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West Ham have been told that they missed their chance to sign Jose Mourinho as their head coach, but they have signed the next best option in Nuno Espirito Santo, who has replaced Graham Potter at the helm. The Hammers made a disastrous start to the 2025-26 campaign as they lost four out of their first five Premier League matches and were languishing in 19th position.

• Nuno replaced Potter after terrible start to new season

  Days after his sacking as Nottingham Forest boss, Nuno Espirito Santo returned to the Premier League as he replaced Potter at West Ham. The 51-year-old's stock was at an all-time high after he marshalled Forest to a seventh-placed finish in the top tier last term, while they flirted with Champions League qualification for much of the campaign. Ironically, the Portuguese's last game in charge of the club was a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Potter's Hammers at the City Ground.

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  Mourinho was linked with West Ham job

  After Fenerbahce parted ways with Mourinho at the start of the season, the legendary manager was briefly linked with a move to West Ham as they continued to struggle under Potter. However, by the time the club actually sacked the English coach, Mourinho was no longer available as he returned to his homeland and took charge of Benfica. 

• West Ham told Nuno was next best option after Mourinho

  Speaking to , former West Ham and England star Joe Cole said of Nuno's likelihood of reaching Europe with his new side: "Well, I don't think it'd be a European spot, but to safety, certainly. I think he'll do a good job. I don't believe the way that the club handled or treated Graham Potter was correct. But unfortunately, it seems to be par for the course for not just West Ham, but a lot of football clubs. The way that head coaches are sort of up there with a target on their back, with not as much control as you probably need to implement your vision. And Graham Potter can certainly walk away from that club and say, 'I didn't get the time, I didn't get the backing.' 

  "Nuno coming in, on the other hand, I think, is a very smart appointment by the club. I think he’s the right man. Once Joseph Mourinho wasn't available, I would have probably gone for Nuno – Nuno or Sean Dyche. Someone who understands the league, and somebody who was very strong in the areas that West Ham needed to improve – the defensive unit, defending set pieces. So, Nuno or Sean Dyche – it would have been a pick between those two for me."

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  Nuno's difficult start to life at West Ham

  Despite Nuno's arrival at the club, West Ham are yet to end their winless run. In his first match in charge, the Hammers held Everton to a 1-1 draw, but went down 2-0 against Arsenal last weekend. The club will hope that they register their second win of the season after the international break when they take on Brentford on October 20.

Tottenham Hotspur have received a boost in their pursuit of a “fantastic” Chelsea player, with it being revealed the Blues are now willing to sell him to their rivals.

Tottenham prioritise signing of new number 10

As we enter the final week of the summer transfer window, Tottenham still have an awful lot of work to do, having missed out on a number of their main targets, and Alasdair Gold has revealed signing a new attacking midfielder is now deemed a priority.

However, Spurs were recently handed yet another setback, with it emerging that Como have rejected the north Londoners’ offer for Nico Paz, as the Italian wants to stay with the Serie A club, ahead of a potential move back to Real Madrid in the future.

Consequently, Thomas Frank’s options are thinning, although the manager has made it clear he is never too disheartened by rejections, as he only wants to sign players who are committed to playing for Tottenham.

Frank said: “I don’t want any players who don’t want to come to the club. If they don’t want to come here and wear this fantastic badge, we don’t want them here.”

The Lilywhites have previously held talks over a deal for Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who is expected to leave the Blues this summer, and there has now been a promising new update, which suggests a move to N17 could be possible.

Indeed, according to a report from The Daily Mail, the west Londoners have previously been unwilling to do business with their rivals, but if Tottenham made an approach for Nkunku before the deadline, they would now be willing to take the call.

Enzo Maresca’s side would still prefer not to strengthen a direct rival, but the willingness to listen to a Spurs approach suggests a deal could be possible.

Levy's not messing: Tottenham now willing to outbid rivals for £32m maestro

Spurs are looking to move ahead of their Premier League rivals in the race for a “pure baller.”

