All posts by z3u9t.icu

Crystal Palace's chance of winning seems to fall in the hands of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze recently.

Roy Hodgson's only two wins in the Eagles' last 13 matches have been when the duo have both started.

The latest of those was a 3-2 win over Sheffield United where the trio were involved in every goal scored versus the Blades. However, the boss could look to take the pressure off the creators by signing a new forward.

Crystal Palace's search for an attacker

Crystal Palace are particularly active during the final stages of the January transfer window with it revealed on Tuesday that they were closing in on an exciting new acquisition.

That happened to be Adam Wharton of Blackburn Rovers, with a fee of £22m seeing him move to Selhurst Park before deadline day on Thursday.

That being said, he's not the only new face who could improve Hodgson's ranks in the dying embers of the window.

Indeed, earlier this week, TEAMtalk revealed that Palace are among the clubs that have targeted Sunderland star Jack Clarke this month.

The Black Cats are demanding a fee upwards of £15m, with Lazio having a £14m offer rejected recently.

However, manager Michael Beale certainly doesn't want their star man to leave as they hunt for promotion to the Premier League.

January transfer window: All the deadline day deals from England and Scotland

Stay on top of all the latest transfer deals across the Premier League, EFL and SPFL as the January window closes.

ByCharlie Smith Feb 1, 2024 How Jack Clarke compares to Wilfried Zaha

The left-wing spot at Palace had been occupied for the last nine years by club icon Wilfried Zaha, but since his move to Galatasaray in the summer, the Eagles have felt the effect of not signing a replacement for the prolific 31-year-old.

The former Man United player will always be remembered as a Palace great, and he left the club as their record holder for Premier League appearances and as the club's all-time top scorer in the top flight. All in all, he slammed home 90 goals across 458 outings for the Londoners. Hodgson will be hoping that if potential signing Clarke could even replicate half of that, then the move would be a huge success.

The Sunderland star also operates solely as a left-winger, where he has been tearing up opponents all season.

His performances have been so impressive that he's been labelled a "diamond" by former manager Tony Mowbray, and the table below with statistics from this season that compares him to fellow wingers in the Championship proves why his profile is so rare and desired.

Goals

0.46

Top 1%

Assists

0.11

Top 41%

xA

0.23

Top 6%

Key passes

2.39

Top 9%

Passes into penalty area

1.82

Top 6%

Successful take-ons

3.82

Top 1%

Progressive passes received

11.02

Top 1%

Progressive carries

8.49

Top 1%

Instantly, the first attribute of Clarke's game that's apparent is his ability to have an output, unlike plenty of wingers across the top leagues.

The 23-year-old has scored 13 goals this season, the fourth-most in the Championship. The number 20 is relentless, and even though his assists don't suggest it, it isn't only his goals that make him a threat, as he is also a huge creative outlet, as shown by his expected assists (xA) being in the top 6%.

However, the reason Clarke has the potential to become elite is due to his direct approach and lack of fear when on the ball. His key passes and passes into the box show that he boasts sublime vision, but his biggest strength is his ability to continuously provide an option on the flank, receive the ball, and dribble past players as if they aren't there, with the view to unleashing a strike once in and around the penalty area. This is what makes him a "super talent," as per Mowbray and it's why he's comparable to Zaha, a notorious dribble king in his Premier League days.

The thought of having an attack with Olise, Eze, and Clarke is exciting for the Palace faithful but extremely frightening for opposition defenders. Palace must look to sign the young star, who would become their next Zaha.

Arsenal's victory over Liverpool yesterday evening was one to remember, for the home fans anyway.

As they did in their FA Cup encounter just last month, Mikel Arteta's side came out flying, pinning the Reds into their half and creating some great chances. Only this time, they were able to put them away, and now they're firmly back in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners were the superior side to a man on the night – excluding a mad 30 seconds at the end of the first half – and while there were various stand-out players, it was the experienced and calm Jorginho who just about stood above the rest, putting in a remarkable performance and showing why the Arsenal boss has so much faith in him.

