Tag Futebol

Manchester City are closely monitoring Ezri Konsa, with it being revealed Aston Villa may now be forced to cash-in on the defender.

Despite the 1-0 loss against Villa last time out, Bernardo Silva was impressed by City’s performance in possession of the ball, but the attacking midfielder made it clear he thought they struggled at the opposite end of the pitch.

Silve said: “I would say we played quite well with the ball. Our offensive concepts were quite good. Even if we didn’t score, we had chances. We made them defend deep, and they struggled in some moments. On the other side of the game, we were really bad defensively.”

That performance may have been a one-off, considering the Blues have conceded just two goals in their last five matches in all competitions, while also keeping a total of seven clean sheets already this season, which suggests they are relatively strong at the back.

However, John Stones is well-known to be injury-prone and Abdukodir Khusanov struggled against Swansea City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, making one error leading to a shot and receiving a 6.1 SofaScore match rating, the lowest of any Man City player.

Man City now closely monitoring Ezri Konsa

Consequently, it could make sense to bring in a new centre-back, and City are now closely monitoring Konsa, according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Aston Villa may be forced to cash-in on the centre-back due to financial issues.

Villa are reluctant to sanction the departure of one of their key players, but PSR regulations may force them into a sale, at which point they would be looking to receive a fee of around £40m – £45m.

A whole host of Premier League clubs are in the race for the England international, however, including Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, so there may be fierce competition for his signature.

The centre-back recently put himself in the shop window with a solid performance against City, keeping a clean sheet and bringing Erling Haaland’s remarkable 12-game scoring streak to an end in his side’s 1-0 win at Villa Park.

The 28-year-old made 12 defensive contributions, the joint-highest number of any player, which kept Haaland at bay, while also recording a pass-completion rate of 95%, indicating he could be an ideal fit in a Pep Guardiola system.

Konsa vs City

Number completed

Clearances

6

Blocked shots

2

Interceptions

3

Tackles won

1

The Villa star, who is also capable of playing at right-back, received high praise from Jamie Redknapp last year too, with the Sky Sports pundit saying: “I think he’s shown he’s a versatile player. He’s got a great appetite for the game. He’s also got a lot of desire, tremendous work ethic.”

Konsa, who is represented by the same agent as Omar Marmoush, could be a solid addition to Man City’s backline, but there are doubts over whether he would be a necessary signing, given that Guardiola already has the likes of Stones, Khusanov, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol to choose from.

Man City open talks to sign Dayot Upamecano Related Man City now open talks to sign "sensational" £168k-a-week Bayern Munich star

City have made a move for one of Bayern Munich’s key players, with the German club now “really worried” about his future.

Posts ByDominic Lund Oct 28, 2025

His two-month stint includes six first-class matches and potentially ten List A games

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jun-2025Khaleel Ahmed has signed a deal with Essex for the remainder of the County Championship and the entirety of the One-Day Cup. It will be Khaleel’s first foray in County cricket. The two-month stint goes on till late September and includes six first-class games along with eight List A games, which could stretch to ten if Essex progress to the final.Khaleel will join the squad in York and will be available for selection for the County Championship match against Yorkshire starting Sunday.”I have heard a lot about the rich history of the Club, and I’m excited to be part of it and will look to make an immediate impact,” he said. “I’m looking forward to playing at Chelmsford, meeting the loyal Essex Members and fans, and delivering performances they can be proud of.”Related

Kishan signs short-term deal with Nottinghamshire

Tilak Varma signs a short-term deal with Hampshire

Ruturaj Gaikwad to join Yorkshire for Championship, One-Day Cup

Essex’s director of cricket Chris Silverwood looked forward to the “new dynamic” Khaleel’s left-arm pace adds to the attack.”We were impressed with his performances for India A and firmly believe he can strengthen our already very strong seam attack,” Silverwood said. “As a left-arm seamer, he offers something different and will add a new dynamic to the squad in both the One Day Cup and the County Championship.”Khaleel has taken 15 wickets in 11 ODIs for India at an average of 31.00. He has played 20 first-class games and picked up 56 wickets at an average of 27.67. He was also part of the India A side that took on England Lions in June.Apart from Khaleel, Ishan Kishan (Nottinghamshire), Tilak Varma (Hampshire), Ruturaj Gaikwad (Yorkshire) and Yuzvendra Chahal (Northamptonshire) are the other Indians who have signed County deals.Essex currently sit at No. 8 in division one of the County Championship with one win in eight games.

