Mikel Arteta was handed a major boost earlier this week with the Gunners finally sealing a deal for Viktor Gyokeres, but Arsenal haven’t had it all their own way.

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The Sporting CP striker and his camp are now putting the finishing touches on his blockbuster Premier League move after weeks of talks. Arsenal reached an agreement in principle to sign Gyokeres for around £64 million nearly a fortnight ago (The Athletic), with the hold-up centered around final bonus payments.

Arsenal’s confirmed transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

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

25/26 – summer

£140m

However, it appears that any and all issues have now been rectified, and Gyokeres is about to become their sixth signing of the summer after Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera.

It is worth noting that Gyokeres, despite his incredible 54 goals in all competitions last season, wasn’t always sporting director Andrea Berta’s main target, nor was he Edu Gaspar’s constant priority either.

Arsenal also worked on a deal for Benjamin Sesko at around the same time they started moving for Gyokeres (BBC), and they tried to sign the Slovenian last summer as well as in January (Ben Jacobs).

According to reliable media sources, Newcastle United star Alexander Isak was also a “dream” signing for Arteta at one stage (Fabrizio Romano).

Arsenal informed Alexander Isak is focused on joining Liverpool

The north Londoners, as per journalist Graeme Bailey, gave up hope of signing the Swede after being informed that Isak is focused on joining Liverpool if he is to depart St. James’ Park.

Chelsea were apparently told exactly the same thing, with Arsenal swiftly moving on to Gyokeres as they prepare to welcome Isak’s international teammate.

Isak’s rumoured price tag of around £150 million was always too steep for Berta and co, even if Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie suggests a deal would more likely be done around the £130 million mark, which would still smash the Premier League’s all-time transfer record.

Eddie Howe’s side are set to dig their heels in over any potential exit for their star striker, especially after his exceptional 2024/2025.

“Alex is a world-class talent,” said Howe in a December press conference.

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“The way he took his goals, he has that coolness and composure very few have. When you add into the mix his technical skills, I think he’s got it all.

“He has unique skills, and the challenge is to get him into the game as much as we can. Earlier in the season we weren’t doing that, but now the team are performing much better.

“He’s a player with a real confidence and we’re seeing a return to his really best levels – that’s highlighted by the goals he has scored.”

Continuing their search for a striker, Newcastle United could now reportedly jump ahead of Bayern Munich to sign a towering forward whose technique has been compared to Lionel Messi’s.

Isak agrees terms with Liverpool

Things could be about to get worse before they get better at St James’ Park this summer. Fresh reports have now revealed that star striker Alexander Isak has already agreed personal terms with Liverpool, who are now waiting for an opening to submit their first bid.

Liverpool’s interest follows the bombshell news that Isak is looking to leave Newcastle this summer and has reportedly gone AWOL in the hope of pushing through an unexpected departure.

Not for the first time this summer, Newcastle have been put in an unenviable position in the transfer market and must push to get their business done as the Premier League campaign draws near.

On that front, however, those at St James’ Park may need to prepare themselves for even more rejection amid reports that Benjamin Sesko favours a move to Old Trafford.

The RB Leipzig forward is the subject of a Premier League battle between Manchester United and Newcastle, but the Magpies already reportedly believe that he will choose the Red Devils this summer.

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As such, Newcastle must once again take a look down their long list of striker targets and go in pursuit of what could quickly turn into a replacement for Isak. And if it’s the towering Sesko profile that they’re after, then one particular option should be their top priority.

Newcastle eyeing Woltemade hijack

As reported by The Sun, Newcastle are now eyeing a deal to sign Nick Woltemade ahead of Bayern Munich, who have hesitated to complete their move after welcoming Luis Diaz from Liverpool.

The 6’6 VfB Stuttgart striker enjoyed an incredibly impressive season in Germany – scoring 17 goals in all competitions – and quickly followed that up with six goals in six games to win the Golden Boot at the U21 Euros.

The German has unsurprisingly received high praise from all those who have seen him at his best, including from Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor, who said: “Woltemade has Messi’s technique! I think I recognise a good footballer quickly and Nick caught my eye from the first week of training.

“The most important thing for us is to involve Woltemade enough in the game but he can do that as a deep-lying striker between the lines or as a true No.9 in the opponent’s box. Because we know what we have in Nick: he’s a two-metre-tall (Jamal) Musiala or Messi!”

