Somerset returned to the top of the South Group after knocking off their target with 45 balls to spare
ECB Reporters Network11-Jun-2024Riley Meredith led the rout as Somerset bowled Middlesex out for 78 at Lord’s – their lowest ever score in the history of Vitality Blast cricket.The 27-year-old Tasmanian with six white-ball caps for his country took 4 for 12, while Craig Overton, Josh Davey and the competition’s leading wicket-taker Ben Green took two apiece in the nine-wicket romp.Middlesex only got within two runs of their previous worst score – 80 against Kent at Lord’s three years ago – thanks to as defiant 10th-wicket stand of 28 between Tom Helm and Noah Cornwell, who top scored with 15 apiece.Tom Banton, 49 not out and Tom Kohler-Cadmore 30 not out were both given lives as Somerset sealed a third win of the campaign. Middlesex remain bottom of the South Group.As well as Meredith and Overton bowled up top, Middlesex contributed to this debacle by batting with reckless abandon. Pinch-hitter Martin Andersson crashed two fours through the covers in the opening over after Middlesex were put in, but once he skied Meredith to mid-on in the next, the rot set in.Stephen Eskinazi fell to a cross-batted slog, before Meredith had Holden taken at mid-on to an even worse heave. Overton cranked up the pressure with a maiden to Ryan Higgins, during which the all-rounder failed to lay bat on ball and in the aftermath Joe Cracknell, back in the side for the sick Leus Du Plooy edged Meredith’s best ball of the match through to wicketkeeper Banton.Davies too had perished by the time the opening bowlers took their leave with the Lord’s tenants in tatters at 34 for 6.The competition’s leading wicket-taker Ben Green didn’t enter the fray until the score was 50 for 7 but made an instant impression taking the wickets of Luke Hollman and Blake Cullen with his first two balls.Cornwell saved the hat-trick before celebrating his call-up to the England U19s by clubbing Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory into the Grandstand but that was about the only cause for cheer for the beleaguered hosts.Will Smeed fell for only one caught on the fence off Helm and had Davies clung on to an inside edge from Kohler-Cadmore in the next over bowled by Cullen Middlesex might have made a fist of it, but the chance was grassed.Middlesex’s misery was compounded when Cornwell was forced from the field mid-over with a hand injury caused trying to take a return catch off one smashed back at him by Banton.Thereafter the Somerset duo settled down, both striking sixes into the Grandstand as the Cider-men romped home with 45 balls to spare.
Arsenal are on the lookout for promising talent this summer and could now beat Liverpool and Chelsea to one of Europe’s top young talents, according to a report.
Arsenal look to kickstart a summer of note
The Gunners have aspirations of claiming Premier League glory after coming close in years gone by and a big few months is expected by all involved at the Emirates to shift the balance of power that Liverpool currently hold.
Mikel Arteta previously promised a high turnover of players at Arsenal, stating earlier this year: “It’s going to be a big one and we are very excited about it. The way we planned the first five summers, they were going to be very big, and they were going to have different objectives.
“There were a lot of players with three, four or five-year contracts. So the turnaround of the squad and how you visualise the next five years was very dependent on that.”
Jakub Kiwior and Aleksandr Zinchencko could leave Arsenal to help create room for new blood in North London. A few others may join them, but who has been lined up to sign on the dotted line at the Emirates Stadium?
Understandably, Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres is the Gunners’ main target to strengthen their forward line following his return of 54 goals in 52 matches across all competitions, though he isn’t the only high-profile name linked with a move elsewhere this summer.
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Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens could also be on his way to Arsenal if they can see off competition from Chelsea for his signature.
In a crowded market where deals are there to be done, Arteta may have designs on showing their London rivals who the boss is on more than one occasion.
Arsenal readying bid to sign Ajax defender Jorrel Hato
According to TBR, Arsenal are now readying a bid to sign Ajax defender Jorrel Hato after holding talks with the Eredivisie giants over a move for the Netherlands international.
Valued at around £40 million, the Rotterdam-born man is also the subject of interest from Chelsea and Liverpool, with the former also taking part in discussions to bring him to West London.
