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It’s been a brilliant summer transfer window for Chelsea so far this year.

The Blues have generated a considerable amount of revenue through sales and have more than backed Enzo Maresca in terms of signings.

The likes of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro have joined the side from fellow Premier League sides, while Jorrel Hato and Jamie Gittens are two of the most exciting youngsters from the continent.

Moreover, with five days left until the window closes, Chelsea seem intent on making more signings, and should they fail to land Xavi Simons, could go after someone who’d be their own Eberechi Eze.

Chelsea target their own Eze

Chelsea have been linked with a host of brilliant attackers this summer, including RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.

Transfer Focus

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

In fact, the Flying Dutchman feels like he has been touted for a move to Stamford Bridge for an age now, and while it’s been made abundantly clear he wants to join Maresca’s side, he is still in Germany.

Interestingly, while reports continue to claim that the Blues are working on bringing him to the club, it now looks like they have a backup in mind, someone who could be their own Eze.

At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which has claimed Chelsea are interested in Morgan Rogers.

The report has revealed that, alongside Tottenham Hotspur, the West Londoners are big admirers of the Aston Villa star, and that should they fail to sign Simons, they could focus all of their attention on him.

It wouldn’t be a cheap deal to get over the line, though, with the story claiming that it’d take an offer of at least £80m to tempt the Claret and Blue into selling their dynamic superstar.

Even so, Rogers has more than proven over the last year and a half that he would be worth such an outlay, especially as he could become Chelsea’s own Eze.

Why Rogers could be Chelsea's own Eze

There are plenty of similarities between Rogers and Eze, and in this case, specifically, one of them could even be the transfer itself.

If Chelsea were to decide to go all in for the Villa star, then there would be parallels to the deal that saw Arsenal sign the Crystal Palace star from under their noses just last week.

Additionally, both players are stars of the Premier League, leading figures in their respective teams, and now regularly feature in senior England squads.

There are also key similarities in their playstyle.

For example, while both are now thought of as primarily attacking midfielders, they’re more than capable of playing on the wing.

Moreover, they’re well-rounded attacking threats who are just as comfortable scoring goals as they are creating chances for their teammates.

For example, despite playing for a mid-table side last season, the Gunners’ new “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 appearances, totalling just 3303 minutes.

Appearances

54

43

Minutes

4496′

3303′

Goals

14

14

Assists

16

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.55

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

149.86′

132.12′

In other words, the Greenwich-born superstar managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.

For his efforts, the Halesowen-born “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, scored 14 goals and provided 16 assists in 54 appearances across all competitions last season, totalling 4496 minutes.

That means the often “unstoppable” midfielder, as dubbed by former Liverpool defender turned pundit Jamie Carragher, was able to average a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 149.86 minutes.

Last but not least, and this is hard to quantify, but on top of being ruthlessly effective at times, both midfielders are also great entertainers, and more than capable of getting fans on their feet as well as winning games.

Ultimately, even if Chelsea do sign Simons this summer, they should go all out for Rogers, as he could become their own Eze.

Their next Palmer: Chelsea have a new "generational" £45m transfer target

The sensational talent could become Chelsea and Maresca’s new Palmer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 28, 2025

Fast bowler will travel with the squad on Friday having been forced to miss a UAE training camp

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2025Saqib Mahmood has finally received his visa for England’s upcoming limited-overs series in India, meaning he will be able to travel with the team to Kolkata on Friday ahead of Wednesday’s first T20I.Mahmood, who is of Pakistani heritage, had encountered a delay in obtaining the travel document, forcing him to miss an England training camp in the UAE. Two other members of the T20I squad of similar background – Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed – had received their visas earlier.The Lancashire seamer had encountered similar issues in the past when, in 2019, he was replaced for an England Lions tour of India following a drawn-out visa process. In 2024, he sat out Lancashire’s pre-season tour having anticipated the same problem, months after England offspinner Shoaib Bashir missed the first Test against India in Hyderabad due to the slow processing of his visa.Mahmood was supposed to attend a pace-bowling camp in Abu Dhabi ahead of the India tour, led by fast bowling consultant James Anderson, which featured the likes of Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Mark Wood. Those plans were scuppered by the fact the Indian Embassy still had his possession of his passport, with Mahmood having originally intended to travel to the UAE with the group last Thursday.The 27-year-old has been on something of a comeback trail, overcoming consecutive lower-back stress fractures to return to the international fold last year, and was named player of the series during England’s T20I series in the Caribbean in November, taking nine wickets at 10.55. With 29 appearances in all formats, including two Test caps against West Indies in 2022, Mahmood will be keen to impress head coach Brendon McCullum who is now in charge of England’s red- and white-ball sides.

