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Newcastle United are eyeing up two specific signings in the summer transfer window, as new sporting director Paul Mitchell looks to work his magic quickly ahead of pre-season.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies have been linked with so many players this summer, as they look to make further inroads in the transfer market, having already brought in the likes of John Ruddy and Lloyd Kelly. Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo has emerged as one option, although the supporters may not be too enamoured by the rumour, considering he failed to make a single Premier League appearance during a loan spell at Liverpool in 2023.

Another report has claimed that Newcastle lead the race to sign highly-rated Benfica defender Antonio Silva, with Eddie Howe keen on bolstering his options at centre-back. Still only 20 years of age, the Portugal starlet has already made 94 appearances for his club side.

The Magpies are also believed to be tracking Juventus winger Matias Soule, who has even been compared to Lionel Messi, with the 21-year-old an alternative to West Ham star Jarrod Bowen, who looks to be the top target for that role.

With Callum Wilson's Newcastle future up in the air, another strike partner for Alexander Isak could be needed moving forward, too, and Lille ace Jonathan David has been linked with a summer switch. The 24-year-old is a hugely impressive attacking player, scoring 27 goals in 53 caps for Canada.

Newcastle eyeing double transfer swoop

According to a new report from Give Me Sport, Newcastle want to make at least two signings in the near future, as Mitchell looks to strengthen the squad quickly and show why he is the perfect successor to Dan Ashworth.

The Magpies are believed to have "set their sights on making a minimum of two signings in the coming weeks", with "the hunt for a new defender and right-winger" specifically seen as a "crucial" part of the recruitment plans. They want the deals done early during the pre-season preparations, which will be music to Howe's ears.

These definitely feel like two priority positions for Newcastle before next season gets underway, with other areas of the pitch feeling more well-stocked.

At centre-back, long-term injuries to Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles make it imperative that at least one new player arrives there, and someone of Silva's ilk would be ideal, in terms of being both an immediate key starter and also a potential mainstay of the defence for many years to come. He enjoyed a 93.1% pass completion rate in the Primeira Liga last season, outlining his ball-playing ability.

Botman needs a top-quality partner, with Lascelles and Fabian Schar arguably not at the level required to be that player long-term, and it will be fascinating to see who comes in. Marc Guehi has enjoyed a highly impressive Euro 2024 campaign with England, and he has been backed to join Newcastle, and could also represent a brilliant option.

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Meanwhile, a new winger is needed as an upgrade on Miguel Almiron, thriving on the opposite flank to Anthony Gordon, and bringing in Soule could be perfect. He scored 11 goals in Serie A on loan at Frosinone last season, and has so much promise, with his peak years to come.

Everton have made a terrific start to the campaign and could now look to bring a talented La Masia graduate to Merseyside after his recent run of impressive performances.

Everton renew Jordan Pickford terms

Most people on the blue half of Merseyside wouldn’t disagree with the statement that Jordan Pickford has been Everton’s most influential player over the last few years, and he is now set to sign a new long-term contract that will likely see him end his career at the club.

Delivering details of his extension, Sky Sports reporter Phil Dorsett wrote on X: “Jordan Pickford will sign an improved four-year contract with EFC when he returns from #england duty. Brilliant servant for club and country. He surpassed Gordon Banks’ record of eight consecutive clean sheets for England in the 3-0 win over Wales.”

Currently Everton’s highest paid permanent player with a weekly wage of £125,000 per week, Pickford will be likely to earn a major increase on that salary and nobody can argue that it hasn’t been deserved.

Putting that to one side, the Toffees face a difficult challenge against an in-form Manchester City side this weekend at the Etihad Stdium, albeit David Moyes will fancy their chances of claiming something against Pep Guardiola’s men.

Ultimately, there is a steely resilience surrounding Everton that has been mixed with a unique blend of attacking talent, with Jack Grealish leading the charge on a weekly basis alongside the likes of Iliman Ndiaye.

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Nevertheless, you can never have too many good technicians within your ranks, and supporters of the Blues will be delighted to hear about their latest interest in a proven international.

