All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester United are known as a club that gives the youth an opportunity to shine, and that has been no different this season.

Kobbie Mainoo is the main player to have taken the Premier League by storm – recently scoring the winner away to Wolverhampton Wanderers – but Willy Kambwala and Omari Forson are also examples of that being true.

Alejandro Garnacho was the breakout ace of last season, and he has excelled this campaign with seven goals in all competitions, but let's take a look at who Erik ten Hag could give a chance to next.

Carrington's finest

As mentioned, Mainoo has developed into a key player for the Red Devils this campaign after making his debut against Everton towards the end of November. The 18-year-old has played 12 more games since, starting all of United's last five matches and scoring twice in the process.

However, the prime example of someone who all academy players should mirror after progressing through the ranks at Carrington is Marcus Rashford, who is now valued at £85m by CIES Football Observatory.

The number ten burst onto the scene in February 2016, scoring on his Premier League debut against Arsenal and scoring on his United debut in the Europa League.

His goal-scoring ability and pace have frightened opposition defenders ever since, and he has scored 128 goals in 387 appearances for his boyhood club, which the forward has described as a "dream come true."

At just 26 years of age, the Wythenshawe star is already on his way to becoming a United legend, despite the constant criticism he receives from the fanbase, and he has been one of the standout performers over a decade of frustration, disappointment, and underperformance.

Shola Shoretire could be next to shine

Shola Shoretire is a youth player who has been around for years, and it was around three years ago this month that he made his debut in the Premier League against Newcastle.

It was that season that he also made his UEFA Europa League debut, was United's top scorer in the Premier League 2 and won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, which is what Rashford won in the 2015/16 season.

Last campaign, the English attacker gained first-team experience in the men's game as he enjoyed a 16-game loan spell at Bolton Wanderers in League One, where he netted just once.

Premier League 2

9

4

4

EFL Trophy

3

2

0

As you can see, the 20-year-old is absolutely dominating every opponent in the youth team this season, and he is just waiting for another opportunity to thrive in the first team.

He did get minutes during United's pre-season tour, but he didn't get the chance to play with the frequent starters, although it shouldn't be too long until he gets his chance, as he is a "special player" according to Statman Dave – and based on the clip below, it is difficult to disagree.

Shoretire is just as much of a goal-scorer as he is a creator, which makes him just like Rashford, who has 74 career assists for the Red Devils.

Ten Hag will hope that another English attacker breaking through the academy could reach similar levels as the England international and become Rashford 2.0.

Whilst Fulham are yet to complete their first move of the January transfer window, they still have a number of hours to welcome some crucial reinforcements for Marco Silva. With that said, reports suggest that the Cottagers are going all or nothing in the final stages.

Fulham transfer news

Still looking to cement their place in the Premier League's mid-table, Fulham could still add that extra bit of quality that they currently lack at times, sitting 12th and just seven points clear of the relegation zone.

It could be argued that they still haven't replaced Aleksandar Mitrovic, who left for Al-Hilal in the summer transfer window. Summer arrival Raul Jimenez has only shown glimpses of what he's capable of and there's still questions over his out-and-out goalscoring ability, having found the back of the net just five times in the Premier League so far this season.

Solving that problem could yet be Armando Broja, who will now reportedly be allowed to leave Chelsea on loan in what is a late u-turn from those at Stamford Bridge. If Fulham do sign a striker, however, they will need a creator to match. And that could yet come in the form of a Ligue 1 star. According to Ed Aarons, Fulham have opened talks to sign Rayan Cherki from Lyon, who value their midfielder at £35m.

With Lyon reportedly set to sign West Ham United's Said Benrahma, they could certainly do with raising funds and there may be no better way to do so than by selling Cherki to Fulham before the deadline arrives. According to Jack Rosser of The Sun though, the Cottagers have seen their proposal of a loan with an option to buy knocked back by Lyon, leaving a deal unlikely unless they can stump up a more immediate fee.