Jorrel Hato’s strong campaign for Ajax in 2024/25 – Eerdivisie (Fotmob)
Tackles won
36
Chances created
18
Long ball accuracy
60%
Duels won
128
Aerial duels won
51
However, he sees the Emirates as an ideal destination to continue his development and is viewed as someone who would fit Arteta’s philosophy ‘perfectly’ over the coming years.
Labelled “fantastic” by Jordan Henderson,, the 19-year-old has been followed by the Gunners over the last four years and the fact that Kieran Tierney has went back to Celtic alongside potential exits for Zinchenko and Kiwior has made the pursuit come to life.
Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly remain as potential left-back options, but Hato would definitely take Arsenal closer to where they need to be if all parties can come to an agreement.
Everton are believed to have entered the race to complete the signing of a relegated Premier League player in the summer transfer window.
Moyes pushing for new Everton signings
The Blues continue to be linked with new signings on a daily basis, with David Moyes knowing the importance of bringing guaranteed quality to the club this summer. One such figure is reportedly Fenerbahce ace Oguz Aydin, with the 24-year-old winger enjoying a strong 2024/25 season with the Turkish giants, bagging 10 goal contributions (seven goals and three assists) in 18 Super Lig starts.
VfB Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade has emerged as arguably one of Everton’s more exciting rumoured transfer targets, especially as the likes of Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid are also eyeing him up. A tally of 12 goals in 17 Bundesliga starts in 2024/25 sums up why he is such a sought-after attacking player, having recently broken into the Germany set-up.
Jarrad Branthwaite isn’t guaranteed to remain a Blues player beyond the summer window, so a top-quality replacement needs to be looked at, and Burnley’s Maxime Esteve has been talked about as a potential successor. He enjoyed a fantastic campaign with the Clarets, playing a huge part in them conceding just 16 goals in their 46 Championship matches.
Everton enter race to sign Premier League defender
According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, Everton are interested in signing Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters ahead of next season. The Blues are “among the clubs joining the race” to snap up the 28-year-old, who will no doubt be keen to stay in the Premier League, following Saints’ relegation to the Championship. West Ham and Fulham are named as suitors, too.
Walker-Peters looks like an ideal option for Everton this summer, with the Englishman now a proven Premier League player who can thrive as both a right-back and a left-back. He would come straight in as a key starter, replacing Ashley Young, and it would be a surprise if he looked out of his depth, having matured into such a reliable performer, being lauded by journalist Adam Blackmore in the past.
“I wonder how important he’s become. You look at what happened in the summer [rumoured transfer interest] and you just wonder by the end of the season how important keeping him will have been. He’s such an integral part of what they’re doing. It’s almost like the team is built around him to get the most out of him.”
At 28, Walker-Peters isn’t past his best, so there wouldn’t be that risk with Everton signing him, and there is no reason why he can’t be an important player for Moyes for the next four or five years.
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He now has 148 Premier League appearances to his name, not to mention two caps for England, so it is difficult to see many negatives to the Blues securing his services.
Burnley have “entered the fray” in the race to sign a young midfielder in the summer transfer window, according to a new update regarding the Clarets’ upcoming business.
Burnley preparing for Premier League return
After the joy of sealing promotion from the Championship back to the Premier League this season, Scott Parker will know the importance of the club bringing in top-quality players ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
In fact, the Burnley manager has gone into some depth as to how he hopes the summer window will pan out, with the club needing to be shrewd in the market:
“We’d like to be, of course. We’ll be searching, we’ll be in the market. At the same time, we’ve got an incredible squad here that has absolutely given me and this football club absolutely everything. We’ll try and be clever, we’ll try and improve where we can improve, but again, we probably won’t really have a clear idea until we actually know what the market is and where the market is for everything.”
The fact that all three promoted sides have gone straight back down to the Championship in the past two Premier League seasons highlights the gulf that now exists between the top flight and the second tier, again highlighting the need for reinforcements at Burnley.
Burnley enter race to sign 18 y/o winger
According to Africa Foot [via Sport Witness], Burnley have “entered the fray” to sign TP Mazembe winger Faveurdi Bongeli this summer.
