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Celtic supporters are not happy with their side’s summer transfer business, so expect the Scottish Premiership champions to be busy in the final week of the window.

Vociferous chants of ‘sack the board’ could be heard throughout Wednesday night’s goalless draw with Kairat, meaning Brendan Rodgers’ side must now win in Kazakhstan next week to qualify for the Champions League.

No new faces will be eligible to feature in Almaty, just the 3,500 miles east of Glasgow, but with the first Old Firm of the season coming up the following Sunday, Rodgers will be desperate to belatedly get some quality new recruits through the door.

So, could the Hoops finally land one of their top targets?

Celtic's need for signings

As reported by Sky Sports News, Celtic are aiming to sign “two wingers, a striker and a left-back” before the transfer window closes on 1 September, and it is the attacking area of the pitch where new recruits are most required.

The Hoops have scored just three goals in their opening two Premiership outings, their joint-lowest tally since 2012, while Rodgers’ team rarely looked like breaking the deadlock against Kairat in mid-week, their sole Opta-defined big chance a Liam Scales header from a corner.

In search of more creativity, Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports News claims that Celtic are “ramping up” their interest in Jakob Breum.

He adds that “fresh talks” between the Celts and Go Ahead Eagles have taken place, claiming that the 21-year-old is valued at around £5m, while a report by the Herald asserts that Breum has a £6m price-tag on his head, a valuation that ‘is likely to increase’ if Celtic make it through to the Champions League league phase.

So, will he become the 11th Danish player to represent Celtic, linking up with Kasper Schmeichel, while looking to emulate Matt O’Riley, Morten Wieghorst, and others?

What Jakob Breum would bring to Celtic

Born in Odense, Breum began his senior career with local team Odense Boldklub, making 51 appearances for the Danish Superligaen side, before joining Go Ahead Eagles in 2023.

His first season in the Netherlands was pretty quiet, scoring just three Eredivisie goals, before really bursting onto the scene last time round.

He scored ten times in the Eredivisie, only three midfielders, namely Sem Steijn (24), Malik Tillman (12) and Ismael Saibari (11) bagged more, while it was also a historic campaign for Go Ahead Eagles, defeating AZ on penalties in April’s KNVB Beker Final at De Kuip, thereby landing the club’s first-ever major silverware.

This has earned them a place in this season’s Europa League, the first time ever Go Ahead Eagles will feature in a European group stage, hence why they’re desperate to hold onto their star man.

So, let’s assess Breum’s statistics from last season.

Goals

10

10th

Goals + assists

15

10th

Shots

59

18th

Shots on target

22

15th

Goals – xG

+3.7

10th

Key passes

44

16th

Shot-creating actions

100

9th

Big chances missed

4

42nd

Big chances created

6

37th

Accurate final 3rd passes

270

31st

Touches

1238

99th

Average SofaScore rating

7.3

13th

As the table outlines, Breum’s statistics are impressive across the board, most notably when it comes to goals scored, shot-creating actions, and the fact he over-performed his expected goals by almost four, emphasising his clinical nature.

Despite their cup triumph, Go Ahead Eagles did finish seventh in the Eredivisie, one of the least-balanced leagues in Europe, making his performances for not one of the Netherlands’ powerhouses even more commendable, performing in what is, according to Global Football Rankings, the 13th strongest league in the world, 14 places above the Premiership.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him an “underrated creative winger”, adding that he has an “interesting future ahead”, while António Mango adds that he “can operate anywhere behind a striker”, believing that the “impressive” Dane could contribute to a team at an even higher level than he is now.

So, why would this be such a key addition for Celtic?

Well, Breum would surely help unleash the Hoops’ current most dangerous attacker, Daizen Maeda.

During Wednesday’s dire goalless draw with Kairat, the Japanese forward was deployed wide-left in the first half, before moving into the centre-forward role after the break, but this did not have the desired effect.

Maeda touched the ball just 45 times all nine, eight Celtic players, including Anthony Ralston and James Forrest, both of whom came off the bench, accumulated more, while the forward had only one shot, a tame attempt straight at Temirlan Anarbekov in stoppage time.

