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Tottenham are among a number of teams chasing highly-rated Brazilian teenager Rayan Vitor. The 19-year-old has excelled for Vasco da Gama this season, scoring seven times to boost his reputation. However, Spurs wouldn't be the only Premier League side to show an interest in Rayan, who is also reportedly wanted by rivals Chelsea and Liverpool.

AFPRayan has shined in the Brasileirao

After making his senior debut in 2023, Rayan has cemented his spot in the Vasco da Gama starting XI and his performances in Brazil have not gone unnoticed. Indeed, in 2022 La Liga giants Barcelona were credited with an interest in the teenage forward.

And while Vasco are enduring a sub-par season, Rayan is proving a shining light for the Brazilian giants having scored seven goals and laid on an additional assist in the 2025 Brasileirao season.

AdvertisementLeague form has caught the eye of Premier League giants

Premier League sides are also keeping tabs on Rayan, with Tottenham among those to be monitoring the rising star. The north London side have been reportedly tracking his performances in recent months and checked on him recently when he scored in the 2-0 win over Cruzeiro last week.

Rayan, who is capped at U17 level, is tipped to receive his first senior call up to the Brazil national team before long, where he'd be expected to play alongside Spurs striker Richarlison. That being said, Spurs aren't the only Premier League team interested in Rayan.

Getty Images SportCompetition rife for Rayan

Spurs are looking into striker options as they seek to reinforce a frontline that has misfired in recent weeks. Richarlison is the club's top scorer in the league this season with three goals to his name, two of which came in the opening weekend win over Burnley.

However, Spurs would face ample competition for his services for Vasco entertain the idea of selling their prized asset. Chelsea, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Spanish giants Barcelona and Russian outfit Zenit St. Petersburg are also believed to be interested in Rayan.

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Low release clause appeals to suitors

In addition to Rayan's performances for his club, the 19-year-old is believed to have a £34m ($46m) release clause, which appeals to potential suitors, who feel confident they can negotiate that fee down.

Vasco, though, will have seen how much Palmeiras sold Estevao to Chelsea for in 2024 and expect a similar fee should they be forced into selling Rayan.

The club's manager, Fernando Diniz, has already claimed the teenager is a superstar-in-waiting, telling Brazilian media: “A very rare player. At the age of 17, he has that maturity. He's going to help Vasco a lot. He's a special boy."

He added: “(Rayan) is an extremely different player, one of the few Brazilian football forwards who is complete. It's high, fast, left-handed, kicks well, went on to enter the area and make head goal, it picks up well, closes well. You can play high-end, fake 9, 9, at the other end.

It's incredible to think that, four years ago, Aitana Bonmati was the subject of one of the most shocking snubs in Ballon d'Or history. After playing a starring role in Barcelona's first Women's Champions League triumph, the midfielder looked sure to be in the mix for the Golden Ball – and yet, she didn't even make the 20-player shortlist. Did she take it personally? Knowing her focus on team over individual, perhaps not, but she's certainly made herself impossible to ignore in the interim, with Bonmati claiming a third successive Ballon d'Or on Monday.

It's an achievement that puts Bonmati in an exclusive club, alongside only Lionel Messi and Michel Platini, and that is a feat that highlights just how rare it is to be recognised as the most outstanding player in the world so consistently. 

Granted, individual accolades in women's football don't have the same extensive history as those on the men's side, with the Ballon d'Or Feminin only introduced in 2018. However, a look at the honour roll of the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award, first handed out in 2001, offers a further glimpse into the elite company Bonmati now sits with. 

Only Marta, widely considered the greatest women's player of all-time, and Birgit Prinz, not far behind the Brazilian in that conversation, achieved a three-peat. Despite still only being 27 years old, Bonmati's name now deserves to be mentioned in the same conversation as the all-time greats. 

On its own, Monday's Ballon d'Or triumph cemented her status as the best player in the world right now. As a third Golden Ball in succession, meanwhile, it underlined the fact that Bonmati is already in legendary territory – with so much more of her career still to come.

• Getty Images
  

  Early signs

  When Bonmati first really marked herself out as one of the best players on the planet on a wider scale in that 2020-21 season, she was just 23 years old and by no means playing at the level she is right now – yet her talent shone as Barcelona marched to a first Women's Champions League title. 

