A £110 million star has an offer on the table from Chelsea to join up with new head coach Enzo Maresca over Ligue 1 champions Paris-Saint Germain this summer.
Boehly targeting new Chelsea forwards ahead of next season
Chairman Todd Boehly, assisted by his co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, are believed to be targeting new attacking options ahead of Maresca's first full season in charge.
"Quality" £25m forward will most likely join Chelsea if Sterling leaves
The £325,000-per-week ace has been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit.
1 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 16, 2024
One order of business is bringing in a new winger to compete with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk. There are even suggestions that Chelsea could replace Sterling this summer, as links continue to surround a move for Borussia Dortmund starlet Karim Adeyemi.
Appearances
81
Goals
19
Assists
12
Yellow cards
13
Red cards
0
Minutes played
5,321
Transfermarkt
Adeyemi could be offered a long-term contract to join Chelsea, and there have been murmurs that a bid may go in for the German. Former Crystal Palace star Michael Olise was at the centre of talks to join Chelsea as well, but the 22-year-old instead chose to join Vincent Kompany at Bayern Munich.
There are alternative options to Adeyemi and Olise, though, as Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams continues to attract admiring glances from Chelsea. The 21-year-old, who registered an extremely impressive 19 assists in all competitions for Bilbao, also starred for Spain at Euro 2024 – even scoring against England in the final last Sunday.
Spain star Nico Williams
Maresca is also said to want a new striker at Chelsea, and one who can compete with Nicolas Jackson. Many interesting names have been linked with moves to Stamford Bridge, as the club considers bringing in a new focal point up front.
Jackson and Cole Palmer scored a brilliant 42 goals between them under Mauricio Pochettino last season, but it apparently remains the case that Chelsea are keen on acquiring a fresh target man.
Perhaps the pick of the bunch in terms of rumoured Chelsea targets is Napoli star Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian has been one of Serie A's most prolific goalscorers and star players for a few years now, and his 31-goal haul across all competitions in 22/23 helped Napoli to their first Scudetto in decades.
His contract includes a £110 million release clause, which clubs have been reluctant to meet thus far, but the forward isn't exactly short of suitors.
Victor Osimhen has offer to join Chelsea over PSG
According to RMC Sport, clubs in Saudi Arabia and European heavyweights PSG are contending for the 25-year-old's signature.
Osimhen also has an offer on the table to join Chelsea, with Maresca's side described as the most notable side from England in the race for his services. Other reports have recently claimed that Osimhen sees Chelsea as his best possible option to leave Napoli in the coming weeks, so this is perhaps one to watch before deadline day on August 30.
However, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea would have to stump the entirety of his release clause, or if Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is willing to negotiate for the player called a "monster" by analyst Raj Chohan.
Glasgow Rangers welcomed Vaclav Cerny to Ibrox on Friday as Philippe Clement added some much-needed quality to his attacking options.
The Czech winger was only linked at the start of the week, but things moved rather swiftly. Hopefully, future deals will be conducted with this speed, especially as the Premiership opener against Hearts is just a week away.
The Light Blues could disrupt the Jambos rhythm by making a bid for Lawrence Shankland ahead of the clash, as the striker has been linked yet again with a move along the M8 to Glasgow in recent days.
The ongoing saga will likely continue until the final few days of the transfer window, but there is no doubt the Scotland international would do well at Rangers should he link up with Clement and co.
It appears that the Belgian could be set to target an alternative to Shankland should a deal fail to materialise for the former Dundee United hitman.
Lawrence Shankland
This comes in the shape of a Championship striker who previously spent time in Scotland…
Rangers reportedly interested in Championship centre-forward
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, QPR striker Lyndon Dykes has seemingly emerged as a target for Clement in recent days.
This isn’t the first time that the Australian-born Scotland international has been linked with a move north of the border. Last summer, Michael Beale looked like he was eyeing up a swoop for his former player as he had just one year left on his current deal.
Not long after, he signed a new contract until 2026, which led to the Gers cooling off their interest, but it now looks like they could be back in for him this summer.
According to Football Transfers, Dykes’ current market valuation stands at €2.1m (£1.7m), which means Clement would have to shell out a fee in order to bring him to Ibrox.
Considering his scoring rate over the last two seasons, the move wouldn’t be universally popular, that’s for sure.
