All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Everton came on leaps and bounds under David Moyes’ wing in 2024/25, but there’s no doubt they petered out toward the end of the campaign, illustrating the need for summer reinforcements.

After a slow start that has been defined by outings, things are starting to move at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Indeed, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s departure at the end of his contract is poignant, the Toffees are close to signing 22-year-old striker Thierno Barry, who has a £34.5m release clause with Villarreal and scored 19 goals across 41 matches last term.

Further additions are expected. Everton might have parted ways with a whole host of first-team stars, but they have also succeeded in tying down an irreplaceable member of the squad to a new deal.

He plays in defence.

The latest on Everton's backline

Despite plenty of speculation, Everton have extended Jarrad Branthwaite’s contract, and the centre-back is now contracted to the Merseyside club until 2030.

While Michael Keane has extended his contract on Merseyside, he is fixed in a back-up role, and landing Branthwaite for more years to come provides an incredible lift, especially as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been sniffing around.

With James Tarkowski, 32, currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, and Jake O’Brien playing so well at right-back, it might be an idea to bring in another centre-half.

Well, according to Italian publication La Repubblica – via Sport Witness – Everton have entered the race for Inter Milan’s Yann Bisseck, who could leave San Siro this summer as a by-product of an acrimonious and wide fallout at the club.

Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have also been named as suitors, with the German expected to command a £34m transfer fee.

Why Everton want to sign Yann Bisseck

Everton would sign their most modern-tailored central defender yet in Bisseck, who has developed steely defensive skills and an ever-improving ball-playing talent.

That and a shrewd eye for goal. As per FBref, the 23-year-old ranked among the top 3% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goal involvements, the top 19% for pass completion, the top 6% for progressive carries per 90 and the top 3% for aerial duel success rate.

What does that tell us? Well, it certainly underscores Bisseck’s roundedness, progressive in his play while utilising his tall frame to defend from aerial attacks.

Something of a career nomad already, the 24-year-old has played 67 matches for Inter Milan, posting five goals and five assists apiece. Used across different competitions, he was a regular feature during Simeone Inzaghi’s Champions League run last term, starting seven of the matches.

And he was hardly a passenger. Throughout Inter’s continental campaign, Bisseck won 66% of his duels, as per Sofascore, and completed 87% of his passes, emphasising the technical virtues Moyes demands from his defenders.

But the expansive nature of his brand is what could see him step above even a player of Branthwaite’s ability.

Goal involvements

0.04

0.20

Touches

54.48

75.63

Passes attempted

42.94

64.92

Pass completion

82.1%

90.6%

Progressive passes

2.37

4.39

Progressive carries

0.36

1.64

Ball recoveries

3.33

3.19

Tackles + interceptions

2.26

2.12

Clearances

6.85

4.19

Blocks

1.11

1.48

As you can see, Bisseck’s passing and ball-carrying game is far above that of Branthwaite, having spent more time on the ball over the past year and retained it with greater regularity too.

While the more expansive part of Branthwaite’s game has been hemmed back by tactical duties, Bisseck still far outstrips his positional peer as far as the technical side of the game is concerned.

Given that Inter’s man, who played such an important part in reaching the Champions League final last year, has been hailed as a “diamond” of a defender by journalist Antonio Mango, he might just emerge as Moyes’ star man in the rearguard, should Everton prevail in their bid.

Bigger talent than Barry: Everton chasing £28m ace with a "hint of Haaland"

Following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s exit, Everton are set to sign Thierno Barry, but could they also target another striker who has a “hint of Haaland”?

ByBen Gray Jul 3, 2025

Arsenal have kickstarted their summer transfer window with a key piece of business, according to trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, as manager Mikel Arteta prepares to welcome his newest squad member to N5.

The north Londoners, after missing out on the Premier League title to Liverpool by 10 points last season, are looking to make a statement of intent over the coming months, with all eyes on new sporting director Andrea Berta.

Workhorse "dreams" of joining Arsenal, Berta has already made an offer

His top transfer desire is clear.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 20, 2025

Berta’s proven track record at former club Atlético Madrid ultimately convinced Arsenal to replace Edu Gaspar with the Italian three months ago, and he’s since been busy spinning many plates at the Emirates in pursuit of much-needed new additions.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Their search for a new striker has dominated the headlines, with Berta working on moves for both Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, as he looks to secure the best possible deal for a much-needed centre-forward.

Arsenal have also held “numerous talks” over targets for the wide area, as per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga also poised to join the north Londoners as David Raya’s new understudy to replace Neto.

