 83% of his passes. Defensively, it must be said, he left something to be desired.

But no one could deny that the 22-year-old is a “special” talent, as was remarked by youth scout Antonio Mango back in 2023. Already, he is demonstrating an aptitude for creating chances, ranking among attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe in the top 16% for assists, the top 17% for goal-creating actions and the top 3% for take-on success rate, data courtesy of FBref.

That latter metric is curious. Alcaraz might not play with the same kind of relentlessness on the ball as Grealish, but he’s extremely effective when he opts to lunge forward and beat his man.

Charly Alcaraz

1.0

100%

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

1.0

100%

Michael Keane

0.3

100%

Jack Grealish

2.0

50%

Iliman Ndiaye

2.0

44%

Alcaraz hasn’t yet nailed down a starting spot in Moyes’ Everton team, not with consistency, but he’s viewed as a player who can inspire chances and put paid to inattentive defenders, boasting quick feet and combative physical traits and a desire to attack.

He’s got everything that he needs to succeed in the Premier League, and has already demonstrated his confidence and eagerness to step up when his team need him. He scored on his first league start for the Toffees, after all.

Dibling might have the higher ceiling, and that’s no discredit to Alcaraz’s skillset, but the South American is ready to make an impact for Moyes’ side and influence things from midfield. Tactically versatile, his ball-carrying ability and range of technical skills mean he can operate across a number of different berths.

Grealish has made an electric start to life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but the esteemed Premier League giant has never throughout his career been the most prolific, and thus it’s important that Everton have different players to create and attack on goal, easing his burden and indeed that of the strikers, who continue to play with question marks over their heads.

Keep a close eye on Alcaraz; he hasn’t announced himself yet in 2025/26, but the talent is undeniable, and his chance to showcase his quality will come.

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This centre-forward would thrive at the front of David Moyes’ Everton system.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 16, 2025

Chelsea’s summer spending spree is showing no sign of slowing down.

So far, the Blues have made eight new signings this summer, including bringing in Liam Delap, João Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Estêvão Willian and others.

However, they’ve still got plenty to do in the transfer market.

Right now, by our count, the Blues have 46 senior players on their books, but one could be on the way out, making way for another exciting young talent to arrive in West London.

Chelsea set to bolster their attacking options

As already alluded to, Chelsea are seeking to offload at least a dozen high-profile players in the next month or so, with Mike McGrath of the Telegraph reporting that Raheem Sterling could be on his way to Fulham.

One player who is closer to the exit door is João Félix who, according to David Ornstein and Simon Johnson of the Athletic, is set to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr for around £26.2m, amid interest from boyhood club Benfica.

The Portuguese only joined Chelsea permanently from Atlético Madrid for £45m a year ago, but has scored just 11 goals in 40 appearances for the Blues across his two spells, spending the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, thereby very much not in Enzo Maresca’s plans.

So, with Félix on his way out, Chelsea are on the cusp of bringing in a replacement, with journalist Ben Jacobs noting that they are “advancing talks” to sign Xavi Simons, with “terms now broadly in place” to bring him to England. Club-to-club talks are ongoing to find a full agreement over a fee.

James Olley of ESPN claims that the Blues are willing to spend around £50m, with Leipzig holding out for closer to £60m.

So, will he soon become the 15th Dutchman to call Stamford Bridge home, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ruud Gullit, Arjen Robben and others?

How Xavi Simons will improve Chelsea

Simons is certainly a highly-rated player, with Sultan Babajide of Breaking the Lines asserting that he is ‘destined for the top’, noting how he is ‘brilliant between the lines’.

Meantime, Bart Vlietstra of the Guardian believes there has always been ‘something irresistible’ about a player he labels a ‘precocious’ talent, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout agrees, describing him as a ‘fascinating player’.

Simons’ career breakthrough came at PSV Eindhoven, scoring 22 goals and registering 11 assists in just 48 outings for the Dutch giants, while he has also racked up 21 goals and 23 assists in 76 appearances since making the move to RB Leipzig.

So how does he compare to the player he’s set to replace in the Chelsea squad Félix? Let’s find out.

