da aposte e ganhe： As Arne Slot’s current side continue to thrive, FSG have reportedly turned their focus towards the future and sent Liverpool scouts to watch the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, where one midfield star has caught their eye.

Liverpool need reinforcments despite incredible league campaign

da apostebet： As impressive as Liverpool’s midfield has been this season, it could be argued that the likes of Ryan Gravenberch have slowed down in recent weeks as the Reds’ congested fixtures schedule across the campaign catches up to him. And that should come as little shock for Slot, who has started the Dutchman in every single one of his side’s 32 Premier League games.

At this stage of the season, such little rotation often catches up to sides and Liverpool are no different. The champions-elect were relatively poor against West Ham United and were left relying on Virgil van Dijk’s late winner to take a key step towards title glory just a week after suffering shock defeat against Fulham.

Now as many as 13 points clear of Arsenal, Liverpool got away with slipping up against Fulham but it was a warning sign they very nearly ignored against West Ham. As good as they’ve been and as deserving as they have been on their way towards the title, Slot’s side are far from perfect and finding a backup for Gravenberch should be among their priorities this summer.

Just who that might be remains to be seen, however, with reports focused on the Reds’ attacking department and names such as Alexander Isak as the summer transfer window approaches.

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If that is to be their focus, then Slot’s solution for what could be a pending Gravenberch problem may eventually come through the arrival of a young player who’s been compared to Carlos Baleba.

Liverpool plotting Mohamed Sako move

According to The Boot Room, FSG have now sent Liverpool scouts on a fresh mission to watch Mohamed Sako at the U16 Africa Cup of Nations in Morroco. The Burkina Faso midfielder has so far impressed too and is among those on the radar of the Reds alongside Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle United at a tournament full of talent.

Compared to Brighton & Hove Albion star Baleba, it’s fair to say that Liverpool would be landing quite the player if Sako matches the growth of the Seagulls midfielder.

Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Carlos Baleba

Ryan Gravenberch

Starts

25

32

Progressive Passes

108

153

Ball Recoveries

159

171

Tackles Won

35

30

If Liverpool focus their finances on their frontline and left-back problem this summer, then welcoming Sako as one for the future rather than splashing out on a backup for Gravenberch could be the way forward.

There’s certainly a route into the first-team too. Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah have all played roles under both Jurgen Klopp and Slot and Sako could yet follow suit if those at Anfield make their move.

da fazobetai： Last night might have been a real reprieve for Tottenham Hotspur, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that this season has been a difficult one for the fans.

da bet7： Ange Postecoglou’s side crashed out of both domestic cups and have lost 17 games in the Premier League.

While injuries have undoubtedly played their part, it would also be fair to say that the team have simply not performed to the required level.

So, it’s not surprising to see Daniel Levy and Co working to find new recruits ahead of the summer, with recent reports touting a standout striker for a move to the club, someone who could be a dream upgrade on Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other attacking stars that Tottenham are reportedly interested in, such as Tyler Dibling.

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The Southampton gem could be available for around £35m in the coming months, and while that might seem like a lot for someone who is still just 19 years old, it’s because a lot is expected of him in the coming years, with the Saints’ academy manager Andy Goldie dubbing him a “world-class talent.”

A more developed star Spurs are also keen to sign in the summer is Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who could be available for a fee of about £70m.

Now, while that is an enormous sum of money, it might well be worth it, as even though he’s playing for an upper mid-table side in the Cherries, the Ghana international has still been able to amass a total of ten goals and six assists in 36 appearances this term.

However, when it comes to potentially replacing Solanke, the North Londoners will want someone even more prolific, which is where Jonathan Burkardt comes in.

According to journalist Christian Falk’s Daily Briefing via Caught Offside, Spurs are one of several sides interested in the Mainz striker.

Alongside the North Londoners, Falk has revealed that Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion have all scouted the German international.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Burkardt’s goalscoring ability, it is worth pursuing, especially as he could be a dream Solanke upgrade.

How Burkardt compares to Solanke

So, if Spurs are to get their man this summer and bring Burkardt to North London, his main competition for game time would be Solanke, but who would come out on top?

