All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur, as a whole, is subscribed to Ange Postecoglou's vision and the direction that the club appears to be headed, having improved since his arrival last summer and returned to European-qualifying contention.

Fifth in the Premier League, six points behind Aston Villa (who have played two extra fixtures), Spurs' hopes of clinching Champions League football next season hang in the balance, though there are so many positives to take from this campaign regardless of the final position.

Some important parts are lacking, though, and chairman Daniel Levy will need to ensure that the right moves are made this summer to continue the resurgence, carry it into the 2024/25 campaign, propel the club to the next level.

Spurs eyeing new striker

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham are preparing to launch a summer bid for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, emboldened by Arsenal's suspected withdrawal from the race.

The Bees will likely play hardball over their talisman but Tottenham are eager to test the waters and present a £45m offer for the England international's services.

Toney, aged 27, spent the first half of the campaign suspended following FA betting breaches but he has returned to play an important part in his side's efforts. Tottenham would make waves with a breakthrough.

Why Spurs need a striker

Postecoglou's project was hit with a blow in the early phase but it was, at least, an expected one, with Bayern Munich signing Harry Kane for an initial £82m, ending a career-long affinity between the Lilywhites and England Men's all-time top scorer.

Kane, Spurs' record scorer too, had scored 280 goals, adding 62 assists, from 435 Tottenham appearances before leaving. He is the second-highest goalscorer in the Premier League history.

1.

Alan Shearer

441

260

0.59

2.

Harry Kane

320

213

0.67

3.

Wayne Rooney

491

208

0.42

4.

Andy Cole

414

187

0.45

5.

Sergio Aguero

275

184

0.67

Given that Toney's playing style has led Three Lions peer Declan Rice to remark that he is "like Harry Kane", there's little wonder why Spurs hold an interest in bringing him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Heung-min Son and Richarlison have done a good job holding up the frontline for Postecoglou's side this season but neither would appear to be the long-term heir to Kane's position at the spearhead.

The top 10 all-time Premier League goalscorers

FFC takes a look at the PL’s most prolific goalscorers.

ByMark Marston Dec 23, 2023

Toney could allow Son to drift back into his favoured left-sided attacking role, with Richarlison providing cover as a foil up front, and while Levy and Spurs' transfer team would be wise to seek reinforcements out wide, for £45m Toney is a must buy.

How Ivan Toney would fit in at Spurs

Last season, Toney posted 21 goals and four assists from 33 outings in the Premier League, creating 12 big chances for his teammates, as per Sofascore. His exploits led his manager, Thomas Frank, to call him a "monster" of a player.

1.

Harry Kane

Tottenham Hotspur

14

2.

Ivan Toney

Brentford

12

3.

Erling Haaland

Manchester City

11

4.

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool

11

5.

Danny Welbeck

Brighton & Hove Albion

8

And while he's failed to hit his stride in recent fixtures, Toney returned from inactivity with a bang in January to plunder four goals from his first five matches back in the top flight, reannouncing himself as one of the division's high-class marksmen.

Moreover, at Tottenham, he would embrace that Kane-esque role and produce performances that transcend the duties of goalscorer, committed to his defensive duties, ranking among the top 1% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for interceptions and the top 15% for aerial wins per 90, as per FBref.

According to Sky Sports, Brentford had slapped a £100m asking price on Toney's signature back in January, though this was bloated due to the flat-out refusal to allow their star striker to slip away at the season's midpoint, just returning from a lengthy suspension.

Now, £45m seems like a far more accurate and appropriate valuation of a player who has displayed moments of quality under Frank this term but certainly hasn't been at the finest, though that is more down to injury-hit Brentford's dissonance than anything.

And given Toney's prowess as a team player, he would possibly even unlock the skills of peers such as James Maddison, who is struggling to reach his early-season levels after spending a wintry spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

The playmaker won the Premier League's Player of the Month in August following his transfer to Tottenham and has been regarded as being "on the verge" of becoming a world-class No. 10 by pundit Jermaine Jenas, owing to his staggering start to life in London. Thus, the addition of another high-quality forward could well see him cross from 'on the verge' to well and truly being among the elite of the game.