Appearances

33

41

Goals

11

10

Assists

8

3

Appearances

43

44

Goals

10

10

Assists

15

6

Appearances

48

40

Goals

22

9

Assists

11

3

As the table outlines, ever since Simons became a regular first-team player at PSV, his statistics have been more impressive than those of Félix.

The Portuguese international’s £113m move to Atlético Madrid back in 2019, making him the fourth-most expensive player of all-time, has turned out to be one of football’s great what if moves, with Jack Lang of the Athletic noting that he is widely-regarded as having ‘wasted his talent’, never able to fit into the playing style or system at any of the clubs he’s featured for since Benfica.

Simons, in contrast, is a player on the way up, likely to get even better, so he could have an enormous impact at Chelsea, potentially elevating them to a level where they’re fighting for the Premier League title and Champions League supremacy once again.

Better signing than Simons: Chelsea could see bid accepted for £34m star

Chelsea will need to improve their defence this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 27, 2025

After Brentford turned down their latest offer to sign Yoane Wissa, Newcastle United have now reportedly set their sights on another Premier League rival.

Newcastle walk away from Wissa deal

It has been a miserable summer for the Magpies. From early frustration in pursuit of Joao Pedro and Bryan Mbeumo to Liverpool’s swoop to sign Hugo Ekitike and the unraveling Alexander Isak saga, to say not much has gone to plan would be an understatement.

Now, Brentford have seemingly made things worse. After missing out on Ekitike, Newcastle reportedly turned towards Wissa in hope of finally landing a top target.

The forward left the Bees’ pre-season camp amid the rumours and things looked to be heading in the right direction. As has been the case all throughout this summer, however, things have now reportedly changed.

According to transfer reporter Ben Jacobs, Brentford have now closed the door on selling Wissa for anything less than £50m+ after Newcastle raised their bid to over the £30m-mark. As a result, the Magpies – for now – have walked away.

Wissa, meanwhile, has reportedly refused to train amid disappointment over Brentford’s stance and the pact that they’ve broken which should have allowed him to leave for £26m this summer.

Whether the forward can be persuaded to return to training remains to be seen. Of course, if the situation stays unresolved, then it will be interesting to see if Newcastle return with another attempt to sign the 28-year-old.

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ByRoss Kilvington Jul 27, 2025

For Eddie Howe, the saga represents yet more frustration after he admitted that it’s been a difficult summer in pursuit of targets.

He told reporters: “I wish I could give you clarity, and some kind of guarantee that this or that is going to happen, but I can’t. My wish was for us to do our business early, and we certainly tried, but it wasn’t to be.”

Frustrated or not, Newcastle have now reportedly returned to the drawing board and shifted their focus towards yet another striker option.

Newcastle now eyeing Watkins move

Following the Wissa bombshell, those at St James’ Park reportedly have another option in mind. According to The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, PIF and Newcastle are now eyeing a summer swoop to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa.

As the stats highlight, Newcastle’s backline are already well aware of Watkins’ quality and have been on the end of it five times in nine games over the years. As alternative options for Wissa go or even replacements for Isak, the England man certainly wouldn’t be a bad option.

Full of praise for his star striker last season, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery told reporters: “He’s amazing. Because he’s a really hard worker and his commitment to work every day is amazing.

“When he is scoring goals, it’s the main objective he can have. Where he is assisting as well, he’s contributing to help the team. But even when he’s not doing both, he’s working for the team. Defensively, the commitment was always high. He is in the press to the opponent.”

After already welcoming both Emmanuel Fernandez and Joe Rothwell this week, Glasgow Rangers are now reportedly keen to sign a Premier League gem this summer.

Rangers sign Fernandez and Rothwell

The Gers have well and truly got their summer business underway and now that things have started, they don’t look likely to slow down anytime soon. After welcoming both Fernandez and Rothwell, Russell Martin has taken his incomings count to as many as five since arriving with the likes of Conor Coady also on Rangers’ radar as they look to add to that number.

The latest to arrive, Fernandez told Rangers’ official website after putting pen to paper: “I am honoured, it is a huge club with a great fanbase and I think I can kickstart my career and have a good journey here.

“I was shocked when I heard about Rangers because it is such a big club but it was the place I wanted to be. I haven’t played at this level, there will be a lot of life changes for me, but it is something I want to be part of and I can’t wait to get started.”

