Whilst Chelsea fans won’t fully be on board with Enzo Maresca all of the time, it has been evident this season in patches that the Stamford Bridge side are showing some signs of improvement under the ex-Leicester City manager.

Indeed, under the former guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, the Blues had to stomach a sixth-place finish come the end of the 2023/24 season, with Maresca steering his team to fifth in the overall rankings at the moment with an ambition to break into the top four.

Still, it’s fair to say the West London outfit are a work in progress when contrasted with their former Premier League title-winning glories, with one new face already being lined up to join the ranks this approaching summer to enhance the Blues.

Chelsea want to sign "one of the best players in Europe"

Much of the transfer chatter surrounding Chelsea in recent weeks has revolved around two of the Premier League’s finest young players.

Indeed, reports suggest that the Blues want to sign Ipswich forward Liam Delap and Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen.

Transfer Focus

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

Not just content with raiding England for the best young talent, Todd Boehly and Co may also look towards Serie A.

Indeed, as per reports from Spain, a whole host of European giants are now looking to land Como star Nico Paz, with his ex-employers in Real Madrid holding a buy-back option of £7.7m if activated this year.

This won’t deter Maresca’s men, however, who are also named as another suitor looking at the explosive attacking midfielder, alongside further interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Paris St. Germain.

How Paz possesses shades of Lampard

Recently hailed as “one of the best young players in Europe” by football social media account SCOUTED, Chelsea will hope they can land the up-and-coming 20-year-old to boost their attacking options, away from over-relying on faces such as Cole Palmer in the number ten role.

Moreover, Paz even possesses shades of Frank Lampard’s terrifying attacking game, strutting his stuff for Cesc Fabregas’ Como, meaning the promising Spaniard could take to the Premier League well on his potential arrival.

Before going on further about Paz’s electric campaign in Italy to date, it’s worth reminding everyone how much of an attacking threat Lampard was during his celebrated Stamford Bridge stay.

The now-retired 46-year-old would go on to bag a startling 211 strikes for his much-loved Blues, adding in a further 147 assists along the way from 648 outings.

Paz will have to play out of his skin to ever reach this bumper total if a move to England came to fruition, but there are signs from his overall attacking game at Como now that he could take the Premier League by storm by picking up assists and goals aplenty.

Indeed, the slick 6 foot 1 attacker has certainly had a breakout season in the senior game after regularly showing off his quality in Madrid youth circles, leading to all this frenzied interest popping up from Chelsea and beyond.

Paz’s Serie A numbers for Como (24/25)
Stat – per 90 mins*	Paz
Games played	30
Games started	25
Goals scored	6
Assists	7
Shots*	3.1
Big chances missed	5
Big chances created	9
Total duels won*	5.4
Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the table above, some similarities to Lampard already begin to stick out from Paz’s blistering numbers for the season, with both the 20-year-old and the current Coventry City manager in his prime content at testing the opposition goalkeeper with many efforts on goal during a contest.

Moreover, Paz also has the firepower to find the back of the net and assist teammates away from merely looking lively, with 13 goal contributions tallied up from 25 Serie A starts, more than piquing the interest of Maresca and Co.

It’s that ability to find the net with regularity from midfield that evokes the most memories of Lampard, with Paz notably scoring five of his league goals over a spread of nine matches throughout the middle stages of the campaign. If he’s doing that aged 20, just imagine the numbers he could generate in his prime.

The Italian occupying the Stamford Bridge dugout will hope Paz can come in and be an instant success with the 45-year-old already getting the best out of some of the youngsters at his disposal, as seen in academy product Tyrique George netting versus Fulham last match.

Further, Lampard himself was only a wide-eyed prospect when he entered the building back in 2001, with Paz hopeful he can be a top star in the years to follow if a switch takes place.

Top 2% for dribbling: Chelsea now keen on signing "monstrous" £80m PL star

The Blues have registered their interest in one of the Premier League’s standout players this season.

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Dominic Lund

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Glasgow Rangers head into the final Old Firm clash of the season with nothing but pride at stake.

The same was said about the two previous matches against Celtic in the Premiership since the start of January, and the Light Blues won both. Indeed, the 3-0 and 3–2 victories are arguably the highlights of an otherwise dismal season that will see the club finish trophyless for the second time in three seasons.

