All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Arsenal are one of the best teams in the Premier League, with ample quality to capitalise on Manchester City’s downfall and clinch their first title in two decades.

However, injuries have been a key factor in stuttered results this term, and with Liverpool flying so high at the top of the table, Mikel Arteta knows that an emphatic run of form needs to be maintained throughout the new year.

In fairness, the Gunners started with a bang on New Year’s Day, dispatching Brentford in their own backyard to move within six points of the league leaders, and now, against Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal need to extend a winning run on the road.

Brighton started on strong footing under 31-year-old manager Fabian Hürzeler but have failed to win any of their past seven matches, falling into tenth place, 12 points away from Arsenal.

24/25

Premier League (H)

1-1 draw

23/24

Premier League (A)

3-0 win

23/24

Premier League (H)

2-0 win

22/23

Premier League (H)

3-0 loss

22/23

Premier League (A)

4-2 win

Arsenal might have a number of key absences, but Arteta will be confident that his side can build on their promising run of form against the Seagulls, losing one of their past five matches in all competitions and avoiding defeat in each of their previous four visits to the AMEX.

Arsenal team news

Jurrien Timber joins his teammates on the sidelines as he serves a one-match ban, meaning that Thomas Partey will probably return to right-back as Ben White works toward a comeback from injury at the end of January.

Further up the pitch, Kai Havertz will be looking to restore his starting presence in the team after overcoming illness, though Bukayo Saka is of course still out for an extended period.

Raheem Sterling and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also out in a further weakening blow to Arsenal’s right-hand side.

Many fans will hope to see Ethan Nwaneri playing from the outset after his impressive start at the Gtech on Wednesday, but the 17-year-old may be better off entering the fray after the interval. Here’s why.

Why Arteta should drop Ethan Nwaneri

Arsenal have a bit of a habit of producing starboys, with Saka establishing himself as one of Europe’s best forwards under Arteta’s wing and posting nine goals and 13 assists across 24 matches this term.

Saka, 23, has been a treat for the Emirates crowds for several years now, but in Nwaneri, Arsenal might have a talent capable of rising just as high.

Described as an “absolute diamond” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Nwaneri made his first Premier League start in Saka’s stead at Brentford, impressing with his silky passing, energy and progressiveness, notably making two key passes and completing two of his three attempted dribbles, as per Sofascore.

However, Arteta needs a clinical edge against a Brighton side that is susceptible to a poor piece of defending, largely due to being stretched by their own expansive style of football.

Saka’s absence heightens the need for added potency, and though Gabriel Martinelli and the in-form Gabriel Jesus bagged last time out, it might be wise to unleash Leandro Trossard for this one.

Leandro Trossard could send Brighton packing

Trossard has been a shrewd signing indeed over at the Emirates, scoring 22 goals and assisting 15 more across 94 appearances for Arsenal, only starting 50 of those matches.

As per Understat, Brighton are underperforming their goal concession rate by 2.49, meaning that their somewhat shaky backline are actually keeping out more goals than has been expected from the opportunities provided to their opponents.

This calls for someone like Trossard, who can ease Jesus’ burden at number nine and ensure he plays freely in search of goals but also crucial link-up connections.

As per FBref, the Belgian ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored (0.53) per 90, suggesting that his skill set could indeed be the secret recipe for success on the South Coast.

Trossard might not have been in the finest form recently, with only one goal scored across his past 13 Premier League matches, but there’s no denying his enduring ball-striking ability, still only missing three big chances this year having scored three goals, creating six big chances moreover.

Last season, journalist Sam Dean waxed lyrical about the 29-year-old’s natural-born goalscoring edge, saying: “Leandro Trossard may not be Arsenal’s most skilful, quick or powerful forward. But he is their most deadly.”

As previously stated, there’s also the matter of Nwaneri coming on and influencing the play from a bit deeper, carrying forward with electricity and threading balls forward to, say, Trossard to latch onto and fizz into the bottom corner.

Arteta will be reluctant to drop Martinelli after his recent improvements, tentative though they may be, while Jesus is in inspired showing right now and it would be ludicrous to pull the same goal threat out of the side – especially in Saka’s continued absence.