Meanwhile, equally delighted to be joining up with those at Ibrox, Rothwell said: “My first reaction? A yes straight away, obviously then with the manager coming in as well it made that decision a little bit easier for me.

Ibrox's dream Igamane replacement: Rangers working to sign £5m striker

Rangers are eyeing up a move to sign a striker who would be a dream replacement for Hamza Igamane.

ByDan Emery Jul 3, 2025

“Working with him and knowing what type of guy he is and how he wants to do things that was an even bigger pull for me, but the club speaks for itself really.”

It’s been the most important week of the summer so far for Rangers, who have now set their sights on welcoming another impressive Premier League talent for Martin.

Rangers keen to sign Owen Beck

According to The Daily Record, Rangers are now keen to sign Owen Beck from Liverpool but will need to sell Ridvan Yilmaz if they are to make their move to sign the left-back on a permanent deal. Recent reports have suggested that the Premier League champions would accept a loan offer for their youngster, although there would need to be guarantees over his game time.

It should come as little shock that Beck has found himself on Rangers’ radar. The 22-year-old enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Blackburn Rovers last season and following Milos Kerkez’s Anfield arrival, is likely to need either another loan move or a permanent exit to earn further game time.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Beck features in Scotland either, given that he also spent time on loan at Dundee. It was then that their technical director and former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan told reporters: “With Owen Beck, you can take all the data away from the player and it will tell you this: he gets forward, his engine’s good, it’s all good.

“What it won’t tell you is that Owen is a great kid with wonderful personality. He has a great team ethic, and he can’t do enough for the people around him. His first thought is always the team, and I like that in younger players. He’s made himself into a better footballer. He’s clever.”

How sad that Liverpool’s smart business sense in the transfer market will likely prevent Arne Slot’s side from becoming engaged in the frenzied crowd come August, when panic stations are manned ahead of the impending closure date.

Ah well. There are worse problems for a side to have. Liverpool, having won the Premier League with relative ease last season, have already completed a series of signings to plug gaps ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, where a title must be defended and where expectations will be heightened across tournamental fronts, where the Reds perhaps fell flat.

Still, that shiny league title softened the blow of losing the Carabao Cup final, did it not? However, we can’t deny that Liverpool suffered a dip around spring, a rough patch which limited the scope of Slot’s extraordinary success.

More quality was needed, and that’s why Richard Hughes has overseen such an imperious start to the summer market, with the sporting director now turning his head toward central defence.

Why Liverpool want a centre-back

Earlier in June, Liverpool agreed to sell Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £30m plus add-ons. A buyback clause has been written into the contract.

The move will not be finalised until the defender completes his duties with England at the U21 European Championship, but he won’t be a Liverpool player next season.

With a question mark also hanging over Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool have set their sights on Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who is anticipated to leave Selhurst Park this summer. Anfield has emerged as the leading suitor in the race.

We all know of Real Madrid’s expertise in warping Spanish media, but the fact remains that Konate has been left ‘disappointed’ after rejecting Liverpool’s latest contract offer, and is indeed heading into the final year of his £70k-per-week contract.

However, if Liverpool fail to get a deal for Guehi over the line, a fresh face will still be needed to strengthen the rearguard.

Liverpool register interest in Guehi alternative

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have entered the race for Spanish centre-back Cristhian Mosquera, who plays for Valencia in La Liga.

Transfer Focus

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

Though the Reds will slow the pace after their breakneck start to the window, Hughes will remain attentive to opportunities and is keeping a close eye on the 21-year-old as Arsenal begin to accelerate their own interest.

Indeed, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that the Gunners are locked in talks for the rising star, with a €20m (£17m) being agreed.

If Liverpool want to complete a hijack, they will need to move fast.

Why Liverpool want Cristhian Mosquera

Guehi would bring a certain completeness to Liverpool, and he’s proven in the Premier League besides, but he’d cost quite a fee at £50m.

If a breakthrough is found vis-à-vis Konate, would it make sense to launch such a bid, especially when Guehi already harbours certain reservations about playing time?

He’s an excellent player, but Mosquera is showing significant potential and could be a worthwhile project for Slot and his coaching team over the next few years, especially as he’s already shown a certain precocity in chalking up 90 senior appearances for Valencia, having turned 21 today.

