After 133 years of being Everton’s distinguished home, the Toffees waved goodbye to their historic Goodison Park stadium on Sunday when Southampton travelled to the blue half of Merseyside.

It was an emotionally charged afternoon with Goodison packed to the rafters for one last time in the Premier League and – thankfully – most of the Everton players on the pitch didn’t contribute a drab ending as they comfortably got the better of an already relegated Saints side 2-0.

Iliman Ndiaye, in particular, stood out with the ex-Sheffield United attacker now donning the label of being Goodison’s last ever goalscorer.

Everton's final Goodison Park heroes

The obvious place to start is with Ndiaye who ensured the atmosphere remained electric throughout by breaking the deadlock early on.

The skilful number ten had failed to find the back of the net in Premier League action this month, leading up to the finale at Goodison, but he more than made up for any blanks being fired when curling home a fantastic solo effort after just five minutes.

He would then make sure of the three points when collecting his brace late into the second half, but there were plenty of other positive performers away from just the standout number 10.

Dwight McNeil would chip in with an assist down Ndiaye’s opposing right flank, whilst both Idrissa Gueye and Vitaly Mykolenko would see out their Goodison careers with plenty of fight on show by winning a combined 19 duels. Impressive work indeed.

Whilst all those mentioned could go on to star at Everton’s soon-to-be new home at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, others might well have played their final home games donning Toffees blue, with an underperformer now likely to be let go of.

Everton star just played his last home game

Ashley Young is a firm definite for this category, with the former Manchester United man already confirmed to be leaving at the expiry of his contract before being given 70 minutes in place of an injury-stricken Seamus Coleman.

Whilst it hasn’t been outright confirmed just yet, it does look nailed on that Abdoulaye Doucoure will soon follow Young out the door this summer, considering the 32-year-old midfielder was seemingly waving an emotional goodbye to the crowd when substituted off against the Saints.

With 165 appearances under his belt on Merseyside, it’s fair to say Doucoure has been a loyal servant to Everton through some testing times.

But, even with an impressive total of 21 goals and 14 assists being tallied up along the way, the veteran’s swansong showing at Goodison left a lot to be desired and showed why contract talks have allegedly stalled.

Doucoure’s performance in numbers

Stat

Doucoure

Minutes played

65

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

43

Accurate passes

29/31 (94%)

Shots

2

Big chances missed

1

Successful dribbles

0/1

Total duels won

3/10

Stats by Sofascore

Doucoure struggled in an attacking midfield capacity throughout, with the number 16 squandering one big chance to make Everton’s lead on the moving day even stronger, alongside failing to complete a single successful dribble.

But, it was also a poor day at the office for Doucoure when attempting to battle away from performing just his attacking duties, with the former Watford man winning only 30% of his duels.

It would be a sorrowful ending for the Senegalese midfielder at Everton, but much like the case is with Young, the removal of some experienced heads for some fresher talent could do David Moyes’ men a lot of good ahead of their major relocation.

While we say adios to Goodison, we must also say farewell to Young and Doucoure.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair May 18, 2025

Liverpool are now keen on signing a “lethal” £50m striker, who’s scored the same number of goals as Alexander Isak this season, according to a report.

Liverpool eyeing Nunez replacement

Arne Slot has enjoyed a remarkable first season at Anfield, having secured the Premier League title with a squad effectively built by Jurgen Klopp, but the manager is looking to bring in some new faces this summer, having been left unconvinced by some of his current options.

One such player is Darwin Nunez, with reports stating the Dutch manager doesn’t trust the striker, and with the Uruguayan open to an exit this summer, the manager could well be tasked with bringing in a replacement.

There has recently been a positive update on the Reds’ pursuit of Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo, with it being revealed that a bid for the 25-year-old is likely to be accepted, should they decide to make a concrete approach.

