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Enzo Maresca's first challenge at Chelsea will be assessing his squad, completing pre-season and preparing his side for the 2024/25 Premier League season that is ahead of them, with the aim of regaining a Champions League place.

Part of that will be strengthening his side through signings, deciding who is surplus to requirements, and possibly promoting those who have been out on loan or in the academy to add to his squad from within.

One player that has already joined this summer is a player Maresca is familiar with, as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made the switch from the Foxes to South West London.

However, more faces could well be on the way…

Chelsea keen on signing new winger

According to reports from Football.London, Chelsea are interested in PSV Eindhoven winger, Johan Bakayoko this summer. Chelsea are understood to be 'massive admirers' of the 21-year-old winger, who is also a target for Liverpool and Arsenal. The Blues 'believe' they will be able to strike a deal for the player this summer.

This comes after Chelsea pulled out of the race to sign Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who is now set to join Bayern Munich, meaning the Blues remain on the lookout for the tricky, dynamic winger to add to their ranks.

Bakayoko is valued at €45m on Transfermarkt, which equates to around £38m, and this would be nearly half the fee it would've cost to acquire Olise from Palace, potentially making this a savvy deal for the Blues to get involved with.

Bakayoko vs Olise

Bakayoko made 48 appearances in all competitions for PSV Eindhoven last season, scoring 14 goals, providing 14 assists, and playing 3,716 minutes in total, all from the right wing.

Like Olise, the Belgian is a left-footed right-winger, giving him that option to cut inside on his stronger foot and get a shot off on goal, or provide an in-swinging cross from the half-spaces, which is quickly becoming one of the deadliest weapons in the modern game.

Olise only made 19 appearances for Palace last season, scoring ten goals, providing six assists, and totaling 1,278 minutes for the Eagles. He missed the start of the campaign due to a hamstring injury, and then missed a further eight games (60 days) with a recurrence of that hamstring injury in February 2024.

Both players excel in wide areas, progressing the ball through the elite level carrying. Olise averages 4.8 progressive carries per 90, and 2.82 successful take-ons per 90. Meanwhile, Bakayoko averages a whopping 7.11 progressive carries per 90, and 3.32 successful take-ons per 90, beating Olise in these metrics.

However, both are slightly different in their carrying style and technique, Bakayoko being more of a maverick dribbler, more direct with his carries, compared to Olise who is more controlled and precise, taking smaller touches and changing direction.

Where Olise is exceeding most wingers in his position currently is with his creative toolset and decision-making for his final ball. The Frenchman averages 5.51 progressive passes per 90, 2.54 key passes per 90, and 2.4 passes into the penalty area per 90.

Whilst being an excellent carrier and 1v1 specialist already, Bakauyoko has also shown his final ball and creative output level too, as he averages 3.5 progressive passes per 90, 2.45 key passes per 90, and 2.71 passes into the penalty area. Those final two statistics are certainly very similar to Olise.

The big challenge would be converting that output to one of, if not the most difficult leagues in the world, but the "insane" talent is certainly there, as quoted by Ben Mattinson, and his Eredivisie numbers sure back it up.

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Andy Robertson cut a forlorn figure as he conducted an obligatory post-match interview as Scotland captain last weekend. The Tartan Army had failed to muster enough quality to make history and become the first Scotland team ever to reach the knockout phase of the European Championships.

Robertson has endured an injury-hit 2023/24 campaign off the back of Liverpool's disastrous 2022/23 campaign, where Jurgen Klopp's side missed out on Champions League qualification and suffered a rather staggering collapse in the Premier League.

Aged 30, 'Robbo' may well have seen his last chance, his golden chance, to make history with his nation fly by, and his state of mind was reflected during a disconsolate discussion following Hungary's last-gasp interview.

He has, however, enjoyed an illustrious career with Liverpool; signed from Hull City for just £10m back in 2017, the left-back was one of the staples of Klopp's tenure, having now completed 297 appearances, notched 76 goal contributions and won the clean sweep of silverware.

1.

Andy Robertson

226

59

1.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

275

58

3.

Leighton Baines

240

53

4.

Graeme Le Saux

327

44

5.

Andy Hinchcliffe

219

36

5.

Ian Harte

237

36

5.

Kyle Walker

395

36

Starting just 18 Premier League matches last season, however, there's a chance that new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot will seek a long-term successor at some point, with an exciting target already being lined up.

