ارتبط اسم المدرب البرتغالي فرناندو سانتوس مؤخرًا بالنادي الأهلي، وسط تكهنات حول إمكانية توليه القيادة الفنية للفريق خلال المرحلة المقبلة.
وفي ظل البحث المستمر عن مدرب أجنبي يملك خبرة أوروبية قوية، تزايدت الشائعات حول اهتمام بعض الأندية الأوروبية بمدرب المنتخب البرتغالي السابق.
وخلال الساعات الماضية، خرجت بعض التقارير تفيد بأن سانتوس لديه عرض من نادي باناثينايكوس اليوناني للعودة إلى تدريبه مرة أخرى.
اقرأ أيضًا.. خاص | إجراء عاجل في الأهلي بعد إصابة إمام عاشور
نادي باناثينايكوس اليوناني نفى كل الأخبار التي تحدثت عن رغبتهم في إعادة فرناندو سانتوس إلى الفريق مرة أخرى، بحسب مصدر خاص لـ بطولات.
وأوضح المصدر أن النادي لديه خيارات أخرى لتدريب الفريق، على رأسها البرتغالي نونو إسبريتو سانتو، لكنه أشار إلى أن الاتفاق مع المدرب لن يكون سهلاً.
أما الخيار الثاني، حسب المصدر، فهو الإيطالي تياجو موتا، مدرب يوفنتوس السابق، والذي يُعد من بين الأسماء المرشحة لتولي المهمة الفنية.
وبهذا يصبح فرناندو سانتوس خارج حسابات باناثينايكوس، بينما يظل اسم المدرب البرتغالي مرتبطًا بجدل حول إمكانية توليه الأهلي أو فرق أخرى في المنطقة.
الجدير بالذكر أن باناثينايكوس خلال الساعات الماضية أعلن رحيل مدرب منتخب مصر السابق، روي فيتوريا، الذي كشف بطولات عن وجوده ضمن لائحة المرشحين لقيادة الأهلي.
Mark Wood, England’s fastest bowler, will miss the forthcoming Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand, after being ruled out for the rest of the year due to a bone-stress injury to his right elbow.Wood was withdrawn from the ongoing Sri Lanka series as a precaution, after suffering a right thigh strain while bowling during the first Test at Old Trafford. However, he subsequently underwent what he had hoped was a routine elbow scan, after feeling discomfort in the joint, and admitted in an Instagram post that he had received some “pretty rubbish news”.”During what I thought was routine check on a previously troublesome elbow, I was shocked to learn I’ve got some bone stress in my right elbow,” Wood wrote.As a result, he will miss England’s final six Tests of the year, three each against Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December.He will continue to work closely with the ECB medical team in the meantime, with the aim of returning to full fitness by early 2025, in time for England’s white-ball tour of India and the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, which is scheduled to begin in February 2025.Wood’s surprise at his diagnosis comes in the wake of some of the fastest bowling of his international career. During the Trent Bridge Test against West Indies in July, he hit a top speed of 97.1mph in an electrifying performance that culminated in a broken forearm for Kevin Sinclair, and had his captain, Ben Stokes, predicting he would break the 100mph before his career is done.Though he went relatively under-rewarded in that performance, he closed out the series with 5 for 40 at Edgbaston, his first five-wicket haul in a home Test. However, he bowled just 18.2 overs across two innings against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, before he was withdrawn from the action.”After the minor groin injury at Emirates Old Trafford, me and the medical team felt it was a good time to get my elbow looked at as it was a bit irritated,” Wood added in his Instagram post. “I’d put that down to the normal niggles every fast bowler gets and which I was playing through.”I’m especially surprised because I’ve been playing Test cricket and kept my speeds up.”I work incredibly hard on my fitness, putting in extra work with coaches and physios making this even more disappointing. However, I guess this is, ‘part of being a fast bowler’, like Stokesy says.”I will miss the rest of the year needing time to rest and build up, fully expecting to be back and firing in early 2025. I have been down this path before and will put in all the hard yards behind the scenes. I am very proud to represent my country and there is no better feeling. See you for some rockets in 2025!”In Wood’s absence, Olly Stone was recalled for last week’s Lord’s Test, his first Test since undergoing back surgery three years ago, with Josh Hull, the 20-year-old left-arm seamer, making his debut in the ongoing third Test at The Oval.
