All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

West Ham United and Julen Lopetegui could be heading into a must-win game against Newcastle on Monday evening, with the 58-year-old Spaniard’s job on the line, as pressure continues to mount.

The Hammers sit 14th in the Premier League on 12 points, whilst the Magpies sit ninth with 18 points. A win for West Ham wouldn’t immediately affect their league position, but it would take them six points away from the dreaded relegation zone.

Lopetegui’s side haven’t beaten Newcastle at St James’ Park since 2021, when they won 4-2 under David Moyes. Since then, the Irons have drawn three and lost two in their Premier League fixtures against the Magpies both home and away.

But who is available for West Ham in this clash, and who will be absent?

The latest West Ham team news

West Ham will remain without their summer signing, Niclas Füllkrug, who is out with “achilles tendon irritation”. The 31-year-old has only managed four appearances since joining the club, and is yet to provide either a goal or an assist in his 137 minutes played.

However, the biggest omission for the Hammers is, of course, Mohammed Kudus, who is still suspended after his red card against Tottenham.

Kudus was a key figure last season, scoring 14 goals and assisting six, but Lopetegui could have the exact man for the job to replace him, with summer signing, Crysencio Summerville.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

West Ham's best Kudus replacement

Back in June 2024, Newcastle were reportedly interested in Leeds winger, Summerville, when highly-rated Yankuba Minteh was set to join Brighton.

One month later, however, it was West Ham who had signed Summerville from Leeds, for a fee of around £25m plus add-ons.

Summerville has previously been labelled as “world-class” by journalist Jake Winderman, and has gone on to win the Championship POTY last season, making 43 appearances, scoring 19 goals and providing nine assists in 3,525 minutes played.

He’s evidently a great player but it just hasn’t clicked for him during the infancy of his Irons career.

Goals

0.18

0.26

Assists

0.00

0.13

xG

0.24

0.38

xAG

0.16

0.11

Progressive Carries

2.89

5.00

Progressive Passes

1.84

2.70

Shots Total

1.40

3.64

Key Passes

1.84

0.68

Shot-Creating Actions

3.68

3.38

Successful Take-Ons

1.32

3.78

Whilst the metrics above show Kudus provides a slightly more direct approach, driving at players more frequently (3.78 successful take-ons), getting a high shot volume off in each game, and providing real direct goal threat, Summerville brings a different, more intricate style.

The Dutchman is a bit more elegant with his movement, looking to find clever passes, be creative with his angles and put others in positions to succeed. His key passes per 90 (1.84) and shot-creating actions (3.68) both show this, alongside his 0.16 xAG per 90 (expected assisted goals).

Lopetegui could look to have Jarrod Bowen – another Irons player previously liked with Newcastle – playing more directly in the absence of Kudus, whilst Summerville becomes that slightly deeper creator on the left side, providing the team with balance and looking to exploit the Newcastle high press.

The former Leeds star could be the one who comes back to haunt Newcastle, having been linked with a move there in the summer, before making a move to the Hammers instead, which would make it very poetic if he seals the winner against the Magpies.

Lopetegui could save his job by unleashing West Ham's £35m "animal"

West Ham must unleash this “animal” in order to stop Alexander Isak on Monday.

1 ByConnor Holden Nov 24, 2024

No Chelsea supporter could have envisioned the immediate impact Enzo Maresca would have had during his opening months in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian raised some eyebrows after his summer appointment from Leicester City, with many questioning the appointment after the dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino at the end of last season.

However, he’s exceeded all expectations during the first few months at the helm, leading the Blues to second place in the Premier League after 15 matches, just four points off current leaders Liverpool.

He’s also led the club to a 100% start to the Europa Conference League campaign, remaining as just one of two sides winning every one of their matches on the European stage.

Todd Boehly has massively backed the club since his takeover, with the summer window of 2024 no different after bringing the 44-year-old in and tasking him with the challenge of leading the club back to the top of the English top division.

Chelsea’s transfer window in the summer of 2024

After his failed stint with Manchester United, winger Jadon Sancho was given a lifeline to resurrect his once-promising career after completing a move to join the Blues.

The Englishman arrived on loan with an obligation to buy, already making an impact in West London after his summer move to the club.

Sancho has already registered two goals and four assists in his first ten matches for the Blues, starring at the top end of the pitch, helping them reach the early heights during Maresca’s reign.

