Whilst there’s no doubt that Pep Guardiola the manager will go down as one of the greatest to ever step foot inside the technical area, it’s still worth noting down just how impressive Guardiola the midfielder was.
The Spaniard ended his playing career with one Champions League to his name, six Spanish titles, an Olympic gold medal and plenty more in an incredible career which largely featured success with Barcelona. It’s a credit to his managerial work that his time on the pitch is often placed second in his long list of achievements.
Not everyone has forgotten the player before the manager, however, and the late great Johan Cruyff previously took the time to praise both versions of Guardiola.
The former Barcelona star also featured in one of the most star-studded eras in football history. He shared a dressing room with Ronald Koeman, Ronaldo Nazário and Romario, whilst squaring off against the likes of Raul and Roberto Carlos.
One player he didn’t have the pleasure of meeting on the pitch or in the dressing room, however, is Wayne Rooney. Instead, Guardiola was forced to appreciate the Manchester United legend from the technical area at both Manchester City and Barcelona, which only peaked his appreciation for the former England star.
The Man City boss even went as far as describing Rooney as “one of the best” that he has seen in his career back in 2014. Yet, as impressed as he so often was by one of the Premier League’s greats, Guardiola also previously claimed that Rooney’s England teammate was, in fact, far harder to play against.
Guardiola reveals why Crouch was harder to play against than Rooney
It almost somehow feels absolutely right that Guardiola would have a special appreciation for a player like Peter Crouch. Whilst often underrated by many, Crouch can now say that he once had the full attention of arguably the greatest manager of all time.
The Man City boss wrote a series of columns about the 2006 World Cup and took the opportunity to reveal why Crouch is tougher to play against than the legendary Rooney.
In just a small insight into the mind of Guardiola even before he became the manager that he is today, Crouch received some of the highest praise of his career.
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Alas, it is certainly praise that he deserves. The former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur striker ended his time on the pitch with a total of 108 top flight goals and remains one of the most technical tall strikers that the Premier League has seen, also racking up 22 strikes for England in just 42 caps.
Liverpool have made massive progress in their efforts to sign a Premier League player before deadline day, submitting an offer for his services.
Liverpool handed Alexander Isak boost
The Reds’ pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has become increasingly frustrating, with the Magpies proving stubborn, not least because they haven’t been able to sign a sufficient replacement.
That has now changed, however, with VfB Stuttgart star Nick Woltemade reportedly closing in on a move to St James’ Park in a big-money transfer.
Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has said that it has paved the way for Liverpool to now go on and complete the signing of Isak, with Newcastle also keen on signing Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
The ball is now in the Reds’ court, in terms of tabling an improved second offer for the Swede, as they look to bring him in and make him the most expensive signing in the history of British football. Now, another player could also be on his way to Anfield in the coming days.
Liverpool make £40m offer for Marc Guehi
According to Football Insider, Liverpool and FSG have now made a bid of £36m plus £4m in add-ons for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, as they look to snap him up before the window closes.
It is the amount that the Eagles are “looking for”, having already lost Eberechi Eze to Arsenal this summer, with the report adding that the Reds have “finally made their move”.
After a frustrating few weeks in the transfer market for Liverpool, things do now excitingly appear to be falling into place at the perfect time, both in terms of Guehi and Isak.
The former may not be the record-breaking addition that the latter could be, but he would be a fantastic signing in his own right, pushing Ibrahima Konate for a starting berth from the off, especially given the Frenchman’s poor current form.
Guehi is an unflappable figure who has impressed so much for both Palace and England in recent years, with Gareth Southgate waxing lyrical about his performances at Euro 2024 last summer.
“He’s been exceptional. We obviously lose him now for the next game, but he’s a young defender that we’ve had enormous belief in and he’s justified that with his performances in this tournament.”
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Liverpool have to wait for two deals to be completed first.
ByCallum Kemp Aug 28, 2025
At 25, Guehi is at the perfect age to come in and be a hit for Liverpool, proving himself in the Premier League, and the move could be beneficial to him as he looks to reach another level, especially improving his chances of starting for England at next year’s World Cup.
Sheffield United have endured a miserable start to the Championship season, though they now want a Sheffield Wednesday ace before Monday’s deadline.
Sheffield United lose again at Middlesbrough
Five matches into the season, and five straight defeats across all competitions for Ruben Selles have put the Blades’ promotion hopes at risk even at an early stage in the campaign, with the club rooted to the bottom of the table without a single point.