Well, when it comes down to their raw output, which is what matters most for a striker, it’s the German international who comes out ahead, and by quite some way at that.

For example, in just 24 league appearances, totalling 1679 minutes, he’s scored 15 goals and provided three assists, equating to a goal involvement every 1.38 games or every 93.27 minutes.

In contrast, the former Cherries star has scored just seven goals and provided three assists in 23 league appearances, totalling 2033 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.3 games, or every 203.3 minutes.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Is it just as one-sided a comparison when we take a look under the hood? Unfortunately, for the Lilywhites’ record signing, it most certainly is.

Burkardt vs Solanke

Statistics per 90

Burkardt

Solanke

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.76

0.57

Actual Non-Penalty G+As

0.86

0.44

Progressive Passes

1.95

2.00

Progressive Passes Received

6.86

3.78

Progressive Carries

1.35

1.29

Shots

2.76

2.49

Shots on Target

1.19

0.98

Key Passes

0.81

0.62

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.81

0.40

Live Passes

21.0

13.4

Shot-Creating Actions

2.05

1.64

Goal-Creating Actions

0.32

0.36

Ball Recoveries

3.24

1.56

Aerial Duels Won

0.97

1.82

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

For example, in almost every metric, the Darmstadt-born ace, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed “one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga”, comes out on top, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, key passes and passes into the penalty area, shots and shots on target, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Solanke is a good striker, but he hasn’t been prolific this term and from output to underlying numbers, Burkardt looks to be the better player, so Levy and Co should do all they can to sign him this summer.

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da betobet： Today is the day that Leeds United could officially secure their promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking in the Championship.

da stake casino： The Whites play host to Stoke City at Elland Road in a 3 pm kick-off this afternoon, knowing that if they win and Sheffield United fail to beat Burnley in their 5:30 pm kick-off, they will be promoted.

Despite beating Oxford United 1-0 last time out in the Championship, Daniel Farke could look to make some changes to his starting line-up to keep the team fresh, after only two days of recovery, and Dan James is a star who should come back in.

Why Dan James should start for Leeds

The Wales international missed the 2-1 win over Preston North End with an injury and returned to play a part off the bench in the clash with Oxford on Friday.

After his cameo at the Kassam, James should now be put back into the starting line-up against Stoke this afternoon, just days after he was named as one of the finalists in the race to win the Championship Player of the Season award.

The former Manchester United winger has scored 12 goals, created 16 ‘big chances’, and delivered nine assists in 30 starts in the second tier this term, which shows that he has made a big impact in the final third on a regular basis.

Leeds know that today could be the day that they seal promotion, if they beat Stoke, and they need their best players on the pitch in order to have the best chance of success.

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With this in mind, Farke must bring the influential star back into the team by ruthlessly ditching Brenden Aaronson from the side that started on Friday.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The USA international played 89 minutes against Oxford and failed to offer much in front of goal, as he missed one ‘big chance’, lost possession 15 times, and failed to create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

Aaronson was described as “anonymous” by reporter James Marshment back in February, and that assessment still rings true, as it was his 12th game without a goal or an assist in his last 13 appearances in all competitions.

The £45k-per-week flop has produced two goals and zero assists in 19 matches in 2025, with one of those goals coming in the 7-0 win over Cardiff, which illustrates how ineffective he has been in the final third.

24/25 Championship

Brenden Aaronson

Wilfried Gnonto

Appearances (starts)

43 (40)

40 (23)

xG

10.24

5.50

Goals

9

6

Minutes per goal

368

345

Big chances created

8

9

Assists

2

5

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Wilfried Gnonto has been more effective as a finisher whilst also providing more creativity despite starting 17 fewer games than the American dud.

This suggests that Farke should keep the Italy U21 international in the team, moving him into the number ten role, and drop Aaronson from the side in order to start James on the right wing.

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This would mean that Leeds would have an attacking midfield trident of James, Gnonto, and Manor Solomon behind either Joel Piroe or Patrick Bamford in the centre-forward position.

da 888casino： Chelsea are now ready to launch a £51m offer for an “unplayable” Premier League forward, according to a report.

