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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke wants the club to do more business at the top end of the pitch before the summer transfer window closes next week.

Speaking ahead of the clash with Arsenal on Saturday, the German head coach outlined how he would like the rest of the window to look over the next seven or eight days.

Farke said: “Let’s see if we do even more offensive signings. One maybe two would be beneficial. I’m not too strong about numbers. I think it’s necessary to do something in the full-back position.

“Noah and Dominic are two really good options but to have two or more signings for the offensive it would be beneficial but while not doing anything silly.”

Leeds were put to the sword by Arsenal, losing 5-0 at The Emirates, after those comments from Farke, and the front three showed that they may not be up to the task of starting week-in-week-out in the Premier League.

Wilfried Gnonto, for example, was not a guaranteed starter in the Championship for the German boss last season, yet has found himself starting both games in the top-flight this term.

Why Leeds may need an upgrade on Wilfried Gnonto

The Italy U21 international only started 26 of his 43 appearances in the second tier last term, per Sofascore, as Dan James and Manor Solomon were the preferred wing pairing when fit.

Solomon’s return to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of his loan spell left a vacant position on the left flank, though, which has been occupied by Gnonto so far.

It remains to be seen where new signing Noah Okafor will fit in, as the former AC Milan man has played on both wings and as a central striker in his career.

This means that one of the forwards that Farke wants to add to the squad before the end of the window could be a left-sided attacker to fill that spot that Solomon vacated, as Gnonto has yet to prove that he can be a regular starter in the Premier League.

The Italian forward scored nine goals and provided six assists in the Championship last term, which was a solid return, but he has had a less-than-impressive start to the top-flight campaign.

Minutes

67

66

Shots

3

0

Shots on target

0

0

Key passes

0

0

Big chances created

0

0

Dribbles completed

0/2

0/2

Duels won

4/10

4/8

As you can see in the table above, Gnonto did not register a shot on target, create any chances, or complete any of his attempted dribbles in over two hours of football in the first two matches.

The 21-year-old attacker, who scored two goals in 24 games in the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign, may not have what it takes to deliver quality on a regular basis at that level, which is why the club may need an upgrade on him.

Leeds ready to pay £30m to sign new forward

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieiri, Leeds United are keen on a deal to sign Strasbourg winger Dilane Bakwa before the end of the summer transfer window, and he could be an upgrade on Gnonto.

The reporter claims that the Whites are ‘leading’ the race to bring the French forward over to England, with Nottingham Forest also said to be interested in snapping him up.

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Tavolieri adds that Leeds are ready to pay the £30m asking price that Strasbourg have placed over Bakwa’s head, which is why they are now at the front of the queue of suitors.

However, the journalist does not reveal whether or not the Whites are in active talks with the Ligue 1 side or if they have already made an offer for the 22-year-old star.

It is now down to the Championship champions to agree a deal with Strasbourg and convince the player to make the move to West Yorkshire, before Forest have a chance to swoop in.

Why Leeds should sign Dilane Bakwa

The Whites should push to bring Bakwa to Elland Road before the end of the summer transfer window because he could arrive as a big upgrade on Gnonto, as a player who can play on the right or the left flank.

Whilst the Italian gem is only 21 and has room to develop into a Premier League-grade starter, the Strasbourg star’s performances in Ligue 1 suggest that he is ready to hit the ground running with goals and assists.

Bakwa created one ‘big chance’ and registered an assist in his team’s 1-0 win over Metz in Ligue 1 on the opening day of the current season, before he came off the bench to provide another assist against Nantes on Sunday.

The 22-year-old star’s performances in Ligue 1 in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns also suggest that he has the quality at the top end of the pitch to make a real impact for Leeds in the Premier League on the left wing.

Appearances

31

30

xG

3.17

4.36

Goals

3

6

Big chances created

13

12

Key passes per game

1.6

1.6

Assists

6

8

As you can see in the table above, Bakwa has created an eye-catching 25 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 61 games in Ligue 1 in the last two seasons.

