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Enzo Maresca insisted that Chelsea do not have "many players" and went on to reveal the preferred position of each of his forwards.

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• Chelsea accused of having a bloated squad
• Too many forwards put Maresca in a dilemma
• The manager cleared the role assigned to each of them

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea have had another eventful summer, as 11 players were signed to reinforce the squad. Among the notable names are Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho, and Joao Felix, all attacking players who will be gunning for a starting berth.

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  This massive influx of talent in the attacking third has raised eyebrows as Maresca might find himself having a problem of plenty. However, the manager is not concerned and revealed that the strategy was to have at least two players in each attacking position.

• WHAT MARESCA SAID

  Speaking ahead of Chelsea's clash with West Ham, Maresca clarified: "As left-wingers, we have Jadon and Misha [Mudryk]. As right-wingers, we have Noni and Pedro. As attacking midfielders, we have Joao Felix and Cole. As a No9, we have Nicolas, Christo and Marc. We do not have so many players, we have two players for each position."

  He added: "Christo can play as a No.9 or as an attacking midfielder and a winger. Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall] can play in the pocket and wide. Pedro was playing as a left-winger because Jadon wasn’t here and fit and, between Misha, Pedro and Jadon, I preferred Pedro for that one game… but that doesn’t mean always I will prefer Pedro. So the squad is quite clear in terms of positions. All of them have their position and we have two players in each position. But because they are versatile, good and can play in different positions, for sure we can move them. For example, Christo played the first game against Manchester City as a winger."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Chelsea fans witnessed Maresca making the most of the squad depth in their slender 1-0 win over Bournemouth. The manager started the match with Neto, Palmer, Madueke and Jackson but brought on Felix, Sancho and Nkunku in the second half to change the complexion of the match. And he stood vindicated as Sancho and Nkunku combined to score the winner late inside regulation time.

Over the last couple of years, Everton have conducted excellent business in the transfer market, turning their attention to younger talents and allowing them to develop at Goodison Park rather than signing big-money players who are past their best.

Jarrad Branthwaite arrived on Merseyside a couple of years ago for just £1m from Carlisle United and has bided his time and eventually made a huge impact on the Toffees' first-team so far this campaign.

He's started 33 times in the Premier League under boss Sean Dyche, forming an integral partnership with James Tarkowski at the heart of the club's defence – a huge key in the club's Premier League survival this season.

However, his performances have attracted interest from fellow Premier League side Manchester United, who are rumoured to be targeting a big-money move for the 21-year-old this summer.

Whilst the club wouldn't want to lose their young talent this summer, it is a reflection of the excellent dealings in the market, with the club needing to focus more on youngsters in the years ahead.

Along with Branthwaite, the club also invested in a promising youngster a couple of seasons ago, with the Toffees really starting to reap the rewards of their brilliant scouting network.

Vitaliy Mykolenko's stats at Everton in 2023/24

Left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko joined the club in a £17m deal from Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv back in January 2022, with the then 22-year-old seen as the perfect, long-term replacement for Lucas Digne, who subsequently joined Aston Villa just a few days later.

After a slow start at Goodison – having notably been described as a "weak link" by journalist Richard Buxton last year – the 2023/24 season has arguably been his best to date at the club, with Mykokenko showing signs that he's fully settled into life in the Premier League.

Whilst he's managed two goals in the league this term, Mykolenko has established himself as a reliable defensive full-back, dominating in many areas throughout the campaign.

The Ukrainian has averaged 1.4 successful tackles per 90 in the Premier League this season, as well as 1.3 interceptions and three clearances – with the latter in the top three of all Toffees players.

Just over two years on from his arrival in England, Mykolenko has proved to be worth every penny of his £17m transfer fee, with his market value taking a sharp rise as a result of his performances.

Vitaliy Mykolenko's market value in 2024

The "sensational" defender, as described by writer Peter Guy, now boasts a market value of £24m, as per Transfermarkt, with his value now higher than goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who's reportedly now only worth £18.8m, despite signing on a £25m deal in 2017.

His rapid rise has also seen him overtake the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto, who are valued at the same as Pickford, with the latter suffering a huge drop since his £26m move less than a year ago.

His transformation under Dyche in recent months has been nothing short of sensational, with the Ukrainian having the potential to be the club's starting left-back for many years to come.

His transfer is proof you can recruit players outside of Europe's top five leagues that make a huge impact on the club whilst also making a tidy profit, with the full-back undoubtedly set to make the Toffees a huge profit should he ever depart Goodison Park.