Leeds United officially completed their third signing of the summer transfer window on Tuesday when they unveiled Sebastiaan Bornauw as their new centre-back.
The Belgian giant has joined on a four-year contract on a permanent deal from Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg, following the arrivals of Jaka Bijol and Lukas Nmecha.
Bornauw played 15 times for Wolfsburg in the German top-flight last season and will provide competition to the likes of Bijol, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Pascal Struijk in the centre-back positions.
This means that Leeds have now brought in two new central defenders and one centre-forward, in Nmecha, but they are yet to add to Daniel Farke’s options in the middle of the park.
Habib Diarra for Strasbourg against PSG.
One central midfielder who will not be signing for the Championship champions, though, is Senegal international Habib Diarra, who has signed for Premier League rivals Sunderland.
Leeds reportedly made a bid of around £22m to sign the star from Strasbourg last month, but the Black Cats have now snapped him up for a club-record fee of £30m.
What Habib Diarra could have brought to Leeds
The 21-year-old midfielder could have been an interesting signing for the Whites as a young midfield talent who has shown promise in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg.
Diarra could have provided a decent threat at the top end of the pitch from a central midfield position after a return of four goals and five assists in 30 appearances in the French top-flight last season.
However, he is far from the finished article at the age of 21 and still has a lot to learn, as his defensive work in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg left quite a bit to be desired.
Whilst his contributions at the top end of the pitch were notable for such a young player in a major European league, Diarra’s all-round play in midfield was not at a particularly high level.
Progressive passes
4.44
Bottom 41%
Progressive carries
2.33
Top 27%
Successful take-ons
0.50
Bottom 29%
Tackles made
0.84
Bottom 4%
Interceptions
0.50
Bottom 15%
Blocks
0.84
Bottom 21%
As you can see in the table above, the Senegal international ranked within the bottom half of midfielders in Ligue 1 in a host of defensive metrics, as well as in-possession attributes.
Senegal's Ismaila Sarr celebrates withHabibDiarraand Cherif Ndiaye after scoring their first goal
So, whilst he may be a promising young player with the potential to improve, Diarra may not have been an instant star for Leeds in the Premier League because of his lack of defensive nous and physicality in the middle of the park.
Because of this, it may be a good thing that the Whites missed out on a deal for the £30m-rated midfielder, amid reported interest from the club in another midfield target who would be a better signing.
Leeds eyeing Championship midfielder
According to TEAMtalk, Leeds United are one of the teams interested in a swoop to sign Southampton central midfielder Mateus Fernandes this summer.
The report claims that the Saints, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, are preparing to lose several key first-team stars in the coming weeks, and the Portuguese ace is one of them.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that former Sporting prospect is expected to be snapped up by another club before the end of the summer transfer window at the start of September, and that Leeds and Crystal Palace are both lining up moves to sign him.
Previous reports have claimed that the Championship side are looking for a fee of around £30m for the midfield star, but it remains to be seen if that has changed.
Mateus Fernandes for Southampton.
It is now down to Leeds to fight hard to win the race with Palace for his signature in the coming weeks, to ensure that they do not lose out to another Premier League rival like they did with Diarra.
Why Leeds should sign Mateus Fernandes
The Whites should be pushing to sign Fernandes from Southampton because he would arrive at Elland Road as an even better signing than Diarra would have been.
At the age of 20, the Portuguese talent is even younger than the Senegalese ace and, therefore, has a similar potential to grow and develop over the years to come, which would make him an ideal long-term signing.
Southampton'sMateusFernandescelebrates scoring their first goal
However, Fernandes has the quality to make an even bigger impact than Diarra in the short-term, based on his performances for the Saints last season.
Despite Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League, the 20-year-old starlet caught the eye with some impressive displays in the middle of the park, scoring two goals and providing four assists.
