Chelsea have now made contact to ask for information about a “world-class” player, ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop, according to a report.

Blues pushing for Champions League

Despite the drab 0-0 draw against Brentford at the weekend, the Blues remain in a strong position to end their two-year hiatus from the Champions League, sitting fourth in the Premier League table with just seven games left to play.

Should Enzo Maresca achieve his aim of Champions League qualification, the campaign will probably go down as a success, but there are still issues the manager will need to address in the summer transfer window.

One problem position has been goalkeeper, with Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen being used interchangeably, and there have been suggestions Maresca could bring Djordje Petrovic back into the fold next season.

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Petrovic has impressed on loan at Strasbourg, meaning he could also be given another chance at Stamford Bridge. Nonetheless, the option of bringing in a new goalkeeper from elsewhere remains on the table.

According to a report from Italy (via Chelsea Chronicle), Chelsea have now asked for information about AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop.

Aston Villa and Manchester United have also been named as potential suitors for Maignan, whose future at the San Siro remains up in the air, given that he is yet to sign a new deal to extend his stay with the Italian club.

Reports have valued the goalkeeper at £67m, but there is a feeling he could be available for half that price, should he refuse to put pen to paper on a new deal, with his contract currently set to expire in 2026.

"World-class" Maignan could be real upgrade on Sanchez

Sanchez has been extremely error-prone for the Blues this season, making five mistakes which have directly led to goals in the Premier League, the joint-highest number of any player in the top flight.

As such, it is little wonder Chelsea are thinking about signing a replacement in the summer window, and there are indications Maignan could be a real upgrade on the Spaniard, considering he has been lauded as “world-class” by members of the Italian media.

Not only that, but the Frenchman could be well-suited to Maresca’s passing style of play, given that he has expressed a willingness to get on the ball over the past year, ranking in the 80th percentile for touches, when compared to his positional peers.

It is clear that Sanchez will need to be replaced this summer, and Maignan has proven he could be a solid replacement, although it may make more financial sense to give the nod to Petrovic, who has put in some very impressive displays in Ligue 1 this season.

There is confidence that Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy can sign a record-breaking player at a discounted price, with his club eager to sell him to Spurs this summer as both parties look to strike a solution.

Tottenham's summer transfer plans amid uncertain Postecoglou future

A lot of the noise around Spurs is centered on Ange Postecoglou and his long-term future, with the north Londoners believed to be doing their due-diligence on potential successors for the Australian after a disappointing campaign.

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A host of managers are being linked with the Spurs job right now, including former fan favourite Mauricio Pochettino, but technical director Johan Lange and the club’s recruitment team must also be mindful of their transfer plans – with or without Postecoglou at the helm.

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Spurs want to reinforce their team across multiple areas of the squad, and are believed to be one of the many Premier League sides looking at Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen (Sky Sports), who is widely expected to leave when a club triggers his £50 million release clause.

Meanwhile, GiveMeSport have reported that Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson is a target for Postecoglou’s side, and it is believed he’d consider a move to N17 this summer despite reported interest from Man City.

Larsson would cost Tottenham around £50 million, so the 20-year-old rising star wouldn’t come cheap, and they’ve been surprisingly linked with a swoop for his teammate, Kaua Santos, who performed impressively against Spurs during their Europa League quarter-final tie.

Lange has personally held talks over a move for Santos, according to reports in Germany, while there is still some way to go when it comes to Mathys Tel and his long-term future.

The Frenchman joined Spurs on loan with an option to buy for around £43 million, but Tel has arguably had a slow start to life at the club and Levy may not want to pay the full amount to keep him long-term.

Bayern Munich hoping they can agree permanent sale of Mathys Tel to Tottenham

That is according to Kicker, via Sport Witness, who reports that Bayern Munich are hoping they can agree Tel’s permanent sale to Tottenham, and could let him join the club for a discounted price.

There is still confidence from both parties that a deal will be struck for the 19-year-old, and work is ongoing to reach a compromise ahead of the summer window. Tel has managed three goals in 13 appearances for Tottenham so far, but his versatility and sky-high potential would make him a useful asset for Postecoglou or any new manager.

