All posts by z3u9t.icu

Predicting the future of football is never easy, especially when looking at players who could really have legacy-defining eras. With the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it seemed pretty guaranteed where football's crown was heading for as long as they were playing at the top of European football.

Back in 2019, however, French outlet L'Equipe attempted to predict the stars that would come next, tipping six young players to dominate European football.

Since the prediction four years ago, those players have had incredibly mixed spells, though, and it's fair to say that some have simply failed to live up to their potential.

With that said, we've taken a look at just how their respective careers have gone so far.

6 Karamoko Dembele

Tipped to become the next best thing, Karamoko Dembele was 16 at the time of his inclusion on L'Equipe's 2019 list. Now only 20, it's far too early to completely write off the former Celtic winger.

The pressure at 16 would have been incredibly difficult, and since leaving Scotland, Dembele has struggled to ever kickstart what is still an early career. At Brest last season, though, summing up recent years, the 20-year-old failed to score a single goal.

5 Ansu Fati

Also included on the list was Barcelona's Ansu Fati. And this came as no surprise, considering the winger's emergence as one of the most exciting players at the Nou Camp. Injury issues have halted his rise to the top since, however, with the Spaniard missing 35 games since the 21/22 season.

In the last campaign, he at least started getting things back on track as Barcelona won their first La Liga title under Xavi, and Fati scored seven goals.

4 Sebastiano Esposito

You'd be forgiven for not exactly knowing the name Sebastiano Esposito. Once tipped for great things at Inter Milan, the forward has so far failed to reach his potential.

Still only 21, he has plenty of time to become the player that L'Equipe once tipped him to become back in 2019, but after a failed loan spell at Anderlecht, it's far from looking promising for Esposito.

3 Joelson Fernandes

Once again a name that may not be too familiar with a number of fans, Joelson Fernandes has never really got going at Sporting, despite initially being tipped to become the next best thing.

Making just four appearances for the first team, the winger never looked like reaching his potential in Portugal, and has since spent a season on loan at FC Basel, where he scored four goals, before ending up at Turkish side Hatayspor.

2 Mohamed Amine Ihattaren

Mohamed Amine Ihattaren has had the most difficult journey of these players since being included in L'Equipe's list of young players. There was even a point that the midfielder was reportedly considering retirement due to mental health issues.

The Juventus midfielder didn't feature last season, and it remains to be seen where his future lies in football.

1 Karim Adeyemi

Onto a player that everyone should be familiar with, Karim Adeyemi is well on his way to reaching his potential at Borussia Dortmund. After making the move to the Bundesliga giants back in the summer of last year, and has since enjoyed a promising debut campaign.

Ending the season with nine goals, and six assists, the only way is up for the 21-year-old.

Chelsea have already attempted to address a serious lack of goals in their squad last season with their early transfer activity, but Mauricio Pochettino has made it clear he is after more new additions.

Which players are coming to Chelsea this summer?

Only four teams scored fewer goals than Chelsea's 38 in the Premier League last season, with Kai Havertz – now an Arsenal player – their leading goalscorer with just seven.

Given the fact Havertz has since departed, and their fourth and fifth-top scorers respectively in Joao Felix (four) and Mason Mount (three) are also no longer at Stamford Bridge, the need to strengthen in the attack was clear to see.

The additions of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, who scored 28 league goals between them last season, will go a long way to solving that issue.

As Pochettino said at his unveiling press conference last week, though, more players are expected to arrive between now and the transfer window closing on September 1.

Holding midfielder Moises Caicedo remains the Blues' top target, while the likes of Dusan Vlahovic, Romeo Lavia and Gabri Veiga have also been linked.

According to reports from Spain, meanwhile, versatile Juventus attacker Federico Chiesa is also of interest to Pochettino, but Chelsea would have to fork out around €60m (£51m) for his signature.

How long is left on Federico Chiesa's contract?

That price tag can perhaps be explained by the fact that Chiesa still has two years to run on his contract at the Allianz Stadium, meaning Juve – despite plenty of issues on and off the pitch – do not have to sell this window.

Chiesa featured 21 times for Juve in Serie A last season, the majority of those coming from the substitutes' bench as he continues to battle niggling injury issues.

The Italy international scored two goals and assisted five more which, on the face of it, may not seem like a great deal to shout about – especially when valued at more than £50m.

