All posts by z3u9t.icu

West Ham United are now seemingly pushing to sign Watford star Emmanuel Dennis as a big transfer update comes to light in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Hammers eye move…

The forward is reportedly a top target for Irons manager David Moyes as the Scotsman aims to upgrade his squad for next season.

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West Ham are seeking to maintain their remarkable rise over the last two campaigns with the possible signings of one more striker, two central midfielders and some wide players (The Mirror).

Dennis is on the radar, with reports claiming last week that the Hammers have been plotting a £20m bid and that they fancy their chances of signing the Nigerian due to Watford’s relegation (The Mirror).

The Latest: West Ham push…

According to Football Insider, a big update has come to light on the chase, with West Ham ‘stepping up their bid’ to sign the 24-year-old and seemingly pushing for him.

Talks have apparently been held over Dennis already as he becomes a ‘top target’ for Moyes and the Irons, coming as Watford are ‘ready to cash in’ on him.

Indeed, with the relegated Hornets now green-lighting his summer sale, it appears that the east Londoners have wasted no time in pursuing a deal.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Standing out as Watford’s best attacker over the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, finishing it as their top scorer and one of their standouts by average match rating (WhoScored), West Ham’s intense interest in the Nigerian appears to be justified.

Still just 24, Dennis has many years ahead at the top level, with reports also suggesting that his club are ready to sell for £20m this summer.

He has also been called a ‘beast’ by members of the media, with the numbers and acclaim backing that he could certainly be worth a significant push from West Ham.

In other news: Offer ready: Newman preparing bid for ‘standout’ as West Ham eye ‘no-brainer’ signing! Find out more here.

Celtic not only wrapped up their 2021/22 Premiership season with a blistering 6-0 win over Motherwell on the final day of their title-winning campaign, they also ended it with the best attacking and defensive record in the league.

Throughout their 38 top-flight games, the Hoops found the net 92 times and only conceded 22 goals along the way.

Speaking of their imperious defence, one man in Ange Postecoglou’s squad who didn’t play a significant part throughout the campaign is Christopher Jullien.

After recovering from a serious knee injury in January, the Frenchman played just 16 minutes of action for the Hoops, which came during their 4-0 win over Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup. Even though he had been out of action for so long, there may have been some Celtic fans expecting to see the centre-back given more game-time than that between January and May.

This duly raises the question of whether or not Postecoglou sees Jullien – who has had some performances in the past dubbed a “shocker” by Tam McManus – as a suitable figure in his squad going forward.

Should the 56-year-old not have enough faith in the £20k-per-week Frenchman for whatever reason, it could well spell the end of the defender’s time at Parkhead.

Looking back at the number of players who left the club last summer, it has been made clear that the Australian is not reluctant when it comes to shipping fringe squad members out of Parkhead.

Also, according to a recent report from Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Celtic will likely consider selling the French defender if a decent bid comes in for him this summer.

If Jullien does end up leaving Glasgow, the Hoops may already have a prime long-term replacement to whom they can turn, instead of potentially diving into the transfer market once again.

Ewan Otoo, who is a product of Celtic’s youth system, obtained first-team experience during a loan spell with Clyde in 2021, where he made 15 appearances.

Labelled a “powerful” player by Clyde manager Danny Lennon, the 19-year-old defender could well have the chance during pre-season to catch Postecoglou’s eye and show him that he’s capable of being a senior squad option for the Hoops moving forward.

Should that prove to the case, he could well become a long-term defensive figure at Parkhead and a suitable replacement for the potentially exit-bound Jullien.

In other news – “Around that number..”: Big Lennoxtown transfer claim emerges, it’s great for Celtic

According to The Telegraph’s ‘sources’, a big transfer update has now come out of Southampton involving Fiorentina goalkeeper and target Bartlomiej Dragowski.

The Lowdown: Saints set for busy summer?

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl could be set for an interesting and busy summer as his side gear up for the 2022/2023 Premier League season and a potentially crucial one.

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Club chief Martin Semmens, tasked with backing the Austrian, has been linked with a fair few faces and perhaps most notably between the sticks.

Southampton face the prospect of losing a plethora of their goalkeepers by the end of 2021/2022 as with many out of contract past June (Transfermarkt).

Consequently, they’ve been linked with signing new shot stoppers as some promising news emerges on Dragowksi.