The teenager is a record-breaker already, becoming Bayern’s youngest ever goalscorer in 2022 at just 17, attracting praise from Germany legend Thomas Müller.

“Mathys should keep doing his thing: firing shots in on goal. He’s a superb finisher,” said Muller. “He’s only 18 and is making the most of it at the moment. He’s always positive, always has a smile on his face and has great finishing in training and in matches.”

Leeds United could look to replace two of their players they don’t believe are good enough to be playing in the Premier League this summer, according to a new report.

Leeds take huge step towards Championship promotion

Leeds took a huge step towards automatic promotion from the Championship over the weekend as they beat Preston North End 2-1 at Elland Road. All three goals on the day were scored within a frenetic first 13 minutes, with Manor Solomon opening the scoring within just four minutes.

Preston then leveled just two minutes later through Kaine Kesler-Hayden, before Jayden Bogle completed the scoring when he bundled Solomon’s cross into the net.

The win ensured Leeds stay top of the Championship, ahead of second-placed Burnley on goal difference, and with just four games to go, within nine points of a guaranteed return to the Premier League.

Speaking after the win over Preston, Leeds boss Daniel Farke said: “Pretty good after an exhausting week. A priceless three points for us. Could have made our life easier. Must have been our highest xG this season – should have scored six or seven.”

“We were on it today, the fire was burning. We kept going and started really well and scored a really good second goal. It’s crucial we returned to good defensive behaviour. We were spirited but cool in the head.”

Leeds could soon replace Bamford and Piroe

According to a new report from Football Insider, Leeds are already looking ahead to next season, and more specifically the summer transfer market.

The publication reports that the Whites are “prioritising signing a striker this summer” because they don’t believe their current options, Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford, are of Premier League-quality.

Piroe has 15 goals in 42 Championship games this season, while Bamford has failed to find the net at all in 13 games.

Championship Top Scorers 2024/25
Player	Club	Goals
Borja Sainz	Norwich City	17
Joel Piroe	Leeds United	15
Josh Sargent	Norwich City	14
Josh Brownhill	Burnley	13
Dan James	Leeds United	12
Josh Maja	West Bromwich Albion	12

Football Insider claims that – despite him being the Championship’s second-top scorer this season – Leeds doubt whether Piroe can make the step-up to Premier League, while Bamford can’t be relied upon by Farke due to his injury history, with the pair on a combined £85,000-a-week at Elland Road.

Youngster Mateo Joseph, meanwhile, has bagged just three goals all term. As a result, Leeds and the 49ers Enterprises’ top priority this summer will be to sign a top-class striker.

As a potential replacement for Piroe and Bamford, former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking to Football Insider, recently urged Leeds to go out and buy former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham from AS Roma.

“Somebody like him who can lead the line, play as an out-and-out striker and gets you the goals,” Robinson said. “He’s proven in Serie A and proven in the Premier League, he’s a player that understands the league and has done well previously there.”

Leeds United are back in action in the Championship this evening as they prepare to host play-off hopefuls Bristol City at Elland Road in the penultimate game of the campaign.

The Whites secured their promotion to the Premier League on Easter Monday, after their 6-0 win over Stoke City, but still have to battle it out with Burnley to win the title.

Daniel Farke’s side need to win this evening to go back to the top of the division, and the German head coach could make a change to his starting XI by dropping Brenden Aaronson from the side.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The USA international was selected in the number ten position for the handsome win over Stoke last week, but was the only member of the attack who ended the game without a goal contribution.

Wilfried Gnonto scored a goal, Manor Solomon provided two assists, and Joel Piroe, of course, scored a staggering four goals, whilst Aaronson did not deliver a goal or an assist.

The American midfielder did not create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates and missed the only ‘big chance’ that came his way, as he failed to get in on the action against the Potters.

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Aaronson has scored one goal and failed to provide any assists in his last 14 appearances in the Championship for Leeds, which is why it could now be time, after promotion has been secured, for Farke to ruthlessly ditch him from the side.

