West Ham managed a point against Bournemouth, having gone 1-0 down in the first half. Graham Potter’s side came out fighting in the second half, scoring in the 61st and 68th minute to take a 2-1 lead at the London Stadium.

However, Evanilson did manage to salvage a point for the Cherries, netting his second of the game to make it 2-2 in the 79th minute, with the points being shared.

Despite having more of the ball with 56% possession, West Ham only generated 0.65 xG in the match, creating one “big chance” and taking nine shots. In comparison, Andoni Iraola’s side generated 2.15 xG in the game, creating two “big chances” and taking 11 shots.

The second-half performance was much stronger by the Hammers, having seven of their nine shots in that second half, and it was the goalscorers, Niclas Füllkrug and Jarrod Bowen, who spurred the comeback.

Bowen's performance vs Bournemouth

Bowen scored the second goal, putting West Ham 2-1 up in the match. Whilst he started the game as a centre-forward, having a license to roam into both channels, Fullkrug’s introduction saw Bowen move to his natural right side, where he really began to come into his own.

The 28-year-old Hammers captain managed 52 touches in the game, taking four shots (only one on target) and completing two of his four dribble attempts. Bowen also won seven of his 15 ground duels in the game, working hard for his side, winning two tackles and making two interceptions.

Bowen’s goal was his ninth of the season, also providing seven assists in his 2,539 minutes played. But today’s game made one thing apparent, and it feels like West Ham could have one man who is even more undroppable than their captain at this point in time.

Why James Ward-Prowse is undroppable

James Ward-Prowse was recalled from his loan at the end of the January transfer window, having made just 10 appearances for Nottingham Forest. West Ham stated his return would offer “experience, depth and quality” to Potter’s side.

James Ward-Prowse vs Bournemouth performance

Stat

Ward-Prowse

Minutes

90

Touches

73

Assists

1

Accurate Passes

53/60

Key Passes

2

Long Balls

5/8

Successful Dribbles

1/1

Ground Duels Won

2/3

Tackles

1

Stats taken from Sofascore

But his performance against Bournemouth proved exactly why he is more than extra depth and experience, as the midfielder controlled proceedings in the middle of the park, provided the assist for Fullkrug’s equaliser, and protected the Hammers back line, winning two of his three ground duels.

In recent weeks, Potter has shown faith in Ward-Prowse, quickly making him a regular starter in his side, giving the team a more progressive passer in the midfield, someone who can keep things ticking, but also a set-piece specialist, which can be an invaluable tool in the modern era of Premier League football.

Whilst Bowen is the club captain and top goalscorer, Ward-Prowse has shown his importance to the side, making them less predictable in their build-up, offering slightly more mobility in midfield (whilst it isn’t his biggest strength) and, of course, adding that set-piece threat.

Therefore, the former Southampton man should keep his place in the side and be considered undroppable by the manager heading into the final matches of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur have been tipped to appoint a “perfect” replacement for under-fire boss Ange Postecoglou, but it isn’t their rumoured top managerial target Andoni Iraola.

Ange Postecoglou relying on Europa League to save Tottenham job

Following a dismal Premier League campaign, with Postecoglou on course to become Spurs’ worst-ever head coach in the competition’s history, the Australian is seriously under the cosh.

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The Lilywhites are big fans.

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A 3-1 win over relegated Southampton on Sunday provided a rare break from the pressure surrounding Postecoglou’s position, with the 59-year-old now fully focused on getting past Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday.

It is widely believed that Postecoglou is relying on a good run in the Europa League to keep his job at Tottenham, and this is echoed by reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

“It’s not over yet, but it’s a dangerous situation, the one of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham,” said Romano on his YouTube channel last week.

“I know Spurs fans are not happy with the current situation. It’s really poor in terms of points. In the Europa League, it’s a different story. Now, there is an important clash with Eintracht [Frankfurt]. So the Europa League is saving the season at the moment for Tottenham and Postecoglou.

“If Tottenham win the Europa League, this could change the whole sense of the project. Next year, they would be in the Champions League finally, so it would be really important. Otherwise, the expectation is that there is a very concrete and strong chance for Tottenham to replace Postecoglou at the end of the season.”

The Lilywhites have already been drawing up potential replacements for Postecoglou, including Iraola, who is believed to be their leading candidate for the job (The Athletic).

However, the 42-year-old isn’t Spurs’ only option, with links also surrounding Fulham boss Marco Silva.

Some reports even suggest that Tottenham have already made an apporach for Silva, following another impressive campaign at Craven Cottage for the Portuguese. European football is very much still alive for the Whites, and they’re fresh off the back of a thrilling 3-2 win over Premier League title frontrunners Liverpool.

