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Tottenham Hotspur know that their fate hinges on their ability to create a winning streak in the closing stage of the Premier League, with the fifth-placed side currently six points behind Aston Villa in the top four, albeit with two games in hand.

The London club's form has been disappointed chequered since a blistering start to life under Ange Postecoglou back in the early phase, though improvements have been made this season and this is the foundation of – hopefully – a prosperous new era.

Regardless of whether Spurs will clinch a spot in Europe's elite competition next year, there have indeed been tantalising glimpses of what is to come, with the £43m signing of defender Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg last summer proving to be one of the catalysts of the campaign forged – and the likely linchpin of the success yet to come.

Micky van de Ven's season in numbers

Van de Ven might only be 22 years old but he has enjoyed a barnstorming maiden year in England, with his performances leading respected journalist Henry Winter to describe him as one of "the buys of summer."

As per Sofascore, the Dutchman has completed 21 Premier League appearances so far, scoring twice, completing 95% of his passes, winning 61% of his duels and averaging 1.9 tackles, 2.7 clearances and 5.7 ball recoveries per outing.

He's the real deal and Tottenham will go from strength to strength with him and Cristian Romero holding down the fort in central defence.

But he's being let down this season, not covered effectively in his backline role. Indeed, Yves Bissouma is starting to present himself as a liability and he must be sold this summer.

Why Spurs must cash in on Yves Bissouma

Once described as a "monster" by journalist Aaron Stokes, Bissouma is losing his way at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, culpable for some poor performances over recent months.

There's no question that he's a highly talented player, ranking among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 14% for successful take-ons, the top 5% for tackles and the top 7% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

But statistics can be deceiving and the Mali international is not protecting the defence and charging the attack with the fluid fortitude needed.

He's not the highest earner in Tottenham's ranks but his £55k-per-week salary does surpass that of Van de Ven (£50k-per-week), and it might be prudent to relieve the wage bill of his signature, freeing up space to move for an improved star.

Newcastle United (A)

4-0 loss

3/10

Nottingham Forest (H)

3-1 win

6/10

West Ham United (A)

1-1 draw

7/10

Luton Town (H)

2-1 win

5/10

Fulham (A)

3-0 loss

3/10

As the table conveys, Bissouma has been on a downward spiral in recent fixtures, his early-campaign imperiousness long in the past, and is failing to hold his own in the engine room as Postecoglou's side fight for Champions League qualification.

This is reflected in his current market value of just £11m, as per Football Transfers, lower than the prices of peripheral midfield teammates such as Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Tottenham might seek to cash in this summer.

While it's unlikely that Daniel Levy would recoup the same £35m figure that was parted with for Bissouma's signing from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022, when Nuno Espirito Santo was at the helm, there's every chance that Tottenham will move for a new specialist No. 6 in the months to come.

Should this happen, Bissouma will sink further into the fringe, and his valuation might diminish further. He must be sold to continue the revival under Postecoglou's leadership.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

Arsenal have been handed a blow as it has emerged that they trail a Premier League rival in pursuit of one of their long-term transfer targets.

Gunners in search of reinforcements

Despite leading the Premier League as it stands, it could be another runners-up medal for Mikel Arteta and his side come the end of the season.

This comes with Manchester City just a point adrift and having a game in hand on their former assistant manager's outfit.

It means that the Gunners need their rivals to drop points in one of their final four games of the season while being perfect themselves. Though it is far from impossible, City's recent form suggests that it is unlikely, with Pep Guardiola's side having taken 39 points out of a possible 45 this calendar year and not having tasted defeat in 90 minutes.

The final run-in for the Premier League title

Arsenal

Man City

Game 35

Tottenham (W 3-2)

Wolves (H)

Game 36

Bournemouth (H)

Fulham (A)

Game 37

Manchester United (A)

Tottenham (A)

Game 38

Everton (H)

West Ham (H)

It makes this summer even more important for the Gunners to bridge the gap as they look to go one better should they ultimately come second. A midfielder is essential, while another wide player is also high on the agenda.

But there is also a need for another defender to provide cover and competition for William Saliba, whose absence last season contributed to their downfall and who is clearly a vital part of the Arsenal setup for which, at present, has no alternative.

Now, insight has been shed on the future of the player they had seemingly been targeting to fill that void.