The rarely-seen Leeds star who should replace Brenden Aaronson

The former Norwich City head coach should unleash the rarely-seen Largie Ramazani in his place, either as the number ten or out wide, with Gnonto moved into a central position.

It has been a difficult season for the Belgian dynamo since his permanent move from Almeria last summer. He has only started seven of his 27 appearances in the second tier and has been an unused substitute in four of the last five matches.

Ramazani, who was described as an “explosive” forward by journalist Joe Donnohue, has shown flashes of quality in the second tier this season, as shown in the clip above against Norwich City earlier this term.

Appearances (starts)

27 (7)

xG

3.86

Goals

4

Big chances created

1

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old star has been directly involved in six goals in the Championship, despite only starting seven times to date, which shows that the potential is there for him to make a big impact in the final third.

This is why Farke must consider bringing the rarely-seen whiz into the starting XI against the Robins this evening, because he could provide a threat at the top end of the pitch that they have not had with Aaronson in the team over the past 14 matches based on his return of goals and assists against his lack of game time.

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Ramazani could, then, use these last two matches of the season to prove to Farke and the club that he has what it takes to be a part of their Premier League campaign next season.

Following their heroics against Real Madrid, there is now a real chance Arsenal’s season could end in Champions League glory.

However, while that would be all fans will remember this campaign for years down the line, it would still be fair to describe their domestic season as a disaster.

While a significant reason for that has been the near-constant stream of injuries Mikel Arteta and Co have had to deal with, it’s also been down to several star players not performing at their best, with club captain Martin Odegaard perhaps the worst offender in this regard.

Since returning from his ankle injury in November, the Norwegian hasn’t been able to hit the heights of the last two years, and that may cost him next season, as recent reports have linked Arsenal to someone who could be a significant upgrade this summer.

Arsenal transfer news

On top of a new midfielder, Arsenal have also been linked with a plethora of wide talent in recent weeks, with perhaps the most consistent being Nico Williams.

The Athletic Bilbao star was touted for a move to the North Londoners last summer as well, but it seems like he could really be available for around £50m this year, and given his tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 42 games this season, that may be a fee well worth paying.

Likewise, the Gunners have long been linked with Raphinha, even before his move to Barcelona, and those rumours have once again reemerged this year, with reports suggesting he could be available for around £80m.

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While that’s an awful lot of money, it doesn’t seem too unreasonable considering he’s amassed a sensational tally of 30 goals and 23 assists in just 48 appearances this term, although if the North Londoners are going to sign Florian Wirtz, they might not be able to afford the Brazilian winger.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several top sides keen to sign the Bayer Leverkusen gem this summer.

Alongside the Gunners, the report claims that Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all interested in the German international, who could cost up to €130m, which is about £111m.

It would be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Wirtz’s immense quality and potential, one well worth fighting for, even if his arrival would be bad news for Odegaard.

How Wirtz compares to Odegaard

So, if Arsenal were to get ahead of the chasing pack and splash the cash on Wirtz this summer, they’d likely do so with the intention of having him start most games as an attacking midfielder, which would put him in direct competition with Odegaard.

With that said, who comes out on top when we compare them both? Well, from a pure output perspective, it’s an overwhelming victory for the Leverkusen star.

For example, in just 41 appearances this season, totalling 3040 minutes, he’s scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.46 games or every 108.57 minutes.

In comparison, the former Real Madrid gem has only been able to amass a tally of five goals and nine assists in 38 appearances, totalling 2896 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.71 games of every 206.85 minutes.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Wirtz vs Odegaard

Statistics per 90

Wirtz

Odegaard

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.51

0.37

Non-Penalty G+As

0.77

0.28

Progressive Carries

4.91

3.59

Progressive Passes

6.80

10.4

Shots

2.79

1.80

Shots on Target

1.26

0.60

Shot-Creating Actions

5.76

5.02

Goal-Creating Actions

0.85

0.55

Ball Recoveries

4.41

3.73

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

Unfortunately for the Gunners’ captain, he once again comes out on the losing side of this comparison, as the Pulheim-born gem, whom former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes has described as “the best midfielder in the world,” does better in most relevant metrics.

