All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United are now strongly considering a bid for a “brilliant” midfielder, who could be in line to join alongside their move for Sean Longstaff this summer, according to a report.

Leeds stepping up pursuit of new midfielders

Leeds have now reached an agreement on personal terms with Newcastle United’s Longstaff, as revealed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, with the deal said to be edging closer to completion.

Widespread reports have suggested the Newcastle midfielder is free to leave his boyhood club this summer, with Eddie Howe sanctioning a departure, and a move to Elland Road appears to be an increasingly likely outcome.

However, Daniel Farke may not want to stop there, with some extra quality perhaps needed in the engine room if his side are to avoid relegation from the Premier League next season, and the Championship title-winners have now intensified their interest in a different midfielder.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Leeds are now stepping up their interest in Shea Charles, with the Southampton midfielder catching the eye during a loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday last season.

The Whites tracked Charles’ performances during his loan spell with the Owls, and they were clearly impressed by what they saw, as a move is now being strongly considered, although it is unclear what sort of fee it would take to prise him away from the Saints.

Will Still is also hoping to keep hold of the central midfielder beyond the summer, which could make it difficult for the Whites to get a deal for the £15m-rated maestro over the line.

Charles could be "brilliant" addition to Farke's squad

While the signing of Longstaff makes more sense, considering the 27-year-old is vastly experienced at Premier League level, the Southampton midfielder’s performances in the Championship indicate he could be capable of making the step-up to the top flight.

Not only has the 21-year-old hailed as “brilliant” by members of the media, but journalist Joe Crann believes he could go on to achieve big things in the game.

Perhaps most noteworthy is the Northern Irishman’s defensive ability, performing very well across some key metrics over the past year, when compared to other midfielders.

Shea Charles

Average per 90

Interceptions

1.46 (83rd percentile)

Tackles

2.68 (78th percentile)

Aerials won

1.54 (80th percentile)

However, having recorded five assists in the Championship last season, the former Sheffield Wednesday man is clearly a well-rounded midfielder, capable of contributing on the front foot.

Charles could be a solid signing for Leeds this summer, but Longstaff looks to be a more attainable target, given that Newcastle are more willing to sanction a departure.

Tottenham Hotspur are still riding on the euphoria of winning the Europa League, salvaging something from a wretched 2024/25 campaign that led to a 17th-place Premier League finish and Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal from his post.

It was a contentious call, to be sure, but Spurs’ triumph could not and did not detract from the abject domestic form that highlighted so many flaws in the squad, injury-hit though it was.

With Thomas Frank now at the helm, there are plenty of reasons for the Lilywhite faithful to be excited, especially since the success on the continent, beating Manchester United in the final, has rolled out the carpet into next term’s Champions League proper.

While Frank and the club’s fanbase are hoping to see some exciting new forwards welcomed to the fold, Tottenham also need to address their defensive deficiencies.

Incomings are needed, with the potential sale of one of the outfit’s superstars playing into that.

The latest on Spurs' defensive situation

It’s clear that Tottenham need to strengthen at the back, especially as Cristian Romero is at the top of Atletico Madrid’s summer shopping list and could be sold in the next few months.

Despite finalising a deal for Kevin Danso, it’s clear that the Londoners need some added quality in defence; too often last season (and in 2023/24), the club’s fragilities were heightened when Romero and Micky van de Ven were absent – and setbacks have been commonplace for the imperious centre-half pairing.

According to transfer insider Ben Jacobs, Tottenham have joined Inter Milan in lodging an official enquiry for Genoa defender Koni De Winter.

While the suitors have yet to place official offers on the table, discussions are ongoing and Genoa would be willing to do business for a fee in a region of €25m (£21m).

What Koni De Winter would bring to Spurs

Joining Genoa from Juventus in a deal worth €10m (roughly £8m) in 2024, De Winter has enjoyed a standout season for Genoa, featuring 25 times and scoring three goals. He would have featured more prominently, but for a hamstring injury sustained in October, keeping him out for two months.