Despite a narrow defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Saturday, Sheffield United were second-best by a long shot and away supporters made their feelings known that Selles should be relieved of his duties.
Responding to speculation surrounding his future, the former Hull City boss made it clear that he isn’t in control of what happens next despite a torrid start in the dugout.
He told the Wiltshire Times: “Listen, I cannot control the situation. I will expect to go to my house tonight and then tomorrow go to work and then continue as normal. It’s not in my hands to make a decision.
“And until the very last moment, I will just do my best and try to do my things. When the situation is not in my control, I don’t think too much about what is going to happen in the future. Because realistically, I do as much as I can.”
With a scramble set to take place ahead of the transfer deadline, Sheffield United are advancing in talks to sign Chelsea midfielder Alex Matos, though it isn’t clear whether he would arrive on a permanent deal or loan agreement.
Either way, the Blades need improvements after a shoddy time of things under Selles and have now made a controversial offer to sign a rival player.
Sheffield United receive response to Bailey Cadamarteri bid
According to The Star, Sheffield United have seen a shock £1 million bid for Bailey Cadamarteri rejected by rivals Sheffield Wednesday, while Blackburn Rovers have also been knocked back after making a similar approach.
Although the Owls are desperate to keep their man, it is believed that further bids will arrive before the window closes on Monday evening, and it remains to be seen whether they will bite in light of well-documented off-field problems.
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Labelled “dangerous” by former boss Danny Rohl, the 20-year-old scored against Wrexham earlier this month and would be the first player to join Sheffield United after playing for Sheffield Wednesday since Max Lowe.
Undoubtedly, any such move would cause controversy, though it is understood that he has no desire to cross the divide or to leave his current surroundings by his own violation.
Nevertheless, financial problems at Sheffield Wednesday will make it harder to turn down offers than usual, so it remains to be seen how this one plays out.
Paarl Royals have become the first team to qualify for the SA20 2025 playoffs with an 11-run win over Pretoria Capitals by “just doing the simple things well”, according to local hero Bjorn Fortuin. The left-arm spinner, who is from the Boland, has played all his franchise T20 cricket for teams based at this venue, and understands the secret to success is being able to slow things down.”We’ve played here quite a bit now, so I’ve sort of tailored a lot of my game plan towards playing in conditions like this,” Fortuin had said after Royals’ win over Joburg Super Kings earlier this week. “I wouldn’t quite call it subcontinent conditions, but it definitely lends itself towards that type of game plan.”Keeping things simple is a big part of doing well here. In the past, we’ve had quite explosive players. Sometimes they come off, sometimes they don’t. This season, there’s been a lot more consistency, and playing well at home contributes to that.”Related
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The Boland, 50 kms inland from Cape Town, is hot and dry in peak summer, and the surfaces get more difficult for run-scoring as the season grows long. Saturday’s pitch, which was slow and low, was a perfect example of that. Fortuin has spent his early domestic career here and has played five years of T20 franchise cricket for teams based in Paarl: two years with Paarl Rocks in the now-defunct Mzansi Super League, and three in the SA20. He has adapted his game for exactly these conditions, particularly with the new ball.Fortuin is often used in the powerplay to put the pressure on upfront and usually also make a few crucial incisions. Across the three seasons of SA20, Fortuin’s economy rate of 6.08 in the powerplay is the best among bowlers who have delivered at least 15 overs in that phase. His 20 wickets in the same period is the joint most with Marco Jansen. It includes the likes of Quinton de Kock, Dewald Brevis and Ryan Rickelton (all twice); Devon Conway, Faf du Plessis, Kyle Mayers and Kusal Mendis; and on Saturday, the destructive Afghan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz.In another country, Fortuin’s record and reputation might see him walk straight into the national squad. But the presence of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi means he plays infrequently for South Africa, and has also missed out on the Champions Trophy squad. Fortuin said the snub is “not something I can comment on right now” as he focuses on SA20 success, where Royals have set the pace, particularly with their spinners.This season, Fortuin has been joined by offspinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Joe Root, and left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage. Between them, they are dominating every bowling stat in the competition so far. Mujeeb is currently the joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament, while Wellalage and Fortuin have the two lowest economy rates. Root has bowled 16 overs thus far – perhaps more than he expected to – and on Saturday, Royals added legspinner Nqaba Peter in the first all-spin attack in a T20 in South Africa.This season at Paarl Royals, Bjorn Fortuin has been joined by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Joe Root and Dunith Wellalage•SA 20
