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Chelsea have now been in “direct contact” with a club’s “super boss” to discuss a move for a “fascinating” new signing in the final days of the market.

Blues' transfer activity hinges on outgoings

After a frantic start to the summer transfer window, there has been little recent activity at Stamford Bridge, with Todd Boehly focused on getting current players off the books before being able to bring in more new signings.

That has been the case for quite some time, with Fabrizio Romano nearly two weeks ago revealing the Blues are looking to sell both Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson before bringing in two new attackers.

Aston Villa have subsequently made Jackson their top target, while there is no shortage of interest in Nkunku, with Bayern Munich and Newcastle United being named as potential suitors.

Consequently, Enzo Maresca’s side should have little trouble sealing the departures of the two forwards, which would create space in the squad for both RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho.

According to an update from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, Chelsea have recently engaged in fresh talks over a deal for Simons, having been in “direct contact” with RB Leipzig “super boss” Oliver Mintzlaff.

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The Blues will “remain keen” on signing the Leipzig maestro right up until deadline day, and he is said to have agreed a deal until 2031, but the west Londoners are still waiting to finalize the sales of Jackson and Nkunku before advancing the deal any further.

"Fascinating" Simons could excel at Stamford Bridge

Given his fantastic goal and assist record in the Bundesliga, the Dutchman received high praise from scout Jacek Kulig during the 2024/25 campaign.

Not only that, but the RB Leipzig star, who is expected to cost £60m, has been lauded by former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, who also revealed what he thinks the 22-year-old’s best position is.

Tuchel said: “I think his best position is half winger, half 10, so he can be free. He is technically strong, calm with the ball, and very good in front of goal.”

With Nkunku scoring just three Premier League goals last season, and Jackson massively underperforming his xG over the past year, Chelsea could do with a new attacker who is clinical in front of goal, and Tuchel seems to believe Simons fits the bill.

India’s quicks made three late inroads in a dramatic conclusion to third day to put them on track for a huge victory

Tristan Lavalette24-Nov-2024In the same city where Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli scored legendary centuries, India’s latest batting prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal produced a masterclass of his own with a majestic 161 to decimate a listless Australia in the first Test at Optus Stadium.Kohli then rammed home the advantage late on day three with a drought-breaking century to add to his epic ton on the same ground in 2018. On that occasion his heroics were in vain, but this time around will almost surely be different after India declared their second innings at 487 for 6.Related

