All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester City are now in early negotiations for a Premier League player who has been described as the “real deal”, according to a report.

Man City looking to get back on track

Although they may not be back to their very best, Man City will be glad to have returned to winning ways with their 2-0 victory against Leicester City last time out. Pep Guardiola’s side are not out of the woods yet, but it will be a very welcome three points, having struggled to put a run of form together ever since Rodri was sidelined with an ACL injury.

The massive downturn in performances without the Ballon d’Or winner will still be a huge concern for Guardiola, meaning the manager may be keen to strengthen his midfield in January to avoid a similar situation in the future. The Citizens are eyeing a move for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has been tipped to become a future star after his impressive first half of the season, starring for the French club at just 17-years-old.

However, Bouaddi will not be available until the end of the season, and Guardiola may be keen to bring in an immediate fix in midfield, having now identified a young Premier League midfielder as a potential target. According to reports from Spain, City are now eyeing a move for Brighon & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, and negotiations are already in the early stages.

Baleba’s Premier League experience is said to make him an ideal target for the Blues, and he is now in their sights ahead of the January transfer window and the summer. Rodri’s injury has left a void in the City midfield, meaning a new player may be required, and the Brighton star fits the bill.

Man City want Nottingham Forest star as part of Guardiola’s January revamp

Manchester City have had a difficult season to say the least…

1 ByBarney Lane Dec 30, 2024 Baleba could be the ideal Rodri heir

Rodri is well-known for his passing ability, and the Brighton star could be a like-for-like replacement in that regard, averaging a pass-completion rate of 89.4% per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 87th percentile compared to his positional peers.

Lauded as “the real deal” by members of the media, the 20-year-old also ranks in the 94th percentile for interceptions and the 95th percentile for blocks, showcasing his solid defensive attributes.

City’s results over the past couple of months have proven that a considerable rebuild is needed at the Etihad Stadium, perhaps starting in midfield, given that İlkay Gündoğan is arguably past his best.

Even though he is still at such a young age, Baleba has already proven himself in the Premier League, meaning he should have little trouble making the step-up if he were to complete a move to Man City.

As such, it is promising news that City have set their sights on the starlet ahead of the January transfer window, and he could play a significant role in getting their season back on track.

An “astonishing” West Brom player has “little chance” of being fit to face Preston North End on New Year’s Day, according to journalist Lewis Cox.

Latest West Brom news

The Baggies picked up their first positive result without Carlos Corberan in charge on Sunday, as they battled their way to a 1-1 draw away to rivals Sheffield United in the Championship. Having fallen behind, Karlan Grant responded just before half-time.

The search is now on to find Corberan’s successor, with West Brom desperately hoping his exit doesn’t rock their promotion charge, and a number of potential candidates have already been mentioned as possible replacements.

Liverpool first-team coach John Heitinga is seen as a front-runner to come in at the Hawthorns, despite no doubt enjoying life alongside Arne Slot this season, helping the Reds top the Premier League table. The Dutchman managed Ajax for a stint last year and may be keen to lead a team again.

Heitinga isn’t the only individual who has been linked with the vacant West Brom job, however, with Mark Robins backed to come in and lead the troops, having tasted victory against the Baggies twice in the past. He recently suffered a shock sacking at Coventry City and is likely to be keen to return to management. Away from the manager situation at the Hawthorns, the Championship club have now suffered an injury blow ahead of their return to action.

Injury blow for "astonishing" West Brom ace

According to Cox on X, West Brom midfielder Alex Mowatt has “little chance” of facing Preston, having picked up an injury against Derby County on Boxing Day.

Not having Mowatt available for the home clash with Preston to start 2025 would be an undoubted blow for West Brom, even though they did well without him against the Blades. The 29-year-old is an influential performer with so much quality in the middle of the park, bagging four goals and two assists in the Championship this season and being lauded by Sky Sports commentator Gary Taphouse in the past.

If Mowatt does miss out on New Year’s Day, as is expected, the hope is that his absence is still only a short-term one and that he is back for the trip to Swansea City on Saturday afternoon.

West Brom want 3-4-1-2 manager who's beat them twice to replace Corberan

He has won twice against the Baggies in the past.