Tottenham tipped to appoint Marco Silva instead of Andoni Iraola

Now, TalkSPORT pundit Troy Deeney has explained why Silva would be the “perfect” appointment for Tottenham, with the ex-Watford striker tipping him to transform Spurs in just three months.

“The biggest compliment you could take for Marco Silva is that, if you look at all the people that are around him – his staff – they’ve been poached, because they (other clubs) want Marco Silva but they go and get the people off his branches,” said Deeney on air (via West London Sport).

“He’s ready for a big team. I think he’d be perfect for Spurs if they would allow him to just go and take over and not get involved too much from up above.

“I think he’d change the culture of that place within three months. Marco is definitely ready. Fulham are on a good trajectory, but I think they’ll struggle to keep him long term.”

Newcastle United took another step towards challenging for a place in the top five in the Premier League by beating Leicester City 3-0 away from home on Monday night.

The Magpies moved up to fifth in the division, having still played a game fewer than Chelsea and Manchester City, as they look to secure Champions League football for next season.

Eddie Howe’s side found themselves 2-0 up inside the opening 11 minutes, scoring after just two minutes, and one of the stars of the show was winger Jacob Murphy, who was heavily involved in the early blitz.

Jacob Murphy's performance against Leicester

The English forward, who is yet to be capped by the Three Lions, brilliantly timed his run to the back post to get on the end of Tino Livramento’s cross after just two minutes, tapping the ball into a virtually empty net.

Murphy quickly added to his and Newcastle’s tally nine minutes later when he was the only one to follow up on Fabian Schar’s long drive that hit the crossbar, giving the winger all the time in the world to control the ball and slot past Mads Hermansen.

The former Norwich City sensation was unable to complete the first hat-trick of his Magpies career, unfortunately, but it was his two goals that gave his team control of the match early on, leading to a fairly comfortable evening for Howe’s men.

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Murphy, who did not create any chances for his teammates, was not the only top performer on the night. Fabian Schar was just as good as the winger and proved that he is as undroppable as Alexander Isak.

Why Schar is as undroppable as Isak

Firstly, Isak is, clearly, undroppable for Newcastle because of the quality he has provided on a consistent basis at the top end of the pitch, scoring 20 goals and providing five assists in 27 appearances in the Premier League.

The Swedish star is the main man in the final third, making him crucial to what the Magpies want to do in attack, whilst Schar has been a consistent presence in defence, helping to provide a solid platform for the team to build from.

So far this season, the Swiss titan has started 25 of his 26 appearances in the Premier League and made 2.4 tackles and interceptions per game, along with 4.2 ball recoveries per match.

Schar, who earned a player rating of 8/10 from the Shields Gazette, provided another reminder of the quality he can offer at centre-back in the win over Leicester, further proving that he is undroppable.

Minutes

90

Clearances

3

Blocks

1

Tackles + interceptions

3

Dribbled past

0x

Duels won

4/6

Pass accuracy

85%

Long ball accuracy

5/11

As you can see in the table above, the long-serving defensive colossus was dominant out of possession to cut out Leicester attacks, whilst also being reliable in possession of the ball.

It was his strong challenge and sensational effort from long range that created the second goal for Murphy, which perfectly summed up the qualities he can offer on both sides of the game.

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Schar was as good as Murphy, due to his strong defending to keep a clean sheet and his involvement in the second goal, and Howe must continue to select the impressive defender from now until the end of the season.

Manchester United were less than seven minutes away from disaster. Seven minutes away from essentially the end to the campaign. Then Old Trafford worked its magic…

The euphoria of Thursday’s gripping 5-4 win over Lyon has still not dissipated, with the debate raging over just where that special night ranks among the litany of magic moments in United’s European history.

Yes, it may not have been a titanic Champions League tussle with a Barcelona or a Real Madrid, yet for those chaotic, final exchanges, it certainly felt like it. Even at their lowest ebb, this United side can still conjure up memories to last a lifetime.

What this result must represent, however, is the start of something, a turning point in the Ruben Amorim regime – for the Red Devils not to go on to lift the Europa League trophy now would be a real tragedy.

Not only would success in the competition mark a fitting way to plaster over the cracks of a dismal domestic season, but it would also bring with it the potential riches that the Champions League can offer.

The difference between securing qualification or not could play a crucial role in the club’s summer transfer business…

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

Regardless of how this season finishes up for United, the Old Trafford hierarchy are likely to already be plotting just how they can improve the squad next season, with recent reports outlining their apparent interest in Bournemouth star, Antoine Semenyo.

