With each passing week, Ange Postecoglou’s position as Tottenham Hotspur manager feels increasingly precarious.

Now, the Australian could still end the season with a European trophy in his hands, but should that not happen, then crashing out of both domestic cups and finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table might cost him.

With that said, if he is still in the hot seat at the end of the season, he needs to oversee a serious shakeup of the squad to ensure next year isn’t as disastrous.

That means bringing more first-team quality players and shipping out the deadwood, including one of his own signings who was once tipped for greatness by Lionel Messi.

The Spurs stars who need to be moved on

So, before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at the other Tottenham players Ange and Co should be looking to sell or let leave in the summer window, such as Pedro Porro.

Now, it’s true that the Spanish full-back had a decent game on Thursday and can offer something in attack, but this season has made it abundantly clear that he’s a problem when it comes to defending.

For example, there have been multiple times this season where he’s been shown up, like away to Arsenal or at home to City.

It might sound harsh, but we are not the only ones to think this, as journalist Mitch Fretton described his display at home to Ipswich Town as a “horror show”, while one podcaster didn’t mince his words when he described his performance in the defeat to Bournemouth as “absolutely terrible.”

The former Sporting CP dud isn’t the only player who must be moved on this summer, though, as Yves Bissouma very much falls into the same camp.

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The former Brighton & Hove Albion ace has had a dreadful campaign this year and so far has featured in just 45% of the team’s Premier League starting lineups.

It’s not hard to see why Postecoglou opts to go with other midfielders these days either, as his last start came in the defeat to Fulham, a game he received a 3/10 match rating for from Alasdair Gold.

However, as bad as the Mali international has been, there is another player in the squad, an Ange signing, who’s proved to be even less effective and, therefore, must be moved on.

The Ange signing who needs to be moved on

When it comes down to the worst signing Postecoglou has made during his time in the Spurs dugout, some may go for Radu Dragusin, but for our money, it’s Timo Werner, and unsurprisingly, he’s the player who has to be let go.

Now, to give the manager and the club credit, while Andy Townsend described the decision as “astonishing,” it didn’t seem like the worst idea in the world to sign him on a short-term loan when they did last season.

After all, while he failed at Chelsea and didn’t exactly set the world alight on his return to Germany, he was once one of the most exciting forwards in Europe.

​​​​​

For example, in his final season before moving to Stamford Bridge, he managed to rack up a pretty sensational haul of 47 goal involvements in 45 games, and about five years before that, Messi named him among the ten youngsters he backed to become football’s next superstars.

Unfortunately, we all know what happened next, and while he did alright in the back half of last season, racking up six-goal involvements in 14 appearances, many were still surprised when his loan was extended for another season.

Appearances

14

27

Goals

2

1

Assists

4

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.42

0.14

That decision has not panned out whatsoever, and as things stand, the former Stuttgart star has amassed just one goal and three assists in 27 games, which is hardly value for money when he’s making £165k-per-week.

The good news is that Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the club will not be looking to re-sign the former Chelsea flop in the summer, but until the club confirms this, there is always a chance.

Ultimately, while Werner has undoubtedly tried to make it work in North London this year, he’s been a failure at Spurs, and the sooner he is moved on, the better for all involved.

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It may be a tired cliché, but it’s true: this season has been a real roller coaster for Arsenal.

Everything started well enough, with some positive results in challenging games, but it all seemed to go wrong following Declan Rice’s red card against Brighton & Hove Albion.

The team started getting more silly suspensions, injuries began piling up, and it felt like every other result was a draw.

However, while Mikel Arteta’s side struggled domestically, they thrived in Europe, and now just two games stand between them and the Champions League final.

Two of the players who have endured a topsy-turvey season of their own have been Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard, and to ensure the latter is available for the Paris Saint Germain game next week, Arteta should take him out of the team for tonight’s clash.

Merino & Trossard's season so far

It was a cosmically unlucky start to the season for Merino, as, following a summer-long transfer saga, he fractured his shoulder in his first training session as an Arsenal player, which saw him miss the first couple of months of the campaign.

When he did return, it was clear that he was rusty, and while the match-going fans didn’t get on his back, there was a palpable sense in the fanbase that maybe signing him had been a mistake.

However, when Kai Havertz was ruled out following surgery on his hamstring in February, the Spaniard was suddenly tasked with leading the line, and even though he’d never played up top in his career, he looked right at home, scoring two goals away to Leicester City after coming off the bench.

Over the next couple of months, he further added to his tally with goals against PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea and Fulham while also providing two assists in the Bernabeu and another at Portman Road at the weekend, when he was moved back into the midfield to prepare for Thomas Partey’s absence against PSG.