Newcastle lead race for cut-price Diomande

That comes courtesy of Portuguese outlet A Bola, which claims that Newcastle lead the race for Sporting CP wonderkid Ousmane Diomande, who has attracted attention from across the Premier League for his performances in Lisbon.

In fact, Arsenal even tried to sign him before that, with the Gunners trying to sign him from Norwegian side FC Midtjylland before he moved to Sporting in the winter of 2023.

They tried again six months later, with reports claiming that Arteta's side tabled a £30m offer for the Ivorian that the Portuguese giants turned down.

Arsenal eyeing 'unstoppable' Jesus upgrade who was in London on Sunday

The incredible talent has shades of Lukas Podolski about him.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 1, 2024

The Gunners 'promised to return' this summer, but will have to hurry.

That is because Premier League rivals Newcastle United lead the race for his signature, according to A Bola. The report claims that Sporting are willing to negotiate down from Diomande's €80m (£68.4m) release clause, and will accept a bid between €50-60m (£42.5-51m).

It adds that the Magpies are the "best-placed" club to make an offer, and that a bid for Diomande is the expected "next step" as they look to wrap up a deal.

The defender has been touted as a future star and came in for high praise from Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, who posted on X: "Ousmane Diomande. You rarely see a player with such high ball-playing and pure defender skills. There are some tactical improvements but I'm quite sure this kid will play for the best teams in the world. The signs of elite talent."

Given Arsenal's longstanding interest in the defender, they are unlikely to go down without a fight, but as it stands, Diomande could be turning out against the Gunners next time he is at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal are reportedly looking to sign an upgrade on Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer, which could see a rising star arrive from La Liga on a path already trodden by club captain Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal transfer news

The Gunners won't stop here after their sensational Premier League campaign, with Josh Kroenke remaining defiant in the fact that this is just the start for those in North London.

With that said, whilst the headlines will likely be dominated by their search for a ruthless goalscorer this summer, those at The Emirates are also reportedly looking to land a new left-back.

Arteta has privately called £40 million defender his ideal Arsenal signing

The Spaniard is a big fan.

ByEmilio Galantini May 18, 2024

According to reports in Spain, Arsenal are eyeing a move to sign Miguel Gutierrez, who has starred at Girona this season to help them secure a shock Champions League place. Earning a reported £6k-a-week, Arsenal could land a bargain deal if they trigger Gutierrez's €40m (£34m) release clause in the coming months.

Having come through Real Madrid's ranks, Gutierrez can now follow the same path as Odegaard by completing a move to North London and providing Mikel Arteta with a long term left-back solution. With Bayern Munich also interested though, the Gunners will have to act sooner rather than later if they want to kick off their summer plans with a bang.

Welcoming Gutierrez and others would certainly be the first step towards building a deep squad capable of competing for four trophies next season.

"Fantastic" Gutierrez would be an upgrade on Zinchenko

At just 22 years old, Gutierrez looks set to have quite the decision to make about his future this summer, especially if Arsenal turn their interest more serious. If the move does take place though, then it's one that should leave the Gunners in a position of strength down their left-hand side, with Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu handed quite the competition.

Assists

6

2

Progressive Passes

142

220

Key Passes

41

28

Ball Recoveries

200

103

The number of ball recoveries that Gutierrez manages is a particular positive and stands out as something that would slot straight into Arteta's attempt to suffocate teams on the front foot when Arsenal want to counter-press.

After such an impressive campaign, the left-back has earned plenty of deserved praise, including from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who described his season as "fantastic". Things could now get better than ever this summer if Arsenal step up their interest and sign a player who is showing all the signs that there's plenty more to come yet.

Glasgow Rangers have one game left to play before the official end to their 2023/24 campaign as they face their local rivals in the SFA Cup final on Saturday.

The Light Blues have the opportunity to secure a second domestic trophy of the season, having won the League Cup earlier this term, by winning the showpiece at Hampden Park this weekend.

Philippe Clement's side had beaten Aberdeen 1-0 at Hampden in the League Cup final, thanks to a goal from captain James Tavernier, and will be hoping for a similar result against Celtic in the SFA Cup.

The bulk of the Belgian head coach's focus will, therefore, be on this huge Old Firm clash to come on Saturday, and the trophy on offer alongside it, but the upcoming summer transfer window will also be in the back of his mind.

He has yet to have a summer window in charge of the club and it will, therefore, be his and head of recruitment Nils Koppen's first chance to make big changes to the playing squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

A new striker has now emerged as a possible target for the Light Blues to bolster their attack, and he could be a dream alternative to Lawrence Shankland.