The Latest: Telegraph ‘sources’ share news…

According to ‘sources’, via The Telegraph, Southampton have ‘targeted’ the 6 foot 3 powerhouse keeper as a ‘summer signing’ for Hasenhuttl.

He’s apparently been ‘looked at’ in a ‘£10 million deal’ and it is believed that Fiorentina have conceded that they may have to sell Dragowski as it will be ‘difficult’ to stand in his way.

The Verdict: Get it done?

While he has struggled for game time this season with La Viola, we believe Dragowski may well be a solid goalkeeping signing for Hasenhuttl.

Last year, the Poland international was a mainstay between the sticks and was even compared to superman by sections of the Italian press for some of his performances.

If Dragowski could replicate that form at St. Mary’s, £10m for a goalkeeper who is still just 24-years-old feels like a real bargain waiting to happen.

In other news: Southampton join race to sign ‘sensational’ and ‘flawless’ player from major European club! Find out more here.

Journalist John Wenham has tipped Celtic to complete a £10m move for Cameron Carter-Vickers in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Carter-Vickers a wanted man

The future of the USA international has been a key talking point around Parkhead in recent weeks, with a number of clubs linked with snapping him up.

Carter-Vickers has been magnificent on loan for Celtic this season, not only averaging 4.1 successful aerial duels per game in the Premiership but also enjoying an 89.5% pass completion rate.

It would feel significant if Ange Postecoglou retains the centre-back’s services beyond the summer, and an encouraging claim has emerged in that respect.

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The Latest: Celtic backed to land Carter-Vickers

Speaking to Football Insider, Wenham backed Celtic to get a permanent deal over the line, beating other suitors to Carter-Vickers’ signature in the process. He said:

“It seems like Carter-Vickers is going to go early doors. Quite where that is yet, I’m not sure. Some new names have been mentioned in the last few days.

“If I’m being totally honest I think Celtic will speak to Tottenham and say they will pay the money on 1 July. If they just say, ‘let’s get it done early and here is £6million that goes up to £10million with add-ons’, Tottenham would take that all day.

“I know from speaking to people who know his agency, we would have taken £2.5million last summer. So to get a much-improved fee would be something Tottenham wouldn’t think twice about.

“The deal is done quickly and no one has to worry about it again.”

The Verdict: Would be quite a coup

If Celtic could tie down Carter-Vickers to a permanent deal, it would feel like a significant coup, considering the hugely influential figure he has already become at Parkhead and the apparent interest of several English Premier League clubs.

He is developing a promising centre-back partnership with Carl Starfelt and it could blossom even more as the years progress, with their mutual understanding potentially growing even more refined.

Seeing Carter-Vickers move elsewhere at this tage would feel like a massive blow – the hope is that the probable lure of Champions League football at Celtic beats that of moving to the Premier League instead.

In other news, Frank McAvennie is stunned by an impressive Celtic update. Read more here.

An injury expert has now dropped a worrying Newcastle United claim on Ryan Fraser.

The Lowdown: Howe verdict

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of their 1-0 loss at home to Liverpool in the Premier League last time out, Eddie Howe admitted that he was not sure if Fraser would be able to play again this season.

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The former Burnley and AFC Bournemouth manager does not think that it is a serious injury, but it looks as if the Scotland international will struggle to get back into the team from now until the end of the campaign.

The Latest: Dinnery reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in both medicine and data analysis, has claimed that while Fraser’s injury is not extreme, it is ‘worse than we thought’ and just ‘serious’ enough to keep him out for the rest of the term:

“Howe always maintained that the setback for Fraser is only a minor issue.

“But if we are calling into question whether he might be out for the season, that might mean it is actually a more serious grade two problem.

“In the grand scheme of things it isn’t too major but it is worse than we thought and enough to keep him out for a few weeks.

“But Newcastle are safe and don’t really have anything to play for. There is no need to take any chances with any player but particularly Fraser.

“His hamstring problems go back to the beginning of December. He’s had tightness and cramping.

“So it’s about addressing those problems and making sure he is fully ready when he does come back.”

The Verdict: Blow

It certainly is a blow to Howe and his squad if they are to lose Fraser for the rest of the season.