Chelsea must watch on from afar as a highly-rated former starlet aims to make a name for himself at Premier League rivals Liverpool, and those within Stamford Bridge were left ‘shocked’ after his departure.

The Blues’ penchant for attracting world football’s most dazzling young talents has been a key theme of their business in recent years.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Ever since Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital’s takeover in 2022, Chelsea have broken records for the number of youngsters in their squad, with OptaJoe revealing Enzo Maresca fielded the youngest ever starting eleven in Premier League history last season.

Despite some calls for Chelsea to sign players with more experience, this theme is unlikely to change any time soon. This window alone, Maresca has seen Dario Essugo, Estevão Willian, Mamadou Sarr, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Kendry Páez and Jorrel Hato join the club, with the oldest of them being only 22.

Chelsea are also in talks to sign both Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho, according to Sky Sports, while Football Transfers reported earlier this week that Maresca could sign another ‘exciting youngster’ too if one becomes available before the deadline.

BlueCo’s youth obsession is no accident – it’s their masterplan.

Chelsea have poured over £1 billion into signing the world’s brightest upcoming stars – stacking their future with talent before it hits peak value.

On the pitch, it means building a squad that can evolve together. The club’s average age will continue to be one of the lowest in Europe – with Maresca’s system set to potentially thrive on energy and development.

He’s now got a group hungry to prove themselves, not fading stars on bloated wages.

However, Chelsea’s desire to grow a roster rich with world football’s most promising starlets doesn’t mean everyone will be along for the ride.

Chelsea annoyed after losing Rio Ngumoha to Liverpool

Last summer, promising teenager Rio Ngumoha swapped west London for Anfield, and Chelsea were reminded of that fact when the 16-year-old scored a brilliant solo goal in the first of a double-header against Athletic Bilbao earlier this week.

The winger became Liverpool’s second-youngest ever senior debutant against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup last term, and many are wondering whether Arne Slot is planning a first-team role for him after an excellent pre-season.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to TBR Football, Chelsea have maintained a frustration after losing Nguhoma to Liverpool, and were left shocked by his move up north.

“Chelsea know how good Ngumoha is. They were annoyed to lose him. It was a real frustration for them to see him walk away,” said Bailey.

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“They know losing players is part and parcel of the academy system now – you just have to make sure you have more wins than losses.

“However – within football – Ngumoha was a name that everyone knew about. He had offers from everywhere, but Chelsea were shocked that he left.

“Now he is impressing at Liverpool, it is fair to say that Chelsea’s annoyance is not going away – but to see him become a success is not a shock to anyone at Stamford Bridge.”

The London-born attacking gem is certainly one to watch, with John Terry once calling him a “top player” and tipping Nguhoma for stardom.

Manchester United have now identified a “phenomenal” midfielder as their new dream target, and they are hoping to get a deal wrapped up before the transfer deadline, according to a report.

Man Utd halt Baleba pursuit with Brighton demanding £100m+

Man United were willing to break the bank to sign Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, despite being quoted over £100m, but they have now halted their pursuit of the midfielder, given that the Seagulls are extremely reluctant to sanction a departure.

Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler has also asserted that he is “very, very confident” Baleba will remain a Brighton player beyond the September 1st deadline, and United have now been forced to move on to alternative targets.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that United are well-placed to win the race for Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand, despite rival interest from Juventus, but reports from elsewhere suggest INEOS are hesitant about spending £69m on the Danish midfielder.

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However, according to a report from Spain, the United board ‘highly value’ Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, suggesting they are big fans of the Englishman, who has now emerged as the new dream midfield target.

Wharton is viewed as an alternative to Baleba, and INEOS are clearly looking to get a deal wrapped up soon, having formulated plans to sign him before the transfer deadline, rather than waiting until the January transfer window or next summer.

There is a belief the 21-year-old would be an ideal fit for Ruben Amorim’s side, having sought a player capable of providing balance in midfield for quite some time, and the youngster could even be brought in as a replacement for Casemiro.

However, a deal will not be easy, given that Palace are in no hurry to sanction a departure, with the Eagles looking to receive at least £40m for the England international, who is one of their key players.

"Phenomenal" Wharton could be exciting Baleba alternative

The former Blackburn Rovers man is certainly held in very high regard by the Crystal Palace faithful, with Dan Cook of HLTCO singling him out for high praise during the 2024-25 campaign.

