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Leeds United are reportedly close to completing their third signing of the summer transfer window with the addition of central defender Sebastiaan Bornauw from Wolfsburg.

The Belgian colossus was due for his medical at Thorp Arch on Monday and is now set to add more depth to a defensive unit that already includes Pascal Struijk, Max Wober, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and recent signing Jaka Bijol.

Daniel Farke looks set to have plenty of options to choose from at the heart of his defence next season in the Premier League, and he is also looking to add more quality at the other end of the pitch.

Leeds pushing to sign new striker

Bornauw will be the second centre-back added to the squad, after Bijol, and the Whites are now in the market to make further attacking reinforcements.

Rodrigo Muniz appears to be one number nine target who is off the table for the club, though, as Fulham reportedly see him as not for sale amid interest from the West Yorkshire outfit.

Transfer Focus

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

According to the print edition of Corriere Dello Sport (30/06/2025), as relayed by MOTLeedsNews, Leeds United are pushing to sign Lecce centre-forward Nikola Krstovic in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the club’s interest in the Montenegro international has forced the Serie A clubs to start pursuing striker targets of their own to replace the forward, which speaks to the level of interest shown by the Championship champions.

It now remains to be seen whether or not Leeds will be able to get a deal for the £21m-rated number nine over the line in the coming weeks.

Nikola Krstovic could be the next Chris Wood for Leeds

If the Whites can secure the 25-year-old striker’s signature, then they could find their next version of Chris Wood, who scored 44 goals in 88 matches during his time at Elland Road in the Championship.

After leaving Leeds to sign for Burnley, Wood proved himself to be a dependable Premier League goalscorer, with a return of 89 goals in 263 games for the Clarets, Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle United combined. That is a return of between 12 and 13 goals per 38 appearances.

In Krstovic, Leeds could find a physical and mobile centre-forward, like Wood, who can also consistently deliver that level of quality in front of goal in the top-flight.

The 25-year-old star ended the 2024/25 campaign with a haul of 11 goals in 37 Serie A outings for Lecce, which shows that he can score goals at a respectable rate in a major European league.

As well as being a striker who has the potential to add a goal threat to Farke’s squad in the Premier League next season, Krstovic is also similar to Wood in the sense that he provides a physical presence in the number nine role.

Appearances

37

36

Goals

11

20

Big chances created

5

3

Assists

5

3

Duels won

4.9

3.5

Ground duel success rate

40%

35%

Aerial duel success rate

41%

39%

As you can see in the table above, the Lecce star offered even more physicality to his team in the Serie A than the New Zealand international did for Forest in the Premier League, winning a higher percentage of his duels on the deck and in the air.

Krstovic, who was hailed as “integral” by former boss Roberto D’Aversa, stands at 6 foot 1 and, clearly, has the attributes to compete with physical centre-backs at the top level.

A Bijol repeat: Leeds make one of the "best in the world" a priority target

Leeds United could soon seal another fantastic defensive deal by landing this cut-price star.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 30, 2025

Therefore, Farke could land his own version of Wood by landing a deal for the Serie A marksman, who could provide goals, assists, and physicality in the Premier League next term.

Amid rumours that they’ve already had to reject a bid worth £45m to sell Anthony Elanga, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly opened talks to sign a possible replacement.

Nottingham Forest reject Newcastle's Elanga bid

After securing a shock place in the Europa Conference League in an excellent season last time out, Nottingham Forest are in no position to sell key players. But that hasn’t stopped certain clubs from testing the waters. Among them, Newcastle United reportedly formalised their interest in Elanga with an offer worth £45m earlier this week, only to see that bid rejected by those at the City Ground.

There’s still plenty of time remaining in the summer transfer window, however, and Forest will be well aware that Newcastle could yet come calling a second time.

If that does happen, then preparing for Elanga’s exit in a worst-case scenario would not be a bad idea for all involved at the City Ground. Already, on that front, Forest have attempted and failed to sign Timothy Weah from Juventus and have also been linked with versatile AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah.