The £30m-rated star, who also scored against Cardiff in the League Cup, offered more to his team than just goal contributions, though, as he is an all-action and dynamic midfielder.
Appearances
36
30
Goals
2
4
Assists
4
5
Successful dribbles per game
1.4
0.4
Tackles + interceptions per game
3.3
1.1
Blocks per game
0.6
0.2
Ground duel success rate
53%
49%
Aerial duel success rate
63%
43%
As you can see in the table above, the Southampton ace has far more to his game than Diarra does as a central midfield option, due to his defensive and offensive qualities.
Fernandes, who was once hailed for his “exceptional” passing quality by analyst Ben Mattinson, may not have produced as many goals and assists as the former Strasbourg star, but he offered significantly more to his team defensively.
As aforementioned, Diarra may have been a liability defensively for Leeds due to his lack of physicality in Ligue 1, but that would not be the case for the Saints midfielder, who has been there and done it in the Premier League.
Fernandes has shown that he can handle the physicality of English football, to be a standout in a poor Southampton team, and that means that the Leeds target could hit the ground running at Elland Road if they sign him, which may not have been the case for Diarra due to his lack of experience in England.
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Therefore, Leeds should swoop to sign the relegated midfielder after missing out on Diarra because he has the qualities, potential, and experience to be an even better signing than the club-record Sunderland ace.
Leeds United are reportedly close to completing their third signing of the summer transfer window with the addition of central defender Sebastiaan Bornauw from Wolfsburg.
The Belgian colossus was due for his medical at Thorp Arch on Monday and is now set to add more depth to a defensive unit that already includes Pascal Struijk, Max Wober, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and recent signing Jaka Bijol.
Daniel Farke looks set to have plenty of options to choose from at the heart of his defence next season in the Premier League, and he is also looking to add more quality at the other end of the pitch.
Leeds pushing to sign new striker
Bornauw will be the second centre-back added to the squad, after Bijol, and the Whites are now in the market to make further attacking reinforcements.
Rodrigo Muniz appears to be one number nine target who is off the table for the club, though, as Fulham reportedly see him as not for sale amid interest from the West Yorkshire outfit.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to the print edition of Corriere Dello Sport (30/06/2025), as relayed by MOTLeedsNews, Leeds United are pushing to sign Lecce centre-forward Nikola Krstovic in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the club’s interest in the Montenegro international has forced the Serie A clubs to start pursuing striker targets of their own to replace the forward, which speaks to the level of interest shown by the Championship champions.
It now remains to be seen whether or not Leeds will be able to get a deal for the £21m-rated number nine over the line in the coming weeks.
Nikola Krstovic could be the next Chris Wood for Leeds
If the Whites can secure the 25-year-old striker’s signature, then they could find their next version of Chris Wood, who scored 44 goals in 88 matches during his time at Elland Road in the Championship.
After leaving Leeds to sign for Burnley, Wood proved himself to be a dependable Premier League goalscorer, with a return of 89 goals in 263 games for the Clarets, Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle United combined. That is a return of between 12 and 13 goals per 38 appearances.
In Krstovic, Leeds could find a physical and mobile centre-forward, like Wood, who can also consistently deliver that level of quality in front of goal in the top-flight.
The 25-year-old star ended the 2024/25 campaign with a haul of 11 goals in 37 Serie A outings for Lecce, which shows that he can score goals at a respectable rate in a major European league.
As well as being a striker who has the potential to add a goal threat to Farke’s squad in the Premier League next season, Krstovic is also similar to Wood in the sense that he provides a physical presence in the number nine role.
24/25 season
Krstovic (Serie A)
Wood (Premier League)
Appearances
37
36
Goals
11
20
Big chances created
5
3
Assists
5
3
Duels won
4.9
3.5
Ground duel success rate
40%
35%
Aerial duel success rate
41%
39%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Lecce star offered even more physicality to his team in the Serie A than the New Zealand international did for Forest in the Premier League, winning a higher percentage of his duels on the deck and in the air.
Krstovic, who was hailed as “integral” by former boss Roberto D’Aversa, stands at 6 foot 1 and, clearly, has the attributes to compete with physical centre-backs at the top level.
