All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Gus Poyet has backed Enzo Maresca to get Chelsea challenging for a league title next season.

Blues still on track for Champions League qualification

It has been a mixed season for the Blues, with qualification for the Champions League still very much in their grasp, although their task has been made much more difficult after the disappointing 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United last weekend.

If Maresca’s side do manage to get over the line, the campaign is likely to be viewed as a success, although their heavy spending under BlueCo ownership means they should have loftier ambitions in the future.

After a trophy-laden period under the ownership of Roman Abramovich, the west Londoners are yet to win a trophy since the arrival of Todd Boehly, which is something that will need to change in the very near future.

A better signing than Osimhen: Chelsea in talks to land the "next Haaland"

Chelsea appear to be making moves to land a star who would be better than Victor Osimhen.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 14, 2025

That is according to former Chelsea man Poyet, who gave his thoughts on Maresca’s first season in charge, in partnership with BetBrain.

The 57-year-old said: “I think for him, Chelsea winning the European competition will be the platform to build on for next season. It’s always important winning a trophy for Chelsea and you cannot lose that.

The Uruguayan also suggested that while it would be a success to win the Europa Conference League, the Blues will need to start competing for major honours next season, saying the manager will know how: “Winning the European competition would be amazing. With all respects to them, two years ago they were young.

“They’re not young anymore, they’ve already played 80 games in the Premier League, so next year there is no excuses. They have to be better and they have to be more competitive? How? Well, the coach knows better than me what he needs.”

Maresca must start competing for major honours

Few would have predicted Maresca winning the Premier League in his first season at Stamford Bridge, and should his side manage to seal a top-five finish, it will be fantastic to return to the Champions League after a two-year absence from the competition.

However, Blues fans have become accustomed to success over the years, having won two Champions Leagues in the Abramovich era, and merely qualifying for Europe’s elite competition shouldn’t become the norm.

Although there may be some concerns about the form in the second half of the season, there has been some cause for optimism of late, with Chelsea securing crucial victories over the likes of Liverpool and Fulham.

Not only that, but BlueCo have already started work on potential summer signings, having identified some exciting targets in a range of different positions, so there is a clear ambition to kick on next season and challenge for the league.

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Victor Osimhen

Napoli

£60m

Nico Williams

Athletic Club

£48m

Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa

£90m

Dean Huijsen

AFC Bournemouth

£50m

Gregor Kobel

Borussia Dortmund

£47m

It’s interesting that Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of the best players in the world, should be leaving Liverpool this summer and yet the other defensive flank feels the main priority for FSG and Arne Slot.

You can assess this situation through different modes of analysis: it could be argued that Conor Bradley is an exciting talent and has the potential to step right into his teammate’s boots, with Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez marking enough depth for the upcoming campaign.

But then you could also peer down from the vantage of Andy Robertson being past his best, with Kostas Tsimikas not at the desired level either, thus heightening the need for a left-back this season given the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City are only going to improve over the off-season months.

Robertson, 31, is entering the final year of his contract but wants to stay put. He’s been a loyal and influential servant over the years; alongside Trent, the Scot is one of the most creative defenders in Premier League history.

1

Trent Alexander-Arnold

64

2

Andy Robertson

59

3

Leighton Baines

53

4

Graeme Le Saux

44

5

Kieran Trippier

38

The problem is, though, that Robertson has failed to register a single goal contribution in the top flight this term, and with Trent on the way out, that needs replacing.

Liverpool desperate for new left-back

Conor Bradley is by no means the finished article but he’s a talented young player with a goal and ten assists across 54 senior showings for the Reds. Not bad.

However, Robertson’s attacking impact is waning, and sporting director Richard Hughes has lined up Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez as the dream target, though FSG will no doubt be reluctant to meet the Cherries’ hefty £45m price tag.

The air around Kerkez’s situation is charged with the sense that he wants Liverpool. The Hungarian, teammate and good friend of Dominik Szoboszlai, has even been reported to have confided in his inner circle that he wants to move to Anfield.

However, £45m is a steep sum. The 21-year-old is technically in his breakout campaign in England and, with Manchester City and Real Madrid also keen on a deal.

Liverpool would be foolish not to earmark alternatives, with one fallback maybe even proving the better signing for Slot’s squad.

Liverpool identify Kerkez alternative

According to a recent exclusive from talkSPORT, Liverpool are interested in signing Antonee Robinson as an alternative to Kerkez this summer, with the Fulham star enjoying a fantastic season.

With Liverpool likely to splash the cash, left-back is bound to be an area Slot wants reinforcing, and Robinson could be the perfect man to rival Robertson.

It was revealed two months ago that FSG had already started plans for a £30m swoop; it’s unlikely Fulham will seal a route into European competition over the next few weeks, so the 28-year-old would jump at the chance to move to Merseyside.