For example, he does far better in metrics like expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it would require a club-record bid, Arsenal should be doing all they can to bring Wirtz to the Emirates this summer, even if it sees Odegaard relegated to a squad role.

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Cole Palmer was sensational for Chelsea over the weekend in their 3-1 win over Liverpool.

Not only did he manage to find the back of the net to end a long goal drought, but he was a chance-creation machine, playing four key passes.

He also completed three dribbles out of three that he attempted, dazzling against the newly-crowned Premier League champions in a statement performance. At the end of the game, Roy Keane said the attacker is “one of these players you’d pay to come and watch, he’s that good”.

Enzo Maresca’s side are not short of top attacking quality, and they could add to the likes of Palmer in the summer by signing another left-footed attacking star.

Chelsea target new attacker

If recent reports are to be believed, one of the players the Blues are going to go all out to sign this summer is Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo.

Transfer Focus

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The Cameroonian attacker has been sensational this season, which has caught the eye of Chelsea.

According to a report from one Spanish news outlet, Mbeumo has ‘caught the attention of the Stamford Bridge club’s directors’.

As a result, they could now make a move to sign him this summer. It seems to be quite a concrete move, too, with his ‘next destination seems to be increasingly close’ to being Chelsea.

However, the Brentford forward won’t come cheap. The Blues are thought to be ‘preparing an offer that could convince Brentford to let him go’, this summer. The Bees could demand a fee as high as £51m if they are to sell their star attacker to their West London rivals.

Why Mbeumo would be a good signing for Chelsea

Mbeumo’s quality this season has been clear for all to see. He has played a huge role in the success of Thomas Frank’s side in 2024/25, helping them to reach ninth in the table and be within touching distance of a European spot.

Mbeumo, who was once described as a “deadly” attacker by Statman Dave, has been on fire in the Premier League. In 35 appearances, he has found the back of the net 18 times and registered a further seven assists.

One of the standout things about Mbeumo’s game is his consistency. The longest goal involvement drought the 25-year-old has had this season is three games, showing just how regularly he can contribute. Perhaps his standout performance came at home to Brighton and Hove Albion in a 4-2 win, when he scored twice and assisted another.

Although this is Mbeumo’s best season in the Premier League to date in terms of goals and assists, the Bees’ number 19 didn’t take long to adapt to the top flight of English football. In all four seasons of Premier League football so far, he has managed ten or more goal involvements.

Mbeumo record per season in Premier League

Season

Games

Minutes

Goals

Assists

Minutes per G/A

2021/22

35

2916

4

7

265

2022/23

38

2928

9

8

172

2023/24

25

1961

9

7

122

2024/25

35

3147

18

7

125

Stats from Transfermarkt

If there is one former Chelsea star Mbeumo might hope to replicate, it is legendary winger Arjen Robben.

The Dutchman played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but really made a name for himself at Stamford Bridge.

The Dutchman played 106 times for the Blues, scoring 19 goals and grabbing 23 assists in that time. His trademark skill saw him cut inside on his left foot from the right wing, drive at defenders before unleashing a wicked effort.

This is similar to Mbeumo, as his second goal against Brighton a few weeks ago highlighted. He picked the ball up just inside the penalty box, at the right-hand corner, set himself and fired a shot home. There was certainly a bit of Robben about that effort.

Should the Blues bring Mbeumo into the club, he could add consistency and a genuine goal threat off the right-hand side. He already has more goals than Robben did in the Premier League.

If he can continue on the current trajectory, perhaps the Brentford star can become even better in a Chelsea shirt than Robben was.

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West Ham have found themselves limping through this Premier League campaign, now sitting 17th in the table having only scored 37 goals and conceded 55 times.

Graham Potter, coming in halfway through the season, has struggled to get all of his ideas across, focusing more on defensive stability to gain some results and ensure the club’s safety, which could be confirmed this weekend.

Last season, with David Moyes in charge, the Hammers scored 60 goals, conceding 74 times. Therefore, despite West Ham’s poor start under Julen Lopetegui, Potter is likely to guide his side to a better defensive year.

