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An exciting Newcastle United injury lift has emerged over the weekend regarding two first-team players…

What’s the talk?

Magpies boss Eddie Howe has reacted to Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson both making their long-awaited returns from their respective knocks.

Both players came off the bench in what turned out to be a disappointing afternoon for the Toon army as they lost 5-0 to Manchester City at The Etihad in the Premier League.

After the match, The Chronicle quoted Howe as saying: “Massive boost for everyone connected at Newcastle to see them back. We have missed them.”

Supporters will be buzzing

The supporters will surely be buzzing with both of them being back in action for the Magpies for multiple reasons.

Firstly, it means that Trippier and Wilson can both have a say in where Newcastle finish in the league table. They are currently one point off the top half of the table and this means that they are in with a realistic chance of landing in the top-10 if they can pick up results against Arsenal and Burnley.

Both players being fit and available will be a boost because they have proven that they can put in top performances for the club. Trippier has averaged an exceptional SofaScore rating of 7.42 since arriving from Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window and has scored two goals for the club to date, showing that he can make an impact in the final third whilst putting in sublime all-round displays from full-back.

Wilson, on the other hand, has scored 18 Premier League goals since the start of last season. He has found the back of the net six times in 14 starts this term after managing 12 goals and five assists in 23 starts in 2020/21, which shows that he is capable of being a match-winner for the Magpies with his knack for scoring goals.

Therefore, both players have the requisite quality to have a major say in Newcastle’s last two matches of the campaign. They can help the team to finish in the top half and that would be an exciting way to end Howe’s first season at the club.

The fans will also be buzzing with their availability as it means that they will be getting game time under their belt ahead of 2022/23. It means that they will not be arriving for pre-season with more work to do than the others as they have been fully integrated back into the group this month.

AND in other news, Forget Dubravka: £23k-p/w NUFC lightweight who lost 75% duels let Howe down badly…

Everton are plotting a summer move for FC Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet according to reports from Spain.

What’s the story?

A Spanish outlet is reporting that the centre back is one of the players that Barcelona want to sell ahead of next season in order to raise cash to help fund their rebuild.

He’s rated at £12.6m and Everton are reportedly one of three teams interested in him, along with Sevilla and fellow Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

The back-four has been one of the weakest areas of Frank Lampard’s team this campaign, and if they do avoid relegation, they will need to drastically improve it to make sure they aren’t in a battle for survival next year.

He’s an upgrade on Keane

It wouldn’t be hard to improve on a defence that has far from impressed the Everton faithful, and signing Lenglet could make all the difference. He’s an experienced player and has lifted La Liga during his time in Catalonia.

He could be the perfect player during the Toffees’ transition, and given the Spanish giants want him gone, they wouldn’t have to break the bank either.

One of the players he would be competing with at Goodison Park, or perhaps sitting alongside, is Michael Keane. The former England international has received a lot of criticism this season, and with Everton’s leaky defence having conceded 56 goals, it seems justified.

If you look at their statistics you can see that Lenglet would be a clear upgrade. The Frenchman has tackled a higher percentage of dribblers at 67% compared to Keane’s 60%.

He’s been described as a “top player” by French national team manager Didier Deschamps and a “monster” by Yahoo France and it would be somewhat of a coup for Everton if he moved to Merseyside.

As well as defending one on one, the Barcelona man is also more reliable with the ball. He has an impressive overall pass completion percentage of 90% which is considerably higher than Keane’s 77%.

If the Toffees survive, then the 26-year old should be high on their list of priorities. They’ll struggle to attract big names out of fear they may be in the same relegation battle again, but he’s a player that would easily be available and would consider a Premier League move.

The pressure will be on Lampard to produce results next season and he needs a quality defender like Lenglet to help him do just that.

IN other news: Lampard must brutally axe £22.5m-rated Everton “danger” who’s just “not that good”…

Pundit Micah Richards has made a claim on Leeds United defender Liam Cooper after his injury scare on the weekend.

The Lowdown: Cooper set for scans

It was a weekend to forget for the Whites on all fronts, with relegation rivals Burnley and Everton picking up three points each to leave Leeds on the brink of the bottom three.

