da fezbet： Chelsea could have to offload Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson before proceeding with a summer signing, with talks believed to be advanced for another player who has also agreed personal terms.

da brwin： Enzo Maresca’s side have zero trouble financially, having made millions off their previous transfer sales this window, alongside the Blues’ windfalls from qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Club World Cup.

They’re estimated to have raised nearly £220 million through outgoings alone, with Chelsea’s CWC triumph yielding £87.5 million in prize money and their Champions League riches tipped to be around £80 million just from qualifying.

Having spent nearly £280 million on new signings, including their pre-agreed summer deals, Chelsea have actually registered a net profit over the last few months – so BlueCo are in excellent stead when it comes to the Premier League’s PSR rules.

However, the same cannot be said for UEFA’s separate FFP laws.

Chelsea reached a settlement with UEFA last month after being in breach of these regulations, and as part of the agreement, Maresca’s side must produce a positive transfer balance by September – or they won’t be able to register new players to their A-list Champions League squad.

Simply put, the west Londoners have to agree just as many outgoings as incomings to balance out their books.

Chelsea have already sold Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli, Mathis Amougou, Djordje Petrovic, João Félix, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu, with both Jackson and Nkunku tipped to potentially follow.

Chelsea are ready to sell Jackson amid reports that he’ll cost around £60 million, while the same can be said of Nkunku as Chelsea reduce his asking price to around £40 million.

This £100m fire sale could be key to the club signing Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Chelsea plot Nkunku and Jackson sale before formalising Garnacho deal

Jacobs, writing for GiveMeSport, claims that Chelsea may look to sell Jackson and Nkunku before formalising a deal for Garnacho.

The Argentine has already agreed personal terms with Maresca’s side and talks are at an advanced stage, with the Argentine now simply waiting for United and Chelsea to reach a full agreement.

The Red Devils want a minimum £50 million to sell Garnacho, but both sides expect to shake hands on a deal before the window slams shut in just over a fortnight.

Right now, Chelsea are focused on outgoings, hence why they could bide their time before completing this move, as Maresca plots to get Jackson and Nkunku out the door first.

Amidst all of this, Chelsea are still trying to reach an agreement with RB Leipzig over Xavi Simons, with the Dutchman also agreeing terms and patiently watching on in the hope that both sides can find middle ground.

“He has a lot of personality, he doesn’t give up and he’s always on the ball. He never gives up in one-on-one situations,” said former Barcelona forward Javier Saviola about Garnacho.

“Now he’s adding goals to his game, something he was lacking a bit before, and he’s appearing closer to the box.”

da aviator aposta： Leeds United are in the market for reinforcements at the top end of the field and now know how much they will need to pay for a talented forward who can operate across the front three, according to reports.

Leeds United look for further additions after Dominic Calvert-Lewin

da bet sport： Adding some Premier League pedigree to their forward line, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is now a Leeds player after completing a free transfer to Elland Road upon the expiration of his contract at Everton.

Speaking after his arrival, Daniel Farke has claimed bringing in the England international is a risk worth taking as he stocks up on forwards capable of handling the pressure of top-flight football.

He said in his most recent press conference: “Let’s be open about it. It’s always a bit risky to sign players who’ve had difficult years with a few injuries. There are always question marks and doubts.

“But the second part of the truth is that if he had his prime season last season he wouldn’t be on the market for us. He wouldn’t be a free agent and affordable for a newly promoted side, so you have to think about the balance of risk and reward.”

Seeking creativity as well as goalscoring prowess, Leeds have been linked with both Gustavo Hamer and Bilal El Khannouss, though it remains to be seen if either player pitches up at Elland Road.

Everton striker Beto is also on the Whites’ radar and a bid is expected to be submitted for the Guinea-Bissau international. However, that may now be on the backburner if recent reports are anything to go by.

Leeds United close in on Noah Okafor deal

Reports have claimed Leeds will need to pay between £13 million and £17 million for AC Milan star Noah Okafor, and Fabrizio Romano reports on Monday that a deal is now close after the Whites submitted a formal offer around that figure.

