All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Celtic remain two points behind their closest rivals in the Scottish Premiership title race after an emphatic 7-1 win over Dundee on Wednesday night.

Brendan Rodgers' side were incredibly ruthless at Parkhead as they took a 5-0 lead inside 36 minutes and ended the match with seven goals from ten shots on target, as Trevor Carson endured a night to forget between the sticks.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Adam Idah, Matt O'Riley, Daizen Maeda, Greg Taylor, Connor McGregor, and Daniel Kelly all got their names on the scoresheet on the night.

Matt O'Riley was one of the stars of the game as the Danish magician showcased his immense attacking quality. However, he was not the only supremely impressive performer as right-back Alistair Johnston ran the show from his full-back position.

Matt O'Riley's statistics against Dundee

The former Fulham prospect was an influential figure in the middle of the park for the Hoops as his creative quality was on display at Parkhead.

O'Riley assisted the first with an excellent cross from a free-kick to the back post for Carter-Vickers to nod the ball past the goalkeeper from close range.

The Denmark international then scored a header of his own before registering a second assist with a pass to Maeda in the box, who turned brilliantly to fire the ball into the far corner.

Sofascore rating

9.3

Pass success rate

93%

Touches

113

Key passes

Two

Duels won

Two

As you can see in the table above, O'Riley was a constant presence in possession with the second-most touches of any players on the pitch.

He made a huge impact in the final third and remained composed enough on the ball to rarely give it away with his attempted passes throughout the game.

The statistics that show Alistair Johnston ran the show

Johnston starred for Celtic alongside O'Riley with a phenomenal display at right-back. The Canada international ran the show in possession with more touches (156) than any other player on the park.

With those touches, the right-footed dynamo created more chances (three) than O'Riley and created as many 'big chances' (one) as the impressive midfielder.

He completed more passes (118) than any other player on the pitch had touches, with a success rate of 94%, and this highlights how much of an outlet the talented gem provided the team down the right flank.

Johnston was always available for a pass and helped Celtic to control, dominate, and put the game to bed during the first half with a clinical display.

The 25-year-old whiz, who was almost faultless defensive with a duel success rate of 89% (8/9), also picked up an assist for his attacking efforts.

Just like against Motherwell on Sunday, Johnston was released down the right flank and provided a perfect cross for Idah to find the back of the net, although this time with his head rather than his left foot.

It was a fantastic all-round performance from the right-back, who also completed three of his four attempted dribbles, as he was effective and impressive with his work in and out of possession throughout the game, which is why he ran the show alongside O'Riley.

Leeds United are back in Championship action once again this afternoon as they take on Plymouth Argyle at Home Park for the second time this month.

The Whites ran out 4-1 winners in Devon in the FA Cup as they needed extra time to secure the win, which earned them a clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the next round.

Daniel Farke's side are now going there in search of three points as they look to continue their march towards automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

Every match and point is important as the Whites compete with Southampton and Ipswich to secure second place, whilst Leicester City appear to be uncatchable with a 12-point lead over the Yorkshire-based outfit.

Leeds head into this match off the back of an emphatic 4-0 win away at Swansea in Wales on Tuesday night, as they demolished Luke William's side.

With games coming thick and fast, and a huge game against Leicester on the horizon, Farke could make some changes to his team to keep players fresh.

With that in mind, the German head coach should move Georginio Rutter aside, after an underwhelming – by his standards – display on Tuesday, to unleash Daniel James alongside Wilfried Gnonto in the attack.

Georgino Rutter's performance against Swansea

The French gem has been one of the best creative talents in the Championship this season with his ability to consistently unlock opposition defences.

However, that was not on display in Wales earlier this week as the 21-year-old maestro failed to create a single opportunity for his teammates on the night.

The former Hoffenheim whiz also had four shots, totalling 0.32 xG, and did not find the back of the net, which meant that he ended the match without a goal contribution in the 4-0 drubbing.

Rutter, who did complete five of his nine attempted dribbles, is capable of far more than that when he is at his best as a number ten in the Championship.

The Leeds star currently ranks within the top 2% of forwards in the division for shot-creating actions (4.34) and Expected Assisted Goals (0.34) per 90 respectively, which shows that not many other players in his position create high-quality chances for their teammates as frequently as he does.