Pedro Neto was another attacker who joined the club, aiming to bring added firepower to the squad to supercharge their top-four ambitions – something which now looks like a real possibility after their recent form.

The Portuguese has registered the same number of goal contributions as fellow forward Sancho, catching the eye with his direct dribbling ability and pace off either flank.

However, the same can’t be said for another summer addition, who has simply been unable to transfer his skill set onto the current side, with his future already up in the air just months after his big-money move.

The £80k-p/w player Chelsea need to cut their losses on

Boss Maresca wasn’t the only person to arrive in London from Leicester during the off-season, with midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also swapping the East Midlands for the capital.

The 26-year-old moved in a £30m deal after helping secure promotion last season, registering 12 goals and 15 assists in the process – winning the Foxes’ Player of the Year award.

However, despite all the promise of playing a starring role under the Italian, Dewsbury-Hall has barely had the chance to flourish, making the big-money fee now look like a complete waste of money.

As a result, reports have suggested that Aston Villa are interested in making a move for the Englishman in the upcoming January transfer window, with former side Leicester also targeting a surprise return for the ace.

Given the fact the midfielder, who earns £80k-per-week at the Bridge, has only featured for a total of 56 minutes in the league to date, it could be the right call to allow him to leave and cut their losses.

Games played

6

Minutes played

301

Pass accuracy

91%

Successful dribbles

5

Goals scored

1

Tackle success rate

67%

Chances created

7

It’s a real shame that he’s yet to impress for the Blues, especially after receiving huge praise from the manager, who dubbed him as “fantastic” after their time together at the King Power last season.

However, ultimately, given his age, he’s coming into the prime years as a professional, desperately needing regular game time to progress after his stellar campaign in the Championship throughout 2023/24.

Villa could be a great opportunity for him to feature in England’s top flight whilst also featuring in the Champions League this season, something which he’s currently unable to do at Chelsea.

There’s no denying Dewsbury-Hall is a hugely talented player, as seen from his time at Leicester, but the move hasn’t worked out, with Maresca and Boehly needing to cash in to prevent losing millions on their recent investment.

He'd make Palmer unplayable: Chelsea want to sign "world-class" £57m star

Chelsea could be about to make a move for one of the Premier League’s biggest stars.

ByEthan Lamb Dec 10, 2024

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to make it three wins from as many games under the leadership of Vitor Pereira as they face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League this afternoon.

Wins over Leicester City and Manchester United have moved the Old Gold out of the relegation zone and hopes are high the club can maintain their top-flight status under the new manager.

Against the Old Trafford side, the majority of the starting XI played rather well as they secured all three points, but there were a couple of players who underperformed.

Goncalo Guedes was deployed alongside Matheus Cunha as an attacking midfielder but didn’t have the same impact as the Brazilian.

Goncalo Guedes’ game in numbers vs Man Utd

The 28-year-old has scored five goals and grabbed four assists in all competitions for the Molineux outfit this season, but his display on Boxing Day wasn’t his best of the campaign.

The Portuguese star failed with both of his dribble attempts, registered just one shot on goal and failed to make a key pass or create a big chance in the final third.

Stat

Highest Ranked

Accurate passes

Matt Doherty and Andre (59)

Key passes

Kobbie Mainoo (3)

Shots on target

Matheus Cunha (2)

Ground duels won

Matheus Cunha (13)

Tackles

Toti Gomes (5)

Guedes also lost nine of the 13 ground duels he contested during his time on the pitch, along with losing possession a staggering 16 times and it is clear Pereira must make a change ahead of the clash against Spurs.

He was replaced by Hwang Hee-chan with just 15 minutes remaining and the South Korean star scored the decisive second goal which wrapped up a 2-0 win for the home side.

With this in mind, Hwang should be unleashed in place of Guedes this afternoon as he could cause the Spurs’ defence plenty of damage.

Pereira must unleash Hwang Hee-chan against Spurs

The forward hasn’t exactly enjoyed the most productive of seasons throughout 2024/25, with his goal against United his first of the season.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

He has only started three games all campaign, but this should change today, as Pereira looks to continue the club’s impressive momentum of late.

Hwang was hailed by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright back in 2021, who said: “He has got everything [Hwang], he has got pace, skill, touch and awareness and he’s always driving to get into the box.”