  Being named Player of the Match in the final, as the Catalans battered Chelsea 4-1, set the tone for the years to come. So often, Bonmati has scooped up those accolades on the biggest stages.

  For those that followed Barca's mesmerising journey to that triumph, it was a real shock when the Ballon d'Or nominees were revealed. Not only did Bonmati deserve to be battling for the award, team-mate Caroline Graham Hansen did too. 

  Both would've been worthy inclusions on the podium as Alexia Putellas deservedly picked up her first Golden Ball. Fortunately, such snubs are a thing of the past for Bonmati at this point – and that's because Bonmati's brilliance has become obvious to absolutely everyone over the last four years. 

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  Rising to the occasion

  At Euro 2022, she was Spain's top performer on a huge stage, earning herself inclusion in the Team of the Tournament despite La Roja's quarter-final exit. Every other member of the XI at least made the semi-finals, except Bonmati.

  That ability to not only withstand the pressure of the toughest challenges but seemingly get better when the moments are so great went up another level in the 2022-23 season, as she helped Barca win their second Champions League title and Spain win a first Women's World Cup. 

  She was the Champions League Player of the Season, the Player of the Match in the World Cup final and the Player of the Tournament for the whole event. All of those honours make her MVP award in the Supercopa de Espana final seem rather small, but that is further evidence of her being a player who rises to the occasion.

  She would go on to be named the Champions League Player of the Season in three successive campaigns, claim another Player of the Match award in a UWCL final and be crowned the Best Player at the 2025 European Championships, amid her three successive Ballons d'Or, back-to-back triumphs at the FIFA Best awards and so much more. 

  Quite simply, this is a player who never goes missing. And Bonmati has worked to make sure that is the case. 

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  Becoming a complete player

  Over the last few years, the diminutive midfielder has refined and enhanced her game to become the kind of complete footballer who is always able to influence a match, no matter how it is playing out.

  When she first burst onto the scene, it was her intelligent movement and remarkable technical skill that stood out. With experience, she would start to translate the attacking threat that carried into reliable goal-scoring numbers. 

  After hitting nine in all competitions in the 2019-20 season, the midfielder has passed double figures in all five seasons since. The statistics are not the be all and end all, but she makes sure she is always contributing.

  There was a conscious effort from Bonmati to work on the defensive side, too, so that her impact on her team was not limited to one end of the pitch. 

  "I'm little," she said with a laugh, speaking to GOAL about this during the 2022-23 season, "but I try to help the team also in defensive tasks, in every part of the pitch. Three or four years ago, I decided that if I wanted to be a complete player, I had to do those things also. Not only score and make assists, but also do defensive tasks to help the team."

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  The evolution of Bonmati

  After ticking off that particular box, Bonmati then started to become more influential in possession in deeper areas, rather than just in and around the box. Part of the drive behind that element related to what Jonatan Giraldez, the previous head coach at Barcelona, wanted from her in his set-up in the 2021-22 campaign in particular.

  However, even as the demands on her have changed, for club and country, that comfort she has in dropping deep, picking up the ball and dictating games is still so evident. She really can do it all.

  It's that evolution which makes her the best player in the world. No matter what the opposition is doing, no matter what the game state might look like, no matter the situation her team are in, Bonmati is able to morph her game into one which best suits the circumstances, because she is so talented, so intelligent and so well-learned. Because of that, it's essentially impossible for an opponent to shut her down, too. She is always going to leave her mark on a match.

Tottenham Hotspur’s ambitions to improve their frontline have been evident over the last couple of weeks, as they look to add key depth to the department to hand Thomas Frank the tools for success.

The Dane has already completed the £55m signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United, with the Ghanaian likely to play an important role in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.

However, the injury to James Maddison and the departure of winger Heung-min Son have further highlighted the need for added reinforcements before the end of the window.

The Englishman suffered an ACL injury that will rule him out for the majority of the campaign, whilst the South Korean completed his £20m move to LAFC – ending his decade-long stint in North London.

As a result, numerous players are being considered by the board as potential options, with moves desperately needing to be made in the next couple of weeks.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer

After suffering relegation to the Championship with Leicester City, Moroccan star Bilal El Khannouss is almost certain to secure a move to a European giant before the September 1st deadline.

Spurs have been one of the sides mentioned as an option for the 21-year-old, who could be available for a bargain fee of just £22m, due to the relegation release clause in his current contract.

