The Lionesses captain had a difficult day out but she wasn't alone, as Jonas Eidevall's side endured a third successive game without victory
Just minutes before kick-off at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall told that his team's defending from set pieces needed to improve against a Chelsea side excellent in those situations. When the Gunners conceded the opening goal from a corner just four minutes into what felt a must-win fixture for their title hopes, and perhaps their coach's future, it was a strong sign that it was not going to be the hosts' day – and it wasn't, in a 2-1 defeat.
When a totally unmarked Sandy Baltimore added to Mayra Ramirez's improvised finish to make it 2-0 with 16 minutes played, those in the stands may have feared a mauling. Chelsea looked sharp, dangerous and capable of scoring almost every time they got forward. But Caitlin Foord's strike just before half-time halved the deficit and gave Arsenal a potential launchpad for a comeback.
As the second half progressed, an equaliser seemed more and more likely. While Chelsea's level did drop, the Gunners improved drastically and Stina Blackstenius must have thought she'd levelled things up with five minutes to play, only to see her effort smack the crossbar. It would've been a goal they deserved, too, but in the end the shocking defending of the opening stages proved fatal, leaving Arsenal with just five points from their opening four Women's Super League fixtures and Eidevall's future in doubt.
GOAL rates the Gunners' players from the Emirates Stadium…
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Goalkeeper & Defence
Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):
Made a great save to deny Beever-Jones in the second half. Didn't have much else to do.
Emily Fox (4/10):
Lost Ramirez too easily for the first goal. Lacked communication with Mead especially but also the entire back line.
Leah Williamson (4/10):
Really did not look herself out there today. Made strange decisions and was dominated by Ramirez.
Lotte Wubben-Moy (5/10):
Not as weak a link at the back but still had some poor moments.
Katie McCabe (6/10):
Protected her area of the pitch much better than was being done on the opposite flank, though that bar was low.
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Midfield
Lia Walti (5/10):
Worked hard and was good when on the ball, but didn't do enough to make Arsenal's possession more meaningful, more often.
Kim Little (5/10):
Similar to Walti, was accurate in possession and battled well, just didn't move the ball quick enough when it was needed.
Mariona Caldentey (4/10):
Struggled to make her mark in a central role.
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Attack
Beth Mead (4/10):
Needed to help Fox out more and didn't get involved enough in attack.
Alessia Russo (4/10):
Wasn't in the box enough and wasn't ruthless with the couple of opportunities that did fall to her in there.
Caitlin Foord (7/10):
One of the only players to do herself justice in the first half, one she capped with a great goal.
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Subs & Manager
Frida Maanum (6/10):
Was a positive introduction and helped Arsenal look more dangerous in attack.
Stina Blackstenius (N/A):
Was so close to an equaliser in the final minutes.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (N/A):
Didn't have a lot of time to make an impact.
Jonas Eidevall (4/10):
A sluggish first-half performance with diabolical defending cost his team the result here. Improvements after half-time were good and his substitutions helped too, with the nature of the defeat certainly valiant in the end.
After their seventh placed finish in the Premier League saw them narrowly miss out on European football, Newcastle United's mission for this summer will be to assemble a team that can break into the top six and beyond next season.
St. James' Park braced for incomings this summer
Reinforcements in defence appear to be at the forefront of the Magies' plans for the transfer window. Newcastle had long courted a move for Fulham centre back Tosin Adarabioyo, however the 26-year-old now looks set to sign for Chelsea. After missing out on their main target, the Magpies are rumoured to be interested in a move for Swedish defender Dean Huijsen who spent last season on loan at Roma.
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Joe Nuttall
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Newcastle are also set to confirm the signing of Lloyd Kelly in the coming days. The English defender is available on a free transfer this summer after his deal with Bournemouth expired at the end of last season. There also reports suggesting that the Magpies are eager to bolster their attack with a move for Brentford's Bryan Mbuemo too.
With Newcastle clearly desperate to bring in new players all over the pitch, attention has now turned to a position that was a thorn in Eddie Howe's side for much of last season.
Newcastle submit bid for Valencia goalkeeper
As first reported by Sport Witness, the Spanish press are suggesting that Newcastle have submitted a bid for Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Magpies' interest in the Georgian shot stopper has long been known however, this latest development has seen a formal bid for the player confirmed.
