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Everton have now reportedly made an enquiry over signing a South American forward, who will be worth as much as £40m in 2026.

Moyes: Everton want to be "challenging for Europe"

After victory over Bournemouth in midweek, David Moyes looked ahead to his side’s clash against Nottingham Forest this afternoon with plenty of ambition in mind. The veteran manager, whilst urging Everton to stay realistic, admitted that he wants the Toffees to be a team “challenging for Europe”.

He told reporters: “If we can get another win against Nottingham Forest, we push ourselves right in there again, but in the same breath we’re all looking over our shoulder because we want to get more distance between the bottom of the league and the ones at the bottom at the moment.”

Given how tight the Premier League table is, Everton may not be far off where they want to be by the end of the weekend. Heading into the weekend, Moyes’ side sit 10th, but only three points adrift of the top four. If results go their way, they could find themselves in a sensational position.

It would then be about keeping hold of that European place and that’s something the January transfer window would help. On that front, The Friedkin Group have already got a number of targets in mind.

According to recent reports, Everton have now joined the race to sign Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid as he looks to earn a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad by returning to the Premier League.

Meanwhile, they’re also on the hunt for a striker amid Thierno Barry’s poor start and Beto’s continued struggles. It’s very much been the missing piece for Moyes and Everton have reportedly turned towards Yuri Alberto as a result.

Everton make enquiry to sign Yuri Alberto

According to TeamTalk, Everton have now made an enquiry over signing Alberto in 2026. The Corinthians forward is reportedly valued at as much as £40m, but could prove to be worth the price given how he’s starred since returning to Brazil in 2023.

Dubbed “superb” by South American expert Nathan Joyes last November, Alberto’s since enjoyed an excellent campaign in Brazil – scoring 18 goals in 54 games in all competitions.

As Everton search for the clinical striker that they so desperately need, the 24-year-old could finally get the Premier League move that has been on the cards for a couple of years.

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£40m is, of course, a steep price to pay but that price would turn into a bargain if Alberto helped the Toffees into shock European contention this season.

Everton now ready to compete in race to sign "physical" La Liga star in £35m deal

The New York Yankees are hoping to see Jazz Chisholm Jr. back in the lineup before too long. Chisholm has missed the last 25 games while dealing with an oblique injury, but is set to embark on a rehab assignment in the coming days.

After Chisholm played the first 30 games of the season at second base, the Yankees are considering shaking things up when the 27-year-old makes his way back to the field. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Chisholm could be moving to third base when he's activated from IL.

The six-year veteran has some, but not much, experience over at the hot corner. After being acquired by New York last season, he played 45 games at third base, but those are his only appearances at the position in his career.

With Chisholm unavailable, the Yankees have used Oswald Peraza at third base while D.J. LeMahieu slots in at second.

Aaron Boone told reporters that Chisholm is set to play third base for the organization's Double A affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, in a game on Thursday ahead of his return to the Yankees.

In 30 games before in his injury, Chisholm had a .714 OPS with seven home runs, 17 RBIs, six stolen bases and 39 strikeouts.

Are Manchester United back on track? It’s probably premature to make such a conclusive claim, but then we can’t help but notice the hint of success now that Ruben Amorim has strung together a five-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.

It was refreshing to see the Portuguese coach speak candidly after the recent draw at Tottenham Hotspur, though. Amorim understands that, while progress has been made in recent months, there is so much work still to be plied.

While the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have reshaped the Red Devil frontline for the better, there’s no question that issues remain in the centre of the field, even with Casemiro resurgent and the skipper, Bruno Fernandes, in fine form.

Man Utd's search for a midfielder

INEOS and the Manchester United recruitment team have accepted that the midfield requires something of a rebuild, with Bruno and Casemiro into their 30s and Kobbie Mainoo out of sorts.

One of the pleasing changes of recent months has been a focus on adding Premier League-proven quality. Mbeumo and Cunha stand as testaments to this. Now, the same logic must be applied in the centre.

