All posts by z3u9t.icu

Glasgow Rangers head coach Philippe Clement has not been afraid to make plenty of changes to his playing squad since the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Belgian boss failed to guide the club to the Scottish Premiership title and is now looking to work with the head of recruitment at Ibrox to build a team that can secure the trophy next term.

Seven signings have already been made by Rangers, with Jefte, Connor Barron, Clinton Nsiala, Liam Kelly, Mohammed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, and Hamza Igamane penning deals in Glasgow.

Their desire to bring in new recruits to bolster their options across the park meant that players needed to move on from Ibrox, and John Lundstram, Jon McLaughlin, Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe, and Ryan Jack all departed as free agents at the end of May.

They may not be the only ones to move on from Ibrox before the end of the summer transfer window, though, as other first-team stars have been linked with transfers elsewhere in recent weeks.

Attacking midfielder could leave Rangers

Football Scotland recently reported that attacking midfielder Todd Cantwell could be moved on this summer if an acceptable offer comes in for his services.

The outlet named him alongside Kieran Dowell and Tom Lawrence as one of the players who Rangers may want to cash in on to make room for new signings.

Earlier this month, The Scottish Sun claimed that Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah are keeping tabs on his situation at Ibrox ahead of a potential swoop for his services.

That report went as far as to say that the former Norwich City playmaker will be allowed to move on from Glasgow during the current transfer window, but did not reveal whether or not the Saudi Arabian club are prepared to formalise their interest with an offer for his services.

Cantwell has also been offered to Italian side Lecce by his agent Jose Enrique, who had – incredibly – accidentally messaged a fan page instead of the Lecce head coach in an attempt to facilitate a transfer.

All of these reports come together to suggest that there is a decent chance that the former England U21 international will be plying his trade away from Scotland by September, given the interest in his services and the club's reported desire to move him on.

It will then be down to Koppen and Clement to replace Cantwell and that could be a hard task given his contributions in the 2023/24 campaign.

What Todd Cantwell brings to Rangers

The 26-year-old playmaker is an energetic and forward-thinking midfielder who thrives as a number ten who has the license to drift around into various positions to knit play together.

He is reliable in possession, with an 84% pass success rate in the league last season, and has the quality on the ball to make things happen in the final third.

Appearances

30

Goals

7

Assists

5

Big chances created

7

Key passes per game

1.7

As you can see in the table above, Cantwell chipped in with 12 direct goal contributions in 30 appearances in the Premiership during the 2023/24 campaign.

This shows that he has the ability to provide a presence as a scorer and a creator of goals in a number ten position for the Light Blues, as he has already proven himself in the division.

That also came after the ex-Norwich ace produced six goals and four assists in 16 league games under Michael Beale during the second half of the 2022/23 season.

Despite his evident ability on the pitch as an attacking force in the top-flight, Rangers and Clement are seemingly willing to allow him to move on.

It appears to be a bold and brave call on paper and that makes finding an adequate replacement for him all the more important, to show fans that things are moving in the right direction.

Rangers could land dream Todd Cantwell replacement

Clement could land a dream successor to Cantwell in the number ten position by securing a deal to sign reported target Bobby Clark from Liverpool.

DaveOCKOP claimed earlier this month that the Light Blues are one of the clubs in the mix to land the 19-year-old sensation on loan from the Premier League giants.

RB Salzburg, RB Leipzig, and Norwich City are also said to be interested in a swoop to land the former Newcastle United youngster for the 2024/25 campaign.

The teenage whiz could be a dream replacement for Cantwell as his form for Liverpool at youth and senior level suggests that the potential is there for him to provide an attacking threat whilst also being solid out of possession.

Appearances

2

Goals

1

Assists

1

Pass accuracy

90%

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.5

Duel success rate

82%

Whilst it was a small sample size, Clarke's performances in the Europa League last season offered a glimpse at what he could offer Rangers, with two goal contributions and a dominant 82% duel success rate in two games.

This, alongside his four tackles and interceptions and 63% duel success rate in one EFL Trophy game last term, suggests that he is a talented technician who can also be combative and aggressive in duels.