Their tactics caught Pretoria Capitals by surprise and helped Royals achieve the second-lowest successful defense in SA20 history.”Looking at their team, we were trying to find the seamers when we saw the line-up,” Rilee Rossouw, Capitals’ captain, said. “It’s definitely something different. It’s something that we are not so accustomed to, especially here in South Africa. Credit also has to go to their bowlers and how they went about their business.”That statement might apply to the tournament as a whole. Royals have only lost one game so far – to their neighbours MI Cape Town – and have won all four at home. This is the third successive season that Royals have made it to the knockout stage, but have yet to make a final. And they will be wary of dropping form at the business end, as they have done in the past.In 2023, they won five of their first eight matches, and then lost two of the last three. Last year, after only losing only one of their first six matches, they finished on a five-match losing streak, including defeat in the knockouts.”So we won’t count our chickens too early,” Fortuin said. “The past two seasons, we’ve had good starts and then sort of fallen away towards the back end. So we’ll take it game by game.”Coach Trevor Penney on Lungi Ngidi: “He was out [with a groin injury] for eight weeks. So he’s on a programme where he’s almost back now”•Sportzpics
The real test will be how they adapt to conditions up country, where three of the four playoffs – including the final – will be played, and the spinners will have less of an impact. Royals have Lungi Ngidi and Kwena Maphaka in their line-up, but neither have played the last two matches (and word from the team camp is that there are no niggles). There are also the likes of Andile Phehlukwayo, Codi Yusuf, Dayyan Galiem and Keith Dudgeon. They will have confidence from beating Capitals at SuperSport Park, and completing the highest successful chase of the SA20 earlier this season, and will travel to Johannesburg next week before the playoffs.There, Royals coach Trevor Penney expects his seam attack, and specifically Ngidi, who has not played for the last three matches, to step up.”We’ve got the balance. We’ve got the seamers that are ready to jump in,” Penney said. “With Lungi, we know big fast bowlers like him, they sometimes needed a couple of weeks to get back into that full flow and the rhythm. It’s a tough thing for fast bowlers. He was out [with a groin injury] for like eight weeks. So he’s on a programme where he’s almost back now. So we played him in the first few games so he could get some game time. And I’m sure when we go to the Highveld, he’s going to be straight back in.”Before that, Royals will sign off from Paarl with a match against Durban’s Super Giants on Monday in a goodbye to a crowd that has ridden the wave of their winning streak.”They’re very passionate. The nice thing is that they’re actually quite knowledgeable as well, so they appreciate small bits of cricket here and there,” Fortuin said. “You certainly hear it when you’re not doing well, which is a bit of extra motivation as well. The vibe here is incredible. And in the future, I do hope that we can play games here at the back end of the tournament. It would be quite cool to eventually have a home final if something like that happens.”With a capacity of 10,000, Boland Park is the smallest of the SA20 venues, and has yet to host a playoff game.
Burnley now want to sign an £8.6 million attacking midfielder who has been scouted by club chiefs, according to a recent report.
Scott Parker keen to strengthen his midfield options
As the Clarets prepare for life back in the Premier League, club chiefs have been very busy bringing in ten new players, albeit some of whom were already at Turf Moor but have now joined on a permanent basis.
The Lancashire side have added to almost all areas of the team, but with still over a month and a bit left of the transfer window, Scott Parker is keen on adding to his midfield.
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This could be a signing of real intent by the Clarets.
By
Henry Jackson
Jul 7, 2025
It emerged from Football Insider at the end of last month that Burnley are interested in signing Tomas Soucek from West Ham United. The Czechia international is out of contract next summer, and the Hammers could be interested in selling him for the right price, as he doesn’t appear to be in the plans of Graham Potter. However, a stumbling block for the Clarets is that the midfielder is on £90,000 a week, which may be too much for them to afford.
West Ham's Tomas Soucek
As well as looking at Soucek, Burnley are also in the race to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has just become a free agent after agreeing to terminate his contract at Besiktas. Teams from the Premier League and the Championship are also interested in signing the England international.