In his place, the manager started Trossard, who, after a lacklustre first half of the campaign, has begun to show signs of the old clinical attacker who’s been a serious asset to the club since his arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2023.

For example, he scored away at PSV and away at Everton and then picked up a brilliantly taken brace against Ipswich Town on the weekend, which displayed his excellent ability to fire off shots in tight, congested penalty areas.

It was the sort of performance that will almost certainly see him start the first leg of the Champions League semi-final next week, which is why he shouldn’t start tonight.

However, as Merino needs to further bed into the left-eight role ahead of that game, he shouldn’t be the one to replace the Belgian either.

The Arsenal star who should start in place of Trossard

So, with the injury situation still far from ideal and Raheem Sterling simply not in contention at this point, the most logical player to start in place of Trossard tonight would be Ethan Nwaneri.

Now, we know that might sound a little too far, but Arteta has already spoken in the past about how he sees the teenager being able to play there and then in an interview with the Standard’s Simon Collings following the win over Ipswich, the Hale Ender claimed that he can play as a striker.

Moreover, if this season has told us anything about the “unplayable” phenomenon, as dubbed by Jack Wilshere, it’s that he knows where the goal is.

Nwaneri’s 24/25

Appearances

33

Minutes

1294′

Goals

9

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.33

Minutes per Goal Involvement

117.63′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, in just 33 appearances, totalling 1294 minutes, the Enfield-born dynamo has scored nine goals and provided two assists, which comes out to a really impressive average of a goal involvement every three games, or every 117.63 minutes.

Finally, the teenage sensation has also shown over and over again that he is simply unfazed by everything, and while other players his age might well find it too daunting to lead the line for a club like Arsenal, we imagine he’ll just take it in his stride, as he has with everything else asked of him.

Ultimately, Trossard is too important to be risked in a relatively meaningless game like tonight, and with Merino needing more time to get used to the left-eight role ahead of PSG next week, it feels like the perfect time to start Nwaneri up top.

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Chelsea will take a commanding lead back to Stamford Bridge after they hammered Legia Warsaw 3-0 away from home in the Conference League on Thursday evening.

The Blues heavily rotated their squad for the trip to Poland and one of the young players who came in scored their first goal for the club, as Tyrique George opened the scoring.

Noni Madueke added two goals to his seasonal tally in the second half with two strikes that were assisted by Jadon Sancho, which has left Enzo Maresca’s side in a terrific position ahead of the second leg.

The Conference League is the last chance for Chelsea to win a trophy before the end of the 2024/25 campaign, whilst they continue to compete for Champions League qualification from their Premier League season.

Despite the comfortable win, there were some negatives to come out of the trip to Legia Warsaw, as centre-forward Christopher Nkunku saw his penalty saved.

Chelsea’s strikers have failed to consistently perform across all competitions this season, and it is an area for concern ahead of the summer transfer window.

Why Chelsea need a new centre-forward

Nkunku’s missed penalty against Legia Warsaw means that he has now scored one goal in his last 18 appearances against Premier League level or Conference League teams.

The France international has also failed to register a goal or an assist in any of his last six matches in all competitions, as the ex-RB Leipzig man has been unable to prove his worth to the team in a centre-forward position.

Nkunku has not done enough with his chances this season to seriously push Nicolas Jackson for the starting role in the Premier League, with a return of five goals from 5.58 xG and seven ‘big chances’ missed in the Conference League this term.

Neither Jackson nor the French flop, however, have delivered ruthless performances in front of goal in the top-flight, leaving Maresca without a reliable goalscorer in the number nine position for all of his first season at Stamford Bridge.

Appearances

26

25

xG

4.83

11.70

Goals

3

9

Minutes per goal

310

208

Big chances missed

6

17

Assists

2

5

As you can see in the table above, both of Chelsea’s strikers have underperformed against their xG in the Premier League and missed more ‘big chances’ than they have managed goals scored.

These statistics show that the Blues lack a number nine who can make the most of the high-quality opportunities that the team can create for the striker in Maresca’s system, as they have racked up more than 16 xG between them.

This is why Chelsea should make signing a new centre-forward a big priority to bolster their squad in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Chelsea open talks to sign Premier League striker

According to journalist Simon Phillips’ Substack, Chelsea have opened talks to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The report claims that the Blues have ‘reopened’ discussions over a deal to bring the England U21 international to Stamford Bridge to compete with Jackson and Nkunku for a starting spot in the team next season.

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It states that the Premier League giants are ‘very serious’ about getting a move over the line for the former Manchester City star and that they want to get it done before the Club World Cup kicks off in the middle of June.