Capable of featuring through the middle of on the left-hand side of attack, the Switzerland international has netted 50 career goals in total for club and country. He has featured once this term off the bench for the Rossoneri against Bari in the Coppa Italia.

Labelled “incredibly prolific” by Jacek Kulig back in 2023, Okafor has been on Leeds’ radar across the window and may be someone Farke also feels is worth the gamble in his quest for offensive prowess.

Admittedly, he is at a career crossroads, but the chance of being able to play Premier League football at Leeds may be too good to turn down after a difficult period on Italian soil that also included a loan spell at Napoli.

da betcris： As the transfer deadline looms, Everton are once again at the centre of speculation.

da jogodeouro： The Toffees have been among the more proactive Premier League sides this summer, with David Moyes overseeing a rebuild designed to inject both quality and long-term stability into the squad.

Jack Grealish’s high-profile switch from Manchester City dominated headlines, and he wasted little time in making his mark at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, registering two assists on his competitive debut in a 2-0 win over Brighton.

Everton backed up that performance with a comfortable 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Mansfield Town, further raising optimism among supporters.

Despite those encouraging results, Everton’s league campaign began with a setback – a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Leeds United.

That loss underlined the need for further reinforcements if the club are to mount a genuine push into the top half of the Premier League.

Everton looking to sign another English talent

Moyes has already welcomed the likes of Thierno Barry, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Tyler Dibling into his squad, yet midfield remains an area of focus.

With Abdoulaye Doucouré departing earlier in the summer, a vacancy exists in the heart of Everton’s team.

The Toffees have been linked with a possible reunion between Moyes and Tomas Souček, but there is also a strong suggestion that another deal could be in the works – one that could see Everton land a player reminiscent of club stalwart Gareth Barry.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Expand Collapse

According to Football Insider, Everton are one of several Premier League clubs weighing up a late move for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.

The 23-year-old has told his boyhood club that he would consider leaving if a top-flight opportunity presents itself before the window shuts. Crystal Palace and West Ham are also monitoring developments.

Hackney, described by analyst Ben Mattinson as a “special player,” has been integral to Middlesbrough’s perfect start under new manager Rob Edwards, playing every minute of their three consecutive Championship victories.

He has already contributed a goal and an assist this season, showcasing his ability to influence matches in the final third.

Why Hackney evokes memories of Gareth Barry

For Hackney, the chance to step up into the Premier League could be a natural next step in a career that has already seen him capped 13 times at England U21 level, including as part of the squad that retained the European Championship this summer.

Marketed at around £10m by Transfermarkt, the youngster would represent an affordable option compared with some of Everton’s other recent investments.

That figure is particularly notable when set against the £42m the club committed to sign winger Dibling from Southampton earlier this week – a move that underlined Moyes’ determination to secure the best emerging English talent.

For Everton fans, however, Hackney’s potential arrival carries echoes of one of the club’s most successful midfield signings of the Premier League era: Gareth Barry.

Like Barry, Hackney is a technically accomplished left-footed midfielder who thrives in dictating tempo, recycling possession, and providing a calm platform for more attacking players to flourish.

Statistically, his numbers suggest a player already capable of making the step-up.

According to FBref, he ranks favourably compared to midfielders in similar divisions to the Championship, sitting in the 99th percentile for progressive passes per 90 (9.92) and the 91st percentile for shot-creating actions (3.80) among players in leagues of Championship equivalence.

His ability to move the ball forward – whether through incisive passing or by carrying possession himself (97th percentile for progressive carries) – highlights his suitability for Moyes’ system, which increasingly relies on controlled build-up from deep.

Defensively, Hackney also contributes, sitting in the 82nd percentile for blocks (1.54 per 90), which demonstrates an ability to screen effectively and disrupt opposition attacks.

This blend of on-ball quality and off-ball responsibility is precisely what made Barry such a valuable figure during his time at Goodison Park.