So the focus next season will be back on the attack, looking to bridge the gap and get back towards that 60-goal mark, especially with talent such as Jarrod Bowen and Mohamed Kudus in attack.

Sadly, Kudus might not be at the London Stadium for too much longer.

The latest on Kudus' future at West Ham

According to reports from The Guardian, Kudus could be set to leave the club in the summer, with West Ham accepting a sale of their Ghanaian forward could be the best way to ‘boost their transfer budget’.

One interested club is Saudi Pro League side, Al-Nassr, where the 24-year-old could team up with Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Saudi club are reportedly preparing to “up the ante” in their attempts to lure Kudus away from London, with an offer of around £85m expected. West Ham signed Kudus for around £38m back in 2023 from Ajax, and a big sale just two years on could be good for their books.

Kudus has made 75 appearances for the Hammers so far, scoring 17 goals, providing 12 assists and totaling 5,883 minutes played.

Whilst the 24-year-old has struggled to find the same form this season as his debut campaign, it won’t be easy for the club to replace him, already forming a strong connection with Bowen at the top of the pitch.

How West Ham could replace Kudus internally

Luckily for West Ham, they already signed a young superstar winger back in the summer, with Luis Guilherme joining the Hammers from Palmeiras for a fee of around £25.5m.

Since his arrival, the 19-year-old has only made 12 appearances for the club, struggling for first-team opportunities in his first season in England.

When Guilherme was signed in the summer, Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall from Analytics United provided analysis on the Brazilian winger, labeling him “an impressively potent offensive asset”. This talent is something that has not dissipated, but is perhaps being protected whilst he acclimatises to the Premier League and the conditions of English football.

Luis Guilherme vs Mohammed Kudus comparison
Stats (per 90 mins)	Guilherme	Kudus
Goals	0.00	0.11
Assists	0.00	0.11
xG	0.20	0.25
xAG	0.07	0.09
Progressive Carries	2.00	3.49
Progressive Passes	2.00	2.85
Shots Total	1.88	2.60
Key Passes	2.00	1.08
Shot-Creating Actions	6.67	3.78
Successful Take-Ons	3.33	3.09
Stats taken from FBref

When comparing Guilherme’s underlying numbers with Kudus’ underlying numbers, it is important to include the context of the Brazilian’s minutes, only managing 133 minutes this season, which contributes largely to his per 90 metrics.

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However, you can begin to analyse the styles of each player, both being direct with the ball at their feet, looking to make things happen in the attacking third and create for themselves and their teammates.

Guilherme, in his minimal chances, has shown his creativity, producing shot-creating actions and key passes at a good rate.

Kudus may have a higher athletic ceiling than the Brazilian, being a nightmare to stop once he hits top speed and hurting teams in transition, but Guilherme is no slouch, described as an “electric” player with an “explosive first step” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Giving the young Brazilian a proper chance next season to fill Kudus’ shoes could be a much cheaper alternative, allowing them to spend those funds acquired wisely in other positions such as midfield.

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Apr 17, 2025

The Liverpool and Manchester City duopoly in the Premier League continues. Arne Slot has taken the title from Pep Guardiola, ending four years of dominance and doing so in his first season at the helm.

As all of a Liverpool persuasion will be aware, it’s gearing up to be a significant summer for the Anfield side, with sporting director Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, FSG’s chief executive of football operations, planning for a wave of first-team investment.

Last year, City enjoyed their record-breaking fourth Premier League title in succession, and most thought that they would retain their throne once more. Or, otherwise, fall against an Arsenal side that has been on the rise for several years now.

But it wasn’t to be. Liverpool, still bruised from Jurgen Klopp’s decision to step down from his long-held seat in the Anfield dugout, have been head-and-shoulders above their rivals since the early knockings.

Candidly, clinching the title has almost looked a formality since January, with the Darwin Nunez-inspired victory at Brentford lifting the Reds six points clear of second-place Arsenal, and with a game in hand at that.

