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DC have a 2-0 record against GT in Ahmedabad, and this time, it will be a tussle for the top spot

Hemant Brar18-Apr-20252:58

How has Gill upped his intent in IPL 2025?

Big picture: GT defy expectations yet againGujarat Titans (GT) are the prime example of why first impressions could be misleading. Before IPL 2022, their inaugural season, no one gave them a chance. GT not only went on to win the title but also came within one ball of defending it the following year.They had a miserable 2024 but the original script seems to be repeating in IPL 2025. Before the start of the season, their top three looked all too similar, almost playing the role of anchors, while their middle order was virtually non-existent. But GT have again defied expectations and come out as one of the stronger teams in the tournament.Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler have ensured their middle order doesn’t get exposed too soon. At the same time, all three have improved their strike rates from last season. GT’s stronger suit, again, is their bowling, led by Mohammed Siraj in the powerplay, and Prasidh Krishna in the middle overs, while R Sai Kishore has made up for Rashid Khan’s below-par returns.Related

Titans hopeful of Rabada's return and Rashid's return to form

Axar Patel: 'I am not following a template' as captain

Mohit Sharma interview: 'I feel it is important to have pressure'

GT pick Shanaka as replacement for injured Phillips

On Saturday afternoon, though, they are up against a well-rounded Delhi Capitals (DC) – a team that has a 2-0 record against them in Ahmedabad. One of those games was played on a red-soil pitch, the other on a black-soil one. Unlike many other teams, GT seem to have a say in the pitch preparation at home. Given both teams have strong pace and spin attacks, it would be interesting to see what type of pitch GT dish out.With five wins from six games, DC are currently at the top of the points table. A win on Saturday will mean they remain in pole position. If GT win, they will be guaranteed the top spot, too.Form guideGujarat Titans LWWWW
Delhi Capitals WLWWWNew loyaltiesIt was at GT that Mohit Sharma’s career got a second wind. During IPL 2023, he emerged as their go-to death bowler and finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. This season, he is with DC.Team news and likely XIIsThe pitch will decide who out of Washington Sundar and Kulwant Khejroliya plays. Dasun Shanaka has joined the GT squad as a replacement for Glenn Phillips, but he may not be available for this game. There has been no update on Kagiso Rabada’s return either.Gujarat Titans (probable): 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 B Sai Sudharsan, 3 Jos Buttler (wk), 4 Sherfane Rutherford, 5 Shahrukh Khan, 6 Washington Sundar, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Arshad Khan, 10 R Sai Kishore, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 Prasidh Krishna3:59

Ganga: ‘Matured’ Rutherford is a six-hitter

If Faf du Plessis is fit for DC, he could replace Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has scored only 55 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 105.76. Kuldeep Yadav had hurt his shoulder against Rajasthan Royals (RR), but Axar Patel hinted it was nothing major.Delhi Capitals (probable): 1 Faf du Plessis/Jake Fraser-McGurk, 2 Abishek Porel, 3 Karun Nair, 4 KL Rahul (wk), 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 Axar Patel (capt), 7 Ashutosh Sharma, 8 Vipraj Nigam, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Mohit Sharma, 12 Mukesh KumarThe big question: A spin-offRashid, Sai Kishore and Washington on one side. Kuldeep, Axar and Vipraj Nigam on the other. Who will come out on top?In the spotlight: Sherfane Rutherford and Tristan StubbsHis struggle against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) notwithstanding, Sherfane Rutherford has provided plenty of solidity to GT’s middle order. Building on the platform set by the top three, he has scored 158 runs in six innings at an average of 39.50 and a strike rate of 166.31. This is way better than his overall T20 numbers: average 23.48, strike rate 136.06. With Phillips out of the tournament, Rutherford’s form becomes even more important for GT.Tristan Stubbs is showing why he was one of the four players retained by DC ahead of the mega auction. With 152 runs in six innings, he is their third-highest run-getter this season. But Stubbs’ genius lies in the details. He has a strike rate of 211.53 in the death overs, while his overall dot-ball percentage of 17.20 is the best in the league (min. 50 balls faced).Key stats: Rahul vs Rashid Last season, Gill’s strike rate in the powerplay was 131.08. This time it’s 151.19. Buttler has a strike rate of 177.41 against Mitchell Starc, while getting out only once in seven innings. KL Rahul has struggled against Rashid. He has a strike rate of just 96.96 against him, while being dismissed three times in nine innings. Siraj has picked up seven wickets in the powerplay, the joint-most in the tournament alongside Khaleel Ahmed of Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Among those who have bowled at least ten overs in IPL 2025, Kuldeep has the best economy rate (6.04).Pitch and conditions: Piping hotThe red-soil pitch offers good pace and bounce. The black-soil pitch is slow and helps spinners. It needs to be seen what GT choose. It’s a day game, and the forecast is of “excessive heat”, with the temperature during the match expected to be around 38°C.