"Unbelievable" Cherki would be instant upgrade on Pereira

Since Mitrovic's departure, Fulham have lacked star power, and that's something that Cherki can provide in abundance. Still only 20-years-old, the attacking midfielder has been unfortunate enough to be part of a struggling Lyon side in Ligue 1 this season but could rediscover his best form with a move to Craven Cottage under Silva. Cherki's stats certainly show that he'd be an upgrade on Andreas Pereira.

Progressive Carries

59

36

Progressive Passes

85

67

Take-ons Completed

43

13

Goals

0

1

Assists

3

4

Based on the numbers, Cherki's output is only likely to increase in a better-performing side, which may well turn out to be Fulham. It's no surprise that former France international Frank Leboeuf previously had nothing but good things to say about the midfielder when speaking to ESPN.

Leboeuf said: "Skill-wise, one of the best players already on earth. He’s unbelievable for a 19-year-old. The guy can do everything. But he’s young and still has to improve. He needs to learn when he has to get rid of the ball, it’s always half a second too early or half a second too late. It’s that rhythm that he needs to learn."

Celtic are in a positive position heading into the second half of the campaign; however, they could now face a fight on their hands to retain a key first-team man, according to a new report.

Celtic up and running in January…

Despite repeated sentiment from Brendan Rodgers regarding his pursuit of quality reinforcements this month, Celtic have endured a quiet transfer window; nevertheless, they finally look to have sprung into action in the last few days.

Taking to social media platform X, Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph has confirmed that Rapid Vienna winger Nicolas Kuhn is now close to joining the Scottish Premiership champions and will travel to complete a medical before being announced as their first January signing, as he stated below:

An alternative report claims that Bologna striker Sydney van Hooijdonk could also be set to join the Hoops once the Serie A outfit ratify a deal to bring in Velez Sarsfield striker Santiago Castro. Rocco Vata is of interest to the Italian outfit, which could pave the way for smoother negotiations on both sides.

Of course, a striker has become paramount to Rodgers' January transfer strategy in light of Oh Hyeon-gyu, Daizen Maeda and Yang Hyun-jun being involved at the Asian Cup. Kyogo Furuhashi is the only recognised striker at the club and is likely to need support over the coming weeks.

Celtic to spring out of nowhere for “flamboyant” £3.4m target – report

It’s been quiet on the transfer front for months, but Celtic could now come alive.

ByDavid Comerford Jan 13, 2024

Nonetheless, another prolific attacker could potentially leave the club this month as his career in Glasgow has taken yet another turn, according to a report.

Liel Abada could leave Celtic…

According to Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey, there is a possibility that Liel Abada could depart Celtic before the end of the month due to the imminent arrival of Rapid Vienna attacker Kuhn. The Israel international attracted "significant interest" from other clubs during the last window but ended up signing a new four-year contract in the summer, so this is another transfer twist.

In the copy, it suggests that the two-time Scottish champion could look to move on if an appropriate offer were to arise for his services.

Liel Abada's numbers at Celtic – all competitions (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

108

Goals

29

Assists

21

Liel Abada's strengths and weaknesses – (WhoScored)

Strengths

Weaknesses

Key passes

Aerial duels

Headed attempts

Defensive contribution

There has been a notion among some that the pro-Palestinian sentiment of some Hoops supporters may play a part in any prospective exit; nevertheless, it is unclear whether there is any defined truth in that statement.

Labelled "ambitious" by former boss Ange Postecoglou, Abada has made just seven appearances this campaign due to injury problems, registering one goal and a solitary assist (Abada statistics – Transfermarkt).

Celtic are in the midst of a battle with Rangers to try and claim the Scottish Premiership title and should look to reject any advances for the player due to his importance to the side and ruthless streak in front of the target.

With the threat of losing Amadou Onana hanging over them this month, Everton have reportedly turned their attention towards landing a Premier League rival to reinforce Sean Dyche’s midfield.