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Liverpool are looking to sign a left-back in the transfer market this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 4, 2025

Having proven himself at Premier League level, the France-born striker could be an attractive option for Slot, but he is not the only target they have in mind, with Newcastle United’s Isak also on the shortlist.

A deal for Isak could be difficult to pull off, however, which means Liverpool could make a move for an alternative option, and a report from Anfield Watch has now revealed they are now keen on signing Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui.

Retegui has been added to the shortlist, having impressed in front of goal this season, and the report adds that Nunez is now expected to depart this summer, which exacerbates the need to bring in a new striker.

Isak and Hugo Ekitike are also of interest to the Reds, but they could choose to hone in on the Atalanta forward, and previous reports have revealed he could be available for the relatively affordable fee of £50m.

"Lethal" Retegui keeping up with Isak this season

Isak has been one of the Premier League’s stand-out players this season, netting 27 goals for Newcastle in all competitions, but the Atalanta star has been juist as prolific, having found the back of the net 27 times in 45 outings.

Italy manager Luciano Spalletti has been left particularly impressed by the 26-year-old’s performances, saying: “Inside the box, he is lethal. And now he has learned how to connect with the team better. He’s going to become a top player.”

Nunez, on the other hand, has never really managed to make a name for himself at Anfield, scoring just five Premier League goals this season, so it is little wonder that Slot is looking to bring in an upgrade this summer.

There is every indication that Retegui could be a fantastic signing for Liverpool, so it is exciting news they are in the race for his signature, but there could be competition from Manchester United, who have already held talks.

Manchester City have the opportunity to reach a third successive FA Cup final when they take on Nottingham Forest this afternoon at Wembley.

Pep Guardiola has won this competition twice, but will still be stinging from the defeat to Manchester United in the 2024 final.

Forest defeated City in the Premier League last month, but the Spaniard may have learned from this loss, and his side could reach another final.

They warmed up for the clash with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, but a few players weren’t quite at their best. İlkay Gündoğan was one, and he could return to the bench this afternoon.

Why Man City must drop İlkay Gündoğan

Guardiola operated with a 4-1-4-1 system against Villa, and Gundogan was one of the four midfielders tasked with providing opportunities for Kevin De Bruyne.

Despite playing for the full 90 minutes, the midfielder failed to register a single shot on goal, while he failed with his only dribble attempt.

Gundogan also lost possession seven times against the Midlands side and won just one of his three aerial duels.

For the semi-final clash against Forest, Guardiola must revert to a 4-2-3-1. Mateo Kovacic will reprise his role at the heart of the midfield, but for this game, winter signing Nico Gonzalez must be brought into the starting XI.

Why Nico Gonzalez must start for Man City

Gonzalez may have cost the club around £50m back in January, but he is already looking like a potential long-term heir to Rodri.

The midfielder has already featured 12 times for City in all competitions, even scoring against Real Madrid in the Champions League, although it wasn’t enough to see his club make it to the next round.

Across his eight Premier League matches for the club, the 23-year-old has averaged a 93% pass success rate, along with making 1.9 tackles, two clearances, and recovering 3.9 balls per game in the top flight.

Furthermore, the Spaniard wins 1.9 aerial duels per game – a success rate of 59% – while averaging 81.9 touches each match for City. These statistics show just how dependable he is at the heart of the pitch, because he rarely gives the ball away and is strong in his physical duels.

He was praised by football talent scout Jacek Kulig in July 2024, who said: “Nico González – 4 goals in FC Porto’s four friendly games this preseason. Simply superb in the second half of the 23/24. Technique, football IQ, and pure elegance.”

Passes attempted

77.9

Pass completion percentage

92.9%

Aerial duels won

2.09

Passes into the final third

6.68

Touches

88.33

The move to Manchester hasn’t fazed him, and he now looks like an excellent signing. Settling in throughout the second half of the 2024/25 season appears to be a smart move by Guardiola, as Gonzalez will hit the ground running in August.