Having previously played at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium on loan the term before, the Belgium international has enjoyed steady progress in Italy and could now be ready for a move to the Premier League, emulating his countryman Jan Vertonghen in playing for Tottenham.

As per FBref, the 23-year-old ranked among the top 3% of central defenders across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goals scored, the top 9% for touches in the attacking box, the top 10% for aerial duels won and the top 14% for ball recoveries per 90.

De Winter’s flair for the attacking side of the game further suggests that he could be Vertonghen’s heir down N17 in more than just nationality, with journalist Antonio Mango even saying “his in-game intelligence is unreal”.

Matches (starts)

25 (23)

Goals

3

Assists

0

Touches*

63.6

Pass completion

87%

Ball recoveries*

4.6

Tackles + interceptions*

2.3

Clearances*

4.5

Aerial duels (won)*

3.0 (69%)

Moreover, De Winter’s versatility and athleticism lend themselves to a wider berth, having featured five times as a right-back for Genoa. The left-footed Vertonghen was dispatched on the left numerous times across his long Spurs career for similar reasons.

Vertonghen, now 38 years old, played 313 times for Tottenham after signing from Ajax for just £10m in 2012, with his career in the Premier League leaving him regarded among the finest defenders of his generation, partnered mainly with countryman Toby Alderweireld.

Big boots to fill, but De Winter has the versatility and technical confidence to forge a successful career for himself in the English capital, emulating his Belgian icon.

Better signing than Mbeumo: Spurs make enquiry for "world-class" £20m star

Tottenham Hotspur have wasted no time making moves within the summer transfer market.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jul 5, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for new wingers, amid the uncertainty surrounding Son Heung-min’s long-term future, and one of their targets has made a public admission about his future.

Tottenham convinced £100k-a-week star is keen to join Spurs after "noises"

Spurs have been getting encouragement behind-the-scenes.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 24, 2025

Son is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract, which was initially set to expire this year, with chairman Daniel Levy activating the club’s option to extend it by an additional season.

This call has allowed the Lilywhites to make some money back off their captain’s potential sale before deadline day on September 1, and reliable media sources have reported that this is a very realistic possibility (The Telegraph) – 10 years after Spurs sealed one of the bargains of the century with Son’s £22 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Following Son’s 173 goals and 101 assists over the span of 454 appearances in all competitions, Levy could even make a £28 million profit off the 32-year-old’s exit as Levy demands a fee of around £50 million to let him go (Football Asian).

If Tottenham manage to sell Son for double his original fee, this, combined with his profound impact on the field, would surely make him one of the club’s best-ever signings.

Thomas Frank would certainly need a replacement, though, and it is widely reported that the club are actively seeking a new winger.

Man City’s Jack Grealish, Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus are among Spurs’ reported targets, but they’ll all command premium fees in terms of transfer cost and potential wages.

All the aforementioned names boast proven top-level experience, and they’re exactly the calibre of player which Tottenham requires ahead of a campaign where they’ll be competing in the Champions League.

However, depending on the funds available, another astute option could be Red Bull Salzburg sensation Nene Dorgeles.

Nene Dorgeles refuses to rule out joining Tottenham

The Mali winger is currently at this summer’s Club World Cup, and will soon face-off against Real Madrid in Salzburg’s final group game.

Dorgeles is in the midst of an impressive campaign at Salzburg – bagging 15 goals and nine assists in all competitions – with reports suggesting he’d cost up to £21 million.

Tottenham are targeting Dorgeles this summer and have him on their list of wide options, with PSG and Arsenal also contending for the 22-year-old. That is according to Africa Foot, who also spoke with the international forward about his future.

Dorgeles states that, while the focus is currently on Salzburg, he refuses to rule out leaving Salzburg amid interest from N17.

“I’m coming off an interesting season, and that’s bound to attract interest from other clubs,” said Dorgeles.

“But for now, I’m staying focused on competing with my club since I’m still under contract. So I’m letting my agents take care of my contract situation, but I’m not closing any doors.”

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin seems like he might leave the club on a free transfer in the summer.

After a 239-game stint with the Toffees, he seems set to depart after failing to agree upon a new contract. West Ham United are seemingly ready to pounce, with Football Transfers reporting that they have made contact over a summer move.