However, he’s not the only attacker currently in their sights, with Real Madrid star Rodrygo another player they’re pursuing, according to TBR Football’s latest report.

They claim that the Lilywhites are waiting for a green light from the LaLiga giants that they’re willing to allow the 24-year-old to depart before making their opening offer.

The report also states that North London rivals Arsenal are firmly in the race for the Brazilian’s signature this window, leading to a £70m price tag being mooted in recent days.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s own Bale

Gareth Bale will undoubtedly go down as one of the best ever players to play for Spurs – especially when taking all the factors around his spell at the club into account.

He originally joined the club from Southampton as a left-back, before shifting into a more attacking role, subsequently scoring a hat-trick against Inter Milan in the Champions League back in 2010.

Such a game would catapult him to stardom with the Lilywhites, going on to score 55 times in his 194 appearances during his six-year spell in North London – 26 of which came in his final season.

The Welshman would subsequently join Real Madrid in an £85m transfer back in the summer of 2013 – a then world-record and a fee that remains the highest ever received for a player in the Lilywhites’ history.

His talents of cutting side were there for all to see, scoring banger after banger off the right-hand side, a move that became a real trademark during his career as a professional.

Current boss Frank must wish he had an elite-level talent like Bale within his current ranks, potentially landing his own version of the superstar with a move for Rodrygo this summer.

The Brazilian, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has already showcased his ability to score similar goals, with his effort against Atlético Madrid evidence of the talent he possesses.

His underlying stats from last season are just as impressive, registering 5.1 progressive passes and 5.3 progressive carries per 90, having the tools to constantly get the ball into forward areas – just as Bale did a decade ago for the Lilywhites.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

11

Pass accuracy

91%

Progressive passes

5.1

Progressive carries

5.3

Successful take-ons

2.3

Shot on target accuracy

50%

Key passes made

1.6

The 24-year-old also completed 2.3 successful take-ons per 90, with such numbers showcasing his ability to glide past the opposition before cutting inside or setting up a teammate – adding the needed quality the hierarchy are hunting for.

Whilst it’s unclear if the player himself is keen on a move to join Spurs, the prospect of Rodrygo plying his trade under Frank is certainly one for the supporters to be excited about.

Should he join the club, it would be a huge coup and one that could help the side in their ambitions of Premier League success – especially if he gets anywhere near the levels Bale produced during his own time in England.

Gibbs-White 2.0: Spurs make contact to sign "monster" Maddison replacement

Tottenham Hotspur have made their move to soften the blow of James Maddison’s injury setback.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 8, 2025

Arsenal’s rise back into title contention has received some praise in recent years, but former defender Gael Clichy has voiced concerns that Mikel Arteta’s tactics show a “lack of ambition”. After three straight runner-up finishes, Clichy believes the Gunners are focusing more on avoiding defeat than pushing for victory, particularly in big away matches.

Gael Clichy questions Arsenal’s lack of ambition 'Invincibles' star claims Gunners focus too much on avoiding defeatTitle hopes may hinge on Viktor Gyokeres’ attacking impactFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Gunners’ unbeaten start to the season ended against Liverpool at Anfield before the international break. Clichy criticised Arteta’s ultra-cautious approach, arguing that Arsenal no longer look to dominate top rivals away from home. Instead, he feels the team has become overly focused on grinding out points rather than seizing statement wins.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT CLICHY SAID

Speaking to , Clichy said: "Arsenal is coming to a place where the idea and identify of Arsene Wenger’s football is not seen much anymore.

"We don’t talk about how well Arsenal played these days, we talk about how difficult they are to break down or how impressive they are on set pieces. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fantastic and it’s part of the game you need to exploit but if we talk about what Arsenal used to be and what Arsenal is today, there’s nothing to compare anymore.

"We have to accept the manager wants something different. And maybe with the wingers and striker we have, we see more of this old-school way. But we also have to tell it like it is – we have also maybe seen a lack of ambition from Arsenal as a club and from Mikel.

"When you look at that game against Liverpool, you can see a team that is not concerned about winning but a team excited not to lose a game. This is very subtle but this is a massive difference for a team that is competing for the title. So hopefully this will change with the players they have now.