The winger has been a key part of a turnaround that has seen the St. James’ Park faithful steer clear of the relegation zone, contributing two goals and two assists in the top flight since February and being a mainstay in the side (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, they will no doubt want to finish the campaign strongly, but losing Fraser makes that more difficult, especially considering that they have to visit the reigning champions on Sunday afternoon.

In other news, find out who may now be sold by NUFC this summer here!

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport have shared a big Manchester United transfer update involving Juventus forward Paulo Dybala and incoming new manager Erik ten Hag.

The Lowdown: ten Hag revolution underway?

The 52-year-old, coming as the latest elite boss in a long line tasked with steering United back to the Premier League summit, has already been making his mark behind-the-scenes – according to reports.

Ten Hag is allegedly working on summer transfer targets with a central defender first and foremost on the Red Devils agenda, as per reporter Rudy Galetti, but that hasn’t stopped the Old Trafford side also making pre-summer moves for attacking targets.

ESPN journalist James Olley revealed just the other day that they had made an approach for soon-to be free agent and Juve star Dybala with La Gazzetta, a big name newspaper, now backing this update with their own bit of news.

The Latest: La Gazzetta make big Dybala claim…

According to the publication in their print edition, as shared by Sport Witness, United have indeed made ‘first contact’ to sign the Argentine.

Following on, they claim that ten Hag could play a major role in luring Dybala to Manchester, even wanting to hijack Inter Milan’s move for the player.

Indeed, while the European heavyweights are also in contact over signing the £222,000-per-week star, it is believed ten Hag could ‘cut them out’ with his own ‘speech’ – meaning he may be able to personally persuade Dybala to choose a move to England instead.

The Dutchman is also apparently a huge fan of the player as United take a step pre-summer by making early contact.

The Verdict: Good move?

A proven attacking threat in Serie A, scoring nearly a century of goals in the division combined with 51 assists (Transfermarkt), signing the £36 million-rated man for nothing would be a real statement by ten Hag and the club.

English pundits, like former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson, have previously raved over the ‘world class’ Dybala as a potentially ‘massive addition’ for any squad (Football Insider).

Set to become one of the biggest free agents of 2022, the race will be competitive for his signing, but perhaps ten Hag’s allure and United’s status as a household name could tempt Dybala.

In other news: Rangnick has set his sights on another one of Serie A’s brightest talents…find out more here.

Now we have a crisis. West Ham United are not doomed, but a little over two months into the season, there’s a real sense of foreboding as the relegation-threatened Hammers struggle to climb out of the drop zone.

Leeds United were well worth their win as they saw off Nuno Espirito Santo’s side on Friday evening at Elland Road, with shaky West Ham lacking any of the principled, well-drilled defensive solidness that Nuno sides come to be defined by.

Early days yet, but it’s concerning that the Portuguese tactician has failed to structure his squad effectively across his opening Premier League matches at the London Stadium, drawing at Everton on his debut but since losing three on the bounce.

Journalist Jacob Steinberg commented on the issues, criticising the manager for fielding “inexplicable line-ups” and even saying he has “botched both games this week”, having slumped to a home defeat against Brentford on Monday.

But, equally, the players needed to step up against the newly-promoted Whites, and that they did not do.

West Ham's biggest villains at Leeds

West Ham didn’t turn up. Though Mateus Fernandes claimed his first goal for the club when heading Jarrod Bowen’s whipped cross into the net late on, it wasn’t enough and the Londoners retreated with none of the spoils, and the knowledge that they have just four points from nine fixtures thus far.

Bowen was as lively as ever, nearly sealing a show-stopping moment when his bicycle kick was saved in the first half, the Hammers 1-0 down.

But this was about the extent of the positives. Tomas Soucek was particularly poor. An industrious player and one of the finest stalwarts from the illustrious David Moyes era, the 30-year-old’s lumbering limitations were exposed, and aside from that chance which went begging, he was too high too often, leaving Andy Irving exposed.

Crysencio Summerville also flattered to deceive against his former side, but in fairness, he was a victim of tactical confusion, starting on the right and then moving to the left following Ollie Scarles’ first-half injury. There was a lot of huff and puff without any end product.

The 23-year-old has looked bright this term after an injury-hit 2024/25 campaign, but he remains inconsistent and needs to be more outgoing in front of goal.

Electric and inventive, he adds something different, and though the Netherlands-born talent shouldn’t be dropped, there’s little question that he needs to offer more.