Whether either of those options possess the quality to replace Elanga is the big question. One man who is unlikely to face problems in that regard is Igor Jesus. The Botafogo forward is reportedly on his way to the Midlands alongside teammate Jair Cunha following their Club World Cup campaign.

The former has already stolen plenty of headlines with his winning goal against Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain and is seemingly about to take the Premier League by storm.

Nottingham Forest open talks to sign "elite" new star after Weah rejection

They’ve instantly turned towards another option.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 27, 2025

Jesus and Cuiabano may not be the only Club World Cup stars to arrive, either, amid reports that Forest have opened talks to sign another attacking target.

Nottingham Forest open talks to sign Pepe

According to ESPN Brazil, Nottingham Forest have now opened talks to sign Pepe from FC Porto, who are demanding over €15m (£12m) to sell their 28-year-old winger this summer.

An experienced winger who scored at the Club World Cup for Porto in a 4-4 draw against Al-Ahly this summer, Pepe would offer Forest instant depth and may even be asked to replace Elanga if the Swede joins Newcastle.

Minutes

1,991

2,501

Goals

3

6

Assists

2

11

Key Passes

31

50

The pressure would instantly be on Pepe if he did step in for Elanga and although his experience could prove to be invaluable, questions will be asked about his ability to match the 22-year-old’s output.

As a versatile backup who can play all across the frontline, however, the Porto man represents an ideal choice as Forest step into European football. At just over £12m too, it’s not a deal that Evangelos Marinakis will need to splash out on for Nuno Espirito Santo in the coming months.

Newcastle United are now trying to get ahead of Barcelona in the race to sign a “fantastic” forward on loan for the 2025/26 season, according to a new report.

Newcastle chasing multiple targets after rejected Elanga bid

Earlier this week, the Magpies saw a bid in the region of £45 million turned down straight away by Nottingham Forest for winger Anthony Elanga. Forest have made it clear they have no intention of selling the Sweden international, and now Newcastle are said to be weighing up whether to make another move.

As they decide what to do next in their pursuit of Elanga, Newcastle are already working on other potential arrivals in the meantime. The Premier League side are already in advanced talks to sign James Trafford from Burnley in a deal that is worth £30 million, and the transfer news doesn’t stop there, as the Magpies have agreed personal terms with forward Joao Pedro.

Newcastle are now said to be preparing a bid to sign the Brighton & Hove Albion attacker, but Chelsea’s interest has made the player think about where he would like to play his football from next season and beyond.

Newcastle now contact representatives of imposing 6 ft 4 Spanish defender

The Magpies have emerged as a new contender.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 25, 2025

A move for Pedro may depend on several factors, as a continued pursuit of Elanga could cool their interest in the Brighton man, but there is also another player who is firmly on their radar, and he could be seen as an alternative to both attackers.

Newcastle trying to beat Barça to Rashford

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle are making “serious moves” to sign Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United.

The Magpies are laying the groundwork to sign the Englishman, though with Rashford fully expected to leave Old Trafford this summer, there is set to be a race for his signature. The winger’s preference is to join Barcelona, but it remains unclear if the Spanish side are going to make him a priority despite Hansi Flick’s public interest.

Rashford, who earns £300,000 a week at Man United, spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils have already brought Matheus Cunha to the club this summer and are now closing in on a deal for Bryan Mbeumo, which makes the case stronger that Rashford doesn’t have a future at the club.

Apps

25

Starts

16

Goals

6

xG

4.77

Total shots

1.4

Chance conversion

17%

Assists

3

xAG

3.45

Big chances created

8

United would ideally like to sell Rashford, as they have placed a £40 million price tag on his head. But given his wages and the transfer fee, the Red Devils may have to accept what Newcastle are willing to offer, and that is a loan deal.

A move to St James’ Park would see Rashford, who was dubbed “fantastic” by Unai Emery and even “world class” by teammate Rasmus Hojlund, come up against the likes of Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Alexander Isak for a starting spot in Eddie Howe’s team.

