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West Ham United and new manager Julen Lopetegui are thought to be interested in signing an established Premier League player valued at £20m.

West Ham targeting defensive additions

The Irons and technical director Tim Steidten have already made two summer signings ahead of the 2024/25 season, with winger Luis Guilherme joining from Palmeiras and more recently, goalkeeper Wes Foderingham arriving on a free transfer after he left Sheffield United.

Now, attention is on further signings, both in attack and defence. In the final third, former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, now at Galatasaray, Fluminense forward Jhon Arias, Lille striker Jonathan David, Genoa forward Albert Gudmundsson, FC Metz’s Georges Mikautadze and Vitoria Guimaraes star Jota Silva have all been linked with moves to London.

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This high-profile forward has scored 121 goals in the Premier League.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 2, 2024

Meanwhile, at the back, Wolverhampton Wanderers centre-back Max Kilman is a player who is firmly on the Hammers’ radar. West Ham have already had an offer turned down from Wolves but are expected to make a new bid, with Lopetegui even willing to make him captain should a deal get over the line.

Full-backs are also seemingly wanted by Lopetegui, with former Tottenham left-back Ryan Sessegnon, Fenerbahce’s Jayden Oosterwolde and Lazio’s Luca Pellegrini all of interest to varying degrees, and a right-back who West Ham supporters will know is now on the club’s radar.

West Ham interested in Aaron Wan-Bissaka

According to reliable Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, West Ham are interested in signing Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, although he adds that the Englishman is just one of a number of right-backs being tracked by the Irons.

Wan-Bissaka has been on the books at Old Trafford since 2019 after joining from Crystal Palace and has gone on to make 190 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring twice and providing 13 assists.

The 26-year-old has won the EFL Cup and more recently the FA Cup with United under Erik ten Hag, but there have been reports that new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ready to cash in on Wan-Bissaka for just £20m this summer.

That sort of fee could be tempting for the Red Devils due to the player’s contract situation, and Wan-Bissaka is a player who has come in for plenty of praise when it comes to his 1 v 1 defending. James Maddison is one of those who has hailed the right-back, saying:

"AWB is ridiculously good at 1 v 1 defending. Probably the best in the world bar none. So many wingers run out of ideas when playing directly against him.”

Jamie Carragher also thinks Wan-Bissaka is the best in the world when it comes to one-on-one defending, saying back in 2020 when coming up against Raheem Sterling.

“Sterling is one of the best three or four wide players in the world but Wan-Bissaka's saying: ‘Come on, you're not going to get past me’. I actually think Wan-Bissaka is the best one-on-one defender for a full-back in the world. I don't think anyone would get the better of him.”

Philippe Clement isn’t hanging about this summer. Glasgow Rangers have yet to even start their pre-season preparations, but the Belgian has already made two signings, with a third potentially on its way.

Reportedly, a fee has been agreed with Bayern Munich in order to bring pacy winger Yusuf Kabadayi to Glasgow, and it looks like yet another case of Clement signing a highly promising youngster who could blossom into an excellent player.

This transfer strategy could pay dividends further down the line, but the 50-year-old will also be eyeing up a few experienced heads.

Plenty of incomings also suggest several departures ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. Both James Tavernier and Connor Goldson have been linked with an exit, as former Gers chief Steven Gerrard has expressed an interest in signing the duo for Al-Ettifaq.

Clement must not bow down to sentiment this summer, while Tavernier and Goldson are not the only senior players attracting interest…

Rangers could sell 23-cap international this summer

In perhaps a surprise piece of news, Tom Lawrence is a player who appears to have attracted interest recently.

Former Rangers manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst has taken over at Turkish side Besiktas – his first club role since being sacked by the Ibrox side in November 2022 – and his first task will be to bolster his first-team squad.

According to the Daily Mail (via the Daily Record), Besiktas are keen on bringing Lawrence to Turkey this summer, but they are not the only team showing interest in the former Derby County maestro.

Newly promoted Ipswich Town are admirers of the Welshman, while Sheffield United – recently relegated from the top flight – are also monitoring developments, according to the report.

Lawrence is entering the final year of his contract and Clement will be keen to avoid a repeat of what happened last month, as five players departed for nothing once their deals expired.

This summer represents the last realistic chance of the Light Blues receiving a decent fee for the 30-year-old. Considering they signed him on a free transfer, anything will represent a profit, and perhaps it is time for him to say his goodbyes.

Tom Lawrence’s season in numbers

When he signed for Rangers in the summer of 2022, it was looked upon as a statement of intent. This was a player who had scored 37 goals and grabbed 25 assists across 185 matches for Derby, along with featuring in the Premier League for Leicester City earlier in his career.

