All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United’s main worries this summer will lie in keeping a firm grip on Alexander Isak, away from pursuing any transfer targets of their own.

Staggeringly, it’s even being reported now that the Magpies have placed a mammoth £200m price tag above the lethal Swede’s head, as they attempt to scare off suitors such as Liverpool and Arsenal circling.

The Reds have flexed their financial muscle recently by landing Florian Wirtz, and with Isak just fresh off a mightily impressive 27 strikes in all competitions last season, a superpower out there, such as Arne Slot’s reigning Premier League champions, could be tempted to bid such a ludicrous amount down the line.

Newcastle looking at £26m attacker

Eddie Howe’s men are already eyeing up plenty of striker targets, with the Magpies’ numbers in this department short even as Isak remains put for the time being, with Callum Wilson out of contract and young William Osula not yet relied upon too frequently. So, who could be lined up?

Well, according to reports coming out of Italy, Newcastle could soon enter the fray to land imposing Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic.

The report states that the Serbian goal machine is not interested in relocating to Turkey to link up with Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce. Instead, Vlahovic might well wait it out for Newcastle, with his price tag all the way down at a reasonable £26m.

Vlahovic wouldn’t displace Isak on his arrival, but he would be able to offer Howe’s Toon another fantastic option up top, especially as Champions League action returns to St. James’ Park.

Nottingham Forest are also named as an onlooker in other reports, but if Newcastle were to land the 6-foot-3 menace, they could be about to land a star who possesses shades of Aleksander Mitrovic’s intimidating, yet potent game.

How Vlahovic possesses shades of Mitrovic

It’s been some time since Mitrovic donned Toon black and white, with the now even more lethal 30-year-old plying his trade at St James’ Park when the club were disappointingly marooned in the Championship, before moving back up to being Premier League regulars.

He scored a promising 17 strikes from 72 Magpies appearances, but he would really spark into life on the books of Fulham directly after his Newcastle spell, with a mighty 111 goals coming his way in total at Craven Cottage.

Juventus

143

56

14

Fiorentina

108

49

8

Serbia

36

14

0

Partizan

27

3

1

Amazingly, Vlahovic is only five off matching Mitrovic’s blistering Cottagers total when glancing at his numbers strutting his stuff for both Juventus and Fiorentina, with an additional 22 assists also sticking out.

That’s led to shouts by journalist Siavoush Fallahi that the Belgrade-born attacker is “world-class”, with even more to come from the 25-year-old, perhaps, if he were to embark on a fresh adventure on Tyneside.

The similarities between Vlahovic and Mitrovic don’t just end with their shared fearlessness in front of goal, however, with both attackers also unafraid to utilise their lofty figures if needed, as seen in the Turin-based menace heading home the last-gasp effort captured above.

Whilst Mitrovic has a reputation for being a towering machine – much like the Toon target – he is actually just shorter than Vlahovic at 6-foot-2, with Vlahovic’s ability to throw himself about giving Howe another unique option in attack, away from Isak’s opposing strengths.

Previously dubbed as an “absolute monster” in this regard by Italian football expert Carlo Garganese, Newcastle could be about to win themselves a golden steal if they pick up Vlahovic, particularly if they fancy themselves a more imposing attacker in the same mould as Mitrovic.

After all, the Juventus number nine used to be worth a fee around the £70m mark, meaning the Toon must power ahead soon to land him for such a cut-price.

Even better than Joao Pedro: Newcastle open talks to sign £43m "finisher"

Newcastle are hoping to sign a forward in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 21, 2025

According to Sky Sports, Celtic could move to sign a 24-year-old winger who “wins games on his own” alongside their interest in centre-forward target Mathias Kvistgaarden.

Celtic expected to go back in for Brondby striker Kvistgaarden

There has already been plenty of talk about Celtic’s summer transfer business ahead of the 2025/26 campaign after another successful Scottish Premiership triumph.