However, before all of this activity started taking place, Arsenal began work on a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Talks have been at an advanced stage since January, with the BBC and other reliable media outlets stating last month that a medical was scheduled for the 26-year-old.

Zubimendi’s cryptic comments over his future since those whispers, combined with Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay denying how advanced the transfer was, did start to stoke worries that Real Madrid could hijack Arsenal’s deal.

Those fears were swiftly quelled by more credible reports that Arsenal were set to seal a deal for Zubimendi, and Romano has shared more good news on the matter in an update from the last 24 hours.

Arsenal deal for Martin Zubimendi "completed" with paperwork "signed"

Taking to X, the journalist stated on Friday that Arsenal have now “completed” all the necessary paperwork with Zubimendi in London, and it’s all signed.

The Spain international will cost up to £56 million, slightly above his release clause, with Berta agreeing to pay the increased fee over installments.

Amid reports that Thomas Partey could be about to leave Arsenal following botched new contract talks, with Jorginho also joining Flamengo earlier this month, this comes as a very welcome boost for Arteta.

Zubimendi has stood out as one of La Liga’s best holding midfield players in recent years, and he’s finally set to end his stay at boyhood club Sociedad as he seals a long-awaited move to the Premier League, one year after he rejected a switch to Liverpool.

“Zubimendi is an extraordinary defensive midfielder,” said former Barcelona boss, Xavi, on Arsenal’s latest signing. “He understands the model we like at Barça, he dominates with and without the ball.”

Leeds United have been given a sobering reminder of the step up in quality from the Championship to the Premier League by watching some recent transfer sagas unfold.

Liverpool officially confirmed the permanent signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported fee that could rise to a British-record £116m on Friday.

Whereas, the Whites have never spent more than £35.5m to sign a player. Their current record stands at the £35.5m they paid to sign Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim at the start of 2023.

Rutter scored eight goals and provided 18 assists in 66 matches for the West Yorkshire outfit before he completed a move to Brighton & Hove Albion last summer.

Leeds are in the market to sign a central midfielder to bolster their squad this summer, amid interest in Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra and Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika.

They have been shown how much the top midfielders in the Premier League go for, though, as Arsenal are set to sign Martin Zubimendi from Spanish side Real Sociedad for a reported fee of £56m.

Leeds United's current midfield options

At this moment in time, Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, and Ao Tanaka are Daniel Farke’s only senior central midfield options ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, after Joe Rothwell returned to Bournemouth and Josuha Guilavogui was released at the end of his contract.

Ampadu has often been utilised as a centre-back option by the German head coach, which could leave Gruev and Tanaka as the two midfielders in his 4-2-3-1 system if the Wales international slots into the back four.

There are question marks over whether those two midfielders have the physicality to compete week-in-week-out in a relegation scrap in the Premier League, however, due to their form in the past.

Prior to their respective moves to Elland Road, both Gruev and Tanaka played in Germany, in the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga, and showed signs that they may not be able to handle the step up in physicality to the Premier League.

Appearances

31

30

Pass accuracy

87%

89%

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.1

2.0

Ground duel success rate

53%

49%

Aerial duel success rate

43%

49%

As you can see in the table above, they both left a bit to be desired physically in the top two divisions in Germany, particularly when it came to competing in aerial battles.

This may be why the Whites are keen to add more physicality to their midfield by bringing in a new option in that area of the park, and they are now reportedly interested in a new target in that position.

Leeds eyeing deal for Ligue 1 enforcer

According to GIVEMESPORT, Leeds United are lining up a deal to sign Stade de Reims defensive midfielder Valentin Atangana during the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites have set their sights on the talented 19-year-old enforcer, whose team were relegated to the second division in France this season.

Transfer Focus

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

GIVEMESPORT adds that the Championship champions are keen to do their business as early as possible, and that the French starlet has emerged as one of the options on their radar in their pursuit of a new central midfielder.

The outlet states that the Whites are keen to win the race to secure his services this summer after they were made aware that he is set to be available in the market because of Reims’ relegation to Ligue 2.

It also forwards a suggestion that the player could be available for a bargain price of around £9m, as Reims look to rake in money after dropping out of Ligue 1.

The report also claims that Leeds are now weighing up whether or not to enter negotiations over a deal to bring the teenage talent to West Yorkshire before the end of the window.

Why Leeds should sign Valentin Atangana

The Whites should approach Reims to do a deal for the 19-year-old star because he could arrive as Farke’s own version of Zubimendi, who is set to join Arsenal for £56m, to bolster the physicality in his midfield.