This shows that the French star, who was described as “menacing” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, could provide more than Gnonto as both a scorer and a creator of goals, given what he has shown in one of Europe’s major leagues in comparison to the Italian’s exploits in the Premier League.

Bakwa’s ability to play on either the left or the right flank also provides Farke with flexibility in how he can set his side up. He could play Bakwa on the right, as a left-footed player, with Okafor on the left, or the French star on the left with Dan James on the right, or even vice versa.

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The signing of the £30m-rated star would, therefore, open up a lot of interesting possiblities for the manager, tactically, whilst also providing him with an upgrade on Gnonto, on both flanks.

Manchester United are assessing a move for an “outrageous” Benjamin Sesko alternative, with his club now open to a sale this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd's Sesko pursuit takes new twist

Sesko has emerged as one of Man United’s major targets at centre-forward and are in a fierce battle with Premier League rivals Newcastle United for his signature.

The Red Devils have reportedly made an offer of their own for Sesko, but if he decides to move to St. James’ Park, Ruben Amorim and co would be forced to move on to alternative targets, and another centre-forward has now entered the frame as a potential option.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Man United are now assessing a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Goncalo Ramos, with the French club open to a sale this summer, but there could be fierce competition for his signature.

Within the Premier League, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Liverpool are named as potential suitors, while Serie A sides Napoli and Juventus have also added Ramos to their shortlist, but a deal may prove to be on the expensive side.

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PSG are looking to recoup as much of the €65m (£56m) fee they shelled out as possible, despite the former Benfica man struggling to establish himself as a regular starter since arriving at the Parc des Princes, given the depth Luis Enrique has in attack.

"Outrageous" Ramos could be solid alternative to Sesko

Even though the 24-year-old often found game time hard to come by last season, he remained a regular source of goals and assists for PSG in all competitions, amassing a total of 25 attacking contributions.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Ligue 1

22

10

3

French Cup

6

5

2

Champions League

12

3

1

Club World Cup

5

1

0

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has also praised the Portugal international for his performances at international level in the past.

There may be some concerns over the fact Ramos is yet to solidify his place as a regular starter for PSG, but at 24-years-old, the centre-forward still has plenty of time to develop his game, and he could be a solid alternative to Sesko.

An “excellent” Premier League forward is now open to joining Crystal Palace this summer, and talks have already been held over a potential deal, according to a report.

Palace set sights on new forward amid Arsenal's Eze pursuit

After scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final, Eberechi Eze was always going to attract interest this summer, and Palace may have a battle on their hands trying to keep hold of the attacking midfielder, given that he wants to move across the capital.

Arsenal are expected to make a formal bid for Eze soon, which could amount to £52m, £8m below the England international’s previous release clause of £60m, which has now expired.

Should the 27-year-old move on this summer, the Eagles will undoubtedly need to bring in a new attacker, capable of replicating Eze’s attacking numbers, with the London-born star proving himself as a reliable source of goals and assists last season.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League

34

8

8

FA Cup

5

4

1

EFL Cup

4

2

2

As such, according to a report from The Boot Room, Crystal Palace are now considering a move for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, having already been informed about the winger’s situation at Stamford Bridge, with Fulham also holding talks.

West Ham United have also been offered the chance to sign Sterling, with the Blues looking to receive a fee of £20m, although the most likely scenario is the forward leaving on a loan deal.

Crucially, the 30-year-old is open to a move to Selhurst Park this summer, as he is looking to stay in London, having spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Arsenal.

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The winger clearly isn’t part of Enzo Maresca’s plans, and he failed to deliver on loan at Arsenal last season, featuring for just 496 minutes across the entire Premier League season, meaning the Chelsea ace clearly needs to move to a new club this summer.

At 30-years-old, the Englishman is by no means in the latter stages of his career, and he has proven himself as a top Premier League player in the past, picking up 131 goals and 86 assists in 339 appearances during his time with Manchester City.

