Former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho is said to be eyeing up a move for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
The Lowdown: Strong connections
The Portuguese coach signed the 26-year-old when he was in charge of the north London giants just under two years ago, and a matter of months after Mourinho was confirmed as the new manager at Roma, it was reported that the Dane wanted to join him at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Mirror have recently claimed that Hojbjerg is attracting interest from Spurs’ top-flight rivals Newcastle United, with the £100k-per-week star being ‘high’ on Eddie Howe’s wish list, but it seems that a Serie A reunion between the midfielder and his former boss might be on the cards.
When speaking during an interview about Hojbjerg’s future at Tottenham, Jones told GiveMeSport:
“One thing I’m hearing on Hojbjerg is that Jose Mourinho quite fancies taking him to Roma.
“Next season Jose intends to ask the board to back his vision as he thinks they can make a real push at the top of Serie A – and Hojbjerg could be a great asset.”
The Verdict: Hojbjerg should stay at Spurs
Despite having a successful spell under Mourinho, who once dubbed the 54-cap Denmark international a “phenomenal” player, Hojbjerg has since settled into life at Tottenham, particularly under Antonio Conte, under whom he has started all but two Premier League games this season.
Roma have already failed to secure a Champions League place for next season with the 59-year-old in the dugout, whereas the Lilywhites still very much have a chance of finishing in the Premier League top four come the end of May.
The 6 foot 1 maestro has proven to be one of Conte’s most consistent performers over the course of the Italian’s N17 tenure, and should he have ambitions of playing any kind of European football at the highest level in the future, the best option for him would be to remain in north London and hopefully enjoy more success with Spurs in years to come.
In other news… sources have shared a huge update on one of Tottenham’s summer transfer targets
Victor Osimhen is ‘definitely’ on the ‘radar’ of Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport.
The lowdown
The Nigerian striker joined Napoli in a £67.5m move from Lille in September 2020, and his £112,000-per-week contract at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona still has more than three years to run.
He has scored 27 goals in his 60 appearances for Napoli to date, including 17 in 30 games this season. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Azzurri will demand at least €100m (£85.6m) to let him leave in the summer.
United are gearing up for Erik ten Hag’s first transfer window in Manchester after he was announced as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent successor as manager. However, the Red Devils appear to have lost out in the race for Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, who now looks set to join local rivals Manchester City.
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The latest
Jones has said that Osimhen is an option for United as a centre-forward target in the upcoming transfer window. The player appears to boast the desired profile for Ten Hag, but his price tag could apparently be an issue.
The journalist told GiveMeSport: “He’s a really good player, and definitely somebody that’s on United’s radar for the summer.
“He is extremely expensive. That is a big drawback in terms of pursuing it. He does fit what they’re going to be looking for, though.”
The verdict
You can understand why Ten Hag would want to add a new number nine at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 24 goals this season but he is now 37 years of age, and he could leave at the end of 2022/23 when his contract expires. Meanwhile, fellow veteran Edinson Cavani is poised to leave in a matter of weeks as his deal winds down.
Marcus Rashford is capable of operating as a centre-forward, but he has endured a difficult campaign, scoring only five goals.
Osimhen may come with an eye-watering price tag, but he is only 23 and looks like an elite striker in the making.
The Serie A player of the month for March is a ‘thoroughbred bomber’ who can become ‘world-class’, in the opinion of his manager Luciano Spalletti, and he definitely appears to be a viable alternative to Haaland for United in the transfer market.
In other news, Sky Sports have dropped a live-on-air Paul Pogba update.
According to a report from French outlet RMC Sport (via Sport Witness), West Ham United are among the clubs interested in signing Strasbourg striker Habib Diallo.
The lowdown: Career so far
The 26-year-old has spent his entire professional career in France having moved to FC Metz from Generation Foot, the famed Senegalese academy that also helped produce Liverpool superstar Sadio Mane before he made the same switch in 2013.
Since arriving in Europe, Diallo has scored 87 times in 230 appearances across spells with Metz, Stade Brestois 29 and Strasbourg.