Across the 2024/25 campaign, the Spaniard, born and reared in Alicante to Colombian parents, Mosquera actually started 37 of Valencia’s league fixtures, with his one absence coming when his side faced Barcelona at Camp Nou. They lost 7-1.

Coincidence? Likely not. The hulking defender’s natural ease in high-pressure situations would have been perfect for that match, and when looking at how his metrics compare to Guehi’s over the players’ respective league seasons, you begin to see exactly why he’s so coveted.

Matches (starts)

37 (37)

34 (34)

Goals

1

3

Assists

0

2

Clean sheets

8

11

Touches*

65.7

64.9

Pass completion

91%

84%

Key passes*

0.0

0.5

Ball recoveries*

5.1

4.3

Dribbles (success)*

0.1 (56%)

0.4 (86%)

Tackles + interceptions*

2.4

2.6

Clearances*

3.3

4.6

Ground duels (won)*

2.3 (70%)

2.9 (63%)

Aerial duels (won)*

1.1 (45%)

2.0 (54%)

Just a reminder that Mosquera is only 21. You really can see why Arsenal are so interested in bringing him over to the Emirates. However, Mosquera’s blend of steely tackling and crisp passing play, those fundamental defensive virtues, could be developed into something world-class at Anfield.

Slot promotes a ball-playing game, and he expects his centre-halves to contribute, picking out those in space upfield to spark a devastating transition.

And if that weren’t enough, Mosquera also ranked among the top 18% of central defenders in La Liga last term for progressive carries and the top 7% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref, emphasising a mobility to rival Guehi’s and indeed an athleticism which allows him to roam about, hoovering up danger and recycling it into something positive.

This is an interesting element for any defender to equip to their toolkit, but when you are so naturally talented in winning the ball back, as Mosquera is, a “truly magnificent centre-back” is created, as has been noted by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Moreover, Mosquera’s success in the air might not be great, but it will improve. Guehi, too, finds his stronger challenges come on the ground, and so it’s curious indeed that the La Liga star is already performing to a higher standard in that regard, in fact superior to all his positional peers across Spain’s top flight as well.

No doubt, Palace have the more refined man. However, given Liverpool already boast two of the finest defenders on the globe in Konate and skipper Virgil van Dijk, does it not make sense to sign the developing star, who could learn from the superstars already under Slot’s wing ahead of a more prominent role in the coming years?

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ByAngus Sinclair Jun 27, 2025

Birmingham City were an absolute joy to behold at the very top of League One last season.

Chris Davies’ rampant Blues would only lose three of their 46 league fixtures, leading to a colossal 111-point total being reached, with standout figures such as Jay Stansfield very much raising the excitement levels with a bumper 19 strikes tallied up in third-tier action.

Come the end of their very enjoyable League One marathon, Birmingham would go on to accumulate a mightily impressive 84 goals.

They won’t be receding into their shell when heading back up to the Championship, with plenty of fresh strikers now being linked to make the switch to St. Andrew’s to boost their already frightening firepower, which includes a promising Premier League-bound talent.

Birmingham monitoring situation of £10m striker

According to a report from GIVEMESPORT, the super-confident Blues are now monitoring the situation of Leeds United striker Mateo Joseph.

GIVEMESPORT states that Birmingham have been interested in the Spanish hotshot for some time now, with Davies’ men potentially seeing this opening in the summer transfer window as the perfect opportunity to strike up a deal.

RC Strasbourg are also noted as an interested party- on top of a January £10m bid from Real Betis being mentioned – but Birmingham have successfully flexed their muscles recently to win a similarly expensive striker from a Premier League side.

Of course, Stansfield cost £15m to pick up from Marco Silva’s Fulham last summer, with everyone at St. Andrew’s hopeful that Joseph can go down as an unbelievable success story much like the former Cottagers forward.

How Joseph can be Stansfield 2.0

It was somewhat of a gamble to fork out £15m for Stansfield’s services, considering the electric number 28 only had 21 strikes next to his name in senior action in the EFL before confirming a permanent Birmingham stay.

Now, that lavish fee doesn’t look too steep, with Stansfield an integral part of the Blues’ promotion story.

When moving up a division, Birmingham will be keeping their fingers crossed that Joseph can play an equal starring role, but this time around he could be the exact figure they desire in helping Davies’ men consolidate themselves as a Championship-worthy outfit.

