Ten Hag Must Ditch Man United’s £170m Trio

While much of the focus at Manchester United this summer will be on those who could arrive through the door, a priority for the Red Devils will also be to shift players on, as manager Erik ten Hag seeks to continue his impressive rebuild at the club.

After the lack of authority that was shown during the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era – with the Norwegian dubbed a 'soft touch' according to players in the squad – it would appear that the new man at the helm is keen to be ruthless this summer by sparking something of a mass exodus at Old Trafford.

As per the Daily Mail, there could be as many as 13 players who are moved on by the top-four hopefuls ahead of next season, with Ten Hag keen to rid the dressing room of the remnants of the previous regime.

As per the report, there are a handful of Solskjaer's signings who could well be set for pastures new this summer, with that an apparent acceptance that United are keen to move away from life under the treble winner.

Man United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

The belief is that among the current first-team squad – excluding Alex Telles who is currently out on loan at Sevilla and Facundo Pellistri who is only likely to leave on a temporary deal – three players who were signed by the club's previous permanent manager could be set to leave, with Donny van de Beek, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and club captain Harry Maguire all facing uncertain futures at the club.

Although that trio are not the only notable figures who could be shown the door, it is telling of their woes that they are already set for the scrap heap, despite having been signed either in 2020 or 2019, respectively, during Solskjaer's reign.

For many supporters, it may well be a blessing to see those three men line up elsewhere next season, particularly when considering the notable burden of their wages – as well as their exorbitant initial transfer fees.

Will Van de Beek leave Man United this summer?

In the case of Van de Beek, first and foremost, it will come as little surprise to most that the 25-year-old could be among those to depart, with the Netherlands international having endured a wretched time of it at the Theatre of Dreams to date.

Having been signed on a rather hefty £40m deal back in the summer of 2020, the former Ajax ace has never been able to establish himself as a regular fixture in the side, with just 23 of his 60 appearances for the club having come from the start.

While in recent months the Dutchman's impact has been limited after sustaining a season-ending injury back in January, prior to that the playmaker had hardly set the world alight despite reuniting with his former boss, after failing to provide a single goal involvement in ten outings in all competitions.

Man United's Van de Beek

A run of three successive starts in all competitions in early November had been a potential last-chance saloon for the struggling dud, although the 19-cap midfielder was hooked around the hour mark in each of those outings, having done little to warrant a further look-in.

As journalist Samuel Luckhurst stated amid that rare streak of starts, deploying Van de Beek in the side simply "doesn't work", with it perhaps time that a departure is secured – with a return to Ajax having been mooted.

That possible exit would allow United to get the £120k-per-week man's salary off their books, with the peripheral figure set to have cost the club around £6.2m in wages just this season alone by the end of the campaign, as per FBref.

The England duo of Maguire and Wan-Bissaka have also been something of a financial strain of late, with the former having cost around £9.8m by the end of the campaign in wages, while the latter man has come at a cost of £4.6m – totalling £20.6m between the three men for the 2022/23 season.

Will Man United sell Maguire?

In truth, in the case of Maguire, the £190k-per-week man has hardly warranted that salary amid his limp displays this season, with the 30-year-old having been branded "woeful" by pundit Lianne Sanderson earlier in the campaign.

As ex-Liverpool man Jamie Carragher noted back in September, it looks as if it is 'too late' for the former Leicester City ace to save his United career, despite having the chance to enjoy an extended run in the side due to the injury woes of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.

Man United's Harry Maguire

The £80m man – who has started just seven Premier League games this season – can seemingly do little right at present having scored an unfortunate own goal in the draw with Sevilla last week, while also enduring a shaky start in the weekend win over Nottingham Forest, after picking up an early booking and somewhat escaping giving away a penalty for handball.

It does appear that it would be best for all parties if the ailing skipper is handed a fresh start elsewhere, even if there are reported fears that the centre-back's wage demands could prove a stumbling block in getting him off the books.

Where will Wan-Bissaka be next season?

If the future of both Van de Beek and Maguire does appear rather clear cut, in the case of Wan-Bissaka there may be those who would be keen to see the former Crystal Palace man stay put, having enjoyed a real resurgence of late.

