All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United have now written another letter in regards to Everton’s possible Financial Fair Play breaches, according to Sky Sports.

The Lowdown: First letter

Officials from both Elland Road and Turf Moor wrote to the Premier League earlier this month regarding the Toffees’ financial losses over the last three years.

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The Merseyside club have recorded losses of £371.8m over the past three years, £266.8m more than the maximum permissible amount of £105m. As we know, Everton avoided relegation prior to the final day after a dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace on Thursday.

The Latest: ‘Development’

Sky Sports dropped a live TV ‘development’ on Saturday afternoon, revealing that ‘Leeds have’ written another letter alongside Burnley.

They have now asked the Premier League to ensure that Everton ‘keep all emails and data related to their business activities’. Both clubs are ‘committed to seeing this course of action through to the end’, regardless of which team dropped down to the Championship on Sunday.

As we now know, Jesse Marsch’s side remained in the Premier League following a dramatic final day after beating Brentford and Burnley losing 2-1 to Newcastle.

The Verdict: Could drag on…

It’s good to see that both Leeds and Burnley are willing to work together regardless of this afternoon’s results, looking to get answers from the Premier League.

However, you’d expect that this saga could drag on over the coming months, and any potential punishment could be delayed ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Leeds know first-hand how long legal action can linger following the transfer fiasco with Jean-Kevin Augustin, so this could be one to keep a close eye on over the coming weeks and months.

In other news: Orta now eyeing Leeds swoop for this exciting winger 

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is often noted as a shrewd operator when it comes to transfers, although that’s not to say that the 60-year-old always gets it right with the club’s incoming and outgoings.

One scenario where the frugal businessman appears to have made what could be a costly error is with the sale of versatile defender Juan Foyth, the Argentine having gone on to impress since his £13m departure for Villarreal last summer.

The 24-year-old had spent four years on the books at Tottenham after being signed from Estudiantes by compatriot Mauricio Pochettino in 2017, although he was hardly given a look-in over the next few seasons, making just 16 Premier League appearances for the Lilywhites in total.

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A loan move to Spain ensued for the 2020/21 campaign after the 6 foot 2 gem had fallen out of favour under Jose Mourinho, before he was snapped up on a permanent deal by Unai Emery and co after impressing during that temporary stint.

This season has seen the £27k-per-week gem kick on again for the La Liga side, playing his part as the Yellow Submarine surged to the Champions League semi-finals, before crashing out at the hands of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

In Europe’s premier club competition, the La Plata native averaged a remarkable 3.7 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.1 clearances per game from his ten outings, while also winning 1.9 of his aerial duels per match.

Comfortable at both right-back and in the centre of defence, Foyth also ranks in the top 3% for tackles made among players in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, and in the top 13% for pressures made, illustrating his sheer desire to regain possession for his team.

Such an asset would no doubt have a place in Antonio Conte’s current side as either a defensive wing-back or as part of the back three, with the Italian likely to be impressed by the former Spurs man’s full-blooded approach, while the club are currently suffering a real shortage of defensive options at present.

In a business sense as well, the north London outfit’s decision to sever ties with the player now seems an odd one, with Foyth now valued at £18m – £5m more than the amount for which he was sold just a year ago.

Tottenham are likely to go into the market to bolster their defensive ranks this summer, although they could well have been better served retaining the services of the 14-cap Argentina international, with Conte set to have nightmares about his departure.

In other news – Imagine him & Bentancur: Spurs can find perfect Conte gem in £49.5m-rated “phenomenon”

A big update has emerged on Sunderland and their plans for the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Craig Hope has revealed in an article for the Daily Mail that the club are attempting to snap up the brother of Borussia Dortmund talent Jude Bellingham.

The reporter tweeted: “Exclusive: Sunderland invited Jobe Bellingham & his family to Stadium of Light to watch recent home game as they explore ambitious move to sign Birmingham City teenager, younger brother of England star Jude.”

In the corresponding article, it is claimed that Kristian Speakman has a close relationship with the brothers’ parents and is said to have played a key role in Jude’s development as Birmingham’s academy manager before joining the Black Cats.

Sunderland will be hoping that his prior experience with the family will give them a boost in their pursuit of the 16-year-old gem.

Alex Neil will be delighted

Black Cats head coach Alex Neil will surely be delighted with this update, as it shows that the club are prepared to invest in the future.

It proves that Speakman is keen to develop the academy, and the potential for players to break through into the first-team, by improving the standards within the youth sides.