But there’s been something missing. Nunez isn’t good enough and will be sold this summer, while various concerns relating to defence will call for change there too. However, Liverpool will jump on a new centre-midfielder if an opportunity presents itself.

The missing piece in Liverpool's midfield

In fairness, Liverpool’s midfield doesn’t need to undergo major surgery. Klopp’s dramatic rebuild of 2023 has proved a bona fide success, with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch starting the lion’s share of Liverpool’s Premier League fixtures and Wataru Endo earning cult status for his combative cameos.

Curtis Jones, 24, has also enjoyed the outstanding season of his career thus far, starting 17 league games and earning praise from his manager for his “complete” take on the midfield game.

It’s remarkable that these players have stepped up and delivered England’s prized trophy after FSG failed to convince Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi to leave the Basque Country and join this new project.

Liverpool opted against signing a different deep-lying midfielder and were met with frustration from supporters, derision from rivals. Gravenberch’s incredible rise from a previously middling role has been the core of Liverpool’s successful season.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

34 (34)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

4

Touches*

28.8

67.3

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.7

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.3

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.6

Duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.0 (58%)

Indeed, the owners’ decision has been vindicated now that Slot has sealed the club’s record-equalling 20th top-flight trophy.

There have been times when the engine room has looked a little tired of late, namely during costly defeats against Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final.

If the right player comes along, Liverpool will pounce, with one of the Premier League’s finest very much on Hughes’ radar.

Liverpool learn conditions for PL star

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have learned that it will take a mammoth fee of £80m to convince Crystal Palace to part with Adam Wharton this summer.

Liverpool are keen admirers of the deep-lying playmaker, who has been a revelation since joining the Eagles from Blackburn Rovers in the Championship last year for a £18m fee.

The 21-year-old is also on Man United’s radar, but given that he fits the profile to jockey with Gravenberch for that number six spot, it might be the perfect move for Slot’s fluid system.

Why Adam Wharton is perfect for Slot

Liverpool’s current midfielders have cemented their legacies and then some, joining the illustrious names of old: Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso.

Wharton has the talent to add his name too, hailed as an “unbelievable talent” by BBC analyst Raj Chohan after his incredible start to life in Oliver Glasner’s Palace team last season.

This term, despite injuries, he has played a big part for his London-based side, actually earning praise from respected journalist Henry Winter for being a “passing machine” as Aston Villa were comprehensively defeated in the FA Cup semi-final, also hailing him as “the best player on the pitch.” Big-game quality, confirmed.

As per FBref, he actually ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for both progressive passes and ball recoveries, the top 12% for shot-creating actions and the top 15% for assists per 90, perfectly illustrating his passing prowess and an athleticism that Slot seems to desire so greatly.

Wharton still has much to learn, but with such exciting ball-playing skills, he could take the shape of a former Liverpool star like Alonso, slotting into a similar role for the Reds’ flourishing coach.

Alonso might be one of the most esteemed managers at present, leading Bayer Leverkusen to an invincible domestic double last year and now the firm favourite to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, but he was once a superstar of a midfielder.

A Spanish maestro, Alonso starred across, winning the Champions League and FA Cup across five campaigns before walking that well-trodden path from Anfield to the Spanish capital, sold to Madrid in a £30m package back in 2009.

Gerrard once claimed that Alonso was his “favourite partner for club and country,” with the 43-year-old’s silky and cerebral approach to the midfield game something that opened up new lanes from which the robust Three Lions star could travel.

Wharton boasts a similarly high footballing IQ and could take the likes of Mac Allister and Gravenberch to the next level.

Transfer Focus

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Adding Wharton to the fold would certainly serve to elevate Slot’s existing midfield options, with the young playmaker operating in a deep-set role to influence and advance fluency in a similar vein to a former Liverpool hero named Alonso.

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Even after earning promotion to the Premier League, Leeds United could be about to lose one of Daniel Farke’s star men amid reports that Barcelona are now plotting a summer swoop for his signature.

Leeds celebrate title success

Whilst Leeds had reason to celebrate with or without the Championship title after earning automatic promotion, silverware simply added the cherry on top of what was a season full of moments to savour.