After all, despite fading into the background at times last season under Daniel Farke’s wing, Joseph would still chip in with three goals and three assists in league action. This is a more than respectable return when you weigh up the fact that the 21-year-old only started 11 Championship contests.

With Leeds now in the big time, Joseph will be worrying that his first-team opportunities will become even more sparse. Therefore, a move to St. Andrew’s could be just what the Spain U21 international needs to kick on as he aims to follow in the footsteps of Stansfield, a fellow young striker who was also on the periphery of his then employers, Fulham, before finally becoming a main striker option in the West Midlands.

Leeds

73

6

3

Leeds U21s

33

19

3

Leeds U18s

4

1

1

Spain U21s

11

8

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

That was the case even as Stansfield scored a blistering 38 goals for both the Fulham U18s and U21s combined, with Joseph not that far behind on a healthy total of 20 on the youth pitches at Thorp Arch, away from also hammering home six strikes in the senior ranks.

Staggeringly, Stansfield would only ever reach two senior goals at Craven Cottage, but all of that is firmly at the back of his mind now as Birmingham’s leading star.

The “dynamite” Leeds forward – as he was once glowingly labelled by U23 scout Antonio Mango – will want to be held in the same high esteem soon, rather than fighting it out for scraps at Elland Road.

Therefore, another statement striker deal could soon be on the cards at St. Andrew’s, as Joseph possibly joins and fires in the goals to make Birmingham’s transition to Championship life as smooth as possible.

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ByKelan Sarson Jun 18, 2025

It’s set to be a busy summer transfer window at Celtic Park, as always seems to be the case.

Kieran Tierney has already secured his Celtic return, resulting in much excitement, but many more signings are set to follow.

Now, the Hoops are closing in on a “fearless” new winger reminiscent of a certain Liel Abada.

How Liel Abada is faring after leaving Celtic

Countless players have enjoyed longer Celtic careers, with many making many more appearances in green and white hoops, but Abada will always be remembered fondly by the supporters.

Just 20 years old at the time, Abada arrived from Maccabi Petah Tikva for a reported fee of £3.6m in the summer of 2021.

He netted the first goal of the Ange Postecoglou era in a Champions League qualifier against Midtjylland, scoring 29 times and registering 22 assists in 112 outings for the club, named PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year during his debut campaign.

A few of Abada’s goals are why he is so fondly remembered by fans, namely a stoppage-time winner against Dundee United, as well as goals during Old Firm demolition victories, adding the third in a 3-0 win in February 2022, before bagging a brace during a 4-0 hammering of Rangers later that year.

However, after being sidelined with a long-term injury and due to growing tension following the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, Abada was sold to MLS side Charlotte FC for a reported fee of £10m in March last year, representing a tidy profit.

Since then, he’s been pretty impressive in America, scoring 13 goals in 46 games, also registering three assists.

Now, Celtic could be set to land their next goal-scoring winger.

Celtic set to sign a new wide-attacker

As has been widely reported, including by reports in Belgium, Celtic are now set to sign Benjamin Nygren from Nordsjælland for a reported £2m fee.

Nygren was also linked with Anderlecht but has allegedly chosen to head to Scotland in favour of heading elsewhere in Europe. As such, he is ‘expected to complete his move to the Premiership’.

Speaking to Swedish outlet Fotboll Skanalen earlier this month, Nygren admitted “it’s clear that there is a lot of interest. I have done extremely well this whole season… I will leave”.

The 23-year-old winger made his senior debut for hometown club IFK Göteborg, before spells with Genk and Heerenveen​​​​​​, joining current side Nordsjælland in January 2022, scoring an impressive 35 goals in 107 appearances for the Tigers.

His form at club level saw him earn a senior international debut earlier this year, featuring in all four of Sweden’s fixtures in 2025 to date, scoring against both Northern Ireland in Stockholm and Hungary at the Puskás Aréna just last week.

So, let’s assess why he’s so similar to Abada.

