All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

After lifting the Club World Cup trophy proudly aloft over the summer, Chelsea will be hungry for more success this upcoming campaign as the Premier League finally gets back underway.

A home clash with Crystal Palace starts the season for Enzo Maresca’s men, before the contests with London-based foes continue to come thick and fast, as a short trip to West Ham United then pops up on the calendar, followed by Fulham coming to Stamford Bridge.

It will be intriguing to see what position Chelsea hold after this bumper list of August fixtures, as the Blues also prepare to splash the cash, ahead of September’s looming transfer deadline.

Chelsea still interested in "exceptional" star

The Blues have been busy this summer, and for the most part, so far, these new signings have shone.

João Pedro instantly mde his presence known out at the Club World Cup with three goals from three games, having completed a £60m move from Brighton and Hove Albion just in time for him to strut his stuff in America.

He could soon be joined by ex-Seagulls teammate Carlos Baleba, with reports suggesting that Chelsea – alongside a litany of other Premier League sides – are chasing after the services of the standout South Coast performer.

Away from Baleba, the Blues are also persisting with the signature of another midfielder in the form Xavi Simons.

Football journalist Ben Jacobs, when speaking to The Football Terrace Xtra, has come out to say that Simons wants a move to West London, with Pedro no doubt licking his lips, too, at the prospect of linking up with the exciting Dutchman in attack.

Jacobs stated: “I’m still expecting Chelsea to bid. Maybe they want to get Christopher Nkunku out and resolve Nicolas Jackson’s future as well but there remains a realistic chance that Xavi Simons is a Chelsea player between now and the end of the window. Negotiations are a little more complicated compared to the talks between Manchester United and Chelsea for Alejandro Garnacho.”

Why Simons could be bad news for Fernandez

A move for the “exceptional” Simons – as he’s been previously dubbed by Christoph Freund – could be bad news for Enzo Fernandez.

Why? Well, it could lead to the 24-year-old moving back to a holding position centrally.

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Fernandez in West London.

His mega £107m price tag was always going to feel like a burden on his shoulders, leading to an opening run of 18 games during his first season in the Premier League that saw just two paltry assists being registered.

However, since Maresca’s entry on the scene, the once shackled Fernandez has been a key performer from the middle of the park as more of an attacking-minded presence, something seen in his stunning assist count of 14 last season.

Yet, this electric side to his game, which saw 13 big chances created by the ex-Benfica midfielder in the Premier League across the 2024/25 campaign, could be shackled by the emergence of Xavi Simons, notably when you consider his own blistering displays in the Bundesliga when lining up as a number ten.

LW

39

10

11

RW

17

5

5

AM

17

6

7

LM

2

0

0

SS

1

0

0

Staggeringly, from just 17 career games in the number ten spot for Leipzig, Simons has managed to collect an explosive 13 goal contributions, with an equally red-hot spell at PSV Eindhoven – before this move to Germany – also seeing him amass a ridiculous 15 goal contributions in this position from the same number of limited contests. On that evidence, it’s hardly a surprise that he’s been described as “one of the best 10s in the world” in the words of one data analyst.

It’s a no-brainer, therefore, for Maresca to place more of his trust in Simons to do a job from an attacking position, over hoping Fernandez can deliver, with the 22-year-old even being lauded as “one of the best youngsters in Europe” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker when regularly ripping up the German top division.

In an ideal reality, Maresca will be able to get the optimum out of both midfielders in the same XI.

If he can, Chelsea will feel they’re in a great position to be a force to be reckoned with, heading into what the 2025/26 season could throw up.

Imagine him & Estevao: Chelsea to accelerate deal for "electric" £40m star

Even after Estêvão Willian marked his first appearance at Stamford Bridge with a goal, Chelsea are aiming to accelerate a move for a £40m winger.

ByBen Gray Aug 9, 2025

Fair to say, the start to this season has not gone as West Ham United supporters would’ve hoped.

After two rounds of Premier League games, the Hammers sit rock bottom of the table, having been smashed 3-0 by Sunderland and then 5-1 when Chelsea visited the London Stadium last Friday night. Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers has only further soured the mood.

Things don’t get much easier either, with the Irons travelling to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, before hosting fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur after the international break.

Having won just five of 20 league matches in charge, the pressure is intensifying on manager Graham Potter, so he’ll be desperate to bolster his squad before Monday’s deadline, seemingly targeting midfield reinforcements.

All change in West Ham's midfield

Since the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105m two summers ago, West Ham’s midfield has lacked quality.