At youth level, Clark racked up five goals and six assists in 37 games for Liverpool's U21s and 13 goals and five assists in 27 outings for the U18s, which shows that the potential is there for him to offer quality as a scorer and a creator of goals – like Cantwell.

The young maestro, who made five Premier League appearances last term, could, therefore, be a fantastic attacking midfielder for Clement due to his ability to make an impact in and out of possession – keeping the team's shape solid whilst remaining creative on the ball.

Clark, who was described as "very impressive" by journalist Josh Bunting, could also be a relatively cheap signing as a loan, rather than splashing millions on a permanent addition, and that is another reason why he could be a dream replacement for Cantwell.

Rangers could brilliantly replace Lundstram in swoop for SPFL "machine"

The Light Blues are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the central midfielder.

ByDan Emery Jul 16, 2024

A high-earning member of the Arsenal squad is keen to leave north London this summer, with sporting director Edu Gaspar also prepared to green-light a loan deal.

Players who could still leave Arsenal before deadline day

Mohamed Elneny, Cedric Soares, Mika Biereth, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga have already left Arsenal, but it is believed that a few more squad members could join them.

Arsenal contact elite European club over signing £150,000-per-week forward

The north Londoners have reached out to them.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 25, 2024

Elneny and Soares departed following the expiry of their contracts late last month, while Biereth sealed a £4 million permanent move to Austrian side Sturm Graz after spending the second half of 2023/2024 on loan there.

Lokonga agreed to join Sevilla on loan, which includes a £10 million option to buy, with Tavares also moving to Lazio on loan. Unlike Lokonga's deal, the latter's transfer will become permanent next summer for around £7.5 million, so Tavares has penned a five-year contract with Marco Barono's side as a result.

The likes of Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Kieran Tierney, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko have been linked with Arsenal exits in the past fortnight as well, with manager Mikel Arteta potentially about to see a few more departures.

Player

Average match rating

Bukayo Saka

7.67

Declan Rice

7.38

Martin Odegaard

7.37

Kai Havertz

7.16

Gabriel Magalhaes

6.99

WhoScored

Fulham are believed to be in talks over a deal for Smith Rowe at around £35 million, which would be their club-record transfer fee, while both Tierney and Zinchenko think that Arsenal will sell them this summer after Riccardo Calafiori's arrival.

The same could be said for Kiwior, as the Italian is capable of replacing the former Spezia star at both centre-back and left-back, with reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano backing that his exit is indeed a possibility.

While the aforementioned appear to have potential suitors, especially Smith Rowe who appears to be on the verge of a Fulham move, it is a completely different story for second-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Ramsdale wants to leave Arsenal with Edu prepared to green-light loan

The England international lost his place to David Raya last season, and his lack of action has seemingly put buyers off Arsenal's £35 million asking price.

That is according to talkSPORT, who also claim that Ramsdale is keen to leave Arsenal and Edu is prepared to green-light a loan if they can't find a permanent buyer. The 25-year-old, who earns around £120,000-per-week at Arsenal, is currently not close to joining any club, despite interest from Southampton.

Ramsdale faces spending another season on the bench if he cannot secure a move away before August 30, and that is something the former Bournemouth shot-stopper is very eager to avoid.

Manchester United are once again stepping up their transfer plans ahead of the upcoming Premier League season and have reportedly begun discussing personal terms with one of their targets.

Man Utd facing left-back dilemma

Erik ten Hag's side are facing something of a dilemma at fullback heading into the new campaign. First choice Luke Shaw missed much of last season through injury, forcing the Manchester United boss to opt for makeshift options in the role, a position that Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Diogo Dalot, Victor Lindelof and even Sofyan Amrabat were asked to fill at various points.

Meanwhile, second choice option Tyrell Malacia missed the entire campaign with an injury of his own, leading to speculation that a left-back might be signed this summer.

Personal terms no issue: Man Utd closing in on their own Amadou Onana

The Red Devils could be set to make a third signing of the summer…

ByRobbie Walls Aug 9, 2024

But Shaw's return quietened those rumours, and the latest comments from Ten Hag appear to suggest that Malacia could be back in the coming weeks too.