The outlet suggests that Newcastle have submitted an offer of £35million for Mamardashvili's services with this fee likely enough to get the deal over the line, sitting just over their asking price.
Newcastle suffered something of a crisis between the sticks last season with first choice keeper Nick Pope limited to just fifteen appearances owing to a shoulder injury. Martin Dubravka stepped up in his absence, but it is clear that those at the top of the club want to sign a new number one this summer, or a challenger for Pope at the very least.
After starting in all but one game last season, Mamardashvili would offer the solidity in net that Newcastle spent much of last season crying out for. Not only would the 6 foot 5 Georgian be reliable, but he would also be a quality addition to the Magpies' side.
Valencia goalkeeperGiorgi Mamardashvili.
Since joining Valencia permanently in 2022, Mamardashvili has gone on to cement himself as the side's number one. Speaking to the press back in April, Valencia boss Ruben Baraja was full of praise for his goalkeeper: "You need a goalkeeper who earns you points, like Giorgi.
"I think he is an established goalkeeper, with a great career, who is at a high level. The data confirms it. We don't know his ceiling, he has continuous growth."
If Newcastle are to go one better next season and secure European football, signing a highly rated keeper like Mamardashvili would be a major step towards breaking into the top six again.
Arsenal star Beth Mead called for the scrutiny on Jonas Eidevall's side to ease after the struggling Gunners were beaten by Chelsea.
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Arsenal beaten 2-1 at home to Chelsea
Gunners have one win in four WSL games
Eidevall under pressure following poor start
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Mead spoke candidly on the pressure Arsenal's players are feeling in the wake of Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Women's Super League. The defeat left Eidevall's side sixth in the WSL and already five points behind leaders Manchester City. Furthermore, the Gunners were recently beaten comfortably by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Eidevall is under real pressure to keep his job after the Gunners' underwhelming start to the season, which already leaves them with a lot of work to do if they are to win the WSL. It's led to plenty of attention on the north London side, which Mead doesn't believe is helping the players as she called for more support.
WHAT MEAD SAID
"Players just need a bit more confidence, we're in a tough place at the moment, people need to help us a little bit," the Lionesses star told Hayters. "I think there's not so many nice things being said about us as a team right now and it's not the place or the time for doing that for us, we need to be picked up. We are really trying as players, trying to sort it out on and off the pitch and that's all we can do, keep going, keep believing in each other, stick together and hopefully the results will start coming.
"We've got to concentrate on ourselves as players, and as a collective we're sticking together. The rest of it will sort of speak and sort itself out."
Arsenal created 20 chances against Chelsea and Mead believes they were unfortunate not to get more from the game.
"Disappointment and frustration," she added. "I thought arguably we were the better team throughout the whole game. We haven't seemed to have had a lot of luck at the moment as a team. I'm really proud of the team for what they put out on the pitch – it's been a tough week, a draining week, a busy week."
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WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
Arsenal will look to put things right when they host Valerenga in the Champions League on Wednesday, which precedes a trip to winless West Ham in the WSL at the weekend.
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has explained why Lauren James missed the Blues’ Women’s Champions League clash with FC Twente.
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England forward was named in starting XI
Failed to make kick-off & had to be replaced
Injury will be assessed over coming days
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The England international forward was initially named in Bompastor’s starting XI, but was replaced by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd before a ball was kicked in anger. An untimely injury prevented James from figuring in elite European competition.
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WHAT BOMPASTOR SAID
Bompastor has revealed the nature of that ailment, telling reporters when asked for an update on James: "In the last moment of the warm-up she felt something in her foot. At the moment it’s too early for me to say something else about LJ. We will have to assess her in London and see how she feels."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite being without Lionesses star James, Chelsea claimed a 3-1 win over Twente courtesy of goals from Aggie Beever-Jones, Maika Hamano and Guro Reiten. Bompastor said of being able to shuffle her pack and take advantage of squad depth: "I’m really happy with the first half. We started the game strongly. We were efficient being able to score really quickly. We saw some good movement from the players. For me, we just got the three points which is really important. We are top now which is the main goal.