Maddison ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 6% for passes attempted and the top 1% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90.

He's also tenacious and combative, with his efforts in the Premier League this term leading to an average of 5.5 successful duels per game, highlighting the robustness that could be renewed in Postecoglou's attacking third.

Son and Richarlison are fine strikers – Son is one of the very best – but he is dynamic and versatile and of a role that stretches beyond that of a centre-forward, tasked with creating and threading and leading.

Levy and co will no doubt canvass an enticing offer for Toney to chew on, and while the dynamic forward craves Champions League football, the chance to lead the line at Spurs may be too good to turn down, cementing himself as the frontman at one of the Premier League's most exciting projects.

Spurs make approach to sign "unstoppable" Son partner

The Lilywhites are reportedly interested in a summer swoop to land the attacker.

ByDan Emery Apr 24, 2024

Celtic still have plenty to play for between now and the end of the current season as they bid to avoid enduring a trophyless year with Brendan Rodgers at the helm.

The Hoops are currently three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table with three matches left to play, and have a big Old Firm clash coming this weekend.

They also have the SFA Cup final to come at Hampden Park against their closest rivals, which means that they could still win two pieces of silverware this month.

Despite there still being plenty to play for on the pitch, some attention has already turned to the upcoming summer transfer window and what they could do to bolster the squad for the 2024/25 campaign.

That, however, is not limited to bringing new players in from elsewhere, as Celtic are reportedly looking to make one of their current loan deals a permanent one.

Celtic preparing bid to sign £5m star

The Hoops are hoping to sign loanee Adam Idah on a long-term contract at the end of the season, when his loan deal expires later this year.

According to Football Insider, the Bhoys are keen to sign him permanently after an impressive stint on loan from Norwich City in Glasgow thus far.

The report claims that Rodgers and Celtic are ready to submit an official offer to secure his services in the off-season, which shows how serious they are about getting a deal over the line.

However, it does not reveal how much the Scottish giants are prepared to put on the table to bring him back to Parkhead for the 2024/25 campaign.

Earlier this month, The Scottish Sun reported that the Canaries have set a minimum fee of £5m on the centre-forward ahead of the summer window.

The outlet stated that his price could also depend on the level of interest in his services, as competition for his signature could drive it up beyond £5m, as English Championship sides and Hellas Verona have been keen on the attacker.

It, therefore, remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops can land him on a permanent deal as Football Insider's report does not state how much they are willing to pay.

If Celtic are able and prepared to submit an offer of £5m for Idah then they could win the race for the Ireland international and ensure that his future remains in Glasgow.

Signing the 6 foot 3 forward on a permanent deal would, however, represent a piece of bad news for current Bhoys number nine Hyeon-gyu Oh.

Why this is bad news for Hyeon-gyu Oh

Celtic's desire to bring Idah back to Parkhead this summer is bad news for the South Korea international as it does not bode well for his future prospects.

He has made three appearances for Celtic in all competitions since the turn of the year, all three of which came as a substitute and two of them came against St Mirren.

Oh, who spent the bulk of January at the AFC Asian Cup with South Korea, has played more games for his country in 2024 (four) than he has for the Scottish giants.

The 23-year-old striker has made two appearances in the Scottish Premiership in 2024, after 18 outings and three starts during the first half of the campaign in the division.

He racked up five goals and zero assists in those 18 matches as the young forward found himself as the second choice behind Kyogo Furuhashi in the pecking order.

These statistics show that the signing of Idah has severely restricted his minutes on the pitch, as the young attacker has rarely got his feet on the field in a competitive setting since the Irishman's arrival.

Appearances

20

Starts

3

Goals

5

Big chances missed

5

Duel success rate

41%

Signed from Suwon Bluewings for a reported fee of £2.5m in January of last year, Oh produced six goals and zero assists in 16 league outings for Celtic during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.

In almost 18 months at Parkhead, the South Korean marksman has plundered 12 goals in 47 matches and only started six Premiership games in total.

The desire to sign Idah is, therefore, bad news for Oh as it does not suggest that his lack of game time in Glasgow is likely to change any time soon, and it could force him to consider his future ahead of next season.