Onana linked with Everton exit

Looking to keep their Premier League status intact, Everton have already been at the centre of transfer rumours in the January transfer window. As they battle to keep hold of Amadou Onana, amid reports that both Arsenal are interested in his signature this month, the Toffees have been linked with the likes of Hannibal Mejbri, who is one of a number of potential midfielder options, according to Sky Sports Dharmesh Sheth.

With a couple of weeks left in the transfer window, the last thing that Everton need is to lose Onana. But, given that Arsenal are reportedly plotting an official bid for Onana, it looks as though those at Goodison Park face an uphill battle to avoid the Belgian’s exit. The midfielder’s departure would at least hand Dyche the chance to seek reinforcements, however, which could include a deal to sign a Premier League relegation rival.

According to Ed Aarons of The Guardian, Everton are interested in signing Frank Onyeka from Brentford this month in a deal that could see the Merseyside club solve their Onana problem before it even becomes an issue. Crystal Palace join the Blues in the race for the Nigeria star, who is in their AFCON squad this month, and the Bees already have their replacement in mind.

Aarons said: “Understand that Everton and Fulham are among the clubs who are interested in signing Brentford's Frank Onyeka this month. The Nigeria midfielder signed a new contract in the summer and would cost more than £20m. Brentford could try to sign Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi if he goes.”

Onyeka is a better defensive player than Onana

It’s no surprise that Onyeka has entered the radar of Everton and Dyche when it comes to midfield reinforcements. The 26-year-old wouldn’t just replace Onana in the case of the Belgian’s departure, but he would also be an upgrade in certain areas. Onyeka’s stats show that he’s outperformed the Everton man defensively this season.

Frank Onyeka

1.83

1.10

1.71

1.59

Amadou Onana

1.71

0.89

0.62

1.03

Onyeka has been at the centre of praise during his time at Brentford, including from manager Thomas Frank, who said: "I’m very pleased that Frank has signed a new contract. He has helped the team a lot during our time in the Premier League. During both seasons he has been unlucky with injuries, which have prevented him from taking an even bigger step forward in terms of minutes, but I really like his energy.

"Frank is a great pressing player. He runs into the half-spaces and in behind, progressing up the pitch. He’s a very important player for us and we’re looking forward to continuing the journey with him."

That said, as Everton continue to search for midfield additions, with or without Onana, Onyeka could be one to keep an eye on in the remainder of the transfer window.

Ninth in the Premier League and on course to miss out on a place in the Champions League, Newcastle United have a matter of months to salvage their season. And to do so, they've turned their attention to attacking reinforcements in the transfer window.

Newcastle's FFP situation explained

It's no real surprise that Newcastle's attention is on improving Eddie Howe's attacking options. After all, the Magpies entered the current campaign with just two recognised strikers available in the form of Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak. Given Wilson's injury history and Isak having his fair share of knocks, those at St James' Park were always going to face problems – problems they could not solve without spending money.

The transfer window could put an end to that, however, with the latest Paulo Dybala transfer rumours indicating that Newcastle have made an approach to sign the AS Roma forward, who has a release fee of just £11m for sides outside of Italy up until June 15. A relatively cheap deal like that may be the only option available to Howe this month, with the Magpies reporting losses of £73m for the 2022-23 season.

CEO Darren Eales explained they cannot spend with the traditional 'big boys' until they match their revenue, potentially leading to player sales. "Any decision we make will always be against the backdrop of the medium to long-term benefit for the club. It's difficult to say specifically on certain players, but I can say that, if we're going to get to where we want to get to, at times it is necessary to trade your players."

Newcastle decide on Solanke transfer plan

According to Football Transfers, Newcastle will wait until the summer to pursue Dominic Solanke, when they will have more freedom surrounding Financial Fair Play, having reportedly made a first approach for Solanke this month.

