All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United have had to get through the majority of this current Premier League campaign without star striker Patrick Bamford.

After scoring 17 goals in 38 league games last term, the Englishman has been dogged by injuries this time around which have left him with just nine league appearances to his name in 2021/22.

One figure in Leeds’ squad who has failed to effectively deputise for the injured Bamford is Rodrigo, who despite playing in 29 top-flight games has only racked up six goals and one assist.

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Signed for a club-record fee of £26m from Valencia in August 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa’s reign, the Spaniard has not been able to take up Bamford’s mantle of being a consistent goalscorer for Leeds this season.

As a result, the upcoming summer transfer window could give Jesse Marsch the chance to get the 31-year-old, who has been dubbed “non-existent” by Kevin Phillips, and his £100k-per-week wages off their books.

In terms of who could come in as a potential replacement for the misfiring Leeds dud, one man who could fit the bill is Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah.

Last month, Leeds journalist James Marshment shared a post on Twitter relaying news that the Elland Road outfit were interested in signing the Englishman this summer.

Having spent some time with the Yorkshire club on loan, scoring five goals in 19 appearances during the promotion-winning 2019/20 campaign, the 22-year-old has experience and knowledge of the club, which could make a potential return on a permanent basis tempting for him.

During his time with Arsenal’s senior and youth sides, Nketiah has scored 68 goals and provided 13 assists in 150 appearances across all competitions. This shows just how dangerous an attacking figure he is when at his best, with 22 goals in 90 senior games for the Gunners.

With 19 league appearances under his belt in the current campaign, the former Leeds loanee has found the net four times. Two of those came against the Whites earlier this month, which led to the £9m-rated talent being dubbed “clinical” by journalist Kweku Lawrence.

To further highlight just how deadly he can be in front of goal, only Emile Smith Rowe has a higher percentage for shots on target than Nketiah in the league this season out of players currently at Arsenal.If Marsch feels the need to get rid of Rodrigo this summer, securing the Arsenal attacker on a free transfer could be a great bit of potential business from the Elland Road club.In other news: Insider drops huge Leeds transfer claim involving “big names”, supporters will love it

Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder has provided an update on Newcastle United’s reported interest in Watford winger Ismaila Sarr. 

The lowdown: Sarr ‘offered’ to Newcastle

Journalist Jacque Talbot recently revealed that the Magpies had been ‘offered’ the chance to sign the Senegal international this summer as Eddie Howe looks to strengthen the squad at St James’ Park.

Since then, the Hertfordshire-based outfit have suffered relegation to the Championship, so the 24-year-old could be looking for a way out of Vicarage Road.

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A fresh update has now emerged from a reputable source…

The latest: Newcastle have ‘scouted’ Sarr

As per Ryder for Chronicle Live, Newcastle have ‘scouted’ the 39-cap Senegal star and could be looking to make their move at the end of the season.

It’s claimed that Sarr – who scored when the two sides drew 1-1 at Vicarage Road in September – is an affordable option for the new-look St James’ Park ownership.

The report added that the winger – who was described as a ‘freak’ by teammate Ben Foster owing to his blistering pace – is ‘keen to stay in the top-flight’ and will be looking for wages in the region of £65,000 per week.

The verdict: Get it done

Newcastle will be hoping to make incremental improvements to the squad this summer, and the capture of Sarr would certainly provide exactly that.

So far this season, the 24-year-old has scored five times and provided two assists for a team which has spent the entire 2021/22 campaign in the lower reaches of the Premier League table. During that time, the versatile Senegalese forward has completed 1.5 successful dribbles per game, and would therefore provide a perfect foil for current Gallowgate favourite Allan Saint-Maximin.

Previously available for a mooted £35m amidst interest from Liverpool, Newcastle could be looking to land a bargain following Watford’s relegation to the Championship.

In other news, NUFC are now eyeing a move for this former Sunderland ace

Wolverhampton Wanderers need to sign “exquisite” forward Hirving Lozano from Italian side Napoli this summer, as he could be the perfect alternative to Fabio Silva who has failed to hit the heights expected of him this season.