Tottenham Hotspur fell by the wayside in the Premier League last season, but they picked themselves back up and won the Europa League as part of Ange Postecoglou’s last hurrah.

The Australian coach’s will to win and promise kept have immortalised his name and legacy down N17, but chairman Daniel Levy made the tough call to axe his hero after abject league form and consistent inconsistency.

The decision polarised the fanbase and the wider football community, no doubt, but Levy will feel somewhat vindicated after some impressive early-season form from Spurs, now led by new manager Thomas Frank, winning 3-0 at home to Burnley before confidently dispatching Manchester City at the Etihad.

Mohammed Kudus is off to a flyer after his summer switch from West Ham United, while Joao Palhinha got on the scoresheet against Pep Guardiola’s side. It’s coming together.

However, Tottenham need more before the window slams shut, with sights set on bringing in a new attacking midfielder.

Spurs' search for an attacking midfielder

During a pre-season match against Newcastle United, James Maddison pulled up after going in for a challenge. It was innocuous, but it was clear from the outset that something wasn’t right.

The England international will miss much of the campaign with an ACL injury, and with Dejan Kulusevski currently out of action too, the need for a number ten is clear.

Many efforts have been exhausted this summer, missing out on both Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Crystal Palace superstar Eberechi Eze, who has joined Arsenal after a late hijack.

Attention has since been turned to Como’s Nico Paz, but the former Real Madrid prospect, 20, wishes to remain in Italy in hope of a future return to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Paz would be a fantastic addition, but he is young and raw and would likely need a bedding-in period on English shores, and Frank’s side need to make real, instant headway in the Premier League this season.

Spurs showing late interest in Premier League star

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham are gearing up for a late-window move for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, who has been priced at £80m as Unai Emery’s side look to ward off suitors.

Chelsea are ready to tussle with their London neighbours, with both sides showing ‘strong interest’, though it’s worth stressing that the Blues remain focused on signing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, their top target.

And Tottenham? Well, having struggled to land a new midfield playmaker after Maddison’s injury, it’s been suggested by sources that he is viewed as the perfect profile to complete Frank’s squad.

What Morgan Rogers would bring to Spurs

Once a speck in Manchester City’s youth academy, Rogers bit the bullet and joined Middlesbrough in the Championship as he sought to make a name for himself.

And a name the Three Lions sensation has made. Hailed as “a machine” of a player by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, Rogers fostered his potential with Boro and earned a move to the Midlands, getting stronger and stronger and notching 30 goal contributions across the 2024/25 campaign.

The 23-year-old’s exploits saw him crowned the PFA Young Player of the Year earlier in August, thus underscoring his potential and the reasoning behind Tottenham’s bid.

His athleticism, dribbling and ever-growing potency make a telling comment on his capacity, and perhaps suggest that he could even prove to be an upgrade on Maddison and Como’s Paz.

Paz, who joined Como in Italy one year ago, is a silky and creative player with a combative approach to his defensive work. Through statistical analysis, data-led platform FBref have revealed he is comparable to Eze, so it’s clear to see why the Lilywhites have registered their interest.

25/26 (Villa)

2

–

–

24/25 (Villa)

54

14

16

23/24 (Villa)

16

3

1

23/24 (Boro)

33

7

9

But such data cannot stretch much further back than the 2024/25 campaign, for the Spaniard previously played in Real Madrid Castilla (Los Blancos’ second team), and was afforded four first-team appearances across the 2023/24 season.

Given that the outlay mooted would fall into the same £60m ballpark that Eze and Gibbs-White’s signatures were priced at, it would perhaps be worth forking out an extra £20m or so for a Prem-proven player like Rogers, who would add something to the berth while bringing his own tactical flavour.

The 28-year-old Maddison, after all, hasn’t been sold, and will be desperate to make a fluent return to form when he does haul himself out of the infirmary.

Rogers, still improving, isn’t cut from quite the same cloth as Maddison, who is more of a ball-playing specialist, but the injured Spurs stars’ compatriot offers much in the way of strength and impetus and directness, actually remarked to be “unstoppable” during a match against Everton by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher last year.

As per Sofascore, Rogers didn’t just maintain a threat in front of goal, scoring eight times in the Premier League, assisting ten strikes too, but he proved himself consistent and reliable through reinforced underlying data, creating 16 big chances and averaging 1.2 tackles, 1.4 key passes and 4.7 successful duels per game.