Could there be light at the end of the tunnel for the Ibrox side, however? As it appears as though the potential takeover of the club by the 49ers Enterprises is nearing completion.

Key members of the US consortium were given a tour of Ibrox during the week, with Andrew Cavenagh, Leeds United chairman, Paraag Marathe and 49ers director Raminder Dhadwal all being shown around the stadium.

This could be the jolt the club needs to emerge from their recent malaise and start challenging Celtic for domestic supremacy once again.

A new permanent manager is top of the priority list heading into the summer. That’s for certain. Once this decision has been made, building a squad capable of winning trophies will be vital this summer.

The club have been linked with a few players already, even though there are still a few weeks left until the transfer window opens. One of those targets could prove to be the next Alan Hutton.

Alan Hutton’s Rangers statistics

Since Hutton departed Ibrox in 2008, only Nathan Patterson has come close to becoming the next academy right-back to turn into a first-team star.

The Scot made his debut for the club during the 2002/03 season, but it wasn’t until Alex McLeish began unleashing him on a regular basis two years later that his development properly began.

Indeed, the defender made 12 appearances that term, and it would have been more had he not suffered a broken leg against Kilmarnock in February. This ruled him out of the successful league title conclusion, but he was back to his best the following season.

Three appearances in the Champions League gave him experience of playing against the top players in Europe, and during the 2007/08 season, he looked the part as Rangers drew 0-0 with Barcelona at Ibrox.

By then, his performances were beginning to turn heads, and it was clear that Hutton would be moving onto bigger and better things sooner rather than later.

In January 2008, Tottenham Hotspur made a bid of around £9m for the Scot and this was too good to turn down.

It stood as the club’s record sale until Patterson joined Everton 14 years later. Hutton’s attacking abilities were often on show at Ibrox, but he could defend well, too, that’s for sure.

Bringing in a player of that ilk would certainly boost the Glasgow side next season…

Rangers search for new signings

Much will depend on just how much money the new manager will have to spend this summer, as this could dictate his transfer strategy. Splashing millions on big-name imports hasn’t worked out well for the Gers in recent years. Could this point to a new direction this year?

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from the Rangers Review earlier this month, the club are showing interest in signing Dundee starlet Josh Mulligan.

Taking to X, journalist Joshua Barrie said: “Rangers are interested in Dundee’s Josh Mulligan. 22-yo is out of contract at Dens this summer and on the club’s radar.”

The Gers have already secured the services of Lyall Cameron on a pre-contract agreement. Could Mulligan be the next bright Scottish talent to make the move to Glasgow?

With European football and the chance of winning trophies, it is a move that should see the versatile player continue his excellent development.

James Tavernier doesn’t have long left at the club, and by signing Mulligan, the Ibrox outfit may unearth their next Hutton.

Why Rangers should sign Josh Mulligan

Mulligan has impressed for a Dundee side who have struggled throughout the majority of the 2024/25 campaign. At the time of writing, they currently occupy tenth place in the Premiership table.

Five assists in 36 matches is a decent tally, especially for someone still learning after every single match.

Kai Watson, a Scottish analyst and scout, lavished plenty of praise on Mulligan amid the reported interest from the Glasgow side, saying: “Been a fan of Josh Mulligan for a while now and think signing him on a free would be smart business for Rangers.

“An aggressive, high-energy wingback/CM that’s consistently improving technically and in the final third. Future Scotland international for me.”

High praise indeed, and there would be no better place than Ibrox for the young player to further showcase his potential.

2024/25 (so far)

36

0

5

2023/24

23

1

0

2022/23

42

2

5

2021/22

37

6

2

Like Hutton, the Dundee man offers plenty going forward. Across his 30 top-flight matches this season, the 22-year-old has created nine big chances, averages one key pass and one successful dribble per match.

He might not score or assist as often as Tavernier, but Mulligan gets into the final third regularly, providing plenty of support for those higher up the pitch.

Defensively, the Scot wins 5.2 total duels per game along with making 1.9 tackles, 1.5 clearances and recovering 4.7 balls per match in the Scottish top flight this term.

As a long-term heir to Tavernier, signing Mulligan on a free transfer makes perfect sense; that much is certain. By doing so, they will be bringing in a highly motivated, intelligent and versatile player who can perform in a plethora of positions on the pitch.