Burnley line up move for Niko Jankovic
Soucek and Chamberlain have now been joined by a new target, as according to Croatian reports relayed by Inside Futbol, Burnley are interested in signing Niko Jankovic after scouting the player extensively.
The Lancashire side are not the only team to have had scouts watching him closely, as Werder Bremen, 1. FC Nurnberg, Dynamo Kyiv, and Hellas Verona are all interested in a possible deal, as well as teams from the MLS.
The 23-year-old is out of contract next summer, but he is considered an important player by Rijeka boss Radomir Dalovic. Therefore, if Jankovic were to leave in this transfer window, it would have to be for an “excellent” offer, as they value the attacking midfielder at around €10 million, which is roughly £8.6 million.
Niko Jankovic’s HNK Rijeka stats
Apps
107
Goals
24
Assists
14
The former Croatia under-21 international joined Rijeka in 2023 on a free transfer, and apart from a spell in Stuttgart’s youth team, he has played in Croatia for his whole career. Should he arrive at Turf Moor, he would have the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Hannibal to compete with for a starting spot in that attacking midfield role.
However, the fact that Jankovic can also play on the left-hand side of midfield as well as anywhere across the frontline means his versatility could see him have a strong impact in Parker’s team throughout the campaign.
Dasun Shanaka and Dilshan Madushanka were left out, while Dushmantha Chameera missed out due to injury
Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Oct-2024Middle-order batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for the three-match series against West Indies, but former captain Dasun Shanaka was left out. With Shanaka out, 22-year-old seam-bowling allrounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who made his debut against India, keeps his spot.There was also no room for left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka. Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera failed to make the squad as well, but that is on account of an injury, which has kept him out of competitive cricket since July.Elsewhere, the squad is fairly predictable. Legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay makes it into the squad proper this time, after impressing as Wanindu Hasaranga’s replacement during the ODI series against India. Hasaranga himself is back as well.Dinesh Chandimal, who was named in the squad against India, but has not played a match in this format since 2022, retains his place, helped perhaps by his good performances in the Test format.Meanwhile, Rajapaksa, 32, hasn’t played for Sri Lanka since January 2023, and doesn’t come in with a lot of form, having been only a middling performer for St Lucia Kings at the recently-concluded CPL. But he has been picked on past performances, as Sri Lanka seek hitters who can close out innings – a long-term problem for them.Madushanka’s omission, meanwhile, is down to his having been too expensive in this format. After 15 matches, his economy rate is 9.75 – too high for a bowler who takes a wicket a match on average. But Sri Lanka have alternatives. Slingers Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, left-armer Binura Fernando, and right-arm seamer Asitha Fernando make up the frontline pace contingent.On the spin-bowling front, Sri Lanka have Hasaranga, Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage to choose from, with overs potentially to come from Kamindu Mendis as well. Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva has not made this squad.The T20Is start on Sunday, and all three of them will be played in Dambulla.Sri Lanka’s T20I squad against West IndiesCharith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando and Asitha Fernando
Now it’s time for Eddie Howe and Newcastle United to show their ability to pass through adversity once again. But then they’ve done it before.
Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford should join the St. James’ Park ranks, but there are still glaring openings in central defence, up front and out on the attacking right flank.
Stepping back into the Champions League, the 2024/25 Carabao Cup champions need more depth, especially so in the final third.
Newcastle's hunt for new forwards
Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo rattled suitors when stating he would only jump ship for Manchester United this summer, turning his head at interest from Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur.
And now, Joao Pedro is set to join Chelsea having hitherto been listed as one of Newcastle’s top targets, if not the top target.
This is deeply frustrating, for Newcastle are yet to bolster their attacking ranks whatsoever, having entered the window with this principal priority. It’s not for the want of trying, at least.
West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus has since been earmarked, while an offer for Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga, worth £50m, has already been rejected.
It’s Elanga who is the priority, with Football Insider now reporting that the Magpies are preparing an improved offer for the Sweden international.
Elanga, 23, has been a defining member of a Forest team who will compete in Europe next year, and the Tricky Trees are indeed proving tough negotiators, demanding £60m for the right winger.
He’d bring a lot to the United cause, with a silky skill set that practically demands to be combined with Alexander Isak’s.
What Anthony Elanga would bring to Newcastle
Pace, and plenty of it. Elanga left Manchester United to sign for Nottingham Forest in 2023 for just £15m, and he’s only gone from strength to strength since.