The England man’s durability and wherewithal, coupled with an aptitude for the technical side of the game, suggest that he could be exactly what Frank’s Tottenham need, adding quality and depth at number ten and out on the left flank.

While a deal will be hard to pull off as the transfer window enters the final stretch, there’s no question that Tottenham’s interest is genuine, and with Chelsea still prioritising a move for Simons, Levy and co might want to act as swiftly as possible, lest they miss out on another top target at this critical early juncture of the campaign.

The new Son: Spurs make last-minute approach to sign "phenomenal" £60m star

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to land a star who could be their next Heung-min Son.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 28, 2025

Vijay Shankar, Swapnil Singh, M Mohammed and C Andre Siddarth were among the major buys at the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2025 mega auction that was held in Chennai on Saturday.Former UAE international Karthik Meiyappan, who has now moved back to Chennai, his city of birth, headed to Madurai Panthers for INR 9.2 lakh. The wristspinner had bagged a hat-trick in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia and brings with him the experience of having played in the ILT20 and Global T20 Canada.In the lead-up to the auction, the likes of R Ashwin and Varun Chakravarthy (both Dindigul Dragons), Shahrukh Khan and Sai Sudharsan (both Lyca Kovai Kings) and Tamil Nadu captain R Sai Kishore (Tiruppur Tamizhans) were retained by the franchises.Vijay had kicked off the auction by triggering a bidding war, having at least four of the eight franchises, including Ashwin’s Dindigul, raising the paddle for his all-round skills before Chepauk Super Gillies scooped him up for INR 18 lakh. It was Mohammed who fetched the highest bid of INR 18.8 lakh, with Salem Spartans staving off competition from his former team Kovai Kings and Madurai.Mohammed hasn’t played in the IPL yet but has had a stint with Punjab Kings as a net bowler in the past. Swapnil, the UP-born left-arm fingerspinner, who often bowls in the powerplay for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), was picked by Chepauk for INR 10.8 lakh. In the IPL 2025 auction, RCB had used their right-to-match card to get Swapnil back for INR 50 lakh.Karthik Meiyappan bagged a hat-trick for UAE in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia•ICC via Getty Images

Swapnil, who had started his domestic career with Baroda, left the side during the Covid-19 pandemic after not getting regular game-time with them. He moved to Uttarakhand as an outstation player and since he has enrolled himself into TNCA’s first-division league, he is eligible to play in the TNPL.Sudharsan had returned to action from sports hernia in Tamil Nadu’s Ranji Trophy quarter-final clash against Vidarbha recently, but his availability for the TNPL is unclear as he might be picked in the India A or India squad for the England tour. In a bid to fill that void, Kovai Kings snapped up Siddarth for INR 8.4 lakh. Siddarth, the nephew of former Tamil Nadu stalwart and current national selector S Sharath, has also broken into the IPL, earning a deal worth INR 30 lakh with Chennai Super Kings. Siddarth had also played for India Under-19s in the 50-overs Under-19 Asia Cup in late 2024.With Washington Sundar set to slot into Ashwin’s spot as the frontline offspinner in India’s Test side, and likely to miss a chunk of the TNPL, he went to Trichy Grand Cholas for a low price of INR 6 lakh.Dindigul are the defending champions of the TNPL, having won their maiden title under Ashwin’s leadership in August 2024.

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that a number of clubs have made an approach for a “dynamite” Everton player, with The Friedkin Group making a decision over his future.

Everton set for opening game at new stadium

The Blues officially begin a new chapter in their history on Sunday afternoon, hosting Brighton in the Premier League in their first-ever competitive game at their new ground.

The Hill Dickinson Stadium is an impressive new setting for Everton’s home games, and while it was sad for them to leave Goodison Park, it was important that the club planned for the future and found a new home to help take them to new heights.

Blues manager David Moyes is certainly excited about his side beginning life in a new stadium, speaking glowingly about it earlier this month.

“It’s brilliant for the football club. For my journey as well – I’ve had lots of different twists and turns – but overall I think the football club has been so desperate for this situation to arise with the new stadium. I think it’s a wonderful stadium, it’s a step up, certainly, from Goodison and I think for Everton Football Club it’s a real positive step.”

Everton’s new venture will hopefully lead to plenty of exciting new signings, as well as persuading current players to stay put, and a new update has dropped regarding an individual in the latter category.

Everton make decision over "dynamite" ace's future

According to Romano on X, Everton have seen numerous clubs make approaches for Iliman Ndiaye, but The Friedkin Group have rejected their advances.

Losing Ndiaye would be a massive blow this early in his Everton career, so this update is an extremely positive one for Blues supporters.