"Also, we had the opportunity to rotate and manage some players. Some players could rest in preparation for the game on Sunday. It just shows how much quality there is in the group, and also how much I trust everyone in the group. Some of them were able to start and play 90 minutes in the Champions League. It’s good to have the quality in the group to make sure we can rotate and play every single game with a lot of competition."
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WHAT NEXT?
Reigning WSL champions Chelsea – who have been faultless through three domestic fixtures this season, picking up nine points and scoring 10 goals – will be back in action on Sunday when playing host to London neighbours Tottenham.
The summer transfer window does not officially open for business until later this month but Glasgow Rangers have moved quickly to get their business done.
Oscar Cortes was the first through the door on a second loan stint from Lens, with an obligation to make the move permanent next summer, after his first one was cut short by an injury earlier this year.
Brazilian left-back Jefte was then snapped up on a permanent deal from Fluminense to come in and potentially replace Borna Barisic, who departed upon the expiry of his contract at Ibrox.
The third and most recent addition of the summer came on Monday as the Light Blues officially confirmed a pre-contract agreement with French centre-back Clinton Nsiala.
He will join up with his new teammates on the 1st of July after his contract with AC Milan expires and head of recruitment Nils Koppen described him as an "exciting" talent who could develop under Philippe Clement in Glasgow.
The Scottish giants are not done there, however, as Koppen and Clement are now reportedly looking to seal yet another signing before the midway point in June.
Rangers closing in on fourth summer signing
According to an update from Rangers Review's Chris Jack, the Gers are closing in on the signing of winger Yusuf Kabadayi from German giants Bayern Munich.
The report claims that the Light Blues are now in pole position to seal a deal for the Germany U20 international to bolster the club's options out wide.
It states that Rangers are 'in line' to make the talented forward their fourth summer signing, following on from Cortes, Jefte, and the most recent addition of Nsiala.
Lens forward Oscar Cortes.
This comes after The 4th Official had reported, via their Patreon page (09/06/24), that the club had agreed a deal with Bayern to land the attacker, with a fee of between £1m and £1.5m on the table from the Scottish side.
Their update claimed that Kabadayi was set for talks with the Gers over a possible move to Ibrox and the latest report from Rangers Review now suggests that those discussions are set to lead to a positive conclusion for Koppen and Clement.
Therefore, it appears as though the 20-year-old whiz is set to be the next man to walk through the doors at Ibrox to join the squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
How will he fit in under Clement and with his new teammates? Well, the young gem could thrive whilst playing alongside current Gers attacking midfielder Todd Cantwell.
Why Todd Cantwell is a winger's dream
The former Norwich City playmaker has been a fantastic signing for the club since Michael Beale brought him in from the English side on a permanent deal in January of last year.
Cantwell hit the ground running in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues as he caught the eye with his attacking performances during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.
Fabio Silva and Todd Cantwell
The right-footed magician racked up six goals, four assists, and five 'big chances' created in 16 appearances in the division, which speaks to his ability to make a consistent impact in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
That carried over into his first full year in Glasgow as the 26-year-old wizard showcased his quality at the top end of the pitch once again in a Gers shirt.
He was competing for a starting spot in the number ten role under Clement with Wales international Tom Lawrence and came out on top against the former Derby County star.
23/24 Premiership
Todd Cantwell
Tom Lawrence
Appearances
30
23
Dribbles completed per game
1.2
0.7
Goals
7
2
Assists
5
3
Big chances created
7
4
Key passes per game
1.7
1.1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Cantwell outperformed him as both a scorer and a creator of goals throughout the Premiership season, albeit it was not enough to secure the title for his team.
The talented whiz also scored his seven goals from an xG of 5.49, which is an overperformance of +1.51, and only Rabbi Matondo (five goals from 2.92 xG) outperformed his expected tally by more within the Rangers squad this season.
These statistics show that the English maestro is a dream for a winger as he has the ability to consistently create chances for his teammates, which provides the wide forwards with opportunities to score, and has the finishing skills to land assists for the wingers if they can create openings for him.
Why Yusuf Kabadayi would thrive with Cantwell
The German youngster could thrive with Cantwell as he is a player who likes to score goals and could benefit from the current Gers star's creativity.
Speaking on Rangers Review's YouTube channel, German expert Adam Khan described Kabadayi as a "goal-oriented" who likes to play on the left flank, an "inverted" winger, and cut inside into central areas to use his right foot to take shots at goal.