"Tyrell is now in a good place," Ten Hag told Man Utd.com. "But he is not here because I only took players who could play games or be available for team training.

"He is not that far [off], but he is now in a progress situation. At a relatively short notice, he can again return into team training and then into team performance in games. I think it would be possible [to be available again] in two months."

However, with both players injury prone, the club could do with someone versatile and able to fill in at full back and across the pitch when required. Now, they seem to have found that player.

Manchester United chase "special" talent

That comes amid reports that the Red Devils are eyeing up a potential move for Fenerbahce defender Ferdi Kadioglu. The Turkish defender has been linked with Brighton and Southampton this summer as he heads into the final two years of his £47,000 a week deal in Turkey, and Manchester United are the latest to join the hunt.

That is according to Turkish reporter Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, who took to X to reveal that talks have been held between the Red Devils and Kadioglu's camp over a potential move to Old Trafford.

"Manchester United met with Ferdi Kadıoğlu's representative and asked about the contract terms he would demand from them in case of an agreement with Fenerbahce."

Former teammate Ole Romeny, who played with him at NEC Nijmegen, described him as a "special" talent: "The absolute top. He is also special as a left-back, there is no one with those footballing qualities."

Though listed as a left-sided player, Kadioglu is one of the most versatile players in Europe, having played across midfield and in both fullback positions so far in his career.

Ferdi Kadioglu's appearances by position (min 10 appearances, via transfermarkt)

Right Back

37

Attacking Midfield

56

Left Back

67

Right Winger

44

Right Midfield

19

Left Winger

24

Left Midfield

20

Central Midfield

15

That versatility could prove a massive bonus at Manchester United, with the Red Devils still looking light in the centre of the pitch as well as at left-back, meaning that Kadioglu could see plenty of action were he to make the move.

It is thought that his current side are holding out for around £30m to part ways with the defender, with a host of clubs pushing for a move, which may well mean Ten Hag and co. will have to speed up negotiations should they truly want to land the 24-year-old.

Never a dull day. Chelsea started the Enzo Maresca era with defeat, but Manchester City were the opponents and it was a promising performance against the champions at the start of the Premier League campaign.

Were it not for a more clinical presence in attack or a more stable presence in goal – with Nicolas Jackson failing to fire at one end, while Robert Sanchez caved in at the other – the outcome may have been far different on Maresca's opening bow in top-flight football.

That said, what the result did outline is that the Stamford Bridge first team is bloated, although a host of players are expected to be shipped on before the close of the transfer window this month, with Raheem Sterling's exclusion from the match and subsequent statement suggesting that he is going to depart sooner rather than later.

Raheem Sterling's future at Chelsea

Sterling, through his representatives, has issued a response calling for "clarity" on his future in west London after being omitted from the Blues' first match of the season.

Chelsea's scattergun spending under American ownership has puzzled many, and while there might be a secret in the sauce somewhere, at present, it's left the new manager to contend with a heavily bloated crop that has forced him to make a call.

Sterling, signed from Man City for £45m only two years ago, has scored 19 goals and supplied 12 assists across 81 matches. He is Chelsea's joint-highest earner but whether he makes the strongest 11 is questionable – clearly.

1.

Raheem Sterling

£325k-per-week

1.

Romelu Lukaku

£325k-per-week

3.

Reece James

£250k-per-week

4.

Ben Chilwell

£200k-per-week

5.

Wesley Fofana

£195k-per-week

Should the 29-year-old be sold this month, it seems like Paul Winstanley and co will move for a replacement. Joao Felix is the no. 1 target at the moment with an agreement having now been reached, but it seems like Chelsea are hoping to augment their frontline even further, with Manchester United's Jadon Sancho the latest to be added to the shopping list.

Chelsea could be set for Sterling 2.0

The circus that has surrounded Chelsea in recent years appears to have been quelled somewhat – the club has a vision and the storm, time will tell, might abate this term.

But signing Sancho would not only be a mistake but a regression, highlighting a lack of direction that might hinder the club's prospects of bettering last season's Conference League qualification and pushing further up the table – perhaps even winning a slice of silverware.