The Italian was near enough perfect, and while he's closer to the end of his career than the start, the Arsenal faithful can rest easy, as Hale End could be about to deliver a ready-made replacement in the coming years.

Jorginho's game in numbers

While the team's performance was impressive as a whole, if there was one area of the pitch where Arsenal well and truly dominated their northern opponents, it was midfield.

The Jorginho and Declan Rice duo played as if they were a trio, covering every blade of grass, making brilliant tackle after brilliant tackle and pressing the Reds' midfield as if they weren't some of the best players in the league.

The Standard's Simon Collings gave both of them a 9/10 for their efforts, claiming that the 32-year-old 'rolled back the years' and put in 'one of his best performances for the Gunners', which is hard to disagree with.

In his 97 minutes on the pitch, the former Chelsea ace had 71 touches, completed 45 of his 53 passes (85%), made one key pass, won four ground duels, won three aerial duels, made two clearances, three interceptions, and two tackles.

It is hard to overstate just how vital the Imbituba-born maestro was for the Gunners yesterday, and while he may have been looked at as nothing more than reliable cover by Arsenal fans beforehand, there is a strong argument that he should be in the starting lineup from here onwards.

Figure

97

71

45/53 (85%)

1

9 (4)

4 (3)

2

3

2

And, once he finally does hang up his boots or move on, it looks as if the club might already have their own ready-made replacement to step into the void.

Why fans should be excited about Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand

So the first thing to clear up is that, as things stand, and probably for the next two to three years, Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand is simply not going to be ready to step into the shoes of Jorginho, nor is he likely to break into the first team, but that's alright.

The young Dutchman only turned 20 in the summer, and with the Italian still looking fit, Rice being the world-class midfielder he is, and the reasonable chance of midfield reinforcements arriving in the summer, there is no need to rush the youngster's development.

That said, his performances at the youth level serve as a promise for what could be an impressive senior career. The Den-Haag-born midfielder started his footballing journey with Dutch giants Feyenoord, before joining the Hale End setup in 2020.

In all, he made 38 appearances for the Eredivisie side's youth teams, scoring three goals and providing three assists along the way, whereas, in England, he has made 26 appearances for the Gunners' U23 team, scoring an impressive six goals and providing four assists to boot.

Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand's Youth numbers

Club

Feyenoord

Arsenal

Appearances

38

26

Goals

3

6

Assists

3

4

Goal Involvements per match

0.15

0.38

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Following this impressive stint in the youth sides, Arsenal opted to send Salah on loan to Championship side Hull City last season, but an injury in preseason saw him return to the Gunners in the winter break, and unfortunately he wasn't able to make a single appearance for the Tigers due to this time on the sidelines.

Instead of simply returning to junior football this season, he has been back in the Netherlands, on loan with FC Den Bosch, where he has made eight appearances thus far.

While the former Feyenoord prospect has already endured some significant setbacks in his short career, the fact that he is back playing again should show Arteta and Co that he has the right mentality to make it at the Emirates.

Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand could be Jorginho's heir apparent

Described as a player who has "worked tirelessly" to get where he is by Chris Weatley, Salah unquestionably has the drive and commitment to replicate Jorginho's journey. However, the pair have more than grit and determination in common.

Both players have the ability to play in both a central and defensive midfield role. While the Italian prefers the latter and the youngster the former, they're both malleable to their manager's needs.

Jorginho-martinelli-arsenal

Where Jorginho has been deployed in a central midfield three times this year alone, Salah has occasionally played as a six during his time at Arsenal.

However, with Rice himself telling TNT Sport (via The Athletic) earlier this season that defensive midfield is his best position, it's unlikely that either the experienced Italian or former Feyenoord prodigy will be tasked with taking over that six-role long-term.

So, the perfect heir will need to excel primarily as a central midfielder who has the ability to move up and down the pitch according to the needs of his manager and team.

Arsenal close to new deal for player Arteta loves

He’s been called “really important”.

