It feels like the walls are starting to close in on Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Australian might be two favourable games away from a Europa League Final, but there can be no denying that domestically, at least, this season has been nothing short of a horror show.

In the Premier League, for example, his side have lost 18 games, which may have been relegation form in seasons past.

Spurs form in 24/25
Competitoin	Games	Wins	Draws	Losses
Premier League	33	11	4	18
Europa League	12	7	3	2
FA Cup	2	1	0	1
League Cup	5	4	0	1
Total	52	23	7	22
All Stats via Transfermarkt

So it’s not been surprising to see reports linking the club to potential replacements again in recent weeks, including one candidate who could be something of a Mauricio Pochettino repeat.

Tottenham's manager search

Before getting to the man in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other names that have recently been touted for moves to N17, such as former player Scott Parker.

The former midfielder has just led Burnley to a record-breaking promotion to the Premier League, his third overall, but it would be fair to say that this feels like an appointment that would upset more fans than it would please, considering how he’s got on in, the top-flight previously.

However, a name that might inspire more hope in the Lilywhites faithful is Marco Silva.

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The Portuguese manager has been in the Fulham hot seat since July 2021 and, to his credit, has done a marvellous job, turning what has been a yo-yo club in the past into a comfortable mid-table side.

Yet, when it comes to managers overachieving with their club this season, it’s impossible to overlook Andoni Iraola, and it seems like Spurs aren’t.

According to a recent report from the Mail Online, there is a feeling at the club that Postecoglou will be axed regardless of what happens in Europe and that the Spaniard would be among the leading candidates to replace him when a decision is made.

It would be a bold, exciting, and potentially risky appointment, but the club should follow through with it, especially as it would feel similar to Pochettino’s hiring.

Why Iraola could be Poch 2.0

So, while it might sound like a reach, there are some clear reasons why hiring Iraola could be something of a Pochettino repeat.

For example, like the Argentine with Southampton, he would be moving from a club he’s transformed from relegation fodder into a genuine top-half contender in Bournemouth.

Moreover, unlike Parker, for example, the Spaniard, who analyst Ben Mattinson claims is “one of the best in the league,” has an evident dedication to playing entertaining, exciting football – his side has scored just nine goals fewer than second-place Arsenal – like Poch, but not to the point of self-sabotage, as Postecoglou has been prone to in the past.

On top of that, he’d be coming in to help build something in North London with a squad that has some more senior stars in it but plenty of young and tremendously exciting prospects as well, like Mikey Moore, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray.

Last but not least, before the current USMNT boss was handed the reins in N17, he led former side Espanyol to two surprising mid-table finishes in La Liga, which saw him get the job on the south coast.

Likewise, before making his way to Dorset, the Cherries boss built quite a reputation for himself in Spain, helping guide perennial underdogs Rayo Vallecano to an unexpected promotion in 2021.

Ultimately, Iraola has the CV, the playing style and the potential to be a sensational appointment for Spurs, and the fact that his hiring could so closely mirror Pochettino’s is just the icing on top.

Their new Lucas Moura: Ange has struck gold on "generational" Spurs talent

The promising youngster could be great for Spurs.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 23, 2025

It would be fair to say that prior to last night, this had been Tottenham Hotspur’s worst season for a generation.

However, now that Ange Posteocoglou’s side have secured a place in the Europa League final, there is a chance to make history.

One of the stars of both legs was Dominic Solanke, who scored a crucial penalty in the first game and then slotted home the opener last night.

The Englishman has come in for some criticism since joining the club, but with his goal tally starting to rise, it feels like he’s justifying his club-record fee.

Yet, even still, Daniel Levy and Co may regret selling a former academy gem who’s outscoring him and another of the club’s transfer targets.

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Spurs' striker search

With the domestic season going the way it has this year, Spurs have understandably been linked with a number of exciting strikers in recent weeks, from LOSC Lille’s Jonathan David to Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Tim Kleindienst.

However, one of the more exciting and just as realistic targets the North Londoners have been linked with has been Liam Delap.

According to reports from earlier this week, the club have been considering a move for the Ipswich Town star, who has a release clause worth £30m in his contract now that the Tractor Boys have been relegated.