The 18-year-old is a wanted man currently, with Crystal Palace among those named as possible suitors, and the report states that talks have intensified, albeit not stating which exact clubs are in discussions with him.
Bongeli isn’t yet a household name, considering he is such a young player and isn’t plying his trade in one of Europe’s top leagues, but that’s not to say he won’t be a strong addition for Burnley.
At just 18 years of age, the winger has already won three caps for DR Congo’s Under-20s, ahead of what could be a good international career at senior level, and he has made four appearances for the first team at his current club.
Burnley need to be focusing on both long-term signings and immediate additions in the summer, with Parker knowing that he needs some individuals who can go straight into his squad as proven Premier League footballers.
That said, it is also vital that the Clarets don’t simply focus on the present and ignore young talent, which is where Bongeli coould come into play.
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Scott Parker could unearth Burnley’s next Ashley Barnes in a move for this Premier League striker.
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The teenage attacker clearly wouldn’t be signed as someone who would be in the starting lineup on the opening day of next season, but he could develop into a top player over time, either enjoying time in Burnley’s youth team to begin with, or potentially even heading straight out on loan for a year.
Sunderland supporters have been seriously put through the wringer by their side in recent memory, with League One football even on the menu back in 2019.
But, all that agony and woe surrounding the Black Cats has been finally lifted courtesy of Regis Le Bris’ heroics from the dug-out, as the Frenchman proudly brings Premier League football action back to the Stadium of Light.
The hope will be that Sunderland’s emotional 2-1 win over Sheffield United will keep Jobe Bellingham around for a little while longer, amidst interest from elite sides such as Borussia Dortmund.
But if that is to be Bellingham’s swansong moment, he delivered yet another classy display for his top-flight-bound side from the middle of the park, alongside a whole host of other standout performers.
Sunderland's best performers vs the Blades
Before looking at the other heroes in Le Bris’ camp, Bellingham stood out once again as a key part of the young and promising Sunderland side.
The in-demand number seven would only misplace six of his 55 passes when offering the Black Cats calm through the middle on such a tense stage, whilst also winning six duels to display more grit and fight than an underperforming Sydie Peck for the Blades.
Bellingham wasn’t the only star who managed to show up for the big occasion, however, as Daniel Ballard put in another imperious display defensively when winning his own sizeable duels count of 11, whilst Eliezer Mayenda also shone when levelling the proceedings as a pacey option up top.
But, the main talking point afterwards was Tommy Watson’s last-minute winner, with the homegrown Wearside product capitalising on a lax pass by Kieffer Moore to fire home a stunning effort to seal Sunderland’s progression back up to the big time.
That was one hell of a parting gift from the 19-year-old hotshot, who is set to join Brighton and Hove Albion this summer for £10m.
Indeed, Watson is perhaps the club’s next Jordan Henderson as he goes on to potentially affirm himself as a Premier League regular with the Seagulls.
Why Watson could be Sunderland's next Henderson
Amazingly, Henderson was only one year older than Watson when his big move to Liverpool occurred.
He never looked back after waving goodbye to his boyhood club either, leading to the now Ajax man going on to make 492 appearances for the Reds, alongside winning 83 England caps.
Therefore, Watson will be aiming to follow in Henderson’s footsteps as an equally talented and promising starlet through the middle – albeit one who unfortunately does their best work away from the Stadium of Light.
After all, from only 24 first-team games to date, the 19-year-old is up to three strikes with the best left till last when breaking Blades hearts. To add context, Henderson would only power home two more efforts himself donning Sunderland red and white, even from 55 more outings.
U18s
40
18
7
U21s
31
13
11
First team
24
3
0
The attacker’s blistering numbers for the Black Cats at both an U18 and U21 level also show off a prodigy ready for the bright lights of the Premier League, albeit now without his hometown side.
Still, everyone associated with Sunderland will be overjoyed that it was one of their own that got them back up to the promised land regardless of his next onward route, with Roker Report writer Andy Tomlinson handing out an 8/10 post-match rating to Watson subsequently.