1 ByHenry Jackson Dec 29, 2024

The Englishman is too important a player for West Brom to be without for a sustained period, and it would have an adverse effect on their hopes of sealing promotion to the Premier League.

Manchester United brought Anfield back down to earth on Sunday, well worth their point in the Premier League and almost stealing a crushing victory against high-flying Liverpool, save for Harry Maguire’s last-gasp miss.

Liverpool have a game in hand on second-placed Arsenal and boast a six-point advantage, but Ruben Amorim was the happier of the gaffers as he capered back down the M62 with a new sense of optimism.

Arne Slot’s side have been immense this season, recording a dynamic variation of victories across multiple competitions. For the most part, they’re playing like champions-elects. They have that swagger, that style. But they are not champions-elects—not yet.

So much of football is about how you respond. Liverpool have responded emphatically to any setbacks this term and must do so again over the coming weeks, with Tottenham awaiting in the Carabao Cup and top-flight away fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Brentford forthcoming.

Slot is regarded as a “tactical genius” by Liverpool fans, but he didn’t get it quite right against the Red Devils. Of course, he was let down and then some by that man, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Trent's performance vs Man Utd

After Liverpool drew 2-2 against their biggest rivals, Slot insisted that Alexander-Arnold was not distracted by Real Madrid’s interest in his prized signature.

Out of contract at the end of the season and courted by the Spanish superpower, it’s difficult to shake the thought that his woeful display on Sunday was not in some way inflicted by the circumstances.

He wasn’t at his best, not by half. Loose marking and a failure to show the grit and guts that a title-chasing outfit – his boyhood outfit – requires, especially after rivals dropped points on Saturday, especially given that it was Manchester United up against them.

But then, surely this scales back to display the bigger picture. Alexander-Arnold is an exceptional footballer and has showcased his unique and devastating quality on so many occasions in Slot’s set-up. Is it really surprising that now, with the spotlight beading into his watery eyes, he should falter?

Real Madrid are there, lurking like a shadowed figure in a trench coat, waiting to emerge and take what they deem to be theirs.

Regardless of how this will pan out, Alexander-Arnold is bound to have felt the Los Blancos presence lurking in some recess of his mind. He second-guessed himself, looked languid.

United targetted Liverpool’s right-hand side and fair play to them. It was a game plan well executed, to be sure. Alexander-Arnold failed to win any of his five attempted ground duels and only created one key pass (his season average is 2.2 per game) despite losing the ball 27 times.

Many will call for Conor Bradley to start in the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday after his “lively cameo,” but not all of Slot’s bench made the desired impact.

Darwin Nunez left plenty to be desired in spite of his fleeting appearance, and the noise is rising around his future too.

Liverpool open to mega-money Nunez sale

Liverpool know that their non-committal contract trio could all be plying their elite art elsewhere later this year, but they aren’t the only ones touted for a potential Merseyside exit.

As per Football Insider, Nunez has been made available for transfer by Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, with FSG willing to accept £60m for his sale.

Whether anyone would pay this hefty sum remains to be seen, but Newcastle are reported to have an interest and AC Milan have had a sniff in recent weeks.

Why Liverpool should sell Darwin Nunez

Nunez’s first two campaigns at Liverpool were overshadowed by wastefulness in front of goal. Albeit, the Uruguay international made headway last season, winning the Carabao Cup and posting 18 goals and 13 assists across all competitions.

Jurgen Klopp’s style of football was more chaotic than that of his successor, so maybe Nunez’s own frenetic qualities aligned neatly, insofar as Nunez’s style could be described as neat.

Since Klopp signed Benfica’s Nunez in a deal rising to a club-record £85m fee, he has scored 37 goals and supplied 20 assists over 120 appearances.

Under Slot, he’s found his significance reduced and potency pared back, with just four goals and three assists to show for the campaign thus far. It’s quite clear, Federico Chiesa notwithstanding, that he is at the bottom of Liverpool’s talented forward pile.