Everton were rinsed by Silva flop who earned more than Calvert-Lewin

Goodison Park witnessed a bitter howler with this “unlucky” signing.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 6, 2024

Change is approaching at Anfield, but it's not just Arne Slot who'll be a fresh face around Merseyside, with Liverpool reportedly seeking a replacement for Caoimhin Kelleher, who could depart in search of a regular starting place.

Liverpool transfer news

Whilst it looked as though Ruben Amorim would be the next man in charge for a brief moment, Liverpool's attention has since turned to Slot, who has enjoyed success at Feyenoord. The deal now looks all but announced ahead of the start of a new era for the first time in nine years.

The start of a new era in the dugout is likely to bring with it some change on the pitch, too, as Slot looks to make his mark courtesy of Michael Edwards' transfer dealings. That could include a replacement for Kelleher, who has been linked with the likes of Celtic in a move that would hand him a deserved No 1 spot. Aware of that potential exit, the Reds have seemingly started planning ahead.

Slot must instantly bin 6/10 Liverpool star who will "struggle" post-Klopp

This shrewd Klopp signing might not make the grade when Sot takes the reins at Anfield.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 1, 2024

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have sent scouts to watch James Trafford at Burnley ahead of a potential summer move. The England U21 shot-stopper could yet help his side avoid relegation in the Premier League to cap off what has been a season of moments on a personal note, albeit also one without consistency.

Still just 21 years old, Trafford still has plenty of time to discover his best form, and learning from a goalkeeper of Alisson Becker's calibre would certainly speed that process up. Helping the Burnley man into his prime would also see Liverpool get one over on Manchester City, who let Trafford go last summer.

"Outstanding" Trafford can replace Kelleher

Whilst his first season in the Premier League hasn't been without problems, Trafford could step into Kelleher's role to quickly assert himself as a promising young goalkeeper once again. England U21 boss Lee Carsley certainly backs the shot-stopper, having previously said via The Daily Mail:

"I think he's shown, in what he's done for us especially, that's he's an outstanding goalkeeper with real high-class potential. He has the mentality as well to go and fit into that group in terms of starting or being a support act. He's an all-round very exciting player. He's playing in the Premier League at such a young age and shown he has all the attributes."

There's potential in Trafford, that's clear, and at a possession-based side like Liverpool, he would have far more opportunity to improve his passing numbers as well as still showcasing his shot-stopping ability.

USWNT's Emma Hayes has revealed that her first message upon winning Olympics gold was from Sir Alex Ferguson.

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• Ferguson contacted Hayes
• Went from Chelsea to USWNT
• Won Olympics gold

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hayes went from Chelsea to the USWNT in the summer and guided the nation to Olympic gold, as they beat Brazil in the final thanks to a Mallory Swanson goal. The USWNT needed extra time to beat both Japan and Germany in the knockout stages but were able to see off Brazil within 90 minutes.

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  Hayes has revealed that she sees a lot of herself in Ferguson, a manager whom she admires greatly and who she has referenced repeatedly in her new book. Within that, she has confirmed that the former Manchester United manager was one of the first people to contact her after she won gold with her new charges.

• WHAT HAYES SAID

  Writing in her book, via , she said: "I see so much of myself in him. His was the first text I received when we won gold."

  Reflecting on the win, she has revealed it was the "pinnacle" of her career, and added: “I still get a lump in my throat thinking about it. I fill up every time. I have dreamt about it. I have played that out on the pitches by the flats in Camden (where she grew up).”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The USWNT are next in action in October and will take on Iceland twice in quick succession, on October 25 and October 27.

Dele Alli has been told what he must do to secure his Everton future as the 28-year-old continues to train with the club.

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• Dele's Everton contract expired in the summer
• Midfielder still training with the Toffees
• One-year deal could be agreed

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite his contract expiring in the summer, Dele remains part of Everton's setup. The 28-year-old carried out his rehabilitation for a long-term thigh injury with the club's medical staff and is training with Sean Dyche's first-team squad. reported last week that a one-year deal is likely to be offered to Dele provided he can prove his fitness in the next few weeks, but former Toffees scout Bryan King has reservations about his ability to make an impact for the club.

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  Dele joined Everton in 2022 in a move that was expected to revitalise a career that had stagnated at Tottenham, but it hasn't worked out that way. Injuries have meant he hasn't played since February 2023, and it's been a long journey back to this point where he's able to train with an Everton team that could do with an injection of quality. While both sides are hopeful the former England international can make an impact, King believes Dele must show he's willing to fight in order to make a successful comeback.