There will be a concern that Watson is only getting started and will be taken to new heights on the South Coast, much like Henderson managed at Anfield.
But, whatever does happen across Watson’s lengthy career to come, he will always have this moment of magic on his resume that took his boyhood employers back up to the Premier League.
Jobe Bellingham holds positive talks to leave Sunderland before play-off final
It feels like everything that could have gone wrong for Tottenham Hotspur this season has gone wrong.
Granted, there have been more than a handful of games in which either Ange Postecoglou has got something terribly wrong or his players have massively underperformed, but one thing has ravaged their campaign this year: injuries.
For example, there have been plenty of occasions in which the club have had just a single centre-back fit or no striker to play up top, and it has undoubtedly wreaked havoc on a side who have it in them to beat anyone on their day.
This terrible misfortune with injuries struck again recently, as Dejan Kulusevski is now set to miss the rest of the campaign, meaning that with no James Maddison either, Posetcoglou is going to have to make a bold decision on the midfield ahead of this weekend’s game and next week’s Europa League final.
Spurs' injury crisis
While there have been points in which Spurs have had even more players out with injury, the current situation can fairly be described as a crisis due to the number of players who play in the same position who are out and the simple fact that the biggest game in the club’s recent history is right around the corner.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The two biggest misses are undoubtedly Maddison, who injured his knee in the first-leg win over Bodo/Glimt and will be out until pre-season at the earliest, and Kulusevski, who came off against Crystal Palace on the weekend with what first looked like just a knock to his knee, but then turned out to require surgery, meaning he too will be out for a few months.
Worse still, the North Londoners will be without the incredibly impressive Lucas Bergavll, with the manager confirming yesterday afternoon that he has only just “taken his first tentative steps on the grass.”
Other than those three key players for the Lilywhites, Radu Dragusin is also out of contention due to the ACL injury he picked up in February, and now Timo Werner is confirmed to have suffered a hamstring injury in the same month, which is why he hasn’t featured since then.
In all, Spurs are not in great shape for the next two games, with their lack of natural attacking midfield options a serious concern.
However, with tonight’s game not mattering all that much in the grand scheme of things, Postecoglou has the chance to try something a little unorthodox to solve this problem ahead of the final next week.
Spurs' Kulusevski & Maddison solution
So, the truth of the matter is that Spurs do not have an ideal solution for the lack of a natural attacking midfielder at the moment, but there are at least a few unusual solutions that Postecoglou could try ahead of next week.
Perhaps the most realistic is bringing Son Heung-min back into the starting lineup and playing him in the most attacking midfield role.
Now, it is true that the South Korean international hasn’t got the speed or agility he once did, but he still has excellent technique and an evidently high football IQ.
Exp. Assisted Goal
0.36
Top 4%
GCA (Live-ball Pass)
0.57
Top 4%
SCA (Live-ball Pass)
3.80
Top 6%
Goals + Assists
0.71
Top 7%
Shot-Creating Actions
5.13
Top 7%
Assists
0.40
Top 8%
Goal-Creating Actions
0.66
Top 9%
Passes into Penalty Area
2.25
Top 12%
We can see this in some of his underlying numbers, as according to FBref, the “incredible” ace, as dubbed by Postecoglou, sits in the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers for expected assisted goals, goal-creating actions from his live passes, the top 6% for shot-creating actions from his live passes, the top 7% for goals plus assists and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.
So, with his ability to play dangerous passes still undeniable, playing him in the middle with rapid runners on either side of him, like Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson, could be the key to unlocking Aston Villa’s defence tonight and Manchester United’s on Wednesday.
Finally, on top of his technical brilliance, the former Bayer Leverkusen star remains the club captain, and with how important and pressurised this next week will be, his presence in the team may be needed more than ever.
Ultimately, it’s not an ideal situation that Spurs find themselves in, but with what is practically a dress rehearsal for next week tonight, Postecoglou can try and solve the team’s injury crisis by playing Son in attacking midfield.
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Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought Chelsea in 2022 after a much-publicised process. The sense then was that the Blues would need to brace themselves for a very different era compared to under Roman Abramovich.