The Guardian recently reported that Delap has a clause in his contract that will allow him to leave Ipswich for £30m this summer if the Tractor Boys are relegated from the division. They are currently placed in 18th and are 12th points adrift with seven matches to go.

This suggests that it could be a fairly reasonably priced deal for Chelsea to complete this summer, which is one of a number of reasons why the Blues should ensure that they win the race for his services.

Why Chelsea should sign Liam Delap

As well as his price tag, the club should swoop to sign Delap from Ipswich because he could supercharge Cole Palmer by providing the England international with the clinical number nine that he has yet to have in a Chelsea shirt.

The Tractor Boys star has outperformed Jackson and Nkunku in the Premier League this season, in what is his first season in the top-flight after loan spells with Stoke City and Hull City in the Championship in recent years.

As you can see in the graphic above, Delap has scored three more goals and missed seven fewer ‘big chances’ in comparison to the Senegal international, outperforming his xG by roughly three goals.

The 22-year-old marksman, who joined Ipswich from Manchester City last summer, has also shown that he can do it against some of the top teams in the league, as shown by the goal against Aston Villa in the clip below.

Delap has proven himself to be a Premier League-grade centre-forward who can excel in front of goal by outperforming his xG, which suggests that he would thrive alongside a creative talent like Palmer.

Appearances

34

30

Goals

22

14

Key passes

72

75

Big chances created

17

20

Assists

11

7

As you can see in the table above, the Chelsea superstar has created a staggering 37 ‘big chances’ for his teammates since the start of last season, but has only been rewarded with 18 assists for his efforts.

This suggests that Palmer has suffered as a result of the underperformance of Chelsea’s strikers – Nkunku and Jackson – and that is why he could be supercharged by the signing of a clinical forward like Delap.

The left-footed playmaker’s assist tally could balloon next season if he has a striker, like the £30m-rated star, who can outperform his xG instead of underperforming, to create ‘big chances’ for on a regular basis.

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It is now down to the club to push to win the race for Delap in the summer transfer window and the latest report on them opening talks to sign him is a step in the right direction.

Manchester City will be hoping to claim the FA Cup for the third time under Pep Guardiola this season. It might not make up for a truly dismal campaign in the Premier League and Champions League, but it might offer some solace heading into the summer.

Results and form have improved over the previous few months. Guardiola did go big in the winter transfer window, splashing out around £190m on several signings. Given how well some of them have settled, this could prove to be a masterstroke ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The likes of Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Nico Gonzalez have settled in nicely at City and could take the club into a new era from this summer onwards.

There is still plenty of work to be done to this squad, however, especially with the news that Kevin De Bruyne will depart after 11 years once the season is complete.

City will find it hard to replace a player who registered 284 goal contributions across 417 matches for the club. But that is the challenge awaiting Guardiola.

Elsewhere, he will also be keen to add some more attacking firepower to his first-team squad. Could this involve raiding one of the best teams in Europe this season?

Manchester City eyeing move for PSG starlet

According to TEAMtalk, City are considering a stunning move for Paris Saint-Germain starlet Desire Doue this summer in a bid to bolster their attacking options.

Manchester United are another Premier League side who are keen on securing his signature, while Chelsea and Arsenal, who both tried to sign him before his move to PSG, may well reignite their interest in the player.

Guardiola is an admirer of the teenager and has even sent scouts to monitor his performances for PSG over the previous few months. It appears as though he has been impressed, and this could lead to a bid being made this summer.

The French side will not be keen to lose him and will only listen to offers of €100m (£85m) or above for Doue.

There is no doubt that PSG’s youngster is one of the most talented teenagers on the continent at this moment in time. Signing him this summer could potentially be as transformative a signing as when Erling Haaland made the move from Borussia Dortmund to City back in 2022.

Erling Haaland has been one of City’s best-ever signings

Haaland was one of the most in-demand centre-forwards in the world before his move to England. After scoring 86 goals in just 89 matches for the German side, City won the race for his signature, paying a reported fee of £51.2m for the Norwegian forward.

This has turned out to be a massive bargain. At the time of writing, Haaland has netted 120 goals across 138 appearances for Guardiola, and his signing led to the most impressive season in City’s history.

Indeed, the club won a treble of Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League during the 2022/23 season, finally claiming glory in Europe’s premier club competition.

Haaland’s 52 goals in all competitions went a long way to the club achieving this feat, and the striker also helped propel them to a record fourth consecutive Premier League title last season.

Of course, he isn’t easy on the eye and perhaps lacks the work rate of others in the team, but his record in the final third is second to none.

