da wazamba： There’s no denying that Manchester United’s forward line hasn’t lived up to expectations this season, massively restricting Ruben Amorim from reaching the next level with the current side.

da premier bet： The club have only registered 28 goals in the 24 Premier League outings to date, with only four sides registering fewer, three of which currently sit in the relegation zone.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee set the hierarchy back over £100m, but have only scored five of those goals combined, highlighting the lack of threat at the top end of the pitch.

The Red Devils’ shortage of goals has been so bad that the boss decided to start midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in a false nine role in the defeat against Crystal Palace – with the 40-year-old crying out for investment this summer.

However, one player has been a shining light in attacking areas over the last couple of months, with it being hard to imagine where the side would be if it wasn’t for his vital contributions.

Amad Diallo’s stats for United in 2024/25

Winger Amad Diallo joined United way back in January 2021, costing a whopping £37m from Serie A side Atalanta – certainly being one for the future.

Fast-forward four years, the Ivorian has established himself as a regular starter under Amorim after previous boss Erik ten Hag mainly utilised the 22-year-old as an impact player.

He’s started 15 games since the former Sporting CP boss took the reins back in November, nearly more than double the tally he registered during the first few months of 2024/25 under the Dutchman.

He’s subsequently registered nine goals and seven assists across all competitions, with his tally of 16 the second most in the first-team squad, only trailing captain Bruno Fernandes.

However, despite his impressive form at Old Trafford, Amad is still valued less than one other youngster who’s made huge strides in his development over the last couple of years.

The United player who’s worth 2x more than Amad

Back in October 2020, United forked out £100k to sign Atlético Madrid youngster Alejandro Garnacho, with the Argentine youngster originally linking up with the academy side the North West.

He starred massively for the U18 side, registering 20 goals in 35 appearances, even helping them claim the FA Youth Cup on home soil against Nottingham Forest in 2022/23.

That season would also be his breakthrough into the first team, making 34 appearances across all competitions that year, registering five goals and four assists – a superb tally for a teenager making his first steps into the professional game.

The now 20-year-old has already amassed over 120 appearances for the Red Devils, starring off the left-hand side, producing countless impressive finishes and cementing his place as a regular starter under Amorim.

However, it’s not been without struggle, subsequently having to adapt his game given the 40-year-old likes to operate with a 3-4-2-1 system that features two 10s rather than wingers.

Despite the switch, Garnacho, who’s previously been dubbed a “monster” by one analyst, has still registered 14 combined goals and assists in his 37 appearances, with his market value spiking as a result of his impressive form in the final third.

He was valued at £55m by the club in January amid interest from Chelsea and Napoli, with the subsequent figure higher than the market value of Amad, who’s only valued at just £20.8m by Transfermarkt, despite his recent run in the side.

How Garnacho compares to Amad in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Garnacho

Amad

Games played

23

22

Goals & assists

4

12

Shot-on-target accuracy

37%

32%

Pass accuracy

79%

83%

Progressive carries

5.3

5.2

Dribbles completed

26%

50%

Shots on target

1.3

0.7

Stats via FBref

Both players have impressed in what has been a disappointing campaign for the club all-round, with Amorim potentially having one eye on next season as he looks to make the changes he wants.

However, Garnacho and Amad will remain vital components of the attacking department, needing to build around the pair in the final third, with the youngsters having the potential to star at Old Trafford for the next decade given their tender ages.

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da realbet： A Europa League club are now expected to sign a Leeds United player this summer, with a deal potentially set to amount to just £5m, according to a report.

Leeds' summer transfer plans

da cassino： With promotion from the Championship now looking increasingly likely, Leeds have started to make plans for the summer transfer window, and they are looking to strengthen their squad in a number of different areas.

Amid doubts about Illan Meslier, there is a feeling the Whites could trigger the relegation release clause in Aaron Ramsdale’s Southampton contract, while they also “really like” Borussia Monchengladbach defender Nico Elvedi, who is now open to a move.

Should Daniel Farke’s side go all the way and achieve promotion to the Premier League, they could make a move to sign Tottenham Hotspur’s Manor Solomon on a permanent basis, with Southampton striker Cameron Archer also of interest.