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Now, as David Moyes looks to strengthen the attacking department at the London Stadium, the player could take another page from Mane’s book and swap France for England.
The latest: Major interest
As per RMC Sport, translated by SW, West Ham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Borussia Monchengladbach are all keen on the Senegal international forward.
It’s claimed that the Hammers have ‘shown a concrete interest’ in Diallo recently and have been particularly impressed with his ‘ability to keep the ball’ in the final third.
The report states that the man who was hailed for an ‘impressive’ breakthrough top-flight campaign by former Metz boss Vincent Hognon is being ‘followed’ by numerous clubs across the continent.
The verdict: Reinforcements needed
Having failed to find the net against Arsenal recently, usually talismanic goal-getter Michail Antonio has now gone seven league games without a goal, placing huge pressure on Jarrod Bowen.
However, Moyes has little choice but to persist with the 32-year-old due to a lack of recognised senior options as an understudy.
So far this season, Diallo has scored 12 times and provided two assists in 30 appearances across league and cup competitions – all whilst earning a 7.00 Sofascore rating and winning 1.9 aerial duels on average per game in Ligue 1.
Those statistics are underpinned by strong aerial, heading and finishing ability (WhoScored), all attributes that would further endear Moyes to the capture of the 6 foot 1 frontman.
At the right price, any attempt to bring Diallo to east London would surely be a wise move from GSB, adding a similar profile to Antonio and allowing the manager to rotate more effectively next term.
In other news: ‘Something special’ – Journalist says ‘massive player’ could be tempted to join West Ham, find out more here.
The word coming from FSG’s camp is that Arne Slot’s position as Liverpool’s head coach is not immediately under threat.
However, the owners who watched as Liverpool dominantly conquered the Premier League last season are now staring down the barrel of a gun regarding the Dutchman’s future at the helm, with nine losses from 12 matches in all competitions an inexplicable slide in form.
Liverpool’s crisis of confidence has left their title defence in tatters, and Slot is now facing a fight to save his position at Anfield, with the upcoming run of league fixtures – West Ham United, Sunderland, Leeds United – over the next week sure to shape the narrative and whether this rut deepens.
FSG might feel that Liverpool’s title-winning boss still has some credit in the bank, but that will change if things don’t improve, and sporting director Richard Hughes has already compiled a list of potential replacements.
Hughes begins search for Slot successor
While Liverpool are not ready to pull the trigger, they would be remiss not to sound out a few options in the event that things continue to deteriorate on Merseyside.
Earlier this week, Spanish sources suggested Jurgen Klopp is back in the mix as Hughes looks for solutions, but this would not be the right path to travel back down. The legendary German departed Liverpool in 2024 after admitting he was tired from so many taxing years at the top.
However, the Reds might choose to move for another manager who is established as one of the best in the business, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique emerging as a contender.
Enrique, 55, was the man behind PSG’s incredible quadruple-winning 2024/25 season, previously reaping riches with Barcelona, and reports – via The Mirror – believe Liverpool have made him their long-term priority in the event of Slot’s dismissal.
The suggestion is that conversations have been held at boardroom level at Anfield, amid fears over whether Slot has lost the dressing room, hence why Enrique could be lined up as a potential successor.
Why Enrique could be perfect for Liverpool
Some critical observers would suggest that Liverpool started foundering after PSG knocked Slot out of the Champions League in the last 16. Certainly, the English side petered out as the season entered the business stretch.
An experienced and decorated manager, Enrique has been hailed as “the best manager in the world” by French journalist Julien Laurens for reaching unprecedented heights with PSG, creating a stable and multi-faceted attacking outfit that was practically invincible last season.
His fluid philosophy could be attracting Hughes’ interest. Enrique employs a 4-3-3 formation, but he’s experimental with his ideas, utilising full-back width and clever passing patterns in the build-up.
This could give rise to the qualities of Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, but Alexander Isak might benefit most from this potential managerial switch.