Blues looking to bolster attacking options

da supremo： Enzo Maresca will be pleased that Cole Palmer managed to get back among the goals on Sunday afternoon, with the attacking midfielder ending his drought and bagging his 15th Premier League goal of the season.

However, the manager may feel he is a little short on top-quality attacking options, given that Nicolas Jackson has scored just 10 league goals, and signing a new striker is on the agenda in the summer transfer window.

The Blues have now stepped up their pursuit of Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, making an approach to sign the England international, while they are also in the race for the likes of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap and Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha.

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Delap is an intriguing option, having outscored Jackson despite playing for already-relegated Ipswich, but an even more prolific striker is now in the west Londoners’ sights.

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea are now ready to launch a €60m (£51m) offer for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who has caught the eye of Stamford Bridge chiefs with his impressive performances in the Premier League this season.

There is a belief that Mbeumo would be an ideal fit in Maresca’s frontline, having already proven himself in the Premier League, and the Blues are willing to spend big to ensure they win the race for his signature.

It is unclear whether Brentford would be willing to accept an offer in that region, but negotiations could accelerate over the next few weeks, and it is looking increasingly likely that a move across the capital could be on the cards.

"Unplayable" Mbeumo could be upgrade on Jackson

Jackson has spent time on the treatment table this season, but a return of just 10 goals is still below par, so it is no surprise the Blues are looking to bring in an upgrade this summer, and there are plenty of indications the Brentford star could fit the bill.

The France-born forward has been prolific in front of goal this season, picking up 18 goals and six assists, and his performances have impressed manager Thomas Frank, who lauded the forward as “unplayable” back in December.

The Cameroonian, who has 6 goals in 22 caps for his nation, has predominantly featured at right-wing for the Bees, but he has featured through the middle on a number of occasions, scoring while playing at striker in his side’s 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge back in December.

Regardless of whether Mbeumo is brought in to play out wide or as a centre-forward, there is every indication that he could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea this summer, and a fee of around £51m seems reasonable, given that he is only 25-years-old.

da pinup bet： Everton have now held talks with the entourage of a “leader”, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, according to a report.

Moyes looking to bolster defensive options

da wazamba： The Toffees’ recent results haven’t been the best, falling to defeats against Chelsea and Manchester City before drawing 2-2 against Ipswich Town in the penultimate match at Goodison Park, but it remains an exciting time to be a fan of the Blues.

The hope will be that a move to Bramley Moore-Dock positions David Moyes’ side to compete for major honours in the future, and they are looking to mark their stadium move by making one or two statement signings this summer.

That is according to a new report, which states the Merseysiders are now open to the signing of Man City defender John Stones, who could be in line for a sensational return eight years after leaving Goodison Park.

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Stones could be a real upgrade on Moyes’ current centre-back options, given his top-level experience, and there has now been a suggestion that a new left-back could also be pursued in the summer transfer window.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Everton have now made contact with the entourage of Leeds United defender Junior Firpo, who is out of contract at the end of the season and thus available on a free transfer.

Firpo appears to be set to leave Leeds this summer, having arrived at Elland Road for £13m back in 2021, and there is no shortage of interest in his signature, with Crystal Palace and West Ham United also holding talks with his representatives.

A return to Spain could also be on the cards, with Atletico Madrid and Real Betis keen, while FC Barcelona could also consider a move for their former player.

"Leader" Firpo could be Mykolenko upgrade

Vitaliy Mykolenko has established himself as a key player this season, making 32 appearances in the Premier League, and the left-back has impressed defensively, ranking in the 89th percentile for aerials won per 90, and the 95th for clearances over the past year.

However, the Leeds defender is also dominant in the air, while offering far more of an attacking threat, ranking in the top 1% for assists per 90, when compared to other left-backs playing at a similar level.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.34 (99th percentile)

Non-penalty goals

0.14 (96th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

3.30 (93rd percentile)

Aerials won

2.10 (93rd percentile)

Not only that, but the 28-year-old has personal qualities which could set him up for success at Everton, with Daniel Farke claiming he is “turning into a leader” earlier this season.