Rangers keeping tabs on exciting young forward

According to the Daily Record, Rangers are keeping a close eye on Rapid Bucharest's exciting young centre-forward Albion Rrahmani ahead of the summer.

The report claims that the Scottish giants have been scouting the attacker closely but has not revealed whether or not they are prepared to move in with a firm offer for his services.

That came after Kosovan Football on X claimed last week that the Gers are 'keen' to bring the 23-year-old finisher to Ibrox ahead of next season, whilst they added that there had not been any official movement in the pursuit at that point.

The same account relayed a claim from commentator and football director Arlind Sadiku in April that Rapid Bucharest would want a fee of up to €8m (£6.8m) to part ways with the striker, amid interest from Slavia Prague.

Koppen and Clement could now land a dream alternative to Shankland, who Football Insider reported in February is a summer target for the Gers, by landing a deal to sign the impressive youngster from the Romanian outfit.

The Hearts forward could be a fantastic addition to the squad but if they fail to land the Scotland international then Rrahmani would be a fantastic option instead.

Why Lawrence Shankland would be a good signing for Rangers

The experienced attacker, who was valued at around £3m in January, enjoyed a sublime 2023/24 campaign in the Scottish Premiership for the Jam Tarts.

He won the Premiership Player of the Year award thanks to his terrific goalscoring exploits for Steven Naismith's side throughout the season.

Shankland plundered an eye-catching 24 goals and four assists in 37 league matches for Hearts to earn himself the best player in the division crown.

Lawrence Shankland

18.36

24

+5.64

Kemar Roofe

1.48

1

-0.48

Danilo

6.68

4

-2.68

Sam Lammers

4.71

2

-2.71

Cyriel Dessers

21.72

16

-5.72

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish star achieved that tally without being blessed with the quality of chances that current Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers had in front of goal.

These statistics show that Clement has a crop of attackers who have been incredibly wasteful in front of goal, whilst Shankland has been incredibly clinical.

The 28-year-old striker outperformed his xG by almost six goals and only missed nine 'big chances' in total, which speaks to his sensational finishing quality in the Premiership.

Shankland, as you can see in the clip of his winner in the Edinburgh derby, also has the mentality and quality to step up in big matches, which is illustrated by his record against Old Firm sides.

The right-footed star has scored an eye-catching six goals in just ten appearances against Celtic in his career, to go along with five goals in 23 outings against Rangers – including one in three matches this term.

If the Light Blues fail to snap him up from their Premiership rivals, though, then Rrahmani could be an exciting dream alternative to the Jam Tarts captain.

Why Rangers should sign Albion Rrahmani

Firstly, the Rapid Bucharest striker is a young talent, at the age of 23, who has plenty of years left ahead of him to develop and grow and could, therefore, be a long-term signing for Rangers.

He is five years younger than Shankland and could offer more to the club moving forward, making him a good investment for the future, whilst also having the potential to make an impact in the short-term.

Rrahmani, who scout Ignacio Almada lauded as "ambidextrous", enjoyed a sublime season in the Superliga in Romania and could be a lethal addition to Clement's side if his performances can translate over to the Premiership.

The both-footed star racked up 17 goals in 25 league appearances for Rapid Bucharest and offered quality as a creator for his teammates, with 13 'big chances' created from a centre-forward position.

Appearances

37

25

Goals

24

17

Minutes per goal

136

125

Conversion rate

18%

22%

Assists

4

5

Big chances created

6

13

Key passes per game

1.4

2.0

As you can see in the table above, Rrahmani enjoyed a stronger season than Shankland at the top end of the pitch with fewer minutes per goal, a higher conversion rate, and significantly more impressive creative statistics.

Whilst they are both impressive finishers who have proven they can find the back of the net on a consistent basis, the Kosovo international has shown that he can consistently create for others – with seven more 'big chances' created in 12 fewer appearances than the Scotsman.

Clement must drop 4/10 Rangers man to unleash "tremendous" star

The Light Blues head coach should bring the experienced ace back into the starting lineup for the SFA Cup final.

ByDan Emery May 19, 2024

Therefore, Rrahmani could be a dream alternative to the Hearts captain as he has far more years ahead of him to develop and thrive in a Rangers shirt, whilst also having the potential, if his form translates over to Scottish football, to offer more as both a scorer and a creator of goals for Clement.

