Man Utd close to signing Frenkie de Jong

Manchester United are reportedly close to the signing of Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona in a move which will surely please incoming manager Erik ten Hag.

What’s the word?

According to a report from AS (via The Faithful MUFC), a deal is close for the transfer of the Dutchman from Camp Nou to Old Trafford.

The report stated that if United make an offer of €70m (£59.6m) then the La Liga side will allow the 25-year-old to leave.

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Ten Hag would then reunite with his former Ajax protégé, and this news will surely excite the Old Trafford faithful.

Better than Paul Pogba

De Jong is currently valued at £63m by Transfermarkt and could well be the marquee signing that Ten Hag needs to make to instantly make an impression on United supporters who are desperate for success.

With the likelihood of Paul Pogba leaving the club upon the expiry of his contract this summer, as Juventus seemingly offer the midfielder a deal to return to Italy, then the Red Devils urgently need another central midfielder.

In the 25-year-old, they would get an instant upgrade on the Frenchman. It’s clear that the Netherlands international offers more of a goalscoring threat from midfield, with four goals this season compared to Pogba’s solitary strike.

De Jong also has a higher pass completion rate than the 29-year-old (90.1% to 83.5%), generates more than double the amount of shot-creating actions (104 to 56) and has made significantly fewer fouls over the course of the season (37 to 56).

freshpress-quiz ]

These figures clearly prove that signing De Jong would be a shrewd move, and with Ten Hag knowing exactly what he would get from the Barcelona maestro from their mutual time at Ajax, then it’s a transfer that makes absolutely perfect sense.

With Barca manager Xavi dubbing the midfielder a “genius”, it could be a massive loss to the Spanish side in the long-term, but it would be a tremendous coup to kickstart the Ten Hag era at Old Trafford.

AND in other news, Man United plotting bid to sign “complete” £63m monster, he’d be their own De Bruyne

Everton: Ben Godfrey injury news pre-Brentford

Everton may be able to welcome back defender Ben Godfrey against Brentford on Sunday. 

The lowdown

Everton host Thomas Frank’s side at 16.30 on Sunday in their penultimate home game of the season.

If Leeds United fail to beat Brighton in the 14.00 kick-off, then Everton know that a draw will effectively secure safety and a victory will guarantee it.

But if the Whites and Burnley, who play Tottenham Hotspur at 12.00, both win, then they could kick-off in the relegation zone.

Godfrey sustained an injury while warming up for last month’s Merseyside Derby against Liverpool and hasn’t featured since.

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The latest

Patrick Boyland, Everton correspondent for The Athletic, relayed an update on Godfrey’s fitness on Friday.

He’s said to be ‘close’ and ‘could be in the squad’ against the Bees.

Meanwhile, on-loan Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek ‘also has a chance’ of being involved after missing the last four games with thigh problems.

The verdict

This is an important, and unexpected boost, for Lampard and Everton.

The manager admitted after the initial injury that Godfrey may not be able to play again this season.

But he may be able to return with three games remaining to strengthen his side’s survival chances.

Godfrey has started every Premier League game for which he’s been available this season, the clearest indication of his importance.

Team-mate Andros Townsend believes that the £77,000-per-week Norwich City man is ‘the real deal’ and boasts ‘massive potential’, and that’s why he’s backed him to go ‘to the very top’.

At his best, he’s a high-level defensive option for Everton.

In other news, a wealthy club are set to make a bid for this EFC star.

Celtic must complete Antoine Semenyo swoop

Celtic currently boast the best attacking record in the Premiership, this season with 85 goals scored in 36 games.

One man who has contributed a lot to this impressive feat is Jota, who has scored seven goals and provided eight assists in 24 league appearances.

Despite the attacker only being on loan at Celtic, Ange Postecoglou has said that the club are looking to secure the Benfica youngster on a permanent deal this summer.

Should that happen, the Hoops would then have the chance to bring in another attacking star who could form a deadly duo with Jota.

Back in February, the Bhoys were linked with a move for Bristol City attacker Antoine Semenyo.

A product of the English Championship club’s youth system, the 22-year-old has made 98 senior appearances across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and delivering 20 assists along the way.

This season has seen the Englishman find the net eight times and provide 12 assists in 31 Championship appearances.

To further highlight his attacking prowess throughout this campaign, with 70 shots registered, no other player at his current club can match the number of shots on target per 90 minutes that Semenyo boasts (1.14).