Under Abramovich, Chelsea had spent unbelievable amounts of money to put themselves at football’s top table. There was no expectation that anything like that could follow without his wealth.
And yet, if anything, things have been even crazier. Chelsea have broken the English transfer record on multiple occasions, racking up record spending and completely changing their squad. And that’s despite Premier League finishes of 12th and 6th under Boehly.
So what exactly have they done? Football FanCast has detailed every Chelsea transfer since Todd Boehly’s consortium set foot in west London.
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Zakaria is Chelsea’s cheapest signing to date – though, he wasn’t a permanent one. The Blues brought him in on a season-long loan from Juventus but he never really became a regular.
The Athletic claims it cost them around £2.5m upfront and while there was an option to buy, Chelsea never looked like using it.
2 Gabriel Slonina – £8m
Chelsea signed teenage goalkeeper Slonina for £8m, per The Athletic, and immediately loaned him back to the MLS side. He did finally join up with the Blues in January but is yet to play a senior game for them. He’ll now spend this season on loan with Belgian club Eupen. Still only 19, there’s a long way to go with Slonina.
3 Joao Felix – £8.8m (loan)
Joao Felix scores for Chelsea
The second, and final, loan deal on this list. Chelsea moved to sign Felix last January, paying £8.8m (The Guardian) to have him for only five months.
It was a surprising deal on the face of it but then, it wasn’t long ago that the Portuguese playmaker was considered one of the best young players on the planet. He was decent enough at Chelsea, but not to a point where they’d fight to keep him permanently.
4 David Datro Fofana – £10m
Fofana arrived at a time when Chelsea desperately needed goals. He barely featured after joining, however, starting only one Premier League match and playing a total of 68 minutes in the top flight.
The Blues just didn’t seem to rate him after the £10m transfer (BBC). He’s now off on loan in Germany with Union Berlin where he’ll hope to get back on track.
5 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – £10m
Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Aubameyang arrived from Barcelona to be the striker who scored the goals for Chelsea last season. However, it did not work out that way.
The former Arsenal star made only 15 Premier League appearances and scored just once – so no one was shocked when he left on a free this summer.
It was a strange deal to sign him, too, with Chelsea paying £10m plus full-back Marcos Alonso, says Sky Sports. Just one that didn’t work at all.
6 Angelo – £12.95m
Angelo has had some hype around him for a while – and certain numbers show why. He’s the youngest player in the history of Brazil’s top flight, having debuted at 15, while he boasts well over 100 senior appearances at only 18.
Chelsea have an exciting one here, and it’s no wonder they paid £12.95m to get him (The Athletic).
7 Djordje Petrovic – £14m
With Edouard Mendy in Saudi Arabia and Kepa Arrizabalaga in Madrid, Chelsea have turned to twice-capped Serbian international Djordje Petrovic to come in and challenge Robert Sanchez for the number one spot at Stamford Bridge.
The 23 year old has been impressing in the USA for MLS side New England Revolution for a couple of years, making 43 appearances for The Revs in the league.
It was obviously enough to impress the higher-ups at Chelsea as the club spent £14m to secure his signature, tying him down to a seven year deal (BBC Sport).
8 Deivid Washington – £17m
Santos strikerDeivid Washington.
At just 18 years old, Deivid Washington joins the ever-growing list of exciting young Brazilians who have opted to join Chelsea this summer as they make their way to Europe to further their footballing careers.
That said, Washington isn’t just here to make up the numbers, as despite making just nine Serie A appearances for Santos, Chelsea had seen enough to convince them that a £17m (Sky Sports News) offer would be money well spent on the youngster.
With just hours left of the transfer window, it would appear that the former Santos youngster will be staying in West London this season, potentially allowing him to show the league just what he can do.
9 Andrey Santos – £18m
Andrey Santos Chelsea
Santos is very highly rated in Brazil, having shone for Vasco as a teenager. It was enough that Chelsea paid £18m (BBC) to sign him in January – despite the fact he couldn’t get a work permit.
Instead, the midfielder went back on loan to Vasco in March until rejoining the Blues this summer. Hopefully, we’ll see what all the fuss is about soon.