However, according to FBref's player comparison model, Chiesa's statistics last season were very similar to those of Bukayo Saka, who enjoyed a particularly vibrant season for Premier League runners-up Arsenal.

The Italy whiz either scored or assisted at a rate of 0.74 per 90 minutes in Serie A, compared to 0.71 for Saka in the Premier League, while they fired shots away at a similar rate (2.75 v 2.43 per 90 respectively).

There were other similarities between the pair, such as passes completed (72.8% for Chiesa, 73.7% for Saka), crosses per 90 (4.53 v 4.87) and take-ons attempted per 90 (4.74 v 4.56).

Saka did come out on top in areas such as aerial duels won (29.6 v 16.7), but Chiesa tackled more often (2.32 per 90 v 1.78) and recovered the ball more frequently (4.32 per 90 v 3.60).

As football journalist Antonio Mango put it, Chiesa is a "dangerous" player who "has so much potential for more".

Under a different manager and with his injury niggles possibly now behind him, Stamford Bridge could be the ideal place for the 25-year-old to truly kick on and show more of that potential, with Pochettino in dire need to improve the Blues' fortunes in front of goal next season.

Incoming Leeds United manager Daniel Farke should look to bring his former players to the club this summer, according to ex-Whites goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Is Farke heading to Leeds?

Leeds have been pushing hard to find their next boss before their 2023/24 Championship season gets underway, as they return to the second tier of English football for the first time since 2019/20.

Those high up at the club have been working hard on nailing the Whites' new manager, following the expected departure of Sam Allardyce, and numerous names have been thrown into the hat.

It now looks increasingly likely that former Norwich City manager Farke is set to be named Leeds boss, having been in charge of Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach most recently.

A recent report has claimed that the German's arrival could be announced next week, ahead of what is a crucial summer, in terms of signing the right players and ensuring the Whites are back in the Premier League in no time.

Could Farke bring former players to Leeds?

Speaking to MOT Leeds News, Robinson, who contributes for Sky Sports, backed Farke to bring some of the past players he has managed to Leeds, due to already knowing them so well as footballers:

"Managers do that. A lot of managers go back to their old teams. They have players that they have worked with in the past that they know and trust and they like them in the dressing room.

"They know they will do a job for them regardless of who comes in, there’s potential for managers to do that and target players they’ve worked with in the past."

This would certainly be a shrewd approach from Farke if he was to go down that right, with the 46-year-old no doubt well aware of which players could be beneficial to Leeds moving forward.

In many ways, it could make life easier for him from the off at Elland Road, in terms of knowing he has some trusty lieutenants alongside him on the pitch, as he gets to know the Whites squad that he has inherited at the same time.

It is vital that Farke also looks elsewhere for new signings, however, with a number additions needed all over the pitch, especially if key figures move on. Should that happen, Farke needs to spend the money received wisely, ensuring Leeds begin next season as one of the front-runners for promotion.

Back in the day, we had the likes of Sir Elton John and Delia Smith involved with the likes of Watford and Norwich City respectively, and it seems the celebrity connection to English football is still standing today.These days, however, things are slightly different, with Wrexham taking up a Hollywood role, now owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in what has been an extremely successful stint so far. And, now, famous rapper Stormzy is taking to the football stage alongside Wilfried Zaha.The duo are combining with Crystal Palace’s head of player care Danny Young to buy non-league side Croydon Athletic, Zaha confirmed.

What’s the latest on Wilfried Zaha?

It appears Zaha will soon bid farewell to Crystal Palace following eight years at the club, which will come to an end this month if he doesn’t sign a new deal.

According to Ed Aarons of The Guardian, the former Manchester United man is set to reject a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, which would have seen him earn £30m per year.

With Paris Saint-Germain also reportedly interested, the 30-year-old could end up staying in Europe and becoming a surprise replacement for Lionel Messi.

A move to France would finally see Zaha get his big move and the trophies that could follow after playing a key part in keeping Palace afloat in the Premier League for several years.

Who are Croydon Athletic?

The former Crystal Palace winger released a statement, confirming his purchase of the club, which you can see below:

As per The Guardian, a source close to Zaha said they want to “do what’s right for the local community.” While he added: “Stormzy is like a little brother to Wilf and he’s a big fan of football. He is very excited to link up for this project.”

