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Sunderland are making some exciting moves in their hunt to consolidate in the top-flight and are reportedly now circling for a talented Real Madrid youngster, according to a report.

Sunderland close in on Marcin Bulka and Habib Diarra

The Black Cats are wasting no time in building a side capable of staying in the Premier League, and it is fair to say that Regis Le Bris is making some serious progress on the transfer front.

Yesterday, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Sunderland are set to sign Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra for a package of £30 million plus add-ons, adding a layer of steel to their engine room ahead of the new campaign.

On the same token, the Black Cats are on the brink of adding OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka after an agreement was found between both clubs regarding the Poland international.

Plenty of due diligence has been carried out on Wearside ahead of what promises to be a special campaign for everyone connected to the club. Yverdon Sport midfielder Moussa Baradji is another reported target amid claims he could be available for £2.5 million.

Off the field, Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith has confirmed Florent Ghisolfi will become Sunderland’s director of football, even if there is a wait due to administrative procedures needing to be fulfilled before he can enter the building.

Deal close: Sunderland on verge of signing "sensational" 25 y/o international

An agreement appears to be close.

By
Henry Jackson

Jun 27, 2025

He explained: “It’s thought that Sunderland and Ghisolfi are finalising the deal and as when recruiting a player from abroad, there are administrative processes to go through.

All being well, it will be in place in time for Ghisolfi to begin work as the players return to the Academy of Light in early July and the preparations for the new season begin in earnest.”

Back to on-field matters, Sunderland are reportedly set to step up their pursuit of a talented star who plies his trade at Real Madrid.

Sunderland willing to make offer for Gonzalo Garcia

According to reports in Spain, Sunderland are willing to offer a loan proposal for Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia with a mandatory purchase option that could top £17 million.

Real Oviedo, AS Roma and Leeds United are also keen on the 21-year-old forward, who has emerged as a breakout star at the Club World Cup, being likened to Raul by Los Blancos boss Xabi Alonso.

However, Real Madrid could look to negotiate a buyback clause of £25.6 million for the former Spain Under-19 international.

Enjoying a brilliant campaign combining his exploits at first-team level and with the La Liga giants’ second string, Garcia registered 28 goals and six assists in 43 appearances across all competitions.

Sunderland may need to push their negotiation powers to the max to force this one over the line, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get, which will be a mantra they will hope can prove decisive should negotiations ramp up.

As Barcelona advance in their bid to sign Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams this summer, the chances of Liverpool winger Luis Diaz moving to LaLiga dwindle considerably.

Earlier in June, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed La Blaugrana had seen a formal approach for the Colombian rebuffed, with FSG unequivocal in their response: Diaz is not for sale this summer.

While transfer stances are pliable things, it does seem silly to let Diaz leave for anything less than a mammoth fee. Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon has been touted as a potential successor, but would the Three Lions star truly represent an upgrade, especially as he would cost up to £100m?

Coming off the back of his most productive campaign for Liverpool, and a title-winning term at that, the 28-year-old Diaz has also aroused the attention of Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, who would be more inclined to meet Anfield’s £70m valuation of the star.

If he does leave, Cody Gakpo at least provides Arne Slot with an existing presence on the left wing. Moreover, Florian Wirtz is Anfield-bound, and he’s more than capable of playing off the wide strip.

The latest on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool

Liverpool have pulled a blinder in securing Wirtz’s signature. The deal, which could rise to a British-record £116m fee, has been agreed, but not yet finalised, with a medical slated for Friday.

Despite concrete interest from Manchester City and Bayern Munich, Liverpool have entered the final stages of a record transfer that should seal their position at the highest rung of a ladder which dangles over the scope of European football.

Typically placed as a central attacking midfielder, the German international ranked among the top 4% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

He’d raise the level of any forward he plays with, and while Diaz would go from strength to strength alongside Wirtz next season, should he leave, there’s another who may benefit from the Leverkusen superstar’s prowess.

Liverpool make approach for new forward

As per esteemed French outlet L’Equipe, Liverpool have entered the race for winger Malick Fofana, though Chelsea are leading the race, having already established direct contacts with Lyon for the 20-year-old.