Having scored 33 goals across all competitions last season, Maeda has proven himself as a reliable goalscorer, but he still requires service, which is exactly what Breum could provide, so not only would Celtic be securing the signature of a highly-rated youngster, this move could also unlock the best in their most quality attacker.

He'd bench Forrest: Celtic book medical to sign £4.5m star this week

After Celtic’s toothless goalless draw with Kairat in the Champions League, are they about to sign a “direct” winger as a major James Forrest upgrade?

ByBen Gray Aug 21, 2025

The attacking department at Tottenham Hotspur has been subject to somewhat of an overhaul this summer, especially after the departure of fan favourite Heung-min Son.

The South Korean departed in a £20m move to join MLS outfit LAFC, ending his Lilywhites career on a high after claiming the Europa League title at the end of last season.

However, it was an emotional departure, bringing an end to his decade-long stint in North London – a period that saw him amass over 400 appearances and become the club’s fourth-highest goalscorer in their history.

At 33, it was undoubtedly the right call to allow him to move on to pastures new, but it’s left a void in the forward area – something which Thomas Frank will want to fill before the end of the summer window.

Whilst Mohammed Kudus has already been added to such a department, the new boss has made it abundantly clear that he wants added reinforcements to help him in his quest to rise up the Premier League table in 2025/26.

Spurs preparing another big move after Eze

A deal for Eberechi Eze has been in the pipeline for numerous weeks now, but a deal seems to be edging closer to completion, after key moves were made by Daniel Levy.

It was reported that the Spurs owner held face-to-face talks with Steve Parish over a move for the Englishman, which has seen a verbal agreement of £55m plus £5m in add-ons be reached in recent days.

A deal for the 27-year-old could see the Lilywhites’ pursuit of a new number ten finally come to an end, subsequently turning their attention to Monaco star Magnhes Akliouche in an attempt to further strengthen the squad.

According to The Independent, Frank’s men have identified the winger as the latest attacking target this window, potentially pursuing a move for the 23-year-old before the September 1st deadline.

Their report claims that the Frenchman is seen as an alternative to Manchester City’s Savinho after the lack of progress on a deal for the Brazilian, with Akliouche a cheaper option, currently available for around a bargain fee of £43.5m.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be perfect alongside Eze

As previously mentioned, a deal for Eze appears to finally be edging towards its completion, in a deal that would be yet another excellent deal for Spurs this window.

The attacking midfielder was one of the most potent number 10s in the division last year, managing to register 26 combined goals and assists – subsequently firing the Eagles to FA Cup glory.

If he can replicate such numbers across the capital in 2025/26, it would be a signing that would go a long way to improving the options at Frank’s disposal – making the side a force to be reckoned with across all competitions.

Such a deal would also allow the Lilywhites to get one over their bitter North London rivals Arsenal, with the Gunners also previously interested in a move for the England international.

However, the prospect of Eze operating in Frank’s side is scary enough, not to mention the potential partnership he could strike up with Akliouche, should he too make the move to join the club.

He may be an unknown quantity to many, but the 23-year-old enjoyed a season to remember in his homeland last campaign, notching seven goals and 12 assists in all competitions.

His underlying stats were just as impressive, adding another dimension to the Lilywhites squad, offering another huge attacking threat in the hierarchy’s quest for added success in the near future.

Akliouche, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, ranked in the 93rd percentile for touches in the opposition box and passes into the 18-yard box last campaign – highlighting his ability to create or be on the end of chances.

Such numbers would fit perfectly into the hands of Eze, who registered 12 assists last season, with the pair able to link up and improve their respective tallies in North London.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

15

Pass accuracy

82%

Progressive passes

6.5

Progressive carries

4.8

Touches in opposition box

5.4

Passes into the opposition box

2.4

Carries into final third

1.8

Take-on success

49%

Key passes made

1.9

The Monaco youngster also ranked in the 94th percentile for carries into the final third, whilst posting a 49% take-on success rate, subsequently able to get the ball into dangerous areas at any given opportunity.

His talents are further reflected in his progressive passes per 90 rate, averaging 5.5 per 90, with such tools able to find Eze – who will be required to make third-man runs in behind the striker within Frank’s current system.