The season ended less than a month ago, and so much has already changed at Tottenham Hotspur.

In the space of a week, Ange Postecoglou, who led the club to their first trophy in almost two decades this season, was fired, and his replacement all but announced.

The man to come in and try to improve the Lilywhites’ Premier League form looks set to be Brentford’s Thomas Frank.

However, to ensure the Danish coach can do that, Daniel Levy and Co have to execute this summer perfectly, which means bringing in the right players and selling those who need to be sold, such as Son Heung-min and another big name.

Why Son should be sold

There is no doubt that in the pantheon of great and iconic Tottenham Hotspur players, Son is right near the very top, as not only has he spent a decade at the club, but he was the captain for their Europa League triumph last week.

Chalkboard

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

However, that is one of the reasons he should be moved on this summer, as if he were to go now, he’d be leaving on an incredible high and as an unquestionable legend of the club, but were he to remain for another year, there is every chance his declining ability would see him eventually leave on something of a sour note next year.

It’s not the South Korean superstar’s fault he’s become less effective in recent years, but just an unfortunate reality of getting older, a reality supported by research carried out by The Athletic showing that wide attackers peak at 26 and see their ability to take defenders on nosedive at 30 and beyond.

Appearances

36

46

Goals

17

11

Assists

10

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.75

0.5

We can also see this in his numbers, with the Chuncheon-born ace racking up 27 goal involvements in 36 appearances last year but just 23 in 46 games this year.

Moreover, per FBref, the 32-year-old sat in the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons per 90 in the 18/19 Premier League season, but then this season, he was in the bottom 42% for the same metric.

Now, the good news is that the North Londoners can probably still get some good money for the Bayer Leverkusen star, as according to French outlet Foot Mercato, he has been approached by Saudi Pro-league side Al-Hilal, and as we’ve seen in the past few years, they can pay an awful lot for ageing stars.

In all, Son is now a bonafide legend at Spurs, but this summer feels like the right time for him to go so he can leave on a high, and the club can cash in, which is the same for another star.

The Spurs star who should be sold

While there are a few players who should be sold this summer because they simply aren’t good enough, like Yves Bissouma, we are talking about one of the co-vice captains, Cristian Romero.

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, we are not for one second saying the Argentine isn’t good enough to play for Spurs under Frank.

However, there are a few reasons why the North Londoners should probably be looking to cash in on him, with the first being the interest.

There has always been the odd link here and there for the World Cup winner, but it has to be said that in the last few months, said links have increased in volume and believability.

For example, Real Madrid were reportedly keen on the former Juventus ace in early April, but since then, there has been a near-constant stream of reports touting him for a move to their city rivals, Atlético Madrid.

Worse still, the Córdoba-born “monster,” dubbed by journalist Charlie Eccleshare, has reportedly already spoken to his compatriot Diego Simeone and now wants to move to the Spanish capital, which is a want likely strengthened by the sacking of Postecoglou.

The second reason is intertwined with the first and concerns the money involved in a potential move.

If the club can get upwards of £60m for the wantaway defender, as it looks like they want, then that cash can go towards new players that actually want to play for the team and that Frank personally wants in his squad.

Finally, the the £165,000-per-week defender cannot be relied upon to remain fit anymore, as he missed a whopping 27 games for club and country this season, so even if he stays this summer, he could well end up missing half of the 25/26 campaign.

Ultimately, Romero is a brilliant footballer and was important in the Europa League this year, but with him increasingly looking like he wants to leave, combined with his fitness problems, it would make sense for Spurs to cash in now and hand Franks the funds to sign his own players.

Dream Semenyo alternative: Spurs plot bid to sign "terrifying" £21m star

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 11, 2025

Manchester United’s season ended in disappointing fashion when they were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the Europa League in Bilbao last month.

That result means that the Red Devils will not be playing European football in the 2025/26 campaign, as they missed out on the chance to qualify for the Champions League.

This has already had an impact on their summer transfer business, as Chelsea agreed a deal to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town ahead of them. Fabrizio Romano claimed that Champions League football was key to the Blues winning the race for the England U21 international.

