Chelsea’s £50k-p/w Sensation Could Be A Star Under Poch

Chelsea fell to their sixth successive defeat under Frank Lampard on Tuesday night, losing 3-1 against Arsenal in a London derby at the Emirates.

It was another demoralising performance from the Blues, as they found themselves 3-0 down in the first half after some woeful defending, with Gabriel Jesus adding to Martin Odegaard’s brace.

The Gunners could have scored more but in the end, the game would finish 3-1, thanks to a first Chelsea goal from Noni Madueke, and the young winger deserves credit for his performance despite the defeat.

How did Madueke perform against Arsenal?

The 21-year-old, who joined from PSV Eindhoven in the January transfer window, was making just his third Premier League start for the Blues on Tuesday but certainly took his opportunity on the right-hand side.

As per Sofascore, the tricky winger earned an impressive 7.3/10 rating for his performance at the Emirates, which ranked him as the second-best Chelsea player on the night behind only Thiago Silva (7.7).

It wasn’t just his well-taken goal, which saw him collect a pass from Mateo Kovacic after a run in behind Oleksandr Zinchenko and finish past Aaron Ramsdale, which saw him rated so highly however.

The England U21 international also completed four out of five dribbles and completed 17 passes, which is an improvement on his average of 2.3 dribbles and 16.3 passes per game in the Premier League so far this term.

Although he did lose possession on 13 occasions, he was always looking to be positive in the attack and caused problems for Zinchenko throughout, which is more than can be said for the anonymous Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling, who were both subbed early.

Lampard has a plethora of wingers available to him at Stamford Bridge and has rarely called upon Madueke, but the £50k-per-week star is now the best-rated wide man in Chelsea’s squad, earning a solid 6.72 average rating from WhoScored across his seven appearances in the top flight.

Frank Lampard

Unlike others on Tuesday night, the former PSV man also worked hard in defence, contributing an impressive three interceptions and one tackle, again an improvement on his average of 0.6 interceptions and 0.7 tackles per game so far this season.

He certainly caught the eye of content creator and performance analyst Jack Fawcett, who wrote:

“I found the criticism of Madueke a bit baffling at half time. I thought he was probably the brightest spark in the first half for Chelsea. Had very little help from Azpilicueta when in possession. He’s been the silver lining tonight.”

With Mauricio Pochettino looking likely to be the man to take over permanently at Stamford Bridge in the summer, he will surely be keeping a close eye on the Blues’ best and worst performers in the final few games.

Madueke has looked like one of the very few positive outlets since Lampard arrived back in London but has found life difficult due to the extreme circumstances the club finds itself in.

However, with the right management and indeed a better environment to develop, he could easily live up to his huge potential and become a star under the Argentine manager.

Liverpool Need To Be Careful In Assesing Key Position

Liverpool need to be wary of being 'exposed' at right-back due to Jurgen Klopp's decision to allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to venture into midfield, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest news involving Trent Alexander-Arnold's new role?

Alexander-Arnold has been something of a revelation in his new role as an inverted full-back with a licence to roam into central areas, having registered six assists in his last eight matches since being deployed there, as per Transfermarkt.

Former Liverpool player Dean Saunders has praised the tactical switch highly and thinks the Reds now don't need to sign a new midfielder in the summer due to the form of the 24-year-old.

Speaking to talkSPORT as quoted by The Mirror, the pundit said: "I honestly think Liverpool don't need to sign a midfield player. I think he [Alexander-Arnold] is better than all the English midfield players. I think Trent could play centre of midfield for England and end up captain. I think he's a brilliant central midfield player; he's like a caged animal waiting, you can tell he's loving it. He can defend in midfield, which is not like defending as a full-back where you get isolated with the winger – he's got defensive thoughts in his head which he can track people into the box. His feet are better than anybody's in the England team, both feet."

Liverpool have been in the market for several players to strengthen their midfield in the forthcoming transfer window, including Sporting Lisbon's Manuel Ugarte, Brighton & Hove Albion ace Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea playmaker Mason Mount.

Nevertheless, Alexander-Arnold has helped to revive a stagnating Reds midfield in the last few weeks, which has helped Liverpool climb back into Champions League contention.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones thinks Liverpool need to be cautious when operating in this system and also doesn't think that Alexander-Arnold will be moved into central midfield permanently to allow someone else to assume responsibilities at right-back such as Joe Gomez.