Whilst both players would set the club back over £100m, they are additions that need to be made if the club are to build on their recent European triumph in 2024/25.

Both players are extremely technical, having the talent to get out of tight spaces and create endless opportunities, with Akliouche in particular being an exciting addition for the immediate and long-term future in North London.

Romero will love him: Spurs chasing "one of the best defenders in the PL"

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to land another top defensive talent this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 19, 2025

Sunderland may have had one of the busiest and most productive summer transfer windows in their history, but it looks as though their business may not be done yet.

A memorable summer of transfers for Sunderland

The Black Cats have prepared brilliantly for their return to the Premier League, making as many as 11 permanent signings and bolstering their squad significantly.

It was something that Regis Le Bris spoke positively about last month, with Sunderland going from strength to strength in the market even since then.

“I am happy because we needed to reinforce the squad. The players who decided to join Sunderland had multiple choices. But finally, they decided to join Sunderland even with the same offer for many other clubs.

“That means they are convinced by the energy of the project. “I think we are clear in the way we want to recruit and the way we want to work. I think the owner, and the whole club, are showing their ambition. It is not just about surviving, we want to be competitive in this league, with the identity of Sunderland.”

Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi could potentially be the next player through the entrance door at Sunderland, joining the likes of Habib Diarra and Granit Xhaka, among others, but they may not be done there, following a new update.

Habib Diarra

Strasbourg

£27.1m

Simon Adingra

Brighton

£21m

Enzo Le Fee

Roma

£19.8m

Chemsdine Talbi

Club Brugge

£17.2m

Noah Sadiki

Union SG

£14.6m

Granit Xhaka

Bayer Leverkusen

£12.9m

Nordi Mukiele

Paris Saint-Germain

£10.3m

Omar Alderete

Getafe

£9.8m

Robin Roefs

NEC Nijmegen

£9m

Reinildo Mandava

Atletico Madrid

free transfer

Arthur Masuaku

Besiktas

free transfer

Sunderland backed to do more transfer business

Writing on X, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie said that Sunderland could still make two more signings alongside Lucumi this summer, amid “talks” with further additions.

Black Cats supporters will love this update from Downie, during a summer that would arguably have been beyond their wildest dreams, in terms of spending.

Admittedly, there is a risk in bringing in so many signings, in terms of a potential speedy relegation back to the Championship leaving the club in financial peril, but it is refreshing to see such a bold approach taking place.

Sunderland make transfer offer for £50,000-a-week World Cup semi-finalist

The Black Cats are on fire this summer.

ByHenry Jackson Aug 29, 2025

The 3-0 win at home to West Ham showed what Sunderland’s new signings are capable of, but after last weekend’s 2-0 defeat away to Burnley, it won’t all be plain sailing regardless of who comes through the door on Monday.

Of Alexander Isak, Arne Slot said, “We have to build him up gradually.” There will be an expectation from some that Liverpool should field their record-breaking recruit from the get-go after such an expensive and charged transfer saga, but this isn’t the case.

And anyway, Liverpool have already integrated Hugo Ekitike into Slot’s squad, with the 23-year-old Frenchman having scored three goals and supplied one assist from his opening four matches in a Red shirt.

There’s no doubt that the Reds have broken the bank this summer; Slot has acknowledged this himself. But with such remarkable and calculated investment, there are the means for healthy rotation that will allow Isak to ease into life on Merseyside after playing so little football over the past three months.

One constant, of course, is the persisting presence of Mohamed Salah on the right flank. Fitness permitting, it’s unlikely the Egyptian King will be hauled from his place on the right wing with any consistency this season.

Salah is 33, though, and Liverpool must begin to plan for their talisman’s departure, with Federico Chiesa and perhaps Jeremie Frimpong the only real alternatives.

Mohamed Salah's Liverpool future

Salah penned a new contract in April, ending fears of a departure on a free transfer at the end of the 2024/25 season. He will stay on the books until 2027, but the chances of another renewal are slim, it must be said.

Last season, he scored 34 goals and served 23 assists across all competitions, practically single-handedly dragging Slot’s Liverpool to the title. That’s not actually true, of course, but there’s no denying Salah’s matchless influence, a strong current at the heart of most of Liverpool’s attacking play.