There are a number of possibilities, the most noisy of which centres on England star Elliot Anderson, though Nottingham Forest have placed a prohibitive £100m price tag on their prized star’s name.

United are ready to spend in 2026, though, and could instead make a move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, having profiled the Cameroonian talent last summer.

According to GIVEMESPORT and Fabrizio Romano, Old Trafford Director of Football Jason Wilcox has held positive discussions with the young midfielder; however, it looks like Brighton have doubled down on their £115m valuation.

Crucially, Baleba is “very keen” on leaping at the chance to sign for Amorim’s outfit, and so a deal could certainly be pulled off next year.

Why Man Utd want Carlos Baleba

Man United have needed a mobile centre-midfielder for a while, and in Baleba, they might just land the perfect player.

The Brighton star is into his third season in the Premier League, and though he hasn’t been at his best since the summer, this is likely because of the fallout from United’s failed attempt to bring him away from Fabian Hurzeler’s outfit in August.

Hailed by analyst Joao Miguel as being a “transition monster” who “eats hectares of space for lunch”, the 5 foot 11 star would dovetail right into the way Amorim wants to play, perhaps even more so than Anderson, who is firmly rooted in Forest’s counter-pressing brand of football.

Anderson might be more mobile and energetic in his game, but Baleba’s mix of tough-tackling defending and ball-playing quality makes him the perfect alternative, and one who could even come to surpass the England man.

For all the gains United have made in recent months, they are still an imperfect outfit. Too easy to catch on the break and lacking physicality, xGA data reveals Amorim’s side to be among the most statistically porous in the division.

Burnley

22

23.4

Nott’m Forest

20

16.6

Man United

18

16.4

West Ham

23

16.3

Wolves

25

16.0

Baleba’s strength and ground-covering presence would ease this problem and then some, adding the fresh legs needed to keep Bruno on his A-game. This positive chain would ripple through to the forwards, who are already showing such promise.

Anderson is emerging as a talented midfielder, and either would be a credit to the Man United project. However, Baleba’s desire to move to Manchester, the club’s comprehensive profiling of his style and his powerful and athletic approach could see him emerge as the pick of the bunch.

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2 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 17, 2025

An “incredible” manager has now emerged as the leading candidate for the Nottingham Forest job, with Evangelos Marinakis considering sacking Ange Postecoglou.

Ange's future in doubt after terrible start

Ange has made an awful start to life as Forest manager, becoming the club’s first manager in 100 years to fail to win any of his first six games, and things may not improve anytime soon, with some very tricky fixtures on the horizon.

Consequently, it is no surprise the Australian’s future is now up in the air, with the Tricky Trees identifying a number of potential replacements, including Fulham’s Marco Silva, and Rafa Benitez, with the latter recently emerging as a leading candidate.

However, the ex-Liverpool boss is not the only major contender for the job, according to a report from The Telegraph, which states that Sean Dyche has now emerged as the frontrunner to replace Postecoglou in the dugout.

Marinakis is considering parting ways with the 60-year-old, as he is still yet to get a win on the board, and Dyche could be a safe pair of hands, given that he has experience guiding relegation-threatened teams to Premier League safety.

As previously mentioned, Silva has also been considered, alongside Brondby manager Steve Cooper, but with both currently employed, compensation would be an issue, so a move for an out-of-work manager could make more sense.

"Incredible" Dyche could be ideal appointment for Forest

It was always going to be a risk appointing Ange, given that the former Tottenham Hotspur boss is well-known for his attacking style of play, which is completely at odds with Nuno Espirito Santo’s more pragmatic, counter-attacking approach.

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1 ByEmilio Galantini Oct 10, 2025

The appointment simply hasn’t worked out, and with some tough fixtures coming up, it would not be a surprise to see the 60-year-old face the sack soon, at which point Marinakis may be concerned about Forest being dragged into a relegation battle.

