All posts by h716a5.icu

South East Stars seamer involved with senior team for first time as injury cover

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jun-2024England have handed a first senior call-up to South East Stars seamer Ryana MacDonald-Gay for their ODI series with New Zealand, ahead of the first match at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.MacDonald-Gay, 20, has represented England Under-19s and England A and is currently the second-leading wicket-taker in this season’s Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, with 12 at 11.75 and a best of 5 for 31 from four matches.She has been added as cover due to what head coach Jon Lewis described as “a couple of niggles” in the 14-player group, and will join up with the team in Durham on Tuesday.”Ryana has been a standout bowler in domestic 50-over cricket and had a good 50-over tour of New Zealand with our England A team,” Lewis said. “We have brought her in at this point as we have a couple of niggles in the squad. We have been really impressed with her skill level and accuracy.”She is an exciting young talent and we look forward to having her in the squad.”MacDonald-Gay made her Kent debut as a 15-year-old in 2019 and has also represented Oval Invincibles in the Women’s Hundred. She took six wickets in two 50-over appearances and five in two T20s on the England A tour of New Zealand in March.

After already making their first approach for his signature, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly been handed the green light to push on and sign a talented 17-goal striker this summer.

Nottingham Forest plotting South American swoop

If recent rumours are anything to go by then Nottingham Forest’s recruitment team certainly has a soft spot for South American talents. Having already watched the likes of Murillo thrive at the City Ground, Evangelos Marinakis is set to welcome at least three more Brazilian talents this summer amid reports that Forest have agreed a deal to sign Igor Jesus, Jair Cunha and Cuiabano from Botafogo.

Just how much of an instant impact all three players make remains to be seen, but there’s no denying that they are all talented in their own right. That said, the standout remains Jesus.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025

The young striker has looked ready for a move into European football for some time and the City Ground could be the perfect environment for his goalscoring prowess to thrive alongside a South American contingent.

Given that all three players are currently at the Club World Cup with Botafogo, the big question for Forest will be whether they can complete their triple swoop in time for them to feature at the start of next season.

The Tricky Trees have just discovered where they’ll be and when in the Premier League season, with the visit of Brentford awaiting on the opening day in August. It’s then that Nuno Espirito Santo could have the aforementioned trio available and potentially one more Brazilian talent at his disposal.

Nottingham Forest receive green light for Romulo move

Having already made their first approach and established contact over a potential deal, those in the Midlands could now take their next step towards another South American star. According to CNN Turk, as relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have now received the green light to sign Romulo Cardoso by the forward himself, who wants to complete a move to the Premier League.

Appearances

33

Goals

17

Asssists

10

At 23 years old, Romulo has already made his mark on European football with as many as 17 goals and 10 assists in just 33 appearances in Turkey last season. Now, he could be set to complete the biggest move of his career.

Nottingham Forest join race for £85m star who’s starred at Club World Cup

He’s a man in demand…

ByTom Cunningham Jun 18, 2025

The striker spot is certainly up for grabs at Nottingham Forest too. As impressive as Chris Wood has been – scoring 20 Premier League goals last season – there’s no denying that he’ll be past the peak of his powers sooner rather than later at 33 years old. And that’s why Romelo’s arrival would prove to be so important this summer.

Who’s ready to do it all over again next season? Arne Slot, for sure, will be champing at the bit, desperate to lead Liverpool out for his second season.

This time, however, the Dutch coach will not be an unknown commodity but a Premier League champion, having dominated the division to cement legendary status and join an exclusive list of triumphant debutants in the dugout.

Federico Chiesa will be frustrated with his minimal role across the campaign, especially since he’s the club’s only signing since Jurgen Klopp completed his midfield rebuild in August 2023, but injuries and Mohamed Salah’s brilliance have left the right-sided forward shackled to the sidelines for much of the year.

Chiesa’s future is undetermined, but one thing that is certain: FSG have rewarded Slot with a deep purse for summer spending.

Sporting director Richard Hughes is already working overtime, but there’s plenty more to come. Let’s have a look at how Liverpool could line up when all’s said and done come Autumn.

1 GK – Alisson Becker

Liverpool agreed a £29m deal with Valencia for Giorgi Mamardashvili last summer, and the Georgian will now join the Anfield side. However, he’ll be hard-pressed to oust Alisson Becker from his spot between the sticks.