While that certainly isn’t cheap, it would probably represent good value in the current market, as the Lilywhites would be getting a young, Premier League-proven striker who’s homegrown and has arguably been one of the Suffolk sides’ best players.

For example, even though he’s been playing for the third-worst team in the competition, the Winchester-born marksman has managed to rack up a decent tally of 12 goals and two assists in 37 appearances, of which 34 have come in the Premier League.

Yet, as with Solanke, the former Manchester City prospect is being outscored by a forward sold by Levy and Co.

The former Spurs gem sold by Levy

So, while the player in question joined a club abroad, he’s actually faced Tottenham three times this season, coming out on the losing side each and every time.

We are, of course, talking about Troy Parrott, who is a product of Hotspur Way and even has four Spurs appearances to his name, but he currently plays his trade in the Netherlands for AZ Alkmaar.

The Irish international joined the Dutch outfit last summer for a fee of around £6.7m after a stellar 23/24 campaign on loan with Excelsior Rotterdam, in which he scored 17 goals and provided five assists in just 32 games.

This season has been just as successful for the “phenomenal” forward, as dubbed by former manager Ryan Lowe, aside from the games against the Lilywhites, that is.

For example, in 45 appearances, totalling 3411 minutes, the 23-year-old dynamo has scored 20 goals and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 136.44 minutes.

Appearances

45

42

37

Minutes

3411′

3221′

2569′

Goals

20

15

12

Assists

5

8

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.55

0.54

0.37

Minutes per Goal Involvement

136.44

140.04

183.5

For comparison’s sake, Solanke has managed to score 15 goals and provide eight assists in 42 appearances, totalling 3221 minutes this term, which comes out to a slightly worse average of a goal involvement every 1.82 games, or every 140.04 minutes.

Now, to be clear, we are not suggesting that the Dublin-born poacher would outscore the former Bournemouth star in the Premier League, but it does raise a question about how he might have fared as Postecoglou’s second-choice striker, as Richarlison’s hardly done much when he’s played.

Ultimately, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and selling Parrott to AZ was probably the right thing to do for his career, but we can’t help wondering how he would have fared in North London this season.

Forget Porro: 9/10 star with 96% passing is looking like Spurs' best player

It was a sensational performance from the Spurs star.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 9, 2025

Big summer ahead for Everton, and no mistake. David Moyes transformed the Merseyside mood when replacing Sean Dyche in January, but results in the Premier League have lulled of late.

This is understandable, but it does shine a light on the urgent need for impactful first-team additions, especially with so many players approaching the end of their Toffees contracts.

While fans are hungry to see attacking additions, Everton aren’t restricted in their scope for signings, with one of the Championship’s finest midfielders recently added to The Friedkin Group’s shortlist.

Everton chasing EFL star

As per TEAMtalk, Everton have added Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer to their shortlist of summer targets as Moyes looks to strengthen his midfield.

Joining United from Coventry City for a reported £15m fee in 2023, the 27-year-old has showcased sustained quality as a playmaker and a combative midfield presence besides.

Striking a deal with the third-place Championship side will be more difficult if they are promoted to the Premier League, but if not, Everton will be sure to make their move.

What Gustavo Hamer would bring to Everton

Five days ago, Hamer was named the Championship Player of the Season for 2024/25, a worthy winner after a fantastic campaign as the centrepiece of the Blades’ promotion push.

Though a late-season dip has pulled Chris Wilder’s team away from the automatics, they are well placed to triumph through the play-offs, especially with Hamer pulling the strings, having scored nine goals and supplied seven assists in the second tier this term, playmaking from deep or out on the left.

Hailed for his “unbelievable” quality by former teammate Oli McBurnie, Hamer ranks among the top 1% of positional peers in the Championship this year for progressive passes, the top 6% for passes attempted and the top 4% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

He’s also Prem-proven, having held his own for United in the Premier League last season, posting four goals and six assists across 34 matches, averaging two key passes per game and creating ten big chances, as per Sofascore.

A dead-ball specialist but so much more, Hamer could even shape into Everton’s next version of Ross Barkley, blessed with the same kind of robustness and gifted ability that the former Toffees youth graduate produced in his early years as a senior star on Merseyside.