As such, it would be ideal to bring in a proven Premier League manager, who knows what it takes to avoid the drop, meaning Dyche could be perfect, having kept both Burnley and Everton in the top flight over the years.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has also lauded the 54-year-old, who utilises a 4-2-3-1 system, for the previous work he has done in the Premier League.

Long-term, Dyche may not be the answer, given that he was unable to turn Everton into contenders at the top end of the table, but on a short-term basis, the former Nottingham Forest trainee could make a real impact.

Aside from finally facing a shot on target, that was about as perfect a game as Arsenal could have hoped for.

Mikel Arteta’s side played host to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, and while Diego Simeone’s side are usually no pushovers, they were in North London.

Bar a momentary loss of composure from David Raya in the first half and a decent-looking shot from Julián Alvarez in the second, the Gunners never really looked in any danger and tore the Spanish side to pieces, earning their third win in Europe this season.

There were standout performances from all over the pitch for the hosts, but two starters really stood out: Declan Rice and someone who now has to be considered as one of the best in the world in his position.

Rice's game vs Atlético

While Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi put in brilliant performances alongside him, Rice was once again Arsenal’s most impressive midfielder on Tuesday night.

Granted, there were a couple of times in which he seemed to lose his footing, but aside from those minor blips, he was near enough faultless from the first minute to the last.

If the former West Ham United captain wasn’t helping snuff out attacks, he was helping kickstart them for the North Londoners, and as always seems to be the case these days, his deliveries were on another level.

It was his free-kick that led to the opening goal, and then towards the end of the game, he came incredibly close to picking up another assist with a similar pinpoint accurate delivery.

The all-action monster also left quite the impression on the Sun’s Jordan Davies, who awarded him an 8/10 match rating at full-time.

Rice’s game in numbers

Minutes

93′

Assists

1

Big Chances Created

2

Key Passes

3

Passes (Accurate)

45/46 (98%)

Shots

1

Touches

63

Interceptions

1

Clearances

1

Blocked Shots

1

Recoveries

2

All Stats via Sofascore

Unsurprisingly, his statistics more than justify the praise and back up the eyetest.

In 93 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of 0.36, created two big chances, played three key passes, completed 45 of 46 passes, was accurate with 100% of his long balls, took one shot, took 63 touches, and made one clearance, an interception and two ball recoveries.

In all, it was another world-class performance from Rice that more than proves he is one of the very best in the world, which could also be said about one of his teammates displays.

The Arsenal star who is one of the best in the world

The brilliant thing for Arteta and the Arsenal faithful is that a host of players delivered sensational performances on Tuesday night.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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For example, Gabriel Martinelli scored a wonderful goal, Viktor Gyokeres nabbed a brace, and Jurrien Timber continued his impressive form going forward.

However, while all these starters were excellent, it’s impossible to ignore Gabriel Magalhães.

The Brazilian centre-back was at his imperious best against Simeone’s usually hard-as-nails Atlético, and in all phases of play looked near enough untouchable.

Of course, it was he who opened the scoring when he got on the end of Rice’s free-kick in the 57th minute.

And then, as if the Madrid outfit hadn’t learned their lesson from 13 minutes earlier, he once again got his head on a set-piece to provide the assist for Gyokeres to make it 4-0.

It wasn’t just in the opposition’s penalty area where he was a monster, though, as he did his absolute best to try and keep Raya from facing a shot on target at the other end of the pitch.

Unsurprisingly, the Sun’s Davies was massively impressed, awarding him a 9/10 and analyst Statman Dave went even further, describing him as one of the best defenders “on the planet.”

The 27-year-old’s statistics certainly help such a claim.

