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Chelsea are leaving no stone unturned as the club chases glory on all fronts this season. Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro have arrived to bolster the attack.

Pedro has made an instant impact already, registering three goal involvements in as many matches at the Club World Cup for the Blues.

He might be joined by Xavi Simons, who looks close to sealing a deal to join the Blues in the coming days.

This squad depth would make the Stamford Bridge side a force to be reckoned with under Enzo Maresca, especially if he can work out a system that could benefit his attacking players.

Despite the lavish spending, it appears as though Maresca isn’t finished yet…

Chelsea eyeing another attacking signing

With Simons looking like he will be the next big arrival, Maresca has turned closer to home for another potential signing.

According to Football Insider, Chelsea have offered two players plus cash in a deal to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.

Nicolas Jackson and Tosin Adarabioyo are the two players mentioned, while it remains to be seen how much money they have offered as part of the deal.

Villa value Rogers at around £100m, and they will do anything to keep hold of the playmaker this summer.

If the Blues strike a deal, it would be a major statement. Several of the team will benefit from Rogers’ arrival, none more so than Pedro.

Why Morgan Rogers would benefit Joao Pedro

Last season, Pedro scored ten Premier League goals for Brighton, adding six assists in the process.

He has settled into the Blues’ squad nicely indeed. Across three games at the Club World Cup, the Brazilian netted three goals while averaging one key pass per game.

Ahead of the new Premier League campaign, just how good can Pedro become with a player such as Rogers operating directly behind him?

Well, the Englishman enjoyed a stunning breakthrough season himself in the top flight during 2024/25.

Not only did he score eight times, but Rogers generated ten assists as Villa just missed out on Champions League qualification. He notably shone in Europe too, netting eight goals, including three which came in one game against Celtic.

When compared to his peers in the Premier League, the former Manchester City starlet ranked in the top 7% for through balls (0.64) per 90, along with ranking in the top 20% for take-ons attempted (4.62) per 90 across last season.

Furthermore, the youngster even created a staggering 16 big chances (the 11th best tally in the division) while also averaging 1.4 key passes per game for Villa.

Rogers’ Premier League stats last season

Shots per game

1.5

Big chances created

16

Key passes per game

1.4

Total duels won per game

4.7

Big chances missed

11

Touches per game

41.3

Via Sofascore

These statistics demonstrate just how effective he is behind the centre-forward, something which Pedro can take full advantage of.

Hailed as “unstoppable” by former Liverpool defender turned pundit Jamie Carragher last term, Rogers has all the tools in his armoury to be a success at Stamford Bridge.

The offer to Villa sounds like it might be tempting for Unai Emery to accept, especially given their need to balance the books.

Will Rogers be the final piece of the attacking jigsaw for Maresca ahead of the 2025/26 season? Only time will tell.

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Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 22, 2025

After submitting a fresh bid to sign Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United have already reportedly turned their focus towards their next top target.

Newcastle "optimistic" after fresh Elanga bid

Having seen their first offer turned down for the Swede, it always seemed possible that Newcastle could return with a second attempt to sign Elanga. And soon enough, that has proved to be the case with reports now suggesting that the Magpies have submitted a second bid worth around £55m to sign the Swede.

Now reportedly optimistic that they’ll reach an agreement with Forest, Newcastle could be about to kickstart their summer business by adding the final part to what could be a scintillating front three alongside Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.

Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Elanga

Isak

Gordon

Minutes

2,501

2,756

2,434

Goals

6

23

6

Assists

11

6

5

Successful Take-ons

25

42

38

One of the quickest trios that the Premier League is likely to see next season, Newcastle could yet retain their Champions League place and more in the next 12 months.

Nottingham Forest will be well aware of the quality that they will be losing if Elanga completes a summer switch to Newcastle, with Nuno Espirito Santo full of praise for his winger throughout the last campaign.

When asked about Elanga after the Swede scored an incredible solo goal against Manchester United in April, the Forest boss told reporters: “He’s a special boy and he gives this team his speed. He does it by himself and we are delighted.”

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Jul 4, 2025

That said, Elanga is unlikely to be the last through the door this summer. If reports are anything to go by, Newcastle and PIF have already turned their focus towards another top target even as negotiations continue over the winger’s signature.

Newcastle now prioritising Scalvini deal

According to The Times’ Martin Hardy, Newcastle are now prioritising a deal to sign Giorgio Scalvini from Atalanta once their deal to welcome Elanga is completed this summer. The 6’4 defender is reportedly valued at just £30m and is now among the Magpies’ top targets as they look to add another centre-back to their ranks.