Moving back to a 4-2-3-1 system for the FA Cup semi-final could go a long way to seeing City reach yet another final. With Gonzalez and Kovacic at the base of the midfield, the attacking quartet will be given free rein to cause plenty of destruction.

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ByRoss Kilvington Apr 26, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur finally put an end to 17 long years of hurt last night.

Despite their diabolically poor domestic campaign and the absence of Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Lucas Bergvall, Ange Postecoglou’s side managed to do what would have been unthinkable a few months ago and won the Europa League.

It wasn’t the prettiest or highest quality of games, but that hardly matters, as all the fans will remember is their players’ gritty, backs-to-the-wall performance and how they brought home the club’s third European trophy.

Moreover, one of the players in the squad now has to go down as one of the biggest legends in Spurs history, someone who now has an even bigger legacy in North London than Gareth Bale.

Spurs' heroes in Bilbao

Before getting to the legend in question, it’s worth going over some of the other heroes for Spurs last night, such as Micky van de Ven.

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The Flying Dutchman was a rock at the back for the North Londoners, and on helping to suffocate Manchester United, he also managed to pull off a sensational goal line clearance after Guglielmo Vicario misjudged a cross mid-way through the second half.

Equally impressed with the former VfL Wolfsburg star, Spurs writer Alasdair Gold awarded him a justifiable 10/10 match rating at full-time, the same rating he gave Cristian Romero.

The World Cup winner, who has now won all five of the finals he’s played in, was named the Man of the Match, and, to be honest, that’s a difficult decision to argue against, as he was utterly immense.

If the Argentine titan wasn’t getting his head to a ball or intercepting a pass, he was getting the heads of United’s players, and by the end of the game, he had a number of them on strings.

Both Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro were also handed 10/10 ratings by Gold on the night, with the former actually being the more attacking of the two as the encounter went on and the latter showing that when it really comes down to it, he can put in a solid defensive showing at right-back.

Finally, while he only got a 7/10 from the football.london journalist, we reckon Richarlison was just as important as anyone else on the team last night, as from the first minute until he was taken off in the 67th minute, the Brazilian forward worked like a dog.

If he wasn’t making runs down the left, the former Everton star was putting in a monstrous defensive effort that most probably wouldn’t associate with him, and if the 28-year-old does end up leaving in the summer, he’ll do so as a cult hero for his display.

However, with all that said, another player who didn’t even start last night can now go down as one of the most important players in Tottenham’s history and someone with an even greater legacy than Bale.

The Spurs star with a greater legacy than Bale

While every player in the team last night will now go down as a Spurs hero at a minimum, there is one star for which the victory secured him a legacy that few in the modern era can match: Son Heung-min.

Yes, even though the South Korean superstar only came on in the 67th minute, and aside from a free-kick that Kevin Danso almost got on the end of offered very little, he has now gone from club icon to club legend.

Arguably, the only player in the last 25 years who can be placed on a higher pedestal than the former Bayer Leverkusen star is Harry Kane, and that’s only down to him being the club’s all-time goalscorer.

Moreover, while Bale has a good legacy with the North Londoners, he only played one game in their successful League Cup run in 2007/08.

In contrast, the Chuncheon-born superstar made ten appearances in the Europa League this season, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

Furthermore, the victory last night was just the icing on the cake to remove any question over his status as a club legend, as since he moved to N17 in the summer of 2015, he has been nothing short of brilliant.

For example, in 454 appearances for the club, the “incredible” phenom, as dubbed by Postecoglou, has scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists, which is an absurd average of a goal involvement every 1.65 games.

Son’s Spurs record

Appearances

454

Minutes

32186′

Goals

173

Assists

101

Goal Involvements per Match

0.60

Minutes per Goal Involvements

117.46′

Major Trophies

1

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Ultimately, Son was always going to go down as a Spurs icon regardless of what happened last night, but the victory in Bilbao has now ensured he’ll leave the club as a legend and as someone with an even greater legacy than Bale.