With a goal and an assist from three Premier League matches so far this season, the veteran will continue to play a big role, although the weight of responsibility has been lifted by the signings of players like Isak and Ekitike.

Might this have a positive effect on Salah, who surely fancies his chances of adding 22 goals to his haul before his time comes at Liverpool, and he eclipses Wayne Rooney and maybe Harry Kane to stand as the Premier League’s second-highest scorer in history?

Alan Shearer

441

260

Harry Kane

320

213

Wayne Rooney

491

208

Mohamed Salah

304

187

Andy Cole

414

187

In any case, Liverpool will need to sign a successor before long, and it’s sure to be a costly bid at that. With that in mind, perhaps FSG might come to regret having sold a young star who has the potential to replace Salah down the line.

Liverpool sold their dream Salah heir

Ben Gannon Doak has been regarded as one of the finest young prospects in British football right from the start of his career in Scotland with Celtic, where he featured four times for the seniors before joining Liverpool in 2022 for €700k (about £600k).

The 19-year-old was billed as Liverpool material, all right, but he only ended up playing ten times for the Reds, injured when breaking through in 2023/24 before spending last season on loan in the Championship with Middlesbrough, where he notched ten goal involvements from just 24 matches.

The power and precision that are natural parts of Gannon Doak’s arsenal have led to comparisons with the above-mentioned Rooney, who likewise played with unusual physicality and gusto when emerging at Everton and when finding his feet with Manchester United.

Actually remarked to play “like a Scottish Wayne Rooney” in 2024 by his agent Jackie McNamara, the teenager’s style and performances so far lend credence to the comparisons, for sure.

Thanks to data platform FBref, we can note that Doak ranked among the top 5% of positional peers in the Championship last year for assists, the top 5% for key passes, the top 8% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive carries per 90.

Rooney, as we have seen earlier, retired as one of the most prolific and decorated players in Premier League history. As yet, Gannon Doak has but three appearances to his name in England’s top flight, and searches for his duck-breaking goal.

But the talent is there, it really is, and Liverpool might come to regret having sold the youngster to Bournemouth, even for a £25m fee, even with a buyback clause wedged into that contract on the south coast.

Former Scotland manager Craig Levein certainly recognised Gannon Doak’s potential from the off, saying, “This kid could be a world-class player.”

The evidence hardly suggests the contrary. Sure, the winger has one long road to travel before entering conversations even on the fringes of the park in which Salah sits, but his athletic style, powerful running and direct approach against defenders all suggest such a future is within the realm of possibility.

Furthermore, he demonstrated when on loan at Middlesbrough a capacity for show-stopping goals to complement his physical qualities and success as a playmaker.

Bournemouth have got themselves a gem. Because Gannon Doak has opted to follow the track taken by Dominic Solanke before him and many more sharing similarities of pathway, leaving an elite outfit to develop their skills in a setting more promotive of rising prospects looking to reach the top.

As with Rooney at Everton early on, Gannon Doak might now find himself in line to rise to the fore and stand out in the Premier League, playing under Andoni Iraola’s wing and blooming into a top talent.

Maybe the plan is for the player to enjoy several seasons with the Cherries before returning to Anfield with a more refined touch, but the details of the buyback clause are unknown, and there’s every chance that Gannon Doak has played his last for Liverpool and will instead go from strength to strength elsewhere.

He wanted to join City: Liverpool have already sold an Isak-esque talent

Liverpool have made wholesale changes in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 12, 2025

Thomas Frank would happily welcome Harry Kane back to Tottenham, but does not expect the forward to leave Bayern Munich any time soon.

Kane is close to a century of goals for Bayern after another hat-trick last Saturday for the Bundesliga champions. However, German publication BILD on Monday reported Kane has a £56.7million release clause which could be activated next summer.

The PA news agency understands Spurs do have a buy-back option on the England captain and Frank would be happy to work with the “top player” in the future.

Frank’s immediate focus is Wednesday’s visit of Doncaster in the Carabao Cup third-round where Spurs youngsters aspiring to be the next Kane could get an opportunity.