After playing just four minutes in all competitions prior to the World Cup break, the 25-year-old has since been a far more regular fixture under Ten Hag, with 25 appearances to his name across all fronts.

The Croydon-born ace notably produced a "monstrous" display in the Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle United, as per the Daily Express' Alex Turk, with that fine, second-half cameo a real showcase of his remarkable revival.

That being said, however, it was not too long ago that the full-back looked destined for an exit heading into the January window, with The Athletic only recently reporting that the Red Devils could be open to a sale, if a more attacking option can be secured this summer.

As Wan-Bissaka's recent, horrific miss against Everton showcased, the one-time Selhurst Park starlet is still something of a liability in attack, having scored just twice and registered only 11 assists in 151 games across all fronts.

Man United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka

That is a rather measly record, indeed, hence the suggestion that the right-back could be part of this summer's mass departure, calling time on his almost four-year stay in Manchester.

For United to potentially cash in on the £50m man – as well as both Maguire and Van de Beek – would be a poor reflection on Solskjaer's transfer judgement, with those three men having cost around £170m with regard to their transfer fees.

That eye-watering sum is a perfect encapsulation of the scattergun and erratic recruitment drive that has hampered United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Perhaps, under Ten Hag, the future landscape can look rather different…

Newcastle Not Expected To Bring In £100m Ace This Summer

Newcastle United target Khvicha Kvaratskhelia completing a blockbuster move to St James' Park this summer isn't likely due to how much the winger would cost, according to Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie.

What's the latest transfer news surrounding Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

As per Caught Offside, Napoli winger Kvaratskhelia is attracting interest from both the Premier League and around Europe owing to his excellent performances this season, with Manchester City, Newcastle United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain said to be in the race for his signature.

The report also states that Serie A giants Napoli won't let him go cheaply and a deal to entice the 22-year-old away from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium could cost up to £100 million or more.

According to Corriere Dello Sport via The Sun, Paris Saint-Germain could push the boat out even further to land Kvaratskhelia and would be willing to part with £159 million to secure his services.

Kvaratskhelia has been in scintillating form for Napoli this term, recording 14 goals and 16 assists from 37 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

As per 90min, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Kvaratskhelia earlier this year alongside his teammate Victor Osimhen, stating: “Kvaratskhelia is a great player, he is doing well with Victor Osimhen, they are very efficient."

Speaking to Football FanCast, Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie doesn't believe Newcastle United will be able to afford Kvaratskhelia in the summer, making a prospective move to St James' Park unlikely.

Downie told FFC: "I think they've maybe pushed the ball out for a holding midfielder who's going to come straight into the team, but would a winger come straight into the team? I'm not too sure; they need to make sure they don't upset the applecart as well, so if they're looking for, say, £100 million for the guy from Napoli [Kvaratskhelia], I don't see that happening. I think you're looking at more players around about the sort of £30-40 million mark I think we saw for Bruno, Botman and Gordon."

Would Newcastle United fork out a significant fee for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

Although it's theoretically possible, Newcastle United forking out north of £100 million for Kvaratskhelia would likely diminish their available budget to spend on incomings elsewhere at St James' Park, which may prove to be a decisive roadblock in their pursuit of the Georgia international.

The 22-year-old is definitely worth paying significant money for, as evidenced by WhoScored, who show that he has managed to complete an average of 2.8 dribbles per match this campaign, demonstrating his ability to progress beyond his marker regularly.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia involved for Napoli in their Champions League quarter-final defeat to AC Milan.

FBRef also note that Kvaratskhelia has successfully carried out 160 shot-creating actions in all competitions across 2022/23, illustrating his elite-level ingenuity from the flank.

It would probably take a monumental push from Newcastle United to force a deal over the line for Kvaratskhelia; nevertheless, both supporters and officials inside the club have earned the right to dream following a stellar season that could yield Champions League qualification.

West Ham United Send Chief To Watch £32m Midfield "Threat"

West Ham United have sent a scout to watch PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Sangare to West Ham?

The Ivory Coast international joined Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side back in September 2020 and has another four years remaining on his contract. During his 129 appearances so far this season, he has become the top-performing defensive player for the Eredivisie giants.

Speaking to Voetbal International, however, PSV’s manager has “challenged” the 25-year-old to “go to the top” in England, with reports claiming that they would be willing to sanction a sale to allow him to do just that in a huge boost for David Moyes.