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If a return to the Premier League is secured, Farke will be tasked with strengthening his squad, which means there may have to be some departures to help fund the manager’s summer transfer business.

According to a report from SportBILD (via Sport Witness), Eintracht Frankfurt are now expected to sign Rasmus Kristensen on a permanent basis at the end of the season, at which point his loan spell at the German club comes to an end.

The Europa League side are planning for next season with Kristensen in mind, and there is a feeling they will be able to get a deal done on the cheap.

When Frankfurt initially agreed to sign the defender on loan, they agreed a purchase clause of €15m (£12m), but they are now hoping to sign him for around €6m (£5m).

Leeds United’s upcoming Championship fixtures

Date

West Bromwich Albion (h)

March 1st

Portsmouth (a)

March 9th

Millwall (h)

March 12th

Queens Park Rangers (a)

March 15th

Swansea City (h)

March 29th

Kristensen needs to move on

It would be fair to say the Dane struggled to make an impact at Elland Road, being dubbed a “League One defender” during his time with Leeds in the Premier League, but he has impressed since leaving on loan.

The 27-year-old was lauded as “incredible” by former AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho during his time in Italy, and he has since gone on to become an important player for Frankfurt, making 20 appearances in the Bundesliga this season.

Given that the right-back is flourishing in Germany, Leeds may be able to command a fee higher than £5m in the summer, which would provide the funds to strengthen other areas of the squad. However, the most important thing is to get him off the books.

If Kristensen’s previous performances in the Premier League are anything to go by, he will be little help for Leeds next season, at which point Farke’s side are likely to be back in the top flight, where avoiding relegation will be the aim.

da stake casino： Liverpool have been pretty good when it comes to transfers over the past decade.

da doce： Michael Edwards and Jurgen Klopp combined to take Liverpool away from the pit in which it had been stuck for several years – the Luis Suarez-led 2013/14 campaign being an outlier – snapping up the likes of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Sadio Mane for modest fees and turning them into superstars.

Klopp had an eye for potential to be sure, and so when he draped the curtain on his legendary tenure at the end of the 2024/25 season, FSG needed to get it right in finding a replacement.

Well, Arne Slot’s enjoyed quite the debut campaign at Anfield, with Liverpool seemingly cruising to the Premier League title. While the Dutchman inherited a first-class squad, his tactical acumen has been showcased through the improvements made to several stars.

Liverpool's most-improved players under Slot

Where could we start if not with Ryan Gravenberch? The breezy midfielder, Klopp’s final first-team signing, drifted through his first term on Merseyside but has come alive in Slot’s system, essential as the nucleus of the engine room.

Reporter Ian McKennedy has said ‘his impact has been immense’ after efforts to sign Martin Zubimendi fell flat last summer. But he certainly hasn’t been the only one.

His compatriot, Cody Gakpo, might have been overshadowed up front by Ballon d’Or-chasing Salah, but he’s still been reborn in a streamlined role, matching last season’s goal tally of 16 having played around 1,000 fewer minutes. Slot stopped Gakpo’s bounce-around positional deployment and instead unleashed him on the left flank.

Cody Gakpo – Stats by Position (23/24)

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Centre-forward

27

12

3

Left winger

12

3

3

Right winger

7

1

0

Central midfield

7

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

Then, of course, there’s been Dominik Szoboszlai, a player who ebbed and flowed last year but has really come alive in 2025, bringing matchless energy and a fast-improving eye for goal, with five of his seven goals for Slot bagged since December.

There are many more, all meeting new standards and charging the multi-front title bids. It’s no surprise such players’ stocks have risen, but there’s another, somewhat more peripheral member of the senior squad whose value has shot up remarkably since Slot’s advent.

He’s got much more to prove, but he’s starting to come into his own.

The Liverpool player whose value has risen 580%

Liverpool may not have tasted true transfer investment with Slot at the helm yet, but his man-management skills suggest that he has dovetailed right into the way of things. Richard Hughes and co are bound to bring players in who will be elevated by his managerial expertise.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

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However, this is true internally too. Take Jarell Quansah, for example, a player who might have had a rocky start to the season but is beginning to reach the remarkable level achieved last year, his first term within top-flight football.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig described the 22-year-old as an “absolute monster” for his efforts under Klopp, and indeed, he thrived, even displacing Ibrahima Konate throughout the final months of the season, starting ten of the final 15 Premier League games.