"Liverpool started the season very fragile, giving up opportunities. But Arsenal did not exploit that, they did not want to hear it. This is the part where Mikel needs to adjust. Yes, you will win points, I have heard him saying how they are the team who have won the most points over the last three years. But you haven’t won anything. It is not a question about points, it is going to those places and getting the win."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Clichy’s remarks underline a wider debate about Arsenal’s transformation under Arteta. While their defensive solidity and tactical discipline have been praised, their reluctance to take risks has cost them key points against rivals. Success this season may hinge on whether their new striker, Viktor Gyokeres, can provide the cutting edge in decisive games, with a prolific No. 9 having been something they have been eagerly missing.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Arsenal return to Premier League action after the international break, determined to keep pace with Liverpool. Arteta will be under pressure to show greater ambition in big matches, starting with the clash against Nottingham Forest. 

Manchester United are now plotting a move for another “world-class” Arsenal target, having seemingly missed out on Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, according to a report.

Arsenal set to win race for Gyokeres

It was always going to be tough for Man United to win the race for Gyokeres, without Champions League football on offer next season, but they are believed to have made a late approach for the striker.

In fact, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano even revealed the Red Devils were given the opportunity to sign the centre-forward by intermediaries, although he always made it clear that Arsenal were his first choice.

Now, it appears as though the Gunners are closing in on the Sweden international, with a medical due in the next 24 hours, meaning United will be forced to move on to alternative striker options, and they are moving quickly to sign RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

In the same report, it is revealed that Ruben Amorim also wants to bring in a new central midfielder this summer, and the recruitment team have now set their sights on a different Arsenal target in that area of the pitch.

That is according to a report from GiveMeSport, which states Man United are now plotting a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha, who could be available for around £30m this summer, having failed to adapt to life in the Bundesliga.

Talks held: Man Utd ready to make shock move to sign £40m World Cup winner

The Red Devils are stepping up their pursuit of a new signing, having held discussions over the weekend.

By
Dominic Lund

Jul 22, 2025

Given their financial issues, however, the Red Devils would rather sign Palhinha on loan, but Bayern are reluctant to agree to a deal of that nature, and would prefer to get the central midfielder off the books permanently.

It could also be difficult to tempt the Portuguese maestro into a move, as he does not want to leave the Champions League side and would rather fight for his place.

"World-class" Palhinha could be solid signing for Man Utd

The 30-year-old may have failed to make his mark in the Bundesliga, but he has already proven himself in the Premier League, making 152 tackles in the 2023-24 season, the highest number of any player.

During that campaign, reporter Dom Smith was left particularly impressed by the Portugal international’s performances, describing him as “world-class”.

Marco Silva also praised the former Fulham man for the influence he had on his teammates, saying: “His attitude, his commitment, the way he leads the others around are things that are hard to find in football.”

Clearly, Palhinha has the qualities to be a success at Old Trafford, but United’s financial issues could make it difficult to get a deal over the line.

Foxes secure second place in Group B with home quarter-final against Hampshire on Friday