With Moyes a little light on options at left-back, Firpo could be a fantastic addition to the squad, but it may be difficult to win the race for his signature if Barcelona or Atletico Madrid step up their interest.

da blaze casino： Arsenal are now leading the race for an “incredible” forward, who could be an ideal fit for Mikel Arteta’s style of play, according to a report.

Gunners set to strengthen attacking options

da casino： There have been widespread calls for the Gunners to sign a striker for quite some time, and their reluctance to do so has arguably been costly to their pursuit of the Premier League title and a first-ever Champions League this season.

Arteta was forced to use Mikel Merino in a makeshift striker role in both legs of the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, given that Kai Havertz has been sidelined since February, with the French side ultimately emerging 3-1 winners on aggregate.

The striker shortlist consists of a number of options, with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins of interest, while an opening offer has been submitted for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

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Arteta is clearly determined to bring in a new striker this summer, and the manager is also keen to strengthen out wide, given that Gabriel Martinelli has arguably fallen short of expectations this season.

According to a report from Spain, Arsenal are now leading the race for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, but he will not come cheap, with the German club setting an asking price of around €65m (£55m).

Gittens is viewed as an ideal fit for Arteta’s style of play, with the winger now being identified as the perfect candidate to bolster the manager’s wide options, and talks could be stepped up in the coming weeks.

Dortmund could be willing to sanction a departure, should they receive an attractive offer, but there are some doubts over whether he would be able to adapt to life in the Premier League…

"Incredible" Gittens catching the eye in Germany

The report states the Englishman’s lack of consistency could be viewed as an issue, having scored just one Bundesliga goal in 2025, but there are some signs he could be an excellent addition for Arsenal this summer.

While the 20-year-old has not been at his best as of late, a record of 12 goals and five assists in 46 games is impressive, given his age, while he has also caught the eye with his dribbling ability over the past year, ranking in the top 1% for successful take-ons.

Average per 90

vs other wingers in big 5 leagues

Non-penalty goals

0.40 (83rd percentile)

Progressive carries

5.55 (92nd percentile)

Successful take-ons

3.62 (99th percentile)

The London-born winger shouldn’t be expected to be the finished article just yet, given his age, and the level of some of his performances for Dortmund this season indicate a £55m outlay could be justified.

Lauded as “incredible” by reporter Alex Howell, Gittens clearly has a lot of potential, so it is exciting news that Arsenal are in pole position for his signature.

da prosport bet： On Sunday, Arsenal defeated Newcastle United 1-0, and after the game, with it being their final home match of 2024/25, it gave the supporters a chance to say farewell to some players who are unlikely to be seen again in red and white.

da luck： Kieran Tierney will bow out of the Emirates Stadium, set to head back to Celtic, after a haul of 143 appearances for the north Londoners.

Jorginho, too, will depart at the end of his contract. While he perhaps won’t be remembered as fondly as Tierney, his ultimate professionalism across the two years he’s been at Arsenal has been a joy to behold.

It will be sad to see them go, but it certainly wasn’t as emotional as some farewells we’ve given in the modern era.

Arsene Wenger’s exit in 2018 will go down in history, while it’s hard to forget the tears a certain Aaron Ramsey shed when leaving under Unai Emery in 2019.

Since his exit, Arsenal haven’t had too many goalscoring midfielders. That said, they may well have found one now.

What made Aaron Ramsey so special

A winner of three FA Cups, a scorer of two cup final goals at Wembley, Ramsey will forever be remembered in these parts as a big game player, an icon who overcame so much adversity.

The way he entered the club rather set the tone for his dramatic time in the English capital. Manchester United had announced he was set to sign for them on their official website, only for the Welshman to pen terms with Arsenal instead.

Signed from Cardiff, it didn’t take Ramsey long to make an impression, but that horrific leg break against Stoke in February 2010 was a colossal setback.

After several months out, the Wales international fortunately went on to have a wonderful career in the game.