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By
Dominic Lund

Aug 26, 2025

"Fantastic" Nkunku could reignite career at Spurs

Once lauded as “absolutely fantastic” by members of the media, the Frenchman has struggled to force his way into Maresca’s plans, often featuring as a substitute last season, which meant he was never truly given the opportunity to prove himself.

However, there are signs the £195k-a-week forward could reignite his career if given consistent game time at Tottenham, having previously demonstrated a very keen eye for goal in the Bundesliga.

With James Maddison out injured, and Son Heung-min departing, Frank could also do with a versatile forward, and the 27-year-old fits the bill, having regularly featured in attacking midfield, on both wings, and at centre-forward throughout his career.

It would be a risk to sign Nkunku, given that his Premier League career is yet to truly take off, but Tottenham are running out of options as we approach the end of the transfer window.

It was obvious that Jose Mourinho was finished at Fenerbahce the moment the full-time whistle blew in last month's Champions League qualifier at Benfica. However, it also felt like his time at the top was over, too, because Mourinho no longer seemed quite so special.

During this year in Turkey, he had continued to court controversy like no other figure in football, but he failed to win a trophy, which is why Fenerbahce decided that the outspoken Portuguese was more trouble than he was worth and, thus, dismissed him on August 29 – two days after the 1-0 loss in Lisbon.

And yet less than three weeks after his sacking, Mourinho was asked to return to the Estadio da Luz, with Benfica president Rui Costa having come to the rather surprising conclusion that the best man to replace Bruno Lage was the coach he'd just outwitted to reach the Champions League proper.

Consequently, Mourinho is not only back at Benfica, he's also back where he belongs – at least as far he's concerned.

"I was lucky in my career to coach a lot of giants: Real Madrid, Inter, Manchester United and Chelsea. Benfica is also a giant and a giant club entails giant responsibilities, giant expectations – it's all giant," Mourinho told UEFA. "But it's the kind of challenge I need."

Whether it's the kind of challenge he can still overcome remains to be seen. Indeed, as the 62-year-old prepares to lead the Eagles out in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the scene of some of his most memorable triumphs, Mourinho is undeniably under pressure to prove that he can still cut it at the very highest level.

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  'What was done before doesn't count'

  Mourinho has always claimed that while his enemies in the game can "steal everything" from him, nobody can take away the "story" he has created – and he's got a point.

  The Portuguese is one of the most compelling characters in football history – and also one of its most successful. He really has seen and done it all, the only manager to have won all three current UEFA club competitions.

  For all the accusations of arrogance levelled against him, one can hardly blame him, then, for considering the room full of trophies, medals and mementos that he has in his home as a kind of "museum". After all, when it comes to retelling the story of modern football, Mourinho's name will feature frequently.

  However, he is absolutely adamant that he's not done yet, that there are still a few chapters to be written. "When you're still working," Mourinho says, "when you still have your ambitions, what was done before doesn't count."

  It's a sentiment that explains why he jumped at the opportunity to make an immediate return to club football with Benfica. 

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  An unquenchable fire

  Mourinho himself thought that when he finally returned to work in his native Portugal, it would be to take charge of the national team. Even from the outside, it looked like the logical step – and particularly at this stage of his life, and his club career.

  As a younger manager, Mourinho wasn't sure if he would always have the same fire burning inside him – but former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once assured him that, for men like them, it never goes out. And Mourinho has found that to be the case.

  After taking charge of his first Benfica match on September 20 – just under 25 years after his last – Mourinho realised that while the time had flown by, it had not changed his "nature", "passion", or "way of being".

  And there can be no arguments on that front.

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  A 'f*cking disgrace'

  When Mourinho returned to Italy to take charge of Roma in 2021, 11 years after his treble triumph at Inter, he claimed that he was a changed man. He'd matured, he insisted, and no longer went looking for arguments.

