All posts by z3u9t.icu

Chelsea have already seemingly struck gold when it comes to some of their early summer additions to Stamford Bridge.

Indeed, Joao Pedro couldn’t have wished for a better introduction to life in Chelsea blue after leaving Brighton and Hove Albion out at the Club World Cup, powering home a clinical three strikes from three games, with fellow new attacking recruit Liam Delap also chipping in with a promising assist.

Enzo Maresca will be delighted with how quickly his fresh recruits have got up to speed with the pace of their new side, with more signings now surely in the pipeline.

Chelsea eyeing cut-price deal for new defender

Chelsea have a reputation for a reason when it comes to splashing the big bucks, with £90m already denting the bank account off the back of Delap and Pedro entering the building in quick succession.

An even steeper £78m expense might soon be signed off on, too, with Morgan Rogers deemed a top priority move by the powers that be at West London, on top of other exciting playmakers appearing on their shopping list in the form of Dutch superstar Xavi Simons.

However, not every summer pick-up Chelsea go after has to be the flashiest or the most daring capture, with Footbal.London now reporting that a cut-price deal for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato could be on the table.

Football.London speculates that the Blues are considering a move for the young Dutchman and will try to snap up the services of the 19-year-old gem for a cut-price £40m – even as his Eredivisie employers state they want £60m to part ways.

Chelsea are particularly keen on the defender owing to Renato Veiga potentially heading out the door.

How Hato could be a Palmer repeat at Chelsea

Coincidentally, Cole Palmer cost around the same £40m region when he left Manchester City behind as a wide-eyed youngster attempting to make a name for himself.

It’s fair to say he’s certainly done that – as his glorious solo effort helped his side lift the Club World Cup. They may not be positionally similar but Hato could potentially go on to be Chelsea’s next Palmer; another emerging talent that explodes into life at Stamford Bridge.

Before exploring Hato’s rise in Amsterdam, it’s only right to further analyse how much of a wild ascent Palmer has been on since ditching the Etihad for pastures new in West London.

On the senior books of the Citizens, Palmer only mustered up a meagre eight goal contributions from 41 appearances, making Chelsea’s splurge of £40m on the 23-year-old attacker two years ago look like a rash shot in the dark.

Now, however, he has a mammoth 43 goals and 29 assists next to his name from 97 Chelsea appearances and counting, resulting in his transfer value sitting at a pretty £104m, according to Transfermarkt.

Hato will be dreaming of being the next star to undergo this sharp trajectory; therefore, with the 19-year-old already making significant waves back in his native Netherlands to suggest he has an extremely bright future in the game.

Games played

11

33

31

Goals scored

0

1

2

Assists

0

2

6

Touches*

57.4

94.8

67.2

Accurate passes*

42.6 (91%)

72.8 (93%)

45.2 (90%)

Total duels won*

3.1

5.5

4.1

Clean sheets

1

5

11

If anything, Hato is actually ahead of Palmer’s development now, when the 23-year-old was still situated at City, with three standout seasons already under his belt in the Dutch top-flight.

In a similar manner to Palmer then, the teenage sensation will hope he can arrive in West London and instantly battle it out for starting spot in Maresca’s main side, with the “immense” talent – as he’s been heralded by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – a capable performer both in the heart of defence or as a left-back option.

Further lauded as being “very mature” by ex-Ajax teammate Jordan Henderson, don’t be surprised if Hato becomes a key first-teamer from the get-go if he does spread his wings to England, as another Palmer-like steal excites spectators at Stamford Bridge.

Their own Mbeumo: Chelsea in talks for "one of the best 10s in the world"

The international ace would be unreal for Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 18, 2025

Chelsea are growing frustrated with a member of Enzo Maresca’s side for one key reason, with their Premier League rivals now weighing up a surprise move for him this summer.

Manager praises "exciting" Chelsea transfer with "excellent deal" sealed

The west Londoners are showcasing major ambition again this window.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 3, 2025

The Blues are expected to part company with a host of players over the coming weeks, following their agreed exit deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys and Marcus Bettinelli, who brought in around £19 million worth of transfer fees to the Stamford Bridge coffers.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja and Axel Disasi are all up for sale (The Athletic), given they’re out of Maresca’s long-term plans, while matchday regulars like Christopher Nkunku, Noni Maduke and Nicolas Jackson have also been linked with the exit door in recent weeks.

