Wolverhampton Wanderers have not only lost Matheus Cunha to Manchester United this summer, but they look set to sell Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Manchester City are reportedly closing in on sealing a deal worth around £36.3m for the left-back and this will leave a gaping hole in the Wolves’ defence.

Vitor Pereira will have money to spend, that’s for certain. The onus now is for him to bring in a suitable replacement for the Algerian star.

Wolves looking to sign Ait-Nouri replacement

With another season in the Premier League to look forward to, it won’t be hard to find a player who can step up to the mark and succeed in England.

Recent reports suggest the club are turning towards Barcelona for a player who could replace Ait-Nouri. How much will he cost, however?

Transfer Focus

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

It was reported last week that the Old Gold were showing plenty of interest in Barcelona defender Gerard Martin.

Now, a new report from Spain has emerged, stating just how much the Catalan side are willing to sell their left-back for this summer.

Barcelona are open to selling Martin for a fee in the region of €12m (£10m), which is certainly a bargain deal for the Molineux outfit. The report further states that Wolves are set to make the player an offer that will significantly improve his salary.

Having come through the club’s famed La Masia academy, Hansi Flick will make a profit on the defender, and given Barcelona’s still precarious financial situation, it is a deal they are willing to consider.

With money not an issue in this regard, Pereira will be hoping to secure his signature as soon as possible.

Why Wolves must sign Gerard Martin to replace Ait-Nouri

Ait-Nouri ended his most productive season at Wolves since joining in 2020. Across 41 matches in all competitions, he scored five goals and grabbed seven assists.

He also created eight big chances, averaged 1.3 key passes and succeeded with 1.7 dribbles in the top flight for the Old Gold, signifying his attacking presence.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

41

5

7

2023/24

38

3

4

2022/23

27

2

1

2021/22

27

1

6

2020/21

27

1

2

This will be missed, of course, but Martin looks like a ready-made replacement ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Indeed, he might have only started 11 of his 28 La Liga appearances, but the 23-year-old still managed to score once and provide three assists domestically.

Arguably, his finest performance came against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final second leg last month.

Although Barcelona lost the tie, Martin provided two assists during the game, as well as delivering nine crosses, winning seven duels and creating two big chances for the club. Essentially, it was a very Ait-Nouri-esque display.

This impact on the biggest stage of all should convince Pereira that Martin is the correct replacement for the departing Algerian, no doubt about that.

Football writer Zach Lowy recently stated that while Martin was still “quite raw”, he “has tremendous upside and character” and Wolves could be an ideal place for him to become a starting left-back.

For a fee of just £10m, it is unlikely the club will do much better throughout the transfer window.

Wolves could sign dream Cunha replacement who's "Bruno Fernandes-esque"

Wolves are seeking a replacement for Matheus Cunha this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 8, 2025

Everton have now made an offer to sign a “highly talented” defender, whose club are now willing to cash-in this summer, according to a report.

Toffees eyeing defenders with Keane departure imminent

Michael Keane’s time on Merseyside is coming to an end, with the 32-year-old set to leave Goodison Park upon the expiration of his contract this summer, meaning David Moyes will be tasked with bringing in a new centre-back.

There is no shortage of options for the Toffees, who have wasted no time identiying potential replacements for the English defender, with Nantes’ Nathan Zeze the latest player to join the list of targets.

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Nathan Zeze

Nantes

£17m+

Yann Bisseck

Inter Milan

£47m

John Stones

Manchester City

Unknown

Victor Lindelof

Manchester United

Free

The need to bring in a new centre-back could also be exacerbated by Jarrad Branthwaite’s potential departure, with Chelsea now keen on taking the Englishman to Stamford Bridge.

One defender who will not be leaving the Blues this summer is Seamus Coleman, with the Irishman’s contract recently being extended by one year, but there have been suggestions that a new right-back could arrive at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Coventry City’s Milan van Ewijk emerged as a potential option for Moyes’ side earlier this week, and a report from Turkey (via Sport Witness) has revealed that Everton have also made an offer for Galatasaray right-back Elias Jelert.

Galatasaray are looking to cash-in on Jelert this summer, amid interest from a range of different clubs, with some unnamed Spanish sides coming forward with proposals of their own.