In 31 league appearances, Rutter has contributed with five goals and ten assists for his side, whilst the talented ace has also created a whopping 19 'big chances' for his fellow attackers.

These statistics show that the young magician has the quality to unpick defences with his fabulous passing, which is why his performance against Swansea was underwhelming.

This long trip to Plymouth could be the perfect opportunity for Farke to rest the Whites gem, ahead of next Friday's clash with Leicester at Elland Road.

That would open up the door for James to make his return on the right side of the attack, as Gnonto could be moved into a central position behind Joel Piroe at the top end of the pitch.

Wilfried Gnonto's recent form

The Italy international has been in sublime form for Leeds in recent weeks and is finally showcasing his quality in the final third on a regular basis.

He had only managed one goal and one assist in his first 21 appearances in the Championship, which included seven starts for the former Zurich whiz.

Gnonto has started the club's last three matches in the division and chipped in with three goals and one assist, to take his total to four goals and two assists in 24 games.

The 20-year-old ace also found the back of the net against Plymouth at Home Park in the FA Cup in the middle of that run of fixtures, which means that he has already made an impact on this ground this month.

Interestingly, that goal also came from Gnonto moving into a central position to receive the ball from Glen Kamara on the edge of the box, which allowed him to take a touch and fire the ball into the bottom corner.

His goal against Bristol City and his second against Swansea also came from him drifting into the middle to run onto a pass before unleashing a fine shot to find the back of the net, which is why moving him into Rutter's position today could be a good move by Farke.

Why Leeds should unleash Dan James

The German head coach should unleash James alongside Gnonto, and Crysencio Summerville, in the attacking three behind Piroe as the Welsh gem has the quality to be a difference-maker in the final third.

He came off the bench in the 4-0 win over Swansea for his first appearance since the 1-0 win over Norwich in January and could make his return to the starting line-up today.

Norwich City

Assist

Preston North End

Goal

Cardiff

Goal

Peterborough United

Assist

Birmingham

Goal and assist

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former Manchester United winger was in fantastic form before his recent injury with at least one goal or assist in each of his last five appearances in all competitions.

James, who was hailed as "electric" by journalist Sanny Rudravajhala earlier this term, has been impressive throughout the 2023/24 campaign with his exciting play in the Championship.

The 26-year-old whiz has racked up ten goals, from 7.45 xG, and six assists, from 5.49 xA, in 23 league starts for Farke's side so far this term.

Only Piroe (11) and Summerville (15) have scored more goals than James in the second tier for Leeds this season, which speaks to how important his contributions have been at the top end of the pitch.

Ten goals to his name from 7.45 xG also shows that the Welsh dynamo has been ruthless in front of goal and more than made the most of the chances that his teammates have provided him with.

This suggests that Farke would not significantly weaken his team by ditching Rutter to unleash James alongside Gnonto and Summerville for this clash, which is why he can afford to rest the French whiz to hand important minutes to the 5 foot 7 winger to get him back up to full match fitness.

Brendan Rodgers and Celtic have made three loan signings this season, most recently recruiting Adam Idah from Norwich City on the final day of the January transfer window. The Hoops fended off competition from clubs in Serie A and the English Championship to land the Irishman until the end of the campaign, but the agreement doesn't include an option to buy.

Last summer, Rodgers made two temporary additions, one of which saw defender Nat Phillips join from his former club Liverpool. Phillips, however would only play eight games in the first half of the season before being recalled to Anfield and sent to Cardiff instead.

Then there's Paulo Bernardo, who arrived on deadline day in September on a season-long loan from Benfica that did include the option to buy. Now, some key details around that detail and the player's future in general have emerged.

Celtic given Bernardo opportunity

According to The Daily Record, via Sports View, Celtic have been told by Benfica that they can sign Bernardo for a fee of £6m come the end of the season, putting them in pole position to be his next club.

Record sale on the cards for Celtic star whose value has soared by 1900%

The Hoops have struck gold with the signing of the talented midfield magician.

ByDan Emery Feb 6, 2024

Bernardo is happy at the club and will seek a permanent transfer, but it remains to be seen whether Celtic are willing to fork out the 10th-biggest transfer fee in their history to get the move done.