Hackney – 2024/25

Matches Played

43

Minutes Played

3,792

Goals

5

Assists

3

Progressive Carries

118

Progressive Passes

440

Source: FBref

The contrast with Everton’s other major summer signing, Dibling, is instructive.

Whereas Dibling’s profile – marked by elite percentile rankings for dribbles attempted (5.28), fouls drawn (2.49), and dribblers tackled (61.5%) – reflects the skillset of an explosive wide player, Hackney offers a quieter but equally crucial influence.

He would provide structure and control from midfield, knitting phases of play together and giving Everton stability in possession.

This dual-pronged approach of flair on the flanks combined with composure and tempo in midfield is central to Moyes’ vision of a balanced squad.

Hackney would not only cover the void left by Doucouré’s departure but also give Everton something they have lacked in recent years: a metronomic midfielder capable of dictating rhythm against stubborn opponents.

Much like Barry did during his four-year spell at the club, Hackney could serve as the understated yet indispensable figure around whom others operate.

His consistency at Middlesbrough – 43 appearances last season, contributing five goals and three assists – shows a player with the reliability and endurance to take on such a role at the top level.

With a market value of £10m, Hackney represents both a relatively low-risk and potentially transformative addition.

His signing would also reinforce Everton’s emerging identity as a club investing in technically proficient English players who could form the core of the team for years to come.

With the window set to close on Monday, Everton must act swiftly if they are to secure Hackney’s signature ahead of their rivals.

For the player himself, the lure of the Premier League and the chance to develop under Moyes could prove decisive.

da doce： Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been calling a highly-rated player in the build up to deadline day as he looks to tempt him with a Stamford Bridge move, according to an intriguing new report.

da betcris： The west Londoners are prioritising a new attacker as we fast approach this year’s summer transfer cut-off, and they’ve held extensive talks for two stars in particular.

Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho is clamoring for a move to Chelsea, having already told friends that he’ll be joining Maresca’s side (talkSPORT), and personal terms are believed to be fully agreed.

Meanwhile, RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons has also agreed terms with Chelsea, but the Bundesliga side and Blues are yet to shake hands on a club-to-club deal, as is also the case with Garnacho.

If Maresca had to choose one or the other, he’d select Garnacho, as his priority is a winger, but deals for either one of the pair still centre around Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku finding new clubs.

It isn’t simply a case of Simons or Garnacho, either, as credible reports now claim that Chelsea have reached out and contacted the representatives of Barcelona star Fermin Lopez (David Ornstein).

Lopez has become a star at the Camp Nou since Hansi Flick’s arrival last year, scoring eight goals and bagging 10 assists in 46 total appearances last year as Barça went on to clinch a domestic treble.

The Spaniard has emerged as an alternative to Simons if they cannot get a deal done for him, even if the Leipzig ace is still their priority as things stand, although this could change pretty quickly (Simon Phillips).

Chelsea ready to nearly triple Fermin Lopez's salary as Enzo Maresca calls him

According to Spanish news outlet Sport, and journalist Jordi Gil, Chelsea are ready to nearly triple Lopez’s current salary if they pivot towards the 21-year-old as their top playmaker target.

Lopez earns around £99,000-per-week in Catelonia right now, but Maresca’s side would hand him a contract of around £250,000-per-week in west London – which comes as surprising, given Chelsea aren’t known to shatter their wage structure on players.

What’s more, Maresca is believed to be personally calling Lopez over a move to Chelsea, so there is serious intent from the tactician to land him, not to mention admiration.

All of this means Lopez is starting to reconsider his future after previously stating he would remain at Barca, and Chelsea are apparently prepared to offer Flick’s side around £50 million for his services.

However, they’re still some way off the mark, as the La Liga champions are demanding £60 million.

da bwin： Manchester United are now planning to smash their transfer record for a £100m “powerhouse” in 2026, having identified him as their prime target for Ruben Amorim’s system.