ByCharlie Smith Feb 5, 2024

Ultimately, it will always be hard to replace a player as intelligent, classy and useful as Jorginho is, but the "superb" Salah, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, certainly looks as if he could get close, and in doing so, potentially saving the club an awful lot of money, money that could be better spent further up the pitch.

Southampton would cruise through to the next round of the FA Cup on Tuesday night, an unfamiliar Saints side to the one that Russell Martin usually plays week in week out in the Championship still managing to do the job in a 3-0 win.

Martin could well have bemoaned the fact that his side had to endure a replay – only piling on more fixtures to the ever-busy Southampton calendar – and decided to freshen things up as a result by dropping the likes of Adam Armstrong and Taylor Harwood-Bellis to utilise his full squad.

Known for having a fruitful Academy on the South Coast, with the likes of Gareth Bale and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain going on to have distinguished careers after coming through at the second-tier club, the youngsters Martin selected for this tie with the Hornets shone with one defender in particular catching the eye.

Jayden Meghoma's numbers at youth level

Starting in the original match at Vicarage Road before this replay back on home turf, Saints youngster Jayden Meghoma is certainly one to keep tabs on from a Southampton perspective when it comes to their conveyor belt of impressive youth players.

Making 28 appearances for the Southampton U18s and U21s to date, after joining the club from Tottenham Hotspur in 2022, Meghoma has a single assist next to his name from those games played.

Now a five-time England U18 international also, the 17-year-old breakout star will just aim to keep his feet planted firmly on the ground despite all the hype that surrounds him.

The teenager didn't look out of his comfort zone playing against the Hornets in either game when pushing through to make an impact already in the senior fold, with Martin even openly praising Meghoma this campaign when selected.

Meghoma's numbers at senior level

That glowing appraisal from his manager came after Meghoma's senior debut versus Walsall in the cup, Martin going on to state that the 17-year-old's performance was "outstanding" versus the visiting Saddlers.

His first-team opportunities wouldn't just dry up after this, however, with Meghoma now onto four appearances in total which included a standout display in the 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road before last night's thumping win.

In that initial tie, the Southampton number 29 would show tremendous defensive resilience for a teenage talent – winning 100% of the duels that came his way up against Valerien Ismael's side.

Minutes played

90

Touches

59

Accurate passes

39/41 (95%)

Key passes

2

Duels won

2/2 (100%)

Moreover, the talented 17-year-old would notch up two key passes in a Saints back four that prides itself on playing out from the back with unerring composure.

There could well be similarities between Meghoma and Kyle Walker-Peters, with both full-backs coming through at Tottenham before switching allegiances to the Saints.

Likewise, both are expressive defenders who aren't just content at sitting back and fulfilling their standard defensive duties.

Walker-Peters showcased this during Southampton's big 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday last month, registering a shot on goal venturing forward with pace to burn alongside notching up two key passes.

Meghoma is still some way off from breaking into the Southampton first-team fold and staying there, but the teenager could do far worse than attempting to replicate Walker-Peters' career journey.

With talk that Walker-Peters could be off from St Mary's in the near future owing to significant transfer interest in the entertaining defender, Martin will hope the likes of Meghoma can soften the blow of any first-team departures by blossoming into a new exciting star for the St Mary's masses to cheer on.

Glasgow Rangers return to the top of the Premiership table is no accident, as Philippe Clement has installed a new-found belief in his group of players since arriving at Ibrox in mid-October.

Having once trailed Celtic by eight points after just seven league games, the Light Blues are now clear of their Old Firm rivals by two points and things appear to be unravelling over in the East End of Glasgow.

Not only has Clement managed to bring the Gers back into a title challenge, but he has had to do it with a squad largely inherited by former manager Michael Beale.

While the Belgian manager has made three signings of his own – luring Fabio Silva, Mohamed Diomande, and Oscar Cortes to Rangers – he has been forced to play the likes of Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers, and Ben Davies during his opening few months in charge.