Chalkboard

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

Nwaneri must be eased into the side, not overburdened and allowed to foster his precocious qualities as he works toward Premier League stardom.

Trossard is the man for the job against his former club…

Imagine him & Jesus: Arsenal targeting "one of the best wingers" for £48m

The sensational talent would make Jesus and Arsenal far more dangerous.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 3, 2025

Graham Potter has been hired as the new West Ham United manager, following the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui, after a poor start to the 2024/25 Premier League season left the Hammers 14th after 20 games played.

One area that West Ham have struggled in so far this season is the middle of the park, lacking mobility to cover ground, often leaving big gaps between their two lines of pressure, with the midfield either too deep to help the forward line, or too advanced, making them unable to recover the large distances.

This has had a negative effect on their off-ball principles, leading to 2024 being their worst defensive year since 1967.

West Ham conceded 79 goals in 2024, the most in the Premier League during that calendar year. This alone could be enough for Potter to ask for reinforcement in central areas, in order to change their out-of-possession principles and improve those numbers.

The midfielder West Ham could sign

According to reports from The Daily Mail, West Ham are interested in out-of-favour Chelsea star, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. According to the report, Potter wants to strengthen his midfield options in January, and the Chelsea man could be a perfect way to do so.

With the 26-year-old only joining the Blues this summer for a fee of around £30m, Chelsea look like they are already willing to let Dewsbury-Hall leave the club, having fallen behind in the pecking order to multiple midfielders in Maresca’s plans.

The former Leicester ace has made 15 appearances in all competitions so far this season, scoring two goals, providing one assist and totalling 857 minutes played.

Dewsbury-Hall vs Paqueta comparison

Lucas Paqueta has been subject to criticism this season, making 21 appearances, scoring three goals and totalling 1,440 minutes so far.

But the main sources of criticism have come due to his lack of assists (0) in comparison to the number of times the Brazilian gives the ball away per game.

Dewsbury-Hall, whilst having an expansive passing range, will keep it simple in order to retain possession, and could therefore offer Potter another midfield option to keep things tidy and help the functionality of his side.

Transfer Focus

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

The Englishman’s ex-manager, Brendan Rodgers, labelled Dewsbury-Hall a “special player” back in 2022, and that same skill set is clearly still there when we look at the numbers.

Goals

0.27

0.19

Assists

0.00

0.00

xG

0.19

0.24

xAG

0.19

0.13

Progressive Carries

2.71

0.72

Progressive Passes

8.31

5.29

Key Passes

2.37

1.50

Shot-Creating Actions

5.76

3.46

Tackles + Interceptions

1.50

3.33

When comparing their metrics from this season, you have to take into account that the Chelsea ace has played the majority of his minutes in the UEFA Conference League, in comparison to the Brazilian who has played the majority of his minutes in the Premier League.

Having said that, Dewsbury-Hall is outperforming the Irons star in many metrics, providing more progressive carries per 90, more shot-creating actions and more expected assists (xAG), whilst still offering the work-rate and mobility desired in midfield.

Whilst Paqueta is seen as the bigger talent between the two, the simplicity that Dewsbury-Hall could add to their midfield, along with that extra mobility needed and hard-working mentality, allowing Potter to implement new out-of-possession ideas at a faster rate, hopefully allowing the Hammers to get some points on the board.

Dream Potter signing: West Ham could sign "one of the most exciting CFs"

Graham Potter can be reunited with “phenomenal” ace at West Ham

ByConnor Holden Jan 8, 2025

Everton made the decision to part ways with Sean Dyche earlier this month and swiftly decided to bring back club legend David Moyes for another spell in the dugout at Goodison Park.

The Scottish head coach is set to see out the final Premier League games at the stadium before the switch to the new one for the 2025/26 campaign, and is tasked with helping the club to avoid relegation to the Championship.

Moyes appeared to be the best candidate on paper as he already knows Everton and the Premier League, and has recent experience in helping a club to push on beyond a relegation battle.

He won the Europa Conference League and competed in the Europa League as manager of West Ham United, before his exit from the London Stadium last summer.

It is now down to the board to back Moyes in the transfer market to ensure that he has the options needed to, firstly, avoid relegation and, then, to fight higher up the table next season.