The 22-year-old marksman plundered 12 goals in 37 appearances in the Premier League for the Tractor Boys in the 2024/25 campaign, and will now link up with Enzo Maresca and his squad.

However, despite failing to qualify for any European competition and missing out on the signing of Delap, Manchester United have already confirmed that Matheus Cunha has joined the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a permanent deal.

What Matheus Cunha could bring to Manchester United

The Brazil international appears to be an ideal fit for Ruben Amorim’s system on paper, because he played as one of two attacking midfielders behind a striker in a similar formation at Wolves.

This means that he could slot straight in as one of the number tens in the Portuguese head coach’s 3-4-2-1 system, with the hope that he can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

The 26-year-old’s form for Wolves in the last two Premier League seasons suggests that the potential is there for him to make an instant impact at Old Trafford with his ability to score and create goals.

Appearances

32

33

xG

9.49

8.63

Goals

12

15

Big chances created

7

13

Key passes per game

0.9

1.8

Assists

7

6

As you can see in the table above, Cunha delivered 27 goals and 13 assists in 65 appearances across those two campaigns, whilst no Manchester United player scored more than eight goals in the Premier League this term.

This suggests that he could immediately be Amorim’s biggest goal threat at the top end of the pitch, due to the current lack of quality in the final third for United.

Cunha, however, only scored six goals and provided six assists in 40 LaLiga outings for Atletico Madrid earlier in his career, so there may still be a question mark over his suitability for a side that is looking to challenge at the top end of the table.

Whilst there is still some doubt over whether or not he can become a star for United in the same way he was for Wolves, the Red Devils could land an even bigger signing than Cunha amid interest in a Champions League winner.

Man Utd eyeing deal for PSG star

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The report claims that Inter, Juventus, Manchester United, and Manchester City are all eyeing up a move for the shot-stopper, who kept a clean sheet in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that the Italy international’s current contract in Paris is due to expire in the summer of 2026, with contract talks at a standstill, and this has left the door open to a potential move away from the club ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

CaughtOffside adds that Juventus and Inter are the two most serious contenders to land the 26-year-old goalkeeper this summer, as they hope that a move back to Italy would be tempting for him.

The report claims, however, that Manchester United are also monitoring his situation with PSG because Amorim is unconvinced by Andre Onana could swoop for the PSG star as a replacement for the Cameroon international.

If the Red Devils can get a deal over the line for Donnarumma ahead of the likes of Inter and Juventus, the Italian colossus could be an even bigger signing than Cunha.

Why Donnarumma would be a bigger signing than Cunha for Man Utd

Unlike Cunha, the PSG superstar has proven himself at the very top level as a regular for both PSG and Italy, winning four Ligue 1 titles, one Champions League, and the European Championship with his country.

The former Milan star has been there and done it in the biggest competitions and leagues, whereas Cunha – as aforementioned – is yet to prove himself at that level.

GOAL recently posted an updated power ranking for the 2025 Ballon d’Or and placed Donnarumma in 12th place, as one of the contenders for the prestigious award, thanks to his impressive performances for PSG.

Cunha, as he has not showcased his quality on the same stages, did not rank in their top 20, which speaks to the gulf in quality between the two players.

Donnarumma would also come in as a significant upgrade on Onana between the sticks and provide United with a solid goalkeeper who could be relied upon week-in-week-out.

Appearances

15

13

Save percentage

72%

63%

Goals prevented

1.69

-1.54

Clean sheets

6

2

Error led to shot

0

0

Error led to goal

1

2

As you can see in the table above, the Italian international was significantly better as a shot-stopper in Europe this season, whilst also making fewer errors that led to goals.

The PSG star also went through the Ligue 1 campaign, playing 24 matches, without making a single error that led to a shot or a goal, whilst Onana made four errors leading to shots or goals in 34 Premier League games.

These statistics suggest that Donnarumma would be a huge upgrade on the current United number one, both as a shot-stopper and as a reliable presence in goal, which is another reason why he would be an even more important signing than Cunha.