Former manager Pep Guardiola has also previously singled the Jamaica-born winger out for praise saying: “For his confidence it will be massive, the first goal is brilliant, when Raheem executes without thinking he is excellent.”

As such, Sterling could be an exciting signing for the Eagles if he is able to reach his previous heights, but it is more important they keep hold of Eze, given the Palace star’s exploits last season.

After triggering Morgan Gibbs-White’s release clause nearly two weeks ago, almost every Tottenham Hotspur fan would’ve expected a deal to be completed by now.

However, when dealing with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, a deal was never going to be straightforward, but no one could’ve predicted what has happened since.

The Reds have claimed that Thomas Frank’s side made an illegal approach for his signature, resulting in his secret release clause now becoming public.

It’s unclear whether Forest are set to report the club over a potential deal, with all contact between the two sides now ceased as a result of the approach that was made for his signature.

Given the recent delay in a move for the England international, other targets are subsequently being considered in North London, with multiple names entering the mix in the past few days.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer

Ardon Jashari has emerged as a surprise option for Spurs in the midfield department as of late, with the Swiss international set to depart Club Brugge this summer.

The Belgian outfit are said to be demanding a fee in the region of £32m for his signature this window, but could face stiff competition from Italian side AC Milan for his signature.

However, another name has entered the mix, with Frank’s side now turning their attention to a deal to sign Atlético Madrid star Conor Gallagher, according to TBR Football.

The report claims that the Lilywhites have made contact with the Spanish outfit over a potential move for the 25-year-old midfielder during the summer window.

It also states they could be open to offloading the Englishman should they receive an acceptable offer after paying £33m for his signature 12 months ago.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be an upgrade on Sarr

Pape Matar Sarr was a key member of Spurs’ midfield department during the 2024/25 campaign, ending the season with a staggering 55 appearances across all competitions.

The Senegalese international has already made over 100 appearances for the Lilywhites after making his debut for the club back in the 2022/23 season.

He has the potential to become a club legend in North London should he continue on such a trajectory, having time to develop further given his tender age of just 22.

Such a deal to land him a couple of years ago reflects the sensational business the hierarchy have conducted in recent years, now looking a bargain given his £14.6m transfer fee.

However, he may struggle to keep hold of his starting role in the 2025/26 campaign should they complete a deal for Gallagher, with the Englishman having the potential to replace him in the side.

When comparing their stats from the recent season, the Atlético star managed to better him in various areas, highlighting how much of a brilliant addition he would be to Frank’s side this summer.

Gallagher, who’s been labelled a “monster” by one analyst, registered more combined goals and assists, offering the side an added goalscoring threat despite his deep-lying role.

Games played

32

36

Goals & assists

6

5

Pass accuracy

87%

86%

Passes into the opposition box

0.8

0.5

Tackles won

1.8

1.6

Tackle success rate

54%

48%

Take-on success

41%

36%

Recoveries made

5.9

5.4

He also completed more of the passes he attempted, with more of which going into the final third, showcasing the talent he possesses with the ball at his feet.

However, his defensive talents are just as impressive, winning more tackles per 90 and achieving a higher success rate in regaining possession – potentially being the perfect box-to-box option in Frank’s midfield department.

Whilst it’s unclear how much the LaLiga outfit will be demanding for his services this summer, it’s evident that he would be an upgrade on the options currently at the manager’s disposal.

If he can replicate such form in North London, it would be a fantastic piece of business, subsequently allowing the club to move past the current saga over a deal for Gibbs-White.

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Sunderland have now submitted a bid for a proven Premier League player who is capable of scoring “worldies”, according to a new transfer update.

Le Bris outlines Sunderland's pre-season training plan

The Black Cats are getting closer to their Premier League return all the time, with Regis Le Bris working on having his squad as prepared as possible during pre-season.