ECB Reporters Network14-Aug-2024Ajinkya Rahane and Peter Handscomb staged an outstanding match-winning partnership of 120 as Leicestershire beat Gloucestershire by four wickets on the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern Method at Bristol’s Seat Unique Stadium to book a quarter-final berth in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.Chasing a revised target of 196 in a contest reduced by rain to 36 overs a side, the Foxes registered their fifth win in six games in Group B with 14 balls to spare, the fourth-wicket pair of Handscomb and Rahane scoring 65 not out and 62 respectively.Having already raised two hundreds in the competition this season, Handscomb reaffirmed his rich vein of form, the Australian mustering five fours and two sixes in a superbly-judged innings off 70 balls, while Louis Kimber contributed a quickfire 28 in 18 balls to put the outcome beyond doubt as Leicestershire recovered from 19 for 3 to win with something to spare.Put into bat on a used pitch beneath low cloud cover, Gloucestershire struggled to build partnerships and came up short on 192 for 9, Cameron Bancroft top-scoring with 36.Leicestershire took full advantage of the damp conditions, seamer Tom Scriven claiming 3 for 37 from seven overs and Liam Trevaskis and Alex Green weighing in with two wickets apiece in a disciplined performance with the ball.Victory helped defending champions Leicestershire secure a second-place finish in Group B and their reward will be a home quarter-final tie against Hampshire at Grace Road on Friday in a repeat of last season’s final.Their confidence high on the back of four wins in five matches, Gloucestershire were buoyed by an opening stand of 50 between Bancroft and Miles Hammond in 10.4 overs. But things changed quickly following the introduction of Scriven, who bowled Hammond for 19 to spark a decline which saw the home side lose seven wickets for 95 runs in 18 overs.Gloucestershire’s cause was further hindered by the return of rain, the elements forcing the players to leave the field with the score on 55 for 1 after 12 overs. When play finally resumed, a further four overs had been lost and the situation now required urgency on the part of Bancroft and new batsman Joe Phillips.Leicestershire made the most of favourable circumstances to assume control thereafter. Bancroft had advanced his total to 36 from 51 balls when, no doubt frustrated by lack of progress, he chanced his arm against Scriven, attempting an expansive on-drive and falling to a brilliant diving catch by Handscomb at mid-on.Teenage seamer Green then had Phillips, who had scratched 10 from 32 balls, held by Rahane at mid-wicket to reduce the hosts to 76 for 3.The defending champions continued to turn the screw, slow left armer Trevaskis luring dangerman Jack Taylor into an ugly shot, Gloucestershire’s captain holing out to short fine leg for eight. Scriven accounted for James Bracey for 18, the left-hander falling to another fine catch at mid-on by Handscomb, at which point Gloucestershire were 109-5 and in danger of falling short.With 11 overs in which to make an impact, Irish international Curtis Campher announced himself with two successive sixes at the expense of Green, only to be caught at the wicket off the bowling of Roman Walker after raising 21 from 14 balls, a score matched by Ben Charlesworth when he was bowled by Trevaskis.It was left to Graeme van Buuren and Tom Smith to pick up the pieces, Gloucestershire’s veterans deploying all their considerable knowhow to stage a restorative alliance of 32 in 6.1 overs for the eighth wicket. Green had van Buuren held in the deep for 17 in the penultimate over, Smith finishing on 27 not out from 23 balls.A Gloucestershire bowling unit denuded by injury and call-ups to The Hundred and England Lions, nevertheless made the perfect start, Josh Shaw striking with his first and fifth deliveries to remove Ian Holland and Lewis Hill without scoring. Fellow seamer Dom Goodman got in on the act in the sixth over, Sol Budinger miss-timing a pull shot and holing out to mid-on as the Foxes slipped to 19-3, requiring a further 177 to win at 5.8 an over and already heavily dependent upon Rahane and Handscomb.Leicestershire’s fourth wicket pair saw off the new ball bowlers, punished the occasional poor delivery during tight spells from Campher and Smith and took advantage when Gloucestershire, short of seam options, sought recourse in Charlesworth for the first time this season, to stage a 50 partnership in 10 overs and put pressure back on the home side.Rahane was first to his half century, attaining that landmark via 59 deliveries and bringing up the 100 partnership in the process, while Handscomb required seven balls fewer to realise 50 as the required rate came down to five an over for the first time.Having accrued 7 fours and a brace of sixes, Rahane was looking to accelerate when his 76-ball innings came to an abrupt halt, Hammond taking a catch at short extra off the bowling of Smith to afford Gloucestershire the breakthrough they so desperately needed. But Kimber promptly smashed 23 in one over from van Buuren, helping himself to 3 sixes and a four, to effectively quash any prospect of a West Country revival.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the defending SA20 champions, have signed South Africa batter David Bedingham, England opener Zak Crawley, fast bowler Craig Overton, and Netherlands allrounder Roelof van der Merwe for the upcoming season.Bedingham is one of the newer faces in the South African team having made his debut in December 2023. He struck a half-century in his first innings for his country and has since become a first-choice pick in Test cricket. Bedingham chose chose the longer format over the SA20 earlier this year, and went on a tour of New Zealand with a second-string side. He has played 63 T20s, scoring 1375 runs at an average of 22.17 and a strike rate of 135.06.For Crawley, it will be his first stint in the SA20, though he has previous experience in T20 leagues, having played for Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers in the BBL, Kent in the T20 Blast and London Spirit in the Hundred. He is yet to make his debut for England in the shortest format – and has only eight ODIs under his belt – but is very much a mainstay of their Test team where he opens the batting and is known for his expansive strokeplay and high strike rate. Crawley has 1771 runs across 76 T20s at a strike rate of 134.77.”I’ve always wanted to be a good white-ball player,” Crawley said. “I’m trying to add a few other shots to my game, but I feel like it’s quite suited [to me] and I’ve gone well in T20 cricket in the past when I’ve had a run at it. I’m trying to add a bit more power to my game, I’m working hard in the nets trying a few different things to hopefully hit more and bigger sixes.”As ESPNcricinfo reported last week, Crawley and England are in the midst of a cramped cricket calendar, with the men’s team scheduled to play 16 series over the next two years, including the 2025 Champions Trophy. England, however, have a competitive advantage over most of their rivals in that the majority of franchise T20 leagues take place during their off-season, allowing players the opportunity both to develop and to earn without restriction.Sunrisers have also brought back van der Merwe, who was previously with the franchise during the first season of the SA20 in 2022-23. The left-arm spinning allrounder was the joint leading wicket-taker with 20 that year, while boasting an economy of just 5.62. He was particularly influential in the final at the Wanderers, where he claimed 4 for 31 against the Pretoria Capitals, to win the Player-of-the-Match award. He also boasts the best ever figures in SA20 history – 6 for 20 against Durban’s Super Giants in Gqeberha.The SA20 will represent Overton’s first foray into an overseas T20 league. The 30-year old fast bowler has 102 matches’ worth of experience but all of them have been at home in England. Overton has picked up 106 wickets in T20s at an average of 26.21 and an economy rate of 8.56.Sunrisers also retained captain Aiden Markram, Ottniel Baartman, Marco Jansen and Tristan Stubbs among a list of 12. Temba Bavuma, former T20 captain who missed out on the 2024 World Cup squad, and Sisanda Magala, the death-bowling specialist who has struggled with injury since withdrawing from the 2023 World Cup squad, have not been retained.*Sunrisers Eastern Cape squad
Retained: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Tom Abell (overseas, England), Jordan Hermann, Patrick Kruger, Beyers Swanepoel, Simon Harmer, Liam Dawson (overseas, England), Caleb Seleka, Andile Simelane. Pre-signed: Roelof van der Merwe (Netherlands), Craig Overton (England), Zak Crawley (England).*

