And now it is finally official – Tottenham Hotspur have sacked Mauricio Pochettino and the Argentine coach has been replaced by none other than Jose Mourinho.
Of course, such a big event has already sent shockwaves across the footballing stage and Barcelona fans were also very quick to join in the debate.
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But while people will undoubtedly be discussing whether Pochettino has deserved to get the axe or whether Mourinho is the right man to take over, many Cules simply can’t believe one thing – how it is possible that Ernesto Valverde is still at Barcelona while other underperforming coaches such as the Argentine and Niko Kovac are flying out the door on a regular basis.
Many of them were quick to bash the board for it, while many bashed Valverde himself. Then, there were others who simply feel the club is outright pathetic at the moment.
You can see some of their reactions and comments down in the tweets below.
West Ham continue to struggle under Julen Lopetgui, only managing one point over the weekend against Brentford, drawing 1-1 with the Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The Hammers have averaged just 44.1% possession so far this season, the sixth worst in the league, showing the struggles West Ham are having to implement Lopetegui’s more possession-based approach.
West Ham sit 14th in the Premier League, only scoring six goals in their opening six games, conceding ten times and only managing the one victory, which came against Crystal Palace.
The Hammers could do with an injection of attacking flair and creation, and one of the very best nearly joined them not long ago. He is now even out scoring both Jarrod Bowen and Mohamed Kudus.
Mohamed Kudus at West Ham
In August 2023, West Ham signed Mohamed Kudus from Ajax for a mega £38m fee, signing a five-year deal at the club.
West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus
In his first season at the club, the forward was electric in claret and blue, making 45 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing six assists for his new side.
Kudus was heavily praised after his strong debut season for the Hammers. However, he hasn’t got off to the quickest of starts this season, playing eight games, totaling 521 minutes, and only having one goal contribution (one assist).
There are even rumours now of an alleged conflict between Kudus and Lopetegui, with The Athletic explaining how words were exchanged between the pair in the dressing room after he was substituted last weekend.
West Ham really need the Ghanaian to find his shooting boots if they are to fire themselves up the league, but it could have been very different if they signed a certain “one man show” as described by scout Jacek Kulig.
When David Moyes wanted to sign Cole Palmer
According to the Daily Mail, West Ham had agreed a deal to sign Cole Palmer in the summer 2023 window, before he eventually made his £42.5m move to Chelsea. David Moyes reportedly “tried very hard” to get the deal over the line.
One that got away
The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.
Palmer is now valued at a mighty £75m according to Transfermarkt, after his stellar campaign for the Blues last season.
The 22-year-old made 45 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, scoring 25 goals and providing 15 assists, wiping the floor with everyone at West Ham, including that man Kudus. So, how do the pair compare in 2024/25 to date?
Goals
1.07
0.00
Assists
0.71
0.17
xG
0.66
0.11
xAG
0.57
0.13
Progressive Carries
3.04
5.64
Progressive Passes
5.54
2.36
Key Passes
3.04
0.73
Shots Total
3.04
2.76
Shot-Creating Actions
5.00
2.91
Well, it’s night and day really. Palmer is outperforming Kudus in almost every metric analysed here, the only one the West Ham ace comes out on top in is progressive carries, which isn’t unexpected due to his playstyle being more centered around his carrying ability and use of his speed and power.
On the other hand, the England international is more precise with his movements and actions, making key passes, creating for himself and others, and delivering final actions with high efficiency, as seen from his goal and assist numbers.
Palmer just broke a Premier League record last weekend too, scoring a ridiculous four-goal haul in the first half of a game, something that has never been done before in the Premier League.
This is the level of player we are talking about here, and West Ham very nearly had him. Instead, they ended up with Kudus, who is an excellent player, and is bound to hit his stride soon this season, but imagine if they had signed Palmer instead, what could have been.
Guardiola raved over £35m West Ham ace, now he's as bad as Rodriguez
His time at the London Stadium has been up and down to say the least.
It has been a tough start to the season for Everton, but Saturday’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace could certainly be the catalyst the club needs to move up the Premier League table.
Sean Dyche is still under pressure, but another win against Newcastle United prior to the international break could be the shot in the arm the Toffees require.
It is clear the manager is missing someone like Amadou Onana in the heart of his midfield, as the new Aston Villa midfielder is currently shining at his new club.
Amadou Onana’s stats since leaving Everton
Since departing Goodison Park for a fee in the region of £50m, the Belgian has thrived under Unai Emery.