Indeed, Sky Sports have revealed that United are deemed to be leading the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, albeit with there set to be intense competition from almost every top-six Premier League club – excluding Arsenal.

The former Bristol City man – who is said to be valued at around £70m by the Cherries – isn’t the only talent within the top-flight that Amorim is believed to be chasing, with ESPN’s Mark Ogden reporting that the Red Devils are keen on Southampton starlet, Tyler Dibling.

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According to Ogden, INEOS will step up their interest in the 19-year-old sensation this summer, provided that Amorim’s men are successful in their pursuit of Europa League glory.

As per the piece, the England youth international has reportedly been valued at around £100m by the Saints in an attempt to ward off interest, albeit with that said to be an ‘unlikely valuation’ considering their relegated status.

Turning to a player who has been part of a grim campaign at St Mary’s may appear a bizarre move, although all the signs point to Dibling proving a real superstar in the years to come.

Why Man Utd could be targeting their own Cole Palmer

It was recently revealed by United youth coach Colin Little – speaking to The Athletic – that the Red Devils had actually come close to sign boyhood fan, Cole Palmer, as a 16-year-old, albeit with the young playmaker ultimately staying put at rivals Manchester City, prior to his £40m switch to Chelsea in 2023.

Arguably the “best player in the Premier League”, prior to his recent wobble in 2025 – in the words of pundit Jamie Carragher – United will be kicking themselves at having missed the boat on such a talismanic talent.

While Dibling is far from the levels of a player who boasts 63 goals and assists in just 83 games at Stamford Bridge, he has actually been described as “like Cole Palmer” by one-time United man, Dion Dublin, due to the way he plays “free and easy”.

Non-penalty goals

0.11

0.37

Assists

0.00

0.27

Shot-creating actions

2.92

5.94

Pass completion

80.8%

76.6%

Progressive passes

3.19

6.24

Progressive carries

3.51

3.26

Successful take-ons

2.32

1.46

Progressive passes received

4.64

5.40

Touches in opposition box

2.11

4.14

Like his fellow left-footer, the Southampton sensation has that almost kid-in-a-playground quality to him, with such natural brilliance having seen former boss Russell Martin describe the teenager as “the most talented player I’ve ever seen”.

Capable of playing off the right flank, in an attacking midfield role or even as a number eight – much in a similar mould to Palmer – the silky talent memorably dazzled on his first Premier League start against United back in September, having earned a penalty for his side after being hauled down by a desperate Diogo Dalot.

Such a performance – which also saw Dibling sting the palms of Andre Onana with a fierce effort in the first-half – may well have made the Manchester side sit up and take notice, albeit with technical director Jason Wilcox seemingly fully aware of his talents, having handed the youngster his first professional contract during his previous role at Southampton.

With four goals and three assists to his name in all competitions this season, Dibling hasn’t exactly set the world alight, albeit while no doubt hampered by the fact that he is part of currently the joint-worst Premier League team ever.

Semenyo, meanwhile, has 16 goal involvements in 2024/25 thus far, albeit with the Palmer-like quality of his fellow forward ensuring it is Dibling who could represent the bigger talent.

If United are planning to build for the future under Amorim, making the 19-year-old the centrepiece of that project could certainly be an exciting move.

The perfect Rashford replacement: Man Utd in talks over deal for £50m star

Manchester United could forget about Marcus Rashford with a move for one player on the cards this summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 19, 2025

Glasgow Rangers gave their supporters a moment to remember last time out in the Scottish Premiership when they beat Dundee 4-3 away from home.

A last-gasp winner from Cyriel Dessers to complete a comeback from 3-1 down to win 4-3 last weekend was a joyous moment for the travelling support, but it was still a game that illustrated the team’s flaws.

The club’s city rivals are inching closer to a fourth successive Premiership title, as they sit 13 points clear of the Light Blues as it stands, and the Gers have to do something to change the tide next season.

Sky Sports reported last month that a takeover including US investors Andrew Cavenagh and San Francisco 49ers Paraag Marathe has been agreed in principle, which suggests that the dawn of a new era at Ibrox is a matter of months away.

This could mean that there is a longer-term replacement for Philippe Clement than Barry Ferguson, but it is not just the management side of the team that should be looked at.

If Rangers want to get back on top in Scottish football then they may need to kickstart their new era by moving on from some of their experienced players who have become used to finishing second, including Jack Butland and James Tavernier.

Why Rangers should move on from Jack Butland and James Tavernier

The Gers captain has been a terrific servant for the club over the years, scoring 130 goals in 504 appearances in all competitions, but he has only won one Premiership title in his career.