With 57 Everton goals to his name in the Premier League, there is no doubt Calvert-Lewin made a real name for himself during his time at Goodison Park. However, he fell well short of Romelu Lukaku’s tally for the Toffees, and it feels like they are yet to find an attacker who can dazzle just as he did in Merseyside.

Well, that could all change this summer, if transfer rumours into the club are to be believed.

Everton’s exciting attacking target

The Toffees have certainly struggled to find an attacker who can get anywhere near the quality Lukaku brought to the club. This is not a slight on other players, but praise to their all-time top goalscorer in the Premier League.

Maybe Jack Grealish can be the man to fill Lukaku’s shoes from a quality point of view. A recent report from The Telegraph suggests Tottenham Hotspur ‘will not enter the race’ for the attacker, and Scudetto winners Napoli ‘will not match’ his wage demands, thus making the Toffees one of the favourites to sign him should they follow up on their recent interest.

On the 11th June, Football Insider broke the news that Grealish ‘favours a move to Everton’ over another rival club, Newcastle United.

However, wage demands would be an issue, and any move for the Manchester City attacker would ‘need to be a loan deal’ this summer, particularly as he has a £50m price tag.

Why Grealish would be a good signing for Everton

The 2024/25 season has obviously not been what Grealish might have hoped for at the Etihad Stadium.

He played just 32 games, scoring and assisting eight times, and failed to make City’s Club World Cup squad.

Yet, Grealish is an “inevitable” footballer, according to Statman Dave, and players like that always come good. His talent was on show for all to see as a City player in previous campaigns, including the famous treble-winning season of 2022/23, where he played 50 games and contributed to 16 goals, creating a whopping 94 chances across the season, as per Sofascore.

Chances created

2.4

94

Big chances created

0.4

16

Dribbles completed

1.9

74

Tackles and interceptions

1.3

50

Expected goal involvements

0.39xGI

14.93xGI

Goal involvements

0.4

16

On top of that, let’s not forget the impact the England international had at Villa Park, for his boyhood club, Aston Villa. He played 213 games for the West Midlands side, scoring 32 goals and grabbing 43 assists, numbers that promoted a remarkable £100m move.

His goal away to Manchester United, when he was still donning the Claret and Blue of the Villans, showed exactly what he can do. Arguably his best goal for the club, Grealish picked up a loose ball on the left-hand corner of the box, before cutting inside and bending an effort into the far corner.

Moments like that are strong evidence for how Grealish can become Everton’s best attacker since Lukaku. Not necessarily in the same vein of goalscoring form, of course. After all, the Belgian legend is their all-time Premier League top scorer, with 68 strikes, whereas Grealish’s game is more well-rounded.

He certainly has the ability to change a game, like the 32-year-old, who bagged 87 goals for the Toffees in 166 games. Described as “the complete striker” by former boss Roberto Martinez, he was often a catalyst to their success.

That is what Grealish can replicate in an Everton shirt. Like Lukaku, he has that maverick instinct, someone who can flip a game on its head and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. That has been on show countless times for City and Villa.

Although this might only be a temporary deal, signing Grealish would surely be a fantastic piece of business for the Merseyside club.

The excitement and dynamism he would bring could certainly replicate what Lukaku brought to the table. The 29-year-old could, without doubt, be their best attacker since the legendary Belgian.

Better than Thierno Barry: Everton considering bid for lethal £42m striker

Everton are looking to sign a striker or two this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 17, 2025

Arsenal’s search for a new striker could still go on long into the summer transfer window, with sporting director Andrea Berta currently weighing up their best possible move.

Arsenal assessing Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres deals

As per a helpful update from the BBC, amidst some confusion over who Arsenal’s top striker target actually is, the Gunners are actively working to discover the conditions of deals for both Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) and Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig).

£50m star could now reject Arsenal move and sign new deal after talks

He also snubbed an exit last summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 4, 2025

Both strikers, fresh off the back of career-best campaigns at their current clubs, have serious credentials.

