da esport bet： Private Qatari investors have been linked with an eventual takeover of Tottenham Hotspur this week, with reliable ESPN reporter James Olley sharing what he’s heard on a potential change of ownership at N17.
Qatar show Tottenham takeover interest amid ENIC protests
da roleta： Spurs protest groups are planning to voice their discontent with the Lilywhites hierarchy, chairman Daniel Levy and ENIC after their Premier League clash with Man United on Sunday, with supporters greatly dissatisfied at their lack of success over the last two decades.
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The group ‘change for Tottenham’ are instructing protestors to stay behind after the match, in the South Stand lower specifically, to let the Spurs boardroom know their true feelings over how their club is being run (via The Telegraph), with many fans yearning for a transformation upstairs.
Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures
Date
Man United (home)
February 16th
Ipswich Town (away)
February 22nd
Man City (home)
February 26th
Bournemouth (home)
March 9th
Fulham (away)
March 16th
This comes amid claims that investors from the Middle East could instigate a Tottenham takeover, with a mystery Qatari consortium apparently “seeking to buy” the club, which could take the form of a phased buy-out, according to The Guardian’s Matt Hughes.
The value of a Tottenham takeover would likely be around £3 billion, as per Football Insider, which is a serious drop from reports in the past two years which claimed that ENIC value the Lilywhites at up to £4.5 billion (Sami Mokbel).
Tottenham Hotspur chairmanDanielLevybefore the match
Spurs last won a piece of major silverware in 2008, clinching a League Cup final win over Chelsea at Wembley Stadium. They’ve since fallen short time and time again – most recently losing the Carabao Cup final to Man City in 2021.
ESPN journalist shares Tottenham takeover update amid Qatar claims
Now, ESPN’s Olley has shared what he’s heard on the prospect of a potential Spurs takeover, and one which would hopefully bring more success to north London.
He claims that there are “active conversations” over a Tottenham takeover behind-the-scenes, but nothing is imminent. The reporter also refuses to get drawn into the rumours linking Qatari bidders with a phased buy-out.
“Well, the answer to that lies in who the owners are going to be. And you know, there are rumours flying around about a sale,” said Olley on ESPN.
“We don’t know as yet how far advanced they are. We also don’t know who exactly is in the running to buy the club, and clearly, if there is a takeover, and my understanding is there are active conversations around that, then you know, clearly a new owner will put in a new structure, and that way may well include a new head coach.
“Now, you know, it remains to be seen what the time frame is for that. I don’t think it’s anything imminent in terms of a new owner.”
Tottenham have lost 13 Premier League games already, with manager Ange Postecoglou under mounting pressure as a result. However, a large section of supporters feel that major change is needed at board-level instead.
da realsbet： Manchester City now want to sign an “insane” forward who could cost £83m this summer, having identified him as a priority target, according to a report.
End of an era at the Etihad
da premier bet： Man City’s achievement of winning four straight Premier League titles is a feat that manager Pep Guardiola believes no club will ever achieve again, saying: “None of us will get the chance to win four in a row again, it is impossible.
“It won’t happen again in our life. We have to live it, we have to enjoy it.”
Guardiola has also lifted the Champions League, two FA Cups and four EFL Cups during his time at the Etihad Stadium, and while the 54-year-old is undoubtedly a top manager, a lot of his success must also be attributed to his squad.
However, a number of the players Guardiola inherited now look set to leave in the near future, with talks progressing for Kevin De Bruyne to join San Diego FC, while Kyle Walker has already been shipped out on loan to AC Milan.
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Pep Guardiola is determined to beat his former assistant to the signing of a “midfield maestro” this summer.
With replacements for Ederson also being identified ahead of the summer window, it could be the end of an era for City, and Guardiola is now tasked with rebuilding his squad.
According to a report from Spain, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku’s futures are also uncertain, and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao has now been identified as a priority target at left wing.
AC Milan's RafaelLeao
Guardiola views Leao as the ideal player to bolster the left-wing area, with his speed and ability in one-on-one situations placing him right at the top of the shortlist.
Milan are now willing to sanction the winger’s departure in the summer, and the Italian side are demanding a fee of around €100m (£83m), amid interest from Manchester United and Al-Hilal.
"Insane" Leao could be a Grealish upgrade
Grealish will always be remembered for the key role he played for City during the treble-winning 2022-23 season, but the 29-year-old has been below par for quite some time now, failing to score and picking up just one assist in the Premier League this season.
As such, it would make sense for Guardiola to bring in a replacement this summer, and Leao has outperformed the City winger on a number of key attacking metrics over the past year.