Brendan Rodgers’ side ended up comfortably beating Rangers to the league title, but over the coming months, there could be plenty of incomings and outgoings at Parkhead.

Dream Engels replacement: Celtic could land "sensational" £21m star

Should Arne Engels leave Celtic this summer, Brendan Rodgers may have identified a “superb” replacement, who he has previously worked with down south.

May 23, 2025

One summer signing already sealed is Kieran Tierney’s return to Glasgow, penning a pre-contract agreement from Arsenal when his contract expires.

There has also been plenty of speculation about a new centre-forward, with Kvistgaarden a long-term target at Celtic Park. Talking about his future, Kvistgaarden recently hinted that he is “ready” for the next challenge of this career with a move away from Brondby.

“I think I’m ready. I’ve made my mark at Brondby and in the Superliga, so I’m ready to take the next step. I don’t think that’s the goal for me – to remain and play with Brondby next season. I can say that without it being wrong.”

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has stated that Celtic are ‘expected’ to go back in with a move for Kvistgaarden this summer, ‘with the Swedish club sticking to their £10m-plus price tag’. However, it isn’t just Kvistgaarden who the Hoops have their eye on in the final third.

Celtic could sign 24 y/o Antwerp winger Balikwisha

According to Joseph for Sky Sports, another potential summer singing is Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

The 24-year-old has impressed the Hoops’ recruitment team and, as a result, Celtic could make a move for Balikwisha ahead of the 25/26 campaign.

Sarpsborg winger Sondre Orjasaeter is another of interest to the club, although at this stage, Celtic have a plethora of wide men on the books. Jota, Daizen Maeda, Hyun-jun Yang, James Forrest, Nicolas Kuhn, Luis Palma and Marco Tilio are all under contract, however, they are open to offers for Palma and Tilio.

Games

139

Goals

28

Assists

17

Red cards

1

Minutes played

9,909

Trophies won

3

Should Balikwisha arrive in Scotland, he will provide Rodgers with an option on the left, right and as a second striker, with the Belgian attacker someone who has been called a player “who can win games on his own”.

After signing for Antwerp from Standard Liege in 2021, Balikwisha has been a regular but has struggled with injuries in 24/25, something that Celtic may be wary about, should they go on to evaulate a transfer.

Glasgow Rangers supporters still do not know who the club’s next head coach is going to be, as Ibrox chiefs continue to run the rule over a number of candidates.

It has been reported by the Daily Mail that Andrew Cavenagh is set for face-to-face talks, alongside Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart at Rangers, with managers, including Davide Ancelotti and Russell Martin.

The same report, though, added that Steven Gerrard, who won the Scottish Premiership with the Gers in the 2020/21 campaign, is still in the running for the job.

Part of what made the English manager’s team at Ibrox so successful was that they were able to successfully recruit domestic talent, including central midfielder Glen Kamara.

Why Glen Kamara was a key signing for Steven Gerrard

The Finland international, who came through the Arsenal academy, made his big breakthrough in senior football with Dundee in the Premiership, playing 64 games in 18 months at Dens Park.

Rangers swooped to sign him for £50k in the January window of 2019, as his deal was due to expire that summer, and it was a move that was later described as the “steal of the century” by Scott Arfield.

His 64 appearances for Dundee meant that Gerrard was bringing in a proven Premiership performer who could hit the ground running in the Premiership as an impact signing, rather than needing time as either a young player or as someone who was not used to Scottish football.

Kamara went on to play 193 games for Rangers, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists, before being sold to Leeds United for £5m in 2023.

He was a key signing for Gerrard, though, because his ability to hit the ground running allowed him to be a star from the get-go, and he went on to play a significant role in the title-winning side, starting 28 of the 38 league games and completing 91% of his attempted passes.

Rangers, and potentially Gerrard if he gets the job for a second time, could repeat that masterclass by swooping for another Dundee star this summer.