The January transfer window has been open for business for two weeks now and the Toffees are reportedly eyeing up a striker from one of their Premier League rivals.

Everton eyeing Premier League striker

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Everton are interested in a deal to bring Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson to Goodison Park before the February deadline.

The report claims that the Toffees have made contact with the Seagulls in attempt to sign the Ireland international on loan for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign.

It states that Everton are vying to secure his services on a temporary basis amid interest from a host of clubs, including West Ham United, Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Arsenal.

However, the report also suggests that Chelsea and Arsenal would be interested in a permanent swoop for the striker and Brighton are only willing to consider a loan deal in the January transfer window.

The report adds, however, that the south coast outfit are yet to give their blessing for the Irish marksman to move on from the club on loan this month because they are concerned about knocks to Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro, which have left them light in the centre-forward position.

Transfer Focus

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

Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not Brighton will allow Ferguson to secure a loan move to another team for the second half of the season, Everton must ensure that they are at the front of the queue to sign him if they do.

Finishing chances has been a big problem for Everton in recent seasons and it is no secret that the strikers at the club have consistently struggled in front of goal.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's Everton struggles

In the 2023/24 campaign, the Toffees created 54.00 xG worth of chances and only scored 40 times under Dyche, which shows that they significantly underperformed compared to the quality of opportunities they created as a team.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s struggles in the striker position contributed significantly to that underperformance, and the England international has consistently let Everton down with his wasteful finishing at the top end of the pitch throughout his time at the club.

Since his return of 16 Premier League goals in 33 appearances during the 2020/21 campaign, the 27-year-old marksman has failed to hit double figures for goals in each of the last four seasons – including the current term.

2024/25

5.42

2

2023/25

13.63

7

2022/23

6.50

2

2021/22

6.22

5

As you can see in the table above, the English forward has consistently underperformed against his xG during those campaigns, particularly last season, with just seven goals from almost 14 xG.

These statistics show that Calvert-Lewin has been incredibly wasteful for Everton and has let his teammates down by failing to make the most of the high-quality opportunities that they have created for him.

Therefore, the Toffees could significantly improve their attacking output by signing a clinical striker with the quality to take advantage of the chances that they have been putting on a plate for Calvert-Lewin in recent years.

Why Everton should sign Evan Ferguson

This is why a move for Ferguson during the January transfer window could be perfect for Everton because the Irish forward is a ruthless finisher.

Injuries have seemingly prevented the 20-year-old star from kicking on at Brighton, as he was out from April to August last year with an ankle injury, which meant that the forward missed all of pre-season.

The young whiz is also currently out with another ankle issue, and has been since the end of December, and this suggests that it would be a gamble from Everton to sign him, as they run the risk of injuries preventing him from playing regularly.

It could be a risk worth taking, though, as Ferguson, who was hailed as “phenomenal” by teammate James Milner, is miles better than Calvert-Lewin in front of goal and could be a huge upgrade for Moyes at the top end of the pitch.

The Brighton youngster is in his third season of regular football in the Premier League and has consistently shown that he has the quality to more than make the most of the chances that come his way in the final third.

22/23

5.67

6

+0.33

23/24

3.97

6

+2.03

24/25

0.66

1

+0.34

Total

10.29

13

+2.71

As you can see in the table above, Ferguson has outperformed his expected tally by almost three goals since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, which speaks to his finishing ability at Premier League level.

Whereas, Calvert-Lewin has underperformed his expected tally by 22.94, with 56 goals from 78.94 xG, in the top-flight throughout his time with the Blues so far.

These statistics suggest that Ferguson has significantly more quality in front of goal in comparison to the English striker, which suggests that he would be miles better for the Toffees, given the quality of chances that they can create, and provide Moyes with a centre-forward who can be relied upon in the penalty area.

Everton now seriously interested in signing "incredible" £8m Dutch defender

The Toffees are hoping to sign the 21-year-old on a free transfer.

ByDominic Lund Jan 14, 2025

If Everton can bring him in and keep the 20-year-old star fit then their respective finishing statistics suggest that Moyes would have a striker who is miles better than Calvert-Lewin available for the second half of the season.