Zaha and Stormzy’s new club currently sit in the Combined Counties Football League Premier South Division where they finished 15th last season to avoid relegation.

They are in step five of non-league, which means that they are five promotions away from becoming a professional football club in League Two. So, whilst dreams of the EFL may be a long way off, the investment put into the club by Zaha, Stormzy and Young will undoubtedly improve things on and off the pitch.

The first goal will be to stay at step five, and what would be a disastrous relegation. Then the attention can turn to beginning their climb through the divisions.

If their ownership is anything like what has happened to Wrexham under Reynolds and McElhenney, then Croydon Atheltic fans are in for a treat in the coming years, which could be filled with trophies and promotions up into the top leagues.

Kyle Walker has been touted with a shock future return to newly-promoted Sheffield United, with his time at Manchester City potentially running out.

Is Kyle Walker leaving Manchester City?

Despite having helped the Sky Blues win the treble last season, Walker could be about to call time on his six-year, trophy-laden stint at Man City. With just a year remaining on his current deal, Pep Guardiola could well cash in on the 33-year-old should they choose not to renew his contract.

According to Dharmesh Sheth, who was speaking on Sky Sports News's Transfer Talk podcast, one potential destination could be his boyhood club Sheffield United.

When quizzed about Walker, Sheth said: "I think another one to look out for, maybe not in this summer's transfer window but maybe in the coming years. I think he's always said he'd want to go back and play for his hometown club again in Sheffield United."

While Sheth admits it would be an unlikely return this summer, he went on to add that it was "definitely one to keep an eye on" as the transfer window unfolds. Sheffield United's return to the Premier League could certainly make a potential move back to the city of steel a more interesting proposition for Walker.

Walker was born in Sheffield and came through the academy at Bramall Lane and, despite only making 35 appearances for his hometown side, has previously spoken about how he would like to play for the Blades towards the end of his career.

There is, of course, a chance that Walker will complete his final season at Man City before moving on for free in the summer of 2024, which could be when he opts to make his return home.

Which clubs want Kyle Walker?

If Sheffield United are to sign the right-back, who featured 39 times for City last campaign, they will have to fend off some stern competition.

Sheth also names Bayern Munich as holding an intense interest in the defender, with Sky Germany even suggesting that the Bavarians are in "advanced talks" with Walker.

Considering Bayern are potentially looking to offload their current first-choice right-back Benjamin Pavard this summer, Walker would certainly have an opportunity to stake his claim for a starting berth under Thomas Tuchel in Germany.

Slightly more outlandish reports have even suggested that Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool are interested in the 76-cap England international, although a move looks very unlikely at this stage.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has personally held talks with the representatives of Leicester City star James Maddison, according to reports.

Who will Spurs sign this summer?

Maddison is being pushed as a top target for Spurs by sections of the press with some sources even suggesting that the 26-year-old was at the centre of a double bid last week.

The Lilywhites were said to have lodged an offer for both Maddison and his teammate, Harvey Barnes, worth in excess of £50 million which was swiftly rejected by Leicester.

Sky Sports rebuffed this claim, stating while Spurs had a serious interest in both, no formal proposal of any kind had gone in for the duo.

As well as the Foxes playmaker, it is believed that Tottenham are targeting a new goalkeeper, central defender and possible forward additions.

David Raya of Brentford is wanted to replace Hugo Lloris, meanwhile the likes of Man City defender Aymeric Laporte have been tipped with potential moves to Spurs.

Galasary forward Nicolo Zaniolo has emerged as a target in recent days, too, with Postecoglou seemingly looking to strengthen in various areas of the pitch.

Going back to Maddison, a report by Football Transfers has shared some interesting news on Tottenham's chase for the England international.

According to their information, Postecoglou has personally held talks with Maddison's agents recently, and he is thought to have made a really good impression on them,

This has apparently helped to sway Maddison more towards Tottenham than Premier League rivals Newcastle, and the former Norwich City star may be tempted to join.

Despite this, Maddison is yet to have any personal contact with Spurs, but Postecoglou coming across well to the player's camp could be crucial.

How many goals did Maddison score last season?

Maddison starred for Leicester over the course of 2022/2023, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists in the league alone, totalling an impressive 19 attacking contributions (WhoScored).