Rangers have held talks to sign Dundee star

According to Daily Record reporter Scott Burns, Rangers have held talks over a deal to sign Dundee right wing-back Josh Mulligan, who is out of contract, in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Light Blues have explored a move to land the 22-year-old ace, although they face competition from Charlton Athletic, but have put talks on hold for now until their managerial pursuit comes to an end.

Whilst talks are on hold for the defender, who was dubbed a future Scotland international by Kai Watson, the club should look to pursue this further as soon as possible because he could be Glen Kamara 2.0.

Why Josh Mulligan could be Glen Kamara 2.0

The versatile Scottish ace, who can play as a wing-back or as a central midfielder, as outlined by Watson, could be a repeat of the masterclass that Gerrard played with Kamara because he is a proven Premiership performer with time ahead of him to develop and improve.

Mulligan, who was described as a “Rolls-Royce” and as a “powerful” player by Simon Ferry, is only 22 but has already racked up 122 appearances for Dundee, 63 of which have come in the Premiership.

Appearances

34

Big chances created

9

Assists

5

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.5

Duels won per game

5.2

Error led to shot

0

Error led to goal

0

As you can see in the table above, the young defender offered solid defensive work, with zero errors that directly led to shots or goals, whilst also providing a creative outlet down the right flank.

These statistics show that Mulligan is a solid and reliable Premiership performer, despite his young age, in both his work in and out of possession, as he can step in to make vital tackles and interceptions without making many mistakes, and has an impact in the final third.

This means that the Ranger transfer target could follow in Kamara’s footsteps as a proven Premiership star coming to Ibrox directly from Dundee to hit the ground running in Glasgow.

Mulligan could make an instant impact on the pitch for the next manager, given his performances for Dundee in the division this season, and that is why he could be an excellent, and bargain on a free transfer, addition to the squad.

Ryan Kent 2.0: Rangers in strong position to sign "outstanding" star

Rangers are in a strong position to sign a star who could be their next Ryan Kent.

ByDan Emery May 28, 2025

Celtic played their final away game of the Scottish Premiership season on Wednesday night and secured an emphatic 5-1 victory over Aberdeen.

Brendan Rodgers named a much-changed side and got the win thanks to goals from Maik Nawrocki, Hyun-jun Yang, Luke McCowan, Johnny Kenny, and Adam Idah.

It was a night for the rarely-seen Celtic players, including the likes of Viljami Sinisalo and Paulo Bernardo, and Nawrocki is certainly one of those who grasped his chance.

Why Rodgers should be impressed by Nawrocki

The Polish defender made just his third start of the Premiership campaign and caught the eye with an impressive display at the heart of the defence.

Playing on his favoured right side for the first time this term, Nawrocki completed an eye-catching 130 of his 136 attempted passes on the night and only lost possession nine times in total, as well as scoring the opener from a corner.

Defensively, the former Legia Warsaw star made five clearances, two blocks, and two interceptions to keep Aberdeen at bay, including one huge sliding block when facing a one-on-one in the box in the second half.

Chalkboard

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

Rodgers should, therefore, have been impressed by his combination of composed play in possession and stoic defensive work, but the manager should have been encouraged by Johnny Kenny’s display in the centre-forward position.

Why Johnny Kenny is now unsellable

The young marksman had not had many opportunities to impress in the second half of the season, with just six substitute appearances in the league, and his lack of game time may have led to question marks over his future heading into the summer transfer window.

However, the 21-year-old striker was finally given a chance to show his quality from the start and showed why he should be unsellable this summer for the Hoops, with a performance that shows that he can be part of the first-team squad next season.

Celtic need another number nine option to compete with Idah and Daizen Maeda, and Kenny’s showing against Aberdeen suggests that he can be that man.

Minutes

70

Shots on target

2

Goals

1

Passes completed

8/11

Duels won

3/4

Aerial duels won

3/3

As you can see in the table above, the Ireland U21 international scored with one of his two shots on target, with a well-placed header from McCowan’s cross, and showcased his physicality by winning all of his aerial duels.