After a solid start to his spell north of the border, scoring three goals and registering two assists in his first nine matches, the midfielder suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury which halted his impressive start.

It was a familiar site for the Ibrox faithful, signing a player who enjoyed a decent start before suffering a major injury, missing plenty of matches in the process. But Lawrence spent the summer recovering before being gently introduced back into the first team setup during the first half of the season.

Overall, the former Manchester United youngster made 32 appearances, registering six goal contributions in the process. A solid, if unspectacular effort, but hardly earth-shattering.

Given his age, prior injury problems and the fact he is out of contract in 12 months’ time, surely moving him on this summer would be accepted as a wise move by Clement from the demanding supporters?

Tom Lawrence's stats at Rangers last season
Metric	Premiership	Europa League
Goals	2	1
Assists	3	0
Key passes per game	1.1	0.8
Big chances created	4	0
Successful dribbles per game	0.7	1.2
Shots per game	1.7	1.4
Via Sofascore

How much Tom Lawrence earns at Rangers

By selling Lawrence, his eye-catching £22k-per-week wages could be freed up and utilised on a younger, more sellable asset.

Remarkably, this wage is also the same as what Dujon Sterling earns for the Gers, and the former Chelsea youth talent made quite an impression in his maiden season in Scotland.

Sterling was one of Michael Beale’s first signings for Rangers, arriving last summer on a pre-contract deal from Chelsea.

He had enjoyed plenty of senior action across various loan spells in the Championship and Beale was looking for a defender to bolster his squad depth.

He didn’t quite make much of an impression during the first few months of the season, starting just twice under Beale before he was sacked after a 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen at the end of September.

Following the announcement of Clement as manager, however, Sterling began to make much more of an impression, showcasing his versatility under the former Club Brugge manager.

Between mid-October and the end of the campaign, the 24-year-old played in six positions, helping out whenever required, and he didn’t complain about it whatsoever.

With an injury crisis engulfing the squad leading into the League Cup final a week before Christmas, Sterling started the game at the heart of the midfield, delivering a stunning man-of-the-match performance which endeared him to the fans.

Rangers hit gold on free signing whose value's soared 250% this season

The Light Blues struck gold when they swooped to sign the impressive ace for £0 last summer.

By
Dan Emery

May 30, 2024

Judging by Sterling’s impact, versatility and no-nonsense attitude, his presence will be required during the 2024/25 campaign, especially as his value continually rises.

Lawrence, on the other hand, has seen his market value dip considerably since joining the Light Blues two years ago. Just months after arriving in Scotland, he was valued at around €2m (£1.6m) by Football Transfers in November 2022.

His market valuation at the time of writing? €0.8m (£675k) and it isn’t going to get higher, that’s for sure.

This clearly suggests that if Besiktas make a decent offer for Lawrence, Rangers must accept, using the fee to bolster their squad in the process.

Clement has a clear transfer strategy, which has been evidenced by his first two signings of the off-season – Jefte and Oscar Cortes – who are both wonderfully talented youngsters with the capacity to improve rapidly if they are exposed to regular football at the club.

This could see moves for players like Lawrence ruled out in the future. The Welshman has shone in spells for the club, but you doubt there will be too many tears if he moves on in the coming weeks.

The transfer window is just a couple of days away, and after a season full of ups and downs, Tottenham Hotspur have the chance to strengthen their squad.

Ange Postecoglou has shown a lot of promise in his first Premier League season as the Lilywhites boss, and with links to players such as Santiago Gimenez and Youssef En-Nesyri, he could have the player required to push into the Champions League places next year.

However, while he may be handed some new stars, he could also lose some, and, based on recent reports, he may well be about to lose one of his most important starters in a move reminiscent of Luka Modric's over a decade ago.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from ESPN Argentina, Real Madrid are interested in signing Tottenham defender Cristian Romero this summer and have the player in their 'sights.'

The report does not mention a potential price, but the CIES Football Observatory currently values the defender at €60m, which converts to around £51m.

In good news for the North Londoners, the 6 foot 1 Argentine signed a four-year £165k-per-week deal in August 2022, which should give them the opportunity to demand a higher fee for their talismanic centre-back.

However, the allure of Real is undeniable, and if Romero pushes for a move, then the Lilywhites may be forced to sell one of their key men to the Spanish giants in a situation akin to Modric's sale in 2012.

Romero's parallels to Modric

Romero joined Spurs for a whopping £42m from Serie A side Atalanta in August 2021, and since then, he's been an indispensable part of the club's lineup.