Related Spurs hero just proved why he's a £100m star in the making in Bilbao

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Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 22, 2025

Liverpool know they are heading into next season without Trent Alexander-Arnold amid his impending move to Real Madrid, and they could be set to lose another star player to the Spanish giants in the future, per reports.

Liverpool look to freshen up in the summer window

Arne Slot has done a miraculous job in the eyes of many Liverpool supporters and will be given backing by FSG to shape his squad following their Premier League title victory.

Nevertheless, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid on a free transfer has delivered a sting in the tail, with the Dutchman now left without one of his best creative outlets from the end of this month.

Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah’s contract extensions have softened the blow somewhat, but there is a clear acknowledgement that the summer window will be a decisive one as the Reds seek to claim further silverware.

With the time for transfer business fast approaching, Liverpool are expected to make a ‘serious move’ for Lyon winger Malick Fofana despite Arsenal also remaining attentive to his situation.

Dean Huijsen and Murillo are candidates for the Reds to strengthen their backline from Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest respectively, though it remains to be seen whether either will arrive at Anfield to shore it up ahead of another challenging campaign.

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By
Henry Jackson

May 9, 2025

Second-season syndrome isn’t an evil Liverpool want to experience. Forward planning will be needed to ensure that doesn’t happen, and contingency plans have to be identified early to avoid uncomfortable scenarios.

Nevertheless, they could now be set for another considerable blow after the news that Real Madrid are lining up another one of their most talented assets on a free transfer.

Real Madrid looking to press ahead for Ibrahima Konate

Per reports in Spain, Real Madrid want to sign Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool in 2026 should the Frenchman opt against extending his current terms at Anfield.

The report notes that he has shown no willingness to sign a new contract and that his demands have created internal ‘tension’ on Merseyside, which may pave the way for an acrimonious exit next summer.

Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Manchester City are also keeping eyes on Konate’s situation, though Real Madrid are said to be in the box seat due to their experience in landing lucrative players without having to pay a transfer fee.

Labelled “outstanding” by Virgil van Dijk, the 25-year-old has won 128 duels this season on Premier League duty, becoming a mainstay in Slot’s Premier League-conquering side alongside the aforementioned Netherlands international.

Mooted to earn £70,000 per week at Liverpool, Konate may well be in the hunt for a significant pay rise – something his current employers haven’t been able to find an agreement on as of yet.

With his future firmly up in the air, the Reds may need to sit down sooner rather than later with his entourage to thrash out a deal.

If the campaign does end with Chelsea securing Champions League qualification, the Blues will have done so without the presence of a reliable and consistent centre-forward this season.

While Enzo Maresca does have Nicolas Jackson to call upon, the Senegalese striker has only scored ten times in the Premier League in 2024/25, albeit while having missed five games in February and March due to a hamstring injury.

The currently suspended marksman has perhaps not been helped by the lack of direct competition in that role, with teenager Marc Guiu having also been sidelined since February with his own hamstring issue.

Although Jackson’s return of 29 goals in 77 games is hardly disastrous, the Blues are still longing for a properly prolific presence to lead the line, echoing the days of Diego Costa and Didier Drogba in their pomp.

In a summer in which the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United will also likely be seeking a new striker, Chelsea themselves appear keen to bolster their ranks with a new addition of their own, with a handful of leading targets already emerging.

The latest on Chelsea's striker search

Arguably the dream target for any Premier League outfit this summer would be Newcastle United talisman, Alexander Isak, with the Swedish star having scored 23 top-flight goals this season – following on from the 21 he chalked up in 2023/24.

The former Real Sociedad man was the subject of interest from the Stamford Bridge side last summer, with contact being made, while reports have again emerged regarding their interest in his services this time around.

Despite the 25-year-old reportedly being open to moving to London, amid rival interest from the Gunners, any deal appears to be out of reach, not least with Newcastle set to demand around £150m if they are to sanction a sale.