We finally seem to be at the end of the summer’s biggest saga so far, with Newcastle United’s pursuit of Hugo Ekitike seemingly ended by Liverpool. It was confirmed by journalist Julien Laurens that Eddie Howe’s side are ‘out of the race’ to sign the Frenchman.

Whilst that is a blow to the Magpies, with the striker seemingly set to move to the Reds now, it does increase the chances of Alexander Isak remaining at St James’ Park this season. Fabrizio Romano reported that Newcastle ‘insist’ on the fact that their first-choice striker is not available for sale this summer.

To help supplement Isak up front, it still seems as though the North East outfit will pursue a new number nine.

Newcastle’s new striker target

Whilst their move to sign Ekitike this summer failed to materialise, it still seems apparent that the Magpies wanted to sign a centre-forward this summer. Well, if the new reports to break are true, then that is still very much the case.

Transfer Focus

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

A recent report from talkSPORT confirms the fact that Newcastle are after another number nine this summer, and claim they ‘are ready to join the race’ for Brentford forward Yoane Wissa.

Howe and the higher-ups at St James’ Park might see an opportunity to sign the DR Congo because he is ‘pushing to leave’ the Gtech Community Stadium this summer.

However, there is fierce competition for the 28-year-old. He is wanted by former manager Thomas Frank, now at Tottenham Hotspur, with Nottingham Forest also showing keen interest, and have even placed a bid of £25m. However, that fell way short of Brentford’s valuation, which is double that, at £50m.

Why Wissa would be a good signing

There are clear signs of major improvement in Wissa’s game, who continues to get better and better the more Premier League football he plays. Back in June, journalist Zach Lowy described the attacker as a “remarkable” forward.

In 137 English top-flight games for the Bees, he has amassed an impressive goal tally of 45 strikes, chipping in with 13 assists. He’s managed double-figure goal involvements in three of his four Premier League seasons, and has hit such a milestone simply for goals in the last two seasons.

The 2024/25 campaign saw Wissa explode and have the season of his career so far. In 35 Premier League games, the Brentford number 11 found the back of the net 19 times and registered five assists. It is easy to see why they want £50m for his signature this summer.

Simply from a goalscoring point of view, the Brentford attacker actually had a better campaign than Ekitike managed last season. Whilst the Frenchman, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, did contribute eight assists in 33 Bundesliga games, he was not as clinical as Wissa.

The 23-year-old, who was born in Reims, only bagged 15 league goals for Eintracht in the 2024/25 campaign, four fewer than the DR Congo striker managed.

On top of that, Wissa had a better goalscoring streak, bagging goals in four consecutive league games, whilst Ekitike’s best was three. There are certainly stats which back up the fact that Wissa is a more clinical striker than Ekitike.

Looking at the numbers on Squawka, he has a better conversion rate, with 27.54% compared to the Frenchman’s 17.24%, showing just how well he takes his chances, and has more non-penalty goals per game, with 0.6 as opposed to 0.5.

Shot accuracy

62.32%

55.17%

Conversion rate

27.54%

17.24%

Non-penalty goals

0.6

0.5

Goals from inside the box

0.6

0.6

Winnings goals

0.2

0.1

Although it is a shame that the Magpies have missed out on signing Ekitike, Wissa could be the perfect player to rotate with Isak.

The Swedish attacker scored 23 Premier League goals last term, so they need a clinical number nine to match his goalscoring form.