The fastest & slowest players in the Premier League (2024/25)
Over his two terms, he’s helped pull his club away from the relegation fodder and onto the continental stage, so electric and incisive down the right flank.
Nuno Espirito Santo hailed him a “special player” after one blistering counter-attack against Manchester United, bagging the sole goal in a 1-0 win back in March.
Elanga’s last two seasons
Stats (* per game)
23/24
24/25
Matches (starts)
36 (25)
38 (31)
Goals
5
6
Assists
9
11
Shots (on target)*
1.5 (0.6)
1.2 (0.6)
Big chances missed
10
6
Pass completion
75%
78%
Big chances created
14
9
Key passes*
0.9
1.3
Dribbles*
0.8
0.7
Tackles*
0.9
0.5
Duels won*
2.9
3.0
Stats via Sofascore
Having kept a pretty consistent level throughout his time at the City Ground, Elanga has now proven that he’s worth the money, athletic, purposeful and reliable with his output. The stream of assists is certainly something Isak will have his eye on.
He also demonstrated an uptick in shooting accuracy, missing as many big chances as he scored (six) in 2024/25 after squandering ten chances the year prior, bagging only five times.
This must be to the delight of Isak, who is a superstar unto himself but will perhaps raise his game even higher (just pause and imagine that) with such a presence beside him, for Isak is not just a goalscorer, but a creator and an influencer; the perfect focal point.
Forest’s star winger might have only averaged 0.7 dribbles per Premier League match last term, but that’s a tactical quirk.
This is a man who self-proclaims to be “one of the fastest players in the league”, and when you observe him in his barnstorming groove, you wouldn’t argue against it.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga
Isak would relish the chance to play with such a pacy winger, reliant on their creativity. We’ve seen the marksman’s prowess with Murphy, now imagine that with his countryman Elanga, faster and just as tenacious.
More important than Elanga: Newcastle close in on signing "world-class" ace
Eddie Howe looks close to making his first summer signing at Newcastle United.
Marnus Labuschagne pulled off an outrageous catch while playing for Glamorgan against Gloucestershire in the T20 Blast on Thursday.Fielding at long-on, he sprinted to his right and dived full-length, low to the ground to hold Ben Charlesworth’s lofted drive off legspinner Mason Crane.Labuschagne himself could barely believe he had taken the catch and sprinted off in celebration with his team-mates trying to catch him.The game itself turned into a thriller as well with Gloucestershire’s Josh Shaw hitting the last ball for six to clinch victory. Back in Australia, Labuschagne’s moment recalled memories of one that is part of cricket folklore: Adam Dale’s incredible catch in the deep during a one-day game against New South Wales at the Gabba in 1997.Related
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“I remember diving, and I still remember the stick [of the ball],” Dale recalled to on the 25-year anniversary of his catch. “It was a nice moment, but I do think I was out of position.”Labuschagne is known as an excellent fielder and has pulled off some superb run outs in both red and white-ball cricket.Earlier this week it was announced he would be Queensland captain next season, taking over from Usman Khawaja.
Chelsea’s first trophy since 2021 should hopefully give Enzo Maresca some credit in the bank and allow him the confidence to bolster his side ahead of the Champions League next season.
The Blues’ 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the Conference League final means they are the first team to win the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and now the newest tournament on the calendar.
Given the quality of their squad, it was certainly expected, but the comeback from 1-0 down on Wednesday evening was still excellent.
This sets up the Stamford Bridge side wonderfully for the Club World Cup and the summer transfer window. It appears as though they are closing in on their first signing…
Chelsea closing in on Liam Delap
Liam Delap is one of the most in-demand centre-forwards in the Premier League due to his impressive debut season in the competition.
Although Ipswich Town suffered relegation, Delap scored 12 times across his 37 matches for the Tractor Boys. In the end, his goal involvements accounted for 39% of Ipswich’s total in the top flight.
These exploits in front of goal certainly attracted plenty of admirers, including Everton, Manchester United and Newcastle United, although the Blues appear to have won the race. Fabrizio Romano delivered the news about his impending move to London on X, revealing that an “agreement” had been struck.
For £30m, Chelsea are getting a bargain, especially if he goes on to become a major success at the club in the coming years.