They may have picked up a much-needed away win in the Europa League last night, but there is no escaping the fact that this season has been a disaster for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s side may still be in three cup competitions, but in the Premier League, their form has been nothing short of abysmal.

The North Londoners sit in 15th place, with more losses than wins to their name, and now that Dominic Solanke is set to miss “around six weeks” of action, they may have to rely on the unreliable and injury-prone Richarlison.

However, that might not be the case for very long, as recent reports have touted a sensational Premier League start for a move to N17, who’d undoubtedly start ahead of the Brazilian and potentially send him packing.

Tottenham target Premier League gem

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham are ‘still desperate’ to bring in attacking reinforcements for Postecoglou this month and have maintained their interest in Ipswich Town star, Liam Delap.

The report claims that the Lilywhites are confident they could land the young striker ahead of London rivals, Chelsea, this month.

However, in less good news for the fans, the report has also claimed that Daniel Levy does not want to get into a bidding war over the player, and given his importance to the Tractor Boys this season, other reports from this month have revealed that they would demand in excess of £40m to even entertain the idea of him leaving.

It would be a costly transfer to get over the line, but given how well Delap has played this season and his sky-high potential, it could be one worth overpaying for, especially as he’d finally send Richarlison packing.

How Delap compares to Richarlison

So, when he’s back to full fitness, there is no doubt that Posetcoglou will give Solanke the chance to reassert himself as Spurs’ first-choice striker, as so far this season, he’s looked impressive, racking up a tally of 17 goal involvements in just 29 games this season.

Therefore, if the club were able to get their hands on Delap this month, then he would likely play second-fiddle to the Englishman, at least for a little while, meaning his main competition in the squad would be Richarlison, and we reckon that is a competition he’d win quite easily.

For example, despite joining the North Londoners for around £60m in the summer of 2022, the former Everton star has only made 76 appearances for the club and, worse yet, he’s only managed to score 17 goals and provide nine assists in said appearances.

That means that across his stint with the Lilywhites, the Brazilian international has averaged a goal involvement every 2.92 games, which, for someone who cost as much as he did, just isn’t good enough.

In contrast, Ipswich’s goalscoring “beast,” as dubbed by Kieran McKenna, has found the back of the net on eight occasions in just 22 appearances this season and provided two assists for good measure.

Appearances

22

Minutes

1626′

Goals

8

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.45

Minutes per Goal Involvement

162.6′

That means that the 21-year-old “battering ram,” as dubbed by Opta Analyst, is maintaining an average of a goal involvement every 2.2 games in his first full season of top-flight football and for a team that many predicted would seriously struggle.

On top of seeming to be a more productive forward, the Winchester-born sharpshooter also has the benefit of time on his side, as at just 21 years old, there is no telling just how good he could become five or six years from now and with the right coaching.

Ultimately, Spurs need to keep overhauling their squad this month, and if they were to go out and sign Delap to replace Richarlison, then that would be an exceptional piece of business and an excellent sign for the future of the team.

As good as Son: 8/10 Spurs star has just made himself undroppable to Ange

The sensational talent has to start the next game for Spurs.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 23, 2025

Manchester United confirmed the signing of left-back Patrick Dorgu as Ruben Amorim made his first signing since taking over the club a few months ago.

It will take time, but the former Sporting CP manager is slowly building the building blocks ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Red Devils also showed interest in Mathys Tel as Amorim was keen on bolstering his attacking options, but no deal materialised.

Why Manchester United missed out on Mathys Tel

Tel turned down an offer to join Tottenham Hotspur which left the door ajar for the Old Trafford side to make their move for the Frenchman before the window closed.

According to reports in France, however, Bayern Munich were “too greedy” during discussions with United, meaning the youngster wasn’t going to make the move to Manchester this window.

Instead, he ended up heading to Spurs in a remarkable turn of events after the player had initially rejected the advances of Ange Postecoglou and Co.

This should come as a big blow to the Red Devils, chiefly because they’ve also got rid of fellow winger Marcus Rashford.

Man United should regret selling their own Tel

Back in the summer of 2023, Erik ten Hag sold Swedish forward Anthony Elanga to Nottingham Forest for a fee of just £15m. 18 months later, the club must surely regret this sale, especially as Elanga could have been their own answer to Tel.