Appearances

98

Goals

6

Assists

1

Yellow Cards

28

Second Yellow Cards

3

Red Cards

1

He's made 98 appearances in all competitions and has scored seven goals and assisted seven times.

Described as an "incredible" talent by journalist Alasdair Gold, the World Cup winner has had moments here and there for Spurs in which he's lost his head and been sent off – four times to be exact – but his ferocity and hardworking nature has also worked in his favour as he was named vice-captain alongside James Maddison at the start of this season.

In all, the 26-year-old titan, whom Lionel Messi described as "the best defender in the world" – and he probably knows a thing or two – is an essential member of Postecoglou's squad, and losing him to Real this summer would be reminiscent of Modric's move in 2012.

At the time, the Croatian superstar had been playing at White Hart Lane for four seasons, in which he scored 17 goals and provided 24 assists in 160 games.

He moved to the Bernabeu for £30m, but struggled in his first campaign, scoring four goals and providing six assists in 53 games and being labelled as La Liga's worst signing.

However, as we all know, he soon kicked on and is now one of the most beloved players in the club's modern history, with 534 appearances, 39 goals and 86 assists to his name, although most importantly, he has a trophy cabinet that could rival any player in history.

Appearances

160

534

Goals

17

39

Assists

24

86

Goal Involvements

0.25

0.23

During his time in the Spanish capital, he has won six Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, five Spanish Super Cups, four UEFA Super Cups, four Club World Cups, one UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, one Best Fifa Men's Player award, and one Ballon d'Or – not bad for the league's worst signing.

Ultimately, the Croatian legend was impressive as a Tottenham player but reached an entirely new level at Real, and while Romero might be tempted to see if he can do the same, Daniel Levy and Co must do all they can to help him reach his maximum potential in North London, not Madrid.

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Finland and Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen has explained the inspiration behind his unusual tattoo of Wayne Rooney.

Article continues below

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Keskinen explains strange tattooFinland winger designed it himselfRevealed his love of Man Utd legendFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 21-year-old sports a bizarre tattoo depicting the former England and Manchester United star fishing. Keskinen previously explained that the depiction combined two of his favourite things – United and fishing – but he has now offered more background.

AdvertisementGetty THE BIGGER PICTURE

Keskinen, who featured in Finland's 3-1 loss to England on Sunday, has revealed that he designed the tattoo himself and that it is in part an homage to his Everton-supporting mother and his favourite player of all time.

WHAT KESKINEN SAID

"My mum’s an Everton fan and Rooney played there and when he made a move to Manchester United, I started watching United games," he said. "He was like an idol to me on the field. I was watching his highlights in every game that he played in his career, so he’s my favourite player in my life. So, I tattooed him fishing, because I like fishing also. It’s my two favourite things combined in one tattoo."

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Finland have lost all four of their Nations League matches in the current campaign, while England sit three points behind Greece. The Three Lions' next game is against the group leaders on November 14.

The Premier League has become the greatest league in world football over recent years thanks to the influx of star players, brilliant managers and the fantastic support that all 20 sides receive.

It makes sense then that the best league in the world also produces some of the best teams, and with the best teams come the highest points totals.

With that in mind, we here at Football FanCast have looked back at the highest points tallies in Premier League history to see which teams can indeed be considered among the very best to have ever played in the competition. In the event of a tie, we've used games played and goals scored as tie-breakers. Here's how it all breaks down:

Manchester City

2017/18

100

1st

Liverpool

2019/20

99

1st

Manchester City

2018/19

98

1st

Liverpool

2018/19

97

2nd

Chelsea

2004/05

95

1st

Manchester City

2021/22

93

1st

Chelsea

2016/17

93

1st

Liverpool

2021/22

92

2nd

Manchester United

1993/94

92

1st

Manchester United

1999/00

91

1st

Manchester City

2023/24

91

1st

Chelsea

2005/06

91

1st

12 Chelsea 2005/06 91 points

Kicking things off, we have the 2005/06 Chelsea side, who, under Portuguese mastermind Jose Mourinho, managed to lift the Premier League title for a second consecutive season, all while racking up an impressive points total of 91.

It was a brilliant way to celebrate the club's centenary season, and while they failed to add any more cups to their trophy cabinet, they dominated the league.

Manchester United were the Blues' closest challengers, and despite beating them 1-0 at Old Trafford early on in the campaign, they ended up finishing eight points behind them. But having only scored 72 times along the way, Chelsea were the most goal-shy of the other teams to accrue this many points in a season.