10 Diego Moreira – Free
As of the end of the 2024/25 season, Diego Moreira has only made one senior Chelsea appearance, coming early in Mauricio Pochettino’s reign during an EFL Cup win over AFC Wimbledon in August 2023.
Since then, the Belgium-born Portugal U21 international has been on loan at Lyon and Strasbourg, being a regular starter in Liam Rosenior’s impressive outfit, who may yet find themselves in a Champions League qualification place.
As for Moreira’s Chelsea future, it remains to be seen whether his progress in the French top flight will be enough for Enzo Maresca to want him hanging around the first team.
While their Premier League ambitions have ultimately come to nothing for a third season on the bounce, Arsenal have started to look far better in recent weeks.
They dispatched Fulham at home and Ipswich Town away in the league and utterly dominated Real Madrid home and away in the Champions League, with the likes of Mikel Merino, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka stepping up in a big way.
However, another player has really started to come good in recent weeks: Gabriel Martinelli.
He was simply sublime against Fulham, scored the winning goal at the Bernabeu and then bagged his 50th for the club at Portman Road at the weekend, but even then, it might not be enough, as recent reports have linked the Gunners’ with a Ballon d’Or contender who could be a dream upgrade on the Brazilian.
Arsenal's hunt for a new winger
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other names linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Rafael Leao.
The AC Milan superstar is enjoying another brilliant campaign at the San Siro this season and has already amassed a haul of 22 goal involvements in 45 appearances, but according to reports, it would cost the Gunners around £86m.
A slightly cheaper but nonetheless exciting option is Viktor Gyokeres.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Sporting CP star was on the Gunners’ radar last year, but it looks as if he really could be making his way to the Emirates this summer, and considering he’s scored 47 goals and provided 11 assists in just 46 appearances this term, he’d be more than worth the reported £60m price tag.
Another star from the continent who’d be more than worth his price is Raphinha.
According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are one of several sides who have been hinted at by intermediaries that they could sign Barcelona star Raphinha this summer.
Alongside the North Londoners, Liverpool and Chelsea have also reportedly been told they could land the Brazilian superstar this year, although to do so, they’ll have to stump up the club’s asking price of around £80m.
It could be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Raphinha’s ability, it’s one well worth fighting for, even if it would be bad news for Martinelli.
How Raphinha compares to Martinelli
Now, while Raphinha can play on both wings and has even played in attacking midfield at times, he’d almost certainly play off the left were he to join Arsenal for two reasons: it’s his most played position, and nobody is going to displace Bukayo Saka.
FCBarcelona'sRaphinhacelebrates after Fermin Lopez scored their fifth goal
With that said, Martinelli would likely be the former Leeds United star’s most significant competition for game time in North London, so who comes out on top when we compare them?
Well, when it comes to their raw output, which is what matters most for an attacker, it’s not even close, as the Barcelona ace comes out miles ahead.
For example, in 48 appearances this term, totalling 3924 minutes, he has racked up a frankly astonishing tally of 30 goals and 23 assists, which comes out to an average of 1.10 goal involvements every game or one every 74.03 minutes.
It’s the sort of output which more than justifies Thierry Henry’s shout for him to win the Ballon d’Or earlier in the season.
In contrast, the Gunners’ number 11 has scored nine goals and provided six assists in 44 games, totalling 2978 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.93 games or one every 198.53 minutes, which is hardly even comparable.
Appearances
48
44
Minutes
3924′
2978′
Goals
30
9
Assists
23
6
Goal Involvements per Match
1.10
0.34
Minutes per Goal Involvement
74.03′
198.53′
Furthermore, on the international stage, the “amazing” Barcelona star, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 33 appearances for the Seleção, whereas the former Ituano gem has scored just two goals in 16 appearances.
Ultimately, while Martinelli has stepped up in recent weeks and is starting to look like the player from the 22/23 campaign, his output still pales in comparison to Raphinha’s, so if there is any chance of signing the latter, Arsenal must take it.
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The incredible international could be just what Arsenal need.
Chelsea will take a commanding lead back to Stamford Bridge after they hammered Legia Warsaw 3-0 away from home in the Conference League on Thursday evening.