According to reports in Napoli today recently, Wolves are interested in the Mexic0 international and have been monitoring his performances in Naples this season.

The 26-year-old has been a Napoli player since 2019 after he signed from PSV Eindhoven for €40m (£36m). He has since made 112 appearances for the club and been directly involved in 28 goals. A move to the Premier League may help to move his career up a level and it would really help Wolves in their bid to be regulars in Europe.

When you compare Lozano to those in his position playing in Europe’s top five leagues this year, he ranks in the top 8% for crosses into the penalty area. If he moved to Molineux and replicated this then Wolves’ other forwards would be spoilt for opportunities to score.

Whilst the Old Gold still have a goal threat in Raúl Jiménez, they’ve never really found a good enough replacement for Diogo Jota and they currently sit fourth on the list for the least amount of goals scored in the Premier League this season.

Thankfully they keep a decent amount of clean sheets which means they aren’t in any relegation trouble.

In 2020 they signed Portuguese youngster Fabio Silva from FC Porto for a club-record fee of £35.6m. This was a huge amount to pay for an 18-year old and with it came huge pressure for him to perform.

Since arriving he has made 61 appearances and been directly involved in ten goals. For a player of his age, it’s not bad, but if Wolves want him to lead the line straight away then it’s not good enough.

Of course, none of this is the fault of the teenager, and the Midlands outfit need to be patient. If they signed £31.5m-rated Lozano they would be getting a player with far more experience, who would be ready to produce the level of performance required on a consistent basis.

If you compare them both this season Lozano is miles ahead in many categories. He averages 1.17 shots on target per 90 minutes compared to Silva’s 0.81, as well as 3.21 shot-creating actions to the youngster’s 2.58 per 90.

Buying him is guaranteed to bring you more goals, and it will allow Silva the time he needs to develop his game without a huge amount of pressure put on his shoulders.

IN other news: Wolves now want to sign “immense” £10m “beast” this summer, he’s better than Boly…

Tottenham Hotspur officials watched long-time target Pau Torres and a new objective in Arnaut Danjuma for Villarreal against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League semi-final this week, according to 90min. 

The lowdown: Remarkable European adventure

Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has overseen a memorable journey in Europe this season as the La Liga side eliminated Juventus and Bayern Munich on their way to a semi-final showdown with Liverpool.

It wasn’t to be for the Yellow Submarine though, as despite a second-leg comeback, the Premier League title-chasers, and Spurs’ next domestic opponents, prevailed 5-2 on aggregate to reach the final.

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Now it appears that top officials from North London were present to run the rule over two of Villarreal’s most influential players…

The latest: Scouts sent to Spain

As per 90min, scouts from Tottenham were in situ for both legs of the semi-final to ‘keep tabs’ on Danjuma and Torres, despite the former missing the meeting at Estadio de la Ceramica due to injury.

Whilst boss Antonio Conte and transfer chief Fabio Paratici begin to draw up plans for the summer transfer window, it’s claimed that the pair are ‘on their radar’ for a double swoop.

The report claims that there were watchers from multiple clubs in Eastern Spain as on-loan Spurs man Giovani Lo Celso played 90 minutes, however, the ‘specific purpose’ of those sent from N17 was to watch the Dutch forward and Spanish defender in action.

The verdict: Take your pick

Having reportedly come close to landing 25-year-old centre-back Torres in 2021, it’s no surprise that the Lilywhites would reignite an interest this summer.

So far this season the 17-cap Spain ace has earned a superb 7.07 Sofascore rating from performances in the league containing 3.2 clearances per game on average whilst helping to keep 10 clean sheets from 29 outings.

Meanwhile, the interest in former Bournemouth winger Danjuma is a fresh link, but the man hailed as a ‘nightmare for defenders’ by ex-Premier League man Kevin Phillips has enjoyed a stellar time in Spain, scoring 16 times and providing four assists in 34 appearances across all competitions.