Liverpool lining up Robertson heir

According to journalist Abdel Hamed, Rayan Ait-Nouri is set to leave Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer and Liverpool are considered to be the frontrunners. Hamed, who interviewed the full-back earlier this year, has also claimed that Chelsea and Manchester City are also attentive to the situation.

Despite signing a new contract at Anfield in 2023, Kostas Tsimikas, aged 28, could leave this summer after failing to ever really cement a regular starting berth on Merseyside, potentially opening up the opportunity to land Ait-Nouri.

The Wolves defender impressed in the Premier League last season. He would not come cheap, with the Old Gold placing a £60m price tag on his name.

How Rayan Ait-Nouri would fit in at Liverpool

Slot has been welcomed to Liverpool given his front-footed, purposeful press and emphasis on sharp technical skill and fluidity. The Dutchman has drawn comparisons to his Liverpool predecessor, which played a part in FSG opting to appoint him, though Slot has actually proclaimed himself to be "a control freak" like Pep Guardiola.

Liverpool supporters can expect stylistic remnants of the past era in Slot's brand but he will change certain things, with overlapping full-backs and inversions into midfield something discernible during his days with Feyenoord.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has already demonstrated an aptitude in completing such a transition, maximising his superlative passing range in the middle of the park, but Robertson might struggle to replicate it, performing a more traditional, wide-placed role.

Ait-Nouri, however, has the kind of athletic and dynamic approach that could see him thrive. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 20% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 14% for pass completion, the top 2% for successful take-ons and the top 13% for tackles per 90.

This signifies a broad skill set, demonstrating his breakneck quality, successfully taking on opponents and leaving them in his wake.

It's no wonder that the £10k-per-week ace has been described as "one of the Premier League’s best players in 2024" by to Sky Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley, completing 87% of his passes in the English top flight while averaging 1.6 dribbles, 4.1 ball recoveries and 6.3 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore.

He could also prove to forge a deadly partnership down the left flank with Luis Diaz, who has been linked with a move away in recent weeks but is presently considered a core member of Slot's first team.

How Ait-Nouri could thrive with Luis Diaz

Diaz is on Barcelona's radar but is unlikely to move to Camp Nou given the La Liga outfit's financial struggles. Contracted until 2027, the Colombian has a €75m (£63m) price tag and this makes his departure unlikely.

Fleet-footed and indefatigable, Diaz lacks end product but he plays an important role at Liverpool and this could be magnified under Slot, whose system is reliant on turbo-charged wide success.

So then, enter Ait-Nouri. The Algeria international's buccaneering style is something to behold and would allow him to bounce off the 27-year-old winger, also demonstrating the tactical flexibility to drift inside when called upon, something that could see his innate goal threat be honed at Anfield.

Diaz, while somewhat wasteful in front of goal, ranks among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 12% for shot-creating actions per 90, so he could be the source of support needed for the left-back's success.

Robertson is clearly a high-class defender and he will feel that he can play an influential role in Slot's system over the next few years, but Liverpool might regret missing out on a talented star in Ait-Nouri this summer, for he could easily move to a Premier League rival if the pursuit is squandered.

Once hailed for his "phenomenal" start to life in England by The Athletic's Tim Spiers, Liverpool must now provide him with the platform to take the crucial next step in what hints toward becoming an illustrious career.

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Chelsea are eyeing a £34 million alternative to the heavily-linked RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, coming after internal conversations over the player in question and amid a big update on the Slovenia international on Tuesday.

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Todd Boehly and Stamford Bridge chiefs are looking to bring in a striker, as they seek to back new head coach Enzo Maresca with a proven goalscorer and outlet in the forward area.

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The west Londoners were heavily reliant on Cole Palmer for the vast majority of their attacking potency last season, with the young England international scoring an exceptional 22 goals in the Premier League alone.

Chelsea's top scorer in all competitions last season

Goals

Cole Palmer

25

Nicolas Jackson

17

Raheem Sterling

10

Noni Madueke

8

Conor Gallagher

7

While Nicolas Jackson, who Chelsea signed from Villarreal last summer, also put in some very promising performances and scored 17 in all competitions himself – concerns remain over the 22-year-old's suitability to lead the line.

As a result, Chelsea threw their hat in the race to sign Sesko from RB Leipzig, with the 21-year-old scoring 18 goals in all competitions last term. The £55 million release clause in Sesko's contract was a big draw for elite clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, as prolific front men often come at a much more extortionate premium.