Alisson’s brilliance has forced Caoimhin Kelleher, a fantastic goalkeeper in his own right, to search for pastures new, and Mamardashvili will have to wait to nail down the number one spot.

2 RB – Jeremie Frimpong

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave Liverpool and sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer will be a contentious subject for many years to come, but Hughes and Co might just have struck gold in replacing him with Jeremie Frimpong.

The electric right-sider has left Bayer Leverkusen after Liverpool met his £29.5m release clause, and the contrast he will offer from Conor Bradley could add a wonderfully dynamic dimension to Slot’s team.

3 CB – Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate continues to be non-committal on the contract front, but there have been tentative claims of late pertaining to progress at the negotiating table.

The 24-year-old is one of the best centre-backs in the business right now, a wonderful, athletic counterpoint to the skipper beside him.

4 CB – Virgil van Dijk

Like Salah (and unlike Alexander-Arnold), Virgil van Dijk signed a two-year contract extension at Liverpool in April and will continue his iconic career at the club.

Easily one of the best defenders of his generation, the Netherlands native is inspiring, influential and, above all else, an incredible footballer.

5 LB – Milos Kerkez

Though a deal has yet to be wrapped up, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that “club-to-club talks are underway” between Liverpool and Bournemouth.

Andy Robertson, 31, has been a stalwart servant at Liverpool for so many years, but he was a clear weak link at times this year, and Kerkez, a decade his junior, would be the perfect long-term addition.

6 CM – Ryan Gravenberch

The Premier League’s Young Player of the Year award went to Ryan Gravenberch, and rightly so.

Has there been a more influential surprise package in the division this year? After a middling debut campaign on Merseyside, the 22-year-old has gone from strength to strength.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

37 (37)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

4

Touches*

28.8

66.5

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.7

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.5

Total duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.0 (57%)

Liverpool failed to convince Martin Zubimendi to join their cause one year ago, but they won’t care a jot anymore.

7 CM – Alexis Mac Allister

There are rumours that Alexis Mac Allister is wanted by Real Madrid, but Liverpool will not let their midfield life-force leave this summer.

He’s almost underrated, Mac Allister, one of the biggest proponents of Slot’s tactical vision.

8 RW – Mohamed Salah

Salah. What is there to say?

Thank you, perhaps. The Egyptian King has brought so much joy, so much success to Liverpool, and he’s deservedly a two-time Premier League champion, having obliterated any number of records across the term.

Will Salah, 33 this month, match this season’s haul of 34 goals and 23 assists across all competitions?

Maybe, maybe not. In any case, the right winger will expect a higher calibre of attacking quality surrounding him.

9 AM – Florian Wirtz

What better way to reward Salah for his almighty campaign than to sign Florian Wirtz, who is regarded by sports media professional Cristian Nyari as a “truly generational talent.”

Liverpool have been locked in talks with Leverkusen for the 22-year-old playmaker, with the Germans holding out for a €150m (£126m) fee; some more talking may be required.

If Liverpool do manage to get this one over the line, it would be quite the way to offset the malaise enveloping Trent’s move to sunny Spain.

10 LW – Anthony Gordon

Luis Diaz has given a lot to Liverpool over his years at the club, and the 28-year-old is entering the penultimate year of his contract with his stock sky-high. Barcelona and Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr are both keen.

Liverpool would need to replace their Colombian maverick, and, if Football Insider are to be believed, interest in Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon could be revisited.

Newcastle would want £80m for their prized winger, but Gordon is a boyhood Liverpool fan and would be curious at moving back to Merseyside.

Liverpool will not stand in the way of a “special” player leaving the club at the end of this season, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Trophy lift awaits as Liverpool begin summer planning

The Reds’ season has effectively been done and dusted for weeks now, having won the Premier League title last month, but Sunday’s visit of Crystal Palace promises to be a memorable afternoon at Anfield.

Liverpool’s campaign comes to an end this weekend, and once the Palace match is over, they will lift the trophy in front of their adoring supporters, who were robbed of the chance to celebrate properly when they were crowned champions back in 2019/20.

Virgil van Dijk will become the latest Reds captain to hoist the trophy aloft, officially bringing an end to a sensational first season at Anfield for Arne Slot, who has defied expectations and won a huge trophy straight away, having taken on the daunting task of replacing Jurgen Klopp.