Adding either Villarreal ace to the ranks at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would be an excellent piece of business – adding both could be future-defining.

In other news: Tottenham expected to move for ‘phenomenal’ £101m star after Conte request, find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Joao Palhinha to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Portuguese publication O Jogo (via Sport Witness), who claim that all three of Tottenham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Paris Saint-Germain have made an approach for the defensive midfielder.

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However, the report goes on to state that none of these offers have reached Sporting Lisbon’s €30m (£25m) valuation of the Portugal international, before suggesting that Antonio Conte’s side continue to keep an eye on the situation of the 26-year-old.

He’d be a huge upgrade

Considering how impressive Palhinha has been in Portugal this season, in addition to it being reported that Harry Winks could be on his way out of north London this summer, it is easy to see why Conte would be interested in a deal for the midfielder.

Indeed, over his 24 Liga Portugal appearances this term, the £23.4m-rated talent has highly impressed for Ruben Amorim’s side, scoring three goals and creating one big chance for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.1 shots and making 0.3 key passes per game.

However, it is the £24k-per-week dynamo’s defensive metrics that are particularly eye-catching, with the 26-year-old making an average of 3.1 tackles – the joint third-most in the league – one interception, 0.9 clearances and winning a whopping 7.4 duels – at a success rate of 61% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the player who Amorim dubbed “special” average an excellent SofaScore match rating of 7.13, ranking him as Sporting’s joint sixth-best player in the Portuguese top flight.

And, should Palhinha be able to maintain this level of form following a potential switch to Spurs this summer, it is undeniable that the 12-time capped international would be a huge upgrade on the £91k-per-week Winks.

Indeed, the former England midfielder has featured for a total of just 170 minutes over Tottenham’s last 11 Premier League fixtures, as well as averaged a disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.91 over his 16 league outings in 2021/22.

As such, should Winks be moved onto pastures new this summer, signing the Portuguese sensation as the £15.3m-rated man’s replacement would indeed appear to be a very smart move by Fabio Paratici.

AND in other news: Paratici on course to seal “exciting” £34m Spurs signing, he’s perfect for Conteball

Manchester City have opened talks to sign a “sensational” Bayern Munich player, with the German club now “really worried” about his future.

Man City's unbeaten run comes to an end at Aston Villa

Man City’s nine-game undefeated streak in all competitions was brought to a halt on Sunday afternoon, suffering a 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa at Villa Park, with Matty Cash’s first-half strike proving to be the difference between the two sides.

Despite the loss, Pep Guardiola suggested he was happy with his side’s performance, while also insisting it is too early to be overly concerned about the Premier League title race, saying: “I don’t know how many teams can come here and play the way we played, with the courage, possession and chances.

“We have to be stable with that. And after that, to deal with games better.

“But I don’t live in October and November thinking, ‘Oh what is going to happen if we don’t win the Premier League’, so it’s game by game now.”

However, having suffered three defeats already this season, which leaves the Blues six points behind Arsenal in the table, there are clear indications Guardiola may need to strengthen his squad in order to turn them back into title contenders.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Man City have this month held discussions about signing Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano, amid the uncertainty surrounding his future at the Bundesliga club.

Upamecano is yet to extend his contract at the Allianz Arena, which means he is currently set to be available on a free transfer next summer, and that is a concern for Bayern.

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BySean Markus Clifford Oct 26, 2025

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey adds: “Speaking to sources at a couple of Premier League clubs, they actually believe Upamecano is more likely to stay than leave, but I can tell you Bayern are really worried that Upamecano will have offers presented to him in early 2026 if an agreement with Bayern is not reached.”

"Sensational" Upamecano could be solid addition to Pep's backline

Pep has stuck with the experienced duo of John Stones and Ruben Dias at centre-back in recent weeks, with the former managing to put his injury problems behind him, while the manager also has Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol and Abdukodir Khusanov to call upon.

As such, it is debatable whether it is necessary to bring in another centre-back, but the Bayern star certainly has the ability required to succeed at the Etihad Stadium, having received very high praise from journalist Muhammad Butt in the past.