Jones told FFC: "I don't think Joe Joe Gomez could play this specific role that Trent is playing right now. I think that this has been adapted specifically for him to try and solve the problem, but you know, Liverpool do need to decide what actually happens at right back because that spot has been exposed a few times since they've been playing in this style."

Will Liverpool stick with this style of play next season?

Right now it's impossible to say; however, the initial signs have been encouraging at Anfield as Liverpool look to have turned a corner after an inconsistent 2022/23 campaign.

Klopp has managed to guide his side to eight matches without defeat in the Premier League and the Reds look to be finally enjoying themselves on the field, which bodes well for next season and to the degree that they may continue to use their current tactical system.

Of course, a lot will depend on summer signings at the club, who are likely to strengthen in middle of the park to replace peripheral figures such as the outgoing Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Veteran James Milner also looks certain to leave Liverpool to join Brighton on a free transfer, making it an interesting time of things to see where the future of Alexander Arnold's role will lie and whether he will be reverted back to duties more traditionally in keeping with a right-sided defender.

Chelsea Media Rips Into "Careless", "Bad" Chelsea Star

Mateo Kovacic was slammed on social media for his poor display against Nottingham Forest as Chelsea dropped two more points.

The Blues struggled in yet another Premier League game but Raheem Sterling was a player to savour. The Croatian meanwhile was taken off after half-time before the game finished 2-2 with very few fans or pundits impressed with him.

How did Kovacic play against Nottingham Forest?

Kovacic was taken off injured but the midfielder's bad luck summed up his display. During his time on the pitch, he had just 26 touches and while he had an 83% pass accuracy, he was ineffective and careless with his pass selection, completing no key passes, crosses or dribbles and attempting zero shots.

Kovacic also lost the ball five times while failing to create any chances for the home side.

What did the media say about Kovacic?

The midfielder's passing left Chelsea reporter, Simon Phillips, bemused. On Twitter, he said: "Ruben only has to make a couple forward passes to have a better game than Kovacic did."

Alex Goldberg had this to say: "Kovačić is one of the most careless midfielders there is. ANOTHER bad giveaway. And yeah, Mendy, that’s poor…"

Raheem Sterling was Chelsea's best performer, scoring a brace either side of Taiwo Awoniyi's two goals.

The Blues have been very poor this season but Sterling has been a player of promise. Despite the turbulence, the former Liverpool and Man City star has managed nine goals and five assists. Perhaps with more quality and stability at Chelsea next season, the England international could showcase the quality that saw him become so feared at the Etihad.

Journalist Shrugs Off "Ridiculous" Everton Transfer Claim

Everton re-signing former player James Rodriguez in the summer transfer window would be "ridiculous", according to journalist Paul Brown.

How did Rodriguez fare at Everton?

The 31-year-old made the surprise move to Goodison Park back in 2020, coming in as arguably one of the most high-profile signings in the Blues' history. After a bright start to life on Merseyside, his influence gradually diminished, however, with a combination of injuries and inconsistent form proving to be a problem for him.

In the end, Rodriguez only made 26 appearances for Everton, scoring six goals and registering nine assists, prior to joining Qatari side Al-Rayyan in 2021. The Colombian has been linked with a shock return to Goodison in recent days, with the Toffees touching based with intermediaries.

He is currently without a club, having seen his contract at Olympiakos terminated earlier this year, so he would be available on a free transfer.

Premier League, Everton, Everton news, Everton latest news, Everton transfers, Everton transfer news, James Rodriguez

Could Rodriguez make Blues return?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown admitted that Rodriguez returning to Everton would not be a good idea, mainly because of his physical limitations:

"Now the player is even older, hasn't exactly been ripping it up in the leagues he's played in since, and doesn't suggest that his body has performed any kind of remarkable transformation, I think it would be a ridiculous idea for Everton to try and bring him back."

Brown is spot on in his assessment here, with Rodriguez someone who Everton shouldn't even consider going near once this season reaches its conclusion. There is no denying his talent as a footballer – he was once hailed as "world-class" by Alvaro Arbeloa – but his best days are long behind, hence the situation he finds himself in.

The Blues would be far better off looking to sign younger players who are more likely to possess a strong work ethic and buy into Sean Dyche's style of play, rather than a potential luxury addition who is often out injured. Not only that, but the 90-cap Colombia international would also likely demand high wages, at a time when Everton aren't exactly in the strongest financial position they have ever been in.

It is a move that simply has too many negatives to it, and while some Blues supporters may still like the idea of Rodriguez returning to the club, given his natural ability, it is a transfer that would likely end in tears for all concerned.