Sunderland’s manager has been discussing what he wants to see from his players during their trip to Portugal, with focus on the “dynamic” within the team.

Le Bris will know that further signings are needed before the end of the summer transfer window, though, with talks reportedly underway over a move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka, and now a fresh update has emerged.

Sunderland submit formal offer for Xhaka

According to Bild [via Sport Witness], Sunderland have now “made advances” to sign Xhaka, submitting a bid for the former Arsenal man. While the Swiss is valued at £17m, the offer in question is believed to be “less” than that, as the Black Cats look to get a cut-price deal over the line.

Meanwhile, Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has discussed the 32-year-old’s future: “Granit is a very important player for us, for the team and for the club.

“Our main interest is to keep him. Sure, there is interest in him, we need to speak to the player to know what his ambitions are. But one thing is clear: There would only be a transfer in a win-win situation.We still have a three-year contract with the player and are very happy with him.

“We have big goals for the next few years. That’s why there can only be a transfer if it’s good for all sides. We’ll have to wait and see. But our goal is for Granit to stay with us.“

Xhaka stands out as such a shrewd option for Sunderland this summer, so it is exciting to see progress being made in their pursuit of him.

The Leverkusen stalwart is now a 137-cap Switzerland international, showing how vastly experienced he is, and he has been hailed as a “lovely technician” by Joe Cole, also lauding the ex-Gunners star for his ability to score “worldies” from distance.

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Xhaka knows the Premier League inside out, making 225 appearances in the competition during his Arsenal days, so he could be an invaluable addition to Sunderland’s midfield, combining tactical discipline with an eye for the spectacular.

Manchester City have now held talks with a £78 million Real Madrid “superstar” as Arsenal continue to work on a transfer of their own, according to a new report.

City hold talks to sign Denzel Dumfries after Walker departure

On Saturday, City announced defender Kyle Walker had left the club to join Burnley, which puts an end to his eight-year stay at the Etihad. The England international has linked up with Scott Parker, who he played with at Tottenham Hotspur, on a two-year deal at Turf Moor. Walker spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan.

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As the 35-year-old moves on from City, the Blues are now set to enter the market to find his replacement. Newcastle United’s Timo Livramento has been linked with a move to the Etihad for a few months now, and Football Insider’s Mick Brown believes City will accelerate a move to sign Livramento now Walker has left.

However, he is not their only option, as according to Football Transfers, City have held talks to sign Denzel Dumfries from Inter. The Dutch international has been a key player for the Serie A giants over a number of seasons, but it is believed he could be available this summer for just £21.5 million due to a release clause in his contract that expires next week.

Man City hold talks to sign Rodrygo

While the Blues work on a deal for Dumfries, they are also busy working on another one that could blow the transfer market wide open. According to TBR Football, Man City have held discussions with the representatives of Rodrygo.

Rodrygo looks set to leave Real Madrid, as he doesn’t appear to be in the plans of Xabi Alonso, and he’s now held talks with City, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and others, as his availability has been made clear.

This news comes after it was reported that Arsenal are not only leading the charge to sign the Brazilian international in this transfer window but are even prepared to make an offer worth £78 million to bring him to the Emirates, a switch that Rodrygo is said to be open to making.

The 24-year-old, who has been dubbed a “superstar” by teammate Luka Modrić, scored six goals and recorded six assists in 30 La Liga games last season, as he was an important member of Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

Apps

270

Goals

68

Assists

51

However, Rodrygo, who is under contract until 2028, looks to have failed to make an impression on Alonso, as the winger has played just three games in the Club World Cup, failing to appear in games against Pachuca and Juventus. Should he arrive at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola may see him as an upgrade on Jeremy Doku, who has shown flashes of his talent but struggled for consistency.

Far more eyes are on Thomas Frank now that he’s accepted the Tottenham job to replace Ange Postecoglou, and he’s under more pressure than ever before to deliver results after the club’s European heroics last season.