However, Liverpool have now held talks with the representatives of Malick Fofana too, though they have joined a battle consisting of Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

Fofana’s fast ascent to prominence in Ligue 1 has caught the eye of several Premier League heavy hitters, and while he’s been priced at €50m (£43m), this stands far lower than what FSG would have to fork out for someone like Newcastle’s Gordon.

What Malick Fofana would bring to Liverpool

Belgian prospect Fofana may still be in the fledgling phase of a promising career, but he’s already proved he has the clean finishing and robust motions of a player capable of succeeding in the Premier League.

Joining Lyon from KAA Gent in January 2024, Fofana scored three times in the French top flight before the end of the 2023/24 term, only starting four matches.

Last season, though, he reached new levels while starting the year as a teenager, posting 11 goals and six assists across 41 matches.

In the French first division, he certainly demonstrated his aptitude, scoring five goals and assisting four more despite only starting 16 times. With only four big chances missed and six big chances created himself, there’s a lot to like, with the speedy star almost economical in his play, making smart choices.

As per FBref, he actually ranked among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues in 2024/25 for non-penalty goals scored, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 14% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

As is probably clear, he’s a naturally potent threat, looking to drive up the pitch and into the penalty area with fleet feet before striking on goal. Fofana has been described as a “game-changer” by journalist Antonio Mango, and it’s clear to see why.

The wideman’s performances, interestingly, have seen FBref draw up Gordon as one of his most comparable players, and so for a portion of the fee, surely this would be the track to head down for Liverpool?

He might be unrefined, but Gakpo resides in the Merseyside squad and, more to the point, Wirtz will soon be settled into the way of life at Liverpool, thus providing an electric talent such as Fofana with an elite supply line to direct toward the end of his darting runs.

For a Liverpool side whose creativity levels already rank as the best that the Premier League has seen in recent years, this is a tantalising thought that will become an exciting reality for the Reds faithful.

Across the past four Bundesliga campaigns, Wirtz has averaged 2.4 key passes or higher per game three times, which is an incredible achievement and a clear depiction of the magic of Liverpool’s new addition.

His genius ball-playing and -carrying skills would be the perfect fit for any player worth their salt, but for Fofana, a raw talent with blistering pace and an already established prolific sense, Liverpool truly could be the perfect stomping ground for him to take the next step in his development, especially as the aforementioned Gakpo will ease any sense of being overburdened.

Transfer Focus

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

If Liverpool sell Diaz and replace him with Fofana, they will be turning a profit while providing Wirtz with a forward to direct his playmaking skills toward for many years to come. What’s not to like?

He's better than Gordon: Liverpool among favourites to sign £77m winger

Liverpool may need to replace Luis Diaz in the transfer market this summer.

4

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 17, 2025

Next season is set to be another new dawn for Tottenham Hotspur.

Daniel Levy and Co. made what looks to have been the unpopular decision to sack Ange Postecoglou last Friday and, in his place, hire Thomas Frank.

While fans might’ve liked the club to back the manager who ended their trophy drought, the Danish coach is an exciting appointment, as he took Brentford up from the Championship and turned them into one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League.

Unsurprisingly, then, the North Londoners have been linked with one of the Bees’ best players, Bryan Mbeumo, but if reports are to be believed, they could decide to sign someone else, someone better.

Tottenham Transfer news

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other talented players touted for a move to Spurs in recent weeks, like Eberechi Eze and Xavi Simons.

Transfer Focus

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

The former has been a long-term target for the North Londoners, and while his £68m release clause would represent a significant investment, his tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in 43 games this season suggest he’d be more than worth it.

Likewise, the £67m it would reportedly take to secure Simons’ services this summer may sound like a lot – because it is – but when you consider he’s still just 22 years old and was able to score 11 goals and provide eight assists in just 33 games this year, it doesn’t sound so bad.

However, another Premier League-proven attacker has entered the frame for the North Londoners, someone who could be better than Mbeumo: Antoine Semenyo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports, Spurs have maintained their intense interest in the Bournemouth star, even though that interest originated prior to Postecoglou’s sacking.

