Nottingham Forest have now identified an “unstoppable” Premier League player as their top target for the summer transfer window, according to a report.
Forest causing a stir in the transfer market
This summer certainly hasn’t been a boring one for the Tricky Trees, controversially replacing Crystal Palace in the Europa League, given the Eagles’ issues surrounding multi-club ownership, before going on to make headlines as a result of their behaviour in the transfer market.
Sky Sports News have now revealed that Forest have written to both Tottenham Hotspur and Morgan Gibbs-White’s agents threatening legal action, as they believe an illegal approach was made for one of their key players.
However, with Gibbs-White reportedly informing owner Evangelos Marinakis that he wants to join Tottenham this summer, it remains to be seen whether he ultimately ends up making the move to north London regardless.
Nottingham Forest have a battle on their hands trying to keep hold of the attacking midfielder, but they also have their own transfer business to worry about, and a report from The Telegraph has revealed they have now identified a new top target.
The player in question is Aston Villa attacker Jacob Ramsey, who is capable of playing at both left-wing and in attacking midfield, indicating that he could potentially be brought in as a replacement for Gibbs-White.
Given his versatility, there is a feeling Ramsey could also be capable of playing across Nuno’s forward line, with the manager looking to bring in players capable of helping his side push for another high finish in the Premier League.
However, there could be competition for the 24-year-old’s signature, with Everton and West Ham United retaining an active interest.
"Unstoppable" Ramsey could be coup for Forest
A deal for the Villa star may be on the expensive side, with Forest’s Premier League rivals set to hold out for at least £30m, but there are plenty of signs that he could be worth shelling out for.
Jamie Carragher has been left very impressed by the Englishman in the past, with the Sky Sports pundit saying: “He is a machine this fella. You see him open up his legs and run. He almost looks unstoppable.”
Aston Villa now set to make move for £17m ace, keen to finalise deal quickly
The Villans are “ready” to finalise a move for a defender…
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The 2022-23 campaign was arguably the Birmingham-born attacker’s best, picking up 13 goal contributions in the Premier League, although he remained a key player for Unai Emery last term, featuring regularly in the Champions League.
With Forest set to embark on a European adventure of their own next season, they could do with bringing in players who have top-level experience, meaning Ramsey could be a solid addition to Nuno’s squad.
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.
Douglas Luiz at the Club World Cup with Juventus.
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.
Douglas Luiz in action for Juventus.
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.
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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is eyeing a move for a player he was keen on last summer
Bryan Mbeumo has been Manchester United’s number one target in the transfer window over the last couple of weeks, as Ruben Amorim wants to improve his frontline at Old Trafford.
Matheus Cunha has already completed a £62.5m move this window, but it’s evident that the hierarchy are willing to back the 40-year-old in his quest for success.
The Red Devils have so far had two offers rejected for the Brentford star, with their latest offer totalling £62.5m including add-ons – but it’s still not enough to secure his signature.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
Whilst he wants to move to the Theatre of Dreams during the off-season, his current employers have placed a £70m price tag on his shoulders, which could delay such a move.
Given his tally of 20 goals in the Premier League this season, it would be a superb addition, but that doesn’t mean other deals could be just as impressive this summer.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
All areas of the pitch have been subject to investment in recent days, with the Borussia Dortmund star Felix Nmecha a player who looks set to be approached this window.
Atalanta star Ederson is another player who’s firmly been on their radar over recent seasons, but a deal has seemed to become unlikely given the difference in valuations.
However, moves have also been made elsewhere, with PSG midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery subject to an enquiry, according to TEAMtalk’s update from earlier this week.
The report claimed that United have made their interest clear in the 19-year-old star, who’s already racked up 125 career appearances despite his tender age.
It also stated that it’s unlikely the French side are set to budge on their current asking price of £85m, in a deal that would be one of the Red Devils’ most expensive in their history.
Why United’s £85m target would be their next Pogba
Paul Pogba still holds United’s club record for the highest fee paid for a player, costing £89m from Juventus back in the summer of 2016, in what was then also an English record.
The Frenchman made over 200 appearances during his second spell at Old Trafford, returning to the club after originally leaving to join the Old Lady on a free transfer.
The midfielder caught the eye in his box-to-box role for the Red Devils, often producing a moment of magic with the ball at his feet, helping the club win the Europa League back in 2016/17.