• WHAT BRYAN KING SAID

  "He could certainly be an asset for the team," King told Goodison News. "However, he has lost over a year of his football career. He would need to come back extremely hungry to get into the team. He's got to show that he's willing to fight and willing to be an important part of the squad with his performances. He has a lot to do to prove to Sean Dyche and Everton that he can be a key player for them. This isn't the Championship or Under-21s he is coming back to. This is the Premier League and you've got to be up and running. Hopefully, he has been working hard behind the scenes otherwise he doesn't stand a chance."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DELE?

  The Athletic noted that the next month is "pivotal" in Dele's hopes of securing his Everton future. Dyche's team currently sit bottom of the Premier League table after losing both of their opening games and are yet to score, so adding a motivated Dele, who harbours ambitions of making England's 2026 World Cup squad, could provide a significant boost.

Manchester United are set to be one of the busiest clubs in Europe this summer, with new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe now in charge.

A complete overhaul is almost guaranteed to occur as Ratcliffe looks to change the culture at Old Trafford that’s seen a big club run into the ground.

This includes first-team players, backroom staff, and potentially even Erik ten Hag, whose job as Man United manager is under intense pressure due to a season of inconsistency and poor performance.

Despite a report from The Guardian stating that the boss won’t be sacked until the end of the season, his future beyond that looks extremely doubtful.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at three players who Ratcliffe could send packing along with Ten Hag this summer.

1

Raphael Varane

Raphael Varane’s future as a Man United player seems to be in doubt, and he could be one of the first to make way at the end of the season.

There’s no doubt that when the French defender is on the field, he’s a consistent performer who brings success, but the problem lies in the fact that he’s extremely injury-prone, as shown by his nine games missed this season.

When that’s combined with the fact that he’s United’s second-highest earner, with a salary of £340k per week, it’s difficult to see Ratcliffe justifying the cost of an inconsistent return.

A report back in January from the Daily Mail stated that Man United have opted against handing Varane a new contract this summer, meaning that the 31-year-old will be allowed to walk for free if a lower wage isn’t agreed upon.

2

Antony

Since moving to England for a huge fee of £82m, Antony has failed to live up to his expectations, now losing his place in the side.

Over 25 Premier League matches this season, the winger has scored zero goals and provided just one assist, which simply isn’t good enough at the elite level.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that Ratcliffe is keen to purchase a new right-winger after this campaign, with Michael Olise reportedly noted as a potential replacement for Antony, who’s scored seven goals and provided four assists in ten league starts.

A repeat of this season would simply be too damaging to Antony’s market value, which has dropped to just £24m, as per Transfermarkt, since his arrival, therefore meaning that the best option would be to move the Brazilian on.

3

Casemiro

Since returning from injury at the start of the year, Casemiro’s performance levels have dropped significantly, to the point where he’s now at the top of Ratcliffe’s list of departures, according to a report from Football Insider.

The 32-year-old has displayed a clear lack of athleticism and professionalism at times, with his lack of mobility causing United plenty of issues, with football content creator Liam Canning even saying that “Casemiro cannot run.”

As you can see by the table above, Real Madrid’s former star doesn’t really offer very much to the United side barring tackles, but his constant complacency on the ball frequently undoes his defensive work, which football reporter Josh Bunting has previously called him “awful” for.

Casemiro’s role in the side is to set the tempo of play and simply regain possession, but he’s now only winning 47% of his ground duels and being dribbled past 2.2 times per game, which makes Ten Hag’s side so vulnerable.

Even handed a chance at centre-back in the win over Coventry, that didn't go too well either with The Standard's Nizaar Kinsella giving him a 4/10 rating, taking specific note of a dreadful penalty in the shoot-out.

Furthermore, given the fact that he’s United’s highest earner on a wage of £350k per week without bonuses added to the mix, on top of his declining performances, it’s clear that the Brazilian simply has to be sold this summer.

Luckily, earlier this month, Fabrizio Romano confirmed via the United Stand’s YouTube channel that the midfielder is of interest to clubs from Saudi Arabia, and despite there being no offers thus far, it seems like a likely destination for the midfielder.

Ratcliffe could sack Ten Hag & hire Man Utd a “tactical genius”

The Man United manager target is a master in the Champions League.

By
Tom Lever

Apr 23, 2024

Manchester United owe a debt of gratitude to Facundo Pellistri after the winger's role in convincing Uruguay team-mate Manuel Ugarte to join the club.