Enrique’s teams score goals. Moreover, they do so with style. Ousmane Dembele would certainly attest to that.
The current crisis makes it easy to forget that Isak is one of the deadliest strikers of his generation, and Enrique’s acumen would surely see a system wrought to accommodate the 26-year-old’s qualities.
Isak looks a world away from that world-class striker who tore English football apart at St. James’ Park, but, as with several other summer recruits, he has struggled to adapt in a dysfunctional team.
Liverpool are hardly a hothouse for player growth at the moment, but that is why Enrique could be such an interesting pick.
They are hardly carbon copies, but Isak and Dembele share a likeness, and, considering this, Enrique could reshape the Swedish striker into a free-scoring superstar.
Goals scored
1.08
0.72
Assists
0.32
0.19
Shots taken
4.69
2.91
Touches (att pen)
7.94
5.93
Shot-creating actions
6.02
2.91
Pass completion
80.2
74.7
Progressive passes
7.46
3.25
Progressive carries
5.94
2.72
Successful take-ons
1.80
1.44
Ball recoveries
1.36
1.81
Tackles + interceptions
0.68
0.57
While it might look like Isak pales in comparison to the 2025 Ballon d’Or recipient, different factors need to be considered. Isak plays in an ostensibly tougher league and was considered to be “the best striker” in England last season, as was said by pundit Jamie Carragher.
If anything, this bears testament to Enrique’s tactical prowess, and given the natural stylistic similarities, it could be the perfect move to finally unlock the latent qualities of Liverpool’s star striker.
He's like Semenyo: Liverpool to bid £105m for "world-class" Gakpo upgrade
Liverpool are gearing up to sign a left-sided forward in the transfer market this winter.
The external noise around Liverpool’s decision to sign both Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak this summer is curious, to say the least.
Already the volume has been cranked up as rivals look to pounce on any slight sense of a puncture to the harmony of Arne Slot’s squad, with both strikers billed as being among the best in the Premier League and indeed across Europe.
Ekitike is the understudy, but the French forward has scored five goals and laid on an assist across his first eight matches in a Liverpool shirt, starting six times.
He arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt for a hefty £69m fee, but that figure is minnowed by the record-breaking signing of Isak from Newcastle United, who, pre-season-less, has only started twice so far, scoring his first in the Carabao Cup against Southampton on Tuesday evening.
They are both in contention to take the talismanic berth from Mohamed Salah in the coming years, but then the Egyptian King hasn’t hung up his Liverpool laces just yet, and still wears the crown.
Salah's Liverpool future
In April, Salah extended his Liverpool contract, which now runs until the end of the 2026/27 campaign. In the months leading up to the joyous renewal, many thought he would leave on a free, and Virgil van Dijk too.
But Salah stays, having scored 34 goals and supplied 23 assists across all competitions last season, winning the full gamut of individual accolades and lifting the Premier League title for the second time in a Liverpool shirt.
Mohamed Salah celebrates Liverpool's Premier League triumph
It’s been a somewhat slow start to the season for the right winger, with his ageing legs being considered by some as a reason behind the ostensible decline.
Decline? Salah has scored three goals and provided three assists across seven matches so far this season, and he now carries less responsibility on his shoulders, with Ekitike and Isak jostling for a place in the starting line-up and thus
Even as he embraces his veteran status, Salah remains a valuable commodity on the transfer front. Indeed, according to Transfermarkt, he is still worth £44m.
Isak and Ekitike, young and rising superstars, dwarf him, but there’s another forward in Liverpool’s squad whose market price has shot up in recent times, and he’s an underrated gem for Slot, no doubt about it.
Liverpool's underrated forward
Liverpool are a team of many parts, with Slot and Richard Hughes clearly focusing on establishing greater strength in depth, so as to not only defend the Premier League title claimed last year but also challenge for the various prizes dotted about other forks in the road.
There has been plenty of talk about Ekitike playing off the left, allowing both him and Isak to work together. The former is a central striker, but his athleticism and pace lend themselves to such a role, should he be required. According to FBref, Ekitike ranks among the top 7% of strikers across Europe for progressive carries and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90.