The latter two players have even been described as almost certain to leave, amid reported interest from Arsenal.

There is also the ongoing matter of Raheem Sterling and his next club. The £50m England international is back from a lacklustre loan spell at Arsenal, and his £325,000-per-week wages are poised to be a major stumbling block in Chelsea’s attempts to offload the ex-Man City star.

Reports last week of Sterling’s advanced talks to join Besiktas appear wide of the mark, but journalist Simon Phillips now reports that west London rivals Fulham could take the 30-year-old off Maresca’s hands instead.

Fulham weigh surprise move to sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea

Writing via his Substack, Phillips reports that Fulham are weighing up a surprise move for Sterling, with Chelsea growing frustrated by the winger’s exit stance.

“SPTC sources are still hearing that he ideally does not want to move away from his family in London and wants to stay there, vastly reducing his options and making it frustrating for all involved,” said the reporter.

“If Sterling truly does only want to stay in London, then he is going to need to lower his wage demands, which he may well do.

“After having spent last season on loan with Arsenal, Sterling is once again looking for a new club to join. We understand that Fulham have been alerted by his availability this summer and are weighing up whether they can make a move. However, his wages put them off at the moment and will need to go down if they are to land him. But they like the player and there is interest from them this summer.

“Sterling’s agents will reach out to other London clubs as well to offer the player around, but at the moment, we have heard that Sterling is not chasing a pay day in Saudi or even the States. His priority is to stay in London close to all of his family.”

With James Trafford already on his way, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie reports Newcastle United may soon complete another deal to sign a £60m reinforcement and finally kickstart their summer.

James Trafford set to join Newcastle

While the narrative around Newcastle’s transfer window has so far been failure, that could be about to change. The Magpies are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign long-term target Trafford in what could be the start of their summer finally turning around.

After Trafford, those at St James’ Park are likely to shift their focus back towards their frontline. Although their need for a striker has been somewhat eased by the fact that Callum Wilson has put pen to paper on a new deal, they’ve still got their sights set on signing a new right-winger.

Just who that will be is the question. Already this summer, Newcastle have been rejected by Bryan Mbeumo and then by Joao Pedro, who now looks set to join Premier League rivals Chelsea. It’s rejection that they will be frustrated by given their Champions League place, but rejection that they must move on from.

Even better than Guehi: Newcastle now in talks to sign £43m "top talent"

Newcastle are in talks to sign a defender

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 1, 2025

Alternatives mentioned so far includes Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott. The 22-year-old enjoyed an excellent U21 Euros tournament – winning Player of the Tournament as England won the competition for a second time under Lee Carsley. Now available for around £50m, Newcastle could make their move.

If not Elliott, however, then it could still be one long-term target who one reporter now expects to complete a move to St James’ Park this summer.

Keith Downie now expects Elanga to join Newcastle

As reported on his YouTube channel, Sky Sports’ Keith Downie now expects Newcastle’s deal to sign Elanga “will get done” this summer with the Swede happy to swap Nottingham Forest for Tyneside.

Downie said on his YouTube channel: “All the noises are that Elanga is the number one choice. Of course, that was Bryan Mbeumo, but it’s now been moved to Elanga, and I can see him being perfect for Eddie Howe’s style.

“I feel that deal will get done. Newcastle aren’t in competition with anyone and they know that they are close in terms of the fee. I think the player would be happy to move here from what I’m being told. And it’s a case of Newcastle coming up with the numbers.”

“They offered £45m last week but Forest want £60m. I feel if Newcastle split the difference and offered £52-53m, they’d get the deal done, and I’d hope there will be some movement on that in the next few days. I expect Newcastle to come back in with an improved bid if they haven’t already.”

After missing out on Mbeumo and then Pedro, signing Elanga would be seen as a huge success for Newcastle who would be turning their fortunes around on the transfer front with the addition of both the Forest star and Trafford.

Liverpool aren’t messing about this summer, pulling in high-level signings from every which way. However, this is not so much scattergun spending as the product of calculated, expeditious planning.

Florian Wirtz, for example, was brought in from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m, the British record, after Jeremie Frimpong’s £29.5m release clause was activated. Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez has since finalised his move to Merseyside.