Sunderland are in the League One play-off final later this month, and a win would surely strengthen their chances of signing the youngster. They would be competing in the same division as Birmingham, which means that they could both offer him Championship football.

Bellingham has played in two Championship matches for Birmingham this season, coming off the bench against Preston and Blackburn. This illustrates the immense potential that he holds, as he has shown enough in training to prove that he is ready to compete at first-team level despite being in his GSCE year.

His 18-year-old brother Jude is valued at £67.5m by Transfermarkt and has been capped 12 times by England. If Jobe can follow in his sibling’s footsteps, then Sunderland could be about to land a masterstroke in the market…

Neil would love to have another talented prospect to work with in the years to come. Bellingham may not make an immediate impact on the senior squad, but he could be a player who develops over time and then breaks into the Scot’s XI in two or three seasons.

Therefore, the head coach will be buzzing with Speakman’s attempts to snap up the midfielder from Birmingham and will be hoping that a deal can be agreed ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, irrespective of the league in which his team will be competing.

AND in other news, Forget Roberts: Sunderland “warrior” with the “heart of a lion” was the real play-off hero…

Crystal Palace are reportedly keen on a move for Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien.

What’s the word?

According to TEAMtalk, the 23-year-old is at the centre of something of a transfer tussle, with the Eagles one of six Premier League sides believed to be keen on his signature, having caught the eye for the Championship play-off hopefuls this season.

The report suggests that the Terriers’ vice-captain does have a £12m release in his current deal which is likely to be activated this summer, albeit with his future potentially resting on whether or not Carlos Corberan’s side can achieve promotion in the coming weeks.

The likes of Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton are among the other top-flight sides who are keeping a watchful eye on the £2.7m-rated man.

McArthur upgrade

O’Brien’s arrival at Selhurst Park could provide Patrick Vieira with the perfect upgrade to current midfield stalwart James McArthur, the long-serving 34-year-old currently approaching the end of his existing deal.

In the Huddersfield man, Palace have identified the ideal candidate to fill the Scotsman’s boots, with the dynamic midfielder having been earning plenty of plaudits for his displays in the second tier in recent times.

Pundit Jobi McAnuff was particularly complimentary of the Colchester born gem’s displays, insisting that “he’s got a bit of everything” such is his all-action, combative style in the centre of the park.

The one-time Bradford City loanee has chipped in with three goals and three assists so far this season in 43 league games – all of which have come as starts – while he also averages one key pass per game and has completed 70% of his total dribbles.

Equally, in a defensive sense, the £3k-per-week maestro has also caught the eye, winning a solid 56% of his total duels, as well as recording 2.2 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 0.9 clearances per 90.

That form has been instrumental in helping guide his current side to a remarkable third-place finish in the table, with the 5 foot 8 playmaker having also captained the club in the absence of Jonathan Hogg.

Vieira will no doubt be looking for leaders to add to his side next season and O’Brien could well be the perfect addition, with it a case of out with the old and in with the new.

The aforementioned McArthur is the man who should seemingly be the casualty of the younger man’s arrival, the veteran having failed to score so far this term and won just 48% of his total duels, with fresher legs potentially needed.

IN other news, “Agreement close…”: Ornstein drops huge CPFC update that supporters will love

Aston Villa are leading the way to sign Rangers forward Rory Wilson, according to The Daily Record.

The Lowdown: Academy signings

Villa have been hard at work over the last 12 months when it comes to bolstering their academy ranks at Bodymoor Heath.

Kerr Smith, Finley Thorndike, Finn Azaz, Caleb Chukwuemeka, Declan Frith and Tim Iroegbunam have all made the move to Villa in the last 12 months.

Iroegbunam has already made the step up to Steven Gerrard’s first-team plans after signing a new deal in March and made a first Premier League start against Norwich on the weekend.

The Latest: Wilson update

The Daily Record shared a story on Monday lunchtime regarding Wilson, who looks set to sign a six-figure deal with Adidas.

They claimed that Villa are leading the chase for the forward, who has recently signed with well-known agency CAA Base and is set to leave Ibrox this summer.

The Verdict: Gerrard gets his way

Reports have suggested that Gerrard wanted Villa to pip Liverpool in the race for Wilson’s services, so it looks as if the boss will get his way.

Wilson, labelled as ‘clinical’ by Brian McLaughlin, appears to be a star of the future after scoring more than 40 goals this season.