Sesko, standing at a towering 6 foot 5, boasts a fairly modest goal-record of 21 in all competitions from last season. However, the 22-year-old’s potential for growth, not to mention outstanding physical attributes like his speed and power, make him a very intriguing option for Mikel Arteta.

The Spaniard is known to be a big fan of his, and Arsenal have tried to sign Sesko on multiple occasions since last summer, so they could still make it third-time-lucky this window.

Meanwhile, Gyokeres has just concluded a sublime Primeira Liga campaign, where he guided Sporting to their first domestic double in 20 years whilst scoring an incredible 54 goals in all competitions.

While Arsenal work to discover which deal would be best suited to the club, both centre-forwards are set to be “extremely expensive”, so it is vital that Arteta and Berta get this decision right.

That being said, there are suggestions that Arsenal do have other alternative targets in that position, so it isn’t exactly a straight two-horse race between Sesko and Gyokeres for the Gunners’ striker spot.

Arsenal internally discussing deal for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins – an England international and boyhood Arsenal supporter – was subject to a low-ball bid from north London in the January transfer window.

Arsenal made a £45 million offer for Watkins to test Unai Emery’s resolve, according to The Telegraph, which is nearly half of Villa’s £80 million valuation.

The north Londoners never went back in with a second offer, but a new report from The Athletic suggests that a fresh summer swoop for Watkins isn’t completely off the table, despite work going into Sesko and Gyokeres right now.

It is believed Arsenal are still internally discussing Watkins as a striker target, and while they face a major obstacle in the form of Villa, they may not run into much trouble when it comes to convincing the player himself.

Back in 2020, Watkins admitted that he dreams of a move to Arsenal one day, and now that he’s 29-years-old, time is running out to make that fantasy a reality.

“That’s the dream, to play for Arsenal one day,” Watkins said.

“But, you know, it’s a long shot.”

The former Brentford star helped to fire Villa to a Europa League spot with 17 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season.

His Premier League pedigree and experience at the top-level is something which should be carefully considered by Berta, with the only sticking points being his age and potential price tag.

With Champions League qualification secured, Newcastle United are now reportedly readying a double swoop worth over £100m to sign two impressive additions this summer.

Newcastle seal Champions League qualification

It wasn’t done the easy way, but Newcastle secured their place in next season’s Champions League on the final day of the season despite losing against Everton. In the end, it was Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa which helped the Magpies avoid the worst-case scenario. Eddie Howe won’t care how his side did it, however. All he will be thinking about is the chance to step into the dugout among Europe’s elite for the second time in three seasons.

Having more than played his part as club captain this season, Bruno Guimaraes expressed his delight after earning a place back in the Champions League on the final day. The Brazilian told reporters: “Feel very well, feel unbelievable. I think for me, it has been an unbelievable year. First year as a captain, played 38 of 38 games in the Premier League. I’m very, very happy.

“Winning a trophy for this club. What a season. I will always remember this one. I’m very, very happy and proud of our team, of myself, of these fans. Next season, we go back again. We never stop. We’ve won a cup, but we want more.”

After struggling to maintain their form last season, the current campaign couldn’t have gone much better for those at St James’ Park. As Guimaraes reiterated, however, they’ll be keen to ensure that this is just the start.

The next Trippier: Newcastle express interest in "stupidly good" £29m star

Newcastle are looking to add to their depth at right-back

ByJoe Nuttall May 28, 2025

What that success has done too, is hand PIF the chance to spend big again at long last. With their PSR problems eased, Newcastle could finally hand Howe the reinforcements that he’s been needing, including the addition of two excellent Premier League stars.

Newcastle readying double Mbeumo and Guehi swoop

According to The Telegraph, Newcastle are now readying a double move to sign Bryan Mbuemo and Marc Guehi from Brentford and Crystal Palace. Both deals would make significant statements of the Magpies’ intent and both would cost hefty fees.

Mbeumo will reportedly cost in the region of £50m-60m, whilst Guehi has been valued at as much as £65m by Crystal Palace ahead of the summer transfer window, although the Magpies hope a compromise can be reached with the Eagles for their long-term target.