Barkley left Everton for Chelsea way back in January 2018 for a £15m fee and he’s since been on something of a rollercoaster, but the argument’s there for Goodison Park remaining his most prosperous ground to this date, with former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claiming in 2014 the rising talent was “one of the best” he had ever seen.

Still having devoted more time to Everton than any other club – by far – Barkley carried the kind of X-factor that Hamer would restore to Moyes’ team, combining with the likes of Iliman Ndiaye to create something special.

Ross Barkley: Senior Career by Club

Club

Apps

Goals

Assists

Everton

179

27

25

Chelsea

100

12

11

Luton Town

37

5

6

Aston Villa

50

7

2

OGC Nice

28

4

2

Sheffield Wednesday

13

4

0

Leeds United

4

0

1

Stats via Transfermarkt

Abdoulaye Doucoure, who is out of contract this summer, would likely need to leave to make way for Hamer, but this would be a trade-off worth committing to, with the Malian 32 years old and Everton’s highest earner at £130k per week.

Hamer’s capacity to play off the left, something Barkley has done at times throughout his career, only strengthens the case for his transfer to Bramley Moore.

Everton have some exciting attacking midfielders in their ranks, but Hamer might just take the cake if he’s welcomed to the fold this summer.

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Arsenal chiefs are now targeting an “all-round” forward, who arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur bid for last summer.

Andrea Berta's transfer plans for Arsenal this summer

The Gunners’ new sporting director, Andrea Berta, looks set to be a very busy man when the transfer window reopens for business.

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The north Londoners had a potentially ambitious plan.

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Manager Mikel Arteta has already admitted that the club are set for a “big” summer after Berta’s arrival, and the Spaniard is “excited” by what could be in store.

“It’s going to be a big one, and we are very excited about it,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s transfer plans ahead of next season.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

“When you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad and the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step. Every summer is big because it is an opportunity and especially because of the number of players we have in the squad right now, that is necessary.

“But it’s a big summer for many things, because first of all, we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then, obviously, how can we improve and evolve the team.”

Arsenal are believed to be in the market for a second-choice keeper, full-back, midfielder, left-winger, right-winger and striker (GiveMeSport), with a host of players looking set to depart N5.

Neto will return to Bournemouth after his straight loan expires, while Kieran Tierney is off to Celtic after agreeing a pre-contract with his former club in the winter window.

Arsenal are expected to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko as well, and veteran midfielder Jorginho will be free to find a new club after his contract expires on June 30th – emphasising the need for new arrivals in key areas.

Thomas Partey and Arsenal are in negotiations over a contract extension right now, but a new midfielder remains high on Berta’s agenda, amid reports a deal for Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi is close.

Arsenal are internally behaving like they’ve already signed Zubimendi, according to David Ornstein. Meanwhile, as Arteta’s side also reportedly chase new wide options, Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey is emerging as an option.

Arsenal targeting Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey

As per journalist Graeme Bailey, writing in a piece for The Boot Room, Arsenal are targeting Ramsey as a potential option, and a Villa Park exit for the 23-year-old isn’t entirely ruled out.

Ramsey has been a firm regular under Unai Emery this term, making 43 appearances in all competitions, where he’s predominantly featured on the left-wing. The Englishman could be a solid alternative to Gabriel Martinelli on that side, but Arsenal are not the only north London club to conjure up ideas about signing Ramsey.

According to The Times, Tottenham made a part-exchange bid for Ramsey, offering Villa £20 million plus Giovani Lo Celso, but this offer was rejected out of hand.

Called an “all-round” player by ex-Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ramsey’s rumoured price tag stands at around £50 million, so Berta will have to pay a significant fee if he wishes to seal an Arsenal deal.

Tottenham Hotspur lost for the 19th time in the Premier League this season when they were hammered 5-1 by champions Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Spurs took a shock lead on Merseyside when Dominic Solanke found the back of the net with a brilliant header from James Maddison’s corner, but it was not a sign of things to come for Ange Postecoglou’s side in the game.

Defensive frailties were on display yet again for the Whites on a dismal afternoon at Anfield, as Liverpool had 25 shots on goal and seven efforts on target.