The midfielder has added a goalscoring streak to his game since moving to the Midlands, scoring three times in just eight matches for Villa, proving not just a force in the defensive third of the pitch but a monster when bursting forward to join the attack.
It really does feel as though he’s loving life playing for a more possession-based team.
The 23-year-old has started every single Premier League game thus far, averaging an 89% pass success rate, making 2.7 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and winning 5.8 total duels per game, demonstrating his tenacious side in the heart of the midfield.
Goals
2
Assists
0
Key passes per game
0.2
Total duels won per game
5.8
Tackles per game
2.7
Balls recovered per game
3.3
Emery may have spent a vast sum on Onana, but the move is clearly paying off. Their gain is certainly Everton’s loss, although does Dyche have a potential heir to the Belgian staring him right in the face?
Everton's new Onana
Dwight McNeil may have scored both of the goals for Everton during the weekend, but it was Orel Mangala who dictated the play from the midfield, delivering a wonderful performance.
The midfielder exuded confidence on the ball, taking 52 touches while completing 88% of his passes during the tie. He wasn’t shy about moving the ball forward, succeeding with 100% of his dribble attempts, yet it was defensively that he made the biggest impact.
Orel Mangala
Overall, Mangala made five interceptions, four tackles, won nine of his 13 total duels and wasn’t even dribbled past once during the game, showcasing his attributes in this area.
It was a performance that Onana certainly would have been proud of himself and one that will hopefully kickstart the club into life. With Mangala at the heart of his side, Dyche may have already found his heir apparent to their recently departed midfielder in the former Lyon gem.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The £50k-per-week midfielder was praised by journalist Eli Bretland on X after the win over Palace, saying: “Orel Mangala was a smart addition and I like what he’s about. Can handle himself and play too.
“Sprightly in possession. You need players like him who give you an energy when they get on the ball with purpose. Think he’ll grow more he plays.”
His position in midfield is surely safe and another solid display against Newcastle this weekend could further boost his confidence, that’s for sure.
The manager isn’t out of jail just yet, but if he can manage to get his side through the next few games without defeat, then they will slowly begin to climb the league table.
Everton star who had some of the worst stats in Europe is now undroppable
One of Everton’s worst performer’s is now one of their best
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was backed by the board during the summer transfer window as they splashed the cash on several signings to bolster the squad.
The Hoops reportedly agreed a fee of up to £9.5m with Norwich City to sign centre-forward Adam Idah, which had the potential to break the club’s transfer record – Odsonne Edouard’s £9m move from PSG – at the time.
That record was then smashed by the signing of central midfielder Arne Engels from Augsburg for a reported fee of £11m, which meant that the club could end up paying over £20m for Idah and Engels combined.
The Belgian whiz has become the most expensive incoming midfielder in the club’s history but Rodgers did once want to sign a midfielder for the club who is now worth significantly more than £11m.
Celtic's interest in Declan Rice
Speaking back in January, the Northern Irish head coach revealed that he had attempted to sign Declan Rice from Premier League side West Ham United during his first spell at the club, between 2016 and 2019.
Rodgers claimed that Celtic spent “three months” trying to secure the English youngster’s services and that he was “all set” to make the move to Parkhead, although it was not specified whether it would have been a loan or a permanent switch.
However, the Hammers then picked up an injury that scuppered the deal and the Bhoys boss stated that Rice then worked his way into the side.
Declan Rice for West Ham
Rodgers did not reveal what window that deal fell through in but the then-teenage ace made his first-team breakthrough as a regular during the 2017/18 campaign, which suggests that the Hoops had tried to sign him in the summer of 2017.
Declan Rice's current market value
That turned out to be one that got away for Celtic as Rice’s career in England has gone from strength to strength since his move to Celtic fell through.
He emerged as a regular starter for the Hammers, making 245 first-team appearances, and earned himself a big-money switch to Arsenal last year.
The England international, who was dubbed “influential” by Jamie Carragher, penned a five-year contract at The Emirates and was bought for an initial fee of £100m, which speaks to his incredible rise since coming through the academy at West Ham.
Appearances
38
Goals
7
Assists
8
Pass accuracy
91%
Tackles + interceptions per game
3.4
As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old star enjoyed a terrific debut campaign with the London giants, as he was directly involved in 15 goals and consistently cut out opposition attacks with tackles and interceptions.