Lyndon Dykes’ statistics at QPR
The 28-year-old made his name at Livingston. He starred for the club during his one and only full season with them during the 2019/20 campaign, having scored 23 goals for Queen of the South prior to this.
His solitary season at Livi saw the striker net 12 goals and grab ten assists across 36 matches. This included a goal against Celtic during a famous 2-0 victory and these performances led to interest from down south.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2023/24
43
7
1
2022/23
40
8
3
2021/22
37
9
3
2020/21
43
12
5
Former Gers manager Steven Gerrard even dubbed the player as “quite dangerous” before facing Livi, showing how respected the striker was.
Since the summer of 2020, Dykes has played 163 games for the London side, finding the back of the net on 36 occasions, while chipping in with 12 assists.
The previous two seasons have seen his scoring rate decrease, however, netting just 15 goals in 83 appearances, hardly the prolific centre-forward that Clement so desperately requires.
Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes.
It certainly wasn’t for the lack of trying, as Dykes averaged 1.5 shots per game, but he also missed six big chances throughout the Championship campaign.
If the Light Blues somehow do end up bringing him north of the border, then the club would just be repeating their James Beattie disaster class from 2010.
How much James Beattie cost Rangers
At one stage, many moons ago now, Beattie was among one of the finest English strikers in the Premier League.
His spell at Southampton was the most productive, reaching its peak during the 2002/03 season where he scored an impressive 24 goals in all competitions for the Saints.
James Beattie
A move to Everton looked like it could take Beattie to the next level, yet he only spent two and a half years at Goodison Park before moving to the Championship to join Sheffield United.
A return to form at the Blades – registering 34 times in 84 matches – led to another move to the Premier League, this time to join Stoke City, but his return to the promised land didn’t exactly go to plan, scoring just two goals.
Following a second successive league title, the late Walter Smith was keen on bolstering his side in order to maintain the momentum he had built up during his second spell in charge of the Light Blues.
The likes of Vladimir Weiss and Nikica Jelavic joined, but towards the end of the transfer window, a move for Beattie materialised.
The striker cost £1.5m and signed on a two-year deal. Smith was clearly hoping he could teach the old dog new tricks upon his arrival, but his spell at the Light Blues was dismal, to say the least.
James Beattie’s Rangers statistics
The former England international failed to set the Scottish top flight on fire, making a total of just ten appearances for the Light Blues under Smith, failing to score a solitary goal.
James Beattie
Thankfully, Smith could count on the likes of Kenny Miller, Steven Naismith and Jelavic for goals, as Beattie failed to adapt to the game north of the border, starting just six times before joining Blackpool in January 2011.
It wasn’t to be for Beattie at Ibrox and the same thing could happen to Dykes if he makes the move to the club. While he may find the back of the net more than the summer signing from 14 years ago, he isn’t the required quality that Clement needs in order to push for a title challenge next season.
Pushing to sign a player such as Shankland would make much more sense for the Belgian, although it could cost the club a pretty penny in doing so.
The Ibrox faithful want to see a team who can fight tooth and nail domestically, while also delivering solid performances in Europe.
Dykes may hold the ball up well, but his scoring rate over the last couple of seasons has been dreadful. Best to avoid this one at all costs and go after more prolific targets.
After Cerny: Rangers table offer for "high potential" Tavernier replacement
Philippe Clement could be set to sign another South American talent…
Wolverhampton Wanderers may have lost Max Kilman during the summer transfer window, but rest assured, Gary O’Neil is working hard to bring in a replacement.
Of course, it won't be easy. Kilman made over 150 competitive appearances for the Old Gold after joining in 2018, eventually becoming their captain last season.
Wolves captain Max Kilman
With just under a month to go until the end of the current window, O’Neil has plenty of time, but he must ensure his replacement can fill the large void left by the Englishman.
Could O’Neil be closer than we think to making that signing?
Wolves eye up Championship defender
Naturally, there have been a fair few links with numerous defenders in a bid to sign one or two this summer.
The latest news regarding O’Neil’s search comes from Fabrizio Romano, who said via X: “Maxime Estève could be one to watch in August as Premier League clubs are exploring move for Burnley CB.
“Wolves have asked for conditions, race open for Estève.”