Emma Hayes' side had a bumpy start to the October camp, but finished off in style by overpowering New Zealand 6-0

Various members of the U.S. women's national team said it this week: it seemed like forever since they last saw one another. Nearly four months, to be exact. A lot had changed since that last friendly against Canada on July 2, and, in truth, the USWNT's October camp reflected the fact this team hadn't been together.

It began in frustrating fashion with a 2-1 loss to Portugal, one that served as a wake-up call for this team. Portugal played hard and pressed well, earning their first victory over the USWNT in 11 all-time matches – and handing Emma Hayes' side their third loss of 2025.

The response? A big win a few days later, albeit an imperfect one with a 2-1 scoreline. There was nothing imperfect about their final game of the camp, though, as the U.S. blew past an overmatched New Zealand side, 6-0.

Something of a mixed bag, then, by USWNT standards. There were players who clearly stepped up and made their cases. There will be others who will be looking back at the first Portugal game with some second thoughts. With World Cup qualifying closing in, Hayes continues to sort out her player pool, and the results during this camp will certainly play a part in that pursuit.

Who stood out? Whose stock rose, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.

• Getty Images
  

  Stock up: Rose Lavelle

  She's a World Cup and Olympic champion. Everyone knew who Rose Lavelle was before this camp, of course, but with her performances, Lavelle made sure they'd remember who she was after it, too.

  This was peak Lavelle. She scored in twice, netting 33 seconds into the opener before dazzling with a first-time finish from outside the box finish in the closer. In between, she impacted games in the way she has for her entire USWNT career, creatively running the show in a variety of ways.

  It was throwback, in a way, from the 30-year-old midfielder, but also a reminder that there's still plenty left to give, too.

  “Lavelle is one of the best players I’ve ever coached,” Hayes said on Wednesday. “I mean, that goal – not many players score that.”

  Even among these younger, rising stars who fighting to replicate what she did at the 2019 World Cup, Lavelle remains a standout. Creatively, there are with her talent, and this camp was a visceral reminder of that – even as the world focuses on the next generation of USWNT stars.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Stock up: Lily Yohannes

  Speaking of that next generation, it's getting harder to label Lily Yohannes as "next" instead of "right now." Even at 18, Yohannes doesn't just look like a USWNT player; she looks like a USWNT starter, and it might be time to acknowledge that fact.

  The midfielder has seemingly taken another leap since making the move to join OL Lyonnes, and she's running games in ways that 18-years-olds shouldn't be able to. There are times, even on this international level, in which Yohannes looks like an adult among children, which is remarkable when you consider that she's still a teenager. 

  She just makes everything look so easy, from long passes to receiving the ball in tight spaces. That level of technicality isn't supposed to be easy. To the contrary, it should take years to develop and refine. And just as amazing, Yohannes is still learning. 

  "She plays beyond her years," Hayes said. "She has no fear to get on the ball with pressure, solve pressure, she can switch balls out, she can thread balls in behind."

  There will, inevitably, be dips in form. That's natural at her age and should be expected. The thing is that, even in those valleys, she might just be better than just about everyone else. It's why, by the time World Cup qualifying rolls around, it'll likely be impossible to keep her out of the starting XI.

• Getty Images
  

  Stock down: Lindsey Heaps

  This isn't a reflection on Lindsey Heaps' game. She had a fantastic assist against New Zealand and, in general, continues to be a valuable leader in midfield, one that does a little bit of everything for a team that certainly needs that, given their inexperience.