The Kohli hundred that snuck up on everybody

Undercooked Australia lose the plot in Perth

Live blog – Bumrah and Siraj wrap up comprehensive India win

Rahul and Jaiswal show defence is (sometimes) the best form of defiance

Stats – Jaiswal converts yet another ton into a 150-plus score

Chasing a record 534, Australia crashed to 12 for 3 in a dramatic 4.2 overs bowled in the shadows before stumps. They had a horrible start when opener Nathan McSweeney fell in the first over for a duck as a wicked delivery from stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah crept low and smashed into his pads. It capped a tough debut for McSweeney, who made 10 in the first innings.With 20 minutes until stumps, captain Pat Cummins came in as the nightwatchman but didn’t last long as he edged quick Mohammed Siraj to leave Australia at 9 for 2.Marnus Labuschagne belatedly came out but could not stop the unplayable Bumrah as he unsuccessfully reviewed the lbw decision having shoulder arms. After a five-wicket haul in the first innings, Bumrah had the remarkable figures of 2 for 1 from 2.2 overs.It completed a day of utter domination for India after their long-time talisman and his protege completely broke Australia’s spirits on an oppressive day in Perth where temperatures reached 36 degrees celsius. Much like on day two, Australia went through the motions in a performance set to attract plenty of scrutiny.The much discussed pitch appeared benign earlier in the day until coming alive with notable signs of uneven bounce that will further buoy India. Having batted through the final two sessions of day two, Jaiswal and KL Rahul started the day’s play with a golden opportunity to put India into an impregnable position.Yashasvi Jaiswal soaks in a century at Perth•Getty ImagesThey were confronted by an Australia attack that was keen to make amends for a lacklustre performance on the second day where they appeared weary and rattled by the sudden changing nature of the pitch.Australia had their eyes on the second new ball, but before then Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood gave it a crack with the old ball. After some conservative tactics from Australia turned heads on day two, Starc and Hazlewood started with attacking lengths as they preyed on the nerves of Jaiswal, who played and missed several times in the 90s.But Jaiswal was not to be denied and, befitting his audacious skills, he reached his century in the most spectacular fashion. On 95 he looked to ramp a bouncer from Hazlewood over the slip but instead hit to fine leg where the ball smacked into the boundary marker on the full. Starc fielding nearby signalled a six, but the umpires had to check leaving Jaiswal with a nervous wait. The all clear came as Jaiswal took his helmet off before raising his arms aloft and punching the air.There was a brief loss of concentration when the openers had a mix-up and Jaiswal would have been run-out by a mile only for Cummins to miss the direct hit from mid-off. It wasn’t the first time the openers had miscommunicated between the wickets as a run-out appeared a flagging Australia’s best chance of a breakthrough.Jaiswal and Rahul became the first India openers to produce a double century partnership in Australia, but on the next delivery the 201-run stand finally ended when Rahul on 77 was caught behind poking at a delivery in the channel from Starc. There were muted celebrations from Australia, more relief, at ending the sixth highest opening partnership from overseas batters in Australia.Virat Kohli goes up and over the off side•Getty ImagesNo. 3 Devdutt Padikkal, who had his chance in the absences of captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, made an excruciating 23-ball duck in the first innings. But he had a much better chance to succeed with a massive platform built and in better batting conditions. Padikkal got off the mark from his fourth delivery with a push through gully as he combined well with Jaiswal through to lunch.Jaiswal was unstoppable and had an answer for every Australia strategy. Cummins resorted briefly to a short-ball tactic to no avail. Labuchagne was utilised but he started with a wayward bouncer that was called a wide and he didn’t threaten to the extent that later in the day he reverted back to legspin.The second new ball was taken before lunch but Jaiswal and Padikkal had no issues as they scored freely. Padikkal, however, fell to Hazlewood, clearly Australia’s best bowler in the innings, on the first ball after the interval as a determined Kohli came out eager to end his form slump.Underlining his desire, Kohli had spent much of the first session padded up with his helmet on and he quickly showed that he had learned from his baffling brief stint at the crease in the first innings when he batted well out of his crease. This time around, Kohli made a change in his set-up and did not bat nearly as far out of his crease. He looked far more comfortable, albeit in easier circumstances, and he was content to let Jaiswal hog the limelight.Jaiswal once again passed 150, but one run later he had a let off after wicketkeeper Alex Carey dropped a tough chance down the leg-side. Australia’s torture continued when Jaiswal smashed Cummins with disdain through mid-off before, out of nowhere, he carved a short and wide delivery from Mitchell Marsh straight to point.KL Rahul congratulates Yashasvi Jaiswal on his hundred•AFP/Getty ImagesJaiswal threw his head back in disbelief and the 26,000 crowd too was stunned before giving him a deserved standing ovation as he took off his helmet and looked up the heavens on his way off the field.Australia had their best passage of play since the middle of the opening day when Lyon outfoxed Rishabh Pant to have him stumped on 1 before Cummins finally claimed a wicket after trapping Dhruv Jurel lbw as India lost 3 for 8.But Kohli was on a mission and in an aggressive mood as he carved Starc over the slip cordon for six in a blow that unfortunately hit a sitting security officer on the side of the head.With a declaration in their sights he put his foot down alongside debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, who unfurled T20 style batting. Having last scored a Test century in July 2023, Kohli reached his 30th Test ton in style with a boundary to deep fine leg. He took off his helmet, blew a kiss to his wife and walked off the ground amid India’s declaration as a famous win beckons for the tourists.

Arsenal are swiftly moving on to their next targets after striking a long-awaited deal for Viktor Gyokeres, who officially joined the Gunners from Sporting CP on Saturday in a deal worth up to £64 million.

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Gyokeres’ arrival comes as a major boost for Mikel Arteta as he seeks to end the club’s two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title.

Arsenal drew more games than any other side in the top 10 last season, and their struggle for goals was a key reason for this. Arteta’s side managed just 69 in the league by the end of 2024/2025, paling in comparison to their tallies of 88 and 91 in the previous two seasons.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

A prolific frontman of Gyokeres’ ilk will certainly help Arteta’s side return to their clinical best, and Arsenal’s manager is thrilled to welcome a centre-forward who’s just bagged 54 goals in all competitions.

“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Viktor Gyökeres to the club. The consistency he has shown in his performances and availability have been outstanding, and his goal contributions speak for themselves,” said Arteta in an official statement.

“Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels. He brings a clinical edge with a high conversion rate of chances into goals, with his intelligent movement in the box making him a constant threat.

“We’re excited about what Viktor brings to our squad and are looking forward to start working with him. We welcome Viktor and his family to Arsenal.”

After Gyokeres, it is reliably reported that sporting director Andrea Berta is turning his attention towards Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze.

The England international is at the centre of Arsenal’s rumoured interest in signing a new creative number 10, and he reportedly has a £60 million release clause in his contract that could rise to £68m through bonuses (Sky Sports).

Crystal Palace identify Eberechi Eze replacement as Arsenal advance

According to multiple recent reports, there are suggestions that Eze has loosely agreed personal terms with Arsenal already, with Sports Zone even claiming that the 27-year-old has reached a “full agreement” over a proposed contract at the Emirates.

A north London switch for the player appears to be gaining serious traction, and according to Sky Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri, Palace are moving to try and sign a replacement – providing a further indication that Arsenal could be closing in on Eze shortly.

Tavolieri, via X, claims Palace have identified Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss as a potential heir to Eze, but face competition from RB Leipzig.

Eze was released by Arsenal as a teenage academy prospect, but it appears the playmaker who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season could be facing his final summer at Selhurst Park.

Manchester United are in a race with fellow Premier League side Everton in a bid to sign a £9 million international who has been labelled the “bargain of the summer”, according to a recent report.

Man Utd eyeing new midfield reinforcements

The Red Devils return to action at the end of this week, as they travel to Stockholm in Sweden to face rivals Leeds United in their first game of pre-season 2025. The hope Ruben Amorim will have is that his side will finally have Bryan Mbeumo through the door before that game gets underway.

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Once the deal for Mbeumo is completed, there has been a lot of talk that the next target will be a striker, but INEOS and co are also scouring the market to strengthen their midfield department. It was recently reported that United have made a move for not one but two new midfielders.

It’s been claimed that United have made an approach to sign Richard Rios from Palmeiras, who has been heavily linked with a move to AS Roma. The Brazilian side are said to want at least £25 million for Rios, who could be considered a replacement for Casemiro.

The second midfielder United are chasing is Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha. The Red Devils have submitted a loan approach for Palhinha, but the German side turned it down straight away, with Bayern looking to sell the player on a permanent basis instead. These two players could be very good signings for United, but there is another midfielder firmly on their list of potential summer signings.

Man Utd in race with Everton to sign £9m ace called "bargain of the summer"

According to Football Insider, Man United are very interested in signing Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City. The 28-year-old has just suffered relegation with the Foxes, and while he is under contract until 2027, the midfielder has a £9 million release clause that can now be activated.

The Nigeria international is expected to leave the King Power Stadium, and while United are an option for the player, Everton, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Juventus are also in the race for the Nigerian international.

Ndidi, who has been dubbed the “bargain of the summer” by Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, has been a Leicester player since 2017. During that time, he has faced the Red Devils on 14 occasions in all competitions, and he has lost 10 times overall, with the Foxes only winning two games.

Apps

220

Goals

7

Assists

14

His potential arrival at Old Trafford could see him be a replacement for Casemiro, who could remain at United but may not have a bigger impact this season than he did last, due to competition for places and the fact he isn’t getting any younger. Despite the Foxes’ struggles last season, Ndidi still managed to impress, recording five assists in 28 Premier League games.

Leeds United are now strongly considering a bid for a “brilliant” midfielder, who could be in line to join alongside their move for Sean Longstaff this summer, according to a report.

Leeds stepping up pursuit of new midfielders

Leeds have now reached an agreement on personal terms with Newcastle United’s Longstaff, as revealed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, with the deal said to be edging closer to completion.

Widespread reports have suggested the Newcastle midfielder is free to leave his boyhood club this summer, with Eddie Howe sanctioning a departure, and a move to Elland Road appears to be an increasingly likely outcome.

However, Daniel Farke may not want to stop there, with some extra quality perhaps needed in the engine room if his side are to avoid relegation from the Premier League next season, and the Championship title-winners have now intensified their interest in a different midfielder.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Leeds are now stepping up their interest in Shea Charles, with the Southampton midfielder catching the eye during a loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday last season.

The Whites tracked Charles’ performances during his loan spell with the Owls, and they were clearly impressed by what they saw, as a move is now being strongly considered, although it is unclear what sort of fee it would take to prise him away from the Saints.