Manager

Jose Mourinho

PL record

P38 W29 D4 L5

Top PL scorer

Frank Lampard (16)

FA Cup

Semi-finals

League Cup

Third round

Champions League

Round of 16

11 Manchester City 2023/24 91 points

Man City secured a record-breaking fourth consecutive league title by breaking the 90-point barrier. While they fell just short of Manchester United's 1999/00 tally of 97 goals (see below), 96 isn't too shabby. And with Arsenal pushing them all the way, every last goal was crucial.

It has been customary for Pep Guardiola's City side to go on a mammoth run in the second half of campaigns, and that's exactly what they did here – going unbeaten since early December and winning each of their last nine games to keep the impressive Gunners at bay as they did the previous year.

Manager

Pep Guardiola

PL record

P38 W28 D7 L3

Top PL scorer

Erling Haaland (27)

FA Cup

Runners-up

League Cup

Third round

Champions League

Quarter-finals

10 Manchester United 1999/00 91 points

Manchester United were just coming out of their era-defining treble-winning season, so they'd likely have been forgiven had their levels dropped ever so slightly. Well, maybe with any other manager, that is.

Sir Alex Ferguson lit a fire under his men as they flew out of the blocks from that first whistle and never stopped.

They finished the campaign 18 points ahead of nearest rivals Arsenal, and while they failed to lift any other domestic trophies that year, they did win the Intercontinental Cup.

Manager

Sir Alex Ferguson

PL record

P38 W28 D7 L3

Top PL scorer

Dwight Yorke (20)

FA Cup

Withdrew

League Cup

Third round

Champions League

Quarter-finals

9 Manchester United 1993/94 92 points

We're sticking with the red side of Manchester for a moment, and while their triumph in the 1999/00 season was incredibly impressive, their 1993/94 Premier League campaign might have been even better.

The team had just won their first league title in 26 years, so there was a question as to whether this team had the mentality to go again and defend their title – and they did.

This defence was, of course, helped by the arrival of a young Irish midfielder by the name of Roy Keane in the summer break.

Once the whistle had gone in the final game of the season, United were eight points clear of Blackburn Rovers in second place and would then go on to beat Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup final to secure a historic double.

Manager

Sir Alex Ferguson

PL record

P42 W27 D11 L4

Top PL scorer

Eric Cantona (18)

FA Cup

Winners

League Cup

Runners-up

Champions League

Second round

8 Liverpool 2021/22 92 points

Now, this is an interesting one, as the 2021/22 Liverpool side was a genuinely fantastic team and one that managed to accrue 92 points in a 38-game season – United played 42 in 1993/94 – and yet, they are the first side on this list that ended their season as Premier League runners-up.

Yes, the Reds' side that managed 28 wins, six draws, just two defeats, and 92 points did not end the season as champions, all thanks to a certain Sky Blue team we'll get onto later on.

However, coming in second place does not mean that the team aren't worth talking about, as Jürgen Klopp's side were fantastic in this campaign and were, even in May, on for an unprecedented quadruple.

In the end, they finished the campaign as FA Cup and League Cup winners, which should be considered a good season by anyone's standards.

Manager

Jurgen Klopp

PL record

P38 W28 D8 L2

Top PL scorer

Mohamed Salah (23)

FA Cup

Winners

League Cup

Winners

Champions League

Runners-up

7 Chelsea 2016/17 93 points

We're back with the Blues for our next entry, and to say their 2016/17 title win was quite the surprise would be an understatement.

Chelsea were tipped for a title challenge the season prior when they were under the management of managerial legend José Mourinho, but a string of poor results saw him lose his job in December 2015, with Guus Hiddink brought in on an interim basis.

Unfortunately, this did little to steady the ship and come the end of the season, Chelsea found themselves all the way down in tenth place and with no silverware to their name, so when Antonio Conte was tasked with improving the team's fortunes the following season, there was very little expectation from the fans.

These low expectations were lowered yet further when Chelsea lost two and drew one of their opening six games of the season, only for Conte to galvanise his team and lead them on an impressive 13-game winning streak.

The Blues eventually won the league by a seven-point margin ahead of bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, which probably made it all the sweeter for the fans.

Manager

Antonio Conte

PL record

P38 W30 D3 L5

Top PL scorer

Diego Costa (20)

FA Cup

Runners-up

League Cup

Fourth round

6 Manchester City 2021/22 93 points

Okay, so we have already covered the brilliant 2021/22 Liverpool side that couldn't quite win the league despite amassing 92 points, and now we have reached the reason why.

The 2021/22 Manchester City side might not be the very best City side we have seen over the last decade, but they come mighty close.