The Philips Stadion talisman is ready to test himself in the top-flight with the Irons having been touted as a potential destination, and whilst there are several others in the race for his signature, the hierarchy appear serious about completing a deal in the summer.

According to 90min, West Ham, Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Brentford, Brighton, Wolves and Leeds United all “sent representatives” to watch PSV’s 3-0 victory over Ajax, in particular Sangare for the chiefs at the London Stadium. The Irons have been “alerted” to the midfielder’s expected availability by his agents, with his contract having a release clause included worth €37m (£32m), which is likely to be the fee needed to be paid to prise him away.

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare.

Where would Sangare fit in at West Ham?

Sangare is naturally a defensive midfielder but also has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in central and attacking midfield, and having been dubbed a “threat” from midfield by journalist Josh Bunting, he could be the ideal successor to Declan Rice at West Ham with his ability to impact the game at both ends.

The Europa League participant is strong in the defensive aspect of his game having made 65 tackles so far this season, which is far higher than any of his fellow teammates, with 32 of those being won, which is also the second-best success rate at PSV, as per FBRef. Overall, his tackling ability ranks him in the 90th percentile across midfielders in European leagues, while Rice sits in the 66th, albeit against superior opposition.

The 6 foot 3 colossus, who would add a different dimension to the centre with his height, is also able to contribute to his team’s efforts in the final third having scored seven goals and provided three assists in 41 appearances across all competitions this campaign.

Finally, Sangare and Van Nistelrooy making it public knowledge that he’s ready to take the next step in his career means he would seriously consider the move, so the board should capitalise on this and splash the cash on a player who could be a long-term signing in E20.

Arsenal Confident In Race For "Exceptional" £100m Star

Arsenal are confident about winning the race for Declan Rice this summer, having put themselves in pole position to secure his signature, according to a report from the Daily Star.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Gunners have recently been handed a boost in their pursuit of Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, as it has emerged Juventus could drop out of the race for the Serbian, as they are unwilling to match the €40m (£35.5m) asking price.

Journalist Dean Jones has speculated that Mikel Arteta may need to bring in two new midfielders in the summer window, and a bid is being prepared for Valencia's Yunus Musah, although the report clarifies Rice remains the number one target.

At the end of April, Football Insider reported West Ham are set to demand £100m for their captain, refusing to budge on that asking price, and he could be on his way to the Emirates Stadium.

According to a report from the Daily Star, Arsenal are now confident they can win the race for the England international, having put themselves in pole position, and they are prepared to make him one of their highest paid players.

The Gunners are likely to quadruple the central midfielder's £60k-per-week wages in an attempt to win the race for his signature, and agreeing personal terms should not be an issue.

With the West Ham star repeatedly refusing to sign a new contract, his current club may be forced to cash-in this summer, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea also named as potential suitors.

Is Declan Rice worth £100m?

In order to sign a player coming into their prime, clubs have to be prepared to pay a premium, and while £100m is a huge sum for any player, the Englishman has proven himself as a top Premier League player for a number of years now.

Hailed as "exceptional" by members of the media, the 24-year-old has already amassed 201 appearances in the English top flight, and he has averaged a 7.05 WhoScored match rating this season, inside the top 30 best-performing players, despite playing for a team battling relegation.

declan-rice-west-ham-united-david-moyes-transfer-liverpool-jurgen-klopp-premier-league

Thomas Partey was branded "awful" by journalist Charles Watts after his performance against Man City, and one of the only viable back-up options is Jorginho, who is now 31-years-old.

As such, Arteta will need to bring in at least one new central midfielders this summer, and Rice would be a fantastic signing, even if Arsenal have to break their transfer record to win the race for his signature.

Man United Contemplating Huge £70m Transfer Deal For Goalkeeper

Manchester United are still considering a bid for Diogo Costa and have sent club officials to keep an eye on him, but they may need to pay £70m for his services according to Football Insider.

What is the latest on Diogo Costa to Man United?

The Premier League side have already made it clear that they want to add both a new striker and an additional midfielder to their squad during the summer window. However, the continued errors of goalkeeper David De Gea have led to fans growing tired of the Spaniard and they are now calling for the Old Trafford side to also add a goalkeeper to their ranks.

