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Everton have received a big boost in their efforts to sign an "outrageous" attacking target this summer, with the player believed to be open to the move.

Everton transfer news

The Blues continue to search for new signings ahead of the new Premier League season, with attacking reinforcements appearing to be a key point of focus. Almeria forward Largie Ramazani has emerged as an eye-catching target, being seen as an alternative option to Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto.

Meanwhile, a new midfielder is required after Everton suffered the blow of losing Amadou Onana to Aston Villa earlier in the transfer window. Colombia and Palmeiras and Richard Rios has been mentioned as a strong target for the Merseysiders, with the 24-year-old starting six times for his country at Copa America.

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has been linked with a switch to the Blues, too, with the Englishman potentially wanting a new challenge, in order to be more of a regular starter than he is at the Emirates. A loan move to Marseille does look on the cards, however, even though the transfer hasn't gone through yet, giving Sean Dyche a slight chance to hijack the move.

In what would be a shock deal, Everton have also been mentioned as possible suitors for former Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip, who is a free agent after departing Anfield at the end of last season, following eight years there. The 33-year-old may be hesitant to join, considering his Red past, but he is a hugely experienced figure who would add great squad depth at Goodison Park.

Everton boosted in pursuit of "outrageous" ace

According to a fresh report from TEAMtalk, Everton have now been boosted in their efforts to sign Ramazani this summer. The update claims that the 23-year-old "would be open" to joining the Blues "should they come in for him this summer", having shown interest in him during the January transfer window.

Ramazani would be such a strong signing for Everton before the new campaign gets underway, coming in as a young attacker with bags of potential. The Belgian chipped in with three goals and five assists in La Liga last season, which was a solid return considering his Almeria side eventually finished 19th in the table and suffered relegation, and he could thrive playing alongside superior footballers at Goodison.

Ramazani has been hailed as an "outrageous" talent by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also described him as "the mini-Vinicius", such is his pace and trickery out wide.

Forget Phillips: Everton could land their own Caicedo in £17m sensation

The Toffees could face competition from Manchester United for his signature.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 10, 2024

The fact that he can play on either wing and also in a central position means he would bring great versatility to Dyche's squad, giving them much-needed pace and unpredictability in the final third too. He has scored three times for Belgium's Under-21s in the past, appearing for four different teams at youth international level, and will be hoping a big move to England can push him on towards senior caps.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca admits Marc Guiu is a "bit unhappy" despite scoring a hat-trick in his side's 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers.

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• Chelsea thrash Shamrock Rovers
• Guiu scores hat-trick in 5-1 win
• Maresca says striker a "bit unhappy"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 18-year-old helped Chelsea end the Conference League group phase with a 100 per cent record as they thrashed the Irish side at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. The former Barcelona youngster has had to play second fiddle to Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku in the attacking pecking order. Now, head coach Maresca has commented on Guiu's situation at present, while praising his young side's efforts against Shamrock.

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  WHAT ENZO MARESCA SAID

  He told : "Marc is a bit unhappy as Nicolas [Jackson] and Christopher [Nkunku] are doing well. When you're a nine and another nine is doing well it is a matter of being questioned. It is important that they work hard day by day and then they get a chance."

  Maresca added: "Very happy with the performances and results. In these kind of games it is easy not to do. They showed how professional they are and this is the right way. Since we started we have tried to share minutes – tonight was for young players. Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George are still very young, but we are very happy with them."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Chelsea have gone from a side that were mocked for having such a huge squad of players this summer to a team challenging for the Premier League title and flying high in Europe. Even though Maresca has his team purring at present, keeping a lot of players happy is almost an impossible task. But if Guiu keeps firing in the goals, he will get more opportunities.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Guiu has made nine appearances in all competitions this season and five of those have been in the Conference League. He will hope to feature more regularly in Chelsea's other competitions this term.

The transfer window slams shut in less than two weeks, and while fans' attention has understandably turned back to the Premier League, some clubs still have a lot of work to do.

Manchester United are one of those sides, and while they've been quite active in terms of incomings, they are now trying to finalise a few outgoings.

One of the players Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co are supposedly looking to sell in the next nine days is Christian Eriksen, although it seems like they aren't going to get much for him.