With Palace winning the FA Cup final against Manchester City last weekend, this promises to be one of the happiest occasions for two sets of supporters in memory, with the result ultimately meaningless in the grand scheme of things. When the dust settles, though, attention will turn to Liverpool’s transfer business, and a key exit rumour has emerged regarding one player.

Liverpool open to Harvey Elliott sale

Writing on X, Plettenberg claimed that Liverpool are happy to sell Harvey Elliott this summer, with his future still very much up in the air and talks already opened with interested parties.

Elliott has had a frustrating season, with his only two starts in the Premier League coming after the title was won, with Slot struggling to see him as a key man.

The 22-year-old may feel that he has reached a point in his career where he needs to start regularly, and his natural talent could be such an asset for another team, having been described as a “special” player by former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor last December.

For all of Elliott’s technical expertise, however, he lacks the dynamism of the Reds’ other midfielders, from Ryan Gravenberch to Dominik Szoboszlai, and this continues to work against him.

Appearances

17

Starts

2

Minutes played

355

Goals

1

Assists

2

Shots per game

1.0

Key passes per game

0.6

Dribbles per game

0.2

The idea of the £40,000-a-week midfielder staying at Liverpool is certainly no bad thing, considering what a good squad player he is, but he has now reached a point where a move away could be the most beneficial outcome for everyone.

The season is over and attention will now turn to what Celtic are going to do in the upcoming summer transfer window to improve their playing squad.

Brendan Rodgers already has one new addition lined up to come in this summer, as Kieran Tierney will join on a free transfer at the end of his contract with Arsenal.

As you can see in the graphic above, the Scotland international enjoyed an incredibly successful first spell at Parkhead after coming up through the academy system, winning five Scottish Premiership titles before his £25m move to Arsenal in 2019.

He is now set to return on a free transfer to bolster the manager’s options at left-back as the first signing of the summer transfer window for the Hoops.

Whilst there will be a focus on incoming signings and how the Premiership champions can strengthen their squad, Celtic also have to be wary of losing their top talents.

They sold Matt O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion last summer and Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes in January, and Nicolas Kuhn is one star who could follow them out of the door.

Why Nicolas Kuhn could leave Celtic this summer

Writing for Sky Sports last weekend, journalist Anthony Joseph claimed that there is ‘plenty of interest’ in the left-footed wizard after his impressive season for the club.

Crystal Palace, Everton, and Leeds United have all been credited with an interest in the German attacker this year, but it remains to be seen whether any of them are prepared to make a tangible move for him this summer.

This interest in his services, though, does suggest that there is a chance that the former Rapid Vienna winger could move on from Parkhead ahead of next season, if offers start coming in for him.

Clubs being keen on snapping him up should not come as a surprise to anyone, though, because Kuhn enjoyed a terrific season for Celtic across all competitions.

Appearances

32

Goals

13

Big chances created

11

Key passes per game

1.6

Assists

9

Dribbles completed per game

1.8

As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old wizard delivered brilliant performances in the Scottish Premiership during the 2024/25 campaign, with 24 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 32 appearances.

It would be a big blow to lose Kuhn from the squad, because of the goals and assists that he can provide from the right flank, but the Hoops are reportedly looking at a star who could be a dream replacement for him.

Celtic eyeing move for new winger

According to GIVEMESPORT, Celtic are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Peterborough United forward Kwame Poku in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that there are up to a staggering 26 teams eyeing up the Ghana international, whose contract with the Posh is due to expire at the end of next month.

Transfer Focus

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

It reveals that the Hoops have sent scouts to watch the attacker on a regular basis this season, with a view to potentially swooping for him in the coming weeks.

GIVEMESPORT adds that Celtic and Rangers are both in a strong position to sign the winger because they would not have to pay as much money in compensation as English teams, due to UEFA’s cross-border compensation rules, which would allow them to offer a more attractive contract.

The report does reveal, though, that Birmingham City, who have been promoted to the Championship in England, have already submitted their contract offer to the left-footed star.

With this in mind, Celtic must press ahead with their interest in Poku to challenge Birmingham for his signature, because he could be a fantastic replacement for Kuhn.

Why Celtic should sign Kwame Poku

If the club’s German wizard does move on from Parkhead in the weeks or months to come, Rodgers will need a new left-footed right winger who has the potential to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

Poku’s performances for Peterborough in the third tier of English football suggest that he could be an ideal signing to replace the impact that Kuhn has at the top end of the pitch.