The Three Lions ace also attempted more shots at goal per 90, completing more key passes and registered their joint-highest rate of successful take-ons in the top flight (WhoScored).

These numbers make one thing crystal clear – he is far too good for the Championship.

Whether it is Newcastle or Spurs, either side may be on to seal a very potent and capable attacking threat in the final third.

Former West Ham and Leicester City star David Connolly has also called Maddison "absolutely magnificent" for his form at the King Power.

Leeds United have "opened talks" with now former Norwich City sporting director Stuart Webber over a move to Elland Road, according to a new report.

Who is Stuart Webber?

The 39-year-old has been a highly thought of figure at Carrow Road for some time now, having joined as sporting director back in 2017, despite only being in his early 30s at that point.

Webber has previously enjoyed roles at the likes of Liverpool, QPR, Wolves and Huddersfield Town, working his way up in the game and enhancing his reputation, with former Norwich boss Daniel Farke once saying he "can't ask" for a better sporting director. However, it has been announced this morning that he will leave the club this summer.

With Leeds on the lookout for a new man in that job, following Victor Orta's exit and 49ers Enterprises' subsequent takeover at Elland Road, it looks as though they have eyes on the soon to be free agent.

Are Leeds looking to bring in Webber?

According to Football Insider, the Whites have "opened talks" with Webber over a summer move to the club, seeing him as an ideal figure to come in and fill the vacant sporting director position.

The report claims that the "recently relegated Yorkshire giants have turned their attention to hiring the recruitment expert from the team who will be their Championship rivals next season", as they look to gain an immediate advantage over those they will be battling with for Championship promotion.

Interestingly, it is stated that he is a "United fan", which could certainly work in Leeds' favour, with Webber potentially dreaming of having some sort of involvement with his boyhood team throughout his life.

This could be such an exciting appointment if Leeds manage to acquire Webber's signature in the near future, at a time when the job of a sporting director is seen as so vital. He could immediately make the Whites strong in the transfer market, identifying the right players, and while Orta had his plus points, the Englishman could come in as a more stable and less volatile figure who allows things to run smoothly behind the scenes.

Should Farke end up becoming Leeds' new boss, as has been mooted in recent days, Webber could be an even more perfect appointment, with their relationship at Norwich clearly strong, as mentioned, allowing the Whites to have a manager and sporting director who are both on exactly the same wavelength.

This summer is so important at Elland Road, with a quick return to the Premier League needed, and bringing in Webber would be a great place to start.

Burnley will return to the Premier League in August with a completely different playing style, having been transformed in their first year under head coach Vincent Kompany.

Rather than grind it out in the top tier next season, it seems as though Kompany intends to double down by bringing in a high-profile name who is well-known for his passing ability.

That is according to Foot Mercato, who suggest Paris Saint-Germain central midfielder Fabian Ruiz is considered a priority target for the Clarets this summer.

What is the latest with Fabian Ruiz's PSG future?

Ruiz truly made a name for himself across four seasons with Napoli, where he racked up more than 160 appearances, prior to making a €21.5m (£18.5m) switch to PSG in August last year.

The Spain international has been used regularly this season, featuring 37 times in all competitions – 25 of those starts – as the Parisians reclaimed their Ligue 1 crown but fell disappointingly short of success in the Coupe de France and Champions League.

On the back of what was ultimately a poor campaign for PSG, it has been reported that a number of players will be moved on this summer, with Ruiz one of those that is most at risk of being sold, with Burnley reportedly lurking amid a surprise switch.

Ruiz will unlikely struggle for suitors if he is indeed no longer wanted in the French capital, with former Barcelona boss Quique Setien summing it up nicely when describing the Spaniard – who he worked with at Real Betis – as a "spectacular" player who is "tremendously humble".

Can Fabian Ruiz succeed in the Premier League?

Burnley supporters will be hoping that Ruiz is humble enough to take what has to be considered a backward step in his career by swapping the Parc des Princes for Turf Moor.

After all, this is a player previously described as a "football artist" by talent scout Jacek Kulig after the 27-year-old starred for Napoli against Atalanta in October 2019.

For those unaware of Ruiz's playing style, FBref lists Manchester City's Rodri as sixth on the list of players most similar to the former Betis midfielder.

Ruiz's 98 passes completed per game on average, with a completion percentage of 91.3, ranks him in the top 2% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues this season in both metrics.