The 25-year-old has so often provided the creative spark for the Blues since arriving from Marseille last summer, being described as a “dynamite” player by Jamie Redknapp and being hailed as “brilliant” by Second Tier podcast.

Ndiaye is going to be a massive player for Everton moving forward – he scored nine goals in the Premier League last season – and it would be just like him to bag the opening strike at the Blues’ new ground this weekend.

Grealish can make him world-class: Everton "in negotiations" for £40m star

Everton still need to sign several more first-teamers before the end of the transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 22, 2025

The Blues cannot afford to let him go, and with his current deal not expiring until the summer of 2029, they are in a strong bargaining position and would surely only allow him to leave for huge money.

Though he hasn’t come cheap, there’s no question that Everton manager David Moyes has pulled off an impressive signing in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

A strong and slick central midfielder, the 26-year-old joins the Toffees from Chelsea for an initial £24m fee, which may rise to £28m with add-ons.

Moyes is packaging his squad with quality after overseeing a resurgence on Merseyside, replacing the stricken Sean Dyche in January. Many have left, and arrivals are filtering through as Everton prepare for life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

More, it must be said, is needed. And the Friedkin Group are aiming to bid, with one of the Premier League’s most prominent stars in talks to sign this month.

Everton planning more moves

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed Everton are in talks with Manchester City to sign Jack Grealish on loan. The 29-year-old has been told he does not feature in Pep Guardiola’s plans, but his £300k-per-week wage poses a problem.

Grealish has become a bit-part player over the past two years, which is rueful for those of a Citizen persuasion, given he joined for a British-record £100m fee back in 2021.

Still, the 29-year-old is fleet-footed and inspiring, and would raise the creative bar at Everton.

But he’s not the only one. According to Football Insider, Everton are still pushing hard for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, despite having seen a second bid worth £40m rejected.

Football Insider’s report reveals Saints have commenced talks with West Bromwich Albion for Tom Fellows, which indicates a willingness to sign a replacement for their 19-year-old prodigy.

What Tyler Dibling would bring to Everton

Dibling has been named a “world-class talent” by Southampton’s academy manager, Andy Goldie, and though the south coast club endured a painful 2024/25 campaign, relegated from the Premier League with a whimper, he still shone brightly. ​​​​​​

Having notched four goals and three assists across all competitions, Dibling showed signs of clinical potential, ranked among the 19% of positional peers in the Premier League last season for pass completion and the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

His successful take-ons, in particular, indicate an athletic quality that could rival Grealish’s down the line, perhaps with both under Moyes’ wing.

Considered by retired pro Stuart Pearce to be cut from the same cloth as Grealish, some might feel it’s a case of one or the other, but given that Grealish plays off the left and the Saints youngster is more often placed on the right, the two could combine to add some newfound flair to Moyes’ Everton.

Right winger

13

1

0

Attacking midfield

7

1

2

Centre-forward

5

2

1

Right wing-back

1

0

0

Grealish is widely regarded as one of the most skilful midfielders the Premier League has witnessed in recent years, and in his final season at Aston Villa, he averaged a jaw-dropping 8.9 duels per game and won 64% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore.

Though Iliman Ndiaye already holds down the fort imperiously on Everton’s left flank, there’s a sense at times that the all-inspiring Senegalese brings qualities to the table that few, if any, of his teammates can match.

In Grealish and Dibling, Everton would land two stars with a similar capacity to thrill and lift fans from their seats.

Whether the Blues manage to pull both deals off remains to be seen, but with Thierno Barry having replaced Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the front of the ship, such athletic playmakers could dynamise Moyes’ project.

Only time, as ever, will tell if Everton’s Director of Football, Angus Kinnear, can get the moves completed.

He’d be Gueye 2.0: Everton closing in on move for "exciting" £22m star

Everton are looking for plenty more new signings this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 7, 2025

Chelsea have the chance to seal their second trophy under Enzo Maresca when they face PSG in the Club World Cup final.

It will be a tough task, as the French side are arguably the best side on the planet, evidenced by their 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Enzo Fernandez will be crucial as the Argentine will be tasked with trying to keep possession for the Blues, while also aiming to stop PSG from mounting attack after attack in the final third.

That being said, despite Maresca signing plenty of attacking players this summer, might the former Benfica starlet be growing worried amid the club’s latest transfer link?

Chelsea enquire over Barcelona midfielder

The list of attacking players linked with the Blues is lengthy, but Maresca now looks like he could be set to add a midfielder or two to his squad.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Caught Offside, Chelsea, along with Arsenal, have enquired about the availability of Barcelona star Marc Casado this summer.