"Tenacious" Bernardo winning Rodgers over

Having only started two of the first 13 Scottish Premiership games for which he was available, Bernardo has now been in the line-up for the last six in succession. The absence of Reo Hatate has played a big part, with the midfielder only able to play one game since October as a result of injury and his international commitments at the Asian Cup.

After a fresh setback with Japan, Hatate is now facing a further six weeks out, offering Bernardo the opportunity to make the spot his own. He's certainly grasped his chance in recent weeks by notching four goal involvements across his six-game run, including a memorable opener in the Old Firm derby against Rangers.

Dundee

1

–

7.8/10

Rangers

1

–

7.5/10

St Mirren

–

2

8.5/10

Ross County

–

–

6.8/10

Aberdeen

–

–

7.2/10

Rodgers has spoken glowingly of the Portuguese as both a footballer and an individual, hailing his maturity and "great attitude at training" as well as his appetite on the field.

"He has come in in these last few games and created goals and scored goals and he has put his foot in too," he said at the start of last month. "He is tenacious. I'm absolutely delighted for him. It is now about consistency."

Based on that verdict, Rodgers may push for Celtic to pay up, but Bernardo will have to show that "consistency" for the remainder of the season to earn the faith of the Parkhead hierarchy.

Arsenal's win over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon has blown open the Premier League title race.

Mikel Arteta's men were spectacular on the night and managed to amass an awe-inspiring expected goals figure of 3.76 – the most the Reds have conceded under Jürgen Klopp.

Yet, there were still a couple of notable misses from the home side, such as the header from Bukayo Saka in the first half and the one from Jakub Kiwior in the second 45 that highlighted the team's need for a clinical number nine.

Former Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema was heavily touted for a move to N5 last month, and while some fans would have been understandably disappointed that he wasn't signed, his absence means there is still a chance for one of Hale End's most impressive graduates to make his way into the team.

The Gunners' interest in Benzema

Historically speaking, the north Londoners have been interested in signing the French number nine for well over a decade at this point, with stories from 2013 touting him for a move to the Emirates when it looked as if it wasn't going to work out for him at the Bernabéu – how different things could have been.

However, in this instance, the links to the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner originated last month when a flood of stories claimed the striker was unhappy in Saudi Arabia and was seeking a move back to Europe.

A number of clubs were linked, including Chelsea, Lyon and Arsenal, but in the end, the Frenchman remained with Al-Ittihad – an outcome his accountant surely celebrated.

While the arrival of a veteran who scored 19 goals in 24 La Liga appearances last season would have undoubtedly improved the Gunners in the short-term, his absence could pay dividends in the long-term.

Arsenal's great hope

Hale End has long produced some brilliant talent for the Arsenal first team – look at Saka and Emile Smith Rowe – and it seems like it has created another star in the making, Ethan Nwaneri.

Now, the first thing to note is that, yes, the 16-year-old is currently considered to be an attacking midfielder and not an out-and-out number nine like Benzema is, but there is no apparent reason as to why he couldn't be given a chance to play there; after all, Harry Kane started out as a deep-lying midfielder as a youth player.

Moreover, the London-born gem is no stranger to the centre-forward role as it's his second most played position with Arsenal's youth sides, and his goal record suggests that he should be playing higher up the pitch to boot.

Described as "a true goal-scorer" by data analyst Ben Mattinson, in his 42 appearances for Arsenal across the U18, U21 and UEFA Youth League sides, Nwaneri has scored 20 goals and provided nine assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.44 games – a genuinely impressive return for a 16-year-old.

Ethan Nwaneri's Youth Career

Club

Arsenal

Appearances

42

Goals

20

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.69

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Arteta clearly sees a bright future ahead for the "sensational" youngster, as dubbed by Mattinson, as he made him the youngest Premier League player of all time when he gave him his debut against Brentford last season at just 15 years and 181 days old.

Arsenal can forget about Frimpong by promoting their "own Reece James"

The 20-year-old has been tearing it up in the Championship.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 5, 2024

Ultimately, the chance to sign Benzema is gone, and while the club might finally add an experienced number nine to the team in the summer, the emergence of Nwaneri is something that should excite fans, and if he is given a chance to prove his abilities in the first team he could go on to do great things in north London.