As per FBref, the Spain international is one of the most similar players to Atangana based on their respective statistics in Ligue 1 and LaLiga over the past 365 days.

As you can see in the chart above, they both excel in fairly similar areas of the game, particularly defensively, with a similar success rate in tackles and aerial battles.

Zubimendi ended the LaLiga season with a ground duel success rate of 56% and an aerial battle success rate of 62%, whilst Atangana won 53% of his ground duels and 58% of his aerial battles in Ligue 1 for Reims.

The France U19 international, who was hailed as “exceptional” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, caught the eye in the French top-flight from a defensive perspective, despite his team being relegated.

He was playing in a poor team, hence their relegation, but still showcased his physicality and quality. A great example is his performance against PSG in the Coupe de France final, as he won seven of his nine duels and completed all three of his dribbles against the likes of Joao Neves and Vitinha, but his side lost 3-0.

Clearances

2.02

Top 19%

Aerial duels won

1.48

Top 8%

Percentage of dribblers tackled

73.7%

Top 2%

Challenges lost

0.32

Top 2%

Shots blocked

0.47

Top 14%

Interceptions

1.17

Top 33%

Dispossessed

0.73

Top 23%

As you can see in the table above, Atangana ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of key defensive metrics in Ligue 1, particularly when it came to winning aerial duels and holding off opposition players.

He rarely allowed dribblers to get past him, as shown by his success rate in tackles and how few challenges he lost, and was rarely dispossessed by opposition midfielders, which speaks to his strength in possession.

The teenage talent could, therefore, be Farke’s own version of Zubimendi as a defensive midfielder who has shown that he can be reliable in physical contests and secure in possession under pressure in one of Europe’s top leagues.

To sign a 19-year-old talent who has already proven his quality in the French top-flight, and is comparable to £56m-rated Zubimendi, for just £9m could be a shrewd move by Leeds, and one they must pursue in the coming weeks.

He's better than Diarra: Leeds now looking at deal to sign £26m "threat"

Leeds United are eyeing up a midfield star who could be even better than Habib Diarra.

1 ByDan Emery Jun 19, 2025

Chelsea begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign on Monday night when facing off against LAFC out in Atlanta.

All eyes are on the potential of Liam Delap making his Blues debut in the American heat, with the former Ipswich Town attacker no doubt keen to be Enzo Maresca’s main marksman next season when Premier League action gets back underway.

If he impresses in pre-season, he stands a healthy chance of being just that for Chelsea.

But, the West Londoners might not be done with flashy striker additions after Delap’s arrival at Stamford Bridge, with a new striker target an arguable upgrade on the ex-Manchester City forward, among other faces being tipped to make the switch to the English capital.

Chelsea keeping tabs on £67m ace

After they completed a move for Delap, there has been frenzied interest in another of their targets in Hugo Ekitike. The latest on that move, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, is that Man United have expressed their interest in the player, yet Liverpool and Chelsea remain in the race.

If they are beaten to the Frenchman’s signing, who could they focus their efforts on instead?

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, according to one GOAL transfer correspondent, Chelsea are one of the teams to have held talks over signing Victor Osimhen.

The report states that eight clubs dotted all around Europe have made contact with the Nigerian goal machine, with fellow Premier League clubs Manchester United and Arsenal looking at the current Galatasaray ace, alongside Juventus, PSG Milan and Real Madrid.

Whilst Ekitike could cost in the region of £85m to obtain, Osmihen might well be available for a more workable £67m, according to prior reportsas per reports, meaning he could now be Chelsea’s desired target to improve their forward positions even more.

How Osimhen would be an upgrade on Ekitike & Delap

If Maresca’s side were to land Osimhen, he would be viewed as an upgrade on both the much-talked-about Eintracht Frankfurt striker and Delap, with the 26-year-old a well-known goalscoring menace throughout his varied career, not just when plying his trade in Turkey.

Whilst Chelsea would be purchasing Ekitike with the future in mind, alongside also wanting to get even more out of Delap after a blistering season in Suffolk, Osimhen would be the finished article already on his arrival in West London.

After all, wherever he’s been across his career so far, the “world class” forward – as he’s been glowing labelled by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley – has largely shone, which can’t be said for the £85m-rated attacker nor a growing Delap.

Napoli

133

76

18

Galatasaray

41

37

8

Lille

38

18

6

Royal Charleroi S.C.

36

20

4

Wolfsburg

16

0

0

The mightily impressive numbers from the table above certainly back up Critchley’s wild claims, with Osimhen up to a staggering 151 career goals now off the back of firing home a lethal 37 strikes for Galatasaray.