Under Ten Hag in the 2022/23 campaign, Elanga registered just two assists across 26 matches in all competitions. Hence, when the £15m offer arrived, the Dutchman felt he wasn’t good enough to be a key player for him.

The 22-year-old soon began to prove him wrong. In his first season at the City Ground, Elanga scored five Premier League goals, chipping in with nine assists, as the club finished 17th, narrowly avoiding relegation back to the Championship.

This season has been a totally different experience for the club as Nuno Espírito Santo has guided them into the top four, with a 7-0 victory over Brighton recently proving just how good they have become.

Metric

2024/25 Percentile

Goals

38%

Assists

93%

Key passes

77%

Crosses

96%

Goal-creating actions

93%

During that match, Elanga registered three assists while also making three key passes and succeeding with 66% of his dribble attempts, causing plenty of damage in the final third.

Overall, the winger has scored three times while grabbing eight assists in the top flight this season. Add in the fact that he currently ranks in the top 7% for assists and the top 4% for crosses when compared to positional peers in the Premier League this term, Elanga’s move to the Forest has been an inspired one.

Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson lavished praise on the youngster in November 2023, just months after leaving United, saying: “What a bargain he’s proving to have been for Forest. Man Utd had a stinker letting him go and especially for that fee.”

The Red Devils certainly sold their own version of Tel – an exciting younger winger – far too hastily.

Sell him on deadline day: Amorim must axe 5/10 Man Utd dud after Palace

Manchester United fell to yet another Premier League defeat against Crystal Palace this afternoon.

1 ByEthan Lamb Feb 2, 2025

The objective is simple: emerge from Goodison Park with three points.

Liverpool have been near-perfect in the Premier League this season and will move nine points clear at the top of the table with a win against Everton this evening.

The Toffees are missing a range of first-team players but have won three league games on the bounce with David Moyes at the helm and have only lost one of their past five Goodison Park meetings with the Reds.

They are much improved, and so Liverpool will need to bring their a-game to a match that promises fireworks in some format.

Liverpool team news vs Everton

Slot made ten changes as Liverpool suffered an embarrassing defeat against the Championship’s bottom side Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup on Sunday, but normal service, on the selection front, will be resumed here.

That said, Joe Gomez is sidelined and Trent Alexander-Arnold is a doubt. Should the coveted right-back be unable to start, Conor Bradley will be more than happy to take his place.

However, the crux of Liverpool’s shameful weekend defeat lay with the bluntness of the attack. It’s clear that Slot needs to enforce wholesale rotation on that front.

Cody Gakpo has been awarded Liverpool’s Player of the Month for January and is set to take the left-wing spot from Luis Diaz, but he’s not the only star set to be demoted to the bench.

Chalkboard

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

The Liverpool stars who must be dropped

Liverpool will be up against a stentorian Everton crowd this evening, encompassing the visiting Reds with a hostile din, seeking to suffocate them.

Slot must get his selection right. Ryan Gravenberch will be joined by Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield, but Diaz isn’t likely to be the only forward returned to the bench for this one.

Indeed, Darwin Nunez may get the nod ahead of Diogo Jota, who flattered to deceive against Plymouth. Jota was remarked to have “looked unfit” by one Reds content creator..

Federico Chiesa huffed and puffed on the right flank to no avail, but the Italian was always going to be replaced by the free-scoring Mohamed Salah no matter how he played.

Jota and Diaz, however, should have taken the Home Park game by the scruff of the neck, both seasoned veterans in Liverpool’s first team.

Minutes played

90′

90′

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Touches

61

31

Shots (on target)

0 (0)

1 (1)

Passes completed

37/44 (84%)

7/18 (39%)

Key passes

1

0

Possession lost

14x

16x

Dribbles (completed)

2 (2)

3 (1)

Total duels (won)

9 (4)

17 (5)

As you can see, neither enjoyed any success against a resilient defence, and you fear that the tough-tackling Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski would relish the chance to attack two out-of-form forwards such as these.

