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A former West Ham United chief has suggested that Chelsea could move for a star in Julen Lopetegui’s squad, with clubs apparently interested and regularly watching him at the London Stadium.

West Ham seal first victory since August with 4-1 win over Ipswich

Lopetegui can breathe a big sigh of relief after West Ham sealed their first win of the Premier League season since August on the weekend against Ipswich Town.

Lopetegui wants "strong" £15m ace who West Ham may sign as early as January

The Hammers are seeking attacking additions…

1 ByTom Cunningham Oct 5, 2024

The home side started as they meant to go on, with striker Michail Antonio gifting West Ham a very early lead in the first minute. Liam Delap equalised for Ipswich minutes later in a brief scare for the east Londoners, before star winger Mohammed Kudus restored their advantage moments before half-time.

Forward Jarrod Bowen then gave West Ham a two-goal lead just after the restart, handing Lopetegui’s men some much-needed breathing room to ease the tension, with Lucas Paqueta sealing all three points 20 minutes from full-time.

Match

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

#9

05/10/2024

Ipswich (H)

Premier League

4-1 win

#8

28/09/2024

Brentford (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#7

25/09/2024

Liverpool (A)

Carabao Cup

5-1 loss

#6

21/09/2024

Chelsea (H)

Premier League

3-0 loss

#5

14/09/2024

Fulham (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#4

31/08/2024

Man City (H)

Premier League

3-1 loss

#3

28/08/2024

Bournemouth (H)

Carabao Cup

1-0 win

#2

24/08/2024

Crystal Palace (A)

Premier League

2-0 win

#1

17/08/2024

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

2-1 loss

West Ham’s first Premier League win since their 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace in the summer was a much-needed one, with some believing beforehand that Lopetegui was at risk of losing his job if the club’s lacklustre form continued.

As well as in an attacking sense, the Irons were far better defensively, with Jean-Clair Todibo putting in an 8/10 performance against Ipswich as the Frenchman begins to form a solid partnership with Max Kilman.

Kudus’ display attracted real attention too, with the Ghanian getting on the scoresheet, completing 93% of his passes and attempting five shots on goal in what was a very threatening display (WhoScored).

Ex-West Ham chief suggests Chelsea could move for Kudus

The 24-year-old is one of Lopetegui’s best players, and has been key to West Ham since he joined the club from Ajax for £38 million last summer. This has led to reports that elite clubs could attempt to poach him, with Chelsea showing a reported interest in Kudus at various points.

Speaking to Football Insider, former West Ham recruitment employee Mick Brown, who remains well-connected at the club after leaving his post in June, has suggested that Chelsea could still move to sign Kudus – even if they don’t need him – and says that he knows clubs are interested and watching him.

“I know other clubs are interested and have been watching him,” said Brown.

“But I’ve seen an £85million release clause mentioned, I’ve heard that could put some of the interested clubs off of a move. It would have to be a situation where he wants to leave the club, but then you look around and you can’t see anybody who’s going to pay £85million for him.

“Man City have got enough wide players already, Liverpool won’t be able to afford it, where would he fit in the Arsenal team? Where does he go in the Chelsea team? Madueke is doing very well and improving, Cole Palmer is one of the best players in the league at the moment, they’ve got another load of wide players who don’t get near the team.

“You never know with Chelsea, though. We’ll see what happens with them. I’ve been told there are a lot of teams who want to sign Kudus from West Ham, and there are only three or four clubs who could maybe afford that price.

“But then you look at what they’ve already got, and they don’t need him.”

Tottenham Hotspur are going through something of a rebuild under Ange Postecoglou, but over the last ten to fifteen years, they have been lucky enough to watch some genuinely sensational footballers.

For example, while he’s not quite the player he once was, club captain Son Heung-min will unquestionably go down as a modern legend, and his former strike partner Harry Kane may well have been the best forward to ever grace the Premier League.

However, before those two came to define a period in Spurs’s recent history, the star of the show was a certain Welsh superstar, Mr Gareth Bale.

The Cardiff-born winger was an absolute monster for the Lilywhites, and it looked like they may have found his replacement a few years ago, only for that player to leave for nothing this year.