Instead of worrying about whether or not their goalkeeper is going to make a mistake, the Red Devils defenders could be assured by the Italy international behind them, leading to greater defensive displays and fewer errors at the back.

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5 ByKelan Sarson Jun 1, 2025

It is now down to the club to win the race to sign the Champions League winner and Ballon d’Or contender this summer, as he could be a transformational signing due to the quality and pedigree that the goalkeeper would bring to the team.

Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta is now targeting a marquee Premier League forward for Mikel Arteta, as his talks for Real Madrid star Rodrygo hit a snag.

Arsenal open talks for Rodrygo in chase for quality new winger

Last week, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg broke news that Arsenal had opened talks over a move for Rodrygo, with Berta in hot pursuit of a quality new winger who can provide them with even more goals and assists.

Club tell "popular" young forward they want to ship him back to Arsenal

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1 ByEmilio Galantini May 24, 2025

Rodrygo shot to the “very top” of Berta’s list of transfer targets in that regard, but it is still seen as a pretty difficult deal to pull off for a multitude of reasons.

The 24-year-old, who’s bagged 13 goals and 10 assists in all competitions over 50 total appearances this season, is also on around £202,000-per-week at Real. This would make Rodrygo one of Arsenal’s highest-paid players on a wage bill which is already pretty significant, with the Gunners’ annual payroll already totalling around £170 million.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

If you also factor in his £68 million rumoured price tag, a move for Rodrygo suddenly becomes a costly operation, and Arsenal need to set aside their summer funds carefully as they also target a prolific striker.

Taking all of this into account, it’s actually little surprise that negotiations are now stumbling, as reported by Plettenberg this week.

Arsenal eye Kaoru Mitoma as Rodrygo talks stall

Writing via X, the Sky journalist claims that Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma has now been identified as an alternative to the Real winger, with a move for Rodrygo proving complex as talks stall.

As Arsenal become faced with the very real possibility of having to give up on their “dream signing”, as per Plettenberg, Mitoma could prove to be a tempting option in place of Rodrygo.

The Japan star has scored 11 goals and bagged a further four assists in total throughout 24/25, enjoying yet another productive season at the Amex, but he won’t exactly be much cheaper than Rodrygo.

Reports suggest Mitoma could cost as much as £80 million to prise away from the south coast, with Brighton known to be stern negotiators when it comes to selling their star players.

The 27-year-old won’t be a signing for the ultra-long-term either as he fast approaches his prime, so this is a move which Berta will need to consider very carefully.

The race for promotion to the Premier League from the Championship always makes for eye-catching viewing, and the 2024/25 season was no different, with Leeds United, Burnley and Sheffield United all battling for the top two automatic spots.

The Whites and Clarets were successful in the regular season in the end, thanks to both clubs reaching the 100-point mark. But who are the best Championship teams in recent history?

In this list, we look at the teams with the highest second-tier points tallies since three points were awarded for a win in 1981/82.

Rank

Team

Season

Points

Reading

2005/06

Sunderland

1998/99

Newcastle

2009/10

Leicester

2013/14

Fulham

2000/01

Burnley

2022/23

Leeds

2024/25

Burnley

2024/25

Man City

2001/02

Chelsea

1988/89

Wolves

2017/18

Portsmouth

2002/03

12 Portsmouth (2002/03) 98 points (GD +52)

Harry Redknapp guided Portsmouth into the Premier League back in 2002/03, winning 29 of their 46 games. In fact, they lost just one of their first 15 games and netted just shy of 100 league goals, pipping Leicester City to the title.

Svetoslav Todorov was Pompey’s top scorer that year with 26 goals in all competitions in a squad which included Paul Merson, Yakubu and Eddie Howe.

11 Wolverhampton Wanderers (2017/18) 99 points (GD +43)

More recently, Wolverhampton Wanderers stormed the Championship under Nuno Espirito Santo with a squad which included some high-profile players. The likes of Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota brought the Portuguese flair to Molineux, whereas Conor Coady, Matt Doherty and Barry Douglas were regulars at the back with John Ruddy in goal.