Tottenham set to back Thomas Frank this summer

Frank’s debut campaign in the Spurs dugout will also be his first ever season managing in the Champions League, so the 51-year-old will need all the help he can get this summer from chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange.

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Their qualification for Europe’s most elite contest next term is huge for Frank’s side when it comes to recruitment, with Tottenham set to benefit from a significant financial windfall and being a more appealing destination for the continent’s top players.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The Lilywhites have already moved to back Frank with his first signing of the window, sealing a cut-price permanent deal for Mathys Tel to the tune of £30 million, with Japanese defensive starlet Kota Takai also joining Spurs in a £5 million deal from Kawasaki Frontale.

Levy will fork out what is a record fee for a Japanese player from the J-League, and what’s more, the 20-year-old is also expected to be a first-team player next campaign. Tottenham are hoping that Takai can follow in the footsteps of Lucas Bergvall, Pape Sarr, Archie Gray and Destiny Udogie to stake his claim among Frank’s crop of exciting young players who are vital to the senior squad.

According to recent reports, Takai could also be followed through the N17 door by ex-Tottenham defender Kyle Walker-Peters – who’s set to leave Southampton as a free agent in just five days.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed an excellent career overall since departing Spurs for St. Mary’s in 2020, making over 200 appearances for the Saints after initially joining them for just £12 million.

Tottenham think they're favourites to re-sign Kyle Walker-Peters

Frank is currently stocked with full-back options, but Tottenham’s need to fill their ‘club-trained’ Champions League quota has prompted transfer chiefs to consider re-signing the right-back on a free (Alasdair Gold).

According to an update from GiveMeSport, Fulham and Crystal Palace have reached out to his representatives as well, but despite interest from London rivals, Tottenham believe they’re in pole position to strike a deal for Walker-Peters.

Echoing other reports, GMS state that the Englishman still wants to rejoin Spurs as a free agent and make a return to his boyhood club, so this could be a very good option for the north Londoners to make up ground on their European quota.

Walker-Peters was one of the shining lights in an otherwise dismal Southampton side who dropped straight back down to the Championship, and at zero transfer cost, it’s a relatively risk-free move.

Arsenal are set to announce their first batch of summer recruits soon.

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga as well as midfielders Martín Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard are all reportedly poised to join Arsenal in the next week or so, the former providing a back-up to David Raya, while the latter duo will be replacing the outgoing Thomas Partey and Jorginho at the base of midfield.

Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta, Andrea Berta and the Arsenal hierarchy still have plenty of work to do.

Arsenal targeting attacking reinforcements

After a third successive second-place finish in the Premier League, it is clear what Arsenal need to add this summer and that is more attacking firepower, as the table below outlines.

League finish

2nd

2nd

2nd

Goals scored

88

91

69

Expected goals

71.6

76.1

59.9

Shots

589

647

544

Shots on target

194

209

178

Shot-creating actions

1,045

1,185

969

As shown in the table, last season, when compared to their two previous title bids under Arteta, the Gunners’ attacking output was significantly down by all available metrics.

That’s why the debate of the summer remains Benjamin Šeško or Viktor Gyökeres, with the club clearly in the market for the new number nine, but they’re also looking for reinforcements out-wide too.

Thus, according to reports in Spain, Arsenal are ‘strongly’ interested in signing Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi, with the Gunners said to be ‘pushing’ for his signature.

They add that the German international, who is believed to be available for around €45m (£38m), is viewed as a ‘serious alternative’ to Barcelona-bound Nico Williams, as he would add ‘explosiveness’ to Arsenal’s forward line.

The 23-year-old began his senior career at RB Salzburg, scoring four Champions League goals for die Roten Bullen, thereby earning a £38m move to Borussia Dortmund three summers ago.

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So far, in 105 appearances for die Schwarzgelben, Adeyemi has scored 26 goals and registered 17 assists, featuring in all three of their Club World Cup fixtures this summer, starting against both Fluminense in East Rutherford and Ulsan HD in Ohio.

