All posts by z3u9t.icu

What a performance it was from new Manchester City signing Omar Marmoush against Newcastle United. The Premier League champions thrashed Eddie Howe’s side 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium, with the Egyptian attacker getting a scintillating hattrick.

Marmoush scored his first goal in the 19th minute, and by the 33rd, he had three goals.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt man starred, helping his new club to an important win against a top-four rival. Simon Bajkowski, chief Manchester City writer for The Manchester Evening News, was certainly complimentary of Marmoush. He gave him a 9/10 rating and described his performance as ‘explosive’.

However, it was not just the new City number seven who was a standout player. There were plenty of impressive performances against Newcastle.

City’s standout players vs. Newcastle

Another of the best City players against the Magpies was someone who Pep Guardiola described as a “mini Rodri”, new signing Nico Gonzalez. The former FC Porto man looked right at home in their midfield.

The stats from the game, courtesy of Sofascore, show just how well the midfielder performed. He had 114 touches and completed 97% of his passes, with the influence from his time in Barcelona’s La Masia academy shining through. He also won four out of four ground duels.

Attacking midfielder James McAtee also impressed for the Citizens against Newcastle. Despite minimal opportunities in 2024/25, he has, on the whole, made it count. McAtee has scored six times this season, which includes two Premier League goals in his last three appearances.

It was an excellent performance against the Magpies from two of City’s new January signings and an academy player. One of their summer signings, Savinho, was a standout out, too. He has been superb since moving to the Etihad Stadium.

Savinho’s current market value

The Brazil international was on fire against Howe’s side. He registered an assist, creating the third goal for Marmoush, as well as completing three dribbles and winning six ground duels. It was a fantastic performance to build on his exploits this season.

Savinho has certainly impressed Guardiola during his time at City so far. After their most recent outing at the Etihad Stadium, he explained that he “wasn’t expecting this super impact” from the Brazilian to start his career in England.

The 20-year-old has managed two goals and nine assists in 33 appearances this season across all competitions. Of those, one goal and seven assists have come in the Premier League. It has been a superb start to life in the English top flight.

The City winger has got some impressive stats on Sofascore, too. In just 15 starts in the Premier League, Savinho has created ten big chances and averages 1.6 key passes per game. He is a creative machine.

Stat

Number

Starts

15

Expected goals

3.54xG

Assists

7

Big chances created

10

Key passes per game

1.6

Dribbles completed per game

2.1

Dribble success rate per game

58%

Signing the “electric” winger, as football analyst Ben Mattinson described him, has been a superb investment so far from the Citizens. They brought him into the club in the summer from French side Troyes, a sister club of City, for a fee of £30.8m.

It might be unsurprising to hear that, since his move, the Brazilian’s value has shot up. He is now deemed to be worth around £98m by CIES Football Observatory. That is an incredible rise of 218% from what they paid for him just months ago.

It does not seem like the 20-year-old will slow down any time soon, either. He has hit the ground running in the Premier League, and surely will only get better.

It seems unlikely City will sell him, at least for a while, but Savinho has been worth every penny so far, and will surely only increase in value.

Man City's 70-touch star was just as good as Marmoush vs Newcastle

Man City secured a wonderful victory against Newcastle in the Premier League.

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 16, 2025

Everton are primed for a new era at Bramley Moore.

The bygone Farhad Moshiri chapter is concluded, the page turned. David Moyes’ return and seemingly agreeable start with The Friedkin Group, who have granted him significant transfer powers, beyond that of his predecessors at Everton, suggests real progress could be on the cards.

While Moyes will be looking to add some quality to his first team, he’ll also need to part ways with certain peripheral members.

Everton won’t want to lose too many though. Memories of Anthony Gordon’s start to life at the club, and subsequent departure, are still fresh, with no love lost between the respective parties.

Anthony Gordon's rise at Everton

Cashing in on up-and-coming stars is plainly a part of football. But it can hurt. During Moyes’ first stint as Goodison Park boss, Everton reluctantly sold 18-year-old academy talent Wayne Rooney to Manchester United for £27m.

Likewise, Gordon’s acrimonious force-out in January 2023 was a bitter pill to swallow. Newcastle signed the talented winger for £45m when he was in the fledgling phase of his career, and he is jeered upon every miserable return to his former stomping ground.