Using some of that money, the Hammers signed Edson Álvarez, but the Mexican joined Fenerbahçe on a season-long loan last week, underlining that this transfer was not a success.

Now without him, Tomáš Souček and James Ward-Prowse started against Chelsea, while Guido Rodríguez and Andy Irving remained unused substitutes, which emphasises the real dearth of talent at Potter’s disposal, still searching for Rice’s true replacement.

Well, it appears as though West Ham are going to bolster their midfield options, close to signing Soungoutou Magassa from Monaco for a reported fee of €20m (around £17m).

The 21-year-old has, to date, made 57 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, his performances earning rave reviews.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him “elegant” and the “complete midfielder” praising his “passing, tackling, positioning and athleticism”.

That certainly sounds promising doesn’t it, but could West Ham look to provide the Frenchman with a dream midfield partner?

West Ham chasing another midfielder

As reported earlier this week, West Ham are interested in signing Lorenzo Pellegrini from Roma before the deadline, with the player valued at around £9m.

Transfer Focus

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

The 29-year-old has less than one year remaining on his contract with the Giallorossi, and is not in the plans of new manager Gian Piero Gasperini, hence why sporting director Frederic Massara stated “Pellegrini will leave… we won’t extend his contract and we are looking for a solution not to lose him as free agent”.

Despite seemingly being bombed out by boyhood club Roma, Pellegrini, who first joined la Lupi as an 11-year-old, has been a key figure at the Stadio Olimpico for many a year.

Aside from a two-year sojourn at Sassuolo between 2015 and 2017, the midfielder is a one-club man, accumulating 316 appearances for Roma, scoring 55 goals and registering 59 assists, captaining them to Conference League glory in 2022.

As they seek to force him out, Pellegrini was not involved in Saturday night’s Serie A opener against Bologna, but was a key figure last season, accumulating 34 appearances, starting 20 league matches and five times in the Europa League, with only eight outfield players seeing more minutes across all competitions.

Ivan Jurić, who was briefly in charge of Roma for 12 games last season, asserted that Pellegrini “moves like a god”, earning plenty of high praise from other former head coaches too.

José Mourinho claims that he “can do it all”, Daniele De Rossi adds that he “is one of the best players we have in Italy”, while Claudio Ranieri believes he has managed two “phenomenal” midfielders in his career, naming Frank Lampard and Pellegrini.

So, how does the Italian compare to the gold standard of West Ham midfielders – Rice?

Let’s compare the duo to find out.

Appearances

29

37

Minutes

1,866

3,272

Goals

8

4

Assists

3

2

All stats below are on a per-90 basis:

Shots

1.6

0.8

Chances created

1.8

1

Big chances created

0.24

0.08

Passes completed

30.8

50.5

Passing completion %

83%

88%

Tackles

1.7

2.2

Duels contested

10.3

7.9

Duels success %

48%

59%

Interceptions

1

1.8

Ball recoveries

4.7

9.2

Touches

56.6

71.3

Average Sofascore rating

7.17

7.19

The table compares Pellegrini’s statistics from the 2023/24 campaign, last season set aside due to lack of minutes, with Rice’s final year at West Ham, 2022/23.

That aside, the numbers unsurprisingly show Rice is the more impressive all-round midfielder, hence why he’s the one who moved for £105m.

However, the Italian is more of a goal that, registering more goals and assists, as well as more shots and chances created on a per-90 basis.

Thus, while Rice’s passing and out-of-possession statistics are superior, Pellegrini’s are mostly not too far behind, especially when it comes to duels, underlining that he could compete at Premier League level.

Given his statistics, and rave reviews from numerous former coaches, the Italian international would surely improve West Ham’s sluggish midfield options and, at just £9m, he could prove to be an absolute bargain.

When compared to Magassa, who has scored just one goal in his senior career, Pellegrini would appear to be the perfect partner, with the Frenchman staying back and doing the defensive dirty work, allowing the Italian to get forward and be creative.

Fernandes upgrade: West Ham submit offer to sign "world-class" star

The international veteran would be an excellent signing for West Ham.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 26, 2025

After their late victory against Burnley exposed their problems for all to see once again, Manchester United have reportedly submitted an “improved” offer to sign a major upgrade.

Man Utd eyeing late Onana upgrade

When Andre Onana came flying out of position in an attempt to punch clear against Grimsby in midweek, only to hand the League Two side their second goal on a plate, Ruben Amorim could only watch on as a similar story unfolded. Meanwhile, Altay Bayindir hasn’t been a lot more encouraging, given that his mistake handed Arsenal their winning goal on the opening day.