Now, could he become the 13th German to play for Arsenal, joining current Die Mannschaft teammate Kai Havertz, while following in the footsteps of Mesut Özil, Bernd Leno, Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and others?

How Karim Adeyemi would improve Arsenal

Arsenal are looking to improve their left-wing options, with most agreeing that an upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli​​​​​​​ and Leandro Trossard, or at the very least an alternative to both, is required to take the Gunners to the next level.

Nevertheless, speaking on the Arsecast, Andrew Mangan and James McNicholas both agreed that it is highly “unlikely” that the Gunners will sign two wingers this summer, so someone who can play on the left but also cover for Bukayo Saka on the right would be ideal.

Well, Adeyemi certainly fits that brief, having been deployed on both flanks by both Dortmund managers, Nuri Şahin and Niko Kovač, throughout this season.

So, let’s assess how he compares to the gold standard of Arsenal wide-players, namely the aforementioned Saka – a player he is deemed to be statistically similar to among those in their position across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref.

Non-penalty goals

95th

77th

Shots

82nd

87th

Assists

83rd

96th

Expected assists

91st

98th

Shot-creating actions

45th

91st

Progressive carries

71st

83rd

Successful take-ons

87th

75th

Touches

79th

95th

Progressive passes received

71st

94th

FBref disclaimer: these statistics are based upon matches played in domestic leagues and UEFA club competitions across the last 365 days, and are in comparison to other attacking midfielders and wingers.

As the table outlines, Saka does come out on top for the vast majority of metrics, but that is not to be dismissive of Adeyemi, given that the England international is one of the best players in the world, at least according to teammate Martinelli.

The German’s statistics are broadly comparable to those of Saka, scoring more non-penalty goals and successfully completing a higher percentage of his take-ons.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout describes him as possessing “electric pace” and “superb dribbling skills”, simply labelling him a “world-class talent”.

Meantime, Lee Scott of Total Football Analysis believes that he provides ‘a direct goal threat’ and the ability to ‘carry the ball at speed past defenders’, while Tunde Young of Breaking the Lines boldly asserts ‘he could go on to be a multiple Ballon D’Or winner, just like Lionel Messi’.

Thus, it is clear that Adeyemi ticks a lot of boxes for Arsenal and would be an excellent, exciting addition, should they be able to pull this deal off. He could well prove to be like a left-sided Saka.

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Leeds United have now made contact over a deal for a £17m-rated striker, who is keen on a move to the Premier League this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri.

Leeds eyeing new striker amid Piroe doubts

Joel Piroe was the Championship’s top scorer last season, finishing the campaign with 19 goals, however, the Whites have doubts over the forward in the top flight. Former Arsenal man Alan Smith has also expressed concerns about whether Piroe will be able to cut it in the Premier League.

Smith said: “You look at who’s scoring the goals last season for Leeds, like Dan James, and Joel Piroe, the Dutchman.

“Are these boys going to be good enough for the Premier League? James has already had a crack at it, and it’s not really worked, so I think Leeds still need more players.”

Smith also expressed his concern over the potential signing of Callum Wilson, given his age and injury record, but Daniel Farke’s side are now looking at signing a younger centre-forward, albeit with less experience at the top level.

According to Tavolieri, in a report for Sky Sports on Monday, Leeds have now been in contact to explore the possibility of a deal for Norwich City striker Josh Sargent, having deemed bringing in a new centre-forward a priority this summer.

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It could take a bid of up to €20m (£17m) to prise Sargent away from Norwich, however, and he is not the only striker on the shortlist, with Everton’s Beto also of interest to the Championship winners.

In talks with his entourage, the Norwich forward has made it clear he would be keen on a move to the Premier League, which means a move to Elland Road could be of great appeal to the 25-year-old.

"Exceptional" Sargent impressing in the Championship

Smith has doubts about whether Piroe will be able to make the step-up to the Premier League, but the American is also relatively unproven above the Championship, having scored just two goals in 26 games in his previous stint in the top flight back in 2021-22.

