West Ham United also have their eyes on a potential David Moyes replacement who's won nine major trophies across his career, with the Hammers head coach's new contract still up in the air as things stand.
Moyes set for crucial next few games to determine West Ham future
The Scotsman has been under pressure in recent weeks after a winless start to 2024, but back-to-back league wins have put Moyes in a slightly stronger position heading into their Europa League last-16 clash against Freiburg this evening.
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The Bundesliga side host West Ham in Germany on Thursday evening, and if Moyes' side can clinch victory, then it would put them in a very strong position as they eye a quarter-final place and another potentially impressive run in Europe.
Moyes pointed towards his strong record abroad this week to plead his case, with West Ham winning the Conference League last season and qualifying for Europe in each of his full campaigns as head coach.
West Ham's last five games under David Moyes
Everton 1-3 West Ham
West Ham 4-2 Brentford
Nottingham Forest 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
West Ham 1-1 Bournemouth
"Our European stats are impressive, I have to say. I think for West Ham to be a European club in the first place was incredible," said Moyes on West Ham's European record.
"I remember it greatly the game we qualified [against Southampton in May 2021], and the celebration because we were going on a European tour.
"We've been on it now for three years, and we've played over 30 games in the three years in Europe, which has given you an idea of what we've had to do so it’s a good stat and we want to keep it going and we want to build on it.
"I didn't know (40% of all the games as a West Ham manager in charge in Europe) so I take it and hopefully we can keep it going."
After their first leg face-off with Freiburg, Moyes will oversee West Ham clashes against Burnley, Freiburg in the second leg, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Tottenham in crunch matches which could well determine whether the 60-year-old is there next season.
Reports suggest technical director Tim Steidten is eyeing alternatives to Moyes in case he does go, and one interesting name is Lille boss Paulo Fonseca.
West Ham eyeing Paulo Fonseca as possible Moyes replacement
According to GiveMeSport, Fonseca is on West Ham's radar as a potential Moyes replacement.
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The Portuguese has won nine major trophies across spells in Ukraine and his homeland, namely with Shakhtar Donetsk, SC Braga and FC Porto. Interestingly, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has pointed to his credentials as a "perfect" dressing room coach.
Lille manager Paulo Fonseca.
Fonseca's reputation for building positive relationships with his players, not to mention his resume of trophies, could be enticing from the perspective of a West Ham supporter.
Aston Villa’s chances of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League took a big hit last weekend as they stumbled to a 4-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.
Having just three days recovery between the clash on Sunday and their Europa Conference League tie against Ajax looked as though it caught up with Unai Emery’s men.
While they were 2-0 down to Spurs, John McGinn got himself sent off with 25 minutes remaining and the north Londoners netted another two in added time to wrap up a convincing victory.
John McGinn
Should Villa prevail against the Dutch giants this Thursday, could fatigue begin to set in and derail their challenge for a Champions League spot?
McGinn’s red card on Sunday means he will now be suspended for the next few league matches and combining this with an ever-growing injury list, it looks as though the Midlands side could see their dreams being destroyed.
Emery has formed an excellent starting XI, but his squad depth is a worry, especially in defence.
If Matty Cash gets injured, the only other senior right back in the first-team squad is Calum Chambers, and he has played a grand total of 222 minutes this season, and he is currently earning more than one of their January transfer signings.
Calum Chambers’ statistics at Aston Villa
In January 2022, during Steven Gerrard’s first transfer window in charge of the club, the former Rangers manager lured Chambers north in a move that cost them just £2m.
This was due to the defender having only six months left on his Arsenal contract and, on the surface, it appeared to be a bargain.
Calum-chambers-aston-villa
Chambers had spent the previous six and a half seasons at the Gunners, making 122 appearances across all competitions, yet his final 18 months saw him feature on just 17 occasions, and it was clear his future was elsewhere.
Gerrard had secured the signing of a defender with plenty of Premier League experience, and he played 11 games for Villa until May 2022, scoring once in the process.
This should have been a solid platform to work with ahead of the following season, yet he started just five matches for the club, including only two in the league.
The right-back ranked in a lowly 17th position in the squad for accurate passes per game (10.9) in the top flight, while finishing in 11th spot for accurate long balls per game (0.6) and 14th for tackles per match (0.6), indicating that he failed to perform when given a chance in the first team.
The 29-year-old has found opportunities even harder to come by this term as Emery prefers Cash on the right of his back four.
calum-chambers-arsenal-transfer-aston-villa
Indeed, Chambers has played just 44 minutes of Premier League football during 2023/24 and that came against Nottingham Forest a couple of weeks ago amid the club's wretched run of injuries at the back.