There is clearly a view within Liverpool’s hierarchy that Quansah has the potential to become a real star over the coming years, for he signed a long-term contract with the club back in October after his exemplary breakout year.

Quansah might not have got off to the best start under Slot’s wing, withdrawn at half-time in Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Ipswich Town and not tasting top-flight football again until December, but he’s made positive progress over the past few months.

Against Wolves last month, for example, his second-half cameo was crucial in helping the under-par Reds scrape over the line and add three more points to the haul.

Last season’s efforts delineate his quality: as per FBref, Quansah ranked among the top 3% of centre-backs in the Premier League last term for goals scored, the top 4% for passes attempted, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 11% for aerial duels won per 90.

Impressively, Konate was noted by FBref as one of the talent’s most statistically comparable players too.

Furthermore, the England U21 international won a whopping 64% of his duels in the top flight last season, as per Sofascore. For a first-time up-and-comer, this is quite the feat. Konate won 66%.

There’s so much to be excited about, not least as Slot has acknowledged the centre-half’s resilience in bouncing back over the past few months after “a bit of a hard time” during the early knockings of the campaign. Indeed, the gaffer hailed him last month for being “back to being the same Jarell.”

And when he’s already rising steadily from a financial standpoint, it’s rather daunting to imagine just how good he could become with sustained development in Slot’s system.

As per Football Transfers, Quansah was only valued at about £2.5m when Slot replaced Klopp in the Liverpool dugout last summer, but there’s since been a steep upswing, with his updated February market value touted at £17m, which equates to a 580%

In actuality, it doesn’t seem probable FSG would allow their talented young defender to leave for such a modest sum, not least since he’s penned a new long-term contract worth £30k per week.

Virgil van Dijk is out of a deal at the end of the season, and though Liverpool are pushing to retain their captain’s services for the next few years, Quansah is viewed as a potential internal successor in the long run.

He’s got the quality, athleticism and commitment, and now just needs to springboard to the next level and blossom even further toward the fore.

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da betsul： On the balance of play, a 1-1 draw was a fair final outcome on Sunday evening as Manchester United and Arsenal both had their moments in the Premier League contest.

da prosport bet： The visitors were ultimately punished in the first half for their lack of bite when Bruno Fernandes beautifully put away a free-kick in added-on time, whilst Declan Rice made sure the Red Devils would rue their own missed opportunities in the second 45 minutes when the ex-West Ham United titan powered home an equaliser.

Ruben Amorim would have lots of positives to hang onto at the full-time whistle despite the points being shared, with Fernandes sticking out once more as an obvious top performer for his underachieving team.

Man United's best performers vs Arsenal

Fernandes once again lit up Old Trafford with a terrific attacking display, with the free-kick effort sailing past David Raya for his sixth strike of the unfolding Premier League season.

With seven assists also next to his name, it’s clear that the 30-year-old is a key individual that Amorim relies on, especially when Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund are misfiring.

Whilst both Zirkzee and Hojlund failed to impress once more in an attacking capacity – the latter notably messing up a huge late chance to win the game as he was tackled by Rice – the likes of Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot very much did impress.

Indeed, the Moroccan wing-back notching up three key passes come full-time, whilst his left-sided counterpart would create one big chance himself away from valiantly defending.

But, whilst there were glimmers of hope on display to suggest United can push up the league away from an unsatisfactory 14th spot, there were other stale performances on show as this experienced Red Devils head struggled to ever get going against the Gunners.

Man United's worst performer against Arsenal

Fernandes has definitely cemented himself as a regular starter, but it’s his attacking midfield teammate Christian Eriksen who will worry for his spot in Amorim’s XIs moving forward, having put in a rather forgettable performance against Mikel Arteta’s opponents.

Indeed, the number 14 failed to attempt a single dribble all match as a timid performer partnering the classy Fernandes, alongside also never testing Raya with a single effort on goal. To make matter worse, he also had fewer touches than Andre Onana (53).

Eriksen’s performance in numbers

Minutes played

76

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Shots

0

Touches

34

Accurate passes

18/25 (72%)

Possession lost

11x

Accurate crosses

0/1

Accurate long balls

2/5

Successful dribbles

0

Total duels won

1/4

Stats by Sofascore

It was a weak display from the ageing Dane in every department, with seven of his 25 passes going astray, leading to possession being given up 11 times, once every three touches.