Highly-rated attacker Luca Williams-Barnett has impressed this season and struck a hat-trick for the Under-21s in Friday’s victory over Leicester. Asked about the 16-year-old on Tuesday, Frank hinted at a potential place on the bench.

Tottenham expected to open talks to sign "incredible" £27m star in January

Tottenham expected to open talks to sign “incredible” £27m star in January.

ByDominic Lund Sep 21, 2025

“Of course he’s trained with us, Luca, a few times. I get good info from the academy and from our transition coach Stuart (Lewis).

“So yeah, I’m well aware of Luca’s talent and I like what I see. He’s young, obviously, but his composure and technique and vision is very good.

“He’s a player that we like a lot. Let’s see tomorrow, but that could be an opportunity.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s success in the Europa League last season is evidence that their recruitment strategy over recent years has been a success on the pitch.

The Lilywhites have split their hunt in the transfer market, allowing for an excellent mix of youth talents with huge ceilings and big-money stars who can make an immediate impact.

Thomas Frank has continued that trend over his first summer transfer window at the helm, spending over £100m on a mixture of stars who can contribute to the club in the immediate and long term.

Joao Palhinha joined the side on a season-long loan from German giants Bayern Munich, hopefully making an immediate impact in North London given his experience at the top level.

Xavi Simons is arguably one of the most high-profile additions, costing a whopping £52m from RB Leipzig – but has plenty of time to thrive under Frank, given his tender age of just 22 years.

However, it remains unclear how much of a role one player will have to play under the manager’s guidance, given his constant setbacks over the last couple of months.

James Maddison’s horrid injury luck at Spurs

James Maddison was seen as a superb addition back in the summer of 2023, costing a fee in the region of £40m from Leicester City after their relegation from the Premier League.

The Englishman made an immediate impact in North London, becoming the first player in the club’s history to register two assists on his debut for the Lilywhites.

However, whilst he’s registered 16 goals and 19 assists for the club, injuries have massively halted his progress at the club – subsequently casting doubt over his long-term future under Frank.

He had already missed 24 games and 146 days’ worth of action before Frank’s appointment, but he is once again set for a prolonged period on the sideline with his latest setback.

The 28-year-old suffered an ACL tear in the pre-season clash with Newcastle United, with such an injury set to rule the midfielder out for the majority of Frank’s maiden campaign at the helm.

He currently has two years left on contract after the 2025/26 campaign, but given his constant setbacks, the club may look to offload the Englishman to prevent losing him for nothing.

Such a decision could free up the number ten shirt in North London, with one player already on the books more than deserving of the chance to wear the iconic shirt.

The Spurs player who could steal the #10 from Maddison

Despite losing the likes of Heung-min Son and Harry Kane over recent years, Spurs still have a huge array of attacking talent on the books under Frank’s guidance.

His side have already scored 11 times in the Premier League during their first six outings, averaging just shy of two goals per game – with Richarlison their top scorer on three.

There’s no denying that the side are a force to be reckoned with in attacking areas, with not many sides able to possess the quality Frank’s men do in the final third.

The midfield department is also stacked in the manager’s favour, with Lucas Bergvall just one of the players who’s made the position his own within the 4-3-3 system.

Not many fans would’ve predicted how quickly he’s made himself a first-team regular in the side, especially after joining for just £8.5m from Swedish side Djurgarden just last summer.

He was just 18 upon his transfer, but it has not stopped him from thriving in North London, racking up 54 appearances across all competitions since his transfer.

Bergvall, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has arguably been one of the Lilywhites’ star performers in the early days of the 2025/26 campaign – starting four of the six league outings under the Dane.

Games played

6

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

84%

Dribble success

70%

Tackles won

2.2

Duels won

5.2

Recoveries made

3.9

Shots taken

1.5

Despite his midfield role, he’s also managed to notch a goal and assist in England’s top-flight, leading by example in North London despite his tender age.

At just 19 years of age, he has bags of time to develop further and transition into an elite-level talent and lead the club to added European and domestic success.

He has all the tools to thrive in England for many years, subsequently deserving of the number ten shirt in the near future to help reflect his importance to the football club.