Bale's Spurs career

Back in the far-flung year of 2007, Spurs paid Southampton £10m – including add-ons – for their exciting up-and-coming young full-back called Bale – yes, he started at left-back.

At the time, there was an expectation that he would become a Premier League-level player, but people weren’t sure just how good he would be.

However, despite a bright start in his first five games for the club, which included a goal against Arsenal, he damaged a ligament in his ankle, and when he came back eight months later, he struggled.

In fact, he didn’t win a game for the club until his 25th appearance, and reportedly, Sir Alex Ferguson told Harry Redknapp to drop him from the team because he was becoming a bad luck charm. Fortunately, the Englishman didn’t listen to him, and when things started to turn around, it was he who moved the young talent to the left wing.

After that, the 6 foot 1 dynamo exploded, and in the 2012/13 season, he reached a genuinely world-class level, racking up a frankly absurd haul of 26 goals and ten assists in 44 appearances, meaning he averaged a goal involvement once every 1.33 games from the wing that season.

Unsurprisingly, this insane form led Real Madrid to pay a whopping £85m for his services that summer, and over the next seven years, he would win everything there was to win in club football, before coming back to Spurs on loan for the 20/21 season and then retiring a few years later at MLS side LA Galaxy.

Overall, the Welshman has a genuine shout for being the most talented Spurs player of the last 24 years, alongside the likes of Kane and Son, and just a few years ago, some believed that they might have just found their new Bale.

Appearances

237

Goals

71

Assists

53

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

What went wrong for Ryan Sessegnon?

Yes, the former Spurs player in question is Ryan Sessegnon, and while it may sound utterly absurd today, there were comparisons between the Englishman and Bale in the years before the North Londoners opted to splash £25m on him in the summer of 2019.

For example, just two years prior, football.london’s then Fulham writer Ryan O’Donovan claimed the full-back ‘could be one of the best English players in the country one day’ and that he could ‘see him being exactly like Gareth Bale’ in the sense that he would develop into a superstar wide attacker.

Moreover, just a year later, Matt Target, who was a teammate of Bales at Southampton and was a teammate of Sessegnon at the time, told the Independent that the young full-back was “definitely right up there with the likes of Luke Shaw, Gareth Bale” when talking about young prospects he had played with.

Now, to be fair to those who made bold comparisons in the past, the Roehampton-born talent was immense for the Cottagers at the time. He ended the 17/18 campaign with a haul of 16 goals and eight assists, then scored two goals and provided six assists in just 35 Premier League appearances the following season – his first in the competition.

It looked for all intents and purposes that he would take off once he settled in North London following his move in 2019, but unfortunately for all involved, that just didn’t happen.

Appearances

57

Goals

3

Assists

4

Injuries

9

Days Out Injured

751

During his five years as a Tottenham player, he would suffer five hamstring injuries, among other fitness issues, spend a season on loan with German side Hoffenheim and make a grand total of 57 competitive appearances for the North Londoners in which he scored three goals and provided four assists.

Ultimately, after five years of mostly downs, Sessegnon left Tottenham this summer and returned to Fulham on a free, and while he may still end up having a top-flight career to be proud of, he’s never going to reach the levels that Bale did – although we don’t think many could.

Ange must instantly drop 6/10 Spurs gem who lost the ball 13x vs Coventry

The talented youngster has a bright future ahead of him, but he’s not ready to start in the Premier League.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 19, 2024

Upon his appointment during the summer, Enzo Maresca was the latest manager tasked with the responsibility of taking Chelsea back towards the top end of the Premier League.

The Blues have failed to finish inside the top four in each of the last two seasons, way off the expectations held by owner Todd Boehly who has splashed out over £1.1b on new additions to try and combat the slide.

However, the Italian has made an excellent start to the new campaign, winning three out of the first five matches in the league, currently occupying fifth place.

Their only defeat came against defending champions Manchester City on the opening day, with real progress being shown in their performances since the appointment of Maresca.

He’s been aided in his attempts by one first-team member who has thrived under the guidance of the new Blues head coach.