INEOS' decision to appoint Amorim questioned by Carragher

da gbg bet： It has been far from an ideal start to the new season for Man United, having been dumped out of the EFL Cup by Grimsby Town, and won just one of their first three Premier League games, and Jamie Carragher has now questioned the decision to appoint Ruben Amorim.

Speaking on a new edition of The Overlap (47:39), the Liverpool legend claimed the board are to blame for hiring Amorim, given that they always knew he was going to instill a three-at-the-back system.

Carragher said: “So Manchester United right now, let’s say they’re a team in the middle of the table quality-wise, so they get asked questions defensively, at this moment the manager can’t answer. It’s too easy to play against.

“That’s my thing, but he’s never gonna change. So when we keep saying change, and I do think Manchester United have the players to play 4-3-3 more, you’re asking a manager who doesn’t believe in something to do something. That’s his thing – the guy that brought him in, it’s his fault.”

The three-at-the-back system clearly isn’t working, with Amorim averaging just 1.37 points per match since arriving at Old Trafford, but INEOS are continuing to search for players who they believe would be a perfect fit in the formation.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Man United are now planning to smash their existing transfer record with a £100m+ move for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba in 2026.

Baleba has been identified as a prime target to enhance Amorim’s system, and the Red Devils made contact in the summer to ensure Brighton are well-aware their interest is concrete, with the £100m+ asking price failing to deter them.

"Powerhouse" Baleba would be statement signing for Man Utd

Despite their struggles last season, United had no trouble competing for some highly sought-after players in the summer, winning the race for Benjamin Sesko, despite Newcastle United being well-known to hold an interest.

As such, Amorim’s side may still stand a chance of being able to sign the Brighton star, who would be a real statement signing, having made a name for himself with the Seagulls over the past three seasons.

Journalist Ryan Adsett was left particularly enamoured by the 21-year-old’s performances in the 2023-24 campaign, saying: “Carlos Baleba isn’t a Moisés Caicedo replacement. He’s very different – an agile powerhouse in midfield. Very entertaining watch, strong in the tackle and more than comfortable on the ball.”

With United identifying Baleba as an ideal fit in Amorim’s system, it is little wonder they are planning to make a huge bid, but it remains to be seen whether the Portuguese manager can make it to the January transfer window…

da esport bet： Following the news that Ismaila Sarr has been forced to drop out of the Senegal squad through injury, it could be eight weeks before he returns to full Crystal Palace training.

Sarr more important than ever at Crystal Palace

da 888casino： Whilst Jean-Philippe Mateta has been destroying corner flags all around the Premier League, Sarr has quietly become an important player for Oliver Glasner and Crystal Palace. Alongside the star striker, Sarr has proved to be an excellent addition and, after a slow start last season, found his stride and hasn’t looked back since.

Oliver Glasner no longer has Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise to call on. The former joined Arsenal this summer in a dream move and the latter has, of course, been starring at Bayern Munich since leaving last year. So, naturally, the responsibility has fallen the way of the likes of Sarr to step up alongside Mateta, especially as new signing Yeremy Pino settles in.

You wouldn’t know that there’s any extra pressure on the former Watford winger, however. He has stepped up with ease, scoring twice in three Premier League games to follow up his effort in the Community Shield victory against Liverpool.

Glasner is well aware of his quality too, having told reporters last season: “He’s different. We knew that we couldn’t replace Michael one-for-one, because he’s got his own profile and his own qualities.

“Ismaila is more of a direct runner with a lot of pace. We knew if we get him into the right areas in the right moment he will get chances to score goals.”

The manager’s earlier praise will only make the news of Sarr’s injury all the more frustrating and Chat GPT has now delivered a damning verdict as to when Palace fans can expect their winger to return.

When Sarr could make Crystal Palace return

Amid reports that he has suffered a grade two hamstring tear, the AI tool revealed that Sarr is likely to make his Crystal Palace return in four to eight weeks. In the best case scenario, the severity of the grade two injury will not be disastrous enough to rule him out for two months, but Sarr’s explosive sprinting may well mean that Palace take their time with this one.