The Bournemouth forward is definitely a target within the club's recruitment ranks and Howe has admitted himself that he would "love" to sign the Englishman and rates him "very highly", but the club will unleash their plans to make a move at the end of the campaign, with a deal simply not feasible within FFP in the winter window. It must be said though that the former Liverpool man is a player in-demand, with reports also linking Arsenal with a move for Solanke.

Erling Haaland

14

Mohamed Salah

14

Dominic Solanke

12

Son Heung-Min

12

Jarrod Bowen

11

The numbers paint the picture of a player at the top of his game and one who has earned deserved praise from Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who said, via talkSPORT: “I think he’s really complete. He helps us without the ball, on the ball he can go, he’s good technically too. He can play well with his feet, he uses his body well, and if they leave him space at the back he can also exploit it. He had his chances, he scored, he hit the post, I think he was really dangerous and he helped his teammates a lot, so I’m really happy for him.”

When the summer transfer window arrives, the rumours surrounding Solanke's future will likely only intensify. Enjoying his best season to date, the Chelsea academy graduate looks set to have the world at his feet in the next few months.

Arsenal’s latest 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield signified that Mikel Arteta has turned his side into true title challengers.

The Gunners are second in the Premier League, but a win against West Ham United on Thursday evening will see them return to the top of the table.

Despite that, the Spanish boss is still keen to increase his defensive options in January in order to enhance the chance of silverware.

Arsenal transfers latest – Goncalo Inacio

According to news outlet A Bola, Arsenal are currently the favourites to acquire defender Goncalo Inacio.

However, Arteta will have to battle Jurgen Klopp for his signature, with Liverpool also interested in making defensive reinforcements.

The Portugal international has a £52m release clause, and Sporting will not let him leave for a penny less, despite the club understanding they could lose their star defender in January.

How Goncalo Inacio compares to Gabriel.

Gabriel’s time as Arteta’s first-choice left centre-back may be up if Arsenal are successful with their move for Inacio. If it were possible to design the perfect modern-day centre back, then the 22-year-old wouldn't be a million miles away, as he has developed into an incredibly complete defender.

The Brazilian defender has formed a formidable partnership alongside William Saliba since the start of last season, and he is a defender with heaps of quality, but the Sporting star would elevate Arsenal to an entirely new level, and the statistics from the last year across the top European league’s below show why.

Progressive passes

6.59

3.67

Passes into final third

9.16

4.00

Passes completed

72.44

55.40

Carries

67.76

44.75

Dribblers tackled

1.05

0.44

To begin with, the clear difference between the duo is the superior ball-playing ability of the Portuguese centre back, who has been labelled as a “sensation” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig. With the Gunners dominating possession and often facing a low block, having a defender that can progress the play or step into midfield to create overloads would almost ensure more control and success in the final third.

Inacio often creates attacks via his progressive passing across a variety of ranges. He can slice open the opposition’s midfield with one pass into the striker while also having the technical ability to play the ball in behind for runners. Although Arsenal’s number six is comfortable on the ball, he is slightly safe and doesn’t offer the same progression that Inacio would, as highlighted by the progressive passes stat.

From an out-of-possession perspective, Gabriel is excellent at winning duels and when the play is in front of him, but he could improve when facing dribblers. Yet, in fairness, with Oleksandr Zinchenko inverting and Gabriel Martinelli usually staying high, he can often be left slightly isolated in the left channel.

This is where Inacio would be an upgrade, as he is used to 1v1 scenarios versus tricky attackers due to frequently playing as a wide centre back at Sporting. He uses his athleticism, 6 foot 1 frame, and excellent anticipation to prevent attacks, which would make Arsenal even stronger in transitions.

If Arsenal sign the 22-year-old, they would have a centre-back pairing that would dominate the Premier League for years to come. There is no doubt that Gabriel is a top defender and even Gary Neville described him as "outstanding", but the move for Inacio indicates that he may be used as a rotation option in the future.