The 16-year-old is also regarded as one of the best young players in the United Kingdom, so a move to the Midlands should be viewed as an exciting one as Villa continue to build for the future alongside backing Gerrard with senior signings.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano drops big transfer news regarding ‘outstanding’ Aston Villa starlet. Find out more here!

Rangers chief executive Ross Wilson made a number of moves in the January transfer window to bolster Gio van Bronckhorst’s squad at Ibrox.

He brought in the likes of James Sands, Amad Diallo, Aaron Ramsey and Mateusz Zukowski, but none of them have managed to break into the starting XI on a consistent basis, due to selection decisions or injuries.

The lack of impact they have made on the first team may have Wilson thinking about what he could have done differently in the January window. Perhaps there were players he wanted to sign but couldn’t, or possibly some he looked at but decided against and he now regrets his decisions.

There have been many instances when managers and/or sporting directors at Ibrox may have gone through that trail of thought in the past. One such player on whom the club previously missed out was Greek international attacker Georgios Samaras.

In 2008, Walter Smith reportedly agreed a £2.5m deal to sign him from Manchester City to replace Daniel Cousin but was unable to get the move over the line.

After the Gers failed to get the deal done, Celtic managed to sign him on loan from the Premier League side in January of that year before securing a permanent transfer the following summer.

If Rangers did not regret their failure to land the Greece striker at the time, their fans must surely be looking back on it now and wondering what could have been.

Samaras was certainly one that got away as he went on to establish himself as a major player for Celtic in the Scottish top flight over the years. In six years at Parkhead, he scored 71 goals and provided 49 assists (120 goal contributions) in 243 outings in all competitions, including 85 goals and assists in 171 Premiership outings.

This shows that the 37-year-old, who also scored nine goals in 81 caps for Greece, consistently delivered in the final third over the course of many years on the other side of Glasgow. He proved that he was a top-quality player in Scotland, and Rangers missed out on his attacking talents as a result of their failure to get the £2.5m deal over the line.

Therefore, the Gers had a disaster with the Greece international in 2008. An outlay of £2.5m for 120 goal contributions in 243 matches – a return of approximately one every other game – would seem like a huge bargain in hindsight, and it was their biggest rivals benefitted from this instead of the Light Blues.

AND in other news, Forget Ramsey: GvB must land “massive signing” for Rangers, he’d be “world-class”…

Arsenal’s fourth Premier League win in a row yesterday has seen the Gunners take a huge stride towards finally ending their drought for a league title.

Mikel Arteta’s men secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Emirates – a result that takes his side four points clear at the summit.

It was far from a vintage display for the Spaniard’s outfit, but the manager will be pleased that his side managed to battle through the adversity and claim three more vital points.

The likes of Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres endured quiet afternoons in North London and were unable to add to their tallies in the 2025/26 campaign.

However, one player did manage to step up to the plate and produce the goods and subsequently pop up with the vital contribution yesterday afternoon.

Eberechi Eze’s display against Crystal Palace

Back in the summer transfer window, Arsenal forked out a fee in the region of £67.5m for the signature of Eberechi Eze – in an attempt to bolster their depth and quality in the final third.

Since arriving from Crystal Palace, the England international had only netted one goal, with such an effort coming against League One side Port Vale in the Carabao Cup.

Ahead of the clash, there was a sense of inevitability he would score against his former employers – and that he did, firing home a loose ball just minutes before half-time.

Alongside his first Premier League goal, Eze also impressed with his creativity, subsequently registering seven passes into the final third, which saw him create two chances in the process.

The 27-year-old also won five of the seven duels he entered, whilst also completing 100% of the duels he entered – producing a really impressive all-round showing in North London.

However, despite Eze’s showing, one other Gunner managed to impress in the triumph, with the regular starter now becoming one of the manager’s most important players.

The Arsenal star who’s becoming one of Arteta’s most important players

Gabriel has been one of Arsenal’s star men over the last couple of years, with his performances at both ends having a real impact on the club’s ability to challenge for a title.

The Brazilian’s showing against Palace yesterday was yet another example of his quality, with the centre-back hitting the woodwork and coming perilously close to his third goal of the campaign.

Out of possession, he led the Gunners to a sixth Premier League clean sheet of the campaign, after making six clearances and winning 100% of the ground duels he entered.

However, the 27-year-old isn’t alone in becoming a key man for Arteta, with midfielder Declan Rice producing a phenomenal display against Palace yesterday afternoon.

The Englishman had huge expectations placed upon him after his £105m transfer from West Ham United, but it’s safe to say he’s massively surpassed all of the supporters’ expectations.