Why Antonee Robinson would be perfect for Liverpool

Robinson actually played his football in Liverpool before, once of an Everton persuasion, starring for the academy but never tasting the senior stage as he was sold to Wigan Athletic after a promising loan spell.

Now, he’s a fully-fledged top-flight superstar with Fulham, 134 appearances deep into his career at England’s highest station.

With lightning pace and a roundedness that offers shades of Robertson back in his pomp, Robinson has played 34 league matches this season, wearing the skipper’s armband on 18 occasions.

Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley is even convinced that Robinson is “one of the best left-backs in the world,” making the bold claim earlier in the 2024/25 campaign.

It’s a bold take, but it’s not brazen. Indeed, the USMNT international’s performances this year and last have underscored his quality and the capacity to play for a team challenging at the apex of European competition.

If it’s creativity that Slot wants from left-back, he need look no further than this robust talent, who has racked up ten assists across 34 Premier League matches this year.

As per FBref, this places him among the top 3% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists per 90, also among the top 8% for progressive carries and the top 7% for tackles + interceptions per 90 too.

To put it simply, Robinson’s completeness is something which would elevate an already high-flying Slot squad. There’s a purpose to his movements that allows him to run the lanes of duty, make a positive impact when both fixed to the backline and unleashed, allowed to roam forward and influence.

Peering at Robinson’s metrics this year against Kerkez’s, you begin to see why it might be worth picking the more experienced head.

Matches (starts)

34 (33)

35 (35)

Goals

0

2

Assists

10

5

Touches*

74

59.2

Pass completion

81%

80%

Key passes*

1.3

1.0

Dribbles*

1.0

0.6

Ball recoveries*

4.4

4.0

Tackles + interceptions*

4.3

2.6

Clearances*

3.4

2.7

Duels (won)*

5.5 (55%)

4.0 (53%)

Kerkez holds the advantage of youth, but he’s not performing at the Cottage star’s level just yet. Robinson’s aggressive and front-footed defending even led Mohamed Salah to tell him he was “the best player on the pitch” in a Premier League clash several years ago.

This is quite the praise: say one thing for Salah, he knows how to score and create goals, thus with an intrinsic understanding of when he’s pitted against a defender of real quality.

So then, with Robinson outperforming Kerkez across almost every metric this season, signing him for the Anfield cause feels like something of a no-brainer.

Bournemouth’s rising talent might be younger, but Robinson’s got plenty of gas left in the tank after completing just his fourth campaign in the top flight. Cheaper too, he’s the one to go for.

A bigger talent than Trent: Liverpool chasing "world-class" £50m signing

Liverpool are going to be shuffling some pieces around in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 5, 2025

An “unbelievable” Aston Villa player has reached an agreement to join a new club at the end of the season, a new transfer update has claimed.

Aston Villa preparing for huge semi-final

Unai Emery’s side suffered a hugely disappointing 2-1 defeat at Manchester City in the Premier League on Tuesday night, with Matheus Nunes’ last-gasp winner denting their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Villa cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves, however, with a massive FA Cup semi-final clash with Crystal Palace now on the horizon this weekend. The two sides meet at Wembley on Saturday, knowing either City or Nottingham Forest will be waiting in the final.

For Villans supporters, it is arguably as important as the recent Champions League quarter-final tie with Paris Saint-Germain, considering it is nearly 60 years since the club won the FA Cup. They last took home the trophy way back in 1957, so Emery and his players will know how much winning it would mean.

Once this season is over, Villa must focus on kicking on and making important signings in the summer transfer window – City legend Kevin De Bruyne has been linked with an exciting move – but one current player looks set to bring an end to his time at the club.

Aston Villa goalkeeper set to leave in 2025

According to a new update from Sportbladet [via Sport Witness], Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen has reached an agreement with Malmo, ahead of a return to his homeland this summer. The 35-year-old Swede will join on a “longer contract” for free when this season comes to an end, with his current Villans deal expiring in June.

The £50,000-a-week Olsen has been a good servant for Villa since arriving from Roma in 2022, proving to be a solid squad player who has filled in for Emiliano Martinez when needed.

The veteran stopper has made 21 appearances in total, and while that may not exactly be a huge tally, Ollie Watkins lauded his influence earlier this year.

“I think when Robin has played the majority of the time he has had to come on at half-time and has been thrown in at the deep end. That is tough. It is nice he could start a game and show what he could do from the start. He has had some unbelievable performances. He played like that away to Brighton last year. We lost the game but he was man of the match by far. He did the same today and it was massive.”

Aston Villa discussing move to sign "unbelievable" star available for free

The Villans are weighing up a move for a midfielder, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer.