Everton want to sign Ansu Fati

According to reports in Spain, Everton are keen on signing Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati, who is currently enjoying an encouraging start to his spell at AS Monaco.

Six goals in his first five games for the club, equating to an effort converted every 32 minutes, has brought about further interest in his services from the likes of Crystal Palace and Newcastle United.

Five similar players to Ansu Fati (FBRef)

Luis Diaz

Bayern Munich

Leroy Sane

Galatasaray

Oihan Sancet

Athletic Club

Jamal Musiala

Bayern Munich

Fermin Lopez

Barcelona

Intriguingly, Monaco have a chance to sign him permanently for just £9.5 million. Meanwhile, Barcelona can exercise a buyback clause for just over £24 million.

Keen to get ahead of the curve, Everton may be banking on the Ligue 1 outfit looking to trigger a quick sale for a profit amid his availability to Monaco for a low fee.

The player will likely have the deciding say on his future, and interest from Premier League clubs is something that could be weighed up as an alternative to a permanent move to his loan club or returning to Barcelona upon the conclusion of his spell at Stade Louis II.

After coming so close to the Premier League title for the second successive season, Arsenal now look to use the transfer window to bring in the players that can hopefully finally take them back to the summit of English football.

Arsenal eye fresh faces this summer

Before the curtain had even drawn on last season, much of the Emirates' faithful already knew that their side needed to sign a striker this summer.

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Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres have been the two names linked with a move to North London during the transfer window. The rumours linking the former with a move to the Emirates have cooled in recent weeks however after the Slovenia international signed a new contract at RB Leipzig.

Whilst Sesko looks set to stay this summer, the links with Gyokeres remain intact, with recent reports even suggesting that Arsenal have agreed on an initial £76 million package for the Swedish talisman, that could rise to around £101million with add-ons.

With the Gunners' hunt for a striker well under way, attention has turned towards reinforcements in defence. Italy star Riccardo Calafiori is the name at the top of Mikel Arteta's wishlist although the Bologna man now appears more interested in a reuniuon with Juventus boss Thiago Motta.

In preparation for if they are to lose out on Calafiori, Arsenal are now considering a move for another highly rated centre back who has starred at this summer's Euro 2024 tournament.

Gunners consider move for England star

As reported by Football London, Arsenal are said to be considering a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. The outlet claims that the English centre back is seen as the Gunners' back up option if they are to fail in their pursuit of Calafiori this summer.

Guehi enjoyed something of a breakout season last term, starring as Palace underwent a tactical revolution under new boss Oliver Glasner.

The 23-year-old has taken his domestic form into Euro 2024 with Guehi starting in all of England's games at the competition so far. He even managed to grab himself an assist in Sunday's victory over Slovakia, cementing himself as one of the Three Lions' most consistent performers in the tournament.

It was his performances over the course of last season that saw Guehi earn plaudits from England boss Gareth Southgate. Speaking back in October 2023, the Three Lions' boss waxed lyrical about the defender, telling the press: “Marc is doing really, really well. He’s played with great maturity in the two games last month.

‘He’s a very calm player [and] positionally excellent. [He is] composed with the ball, [has a] very good mentality, so we think he’s developing very well.”

Guehi's zen-like approach to defending makes sense when you understand his influences. The defender spoke on the players he had learned from in a 2023 interview, telling Crystal Palace's club website: “I think Paolo Maldini said something like: ‘If you have to make a tackle, you weren’t in the right position in the first place'".

With the South London outfit slapping a reported £65 million price tag on Guehi this summer, it is clear that the Eagles are not eager to let their player leave. Despite this, the temptation of Champions League football at the Emirates may prove too much when Guehi returns from Germany this month.

They might have suffered their first defeat in months at the hands of Aston Villa on Saturday, but this season is still shaping up to be a memorable one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side are top of the Premier League and Champions League tables and still haven’t reached their full potential.

Moreover, while injuries have taken their toll, the Gunners have a squad bursting at the seams with incredible players, and Bukayo Saka, arguably their most important player, has produced three goal involvements in his last four games.

So, fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal to a player who has been compared not only to the Englishman but also to summer target Rodrygo.