Simply put, whether it’s been Bayindir or Onana, Manchester United’s goalkeeping department has not been good enough for some time. And INEOS are still attempting to find a solution as Monday’s deadline approaches.

With less than 48 hours left until the transfer window slams shut, fresh reports have indicated that Emiliano Martinez has emerged as an option. The Aston Villa goalkeeper has been linked with a move away from the Midlands all summer and could now finally get a departure courtesy of those at Old Trafford.

Minutes

3,194

3,060

Clean Sheets

8

9

Save Percentage

69%

68.9%

Saves P90

2.7

2.59

Whilst Martinez is less mistake-prone than Onana, last season’s numbers suggest that he wouldn’t be the major upgrade that Amorim requires. The similar save percentage between the two makes for particularly concerning reading and the last thing United need is another liability between the sticks.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that Martinez is already 32 years old. If Amorim is to lead a successful project at Old Trafford then he needs a consistent No.1 who will be at the centre of his side for years to come and Martinez cannot guarantee that. Instead, INEOS would be best to turn to a shot-stopper that has been on their radar all summer long.

Man Utd submit "improved" Lammens offer

According to Mike McGrath, Manchester United have now submitted an “improved” offer to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp and a medical could take place on Sunday if the goalkeeper agrees to a move.

Aston Villa have also asked about the shot-stopper and would set off a domino effect resulting in Martinez joining United if they hijacked the Red Devils’ move for Lammens.

Lammens has been the name on United’s list for most of the summer and it’s clear to see why. Praised for a “superb” season by scout Jacek Kulig at the end of the last campaign, the Belgian is still just 23 years old and represents the young, rising star that would suit this stage of Amorim’s project.

Lost the ball 15x: Man Utd's 8/10 ace is already looking like another Bruno

Bruno Fernandes’ last-gasp penalty secured a valuable win for Manchester United at home to Burnley…

1 ByRobbie Walls Aug 30, 2025

It’s a deal that United simply have to get over the line if they want to see the marked improvement that INEOS will be desperate for this season.

Crystal Palace will no doubt be eager to put this hectic summer transfer window behind them.

Unfortunately, not even sealing a double whammy of successes in the FA Cup and Community Shield would be able to keep Eberechi Eze fixed at Selhurst Park, with the former Eagles attacking midfielder poached by fellow Premier League side Arsenal late on.

However, Palace could make the window look a tad more rosy very soon, with a verbal agreement now reportedly in place for Oliver Glasner’s men to sign this £17m attacker.

Palace verbally agree deal for £17m star

The Eagles might well still wave goodbye to Marc Guehi before the 7pm deadline, but there will be rays of positivity all the same regarding one incoming.

As has been reported by Fabrizio Romano, via X, Getafe ace Christantus Uche is now in London to seal a late switch to Palace, with a deal between the La Liga outfit and Glasner and Co. verbally agreed.

Uche has been subject to widespread interest from the Premier League this summer, with Wolverhampton Wanderers even close at one point to bringing in the £17m star.

But, it looks as if the Eagles will be the winners for his coveted signature after all, as Uche now dreams of forming a terrifying duo up top with Palace man of the moment Jean-Philippe Mateta.

How Uche and Mateta could link up

Mateta would get the ball rolling for his beloved side against Aston Villa last time out, as this calmly tucked away penalty then opened the floodgates to hand the visitors a comfortable 3-0 victory.

That bumps up the clinical Frenchman’s early-season total to three goals from six clashes, and with Uche soon to be by his side by all accounts, his overall tally of 49 strikes for the Eagles will surely just rise and rise.

Games played

33

Goals scored

4

Assists

6

Touches*

34.4

Accurate passes*

11.6 (67%)

Big chances created

7

Total duels won*

6.8

The £17m Nigerian already has a goal and assist next to his name this season from just three La Liga encounters, but it’s his consistent excellence last season in the testing Spanish top-flight that will be music to the ears of Palace – and Mateta in particular – with Uche picking up six assists, despite only averaging a low 11.6 accurate passes per clash.

Mateta often only needs a split second to wreak havoc himself, with a mere 22.6 touches averaged per league game across his standout 2024/25 offering for Palace in the Premier League, but a lethal 14 strikes would still arrive at his door, nonetheless.