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Kelan Sarson
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Therefore, Farke could land his own version of Wood by landing a deal for the Serie A marksman, who could provide goals, assists, and physicality in the Premier League next term.
After a characteristically slow start, this summer is turning into a massive one for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side have already announced the signings of Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga, and they don’t look close to being done there.
Andrea Berta and Co have finally agreed a deal in principle for Viktor Gyokeres, and then Noni Madueke’s arrival should be announced any day now.
Furthermore, links to £77m Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo won’t go away, and if recent reports are to be believed, they could soon sell a first-team regular, which could free up space and finances for the Brazilian superstar.
Why Arsenal would want to sign Rodrygo
Being the incredible player he is, there are several reasons why Arsenal would want to splash the cash on Rodrygo, such as his raw output.
Since the start of the 23/24 campaign, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has scored 31 goals and provided 20 assists in 105 appearances, totalling 7159 minutes.
That means even though he has played out of his favour left-wing position for most of that period, the former Santos gem was still able to average a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 140.37 minutes.
Appearances
51
54
Minutes
3707′
3452′
Goals
17
14
Assists
9
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.50
0.46
Minutes per Goal Involvement
142.57′
138.08′
Furthermore, while he would almost certainly spend most of his time at the Emirates off the left, his ability to play across the frontline would undoubtedly be another of the reasons Arteta and Co would want to bring him in.
It would allow him to cover for Bukayo Saka at times, or even start as a false nine and give the team a whole new dimension in challenging games.
Finally, the 24-year-old has also won all there is to win in the club game and played a crucial role in the Spanish giants’ multiple Champions League triumphs.
In other words, he’d bring some much-needed know-how to an already talented side who have been so close to getting it over the line on so many occasions now.
With all that said, bringing in a world-class talent like Rodrygo would be a massive financial commitment, although it looks like Arsenal might be making some changes to the squad, which could help facilitate it.
What Rodrygo's arrival would mean for Arsenal
With Gyokeres and Madueke set to join the club and then links to Eberechi Eze refusing to go away, it seems incredibly unlikely that Arsenal would sign Rodrygo without first making an attacking sale.
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The likes of Saka and Kai Havertz aren’t going anywhere, and Gabriel Jesus is still out injured, so the options fall on the left-hand side.
Gabriel Martinelli was linked with a big-money move to Al Hilal earlier this summer, but it was then revealed to be nothing more than paper talk.
That then brings us to Leandro Trossard, and based on a recent report from Sport Bild’s Christian Falk, Bayern Munich are interested in him.
The German journalist has revealed that the Belgian international could be FC Hollywood’s “next big signing,” and while he makes no mention of how much the fee could be, reports from earlier this month claimed that the Gunners would want £20m.
According to separate reports from Just Arsenal, Bayern have already opened talks with the player’s camp regarding a move.
Appearances
54
56
Minutes
3452
3455′
Goals
14
10
Assists
11
10
Goal Involvements per Match
0.46
0.35
Minutes per Goal Involvement
138.08
172.75′
While the former Brighton & Hove Albion star has been a useful player for Arteta over the last two and a half years, it would be good money for a winger who is set to turn 31 at the end of the year, and wasn’t massively impactful last season.
For example, the “sensational” ace, as dubbed by journalist Charles Watts, produced 20 goal involvements in 56 appearances, totalling 3455 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every 2.8 games, or every 172.75 minutes.
In contrast, the Real monster scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 54 appearances, totalling 3452 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every 2.16 games, or every 138.08 minutes.
Ultimately, Trossard has been an undeniable success at Arsenal, but with where the team want to go and the players they need to take them there, this feels like the right time to say thank you and goodbye.
Gyokeres will adore him: Arsenal eyeing £80m star who "finishes like Henry"
The international ace would add even more quality to Arsenal’s frontline.
Chelsea certainly appear to be a team who are aiming for a big season in 2025/26.
Enzo Maresca not only led the Blues to a wonderful triumph at the Club World Cup, but he simultaneously managed to bolster his squad in the process.