Gakpo’s robustness demands his starting presence, but Nunez could also be a good pick. The Uruguayan striker isn’t the most clinical, sure, but his tenacity and springiness could ruffle the Evertonian feathers and create a more fluent and collectively dangerous frontline.

Jota hardly looked up for the fight at the weekend and may be better off deployed in the latter stages, should Liverpool still be searching for a crucial goal.

The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle acknowledged that Jota was left to feed off scraps provided by a youthful and uninspiring midfield, but he still lacked the authority and confidence to breach a redoubtable Plymouth backline and was branded with a 5/10 match rating.

Nunez, in contrast, at least brought some impetus, darting around as he does and attempting to wrongfoot defenders. He skewed one angled shot wide and saw a late header expertly tipped over by Conor Hazard.

Slot needs to make the change against an Everton side who would love nothing more than to spoil Liverpool’s Premier League party.

He's outperforming Diaz: Liverpool will rue selling "world-class" star

Liverpool may be looking to invest in a new wideman in the coming transfer windows.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 11, 2025

Chelsea have been something of a mixed bag this season, entering title-chasing conversations (which Enzo Maresca played down) before the festive period but since hitting a choppy patch emblematic of a young outfit finding its feet.

Still, there’s much to be excited about, with Cole Palmer and the frontline promising exciting football for many years to come. It’s a depleted frontline right now though, with Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu both sidelined for the foreseeable future.

It means that other wide forwards will need to step up over the forthcoming period, with the fourth-place Blues’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League on a knife edge. A host of rivals press against the top four.

Palmer can’t do it alone, and one star who will certainly need to recapture their finest form is Jadon Sancho.

Why Chelsea signed Jadon Sancho

Principally, Chelsea added to their loaded flanks with the signing of Sancho because the financial conditions were too arresting to ignore.

After joining Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £73m in 2021, Sancho quickly fell by the wayside and needed a way out.

He’s got bags of quality, thrashing down the flank with the easy and quick gait of a natural-born footballer. Indeed, Sancho ranks among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League this year for progressive carries (5.34) and the top 8% for successful take-ons (2.83) per 90, as per FBref, so he’s hardly motionless, absent, when on the wing.

But Sancho, 23, is also inconsistent, with Fabrizio Romano even noting that the England winger has not been “performing like he was at the start of the season” over the past few weeks.

Chelsea bowed out of the FA Cup against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend (they have a chance to exact revenge this evening) and Sancho was among the biggest no-showers, failing with all three dribble attempts and losing each of his seven duels, as per Sofascore.

The finances might have been tidy, but Chelsea might have blundered in getting rid of a homegrown prospect and then welcoming Sancho to the fold.

Chelsea have already sold a bigger talent than Sancho

Cobham chiefs always knew that they had a top talent on their hands in Omari Hutchinson, but his pathway to the first team was filled with roadblocks, and when Ipswich Town offered a £20m package to Chelsea last summer after he spent the previous term on loan at Portman Road in the Championship, it felt like a no-brainer.

Where Are They Now

He’s been an important part of the Tractor Boys’ fight to avoid the pull of relegation, starting 22 Premier League matches and impressing with his underlying numbers, notably averaging 1.5 dribbles and 4.5 duels per game, as per Sofascore.

Sancho is one of the most expensive English footballers in history, but talent isn’t necessarily quantifiable through transfer fees. Look at another young winger, Callum Hudson-Odoi, who Chelsea sold to Nottingham Forest for just £5m in 2023. He’s found his footing.

Hutchinson didn’t come cheap for Ipswich though, and has showcased his talents under Kieran McKenna, repaying the manager’s faith with two important Premier League goals – in a draw against Manchester United and, of course, Ipswich’s dramatic December win over Maresca’s Chelsea.

The 21-year-old’s silky dribbling and tenacious attitude suggest that he has a big future ahead of him. He’s only missed one big chance in the Premier League this term, averaging 1.3 shots per fixture, so hasn’t been profligate in front of goal, just part of Town’s troubles to impose their collective might on opponents.

And it’s tough, moving to England’s top division and looking to impress. Sancho knows this. The difference, however, is that the Three Lions international has played his Premier League career with Manchester United and Chelsea, two of Europe’s foremost outfits.