A deal is likely to be relatively inexpensive, with the Turkish side looking to recoup the €9m (£8m) they spent on the right-back, but a loan deal also remains a possibility, given their eagerness to get him off the books.

Jelert struggling in Turkey despite being "highly talented"

It is clear that Everton need to start thinking about long-term replacements for Coleman, given that the captain is now 36-years-old, and there are some signs the Galatasaray defender could be a suitable option.

The Dane was lauded as “highly talented” by analyst Jacek Kulig during his time with FC Copenhagen, during which time the 21-year-old racked up a great deal of first-team experience at a young age, making 97 appearances for the club.

The next Richarlison: Everton join race to sign "extraordinary" £30m CF

David Moyes is hoping to sign a new striker at Everton this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 20, 2025

However, it would be fair to say the move to Galatasaray hasn’t worked out for the youngster, who has made just a handful of starts for the Turkish champions this season, which suggests he isn’t at the level to make the step-up to the Premier League.

As such, despite the fact Jelert could be available on the cheap, it would be a risk to bring in the Denmark international this summer, and it may be wise for Everton to sign a player who is proven in a major European league.

Talks are now underway as Aston Villa look to complete the signing of a “world-class” player this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Asensio happy to stay at Aston Villa

Unai Emery’s side ultimately missed out on Champions League qualification this season, but it was still another productive campaign overall, with loanees Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio making a good impression.

The 29-year-old Spaniard added proven quality and end product to Villa’s attack, scoring three goals in the Premier League and Champions League, and he spoke of his admiration for Emery.

“Unai is a coach that I’ve known for a while. He’s had a great career, he’s a top coach, he’s been key in me being able to come here because of his idea of how he wants to play football. I love it, it suits me perfectly and he’s a really important person as to why I’m here right now.”

Thankfully, Asensio is reportedly open to staying put at Villa and signing for good this summer, which will go down well with many supporters, considering the impact former Real Madrid man has made at times. Now, a new update has provided further news on the situation.

New Asensio to Aston Villa update emerges

According to Birmingham World, Aston Villa have held talks with PSG over the permanent signing of Asensio this summer, in a positive update. The Villans are “eager” to snap him up as soon as possible, no doubt to ensure that another team doesn’t get there first, and it is even claimed that Emery is “obsessed with the idea” of retaining his services.

Villa signing Asensio permanently is a no-brainer, with the Spain international still very much in his peak years, and capable of being a talismanic attacking player moving forward.

The £6m-a-year attacker is a match-winning footballer with a winning mentality, having scored in the 2017 Champions League final and won the competition three times during his Madrid days, and Matthew Upson has heaped praise on him.

“Marco Asensio is clever in where he positions himself. It’s a nightmare really. He comes on the pitch, and he has the knack to pick up the right areas. You need to get yourself in a mentality that, when it’s your turn to play your part, you’re at your best, and you’re delivering. That’s what world-class players do. He’s in that bracket. He’s a great signing for Villa, and he’s going to play a big part in the exciting finish to the season they have ahead.”

Related Martinez upgrade: Aston Villa eyeing "one of the best young GKs in Europe"

With Emi Martínez potentially poised to leave Aston Villa this summer, could they replace him with one of Europe’s “most talented young goalkeepers”?

Posts ByBen Gray Jun 2, 2025

Signing Asensio would feel like a statement of intent by Villa, showing that they are capable of tying down world-renowned players on a permanent basis, even without Champions League football.

Hopefully, he can play a huge part in the next three or four years, potentially even becoming one of the Villans’ best attacking players of the Premier League era.

It’s finally confirmed. Matheus Cunha has left Wolverhampton Wanderers to join Manchester United in a £62.5m deal.

The move was agreed last month, but the Brazilian has now officially departed, giving Vitor Pereira some funds to work with this summer.

Pereira will have to spend wisely to replace the former Atlético Madrid star, as he was capable of moments of genius for the club during his two-and-a-half-year stint in the Midlands.

Indeed, he perhaps single-handedly kept the club in the Premier League last season, especially after they suffered a dreadful start to the campaign.

Matheus Cunha's 2024/25 season in numbers

Last season, he finished with 23 goal contributions – 17 goals and six assists – across 36 matches for the club in all competitions.