  But with Yohannes' ascension, the midfield has become crowded. With Lavelle balling out and Sam Coffey providing much-needed energy in a deeper role, could it be the captain that, at some point, makes way?

  Fortunately, no one has to make that decision any time soon, and Hayes will be fine with putting it off. The U.S., in truth, doesn't need a set lineup until the World Cup kicks off in two years. And having multiple world-class midfielders available is a blessing.

  Heaps is still in that category, and it cannot be understated just how important she has been in Yohannes' rise as her club and international teammate. It has to be said, though, that Heaps might just be building up her replacement, even if that is a few years down the line. Of course, that's what she'll hope for, anyway, as she looks to continue setting the tone as this team's midfield leader.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  Stock up: Olivia Moultrie

  Expectations were always a bit heavy on Olivia Moultrie. When you're the game's youngest professional, that happens. Everyone knew Moultrie would get to a certain level, but the question was always centered around how long it would take.

  Maybe it's now? Six years after turning professional, Moultrie is now a still just 20 years old. She's still, very much, an evolving player. She has developed into a goalscorer, though, one who could play her way into the mix over the next year.

  “I think she's having an outstanding season,” Hayes said. “I think she's a goal threat. I played her off of the right but coming inside. I knew there would be second spaces inside the box. I think she exploited them well.”

  Her goals will help. She's been scoring in bunches, both for the Portland Thorns and the USWNT, with her two goals in the win over Portugal really showcasing her game. Both finishes were wildly composed, placed shots, ones that showed maturity and poise beyond her years.

  It's the type of thing you expect from a player with multiple NWSL seasons under her belt, but it's not the thing you expect from a 20-year-old. Midfield spots are going to be difficult to seize. But Moultrie, who has been in and out of the team, made her case to be involved going forward.

A manager who Oliver Glasner described as “amazing” is now being targeted by Manchester United as a replacement for Ruben Amorim.

Amorim under fire after Brentford defeat

After the 3-1 defeat against Brentford over the weekend, Amorim is under fire once again, with Jamie Carragher describing the 40-year-old’s time at the club as a “disaster”, and suggesting it is “inevitable” he will be sacked.

It is also revealed that just one of the 17 ever-present Premier League clubs have collected fewer points than Amorim since his arrival at Old Trafford, underlining just how poor Man United have been under the helm of the former Sporting CP boss.

Alan Shearer has suggested that the only reason INEOS haven’t dismissed the manager already is because they don’t want to admit they got another decision wrong, saying: “I genuinely believe that the owners or the people that are running the club at the minute have made that many errors in the last two years or 18 months since they’ve been there. It would look terrible to admit another error and sack (Amorim).”

That said, the United hierarchy are clearly now planning for life after Amorim, with a report from The Sun revealing that Brighton & Hove Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler is now under consideration as a replacement for the Portuguese manager.

Fabrizio Romano says legendary 4-3-3 manager wants Amorim's job at Man Utd

He’s previously won a top-flight title and enjoyed a distinguished playing career.

BySean Markus Clifford Sep 29, 2025

INEOS are said to have drawn up a three-man shortlist, which also includes Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, with the board evidently keen on bringing in a proven Premier League manager.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is still backing Amorim for the time being, but contingency plans are now being put in place, with Hurzeler one of the managers being targeted, having performed well at Brighton, leading the Seagulls to an eighth-placed finish last season.

"Amazing" Hurzeler impressing in first Premier League job

At 32-years-old, the Brighton boss is the youngest manager in the Premier League, but he has shown maturity beyond his years, with Glasner being left particularly impressed by the work his opposite number has done in England and Germany.

The Palace manager said: “He did an amazing job in Germany with St. Pauli. Also, what I always like with every manager is when you can see a clear style of playing and this is what he implemented in Germany, in St. Pauli, and what he implemented here with Brighton.

“He does a fantastic job there.”

The German has averaged 1.70 points per match during his time with the Seagulls, having taken charge of 53 matches, suggesting he would be a big upgrade on Amorim, with the United boss averaging 1.35 over 49 games with the Red Devils.