The report does not mention a potential price for the Cherries ace, but stories from earlier this month claimed that he could be available for close to £70m.

It would likely be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line this summer, but given Semenyo’s immense ability, it’s one Spurs should be all over, especially as he could be an even better signing than Mbeumo.

How Semenyo compares to Mbeumo

Okay, so we know that Mbeumo is one of the most talked-about targets in England at the moment, and understandably so, as in 42 appearances this season, he was able to score 20 goals and provide nine assists.

But for our money, Semenyo would be the better signing, and there are several reasons why.

Firstly, while he wasn’t able to produce quite as many goal involvements, the Ghanaian international was still an incredibly effective attacker, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists in as many appearances for Bournemouth.

Moreover, as we all know, a winger is and should be judged on more metrics than just his goals and assists in the modern game, and when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers, the Cherries ace starts to come out on top.

For example, while the former Troyes gem does better in some metrics like shot and goal-creating actions as well as progressive passes, the former Bristol City star comes out on top in the majority of relevant metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, passing accuracy, tackles and more, all per 90.

Moreover, on top of being the more statistically well-rounded player, the 25-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is incredibly versatile.

For example, thanks to him being ambipedal – equally able to use both feet – he’s more than happy playing off the right as he is on the left and can even play up top or in midfield if he’s needed to.

Therefore, the dynamic “maverick,” as dubbed by Mattinson, could come in and fill in wherever he’s needed, in turn giving Frank far more tactical flexibility than he’d get from someone only dangerous off the right.

Ultimately, either Mbeumo or Semenyo would be excellent additions for Spurs, but thanks to the latter having the more impressive and promising underlying numbers, combined with his ability to play almost anywhere, we reckon he would be the better signing for the North Londoners.

Alongside Son: Frank must axe £165k-per-week Spurs "monster"

It would be best for Spurs to cash in and help Frank kickstart his time at the club.

3

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 13, 2025

It feels as if this summer is make-or-break for Ruben Amorim’s long-term future at Manchester United.

Amorim’s stint in charge to date hasn’t gone to plan whatsoever, with 17 wins and 17 defeats coming his way from 42 contests, culminating in the Red Devils having to stomach a shambolic 15th final place finish in the Premier League.

Therefore, the recruitment in and out of Old Trafford this chaotic transfer window has to be spot on, with the underperformers nearly nailing down the signature of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha to offer up at least one ray of much-needed positivity.

Unfortunately, that excitement has been short-lived as modern-day United great Bruno Fernandes now reportedly edges closer to the exit door. But his departure could be softened immediately by one bold replacement entering the Theatre of Dreams.

Man Utd lining up Fernandes replacement

The graphic above gives you just a flavour as to why the Portuguese ace leaving would be a disaster, with the 30-year-old just fresh off a combined 19 goals and assists in Premier League action, despite United sinking to 15th spot.

Transfer Focus

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

But, Amorim and Co. would surely bounce back from Fernandes’ exit swiftly if they were successful in landing Sporting star Pedro Goncalves, with a new report from Portuguese outlet A Bola – via Sport Witness – indicating that he is being lined up as a like-for-like replacement.

The suggestion is that the Red Devils are ‘considering making an offer’ for the 26-year-old, with any move likely to be ramped if Fernandes departs – although it could still take place regardless.

Losing the experience United number eight to Al-Hilal for mega millions would be able to finance the deal, with the report further stating that Amorim’s ex-employers would only cash in if his €80m (£67m) release clause is met.

How Goncalves compares to Amad

Signed the exciting “creative force” – as he’s been glowingly branded by football analyst Ben Mattinson – wouldn’t be purchased to just plug the gap of Fernandes.

The former Wolves flop is also a tricky customer down the left or right flank, thus representing a potential upgrade down the channels than another of United’s bright gems in Amad Diallo.

Goncalves will be chomping at the bit to change his negative Wolves narrative if he does return to England, having already caused ripples when scoring this blinder away at Arsenal in 2023.

Amad has also had to bounce back from his own difficulties at Old Trafford, albeit while tallying up 11 goals and ten assists last season as the United ship regularly hit icebergs.