Dubbed a “magnificent” centre-back alongside countryman Riccardo Calafiori in the 2023/24 season by scout Jacek Kulig, Scalvini could now join the Arsenal man in the Premier League.

Since the 23/24 campaign, the towering Italian has only pushed on and could hand Newcastle a bargain deal at just £30m. Given that Fabian Schar is now 33 years old too, it should be seen as a very real possibility that 21-year-old Scalvini could break into Eddie Howe’s best side if he completes a summer move.

Alongside Elanga and James Trafford, the Atalanta defender would make it three impressive signings for the Magpies in a summer which initially looked destined to be full of frustration.

Rangers are set to be very busy in the transfer market in the next few weeks.

Ever since Russell Martin was unveiled as the new manager last week, the Ibrox side have been linked with umpteen new signings and rightly so, considering their squad requires a major overhaul this summer.

So, could the Gers’ land an attacker labelled “unplayable” in a move reminiscent of a recent fans’ favourite?

Rangers' interest in a new midfielder

According to a report by Joshua Barrie of the Rangers review, Rangers are ‘interested’ in signing Kwame Poku this summer.

The 23-year-old is a free agent having left Peterborough United, with there unsurprisingly plenty of competition for his signature, including from newly-promoted Championship side, Birmingham City.

Poku began his senior career in non-league, representing Cray Wanderers and Worthing, earning a move to Colchester before joining Peterborough in 2021, making 147 appearances for Posh, most notably winning back-to-back EFL Trophies at Wembley.

Transfer Focus

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Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony believes he will “be a Premier League star in the future”, estimating that he’ll one day “cost £30 million”, so could Rangers tempt him north of Hadrian’s Wall on a Bosman?

Joe Aribo's Rangers career

Six years ago, in an eerily similar deal, Joe Aribo arrived at Rangers as a free agent, a reported £300,000 in compensation was paid, from Charlton Athletic, who were also in EFL League One at the time.

Aribo would go on to make 149 appearances for the Light Blues, scoring 26 goals and registering 25 assists, most famously breaking the deadlock in the Europa League Final against Eintracht Frankfurt at Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.

A few days later, the Nigerian international helped Rangers win the Scottish Cup at Hampden, but this would prove to be his last outing in a blue jersey, sold to Southampton for £6m in the summer of 2022.

So, could Poku have a similar impact to that of Aribo? Let’s compare the duo to find out.

Appearances

31

39

Minutes

2,364

3,413

Goals

12

10

Assists

11

5

As the table outlines, Poku’s statistics this season were actually more impressive than those of Aribo from his final season at Charlton, despite the fact the former sat out three months of the campaign following hamstring surgery in December.

Writer Kai Watson labels the Ghanian international a “strong ball carrier” who is excellent at “cutting in on his left and getting a shot away”, concluding that he would be a “bargain” on a free transfer. Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson, meanwhile, asserts that he can be “unplayable” at times.

Meanwhile, Oliver Walton of Football League World described him as ‘one of the most in-form players in English football’ earlier this season, while Venkatanarayanan of Total Football Analysis outlines how he boasts the best ‘attacking numbers’ across the entirety of the EFL, praising his ‘excellent finishing’.

So, let’s assess that assertion.

Minutes

2,058

223rd

Goals

12

11th

Goals per 90

0.52

7th

Assists

8

5th

Assists per 90

0.35

1st

Shots per 90

2.71

12th

Goals per shot

0.19

18th

Big chances created

9

28th

Successful dribbles per 90

1.9

2nd

As the table highlights, Poku had an exceptional season at Peterborough, ranked first for assists per 90 and second for successful dribbles per 90 as well, on top of his generally impressive attacking statistics across the board.

Venkatanarayanan of Total Football Analysis also believes his best position is as an attacking midfielder, albeit he can be deployed out-wide, noting that his ‘biggest strength’ is his ability to progress the ball through midfield.

Meanwhile, Fintan O’Reilly of Total Football Analysis labels him a ‘thrilling playmaker’ who is ‘great in tight spaces’ and a ‘very intelligent passer’, destined to go to the very top, so Rangers should do everything in their power to make this deal come to fruition.

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ByHenry Jackson Jun 10, 2025

Leeds United have now joined the race to sign a £20m Championship star, who amassed more goals than fellow target Gustavo Hamer across the 2024-25 campaign, according to a report.

Leeds looking to raid Championship clubs after promotion

With Leeds securing the 2024-25 Championship title, they are now at liberty to raid some of their former rivals for their best players, and it appears as though that could well be one of the strategies heading into the summer transfer window.

Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer is one of the potential targets, with the Whites now said to be plotting a move for the Brazil-born midfielder, who missed out on promotion in gutting fashion, courtesy of Tommy Watson’s last-gasp winner for Sunderland.

It is little wonder that Daniel Farke’s side are keen on the 27-year-old, considering the level of his performances for the Blades, with the maestro regularly chipping in with goals and assists to fuel his side’s promotion charge.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Championship

41

9

7

Play-offs

3

1

1

However, Hamer is not the only Championship attacker on Leeds’ shortlist, with a report from The Sun stating they have now joined the race to sign Middlesbrough star Finn Azaz, alongside AFC Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.

Michael Carrick will likely be unwilling to lose Azaz, given the level of his performances over the past two seasons, and he is thought to be valued at £20m, which means the Whites will have to shell out a sizeable fee for his services.

The Irishman is thought to be high on their shopping list, however, and a move to the Premier League could appeal to the attacking midfielder, given that he has certainly earned the chance to prove himself in the top flight.

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Posts ByDominic Lund May 27, 2025 Azaz outperforming Hamer in the Championship

Indeed, at 24-years-old the maestro could be entering his prime years, and his performances in the Championship last season suggest he could make a real impact at Premier League level, collecting 12 goals and 11 assists in 45 outings.

The Ireland international outperformed Hamer in terms of attacking numbers, while also placing in the 83rd percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.

As such, there was some controversy that the London-born attacker was overlooked for the end-of-season awards, but his omission likely relates to the fact that Middlesbrough finished in 10th place.

While Azaz’s attacking quality wasn’t enough to secure Boro a play-off spot, he could be a real difference-maker in Leeds avoiding relegation next season.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou could be facing his final few games as Spurs boss, according to recent reports, with a former employee of Daniel Levy claiming one tactician will be very keen to replace the Australian.

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ByEmilio Galantini May 6, 2025

Tottenham are just 90 minutes away from the Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21st, and if they avoid a humbling defeat away to Bodo/Glimt in their semi-final second leg, it’ll guarantee their much-needed spot after a dismal season domestically.

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

Spurs have equalled their record for most Premier League defeats in a single campaign under Postecoglou this season (19), and their form in England has prompted many calls for the Lilywhites boss to be sacked.

Postecoglou could even leave Tottenham regardless of their possible success in Europe, according to reliable media sources like The Telegraph recently, and there are a number of managers who are already being linked with the job this summer.

Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford), Scott Parker (Burnley), Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid), Jürgen Klopp (Head of Global, Red Bull), Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen), Niko Kovač (Borussia Dortmund) and Edin Terzić (free agent) have all been mentioned as Tottenham managerial candidates to replace Postecoglou in the last few weeks, so there are no shortage of options which could be considered.

More recently, there are suggestions that Fulham boss Marco Silva is emerging as a serious frontrunner.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke claimed earlier this week that the Portuguese, who has an £8 million release clause in his contract, has a serious admirer in Levy and Silva is becoming more open to replacing Postecoglou.

Marco Silva "wants the Tottenham job"

Now, Levy’s former employee and chief scout, Mick Brown, has told Football Insider that Silva “wants the Tottenham job”, but there is no guarantee this will land him the role, as there will be many contenders.

“Marco Silva wants the Tottenham job,” he said.

“No matter what we say, Tottenham is a very lucrative job, and it’s one any manager would be interested in. They’re a big club, regardless of how well they’re doing on the pitch.

“Silva has done a very good job with Fulham, when you look at the stature of the club and the finances he has available to him. But I get the feeling he has taken them as far as they can go by challenging for Europe.

“If they don’t get into Europe, and he’s offered the job, I have no doubt he’ll take it. It’s just about whether Spurs feel he is the right man for the job at the moment, because there are a lot of contenders and people they’ll be looking at.”

The 47-year-old has guided Fulham to an impressive campaign yet again, where they briefly contended for a spot in next season’s Champions League, which is very commendable work considering their shoe-string budget in comparison to England’s elite.

Alan Gardner is joined by Matt Roller and Vish Ehantharajah to discuss Will Jacks’ inclusion and Harry Brook’s promotion, as well white-ball squads for New Zealand

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2025After completing their season with a 2-0 T20I series win over Ireland, England named their squads for tours of New Zealand and Australia. On this week’s Switch Hit, Alan Gardner hears from Matt Roller and Vish Ehantharajah about the inclusion of Will Jacks and Harry Brook’s promotion to vice-captain. Also up for discussion: Zak Crawley’s T20I call-up and Championship glory for Notts.