In addition, the attacker has the highest average for shots (2.3) and dribbles per game (1.2) this season, along with the second highest average for key passes (1.1). This backs up why he was labelled a “dangerous” player by his former manager Phil Parkinson in the past.

As for Jota, with those same three metrics, he ranks in the top five for each at Celtic, which shows just how proficient the two players are in attack and why they could form a terrifying duo if they link up at Parkhead.

Having played in the centre-forward position for all of his appearances this season, the Bristol City star could well line up next to the Celtic loan figure, who normally plays on the wing.

Once the summer transfer window opens, if the Hoops can secure a permanent deal for Jota, adding a player like Semenyo to their ranks could be just what Postecoglou needs in order to keep his squad fresh and raring to go for next season.

However, given how important the Englishman has been for his boyhood club this season, they could well be reluctant to let him go, which may then lead to Celtic having to stump up a significant transfer fee for him.

With a suggested price tag of £15m, this is the sort of money that the Bhoys may have to shell out to secure his services.

In other news: Ange must now axe “appalling” & “pathetic” disaster duo, they’re bleeding Celtic dry

Everton: Paul Brown drops Allan exit claim

Allan’s mooted Everton exit should not come as a surprise, journalist Paul Brown has told GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

TuttoMercatoWeb journalist Niccolo Ceccarini recently reported (via Sport Witness) that the Toffees could well put the Brazilian midfielder up for sale when the summer transfer window opens.

The 31-year-old is under ‘strong consideration’ at Lazio as they assess potential replacements for exit-bound Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Allan left another Serie A outfit in Napoli to join Everton in a £21.7m deal in September 2020, reuniting with Carlo Ancelotti on Merseyside. He has gone on to make 56 appearances for the club, including 25 Premier League starts this season.

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The latest

Brown doesn’t believe that it would be wise for Everton to hand Allan a long-term contract extension, particularly if he demands a pay rise.

The journalist told GiveMeSport: “I’m not surprised he’s leaving and it would be foolish to stick him on a longer contract.

“He would probably want more in terms of a salary too, so it doesn’t surprise me that he will go.”

The verdict

To a degree, it would be a surprise to see Allan being sold, given the extent of his involvement in the top flight this season. With three starts in Everton’s last four matches, during which they have picked up seven points, he certainly isn’t out of favour under Frank Lampard.

Indeed, it was only this time last year that BT Sport commentator Darren Fletcher was describing him as a ‘vital’ player for the club.

However, his contract is due to expire in just over 13 months’ time, so Everton may view this summer as their final opportunity to cash in on him. Come next January, Allan will be able to negotiate pre-contract terms with other clubs if he is still with the Toffees.

The Brazilian earns £70,000 per week at Goodison Park and, as Brown says, it may not be regarded as financially prudent to prolong that lucrative contract into his mid-30s.

In other news, Kevin Thelwell is keen on bringing this defender to Everton 

Liverpool plotting swoop for Darwin Nunez

Liverpool could take one step closer to signing Darwin Nunez from Benfica during the summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, €75m (equal to £62.9m) “now could not be enough” to secure the services of Uruguayan striker in the summer, although the journalist said that the player “will leave” the Lisbon club.

The Premier League side aren’t the only interested party in the 22-year-old, with Chelsea and Manchester United also in the running to secure the player’s signature.

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Jurgen Klopp’s recruitment in the previous few seasons has been excellent and Nunez certainly has the potential to be fantastic, but will the price put Liverpool off?

Liverpool fans would love Nunez

The Reds are having a tremendous season so far as they chase an unprecedented quadruple, and Klopp is always trying to strengthen his squad, which shows that constant progression is always required.

The question is, do Liverpool need another forward when they have so many performing at their absolute best right now?

The fabled front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah have scored 61 goals between them this season in all competitions. Add in the goals from Diogo Jota and winter signing Luis Diaz and the squad is bulging at the seams with prolific forwards.

However, Nunez could be a solid replacement for Firmino, the oldest of Liverpool’s attackers as he turns 31 in October, and offer a greater attacking threat. The Uruguayan has notched 31 goals this term compared to just the 11 that the Brazilian has scored, so it’s not hard to see who is the more potent player.