While Wirtz is the cream of the crop, heralded as a “generational talent” by Bundesliga commentator Dan O’Hagan, Liverpool still need a striker, especially as uncertainty around Luis Diaz’s future continues to rumble on.

Why Liverpool need a striker

Arne Slot led Liverpool to the Premier League title last season without a focal frontman. Well, without an in-form central striker, at least. Such were Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez’s woes that Diaz was redefined as a false nine, almost exclusively used on the left wing by Jurgen Klopp.

Mohamed Salah

38

29

18

Luis Diaz

36

13

7

Cody Gakpo

35

10

5

Diogo Jota

26

6

4

Darwin Nunez

30

5

3

Federico Chiesa

6

–

1

So then, it seems pretty justified that Slot wants a new centre-forward, especially as Nunez is currently in the process of signing for Napoli, a move that’s definitely not done yet.

And with Diaz also facing rumours of a summer exit, FSG are perhaps going to need to dip into the coffers once again. Slot’s Colombian star, who is 28, is frustrated that Liverpool are prepared to run his contract down, expiring in two years, instead of cashing in or discussing a renewal, and would consider leaving as Barcelona and Saudi Arabian suitors circle.

We all know Alexander Isak is the glinting jewel in the eyes of Liverpool’s overlords, but Newcastle United aren’t really willing to part with their star man, pricing him at an exorbitant £200m.

Luckily, Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, knows his stuff and has already earmarked an exciting alternative.

Liverpool eyeing Isak alternative

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are interested in signing Benjamin Sesko this summer, having done their due diligence on the RB Leipzig striker.

Newcastle are ready to make Isak the highest-paid player in their history, so it makes sense that Hughes has turned toward Sesko.

The Slovenian star is only 22 but has made waves in the Bundesliga over the past couple of years. It must be said that Arsenal are leading the race, with Sesko valued between £68-85m, but Liverpool may yet shift the odds by tabling an official offer.

Why Liverpool want Benjamin Sesko

Sesko isn’t the only striker on Liverpool’s radar. In fact, Bailey’s above-mentioned report reveals an interest in Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres too, but the 27-year-old Sweden international would be the wrong choice for FSG to make.

Now, Sesko is still loading on the striking scene, but he’s already revealed himself to be a sensation in the making in Germany, hailed as a ball-striking “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson after scoring 39 goals and adding eight assists across 81 Leipzig appearances.

Athletic, powerful and rangy, Sesko has all the properties to become a superstar on Premier League shores, even dubbed “the new Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

RB Leipzig

24/25

45

21

RB Leipzig

23/24

42

18

RB Salzburg

22/23

41

18

RB Salzburg

20/21

37

11

RB Salzburg

20/21

1

0

FC Liefering

20/21

29

21

FC Liefering

19/20

15

1

Manchester City’s goalscoring talisman needs no introduction, and if Liverpool could get their hands on their own version, Slot would move one step closer to defending his Premier League title.

It might seem that Gyokeres would be the better pick for the Merseysiders; he’s scored 97 goals across 102 matches for Sporting, after all.

However, this isn’t so. Liverpool, let’s not forget, signed Nunez after his 34-goal campaign with Portuguese giants Benfica in 2021/22, and for a towering £64m fee (the full £85m payment has not been reached).

Nunez’s prolific streak over on Iberian territory hasn’t translated to life in the Premier League, where life is tougher, the opponents stronger, the pace faster. A maverick though he is, Nunez has struggled to bring it all together, not just profligate but prone to drifting through games.

The 6 foot 4 Sesko might not be the finished article, but he’s definitely got more about him from an athletic standpoint, ranked among the top 11% of centre-forwards across Europe last season for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Of course, to discredit Gyokeres’ qualities simply because he walks the same ground as Nunez before him would make a feeble argument, but he’s 27 and has yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s big five leagues, whereas Sesko has demonstrated his qualities in Germany, scoring incredible strikes such as this one against Bayern Munich.

Furthermore, Sesko only failed to convert ten big chances in the Bundesliga last term, as per Sofascore, scoring 13 times. This illustrates a natural-born goalscoring prowess, of course, but also composure and the level-headedness required to hit the ground running in the Premier League. Gyokeres, for comparison, missed 23 big chances over in Portugal.

