Ben Chilwell has already made a huge impact on many Chelsea fans following his latest post on Instagram.
The 23-year-old has shown off his latest Chelsea experience by posing with Stamford Bridge legend Ashley Cole. He has captioned the post with a heartwarming message, saying: “Great afternoon spent chatting to this legend! Hopefully I can have a career like yours at this amazing club.”
/CEo-en_FJSi/
The former Leicester man became one of the club’s latest signings after Chelsea met the Foxes’ £50m asking price (via Sky Sports). Adding Chilwell to the roster could mean he will usurp veteran Marcos Alonso, who has been linked with an exit.
Frank Lampard hasn’t held back on the transfer market in this window and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon either. A move for Kai Havertz is all but wrapped up and the Blues are also still eyeing West Ham’s Declan Rice. A goalkeeper is another priority of Lampard’s as the manager has lost faith in the ability of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chilwell and the rest of the Chelsea team are preparing to take on Brighton in their first match of the 2020/21 Premier League season on Monday week as the Blues will be looking to build on their fourth-placed finish from last term.
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Last season, West Brom’s success could largely be attributed to one man – Dwight Gayle.
Indeed, the Baggies were hugely reliant on the goals the Newcastle loanee scored for them last term, as he netted 24 goals for the Midlands club on their way to a fourth-place finish.
Gayle went back to St James’ Park in the summer, but despite losing their top scorer, the Baggies came back a stronger side, currently sitting top of the Championship, six points clear of the playoff spots.
However, Slaven Bilic has recently revealed that he did indeed try to bring the striker back to the club after his initial loan spell.
What’s the story then?
Gayle is set to return to The Hawthorns on Tuesday evening as the Magpies gear up for an FA Cup clash with the Championship club.
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Understandably, Bilic was asked about Gayle, and he gave an honest answer when speaking about whether or not they tried to sign him in the summer.
“In the summer we tried. We lost 12 players and it’s not good to have such a huge turnaround in a squad,” Bilic said.
“Because he was so good and so instrumental last season, we wanted to get him back.
“We did everything to get him but it wasn’t to be. It was impossible.”
Blessing in disguise
Gayle playing in this Albion team does sound like a mouth-watering prospect, and we can’t even imagine how dominant they may have been if they had him leading the line this term.
However, they should be glad that they didn’t splash the cash on him.
It was widely reported in the summer that the Tyneside club wanted £20m for the striker, and that’s a lot of money for an attacker whose record in the Premier League is more than questionable.
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Indeed, the striker has scored just 21 goals in 110 Premier League games, and if he’d have come up with West Brom, there’s every chance that he would have needed replacing anyway.
Instead, the Baggies are on track to earn promotion without Gayle, meaning that the £20m they would have spent on the 29-year-old can now be used at the end of the season on a striker with a little bit more Premier League pedigree.
Gayle would have undoubtedly been a great addition to this Albion team after topping their scoring charts last term, but if they go up without him they’ll be glad that they missed out on his signature – achieving the ultimate objective for this season regardless.
In other news, West Brom’s summer priority should already be clear.
Everton caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson will look to go out with a bang in what could be his final match in charge when the Toffees host Leicester City in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
The Scot has overseen a victory and a draw against Chelsea and Manchester United respectively in his two matches at the helm following the sacking of Marco Silva, although a report in The Telegraph suggests Carlo Ancelotti could be appointed and in place for the visit of Arsenal to Merseyside at the weekend.
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First up is the visit of the Foxes to Goodison Park though, and it is another tough opponent for the Scot given they currently lie second in the Premier League standings.
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This is the starting XI we think the 47-year-old should pick vs Brendan Rodgers’ men…
Even when Lucas Digne went off injured at Old Trafford on Sunday, the Everton back five – including Leighton Baines who replaced the Frenchman in the first half – were committed and stood up and were counted at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.
That quintet certainly deserves to start against Leicester on Wednesday, and of course they will need to watch out for the Premier League’s top goalscorer in Jamie Vardy, who is in sensational form right now with 16 goals in 18 appearances in 2019/20.