After all, the 23-year-old had been at Finch Farm since his formative years, playing regularly for the U18s and U21s before being handed his professional debut by Sam Allardyce – in the Europa League – when he was only 16 years old.

He made 78 appearances for Everton’s first team, scoring just seven goals and providing only eight assists. Still, he was a “frightening” prospect, as hailed by Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard, and there’s a lingering sense he had plenty more to offer to the club which birthed him.

However, sometimes cashing in is the right thing to do. Indeed, Everton hit gold selling one exciting up-and-comer in 2017, banking the biggest amount of them all.

Everton struck gold with their original Anthony Gordon

Everton’s woes over the past several seasons, skirting close to the dreaded drop zone, are not a by-product of selling one talented young centre-back, even though his sale back in 2016 was a poignant thing.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

And though he’s since forged an illustrious career, a deeper dive corroborates the claim it was the right thing.

John Stones wasn’t a member of Everton’s respected academy, instead signed from Barnsley for just £3m in 2013, when he was only 18 years old.

He’d taken prodigious steps onto the senior stage in the Championship, featuring 22 times in the first half of the 2012/13 season before his move to Merseyside, but had to bide his time until making his name among the seniors.

Curiously, it was Moyes who welcomed him to Everton in the first place.

There’s no question the Scottish tactician has an eye for a top talent, for Stones went on to perform 95 times for Everton before leaving at the tender age of 22.

The money offered by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City was simply irresistible. City, in the nascent phase of their rebuilding process under the renowned Spaniard, snapped Stones up for a jaw-dropping £50m fee, which made him the most expensive defender in English history.

In just three years, Everton made an incredible £47m profit on a young defender who has since lived up to the hype but has simultaneously been blighted, incessantly, by injury problems.

Remarkably, the 30-year-old is playing out his ninth year with the Citizens and has never hit 30 Premier League appearances in a single campaign.

When considering the 1,567% profit that the Blues banked for this young defender, it’s hard to claim it was a terrible loss, especially when they stayed afloat in the immediate aftermath.

24/25

11 (6)

2

0

23/24*

16 (12)

1

0

22/23*

23 (21)

2

2

21/22*

14 (12)

1

0

20/21*

22 (22)

4

0

19/20

16 (12)

0

0

18/19*

24 (20)

0

0

17/18*

18 (16)

0

0

16/17

27 (23)

0

0

Of course, Stones has won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, and a host of further major honours besides, but Everton must be pretty pleased with their business when looking back, even though Stones was described by Three Lions teammate Ezri Konsa last year as a “world-class” player. At his best, for sure, this is true.

It could have been different. In 2015, one year before Stones moved to Manchester, Everton rejected a transfer request from the young star when Chelsea were looking to snap him up.

Late Everton chairman Bill Kenwright rebuffed three official bids for the Englishman, whose head had been turned, with the third totalling £30m. This proved to be good business since City came calling with even more moneyed words one year later.

In a way, this makes Stones the original Gordon, who also forced his way out of Merseyside. Though Gordon is one of the most talented wingers in the Premier League, he’s hardly missed by his former fanbase.

Given Gordon admitted over eight years after Stones’ sale that a move to Stamford Bridge was “quite close” before he eventually signed for Newcastle, further similarities can be drawn.

Everton cashed in at the perfect time. Stones is a wonderful footballer but his injury problems throughout his career would have seen his stock fall, had he stayed put.

Indeed, the three campaigns following Stones’ sale before the 2016/17 term still hold the record finishes (7th, 8th and 8th) since 2013/14, Roberto Martinez’s maiden season.

Everton might have been wasteful spenders for most of the Moshiri era, but this was one deal that proved worthwhile, with investment turned back toward the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Idrissa Gueye, and Ashley Williams, who was initially an able replacement, and much cheaper at that.

He's now playing like Haaland: Everton must regret selling 19-goal star

Everton never got the best out of this star when he was still situated at Goodison Park.

ByKelan Sarson Mar 3, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is under threat of losing his job at N17 after an underwhelming Premier League campaign, blighted by injuries to key players in his Spurs squad, with a trophy-winning boss now said to be enticed by the prospect of replacing him.