Thus, Wissa could be the dream signing for Howe’s side this season, to help take Newcastle to the next level and continue their rise up the Premier League table.

Bigger talent than Ekitike: Newcastle targeting £70m "menace of a striker"

Newcastle are on the hunt for a new striker amid the interest in Alexander Isak

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 16, 2025

Manchester United have submitted a loan proposal to sign an “outstanding” £166,000-a-week star from Bayern Munich, according to a new report.

Man Utd submit Nicolas Jackson enquiry as they close in on Mbeumo

The Red Devils have only managed to make one signing so far this summer, and that came right at the start of the window with the arrival of Matheus Cunha from Wolves. The hope was that Bryan Mbeumo would soon become the club’s second signing, but it is a transfer that has taken a long time to get over the line.

Breakthrough expected: Man Utd may sign £60m+ star before pre-season tour

The Red Devils could now be closing in on their second marquee signing of the summer.

ByBrett Worthington Jul 13, 2025

Those at Old Trafford have already seen two bids turned down for the Cameroon international, but they have not given up on finding an agreement, and according to The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, United are expected to wrap up the transfer of Mbeumo in the coming days ahead of their tour to the USA. The Premier League side are expecting a breakthrough in talks in the coming days after having opening offers turned down by the Bees.

Despite the arrival of Cunha and the potential arrival of Mbeumo, United and Ruben Amorim are keen to add a new striker to their ranks. The Red Devils have been linked with several forwards, with the latest name being Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea. Jackson could leave Stamford Bridge this summer, and United have made an enquiry over signing the striker, who could be available for just £60 million.

Man Utd make loan proposal to sign £166k-p/w Bayern ace

Mbeumo and Jackson are not the only players United are chasing, as according to Caught Offside, Man United have made a loan proposal for Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha, but the German giants have turned it down.

Palhinha, who earns a weekly wage of €192,308 (£166,481), is considered to be no longer in the plans of manager Vincent Kompany and therefore can leave the Bundesliga champions this summer. United have identified the Portuguese international as a target, but they were keen on striking a loan deal, which Bayern aren’t on board with.

Bayern Munich want to sell Palhinha on a permanent basis and are looking to get between €30-35 million, which is roughly £25-30 million. United are not the only team chasing the midfielder, as Tottenham Hotspur have also made an enquiry, while Fulham and West Ham are also interested in a potential deal.

Apps

68

Goals

7

Assists

1

The 30-year-old, who has been dubbed “outstanding” during his time at Craven Cottage by John Wenham, played just 17 games in the Bundesliga last season, and he only featured once in the Club World Cup, which was 45 minutes against Benfica.

Palhinha’s potential arrival at Old Trafford would see him likely replace Casemiro and partner his international teammate Bruno Fernandes in Amorim’s midfield selection. However, United would have to stump up money to sign the midfielder, and given their financial situation, they may look to alternative targets, whether they are cheaper or on a temporary basis.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca wasn’t hanging about when he acted swiftly to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town in a deal worth £30m.

“It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.”

Those were the words Delap said upon arriving at Stamford Bridge, and he will have plenty of chances to lift titles next term.

The Blues are back among Europe’s elite and this could give Delap a perfect chance to continue his development.

The 22-year-old is a rising star, no doubt about that. Will Maresca be keen on signing even more young starlets throughout the duration to complement Delap?

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By
Charlie Smith

Jun 13, 2025

Chelsea enter race to sign English sensation

Indeed, Brazilian talent Estevao is set to link up with the Blues this summer. As too is Sporting CP talent Dario Essugo.

It appears as though Maresca is keen on bringing the average age of the squad down, and it might go even lower should he succeed in signing the latest player to be linked with a move.

According to Caught Offside, the Blues have now entered the race to sign Southampton sensation Tyler Dibling but face competition from a wealth of sides, namely Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester United.

The €60m (£51m) asking price may deter Maresca, especially considering how much the club have spent already this window.