Ahead of them, Tom Davies and Mason Holgate should keep their spots in central midfield, with the latter particularly impressing the fans against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side despite being a defender by trade. Ferguson may not have too many options there either, considering Andre Gomes, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Morgan Schneiderlin and Fabian Delph were all unavailable at the weekend.
On the wings we have Richarlison – who drops back from his centre-forward role – on the left and Alex Iwobi on the right, and they will be tasked with making a difference in the final third as well as providing defensive support for Baines and Coleman as Bernard drops out.
How much do you really know about the Farhad Moshiri era? Answer 25 simple questions below…
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Sticking with the 4-4-2 formation that has served Ferguson so well thus far, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a shoo-in for a spot right now following his impressive displays. The big Scot should also make the right call by starting Moise Kean alongside him.
The 47-year-old of course humiliated the Italian by taking him off 18 minutes after he was introduced at Old Trafford, and rather than letting the situation drag on he should provide him with an instant chance to prove a point in a partnership rather than playing in a lone role.
In other Everton news, Guillem Balague has made an extraordinary claim about what the Toffees have offered Carlo Ancelotti…
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Talk about the perfect time to turn the tide.
Having gone through a bit of a tough stretch in the past couple of weeks in terms of results, the Blues are heading into the international break very much on a high note.
Having come under a lot of criticism from the St Andrew’s faithful, perhaps there was that little voice in the back of Pep Clotet’s mind that was thinking ‘told you so’, after their dramatic victory on Friday night.
Clotet was given a bit of a difficult task when he took over from Garry Monk in the summer, not only being thrust into the position in the aftermath. but also with the dagger of last year’s Financial Fair Play punishment hanging over him. Given the circumstances, he’s been doing a relatively steady job.
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He even managed to get them as high as eighth in the table and managed to grab a scalp in high flying Charlton away from home a few weeks ago before they went through their slump.
However, everything that was going disastrously for them on the pitch, were all things that could easily have been prevented.
For instance, the winner that Wigan Athletic scored last week was the definition of a howler from goalkeeper Lee Camp. Going back even further to the game against Derby County, the second goal that day came about because of a slip by Marc Roberts.
So it’s not as if they were being blown apart in the same way that they were earlier in the season against Nottingham Forest and Swansea City.
Thogden ranks all 24 Championship home kits in the video below…
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After a pretty much mistake-free game against Middlesbrough and with the international break coming up to sure up any holes in the team, this could be the perfect opportunity for Clotet to finally put his foot down on the team and get them back on track the way they were before their recent troubles.
After all, it’s been the mistakes of his players, rather than his own that has led to some recent troubles.
Birmingham fans aren’t expecting much this season, so Clotet shouldn’t really have been under much pressure to begin with, but perhaps this result will be enough to get them off his back for the next couple of weeks as fortunes begin to change.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Rekeem Harper’s future with West Brom seemed to be in doubt for a while.
After it was revealed he’d been offered a new deal in the club’s retained list, it took until beyond the 1st July, when players out of contract usually become a free agent, to finally put pen to paper.
The news will likely have come as a welcome relief to the club who are clearly keen to tie down their best young stars.
Unfortunately for Albion, the same couldn’t be said for Louie Barry who rejected a new deal, but Harper’s contract and the addition of Filip Krovinovic on loan could signal a key change that’s already happening under new manager Slaven Bilic.
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On the chalkboard
West Brom’s midfield last season was incredibly one dimensional, boasting players like Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and Chris Brunt.
It was an area of the pitch that lacked much energy with all three players, barring Livermore now ageing individuals. Barry, at the age of 38, has now left the club, but the two latter names are still embedded within the squad.
Brunt has the ability to pick a pass, claiming six assists last term but beyond that, is nothing more than a steady player.
However, Harper’s new contract and the arrival on a temporary basis of Krovinovic is signalling a key switch.
All of a sudden there is a far more energetic and refreshing feel to the midfield, one which could arguably help drive the club forward in a new era.
Watch fans explain why the Football League is better than the Premier League in the video below…
It’s likely that Albion’s new Croatian will play as a number ten whilst their academy graduate could play behind him as a box-to-box midfielder.
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As a result, the middle of the park could look far more vibrant for West Brom going into the 2019/20 campaign, particularly if Sam Field is also trusted.