Chelsea’s transfer plans for the summer window are now in full swing, having just reached an agreement for the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, but their striker search may not be over with the Englishman.

Chelsea could sign second striker after Liam Delap

Earlier this week, Chelsea shook hands on a £30 million deal for Delap, fresh off the back of his 12-goal haul for Kieran McKenna’s relegated side.

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The ex-Man City starlet was a beacon of light in an otherwise dismal Ipswich side, and his £30 million release clause was always going to result in club’s poaching Delap from Portman Road after his excellent 2024/2025 campaign.

Delap had offers from Man United, Newcastle and Everton as well as Chelsea, but the latter jumped into pole position after their qualification for next season’s Champions League, with the striker now set to bolster Enzo Maresca’s forward line.

Maresca knows the centre-forward well from their time together at City, and Delap was academy teammates with Cole Palmer, so the 22-year-old already has plenty of connections at the club and should get settled quickly.

Delap is set to undergo a medical on Monday ahead of his proposed switch to Stamford Bridge, but according to recent reports, he may not be their only new addition up front.

Rank

Team

Points

GD

Man City

71

+28

Chelsea

69

+21

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has reported that Chelsea are still “pushing” to sign Eintracht Frankfurt sensation Hugo Ekitike, regardless of Delap’s arrival, following other claims that BlueCo could bring in two number nines before summer deadline day on September 1.

Chelsea’s pursuit of a double-striker deal is described as very possible, especially after their qualification for the Champions League, with player sales also likely to play a key role.

Chelsea in pole position to sign Hugo Ekitike after opening talks

According to CaughtOffside, despite his mammoth £84 million asking price, Chelsea and Liverpool remain interested in Ekitike as we enter the mini-transfer window open from June 1 to June 10.

After opening talks, it is believed Chelsea are currently in pole position to sign Ekitike ahead of Arne Slot’s side, following the Frenchman’s excellent haul of 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances across 24/25.

Despite never quite making it at PSG, the 22-year-old has displayed his obvious quality in the Bundesliga, and those who’ve worked with Ekitike have showered praise on him, so he’s an option worth considering after Delap.

Called an “amazing” talent by French football expert Julien Laurens, Ekitike’s reserve team coach at Reims, Franck Chalencon, has shared exactly what Chelsea can expect from him.

“He’s a very clever player which has seen him to adapt and understand the expectations of professional football,” said Chalencon.