Who can forget that remarkable season in 2013/14? Ramsey scored the winner in extra time of the FA Cup final against Hull City, one of 16 goals in just 34 outings throughout the campaign.

A true box-to-box star, the Wales international became a master of arriving late in the penalty area and scoring from midfield.

Since then, however, Arsenal haven’t had too many players capable of finding the net from similar zones, ghosting into the area.

Perhaps the last was Granit Xhaka. In the Swiss’ final year with the Gunners, he scored on nine occasions and registered a further seven assists in 47 matches.

So, how have Arsenal gone about replacing the dynamic duo?

Arsenal's new Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey

The form of Martin Odegaard a few years ago certainly suggested he could replace the pair. Indeed, during 2022/23, no midfielder scored more than the Norwegian’s 15 in the Premier League.

That being said, he isn’t a box-to-box midfielder. He presses hard, but he doesn’t do the dirty work further back in the field.

Instead, Mikel Arteta’s modern-day answer to Ramsey and Xhaka is a certain Declan Rice. Oh, where would the Gunners be without him this season?

Of course, you’ve got those two remarkable free-kicks against Real Madrid, but he’s also come up with some vital moments elsewhere.

He’s not just a master of free-kicks, but his corner delivery has been one of the best in Europe this season. We salute Nicolas Jover for putting the former West Ham man on set-pieces towards the back end of last season.

Funnily enough, Rice initially signed as a defensive midfielder but throughout 2024/25, he’s been largely selected as the left-sided 8 and it’s a position he’s made his own.

Declan Rice – season by season

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2021/22

50

5

4

2022/23

50

5

4

2023/24

51

7

10

2024/25

51

9

10

Stats via Transfermarkt.

The difference was felt in the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final tie with PSG. The £240k-per-week earner had destroyed Madrid across both legs from a more advanced role in midfield but due to Thomas Partey’s suspension, he had to play further back.

While Rice is certainly excellent at sitting in front of the defence, Arsenal couldn’t get up the pitch as quickly and they also lost one of their goal threats. That perhaps explains why the club reportedly want to bring in Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi this summer. More of a Jorginho type, the Spaniard would give Rice the keys to make that no.8 spot his permanent position in the team.

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So, why has he thrived so much? Well, like Xhaka, he’s got a terrific engine and his technique is first-class.

Meanwhile, like Ramsey, he’s becoming rather good at arriving late in the area or on the edge of the box to score a goal. In the words of Arsenal writer Connor Humm, he is a true “monster.”

We saw that first-hand against Newcastle on Sunday. Odegaard found the ball on the right-hand side and laid it into the path of Rice, who was ready and waiting on the edge of the penalty area to fizz the ball past Nick Pope.

That was the £105m signing’s ninth strike of the campaign, one that equalled Xhaka’s haul of two years ago. It also marked Rice’s best-ever goalscoring return in a single season. Not bad at all.

When Arsenal’s Player of the Season is announced in the forthcoming weeks, there are surely only two candidates: Gabriel and Rice. For that magical night against Madrid alone, Rice is our man.

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da winzada777： As Aston Villa look to navigate any PSR concerns and welcome key additions this summer, sporting director Monchi has now reportedly held fresh talks to land a bargain transfer.

Aston Villa facing PSR concern

da pinnacle： After spending big in recent years, including in the January transfer window, Aston Villa are now reportedly facing the prospect of a difficult summer transfer window. If Unai Emery’s side fail to qualify for the Champions League, then their problems could be especially troublesome and may even lead to the sale of at least one star man in the coming months.

Those in the Midlands already received a glimpse of just how ruthless Aston Villa must be if they are to welcome further additions during the January transfer window, when they sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr for around £71m to make room for the likes of Donyell Malen.

Now, months on, it could be players such as Morgan Rogers or Ollie Watkins who find themselves sacrificed. The duo have both enjoyed excellent campaigns and have both reportedly attracted interest from Chelsea. Villa, of course, will naturally be reluctant to sell to a top five rival, but may have little choice in the matter amid their PSR troubles.