Moreover, it could be argued that his inability to get stuck in – which saw him just one duel all game – cost his team dear when Rice struck home his fierce effort, with Eriksen the closest man to the England international but doing very little to stop him levelling proceedings.

He could find his starting spot taken up by someone fresher in games to come consequently, with Gary Neville calling for the United squad to be “ripped up” in the near future, and Eriksen is just one face who might well be moved on as his contract expires this summer.

Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst handed out a poor 5/10 rating to Eriksen after the game, stating that he did “very little” when the ball was at his feet, which is in-keeping with his lacklustre season to date with just one assist coming his way in the league.

Whilst certain individuals continue to show they deserve to stick it out for the foreseeable at Old Trafford, others look very close to the exit door, with Eriksen very much deep now in that unwanted group.

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da leao： Arsenal are now stepping up their interest in a £42m “monster” to strengthen a priority position, but there may be competition for his signature from Manchester United, according to a report.

Gunners planning for the summer after draw at Man Utd

da dobrowin： Having now fallen 15 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, it is becoming increasingly likely the Gunners will finish in second place for the third season on the spin.

The decision not to sign a striker during the January transfer window has been criticised, with Owen Hargreaves recently claiming Mikel Arteta’s side would be capable of winning major honours if they brought in a top forward.

“Go and get someone whose job it is to score goals. You’ve got everything else – a great goalkeeper, best defence in the league, the midfield is absolutely fantastic, you just need another one in there with Declan [Rice] and [Martin] Odegaard.

“Go and get a striker and a centre midfielder. Then you can win everything.”

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However, according to a report from Spain, signing a top-level right-back is also a priority for Arsenal in the summer transfer window, and they have now stepped up their pursuit of Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries.

Three Premier League clubs are said to be in hot pursuit of Dumfries, who could be one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe this summer, with Man United and Chelsea also keen.

The defender is viewed as a key target for the Gunners, and it is becoming increasingly likely he will leave the Italian club this summer, with Inter Milan looking to receive a fee of around €50m (£42m), should he choose to move on.

"Monster" Dumfries is a top attacking full-back

Should Arsenal be keen on a right-back with an attacking focus, there is every sign the Dutchman could fit the bill, given that he ranks extremely highly on a number of key attacking metrics over the past year, when compared to other full-backs.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.24 (99th percentile)

Shots total

1.82 (98th percentile)

Touches (Attacking penalty area)

4.32 (99th percentile)

The Rotterdam-born star has been lauded as a “monster” by journalist Alan Rzepa, while he has also received high praise for his attacking contributions from Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley.

Injuries to Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu have left Jurrien Timber as Arteta’s only right-back option at times this season, which indicates additional depth may be required this summer, and Dumfries’ performances in Italy suggest he could be a fantastic signing.

da bwin： Liverpool were taken to the cleaners by Newcastle United on Sunday, a distant second-best as the Magpies earned a 2-1 victory at Wembley to lift the Carabao Cup and end 70 years of hurt.

da bet7： It closed a miserable week for the Reds, whose Champions League campaign tail-spun into the murk as Paris Saint-Germain won the shootout at Anfield. Newcastle’s victory has closed the door on another pathway, leaving the Premier League standing alone over the final two months.

But, of course, it’s not all doom and gloom. Arne Slot’s side are 12 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the division and can now invest their time and energy exclusively on clinching the covetous trophy. Supporters would have snapped at the chance for such an outcome last summer after Jurgen Klopp departed and Liverpool were prematurely written off.

Maybe it’s the high ceiling Slot has offered a glimpse of that has left such a deflating feeling across Merseyside. Liverpool, to be sure, will be frustrated with having fallen from all three cup fronts, with potential departures of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold adding insult to injury.

Liverpool are going to need a revamp at the front of the ship, and Alexander Isak, scorer in the capital on Sunday, is set to be at the top of the wish list.

Liverpool's summer transfer plans

Multiple sources have confirmed over the past few months that Liverpool are attentive to Isak’s situation at St. James’ Park. Arsenal also have a vested interest, and he may yet remain in black and white, potentially buoyed by winning a trophy and potentially qualifying for the Champions League.