With PSR problems eased, however, spending may not be an issue for PIF, who could show off their financial power for the first time since initially arriving at St James’ Park.

Signing Guehi would particularly be a long time coming, given that Newcastle were heavily linked with the defender’s signature last summer. His arrival would also allow Howe to move Dan Burn back to left-back and form an impressive partnership between Sven Botman and his potential new arrival.

Meanwhile, Mbeumo needs little introduction these days after scoring 20 goals in all competitions for Brentford and keeping up with the talented Alexander Isak throughout the campaign.

Starts

38

34

Goals

20

23

Assists

7

6

Expected Goals

12.3

20.3

It’s clear that the Brentford star would instantly take Newcastle’s frontline to another level just as Guehi would hand the Magpies the defensive boost that they’ve been searching for since last summer.

Aston Villa have received a boost in their pursuit of a summer target, with it being revealed he is now planning to ignore Barcelona in favour of a move to the Premier League, according to a report.

Villa file complaint after referee blunder

With Newcastle United suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Everton, a point against Manchester United would’ve been enough for Villa to secure Champions League qualification for the second season on the spin, but they ultimately fell to a 2-0 loss.

Morgan Rogers thought he had opened the scoring for the Villans, but referee Thomas Bramall blew the whistle for an alleged foul on Altay Bayindir, with VAR unable to intervene as play was stopped before the ball hit the net.

As such, an official complaint has been made to the PGMOL, but Unai Emery’s side will ultimately have to settle for Europa League football next season, rather than the much more prestigious and lucrative Champions League.

Villa’s omission from Europe’s elite competition could also impact the business they are able to do this summer, but a new update has suggested they could still be well-positioned to sign a goalkeeper.

According to a report from Spain, Espanyol’s Joan Garcia is on Aston Villa’s radar for a summer transfer swoop, and the 24-year-old is now planning to turn down a move to Barcelona, amid concerns he would not be the first-choice option.

As such, a move to the Premier League is believed to appeal to Garcia, with Villa, Newcastle United and Arsenal all waiting in the wings, and Espanyol are aware it will be difficult to keep hold of the goalkeeper if they receive a big offer from England.

A deal could be relatively cheap, however, with the rumoured asking price of £25m believed to be appealing to all the interested parties.

Garcia could be "elite" Martinez heir

Unfortunately, it appears as though Emiliano Martinez’s time at Villa Park could be over, with the Argentine appearing to say a tearful farewell after his side’s final home game of the campaign.

As such, Emery will be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and the Espanyol shot-stopper could be a fantastic option, having been lauded as “elite” by scout Ben Mattinson during the 2024-25 campaign.

Aston Villa could sign their new version of Grealish for £65m this summer

Aston Villa have been linked with a Premier League sensation

ByRoss Kilvington May 26, 2025

Not only that, but the 24-year-old ranks in the 86th percentile for his save percentage, and the 91st percentile for his crosses stopped percentage per 90 over the past year, so it is promising news that he could reject Barcelona in favour of a Premier League move.

One of the biggest clubs in the Premier League wants to sign an Everton star this summer, according to an update from former scout Mick Brown.

Everton battling to keep hold of key men

While much focus is on the players the Blues could sign in the summer transfer window, there are certain key figures whose services must be retained ahead of next season.

Jarrad Branthwaite is one such example, with the England international likely to be the subject of plenty of interest from some big clubs, as he continues to impress in an Everton shirt. Manchester United are thought to be in the mix to sign him, for example.

There are also others who may simply move on with their deals up at the end of the season. Abdoulaye Doucoure has been linked with a summer exit after an impressive spell with the Blues, not least scoring that all-important goal against Bournemouth back in 2023.

The same applies to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who hasn’t always found playing time easy to come by this season, starting only 19 times in the Premier League. He is also out of contract at the end of the season.

Everton star Branthwaite wanted by Chelsea

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown claimed that Chelsea are interested in completing the signing of Everton centre-back Branthwaite this summer:

“There’s no doubt the manager wants to improve his defensive options. I’m told they’ve been looking at Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton. He would be a solid option for them, but I don’t think they’re completely convinced. If you’re looking at Branthwaite, how much better is he than what they’ve already got at Chelsea? Then, you have to consider that it would take big money to bring him in because Everton aren’t going to let him go easily.