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Leeds fell to a 4-0 defeat to leaders Manchester City, with Stuart Dallas suffering a broken leg at Elland Road.

Dallas wasn’t the only Leeds player injured on Saturday evening, though, with captain Liam Cooper withdrawing from the starting line-up after pulling up in the warm-up due to a knee problem which requires a scan.

The Latest: ‘Massive’

Speaking live on BBC Monday Night Club, relayed by MOT Leeds News, Richards, who contributes regularly for BBC Radio 5 Live and Match of the Day, had this to say on Cooper and his latest problem.

“Cooper being out is massive for them.

“While they’ve conceded the most, when you’re going up against Man City, especially from set-pieces, if they pick you apart you hold your hands up.”

The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Cooper’s return to action last month following a hamstring problem coincided with a change in form at the back for Leeds, so this fresh injury concern could be a big problem.

Jesse Marsch’s side picked up five points from nine and conceded just once in games with Southampton, Watford and Crystal Palace with Cooper back in the side from the off.

The Whites star has been the club’s second-best performer this season, with Dallas third, as per WhoScored, so Leeds officials will be desperate to find out the centre-back’s knee problem isn’t too serious heading into the final four games.

In other news: Leeds want to sign ‘X-factor’ attacker despite possible relegation.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has lamented the omission of Cameron Carter-Vickers from the list of nominees for the PFA Player of the Season award. 

The lowdown: Standout campaign

Signed on loan from Tottenham Hotspur for the duration of the 2021/22 campaign, the 24-year-old eight-cap USA international has enjoyed a coming of age season in the Scottish Premiership.

Having previously endured difficult spells at Sheffield United, AFC Bournemouth, Swansea City, Stoke City and Luton Town, the Spurs academy graduate has adapted well to life in Glasgow.

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So well in fact, that one ex-Hoop cannot believe the USA international has been overlooked for the end of season honour…

The latest: Sutton bewildered

Taking to Twitter, the BT Sport pundit was shocked after news emerged of just two Celtic players featuring on the shortlist.

“The best player in Scotland this season has been Cameron Carter-Vickers by a stretch… how is he not on the list??”

The four nominees are Celtic duo Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor as well as Ross County striker Regan Charles-Cook and Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

The verdict: Spot on

The decision not to include the £2.7million valued star in the final reckoning is certainly a baffling one.

So far this season the powerful centre-back has earned an outstanding 7.36 average match rating from 28 Scottish Premiership outings – the fifth highest in the top flight behind only Rangers captain James Tavernier and Parkhead trio David Turnbull, Jota and Anthony Ralston (Sofascore).

Statistics aside, the influence of Carter-Vickers on Ange Postecoglou’s side has been significant as the Bhoys march on towards the title, having kept a pivotal league-high 18 clean sheets in the process – an entity that were few and far between last term for the Hoops.

In other news, Frank McAvennie is in awe of one Celtic player’s development. Find out who it is here.

Leeds United are on the lookout for attacking potency in January and could be set to back Daniel Farke in his pursuit to bring a talented forward to Elland Road.

The Whites find themselves embroiled in a fight against the drop, and not everyone is feeling wholly confident in the former Norwich City boss, even if his side has produced some encouraging moments this term.

All too often, fine margins determine the outcome of Premier League matches, and Farke’s side has been on the wrong side of them, leading some to question his ability to lead the Whites forward.

With that in mind, Leeds are keen to source proven quality in the form of Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, even if his £325,000 wages may prove to be a stumbling block in negotiations.

Signings or no signings, Farke has vowed that his side won’t change as they aim to secure top-flight football for next term, claiming that their approach to being successful will pay off in the long run.

He said before his side took on Aston Villa: “If you follow our way of working over the past two and half years, you know exactly what we are doing, how we try to approach a game and try to be successful. This won’t change at all.”

Sticking by your principles can be the defining choice that determines whether a manager is successful in keeping their job. Farke has been a nice fit for Leeds since arriving at Elland Road, though he has routinely come under scrutiny and is now back under the spotlight.

Either way, the January transfer window is creeping closer, and the 49ers could now be set to back their man as they pursue an exciting striker.