For upwards of a reported £150m, Isak’s arrival would blow a blow out of FSG’s transfer chest, perhaps detrimentally so. Newcastle want the Sweden striker to stay for the long run and will fiercely protect him this summer.

He’s desirable, that’s for sure. But Isak isn’t the only player who could fit right in as a starting member of Slot’s Liverpool team. Last summer, Anthony Gordon came close to moving back to Merseyside, but Liverpool ultimately decided against the £75m-rated winger.

With Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez all facing uncertain futures at Liverpool, such interest may be revisited. However, there’s actually another member of Eddie Howe’s outfit who should be prioritised above his peers in the market this year.

Forget Isak: Liverpool might need another Newcastle star

On Monday, Fabrizio Romano discussed several plot points regarding Liverpool’s plans this summer, confirming talks have been held regarding Isak.

However, there’s another Newcastle man Slot may want to sign this summer, and he’s not a forward.

Since arriving in the Premier League in January 2022, Bruno Guimaraes has been a revelation in midfield for the Toon. The £40m signing from Lyon was described as a “world-class” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig. With such an impressive all-round game, you’d say Guimaraes would dovetail right into the Liverpool starting lineup.

According to FBref, the Brazilian bears a distinct statistical likeness to Jude Bellingham, Alexis Mac Allister and Declan Rice, an amalgamation of the three, capable of excelling across the different functions of an elite midfielder.

At Wembley, Guimaraes might not have retained the ball with the greatest crispness, but it mattered not. Newcastle were content with Liverpool holding onto the ball and doing little with it. His combative and tenacious nature showed though, winning a whopping nine duels, making six interventions and just putting in a worthy shift for the trophy.

It’s this kind of presence Liverpool need in their centre, offering something more crunching to pack an extra punch while still retaining every bit of technical style. Guimaraes led his team and followed PSG’s blueprint, both sides steamrolling the Reds out of cup competitions.

Carabao Cup Final: Guimaraes vs Mac Allister & Gravenberch

Match Stats

Guimaraes

Mac Allister

Gravenberch

Minutes played

90′

67′

74′

Touches

40

45

53

Shots (on target)

2 (2)

0 (0)

0 (0)

Accurate passes

14/22 (64%)

28/33 (85%)

34/42 (81%)

Key passes

2

0

0

Dribbles

1/1

1/2

1/1

Tackles + interceptions

6

1

3

Duels won

9/14

2/7

3/7

Stats via Sofascore

The Guardian even handed Guimaraes a 9/10 match rating after his display at Wembley, hailing his success in imposing himself on his Liverpool adversaries, overwhelming them.

His passing range is something to behold, a technical level most all high-performing midfielders across Europe can only dream of.

As per FBref, he actually ranks among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals + assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90.

If you’re not convinced already, well-respected analyst Raj Chohan said “Newcastle have every right to be putting a £100m valuation” on their general, whose dynamic and all-encompassing midfield qualities would not be found in a replacement.

That said, if FSG do indeed have money to burn this year, there are few options in that exorbitant ballpark who would be worth the effort more than Guimaraes, who could reinforce the central fold and unlock a new level to Slot’s team. He ran the show at Wembley, after all.

When discussing Liverpool’s interest in Isak, Romano also suggested midfield could be an area FSG do business in the summer. “Let’s see what happens,” he said.

Given Liverpool were reported to have been keen last summer, perhaps they could now revisit a deal.

Slot’s reluctance to change his starting options in the centre this year does make a telling comment on his view toward some fringe options. Guimaraes would change all of that; in fact, the midfield machine might just become the cream of Liverpool’s crop.

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da bet esporte： In the context of Chelsea’s recent history, the 2023/24 summer transfer window ended up being extremely important.

da 888casino： In the process of spending around £386m, they brought 12 new players to the club which was funded by a lot of sales, namely bringing in £226m, offloading nine players on permanent transfers, whilst also letting go of five players on a free transfer.