The open-top bus parade was for those who could not celebrate promotion in the 2019/20 campaign, and it more than made up for lost time as those in Yorkshire partied through the night.

Daniel Farke spoke about the pride that he has in his side after eventually coming out on top in the Championship, telling reporters: “I felt empty at the final whistle. I was too tired to celebrate. Even at half-time, it was complicated because I wanted to give the right message. I am proud to have achieved what we wanted to.

“Looking forward to being on the coach home and to close my eyes. I have to be ready again to celebrate this evening. Next week will be celebrating. I need the summer to recharge my energy.”

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At some point, of course, the celebrations will come to an end, and that’s when the focus may well shift towards what is a crucial summer transfer window for all involved at Elland Road. Leeds must get things right if they are to stay up, and it looks as though the 49ers are willing to spend the money to do exactly that.

Whilst reports have centred around potential incomings, Leeds could yet lose one of Farke’s most experienced players when the summer transfer window arrives.

Barcelona plotting Junior Firpo move

According to transfer reporter Graeme Bailey, Barcelona are now plotting a summer swoop to sign Junior Firpo, who is currently on course to leave Leeds as a free agent at the end of June. Yet to sign a new contract, the defender’s agent has now reportedly held talks with a number of suitors, which may have included Barcelona.

Reporting on Firpo’s future, Bailey told Leeds United News: “He’s been speaking to numerous clubs, Spain is close to his heart. There appears to be a preference, I do know he’s had a lot more interest in recent weeks. Which is not a surprise, given his performances.

“There has been some interest in England, Everton, with Angus Kinnear and Nick Hammond. It’s down to Firpo, I am told he inching towards Spain. Barcelona have even looked at him as a no.2, Betis are there as well. It does sound like he’s heading back to Spain; his people have had a lot of talks.”

Hailed for his “tremendous” performances this past term, Firpo could now be about to take his talents to one of the biggest clubs that European football has to offer.

Chelsea are now preparing a £60m swoop for an “insane” forward, who has put in some very impressive performances in the Champions League this season, according to a report.

Blues set sights on new striker

With Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku struggling in front of goal since the turn of the year, it has become apparent that Enzo Maresca will need to bring in a new striker in the summer transfer window, and a number of targets have been identified.

Talks have been opened over a deal for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, and there is a feeling the Blues could be willing to fork out a fee of £65m for the Sweden international, although they will face competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Newcastle United.

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Given Gyokeres’ huge price tag, however, it could be wise to consider alternative options, and it has recently emerged that Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap is set to be available for just £30m this summer, should his side be relegated from the Premier League.

Delap has been extremely impressive in front of goal in the Premier League this season, but according to a report from Spain, Chelsea have now set their sights on one of this season’s Champions League revelations, namely Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy.

The west Londoners are preparing a €70m (£60m) offer for Guirassy’s services, given that the striker has shone in the Champions League this season, most recently scoring a hat-trick against FC Barcelona in the quarter-final.

Serie A giants Juventus and Napoli are also interested in signing the Borussia Dortmund star, but Stamford Bridge is said to be his most likely destination this summer, with Maresca looking to bring in a striker who guarantees goals, amid concerns over Jackson.

"Insane" Guirassy could be huge upgrade on Jackson

Despite some promising signs near the start of the season, Jackson has been largely ineffective in front of goal this season, while Guirassy has been extremely impressive in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League throughout the campaign.

The Guinea international has amassed a remarkable 36 goal contributions in 40 appearances in all competitions, having been particularly prolific in front of goal in Europe, prior to his side’s exit at the hands of Barcelona earlier this week.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Bundesliga

25

15

3

Champions League

14

13

5

U23 football scout Antonio Mango has lauded the France-born striker as “insane” in the past, and his performances this season suggest he deserves to be playing in the Champions League next season, which is now extremely unlikely to be the case at Dortmund.

As such, it seems likely that a move to Stamford Bridge could appeal to Guirassy this summer, should the Blues manage to qualify for the Champions League, which underlines the importance of Chelsea having a strong end to the campaign.