ByDominic Lund Apr 24, 2025

It makes sense for all parties for Olsen’s time at Villa to reach its conclusion, though, allowing him more regular football elsewhere and potentially giving Emery the chance to bring in a younger alternative.

Arsenal are preparing for a first Champions League semi-final since 2009 after defeating defending European champions Real Madrid.

The Gunners were 3-0 up from the first leg thanks to Declan Rice’s double and Mikel Merino’s strike, and sensationally won 2-1 at the Bernabeu after a late winner from Gabriel Martinelli.

Their reward is a tie against Paris Saint-Germain, with the winner heading to Munich to face either Barcelona or Inter.

The last week or so has seen Arsenal add to their prestigious list of memorable European nights, with their first-leg victory over Los Blancos arguably the greatest night the Emirates Stadium has ever seen.

With that in mind, here is a look at the best European matches in the club’s illustrious history.

What happened to the Arsenal team that beat Real Madrid in the Bernabeu?

Arsenal will be looking to emulate these heroes from 2006.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 15, 2025 11 Roma 1-0 Arsenal (6-7 on penalties) 2008/09 Champions League, round of 16 second leg

After securing a 1-0 win at home, Arsenal went to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico in 2009 hoping to finish the job without any major issues.

However, the Gunners fell behind pretty quickly, with Juan levelling the aggregate scoreline inside 10 minutes.

With no further goals on the night, a shootout was required, and despite Eduardo’s miss for the visitors, Manuel Almunia saved from Mirko Vucinic and Max Tonetto blazed over to send Arsene Wenger’s side through to the last eight.

10 Arsenal 2-0 Juventus 2005/06 Champions League, quarter-final first leg

Arsenal delivered one of their finest results in the Champions League when seeing off Juventus in the first leg of their quarter-final in 2006.

Buoyed by eliminating Real Madrid in the previous round, the home side went ahead through Cesc Fabregas, who slotted past Gianluigi Buffon just before the break.

Thierry Henry then scored against his former club to double Arsenal’s advantage and cap a magical night at Highbury, with the Old Lady held to a goalless draw in the second leg in Turin.

From Cole to Wilshere: The best 11 players to come out of Arsenal's academy

There have been plenty of stars to come out of Arsenal’s famed Hale End academy.

ByBen Browning Feb 14, 2025 9 Arsenal 3-0 Anderlecht 1969/70 Fairs Cup, final second leg

It feels strange to put a final so low on this list, but 55 years on, Arsenal’s victory against Anderlecht in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup to secure their first European trophy would be worth a mention in any case.

Down 3-1 from the first leg, Ray Kennedy’s consolation in Belgium would set up a superb comeback at Highbury.

Eddie Kelly got the ball rolling in north London, before two goals in two minutes from John Radford and Jon Sammels handed the Gunners the trophy.

Bertie Mee’s side would go on to win the league and cup double the following season.

8 Arsenal 1-0 Porto (4-2 on penalties) 2023/24 Champions League, round of 16 second leg

Arsenal had been out of the Champions League for six seasons before their long-awaited return in 2023/24, with their wait for a quarter-final stretching back to 2010.

So when they went 1-0 down late on against Porto in the first leg, history looked like repeating itself, with Arsenal’s last seven Champions League campaigns ending at the last-16 stage.

Leandro Trossard put Mikel Arteta’s side in front on the night, but there were no more goals on a tense night in north London.

Thankfully, the Gunners were faultless from the spot, with David Raya’s save from first-leg hero Galeno sparking wild celebrations at the Emirates.

7 Milan 0-2 Arsenal 2007/08 Champions League, round of 16 second leg

Arsenal were underdogs heading into their clash in the San Siro to face reigning European champions Milan, but came away with one of their best results on the road in Europe.

A goalless draw at the Emirates meant a score draw would be enough to send the Gunners through without the need for extra time, but if anything, it looked as though another 0-0 was on its way.

Six minutes from time, Cesc Fabregas picked the ball up in the centre of the field and unleashed a shot from 30 yards, which somehow found the corner to all but seal the result for Arsenal.

Emmanuel Adebayor scored late on to put the icing on the cake.

6 Inter 1-5 Arsenal 2003/04 Champions League, group stage

Rather incredibly, Arsenal’s heroics against Milan may not even be their greatest in the San Siro.

While their victory over Inter was only in the 2003/04 group stage, it probably trumps their win over the Rossoneri for the fact that a win was vital, and that the scoreline remains stunning to this day.

Arsenal had a horrendous start to their group campaign, earning one point from their first three matches, and required a win in Milan to stay alive.

That meant beating a team that had thumped them 3-0 at Highbury just two months earlier.