Of course, the Nigerian striker did suffer from a barren patch towards the start of his career with Wolfsburg, but his electric goalscoring numbers have more than made up for it since.

Ekitike does have a slight upper hand on his more senior striker rival, considering he has bagged 26 goals in the Bundesliga to date, but he only has 18 more strikes to shout about in senior action away from his breakout stint in Frankfurt.

Therefore, splashing out a whopping £85m on a centre-forward figure who is more inexperienced than Osimhen and less potent would be a big risk.

Moreover, Delap is only a season down in the Premier League and could find being Chelsea’s leading star in attack all on his own to be a daunting challenge, considering further that he has only 12 top-flight strikes next to his name across his fledgling career.

Whereas, Osmihen – who has been dubbed as being “even better than Haaland” by agent Andrea D’Amico – would surely relish the chance to be another leading star in another top European division, as Chelsea prepare to do battle in the Champions League next season.

Chelsea can sign a bigger talent than Ekitike with move for £65m "maverick"

Chelsea could have the chance to reignite a move for a former target

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 14, 2025

Leeds United supporters are surely still in a celebratory mood after their side brushed off any playoff final agony to lift the Championship title on a colossal 100 points.

There will be some anxiety seeping in as to how the Whites will cope with the Premier League. However, the summer transfer window is also a time for those at Elland Road to become even more excited about who could possibly don the famous Leeds white in the top division.

Daniel Farke could well be about to flex his past Norwich City connections to finally bring Emiliano Buendia into the building, with the addition of Buendia to the Whites ranks somewhat of a coup, considering his previous excellent performances for Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Why Buendia signing would be a coup

Buendia and the German used to be a match made in heaven in Norfolk, before the Argentine ace spread his wings for pastures new at Villa.

Indeed, the exciting ex-Canaries midfielder made the Championship his playground under Farke’s watchful eye, as seen in his terrific tally of 24 goals and 41 assists pulling on Norwich yellow and green.

He would initially kick on when given first-team opportunities in the West Midlands, with this goal even breaking Leeds hearts back in early 2023, but injury troubles have since hindered his chances at progressing further at Villa Park.

But, even with Buendia being missing for a hefty 56 games during the 2023/24 season due to a devastating cruciate ligament tear, he does still boast ten goals and 15 assists up a level, which will be of great use to Leeds as they carefully navigate back up.

Yet, whilst the opportunity to pick up a former £33m-rated star on loan shouldn’t be passed up on, another move would go down as a bigger coup than Buendia’s temporary signature being won if it were successfully pulled off.

Leeds could re-sign Bielsa favourite

Leeds will be aiming to leave the past in the past for the most part, especially when it comes to the sinking feeling of being relegated back down to the Championship.

But, Farke and Co. would surely be tempted by the prospect of adding Kalvin Phillips back to their roster.

Indeed, the Mail on Sunday – as has been relayed by MOT Leeds News – stated in their recent print copy that the newly promoted Whites want to bring Phillips back to his old boyhood home after his shoulder surgery at Manchester City.

It has even been further speculated that Leeds could win back their former fans’ favourite for a cut-price – valued at £10m by Transfermarkt – which would be a deal that’s hard to refuse, particularly when you remember Phillips’ heroics at Elland Road under Marcelo Bielsa saw him join Pep Guardiola’s men for a bumper £45m.

This would surely go down as a stroke of genius on Leeds’ end if Phillips were to return and get back to his previous West Yorkshire best.

Indeed, his last spell at the club resulted in many an England call-up under Gareth Southgate, alongside the 29-year-old looking assured at the daunting level, instead of now being known as a waste of City’s flashy millions.

Matches played

29

20

Goals scored

1

0

Assists

2

1

Touches per game

65

62.1

Accurate passes per game

41 (85%)

38.9 (82%)

Big chances created

5

1

Total duels won

5.3

4.9

When playing in the top-flight previously for Leeds, Phillips had shown himself to be a competent battler who was also keen at creating chances for his attacking teammates, with the table above showing off both his grit to win duels galore, but also his ability to fashion openings.

It would even lead to the 29-year-old being labelled as “exceptional” by football talent scout Antonio Mango, with nobody more desperate than Phillips himself to try and recapture these lofty heights.

Of course, this might well go down as a misfire if the beloved ex-number 23 returns and buckles under all the intense pressure.

But, on the contrary, it could well be viewed as an unbelievable coup, especially if he rolls back the years in the heart of Leeds’ midfield for far less than his steep £45m valuation.