“So if they’re spending that type of money, they want a player who would be a really significant upgrade on the likes of Colwill, and they’re not convinced he is. It’s something they’ll consider and then they’ll be the ones to make that decision. But as things stand I think they’re more likely to look elsewhere.”

The £35,000-a-week Branthwaite is arguably Everton’s most prized asset currently, so they must do all they can to retain his services.

The 22-year-old has once again been a rock at the heart of his side’s defence in 2024/25, making 30 appearances in the Premier League, averaging a whopping 6.3 clearances per game.

Appearances

30

Starts

28

Minutes played

2510

Clearances per game

6.3

Aerial duel wins per game

2.1

Tackles per game

1.2

Interceptions per game

0.9

Goals

0

Assists

1

Branthwaite has received so much adoration in recent years after his rapid rise at Everton, with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher heaping praise on him, saying:

“Branthwaite has been outstanding. I think this lad is pretty special. He’s a big part of why Everton in my eyes have a good chance of staying up, him and his partnership with [James] Tarkowski.”

Moyes has unearthed Everton's new Wayne Rooney in £15m star

Everton found their new superstar on an emotional day at Goodison Park.

ByAngus Sinclair May 20, 2025

Everton should only entertain the idea of allowing Branthwaite to leave if a monstrous offer arrives from Chelsea or elsewhere – ideally, though, he will be with the Blues for many years to come, becoming a legend over time.

Enzo Maresca is not short of options at centre-back for Chelsea. The Blues boss has several options when everyone is fully fit, not including Axel Disasi, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa. Youngster Josh Acheampong is also an option at centre-back, as is Wesley Fofana, although he is out injured.

Trevoh Chalobah was recalled to the club in January after spending the first half of the season on loan at Crystal Palace, and he has had a big role to play since returning, having started the last six Premier League games.

Levi Colwill – who has started 32 top-flight games in 2024/25 – has also been a key player, with the likes of Benoit Badiashile and Tosin being options, too.

However, the Blues seem like they will bolster their defensive depth in the summer and bring in a new recruit for Maresca.

Chelsea’s defensive target

If there is one defender who is widely wanted across Europe this summer, it is Feyenoord and Slovakia international David Hancko. The 27-year-old came close to leaving the club last summer, but seems destined to depart in 2025.

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 a report from Dutch news outlet Voetbal International, Chelsea are one of the sides ready to make an offer to sign him this summer. The report suggests the Blues ‘want to work on the arrival of the defender’ before someone else snatches him up.

They will face stiff competition, however, with West Ham United the other Premier League side said to be interested in striking a summer deal.

Outside of England, Atletico Madrid and Al Nassr are also strongly linked. In March, a report from TEAMTalk suggested the defender could leave Feyenoord for a fee in the region of £42m.

Why Hacko would be a good signing

It has been an impressive season for Hancko, in a Feyenoord side who have had a good time of things from a defensive standpoint in the Eredivisie. As per Sofascore, they have conceded the second-fewest number of goals, letting in 33. They have also kept nine clean sheets, bettered by just three sides.

Slovak international Hancko has played a big part in that, too. He has played 44 times across all competitions, with 29 of those games coming in the Dutch top flight. He has featured in all of those aforementioned nine clean sheets.

The 27-year-old has also chipped in with goals and assists this term, too. He has scored and assisted four each across all competitions, with one of those goals coming in that famous 3-3 draw away to Manchester City, when his side came from three goals down in the Champions League.

Described as a “freak technician” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, Hancko’s ability on the ball is a standout feature of his game. He can play at both left-back and left centre-back, showing excellent versatility.

In fact, that is like another Chelsea target, Jorrel Hato, who also plays in the Eredivisie for Ajax. According to a recent report from Sky Sports, the West Londoners are ‘seriously considering making a move’ for the 19-year-old.