Wolves topped the table from the 15th game week through to the season’s conclusion, winning 30, and then went on to qualify for European football in their first season back in the Premier League.

10 Chelsea (1988/89) 99 points (GD +46)

Another side who just missed out on three figures was Chelsea way back in 1988/89 under Bobby Campbell, and they would have hit that milestone if it wasn’t for such a slow start, which saw them go winless in their opening six games.

However, the Blues ended up losing just five second-tier games all season and boasted a side which had star forward Kerry Dixon, who netted 25 league goals. The biggest win of that memorable campaign at Stamford Bridge was a 7-0 victory over Walsall.

9 Manchester City (2001/02) 99 points (GD +56)

The third and final team to narrowly miss out on 100 points was Manchester City under Kevin Keegan. The Sky Blues lost just once at home and scored an incredible 108 goals throughout the campaign, with Shaun Goater and Darren Huckerby both scoring more than 20.

City would have had more points if it weren’t for their inconsistent form on the road, with Keegan’s side failing to pick up maximum points in 11 of their 23 away fixtures.

8 Burnley (2024/25) 100 points (GD +53)

Burnley made it back-to-back Championship campaigns in triple figures, with Scott Parker taking over from Vincent Kompany in 2024/25, as the former Clarets boss went off to Bayern Munich.

Despite finishing second on goal difference, Burnley lost just twice and remarkably only conceded 16 goals all season, which obliterated the previous Championship record of 30.

If only they had scored more often, they could have had the league sewn up for themselves – the Lancashire side recorded 12 goalless draws throughout the campaign.

7 Leeds United (2024/25) 100 points (GD +65)

Returning to the Premier League at the second time of asking under Daniel Farke, Leeds United put play-off final disappointment behind them by recording their best Championship season to date.

The Whites were only beaten on four occasions, and won their last six on the spin to edge ahead of Burnley in the battle for silverware, with their superior goal difference handing them a second Championship trophy in six seasons.

In truth, Leeds could well have ended up with a more impressive points tally, as some shocking goalkeeping threatened to derail their promotion hopes altogether.

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ByStephan Georgiou Apr 1, 2025 6 Burnley (2022/23) 101 points (GD +52)

Vincent Kompany made an instant impact as a manager in England after taking over at Burnley following their relegation in 2022.

The former Manchester City defender, who joined from Anderlecht, transformed the squad with a number of new signings who helped take the Clarets to the title ahead of Sheffield United.

Burnley lost just three matches in 46 and sealed promotion with seven matches remaining, which remains a Championship record. They then secured the title with a 1-0 victory away to rivals Blackburn Rovers, with the likes of Nathan Tella, Manuel Benson and Jay Rodriguez all bagging 10 or more goals.

5 Fulham (2000/01) 101 points (GD +58)

Fulham also finished on 101 points at the beginning of the millennium under Jean Tigana. Things were looking promising in the summer after not conceding a goal in pre-season and the Cottagers started as they meant to go on, winning their first 11 league games.

Promotion was all but sealed by Christmas when they were 10 points clear at the top and despite more defeats in the second half of the campaign, ended up winning the title comfortably in a squad which included Steve Finnan, Chris Coleman and Louis Saha, who topped the scoring charts with 27 league goals.

4 Leicester City (2013/14) 102 points (GD +40)

Leicester City broke a number of club records under Nigel Pearson 10 years ago, with their points tally possibly under threat from Maresca’s side this time around.

The Foxes won 31 games to beat Burnley to the title, losing just one of their final 26 games. Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Danny Drinkwater, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy all played their part in the second tier before going on to win the Premier League title two years later under Claudio Ranieri.

3 Newcastle United (2009/10) 102 points (GD +55)

Newcastle United also ended on 102 points and won the title four years prior under Chris Hughton, who was only named the permanent manager in October after a promising start as caretaker.