He would leave on a free transfer once again in the summer of 2022, rejoining Juve before being hit with a doping ban, which has seen him banned for the last 18 months of his career.
However, United could be about to land their next version of the Frenchman this summer, with a move for Zaire-Emery, matching his compatriot in potentially joining in a big-money deal.
He’s previously been compared to Pogba by former Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger, with the supporters needing to get excited by his potential move to Old Trafford this summer.
His underlying stats from the 2024/25 campaign showcase the talent he possesses, having bags of time to emulate Pogba’s success given his tender age of just 19.
Zaire-Emery, who’s been labelled as “one of the best midfielders in the world” by agent Jorge Mendes, has completed 93% of the passes he’s attempted, registering 5.4 passes into the final third per 90 – having the tools to provide chances to those ahead of him.
Games played
29
Goals & assists
4
Pass accuracy
93%
Passes into final third
5.4
% of tackles won
51%
Interceptions made
1.1
Take-ons completed
54%
Recoveries made
5.9
His talents on the ball are further reflected in his take-on success, completing 54% of his efforts, demonstrating skills way beyond his teenage years, something which is a rarity in the modern game.
He’s also been just as impressive without the ball, winning 51% of his tackles and making 1.1 interceptions per 90, handing Amorim the perfect box-to-box option, just as Pogba was a couple of years ago.
Whilst £85m may be a mammoth fee for such a young talent, he’s already showcased that he’s capable of performing at the highest level – but it’s a scary prospect that he’s going to only develop further.
If he can replicate the levels produced by his compatriot at the Theatre of Dreams, it would be a stellar signing and one that would prove to be a better signing than Mbeumo, given the levels he’s achieved and the heights he could reach in the years to come.
He'd be perfect for Mbeumo: Man Utd prepare bid for "exceptional" £28m ace
Manchester United appear to be making serious moves in the transfer market.
The 2025/26 season that’s soon on the horizon for Newcastle United looks to be another exciting one.
Eddie Howe’s Toon will find themselves back amongst Europe’s elite in the Champions League, with the hope they can compete for more silverware too after breaking their trophy hoodoo last season when lifting the EFL Cup at Liverpool’s expense.
To boost their chances of a similarly successful 25/26, therefore, Howe will know he needs to be backed in the chaotic transfer market, with this attacking star one potential addition that would surely enliven the St James’ masses ahead of the action kicking off.
Newcastle remain interested in move for Premier League winger
The Toon have been lining up a number of attackers this summer with talks reportedly due to take place to sign Joao Pedro from Brighton.
Another target is Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford, who after an impressive loan spell at Aston Villa, is now set to leave Old Trafford behind permanently.
However, to put that move to one side, as per a report from TEAMTalk, Newcastle remain interested in adding Nottingham Forest ace Anthony Elanga to their camp this summer, with a shock swap deal even potentially on the cards.
Indeed, the report elaborates that with the Magpies ‘stepping up their interest’ in the winger, they could be set to offer Harvey Barnes to Forest to smooth over proceedings.
Barnes’ inclusion in the deal would bring down the £50m valuation of the ex-Manchester United forward’s price tag.
Elanga could also be tempted to make the switch with the allure of Champions League football presumably a pull, with Howe also desperate to land the Sweden international as he hunts down pacey, new options to enhance his attacking personnel.
Why Elanga would be a better buy than Rashford
Snapping up the services of Elanga would surely mean the Magpies wouldn’t have to go back in for another of their attacking targets like Rashford, considering the 23-year-old is now surely viewed as an upgrade on his former Red Devils teammate after his blistering couple of campaigns at the City Ground, compared to Rashford’s up-and-down time of things.
After all, if it’s pace Howe wants in abundance, he will strike gold by picking up Elanga, with this unbelievable breakaway goal last season seeing him leave many a United shirt in the dust, before punishing his former employers even more with a clinical finish.
For good measure, he was one of the quickest players in the top flight of English football last season too.
The fastest & slowest players in the Premier League (2024/25)
Off the back of such counter-attacking magic, Elanga would rightfully describe himself as “one of the fastest players in the PL”, with the standout Swede thankfully backing up these rampaging forays more often than not with a meaningful strike or an assist.