With that in mind, alternative options have been drawn up by Todd Boehly and co, with recent reports outlining that Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap remains a leading target, amid his 12-goal haul in the league this term.

The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell recently revealed that the 22-year-old has held ‘face-to-face talks’ with Man United, although Chelsea were named as a rival suitor, with Delap expected to hold discussions with a variety of clubs before settling on a new destination.

Available for just £30m, following Ipswich’s recent relegation, the Englishman would represent a bargain option for Boehly this summer, with competition and cover needed for Jackson through the middle.

Managing to get such a deal over the line could also run parallel with a key departure from the Bridge, with Christopher Nkunku one notable high earner who surely needs to depart.

How much Nkunku earns compared to Delap & Isak

It’s worth remembering the excitement that surrounded the capture of Nkunku back in the summer of 2023, with the Frenchman joining from RB Leipzig on a £52m deal, having registered 125 goals and assists in 172 games for the Bundesliga side prior to that.

That marquee move appeared a notable coup considering his exploits in 2021/22, when the in-demand talent racked up 35 goals and 20 assists in just 57 games, although such form has not been translated in English football.

A knee injury sustained during pre-season, ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, set the tone for what has been a wretched two years for the 27-year-old, as he ultimately made just 11 Premier League appearances last term, scoring three goals.

While he does boast 14 goals this time around in all competitions, only three of those have come in the top-flight, with the one-time Paris Saint-Germain man restricted to just nine league starts under Maresca’s watch.

The issue appears to be finding a settled home for the versatile asset in the starting lineup, with Maresca insisting that he is not an orthodox striker, albeit while having been unable to dislodge Cole Palmer or Enzo Fernandez in the number ten role.

Games (starts)

11 (2)

27 (9)

Goals

3

3

Goal frequency

146min

313min

Big chances missed

3

6

Assists

0

2

Big chances created

0

1

Key passes*

0.3

0.5

Pass accuracy*

89%

91%

Successful dribbles*

0.2

0.4

As cult hero John Obi Mikel stated last month, Nkunku simply “looks lost” when he is asked to play through the middle, in the absence of Jackson, with the move having simply not worked out for both parties.

Thankfully, there does appear to wide-ranging interest in the struggling star ahead of the upcoming window, with reports indicating that he could depart for a fee in the region of £35m.

Managing to rake in a figure close to that asking price would also be aided by the ability to shift Nkunku off the wage bill, with the ex-Leipzig man currently taking home £195k-per-week in west London.

To put that into perspective, the highly-sought Isak is on a salary of £120k-per-week at St James’ Park, while the aforementioned Delap is on ‘just’ £20k-per-week at Portman Road, ensuring Nkunku is earning more than both of those targets combined.

Based on his limp Premier League return, in particular, the 5 foot 10 flop has not warranted such an outlay, with now the time for Boehly to finally cash in on his expensive mistake.

Their new John Terry: Chelsea looking at signing "colossal" £100m defender

Chelsea could look to strengthen in defence this summer

ByJoe Nuttall May 21, 2025

Newcastle United have now joined the race to sign a “very quick” defender who’s among the “world’s best”, according to a report.

Newcastle's summer transfer plans taking shape

Should Newcastle manage to secure Champions League qualification by finishing in the Premier League’s top five, the 2024-25 campaign is likely to go down as a resounding success, having also ended their 70-year trophy drought by lifting the EFL Cup.

However, the PIF have grand plans for the Magpies, and having enjoyed their first taste of success, they are likely to be even more inspired to compete for more major honours, which means some new additions to the squad could be required this summer.

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo could be a key target in attack, with the right-winger recently being identified as the ideal option to bolster Eddie Howe’s frontline, while the PIF are now racing to sign Girona’s Yangel Herrera to reinforce the midfield.

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The Magpies could land his signature…

1 BySean Markus Clifford May 4, 2025

A new centre-back has also been of interest for quite some time, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi a long-standing target, and there has now been a new update on the Tynesiders’ pursuit of a defender.