Erik Ten Hag himself is also considering whether or not to continue playing the former Atletico Madrid man as his number one shot-stopper. Talks though have continued to progress over a potential new deal for De Gea, that would see him stay with the Red Devils albeit on a lower wage amount. It may also see him demoted to backup.

FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

That would mean United have to sign a new goalkeeper as his replacement and with the side scouring the market for a fresh number one, Football Insider reports that they remain keen on a deal to sign Porto's Costa.

The Premier League side have already sent officials on multiple occasions to keep a close eye on the player ahead of a potential bid but his current club are set to demand up to £70m to take him to Old Trafford. It's a substantial amount, but the report suggests Costa ticks plenty of boxes and a move could go ahead.

Should Man United sign Diogo Costa?

The Porto goalkeeper might not have been tested in England yet but the signs are that he would make the switch over with ease if United did sign him.

He has a 6.71 rating for his club in the domestic league on WhoScored and with an average of 2.2 saves per game, he has regularly shown his fantastic ability to keep out opposition players. Given the chance to prove his mettle for his country as well, he took his game to an even higher level for Portugal in their Nations League campaign – he has a rating of 6.87 with them from four games and once more averages 2.0 saves per game.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has also previously heaped praise on Costa and called him "magnificent" during his side's fixture against Bayer Leverkusen. That came during a game in which the goalkeeper not only saved a penalty but assisted a goal for Porto too.

The 23-year-old is young, already proven and could be a number one for United for years to come then. They're all reasons why Ten Hag would be right to stump up the asking price for the player during the transfer window.

Three Candidates For Spurs Job Named As Search Continues

Arne Slot, Ange Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim are the three names on Tottenham Hotspur's list in their search for a new manager, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's the latest in Spurs' search for a manager?

Spurs are currently operating without a director of football following the departure of Fabio Paratici, and appear no closer to appointing a successor to sacked head coach Antonio Conte.

Three leading names have now emerged as Spurs seek to appoint a new manager ahead of the summer transfer window, and with Julian Nagelsmann ruled out last week, there is no clear front-runner for the job.

Speaking on the Here We Go Podcast, Romano revealed that these three names are all admired by Spurs as they search for a manager to help them compete at the top level.

"Arne Slot is a candidate for sure, he is really appreciated internally, Tottenham are discussing his name internally," he stated.

"Ruben Amorim remains a manager appreciated at Tottenham after his excellent job at Sporting, and I will add Ange Postecoglou as one of the candidates for the job. For sure, the three names are in the list, Tottenham have not decided yet who is the best candidate, but they are three candidates for the job."

What do Spurs need to do now?

Spurs cannot choose a manager whilst they operate without a director of football, and this appointment will be crucial in determining their next coach.

The club need to form a strategy between the director and his preferred candidate, and there is plenty of uncertainty within the Spurs squad.

Harry Kane has one year left on his contract, and could potentially leave the club this summer, whilst goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris looks set to move on.

Replacing two players in crucial positions could prove difficult for the club, and this will become an even harder task if their director and managerial roles are not filled by the start of the transfer window.

All three candidates are currently in other jobs, and convincing one of them to leave their current post to join Spurs could prove tricky given the current situation with the squad.

Postecoglou has led Celtic to another glorious Scottish Premiership title in style, whilst Slot has led Feyenoord to Eredivisie glory.

Amorim has impressed at Sporting in recent years, with his side beating both Spurs and Arsenal in European competition this season, whilst young players such as former Tottenham academy product Marcus Edwards have flourished under his guidance.

Each of these three candidates have their merits, but there is a lot of work to be done before one of them can be appointed.

Player With "Illegal" Skills Expected To Leave Chelsea

Chelsea youngster Tudor Mendel-Idowu is "expected to leave" Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, according to reliable journalist Nizaar Kinsella.

How is Mendel-Idowu faring at Chelsea?

The 18-year-old is a talented young attacker who has been with the Blues for over a decade now, working his way through the youth teams as the years have passed. He has made 35 appearances for the Under-18s, scoring 13 goals and registering six assists, as well as playing once for the Under-21s, despite still being so young.