Moreover, the one-time Wolves target often uses his strength to fire away goals, as seen in his high 6.8 duels won on average during his breakout campaign in Spain, with four strikes also coming his way to be branded a “defender’s nightmare” by scout Antonio Mango.

Of course, Mateta – coming in at a lofty 6-foot-4 frame – has also often used his brute power as an advantage, with Arsenal great Thierry Henry even going as far as to herald the Selhurst Park fan favourite as an “old-fashioned striker” for his physical approach.

With Eze heartbreakingly gone, adding in Uche could get the Palace fanbase back on side, particularly if he goes on to get even more out of an already red-hot Mateta.

After Pino: Crystal Palace now in advanced talks to sign "intelligent" star

He’s got Champions League experience…

ByTom Cunningham Aug 30, 2025

Newcastle United have had a rough start to the Premier League season as they are one of only four winless teams and are only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference.

This season has already seen them lose their star striker to Liverpool on deadline day, although the British record transfer fee may go some way to soothe that pain, as well as seeing midfielders Joelinton and Sandro Tonali having to go off injured against Liverpool with what have now been revealed to be serious injuries.

However, in his last press conference before the international break, Eddie Howe was looking ahead to the rest of the season and the club’s return to the Champions League:

“We’re just going to try to attack the fixtures in the best way we can. I believe we are more ready than we were last time because there is more experience in the squad and we have been through more together.”

With the manager looking forward to European fixtures, the club, and by extension owners PIF, are looking forward to the January transfer window and another striker signing.

Newcastle eye Mateta as third new striker

Newcastle United are still eyeing up yet another striker in the January transfer window as they contemplate a move for Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Magpies are exploring this deal despite already having signed both Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade as Isak replacements in the final days of the transfer window.

Caught Offside have reported that Palace could be willing to let the French striker go for £40 million, and Newcastle, alongside Leeds United and Aston Villa, are the most interested parties and plan to make formal offers in the New Year.

Former Newcastle United and England striker Alan Shearer has previously praised Mateta when he bagged a brace against West Ham in the 2023/24 season:

“A centre-forward masterclass, scoring two terrific goals that any striker would be proud of. What a revelation he’s been under Oliver Glasner.”

Mateta followed that performance up with another brace, this time against Newcastle in what turned out to be his only goal-scoring performance in nine attempts against the Magpies.

Newcastle's moneyball replacement of Isak

The term “moneyball” gets thrown around a lot in football, but Newcastle, in their handling of the departure of Isak, are enacting the transfer strategy in its truest form.

The initial concept of Moneyball came from Billy Beane’s management of the Oakland Athletics, where, in an off-season where major players departed the club, he tried to replace them not with another superstar but with several players who, aggregated, could reach the same level of output.

Spending the money they received from Liverpool for Isak on Wissa, Woltemade, and now potentially Mateta as well, it seems like they are trying to make up Isak’s goal contributions in the aggregate.

Goal Involvements 24/25 Season

Striker

G+A per 90

Isak

0.95

Mateta

0.54

Woltemade

0.78

Wissa

0.71

Neither of their new strikers nor Mateta on their own match Isak’s output, but they all still have individually impressive returns. All three of them together would almost certainly make up the deficit that Isak leaves behind, but the difficulty for Howe would be managing the three strikers’ desire for game time.

In an attempt to return to their former glory, Manchester United haven’t been afraid to splash the cash over recent years to aid their efforts in the Premier League.

The Red Devils have now gone over a decade without a league triumph, with Ruben Amorim the latest manager to try his luck and end the drought at Old Trafford.

In the last three years alone, the hierarchy have handed various managers over £700m worth of funds to try and improve the playing squad and move closer to title glory.

This summer alone, Amorim spent over £200m on reinforcements to try and right the wrongs of last season, which saw the side finish in a measly 15th position.

However, one player who was brought into the side before his arrival may well be out of favour in the coming months after his dismal stint in England’s top-flight.

Why Casemiro’s United career may be over

Back in the summer of 2022, United forked out a staggering £70m for the signature of midfielder Casemiro from Spanish giants Real Madrid – with such a deal raising eyebrows across England.

After making over 300 appearances in Madrid, there’s no denying he possessed quality, but such a fee was a mammoth one, given he was 30 at the time of his transfer.

However, his time in Manchester has been a disaster, often falling way below the standards many expected – with Jamie Carragher even claiming he needs to move to Saudi Arabia.

Despite his decline, Amorim has still utilised the experienced man in every Premier League game in 2025/26, starting and scoring in the victory over Chelsea on Saturday night.