Kenny scored 13 goals in 19 starts in the Irish Premier Division in 2024 on loan at Shamrock Rovers, and has now shown a glimpse of the kind of goalscoring quality he can bring to Celtic.

He is an exciting young striker with the physical qualities, as shown by his statistics against Aberdeen, and the goalscoring record to develop into a fine option for Rodgers, as proven by his performance on Wednesday.

Dream Jota replacement: Celtic line up move for "wonderful" £10m-rated star

Celtic could land a dream replacement for the injured Jota by signing this star.

ByDan Emery May 14, 2025

Therefore, the club should not look to move him on this summer, despite his general lack of game time in the last few months, and the manager should, instead, make him a regular player off the bench and occasionally from the start.

Can Celtic move three points closer to securing a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title?

If the Hoops beat Kilmarnock on Saturday, and then Rangers are beaten by Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday, the Celts will have rubber-stamped a record-equalling 55th Scottish top division title, as well as their 13th in just 14 seasons.

This is actually despite the fact the Bhoys have lost three of their last six Premiership games, having lost only two of the previous 46, most recently beaten 1-0 at St Johnstone last weekend, their first defeat against the side bottom of the table since November 2005.

So, as Brendan Rodgers’ side seek to get back to winning ways, with one eye on a Scottish Cup semi-final date with the Saints at Hampden on Easter Sunday, the boss should make changes to his starting lineup, unleashing his “on fire” wide-man.

Nicolas Kühn's season of two halves

Nicolas Kühn was absolutely outstanding during the first half of this season, very much on course to be named Celtic’s player of the season, with David Irvine of the National even suggesting he was being considered by Julian Nagelsmann for a call-up to the German national team.

However, he has not been able to sustain this form, as the table below outlines.

Nicolas Kühn 2024/25 season statistics Statistics Kühn in 2024 Kühn in 2025

Appearances 25 19 Minutes 1,713 1,242 Goals 14 4 Minutes per goal 122 311 Assists 11 3

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As shown, Kühn’s statistics have fallen off a cliff since New Year’s Day, scoring only twice in 15 outings since bagging a brace against St Mirren on 5 January.

The German has started each of the Hoops’ last eight fixtures, hooked at half-time at McDiarmid Park last Sunday, and we believe he should begin Saturday’s meeting with Killie on the bench, considering this major downturn in form.

The Celtic star who should replace Kuhn

Yang Hyun-jun was introduced as a substitute at the interval in Perth last weekend, replacing Kühn as part of a double alteration, but the South Korean deserves to be in from the start this time.

Yang joined Celtic from hometown club Gangwon FC for a reported fee of £2m two summers ago, but made very little impact in Glasgow until recently, as the table below outlines.

Appearances

45

16

Minutes

1,753

651

Goals

1

5

Minutes per goal

1,753

130

Assists

4

5

As laid out, since the turn of the year, Yang’s statistics have exponentially improved, scoring five times, most notably bagging a brace at St Mirren Park during a 5-2 victory, with Korean journalist Joel Kim describing his compatriot as “on fire”.

After this win in Paisley, Rodgers credited Yang’s girlfriend for his recent resurgence, telling the BBC that she has been in the country for “a little while”, adding that he’s had a chat with the translator and will do everything in his power to ensure she can stay for a bit longer.

When compared to Kühn, Yang is certainly the man in form, hence why the South Korean deserves to start against Kilmarnock on Saturday to see what he can do at the top end of the pitch in place of the faltering left-footed forward.

Rarely-seen Celtic flop is fast becoming their new James McCarthy

The rarely-seen Celtic flop could end up becoming the new James McCarthy at Parkhead.

ByDan Emery Apr 10, 2025

Strikers have captured the hearts of supporters over the years at Chelsea, but none more so than Didier Drogba given his time as a player at Stamford Bridge.

The Ivorian joined the Blues under José Mourinho back in the summer of 2004, with not many knowing what to expect after he arrived from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille.