In came João Pedro and Liam Delap. Elsewhere, Jamie Gittens was signed to bolster Maresca’s wide options, while Brazilian sensation Estevao will link up with the club ahead of the new season.
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro
It is a summer of change at Stamford Bridge, and the victory stateside will only heighten expectations once the Premier League season gets underway in a few weeks.
The $125m that the club won at the tournament this summer will help fund a few of the summer signings, but Maresca will be looking to sell a raft of players to fund more incomings.
João Felix and Christopher Nkunku could be set to leave the club this summer. As to Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga and Raheem Sterling in the coming weeks.
These players could fetch decent fees, which, in turn, will allow the club to further bolster key positions.
Noni Madueke has also been sold to Arsenal, while Nicolas Jackson is being heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge. These two might be the biggest losses.
Chelsea looking to sell more players
Given the imminent arrival of Estevao at Stamford Bridge, plus the presence of Pedro Neto, it was evident that Madueke’s chances of regular game time on the right flank would be limited next term.
When Arsenal began to show serious interest, it was only a matter of when and not if the Gunners would seal the deal.
Noni Madueke for Chelsea
His sale could earn Chelsea around £50m, which is a remarkable sum for a player who scored seven Premier League goals for the Blues last term.
Jackson has been subject to interest from a host of clubs since the summer transfer window opened a few weeks ago.
Recently, however, it is Manchester United who are keen on securing a move for the Senegal international.
According to reports, United have already held talks with Jackson’s representatives regarding a potential move to Old Trafford.
With Pedro and Delap looking like they will share the centre-forward workload this season, is there any room for Jackson?
Chelsea'sNicolasJacksonreacts after being shown a red card by referee Ivan Barton
Last term, he made just 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring only 13 goals in the process for the club.
His form tailed off towards the end of the season after a decent start, going on to find the back of the net on four occasions after Christmas.
Given his competition for a place in the starting XI combined with his poor form throughout 2025, Jackson could seek a fresh start by moving away from London.
Nicolas Jackson
He could easily command a fee of over £50m in the current market, and he wouldn’t exactly be a massive loss to Maresca.
The Blues might have to brace themselves for a potential offer for one of their star players, however, and he would be a far bigger loss than Madueke and Jackson combined…
Chelsea could receive an offer for Cole Palmer
While Maresca is keen on selling several of his first-team players this summer to raise funds, certain players won’t be for sale.
Cole Palmer is one such name. The Englishman is at the forefront of the club’s recent success, and he will have another big part to play next season.
An extraordinary recent report from Spain has claimed that Manchester City are looking to bring him back to the Etihad, just two years after selling him.
Indeed, Pep Guardiola is willing to offer Chelsea £147m to seal a swoop for the former City academy graduate, and he could be the final part of the jigsaw for the Spaniard.
It is highly unlikely that Maresca will even consider such an offer, despite it meaning the club could rake in £100m profit on the midfielder. He is far more important than that ahead of the new season.
What Chelsea would lose if Palmer leaves
For a fee of just £40m, Palmer has arguably been one of the finest signings in the club’s recent history.
Hailed as having a “special quality” in front of goal by Guardiola a few years ago, Palmer soon emerged as one of the finest talents in the Premier League during his maiden season at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer scored 27 goals and grabbed 15 assists for the Blues as they sealed a return to European football under Mauricio Pochettino.
Last season, the former City starlet registered 32 goal contributions across all competitions, particularly shining at the recent Club World Cup.
Indeed, the attacking midfielder was in sublime form stateside. Aside from his five-goal involvements, Palmer averaged 3.5 shots per game, created four big chances while also averaging two key passes each game.
He powered the club to the title, and it sets him up for another wonderful campaign at Stamford Bridge.
This will be the first time the Blues will play in the Champions League since 2022/23, highlighting how important it is for them to keep Palmer.
Metric
2023/24
2024/5
Goals
22
15
Assists
11
8
Big chances created
17
24
Key passes per game
2.1
2.5
Shots per game
3.2
3.4
While everyone has their price, Maresca will surely be ready to turn down any official bid should it arrive in the coming days; that’s for sure.