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• Ugarte traded PSG for Man Utd
• Spoke to Pellistri about new club
• Uruguay co-star left Old Trafford

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ugarte completed a long-awaited transfer to Old Trafford on the final day of the transfer window after United and Paris Saint-Germain came to an agreement worth a reported a £51 million ($60m). While Ugarte traded Paris for Manchester, his compatriot Pellistri left the club on a permanent basis to join Panathinaikos.

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  Despite his failure to establish himself as a first-team regular at United and opting to continue his career elsewhere, the 22-year-old attacker spoke in glowing terms of the Red Devils when Ugarte asked for his opinion before he agreed to the deal.

• WHAT UGARTE SAID

  Asked by club media why he decided to move to United, Ugarte said joining "one of the best teams in the world" appealed to him, but he added: "I also spoke a lot with Facu Pellistri and he told me all about everything: the atmosphere that's generated, the matchday atmosphere that builds up at Old Trafford is incredible. So yes, I'm really excited. I'd love to experience United's legendary stadium as a player and feel the presence of the supporters."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR UGARTE?

  Ugarte was not registered in time to make his debut as United suffered a 3-0 loss to Liverpool on Sunday. Having seen midfielder Casemiro crumble in that game, coach Erik ten Hag will be eager to bring Ugarte into the fold when he settles into his new surroundings.

The 2023/24 season has been a frustrating time for Chelsea Football Club. They have struggled in the Premier League all season, and currently reside in ninth in the table, on 47 points, having lost 11 games altogether.

The Blues also faced cup heartbreak at Wembley twice this season. They lost the Carabao Cup final in February against Liverpool, before being eliminated from the FA Cup in the semi-final by reigning champions Manchester City in April.

It has certainly been an unforgiving time for Chelsea, and Mauricio Pochettino’s future at the club has come into question of late. The Argentine has struggled to settle into life at Stamford Bridge and has often been bailed out by summer signing Cole Palmer, who joined the club from Manchester City for £42.5m including add-ons.

Palmer has 20 goals and nine assists in the Premier League for Chelsea so far this season and is currently joint-top of the Golden Boot rankings, alongside former City teammate Erling Haaland.

With question marks over Pochettino's future, rumours have begun to spread about who Chelsea owner Todd Boehly might replace him with. There is one in particular name that has piqued the interest of many Chelsea fans.

Chelsea's managerial plans

One of the leading candidates to have been discussed in recent days is Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi. However, the fact of the matter is that he's not the only manager in the frame to potentially succeed Pochettino.

The man we want to focus on here is former Bayern Munich and Germany manager Hansi Flick. According to Ben Jacobs, who spoke to GiveMeSport last month, the potential appointment of Flick has been “discussed internally” by those within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Following Chelsea’s brutal 5-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Tuesday night, Pochettino’s Chelsea future is thought to be “hanging in the balance”, according to The Times, and the Blues board could well decide to remove the former PSG manager from his post.

Should they decide to appoint Flick, it will be a relatively easy deal to do, in theory. The 59-year-old, who has had plenty of success as a manager with Bayern, does not currently have a job. Flick’s last role was Germany manager, but he was removed from the post on the 10th of September, 2023, after 25 games in charge and a disappointing 2022 World Cup campaign.

How Flick would benefit Chelsea

There is little doubt about Flick’s pedigree as a successful manager. During his time in charge at Bayern, he won seven trophies, spread across just two seasons, and was described by former Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker as a “fantastic” manager at the time.

The 59-year-old won two Bundesliga titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the DFB Pokal, the German Super Cup and the UEFA Super Cup during his managerial stint in Munich, an exemplary trophy case.

With that being said, he had a disastrous spell as Germany manager, after they crashed out at the group stages of the 2022 World Cup. Flick was a member of the coaching staff for their 2014 triumph, though, as an assistant to then-manager Joachim Low.

However, one thing that works in Flick’s favour is the fact that he “knows how to handle players”, as Oliver Kahn put it. The former Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper, and more recently CEO at the Allianz Arena, worked closely with Flick during his time as Bayern manager.

This is certainly something that the former Bayern midfielder could use to his advantage at Stamford Bridge. There are lots of big personalities there, and a fairly sizeable squad, meaning it is hard to keep everyone happy with the amount of playing time they are getting. Flick’s experience in handling big personalities would certainly stand him in good stead at Chelsea.