Games played
38
25
Goals scored
6
6
Assists
11
3
Big chances missed
6
5
Big chances created
9
8
Whilst Rashford did shine away from Old Trafford last season on the temporary books of Villa, it’s also clear from the numbers that Elanga would be the better pick-up, with the 5-foot-10 winger far less jaded by the top-flight than the United outcast, registering a far greater goal contribution number of 17 last season, next to Rashford’s lesser nine.
On top of that, Elanga also has the added boost of 14 more goals and assists donning Forest red from the season before, as Rashford’s spell at the Swede’s former employers began to fall apart.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga
Moreover, unlike Rashford who is predominantly an out-and-out left winger, the Forest speedster would be able to offer Howe an option down either flank if needed, with the £50m-rated target up to 63 career games now as a right winger, on top of also tallying up 55 down the left.
Further lauded as “special” by Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, this could well be the platform the winger desires now to strut his stuff in the Champions League and beyond.
Dream Gordon replacement: Newcastle now eyeing "unplayable" English star
Newcastle may need to replace their most profitable winger this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur have commenced their official search for Ange Postecoglou’s replacement after months of speculation about the Australian’s long-term future, with Spurs announcing on Friday that they’ve parted company.
Daniel Levy slammed for sacking Ange Postecoglou
It is safe to say that chairman Daniel Levy’s controversial decision to sack Postecoglou has been met with fierce criticism.
Levy "impressed" after holding Tottenham talks with £4.5m-per-year manager
The Spurs chairman has taken a personal liking to him.
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According to The Telegraph, Spurs’ squad themselves are furious about the call to hand Postecoglou his P45, just over a fortnight after he helped to end the club’s 17-year wait for major silverware and qualify for the Champions League.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Son Heung-min called Postecoglou a Spurs legend and bid him farewell in an emotional goodbye message on Instagram, and he’s not the only Lilywhites star to come out in support of the former Celtic boss over these last few weeks.
“Always listen to the room. Pedro Porro said keeping Postecoglou would be good for the dressing room, while James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray all publicly backed him. It all links to that famous saying: if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” said Sky Sports journalist Sam Blitz in a critique of Postecoglou’s exit.
“Yes, Postecoglou had his faults – the league form was a shambles. But his season objectives last August would have been to get into the Champions League and win a trophy.
“He did that, albeit in a fortunate way. And he even went against his ‘Angeball’ principles to achieve it – showing he could be developing into more than the stubborn manager with one plan. In getting rid of the Australian, Levy is back to square one. And whoever he brings in faces an uphill struggle.
“If you’re Thomas Frank or Andoni Iraola, you should look at when Nuno Espírito Santo – an experienced manager who took outsiders into Europe – took the step-up to that role. He lasted 17 games.”
It is actually hard to argue with this assessment, but as Levy’s remorseless scythe swings again on the Spurs managerial merry-go-round, another tactician must now step into Postecoglou’s shoes.
Daniel Levy decides on Thomas Frank as Tottenham talks advance
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Tottenham are expected to advance in talks with Frank, who would make the serious step-up from Brentford to manage a side competing in the Champions League next season.
According to Tottenham News, Levy has now “settled” on Frank as his preferred manager to replace Postecoglou, so it appears the north Londoners are prioritising a move for him right now.
The Dane’s has led Brentford through solid campaigns on a shoe-string budget, perhaps appealing to Levy in the process, but reservations lie with his lack of top-level pedigree or trophy-winning experience.
Levy will also have to pay Brentford around £8 million to hire Frank by triggering his release clause.
There is no shying away from the fact that the 2025/26 campaign is going to be an incredibly difficult one for Leeds United in the Premier League.
The Whites won the Championship title with a staggering 100 points, returning to the top-flight at the second time of asking, and are now preparing for a season at the top table.
Daniel Farke and the recruitment team are tasked with building a squad that can defy the odds next term, as the last six teams to be promoted to the Premier League have all been relegated at the first attempt.
The German head coach was not too keen to talk about the top-flight straight after promotion was secured back in April, but it will be on his mind now.
Leeds have already been linked with plenty of potential new signings to bolster their options across the board, and one player they have been linked with a move for is central defender Japhet Tanganga.
Why Japhet Tanganga could be a good signing for Leeds
The West Yorkshire outfit are reportedly eyeing up a move to sign the Millwall centre-back, who has a release clause in his contract that makes him available for a fee of just under £2m.