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There could still be an alternative option for Aston Villa to welcome key players this summer, however. If Monchi goes about his business in the right way, then he could land bargain deals rather than selling big to potentially buy even bigger. And one forward would fit perfectly into that category of deals.

Monchi in talks to sign Jonathan David for Aston Villa

According to L’Equipe, relayed by GFFN, Monchi is now in fresh talks to sign Jonathan David for Aston Villa in what would be a bargain deal this summer. The LOSC Lille forward is set to leave the French club as a free agent upon the expiry of his current deal next month, allowing clubs from around European football to come swooping in.

In one swift move, Villa could save themselves a transfer fee and hand their frontline a major boost. At 25 years of age, David is at the peak of his powers, and it’s shown in France this season, with the Canada international scoring as many as 25 goals to showcase his talents to several potential suitors ahead of this summer.

Amid such an impressive goalscoring streak, it should come as little shock that David has found himself at the centre of Bruno Genesio’s praise this season. The Lille manager told reporters after his forward reached 101 career goals for the club in December: “Scoring 101 goals speaks volumes. But it’s not just goals for me with Jona. He’s a player who plays a big part in the game and above all, a player who’s full of selflessness.

“He works enormously for the team. We all make an effort, but he’s the perfect example of our team at this level. To have a top striker who makes as many runs and shows as much generosity as he does, that’s pretty rare. I think he’s one of the best (in Ligue 1).”

da fezbet： Chelsea are showing absolutely zero sign of slowing down after their deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, with trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano sharing more transfer news out of Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea set for busy transfer week ahead of Club World Cup

da dobrowin： Having already sealed a £30 million deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, it is also believed that Chelsea would ideally like to get one or two more signings through the door in time for this month’s Club World Cup (Simon Phillips).

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Chelsea have another six days to register players in time for the tournament, with a mini-transfer window now open until June 10. The window will reopen on June 16, right the way through till September 1, but BlueCo have every intention of using the small ‘pre-summer’ window to acquire some desired targets.

Race for Champions League qualification – Final standings

Rank

Team

Points

GD

3

Man City

71

+28

4

Chelsea

69

+21

5

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

With Delap completing his medical in a £30 million switch from Ipswich, Chelsea are also in the market for a new centre-back, winger and potentially other positions as we head into a very busy summer for Enzo Maresca’s side (Simon Phillips).

Interestingly, there could also be some major reshuffling in Chelsea’s goalkeeping department.

It’s been reported that Chelsea could green-light exits for as many as three shot-stoppers. Mike Penders is expected to head out on loan, while it is believed that BlueCo are open to offers for all three of Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, and Djordje Petrovic (Simon Phillips).

“Chelsea have been compiling a list of potential new goalkeepers for some time, and it is highly likely that they still bring one in this summer,” wrote journalist Simon Phillips in a recent Substack update.

“Chelsea want to upgrade what they have but will also be looking at the stoppers they do have at the CWC. The issue is that the likes of Petrovic and Penders do not want to be backup choices, and I can’t see Sanchez being happy with that either to be honest at his age.”

Chelsea in talks for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan

According to Romano, Chelsea are now moving for a top goalkeeping target ahead of the CWC – AC Milan’s Mike Maignan.

The 29-year-old France international’s contract expires next summer, meaning he could be sold for as little as £30 million, according to reports in Italy. Romano claims that this situation has alerted the Blues, with Chelsea now in talks with Milan over signing Maignan.

Maignan has been linked with Chelsea for a while, and it now appears they’re attempting to formalise their interest.

He would add both top-level experience and assured quality to Maresca’s backline, and you could argue that a swoop for the Serie A star is a real no-brainer considering how cheap Maignan could prove to be.

The Rossoneri star has also been lavished with praise by Alisson, who called him one of the world’s best keepers.