Tavernier has also lost a whopping 25 of his 40 appearances against Celtic, winning just ten of those games, and Rangers may need new leadership if they are to progress and move past the Hoops, as he has become used to being behind the club’s rivals on the pitch.

Therefore, it could be time to move on from the 33-year-old veteran, who has lost possession 20.8 times per match in the league this term, to make room for new leaders to step up and lead the team forward.

Butland, meanwhile, has been error-prone in the Premiership this season and it could be time for Rangers to find a new number one to provide more stability between the sticks, after two years of the Englishman at Ibrox.

Appearances

25

Save success rate

69%

Goals prevented

-0.37

Error led to shot

2

Error led to goal

2

Penalties committed

1

As you can see in the table above, the former Stoke City star has underperformed as a shot-stopper and made too many unforced errors to gift shots and goals to the opposition in the league, which is why Rangers should consider moving him on this summer.

The issue for the Light Blues, however, may be finding suitors to buy Tavernier and Butland, as the veteran stars are no longer among the most valuable talents at Ibrox.

The top ten most valuable Rangers players

As per Transfermarkt, both English players are worth £2.5m at this moment in time, and that does not earn either of them a place in the top ten most valuable stars at the club.

Wolfsburg loanee Vaclav Cerny is currently the most valuable player at the club, at a whopping £7.6m, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Gers will be able to keep hold of him beyond the end of his current loan spell.

The Czechia international has provided a regular threat at the top end of the pitch, racking up 17 goals and four assists, in the Premiership and the Europa League to earn his valuation.

Vaclav Cerny

£7.6m

Mohamed Diomande

£5.9m

Nicolas Raskin

£5.5m

John Souttar

£3.8m

Cyriel Dessers

£3.4m

Dujon Sterling

£3.4m

Danilo

£3.4m

Nedim Bajrami

£3.4m

Jefte

£3.4m

Hamza Igamane

£3.4m

As you can see in the table above, Rangers have many players on a market value of £3.4m, which is still £900k more than Tavernier and Butland are currently valued at.

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Some of those players could play key roles moving forward, into the dawn of a new era at Ibrox, and one of those the club have hit the jackpot with in recent years is versatile defender Dujon Sterling.

Dujon Sterling's soaring market value

The Scottish giants swooped to sign the English talent in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer after he had been released by Premier League side Chelsea.

It was an opportunistic signing by the Gers, as they took advantage of his contract situation, because he was valued at £2.4m by Transfermarkt at the time, which shows that the club landed a £2.4m-rated talent for £0.

His first season at Ibrox, in the 2023/24 campaign, was a struggle because Michael Beale and Clement utilised him in a multitude of positions, with his appearances stretched between right-back, left-back, right midfield, defensive midfield, left midfield, and right wing.

This meant that Sterling did not have a chance to build any consistency in his performances because he was constantly being moved around the pitch to fill different holes in the team.

The 25-year-old star has had slightly more clarity in his game this term, however, as the vast majority of his starts have come as a centre-back or a defensive midfielder, which has allowed him to build a rhythm in the middle of the pitch.

Starts

7

Centre-back starts

7

Clearances

37

Blocks

5

Tackles

12

Duels won

31/44 (70% success rate)

As you can see in the table above, Sterling has started at centre-back in seven of his last eight league appearances and provided a dominant presence at the back for the Gers, winning 70% of his duels in those matches.

His overall form for the club and his success in finally nailing down a consistent position on the pitch has led to his market value soaring up to £3.5m, which shows that Rangers hit the jackpot when they signed the defensive ace.

The Light Blues snapped him up for £0 and he has turned out to be an incredibly valuable player, with his quality at centre-back and versatility to play in other roles, as well as being an asset that continues to grow in value.

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He is now among the top ten most valuable players at the club, making him worth even more than the likes of Tavernier and Butland, and the defender could have a big future as a centre-back at Ibrox if he can continue his current, dominant, form.

With Arsenal’s adventures in Europe taking priority at the back end of the season, Mikel Arteta has used the last two Premier League games as opportunities to rotate his side.

The title will not be heading in the direction of the Emirates Stadium this season and the manager has clearly realised that too, opting to give his biggest stars some time off with that crunch tie with Real Madrid in mind.

Despite drawing 1-1 with Everton a week ago, that strategy certainly paid off in midweek after that remarkable victory over Real Madrid.

After two appearances as a sub, Bukayo Saka looked revitalised. His return to club action has been managed well.

That said, the club’s league form does leave much to be desired, winning two of their last seven league fixtures. It’s hardly a surprise the title is now but a dream.

So, with another 1-1 draw with Brentford this weekend amid more rotation, those on the fringes didn’t do a whole lot to stake their claim for more regular starts.