The Englishman still has another year left on his current contract, yet the Spaniard will clearly be looking to move him on this summer, especially considering the wage that he is earning every week.
What Calum Chambers earns at Aston Villa
The defender signed a three-and-a-half-year deal in January 2022, earning a staggering £50k-per-week in the process.
Since he joined, the defender has only played 32 times for the Villa Park outfit, which indicates that he is rinsing the club dry, even if a lavish fee wasn't spent to acquire his services.
Aston Villa's top ten highest earners
Player
Weekly salary
Clement Lenglet
£150k
Boubacar Kamara
£150k
Youri Tielemans
£150k
Moussa Diaby
£130k
Ollie Watkins
£130k
John McGinn
£120k
Lucas Digne
£120k
Emiliano Martínez
£120k
Leon Bailey
£120k
Diego Carlos
£100k
Via Capology
Indeed, combining his £2m transfer fee with the £5.7m he has earned roughly since moving to the club just over two years ago, the total comes to £7.7m, which works out at £240k per game.
While he may be towards the lower end of the scale concerning the highest earners at Villa, he is still earning more than Morgan Rogers, who joined in January, yet the youngster clearly has a big part to play for the club in the coming weeks, unlike Chambers.
How much Morgan Rogers earns at Aston Villa
It was evident during the winter transfer window that Emery was looking to add some attacking reinforcements to his side, while also thinking about the future in the process.
This led him to target a move for Rogers, who had impressed during the first six months of the season for Middlesbrough.
The winger had scored seven goals and registered nine assists for Boro in all competitions and this type of form clearly grabbed the eye of Emery.
A deal was finally announced on deadline day, with Rogers potentially costing the club up to £16m, but his potential ensures this could soon turn into a wise investment.
Wage Burners
Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.
The winger was handed a long-term deal while earning a wage of £20k-per-week, which placed him near the bottom of the squad, and this is even £30k-per-week less than Chambers, who has barely featured this season.
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The 29-year-old is approaching the last few years of his career and has certainly rinsed the club since his January move in 2022, although Emery will be keen to move him on as soon as possible.
Morgan Rogers in action against Aston Villa.
Rogers, on the other hand, has a wonderful future ahead of him. He has yet to open up his account for Villa, but given plenty of time to develop, there is no doubt he can become a shrewd acquisition.
Against Luton Town a couple of weeks ago, Rogers was unleashed in the starting XI and gave Emery plenty to think about while delivering a promising performance.
Not only did he have a shot on target, but the 21-year-old succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, made two key passes and lost possession on just four occasions, proving that he is ready for the Premier League.
In comparison, Chambers’ last league appearance saw the defender win zero duels, and make zero tackles or interceptions along with succeeding with 0% of his accurate long ball attempts.
Yet he is earning more than Rogers. The summer transfer window simply cannot come quicker for the former Paris Saint-Germain boss as he seeks to improve his squad.
Chambers will surely be one of the first players to depart to free up some of the wage bill.
Tottenham Hotspur supporters will generally be satisfied with their team's progress this season, fifth-placed in the Premier League with ten matches left to play.
The ongoing international break allows clubs to pause and recalibrate, and this will likely have been welcomed by Ange Postecoglou given the chastening 3-0 defeat away to Fulham last time out.
Postecoglou said that qualifying for next season's Champions League group phase is not the be-all and end-all for his squad, instead prioritising growth and collective development.
This is an admirable and prudent approach, but a spot in Europe's elite club competition would certainly be a lift and a mark of progress for supporters and players, also improving the chances of landing the best talent in the summer transfer window.
Spurs' summer transfer targets
According to prominent German outlet BILD – via Sport Witness – Tottenham are set to wage transfer battle with London rivals Chelsea for the transfer of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, having already made an approach prior to the winter window.
Both Premier League clubs 'knocked' for the 28-year-old back in December but there was nothing doing, however, Tah is understood to be intrigued by the possibility of a move to England, should a suitor offer Champions League football.
German centre-back Jonathan Tah.
Spurs are well in contention to achieve just that, and given that Chelsea are currently 11th in the league table heading into the business end, 14 points behind Tottenham, Daniel Levy will be confident of winning any race for Tah's signature.
Tah is out of contract in 2025 and, as such, Leverkusen will welcome cheap bids for the player's signature, with Kicker revealing earlier in the campaign that a bid approaching €18m (£15m) might do the trick.
Jonathan Tah's season in numbers
Tah has been an integral member of a Bayer Leverkusen side working absolute wonders under the tutelage of Xabi Alonso this season, undefeated in all competitions, top of the German Bundesliga, into the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal and awaiting West Ham United in the Europa League last-eight.