Every player in a Guardiola system must be comfortable in possession of the ball, and the 27-year-old fits the bill in that regard, averaging a pass-completion rate of 93.5% per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 96th percentile, compared to other centre-backs.

Upamecano could be the ideal addition to Man City’s defence, and the £168k-a-week star potentially being available on a free transfer makes signing him an even more attractive proposition.

Manchester United are targeting a new manager who has defeated the Red Devils with three different clubs to replace Ruben Amorim.

Amorim wins 50th Man Utd game with pressure still on

The current Man Utd manager recorded a much-needed 2-0 Premier League win over Sunderland last time out prior to the international break in what was his 50th game in charge of the club.

Amorim’s first full season at Old Trafford so far hasn’t gone to plan, but goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko helped ease the pressure and lift United into the top half.

The first Red Devils manager to win his 50th game in charge since Sir Alex Ferguson, Amorim is still under big pressure at Old Trafford. That’s according to former defender Gary Neville, who said:

A number of managers have been linked to replace Amorim in Manchester, including former England boss Gareth Southgate, who has a good relationship with INEOS.

Ex-Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez is also eyeing up the Old Trafford position, but it appears as if Man Utd have another name on their radar.

Their own Yamal: Man Utd teen is "one of the world's most exciting talents"

Manchester United have an exceptional teenager in their academy ranks.

ByMatt Dawson Oct 7, 2025 Man Utd targeting move for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery

According to reports from Spain, Man Utd are targeting Aston Villa boss Unai Emery as a replacement for Amorim.

It is stated that ‘Emery appears to be among the favourites among those considering possible replacements’, with his ‘extensive experience’, ‘ability to lead teams coherently’ and ‘tactical control and emphasis on compact defensive structures’ useful in comparison to Amorim.

The 53-year-old, who plays a 4-2-3-1 system, has had his own issues in 2025/26, going four games without a Premier League goal at the start of the campaign.

Villa have since won their last four games in all competitions, and Emery has actually defeated Man Utd with Villarreal, Arsenal and Aston Villa during his career.

Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd

10th March 2019

Villarreal 1-1 Man Utd (12-11 pens)

26th May 2021

Aston Villa 3-1 Man Utd

6th November 2022

A four-time Europa League winner, Emery will be looking to make that five with Aston Villa this season, but by the looks of things, he could be on Man Utd’s shortlist to replace Amorim if INEOS decide to pull the plug over the coming months.

Tottenham Hotspur are now expected to submit an opening offer for a “special” forward, having sent scouts to watch him in action over the weekend.

Spurs looking to sign new forward after disappointing draw

Thomas Frank has made a solid start to life as Tottenham boss, but there have been a couple of worrying results, having lost 1-0 at home to AFC Bournemouth at the end of August, and they came close to suffering another loss on Saturday afternoon.

Heading into the game, Wolverhampton Wanderers were the only side yet to pick up a point in the Premier League, but they very nearly took all three against Spurs, with a late Joao Palhinha goal salvaging a draw for the hosts.

It was a game devoid of many real chances, with Frank’s side recording an xG of just 0.91, which is arguably a worrying sign in a match against a struggling side, and the Lilywhites have now entered the mark to sign a new forward.

That is according to a report from Brazil (via Sport Witness), which states Tottenham are expected to make an opening bid in the region of £25.7m for Vasco da Gama forward Rayan, having sent scouts to watch him in action at the weekend.

Zenit St Petersburg are also keen on the 19-year-old, and the Russian side have already submitted an offer of their own, so Spurs may need to move swiftly to ensure they win the race for his signature.

The teenager is described as a 1v1 winger, who is capable of playing on both wings, which suggests he could be a viable alternative for Savinho, who is now set to extend his Manchester City contract until 2031.

Thomas Frank hails 2 more Tottenham stars alongside Palhinha after Wolves draw

The Spurs boss called it “huge”.