Whilst some may question the standard of League One, it is worth remembering that Matt O’Riley produced seven goals and five assists in 27 League One matches for MK Dons before his move to Celtic.

Poku could follow in his footsteps by making the move to Glasgow to be a star for the Hoops as an exciting attacking force on the right wing, coming in to replace the productivity that Kuhn provides.

The 23-year-old sensation, who was described as “unplayable” by manager Darren Ferguson, has provided goals and assists on a regular basis in England over the past two seasons.

Appearances

37

27

Goals

11

12

Big chances missed

11

3

Big chances created

10

9

Key passes per game

1.5

1.2

Assists

7

8

As you can see in the table above, Poku has delivered 23 goals and 19 ‘big chances’ created in 64 appearances in League One for Peterborough, which shows that he has the potential to make a big impact in the final third.

Like Kuhn, the Posh star is also a left-footed attacker who predominantly plays on the right flank, cutting in onto his stronger foot to cause problems for opposition defenders as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

With this in mind, Poku could come in as a dream replacement for the Celtic number ten, if he does move on this summer, because he is similar in style whilst also having the potential to provide goals and assists at a similar rate.

McCowan 2.0: Celtic agree deal to make "brilliant" star their 2nd signing

Celtic have reportedly agreed a deal to make their second signing of the summer, and he could be Luke McCowan 2.0.

ByDan Emery May 26, 2025

It is now down to the Hoops to submit a contract offer of their own in an attempt to convince the winger to turn down the chance to sign for Birmingham.

Newcastle United fans are surely in dreamland at the moment, with their Magpies heroes in the driver’s seat now involving the ongoing Champions League race in the Premier League.

Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off versus Chelsea had all the ingredients of a high-stakes affair with both the Toon and the Blues heading into the game on 63 points each.

But, Eddie Howe’s men didn’t play with any nerves visible in their free-flowing game, meaning the Magpies are now sat in a pretty third position – only one point off Arsenal – after easing past Enzo Maresca’s men 2-0.

Both Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes would steal the limelight on the day as the Newcastle goalscorers, with the fantastic midfield pairing looking ready made for Champions League football off the back of their polished displays.

Tonali and Guimaraes stole the show

In such a tense affair, the best possible mood setter would be to score early on.

Tonali certainly felt that way anyway when he gifted Howe’s hosts the lead after just two minutes, with the former AC Milan maestro managing to tap home after an inviting delivery into the box fell charitably at his feet.

Away from sending the home masses into delirium with the opening strike of the day, Tonali would continue to keep plugging away centrally with his boundless energy, leading to the standout number eight winning three ground duels.

On top of that, he was also on the lookout for an assist to complement his goal with two key passes tallied up, but no such moment would arrive.

Instead, Dan Burn would turn provider when teeing up Guimaraes for Newcastle’s game-clinching second, with the popular Brazilian also showing off his varied game – much like Tonali – when winning three duels, while registering two more shots past his fabulous late effort looping over Robert Sanchez.

But, there is another sensational forward player for Howe’s side that hasn’t even been mentioned yet who is slowly but surely turning into Newcastle’s next iteration of Nolberto Solano with his expert eye for an assist.

Newcastle's new version of Solano

The now retired right winger would consistently dazzle Premier League defences with his trickery when donning Magpies black and white.

He would also pick up assists by the bucket-load to back up his memorable showboating, with Solano’s assist haul of 15 in league action during the 1999/2000 season yet to be topped, until potentially now.

Jacob Murphy amazingly only finds himself three short of Solano’s bumper total in the here and now, with his 12th assist of the Premier League season to date the cross that Tonali very kindly finished off.

It’s been a remarkable campaign for the 30-year-old so far, considering he had only picked up eight assists last season when he was sparingly used 21 times in league action due to injury concerns. Now, he’s as crucial as Tonali and Guimaraes are in Newcastle’s exciting hunt for European glory.

1. Alexander Isak

33

23

6

2. Jacob Murphy

33

8

12

3. Harvey Barnes

31

9

4

4. Anthony Gordon

32

6

5

5. Bruno Guimaraes

36

5

6

Staggeringly, only Alexander Isak is able to surpass Murphy for goals and assists this season in the Premier League for the Magpies, with the ex-Norwich City man certainly living up to his next Solano label more when powering home eight goals from 33 games. In total, the silky Peruvian would pick up 48 strikes on Tyneside.