Player
Club signed from
Appearances
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde
Strasbourg
26
Jeremy Helen
Sheffield Wednesday
8
Sylvain Deslandes
Caen
8
Steven Mouyokolo
Hull City
7
Jereme Aliadiere
Arsenal
14
Jean-Manuel Thetis
Ipswich Town
3
Ludovic Pollet
RC Lens
85
Serge Romano
FC Martigues
4
It appears as though the Molineux outfit could be close to securing a swoop for the Burnley centre-back and he would make for a fine Kilman replacement.
Maxime Esteve’s season in numbers
The Frenchman played for two teams during the 2023/24 campaign. He started the season off with Montpellier, before joining Burnley in January for the second half of the Premier League season.
His performances in Ligue 1 clearly impressed Burnley enough to lure him to England. Across 12 games in the French top flight, Esteve averaged an 80% pass success rate, while keeping four clean sheets, winning 3.6 total duels per game – a success rate of 57% – and recovering 4.3 balls per game, showcasing his defensive talents.
He was slotted into the starting XI straight away upon his arrival at Turf Moor and began to prove exactly why the club went and signed him in the first place.
He finished the Premier League campaign with a pass success rate of 84%, while winning 4.4 total duels per game and recovering 3.9 balls per game, showing that the transition from France to England didn’t faze him at all.
In the top flight between January and May, Esteve ranked in the top 3% for interceptions (1.86), the top 9% for dribblers challenged (1.24) and in the top 5% for carries into the penalty area (0.14) per 90 among his positional peers, yet more evidence of how quickly he settled across the channel.
The defender is currently valued at €5.6m (£5m) according to Football Transfers, but the Championship side will be looking for a lot more than that for a player who only joined six months ago.
The youngster was hailed as “a true athletic phenomenon” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig back in 2022, and he has thrived since then.
O’Neil has a big gap to plug since selling Kilman to West Ham United. Could Esteve make the Englishman forget all about his former captain should he join the Old Gold this summer?
Only time will tell.
More creative than Ait-Nouri: Wolves explore move for £3m Neto replacement
Gary O’Neil is targeting another teenage signing after Pedro Lima…
Sheffield Wednesday are in a race to sign a Premier League midfielder on loan before the summer transfer window slams shut. The Owls have been a very busy side this summer, but with still under three weeks remaining, the club could still be keeping an eye on potential developments that may occur.
Sheffield Wednesday have hit gold on "weapon" who's worth more than Poveda
Sheffield Wednesday will be content having this star at their disposal over Ian Poveda.
ByKelan Sarson Jul 26, 2024 Sheffield Wednesday’s transfer business
The Yorkshire side got their Championship campaign underway on Sunday in the best possible fashion, as they demolished Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle 4-0. This was a very impressive start for Wednesday, even more so when you consider how long it took the club to pick up their first league win last season, and the result continued what has been a very impressive summer for the Owls under Danny Rohl.
Wednesday have been extremely busy so far in this transfer window, adding ten players over the course of the last few months as they look to avoid a repeat of last season. Some of those new additions include Charlie McNeill from Manchester United, as well as Nathaniel Chalobah and Jamal Lowe on free transfers.
But the most eye-catching arrival has got to be Ike Ugbo, who spent time on loan at Hillsborough, and the club had been chasing his signature for much of this transfer window. It appears as though their transfer business may not be finished just yet however, with another McNeill type signing lined up.
Sheffield Wednesda interested in signing Malick Yalcouye
According to the Daily Express’ Charlie Parker-Turner, Malick Yalcouye is set to be loaned out by Premier League side Brighton in this transfer window. The report states that the midfielder has impressed during pre-season for the Seagulls, but a decision has been made for him to spend the upcoming campaign elsewhere.
Wednesday are said to be interested in signing the player but face competition from Luton Town and arch-rivals Sheffield United. Yalcouye joined Brighton from Swedish club IFK Goteborg earlier in this transfer window, in a deal that is said to have cost £6 million.
Therefore, the midfielder has yet to play a competitive game for the club, but as Parker-Turner states, he has impressed during pre-season for the top-flight club. The 18-year-old started his career at ASEC Mimosas, and in 2023 he made his debut in the African Champions League at the age of 17, which was the start of some very big things to come in the player’s career.
Apps
14
Goals
1
Assists
0
Stats as per Transfermarkt
Yalcouye only joined IFK Goteborg earlier this year, so he wasn’t with the Swedish side for long before moving to England and signing for Brighton. However, he did feature a lot for the club, as he played 11 times in the Allsvenskan, scoring one goal, and he has also played three times in the Svenska Cupen.