Fortunately, Thierry Henry was in red-hot form, and hit a brace to help smash an Inter side that fell apart in the second half, with Freddie Ljungberg, Edu and Robert Pires all getting in on the act before the final whistle as Arsenal smashed their opponents on their way to winning Group B.

5 Arsenal 1-0 Parma 1993/94 Cup Winners' Cup final

Arsenal’s most recent European trophy was secured 31 years ago, when an unfancied Gunners side saw off favourites Parma in the Cup Winners’ Cup final in Copenhagen.

George Graham’s side, who were also without the suspended Ian Wright, took a surprise lead through Alan Smith’s volley in the first half.

Parma’s stars, including Gianfranco Zola, Faustino Asprilla and Tomas Brolin, had plenty of chances either side of Smith’s effort, but the defence remained resolute to bring the trophy home.

4 Villarreal 0-0 Arsenal 2005/06 Champions League, semi-final second leg

Arsenal were 90 minutes away from their first Champions League final after a 1-0 success in Highbury’s final European game against Villarreal.

The surprise package in the Champions League that season, Villarreal were hoping to overturn their deficit to set up an all-Spanish affair in the Paris finale.

And just when Arsenal looked like seeing it out, the hosts were awarded a soft penalty in the final moments, with extra time now looking like a certainty.

But Jens Lehmann had other ideas, diving to his left to keep Juan Roman Riquelme’s spot-kick out and send the Gunners through.

3 Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona 2010/11 Champions League, round of 16 first leg

While this tie eventually ended in controversial defeat, the first leg of Arsenal and Barcelona’s last-16 tie in February 2011 can still give fans goosebumps.

Led by Pep Guardiola, tournament favourites Barca took the lead through David Villa’s first-half finish, only for a late Gunners comeback to send the visitors home defeated.

Robin van Persie levelled an absorbing tie after catching out Victor Valdes at his near post, before an incisive breakaway saw Samir Nasri find Andrey Arshavin free in the box to slam home the winner.

2 Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid 2024/25 Champions League, quarter-final first leg

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal came of age when they came up against the European champions at the Emirates Stadium, with a second-half blitz seemingly putting the tie beyond their opponents.

A close tie exploded into life in the second half when Declan Rice curved a superb free-kick around the Madrid wall to draw first blood, before repeating the trick with an arguably better strike just minutes later.

Makeshift striker Mikel Merino then rounded off a super move to give Arsenal a golden chance of defeating their fancied opponents and make the semis for the first time in 16 years – a chance they didn’t pass up.

9 of the greatest Arsenal free-kicks of all time

Declan Rice’s heroics against Real Madrid have got to be among the best.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 9, 2025

A “magnificent” manager is now on the “final shortlist” to replace Ivan Juric at Southampton this summer, according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey.

Saints pursuing new manager after Juric sacking

In truth, the writing was on the wall for Juric for quite some time, given that he failed to make any improvements to the Saints’ Premier League position after replacing Russell Martin, and the Croatian was dismissed after relegation to the Championship was confirmed.

After parting ways with Juric earlier this month, the board have now started to identify potential replacements for the summer, and chief among them could be Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl, who has been named as the top target.

Sporting director Johannes Spors is a big fan of Rohl, but the Wednesday manager is not the only option being considered, with Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior also of interest, given the fantastic job the Englishman has done in Ligue 1 this season.

"One of the best coaches ever" front-runner to replace Juric at Southampton

The Saints could appoint an impressive young manager as a replacement for Ivan Juric.

ByDominic Lund Apr 8, 2025

In an interview with EFL Analysis, Bailey has now revealed Southampton have started to trim down their list of manager targets, and former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has made the cut.

Bailey said: “Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are both on Southampton’s final shortlist to be their new manager. The two England legends have been on Southampton’s radar for the last few weeks and both are in their sights.”

“Gerrard, who is on Rangers’ list to return to Ibrox, is out of work following his stint in Saudi Arabia and is ready to return to the UK – we understand.”

Former Norwich City boss David Wagner is also named as a potential target for the Saints, who are certainly not short on options to replace Juric this summer.

Southampton move could suit "magnificent" Gerrard

Gerrard’s last stint in England didn’t exactly go to plan, being sacked by Aston Villa with the club just outside the relegation zone, but there are signs the Liverpool legend could be a success at St. Mary’s.

Southampton are expected to be one of the dominant forces in the Championship next season, and the 44-year-old has previously proven he has what it takes to win league titles as a manager, securing the 2020-21 Scottish Premiership title with Rangers.

Not only did the Englishman win the title, but he did so in emphatic fashion, with the Gers amassing a colossal 102 points and remaining undefeated across the entire league campaign.