These attributes were on show last term, as the South Korean maestro ended up scoring 13 goals for the Old Gold while also creating four big chances, averaging 0.6 key passes per game and succeeding with 1.2 dribbles each match in the Premier League.

When compared to his positional peers in the top flight last season, Hwang even ranked in the top 9% for successful take-on percentage (52.2%) per 90, showcasing his dribbling skills.

If unleashed against Spurs, he will be keen to carry on where he left off against the Red Devils. Another goal or assist would certainly give him a great chance of forcing his way into Pereira’s starting XI, and he might just help move Wolves further away from the drop zone.

Imagine him & Cunha: Wolves lodge enquiry to sign Raul Jimenez 2.0

Wolves are showing interest in a German international…

ByRoss Kilvington Dec 28, 2024

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are now targeting a Chelsea youngster who manager Enzo Maresca has mapped out for a “key role” next season.

Chelsea prepare for FA Cup tie at Brighton after win over West Ham

The west Londoners have tasted defeat just once in their last six games across all competitions in 2025, with Maresca’s side making a solid start to the new year and competing on multiple fronts.

19-year-old set for Chelsea first team after Moises Caicedo comparison

He’s been likened to the club’s record signing.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Feb 6, 2025

Chelsea most recently overcame a 1-0 deficit to clinch a much-needed 2-1 win over London rivals West Ham at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, and now travel to Brighton on Saturday for their fourth round FA Cup tie.

Brighton (away)

February 14th

Aston Villa (away)

February 22nd

Southampton (home)

February 25th

Leicester City (home)

March 9th

Arsenal (away)

March 16th

It wasn’t the January transfer window most supporters had hoped for, with BlueCo electing not to sign a prolific new striker amid Nicolas Jackson’s damp run of form. Chelsea did make contact with Ipswich over Liam Delap (Simon Phillips), and were linked with a host of other high-profile options, but the club had to settle for midfielder Mathis Amougou in a £12 million deal from Saint-Étienne and a recall for Trevoh Chalobah as their only winter incomings.

A host of players departed Cobham as well – including the likes of João Félix, Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga and Ben Chilwell – but none of the aforementioned were regulars under Maresca and needed to be shipped out for game time.

Barring Casadei, they all left on loan, so Chelsea will need to find them permanent suitors when they return this summer.

While their futures seem far away from the club, one player currently out on loan but set for a pivotal first-team role next season is Brazilian starlet Andrey Santos.

The 20-year-old is enjoying a fine campaign at Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg in Ligue 1, having racked up eight goals and three assists in 21 appearances across all competitions, with Santos pinpointed for a “key” role under Maresca next campaign as a result.

His form at Strasbourg has been so impressive that Vincent Kompany’s Bayern are now thought to be keeping tabs.

Bayern Munich target Andrey Santos with Chelsea stance revealed

According to reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, writing for GiveMeSport, Bayern have started tracking Santos ahead of a potential Chelsea swoop.

The South American’s performances have attracted admiring glances from the Allianz Arena, but Chelsea have adopted a firm stance over selling Santos.

Indeed, the club are not open to any offers this summer, so Bayern will have a tough time in striking any deal with Maresca’s side who appear determined to keep hold of the midfielder.

Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior highlights why Chelsea are so enarmoured by Santos, praising his professionalism and attitude as a captain-level player.

“He constantly shows professionalism every day in his work, he constantly wants to improve and constantly trains at 100%,” said Rosenior.

“There were other players that had a worthy cause to be captain, but I felt that Andrey was the right choice. I felt that he didn’t do the armband any disservice at all.”

Chelsea’s miserable form continues.

On Saturday evening, despite taking the lead inside ten minutes through Enzo Fernández, the Blues were beaten 2-1 at Villa Park, the late winner coming in the final minute of the 90.

This means Enzo Maresca’s side have now lost three consecutive Premier League away games, winning only two of their last ten league fixtures played anywhere, so now find themselves outside the Champions League places.

As the Blues’ woes rumble on, one rather important position epitomises their struggles.

Chelsea's goalkeeper issues

Saturday saw summer signing Filip Jorgensen start a third successive Premier League match in goal, although he won’t remember his trip to the Midlands fondly, letting Marco Asensio’s rather tame shot to squirm straight through him in the dying embers of the game.