Arsenal target Saka & Rodrygo hybrid

Uncharacteristically, Arsenal went on something of a spending spree in the summer, bringing in the likes of Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and others.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Therefore, it would be understandable if the North Londoners held off on any major signings in the January window.

However, it would appear that the Gunners are determined to further improve their already impressive squad, and are now looking at a player who has been compared to both Saka and Rodrygo.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Arsenal are very interested in signing Yan Diamonde.

In fact, the report goes further than that, revealing that the Premier League leaders have now identified the winger as a priority target.

However, the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are also said to be keen on the youngster and that RB Leipzig would need a fee of up to €100m to sell their star asset, which is about £87m.

It would therefore almost certainly be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Diomande’s ability and potential, one Arsenal should fight for anyway, especially as he’s been compared to Saka and Rodrygo.

How Diomande compares to Saka & Rodrygo

So, starting with the obvious and somewhat surface-level similarities, like Saka and Rodrygo, Diomande is a seriously exciting winger plying his trade for a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Moreover, unlike some other wingers for top teams, the 19-year-old is someone who can back up his flashy ability with output.

For example, in 15 first-team appearances this season, totalling just 951 minutes, the Ivorian star has scored seven goals and provided four assists.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.36 games, or every 86.45 minutes, which is a rate of return that really lends credence to journalist Bence Bocsák’s claim that he is a “generational talent.”

However, the comparisons to the two international wingers go deeper than just their positions and ability to produce goal involvements.

For example, FBref has ranked Rodrygo as the second-most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Leipzig star across Europe’s top five leagues, and ranked Saka as the ninth-most similar.

The best way to understand how these comparisons have been made is to take a look at the underlying numbers in which the players rank so closely.

Progressive Carries

6.74

6.74

Shots on Target

1.35

1.40

Key Passes

1.46

1.40

Blocks

1.35

1.16

Passing Accuracy

80.9%

83.5%

In the case of the Real Madrid star, these metrics include progressive carries, key passes, shots on target, and passing accuracy, all per 90.

In other words, the teen phenom is as capable as the two-time Champions League winner at getting the ball up the pitch, whether by carrying or passing.

Expected Goals

0.34

0.36

Shots

2.37

2.60

Shots on Target

1.35

1.21

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.57

1.48

Shot-Creating Actions

4.29

4.55

Tackles Won

0.56

0.65

Ball Recoveries

5.39

5.56

Now, when it comes to the Gunners’ mercurial number seven, similar metrics include shot-creating actions, ball recoveries, tackles won, shots on target, expected goals, and more, also per 90.

This suggests that the youngster is as willing to help out with the defensive side of the game as the 24-year-old is, while also still being a serious goal threat.

Ultimately, it would require a significant amount of money, but Arsenal should do what they can to sign Diomande, as, in addition to being a great prospect in his own right, he also has a lot in common with Saka and Rodrygo.

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While they haven’t been perfect, Arsenal have been far and away the best team in the Premier League this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are sitting four points clear of second place, and while the attack is yet to click fully, the rest of the team have been exceptional.

One of the standout stars, as was the case last year and the season before that, has been Declan Rice.

The England international has been a difference maker on more than one occasion so far, and so fans should be delighted about reports linking Arsenal to someone who could be another Rice-type signing.

Arsenal target another Declan Rice

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On top of becoming even more of an attacking threat in that left-eight position he moved into last season, the former West Ham United captain has shown more of that defensive steel he was famous for, dropping into a double pivot on several occasions with Martin Zubimendi.

So with the Englishman thriving in all phases of play, it’s not a surprise to see Arsenal moving for another player of his ilk, an international star in the making: Adam Wharton.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims the Gunners are one of several sides keen to sign the Crystal Palace star.

The report has revealed that, alongside the North Londoners, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United are racing to sign the 21-year-old, while Real Madrid are also keeping tabs on the situation.

However, on top of beating out the competition, the Gunners will have to stump up around £100m to tempt the Eagles into selling the jewel in their crown.

With all that said, Wharton’s immense ability and potential make him a player worth pushing the boat out for, particularly after an impressive first start for his country during November’s international break.