As per Sofascore, the £46k-per-week titan has started 23 Bundesliga matches this season, keeping nine clean sheets, scoring four goals, completing 97% of his passes, averaging 5.5 ball recoveries and 3.3 clearances per game and succeeding with 70% of his aerial battles.
Jonathan Tah in action for Bayer LeverkusenJonathan Tah in action for Bayer Leverkusen
Considered to be a monstrous physical presence and a confident player with the ball at his feet, the 6 foot 4 star has been described as a "physically strong and very quick" centre-half by former Germany Men's manager Joachim Löw, with this supreme athleticism speaking of shades of Micky van de Ven, who also made the move from Germany to the Premier League last season.
Tah typically plays in a back-three for Die Werkself but is a proven player in a more traditional defence, highlighting the versatility that could be tailor-made for a place in Postecoglou's interchangeable, multi-functioning Lilywhites system.
He'd be perfect for Tottenham, augmenting a defensive group consisting of star defensive axis Van de Ven and Cristian Romero but also nurturing £27m January acquisition Radu Dragusin, aged 21.
With a return to continental competition on the cards next term and a desire to wade deep into the domestic cup competitions, depth is paramount and Tah would be the perfect fit.
Why Jonathan Tah would be perfect for Spurs
Tah has the highest passing accuracy from open play of any athlete in the German top-flight this term at 97%, placing him above even Van de Ven in the Premier League, with the Dutchman completing 95% of his balls for Postecoglou's side.
As per FBref, Tah ranks among the top 10% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 13% for passes attempted per 90 and the top 1% for pass completion, with his elite technical control and natural knack for goalscoring tools that would be well-wielded within Postecoglou's tactical set-up.
Jonathan Tah: Similar Premier League Players
#
Player
Club
1.
Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool
2.
Pau Torres
Aston Villa
3.
Ibrahima Konate
Liverpool
4.
Nathan Ake
Manchester City
5.
Levi Colwill
Chelsea
Sourced via Football Transfers
Moreover, Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk is considered Tah's most comparable Premier League player, as per Football Transfers, with such a skill set hardly unlikely to succeed down the N17.
Van Dijk has been near indomitable at times this season for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, thriving at the heart of a resurgent, title-chasing side and restoring a backline that welcomed no transfer additions last summer despite a dismal 2022/23 campaign, also contending with injuries to Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip and shot-stopper Alisson Becker this season.
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As per Sofascore, the 32-year-old colossus has been breathtaking in the league, completing 91% of his passes, scoring two goals and supplying two assists, averaging 5.1 ball recoveries and 4.3 clearances per game and coming out on top in a staggering 84% of his aerial battles.
Carabao Cup winner Virgil van Dijk.
He also ranks among the top 8% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for passes attempted, the top 10% for pass completion, the top 17% for progressive passes and the top 2% for aerial wins per 90.
Quite simply, Van Dijk is one of the best in the business, and while Klopp and Postecoglou implement different styles of play, both are reliant on innate understanding, progression and fluency.
This is evidenced by the turnaround in fortunes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season since Van de Ven arrived and settled the equilibrium next to Romero.
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ByAngus Sinclair
However, both stars have been sidelined at different intervals this term and this has laid the Lilywhites' fragility bare. This cannot be allowed to resurface and pull the squad back in regression after such promise throughout Postecoglou's maiden campaign.
Once described as a "defensive battleship" by former teammate Christoph Kramer, Tah must be signed, joining the fold and offering his skill set in what would add another layer to the building Spurs machine.
The 2023/24 season has been a breakout campaign for many young stars across the world. Chelsea have many, although not all of them have seen much game time.
The same cannot be said for Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, and soon-to-be Real Madrid forward Endrick who have all announced themselves into professional football in recent months.
Both Mainoo and Yamal are products of Carrington and La Masia, their respective clubs’ youth systems, and will hope to be the next academy success stories of two legendary clubs.
Endrick, however, was bought by Real Madrid from Palmeiras for a fee rumoured to be £52m. Los Blancos were not the only club vying for the 17-year-old’s signature, with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City also interested in signing the forward.
Endrick for Palmeiras.
Chelsea were actually rumoured to be the club most likely to sign Endrick before Madrid beat them to it. Aiming to sign youngsters from South America is a policy that the Blues have often employed under Todd Boehly. Endrick is rumoured to not be the only name on their list.
Chelsea’s youthful transfer policy
It is no secret that since Boehly took over the reins of Chelsea, their transfer policy has been chaotic, to say the least.
They have spent over £1bn and had a squad so inflated that "some players had to sit on the floor during team meetings while others changed for training in the corridor", according to The Athletic.
The aforementioned policy of signing, or trying to sign, South American wonderkids is certainly one that Chelsea have at least unofficially employed in Boehly’s time at the club.