Matt Law of the Telegraph labelled it a ‘howler’, Malik Ouzia of the Evening Standard described it as a ‘clanger [that] gifted Villa all three points’, while Maresa himself admitted he remains “always concerned” by Chelsea’s ongoing goalkeeper crisis.

That’s because, as noted by Chris Wilson of the Independent, this is not a new thing, stating that ‘Chelsea’s goalkeeping woes continue’.

Jorgensen is only donning the gloves because Robert Sanchez, who had started 21 of the first 23 Premier League matches this season, has been dropped following a string of high-profile errors.

The Spaniard was last seen in the league during the 3-1 defeat at Manchester City, in which Sanchez ‘endured a terrible performance’ in the words of GOAL, mere days after, as noted by Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian, he’d ‘added to his growing list of mistakes’ during the home win over Wolves.

Prior to the 3-0 defeat at Brighton, Maresca confirmed Jorgensen is now his starting Premier League goalkeeper at the moment, with Sanchez therefore set to feature in Conference League matches, the Blues face København at Parken in the first leg of their last 16 on Thursday week, but given how the pair are performing, this hierarchy certainly is not set in stone.

However, is Chelsea’s best goalkeeper, outperforming both Sánchez and Jörgensen, currently out on loan, a decision they’re surely living to regret as every week passes?

Chelsea's best goalkeeper is out on loan

As noted by Nizaar Kinsella of BBC Sport, Chelsea began the season with eight first-team goalkeepers on their books, before four of them, namely Gabriel Słonina, Eddie Beach, Kepa Arrizabalaga and, most notably, Đorđe Petrović, departed on loan.

Petrović joined Chelsea for a reported fee of £14m from the New England Revolution in August 2023, having been, as Tom Bogert of the Athletic put it, ‘the best goalkeeper in Major League Soccer’.

The stats certainly back up this claim; according to FBref, the Revs’ shot-stopper racked up the highest post-shot expected goals – goals allowed figure of any goalkeeper in MLS throughout the 2022 season, his figure of +13.1 at least three higher than the next-best on this list.

The Serbian arrived in West London to little fanfare but, by the end of last season, had established himself as Mauricio Pochettino’s first-choice, starting all 23 Premier League fixtures from ten December onwards, as well as the EFL Cup Final defeat to Liverpool.

However, surplus to requirements this season, Tom Weber of Football Transfers believes he was deemed ‘not good enough with the ball at his feet’ to play in a Maresca team, he therefore joined Strasbourg on loan in August, the other club owned by Todd Boehly’s group BlueCo.

Well, under new manager Liam Rosenior, les Bleu et Blanc are enjoying an excellent season, knocking on the door of European qualification, as outlined by Nick Hartland of Get French Football News, while Raphaël Jucobin of the Guardian notes that the 40-year-old manager has made a ‘big impression’ in the Alsace, but he’s not the only one.

Rosenior has described his goalkeeper as “world-class”, so let’s see how Petrović compares to the two misfits Chelsea decided to keep instead.

Appearances

19

22

16

Minutes

1,710

1,980

1,440

Goals conceded

26

29

18

Goals conceded per 90

1.29

1.38

1.14

Clean sheets

5

4

5

Clean sheet %

26.3%

18.2%

31.3%

Save %

76.3%

74.8%

76.6%

Post-shot xG – goals allowed

+4.8

+0.7

-0.2

Pass completion %

79.9%

73.3%

83%

As outlined in the table, it’s actually Jorgensen whose statistics are the best, very marginally in most cases, albeit these are surely inflated by the fact he’s played against minnows such as FC Noah, Astana and Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League, as well as both Barrow and Morecambe in domestic cups.

For Petrović, two statistics are most telling. First, his post-shot expected goals – goals allowed figure of +4.8 is exponentially higher than both of Chelsea’s current goalkeepers, while the Serbian ranks fourth in Ligue 1 for this metric this season.

Also, Petrović’s pass completion % figure of 79.9% is higher than Sanchez’s and only marginally lower than that of Jorgensen, dismissing the notion that he could not have played out from the back to Maresca’s required level, underlining that the Blues made a mistake forcing him to depart on loan.

Not just Jorgensen: Maresca's 4/10 star is now on borrowed time at Chelsea

Chelsea’s 4/10 star is now on borrowed time after poor Aston Villa performance

ByConnor Holden Feb 23, 2025

They might still be without a win to their name in the Premier League, but Ipswich Town are fighting tooth and nail to avoid the drop.