Why Wharton would be another Rice for Arsenal

Described as “the best U21 player in the Prem” by one analyst, if Arsenal were to bring Wharton to the Emirates in January, it would be another example of them poaching a highly rated central midfielder from another Premier League side.

Moreover, they would once again be taking a non-big six London-based outfit’s best English central midfielder.

Finally, it would be the second time within a three-year period that the North Londoners spend north of £100m to do so.

Now, beyond what would make the deals so similar, what makes the Palace ace analogous to the former West Ham star?

Well, like his older compatriot was at the time of his move, the 21-year-old ace is very highly rated, with former Sky Sports employee Matthew Stanger labelling him a “generational talent” and one CONCACAF B certified coach dubbing him “the best deep-lying English midfielder since Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.”

While that is indeed supreme praise, it’s easy to see where it has come from, as much like the 72-capped England star, he is capable of doing more than just sitting deep and shielding the back four.

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for expected assisted goals, the top 4% for key passes, the top 5% for through balls, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, and more, all per 90 minutes.

Key Passes

2.07

Top 4%

Through Balls

0.58

Top 5%

Expected Assists

0.22

Top 6%

Inswinging Corner Kicks

1.29

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.75

Top 10%

Crosses into Penalty Area

0.26

Top 13%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.39

Top 17%

Crosses

2.78

Top 18%

Additionally, he has already won three senior caps for the Three Lions, and played a pivotal role in the Eagles winning the FA Cup last season – the first major honour in their history.

Ultimately, it is still early in his career, but Wharton looks to be a superstar in the making, and under someone like Arteta, could develop into another Rice-type monster.

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While it’s not been smooth sailing this season, Chelsea are looking good at the moment.

Enzo Maresca’s side are third in the Premier League and, despite dealing with numerous injuries, are just six points behind first-place Arsenal.

Moreover, while some of the summer signings are still taking their time to bed in, the more established players have stepped up, with Moises Caicedo once again showing why he’s one of the best in the world.

So, fans should be delighted with reports linking them to another midfield monster who could be another Caicedo-type signing.

Chelsea target another Moises Caicedo

It’s no secret that Chelsea like to spend when it comes to transfers, and they’ve already been linked with a plethora of exciting talents ahead of the winter window.

Transfer Focus

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For example, stories touting Real Madrid’s Rodrygo for a move to Stamford Bridge have resurfaced recently.

Another player from Spain who is reportedly a target for the Blues is former Manchester City star Julian Alvarez, who has been exceptional for Atlético Madrid, but as a result, could cost an arm and a leg.

However, while both La Liga stars would improve Marsca’s side, neither one can be described as a Caicedo-type signing, unlike Adam Wharton.

Yes, according to recent reports from Spain, Chelsea have maintained their strong interest in the Crystal Palace star ahead of the winter window.

In fact, the report goes further, claiming that the West Londoners are now leading the race for his signature, a signature that could cost them as much as £100m per other reports from the summer.

It would be a lot to spend on someone so young, but Wharton’s ability alone means it would be worth it, especially as he would be a Cacideo-type signing.

Why Wharton would be another Caicedo

Now, while there are obviously differences between them, there are a few reasons why Wharton could be another Caicedo-esque signing for Chelsea, either in January or the summer.

The first is that, like with the Ecuadorian, it would be another example of the Blues going in and putting a big offer on the table for one of the best midfielders in the Premier League who isn’t at a ‘big six’ side.

That might sound hyperbolic, but since moving to Selhurst Park, the Englishman has been sensational, and his underlying numbers prove as much.

xAG: Exp. Assisted Goals

0.30

Top 1%

GCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.13

Top 2%

Key Passes

2.07

Top 4%

Through Balls

0.58

Top 5%

xA: Expected Assists

0.22

Top 6%

Inswinging Corner Kicks

1.29

Top 7%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.97

Top 7%

npxG + xAG

0.32

Top 10%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.75

Top 10%

Crosses into Penalty Area

0.26

Top 13%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

2.52

Top 14%

SCA (Take-On)

0.13

Top 17%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.39

Top 17%

Crosses

2.78

Top 18%

For example, FBref rank the “generational” ace, as dubbed by Matthew Stanger, in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for expected assisted goals, the top 4% for key passes, the top 5% for through balls, the top10% for shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Moreover, he’s putting up numbers like that at just 21 years old in a team that’ll likely finish mid-table come May.