ByCharlie Smith Sep 28, 2025 "Special" Rayan could be future star

Lauded as “special” by Vasco da Gama manager Fernando Diniz, the starlet has already established himself as an important player for the Brazilian side, making 83 appearances in all competitions, during which time he’s picked up 15 goals and two assists.

Diniz isn’t the youngster’s only admirer either, with scout Ben Mattinson praising the Brazilian for his finishing ability a little over a year ago.

After missing out on Savinho, Tottenham were unable to bring in another out-and-out winger during the summer transfer window, so it would make sense to explore a move for an alternative option this January.

It would be a risk to sign Rayan, given that he is unproven outside Brazil, but the Rio de Janeiro-born forward clearly has a lot of potential, and a fee in the region of £25m could end up being a bargain in the long run.

Aston Villa are now among the Premier League teams monitoring Manchester United outcast ahead of potentially making a loan offer, according to a recent report.

Aston Villa chasing multiple Premier League players

Since Unai Emery joined the club, the Villans have been busy in every transfer window, and that is unlikely to change this summer, but there will be a lot of caution given the PSR problems they currently face. Villa have been quiet in the early part of the window, but that could be about to change as they hold an interest in multiple Premier League players.

He's scored at Villa Park: Aston Villa racing to sign "fantastic" £42m star

Only Jacob Murphy, Mohamed Salah and Anthony Elanga assisted more goals than him last season…

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 12, 2025

It was reported by TEAMtalk earlier this week that Villa are now the team to watch when it comes to who signs Jack Grealish from Manchester City. Emery is a big fan of the England international, and with Grealish being left out of City’s Club World Cup squad, he is now expected to leave the Etihad. However, they do face competition, as the likes of Newcastle United and Everton are also interested in a deal.

Villa also want to strengthen their midfield options and are in the race to sign Mikkel Damsgaard from Brentford. Several Premier League teams are interested in signing the Dane, and with Brentford valuing him at around £42 million, there could be a deal to be done.

But out of these stories, the most exciting piece of transfer news for Villa is that they are reportedly set to enter the race to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Man United, and he is not the only Old Trafford attacker on their radar.

Aston Villa monitoring Sancho loan bid

According to The Sun, Aston Villa are keeping a close eye on Jadon Sancho and are interested in a potential loan deal.

Sancho is set to return to Old Trafford after Chelsea decided not to take up the £25 million buy option they had and instead paid £5 million to end the agreement. Despite a change in manager, his situation at United hasn’t changed, as Ruben Amorim doesn’t plan on bringing him back into the fold.

Therefore, the 25-year-old is looking for a new club, and Villa, as well as Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, are all keeping an eye on his situation. The Villans are willing to strike another loan agreement with the Red Devils, following the one they did involving Marcus Rashford, but United prefer to sell Sancho on a permanent basis.

Apps

89

Goals

12

Assists

11

It was an up-and-down spell at Stamford Bridge, as the England international scored three goals in the Premier League and a further two in the Europa Conference League, as Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca labelled Sancho a “special player” at the start of the campaign.

“He needs to continue in the same way; work hard, every day,” Maresca told the press.

“As I’ve said before, for sure he is going to help us. We really believe that he is a special player. But the only way for him to confirm that is by working hard every day and never be happy and always be ambitious. He needs to want more and more and more.”

The Premier League has had some of the best passers in recent history, such as Paul Scholes, Xabi Alonso and David Beckham.

Pass completion percentage is now a big part of the modern day’s data-driven analysis, with possession-based styles being adopted by more and more managers.

But who was statistically the best passer in England’s top flight during the 2024/25 season? Using data from football analytics site FBref, we’ve listed the top 10 Premier League players by pass completion rate. (Note: players have to have played at least 30 minutes per match to be counted.)