Sunderland and Burnley are also said to be interested in a deal for the former Tottenham Hotspur starlet, which means that the Whites could face plenty of competition to strike a bargain move for Tanganga.
Portsmouth's Colby Bishop in action with Millwall'sJaphetTanganga
For a fee of less than £2m, the English titan could be a good signing for Leeds because he has been an impressive performer in the Championship and has the potential to be a strong addition to the squad.
Whilst he has yet to prove himself in the Premier League, as he had to drop down to the second tier after coming through at Spurs, he has shown promise in the Championship with Millwall.
Appearances
18
40
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.6
2.3
Clearances per game
3.3
5.4
Ground duel success rate
53%
61%
Aerial duel success rate
55%
63%
Dribbled past per game
0.2
0.3x
Clean sheets
5
14
As you can see in the table above, Tanganga provided a strong presence at the back for Millwall in the 2024/25 campaign, especially, winning over 60% of his duels on the ground and in the air, whilst rarely being dribbled past.
Millwall's JaphetTangangain action with Portsmouth's Thomas Waddingham
If he can translate that kind of form over to the Premier League, then he could be a dominant force at the heart of the Leeds defence. However, the Whites could land an even better centre-back signing with a move for a Serie A defender.
Leeds in talks to sign Serie A stopper
According to Tutto Mercato Web, Leeds United are interested in a deal to sign Udinese central defender Jaka Bijol in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that contact has already been made between the two parties as the Whites attempt to push ahead with a swoop for the Slovenia international in the coming days.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that talks are set to get underway in the next few days after the initial contact was made, although it remains to be seen exactly when Leeds will make an official move for the centre-back.
Tutto Mercato Web does, however, reveal that Udinese are ready to demand a fee in the region of £17m in order to allow their star defender to move on from the Serie A club before the end of the transfer window.
Leeds could, now, snap up an even better signing than Tanganga by going through with a swoop for this Slovenian star in the weeks to come.
Why Bijol would be a better signing than Tanganga
As aforementioned, the Millwall titan is yet to prove himself on a regular basis in the Premier League, which is why he is currently playing in the Championship with the Lions.
Bijol, meanwhile, has shown himself to be a steady performer in one of Europe’s major leagues in the Serie A, and would arrive at Elland Road with top-flight pedigree.
He has been a regular starter for Udinese in each of the past three seasons in the Serie A, with 90 appearances in the division, and has proven himself to be a dependable option at centre-back.
Bijol won at least 65% of his aerial battles in all three of those terms, notably winning 76% of them in the 2023/24 campaign, which speaks to his dominant defensive work in the air at the very top level in Italy.
Most impressively, though, the 26-year-old titan’s statistics at league level in the 2024/25 season were even more eye-catching than Tanganga’s were at a lower level.
Pass accuracy
84%
77%
Progressive passes
2.98
2.10
Tackles + interceptions
2.46
2.33
Blocks
1.15
0.99
Clearances
5.53
5.57
Aerial duels won
3.31
3.07
As you can see in the table above, Bijol offered more to his team in possession when building attacks out from the back with his reliability and progression on the ball, which could help to limit any mistakes when playing out under Farke in the top-flight.
The Slovenian star, who claimed he has “no fear”, also made more tackles, interceptions, and blocks per 90, with a very similar number of clearances, which suggests that he would also offer more to Leeds as an out-and-out defender.
Millwall'sJaphetTangangain action with Portsmouth's Isaac Hayden
Crucially, these performances from Bijol were in one of the top leagues in Europe and may be more likely to translate to the Premier League than Tanganga’s Championship showings are, due to him already proving himself at the top level.
This is why the Whites could land an even better signing than the English stopper by going through with a deal to sign the Udinese central defender before the end of the summer transfer window.
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It is now down to the board, though, to reach an agreement with the Serie A side once they enter the talks that Tutto Mercato Web claims are set to take place soon.
With Ipswich Town suffering relegation back down to the Championship, there must be a fear in the air that they could suffer the same fate as Luton Town.
Like the Hatters, the Tractor Boys sealed an unexpected place in the top-flight but since then, Luton have found themselves on the end of back-to-back relegations.
Of course, Kieran McKenna will look to the examples of both Burnley and Leeds United instead as clubs who have been able to lick their wounds quickly after sinking back down to the EFL, but it’s not set in stone that the Tractor Boys will rise back up to the Premier League in a flash.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapreacts
Any effort made towards achieving instant promotion will be made a lot harder by Liam Delap’s impending exit from Portman Road, with the young Englishman now closing in on a move to Chelsea.