With the 36-year-old Benzema would have been an eye-catching short-term fix for the title hopefuls, Nwaneri could represent a sparkling long-term solution for those at N17…

Tottenham may not be done after opening talks for Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa, as it is believed they're knocking on the door of another starlet.

Spurs eyeing deals for exciting young players

As previously reported by football.london journalist and Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold, the Lilywhites will continue to scour the market for some of Europe's finest talents.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

After signing Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr on buy-to-loan-back deals, two transfers which have proved to be roaring successes, Spurs will look to replicate that again.

As widely rumoured, Tottenham have opened negotiations to seal a deal for the aforementioned Nusa, and the move will be in a similar format to that of Udogie and Sarr.

"Spurs will continue to explore opportunities for young stars on the rise, with potential loan-back deals, as they did with players such as Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr," wrote Gold last week, expanding on interest in another talent they have their eyes on.

"Tottenham are among the Premier League clubs to have shown an interest in Norwich's talented winger Jonathan Rowe, but at this moment have not made a move for the versatile 20-year-old who has scored 12 goals and provided three assists in 28 matches this season.

Timo Werner

Arrival (loan, RB Leipzig)

Radu Dragusin

Arrival (permanent, Genoa)

Eric Dier

Exit (loan, Bayern)

Djed Spence

Exit (loan, Genoa)

Ashley Phillips

Exit (loan, Plymouth)

Sergio Reguilon

Exit (loan, Man United)

Japhet Tanganga

Exit (loan, Millwall)

Ivan Perisic

Exit (loan, Hajduk Split)

"Getting new faces in through the door at Tottenham in the coming weeks and this summer is going to be made easier by the football on offer and the promise of working with Postecoglou when targets see what he is doing with Spurs players across the age scale."

It appears Gold was correct in his information that technical director Johan Lange, chairman Daniel Levy and Chief Football Officer Scott Munn are planning for the future when it comes to new arrivals.

As well as Rowe and Nusa, a report from Turkey has now shared serious interest from Spurs in "rising star" Besiktas forward Semih Kilicsoy.

Tottenham "knocking on the door" for Kilicsoy

According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, Tottenham are "knocking on the door" for Kilicsoy alongside a trio of other top European sides – namely Aston Villa, Napoli and Borussia Dortmund.

Besiktas, though, will demand a club-record exit fee of around £22 million to part company with their talent.

While that fee is affordable from a Spurs perspective, the competition for his signature could potentially raise his price tag.

West Ham have also been credited with an approach for Kilicsoy by other media sources, coming as the 18-year-old bursts onto the scene in Turkey.

Indeed, the exciting Kilicsoy boasts five goals and two assists in just eight appearances so far this season, with all five of his strikes coming in his last four Turkish Super Lig outings.

Liverpool are in the privileged position of avoiding a January panic to land reinforcements, given their spot at the top of the Premier League and place at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final, but Reds fans were hit with the shock news of Jurgen Klopp's impending exit on Friday morning.

The club have so far been back to their ruthless best in the current campaign, but now have to begin planning for a life without their most iconic manager in recent history, and could perhaps even grant him a leaving gift to help him chase down trophies in his final few months.

Liverpool transfer news

With just under a week to go before the end of the winter window, the rumours have continued to circle over just who Liverpool could still welcome this month. Reports have mentioned names such as Piero Hinacapie, having apparently had their first approach rejected by Bayer Leverkusen, and Federico Redondo, who the Reds have also reportedly made contact for. Neither of those deals have taken place as of yet, however, and instead, Liverpool's focus has been on a player who could be the perfect back-up for Mohamed Salah.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The Egyptian suffered an untimely injury whilst at the African Cup of Nations with Egypt and is now back at Liverpool hoping to recover in time to meet back up with his country, should they reach the latter stages of the competition. Liverpool, meanwhile, have been forced to cope without their star man, turning to the transfer market as a result.

According to reports in Spain, via Sport Witness, Liverpool have made an approach to sign Takefusa Kubo from Real Sociedad, but the player did not want to listen to the offer. The Japan international, who is therefore teammates with Liverpool's Wataru Endo, has a €60m (£51m) release clause, so FSG will have to plan their next steps carefully if they want to land Klopp a parting gift to boost his squad for these final few months.