Chelsea’s 2023/24 summer signings

Player

Fee (£)

Moises Caicedo

£97m

Roméo Lavia

£52m

Christopher Nkunku

£50m

Cole Palmer

£39m

Axel Disasi

£37.5m

Nicolas Jackson

£31m

Lesley Ugochukwu

£22.5m

Robert Sanchez

£19m

Djordje Petrovic

£13m

Deivid Washington

£13m

Angelo

£12.5m

Diego Moreira

£0

Fees taken from Transfermarkt

This has been a mixed bag so far, with the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Roméo Lavia, Axel Disasi and Robert Sanchez not turning out as they would have hoped, with the likes of Lesley Ugochukwu, Djordje Petrovic and Deivid Washington are still under the microscope to see how/if they are implemented.

However, there have also been some overwhelming successes from this window already. Take the likes of Moises Caicedo, Nicolas Jackson, and of course, Cole Palmer.

The numbers behind Cole Palmer's rise at Chelsea

It may seem like a long time ago now, but Palmer was signed back in the 2023/24 summer transfer window, and wasn’t a first-team starter right from the off.

His first involvements came from the bench under Mauricio Pochettino, playing 28 minutes against Nottingham Forest, playing 27 minutes against Bournemouth and playing 22 minutes against Aston Villa.

It didn’t take long for Palmer to become the star man at Chelsea, though, going on to make 78 appearances for the club so far, scoring 39 goals and providing 21 assists across 6,319 minutes.

The 22-year-old is unlucky to not have more assists, especially this campaign, having the highest xA (expected assists) numbers in the league with 7.34, which is 0.33 more than Mohamed Salah.

But in those first weeks of Pochettino, we did see a particular Chelsea star trusted in an unfamiliar role, which could have impacted the trajectory of Palmer had he not been injured at the time.

Chelsea's 193-minute man

Carney Chukwuemeka was signed by Chelsea in the 2022/23 summer transfer window, joining from Aston Villa for a fee of around £20m. He arrived at the Bridge to quite a significant amount of hype, notably described by Villa’s CEO, Christian Purslow, as “probably the best 16-year-old in England.”

Well, after moving to London, his first season at the club was hindered by injuries, but he still managed to make 15 first-team appearances, totaling 362 minutes.

The midfielder then started the campaign under Pochettino playing in an attacking midfield/right-wing hybrid role, starting the first two games of the Premier League season, playing well against Liverpool in the opener, before also netting against West Ham in the second game.

Unfortunately, Chukwuemeka suffered a knee injury in that same West Ham match, forcing him off and keeping him out of action until January 2024.

By this point, Palmer was, of course, thriving and therefore the midfielder struggled for consistent minutes for the rest of the campaign, also hindered with more injury issues.

Fast-forward to now, the English midfielder was unable to break into the first team under Enzo Maresca, only playing a total of 130 minutes for Chelsea, 116 of those minutes coming in the UEFA Conference League.

Due to his lack of minutes, Chukwuemeka went on loan in the January window to Borussia Dortmund, where he has again suffered with injuries and only totaled 63 minutes for the German outfit.

If the young attacking midfielder can gather fitness and start to get consistent minutes somewhere, he clearly has the talent to explode, but it would be very interesting to know in an alternate universe, how the careers of both players could have differed had that West Ham injury not occurred.

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da marjack bet： Chelsea’s youth academy has provided a continuous flow of talents who have managed to make the jump into the first team over the last couple of years.

da lvbet： Many have made their mark at Stamford Bridge before leaving in a big-money transfer, subsequently allowing Enzo Maresca to spend money and further improve his side.

Mason Mount left in a £60m deal to join Manchester United back in the summer, ending his 18-year stint in West London, making just shy of 200 senior appearances for his boyhood club.

He’s since struggled to make an impact away from the capital, with injuries restricting him to 33 games in the last two seasons – showcasing the right call made by the hierarchy to offload him.

One other academy graduate has starred in recent months, producing a performance to remember on international duty last night, looking to put his career back on track after his own fitness issues.

Reece James’ stats for England against Latvia

Right-back Reece James made his breakthrough into the first team setup back in 2019/20, often being a key member of the Chelsea side, but injuries have often halted progress.

However, he’s managed to stay fit as of late, often taking the armband in Maresca’s squad, leading to Thomas Tuchel calling him up for the latest England squad for the ongoing international break.

The 25-year-old started the meeting with Latvia, producing an excellent display, even managing to net his first goal for his country with an impressive free-kick during the first half – earning him the Man of the Match award.