Despite enduring his least productive spell this season since joining, he still ranks in the top 6% for goals (0.76) per 90 and in the top 4% for shots on target (1.96) per 90 when compared to his peers in the Premier League.

A move for Doue may well get Haaland back to his devastating best ahead of next season, no doubt about that.

Why Manchester City should sign Desire Doue

It is no secret that Guardiola has had plenty of issues on the left flank this season. Jack Grealish has scored just three goals all season when being deployed out wide. Jeremy Doku has also struggled at times, netting six goals throughout the entire season, starting just 19 games in all competitions.

Doue would add something different to this area. Indeed, for PSG this term, the youngster has registered 25 goal involvements – 13 goals and 12 assists – which have helped power the club to another Ligue 1 title and a Champions League semi-final.

Desire Doué’s stats for PSG this season

Metric

Champions League

Ligue 1

Goals

3

6

Assists

2

6

Big chances created

4

16

Shots per game

1.8

1.9

Key passes per game

0.9

1.9

Via Sofascore

The future is bright for the Frenchman, and his move to PSG has helped showcase his talents.

He was praised heavily by respected analyst Ben Mattinson earlier this year, who said of the youngster: “Absolute genius and freak profile. Look how comfortable he is in all these different zones. How he can create something out of nothing.”

Genius indeed. When compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Doue ranks in the top 11% for shot-creating actions (5.24), and in the top 8% for progressive passes (6.67), progressive carries (5.69) and successful take-ons (3.01) per 90 in the previous 365 days.

These statistics highlight just how effective the teenager is in the final third, and he has proven so during his first season at PSG.

Many players of his age might have struggled to cope with the demands of leading the club to a maiden Champions League trophy, but Doue has been sensational.

This will also give Guardiola plenty of confidence that the youngster could sparkle for City should he make the move to England this summer.

Marmoush has offered some dynamism to the club’s attacking output in recent months, but bringing in a talent like Doue could take City back to the summit of the Premier League table.

They will have to break the bank to sign him, but there is no doubt a move for the French teen sensation could turn out to be their most important signing since Haaland arrived three years ago.

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Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are now considering the possibility of poaching a star from Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca now prepared to let him go.

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Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is currently preparing for his most important match since taking over as manager.

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The Lilywhites take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, and many see the tie as pivotal in determining Postecoglou’s long-term future at N17.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures	Date
Wolves (away)	April 13th
Nottingham Forest (home)	April 21st
Liverpool (away)	April 27th
West Ham (away)	May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)	May 10th

It is truly Europa League or bust for the Australian, who is relying on a good run in Europe to have anything to shout about from this campaign. Sitting 14th in the table after 16 defeats in the league alone, Postecoglou is statistically on course to become Spurs’ worst ever Premier League manager.

He’ll be desperate to make history in the Europa and restore some of his reputation, amid protests surrounding the club’s unpopular ownership by supporters. Large sections of the Spurs fanbase rallied against Daniel Levy and ENIC again on Sunday, so there is continuous pressure on the board to start delivering on-field success.

They warmed up for their clash with Frankfurt in solid fashion, relegating bottom side Southampton, with goals from Brennan Johnson (2) and a late Mathys Tel penalty handing Spurs all three points.

As Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is repeatedly linked with becoming the new Tottenham manager to replace Postecoglou, major uncertainty surrounds the 59-year-old’s future, but the Spurs recruitment team are also planning for new players ahead of next term.

Tottenham planning "surprise" move for Chelsea star Noni Madueke

According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, Chelsea winger and England international Noni Madueke is on their radar.

Tottenham are planning a “surprise” move for Madueke this summer, while it is also believed that Maresca will sanction his exit, which would free up a move for the north Londoners to strike a deal for PSV Eindhoven’s ex-starlet.

At his best, Madueke has really shone as part of Chelsea’s front three this term, especially during the first half of 2024/2025, but Maresca apparently has doubts whether the 23-year-old can fit into his system long-term.

As a result, Tottenham could look to re-sign Madueke seven years after he departed their youth set-up for PSV.

“He is top,” said personal technical coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst to Sky Sports.

“For me, he is one of the best young forward players in Europe, easily. A lot of focus has been on Cody Gakpo at PSV, because of the World Cup, but Noni is up there.

“He is one of the best, if not the best, because he is so dynamic, so strong in one-v-ones, so technically gifted, so athletic.”

According to GiveMeSport, Chelsea would sell for a “marginal profit” on the £29 million they paid to initially sign Madueke, so Levy wouldn’t have to break the bank. However, they also report that Aston Villa and Newcastle are in the race.

Celtic clinched their fourth Scottish Premiership title in as many seasons on Saturday after they hammered Dundee United 5-0 at Tannadice Park.