The Magpies would only lose once from the end of October until the end of the campaign, winning the title at Plymouth Argyle. Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll both scored 17 Championship goals that year, with Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Ameobi also hitting double figures.

Chelsea are now set to make contact over a move for an “unbelievable” Premier League player ahead of a potential summer move, according to a report.

Blues set sights on new forwards

With a potential Champions League campaign on the horizon next season, the Blues are keen on bolstering their attacking options in the upcoming transfer window, and a new winger is believed to be of interest.

Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho is one of the players in the west Londoners’ sights, and there is a belief the Argentine would be keen on a move to Stamford Bridge this summer, despite interest from Spanish giants Atlético Madrid.

AC Milan’s Rafael Leao is another option on the shortlist, with Enzo Maresca’s side making contact over a deal for the Portugal international earlier this week, and there are suggestions that a £64m offer could be enough to get a deal over the line.

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Despite having talisman Cole Palmer at his disposal, there have also been indications that Maresca could be keen on a new attacking midfielder this summer, and there has now been an update on the Blues’ pursuit of a Premier League star.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Chelsea are now planning to make contact with both Aston Villa and Morgan Rogers to assess whether the attacker would be keen on making a move to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

There is an admiration of the development Rogers has undergone this season, which means Maresca’s side are weighing up whether to make a formal bid for his services, but a deal could be on the expensive side.

Villa have set an asking price of £90m for the 22-year-old, and it is currently unclear how feasible a transfer will be, given that he remains contracted until 2030, which puts Unai Emery’s side in a strong negotiating position.

Rogers could be "unbelievable" signing for Chelsea

With the Premier League campaign approaching its climax, the Villans are set to rival Chelsea for a Champions League spot, and Rogers has been one of their most important players, picking up eight goals and 10 assists.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League

35

8

10

Champions League

12

4

3

FA Cup

5

2

1

Agent Hesham Bilal-Hafiz has also heaped praise upon the Villa star, given his technical and dribbling ability, which was on show against Manchester City earlier in the campaign.

Rogers could be a fantastic addition for Chelsea this summer, but they will surely need to secure Champions League qualification to stand a chance of sealing a deal, given that the Englishman has proven himself in Europe’s elite competition this season.

Chelsea are set for a busy summer, as the club are targeting a new striker, a right-footed winger and a central defender.

There have already been plenty of links, as the club draws up their plans ahead of the summer break.

However, Enzo Maresca will be hoping business can be done quickly, as just weeks after the Premier League season concludes, his side will be competing in the FIFA Club World Cup, which seems to have been placed in high regard by the Chelsea owners.

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One area that is key for Maresca and his system is his wide men, often isolated in 1v1 scenarios and given the responsibility to create chances for the side.

Whilst Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto have shown some good signs from the right, Jadon Sancho hasn’t been as consistent off the left – scoring just once since 8th December – whilst Mykhailo Mudryk is currently unavailable through suspension.

Transfer Focus

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

So, who could come in? Well, according to reports from Blues insider Simon Phillips, Chelsea have held initial talks with Jorge Mendes this week, regarding a potential transfer for AC Milan forward, Rafael Leao.

Whilst the Portugal international is likely the most high-profile name being touted, the Blues have also been linked with a host of other wide targets such as Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho and Nico Williams.

Leao, aged 25, has been linked with Chelsea in the past, with the Blues reportedly failing to sign him back in 2023, offering player-swap deals to try and get it over the line.

Any deal could be complicated by his astronomical release clause, which reportedly exceeds £80m.

Why Leao would be such a good signing for Chelsea

The dazzling winger has made 46 appearances so far this season, scoring 11 goals, providing 12 assists and totalling 3,253 minutes played. The Portuguese winger certainly fits the mould of a Maresca winger going forward, with the only real question mark being his willingness to work hard off the ball.

To ascertain how good a signing he would be, we can compare him to another of Chelsea’s transfer targets. It’s been reported this week that they are set to ‘push’ for the arrival of Juventus star, Kenan Yildiz, who isn’t quite the same profile of forward as Leao.