Murphy will hope he can get near to that sizeable tally soon, with the hard-working yet skilful winger another gem playing out of his skin for the Toon as Champions League football possibly reappears.

Howe thinks he's perfect: Newcastle make bid for "incredible" £21m maestro

The Magpies have submitted a significant offer for a new midfielder.

ByDominic Lund May 9, 2025

Even though this season is still ongoing, there’s only one question on Rangers supporters’ minds: who will be the next manager in the Ibrox dugout?

Barry Ferguson is still yet to oversee a home win for Rangers in five attempts during his interim spell, following Sunday’s 1-1 draw in the derby, hoping to change that at Ibrox this weekend.

So, as much as he might want it, it’s very unlikely that he is going to get the job full-time and, while there appear to be two clear front-runners to be appointed right now, should Rangers turn their attention to a “world-class manager”?

Rangers new manager latest

At the time of writing, there are two clear favourites to be appointed as the next Rangers manager.

One is Steven Gerrard, with Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider reporting that he is ‘now the leading candidate’ to be re-hired, just under four years after leaving the club for Aston Villa.

Gerrard has been out of work since January, when he was sacked by Al-Ettifaq after, as John Duerden of the Guardian puts it, a generally ‘underwhelming’ spell in charge of the Saudi Pro League club.

Thus, a report by TEAMTalk claims that Gerrard ‘would be very open’ to the possibility of a return to the Ibrox dugout.

The other manager seemingly in the fray is Marco Rose, with Mark Pirie of the Daily Record stating that the German is ‘being considered’ by Andrew Cavenagh, Paraag Marathe and the rest of 49ers Enterprises, ahead of their proposed takeover.

The 48-year-old is also currently out of work, having been sacked by RB Leipzig in March; he’s previously been in charge of RB Salzburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund.

Both would be intriguing appointments in very different ways, but should the 49ers actually attempt to appoint a manager with vastly more experience?

Rangers could land a world-class manager

A report by Mark Pirie of the Daily Record back in March claimed that Rafa Benítez is a candidate to become the new Rangers manager, stating that the Spaniard is ‘aware’ of speculation linking him to the vacancy.

Few active managers on the planet can boast quite as impressive a CV as Benítez, as outlined in the table below.

Real Valladolid

1995-96

25

Osasuna

1996

9

Extremadura

1997-99

92

Segunda promotion

Tenerife

2000-01

46

Segunda promotion

Valencia

2001-04

162

La Liga X2

UEFA Cup

Liverpool

2004-12

350

Champions League

FA Cup

UEFA Super Cup

Internazionale

2010

25

FIFA Club World Cup

Supercoppa Italiana

Chelsea

2012-13

48

Europa League

Napoli

2013-15

112

Coppa Italia

Supercoppa Italiana

Real Madrid

2015-16

25

Newcastle United

2016-19

146

EFL Championship

Dalian Professional

2019-21

38

Everton

2021-22

22

Celta de Vigo

2023-24

33

Benítez’s credentials are there for all to see, having won the Champions League, two La Liga titles and the Europa League twice, as well as various other trophies, managing some of the world’s biggest clubs, including Liverpool, Real Madrid, Inter and Chelsea.

His successor at Newcastle United, Steve Bruce, said that Benítez is unquestionably a “world-class manager”, even if his last two jobs, in charge of Everton and Celta Vigo, have both gone pretty disastrously.

He was never likely to succeed at Goodison was he, becoming only the second man, after William Edward Barclay in 1892, to manage both Merseyside giants.

Nevertheless, Dietmar Hamann, who played for Benítez at Liverpool, alongside Gerrard of course, described his former boss as a “genius” and a “fantastic manager”, adding that Rangers “could do a lot worse” in their search for a new head coach.

So, if the 49ers are looking for a manager who has vast experience when it comes to both British and European football, could the 65-year-old be the man tasked with overseeing the Rangers rebuild, pipping his former captain – and Rose – to the post?

Rangers: "Outstanding" 4-4-2 manager explodes into race to replace Ferguson

A high-profile European coach is now among the main contenders to become the new manager of the Gers.

ByDominic Lund May 1, 2025

Manchester United just about managed to salvage a share of the points away at AFC Bournemouth on Sunday as Rasmus Hojlund broke free of his wretched luck in front of goal in the Premier League to rescue a 1-1 draw.