Newcastle United play at St. James’ Park for the final time this season as they host Arsenal in the Premier League tonight.

The Gunners arrive on Tyneside chasing Champions League football and the Magpies have little to play for as they are safe from relegation and five points adrift of the top 10 with two matches to play.

Eddie Howe will be hoping for a reaction from his team as they were hammered 5-0 by Manchester City in their last outing.

How many changes will he make to the team? Here is our predicted XI…

We are predicting that he will make three alterations to the side, with Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Fabian Schar all coming back in.

Starting off at the heart of the defence, we are predicting that Howe will bring Schar back into the fold after he was only fit enough for the bench against City. Jamaal Lascelles started in his place and struggled badly as he lost four of his six duels and recorded a dismal SofaScore rating of 6.1.

The Magpies coach must now axe him from the XI in order to bring the Swiss international back in alongside Dan Burn at the back.

At right-back, Trippier may come in to start his first game since picking up an injury in February. The gem, who was once dubbed “underrated” by Gareth Southgate, has scored two goals in five Premier League outings for the club to date and will be able to provide an attacking threat on the counter against the Gunners.

Finally, we are predicting that Wilson will come in for Chris Wood, who Frank McAvennie claimed is “struggling” this season. The New Zealand international missed a glorious chance with his head against City and lost 10 of his 13 duels as he failed to showcase his quality at the top end of the pitch.

Axing him will allow Howe to start the striker he worked with at Bournemouth to complete the front three alongside Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin. The Englishman has scored six goals in 14 starts this season and will be aiming to add to that before the end of the campaign.

AND in other news, “Keeping a close eye on..”: Downie delivers big NUFC claim that’ll excite supporters…

Liverpool survived an early scare to bounce back to winning ways against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Tuesday night, having been held to a draw by Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur side just a few days prior.

Manager Jurgen Klopp had been critical of Spurs’ defensive showing in that clash at Anfield, although the same could not be said of Steven Gerrard’s outfit, with the Midlands side netting inside just three minutes in what was a breathless start to proceedings.

After recovering quickly to strike back soon after through Joel Matip, the Reds completed the comeback midway through the second half through Sadio Mane, the Senegal international’s strike moving the Merseysiders level on points with Manchester City at the summit, albeit with the reigning champions having played a game less.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

The headlines will no doubt go to that man Mane for his crucial late effort – which keeps the club’s title hopes alive – although one man who endured an uncharacteristically anonymous showing was former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Diogo Jota, with the Portuguese sensation suffering a rare off day.

The £54m-rated man has enjoyed a fine second campaign under Klopp’s tutelage, having netted 21 times in all competitions so far this term prior to the midweek clash, although rarely looked like adding to that tally following a limp display in attack.

In his 90-minute outing, the £120k-per-week star lost possession 14 times from just 42 touches – a dismal ratio of losing the ball once every three touches – ensuring he finished with just a 72% pass completion rate as a result.

The 25-year-old also won just two of his total duels and failed to register a single shot on target, eventually ending the match with just a 6.6 match rating, as per SofaScore – the second-worst among his teammates in the starting lineup.

Furthermore, he also made fewer passes (23) than substitute Jordan Henderson who played just an hour after Fabinho’s withdrawal through injury.

The Express writer Archie Griggs was also critical of the one-time Porto man’s performance, handing the player a 5/10 rating in his post-match analysis and stating of his display that: “Often managed to get himself into some promising areas and played a role for his team in attack but, like so many of his team-mates, appeared to lack the required end product over the course of the contest. Pressed well in the early stages of the match but ended up faltering away and did not exert as great an influence as he would have liked at Villa Park.”

A poor night in what’s largely been an otherwise fruitful stint at Liverpool – with 34 goals and nine assists to his name in 80 appearances across all fronts since joining in the summer of 2020 – the 24-cap international will likely be hoping he hasn’t played himself out of contention for Saturday’s FA Cup final showdown with Chelsea.