Therefore, were he to join Maresca’s side, then he could develop in a similar way to Caicedo and go from an exceptional talent to one of the very best players in the entire league.

Finally, just like Pensioner’s number 25, the former Blackburn Rovers gem is someone who can do the dirty work in defence, but is just as capable of running things in the middle of the park, whether through silky passes or ball-carrying.

Ultimately, it would not be cheap, but Chelsea should do what they can to sign Wharton as soon as possible, as he could be another Caicedo for them.

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Manchester United made it three wins out of three in the Premier League on Saturday when they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 at Old Trafford.

Bryan Mbeumo, who joined from Brentford in the summer, scored twice, whilst Casemiro and Matheus Cunha also got on the scoresheet in front of the home fans.

Bruno Fernandes, as shown in the clip above, played a crucial role in the fourth goal with his brilliant dummy, but his influence in the final third is beginning to wane.

Why Bruno Fernandes's influence is waning

The Portugal international has hit double figures for both goals and assists in all five of his full seasons at Old Trafford to date, per Sofascore, which speaks to the consistent impact that he has had at the top end of the pitch.

However, Bruno only has two goals and one assist in ten appearances in all competitions so far this term, scoring two goals from 4.29 xG in the Premier League, per Sofascore, which shows that his influence is waning.

Do not get it twisted, the 31-year-old star is still an influential player who can produce moments of magic for United, but the arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko mean that he does not need to carry the team on his back anymore.

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He still has two years left on his contract and only turned 31 last month, which means that he does still have plenty of gas left in the tank, but there is another player at United who may have Bruno’s captaincy in his sights, Matthijs de Ligt.

Why Matthijs de Ligt is a future Man Utd captain

The Netherlands international is five years younger than Bruno and may have more of a long-term future at Old Trafford, which could see him eventually snatch the captaincy if he continues to shine at the back.

After the 4-2 win over Brighton, content creator Liam Canning described his performance as “monstrous”, stating that he has “been United’s best player this season” and that the defender is “a future captain in the making” for the Red Devils.

It is hard to argue with that assessment from Canning after watching the former Bayern Munich and Juventus centre-back strut his stuff against Brighton on Saturday.

Minutes

90

Interceptions

1

Clearances

6

Blocks

1

Ball recoveries

5

Aerial duel success rate

100% (2/2)

Pass accuracy

91%

As you can see in the table above, De Ligt was ‘monstrous’ at the back for Ruben Amorim by winning 100% of his aerial duels and making several important defensive interventions.

This season, per Sofascore, the United defender has won 61% of his duels across nine starts in the Premier League. This shows that he has provided a dominant defensive force at the heart of Amorim’s back three.

Rio Ferdinand recently claimed that the Dutchman should be “the first name on the teamsheet”, which is usually reserved for the captain and main star of the team, and that is high praise coming from a player who won Premier League titles whilst playing in the same position.

De Ligt, of course, has also shown that he is a leader. He was the youngest captain in the knockout stage of the Champions League when he played for Ajax in the quarter-finals at the age of 19, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he can be a leader and a captain.

Therefore, Bruno may need to watch out as his powers seem to be waning whilst De Ligt’s stock is rising and he potentially has more years left ahead of him than the Portugal international to lead the club forward as captain, should Amorim decide that he is suitable for that role.

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ByDan Emery Oct 27, 2025

West Bromwich Albion’s early promotion hopes continue to be dashed by inconsistent form in the Championship.

After 12 up-and-down games this season in the second tier, the Baggies have exactly five wins and five defeats next to their name, with two losses on the trot to Watford and Ipswich Town, no doubt worrying Ryan Mason in the Hawthorns hot-seat.