It took them a little while to kick into full swing, losing two and drawing two of their first ten league games, but following on from that tenth game, they would only lose once more all season, while drawing four and winning another 23.

They also gave us one of the best final days of the season ever, with an exhilarating comeback win against Aston Villa to seal the title.

Manager

Pep Guardiola

PL record

P38 W29 D6 L3

Top PL scorer

Kevin De Bruyne (15)

FA Cup

Semi-finals

League Cup

Fourth round

Champions League

Semi-finals

5 Chelsea 2004/05 95 points

We've reached our third and final Chelsea entry on the list, and we reckon it remains their most impressive Premier League triumph of all time – it helps that it was their first.

It was the Special One's first season in charge of the Blues, and to say he exceeded the expectations placed upon him would be a colossal understatement.

The team would win the League Cup, reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and utterly dominate a Premier League that until that point, had been shared between Arsenal and Manchester United for close to a decade.

However, perhaps more impressive than anything else is that they won the league while conceding just 15 goals – 0.39 goals per game – a record that still stands today.

Manager

Jose Mourinho

PL record

P38 W29 D8 L1

Top PL scorer

Frank Lampard (13)

FA Cup

Fifth round

League Cup

Winners

Champions League

Semi-finals

4 Liverpool 2018/19 97 points

We have reached our second Liverpool entry on this list, and unfortunately for Reds fans, it is another case of a team placing on this list and somehow not coming away from the season as champions.

Klopp's 2018/19 Liverpool side were mesmerising to watch in league and cup, racking up 30 wins, seven draws and one defeat, alongside a positive goal difference of 67 and 97 points to boot. However, it still wasn't enough, and as it was three years later, Man City were the ones who just about pipped them to the title.

That said, they ended the season as champions of Europe after beating Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid, so it's still a campaign that fans can look back fondly on.

Manager

Jurgen Klopp

PL record

P38 W30 D7 L1

Top PL scorers

Sadio Mane & Mohamed Salah (22)

FA Cup

Third round

League Cup

Third round

Champions League

Winners

3 Manchester City 2018/19 98 points

Manchester City's second entry on this list, and once again, it comes at the expense of Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool.

The Citizens had an impressive start to the season, with 13 wins and two draws from their first 15 games, but three losses in their next four left them lagging behind the Reds on Christmas Day.

However, as City have now grown accustomed to doing, they went on a 14-game win streak in the final part of the season to win their second title on the bounce.

The final game against Brighton & Hove Albion did require a comeback after a 27th-minute Glenn Murray goal, but the score ended 4-1 in favour of the Sky Blues.

Manager

Pep Guardiola

PL record

P38 W32 D2 L4

Top PL scorer

Sergio Aguero (21)

FA Cup

Winners

League Cup

Winners

Champions League

Quarter-finals

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Aston Villa are reportedly edging closer to completing a move for Ross Barkley as the summer transfer window kicks into gear.

The Villans have moved quickly to secure the Englishman's services after a real revival at Luton Town.

The midfielder had endured a number of years in the wilderness after leaving Chelsea behind but now looks like the real deal again, scoring five goals and supplying four assists in the Premier League this term.

Set to be a rather cheap deal, it marks fine early business by Monchi and Co. Yet, could there be an even more exciting signing on the way? Let's take a look.

Aston Villa eyeing up title challenging outcast

With Champions League football on the horizon, this could be an exciting window for Unai Emery and his recruitment team.

Not only will the Villans need greater depth to compete in such a prestigious competition, but they will need greater quality too.

Barkley will certainly add to that but so too could Arsenal outcast Emile Smith Rowe.

When Jack Grealish left Villa Park behind, the Gunners man was noted as one potential replacement but he stayed in north London where he has struggled to really kick on due to injury.

However, Villa are reportedly still interested in the player. According to sources in Spain, the Midlands outfit are one of a number of Premier League sides casting their eyes in the direction of Smith Rowe.

Villa are set to face competition from Wolves, Everton and Crystal Palace.

Why Smith Rowe is more exciting than Barkley

Although having never previously played together there will no doubt be a great deal of sympathy on Barkley's end towards Smith Rowe.

The latter's career may not have nosedived quite like Villa's incoming signing in recent years but he is having a rough old time of it.

In 2023/24, the Arsenal man featured on just 13 occasions in the Premier League, of which only three outings came as starts. It is unsurprising to hear, therefore, that he failed to score all season long.

On paper, then, this doesn't particularly look like an exciting signing. However, let's cast our minds back to why Villa wanted him to replace Grealish and you'll quickly realise why he'd be a great acquisition.

Speaking about the now 23-year-old in 2021, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher noted: "To watch him in full flow, I've said he's the best player in the Premier League running with the ball."