West Bromwich Albion didn't mess around after exiting the Championship play-off semi-final stages, revealing their retained list five days after their 3-1 second-leg defeat to the Saints, with seven senior Baggies players released in the process.

Out of all those chucked to the scrapheap, Matt Phillips' exit would have stung the most, considering the experienced 33-year-old had accumulated 255 appearances for the Baggies in total across eight memorable seasons, before being greeted with this news after an injury-heavy 2023/24 campaign personally.

Still, the ageing attacker registered 26 appearances when fit for Carlos Corberan's men and played his part somewhat – picking up six goal contributions along the way – but will now find he's a free agent come the end of this month regardless.

This could mean West Brom are in the market for many a winger to fill gaps in the areas down the flanks at the Hawthorns, which is why the promotion nearly-men are looking at this potential capture to soften the blow of the 33-year-old leaving for nothing.

West Brom still in the hunt for "fantastic" forward

Fresh off the back of a "fantastic" season with Oxford United, as it was described by football pundit Carlton Palmer recently, Josh Murphy now has a major decision to make, with his contract situation at the Kassam Stadium unresolved.

The Sun reported back in April that the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Southampton, Queens Park Rangers and more were going after the electric winger's services, who bagged ten goals from 38 games in total for the U's on the way to promotion being sealed.

Two of those ten strikes came during his side's victorious play-off final win over Bolton Wanderers at Wembley, as Murphy's tricks and flicks down the left wing proved too much for the Trotters to handle on the day, who collapsed on the big stage for Des Buckingham's men to win 2-0 to pull off a shock promotion.

Still hopeful that their ex-Norwich City man could stay put in Oxfordshire for his side's exciting voyage up to the Championship, with contract talks currently underway, the Baggies will still have their fingers crossed they can tempt him to relocate to the West Midlands instead, to possess a player in a similar ilk to Phillips again.

Why Murphy would be a strong Phillips replacement

Despite being more of a natural left winger, which is a position that also needs filling in Corberan's camp with Mikey Johnston returning back to Celtic, Murphy can still be a Phillips replacement in terms of what he offers to West Brom even whilst operating on the left flank.

Both content with twisting and turning defences with slaloming runs when darting forward, as can be seen in the table below, Murphy's ten goal contributions just in the regular season – all of which came in 2024 – wasn't far off being eclipsed by Phillips' six either, despite the soon-to-be free agent playing two games less as a regular absentee to the Hawthorns treatment room.

Stat – per 90 mins

Phillips

Murphy

Games played

26

28

Goals scored

3

6

Assists

3

4

Big chances missed

4

6

Big chances created

3

7

Successful dribbles

0.7

1.0

Stats by Sofascore

Bettering Phillips on a number of their comparative attacking statistics, however, Murphy could be viewed as the perfect replacement for Phillips, as well as bolstering the left channel for Corberan's men, with Johnston also departing meaning the Baggies need a new hero there.

Corberan's immediate future in the Baggies hot-seat isn't even secure at the moment though, but they'll hope he stays put in the dug-out for next season, with Murphy shining brightly potentially for a side who could go one better and win promotion next campaign.

West Brom could seal a "very special" signing to transform Thomas-Asante

West Bromwich Albion will hope Brandon Thomas-Asante is back firing in the goals next season regularly alongside this new recruit.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 3, 2024

When Ange Postecoglou was unveiled as Tottenham Hotspur's new manager last summer, and Harry Kane was sold towards the end of the transfer window, few pundits or fans expected the North Londoners to have a successful campaign.

However, an impressive ten-game unbeaten streak at the start of the Premier League season made people sit up and pay attention to the all-action football the Australian coach had his team playing.

Unfortunately, injuries and fatigue took their toll on the Lilywhites over the course of the year, and they slipped from table-toppers to fifth, but considering the expectations people had for them in August, qualification for the Europa League has to be seen as a success.

So, as the summer transfer window officially opens next week, it's imperative that Daniel Levy and Co get Postecoglou the right players to improve his squad and push back into the top four.

With that said, let's take a look at how the Lilywhites might line up after a summer of wheeling and dealing.

1 GK – Guglielmo Vicario

One of the easy inclusions is Guglielmo Vicario, who keeps his spot between the sticks.