Krovinovic is only 23 whilst Harper is still a teenager, meaning the wheels have already been put in motion for a changing of the guard from the older heads that dominated their failed promotion campaign.
Since Bilic has arrived, there has already been significant losses in regards to the playing staff but those of the experienced members that still remain are unlikely to influence things too much in the future.
Under the ex-Hammers man, a youthful approach looks to be coming to the forefront, and after giving a season to those who came down with the team from the Premier League, it’s now evident that a new form of approach is being taken.
Izzy Brown is injured. Water is wet. The two phrases have been as consistent as each other throughout this season for Leeds fans. His latest setback surely all but confirms that he will never play for the Whites again as his loan spell nears its end.
Another setback
Brown suffered a horror injury during his loan spell with Brighton last season as he tore his ACL in January meaning that he would miss almost a year of action.
Despite his ongoing injury problems Leeds wanted to take a punt on the Chelsea man for this season. Their gamble has backfired horribly as the midfielder has appeared just once since joining the club last summer.
A hamstring injury followed which saw him miss another three months of action and since then he has been resigned to playing for the Under 23’s in a bid to get back his match fitness.
Numerous small knocks have seen his return delayed and his latest injury all but confirms he will not appear again this season.
A fitting end
Unfortunately, the latest update on the Chelsea loanees fitness is a story that Leeds fans have heard all too often.
The 22-year-old was brought in having been a vital member of the Huddersfield squad that was promoted in 2017 and, as well as enjoying a solid half a season at Brighton in the Premier League.
Under different circumstances, Brown could have been a key player for Marcelo Bielsa and perhaps could’ve been the difference between the playoffs and automatic promotion.
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It has been an absolute waste of a year for both parties and if the former England U20 international’s problems continue you have to ask what it means for the course of his career.
The youngster is clearly a very talented player but his time at Elland Road can only be described as a nightmare, as the Whites haven’t been able to use the attacking midfielder at all this season. It seems his career at the Yorkshire club will finish as it started, on the treatment table.
With the FA Cup returning this weekend, the Fixture In Focus Podcast team have decided to take up the opportunity to momentarily break away from all matters on-pitch.
Indeed, this week’s episode is a special edition honing in on the world of goalkeeping, perhaps the most under-discussed, under-represented and misconceived position in modern football.
Host James Jones and #FIFpod regular Christy Malyan would only be adding to the problem by pretending to be knowledgeable masters of the trade, so they’ve drafted in the help of former Watford and Brentford goalkeeper Richard Lee for an exclusive chat.
In a wide-ranging interview, the agenda included the mental battle goalkeepers constantly face, how poor punditry has lead to wrongful criticism of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa, Ben Foster’s incredible form this season and the debate over which shot-stoppers should be included in the next England squad.
If you love what we do and don’t want to miss another episode, don’t forget to subscribe on your preferred podcast platform by clicking here.
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Romelu Lukaku has struggled to keep all Manchester United fans onside this season due to his failings in front of goal.
The striker has only scored four times in 14 appearances in all competitions, and he has not found the back of the net for United since mid-September.
The 25-year-old remains Jose Mourinho’s main forward, but his availability for next weekend’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace is uncertain.
The Belgium national team confirmed this weekend that Lukaku has withdrawn from their squad due to a hamstring problem.
The injury has prevented him from playing a single minute for his country during the international break.
United fans have been giving their reactions to the news on Twitter, and some have even made a joke at Lukaku’s expense.
A few suggested that the team would not be affected given how anonymous he has been in recent fixtures.
The Red Devils have struggled to make an impact in the league this season as they currently sit seven points adrift of fourth and 12 behind leaders Manchester City.
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Mourinho will be frustrated by the news given that Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Victor Lindelof also have injury problems.
Check out Playmaker FC’s Joe Street’s unfiltered take on Wayne Rooney’s England legacy in the video below…
While they’ve faced more than a few questions over the transfer policy in recent seasons, Chelsea have built a squad stacked with sensationally talented gems.
Enzo Maresca has some incredible players all throughout his squad now, but it’s still easy to point to his most important: Cole Palmer.
The Englishman has only been at the club for two seasons, but has already amassed an unreal haul of 43 goals and 29 assists in 98 games.