Statistic per 90
Jack Grealish
Rafael Leao
Non-penalty goals
0.06 (3rd percentile)
0.36 (76th percentile)
Successful take-ons
1.20 (28th percentile)
3.11 (94th percentile)
Assists
0.13 (27th percentile)
0.31 (80th percentile)
The AC Milan star has also impressed in Italy for quite some time, picking up 67 goals and 52 assists in a total of 246 appearances for the Serie A side.
Leao, who has been lauded as “insane” by members of the media, could be a fantastic signing for City this summer, so it is exciting news that Milan are prepared to sanction a departure.
da roleta： Everton’s decision to bring back David Moyes as manager has certainly made the once rocky ship under Sean Dyche stable again, with the Toffees way away from relegation danger now in the Premier League.
da supremo： Examining the table further, Moyes’ reinvigorated troops are amazingly 15 points above the drop zone, with their predicament under Dyche far bleaker, considering the former Burnley boss was sacked when his lowly team were just one point above the dreaded bottom three.
Everton managerDavidMoyescelebrates after the match
It’s all down to a number of players who presumably felt shackled under the previous regime now playing with more freedom and drive in their game, but other duds at the club over the years haven’t always been so quick to turn their fortunes around.
Everton's biggest mistakes in the transfer window
Everton have fallen victim to a number of different clangers in the transfer market in recent memory, notably in forward areas.
The £27m capture of Cenk Tosun in 2018 is certainly near the top of the list of damaging buys with the Turkish attacker only firing home a weak 11 goals from 61 games to never truly live up to his weighty price-tag.
It seemed as though the forward positions were doomed for a while, with Sandro Ramirez another notable flop having scored just once across 16 forgettable matches at Goodison.
But, mistakes during the Farhad Moshiri were restricted to the forward line. Around a similar time a certain Davy Klaassen further entered the building from Dutch titans Ajax for £23.6m in 2017 in what proved to also be a huge waste of money.
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Whilst Tosun at least had his bright moments at Goodison Park, the Dutchman’s entire 16-game ordeal in England was a rough watch, culminating in just one assist and no goals.
While the players in question have still not really revived their careers elsewhere, the same cannot be said for a certain Moise Kean…
Why Moise Kean is now being compared to Haaland
Kean’s short-lived time on Merseyside will also sting like Klaassen and Tosun do, considering the Italian attacker cost a whopping £27.5m to obtain back in the summer of 2019.
Unfortunately, the promising Italian never settled with a lacklustre return of four strikes from 39 games souring the big switch. Things only went from bad to worse for the attacker when interim manager Duncan Ferguson substituted him onto the pitch at Old Trafford, only to withdraw him from the action 20 minutes later.
It wasn’t a surprise, therefore, that he then headed back to Italy and Juventus permanently in 2023 after a ropey four-year spell.
However, back in familiar surroundings in Italy with current employers Fiorentina, Kean is finally showing off the goalscoring prowess that made the Blues fork out that high amount, with the one-time Everton dud collecting a bumper 19 goals this season from 30 games.
Remarkably, he’s now being compared to some of the game’s elite with FBref’s similar players tool denoting that the likes of Dusan Vlahovic, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Benjamin Sesko and a certain Erling Haaland are all statistically alike during the 2024/25 campaign.
How Kean compares to Haaland – last 365 days
Stat – per 90 mins
Kean
Haaland
Total shots
3.10
3.71
Shot-creating actions
1.78
2.19
Attempted passes
10.88
12.26
Progressive passes
0.95
0.85
Progressive carries
1.24
0.91
Touches in attacking penalty area
4.39
6.38
Stats by FBref
Looking at the table above, it’s clear to see why so many similarities are being drawn between the Fiorentina ace and Haaland. The Norwegian, of course, is an elite superstar but both players in question are content with being poachers, rather than progressing play for their side.
In the current side, Kean could be perfect for Moyes as a secondary option up top away from Beto, with the 25-year-old also once praised for his “fearless” approach in attack by Thomas Tuchel that would have stood him in even more good stead to right some past wrongs at Goodison Park.
But, it seems his only possible route back into the English game is with Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners reportedly eye up a move.
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da 888casino： While betting on the football can add a bit of fun to the weekend for supporters, it remains strictly forbidden for players to get involved.
da fezbet： In order to maintain the game’s integrity, the FA has in place a worldwide ban for those involved in football, namely players, club staff and officials working in the Premier League down to the eighth tier of English football, as well as the top two tiers in women’s football.
Rules are more relaxed for those who play below these levels, but they are still barred from betting on any game or competition they can participate in and/or influence.
The ban prohibits these individuals from betting on anything football-related, including the sharing of inside information and match-fixing.
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Some of these guys make Luis Suarez look like an angel!