Mohamed Salah

27 (25)

21

17

Cody Gakpo

28 (17)

12

4

Luis Diaz

25 (18)

12

3

Diogo Jota

16 (9)

6

2

Darwin Nunez

24 (13)

4

3

Federico Chiesa

4 (1)

0

1

The fluency of Liverpool’s attacking point under Slot’s wing has led to slick interchangeability between Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo in recent months, with Diaz operating as a fluid number nine and his Dutch partner wreaking havoc on the left flank, cutting inward to strike.

Upon doing so, Diaz drifts outward, keeping the skeletal structure intact and dragging defenders out, keeping them guessing.

With no disrespect, Nunez simply doesn’t show the required tactical understanding to play this role to the same level. Diogo Jota, when introduced from the bench, is arguably Liverpool’s deadliest finisher, ranking among the top 7% of forwards across the whole of Europe over the past year for non-penalty goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

Nunez is an energetic player, but is that really enough when his peers bring bouncing qualities of their own, and many more besides?

In Slot’s system, the 26-year-old is not so much wasteful as unable to strike with the same regularity. As per Sofascore, he’s averaging 1.4 shots per game in the Premier League this term, regressing from his totals across his first two campaigns on English shores, 3.0 and 2.9 respectively.

Transfer Focus

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

Brought onto the field for the final 30 minutes against Man United, Nunez had a grand total of three touches, not even attempting to make a pass and picking up a yellow after barging into Matthjis De Ligt – some might say that the offence was worthy of a different colour.

Alexander-Arnold was the costliest Redman at the weekend, of that there is no doubt, but Nunez nearly cost Liverpool once more on the day with his erratic nature an inability to showcase the kind of control and link-up play that Slot will demand of him.

He’s a lovely guy and capable of roof-raising moments, but is this really worth it, Liverpool fans? Does Nunez elevate this exciting project, should he remain on the books over the coming years?

Just imagine if Newcastle’s Alexander Isak plied his trade at the club. Liverpool have reportedly been linked in recent weeks. Why not break the bank?

Hey, if FSG recoup somewhere even on the far fringes of the £60m ballpark for Nunez’s signature, there’s no reason – or excuse – not to dive headfirst for a brand-new number nine to turn this exciting season into a long dynasty.

As bad as Alexander-Arnold: Slot must axe 5/10 Liverpool dud after Man Utd

Arne Slot’s Liverpool dropped points against Manchester United, with numerous players failing to impress.

ByEthan Lamb Jan 5, 2025

Aston Villa chiefs are real admirers of a versatile striker from abroad, with a foreign correspondent suggesting he could even replace Jhon Duran, who’s attracting interest from Ligue 1 champions PSG and other elite sides.

PSG eyeing January move for Aston Villa star Jhon Duran

According to credible media sources, Luis Enrique’s side have cast their eyes on Birmingham in pursuit of talent this winter, and are believed to be considering a January move for Duran.

Talks opened: Aston Villa pursuing "top talent" who could be Duran 2.0

Aston Villa are looking to add to their attacking options

ByJoe Nuttall Jan 10, 2025

The Colombian’s fine form since the summer has resulted in Unai Emery’s side awarding him a brand-new £75,000-per-week contract earlier this campaign, with Duran netting 12 goals in all competitions, including in pretty big games against the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

The 21-year-old was allegedly very close to departing Villa Park in the last transfer window, but he’s since established himself as a star player for Emery as big clubs sit up and take notice of his Premier League exploits.

Everton (away)

January 15

Aston Villa (away)

January 18

West Ham (home)

January 26

Wolves (away)

February 1

Ipswich Town (home)

February 15

According to some reports, Chelsea are among the sides who’ve enquired over Duran’s availability this month, though it appears PSG are the most interested.

GiveMeSport reporter Ben Jacobs has backed reports of PSG’s fondness for the South American starlet, but Monchi and NSWE value Duran at £25m more than what the French heavyweights are prepared to pay in January.

As a result, there is still some ground to cover in terms of valuation before a potential transfer, but other reliable media outlets claim that PSG are prepared to offer players in a bid to sweeten a potential deal (Daily Mail).

Aston Villa really like Marco Asensio who could replace Jhon Duran

According to RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins, fringe PSG forward Marco Asensio has fans in B6.