Leeds in pursuit of Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia

According to The Mirror, Leeds are willing to sign Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia on an initial six-month loan with a £20 million mandatory purchase option in the summer as the 49ers aim to back Farke in the New Year.

However, there has been a twist as Los Blancos boss Xabi Alonso is said to have blocked the move, notifying the forward that he is still part of his plans both in the immediate term and further down the line.

Gonzalo Garcia at Real Madrid – all competitions

Appearances

21

Goals

5

Assists

3

Intriguingly, Leeds were confident that they could lure Garcia to England before the ex-Liverpool star’s intervention, and the Spain Under-21 international was also said to be keen on a move to the Premier League after finding regular minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu hard to come by.

Alonso is aware he will need to utilise his whole squad, potentially offering more openings for the 21-year-old to feature as Real Madrid chase more silverware both domestically and in Europe.

Leeds are also eyeing an alternative £20m forward

Bursting onto the scene at the Club World Cup, Garcia would certainly be a viable option in the Leeds attack if they were able to complete a deal, though any chance of that now looks to be unlikely unless circumstances change.

After a stop-start opening to the season, Newcastle United finally appear to be finding rhythm.

Going into their recent home fixture, Eddie Howe’s side had one of the lowest expected goals tallies in the Premier League – a concerning figure for a team competing in the Champions League and aiming for another top-four push.

But after back-to-back victories, 4-0 against Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise and 2-0 at home to Nottingham Forest, the Magpies look revitalised.

The improvement has been clear. Six goals in two games without conceding is a sign that Newcastle are balancing both ends of the pitch.

The performances weren’t so emphatic as to raise expectations sky-high, but they were precisely the kind of controlled, confident displays Howe would have wanted.

And perhaps most impressively, they’ve come despite a growing injury list.

Both starting full-backs, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, face extended spells on the sidelines.

Fabian Schär, meanwhile, has only just returned from concussion, but his place in the starting XI is suddenly far from guaranteed.

That’s because his replacement, a £30m summer signing from AC Milan, has made a seamless transition into the side.

While the spotlight currently belongs to the man spearheading Newcastle’s attack, it may be their new defender who turns out to be “one of the signings of the summer.”

Why Woltemade is the man of the moment

Nick Woltemade’s arrival at St James’ Park was met with curiosity.

The 23-year-old German forward joined from Werder Bremen after scoring 12 goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances.

He caught the eye of Bayern Munich, who saw three bids rejected.

Instead, it was Howe who convinced the towering 1.98m striker that Newcastle was the right place to continue his development.

Since then, the attacker has been nothing short of transformative.

He opened his account on his home debut against Wolves, before adding further goals against Arsenal, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Nottingham Forest – where he rifled a superb penalty into the top corner to round off the win.

His blend of physical presence, link-up play, and calm finishing has quickly made him a fan favourite on Tyneside.

In Sunday’s match against Forest, he was unlucky not to score more than once, denied by the post and an inspired Matz Sels performance.

When he left the field, the Gallowgate End rose to its feet, chanting his name in unison.

Unfortunately, illness has ruled him out of the current international break – though Howe will secretly be pleased to keep his new talisman fresh and close to home.

With Yoane Wissa yet to feature for Newcastle, Woltemade’s form and fitness are paramount.

His early-season output has quelled doubts about Newcastle’s attacking fluency and offered a glimpse into Howe’s evolving system – one that relies less on chaos and more on control.

Yet while the German striker’s goals are making headlines, another of the club’s summer signings is quietly redefining their defensive stability.

Newcastle's real signing of the summer

Woltemade’s impact on this Newcastle side has been eye-catching. On the contrary, Malick Thiaw’s introduction to English football has been understated but immaculate.

The 24-year-old centre-back arrived from AC Milan for £30m after two standout seasons in Serie A, where he made 85 appearances.

His profile – composed, progressive, and powerful – fits seamlessly into Howe’s tactical blueprint.

Statistically, Thiaw’s impact has been immense. Compared to positional peers in the Premier League, he ranks in the 95th percentile among his positional peers for pass completion (93.2%) and in the 85th percentile for progressive passes per 90 (4.86).

That ability to initiate play from deep has added an extra layer of composure to Newcastle’s build-up.