However, there are doubts over whether the Palace star would be a like-for-like alternative to Baleba, given that he excels at creating chances and advancing the ball up the pitch, while the Cameroonian flourishes defensively.

Average per 90 (past year)

Adam Wharton

Carlos Baleba

Assists

0.13

0.03

Progressive passes

7.21

3.96

Tackles

2.09

2.64

Interceptions

1.35

1.62

Blocks

0.94

1.55

That said, Wharton is a different type of player to Baleba, he is Premier League proven, which aligns with the type of signing Man United are looking to make this summer, and the reported £40m asking price is very reasonable.

Glasgow Rangers have officially confirmed that Youssef Chermiti has arrived at Ibrox on a permanent deal to bolster Russell Martin’s options at the top end of the pitch.

Cyriel Dessers’ transfer to Panathinaikos, the team Rangers beat in the Champions League qualifiers earlier this season, has also been officially confirmed by the Scottish Premiership giants.

Chermiti joins Bojan Miovski in arriving at Ibrox to improve the manager’s options in the final third ahead of the rest of the first half of the 2025/26 campaign.

Rangers in pursuit of new winger

The two strikers may not be the only forwards to arrive in Glasgow before the deadline passes later this evening, though, as the club are looking at another attacker.

Transfer Focus

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

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According to RangersReview, Glasgow Rangers maintain an interest in Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi heading into the final hours of the window.

The report mentions the club’s ongoing pursuit of the English forward as part of their round-up ahead of the deadline, following the Dessers and Chermiti announcements.

This means that the Gers are still looking to bolster their attack with a further addition before the window slams shut, with a deadline-busting move for Rak-Sakyi still on the cards.

Why Rangers should sign Rak-Sakyi

Kevin Thelwell must push to get this late deal over the line in the coming hours because he could add a different profile to what Martin currently has at his disposal in the final third, as the club’s new Vaclav Cerny.

The bore-draw with Celtic on Sunday highlighted the lack of diversity out wide for Rangers, as Djeidi Gassama was forced to play on the right wing, unable to do much but go back the way on his right foot when he could not take Kieran Tierney on down the outside.

Last season, Cerny provided something different in the attack as a left-footed forward who could cut in from the right to score and create goals for the team, ending the campaign with 12 goals and four assists in the Premiership, per Sofascore.

24/25 Championship

Rak Sakyi per 90

Percentile rank vs wingers

Non-penalty xG

0.32

Top 13%

Goals

0.36

Top 11%

Shots on target

0.88

Top 22%

xA

0.18

Top 22%

Assists

0.10

Bottom 47%

Successful dribbles

2.44

Top 7%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Rak-Sakyi offered a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the Championship on loan at Sheffield United, but was not rewarded with the assists that his creativity deserved.

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The 22-year-old star, who was described as a “frightening” forward by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored seven goals and provided two assists in 22 league starts for the Blades, and previously scored 15 goals and assisted eight goals in 40 League One starts for Charlton.

Like Cerny, he is a left-footed right winger who looks to cut in to provide a constant threat in the final third, and his performances in England suggest that he could bring a lot of quality to Ibrox.

Rak-Sakyi could also be another loan signing, as Cerny was with Wolfsburg, and make a big impact in a short time in Glasgow, without the club having to shell out millions on a permanent move, which is another reason why this could be a shrewd piece of business if they can beat the deadline.

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Everton still just have enough time to complete some deadline day transfer business, and they are closing in on a deal for a “difference-maker” to reinforce their midfield.

Moyes keen on defensive signing for Everton

The Blues have made an impressive start to the season in the Premier League, recovering from their defeat to Leeds United by sealing back-to-back wins at home to Brighton and away to Wolves.

Despite this, Everton manager David Moyes would still like to see new faces added on deadline day, pinpointing a new defender as a priority because of injuries in that area.

“It already has changed a lot of my plans because, obviously, we’re without Jarrad and we have been without Myko for, certainly, the first couple of games. We had this at the end of last season as well, we’ve had it all through the summer.

“It’s not as if we’ve necessarily got it better. We’ve got people back, but others are injured. We’ve just got to make sure that we’re not short again if we can help it – and certainly we were short for the first two games in the Premier League.”

That said, a fresh update suggests that Everton are now looking to snap up a midfielder who can add more quality in the middle of the park this season and beyond.