With the former St Pauli boss preferring to implement a 4-2-3-1 system, appointing the up-and-coming manager could mean a welcome return to four-at-the-back for Man United, amid widespread calls for Amorim to tinker with his system.

That said, it would be a risk to appoint Hurzeler, given his age, with United perhaps in need of a more experienced manager, who has a proven track record at some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Tottenham opened their Champions League account for the campaign with a 1-0 win over La Liga side Villarreal in north London on Tuesday night, with a calamitous own goal from goalkeeper Luiz Junior gifting Thomas Frank’s side a precious three points.

It was a tight, cagey affair, and Villarreal had chances of their own to level, including a late free-kick in a dangerous area, but former Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe blazed it over the bar.

Micky van de Ven

7.4

Djed Spence

7.3

Rodrigo Bentancur

7.3

Mohammed Kudus

7.2

Santiago Mourino

7.1

via WhoScored

Pape Sarr also forced a low, outstretched save from Luiz on 30 minutes to keep the score at 1-0, and that’s how it stayed, with there being precious few highlights from the fairly uneventful victory — not that Frank is complaining too much as Spurs make it four wins from five in all competitions.

Midfielder Lucas Bergvall also continued his fine start to the season with a Man of the Match display against Villarreal, outshining the likes of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus in what was another excellent performance.

It’s been an excellent start to life under the Dane, but Tottenham’s restructured boardroom – headed by CEO Vinai Vinkatesham and minus ex-chair Daniel Levy – will bear in mind that Ange Postecoglou made the best start by any other manager in Premier League history when he first joined the club in 2023.

However, with the form on display by some of his key men, especially defensively, the early signs are extremely promising.

Frank’s side have conceded just three goals in six games this season, including the UEFA Super Cup final, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero proving imperious at the back for Tottenham.

Jamie O'Hara says Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero "walk" into Real Madrid

Speaking on talkSPORT, pundit Jamie O’Hara has claimed that Romero and van de Ven are the best centre-back partnership in the world right now, going on to claim that both of them stroll into Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid side.

The duo have been vital for Frank since he took over from Postecoglou, and the numbers speak for themselves.

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero shining for Tottenham

Van de Ven complements Romero by offering strong aerial ability, searing pace and consistency in clearances and interceptions.

The Dutchman’s clean-sheet rate when fit and his ability to handle one-on-one duels have become key for Spurs. Romero, meanwhile, brings aggression, leadership, and experience, especially in big games.

In Postecoglou’s final season, they featured in 18 matches together, during which Tottenham conceded just 20 goals.

Together, what van de Ven lacks in experience, Romero makes up for with leadership and composure; and while the latter’s aggressive defending sometimes invites risk, the former helps cover for him. Their strengths balance each other out, and it is clear that the pair remaining fit will be crucial to Tottenham’s prospects this season.

Heading into West Ham United’s away trip to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, it’s fair to say the mood engulfing the Hammers was a toxic one.

Three defeats in both the League and Cup to start the season had Graham Potter nervously hanging onto his job post, while the rampant talk surrounding Lucas Paqueta’s future heading into the twists and turns of deadline day did little to raise the positivity levels at the London Stadium.

However, it’s funny how quickly things can change in football, as the depressed mood around proceedings was thankfully lifted by Potter’s men securing a much-deserved 3-0 win at the City Ground.

Paqueta would even start the contest, and by kissing the badge when scoring his late penalty to make it 2-0, he has surely shown where his long-term future lies.

Paqueta's performance in numbers vs Forest

Murmurs before the game had indicated that the Brazilian star was going to start for the Hammers, despite rumours linking him with a late switch to Aston Villa.

Once more, after also scoring versus Chelsea, the South American was a bright spark throughout for the visitors, with his skill and commitment to the cause proving to be crucial as a much-needed three points were secured.

Indeed, nobody would have known – from the outside looking in – that the Hammers’ number ten was allegedly looking for a switch away, with Paqueta finishing the contest by winning a remarkably high 11 duels.