In fact, the reported fee is so low that one of the club's midfield stars is currently worth more than ten times the supposed amount.

The latest on Eriksen

According to a recent report from Football Insider, two years after joining the club for free and signing a three-year contract, United are open to selling Eriksen before the window shuts next week.

The report claims the club put him up for sale due to his hefty £150k-per-week wages and because 'Ten Hag deemed him surplus to requirements' earlier this summer.

Unfortunately, due to his contract expiring next season and the fact that he's 32 years old and is earning so much, selling him could prove difficult. As such, the report has revealed that the Red Devils are willing to accept an offer as low as £5m to get him off the books.

He'll leave the club with 72 appearances, three goals and 13 assists to his name, and while he wasn't a world-beater at the Theatre of Dreams, he was a useful player who fulfilled the role given to him for a couple of years. That said, the tiny fee he'll generate for the club is over ten times lower than the recent valuation of one of his midfield teammates.

Bruno Fernandes valuation in 2024

Yes, the player in question is none other than club captain Bruno Fernandes, who joined the Red Devils from Portuguese giants Sporting CP in January 2020 for an initial fee of £47m.

However, his most recent valuation from Transfermarkt is significantly more than that, coming in at €70M, which converts to about £60m, or 12 times more than Eriksen could be sold for this summer.

Now, that might seem like a lot of money for a player who is set to turn 30 next month, but based on his performances at United, it's entirely justified.

For example, since moving to England, the midfield "genius", as dubbed by his manager, has made 235 appearances for the club, scoring 79 goals and providing 67 assists, meaning he has averaged a goal involvement once every 1.60 games.

A record like that would be impressive regardless of the era he was playing in, but the fact he has managed to maintain such a high level while the team around him has struggled in recent seasons is a testament to how great he is.

Moreover, since taking the captain's armband, he has shown that he can be a leader on the pitch, and while he may get stick for his body language here and there, his teammates clearly respect him.

Ultimately, while it's a lot of money, the valuation of Fernandes is entirely justified.

Forget Ugarte: Man Utd in contact over "engine" who'd be perfect for Mainoo

The hunt for a new midfield addition continues at Old Trafford…

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 20, 2024

Noni Madueke has staked his claim for a regular starting role under Enzo Maresca in recent weeks, starring in Chelsea’s mammoth victory over Wolves last weekend.

The 22-year-old registered a second-half hat-trick in the 6-2 win, producing his best display for the Blues since his move from PSV Eindhoven back in January 2023.

It comes just weeks after he was strongly touted with a move to join fellow Premier League side Newcastle United, with a deal reportedly going as far as the winger agreeing personal terms with the Magpies.

After his sensational performance, it’s highly unlikely that the Englishman will depart Stamford Bridge before Friday’s deadline, showcasing he still has the ability to be a key first-team member despite his lack of opportunities last season.

However, Madueke could be joined in West London by a plethora of players, with the Blues still working tirelessly to make new additions before the closure of the window.

Chelsea’s pursuit of Jadon Sancho

It’s safe to say Raheem Sterling’s time at Chelsea has been a disaster, with the former England international failing to justify his £50m fee that saw him join the club from Manchester City.

The 29-year-old, who is the club’s highest earner on a staggering £325k-per-week as per Capology, has been left out of Maresca’s Premier League squad for the 2024/25 campaign, signalling the end of his time in West London.

He’s previously been linked with a move to join Newcastle, but recent reports claim he could be involved in a potential swap deal that could see Jadon Sancho join the Blues from Manchester United.

The former Borussia Dortmund star spent the second half of last season back on loan at the Bundesliga side, but despite fixing his relationship with Erik ten Hag, he looks set for his own exit before the transfer deadline.

Sancho cost the Red Devils £73m back in 2021, but after just 12 goals in 82 appearances, he could be set to swap Old Trafford for Stamford Bridge.

However, given his lack of impact in Manchester, the Blues would be best to steer clear of any deal for the 24-year-old, potentially turning their attention to another player they’ve targeted in the past.

Why Chelsea should move for Bakayoko instead of Sancho

In previous months, the Blues have been linked with a move to repeat their Madueke capture with the signing of PSV’s Belgian winger Johan Bakayoko, after the youngster set the Eredivisie alight last season.