  However, in his very first press conference as Roma coach, he immediately opened fire on a wide range of targets, including Didier Deschamps, Antonio Conte and even Luke Shaw. Then, just over a month into his first season in the Italian capital, he received the first of his seven red cards with the Giallorossi.

  During his two-and-a-half-year spell at the Stadio Olimpico, Mourinho showed that when it comes to firing up a fan base, he has few rivals, while he also led a success-starved club to back-to-back European finals.

  He won the first, too, against Feyenoord, but after losing the second, to Sevilla, he waited around in the carpark at the Puskas Arena to launch a foul-mouthed tirade at the blameless officials.

  The only "f*cking disgrace" in Budapest that night was Mourinho and it didn't really come as much of a surprise to see the Friedkin Family fire him after a rotten run of Roma form midway through the 2023-24 season.

  Basically, once Mourinho stops winning games, it becomes difficult to justify either his tedious tactics or touchline tantrums – as Fenerbahce quickly discovered to their considerable cost.

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  A clever PR move from the president

  Fenerbahce took a major gamble on Mourinho reproducing his old magic in Istanbul but it backfired badly. According to , sacking Mourinho and his coaching just over a year after hiring them will set the Super Lig side back more than €10 million (£8.7m/$11.7m).

  So, why did Benfica feel that Mourinho was a risk worth taking?  Well, for starters, Mourinho's stock has fallen in recent years – meaning so, too, have his salary demands.

  Rui Costa revealed that Mourinho will earn €3m (£2.6m) in the first season at Benfica, and €4m (£3.5m) in the second. These are obviously not insignificant sums of money but they are quite small for a man that was once considered the best manager in world football.

  It's not just about money for Rui Costa either. Mourinho remains "a global brand", as he put it. "Jose's presence will spark interest and curiosity," the former Portugal international said. "Both Benfica and the league will benefit from his exposure."

  Certainly, from Rui Costa's perspective, you really can't put a price on this kind of publicity – and particularly just a few weeks before a presidential election…

Marcus Rashford's stunning volley proved to be a consolation goal for Barcelona, who were hammered 4-1 in Seville. The defeat was compounded after Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty, but Sevilla were well worth the scoreline and it was only a fine performance from Wojciech Szczesny which kept the scoreline down.

The hosts took the lead in the 11th minute after a clumsy challenge from Ronald Araujo on Isaac Romero, referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz initially failed to give the penalty, but pointed to spot after reviewing the challenge on the pitchside video, and Alexis Sanchez sent his former Arsenal team-mate Szczesny the wrong way to give Sevilla the lead. 

The conditions in southern Spain were sweltering, hitting 33 degrees, and it was the hosts who were on fire, doubling their lead in the 37th minute, courtesy of a well-taken finish by Romero after Joules Kounde had been caught in possession. But Barcelona game themselves hope deep into time added on in the first-half, when Pedri picked out Rashford who timed his run to perfection and fired an unstoppable shot past Odysseas Vlachodimos. 

And while Hansi Flick's side were improved in the second half, Lewandowski fired his penalty wide in the 77th minute and the league champions conceded two further late goals to slump to a demoralising 4-1 defeat. 

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan in Seville…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Wojciech Szczesny (8/10):

  Making his third appearance as he continues to cover for the injured Garcia and was well beaten by Alexis Sanchez's penalty, but made stunning saves  throughout the match. The margin of defeat would have been much wider if not for his heroics.  

  Jules Kounde (5/10):

  Sanchez caused him massive problems and was at fault for the second goal after being caught in possession inside his own half. He tried, in vain, to claim he was fouled. Poor afternoon. 

  Ronald Araujo (5/10):

  Was clearly at fault for the early penalty. A clumsy challenge, and the referee initially waved away the shout from the hosts, but it was given after pitchside video review. He was fuming, but a penalty was the right call. Substituted at half-time. 

  Pau Cubarsi (6/10):

  Important to remember he's still young and finding his way and deserves credit for hardly making a mistake all game. 