Gabriel’s game in numbers

Minutes

72′

Goals

1

Assists

1

Clearances

3

Blocked Shots

1

Aerial Duels (Won)

2 (2)

Big Chances Created

1

Key Passes

1

Passes (Accurate)

43/48 (90%)

Shots

3

All Stats via Sofascore

In just 72 minutes, he produced a combined expected goal and assists figure of 0.54, made three clearances, won 100% of his ground duels, blocked one shot, played one key pass, created one big chance, took three shots and completed 90% of his passes.

Ultimately, given his years of impressive displays and the level at which he is operating this season, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Gabriel is one of the best in the world, and Tuesday night only helped his case.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 20, 2025

Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez has been given time off and psychological support after being involved in a tragic road accident near the club’s training base that claimed the life of an 81-year-old man. The Spaniard was expected to be on the bench for Inter’s midweek game against Fiorentina, but will now take a week off to recover from the emotional trauma.

Inter offer full support to struggling Martinez

The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday morning near Inter’s training base in Fenegro, when Martinez’s car struck an elderly man who was crossing the road in a wheelchair. The Spaniard reportedly did his best to help the victim, who was later identified as Paolo Saibene, until emergency services arrived. An air ambulance being called to the scene, but the 81-year-old man was later pronounced dead in hospital.

The Serie A club quickly recognised the seriousness of the situation and moved quickly to support a visibly shaken Martinez. By the time Martinez arrived home on Monday evening, a psychologist was already waiting on him to provide support in coping with the emotional trauma, having been called in by the Milan club. According to , teammates and staff have stayed in constant contact, and Inter gave the goalkeeper the week off to recover from the tragic incident.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportInter cancel press conference and reach out to victim’s family

The incident happened shortly before 10am on Monday, leading Inter to cancel head coach Cristian Chivu’s scheduled pre-match press conference ahead of the Fiorentina game and morale was reportedly low during training, with the thoughts of the players and staff with the victim and the Spanish goalkeeper. 

Club officials are also expected to contact Saibene’s family to offer condolences and support. Meanwhile, Martinez went through routine drug and alcohol tests at Saronno hospital, with club officials present to assist him. Authorities in Como are still reviewing the accident, and a full report from reconstruction experts is expected later this week.

"Unfortunately, a serious and delicate event has occurred," Inter president Beppe Marotta said on Tuesday. "Our deepest sympathies are clearly with the family of the deceased, and we also feel for our player, whom we know very well. These are situations and misfortunes that, unfortunately, are part of everyday life, but I hope that we can also benefit from this tragic situation."

Martinez settling in at Inter

This season had started well for Martinez. Born in Las Palmas, Martinez came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy before joining RB Leipzig in 2020. After two years in Germany, he moved to Genoa and later signed for the Italian giants in the summer of 2024. The Spaniard was beginning to settle in and gain confidence, earning back-to-back starts against Sassuolo and Cagliari as he worked to prove himself as a reliable option behind veteran keeper Yann Sommer.

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IMAGO / Nicolo CampoDistraught Martinez cuts himself off from social media

Martinez won’t return to training until next week as he continues to recover from the emotional shock. The goalkeeper has been in touch with his teammates, coach Chivu, and club officials, who have all reached out to check on him and offer support. The 27-year-old has also stepped away from social media, deactivating his Instagram account to avoid online abuse. Meanwhile, Inter, who are currently fourth in Serie A standings, are doing their best to protect Martinez as he focuses on getting through one of the toughest weeks of his career.

كشف الهولندي آرني سلوت، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول أنه اكتشف شيئًا غريبًا في مباراة كريستال بالاس ضمن منافسات كأس كاراباو.

وخسر ليفربول بثلاثية نظيفة أمام كريستال بالاس في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات كأس كاراباو.

واستضاف ملعب “آنفيلد” المباراة بين ليفربول وكريستال بالاس مساء أمس الأربعاء، في إطار منافسات كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية المحترفة.

وتعتبر هذه أول بطولة يخسرها ليفربول هذا الموسم ليستمر مسلسل الهزائم المتتالية التي يعيشها الفريق على مدار الفترة الماضية.