Mason has had to deal with an awful lot of change in a short space of time in the West Midlands, in his defence, with Tom Fellows’ departure very much hurting him this summer, after he stood out as one of the Baggies’ brightest attacking sparks last season.

Why Fellows leaving hurt West Brom

The former Tottenham Hotspur coach turned West Brom manager would only have been occupying his new dug-out for around two months, when news began to filter through that Fellows had left his boyhood club behind for Championship rivals Southampton.

He has managed to pick up the pieces, with the likes of Isaac Price at his disposal, already up to five goals and one assist this season, as one presence who has made the loss of Fellows feel less obvious. Still, losing such a creative force has definitely had a negative impact.

If Fellows was still pulling on Baggies’ blue and white, Aune Heggebo might well have more goals to shout about from his early days in England, with the assist king managing to tally up a jaw-dropping 14 assists across 45 Championship encounters last campaign.

Instead, the Nordic centre-forward has often cut an isolated figure up top, with it not being the greatest shock in the world that the ex-Brann striker is only one goal down in his new location, considering he only accumulated a meagre 20 touches last match against Ipswich Town.

Josh Maja would have also been left feeling flat when Fellows exited the building for the South Coast, with the former Sunderland man often relying on a quick burst forward from the 22-year-old to then fire home last campaign. Now, after managing a 12-goal season next to Fellows, he is a regular on the bench, in another sad decline in the attacking areas.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom in the forward positions, even as only 12 goals have been fired home in league action to date by his side, with one talent at Mason’s disposal right now, arguably a bigger star than the brand-new Saints’ number 18.

West Brom have a bigger talent than Fellows

West Brom cashing in on their star asset for around the £10m mark this summer might have looked foolish at the time, considering he had previously been touted to move for a far bigger amount to pastures in the Premier League.

Now, however, with hindsight on side, it could well have been a smart call to make, with Fellows drawing blanks at St. Mary’s ever since he made his big move.

On the contrary, Samuel Iling-Junior is already terrorising Championship defences on the right wing in Fellows’ absence, with the former Juventus man arguably possessing a higher ceiling than their former homegrown gem

Indeed, while Fellows was tipped to make the Premier League cut and hasn’t just yet, Iling-Junior has been there and done that at the very top already, with three goals and two assists next to his name for the aforementioned Serie A giants in the Italian top-flight.

The “explosive” forward – as analyst Ben Mattinson once glowingly labelled him – even has nine Champions League clashes under his belt to further reinforce his pedigree, as Iling-Junior is now tasked with achieving what Fellows couldn’t do at the Hawthorns, in securing promotion up to the Premier League with his gung-ho displays, out on loan from the Baggies’ near rivals Aston Villa.

LW

66

15 + 15

LM

38

4 + 7

RW

15

5 + 1

LB

9

1 + 2

RM

6

1 + 0

CM

3

0

He is also a far more malleable presence than his Saints counterpart, with Mason no doubt pleased he has such a versatile talent, especially if he needs to potentially throw him into his starting XI wherever suits, as the season drags on.

Once on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur, before sealing a move around the £12m mark to Villa, it really could be labelled as a coup that West Brom have Iling-Junior on their books for the season.

But, as West Brom realised last campaign, having scintillating talents such as Fellows on your books doesn’t guarantee promotion, with a team effort the only way the Baggies are going to return to the Premier League under Mason.

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Chelsea are interested in signing a “magnificent” ace who could be available for £16.7m, according to a new report.

The Blues are likely going to be busy when the January transfer window opens as Enzo Maresca and co. will have their eyes on areas of the team that they would like to improve amid their bid for a Champions League place.

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It could be a busy month for Chelsea in terms of incomings and outgoings, as they have their eye on a few potential players, while players that are already at the club are being looked at by other teams.

One player that Chelsea are keen on signing is defender Jonathan Tah, but his arrival would only happen in the summer. The defender looks set to leave Bayer Leverkusen when his contract expires at the end of the campaign, and the Blues are looking to beat several interested teams to Tah’s signing by securing an agreement in the new year.

