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Chelsea will look to get back to winning ways tomorrow when the west Londoners make the lengthy trip up to Merseyside to play Everton, but Sean Dyche's Toffees won't be a walk in the park for Mauricio Pochettino's patchy side whatsoever.

Everton have developed a siege mentality at Goodison Park ever since being deducted ten points last month, pulling off an impressive 3-0 win against Newcastle United last match with the home fans packed into the stadium backing their downtrodden team all the way.

In stark contrast, Pochettino's men disappointingly succumbed to their sixth defeat of the season already away at Manchester United mid-week – a Scott McTominay double for the hosts breaking Blues hearts in the eventual 2-1 loss.

Raheem Sterling was second-rate throughout the dire defeat at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, fearful that his starting spot could well be up for grabs against Everton as a direct consequence.

Raheem Sterling's game vs Man United in numbers

Signing on the dotted line for Chelsea last year – the former Manchester City winger demanding an extortionate £47.5m transfer fee to win his services – Sterling has been effective in spurts for his team so far this season.

The experienced 29-year-old has amassed six goals and three assists in all competitions, but Chelsea's number seven was poor against Erik ten Hag's side.

Still without a goal in his professional career against Man United – a staggering statistic that Sterling won't want reminding of – the ageing attacker never did look like breaking this notable goalscoring duck with zero shots attempted on Andre Onana's goal, as per Sofascore.

Moreover, Sterling was a passenger when it came to grabbing the game by the scruff of its neck. The right winger only won 30% of his duels in the contest, losing possession 13 times too when his team needed him to be calm and measured to kickstart a possible comeback.

It looks likely that Pochettino will drop the seasoned England international therefore for the game at Everton, opting to bring back in a previously suspended Conor Gallagher to the team to freshen up the Blues in attack.

Conor Gallagher's season in numbers

Once labelled as an "outstanding" footballer by TalkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino when playing for Crystal Palace, Gallagher hasn't ever quite replicated his Eagles best as a loanee in a Chelsea shirt.

The one-time Palace man managed to score eight times and assist five goals in an impactful loan switch during the 2021-22 Premier League season, hopeful of making a name for himself at Stamford Bridge on his return.

The £50k-per-week man, as per Capology, has shown flashes this season of what he's capable of – notching up four assists to date – before a needless double booking saw him suspended for the game in mid-week.

His absence was felt in the midfield in that 2-1 loss, leaving Pochettino with a simple choice this weekend to reinstate the 23-year-old back into the lineup for their game tomorrow – the likes of Enzo Fernandez and the aforementioned Sterling struggling in midfield to help their team venture forward.

Cole Palmer was a shining light in the number ten role, but Pochettino could move the 21-year-old star over to Sterling's vacant right-wing spot to accommodate for Gallagher to come in.

Chelsea will have to be switched on from the get-go at Goodison Park, Gallagher hopeful he's given a chance to impress again and help his team pick up three points come the end of what will be a fiercely contested match.

West Bromwich Albion's promotion credentials will be under the microscope this coming Saturday when Carlos Corberan's playoff-chasing Baggies face off against Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town, the Tractor Boys loving life back in the Championship with the Suffolk club in second spot currently.

Corberan's men are way off Ipswich in terms of points in the division, but West Brom's focus will be fixed on trying to make it into the playoff positions this season – outside of the playoff picture at the time of writing owing to goal difference, Sunderland above the Baggies in sixth nervously looking over their shoulder to see what the West Midlands club does next.

West Brom's manager will have a number of selection calls to ponder over for the upcoming game at the Hawthorns, selecting the very best lineup he thinks can go toe-to-toe with the confident visitors in what is an exciting match-up on paper.

With that in mind, here is how Corberan could set his side up this weekend – with two possible alterations from the latest defeat to Southampton.

1 GK – Alex Palmer

Everpresent in all of West Brom's 16 Championship games so far, Palmer starting against Ipswich Town will be one of the simpler decisions when it comes to team selection from Corberan's perspective.

Keeping seven clean sheets this season, only conceding 17 goals when he has been unfortunately beaten, the 27-year-old's position in the starting lineup is surely set in stone for Saturday.

2 RB – Darnell Furlong

Darnell Furlong will also be retained in Corberan's first-team plans for the clash against Ipswich, very rarely missing a game for the Baggies whether that be at the back or played slightly more forward in a right midfield spot.