The Hoops ran riot on their way to the trophy with a five-star display against Jim Goodwin’s side, as Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn scored two goals each and Ryan Strain scored an own goal.

Brendan Rodgers has now won the league title in Scotland in all four of his full seasons in charge of the club, and has the chance to win the treble if his team can beat Aberdeen in the final of the SFA Cup at Hampden Park.

The Northern Irish head coach won the Premiership and the League Cup in his first year back at Parkhead in the 2023/24 campaign, having left in 2019 to join Leicester City.

Rodgers had initially joined the Scottish giants ahead of the 2016/17 campaign and won the league title that year and in the 2017/18 season, before eventually departing before the end of his third term.

The Celtic manager had some terrific players, as he does with the current squad, during that first spell at Parkhead, including winger Scott Sinclair.

Why Scott Sinclair was a star for Brendan Rodgers

The English forward was one of the first signings made by Rodgers in the summer of 2016, joining on a permanent deal from Aston Villa for a fee that could rise to £4.5m.

This was a move that made a lot of sense at the time because the Northern Irish boss had already managed Sinclair at Championship and Premier League level with Swansea City, and the winger scored 35 goals in 90 matches for the Welsh outfit under the boss.

Sinclair hit the ground running with a tremendous debut campaign in Scottish football in the 2016/17 campaign. The £4.5m signing ended that term with a return of 25 goals and ten assists in 50 appearances in all competitions, including 21 goals in 35 Premiership outings.

Celtic’s wing wizard followed that up with 18 goals and 17 assists in 55 games in all competitions for the Hoops in the 2017/18 campaign, helping Rodgers to win a second title in as many seasons in Glasgow.

The manager left before the end of the 2018/19 campaign, but Sinclair still managed to rack up 17 goals and seven assists in 43 matches in all competitions before the head coach’s move to Leicester.

As you can see in the clips above, the English dynamo had the quality to mix great movement inside the box to score ‘easy’ goals with the technical ability and invention to find the back of the net from range with stunning strikes.

Sinclair was an electric attacker who was a star for Rodgers because he could consistently provide quality at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a creator.

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Some people may look at the form that Daizen Maeda has produced on the pitch for Celtic this season and suggest that he is the manager’s new version of Sinclair, but that is not the case.

Why Daizen Maeda is not the new Scott Sinclair

The Japan international has been in phenomenal form in the current campaign for the Scottish giants, with a return of 33 goals and nine assists in 46 appearances in all competitions.

There is no denying that the 27-year-old attacker has been a superstar for the Hoops, but 14 of those 33 goals have been scored with him playing in a centre-forward position.

Maeda is more of a fox in the box, whether he starts out wide on the left or through the middle as a striker, as all of his goals in the Premiership and the Champions League have been scored from inside the box.

This suggests that the Japanese attacker is not particularly similar to Sinclair, who only played four matches as a striker in his entire Celtic career, because he is more of an inside forward rather than a traditional winger.

Maeda may not be the new Sinclair at Parkhead for Rodgers, but the Celtic manager may have unearthed his next version of the winger in Nicolas Kuhn.

How Nicolas Kuhn is similar to Scott Sinclair

Despite playing on the opposite wing to Sinclair, who operated on the left flank, the German forward has a lot of similarities to the former Hoops sensation.

Like the English whiz, Kuhn is an out-and-out winger who has played on the wing in all 51 of his starts for the club in all competitions to date, with 48 of those coming on the right wing.

The former Rapid Vienna star has scored 21 goals and provided 17 assists in 64 matches for the Bhoys to date, including 18 goals and 14 assists in 46 appearances this term.

As you can see in the clip above, Kuhn has shown that he has the quality to deliver terrific goals on the biggest stage, finding the back of the net from distance against RB Leipzig in the Champions League earlier this term.

Appearances

40

39

Goals

20

15

Shots from outside the box

5

13

Goals from outside the box

0

2

Dribbles completed per game

0.7

1.8

Assists

9

9

As you can see in the table above, the German attacker offers more of a traditional wide threat in comparison to Maeda, because he likes to dribble at opposition full-backs to create attacks out of nothing, and the winger is willing to take on more shots from distance to score stunning goals.

This shows that Rodgers has unearthed his new version of Sinclair in Kuhn, because he is another wing wizard who can provide consistent quality as a goalscorer, mixing finishes inside the box with quality long-range strikes and exciting dribbling, whereas Maeda is more of a striker in the way that he plays, whether that is as a centre-forward or starting on the left.

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Hopefully, the German attacker can continue to deliver in the final third in the weeks, months, and years to come under Rodgers to enjoy as successful a Celtic career as Sinclair did.