"Intelligent" Kubo can eventually replace Salah

With Salah now 31-years-old and into the last year of his current contract when the summer arrives, it may not be too long before Liverpool begin awkward discussions over seeking a replacement for Klopp's star man, as well as the boss himself.

The 22-year-old is yet to even reach his prime and is already impressing many in the world of football, including former Manchester United man Shinji Kagawa, who said via Marca in 2019: "He’s a very good player. He already speaks Spanish because he was at the Barcelona academy for a bit and this is helping him a lot now. I think he can play well for Real Madrid. He has a very good chance [of succeeding in Spain]. He’s left-footed and very intelligent on the pitch. He always makes the right decision at the right time."

Kubo's stats so far this season speak for themselves. The winger has been involved in 10 goals in 25 appearances, with six goals and four assists to his name. It is an output that Liverpool may hope to build on even further, as they did when Salah arrived in 2017, and perhaps even welcome a replacement for the Egyptian in the process.

Leeds United should sign Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson this summer, according to former Scotland and Premier League manager Alex McLeish.

The Lowdown: Long-time Orta target

Forest are mounting a serious promotion push in the Championship currently, with an automatic return to the Premier League still not out of the question.

Johnson has undoubtedly been one of his side’s star players this season, scoring 15 goals and registering ten assists in the league, being hailed as a ‘wonderful’ player by Wales manager Rob Page.

Leeds have been linked with a move for the Welshman in the recent past, as Jesse Marsch looks forward to his first transfer window in charge at Elland Road, and Victor Orta has even revealed he tried to sign the winger when he was just 16.

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The Latest: Leeds urged to complete signing

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish claimed that Johnson is someone the Whites should be looking to sign this summer:

“He had a few brilliant little flurries against Fulham but couldn’t quite get the finishing touch. He looks a very competent player, and you can see the confidence just steaming out of him.

“In all his play, every time he gets the ball – you can see opposition defenders just starting to panic. They’re scrambling to close him down. He’s definitely one who is correct to be on the radar of a club like Leeds. He can go to a high level.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Verdict: Hugely exciting addition

While Johnson is unproven in the Premier League, he is a young player with enormous potential, so he would be a hugely exciting signing for Leeds.

At just 20, he already has nine caps to his name for Wales, highlighting how highly he is thought of in a squad that also includes the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and current Whites man Dan James.

Johnson wouldn’t necessarily come in as an immediate starter for Leeds, but he would add the attacking squad depth that Marsch craves, also having the potential to grow into a star figure down the years.

In other news, Leeds have been given the green light to sign one player. Find out who it is here.

Celtic have the chance to put last weekend’s defeat in the Scottish Cup semi-final behind them tomorrow as the Hoops are back in SPFL action.

This time, Ange Postecoglou’s side will be taking on Ross County away from home on Sunday afternoon.

Heading into this weekend’s round of fixtures, the Hoops currently sit at the top of the league table with a six-point gap over Rangers in second place.

Looking ahead to their upcoming showdown, it seems as though the Bhoys have been handed an injury boost that will surely improve their chances of securing yet another league victory.

What’s the news?

According to Postecoglou (via the Daily Record), Hoops striker Giorgos Giakoumakis is back in contention to play on Sunday after picking up a hamstring injury during the 7-0 win over St. Johnstone earlier this month.

Having arrived at the Parkhead club during the previous summer transfer window from VVV-Venlo in a deal worth a reported fee of up to £2.5m, the striker has made 16 league appearances.

In those appearances, the 27-year-old has scored nine goals, leaving only Liel Abada having found the net on more occasions (10).

To highlight how much of an attacking threat the centre-forward has been for the Bhoys, he currently has the highest average of shots on target per 90 minutes in the league out of everyone in Postecoglou’s squad.

This shows how much a nuisance he can be for opposition goalkeepers and why County and their players will be sweating over the prospect of facing him this weekend.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s showdown, it will surely be great news for the Hoops boss to be able to have the Greek international back in the squad and available for selection.

Beyond that, if the striker can keep his fitness up for the remainder of the campaign and add some more goals to his tally, he would give his side a great chance of securing the league title.

For the time being, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not the 56-year-old picks Giakoumakis to be in his starting XI or keeps him on the bench to start with and bring him on at some point.