He's featured in all 16 second-tier games for West Brom much like his teammate Palmer, a shoo-in for a starting position against the Tractor Boys.

3 CB – Kyle Bartley

Scoring against the Saints last time out – Bartley bundling the ball into the back of the net after a Brandon Thomas-Asante effort clattered the crossbar – the 32-year-old could be key at the back up against Ipswich's high-energy attacking line of Nathan Broadhead and George Hirst by successfully marshalling them out of the contest.

Averaging 3.8 ball recoveries per 90 minutes this season, according to Sofascore, Bartley will hope he can act as a Baggies brick wall when swarms of Ipswich attackers do come his way.

4 CB – Cedric Kipre

Missing from the West Brom starting eleven only once this campaign so far – benched when the Baggies played Millwall at the Hawthorns – Kipre should start this Saturday to take his season tally to 16 appearances.

Kipre has been a colossus in many of his performances, the Ivory Coast defender standing out in West Brom's 2-0 win over Coventry recently – blocking three shots to foil the Sky Blues and clearing the ball away seven times to consolidate a clean sheet, as per Sofascore.

5 LB – Conor Townsend

Corberan shouldn't have to make any changes in his defence, with Conor Townsend another trusted member of the backline at the Baggies.

Performing below his usual high standards in a West Brom strip away at St Mary's – the 30-year-old losing all six of his attempted ground duels – West Brom's Spanish manager will still stick by his full-back for the visit of Ipswich in the hope that he raises his performance level in such a high-octane contest.

6 RM – Grady Diangana

Once on West Ham United's books as a youngster developing at the Hammers, Grady Diangana has since become a key player at West Brom with the 25-year-old entering his fifth successive season with the club this campaign.

Often blowing hot and cold as many exciting maverick-style players tend to do, West Brom's number 11 has two goals and three assists from 11 games played this season.

Two of those assists were notched up in just one game, Diangana a nuisance for the Hull City defenders all night in a 3-1 win at the Hawthorns over the Tigers.

7 CM – Okay Yokuşlu

West Brom's defensively sound Turkish midfielder should start again for the West Midlanders for the evening kick-off, Okay Yokuşlu solid in recent contests for Corberan's playoff-aspiring team.

In a 2-0 home win over QPR back in mid-October, the 29-year-old was no-nonsense in approach.

Tough into the tackle by winning three of his four ground duels, West Brom's number 35 excels at doing the dirty work in the centre of the park allowing other midfield options the freedom to get forward subsequently.

8 CM – Alex Mowatt

The first change Corberan could look to make for the game at the weekend could be starting Alex Mowatt over Nathaniel Chalobah, the former Leeds United man standing out when substituted on against Southampton.

Mowatt was a far more effective attacking presence than Chalobah when introduced, pushing his team further forward to attempt an unlikely comeback.

As per Sofascore, the 28-year-old had 44 touches from just 34 minutes on the pitch in a bid to leave his mark on the contest. Unfortunately for Mowatt and the rest of the team, he couldn't quite be the difference-maker but this individual display could see him start against Ipswich.

9 LM – Matt Phillips

Playing for Blackpool, Sheffield United and QPR before finding a settled home in the West Midlands with West Brom in 2016, Phillips continues to be a talented winger despite the twilight of his career fast approaching him now at 32 years of age.

Starting all 16 games for Corberan's Baggies this season – even with youngster Tom Fellows pushing Phillips and Diangana all the way for a starting spot – Phillips has registered three goals and two assists to show he's still a reliable creator going forward and why his manager keeps picking him.

10 ST – Josh Maja

Once on loan with Fulham in the Premier League from then parent club FC Girondins de Bordeaux, West Brom snapped up Maja on a free transfer deal this summer after the Ligue 1 outfit released their former EFL hot-shot.

Bursting onto the scene in English football with Sunderland as a teenage sensation up top, the "rare" talent – as hailed by former Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe – hasn't really got going yet for the Baggies, but he could be pushing for a starting spot this weekend if fit.

With Thomas-Asante having not been in rich goalscoring form recently – failing to find the net in his last two displays – it could open the door for a surprise Maja start.

Phil Hay has shared a worrying update on the fitness of one Leeds United star who Daniel Farke has recently hailed.

Leeds United injury news

The Whites have suffered a number of injury concerns this season, with the likes of Stuart Dallas and Junior Firpo yet to feature under the new manager. Summer signing Djed Spence is also sidelined, whereas Wilfried Gnonto has recently returned from ankle surgery.