  Gerard Martin (4/10):

  Was given a torrid time throughout the first-half as Barca were overrun on both wings and through the middle. Hooked at half-time, replaced by Alejandro Balde.

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  Midfield

  Frenkie de Jong (5/10):

  Did his best to find pockets of space, but was well shepherded by the Sevilla midfield. Had one of those days where everything he tried failed to come off. 

  Pedri (6/10):

  Stunning pass to set up Rashford late in the first-half and was a constant attacking threat whenever he got on the ball, but this was nowhere near often enough. 

  Dani Olmo (6/10):

  Barely put a foot wrong, but was well below-par. Will consider his shift to have been solid but, like so many of the visitors, nothing worked for him on the day. 

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  Attack

  Marcus Rashford (8/10):

  Squandered a wonderful opportunity in the 43rd minute, through on goal he fired it wide when he really should've scored. But made amends in time added on in the first-half, firing home a stunning volley. Remained a positive attacking presence for Barca all match, but couldn't stop a dismal defeat.

  Robert Lewandowski (4/10):

  A diabolical afternoon, fired his penalty wide and his finishing was poor throughout. A dire day at the office, which he'll be keen to forget in a hurry. 

  Ferran Torres (5/10):

  Replaced in 69th minute by Roony Bardghj. Only managed one touch in the opposition box. 

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  Subs & Manager

  Alejandro Balde (6/10):

  Brought on on the 52nd minute and his positive run into the box won a penalty for Barcelona after he was fouled by Adnan Januzaj.

  Eric Garcia (5/10):

  An uncomfortable afternoon for him, made little impact after being brought on. 

  Roony Bardghji (5/10):

  Was brought on in the 68th minute and was a real live wire, but wasted a gilt-edged chance to equalise with just a few minutes to go. 

  Hansi Flick (5/10):

  Will argue the huge number of injuries his side had to deal with was to blame for the defeat. But his team played without any real urgency and were out-played for large swathes of the match. Has plenty to ponder after that shocking performance.

Newcastle United are almost at the end of an exhausting and at times exasperating summer transfer window, but there are potential exits still to contend with, and signings to be made.

The transfer show was put on pause on Monday night, though, as United met Premier League champions Liverpool in a spectacle of a game, losing 3-2 but reinforcing the bond with the fanbase after such an incredible effort.

Bruno Guimaraes led by example, blending talent with tenacity and toughness. He acted as the talisman that Alexander Isak should be for the Magpies, but the number nine, wanted by Liverpool, wanting Liverpool, remains absent, having ostracised himself from Eddie Howe’s squad as he pushes to force an exit.

Howe took the positives from a brilliant collective performance that cruelly yielded nothing by way of points for the Tynesiders.

But the contest with Arne Slot’s side has highlighted the need for a few more signings before the transfer window shuts in six days.

Newcastle eyeing several signings

Newcastle’s summer-long pursuit of a new striker continues to rage on, with recent bids being rejected for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jorgen Strand Larsen and Brentford forward Yoane Wissa.

Whether Isak stays or goes remains to be seen, but there’s no question that a new forward is needed irrespective of that outcome.

However, Newcastle also need a midfielder, with injuries inflicted on Joelinton and Sandro Tonali during the recent defeat to Liverpool emphasising that fact.

Well, according to journalist Jason Soutar, Newcastle are exploring a move for Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, with the need for another central midfielder persisting after the £40m acquisition of Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa.

Sean Longstaff left St. James’ Park and signed for Leeds United this summer, so a versatile and robust midfielder like Santos, who is only 21, could be the perfect fit, though Premier League rivals such as West Ham United are interested too, and he has been valued at £42m.

Why Newcastle want Andrey Santos

Chelsea signed Santos from Brazilian club Vasco da Gama when he was 18 years old. Recognised as a top talent from the off, the Brazilian midfielder has spent a season-and-a-half on loan with Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

However, he has since returned to Stamford Bridge, featuring in the Club World Cup and playing a peripheral part across the opening weeks of the 2025/26 campaign.