The young midfielder played a total of 959 minutes in the Swedish league, while he also played a further 162 minutes in the cup competition, as per Transfermarkt.
After already reinforcing their backline with Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, Manchester United have now reportedly been offered the chance to sign a Premier League winner who'd complete a new-look defence.
Man Utd transfer news
It's been a summer full of positives at Old Trafford, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first summer at the club featuring a refreshing transfer policy which has seen a mix of young players and stars at the top of their game arrive. De Ligt is arguably the standout among the arrivals, with the Dutchman arriving from Bayern Munich in an attempt to finally solve Erik ten Hag's defensive leak.
De Ligt was quick to express his delight over joining up with Ten Hag for the second time in his career, following an excellent spell together at Ajax, telling Manchester United's official website: “Erik ten Hag shaped the early stages of my career, so he knows how to get the best out of me and I cannot wait to work with him again. I know what it takes to succeed at the highest level, and I’m determined to continue that record at this special club.”
With two centre-backs and a right-back signed, all that the Red Devils are missing on their list of incomings is a left-back. Given concerns over Luke Shaw's ability to stay fit, however, it may not be long before United have a new-look defence altogether.
Man Utd now in constant talks with all parties to sign £51m Brazil star
The Red Devils could sign an alternative to Ugarte…
ByTom Cunningham Aug 16, 2024
According to Fabrizio Romano, INEOS have now been offered the chance to sign Marcos Alonso, who would reportedly love a move to Manchester United after becoming a free agent at the end of his Barcelona contract earlier this summer.
Romano told GiveMeSport: “Marcos Alonso would love to go to Manchester United. He has been offered to Manchester United in recent weeks, but there is nothing really concrete or advanced into it so far.
“I think Manchester United will take some time before deciding who the player they really want to cover that position is, and will save their budget, save their money, and put their effort into a deal for the midfield. They need a new midfielder, and the idea is to make it happen as the next step in the summer transfer window.”
"Extraordinary" Alonso is worth the risk
Now 33 years old, Alonso may go against United's new transfer policy, but Dan Ashworth should make an exception for the Premier League winner, especially with Ferdi Kadioglu reportedly on his way to Brighton & Hove Albion over Old Trafford.
Described as an "extraordinary signing" by former Barcelona boss Xavi when he arrived in Spain, Alonso would bring a wealth of experience to the current Manchester United side, providing an ideal backup option for the injury-prone Shaw.
Given that he's currently a free agent too, the Red Devils wouldn't be left splashing the cash. Instead, they'd be getting themselves a bargain deal to solve a growing problem at left-back.
With just five days left to welcome crucial incomings, Crystal Palace have reportedly set their sights on a Premier League defender in a move that could see the Eagles spend the money gained from the sale of Joachim Andersen to Fulham.
Crystal Palace transfer news
Amid two defeats in two games against Brentford and West Ham United, the last thing that Oliver Glasner and Palace needed was Andersen's exit. But Fulham came swooping in nonetheless and off the Dane went in a deal worth around a reported £30m. His exit could at least mean that Marc Guehi's future, for this season, remains at Selhurst Park despite a reported bid of £65m from Newcastle United.
Even with Guehi seemingly set to stay put, however, Palace may have plenty of work to do before the window slams shut, having been linked to the likes of Max Lacroix and Raheem Sterling in what could be one of the most surprising deals of the summer.
Before they potentially steal the headlines by landing the Premier League winner though, they've reportedly set their sights on another reinforcement. According to Alan Nixon on his Patreon via Molineux News, Crystal Palace are now eyeing a move to sign Rayn Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers, who value their defender at more than £30m.
The left-back was reportedly the subject of interest from Liverpool earlier in the window, but as we know, a move never materialised. Now, those at Selhurst Park could take full advantage to land competition for Tyrick Mitchell and perhaps even reportedly use Sam Johnstone in a player-plus-cash deal, given Wolves' interest in the goalkeeper.