However, there are signs the Missouri-born striker has developed considerably since then, having scored a combined 44 goals in his past three Championship campaigns, most recently collecting 20 goal contributions in 32 appearances.

Lauded as “exceptional” by members of the media, Sargent may deserve another chance to prove himself at Premier League level, and Wilson’s very poor injury record could make the USA international a preferable option to the Englishman.

Season

Wilson games missed

2020-21

18

2021-22

30

2022-23

9

2023-24

28

2024-25

29

That said, it seems a little harsh to suggest Piroe won’t be able to adapt to life in the Premier League, and the Dutchman has earned the chance to lead the line in the top flight with his impressive performances ever since arriving from Swansea City.

Will Chelsea make any more signings ahead of the Club World Cup?

Last week, the Blues unveiled Liam Delap as their new signing, paying Ipswich his £30m release clause.

Now, Chelsea have until 7pm (BST) on Tuesday 10th June to register any more signings ahead of the Club World Cup, with their opening fixture against Los Angeles FC taking place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta the following Monday.

So, before then, will Enzo Maresca have another new centre-forward at his disposal?

Chelsea chasing another striker

The Blues are looking to significantly improve their forward line this summer with mooted interest in Frankurt forward Hugo Ekitike.

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Further reports have suggested that a deal could be on the cards for Jamie Gittens too, with the club having held talks with his club side, Borussia Dortmund, ahead of a possible move. However, there are more targets on the horizon for BlueCo.

Indeed, according to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are targeting a move for Brighton & Hove Albion forward João Pedro, with Newcastle United also interested.

Fabrizio Romano claims that the Brazilian is ‘expected to leave Brighton’ this summer, after not featuring in any of the Seagulls’ final five Premier League fixtures this season, the first three due to suspension, before being left out of two matchday squads by manager Fabian Hürzeler following a training ground ‘altercation’ with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.

Reports in Spain claim that the Albion value their star striker at around £70m, with Football.London noting that Chelsea are willing to pay around £50m, so some sort of compromise will have to be made if Pedro is going to feature stateside this summer.

How Pedro and Delap could function together at Chelsea

Having only just signed Delap, pointedly presenting him with the number nine shirt too, it may seem peculiar that Chelsea are targeting another attacker.

Nevertheless, with Christopher Nkunku on his way out this summer, Matt Law of the Telegraph believes they are in the market for a versatile forward, but is Pedro actually a bigger talent than his potential future teammate?

Let’s try and answer that question.

Goals

0.46

0.42

Assists

0.28

0.07

Shots

1.94

2.29

Shots on target %

35.7%

43.9%

Shot-creating actions

3.32

2.15

Open-play passes completed

20.8

7.4

Chances created

1.3

0.7

Lay-offs completed

1.6

0.9

Touches

44

24

As the table outlines, Delap is much of a penalty box presence, emphasised by the fact he registered more shots, a higher proportion of which hit the target, while also taking almost half the number of touches on a per 90 basis.

Pedro meantime, is a significantly more well-rounded forward, underlined by his higher number of chances created, passes completed and touches per 90 statistics.

Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard has hailed his “really magical” quality on the ball, while Adrian Clarke of the Premier League labelled him ‘hardworking, creative, and calm in front’, praising his ‘deft pieces of link play’ and believing he has started to show ‘a poacher’s instinct’ this season too.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout notes that Pedro ‘is capable of playing anywhere across the attack’, while Liam Tharme of the Athletic outlines how he is adept at ‘dropping deep to link play’.

Thus, this all suggests that Delap and Pedro could function in a team together, with the former holding his position in the penalty area, while the latter drops deep to link play alongside Chelsea’s abundance of other high-quality attackers.

Thus, he would surely be an excellent addition for the Blues, even if getting this deal over the line by Tuesday appears unlikely at this stage.

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