Kieran McKenna’s men have only lost five games so far and have managed to draw the other five, which is made all the more impressive when you consider that they have already played Liverpool, Manchester City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa.

However, with the second-worst defence in the league, if the Tractor Boys stay up this season, it’ll be largely down to their attacking stars, including one who’s won comparisons to one of the most exciting and expensive forwards in the league.

Ipswich's top goalscorers

Now, before we get to the attacking talent in question, let’s look at the club’s top goalscorers over the last two seasons, as it was largely thanks to their exploits that the Suffolk side is in the top flight today.

In the club’s first promotion campaign in 22/23, former Barnsley ace Conor Chaplin led the goalscoring charts, as he ended up with a ridiculous tally of 26 goals in 45 League One appearances.

That means the Worthing-born star averaged a goal every 1.73 games in the league, which probably helps to explain how the Tractor Boys went from midtable to automatic promotion within the space of a year.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was the 27-year-old who once again topped the goalscoring charts for the club the following season, racking up 13 in 44 Championship games, although he had to share top-spot with Nathan Broadhead.

In fact, while the Welsh international scored just as many goals as the Englishman, he did it in just 38 games, meaning he ended the campaign with an average of a goal every 2.92 games to Chaplin’s 3.38.

It looks like Ipswich will have a new top scorer this season, someone who could become an incredibly valuable asset.

Ipswich's top scorer in 24/25

So, when it comes to the Ipswich attacker who could end up as the team’s top scorer this season, there is really only one answer, at least based on what we have already seen, and it’s Liam Delap.

The “incredible” marksman, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola of all people, has already scored five goals in ten league appearances for Mckenna’s side, and he’s looked every bit a top-flight centre-forward so far.

In fact, he’s even been compared to one of the most exciting up-and-coming strikers in the league, Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund.

The comparison stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues before creating a ten-man list of the most comparable players, and in this case, it considers the Danish international to be the sixth most similar centre-forward to the Englishman.

You can get a better understanding of where they are coming from by looking at the underlying numbers they flag as being the most similar between the two players, metrics such as but not limited to non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive passes and progressive passes received, goals per shot, goal-creating actions, attempted take-ons, carries, ball recoveries and aerial duels won, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.24

0.34

Progressive Passes

0.90

1.05

Progressive Passes Received

3.97

3.68

Goals per Shot

0.31

0.25

Goal-Creating Actions

0.13

0.26

Attempted Take-Ons

2.56

2.89

Carries

14.6

15.3

Ball Recoveries

2.31

2.63

Aerial Duels Won

1.15

1.32

Away from the statistical side of things, you can also see their similarities in the way both players use their physical stature to help them get into or exploit goalscoring opportunities before rifling off a shot.

Ultimately, it’s not a bad comparison to have, as not only did the Dane score 16 goals in his first season of English football last year, but he also has a lofty valuation of €70m – £58m – from Fotmob.

So, if he’s worth that much now, there is no reason to think Delap couldn’t be worth as much, if not more, in the years to come, especially if he continues to score at the rate he is now.

Ipswich flop now cannot be trusted to play for McKenna again

The experienced veteran has hit another wall at Ipswich.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 6, 2024

Leeds United were left frustrated at the weekend after their 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park pushed out them outside of the automatic promotion places.

The Whites went into the gameweek in first place but Sheffield United’s 1-0 win over Sunderland on Friday meant that they travelled to Lancashire in second.

A win would have moved them back to the top of the table but, instead, a penalty from Todd Cantwell was enough to seal all three points for the home side.

Burnley’s win later that day then meant that the West Yorkshire outfit ended the weekend in third place, outside of the top two and back inside the play-off places.

Daniel Farke will be hoping that his side can avoid the play-offs this time around, after losing to Southampton in the final last season, and the German head coach could use the January transfer window next month to bolster his squad.

Adding an attacking threat from a midfield position could be one of the items on his agenda, as the Whites have struggled to provide much in the way of quality from that area of the pitch.

Leeds United's attacking contributions from midfield

In the 2024/25 campaign, Ao Tanaka, Joe Rothwell, Ethan Ampadu, and Ilia Gruev have combined for zero goals and one assist in the Championship, with Rothwell providing it.

This shows that Farke does not have a regular source of goals or creativity from his options in the middle of the park, which has hindered the team when the attacking players have not been at their best.