Rangers midfielder Todd Cantwell.
This suggests that the ex-Canaries magician would be the perfect number ten for him to play with as his ability to buzz around the pitch and pick up pockets of space to then progress the ball forward to wingers and strikers could constantly create opportunities for the wide man.
As you can see in the table below, Kabadayi enjoyed a taste of senior football for the first time last season as he scored four goals in 11 starts for Schalke on loan.
23/24 2. Bundesliga
Yusuf Kabadayi
Appearances
23
Starts
11
Goals
4
Big chances created
1
Dribbles completed per game
1.1
Stats via Sofascore
His form at youth level for Bayern Munich, however, suggests that there is much more to come from the right-footed dynamo in the years to come.
At the age of 20, Rangers will be buying him for potential as well as his ability in the present day, which means that there does need to be a degree of patience from supporters if he does not hit the ground running as an immediate star at Ibrox.
However, a return of 28 goals and ten assists in 73 appearances for Bayern at U17, U19, and second team level suggest that the potential is there for him to provide a big goal threat from the wing, which he showed glimpses of with his four strikes for Schalke.
Rangers want to sign "exciting" 5 ft 10 replacement for Ryan Jack
The Light Blues recently confirmed that a number of first-team stars will be moving on this summer.
By
Dan Emery
Jun 6, 2024
Therefore, Kabadayi could thrive alongside Cantwell as the attacking midfielder has the quality to create chances for the winger to find the back of the net in a Light Blues shirt.
Lionel Messi's playoff debut rightfully got a lot of attention, but several other MLS teams made statements
The Game 1s of the First Round of the MLS Playoffs are in the books, and they certainly didn't disappoint.
Inter Miami sealed a dramatic win over play-in side Atlanta United FC, one in which the biggest highlights didn't come from Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez – but rather Jordi Alba and former U.S. international Brad Guzan turning back the clock with nine saves in Miami's 2-1 win. The match also delivered big time for the league, as the Oct. 25 stream was the most widely viewed sporting event ever presented by Apple, according to the platform.
Beyond Messi's playoff debut, other teams made strong statements: LA Galaxy dominated an injury-hit Colorado Rapids, Orlando City SC proved their status as a top contender by defeating Charlotte FC, and LAFC handled Vancouver, despite a late push from the visitors. Then it was all capped off by the New York Red Bulls putting aside a mostly disappointing campaign and stunning the Crew in Columbus.
Here are the key takeaways from Game 1s in the playoffs.
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MLS teams aren't going to give Inter Miami red carpet treatment
Atlanta got into the MLS playoffs, sneaking in thanks to several permutations on Deadline Day. In the opener, they were dominated statistically by Inter Miami, but responded in-kind with a few strong punches of their own.
That's the new reality forYes, it would be a marketing dream for MLS to have Inter Miami secure its first MLS Cup with Messi leading the way, but opponents aren't going to be willing participants. Each is going to give Miami their absolute best, Messi and Suarez's legacies notwithstanding.
More important, once the initial Miami onslaught came and went, with Suarez scoring the opening goal in the first two minutes, Atlanta's Rob Valentino's tactics were spot on afterwards. It could provide a potential formula for beating Tata Martino's side: Hit Miami with pace on counterattacks and test goalkeeper Drake Callender on set pieces.
Callender has been underrated cog in Miami's juggernaut, but he looked shaky on several corners for the home side in the first round playoff opener. The Five Stripes likely don't have the quality in personnel to capitalize on Miami's weaknesses, but other more prolific MLS teams might be able to. The blueprint is there.
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Red Bulls did what?
The New York Red Bulls entered this season promising the ambition was back after years of heavily relying on their academy and bargain-bin signings. After all, Red Bull Arena is technically the house Thierry Henry – and to a much lesser extent, Tim Cahill – built.
The club opened the offseason with a bold statement by recruiting Emil Forsberg from their Bundesliga affiliate RB Leipzig. Yet, following the Forsberg signing and recruiting respected German manager Sandro Schwarz, it appeared as if the team didn't completely follow through on those ambitions, as additional high-level signings didn't come. Then there were off-the-pitch controversies. Not to mention, Forsberg was amazing when he played, with nine goals and five assists, but he was limited to essentially a half season.