All of this without even spending a penny. Getting this deal done sooner rather than later might be crucial, as there could be more clubs interested as the weeks go by.

It will be a step in the right direction, securing the services of another homegrown player, as this will be vital for European squad quotas next season.

Their new Morelos: Rangers could sign a "special" Scotland international

With the 49ers set to takeover Rangers this summer, could their 1st signing be a “special” young striker who could be the Gers’ next Alfredo Morelos?

ByBen Gray May 1, 2025

Manchester United are now ready to trigger the release clause to sign an “incredible” midfielder, having recently held talks over a deal, according to a report.

Man Utd searching for a playmaker

While Bruno Fernandes is enjoying an impressive campaign on a personal level, picking up 17 goals and 18 assists in all competitions, few other players have contributed to Man United’s attacking output.

The Red Devils have looked particularly devoid of ideas in the Premier League, having created 59 big chances throughout the campaign, which is just the 13th highest number in the division and below the likes of Fulham, Brentford and Crystal Palace.

As such, it is clear that Ruben Amorim needs a new creative spark in midfield, and work has started to bring in a new number 10, with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha edging closer towards completing a move to Old Trafford.

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United are also leading the race for Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki, who could be available for the bargain fee of £30m this summer, amid the French club’s ongoing financial issues.

There have been suggestions that Man Utd could be willing to take a punt on Franco Mastantuono too, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of the 17-year-old.

According to a report from TyC Sports (via Sport Witness), INEOS and Man Utd are now ready to trigger the €45m (£38m) release clause in Mastantuono’s River Plate contract, having recently held talks with the Argentine club.

However, rather than shelling out £38m outright, the Red Devils want to pay in installments, and it is unclear whether River Plate would be willing to agree to a deal of that nature.

Moreover, the teenager isn’t showing many signs that he is keen on a move to Old Trafford, with Real Madrid believed to be his preferred destination, despite talks over a move to the Spanish club breaking down last year.

"Incredible" Mastantuono destined to be future star

Compatriot Enzo Fernandez clearly believes the youngster has what it takes to succeed in Europe, saying: “He’s showing that he has a European future. You can see it.

“He’s an incredible player. He’s doing very well and has shown great talent. In my opinion, he’s a star.”

It is little wonder the starlet could soon be in line for a move to Europe, having put in some top performances for River Plate, most recently scoring a stunning free-kick in the Superclasico against Boca Juniors.

The maestro has also impressed across a range of key metrics for attacking midfielders over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, most notably placing in the top 1% for successful take-ons.

Statistic

Average per 90

Shot-creating actions

6.20 (97th percentile)

Progressive passes

5.33 (81st percentile)

Successful take-ons

3.63 (99th percentile

Mastantuono is showing all the hallmarks of a future star, and Man United will be hoping a Europa League triumph could convince him to move to Old Trafford this summer.

Everton boss David Moyes will no doubt have one eye on the summer transfer window as the 2024/25 campaign reaches the last knockings.

Though a deep-rooted defensive understanding remained, Everton were almost formless in the final days of Sean Dyche’s tenure, rudderless.

But a now snapped nine-match unbeaten run in the league and some signs of exciting attacking play, togetherness, highlight the turning of a corner, threaded together by the uplifting completion of The Friedkin Group’s takeover from erstwhile chairman Farhad Moshiri.

With a lionised figure back in the dugout, the club’s identity has been restored. However, not every player has proved themselves worthy of a place at Bramley Moore next season. Some ties need to be cut.

The Everton players who need to go

You could field a starting line-up and leave four men on the bench, with the number of Everton players approaching the end of their contracts.

Some are more expendable than others. For example, centre-back Michael Keane, who reportedly earns £80k per week, is being shown the exit, having featured nominally in recent seasons and impressed less still. Replacements are already being lined up.

Abdoulaye Doucoure still plays an important part, but he’s Everton’s highest-paid player and, aged 32, is no longer justifying his keep.

The likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Idrissa Gueye could still be key figures under Moyes’ wing next season, with Gueye, who has been in fine fettle, touted for a renewal, but there are two other mainstays who have to be swiftly sold.

1.

Idrissa Gueye

119

2.

Daniel Munoz

109

3.

Noussair Mazraoui

100

4.

Moises Caicedo

97

5.