That said, the “incredible” Goncalves – as he has been praised by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – might well have the beating of the Ivorian down either channel or through the centre as a number ten when assessing his glittering career numbers in Lisbon.

When assessing the table above, it’s clear how flexible Goncalves can be for the cause, with an amazingly high 30 goals and assists tallied up from 36 games centrally, on top of also registering a combined 105 goal contributions down either wing in the Portuguese capital.

On the flip side, Amad, who is still raw at an earlier stage in his career, has just 26 goal contributions overall when donning a Red Devils strip, meaning he might well have to forfeit some first-team action if the Bruno-like target does join the building.

The overriding anxiety will be that Goncalves has already flopped once in England, which could result in another high-profile failure coming up on his CV.

But, Fernandes entered the English game back in 2020 with a similar hype surrounding his name, having amassed an astounding 113 goals and assists from just 137 appearances for Sporting.

Consequently, it just feels written in the stars that this deal could go down as a similarly golden hit, as Goncalves aims to be a transformative figure that guides United to better days.

Not just Bruno: Man Utd star in talks to leave in another McTominay repeat

Manchester United could repeat their Scott McTominay disaster by selling this star.

By
Dan Emery

May 30, 2025

With the summer transfer window set to open on the 1st of June, it is clear that Chelsea are going to sign a striker. The Blues, who face Real Betis in the Conference League final on Wednesday, are strongly linked with several new names who could lead the line for them.

A recent report from Kieran Gill for The Mail named some of the striker targets the Blues are chasing this summer. They include Eintracht Frankfurt youngster Hugo Ekitike, also wanted by Liverpool, and fellow Bundesliga striker Benjamin Sesko, currently playing for RB Leipzig.

However, there is another man the West Londoners are interested in, for whom they are thought to be leading the race to sign.

Chelsea’s main striker target

It will be fascinating to see who the Blues pursue this summer, with regards to their centre-forward targets. Of course, they seem to be strong contenders to sign Ekitike and Sesko, but they are arguably not their preferred choice.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, according to a report from Chris Wheeler of The Mail, Chelsea are currently the favourites to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. The Blues have ‘edged ahead’ in the race in recent days, perhaps swung by their Champions League qualification, which was confirmed on Sunday.

This has been corroborated by journalist Graeme Bailey, with the transfer insider outlining that the Blues are now ‘confident’ that they will beat Manchester United in the battle for his signature, having already held ‘fresh talks’ with the player.

Any deal for the in-demand striker would cost in the region of £30m, owing to a relegation release clause in his contract at Portman Road.

Why Delap would be a good signing

Few players in their first Premier League campaign have made as much of an impression this season as Delap. In what was a disappointing season for Ipswich as a whole, the England under-21 forward certainly made a big impact.

The 22-year-old, who is the son of Stoke City cult hero Rory, played 37 times in his first full Premier League season. In that time, he managed to bag himself 12 goals and also chipped in with two assists.

One of the biggest positives about Delap is his consistency. His longest goal drought in 2024/25 was seven games, which actually came in the final few games of the season.

Aside from that, he was a consistent scorer for the Tractor Boys, even finding the back of the net against Chelsea in a 2-0 win at Portman Road.

If the Blues do manage to sign Delap, then he is in safe hands under Enzo Maresca. The Italian coach certainly knows how to get the best out of a clinical goalscorer, given the form Jamie Vardy showed under him for Leicester City last season in the Championship.

In 37 games under the now-Chelsea boss, the Foxes legend helped himself to 20 goals and two assists. That included 18 strikes in 35 Championship appearances, to help his side win the league and return to the top flight.

Maresca certainly knows how to handle a deadly centre-forward and get the best out of him, be it as an individual goalscorer or his general striker play.

In a team that scored 89 goals in 2023/24, Vardy had to be selfless too, and Maresca helped him fit in with the team’s dynamic.

Well, that can certainly be said about Delap, too. One person full of praise for the Ipswich star is analyst Ben Mattinson, who described him as “a problem for every Premier League defence”. He’s also been described as a “monster” by teammate Alex Palmer.

The stats on Sofascore from this season show he is more than just a goalscorer, but a well-rounded striker. For example, Delap won an average of two aerial duels per game and played 21 key passes this term.