Why Celtic should sign Adam Idah permanently

The Scottish giants should swoop to sign the Norwich City loanee on a permanent deal as he is a better option than the South Korea international to provide competition to Kyogo in the number nine position.

Since his move to Paradise on a temporary basis on deadline day at the start of February, Idah has caught the eye with his impressive finishing in Scotland.

The 23-year-old star, who was lauded as "sensational" by Chris Sutton earlier this term, has racked up seven goals in 12 Premiership appearances so far for the Hoops.

Appearances

12

20

Starts

4

3

Goals

7

5

Minutes per goal

72

124

Big chances missed

6

5

Assists

2

0

Big chances created

1

0

As you can see in the table above, his form in the Scottish top-flight has been more impressive than Oh's for Celtic so far this season, with two more goals and two more assists in eight fewer games.

The Norwich academy graduate has scored seven goals from an xG of 5.24, which is an overperformance of 1.76 – the highest in the entire Hoops squad.

Whereas, Oh has scored five goals from an xG of 6.35 in the Premiership and only three players in the squad have underperformed by more than his -1.35.

This suggests that Idah has been the best and most efficient finisher in the group in the top-flight this term, whilst the former K League 1 star has been among the worst.

Therefore, Rodgers would be making the right decision, on paper, to sign the Ireland international permanently to further restrict Oh's involvement in the first-team.

It has been an impressive season for Wolverhampton Wanderers so far in 2023/24. Gary O’Neil’s side were tipped by many to get relegated this season, but have defied all expectations and could well finish in the top half of the Premier League table.

Indeed, it has not been an easy ride for Wolves at times. Firstly, they lost two crucial midfield players during the summer transfer window. Ruben Neves left the club to join Al-Hilal, a then club-record sale of £47m. That departure was followed by Matheus Nunes joining Manchester City on deadline day, who left the club for £53m, breaking the club-record sale set weeks before by Neves.

Not only that, O’Neil has to combat injuries to some of his star players. Portuguese winger Pedro Neto is currently sidelined with a hamstring issue, with his second case of injury he has had this season, so far missing 21 games. Matheus Cunha also missed 12 weeks due to a hamstring injury but is now back playing again.

With all that considered, Wolves have done well this season. However, as the transfer window draws nearer, it does leave O’Neil and his side with a big decision regarding a player currently out on loan, set to return to the club in the summer.

Fabio Silva's season in numbers

The player in question here is Portuguese striker Fabio Silva, who is currently on loan at Scottish club Rangers. It has been a tough season at Ibrox for the youngster, who is on his third loan in just two seasons.

The 21-year-old has scored just five goals in 22 appearances for the 55-time winners of the Scottish League. He has only been on loan since January, having played the first half of the season for Wolves, yet has not really had a major impact during his time north of the border.

He is clearly a capable goalscorer, scoring ten goals in just 19 caps for Portugal U21s, although he is yet to bring that form over to his club football, at either Wolves or Rangers.

Silva has previously been on two other loan deals, at Anderlecht and PSV last season. In the first half of the season, he scored 11 goals and registered four assists in 32 games in Belgium, whilst his spell in the Netherlands yielded five goals and two assists in 19 games.

Fabio Silva's salary in 2024

With Silva’s current deal at Ibrox set to expire soon, it certainly leaves the Old Gold with a decision about his future this summer. Indeed, given his goalscoring form during both his time at Molineux and on his various moves away, it may well make sense to move him on.

Not only that, he earns a lot of money, more than a lot of players in the Wolves squad. Silva is currently on £80k-per-week, according to FBref. That is more than the likes of Hwang Hee-chan, who earns £70k-per-week, and both Cunha and Neto, who earn £50k-per-week, according to Capology.

In fact, only Pablo Sarabia earns more than the 21-year-old. The Spaniard is the top earner at Wolves, with £90k-per-week, with Nelson Semedo the only player matching his earnings.

Given the large amount of weekly wages spent on Silva, plus his lack of form in front of goal, it could well be the right thing to sell him this summer. However, Wolves will be lucky to recoup much of the £35.6m they spent on the striker. He was, at the time, the club's record signing.