Top 15 Fastest Football Players in the World in 2024 (Ranked)

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ByStephan Georgiou Oct 18, 2024

Data correct as of 25th May 2025

1

William Saliba

Arsenal

94.3%

2

Manuel Akanji

Man City

93.6%

3

Ruben Dias

Man City

93.5%

4

Curtis Jones

Liverpool

93.1%

=5

Andre

Wolves

92.9%

=5

Ezri Konsa

Aston Villa

92.9%

7

Jan Bednarek

Southampton

92.7%

8

Mateo Kovacic

Man City

92.6%

9

Leny Yoro

Man Utd

92.4%

10

Jack Stephens

Southampton

92%

Here's a detailed look at the top 10 Premier League passers in 2024/25… 10 Jack Stephens (Southampton) 92% pass completion

Southampton defender Jack Stephens, though the centre-back had an injury-impacted campaign as he only started 17 times.

He still scraped into the top 10 come the end of the season, squeezing ahead of Premier League-winning captain Virgil van Dijk in the process.

9 Leny Yoro (Man Utd) 92.4% pass completion

Manchester United may have endured a dreadful season, but one of the brighter elements of the campaign perhaps came in the form of Leny Yoro’s emergence in the first team.

The Frenchman took time to make his mark at Old Trafford after getting injured soon after signing, but ended the season as one of their most reliable players – made all the more remarkable given his age of 19.

Interestingly, another new signing was United’s next-best passer – Matthijs de Ligt clocked an average of 89.9% successful passes throughout 2024/25.

8 Mateo Kovacic (Man City) 92.6% pass completion

With numerous injuries at the Etihad Stadium, Mateo Kovacic was able to get more game time with Man City than he was perhaps expecting last season. He took his opportunity, whether that be in the form of scoring goals or his general all-round play.

As to be expected in a Guardiola side, Kovacic is tidy on the ball played a big role in the absence of Rodri.

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ByBarney Lane Oct 28, 2024 7 Jan Bednarek (Southampton) 92.7% pass completion

Southampton’s possession-based style saw Saints centre-back Jan Bednarek end up in the top 10.

The Saints may not have got anywhere near enough points on the board, but Bednarek’s pass completion rate was a rare positive sign at St Mary’s.

6 Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) 92.9% pass completion

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has been a regular under Unai Emery and offers the versatility of being able to play at right-back and centre-back.

The Englishman has now made over 200 appearances for Villa and is clearly comfortable on the ball.

5 Andre (Wolves) 92.9% pass completion

Arguably a surprise name on the list is Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Andre.

The Brazilian midfielder arrived from Fluminense ahead of the 2024/25 season but wasn’t a nailed-on starter under Gary O’Neil. He had been in and out of the starting lineup, but started more regularly under Vitor Pereira, showing his true worth to the Old Gold during this time.

4 Curtis Jones (Liverpool) 93.1% pass completion

One of the players who starred under Arne Slot during his first season as Liverpool manager was midfielder Curtis Jones.

Jones had the best pass completion rate of any Reds star and started 19 games last term as his rise in the first team continues.

3 Ruben Dias (Man City) 93.5% pass completion

Another Man City star on the list is Ruben Dias, with the Portugal international a mainstay in the Man City side.

Dias has found himself in the opposition half for plenty of City’s Premier League games due to their dominance, and he’s kept possession most of the time when on the ball. In fact, both of City’s centre-backs were exceptional last term…

2 Manuel Akanji (Man City) 93.6% pass completion

The top Man City passer last season was Manuel Akanji, who also occasionally chipped in at right-back as injuries bit hard at the Etihad Stadium.

The Switzerland international has seemingly nailed down a centre-back role under Pep Guardiola, becoming a trustworthy player in the absence of John Stones and Nathan Ake – particularly on the ball, if these stats are anything to go by.

1 William Saliba (Arsenal) 94.3% pass completion

Topping the charts this season is Arsenal star William Saliba, reaching over 94%.

A guaranteed starter for the Gunners under Mikel Arteta, Saliba’s place at the top of the game for some time is all but assured. Part of the reason for that is his calmness in possession, as evidenced by his high pass success rate.

The Best 15 Centre-Backs in World Football Ranked (2025)

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025