Santos has only been handed 39 minutes of action across Chelsea’s opening two fixtures of the Premier League campaign, and he might be convinced to jump ship if offered the promise of playing time and a pathway to prominence at St. James’ Park.

After all, the Brazilian showcased his skills and then some in France last season, even rivalling Guimaraes in regard to midfield quality, perhaps suggesting that he could replace his compatriot at Newcastle in the coming years.

It’s a well-documented fact that the Premier League presents a different kind of challenge for so many talented prospects making the leap, but it bodes well for Santos that he has shown he has a striking similarity to Newcastle’s midfield machine

Hailed as a “duel monster” with a “top tackling ability” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Santos has what it takes to one day succeed the 27-year-old Guimaraes, especially with such crispness in possession, and much creativity besides.

Guimaraes’ performance against Liverpool was played with such fervent passion that it’s inconceivable to imagine him leaving anytime soon.

But he will remove the famous black-and-white shirt for a final time at one point, and if Santos is signed, Howe might find himself wielding an incredible successor.

Huge upgrade on Strand Larsen: Newcastle in talks to sign "special" £50m CF

Yoane Wissa isn’t the only forward Newcastle are trying to sign before the closure of the transfer market.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 25, 2025

Birmingham City are preparing to build a squad that is ready to compete at the top end of the Championship in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The Blues won League One with a staggering 111 points under Chris Davies, who arrived at St. Andrew’s last summer, and are now looking to compete for promotion to the Premier League.

They are already reportedly making moves to bolster their playing squad ahead of a return to the second tier, with a League One star said to be on their radar.

Birmingham make offer to League One star

According to GIVEMESPORT, Birmingham have submitted a contract offer to Peterborough United forward Kwame Poku, whose deal with the Posh is due to expire at the end of next month.

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The report claims that Blues director of football Craig Gardner has put the offer across to the player’s agents in a meeting on Zoom, as they aim to complete a deal for the winger amid stiff competition for his signature.

It reveals that there are up to 26 teams interested in a swoop for the 23-year-old starlet, including Celtic, Rangers, Sheffield United, and Sunderland, which shows that Birmingham will not find it easy to snap him up.

If the Blues can win the race for his services, though, then they could find an upgrade on Kieran Dowell, who returned to Rangers after his loan spell in the second half of the season.

Why Kwame Poku would be an upgrade on Kieran Dowell

The Ghana international primarily plays as a left-footed forward on the right of a front three, which is not dissimilar to the position that Dowell played during his time at St. Andrew’s – playing centrally or on the right of the attacking midfield trio.

The Rangers loanee produced an impressive haul of five goals and four assists in 19 appearances in League One, which came after he failed to deliver a single goal or assist in 12 Premiership games for the Scottish giants in the first half of the season.

Poku, however, could provide even more quality than the former Norwich City midfielder if the Blues can wrap up a deal to sign him at the end of his Peterborough contract.

The Ghana international’s performances in League One in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns suggest that he could offer more as both a scorer and a creator of goals on the right flank, cutting in on his left foot.

As you can see in the table above, Poku scored more than twice as many goals and provided twice as many assists in just eight more appearances than Dowell in the third tier.

This suggests that the Posh star, who was described as “unplayable” by manager Darren Ferguson, could be more impactful in the Championship next season as an attacking force.

Therefore, it could make more sense for Birmingham to continue to pursue Poku, as they appear to be doing with this latest report in mind, instead of attempting to sign Dowell on a permanent deal from Rangers.

Birmingham can sign their new Jutkiewicz with move for "phenomenal" striker

Birmingham City could go down the experienced route when landing a new striker this summer.

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By
Kelan Sarson

May 27, 2025

Of course, Davies may want more depth to his attacking options and could add Dowell as a squad option out wide and as a number ten, but Poku could arrive as a clear upgrade on him on the flank.