There seems little doubt that Nunez has all the requirements to succeed in the Premier League, and with Klopp’s recent recruitment track record, going all-out for the Benfica striker may prove to be a wise move, certainly in the long run.

Liverpool supporters will surely be excited at seeing another of the European leagues’ top talents being linked with the club, with FSG seemingly looking to keep regenerating the squad when the time is right.

AND in other news, FSG masterclass: Liverpool drop major behind-the-scenes news that’ll excite supporters

Newcastle’s new “best player” is becoming a better signing than Bruno & Thiaw

There’s been a bit of upheaval in the directorial department at Newcastle United over the past year, but Ross Wilson has forged a neat working relationship with Eddie Howe, and the pair are looking to make improvements at St. James’ Park.

Last year, Howe and his squad defied many odds to lift the Carabao Cup and restore a place in the Champions League. It all came together, and while the sale of talisman Alexander Isak this summer threatened to knock things out of kilter, United have made progress in recent weeks, with new heroes emerging.

Bruno Guimaraes remains the Magpies’ all-inspiring leader, but Malick Thiaw has risen to the occasion since arriving in the Premier League this year, becoming a different kind of driving force for the Tynesiders.

Howe's new leaders at Newcastle

Isak was never a vocal talisman in Howe’s Newcastle squad, but, before the summer transfer window, he led by example on the field, scoring 27 goals across all competitions last season and notching in the Carabao Cup final.

However, Newcastle banked a record fee for his signature, and Guimaraes has only raised his game this term, both from a technical and leadership standpoint.

Though a new forward focal point has yet to properly establish himself, Thiaw has taken to life in the Premier League seamlessly, and Bruno has actually remarked that the imperious German defender is “the future of this club”.

It says something of his character and technical quality that he has arrived from AC Milan for around £35m and swiftly stepped higher than Sven Botman. As per Sofascore, Thiaw, 24, has won 74% of his aerial duels in the Premier League, completing 88% of his passes and yet to make an error.

He’s some player, and Bruno is too, but United may actually have a younger member of their squad who is shooting through the form rankings in the English game, starting to prove he could be the pick of the bunch.

Newcastle made a better signing than Bruno & Thiaw

When Newcastle signed Lewis Hall from Chelsea for £28m (after a season-long loan move throughout the 2023/24 campaign), they knew they had struck a bargain for a young full-back with a wealth of potential.

However, injuries have damaged the 21-year-old’s chances of establishing fluency since that move became permanent, and so it’s interesting to see him playing so well in recent weeks, finally building toward the elite player he could, should, become.

Described as “the best player on the field” by reporter Andy Sixsmith after his monstrous display against Tottenham, Hall has overcome his injury problems and is now reminding the Premier League that he is one of the best in the business. Indeed, with more performances like these, it won’t just be those of a Toon persuasion advocating for him to be on the Three Lions plane across the pond next summer.

Minutes played

90′

Touches

75

Shots (on target)

3 (0)

Accurate passes

36/43 (84%)

Chances created

0

Dribbles

2/2

Recoveries

6

Tackles won

4/4

Interceptions

2

Clearances

4

Duels won

8/15

As per FBref, Hall actually ranks among the top 7% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 11% for progressive passes, and the top 5% for through balls and tackles won per 90.

This is a frighteningly rounded player, his formative career as a centre-midfielder fostering a dynamic skillset that is charging his journey to the top. If the England international can keep fitness levels on his side, then he will only get better and better on Tyneside, potentially even becoming Howe’s main man.

In this, he might become one of the best signings of the PIF era. Already, it is clear that his name belongs in such a conversation, but Hall needs consistency now. Who knows, maybe he could climb up to loftier ground than the likes of Bruno and Thiaw stand on.

There’s also the matter of him arriving from Chelsea after being awarded the Cobham side’s Academy Player of the Year award. Pinched from a direct rival, Hall is developing into a player who will rival the likes of Marc Cucurella for the left-back crown down the line.

With so much room still for growth, there’s every chance that Hall could be Howe’s main man in the not-too-distant future.

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Maresca must unleash Chelsea star who's like "Lampard, Drogba & Hazard"

After a few years away, Chelsea are finally back in Champions League action tonight.

It won’t be an easy reintroduction to Europe’s premier competition, though, as Enzo Maresca’s Conference League winners will be taking on Bayern Munich.

The German champions are stacked with incredible players in every position, but the one the Blues have to be most wary of is undoubtedly Harry Kane.