That was also an issue for the German boss during the 2023/24 season, as the likes of Ampadu, Gruev, Archie Gray, despite playing at right-back as well, and Glen Kamara all failed to offer much in the final third.

Ethan Ampadu

49

0

1

Glen Kamara

36

0

3

Ilia Gruev

23

1

1

Archie Gray

43

0

2

As you can see in the table above, those four players combined for just one league goal in the entire campaign, which was Gruev’s free-kick against Norwich in the second-leg of the play-off semi-finals.

In his two title-winning seasons with Norwich in the Championship, Farke had central midfield players with the quality to provide goals and assists to help out the attack.

Kenny McLean and Mario Vrancic combined for five goals and 11 assists in the 2020/21 campaign. Vrancic, McLean, Tom Trybull, and Moritz Leitner also combined for 16 goals and 14 assists in the 2018/19 season.

These statistics show that the German tactician always had midfield players who could step up with goals and assists to help his team to promotion in both of those seasons, whilst he – simply – does not have that level of attacking quality in that area of the pitch at Elland Road.

However, Farke could bring in a player with the potential to improve that side of the team’s performance during the January transfer window.

Leeds United's interest in Scottish starlet

The Boot Room recently reported that Leeds United are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Motherwell central midfielder Lennon Miller ahead of the second half of the season.

It was claimed that the Whites have sent scouts to watch the Scotland U21 international in action in the Scottish Premiership, but they are far from alone in that respect.

A host of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Brighton, have also been sending scouts to keep tabs on his performances north of the border.

The Boot Room added that Rangers and Celtic are also interested in keeping him in Scotland, whilst Atalanta and Bologna pose a threat from the Serie A.

This shows that Leeds face plenty of competition from some huge clubs across the United Kingdom and Europe, which means that it could be a difficult deal to get over the line in January.

Transfer Focus

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

It was also claimed that Motherwell are set to demand a fee of around £5m for their impressive academy graduate, who the Whites must now push to win the race for as he could be a dream signing for Tanaka and Farke.

Why Lennon Miller would be a dream signing for Ao Tanaka

The Scottish sensation has been in impressive form for Motherwell in the Premiership this season and his performances suggest that the potential is there for him to come in and offer the Whites what they currently lack in the middle of the park.

Tanaka has been a fantastic performer in midfield since his move from Fortuna Dusseldorf, with a 92% pass completion rate and 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game across 15 outings in the Championship.

He has provided a metronomic and combative presence for the West Yorkshire outfit, with his ability to retain possession at an impressive rate, whilst also being able to consistently make defensive interventions to win the ball back for his side and cut out attacks for the opposition.

However, Tanaka has yet to score his first goal for Leeds and has not provided any assists from midfield, which suggests that he could thrive alongside a midfielder who can offer more quality at the top end of the pitch.

Appearances

15

13

Goals

0

2

Big chances created

0

6

Assists

0

4

Key passes per game

0.8

2.0

Pass accuracy

92%

74%

As you can see in the table above, Miller has provided regular quality from a midfield position for Motherwell, with eight goals and ‘big chances’ combined in 13 games.

The 18-year-old star, who was described as a “ridiculous” talent by pundit James McFadden, still has plenty of years left ahead of him to take his game to another level and offer even more in the final third.

Therefore, Miller could come in as a dream midfield partner for Tanaka, as the Japanese maestro can provide defensive strength and passing quality, whilst the Scottish ace can offer a big threat as a scorer and a creator to add another side to the team’s attacking play.

Leeds have found a "monster" who's now a potential £50m star in the making

Daniel Farke has hit the jackpot with the impressive Leeds United leader.

ByDan Emery Dec 2, 2024

It would be fair to say that this season has been tough for Tottenham Hotspur.

The club may still be in three cup competitions at present, but their form in the Premier League has been diabolical, with Wednesday night’s defeat to Arsenal being their 11th of the campaign.

What’s worse is that Ange Postecoglou’s usually ultra-positive side didn’t even offer much in attack and looked bereft of ideas for much of the encounter.

Fortunately, recent reports have linked the club with an incredibly exciting Premier League star who could be their answer to the Gunners’ Bukayo Saka.

Spurs chase Premier League star

According to a recent report from French outlet RMC Sports, Tottenham are one of several clubs interested in Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has claimed that the Gunners and Manchester United are also incredibly keen on landing the inform winger this month.