It may be a harsh decision to cut ties with Maddison, given his success on the field, but ultimately, his injuries are far too frequent – subsequently making him an unreliable figure.

Bergvall has demonstrated he’s capable of starring ahead of the Englishman in recent months, with the Swede deserving of the opportunity to wear the prestigious number ten shirt.

Fewer touches than Vicario: Frank must drop 4/10 Spurs dud after Wolves

Tottenham Hotspur failed to claim all three points against Wolves, with one player disappointing throughout.

2 ByEthan Lamb Sep 28, 2025

Manchester United supporters have been starved of huge success for over a decade now, with no manager able to win the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Countless managers have tried and failed to replicate such feats, with Ruben Amorim the latest to try and end the decade-long drought for league glory.

However, it’s safe to say the 40-year-old has failed miserably at the task, as seen by his record of nine defeats in his last 15 top-flight matches in charge of the Red Devils.

The former Sporting CP boss arrived with huge expectations, but he’s failed to live up to them, with his recent slump on the field potentially spelling the end to his time at Old Trafford.

It would be a surprise to no one around the world that he could be replaced in the near future, potentially opening the door for one man to take the reins at the Theatre of Dreams.

The favourites for the Man Utd manager role

Over the last couple of days, former England boss Gareth Southgate has emerged as a potential candidate to take over as United manager should Amorim lose his job.

It’s been reported that the 55-year-old would be open to the role after previously being linked with the role on various occasions throughout his managerial career.

However, he’s not the only option currently in the hierarchy’s sights, with former Barcelona boss Xavi also under consideration, according to one outlet in Spain.

They claim that the Spaniard is emerging as one of the favourites to take over in Manchester, with the 45-year-old currently without a job after leaving Barcelona back in May 2024.

Despite the interest in his services, they may have to act quickly, with Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad also approaching him about taking over after Laurent Blanc was sacked.

Why United’s latest target would be their own Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has been a boss who has constantly proven his worth against United over recent years, often causing the Red Devils fanbase pain in the Manchester Derby.

In his 30 outings against the club, he’s won 63% of the matches – with his tally of 19 wins the fourth-most he’s achieved against any side in his managerial career to date.

His time at the Etihad has seen him win six Premier League titles since he took the reins back in the summer of 2016 – subsequently dominating England’s top-flight after his appointment.

There’s no doubt the fans of the Red Devils must wish they had themselves a manager of such a calibre, especially given the dismal levels they’ve had to endure over the last couple of seasons.

However, that could all be about to change with the potential appointment of Xavi in the near future, with the Spaniard possessing a very similar route to his compatriot in his managerial career.

Both starred at Barcelona as players before making the jump into management, with both going on to lead the Catalonian outfit in LaLiga and the Champions League.

Guardiola has made the move to England and succeeded, with Xavi having the chance to do the same if he does get offered the United job in the weeks ahead.

His stats during his time in charge of the Spanish giants are nothing short of remarkable, potentially having the quality to take the Red Devils back to their former glory.

The 45-year-old, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Guardiola himself, achieved a 70% win record for Barca, winning 71 of his 102 matches in charge of the club.

Games managed

102

Wins

71

Draws

16

Losses

15

Points gained

229

Points per game

2.3

Win percentage

70%

Goals scored

198

Goals against

87

He also achieved a staggering 2.3 points per game record, conceding just 87 times in the process – highlighting his ability to create a well-drilled and defensive outfit – something which the Red Devils have greatly lacked.

Xavi also managed to win the LaLiga title back in the 2022/23 campaign, potentially making him the perfect man to end United’s extended wait for a league triumph.

It remains unclear how long Amorim will be given to turn things around, but it’s evident that the 40-year-old is on borrowed time given the recent form in the Premier League.

However, there’s no denying that other options are being lined up by the board, with the former Barca boss potentially the perfect boss to fill the void at Old Trafford.

Arteta 2.0: Man Utd now targeting "best coach in the PL" & it's not Glasner

Manchester United appear to be targeting a manager who could replace Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 30, 2025

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández is attracting serious interest from Real Madrid, with manager Xabi Alonso urging Los Blancos to strike a deal.