£4k-p/w Rangers Enforcer Dismantled Hibernian

Glasgow Rangers followed up their impressive Old Firm derby win last weekend with a 3-1 win over Hibernian away from home on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership.

The Light Blues led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a stunning free-kick from captain James Tavernier. He shaped to cross the ball into the box before whipping a strike into the top corner, which caught out David Marshall at his near post.

Romanian international Ianis Hagi then made it 2-0 in the 55th minute as the attacking midfielder rebounded his own blocked shot to rifle a strike into the bottom corner from just inside the box.

Todd Cantwell completed the scoring for Rangers in the 86th minute. The Englishman followed in after Marshall's save from Tavernier and slotted the rebound into the back of the net before Paul Hanlon scored a consolation goal in stoppage time.

There were a number of impressive performers on the day for Michael Beale and one player who stood out alongside the skipper – who was involved in two of the three aforementioned goals – in a rare appearance was central defender Leon King.

How did Leon King perform against Hibernian?

The Light Blues academy graduate staked a claim for a starting position heading into next season with a composed and efficient display at the heart of the defence in his first start since November.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale.

He was pivotal to what Rangers did, both in and out of possession, as they were able to completely dominate Hibs from start to finish.

Defensively, the 19-year-old gem could not put a foot wrong as he cruised through the game with impressive ease – as per Sofascore, the 6-foot enforcer won 100% (10/10) of his duels and made four clearances, two interceptions, and four tackles – no other Gers player won more individual battles.

King also won all six of his contests on the ground and both of his aerial duels and this shows that King was able to dominate the opposition attackers, who did not get any change out of the Scottish defender, which also increased the number of opportunities his side had to make things happen going forward.

The teenage titan was also key to what Beale's side did in possession of the ball – as per Sofascore, the 96-touch ace completed 85% (67/79) of his attempted passes, 100% (1/1) of his dribbles, and created one chance for his teammates.

This shows that the £4k-per-week tank was not a liability on the ball and was, instead, able to drive the team forward with the ball to find teammates in good positions, which then allowed them to showcase their quality in the final third.

Therefore, King's performance was exceptional at the back as the youngster was able to combine sublime defending with composure in possession to dismantle Hibernian alongside the usual protagonist in Tavernier, who himself created three chances and scored from right-back as he made a huge impact at the top end of the pitch.

Man United Plot Swoop For £78m Bundesliga Whiz

Manchester United have come a long way since the arrival of Erik ten Hag and the Dutch coach will surely be wanting to continue to rebuild the squad this summer as a new update emerges on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Man United's interest in Randal Kolo Muani?

According to Bundesliga transfer insider Christian Falk, Man United transfer target Randal Kolo Muani will make a decision on his future after the DFB Pokal cup final.

Falk exclusively revealed to Caught Offside (via Football.London):

"Randal Kolo Muani’s decision will come after the DFB Pokal cup final and France’s upcoming national games (until the 19th June),"

"He has time, then, to reach a decision and keep an eye on Manchester United’s ownership situation (which will affect how much they can spend). Chelsea are still in the race and he wants to wait and see if there will be talks with Mauricio Pochettino."

Would Kolo Muani be a good signing for Man United?

There is no doubt that the highest priority for Man United and Ten Hag this summer will be the signing of a prolific centre-forward who can become the main focal point in the forward line.

Following the premature departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, the former Ajax boss has had to lean on Anthony Martial and also acquired the services of Wout Weghorst on loan, however, the pair have only managed to provide 11 goals in all competitions combined.

As a result, the signing of Kolo Muani could solve Ten Hag's biggest headache heading into next season and can provide the squad with a player who is not only a great finisher in front of goal, but displays selflessness in his approach too by delivering numerous opportunities to his teammates.

Over 45 appearances this season, the 24-year-old Frenchman – hailed "very clever" by Louis Saha – has scored 23 goals and registered 17 assists, with a goal contribution every 88 minutes which is an incredible output that would be a huge asset to Man United next season.

kolo-muani-eintracht-frankfurt-premier-league-west-ham-transfers

Not only that, Kolo Muani ranks first for dribbles completed, assists via open play in the entire Bundesliga this season, according to One Versus One, and is currently the league's third top goalscorer too, proving that he is one of the most talented forwards in Germany right now.

Indeed, securing the services of the Eintracht Frankfurt whiz won't come cheap as it is reported that the club will command a fee in excess of €90m (£78m) this summer, but considering his efficiency in attack and Man United's desperation for a striker who can show solid consistency, he could be worth every penny.