According to the Daily Mail, Paris Saint-Germain's £51m transfer bid for the 24-year-old has collapsed. Now, as per German outlet Fussball.news, the Blues are interested in signing him, chucking two academy players into the equation as a makeweight.

Sancho, widely regarded as a prodigious talent during his time at Borussia Dortmund, completed a stunning £73m transfer to Old Trafford in 2021, but three years later, he has only scored nine goals from 58 Premier League appearances.

Indeed, once lauded as a "phenomenon" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the fleet-footed winger never quite clicked into gear with the Red Devils, with his frustrations personified through a significant fall-out with Erik ten Hag that cast him into the shadows and prompted a loan move back to Dortmund for the latter half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Chelsea might feel that they could often him a platform to restore his career – he showcased his enduring quality once again over in Germany last season – but it would be a significant risk for a player who currently takes home £250k per week.

Moreover, he doesn't offer the kind of end product that is required. Chelsea played with fizz at points under Mauricio Pochettino last season but were routinely let down by wayward finishing and a lack of incisiveness in the final third.

Were Sterling to be replaced by his struggling countryman, it would offer no promise of a triumphant resolution. Indeed, Sancho, on his current wages, would be Chelsea's joint-third-highest earner.

If the club are to head in an auspicious direction this season, which is imperative after several years of malaise, any notion of signing Sancho must be immediately dismissed.

This is not to slander Sancho's skillset. There is every chance that he will find his feet and enjoy a successful career, but Chelsea have been heavily active in the market and do not need him.

Felix, for example, might prove to be a shrewd signing for the outfit, having enjoyed a half-decent attempt on loan in 2022/23, scoring four times from just 11 Premier League starts during the nadir of the Todd Boehly era so far.

A dynamic and silky player, Felix typically operates on the left side of the attack, whereas Sancho is often found on the alternate flank, so it's feasible to conceive that Chelsea believe they can house both players, but questions must be asked of the prudence, even if Sterling is to be relieved from the books.

And how could we forget – Pedro Neto has recently been signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a £54m fee, adding to the likes of Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Omari Kellyman as Chelsea's current senior options out wide – that is probably an inexhaustive list.

While it's somewhat poignant that Sterling is likely to bow out, it does make sense, and Maresca must streamline the squad for the year ahead, with supporters not likely to get on board with the new project if hindered by overabundant numbers.

Therefore, Chelsea must ensure that they get the deal for Felix over the line, but they must also ensure that Sterling is sold and Sancho is not brought in to replace him.

Not just Sterling: £50m star will likely now never play for Chelsea again

Raheem Sterling was not included in the Chelsea squad to face his former employers.

ByMatt Dawson Aug 19, 2024

A "brilliant" £25,000-a-week youngster is now ready to agree personal terms with Newcastle United, according to a fresh update from reliable journalist Craig Hope.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies were disappointing in their 1-1 draw away to Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, and were arguably fortunate not to lose, given the nature of the hosts' disallowed goal in stoppage time. It was a performance that highlighted the need for business to be done in the remaining days of the transfer window, with top-level quality and depth lacking on the right wing in particular.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues to be linked with a summer move to Newcastle, with the £40m-rated Englishman potentially keen to move on, especially following such a poor start to the Premier League season for the Blues. Eddie Howe is thought to be a big fan, as he looks for more attacking firepower amid doubts over Callum Wilson's fitness and long-term future.

Adrien Rabiot has also been mentioned as a high-profile option for Newcastle this summer, with the France international a free agent after leaving Juventus at the end of last season. Manchester United are also reportedly in the mix to sign him, however, as they look to boost their own depth in the middle of the park.

Raheem Sterling's career has reached a huge crossroads after Chelsea made it clear he has no future at the club, and the winger has been touted as a target for Newcastle. He may turn 30 this year, and isn't the force he was during his Manchester City days, but he could still be an exciting option for Howe, bringing pace, goals and assists from his wide role.

"Brilliant" goalkeeper ready for Newcastle move

Now, according to Hope on X, James Trafford is now ready to agree personal terms and join Newcastle this summer, but sporting director Paul Mitchell still needs to strike a deal with Burnley.