On the pitch, Farke’s side have been in solid form, although Wednesday evening’s 1-0 defeat to Stoke City put an end to three successive victories in the Championship. One player who has starred under the German is Crysencio Summerville, who also has missed parts of the current campaign through injury.

The winger was the hero on the weekend, scoring twice in a dramatic 3-2 win at Farke’s former side Norwich City, however, he was left out of the starting XI at Stoke and only came on as a substitute for the final 20 minutes Taking to X after the game, Hay provided an injury update on Summerville, relaying information from Farke that the attacker is still struggling with a pre-season injury which is requiring painkillers and is preventing him from playing three games in a week.

“Farke says Summerville isn't physically able to play three games a week at the moment, owing to a pre-season injury. Needs painkillers. Also felt he needed to give Kamara a rest after international duty with Finland.”

It represents a concerning update for Farke, who recently praised Summerville, saying after his display against Norwich:

"Crysencio is a baller, it's a joy to watch him. When you see a guy touching the ball like he does, it's heart warming. We always speak with him about wanting him to improve his effectiveness, we need goals, assists, end product. This is the final step for him to find his next step in his career. If he delivers like this, he's on a really good path with goals and assists but he has to keep going. Today he deserves all the praise.”

Leeds United fixtures

The games come thick and fast for the Whites in the second tier, with 12 Championship games scheduled between now and the New Year, so Summerville may have to be used carefully as the club continue to monitor the issue.

Leeds United's upcoming fixtures

Huddersfield Town (H)

28th October

Leicester City (A)

3rd November

Plymouth Argyle (H)

11th November

Rotherham United (A)

24th November

Swansea City (H)

29th November

Middlesbrough (H)

2nd December

Blackburn Rovers (A)

9th December

Sunderland (A)

12th December

Coventry City (H)

16th December

Ipswich Town (H)

23rd December

Preston North End (A)

26th December

West Brom (A)

29th December

At this moment in time, Leeds are sitting in third place in the league, nine points behind Ipswich Town and 14 behind leaders Leicester City. The Whites and Farke will be hoping to be in and around the automatic spots come January, and Summerville may have a big part to play if e can remain fit.

Marcus Rashford has revealed that he once snubbed Manchester United icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney as part of bold future prediction.

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• England star was academy hopeful at the time
• Snubbed big money to remain with Red Devils
• Was determined to make senior breakthrough

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Back when the current England international was just 11 years old, he had the opportunity to rub shoulders with senior stars that would go on to become a five-time winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or and the Red Devils’ all-time leading goalscorer. Rashford, who had turned down “life-changing” money in order to remain part of United’s academy system, shunned both as he believed that he would one day be playing alongside them.

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  WHAT RASHFORD SAID

  Rashford has said in : “When I was about ten or 11 years old, I was getting a lot of attention, and we had all kinds of agents and clubs trying to pass things to the family. United still hadn’t signed me to a scholarship, and people were offering all kinds of things. A few clubs offered us life-changing money. We’ll buy the family a home, we’ll put cars in your garage. We’ll change your family’s life. At the time, my mum was working as a cashier at Ladbrokes. My brother was working for AA. They had every right to tell me, 'Just take the deal.' But they knew my dream was to play for United, so they never ever pressured me. I don’t know how many people know this, but I actually played two academy games for that one club to see how I liked it. I remember walking out of the dressing room and seeing my mum and my brothers, and they just asked me, 'What do you want to do? Stay or go?' I said, 'I want to go back to United.'"

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rashford added: “Money is great. It’s a blessing. But dreams are priceless. For me, even at 11 years old, playing for United was my only goal. I remember around that time, when I was still trying to get signed, Wazza and Cristiano came by to do something with all the academy lads, and I was just looking at them in awe, you know what I mean? They had a photographer there, and at the end all us kids had a chance to get a picture with them, and I remember hanging in the back away from everyone. I remember my brother saying, 'Go take a picture with Wazza, bro! What are you doing???' I said, 'I don’t need a picture.' He said, 'Don’t need a picture???' I said, 'I’m going to be playing alongside them some day.' I think I was the only kid who didn’t get a photo. After we had turned down the money, there was just this hunger inside me. I didn’t see myself as a kid anymore. I had to grab my opportunity and change our lives, period. To be able to go on and really live that dream, as a kid from Manchester… As a kid from Hulme, Moss Side, Chorlton, Withington, Wythenshawe… If you think I would ever take that for granted, then you simply do not know me.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Rashford went on to make his senior debut for United in February 2016, at the age of 17. He is now closing in on 400 appearances for the Red Devils, with 128 goals recorded along the way, and has delivered on his 11-year-old promise – with games taken in as a team-mate of both Rooney and Ronaldo.