Tottenham identify managerial targets to succeed Ange Postecoglou

The Lilywhites quite simply need to overturn their 1-0 first-leg deficit against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League this evening, with a successful campaign in Europe coming as Postecoglou’s only chance to win any silverware this term.

Tottenham make contact with "very versatile" manager to replace Postecoglou

Spurs are preparing for a hypothetical life without their current boss.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 13, 2025

The north Londoners languish 13th in the Premier League table and are out of both domestic cups, but now key players have returned to the fold, supporters and critics alike are expecting Postecoglou to swiftly turn the club’s fortunes around.

Spurs’ form has taken a slight upward trajectory in the past few weeks. However, this will need to continue, or Tottenham’s under-fire head coach will continue to expect calls for his departure before the end of 2024/2025.

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Chelsea (away)

April 2nd

Southampton (home)

April 5th

Wolves (away)

April 12th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Chairman Daniel Levy, according to various reports, has already identified a few key managerial targets if he does decide to hand Postecoglou his P45.

Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi is attracting interest from Spurs, according to rumours from Italy, while it is also believed that Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola’s representatives have received contact (GiveMeSport).

Both tacticians come as very interesting potential options, but one who is free and available for hire right now is ex-Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic.

The 42-year-old, who guided Dortmund to the Champions League final last season against Real Madrid, has also won multiple major trophies in Germany with his former club – but he’s currently a free agent awaiting his next move.

Terzic was a target for West Ham to replace Julen Lopetegui, before the Hammers eventually landed on Graham Potter, but Spurs are also registering an interest in the German.

Edin Terzic open to joining Tottenham with talks

According to a report by TEAMtalk today, the coach is enticed by the prospect of managing in the Premier League.

It is also believed that Terzic is also open to a conversation with Tottenham over joining them, but he is one of many candidates being considered by the club. Their manager hunt has already begun, as per TT, even if no final decision has been made on Postecoglou’s long-term future just yet.

Terzic deploys a 4-3-3 attacking formation, and has averaged an impressive 1.95 points per league game over his managerial career across 128 matches – including 75 victories.

“It’s incredible what Edin has achieved,” said Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke in 2024.

“Last year we were a whisker away from the Bundesliga title. Now we’re going to Wembley, in the Champions League final. What more do you want in two and a half years?

“Edin is someone who works meticulously and extremely hard for the club. As a coach, it’s a bit more difficult to get to the final with BVB than with Paris. That’s absolutely clear. But he did it. It’s a great achievement.”

Manchester United are believed to have made contact over the signing of a “very talented” attacker in the summer transfer window, following a new update.

Amorim eyeing ideal summer signings for Man Utd

The Red Devils’ season has been a massive disappointment, although there is still a chance for them to rescue it by winning the Europa League in the coming months, which feels possible.

For Ruben Amorim, it has been a baptism of fire since replacing Erik ten Hag as United’s head coach, but he has remained resolute in not moving away from his philosophy. It has become clear that the 40-year-old needs to sign players who could excel in his style of play this summer, and plenty of individuals are being linked with moves to Old Trafford.

Victor Osimhen has been mentioned as an exciting target for the Red Devils, with the Napoli striker potentially coming in as part of a swap deal that sees Rasmus Hojlund head the other way at the end of the season. That would feel like an upgrade, with all due respect to the latter.

Meanwhile, United are also said to be in talks to sign Lille striker Jonathan David, who could be a brilliant alternative to Osimhen. The Canadian has once again been one of Ligue 1’s star players this season, scoring 14 goals in the competition, as well as netting seven times in the Champions League.

Man Utd make move to sign "very talented" £25m ace

According to SporTime [via United In Focus], Manchester United want to sign Olympiacos teenager Charalampos Kostoulas this summer.

It is claimed that the Red Devils have contacted the Greek giants over the signing of the attacking starlet, as they look to snap him up ahead of next season.

Charalampos Kostoulas for Olympiacos.

Kostoulas, expected to cost £25m as per the report, may not yet be the world-renowned player that United supporters crave in the next window, but he is a young player who could become a star as the years pass.

Only 17, the striker has already made 33 appearances for Olympiakos, scoring six goals, with eight of those matches coming in the Europa League. He has also been lauded as a “very talented” player by analyst Ben Mattinson, and “one of the biggest” talents by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

United have struggled in attack all season long, with Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scoring a combined six goals in the Premier League, so additions are clearly needed there.