However, there’s another member of the starting line-up who has proved he’s not cut out for the task at hand, and Nuno must surely think about dropping him soon.

The West Ham star who must be axed

After the full-time whistle screeched in Leeds, it was made known that West Ham have suffered their worst start to a top-flight campaign in 52 years. Nuno has yet to win a game since replacing Graham Potter.

What, then, needs to be done? Well, for one thing, United’s messy defending needs sorting out – and quickly. And to achieve this, it might be worth pulling Jean-Clair Todibo from the starting line-up, with the Frenchman putting in another poor performance on Friday.

Todibo, 25, spent last season on loan in east London before completing a permanent £35m transfer earlier in 2025. He had been coveted by Juventus and was regarded in France as one of the most athletic and exciting ball-playing defenders in the business.

But the Premier League is a different beast, and after lacking clarity and conviction in his performances last year, Todibo has now fallen by the wayside, with West Ham Fav TV contributor Nick Marsh saying after the match that he and Max Kilman are “comfortably the two worst centre-backs in this league.”

One website even saw it fit to brand Todibo with a lowly 3/10 match rating, and this was echoed across social media, with supporters fed up with the limp and unconvincing defensive displays.

Todibo’s quality in the air must be questioned, and he leaves so much to be desired when dealing with whipped deliveries. Herein lies the crux of West Ham’s issues, and Todibo is very much a part of the problem.

Looking at it across the span of the season, he doesn’t win enough duels – albeit proving strong in the few ground battles he has won – while failing to muster the creativity and initiative on the ball that drew such acclaim while with OGC Nice in France.

Matches (starts)

4 (4)

Touches*

60.0

Clean sheets

0

Accurate passes*

43.8 (88%)

Key passes*

0.0

Recoveries*

3.0

Tackles*

2.0

Interceptions*

0.8

Clearances*

3.5

Ground duels won*

2.8 (73%)

Aerial duels won*

1.5 (38%)

Standing at 6 foot 3, to be averaging success in just 38% of his aerial duels is inexcusable. Todibo must be dropped. But who comes in?

Former Brighton & Hove Albion defender Igor Julio continues to languish on the sidelines, though there are suggestions that the 27-year-old has impressed in training and could be in line for a debut soon, having only made one substitute appearance so far this term.

Meanwhile, Soungoutou Magassa has played in central defence before and has already been shown some trust by Nuno, starting twice in the Premier League this year.

In any case, changes are needed in east London. West Ham boast plenty of quality in their squad and cannot allow themselves to tumble from the first tier. If dropping Todibo is a means toward this goal, then so be it.

Nuno can banish Soucek from West Ham by unleashing "powerful" Irons star

The West Ham gem could help Nuno Espirito Santo pick up his first win in the Premier League.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 23, 2025

Manchester City are known for their spending power following their 2008 takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group and have won everything under Pep Guardiola.

Jack Grealish is the club’s biggest ever addition at a cost of £100m, whereas star striker Erling Haaland looks a bargain at just over £50m.

Man City's most expensive signings of all time

The Citizens have spent a lot of money over the years.

ByBarney Lane Jan 28, 2025

However, those at the Etihad Stadium have also brought in some big fees for some star players in recent years, with Cole Palmer’s move to Chelsea one that City arguably regret.

Here is a list of Man City’s most expensive departures of all time, with a detailed look at the top 10.

Rank

Player

Fee

Sold to

Year

Julian Alvarez

£64.4m

Atletico Madrid

2024

Raheem Sterling

£47.5m

Chelsea

2022

Ferran Torres

£46.7m

Barcelona

2021

Gabriel Jesus

£45m

Arsenal

2022

Leroy Sane

£44.7m

Bayern Munich

2020

Cole Palmer

£42.5m

Chelsea

2023

Danilo

£34.1m

Juventus

2019

Oleksandr Zinchenko

£30m

Arsenal

2022

Riyad Mahrez

£30m

Al-Hilal

2023

Kelechi Iheanacho

£25m

Leicester

2017

Yan Couto

£25m

Borussia Dortmund

2025

Alvaro Negredo

£23.8m

Valencia

2014

Aymeric Laporte

£23.6m

Al-Nassr

2023

James McAtee

£22m

Nottingham Forest

2025

Joao Cancelo

£21.2m

Al-Hilal

2001

Shaun Wright-Phillips

£21m

Chelsea

2005

Taylor Harwood-Bellis

£20m

Southampton

2024

Mario Balotelli

£19m

AC Milan

2013

James Trafford

£19m

Burnley

2023

Robinho

£18m

AC Milan

2010

10 Kelechi Iheanacho £25m to Leicester, 2017

Eight years before full-back Yan Couto, Man City sold forward Kelechi Iheanacho for a fee of £25m.