3:38

Agarkar: Kings XI’s collapse the worst performance this season

Umesh Yadav ambushed KL Rahul and Chris Gayle with short balls and the rest of Kings XI Punjab’s batting line-up made lemmings seem cautious as they were knocked over for 88 in 15.1 overs. Royal Challengers Bangalore chased it down with almost 12 overs to spare and boosted their net run-rate, from -0.26 to +0.21, and their playoff qualification chances. The result also confirmed a top-two finish for current table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad.Kings XI had suffered a big blow even before the first ball was bowled: their top wicket-taker Mujeeb Ur Rahman was sidelined with a hand injury sustained in his previous game against Kolkata Knight Riders. On the flip side, they recalled Marcus Stoinis to bolster a batting line-up that had Axar Patel at No. 6 on Saturday. Stoinis, however, yorked himself against Yuzvendra Chahal and was part of an irreparable collapse. Three of the last four wickets were chaotic run-outs, which summed up Kings XI’s approach on a pitch that wasn’t as flat as the one that produced a run aggregate of 459 on Saturday, but it wasn’t unplayable either.Short ball leaves Kings XI short-changed
Umesh teased Gayle with a brace of outswingers in the corridor, including one that grazed the outside edge, but Parthiv Patel dropped it to reprieve the batsman on 0 in the first over. He then ventured short and kept attacking the body of Gayle, who took seven balls to get off the mark against Umesh. In all, Umesh bowled 15 short or short-of-good-length balls in his three-over first spell, and fetched two wickets in doing so. In his third over, he first had Rahul pulling a catch to deep square leg for 21 off 15 balls and then dismissed Gayle in similar fashion. In the next over, Mohammed Siraj dug one in outside off and coaxed an outside edge from Karun Nair to leave Kings XI at 41 for 3 in the sixth over.The middle-order implosion
In the next over, Stoinis misread the length of a googly from Chahal and was bowled for 2. His Australia team-mate Aaron Finch, though, threatened to haul Kings XI to three figures, but the other end was a revolving door with batsmen entering and exiting in a flash. Besides Rahul and Gayle, Finch (26) was the only other Kings XI batsman to move into double figures. He, however, fell in the 12th over, when he pulled a short ball from Moeen Ali straight into the lap of Virat Kohli at deep midwicket. The RCB captain was simply having fun. He broke into an animated jig, and his team was in such a dominant position that he could afford at least one slip till the end of Kings XI’s innings.Kings XI’s misery, on the other hand, deepened when R Ashwin, Mohit Sharma, and Ankit Rajpoot all ran themselves out. Kings XI’s 88 was the second-lowest total this season, and their joint second-lowest overall. RCB’s ‘perfect’ dayIn the absence of swing and scoreboard pressure, Kohli and Parthiv Patel launched a flurry of boundaries and took RCB to 66 for 0 in the Powerplay. Fourteen balls later, Kohli capped an early finish with a top-edged four. He later said: “It was a perfect day for us. We are in the nothing-to-lose zone and it will work well for us. Other teams will be wary of a team with such a mindset.”If RCB win their remaining two matches, at home against Sunrises Hyderabad followed by an away game against Rajasthan Royals, they could sneak into the playoffs.

Losing hair, joining the army, playing in Australia, and being teetotal occupy the mind of the Delhi Daredevils opener

Nagraj Gollapudi01-May-2009What’s the best thing about playing cricket for a living?
I play cricket because I love it. The day I feel I’m not giving my 100%, that will be the last day of my cricket.Worst thing about playing cricket for a living?
You lose a lot of hair – especially when you are an opening batsman! Like [Virender] Sehwag, I’m losing my hair left, right and centre. Cricket has giving me everything but it is taking away all my hair.Best friend in cricket?
Virender Sehwag, Munaf Patel, Amit Mishra and Ishant Sharma. People outside always feel I’m reserved, but when I’m with these guys I’m the only one speaking. I’m very comfortable with each of them and all of them are special to me.Who’s the nicest man in cricket?
Sehwag. He thinks about the team. The way he gives others confidence, his character, and the way he approaches his cricket and life is an inspiration.If you weren’t a cricketer what would you be?
The army remains still my first love. When I was growing up I was always passionate about joining the armed forces. But once I started doing well in domestic cricket and everyone started to tell me to focus on my game, that’s when I decided to concentrate on my cricket. But given a choice, even now I would like to join the army.What do hotel rooms need to make them more enjoyable?
If they can create a homely atmosphere, nothing like it.Which ground has the most hostile crowds?
Some of the Australian grounds are nasty.Which ground has the most amusing crowds?