With Mo Salah set to return after earning a rest on Tuesday night – and with Roberto Firmino back in contention after his recent injury layoff – there is simply too much competition for places to allow for any passengers.

Jota seemingly was a passenger against Gerrard’s men and will be fortunate not to be dropped to the bench at Wembley.

IN other news, “Met his agent…”: Sky Sports journo drops big Liverpool update, Klopp will be fuming

Aston Villa’s usual top performers have been out of sorts across their side’s opening two Premier League clashes.

Both Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers have fired unconvincing blanks, as Villa drew 0-0 on the opening day versus Newcastle, before then tasting a narrow 1-0 defeat away at AFC Bournemouth to further pile on the early misery for Unai Emery’s men. Watkins, who was on fire in pre-season, has been particularly absent in those matches.

Emery will hope this rust isn’t visible for much longer as the games come thick and fast in the challenging division.

But, whatever does occur during his side’s next outing in the tough league, he will surely be eyeing up some new attacking additions in the transfer market to improve his team’s chances of getting out of this mini rut.

Aston Villa in pole position to sign £60m star

The West Midlands underperformers will have to get deals done at a quick pace, with September’s early deadline fast approaching.

Transfer Focus

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

In a hectic window that has been dominated by departures – with the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey leaving Villa Park behind recently – it would be a much-needed change of narrative if Villa could tempt some standout last-ditch additions through the door.

A reported deal for Marco Asensio might well be a last-gasp incoming that gets fans back on side, having previously impressed on loan at Emery’s side last season, while there is also notable interest on Villa’s end about obtaining Chelsea flop Christopher Nkunku to enhance their attacking options.

He, of course, isn’t the only Stamford Bridge asset being eyed up by Emery and Co, with a recent report from Football Insider suggesting that Villa are now in pole position to snap up Blues reserve forward Nicolas Jackson.

Jackson previously featured under Emery at Villarreal, and so the ex-Arsenal boss will hope he can get his former attacker firing at Villa Park, knowing full well that this close-knit link with the hit-and-miss 24-year-old could seal a late £60m deal.

How Jackson can become Emery's next Aubameyang

With 24 Premier League goals under his belt in West London, it’s clear that there is a lethal goalscoring gem waiting to be uncovered, and with Emery’s sublime track record, which saw him get the very best out of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the Gunners, a match made in heaven might soon come to fruition.

Just before Arteta took on the Emirates reins, Emery was tasked with trying to bring success to Arsenal right after Arsene Wenger’s esteemed two-decade stretch.

While his time in North London was fraught with bumps, with a costly 20 losses suffered across 78 contests, it goes without saying that he created a clinical machine out of Aubameyang when situated in the Gunners’ dugout.

The now Marseille veteran would collect a blistering 41 goals and eight assists under the Spaniard’s wing, with 22 of those coming in league action during the 2018/19 season, which saw him share the golden boot accolade with esteemed company in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Emery would even go as far as to label Aubameyang a “killer” in front of goal off the back of these Arsenal heroics, and while it is somewhat unrealistic to expect Jackson to hit golden boot level numbers donning Villa claret and blue, the 53-year-old’s caring arm around the Senegalese forward could be just what is needed to allow him to move on from his up-and-down Chelsea ordeal.

After all, he displayed signs of raw promise under Emery’s tutelage in Spain, with six goal contributions coming his way from 27 clashes for the Yellow Submarine.

Moreover, the well-travelled manager has even gone on to hail Jackson’s attitude as “exceptional” when trying to cut his teeth at the La Liga side.

He could finally be able to get the very best out of him at Villa Park, away from just being an early believer in his potential, with Emery again working his exceptional magic on forward players in the West Midlands, as seen in Watkins powering home a mighty 58 goals during his Villa reign to date.