In true Casemiro style, he ruined his contribution, subsequently picking up his second yellow and being sent off after dragging down Andrey Santos on the counterattack.

Such a dismissal was his fourth sending off since joining the club three years ago, often being an unreliable figure given his lack of discipline, which has cost the side in key moments.

The Brazilian is also on a whopping £350k-per-week – the most of any player in the squad – with the club desperately needing to cut ties when his contract comes to an end in 2026.

It’s clear a new midfielder is needed to help improve the squad, but with the window closed, there’s manager has to work with the options at his disposal – with one former player slipping through their net.

The former United star who’s now ahead of Casemiro

As a result of the club’s heavy spending in recent years, the hierarchy have had to make sacrifices and offload players from the squad to try and balance the books.

From established first-team members, to squad players and academy graduates – countless options have had to be moved on to allow for funds to be generated.

Numerous players have slipped through their net, with regret undoubtedly being felt by many involved with the club after their mistakes in offloading talents too prematurely.

James Garner is one of the players who certainly falls into such a category, with the hierarchy sanctioning his move away from his boyhood club in the same summer as Casemiro’s arrival.

The midfielder joined the Red Devils at the age of just eight, rapidly developing through the youth ranks and going on to make just seven first-team appearances – with his spells away from the club catapulting him to stardom.

Garner would spend 18 months on loan at Nottingham Forest, catching the eye with his box-to-box displays, registering eight goals and 10 assists over his two separate loan spells at the City Ground.

Such performances led to a permanent move to Everton three years ago, leaving the Red Devils for just £9m – a fee that now appears far too cheap given his rise away from Old Trafford.

He’s now become a key member of David Moyes’ Toffees squad, subsequently outperforming Casemiro in various key areas in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.

Garner, who’s been labelled “incredible” by one analyst, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted (82%), whilst also making more passes into the final third per 90 (4.6).

Games played

5

5

Goals & assists

1

1

Pass accuracy

82%

81%

Key passes

1.2

0.7

Passes into the final third

4.6

3.7

Tackles won

2.4

1.4

Interceptions made

1.6

0.7

Take-ons completed

25%

1%

Aerials won

67%

45%

Such numbers highlight the quality the youngster possesses in possession, with such quality something which the side have massively lacked in recent months.

However, out of possession is where the side need further improvement, but the 24-year-old possesses ball-winning quality in abundance – as seen by his tallies of 2.4 tackles won and 1.6 interceptions made per 90.

Both figures are higher than those of Casemiro, further demonstrating why the former United academy graduate is now a better talent than the Brazilian.

Given the remarkable rise of Garner, there’s no denying that the Red Devils made a huge mistake in allowing the Englishman to depart the club – with their loss now Everton’s gain.

Next summer will be huge for the club as they look to finally strengthen in midfield, but it’s safe to say they would’ve saved millions had they kept faith in one of their own.

Forget Bruno & Amad: Man Utd's 8/10 star is becoming Amorim's best player

Manchester United finally stopped the rot with a crucial victory over Chelsea last night.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 21, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur dropped points for just the second time this season on home soil last night, with their meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers ending 1-1.

Santiago Bueno looked as though he had secured Vitor Pereira’s side their first league win of the Premier League campaign, but Thomas Frank’s side managed to stage a late fightback.

Joao Palhinha’s effort deep into stoppage time saw the Lilywhites claim a late point, extending the side’s unbeaten run to five games across all competitions.

It certainly wasn’t a vintage showing in North London, but it’s certainly a sign of a good side if they can avoid defeat even when not producing one of their best displays.

However, if Frank’s side are to be a success in the near future, the Dane desperately needs to address one issue that arose in the meeting with the West Midlands outfit.

Spurs’ biggest issue against Wolves last night

In front of goal this season, Spurs have been largely impressive, scoring 11 times in their six league outings – averaging nearly two goals per game in 2025/26.

However, their showing against Pereira’s side last night was a somewhat toothless one, subsequently being unable to break down the opposition, who have failed to win a single top-flight outing.

Whilst the Lilywhites had 51% of the play, completing 111 passes into the final third, but could only muster a total of three shots on target during the 90 minutes.

Even when managing to get a shot off, Frank’s men struggled with their accuracy, only managing to get 30% of their shots on target – undoubtedly leading to their inability to secure all three points.

Their subsequent chances only accrued an xG of just 0.87, with the visitors achieving a higher total of 1.15 – subsequently doing so despite managing fewer efforts on goal.