Noni Madueke’s time at Chelsea

After joining Chelsea in a £29m deal from Dutch side PSV in January 2023, winger Noni Madueke was mainly utilised as an impact player, making just 20 starts over his first 18 months at Stamford Bridge.

However, he’s started all but one league outing so far this season, becoming a regular under Maresca and thriving as a result.

The 22-year-old has already scored three times in the Premier League, seeing him move just two goals off his tally from the entirety of last season – demonstrating the impact of his increased minutes in the first-team.

All three of his strikes in the league came in the 6-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers – catching the eye with his ability to get himself into the right areas whilst having the quality to find the back of the net.

Madueke subsequently received his maiden England call-up during the recent international break, a reflection of his excellent form this season, with the hope that he can cement his place in Lee Carsley’s side as he has done at Stamford Bridge.

However, despite his stellar form in recent weeks, he still earns way less than one player whose move to England has been nothing short of a disaster for both parties.

The player who earns more than Madueke

Centre-back Benoit Badiashile moved to the Blues in a £35m deal from Monaco back in the same window as Madueke, with the aim of providing added defensive solidity for the Blues.

However, he’s failed to make the desired impact since his big-money transfer, making just 29 league appearances in the near two-year spell he’s spent in West London.

The Frenchman is yet to feature in the Premier League under Maresca, with his three appearances so far this campaign coming in the EFL Cup and Conference League qualifying rounds.

2022/23

11

1

0

2023/24

22

1

1

2024/25

3

0

0

Total:

36

2

1

His form demonstrates that he’s not been worth the transfer fee, whilst also not proving value for money with his £90k-per-week wages.

Badiashile’s subsequent weekly incoming is nearly two times higher than current first-team star Madueke who still only earns £50k-per-week despite his superb recent form.

When coupling the defender’s wages with his transfer fee, he’s cost the club £44.3m up to now – a huge waste given his lack of impact at Stamford Bridge.

With the club’s PSR situation still touch and go, they cannot afford to be carrying players who are earning a living whilst making no impact on the first team.

Badiashile is just one example of that type of player, with Maresca needing to brutally part ways with the failed talent at the next available opportunity.

£90m wasted: Enzo must axe Chelsea dud who earns more than Palmer & Jackson

His time at the Blues has been turbulent to say the least.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 26, 2024

Every single Liverpool supporter will forever be indebted to Jürgen Klopp for his efforts in transforming the club during his nine-year spell at the helm.

The German arrived back in October 2015, with the club in an awful position under former boss Brendan Rodgers, with the former Borussia Dortmund coach injecting new life into the squad.

His man management along with his dealings in the transfer market allowed for a huge transformation, taking the club to heights they hadn’t experienced in many years.

Klopp won a Champions League title, whilst also falling to two separate defeats against Real Madrid in the final. He also clinched the club’s first-ever Premier League title back in the 2019/20 campaign.

The 57-year-old managed to achieve all of the success without a club legend who departed Anfield just months before his appointment on Merseyside.

Steven Gerrard’s time at Liverpool

Midfielder Steven Gerrard broke through the Liverpool academy back in the 1998/99 season as a fresh-faced 18-year-old, with his achievements unimaginable at the time of his debut.

The box-to-box midfielder quickly captured the hearts of many on Merseyside with his talent and desire to succeed for his boyhood club shining through in his displays on the pitch.

He rapidly developed at Anfield, becoming the club’s captain in 2003 at just 23, making himself a regular in the first team.

Gerrard played an influential role in the club’s Champions League triumph back in 2005, coming back from 3-0 against AC Milan, to secure a victory on penalties thanks to the heroics of Jerzy Dudek.

Fast-forward to 2015, the then 35-year-old announced he would be leaving the club at the end of the season, after amassing 710 appearances for the Reds, achieving a tally of 186 goals and 155 assists.

The midfielder won 11 major titles during his time as a player for his boyhood club, arguably the best player of the club’s modern era, with his appearance tally making him the club’s third-highest appearance maker in their history.

His departure left a huge hole in the club’s midfield, but a couple of years after he moved on, they thought they had landed themselves a new version of the fan-favourite.