Jackson and Madueke are certainly dispensable, with the Blues already having players better than them in the current squad.
As for Palmer, there might not be a better attacking midfielder in the whole of England who has offered as much as the Englishman since he moved to London.
There are plenty of weeks left in the transfer window, but every single Chelsea fan will be hoping that their talisman remains at the club. Not just for next season, but for the foreseeable future too.
Chelsea in talks with agents of "amazing" £40m star, he's open on the move
The Blues have made an approach for a Premier League player, who could now be tempted by a move to Stamford Bridge.
Division Two challengers wrap up win, need ten more points for return to top flight
ECB Reporters Network20-Sep-2024
Jordan Thompson sealed victory for Yorkshire•Getty Images
Yorkshire bowled Glamorgan out for 209 to win by 186 runs and put themselves on the verge of a return to Division One with one round of matches to go.A draw and a couple of bonus points in their final game at home to Northamptonshire would clinch promotion, as they lead third-placed Middlesex by 15 points, 20 behind leaders Sussex, after taking the final three Glamorgan wickets in an hour.They were relegated by a single point two years ago and were handicapped by a points deduction last season, so there is an air of determination about Yorkshire as they target a return to the top level.”We played well, we have played well for a number of weeks now,” Yorkshire head coach, Ottis Gibson, said. “This week was important for us the way Sussex keep playing, keep winning, so to lose the toss and get put in meant the way we have played in the last three-and-a-half days we fully deserved our win.”Glamorgan’s focus turns to the One-Day Cup final against Somerset at Trent Bridge on Sunday as they try to bring silverware back to Sophia Gardens this season despite their Championship form, which has seen them drop to second from bottom in the table.”That was disappointing, really gutting,” Glamorgan coach, Grant Bradburn, said. “We take the loss on the chin up against very good teams in the last couple of weeks and we have not quite been sharp enough in all aspects. We don’t want to lose, of course, but we don’t mind losing if we are putting ourselves in a position to win.”James Harris and Asa Tribe started the morning knowing they had a mountain to climb, even if the target was to survive until forecast bad weather later in the day.Yorkshire opening bowlers Ben Coad and Matthew Fisher started the day with 13 wickets between them, so it was no surprise that they continued their partnership looking for the breakthrough.They had to be patient for half an hour before Fisher was able to get one to cut away and bowl Tribe for a patient 58, a significant step forward for the 20-year-old opener as he tries to establish a place in the Glamorgan line-up.Fisher was buoyed by his success and pinned Andy Gorvin lbw a few balls later to put his team close to the finish.”I have been begging for Fish and Coad to be fit together for a period of time and to have those two taking the new ball then you know they will challenge the opposition and take wickets,” Gibson said.Harris kept plugging away at the other end as he did his best to delay the inevitable, getting more aggressive in the final wicket partnership with Ben Morris which put on 41. Inevitably the fun came to an end as Harris was clean bowled by Jordan Thompson one short of a half-century.
Tottenham are continuing their plans to back Thomas Frank in the transfer market ahead of his first full season in charge, amid the drama surrounding Morgan Gibbs-White and his potential move to N17.
"It's done" – £80k-a-week attacker submits transfer request to join Tottenham
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Spurs remain in pursuit of the England international, despite Nottingham Forest’s threat of legal action against both the Lilywhites and his agent (Sky Sports), with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano confirming that Gibbs-White is their priority as of now.
Tottenham appeared set to sign the 25-year-old nearly a fortnight ago after a round of quick-fire talks, even going as far as to book a medical for Gibbs-White on July 11, but Forest’s legal objections have seriously delayed his switch to London.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
There have even been some reports that this Forest reaction is down to Tottenham hijacking Man City’s part-exchange deal for Gibbs-White involving James McAtee (Football Insider), with Evangelos Mariniakis and co furious at the attacker’s last-gasp U-turn.
While this theory is yet to be backed up elsewhere, the consensus is that Spurs are still hopeful of eventually sealing a deal for Gibbs-White, but in the meantime, chairman Daniel Levy and co have other targets in mind as well.