The Lilywhites’ attack was made up of over £150m worth of talent last night, but numerous of such players failed to make the desired impact in forward areas.

The Spurs player who needs to be dropped after Wolves

Xavi Simons joined Spurs in a £52m transfer from RB Leipzig late in the summer window, but as of yet, the Dutchman has struggled to hit the ground running in North London.

The 22-year-old has made five appearances in all competitions, but has only registered one goal contribution, with his assist for Pape Sarr against West Ham United his only tangible reward.

In his showing against Wolves yesterday, Simons only managed a 25% dribble success rate, whilst only completing 27% of the crosses he attempted – highlighting his lack of impact in North London.

In the majority of his matches to date, the youngster has operated in an unnatural role off the left-hand side, which has no doubt contributed to his lack of success since his big-money move.

However, the same can’t be said for Richarlison, with the Brazilian striker being Frank’s first choice number nine in the absence of Dominic Solanke since the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

Whilst the 28-year-old started the season in superb fashion, netting two goals in the opening day triumph over Burnley, he’s ultimately struggled to hit such heights in recent weeks.

He’s now only managed to find the back of the net once in his last seven outings across all competitions, hitting a blank against Wolves once again last night.

Minutes played

90

Touches

20

Passes completed

5

Possession lost

8x

Duels won

33%

Dribbles completed

0

Shots on target

0

Chances created

0

Despite not scoring, Richarlison may have been able to save himself with his all-round showing, but it was an evening to forget for the talisman in North London as he looked way off the pace throughout the draw.

His lack of impact was highlighted by his tally of just 20 touches, a figure lower than that of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who managed 29 throughout the contest.

Richarlison’s dismal showing was further reflected in his tally of just five passes completed, at a success rate of just 56%, whilst also losing possession eight times – losing the ball 40% of the time he touched it.

His further tallies of 0% dribbles completed and 33% duel success rate also indicate how alien he was during the meeting with Pereira’s men, often being dominated by the opposition backline.

As a result of his showing, the £50m forward was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by Football London journalist Alasdair Gold – topping off what was a disappointing performance from the Brazilian.

After such a showing, boss Frank has no choice but to make a change at the top end of the pitch, with such a position becoming an issue given the lack of tangible rewards produced in recent games.

The Champions League clash at Bodo Glimt could present an excellent opportunity to try something slightly left field in an attempt to try and rectify the problem currently apparent at the top end of the pitch.

Saved by Palhinha: Frank must instantly drop Spurs star who dropped a 6/10

Tottenham salvaged a point against Wolves in the Premier League.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 28, 2025

It is the start of a crucial period for Tottenham Hotspur, so can they continue their impressive start to the campaign?

Having accumulated 14 points so far, Spurs begin the weekend third in the Premier League table, following a 2-1 victory over Leeds United before the international break; Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus the scorers.

Next up, Sunday’s visit from Aston Villa commences a very tough looking fixture list for Thomas Frank’s team, who will take on Everton (A), Chelsea (H), Manchester United (H) and then Arsenal (A) in their subsequent four league fixtures.

If the Lilywhites are going to collect a respectable number of points from these matches, Frank must make one key star, reminiscent of Dele Alli, a central figure, both literally and figuratively.

Dele Alli's rise and fall at Tottenham

Last month, Dele Alli was released by Como, having made just one appearance for the Lariani, this a nine minute cameo against AC Milan at San Siro in March, cut short as he was sent off.

That was his first, and so far only, appearance for anyone for 748 days, back in the footballing wilderness at the age of just 29.

In his pomp though, Dele was one of the best midfielders in the world, earning 37 England caps, starting against Colombia, Sweden and Croatia as the Three Lions reached a first World Cup semi-final in 28 years back in 2018.

For Tottenham too, as the graphic below demonstrates, he made 269 appearances for Tottenham, directly involved in 126 goals, a key figure in Mauricio Pochettino’s incredibly strong side.

During this period, Pochettino labelled him “one of the most talented players in England”, while teammate Harry Kane stated “Dele has everything. He scores goals, makes runs, creates chances. He’s an unbelievable player”.

That ability to both create chances as a midfielder but also score goals like a centre-forward is what made prime Dele unique, so which member of the current Spurs squad could replicate this?

Tottenham's new Dele Alli

During a pre-season friendly against Newcastle in Seoul, James Maddison ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for, probably, the entirety of this season.