The Nigerian scored 21 goals in 64 games at the Etihad, however, in search of regular game time, signed for the Foxes where he would make more than 230 appearances.

He won the FA Cup for Leicester, whereas City were happy with the money after bringing the forward through their academy.

9 Riyad Mahrez £30m to Al-Hilal, 2023

After winning the treble with Man City in 2022/23, winger Riyad Mahrez swapped Manchester for Saudi Arabia.

Mahrez was 32 years of age when Al-Hilal came calling, with City recouping half of the £60m they paid Leicester for the right-winger in 2018.

8 Oleksandr Zinchenko £30m to Arsenal, 2022

Full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko played more than 125 games for Man City after joining in 2016 from FC Ufa.

Zinchenko cost just £1.8m, so would go on to make a huge profit when selling the Ukrainian to Arsenal. It proved to be a wise call, with the left-back struggling to make the same impact at the Emirates.

7 Danilo £34.1m to Juventus, 2019

Brazilian full-back Danilo arrived from Real Madrid in Guardiola’s first season and would make 60 appearances for Man City.

He left for Juventus in 2019 after winning back-to-back Premier League titles, two EFL Cup trophies and an FA Cup, with City making profit in the process.

6 Cole Palmer £42.5m to Chelsea, 2023

A sale that Man City look set to regret for a long time is academy graduate Cole Palmer.

When Man City accepted Chelsea’s £42.5m offer for the attacking midfielder in 2023, it appeared as if it was a wise decision and one that would help with FFP.

However, Palmer has gone from strength to strength at Stamford Bridge and is now seen as one of the best creative attackers in world football.

5 Leroy Sane £44.7m to Bayern, 2020

Arriving at the Etihad in 2016 for an initial £37m, Leroy Sane made a big impact on the wing for Man City, with his lightning speed terrifying full-backs in the Premier League.

The German won two league titles with City and returned to his native country with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich four years later, with the Blues making money on the attacker.

4 Gabriel Jesus £45m to Arsenal, 2022

Like Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus also made the move from Man City to Arsenal in 2022, and the Brazilian cost the Gunners more at £45m.

Jesus scored 95 goals in 236 games for City, winning four Premier League titles. He cost the Blues around £27m, meaning those at the Etihad made a tidy profit despite selling to a rival.

3 Ferran Torres £46.7m to Barcelona, 2021

Ferran Torres’ stay in Manchester was short and sweet, and much of his 18-month stay at the Etihad was during the pandemic and played behind closed doors, so City fans never really got to see the forward up close.

The Spaniard did catch the eye in England, so much so that Barcelona were willing to pay £46.7m for his services at the end of 2021.

2 Raheem Sterling £47.5m to Chelsea, 2022

Raheem Sterling spent seven years as a Man City player and won four Premier League titles at the Etihad, going down as a club legend.

The winger cost City just under £50m from Liverpool in 2015, so recouping the majority of that fee when Chelsea came in was seen as a shrewd piece of business.

1 Julian Alvarez £64.4m to Atletico Madrid, 2024

Top of the list as Man City’s most expensive sale of all time is forward Julian Alvarez, who played second fiddle to Haaland for large parts of his Etihad career.

The Argentine did win the World Cup while at City and impressed when given the chance under Guardiola.

However, those at the Etihad couldn’t turn down an initial £64.4m offer from Atletico Madrid, and that could rise to £81.5m with add ons.

Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly battling to complete the signing of “one of the strongest forwards in Europe” in 2026, with his big wages not a problem for either side.

Rooney impressed with Mbeumo at Man Utd

The Red Devils’ start to the season has been flawed, with not all of their new signings hitting the ground running, but Bryan Mbeumo has made an encouraging start to life at Old Trafford.

One player who has been impressed by the Cameroonian’s performances in a United shirt is Wayne Rooney, who admitted as much on The Wayne Rooney Show.