He’s started all but one league game this campaign, with his showing against the Eagles one of his most impressive over the last couple of months.

Rice created three chances and made two tackles during the victory, both of which were the highest tallies of any player on the pitch throughout the 90-minute match.

Minutes played

82

Touches

72

Chances created

3

Tackles won

2

Passes completed

38

Passes into final third

12

Interceptions made

2

Aerials won

100%

Other figures, such as 38 passes completed, with 12 being into the final third, showcase his incredible composure with the ball to dictate the play at the heart of the side.

However, out of possession, the Englishman was just as impressive, as he made two interceptions and won 100% of the aerial duels he entered against Oliver Glasner’s men.

To top off his excellent display, Rice was handed a superb 8/10 match rating by The Express’ Tom Parsons – topping off what was a phenomenal afternoon at the Emirates.

After such a showing, there’s little debate that the Englishman is once again becoming one of the club’s first names on the teamsheet in the hunt for a Premier League title.

If he can continue to perform alongside Gabriel and Eze, there’s no reason why Arteta’s men can’t go all the way and end the generational wait for a top-division title.

Fewer touches than Raya: Arteta must drop 5/10 Arsenal dud after Palace

Arsenal strengthened their grip on top spot after an impressive 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 26, 2025

Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe may have a busy few years ahead of them in the transfer market when it comes to new signings.

There could be even more players moved out in a shake-up to the squad, which may allow the Red Devils to bring in fees for a number of stars. But who is the most expensive departure from Old Trafford?

Here are Man Utd’s most expensive sales in their famous history with the help of news reports and Transfermarkt, as well as a detailed look at the top 10.

Rank

Player

Fee

Sold to

Year

Cristiano Ronaldo

£80m

Real Madrid

2009

Romelu Lukaku

£74m

Inter

2019

Angel Di Maria

£44.3m

PSG

2015

Alejandro Garnacho

£40m

Chelsea

2025

Mason Greenwood

£26.6m

Marseille

2024

Scott McTominay

£25.7m

Napoli

2024

Dan James

£25m

Leeds

2021

David Beckham

£24.5m

Real Madrid

2003

Morgan Schneiderlin

£24m

Everton

2017

Memphis Depay

£21.7m

Lyon

2017

Antony

£21.6m

Real Betis

2025

Dean Henderson

£20m

Crystal Palace

2024

Chris Smalling

£18.1m

AS Roma

2020

Daley Blind

£18.1m

Ajax

2018

Jaap Stam

£16.35m

Lazio

2001

Danny Welbeck

£16m

Arsenal

2014

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

£15m

West Ham

2024

Anthony Elanga

£15m

Nottingham Forest

2023

James Garner

£15m

Everton

2022

Juan Sebastian Veron

£15m

Chelsea

2003

Here’s a detailed look at Man Utd’s top 10 sales… 10 Memphis Depay £21.7m to Lyon, 2017

Memphis Depay arrived at Old Trafford in 2015 to significant fanfare, though he was unable to repay the faith shown in him by compatriot Louis van Gaal as his transfer never worked out.

He was shipped out to Lyon just 18 months later in a deal that worked for all concerned. Man Utd got a deal rising to over £20m by way of a transfer fee, while Depay found his feet in Ligue 1 to reclaim his status as a fine attacker within European football.

9 Morgan Schneiderlin £24m to Everton, 2017

Man Utd signed midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton in 2015, but the Frenchman struggled to break into Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho’s first-choice lineups.

Schneiderlin made less than 50 appearances for United and was sold 18 months later, with the Red Devils at least receiving a sizeable £24m fee for his services following his departure to Everton.

8 David Beckham £24.5m to Real Madrid, 2003

After coming through the Carrington academy, David Beckham turned himself into a global superstar during his 11 years as a professional at Old Trafford.

The wide midfielder, known for his crossing and set-piece ability, looked to be heading to Barcelona in 2003 before Real Madrid swooped in and made him a Galactico for £24.5m.

Man United: Top 10 No 7s – ranked

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ByAlex Caple Jul 14, 2023 7 Dan James £25m to Leeds, 2021

Speedy winger Dan James moved to Old Trafford from Swansea City in 2019 after impressing in the Championship, and would go on to play more than 50 times for United in all competitions.

Two years later, though, the Red Devils sold the Wales international for a fee of £25m to rivals Leeds United, where he remains on the books.