While Kostoulas wouldn’t be coming in as an immediate starter for Amorim’s side, the fact that he is already so comfortable playing senior football, including in European competition, highlights his maturity.

In talks: Man Utd want to sign striker in swap deal for £51m flop – report

What a signing he could be for the Red Devils.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 23, 2025

United have been known for signing incredible young talent and turning them into superstars down the years, from Cristiano Ronaldo to Wayne Rooney, and Kostoulas could be seen as the next Old Trafford attacking hero.

Fulham have now made their first move to sign a “special” player on a free transfer for manager Marco Silva, according to a new report.

Fulham’s summer transfer plans

It has been another impressive campaign for the Cottagers, as they remain firmly in the race to finish in a European spot. The Premier League side have nine games remaining in the top flight to secure European football for next season, but they also have the FA Cup, where success could see them into the Europa League.

Fulham considering move to sign £6m+ a year Premier League player for free

Fulham are among the Premier League teams chasing a soon to be free agent.

ByBrett Worthington Mar 6, 2025

Securing European football for next season would be a huge boost to Fulham, as not only will it increase their transfer budget for the summer, but it could also mean they have a better chance of retaining Silva, who has emerged as a top target for the Tottenham job should Ange Postecoglou be sacked.

In terms of transfers, it’s already been reported that Fulham are keeping a close eye on Tammy Abraham’s situation ahead of the summer, as he looks set to leave AS Roma, following a disappointing loan spell at AC Milan. However, they are not the only team from the Premier League interested in signing the former Chelsea striker.

As well as looking at adding to their attacking options, the Cottagers are also looking at improving their defence and are considering making an offer to Victor Lindelof, who looks set to become a free agent at the end of the campaign.

Fulham make move to sign "special" ace on free transfer

Lindelof is not the only player set to become a free agent who is on the club’s radar, as TBR Football report that Fulham have held talks over the signing of Angel Gomes, who is set to leave Lille at the end of the season.

The report states that the Cottagers have made Gomes a target for the summer, as they believe he would be the perfect fit for Silva and his system at Craven Cottage. However, Fulham are not the only team interested in signing the Englishman, as more than 10 clubs have held discussions about a move.

But Fulham are firmly in the mix to sign Gomes and have held talks of their own over a potential deal to London. The Cottagers also hope the potential arrival of the England international could help convince Silva to reject any approach that may come from Tottenham.

Apps

14

Starts

10

Minutes per game

53

Goals

1

Shots per game

0.6

Assists

1

Touches per game

30.7

Big chances created

4

Key passes per game

1.0

Passing accuracy per 90

20.6 (82%)

Balls recovered per 90

1.4

The 24-year-old, who has been dubbed “special” by French manager Jocelyn Gourvennec, struggled to make an impact at Manchester United, but his move to Lille has really helped his career.

The midfielder, who can also operate as a more advanced player, has scored 10 goals and recorded 19 assists in 134 games for the French side. This season, Gomes has found himself in and out of the team, so his impact in front of goal has been rather minimal, but this hasn’t put Fulham off, as they see him as someone who could be a real difference maker for Silva.

Manchester United retain a gravitational pull that is difficult for players to resist and Ruben Amorim is now hoping to take advantage of one key element in their pursuit of a clinical striker, per a report.

Man Utd look forward to Ruben Amorim's first summer window

The Premier League picture has been pretty bleak at Manchester United this term, but they could still snatch a Champions League slot for 2025/26 should they overcome all remaining obstacles between them and the Europa League title.

While continental football could be a determining factor regarding their business, Amorim will already be some way down the road in the hunt for new reinforcements.

According to reports, Club Brugge star Ardon Jashari is on the Red Devils’ radar as a potential alternative to Kobbie Mainoo, who has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford.

Middle to front appear to be the main areas set to change, and Sunderland’s Chris Rigg is viewed as a priority signing for Manchester United despite further interest from Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Man Utd star was ahead of Amad, but then Ten Hag sold him for just £15m

Manchester United may have made a huge mistake offloading one player in recent years.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 27, 2025

Of course, PSR regulations will have a big say in the level of business Amorim is able to conduct during the market period. INEOS aren’t going to be lavish in their spending either; there may need to be scope for some cheap deals to fill out the squad.