Everton on verge of "difference-maker" Merlin Rohl signing

The Athletic‘s Patrick Boyland reported on Monday morning: “Everton exploring deadline-day move for Freiburg’s Merlin Rohl. Long-time target but still lot to do to get it over line before 7pm deadline. CM a priority area.”

And Boyland has now revealed the deal is close to completion, with the player already having a medical as a loan with obligation to buy move draws closer. The obligation will be around €20m (£17m).

Rohl is the type of player who could add so much quality to Everton’s midfield, with the 23-year-old statistically similar to former Blues midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, possessing box-to-box energy.

The Freiburg ace has won 25 caps for Germany across four different youth age groups, while his former manager, Christian Streich, has lauded him.

If Everton do land a deal for Rohl, and potentially also sign a new right-sided defender, it would complete an impressive summer transfer window that has improved as it has gone on.

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The likes of Jack Grealish, Tyler Dibling and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have added quality and creativity to Everton’s team, and Rohl could do exactly the same.

The international break might well have come at the best possible time for Aston Villa.

After all, their opening results back in the Premier League this season have been nothing short of abysmal, with a seriously worrying 3-0 defeat last time out to Crystal Palace leaving them without a win from their first three league clashes.

On top of giving the Villans some room to assess after a poor start, the break has also given Unai Emery apt time to be at the training ground and work out where new recruits Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho fit in.

Having both arrived through the door on deadline day, the Spaniard will be praying that both the loan signings can be positive influences moving forward that lift his out-of-sorts side from their current malaise.

What Elliott & Sancho can offer Villa

Despite arriving in the Midlands as loanees initially, it’s safe to say both Elliott and Sancho are already well-versed in the challenges of the Premier League.

The midfield duo can boast 184 top-flight appearances between them in England, with Sancho just fresh off another loan stint himself with Chelsea, away from parent side Manchester United.

The reserve Red Devils figure came into his own at Stamford Bridge, with a promising seven goal contributions coming his way from 34 league appearances for Enzo Maresca’s Blues.

As another temporary option for Emery to call upon down the wings, Sancho could well go down as a shrewd acquisition, considering his transfer valuation, as per Football Transfers, stands at £27m.

Elliott may also be capable of the spectacular, scoring a crucial goal in the Champions League against PSG and firing home against Brighton towards the end of the campaign. However, his quality wasn’t enough to convince Arne Slot he deserved more game time, with only two starts afforded to him by the Dutchman in the league throughout 2024/25.

While he has often been utilised as an impact substitute at Anfield, the 22-year-old will surely be capable of offering even more quality to the Villa attack alongside Sancho, with the £33m-rated star up to 15 Premier League goal contributions himself.

While Sancho and Elliott will no doubt become key figures in the team at some point this season, Emery already has one dependable figure who’s worth more than the summer signings.

The Villa "monster" worth more than Elliott & Sancho

Despite experiencing such a slow start out of the blocks, Emery and Co can still flex some expensive assets in their camp.

Villa were fortunate to keep both Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers around past the chaotic transfer window, with Rogers’ value increasing all the way up to a jaw-dropping £99m, according to the CIES Football Observatory, amid interest in his services from Sancho’s parent employers.

Boubacar Kamara has also undergone a similar transformation at Villa Park, with the French midfielder’s valuation continuing to soar, having initially joined the West Midlands club on a free transfer.

The energetic 25-year-old has been a regular presence in the Villa treatment room since he left his native France behind in 2022 – with a hamstring concern already derailing his 2024/25 season – but he has consistently shone at the heart of Emery’s midfield when fit, having even been branded a “monster” by Sky Sports’ Adam Bate for his tenacity centrally.

Indeed, his fierce, battling nature was clear for all to see on the opening day of the Premier League, with a whopping ten duels won in total as Villa and Newcastle United played out a tense stalemate.

Emery’s men arguably lacked this same bite against Palace with Kamara missing, with his assured nature on the ball – which saw him average an 89% pass accuracy last season in the league – further bolstering the argument that he’s a guaranteed starter when injury niggles aren’t shackling him.

Kamara’s rising value at Villa

Date

Kamara’s value

Now

£47.6m

March 2025

£38m

January 2024

£40m

July 2022

£0

Sourced by Football Transfers

Off the back of being consistently dependable when fit, Kamara’s value now stands out at a mightily impressive £48m, which is more than both Elliott and Sancho, despite considerable fanfare greeting their arrivals.