Still only a teenager, Dibling has an extraordinarily high ceiling and may even be a bigger talent than Delap.

Why Chelsea must sign Tyler Dibling

Delap scored 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich last season in what was his maiden season in the top flight.

Considering the club was relegated, scoring only 36 goals all season, that’s not a bad tally. Such was Delap’s impact, his goal involvement accounted for 39% of the club’s total throughout the season.

Dibling’s Premier League stats for Southampton (2024/25)
Goals	2
Assists	0
Big chances created	3
Key passes per game	0.6
Successful dribbles per game	1.4
Shots per game	0.8
Via Sofascore

A move to Stamford Bridge will give him the chance in the Champions League, but a move for Dibling could see Chelsea sign an even bigger talent.

While Delap struggled to earn game time at City in his teenage years, Dibling is already a bona fide star despite his young age. He made his debut for the Saints aged just 17 in August 2023, having returned to the Saints after a brief spell with Chelsea U18s.

His breakthrough came last term. The teenager made 38 appearances in all competitions for the south coast side, scoring four goals and grabbing three assists.

Given how poor the club were in the top flight, Dibling was arguably the brightest spark, but it is unlikely he will want to play Championship football.

Hailed as a “special talent” by journalist Josh Bunting, Dibling put himself in the shop window with his displays last season.

Despite his tender years, the youngster is currently ranked in the top 19% when compared to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons (2.16) per 90 over the previous 365 days, rubberstamping his exceptional potential.

Given the talent among those divisions, this stat proves that Dibling loves getting the better of his opposite man.

The question is, will Maresca take a gamble on him this summer? If so, then a bigger talent than Delap is set to be unleashed.

A better move than Ekitike: BlueCo submit bid to sign £50m star for Chelsea

Chelsea have submitted a bid to sign a Serie A talent.

2

By
Ross Kilvington

Jun 16, 2025

The holders of the T20 crown take on the holders of the ODI crown in the first heavyweight clash of the 2024 World Cup

Alan Gardner07-Jun-20246:22

Finch: Australia might need Ellis over Cummins due to England’s depth

Match detailsAustralia vs England
June 8, Bridgetown, 1pm local, 6pm GMT, 10.30pm ISTBig picture – Defending champions under the pump (again)The first truly heavyweight clash of this expanded T20 World Cup format comes freighted with both history and subplots. A rematch of the 2010 World T20 final at Kensington Oval, the match pits Jos Buttler’s defending champions – who are aiming to become the first team to retain the trophy – against the Australian winning machine, victors at the 2021 edition and current world title-holders in Test and ODI cricket. And that’s before you throw in the Ashes for afters.Already there is added pressure on England, after the rain in Bridgetown led to a share of the points in their opener against Scotland (and that having conceded 90 runs from 10 overs without taking a wicket in a tepid bowling display). Lose to their oldest rivals and it will leave their Super 8 prospects open to being waylaid by the perils of net run-rate calculations, or worse.The Scotland match was the third abandonment in five suffered by England, after a rain-affected home series against Pakistan, which has clearly hampered their readiness for this campaign after almost six months without playing T20 together. It does not take much for a side to click in this format – and England looked in decent shape when they did get on the field against Pakistan – but Buttler will be anxious for things to go their way on Saturday, if only to avoid further questions referencing the team’s disastrous ODI World Cup defence last year.Australia, under the laidback leadership of Mitchell Marsh, would love nothing more than to add to the English sense of jeopardy – having helped bundle them out of the tournament in India on the way to taking the crown. Their head-to-head record is less impressive in T20, however, with England having won six of the last seven completed encounters, as well as that 2010 final.Jos Buttler has Jofra Archer back to bolster the England bowling attack•Getty Images