Better than Kelleher: Farke targeting Leeds move for “phenomenal” £25m star

Leeds United could now attempt to sign this goalkeeper instead of landing Caoimhin Kelleher’s services.

1 ByKelan Sarson May 31, 2025

Liverpool opted against significant first-team investment after Jurgen Klopp packed his bags and put an end to his Anfield dynasty last summer.

One of the esteemed coach’s final acts, in typically larger-than-life fashion, was to bellow his successor’s name into a mic, Liverpool having finished the 2023/24 Premier League season in third place, and as Carabao Cup champions.

“Arne Slot,” the manager roared, and Liverpool’s fans echoed his rallying cry. It was the end of an era, an illustrious period of sustained success that saw the Reds win the whole gamut after several interminable seasons of disappointment, languishing below their rightful place among the big boys.

Klopp’s decision has been vindicated. Slot has won the Premier League in his first term at the helm, so dominant, taking the team left to him and shaping it into something greater.

Now, though, it is time for first-team investment. The pieces are being moved well ahead of the summer transfer window, and though fans anticipate a raft of exciting arrivals, some departures are needed too.

Darwin Nunez chief among them.

Why Liverpool must sell Darwin Nunez

While the thought of Florian Wirtz driving a Nunez resurgence is tantalising, it’s probably not going to happen.

The Uruguay international, 25, has just completed his third campaign in a Liverpool shirt, and it was probably his least productive yet.

When Nunez arrived in July 2022 for a fee rising to a club-record £85m, he arrived to much fanfare. Here was a robust, athletic and deadly forward who scored 34 goals from 41 matches in his final season for the Portuguese giants.

But he’s failed to make it work in the Premier League. Here’s a statistic: Nunez has only scored 25 goals in the English top flight, featuring 95 times and avoiding any serious stretch in the infirmary.

24/25

47

7

7

23/24

54

18

15

22/23

42

15

4

Klopp’s tactics are perhaps characterised by their chaos. Nunez, then, embodies some of the German’s core principles, but Slot’s businesslike approach has led to a regression, with the boss even stating in February that he “can’t accept” Nunez’s work-rate.

While the £140k-per-week talent’s time on Merseyside has been defined by wastefulness, this hasn’t really been the case this term. Instead, he’s been reduced to a small part in the grand play, scoring only seven goals across all competitions and starting but once in the Premier League since Boxing Day.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Liverpool’s plan is to part ways with the record man, and all parties welcome the prospect. With Saudi suitors interested, Liverpool might just find they can sign a suitable replacement to add to the exciting rebuild Richard Hughes is currently fronting.

Liverpool want to sign a new striker

As per Spanish reports, Liverpool are ready to challenge Newcastle United for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro, who is ready to leave the south coast club this summer.

The clubs in question are ready to meet Brighton’s €70m (£58m) demands, both eager to take the lead in the race.

Despite earlier reports to the contrary, transfer insider Ben Jacobs claims Chelsea are not actively pursuing a move, only enhancing Liverpool’s chances of getting a deal done.

What Joao Pedro would bring to Liverpool

Newcastle’s success in qualifying for the Champions League after Aston Villa were controversially beaten at Old Trafford surely ends Anfield’s hopes of signing Alexander Isak this summer, with PIF set to demand north of £150m for his sale.

Joao Pedro, conversely, is expected to leave the AMEX, and for a far smaller figure at that. The Brazil forward has been a success since joining Brighton from Championship side Watford in 2023, a deal that narrowly missed the £30m mark.

Across 70 appearances for the Seagulls, the 23-year-old has scored 30 goals and supplied ten assists. However, he’s not defined by his goal metrics, promising though they may be, with Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard hailing his “really magical” quality on the ball.

Beaten by Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch to the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award, he’s got the physicality and technical ability to become a star under Slot’s wing, smoothly replacing Nunez at number nine.

As per Sofascore, Joao Pedro has only missed 16 big chances across his two top-flight campaigns at Brighton, scoring 19 goals and supplying nine assists. He’s only started 42 matches during this period.

The foundations have been laid, and now Slot can welcome this rising star into his brood and take him to the next level, providing the title winners with a new focal frontman who can provide a richer goal threat while maintaining a dynamic, multi-faceted approach to benefit the likes of Wirtz and Mohamed Salah, among others.

Nunez’s day is done, but in his place, Liverpool can sign a striker capable of proving an upgrade while echoing some of the South American’s finer qualities.

But there’s no denying that Joao Pedro is a sharper and more complete version, as the table below highlights.