Moreover, he was also constantly on the front foot as a sharp number ten option behind the main striker, as seen in him finishing the 3-0 win with two key passes and three successful dribbles next to his name, away from just stroking his spot-kick home with ease.

The much-talked-about 28-year-old wasn’t the only standout performer in Nottinghamshire, however, as another midfield presence showed off how he can be West Ham’s next Paqueta, and even Declan Rice, with an assured and classy performance on the road.

£40m star showed he can be the next Paqueta & Rice

In truth, there were hardly any underperformers from an Irons’ perspective, with a usually shaky Max Kilman even grabbing himself a clean sheet at the final whistle, winning 100% of his duels on the day.

Chalkboard

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

Expand Collapse

Brand new Hammers recruit Mateus Fernandes, however, was phenomenal. Since Declan Rice left for Arsenal, the Irons have missed a robust figure capable of winning duels but it looks like they’ve found one.

He regularly threw himself into duels – with the summer signing going on to win six of his 11 attempted ground duels against Nuno Espirito Santo’s energetic Forest. In doing so, the £42m ace instantly endeared himself to his new set of supporters by being both skilful on the ball, but attritional when necessary. Very Rice-esque.

Fernandes vs Forest

Minutes played

82

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

34

Accurate passes

20/23 (87%)

Key passes

2

Tackles

3

Total duels won

6/11

Stats by Sofascore

It’s certainly the correct route to go down, considering Paqueta also has a similar varied reputation, with Fernandes ending the 3-0 contest with only three misplaced passes next to his name.

Yet, he also regularly attempted to win the ball back away from merely stylishly spraying it about the pitch, with three tackles in total registered.

The similarities between Paqueta and Fernandes don’t end here, with both key performers for Potter’s men at the City Ground flexible presences who can line up through the middle as a number ten, or down the flank, meaning they could well swap roles as the campaign drags on.

If the under-fire Hammers boss can also get both players to deliver top-quality performances like the ones on show at the Tricky Trees all season long, he should be far safer in his precarious job role.

It was quite the showing from the £42m youngster on his Hammers debut, with Fernandes perhaps even going down as a mega Rice-style sale down the line, having previously attracted interest from Manchester United and Villa, before putting pen to paper on a London Stadium move.

Hailed as “superb” during the victory by West Ham content creator Dan Woffenden, it does seem as if Potter and Co. have struck gold already on landing the coveted signature of Fernandes.

Hopefully, he remains in claret and blue for some time, before perhaps exploding even more into life away from East London, like the £100m Rice.

Related Dream partner for Magassa: West Ham plotting raid to sign £15m "pitbull"

Following the arrivals of both Soungoutou Magassa and Mateus Fernandes on Friday, could West Ham United now sign a £15m midfield “pitbull” as well?

Posts ByBen Gray Aug 31, 2025

One of this year’s biggest transfer deadline day sagas was that of Celtic’s hunt for a new striker. The Scottish Premiership champions were on the lookout for a number nine to replace Adam Idah, who completed a move to Swansea.

Brendan Rodgers’ side had already brought in 25-year-old Shin Yamada and 20-year-old Callum Osmand, but they still wanted one more proven striker.

Their search took them from the likes of Anderlecht’s Kasper Dolberg, who preferred Ajax, to Chelsea’s David Fofana, who preferred Charlton Athletic, and then finally Kelechi Iheanacho, who they are still looking to sign now that he is a free agent.

While the saga as a whole drew criticism from members of the media and fans alike, it was the failed approach of Chelsea’s Fofana that drew the most criticism from former Rangers and Scotland striker Ally McCoist.

McCoist staggered by Fofana decision

While on TalkSport with Jeff Stelling, the pair discussed Celtic and other Scottish clubs’ difficult transfer windows.

Stelling said: “Look at Celtic, I mean, they haven’t brought any strikers in. They tried. But David Fofana, who’s at Chelsea, he chose to go Charlton on loan rather than go to Celtic.”