There are still two Premier League games to go, but for all intents and purposes, Arsenal’s season came to an end on Wednesday night.

Moreover, while Mikel Arteta and the players still have to give their all for those two games – Champions League football hasn’t been secured yet – it’s clear the club are looking ahead to next season.

For example, just a few days after the disappointment in Paris, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano finally gave Martin Zubimendi’s long-rumoured move to Arsenal the ‘here we go’ treatment.

The details still need to be finalised, but the Spanish international is now set to join the Gunners for around £51m in the summer, and while that’s tremendously exciting, he’ll have to hit the ground running to see his valuation match that of one of his new teammates at the Emirates.

Why Arsenal want Zubimendi

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining why Arsenal are so keen to sign Zubimendi in the first place.

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Firstly, he helps to pad out the number six position in the squad, as while Thomas Partey is reportedly in talks with the club over a new deal, Jorginho is set to join Brazilian side Flamengo in the summer.

However, Arteta and Co are obviously interested in the Spanish international for far more than that, including his defensive nous.

For example, according to FBref, the “elite tempo controller,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, sits in the top 6% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for shots blocked and clearances, the top 7% for touches in his penalty area and percentage of aerial duels won, the top 15% for tackles in the attacking third and more, all per 90.

That’s not all, though, as on top of his defensive abilities, the “world-class” midfielder, as dubbed by former teammate Kieran Tierney, also has an abundance of experience and, more importantly, has proven himself in high-pressure games.

For example, he’s made 233 appearances for Sociedad’s first team, including 90 minutes in the club’s 2020 Copa del Rey triumph, and won 15 caps for Spain, one of which came in the second half of the European Championships final, a game La Roja beat England in.

In all, Zubimendi’s technical and defensive ability, combined with his experience of winning when the pressure is on, makes him look like the ideal midfield acquisition for Arsenal this summer, even if he’s worth millions less than one of his future teammates.

The Arsenal star worth millions more than Zubimendi

While Partey and Mikel Merino have both played significant roles for Arsenal this season, neither one has a higher valuation than Zubimendi, nor should they.

Declan Rice, conversely, does, with Transfermarkt valuing him at €110m, which is about £93m, or a whopping £42m more than the Sociedad star is set to cost the Gunners.

Now, while that is undoubtedly a lot of money for a central midfielder, it would be hard to say he’s not proven himself worthy of it this year, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher describing him as the club’s “best player this season.”

While it might sound a little hyperbolic, such comments are more than backed up by the midfield monster’s statistics this year.

For example, in 50 appearances, the “monster” Englishman, as dubbed by Arsenal writer Connor Humm, has scored eight goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.77, which is undeniably impressive for someone primarily playing as an eight.

Moreover, FBref has placed him in the top 5% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and corner kicks, the top 6% for carries into the penalty area, the top 7% for crosses, the top 8% for assists, the top 10% for goals plus assists and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, signing Zubimendi is incredibly exciting and shows real ambition from Arsenal, but he will have to be truly sensational in North London to see his valuation match Rice’s.

Shades of Aubameyang: Arsenal lead race to sign "mind-blowing" goal machine

The prolific marksman could be the difference-maker for Arsenal next season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 12, 2025

With Fabio Paratici set to return to the club, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly in constant contact with an impressive defender who’s also found himself on the radar of Real Madrid.

Fabio Paratici set for Tottenham return

Having left the North London club in 2023 following a two-and-a-half-year ban by FIFA which he is still serving, Paratici has reportedly agreed to return to Tottenham. The Lilywhites have plenty of work to do this summer and the return of an experienced sporting director may well go a long way towards things finally changing for the better under Ange Postecoglou.

How much room Spurs have to manoeuvre in the transfer window is the big question. Should they miss out on winning the Europa League and, subsequently, a place in next season’s Champions League, those in North London are unlikely to have a large budget to spend. After taking one leg in the final with a 3-1 first leg victory over Bodo/Glimt, however, Europa League victory is still very much a possibility.