Lammers has now joined FC Utrecht on loan until the end of the season, and it looks as though his career at Rangers could be coming to an end, while Dessers has managed 11 goals under Clement and if he can remain consistent, he could prove useful in the long run.

Davies, however, has barely featured in the current regime and his signing has been a failed piece of business to put it lightly.

Ben Davies’ Rangers statistics

The centre-back was signed by Giovanni van Bronckhorst for a transfer fee of £4m in the summer of 2022 as the Dutchman was looking to improve a squad which had won the Scottish Cup and reached the Europa League final.

Following 151 appearances in the Championship, Davies certainly had plenty of experience, but he had failed to make an appearance for Liverpool, despite joining them during the January 2021 transfer window.

The Englishman failed to really hit the ground running during his maiden season at Ibrox, playing 38 matches in all competitions, but he featured in the woeful 7-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League along with the 3-2 defeat to Celtic which practically ensured they won the league crown.

Among his teammates in the Premiership, Davies ranked in a lowly 16th spot for tackles per game (0.9), along with ranking seventh for interceptions per game (0.8) and 14th for overall Sofascore rating (6.94) as he clearly failed to live up to the £4m transfer fee.

This season has arguably been worse for the 28-year-old, especially since Clement came in. Not only has he played just 12 matches, but only six have come under the 49-year-old coach.

With Connor Goldson and John Souttar now forming a solid defensive partnership, Davies may potentially leave the club during the summer and this could free up some funds for Clement to attract his own signing.

Since his move to Glasgow, the former Preston gem has seen his market value actually decline pretty rapidly following a series of poor performances.

According to Football Transfers, Davies is now currently valued at just €1.7m (£1.5m) and there is doubt this will continue to decline over the coming months.

This shows that the Gers have wasted yet more money on a player who has failed to showcase his true talents and the club even released a defender back in 2018 who is now currently valued more than Davies.

Fabio Cardoso’s market value at Porto

During the summer of 2017, Light Blues manager Pedro Caixinha was aiming to build a side which could provide some competition to Celtic in the chase for the league title.

This meant spending money in the transfer window and that he did, splashing lavish sums on the likes of Eduardo Herrera and Carlos Pena, but it was Cardoso who looked like he could be a decent signing.

"He is a player who everyone describes as having big potential to be one of the centre-halves of the future with the Portuguese national team,” beamed Caixinha following his arrival in Glasgow.

"We believe in him and he can perform on the right or on the left which is good in a centre-half."

Cardoso ended up playing just 18 matches for the Gers, however, while a serious injury suffered against Motherwell in the 2017 League Cup semi-final proved to be the beginning of the end for the defender in Glasgow as he played only another four games for the club.

He left for free when Steven Gerrard arrived in 2018 and joined CD Santa Clara. His performances for the Portuguese team led Porto to make their move in 2021, and he has since made 76 appearances for the two-time European champions and certainly looks a far better player now than he did seven years ago.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

The 29-year-old was impressive during Porto’s 2022/23 Champions League group stage campaign, as he completed 89% of his passes per game, along with keeping three clean sheets in four games, winning 64% of his ground duels and losing possession just 6.3 times on average each game, and it looked as though he belonged among the elite.

At the time, no one thought Cardoso would become the defender that he has over the previous few years, but his performances have allowed the club to win three domestic trophies, including a league title during the 2021/22 season.

97

11

76

4

43

1

27

1

18

0

His market value currently stands at €2.7m (£2.3m) according to Football Transfers and this is over half a million pounds higher than Davies’ current valuation, which proves how hastily Rangers moved the Portuguese defender on.

It remains to be seen what will happen to the former Liverpool centre-back at the end of the season. Leon Balogun is out of contract and looks unlikely to be offered new terms, whereas Leon King hasn’t had many chances to impress of late.

This would leave just Goldson and Souttar, along with Davies, as Clement’s only options at the heart of the defence.

Selling the 28-year-old may be the wisest choice, as the Belgian could raise funds in order to add to his backline ahead of the 2024/25 season.