The Daily Mail recently reported that Postecoglou is ‘likely’ to move on from the club at the end of the season, and results like this will not do his chances of keeping his job any favours.

Tottenham’s manager cannot be spared any blame for the team’s poor form this term, because they have lost 19 matches in the division, but he has not been helped by the performances of some of the players on the pitch.

Spurs have an incredibly youthful squad, with the hope that they will develop and improve over time, and that was on display at Anfield, as Archie Gray struggled.

Why Archie Gray has struggled this season

Tottenham reportedly splashed out a fee of £30m to sign the 19-year-old midfielder from Leeds United last summer, and it has been a difficult year for the teenager.

Gray made his 24th appearance and 15th start of the Premier League season against Liverpool on Sunday, and he is still trying to establish where his best position on the pitch is.

It was his fourth start as a defensive midfielder, to go along with five starts at left-back, eight starts at right-back, and 19 starts at centre-back due to the injury issues Spurs have had in that area of the park.

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Gray, who played as a right-back typically for Leeds last season, has not had a settled position that he could make his own and deliver consistent performances in, which may be why his campaign has been fairly unimpressive on paper.

24/25 Premier League	Archie Gray
Appearances	24
Goals	0
Big chances created	0
Assists	0
Tackles + interceptions per game	1.0
Error led to shot	1
Error led to goal	1
Duel success rate	47%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the England U21 international has failed to deliver much in the way of quality on or off the ball, with zero goal contributions and a below-average success rate in duels.

His first-half display against Liverpool before being withdrawn at the break was more of the same. Gray did not create any chances or register a shot on goal, and he only won one duel, whilst completing 80% of his attempted passes.

As you can see in the clip above, Ryan Gravenberch found it far too easy to hold off the midfielder to allow Alexis Mac Allister to fire in from range to put Liverpool 2-1 up.

It was a disappointing display from Gray, who is still learning and adjusting to Premier League football at the age of 19, but his fellow 19-year-old Lucas Bergval was even worse than him.

Why Lucas Bergval was even worse than Archie Gray

The teenage talent was selected alongside the Englishman for the trip to Anfield, leaving Spurs with a very young midfield despite having Yves Bissouma available and on the bench.

It was a difficult match for both Gray and Bergval, and that is reflected in their statistics, as the Swedish flop was even worse than the former Leeds man, notably taking fewer touches (43) than even goalkeeper Vicario (49).

Vs Liverpool	Archie Gray	Lucas Bergval
Minutes	45	90
Pass accuracy	80%	72%
Dribbles completed	1/1	0/1
Possession lost	5x	13x
Dribbled past	0x	1x
Ground duels won	1/1	5/8
Interceptions	2	1
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Sweden international was far more wasteful with the ball at his feet, completing a lower percentage of his passes, failing with his only attempted dribble, and losing the ball almost three times as much.

Bergval did win more duels than Gray but had a worse success rate and was dribbled past once, in what was a disappointing overall display from the youngster.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville went as far as to say that his efforts to clear the ball from a corner for Cody Gakpo’s goal were “appalling”, as his weak headed clearance fell straight to the Dutch forward inside the box.

Going to Anfield to face the champions is never an easy task, and it was a big ask from Postecoglou to put Gray and Bergval in midfield together without an experienced midfielder alongside them, as they only had James Maddison, who is an attacking player by nature, around them.

That resulted in a poor evening for both players and Spurs, who now have to prepare for a first-leg clash with Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday.

Tottenham cannot afford for their midfield to be as below-par as it was against Liverpool, as this is their last chance to win a trophy this season, and that is why Postecoglou must ruthlessly ditch Bergval from the starting XI for the clash with the Norwegian outfit.

Bissouma was an unused substitute against Liverpool on Sunday and may, now, be in contention to come back into the side after Gray and Bergval’s disappointing performances in the middle of the park.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion man has averaged 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game and won 61% of his duels in the Europa League so far this term, which suggests that he could provide some steel at the heart of the midfield on Thursday night.

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It is now down to Postecoglou to drop Bergval from the starting line-up in order to make room for Bissouma to come back into the team against Bodo/Glimt.

It’s been another season of disappointments for Arsenal this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side couldn’t get past Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Champions League despite creating enough chances; they fell to Newcastle United in the semi-finals of the League Cup and didn’t even get past the Third Round of the FA Cup.