However, there will be room for one or two statement additions if reports are anything to go by, with Manchester United now set to pull on the heartstrings of one potential new recruit that is also attracting interest from Arsenal.

Man Utd could win race for £60m Red Devils fan Hugo Ekitike

According to The Mirror, Manchester United are in the mix to sign Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike and hold a potential vantage point over competitors Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham due to the fact the France Under-21 is a boyhood Red Devils supporter.

Valued at around £60 million, the talented forward could well be at the centre of a bidding war this summer, albeit it may be difficult for the Red Devils to stump up the cash needed for his signature without sales being made, the report claims. Elsewhere it is suggested that Arsenal have held early talks for Ekitike, although he supports Man Utd.

Labelled “one of the most in-form attackers in Europe” by prominent X personality Jacek Kulig, he has stepped into the void left by Omar Marmoush at Frankfurt and hasn’t looked back as they seek a place in the Champions League slots.

Hugo Ekitike key statistics in 2024/25 – Bundesliga

Goals

13

Expected Goals total

18.29

Shots

93

Shots on target

37

Chances created

36

Touches in opposition penalty area

159

Manchester United are in need of a spearhead in attack due to Rasmus Hojlund’s inconsistent nature and Joshua Zirkzee’s transition to a deeper role, and the fact they may hold an advantage in the race to sign Ekitike is exciting.

The task now for Amorim is to talk Ekitike into a move to Old Trafford, which shouldn’t be as difficult as first feared due to his lifelong admiration of the club. That doesn’t always translate to pen on paper, so there is plenty of work to be done before anything becomes official.

It may not be have been confirmed just yet, but Wolverhampton Wanderers can begin planning for life in the Premier League next season, having all but secured survival following Saturday’s win over Ipswich Town.

In truth, Vitor Pereira’s men had already looked rather comfortable heading into that trip to Portman Road, albeit with the visitors showing a few early signs of nerves after the in-form Liam Delap pounced to steer the Tractor Boys into the lead.

To their credit, however, the Old Gold did not wilt even despite falling behind, with Pablo Sarabia dragging his side level late on, before man of the moment Jorgen Strand Larsen completed the turnaround with his 11th league goal of the campaign.

With 12 points now separating the two sides, it would take a remarkable collapse for Wolves to cede ground now with just seven games left to play, with new boss Pereira having superbly steadied the ship after a rocky start to 2024/25 under Gary O’Neil.

The Portuguese coach will now need to be handed the appropriate tools to help build on this momentum next season, albeit with there no doubt fears that the Midlands side could be raided for many of their key individuals – just as they were with the likes of Matheus Nunes.

Why Matheus Nunes left Wolves

There was no doubt a great deal of excitement at Molineux following what was a then-club record deal to sign Nunes from Sporting CP in the summer of 2022, with the Portugal international having previously been described as “one of the best players in the world” by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, amid his sparkling Champions League form.

It’s fair to say that the Old Gold didn’t exactly witness a player of that ilk during the midfielder’s solitary season at the club, as he scored just twice and registered only two assists in 41 games in all competitions.

There were notable highlights – including his stunning strike against Chelsea in May 2023 – yet such performances were few and far between, with Express and Star journalist Liam Keen stating that he had some real “had peaks and troughs in a Wolves shirt”.

Indeed, Keen also noted that he felt that Nunes viewed things as being “too easy for him”, with that attitude playing its part in his inability to really get going for the club, prior to being poached by Guardiola and Manchester City on a £53m deal in 2023.

That move to the Etihad had come amid Nunes’ refusal to train with Wolves, as he looked to push through a move, with sporting director Matt Hobbs certainly not mincing his words when discussing that turbulent exit:

While Nunes did apologise, before stating that the “opportunity” to join City was one he “couldn’t let… pass by”, it marked a sour end to a disappointing end to his brief Wolves association.

Hopefully a similar scenario doesn’t occur this summer.

Wolves could now have their next Matheus Nunes

With Nunes out the door – as well as the likes of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho in recent times – there has since been a real rebuild in the midfield ranks at Molineux, with Pereira now relying on the Brazilian pairing of Joao Gomes and Andre.