With a Haaland-esque style of play and several years of invaluable experience cutting his teeth in Germany’s top flight, Sesko is ready to make the leap over to England and start expanding his potential on the European stage.

While Sesko is raw, an uncut gem, he’s a jewel all the same, and one who would arrive at an Anfield side both fronted by an elite coach in Slot and thick with incredible creative players such as Wirtz and Mohamed Salah.

Gordon upgrade: Liverpool open first talks to sign "generational" £85m star

Liverpool might need to replace the sought-after Luis Diaz in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 27, 2025

Arsenal’s transfer plans include the potential signing of a Premier League star before summer deadline day on September 1, with sporting director Andrea Berta identifying one Aston Villa star as a key long-term target.

Mikel Arteta is gearing up for what will be a vital 2025/2026 season.

Arsenal told key Benjamin Sesko transfer condition as agent makes statement

He’s expressed what it will take for the Slovenian to leave Leipzig this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

The Spaniard, discounting Community Shields, has been pursuing his second piece of major silverware since their 2020 FA Cup triumph at Wembley, even though Arsenal have backed him to the hilt with a net-spend of around £487 million in that period.

The pressure is well and truly on Arteta to deliver glory after many years building the project, even if they have come mightily close to ending their two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title on a couple of occasions.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Man City’s imperiousness is largely to blame for Arsenal’s lack of title celebrations over the last three years, with injuries to key players and a lack of cutting edge resulting in Arteta surrendering the crown to Liverpool last campaign.

The north Londoners will need to back their manager again with new signings over the coming months, if they hope to close the large gap between them and Arne Slot’s champions.

According to various reports, Arsenal are attempting to sign a new striker, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres both at the top of their wishlist (BBC).

Bukayo Saka’s long injury lay-off midway through 2024/2025 hamstrung Arteta’s chances of ever catching Liverpool, while Leandro Trossard is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract, so Arsenal remain in the market for a winger too.

A few interesting names have been linked in the last few weeks, including Real Madrid star Rodrygo, Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, but the latter is closing on on a move to Barcelona after agreeing personal terms (The Athletic).

An alternative to the highly-rated Williams, who was rumoured to be a top target, comes in the form of Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.

The England international could be just as difficult to prise away from Villa Park, but according to Football Transfers, Unai Emery may have to cash-in.

Aston Villa could be forced to sell Morgan Rogers to Arsenal

The outlet claims that Villa may reluctantly sell Rogers if they recieve a £50 million-plus bid from Arsenal, indicating that a deal could be there for Arteta thanks to their rival’s PSR concerns.

Berta has apparently identified the former Middlesbrough star as a long-term target, and Villa are already pushing ahead with their pursuit of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze in response, as they weigh up Rogers’ replacement.

Villa anticipate an Arsenal bid for Rogers this summer and are increasingly concerned they’ll lose the 22-year-old, so this could be one to watch.

There is little denying that one of the Premier League’s most impressive sensations from last season would be a stellar capture, either.

“There’s no doubt he’s an exceptional player,” journalist Charles Watts said about Rogers’ links to Arsenal.

“Arsenal saw that first hand last season, especially in the game at Villa Park at the start of the campaign when he gave them all sorts of problems. The expectation is that Aston Villa might have some PSR difficulties that they will have to navigate this summer having failed to qualify for the Champions league and it could be that they are forced into a sale of a player they would ideally not want to let go.

“Rogers is one of those players who has been mentioned as a potential departure and that’s no surprise given the way he has developed since moving from Middlesbrough.

“When it comes to Arsenal, I think he would be a welcome addition should they interest firm up into anything more concrete.”

Chelsea officially announced the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town earlier this week, after triggering his £30 million release clause, and it is believed they’re seriously pursuing another former Man City gem to accompany the Englishman and Cole Palmer.

Chelsea announce Liam Delap deal as striker pens six-year contract

The 22-year-old was Kieran McKenna’s shining light in an otherwise disappointing campaign for Ipswich, who dropped straight back down to the Championship just one season after clinching promotion.

Chelsea make "official offer" to sign "promising" striker after 20-goal season

The west Londoners are the first club to submit a bid.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 5, 2025

Delap bagged 12 Premier League goals for the Tractor Boys, which is impressive for an under-performing side, and Chelsea will only pay around £20 million of the clause up front with the rest due via installments (Sky Sports).