“His main quality? His instinct for goal. It’s very rare that Hugo plays a game without creating a chance himself at any occasion. In front of the goal, his ratio is excellent. But he’s not only a striker, he can play on the wing, too. Very technical. He knows what to do with the ball, when to keep it, when to give it.”

Next season will be the start of a new era for Everton.

On Sunday, the Toffees played their 2,791th and final match at Goodison Park, waving goodbye to their home since 1894 with a 2-0 victory over Southampton; Iliman Ndiaye the scorer of a first half brace.

​​​​​​So, come August, the Blues will commence the new campaign at their new home at Bramley-Moore Dock, with a renewed sense of optimism, given that the team have stabilised since David Moyes’ return, while new owners the Friedkin Group offer hope for the future too.

However, with one of Everton’s most-prized assets, potentially, on his way out this summer, have they already identified an ideal replacement?

Everton targeting defensive reinforcements

According to a report in Africa Foot, Everton are ‘considering’ making a move to sign defender Sinaly Diomandé, adding that ‘negotiations between the various parties are… underway’.

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Indeed, the report adds that the Toffees are said to have ‘begun talks’ with the player’s representatives regarding a potential move.

The 24-year-old Côte d’Ivoire international began his career at Olympique Lyonnais, making 85 appearances for les Gones, before joining Auxerre last summer on a free transfer, albeit, according to L’Équipe, Lyon will receive 50% of any future sale.

So, could the young defender be on the move again, this time to Merseyside?

How Diomande compares to Jarrad Branthwaite

Once again, as was the case last summer, Jarrad Branthwaite’s name features prominently in the transfer rumour mill.

Mick Brown of Football Insider claims that Chelsea are ‘considering’ a move to sign the centre-back, while it would be no surprise to see Manchester United come back into the equation this summer.

A year ago, as noted by Andy Hunter and Ben Fisher of the Guardian, Everton rejected two bids from Man United, the second of which was worth £50m, with Branthwaite valued at closer to £70m.

Nevertheless, even if Everton stand firm, interest in the England international will remain.

So, would Diomandé be a good replacement? Well, let’s find out.

Jarrad Branthwaite vs Sinaly Diomandé 2024/25 comparison

Statistics

Branthwaite

Diomandé

Appearanes

30

23

Minutes

2,510

1,945

Pass accuracy %

83%

85%

Successful tackles

36

39

Clearances

188

96

Interceptions

27

30

Blocked shots

23

18

Ball recoveries

93

86

Duels contested

186

160

Duels won

118

94

% of aerial duels won

59%

54%

% of ground duels won

69%

61%

Touches per 90

56

59

Average Sofascore Rating

7.02

6.89

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, Squawa and SofaScore

As the table outlines, the duo’s statistics are very similar across the board, with Branthwaite having the slight edge overall, albeit Diomandé does boast a better passing accuracy, while also registering more tackles and interceptions, as well as more touches per game.

One analyst noted that Diomandé is a talented youngster who has “shown some great things” during his time in Ligue 1, while Sébastien Denis of Foot Mercato believes he has “incredible qualities”.

Meantime, João Ruivo of Total Football Analysis praises his aerial prowess​​​​​​​ as well as his ability to register plenty of interceptions, assertions that are supported by the data, while Dom Corrigan of Target Scouting is impressed by his ‘calming presence’, adding that he is ‘capable of brilliant last ditch defending’.

Thus, it is clear that Diomandé is a young defender with serious potential, so, given Everton’s ongoing financial constraints, if they’re able to secure him at a cut-price, he could be an excellent addition to fill Branthwaite’s possible void.

​​​​​​​

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Last night was not the game or result Arsenal would’ve been hoping for ahead of their Champions League semi-final next week.

Mikel Arteta’s side lined up against Crystal Palace, who happen to have an FA Cup semi-final this weekend, and put in one of their most lacklustre and underwhelming performances of the entire season, which saw them pick up their 13th Premier League draw of the campaign – the second most in the competition.

From David Raya between the sticks to Raheem Sterling in attack, there were dire displays across the pitch for the Gunners.

However, there was at least one player who put in yet another impressive showing, a player who has made himself undroppable and is starting to resemble Granit Xhaka in certain ways.

The story of Xhaka's redemption at Arsenal

Arsenal paid Borussia Mönchengladbach around £30m for Xhaka in the summer of 2016, and while he wasn’t particularly poor, it would probably be fair to say he underwhelmed for the first few seasons of his career in North London.