Arsenal's biggest underperformers against Brentford

It’s safe to say that Arsenal’s draw with Brentford was rather more sedate than the rip-roaring success of Tuesday night against Madrid.

That was summed up by the sheer number of changes to the Gunners’ teamsheet. In came the likes of Leandro Trossard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney and Ethan Nwaneri, while goalscorer Thomas Partey started at right-back.

Nwaneri wasn’t able to dazzle as we know he so often can, but it wasn’t a bad performance. Tierney lasted just over an hour, scoring a memorable disallowed goal in the process, and coped well with the threat of Bees talisman Bryan Mbeumo.

However, as for Zinchenko and Trossard, they really did disappoint.

The latter did his best to get on the ball and create opportunities but he lacked goal threat and proved why Arteta has favoured Mikel Merino in that central striker berth since Kai Havertz’s injury.

Trossard did find the net against Everton a week ago but that marked his first league goal since the north London derby back in January.

Trossard had just five touches in the box on Saturday, far fewer than Gabriel Martinelli’s 11, with his display summed up well by GOAL who noted that it was another ‘ineffective display’, hence his 5/10 match rating.

Still, at least he wasn’t as ineffective as Zinchenko.

Zinchenko's performance in numbers vs Brentford

This has been a challenging and difficult season for the Ukrainian who hasn’t earned much game time at all.

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Indeed, the 28-year-old has only actually played 11 times in the Premier League despite being in the squad on 25 occasions. He’s only started three league games too.

That’s hardly a surprise really when you consider Riccardo Calafiori’s arrival last summer and the emergence of Hale End superstar Myles Lewis-Skelly.

As a result, Zinchenko’s last two appearances have actually come in midfield. He starred in that position against PSV in the Champions League, starting in the Odegaard role and scoring a brilliant long-range effort in the first half.

While he dominated against the Dutch side, his influence was poor against Brentford. His display was rather summed up by a succession of first-half corners that he and Nwaneri wasted down the right.

Insistent on playing things short, the ball was played into Zinchenko who ultimately failed to really take control of the situation on more than one occasion.

His lack of influence was summed up by the fact that his touch count of 36 was nine fewer than goalkeeper David Raya’s tally. Grim reading indeed.

To make matters worse, the former Manchester City star failed to provide a key pass, register a cross or complete a dribble.

Zinchenko vs Brentford

Minutes played

62

Touches

36

Accurate passes

26/29 (90%)

Key passes

0

Completed crosses

0

Long balls completed

0

Shots on target

0

Shots off target

1

Successful dribbles

1/1

Duels won

3/4

Possession lost

5x

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

Stats via Sofascore.

While the PSV game was a reminder of his qualities, this was a reminder of why Arsenal must cash in on him in the summer. GOAL handed him a 5/10 rating, noting that he was ‘rather quiet’.

Providing the Londoners see off Madrid again in a few days, it’s likely Arteta will ring the changes regularly in the Premier League but Zinchenko shouldn’t start again.

At left-back, Tierney staked more of a claim to feature when Calafiori or Lewis-Skelly aren’t selected while the midfield still has plenty of options who could be chosen ahead of him.

This may well have been his last start in Arsenal colours.

Related 100% duels won, 94% passing: Arsenal star is now as undroppable as Rice

Arsenal failed to overcome Brentford on Saturday evening.

Posts 2 ByMatt Dawson Apr 13, 2025

It’s set to be a massive summer of transfer activity for Arsenal this year; Mikel Arteta even told the media as much.

The main point of focus will undoubtedly be the frontline, with a new leftwinger and striker near the top of most fans’ wishlists following a season in which Mikel Merino has taken up the latter role due to injuries.

However, old habits die hard, and based on reports from earlier this month, it looks as if the manager wants to add yet another defender to his squad in the shape of Dean Huijsen.

The Bournemouth star has a £50m release clause in his current deal and would certainly improve the Gunners’ defensive options, but he’d have to really impress to see his valuation get anywhere close to one of Unai Emery’s best signings from his time at the club.

Why Arsenal want to sign Dean Huijsen

So, before we get to the player in question, why would Arsenal want to spend so much money on Huijsen in the first place?

Well, the first reason is that, despite just turning 20 years old, the Spanish centre-back is already proving himself to be an incredible defender and someone mature beyond his years.

For example, he’s already made 30 appearances for the Cherries this term, in which he’s found the back of the net twice and provided one assist, and then, on top of that, he has also won two senior caps for Spain and started their second leg of the Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands last month.

Moreover, when compared to other defenders in the Premier League, his underlying metrics are simply sensational.