What he would do to have a player such as Cardoso as an option, however, especially following his performances for Porto in recent years.

When Leeds United lost 1-0 to West Bromwich Albion in their final game of 2023, they were fourth in the Championship table, closer to dropping out of the play-offs than they were to Ipswich Town in the automatic promotion places.

Since then, however, Daniel Farke's side have embarked on a scintillating eight-match winning run in 2024, most recently beating league leaders Leicester City 3-1 at Elland Road last Friday. All of a sudden, they've surged up to second place, level with Ipswich but comfortably ahead on goal difference. Some supporters may even be dreaming of winning the title, with the Foxes now just six points ahead.

Robinson can't believe what he's hearing about Stuart Dallas' Leeds future

Dallas hasn’t played for Leeds since the spring of 2022.

ByDavid Comerford Feb 27, 2024

Of course, all that really matters is securing promotion, and Leeds are now well-placed to do just that with 12 games to go. The club will be making tentative plans for a return to the Premier League, while also drawing up contingencies.

49ers offer Farke £100m Leeds incentive

According to Football Insider and reporter Pete O'Rourke, owners the 49ers Enterprises could furnish Farke with a budget of up to £100m if Leeds do go up in an exciting new update. With revenue bound to increase, largely thanks to TV money, they'll be able to bankroll a series of big-money transfers.

The German will have at least £75m to spend, and he'll also have a better chance of keeping coveted players like Crysencio Summerville in West Yorkshire if they're in the top flight.

Leeds know money itself isn't everything

Leeds were actually very busy ahead of their last season in the Premier League, bringing in nine new players. Only Nottingham Forest (23), Fulham (11) and Southampton (10) made more signings that summer.

Player

Signed from

Fee (€)

Brenden Aaronson

Red Bull Salzburg

33m

Luis Sinisterra

Feyenoord

25m

Tyler Adams

RB Leipzig

17m

Rasmus Kristensen

Red Bull Salzburg

13m

Marc Roca

Bayern Munich

12m

Darko Gyabi

Manchester City

5.8m

Wilfried Gnonto

FC Zurich

4.5m

Joel Robles

Real Betis

Free

Sonny Perkins

West Ham United

Free

Leeds spent around £94m, so some would say the proposed budget is nothing new, but the key difference is that they generated £97m through sales that year as Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips moved on. That meant they actually turned a profit overall, but this time it sounds like Farke would have £100m in addition to any money generated through exits.

Money itself is no guarantee of success, though, as Leeds discovered in 22/23. Brenden Aaronson (now on loan at Union Berlin) only managed one goal and three assists in 40 appearances, Rasmus Kristensen (on loan at Roma) wasn't able to nail down a place in the team and the unfortunate Tyler Adams saw his season ended by injury in mid-March before leaving for Bournemouth.

Luis Sinisterra enjoyed more success with seven goals in 22 games, but he's already sealed a permanent exit to Bournemouth alongside Adams, and Marc Roca could follow him out the door if Real Betis activate their option to buy. With Victor Orta gone and a new behind-the-scenes team in place, Leeds will hope to use their resources much more effectively this time if they do indeed return to the first tier.

Newcastle United endured years of uncertainty under the ownership of Mike Ashley, with his lack of investment in the playing squad leading to multiple relegations to the Championship.

The club had to rely on outgoings before making any permanent additions, with the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Yohan Cabaye leaving St James' Park, allowing the Magpies to make key additions.

Newcastle had to rely on loan additions for the most part, with players such as Loic Remy and Seydou Doumbia arriving on Tyneside but failing to make a lasting impression at the club, the latter notably enduring three goalless games.

However, one player who joined the club on loan in 2014 has had a brilliant career since his unsuccessful loan stint at the club – including a move to a five-time Champions League-winning club.

Luuk De Jong's stats at Newcastle United

Having joined on loan from German side Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2014, Luuk De Jong failed to make an impact at St James' Park, with the club subsequently finishing tenth in the Premier League – with the striker leaving at the end of the season.