Carragher continued: "He's so exciting, the pace, moving with the ball. He's a special talent. He can pop up in different positions, he has that ability to play all four positions up top and that's a real bonus."

So, as the former Liverpool man eludes to, Smith Rowe is particularly versatile. Predominantly capable of playing behind the striker or off the left flank, there is a great deal that the England international could offer to Emery and his coaching staff.

Goals

0.47

0.25

Assists

0.09

0.41

Progressive carries

3.05

7.08

Progressive passes

3.99

7.78

Key passes

1.41

3.33

Shots on target

1.08

0.70

xG

0.28

0.19

Shot-creating actions

3.15

6.95

Take-on success %

60%

64%

Back in the 2021/22 campaign, he was nothing short of exceptional, notably earning his first England caps throughout a season where he scored ten goals in 33 Premier League outings.

For context, that's a better goalscoring term than Barkley has ever managed in his career. His best season in front of goal came in 2015/16 when he found the net eight times for Everton.

Of course, football isn't all just about the goals but Smith Rowe clearly excels when given the game time. Possessing that Grealish-like glide on the ball, those rolled-down socks and marvellous agility, this is a signing that has the potential to eclipse Barkley's.

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Leeds United could be set to lose one of their long term servants after he revealed that he has probably played his last game under Daniel Farke.

Leeds forced to settle for playoffs

Overwhelming favourites to be promoted automatically from the Championship just six weeks ago, Leeds will have to settle for the play-offs as they look to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. The Yorkshire outfit were beaten on the final day of the season by fellow play-off side Southampton, but Ipswich beating Huddersfield Town made the score irrelevant, as the Tractor Boys were promoted at Leeds' expense.

It capped a horror few weeks for Leeds, who won just twice in April (against Hull City and Middlesbrough) and lost four of their final seven games to see them drop out of the top two.

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They do match Sunderland's record of most points without securing automatic promotion (90), but given at one point it seemed certain a side would break that with games left to play, it was an underwhelming end to the campaign. Now, they face Norwich City in the semi-finals before a date with either Southampton or West Brom in the final at Wembley should they make it past the Canaries.

It's a big if too; Leeds have never won promotion from the play-offs in five attempts, most recently falling to Derby County in 2019, who themselves went on to lose to Aston Villa in the final.

Leeds' play-off record (League One and Championship)
Year	Exit stage
2019	Semi-final
2009	Semi-final
2008	Final
2006	Final
1987	Final

Now, one player is already on the verge of leaving, it has emerged, to compound a wretched few weeks.

Defender confirms he's "close" to exit

That comes via fan favourite Luke Ayling, who has confirmed that he is "close" to making his loan move to Middlesbrough permanent this summer. The defender joined the Riverside outfit on loan in January in search of regular first team football, but his £25,000 per week deal at Elland Road will be up this summer, leaving him free to make the next move as he sees fit.

And such has been his impact in the northeast that it seems he is set to remain a Boro player beyond this summer. Quizzed on his future, he admitted it was unlikely that he returns to Leeds.

“I think things are close and I’m excited for what the future holds", he explained. "I can’t say it’s done yet so [I] can’t say too much, but the last four months I’ve loved being part of it. I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Ayling appeared over 250 times for Leeds, scoring 11 goals and grabbing 21 assists during his stint at Elland Road. He was a mainstay both in the Championship and the Premier League, but has been overlooked by Farke in favour of Archie Gray and Connor Roberts.

As a result, he seems set to leave the club, but will be fondly remembered by the Leeds faithful.

Tottenham have moved into pole position to land an exciting new option at the heart of defence this summer, as they look to bounce back from a tough end to the season.

Spurs' Champions League hopes hanging by a thread

Defeat in the north London derby in front of their home fans has left Tottenham's season threatening to fizzle out without the prize of Champions League football at the end of it.

They battled back from 3-0 down to 3-2, but could not find an equaliser in the dying minutes as Arsenal rode their luck to come away with all three points and boost their own hopes of winning their first Premier League title since 2004.

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Posts ByBen Browning Apr 28, 2024

After England's poor performance in Europe, only the top four sides qualify for the Champions League next season, instead of the widely anticipated five teams. Currently fifth, Ange Postecoglou's side are seven points behind Aston Villa, but have two games in hand on the Villans.

However, even were they to be perfect between now and the end of the campaign, their fate would be out of their hands, and they face a tricky run of fixtures that includes another London derby against Chelsea as well as games against two sides above them, though they also face an already relegated Sheffield United side and a potentially soon to be relegated Burnley.