When fit, the former Manchester City gem is the first name on the teamsheet, and so fans should be delighted about reports linking Chelsea with someone who could be their new Palmer.
Chelsea chase their new Palmer
In a shock to nobody, Chelsea have had another busy summer when it comes to transfers this year.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
On top of selling a host of players for a tidy profit, the Blues have made a number of exciting additions to Maresca’s Conference League-winning side.
The likes of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap should make the frontline far more potent, while Jorrel Hato looks like he could be one of the club’s star defenders in a few years.
Jorrel Hato
Yet, with the window still open until Monday night, the West Londoners appear intent on adding more quality to the squad, and could be in with a chance of landing someone who may well be their new Palmer.
At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which has reaffirmed Chelsea’s interest in Kobbie Mainoo.
More than that, though, the report has revealed that the Manchester United gem is now open to the idea of leaving Old Trafford after being left on the bench against Arsenal and Fulham.
While a price has not been mentioned in the report, other updates from this week revealed that the Red Devils could allow the Englishman to leave for just £45m.
It remains to be seen if Chelsea will be able to work out a deal for Mainoo in time, but if they do, they could be getting themselves their new Palmer.
Why Mainoo could be Chelsea's new Palmer
Now, while Palmer and Mainoo tend to play in different positions on the pitch, there are several other reasons why the latter could be seen as Chelsea’s new version of the former.
The first is the simple fact that, like the former City prospect, this potential transfer would see the United gem move from Manchester to West London after being deemed not good enough to play regular first-team football by his current manager.
Moreover, it would be another example of the Blues signing an academy graduate from one of the Manchester sides, and one that is widely considered to be tremendously exciting, even if Ruben Amorim does not seem to rate him.
On top of that, both midfielders are English, although instead of signing someone who was thriving in the youth setup, the Blues would be getting their hands on someone who has shone in the senior side this time.
However, perhaps the most important way in which Maresca could be getting his hands on another Palmer is that Mainoo could well develop into a world-beater at Stamford Bridge.
After all, even though he is still young and has been out of the Red Devils’ side since Amorin took over, the 20-year-old has already shown us that he could be something really quite special.
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For example, FBref rank him in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions stemming from his take-ons, the top 2% for tackles in the attacking third, the top 4% for carries into the penalty area, the top 5% for take-ons attempted, and more, all per 90.
Mainoo’s Scout Report
Statistics
Per 90
Percentile
SCA (Take-On)
0.38
Top 1%
Tackles (Att 3rd)
0.71
Top 2%
Carries into Penalty Area
0.65
Top 4%
Take-Ons Attempted
2.77
Top 5%
% of Dribblers Tackled
63.9%
Top 6%
Touches (Att Pen)
2.88
Top 8%
Successful Take-Ons
1.19
Top 10%
Progressive Passes Rec
3.42
Top 16%
Passes Completed (Short)
24.88
Top 19%
GCA (Live-ball Pass)
0.27
Top 19%
All Stats via FBref
What these numbers show is that, even though he’s still young and not getting the game time his talent warrants, he’s a sublime ball-carrier and someone who can help break up attacking high up the pitch.
In other words, he has the tools to be an elite all-action midfielder, and as teammate Rasmus Hojlund described him, looks to be a “generational talent.”
Ultimately, while it might be difficult, Chelsea should be doing all they can to sign Mainoo before the window shuts next week, as they could just land themselves another Palmer-esque gem.
Better deal than Lopez: Ornstein expects £50m "diamond" will join Chelsea
As Chelsea make a move to sign Fermín López from Barcelona, will the Blues also snap up a “diamond” attacker for £50m who is an even bigger talent?
It may feel bizarre to say, following a 15th Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday afternoon, but there is a growing sense of optimism at Manchester United, following a potentially pivotal week both on and off the field.
On Thursday night, of course, the Red Devils completed a barnstorming turnaround against Lyon to progress into the last four of the Europa League, with Ruben Amorim edging ever closer to European glory and potential Champions League qualification.
Even the weekend loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers was somewhat overshadowed by the standout display of the club’s latest academy debutant, Tyler Fredricson, while the man pictured next to him, Matheus Cunha, looks like he could be back at Old Trafford permanently.