The 21-year-old registered 21 combined goals and assists in his 33 league appearances during 2023/24, prompting interest from Chelsea – with a £35m fee touted for his services.

He would be a much more valuable addition than Sancho, with Bakayoko blowing the Englishman out of the water in numerous key attacking aspects last season.

The “dangerous” forward, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, completed more progressive carries per 90, whilst achieving a higher take-on success rate – showcasing his ability to take the ball into attacking areas and beating the opposition.

He was also more of a goal threat than the United man, averaging over four times the amount of shots per 90, whilst averaging three times the number of efforts on target – potentially providing Maresca with added firepower in the final third.

Whilst a deal for Sancho would potentially see the club finally shift Sterling off the books, a move for Bakayoko would undoubtedly hand the club more quality in attacking areas.

After such erratic dealings in the market, it’s crucial the club identify the right players to take the club back to the heights they once achieved, with the Belgian having all of the qualities to succeed in the Premier League.

Not only would it allow the club to repeat the successful capture of Madueke, but the pair could also potentially form an excellent partnership at Stamford Bridge and lead Maresca's hunt for a top-four finish this season.

Madueke would love him: Chelsea looking at bargain Osimhen alternative

The Blues would welcome this talented forward instead of Osimhen…

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 26, 2024

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s dream of leading Wrexham into Europe has been dealt a blow, with the EFL opposing contentious plans.

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• Welsh League Cup invites speculated on
• Swansea, Cardiff & Newport also involved
• FA to discuss the matter early in 2025

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Dragons – along with Swansea, Cardiff and Newport – thought that a backdoor into continental competition had been found. Despite plying their trade in the English Football League, invitations to rejoin the Welsh League Cup have been speculated on.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Success in that competition would see the victors qualify for the Conference League, potentially bringing European football back to places such as SToK Racecourse. Wrexham, with Hollywood co-owners at the helm, were understandably keen to explore that proposition.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The is, however, reporting that the Welsh Cup plans are being met with opposition from the EFL. That organisation is said to have written to the FA outlining why it would be well within its rights to turn down any requests.

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  TELL ME MORE

  The EFL believes qualification for Europe from Welsh clubs would raise integrity issues, as they would be able to generate greater revenue than a number of English rivals. It would also make scheduling difficult in what is an already packed fixture list.

Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap can be an 'important player' for England, according to Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.

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• Maresca talks up Delap potential
• Ipswich striker has impressed
• England opportunity could await

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  With Chelsea due to face Ipswich in the Premier League on Monday evening, Maresca was asked about Delap, having worked with the emerging talent during a previous job as an assistant coach at Manchester City. The Italian spoke highly of the 21-year-old, who has impressed in an otherwise struggling Ipswich side since making the permanent switch during the summer.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Delap's six Premier League goals so far this season account for nearly 40% of Ipswich's team total and have repaid the faith shown in him with a £20 million ($25m) transfer fee – so much so, the club could potentially turn a profit even in the event of relegation – there are already links with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and a swift return to Manchester City. He has been capped at every England age group since Under-16s and appears well placed to step into a senior Three Lions squad without a natural successor to Harry Kane.

• WHAT ENZO MARESCA SAID

  "Liam is a fantastic player, and also for his age. I think we spent one year together [at Manchester City] and I think he scored 22, 24 goals and he is a very good striker," Maresca told reporters at a press conference.

  "In England they have many like him and they have many good players, good strikers and he’s working hard off the ball, on the ball, he understands the game and can score goals. And also because of his age, I think he can be an important player for England."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The next opportunity for Delap to get a maiden senior England call-up will be in March when 2026 World Cup qualification begins with back-to-back home games against Albania and Latvia. It will also be the start of the Thomas Tuchel era, making it doubly likely there will be opportunities for new players to work their way into contention. Before then, however, attention will be on dragging Ipswich out of danger amid a tough fixture list against exclusively top half sides throughout January.

The Arsenal team of a few years ago and the one of today are practically unrecognisable.

Mikel Arteta's leadership and Edu Gaspar's signings have transformed the perennial underachievers into one of the best teams in Europe, with only the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli remaining from the teams picked by former manager Unai Emery.