The journalist even suggests that Asensio could join Aston Villa in place of Duran, with PSG potentially able to use the former as a makeweight to lower the cost of the latter in a mooted part-exchange.

Villa “leaders” are said to really like the former Real Madrid striker as a “versatile” option in the centre-forward position as the threat of losing Duran looms. Asensio, on a rumoured €280,000 (£235,000) per week at the Parc des Princes, has been relegated to the bench by Enrique in recent weeks – so much so, that his exit is a real possibility before deadline day on 3rd February.

While the 28-year-old is traditionally a right-winger, he’s been used more often than not as a No 9 in France, and Asensio’s previous career at Real saw the Spaniard win a plethora of major honours, including three Champions League titles.

Liverpool could sign a “magnificent” two-footed player within the next few days, as they are now willing to pay his £19m asking price, according to a report.

Reds eyeing a midfielder

Arne Slot is very keen to bring in a new defensive midfielder either this month or in the summer, and the manager believes he may well have identified the perfect option, with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes being identified as a major target.

The Reds are also considering some options from further afield, and VfB Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller is now rising up their transfer shortlist, with a deal possible for a fee in the region of £34m in the summer.

Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni also remains an option for the Merseyside club, having reportedly submitted a bid for the 24-year-old midfielder earlier this month, although the move has seemingly not progressed since then.

Not only are the Premier League leaders keen on signing a defensive midfielder, but they are also considering some more attacking options, with Lyon star Rayan Cherki previously being identified as a January target.

Perfect signing: Liverpool chasing their next Fabinho in £50m "warrior"

FSG are willing to spend big and complete Liverpool’s midfield at the end of the season.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 20, 2025

According to the latest update from Spanish sources, Liverpool are now willing to pay €22m (£19m) to bring Cherki to Anfield this month, having stepped up their interest over the past few weeks.

The French club’s financial issues mean they are willing to sanction the attacking midfielder’s departure in the January transfer window, and with the Reds happy to meet the asking price, the deal could be done imminently.

The report states the 21-year-old could complete a move to Anfield in the next few days, with Slot viewing him ‘as an ideal option to add dynamism and creativity to his midfield’.

Cherki showing promising signs in Ligue 1

The Lyon ace, who doesn’t have a weak foot as per Transfermarkt, is still in the infancy of his career at 21-years-old, but he has cemented himself as a key player since first making his breakthrough in the 2019-20 season, and he has shown signs of year-on-year improvement.

This season, the starlet has picked up three goals and three assists in 14 Ligue 1 games, meaning he is on course to better his total of 10 league goal contributions last term.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig also lauded the youngster for his performance against Switzerland U21s just over 18 months ago.

Liverpool should not pass up the opportunity to sign Cherki this winter, considering he will be available for a very affordable price, and it is exciting news that a deal could be done in a matter of days.

As the cliche goes, ‘goals win games, but defence wins titles’. In the case of Arsenal, the Gunners boast a pretty mean defence it must be said, having conceded just 21 times in 23 Premier League games thus far.

It could be argued then that the north Londoners are doing everything right to finally end that long wait for the title, but there remains that nagging feeling. That itch that can’t be scratched. The signing of a striker…

With Gabriel Jesus seemingly ruled out for the season, the Emirates outfit only have Kai Havertz to call upon in that number nine berth, with question marks still surrounding the German despite his 14 goals and assists in all competitions in 2024/25.

Signed initially to replace Granit Xhaka in the left-eight berth, the former Chelsea man is not an orthodox number nine, but the hunt is still on to fill that longstanding void before Monday’s deadline.

Arsenal's search for a striker

If recent evidence is anything to go by, the Gunners won’t panic. Indeed, it was around this time last year that there were calls to sign a certain Ivan Toney, yet Mikel Arteta and co held firm, rather than acting in desperation.

That said, that desire for a proven Premier League marksman has not abated it would seem, with reports earlier this week revealing that a £60m bid had been lodged for Aston Villa talisman, Ollie Watkins.