For example, FBref places him in the top 3% of centre-backs for interceptions and clearances, the top 5% for key passes, the top 4% for non-penalty expected goals plus assists, the top 7% for expected assists and shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Interceptions

2.11

Top 3%

Clearances

7.15

Top 3%

Key Passes

0.60

Top 5%

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.17

Top 6%

Expected Assists

0.07

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

1.60

Top 7%

In short, the Amsterdam-born gem looks set to be a superstar defender in the coming years, and with that in mind, his release clause starts to look much more reasonable.

However, it still pales compared to the valuation of a signing made under Emery’s Arsenal tenure.

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?

The Arsenal star worth millions more than Huijsen

So, when it comes to Arsenal’s defence, you could argue that any one of their players is their most important, but when it comes down to the most valuable, only one player comes out on top: William Saliba.

Yes, according to the CIES Football Observatory, the French international is now worth up to €101.8m, which converts to about £87m, or around £37m more than Huijsen’s release clause and a whopping £60m more than the £27m fee paid by the Gunners under Emery’s leadership in the summer of 2019.

Now, that is a tremendous amount of money, but with how well he has played over the last few years and just how important he has become to the North Londoners, it would be hard to argue it’s not fair.

Premier League

95

FA Cup

3

League Cup

5

Champions League

19

Europa League

4

Community Shield

1

For example, since making his competitive debut for the side away to Crystal Palace on the opening day of the 22/23 season, a game he was the man of the match in, the Bondy-born “monster,” as dubbed by content creator Connor Humm, has made 127 appearances, in which he’s scored seven goals, provided two assists and averaged 2.11 points per game.

On top of that, FBref places the “phenomenal” titan, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, in the top 1% of Premier League centre-backs for long pass completion, the top 3% for overall pass completion, the top 7% for passes blocked and the top 9% for live passes, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it may be a good idea for Arsenal to sign Huijsen this summer, he’d have to smash all expectations to see his valuation get anywhere close to Saliba’s in the coming years; he is just that good.

He's like Isak & Mbappe: Arsenal chasing Europe's "most inform player"

The incredible international would make Arsenal far more dangerous.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 18, 2025

Everton responded well at the weekend, clawing back to draw against Arsenal after losing the Merseyside derby at Anfield, a result which ended David Moyes’ nine-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.

Things have changed at Goodison Park, which is preparing for its emotional swansong not in the throes of a relegation battle but instead playing with a freedom that has come from Moyes’ return to the dugout and the consequent tactical and mental improvements.

However, Everton’s owners, The Friedkin Group, know that a range of signings are needed this summer, and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and loanee Armando Broja both set to leave in a few months, bagging a striker has got to be the first port of call.

Everton join race for coveted striker

It’s an ambitious one, but TEAMtalk have revealed that Everton have joined the race for Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, with neighbours Liverpool also keen, along with many more top-flight sides.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, both the Toffees – and Brighton and Hove Albion – are said to have gathered ‘updated information’ on the youngster in recent days, with the two clubs keeping ‘close tabs’ on his situation.

Delap has been one of the Premier League’s breakout stars this season despite his team’s woes. That plays into the forward’s suitors’ favour, though, for his £40m release clause activates upon the Tractor Boys’ relegation.

And Ipswich will be relegated. Valiant fight, but the gulf in quality between England’s top two tiers continues to yawn wider, and now a team like Everton could strengthen further at their rival’s expense by stocking up with a young striker, 22, who’s demonstrated his high-ceilinged potential superbly this year.

Why Everton want Liam Delap

Tussling with such high-profile competition, you’d be forgiven for taking the news that Everton are interested in Delap with a pinch of salt.

Ipswich have played well in the Premier League this season, competitive after back-to-back promotions, but it has proved a step too far for Kieran McKenna’s men, whose defeat at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday has stretched the gap from safety to 12 points.

Delap, of course, got his name on the scoresheet in that 2-1 loss, and it was a fine goal at that. The 6 foot 1 striker is powerful and athletic, ranking among the top 17% of positional peers across Europe over the past year for progressive carries and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Is it any surprise that the Manchester City youth product has been described as a “wrecking ball” by Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones? These talents highlight exactly why the Toffees should make a concerted push for his signature, especially since FBref have suggested that Moise Kean is among his most tactically similar players.

Kean flopped hard during his stint on Merseyside but has built himself back up in Italy, thriving for Fiorentina. He’s scored 22 goals and provided five assists for La Viola this season, also hailed for his “remarkable” hold-up play by Serie A reporter Marco Messina.