The player who could’ve been Liverpool’s new Gerrard

In the summer of 2017, Liverpool secured a £35m deal to sign midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal in an attempt to bolster the heart of Klopp’s side.

Many thought he could be the perfect player to finally replace Gerrard, with former Gunners boss Arsène Wenger previously claiming he possessed all the qualities of the former Reds talent:

“Alex’s future will be in central midfield – or even deeper. He has good quality to distribute and penetrate individually and has similar qualities to Steven Gerrard.”

During his first season at Anfield, Oxlade-Chamberlain showed glimpses of his talent, scoring five goals from midfield during his debut campaign at the club.

However, his time under Klopp was plagued with injuries preventing him from reaching his potential and emulating the fan-favourite – with his ACL injury in his first season setting the tone for his time with the Reds.

2017/18

ACL

316

58

2018/19

Hamstring

34

8

2018/19

Knock

5

1

2019/20

Concussion

4

1

2019/20

Ankle

12

3

2020/21

Knee

113

20

2022/23

Hamstring

93

14

Total:

7 injuries

577

105

He never reached the same heights upon his return from his 12-month lay-off, constantly fighting fitness issues.

‘The Ox’ subsequently left Liverpool on a free transfer, joining Turkish side Besiktas at the end of the 2022/23 season after making 146 appearances for the club in all competitions.

It’s a real shame that the move never worked out for the talented Englishman, with the ace showing real glimpses during his early days at Anfield.

Despite leaving the club, there’s hope that he can put his injury issues behind him and hopefully kick on and regain the form that saw him thrive during his opening season on Merseyside.

Liverpool star was worth £1m when Salah joined, now he's worth 5800% more

He might even be Arne Slot’s best player…

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 15, 2024

Reliable Tottenham Hotspur journalist Alasdair Gold has shared an update on the club's potential re-signing of defender Clement Lenglet.

Who are Spurs signing this summer?

New manager Ange Postecoglou has been backed in the transfer market thus far, with Spurs completing deals for Dejan Kulusevski, Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison.

Kulusevski has signed on a permanent deal from Juventus, coming after an 18-month loan spell with the club, while both Vicario and Maddison have joined from Empoli and Leicester City respectively.

Vicario comes in as a potential replacement for long-serving number one Hugo Lloris, who has admitted he could leave north London this summer, with Maddison ending Tottenham's long-search for a creative playmaker in the mould of Christian Eriksen.

Manor Solomon, who thrived on a loan spell at Fulham last season, is also set to undergo a medical with Tottenham today. A deal is done for the Israeli international who will add a different option for Postecoglou in the attacking areas.

Following these additions, it is widely believed Tottenham are chasing a new centre-back or two, with the north Londoners enduring a woeful 22/23 season in terms of goals conceded. No side above Bournemouth in 15th leaked more at the back, so Postecoglou will be looking to address that glaring issue post haste.

Micky van de Ven of Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba and Lenglet are some of the most high profile defender names most heavily linked with a move to N17.

On the latter player, Barcelona chief Joan Laporta recently admitted to the media that he expects to reach an agreement with Tottenham over Lenglet.

However, according to an update from Gold for football.london, the ball is firmly in Tottenham's court. Spurs, for their part, are undecided over whether to re-sign the Frenchman on a permanent deal.

"Tottenham's aim is to bring in at least two new centre-backs this summer to reinforce Postecoglou's options," wrote Gold.

"Barcelona president Joan Laporta said this week that he expects to reach an agreement with Tottenham for Clement Lenglet to join permanently.

"It is still undecided from Spurs' end at this point as to whether they will decide to bring back the Frenchman, although it clearly is an option, if the price remains low, that he could cover one of those centre-back slots as Lenglet is respected within the north London club as a steady performer and a model professional behind the scenes."

What's been said about Clement Lenglet?

The 28-year-old made 26 league appearances for Spurs last season, featuring regularly as part of a back three under Antonio Conte.

Lloris, speaking to the media upon Lenglet's temporary signing last summer, endorsed his compatriot – calling him a "high level player".

"He's a modern defender," said Lloris.

"Comfortable to be able to play from the back. He has a great left foot and can be very strong in one v one and he's strong in the air.