While the Magpies feel well-stocked in the goalkeeping department at the moment, a move for the £25,000-a-week Trafford should be encouraged, considering how high his ceiling is.

Ian Wright a huge admirer of the 21-year-old, saying of him on Match of the Day last season: "He was brilliant, I was delighted for him. Coming into the Burnley side after a £19m move, Vincent Kompany has shown a lot of faith in him and he made some very, very good saves. A lot of the Burnley fans weren’t quite sure simply because of [Arijanet] Muric and how well he had done to come up, but he made some fantastic saves."

Howe a big fan: Newcastle eyeing bid for £40m ace with same agent as Barnes

Eddie Howe is a big fan.

ByHenry Jackson Aug 26, 2024

Nick Pope isn't going to be around forever, and there are question marks about the Englishman's ability to play out from the back, so Trafford could be his natural successor, gradually usurping him over time.

Sunderland are believed to have submitted a £5m offer for an "outstanding" player, as they look to strike a deal before the end of the transfer window.

Sunderland flying but transfers still on the agenda

It's fair to say that life under Regis Le Bris has got off to a fantastic start at the Stadium of Light, following a superb beginning to the Championship season.

Sunderland sit top of the table on maximum points after three matches, with seven goals scored and a trio of clean sheets also recorded at the same time. Last Saturday's 1-0 victory at home to much-fancied Burnley felt significant, showing that Le Bris' side can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the division, as hope grows that a serious promotion bid is on the cards.

The Black Cats have suffered the blow of losing star man Jack Clarke to Ipswich Town, however, and they would be wise to use those funds to bring in new attacking signings before the summer transfer window closes. RB Salzburg forward Roko Simic has been linked with a move to the Championship leaders, with Sky Sports even claiming that talks are at an advanced stage.

Meanwhile, Caen attacker Alexandre Mendy has also emerged as a strong summer target for Sunderland in recent times, with a £2m offer lodged and the 30-year-old extremely keen on the idea of moving to the Stadium of Light, looking to get a transfer over the line.

Sunderland submit bid for "outstanding" player

Taking to X, journalist John Percy claimed that Sunderland have now bid £5m for the services of Leicester City attacker Tom Cannon, as they aim to bring him in before Friday's cutoff. Other Championship clubs are planning the same, though, with a big battle for his services looming this week.

Cannon could be a great option for Sunderland, having reached a point in his career where he is likely to want more regular football than he is currently getting at Leicester. The 21-year-old Englishman enjoyed an excellent spell on loan at Preston North End back in 2023, scoring eight goals in 21 appearances, and it led to former Hull City manager Liam Rosenior heaping praise on him.

Cannon's pedigree has been there for all to see since his youth team days at Everton, too, when he scored 51 goals in just 97 appearances for the Blues' Under-21s and Under-18s combined, showing what a prolific marksman he was.

Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season

Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025

Sunderland would be getting a player with a massive amount of potential whose best years are still to come, leading the line and providing the extra ammunition needed for the Black Cats to remain one of the Championship promotion favourites this season.

A high-earning member of the Aston Villa squad has publicly teased a potential move to one named club, with the player holding a sit-down interview whilst away on international duty for his country.

Villa prepare for Everton after solid start to Premier League season

It's been a solid start to the season for Unai Emery and Villa, who are also looking forward to their first participation in the European Cup/Champions League since 1983.

Worth more than Grealish: Aston Villa hit gold on "dangerous" Smith signing

The club have conducted excellent business in recent years.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 6, 2024

Villa beat West Ham 2-1 on the opening Premier League weekend, courtesy of goals from summer signing Amadou Onana and a late winner from striker Jhon Duran, with Emery's side also defeating newly-promoted Leicester City 2-1 at the King Power.

Their only loss of the season so far was against title hopefuls Arsenal at Villa Park, and even that was a smash and grab, with Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey bagging late strikes past the hour mark to nick a late victory.