In fact, the North Londoners have such an elite group of players that four of them were named in this year's Ballon d'Or shortlist, which would've been a laughable concept a few years ago.

That said, one of the old guard sold by Arteta in recent years has also found himself on the list of nominees, and there are likely still portions of the fanbase who wish he was still donning Arsenal's red and white.

Arsenal's Ballon d'Or nominees

So, it might not be the Premier League title, but the fact Arsenal have four first teams on this year's Ballon d'Or nominees list is seriously impressive.

The first name that will surprise nobody is Saka, who enjoyed another stellar campaign last year, racking up a frankly absurd haul of 20 goals and 14 assists in just 47 games and then playing a pivotal role in England's run to the European Championship final in the summer.

Joining the Englishman on the list for a second year running is club captain Martin Odegaard, who took another step up both in his on-pitch performances and leadership abilities, ending the year with 11 goals and 11 assists.

Now, the following two players have been nominated for the very first time in their careers this year, although we'd be shocked if they didn't become regulars going forward.

The first is French superstar William Saliba, who just seems to go from strength to strength and played an essential role in helping the Gunners keep an incredible 18 clean sheets last season, which unsurprisingly saw them concede the fewest goals to boot.

The last Arsenal player to make the cut is also the club's most expensive signing ever, the £105m man, Declan Rice.

The former West Ham United captain had an awful lot of pressure on his shoulders due to the price tag going into last season, but remarkably, he didn't play like it, and perhaps one of the best things you can say about his campaign is that nobody mentioned the price after the first few games, unless they were saying the Hammers should have asked for more.

In all, Arteta is fortunate to have so many of his players nominated for the Ballon d'Or this year, and it shows how far the club have come, but had he not sold a certain star last summer, he may well have had five nominees to pick from.

Granit Xhaka's 23/24

Of course, the former player in question had to be Granit Xhaka.

He may have caused his fair share of controversy during his time at Arsenal, but he ultimately left last summer with the love and support of most Arsenal fans and a raucous ovation from the Emirates on the final day of the season.

The Swiss international moved from North London to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen for around £21m, and while there was an expectation that he would do well at the club, nobody quite expected him to play as well as he did.

In all, the 31-year-old "leader", as dubbed by football writer Craig King, made 50 appearances last season, scoring four goals and providing two assists, as Xabi Alonso's side sprung a surprise title challenge and ended up completing an undefeated domestic double.

In fact, the only game the team, and therefore Xhaka, lost last season was the Europa League final, when they were stunned by an incredible performance from Italian outfit Atalanta.

Unsurprisingly, the former Gunners ace's spectacular season has seen him nominated for the Ballon d'Or alongside some of his old teammates, and on top of that, his valuation has increased to around €44m, according to Football Transfers, which converts to about £37m.

Ultimately, while many Arsenal fans were sad to see Xhaka leave last summer, you'd be hard-pressed to find a fan who isn't happy for him today, and if his departure allowed the club to spend that little bit more on Rice, then it was an exit that has worked out for all involved.

Arsenal flop was sold for just £4m, now he's outscoring Kai Havertz

The talented number nine couldn’t make it work in North London.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 5, 2024

Phil Parkinson has challenged his Wrexham players to bounce back from their Shrewsbury Town loss when they face League One leaders Birmingham City.

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• Wrexham lose 2-1 at rivals Shrewsbury
• League One leaders Birmingham next
• Parkinson sends warning to squad

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After Wrexham's 2-1 loss to lowly Shrewsbury on Thursday, manager Parkinson wants a response from his players over the next week in training. He said the Red Dragons need to "regroup" after not being good enough in their cross-border defeat but they can right those wrongs when Birmingham visit Stok Cae Ras in a huge contest at the top end of League One.

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  WHAT PHIL PARKINSON SAID

  He said, via The Leader: "It’s not often that we haven't performed to the level I expect, but that is one of those nights. I am reflecting on the performance and not enough players played well. You've got to have seven or eight players at the top of their game to win in a derby game and we didn't have enough who performed how we know they can. We have got to take criticism together firmly on the chin because it is deserved and come out responding with a week’s training ready for the Birmingham game. It hurts a lot but we have just got to regroup. When we win, we all take the plaudits together and when we lose, we're going to have to take the disappointment together and we will do, and we'll come out ready to respond next week."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Table-toppers Birmingham and second-placed Wycombe Wanderers both won on Saturday to go five and three points clear of Wrexham respectively. With City having two games in hand, this may be a must-win match for Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds' League One promotion-chasers.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Wrexham host Birmingham next Thursday before rounding off January at home to mid-table Stevenage Town.