"Even if it's never easy when you arrive in the Premier League and he will have to adapt to the intensity of the games but he is a high level player, with experience."

Tottenham Hotspur have started the summer strongly, but to truly usher in a new age, it is their defence that must now be made a priority…

What's the latest on Pau Torres to Tottenham Hotspur?

Now, according to the Daily Mail, it seems this might well be the case. After all, they note that the club are a big admirer of Villarreal's Pau Torres.

Whilst the report notes Aston Villa as the true credible interest, with their pursuit of the Spanish stopper understandable given Unai Emery's familiarity with his game, their reluctance to pay more than £35m could allow the Lilywhites to swoop in. Especially given his release clause reportedly stands at €65m (£56m).

Having already secured a permanent deal for Dejan Kulusevski, and more recently snatched James Maddison from Leicester City, it seems that the hierarchy are prepared to back Ange Postecoglou suitably to help take them back to the top.

How good is Pau Torres?

Having been a star man for the Yellow Submarine for many years, leading to his 23 caps for Spain, the 26-year-old is vastly experienced considering he still has the bulk of his career ahead of him.

Should he choose to spend those prime years in north London, it could provide the perfect springboard for him to become a hero under the Australian tactician. Especially given he will follow Clement Lenglet as his replacement for that left-sided centre-back spot, with the bar hardly being set exceptionally high.

Having spent last term on loan at the club, the Barcelona dud could only muster a 6.65 average Sofascore rating in the Premier League, the third-lowest of anyone within the Spurs squad who started over five games. To be rated as one of the worst players in a team that truly crumbled speaks volumes for his ability to play at this level.

Meanwhile, Torres was maintaining a 7.04 average Sofascore rating in La Liga, building upon his 7.09 figure from the season prior. He has remained a consistently classy asset at the back, with his piercing left foot and powerful physique lending to his success.

The former rating was upheld through 4.1 clearances and 1.3 tackles per game, yet he would also maintain an 85% pass accuracy alongside a 79% dribble success rate, via Sofascore, numbers that eclipse Lenglet in some areas, with the Frenchman posting 2.6 clearances per match and completing just 64% of his dribbles.

Given how Postecoglou will likely instruct his defenders to be the first line of creativity, striding out from the back with poise and purpose to kickstart attacks, there are arguably few more suited to such a ball-playing philosophy than this 6 foot 3 titan.

To emphasise this further, when compared to other centre-backs across Europe, Torres ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes, the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

A former coach of his, Paco Lopez, always expected great things from his pupil though, as he noted: "I have followed his career, I always had a certain weakness for him.

"I had put my confidence in him, helped him jump up through the ranks. So I was not surprised by his progress, not at all. When we played against Villarreal, I spoke with him for a good while. As always, he is a sensational kid, very humble, the same as when I had him."

Given this effusive praise can be contrasted with the claims of journalist Roy Nemer, who branded Lenglet a "defensive liability" back in 2020, such a switch marks a no-brainer for the Lilywhites who would be sealing a seismic upgrade.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their pursuit of a deal for Jonathan Panzo in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Jonathan Panzo to Rangers?

According to The 4th Official's Patreon page, Michael Beale has held several conversations with the central defender in an attempt to convince him that a move to Ibrox is the best next step for his career.

The report claims that the Nottingham Forest enforcer, who spent last season on loan at Coventry is keen on the switch to Scotland and it is now down to the two clubs to agree a fee.

It has previously been reported that it could take as much as £2m to tempt the Premier League side into parting ways with the former England youth international.

Would Jonathan Panzo be a good signing for Rangers?

The 22-year-old titan could be an excellent addition to Beale’s side and could get the best out of Ridvan Yilmaz, who endured a difficult debut season with the Light Blues.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst signed the Turk from Besiktas last summer and the left-footed ace missed 29 competitive matches due to injury throughout the campaign.

His fitness woes restricted him to eight Scottish Premiership starts but the new season is set to provide him with a chance to finally kickstart his career at Ibrox and the signing of Panzo could help him.

The Forest defender, who stands at 6 foot 1, is a centre-back by trade but has also played 30 club matches as a left-back, meaning that he is used to being in that area of the pitch.