Tottenham's final run in

Game 33

Chelsea (A)

Game 34

Liverpool (H)

Game 35

Burnley (H)

Game 36

Manchester City (H)

Game 37

Sheffield United (A)

Game 38

Newcastle United (A)

But attention is turning firmly to the summer, with the squad rebuild begun 12 months ago after the departure of Harry Kane set to continue ahead of the new season.

Tottenham in pole position for defender

Now, reports in Italy could have handed Spurs a boost, claiming that the Lilywhites are 'first in line' to land impressive Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, Calafiori has been a revelalation for Thiago Motta and Bologna this season, making 27 appearances to help the Italian side into 4th, a spot currently enough to guarantee Champions League football next season.

Dubbed an "extraordinary" talent in the Italian press, he is an outside bet for Luciano Spalletti's EURO 2024 squad and his star is firmly on an upwards trajectory.

Riccardo Calafiori Bologna

His form has not gone unnoticed though, with Tottenham and Juventus both having been alerted to his situation. Though Juventus usually have the advantage when it comes to landing Serie A talent, it is claimed that this time round Tottenham are the frontrunners due to the fact that they have more cash available than the Old Lady, who would likely try and engineer a loan deal or part exchange for his services.

Though no price tag is mentioned, he has previously been reported to be available for around 25m euros (£21m) this summer, which could prove to be a bargain should he continue to deliver on his immense promise.

The 2023/24 season has not been easy for Chelsea. Under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, the Blues have limped to ninth place in the Premier League, on 44 points. Whilst they have games in hand, they are currently a massive 16 points off fifth place, a potential Champions League spot.

According to Goal.com, Chelsea have spent an incredible £1b under the ownership of Todd Boehly. This includes smashing the Premier League’s record transfer twice, first signing Enzo Fernandez for £107m in January 2023, before their signing of Moises Caicedo for a fee of £115m last summer broke the record again.

Aside from Fernandez and Caicedo, some of Chelsea’s big-money signings include the likes of Raheem Sterling, who cost the Blues £50m from Manchester City, and French attacker Christopher Nkunku, from RB Leipzig, for £52.

However, there is one particular signing made by Chelsea who is slipping under the radar. The deal, completed in August 2022, saw Chelsea sign one of the best young talents in the Premier League and that certain someone could now finally step up following an injury to Fernandez.

The Argentine has displayed signs of his immense potential since arriving in England but is now nursing a knock which requires medical assessment ahead of their clash with Everton on Monday night.

A move that slipped under the radar

The man in question here is the former Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, for whom Chelsea paid the Villans just £20m to acquire his services. Chukwuemeka, who was 18 years old when he joined the club, agreed to sign a six-year contract at Chelsea.

It was an impressive deal for the Blues to conduct, not least because they brought in one of the most exciting English midfield talents for a relatively small price considering the state of the modern-day transfer market.

Chelsea beat some of Europe’s top clubs to sign Chukwuemeka, including Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund, with London rivals Arsenal also rumoured to be interested at the time, according to Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports.

Chukwuemeka made 16 appearances for Aston Villa before departing for London in 2022, and he has already made 26 for Chelsea.

Why Chelsea must now unleash Chukwuemeka

Austrian-born Chukwuemeka has struggled with injuries during his time at Stamford Bridge so far, including a recurring knee injury he originally picked up against West Ham towards the start of the season, yet there is no doubt he is an exceptional talent.

This season, in his 26 appearances, the 20-year-old has scored twice, in the Premier League against West Ham and the FA Cup against Leicester, as well as picking up an assist in the Premier League against Liverpool.

He is superb between the lines, an attacking midfielder who loves to get on the ball and make things happen in the final third, where he averages 30.9 touches in the Premier League this season, as per Fbref.

Chukwuemeka is a progressive midfield player, whose first thought is always to look forwards. According to Fbref, only Cole Palmer averages more passes into the penalty area per 90 for Chelsea in the Premier League, with 2.62, just bettering Chukwuemeka’s 2.61.

The 20-year-old is a superb dribbler and despite his lanky 6 foot 1 frame, can slalom in and out of defenders with impressive agility.

Where Chukwuemeka excels most is in pockets of space between the lines, where he receives the ball on the half-turn, before turning and looking to progress Chelsea forward. This is largely a profile Chelsea have lacked this season, especially with constant injuries for Nkunku.

Back in 2020, Chukwuemeka was described as an “absolute 10/10 talent” by scout Jacek Kulig. Now, as he becomes more experienced as a professional footballer, that “10/10 talent” is looking to cement down a place in the Blues’ starting XI.