Worse yet, after running Manchester City so close in the Premier League for the last two seasons, the Gunners completely fell away from Liverpool this year, who are currently 15 points ahead with two games to go.

1

Liverpool

83

37

83

2

Arsenal

66

33

68

3

Newcastle

68

45

66

4

Man City

67

43

65

5

Chelsea

62

43

63

One of the reasons the Reds have had such a comfortable time of it is the incredible, talismanic form of Mohamed Salah, something Andre Berta and Co are seemingly intent on bringing to the Emirates next season in the shape of a striker who’s outscoring Alexander Isak this year.

Arsenal's striker search

As things stand, Arne Slot’s Champions-elect have scored a whopping 17 goals more than Arsenal, so it’s hardly been surprising to see the Gunners linked with a host of prolific number nines in recent weeks, like Jonathan David and Benjamin Sesko.

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The former is set to be available for free this summer, and it’s not hard to see why so many teams, including the North Londoners, are vying for his signature, as in just 48 appearances for LOSC Lille this season, the Canadian poacher has scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists.

Sesko, on the other hand, would cost Arteta and Co around £67m, but as he’s still just 21 years old and has managed to rack up 21 goals and six assists in 44 appearances for a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues, it would be hard to argue that’s not a fair valuation.

However, to really take that next step, the Gunners need to bring in someone with a truly remarkable record, someone like Viktor Gyokeres.

According to a recent report from Portuguese outlet A Bola, Arsenal remain incredibly interested in the Swedish international and have stepped up their pursuit of him.

The report has revealed that the club have now made an offer to the Swede’s agent worth around £7m a year, which is about £135k-per-week, and that they are prepared to make an offer of up to €75m (£63m) to Sporting CP.

It would be a costly transfer to get over the line, but given his incredible goalscoring ability, it’d be more than worth it, especially as he could become Arsenal’s own Salah.

Why Gyokeres could be Arsenal's own Salah

So, the first thing to say is that this comparison obviously has nothing to do with their position, as Salah almost exclusively plays off the right, while Gyokeres is an out-and-out centre-forward.

Instead, the latter could become Arsenal’s version of the former in the sense that his sensational goalscoring ability could fire the club to glory next season, making him a talisman for Arteta’s side.

It’s not hard to imagine this happening either, as in 50 appearances across all competitions and totalling 4038 minutes this season, the Swedish “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 52 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to an average of 1.3 goal involvements per game, or one every 62.12 minutes.

In contrast, Isak, who has long been a target for the Gunners, has scored 27 goals and provided six assists in 41 appearances, totalling 3234 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.24 games, or every 98 minutes.

Moreover, the Stockholm-born phenomenon is also leading the race for the European Golden Boot, with 38 goals in just 32 league games, while second-placed Salah has 28 goals to his name in 36 league appearances.

1

Gyokeres

32

38

1.18

2

Salah

36

28

0.77

3

Mbappe

31

27

0.87

4

Kane

30

25

0.83

5

Lewandowski

31

25

0.80

Ultimately, while it might cost the club a pretty penny, they should be doing all they can to sign Gyokeres this summer, as his simply sensational ability to put the ball in the back of the net could see him become a Salah-esque talisman for them next year, and lead them to the title.

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With the summer transfer window fast approaching, Manchester City are now reportedly readying a formal proposal to sign a talented South American defender for Pep Guardiola.

Pep reveals Man City's FA Cup pride

Whilst it’s been a fairly disappointing season in the Premier League and arguably Guardiola’s toughest, Manchester City still have the FA Cup final to look forward to this weekend. In what is the third year in a row that the Citizens have reached the final at Wembley, they will be desperate to avoid an upset against Crystal Palace and fall at the final hurdle for the second consecutive year.

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Guardiola knows exactly what the occasion means and spoke about how proud he and his side are of their FA Cup achievements in recent years. The Spaniard told reporters earlier this week: “I say it every time we are in this position, but I will say it again: it is such a privilege to be able to play in this incredible stadium and have a chance to win this beautiful trophy,” said Guardiola, ahead of his squad’s trip to north-west London.