Many will be quick to assume that a place in Bilbao is now firmly in Spurs’ grasp and Postecoglou reiterated that a repeat of his side’s performance on Thursday night next week will see them advance.

He told reporters: “Obviously they scored the goal late, which doesn’t reflect our dominance in the game, but if we repeat that performance next week it’ll be enough for us to get through.

Tottenham may sign £300k-p/w Premier League star if they win Europa League

A lot is on the line.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 1, 2025

“Yeah, I think it puts us in a good position. I thought the players were outstanding today, I thought our performance was everything it needed to be, really well organised and disciplined defensively and really calm going forward and created good opportunities for ourselves.”

Europa League victory would no doubt help to turn the narrative of their season on its head, perhaps saving Postecoglou’s job in the process and even luring top transfer targets to the club.

Tottenham in constant contact with Jonathan Tah

According to The Boot Room, Tottenham are in constant contact with Jonathan Tah over a summer switch following the expiry of his current Bayer Leverkusen deal at the end of the season. The Lilywhites are far from alone, however, with Manchester United and now even Real Madrid also looking to convince the defender into a move.

As Paratici plots his first transfer back, those in North London could end the summer having landed a true bargain. The Leverkusen defender played a pivotal part in last season’s invincible domestic double and has impressed once again throughout the current campaign.

A player who’s earned plenty of praise over the years, former Germany boss Joachim Low told reporters after handing Tah his international debut at the beginning of his career: “He’s a young player with a lot of potential. He’s physically strong and very quick. Everything is possible.”

West Ham United’s Conference League-winning side of 2022/23 will go down in history at the London Stadium.

What a night it was for Hammers fans, with Jarrod Bowen becoming an instant legend of the club, scoring the winning goal to secure a late 2-1 win over Fiorentina.

West Ham supporters will surely remember the members of that team fondly for a long time. While some of them have now left the club, such as Declan Rice and Said Benrahma, several members of that squad are still playing at the London Stadium today, including matchwinner Bowen.

Another of those players still at the club is Tomas Soucek, but ahead of the summer transfer window, his future is up in the air.

The latest on Soucek's West Ham future

It does not appear as though Soucek will still be a West Ham player in five months, when the 2025/26 campaign will get underway.

The Czech Republic international is reportedly set to leave the club, according to Claret and Hugh, a reputable West Ham news source.

The Hammers-themed website spoke with a Premier League agent who said the 30-year-old ‘would like a new deal’, but at this stage, the East Londoners aren’t prepared to give him one, due to his age and the fact he has just two years left on his current contract. It is believed he could fetch upwards of £15m this summer.

It would surely be a shame for Hammers fans to say goodbye to a player who has given the club so much over the years. He’s donned the famous Claret and Blue shirt 241 times so far, scoring 40 goals and grabbing 13 assists.

He’s skippered the East London outfit at times, too, including once this season in a 3-2 win over Fulham, where he got on the scoresheet.

That goal was a classic Soucek strike, arriving into the box and getting on the end of a cross, this time with his foot, although it is often with his head.

However, the Czech star is not the only Hammers man who might be in line to leave this summer, with one high earner a player they could consider selling,

The West Ham player who should follow Soucek out of the door

There are famously two Czech players at West Ham, with Vladimir Coufal someone who has played a big part in their recent success over the years.

However, with the competition at right-back strong, and his high wages, there is every chance he could be in line to leave.

His involvement in the Premier League for the Hammers this term has decreased. Coufal has played just 18 times in the top flight, starting nine of those in total. He has not registered an assist and has actually only created one big chance, as per Sofascore.

With the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka last summer for £15m from Manchester United, and the switch to a back three, it does feel like Coufal’s role in the side has diminished, and it would surely not be surprising to see him depart.