With that being said, if the powerbrokers at Old Trafford can secure a deal for Kolo Muani it could put the team in a fantastic position to compete comfortably in both the Premier League and Champions League next season, especially if he could match his unbelievable output in Germany.

"Superb" 21-y/o Could Stay At Everton Despite Transfer Interest

Everton stand a good chance of keeping midfield powerhouse Amadou Onana beyond the summer transfer window, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's going on with Onana and Everton?

The midfielder has had an impressive first campaign in English football since joining from Lille last year, and earlier this season had attracted transfer interest from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.

The 21-year-old helped Everton survive the threat of relegation, and although there may be fears that he could depart this summer, the Toffees may be able to keep hold of one of their star players.

Speaking on the Here We Go Podcast, Romano claimed that Chelsea's pursuit of Manuel Ugarte is their priority, meaning any current move for Onana is unlikely, and that Everton stand a good chance of keeping the Belgian.

"I think Everton have a chance to keep the player, it's not going to be easy, but they have a chance because he really loves the club," he stated.

"He loves the atmosphere, the city, his teammates. So he has a special connection with the club. And also at the moment, while we're speaking there is nothing advanced.

"I saw new rumours about Chelsea in the last 24/48 hours, but I'm told that Chelsea are busy with Ugarte, this midfielder from Sporting, so they have not made Onana a priority.

"This is positive news for Everton. Also, let's see what's going to happen in the coming months, because maybe in July or August, some big club will arrive with big money on Onana, but at the moment the situation is quiet and the player is not desperate to leave."

How important is Onana to Everton?

The midfielder has provided a strong presence in the middle of the park for Everton and was described as "superb" following a player-of-the-match display in his side's victory over Arsenal.

Everton won just eight league games all season, and Onana started in seven of them, highlighting just how crucial he is to Sean Dyche's side, who struggled to find victory without him in the team.

amadou-onana-thomas-partey-everton-martin-keown-transfer-arsenal

The Toffees will be hoping to avoid another season where they are involved in a tense relegation battle, and building around younger talents like Onana could help them to start progressing up the table.

If a big bid does arrive for Onana, then the club may have to consider a sale, but they will be wary of the potential consequences of losing such an important player ahead of what could be another difficult campaign.

Leeds United Eyeing 40-Year-Old As New Manager

Leeds United reportedly see West Brom boss Carlos Corberan as a possible ideal option to be their next manager moving forward.

Has Corberan been linked with Leeds job?

The 40-year-old has done a hugely impressive job at the Hawthorns during his short spell there to date, having arrived when they were second-bottom of the Championship late last year.

West Brom ended up coming close to finishing in the playoff positions, however, and if Corberan had been in charge a little longer, chances are they would have achieved that goal.

Since Sam Allardyce's exit as Leeds manager was confirmed last week, numerous names have been linked with replacing him in the Elland Road hot seat. Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers have emerged as high-profile options, but Corberan's name has also been thrown into the hat.

The Whites seemingly consider the Spaniard as a strong choice to come in, having seen the job he is doing with the Baggies, but it remains to be seen if he will eventually be the man to be handed the reins.

carlos-corberan-west-brom-leeds-united

Is Corberan really a target?

According to Football Insider, Corberan is indeed "on the shortlist" at Leeds currently, and it is unlikely that they will look to bring in a "traditional figure" in the mould of Allardyce.

Interestingly, the West Brom boss is seen as "ideal" by those high up at the club, should they want to bring in a long-term appointment who can build something special over time.

Leeds are further boosted by a claim in the report that states that Corberan's future with the Baggies is also in doubt "amid a backdrop of financial issues at the club".

It is so important that the Whites get this decision spot on, avoiding the same ludicrous situation they have found themselves in this season, with Jesse Marsch, Javi Garcia and Allardyce all in charge at some point in the campaign.

Corberan may still be a young manager – one who isn't as proven or well-known as the likes of Gerrard and Rodgers – but the progress he has made at West Brom has been bordering on astonishing, and he has even reportedly been inspired by the style of former Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa.

The fact that Corberan has worked at Leeds in the past is also a bonus, having spent three years in charge of the Under-23s between 2017 and 2020, and he will have learned plenty from Bielsa in that time.

Celtic Could Land Potter Upgrade In 54 Y/o "Kamikaze" Boss

Celtic lost Australian boss Ange Postecoglou earlier this month and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond must now find his replacement ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The 57-year-old gaffer completed a move from Parkhead to the Premier League but the Hoops are now quickly identifying candidates to take his place.