Indeed, Sarr can only return to training after such an injury when several recovery factors have been ticked off. Palace must ensure that full strength and flexibility has returned to his hamstring, there’s no altered running gait or imbalance and that he is able to participate in full training, which could take six to eight weeks.

They must also consider the re-injury risk. According to AI, this is at its highest in the first two months after recovery and can be reduced by Nordic hamstring/ exercises.

If Sarr misses just one month of action, then he is likely to be sidelined for games against Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Liverpool before potentially returning against Dynamo Kyiv in the Europa Conference League.

Meanwhile, a two-month absence will see him miss that Europa Conference League tie as well as games against Everton, Bournemouth, AEK Larnaca, Arsenal and Brentford.

da cassino online： Well, that was not the way Chelsea would have wanted to kickstart their European adventure.

da betsson： After being out of the Champions League for over two years, the Blues were given a rough welcome back by Bayern Munich.

Enzo Maresca’s side found themselves down 2-0 within 27 minutes, and while Cole Palmer halved the deficit in the 29th minute, the Germans eventually ran out deserved 3-1 winners.

There were a couple of players who did themselves proud, but more who let the fans and manager down, including one starter who was even worse than Trevoh Chalobah.

Chalobah's disappointing display

Unlike some of his teammates, last night was not Chalobah’s first experience of the Champions League.

In fact, it was his tenth appearance in the competition, with his last being the quarter-final against Real Madrid in April 2022.

However, you’d never have guessed that, as instead of providing a calm presence behind his midfield, the Englishman was all over the place for much of the game.

Moreover, it was the 26-year-old who opened the scoring for the hosts when he poked home a cross from Michael Olise, a cross that Tosin Adarabioyo probably should have cleared.

The once-capped international’s statistics also made for some ugly reading, as in 96 minutes of action, he failed to make a single tackle, was dribbled past once, lost 50% of his ground duels, misplaced 50% of his long balls and won just 50% of his aerial duels.

It was enough for football.london’s Bobby Vincent to award him an 8/10 match rating at full-time, and describe his evening as something of a ‘nightmare.’

However, while Chalobah did score an own goal, one of his teammates was just as bad against Bayern, and therefore has to be dropped for the game against Manchester United on Saturday.

The Chelsea star who has to be dropped

Now there are a few other players who could be argued to be dropped for the game against United off the back of their performance last night, like Adarabioyo, Enzo Fernández and even Joao Pedro.

Chalkboard

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

Expand Collapse

However, in this instance, the player who disappointed us, and seemingly much of the fanbase, the most was Pedro Neto.

The Portuguese international started on the left and, unlike Palmer on the opposite flank, offered practically nothing throughout his time on the pitch.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers star was a ghost for almost all of the game, and when he did occasionally get involved in an attacking phase of play, he’d make a mistake.

It might sound overly harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by Vincent, who also awarded him a 4/10 match rating, writing that he ‘struggled’ and was ‘unable to make any sort of impact when Chelsea were attacking.’

Unsurprisingly, his statistics more than back up this appraisal of his performance.

Neto’s game vs Bayern

Minutes

68′

Expected Goals

0.02

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.02

Assists

0

Touches

25

Accurate Passes

11/14 (79%)

Key Passes

1

Crosses (Accurate)

1 (0)

Long Balls

0

Shots on Target

0

Dribbles (Successful)

4 (2)

Ground Duels (Won)

6 (2)

Dribbled Past

2

All Stats via Sofascore

In 68 minutes of inaction, the 25-year-old amassed a paltry combined expected assist and goals figure of just 0.04, took just 25 touches – 22 fewer than Robert Sanchez – completed just 11 passes, played one key pass, misplaced 100% of his crosses, failed in 50% of his dribbles, lost the ball nine times and was dribbled past twice.

Ultimately, while Chalobah will get the criticism for scoring the own goal, Neto was just as bad, if not worse, last night.

Therefore, he has to be dropped from the squad for Saturday’s game against United.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!