Ground Duels Won

1

Aerial Duels Won

4

Clearances

8

Interceptions

1

Dribbled Past

0

What stands out most is his calmness under pressure – his close control, his knack for turning out of tight spaces, and his confidence stepping into midfield to progress the ball.

For a defender still adjusting to the physicality of the Premier League, his transition has been remarkably smooth.

Thiaw’s partnership with Sven Botman has all the makings of a long-term defensive axis for Newcastle.

Both are young, technically gifted, and dominant in the air. Together, they could form one of the most balanced and forward-thinking centre-back pairings in the division.

For Howe, who knows the importance of rotation with European fixtures piling up, Thiaw’s arrival is more than just depth.

The German brings a level of assurance that allows Newcastle to play higher, press smarter, and retain control in matches that once felt frantic.

While Woltemade’s early-season exploits deserve every bit of praise they’ve received, the real signing of the summer might just be standing behind him.

90-touch Newcastle ace is now as undroppable as Bruno Guimaraes & Woltemade

Newcastle United secured a vital 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 5, 2025

It’s been a rough few weeks for Chelsea.

A draw against Brentford, a loss to Manchester United, and a wholly unconvincing win over Lincoln City in the League Cup have led some to question the direction of the team.

However, we are still early in the season, and the Blues have a squad full of brilliant talents from Joao Pedro and Estevao in attack to Moises Caicedo in midfield and Reece James in defence.

Moreover, one of the players in Enzo Maresca has the ability and potential to someday surpass the greatness of superstars like Mohamed Salah and Eden Hazard.

Hazard & Salah's peak seasons

With the Premier League being the biggest in world football, it has attracted some generational world-class talents, such as Salah and Hazard.

There will always be debates over which player was the best, and while we aren’t necessarily here to weigh in on that debate, it’s worth looking at their best individual seasons.

Both of them have a number of campaigns you could pick from, but when it comes to the Liverpool star, it is impossible to look past what he achieved last season.

For example, in addition to winning the title, the Egyptian superstar amassed a staggering tally of 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 appearances.

That means the dynamic winger was able to maintain an average of 1.09 goal involvements every game, or one every 78.96 minutes.

When it comes to the Belgian, we’d suggest he was at the peak of his powers in the 14/15 season, as even though he produced more goal involvements in 18/19, he did not win the league.

Across his 52 appearances in the former, totalling 4442 minutes, the retired superstar scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists.

In other words, he averaged a goal involvement every 1.62 games, or every 138.81 minutes.

Overall, both Salah and Hazard are some of the best players to ever play in the Premier League, and for our money, Chelsea have someone in their current squad who could surpass both.

The Chelsea star who could surpass Hazard & Salah

Now, as we’ve already mentioned, there are more than a handful of incredibly gifted players in this Chelsea squad, from Pedro to Estevao and more.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, to even get close to matching, let alone surpassing, the levels of Salah and Hazard, you’ve got to be more than just a special talent.

Fortunately, the Blues do have a certain player who looks like he could go on to be a future Ballon d’Or winner: Cole Palmer.

Yes, of course, the Englishman is the player we are talking about, as he just finished eighth in the prestigious award earlier this week, which represents a significant improvement over his 25th-place finish last year.

However, while already featuring on those lists twice, at 23 years old should tell you enough about the talent we are talking about here, let’s take a look at some of his numbers since moving to Stamford Bridge.

In his first season with the club, the “world-class” superstar, as dubbed by Pat Nevin, scored 25 goals and provided 15 assists in 3613 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.12 games, or every 90.32 minutes.

Then, last season, the former Manchester City gem scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists in 52 appearances, totalling 4,247 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.62 games, or every 132.71 minutes.

Finally, so far this season, he has scored two goals in four appearances, totalling 235 minutes, which is one every other game or every 117.5 minutes.

Overall, the England international has already amassed a tally of 45 goals and 29 assists in 101 games for the club, and while he’s out injured at the moment, we have no doubt those numbers will only improve.

Appearances

101

Minutes

8095′

Goals

45

Assists

29

Goal Involvements per Match

0.73

Minutes per Goal Involvements

109.39′

Ultimately, Palmer still has some way to go before he surpasses either Salah or Hazard, but based on what we’ve seen from him over the last couple of years, we have no doubt he’ll get there eventually.