With that being said, it will still be important money off the wage books, and extra funds for O’Neil to spend this summer, as he looks to build on an impressive first season at the helm at Molineux.

Wolves already have their next Morgan Gibbs-White lying in wait

He’s been dropping 9/10 performances in the Championship

ByJoe Nuttall May 7, 2024

Of all the clubs in the Premier League this season, Tottenham Hotspur have probably enured the most Jekyll and Hyde campaign this year.

Ange Postecoglou got off to a flyer, winning eight and drawing two of his first ten games, but then ended with four wins, five losses and one draw in his last ten.

That said, with the injuries they had to deal with and the fact that Harry Kane was gone, the Lilywhites did reasonably well to finish in sixth place.

Now, with the transfer window right around the corner, they have the chance to strengthen, and based on recent reports, they could be set to rival Manchester United for a star who could spell trouble for Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from the Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur are among several major clubs interested in Atalanta's star midfielder Ederson, having scouted him earlier in the season and being advised to bring him in by former managing director Fabio Paratici.

The report claims that a new midfielder is one of Postecoglou's priorities heading into the summer, especially if Højbjerg is sold, and that a move for the Brazilian could cost in excess of £50m.

Several other clubs are named as interested parties in the report, such as Newcastle United, Barcelona, Juventus, and Man United, although the latter appears to be the most significant threat.

The story claims that the Toon's interest stems from former sporting director Dan Ashworth, who is set to join the Red Devils once a settlement has been reached.

In all, it could be an expensive and challenging deal to get done for the north Londoners, but they can't miss out on a chance to sign a brilliant Højbjerg upgrade and get one over on United at the same time.

How Ederson compares to Højbjerg

Now, while Højbjerg hasn't set the world alight during his stint with Spurs, he also hasn't been dreadful, so would Ederson be a significant upgrade on the Dane?

Well, when looking at the pair's underlying numbers, significant is probably the right word, as while the former Southampton ace does come out ahead in several metrics, such as progressive passes and carries, shot-creating actions and blocks all per 90, he comes out second best in most others, and by quite a way in some of them.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.18

0.13

Non-Penalty Goals

0.15

0.00

Assists

0.02

0.00

Progressive Carries

1.00

1.16

Progressive Passes

6.55

9.18

Shots on Target

0.38

0.35

Goals per Shot on Target

0.41

0.13

Shot-Creating Actions

2.24

2.68

Goal-Creating Actions

0.15

0.14

Tackles

2.46

2.19

Tackles Won

1.52

1.24

Interceptions

1.43

1.18

Blocks

1.41

1.44

Errors Leading to an Opponent's Shot

0.02

0.21

Aerial Duels Won

1.12

0.55

For example, Atalanta's midfield "machine," as described by Italian journalist Carlo Garganese, produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, scores more goals, provides more assists, takes more shots on target and scores more goals from shots on target, makes and wins more tackles, produces more goal-creating actions, makes more interceptions, makes fewer errors, and wins more aerial duels, al per 90.

In all, the all-action and boundlessly "energetic" 24-year-old, as described by journalist Bence Bocsak, could be the perfect midfielder for Postecoglou's high-intensity system and offer a lot more than Højbjerg does in the middle of the park.

Ultimately, while it would be a hefty investment from Daniel Levy and Co, it looks as if it would be a smart one.

It would allow them to bring the team's age down somewhat, increase the dynamism in the heart of midfield, and get a player from under the noses of Man United, which is always a nice bonus.

Spurs join race to sign "electric" £86m Son upgrade

The talented number nine could allow the South Korean to return to the wing.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 21, 2024

It was a season that ultimately ended the same way as the one prior for Arsenal, but their position in the table does not accurately reflect the massive improvement Mikel Arteta's men made this year.

The Gunners broke their record for number of Premier League wins in a single campaign, had the best defence in the league and even took four points off eventual champions Manchester City.

However, they didn't score as many goals as them, and based on the consistent links to Benjamin Šeško over the last week or so, that seems to be a problem Edu Gaspar and Co are intent on fixing for 2024/25.

However, one of the latest players touted for a move to N5 could form a brilliant partnership with the Slovenian, even though his arrival would likely spell trouble for Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a report from TEAMtalk earlier this week, Arsenal are interested in signing Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford this summer, and they have even been in 'talks' with the Englishman.