I love playing in Mohali. I love the attitude of the local people and I enjoy that very much.Which tour do you most look forward to?
Australia. Everything about the place, people, conditions is good, which makes it a hot spot. And you want to challenge yourself there.What drink is the best one to celebrate a victory with?
I haven’t ever tasted alcohol of any kind.How often do your friends ask you for free tickets to games?
Very often. Given an option, every game they would like to ask for at least one ticket.The best sledge you’ve heard?
One comment that made me turn a lot of things around came from Ricky Ponting during the Bangalore Test last year. He said, “You haven’t [yet] set the world on fire.” That was something I took seriously, and it helped me do well.

Liverpool are reportedly battling both Manchester United and Real Madrid for the signing of an exciting midfielder who has been hailed as "something special".

Why Liverpool need one more midfielder

Much was made of the manner in which Jurgen Klopp almost completely rebuilt his midfield at the end of last season, with the Reds' struggles last term making it clear that huge changes were required. Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch have made a huge difference, helping Liverpool top the Premier League table at the beginning of 2024.

Despite this, supporters would still like to see another No.6 come in, as although Mac Allister has adjusted well to the role and Endo has proven an astute buy, an out-and-out destroyer like Fulham's Joao Palhinha would add some serious stability. Kalvin Phillips has also been mooted as a target for the Merseysiders, as he looks to bring an end to his disappointing spell at Manchester City this month, but that deal seems unlikely.

It remains to be seen if Klopp will delve into the transfer market for another midfielder this month, but interest in one highly-rated player has emerged.

Liverpool in the mix for Federico Redondo

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are one of the clubs who are keen on signing Federico Redondo, who is currently plying his trade at Argentinos Juniors in Argentina.

"Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid are among the big clubs that are keen on snaring holding-midfield player Federico Redondo. The world’s biggest clubs are constantly seeking to find the best talent around the world. One such prodigy making headlines is Redondo, the dynamic midfielder from Argentinos Juniors."

The report also adds that "Liverpool’s interest in Redondo seems a strategic move to bolster their midfield options", with Klopp's system and style of play "demanding versatility and stamina", which is why he could be a "perfect fit".

Redondo is someone who remains completely untested in European football, but the four-time capped Argentina Under-23 international is making waves in his homeland. The son of legendary former Real Madrid ace Fernando Redondo, the 20-year-old has been talked up hugely by journalist Roy Nemer in the recent past, who said:

"If I'm Xavi and FC Barcelona, I am looking to bring in Federico Redondo. The kid is a mirror image of his father who is one of the greatest players ever in his position. With Busquets now leaving, Redondo is a great player to have for now and the future. Kid is something special."

Passing

Discipline

Aerial duels

Pace

Work rate

Inexperience

At 20, Redondo could be viewed as a long-term option for Liverpool, and with Thiago possibly leaving at the end of this season when his contract expires, he could simply come in as a younger replacement, possessing the Spaniard's ability to break the line and dictate play.

If he reaches anything close to the level of his father, the Reds would be acquiring the signature of a very special player, and he should only improve in the coming years.

The race to finish inside those coveted Champions League spots in the Premier League is heating up with Chelsea having to make sure the wins keep flowing to stay put.

Chelsea do have a potential Conference League final on the horizon, but the main focus for the Blues this May will centre on ensuring they finish inside those top five spots, even as tense games against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest present themselves as upcoming hurdles.

The Blues will also be aware that a place amongst Europe’s elite again will help them out in the transfer window, with Enzo Maresca’s men looking to splash the cash once more if the rumour mill filtering out of Stamford Bridge is anything to go by.

Chelsea's growing list of targets

This summer won’t just see a whole host of incomings arrive through the door you imagine, with some players in Maresca’s camp also needing to be offloaded, as seen in the growing likelihood that Blues flop Christopher Nkunku will reportedly depart shortly.