Joao Gomes

95

Everton's misfiring duo are now finished

Neither of the players in question is a permanent resident at Everton, but Jesper Lindstrom, on loan from Napoli, and Leeds United’s Jack Harrison have both played regular roles at the club this season.

However, Everton have been a tad blunt in attack and both players have been culpable of poor showings in front of goal, both directly and as more creative outlets.

Combined, the disappointing duo make up £140k of Everton’s weekly wage bill, with Harrison earning £90k per week, Lindstrom £50k.

Given that Harrison has just one goal and one assist apiece in the Premier League this term, across 28 appearances, while Lindstrom has yet to break his duck in England’s top flight, it’s hard to say either has coated themselves in glory, or even sufficiency.

This isn’t to completely discredit their value. Both wingers are industrious and have performed dutifully across the campaign. Both have shown signs of improvement since Moyes replaced Dyche.

But Everton are stepping into a new era, need shinier parts. With Dwight McNeil fit once again, you could argue that the ball specialist and Iliman Ndiaye both deserve starting berths, with one shifting onto the right flank.

Given that Doucoure or Charly Alcaraz will want to play centrally, and indeed Everton will invest further in attacking midfielders during the summer, the respective loanees may well be staring down the barrel on Merseyside.

Moyes is prepared to be ruthless this summer, but getting rid of Harrison and Lindstrom after such underwhelming campaigns would hardly be a brazen move.

With McNeil fit again, the loanees might find themselves further into the sliding morass as their final hour beckons.

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ByAngus Sinclair Apr 21, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is set for a decision over the potential signing of a “unique” player, after the 53-year-old personally held talks with his representatives.

Andrea Berta working on Arsenal targets ahead of summer window

According to reports, since his arrival was confirmed in late March, Berta has wasted absolutely no time in laying the groundwork over Arsenal’s top summer transfer targets.

Arsenal ready to pay £56m asking price for "star" after accelerating talks

The Gunners have pushed more “in recent weeks”.

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The former Atlético Madrid chief has been tasked with spearheading the club’s recruitment drive after 12 successful years at the Metropolitano, and he comes to Arsenal with a glittering reputation which he’ll be determined to maintain.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

There are suggestions Berta could spend up to £300 million to reinforce Arsenal’s squad in almost all areas, including by bringing in a second-choice keeper, full-back, midfielder, left-winger, right-winger and striker (GiveMeSport).

Ahead of his debut summer window at the club, the Italian is also reliably believed to have personally reached out to the agents of key targets for discussions.

As per journalist Graeme Bailey, Berta has held talks with Martin Zubimendi’s camp, as Arsenal attempt to strike a full agreement for the Spain international after months of reported negotiations.

While Arsenal are in discussions to extend Thomas Partey’s contract, following his very impressive 2024/2025 campaign, Mikel Arteta will still be in need of further midfield reinforcement, with Jorginho set to leave on a free deal.

Alongside Zubimendi, in one of his “first acts” as sporting director, Berta also held talks with the representatives of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, according to The Guardian’s Ed Aarons.

The highly-rated forward’s contract includes a tempting £50 million release clause, but it could still prove to be a costly operation when factoring in the Spaniard’s £170,000-per-week wages, agent fees and payment structure.

Berta set for final say over Arsenal deal for Nico Williams

According to reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking to GiveMeSport, Berta is set to decide whether Arsenal sign Williams this summer – and it could prove to be one of his trickiest tasks.

“Nico Williams, the situation is this, there’s a €58million release clause, and he could finally, finally leave a club that he’s very much in love with,” said Jacobs.

“The overall cost of the deal is expensive, though, and the reason for that is because Williams has got a very high wage, €200,000 at the moment, and then there’s agent fees and taxes.

“So there is Premier League interest from Arsenal and from Chelsea as well. Arsenal are looking at a left-sided attacker. And it will be for Andrea Berta to decide whether or not there’s now value in Williams, because Arsenal have been put off by the cost in the past.”

The 22-year-old has enjoyed an excellent end to 24/25 after a dip in form, showcasing his “unique” talent, after he also racked up an incredible 19 assists in all competitions last season.

He is without doubt one of Europe’s most exciting young attackers, and he’d come in as great competition for the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka out wide.

Chelsea are described as the main contenders to sign a highly-rated Premier League player right now, who apparently likes the “very strong” offer presented to him by Enzo Maresca’s side during talks with his representatives.