However, the story has also revealed that, due to the Bees’ position in the league and successful campaign thus far, it would take a ‘big cheque’ to tempt them into selling, with reports from earlier this month claiming an offer in the region of £50m might do.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Mbeumo’s immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as there are some apparent similarities between him and Saka.

How Mbeumo could be Spurs' Saka

Now, Spurs fans might not like Saka for understandable partisan reasons, but there is no denying that the Arsenal man is one of the best wingers in world football, let alone the Premier League, as before suffering his hamstring injury, he had racked up a haul of nine goals and 13 assists in just 24 games this season.

So, the fact that Mbeumo shares some similarities with him can only be a good thing, and the first similarity is his productivity.

For example, in just 25 appearances this season, the former Troyes star, whom pundit Dan Bardell recently dubbed “one of the best players in the Premier League,” has found the back of the net on 13 occasions and provided four assists for good measure, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.47 games.

Appearances

24

25

Goals

9

13

Assists

13

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.91

0.68

On top of this ability to change games with a goal or assist, the Cameroonian international shares some physical traits with the Hale Ender.

For example, while the Englishman is three inches taller than the 5 foot 7 Bees star, they are both unassumingly strong and share a low centre of gravity, which helps them manoeuvre with the ball and send opposition full-backs the wrong way when out on the wing.

Moreover, both are left-footed right-wingers, which facilitates their nature to cut in and fire off a shot from just outside the box or from inside when they time their runs just right.

Finally, both players have become the focal points of the respective teams, with the Arsenal ace taking up the mantle in light of a weaker left-side and lack of clinical strikers, while Mbeumo stepped up in the absence of Ivan Toney last season and hasn’t relinquished that spotlight since.

Ultimately, it might cost an arm and a leg to get down this month, but if Spurs want to instantly improve Ange’s attacking options, then they have to sign the Brentford star, as he’s got all the ingredients to explode at a top six side, and maybe even become their answer to Saka.

A big Solanke upgrade: Spurs offered one of the best forwards in the world

The incredible forward would supercharge Spurs, subsequently replacing Solanke.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 16, 2025

Manchester United face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium later on tonight, looking to build on the Europa League triumph over Real Sociedad on Thursday evening.

Ruben Amorim’s side are looking to make it four games unbeaten in the Premier League, after two draws and a win against Everton, Arsenal and Ipswich Town, respectively.

It will be the fourth time the two sides have met throughout 2024/25, with the Red Devils winning the other league clash this campaign with victories in the Carabao and FA Cup.

However, the manager may have some selection decisions to make if they are to extend their unbeaten run, helping end the season on a high after enduring a dismal campaign to date.

He will certainly be without one player for the trip to the East Midlands, with one first-team regular currently serving a suspension after picking up a red card a couple of weeks ago.

Patrick Dorgu’s suspension for Leicester City

Left-back Patrick Dorgu impressed massively during the win over Real Sociedad, looking like the player they decided to splash £30m on in the January transfer window.

However, the 20-year-old won’t be available for the clash with the Foxes this evening, serving the second of his three-game ban for his straight red card received in the win over Ipswich.

The Dane missed the clash with Arsenal last week, but his absence may be felt more tonight, given his impressive showing against the Spanish outfit a couple of days ago.

With Luke Shaw still out injured and Tyrell Malacia spending the remainder of the campaign out on loan, options are limited within the defensive department.

As a result, Amorim could look to start one player in an unfamiliar role, looking to follow in the footsteps of one player who previously impressed in his new position.

The player who could solve Amorim’s wing-back dilemma

Amad Diallo hasn’t featured since the last clash with the Foxes at the start of February, potentially missing the rest of the campaign with an ankle issue.

However, before his setback, Amorim often utilised the Ivorian in a slightly deeper wing-back role rather than his preferred attacking position, managing to get the best out of the youngster in the process.

The 22-year-old has managed to register 12 combined goals and assists since the former Sporting CP boss’s appointment, thriving with added minutes in the first team.

However, Amorim could look to replicate such success by unleashing Alejandro Garnacho in a similar position on the opposite flank, potentially allowing the Argentine to spark into life under the new manager.

The 20-year-old has only registered four combined goal contributions this calendar year, struggling to adapt to Amorim’s demands of operating in a more central role rather than his preferred wide position.