Better yet, the story claims that the interest in the transfer is from 'both sides', so if the Gunners can agree a fee for the Manchester-born ace, which journalist Dean Jones claimed could be anything up to £80m, they could be in business.

It hasn't been the best of seasons for the 26-year-old, but just the year prior, he was like a man possessed, and this could be a brilliant way for Arteta to weaken a rival and strengthen his team simultaneously.

However, any transfer could seriously weaken Martinelli's position in the squad.

How Rashford compares to Martinelli

So, if the United star was to make his way to the Emirates this summer, alongside the supposed transfer of Šeško, he'd almost certainly be coming in to primarily play off the left of a front three, as there might not be a person on planet earth that Arteta would drop Bukayo Saka for.

That means his long-term competition would be Martinelli, as Leandro Trossard is set to turn 30 this year, and with the way modern clubs act, it wouldn't be surprising to see him moved on in a couple of seasons.

With that said, how does the Englishman stack up with the Brazilian? Well, neither player had their best season this year, both scoring eight goals and providing five assists, with the 60-capped Englishman doing it in one game fewer, 43.

Appearances

56

46

Goals

30

15

Assists

10

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.71

0.45

Appearances

43

44

Goals

8

8

Assists

5

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.30

0.29

However, the pair were both on fire last year and recorded their most productive campaigns to date, but when comparing their tallies, there is only one winner, and he wasn't playing in North London.

In his 56 games, the "unstoppable" Red Devil, as Erik ten Hag dubbed him, scored 30 goals and provided ten assists, whereas the Gunners' leftwinger managed a return of 15 goals and six goals in 46 games.

This isn't to say the former Ituano gem's performances weren't impressive – they were – but the difference in productivity when they are at their respective best is significant.

Moreover, playing Rashford with Šeško next season could see Arteta's side become even more dangerous than they are, as the Slovenian enjoyed a brilliant campaign himself this year.

Appearances

42

Goals

18

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

In his 42 games for RB Leipzig, he scored 18 goals and provided two assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 2.1 games during his first season in a top-five league.

Moreover, according to Understat, his 14 Bundesliga goals came from an expected goal figure of just 8.60, meaning his clinical nature in front of goal led to a considerable overperformance of 5.40. When combined with the United ace's attacking output, this could result in a mountain of goals at the Emirates next season.

Arsenal could supercharge Trossard by signing £55m "machine man"

The prolific goalscorer could help the Belgian’s assist tally next season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 31, 2024

Ultimately, Martinelli is still an incredible footballer, but the opportunity to sign a player like Rashford doesn't come around often, so if Arteta can get him back to somewhere near his best, he could form a league-winning partnership with Šeško.

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a huge triple signing this summer after talks between a well known Red Devils director and another club's sporting director took place in recent days.

Man Utd transfer news

Few summer transfer windows have felt more important at Old Trafford than the one that will take place in the coming months, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe has the first opportunity to chance his arm. United's part-owner will want to make his presence felt and show that he is right to be in charge of transfer activity, and endless rumours continue to link them with exciting signings.

Wolves attacker Matheus Cunha is one player who has been backed to come in and add firepower for the Red Devils next season, with the club willing to double his current £60,000 per week wages. He has been compared to Marcus Rashford, not to mention being seen as a player who could get the best out of the Englishman.

Anthony Martial's departure this summer will require a new striker to come in, not to mention Rasmus Hojlund requiring more competition for regular minutes at United, and RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko has been linked with a switch to Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, in defence, Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande is being looked at as an ideal replacement for Raphael Varane, coming fresh off the back of Primeira Liga title title glory with his current club.

There are also concerns that United could lose key players, however, not least Bruno Fernandes, who is reportedly wanted by Barcelona and Bayern Munich. His agent is believed to have held talks with both European giants.

Man Utd eyeing huge triple signing

According to Football Insider, Manchester United are eyeing the triple signing of Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise this summer, with the Crystal Palace trio all seen as potential additions.