The England captain has the ability to take games away from teams, although Chelsea have a superstar of their own, someone who could well outshine Kane.

Chelsea's record against Bayern Munich

Despite both Bayern and Chelsea being two of the biggest clubs in European football and consistently competing for the top prizes in recent decades, they’ve only played one another in five competitive games.

The first was back in the 2004/05 season, in which the Baverians travelled to West London for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, a game the hosts won 4-2, which was then followed by a 3-2 win for the German giants in the second leg.

However, the most famous meeting between the two institutions came just over 13 years ago, when Roberto Di Matteo’s side managed to beat the odds and claim their first Champions League title by beating Jupp Heynckes’ men 4-3 on penalties.

It was in that game that Didier Drogba scored his most famous goal for the Blues, and Petr Čech played a crucial role by saving a penalty from Arjen Robben in extra time.

Unfortunately, FC Hollywood have had the upper hand in the two games since that incredible final.

They demolished Frank Lampard’s side 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash in February 2020, and then completed the job with a 4-1 win when the competition resumed that August after the first lockdown.

In all, while Bayern have won most of their encounters, Chelsea fans wouldn’t swap their records thanks to that famous night in Munich. Although with that said, Maresca will be looking to improve that record tonight, and so long as he starts the player who could upstage Kane, then there is every chance he will.

Chelsea star could outshine Kane

While they’ve received plenty of criticism for their transfer strategy over the years, Chelsea now have a team packed with brilliant players.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernández could get into most top teams around Europe, but without a doubt, the Blues’ best player is Cole Palmer.

The former Manchester City gem is the definition of a game-changer, and should he be on song against Bayern, there is every chance he could outshine Kane.

While the England captain is that bit more prolific a goalscorer, almost everything good the West Londoners do goes through their dazzling number ten, so much so that GOAL’s Sean Walsh once suggested that he is “Lampard, Drogba & Hazard all in one”, combining the best attributes of three Stamford Bridge legends.

Rather unsurprising, Chelsea’s fortunes changed for the better when he came on at the weekend, entering the fray on Saturday in the 56th minute and just five minutes later scoring the equalising goal for his side.

It was hardly a surprise, though, as in 99 appearances for the Pensioners, totalling 7984 minutes, the “generational talent,” as dubbed by journalist Scott Bradley, has scored 44 goals and provided 29 assists.

In other words, the 23-year-old has maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.35 games, or every 109.36 minutes, which is frankly absurd.

Appearances

99

Minutes

7984′

Goals

44

Assists

29

Goal Involvements per Match

0.73

Minutes per Goal Involvements

109.36′

Moreover, he proved himself to be a big-game player at the Club World Cup, scoring two goals in the final against a heavily favoured Paris Saint-Germain.

Ultimately, while Bayern will be the favourites, Chelsea have every chance of coming away with all three points tomorrow night, especially if Palmer starts and is on song.

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Rangers must regret losing the "Mbappe of Scottish football" for nothing

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin is under plenty of external pressure after a difficult start to his time in the dugout at Ibrox this season, with some noticeable booing and chanting at recent games.

The former Southampton boss has failed to win any of his four Scottish Premiership matches in charge of the Light Blues so far, and failed to qualify for the league phase of the Champions League, losing 9-1 to Club Brugge on aggregate.

There is still plenty of time left to see how things pan out, though, because he had 12 summer signings and it will take time to assess whether they were strong additions or not.

Summer transfer windows can make or break managers, as former Rangers head coach Michael Beale found out in the harshest way in 2023.

Michael Beale's worst Rangers deals

Beale signed eight players on permanent deals in the summer of 2023. Jack Butland is the only one of those eight players who started the club’s most recent game against Celtic.

Danilo was signed for £6m from Feyenoord and he has only scored nine goals in 39 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, missing 53 matches through injury in that time, per Transfermarkt.

Sam Lammers arrived from Atalanta for a fee of £3m in the same window. He scored two goals in 31 games for Rangers, per Transfermarkt, before being sold to FC Twente last year.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

As well as making poor signings, Beale also allowed several quality players to leave the club that summer, including electric forward Ryan Kent.

Michael Beale had a howler with Ryan Kent

Despite working with the English winger as Steven Gerrard’s assistant in the past, Beale was unable to get the best out of the former Liverpool man at Ibrox as the head coach.