Goals

15

3rd

Assists

2

69th

Shots

82

3rd

Shots on target

40

1st

Shots on target %

48.8

10th

Big chances missed

14

3rd

Average SofaScore rating

7.42

4th

As the table outlines, like the Israeli, Nygren is very much a goal-scoring wide-attacker, hence why he had more shots on target than anyone else in this season’s Superligaen, also ranked in the top three for goals, shots and big chances missed.

International teammate Alexander Isak described Nygren as “fearless” and full of “confidence”, adding that he thoroughly enjoyed playing alongside a winger who is able to “provide good crosses”.

Sakhu Mpofu of Total Football Analysis outlines how he is best as a right-winger who likes to ‘invert into the centre’, while he is also described as “versatile​​​​​​​” and ‘one of the most underrated” players in Denmark’s top-flight.

Thus, it is clear that Celtic are set to secure the services of a high-quality wide-attacker, with similar natural goal-scoring instincts to one of the previous incumbents of the right-wing position, Abada.

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Celtic have progressed in their attempts to sign a left-back who would be even better than Jeffrey Schlupp.

ByDan Emery Jun 14, 2025

Chelsea’s eventful summer window so far has produced plenty of different stories emerging from behind-the-scenes, with Enzo Maresca still looking to bolster his squad further and preferably in time for the Club World Cup later this month.

BlueCo have just two more days to register new players before the competition begins, and with £97 million worth of prize money on the line, it is little surprise that Stamford Bridge chiefs want to take it seriously.

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The Blues have held discussions.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 6, 2025

Striker Liam Delap has already been signed from Ipswich for around £30 million, the value of his release clause, and he’s set to snub a spot in Lee Carsley’s England Under-21 squad for the Euros so he can feature at the CWC for Chelsea.

“I am definitely not disappointed,” said Carsley on Delap not leading the line for England.

“I am delighted for Liam and his family. I think it is a brilliant thing for an English centre-forward to play in the Premier League at such a prestigious club like Chelsea. Hopefully he will do really well there and push for the senior team. We will move on, we moved on quite quickly.

“I think we have always known that two or three of the players could move to clubs that were playing in the Club World Cup and we have been preparing for this for a while.”

In terms of who could join Delap in time for the CWC, Chelsea have a number of different plates spinning.

Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea

8.08

Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town

8.05

Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa

8.04

Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton

7.83

Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town

7.55

via WhoScored

Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké continues to among Chelsea’s top priorities, while new talks have been held over a move for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato this week (Simon Phillips). Chelsea also have a number of rumoured top targets for the wing, including Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens.

AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan, who’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract, remains high on the agenda as well.

Chelsea opened talks with Milan over signing Maignan, and the France international is believed to be equally keen on a move to Stamford Bridge. However, as Milan demand around £25 million to sell their captain, with Chelsea only wanting to pay £10 million (Sky Sports), they are looking to find common ground on his price tag.

Chelsea could force Robert Sanchez out if they sign Mike Maignan

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, if they do seal a deal for the 29-year-old, it could spell trouble for Robert Sanchez in particular.

The mainstay keeper started 32 Premier League matches under Maresca last term, but it is believed Maignan’s potential arrival could push Sanchez out of the Chelsea exit door, alongside fellow shot-stopper Djordje Petrovic.

Chelsea’s extensive backlog of keepers, which still includes £150,000-per-week outcast Kepa Arrizabalaga, needs to be trimmed.

Maignan is a truly “elite” keeper, as described by Liverpool star Alisson, so he’s definitely worth having for a cut-price fee, but it is a given that Chelsea will have to find new homes for half of the shot-stoppers in their squad as well.

Crystal Palace now have Europa League football to look forward to next season, and already the club are planning for the summer as they eye up a move to sign a “superb” Bundesliga midfielder, according to a recent report.

Wharton’s Crystal Palace future in doubt despite FA Cup win

Adam Wharton has been a standout performer since his arrival in SE25, and his performances have caught the attention of teams at home and abroad. Despite missing a large chunk of this season through a groin injury, Wharton has played 20 times in the Premier League and was a huge part of the Eagles’ FA Cup glory.

Heading into the summer transfer window, he is now very much a wanted man, as teams start to circle with significant interest. Last week, it was reported that Man United boss Ruben Amorim is personally driving the Red Devils’ move to sign Wharton. It’s claimed that United are in the strongest position to sign the Englishman this summer, but they are not the only team chasing the midfielder.