Sure, both have struggled in recent years, but Sancho has been outshone by fellow forwards and lacks the clinical edge (both through goalscoring and creating slants) that truly speaks of his quality as a “generational talent,” as he has been called in the past by scout Jacek Kulig.

Game recognises game. In fact, the late and legendary footballer Pele even praised Hutchinson in the past, with the youngster – who has been dubbed a “beautiful player” by journalist Josh Bunting – catching the eye at a Futsal tournament the Brazil hero was attending.

Hutchinson looks back fondly at the cardinal moment in his development: “It was a crazy experience. He was at Brentford training ground and we were playing a tournament, and at the end of it, they told one player from each team to do some skills.

“I didn’t really want to go up, but everyone just sort of pushed me up. So I did my skills, and then we took a group photo with him, and he said I could rest on his knee.”

Hutchinson’s background in Futsal, a more contained five-a-side version of football played on a hardcourt, like basketball, has no doubt influenced his dribbling ability, with fleet-footedness a major advantage due to the cramped nature of the game.

We’ve already touched on Hutchinson’s metrics this term, but when they are collated against Sancho’s, you truly start to see the bigger picture – and why Chelsea made a mistake in casting out one of their own. Again.

Matches (starts)

18 (13)

22 (22)

Goals

2

2

Assists

4

1

Touches*

36.8

44.4

Shots (on target)*

0.9 (0.2)

1.3 (0.6)

Pass completion

86%

83%

Big chances created

4

4

Key passes*

1.2

0.9

Dribbles*

1.9

1.9

Ball recoveries*

3.4

3.5

Tackles + interceptions*

0.5

1.3

Total duels won*

2.7

4.5

There’s a lot to unpack in that table, but it’s interesting that Hutchinson is able to hit the same ballpark as Sancho across many different metrics, creating the same number of big chances, out-duelling him and matching him for dribbling.

Sancho is only a loanee at the moment, but Todd Boehly’s negotiations with United have seen a buy option worth around £25m instated, active through certain clauses.

Sancho is a talented winger and is capable of playing an important role for Chelsea, but you have to wonder whether the whole ordeal was really worth it. The £150k-per-week star is in danger of being outstripped by Hutchinson over the coming campaigns.

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Turning their attention towards the summer, Manchester City have now reportedly joined the race to sign a bargain World Cup winner who could replace Kevin de Bruyne.

Man City transfer news

The Blues weren’t afraid to splash the cash during the January transfer window, welcoming as many as five fresh faces in Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Juma Bah and Nico Gonzalez. And they’ll likely approach without fear once again in the summer transfer window as they look to rebuild a side which has been a shadow of its historic best.

Even with victory in their grasp against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League tie, it was Ederson’s turn to endure an out-of-character moment by sending his pass straight back towards the La Liga giants, who instantly profited to level things up before Jude Bellingham netted a late winner. Within the space of 12 minutes, City had gone from leading to taking a 3-2 defeat to the Bernabeu.

With plenty of work to do, Pep Guardiola and those above him at The Etihad look destined to endure a busy summer transfer window which could yet end in the arrival of a World Cup winner.

According to reports in Spain, Manchester City are now entering the race to sign Paulo Dybala, who has a release clause as cheap as €12m (£10m) this summer. The Argentine attacking midfielder, at that price, would be an undeniable bargain and could yet see the Cityzens replace De Bruyne in intelligent fashion.

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As things stand, the Belgian is set to bow out as a free agent at The Etihad at the end of the season, bringing to an end an iconic tenure at the Manchester club. Leaving a gaping hole in the middle of the park, Dybala could quickly emerge to ease any of Manchester City’s concerns.

"Phenomenon" Dybala would be surprising option

If De Bruyne really is to bow out of Manchester City at 33 years old, then Dybala would be a surprising option for the Citizens to turn to. At 31 years old, the Argentine wouldn’t solve Guardiola’s problem for long and instead add another ageing midfielder to a side full of stars at the back end of their peaks.

Even if Dybala is yet to show signs of following in the footsteps of the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, who has struggled this season, City wouldn’t have the chance to enjoy the peak of his powers for long enough to make any deal worthwhile this summer. Instead, they should set their sights on rising stars such as Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz.