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While these new additions will undoubtedly boost a goal-shy Villa outfit, it could be that Kamara’s eventual return from injury empowers Emery’s downbeat side even more, having been a stable glue for the Villans for many a season now.

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Everton haven’t always come out the other side of a summer transfer window with instant hits on the pitch.

Nobody connected to the Premier League giants looks back on the summer of 2021 with much fondness when it comes to the capture of Moise Kean, with the Italian forward only managing to bag a poor four goals for the Toffees in total, before ripping it up back in Serie A.

This is, unfortunately, just part and parcel of being deeply involved in the beautiful game, with plenty of mishaps always possible. However, David Moyes isn’t experiencing that right now.

Instead, the much-loved Scotsman seems to have struck instant gold with most of his pick-ups in the window, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s positive start to life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium somewhat slipping under the radar.

Dewsbury-Hall's positive start at Everton

This is understandable, too, considering Dewsbury-Hall has been competing for the spotlight with Jack Grealish, who already has a stunning four assists next to his name on Merseyside.

Still, Grealish’s whirlwind introduction at Everton shouldn’t detract from his former Chelsea teammate looking equally revitalised, with the 27-year-old midfielder now looking to be back at his very best.

Indeed, after an ego-bruising experience at Stamford Bridge saw him line up just 13 times for the Blues in the Premier League, it was clear that the ex-Leicester City ace needed a reset, and that has successfully come his way under Moyes’ tutelage.

The hope will be that the Toffees’ number 22 can kick on even more after his bright start, though, with a promising goal and an assist heading his way in league action after creating a high eight big chances.

After all, seven goal contributions had fallen into his lap for the Foxes in the big time previously, despite only experiencing two seasons at the level, with a prolonged stay in the division perhaps getting even more out of the £25m signing in the long run.

Shockingly, however, one of Everton’s flops in the same vein as Kean is now performing with the same confidence Dewsbury-Hall has just obtained, after once being discarded by Carlo Ancelotti for a mere £12m.

The Everton flop now playing like Dewsbury-Hall

Everton fans will have pushed Ancelotti’s reign firmly to one side now, with the Italian showing flashes of promise here and there in the dug-out during his stint at Goodison Park.

Of course, it goes without saying that Ancelotti is an exceptional manager, with a mind-blowing five Champions Leagues in his managerial trophy cabinet, but even the very best are going to struggle if they have some middling duds to try and get a tune out of.

Davy Klaassen is one of those the well-travelled boss could never quite get on board with, with the Dutchman only going on to make seven forgettable Premier League appearances for the club, before the plug was pulled on his spell in England. Staggeringly, just one solitary assist is all Klaassen could shout about from 16 total appearances for the Toffees.

Everton would then have to stomach a loss when selling him to Werder Bremen in 2020, having forked out a reported £23.6m for his services, only to discard him a year later for far a lower £12m fee.

Klaassen – Eredivisie stats (25/26)

Stat – per 90*

Klaassen

Games played

6

Games started

3

Goals scored

2

Assists

1

Touches*

36.2

Accurate passes*

24.4 (87%)

Total duels won*

3.6

Stats by Sofascore

He has since bounced back from his “complete dud” label at Everton, which was once handed to him by Joey Barton, with his early Eredivisie form for Ajax this season rivalling that of Dewsbury-Hall back in England, with three goal contributions coming his way from just three starts.

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That likeness to the Englishman has also been noted by Football Transfers, with the pair deemed to be stylistically and statistically similar players. Indeed, both men appear to be at their best in a creative, advanced midfield berth, with Klaassen rolling back the years in that sense this season.

With 3.6 duels won on average, too, it’s clear that there is life still in the 32-year-old, with the Ajax veteran even going out of his way to state that he feels “right at home in Amsterdam” earlier this year, away from his misadventures elsewhere.

Certain players just suit certain clubs after all, with Klaassen now hopeful he can see out the rest of his up-and-down playing days in the Dutch capital.

For the time being, at least, Dewsbury-Hall will also want to stick it out at Everton, with the Merseyside Derby up next, another occasion where the 27-year-old can hopefully flex his creative prowess for Moyes and Co.

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The only person criticised more than a struggling Premier League player is a top flight referee. Most decisions are scrutinised, the time it takes to make a decision is often at the centre of complaints and wrong decisions steal headline after headline. But it’s not just the fans that despise VAR.