Whilst it may seem like a far-fetched idea, the young “game-changer” – as described by journalist Samuel Luckhurst – has all of the tools to operate in such a role, having the energy to get up and down the line, with his stats showing the impact he can have at both ends.

In the Premier League throughout 2024/25, Garnacho has averaged 1.1 successful dribbles and created 1.3 chances per 90 – showcasing the impact he can have when marauding into forward areas.

Games played

27

Goals & assists

4

Pass accuracy

83%

Successful dribbles

1.1

Chances created

1.3

Duels won

4.1

Tackle success rate

65%

He’s also won 4.1 duels per 90, along with a 65% tackle success rate, having the defensive capabilities to regain possession should he need to when the side are without the ball.

Given the form of Amad in a similar position, it could be a great opportunity for the manager to start the academy graduate in a new role – offering added versatility to the side in the process.

Leicester’s lowly league standing could allow for one or two risks to be taken, with Amorim having the perfect chance to work his magic by utilising an attacker in a wing-back role, which could get the best out of his game after a stuttering few months.

Man Utd have hit gold on "phenomenal" ace who cost even less than Heaven

Manchester United have hit the jackpot on one player who signed for less than Ayden Heaven.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 14, 2025

Chelsea have conducted excellent business in the transfer market over the last couple of years, handing Enzo Maresca the platform to be a success.

The Italian has a superb squad at his disposal, having depth in key areas, helping them sit in fourth place in the Premier League – aiming to secure a Champions League place come the end of the campaign.

However, mixing that with the superb academy facilities in West London makes for a great combination, with numerous players making the jump into the senior ranks over the years.

Levi Colwill has cemented his place in Maresca’s backline over the last few months, starting all but two of the league outings since his appointment in the summer.

He’s often been partnered by another player who emerged through the ranks at Cobham, making a name for himself with his excellent performances since his debut.

Reece James’ stats for Chelsea in 2024/25

Full-back Reece James has been a player who has had his injury struggles in recent years, restricting his progress for Chelsea and holding him back from his full potential.

The 25-year-old has made just 11 Premier League appearances in 2024/25, but has still managed to impress, leading to an England call-up for the current international break.

He’s managed to complete 90% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also creating 0.9 chances per game – having a huge impact in attacking areas despite his defensive role.

James has also managed to catch the eye defensively, winning 5.4 duels per 90 to date, along with 1.1 interceptions – helping the side keep six clean sheets in the league this season.

However, despite his impressive showings after his latest setbacks, he’s now valued lower than one player who’s often filled the void in his absence in recent times.

The Chelsea player who’s worth more than James

His injury issues have allowed numerous players to stake their claim at right-back under Maresca – numerous of whom have featured out of position.

Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana are just two players who have operated in the aforementioned department but have struggled to match the performance levels of one other first-team member.

Malo Gusto has developed well since his £26m move to join the Blues back in January 2023, providing the goods at right-back within Maresca’s side.

The Frenchman has already featured 66 times for the Blues, with 29 of which coming in the current campaign, the majority of which have been in the Premier League.

He’s impressed in numerous key areas, outperforming James in various departments and showcasing the rise he’s endured since his big-money transfer.

Games played

24

11

Goals & assists

1

1

Progressive carries

2.3

0.7

Pass accuracy

86%

84%

Tackles won

1.5

0.9

Blocks made

1.5

1.3

Carries into final third

1.8

0.5

Gusto, who’s previously been dubbed “unbelievable” by journalist Nizaar Kinsella has managed to complete more progressive carries and achieve a higher pass accuracy, highlighting the threat he carries in attack.

However, he’s also managed to win more tackles per 90, whilst also making more blocks, having that defensive solidity to help Maresca in his quest for Champions League football.

As a result of his showings, the 21-year-old has seen his market value to £30m as per Transfermarkt, a fee higher than that of James, who’s only valued at £25m after his injury issues.

Such a deal is evident that the club have recruited well in the transfer market, making the right call in investing in young talents and handing them the platform to improve.

With Gusto and James both on the books, it’s safe to say that the department should be sorted for years to come, with the pair having the opportunity to write themselves in Blues history.

Boehly must finally sell Chelsea flop who's drained them of £114m

Enzo Maresca must finally cash in on the Chelsea flop who has cost the club £114m so far.

ByDan Emery Mar 24, 2025