Latest update on Delap's Ipswich future
If it wasn’t for Delap leading the line, Ipswich’s 2024/25 campaign would have been a lot more grim towards the foot of the top-flight table.
Indeed, a large 12 of the Tractor Boys’ overall 33 league strikes came courtesy of the ex-Manchester City man’s magic firepower in front of goal, but not even Delap’s best efforts have been able to keep his lowly side from succumbing to the drop.
But, off the back of being such a livewire in an otherwise despondent group, Delap attracted interest from a plethora of top-flight sides including Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United and, of course, the Blues.
The Daily Mail revealed earlier this week that he had held talks with four potential sides over leaving Suffolk behind, with his low £30m release clause tickling the fancy of many a Premier League outfit.
As it is, Enzo Maresca’s side have emerged victorious from that hotly-contested battle, with Fabrizio Romano outlining that the striker is set to undergo a medical on Monday, ahead of moving to Stamford Bridge.
Whilst losing Delap would be devastating, not every departure this summer needs to be equally as soul-destroying.
The Ipswich star who must now be axed
McKenna will believe that he can steer Ipswich straight back up to the big time, having already achieved two memorable promotions from the Portman Road dug-out.
But, he could well have to be cut-throat in who he allows to leave the building if he wants instant success, with long-standing Ipswich servant Sam Morsy one face he might have to contemplate letting leave.
After all, whilst the Egyptian veteran did captain both of those promotion-winning sides, he showed worrying signs of rust when thrown into the side last season.
It resulted in Morsy only picking up a weak one goal and one assist from 31 starts, which is way off his three goals and six assists tally during the 2023/24 campaign.
Additionally, despite falling down the pecking order in Suffolk somewhat, Morsy still pockets a higher wage per week than Tractor Boys stalwart Leif Davis, with the left-back also eyeing up a major move away from Ipswich now, with Nottingham Forest rumoured to be keen.
George Hirst
£27.5k-per-week
26
3
1
Jack Clarke
£25k-per-week
32
0
4
Jaden Philogene
£25k-per-week
21
2
0
Liam Delap
£20k-per-week
37
12
2
Leif Davis
£25k-per-week
33
1
2
Amazingly, Morsy’s £30k-per-week salary means he earns more than all of the Ipswich first team figures above, with the Tractor Boys number five even raking in £10k-per-week more than 12-goal hero Delap.
McKenna might well want to keep Morsy around for one final season before his Ipswich contract runs down, knowing full well that he knows what it takes to play his part in a successful EFL campaign.
But, before he declines even more, it could well be the most appropriate course of action to move on Morsy now.
If "sensational" Ipswich star leaves, it would be as disastrous as Delap
Ipswich Town could also lose this sensational star away from just Liam Delap leaving Portman Road.
Everton picked up their ninth Premier League victory of the season on the road at Fulham as David Moyes’ men fought back to clinch a 3-1 victory.
After Raul Jimenez opened the scoring for Fulham in the first half, it looked as if another grim defeat was going to be put by Everton’s name. However, a fight-back kick-started by Ukrainian full-back Vitaly Mykolenko would get the ball rolling, leading to the Toffees running out as 3-1 winners.
Away from the defender equalising, however, there were a number of star performers from Everton’s perspective in attack which included Beto putting in another lively display up top.
Beto's performance in numbers
Of course, there has been a lot of chatter suggesting that Beto could be on the radar of newly promoted Leeds United this summer.
But, off the back of another impressive showing at Craven Cottage, he could be Everton’s new main focal point in the striker position, away from any move being signed off on for him to exit Merseyside.
Beto would make sure of all three points when racing forward late on, leading to the ex-Udinese attacker curling an effort past Bernd Leno on the 73rd minute mark.
Away from this moment of magic beating the German, Beto would end the game with a mammoth 11 duels won in total, alongside the lively 6 foot 4 striker also tallying up a further two efforts on goal to try and make his team’s win more comprehensive in West London.
But, whilst the Portuguese forward would ensure Everton collected all three points, there was another teammate in the attacking areas who stole the show and proved why he could go on to be a £100m talent like Manchester City-linked Morgan Gibbs-White.