Ipswich Town have now finally been put out of their Premier League misery with Saturday’s disappointing 3-0 defeat at Newcastle United officially confirming their inevitable relegation.

Kieran McKenna’s side have managed to raise some smiles among their fanbase recently with a draw on the road at Chelsea one memorable result across April, alongside a 2-1 win away at Andoni Iraola’s tough AFC Bournemouth outfit, but back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and the Magpies proved to be the fatal body blow.

Ipswich’s task on Tyneside to try and pick up an unexpected win was made ever more difficult by Ben Johnson’s dismissal deep into the first half, with the number 18 letting his side down massively on the big occasion.

Johnson's performance in numbers

Unfortunately, this will have soured Johnson’s reputation amongst the Suffolk masses, considering he had been in the good books after scoring and assisting in that aforementioned 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

But, at St James’ Park, the ex-West Ham United man lost his cool, with two quickfire bookings – the second being a petulant drag back of Alexander Isak’s shirt – resulting in the 25-year-old despondently trudging off the pitch.

Soon after, the exciting striker he fouled would fire the Magpies into the lead from the penalty spot, with the result only pointing in one direction from then on in.

When he was still on the St James’ Park turf, Johnson would throw himself about admirably with four duels won, but that positive number meant very little after the red card was brandished.

Still, he wasn’t the sole underperformer from the away side’s perspective, with one of Johnson’s teammates enduring an equally frustrating afternoon as Ipswich’s Premier League fate was sealed.

Ipswich dud was as bad as Johnson

Ipswich were hanging on for dear life throughout the first half, with the direct aftermath of Johnson’s dismissal even seeing Luke Woolfenden clear a Newcastle effort off the line.

McKenna would have been praying that his team could hold out until the half-time interval to regroup, but Julio Enciso would rashly tangle with an advancing Jacob Murphy in the box during first-half added-on time to his manager’s dismay, leading to a spot-kick being given.

Away from this incident, Enciso struggled throughout his choppy 71-minute spell against Howe’s men, with the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee only able to register one effort at Nick Pope’s net.

Moreover, the 21-year-old attacker only amassed one successful dribble from five attempted, on top of only completing a meagre eight accurate passes from his unmemorable 31 touches of the ball.

Minutes played

71

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

31

Accurate passes

8/12 (67%)

Possession lost

15x

Shots

1

Successful dribbles

1/5

Total duels won

4/17

Stats by Sofascore

The lacklustre numbers don’t stop there, with Enciso, unlike Johnson, timid when asserting himself into duels versus the Toon, leading to a bumper 13 duels being lost by the Paraguayan.

It could well be time for McKenna to axe the out-of-sorts South American despite previously notching up an impressive four goal contributions donning Ipswich blue, knowing full well the 21-year-old will just return back to the comforts of the Seagulls shortly when his Portman Road deal expires.

Conor Chaplin was given a brief run-out in his place against Newcastle and is more likely to stick it out with the Tractor Boys when EFL football is served back up, with McKenna and Co bruised by relegation but already hopeful of an immediate return when their Premier League adventure ends next month.

Ipswich now pursue new deal for £27,500-a-week star amid Burnley interest

Burnley and Leeds are once again going head-to-head but this time off the pitch.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 24, 2025

Leeds United will be playing Premier League football in the 2025/26 campaign after they secured their promotion from the Championship earlier this month.

The Whites celebrated their ascension to the top-flight after Burnley’s win over Sheffield United on Easter Monday, which came shortly after their own 6-0 win over Stoke City at Elland Road.

Daniel Farke and his staff will now be looking ahead to the summer transfer window, although there is still one more match to play against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park this afternoon.

It is going to be a critical summer of business for the West Yorkshire outfit because they know that they have to build a squad that is capable of avoiding an instant relegation from the Premier League.

This means that the players in the current squad will be under the microscope as Farke will have to judge which players are good enough to make the step up, and which of them will need to be replaced with better talents.

One of the stars whose place in the squad is up in the air heading into next season is centre-forward Joel Piroe, who is unproven at Premier League level.

Why Joel Piroe may not be Premier League quality

There is no doubt that the former Swansea star has been a key player for the Whites in this promotion-winning campaign with his goals and assists.

Piroe has racked up 19 goals and seven assists in 45 appearances in the Championship so far this term, and is currently the top scorer in the division – leading by two goals – ahead of the final round of matches today.

This shows that the Dutchman has been the most effective goalscorer in the second tier, as no one has scored more than him, but that does not guarantee that he will be a success in the Premier League.