The combative duo were praised as a “quality” partnership by pundit Danny Murphy last month, while they were also lauded by their manager following Saturday’s win over Kieran McKenna’s side, with the pair having been “very good again” after dominating the game in the centre of the park.

The hope will be that neither man departs at the end of the season, with Pereira having seemingly found a winning formula. One high-profile figure who could be in line for an exit, however, is Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Like Nunes before him, the long-serving wing-back is being touted for a marquee move away from the Midlands side, with a fee of around £50m having been mooted for the 23-year-old, amid interest from the likes of Manchester United.

Previously described as “one of the Premier League’s best players in 2024” by Sky Sports journalist Dougie Critchley, the Algerian sensation has enjoyed another solid season at Molineux, chalking up eight goals and assists in the top flight thus far.

Also dubbed an “incredible talent” by former boss O’Neil, the France-born defender is actually noted as a similar player to Nunes among their fellow full-backs in the league this season, as per FBref, with the City man having been transitioned into that role of late, amid Guardiola boldly outling that the 26-year-old is “not clever enough” to feature more centrally.

Non-penalty goals

0.00

0.11

Assists

0.29

0.18

Shot-creating actions

2.50

2.33

Pass completion

86.1%

84.4%

Progressive passes

4.04

3.35

Progressive carries

3.60

2.40

Successful take-ons

0.96

1.69

Touches in opposition box

3.68

2.54

Tackles

1.91

2.72

Interceptions

0.88

0.74

The pair are notably alike with regard to their willingness to get forward from the defensive berth on the flanks, as evidenced by their assist record and touches in the opposition box, with Ait-Nouri a particularly dazzling dribber, as shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90.

With the current Wolves man seemingly the superior figure defensively, showcasing his qualities and all-rounder, it is no surprise that has caught the attention of elite Premier League clubs, having proven a real bargain following his £9.5m switch from Angers.

Like Nunes, Ait-Nouri could represent another marquee sale for Fosun and the Old Gold, albeit with the fleet-footed wing-back able to look back upon a far more fruitful stint at Molinuex, in contrast to his former colleague.

More goals than Cunha: Wolves now plotting swoop to sign "superb" new star

He could replace Cunha…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 5, 2025

Premier League rivals Man City and Liverpool are now believed to be targeting a Chelsea “superstar” this summer, with an approach already made for him ahead of the first window which opens on June 1st.

Chelsea's main transfer plans for this summer

As per reliable journalist Simon Phillips, sharing a fresh update on Enzo Maresca and BlueCo’s transfer plans, there are three main positions which they’d like to strengthen before next season.

Chelsea hold internal talks over re-signing star who Mourinho sold for £17m

The ‘special one’ elected to part company.

3 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 23, 2025

Chelsea are thought to be after a new centre-back, winger and striker as their three main priorities, and could even look to reinforce a host of other areas throughout the squad as well, but this will depend on many factors – like Champions League qualification and player sales.

“Chelsea’s priority is a new striker, centre back, and a winger,” said Phillips, via his Substack.

“But not just that. After those three, Chelsea are also discussing signing a new left back (or a defender who can play left back), a second centre back to arrive as well as the priority one (could be a hybrid CB/LB), a new goalkeeper, and a versatile attacker.

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

“However, some of the latter will be Champions League-dependent as well as player sales-dependent.”

Their Club World Cup campaign may also be a crucial factor, as Maresca’s side are thought to be taking it very seriously with £100 million worth of prize money potentially on the line.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will most likely be looking to offload a host of players when the summer window opens, including the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Alfie Gilchrist, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, David Datro Fofana, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi and João Félix – who are all away from Stamford Bridge on loan and don’t appear to have a long-term future.

Trevoh Chalobah is also likely to leave Chelsea, after initially being allowed to join Crystal Palace on a temporary deal before Maresca and co activated his recall clause, and a few more current squad members could well join him as BlueCo look to raise funds.

Man City and Liverpool eyeing move for Chelsea star Cole Palmer

However, one player who Maresca won’t want to ship out the door is Chelsea forward Cole Palmer.

The England sensation was by some distance their Player of the Season last term, and despite a slight dip in performance level this campaign, Palmer remains one of their most crucial assets and a truly unstoppable force on his day.

His £42.5 million signing from City in 2023 was an absolute snip, but according to Phillips, Pep Guardiola’s side are actually eyeing a move to re-sign their former academy star.