The Everton ace who's a future £100m star
It was a very positive showing from Everton all over the pitch, with Jordan Pickford having to stay alert in between the sticks by making five saves, away from the likes of Beto remaining clinical in front of goal.
Yet, although he wouldn’t get on the scoresheet himself during the 3-1 win, Carlos Alcaraz would stand out throughout as a dangerous forward presence, with the Argentine winger showing why he’s deemed to be statistically similar to Nottingham Forest star-man Gibbs-White, among those in their position in Europe’s top five leagues, according to FBref.
Minutes played
84
Goals scored
0
Assists
1
Accurate passes
16/18 (89%)
Key passes
2
Accurate long balls
4/4
Shots
2
Total duels won
3/7
Much like Gibbs-White, who boasts nine assists next to his name this season, the South American would tee up Beto for the game-clinching moment at Craven Cottage, alongside also showing off his prowess in front of goal when firing two efforts at Leno’s net that just went astray.
Winning three duels too, Alcaraz proved throughout that he could go on to be as lively and as creative as his English counterpart if snapped up permanently by Moyes and Co, having largely impressed in Everton blue since his January loan switch from Flamengo.
Liverpool Echo journalist Chris Beesley would hand out a high 7/10 rating to Alcaraz post-match, subsequently stating that the ex-Southampton man ‘spectacularly’ grew into the contest, leading to a much-deserved win occurring on Everton’s travels.
With one goal and three assists next to his name this season in the Premier League, it will be intriguing to see if the Toffees do land Alcaraz’s signature on a permanent soon, with the same adoration handed out to Gibbs-White at the City Ground now happening with the 22-year-old at his new location, culminating in his name being heartily chanted at the full-time whistle at Craven Cottage.
Whatever does happen in the summer with Alcaraz, Moyes will just hope between now and then that the wins keep being notched up in league action, with a promising new horizon already coming into view at Bramley Moore.
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This is it, then; Tottenham Hotspur’s season comes down to this.
Ange Postecoglou’s side take on Norwegian side FK Bodø/Glimt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final and sit three games away from an incredible achievement.
However, to ensure they get to the final in Bilbao, the North Londoners will need to perform substantially better than they did on Sunday.
To ensure that happens, the manager needs to make some significant changes to the starting lineup, changes that should see Djed Spence and several others dropped.
The Spurs players who should be dropped
So, starting off, it should go without saying that Postecoglou should be looking to drop both Kevin Danso and Ben Davies for tonight’s game, as while they were not the worst offenders at Anfield, they are no match for Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.
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Likewise, while he’s undoubtedly going to have a big future at the club, Archie Gray should come out of the side, as he looked far from convincing on Sunday, earning a 3/10 match rating from the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick and completing just 12 passes in the first half.
Finally, Spence should also come out of the team, as he was another player who had a seriously torrid time against Liverpool.
The usually impressive full-back earned a dismal 4/10 match rating from Kilpatrick, who wrote that he was poor in possession and was ‘ran ragged’ by Luis Diaz.
While it might sound harsh, it’s an opinion backed up by the statistics, as in 94 minutes, he amassed an expected goal plus assists figure of 0.05, made a single tackle, lost seven of eight duels, lost the ball 20 times, was accurate in 16 of 27 passes, misplaced 100% of his crosses and five of his six long balls, took a single shot off target and failed in 100% of his dribbles.
Minutes
94′
Expected Goals
0.02
Goals
0
Expected Assists
0.03
Assists
0
Tackles
1
Duels (Won)
8 (1)
Passing Accuracy
16/27 (59%)
Key Passes
0
Crosses (Accurate)
1 (0)
Long Balls (Accurate)
6 (1)
Dribbles (Successful)
3 (0)
Shots on Target
0
Shots off Target
1
In all, it was a dreadful attacking and defensive display from Spence, and given the importance of tonight’s game, one that should see him start on the bench.
The Spurs star who should replace Spence
While Bodø/Glimt have taken some impressive scalps en route to this game, it would be fair to say that they’ll be massive underdogs against Spurs, and as such the hosts will likely spend most of the game attacking.
So, with this in mind, it seems like the perfect game to start Pedro Porro ahead of Spence.
Now, it’s certainly true that the Spaniard has a defensive mistake in him – as we’ve seen on numerous occasions this season – but it is equally true that he’s an incredible passer of the ball, and when on song, an unreal outlet from the right-hand side.