The Cherries were hanging onto their 1-0 slim lead after Evanilson saw red on the 70th minute mark and must have thought United’s wastefulness in attack was going to be their saving grace, only for the usually misfiring Dane to level the game right at the death.

Whilst the 22-year-old was the unlikely hero come the full-time whistle, a draw might still be deemed as an unsatisfactory result based on the away side’s lack of composure up top ,robbing them of a much-needed victory.

Man United's wasteful attackers vs Bournemouth

In total, Ruben Amorim’s men would notch up a hefty 25 shots on the Cherries’ goal, with Hojlund’s effort amazingly the only one that ended up beating the consistently switched-on Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Away from accumulating a stunning seven key passes to try and set up his teammates for opportunities, Bruno Fernandes will feel irked that he didn’t manage to beat Kepa like his Danish teammate, with three efforts unfortunately passing him by on the South Coast.

Likewise, Hojlund will feel somewhat annoyed that he couldn’t pick up a whole host of strikes, with the goal-shy number 9 failing to get involved in the contest for large portions of the 90 minutes, leading to his only effort on the day being the golden one that trickled in.

But, there was a far worse culprit than both of these attackers when it came to squandering chances against Andoni Iraola’s open hosts, with Amorim now clamouring for Wolverhampton Wanderers superstar Matheus Cunha’s signature even more so off the back of this underperformer lacking a clinical edge.

5/10 Man Utd could soon be replaced by Cunha

Whilst United’s wastefulness reared its ugly head once more during the 1-1 draw, Cunha showed off his spellbinding ability in attack again for Wolves at the weekend, with the ex-Atletico Madrid ace picking up a goal and two assists in his side’s convincing 3-0 takedown of Leicester City.

With it reported that the Brazilian could be on his way to Old Trafford, Fernandes would likely not be sacrificed for Cunha to take up a first-team spot.

As a result, his comrade in the attacking positions in Alejandro Garnacho could be the casualty, with his showing against Bournemouth leaving a lot to be desired.

As is outlined above, Garnacho is now up to a dire 14 big chances missed this season, with his game in the forward areas against Iraola’s men screaming of an attacker low on confidence when the heat is ramped up.

The South American forward ended the game having been handed a low 5/10 rating post-match by Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst and it was unsurprising to see why.

He fired a mammoth eight shots at the Cherries net without ever beating Kepa, meaning his goal count for the season in the Premier League is stuck at a paltry five. Furthermore, he won just four of his seven duels and gave away the ball 13 times, once every 3.7 touches.

Games played

33

29

Goals scored

5

15

Assists

1

6

Expected goals (xG)

7.02 xG

7.86 xG

Goalscoring frequency

411 mins

156 mins

Big chances missed

14

2

Big chances created

3

12

Whereas, moving back to Molineux, Cunha finds himself on a mightily impressive 21 goal contributions for the campaign from 29 clashes, with Amorim well aware that the Brazilian’s arrival onto the scene would see Garnacho instantly drop out of the XI.

It remains to be seen whether United can win their desired man away from rampant speculation, but if they are successful in their pursuit, he could be one piece of the jigsaw that enables Amorim’s Red Devils to recapture their former glories.

He'd be incredible with Cunha: Man Utd are in talks to sign a "monster" CM

Manchester United could land a star who would be perfect for Matheu Cunha this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 25, 2025

Crystal Palace have been “watching” a centre-back, who has been a key part of an “incredible” defence this season, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Palace stepping up centre-back pursuit

It will be a tall order for Palace to replace captain Marc Guehi this summer, but it is looking increasingly likely Oliver Glasner will have to bring in a new centre-back, given that the 24-year-old has not agreed terms on a contract extension.

As such, the Eagles have now stepped up their pursuit of a new centre-back ahead of the summer transfer window, and they could make a statement signing by bringing in Paris Saint-Germain defender Milan Skriniar, having now joined the race for the Slovakian.

Skriniar is one of the more well-known targets, but there could be an addition out of left-field, with Glasner’s side also making contact over a deal for Independiente De Avellaneda’s Kevin Lomonaco, who may be available for just £5m this summer.

Crystal Palace eyeing move to sign new £30m+ "Roy Keane-esque" midfielder

The Eagles are set to battle it out for a midfielder, who has been compared to Manchester United legend Roy Keane.