Despite a wobble with the bat, Australia avoided mishap against Oman earlier in the week, the experience of David Warner and Marcus Stoinis shining through in difficult batting conditions. Surfaces in the Caribbean – not to mention those for games staged in the USA – have already had teams scratching their heads; rather than the “slug-fest” England had prepared for, following a high-scoring tour of the Caribbean in December, it looks as if boxing smart may be the way to go.Speaking of Warner, this could be the last time he faces up against England in national colours – and another match-winning contribution would likely reduce the chances of them meeting again in the knockouts. On the other side of the card is Jofra Archer, fresh off an emotional maiden outing at Kensington Oval and ready to take on Australia for the first time in any format since 2020. Can Mark Wood fire up England’s campaign, as he did during last summer’s Ashes? Will Pat Cummins be back to harass the old enemy once again? Seconds out, it’s almost time to rumble.Form guideAustralia WWWWL
England WWLWWIn the spotlight – Glenn Maxwell and Jos ButtlerSince smashing 120 not out from 55 balls against West Indies in February, Glenn Maxwell has been on a truly shocking run. In 14 T20 innings for Australia and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he has scored 115 at an average of 8.21, with five ducks – his last two knocks have each lasted just one ball. His recent T20I record against England is no better, with five single-figure scores in six dating back to 2020. Australia won’t be losing faith yet, though. “We know that Maxi’s going to win us games,” Marsh said in his pre-match press conference. Who would bet against him finding his touch on Saturday?Jos Buttler led England to their second T20 title in his first major assignment after taking the reins from Eoin Morgan in the summer of 2022, but things have not gone quite so smoothly since then. Questions mounted about England’s leadership – for both Buttler as captain and the coach, Matthew Mott – after their early exit at the 50-over World Cup, and Buttler has seemed increasingly tetchy in recent times when asked to address the team’s failures. His batting form has been good, since working with Rajasthan Royals coach Sid Lahiri at the IPL, but England need a win.Travis Head and David Warner are among the most dangerous opening pairs in the world•ICC via Getty Images

Team news – Cummins back, but who sits out?Cummins is set to return after being rested for the Oman game, which saw Mitchell Starc leave the field with cramp. Starc is understood to be fine and could keep his place – which would likely see Nathan Ellis miss out. Marsh is still not fit to bowl, with Australia likely to continue with the allrounder combination of Stoinis and Maxwell to give them cover.Australia (probable XI): 1 David Warner, 2 Travis Head, 3 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Josh Inglis (wk), 7 Tim David, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Nathan Ellis/Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodThe one change England may consider is Reece Topley coming in for Wood, with the expectation that there will be some rotation among the seamers through the course of the tournament.England (probable XI): 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 3 Will Jacks, 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece Topley/Mark WoodPitch and conditionsFour World Cup fixtures at Kensington Oval have produced markedly different results for batting: at one extreme, the tie between Oman and Namibia saw totals of 109 all out and 109 for 6; at the other, Scotland’s charge to 90 for 0 from 10 overs between the showers against England. No team has scored more than Australia’s 164 for 5 against Oman, however. This fixture, a day game, will be played on a new surface, said to be the best one on the square – though a slightly patchy forecast could give the teams another thing to contend with.Stats and trivia England have a slight edge in the overall T20I head-to-head with Australia, winning 11 and losing 10 – a record which includes winning their last two T20 World Cup encounters, in 2010 and 2021. There have only ever been two 200-plus scores in 25 completed T20Is at Kensington Oval, both in the same match between England and West Indies in 2022. In scoring 56 against Oman, Warner overtook Aaron Finch as Australia’s all-time leading run-scorer in T20Is.Quotes”A win is a win, it doesn’t derail us either way. We know we’ve got to win more games than we lose in tournament cricket. A win puts you in a position in the group which is obviously more favourable, but the other two games that we’ve got post this are must-win games anyway.”
“I daresay this will be full and it’ll be mostly English fans, so it’ll be like playing at Headingley all over, or anywhere in England where you get sprayed. But the atmosphere, the vibe of the game, there’s always a lot riding on it. As a team we always want to challenge ourselves against the best. England have been exceptional in this format for a long period of time now, so there’s certainly going to be a lot on the game and we’re pumped.”
Mitchell Marsh is braced for an Ashes-style reception from England’s travelling fans

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.