A West Ham United mainstay is now being targeted in a "surprise" transfer plan, with one 2023/2024 title-winning team considering opening imminent talks to sign the player.

West Ham's summer transfer window detailed with more deals still possible

With the UK summer transfer window closed, Julen Lopetegui will be pretty happy over how the Irons backed him – as nine major signings arrived for around £120 million in total.

West Ham offer once £110,000-a-week Egan alternative a two-year contract

The east Londoners are in the market for free agent centre-backs.

By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 6, 2024

Centre-back Max Kilman, winger Crysencio Summerville, centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, forward Niclas Fullkrug, Brazilian starlet Luis Guilherme, right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, midfielder Guido Rodriguez, backup goalkeeper Wes Foderingham and midfielder Carlos Soler put pen to paper on moves to the London Stadium, with technical director Tim Steidten bolstering an array of positions.

Many players also departed West Ham, freeing up squad space and balancing the books, with Nayef Aguerd, Maxwel Cornet and James Ward-Prowse all sealing last-minute loan moves on deadline day.

There is also a chance West Ham could conduct further business beyond the window, as the free agent market is still viable for them until the Premier League squad submission deadline this Friday.

Ex-Sheffield United defender John Egan has held talks to join Lopetegui on a free deal, while CaughtOffside claimed last week that former Liverpool defender Joel Matip received a two-year contract offer from West Ham.

There is also the matter of the Turkish transfer window, which remains open until Friday, so West Ham could theoretically agree more exits.

Galatasaray hatch "surprise" plan to sign West Ham star Emerson

According to Sabah, Super Lig champions Galatasaray have West Ham defender Emerson Palmieri on their list heading into their deadline day.

The former Chelsea defender, who is apparently valued at around £10 million, has started all three of Lopetegui's opening league games in charge of West Ham, but the Turkish giants could look to tempt him abroad.

Sabah claim that Galatasaray are hatching a "surprise" plan to move for West Ham's Emerson, and they're considering opening imminent talks with just 48 hours to go until their window shuts.

Okan Buruk is after a new left-back, with Galatasaray also eyeing Tottenham defender Ben Davies for the role, according to other reports.

“Emerson is a very good player, a top player," said teammate Lucas Paqueta on the Italian's ability.

"I’m very happy to play with him because he understands me and he knows me and when I have the ball I understand him. It’s so easy to play with him and I’m so happy."

Lucy Bronze wants to see Chelsea become 'Invincibles' in 2024-25, with an unbeaten season and four major trophies being targeted.

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• Just two points dropped in the league so far
• Positive progress made in cup competitions
• England international looking for clean sweep

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blues are on course to hit that target following a 1-0 victory over London rivals Arsenal that has kept them at the top of the WSL table. Just two points have been dropped through 12 games, with a surprising 1-1 draw with struggling Leicester their undoing.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sonia Bompastor’s side are seven points clear of the chasing pack, while also remaining in contention for Champions League, League Cup and FA Cup honours in the women’s game. Bronze believes all of those honours are within reach.

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  WHAT LUCY BRONZE SAID

  The ambitious England international defender told of collective goals in west London: "We're trying to win four trophies and that's difficult. We wanted to get a good stretch of points [to be in a good position] when we're in the thick of it in March, April and May. It's difficult [then] and you might drop points but we're in a good place now and we're on the up. We want to go the season unbeaten.

  "There's records out there to break. Chelsea's a team that has always wanted to do that. We've never clinched the Champions League. We've got five league titles in a row but [going] unbeaten [would be] unbelievable. We're on a good road to doing that."

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Chelsea have previously enjoyed two unbeaten WSL campaigns, in 2017-18 and 2019-20, during an era of domestic dominance under current USWNT coach Emma Hayes. Arsenal are the only English side to have avoided defeat in all competitions across a single season, with that quadruple-winning feat achieved back in 2006-07.