Vardy and Delap are also noted as similar players among those in their position in both Europe’s top five leagues and in the Premier League, as per FBref, reflecting their statistical likeness.

For example, the Ipswich forward averages 0.34 goals per shot on target and 0.24 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes. In comparison, Vardy averages 0.35 goals per shot on target and 0.32 goal-creating actions each game.

The fact that they are so similar surely plays into Maresca’s hands, too. He surely knows how to get the best out of his number nines, and they are certainly like-for-like players, as the stats back up.

Maresca knows what he is doing when it comes to getting the best out of a striker. Delap will surely fit the bill nicely, as someone who is happy to work hard for his team and can score goals at a good rate, too.

If he can be as good as Vardy was under Maresca, then Delap will surely be a success at Stamford Bridge.

He's shades of Drogba: Chelsea open discussions to sign "the next Mbappe"

Chelsea needs to sign a striker or two this summer

2

By
Ross Kilvington

May 27, 2025

Worryingly, every team that seals promotion up to the Premier League immediately knows they’ll be up against it trying to stay afloat in its choppy waters. That will be the main concern now for Burnley.

Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton are going to fall back down to the Championship after one fleeting campaign in the tough division, with the Clarets hopeful, yet definitely apprehensive that they can buck this dismal trend when they reenter the top league shortly.

Scott Parker’s attempts to solidify the Clarets as a top-flight worthy side once more will be made a lot harder if Josh Brownhill were to depart Turf Moor, with the experienced midfielder’s future still up in the air heading into the hectic summer transfer window.

Brownhill's future at Burnley

Already, the Clarets are having to stomach the prospect of CJ Egan-Riley leaving the club for pastures new with RC Strasbourg.

Unfortunately, Brownhill could be next for the exit door if rumours are to be believed, with Turkish sides Trabzonspor and Besiktas now eyeing up the soon-to-be out-of-contract attacking gem, away from earlier interest from the likes of Everton and West Ham United.

Losing Egan-Riley is already a damaging body blow for Parker’s newly promoted outfit, but adding Brownhill into the mix would be nothing short of disastrous, considering the 29-year-old would hammer 18 goals in league action last season to help seal automatic promotion.

Moreover, the Manchester-born star – who is also reportedly on the radar of Wolverhampton Wanderers – possesses experience of the Premier League to further boost the Clarets, but there’s a worry he could now up and leave before top-flight football officially returns to Turf Moor.

Losing him for nothing would also be very painful for the Lancashire side, considering his estimated worth currently stands at around the £9.5m range according to Football Transfers.

But, there is a midfield teammate of Brownhill’s who actually now boasts a heftier worth than the stand-out 29-year-old after an impressive debut season under Parker’s wing.

The Burnley star who is now worth more than Brownhill

In their bid to immediately return to the promised land of the Premier League, Burnley surprisingly didn’t splash obscene masses of cash.

Indeed, £15.4m was the most spent on a single player in the form of Mike Tresor. Whilst Tresor would unfortunately fade into the background, another of their summer purchases would shine as ex-Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri ended up relocating to the Clarets for a modest £5.4m fee.

He wouldn’t be an immediate success in his new location as he got up to speed, but Hannibal’s importance to the cause would be seen when crucial promotion games came thick and fast.

Indeed, his well-taken strike got the ball rolling for Parker’s nervy Clarets against Norwich City, while he also registered two assists when Burnley flawlessly won their last five league contests to finish inside the top two.

Lauded as an “absolute baller” during his time at Man United by scout Antonio Mango, he’s now finally living up to that immense potential.

The Tunisian hasn’t blown anyone away with constant vibrant displays, but it’s clear the 22-year-old could only get better with time at Turf Moor, with this promise seen in his transfer value already increasing to a high £10m just a season into his Burnley move.

This is a small jump up from 18-goal hero Brownhill’s own valuation, with Parker praying that both Hannibal and the more seasoned head of the 29-year-old can link up with each other in the top-flight.

If that doesn’t happen, however, the ex-Fulham boss will know Hannibal will be raring to prove himself in the elite division, having already picked up the pieces with the Clarets after his Old Trafford departure.