Parish and Freedman submit Crystal Palace bid for 22 y/o to replace Andersen
Andersen is reportedly closing in on a departure…
ByTom Cunningham Aug 23, 2024
That said, a deal is likely to be a difficult one for Palace to seal ahead of deadline day, given that Wolves are direct rivals in the battle to avoid Premier League relegation and push towards the top half. What's more, the fact that the Midlands club already allowed left-back Hugo Bueno to leave on loan to Feyenoord this summer suggests that Ait-Nouri will not be up for sale.
"Incredible" Ait-Nouri would bring ideal versatility for Glasner
Of course, it's not just Mitchell that Ait-Nouri would compete with if Palace did manage to land his signature this summer. His ability to play left-midfield as well as in the number 10 role and on the right-hand side means that Glasner could yet get the chance to work with a player capable of making an impact all across his current side.
Alas, Wolves boss Gary O'Neil won't be too keen to lose his defender, having been full of praise for Ait-Nouri last season. O'Neil told the club's official website: “I’m enjoying working with Rayan, I think he’s an incredible talent, a great guy and he brings a real enthusiasm and life to the place. We can use him anywhere so, unfortunately, at the moment we have to because we don’t have many others.
“But he is talented enough when we roll him in and play him in midfield a few times and we played him as a right 10 in the second half today, and he’s come on loads – his work rate and everything about him."
Glasgow Rangers placed a clear emphasis on recruiting young and exciting players who have room to develop and grow over the years to come.
To create space for new players to come in, the likes of Connor Goldson, Scott Wright, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, and John Lundstram, among others, were allowed to move on.
This allowed head of recruitment Nils Koppen to swoop to sign Hamza Igamane, Clinton Nsiala, Vaclav Cerny, Mohammed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Nedim Bajrami, Jefte, Liam Kelly, Robin Propper, and Connor Barron for Philippe Clement.
Vaclav Cerny
Eight of those players are aged 25 or younger and five of them are aged 21 or younger, which speaks to the style of recruitment the club have gone for.
Having a steady stream of impressive academy talents would be helpful for a model that is based around developing and selling talent, but that is something Rangers have struggled with.
Ross McCausland emerged in the first-team last season but has yet to nail down a regular starting spot and there are only two active former Rangers academy players – Nathan Patterson and Billy Gilmour – who are valued at more than £10m by Transfermarkt.
One of the most valuable players to have played in the Gers youth set-up, though, is a star they fumbled by allowing him to leave for nothing – Greg Taylor.
Rangers fumbled Greg Taylor
The now-Scotland international began his career with St Andrews, playing there for 18 months, before moving to join Rangers at the age of nine in 2006.
He then spent the next six years playing in the academy for the Light Blues, developing and honing his skills, before being told that he was no longer wanted in the summer of 2014.
Taylor later explained that the Scottish giants allowed him to move on for nothing because he was deemed to be "too small and too slight" to make it at first-team level.
Celtic defender Greg Taylor
The talented left-back admitted that the rejection by Rangers provided him with the motivation he needed to kick on and make sure that he proved those coaches wrong, which is exactly what the Scottish star has gone on to do.
Kilmarnock took advantage of his release from Ibrox and snapped him up for their youth team, before Taylor went on to emerge as a first-team option for them.
The left-footed ace racked up 131 appearances in all competitions for Kilmarnock, in which time he scored one goal and provided ten assists, before being sold to Celtic in the summer of 2019.
Greg Taylor's current market value
At the time of writing (08/09/2024), Transfermarkt currently values Taylor at a price of €7.5m (£6.3m) and that makes him the third-most expensive former Rangers academy player currently playing.
Yet, despite all of his success since being in the youth set-up at Ibrox, the Light Blues did not get a single penny for him as they allowed him to walk away for nothing to join Kilmarnock back in 2014, just over a decade ago.
Since his move to Parkhead in 2019, Taylor has amassed 178 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops and contributed with eight goals and 27 assists.
Celtic defender Greg Taylor.
The Scotland international has won the Scottish Premiership title four times, the SFA Cup three times, and the League Cup twice during his spell in Glasgow to date.
However, he did not manage at least 30 league appearances in a single season until the 2022/23 campaign, with his best form in a Celtic shirt coming in the last two seasons.
Appearances
31
35
Goals
3
3
Assists
4
4
Big chances created
2
11
Clean sheets
12
11
As you can see in the table above, Taylor has chipped in with six goals and 13 'big chances' created in the last Premiership seasons under Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou.