Liverpool fans have been left annoyed over the last week, after boyhood supporter Trent Alexander-Arnold announced he would be departing the club after a 20-year spell.

The right-back’s contract is set to expire at the end of June, but he will not sign a new deal, making him a free agent with the side unable to receive a fee for the academy graduate.

He’s racked up over 350 appearances for the Reds, but now looks set to make a move to join Real Madrid ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, subsequently strengthening one of their European rivals.

After Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk extended their own deals at Anfield, hope was held that the England international would follow suit, but ultimately it wasn’t meant to be.

Such a decision has given boss Arne Slot a huge job to fill the void of the 26-year-old, potentially dipping into the transfer market over the coming months.

Liverpool’s hunt for a right-back

Over the last couple of days, Liverpool have made an enquiry to sign Monaco star Vanderson to try and soften the blow of Trent’s pending departure this summer.

The Brazilian is said to be available for a fee in the region of £25m this summer, with the Ligue 1 outfit wanting to keep hold of one of their key performers.

However, the biggest target to date has been Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, with interest in the Dutchman ramping up over the last couple of days.

It was reported that the 24-year-old has a £35m release clause within his deal at the Bundesliga giants, with his tally of four goals and five assists evidently catching the eye of boss Slot.

Despite the interest, there’s also another option that the manager could consider next season to soften the blow of the outgoing first-team regular.

The Liverpool star who could replace Trent next season

Conor Bradley will likely be the main player within the current first-team ranks to fill the gap next campaign, with the Northern Ireland international a player with huge potential at Anfield.

The 21-year-old has already made 26 appearances this season, even pocketing Kylian Mbappé in the Champions League, proving he has the quality to step up to the plate.

Curtis Jones is one player who’s also operated in such a position in the absence of the aforementioned duo, which could lead to another Red following suit upon the return from his loan.

Stefan Bajcetic, who’s primarily a midfielder, looked to be the club’s next big star a couple of years ago, but his progression had stagnated before his current stint at Las Palmas.

The 20-year-old was sent to the LaLiga outfit last summer to gain valuable first-team minutes and continue his progression – something which he’s achieved in recent months.

The Spaniard, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by former boss Jurgen Klopp, has made 13 appearances in the league to date, producing numerous impressive figures to date.

He’s managed to complete 75% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst completing 63% of the dribbles he’s made – handing Slot the marauding presence they will miss with Trent’s departure.

Stefan Bajcetic’s stats on loan at Las Palmas (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	13
Minutes played	924
Pass accuracy	75%
Dribbles completed	63%
Tackles won	1.4
Duels won	6.4
Interceptions made	1.5
Stats via FotMob

Bajcetic has also starred without the ball, winning 1.4 tackles per 90 and coming out on top in 6.4 duels – offering an added defensive presence to the backline.

His tally of 1.5 interceptions and 5.8 recoveries made also reaffirms the talents he possesses, saving the club millions if he can adapt to featuring out of position.

It would be an interesting decision for Slot to utilise the youngster next season, but he needs to give every player the opportunity to stake their claim for a place within his side next campaign.

Frimpong and Bradley will certainly be the supporters’ main options in such a role, but Bajcetic has the tools to offer key depth and options to the manager in such a department throughout 2025/26.

Dream Frimpong alternative: Liverpool make enquiry for "world-class" star

Liverpool could forget about Jeremie Frimpong with a move for another defensive star.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 10, 2025

Before Thursday’s first-leg Europa League clash with Lyon, many of a Manchester United persuasion would have been more than happy to have secured a draw ahead of next week’s return fixture at Old Trafford, with such a result on the road ensuring that Ruben Amorim’s men remain in control of proceedings.

Having ultimately played out a 2-2 stalemate with the Ligue 1 side, however, the overriding feeling is one of deflation, with the hosts snatching a draw right at the death following last-gasp heroics from Rayan Cherki.

The majestic playmaker pounced on Andre Onana’s mistake – not the Cameroonian’s first of the night – to level things up in the fifth minute of stoppage time, with it having initially looked like Joshua Zirkzee’s late header would be enough to seal the win for the Red Devils.