Rodri, for comparison, has an identical pass completion percentage, while they also have an identical expected goals (xG) return of 0.13 per game, only highlighting further the similarities in their all-around games and positioning.

Four years into his Premier League career, it is fair to say Rodri has been a huge hit in English football. While Burnley may not have the riches of City, in Kompany they have a Pep Guardiola protégée and a manager who clearly knows exactly what he wants from his side.

It will likely take a club-record fee of around €30m (£26m) to land the silky midfielder, as per Football Observatory, but Ruiz may well be the difference-maker for a new-look Burnley if they are to make a successful leap from the Championship to the Premier League.

Juventus are interested in making a move for Leeds United youngster Wilfried Gnonto this summer, according to a fresh transfer update.

How has Gnonto fared at Leeds?

The 19-year-old joined the Whites during last summer's transfer window, coming in as an exciting young signing with a potentially massive future in the game.

While Leeds' season was generally an awful one, as they suffered relegation from the Premier League after three years in the division, Gnonto was arguably one of the few brights parks. The £20,000-a-week attacker's form wasn't necessarily great every week, but he still scored twice and registered four assists in the league, often looking like one of his side's most dangerous and unpredictable players.

Like so many current Whites players, however, the Italian will now be weighing up his future, with Championship football not something that is likely to appeal to him. It could even be that he leaves in the summer, with a new claim proving to be a worrying one, in that respect.

Could Gnonto make quickfire Whites exit?

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Juventus are keen on signing Gnonto before the start of next season, even though an official approach is yet to be made.

The report states that the Serie A giants were frustrated by Leeds' relegation, as it ended their hopes of Weston McKennie joining the Whites permanently, and therefore getting him off their wage bill. They are trying to use that negative as a positive, though, instead turning their attention and making contact with Gnonto.

The idea of Leeds losing the winger so soon after arriving is clearly concerning, considering he is already a 10-cap Italy international, while still being in his teens. He has been lauded as a "special" player by Michael Skubala, and had the Whites not gone down, he looked like he could be a key figure for a number of years to come.

It is hard to persuade any top-class footballer to stay put when the team gets relegated to the second tier, though, so it would be difficult to begrudge Gnonto a move away in the summer transfer window, especially if a club of Juventus' calibre come calling.

There is always the chance that the teenager could remain loyal, trying to help Leeds make a quick return to the Premier League, but the best that the Whites can realistically hope for now is to get good money for the youngster's signature.

Arsenal are eyeing a summer move for Leicester City's James Maddison, with the midfielder now set to leave, according to a report from The Mirror.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Arsenal have set their sights on strengthening their midfield this summer, and Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has now claimed that Declan Rice could join "immediately", despite Bayern Munich making a late push for the West Ham United star.

Rice could replace Granit Xhaka, who is expected to complete a move to Bayer Leverkusen soon, but the 24-year-old is not their only midfield target, as they have an interest in Chelsea's Mason Mount, as well as Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth outlines Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo as another option for the Gunners, while they are also keen on strengthening in more advanced areas, with Maddison emerging as a potential target.

According to a report from The Mirror, Arsenal are eyeing up a move for the Leicester City star, but they will face fierce competition for his signature, with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur also being named as potential suitors.

Given that he only has a year remaining on his contract, Leicester may be forced to sell the Englishman for around £40m, although they are hoping that a bidding war will drive his price up to around £50m.

The Foxes are set to lose the 26-year-old following their relegation from the Premier League, and the Emirates Stadium is a potential destination, but Arsenal's number one target is Rice.

Should Arsenal sign James Maddison?

Hailed as "wonderful" by members of the media, the attacking midfielder impressed in a very poor Leicester side during the 2022-23 campaign, picking up nine assists in the Premier League, the joint-seventh highest amount in the division.

Not only that, the England international also showed a keen eye for goal, scoring ten times in 30 league appearances, displaying his versatility by playing through the middle and on both wings.

Given that Mikel Arteta already has the likes of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka at his disposal, it may be difficult for Maddison to force his way into the team, but his ability to play in multiple positions should mean that he is able to receive regular game time.

With Arsenal heading into the Champions League next season, it is vital that they have top-quality back-up options, and the £110k-per-week star's attacking threat and versatility means he could tick plenty of boxes in north London.