A maiden first-team outing has continued to evade Mendel-Idowu, however, and with his current Chelsea deal running out this summer, the club have a big decision to make regarding his long-term future. There is the option of extending his stay, should he be viewed as a key man into the future, or he will be allowed to move on for a new challenge in the next month or so.

Touted Chelsea managerMauricio Pochettino

Could Mendel-Idowu leave Chelsea in the summer?

Taking to Twitter, Kinsella said that Mendel-Idowu would be one of numerous younger departures once this season comes to an end:

"Tudor Mendel-Idowu wasn't mentioned in this piece a few days ago but is also expected to leave Chelsea when his contract expires."

This is no doubt a tough one for Mendel-Idowu to take, and a situation that highlights how difficult it is for youngsters to make the grade at top clubs. It is so hard to make that step up to the first team, especially when big-money signings are arriving at the same time, which goes to show what special players the likes of Reece James and Mason Mount are.

Is seems clear that Mendel-Idowu simply isn't seen as someone who can ultimately become an important member of the senior squad, even though his skill levels have been hailed as "illegal" by Sky Sports contributor Zac Djellab in the past, such is his level of talent.

He will now seemingly be free to find a new club, though, and it is crucial that he picks the right one, going somewhere where he will be allowed to progress at his own pace, earn regular football and ultimately reach his potential as a player.

Just because Chelsea don't see a future for him doesn't mean he can't still forget an excellent career elsewhere, with his talent undeniable, and three goals in four caps for England's Under-17s a testament to his ability.

Leeds: £70k-p/w Liability Once Again Let Them Down

Leeds United travelled to the capital yesterday knowing that a win would transform the makeup of the upcoming final day, switching the impetus and putting safety in their hands rather than Everton's.

So, when Sam Allardyce's men roared into an early lead courtesy of Rodrigo's vicious volley, things were looking up for the Whites, who have endured a torrid season of desperate frustration.

However, this jubilation was not to last, and in the end their slender one-goal advantage gave way to three West Ham United goals that put the game to bed at 3-1.

What makes things even worse is that due to such a heavy swing, the Yorkshire outfit now need to topple Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the season by three goals or more, and even then rely on the Toffees to drop points. Things are looking bleak.

sam-allardyce-leeds-west-ham

Yesterday marked one of many occasions where Allardyce's key men had wilted under the pressure of a big game, whilst his consistent Spanish striker once again starred. He remains their top scorer by some distance, whereas his fellow frontman Patrick Bamford is nowhere near his tally.

Having once been of paramount importance to Leeds, the £70k-per-week striker has swiftly become a shadow of his former self, with yesterday marking yet another example of such anonymity.

How did Patrick Bamford play vs West Ham?

Given that the 29-year-old was withdrawn after just 34 minutes, it seemed that everything about this game served as a microcosm for the Englishman's career in recent years.

Likely hoping to redeem himself on this big occasion, injury once again struck to add to his ever-expanding list of ailments.

Leeds United manager Sam Allardyce talks toPatrickBamford

However, during his time on the pitch, he was hardly terrorising the hosts. Just 13 touches gave way to an abysmal two completed passes, with the toothless striker also failing to register a single shot, via Sofascore.

Given this limited play time, the fact he would merit a 6.6 rating is suggestive of just how uninfluential he had been, with only one of his starting teammates receiving a worse rating.

Having been branded as a "liability" by journalist Hunter Walker earlier this year, it seems his claim has come to fruition with Bamford's recent lack of goalscoring impetus in particular.

Big misses against Leicester City and Newcastle United, the latter of which came from the penalty spot, surrendered two opportunities for a potential three-point haul that would have almost guaranteed safety by now.

Instead, they crawl onto the final day knowing that things need to drastically turn in their favour if they are to retain their top-flight status. Should Bamford manage a return to fitness, Allardyce would be wise to ditch this underperforming flop who cannot be trusted at the moment.

Man United Make 29 y/o Star Top Transfer Target

Manchester United are clear on who they want to add this summer, with Sky Sports reporting that Harry Kane is their number one top transfer priority this summer transfer window.

Who are Manchester United hoping to sign this summer?

The striker has been imperious as ever in the Premier League this season in spite of Tottenham's struggles. Even with Spurs currently sat in eighth in the league, Kane has continued to score goals on a regular basis.