While that offer was flatly rejected by the Midlands side, the Daily Mail has reported that the Englishman – who is a boyhood Arsenal fan – is still open to making the move to the Emirates before the end of the window, if an agreement can be reached.

Transfer Focus

As per the report, Arsenal are ‘now weighing up a second offer’ for the former Brentford man, albeit with the situation a complex one amid Jhon Duran’s exit to Al Nassr.

Arsenal could land their next Aubameyang

With Duran moving on, all hope may be lost for the Gunners, although amid talk that Marcus Rashford could be set for a surprise switch to Villa Park, might Arteta’s side still have a chance of snapping up Watkins?

There may be a desire to plump for a younger, more long-term target to lead the line, yet at 29, Watkins is a ready-made, plug-and-play option, who has proven himself in the Premier League for a number of seasons now.

Since joining Villa in the summer of 2020, the England international has scored 69 top-flight goals, and registered a further 31 assists, while scoring at least ten goals in each of his five league campaigns at the club.

Stat (*per game)

Watkins

Havertz

Games

24

20

Goals

10

8

Assists

5

2

Big chances missed

19

14

Big chances created

4

2

Key passes*

0.9

0.8

Pass accuracy*

78%

79%

Touches*

20.9

39.1

Total duels won*

37%

39%

The signing of such a consistent goalscorer could evoke memories of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s move to Arsenal back in January 2018, with the £56m signing having arrived at the peak of his powers from Borussia Dortmund.

The Gabonese marksman – who was 28 at the time, just a year younger than Watkins – made the switch after netting 141 goals in 213 games in Germany, supplying Arsene Wenger with a reliable and experienced number nine to spearhead his attack.

Capable of operating centrally or off the left – like Watkins – Aubameyang went on to rip it up in an Arsenal shirt, bagging 92 goals in 163 games in all competitions, before departing for Barcelona after a fall out with Arteta.

Hopefully, Watkins would enjoy a far smoother ride in north London than his centre-forward counterpart, although he would certainly mirror the now-veteran in being a proven option who could deliver the goods for at least three or four seasons, if not the long term.

Yes, looking at a young, high-potential striker – in the mould of Benjamin Sesko – would be appealing, but Watkins, who Conor Coady hailed as a “nightmare to play against”, would surely be able to slot in seamlessly.

Perfect for Saka: Arsenal want "world-class" £315k-p/w Watkins alternative

Arsenal could be about to land a move for a striker that isn’t Ollie Watkins.

ByEthan Lamb Jan 31, 2025

It has been a quiet transfer window for Manchester United, with just two notable incomings at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have signed Patrick Dorgu from Lecce and Ayden Heaven from Arsenal in the last few days.

There have also been several outgoings on loan, with the two notable moves being Marcus Rashford, who joined Aston Villa, and Antony who made the move to Real Betis until the end of the season.

Ayden Heaven (Arsenal)

Undisclosed

Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa)

Loan

Patrick Dorgu (Lecce)

£29.3m

Antony (Real Betis)

Loan

Ethan Ennis (Doncaster)

Loan

Daniel Gore (Rotherham)

Loan

Joe Hugill (Carlisle)

Loan

Ethan Wheatley (Walsall)

Loan

Ethan Williams (Cheltenham)

Loan

United might not be done there when it comes to a transfer business, however, and could make a late move for a midfielder.

Man United eye up new midfielder

The player in question here is Juventus and Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz. According to a report from Sami Mokbel of the Mail, the Red Devils ‘have an interest’ in signing the £42m star.

However, Mokbel goes on to report that the ‘prospect of any agreement with Juventus [is] not close’, and with time ticking, it does not seem a guarantee that the 13-time Premier League champions will sign the player before the 11pm deadline.

Why Luiz would be a good signing

Even though a deal might be unlikely for the Red Devils, it is certainly not impossible. Ruben Amorim’s side could do with the “engine” in the middle of the park, as football statistician Statman Dave described the Brazilian.

Opportunities have been limited for the 26-year-old during his first six months or so in Turin. The former Aston Villa star has not had the game time he might have imaged when he first made the move to Juventus, having played just 19 times across all competitions, a total of just 656 minutes.