However, as shared by Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday, Chelsea and other interested sides now look set to miss out on Sesko. Indeed, the striker will actually pen new terms at Leipzig and remain in the Bundesliga – dealing a blow to Maresca in his pursuit of a target man.

It's now back to the drawing board for Chelsea, who must scour for alternative options. One enticing candidate, according to GiveMeSport this week, is Girona star Artem Dovbyk. The Ukraine international, who will represent his country at Euro 2024, finished last campaign as the top scorer in La Liga with 24 goals for Michel's side.

Chelsea targeting Dovbyk as alternative to Sesko

As per GMS, after internal conversations, Chelsea are targeting Dovbyk as an alternative to Sesko. The 26-year-old was prolific for Girona last season, and to make matters even more interesting, he could actually leave Spain for the Premier League at a very reasonable cost.

As per Romano, Dovbyk's contract includes a £34 million release clause, which will surely be very enticing for co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley as they lead Chelsea's transfer plans.

"Dovbyk has it all," said former Mallorca striker Dani Guiza.

"He is a tank, he is fast, and a goal scorer. Big teams will fight for him, but hopefully, he will stay at Girona. It is very difficult for a small club to have a player who wins the Pichichi. If Dovbyk continues like this, it will be a sign of a good player."

So, there we have it. After 38 game weeks of Premier League action the title will not be decided until the final weekend of the campaign. Arsenal needed to beat Manchester United to make that definitive and they did, although they did ride their luck.

The Gunners have a wretched record at Old Trafford but despite the gulf in class between the two teams this term, could only come away with a 1-0 victory.

Following United's 4-0 defeat against Crystal Palace last Monday, Mikel Arteta's men would have been licking their lips over facing Erik ten Hag's side. That said, the Dutchman tinkered with his team and the Red Devils looked more organised, certainly in midfield.

Yet, Casemiro, poor old languid Casemiro was to blame again. Up to the game's only goal, United had coped well, only for the Brazilian to have an unforgivable lapse in concentration.

He failed to stay with his defensive line which allowed Kai Havertz in behind. The German got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Leandro Trossard. It was a simple finish, he could not miss, he did not miss.

The Belgian's sweet run of form – now scorer of 17 goals this season – continued to ensure that no matter what happens between Manchester City and Tottenham on Tuesday night, nothing will be determined until next Sunday evening.

So, Arteta certainly has Trossard and Havertz to thank for their exploits in attack this weekend, but who else deserves praise? A certain William Saliba does.

William Saliba's performance in numbers

Earlier this week the French centre-half was named among the nominees for the Young Player of the Season award. Deservedly so, this has been an impeccable campaign for a defender who has looked like a Rolls-Royce at the back.

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He showed as much at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon. Helping to keep Arsenal's 11 away clean sheet in the league this term, Saliba took home the Player of the Match award for his disciplined display.

Why? Well, it was a dominating performance. United didn't throw much at the Gunners but Rasmus Hojlund still proved a handful. Alejandro Garnacho was also lively down the left. At one stage in the second half, the winger broke with pace and strode into the penalty area, only to be met by the wall of Saliba who stuck out a leg and made an inch-perfect tackle.

That was one of seven duels the Frenchman won. So good was the former Saint-Etienne defender that he won all of those duels. That will no doubt please a beaming Arteta.

Saliba had 99 touches of the ball – the most of any player on the field – and completed 76 passes at a 90% success rate, again the highest number of any player at Old Trafford.

That said, let's hand out some praise to his partner in crime as well, Gabriel.

Gabriel's performance in numbers

While Saliba has been nominated for the Young Player of the Year award, it feels as though Gabriel has rather been forgotten about. He shouldn't have; this is another impeccable central defender right at the top of his game.

Still, the Brazilian has had his own individual accolade to celebrate having been called up for Copa America this summer, only a few days ago.

It's thoroughly deserved for a man who has been one of the finest centre-backs in the top flight this season.

Like Saliba, he was excellent at winning duels on Sunday evening, winning 100% of his ground duels and only losing one of his two battles in the air.

Minutes played

90

Touches

66

Accurate passes

55/58 (95%)

Ground duels won

2/2

Aerial duels won

1/2

Clearances

2

Blocks

2

Tackles

1

Dribbled past

0

Shots

1

He marshalled Hojlund with relative ease, strong and aggressive against the Dane with Football.London's Kaya Kaynak highlighting as such.