Elsewhere, meanwhile, last week provided a positive update regarding Amad Diallo’s injury rehab, with Amorim no doubt itching to have the Ivorian back fit and firing again.
Latest on Amad's injury return
Excluding Bruno Fernandes – who yet again leads the way for goals and assists at Old Trafford – the shining light of 2024/25 has been Amad, with the 22-year-old notably contributing 12 goals and assists in just 20 games following Amorim’s arrival.
Amad’s Man Utd record by coach
Manager
Games
Goals
Assists
Erik ten Hag
24
3
3
Ruben Amorim
20
6
6
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
8
1
1
Ruud van Nistelrooy
4
2
1
Ralf Rangnick
1
0
0
Michael Carrick
0
0
0
Total
57
12
9
Stats via Transfermarkt
From his late heroics against both Manchester City and Liverpool, to his stunning hat-trick against bottom side Southampton, the former Atalanta starlet had repeatedly stepped up in the early months of a real breakthrough campaign on an individual basis.
Frustratingly for all concerned, the £120k-per-week winger – who signed a new contract in January – was struck down by an ankle issue in early February, with Amorim seemingly ruling him out for the season at the time.
The former Sporting CP boss did subsequently hint that Amad could actually return before the campaign is at an end, a fact that has been bolstered by images of the youngster back in training last week.
Amorim suggested that while his rising star is “not ready” to feature in April, his return could well come in May, with that set to be a welcome sight amid United’s shortcomings in attack.
A welcome sight would also be the signing of a similarly exciting young talent this summer, with United seemingly stepping up their search for the next big thing from across the globe.
Man Utd ready to sign teen sensation this summer
While it has taken time to come to fruition, United are beginning to reap the rewards of having plucked Amad from Italy as a teenager back in October 2020, with the then-17-year-old ultimately arriving in January 2021 on an initial £19m deal that could reach £37m with add-ons.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
That relatively costly deal looks like it could be repeated in the near future, with reports outlining that INEOS are ready to trigger the £38m release clause for River Plate sensation, Franco Mastantuono.
The 17-year-old is believed to be being watched closely by those at Old Trafford, with United seemingly needing to act quickly if they are to win the race, amid rival interest from the likes of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Inter.
Franco Mastantuono for River Plate
The report claims that while the Argentine outfit are keen to hang on to their teenage diamond, a ‘serious bid’ from those in Manchester would likely ensure a deal gets done.
Why Man Utd are keen to sign on Franco Mastantuono
Having already looked to the South American market to sign Paraguayan full-back, Diego Leon, ahead of next season, United appear to be ready to add to that deal with the signing of another potential superstar, in the form of Mastantuono.
Like Amad before him – who was likened to Lionel Messi by Atalanta teammate, Papu Gomez, before joining United – the River starlet is earning rave reviews in his homeland, amid comparisons to Manchester City’s Phil Foden.
A left-footed attacker, like both Foden and Amad, who can operate on the flanks or as a number ten, Mastantuono has been hailed as a “creative genius” by analyst Ben Mattinson, following a fine start to life at senior level.
Still just 17, the Argentina U20 international has already made 53 appearances for his current side in the first team, with that regular involvement seeing him chalk up 11 goals and assists to date.
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What particularly sets the teenager apart is both his ability to create chances for his teammates, but also his innate ball-carrying ability, as evidenced by the fact he averages 2.3 key passes and 2.9 successful dribbles per game in the league in 2025.
To put that into perspective, that places the in-demand talent just ahead of Amad in that regard, with the current United man averaging 1.8 and 1.6 for those same two metrics, respectively, in 2024/25.
Like with the Ivorian, it may not be expected for Mastantuono to immediately hit the ground running in a United shirt, although all the signs point to him being a future star, with Mattinson even noting that there are “shades of Kevin De Bruyne” about him.
Seemingly a perfect fit in one of the two number ten roles in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, the £38m playmaker certainly appears worth investing in, even despite the eye-catching nature of the price tag, with the case of Amad showcasing the benefits of putting faith in the next big thing.
After years of being burned by short-term, expensive signings, the Red Devils now need to do things differently.
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