The Scottish dynamo, who claimed in 2022 that he had improved "insane amounts" at Celtic, has proven himself to be an attack-minded left-back who can push forward to provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
His fantastic form in the Premiership for the Hoops is why his market value is so high, and why it is currently higher than Clement's current first-choice left-back – when fit – Ridvan Yilmaz.
How much Ridvan Yilmaz is worth
At the time of writing (08/09/2024), Transfermarkt places the Turkey international's current market value at €5m (£4.2m), which is less than Taylor's €7.5m.
Rangers paid an initial fee of £3.4m, in a deal that could rise to £5m, to sign the talented full-back from Besiktas in the summer of 2022 in an attempt to replace Calvin Bassey, who had been sold to Ajax.
This shows that he is worth less than Taylor, who Rangers once allowed to walk out of the door for nothing, but is that reflected in their performances on the pitch?
Appearances
26
35
Goals
1
3
Assists
1
4
Big chances created
6
11
Clean sheets
6
11
As you can see in the table above, the Scottish star outperformed Yilmaz as an attacking threat for his side, with more goals, assists, and 'big chances' created.
He was also part of a defence that kept more clean sheets, which speaks to his defensive ability, and this suggests that their respective valuations are fair, in the sense that the Celtic ace is more valuable.
Yilmaz, at the age of 23, does have more time to develop and improve over the years to come, but Taylor is the better player at Premiership level in the here and now.
It is now down to the Turkey international, who has missed the last four matches with a hamstring injury, to hit his stride in a Gers shirt and overtake the Hoops man.
Clement must ditch Rangers star who earns more than Dessers
The Light Blues ace is willing to move on from Ibrox this month, amid interest in his services.
ByDan Emery Sep 8, 2024
If he can do that, whilst increasing his value by putting in fantastic displays on the pitch, then Rangers can forget about their blunder with the Scotland international.
From the 777 saga to Friedkin Group's failure, Everton's wait for new owners has been one full of twists and turns, but John Textor could finally be the man to break that trend of frustration after he confirmed a major hurdle is close to being cleared.
Everton takeover news
For almost the entirety of last season, 777 Partners looked destined to complete their takeover of Everton, only to eventually be denied Premier League approval. And as things turn out, the Premier League made the correct decision, given the financial troubles that 777's portfolio of clubs have been hit with since the turn of the year.
It was then the turn of Friedkin Group to enter talks that ultimately ended in further failure. After opening discussions, the potential buyers quickly pulled out of any deal and ended talks, citing Everton's debt to 777 as the reason for their hesitance.
Everton must regret offloading Koeman signing who outscored DCL in 23/24
The talent has found his goalscoring touch in recent years.
1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 11, 2024
In limbo ever since, Textor has become the latest prospective owner, but must first sell the 45% that he owns in fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace. Textor told Sky Sports that his exclusivity rights last until November 30 with Everton in the hope of getting a deal over the line.
Textor confirms bids for Palace and Everton deadline
Providing an update on both the sale of his percentage in Crystal Palace and takeover of Everton, Textor told Sky Sports: "I'm in an awkward spot but we're working through it. The awkward spot is that I can understand the club's position… the accounting position and I feel it's manageable in terms of the PSR problem.
"I don't quite know the Premier League's perspective on that because there's a bit of a Chinese Wall between me as an owner of Crystal Palace and what I'm really allowed to know as a prospective owner of another team in the same division.
John Textor at Botofogo.
"But I do think we're developing solutions for that information gap and I feel we're in the very last days of getting our comfort around that. We just hope from the moment we arrive, we can start looking up the table, not down it."
Perhaps most importantly, he confirmed two bids for Palace: "We have 14 groups interested in Palace who are very qualified and we have five that went to the next level and now we have two who have made good bids, while there is also the possibility that our partners might still want it as they love the club as much as I do.
"We're into the final week or two of knowing who the buyer will be. The contract I have with Farhad gives us a lot of time for that as November 30 is our deadline set to make sure we can complete it.”
As things stand, those at Goodison Park can take that as a positive update with more good news potentially on the horizon. They will know more than anyone just how quickly things can change in search of new owners, however.
Considering Chelsea have shown this season they are looking to dominate possession (averaging 56.6% per game), the Blues showed they have different ways of winning games in their 3-0 demolition of West Ham United last weekend.
Despite only holding 47% of the ball, Chelsea created five big chances, generating 2.19 xG, and, of course, scoring three goals against the Hammers.