It was recently reported that former Chelsea head coach Graham Potter was approached by the club about potentially taking the job but the Englishman is now allegedly out of the race to take on the role.

He is said to be eyeing up another Premier League move after departing Stamford Bridge, following on from his spell in the English top-flight with Brighton, and this has prevented Celtic from being able to tempt him into joining them.

The Daily Record has claimed that Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen, whose style has been described as "kamikaze" by the club's captain, Ulrick Saltnes, is one of the managers on the club's radar this month.

Would Kjetil Knutsen be a good appointment for Celtic?

Desmond could strike gold by appointing the Norwegian tactician as the 54-year-old could be an excellent coach for the club and a better one than Potter would have been.

Former Chelsea head coach Graham Potter.

The Bodo/Glimt tinkerer has enjoyed a terrific spell in his home country and has a proven track record of leading a team to glory domestically, whilst also showing signs of being able to produce results in Europe.

Knutsen has won two titles in the last three seasons in the top-tier of Norwegian football and his team are currently ten points clear at the top of the table with ten wins out of 11 games in 2023, which means that he is on course for a third title in four years if his side can maintain that form.

He also led his men to the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League and won seven out of 11 matches in the competition in the 2021/22 campaign.

Potter, on the other hand, has never won a title outside of the third division of Swedish football and has only finished higher than fifth once in any division since 2013. This means that he would have arrived at Celtic with no experience of winning titles at the top level, something that is surely a requirement for a team who have just won the treble.

The 48-year-old did win five of his seven Champions League matches in charge of Chelsea but has only managed 21 games in European competitions, in comparison to Knutsen's 37.

Taking all of this into consideration, the Bodo/Glimt boss could be an excellent and better alternative to Potter as the attack-minded manager, who plays a 4-3-3 system, boasts a proven track record of winning titles and dominating a league, which is what Celtic will be hoping to carry on doing after back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles under Postecoglou.

Tottenham Transfer News: £40m Target Agrees Personal Terms At Hotspur Way

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to bolster Ange Postecoglou's playing squad early this summer and with one deal complete, a move for David Raya is edging ever closer…

Tottenham transfer news – David Raya

According to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Lilywhites have agreed on personal terms with the Brentford goalkeeper ahead of a potential switch to north London.

He tweeted:

"David Raya: “I have ambitions to make the next step in my career. I want to try to win titles and to compete in Europe”

""There are options out there but it’s not just my ambitions, the club also needs to let me go”, told Times.

"Personal terms agreed with Tottenham."

It comes after Spurs announced the permanent signing of Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus following a successful 18-month loan spell in the capital. The 23-year-old has signed a five-year deal and is believed to have cost around £25m.

Now the north Londoners must look to strike a deal with the Bees, who are reportedly holding out for £40m for Raya, despite already signing his mooted replacement in Mark Flekken.

Will David Raya replace Hugo Lloris at Tottenham?

It's no secret that the no.1 spot is a contentious issue heading into the summer for Spurs and their new manager.

Long-serving stalwart Hugo Lloris, 36, has been inconsistent over the past few seasons, but his blunders this campaign particularly stood out amid the club's struggles under Antonio Conte and then two interim managers.

Only five teams conceded more goals than the Lilywhites in 2022/23, three of whom were relegated to the Championship.

The World Cup-winning shot-stopper confirmed earlier this month that he wanted to leave Tottenham for a new challenge, claiming: "It’s the end of an era" to French newspaper Nice-Matin (via the Guardian). He does, however, still have one year to run on his £100k-per-week contract.

Raya, 27, seems a sensible replacement as Postecoglou will look to get Spurs back into Europe at the first time of asking.

The Barcelona-born titan was ever-present for Brentford in the Premier League last season, playing every single minute of every single game. And his performances saw him rated as Thomas Frank's fifth-best performer with an average WhoScored rating of 6.97.

By comparison, Lloris earned a paltry 6.59 rating from his 25 league appearances, whilst only four teams conceded fewer goals than the Bees, all of whom finished in the top four.

Having been lauded as an "incredible" goalkeeper and capable of wearing "the number 10 shirt" by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, the 6 foot 1 glovesman could be an ideal second signing after Kulusevski as Postecoglou will no doubt want to address Tottenham's shocking defensive record, sooner rather than later.

Whilst £40m may be a pretty penny to pay, there are few better alternatives available on the market this summer.

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