“This is our third year in a row in the FA Cup Final, which is something we are very, very proud of. In the FA Cup, you play all the top teams from the Premier League and the Championship and always there are times when it is difficult.

“To have made three Finals in a row shows how consistent we have been. It says everything about this generation of players and the club itself. The FA Cup is the most challenging and beautiful domestic cup competition in the world, there is no doubt about that.”

Away from their potential Wembley success this weekend, meanwhile, those at The Etihad have already reportedly set their sights on welcoming a defensive reinforcement when the summer transfer window arrives.

Man City readying Wesley proposal

According to Coluna do Fla, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City are now readying a formal proposal worth €35m (£29m) to sign Wesley Franca from Flamengo this summer. The Brazilian right-back is reportedly keen on a move to Man City, but has also attracted interest from Manchester United and Liverpool as a result of his impressive campaign.

Their £29m proposal will reportedly fall short of Flamengo’s valuation, however, with the Brazilian club demanding as much as €45m (£38m) to sell Wesley before the Club World Cup begins.

Dubbed “pacy” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, Wesley looks set to have quite a decision to make this summer. With a whole host of Premier League clubs chasing his signature, the 21-year-old looks destined for England and may well end up in a Manchester City side who desperately need a right-back.

Already pursuing deals to sign Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, Manchester United and INEOS have now reportedly submitted an opening bid to sign another Premier League talent.

Man Utd's attacking rebuild

Attack is often the best form of defence and if Ruben Amorim is to turn his Manchester United spell around before the pressure increases, it seems as though Manchester United must old saying to the test. Already, the Red Devils are reportedly advancing in deals to sign both Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Delap from Ipswich Town, but they may not be done there.

The two forwards should have an immediate impact on a struggling side at Old Trafford, who are set to end the Premier League campaign without back-to-back wins for the first time in the club’s history in a record that Amorim would have been desperate to avoid.

A big reason for that record has been Manchester United’s struggles in front of goal. Both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have struggled to leave their marks when given the opportunity and both could now be heading for departures in ruthless fashion.

When compared with Delap and Cunha throughout the current campaign, it’s clear to see why the Red Devils are eyeing such an attacking overhaul, however.

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Delap, in a relegated Ipswich side, has clawed his way to 12 Premier League goals, whilst Cunha has been the star of the show at Wolves – scoring 15 league goals. Meanwhile, by some contrast, Hojlund and Zirkzee have managed a combined total of seven Premier League goals.

That said, INEOS may not stop after securing two fresh faces. Instead, reports are indicating that they’re pushing on to secure another Premier League star this summer.

Man Utd submit £55m offer to sign Mbeumo

According to reports in Spain, INEOS and Manchester United have now submitted a €65m (£55m) bid to sign Bryan Mbeumo for Amorim. Like Delap and Cunha, the Brentford star would be an instant upgrade on the current options at Old Trafford and could finally form a front three capable of matching Bruno Fernandes’ quality behind them.

Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Bryan Mbeumo

Rasmus Hojlund

Joshua Zirkzee

Starts

36

22

14

Goals

18

4

3

Assists

7

0

1

Expected Goals

11

5.2

4.8

Scoring over double Hojlund and Zirkzee’s combined tally this season, it’s no surprise that Mbeumo has found himself at the centre of Thomas Frank’s praise.

The Brentford boss spoke about the form of both the Manchester United target and his strike partner Yoanne Wissa after both scored in an impressive victory against Brighton & Hove Albion last month, telling reporters: “That’s an incredible achievement from the two of them.

“All praise due the two of them for the hard work, how much they push, and then of course to my staff, and then I think a little bit to the way we play.”

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca looks set for a busy summer indeed. He may be close to leading the Blues to their first trophy since 2021, but the Italian is already thinking ahead to next season.

There has been no shortage of big-name players being linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in recent weeks.

Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo is one trending target, with reports coming from Spain that the club would love to sign the Brazilian.

Hugo Ekitiké has emerged as another potential option to bolster Maresca’s frontline this summer. Journalist Simon Phillips claimed that Chelsea had been scouting the Frenchman ahead of the summer transfer window following his excellent campaign for Eintracht Frankfurt.