Rice, who was described as a “monster” by presenter Joe Thomlinson, has emerged as one of the finest players in the Premier League, as shown by his statistics and Transfermarkt making him the fifth-most valuable player in the division at €120m (£100m).
This shows that the England international was one that got away for Rodgers and Celtic during the manager’s first spell in charge, as they missed out on a player with gigantic potential.
Celtic starlet left Parkhead for £0, now he's worth more than Matt O'Riley
The exceptional defender was let go by the Hoops at academy level.
An update has emerged regarding Manchester United’s pursuit of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, and it will come as good news to Erik ten Hag as he aims to significantly bolster his attack ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
How much will Dusan Vlahovic cost?
Having been linked with a move for the Serbian hitman earlier this summer, Italian news outlet Corriere dello Sport (via Man United News) are reporting that Juventus have lowered their asking price to just €65m (£55m) and this could tempt Ten Hag into making a move for the player.
The Serie A side had previously valued him at around €80m (£68m) according to the same publication, and although it still represents a large fee, it is much lower than previously expected.
The Old Trafford outfit made a bid to sign Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, which included a players plus cash deal, according to The Athletic, yet it was booted out by the Italian side as they aren’t looking to budge from their £86m price tag that has been set for the youngster.
Vlahovic then, could turn into an ideal alternative for Hojlund should any potential move fail to materialise during the transfer window.
Could Manchester United sign Dusan Vlahovic?
The Red Devils have made just one acquisition this summer, luring Mason Mount from Chelsea and although this is certainly a step in the right direction with regard to bolstering his attacking options, Ten Hag now needs a proper centre forward to join ahead of next term.
Only Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes scored more than ten goals for the club throughout the whole of last season and the Dutchman will be looking for another one or two players who could arrive and boost this area.
Despite conceding just 43 goals in 38 league matches, United scored only 58 goals, with all but two of the top ten scoring more than them and this heightens their need for a player who could score plenty.
Vlahovic didn’t enjoy the best season for Juventus compared to previous years, yet he still managed to score 14 goals and grab four assists across all competitions, and he could prove to be a big upgrade on Anthony Martial, who managed just 12 goal contributions in comparisons.
Indeed, not only does the Serbian score more than Martial, he has also registered more shots per 90 (3.12 to 2.26), taken more touches in the attacking penalty area (144 to 58) and made more progressive carries into the final third (29 to 15) suggesting that his game revolves around more than just scoring, and he puts himself in excellent positions to shoot often and also in order to create chances for others.
Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Carlo Garganese, Vlahovic, as evidenced by the statistics, offers a more well round approach than Martial, while also being capable of scoring more often and this should tempt Ten Hag into making a move for him this summer.
The fee of £55m may seem a lot on the surface, but in terms of value for money and the chance to further develop the 23-year-old at United, it could be a wise investment by the club.
An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur over a player who could be on their way out of the club ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…
What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?
According to the Daily Mail, Atletico Madrid have opened talks with Spurs over a potential deal to sign central midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer.
The report claims that the two clubs are having discussions as the Spanish side are attempting to convince the Premier League team to part ways with their battler, as they are currently reluctant to sanction a transfer.
It is stated that the Denmark international is interested in making the switch to La Liga as they have Champions League football to offer him next season.
Who could replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at Tottenham?
Ange Postecoglou could forget all about the former Bayern Munich enforcer by securing a deal to sign Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat before the end of the summer.
Tottenham were keen on signing the Morocco international in the January transfer window and have reportedly retained their interest throughout the year.
Fiorentina are reportedly demanding €30m (£26m) for the defensive midfielder and Daniel Levy must work with the Australian head coach to bring him to England as a replacement for Hojbjerg, should he move to Madrid in the coming weeks.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's 2022/23 statistics.
As you can see in the above graphic, as provided by Opta, the Danish dynamo excels at winning possession back and taking plenty of touches of the ball across the pitch in comparison to his positional peers.
This shows that he is a possession-based midfielder who is also excellent at breaking up opposition attacks to protect his own goal.
Meanwhile, Amrabat, who has been hailed as "criminally underrated" by journalist Muhammad Butt, is a similar type of number six as he is also impressive in those aspects of the game – as shown in the Opta chart below.
Sofyan Amrabat's 2022/23 statistics.
Their respective statistics from last season suggest that they are both defensively excellent midfielders, which means that Postecoglou would not be weakening his side from a defensive perspective by signing the Serie A star to line up in Hojbjerg's place next season.