Aside from missing out on Endrick, the other notable failure was young Gabriel Moscardo, a midfielder from Brazil. The 18-year-old had offers on the table from Chelsea and PSG but opted to go with the latter.
However, there was one South American youngster Chelsea managed to land. Ecuadorian attacking midfielder Kendry Paez will join the Blues from Independiente del Valle for a fee that could eventually rise to £17m, according to Fabrizio Romano. Aged just 16, he could well be Chelsea's answer to Endrick.
Chelsea's answer to Endrick
It will not be until the summer of 2025 that Paez can join Chelsea, as he must wait until he turns 18, although he has trained with the first team already.
Incredibly, at just 16 years of age, Paez is already a full international with Ecuador and has six caps to his name so far, scoring once and registering two assists.
Paez plays as an attacking midfielder and possesses all the flair that you would expect from a South American number 10. Paez is a creative genius, who has an eye for goal, and already has seven goal involvements in 16 starts in the Ecuadorian top flight so far.
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The youngster has a brilliant low centre of gravity and an eye for a pass. He loves to pick the ball up in deeper areas and spray long passes into teammates ahead of him and is excellent in combination play around the penalty box.
His previous manager had spoken very highly of him in the past. In an interview with Ole, Martín Anselmi, the former manager of Independiente del Valle, said “In Kendry we find a daring one. A boy who asks for it, and he is 15 years old and he doesn't care who is in front of him, and he asks for it.”
Not only that, Paez is highly rated by former Ecuardioan national team players. Carlos Tenorio, who made 52 appearances for Ecuador, compared him to two legends of the game when Paez was just 15. “He has the potential to be better than Lionel Messi and Neymar, but much will depend on him and the people around him”.
It is certainly high praise for such a young talent. Chelsea’s transfer policy towards signing youngsters might have been hit-and-miss so far, but it seems they have certainly struck gold with the signing of Paez. Together with Endrick, they could be the next superstar talents to emerge from South America.
Chelsea: Poch's stunning starting XI in 2025 built around Kendry Paez
Chelsea’s starting XI in 2025 which includes the exciting Kendry Paez is a mouthwatering prospect.
Newcastle United's injury troubles have been well documented in recent months, with Eddie Howe's side suffering from multiple long-term absentees throughout the 2023/24 campaign.
Jamaal Lascelles is the latest player to join the Magpies' extended injury list after suffering an ACL rupture during the sensational 4-3 comeback win over West Ham United just a couple of weeks ago.
He joins the likes of Sven Botman, Nick Pope and Joelinton, who are currently on the sidelines after suffering their own injuries, with the latter two potentially returning towards the end of the campaign.
However, another Magpies first-team player remains sidelined with the club potentially needing to cash in on him given his recent record with injuries.
Callum Wilson's stats in 2023/24
Striker Callum Wilson has often had to settle as Newcastle's second-choice option behind Alexander Isak, understandable given the Swede's record of 19 goals in all competitions so far this campaign.
The former Bournemouth forward has only featured 22 times this season and just twice in 2024, managing to score on eight occasions, in a term that has been plagued with injuries.
Wilson has suffered four separate injuries since 2023/24 commenced back in August, which has seen him miss large parts of the campaign.
He's been sidelined by two different hamstring issues, whilst a calf injury saw him miss a further two months before suffering a chest injury upon his return in the 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest in February.
Wilson's injuries in 2023/24
Injury
Days missed
Games missed
Chest injury
57
9
Calf injury
37
6
Hamstring injury
31
6
Hamstring injury
13
4
Stats via Transfermarkt
Wilson has a past of suffering with injuries, having twice torn his ACL during his time at Bournemouth, with the now 32-year-old starting to struggle to put a run of games together before picking up another problem.
That, coupled with his huge drop in market value, should see the club look at potentially moving him on when the summer window opens in a couple of months time.
Callum Wilson's transfer value in 2024
Nearly four years on from his £20m move to St James' Park, Wilson has seen his market value plummet by more than half with injuries playing a huge part in the decline.
The striker is now only valued at £8.5m as per Football Observatory, with the Magpies forward now valued at a staggering £77.5m less than man of the hour Bruno Guimaraes, whose market value is £86m.
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The 32-year-old attacker only has one year left on his current deal at the club, with Wilson turning 33 before the end of next season. That being said, the club should look to move him on this summer, just a couple of months after being linked with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.
Newcastle striker Callum Wilson.
Howe and the Saudi PIF should look to recruit a new young striker, who can develop and learn from current forward Isak whilst providing tough competition for the former Real Sociedad attacker.
Wilson has been a brilliant addition to the Magpies over the last couple of seasons but unfortunately, his injuries have been getting the better of him in recent times. Newcastle need to cash in to prevent him leaving the club for nothing in 2025.