He then proceeded to ask McCoist: “Is this all about the perception of Scottish football? Or is it more to do about the amounts players are being paid?”

McCoist replied: “It’s got to be an element of both, right? However, you are not going to sit there and tell me that Charlton Athletic are paying more money in wages than Celtic? That just cannot be happening, right? And that would stagger me. That would absolutely stagger me.”

On the other side of Glasgow, Rangers have also had something of a difficult window as fans have shown frustration about the club selling more than they’ve spent amidst their horrendous start to the season.

Why Fofana wanted Charlton over Celtic

Celtic does offer, on average, higher wages than Charlton. Charlton’s highest-paid player, Allan Campbell, would be Celtic’s joint-fifth-highest-paid player, but the drop-off in wages becomes apparent further down the list as Charlton’s third-highest-paid player, Conor Coventry, would be Celtic’s 18th-highest-paid player.

However, the attempted move to Charlton by Fofana would only have been a loan move, so he would still have been on the £30,000 per week that Chelsea pays him, with Charlton only covering a percentage.

Another factor that may have come into consideration for Fofana is that he likely wouldn’t have to move house if he ended up playing for Charlton, as both clubs are based in London. This quality of life factor likely only applied to Fofana, however, and not their other failed pursuits.

The perception of Scottish football may have been a bigger factor in Fofana’s decision, as the Championship is ranked 7th and the Scottish Premiership is ranked 27th in the Global Football Rankings.

Tottenham Hotspur are widely reported to be in talks over a deal for Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, but he isn’t their only playmaking target, as chairman Daniel Levy assesses alternative options too.

A dramatic late move for Eze would seriously help to put a pretty miserable recent few weeks behind Spurs.

In the space of a few days in early August, Thomas Frank was forced to both wave an emotional goodbye to club legend Son Heung-min and find a way to cope without the creative influence of James Maddison.

Since Son’s departure, Cristian Romero has replaced the South Korean as captain of the Lilywhites, but Frank is still attempting to fill the gaping void left by Maddison’s serious injury.

Hearts were in mouths when the 28-year-old collapsed to the turf and was stretched off against Newcastle in Seoul, and it has since been confirmed that Maddison will miss most of the 2025/2026 season after suffering an ACL rupture.

Before losing Son and Maddison in different respects, Tottenham missed out on a £60m deal for Morgan Gibbs-White in the most bizarre fashion imaginable.

The original plan was to complement Maddison with Gibbs-White’s arrival, but in a sorry state of affairs, Frank heads into the new season with neither – despite going as far as to book a medical for the latter last month.

Dejan Kulusevski’s lengthy lay-off with an injury compounds Tottenham’s troubles, but their newly-opened talks for Eze have sparked some hope that the north Londoners can back Frank with a much-needed new creator before the summer deadline.

Spurs are in negotiations to sign both Eze and Man City winger Savinho in separate deals right now, but as we’ve seen from their transfer window so far, Tottenham’s business is rarely so straightforward.

If a deal cannot be done for Eze, the club do have fallback targets, and one of them is Como sensation Nico Paz.

Tottenham weighing up Como starlet Nico Paz after alleged rejected bid

Last week, Sky Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio reported that Tottenham had a £35 million offer rejected for Paz, but his colleague Michael Bridge now states that Frank’s side are still there for the Argentine.

According to Bridge, in a fresh Sky Sports update, it is believed that Tottenham are still weighing up Paz as an option in their search for a number 10, but it could be a very difficult deal to do.

“The main players Spurs want are a No 10, a defender and a winger,” reported Bridge in a Q&A.

“Eberechi Eze is a player who’s been on their radar for some time. But before now, it’s never gone beyond someone they’ve got an interest in.

“Now the Crystal Palace midfielder can be considered among their top targets. They are also assessing other targets, including Como’s Nico Paz – but that is looking like a difficult deal to do.”

Cesc Fabregas’ Como have set a valuation of around £60 million for the 20-year-old, which is a similar price to Eze, and could arguably be viewed as much more of a gamble.