However, it was clear from the get-go that he was a passionate player and that, combined with his seniority, saw him handed the captaincy by former manager Unai Emery in September 2019 following a vote from his teammates.

Unfortunately, the team’s results nosedived soon after and, following an unsavoury episode in which he swore and goaded a jeering Emirates before throwing the shirt and armband to the floor, he had the captaincy stripped from him less than two months after receiving it.

The Swiss international would later reveal that at that point, he was set on leaving the club but eventually decided to stay and fight for his reputation after being convinced to do so by the recently appointed Arteta.

While it took some time, the Basel-born titan eventually started to win the fans back onside, and finally, after three years of graft, he was handed the armband again by Arteta in the absence of Martin Odegaard away to Brentford in September 2022, a game that also saw the fans begin to sing his name again, much to his appreciation.

That season would be his best in red and white as he racked up a brilliant tally of nine goals – two of which came in his final game – and seven assists in 47 appearances from central midfield.

Xhaka left the club that summer, but instead of doing so under a cloud of controversy as it seemed he would just a few years earlier, he left as a cult hero and with a rapturous Emirates Stadium singing his name.

Now it looks like a player in the current squad could be crafting something of a cult status for himself this year.

16/17

46

4

3

2

17/18

48

3

8

0

18/19

40

4

5

0

19/20

41

1

2

0

20/21

45

1

2

1

21/22

30

1

2

2

22/23

47

9

7

0

The current Arsenal star with shades of Xhaka

There are probably some of you thinking that the player in question is Mikel Merino, as, after all, the Spaniard is positionally similar to Xhaka and has seen his stock skyrocket among Arsenal fans in recent months, but you’d be wrong.

Chalkboard

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

Instead, the current Gunners star who is starting to have shades of the Swiss international about him is none other than Jakub Kiwior.

Okay, so we know the pair couldn’t be more different in terms of position and, therefore, playstyle, but where they play has practically nothing to do with this comparison, as it’s based on their standing within the fanbase more than anything else.

For example, just a few months ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find a fan who’d had a particularly strong feeling towards the Polish international, as while he’s stepped in here and there, he’s never really looked like a first-team quality player.

In fact, it was only in December that Arsenal podcaster Phil Costa branded the former Spezia ace “shocking,” claiming that “he hasn’t kicked on at all since joining” and that, at the end of the day, “he isn’t good enough.”

Now, in his defence, it wasn’t an uncommon opinion, with content creator and fan Alexander Moneypenny describing the international as “shakey” following his underwhelming performance vs Bayern Munich last season.

So, while there wasn’t the same vitriol that there was surrounding Xhaka’s fall, there was a similar desire from plenty of fans to move the Tychy-born star on and find someone better as soon as possible, which in turn led to some serious concern over how he’d cope covering for Gabriel Magalhães following the Brazilian’s hamstring surgery.

However, instead of becoming a weak spot in the team, the “extraordinary” defender, as dubbed by Robert Lewandowski, has stepped up in a massive way.

For example, aside from a minor mistake early on in the first leg against Real Madrid, he was simply sensational. Moreover, after William Saliba’s mistake that led to a goal in the second leg, there is a strong argument that he was the better centre-back of the pair.

Then again, last night, while the Frenchman made a costly mistake, he was near-enough faultless, scoring a goal, making some impressive tackles and earning himself an 8/10 match rating from journalist Tom Canton, which was more than justified by his statistics.

For example, in 98 minutes of action, he scored, made six clearances, won 100% of his duels, blocked two shots, made one tackle, lost the ball just seven times despite taking 135 touches, completed 115 passes, was accurate with two of three long balls, and was even successful in 100% of his dribbles.

Minutes

98′

Expected Goals

0.04

Goals

1

Clearances

6

Blocked Shos

2

Tackles

1

Dribbled Past

0

Duels (Won)

2 (2)

Lost Possession

7

Touches

135

Passing Accuracy

115/120 (96%)

Long Balls (Accurate)

3 (2)

Shots on Target

1

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (1)

Fouls

0

Ultimately, Kiwior has transformed from a player fans were worried about starting into one who’s outshining Saliba and becoming an increasing fan favourite for the no-nonsense way he’s going about his job – if that doesn’t remind you of Xhaka’s transformation, we don’t know what will.

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