It was his displays in the top flight, however, that earmarked him as a target for several clubs.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

36

17

6

2023/24

36

14

8

2022/23

20

2

1

In the Premier League, he ranked first among the Wolves’ first-team squad for goals and assists (21), shots on target per match (1.3), big chances created (13) and key passes per game (1.8).

These statistics were mighty impressive, and it makes Pereira’s job of sourcing a replacement that much harder.

He has money to spend, that much is certain. But spending it on the right players will be the most important aspect.

Wolves search for a Matheus Cunha replacement

As reported by journalist Sebastien Denis earlier this week, writing for Foot Mercato, Wolves are reportedly targeting a swoop for FC St Gallen striker Willem Geubbels this summer.

Leeds United are also keen on securing his services following a prolific campaign in Switzerland.

A €10m (£8.5m) asking price is all that stands in Pereira’s way and given the financial rewards on offer for another season in the top flight, this fee won’t be any issue whatsoever.

Across 31 matches in the Swiss Super League for St. Gallen, Geubbels scored 14 goals and grabbed three assists.

Although typically deployed as a centre-forward, the youngster is also able to operate on either wing, and this flexibility will be a major bonus for the club.

This is evidenced by his performance across a range of metrics. Geubbels created seven big chances in the Swiss top flight, while also averaging 1.4 key passes and 2.5 total shots per game for St. Gallen.

Not quite at Cunha’s level, yet. But a move to Wolves could see him improve swiftly, especially with exposure to some of the best defenders in Europe.

Hailed as both “powerful” and “quick” by Kai Watson writing in the Rangers Journal in January 2024, Geubbels will offer plenty to the current Wolves squad.

Watson also stated that the youngster “plays the deeper role as part of a front two because of his creative ability.” And this could see him exuding the qualities that made Cunha such a hit at Molineux since joining in 2023.

Pereira must act quickly to snap up the young forward, especially as plenty of interested parties are keen.

Wolves now in transfer race with Leeds to sign "future star" for £8.5m

Wolves are among the teams keen on signing an exciting young forward.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 12, 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.

Transfer Focus

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

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.

Kwame Poku (League One)	23/24	24/25
Appearances	37	27
Goals	11	12
Big chances missed	11	3
Big chances created	10	9
Key passes per game	1.5	1.2
Assists	7	8
Stats via Sofascore

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.

2

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.

Footballers who possess a unique style of play, supreme technical ability or untapped potential are often referred to as ‘streets won’t forget’ players.

Whether it be Premier League one-season wonders like Michu, tricky mavericks such as Hatem Ben Arfa or players who simply grabbed their moments on the biggest stage like South Africa World Cup star Siphiwe Tshabalala, football fans will always have a soft spot for those players who captured hearts and minds.

Some, like Adel Taarabt, never fulfilled their true potential, while others had glittering careers, but the rise of social media and the pure volume of football coverage has led fans to yearn for those stars who rocked up once a week on a Saturday afternoon with no intention other than to amaze their spectators.

Top ‘streets won’t forget’ players in Premier League history

10. Yannick Bolasie

9. Andrey Arshavin

8. Papiss Cissé

7, Dimitri Payet

6. Morten Gamst Pedersen

5. Mousa Dembele

4. Jay-Jay Okocha

3. Adel Taarabt

2. Michu

1. Hatem Ben Arfa

“The boy Michu has been a revelation,” Sir Alex Ferguson once said of Swansea’s Spanish striker. “To sign him for just £2 million and get 20 goals out of him – what a bargain!”

Such cult hero status doesn’t exclusively belong to goalscorers however, as Mousa Dembele proved during his time at Tottenham Hotspur. The Belgian only found the net ten times in 249 appearances for Spurs, but is regarded as one of the most technically gifted midfielders of all time.

Dembele's teammates called him the one of the best players in the world

Winning 82 caps for Belgium, Dembele drew praise throughout his career for his ability to evade the press, weaving his way out of trouble as a deep-lying midfielder.

Dembele started his career as a winger and idolised legendary forward Patrick Kluivert, which led to him being almost impossible to dispossess in midfield, and Harry Kane once said he was the most technically gifted player he’s played with.

Plenty of Spurs stars have echoed this sentiment down the years, with Dele Alli claiming Dembele was the best player in the squad back in 2016, and current captain Son Heung-min revealing: “Mousa he is incredible. I haven’t seen a player like this. I have never seen this.”