Enzo Maresca’s side made it three away wins on the bounce in the Premier League, with their only loss this season coming against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The Italian could make ten changes from the side that beat Barrow 5-0 in the EFL Cup midweek, as Chelsea host Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League later today…
Chelsea vs Brighton
1 GK – Robert Sanchez
Robert Sanchez has made the number one shirt his so far this season, keeping two clean sheets in a row, making seven saves against West Ham, as well as three high claims.
Sanchez will start between the sticks for the Blues, in an attempt to secure his third successive clean sheet.
2 RB – Malo Gusto
Returning from injury, Malo Gusto comes back into the side to face Brighton, after playing the first 45 minutes against Barrow in midweek. The £45k-per-week right-back chalked up nine assists last season and continues to be excellent cover for the injured Reece James.
3 CB – Wesley Fofana
Maresca has even said how much he “loves” Wesley Fofana this week, and he is expected to return to his more nominal right-sided centre-back role against Brighton. He and Levi Colwill are forming a strong central defensive bond this season, and will look to continue that this afternoon.
4 CB – Levi Colwill
As previously mentioned, Colwill is forming a great bond in central defence with Fofana, and will continue in his left centre-back role. The 21-year-old is currently averaging 4.20 passes into the final third per 90, and has a 92% passing accuracy, showing his importance to the team both on and off the ball.
5 LB – Marc Cucurella
The tenacious Marc Cucurella starts at left-back yet again against his former club, keeping stability in that back four. This would be the fourth Premier League game already this season that Chelsea line up with this back four (five including Sanchez), starting to build familiarity at the back.
6 DM – Moises Caicedo
Moises Caicedo starts as the defensive midfielder, and it goes without saying. The Ecuadorian would have been man of the match against West Ham if not for Jackson’s three goals and assists. Caicedo won 10/12 ground duels, making eight tackles in the game, and also grabbed an assist, an all-round performance from the midfielder, and he will be starting against Brighton in the six.
7 CM – Enzo Fernández
Captaining the side in the absence of James, Enzo Fernández starts in the midfield alongside Caicedo. Always offering to get on the ball, help progress play through the lines with that expansive passing range, and still getting stuck into his duels, Fernandez will need to show this against Brighton to win the midfield battle.
8 CM – Cole Palmer
Playing as the number eight/ten hybrid in midfield, Cole Palmer has taken much of the playmaking responsibilities for Maresca’s side this season, already providing four assists in his five Premier League games. He is expected to start in this same role against Brighton.
9 RW – Noni Madueke
Noni Madueke retains his spot on the right, still doing exactly what Maresca wants from his widemen. Getting into those 1v1 isolations, threatening with runs in behind, holding the width, and doing his job out of possession too, winning those duels.
10 LW – Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho picked up another assist against West Ham on the weekend, making it two in two appearances for the Blues. As such, the Englishman starts on the left, looking to make it three goal contributions in three games, and continue to add that creative spark from out wide.
It’s ironic, really, that the game that looked to have all but ended Erik ten Hag’s tenure as Manchester United manager may actually have been the one to save him.
Cast your mind back to that grim night in May, as a beleaguered United side simply wilted away to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park – the likes of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze running riot in that thumping 4-0 win for the hosts.
The writing was seemingly on the wall for the man in the visiting dugout, but to his credit, the Dutchman did not fold, instead regrouping in the final knockings of the season heading into the FA Cup final.
A change in tact – which saw Sofyan Amrabat move into a more defensive-minded midfield – brought about wins over both Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion, prior to the Red Devils seeing off Pep Guardiola’s men at Wembley, all while deploying this new, strikerless 4-2-4 formation.
It could be said that had it not been for that night in south London – and its subsequent impact on the setup for the cup final – then Ten Hag would no longer be at the helm.
Man Utd vs Palace
The aim now is for the 54-year-old to illustrate that progress has been made as the two sides prepare to meet again this evening.
Man Utd team news
Fresh off back-to-back wins in all competitions – having notably hit League One side Barnsley for seven in midweek – the doom and gloom has somewhat shifted at Old Trafford, with a run now needing to be put together to mount a charge on the top four.
Not that anyone will be getting carried away – not with this team, at least – but there are certainly positive signs, not least the slow introduction of new man Manuel Ugarte, as well as the return of a handful of prior absentees.