Having played nearly every single top-flight game for the side this year – he has 37 appearances in total – the attacker has bagged 28 goals and has managed three assists. It's his best total since 2017/18 and shows that despite being 29 years of age, he is still at the very top of his game.

It means that Kane has now become one of the highest-scoring Premier League players of all time with 211 to his name – he currently stands second in the rankings. Only Alan Shearer stands above him but with plenty of time left to add to his total, it isn't out of the realms of possibility that he could overtake the amount the former Magpies man managed (260).

harry-kane-transfer-newcastle-united-premier-league

Having impressed for so long, Man United have now made it their number one priority to add the player to their ranks this summer.

According to Sky Sports, the Red Devils have put the Spurs man at the very top of their wanted list in their search for another forward option. A deal won't be easy, with Tottenham as determined as ever to keep the England international as the club it seems. However, it hasn't stopped Erik ten Hag's side from making him one of their most wanted men during the transfer window.

They have also registered an interest in both Declan Rice and Mason Mount, but the report adds that they are unlikely to sign all three players.

Will Harry Kane join Man United?

The striker has once more been one of the best players in the entire Premier League, which is shown by his WhoScored rating of 7.47. Only Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne rank above him and when you consider the difference in terms of the two team's positioning this campaign, it is good going by the England international.

In fact, City boss Pep Guardiola has also heaped praise on the player, which is a big compliment coming from the former Barcelona man. He said that Kane is an "exceptional player" and that he may also be "one of the best strikers" that the manager has ever seen.

If United did sign him then, their goalscoring worries could be over, and he would be exactly the kind of upgrade to their strikeforce that they need after scoring the fewest number of goals out of the top seven sides this season.

Chelsea keen on "extraordinary" £215k-p/w machine

Chelsea could be plotting a sensational summer transfer swoop for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.

What’s the latest on Dusan Vlahvoic to Chelsea?

According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, the Blues are long-term admirers of the 23-year-old star and a move to Stamford Bridge is definitely possible.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said:

“I think Chelsea want a traditional number nine and they urgently need goals. Dusan Vlahovic is one player they've tracked for quite some time.

"The possibility that Vlahovic will leave Juventus hasn't become apparent after the points deduction. It's really been the case for all of 2023, and many suitors feel that there is a real possibility to get Vlahovic at value because he's just not as happy as he was at Fiorentina playing under Max Allegri. Vlahovic could definitely move somewhere this summer."

As per ESPN, the 2021 Champions League winners have already offered €80m (£70m) for the Serbian, who is also attracting attention from Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.

Who can Dusan Vlahovic emulate at Chelsea?

The ‘striker curse’ has engulfed many Chelsea players over recent years. Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain, Romelu Lukaku, and Timo Werner have all failed to excel in a blue shirt.

Truthfully, the club hasn’t replaced the loveable yet erratic, and potent physical presence of Diego Costa, who departed the capital back in 2017.

Across three seasons with the west London outfit, the Spaniard netted 59 goals in 120 appearances in all competitions, winning two Premier League titles.

Diego Costa Chelsea

His goals and tenacity endeared to the Stamford Bridge faithful and Vlahovic’s profile as a dominant focal point could be a repeat of Costa.

In what has been his least productive season since 2020, the £215k-per-week man has still netted 14 times in 42 outings, which is still more than Chelsea’s highest scorers as Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz share nine goals each.

A lack of a number nine has killed the Blues this year, none of the current crop of attackers are a striker that can hold up play or have a killer goal-scoring instinct.

However, Vlahovic is notoriously prolific, having scored 61 goals in 140 Serie A appearances – a commendable record for a player still yet to reach his prime.

The forward stands at 6 foot 3 and is unquestionably a traditional frontman, who would seamlessly fill a humongous gap in the squad.

The former Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi once described the 21-cap international as “extraordinary” and it is impossible for Chelsea fans not to be intrigued by this possibility.

If new manager Mauricio Pocehttino can secure the signing of the Serbian machine, then it would be an incredible first step to revamping and improving a hideously disjointed frontline that is desperately craving a consistent goalscorer.

To replicate Costa’s status as a blue-blooded god would be a monumental challenge, but Vlahovic surely has the chance to become a Chelsea legend.

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