Chelsea's transfer plans this summer amid Champions League race

The Blues are currently focused on finishing this season in strong fashion, with the prospect of Champions League football firmly on the table after last weekend’s vital 3-1 win over champions Liverpool.

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A spot in season’s draw will also play a key role in determining BlueCo’s transfer plans ahead of next season, and it is widely expected that they’ll be very active once again when the window reopens for business.

Chelsea are reportedly getting busy already, with a unique window open from June 1 to June 10, prior to their Club World Cup campaign.

Chelsea’s final four Premier League fixtures

Date

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

Maresca’s side could make full use of this opportunity to seal squad upgrades before the CWC begins, with Chelsea apparently prioritising the signing of a centre-back, winger and striker.

Defensively, uncertainty surrounds the long-term futures of Trevoh Chalobah, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, while some reports even suggest that Chelsea are becoming more open to selling Wesley Fofana given his injury problems.

Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Ajax sensation Jorrel Hato, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Burnley ace Maxine Esteve and even former Chelsea star Antonio Rüdiger have all been mentioned as potential reinforcements for Maresca’s backline recently, but Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen is said to be a priority target.

Chelsea present "strong offer" to Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen

That is according to reliable Stamford Bridge reporter Simon Phillips, who reported earlier this week that Huijsen’s agent is pushing for him to join Chelsea.

The “sensational” defender, who commands a £50 million release clause, is also attracting interest from Arsenal and Liverpool after an excellent debut campaign in the Premier League.

However, Phillips has now shared another update on the 20-year-old’s future, with Chelsea presenting Huijsen a “strong offer” to join them. As things stand, the Blues are pushing much more than their rivals for his signature, and it is believed the Spain international has reacted “positively” to their proposal.

“Chelsea are the first and only suitor to officially lay down the project and package to Huijsen and his reps,” wrote Phillips.

“To date, no other suitor has gone as far as doing this. Chelsea are absolutely pushing the most right now and are feeling confident of getting their priority centre back target for the summer.

“Huijsen and his reps have reacted positively to the proposals and project, even his father who has been keen for him to join Liverpool over the other interested parties.

“The Spanish international defender will make his final decision when the season is over, but Chelsea feel they have a very strong offer and project on the table and the overall package as well as the promise of regular first-team football, can sway the decision in their favour.”

The former Juventus starlet is set to be one of the most in-demand defenders of the summer, but Chelsea appear to be making serious headway, as they look to win the highly competitive race for his signature.

With their return to the Premier League on the horizon, Leeds United have now reportedly made their first enquiry about signing a Champions League winner for a club-record £40m fee.

Leeds set for crucial summer

As celebrations gradually begin to end around Yorkshire, all eyes will be on the summer transfer window. It’s one that the 49ers simply cannot afford to get wrong and one which must see them spend if they are to keep Leeds in the Premier League at the first time of asking.

For two consecutive seasons now, all three promoted sides have suffered instant relegation from the top flight. Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City failed to learn from Luton Town, Sheffield United and Burnley before suffering themselves as a result. Now, Burnley, Leeds and one other club must avoid following that same path. They must break a concerning trend.

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To do that, the 49ers will need to ensure that Daniel Farke’s side are robust enough for the Premier League. Compared to their style in the Championship, Leeds will have to suffer out of possession if they want to enjoy any success next season, whilst they may need to avoid falling into the trap of adopting the same modern style in possession that could yet earn Southampton an unwanted record.

The transfer window will, of course, play a large part in what happens next at Elland Road. If rumours are anything to go by, then the 49ers are ready to spend too. The likes of Beto have particularly threatened to steal the headlines this week as the Whites look to bolster their frontline.

The Everton forward endured a slow start to life at Goodison Park but has shown his quality under David Moyes. If Leeds want robust then he’d certainly offer that. Meanwhile, in the goalkeeper department, those at Elland Road have set their sights on the opposite end of Merseyside and signing an instant upgrade on Ilian Meslier.

Leeds make first enquiry to sign Kelleher

According to Graeme Bailey for Leeds United News, Leeds have now made their first enquiry about signing Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool, who are reportedly set to demand as much as £40m to sell their goalkeeper this summer.

With Alisson Becker staying put and Giorgi Mamardashvili on his way from Valencia, the Irishman is heading for the exit door at Anfield, potentially allowing Leeds to take advantage for what would be a club-record transfer fee.