The Blues heavily rotated their squad for the trip to Poland and one of the young players who came in scored their first goal for the club, as Tyrique George opened the scoring.
Noni Madueke added two goals to his seasonal tally in the second half with two strikes that were assisted by Jadon Sancho, which has left Enzo Maresca’s side in a terrific position ahead of the second leg.
The Conference League is the last chance for Chelsea to win a trophy before the end of the 2024/25 campaign, whilst they continue to compete for Champions League qualification from their Premier League season.
Despite the comfortable win, there were some negatives to come out of the trip to Legia Warsaw, as centre-forward Christopher Nkunku saw his penalty saved.
Chelsea’s strikers have failed to consistently perform across all competitions this season, and it is an area for concern ahead of the summer transfer window.
Why Chelsea need a new centre-forward
Nkunku’s missed penalty against Legia Warsaw means that he has now scored one goal in his last 18 appearances against Premier League level or Conference League teams.
The France international has also failed to register a goal or an assist in any of his last six matches in all competitions, as the ex-RB Leipzig man has been unable to prove his worth to the team in a centre-forward position.
Nkunku has not done enough with his chances this season to seriously push Nicolas Jackson for the starting role in the Premier League, with a return of five goals from 5.58 xG and seven ‘big chances’ missed in the Conference League this term.
Neither Jackson nor the French flop, however, have delivered ruthless performances in front of goal in the top-flight, leaving Maresca without a reliable goalscorer in the number nine position for all of his first season at Stamford Bridge.
Appearances
26
25
xG
4.83
11.70
Goals
3
9
Minutes per goal
310
208
Big chances missed
6
17
Assists
2
5
As you can see in the table above, both of Chelsea’s strikers have underperformed against their xG in the Premier League and missed more ‘big chances’ than they have managed goals scored.
These statistics show that the Blues lack a number nine who can make the most of the high-quality opportunities that the team can create for the striker in Maresca’s system, as they have racked up more than 16 xG between them.
This is why Chelsea should make signing a new centre-forward a big priority to bolster their squad in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Chelsea open talks to sign Premier League striker
According to journalist Simon Phillips’ Substack, Chelsea have opened talks to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The report claims that the Blues have ‘reopened’ discussions over a deal to bring the England U21 international to Stamford Bridge to compete with Jackson and Nkunku for a starting spot in the team next season.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that the Premier League giants are ‘very serious’ about getting a move over the line for the former Manchester City star and that they want to get it done before the Club World Cup kicks off in the middle of June.
The Guardian recently reported that Delap has a clause in his contract that will allow him to leave Ipswich for £30m this summer if the Tractor Boys are relegated from the division. They are currently placed in 18th and are 12th points adrift with seven matches to go.
This suggests that it could be a fairly reasonably priced deal for Chelsea to complete this summer, which is one of a number of reasons why the Blues should ensure that they win the race for his services.
Why Chelsea should sign Liam Delap
As well as his price tag, the club should swoop to sign Delap from Ipswich because he could supercharge Cole Palmer by providing the England international with the clinical number nine that he has yet to have in a Chelsea shirt.
The Tractor Boys star has outperformed Jackson and Nkunku in the Premier League this season, in what is his first season in the top-flight after loan spells with Stoke City and Hull City in the Championship in recent years.
As you can see in the graphic above, Delap has scored three more goals and missed seven fewer ‘big chances’ in comparison to the Senegal international, outperforming his xG by roughly three goals.
The 22-year-old marksman, who joined Ipswich from Manchester City last summer, has also shown that he can do it against some of the top teams in the league, as shown by the goal against Aston Villa in the clip below.
Delap has proven himself to be a Premier League-grade centre-forward who can excel in front of goal by outperforming his xG, which suggests that he would thrive alongside a creative talent like Palmer.
Appearances
34
30
Goals
22
14
Key passes
72
75
Big chances created
17
20
Assists
11
7
As you can see in the table above, the Chelsea superstar has created a staggering 37 ‘big chances’ for his teammates since the start of last season, but has only been rewarded with 18 assists for his efforts.