'Typically solid display from the Brazilian. Probably a sign of the reputation he's got that Hojlund looked to target Saliba. Stayed switched on when United had the ball for long periods' wrote Kaynak, who handed the 26-year-old a 7/10 rating.

Incredibly composed, no player left the field with a better pass competition rate than Gabriel's 95%. He is remarkably steady with the ball at his feet and deserves just as much praise as Saliba is getting. They are certainly the best pairing in the Premier League this season.

Lionel Messi admits that he "missed nights like this" during his injury break, as he marked his return with a brace against the Philadelphia Union.

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Miami beat Union 3-1 on Messi's returnArgentine bagged a brace and an assistOut of action for two months due to injuryWHAT HAPPENED?

Messi made a triumphant return to the pitch, scoring twice in Inter Miami’s 3-1 victory against Union in Major League Soccer (MLS). He had remained sidelined for eight games following a severe ankle injury sustained during Argentina’s Copa America final win over Colombia in July and on his return the forward reminded everyone why he remains one of the most revered players in the game.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementWHAT MESSI SAID

Following the match, Messi shared his emotions about being back on the field, expressing how much he missed playing in front of fans.

“I miss nights like this,” Messi wrote on Instagram along with a carousel of pictures from the match.

“We keep adding together to achieve our goals.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Inter Miami’s victory over the Philadelphia Union further solidified their place in the MLS playoffs. With a seven-point cushion over the LA Galaxy, the team is poised to finish the season on a high note. With Messi once again available for selection, they are also on track to set a single-season points record of 62, an achievement that would cap off an impressive campaign for the club under the guidance of head coach Tata Martino.

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Messi will be back in action when Inter Miami will face Atlanta United on Wednesday, September 18. With the team already locked in for the playoffs, Messi’s presence could be the key to securing the ultimate prize — the MLS Cup.

According WACA CEO, they were promised a guaranteed top-line Test every year once Perth Stadium replaced the WACA Ground as the state’s prime venue

Daniel Brettig28-May-2020Cricket Australia’s decision to bypass Perth for India’s four-match Test series this summer has left the WACA chief executive Christina Matthews and chairman Terry Waldron fuming on Thursday.The Western Australian cricket chiefs claim they were promised a guaranteed top-line Test every year once Perth Stadium replaced the WACA Ground as the state’s prime international venue. The new stadium hosted India and New Zealand successfully for Test matches over the past two seasons, but this time Perth is left with the inaugural Test match between Australia and Afghanistan. The match is contracted to be hosted by Perth Stadium, though the WACA Ground has been refurbished to host “non-marquee” international fixtures. CA is set to formally announce the international fixture on Friday but Matthews and Waldron made their irritation plain.”This is the second time we haven’t had India scheduled, the last time we were told it was because our venue wasn’t good enough and if we supported a new stadium, this would never happen again, and here we are again,” Matthews said in Perth. “I want to make it clear, hosting a Test is a privilege, not a right and we understand that, and we’re as privileged to host Afghanistan as anyone else and we’ll certainly put on a really good show and welcome Afghanistan to the Test arena in Australia.”But suffice to say, not having India tour here for the second time in six years is very disappointing for us, for our members, for our fans, and I daresay for the government who has put in a lot of time and effort into creating a stadium that has been recognised around the world as the most beautiful stadium in the world and in fact, was rated as the second-best cricket ground in Australia in a survey. So we’ve been a little bit bemused and disappointed how we haven’t been scheduled for one of the prime series in the cricket calendar.”The government invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to make Perth Stadium cricket friendly from the start, so all the facilities for cricket were built into that, and at the time Cricket Australia gave a guarantee to the government that they would absolutely be utilising that stadium to its fullest. Also, we have over 10,000 members, who year after year invest in cricket. Rusted on fans are here, the crowds are better, the facilities are better, the corporate hospitality has more flexibility and more potential. So to us, it doesn’t quite pass the pub test.”Waldron, who became the WACA chairman last year, described the decision as a “kick in the guts”. “I just want to say as chair of the WACA and on behalf of the WACA and all cricket lovers in WA, I’m really disappointed in this decision,” he said. “I actually think it’s the wrong decision, we made a really compelling case, along with the government to CA, I looked at that again this morning, and when I went through it, I just can’t understand why they’d make that decision.”I do understand it’s difficult for CA, they have to make the call and we will now pick up the cudgels and we’ll get on with it. Afghanistan are an exciting, emerging team. But I am disappointed and I actually think it is a kick in the guts to WA, to all our cricket-loving people in WA and to our WACA members. When you’ve got one of the best stadiums in the world and when you’ve got the second-best cricket venue, the time slot back to India for TV etc, to me it’s a no brainer.”I understand it’s a tough decision for CA, good luck to Queensland and we wish them all the best. We’ll keep putting the pressure on because I, as chairman of the WACA, and Christine and our team, we’ve got a responsibility to cricket in WA, to cricket supporters, to fans and to our members.”It has long been the strong preference of the Australian Test team to begin major series at the Gabba, something pointed out more than once by the captain Tim Paine in reference to India, who played the 2018-19 Test series in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. Brisbane’s facilities are nowhere near those of the new Perth Stadium, but CA has also made a strong commercial case for choosing the Gabba as the venue for the series opener.”We’ve been told commercially Brisbane is more viable for Australian cricket and that over an eight-year touring period from 2015 to 2023, WA has a better schedule than anyone else. I’m not really privy to what’s going to happen in the next three years, but they were the key reasons,” Matthews said. “This is not about Brisbane or the Gabba. They, like us, have to fight for their fans and their cricket community, however, all the metrics associated with cricket over the last two years see us surpass Brisbane in every area.”Whether that’s crowds, broadcast ratings, even better rainfall at that time of year, more corporate seats. Just so many indicators and a brand new stadium and when Australian cricket’s primary objective is fans first, it is astounding the 10,000 members who pay money to support cricket year after year in this state, are not rewarded the No. 1 Test team to tour next year. It seems to me anything west of Melbourne doesn’t get the same consideration as anything around the east coast.”Asked about the financial cost of hosting Afghanistan rather than India, Matthews said that WACA memberships alone may slip down to the tune of up to A$4 million (US$ 2.6m approx.) on the state association’s balance sheet. “We hope our members will continue to support us, but we have to factor in, that could be a A$3-4 million hit on memberships alone,” she said. “Those things are not considered when these decisions are made. They’re not necessarily looking at the hardcore cricket fans when they’re making those decisions. You have a couple of days to digest and then you move on… [but] I think when we see India fly across the top of us to the other side of the country, we might shed a little tear.”