Chelsea could have their eyes on one or two players leaving the club in January, with midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall attracting interest from Aston Villa. The former Leicester City man has struggled since moving to Stamford Bridge, and a move, whether it be a permanent switch or a temporary one, could be on the cards in early 2025.

Villa hold an interest in the midfielder, but it depends on whether Chelsea and Maresca are willing to let Dewsbury-Hall leave for a rival also fighting for a European spot.

But while Chelsea have their eyes on the likes of Tah for next summer, they also have their eye on a player who could arrive in January.

Chelsea plotting £16.7m swoop for Lyon ace

According to a report from Spain, relayed by CaughtOffside, Chelsea are interested in signing Rayan Cherki from Lyon in January – and have even placed a €20m (£16.7m) offer. The Frenchman has been with Lyon since July 2010 and has firmly established himself as a key member of their starting XI in recent years.

Last season, he played 33 times in Ligue 1, scoring one goal and registering six assists. This season, Cherki, who has been dubbed “magnificent” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has played seven league games and has one goal and one assist to his name.

But given the French club’s financial issues, Cherki could be about to leave them when January arrives. This report states that Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in signing Cherki, who is considered statistically similar to Ousmane Dembele by analysis site FBref.

Metric

Cherki

Dembele

Apps

33

26

Goals

1

3

xG

5.2

4.4

Goals per 90

0.05

0.18

Assists

6

8

xAG

4.2

6.7

Assists per 90

0.31

0.48

Shots (on target)

57 (17)

43 (14)

Shots per 90

2.98

2.57

Progressive carries

93

160

Progressive passes

138

133

Despite the Blues’ offer – which has reportedly been matched by Liverpool – the Ligue 1 side will look to get more than that price as the 21-year-old is contracted to the club until 2026. The cash-strapped club will aim to recoup as much money as possible given their financial issues, which leaves them under threat of relegation from the French top flight.

Manchester City are now reportedly ready to hijack Manchester United’s move to sign a Premier League star worth as much as £100m in 2026.

Man City make Semenyo a top target

It’s not just their local rivals that Man City are looking to frustrate. The Citizens are also reportedly interested in signing Antoine Semenyo and have made the Bournemouth star a top target. In what would deal Liverpool an untimely blow, City could land one of the most in-form wingers that the Premier League has to offer.

It’s clear that Semenyo likes the idea of linking up with Erling Haaland, too, after saying: “Haaland is number one. You see it on TV, scoring all these goals and thinking, surely he’s not like this in person… That man is tall, my goodness. Tall, strong, fast, can finish.

“He’s got everything you need as a striker. I remember Man City just bopping, and I’m thinking, okay this is normal that they bop it. Ruben Dias wraps the ball to him, the ball’s like this high, I’m thinking ‘how’s he going to deal with this?’ just takes it on his chest like this – I am thinking: Haaland, the man.”

It’s also easy to see why City have set their sights on another direct winger. Aside from the improved Jeremy Doku, Pep Guardiola’s wide men have struggled to leave their mark, with Savinho receiving his fair share of criticism from those at the Etihad in recent weeks.

The Brazilian was part of a much-changed Man City side against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, but to say that he failed to make his opportunity count would be an understatement.

Alas, it’s not just wide men that Guardiola wants. The Spaniard and Man City have now reportedly turned their focus towards midfield star Elliot Anderson, who is represented by the same agency as Omar Marmoush.

Man City ready to hijack Man Utd's Anderson move

As reported by the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Man City are now ready to hijack Man Utd’s move for Anderson. The Citizens have made the Nottingham Forest star a top target and could splash out as much as £100m to secure his signature in 2026.

Man City now considering move for £65m forward who Pep called "extraordinary"

City have identified a forward as a priority target ahead of the January transfer window.

ByDominic Lund Nov 27, 2025

The England star is quickly becoming one of the most wanted players in the Premier League and that should come as no surprise.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has quickly made the Forest star one of his main men and has showered him with praise a number of times, telling reporters: “He is an elite player with the right attitude and a lot of talent. He is fulfilling his role in the best way possible so we are very happy with him.”

Man City now frontrunners to sign "world-class" £80m star, Pep's a big fan