This suggests that Palmer has suffered as a result of the underperformance of Chelsea’s strikers – Nkunku and Jackson – and that is why he could be supercharged by the signing of a clinical forward like Delap.
Chelsea'sColePalmerreacts
The left-footed playmaker’s assist tally could balloon next season if he has a striker, like the £30m-rated star, who can outperform his xG instead of underperforming, to create ‘big chances’ for on a regular basis.
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It is now down to the club to push to win the race for Delap in the summer transfer window and the latest report on them opening talks to sign him is a step in the right direction.
Everton are not trundling but charging into the final stretch of the season, not threatened by relegation but thriving under David Moyes.
Last weekend’s stunning result over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground ended a six-match run without win in the Premier League, though a narrow defeat to Liverpool at Anfield was the only loss in that timeframe.
Abdoulaye Doucoure
Oh, The Friedkin Group will already be looking ahead to the summer transfer window and to next season, and Moyes will too, but the Scottish manager’s focus will remain on the current campaign as he further shapes his understanding of the tools at his disposal.
19/04/25
Goodison Park
Manchester City
26/04/25
Stamford Bridge
Chelsea
03/05/25
Goodison Park
Ipswich Town
10/05/25
Craven Cottage
Fulham
18/05/25
Goodison Park
Southampton
25/05/25
St. James’ Park
Newcastle United
Change is afoot for the Toffees, and it’s not just the scenery that will be restyled. However, there are some players who are proving their worth, proving they can be key features over the coming years.
Jake O’Brien is very much one of them.
Jake O'Brien's emergence
Last season, O’Brien was called a “revelation in defence” for Lyon in Ligue 1 by European football expert Zach Lowy, but few of an Everton persuasion were revelling in his signing before Sean Dyche received the boot.
Indeed, the 6 foot 6 defender stood on the sidelines for the majority of his time on Merseyside before Moyes saw his worth and fashioned him into a makeshift wide man.
Now, he’s undroppable, very much starting to look like something of a revelation in the Premier League as he helps Everton toward their mid-table resurgence.
Everton's Jake O'Brien
Since continuing his dreary role as a bit-parter on Moyes’ (second) Everton debut against Aston Villa, a narrow defeat at Goodison Park, O’Brien has started invariably at right-back, something that seemed patchwork at the start but has become an increasingly comfortable and, in the best way, unnoticeable journey.
Well, largely unnoticeable, with the Irishman actually chipping in with two important goals during recent draws against Brentford and West Ham United.
The 23-year-old’s emergence has come at a cost to another, however, with Ashley Young’s services rendered… not useless, but certainly not worth renewing his current contract as he heads toward his 40th birthday.
Everton veteran is now finished
Young has been a stout presence at Goodison Park over the past few years, signing on as Dyche’s first arrival in July 2023 after his contract with Aston Villa expired.
Ashley Young looks dejected for Everton
However, the 39-year-old, who has entered the final few months of his current deal, has waned since Christmas, last starting in the Premier League during the home loss to Villa in January, a game that saw him make a direct error, cede possession 18 times despite only making one key pass and also win just one of three duels.
It’s safe to say he is not the “machine” that Antonio Conte once described him as during his stint at Inter.
The £40k-per-week veteran may not have any plans to retire just yet, but Everton run the risk of stagnating, should they not recognise the need to part ways with such ageing players at this reshaping moment. Especially, in Young’s case, since O’Brien has been in such fine form.
O’Brien excels in doing the basics well, yet to make a mistake in the Premier League while winning 54% of his duels and averaging 4.5 clearances per game, as per Sofascore.
These almost pragmatic patterns of play, carried with a central defender’s air but nuanced enough to bring his own brand to the full-back berth, suggest that Moyes may yet stick with his Irish star across the upcoming campaign, especially with Nathan Patterson there to provide support.
For Young, a somewhat sad ending given he has fallen into the darkness of the sidelines since Moyes’ return to the club, but it’s understandable that he should part ways at this watershed moment in Everton’s history.
Bramley Moore brings with it a new dawn, and O’Brien is proving himself worthy of a star spot.
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