All of this is to say, none of what happened on Tuesday against the Columbus Crew should make sense. The Crew are largely expected to be the second-best squad in MLS following a certain club in South Florida. Yet, the Red Bulls appeared to be delivering on sky-high expectations thanks to an lucky first goal by Felipe Carballo and some incredible goalkeeping by Carlos Coronel with eight saves. It sets up what should be the first must-watch match of the MLS Playoffs when the Red Bulls host the Crew on Sunday.
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Facundo Torres show
To be fair, Facundo Torres doesn't score Orlando's opener without some crafty dribbling and penetration from Ivan Angulo, but Uruguayan's clinical finish still deserves praise. Top right corner without any chance of being saved, it continues to show the growth from the 24-year-old.
Torres didn't deserve to be in the MVP conversation – that is a valid debate between Messi and Cucho Hernandez. But the forward has been in MVP-level form since Aug. 31, scoring six goals in nine appearances, including his goal Sunday. Torres and Orlando continue to be a team that few are talking about, but the East is wide open, especially if the Crew somehow exit in the first round. Florida's other team shouldn't be lightly regarded as it could end up making a run.
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El Trafico in the WCF feels inevitable
The LA Galaxy were not happy.
After all, this was a team that held on to Western Conference summit until literally the last second of the MLS regular season, before conceding the advantage to their bitter rival LAFC due to a loss to the Houston Dynamo. So unfortunately, the injury-hit and out of form Colorado Rapids were the bystanders of that frustration.
The Rapids, who were without their top two midfielders in Djordje Mihailovic and Cole Bassett, did the best they could to contain LA on the road, but then Dejan Joveljić and Riqui Puig took over: Galaxy 5-0, at the final whistle.
In downtown L.A., LAFC also largely took care of business against a plucky Vancouver Whitecaps side. While the result was less assured, judging on the rest of the field in the Western Conference – it appears as if this is setting up for what should be a dramatic El Trafico in the Western Conference final.
The two LA teams are responsible for seven of the eight goals scored in the Western Conference playoffs — the other coming from the Whitecaps. Game 2s should provide more action, but at the moment, all eyes will be on what happens in Los Angeles.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hoping to build on their impressive time of things in the 2023/24 season.
They have found out who their opening game will be against; they will have a very tough trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal. That was a fixture they narrowly lost last term, coming out on the wrong side of a 2-1 defeat.
Their first fixture at Molineux is equally as difficult, and potentially something of an unknown quantity. Gary O’Neil and his side will host Chelsea, who have new boss Enzo Maresca coaching just his second Premier League game. Wolves won this fixture 2-1 last season, with a late Matt Doherty goal securing the win before an even later Christopher Nkunku strike could have spoiled the party.
matt-doherty
O’Neil could well need to turn to the transfer market to strengthen his squad in order to improve on their 14th-place finish last term. Already, they have made one signing, hijacking a deal to sign Brazilian youngster Pedro Lima off Chelsea.
However, they could also be set to lose some key players this summer. Already, one of their star men, who is currently away at Euro 2024, is being linked with a move away from the club.
Wolves could lose star player
The player in question here is Wolves’ Portuguese winger Pedro Neto, who made his first appearance at a major tournament on Tuesday with Portugal, assisting his country's winning goal. Now, he is a wanted man this summer and could depart Molineux if the right offer arrives.
At least, that is according to a report from GIVEMESPORT. They report that Arsenal 'could choose to revive their interest' in the 24-year-old winger after a deal for primary target Benjamin Sesko fell through. The Slovenian chose to sign a new deal with RB Leipzig rather than switch to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are confident a deal to sign Neto can be struck this summer, and there is “belief among Wolves insiders” that the winger will depart. However, Euro 2024 has done Arsenal no favours, with the tournament 'scuppering their chances of conducting early business'.
Wolves star Pedro Neto celebrates
John Percy of The Telegraph reported at the end of May that Wolves would need at least £60m to sell Neto this summer. That price came off the back of reports linking the winger to Manchester City and Newcastle United over the summer, too, suggesting Arsenal could face competition.