New attacking recruits are already being lined up, with Viktor Gyokeres one centre-forward routinely linked with a switch to West London, on top of fresh winger additions in the form of Jamie Gittens.

Transfer Focus

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

But, it’s not all just attackers on Chelsea’s varied shopping list, with Ajax centre-back Jorrel Hato another face that has also been linked incessantly with a move to England away from the Eredivisie giants.

However, with Liverpool and Arsenal also sniffing around for the Dutch powerhouse, this could see the Blues opt to try and snap up long-term target Ousmane Diomande instead.

New reports from Spain indicate that Chelsea are in the running to finally snap up the Sporting titan for a fee around the £68m ballpark with Maresca personally keen on adding him to the Stamford Bridge ranks.

When comparing the 21-year-old’s strengths next to Hato’s, he could well be a dream alternative and even an upgrade on the Rotterdam-born youngster.

Why Diomande is be a dream alternative to Hato

Whilst there is so much hype around Hato’s name as a starlet tipped for big things, Diomande could be just what Chelsea need right now, particularly when it comes to his experience on stages such as the Champions League.

Indeed, this season saw Diomande line up for nine Champions League contests, whilst his Dutch counterpart had to make do with appearances for Ajax in the lesser Europa League.

Moreover, the 6 foot 3 enforcer has proven across 99 games in the Portuguese capital that he has an eye for goal, with six goals – usually powered home via a header – tallied up by the 21-year-old.

Hato does possess a similar reputation of being a young and hungry defender capable of joining in with attacks, but his goal number for Ajax currently sits at a lower four, even from nine more senior outings.

Attempted passes

58.63

76.51

Pass completion %

89.4%

93.8%

Progressive passes

4.15

3.04

Touches in attacking penalty area

1.40

1.71

Total shots

0.57

1.15

Tackles

2.15

1.29

Interceptions

0.82

1.05

Clearances

2.11

2.69

Aerials won

1.68

2.97

The table above further validates why Chelsea splashing out £68m for Diomande could prove to be a golden buy over snapping up the 19-year-old.

Indeed, the Ivorian betters Hato in multiple different areas of their respective defensive games, including when playing as both a composed passer of the ball, but also when it comes to regularly winning duels and being a full-blooded presence at the back.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has even lauded the Blues target as an “elite talent” previously, with Diomande himself perhaps edging for a chance to impress away from Sporting in a more challenging environment to further back up his glowing praise.

Chelsea have had their fair share of fighters defensively over recent years that can also put in classy displays – with the likes of Thiago Silva and John Terry springing to mind – with a hope that Diomande can also cement himself as a first-team regular if he’s given a shot at Stamford Bridge.

Best signing since Palmer: Chelsea could land a £60m Gyokeres alternative

Chelsea should sign a “clinical” Premier League striker instead of Viktor Gyökeres

May 4, 2025

Arsenal are thinking about signing a £20 million striker as well as Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, and it's been reported that he's set to leave his current club.

Edu targeting new striker for Arteta

While a lot of noise has surrounded Edu's pursuit of a new midfielder, there are still suggestions that manager Mikel Arteta wants to bring in a new striker next year. ESPN recently reported that Brentford star Ivan Toney is still a target for Arsenal as we head into 2024, with Arteta having just Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus to choose from to lead the line.

The Gunners have also been linked with Vlahovic regularly amid their search for a new forward, as they seek to win a first Premier League title in nearly 20 years.

"Arsenal will" – Romano thinks Edu is certain to bid for "underrated" star

Former Gunner Paul Merson’s a big fan.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 29, 2023

A proven goalscorer could be the difference between domestic glory and falling just short, especially given Arsenal have to contend with both Man City and Liverpool who are also vying for first place. Club legend Ray Parlour, speaking to TEAMtalk at the start of this month, urged Arteta and Edu to bring in a striker if they wish to maintain their place among England's elite sides.

“Where they are going to be lacking is the striker position," said Parlour. "In teams I played in we had four top strikers so I think that is one area they need to improve.

"I know Jesus is out at the moment and Nketiah did brilliantly getting his hat-trick at the weekend but there is not a lot of options up front.

“I am sure Arteta, if there is someone available whether on loan or someone who is not playing on a regular basis but who he knows can do a decent job, will be looking for options. When you are chasing a goal you have got to change it up front and they do not have that at the moment. That might be the place they will be looking at."