However, he would provide the goods on a consistent basis, notching a total of 147 goals over two separate spells – spanning a total of nine years in West London.

Such a record has cemented him in the club’s history forever, currently sitting as the Blues’ second-highest Premier League goalscorer behind the iconic Frank Lampard.

Fast-forward to the present day, boss Enzo Maresca has the opportunity to land another version of the Ivorian with a move for a star currently plying his trade in France’s top division.

Chelsea plot summer move for new talisman

According to French journalist Mohamed Toubache, Chelsea are keen on a summer move to land Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha to improve the current forward department.

The 22-year-old, who’s currently plying his trade for the Blues’ sister club, has notched a total of 12 goals in all competitions this campaign, in what has been a breakout year as a professional.

He’s in his second year at the French outfit after joining from Sturm Graz in the summer of 2023 but has enjoyed a rapid development over the last couple of months.

Whilst no fee has been touted for his signature over the off-season, it’s likely the Dutchman could demand a decent fee given his form in Ligue 1 throughout 2024/25.

Emegha may not be many supporters’ first choice to improve the current situation, but when comparing him to the other options on the table, he’s managed to match or better them in numerous key areas.

How Emegha compares to other strikers linked with Chelsea

Although the summer transfer window is yet to open, Chelsea have wasted no time in targeting a new talisman to aid Maresca’s first-team squad next season.

Matheus Cunha is just one player linked with a move to West London, with the Brazilian stating his desire to leave Wolves this summer to reach the next level in his career.

The 25-year-old also has admirers from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, with a real battle facing the sides upon the opening of the window.

Dušan Vlahović is another player on the club’s shortlist, once again appearing on the radar after previously being of interest back in the January transfer window.

However, despite the previous names mentioned, Emegha, who’s previously been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has managed to produce stats way beyond the levels of the pair.

Games played

22

26

23

Goals & assists

14

17

11

Goals & assists per 90

0.7

0.7

0.6

Shot-on-target accuracy

58%

41%

35%

Pass accuracy

79%

70%

69%

Aerials won

45%

31%

44%

The Dutchman may have registered slightly fewer combined goals and assists than Cunha, but has matched him for contributions per 90 – highlighting the threat he poses in attacking areas.

He’s managed to notch a higher shot-on-target accuracy than the pair, showcasing his accuracy when the ball falls his way, offering Maresca the dangerman he’s been hunting for.

Emegha has also completed more of the passes he’s attempted this campaign, whilst also coming out on top in more aerial battles, demonstrating his all-round ability – something which they’ve desperately been craving.

His 6”4 frame coupled with his pace and ability to run the channels makes him a similar build to Drogba, potentially being the club’s next version of the fan-favourite.

Should the hierarchy complete a deal for his services this summer, it would undoubtedly be an exciting addition, with the Blues getting themselves a future icon should he get anywhere close to the Ivorian’s level after his own move from Ligue 1 over 20 years ago.

Maresca must unleash Chelsea star who's the "key to unlocking Cole Palmer"

Chelsea face Spurs in a huge London derby at Stamford Bridge

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 3, 2025

West Bromwich Albion will travel to Norwich City up next in the Championship hopeful of another positive result to ensure their grip on a playoff spot becomes tighter.

The battle for sixth spot could well heat up across some crunch games to follow in the second tier, with Tony Mowbray’s Baggies currently occupying the coveted position, but the EFL’s elite league is known for its many thrilling twists and turns.

If the playoffs are clinched, West Brom will hope their luck is in, having slipped up on their last two appearances in the Championship’s unpredictable lottery.

Amazingly, their playoff misfire during the 2018/19 campaign occurred even with Harvey Barnes in the Baggies camp, who has since become a Premier League star away from the Hawthorns.

Harvey Barnes' impressive rise since leaving West Brom

West Brom has been home to many rising stars over the years on loan, with Romelu Lukaku once lining up for the West Midlands club during the infancy of his playing days.