Thus, Tottenham acted fast, knowing that they needed to add some creativity, so, after failing in the attempt to sign Eberechi Eze, acquired Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for £52m, who isn’t a bad alternative.

The Dutch international has been highly-rated for many years now, making his senior debut for Paris Saint-Germain, before really announcing himself on loan at PSV Eindhoven, scoring 22 goals and registering 11 assists during the 2022/23.

More recently, he has been at RB Leipzig, certainly impressing during his two seasons in Saxony, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelling him a “game changer”, while his market value has now soared to as much as £97m, as per CIES.

The Dutch international has featured in each of Tottenham’s last four Premier League matches, starting three of them, but is yet to score for Spurs, his sole assist coming on debut against West Ham.

So, let’s take a look at his statistics so far.

Shots

9

5th

Shots per 90

1.94

4th

Shot-creating actions

9

5th

Attempted take-ons

18

3rd

Progressive carries

16

5th

Carries into final 3rd

12

3rd

As the table notes, Simons has pretty impressive attacking statistics at Tottenham so far this season, despite the lack of tangible end product.

However, the majority of his minutes have come as a left-winger, which is very much not his best position, significantly more likely to thrive in a number ten role.

Well, against Leeds a fortnight ago, he was finally deployed through the middle, flanked by Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert, with Mathys Tel leading the line.

This has to be the set-up Frank uses going forward, especially in matches where Tottenham are going to be dominating territory and possession.

The recent 1-1 home draw with bottom of the table Wolves the prime example of this, with Simons shunted out to the left flank, with João Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur both starting at the base of midfield, which felt unnecessarily cautious.

Simons scored ten Bundesliga goals last season, the second-most of any midfielder, behind only Jamal Musiala, showing that he can be a goal-scoring threat when utilised correctly.

In his prime at Spurs, Dele was unplayable as a goal-scoring number ten, and Simons has shown similar attacking instincts at previous clubs, so he needs to be given attacking freedom in a similar way.

Not just Richarlison: Spurs trio are on borrowed time after Paratici return

Tottenham Hotspur could be set for a clear-out of the squad after Fabio Paratici returned to the club.

2 ByEthan Lamb Oct 18, 2025

Thomas Frank’s appointment as Tottenham Hotspur boss generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase this summer, with the Dane having the chance to build on the Europa League triumph.

He spent seven years in charge of Brentford before his arrival, often relying upon talents such as Bryan Mbeumo to provide the goods within the final third across the capital.

The Cameroonian international thrived under Frank’s guidance in the Premier League, netting 20 times in the top-flight last season, subsequently making him one of the division’s hottest properties.

After the 51-year-old took charge of the Lilywhites, a real sense of excitement built at the prospect of the Dane bringing the 26-year-old with him in an attempt to sustain the recent European triumph.

However, despite interest in his signature, Mbeumo would move to Manchester United in a £71m transfer – a huge amount of money and potentially a slight overpay.

As a result, the new boss has had to rely on another summer addition and one player already on the books to try and provide the impact he desires within attacking areas.

Kudus & Johnson’s start to the 2025/26 season at Spurs

After missing out on Mbeumo’s signature, Spurs forked out £55m for the services of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United to try and hand the manager his next version of the Cameroonian.

Such a deal may have been an expensive one, but it’s a transfer that has been worth every penny to date, with the Ghanaian already registering one goal and four assists in his first ten outings.

His first goal for the Lilywhites came in the recent triumph over Leeds United, subsequently highlighting his ability to pop up with crucial goals when the side need him most.

Kudus isn’t alone in falling into that category, with teammate Brennan Johnson also able to score key goals for the Lilywhites, as seen by his winner in the Europa League final last campaign.

Whilst he’s already scored three times across all competitions, the Welsh international has failed to start a single league game since the end of August and has rapidly fallen down the pecking order.

The 24-year-old will likely be disappointed with his lack of action, which has potentially been impacted by the arrival of Kudus during the recent transfer window.

Whilst both are hugely talented players, it remains to be seen if any can reach the levels produced by Mbeumo in recent times, but one other star already in the ranks could achieve such a feat, given the similarities in their careers.

The Spurs star who could be Frank’s next Mbeumo

Over the last couple of seasons, Spurs have splashed the cash to try and compete with teams around them, as seen by the respective deals to land Kudus and Johnson.

Around £400m has been spent in recent years to catapult the club to the needed success, with such spending undoubtedly helping them claim European glory back in May.