Aged just 22, Delap is yet to hit his peak years as a player. His breakthrough campaign for Ipswich has given the Englishman a taste for top-flight football, no doubt about that.
While he may have netted 12 goals last season, Delap often tends to drop deep, linking up well with those behind. As such, he is excellent at driving forward with the ball, taking on the opposition defence regularly.
When compared to his positional peers in the Premier League, the former Manchester City starlet ranks in the top 10% for successful take-on percentage (46.5%) and in the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.39).
Combining this with the fact he ranks in the top 23% for carries into the final third (1.6) per 90 in the top flight, it is evident Delap does some of his best work outside the penalty area.
This all-round game would suit Maresca’s style and ensure Delap doesn’t get isolated as a lone striker.
Fending off other teams to secure Delap’s signature is a coup for Chelsea. But can Maresca go a stage further and perhaps bring in someone who might be an even bigger talent than the youngster?
Chelsea’s continued search for a striker
Viktor Gyokeres has been earmarked as a potential signing for the Blues, but Arsenal seem to be the favourites for the Swedish sensation.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Victor Osimhen is also on the club’s radar, but the one player who Maresca would love to bring to Stamford Bridge is Eintracht Frankfurt centre-forward, Hugo Ekitiké.
Any potential move could cost the club around €100m (£84m) this summer, although it looks like progress is being made.
As reported by French outlet Foot Mercato, that interest in the French striker appears set to be ramped up, with talks already said to be being held.
As per the report, a meeting has been scheduled to take place this week, involving Chelsea and the player’s agents, with Frankfurt having already begun work on acquiring a replacement.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
Could the Blues be edging closer to signing another attacking talent?
Why Hugo Ekitike could be an instant Delap upgrade
Although the same age as Delap, the former PSG striker has been performing at a higher level for longer.
Indeed, he made his Ligue 1 debut during the 2020/21 season, going on to score 11 goals in just 28 games for Stade Reims in the French top flight.
Metric (per 90*)
Delap
Ekitike
Shots*
2.29
4
Shot-creating actions*
2.15
3.55
Goal-creating actions*
0.24
0.42
Progressive carries
61
93
Touches in the attacking penalty area
92
196
This, plus an extraordinarily high ceiling for development, saw PSG sign him in the summer of 2022. Lofty expectations in the French capital meant he netted only three goals for the club, starting a mere 14 games.
In truth, he was unable to displace the great triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar in Paris. Thus, a move to Frankfurt in the summer of 2023 provided plenty of solace.
Indeed, across his first two seasons with the Bundesliga side, Ekitike has netted 26 goals and registered 14 assists across 64 games. This works out as a goal involvement every 1.6 games.
Analyst and writer Sam McGuire hailed Ekitike as a “shot monster” and a “genuine goal threat” recently, and he has proven this season that he deserves another chance at a major European heavyweight.
Compared to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues, the young Frenchman has exuded superb statistics.
Not only does he rank in the top 6% for shot-creating actions (3.5) and touches in the attacking penalty area (6.73) per 90, he also ranks in the top 4% for progressive carries (3.04) and successful take-ons (1.9) per 90 across the previous 365 days.
Like Delap, he can also drop deeper to link with the midfield, but it is evident that he offers much more of a threat doing so than the Englishman.
Paying £84m for Ekitike could well be a big gamble for Chelsea, but given his statistics for Frankfurt recently, he has all the tools in his arsenal to shine in England.
Delap may be the homegrown talent, but the Frenchman looks as though he has the higher ceiling. That much is certain.
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If Manchester United’s season is to end in Europa League glory, then the Red Devils will once again only have one man to thank – Bruno Fernandes – with the talismanic skipper having been simply sensational in 2025.
Following a muted start to the campaign, which notably saw the Portuguese playmaker dismissed on three separate occasions, the 30-year-old has come alive following the January trip to Anfield, proving simply masterful as a number ten or in a deep-lying berth.
In all, the former Sporting CP star now boasts 37 goals and assists in all competitions, a return that includes 11 goals involvements from just 12 appearances in Europe’s second tier competition.
With six knockout stage goals to his name already, the £300k-per-week hero is leading Ruben Amorim’s charge toward silverware and the ensuing Champions League qualification. Let’s just hope he sticks around to reap the rewards of his impact…
The latest on Bruno Fernandes' future
Having signed a bumper new deal last summer, extending his contract until the summer of 2027, Fernandes later revealed that he had turned down an “offer” from elsewhere, in order to stay put in Manchester.