Barnes has a similar story to the lethal Belgian, with the now Newcastle United winger entertaining Baggies supporters for one short, but sweet season, even if promotion ultimately evaded his loan side.

The 27-year-old attacker fired home an impressive nine strikes from 28 appearances for Albion, alongside also picking up eight assists as his new employers very nearly jumped up to the Premier League.

Whilst West Brom had to make do with staying put in the second tier, Barnes managed to leap up to the top-flight on his own and never looked back, with the Magpies winger now up to a stunning 75 goal contributions in the Premier League from 190 overall outings.

So, who will inspire the Baggies to a play-off place this time around?

West Brom's new version of Barnes

West Brom haven’t exactly been the most free-flowing team to watch this season, with a mammoth 18 draws next to their name reinforcing their ability to grind out a result if needed, on top of the fact they’ve only scored a meagre 48 strikes from 38 games.

But, regardless of this, Tom Fellows has still managed to stand out as a full-throttle option on the left wing, with the homegrown gem subsequently morphing into his side’s next Barnes.

A dazzling fleet-footed winger, there are plenty of similarities between the two with their ability to drive forward with the ball in a positive fashion catching the eye of the Hawthorns masses.

Games played

37

26

Goals scored

2

9

Assists

11

6

Big chances missed

6

6

Bg chances created

10

10

Looking at the table above, Fellows matches Barnes’ electric output in terms of big chances missed and big chances created, with a whopping 11 assists next to his name actually bettering the 27-year-old’s assist count by five.

Only two goal contributions off matching his counterpart’s overall loan numbers at the Hawthorns, the “unbelievable” talent – as he’s been lauded by Baggies teammate Karlan Grant previously – will hope he also can follow Barnes’ upward trajectory by making it in the top-flight soon, potentially with Mowbray’s men.

Heartbreakingly, much like Barnes, Fellows could also just leave West Brom behind in pursuit of bigger and better things, with Everton reportedly keen admirers of the England U21 international.

The blistering winger’s long-term future in the West Midlands could all rest on whether promotion is sealed or not, therefore, with the 21-year-old perhaps the spark that’s needed to break his club’s playoff hoodoo.

West Brom must rue losing amazing loan star who's now outperforming Fellows

This former West Bromwich Albion loanee has come on leaps and bounds since his days at the Hawthorns.

ByKelan Sarson Mar 19, 2025

Rightly or wrongly, it has become clear what the transfer approach now is at Chelsea under the Todd Boehly regime – youth.

Gone are the days of signing the likes of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly, the Blues now appear intent on scouring the globe for the best young talents, with the aim of achieving long-term ambitions while also enjoying short-term success.

Remarkably, the oldest outfield player to have featured for the west London side this season is Tosin Adarabioyo, aged just 27, with it clear that the club are now prioritising potential over experience when it comes to their transfer dealings.

The Stamford Bridge outfit appear to be leading the way when it comes to planning for the future, a fact showcased by the signings of Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with the South American duo set to belatedly arrive in England this summer.

It could well become the norm for Blues supporters to have to wait to see marquee acquisitions like the teenage pair in action, with that patience set to also be required following the latest capture of Geovany Quenda.

The latest on Chelsea's move for Quenda

Reports at the tail-end of the January window suggested that Manchester United were looking at signing the Portuguese sensation this summer, with Ruben Amorim keen on reuniting with his compatriot after handing the young winger his debut earlier in the campaign.

Almost out of nowhere, however, it was Boehly and co who secretly pounced to prise the 17-year-old from Sporting CP, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano breaking the story on Thursday night that Quenda is set to sign for the Blues.

As per The Athletic, the Sporting academy graduate has been signed for a fee of around €50m (£42m), although he won’t actually join Enzo Maresca’s ranks until 2026, instead remaining in Lisbon for the entirety of next season.