However, he is a player with bags of ability, as he showed during his time at Villa Park. The Brazilian made 204 appearances during his time in the West Midlands, scoring 22 goals and grabbing 24 assists from a number eight role under Unai Emery.

Should United sign Luiz, he could inadvertently hand Kobbie Mainoo a new long-term role in the Red Devils’ midfield under Amorim.

The England international started as a number ten in United’s recent Europa League win over FCSB, and perhaps this will be a permanent switch for the 19-year-old.

It is fair to say that the United academy graduate thrived as one of the most advanced midfielders, showing off his technical flair in the final third.

As per Sofascore, the Stockport-born sensation managed to score and assist, create three chances and complete four from five dribbles.

Luiz’s ability on and off the ball could see Mainoo move further forward permanently. Not only is he an accomplished ball-winner, but is also a progressive player in possession. In his most recent Premier League season, he made 2.44 combined tackles and interceptions per game and also completed 5.05 progressive passes per 90 minutes, as per FBref.

United could perfectly profile Mainoo whilst adding quality to their midfield in Luiz, who earns £132k-per-week, as per Capology. He has excelled as a box-to-box midfielder before, and could well do so again under Amorim.

Even though this could be a tough deal to do, United might be delighted with such a transfer so late given how it improves their squad.

Best January deal since Bruno: Man Utd enquire over dream Tel alternative

He could be United’s best January signing since Bruno

ByJoe Nuttall Feb 3, 2025

Liverpool are now willing to offload a player who Arne Slot has grown frustrated with this summer.

Liverpool transfer news

The summer window may be some time away, but that’s not stopping the Reds from being linked with a host of players as they look to further strengthen their squad ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

VfB Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller has been mentioned as an option for Liverpool, with the 23-year-old a player who could come in and add more quality in front of the defence. He has averaged 1.5 tackles per game in the German Bundesliga across 21 appearances this season.

A new centre-back will be needed in the summer in order to ease the workload on Virgil van Dijk, with Crystal Palace and England ace Marc Guehi emerging as a rumoured option. However, he wouldn’t be available on the cheap, so the Reds would have to break the bank to snap him up.

Similarly, a left-back may also be needed by the end of the campaign, with Andy Robertson showing signs of being past his best. Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez has been among those linked with Liverpool.

Liverpool willing to sell attacking star

On the outgoing front, Liverpool could look to sell Luis Diaz in the summer transfer window, bringing an end to his three-and-a-half-year stay at the club. There are also doubts over the futures of Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, with potential wholesale changes on the horizon.

According to Anfield Watch, “Slot has become frustrated with the Colombian as the season has progressed”, suggesting that he doesn’t see a long-term future for him at the club.

Diaz has been an important player for Liverpool since his switch from FC Porto in January 2022, with the winger scoring eight goals in 17 Premier League starts this season. Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp heaped praise on him during their time working together:

“He’s a top player. He’s a top, top, world-level player. It’s a joy for me to work with Luís every day, and I’m more than happy that we decided to sign him in January.”

The £55,000-a-week Diaz has also struggled at times against low blocks in his new central attacking role, arguably struggling to adjust to a new position when opponents sit deep.

The Colombian’s finishing has been criticised in the past during his left-sided days, with many feeling he wasn’t ever at the level of Sadio Mane at his peak, and at 28, he isn’t getting any younger.

Liverpool racing to sign "fantastic" £67m star whose club want to cash in

He’s just completed a January move…

ByTom Cunningham Feb 8, 2025

The idea of Liverpool retaining the services of Diaz is certainly no bad thing considering what a tricky, hard-working footballer he is, but it is easy to see why Slot could be eyeing a proper centre-forward in place of him in the summer, especially as his current contract expires in 2027.

Chelsea are now showing a strong interest in a “skilful” winger, but they will have to do battle for his signature with their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Blues eyeing summer move for winger

Enzo Maresca had previously predicted that his side weren’t ready to be involved in a Premier League title race, and it seems like the manager was correct, with the Blues falling down to sixth place after their 3-0 defeat away at Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday night.

The west Londoners have spent big on new signings ever since the arrival of Todd Boehly, but Maresca may feel some new additions are necessary at the end of the season if his side are to catch up with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.