Their best RB since Trippier: Burnley eyeing move for "immense" £10m star

Burnley could be about to land their best right-back since Kieran Trippier with this sensational swoop.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 22, 2025

Chelsea’s transfer policy under owner Todd Boehly has seen them sign plenty of under-21 starlets over the past few years. It has been a real focus of the Blues since Boehly became the majority owner at Stamford Bridge, with one of the best examples being Cole Palmer, who Jamie Carragher said in October is “the best player in the Premier League”.

However, the England international, who has been sensational in a Chelsea shirt, is not the only under-21 to excel at Stamford Bridge. One example would be Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia, described as “one of the best midfielders” when at full fitness by manager Enzo Maresca.

Well, Chelsea could be looking to add to the list of talented players to join the club as an under-21, if one transfer rumour is to be believed.

Chelsea’s latest under-21 transfer target

As we know, the Blues have not been afraid to bring highly-rated young players. 2025 will be no exception, with deals for attacking pair Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian, plus young midfielder Dario Essugo, already agreed.

The next player to add to that list could be Dean Huijsen. The 20-year-old Bournemouth centre-back has been linked with the Blues by Fabrizio Romano. The highly-reputable journalist reports the Blues are ‘ready to trigger’ Huijsen’s £50m release clause, and are looking to do the deal in the next month or so.

However, they are not the only side that will try to sign Huijsen. The Spain international is also a target for Spanish giants Real Madrid, and the Blues’ Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool will also look to trigger his release clause.

Why Huijsen would be a good signing

There is no doubt that winning the race to sign Huijsen this summer will be tough for Chelsea, but if they manage it, they will be adding an elite talent to their squad. The Spaniard is a “sensational” player, according to football analyst Ben Mattinson.

He has been a pivotal figure at the back for the Cherries this season, who have been excellent in the top flight. He has featured in 34 games across all competitions, notching up 30 of those in the top flight, managing to score three times, too.

Chelsea will surely be encouraged by the fact that the 20-year-old machine has been part of one of the Premier League’s best defences this season. According to Sofascore, the 43 goals Bournemouth have conceded are bettered by just two sides, and they have kept eight clean sheets.

Signing Huijsen this summer could be ideal for the West Londoners if they miss out on signing Marc Guehi. According to a recent report from TEAMTalk, Newcastle United have ‘leapfrogged’ Chelsea in the race to sign their former academy star from Crystal Palace.

Just like Bournemouth’s Spanish defender, Guehi has been a key man at the heart of the Eagles’ defence, in what has been a fantastic season so far.

He has played 43 games across all competitions, chipping in with three goals and helping lead his side to an FA Cup final showdown with Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.

Cost will surely not be a factor in the Blues’ decision this summer. There is just £4m difference between the pair, given Palace reportedly want £46m for Guehi. Thus, it seems like a decision Chelsea will surely make based on who they think is a better player.

The stats on FBref actually suggest that Huijsen might be a better signing than Guehi for the Blues. For example, in the Premier League this season, the Cherries defender averages 3.33 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, compared to 2.62 tackles and interceptions each game for Huijsen.

There is certainly plenty of evidence to support the fact that Huijsen would be a better addition to the playing staff at Stamford Bridge. His quality in and out of possession would certainly raise the ceiling in West London.

Although £50m is a sizeable amount of money to invest, there is no doubt about the quality of player Chelsea would be signing.

Big Jackson upgrade: Chelsea to enter talks to sign "world-class" £60m star

Chelsea could be about to land a star who become Enzo Maresca’s new star man in the final third.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 13, 2025

Will Chelsea make a success of this season?

On Thursday, the Blues demolished Djurgårdens in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final, with Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke both on target in Stockholm, before Nicolas Jackson bagged a quick-fire brace.

Thus, supporters are now pretty certain that their team will be in Wrocław for the final later this month, facing either Real Betis or Fiorentina.

Meantime, in the Premier League, Enzo Maresca’s side are currently fourth, desperate to cling onto the final Champions League spot, ahead of Sunday’s heavyweight meeting with recently crowned champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Even with the Club World Cup on the horizon this summer, Chelsea are expected to be busy in the transfer market, as has very much been the case since Todd Boehly’s takeover, so could they sign a big-money new striker?