Southampton could well still sneak back into the Championship automatic promotion picture after all hopes of the top two looked dead and buried, benefitting from Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Leeds United all slipping up at the final hurdle.
Russell Martin's men nearly didn't beat Watford this weekend however to keep up their end of the bargain, needing a last-gasp Flynn Downes winner to beat Watford 3-2 to breathe life back into their faintest hopes of a top-two finish.
Downes wasn't the only goalscoring midfielder for the Saints at St. Mary's, with one of his two partners in the middle of the park in Will Smallbone netting within the first minute on the South Coast to set the tone for an enthralling contest.
Whilst the West Ham United loanee continues to look like a great bit of business for Martin's side, Southampton haven't always managed to strike gold with their signings, with one dud sticking out as a particularly stinging misfire of years gone by.
Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes
When Southampton signed Gaston Ramirez
Southampton must have thought they had hit the jackpot by signing attacking midfield star Gaston Ramirez in 2012, winning the Uruguayan's services for a hefty £12m but a sizeable fee that was justified at the time.
Fresh off a stint at Bologna which saw Ramirez amass 15 goals and eight assists from 60 appearances – with 13 of those coming in his final Serie A campaign – Southampton must have thought the 6-foot creator would set the Premier League alight on his arrival.
The move wouldn't quite work like that in reality, with Ramirez shining bright during his debut campaign on the South Coast before seeing his Saints career eventually fizzle out.
In his first full season, Ramirez translated his excellent form playing in Italy to the tough demands of English football.
Ramirez would manage to bag five goals and pick up three assists in the Premier League, taking to his new surroundings with ease.
Southampton lineup: Ramirez Premier League debut
Arsenal 6-1 Southampton, September 2012
1. GK – Kelvin Davis
2. RB – Nathaniel Clyne
3. CB – Jose Fonte
4. CB – Jos Hooiveld
5. LB – Danny Fox
6. CDM – Morgan Schneiderlin
7. RM – Jason Puncheon
8. CAM – Steven Davis (Gaston Ramirez)
9. CAM – James Ward-Prowse
10. LM – Adam Lallana
11. ST – Rickie Lambert
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Yet, although the former Bologna man starred alongside the likes of former Saints heroes James Ward-Prowse and Adam Lallana during this honeymoon period at Southampton, his time at the club would eventually turn sour.
His second season would see him make just 18 appearances, falling down the pecking order under then-Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Ramirez would only help himself to a single goal and three assists when given a rare first-team opportunity that campaign, moved on after this forgettable individual season.
Two loan spells away from St. Mary's would follow, with a stint at Middlesbrough enabling the South American midfielder to enjoy his football again after an unmemorable switch to Hull City passed him by.
What Ramirez did after leaving Southampton
Ramirez would eventually join Boro permanently after amassing eight goals and four assists from just 18 Championship appearances on loan, with the Saints cursing their decision in the end to fork out £12m for the Uruguayan.
Even if his time at Middlesbrough ended up being as short-lived as his spell with Southampton, with Ramirez moving back to the comforts of Serie A in 2017 after just two seasons at the Riverside Stadium, his adoring Boro fanbase will always have this sublime strike against AFC Bournemouth to look back on.
Whereas, Southampton only have regrets about the deal to bring the 6-foot midfielder to England over any slight positives.
If this transfer happened in today's far-inflated market too, courtesy of Totally Football's Transfer Index, the move would become even more of a blunder from a Saints perspective.
How much Gaston Ramirez's move would be worth in 2024
If the same transfer mishap went through in 2024, according to the Transfer Index, Ramirez would have cost Southampton an eye-watering £36m.
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To add further context to that, Southampton's record signing comes in at €26.2m (£22.4m) currently in Tino Livramento. But, if Ramirez's deal was in today's market, the South American would be way out in front as their record buy.
Southampton's all-time record arrivals
1. Tino Livramento
€26.2m (£22.4m)
2. Danny Ings
€25.1m (£21.5m)
3. Kamaldeen Sulemana
€25m (£21.4m)
4. Jannik Vestergaard
€25m (21.4m)
5. Sadio Mane
€23m (£19.7m)
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Staggeringly, the Transfer Index suggests that Ramirez would be worth nearly £20m more than past Saints superstar Sadio Mane demanded to win his services who would go on to dazzle under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Moreover, when assessing the current crop of talent at Martin's disposal, Ramirez would be worth nearly £30m more than Kyle Walker-Peters who boasts a humble €8.6m (£7.3m) worth, as per Football Transfers, despite being touted for a move back up to the Premier League without the Saints.