He may be Liverpool’s second-choice, but Kelleher hasn’t exactly seen his opportunities limited in recent seasons with Alisson continuing to struggle on the injury front. Any concerns that he wouldn’t be good enough to step up have quickly been put to bed in that time too, including against Real Madrid when he saved Kylian Mbappe’s penalty in a 2-0 victory back in November.

On a night to remember, Kelleher earned the praise of Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who dubbed his shot-stopper “outstanding”. For £40m, Leeds would be getting themselves a goalkeeper who’s ready to become a No.1 and an impressive one at that, after winning the Champions League, Premier League and domestic trophies throughout an excellent Liverpool tenure.

Manchester City’s mass-squad overhaul looks set to continue.

Kyle Walker has already departed, while Kevin De Bruyne will follow him out the exit door, with a few more sky blue stalwarts potentially set to leave this summer too.

Meantime, the Citizens spent £180m in January, that’s more than the other 19 Premier League clubs combined, recruiting Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah.

However, they are far from done there, so does Pep Guardiola have his eyes on a future £100m sensation to upgrade on Jérémy Doku?

Jérémy Doku's up-and-down Manchester City career

When Doku arrived at Manchester City from Stade Rennais for a reported fee of £55.5m two summers ago, he did so with sky-high expectations.

Director of Football Txiki Begiristain described the Belgian winger as “a very exciting young player”, adding that he possesses “outstanding pace”, believing that he will “develop into a world-class attacking talent”.

Well, so far, the 22-year-old is yet to fulfil the potential promised, as the statistics below suggest.

Appearances

43

33

Minutes

2,171

1,686

Goals

6

6

Assists

11

8

As the table shows, while Doku’s statistics are far from horrific, they aren’t outstanding either, while the fact the Belgian has not started any of Man City’s last five matches underlines that Guardiola still does not fully trust him.

Also, without wanting to be unkind to any of these teams, Doku’s six goals this season have come against Watford, Salford, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich, the most recent of which was scored on 19 January, which isn’t the most eclectic list.

Thus, the Citizens could certainly upgrade out-wide, so has Guardiola identified his dream target?

Manchester City's dream new winger

According to a report by French outlet L’Équipe this week, Manchester City have “made enquiries” in an attempt to sign Monaco winger Eliesse Ben Seghir, with Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen also reportedly interested.

Get French Football News adds that the 20-year-old is likely to push for a move this summer after a falling out with les Monégasques’ manager Adi Hütter, which has seen him start just two of the last eight Ligue 1 games, refusing to celebrate the recent Derby de la Côte d’Azur victory over Nice, having been an unused substitute.

Despite this, Ben Seghir’s potential is undeniable, with analyst Ben Mattinson​​​​​​​ labeling him an “impressive talent”, while Euan Booth Robertson of Transfermarkt praises his outstanding ‘dribbling ability’.

Meantime, Liam Scahill​​​​​​​ of Breaking the Lines believes the youngster is ‘destined for big things’, while Alex Barker of the Athletic labels him a “future £100m” gem.

So, let’s assess how the young Moroccan compares to Doku.

Appearances

33

43

Minutes

1,686

2,404

Goals

6

9

Assists

8

4

Take-ons attempted

200

115

Take-on success %

53.5%

38.3%

Progressive carries

202

102

Shots on target %

31%

34.2%

Progressive passes

68

138

Shot-creating actions

75

93

Goal-creating actions

13

8

Touches per 90

46

56

As outlined in the table, both wingers are high-quantity dribblers; the pair racked up 25 take-ons each in this season’s Champions League, despite the fact Monaco and Man City were both eliminated quite early in the first knockout round.

While Doku may be the superior dribbler, Ben Seghir’s statistics prove that he is more of a goal-threat, scoring more goals, finding the target with a higher percentage of his shots and registering more shot-creating actions, while his substantially higher touches per 90 figure proves he is more involved in build-up play.

Thus, this all underlines that the Moroccan would be a great signing for the sky blues, as he would be a clear Doku upgrade.

​​​​​​​

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The EFL announced the shortlists for their end-of-season awards earlier this week, and Sheffield United have one of their stars in the running for the Player of the Year award.

Dutch attacking midfielder Gustavo Hamer is one of three players up for the Player of the Year trophy, alongside Burnley’s James Trafford and Leeds United’s Dan James.