Maignan makes Chelsea or Man United decision after Maresca's transfer demand

The France number one could agree a pre-contract in January.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 25, 2025

Ryan Mason will be hopeful that his new West Bromwich Albion troops can start the Championship season off on the best possible footing when August comes around.

The Baggies will just have to put the horrible decline in form they suffered at the close of the 2024/25 season to the back of their heads now as a fresh era begins, with Tony Mowbray an unfortunate casualty off the back of West Brom falling out of the playoff spots.

It will also be a clean, injury-free slate for Josh Maja you hope, with the ex-Sunderland marksman missing for all of 2025 to date for the West Midlands side, after a blistering first half of the second-tier campaign.

Maja's rising importance at West Brom

Maja’s name will have rung a few bells for West Brom supporters when he joined the building in the summer of 2023, having been in the EFL limelight once upon a time when rising the ranks at Sunderland.

Whilst he did endure a shaky start at the Hawthorns – as seen in Maja only powering home one meagre Championship goal during his debut season – the free agent capture has since gone on to be a firm fan favourite for supporters of Mason’s men, with the potency he showed at the Stadium of Light coming to the forefront once more.

Now a far more seasoned attacker than his early Black Cats education, with 17 goals fired home for the Wearside outfit before Bordeaux came calling, Maja managed to tally up a lethal 12 strikes for West Brom last season, even as his game-time dried up to only 26 league clashes owing to injury.

West Brom unearthing a lethal finisher for nothing came at the perfect possible time too, considering former main marksman Brandon Thomas-Asante had moved on the summer before the 26-year-old burst into life.

Now, the Baggies’ success in the free agent market could continue with another shrewd move, with the Baggies improving their numbers significantly in one position of the pitch if a Premier League-experienced star were to join Mason’s camp.

West Brom looking at another amazing free signing

West Brom’s golden pick-up of Maja isn’t their only brilliant free signing in recent years, with Jed Wallace also entering the building back in 2022 for zilch. Now, he has 27 goal contributions and counting for the Championship side.

Therefore, West Brom will be confident that their new target will instantly fit in as well, with journalist Graeme Bailey revealing earlier this month that Mason and Co. have Harry Toffolo on their radar after his sad Nottingham Forest exit was confirmed.

Toffolo was a much-loved presence at the City Ground, with this acrobatic clearance off the line last season a standout memory from his Premier League playing days at the club.

But, it’s the 6-foot full-back’s previous exploits in the Championship that will catch West Brom’s eye even more, with Carlos Corberan a big advocate for the former England U20 international when the pair were together at Huddersfield Town, before the Spaniard took on the Hawthorns reins.

Games played

92

Goals scored

9

Assists

14

Clean sheets

30

Corberan would call upon Toffolo to be both expansive and dangerous in attack – as seen in his nine goals and 14 assists – but also gritty and nasty in defence when needed, with a bumper 30 clean sheets also coming his way across 92 Championship appearances in West Yorkshire.

Labelled as “excellent” by ex-Forest boss Steve Cooper when signing on the dotted line in Nottingham, landing the impressive defender would definitely be seen as another gleaming free transfer akin to Maja’s arrival on the scene, with Mason only having Callum Styles and Gianluca Frabotta at his disposal currently on the left flank of his back-line.

He did suffer from a few promotion near-misses with the Terriers, unfortunately. But, he would surely want to change these fortunes around on the books of the Baggies, with both Toffolo and Maja potentially going on to be key components of a promotion-winning side.

A Palmer repeat: West Brom's "outstanding" star wanted by PL club

West Bromwich Albion must avoid selling this outstanding star.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 18, 2025

Sunderland are in the mix to complete the signing of one of Europe’s most sought-after young players, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Sunderland to use Bellingham money for new signings

The Black Cats have been dealt the rather predictable blow of losing Jobe Bellingham this summer, with the teenager off to Borussia Dortmund, copying the career path of his brother, Jude Bellingham.