Dutch international De Jong started eight of his 14 games at the club, with the striker featuring upfront and also as an attacking midfielder, with boss Alan Pardew failing to get the best out of the loanee.

The striker failed to score a single goal during his stint in the Premier League, with De Jong looking unimpressive and not up to scratch to the demands of England's top flight.

He left the Toon behind at the end of the season, returning to Mönchengladbach before leaving to move to PSV back in his homeland.

Luuk De Jong's stats since leaving Newcastle United

Since leaving in 2014, De Jong has taken his career to the next level. He's enjoyed success in the Eredivisie for PSV over the last decade, with the striker also having two spells in Spain.

During 2019 and 2022, the Dutchman had spells at Sevilla and Barcelona, where he made 123 appearances between the two clubs, scoring 26 goals – a poor return given his record in the Netherlands.

The best spell in his career has undoubtedly been for PSV, where he's spent six years with De Jong boasting a very impressive goal return.

In his 280 games for the club, he's scored 161 times and assisted a further 81 goals for his teammates – with the striker having 242 goal contributions for the club.

PSV (2018/19)

28

PSV (2015/16)

26

PSV (2023/24) – so far

22

PSV (2014/15)

20

PSV (2022/23)

14

De Jong's currently on course to have his best season yet at PSV, with the 33-year-old currently having 22 goals in his 24 appearances this season, with the attacker also creating 11 goals.

His tally is the highest in the Eredivisie so far this campaign, with the experienced forward showing no signs of slowing down his brilliant goalscoring form.

Despite his poor spell in England for the Magpies, the club might regret not signing the Dutchman given his sensational form in Europe – with De Jong potentially being a key player for the club during the turbulent years.

Whilst promotion is far from a sealed deal just yet, with just one point separating three sides at the top, Leeds United have at least got the ball rolling when it comes to their plan of action should they make their Premier League return, which could involve the arrival of a player who knows all about the big stage.

Leeds transfer news

The Whites will first hope to keep hold of key players this summer, before ensuring that Daniel Farke has the squad needed to ensure Premier League survival, should they secure promotion this season of course.

49ers in "very tough" negotiation to sell Leeds player in permanent deal

He only arrived at Elland Road last season.

ByTom Coates Mar 19, 2024

With that said, reports have already name-dropped the likes of Joe Rodon, who has enjoyed an incredibly successful loan spell at Elland Road this season. On paper and on the pitch, a permanent move from Tottenham Hotspur makes perfect sense this summer. According to reports, meanwhile, Leeds are plotting a move to sign Sean Longstaff if they earn Championship promotion this season.

The Newcastle United midfielder has been one of the most consistent features of Eddie Howe's side but has now attracted the interest of Leeds and the 49ers, who reportedly want to secure what would be a deal worth around £15m this summer.

Reacting to the news, Carlton Palmer was full of praise for Longstaff. Palmer told Football League World: "He’s only got a year left on his contract, so this would be a very, very good signing. The 26-year-old has played 135 Premier League games, and he would be a good addition for Leeds United.

“It has been reported that Newcastle would want a fee of around £15m and that would fall into Leeds’ budget. This is what you’ve got to do, and Daniel Farke is doing exactly what a manager should be doing now.

"I think Leeds have a great chance of going up, so you have to be looking at players. You don’t want to be doing business late, you want to get the players in because it’s already tough enough for Championship clubs to remain in the Premier League when they get promoted.

“This would be a terrific signing for Leeds, a really strong signing for the football club. It’s one thing getting to the Premier League, but it’s another thing staying there.”

"Terrific" Longstaff would make survival difference

A player who's enjoyed the joys of qualifying for the Champions League and the pain of relegation battles, Longstaff is an ideal option to turn to for any club on their way to the Premier League.

At 26-years-old, this is also a player in his prime, rather than a youngster still seeking experience. He is someone who the likes of Archie Gray can learn even more from and potentially even partner in midfield- Gray's natural role.