According to a report from The Sun, Newcastle have now joined the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, having announced his intention to leave the German club when his contract expires.

Guehi remains the Magpies’ top target, with the Palace captain set to leave Selhurst Park this summer, but Tah has now been identified as an alternative option, with Howe desperate to bring in a new defender this summer.

There could be stiff competition for the 29-year-old’s signature, however, with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich also keen, in light of his impressive performances for Bayer Leverkusen…

"Very quick" Tah among "world's best" defenders

Leverkusen were unable to retain the Bundesliga title this season, but they did an incredible job to pip Bayern to top spot in the 2023-24 campaign, going the entire season undefeated, and it would be fair to say the German defender impressed Xabi Alonso.

Alonso said: “Jonha is performing at the highest level and I am really happy for him because he deserves all the praise and all the good moments he’s living – that he keeps playing for us and happily for the national team as well. I think he is one of the world’s best defenders.”

Former Germany boss Joachim Low once described the 29-year-old as “very quick”, while he is also very impressive in possession of the ball.

Tah’s availability on a free transfer makes signing him an even more attractive proposition for potential suitors this summer, and it is promising news that Newcastle have now joined the race.

David Moyes took the reins in January and guided Everton away from certain peril. Goodison Park was sinking, but instead, the Scottish coach has made a positive impact and ensured the club parted with their historic home in a good position, set for future success.

With the 2024/25 Premier League season wrapped up, Everton finishing 13th, Moyes and The Friedkin Group have turned their attention to the summer transfer window, releasing a number of loanees as well as first-team mainstays such as Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Whether players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michael Keane will be playing at the Hill Dickinson Stadium remains to be seen, but The Toffees are preparing to add some genuine quality to the starting line-up.

On that note, let’s have a look at how Moyes could apply his expertise over the summer, bringing in a few fresh faces who could make a big difference for a team hoping to challenge for a place in the top half.

1 GK – Jordan Pickford

Jordan Pickford has now completed 319 matches for Everton, keeping 89 clean sheets. He’s been a pillar of strength and a source of leadership for so many years.

He’s going nowhere; what else is there to say?

2 RB – Jake O'Brien

Joining from Lyon last summer, Jake O’Brien didn’t start a Premier League game until Moyes’ second game, filling in at right-back during the thrilling 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park.

He’s since been a regular feature in the starting line-up, hailed as an “absolute revelation” by TNT Sports commentator Adam Virgo.

3 CB – Yann Bisseck

While the currently injured James Tarkowski will still be on the books, Everton could move to sign a long-term heir, with Inter Milan’s Yann Bisseck being ambitiously targeted for the role.

Bissesk is a monstrous defensive star, playing a prominent role in the Serie A side’s ongoing Champions League campaign.

As per TEAMtalk, Everton have been informed they could bring him over to Bramley-Moore if they meet the £30m asking price.

4 CB – Jarrad Branthwaite

Will Jarrad Branthwaite be an Everton player come September? Only a few months ago, the powerful defender was reported to be considering his options after being overlooked by Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel for the March camp.

Tuchel has opted against picking him once again. Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are rumoured to be keen, but Moyes will certainly want to keep hold of his star centre-back.

5 LB – Vitalii Mykolenko

Solid and largely dependable, Vitalii Mykolenko has another gear to raise in his development, but has definitely made gains, speaking of his enjoyment in embracing a more attacking role since the managerial change in January.

Mykolenko has six goal involvements across 110 matches in the Premier League, half of which have been posted over his last 11 matches, with Moyes at the helm.

6 CM – Tomas Soucek

Moyes wants to sign Tomas Soucek this summer, having enjoyed the fruits of the Czech midfielder’s labours for over four years at West Ham United.

An industrious and physical player with a shrewd eye for goal, Soucek would dovetail right in. And according to Football Insider, he’s keen on the move.