وتلقى البديل الشاب أمارا ناللو بطاقة حمراء مباشرة بعد عرقلته جاستن ديفيني لاعب فريق كريستال بالاس، في الدقيقة 79 من عمر المباراة.

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وكان سلوت دفع بناللو في الدقيقة 67 من اللقاء، حيث شارك بدلاً من أليكسيس ماك أليستر لاعب ليفربول.

وقال مدرب ليفربول في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية: “لم أكن بحاجة لقول هذا الكلام لأن هناك أمرًا آخر أعجبني وهو أن كوناتي وفيرجيل دخلا الملعب فورًا للتحدث إليه، وهذا يُثبت لي أنهما شخصان رائعان في لحظة كهذه، حيث يُطرد لاعب شاب للمرة الثانية”.

وأكمل: “ربما كانت المرة الأولى بعد مباراته ضد آيندهوفن، لست متأكدًا تمامًا، لكنني أعتقد أنه فعل ذلك، فهم يشعرون بمدى صعوبة تلك اللحظة عليه، وأنهما تدخلا لدعمه، لذلك لم يكن من الضروري أن أعتني به لأنهما قاما بهذا الدور على أكمل وجه”.

وأتم سلوت: “لطالما استغل النادي هذه البطولة لضم لاعبي الأكاديمية أيضًا، شعرت أن القرار كان صائبًا ولم أغير رأيي بعد خسارتنا”.

Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown is attracting interest from Europe’s elite, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid all reportedly monitoring the 22-year-old. Despite the attention, Frankfurt have confirmed they will not entertain offers until next summer. Brown, who recently made his German national team debut, could command a fee of up to €60 million.

Brown emerging as top Bundesliga prospect

Brown has quickly become one of Frankfurt’s brightest young talents, standing out alongside players such as Can Uzun and Jonathan Burkardt. The 22-year-old impressed in his debut season, contributing three goals and six assists from left-back while also showcasing strong defensive capabilities. Brown made his senior debut for Germany in a 4-0 win over Luxembourg, further highlighting his rise on the international stage.

Frankfurt, who signed Brown from Nuremberg for €3m in 2024, are now preparing for substantial interest from top European clubs. With a contract running until 2030 and no release clause, the Bundesliga side are in a strong negotiating position and are reportedly considering a transfer fee of around €60m (£52m/$69m) for the left-back according to a recent report by

AdvertisementEintracht Frankfurt set transfer demand for star left-back

According to reports, Real Madrid, Arsenal and City are among the clubs showing serious interest in Brown. Despite the attention, Frankfurt have made it clear that the player will not be available for sale until the next summer transfer window at the earliest.

Brown’s performances for Frankfurt, coupled with his recent international debut, have positioned him as one of Germany’s most promising defenders. Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche has overseen his development carefully, and the club’s previous dealings, such as the lucrative sales including Hugo Ekitike, suggest that they are prepared to negotiate a high-value deal if the right offer comes in.

Brown's rise and potential impact

Brown progressed through the youth systems of Jahn Regensburg and Nuremberg before joining Frankfurt, where he quickly cemented himself as a first-team starter. He has the versatility to contribute offensively and defensively, which has made him a standout performer in the Bundesliga.

The left-back’s ability to support attacks and maintain defensive solidity has drawn attention from clubs seeking young, dynamic defenders. While Arsenal have a number of options at left-back, including Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly, Brown’s combination of youth, international experience and Bundesliga pedigree makes him a highly attractive long-term prospect for any top club.

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GettyWhat next for Frankfurt and Brown?

Frankfurt’s decision to refuse to open transfer negotiations until next summer sets the stage for a potential bidding war for Brown, with the likes of Madrid, City and Arsenal on alert. For Brown, continued strong performances for Frankfurt and further international caps with Germany could increase his value and cement his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising left-backs. Meanwhile, interested clubs will monitor his development closely, preparing to make a move once Frankfurt officially opens negotiations in the next transfer window.