The AS Roma man could still have a decision to make this summer, however, and could yet bow out as a hero at his own club in the coming months. Once described as a “phenomenon” by Roma legend Francesco Totti, Dybala certainly has plenty of fans in Italy.

Chelsea are now seriously interested in signing an “unbelievable” £62m star, and they have now been in contact ahead of a possible summer move, according to a report.

Maresca's striker search

Christopher Nkunku could be on the move this summer, while there is also growing interest in Nicolas Jackson, which may intensify the need for Enzo Maresca to bring in at least one new striker at the end of the season.

Aston Villa are named as one of the clubs that could make a move for Jackson in the summer, joining the race alongside Newcastle United, who are believed to have made the 23-year-old their priority target, amid fears Alexander Isak could move on.

However, with both Nkunku and Jackson struggling to find the back of the net on a regular basis, Maresca may decide to make a move for a new striker this summer, regardless of whether the duo move on.

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During the January transfer window, the Blues were linked with a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of the forward.

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea have been in contact with Cunha ahead of a potential summer move, alongside Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, with the three London clubs seriously considering activating the £62m release clause.

The Brazil international’s performances for Wolves this season have attracted the attention of some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, and the release clause included in his new contract means the door could be open for a deal.

The Blues are said to view the Wolves star as a key signing for their project, indicating he could be among their main striker targets for the summer.

"Unbelievable" Cunha could upgrade Chelsea's frontline

With Jackson sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Nkunku has been given the nod at striker recently, but the Frenchman has struggled to make his mark, finding the back of the net just twice in the Premier League this season.

Jackson’s form has also been on a downward trend after a positive start to the campaign, failing to score in 2025, so it would make sense for Maresca to bring in a top striker in the summer.

Cunha’s performances in the Premier League over the past two seasons indicate he could be a real upgrade for Maresca in attack, having bagged 25 goals in 57 games for Wolves during his first two full campaigns, while also picking up 11 assists.

The 25-year-old even bagged a hat-trick against the Blues last season, and he received high praise for his performance from journalist Alex Richards.

Newcastle United are thought to be interested in completing the signing of an exciting young attacker in the summer, according to a new transfer rumour that has emerged.

Newcastle begin huge week in their history

The Magpies have one of the biggest matches in their history to look forward to at the end of the week, after Monday’s trip to West Ham, as they take on Liverpool in the EFL Cup final at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

For Newcastle, it has been 70 long years without a major domestic trophy, so if Eddie Howe and his players can get over the line against the current Premier League leaders, it would make them heroes forever at St James’ Park. That is clearly a tough ask, given the quality of the Reds, but they have already drawn with them in the league this season.

Regardless of what happens at Wembley, the summer transfer window needs to be far more productive than it was last year for the Magpies, and they are being linked with fresh faces already. One report has claimed that they are in talks with Tammy Abraham over a return to English football, with the striker currently on loan at AC Milan from Roma.

Meanwhile, James Trafford has emerged as a leading option to increase the competition for places in goal at Newcastle this summer, especially with Nick Pope not getting any younger and seemingly losing his form in 2024/25 too.

The Englishman has excelled for Burnley throughout the current campaign, playing a key role in a team who have conceded just 10 times in the Championship.

Newcastle eyeing move for prolific South American youngster

Now, according to a fresh update from Sport [via Sport Witness], Newcastle and Paul Mitchell are battling to sign young Millonarios FC striker Neiser Villarreal in the summer.

Barcelona and Watford are also believed to be in the mix to snap up the young Colombian, so the Magpies won’t find it easy to acquire his services. They are described as “very attentive” to the 19-year-old’s situation, though, and his current deal expires this December.

Villarreal is far from a household name, so Newcastle fans may not be as excited compared to a high-profile star being mentioned as a target, but he is a player with so much potential.

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He has proven to be prolific at international youth level for Colombia, scoring 10 goals in just 14 caps for his country’s Under-20s, and he has also been hailed as “excellent” by analyst Ben Mattison.

Newcastle should always be looking at developing exciting young talent, as well as signing elite-level footballers, and if they could pip a club of Barca’s size to Villarreal’s signature, it may prove to be a major coup over time.