However, the former Celtic boss could improve the quality of his team's play in possession by making this switch as Amrabat is exceptional at using his range of passing to progress the ball.
Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.
The 26-year-old titan has averaged 7.93 progressive passes per 90 over the last 365 days, which places him among the top 8% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions in that time.
Whereas, Hojbjerg has completed 6.59 progressive passes per 90 during that period and does not crack the top 20% of midfielders in that statistic.
Therefore, Amrabat, who was described as an "absolute colossus" by Morocco by ex-England ace Stuart Pearce, could offer more in possession to find his teammates in better positions, as he is capable of progressing the ball more frequently than the former Southampton man.
These statistics indicate that Postecoglou could forget all about Hojbjerg in a swoop for the Fiorentina gem due to his outstanding ability in and out of possession, which would allow the manager to sanction an exit for the 27-year-old general.
Leeds United defender Robin Koch is now wanted by Serie A champions Napoli this summer, according to a fresh transfer update.
Which players are leaving Leeds?
The Whites' relegation from the Premier League last month was a bitter pill to swallow for anyone associated with the club, following three years back in the top flight of English football.
It will create problem for so many reasons, not least the fact that Leeds are going to find it extremely difficult to keep hold of key players beyond the summer. Playing in the Championship will not appeal to many of their top young talents, especially if they have the opportunity to return straight to the top level at another club.
A host of current Whites heroes are being linked with summer moves away from Elland Road, with the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Jack Harrison among those in the mix to depart.
Koch is another who has been tipped to move on, however, as he looks for a new challenge.
Leeds United's Robin Koch
Is Koch potentially joining Napoli?
According to Sky Italia journalist Franceso Modugno (via Gianluca Di Marzio and Sport Witness), Napoli are eyeing up a summer move for the £38,000-a-week defender, as they look to bring in a tailor-made replacement for centre-back Kim Min-jae, who looks set to join Bayern Munich.
The report claims that the Serie A giants see Koch as a strong target because he "stands out for his physicality and ability in aerial play", with a bid now possibly in the offing.
In truth, these are the sort of departures that Leeds simply have to accept in the summer transfer window, with someone of Koch's standing no doubt intrigued by the idea of joining a Napoli side that excelled so much last season.
While it would be nice to see the 26-year-old stay put with the Whites and help them make a speedy return to the Premier League, it is difficult to be too critical of him moving on if a club of such stature comes in for him.
Granted, Koch hasn't always covered himself in glory for Leeds, starting 36 of his side's 38 league games en route to relegation in 2022/23, but he has been hailed as a "machine" by teammate Max Wober and he would be a loss, certainly boasting the physicality to thrive in the second tier.
The fact that the German's current Whites deal expires next year does make this a realistic time to sell him and receive good money, though, which is the one positive to take from his likely exit.
Chelsea are “confident” that they can complete a summer deal for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.
What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?
The Premier League playmaker still has another four years remaining on his contract with Roberto De Zerbi’s side, but having established himself as last season’s top-performing defensive player at The Amex, he’s caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino in SW6.
The Evening Standard have reported that the Blues have identified the 21-year-old as the leading contender to replace Mateo Kovacic who is close to joining Manchester City, with Galetti also claiming that the boss has personally “asked” to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
As well as Kovacic, N’Golo Kante has left to embark on a new adventure in Saudi Arabia and Denis Zakaria has also confirmed his return to Juventus upon the conclusion of his loan, so reinforcements in front of the backline with definitely be needed, and the Seagulls star could be the perfect candidate.
Are Chelsea signing Caicedo?
Taking to Twitter, Galetti revealed that Chelsea are closing in on Caicedo, with Brighton’s midfielder expected to green-light the deal imminently. He wrote:
“#Chelsea are still pushing for Moises #Caicedo. Understand that #CFC are working to close the gap with #Brighton and they're confident to reach an agreement for the MF. Personal terms set to be agreed: evolving situation.”
Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.
Could Caicedo be a strong recruit for Pochettino?
Caicedo may only be 21 years old but he’s already been dubbed a midfield “leader” by talent scout Jacek Kulig and he’s at the age where you could build a team for the long-term future around him, so he would definitely be an excellent addition for Pochettino.
The Ecuador international, who earns £60k-per-week, is stronger in the natural aspect of his game protecting the backline, having made 100 tackles last season which was higher than any of his teammates, via FBRef, whilst averaging 1.5 interceptions per top-flight game.
The World Cup participant, however, is also capable of chipping in at the opposite end of the pitch on occasion, having scored one goal and provided an assist during the previous campaign too.