Why Neto would be a big loss
If Wolves were to move Neto on this summer, it would be a sale that would be felt throughout the squad. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as a “fantastic player” last season, which was certainly reflected in his impressive form for the Midlands club.
Neto was on fire during the 20 games he played for Wolves in the Premier League. He scored twice and registered nine assists, as well as chipping in with one goal and two assists in four FA Cup games for his side.
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Pedro Neto.
However, the 24-year-old struggled with injuries once again. It has been an issue that has affected him for some time, and last season he missed a sizeable chunk of fixtures for both Wolves and Portugal. Due to a recurring hamstring injury, the winger sat out 19 games in total between October and December and then March and May.
Should Wolves lose Neto over the summer, he could be a bigger loss than Matheus Cunha, who himself enjoyed a superb campaign in 2023/24.
The Brazilian hinted at a move away recently, with a video surfacing online of him suggesting he is open to a move to Manchester United. He said “the window is open, you never know” when being asked about a move to Old Trafford. The Mirror have previously claimed a move could be on the cards for around £60m.
Matheus Cunha
Cunha scored 12 goals and registered seven assists in 32 Premier League games last season. The Brazilian ended 2023/24 as the Wolves player with the most goal involvements in the top flight.
Wolves players with 10+ Premier League goal involvements
Player
Games
Goal contributions
Matheus Cunha
32
19
Hwang Hee-chan
29
15
Pedro Neto
20
11
Pablo Sarabia
30
11
Stats from SofaScore
However, losing Neto could well be a worse loss for the Molineux side. His profile is completely unique in the squad, with him being a fast, direct winger who is confident in taking defenders on and thrives in one-vs-one situations.
This is not really a profile that they have in the rest of the squad, and it is very important in the transitional football O’Neil’s side plays.
Losing Neto this summer would be a big blow to Wolves, given how hard it is to replace him. He is an integral player for O’Neil, and should he depart, it could make the 2024/25 campaign an uphill battle.
How Wolves' starting XI could look after £83m summer spending spree
The Old Gold might not boast the deep pockets of other teams but some exciting arrivals could be welcomed this summer.
Chelsea are continuing to scour the market for the best young talent, having already acquired 18-year-old Barcelona striker Marc Guiu and Aston Villa's Omari Kellyman.
The Blues are hoping to strike gold again, as they did with Cole Palmer, signing him from Manchester City, and going on to make 45 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 25 goals, and providing 15 assists in his first season.
Cole Palmer celebrates for Chelsea
Palmer's impressive season, finishing runner-up in the Premier League Golden Boot Award, is the antithesis of what Chelsea want to do with these types of signings, bringing in highly regarded young talents and giving them a chance to impress and earn their spot.
Chelsea transfer news
According to reports from Dailymail, Chelsea are one of multiple Premier League clubs interested in Manchester City youngster James McAtee.
Whilst the reports suggest McAtee is scheduled to join City on their pre-season tour, the club are aware that Chelsea are watching the player's progress, with new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca having attempted to sign him at Leicester City last season.
Former Sheffield United loanee James McAtee.
McAtee made 33 appearances in total for Sheffield United on loan last term, scoring five goals, and providing four assists in his 1,945 minutes played.
Despite his efforts to help the side, the Blades did finish 20th in the Premier League and were relegated back to the Championship following their promotion the season prior.
Why McAtee could be the next Palmer success story
Of course, the easiest comparison to make is the fact that both players have come through the Manchester City academy. Both boast impressive records for the U23 side, Palmer scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists in 29 games, whilst McAtee scored 27 goals and provided 19 assists in 52 games.
Like Palmer, McAtee is left-footed, and can operate in many different positions. In his 33 appearances for Sheffield United, the 21-year-old played right wing, attacking midfield, central midfield, and even as a centre-forward.
The Chelsea man also played a host of positions last campaign, playing 19 games as a right-winger, 18 games as an attacking midfielder, and seven games as a centre-forward (false nine). This shows both players are versatile in attacking areas, and can affect the game from different zones of the pitch.
What makes this so appealing is the moldable profile you are gaining, Palmer joined, having played a lot off the right wing for City in his cameo appearances, and having played a mix of right-wing and attacking midfield at youth level.
McAtee is the same, and this gives the manager a freedom to unleash the best version of that player, showcasing their best traits and allowing them to function in a system that suits them.