The Catalan giants are demanding €50m (£43m) should any club wish to make an official bid for the Spaniard.

He does have a release clause worth €100m (£86m), but due to their financial situation, Barcelona may be forced to accept a lower offer. If Maresca does sign the player, it could be bad news for Fernandez.

Why Chelsea must sign Marc Casado

Last season in the Premier League, Fernandez played alongside Moises Caicedo in the heart of the Chelsea midfield.

He registered 13 goal contributions in the top flight, while also creating 13 big chances and averaging 2.3 key passes per game for the Blues. The Argentine may be a more effective player going forward, but defensively, Casado has the upper hand.

Indeed, last season, the Barcelona starlet tackled a higher percentage of dribblers (48.8% vs 36.9%) per 90, along with committing fewer fouls (26 vs 52) and making more interceptions (22 vs 13) in their respective domestic leagues.

Marc Casado’s La Liga statistics last season for Barcelona
Accurate passes per game	53
Goals	1
Assists	3
Total duels won per game	4
Big chances created	3
Tackles per game	1.9
Via Sofascore

Furthermore, Casado also won more total duels per game (53% vs 47%) and lost possession fewer times per game (7.7 vs 12.8) than the current Blues midfielder.

With the club signing a plethora of attacking players this summer, shoring up the midfield now appears to be Maresca’s priority.

A move for Casado could have Fernandez fearing for his place in the starting XI next season, that’s for sure, with Caicedo seemingly a shoo-in to start, having been described by Maresca as “one of the best, if not the best, defensive midfielder in the world”.

Following Spain’s victory over Switzerland last November, Casado was showered with praise by teammate Bryan Zaragoza, who said: “He’s an animal. I don’t even know what to say about how he played. He’s barbaric.”

This sort of player is exactly the type of midfielder that Maresca would love to have available to him.

Aged just 21, Casado is only going to get better with age, especially by playing in the Premier League and Champions League for the Blues.

If the Stamford Bridge side can secure his signature for a decent fee, it might turn out to be one of their best signings of the summer, with Casado representing a perfect partner to Caicedo in the centre of the park.

For Fernandez, however, it could well be bad news in the long run.

£17m ace nearing Chelsea exit after Madueke, it'd free up space for Ekitike

Ekitike could be on his way to Chelsea this summer.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 11, 2025

Aston Villa’s 2024/25 season ended in disappointment. Unai Emery’s side failed to qualify for the Champions League after a final-day defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. It certainly seems like that, and another summer of PSR struggles has really affected their transfer plans for the next few months.

Indeed, they will seemingly not be signing the likes of Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio, or Axel Disasi, who were on loan at Villa Park last term. The trio have now returned to their parent clubs and seem unlikely to sign for Villa on a permanent deal.

The transfer goings-on in the West Midlands might frustrate Villa supporters. Despite a couple of early deals, a dip into the loan market could be back on the cards.

Villa’s new loan target

Emery’s side have already made two new additions this summer. One of those is Yasin Ozcan, a 19-year-old Turkish defender who joins the club after signing a pre-contract over the winter. Young Dutch striker Zepiqueno Redmond also signed for the club for free after his contract expired at Feyenoord.

Transfer Focus

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

Now, the Villans could turn their attention to a former player, Douglas Luiz. According to a report from Sportmediaset via Tuttomercato, the Midlands side are ‘interested’ in bringing the Brazilian back to his former club from Juventus.

However, it could be a tricky deal to negotiate. Luiz, who has only been a Juve player for just over a year, is only wanted on loan by his former club, with Villa having made contact as they ‘proposed’ a potential temporary switch.

However, that is ‘a solution that does not satisfy the economic needs’ of the Old Lady, with it yet to be seen whether a compromise can be met.

Why Luiz would be a good signing

It has not really been the season Luiz may have hoped for in Turin. He did not really play the weight of games he may have expected, and it was a turbulent year for Juve as a side, with Thiago Motta losing his job halfway through the campaign.

In total, Luiz played just 27 times in the centre of the park for the Italian giants. That includes one game in the Club World Cup. Frustratingly, the Brazil international managed just 877 minutes, the equivalent of 9.7 full 90-minute games.

Yet, Villa fans will know the sort of quality that the Rio de Janeiro-born midfielder will bring to the club. He played 204 times in that famous Claret and Blue shirt, scoring 22 goals and grabbing 24 assists. It is moments of quality like this impressive trivela assist for Ollie Watkins in his final season at the club that he could bring back to the midfield.