Sammie Szmodics (27), Adam Armstrong (21), and Leeds’ Crysencio Summerville (19) ended the 2023/24 campaign as the top three scorers in the Championship, and all went on to play in the Premier League this season.

This season, Szmodics (four), Armstrong (two), and Summerville (one) have combined for seven goals in the Premier League for their respective clubs, which illustrates just how big the gap is between the second and the first tier.

Appearances

45

Goals

19

Assists

7

Duels won per game

1.6

Ground duel success rate

33%

Aerial duel success rate

20%

As you can see in the table above, Piroe has made an impact at the top end of the pitch, but he has also been dominated in physical battles.

This suggests that he could fall the same way as the likes of Szmodics, Armstrong, and Summerville, who are all slight in frame, by failing to make the step up to the Premier League.

Leeds eyeing up Premier League striker

The Whites could, however, sign a striker who is way better than Piroe as they are reportedly keen on a star who has already proven himself in the Premier League.

According to The Boy Hotspur, as relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds United are one of a number of clubs to have shown an interest in Tottenham Hotspur centre-forward Richarlison.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that the Whites, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fluminense, Al Hilal, and Al Shabab are among the teams keen on a swoop for the Brazil international.

It also states that Everton are already in talks with Spurs over a deal to sign the versatile attacker, who left Goodison Park to join Tottenham in the first place.

The outlet adds that the Premier League side would like to sell him permanently, for a fee in the region of £30m, but that a loan with an obligation to buy the forward next summer is also a possibility.

With this in mind, Leeds must push to win the race for the Brazilian striker’s signature because he could come in as a way better option than Piroe next season.

Why Richarlison is way better than Joel Piroe

Richarlison is a Premier League-proven centre-forward who would come in as an experienced, high-quality, option for Farke at the top end of the pitch.

The 27-year-old star, who was once described as a “goalmouth monster” by Ange Postecoglou, has scored five goals in 19 appearances in an injury-hampered season this year, but did produce 12 goals in 31 games in all competitions for Spurs last term.

Richarlison has a good track record of scoring goals throughout his Premier League career with Watford, Everton, and Spurs in his eight years in England, which means that Leeds would be signing a player who is a known quantity in the top-flight.

Whereas, Piroe has yet to make an appearance in the top-flight and his goals in the Championship are not enough, as proven by last year’s top scorers, to suggest that he will be a star in the Premier League.

24/25

14

4

103

1

23/24

28

11

137

4

22/23

27

1

1,023

4

21/20

30

10

253

5

20/21

34

7

410

3

19/20

36

13

237

3

18/19

35

13

206

2

17/18

38

5

565

4

As you can see in the table above, Richarlison, bar a disappointing 2022/23 campaign, has been a reliable presence at the top end of the pitch throughout his time in the league.

The Brazil international has also scored 20 goals in 48 caps for his country at international level, whilst Piroe is yet to be capped by the Netherlands, which further illustrates the gap in quality between the two players.

These statistics, in club and international football, suggest that Richarlison would be a way better option for Leeds than the Dutch marksman, who is set to fight against history to prove himself in the Premier League after a decent goal return in the Championship.

Bad news for Byram: Leeds want to sign "outstanding" £34k-per-week star

Leeds are reportedly interested in signing a Premier League defender, and it is bad news for Sam Byram.

ByDan Emery May 1, 2025

Therefore, Leeds should push to sign the Brazilian star from Spurs in the upcoming summer transfer window because it would provide Farke with a Premier League-proven goalscorer who has the quality to hit double figures for goals in the league, whilst there are still big question marks over Piroe’s suitability for the top-flight.

Chelsea would have been expecting a tricky contest against Arne Slot’s Liverpool, but would have remained hopeful of a positive result off the back of the Reds potentially dropping the ball after being crowned Premier League champions a week ago.

The Dutchman would make considerable alterations – seen in the likes of Jarell Quansah starting at the back ahead of Ibrahima Konate – yet the manner in which Enzo Maresca’s Blues brushed aside the Reds 3-1 was still impressive, considering that was only Liverpool’s third loss of the season to date.

Now, Chelsea are only four points off Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in second spot, away from their pursuit of a Champions League position.

To clinch a top-five place though, Maresca will know he needs Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez performing at the same unbelievable levels they managed against Liverpool for the rest of the campaign to come.

Fernandez & Palmer's importance to Chelsea

Before exploring Fernandez’s superb day at the office further, Palmer would end up clinching the three points right at the death for Chelsea, meaning he’s now in an illustrious list of past Blues goalscorers.

It was a top-drawer showing from the former Manchester City attacker throughout, with Palmer notching up four key passes as a constantly creative menace, on top of beating Alisson from the penalty spot with an ice-cold finish.