While not having the midfielder in their ranks in the Premier League next season is a big blow, Sunderland will at least receive around £30m+ for him, which can be spent on new signings who can aid Regis Le Bris’ side’s battling to avoid a speedy return to the Championship.

Manchester City youngster Charlie Gray has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Bellingham ahead of the 2025/26 season, with the 19-year-old struggling with opportunities at the Etihad. He is predominantly a defensive midfielder, but he can take up more attacking roles, too.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham has been linked with a return to the Stadium of Light this summer, with the 27-year-old now an experienced head who should still remain at his peak for the foreseeable future.

Sunderland battling Newcastle for young star

According to On The Minute, Sunderland have joined the race to sign Djurgarden defender Keita Kosugi in the summer window, with rivals Newcastle also among those in the mix to snap him up for around £8m.

The report says that the 19-year-old is considered “one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe”, highlighting his potential, and the Black Cats are trying to snap him up, along with Nottingham Forest, Celtic, Paris Saint-Germain and Atalanta.

Kosugi may not yet be known to British football fans, but his long-term potential makes him such an exciting option for Sunderland, who need to find the right blend of youth and experience when the new Premier League campaign gets underway in August.

The teenage left-back won 10 caps for Japan’s Under-17s during his younger days, and he has already made 45 appearances for Djurgarden, scoring five goals and registering two assists in that time. Meanwhile, video scout Elijah Michiels has described him as “excellent”.

Kosugi can come in and provide competition for Dennis Cirkin at left-back straight away, starting off as a squad player who hopefully matures into a key man as time passes.

He is already more experienced than his age arguably suggests, coming up against Chelsea in the semi-finals of UEFA Europa Conference League, and if he reaches his possible ceiling, Sunderland could have an absolute gem of a signing on their hands.

Sunderland plot swoop to sign Man City gem who may replace Bellingham

The Black Cats are planning for the worst.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 9, 2025

Le Bris has shown faith in youth already, from Bellingham to Chris Rigg, and if he believes Kosugi is good enough to feature regularly from the off, he should be trusted.

Everton have now joined the race to sign an “elite” defender, who is attracting widespread interest from the Premier League ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Toffees go out on a high at Goodison

May 18th, 2025 marked the end of an era, with the Toffees playing their last-ever match at Goodison Park before the move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and they managed to go out in style, securing a 2-0 win over Southampton courtesy of an Iliman Ndiaye brace.

With Wolverhampton Wanderers losing 4-2 against Crystal Palace on Tuesday night, the Merseysiders are now confirmed to have finished 13th in the Premier League, which is quite a turnaround, given that a relegation battle was on the cards at one stage.

However, David Moyes will know that new recruitments are necessary if his side are to kick on further up the table next season, and the manager is keen to bolster his centre-back options, despite his side having one of the best defensive records in the league this season.

Club

Goals conceded

Arsenal

33

Liverpool

40

Chelsea

43

Manchester City

44

Everton

44

That is according to a report from Ouest-France (via Get Football News France), which states Everton are now interested in a move for Nantes defender Nathan Zeze, who is attracting plenty of interest from a number of English clubs ahead of the summer.

Aston Villa and AFC Bournemouth are also named as potential suitors for Zeze, with the Cherries already having a €20m (£17m) bid knocked back, which suggests an offer in excess of that figure will be needed to get a deal over the line.

It remains to be seen whether the Toffees choose to hijack their Premier League rivals, but it appears as though the 19-year-old’s time at Nantes is coming to an end, with the French club said to have no hope of retaining his services beyond the summer.

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 "Elite" Zeze impressing in Ligue 1

Hailed as being an “elite” young player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Frenchman was an important figure for Nantes when fit last season, making 18 Ligue 1 appearances, and he has proven himself to be adept defensively.

The teenager is particularly impressive at winning back possession, ranking in the 92nd percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, while also placing in the 94th percentile for clearances and 78th for interceptions, compared to other centre-backs.

As mentioned, Everton’s defensive showings have not been a cause for concern this season, but it would make sense to bring in a new young centre-back this summer, given that Michael Keane’s contract is set to come to an end.

As such, Zeze could be a good signing for Everton, at which point the move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium will mark the beginning of an exciting new era for the Toffees.