Aston Villa are leading the way for one of Europe's elite talents in what could prove a massive summer for Unai Emery's side.

Champions League almost secured

It has been a fantastic Premier League campaign for the Villans, despite being held to a draw in their most recent outing against Chelsea. With three games left to play, they can still surpass their best-ever Premier League points tally (when they recorded 74 in the first season of the competition) and they sit seven points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham.

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Though Ange Postecoglou's side have two games in hand and can theoretically narrow the gap to just a point, they face Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea in their final five games, meaning that even two wins from their last three games should be enough to secure fourth place for Villa.

With it will come Champions League football, and they will need a bigger squad to help deal with the additional games from the new format starting next season.

Ollie Watkins alternative lined up

One of the positions in need of strengthening is the no.9 spot, with Ollie Watkins the only recognised elite option for Emery to call upon. Though he has enjoyed a fantastic campaign, he will need support, and Villa appear to have found just the man for the job.

That comes in the form of Lille striker Jonathan David. According to reports in Italy, via Sport Witness, even though the 24-year-old is wanted by big Serie A clubs such as AC Milan, it is Aston Villa who are currently 'on pole' to sign the Canadian.

They lead another English club in Manchester United in the race for the attacker, who has long been linked with a move to the Premier League.

Ollie Watkins vs Jonathan David 23/24

Jonathan David

Ollie Watkins

Goals

17

19

Assists

3

12

xG

15.9

16

Shots on target per 90

1.53

1.42

Minutes per goal

139.5

156.7

Penalties

2

0

Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards dubbed him a "fantastic" player ahead of the 2022 World Cup, insisting that clubs should "keep an eye on" the Canadian.

“Jonathan David is one we should keep an eye on,” said Richards. “He’s a fantastic player. I watched him for Lille in the Champions League last season.”

Having scored 82 times in four seasons in France, he knows where the back of the net is, and takes pride in finding it with regularity. Quizzed on how much he was enjoying finding the back of the net during one particular purple patch, David admitted just how much he loves his role.

"I'm loving it", he explained after grabbing a brace. "But the most important thing is to win the match. If my goals and my work help the team, I'm happy. But the most important thing is to win. I'm in good form but it's still a collective effort because my teammates put me in the best situations to finish the actions."