Games played

65

Goals scored

24

Assists

10

Big chances missed

43

Of course, the main worry will be that even in an environment more suited to him, Jackson will still regularly fluff his lines, having missed a staggering 43 big chances for the Blues over two Premier League seasons.

But, there does seem to be something in the water when it comes to Emery developing red-hot strikers, having also made Jhon Duran into a temporary animal in the West Midlands.

Therefore, landing the “unbelievable” star – as he has been previously dubbed by Peter Crouch – could be a stroke of genius, particularly if he goes on to be as potent as Aubameyang was during his Arsenal heyday.

New Rogers: Aston Villa make late bid to sign "spectacular" £25m star

Aston Villa interested in La Masia market opportunity similar to Morgan Rogers

ByWill Miller Aug 24, 2025

Chelsea’s summer spending spree is showing no sign of slowing down.

So far, the Blues have made eight new signings this summer, including bringing in Liam Delap, João Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Estêvão Willian and others.

However, they’ve still got plenty to do in the transfer market.

Right now, by our count, the Blues have 46 senior players on their books, but one could be on the way out, making way for another exciting young talent to arrive in West London.

Chelsea set to bolster their attacking options

As already alluded to, Chelsea are seeking to offload at least a dozen high-profile players in the next month or so, with Mike McGrath of the Telegraph reporting that Raheem Sterling could be on his way to Fulham.

One player who is closer to the exit door is João Félix who, according to David Ornstein and Simon Johnson of the Athletic, is set to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr for around £26.2m, amid interest from boyhood club Benfica.

The Portuguese only joined Chelsea permanently from Atlético Madrid for £45m a year ago, but has scored just 11 goals in 40 appearances for the Blues across his two spells, spending the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, thereby very much not in Enzo Maresca’s plans.

So, with Félix on his way out, Chelsea are on the cusp of bringing in a replacement, with journalist Ben Jacobs noting that they are “advancing talks” to sign Xavi Simons, with “terms now broadly in place” to bring him to England. Club-to-club talks are ongoing to find a full agreement over a fee.

James Olley of ESPN claims that the Blues are willing to spend around £50m, with Leipzig holding out for closer to £60m.

So, will he soon become the 15th Dutchman to call Stamford Bridge home, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ruud Gullit, Arjen Robben and others?

How Xavi Simons will improve Chelsea

Simons is certainly a highly-rated player, with Sultan Babajide of Breaking the Lines asserting that he is ‘destined for the top’, noting how he is ‘brilliant between the lines’.

Meantime, Bart Vlietstra of the Guardian believes there has always been ‘something irresistible’ about a player he labels a ‘precocious’ talent, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout agrees, describing him as a ‘fascinating player’.

Simons’ career breakthrough came at PSV Eindhoven, scoring 22 goals and registering 11 assists in just 48 outings for the Dutch giants, while he has also racked up 21 goals and 23 assists in 76 appearances since making the move to RB Leipzig.

So how does he compare to the player he’s set to replace in the Chelsea squad Félix? Let’s find out.

Appearances

33

41

Goals

11

10

Assists

8

3

Appearances

43

44

Goals

10

10

Assists

15

6

Appearances

48

40

Goals

22

9

Assists

11

3

As the table outlines, ever since Simons became a regular first-team player at PSV, his statistics have been more impressive than those of Félix.

The Portuguese international’s £113m move to Atlético Madrid back in 2019, making him the fourth-most expensive player of all-time, has turned out to be one of football’s great what if moves, with Jack Lang of the Athletic noting that he is widely-regarded as having ‘wasted his talent’, never able to fit into the playing style or system at any of the clubs he’s featured for since Benfica.

Simons, in contrast, is a player on the way up, likely to get even better, so he could have an enormous impact at Chelsea, potentially elevating them to a level where they’re fighting for the Premier League title and Champions League supremacy once again.

Better signing than Simons: Chelsea could see bid accepted for £34m star

Chelsea will need to improve their defence this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 27, 2025