7 CM – Idrissa Gueye

TFG are fighting tooth and nail to tie 35-year-old Idrissa Gueye down to a new contract, as per TEAMtalk. He might be getting on, but the Senegalese midfielder was a tough-tackling menace in the centre of the park this season, so important for Moyes’ side.

1)

Idrissa Gueye

133

2)

Daniel Munoz

123

3)

Joao Gomes

116

4)

Noussair Mazraoui

115

5)

Moises Caicedo

114

Everton will need to retain his services. Gueye instils a calming effect while bringing the thunderous storm to his opponents, and it will be hard to replace that.

8 RW – Ben Doak

According to reports, Everton are talking internally about a jaw-dropping swoop for Liverpool talent Ben Doak, who has enjoyed a productive loan spell with Middlesbrough, scoring three goals and supplying seven assists from 24 games in the Championship.

Valued at £30m, the Scotland international wouldn’t come cheap, but he’s explosive and electric and definitely an upgrade on the outgoing Jack Harrison.

Former Tartan Army boss Craig Levein has touted him to become a “world-class player,” after all.

9 AM – Charly Alcaraz

Everton might be parting with most of their loan contingent, but they are in talks with Flamengo to sign Charly Alcaraz on a permanent basis.

The Argentina talent is tenacious and dynamic, and will give Dwight McNeil a run for his money for the number ten berth, especially now that Doucoure has played his final game in Merseyside blue.

10 LW – Iliman Ndiaye

What a player. Iliman Ndiaye missed a sizeable chunk of the season after Moyes replaced Sean Dyche, but who can deny he’s been a show-stopping signing?

Arriving from Marseille for a £15m fee, Ndiaye, 25, finished the campaign as the club’s top scorer, with 11 goals from 37 matches in all competitions.

Sunderland fans will be nervously counting down the days until Saturday’s Championship playoff final with only one huge match now standing in their way of Premier League glory.

There are some bad omens heading into the clash with Sheffield United, considering the Black Cats haven’t won on their last three visits to Wembley, but Regis Le Bris will pray his side can just get the job done by any means necessary in front of their raucous supporters.

It could also be another occasion where Daniel Ballard bails his team out in the most dramatic of fashions, with Sunderland entirely reliant on the ex-Arsenal man to guide them to the playoff final.

Ballard's astonishing heroics versus Coventry

If it wasn’t for Ballard popping up with a last-gasp header, the second leg tie against Coventry City would have headed to the nauseating lottery of penalties.

Thankfully, the Northern Irishman was in the perfect position to nod home Enzo Le Fee’s late corner kick, with the header undoubtedly leaving Coventry reeling, but it was a moment of unbelievable ecstasy for the Stadium of the Light to take in.

Ripping his shirt off in delight in the chaos that ensued, Ballard’s imposing presence from these scenarios could well be an effective weapon for Le Bris and Co to call upon for the final, particularly if it’s a tight and scrappy affair.

The Frenchman will also hope his attackers pack their shooting boots to try and upset the Blades on the biggest stage, with one promising forward player now actually worth the same as Ballard after he too played his part in Sunderland knocking out Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues.

The Sunderland star who's now worth as much as Ballard

Sunderland do have a whole host of sellable assets on their books, meaning promotion up to the Premier League will be key in attempting to keep the likes of Jobe Bellingham around for longer.

Ballard was even rumoured to be on the Blades’ shopping list once upon a time, but down the line, Sunderland number 12 Eliezer Mayenda could well be eyed up by some higher suitors himself with his performances for the Black Cats this season showing off a very promising striker that’s still got lots of room to improve.

He showed off his instinctive game when firing home the late winner in the first leg against Coventry, with Mayenda staying alert to any possible errors before rounding Ben Wilson confidently to finish off the gifted opportunity.

That would bump up his goal tally for the season to a nine strikes despite the 20-year-old only starting 22 Championship contests, with ex-Black Cats great Kevin Phillips even complimenting Mayenda as a “handful” after his winner at the CBS Arena.