It's fair to say the 34-year-old, who is now seeing out his career back in his native Uruguay with CA Peñarol, won't look back on this patch of his career at St. Mary's with many fond memories still attached.
Instead, he knows he is viewed as an expensive flop when everything looked to be pointing in the direction of Ramirez being a great buy who could go on to be a star for many years to come.
Southampton manager Russell Martin.
If Southampton do end up sealing an immediate return to the Premier League, the South Coast outfit will be cautious not to overspend and have another blunder like Ramirez on their hands away from any talk about other incomings.
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Chelsea could reportedly complete the signing of a "world-class" World Cup star in the summer transfer window, with his club under pressure to raise funds through player sales.
Chelsea transfer news
The Blues have been linked with a number of new signings of late, as they look to quickly forget about what has been a hugely disappointing season at Stamford Bridge. Many expected positive strides to be made under Mauricio Pochettino, but there has been nowhere near enough progress on show, highlighting the need for further changes to the squad this summer.
One player who Chelsea are believed to be in pole position to sign is former Celta Viga ace Gabri Veiga, who is now plying his trade at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. The Spaniard could want a return to the European game this summer and the west Londoners have emerged as a strong option for him, with Pochettino a big admirer of his.
gabri-veiga-transfer-news-opinion-premier-league
The Blues are also one of the Premier League clubs reportedly interested in signing Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo, who is also wanted by Manchester United. He is one of the most impressive defenders in La Liga currently, but could look for a fresh challenge in the summer. With Thiago Silva turning 40 this year and other players flattering to deceive, the Uruguayan could be a game-changing addition.
According to another rumour, contact has also been made with RB Leipzig and France central defender Castello Lukeba, in what could be a deal worth in and around £77m. The 21-year-old has shone at club level this season, making 29 appearances in the Bundesliga and averaging 2.7 clearances per game.
Chelsea could sign "world-class" attacking ace
According to a report from Spain, Chelsea are in the mix to sign Inter striker Marcus Thuram this summer, with his current club possibly even being forced to move him on at the end of the season: "The French striker has impressed in his debut season and his market value makes him a desired target for clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. Inter could be forced to consider offers for him."
Thuram is a player with genuine pedigree who could be a fantastic signing by Chelsea, having registered an assist in France's 2022 World Cup final defeat to Argentina. VfL Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schaferhas called him a "world class striker" in the past, while former manager Daniel Farke said of him: "Marcus is in excellent shape.
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"He has all the qualities to fill this position well. He’s still getting used to that central striker role. It’s still about running paths, but we’re working on that.” Farke added that Thuram is already “an exceptional player of the highest international class.”
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This season, Thuram has scored 12 goals and registered seven assists in Serie A, en route to Inter winning the Serie A title, and he has the ruthlessness that has been sorely missing in Chelsea's attack throughout the 2023/24 campaign.
A Sky Sports pundit says one player in particular will be leaving Tottenham this summer, and it's "100%" from what he knows on the situation.
Postecoglou pleads for change with Tottenham set for long-term rebuild
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has grown more and more animated on the touchline over these last few weeks, and for good reason, as his side have been far below par and seem a shadow of their former selves who started the campaign so brightly.
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Some were even backing a potential Spurs title challenge at one point after Postecoglou made the best start of any new manager in Premier League history, but a combination of injuries and inconsistent form have set the Lilywhites back.
Now, barring a last-gasp collapse from Aston Villa, Tottenham appear set to miss out on fourth and Champions League football next term, with Postecoglou admitting that the north Londoners require a long-term rebuild and real change.
Tottenham's last five league games under Postecoglou
Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham
Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham
Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal
Newcastle United 4-0 Tottenham
Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest
"We need change. Change has to happen," said Postecoglou on Tottenham needing to overhaul the squad.
"You can’t want to alter your course and expect the same people are going to be on that. It’s just not going to happen.
"We’ve had two windows and we’ve had some development of players, for sure, but when I say we’ve still got a long way to go, that’s what I’m talking about. It’s impossible to say you’re going to have drastic change and yet expect everyone to be on that journey. It’s not for the want of trying. It’s just that we’re going to play a certain way, we’re going to train a certain way and we’re going to have a certain mindset.
"And that’s not for everyone. Whether it’s Liverpool or Arsenal, if you look at the beginning of their journeys, by the time they win the competition or have success, the team’s almost unrecognisable. That’s the reality if you change [and we’ve] done a major pivot here, so that definitely is the case [for us], yeah."
To make room for key new additions, with Spurs plotting to upgrade a few key areas this summer, players will need to go the other way. One of them could well be defender Joe Rodon, who's enjoyed a fantastic loan spell at Leeds United this season.