Knowing his quality, Ipswich smartly inserted a sell-on clause into the deal, hoping to make a further profit if Chelsea eventually decide he isn’t suited to them after all.

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

“I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach,” said Delap about his move to Chelsea.

“It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies. Growing up watching this club and how incredible it has been over the years, I wanted to come here to win trophies. When I spoke to the club, everyone wanted to get back to the very top, and they have the quality and the players to do that.

“The hunger and desire to keep adding trophies, to take the club back to where it belongs, that is the main objective.”

Delap is in very good company at Stamford Bridge, having worked with Enzo Maresca during their time together at Eastlands, as well as Palmer, with both players coming through the academy together.

According to recent reports, Chelsea are attempting to add another ex-City academy ace to their ranks who could accompany the duo – heavily-linked Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens.

Some media sources claim that Chelsea have already submitted an offer for Gittens, and journalist Simon Phillips says that they’re really trying to get a deal done.

Chelsea "pushing" to sign Jamie Gittens amid £20m price drop

While the consensus was that the winger would cost around £50 million, his price has now dropped to around £30 million, gifting BlueCo a £20 million discount.

Phillips also states that Chelsea are “pushing” to sign Gittens, and they have a trump card in the form of Carney Chukwuemeka, who Dortmund would ideally like to keep in the Bundesliga, so they’re actually being very open in negotiations.

“Any fee for Jamie Gittens to join from Dortmund would not be £50m, it would actually be closer to £30m,” wrote the journalist.

“This has now been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.

“Chelsea are pushing on Gittens, and again, our insiders believe that this will get over the line. SPTC sources have heard that Dortmund are ‘being nice’ to Chelsea in these discussions and this is likely to be because they want to keep Carney Chukwuemeka in some capacity. Gittens to Chelsea is moving, but there is other interest.

“If Chelsea sign Gittens, I do not believe that it will be the only new winger arriving this summer with Jadon Sancho now gone. Although, that ‘winger’ could just be another new attacking midfielder who is versatile and can play on the left wing as well as other positions.”

The 20-year-old bagged 12 goals and registered five assists in all competitions last season, with ex-Dortmund captain and sporting director Sebastian Kehl believing Gittens is “almost impossible to defend against” inside the penalty area.

Gittens is also represented by the same agency as Romeo Lavia and Tyrique George, which could further help to facilitate a deal.

Chelsea are not short of quality options in their midfield. Enzo Maresca has some excellent players at his disposal in the centre of the park, including the £100m plus duo of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. The pair have been integral to the Chelsea side this term.

Former Blues winger Joe Cole recently claimed that Caicedo is an “outstanding” player and picked him for the most improved player in the entire Premier League.

With 38 games, he has played more times in the top flight this season than any other Chelsea player. As for Fernandez, he’s featured 36 times, also highlighting his importance to the Blues.

Remarkably, Chelsea appear to be looking to bolster their midfield depth by adding a title-winning midfielder to their squad this summer.

Chelsea’s midfield target

Adding a new midfielder to this squad would certainly be a statement for Chelsea, given the star power they have. Let’s not forget that Romeo Lavia is also an option for Maresca. However, as all sides with top aspirations should, they are looking to improve their options in midfield.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from Italian news outlet Gazzetta, the West London side have made ‘an important offer’ for Napoli midfielder Frank Zambo Anguissa. There are question marks about whether the newly-crowned Scudetto winners can convince him to remain in Naples.

Indeed, it is thought that ‘a clause in his contract allows him to evaluate this option independently’. This could leave the door open for Chelsea to bring him back to West London; the midfielder was formerly on the books at Fulham.

If he does leave, a price has not yet been clarified, but Napoli paid the Cottagers a reported £15m back in 2022, according to The Athletic.

Why Anguissa would be a good signing

For Chelsea’s project under Maresca, it seems like they are about to enter phase two. With Champions League qualification secured, the Blues will surely want to become a permanent fixture in the top four once again, and, eventually, push for a Premier League title.

Well, who better to help with that than a two-time Italian champion like Anguissa? He has played a pivotal role in Napoli’s success under a former title-winning manager at Stamford Bridge, Antonio Conte.