Kent played 22 times for the English tactician in all competitions in his last season in Glasgow, but only found the back of the net twice in that time, per Transfermarkt.

The left winger was once described as the “Mbappe of Scottish football” by Specs Gonzalez, whilst speaking on Sky Sports, but he was anything but Mbappe-esque under Beale.

Appearances

22

196

Goals

2

31

Games per goal

11

6.32

Assists

4

52

Games per assist

5.5

3.76

As you can see in the table above, Kent was far more prolific and creative throughout his Rangers career without Beale as his head coach, his output with and without him makes that very clear.

IbroxNoise noted at the time that the English forward’s decline under the former assistant manager was because the system being deployed meant that he had to play as a number ten rather than as a winger.

If asked to picture a Ryan Kent goal or assist for Rangers, most supporters would likely picture him on the left flank, cutting in or getting to the byline. The former being what happened in the clip above.

Beale’s wingerless system did him no favours and that was why it was not a surprise when the forward decided to let his contract run down in the summer of 2023, rather than committing his future to the club with his former Liverpool academy coach in charge.

This meant that Rangers lost Kent, a player once compared to Mbappe, for nothing that summer because their manager did not play a system that got the best out of him.

Instead, Beale played a system that attempted to accomodate the three central players he signed, Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, and Lammers. Only one of those three players remains at Ibrox, Danilo, and he looks set to be a back-up to Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti this season.

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Therefore, Beale had a howler with Kent because he did not find a way to get the best out of a player who could have been a huge threat for his side down the left flank, given his return of goals and assists in his career at Rangers prior to the manager’s appointment.

Newcastle leading race to sign "fantastic" £34m ace who may replace Tonali

As speculation continues to arrive about Sandro Tonali’s future, Newcastle United are reportedly in pole position to sign a midfield star who could replace the impressive Italian.

Juventus interested in Sandro Tonali

When Newcastle were without Tonali at the start of the season, it showed. Eddie Howe’s side struggled in pursuit of Champions League qualification and were lacking that added power in the middle of the park. Ever since the return of the Italian, however, the Magpies have dominated the majority of their midfield battles and formed quite the trio between Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.

Starts

28

38

29

Progressive Passes

128

271

116

Tackles Won

32

47

35

Ball Recoveries

117

188

149

The perfect blend of combative midfielders and those who have the ability to step onto the front foot, not many can stand in the way of Newcastle’s bulldozing midfield three at their best.

As a result, interest was always likely to arrive with reports in Italy now indicating that Juventus are interested in signing Tonali in this summer’s transfer window. The Italian giants are seemingly looking to bring the midfielder back to the Serie A for the first time since he left AC Milan in what should send alarm bells ringing around St James’ Park.

Jamie Carragher has been among those to praise the Newcastle midfielder this season, even including him in his Monday Night Football Team of the Season. The Sky Sports pundit said when asked why: “I went for Tonali because Newcastle look like they are going to finish third in the Premier League.

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“I don’t think many people would have predicted that. They’ve won a trophy for the first time in 70 years. But they actually made a poor start to the season. I don’t think their season turned around until Eddie Howe put him [Tonali] in the holding role.”

Of course, it remains to be seen whether Tonali will give into the temptation of Italy, but it seems as though Newcastle have a much-needed plan in place nonetheless.

Newcastle now leading race to sign Matteo Guendouzi

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle are now leading the race to sign Matteo Guendouzi from Lazio this summer. The former Arsenal midfielder is reportedly valued at just €40m (£34m) and could now be on his way back to the Premier League if Tonali decides to leave St James’ Park.

Starts

28

37

Progressive Passes

128

316

Tackles Won

32

21

Ball Recoveries

117

173

Not only does Guendouzi progress play better than Tonali, he has also outperformed the impressive Guimaraes in that department. Since leaving the Premier League with a whimper, the Frenchman has simply discovered another level to his game.

Matteo Guendouzi at Lazio

Earning plenty of praise ever since his time at the Emirates, football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed Guendouzi a “fantastic signing” by Marseille in 2021 and the midfielder has only proved to be equally as fantastic at Lazio.

Chelsea must sell "lost" flop" who earns more than Isak & Delap combined

If the campaign does end with Chelsea securing Champions League qualification, the Blues will have done so without the presence of a reliable and consistent centre-forward this season.