Rodon will "100%" leave Tottenham this summer
Leeds are very keen to strike a permanent deal for Rodon. However, whether or not he signs on at Elland Road indefinitely, Sky pundit Paul Robinson has told Football Insider that Rodon will "100%" be leaving Tottenham this summer based on what he knows.
Leeds United's loan defender Joe Rodon.
“Joe Rodon… regardless of whether he stays at Leeds or goes elsewhere, he won’t be integrated back into the Spurs side, and will move this summer on a permanent deal, it’s 100% from what I know,” said Robinson.
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The 26-year-old was signed by Jose Mourinho at Spurs in 2020 from Swansea City, and Ben Davies has called him a "terrific" player, but there appears to be little room for him in Postecoglou's rebuild.
The last few years have been transformational for Arsenal football club.
Mikel Arteta has taken a team that looked utterly hopeless and destined for years of underachieving and has guided them into back-to-back Premier League title races.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
The road to this point has been paved with new signings and littered with discarded old ones, and while the squad is significantly better today than even two years ago, a few players need to be let go, one of whom is earning more than Leandro Trossard.
Aaron Ramsdale's Arsenal career
The player in question is goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who signed for the Gunners from Sheffield United in 2021 for around £30m.
At the time, this raised a lot of eyebrows as the Englishman had just been relegated with the Blades and Bernd Leno was seen as a reliable pair of hands at the Emirates.
However, it didn't take long for others to see what Arteta and Edu Gaspar saw in the Chesterton-born ace as not long into his first season with the North Londoners, the "phenomenal" shotstopper, as described by former Arsenal keeper David Seaman, was putting in brilliant performances, with his display away to Leicester City a clear highlight in his early career.
By the end of the 2021/22 campaign, it was blindingly obvious that the 25-year-old was good enough to be Arsenal's number one keeper going forward. Throughout most of last season, he continued to show that, with his performance at Anfield being another standout moment for him, notably making a number of jaw-dropping saves late on.
However, the key word there is 'most' as there were a few worrying signs from the 6 foot 2 titan as well, such as at home against Southampton, when he was entirely to blame for the Saints' opening goal and, therefore, ultimately cost the team two points in a period in which the team was slipping further from the title.
With doubts about Ramsdale's ability to cope with a title challenge starting to creep in, Arteta made the surprise decision to bring in David Raya from Brentford last summer.
While the Spaniard told the media that he did not consider either keeper to be number one, it was very quickly apparent that his compatriot would be starting for most of the season, and so far, Ramsdale has only made 11 appearances, while Raya has made 40.
Overall, the Englishman's time as the number one keeper is clearly up, and given his significant wages, he simply has to be moved on in the summer.
Aaron Ramsdale's wages at Arsenal
According to Capology, Ramsdale earns around £120k-per-week at the Emirates, making him the highest-paid backup goalkeeper out of the traditional 'big six'.
Big six backup keepers' wages
Position
Player
Wage
Club
1
Aaron Ramsdale
£120k-per-week
Arsenal
2
Fraser Forster
£75K-per-week
Tottenham Hotspur
3
Robert Sanchez
£60k-per-week
Chelsea
4
Stefan Ortega
£55k-per-week
Manchester City
5
Altay Bayındır
£35k-per-week
Manchester United
6
Caoimhín Kelleher
£10k-per-week
Liverpool
All Wages via Capology
Although, closer to home, he is also earning £30k-per-week more than Leandro Trossard, who currently makes £90k-per-week.
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Now, while the Belgian can't really complain about the amount he is making, it does seem odd that he is earning so much less than the man who has effectively become the club's backup keeper, especially when he has been so effective for the club since joining from Brighton & Hove Albion last year.
Trossard's Arsenal career
Season
2022/23
2023/24
Appearances
22
45
Goals
1
17
Assists
10
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.5
0.42
All Stats via Transfermarkt
In all, the former Seagulls ace has scored 18 goals and provided 12 assists in 67 games for the North Londoners so far in his career and in the last couple of months he has become a crucial player in Arteta's preferred starting lineup.
Ultimately, while Ramsdale deserves a lot of praise for the two seasons he regularly started at Arsenal, the fact that he has clearly fallen down the pecking order while maintaining his lofty wages is the reason he should be moved on in the summer, even if he is still a well-loved player.
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Glasgow Rangers have had to rely on their fair share of free transfers to bulk up the squad in recent transfer windows.
Failure to build on the Premiership success of 2020/21 has led to the Light Blues slipping behind Celtic domestically, winning just two cup competitions since.
Qualifying for the Champions League group stages during the 2021/22 campaign could have seen Steven Gerrard enjoy major financial rewards which may have altered the course of the Scottish football hierarchy.
Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard.