The latest on Chelsea's interest in Viktor Gyökeres

According to a report by Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland, Arsenal are “pushing” to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres, valued at around £60m by the Portuguese giants, with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea “all in the race”.

The 26-year-old Swede has scored 95 goals in 98 appearances for Sporting, pretty impressive statistics, with a report by David Ornstein and James McNicholas of The Athletic claiming that Gyökeres is expected to be on the move this summer.

Nevertheless, with a high amount of competition for his signature, should Chelsea focus on other targets?

Chelsea's potential new striker

According to a report from Steve Kay of Football Transfers earlier this week, Chelsea ‘have approached’ Aston Villa, enquiring about the possibility of signing Ollie Watkins this summer, adding that the Blues ‘are willing’ to match the Villans’ £60m valuation.

TEAMtalk notes that Watkins has emerged as Chelsea’s number one target, due to concerns about Victor Osimhen’s wage demands, as well as fears that Gyökeres would choose to go elsewhere.

If Villa miss out on Champions League qualification, they may be forced to sell key assets to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules, hence why Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider believes they’d be looking to cash in on 29-year-old Watkins.

Transfer Focus

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

So, would Watkins be a good signing for Chelsea?

Chelsea's best recent attacking signings

Since Clearlake Capital’s takeover of Chelsea in 2022, they have signed over 40 first-team players, spending in excess of £1bn, many of whom made little impact at Stamford Bridge, some of whom have been swiftly moved on.

Pretty much indisputably, the Blues’ best signing of the Boehly era is Cole Palmer, who, since arriving from Manchester City for £42.5m, has scored 39 goals for the club, named Chelsea’s Player of the Season as well as the PFA Young Player of the Year for 2023/24.

However, let’s analyse the impact made by some of the other members of the forward line.

It would be a major understatement to say that Chelsea have signed a lot of attacking players in the last three seasons, and the table above certainly underlines that Cole Palmer has unquestionably had the biggest impact.

So, why would Watkins be any different?

Well, let’s assess his season statistics to find out.

As the table outlines, Watkins is a very well-rounded striker, described by Statman Dave as “clinical”, both a potent goalscorer but also a chance creator too.

The concern about signing him would be the fact he is 29 years old, but the Englishman is showing no signs of slowing down, so could be the striker Chelsea require to go to the next level.

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Leeds United will be playing Premier League football next season. Daniel Farke, his staff, and the players all celebrated after the full-time whistle of Burnley’s win over Sheffield United.

Sky Sports were on hand to capture the celebrations and took a moment to have a word with the German manager, who was not too interested in looking ahead to the future.

Farke said “don’t scare me with the Premier League” to the reporter, partly in jest, but that is now the big problem that the club have to solve in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The West Yorkshire outfit will be tasked with building a team and a squad that is capable of stepping up to the Premier League without coming straight back down.

This means that Farke and his staff will have to make some incredibly ruthless decisions on players and their futures at Elland Road, as some may not be cut out to make the step up, and one player who could be on the chopping block is Patrick Bamford.

Why Patrick Bamford could leave Leeds this summer

The former England international is still contracted to the club through to the summer of 2026, which means that it is far from a certainty that he will be on his way out ahead of next season.

Bamford has made a return to the team in recent weeks, coming off the bench in the last five matches, but there has been little evidence to suggest that he would be good enough to be an option in the Premier League.

Since the start of last season, the English striker has scored eight goals from 11.63 xG in 48 Championship matches, including zero goals from 2.11 xG in 15 games in the division this term.

There is not much hope of Bamford being an effective player in the Premier League for Leeds next season if he cannot make the most of his chances in the second tier, underperforming his xG by almost four goals.

As you can see in the table above, he has failed to kick on since his return of 17 goals in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign, failing to hit double figures in all competitions in any of the following four seasons.

These statistics suggest that the left-footed dud should be moved on by Leeds in the upcoming summer transfer window, in order to make room for a player who could make the step up.