He played 35 Serie A games this season, notching up 2858 minutes in total, the equivalent of 31 full 90-minute games. One reason why he was pivotal in the middle of the park is his tendency to pop up with a key goal or assist. Anguissa found the back of the net six times and provided five goals for his teammates.

If the Blues agree a deal for Anguissa, perhaps he will bring some of the qualities Declan Rice possesses in the midfield for Arsenal. Of course, the England international was once a Chelsea academy player, years before he broke through into first-team football with West Ham United.

Just like Anguissa, the 26-year-old is an all-action midfielder, known for his hard work off the ball and his quality in possession. In fact, he has similar goal involvement numbers to the Cameroon international, with four goals and seven assists in the Premier League in 2024/25.

The pair are also noted as similar players among those in their position in Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref, when looking at their underlying statistics.

For example, the pair are both hard workers off the ball, with the Napoli midfielder averaging 5.4 duels won per 90 minutes compared to 3.9 duels won each game for Rice.

Open play passes completed

39.2

39.9

Forward passes

12

11.6

Take-ons completed

0.8

0.5

Duels won

5.4

3.9

Ball recoveries

4.8

5

As writer Zach Lowy has stated, Anguissa is “one of the most underrated midfielders in Europe”, which the stats certainly back up. There is no doubt that the Blues would want a Rice-type player in their midfield, and he certainly tricks the boxes, given his impressive carrying skills, numbers out of possession and amount of goal contributions.

Whilst a fee is not clear, Chelsea have seemingly made contact with Anguissa already, so this could be a deal that moves swiftly. If they do manage to bring him to the Blue side of West London, he could be an excellent addition to an already star-studded midfield.

Maresca's next Vardy: Chelsea confident of winning race for "monster" CF

Chelsea are looking to sign a new striker before the Club World Cup

ByJoe Nuttall May 27, 2025

After what was a dire season for Manchester City, they ruined their chance to end it all on a high note on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side travelled to Wembley for the FA Cup final with Crystal Palace, but came out second best, much to the dismay of their manager come full time.

They will hope to right their wrongs just a few weeks on when the East Mancunian outfit travel to the United States of America for the Club World Cup, where they will compete for the competition for the first time in its 32-team format. Moroccan side Wydad AC, UAE outfit Al Ain FC, and Italian giants Juventus are their three group stage opponents.

One player who will play a huge role in any success over the next few weeks is Josko Gvardiol.

Gvardiol’s importance for City

There are not many players in the City squad whose form is as important to their success as Croatia international Gvardiol. The 23-year-old was described as a player who “does stuff very few can” by football analyst Umir, who also said the defender has been “brilliant” going forward this term.

There have been just four games in which Gvardiol has not appeared this term, further highlighting his importance to Guardiola’s side. In total, he has played 51 times across all competitions, including all but one in the Premier League.

One of the biggest benefits of the former RB Leipzig is his versatility. A centre-back by trade, he has featured more often than not at left-back for the Citizens this term, which has been important for Guardiola amid injuries and a lack of options.

The other thing that the 23-year-old offers to this City side is goals. He had found the back of the net six times this term, which has been bettered by just five players at City.

The fact that he is such a rich source of goals shows just how important the left-back is to Guardiola.

Interestingly, City are linked with a player who could join the club and become just as important to Guardiola as Gvardiol has this term.

Man City's search for a defender

If a report from Fabrizio Romano earlier this week is to be believed, then City are plotting a move for Newcastle United right-back Tino Livramento.

The 22-year-old is ‘under consideration’ at the Etihad Stadium, with City looking to sign a new right-back. A price tag is not clear at this time, but he cost the Magpies £40m including add-ons almost two years ago.

Described as a “superstar” by Newcastle content creator Kendall Rowan, Livramento has played an important role for Eddie Howe, in a side pushing for a second-place finish this season. That would see them leapfrog City in the Premier League.

The London-born right-back, who is a product of Chelsea’s academy, has played 44 games in all competitions this campaign for the Magpies. Perhaps one of the biggest worries for City is the fact that he has just one assist, which came in a 3-0 win away to Leicester City.

Like Gvardiol, Livramento is a versatile player. This term, he has featured at right-back, left-back and even as a wing-back for Howe’s side.