“He is physical, quick, he has clean technique. He is very strong. He is one of the best in the world,” said Alisson. “The quality of goalkeepers has really increased – Mike Maignan is within this elite.”

da cassino online： With the summer transfer window set to open on the 1st of June, it is clear that Chelsea are going to sign a striker. The Blues, who face Real Betis in the Conference League final on Wednesday, are strongly linked with several new names who could lead the line for them.

da dobrowin： A recent report from Kieran Gill for The Mail named some of the striker targets the Blues are chasing this summer. They include Eintracht Frankfurt youngster Hugo Ekitike, also wanted by Liverpool, and fellow Bundesliga striker Benjamin Sesko, currently playing for RB Leipzig.

However, there is another man the West Londoners are interested in, for whom they are thought to be leading the race to sign.

Chelsea’s main striker target

It will be fascinating to see who the Blues pursue this summer, with regards to their centre-forward targets. Of course, they seem to be strong contenders to sign Ekitike and Sesko, but they are arguably not their preferred choice.

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Well, according to a report from Chris Wheeler of The Mail, Chelsea are currently the favourites to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. The Blues have ‘edged ahead’ in the race in recent days, perhaps swung by their Champions League qualification, which was confirmed on Sunday.

This has been corroborated by journalist Graeme Bailey, with the transfer insider outlining that the Blues are now ‘confident’ that they will beat Manchester United in the battle for his signature, having already held ‘fresh talks’ with the player.

Any deal for the in-demand striker would cost in the region of £30m, owing to a relegation release clause in his contract at Portman Road.

Why Delap would be a good signing

Few players in their first Premier League campaign have made as much of an impression this season as Delap. In what was a disappointing season for Ipswich as a whole, the England under-21 forward certainly made a big impact.

The 22-year-old, who is the son of Stoke City cult hero Rory, played 37 times in his first full Premier League season. In that time, he managed to bag himself 12 goals and also chipped in with two assists.

One of the biggest positives about Delap is his consistency. His longest goal drought in 2024/25 was seven games, which actually came in the final few games of the season.

Aside from that, he was a consistent scorer for the Tractor Boys, even finding the back of the net against Chelsea in a 2-0 win at Portman Road.

If the Blues do manage to sign Delap, then he is in safe hands under Enzo Maresca. The Italian coach certainly knows how to get the best out of a clinical goalscorer, given the form Jamie Vardy showed under him for Leicester City last season in the Championship.

In 37 games under the now-Chelsea boss, the Foxes legend helped himself to 20 goals and two assists. That included 18 strikes in 35 Championship appearances, to help his side win the league and return to the top flight.

Maresca certainly knows how to handle a deadly centre-forward and get the best out of him, be it as an individual goalscorer or his general striker play.

In a team that scored 89 goals in 2023/24, Vardy had to be selfless too, and Maresca helped him fit in with the team’s dynamic.

Well, that can certainly be said about Delap, too. One person full of praise for the Ipswich star is analyst Ben Mattinson, who described him as “a problem for every Premier League defence”. He’s also been described as a “monster” by teammate Alex Palmer.

The stats on Sofascore from this season show he is more than just a goalscorer, but a well-rounded striker. For example, Delap won an average of two aerial duels per game and played 21 key passes this term.

Delap key stats in 2024/25 PL season

Stat

Per 90 mins

Total

Shots

2.3

68

Shots on target

1.1

32

Dribbles completed

1.4

40

Aerial duels won

2

58

Expected goal involvements

0.37xGI

10.75xGI

Stats from Sofascore

Vardy and Delap are also noted as similar players among those in their position in both Europe’s top five leagues and in the Premier League, as per FBref, reflecting their statistical likeness.

For example, the Ipswich forward averages 0.34 goals per shot on target and 0.24 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes. In comparison, Vardy averages 0.35 goals per shot on target and 0.32 goal-creating actions each game.

The fact that they are so similar surely plays into Maresca’s hands, too. He surely knows how to get the best out of his number nines, and they are certainly like-for-like players, as the stats back up.

Maresca knows what he is doing when it comes to getting the best out of a striker. Delap will surely fit the bill nicely, as someone who is happy to work hard for his team and can score goals at a good rate, too.

If he can be as good as Vardy was under Maresca, then Delap will surely be a success at Stamford Bridge.

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