But Liverpool, of course, have another who is more than competent on the left wing. In January 2023, Liverpool signed Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven for an initial £35m fee.
Gakpo, 26, has chalked up 135 appearances since signing for Liverpool, scoring 42 goals and supplying 19 assists. His first term under Slot’s wing was indisputably his most productive, having posted 18 goals and seven assists across all competitions en route to the title.
And this while flitting in and out of the starting line-up. Gakpo ranked among the top 5% of positional peers in the Premier League last year for goals scored per 90.
He hasn’t started the campaign as prolifically as he might have liked, especially after notching a goal and two assists from his opening two games, blanking thereafter, but the Dutchman remains a real threat, so settled into his left-sided role for Slot.
25/26
5
1 (2)
24/25
35
10 (4)
23/24
35
8 (5)
22/23
21
7 (2)
But the underlying data from his showings thus far says much of his form, creating two chances and winning 7.2 duels per game.
He might not have Salah’s potency, nor the same degree of output as Isak or Ekitike, but Gakpo offers so much to this Liverpool side, with pundit Peter Crouch even remarking last season that he had “gone up a level” since Jurgen Klopp was replaced by Slot.
It’s hardly a surprise that the £35m fee paid now looks an absolute bargain, with Gakpo recorded to boast a market price of £61m.
Whether Liverpool would actually entertain the Netherlands star’s sale for a figure so comparatively low is up for debate, but it’s certain that he would not leave for a lesser figure.
It’s worth noting that Gakpo, praised by Klopp for his “special” qualities, is of an age akin to Salah’s when the experienced superstar first alighted on Merseyside. He still has so much room for growth, and that £61m price tag is hardly a fixed point as he enters his prime.
Liverpool fans are excited for the present, but Liverpool have built a team capable of challenging in the future too. Rio Ngumoha is a testament to that, the teenage winger billed as a prodigy.
However, ousting Gakpo from his berth will take some doing, and the Dutch talent will continue to thrive in a high-flying Liverpool side over the coming years, an unsung hero.
Now worth more than Guehi: Liverpool lost "superstar” for less than Quansah
Liverpool must regret parting ways with this iconic Jurgen Klopp talent.
Newcastle United are “in the mix” to complete the signing of a player who was described as one of the “biggest revelations” from Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy.
Hopkinson excited about Newcastle role
David Hopkinson has been appointed as the Magpies’ new CEO, in the biggest development at the club since the international break got underway. The 54-year-old Canadian has admitted that he cannot wait to get started in his new role, as he looks to make Newcastle supporters embrace him.
“I’m getting into this with both feet. This is not some sort of transactional assignment for me. This is where I intend to make my home. This is the community I intend to represent on every stage imaginable.
“The CEO role has an ambassadorial component to it and I want to be a great ambassador for Newcastle United and ultimately for Newcastle. My intention is to become an adopted Geordie here, but you have to earn that.”
The summer transfer window may be closed, but that hasn’t stopped Newcastle being linked with potential future signings, with one exciting name now thrown into the hat.
Newcastle "in the mix" to sign Barcelona rising star
Speaking to The Boot Room, journalist Graeme Bailey reports that Newcastle will be “in the mix” to sign Barcelona youngster Marc Casado in 2026.
“Casado is a really interesting name to keep an eye on heading into 2026. Newcastle do need and wanted something extra in midfield and he is someone who does appeal. It remains to be seen if he is attainable in the near future, but if he is available, then Newcastle are likely to be in the mix.
“Newcastle could get a closer look at Casado in the Champions League this season as they welcome Barcelona to St James’ Park in the Champions League later this month.”
Marc Casado celebrates scoring for Barcelona.
Casado is a big young talent with a bright future in the game, so the idea of Newcastle prising him away from Barca is a mouthwatering prospect, if they are able to.