Therefore, the English titan could be the perfect player to select next to Yilmaz due to his ability to drop into the space on the left flank when Rangers have possession, which would allow the Turkish whiz to push on with the security of cover behind him.

Panzo, who was once hailed as "outstanding" by former manager Mark Robins, made 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game and won 58% of his duels in the Championship last season, which shows that he is capable of dominating opposition attackers and can win the ball back multiple times per match.

Yilmaz created three chances and assisted two goals in his final outing of the campaign against St Mirren and created five 'big chances' in 23 Super Lig starts for Besiktas in 21/22.

This shows that the potential is there for the 22-year-old to be a creative threat from left-back by pushing up the pitch to make things happen in the final third and Panzo's presence at the back, due to his ability to play in the middle or on the left, could allow him to bomb forward more to finally thrive down the flank in a Rangers shirt.

If Erik ten Hag wants to build upon an impressive debut season in England, with saw Manchester United secure their first trophy since 2017 and Champions League football, then a new striker must be signed.

However, the process of pinpointing the right man is proving to be an exhaustive and tricky process.

The Dutchman’s mantra for a new frontman is “no risk” – a guarantee of goals from a consistent focal point.

Throughout the season, the Red Devils lacked potency, scoring just 58 goals from an expected goals (xG) of 68.74 as only Chelsea and Everton had worse discrepancies from chances created.

One name that could solve this problem and has been constantly linked to Old Trafford is Rasmus Hojlund.

What’s the latest on Rasmus Hojlund to Manchester United?

According to The Athletic, Hojlund’s agents SEG held talks with Atalanta as the club confirmed that his fee in this market would be €100m (£85m).

The 20-year-old is reportedly “keen” to join United and further discussions over the player are expected in the near future.

The report also details that the forward has already experienced “some friction” with his current manager Gian Piero Gasperini and feels “ready” for the next step.

However, his current club is unlikely to budge from their asking price so will take a monstrous fee for this transfer to materialise.

Who can Rasmus Hojlund replace at Manchester United?

In a stirring breakout season in Italy, the youngster has operated primarily as a striker and has registered 23 goal involvements in 46 outings in all competitions.

His physicality, pace, and finishing ability have been recognised as his most impressive qualities by Gasperini, who said: “Hojlund has this spirit, energy, intensity, but also technical quality that is just remarkable. He still has so much margin for improvement, too.”

The prodigy has all the attributes to excel in English football, and he could be the answer to replace Anthony Martial as Ten Hag’s preferred striker.

The Frenchman has endured an injury-ravaged term, having only appeared for 1,432 minutes out of a possible 5,640, and may not even be fit for the start of the upcoming campaign due to a hamstring tear.

A debate still rages on over the ex-Monaco star’s best position and the fan's trust has wavered on various stages due to his fitness problems and inconsistency.

Whilst Martial is undoubtedly still a useful asset and will be a pivotal source of depth next season, he has emphatically underlined that he isn’t the regular goalscorer that United desperately requires, only scoring nine goals this term.

That is a great deal less than Hojlund who has been a "monster in the making" – as per scout Jacek Kulig – having scored 16 throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

Indeed, the Dane is clearly a traditional number nine, who under Ten Hag’s meticulous guidance and development, could be just the upgrade the manager is looking for with a missing piece of the puzzle in the United attack potentially set to be discovered.

Leeds United have finally confirmed their 49ers takeover, but there is still plenty of work to be done at Elland Road and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Viktor Gyokeres?

According to Portuguese news outlet A Bola, Leeds are one of many clubs interested in signing Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres.

As per the report, the recently relegated side will need to compete with West Ham United, Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton and Southampton for the talented player's signature this summer, with Coventry expected to command a €20m (£17m) to part ways with Gyokeres.

Who would Viktor Gyokeres replace at Leeds?

Whilst Leeds are still without a sporting director and manager to lead their transfer window and campaign in the Championship next season, it will be important to identify players who can replace those departing as soon as possible.

Rodrigo is one of the latest players to be heavily linked with a move away from Elland Road this summer, with journalist Ryan Taylor revealing to GIVEMESPORT:

"I think Marc Roca is definitely one that will move on. Rodrigo Moreno as well."