Perhaps the best indication of a player’s talent however is what their opponents have to say, and Arsenal icon Jack Wilshere named Dembele as his toughest ever opponent – even despite being left in awe of Lionel Messi.

Dembele at Tottenham

Starts

Goals

Assists

League Finish

2012-13

26

1

3

5th

2013-14

22

1

1

6th

2014-15

10

1

1

5th

2015-16

27

3

1

3rd

2016-17

24

1

1

2nd

2017-18

21

0

0

3rd

2018-19

7

0

0

4th

With elite teams now spending hundreds of millions on finding the perfect midfielder, the Tottenham legend’s aesthetically pleasing style would catch a hefty fee in today’s transfer market.

Related AI predicts the 2025/26 Premier League table

Who are the winners and losers from AI’s table?

Posts 1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 7, 2025

Manchester United have now held talks with the agent of a “sensational” player, who is among the main contenders for the Ballon d’Or, according to a report.

Man Utd's pulling power called into question

The Europa League loss against Tottenham Hotspur means, of course, that Champions League football has once again eluded Man United, and Roy Keane has suggested his former club no longer have the pulling power to attract top players.

However, Old Trafford clearly remains an attractive destination, even though European football will not be on offer next season, with it recently being revealed that Bryan Mbeumo would still prefer to join United ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.

Man Utd now open talks to sign "world-class" £103k-a-week Barcelona player

He’s won 20 trophies in his career so far.

ByDominic Lund Jun 11, 2025

There have also been suggestions that Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres remains interested in a move, despite the highly sought-after striker attracting the attention of some other top clubs, suggesting the Red Devils clearly still have pulling power.

As such, Man United have now stepped up their pursuit of the highly-regarded Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, making contact with his agent, Enzo Raiola, in order to discuss a potential summer move.

Donnarumma’s PSG contract is set to expire next June, meaning he could be on the move this summer, despite expressing a willingness to remain at the French club, saying: “My priority is to stay at PSG. I don’t think there will be problems in the negotiations.”

Ruben Amorim is keen to bring in an upgrade on Andre Onana, but it could be difficult to tempt the goalkeeper into a move, considering his desire to remain in Paris, and Champions League finalists Inter Milan could provide competition for his signature.

"Sensational" Donnarumma emerges as Ballon d'Or contender

With just one year left on his deal, the Italian could be available for just £34m this summer, which could be a bargain fee for a player vying to win the Ballon d’Or, currently ranked fourth in the 2025 Power Rankings.

In recent times, a player from the Champions League winners has often scooped up the prestigious award, and the 26-year-old kept a clean sheet in PSG’s 5-0 demolition of Inter in the final, although Desire Doue was arguably the star of the show.

Not only did the PSG shot-stopper impress in Munich, but he also caught the eye of Joe Prince-Wright in the semi-final against Arsenal, with the reporter suggesting the Italy international was one of the main reasons his side progressed past the Gunners.

Evidently, Donnarumma could be a fantastic signing for Man United, but it seems unlikely that he would be willing to leave the European champions to move to Old Trafford.

2024/25 has been the season of the underdog – something Newcastle United are aware of more than most, having seen off Premier League champions, Liverpool, to claim Carabao Cup glory at Wembley earlier this year.

A central part of ending the Magpies’ lengthy silverware drought has been the underdog’s underdog, Jacob Murphy, with the previously maligned Englishman enjoying a simply sensational campaign at St James’ Park.

Eight years on from joining from Norwich City, the long-serving speedster has finally found his groove, having enjoyed steady improvements last term after finishing with 11 goals and assists in what was, at that point, by far his best-ever Premier League campaign.

A year on, the 30-year-old is now basking in the success of a 2024/25 season that ended with almost double the number of league goal involvements, having rightly been lauded for his “absolutely incredible” form by pundit Daniel Sturridge.

Unfortunately for Murphy, however, it looks likely that he’ll face a battle to hold down a starting berth on the right flank next term, not least with Eddie Howe and co seemingly chasing the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Mohammed Kudus.

Latest on Newcastle's interest in Mbeumo and Kudus

There is an argument that Murphy’s ascension has simply come as a result of the lack of alternatives available to Howe on that right-hand side, particularly with Miguel Almiron returning to Atlanta United back in January.