While the need for attacking players is obviously key for Maresca, especially if the club secures Champions League qualification for 2025/26, bringing in another centre-back or two is equally important.

Across all competitions this season, the club have conceded 57 goals, including 43 in the Premier League.

37

19

14

4

71

37

20

6

11

66

37

19

9

9

66

37

19

9

9

66

36

19

8

9

65

37

19

8

10

65

They will face tougher competition in Europe certainly, heightening the need for a defender capable of stepping up to the plate.

It looked as though they were frontrunners to sign Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, but that plan was scuppered recently…

Chelsea have missed out on Dean Huijsen

Following an excellent season for the Cherries, Huijsen certainly attracted attention from elsewhere, and it appeared as though he would be leaving the south coast sooner rather than later.

According to the Mail, Chelsea were targeting a swoop for the Spanish defender, with the report claiming fellow admirers Liverpool, believed that the Blues were leading the chase.

Recent developments, however, now mean that the youngster won’t be making the move to London this summer.

Real Madrid activated the £50m release clause in his contract in order to secure his services at the end of the season.

This is a big blow for Maresca, as capturing Huijsen, especially with clubs such as Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Liverpool showing interest, would have signalled a statement of intent.

Now, the Italian will have to turn to other defensive targets ahead of the transfer window opening on June 1. By that time, the Blues will know which European competition they will be playing in next season.

Could this allow the club to sign more high-profile players?

Chelsea keen to open talks with teenage defender

Maresa could turn to Premier League defenders Marc Guehi and Jarrad Branthwaite as potential alternatives this summer, according to Sky Sports.

It is likely both Crystal Palace and Everton will attempt to put Chelsea off by placing huge price tags on their prized assets. If so, the Blues could well turn to the continent for another centre-back.

According to TEAMtalk, with Huijsen now unavailable, Chelsea are reportedly keen on opening talks with Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.

The 19-year-old is a sought-after player, with the likes of AC Milan, Liverpool and Arsenal all showing interest in prising him away from the Netherlands.

Ajax have set an asking price in the region of €45m-€50m (£38m-£42m), meaning if the Blues were to sign him, he would be cheaper than Huijsen.

The report claims that talks are set to begin soon between the Premier League side and Hato. If so, Maresca will be looking to get this deal over the line as quickly as possible.

Why Chelsea must sign Jorrel Hato

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig is used to waxing lyrical about young talent, but his praise for Hato back in 2023 proves just how highly-rated he really was.

“17 years of age. De Toekomst’s Finest. One of the most talented CBs of his generation in Europe.” Said Kulig and the youngster has gone from strength to strength since.

Player

Year joined

Hakim Ziyech

2020

Daishwan Redan

2017

Juan Familia-Castillo

2016

Per Weihrauch

2006

Moubarak Boussoufa

2002

Jesper Gronkjaer

2001

Mario Melchiot

1999

Despite only turning 19 in March, the Ajax sensation has already racked up 111 competitive appearances for the club, registering 13 goal contributions in that time.

Although the club collapsed over the final few games, allowing PSV Eindhoven to steal the Eredivisie title away from them, Hato enjoyed a wonderful campaign.

His 90% pass accuracy in the top flight was third-best in the squad, behind only Youri Baas and Josip Sutalo, while he ranked first for tackles (1.9), fifth for interceptions (0.7) and third for clearances (2) per game for Ajax.

He also won 4.1 total duels per game – a success rate of 52% – while recovering 4.2 balls per game in the Eredivisie this term.

These performances led Kulig to hail him for his “immense quality” and for having an “excellent season” for the Dutch club.

Huijsen may be on his way to Madrid, but is there a case for Hato to perhaps turn out to be the better long-term prospect for Chelsea?

Why Jorrel Hato can be a better signing than Dean Huijsen

While Huijsen is a superb centre-back, Hato offers positional flexibility which could see him thrive under Maresca.

Not only is he an excellent ball-playing centre-back, but Hato is also just as comfortable at full-back, particularly on the left side of the defence.

Domestically this season, the Dutch youngster has registered eight goal contributions for Ajax, along with recording 0.45 goal-creating actions, winning 36 tackles, making 33 carries into the final third and taking 413 touches in the final third.