Goals

0.40

0.46

Assists

0.16

0.28

Shots taken

2.70

1.94

Shot-creating actions

2.46

3.33

Touches

29.07

43.43

Touches (att pen)

5.88

5.64

Progressive passes

2.14

3.60

Progressive carries

1.83

3.05

Successful take-ons

0.64

1.34

Tkl + Int

1.99

1.16

As you can see, Nunez pales in comparison to the Brighton man, who has yet to reach his potential and already has showcased high-level qualities in the Premier League.

It’s time for change. Nunez will leave Liverpool with the goodwill of the fanbase, but he must indeed depart – especially if a deal for a player like Joao Pedro is in the pipeline.

Liverpool are brewing their own version of Wirtz in "fearless" academy star

Liverpool could do with an academy sensation breaking into Arne Slot’s senior squad.

ByAngus Sinclair May 24, 2025

Everton manager David Moyes has the opportunity to make his stamp on the first-team squad this summer, with investment expected from the Friedkin Group.

The Scotsman rejoined the club in January after Sean Dyche’s dismissal, returning to the role after previously managing the Toffees over an 11-year period.

He’s led the club clear of any relegation threat and will lead the side into their final ever at Goodison Park against Southampton this weekend – in what will be a memorable occasion for all involved.

The move to the Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium presents a new era for the Toffees, which could lead to added investment and changes in the first-team squad.

With the summer window rapidly approaching, work has already been done behind the scenes to ensure a quick start is made to hand Moyes with the ammunition he needs to make the changes he desires.

The latest on Everton’s hunt for new additions this summer

Various names have already been linked with a move to join Everton this summer, with it unclear how much funding the manager will have at his disposal in the coming months.

The likes of Liam Delap, Emanuel Emegha and Dan Neil have all been on their radar in recent weeks, but no progress has yet been made with any of the aforementioned stars.

However, the hierarchy has already registered interest in another Championship star in the form of Bristol City talent Jason Knight, according to TEAMtalk.

The report claims that the board have been scouting the 24-year-old over the last few weeks and are considering a move for his signature ahead of the summer window.

It also states that the club are targeting younger options at the heart of the side, potentially being a replacement for either of Idrissa Gana Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure, with both of their contracts set to expire this summer.

Why Everton’s latest target could be Moyes’ next Cahill

Australian forward Tim Cahill is one of many legends who have previously plied their trade for Everton, starring during his eight-year spell on Merseyside.

He joined the Toffees from Millwall back in 2004 and made over 250 appearances and registered 68 goals – an average of a goal every four games, a solid record over such a timeframe.

His iconic corner flag celebration became a staple during their success under the Scotsman’s reign, with the striker producing countless moments of magic.

Arguably, one of his best goals for the club came against Chelsea, scoring an incredible bicycle kick against the Blues at Stamford Bridge way back in 2007.

However, 13 years on from his departure, Moyes has the chance to land his next version of the Australian in the form of Knight this summer, in a move that would certainly bolster their ranks.

The Republic of Ireland international could replicate Cahill by joining the club from a Championship side, but that shouldn’t take away from the levels produced by the 24-year-old in 2024/25.

He’s played a key role in the Robins’ ability to finish within the play-off places, featuring in every minute of their league campaign – registering three goals and six assists.

Jason Knight

Bristol City

4140

Zak Vyner

Bristol City

4140

Dominic Hyam

Blackburn Rovers

4140

Joe Rodon

Leeds United

4136

Maxime Esteve

Burnley

4057

Jimmy Dunne

Queens Park Rangers

4050

Shane Duffy

Norwich City

4042

Ben Cabango

Swansea City

4034

His underlying stats are just as impressive, completing 56% of the dribbles he’s attempted and creating 1.3 chances per 90 – having the tools to hand the players in front of him.

Knight, who’s been labelled “incredible” by one analyst, has also won 58% of the tackles he’s entered, whilst winning 5.6 duels per 90 – handing Moyes an added defensive presence in the middle of the park.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the Bristol City ace would cost this summer, but it’s clear that he has the potential to make the jump to England’s top-flight and be a success on Merseyside.

If he were to get anywhere near the levels produced by Cahill at the club, it would be a sensational piece of business, allowing the Toffees to have a key player at the heart of the side for many years to come.

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While the fans and team will have their full attention on the second leg of their Champions League semi-final next week, the Arsenal board will already be planning for what could be a blockbuster summer of transfer business.

Last year, Mikel Arteta and Co shifted a lot of the club’s unwanted players for good money, but they didn’t really strengthen the first team enough to sustain a successful title challenge this season.