His underlying stats were just as impressive, completing 96 of his 97 attempted passes, notching a total of 118 touches in an all-round superb showing at Wembley.

However, despite his recent form for club and country, the Blues could’ve had themselves a bigger talent than James had they kept hold of another player who’s taken his career to the next level after leaving.

The former Chelsea player who’s become a bigger talent than James

Chelsea have often been prone to a mistake or two in the transfer market, often selling players before their prime and missing out on elite level stars – subsequently benefitting other Premier League sides.

Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne both departed the Bridge for bargain fees, before developing elsewhere, now featuring for Liverpool and Manchester City respectively – helping the clubs achieve success in England’s top-flight.

Tino Livramento is another star who’s thrived away from West London after moving on, leaving for Southampton in a £5m deal back in the summer of 2021.

The 22-year-old has since impressed at St Mary’s despite their failures in recent years, notching 31 appearances for the Saints, before linking up with Newcastle United back in August 2023.

He’s since managed to thrive under Eddie Howe’s guidance, looking to be worth every penny of his £40m transfer fee, helping the Magpies claim the Carabao Cup a couple of weeks ago.

This season, the “sensational” Livramento, as dubbed by Alan Shearer, has managed to take his game to the next level, nailing down his place as a regular starter.

He was also included in Tuchel’s first England squad for the current break, deservedly so given the fact he’s managed to outperform James in numerous key areas throughout 2024/25.

How Livramento compares to James in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Livramento

James

Games played

27

11

Minutes played

1940

681

Progressive carries

2.3

0.7

Carries into final third

1.3

0.5

Pass accuracy

85%

84%

Tackles won

1.3

0.9

Clearances made

3.7

1.6

Take-on success

44%

42%

Stats via FBref

Livramento has managed to complete more progressive carries and achieve a higher take-on success rate, highlighting the threat he possesses with the ball at his feet.

He’s also managed to better James defensively, winning more of the tackles he’s entered, whilst making more clearances per 90, offering that added cover to Maresca’s side had they kept hold of the youngster.

However, after his departure nearly four years ago, he remains another player who’s slipped through the net, with their loss undoubtedly Newcastle’s gain given his recent success.

There’s no denying that James is a player who possesses a lot of quality, as seen by his display last night, but his injury issues will always remain a concern, with Livramento certainly a better option at present.

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da wazamba： Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk’s future is still a major talking point at Anfield and now an important new update has emerged courtesy of the Dutchman himself.

Van Dijk's future up in the air as Liverpool fall at Fulham

da doce： The 33-year-old has enjoyed an all-conquering season at the heart of the Reds’ defence, made even more impressive by the fact that his contract situation has created endless column inches.

Van Dijk’s current Liverpool deal expires at the end of the campaign, and despite seemingly appearing happy at Liverpool, he is yet to sign an extension, nor have there been any truly concrete reports of a deal being close.

On Sunday, the Reds legend produced arguably his poorest performance of the season so far, making mistakes and being out muscled by Rodrigo Muniz for Fulham’s third goal in their 3-2 victory in the Premier League at Craven Cottage.

Van Dijk seemed strangely off the boil throughout, with This Is Anfield‘s James Nalton giving him a negative assessment in his player ratings, saying: “Muniz outmanoeuvred him with a great touch for Fulham’s third goal as a below-par spell of form continued for Van Dijk as well as Konate.

“He helped out his centre-back partner following the early error, but was himself at fault later on. Improved once Liverpool went all-out-attack, and there are few defenders you’d trust more to defend on their own in such a scenario, but the damage had already been done.”

Audio tape of Van Dijk speaking about Liverpool contract talks

On Monday, reliable reporter Lewis Steele shared the audio of what Van Dijk has said about his Liverpool future, with the centre-back admitting “there is progress” on the situation, adding that “internal discussions” are continuing as he spoke with reporters in the mixed zone at Craven Cottage.

Van Dijk is clearly still remaining relatively coy about what will happen next, but it is still encouraging to hear that some progress has been made, especially with Trent Alexander-Arnold potentially off to Real Madrid this summer.

If Liverpool only lost one of their captain, vice-captain and Mohamed Salah, it may be an outcome that supporters would just about accept, and at this point, it might be considered a shock if Van Dijk leaves.