Yildiz is more of a hybrid winger, who likes to drift inside and play in central attacking midfield areas, dropping deep to pick up the ball and aid build-up before attacking the box and looking to create at the top end of the pitch.

Goals

0.29

0.24

Assists

0.29

0.13

xG

0.27

0.15

xAG

0.28

0.15

Progressive Carries

4.77

4.15

Progressive Passes

3.62

4.25

Shots Total

2.29

2.39

Key Passes

2.01

1.66

Shot-Creating Actions

4.22

4.09

Successful Take-Ons

2.86

2.43

When comparing their underlying metrics this season, you can see Leao is more direct with his actions, driving with the ball, looking to beat his man 1v1 and provide output for the team. Such are his exceptional skills in this area that the Athletic’s Alex Barker once proclaimed that he is “one of the best dribblers in the world”.

On the other hand, Yildiz excels with his creative actions, making clever passes, thriving in tight spaces and taking slightly more shots per game.

The Juve attacker has the ability to beat his man 1v1 with precise dribbling, combine with his teammates and break open games through his quality, but he isn’t the same relentless type of winger as Leao, who is better suited to Maresca’s current model.

Ex-AC Milan winger Ronaldinho had high praise for Leao back in 2022, labelling the Portuguese winger as “one of the best” in the world at the time, rubberstamping why he’d be such an exceptional acquisition this summer.

Should Leao get a move to Chelsea, he could thrive in the limitless 1v1 opportunities Maresca’s system would supply him with, but he would have to be willing to work harder off the ball in order to make things work.

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ByJoe Nuttall Apr 24, 2025

Newcastle United are pushing to complete the signing of a player who Eddie Howe has worked with in the past, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Newcastle eyeing new goalkeeper this summer

The Magpies have enjoyed a season to treasure, thanks to their memorable EFL Cup triumph last month, and there is also still hope that they can finish in the top four in the Premier League, sealing a return to the Champions League in the process.

New signings will be needed to aid Howe moving forward, and it looks like a new goalkeeper at the top of the summer wishlist at St James’ Park, as Newcastle look for a long-term replacement for Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka. Burnley stopper James Trafford has been consistently mentioned as a leading option, following an impressive season at Turf Moor.

The Clarets have conceded just 12 goals in 40 Championship matches in 2024/25 to date and Trafford has started 39 of those matches, highlighting why he is seen as one of the most promising young ‘keepers in the country.

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Kamil Grabara has been mentioned as an alternative option for Newcastle, with the Pole now plying his trade at Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, and current Reds ace Caoimhin Kelleher is also a name who has been thrown into the mix. Now, another target has emerged for the Premier League outfit.

Newcastle pushing to sign "phenomenal" player

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are “weighing up” spending £25m on Southampton ‘keeper Ramsdale this summer, with Howe a “big fan” of the England international. Ramsdale effectively became available for purchase this weekend, as he has a relegation clause in his Saints contract.

The Magpies boss worked with him during their time together at Bournemouth, and he could be viewed as the right man to replace Pope between the sticks.

Ramsdale has indeed experienced a disappointing first season at Southampton, officially suffering relegation from the Premier League on Sunday after Saints’ 3-1 defeat away to Tottenham.

The 26-year-old surely won’t be entertaining the idea of playing in the Championship next season, however, having been lauded by Arsenal legend David Seaman in the past: “People forget he’s only 24. So that is amazing for me because I didn’t join Arsenal until I was 26 – what he’s doing now at 24 is just phenomenal. He’s making big saves all the time.”

England

5

England Under-21s

15

England Under-20s

5

England Under-19s

12

England Under-18s

2

While Ramsdale’s time at Arsenal ultimately didn’t work out, with Mikel Arteta preferring David Raya, he is good enough to be an astute signing for Newcastle, especially as Howe rates him highly and knows him so well.

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At 26, he is still young for a goalkeeper and could develop far more in the coming years, and his ability on the ball is arguably more natural than Pope, which could be a benefit for Newcastle, allowing them to shine more as a ball-playing team from the back.