The decision to snap up Mayenda for a measly £843k as a promising teenage talent has proven to be a steal, therefore, with the Zaragoza-born striker now worth around £3m according to Transfermarkt, which is the exact same value as Ballard.

Much like Bellingham’s value has skyrocketed amongst other shrewd Black Cats buys, it’s not out of the question to assume Mayenda’s value will continue to rise and rise too, particularly if he becomes a Premier League player very soon.

Before anyone gets too carried away at the Stadium of Light and starts picturing top-flight utopia, however, the playoff final is obviously a nerve-wracking day out that will really test the resolve of Le Bris’ young squad.

But, it could also be the perfect time for his group to mature even more, with both Mayenda or Ballard no doubt ready to be heroes again if a chance falls their way.

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Chelsea have been one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the transfer window over the last few summers. The Blues have become notorious for signing lots of players in the summer window, and 2025 will seemingly be no different. A deal for Liam Delap is all but confirmed.

Now, it seems they have moved on to new targets, including one at the other end of the pitch. Fabrizio Romano exclusively revealed on Tuesday morning that they have contacted AC Milan over a potential move for goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The France international is thought to be a player high up on their list of targets for a new shot-stopper.

However, Maignan is not the only Frenchman linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chelsea's search for a new striker

As it has been over the past few years under Todd Boehly, it will be a busy summer for Chelsea. They have identified some key targets and are working on bringing them in, or, in Delap’s case, have done so already.

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Next on the list is Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike. The 22-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a move to Chelsea this summer, most recently by journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Sky Germany reporter claims the Blues ‘remain very active in the race’ for the Frenchman this summer, with talks having ‘taken place’ already.

However, the West London outfit are not the only club targeting a move, with Plettenberg explaining that ‘more teams are showing interest’ in Ekitike, although he does not name them. As for the price, the transfer insider confirms the £84m package still remains for the attacker.

Why Ekitike would be a good signing

It has been a strong season for Ekitike in 2024/25. He has left a great impression, reminding European football how good he is after a tough spell the previous campaign for Paris Saint-Germain.

Very much a revitalised star at Frankfurt, the 22-year-old has scored 22 goals and grabbed a further 12 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for the club this season. That included 15 goals and eight assists in 33 Bundesliga games.

The Frenchman has shown he has the ability to score goals in important games. This term, he has bagged against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the top flight of Germany, and against eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League.

This signing feels similar in many ways to that of Kai Havertz. Chelsea signed the German from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen back in 2020 for a fee of £71m. He went on to make 139 appearances for the club.

Although the 25-year-old burnt his bridges at Chelsea by joining major rivals Arsenal, he will surely go down in folklore in West London.

One of the 32 goals Havertz scored in that famous Blue shirt was the winner in the 2021 Champions League final, delivering the club their second title in the famous competition.

The are similarities between that deal and the one for Ekitike, with the fact that both have performed superbly in Germany’s top flight, a key likeness. In his final year as a Leverkusen player, Havertz bagged 12 goals and six assists in the league.

There are also similarities between Havertz and Ekitike’s numbers on FBref during their most recent Bundesliga season. For example, the German attacker averaged 0.66 goal involvements per 90 minutes during 2019/20, compared to 0.81 each game last term for Ekitike.

Goals and assists

0.81

0.66

Key passes

1.54

2.16

Shot-creating actions

3.55

4.47

Goal-creating actions

0.42

0.48

Ball recoveries

3.05

3.66

Ekitike was described as a “world-class” operator earlier in the season by football talent scout Jacek Kulig. Even though they are signing Delap, having depth up front will be important, and Ekitike will bring goals and assists to the side, too.

His all-round play is certainly similar to Havertz’s. If he can match the ultimate high of scoring in a Champions League final that the German had in a Chelsea shirt, then he will surely be a successful addition to the club.

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