Admittedly, he has made 29 appearances on his favoured right side, but with another 12 coming on the left, it shows dependable versatility.

In fact, the similarities between the two players do not stop there. The underlying numbers on FBref highlight how alike they are, too. For example, the Newcastle star averages 0.78 key passes per 90 minutes, compared to 0.73 each game for Gvardiol.

Key passes

0.78

0.73

Passes into penalty area

0.88

0.58

Tackles and interceptions

2.53

2.7

Ball recoveries

5.98

3.84

Progressive carries

2.5

2.53

There is evidence to suggest that Livramento could be City’s best defensive signing since Gvardiol. Vitor Reis was one of two defensive signings in January, but he is unproven and has played just three first-team games.

Fellow winter addition Abdukodir Khusanov did well to bounce back from a nightmare start to his City career, following his error on debut against Chelsea, but is also largely unproven at Premier League level, despite glimpses of promise shown.

Matheus Nunes, a midfielder by trade, has been playing right-back this term but “doesn’t know how to defend”, according to Man City content creator Steven Mcinerney.

This could be a wonderful signing for City. There is no doubt about just how important Livramento can be under Guardiola, given his attacking capabilities and how reliable he is defensively. He could certainly be their best signing since Gvardiol, given the lack of experience or struggles those made since have experienced.

If he can replicate anywhere near the impact Gvardiol has had at the Etihad Stadium, this is a signing that City fans can surely get excited about.

Serie A club Atalanta are believed to have made contact with both an “excellent” Celtic player’s representatives and the Hoops themselves.

Rodgers promises busy summer at Celtic

The Hoops have enjoyed another triumphant season, winning the Scottish Premiership title and also having a chance to seal Scottish Cup glory in the final against Aberdeen on Saturday, as Brendan Rodgers looks to add to his trophy haul at Parkhead.

This isn’t a time for anyone at Celtic to rest on their laurels, however, with Rangers set to appoint a new manager this summer and looking to bridge the gap at the top, and Rodgers has outlined how he expects the summer to be a busy one.

“Yes, think so. Again, we have to look at and adapt to situations as well. We all know fine well, here there’s a player trading model, which means that we will probably get offers for some of our players in the summer. And if that happens, then we have to be flexible and be able to adapt to that. If I said that everyone now would be here, then you’d maybe only have a few, two to three players coming in of high quality, but we’ll just have to see.”

Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been linked with a summer move to Celtic, being seen as a possible replacement for Arne Engels, who has been backed to seal a switch to Atalanta at the end of the season. Now, a new update has emerged regarding the Hoops man.

Club make contact with "excellent" Celtic player

According to TuttoAtalanta [via Sport Witness], Atalanta have made “significant contact” with Celtic ace Engels over a summer move to the club, as well as the Hoops themselves. That said, it is stated that the Scottish champions are proving to be a “tough nut to crack” when it comes to letting him go, but there is belief from last season’s Europa League winners that a deal can still be struck.

Selling Engels wouldn’t be ideal for Celtic, considering he is still just 21 years of age and has only spent one season at the club, not yet fully having the time to fully prove his worth.

The Belgian has scored nine goals and registered five assists in the Scottish Premiership this season – he also has one and three in the Champions League respectively – and Rodgers spoke positively about him earlier in the campaign.

“He’s really enjoying his time here. I’ve taken him out for some games just to let him see from the outside looking in and take that pressure away from him because it’s a big move and everything that comes with it. But he’s been excellent in training and he’s only going to get better and better.”

But ultimately, if Engels decides he wants a new challenge, it is pointless Celtic keeping hold of an unhappy player, with the manager well aware of the surgery required to compete in Europe next season.

Glasgow Rangers will need a new manager in the dugout at Ibrox when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway later this year, having relieved Philippe Clement of his duties in February.

Barry Ferguson came in to replace the Belgian head coach as an interim manager until the end of the season, and his side did beat Aberdeen 4-0 last time out in the league.

However, the former Rangers central midfielder has only won five of his 13 matches in charge of the club in all competitions, losing four of those games.

Ferguson’s most recent managerial experience before his current stint at Ibrox came at Alloa Athletic in the 2021/22 campaign, when he lost 17 of his 33 games at the helm.