Alas, the Gers failed to reach the land of milk and honey. They did reach the Europa League final in 2022, but the likes of Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale splashed money on several expensive flops, leaving Philippe Clement with a mammoth task on his hands this summer.
The club have endured a difficult time in the transfer window since the summer of 2021, yet there have been a few hidden gems that have cost the club nothing in the way of a transfer fee recently.
Rangers' recent free transfer arrivals
Beale spent vast sums of money last summer in order to bring Danilo, Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers to Glasgow in the hope that they could fill in the void left by the likes of Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.
Around £15m was wasted last year, as only Dessers has shown real consistency, scoring 22 goals in all competitions.
Notable free transfers Rangers have made since 2019
Player
Previous club
Year joined
Jack Butland
Crystal Palace
2023
Dujon Sterling
Chelsea
2023
Leon Balogun
QPR
2023
John Souttar
Hearts
2022
Tom Lawrence
Derby County
2022
John Lundstram
Sheffield United
2021
Fashion Sakala
KV Oostende
2021
Steven Davis
Southampton
2019
Jermain Defoe
AFC Bournemouth
2019
Via Transfermarkt
Several players will surely have to be moved on by Clement when the summer transfer window opens in order to give him some flexibility in the market to bolster his playing squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
If the buyers aren’t there, however, the Belgian may have to focus the majority of his transfer business on players who won’t command a fee.
Jack Butland
Despite enduring a turbulent ten-month period in charge of the Light Blues, Beale did work his savvy in the market as the likes of Dujon Sterling and Leon Balogun joined the club for free last summer.
His most important decision was to lure Jack Butland north of the border, however, and the Englishman was certainly the signing of the season.
Jack Butland's arrival at Rangers
After yet another poor domestic campaign, Beale was tasked with rebuilding the side ahead of the 2023/24 season in the hope that Rangers could challenge Celtic for the league title.
Beale oversaw a mass exodus of players departing Ibrox, while nine new arrivals joined the Light Blues.
Allan McGregor was one of the first team stars to leave. Across two separate spells for the club, the Scot made close to 500 competitive appearances, yet his final two seasons saw a few mistakes creep into his game, and it was clear retirement was calling.
Jack Butland
Bringing in a ‘keeper who could be relied upon between the posts was crucial for Beale if he wanted to build a solid core to his new-look Rangers, yet a move for Butland was a gamble.
The former Stoke City number one had played only 15 times following the start of the 2021/22 season, with zero appearances coming last term due to a broken finger which kept him out for 16 games.
Following the expiration of his Crystal Palace contract, Beale quickly snapped him up in what was arguably his finest piece of transfer business during his short spell as the manager of the Ibrox side.
While Rangers may have lost the league title to Celtic following a drop-off in form during the run in, they wouldn’t have been in a race if it were not for Butland and his incredible shot-stopping ability.
Jack Butland’s Rangers statistics
Firstly, Butland has played a total of 56 times for the Gers this season, conceding 49 goals while racking up 25 clean sheets in the process.
Narrowing that down to just Premiership matches, the Englishman has played 37 times in the league, keeping 18 clean sheets while conceding 29 goals.
When compared with other ‘keepers in the top flight, Butland has kept the most clean sheets while making the third most runs out throughout the campaign, demonstrating his importance to the Light Blues.
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland.
Rangers losing the league isn’t down to the goalkeeper, it is down to the defenders in front of Butland failing to cut out sloppy errors in the most important matches.
With Euro 2024 just around the corner, Butland must surely be catching the eye of Gareth Southgate as he aims to secure a seat on the plane to Germany. Clement certainly thinks he is ready, saying this back in February:
"If people are talking about being in the England squad, that says enough – because England will be one of the favourites to win [Euro 2024].
"It is the decision of Mr Southgate. He knows all the other goalkeepers, I don't watch all these games, so I cannot make comparison, but I can say one thing, Jack is totally ready – every game he is proving that."
Jack Butland’s market value at Rangers
Former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson hailed the player as “phenomenal” previously and according to Transfermarkt, his current valuation is €3m (£2.5m), which could continue to rise given his impressive displays of late.
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This value is currently more than another free transfer who has shone for the Ibrox side this season – John Souttar.
The Scot is currently worth around €2.5m (£2.1m) and given how consistent he has been this season, missing just 16 matches in all competitions, his importance to the squad has certainly increased under Clement.
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Butland’s displays this term could certainly attract attention from the Premier League, as a few clubs could be interested in making a move for the Englishman this summer.
Clement would certainly be able to demand a significant sum of money for the player, but could the Gers replace him ahead of next season?
The 50-year-old coach may face some tough decisions this summer, but if he could add another one or two free transfers into his squad who have some excellent potential to be sold for a profit down the line, they must be secured sooner rather than later.