As per the reporter, both Liverpool and City are targeting Palmer from Chelsea, with the latter even making an enquiry recently, even if it is unlikely that the Blues would even entertain letting him go.

The “superstar” forward, according to reports in Spain last year, could even cost as much as £165 million – so it appears Chelsea could price their man out of the market.

Tottenham Hotspur lost for the 19th time in the Premier League this season when they were hammered 5-1 by champions Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Spurs took a shock lead on Merseyside when Dominic Solanke found the back of the net with a brilliant header from James Maddison’s corner, but it was not a sign of things to come for Ange Postecoglou’s side in the game.

Defensive frailties were on display yet again for the Whites on a dismal afternoon at Anfield, as Liverpool had 25 shots on goal and seven efforts on target.

The Daily Mail recently reported that Postecoglou is ‘likely’ to move on from the club at the end of the season, and results like this will not do his chances of keeping his job any favours.

Tottenham’s manager cannot be spared any blame for the team’s poor form this term, because they have lost 19 matches in the division, but he has not been helped by the performances of some of the players on the pitch.

Spurs have an incredibly youthful squad, with the hope that they will develop and improve over time, and that was on display at Anfield, as Archie Gray struggled.

Why Archie Gray has struggled this season

Tottenham reportedly splashed out a fee of £30m to sign the 19-year-old midfielder from Leeds United last summer, and it has been a difficult year for the teenager.

Gray made his 24th appearance and 15th start of the Premier League season against Liverpool on Sunday, and he is still trying to establish where his best position on the pitch is.

It was his fourth start as a defensive midfielder, to go along with five starts at left-back, eight starts at right-back, and 19 starts at centre-back due to the injury issues Spurs have had in that area of the park.

Chalkboard

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

Gray, who played as a right-back typically for Leeds last season, has not had a settled position that he could make his own and deliver consistent performances in, which may be why his campaign has been fairly unimpressive on paper.

Appearances

24

Goals

0

Big chances created

0

Assists

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.0

Error led to shot

1

Error led to goal

1

Duel success rate

47%

As you can see in the table above, the England U21 international has failed to deliver much in the way of quality on or off the ball, with zero goal contributions and a below-average success rate in duels.

His first-half display against Liverpool before being withdrawn at the break was more of the same. Gray did not create any chances or register a shot on goal, and he only won one duel, whilst completing 80% of his attempted passes.

As you can see in the clip above, Ryan Gravenberch found it far too easy to hold off the midfielder to allow Alexis Mac Allister to fire in from range to put Liverpool 2-1 up.

It was a disappointing display from Gray, who is still learning and adjusting to Premier League football at the age of 19, but his fellow 19-year-old Lucas Bergval was even worse than him.

Why Lucas Bergval was even worse than Archie Gray

The teenage talent was selected alongside the Englishman for the trip to Anfield, leaving Spurs with a very young midfield despite having Yves Bissouma available and on the bench.

It was a difficult match for both Gray and Bergval, and that is reflected in their statistics, as the Swedish flop was even worse than the former Leeds man, notably taking fewer touches (43) than even goalkeeper Vicario (49).

Minutes

45

90

Pass accuracy

80%

72%

Dribbles completed

1/1

0/1

Possession lost

5x

13x

Dribbled past

0x

1x

Ground duels won

1/1

5/8

Interceptions

2

1

As you can see in the table above, the Sweden international was far more wasteful with the ball at his feet, completing a lower percentage of his passes, failing with his only attempted dribble, and losing the ball almost three times as much.

Bergval did win more duels than Gray but had a worse success rate and was dribbled past once, in what was a disappointing overall display from the youngster.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville went as far as to say that his efforts to clear the ball from a corner for Cody Gakpo’s goal were “appalling”, as his weak headed clearance fell straight to the Dutch forward inside the box.

Going to Anfield to face the champions is never an easy task, and it was a big ask from Postecoglou to put Gray and Bergval in midfield together without an experienced midfielder alongside them, as they only had James Maddison, who is an attacking player by nature, around them.

That resulted in a poor evening for both players and Spurs, who now have to prepare for a first-leg clash with Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday.

Tottenham cannot afford for their midfield to be as below-par as it was against Liverpool, as this is their last chance to win a trophy this season, and that is why Postecoglou must ruthlessly ditch Bergval from the starting XI for the clash with the Norwegian outfit.