Said to be "one of the best coaches in the world" by one journalist, Flick’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system could further suit Chelsea, who have a squad ready-made for such a system, such as Malo Gusto, Christopher Nkunku and Palmer. With that being said, they would certainly have to add some players in a few key areas.

In particular, they could look to strengthen at left-back, with Flick’s system requiring someone who can get up and down the flank with ease, and perhaps a centre-forward more similar to Robert Lewnadowski’s profile.

If Chelsea were to move for Flick in the summer, he could be a shrewd option for the Blues, considering his trophy-winning pedigree and ability to handle lots of big personalities. If given time, he could well be the man to help return them to their former glory.

Chelsea eyeing "unique" Poch replacement who'd be perfect for Caicedo

The Blues are looking at a possible swoop to appoint the Premier League head coach.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 22, 2024

Bayer Leverkusen continued their incredible unbeaten run under Xabi Alonso with yet another late winner against Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday.

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• Leverkusen scored injury-time winner
• Unbeaten in 35 league matches
• Champions kick off defence in style

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bundesliga champions Leverkusen kicked off their title defence with a stunning victory over Borussia Monchengladbach, thanks to a remarkable late goal. Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz had given Xabi Alonso's side a commanding 2-0 lead, but strikes from Nico Elvedi and Tim Kleindienst brought Gladbach level. Wirtz, though, scored in the 11th minute of injury time to extend Leverkusen's unbeaten league run to 35 matches.

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  In addition to Leverkusen's remarkable unbeaten run, they also have a record of scoring 12 game-tying or go-ahead goals in injury time since the start of last season. In 2023/24, of course, Leverkusen lost just one game they played: the Europa League final. They went unbeaten in the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bayern Munich will have winced at seeing Wirtz's late winner, having finished third last season. They lost eight games throughout the campaign and finished 18 points behind Leverkusen, as well as one point behind second-placed Stuttgart.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Leverkusen are next in action on Wednesday in a DFB-Pokal clash with Carl Zeiss Jena, who play in the fourth tier of German football. Their next Bundesliga fixture comes against RB Leipzig.

Now near the end of Ange Postecoglou's first season in charge, Tottenham Hotspur can reflect on the positives more than the few negatives, with plenty more to come from the Australian. One forgotten man could be forced to wait another season before playing his part under the Spurs boss, however.

Tottenham transfer news

Credit where it's due, Spurs have backed Postecoglou on the most part since the sale of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich last summer. The likes of James Maddison, Brennan Johnson and Micky van de Ven have all arrived to hand the Lilywhites a welcomed boost this season. Now, in his second summer in charge, Postecoglou could receive similar backing.

Tottenham chiefs "ready" to shop for "extraordinary" breakout Serie A star

The Lilywhites are set to return to an old stomping ground for the deal.

By
Ben Browning

Apr 3, 2024

It remains to be seen just who will be walking through the door, but reports have at least given those in North London some clues. Players such as Brentford's Ivan Toney and Alexander Isak have both been linked with moves to the Lilywhites ahead of the summer, with a clear emphasis on finally landing an out and out replacement for Kane.

Meanwhile, away from the incomings, Postecoglou could be set to show the door to certain players too, if just on a temporary basis. According to Spanish journalist Uriel Lugt, Alejo Veliz could be heading out on loan once again this summer, having spent the second half of the current campaign on loan at La Liga side Sevilla. This means that the forward could be forced to wait until August 2025 to play for Spurs again after arriving last summer.

The Argentine may at least get his first real taste of Premier League action next season, however, with Bournemouth reportedly attentive to his situation. Given that the Cherries could be forced to replace the Spurs-linked Dominic Solanke this summer, Veliz represents an ideal option. It's certainly a deal that would suit all parties, offering Spurs the chance to see their youngster in regular top flight action.

"Promising" Veliz must have patience

Whilst it's undoubtedly a frustrating wait for his Spurs chance, Veliz must take the mentality that his opportunity will eventually arrive when he is ready. Admittedly, however, his Sevilla loan spell has hardly helped speed things up, having made just three appearances in La Liga and not a single start for the Spanish side.

If it is to be Bournemouth next season, then game time is a must for the 20-year-old, who cannot afford another season away from North London just to sit on the bench. Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig will be among those frustrated by Veliz's lack of opportunities, having detailed his talent before his move to Spurs last summer.

As Spurs look to finally replace Kane this summer, the hope will be that Veliz kicks on away from the club to eventually emerge as a far more ideal candidate to fill the boots of the Lilywhites legend.