Virgil van Dijk’s Premier League stats this season

Total

Appearances

31

Starts

31

Minutes played

2790

Goals

1

Assists

1

Clearances per game

5.1

Aerial duel wins per game

3.2

Pass completion rate

91.6%

While his last few performances haven’t been his best – he was lucky not to gift Beto a goal in the Reds’ 1-0 win at home to Everton last week – he has still enjoyed an exceptional season, and remains arguably the world’s leading centre-back.

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Losing him this summer would be an almighty blow to anyone of a Liverpool persuasion, not least Arne Slot, and the hope is that an agreement is reached as soon as possible.

da 888casino： It’s amazing what one game of football can do to the atmosphere around a club, and Arsenal have been the perfect example of that this week.

da dobrowin： Mikel Arteta’s side have endured a rather torrid domestic campaign this year, and following their 1-1 draw with Everton on the weekend, the mood wasn’t great.

However, since the full-time whistle was blown on Tuesday night after the Gunners had taken Real Madrid to pieces in the Champions League, spirits have been as high as they’ve been in years.

Unfortunately, football has a cruel way of bringing fans back down, and based on reports, the Spanish giants are now looking to sign one of the North Londoners’ stars from that game, in a move that would be reminiscent of Cesc Fàbregas’ move to Barcelona.

Arsenal transfer news

While there are plenty of links for players who might join Arsenal this summer, there are also several players who look set to leave or, in the case of Kieran Tierney, will be leaving.

The Scottish international signed a pre-contract agreement with former club Celtic earlier this year and, therefore, will leave six years after moving to the Emirates in a £25m deal from the Glaswegian giants.

Two other stars who aren’t confirmed to be leaving but look increasingly like they will be are Thomas Partey and Jorginho, as their contracts expire on June 30th.

However, while both are important players, the former slightly more than the latter, they aren’t necessarily irreplaceable, which is something that could be said about William Saliba.

In news no Arsenal fan will want to hear, recent reports from Spain have claimed that Real Madrid are now more committed than ever to signing the French superstar.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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The report has revealed that following his team’s demolition at the Emirates, Real president Florentino Perez ‘returned from London with one fixed idea: William Saliba must wear white.’

The story claims that it’ll be a tough deal to get done, but it might be feasible for around £86m.

While that is a lot of money for a defender, this is a transfer Arsenal have to fight to stop, as Saliba leaving will feel eerily similar to Fabregas’ exit in 2011.

Why Saliba's exit would be a Fabregas repeat

So, the first thing to point out is the fact that, yes, Saliba and Fabregas are completely different footballers who play in entirely different positions, but should this transfer happen, there would be some undeniable similarities to the Spaniard’s in 2011.

The first is the simple fact that it would be another example of one of Spain’s big two teams coming and taking a player from the Gunners, with Barcelona being the offenders last time and Los Blancos doing it this time.

Second of all, they’d also be pinching one of the Gunners’ best young-ish players before they hit their peak, as when he moved to Barcelona, the 2010 World Cup winner was just 24 years old, and according to research carried out by The Athletic, central midfielders do not hit their peak until 25.

In this instance, the Bondy-born “monster,” as dubbed by content creator Connor Humm, is also just 24, and per that same research, centre-backs reach their peak at about 27.

Finally, the last and potentially most significant similarity should this transfer happen is the fact that Arsenal will be losing one of their most important players.

Saliba in 24/25

Competition

EPL

UCL

EFL Cup

FA Cup

Appearances

29

8

4

1

Starts

29

8

3

1

Minutes

2546′

720′

315′

120′

Points per Game

2.07

2.38

1.50

0.00

Goals

2

0

0

0

Assists

0

0

0

0

All Stats via Transfermarkt

When he returned to Catalonia in 2011, the former Gunners’ star was the club captain and absolutely pivotal to how the team played, and while the Frenchman is not the current captain, he’s just as important.

For example, this season alone, the “phenomenal” defender, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has made 42 appearances across all competitions, of which 41 have been starts.

Ultimately, while it would bring in a lot of money, Arsenal cannot sell Saliba this summer, as, like in the case of Fabregas, they will not find a like-for-like replacement anytime soon.