Yet, he has been a wonderful servant for the club over the years. In total, the 32-year-old has played 176 games for the Irons, grabbing 20 assists in that time. Former club captain Rice once called him an “outstanding” player too. Sadly, he is not that anymore.

All good things must come to an end, and with the lack of involvement for Coufal in 2024/25, plus the fact he is coming towards the twilight of his career, the Hammers could well look to cash in.

He earns a sizeable amount per week too, a reported £35k to be exact. This would save West Ham money in the long term, given he earns £1.82m per year. It certainly feels like the money can be reinvested elsewhere.

Coufal has given lots to West Ham, and has been a loyal servant for the club. However, given his lack of involvement this season, and the cash the club can save on his wages, it might make sense if he was moved on at some stage soon.

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It has been an interesting season in 2024/25 for Chelsea. They face a fight on their hands to secure a spot in the top five, and are still competing in the UEFA Conference League, a competition many expect them to win.

In the top flight, the west London side are one of the biggest underperformers when it comes to expected goals, highlighting an issue in front of goal. As per Understat, they have an expected goals tally of 64.83xG, but have actually managed just 56 goals, an underperformance by 8.83. There are only four top-flight sides with a bigger underperformance.

Thus, it might not be a surprise that the Blues are targeting a new attacker this summer.

The forward Chelsea want to sign this summer

It has been a theme in the last few years that Chelsea have signed players, and even a manager, from Brighton and Hove Albion. Well, this summer might be no different, given they are linked with Seagulls attacker Georginio Rutter.

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According to a report from Florian Plettenberg, Enzo Maresca’s side are thought to be ‘closely monitoring the development’ of Rutter down on the South Coast, and could make a move for him this summer, having ‘added him to their shortlist’.

The situation between the versatile attacker and the West London outfit has been described as ‘one to watch’ by Plettenberg, ahead of what will be a busy summer at Stamford Bridge.

He did not clarify a price, but Football Transfers value him at upwards of £39m.

Why Rutter would be a good signing for Chelsea

It has been an impressive season so far for Rutter in his debut campaign for the Seagulls. This term, he has eight goals and five assists across all competitions for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, including five in the Premier League.

In fact, the 22-year-old Frenchman, who is capped at under-21 level for his country, might certainly help with the expected goals deficit at Stamford Bridge. He is generally a lot more consistent this term, with 5.68xG, a 0.68 difference from his actual tally, as per Understat.

Another reason Chelsea fans can get excited about signing Rutter is the flair he brings as part of his game. Described as an “entertainer” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, the former Leeds United star is a tricky customer for most defenders, and oozes confidence in one-vs-one scenarios.

Indeed, it is not just that video that showcases how exciting Rutter can be with the ball at his feet, but the numbers from FBref are also there to back it up.

For example, the Seagulls’ number 14 averages 1.47 successful take-ons per game, ranking him in the top 9% of forwards across Europe over the last year.

There are certainly shades of Chelsea legend Eden Hazard in Rutter. At his peak, the former Blues winger was described as the “best player in the league” by Jamie Carragher, who said he “does things that others can’t do”.

The legendary Belgian attacker was phenomenal in a Chelsea shirt. He scored 110 goals and grabbed 87 assists in 352 games for the west Londoners, becoming one of the most exciting players to watch in the Premier League.

That was thanks to his fearlessness on the ball, all the tricks at his disposal and the ability he had to glide past players. As per Sofascore per game, he averaged 5.8 successful dribbles in 2017/18, his highest on record.

If Rutter – registered 24 goals and assists for Leeds last season – is even half as good as Hazard was for Chelsea, they will have a world-beater on their hands. He certainly comes with lots of the flair their former number ten possessed, and has that ability to beat players in one-vs-one scenarios.

At just 22 years of age, there is plenty of time for Rutter to develop, too. He is a player who can score, create and carry in an effective manner, just like Hazard did. He could be a player Chelsea fans fall in love with.

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