It looks like it’s going to be a totally different story this year, with links to top-level attackers like Viktor Gyokeres, Ollie Watkins and Nico Williams coming in from every direction.

However, while the frontline certainly needs addressing, the midfield could be just as important, and it seems like the club agrees; a recent report has touted one of the most exciting midfielders in world football for a move to the Emirates, a player who might just be able to get the best back out of Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal's midfield targets

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at a couple of the other midfielders that Arsenal are said to be interested in, such as Hugo Larsson.

Transfer Focus

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

Reportedly available for around £51m, the Eintracht Frankfurt gem would undoubtedly be an investment for the future, but with respected analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as a “transitional monster” and comparing him to a young Jude Bellingham, he might just be one worth making.

However, the far more likely acquisition would undoubtedly be Martin Zubimendi.

The Spanish international has long been touted for a move to the Gunners, and based on more recent reports, it appears the club themselves are confident of getting their man.

However, perhaps the most exciting link of them all has been to Frenkie de Jong.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are now one of several Premier League sides interested in the Dutch international.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Liverpool and Manchester City are also keen on the player.

While no price is mentioned in the story, it is said that Barcelona are being forced to consider selling him as no progress has been made on his renewal.

It would be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given his immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could help revive Odegaard.

Why De Jong would be perfect for Odegaard

So, if Arsenal are able to get ahead of the chasing pack and get their man, why would he be an ideal partner for Odegaard?

There are two key reasons for this; the first is his defensive qualities.

While the Dutchman is now primarily an eight and would likely join as such, he’s got plenty of experience playing as a six – making 132 appearances there – and so, were he to chip in with the defensive work alongside Declan Rice, that might allow the captain to focus all of his energy and focus at the sharp end of the pitch.

The second reason is that, on top of his defensive abilities, the former Ajax star is an incredibly technical and gifted midfielder, with former manager Xavi going as far as describing him as “one of the best players in the world.”

It’s not hard to see where the Spanish legend is coming from either, as the 27-year-old’s underlying numbers are nothing short of spectacular.

Goals per Shot

0.25

Top 1%

Pass Completion

94.0%

Top 1%

GCA from Take-Ons

0.12

Top 1%

Progressive Carrying Distance

169.24

Top 1%

Carries into the Final Third

3.14

Top 1%

Passes Completed

78.36

Top 2%

Goal-Creating Actions (GCA)

0.64

Top 2%

GCA from Live Passes

0.52

Top 2%

Passes into the Final Third

9.72

Top 3%

Live Ball Passes

81.56

Top 3%

Carries

57.65

Top 3%

Touches

90.29

Top 4%

Progressive Passes

7.62

Top 7%

For example, FBref places him in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for goals per shot, pass completion, goal-creating actions from take-ons, progressive carrying distance, carries into the final third, the top 2% for passes completed and goal-creating actions, the top 3% for passes into the final third and more, all per 90.

So, just imagine a vastly experienced international who currently captains Barça, who can influence the game in almost all areas of the pitch playing alongside the North Londoners’ number eight – he’d undoubtedly improve as well.

Ultimately, it would be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but with how much of a difference De Jong could make to Odegaard’s career and Arsenal overall, Arteta and Co must do what they can to get it done.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 2, 2025

Another frontrunner to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham is now “emerging”, after news today that Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is more likely to remain at the Vitality Stadium next season.

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As per The Telegraph and reliable journalist Mike McGrath, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has already been dealt a blow in his pursuit of a possible heir to Postecoglou, as top target Iraola is weighing more towards committing his future on the south coast.

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The 42-year-old has guided Bournemouth to an unprecedented campaign where the prospect of European football is very much alive, and this subsequently attracted attention from Tottenham amid their worst ever Premier League season to date.

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Spurs remain in the Europa League as Postecoglou seeks to end their 17-year wait for a major trophy, but some reports suggest that the Australian could be sacked regardless of whether he wins the competition (John Cross).

The Lilywhites are on the look-out for managerial replacements, and Iraola is believed to be Tottenham’s leading candidate for the job. However, the Spaniard is now more inclined to stay at Bournemouth for 2025/2026, with Levy looking set to be disappointed as things stand.

There are alternative names in the frame, including Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi, ex-Juve manager Thiago Motta and Fulham’s Marco Silva, who’ve all been linked in the last fortnight.

The latter, similarly to Iraola, has guided his team to unlikely contention for a European qualification spot – picking up very impressive results along the way despite working with a shoe-string budget compared to the big six.