The 21-year-old midfielder has racked up 42 appearances for the La Liga champions, registering six assists in that time, while scout Jacek Kulig hailed him as one of the “biggest revelations” during the 2024/25 campaign.
Whether Newcastle are able to entice Casado to St James’ Park remains to be seen, but if he is struggling to start regularly for Hansi Flick’s side, he may see a move elsewhere as best for his long-term development.
PIF have already signed Newcastle's new Elliot Anderson and he's "terrific"
Eddie Howe will hope he has his own Elliot Anderson now at Newcastle United in this terrific talent.
ByKelan Sarson Sep 8, 2025
At 21, he is a player with so many more years ahead of him, and he could be viewed as a long-term successor to Bruno Guimaraes at the heart of the Magpies’ midfield.
Signing a replacement for Andre Onana has seemingly been one of Manchester United’s biggest priorities since the start of the summer. Now, chasing exactly that, the Red Devils have reportedly joined the race to sign a Club World Cup star.
Man Utd's goalkeeper search goes on
Although reports have suggested that Onana believes he’ll still be the No.1 at Manchester United next season and he’s keen to fight for his place, Ruben Amorim may not share that view. The Portuguese manager must be ruthless and showing the Cameroon international the door should be one of his first acts this summer.
He's better than Cunha: Man Utd close in on signing "phenomenal" star
Manchester United look set to complete their second signing of the summer after Matheus Cunha.
ByEthan Lamb Jun 25, 2025
That said, the Red Devils must get their next move right after Onana. They cannot risk signing another liability. Whoever arrives, be it Emiliano Martinez, Andriy Lunin, Diogo Costa or another option, simply has to be a significant upgrade on the former Inter Milan man.
Whilst Martinez has been the most prominent name in recent rumours, the numbers indicate that the Aston Villa man would not be the much-needed upgrade that Amorim needs, as highlighted by Statman Dave.
Four errors leading to shots is far from an ideal record, but signing Martinez wouldn’t exactly solve that problem for United. Instead, their troubles may simply take the shape of a new No.1 if they sign the World Cup winner this summer.
Those at Old Trafford certainly have plenty to think about and that thinking has reportedly seen them turn towards the Club World Cup for a fresh option.
Man Utd plotting John Victor move
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Manchester United are now plotting a summer swoop to sign John Victor from Botafofo who has a release clause worth just $8m (£6m).
John Victor for Botafofo.
The impressive shot-stopper agreed to stay put at the Brazilian side to play at the Club World Cup in a decision which has resulted in a moment to remember against Paris Saint-Germain.
Joining Alisson Becker as the only goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet against PSG this season, the Botafogo goalkeeper played a pivotal part as his side shocked the Champions League holders to win 1-0.
For just £6m, Manchester United could sign a goalkeeper who managed to keep Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia out and someone who is ready to step into European football.
Having reportedly sent scouts to watch the 29-year-old in action, United should be well aware of Victor’s talents and, more importantly, his ability to play at the very top level.
Rather than signing the likes of Martinez or Costa this summer, INEOS could yet turn towards an unexpected option in the Brazilian.
Celtic have designs on breaking the glass ceiling in the Champions League next term and could now launch a move for a powerful enforcer to help their bid, according to a report.
Celtic's summer window and where they need to strengthen
The Bhoys are currently taking stock before deciding where to prioritise in the market safe in the knowledge that Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan will arrive on free transfers from Arsenal and Aberdeen, respectively.
While the homecoming of the former will be widely celebrated by supporters, Chris Sutton believes time is ticking for Celtic and indicated three bodies are needed to supplement the reigning Scottish champions’ squad between now and the Champions League qualifiers.
He explained: “In an ideal world you’d have two or three new faces reporting for the first day of pre-season, giving them time to bed in ahead of the new campaign and the crucial Champions League qualifiers.
“The transfer market doesn’t always work that way but they will need to move quickly to bring in at the very least three new players.”
Adding another attacking option appears to be their main priority at the moment, and the notion of a sensational Celtic reunion with Kyogo Furuhashi is alive as he is set to be left out of Rennes’ pre-season plans by Habib Beye.