Real Madrid eye 2026 deal for Chelsea star Enzo Fernández

It’s approaching three years since Enzo Maresca’s side broke the British transfer record by signing Fernandez in a deal worth £107 million, and while Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool has since smashed that fee, the midfielder remains one of Chelsea’s most expensive ever buys.

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

1

Moises Caicedo

£115m

Brighton

2023

2

Enzo Fernández

£107m

Benfica

2023

3

Romelu Lukaku

£97.5m

Inter

2021

4=

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£71m

Athletic Club

2018

4=

Kai Havertz

£71m

Bayer Leverkusen

2020

The £180,000-per-week star endured a very difficult first year at Stamford Bridge, failing to justify his mammoth price tag whilst even getting involved in a racism scandal in 2024, but he’s since been rejuvenated by Maresca.

The Italian shocked on-lookers by naming Fernandez as a captain just one month after his racism debacle with the Argentina national team. However, the 24-year-old repaid Maresca’s faith by becoming one of the linchpins of his engine room.

Since Maresca’s appointment, Chelsea’s tactical setup has played to Fernandez’s strengths, allowing him more freedom to influence the game in a more advanced role while also allowing him to maintain some defensive responsibilities.

This new place in the team has elevated his performances, and amid Fernandez’s surge in form, reports are seriously linking Real with a keen interest in signing the ex-Benfica star.

Some sources have suggested that Chelsea could be open to a part-exchange deal involving Fernandez and Fede Valverde, but a new report from Spain has made the Blues’ demands crystal clear.

Chelsea set mammoth price tag for Enzo Fernández amid Real Madrid interest

It is now believed that Real’s interest has intensified, with Alonso personally telling the La Liga giants to pursue Fernandez in a bid to upgrade his midfield.

However, Chelsea have placed a £100 million price tag on Fernandez, so if Real want to open talks, they could have to make him the Londoners’ biggest-ever sale.

Rank

Player

Fee

Sold to

Year

1

Eden Hazard

£89m

Real Madrid

2019

2

Kai Havertz

£65m

Arsenal

2023

3

Oscar

£60m

Shanghai SIPG

2017

4

Álvaro Morata

£58.3m

Atlético Madrid

2020

5

Diego Costa

£57m

Atlético Madrid

2017

Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards best summed up Fernandez’s newly-found importance to Chelsea, praising him as a “leader” in the squad who has a “little bit of everything” after yet another great performance against Liverpool just prior to the international break.

He would now be difficult to replace, and Chelsea will hope that Fernandez’s knee problem isn’t too serious after he was forced to withdraw from international duty.

Manchester City fans who had made the long journey to Swansea City on Wednesday night might well have been fearful that their up-and-down side could be on the receiving end of an EFL Cup upset.

Their fears were beginning to be realised when Gonzalo Franco fired the Championship hosts into the lead after 12 minutes, after the number 17 calmly beat stand-in City stopper James Trafford to send the home masses into raptures.

Thankfully, for City’s sake, that was as good as it got for Alan Sheehan’s home side, as Pep Guardiola’s visitors ended up running away with the clash to secure a comfortable 3-1 win.

City are still on for some silverware; therefore, in the EFL Cup, with Jeremy Doku hopeful that his efforts in Wales mean he is in with a shot of a Premier League start against AFC Bournemouth this approaching Sunday.

Doku's performance in numbers versus Swansea

After all, the Belgian likely stood a good chance at starting against the Cherries on the left flank, anyway, irrespective of what he mustered up on Wednesday night, with Savinho seriously struggling in City sky blue as of late.

Doku has only boosted his already strong chances, though, with his showing against the Swans, as this deflected effort – which came about from the ex-Rennes man’s initially tricky footwork – levelled the scores in the first half, before Omar Marmoush eventually handed the away side a late second-half lead.

The diminutive attacker is well known for his front foot approach in attacking areas, as can be seen looking at his high successful dribble rate per 90 minutes back in the Premier League, and it was on full display throughout in Wales, with seven dribbles attempted in total.

With four key passes under his belt, too, it’s clear that Doku will be able to ramp up the entertainment levels far more on the left flank than Savinho moving forward, meaning the fast-paced number 11 could soon be reinstated into Guardiola’s starting lineup.