Given Toney could cost a seismic £100 million to prise away in January, at least according to Sky Sports, it could be wise for Arsenal to consider other options.

Arsenal open to Leonardo deal

According to Football Transfers, Arsenal are open to signing Santos striker Marcos Leonardo "as well as Vlahovic" in their pursuit of new options. It's added that the 20-year-old is set to leave his club for Europe in the new year.

The Brazilian is one of South America's hottest young attackers right now, with reports suggesting Santos are also willing to sell for around £20 million.

This is considerably less than his marquee release clause and Leonardo is a player of serious potential, having scored 13 goals in 29 of his latest Brazilian Serie A appearances.

"I saw in him a brilliant eye for goal, opportunistic and always well placed," the forward's U13 coach Gustavo Roma said (via Football Transfers).

Gets fouled often

Does not dive into tackles

"He is a really good finisher, he always manages to be in the middle of every middle, he's very mobile and intense, with great instincts. He doesn't wait for the ball to come to him, he moves to create the best positions and finish with a goal, that's why he has so many.

"He was our top scorer in 2016 and even as a substitute last year he was one of our top scorers too. He has an eye for goal, he is a killer and born scorer."

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is no stranger to spending big money in the transfer market and his next quest in the market has now been identified, according to reports.

Chelsea's transfer activity…

In the summer window, the Blues made a major splash in the market by bringing in exciting young faces such as Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and Christopher Nkunku.

Chelsea summer signings

Axel Disasi (Monaco)

£38.5m

Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal)

£30.1m

Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

£52m

Kendry Paez (Independiente del Valle)

£17.27m

Robert Sanchez (Brighton)

£25m

Moises Caicedo (Brighton)

£115m

Lesley Ugochukwu (Rennes)

£23.5m

Angelo Gabriel (Santos)

Undisclosed

Alex Matos (Norwich)

Undisclosed

Diego Moreira (Benfica)

Undisclosed

Ishe Samuels-Smith (Everton)

Undisclosed

Dujuan Richards (Phoenix All Stars Academy)

Undisclosed

Romeo Lavia (Southampton)

£58m

Deivid Washington (Santos)

£17.1m

Djordje Petrovic (New England Revolution)

£14m

Cole Palmer (Manchester City)

£42.5m

All fees courtesy of Sky Sports

With any bedding in process regarding new players, some fare better than others, which is reflected in the fact that Chelsea sit tenth in the Premier League table, having taken 16 points from their opening 12 fixtures.

Nevertheless, Argentinian coach Pochettino is keen to strengthen his side even further over the next window or two. Recent reports have suggested that Napoli superstar Victor Osimhen is on the radar at Stamford Bridge and the Nigeria international has indicated that he is open to a move to west London.

CaughtOffside report that Chelsea have also met with Brentford striker Ivan Toney's entourage as bringing a number nine into the building continues to be a pressing priority for Pochettino. Arsenal are also strong contenders to acquire the England international. Despite initial claims that Toney could leave Brentford for £80-100 million, the outlet signify that the 27-year-old could be available for as little as £55 million.

One Spanish publication has speculated that Barcelona winger Raphinha is another name in Chelsea's sights as the Blues aim to add more variety in the final third to help break down opposition backlines. Despite this, midfield is another area where Chelsea are plotting potential signings, and one report has now revealed that the Premier League giants have a significant advantage in the chase for a young star.

Chelsea lead Gabriel Moscardo race

Taking to social media platform X, Evening Standard football correspondent Nizaar Kinsella has issued an update regarding Chelsea's pursuit of Corinthians midfielder Gabriel Moscardo, claiming that the Blues are now "leading the race" for the 18-year-old, who is "one for the future".

In the attached report from the Evening Standard, it is claimed that it could cost interested suitors a fee in the region of £26 million to tempt Moscardo to seek a new challenge. Barcelona, Arsenal and Liverpool are also keen on the Brazil Under-23 international; however, Corinthians will not discuss his potential sale until after their presidential elections have concluded on November 25th.

Moscardo, who has been labelled "unique" by Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig, primarily operates as a defensive midfielder and has won 2.1 tackles per fixture alongside making 1.3 clearances and 1.1 interceptions per appearance in the Brazilian top-flight (Moscardo statistics – WhoScored).

In an already crowded midfield environment, Moscardo would be likely to fall under the umbrella of being another long-term project for Pochettino to develop at Stamford Bridge if he were to move to the English capital.