Paz has just one full season of regular football under his belt, with Spurs in need of a more proven playmaker right now, despite some praise from footballing icon Lionel Messi.

“Nico has many qualities and understands the game perfectly,” said Messi.

“He has an impressive mind and is working with a coach who is my friend (Cesc Fabregas) who will help him grow even more.”

Chelsea are making a serious statement of intent this summer, with the Blues expected to remain very active in the market, both in terms of incomings and outgoings at Stamford Bridge.

Player "personally trying to force" Chelsea move as club reduce asking price

He’s determined to join Enzo Maresca’s side.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 30, 2025

Earlier this week, Enzo Maresca’s side completed their fourth major signing of the summer window after agreeing a deal worth over £35 million for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.

The Netherlands international is now due for a medical at Cobham, and he could soon be joined by fellow Dutchman Xavi Simons, as Chelsea talks remain ongoing over a deal for the 22-year-old playmaker.

After Hato, Chelsea’s summer spending now totals nearly £270 million, if you include their deals for Kendry Paez, Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo and Estevao which were all agreed prior to this window.

To balance this out, Chelsea have raised around £158 million through player sales after their latest confirmed departure of defender Ishe Samuels-Smith to sister club Strasbourg.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Add in the revenue gained from Champions League qualification, estimated to be nearly £80 million (Stefan Borson), and their £87.5 million cash prize from winning the Club World Cup, Chelsea are still in very good stead when it comes to PSR despite their costs this window.

This is potentially why Chelsea are able to make even more new signings before deadline day on September 1, with reports suggesting that the west Londoners could bid for another left-winger alongside Simons.

Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho’s potential switch to London is still on the cards, and journalist Simon Phillips reports that an unofficial swap deal with the Red Devils could take place.

Chelsea and Man United discuss Christopher Nkunku amid "fresh approach"

Writing via his Substack, Phillips hints that Chelsea could use United’s interest in £195,000-per-week winger Christopher Nkunku to strike a ‘favour for a favour’ type transfer or ‘PSR deal’ – essentially a swap deal without the actual swap.

Nkunku would go to Old Trafford, and Garnacho would go to Chelsea in separate moves.

Man United have apparently made a “fresh approach” to Chelsea for Nkunku, which occurred last weekend, so there is a real opportunity for BlueCo to sweeten talks for Garnacho by agreeing the Frenchman’s exit to Manchester.

They’re now prepared to green-light Nkunku’s transfer at a reduced rate too, potentially helping Ruben Amorim’s cash-strapped United.

“Manchester United have also always been interested in signing the attacking midfielder, and SPTC sources understand that they made a fresh approach to Chelsea for Nkunku over the weekend,” wrote Phillips.

“Chelsea will sell to a Premier League rival, and they have even dropped the asking price slightly. A deal can certainly be done should United push on it now after their latest enquiry.

“What could help them, and this one will not go away, is Chelsea’s interest in Alejandro Garnacho. Something could be done here to help and suit both clubs.

“I’d always heard that if Chelsea went for Garnacho then it would either be a loan to buy deal like they did for Jadon Sancho, or it will be with a player going to United as a favour for a favour deal, or a PSR deal as it is commonly known as.”

Nkunku managed 15 goals in all competitions last season and put in some promising performances at the Club World Cup, but Chelsea are clear that he’ll be a squad player next season if he stays (Nizaar Kinsella).

A fresh start up north could really suit the versatile attacker, who former teammate Joao Felix called a “top player” and a pleasure to team up with.

Tottenham Hotspur were left feeling rather empty when Daniel Levy made the bold decision to dismiss Ange Postecoglou at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, just weeks after he ended 17 years of silverware-searching by winning the Europa League.

But Spurs’ 17th-place Premier League was inexcusable, and the cracks ran back through the lion’s share of the previous season, with injuries yet again wreaking havoc down N17.

And anyway, Tottenham have at least appointed the perfect successor, with Thomas Frank having left his admired Brentford post to lead the Londoners into a new era.