Nottingham Forest's MorganGibbs-Whitecelebrates scoring their first goal with a shirt in support of their injured teammate Taiwo Awoniyi
Tottenham are keen on a new holding midfielder, amid repeated links to Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha, and there is a belief that Frank’s side are also looking at signing another centre-back too (The Telegraph).
Brentford star Yoane Wissa, who scored 20 goals in all competitions under Frank last season, also remains a top target.
Spurs face stiff competition from Newcastle United for the Congolese’s services, with the Magpies already having a £25 million offer turned down for him in the last few days.
There is an expectation that Eddie Howe’s side will go back in with an improved offer, but we cannot discount Tottenham, as explained by reliable journalist Ben Jacobs.
Yoane Wissa in London for crunch talks over Brentford future
Jacobs, taking to X, claims that Wissa is now in London for talks over his Brentford future after departing their pre-season training camp in Portugal.
The reporter says that while Newcastle are confident they can sign the 28-year-old, Wissa is also open to joining Tottenham, so there remains a distinct possibility that Frank could reunite with his ex-star striker at Hotspur Way.
Spurs’ boss has already praised Wissa’s “nose for goals”, and if signed, question marks will surely surround the long-term future of Richarlison, who’s attracting rumoured interest from a host of clubs abroad.
“I think they are super players,” said Frank about Wissa and his former Brentford side in 2023.
“Wissa, we knew, has always been a goalscorer. He scored seven goals in the first season and seven in the second in the Premier League, for a player that didn’t play much. It’s remarkable. I definitely think he is best as a 9. He’s got that nose for goals.”
Chelsea are on the verge of finalising an “excellent” player’s exit from Stamford Bridge, according to one media source, and it could be a move which seriously suits all parties.
Enzo Maresca has a seriously bloated squad that needs trimming, especially factoring in their recent fine from UEFA for breaking FFP rules.
£52m Chelsea star could now join Barcelona, he's "no longer" unsellable
The La Liga champions have cast their eyes towards Stamford Bridge.
By
Emilio Galantini
Jul 10, 2025
The likes of Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka are taking home six-figure pay packets each week but are currently nowhere near the first team, with Borussia Dortmund director Sebastian Kehl recently confirming the club’s intention to re-sign the latter.
“We will definitely have some more discussions in the next few days about his situation,” said Kehl.
“We will try to keep him because he’s a very good player.
“It’s always easier to loan a player than to buy one, especially within Carney’s [price] range, but let’s see. We are not that far advanced [in talks] at the moment, but I can tell you that we are pretty close to the player, and he loves Dortmund.
“Everything else will be decided between Chelsea and us. That won’t be tomorrow. That won’t be on Tuesday. I think it will take some more days.”
Sterling’s £325,000-per-week wages are proving a serious drain on Chelsea in particular, with Fulham reportedly considering a move for the 30-year-old if they can navigate the finances involved.
Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season
Average match rating
Cole Palmer
7.33
Moises Caicedo
7.02
Enzo Fernández
6.95
Nicolas Jackson
6.88
Noni Madueke
6.82
via WhoScored
However, journalist Simon Phillips reports that Sterling’s desire to remain in London is making it difficult for BlueCo to sell him.
Alongside the aforementioned names, Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Christopher Nkunku, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja, Axel Disasi, Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson and Djordje Petrovic are other players who could leave Chelsea this summer.
Of course, there are those promising young players who simply need to leave the club on a temporary deal to acquire more game time, with a view to a potential first-team slot in future seasons.
One of them, according to Sky Sports Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri, is goalkeeper Mike Penders.
Chelsea "close" to agreeing Mike Penders loan deal to Strasbourg
Taking to X this lunchtime, Tavolieri reports that Penders’ loan to sister club Strasbourg from Chelsea is now “close” to being finalised.
The 19-year-old, who Chelsea signed from KRC Genk last summer, remained in the Jupiler Pro League for another season before officially linking up with Maresca this summer.