Matches (starts)

28 (27)

30 (29)

Goals

17

12

Assists

3

2

Shots (on target)*

3.1 (1.4)

2.0 (1.0)

Big chances missed

14

10

Pass completion

72%

62%

Big chances created

4

3

Dribbles*

1.4

1.2

Duels won*

4.8

4.7

Above, you can see Kean and Delap’s statistics across respective league campaigns this year. Both rank similarly across clinical, ball-carrying and duelling metrics.

It’s also important to note that Delap is competing within the Premier League, an ostensibly tougher division, for imperilled Ipswich, whereas Kean’s Fiorentina are eighth, fighting for European qualification.

Delap boasts a profile that seems perfect for Moyes’ dynamic but gritty system, and if TFG manage to pull this off, it might just go down as one of the biggest coups in Everton’s modern history.

Everton struck gold on “constant threat” who’s worth more than Longstaff

Everton made a good investment with the signing

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 7, 2025

This summer is a fresh start for Everton, having the opportunity to create a new era for the football club upon their move to the new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium.

For the last couple of years, the side have been constantly in the bottom half of the Premier League table, often having to rely on last-day relegation battles.

However, David Moyes has returned to the club and turned their fortunes around, losing just twice in the league to Manchester City and Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

If the Scotsman is to take the club to the next level in 2025/26, the hierarchy desperately needs to hand him the funds he needs to make the changes he desires to the first-team squad.

With the summer transfer window just around the corner, it appears the board have wasted no time in identifying players to make the first season at the new stadium one to remember.

The latest on Everton’s hunt for new signings this summer

There’s no denying the striker role has been a constant issue at Goodison Park, with the Toffees desperately needing to address such an issue in the coming months.

Former Arsenal star Mika Biereth has emerged as one player on their shortlist, starring after his January move to join French outfit Monaco, scoring 12 times in his 13 league games since his transfer.

However, it remains unclear how much they will have to fork out for his signature, given he joined the Ligue 1 side for a reported £15m less than four months ago.

Another name has reemerged on their list of targets, in the form of Chris Rigg, who has starred in the Championship with Sunderland at the tender age of just 17.

According to Football Insider, the Toffees are leading the race for his signature, with the Black Cats demanding a whopping £38m to part ways with the talent this summer.

Why the £38m star could be Everton’s biggest star since Rooney

Wayne Rooney will remain one of the best talents to ever come out of Everton, after bursting onto the scene in the first-team as a 16-year-old back in 2002.

It was unheard of for a player of that age to make such an impact on the first team, scoring his first professional goal against Arsenal – in spectacular fashion too.

His first spell at Goodison Park saw him make 35 appearances, scoring eight goals, leading to a huge move to an English giant that would catapult him to stardom throughout his professional career.

Rooney eventually joined Manchester United for a fee in the region of £25.6m during the summer of 2004, before returning to his boyhood club for a second spell between 2017 and 2018.

However, a move for Rigg this window could allow the club to land a star who could be as talented as Rooney, undoubtedly set for huge things at the top level given his achievements as a teenager.

The Sunderland ace has already notched 67 appearances for the Black Cats since his debut in January 2023, cementing himself as a first-team regular in their hunt for Championship promotion.

He’s notched four goals and one assist in his 40 league outings to date, creating 1.2 chances per 90 for his teammates – showcasing the threat he poses in attacking areas.

Rigg has also completed 1.2 successful dribbles per 90, along with an 80% pass success rate, having the tools to transform their fortunes within the final third throughout 2024/25.

Games played

40

Goals & assists

5

Pass completion rate

80%

Successful dribbles

1.2

Chances created

1.2

Duels won

5.1

Tackles won

57%

Whilst he’s mainly an attacking player, he’s also starred out of possession, winning 5.1 duels per game along with a 57% tackle success rate – having the ability to improve massively in the future, given his tender age.

It’s been a long time since the Toffees have had a talent as good as Rooney, but Rigg could finally end their wait, having the skill set to be a key player on Merseyside for many years to come.

£38m may appear to be a mammoth fee for such a young star, but given the figures he’s produced coupled with his potential, it’s a risk worth taking, with Moyes reaping the rewards in the Premier League should he make the move in the coming months.

Outscoring Salah in 2025: Everton chasing DCL upgrade who's "like Haaland"

Moyes needs to strengthen Everton’s frontline this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 22, 2025

It’s been evident for a while, but even the most determined of anti-Liverpool observers would have a hard time arguing against Arne Slot’s side being the ones to lift the Premier League title in the coming weeks.

Liverpool have been expected to win the division for several months, such has been their dominance.

Arsenal have wobbled through inconsistencies and injuries while four-in-a-row champions Manchester City finally fell by the wayside and are embroiled in a desperate fight just to reprise their place in the Champions League.