“He looks like the type of character who would be fine with it (going back to his old club). I think he’s been a real positive for Man United this season. I think his energy, his running off the ball, his commitment, he’s scored a couple of goals, he could have had more.

“So I’ve been really happy. I think he’s been, out of all the signings, the most positive one. And he looks like someone who will just take it in his stride. So, yeah, I think he’ll be ok. It’s not always easy when you go back.”

While Mbeumo has been joined by Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko at United this summer, another attacking player is now being mentioned as a transfer target for them.

Man Utd battling Chelsea for soon-to-be free agent

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Manchester United are interested in signing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who is on course to become a free agent in 2026.

The Red Devils will reportedly have no issue paying the Serb’s £10m-a-year wages, with Chelsea also keen on acquiring his signature, and Juve could cash in on him in the January transfer window, rather than lose him for nothing.

Vlahovic is an outstanding striker who has proven himself over an extended period, being hailed by his former manager Cesare Prandelli earlier this week.

“Dusan has shown great professionalism. He has endured everything. His goals reflect his inner balance. For me, he is a champion. I’d like to see him score even more – he is one of the strongest forwards in Europe.”

Juventus

150

62

Fiorentina

108

49

Partizan Belgrade

27

3

Serbia

38

15

Vlahovic has all the tools to be a big hit for United, from physicality to expert finishing, but the one question mark against them signing him is whether it would stunt Sesko’s growth at Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old Slovenian is still adjusting to life with the Red Devils, but there needs to be a point where United show faith in a striker and stick with him, having loaned Rasmus Hojlund out to Napoli for the 2025/26 season.

Man Utd thought they had "the next Scholes", but he was sold for just £435k

One former Manchester United talent ultimately failed to reach the hype he arrived with.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 26, 2025

That said, strong depth is never a bad thing, and the club needs to be ruthless, so if Sesko doesn’t enjoy a big first year at Old Trafford, a move for Vlahovic could make perfect sense.

Chelsea are continuing to work on their summer recruitment plans, even after the pre-Club World Cup transfer deadline passed at 7pm on Tuesday, with manager Enzo Maresca still able to add new players to his squad midway through the tournament.

How Chelsea can still introduce new signings for the Club World Cup

It was thought that the mini-summer window, which opened from June 1 to June 10, would be Chelsea’s only opportunity to strengthen ahead of their CWC campaign.

Chelsea think £65m striker could rival Alexander Isak, they've held talks

Stamford Bridge chiefs have a very high opinion of him.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 10, 2025

It was, after all, why the window was introduced in the first place – to hand competing teams a chance to register new players after long and gruelling 2024/2025 campaigns.

However, as per Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol in the last few days, Chelsea and other sides taking part in the tournament will also have a unique registration period to benefit from midway through the CWC.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

From June 27 to July 3, just after the group stages finish, teams will be given the chance to add new players to their CWC roster – which allows Chelsea to introduce new signings who could take part in the knockout phase – if they indeed make it that far.

Chelsea missed out on deals for both AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens before the pre-CWC window deadline, with the west Londoners walking away from the former after refusing to meet Milan’s asking price.

Chelsea made three last-minute bids for Gittens as well, but none of them could satisfy Dortmund, who kept demanding more and more money for the English sensation.

It is unclear whether Chelsea will maintain their pursuit of Gittens in time for the CWC unique registration period starting on June 27, but they could perhaps turn to Eintracht Frankfurt sensation Hugo Ekitike instead.

Chelsea in ongoing talks for Hugo Ekitike after pre-Club World Cup deadline

There are reports that Chelsea believe Ekitike could eventually rival Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, which is how highly they rate the Frenchman after his exceptional 22-goal campaign.

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea are maintaining talks for Ekitike, despite failing to sign him in time for the CWC, so he’s still very much “one to watch”.

“Chelsea and Ekitike remain in talks for the summer transfer window – but Liverpool are still in the race,” said Plettenberg.

“One to watch in the coming weeks.”

The 22-year-old is very highly-rated, with ex-Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder even calling him a blend of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, so Ekitike could well be worth the punt – but not for his ridiculously high price tag of around £84 million.

“I think he’s a mix between Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappé. I sincerely think so,” said Sneijder.

“He has the grace of Neymar, but also the movements of Mbappé. To suddenly accelerate, that’s something that Mbappé also has. And he’s only 22 years old. There’s really a lot of potential in this boy.”