Able to play either on the left of attack or centrally, David is valued at just £30m this summer, and Lille are unable to demand much more thanks to his contract expiring next year, leaving them with just two transfer windows to make any sort of return on the £23m they shelled out to bring him to Ligue 1.

He could, therefore, be a bargain buy for Emery and co.

Chelsea are set to part ways with three home-grown stars including Conor Gallagher this summer as they bid to continue their novel approach to the transfer market under Todd Boehly and co.

Changes expected in west London

It has been a strange couple of years at Chelsea, with Todd Boehly and their new owners having seemingly ripped up the transfer playbook to start all over again. They own the youngest squad in world football and some of the most exciting talents across the globe, but have spent huge amounts to do so.

Clearly a long-term project, teenage talents like Omari Hutchinson, Carney Chukwuemeka and Lesley Ugochukwu are among those signed to long term deals in west London, while they have also broken the British transfer record twice in order to land midfield duo Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in deals worth £225m combined.

In the short term though, it is failing spectacularly. Currently, Chelsea sit 11th in the Premier League under the guiding hand of Mauricio Pochettino, four points outside a European qualification spot for next season and with just one more win to their name (11) than losses (10) this season.

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Though they are on a five game unbeaten run, their most recent draw against 10-man Burnley was met with boos by the Stamford Bridge faithful, and Pochettino has found himself increasingly unpopular. There is also the issue of financial fair play. The Blues have spent such hefty amounts that it is expected they need to raise around £100m before signings every summer for the foreseeable future, a hefty sum to need on a yearly basis.

As a result, there are plenty of exits expected this summer. There has even been recent speculation that Reece James could be on the departure list, though this seems incredibly unlikely.

Gallagher among trio set to raise funds

Chelsea are already set to receive some of that required £100m through the deal to send Lewis Hall to Newcastle, which will net them £28m, while Ian Maatsen's loan to Borussia Dortmund contains a £35m option to buy that could see them net further money.

But even that won't be enough, and with homegrown talents counting for pure profit on accounting sheets, they are preparing to rid themselves of three this summer.

The first of those is Conor Gallagher, who transfer reporter Pete O'Rourke claims is 'definitely' leaving this summer despite his contract running until 2025 and Gallagher having expressed his desire to stay at Stamford Bridge.

He is the subject of widespread Premier League interest, and could fetch a hefty fee. But he is not the only one set to leave. The same journalist claims that he 'definitely expects' both on-loan striker Armando Broja and defender Trevoh Chalobah to be moved on this summer in a bid to raise further money to reinvest in the squad.

Broja's loan has not gone to plan, with the striker finding himself behind in-form striker Rodrigo Muniz at Fulham and his transfer value continuing to drop. Meanwhile, Chalobah has suffered with injuries through much of the season and has rarely been called upon by Pochettino as a result. The trio plus Hall's sale would likely raise in excess of the £100m figure needed, navigating the first part of Chelsea's risky strategy.

After deciding against signing anyone in the January transfer window, the summer could be a big one for Arsenal.

Back in 2023 they spent a considerable amount on bolstering the squad, notably bringing in £65m Kai Havertz and £105m Declan Rice.

Where has that got them? Well, they're top of the Premier League and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It's hard to suggest they weren't worth the money.

So, what does 2024 have in store? It's likely they'll go big on a new star striker with Ivan Toney one name who refuses to go away. But who else?

Arsenal's transfer targets for 2024

It was reported back in January that Toney was a player Arsenal wanted to do a deal for but perhaps with Kai Havertz's form in recent weeks, they'll look to spend big elsewhere.

Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest was linked with a move over the weekend but a fresh name coming from the rumour mill concerns Joao Cancelo.

That's according to The Sun who reported on Saturday that the Gunners are ready to make their move for the defender if Barcelona don't sign the player permanently.

Cancelo is currently on loan at Barca from Manchester City after falling out with Pep Guardiola. The Portuguese would prefer to stay in Catalonia but Arsenal could be an interesting proposition for the player considering Mikel Arteta's tactics.

How Joao Cancelo compares to Ben White

Signing Cancelo would be a particularly eye-catching addition from Edu and Co.

The 29-year-old is in the prime of his career and crucially for Arteta, is not only a versatile individual but also a player capable of adapting to his system. Why? Well, Cancelo is the classic example of an inverted full-back.