Graham Scott: VAR is "utterly unenjoyable"

The introduction of VAR was supposed to take away any controversy in certain decisions. Diving would be eradicated, offsides made undeniable and most headlines could finally centre around the football. Six years on, however, the Video Assistant Referee has done none of those things. In fact, all it has done is increase the noise surrounding refereeing decisions.

Fans often make their opinion known and so do the managers in the Premier League. Burnley manager Scott Parker told reporters about his frustration after his side suffered a late 3-2 defeat against Manchester United in a game that saw the Clarets have a goal narrowly chalked off.

It’s not just the managers and fans who have been critical of the technology, though. Former referee and VAR official Scott recently told talkSPORT: “Off the field you can’t control anything and the noise now is insane. It’s almost unbearable and it becomes an extremely challenging role. Then, layering on top of that being VAR, as I’ve tried to convey in my piece, being a VAR is utterly unenjoyable.”

The former referee didn’t hold back after that, either, and even revealed the time that he felt sorry after a decision against Alexis Mac Allister.

Scott reveals devastation over Mac Allister decision

Continuing, Scott revealed that he felt devastated after ruling out Mac Allister’s stunning goal against Leicester City. The then-Brighton midfielder thumped home an unstoppable strike, only for VAR to intervene and rule the goal out for a marginal offside against Enock Mwepu after five minutes of checking.

Speaking about the decision, Scott told talkSPORT: “He scored probably the best strike from outside the box I’ve ever seen and you just put your head in your hands. You think, ‘I am going to have to chalk this off now’, and you look at the replay, ‘oh no, his shoulder looks like it might be off’.

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“And you draw these tiny lines and think ‘this is gonna end badly, I can tell’ and you end up going I’m really sorry but I’m gonna have to disallow this goal that everyone’s loved and the crowd has gone mad. You spend minutes hoping it’s alright and it’s not.”

In a rare insight into the life of a referee, Scott revealed the struggles of being a VAR official and shared similar frustrations with the managers as well as the fans in the Premier League.

Chelsea have now joined the race for a “flamboyant” forward, who is also being targeted by Bayern Munich, it has been revealed.

Blues set sights on another young forward

Jamie Carragher has repeatedly made it clear he isn’t a fan of the Blues’ recruitment policy, suggesting the ownership are now focusing too much on signing young players, rather than trying to compete for major trophies.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “Chelsea are not being judged to the same standard they were under Abramovich because they are hiding behind a prolonged transitional phase, which keeps extending by targeting a similar profile of young players in each transfer window.”

In truth, it is difficult to disagree with the former Liverpool man, given that a number of the Blues’ summer additions haven’t exactly hit the ground running, with young wingers Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho failing to register a Premier League goal or assist between them.

It was arguably a questionable decision to focus so heavily on bringing in new forwards in the summer, given that it may have made more sense to sign a new centre-back following the ACL injury suffered by Levi Colwill.

However, it appears as though Chelsea are set to continue their current approach in the transfer market, with a report from Absolut Fussball revealing they have recently joined the race for FC Koln forward Said El Mala, who is attracting widespread interest.

Indeed, El Mala is also being targeted by Bayern Munich, and a number of the Premier League’s top clubs, with Brighton & Hove Albion making an approach in the summer, at which point a deal may have amounted to €20m (£17m).

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The Blues and Todd Boehly could make a sizeable saving in the market.

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However, the German side may soon be able to fetch a higher transfer fee, given that a number of big clubs are keen, following an impressive start to the campaign…

"Flamboyant" El Mala off to solid start in the Bundesliga

Despite being just 19-years-old, the starlet has already established himself as an important player for FC Koln, having made six Bundesliga appearances this season, during which time he has amassed two goals and one assist.

Most recently, the Germany U21 winger scored the only goal of the game as his side triumphed 1-0 away at Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, which led to his side moving up to sixth place.

The FC Koln star has also been praised by Jacek Kulig in the past, with the scout describing him as a “flamboyant” winger, who is skilled at creating chances and dribbling, while also possessing an impressive work-rate.

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El Mala clearly has the talent to be a success at Stamford Bridge, but it would make little sense to bring in yet another young winger, having signed Gittens and Garnacho during the summer.

Instead, it would be a better idea to bring in a new centre-back in January, given the scale of the injury crisis Enzo Maresca faces, with Colwill expected to miss the majority of the season.