Aston Villa vs Everton

September 14

Aston Villa vs Wolves

September 21

Ipswich Town vs Aston Villa

September 29

Aston Villa vs Man United

October 6

Fulham vs Aston Villa

October 19

Emery and co are now preparing to host Everton right after the international break finishes, and three days later, they'll kick off their opening Champions League game of the season against Young Boys in Switzerland.

“I’m very happy," said Emery after Villa's 2-1 win away to Leicester.

"We were speaking before the match in the dressing room about how we are always feeling our supporters helping when we are playing away. We are feeling their support and it’s very important for us. We are playing thinking of them and trying to feel comfortable. Playing away, their supporters are pushing a lot, but we can feel our supporters here with us.

“It’s important for us to play with confidence and the commitment we have to make everybody happy.”

Villa are also fresh off the back of what was a very eventful transfer window for them. While Emery lost key players from last season, like Douglas Luiz, Villa quickly moved to seal a statement £50 million deal for Onana, and they also managed to keep hold of Belgium international Youri Tielemans.

Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans teases move to Anderlecht

The 27-year-old was linked with an exit from the Midlands this summer, with some reports even claiming Tielemans was keen to leave Villa during the window, but he instead opted to remain under Emery.

An update on the midfielder's future has now emerged right from the horse's mouth, as Tielemans publicly teases a potential return to Anderlecht in a sit-down interview, even if there are other priorities first.

“Leander [Dendoncker] made that decision, he wants to play," said Tielemans to HLN. "He knows the structure at Anderlecht and has many playing opportunities, that is ideal. And he has stability for his family. For me, the door to Anderlecht is always open, but I also have to look at my career. First, other things.”

The £150,000-per-week ace has started all three of Villa's league games so far, bagging an assist and playing 270 minutes in total.

This summer has been a huge change for West Ham United, with numerous new signings at London Stadium alongside a new manager taking the reins.

Julen Lopetegui came into the club to take over from David Moyes, splashing over £100m on new transfers to try and push for another European finish in the Premier League this season.

However, the Spaniard has endured a tricky start to life as Hammers boss, winning just one of the opening three league outings with the club currently occupying 13th place.

As well as incomings, Lopetegui has also made some key departures, freeing up potential transfer funds whilst clearing some of the players who unfortunately are no longer at the level required in England’s top flight.

Despite the recent sales, there’s one player who’s often looked past his best. That man remains at the London Stadium a couple of years after his big-money transfer to East London.

Danny Ings’ time at West Ham United

After moving from Aston Villa in a £15m move during January 2023, striker Danny Ings arrived with huge expectations of bringing much-needed goals to the West Ham side.

However, his switch to the capital has been anything but that, failing to make a huge impact despite his big-money move and hefty wages. The 32-year-old, who earns £125k-per-week as per Capology, has made 53 appearances for the Hammers, scoring on just four occasions.

Ings has often been utilised as a bit part player during his time at the club, but after the arrival of Niclas Füllkrug, he could find himself as the third choice slotting in behind the German and Michail Antonio.

He’s only managed five minutes of first-team action so far this campaign, with his market value dropping as a result.

That said, he still boasts a higher price tag than former wonderkid Grady Diangana, a fact that illuminates the remarkable fall in stock of their academy graduate.

Grady Diangana’s market value in 2024

Winger Diangana had huge potential to be a success at West Ham after breaking through the academy and enjoying a successful spell out on loan at West Brom.

He registered 14 goal contributions during the 2019/20 campaign, prompting vast interest from the Baggies on a permanent basis – to the displeasure of many at the club.

Club legend Mark Noble expressed his disappointment with the transfer on social media, but Diangana swapped London for the West Midlands in a deal that reached £18m including add-ons.

However, his move to Albion has been anything but successful, only registering 14 goals over the last five seasons – with his market value taking a hit as a result of his poor form.

2020/21

20

1

0

2021/22

41

2

1

2022/23

31

4

3

2023/24

36

7

8

2024/25

2

0

0

The 26-year-old is now only valued at just £3.3m as per Transfermarkt, with the aforementioned Ings still valued at £6.7m despite his own lack of goals for the Hammers.