Bruno Fernandes
Such unsurprising interest appears to have been renewed by all accounts, with it having been widely reported that Saudi-based side, Al Hilal, are keen to make a mega move to sign the midfield maestro this summer,
As per GIVEMESPORT, the Saudi Pro League outfit are believed to have made Fernandes a ‘top target’ after missing out on Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, having been left with around £510m to spend amid the Egyptian’s decision to remain at Anfield.
The suggestion is that in the case of United’s captain, he has received an offer of around £65m-per-season in wages, although he is yet to respond, with alternative reports outlining that INEOS have no intention of letting their star man depart.
Perhaps, the new regime will need to convince Fernandes that a brighter future lies ahead at Old Trafford, with marquee signings needing to be made to ease the longstanding burden on his shoulders.
Latest on Man Utd's transfer search
Rumours are rife regarding United’s pursuit of wantaway Wolverhampton Wanderers man, Matheus Cunha, while Fabrizio Romano reported on Tuesday that the club are also interested in re-signing Torino goalkeeper, Vanja Milinković-Savić, with the Serbian stopper previously on the books as a teenager, albeit while failing to make a first-team appearance due to work permit issues.
Alongside the signing of a new man in the sticks to either compete with or replace Andre Onana, a further priority appears to the addition of a new centre-forward, with Rasmus Hojlund having scored just four Premier League goals in 2024/25 to date.
According to Caught Offside, one name believed to be on Amorim’s radar is RB Leipzig powerhouse, Benjamin Sesko, with United joining the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in the race for his signature.
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The report suggests that the Premier League quartet are all preparing bids for the Slovenian striker, worth in the region of €70m (£60m), albeit with the Bundesliga outfit said to be looking for closer to €90m (£77m).
This follows prior claims from Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst, that United have maintained contact with the 21-year-old’s representatives since being linked with a move back in the summer of 2022, having also rejected the chance to sign him for just £2.5m back in 2019.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates
Having signed Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in recent years, the addition of another young centre-forward may have alarm bells ringing – although Sesko appears to be at a different level altogether.
Why Man Utd need to sign Benjamin Sesko
There should hardly be any real surprise regarding the goalscoring woes of both Hojlund and Zirkzee in recent times, considering their fortunes prior to moving to Manchester.
Indeed, in the case of the Dane, he had scored just ten goals for Atalanta in 2022/23, while for his Dutch counterpart, the 23-year-old had netted only 12 times for Bologna last season.
Now with just seven league goals between them in 2024/25, an upgrade is certainly needed, with Amorim in desperate need of someone to feed off Fernandes’ relentless creativity.
Bruno Fernandes
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Cole Palmer
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Mohamed Salah
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Enzo Fernandez
75
Bryan Mbeumo
66
Dejan Kulusevski
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Youri Tielemans
60
Mikkel Damsgaard
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Martin Odegaard
57
Andreas Pereira
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Described as a “creative machine” by departing Manchester City hero, Kevin De Bruyne, the Portugal international tops the division once again for most chances created this season, alongside Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
In Sesko then, United could finally find the solution they have been craving, with the former Red Bull Salzburg man having scored 39 goals in just 85 games during his time in Germany, including 21 goals in the current campaign across all fronts.
At 6 foot 4 and with a cannon of a right foot, the in-demand marksman truly is a goalscoring monster, with former Old Trafford star, Dwight Yorke describing him as his “ideal signing”, as he is “similar to Alexander Isak”.
That likeness to the Newcastle United talisman – who is also 6 foot 4 – bodes well considering the impact that the Swede has made since his £63m switch to St James’ Park, having now racked up 62 goals from just 107 games, including 23 league goals this term.
While Sesko has only scored 13 Bundesliga goals to date, he has only missed ten big chances compared to Isak’s 18, while the pair are actually alike with regard to their ball-carrying prowess, having averaged 1.2 and 1.3 successful dribbles per game, respectively, as per Sofascore.
There may well be something of a gamble in signing another player of potential rather than necessarily proven quality, but the chance to partner Fernandes with his own Isak is a mouthwatering prospect.
Whatever lies ahead for Amorim’s side, be it Champions League qualification or ultimate disappointment, they won’t be going anywhere fast next season without an elite level number nine.
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