Arriving in the summer from Serie A side Empoli, Vicario was a relative unknown to many Premier League fans. Still, he quickly picked up a reputation as one of the best shot-stoppers in the country thanks to his impressive early performances.

His brilliant start to life in North London saw him pick up the Goalkeeper of the Year Award at the London Football Awards in February. While he's had some issues with players bullying him at corners since then, his place in the team is relatively secure.

2 RB – Pedro Porro

Like the man behind him, Pedro Porro keeps his place in the lineup thanks to a season of impressive performances.

The Spaniard started 92% of league games this season and played 90% of the available minutes, in which he racked up three goals and seven assists.

He also scored a screamer in one of his two FA Cup performances.

3 CB – Cristian Romero

One of the club's vice-captains, unless he's sold in a shock transfer this summer, there is no way Cristian Romero won't be at the heart of Spurs' defence next year.

The World Cup winner started 87% of league games this season, played 82% of minutes, scored five league goals, and only received one red card.

While he has a reputation for being reckless, the Argentine is one of Postecoglou's most important players.

4 CB – Micky van de Ven

The centre-back who will partner the Argentine is also an easy choice.

In just one season, Micky van de Ven has proven himself to be one of the most exciting defenders in the league.

One of the Dutchman's biggest strengths is his rapid pace, which allows the manager to play an incredibly aggressive high line. Earlier this year, the former Wolfsburg star broke the record for the fastest sprint in Premier League history when he clocked up a speed of 37.38km/h against Brentford.

5 LB – Destiny Udogie

The final player in the defence is another star from this year, Destiny Udogie.

The Italian fullback burst onto the scene – to borrow a phrase – at the start of the campaign and left such an impression that he was nominated for the Premier League Young Player of the Year last month.

The good news for Spurs fans is that he agreed to a new long-term deal in December that will keep him in N17 until 2030.

6 CM – Ederson

Now, we've reached the first of the two central midfielders and the first change, as Yves Bissouma is out, and Atalanta's Ederson is in.

The Brazilian midfielder was linked to the Lilywhites for £50m last month following his monstrous display in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.

Able to play as a central or defensive midfielder, the 24-year-old "machine", as dubbed by Italian journalist Carlo Garganese, would be able to add some much-needed steel and agility to the Lilywhites midfield.

For example, the "energetic" dynamo, as described by journalist Bence Bocsak, made 1.1 interceptions, 2.3 tackles and 5.2 ball recoveries per game in Serie A this season, per Sofascore.

It would be an expensive signing to make, but well worth it.

7 CM – Conor Gallagher

The second central midfielder brings us the second new face as Conor Gallagher comes into the side.

Spurs have been regularly linked to the Chelsea man for what feels like years at this point, but a recent report revealed that the club was in the process of preparing an offer for him and was confident that a £40m fee would be enough to secure his signature.

Appearances

50

Goal

7

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.32

He might be a player that divides opinion, but his tireless running and endless amount of energy would be ideal in a Postecoglou system, and The Athletic's Spurs correspondent Jack Pitt-Brooke even compared his ability to press and win back the ball as reminiscent of a "Poch-era Dele All."

He's not just a busy body, though. He racked up seven goals and nine assists in 50 games this year, and perhaps most importantly of all after Spurs' season, he has never missed a game of senior football through injury.

It might not be the flashiest signing, but bringing Gallagher to N17 would be an excellent idea.

8 CAM – James Maddison

Spearheading the midfield will be last summer's marquee signing, James Maddison.

The former Leicester City star might have had an underwhelming end to the season, but he still managed to rack up four goals and nine assists in 30 games, which is an average of a goal involvement every 2.3 games.

If the club can keep him fit next year, he could be a serious problem for the rest of the league.

9 RW – Viktor Tsyhankov

So, the first player in the front three is another new face, and this one might be controversial.

Ukrainian winger Viktor Tsyhankov replaces Swedish international Dejan Kulusevski on the right as he has performed better than the former Juventus ace for two seasons in a row now.

For example, the Girona ace produced 24 goals and assists in 42 games last season and backed that up with 15 goals and assists in 34 games this year.

Appearances

42

37

Goals

12

2

Assists

12

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

0.27

Appearances

34

39

Goals

8

8

Assists

7

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.44

0.28

In contrast, the Spurs ace produced just ten goals and assists in 37 games last season before doing slightly better and hitting 11 goals and assists in 39 games in 2023/24.