West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta is currently embroiled in a betting scandal which could result in the Brazilian receiving a lifetime ban from the FA. His hearing is set to take place in March 2025, lasting three weeks.
Signed by the Hammers in August 2022, Paqueta was investigated for potential betting breaches in August 2023, before being charged at the end of last season, having been accused of getting booked deliberately.
In addition, the Hammers ace has also been charged with multiple breaches of failing to comply with the FA’s investigations.
Should Paqueta be banned for life, it would be unprecedented at this level of the English game. However, if a more lenient punishment befalls him, he would be joining a number of Premier League players to face temporary bans and sanctions for breaking betting rules.
We’ve taken a look at those players below, ranked by the severity of their punishments.
9 Martin Demichelis Fined £22,058 (2016)
Former Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis escaped a football ban in 2016 despite breaking the FA’s rules on betting.
It was reported that the Argentinian placed 29 bets on football matches over the course of four weeks in early 2016.
Now manager of Mexican club Monterrey, the centre-back left City that summer to join Espanyol in La Liga.
8 Cameron Jerome Fined £50,000 (2013)
Cameron Jerome was another player lucky enough to escape a suspension from the FA, despite admitting to “repeatedly” breaching betting regulations, according to reports.
Playing for Stoke City at the time, Jerome was fined £50,000 and warned about his future conduct, but did not miss any football as a result.
Perhaps going in his favour was the fact that none of his breaches concerned matches or competitions he was involved in.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace midfielder Andros Townsend was banned and fined for breaching betting regulations in 2013.
While he was not betting on games he was involved in, the FA banned him for four months, with all but one of those months suspended.
With Townsend’s ban falling in the summer, he didn’t miss a single match, though he did voluntarily withdraw from the England squad for the U21 European Championship and was fined £18,000.
6 Harry Toffolo 5-month suspended ban, fined £20,956 (2023)
Harry Toffolo
Nottingham Forest defender Harry Toffolo was handed a suspended five-month ban in September 2023 after breaching betting rules on 375 occasions.
Reports at the time appeared to suggest that these breaches were related to bets on football and passing on inside information during a period of over three years ending in March 2017 while playing for Norwich City.
The independent commission’s report said that the player’s mental health was a mitigating factor in his betting offences, with the player’s situation thankfully improving having now kicked a gambling addiction.
Toffolo’s suspended ban remains active today, and will expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
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Kieran Trippier was given a 10-week ban from football for breaking betting rules around the time he joined Atletico Madrid from Spurs in 2019.
In late 2020, Trippier was found guilty of passing on information regarding his prospective move to Atletico Madrid before it became public knowledge, effectively hinting to a friend to bet on him switching clubs.
The ban was briefly lifted following an appeal from his new club, but Trippier still missed 11 matches during that period and was ordered to pay £70,000.
4 Daniel Sturridge 4-month ban, fined £150,000 (2020)
Daniel Sturridge was handed a part-suspended ban and fined £75,000 for two breaches of betting rules regarding a potential transfer move during his time at Liverpool.
However, the FA appealed the decision, which had essentially banned the forward for a couple of weeks despite Sturridge breaking the strict betting rules in place. His fine was then doubled to £150,000 – the highest on this list.
Sturridge was investigated for instructing his brother to bet on him joining Sevilla in January 2018. The FA argued that Sturridge’s family used his inside info to earn money in the betting markets.
Thousands of pounds were placed as bets, with some £20k even being rejected by bookmakers, such was the suspicious activity at the time.
Sturridge ended up joining West Brom that winter and missed out on the England World Cup squad that year.
The charges saw his contract at Turkish club Trabzonspor terminated, and he ended his playing career at Perth Glory before moving into punditry.
3 Ivan Toney 8-month ban, fined £50,000 (2023)
serhou-guirassy-ivan-toney-tottenham-opinion
England striker Ivan Toney was banned from football for hundreds of betting breaches, resulting in an eight-month suspension between May 2023 and January 2024.
Playing for Brentford at the time, he was also fined £50,000 after admitting to 232 breaches of the rules, which included betting on his team to lose, as well as his own performance.
While a lifetime ban is possible under those circumstances, Toney’s provisional 15-month ban was reduced owing to his gambling addiction.
The ban put his place in England’s Euro 2024 squad under threat, but Toney returned to form in time to make the team, netting a penalty in the crucial shootout win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
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Newcastle United signed Sandro Tonali in the summer of 2023, but by the following October, the Italian had been banned for 10 months and fined €20,000 (£17,380) for breaching betting regulations during his time in Serie A with Milan.
As part of his recovery from a gambling addiction, Tonali was ordered to return to Italy to speak to young players about the dangers of betting.
Before his ban took effect, he also placed bets on Newcastle to win on four occasions, with the FA handing him a suspended two-month ban and a £20,000 fine.