Finally, Caicedo is a versatile operator having been deployed at right-back and slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his usual role, which will be yet another attractive quality to the boss, so should he put pen to paper, it would be a massive coup for the Blues.
The task for West Ham, David Moyes, and his conquering squad is to keep going.
The Europa Conference League title is a ceremonial moment in the history of the club that will forever be revered and cherished.
However, the Irons cannot rest on their laurels, another year of European football beckons and the team must be moulded to keep up with this demanding ask.
Players of sufficient pedigree and experience must be landed with Joaquin Correa touted as a possible addition to the London Stadium.
What’s the latest on Joaquin Correa to West Ham?
According to the Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the East London outfit and Everton have opened 'tentative' talks to sign the Inter Milan man.
In a previous report, it has been suggested that the 28-year-old could be available on the market for as little as €15 (£13m).
David Moyes supposedly tried to sign the Argentine in the summer of 2021, before he joined the Nerazzurri, and the Hammers look set to reignite their interest in the forward.
Would Joaquin Correa be a good signing for West Ham?
The 6 foot 2 star has played in Italy since 2018 and has developed a solid reputation as a dependable and productive player. He has recorded 51 goal contributions in 175 Serie A outings.
However, the 19-cap international has endured a rather frustrating campaign, managing just 15 starts in all competitions and was an unused substitution in the Champions League final defeat to Manchester City.
Therefore, the former Sevilla star is seeking a new challenge, which could come in the form of the Irons.
Despite his lack of game time, the statistics still make for impressive reading – in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers, Correa ranks within the top 13% for assists per 90, progressive passes per 90, and successful take-ons per 90.
Furthermore, his chameleonic nature to appear in various positions across the frontline demonstrates a fascinating versatility that could make him crucial for Moyes next season.
Indeed, according to FBref, he possesses a similar profile to that of World Cup winner Angel Di Maria.
Angel Di Maria warming up
Not only do the two attackers share nationality but they also have a nimble frame, an effortless first touch, a venomous strike, and a hypnotic dribbling technique.
Described as “sensational” by Matteo Bonetti, Correa performs relatively closely to his compatriot in various metrics, such as goals and assists per 90 (0.38 vs 0.53), % shots on target per 90 (36.4 vs 32.4), pass completion (79.2% vs 72.1%), and shot creating actions per 90 (3.51 vs 5.48).
This signing would provide depth in various positions, whilst adding quality and attacking thrust hoping to regain a position in the top half of the Premier League and win a European competition for a consecutive season.
Chelsea are holding an interest in Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, according to a report from Calciomercato via the Chelsea Chronicle.
Will Chelsea sign Gleison Bremer?
The 26-year-old currently plays for Juventus, who he joined at the very beginning of the 2022/23 season. Despite only just joining the Turin outfit, he has already become a first-team regular for them and played often in Serie A, featuring on 30 occasions and even managing four goals and an assist along the way.
Whilst Juventus struggled with off-field difficulties and slipped to seventh in the standings, Bremer was able to flourish and become a key player, standing out as one of the few silver linings in their campaign.
Juventus defender Gleison Bremer.
He's clearly a very offensively minded centre-back too, with the Brazilian standing out as one of the best in his position in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe when it comes to hitting the back of the net. His rate of 0.15 non-penalty xG for example puts him in the top 1% of defenders in that stat – and suggest he is constantly able to get chances for himself and putting himself in positions to score for his team. His 1.63 blocks per 90 and 4.34 clearances per 90 also point at a player who is equally adept at putting in a real defensive shift too.
It's this form that has caught the eye and now, despite being a first-teamer at Juventus, he could be on the move this summer. According to a report from Calciomercato, via The Chelsea Chronicle, the defender is now a target for Chelsea, who have registered their interest.
Another Premier League side in Man United are also credited with interest, so it appears as though both could go head-to-head for the player, who would cost around 60 million Euros (or £51m).
When does Bremer's contract expire?
It is no surprise that Juventus would want so much already for the player, with his contract not set to expire until 2027.
That's because Breimer has already caught the eye for his breakout with Torino and now their cross-town rivals. He's been praised for his work at the back in the past, with football journalist Josh Bunting calling the player "superb" and adding that he can dribble out of the defence "with quality" too.
It shows a centre-back that is confident with the ball at his feet and with Chelsea wanting to strengthen their backline, they could clearly do a lot worse than Breimer this window.