That interest comes amid question marks over what the future holds for Villa midfielder John McGinn. Their captain has reportedly been of interest to Everton of late, as per BBC Sport, although Emery ‘is in no mood to part’ ways with McGinn this summer.

He was a crucial part of the Villans’ midfield last season, playing 49 games in all competitions, scoring and assisting ten goals in that time. That included a thunderbolt of a strike against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at Villa Park.

Yet, whilst the Scotland international is capable of those major moments, and is a hard-working member of the Villa midfield, signing Luiz, an “engine” in midfield according to Statman Dave, could certainly be seen as an upgrade.

The stats on FBref from each player’s most recent season for Villa suggest that Luiz is a better option in midfield. For example, in 2023/24, he averaged 5.05 progressive passes and 5.53 ball recoveries per 90 minutes compared to 4.17 progressive passes and 4.05 ball recoveries each game for McGinn.

He also represents a greater goal threat and creative outlet than his former teammate, as his goals and assists average can attest to.

Goals and assists

0.42

0.2

Progressive passes

5.05

4.17

Key passes

1.59

1.26

Tackles and interceptions

2.43

1.9

Ball recoveries

5.53

4.05

Progressive carries

1.8

1.3

Luiz, who is on £138k-per-week at Juve, according to reports, is a superb all-round midfielder. In many ways, he is better than McGinn, and, as the stats show, would be a huge upgrade on the Villans’ captain.

Bringing him back to Villa Park for the 2025/26 season would be a bold move by Emery’s side, but there is no doubt about the quality he will bring to the centre of the park.

Emery's new Watkins: Aston Villa exploring move for "golden" £13m starlet

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is eyeing a move for a player he was keen on last summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 5, 2025

Chelsea are carrying on their busy summer transfer window after sealing a move for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, with Enzo Maresca’s side now setting their sights on another exciting young centre-forward.

Chelsea could sign second striker after Liam Delap

The former Man City starlet joins in a £30 million deal following Ipswich’s confirmed relegation to the Championship, and fresh off the back of a 12-goal Premier League season, there is potential for Delap to do well at Stamford Bridge.

"Elite" player green-lights move to Chelsea with formal bid expected soon

He could be their next signing after Liam Delap.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 4, 2025

After completing a medical earlier this week (Fabrizio Romano), Delap becomes Chelsea’s first signing of what is expected to be a busy window, and it is believed yet another striker could still follow the Englishman.

Rank

Team

Points

GD

3

Man City

71

+28

4

Chelsea

69

+21

5

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

This is made all the more possible by clubs showing a genuine interest in striker Nicolas Jackson, who could leave Chelsea this summer and make way for another number nine, likely to be Hugo Ekitiké of Eintracht Frankfurt as things stand.

“Liam Delap is joining as well as another striker that points in the direction of Hugo Ekitiké of Frankfurt,” wrote reliable journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack, this week.

“There’s been a lot of contrasting reporting on Jackson and what his future will hold now it looks like two new strikers are arriving at the club.

“At the very least, he now has big question marks hanging over his head, but what is the latest on him?

“Chelsea do like Jackson, but there has been a desire to upgrade him and bring more competition in. They believe that he doesn’t have enough to lead Chelsea in the Champions League right now, so have looked to bring in others.

“In terms of a selling standpoint, they will very much listen to any offers that come in without actively pushing to sell him.”

Phillips adds that Manchester United, Aston Villa, Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid are all interested in the Senegalese and are considering making an offer, so an exit for Jackson is very much a possibility.

Now, as one African striker is faced with the prospect of leaving Stamford Bridge, another has been given the chance to join Maresca’s squad.

Chelsea make "official offer" to sign Villarreal striker Karl Etta Eyong

According to Africa Foot, Chelsea are seriously moving in pursuit of Villarreal striker Karl Etta Eyong.

The “promising” Cameroonian, as stated by this report, has scored 20 goals in all competitions this season, scoring once in La Liga for the first team and a further 19 for Villarreal’s B squad, with the 21-year-old also attracting attention from Toulouse, Getafe, and Leganes.

However, it is Maresca’s side who appear to be in pole position. Chelsea have made an “official offer” for Etta Eyong, submitting a five-year contract proposal until 2030, with the option of spending next season at sister club Strasbourg to help further his development.

There’s been no confirmation of whether the player or Villarreal are inclined to accept this proposal, but it may be one to watch over the coming days.

The 2024/25 season has seen a number of clubs break long-standing trophy droughts. February saw Newcastle United end decades of waiting for a major trophy as they took home the EFL Cup at the expense of would-be Premier League champions Liverpool.

Their 2-1 win over the Reds brought an end to the longest trophy drought of any 2024/25 Premier League club, with the Toon’s previous triumph coming in 1969 when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the predecessor to the UEFA Cup and Europa League.