Whilst at the time it may have been seen as a terrible decision to sell the forward, his recent lack of form in the Championship proves it was the right call to cash in on Diangana whilst his stock was at its highest.

As for Ings, his lack of goals will be a concern for the club – especially considering his hefty wages – with the club desperately needing to address his situation at the next available opportunity.

It’s safe to say that both players’ careers haven’t gone in the direction they were wishing for.

West Ham hit gold on "generational" talent who's now worth more than Rice

He could be the difference-maker above all others this season…

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 10, 2024

Chelsea managed their second win in a row under Enzo Maresca, beating West Ham 3-0 at the London Stadium, winning for the first time there since 2021.

Maresca’s men kept their second clean sheet in consecutive games too. After struggling to keep the ball out of the net last campaign, this will be a very welcome sight for Chelsea fans, as the likes of Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella continue to build consistency.

Nicolas Jackson scored a first-half brace to put the Blues 2-0 up at half-time, before also setting up Cole Palmer just minutes after the break, giving Chelsea a 3-0 lead and a comfortable rest of the afternoon.

Jackson & Palmer's performance in numbers

Jackson has started the season in red-hot form, scoring four goals in his opening five Premier League games, and also providing two assists for the Blues.

Palmer, on the other hand, has started the new campaign as more of a playmaker for Maresca’s side, but that hasn’t stopped him from grabbing two goals to go along with his four assists.

Both players provided exquisite finishes, with Jackson applying a “trivela” (outside the foot) finish for his second goal, and Palmer smashing one in off the upright, for Chelsea’s third.

Alongside his three goal contributions, Jackson also made two key passes, had two big chances created, and had two shots blocked. Meanwhile, Palmer made one key pass, completed 2/3 long balls, created one big chance, and won 6/8 of his ground duels.

But despite these two Chelsea stars’ excellent performances, there is another man who was as important, if not even more important.

Levi Colwill's game in numbers

Colwill put in another formidable performance in central defence, scoring an excellent 8/10 rating from GOAL. The defender made a whopping eight clearances, won 50% of his aerials duels, completed one key pass, two of three long balls, and managed an 89% pass accuracy.

To rubberstamp the defender’s important, the England international had 74 touches in the game, which is more than Jackson (30), and Palmer (31) combined.

Colwill is evidently pivotal for Maresca’s side, especially when it comes to breaking the lines with his passing, often kickstarting Chelsea’s attacks with incisive passes into the midfield.

Progressive Carries

0.60

Progressive Passes

4.40

Passes Attempted

71.0

Pass Completion %

92.1%

Passes into Final Third

4.40

Tackles

0.60

Blocks

1.40

Interceptions

1.11

Aerials Won

2.20

Often averaging the most touches for Chelsea, and orchestrating play from the back, Colwill makes 4.40 progressive passes per 90. This is a key feature in his game, and something that is very important to the new Blues boss, as he looks to maintain possession, looking for the right opening before firing a pass into the midfield, or even directly into the forward line.

Colwill’s passing ability is arguably his best quality, with a limitless range, and an array of techniques, showcasing his quality on the ball. But the 21-year-old is also imperious at the back, averaging 2.20 aerials won per 90, and 1.11 interceptions.

Colwill has had a superb start to the season and is becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet for Maresca’s Chelsea side, as the Blues’ defensive record continues to improve.

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ByJoe Nuttall Sep 21, 2024

Sometimes, in the world of football, players that make big money moves are judged through an unfair lense, purely because of their transfer fee. Chelsea know that all too well.

This can often come back to bite many pundits, as they make bold shouts about players being a “flop” too early, only for them to prove people wrong, find their feet and excel.

Teams such as Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, and even Arsenal have been known to spend big fees on players, meaning we have seen this a fair amount in recent years.

Some big examples of this in the past few years are Jack Grealish, David Raya, and Marc Cucurella. But Jamie Carragher is the latest pundit to be subject to this, after a comment he made in August 2023.

What Carragher said about Caicedo

Moises Caicedo joined Chelsea from Brighton for a British record transfer fee of around £115m, signing an eight-year deal for the Blues.