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Newcastle United have also been heavily linked with a move for the 21-year-old, while Arsenal are said to have joined the race to sign Wharton, as they plan to close the gap at the top of the table.

Liverpool are also interested in Wharton, and it’s been reported that they are planning to make a £60 million bid to sign the Palace man. However, given the Eagles have qualified for the Europa League, their stance has tightened, and it’s been claimed they wouldn’t consider any bid less than £80 million.

Crystal Palace eyeing move to sign "superb" £15m+ midfielder

And while the hope will of course be to convince the England starlet to stay put, according to Sky Germany, Crystal Palace are interested in signing Nadiem Amiri from Bundesliga side Mainz 05, making plans to buff up their midfield ranks just in case.

Sky Germany report that Amiri’s exit from Mainz is a possibility this summer, as Palace, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing the midfielder, as well as teams in Serie A.

The 28-year-old was asked about his future after Mainz’s final game of the season over the weekend against Bayer Leverkusen, which they drew 2-2, and the German didn’t give much away: “Go on holiday now; then we’ll see.”

Apps

30

Goals

7

Expected goals

5.47

Assists

5

Shots per game

2.1

Key passes per game

2.1

Interceptions per game

0.5

Tackles per game

1.7

Amiri, who has been dubbed “superb” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, doesn’t have a release clause in his contract, with this report claiming he could cost between 18 and 20 million euros, which is roughly £15-16 million.

The midfielder, who can operate as a number ten or more defensively, is under contract until 2028, and the fact that Mainz have qualified for Europe next season will toughen their stance, given Amiri has been an important player this season with seven goals and five assists in 30 Bundesliga games.

Chelsea are big fans of a marquee Real Madrid star as BlueCo plan to sign an “elite” level player this summer, with Enzo Maresca’s side expected to undergo a seismic overhaul.

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The Blues are currently attempting to seal Champions League qualification for next season, which will have a key effect on their ability to attract and pay for their desired top transfer targets.

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They’re currently level on points with Aston Villa and sit fifth by the skin of their teeth on goal difference, and things could look very different by the conclusion of the next Premier League matchweek.

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

Chelsea simply cannot afford any slip-ups in their final two matches against Man United and European spot rivals Nottingham Forest, especially considering Stamford Bridge officials are aiming to be ambitious when the summer window reopens for business.

They will be competing in the Club World Cup as well, a tournament which could yield a seismic financial windfall of around £97 million if they win it, so Chelsea are understandably taking it seriously.

According to journalist Simon Phillips, sharing another significant update on the club’s transfer plans, Chelsea ideally want to sign two of their top targets before the CWC commences, and they’ll have a brief window from June 1 to June 10 to do so.

Phillips also reports that Chelsea have “big plans” in the works, and one of their aims is to bring in an “elite” senior player.

Chelsea would love to sign Real Madrid star Rodrygo

As per the reliable journalist, writing via his Substack, £202,000-per-week Real Madrid star Rodrygo is one man in this bracket who they seriously admire.

Albeit unlikely, Chelsea “would love” to sign Rodrygo, and he is among the men who they’d be willing to break their wage structure for, depending on if they seal their spot in the Champions League for next season.

“Chelsea would love to sign any of the above three [Harry Kane, Alexander Isak or Rodrygo], and are looking at potential opportunities around players like this,” wrote Phillips.

“Obviously all three will be seen as unrealistic and the reality is that they are very unrealistic, because we don’t want to pay over our wage structure for any players.

“However, if Chelsea get Champions League football then wage structures (with incentives) will go up at the club and players will be earning more on bonuses. This could make the overall wage package on offer a bit more appealing to players.

“We have also had it confirmed that Chelsea are prepared to break their wage structure for the right player, and the three mentioned above would fall into that category. I’m not saying we will sign any of them by the way, just that Chelsea are looking to bring ‘elite’ players I guess as well as youngsters.”

The Brazilian has starred for Real with 13 goals and 10 assists in 50 appearances this season, all while featuring as a striker, left-winger and right-winger under Carlo Ancelotti.

There is little denying he’d be an immediate upgrade to Chelsea’s wide options and further forward, but this attempted move would be a big reach to say the least, given his importance to Real and suggestions he could cost up to £131 million.