Former adversary Sir Alex Ferguson even lauded Gerrard for his “magnificent” achievement, which indicates he still could have a lot left to give as a manager, despite questionable spells with Villa and Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.

There are still a couple of months of the season left to play, and following Tuesday night’s sensational result in the Champions League, we aren’t sure many Arsenal fans will be thinking about the transfer window.

However, the club certainly are, and they seem intent on improving the first team to make sure Mikel Arteta’s side have a far more successful Premier League campaign next year.

Moreover, while signing a new striker will undoubtedly be one of the club’s key objectives, there are other areas of the team that need reinforcing.

Recent reports suggest this is an opinion shared by the board, as the latest player touted for a move to the N5 is a winger who’d not only improve the starting lineup but also help the incredible Myles Lewis-Skelly reach another level.

Arsenal transfer news

On top of playing them off the park, reports have come out in recent weeks claiming that Arsenal are keen on signing Real Madrid’s Arda Güler.

Transfer Focus

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

The North Londoners are supposedly keen on paying around €30m for the Turkish prospect, which is about £26m, and considering he’s racked up a tally of ten goal involvements in just 1170 minutes, that might prove to be great value.

Another young talent the club are said to be interested in is German wonderkid, Florian Wirtz.

The Bayer Leverkusen star has scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists in just 39 games this season, but would cost around £112m, making it a transfer that seems rather unlikely, which might not be the case regarding Nico Williams.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, the Gunners are planning to ‘secure the signing’ of the Spain international this summer.

The report further reveals that the bid for the Athletic Bilbao star is now ‘underway.’

However, to ensure they get their man, the North Londoners will have to stump up enough cash to activate his €60m release clause, which converts to around £52m.

It would be an expensive deal to get over the line, but given Williams’ ability and potential, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he’d help Lewis-Skelly reach another level.

Why Williams would help Lewis-Skelly

So, if Arsenal are able to get their man in the coming weeks, there are two fundamental and intertwined reasons why Williams would be great for Lewis-Skelly, and the first is his output.

Since the start of last season, the Spain international has proven himself to be “one of the best wingers on the market” in the words of data analyst Ben Mattinson. He’s been a reliable source of goals and assists for Bilbao, scoring 17 of the former and providing 25 of the latter in just 76 appearances.

That means that despite still being just 22 years old, the Pamplona-born “level-raiser,” as Mattinson dubbed him, is averaging a goal involvement every 1.80 games.

Appearances

37

39

Minutes

2729′

2752′

Goals

8

9

Assists

18

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

0.41

Goal Involvements per Minute

104.96′

172′

Now, just imagine how a consistent level of output like that from the winger in front of the Hale Ender would improve his own, be that from getting on the end of passes and slotting home the ball himself or playing a perfect ball over the opposite full-back for the winger to get on the end of and finish a move.

Lewis-Skelly has already proven himself a fantastic progresser of the football and the idea of him playing alongside such a dazzling winger on the left is a tantalising one. Ranking in the top 14% of positionally similar players in the top-flight for passes into the final third, Williams would know he’s going to receive plenty of service, and exceptional service at that.

Having such a frightening winger may well also free up extra room for the teenage superstar to operate in. Lewis-Skelly attracts and glides through opponents like a knife through butter as it is but with Williams in tandem, the left side of Arsenal’s attack would be truly menacing.

Ultimately, signing Williams would be good for the whole Arsenal team, but having him start ahead of Lewis-Skelly could help get so much more out of the already incredible teenager.

Arsenal have struck gold on "unplayable" star who's their own Bellingham

The incredible talent looks destined for greatness with Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 9, 2025

They haven’t won every game, but this season is shaping up to be a truly special one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta has got his side playing some sensational football at times while simultaneously ensuring they remain the best defensive team in the Premier League.

It seems like every player, new and old, is all pulling in the exact same direction and helping each other reach new levels.

One of the team’s best players in recent weeks has been summer signing Eberechi Eze, and so fans should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal with someone who could be another version of the Englishman.

Arsenal target another Eze

There was tremendous excitement from the Arsenal fan base when it was announced that the club had signed Eze, and understandably so.

Transfer Focus

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

After all, here was a player who many considered to be one of the most exciting in the Premier League, and had just spearheaded Crystal Palace to FA Cup glory.

Fortunately, while it took him a few games to get up to speed, the 27-year-old has more than delivered so far this season, racking up a tally of nine goal involvements in 19 games for the club and scoring that North London Derby hat-trick.

So, with all that in mind, it’s not all that surprising to hear that the Gunners may be after another player who has the potential to be another Eze in Kenan Yıldız.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Turkish wonderkid.

In fact, the report has revealed that the North Londoners are going all out to sign him and have been in contact with his representatives.