Three months later, Crystal Palace created history by securing their first major trophy in the FA Cup final after a 1-0 victory over Manchester City, who failed to win any major silverware in a season for the first time since 2016/17.

They join Premier League champions Liverpool as cup winners, with the Reds now having won a major trophy in five of the last seven seasons.

Meanwhile, Tottenham finally ended their wait for major silverware as they lifted the Europa League in May 2025, defeating Manchester United for their first trophy in 17 years.

Rank

Club

Last trophy

Year

Trophy drought

Southampton

FA Cup

1976

Wolves

League Cup

1980

Ipswich

UEFA Cup

1981

Nottingham Forest

League Cup

1990

Everton

FA Cup

1995

Aston Villa

League Cup

1996

Arsenal

FA Cup

2020

Leicester

FA Cup

2021

Chelsea

Club World Cup

2022

West Ham

Conference League

2023

Man City

Premier League

2024

Man Utd

FA Cup

2024

Newcastle

League Cup

2025

Liverpool

Premier League

2025

Crystal Palace

FA Cup

2025

Tottenham

Europa League

2025

Here, we take a deeper look at the longest trophy droughts among 2024/25 Premier League clubs. To qualify for this list, they must have won at least one major trophy, so no room for Community Shields or Intertoto Cups here.

16 Tottenham Hotspur 2024/25 Europa League winners

You can’t say we weren’t warned. Ange Postecoglou ALWAYS wins in his second season at a club – even Tottenham.

However, if their league form was anything to go by – Spurs went into their 2024/25 Europa League final in 17th place – you’d have thought there was no chance of the Lilywhites going all the way in Europe.

But after 17 years and several false dawns – particularly after the 2019 Champions League final defeat under Mauricio Pochettino – the Australian boss finally delivered a trophy to Spurs. Their long trophy drought is no more.

15 Crystal Palace 2024/25 FA Cup winners

Crystal Palace headed into the 2025 FA Cup final looking to win a major piece of silverware for the first time. It was their third FA Cup final since their first in 1990, and after successive defeats to Manchester United at the showpiece event, it was neighbours Manchester City who stood in their way this time around.

Despite being heavy underdogs, a brave, accomplished performance from Oliver Glasner’s side saw Eberechi Eze’s first-half strike prove to be the difference, with City culpable of fluffing huge chances, including a missed penalty from Omar Marmoush.

The result means Palace can join most of their Premier League rivals as trophy winners, and go for more glory next season in the 2025/26 Europa League.

14 Liverpool 2024/25 Premier League winners

While they haven’t officially got their hands on the trophy, Liverpool were confirmed as the new kings of England in April 2025 following a dominant campaign they never looked like slipping up in.

The previous few years have been incredibly kind to the Anfield faithful, winning a raft of honours under the leadership of Jürgen Klopp. A sixth European Cup was won in 2019 before the Reds finally ended a 30-year league title drought by claiming the Premier League.

Many felt Slot would have a difficult time of things during his maiden campaign on Merseyside, but the Dutchman has ushered the club into a new era easier than many anticipated.

13 Newcastle United 2024/25 EFL Cup winners

Eddie Howe truly earned his hero status on Tyneside by ending almost 60 years of hurt with victory in the 2025 EFL Cup final against Liverpool.

Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak handed glory to the Toon at Wembley, securing European football and potentially setting up a new era of challenging at the top end of the Premier League once again.

Now a force to be reckoned with, it would be a huge surprise if they take another 56 years to win another trophy.

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ByStephan Georgiou Feb 8, 2024 12 Manchester United 1 year (last trophy: 2023/24 FA Cup)

Manchester United may be going through their toughest period since Sir Alex Ferguson’s time in charge, but it hasn’t diminished their ability to win trophies.

The Premier League title has eluded the Red Devils since 2013, but the club have managed to win two League Cups, two FA Cups and a Europa League crown in the previous 11 years – but their defeat in the most recent Europa League final left them trophyless in 2024/25.

11 Manchester City 1 year (last trophy: 2023/24 Premier League)

Until their takeover by Sheikh Mansour in 2008, Manchester City had not won a major trophy since winning the League Cup during the 1975/76 season.

However, since 2008, the Etihad outfit have claimed eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, six League Cups and a coveted Champions League title in 2023 as part of a historic treble.

Pep Guardiola has transformed the side into a winning machine, and despite enduring a poor season by their high standards, City will always be in the hunt for silverware.

However, their 2024/25 campaign came to a disastrous conclusion when they failed to take home any major trophy, with defeat in the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace rather summing up their season.