In fact, that aforementioned club director in question is Sir Alex Ferguson, and the legendary former Red Devils manager "has met with Dougie Freedman in London to explore Crystal Palace’s position" on arguably their three most prized players.

Whether Guehi, Eze and Olise all end up at United this summer remains to be seen – they have a combined value of £124m, according to Transfermarkt – but if Ferguson and Ratcliffe managed to mastermind the signing of all three of them, it could be some of the most significant business they have done in years.

In Guehi, the Red Devils could be signing a long-term solution at the heart of their defence – one who is currently seen as an option to start ahead of Harry Maguire for England at Euro 2024, especially with the latter struggling with injury problems currently.

Eze is also part of the Three Lions' squad, and could add so much creativity to Erik ten Hag's midfield, registering 15 goal contributions (11 goals and four assists) in 24 Premier League starts in 2023/24. Meanwhile, Olise could be an ideal upgrade on Antony, providing far more end product from a right-sided role and netting twice against United in Palace's 4-0 win at Selhurst Park last month.

Fabrizio Romano drops Man Utd exit concern regarding £240,000-a-week star

Paul Scholes loves him as a player.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 3, 2024

In many ways, Guehi could almost be the most important signing, given the need for centre-back reinforcements – Varane is leaving and Maguire is now 31 years of age – but the aim should be to sign all three together in one window.

A Leeds United transfer target is believed to be “open” to moving to Elland Road on a season-long loan this summer.

Leeds transfer rumours

The 49ers Enterprises have already secured an off-field deal with Red Bull ahead of the 2024/25 season, with preparations ongoing behind the scenes in regards to Daniel Farke’s squad for next season.

The Whites will be playing in the Championship once again after a playoff final defeat to Southampton last month, which could result in the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto leaving Elland Road.

Leeds in massive 10-club race for £3m starlet with 16 G/A last season

The Whites are keen to reinforce their ranks ahead of potential departures.

ByBen Browning Jun 11, 2024

However, there are likely to be incomings as well, with Fulham’s Bobby Decordova-Reid one attacker who has been linked with a move to Yorkshire, possibly to replace one of Summerville or Gnonto.

Another Premier League player who is wanted by Leeds is Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist, and a new positive update has emerged.

Alfie Gilchrist “open” to Leeds loan move

Journalist Ben Jacobs, who first shared Leeds’ interest in Gilchrist, has now provided more details about a potential transfer. Talking to the Just Joe Football Show, relayed by Leeds United News, Jacobs is “sure” Gilchrist will end up at a Championship club, adding that the defender is “open” to an Elland Road move after a “formative approach” from Leeds.

“The feeling is he will be loaned out to a Championship club, that’s the plan and the player’s intent. It’s very unlikely in the position he plays that Chelsea will think otherwise, the only question mark is when in the window as sometimes clubs like Chelsea want to take the player over to pre-season first.

“I am sure in the coming weeks he will end up at a Championship club, but it might be more like late July or early August because of what I said. You’ve got Leeds, Preston and Blackburn as the clubs who have made a formative approach.

“To all intents and purposes Gilchrist would be open to a Leeds move. He has great respect, Chelsea and Leeds have a great rivalry but nonetheless, he would go there. He would be very willing to help Leeds fight and get promoted.”

Gilchrist, on £5,500-a-week at Stamford Bridge, made 17 senior appearances for Chelsea last season, one of which came against Leeds in the FA Cup fifth round. The 20-year-old can play as a centre-back or a full-back and turned out as a left-back against the Whites. He also came in for praise from John Terry late last year, who called Gilchrist a “really good player” who has “an unbelievable attitude”.

"Alfie Gilchrist, he's a really, really good player. He's got an unbelievable attitude. He's been at the club since the age of eight… I'm expecting big things from Alf, expecting him to play hopefully a game or two as the season goes on."

A move could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks, especially following those latest comments from Jacobs.

Birmingham City will be looking to enter League One next season with the aim of exiting the division again in a very swift manner, potentially lifting the third-tier title during their fleeting visit.

Of course, the Blues cannot get carried away and think the lowly division will be a breeze to get out of, with question marks over Chris Davies' suitability for the job post, considering this will be his first time in the main manager's hot-seat, having previously been assistant to Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur.