The 24-year-old Swede might be a more talented player overall, but he has yet to show that with any real consistency, and the fact that Tsyhankov can be picked up for just £26m makes signing him a very tempting prospect indeed.

10 LW – Son Heung-min

The left winger is another easy choice as club captain Son Heung-min simply has to start.

The South Korean international made 36 appearances for the North Londoners this season, scoring 17 goals and providing ten assists. This means he averaged a goal involvement every 1.3 games – he has to start somewhere.

West Ham United have an ostensibly favourable run of fixtures for the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, with Julen Lopetegui no doubt pleased with the evenly spread strength of divisional opposition throughout.

Of course, the tale tells a different story indeed to the match action on the pitch, on the day, but it's promising nonetheless, with the Hammers in with a good chance to start strongly and successfully carry David Moyes' legacy into the new era.

1.

Aston Villa

London Stadium

1-1 draw

2.

Crystal Palace

Selhurst Park

5-2 loss

3.

Manchester City

London Stadium

1-3 loss

4.

Fulham

Craven Cottage

5-0 loss

5.

Chelsea

London Stadium

3-1 win

Lopetegui will need to strengthen ahead of the new campaign, pointers suggesting that bolstering the frontline is the Spaniard's prime concern, with 18-year-old Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme already signed for £25m.

But the incomings won't stop there. According to reports over in Spain, the new boss is pushing to sign a talented LaLiga star.

West Ham transfer news

Reports on the continent claim that West Ham are insisting on driving for Ferran Torres' signature this summer despite the Barcelona star's desire to remain at Camp Nou.

Barcelona are in a sticky financial situation and, at Hansi Flick's behest, would accept an offer of £30m for his sale. With Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur also interested in a deal, West Ham should start putting a convincing package together quickly.

Imagine Ferran Torres & Jarrod Bowen

Jarrod Bowen certainly didn't do it alone last season but the England international needs to see some purposeful transfer activity completed this summer, having often filled in at centre-forward.

1.

Jarrod Bowen

44

20

2.

Mohammed Kudus

45

14

3.

Tomas Soucek

52

10

4.

Lucas Paqueta

53

8

5.

Michail Antonio

32

7

5.

James Ward-Prowse

51

7

Torres, like Bowen, is a dynamic and clinical attacking player, and while he wouldn't be the out-and-out striker signing that the Hammers would still need to complete, his sharp offensive weaponry – tried and tested in the Premier League – would be a real benefit.

As per FBref, the Spain international ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals but only the top 21% for total shots taken per 90, emphasising his striking prowess.

Left winger

19

5

2

Right winger

12

4

0

Centre-forward

8

2

1

A degree of exciting fluency could be found in Bowen and Torres' partnership, with the Irons star scoring 20 goals last season but also creating 12 big chances in the Premier League, denoting the playmaking acumen that would provide the clinical Spaniard with a constant outlet.

After all, given that Torres has been dubbed “world-class” by former Barca boss Xavi, he clearly has a performance level that would enhance the current West Ham crop.

Bowen is one of the most reliable forwards in the Premier League but for Lopetegui's tenure to start with a bang, he will need some added firepower.

Torres, who won two Premier League titles with Manchester City, may want to remain in his homeland but if push comes to shove, the London Stadium can offer a position of prominence back in the Premier League. Alongside Bowen, he could form quite a prosperous partnership.

West Ham now interested in signing £25m forward who once tormented Ogbonna

They know all about his quality.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 17, 2024

With Leeds United set for another year of Championship football, some of Europe's top sides are sensing an opportunity to lure their best players away from Elland Road.

Leeds set to lose big talents this summer

As soon as the final whistle at Wembley confined Leeds to another season of Championship football it became clear that the Whites are set to lose a number of their top talents this summer.

Leeds United chasing move for "unbelievable" £5k-p/w defender this summer

Talks are in the early stages for a potential deal.

ByBen Browning Jun 1, 2024

The first to be linked with a move away from West Yorkshire was winger Crysencio Summerville. After scoring 19 goals last season the Dutchman has caught the attention of multiple Premier League sides. Newcastle are the latest team rumoured to be making a move for the 22-year-old, with Liverpool and Chelsea also reportedly interested.

Another name doing the rounds in Leeds circles is Wilfried Gnonto. The Italian has been linked with a move away from Elland Road, with the local press suggesting that he could well be on the move from Leeds this summer with a price tag of around £30million reportedly slapped on the 20-year-old.