It marks their first trophyless campaign since Guardiola’s first in 2016/17, when they finished third and only made the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Nobody expects their ‘drought’ to last long, though it does leave the team in an incredibly unfamiliar position.

10 West Ham United 2 years (last trophy: 2023 Conference League)

Due to West Ham United winning the Conference League in 2023, their ‘drought’ is only a single year. David Moyes had led his club to the semi-finals of the Europa League a year prior, but they went one step further in Europe’s third-tier competition.

Can Graham Potter lead them back onto the continental stage? Only time will tell.

9 Chelsea 3 years (last trophy: 2021 Club World Cup)

Chelsea’s two-year trophy drought must feel like a lifetime for the supporters, especially due to the problems they have endured on the pitch since the start of the 2022/23 season.

Their last trophy came in February 2022, with the Blues taking part in a pandemic-delayed edition of the Club World Cup following their 2021 Champions League triumph.

Chelsea are now on their fourth permanent manager since August 2022, but signs do look positive that Enzo Maresca will eventually get the club back in the winner’s circle.

Much will depend on whether he is given the time required to build his team into one that can return to the Champions League. If so, the Stamford Bridge side could prove to be challengers at the top once again.

8 Leicester City 4 years (last trophy: 2021 FA Cup)

Leicester City’s fairytale Premier League title triumph in 2016 was their first major trophy since winning the League Cup in 2000.

Indeed, with the money involved in the game these days, the likelihood of a club like the Foxes claiming the Premier League title is as unrealistic as ever.

Five years after this triumph, the club won the FA Cup courtesy of a 1-0 win over Chelsea, winning the competition for the first time in their history after losing four finals on the spin.

7 Arsenal 5 years (last trophy: 2020 FA Cup)

For all that Mikel Arteta has done since taking over Arsenal at the end of 2019, the FA Cup won in August 2020 remains his only trophy.

The Gunners have made strides in the top flight, finishing second in the previous two seasons – the first time they have managed back-to-back top-two finishes for 20 years.

Liverpool ran away with the title this season, but the club appear to be on the right trajectory having qualified for the Champions League once again and been one match away from the final in 2024/25.

Tottenham Hotspur have some major rebuilding to do if they’re to become genuine Premier League title contenders, with two big names now tipped to leave as part of the process.

Tottenham seal Europa League semi-final place after Thursday win

After a hard-fought victory at Eintracht Frankfurt, where Ange Postecoglou’s side were forced to dig deep and display truly heroic, last-gasp defending over a dogged showing, Spurs have now booked their place in the Europa League semi-finals.

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ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025

Dominic Solanke’s penalty was enough to hand the Lilywhites a spot in the next round, where they will play fairy tale semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt, after the Norwegian minnows knocked out Lazio on penalties.

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Tottenham showcased true professionalism to get the job done on a tough, hostile night in Germany, with Postecoglou’s side keeping their nerve on away soil and earning serious praise from their manager.

“Yeah, I’m delighted with many things, super proud of the lads,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s win at Eintracht.

“Going away from home, a quarter-final against a very good side, you know you’re going to have to work really hard, be really disciplined, and we needed to score. We had to show the quality we had as well.

“To a man, I just thought they were outstanding, so proud of them. In such a big game, they delivered a performance, and it means we’re through to a semi-final. I think over the two legs we deserved to go through. It could have been all over in the first leg, but we earned the right to be in the semi.”

Playmaker James Maddison put his body on the line to win Spurs the penalty which ultimately proved decisive, but according to talkSPORT pundit Troy Deeney, the England international is one of four players who could be sacrificed in the transfer market by chairman Daniel Levy.

Troy Deeney says Tottenham could let go of Son Heung-min and James Maddison

As well as Maddison, Deeney believes fellow big-name Son Heung-min could leave Tottenham soon.

The attacking stars, on a combined £260,000-per-week at N17, have both played mainstay roles under Postecoglou – but the pundit believes Spurs’ duo may well depart alongside the likes of Richarlison and Yves Bissouma.

“For me, he’s done a good job blooding the younger players and giving them the confidence to go and score a lot,” said Deeney on talkSPORT this week.

“Brennan Johnson, what is he on, about 16 goals now? I think they’re in a transition period, I think you could see the likes of Son [Heung-min] move on. Potentially [James] Maddison, [Yves] Bissouma, Richarlison, these guys will start moving on.

“And then obviously they have a lot of young players like Mikey Moore, but I still think they’re a little bit like Chelsea. They need one, maybe two, older pros just to be like, ‘We don’t do that here, this is how you win things.’

“And that’s the bit I think that they’re missing.”