Statman Dave described the Man City star as "the perfect inverted wing-back" during his days in England and that ability to push into midfield would make him an ideal addition this summer.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been an expert in that role since signing for the Gunners but his authority as a starter is now dwindling. Previously criticised for being a "liability" in defensive situations, the Ukrainian may bring composure and technical ability but Arsenal can do better. The very fact Jakub Kiwior – not typically a full-back – has now displaced him says it all.

On the opposite side of the defence, Ben White is improving all the time, notably registering two assists and a goal in his last two league games. Once a central defender, the £50m signing has taken a leaf from Zinchenko's book and with the former Man City man out of action, has been the inverted defender in this team.

Well, should Cancelo arrive then he could perform that job just as well. Vitally for White, he can also operate at left-back.

Throughout his career to date the Barca loanee has been seen 217 times on the right and 103 times from the left. On that note, he's a bit like Arsenal's current options Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber.

So, we know Cancelo can invert but what else does he offer? Previously celebrated as "the best player in the Premier League" by journalist Muhammad Butt, he ranks in the top 10% of positionally similar players in Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the best 1% for successful take-ons (dribbles), and the top 9% for progressive passes, all per 90 minutes.

Progressive carries

4.18

1.18

Progressive passes

5.00

5.74

Goals + assists

0.24

0.25

Pass success %

82%

85%

Key passes

1.39

0.93

Passes into final 3rd

4.76

5.40

Crosses into penalty box

0.43

0.34

Tackles won

1.63

0.80

Interceptions

0.96

1.01

He is the archetypal modern full-back, enjoying the thrill of galivanting forward and influencing play in the final third. The Benfica academy graduate also stacks up pretty well compared to White.

Considering Arsenal's current defensive options, this signing might not be a necessity but it's certainly one that takes them up another level.

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Glasgow Rangers returned to winning ways in the Premiership, four weeks following their previous match in the top flight.

It was a 2-1 defeat to Motherwell at Ibrox at the start of March, but with Scottish Cup and Europa League fixtures to be played, it meant Celtic returned to the top of the league.

Today’s 3-1 win over Hibernian ensured the Gers would jump back to the summit, albeit temporarily, as their Old Firm rivals play tomorrow.

Goals from James Tavernier and Cyriel Dessers gave the Light Blues a 2-1 lead at half-time. When Rabbi Matondo came on with just 12 minutes left, it didn’t take him long to skip past a few defenders before nestling a shot into the corner of the goal to seal all three points.

It was the reliable captain who got things going following a penalty miss as he delivered a solid display.

James Tavernier’s game against Hibs in numbers

While not at his fluent best, Tavernier still managed to make a key pass, create one big chance and deliver six crosses into the opposition penalty area, all while taking five shots during the match.

He did open the scoring, which put Rangers on their way to victory, and the right-back also contributed effectively in defence.

Goals

1

Key passes

0

Big chances created

1

Accurate passes

35/43 (81%)

Lost possession

17

The long-serving skipper committed just one foul, won 50% of his total duels contested and was dribbled past on just one occasion, showing his strength while not on the ball.

Following a two-week break, the game was a chance for him to blow the cobwebs off, especially with bigger challenges to come.

For all Tavernier's impact, however, it was Todd Cantwell who was arguably one of the best players on the pitch, made even more remarkable by the fact this was his first start since the middle of February.

Todd Cantwell’s statistics vs Hibs

Throughout an opening half where Rangers struggled to really get into their flow, Cantwell was the most assured person in the team.

He delivered a fine cross for Cyriel Dessers’ goal just prior to the halftime interval, while the 39-touch attacking midfielder also made two key passes, created a big chance, and took one shot during his time on the pitch.

His passing was sublime, coming off with a 93% pass success rate as the former Norwich City starlet was controlling the play and looking like Rangers' biggest threat, arguably making himself undroppable in the process in that number ten berth.

Cantwell did win only one duel, however, yet the signs were positive in his first start for a number of weeks, especially with a clash against Celtic to come next Saturday.

Philippe Clement was obviously thinking ahead when he replaced Cantwell with Tom Lawrence as the clock was approaching the 60-minute mark, and it made perfect sense.

The Belgian is finally seeing some of his key players return from injury, as Abdallah Sima made an appearance off the bench against Hibs, but he will have to manage his squad well over the next few weeks.

Securing all three points today means the pressure is piled firmly on Celtic as they face bottom of the table Livingston. They should win three points, but this season has seen plenty of surprises.

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