BBC Pundit Carl Asaba said "he's like Odegaard" when speaking about McAtee. This shows despite playing more games from the right than centrally last season, the 21-year-old could be further unleashed in a more prominent central zone, allowing him to utilise his best assets such as progressive carries in central areas.
The toolset of a top player is there, and if City aren't ready to give McAtee increased inclusion next season with the first team, Chelsea would surely be more than happy to take a punt on him as they did with Palmer.
Chelsea make first move to sign "incredible" Gordon alternative
The club are aiming to sign more attacking reinforcements this summer.
Ruben Amorim hinted that Manchester United are unlikely to go after Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres in the January transfer window.
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Man Utd won't sign Gyokeres in January
Star striker spoke on Amorim's move
Scored four times in Sporting's win on Friday
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Amorim is in his final week at Sporting CP after United announced his arrival at Old Trafford on Friday. The manager will formally leave the Lions on November 11 and head to the Premier League. Ahead of completing his move to England, the 39-year-old coach was asked if he could consider raiding his old club in the January transfer window and try to sign star striker Gyokeres.
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WHAT RUBEN AMORIM SAID
Speaking on the Red Devils' transfer pursuit of the Swedish star, the Portuguese coach said, "Gyokeres costs €100 million (£83.7m) and it's very difficult. I'm not going to pick up any Sporting player in January."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Gyokeres who scored four goals in the club's thumping 5-1 win over Estrela Amadora in a Liga Portugal clash on Friday, remained tight-lipped on his future with the Portuguese champions. The player, however, wished his manager luck ahead of his move to United.
Speaking to reporters, the striker said, "It wasn't a normal situation [this week], but we showed that we handled it well and won 5-1. It was a good reaction from us, we have to remain professional and do things the right way. It's sad that he's leaving, he was excellent for us, we had a wonderful year. We have to adapt, but it's difficult to talk about the future because we don't know what will happen, but I'm sure we'll do the same job. If we can do it, we'll continue as we have been doing. We wish him all the best, it's very good for him."
He added, "I don't know, I'm here. As you can see, I really enjoy playing here and I'm not thinking about anything else, I'm enjoying being here."
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WHAT NEXT FOR SPORTING CP?
The Lions will be back in action this Tuesday in Europe as they take on English champions Manchester City in a Champions League fixture at home. It will be Amorim's penultimate game in charge of the club. His final game will be against Braga in the league next Sunday.
Dusan Vlahovic has sent an indirect message to his manager at Juventus, Thiago Motta, after his struggles at the club.
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Vlahovic sends message to Motta
Appeared to aim subtle dig at him
Has scored 9 goals in 16 games for Juve this term
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic appears to have implicitly aimed a dig at Thiago Motta, his manager at Juventus, while on international duty. The Serbia forward has scored nine goals in 16 appearances this term under Motta, but is seemingly not particularly happy with the way he's being used.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
After Juve splashed over €8o million to sign Vlahovic from Fiorentina in January 2022, the striker hasn't quite hit the levels expected of him. Vlahovic has scored 50 goals in 117 appearances for the Old Lady and recent reports have suggested that Arsenal are eyeing a January move for the player.
Now, Vlahovic's recent comments are only going to add further fire to the speculation regarding his Juventus future. The 24-year-old, while on international duty with Serbia, revealed that he likes playing for his country more than he loves playing for his club, aiming a subtle dig at Motta.
WHAT DUSAN VLAHOVIC SAID
“Yes I like to play with another striker on the side," Vlahovic told RSI after Serbia's Nations League game against Switzerland (h/t Calciomercato).
"I get on well but it also depends on the coach. Definitely it is a bit easier because [Aleksandar] Mitrovic is a strong player who plays a lot with his back to goal and engaging in aerial duels and I can exploit my qualities.
"It's also because coach Dragan Stojković did not force me to do so many defensive tasks. And for a player like me, for my frame…honestly I can't run so much. Because then I am not fresh in the final third.”
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WHAT NEXT FOR DUSAN VLAHOVIC?
Vlahovic will return to the Serie A to team up with Motta at Juventus after Serbia's match against Denmark on Monday. They will take on AC Milan on Saturday, November 23.