The former Coventry City star’s performances for the Blades this season have contributed to him being the most valuable player in the current squad.

Gustavo Hamer's current market value

At the time of writing (18/04/2025), as per Transfermarkt, Hamer is currently valued at £12.8m, which makes him the most valuable player at Bramall Lane, which seems fair when you consider that he is in contention to be named the best player in the Championship.

The 27-year-old dynamo has proven his worth to Chris Wilder’s team by providing quality as both a scorer and a creator at the top end of the pitch from a wide or central midfield position.

In the Championship so far this season, Hamer has scored eight goals from 4.68 xG and been rewarded with six assists from ten ‘big chances’ created, which shows that he has been clinical in front of goal and unfairly compensated as a creative force.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

There is a former Sheffield United player, however, who is currently worth even more than the Dutch wizard, having left the Blades fairly recently – Iliman Ndiaye.

Iliman Ndiaye's current market value

The club cashed in on the Senegal international in the summer of 2023 for a fee of £20m, selling him to Marseille, as they did not want to run the risk of him leaving on a free transfer in 2024.

Despite leaving Bramall Lane for a fee of up to £20m, Ndiaye’s market value on Transfermarkt has fluctuated over the last couple of seasons.

Iliman Ndiaye’s fluctuating market value
Date	Market value
August 2023 (joined Marseille)	£20m reported fee
August 2023	£15m
June 2024	£12.8m
July 2024 (joined Everton)	£12.8m
December 2024	£15m
March 2025	£18.8m
Valuations via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Senegalese forward’s Transfermarkt value has been up and down in recent seasons but is currently at the highest point it has been in his career at £18.8m.

This means that he is currently worth even more than Championship Player of the Year nominee Hamer, thanks to his performances for Everton in the Premier League this season.

The 25-year-old attacker, who was once dubbed “unplayable” by Billy Sharp, has scored seven goals from 4.99 xG in 24 starts in the top-flight for the Toffees, helping them to push clear of the relegation battle this term.

Ndiaye has proven himself in the Premier League at Goodison Park, and Sheffield United must rue that they only got to enjoy his talents for 11 minutes in the division in the 2020/21 campaign, selling him to Marseille after their promotion in 2023.

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Hopefully, Hamer can make the step up and soar in value to be on par with Ndiaye, or even more valuable than him, if the Blades achieve promotion this season.

A £150k-a-week Liverpool player is now on the verge of sealing a move elsewhere, with the deal at a very advanced stage, according to a report.

Important summer ahead for the Reds

Few would have predicted Arne Slot securing the Premier League title in his first season as manager, but the Reds have defied all expectations to secure top spot, with captain Virgil van Dijk set to get his hands on the trophy on May 26th.

However, despite the success this season, Slot is set to have a big job on his hands this summer, as the manager will be tasked with bringing in a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is set to join Real Madrid at the end of his contract.

Clubs from across Europe are also queuing up for Darwin Nunez, with the Uruguayan falling short of expectations this season, meaning a replacement is likely to be needed at striker, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak believed to be the dream target.

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One of the only additions Slot has made to his squad is Federico Chiesa, with the winger being handed a £150k-a-week contract last summer, but it appears as though the Italian’s time at Anfield could be coming to an end.

According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), Chiesa’s prospective move to Napoli is now at a ‘very advanced’ stage, with the forward excited by the opportunity to return to his home country after a disappointing spell on Merseyside.

The Serie A side are now stepping up their pursuit of the forward, having already submitted an offer, and a deal is close to completion, with Napoli keen to bring him in on a loan deal initially, with the option for a permanent purchase.

Slot should cash-in on Chiesa this summer

Rather than agreeing to an initial loan deal, the Reds should look to get the 27-year-old off the books permanently if possible, given that he has failed to adapt to life in the Premier League since arriving from Juventus.

While injuries have not helped the Italy international, he has made just five appearances in the Premier League, featuring for just 41 minutes in total, having been unable to make a name for himself on Merseyside, despite his previous exploits for club and country.

The former Juventus man’s only notable moment in a Liverpool shirt came in the EFL Cup final, scoring a late goal against Newcastle United, but his side were unable to force their way back into the game.

Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph underlines the fact they do not need Chiesa, so it is good news they are looking to get him off the books this summer.