Carragher, whilst covering the Chelsea vs West Ham game on Sky Sports, labelled Caicedo’s debut a “nightmare”, as he came from the bench, giving away a penalty late in the game.

Many fans took to social media after this, brandishing the mega-money man as a “flop” already, but the 22-year-old midfielder bounced back, having a brilliant second half of the season, and becoming one of Chelsea’s most important players under Mauricio Pochettino.

Caicedo made 48 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions last season, scoring once, providing four assists, and contributing to 11 clean sheets in his 3,899 minutes played. Perhaps his highlight of the season came with his halfway-line finish against Bournemouth on the last day, as Chelsea won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Caicedo 2024/25 impact so far

Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Caicedo is already showing how important he is, playing as a holding midfielder, but having a number of different responsibilities during a game. Maresca will often invert one of his fullbacks alongside the Ecuadorian, giving the pair a lot of the build-up responsibilities.

Perhaps his biggest responsibility is to protect Chelsea in transition, mopping up danger between the lines. The 22-year-old is averaging 2.76 tackles per 90 this season, compared to just 1.13 last campaign, showing his importance in this aspect of the game.

With the consistent injury issues of Roméo Lavia, who also signed in the summer of 2023 for a fee of around £58m, Caicedo’s importance has only been amplified this season, especially seen in his performance against West Ham, where he won ten of his 12 ground duels, and made a whopping eight tackles in the game.

Maresca clearly sees Caicedo as one of his key players, having already started seven of Chelsea’s nine games in all competitions, totalling 637 minutes this season. This is more than the 555 minutes of Cole Palmer, which begs the question, who is more important for the Blues?

Caicedo vs Palmer

Palmer has already scored six and provided four assists in his eight appearances, coming off the back of his stellar 2023/24 campaign, where the 22-year-old scored 27 goals and provided 15 assists in 48 games across all competition.

The English midfielder/attacker is coming off the back of a Premier League record-breaking game, where he scored four goals in the first half, the first time this has ever been done in Premier League history.

Goals

0.00

1.07

Assists

0.17

0.71

xG

0.02

0.66

xAG

0.19

0.57

Progressive Carries

0.86

3.28

Progressive Passes

3.28

5.54

Passes Attempted

55.0

38.2

Pass Completion %

87.5%

73.4%

Key Passes

0.69

3.04

Shots Total

0.52

3.04

Tackles

4.14

1.07

Interceptions

1.72

0.36

The problem when comparing these two players is that their stats reflect their role in the team, making it hard to draw comparisons as to which is contributing most in their role. Caicedo winning 4.14 tackles per 90, and making 1.72 interceptions, is allowing Chelsea to regain possession, kick-start attacks, and protect their own goal, allowing them to concede fewer.

Palmer, on the other hand, is the main source of creation for Maresca’s side, making 3.04 key passes per 90, taking 3.04 shots per 90, and, of course, contributing with goals and assists, scoring 1.07 per 90, and assisting 0.71 per 90.

The argument to be made for Caicedo being more important to the team is the fact he has more touches on the ball (66.7 touches per 90, compared to Palmer’s 48.4), and has the responsibility of progressing play into those attack-minded players, who can then work their magic.

If the former Brighton man wasn’t winning the ball back as often as he is, playing forwards, and allowing stars like Palmer to shine, everything would fall flat, and Chelsea would struggle to control games, or even generate attacks.

This isn’t to say other Chelsea players haven’t had brilliant starts to the season, as Levi Colwill is another that has really impressed for Maresca at the start of this new season, being given more on-ball responsibilities, allowing him to play progressive passes through the lines, and showcase his passing ability.

Since the arrival of Maresca, Colwill is averaging ten more passes attempted per 90, 3.67 progressive passes per 90, and more long balls per 90, showing the license he now has to fully utilise his passing range to benefit the side.

Whilst the argument for who is Chelsea’s most important player could be made for both Colwill and, of course, Palmer, especially after scoring four goals on the weekend, Caicedo is currently the Blues’ most important player, as without him, Maresca’s side would struggle in all phases of the game, which is telling of the impact the Ecuadorian has on the team, week in, week out.

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