Whilst it’s expected that Palmer will be able to bury chances considering he’s up to 15 Premier League strikes now, Fernandez’s composure was a joy to behold too during the 3-1 win, with this perfect touch and finish after just three minutes setting the tone for Chelsea to collect all three points.

Much like his electric teammate, however, the South American is a team player for the Blues cause, with four duels won, displaying the ugly side of his game, away from nearly adding to this seven assists in the league when collecting two key passes.

Both players are stalwarts under Maresca and for good reason, but there’s another standout performer who is equally as paramount to Chelsea right now, away from this spectacular duo.

Performance in Numbers

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The Chelsea star who is as important as Fernandez & Palmer

The West Londoners really do seem to be entering their stride at the best possible time, considering the Blues have now won their last three Premier League clashes on the trot, even with Slot’s intimidating Liverpool in their way.

These victories are made to look even more impressive when you take into account Moises Caicedo – who usually lines up in the centre of the park – has had to be drafted into the right-back position as of late, but the £115m star’s versatile nature has just managed to shine through regardless.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

53

Accurate passes

29/31 (94%)

Key passes

1

Accurate crosses

1/1

Accurate long balls

1/1

Clearances

5

Blocked shots

1

Interceptions

1

Tackles

2

Total duels won

7/10

The expensive 23-year-old is beginning to prove his worth as a full package, with Caicedo exiting the field of play after the 3-1 win with only two misplaced passes next to his name, leading to a 94% pass accuracy being calculated.

But, he also battled well – much like Palmer and Fernandez – when necessary, with a high seven duels won across the course of his stellar 90 minutes, away from winning the hosts that late decisive spot-kick when moved back into the midfield areas.

Handed out an 8/10 post-match rating by London Evening Standard journalist Malik Ouzia, it looks as if Maresca will continue to pick Caicedo alongside Palmer and Fernandez for the foreseeable, knowing full well this trio are ready for the potential Champions League challenge that awaits.

Before anything is set in stone, however, Chelsea will just need to keep picking up the wins, with a very tough fixture away at Newcastle United up next, one that will show off the character of Maresca’s camp.

Their own Isak: Chelsea make approach to sign "tremendous" £60m talisman

Chelsea could be about to land a star who could be their own version of Alexander Isak.

ByEthan Lamb May 3, 2025

Arsenal are now in talks to seal an early summer deal for a “sensational” striker, who has now emerged as their top target, according to a report.

Gunners' striker pursuit heating up

These are exciting times for the Gunners, who are daring to dream after defeating Real Madrid over two legs to reach the Champions League semi-final, but there is a feeling a top striker could be the final piece of the jigsaw in their Premier League title pursuit next season.

As such, the north Londoners are now ramping up their pursuit of a new forward, and talks have now been held over a deal for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, with sporting director Andre Berta trying to convince the Slovenian to move to the Emirates Stadium.

However, given that a deal for Sesko could amount to £58m, there may be a temptation to look at a cheaper alternative, and talks have also been held over Lille striker Jonathan David, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer.

Kiwior upgrade: Arsenal want to sign "the most in-demand CB in the world"

The tremendously exciting prospect could be incredible for Arsenal.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 21, 2025

Mikel Arteta’s side have expressed clear interest in Sesko and David, but a different striker is now their first choice option for the summer transfer window.

According to a report from Football Insider, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres is now Arsenal’s top target, and they have opened talks to sign the Sweden international in an early summer deal.

Berta is known to be an admirer of Gyokeres, and the sporting director is driving the pursuit, with negotiations ongoing to try and convince him about the move to north London, while the Gunners are also attempting to put a package together.

The Sporting CP star becoming the north Londoners’ top target is the latest ‘twist’ in their pursuit of a new striker, with bringing in an elite forward deemed to be a priority heading into the summer window.

"Sensational" Gyokeres is a goal machine

Despite having an £86m release clause, Fabrizio Romano has revealed the Swedish striker will cost up to £60m this summer, which seems a reasonable fee, given just how impressive his goal and assist record has been this season.

Competition	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Liga Portugal	29	34	7
Champions League	8	6	0
Taca de Portugal	5	3	2
Allianz Cup	3	4	0
Supertaca	1	0	2

The 26-year-old was lauded as “sensational” by Richard Keys earlier in the campaign, and his performances in Portugal indicate that he is now ready to make the step-up to a top club.

While there may be some concerns that Gyokeres is yet to prove himself in a major league, his Champions League exploits this season suggest he could be a fantastic signing for Arsenal, and potentially the missing piece of the jigsaw in their title bid.