6 Scott McTominay £25.7m to Napoli, 2024

After progressing through the academy, versatile midfielder Scott McTominay spent seven years as a professional with Man Utd, winning two trophies and popping up with some important goals.

In 2024, though, the Red Devils cashed in on the Scotland international, with Napoli spending £25.7m – a sum which helped Man Utd comply with FFP.

5 Mason Greenwood £26.6m to Marseille, 2024

Forward Mason Greenwood came through the Carrington academy and looked as if he would go on to become a Man Utd regular before he was suspended in 2022.

Amid the uncertainty surrounding his football career, the Red Devils loaned Greenwood out to Getafe before selling him permanently to Marseille in 2024 for a fee of £26.6m.

4 Alejandro Garnacho £40m to Chelsea, 2025

Alejandro Garnacho was Man Utd’s big-money exit in 2025, joining Premier League rivals Chelsea after a period of ups and downs and Old Trafford.

As a homegrown player, the winger’s departure was seen as pure profit, which went towards the Red Devils bolstering their attacking ranks on deals for Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.

3 Angel Di Maria £44.3m to PSG, 2015

Big things were expected of Angel Di Maria after Man Utd signed him from Real Madrid for just under £60m in 2014, but the Argentine failed to live up to the hype and his Old Trafford stay lasted just 12 months.

Di Maria would eventually sign for Paris Saint-Germain, where he would spend the next seven seasons following a £44.3m move.

Man Utd's most expensive signings of all time

A number of their additions haven’t lived up to expectations.

ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025 2 Romelu Lukaku £74m to Inter, 2019

Striker Romelu Lukaku has commanded huge sums in transfer fees during his career, with Man Utd paying Everton a huge £90m with add-ons to sign him in 2017.

The Belgian blew hot and cold at Old Trafford and was on the move again in 2019, but at least the Red Devils received an eye-catching £74m fee from Inter, to not lose too much on a deal.

1 Cristiano Ronaldo £80m to Real Madrid, 2009

Top of the list as Man Utd’s record sale is iconic forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who got his dream £80m move to Real Madrid in 2009 after six starring years at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo grew into a global superstar under Sir Alex Ferguson and won nine major honours with the Red Devils in what was a golden period for the club.

While they have yet to win anything, Arsenal now have arguably the best squad in the Premier League.

Whether it’s the outrageously stacked defence, the midfield or up top, Mikel Arteta has an abundance of talent to pick from every week, and his second-string side would probably give some teams a good game.

Yet, even with the embarrassment of riches at his disposal, most fans and pundits alike would agree that his best and most important player remains Bukayo Saka.

Yet, even so, the manager should be looking to take the Englishman out of the lineup for the Champions League game against Olympiacos.

Why Saka should be dropped

Now, there is, of course, a compelling argument that Arsenal should field their best players in a European game like this.

Chalkboard

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

However, even though that’s a totally valid point of view, and one that most might hold, there are a few reasons why Saka should be dropped.

First and foremost, Arteta needs to protect the Hale End superstar from being overplayed and picking up any more injuries.

After all, he missed almost four months of action due to hamstring surgery last season, and then missed a few weeks earlier this year due to an injury to his other hamstring.

Moreover, since returning from his recent setback, the 24-year-old “legend in the making,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has already made three appearances, including two starts in the last two games.

In other words, he’s already had the chance to regain a significant amount of match sharpness and therefore doesn’t need to start a third game in seven days.

Second, if the North Londoners were playing a title rival or one of the real big boys in Europe, then there would be an argument to risk another start given his importance to the team.

However, without being disrespectful, Olympiacos are one of the easier opponents the Gunners will face this season, with UEFA ranking them 37th in their coefficients, behind the likes of Bodo/Glimt, PSV Eindhoven and Club Brugge.

Finally, there is also no need to play Saka, as Arteta already has the perfect option to start in his stead, and no, it’s not Max Dowman.

The Arsenal star who should start ahead of Saka

There will be plenty of fans who want to see Dowman come in from the start against Olympiacos, and while there is undoubtedly an argument to throw him in the deep end, it might be a little too much too soon.

Especially when Arteta already has the perfect option to start in Saka and the 15-year-old’s place: Ethan Nwaneri.

Speaking about him during the early stages of Nwaneri’s development, Mikel Arteta noted that the teenager is “a little bit like Jack Wilshere,” and that may suggest why he’s been getting more game time in the middle of the park recently.

That looks likely to be his long-term position, but it would make perfect sense to start the Hale Ender off the right against the Greek outfit.