However, Juventus are understandably keen to keep hold of the incredible youngster and, according to other reports from earlier this month, would need a fee of at least £88m to consider selling him.

Therefore, it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Yıldız’s ability and potential, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be another Eze.

Why Yıldız would be another Eze

Now, there are obviously some key differences between Yıldız and Eze, such as their age, but there are also more than a few similarities between them.

For example, like the Englishman, the young Turkish superstar is an attacker who can and does play in a multitude of positions.

Since making his first team debut for Juventus, the 20-year-old monster has played as a second-striker, on the left and right wings, in attacking midfield and even up top a few times.

The second similarity is that, like the former Palace star, he is a dual threat, someone who is as happy scoring a goal as he is assisting one.

For example, in 52 appearances last season, totalling 3520 minutes, he scored 12 goals and provided nine assists, which comes out to a goal involvement on average every 2.47 games, or every 167.61 minutes.

Appearances

52

18

Minutes

3520′

1457′

Goals

12

5

Assists

9

5

Then this season, he has become even more dangerous, scoring five goals and providing five assists in 18 appearances, totalling 1457 minutes, which is a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 145.7 minutes.

Finally, and this is related to his output, the 26-capped international is, in the words of content creator Alex Moneypenny, “capable of the spectacular.”

He doesn’t just score tap-ins; he already has quite the impressive catalogue of goals, ranging from long-distance strikes to ones stemming from brilliant close control.

It is also this ability to create magic on the football pitch that likely led European football writer Danny Corcoran to describe the youngster as having “Mbappe-like ability.”

Ultimately, it won’t be an easy transfer to get done, but Arsenal should be going all out to sign Yıldız in 2026, as he could be another Eze.

A Saka & Olise hybrid: Arsenal in contact over signing £70m "superstar"

The incredible talent would be as game-changing for Arsenal as Bukayo Saka has been over the years.

ByJack Salveson Holmes 7 days ago

Leeds United pulled off an impressive victory to get back to winning ways in the Premier League on Wednesday night. Daniel Farke’s side beat Chelsea 3-1 at Elland Road to pick up a huge three points.

It was the perfect start for the Whites in front of a packed-out home crowd. After an intense first five minutes or so where they dominated, Leeds broke the deadlock.

It came from a corner, with defender Jaka Bijol making a brilliant run to the front post and emphatically heading home.

Chelsea didn’t really threaten much and eventually paid the price. Leeds doubled their lead right on the stroke of half-time, through a brilliant strike by Ao Tanaka.

The Whites won the ball back on the edge of the visitors’ penalty area, with Jayden Bogle finding Tanaka in space. The Japanese international fired home a strike from range to put them 2-0 up.

Chelsea did pull one back with just 50 minutes on the clock, thanks to substitute Pedro Neto at the back post. Yet, Leeds managed to keep them at bay, and with 18 minutes to go, capitalised on a defensive error to secure all three points.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored their third, a goal which capped off a brilliant performance.

Calvert-Lewin’s stats vs. Chelsea

Calvert-Lewin’s goalscoring form has begun to improve in recent games. He bagged against Manchester City last weekend, and again against Chelsea on Wednesday night, although that strike was certainly easier.

It was a mistake from Blues defender Tosin Adarabioyo which led to the goal, with the centre-back playing a sloppy pass to Robert Sanchez.

The Spaniard was immediately under pressure, with the ball crocheting off his body and into the path of Calvert-Lewin, who tapped home from two yards out.

However, it was not just his goal which impressed about the former Everton striker’s performance.

He was a nuisance throughout for the Chelsea defence, with Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post awarding him a 9/10 rating, explaining that he ‘brought others into play’ superbly.

Indeed, the statistics back up what was a superb showing from Calvert-Lewin. He only had 37 touches but made an impact with most of those, winning an impressive 11 duels, managing three shots and, of course, bagging Leeds’ third goal.

Chalkboard

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

However, the Whites’ number nine was not the only one of their players to stand out against Chelsea.

Leeds’ other standout player vs. Chelsea

It was a huge win for Leeds on Wednesday night, which took a huge effort across the board. One of the best players was midfielder Anton Stach, who ran the game in midfield and was impressive defensively, too.

The numbers from the game reflect a controlled midfield performance from Leeds’ summer signing. He had 50 touches and completed 19 out of 24 passes, creating a superb four chances, one of which teed up Tanaka for his goal.

Off the ball, Stach made four recoveries and won three duels.

Touches

50

Passes completed

19/24

Chances created

4

Ball recoveries

4

Duels won

3

Clearances

3

Assists

1

The 27-year-old German was a “revelation” in the centre of the park, according to journalist Adonis Storr. That is something Smyth seemed to agree with, also giving him a 9/10 rating post-match, calling that showing his ‘best Leeds performance’.