Maresca seems particularly keen on bringing in a new winger this summer, with FC Copenhagen’s Roony Bardghji believed to be of interest, while they have also been linked with moves for the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Luis Diaz.

During the January transfer window, Chelsea tabled a £12.6m bid for Deportivo La Coruna winger Yeremay Hernandez, which was knocked back by the Spanish side – but there has now been a new update on their pursuit.

According to reports from Spain, the Blues are showing strong interest in Hernandez ahead of the summer transfer window, but there is now increased competition for his signature, with Arsenal also keen on getting a deal done.

A deal would be relatively inexpensive for either of the Premier League sides, as there is a €20m (£17m) release clause in his Deportivo contract.

The report states the 22-year-old would fit perfectly into Maresca’s system given his versatility, and Chelsea view him as a key part of their long-term project.

Chelsea approach £83m Barcelona player to see if he'd join Maresca

The Blues could look to raid Hansi Flick’s side.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 16, 2025 "Skilful" Hernandez performing well in Spain

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has praised the winger for his performances in Spain’s second tier this season, and while providing an overview of the other skills he has at his disposal, also claimed that Hernandez has “excellent vision”.

The Deportivo star is his side’s top scorer in La Liga 2 this season, finding the back of the net on nine occasions and scoring at an average of 0.39 goals per game.

While performing well in La Liga 2 is not necessarily an indication a player would be capable of making the step up to one of the Premier League’s top clubs, the Spaniard is clearly talented, and it could be worth taking a punt.

At just £17m, signing Hernandez would be a low-risk move for Chelsea, but they will need to hope his head is not turned by Arsenal.

As their fight for Premier League survival continues, Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly facing the prospect of losing both Matheus Cunha and one other star man this summer.

Wolves transfer news

Maintaining their Premier League status this season may just turn into a small victory for Wolves, who could end up on the losing battle of a summer war to keep hold of their best players. Having kept hold of Cunha in the January transfer window, there will be those in the Midlands who are hopeful of repeating that when the summer arrives, but the Brazilian’s £62m release clause has already given Wolves an uphill battle.

The forward needs no introduction to England’s top flight these days following another excellent season to earn the attention of both Chelsea and Arsenal, and there’s not a single fan inside Molineux who isn’t aware of his impact on Vitor Pereira’s side.

It’s not just Cunha attracting plenty of attention, however. According to La Gazzetta dellow Sport, AC Milan are now eyeing a move to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri to replace Theo Hernandez this summer.

The exit door has suddenly swung open for the Frenchman in a shock turn of events, leaving Milan to find a replacement. And in the middle of another impressive campaign, Ait-Nouri has seemingly emerged on their radar as an ideal option.

£8m Wolves target rejects new contract in pursuit of Premier League move

A potential boost for Wolves…

ByTom Cunningham Feb 26, 2025

The left-back won’t come cheap though, with Wolves reportedly slapping a hefty £50m price tag on their defender, who they will not want to lose at the same time as Cunha this summer. Whether Milan decide to push on nonetheless remains to be seen.

"Brave" Ait-Nouri has earned top move

Such is life at the bottom of the Premier League, it’s not often that players of Cunha or Ait-Nouri’s calibre stay put and Wolves could learn that lesson yet again this summer. It’s something they’ve been forced to face in past cases such as Ruben Neves and one they could face twice more if both Cunha and Ait-Nouri depart.

Of course, it would leave those at Molineux incredibly frustrated, but there’s no doubt that Ait-Nouri is more than capable of playing for the likes of AC Milan and talented enough to replace a Champions League winner in Hernandez.

Starts

26

19

Assists

5

2

Tackles Won

38

17

Ball Recoveries

117

84

Looking at the numbers, Milan’s reported interest should come as no surprise as shouldn’t the previous praise of Gary O’Neil. The former Wolves boss told reporters last year: “He can play anywhere on the pitch with the quality that he has and we’re working with him at the moment on his decision-making because he’s unbelievably brave.”

As the summer approaches, Wolves may not get long to celebrate potential Premier League survival and are likely to face an entirely different battle on the transfer front.