The most significant argument for doing so is that the 18-year-old dynamo already has a decent amount of experience playing out there and put up some good numbers when doing so last season.

For example, in 37 appearances, totalling just 1378 minutes, the dynamic gem scored nine goals and provided two assists, which comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or every 125.27 minutes.

Appearances

37

Minutes

1378′

Goals

9

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

Minutes per Goal Involvement

125.27′

In other words, the manager can rest assured that starting the “phenomenal” talent, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock, would not be detrimental to the side’s attacking output.

Another reason the Spaniard should be playing academy product is that, now that he has been tied down to a long-term contract, he needs to be given ample opportunities to play first-team football and continue his impressive development.

So, while a start against Newcastle United, for example, might be too risky, the same cannot really be said about a European fixture in which the Gunners are big favourites.

Ultimately, Saka needs to be rested and protected to ensure he does not suffer another injury, and though Dowman should feature against Olympiacos, it should be Nwaneri who starts the game off the right.

Jamie Carragher admits he was wrong about Arsenal star who's "becoming a real leader"

The former Liverpool defender has made a U-turn.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 1, 2025

Chelsea’s pursuit of Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens seems to have hit a bit of a roadblock. The Blues were ideally looking to bring the winger in ahead of the Club World Cup, in which they will face LAFC in their first game. However, with the deadline at 7pm on Tuesday, it was not to be for the Blues.

They already lost out on a deal for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. That means that, after the Gittens deal was not completed in team, striker Liam Delap and defender Mamadou Sarr are the only new players to have arrived ahead of the competition in the USA.

Whatever happens with Gittens in the long run, he might not be the only winger that switches to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chelsea’s Gittens alternatives

It was confirmed by Romano that the West London outfit want to sign Gittens ‘even if it’s later this summer’, explaining there is ‘no rush’ with the move. That suggests it is an independent move to their pursuit of another Premier League winger.

Transfer Focus

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

This time in conversation with DAZN, Romano suggested that the Blues may still pursue a move for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho. He explained that the Argentina international is ‘appreciated’ by the higher-ups at Stamford Bridge.

They might not be the only side in contention to sign Garnacho this summer. Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by former United boss Erik ten Hag, ‘called’ for the winger according to Romano, but he explained the player wants to stay in the Premier League.

As for a fee, it was reported by TEAMTalk at the end of last week that the Red Devils would expect at least £50m for Garnacho.

Why Garnacho would be a good signing

Despite a tough season at times for Garnacho, there is no doubt he is an exciting talent, described as a “special” player by football statistician Statman Dave. He ended the campaign in strong fashion, too.

The 20-year-old, who has already won three major trophies for club and country, ended 2024/25 with 21 goals and assists to his name in all competitions. He managed that tally in 58 games for United.

In the Premier League, the former Atletico Madrid academy player struggled for consistency. He scored six goals and assisted twice in 36 games. Almost half of those goal involvements, including this stunning strike away to Brentford, came at the end of the season, where Garnacho grabbed four in nine appearances.

Perhaps Garnacho could actually be considered a bigger talent than Chelsea’s other target, Gittens. Make no mistake about it, the England under-21 international is an exciting player. He managed 12 goals and five assists in 48 games for Dortmund last season.

That is, of course, fewer than the numbers Garnacho put up. With that being said, it is worth remembering that the Red Devils’ number 17 played ten more games, although he was far more productive.

On top of that, Garnacho’s contribution to silverware for United has been imperative to their success. He scored in an FA Cup final against Manchester City in 2023/24, showing a relentless nature to press City and then pounce on an error at the back.

There are also standout statistics on FBref which suggest Garnacho is an even bigger talent than Gittens. For example, in all competitions last season, the United winger averaged 1.68 key passes and 5.8 progressive carries per 90 minutes, compared to the Dortmund star’s 1.07 key passes and 5.53 progressive carries each game.

Goals and assists

0.53

0.49

Key passes

1.68

1.07

Progressive passes

2.22

2.13

Progressive carries

5.8

5.53

Ball recoveries

3.95

3.71

Whilst Gittens would be a strong addition to the Chelsea squad, Garnacho is perhaps a far bigger talent. The 20-year-old has three major trophies to his name, all of which he has contributed to, and the underlying numbers show just how deadly he can be.

£50m could be a bargain for Chelsea, if they decide to pursue a move for a player who can add a whole new dimension to their attack.

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ByJoe Nuttall Jun 10, 2025