With injuries to star men disrupting Chelsea’s season, perhaps, now fully fit again, Chukwuemeka is the man to come into their team and make a place in the midfield his own.

The ever-improving Fernandez looks to be injured ahead of Chelsea’s next game against Everton and should the young Chelsea star be handed a start against the Toffees instead, he has a real chance to make a big impact on Pochettino’s side, and potentially secure a starting spot for the rest of the season.

Kevin Roberts also said that New Zealand would not have to wait another 32 years to play a Boxing Day Test in Melbourne

Daniel Brettig in Melbourne27-Dec-2019

More than 75,000 people packed into the MCG for day one•Getty Images

Kevin Roberts, the Cricket Australia chief executive, has pledged New Zealand will be granted more frequent Boxing Day Tests as he acknowledged that the game’s financial powerhouses needed to work together to ensure that it grows healthier outside the cricket super economies of India, England and Australia.Responding to the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly’s suggestion for a “Super Series” in which India, England and Australia would play a tournament amongst themselves, Roberts termed the idea “innovative”. But he was careful to stress that all nations needed to be given opportunities for quality cricket and chances to raise revenue, amid widespread dismay that such a concept might be allowed to get off the ground given the parlous state of so many other nations’ finances.New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is struggling to find sufficient and consistent revenue streams in the face of three consecutive years of financial losses, while elsewhere Ireland has been forced to cancel a raft of fixtures due to cost pressures. The scheduling of a “Super Series” rather than the extra ICC events proposed by its chief executive Manu Sawhney would not only overturn the current cricket calendar but place further pressure on the already stretched finances of most ICC member countries.”I think it’s an example of the innovative thinking coming out of the BCCI with Sourav Ganguly as president,” Roberts said. “In his very short time, only a couple of months, we have already seen India commit to and host a day-night Test in Kolkata, so a brilliant result there. And now a suggestion around the Super Series, another potential innovation. We will be in India next month and Bangladesh talking about the future cricket calendar. We’re in discussions with New Zealand as well and I was recently in Pakistan talking about the importance of our future partnership with Pakistan.”We’re really respectful of the importance of our international cricket relationships and our role as a leader in world cricket in supporting the development of cricket in other countries. We’re really looking forward to hosting Afghanistan next year and that is an example of our commitment to world cricket. We have discussions with all member nations of the ICC and take really seriously our role to partner them and working together with them to grow the game.”We’re just trying to be a good proactive partner to both the ICC and its members. Cricket is part of the fabric of Australian culture and we’ve got to play our part to make sure it remains and become an even stronger part of other countries around the world. Cricket is more or less a religion on the sub-continent. It’s absolutely the favourite sport in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. We’ve got to try and make sure we see the game emerging in countries all around the world.”Tony Irish, the FICA executive chairman, has stated bluntly that any push for more bilateral cricket than is already scheduled between India, England and Australia would only serve to grow the yawning gaps that exist between rich and poor. “The mooted super series is a real concern for the global game. It is likely to further open the gap between the rich and the poorer countries in international cricket,” Irish told ESPNcricinfo.”FICA has maintained for some time now that two key issues to be addressed for the future of international cricket are a) a more coherent global schedule, and b) more equitable global game economics. This proposed new event does not assist in either of those.”Asked whether New Zealand would have to wait another 32 years for another appearance on Boxing Day, Roberts was quick to assure Australia’s Trans-Tasman neighbours that a crowd of more than 80,000 of Boxing Day at the MCG would help ensure that the fixture would become a far more regular occurrence. He also stated that the MCG would keep the Boxing Day Test for the foreseeable future, as CA negotiates a new stadium deal with the Melbourne Cricket Club.”We really value the partnership with New Zealand. We are already having some high-level discussions around the cricket calendar from 2023 to 2031 and we absolutely hope and look forward to hosting New Zealand at a Boxing Day Test well before another 32 years pass,” Roberts said. “They are a really important partner and nation in the world of cricket.”The reality is there is only one venue in Australia that can host over 80,000 people on Boxing Day as the MCG did yesterday. It was just a picture. That’s something we are really grateful for and respect. The MCG Test is one of the two most iconic Tests on the planet, along with the Lord’s Test.”You would have to say that, given this is the equivalent of two AFL grand finals, as MCC CEO Stuart Fox was quoted as saying that the other day, that indicates the importance of it, not just in Victoria but in communities beyond Australia. Given the importance of the MCG Test to world cricket, I would like to think it will remain here in perpetuity. There is a bit of work to be done on that front. But you would have to say it is best for world cricket to have a Boxing Day Test in Melbourne for years to come.”