Will Still is also hoping to keep hold of the central midfielder beyond the summer, which could make it difficult for the Whites to get a deal for the £15m-rated maestro over the line.

Charles could be "brilliant" addition to Farke's squad

While the signing of Longstaff makes more sense, considering the 27-year-old is vastly experienced at Premier League level, the Southampton midfielder’s performances in the Championship indicate he could be capable of making the step-up to the top flight.

Not only has the 21-year-old hailed as “brilliant” by members of the media, but journalist Joe Crann believes he could go on to achieve big things in the game.

Perhaps most noteworthy is the Northern Irishman’s defensive ability, performing very well across some key metrics over the past year, when compared to other midfielders.

Shea Charles

Average per 90

Interceptions

1.46 (83rd percentile)

Tackles

2.68 (78th percentile)

Aerials won

1.54 (80th percentile)

However, having recorded five assists in the Championship last season, the former Sheffield Wednesday man is clearly a well-rounded midfielder, capable of contributing on the front foot.

Charles could be a solid signing for Leeds this summer, but Longstaff looks to be a more attainable target, given that Newcastle are more willing to sanction a departure.

The countdown to the start of Aston Villa’s pre-season schedule is very much on.

The Villans’ will commence pre-season against neighbours Walsall at the Bescot on 16 July, taking on Hansa Rostock in Germany three days later, before a trio of friendlies stateside, meeting Eintracht Frankfurt in Louisville and then a pair of MLS outfits, namely St. Louis City and Nashville.

The Claret and Blue Army’s campaign begins for real on 16 August, welcoming Newcastle United to Villa Park on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, with supporters also eagerly awaiting the Europa League draw, coming up at the end of that month.

However, before Villa are back in action, will fans have a new signing to be excited about?

Aston Villa looking to bolster their forward line

According to widespread reports, including by Jacob Tanswell of the Athletic, it is widely expected that Monchi and Co will need to sell a key player before Monday 30 June to avoid breaching the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules.

This was a key reason why Jhon Durán was sold to Al-Nassr for a reported £71m in January, but, as documented by Chris Weatherspoon of the Athletic, Villa’s finances remain precarious, given that they have the highest wages-to-revenue ratio in the division.

Nevertheless, despite the need for cost-cutting, Unai Emery still wants to bolster his attacking options, hence why TEAMtalk documents Villa’s interest in Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze, facing competition for his signature from Tottenham, Manchester United, Newcastle, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and others.

They claim that Eze’s entourage are ‘working hard and are talking to numerous suitors’, with Spurs currently leading the race to sign him, as new manager Thomas Frank targets a statement signing, following his recent appointment.

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David Hytner of the Guardian notes that Eze’s contract contains a £68m release clause, suggesting he is unlikely to remain at Selhurst beyond this summer, with Adam Keys describing the England international as “phenomenal” and data analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as a “superstar”.

So, could Villa convince the 26 year old to move to the Midlands?

Why Eberechi Eze would be an upgrade on Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, very much reinvigorating his career, scoring four goals and registering six assists in 17 appearances.

He also started both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, underlining that he certainly got into Emery’s good books.

However, Rashford’s reported £40m price tag is putting off a lot of potential suitors, with Jamie Jackson of the Guardian claiming that Barcelona would only be open to a loan deal, something Manchester United certainly are not keen on.

Either way, it appears very unlikely that Rashford will be donning a claret and blue shirt at Villa Park next season, so would Eze be a significant upgrade?

Rashford vs Eze 2024/25 comparison

Statistics

Rashford

Eze

Appearances

41

45

Minutes

2,428

3,322

Goals

11

15

Assists

8

11

Shots per 90

2.63

3.25

Chances created per 90

1.2

2

Take-on success %

31.58%

51.94%

Shot-creating actions per 90

3.63

4.69

Touches per 90

45

55

Touches in the box per 90

4.5

3.6

Statistics courtesy of FBref.com and Squawka

As the table outlines, Eze comes out on top for pretty much every attacking metric last season, namely when it comes to goals, assists, chances created, dribbling and touches.

Sam Tabuteau of Breaking the Lines believes Eze is ‘thriving as the talisman’ at Crystal Palace, a mantle he could take up at Villa, while Daryl Gouilard of Total Football Analysis asserts that he is ready to take his game to the next level.

Thus, as outlined earlier, Aston Villa face plenty of competition for Eze’s signature this summer but, if they are able to sign him, it would certainly be a statement addition.

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