With last year’s title paving the road into the Champions League, sights are now set on going from strength to strength. Frank has certainly started off on firm footing there, having welcomed Mohammed Kudus into his brood, with Levy also activating permanent options in Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso’s loan deals.

But more is certainly needed.

The latest Spurs transfer news

Tottenham thought they had reached an agreement to sign Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, but the Tricky Trees are looking to put paid to the move, alleging that the Lilywhites illegally approached the England international.

As such, it appears Frank has swivelled his outfit’s attention to RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, having initiated talks. Arsenal and Chelsea both have concrete interests of their own.

Simons would add an elite injection of creativity and dynamism into the attacking midfield, but Spurs are also seeking an industrious, deeper-lying player.

And according to Football Insider, their sights are set on Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. Oliver Glasner is desperate to keep the 21-year-old, with Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi both slated for departures from south London this summer.

Liverpool, Manchester City, and Real Madrid have also been keeping tabs on the English talent, who has been priced north of £100m by the Eagles, looking to fend off interest in their prized possession.

Why Spurs want Adam Wharton

Crystal Palace knew they had a star on their hands when signing a teenage Wharton from Blackburn Rovers for £18m in February 2024.

He had only featured 51 times for Blackburn’s senior side, but increasingly caught the eye for his confident, age-belying performances in the Championship.

Across a term-and-a-half in the Premier League, Wharton has demonstrated a tactical aptitude and coolness on the ball that evades most young midfielders looking to earn their trade, with Three Lions teammate Declan Rice singling him out as a “top-level” midfield prospect ahead of last year’s European Championship.

As per FBref, Wharton ranked among the top 9% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues last season for progressive passes, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, and the top 4% for ball recoveries per 90.

Through this data, we can glean that the touted talent is nurturing one of the most exciting passing profiles in the business, with his immense rate of recovery indicating an energy and athleticism that would be perfect for Frank’s high-energy style of play.

He’s only played 36 times in the English top flight, racking up five assists, but Wharton has already proven himself to be a superstar in the making, instrumental in helping Palace toward their maiden FA Cup title, defeating Manchester City in the final.

Beforehand, journalist Henry Winter had lauded the maestro as a “passing machine” for his effort against Aston Villa in the semi-final, continuing to label him as “the best player on the pitch.”

Though Tottenham already have talented creative midfielders such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, the Englishman is routinely injured and knocked out of kilter, talented though he is, while Kulusevski is more of a workhorse, and whether Frank opts to deploy him down the right flank with a greater regularity remains to be seen.

Simons, a 28-cap Netherlands international, isn’t quite the same profile as Gibbs-White, who can play deeper and is perhaps more embracing of the defensive side of the game, but he would still be a significant addition to a Tottenham side looking to make an impact across multiple fronts.

The 22-year-old, moreover, is tactically sharp and incredibly potent when in dangerous positions, be that as a creator or someone willing to strike on goal. In this way, he could be a wonderful partner for Wharton, whose stroked long passes would find a home at the Dutchman’s feet, who, in space, can make things happen.

Left winger

41

10

11

Right winger

17

5

5

Attacking midfield

17

6

7

Centre-forward

1

–

–

Wharton is not one-note, either. Across the recent Premier League campaign, injuries limited him to just 16 starts. But, as per Sofascore, he still applied an active defensive presence, averaging one interception and 1.7 tackles per game, also avoiding a single error across the term.

Contrast that with, say, Yves Bissouma, who made six errors of various shapes and sizes despite only starting 16 matches himself, and you can really see the kind of upgrade Tottenham would enjoy in the engine room by signing Wharton.

This steely stability would be perfect for a playmaker such as Simons, who would need to look around and see a fluent system in order to settle and thrive.

Completing these deals would achieve a sense of synergy that simply wasn’t there last season, with Wharton establishing a strong through line into the final third, which Simons could clasp onto and make things happen for a Frank team who promise so much, who are capable of so much.

Their own Gyokeres: "Sensational" £50m striker now wants to sign for Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur could be edging closer to another big-money signing this summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 18, 2025