What's more, for just £15m, Leeds would be getting themselves a bargain. There are not many other players on the market who have played Champions League football and regular Premier League football worth just £15m, making Longstaff a must-buy this summer. When the window opens, Leeds would be wise to make their move if they earn promotion this season.

Chelsea’s 2023/24 campaign has been filled with both positivity and negativity, which is expected at the start of a rebuild.

Mauricio Pochettino has often faced backlash for the poor results that have landed the Blues in an 11th-place position in the Premier League.

However, the FA Cup trophy can still be won, with a tough tie against Leicester City around the corner, but a triumph in that competition would certainly end the season on a high.

That said, one huge positive from this season was the signing of Cole Palmer, but there’s a Chelsea player who’s currently earning over three times more than him, despite barely playing.

Cole Palmer’s salary at Chelsea

Chelsea’s purchase of Palmer this summer from Manchester City for a fee of £40m could very well go down as the signing of the season if he continues to perform at the standard he has so far.

The 21-year-old has been unstoppable this season, taking on the role as the focal point for the Blues, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists in just 19 Premier League starts.

Gareth Southgate has rewarded Palmer’s excellent performances by handing him a spot in the England squad for the upcoming international break, which just proves how influential he’s been.

However, his current wage doesn’t reflect his impact on the field, with the number ten earning 'just' £75k-per-week, as per Capology, which is far less than a certain somewhat forgotten ace…

Cole Palmer is now being outscored by a Chelsea flop who left on a free

The former Blues man is on fire this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 15, 2024 What Reece James earns at Chelsea

There’s no doubt about it, when Reece James is fit and playing, he’s certainly “world class,” as described by football creator George Benson, with his five goals and nine assists in the 2021/22 campaign serving as evidence for that.

However, that’s where the problem lies for the Chelsea defender, as reliability and availability have been a huge issue over the last few seasons.

The England defender has dealt with 12 injuries since the start of the 2021/22 season, with a hamstring injury being a common occurrence.

Unfortunately, injuries have also ruined his campaign under the Argentine, and he has missed 29 matches to date. James’ last match for Chelsea was the 2-0 away defeat to Everton at the start of December, having made just seven appearances prior.

Nevertheless, if the 24-year-old can find a solution to his constant setbacks, then he still has a minimum of four years left on his contract, which expires in June 2028.

Raheem Sterling

£350k

Reece James

£250k

Wesley Fofana

£200k

Ben Chillwell

£200k

Cole Palmer *16th

£75k

As you can see, James is also the second-highest earner in the entire Chelsea squad at £250k per week, with only Sterling having a higher salary than the right-back.

This clearly shows that the number 24 earns just over three times more than Palmer does, despite being unable to influence the team on the pitch.

With James’ return to action not entirely known, if he is sadly out for the entire campaign, he would cost Chelsea £2.6m per start this campaign.

Overall, James’ unfortunate luck when it comes to injuries is extremely sad to witness, especially when he has displayed so much potential, and hopefully he can justify his large wage in the near future.

At present, however, it is looking hard for the Blues to justify forking out his exorbitant salary…

West Ham United have reached out to the representatives of a Premier League star, indicating that they're interested in doing a deal for him this summer.

Steidten transfer plans taking shape at West Ham

While manager David Moyes' future remains up in the air, technical director Tim Steidten is said to be making transfer plans in the background regardless.

TalkSPORT pundit says West Ham may hire phenomenal David Moyes replacement

He could be a hugely exciting choice for Hammers fans.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 27, 2024

The German is said to be looking at potential new defenders and forwards heading into the next transfer window, which are key areas of the West Ham squad that need addressing before 2024/2025.

Nayef Aguerd's lack of consistency has been a real cause for concern at the back for West Ham, and it is believed both the Moroccan and Kurt Zouma are attracting interest from Saudi Arabia (Graeme Bailey).

Meanwhile, West Ham failed to get over half a dozen deals for forwards over the line in January, which has left Moyes' side even more depleted after both Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals sealed moves elsewhere.

Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta stand out as their key creators, but the latter is being regularly linked with a move to Man City. If injury were to befall Kudus or Bowen as well, you could make a very serious case that Moyes, or any new West Ham manager next season, would be in serious trouble.

Jarrod Bowen

14

Mohammed Kudus

6

Tomas Soucek

6

James Ward-Prowse

5

Lucas Paqueta

3

As a result, West Ham are believed to be eyeing up both new wingers and strikers. A big name who has come onto their radar lately, and in surprising fashion, is Brentford star Ivan Toney.

The Bees striker is looking very likely to leave his club this summer, amid the growing clamour for his services, with his contract also set to expire next year.

Toney scored 20 league goals last season and looks set to be one of the next transfer window's hot topics.

West Ham make contact with Toney's agents

Toney has also been called "remarkable" by Thomas Frank, with West Ham throwing their hat in the ring this past fortnight.

HITC have an update on this, and they claim that West Ham have made contact with Toney's agents to indicate an interest in signing him this summer. His price tag, not to mention whether he'd really want a move to the London Stadium, will undoubtedly be sticking points in this potential transfer saga.

“It is relatively obvious that Ivan Toney will probably be sold this summer,” Brentford boss Frank said to Danish media, via Tipsbladet.

“We also know what he is worth. I don’t think there are many strikers in the world who are better than him right now. He is a really skilled striker who is in his prime football age. Personally, as a coach, I would prefer to keep Toney but one day it could be fun to see him on a top team.

“This winter we actually had no offers for him, but it will surprise me if there aren’t a lot of clubs that will be interested in him.”

A “standout” Leeds United star is now expected to sign a big new contract at Elland Road, according to an exciting update from journalist Pete O'Rourke.

Leeds United transfer news

The Whites are right in the thick of the Championship promotion battle currently, and they know the importance of the Premier League when it comes to the calibre of signings they can bring in this summer.

FC Vizela midfielder Samu has also been linked with a switch to Leeds at the end of the season, with scouts sent to watch the soon-to-be free agent in action. Meanwhile, they are also believed to have made an offer for highly-rated youngster Mason Cotcher, with the 17-year-old currently on trial at Elland Road, having also been at Arsenal and Manchester United recently.

A reunion with Kalvin Phillips in the summer could also be on the cards, with the midfielder having a torrid time at Manchester City, not to mention struggling on loan at West Ham since moving to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

There are also some hugely important players that Leeds need to do everything they can to keep hold of, however, and an encouraging update regarding one such figure has emerged.

Big update over "standout" Leeds star's future

According to a new update from Football Insider's O'Rourke, Archie Gray is likely to sign a new deal at Leeds, assuming they earn promotion to the Premier League.

He "will reject offers to join Real Madrid and Bayern Munich", highlighting just how big a talent he is, and he instead sees his future with the Whites for the foreseeable future.

This is wonderful news for anyone associated with Leeds, considering Gray is one of the most promising youngsters at the club in years, already making 43 appearances for the club, despite still only being 18 years of age.

If ever Daniel Farke wanted extra motivation in the promotion battle, it is knowing that the teenager's future could depend on whether they are back in the Premier League or not next season.

Gray is such a special young footballer, showing his versatility by thriving at right-back for much of this season, but also proving his worth as a midfielder many times in the past. He has been called a "standout" player by O'Rourke, who said on the Inside Track podcast: Obviously there is lots of speculation around Archie Gray, and there is no real surprise about that.

"He’s been the standout player for Leeds this season, one of the best young players in the country, no doubts about that. So no surprise to see the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich linked with him recently, but I don’t see anything happening with Gray in the near future."

Leeds scouts wowed by soon-to-be free agent running 13km a game

He could be making a move to Elland Road very soon.

ByBen Browning Apr 5, 2024

A new long-term deal for Gray will also ensure that Leeds are put in a position of strength when it comes to future interest in him, being able to demand a huge amount of money for his signature.