The five-time champions are currently ninth in the league after losing three of their first four games

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-202517:35

Bangar: Dhoni not playing for the crowd, he has a clear role at CSK

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) must “accept reality” and focus on getting the most out of their current squad rather than make drastic changes just four games into IPL 2025, in the opinion of former CSK batter Ambati Rayudu.CSK are currently ninth on the points table with only one win in four games. On Tuesday, they will aim to end a run of three losses when they take on Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.”They’re trying to compare this CSK team to erstwhile CSK teams, which have been really good and won tournaments,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut. “When you see it like-for-like, players in the past compared to now, I’d say they’re not the same. It’s very difficult to replace a certain player with a certain player. They have to accept reality and get the best out of what they have. That’s where I feel they seem confused and can’t get their combinations right.Related

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“Players [like Deepak Hooda or Rahul Tripathi who have been dropped three games in] they thought would deliver in certain numbers, certain positions, they haven’t been able to do that. It’s quite an uphill task for them going [deep] into the season. I feel they will come back strong once they get their combination and personnel right.”Rayudu, a three-time IPL champion with CSK, said that conditions and pitches should be the least of CSK’s worries. They lost two out of their three home games, both heavy defeats to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC). Coach Stephen Fleming has pointed to the lack of home advantage at Chepauk for a few years now.”The pitch they’re playing on is tailor made for Chennai. It’s just that they’ve not been able to execute well, and batters have come up short,” Rayudu said. “I feel they can drop one of their two really good weapons. Noor Ahmad or [Matheesha] Pathirana – should sit out to boost their batting. It’s a luxury they may not afford at this point, but one of them has to sacrifice for [Jamie] Overton.”Sanjay Bangar, the former India batting coach, said CSK’s struggles at the top of the order were having a ripple effect on the rest of the batting line-up, including key players like Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni in the lower-middle order. So far, CSK have been the slowest-scoring team in IPL 2025.

“Fans are emotional, they want results immediately. You’ve got to believe in process when things are not going well. This has worked for many years; they’ve done well. Have a little bit of patience, trust the management. A little bit of freedom and things will turn around”Ambati Rayudu

Ruturaj Gaikwad has had to come in at No. 3 in the second over in three out of four games. Opener Tripathi was dropped after three matches, while Hooda was axed after two. In total, CSK have used 17 players, including all seven of their overseas options – a stark departure from their usual strategy of maintaining continuity.”The top order not getting runs is one of the issues,” Bangar said. “Shivam Dube not being the Dube of the last couple of seasons is an issue. MS-Jadeja at the stage they are, more so MS, I’m not expecting him to come up and do a bulk of the scoring in the last six-seven overs.”Bangar said there was little more that could be done in terms of tweaking their combination. “It seems right, what they’ve now arrived at after the first three experimental games. In the fourth game, I felt their combination was just about right. It’s a matter of the batting coming together and giving them runs at the top to get the confidence back.”1:49

Rayudu: CSK’s best shot is for Gaikwad to open

In the lower order, Dhoni has struggled to hit sixes like he did last season. When asked about Jadeja’s form and whether he had passed his prime as a batter, Rayudu felt he still had plenty to offer.”I won’t say that,” Rayudu said. “He’s someone who is really fit, actually has come into his own in the last five-six years. He’s been a brilliant batsman, which we’ve not seen in his early years, [we’ve seen him] play some match-winning knocks chasing, specially playing in those 16-20 overs period. That’s the period ideally for Jadeja and Dhoni if they bat, they’ll be much more effective than coming in overs 10-14, it’s not their strength.”Rayudu also defended CSK’s methods when asked if they had not done enough to nurture young talent over the years.”Generally, we’ve seen over the years teams that have come up with lot of youngsters and have gone nowhere,” he said. “MI brought in, bred youngsters, but one at a time not four-five at a time. Fans are emotional, they want results immediately. You’ve got to believe in process when things are not going well. This has worked for many years; they’ve done well. Have a little bit of patience, trust the management. A little bit of freedom and things will turn around.”