All this is true, but Reds fans have known heartbreak before and have beeen rightly hesitant to jump ahead of the whistle. However. The shiny Premier League trophy has hove into view, with Sunday’s win over West Ham United putting them potentially within one win of a coronation, should results favour them next weekend.

Virgil van Dijk ensured it would be so, smacking his head against Alexis Mac Allister’s last-gasp corner to make amends and bag three points. The skipper looks set to continue his Anfield journey, but it was Mohamed Salah whose fate has already been sealed, and he repaid his city’s faith with a stunning trivela assist for Luis Diaz to open the scoring.

There’s life in the old dog yet. However, Liverpool are going to need to address their issues at centre-forward this summer, lest Salah be worn down by the chains of responsibility that might be too much to repeat in his twilight.

Most Goals + Assists 24/25 (Europe’s Top 5 Leagues)
Player	Matches	Goals	Assists	G/A
Mohamed Salah	32	27	18	45
Harry Kane	27	23	9	32
Omar Marmoush	27	21	11	32
Mateo Retegui	30	23	5	28
Ousmane Dembele	26	21	7	28
Data via Transfermarkt

The 32-year-old has scored 32 goals and laid on 23 assists in all competitions this season, a matchless feat across the continent. That said, Liverpool desperately need a new source of goals up top, and they’ve found their dream signing.

Liverpool ready to sign new centre forward

Darwin Nunez won’t make Slot’s second grade, and neither is Diogo Jota proving himself to be of the highest station at number nine this season. Now that contractual bother has effectively been wrapped up, full attention will turn on signing a focal superstar.

And who better than Alexander Isak? According to Spanish reports, FSG are willing to break the Premier League transfer record to sign the Newcastle United striker, with a mammoth €150m (roughly £130m) offer prepared.

Isak, 25, is Liverpool’s priority, but he’s also Magpies’ property and they will fight in trenches to keep him at St. James’ Park. Much hinges on Champions League qualification, but such a staggering offer might just hold sway at the negotiating table.

Why Liverpool should sign Alexander Isak

Sporting director Richard Hughes will have his work cut out, all right, but he’s shown his skills through securing Van Dijk and Salah’s immediate futures as Slot looks to transition away from Jurgen Klopp’s blueprint and toward his own vision.

Isak would be the perfect poster boy to lead Liverpool through this exciting new era. Hailed by Jamie Carragher as “the best striker in the Premier League,” the Sweden native has been immense, notching 24 goals across 36 season appearances.

Goals are great, but it’s the overall play that has left Isak earning such acclaim. He moves like a cheetah, loping gait and deadly menace that blends with a sharp intelligence, giving rise to darting runs and clever passes to improve Newcastle’s wider attacking fluency.

As per FBref, the 6 foot 3 striker actually ranks among the top 11% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 6% for both of progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

Quite the player, one whose dynamic ability could certainly elevate Salah’s already considerable numbers over the next couple of terms. In fact, Isak may well find himself eclipsing the Egyptian King’s numbers across the 2024/25 campaign, should he nestle into a talismanic role in Slot’s system.

No team has created more big chances than Liverpool over the past five seasons, something that emphasises the joy Isak would find on Merseyside. Albeit, their creative flair will take a hit when Trent Alexander-Arnold completes his expected free transfer to Real Madrid, but the club will be able to adapt, no problem.

Hailed as “world-class” by Alan Shearer, Isak, for sure, will rival Salah as Liverpool’s chief goal-getter, but his high rate of shot creation and overall playmaking talent suggest that he could shake a fair haul of assists into the mix.

He is, after all, touted as Thierry Henry’s heir apparent, thus capable of the Arsenal legend’s incredible campaign of 2004/05 reaping 24 goals and 20 assists, the latter of which still stands (for now).

Most Assists in a Single Premier League Season
Player	Season	Apps	Assists
Thierry Henry	02/03	37	20
Kevin De Bruyne	19/20	35	20
Mohamed Salah	24/25	32	18
Kevin De Bruyne	16/17	36	18
Mesut Ozil	15/16	35	18
Cesc Fabregas	14/15	34	18
Frank Lampard	04/05	38	18
Data via Statmuse

Salah will have his eye on beating that long-standing record before the season’s up, but in Isak, Liverpool might just get their hands on a versatile and potent striker capable of emulating the all-time great.

FSG will have to break the bank, but if two of Nunez, Jota or Diaz are cashed in, it might not be the most ridiculous idea in the world.

He was better than Van Dijk: Liverpool star is now as undroppable as Salah

Liverpool overcame West Ham United 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 13, 2025