Indeed, it is easy to see why Smyth is of that opinion. For the German to put in a showing like that against a side competing in the Champions League and that are pushing Arsenal at the top of the Premier League is a colossal effort.

He was everywhere against one of the strongest sides in the top flight, and the chances he created added that creative spark in the final third. He played a huge role in Leeds’ attacking play, which ultimately helped get them over the line.

Stach proved why he could be considered an undroppable member of this Leeds side. This was a much-needed win, and he was right at the heart of it.

Calvert-Lewin’s goals recently have been key, but Stach’s performance in midfield is exactly what is needed for them to beat the drop.

Leeds summer signing has been their biggest waste of time since Augustin

This summer signing has been Leeds United’s biggest waste of time since the signing of Jean-Kevin Augustin.

ByDan Emery Dec 1, 2025

The 2024/25 campaign was truly one to forget for everyone involved with Manchester United, as the club registered their worst-ever Premier League finish.

Ruben Amorim’s side ended the year in a measly 15th position, sitting just three spots above the relegation zone, with various issues rearing their head throughout the season.

The Red Devils had a real goalscoring issue during their top-flight campaign, as seen by their measly tally of just 44 goals in their 38 outings – an average of just 1.15 per game.

However, at the other end, things were just as disappointing, as they shipped 54 goals in just 38 matches, ultimately leading to a total of 18 league defeats in 2024/25.

Many of the failures that season were directed that way of one man, with Amorim desperately needing to make the right call on his future during the recent summer window.

The stats behind Andre Onana’s failures for United in 2024/25

After David de Gea’s departure from United back in the summer of 2023, former boss Erik ten Hag decided to delve into the transfer market to bolster his ranks – landing the signature of Andre Onana.

As a result, the Dutchman decided to fork out a reported £47.2m for the Cameroonian’s signature – a deal which could go down as one of the worst in the club’s history.

Upon Amorim’s arrival last November, he decided to stick with the former Inter Milan shot-stopper between the sticks, but he was unable to match the confidence shown in him by the boss.

The 29-year-old featured 50 times across all competitions last campaign, but made nine direct errors that led to goals, many of which came in key moments.

From parried shots against Lyon to misjudging Morgan Gibbs-White’s effort against Nottingham Forest – it truly was a regular occurrence for Onana to drop numerous clangers.

His only appearance for the Red Devils this season came in the Carabao Cup defeat to League Two Grimsby Town – a game that would signal the end of his first-team place at Old Trafford.

Amorim decided to ship Onana out on loan to Turkish Super League side Trabzonspor, with the hierarchy backing him with a new goalkeeper on Deadline Day.

Man Utd have another Onana-esque liability

As a result of Onana’s departure, Senne Lammens was the man chosen to fill the void in the goalkeeping department for United, with the Belgian joining from Royal Antwerp.

At just 23, such a move may have been a daunting task to many, but the youngster has wasted no time in cementing the number one shirt as his own at Old Trafford.

He’s made six appearances for the Red Devils to date, keeping one clean sheet, but his goal prevented xG of 0.2, showcases his immediate impact between the sticks.

Lammens is also yet to register an error leading to a goal after his big-money transfer, with his arrival already solving one of the glaring issues in the squad from last season.

However, not all the new additions have slotted in as seamlessly as the goalkeeper, with full-back Patrick Dorgu unable to be as successful at Old Trafford.

The Dane arrived from Italian side Lecce back in January for a reported £30m, with such a move seeming to end the hierarchy’s hunt for a long-term left wing-back.

However, nearly a year on from his transfer, it’s evident that the 21-year-old simply isn’t at the level required and is now becoming a huge liability for Amorim’s men.

Dorgu has only started seven out of a possible 12 league games to date this campaign, with his latest showing highlighting why he’s been an inconsistent figure in 2025/26.

He featured for 58 minutes in the defeat against Everton on home soil, before being replaced by Diogo Dalot after struggling to make the desired effect at both ends.

Minutes played

58

Touches

40

Passes completed

75%

Tackles made

1

Aerials lost

100%

Crosses completed

0

Possession lost

11x

Dribbled past

1

The youngster was labelled “unreliable” by one analyst, after only winning one tackle, and losing all four of the aerial duels he entered – offering a lacklustre option out of possession.

Even with the ball, Dorgu struggled to impress, only completing 75% of his attempted passes, losing possession a staggering 11 times whilst failing to complete a single cross.

As a result, he’s massively becoming a liability under Amorim, arguably the biggest one since Onana’s lack of form for the club back in the 2024/25 season.

A solution for all parties is desperately needed before the January transfer window, with the club potentially needing to reinvest in the market to solve the problem at left wing-back.