Yet, if Birmingham can pull off a number of new signings – including getting a deal over the line for a former title-winner at the level – they should put themselves in good stead to instantly return to the Championship.

Birmingham eyeing up new defender

According to a report from Football Insider, the relegated Blues will begin to put the pieces together to build a promotion-worthy squad, by targeting Plymouth Argyle man Dan Scarr.

The Argyle defender joining the ranks at St. Andrew's would see the League One giants sign yet another defensive reinforcement, after recently swooping in to sign former Hull City goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.

Football Insider reveals further in its report that Davies' men are in talks already with a deal for Scarr, who would also bring great experience to the Blues camp, with a promotion present on his CV up from League One when playing for the Pilgrims, as his efforts were paramount in that success.

This would also be an appetising move for the 29-year-old considering he is from Bromsgrove, which is a stone's throw away from St. Andrew's, and the fact Scarr has previously had a spell with the Blues back in 2017, with unfinished business on his end.

Alongside that, the potential transfer would also be music to Dion Sanderson's ears, who could form a daunting duo with Scarr at the back in the drop-down a division.

Twine signs & PL loanee in: Chris Davies' dream lineup at Birmingham

Birmingham City will look to make a whole host of new signings to attempt an immediate return to the Championship.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 11, 2024 What Scarr could offer Birmingham

During that memorable 2022/23 League One campaign, which saw the Devon club crowned as third-tier champions, the 6 foot 2 centre-back was a brick wall for his team when needed, making 32 appearances.

From those appearances, the Argyle number six managed to collect a respectable 12 clean sheets, with a heroic 5.7 duels won on average per game, to play his part in the Pilgrims holding the League One title proudly aloft.

Games played

32

37

Goals scored

2

1

Assists

0

0

Touches*

59.8

46.3

Accurate passes*

34.9 (73%)

30.7 (85%)

Interceptions*

1.6

1.4

Tackles*

0.9

1.0

Clearances*

4.7

3.3

Duels won*

5.7

3.4

Clean sheets

12

10

Scarr could get even more out of his potential new defensive partner in Sanderson when moving back down to League One, therefore, with his 6 foot 2 counterpart not a million miles off Scarr's glowing numbers from his promotion campaign, despite just experiencing the gutting blow of relegation.

Sanderson will also have a point to prove in wanting to jump straight back up, having shone with Sunderland in the third tier during the 2020/21 season, with eight clean sheets accumulated from 26 contests, before staying put in the second-tier with a number of different loan clubs, before making Birmingham his fixed location.

Labelled as the sort of defender who "heads everything" by his ex-Plymouth boss in Steven Schumacher, Scarr will endear himself instantly to his new fanbase if he puts in similar resolute displays on the way to another promotion being added to his career resume, as Birmingham become a big fish in a small pond very soon in the third-tier.

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Chelsea are attempting to back new head coach Enzo Maresca with top quality new players for his backline, and as they get involved in a high-profile race to sign Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, they have their eyes on other defensive additions as well.

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The 22-year-old defender, who helped Bologna qualify for the Champions League after an impressive season, stood out as a key figure at the heart of their back line over his 30 Serie A appearances.

Calafiori's talents were then highlighted on the biggest stage at Euro 2024, with the Italian standing out as one of Luciano Spaletti's best performers until the Azzurri crashed out of the competition to Switzerland in the Last 16.

This has motivated intense interest from Chelsea in the former FC Basel star, but they'll have to contend with London rivals Arsenal, who are thought to be ahead of Maresca's side as things stand.

Match

Match Rating (WhoScored)

Bologna 3-0 Salernitana

8.09

Empoli 1-0 Bologna

7.76

Bologna 1-0 Lazio

7.65

Roma 1-3 Bologna

7.55

Bologna 4-0 Lecce

7.49

"The big story of the last few days is with Riccardo Calafiori and if you’ve been following on here then you’ll know since last week about the strong interest from Arsenal and Chelsea," wrote Romano on Arsenal and Chelsea's pursuit of Calafiori (via Dailybriefing).

"Both clubs are really interested in Calafiori, and now Arsenal have presented their proposal to the Italy international – it’s a long-term contract, the salary is not an issue at all, and they also presented their project to the player, and he is open to joining Arsenal in case they can reach an agreement with Bologna.