The likes of Victor Lindelof and Tyrell Malacia are now back in first-team training, while both Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund are in contention to feature later today, with the latter man having been absent since limping off against Arsenal during pre-season.
With Luke Shaw still working away in the background, Ten Hag’s squad is slowly but surely beginning to come together, with there likely to be no excuses once the former Ajax boss does have everyone fit and available.
For once, the experienced tactician does actually have options to choose from in the attacking ranks, in particular, with it yet to be seen whether Joshua Zirkzee will be given another chance to impress from the start in that centre-forward berth.
Joshua Zirkzee's start at Man Utd
In truth, things couldn’t have started much better for the Netherlands international, with the 6 foot 4 marksman prodding home in inventive fashion to seal a much-needed opening-day win over Fulham.
A goal on debut is no doubt the ideal way to calm the nerves, although it’s fair to say that the £36.5m arrival hasn’t quite been able to build on that first outing, having failed to score since then.
Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee scores vs Fulham
The former Bologna man was unfortunate to deny Alejandro Garnacho from scoring against Brighton, although he did then spurn two gilt-edged chances in the chastening defeat to Liverpool, having been teed up beautifully on both occasions by Marcus Rashford.
Away at Southampton last weekend, the silky striker was neat and tidy on the ball and linked the play effectively – having completed 100% of his dribbles and registered two key passes – although again missed two ‘big chances’, notably failing to convert with a side-footed effort in the second half.
Perhaps it would be harsh to remove him from the starting lineup when the Dutchman is showing signs of life, although Ten Hag certainly has other options at his disposal, with there no doubt wisdom in returning Amad Diallo to the fray instead.
What Man Utd's front three should be vs Palace
Yes, it was ‘only’ Barnsley, but the manner in which United dispatched their lower-league opponents was rather impressive, with the aforementioned Rashford looking delightfully menacing on Tuesday night.
Among the club’s top earners on a reported £300k-per-week, the Englishman – who scored just eight goals in total last season and missed out on Euro 2024 as a result – has been rightly criticised for his worrying drop off of late, yet if recent weeks are anything to go by, the 26-year-old may just be finding his groove again.
Again, the quality of the opposition should be considered, but Rashford terrorised the visiting backline in midweek, leading the line in fine fashion and helping himself to his second and third goals of the campaign – after also netting against the Saints.
The days of deploying the academy graduate through the middle seemed to be over, but with Zirkzee not exactly firing – and the returning Hojlund still set for a squad role – it could be time to give Rashford a run in the side as the leading number nine.
That would then allow Garnacho to remain on the left flank after the Argentine provided four goal contributions against the Tykes, while on the opposite side, the rising star that is Amad can return in place of Antony.
The Ivorian “wizard” – as described by journalist James Copley – has been a shining light so far this season, having notably netted in the defeat to Brighton, while also being hailed as ‘United’s best player’ away at St Mary’s last week, as per MEN’s Samuel Luckhurst.
90 minutes
1 assist
69 touches
90% pass accuracy
6 key passes
1 shot on target
4/7 ground duels won
1/1 aerial duels won
9x possession lost
4 tackles
The only league game that the 22-year-old hasn’t started this season was in fact the loss to Arne Slot’s side, although he certainly made an impression off the bench on the day, having provided two key passes in his 21-minute cameo, while also creating one ‘big chance’ and registering an impressive 91% pass accuracy.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Having largely played a bit-part role last season due to injury, the one-time Atalanta man – who has still only made 27 appearances for the club in three-and-a-half-years – no doubt warrants an extended run of games, with the right-wing berth now arguably his to lose moving forward.
With Garnacho and Rashford also both deserving of a start, the easy solution would be to trial this new-look front three and leave Zirkzee sitting alongside Hojlund on the bench, ready to make an impact when needed.
In reality, the likelihood is that the choice will come down to one of Garnacho or Amad on the right, yet it would certainly be a risk worth taking to have Rashford deployed through the middle, flanked by those two young prodigies.
In any case, Ten Hag’s men should be hopeful of avenging the shambles that was their previous trip to Selhurst – that’s if Jonny Evans and Casemiro aren’t starting at centre-back, at least…
Ten Hag must brutally drop Eriksen for Man Utd's sensational "genius"
The incredible star has to be in the lineup today.