As if losing arguably their two strongest attacking outlets was not bad enough for Leeds, it now appears that their best young player has caught the eye of one of Europe's elite clubs, with a top scout making his desires clear.

Top scout wants to lure Gray away from Elland Road

As first reported by Sports Witness, the German press have claimed that Borussia Dortmund's squad planner Sven Mislintat is "trying to lure" Archie Gray away from Elland Road. The outlet claims that the German outift have been keen on the midfielder for a long time with Leeds' failure to return to the Premier League furthering this interest.

Mislintat may be a familiar name to some of the Elland Road faithful, with the man dubbed "diamond eye" in the stands during the loss to Southampton in last month's playoff final. Whilst the Dortmund man was scouting Ilia Gruev at Wembley, it appears that he has also shown an facination in his midfield partner turned right back.

The news of interest in Gray should not come as a surprise to Leeds fans, with the 18-year-old attracting plenty of intrigue from across Europe this summer. Back in April it was reported that representatives from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid watched the midfielder during a 3-1 win over Hull City.

The England youth international has also been linked with a move to a number of domestic outfits with the most recent rumours linking Gray with a move to Tottenham Hotspur. Joining Spurs in the race for the teenager's signature is their North London rivals Arsenal, who view Gray as a potential partner for Declan Rice.

Whilst the interest in Gray is clear to see there is no evidence that Leeds are looking to sell this summer. Recent reports suggest that Daniel Farke wants to make the 18-year-old the heartbeat of his team next season, showing a desire to cash in on basically anyone but their local lad.

Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market this summer, selling a score of players and bringing in a host more. Business, it should be known, is far from done.

Enzo Maresca has now been welcomed as the Blues' new manager and, having now conducted his opening press conference has commented on his desire to instil "the right mentality and culture" in west London.

Todd Boehly and Co can hardly be rebuked for a lack of ambition since assuming ownership at Chelsea in 2021, but market strategy has been errant and must be streamlined if the canyon between the Blues and those at the forefront of Premier League and European football is to be narrowed.

There is much to do, but Mauricio Pochettino's efforts last term have ensured that optimism has taken root in the Stamford Bridge soil, with purposeful moves being made and the outfit's flotsam being sifted through and disposed of for financial gain.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£30m)

Ian Maatsen (£37.5m)

Omari Kellyman (£19m)

Lewis Hall (£28m)

Marc Guiu (£5m)

Omari Hutchinson (£20m)

Tosin Adarabioyo (free)

Thiago Silva (free)

Hakim Ziyech (free)

There's an undeniable emphasis on establishing a youthful foundation, and while recent reports suggest that another teenage talent is being targeted, this one might just be the cream of the crop.

Chelsea transfer news

According to reports relayed by Football Transfers, Chelsea have made signing Stade Rennais starlet Desire Doue their top priority this summer.

The 19-year-old has been linked with most of the Premier League's heavy hitters already at this fledgling phase of his career but Chelsea – alongside Tottenham Hotspur – are now gearing up for a concerted approach toward securing his signature having held talks with representatives.

Rennes hope to make Doue their record sale, and after Manchester City signed Jeremy Doku for £55.5m last summer, this is expected to be in the ballpark of £60m.

Why Desire Doue is so sought-after

Despite his youth, Doue has established himself as a mainstay in Julien Stéphan's Ligue 1 side, having already completed 76 senior matches, scoring eight goals and adding seven assists.

Left winger

16

4

4

Central midfield

10

0

1

Attacking midfield

8

3

0

Right winger

7

0

1

Centre-forward

3

1

1

Highly versatile, Doue is silky-skilled and tactically flexible, with fluidity in his overall play and a capering sparkle to his movements that speak highly of his future presence at the top of the continental game.

It's no surprise that talent scout Jacek Kulig has already gushed over his qualities, calling him a "fantastic mix of dribbler and creator" and a "pure joy to watch".

After stepping onto the major stage during the 2022/23 campaign and starting 11 league matches, Doue played a starring role last term, scoring four goals and supplying six more across 43 matches in all competitions, starting 17 Ligue 1 fixtures – including the final eight in succession.

He is blooming into a highly-talented player, and given his breezy gait and elegance with the ball at his feet, he might be the perfect player to lift Maresca's Chelsea side to the desired level, perhaps even proving to be the west London club's own version of Jamal Musiala.