Fabrizio Romano backs Silva as one of the most concrete names for the Spurs job, with talkSPORT’s Alex Crook sharing an update of his own this afternoon.

Marco Silva "emerging as a frontrunner" for Tottenham job

According to the reporter, Silva is now “emerging as a frontrunner” for the Tottenham job, following news of Iraola preferring to remain at Bournemouth and the Cherries hopeful they can agree a new deal.

The £4 million-per-year boss is set to be a man in demand this summer, according to Crook, and it is believed Fulham now face a battle on their hands to keep the tactician after yet another noteworthy campaign in west London.

The Whites would ideally like to tie him down with another deal, but Silva isn’t exactly rushing to agree a new contract. His current terms include an £8 million release clause, which could render Fulham powerless if Levy decides to trigger it and open talks with Silva.

The 42-year-old’s reputation is growing stronger by the year, and perhaps it is time for Spurs to grant him a big move.

“He is a master,” said Evandro, Silva’s former striker at Hull City, to Premier League Brasil. “I like to put Marco Silva on the same level as Sampaoli, because he has a management model that I also look up to. Marco Silva has an excellent way of managing the group and his greatest characteristic is being rational and not emotional.

“I believe that in this role as a coach, if you let emotions take over, things get lost easily, because in football you have to deal with fans and the press.”

Chelsea have not held back in signing wingers over the last few years since Todd Boehly took over as owner of the club.

Last summer, they signed two from within the Premier League, bringing in Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United and Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Of course, in the prior transfers window, they brought in Cole Palmer and Rahemm Sterling, both from Manchester City and England international Noni Madueke, who signed from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. It has really been a point of focus for the Blues.

In the next transfer window, more wingers will join, namely 17-year-old wonderkid Estevao and Kendry Paez, who can also play as a number 10. Incredibly, the West Londoners are seemingly looking to add a world-class winger to their ranks, according to a recent report.

Chelsea target new winger

It is no secret that Real Madrid are blessed with an embarrassment of riches in forward areas. The likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior are two of the best players in the world, as is Brazilian international Rodrygo.

Transfer Focus

Well, according to reports from Spain, Chelsea are planning a summer move for the Los Blanocs number 11 and are hoping they can ‘to lure him away from Real Madrid’ with an enticing offer in the next few months.

This will not be a cheap deal for the West Londoners. They are willing to put a reported £103m on the table to complete what would be their third most expensive signing ever.

Chelsea are thought to be ‘confident that a substantial financial offer’ will be enough to convince Rodrygo and Real Madrid to complete the move.

Why Rodrygo would be a good signing

Rodrygo’s quality is undeniable. The Brazilian is a key player for Los Blancos, alongside the likes of Mbappe, Vinivus and Jude Bellingham. Naturally a left winger, he can often be seen playing on the right-hand side, where he has excelled again this term.

Across all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in 2024/25, the 24-year-old has scored 13 times and grabbed ten assists in 45 appearances.

As good as the Brazilian has been, it is not his best year in the famous white shirt. Last term, he scored 18 times across competitions, registering nine assists along the way as Madrid won the Champions League once again.

If Chelsea do manage to get this deal over the line, then they could well sign a hybrid of Estevao and Vinicius. Firstly, the similarity between Rodrygo and Chelsea’s new winger Estevao are clear to see.

Both players are exciting young Brazilian talents who are full internationals for the five-time World Cup winners. Estevao has already played for Brazil four times, despite being just 17 years of age. Not only that, the par are both right wingers, although Rodrygo can, of course, play on the left, too.

However, there are also stylistic similarities between the 23-year-old and his Los Blanocs teammate Vinicius. The Real Madrid number seven has 19 goals and 14 assists in 43 appearances this term.

The pair are certainly similar players. Direct and tricky wingers with an eye for goal and plenty of flair. That is certainly reflected in the stats via FBref.

For example, Rodrygo averages 5.08 shot-creating actions and 5.23 progressive carries per 90 minutes compared to Vinicius’ 5.21 shot-creating actions and 6.78 progressive carries.

Goals and assists

0.56

0.78

Key passes

2.44

2.15

Progressive passes

5.28

3.37

shot-creating actions

5.08

5.21

Progressive carries

5.23

6.78

Rodrygo would be an astounding coup for Chelsea if they can bring him in over the summer. Not only is he versatile, able to play on the right wing or the opposite left flank, but he would add directness and flair in the final third.

There is no doubt that £103m is a lot of money. With that being said, for someone who is a “future icon” as football talent scout Jacek Kulig believes, it might well be worth it.

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