"So, there is already a green light from Calafiori to Arsenal, but what about Chelsea? My understanding is that Chelsea are prepared to approach Bologna, and that they will try to include players in the negotiation. It’s a different strategy, but Chelsea are still there, even if Arsenal are the favourites at the moment."

It will be interesting to see if Chelsea can replicate their Mykhailo Mudryk deal by hijacking Arsenal at the last, but in the meantime, they're also targeting other defensive additions. Maresca is a real admirer of Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez, but the west Londoners have still been linked with a new shot-stopper.

Chelsea eyeing Diogo Costa alongside Calafiori

The European Championships have allowed another talent to stand out in Portugal keeper Diogo Costa, who saved every single Slovenia penalty in their last 16 shootout and made himself a hero for his country.

The FC Porto ace has been ever-present at club level as well, leading to some of the continent's biggest sides taking an interest. Chelsea keeping a very close eye on Costa as they target another goalkeeper, with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid doing the same.

That is according to Jornal de Notícias, via Sport Witness, who also claim the 24-year-old will cost £64 million this summer, the full value of his release clause, following a brilliant Euro 2024 campaign.

Leicester City have been busy in the transfer window recently, adding in sprinkles of new quality here and there, ahead of their return to the Premier League.

The likes of Caleb Okoli, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Michael Golding have now all joined the Leicester ranks, whilst news surrounding Wilfred Ndidi staying put at the King Power Stadium on a new contract will also have the feel of a new signing buzz, to Steve Cooper and Co.

Ndidi could even line up alongside a new partner in central midfield if the newly promoted side manage to pull off an ambitious swoop.

Leicester looking for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall replacement

According to a report by TEAMTalk, Leicester are looking to sign £25m+ Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley this summer and find themselves in a pole position to do so.

Other reports from Football Insider indicate that Atalanta might have more financial muscle to get a deal over the line, alongside their reputation in Serie A as a top club working in their favour potentially over Leicester fighting against the Premier League drop-zone.

Still, according to TEAMTalk, the allure of the Premier League could well be what sells O'Riley on a switch to Cooper's men over a foreign adventure out to Italy, with Leicester keen to add the in-demand 23-year-old to their roster in a bid to find a swift Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall replacement.

What O'Riley can offer Leicester

O'Riley has lit up Scottish football for a number of seasons now and could be exactly what the Foxes need in getting over the heartbreak of their ex-homegrown product departing for Chelsea, as Leicester strive to build the best possible squad to stay afloat in the top flight.

Much like the departing Dewsbury-Hall, O'Riley has been a constant goalscoring threat from the centre of the park for the Brendan Rodgers' men across his two-year stay with the Hoops, meaning he could well be the perfect replacement.

The "wonderful" 23-year-old – as he was labelled by Rodgers during the 23/24 season – has accumulated a mightily impressive 27 goals and 34 assists from 121 clashes in Glasgow.

37 of those goal contributions came about just last campaign in all competitions, as O'Riley regularly wreaked havoc on defenders for the Scottish giants.

Player

Games

Goals

Assists

O'Riley @ Celtic

121

27

34

Dewsbury-Hall @ Leicester

129

17

20

As can be seen glancing at the table above, O'Riley could perfectly make up for Dewsbury-Hall's impressive output no longer being present, therefore, alongside also offering Cooper's men another body in defensive midfield if needed, as the Denmark international is capable of rolling his sleeves up and playing dirty alongside attacking confidently.

It could be viewed as a gamble for Leicester to bid such a high amount for the on-fire Hoops midfielder though, considering he has only played in and around the EFL for Milton Keynes Dons and Fulham when previously plying his trade in England, with the Premier League a different kettle of fish altogether.

Yet, the Celtic number 33 could now be ready to make that gigantic leap, with Leicester in dire need of a creative and adaptable presence centrally, to complement the likes of the combative Ndidi and the well-rounded game of Harry Winks.

Therefore, Cooper and Co could go all out to try and win the 23-year-old's signature soon, in order to make a statement ahead of returning to the promised land of the top division.

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