Frustratingly, there is still work to do next week when the two sides meet again, with Amorim left to ponder his selection decisions for that second-leg, as well as for Sunday’s trip to St James’ Park.

A raft of changes could well be on the cards, and not just due to rotation.

Man Utd's worst performers against Lyon

The obvious place to start is, of course, with that man Onana, with the 28-year-old ending proceedings as he began the night – dominating the headlines.

After his war of words with former United star, Nemanja Matic, the ex-Inter stopper needed to put in a serene display up against the French outfit to back up his pre-match verbals. Sadly for Amorim and for Onana, he did anything but.

At fault for both of the hosts’ goals on the night, the one-time Ajax hero has now made more errors than any another Premier League goalkeeper in all competitions, since the start of last season, having endured a wretched two-year spell at the Theatre of Dreams.

Most errors leading to a goal – PL in 24/25
Player	Errors
Arijanet Muric	5
Robert Sanchez	5
Bart Verbruggen	4
Andre Onana	3
Alphonse Areola	2
Alex McCarthy	2
Nick Pope	2
Ederson	2
via Premier League website

Not that Onana was alone in having another off night on Thursday evening, with Rasmus Hojlund fluffing an effort wide and registering just 11 touches in total, before being hooked on the hour mark.

In between the two, Manuel Ugarte once again failed to last the full 90 minutes following a largely frustrating performance, with the Uruguayan – who can at least claim the assist for Leny Yoro’s equaliser – winning just two of his six duels, while being the recipient of a needless yellow card.

There will likely be calls for that trio to be replaced with the likes of Altay Bayindir, Mason Mount and the aforementioned Zirkzee moving forward, while young Alejandro Garnacho is another who could be in the firing line.

The Man Utd man who was outclassed by Cherki

Despite slipping to a draw at the death, United may feel as if they are still well-placed to progress – that is unless Cherki has something to say about it.

Indeed, the 21-year-old Frenchman was a real shining light on the night for the home side, having deservedly stolen the acclaim with his late dink over Onana, after smartly pouncing on the goalkeeper’s errant parry.

Widely touted as the heir to Karim Benzema for both club and country, the fleet-footed forward almost strolled through the game with consummate ease, having notably racked up four key passes in total – more than any other player on the pitch.

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The local hero also successfully completed four of his attempted dribbles amid his desire to provide that attacking spark for his side, with such a performance looking completely at odds with United’s own rising star, Garnacho.

While the Argentine did end the night with a 100% pass accuracy, his showing was summed up by his poor decision-making on the counter late on, having failed to pick out the advancing Zirkzee, before firing in a wayward pass to the stretching Bruno Fernandes.

Cherki vs Garnacho – key stats
Stat	Cherki	Garnacho
Minutes played	90	83
Touches	72	32
Pass accuracy	88%	100%
Key passes	4	1
Big chances created	0	0
Goals	1	0
Assists	0	0
Successful dribbles	4/7	0/0
Total duels won	6/12	3/8
Possession lost	17x	8x
Stats via Sofascore

Operating on the right of the front three, the 20-year-old – who actually had fewer touches than Onana recorded in the sticks (35) – had little joy in an attacking sense, albeit while picking out Fernandes in the first half with a clever pull-back.

The Spain-born speedster did also have the chance to net himself at the backpost in the second half, following a fine cross from Patrick Dorgu, yet – as has been the norm of late – he simply couldn’t convert the chance.

Still with just two goals to his name under Amorim, Garnacho’s suitability to this 3-4-3 system remains up for debate, with MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst handing him just a 5/10 match rating, while writing that his ‘end product was often lacking’.

Despite just a slight age difference between the pair, there appeared to be a real gulf in quality and class between Garnacho and Cherki, with the latter man looking like the type of figure who would relish the role in one of the two number ten berths.

It is for no reason that teammate and ex-Arsenal man Ainsley Maitland-Niles has lauded Cherki as the “best natural talent [he’s] ever seen”, with Garnacho, by contrast, looking as if he’s not even fit to lace the Lyon man’s boots.