Of course, the experienced winger deserves credit for taking his chance with both hands, although it has been evident that a fresh face is what the Magpies truly want – not least after bidding £50m for Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga last summer.

Now heading into another summer window, all eyes are on Brentford’s Mbeumo, with reports suggesting that PIF are ready to make a bid for the Cameroon international, amid rival interest from Manchester United.

The £60m-rated sensation has enjoyed a remarkable rise of his own, having scored 20 league goals for the Bees this season, with a departure from the Gtech now looking a possibility with just a year left on his current deal.

While the 25-year-old looks to be the club’s leading target, an alternative option has emerged in the form of West Ham United’s Kudus – with the latest reports indicating that the Hammers could accept a bid of around £65-£70m.

As those price tags emphasise, plugging that gap on the right flank certainly won’t come cheap for those on Tyneside, with the club perhaps ruing their decision to cash in on their own Mbeumo and Kudus hybrid.

Newcastle already sold their own Mbeumo and Kudus

Following a season that ended with a League Cup triumph and Champions League qualification, it is difficult to suggest anything should have been done differently, with the Magpies riding the crest of a wave right now.

That said, in years to come the club may look back on last summer’s PSR-enforced transfer activity with a tinge of regret, having sold homegrown sensation, Elliott Anderson, to Nottingham Forest for £35m, while also allowing Yankuba Minteh to join Brighton and Hove Albion for £30m.

In the case of the latter man, he never actually made an appearance for Newcastle, prior to his swift exit, with the Gambian initially signing from Danish side Odense, before joining Feyenoord on loan for the 2023/24 campaign.

That stint in Holland, while working under Arne Slot, saw the 20-year-old register 16 goals and assists in 37 games in all competitions, with one scout even noting that he could “reach Sadio Mane[‘s] level” in the future.

An obvious talent then, although with the Magpies needing to comply with financial regulations, the decision was taken to offload Minteh to the Seagulls, a move that has since yielded 12 goals and assists for the young winger. For comparison, Kudus ended the season with just nine goals and assists.

Non-penalty goals

0.17

0.40

0.29

Shots

2.61

2.08

1.66

Assists

0.10

0.18

0.20

Shot-creating actions

3.72

3.80

3.13

Pass completion

83.6%

66.1%

62.5%

Progressive passes

2.75

3.72

2.35

Progressive carries

3.41

3.43

4.41

Successful take-ons

3.20

1.37

2.25

Touches in attacking box

4.41

4.43

7.15

Progressive passes received

7.51

9.25

9.84

A direct left-footer, with pace to burn, who operates on the right flank, the Brighton starlet certainly shares a more than passing likeness to both Mbeumo and to Kudus, a fact that has been reinforced by FBref noting that the pair are among the Premier League players deemed to be statistically similar to him.

The trio are particularly alike with regard to their dribbling prowess, as evidenced in their successful take-on percentage, while they are all adept ball carriers, who can drag their team up the pitch.

Tipped to have “a massive future” in the game by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley – who suggested last year that Newcastle’s right wing woes would be “solved” by integrating the youngster – Minteh looks to be the type of player that Howe and co are chasing this summer.

Yes, the Tynesiders could well forget all about that 2024 sale, if one of Kudus or Mbeumo makes the move this time around, although it may well sting that they could have fixed their problem position a year ago.

Anthony Gordon 2.0: Newcastle prepare offer for "world-class" £20m star

Newcastle are prepared to make a series of exciting signings in the transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair May 30, 2025

Former fast bowler accuses board of ‘craven, disingenuous and despicable attempt to rewrite history’

Osman Samiuddin18-Jun-2024

Running Out Racism made public a letter advising that disciplinary proceedings were not being initiated against Blain•Getty Images

Cricket Scotland’s attempts to conclude independent investigations into allegations of racist behaviour have been overshadowed by an escalating row with John Blain, the former Yorkshire and Scotland fast bowler.Blain, who last week declared that he had been “exonerated”of racism allegations dating back to 2007, pre-empted Cricket Scotland’s formal conclusion of the process on Tuesday afternoon by issuing a further statement threatening legal action against the board. He accused Cricket Scotland of “a craven, disingenuous and despicable attempt… to rewrite history a week after I was forced to go public to clear my name.”Blain was sent a letter in January this year by the board in which they said allegations of racism against him had been “unfounded”. The letter, sent by then interim CEO Peter Fitzboydon, was the basis for Blain to go public saying he had been cleared of the allegations and that the investigations “fully exonerate me”.Related