As per Romano, a key feature in Chelsea’s ability to win the race for his signature was the fact that they view him as an out and out forward, rather than a wing-back – a role he would likely have had to play had he reunited with Amorim at Old Trafford.

All the signs point to Quenda proving worth the wait, with the fleet-footed speedster having already been called up by his county at senior level, while registering ten goal involvements in 44 games for his current side.

Stat (*per game)

Record

Games

26

Goals

1

Big chances missed

4

Assists

4

Big chances created

10

Key passes*

1.9

Pass accuracy*

82%

Successful dribbles*

1.2

Possession lost*

12.6x

That said, neither Quenda – nor the likes of Estevao – will necessarily be able to just stroll into Maresca’s side on the flanks, with a certain Noni Madueke likely to have a thing or two to say about that.

Chelsea have struck gold on their attacking "monster"

It could be argued that one area of the pitch Chelsea don’t desperately need to strengthen is on the flanks, with Maresca already boasting the likes of Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho and Madueke, while Cole Palmer can also slot in on the right flank when required.

Market Movers

Indeed, while he is currently sidelined with injury, Madueke had largely made that right-hand side his own in the early months of the campaign, with the Englishman registering ten goals and assists in just 23 league games.

Signed from PSV Eindhoven on a £29m deal back in January 2023, the one-time Tottenham Hotspur academy star hasn’t always been the go-to man in attack, although, after a fine start to 2024/25, it had looked like he’d “pretty much nailed that position down”, according to talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy.

Also described as “one of Chelsea’s most dangerous players” by Cundy, it would be fair to say that Chelsea were dealt a blow when Madueke was struck down by injury, having now missed the last three league games.

Set to return after the international break, the 23-year-old had forced his way into the England reckoning in the Autumn due to his standout showings, offering a genuine rival to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka on the right wing.

Much like his fellow left-footer, Saka, the Chelsea man is such a menace due to his ball-carrying prowess, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 3% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries, as well as in the top 5% for touches in the attacking penalty area, per 90.

A constant threat in the final third, it is no surprise that Madueke – who was dubbed a “mentality monster” by private coach, Saul Isaksson-Hurst – has seen his valuation soar of late, with CIES Football Observatory noting that he could now be worth as much as £77m.

That is not only a significant increase on what the Blues paid for him over two years ago, but it is also millions more than the £42m fee dished out on Quenda, a player CIES deem to be worth around £18m.

As such, while excitement will be rife over the eventual arrivals of Estevao and Quenda, the Stamford Bridge side shouldn’t ignore what the likes of Madueke are already producing under Maresca’s watch.

Chelsea already signed a bigger star than Quenda in "world-class talent"

Chelsea have reportedly pounced to sign Sporting CP sensation, Geovany Quenda, ahead of their Premier League rivals

ByRobbie Walls Mar 14, 2025

Sky Sports pundit and Gunners legend Paul Merson is convinced that Arsenal are serious candidates to sign a big-name player in what would be a very surprising move.

Arsenal forced to wait for new striker after January transfer window ends

Manager Mikel Arteta saw his side fall short in a late £40 million January bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins (David Ornstein), and they were linked with a plethora of other high-profile centre-forwards throughout the winter transfer window.

What Newcastle are now demanding for Isak with Arsenal handed £75m discount

There are discrepancies over his value.

6 ByEmilio Galantini Feb 8, 2025

However, despite their best efforts, interim Arsenal sporting director Jason Ayto ended the window minus a new number nine, or any major incoming for that matter, with the north Londoners now dealt another shortage in the attacking third.

Leicester City (away)

February 15th

West Ham (home)

February 22nd

Nottingham Forest (away)

February 26th

Man United (away)

March 9th

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Gabriel Martinelli has been ruled out for over a month after suffering a hamstring strain, with the Brazilian joining Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus on the treatment table and leaving Arteta even more bereft of quality forwards ahead of crucial Premier League fixtures.