Compare these statistics to Huijsen, however, and it is clear who could fit into Maresca’s style better.

The Spaniard has recorded four goal contributions for the Cherries this term, while he also recorded 0.12 goal-creating actions, wins 26 tackles, made 29 carries into the final third and has taken only 137 touches in the opposition’s final third in the top flight.

Hato’s ball-playing ability in advancing out of his own half could give Chelsea a new dimension next season.

Huijsen may have been flavour of the month for a while, but for a cheaper transfer fee, Maresca could sign a defender who has the potential to be even better.

Tosin upgrade: Chelsea eyeing £25m Huijsen alternative as priority target

Chelsea are eyeing up a Dean Huijsen alternative who could be even better than Tosin Adarabioyo.

ByDan Emery May 18, 2025

Heading into their away tie with Newcastle United on Sunday, Chelsea were deep in some pretty impressive form in the Premier League.

The Blues were five league games unbeaten heading into his one – which included a stunning 3-1 victory being picked up against Arne Slot’s title-winning Liverpool – but all that positive energy came crashing down at St James’ Park as Eddie Howe’s Magpies ran out comfortable 2-0 victors.

Chelsea’s task on the day was made a lot harder by a clueless first-half red card, but there would have still been a lot to moan about from Enzo Maresca’s perspective at the full-time whistle, irrespective of his side having to play all of the second 45 minutes a man light.

Chelsea's biggest underperformers at St James' Park

Before touching on the rash red card, the likes of Noni Madueke struggled to ever get going in attack for the visitors.

Whilst Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak busted a gut for the Toon cause up top, Madueke was timid and limp in approach, seen in the 23-year-old failing to a register a single effort on Nick Pope’s goal during his forgettable 45-minute stint, as well as losing all four of his contested duels.

Romeo Lavia would last far longer on the St James’ turf, but he wouldn’t be deserving of any praise himself come full-time either, with his lackadaisical approach early on gifting the ball to Newcastle to take the lead via Sandro Tonali.

Moreover, the usually electric Cole Palmer once again failed to spark into life with possession squandered a hefty 14 times, but the elephant in the room that remains is Nicolas Jackson’s hot-headed dismissal.

Jackson would brainlessly connect with Newcastle defender Sven Botman using his elbow, meaning the ex-Villarreal centre-forward will now be suspended for the rest of the season.

This could be the last time Chelsea fans see the 23-year-old lead the line for the Blues in the Premier League, therefore, with the pantomime villain very much turning into Stamford Bridge’s next Kai Havertz.

Chelsea's next Havertz

Much like Jackson now, Chelsea fans would regularly lament the amount of missed chances Havertz would spurn for their team when he was still on the books of the West London outfit.

That is the case despite the German popping up with 32 strikes overall – which included the now Arsenal man scoring a winner in a Champions League final.

Despite that, he would still infuriate the Stamford Bridge masses with his consistent wastefulness, seen in him missing a colossal 14 big chances in Premier League action during his final Blues season.

Games played

30

35

Goals scored

10

14

Assists

5

5

Big chances missed

19

24

Goal conversion %

13%

18%

Big chances created

6

8

Jackson has actually bagged a promising 29 strikes in total for Maresca’s men over two seasons, yet – much like Havertz – he gets regularly under the skin of the restless Chelsea fanbase with his off performances, seen in him missing a mammoth 19 big chances during the 2024/25 campaign.

Therefore, his hot-headedness away at Newcastle could be the final straw that sees Jackson – the club’s new Havertz-like scapegoat – moved on.

London Evening Standard journalist Dom Smith suggested that the £32m signing ‘ruined’ his side’s chances of a big win, handing him a dismal 2/10 post-match rating.

But, it shouldn’t be completely ruled out that the 23-year-old goes on to be a success elsewhere, with Havertz showing in flashes for Arsenal – as per his 29-goal haul from 85 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s men – that a damaging experience for the Blues isn’t the be-all-and-end-all.

As bad as Jackson: Maresca must axe Chelsea dud who lost 100% duels

Chelsea lost 2-0 away at Newcastle United to hand the Toon an advantage in the ongoing Champions League race.

ByKelan Sarson May 11, 2025