Celtic braced for lowball £8.5m bid as Spurs could hijack forward deal
The Bhoys are fielding interest for star players…
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Peterborough United’s Harley Mills has been approached by the Bhoys and could add some support behind Tierney at left-back, though the two positions mentioned aren’t the only areas Rodgers may look to bolster during the window.
Taking things up a notch, Celtic have now made contact to sign a midfielder who could add some bite in the engine room if recent developments were to escalate.
Celtic make contact to sign Demir Tiknaz
Per A Bola, Celtic have initiated contact over a potential deal for Turkish defensive midfielder Demir Tiknaz, who spent the campaign gone on loan at Rio Ave from parent club Besiktas.
Intriguingly, the Primeira Liga side are expected to trigger a release clause option to sign the Istanbul-born man for £4.2 million. Then, they will aim to double their money with a quickfire sale at around the £8.4 million mark.
Demir Tiknaz at Rio Ave in 2024/25 – why do Celtic want to sign him? (Fotmob)
Tackles won
37
Pass completion
85.9%
Duels won
121
Chances created
16
Aerial duels won
25
Standing at 6 foot 4 he is currently on duty with the Turkish national team and would add some much-needed steel into an engine room made up primarily of technicians.
Callum McGregor isn’t getting any younger and the lack of a deeper like-for-like alternative to the Bhoys’ club captain could now be resolved if negotiations were to accelerate.
Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille are also keen on Tiknaz and will provide stiff competition for his signature, though the carrot of Champions League football at Celtic is something worth dangling for intended targets.
As reported by Rob Tanner of the Athletic, the Toffees currently have ten senior first-team players out of contract, which is more than any other Premier League club, with Abdoulaye Doucouré just one of the many high-profile players waving goodbye.
Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure
So, having played their last-ever match at Goodison last Sunday, ahead of moving into their new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock, David Moyes and his staff will have plenty of work to do to be ready for the big unveiling in August, but could they beat off the competition to land one of the league’s hottest prospects?
Everton's search for a new striker
According to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Everton manager Moyes has already held a face-to-face meeting with Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, in which they ‘presented their project’.
The reporter claims that the Toffees are prepared to offer an ‘important’ salary to convince the England U21 international to make the move to Merseyside, amid interest from Chelsea and Manchester United.
Also, on Friday, Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna confirmed in his press conference that “Liam’s looking at his options”, stating that the club “have given him permission to do that this week”, adding “of course there is a lot of interest – and rightly so”.
Following the Tractor Boys’ relegation, it’s been widely reported, including by Jacob Steinberg, Nick Ames and Jamie Jackson of the Guardian, that Delap’s contract includes a £30m release clause, with Manchester United and Chelsea amongst those purportedly said to be interested.
However, could the 22-year-old be convinced to move to Merseyside instead?
How Liam Delap would improve Everton
As alluded to earlier, Everton have a whole host of players out of contract in the summer, one of which is Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Well, according to a report by Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, no ‘final decision’ has been made just yet, with Andy Hunter of the Guardian claiming the striker ‘has been offered new terms’, but an agreement is yet to be reached.
Irrespective of whether or not he chooses to remain on Merseyside, it is undeniable that Calvert-Lewin’s importance to Everton has massively declined in recent seasons, as the table below outlines.
2019/20
41
2,996
15
Zero
2020/21
39
3,313
21
6
2021/22
18
1,332
5
23
2022/23
18
1,196
2
24
2023/24
38
2,630
8
7
2024/25
25
1,611
3
15
As the table highlights, Calvert-Lewin actually scored more goals during the 2020/21 season than he has in the four subsequent campaigns combined, partially due to the fact that he’s missed a whopping 69 matches due to various injuries during this time frame.
Everton's DominicCalvert-Lewincelebrates their third goal, an own goal scored by Tottenham Hotspur's Archie Gray
Nine years on from first arriving at the club, for a reported fee of £1.5m from Sheffield United, the 28-year-old is no longer an important figure for the Toffees.