These statistics do not suggest that the former Scotland international is the right man to lead the Light Blues back to glory in the Scottish Premiership moving forward, which is why he should not be a contender for the job.

It does appear as though Rangers are set to look externally for their new head coach this summer, as they have been linked with a move for Davide Ancelotti.

Why Davide Ancelotti could be exciting for Rangers

It was recently reported that the son of Carlo Ancelotti, who is currently part of his father’s coaching staff at Real Madrid, is closing in on the Rangers job.

The Light Blues were reported to be pushing to bring him to Ibrox to convince him to take his first role as a senior head coach, rather than going to join his dad when he becomes the Brazil manager later this year.

The Rangers-linked coach has worked with his father at Real Madrid, Everton, and Bayern Munich, and has been described as an influential figure behind the scenes.

Former Bayern midfielder Javi Martinez, as quoted by the BBC, hailed Davide’s influence on Carlo: “The evolution process never stops and it is more difficult to adapt for older coaches. Davide completes Carlo and helps him understand the evolution of football. Davide is incredible: prepared, serious, a great person, like his father.”

As you can see in the graphic above, he has learned from one of the best managers around, given the incredible number of trophies his father has won, and that illustrates why him being an influential figure on his coaching staff is a big positive ahead of a possible move to Rangers.

This is why, despite his lack of outright managerial experience, Ancelotti could be an exciting appointment for the Gers and a chance to get behind a new era at Ibrox, which could be kickstarted with an excellent signing.

Rangers make contact to sign English forward

According to The Herald, Rangers have made contact with Blackburn Rovers forward Tyrhys Dolan to remain informed on his situation ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Gers want to keep tabs on the English attacker, who could become a free agent this summer if he does not extend his contract with the Championship side.

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It reveals that Blackburn would value Dolan between £5m and £10m but they could lose him for a nominal compensation fee if he runs down his contract to sign for the Light Blues.

The report, however, adds that Premiership rivals Celtic are also monitoring the winger ahead of a possible swoop for his services in the summer window, which shows that there will be competition for the 23-year-old dynamo’s services.

This means that Rangers may have to act fast once it becomes clear that Dolan will be available to sign when his contract at Ewood Park expires at the end of June, as they will have to beat other teams to his signature.

The board should push to get a deal over the line for the Blackburn star because he could be an excellent signing to kick the Ancelotti era off with a bang, should a move to appoint the Real Madrid coach go through.

Why Rangers should sign Tyrhys Dolan

The Light Blues could kickstart the Ancelotti era in exciting fashion by signing Dolan because he is a promising young talent with the potential to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch in Scottish football.

At the age of 23, the Blackburn star would arrive with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player, which means that he could be a long-term addition to the side as well as having the quality to make an instant impact.

As you can see in the clip above, Dolan is also a player who has showcased his quality in the final third in the Championship for the English side this season.

The incredibly versatile attacker, who can play on the left, on the right, as an attacking midfielder, or as a striker, has shown that he has the potential to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis if put in the right environment.

Dolan has only averaged 38.1 touches per game in a Blackburn team that ranked 16th in the league for xG, with 51.6 xG in 46 matches, which shows that he was not getting loads of touches in a well-coached attacking side.

Vaclav Cerny, meanwhile, has delivered 12 goals and three assists with 50.7 touches per game for Rangers on the right flank in the Premiership this season.

Appearances

31

44

Touches per game

50.7

38.1

Shots

90

51

Goals

12

7

Conversion rate

13%

14%

Big chances created

6

7

Assists

3

6

As you can see in the table above, Dolan enjoyed a better conversion rate of shots to goals than Cerny has managed so far this season in the Premiership, and created more ‘big chances’ for his side with roughly 12 fewer touches per game on average.

These statistics suggest that the English star’s output at the top end of the pitch could soar if he was put in a Rangers team that gives him plenty of touches in the final third, with more chances to take shots and create chances as an exciting wide player.

Dolan, once hailed as “outstanding” by former boss John Eustace, would also provide an exciting celebration for supporters when he scores, as shown in the clip above.

In all seriousness, though, he could be the perfect first signing of the Ancelotti era as a superb young talent who has the quality and the potential to be a star at Ibrox, with the chance to be more influential in the final third as part of a more dominant and attacking team than he has been at Blackburn.

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