There’s no denying Chelsea have been one of the biggest spenders in the transfer market over the last few years – subsequently playing a huge role in their Club World Cup success this summer.

However, the next step for Enzo Maresca is claiming Premier League glory – an achievement that hasn’t been done at Stamford Bridge since the 2016/17 campaign.

Over the last few days, a £40m transfer has been agreed with Manchester United for the signature of Alejandro Garnacho after tracking the Argentine all summer long.

The 21-year-old will add key depth to the left-wing department, potentially battling fellow new addition Jamie Gittens for a starting role in the Blues’ frontline.

His arrival will take the club’s summer spending to around the £300m mark, but it could yet reach new levels with a move for another talent before Monday’s deadline.

Chelsea’s hunt for new signings after Garnacho

Alongside Garnacho, Chelsea have previously been interested in a move for his United teammate Kobbie Mainoo, who’s rapidly dropped down Ruben Amorim’s pecking order.

The midfielder stated his desire to leave on loan earlier this week, but as it stands, the Red Devils are reluctant to allowing the 20-year-old to depart – even on a temporary basis.

However, another midfielder has emerged on their shortlist in the form of Barcelona star Fermin Lopez – that’s according to GIVEMESPORT journalist Ben Jacobs.

He’s claimed that talks have been held between Maresca’s side and the LaLiga giants over a move for the 22-year-old talent before Monday’s transfer deadline.

It’s also been confirmed that the player has spoken with the manager himself, but any deal would be an expensive one – with the Spaniard currently valued at €100m (£86m).

Why Chelsea’s £86m target is a bigger talent than Buonanotte

In an attempt to further the squad, Chelsea have turned their attention to Brighton & Hove Albion star Facundo Buonanotte – subsequently making a surprise move for his signature.

It was reported in recent days that a deal has been agreed for the Argentine, which will see him join the Blues on a season-long loan for the 2025/26 campaign.

Such a move doesn’t include a buy option at the end of the season, but they do have first choice on his future should they decide to want to make such a deal permanent.

Given his tally of 31 appearances in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, the 20-year-old has the experience needed to have an impact in the club’s quest for title glory.

However, he may be further down Maresca’s plans in 2025/26, especially if they were to land a deal for Fermin before the window slams shut on Monday night.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the recent campaign, the Barça star managed to dominate in key areas – potentially being an excellent addition despite his hefty price tag.

Fermin, who’s been labelled “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, achieved a higher tally of goals and assists – evidently offering a more potent threat in front of goal.

How Fermin & Buonanotte compared in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Fermin

Buonanotte

Games played

28

31

Goals & assists

11

7

Progressive passes

5.7

3.2

Pass accuracy

82%

76%

Key passes made

2.1

1.4

Passes into the final third

4.7

2.4

Take-on success

46%

33%

Carries into the opposition box

1.6

1.5

Crosses completed

3.4

2.5

Stats via FBref

His underlying stats are just as impressive, subsequently completing more progressive passes per 90, with more of his efforts being into the final third – highlighting the creative dominance he possesses over Buonanotte.

Lopez’s talents in possession are further reflected in his higher take-on success rate, whilst also producing more carries into the opposition box per 90.

It’s clear he can glide past the opposition, as seen by his aforementioned figures, but the Spaniard also has the end product – something which would massively aid Maresca’s hunt for top-flight glory this season.

£86m would be another mammoth addition given the previous money spent this summer, but it’s an investment that could prove worthwhile if the 22-year-old continues on his current trajectory.

Such a deal would be bad news for Buonanotte, subsequently dropping him further down the pecking order immediately after his own arrival – but it’s safe to say a deal for Lopez would be a massive statement from the hierarchy.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 30, 2025