Alongside Zirkzee: Man Utd's "waste of time" must not start again for Amorim

Ruben Amorim has a bold decision to make over the future of one Manchester United flop.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 25, 2025

Old Firm derbies are always occasions to savour, but this Sunday’s meeting could hardly be more jam-packed with narrative.

Prior to this year, both Rangers and Celtic had never previously changed managers in the same season, only for Glasgow’s big two to do so in the same month during a bonkers October.

Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation on Monday means, 20 years after departing, Martin O’Neill will be in charge of the Hoops while, in the opposition dugout at Hampden, this will be only Danny Röhl’s fourth game as Rangers boss.

The German has overseen back-to-back Premiership wins this week, beating Kilmarnock at Ibrox and then Hibs at Easter Road on Wednesday, and would truly get supporters onside with victory in this weekend’s semi-final, thereby facing either St Mirren or Motherwell in the final on 14 December.

If Röhl is going to lead the Gers to victory, he must make changes to his team victorious in Leith in mid-week, leaving out an underwhelming summer signing once compared to Neymar.

Youssef Chermiti's start to life at Rangers

Fair to say, when Rangers signed Youssef Chermiti from Everton for £8m on deadline day, potentially rising to £10m with add-ons, a few eyebrows were raised.

This makes the Portuguese under-21 international the second-most expensive signing in the club’s history, behind Tore André Flo, surpassing Ryan Kent’s post-liquidation record of £7.5m.

This is despite the fact that, during two seasons at Everton, Chermiti failed to score a single goal, making 24 appearances for the Toffees, albeit these did total a miserly 295 minutes.

The 21-year-old then scored his first senior goal for anyone since May 2023 by bagging the clinching third against Kilmarnock at Ibrox last Sunday.

This earned him the start in Edinburgh on Wednesday, but he did not impress, touching the ball only 33 times, losing possession on 13 occasions and mustering only one shot, as per Sofascore, even if his good work to set up Danilo’s goal, substituted with 13 minutes to go and replaced by Bojan Miovski.

Nevertheless, Chermiti has simply not shown enough to suggest he can cause Celtic’s back-line problems atop Mount Florida, meaning he should begin Sunday’s game among the substitutes.

He isn’t the only member of the Rangers forward line who needs to be replaced, however…

Rangers' Neymar-esque star yet to shine

When Mikey Moore arrived at Rangers this summer, he did so with a massive reputation.

Then-manager Russell Martin praised an “outstanding young player”, sporting director Kevin Thelwell asserted that he will “enhance our attacking unit”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelled the “absolute top talent” as “the English Neymar”.

However, he is yet to live up to these sky-high expectations, as the table below documents.

Minutes

603

17th

Goals

Zero

15th

Assists

2

6th

Shots

10

6th

Shots on target

2

10th

Accurate passes per 90

10.5

15th

Key passes per 90

0.4

11th

Successful dribbles per 90

0.5

8th

Big chances created

Zero

9th

Average rating

6.55

15th

As the table documents, Moore is yet to make much of an impact in Glasgow, still awaiting his first goal for the club, while his two assists came against Alloa in the League Cup and Dundee United when Steven Smith was in caretaker charge a fortnight ago.

The Englishman is renowned for his creativity, dribbling and flair by those who follow Tottenham’s youth teams, but he hasn’t showcased much of that north of the border to date.

Having been introduced at half time last weekend, Moore started for the first time under Röhl in mid-week, but did not grasp this opportunity.

He registered just 39 touches in 65 minutes, completing two out of two dribbles and forcing Hibs goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger into a save, but creating no chances for others, failing to link up very much with Danilo or Chermiti, thereby replaced by Thelo Aasgaard shortly after the hour mark in Edinburgh.

As a result, former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday asserted “Moore hasn’t shown me anything that tells me that Rangers should be developing a young Spurs player rather than developing their own”.

Thus, given the importance of Sunday’s Glasgow derby, Röhl surely has better options at his disposal.

Djeidi Gassama’s five goals for the club to date will surely earn him a spot in the starting line-up, while both Oliver Antman, who has missed the last two matches due to illness, and the aforementioned Aasgaard have shown more promise since arriving.

Chalkboard

Thus, it would frankly be a surprise if either Chermiti or Moore were lining up to take on Celtic come 2 o’clock on Sunday afternoon, given that Rangers stand a better chance of victory with alternatives spearheading their attack.

Chermiti upgrade: Rohl readying Rangers approach for "dangerous" £1m gem

As Danny Röhl seeks to strengthen his Rangers attacking options, should they sign a £1m rated gem who’s better than Youssef Chermiti?

ByBen Gray Oct 31, 2025