So, let’s assess how his statistics compare to Delap’s this season.
Appearances
25
36
Minutes
1,611
2,596
Goals
3
12
Assists
2
2
Shots on target %
37.5%
44.6%
Shots per 90
2.69
2.27
Big chances missed
14
10
Goals – xG
-3.3
+2.3
Shot-creating actions
25
62
Touches per 90
29
24
Average Sofascore Rating
6.72
6.86
As the table outlines, Delap would represent a clear and massive upgrade on Calvert-Lewin, registering more impressive statistics pretty much across the board.
The most noteworthy statistic is goals – xG, with Delap’s figure of +2.3 meaning he ranks 20th in the Premier League for this metric, while Calvert-Lewin’s -3.3 means he is second-bottom, above only Savinho of Manchester City.
Prior to their meeting in December, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who worked with him at youth level at Man City, described Delap as a “fantastic player” and a “very good striker”, while Kurosh Moghtader of Total Football Analysis praised his ‘physical frame’, intelligent movement and ‘excellent… link-up play’.
Meantime, Pranav Parameshwaran of Breaking the Lines asserts that he could become ‘England’s future striker’, impressed by his ‘ability to occupy defenders’ and general ‘all-round game’.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapin action with Everton's Idrissa Gueye
So, what is clear is that Delap has the potential to become one of the best centre-forwards in the Premier League, so if Everton are able to convince him to sign for them, it would represent a major coup.
Moyes' next Branthwaite: Everton plotting bid to sign "elite" £17m star
Everton are gearing up for a summer of change in the transfer market.
Wrexham are now looking to raid newly relegated Cardiff City, having identified a striker as a potential summer transfer target, according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey.
Red Dragons preparing for life in the Championship
The Red Dragons achieved a historic third promotion on the spin last season, courtesy of a second-placed finish in League One, but owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are now faced with their most daunting task to date.
Clubs like Sunderland, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest have found it very difficult to get out of the Championship in the past, so the Hollywood owners will be under no illusions about how difficult it will be to achieve their dream of Premier League promotion.
As such, manager Phil Parkinson may have to make major changes to his squad this summer, and potential targets have already been identified, with Dungannon forward Tomas Galvin believed to be among them.
Parkinson may be particularly keen on bringing in a new striker, given that Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin netted just six League One goals between them last season, with the latter falling down the pecking order after playing a key role in previous promotions.
Wrexham'sPaulMullinshoots at goal
It could be a wise idea to bring in a striker with Championship experience ahead of the upcoming campaign, and Bailey has now told Wrexham Insider that the Welsh side are eyeing a raid on Cardiff City, following the Bluebirds’ relegation to League One.
Bailey said: “Wrexham are also aware of Cardiff duo Ollie Tanner and Isaak Davies – both players are on their radar.”
Davies is the striker in question, with the Welshman making nine appearances for Cardiff in the latter stages of the 2024-25 Championship campaign, finding the back of the net twice.
Reynolds and McElhenney plotting Wrexham move to sign "great" 7-goal star
He could be their first Championship signing…
ByTom Cunningham Apr 29, 2025 "Excellent" Davies could reignite career at Wrexham
The Welshman missed large parts of the 2024-25 campaign through injury, before playing a sporadic role upon his return from a hamstring problem late in the season, often being utilised as a substitute at right-midfield.
However, there are signs the Aberdare-born forward could be better suited to the role of striker, having shown a keen eye for goal during his time on loan with KV Kortrijk in the Belgian Pro League, scoring 12 goals in the 2023-24 campaign and scooping up the Player of the Year award.
The £6.5k-a-week Cardiff ace has also impressed former manager Steve Morison in the past, being lauded as “excellent” in the 2021-22 campaign, during which time he managed to pick up two goals and two assists in the Championship.
At just 23-years-old, Davies is still in the early stages of his career, with room for development, and a move to Wrexham could make sense this summer, given that Mullin and Palmer struggled in front of goal during the 2024-25 campaign.