Bissouma was an unused substitute against Liverpool on Sunday and may, now, be in contention to come back into the side after Gray and Bergval’s disappointing performances in the middle of the park.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion man has averaged 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game and won 61% of his duels in the Europa League so far this term, which suggests that he could provide some steel at the heart of the midfield on Thursday night.

Worth more than VDV: Spurs have struck gold on their "Swiss army knife"

The incredible talent will be a superstar for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 25, 2025

It is now down to Postecoglou to drop Bergval from the starting line-up in order to make room for Bissouma to come back into the team against Bodo/Glimt.

It’s fair to say West Bromwich Albion’s season hasn’t gone to plan in the Championship with Tony Mowbray axed after just 17 clashes back at the Hawthorns helm.

Losing the steady presence of Carlos Corberan abruptly has ultimately derailed the Baggies’ promotion push, leaving Mowbray with the tough task of picking up the pieces after the Spaniard walked away for a chance at Valencia.

Unfortunately, the 61-year-old would only pick up a meagre five victories from those 17 games, with the failed promotion chasers now after another new manager to freshen up the stale environment.

Marti Cifuentes has been the main name getting all the buzz, but the second-tier underperformers could now opt to appoint this left-field name instead of landing the Queens Park Rangers boss.

West Brom keen admirers of Cifuentes' alternative

Indeed, reports in recent days have suggested that talks have been held between the Baggies and the Hoops over a deal for Cifuentes, with West Brom clearly a fan of what the 42-year-old has managed to achieve to date at Loftus Road.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

But, he isn’t the only face being considered for the vacant job post, with journalist Darren Witcoop taking to X recently to confirm that the Championship side are also ‘admirers’ of current FC St. Pauli head coach Alexander Blessin.

Blessin took over the reins at the German giants from Fabian Hurzeler, with the 51-year-old perhaps following Hurzeler’s career path even more if he too takes the leap to relocate to England.

After all, when glancing at Blessin’s career achievements so far as a manager, he could actually be viewed as an upgrade on Cifuentes, meaning he might well become the main desired target if QPR aren’t willing to sanction a move.

Why Blessin could be an upgrade on Cifuentes

Before looking more in-depth at Blessin’s varied CV as a manager, there are a multitude of reasons as to why West Brom have cherry-picked Cifuentes as a candidate to replace Mowbray.

Last season saw the ex-Hammarby boss transform QPR’s fortunes on the pitch, with relegation looking nailed on at one point under the previous tenure of Gareth Ainsworth, only for Cifuentes to lift the once downtrodden Hoops all the way up to 18th and six points clear of the dreaded drop-zone.

But, the Spaniard has struggled at points this season to kick on, with a sobering 5-0 loss to an already promoted Burnley side more than kicking his side in the teeth last match.

Whilst Blessin has equally had to navigate choppy waters this campaign in the German top-flight (six points above the relegation zone), his overall resume as a manager to date does look slightly more impressive than his counterpart’s.

Most notably, the Stuttgart-born coach was an overwhelming success in Belgium with Royal Union Saint-Gilloise before the Bundesliga beckoned.

FC St. Pauli

33

9

7

17

Union Saint-Gilloise

58

36

12

10

Genoa

33

11

12

10

KV Oostende

65

26

11

28

RB Leipzig (U17s/U19s)

87

56

6

25

Away from some hiccups at his current employers, Blessin has largely been a success wherever he’s been managing all across Europe, with his celebrated 58-game stay at Union SG even seeing him lift the Belgian Cup.

Overall, the West Brom target has steered all of his teams to an impressive 138 victories from 276 career games. To add context, Cifuentes has a lesser 130 from a heftier 321 clashes.

With his expansive 3-5-2 set-up also potentially suiting the likes of wide man Tom Fellows, this might well be a match made in heaven if a move is signed off on, with the Baggies hopeful they can pick up their next Corberan-style figure shortly to put Mowbray’s dismal return firmly in the past.

Surprise Corberan repeat: West Brom can take big gamble by hiring 3-4-3 boss

West Brom are eyeing a deal for a Premier League coach who could be a Carlos Corberan repeat.

ByDan Emery Apr 24, 2025