Cricket Scotland under renewed fire after alleged racism cover-up

Cricket Scotland chief exec: 'I'm determined to find a way through this for everyone'

Cricket Scotland's CEO calls Blain's public comments 'very disappointing'

John Blain calls for Cricket Scotland inquiry after being cleared of racist behaviour

But a letter sent by Cricket Scotland to one of the complainants against Blain reveals that he has not been exonerated. The letter was made public by Running Out Racism, the anti-racism advocacy group that has been advising complainants through the process. In it the board explain why disciplinary proceedings were not being initiated against Blain but make clear: “This procedural inability to progress these matters to a Conduct in Sport Panel is not a statement of exoneration.”The identity of the complainant has not been made public, but ESPNcricinfo has confirmed and verified with the former player their account of the allegations as well as the letter they received.In its own statement, issued on Tuesday afternoon after Blain’s, Cricket Scotland said that Blain’s cases “were not progressed further due to a combination of insufficient evidence, a lack of an applicable rule at the time of the complaint, and/or a lack of jurisdictional remit or authority to take formal action” – a subtle but clear distinction from its communication of “unfounded” in January.Blain’s case was the only one specifically referred to within Cricket Scotland’s statement. Though the board said it could not comment publicly on the reasons for Fitzboydon to present Blain with the outcome of his cases in the manner that he did, it is believed significant welfare concerns around Blain had been raised at the time Blain confirmed as much, alleging that the board’s “preposterous position now appears to be that they in fact lied to me out of consideration for my welfare!” Blain has previously spoken about the toll the case had taken on his mental health.”This latest Cricket Scotland letter is a desperate attempt to reinvent history and to row back from an unequivocal exoneration,” Blain said, adding that Fitzboydon was not the only CEO to tell him the allegations were “unfounded”.”Not only did Pete Fitzboydon, the CEO of Cricket Scotland, write to me in January to say that all of the claims against me were unfounded, that I had no case to answer, and my case was closed, but that position was clearly confirmed by his successor Trudy Lindblade in a phone call with me in February.”She reiterated on the call that the claims against me were unfounded and the case against me was closed. I am sure that, if asked, she will publicly confirm that to be the case.”Blain said he was now exploring legal options. “I will now confer with my lawyers and take all steps necessary to protect my reputation in light of this extraordinary and unsustainable about-turn.”On Tuesday the board officially closed investigations into the series of referrals stemming from the ‘Changing the Boundaries’ report in 2022 that found Cricket Scotland to be institutionally racist. But since Blain went public, pressure had been building on the board to clarify that he had not been exonerated but that the board were unable to progress with disciplinary proceedings against him.Blain’s statement prompted the investigating team to issue the only public utterance they have in two years, in which they made it clear nobody had been exonerated. And in a further illustration of their unhappiness with Blain’s statements, ESPNcricinfo is aware of a letter the investigating team sent to Cricket Scotland strongly urging the board to correct Blain in writing as to the outcomes of complaints against him.That correction appears to have been made, at least in the redacted letter they sent to the complainant, a copy of which is available with ESPNcricinfo.”None of these outcomes take away from the feelings that you have as a result of the incidents you reported, but they do impact on Cricket Scotland’s ability to take formal action,” the letter to the complainant reads.”We are keen to stress that none of the above seeks to undermine the belief that you had regarding the way that you were treated, but sets out the reasons why we will not be bringing disciplinary proceedings against John Blain.”Running Out Racism said the letter confirms “a contradictory account provided by Cricket Scotland to one of the complainants… and demonstrates that the allegations made were not ‘unfounded’, but not investigated due to them not having rules or jurisdiction at the time.”Cricket Scotland has sent communication to complainants and respondents in all the referrals that have now been concluded, including to Blain. He is expected to receive in his letter clarification around the correspondence he was initially sent by Fitzboydon, in which it has been made clear the reasons for disciplinary proceedings not going ahead.The board also apologised once again to all victims of racism and discriminatory behaviour as it concluded what has been a long and complex two-year investigations process. Fifty-three referrals ultimately emerged from the ‘Changing the Boundaries’ report, of which 51 have now been investigated and stand concluded. Two referrals have not begun being investigated for external legal reasons.Only five of the 51 completed referrals have, however, proceeded to disciplinary action. Cricket Scotland said the others had not met the criteria to be taken further, which included not demonstrating “sufficient evidence”, a “clear breach of a rule that had been in place at the time of the offence”, and the “requisite jurisdictional remit to proceed with the case”.The rest of the referrals have concluded with a series of learnings – over 250 – for Cricket Scotland to take on board as it attempts to move on from the central finding of the report that it was institutionally racist.”It is clear that there are no ‘winners’ from this damaging and divisive period for cricket in Scotland,” Lindblade, the current CEO, said in the statement. “Since joining in February this year, I know for a fact that Cricket Scotland has been driven to learn from mistakes of the past to ensure they do not happen again.”The legacy of the referrals process will be the wholesale restructuring of Cricket Scotland for the benefit of all within our sport.”The board has asked complainants to consider seeking mediation as a next step. “It is the Board’s wish that reconciliation and where necessary, independent mediation is accepted by those involved, for the good of individual personal relationships and for the good of the sport in Scotland,” said the Cricket Scotland chair Wilf Walsh.