Chalkboard

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

Bamford was linked with a move to Wrexham during the January transfer window and this suggests that there could be a level of interest in his services heading into the next window, which Leeds could now capitalise on.

This also means that he may not be one of the first players out of the door, though, because his contract is not expiring and it may take time for a deal to be finalised for him to move on from Elland Road, particularly as the top earner on £70k-per-week – as per Capology.

Instead, one of the first players who should be axed by the Whites this summer, ahead of a Premier League season next term, is versatile defender Sam Byram, who is out of contract this year.

Why Leeds should release Sam Byram

The 31-year-old defender’s deal runs out at the end of June and this means that Leeds have an instant decision to make on his future in the coming weeks.

Farke loves the English full-back, as evidenced by the reported claim that he had to convince the club to sign him on a free transfer in 2023 despite reluctance from above him, but the manager must be ruthless with his decisions to build a team capable of competing in the Premier League.

The German boss, who also signed him during his time in charge of Norwich City in 2019, must axe Byram from the squad and attempt to recruit competition for Jayden Bogle in the right-back position.

His availability is a slight concern because the defender has not played more than 18 matches in all competitions in six of the last eight seasons, but he has played 73 times for Leeds in the last two campaigns combined.

Signing him to a new deal would require a show of faith that his fitness issues are fully behind him and that he is able to cope with the intensity and the rigours of the Premier League week-in-week-out.

As you can see in the table above, Byram has been a solid, but unspectacular, performer in the Championship for the Whites in the current campaign.

But it remains to be seen how useful the defender would be in the Premier League if his current role is only to be a back-up option in the second tier. His lack of outstanding displays at that level suggests that he would not handle the step up to the top division.

This is why Leeds must be ruthless by axing the £20k-per-week ace from the squad, particularly with his contract situation providing the club with an opportunity to move him on without having to find a buyer.

The Whites need to build a squad that can survive in the Premier League and that is why they should brutally part ways with the out-of-contract defender to make room for another player to come in and take his place in the squad in the summer transfer window.

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This could make Byram the first player to be moved on ahead of promotion to the Premier League this summer, with Bamford possibly following him out of the door later in the window.

Manchester United are now considering a shock move to sign an “exceptional” attacker from one of their bitter rivals this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd pursuing new attacking midfielder

In truth, very few Man United players can hold their heads up high this season, given that they are on course for their worst-ever Premier League finish, but Bruno Fernandes has once again proven himself to be a top player.

The 30-year-old has 17 goals and 18 assists to his name in all competitions, most recently scoring in the 5-4 victory against Lyon to help his side progress to the Europa League semi-final, which is the Red Devils’ last chance to make a success out of this season.

Fernandes has put in some top-drawer performances, but United’s league position underlines the fact they cannot rely solely on the Portugal international, and they have now set their sights on a new attacking midfielder.

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RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons appears to be one of the main targets for the summer, with INEOS reportedly sanctioning a £115m+ offer for the Dutchman, despite the financial difficulties at Old Trafford.

However, there have also been suggestions that Man United could look at bringing in a cheaper alternative, with a report from The Telegraph revealing they are now monitoring developments around Manchester City attacking midfielder James McAtee.

McAtee’s future at the Etihad Stadium is up in the air, as he is set to enter the final year of his contract this summer, and he wants to receive regular game time next season, having only played a sporadic role for City this term.

There is widespread interest in the 22-year-old, with the likes of Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen also in the picture, so there could be stiff competition for his signature.

"Exceptional" McAtee needs regular game time

The 22-year-old is now at an age where he needs to receive regular game time, but Pep Guardiola has been unwilling to give the attacking midfielder a consistent run in the side, often limiting him to appearances from the substitutes’ bench.

However, the Englishman has impressed when given the opportunity, scoring seven goals in all competitions this season, while he also caught the eye of reporter Ryan Taylor during his time with Sheffield United.

Back in January, it was reported Man City would be willing to cash-in on the Salford-born midfielder for just £25m, which feels like a fair fee, given his talent.

However, it seems very unlikely that City would be willing to sell McAtee to their bitter rivals, especially considering there is widespread interest from other English and foreign clubs.