ByDominic Lund Apr 16, 2025

According to former scout Brown, in an interview with Football Insider, Crystal Palace are also in the race for Burnley defender Maxime Esteve, having sent officials to watch him in action this season.

Brown said: “Everton and Crystal Palace have been watching him, among other teams, and have had scouts at Turf Moor to keep an eye on his performance.

“Burnley want to keep him, especially if they get promoted to the Premier League, but a really good offer for him could get that over the line.”

Esteve was also singled out for praise, given the Clarets’ exceptional defensive record this season, with Brown adding: “This season, he’s really pushed on and he’s been an integral part of an outstanding Burnley defence.

“They’ve conceded just 13 goals in 42 league games this year, it’s incredible.”

"Phenomenon" Esteve ready for Premier League

Burnley’s defensive record in the Championship this season has been nothing short of remarkable, having conceded just 14 goals, and the 22-year-old has played an absolutely crucial role, making 43 appearances.

The Burnley star is particularly impressive in possession of the ball, ranking in the 91st percentile for passes attempted per 90 over the past year, and 89th for his pass completion rate, having previously received high praise for his ball skills from football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Esteve appears to have the hallmarks of a quality modern-day centre-back, and his performances for Burnley this season indicate he is definitely ready for a Premier League move, but Crystal Palace may have to shell out around £30m for his services.

Despite Chelsea’s dip in form during the second half of the season, Enzo Maresca has clearly improved the defensive level of his side, implementing a more control-based system with a man-to-man pressing approach.

The Blues were involved in plenty of high-scoring games last campaign, including a 4-4 draw against Manchester City, a 4-3 win against Manchester United and five 2-2 draws.

Whilst they were scoring lots of goals, it was also coming back the other way, giving them their worst defensive record in the last ten years.

Goals Conceded

1.58

1.22

xG Against

1.53

1.33

Shots Against

14.6

10.8

Shots on Target Against

4.79

4.19

Average Shot Distance Against

16.9 (yards)

17.5 (yards)

Under Maresca, these defensive metrics have begun to improve, conceding fewer goals per 90, conceding fewer shots against per 90 and forcing opposition teams into longer-distance shots.

However, we can still expect defensive reinforcement in the summer, as the Blues will likely want to take another step to further improving their defensive record next season.

Chelsea's centre-back conundrum

After Wesley Fofana has continued to struggle with injuries in the 2024/25 campaign, Chelsea are now looking to add a central defender in the summer transfer window, with one of the names highly linked being Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen.

Huijsen only signed for Bournemouth in the 2024/25 summer transfer window, joining from Juventus for a fee of around £12m.

That said, his excellent performances at just 20-years-old is already attracting interest from Europe’s elite, with the Spaniard’s £50m release clause now likely to be activated after just one season in England. The Blues are one of the interested parties with it reported that they and Arne Slot’s Liverpool are at the front of the queue for his signature.

The 20-year-old has made 30 appearances for the Cherries this season, scoring two goals, providing one assist, contributing to seven clean sheets and totalling 2,350 minutes played.

But, as talented as Huijsen is, could Chelsea already have their own young talented defender in the pipeline?

Chelsea's homegrown Huijsen

A certain Josh Acheampong has fully broken into the senior set-up at Chelsea this season, having made his debut under Mauricio Pochettino last term, coming from the bench against Tottenham.

The 18-year-old has made nine senior appearances throughout 2024/25 in what has been a real breakthrough year, contributing to five clean sheets in 511 minutes played.

One of his best traits is the ability to drive the ball out from the back, striding forwards and kick-starting attacks through progressive carries.

Especially against man-to-man pressing schemes (which are becoming far more common in the Premier League), this attribute can become a real game-changer.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Acheampong has already been labelled as a “dominant” defender by scout Jacek Kulig, who referred to the 18-year-old as the “definition of a modern defender”.

The England U19 star is versatile, able play as both a right-back and centre-back, even recently showing his ability to step into midfield, having the composure and elegance beyond his years.

Having been integrated slowly this season under Maresca, who has already stated Acheampong is “the one he fell in love with” after his performance against Legia Warsaw in the UEFA Conference League, next year could be a big season for the young defender, becoming more than just a bit-part piece for the Italian head coach.

A better signing than Huijsen: Chelsea preparing bid for £50m defender

Chelsea are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Premier League defender this summer.

ByDan Emery Apr 14, 2025