AND in other news: Cost 7 figures, now worth £810k: Celtic had a nightmare on “struggling” Lennon flop

A big Leeds United transfer claim has emerged on USA international Sergino Dest…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that the club are going to be in the market to bolster their defence in the summer ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The reporter has named the Barcelona full-back as a player who could come through the door, as Victor Orta looks to improve their options across the back four.

He told This is Futbol:

“They’ll be looking at a right-back, I think, as well.

“Sergino Dest has been mentioned possibly as that one which will be a big deal for Leeds.”

Jesse Marsch will be excited

This claim will surely leave the Lillywhites head coach excited as Dest would be an excellent addition to his squad heading into next season.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-marsch-raphinha-dest-philhay” title=”Read the latest Leeds news!”]

In La Liga this season, he has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.88 across 18 appearances. He has been able to showcase his quality at both ends of the pitch, with five ‘big chances’ created overall and 0.9 key passes per game along with 1.7 tackles and interceptions and 4.9 duels won per match.

Meanwhile, Luke Ayling – who has played at centre-back and right-back, has averaged a score of 6.74 in the Premier League. He has produced 0.5 key passes per game and this suggests that the overall standard of his performance and his ability on the ball is not at the same level as Dest’s.

At the age of 21, the Barcelona gem also has the potential to improve further and develop over time.

This means that he can be a player Marsch is able to work with on the training pitch to help him hone his skills, which could be an enjoyable experience for the head coach as he potentially gets to profit from improving the full-back.

Therefore, he is a player who can make an impact on the pitch in the short and long term. His statistics this season suggest that he would be an upgrade on Ayling at right-back, whilst his age means that he has plenty of time on his side to get better and better.

This is why Marsch will be excited by the prospect of bringing Dest to the club this summer. He will want to work with talented young players and the American international certainly falls into that category.

Victor Orta… get it done!

AND in other news, Orta can form “incredible” duo as Leeds eye £10m sensation who “does everything right”…

Chelsea are in advancing talks to sign RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons, but according to a new report, they’re also speaking with another winger as BlueCo keep their options open.

Burnley make approach to sign £200k-a-week Chelsea player, he "will leave"

The Clarets are determined to retain their Premier League status.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 25, 2025

Enzo Maresca and his squad are due back at Cobham for the week commencing August 4, and they have precious little time to prepare for the new season, given they take on Crystal Palace in their first Premier League game just 13 days later.

In the meantime, Chelsea are working to back Maresca with much-needed reinforcements to his squad, especially in the attacking third.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

The west Londoners struggled against sides in the low-block last season, which is a key reason why Maresca has identified Chelsea’s forward line as the main area of improvement before transfer deadline day on September 1 (Simon Phillips).

They’ve already sealed Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro this summer for a combined fee of around £145 million, but Maresca is rumoured to want another major attacking signing to give his side the best possible chance of challenging for the title next season.

Amid their advanced talks for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, who has already agreed personal terms, Chelsea are actively working towards signing Simons.

There are even some reports that a deal for the Netherlands international is actually even further along than the likes of Fabrizio Romano are reporting (Simon Phillips), but until he’s signed on the dotted line, anything can happen.

“The last our sources heard on Simons to Chelsea was that it was very close but had some final details to sort out,” wrote journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack.

“As I said yesterday, I’ll be shocked if this doesn’t get done now, but it doesn’t mean it 100% does get done. I’ve been in this industry now long enough to know that a deal is never done until you see the player holding the shirt or a club announces it! So don’t get excited yet.”

Chelsea still speaking to Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho

Taking this into account, journalist Graeme Bailey has told TBR Football that Chelsea are still talking to Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and his representatives.

The Argentine, who can play both on the left and in central attacking midfield like Simons, bagged 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions last season. United want to sell, as is common knowledge at this point, so much so that they’ve now slashed his price tag from £70 million to around £40 million.

Following consistent links to the 21-year-old, Bailey reports that Chelsea remain in dialogue with Garnacho despite their fast-progressing negotiations with Leipzig. They also remain big fans of Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, who would actually be their first-choice, so it appears Chelsea are still open to different scenarios if they cannot strike a deal for Simons.

Garnacho, in terms of being an excellent alternative to the 22-year-old, could really fit the bill, with Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand branding him the “real deal”. As well as his excelling reputation, the South American also boasts proven Premier League experience.