Yet, he isn’t alone in banging down the door for more first-team chances, as this other sensational performer against Swansea looked a class above everyone else on the pitch and is now viewed as undroppable.

The undroppable City star who looked "streets ahead"

In the end, even with Guardiola hooking the likes of Erling Haaland and making wholesale changes, City just had too much star power for the hosts to contain.

Rayan Cherki, in particular, bamboozled the Swans all night long, with one City-based content creator stating that the ex-Lyon playmaker “absolutely ran the show”, which is a fair assessment when you dig deeper into his numbers from the 3-1 win.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

1

Assists

1

Touches

119

Shots

5

Accurate passes

74/92 (80%)

Key passes

6

Total duels won

5/11

Unfortunately, Cherki’s early days at the Etihad have been riddled with injury issues, with the dazzling Frenchman only fit enough for six games so far this season.

Hopefully, he will move past these recurring niggles to become a crucial first-teamer now in Manchester, with Cherki helping himself to a goal and an assist across the duration of his sensational 90 minutes against their in awe EFL opponents.

Cherki would stylishly dictate play by amassing a whopping six key passes from his mammoth 119 touches, while also showing off a fiery edge to his game when winning five ground duels.

With a further goal coming his way against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening day, the time is right, surely, for Cherki to be given an extended run in the main side.

Haaland will also be licking his lips at the prospect of working alongside such an entertaining attacking marvel, who was labelled as being “streets ahead” of everyone else on Wednesday night by journalist Amos Murphy for his quick-witted play up top.

Doku and Cherki would love to cause similar havoc together when Premier League action returns, with more wins soon to be added to Guardiola and Co.’s league tally, if they can regularly run rings around top-flight defences together.

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Searching for a much-needed centre-back, Liverpool are now reportedly prepared to take a key step towards their attempt to sign Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund.

Their chase to sign the Bundesliga defender comes as no surprise. Arne Slot was left with little choice but to play Andy Robertson centre-back in an attempt to rest both Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate against Crystal Palace. The season-ending injury to Giovanni Leoni left the Reds with just three senior centre-backs and only compiled their current misery.

Things could have been so different had they signed Marc Guehi, of course, but those at Anfield now face a battle to land his signature for free next summer. Missing out on the Crystal Palace star a year on from coming within hours of securing his arrival would be an undeniable blow.

Six defeats in seven games have exposed Liverpool’s defensive problems so soon after missing out on Guehi in the summer and they must find a solution in 2026.

What certainly doesn’t help is the contract situation of Ibrahima Konate. The Frenchman is yet to sign a new deal and is on course to leave Anfield as a free agent in the summer. Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk will be into the final year of his deal at the same time – sparking a potential crisis for the Reds.

Preparations are seemingly underway for such a scenario, with names such as Dayot Upamecano recently mentioned as reported targets, but replacing both Konate and Van Dijk would almost be an impossible task.

One player who holds similar attributes to Van Dijk, however, is Schlotterbeck. The Dortmund defender has caught Liverpool’s eye and Michael Edwards is now ready to take a key step towards his signature.

Liverpool preparing to match Schlotterbeck demand

As reported by Bild in Germany and relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool are now prepared to match Schlotterbeck’s wage demands.

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The 25-year-old has reportedly rejected Dortmund’s €8m-a-year (£7m) contract offer and wants to earn in the region of €14m-a-year (£13m) instead, which would be up from his current €5m-a-year (£4m) deal.

That’s something that the German club are yet to match, but something that Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are ready to hand the defender.

Money talks on the European stage and Liverpool will hope that proves true in the summer as Schlotterbeck continues to impress.

Minutes

450

810

Progressive Passes

7

6.22

Successful Aerial Duels

1.60

5.11

Ball Recoveries

5.60

2.33

Whilst there will be concerns over Schlotterbeck’s struggles in the air, his passing range more than makes up for that. Completing seven progressive passes per-90 so far this season, the Dortmund star would solve Liverpool’s build-up problem almost instantly.

Described as “underrated” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Liverpool should go all out for Schlotterbeck in 2025. Not only is he good enough to replace Konate, but he could even become their Van Dijk heir in the coming years.

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