Desire Doue could be Chelsea's own Jamal Musiala

Chelsea once had Musiala in their clutches, but sold the prodigious talent to Bayern Munich when he was just 16 years old, with the bloated Cobham academy holding its fair share of potential and requiring a sacrifice.

BBC presenter Gary Lineker hailed the German's "magical" qualities during one sublime showing at Euro 2024, with Musiala evoking awe through his ball-carrying expertise.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 16% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for pass completion, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90.

Chelsea must rue the day they allowed him to waltz out of England's capital, but now they could rectify past wrongs by moving to sign Doue.

The up-and-coming Frenchman carries a similarly dynamic sheen to his skill set, ranking among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and successful take-ons and the top 15% for tackles per 90.

Clearly both progressive players with a knack for wrong-footing their opponents with their slick and stylish movements into the final third, shuttling through on goal with ease.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has noted the player's semblance to Musiala's kind of profile. Simply, he's an entertainer. And while Chelsea are crafting a team with variegated options and an impressive range of talent, Doue could be the kind of player to lift Stamford Bridge's roof and offer something truly unique at the start of an exciting new project.

Mattinson has also pronounced Doue a "special talent" and it's clear to see that with apt nurturing, he could flower into one of the standout players of his position – whatever that ends up being.

In Ligue 1 last year, the teenager averaged 2.1 dribbles per game (winning 67% of his efforts). Musiala, in comparison, averaged 3.0 dribbles per match in the German Bundesliga, succeeding 60% of the time.

Doue is fast establishing himself as one of the most talented young midfielders on the continent, and while Chelsea are pushing to land a variety of teenage talents, this one could bypass such peers in west London and earn an instant place at the front of Maresca's first team.

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Arsenal have had an unusually quiet transfer window so far this summer, at least compared to a year ago.

For example, by this time in 2023, Mikel Arteta had already welcomed Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and even Jurrien Timber to the team, and the North Londoners were incredibly proactive in the market.

However, in their defence, the Euros and Copa América only ended a week ago, and since then, rumours have started heating up. Alongside the likes of Nico Williams and Mikel Merino, Pedro Neto is one of the players most heavily touted for a move to the Emirates.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers star is one of the most exciting wingers in England, and while he'd be a great addition to the team, Arsenal already have a talented winger in the side worth significantly more.

The latest on Pedro Neto to Arsenal

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal contacted Neto's representatives this month to express interest in securing his services.

The report claims that Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen to land the tricky winger, but his preference is to join the Gunners, in part because of the opportunity to play Champions League football.

However, to get the transfer over the line, the North Londoners will still have to spend a significant sum of money, as the report confirms that the Old Gold would accept offers of around £50m.

That's undoubtedly a lot of money for a player with significant injury problems, but his form on the pitch more than justifies it.

For example, in 24 appearances last season, the 24-year-old scored three goals and provided 11 assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.71 games, which is seriously impressive for a midtable side.

The Portuguese international would be an excellent addition to Arsenal's attack next season, but the club already have a talented winger who's worth even more, and it's not the one you're thinking of.

Gabriel Martinelli's valuation in 2024

Yes, the winger in question is not Bukayo Saka, but instead, Gabriel Martinelli, whom Transfermarkt has valued at a massive €70m, which is £59m, or £9m more than Neto's valuation.

Such a price tag would be impressive for any 23-year-old, but it is even more so in this case, considering Arsenal paid just £6m for the left-wing dynamo in 2019.

Since then, the "sensational" Brazilian, as dubbed U23 scout Antonio Mango, has improved dramatically and now has 174 first-team appearances under his belt, with the season before last being his best to date.

2019/20

26

10

4

0.53

2020/21

22

2

2

0.18

2021/22

36

6

7

0.36

2022/23

46

15

6

0.45

2023/24

44

8

5

0.29

In that campaign, he scored 15 goals and provided six assists in 46 appearances, equating to a goal involvement every 2.1 games.

He did take a slight step back last season, scoring eight goals and providing five assists in 44 appearances, but given his age and future potential, he should remain an essential part of the North Londoners' future.

Ultimately, there is no denying that Neto would be a fantastic signing for Arsenal this summer and a player who could help give them that impetus in the big moments.

However, he'll have to hit the ground running and remain fit to surpass Martinelli's valuation, which will likely increase in the coming years.

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