As a result, the signing of Gyokeres could be the perfect opportunity to replace the Spanish forward and provide quality competition for Patrick Bamford next season in the Whites' pursuit to instantly bounce back to the Premier League.

Over 46 Championship appearances, the 25-year-old handful – who was dubbed "powerful" by Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray – scored 21 goals, registered ten assists and created nine big chances in a seriously impressive campaign.

He also averaged three shots on goal, 1.8 key passes, 2.1 successful dribbles and won 6.2 duels per game, proving that he is a huge attacking threat.

Gyokeres – who was the second top goalscorer in the second tier this season – is an explosive forward with incredible finishing ability and a wealth of Championship experience that could make him a huge asset to Leeds next season.

The Swedish striker's prolific goal-scoring has captured the attention of many and led to huge praise from his peers with Blackburn Rovers defender Dom Hyam full of compliments for Gyokeres:

"I think he's so good at what he does, his attributes are so rare as well. Obviously strikers have their qualities, but there's nothing he's bad at.

"He's good in the box, he's tall, he's big, he's strong, he's technically good as well. I think as long as he keeps grounded, which I know he will, I know him personally, yeah, I think he's got a massive career ahead of him."

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Leeds to snap up the services of Gyokeres this summer, as he could be the dream Rodrigo heir and his huge influence in front of goal could be the linchpin to securing instant promotion back to the top flight.

The transfer window has officially opened, as Aston Villa find themselves linked to an audacious swoop for a Premier League ace.

Unai Emery has already made one signing in an agreement with Youri Tielemans, and with European football confirmed at Villa Park, will aim to bolster his squad further this summer.

It’s expected to be a busy break regarding movements both on and off the pitch, with Sevilla sporting director Monchi reportedly on course to relocate at Villa.

The Spanish duo could propose an exciting summer in the Midlands, with the latest link being a major name in the Premier League.

What’s the latest on Jadon Sancho to Aston Villa?

As reported by FootballTransfers, Aston Villa are ‘keen’ on Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho.

The 23-year-old is believed to be ‘allowed to leave’ Old Trafford this summer, just two years on from his €85m (£72.6m) move.

The report claims that although United will demand £60m for the winger, Villa would not be prepared to pay such a sum, adding that negotiations could find a compromise between both parties.

What could Jadon Sancho offer Aston Villa?

Having been lauded as the “perfect player” by German legend Lothar Matthaus via Sun Sport, the Englishman is regarded as one of the top talents in Europe, despite experiencing a tough time in the Premier League.

Signed by United in the summer of 2021 for a fee of £73m, the Londoner made a statement return to England after excelling at Borussia Dortmund from Manchester City’s academy.

In 104 Bundesliga appearances, Sancho contributed to a monstrous 89 goals, scoring 38 himself and assisting 51, via Transfermarkt, showing exactly the heights he is capable of on one of the continent’s biggest stages.

Things haven’t worked so far at Old Trafford, however, the young talent is someone that could rediscover his form under the influence of Emery at Villa.

In terms of his competition at Villa Park, the Englishman could be a significant upgrade on left-winger Leon Bailey performing statistically better than the Jamaican despite his dip in performance in Manchester.

When comparing the individual performances of the wingers this season via FBref, it’s clear to see why the Villans are eyeing Sancho, should reports be believed.

The London-born dynamo has averaged 4.64 shot-creating actions to Bailey’s 2.84 per 90 over the last year, whilst also registering 4.70 progressive carries to the Villa man's 3.89 per 90, highlighting the threat he can have on a game regardless of his goalscoring form.

The underperforming United star has actually outscored the 25-year-old this campaign as well, having bagged six goals to Bailey's four in fewer appearances, via FBref.

A notable area that Sancho excels in compared to Bailey is the overall influence he has on the game and his desire to be involved, evident statistically through his average of 40.2 touches per game to the Jamaican’s 27.7, via Sofascore.

Emery could assist the young ace in rediscovering his form displayed in the Bundesliga, allowing him to thrive in a free-flowing attack system and act as one of the star names in a less-pressured environment.