Chelsea have already made their first signing of the summer transfer window as Liam Delap joins from Ipswich Town.

Enzo Maresca was keen on getting this deal done as swiftly as possible, and it sets the club up nicely for the Club World Cup this month.

While improving his attacking options is key, adding another defender or two is certainly on his list.

Chelsea’s search for a defender

Marc Guehi has been linked previously, but it doesn’t look like there is any progress on that deal. Marc Gila is another who has been linked, but it appears as though Maresca is after just one man at the moment – Jorrel Hato.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, journalist Ben Jacobs has stated that the Dutchman “remains a player of interest to Chelsea”, with the Blues said to be “exploring” potential targets – having seemingly ruled out a move for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.

A fee of around £46m could be enough to secure the services of the versatile defender, which may well turn into a bargain.

If he does make the move to Stamford Bridge, Hato could prove to be even better than Marc Cucurella, especially given his impressive attacking abilities.

Why Chelsea must now sign Jorrel Hato

Cucurella played all but two Premier League matches for the Blues last season, establishing himself as the first-choice left-back.

He contributed with six goals and assists and created three big chances for the club as they secured Champions League football for the first time since 2022/23.

Playing in the same position, Hato was also a regular for Ajax last season. Across 31 Eredivisie matches, the Dutchman scored twice and grabbed six assists, while also creating six big chances for his teammates.

At seven years younger than the Spaniard, Hato would be an ideal long-term option on the left side of the defence for Maresca, that’s for sure.

That is evidenced by the fact that when comparing the pair and their respective statistics, via Sofascore, Hato betters Cucurella across a range of statistics.

Metric (per 90)

Cucurella

Hato

Accurate passes

40.3

45.2

Key passes

0.5

0.6

Tackles

1.9

1.9

Total duels won

3.9

4.1

Balls recovered

3.6

4.2

Possession lost

7.8

8.3

Indeed, the youngster registered more goal-creating actions per 90 (0.34 vs 0.18), a higher percentage of successful take-ons (35% vs 23.5%) per 90, more progressive carries (53 vs 43) and won a higher percentage of aerial duels per 90 (55.6% vs 39.2%) than the Chelsea defender last season.

Hato has gone from strength to strength since making his debut for Ajax, and his 2024/25 campaign was widely praised, especially by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who said he has “immense quality” while possessing a “huge future ahead”.

If Maresca can secure his signature, it would represent a major coup for the Blues. Cucurella would certainly be an able deputy for the youngster, but Hato should be the starting left-back for the Blues next term.

His ability to also play centre-back will come in useful for the manager, especially as the club will be fighting across several fronts next season.

For ‘just’ £46m, a move makes perfect sense indeed.

Shades of Hazard: Chelsea to make £59m bid for "generational" star

Chelsea could be about to land themselves a star who can follow in the footsteps of Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 7, 2025