These injury blows highlight the need for Arsenal to bring in more attacking quality this summer, as they hope to mount another challenge for domestic glory next season in the event they cannot catch Liverpool in this year’s title race.

Arsenal tipped to sign Tottenham legend Harry Kane

Some reports suggest that Arsenal are already laying the groundwork on a summer move for Benjamin Sesko, while Newcastle United star Alexander Isak is Arteta’s dream striker target.

However, Merson has now suggested a far more left-field name – Tottenham legend and Bayern Munich superstar Harry Kane. The 31-year-old has been flying ever since making the move to Germany, recently becoming the quickest player to reach 50 Bundesliga goals and smashing Erling Haaland’s record in the process.

England’s all-time top goalscorer also boasts 72 goals in 73 appearances for Bayern across all competitions, with reliable media sources reporting that Kane’s contract will include a £64 million release clause active from next January.

Merson is convinced that Arsenal could look to trigger Kane’s release clause, making a Sol Campbell comparison and stating he wouldn’t be surprised if the Spurs icon did end up on the other side of north London.

“Arsenal will buy him,” said Merson on Sky. “Why not? £64m, why not. Sol Campbell did [make the move]. People will go ‘oh he’s this age and that age’ but Arsenal need now.

“If Arsenal haven’t won the League, you’ve got to take a chance. You’ve got to take a chance, buy someone that’s proven. I wouldn’t be surprised, and when you’re Harry Kane, and you’ve been told you can go for £64m, there’s only a couple of teams who could buy him.

“Maybe Tottenham will buy him back, but he’ll have to win something at Bayern Munich to go back to Tottenham. If you’ve not won anything at Bayern Munich, you’re not going back to Tottenham to win nothing.”

Having already agreed a deal to sign Jaka Bijol, Leeds United are now reportedly keen to solve their left-back problem by signing a Champions League-level defender.

Leeds discover Premier League opener

The chaos of the transfer window isn’t the only thing stealing the headlines this week. The Premier League fixtures have officially been announced and Leeds now know where they’ll be and when at the most important stages of their top-flight return.

Opening the season at Elland Road against Everton, Leeds will then face their first top six side of the season when they travel to Arsenal, before Newcastle United at home rounds off a tough start.

If the Whites do find themselves in a relegation scrap, meanwhile, then games against Sunderland in March and Burnley in one of their final fixtures in May could prove to be all-important in their battle to survive.

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Alas, the 49ers have known the challenge that lies ahead for some time now and have been making moves away from the pitch in the hope of building Daniel Farke a side capable of avoiding the dropzone.

The first to arrive on that front looks set to be Bijol. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, all documents are signed and sealed for the defender to complete his move from Udinese this summer and become Leeds’ second signing back in the Premier League after Lukas Nmecha.

After Nmecha and Bijol, however, Leeds are still not done on the transfer front. Yet to solve their left-back problem, reports are now suggesting that the Whites are keen to sign a Champions League-level solution.

Leeds keen to sign Gudmundsson

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds are now keen to sign Gabriel Gudmundsson from LOSC Lille this summer. The Swedish left-back would instantly solve Farke’s biggest problem area with Firpo set to leave and Sam Byram also heading for the exit door to leave the German without a viable option down that side of his backline.

Whilst it remains to be seen how much Lyon demand to sell their defender this summer, Gudmundsson hasn’t hesitated to share his own verdict about his future now that he’s into the final year of his contract, telling reporters: “I’m very likely to leave. It will be a very interesting summer.”

Minutes

1,785

2,616

Assists

0

10

Tackles Won per 90

1.26

1.17

Ball Recoveries per 90

4.19

3.92

Whilst the 26 year-old would not replace Firpo’s attacking output, he would provide a better option defensively and that’s arguably more important in the Premier League.

What’s more, the Swede’s experience of playing Champions League football for Lille last season, which included games against Real Madrid and Liverpool, means that he would likely take no time to adjust to the level required in the Premier League.