While Enzo Maresca does have Nicolas Jackson to call upon, the Senegalese striker has only scored ten times in the Premier League in 2024/25, albeit while having missed five games in February and March due to a hamstring injury.

The currently suspended marksman has perhaps not been helped by the lack of direct competition in that role, with teenager Marc Guiu having also been sidelined since February with his own hamstring issue.

Although Jackson’s return of 29 goals in 77 games is hardly disastrous, the Blues are still longing for a properly prolific presence to lead the line, echoing the days of Diego Costa and Didier Drogba in their pomp.

In a summer in which the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United will also likely be seeking a new striker, Chelsea themselves appear keen to bolster their ranks with a new addition of their own, with a handful of leading targets already emerging.

The latest on Chelsea's striker search

Arguably the dream target for any Premier League outfit this summer would be Newcastle United talisman, Alexander Isak, with the Swedish star having scored 23 top-flight goals this season – following on from the 21 he chalked up in 2023/24.

The former Real Sociedad man was the subject of interest from the Stamford Bridge side last summer, with contact being made, while reports have again emerged regarding their interest in his services this time around.

Despite the 25-year-old reportedly being open to moving to London, amid rival interest from the Gunners, any deal appears to be out of reach, not least with Newcastle set to demand around £150m if they are to sanction a sale.

Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal

With that in mind, alternative options have been drawn up by Todd Boehly and co, with recent reports outlining that Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap remains a leading target, amid his 12-goal haul in the league this term.

The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell recently revealed that the 22-year-old has held ‘face-to-face talks’ with Man United, although Chelsea were named as a rival suitor, with Delap expected to hold discussions with a variety of clubs before settling on a new destination.

Available for just £30m, following Ipswich’s recent relegation, the Englishman would represent a bargain option for Boehly this summer, with competition and cover needed for Jackson through the middle.

Managing to get such a deal over the line could also run parallel with a key departure from the Bridge, with Christopher Nkunku one notable high earner who surely needs to depart.

How much Nkunku earns compared to Delap & Isak

It’s worth remembering the excitement that surrounded the capture of Nkunku back in the summer of 2023, with the Frenchman joining from RB Leipzig on a £52m deal, having registered 125 goals and assists in 172 games for the Bundesliga side prior to that.

That marquee move appeared a notable coup considering his exploits in 2021/22, when the in-demand talent racked up 35 goals and 20 assists in just 57 games, although such form has not been translated in English football.

A knee injury sustained during pre-season, ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, set the tone for what has been a wretched two years for the 27-year-old, as he ultimately made just 11 Premier League appearances last term, scoring three goals.

While he does boast 14 goals this time around in all competitions, only three of those have come in the top-flight, with the one-time Paris Saint-Germain man restricted to just nine league starts under Maresca’s watch.

The issue appears to be finding a settled home for the versatile asset in the starting lineup, with Maresca insisting that he is not an orthodox striker, albeit while having been unable to dislodge Cole Palmer or Enzo Fernandez in the number ten role.

Games (starts)

11 (2)

27 (9)

Goals

3

3

Goal frequency

146min

313min

Big chances missed

3

6

Assists

0

2

Big chances created

0

1

Key passes*

0.3

0.5

Pass accuracy*

89%

91%

Successful dribbles*

0.2

0.4

As cult hero John Obi Mikel stated last month, Nkunku simply “looks lost” when he is asked to play through the middle, in the absence of Jackson, with the move having simply not worked out for both parties.

Thankfully, there does appear to wide-ranging interest in the struggling star ahead of the upcoming window, with reports indicating that he could depart for a fee in the region of £35m.

Managing to rake in a figure close to that asking price would also be aided by the ability to shift Nkunku off the wage bill, with the ex-Leipzig man currently taking home £195k-per-week in west London.

To put that into perspective, the highly-sought Isak is on a salary of £120k-per-week at St James’ Park, while the aforementioned Delap is on ‘just’ £20k-per-week at Portman Road, ensuring Nkunku is earning more than both of those targets combined.

Based on his limp Premier League return, in particular, the 5 foot 10 flop has not warranted such an outlay, with now the time for Boehly to finally cash in on his expensive mistake.

Their new John Terry: Chelsea looking at signing "colossal" £100m defender

Chelsea could look to strengthen in defence this summer

ByJoe Nuttall May 21, 2025

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