The Ajax academy graduate has been crucial for the Dutch giants this term. He has featured 47 times in that famous shirt, scoring three goals and assisting six. Just like Hancko, he can play at centre-back or at left-back.

Well, the pair can be compared via FBref, to gain a better understanding of their underlying numbers. Their defensive number are very close, with Hancko averaging 2.17 tackles and interceptions and 4.34 ball recoveries each game. Comparatively, Hato averages 2.88 tackles and interceptions and 4.4 ball recoveries per 90 minutes.

Passes into final third

7.55

3.88

Progressive passes

7.34

4.38

Progressive carries

2

1.46

Tackles and interceptions

2.17

2.88

Ball recoveries

4.34

4.4

Signing Hancko seems like an excellent option for the Blues. He is progressive on the ball, as the stats show, and can play in a couple of positions, which adds to Maresca’s options at the back.

£42m is a fairly sizeable amount of money, but he would certainly increase the technical floor of the squad and become another quality option.

Maresca must unleash 18-year-old Chelsea star who's their homegrown Hato

Chelsea might not have to worry if they miss out on signing Hato

ByJoe Nuttall May 7, 2025

This summer is a huge window for Manchester United if they are to overturn their lack of success in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, currently sitting in 14th position.

However, despite their lowly league standing, the Red Devils could find themselves in the Champions League next season should they manage to win the Europa League in the coming weeks.

If they are to compete at the top level, all areas of the pitch are in need of investment to inject the needed quality and depth to take the side back to their former glory.

Undoubtedly, sales are needed to provide Ruben Amorim with the funds he requires to make the necessary changes to his squad to try and push them back towards the summit of England’s top-flight.

With the summer window rapidly approaching, work is already being done behind the scenes as Amorim prepares for an overhaul of the Red Devils side this summer.

The latest on United’s pursuit of new attackers

Over the last few weeks, countless attackers have been linked with a move to United, including Liam Delap, who was seen as the club’s number one option for the centre-forward role.

However, no deal appears to have progressed despite his £30m relegation release clause, with the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle United entering the race for his signature in recent weeks.

It appears that the Red Devils have switched their attentions to other targets in the form of Viktor Gyokeres, that’s if the recent reports from Spain are to be believed.

It’s been reported that United have stepped up their attempts to land the Sporting CP striker, advancing talks and making contact with the player’s representatives ahead of the summer.

It also states that they are considering making a lucrative offer to the player and club to hand Amorim a reunion with the player who thrived under his guidance in Portugal.

Why United’s target would be perfect with Cunha

Matheus Cunha is another player who has emerged on United’s shortlist over the last couple of weeks, with the Brazilian potentially becoming their first signing this summer.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Red Devils have already been in talks with Wolves over a deal for his signature, whilst also willing to trigger his £62.5m release clause.

The 25-year-old himself is open to a switch to Old Trafford, regardless of whether or not the side secure a place in the Champions League next season.

Cunha would be signed to operate in the number ten role behind the striker in Amorim’s side, handing strikers endless chances – based upon his figures of 2.1 chances created and 2.2 dribbles completed.

Such tallies would fall perfectly into the hands of Gyokeres, who could certainly end United’s pursuit of a new talisman, taking the side to the next level as a result.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one Portuguese analyst, has registered 52 goals in 48 appearances in 2024/25, potentially forming a deadly partnership with Cunha in forward areas.

He’s also managed to register 2.6 shots on target per 90 and complete 49% of the dribbles he’s attempted in the Liga Portugal – offering a constant threat to all opposition backlines.

Games played

30

Goals scored

38

Pass accuracy

75%

Shots on target

2.6

Dribbles completed

49%

Aerials won

55%

Touches in the opposition box

10.7

Gyokeres has also impressed as a focal point, winning 55% of the aerial duels he’s entered, allowing the likes of Cunha to link up and play off him, bolstering his own goalscoring tallies as a result.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Sporting talisman would set the hierarchy back in the coming months, it’s evident that he would massively bolster the attacking department.

The prospect of the pair linking up together at Old Trafford is certainly an exciting one for the supporters, with their talents hopefully pushing the club in the right direction ahead of 2025/26.

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