Penders was also named in Maresca’s Club World Cup squad, securing a spot on the bench for Chelsea’s games against Esperance, Benfica, Palmeiras and Fluminense, but the towering 6 foot 7 shot-stopper now appears close to sealing a temporary exit to further his development.
Some reports have previously claimed that BlueCo hold high hopes for Penders, who they privately liken to ex-Chelsea star Thibaut Courtois, with Malmo’s head academy goalkeeping coach, Matt Pyzdrowski, sharing his main strengths.
“Commanding his area is what he’s best at,” Pyzdrowski said to The Athletic.
“He’s really, really excellent at taking an aggressive position and very comfortable coming and taking high balls into his penalty area, even right up to the edge of the box. His timing is very good, and he loves to catch the ball rather than punch.
“That’s why I call him a mix between Ederson and Courtois, because Ederson has that aggressiveness commanding his box but Courtois has the hands to catch and hold the ball.”
If there is one club you can guarantee to be busy during the summer, it’s Chelsea.
Even without the Club World Cup to entertain the fans, you can usually rest assured that the Blues will make good use of the transfer window, and so far this year, they certainly have.
For example, just a couple of days ago, the Conference League champions secured the services of the incredibly exciting Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion for a sizable fee of £60m.
Moreover, before the club even left for the United States, they had signed a trio of exciting young talents in Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Liam Delap, and now, if reports are to be believed, they are keen to sign an attacker even more exciting than the former Ipswich Town star.
Chelsea target young talents
Like they have in years past, Chelsea appear to be focused on bringing more up-and-coming gems this summer, which helps explain the links to Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens.
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The former could cost the club around £60m, and while Manchester United endured a terrible campaign last season, he didn’t, managing to rack up a tally of 11 goals and ten assists in 58 games.
Gittens, on the other hand, will cost the Blues around £55m, and unlike the Argentine international, this deal is practically sealed and could be announced at any time.
Jamie Gittens
Yet, the West Londoners are still not done there, as they’ve now been linked with another promising youngster who might just be more exciting than Delap: Gonzalo García.
At least that’s according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Chelsea are the club most interested in the Real Madrid star.
In fact, the report claims that the Blues are now preparing to submit an offer worth around €40m – £34m – for the young attacker, and as things stand, the Spanish giants are not ruling out selling him.
It could be a complicated and ultimately rather expensive transfer to get over the line, but García has shown enough to suggest he could be a star one day, and therefore a more exciting signing than Delap.
Why García would be a more exciting signing than Delap
Firstly, it’s worth noting that Delap is already an exciting signing, and one that Chelsea were wise to secure.
After all, in his first full Premier League campaign last season, the former Ipswich ace was able to rack up a tally of 12 goals and two assists in 37 appearances, which is nothing to sniff at.
Moreover, he has already opened his account with the Blues, scoring one goal and providing one assist in four appearances at the Club World Cup.
However, it’s actually the proceedings at the competition that give us our first indication that García could end up being the more exciting signing this summer.
We say this, as even though he had barely played a game for the first team prior to the Club World Cup, the young Spaniard has been nothing short of sensational in the States.
For example, in just four appearances, totalling 293 minutes, he has scored three goals and provided one assist, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 73.25 minutes, and they haven’t been meaningless either, as he netted the winner against Juventus earlier this week.
However, we probably shouldn’t be surprised that the “incredible” youngster, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is so effective in front of goal, as he was a monster for Real Madrid Castilla last season.
Appearances
36
Minutes
3184′
Goals
25
Assists
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.80
Minutes per Goal Involvement
109.79′
In 36 appearances, totalling 3184 minutes, the 21-year-old, who respected analyst Ben Mattinson claims “scores goals for fun,” put the ball in the back of the net 25 times and provided four assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.24 games, or every 109.79 minutes.
On top of everything, the Madrid-born gem is also more than capable of playing out wide or as a centre-forward, and therefore is quite comfortable dribbling with the ball at his feet and creating chances for himself.
Ultimately, Delap is a brilliant addition to Chelsea’s squad, but from everything we’ve seen of him this summer and his output from last season, García looks like he’d be an even more exciting signing.
Premier League club close to finalising deal for "world-class" Chelsea player