For example, even though he’s not had the best of campaigns this season, the former Sporting CP star has managed to rack up an impressive tally of eight assists and three goals.
Moreover, FBref places the “titanic” ace, as dubbed by The Athletic’s former Spurs correspondent Charlie Eccleshare, in the top 1% of full-backs in the Premier League for crosses into the penalty area, the top 2% for key passes, passes into the penalty area, shot-creating actions and general crosses, the top 5% for touches in the attacking third, the top 6% for switches and more, all per 90.
Crosses into Penalty Area
0.95
Top 1%
Key Passes
1.97
Top 2%
Passes into Penalty Area
2.01
Top 2%
Crosses
6.98
Top 2%
Shot-Creating Actions
3.80
Top 2%
Touches in the Attacking Third
27.37
Top 5%
Switches
0.51
Top 6%
Blocks
1.61
Top 6%
Total Shots
1.35
Top 8%
So, if Postecoglou’s side are likely to have far more of the ball at home, then it makes far more sense to start someone whose primary strength is chance creation.
Ultimately, Spurs have the chance to essentially win the tie tonight, and the best way to do that is by starting their most dangerous players, including Porro.
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A position often heavily scrutinised in Enzo Maresca’s system at Chelsea are his wingers, who are tasked with holding the width in the early stages of build-up, pinning opposition fullbacks and looking to isolate them 1v1 at any given chance.
However, the profiles of wingers Chelsea currently have at their disposal aren’t the exact archetype Maresca would favour, apart from Noni Madueke who fits the bill.
Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho are slightly different in style, therefore offering a plan B when needed.
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So, it will come as no surprise to learn they’re after one of the finest wingers in European football right now.
Indeed, according to reports from Spain, Chelsea are one of three teams who are ‘ready to make a move’ for Barcelona forward, Raphinha, with the Blues identifying the Brazilian winger as a “priority target”. The other two clubs interested are Manchester City and Saudi side Al Hilal.
The Blues were in for Raphinha back in 2022 prior to his move to Barcelona, with the Brazil international opting to join the Spanish outfit instead after leaving Leeds United for a fee of around £55m.
FC Barcelona'sRaphinhacelebrates scoring their fourth goal
Raphinha has made 49 appearances for the Spanish giants in all competitions this season, scoring 30 goals, providing 21 assists and totalling 3,952 minutes played.
Barca are still on for the treble this season, and achieving this could see the 28-year-old become the front-runner for the Ballon D’or.
How Raphinha could benefit Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer has found himself in a bit of a rut this second half of the season, still having 14 goals and nine assists in 39 appearances this campaign, but going without a goal for the past three months, last scoring against Bournemouth back in January.
This campaign has been very different for the 22-year-old star, often being man-marked and focused on by opposition pressing schemes, limiting his time and space on the ball.
One thing that could help to open up those alleys of space Palmer loves to operate within is the addition of more relentless runners, something the Blues have missed at points this season. This is where Raphinha comes in.
Goals
0.68
0.39
Assists
0.48
0.22
xG
0.56
0.52
xAG
0.48
0.30
Progressive Carries
3.24
4.66
Progressive Passes
3.31
6.26
Progressive Passes Received
10.8
5.28
Shots Total
3.68
3.60
Key Passes
3.03
2.49
Shot-Creating Actions
5.49
5.80
Successful Take-Ons
1.61
1.44
When looking at the Brazilian’s underlying numbers alongside Chelsea’s central creator, you can see the former receives 10.8 progressive passes per 90. This is a big indicator that he is a focal point and outlet for Barcelona, often looking to penetrate the opposition’s defensive line with runs in behind.
This is exactly what Palmer needs in order to stretch the spaces between the opposition’s first two lines of contact, the first being their forwards/midfielders in the pressing unit, and the second being the defensive line.
Raphinha has even been labelled as “the best player in the world” this season by Statman Dave, and his incredible willingness to be direct and run beyond is one of his key characteristics as a player. Not to mention he’s scoring by the bucket load and creating heaps of goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.
Palmer has looked at his best when linking up with Nicolas Jackson and Madueke this season, Chelsea’s two most relentless runners in the front line, willing to run in behind in order to create space for the England international.
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As a result, another with Raphinha would only benefit the England international, making it harder for teams to cut off his preferred zones of space.
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