Can that all change at Old Trafford next week?

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The five-time champions have further strengthened by adding Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell to the squad

Deivarayan Muthu16-Mar-2024 • Updated on 21-Mar-2024Where CSK finished last seasonMS Dhoni’s men won their fifth IPL title on the third day of a T20 final against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad to draw level with Mumbai Indians.CSK squad for IPL 2024MS Dhoni (wk), Aravelly Avanish (wk), Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nishant Sindhu, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Shardul Thakur, Maheesh Theekshana, Sameer RizviRelated

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Player availability – Conway sidelined until MayDevon Conway, the New Zealand wicketkeeper-opener, has been ruled out of the IPL until May with a thumb injury. Shivam Dube, who missed the Ranji Trophy knockouts with a side strain, has been undergoing rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. It remains to be seen if he is fit to start the tournament for CSK on March 22.Matheesha Pathirana will miss the initial stages of the tournament with a hamstring injury. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Pathirana is likely to be unavailable for at least two weeks and will travel to the IPL only after getting clearance from SLC medical staff.Mustafizur Rahman has been permitted by the BCB to play IPL 2024 between March 22 and May 11. He might leave the league early to prepare for the T20 World Cup with Bangladesh’s tour of the USA.What’s new with CSK this year – New captain and more NZ flavourOn the eve of the season opener, Ruturaj Gaikwad was unveiled as CSK’s new captain, with MS Dhoni handing over the keys to the kingdom.After having released Ben Stokes and Dwaine Pretorius, CSK added New Zealand’s ODI World Cup heroes, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, to their side. Ravindra can directly slot in at the top, in place of the injured Conway, and bowl quickish left-arm fingerspin, which gives CSK the option to also include Mitchell in the XI ahead of Moeen Ali. CSK also broke the bank to acquire Sameer Rizvi, who was strong against spin in the UP T20 league and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.At the auction in December last year, CSK also snapped up Mustafizur as a back-up for Sri Lanka slinger Pathirana. Plus, Shardul Thakur returns to CSK after two seasons.The acquisition of Rachin Ravindra could be a crucial one for CSK•ICC via Getty ImagesThe good – Spin-bowling depth and spin-hittersConsidering the potentially slow pitches at Chepauk, Dhoni and Stephen Fleming have built another squad that has a number of spin-hitters, spin bowlers, and batting depth all the way down to No.10 or No.11 Remember, Tushar Deshpande scored a career-best 123 from No.11 for Mumbai in the Ranji quarter-final against Baroda?Even the CSK newbies, Ravindra and Mitchell, have the game and temperament to counter spin, like they showed during the ODI World Cup in India last year. Maheesh Theekshana (mystery spin), Moeen Ali (offspin), Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Nishant Sindhu, Ajay Mandal (left-arm fingerspin), and Prashant Solanki (legspin) tick off most varieties of spin in the attack. Mustafizur’s offcutters could also prove effective, especially if the pitches wear on.The not-so-good – Injury concernsDeepak Chahar will rock up cold, having not played a competitive game since December 2023. Mukesh Choudhary and Simarjeet Singh are on a longer road back from injury and rehab. Neither seamer has played a competitive match since December 2022.Opener Gaikwad, meanwhile, has just recovered from a finger injury. He has played only one competitive game so far this year. Dhoni himself is coming off a knee surgery.Ajinkya Rahane’s recent form is patchy: he managed only 214 runs in 13 innings in the Ranji Trophy at an average of 17.83. His numbers weren’t flash either in the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali tournaments.Schedule insightsCSK will start their season with back-to-back home games at Chepauk, against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans. They will then travel to Vizag to face Delhi Capitals on March 31 and Hyderabad to meet Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 5. The schedule for the second half of the tournament is expected once the Election Commission of India reveals the dates of the national elections, which are expected to take place in the months of April and May.The big questionGMT 11.10am This story was updated after Gaikwad was announced as CSK’s new captain, replacing MS Dhoni