Various recruitment strategies have been in place over recent times, often signing a mixture of youth talent for the future, or players entering their prime and able to make an immediate impact.

However, players sometimes cross over both categories, as seen by the arrival of attacker Wilson Odobert from Burnley back in the summer of 2024.

A deal for the Frenchman certainly came out of nowhere, with the Lilywhites hierarchy paying £25m for his signature after the Clarets suffered relegation back to the Championship.

Whilst the 20-year-old has only made 30 appearances throughout the injury, he’s still managed to impress in North London and show glimpses of his potential and talents.

Odobert, who’s been dubbed “phenomenal” by one analyst, has already scored three times for the club, two of which came during their Europa League-winning campaign in 2024/25 – already highlighting his ability to produce the goods in key moments.

Whilst his goalscoring tally isn’t as impressive as Mbeumo’s, the similarities are there for everyone to see, with the Frenchman moving to England from Troyes.

The now Man Utd talent did the exact same upon his transfer to Brentford back in the summer of 2019 – subsequently needing time to make a huge impact in England.

Games played

16

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

85%

Successful dribbles

1.3

Chances created

0.9

Shots taken

1.4

Touches in opposition box

4.1

Recoveries made

3.6

He struggled to register double figures in goals for each of his first three top-flight campaigns, but the Bees’ patience was certainly rewarded, as seen by his tallies and fee generated in recent times.

Odobert could do the exact same for the Lilywhites in the years ahead, with the club and fanbase needing to support the winger in his attempts for success in North London.

At just 20, he has bags of time to live up to the potential he arrived with, but it’s crucial that Frank works his magic once again to create another world-class attacker.

Spurs have signed an incredible "freak talent" who could be their new Bale

The sensational gem could become Tottenham Hotspur’s new Gareth Bale.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 8, 2025

Should he get anywhere close to Mbeumo’s level, it would be a sensational piece of business and one that could help the Lilywhites sustain their recent success in Europe or even domestically.

Celtic are reportedly preparing to make their first contact with Wales manager Craig Bellamy, who has become the latest of a number of coaches to be linked with the vacant managerial role.

There’s been a major shake-up in the Scottish Premiership so far this season. It’s not champions Celtic who lead. It’s not their Old Firm rivals Rangers. Instead, it’s surprise champions-elect Hearts who have taken an eight-point lead at the top whilst those in Glasgow have descended into chaos.

Revealed: Scott Brown's chances of replacing Brendan Rodgers at Celtic

The Bhoys are looking for their next manager.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 28, 2025

The Russell Martin experiment proved disastrous at Ibrox and a chaotic managerial hunt then followed before they landed on Danny Rohl. Now, Celtic are set to follow suit following Brendan Rodgers’ decision to leave the club – bringing an end to his second spell in charge of the club.

Those at Celtic Park will be hoping that their managerial search ends far quicker than Rangers’ did, given that their rivals were rejected by their top two choices.

As a result, work is instantly underway in search of a replacement for Rodgers. Names such as Ange Postecoglou, Edin Terzic and even Kevin Muscat, who rejected Rangers, have all threatened to steal the headlines so far, but it remains to be seen if any of the three emerge as priority choices.

Muscat would of course be an interesting choice after he rejected Rangers. Whether he’s the right choice should be the question asked by Celtic, however. The 52-year-old is yet to have any managerial success in European football and has enjoyed much of his career in Australia, China and Japan.

If Muscat is ruled out then the Bhoys could turn towards Bellamy, who has also emerged as a key option.

Celtic preparing first Craig Bellamy contact

According to Sky Sports, Celtic are now preparing to sound out Craig Bellamy among others about their vacant managerial role in the coming week.

The Wales manager has impressed on the international stage and has admirers at Celtic Park, despite losing both games in the last break, a friendly against England and World Cup qualifier defeat to Belgium. Alas, it remains to be seen whether he’d leave his post at Wales in the middle of that qualifying campaign.

Games

14

Wins

6

Draws

4

Defeats

4

As things stand, Wales sit third in their qualifying group and still have hope of reaching the 2026 World Cup. Luring Bellamy away from that may prove all too difficult for Celtic.

There’s no denying that he would be an excellent choice, though. Speaking to Sky Sports when Bellamy was appointed in his current role, former Wales striker Rob Earnshaw said: “It’s an excellent appointment.

“When I was thinking, ‘who could take Wales forward?’ He was one of the first names I thought about. He’s got a very sharp mind, a great passion for the game and they’ve made the right choice.”

The latest on Celtic's manager search