The FA said the money placed on those bets was worth over €100,000 (£85,600).
1 Joey Barton 18-month ban, fined £30,000 (2017)
Joey Barton’s playing career was effectively ended by an unprecedented 18-month ban for 1,260 bets placed over a 10-year period.
Barton, who claimed he had a gambling addiction, felt the length of the ban was harsh and felt a player who was “less controversial” would have received a lesser punishment.
He had also been banned for one month during his time at Rangers by the Scottish FA, while some of his bets involved his own team losing – albeit while he was not playing.
It was thought he was placing an average stake of around £150 per bet, which would total £189,000 being spent on betting alone.
A month after the ban took effect, he was released by Burnley, and Barton moved into management after serving his suspension.
da bet nacional： Liverpool are now lining up a club-record bid to sign an “incredible” former Manchester City player, who could cost over £100m this summer, according to a report.
Reds eyeing Darwin Nunez replacements
da pinup bet： Darwin Nunez has received widespread criticism this season, and there were suggestions the Uruguayan could make a move to Saudi Arabia during the January transfer window, although he ultimately ended up staying at Anfield.
However, it is clear the end could be near for Nunez, as the Reds are stepping up their pursuit of a new striker, and a recent report has revealed they have opened talks over a deal for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Contact has also been made with the representatives of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, but the Sweden international will not come cheap, as the Magpies are looking to hold out for a fee of £148m for their talisman.
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2
As such, Isak may be unattainable this summer, and another option is seemingly moving up the list of targets, with a report from Anfield Watch revealing Liverpool are now lining up a club-record bid to sign Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez.
The Spanish club value Alvarez very highly, and it may take an offer of over £100m to tempt them into a sale, but the Reds are undeterred by the valuation, having been keen on the forward for quite some time.
Atletico Madrid'sJulianAlvarezscores a penalty during the penalty shootout wich is later disallowed after a VAR review
Prior to the former Manchester City man’s move to La Liga, talks were held with Pep Guardiola’s side, but an agreement could not be struck, given the high asking price and an insistence that Luis Diaz would be used as a makeweight.
There could be a new approach made for the 25-year-old, however, as he is viewed internally as a perfect fit for Arne Slot’s side, given his work-rate, ability to play in multiple positions, and keen eye for goal.
"Incredible" Alvarez is proven at the top level
During his time with Manchester City, the striker was lauded as “incredible” by Guardiola, who also praised him for the “massive” contribution he made to their success.
Despite having a penalty ruled out in controversial fashion against Real Madrid earlier this week, the Argentina international has gone on to impress at Atletico Madrid, too, racking up a remarkable 22 goals and five assists in all competitions.
That said, considering the Atletico star is contracted until 2030, it may be very difficult to prise him away from the Spanish side this summer, and some other targets mentioned in the report may be more attainable.
The Reds are said to hold a good relationship with RB Leipzig, which could give them the edge in the race for Sesko, while Isak is believed to be keen on a move to Merseyside.
da doce： Celtic made a huge decision in the recent January transfer window when they decided to cash in on Japanese centre-forward Kyogo Furuhashi.
da dobrowin： The Hoops sold the Japan international to Ligue 1 side Rennes for a reported fee of £10m after a three-and-a-half-year spell with the Scottish giants for the Hoops number eight.
Kyogo racked up 85 goals in 165 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish Premiership champions, with 34 of those coming in the 2022/23 campaign.
The 30-year-old marksman was not at his very best in front of goal in the first half of this season, before his move to Rennes, though, and that may have played a role in the club’s decision to let him leave.
Kyogo's goalscoring record this season
Kyogo scored 19 goals in all competitions during Brendan Rodgers’ first season back at the club last term, and started the current campaign as the first-choice centre-forward once again.
However, the Japanese attacker’s wasteful finishing was noticeable in the Premiership. He scored ten goals in 22 outings in the top-flight and missed a whopping 17 ‘big chances’ along the way.
The £10m-rated star also only scored one goal from 2.47 xG across seven appearances in the Champions League, which shows that the forward was incredibly wasteful in Europe as well as in the Scottish top division.
Kyogo scored 12 goals in 32 matches in all competitions, seven short of his tally from last term, and he has yet to score in three matches for Rennes in Ligue 1 to date.
Market Movers
Despite his drop-off in form, Celtic still lost a goalscorer when they sold the striker in January, but that did not matter because Rodgers has hit the jackpot with two other goalscorers in Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah.
Celtic have struck gold with Idah
The long-serving Maeda has exploded with 27 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions, but he is not the only Celtic star who has outscored Kyogo this season.
Idah was signed on a permanent deal from Norwich City for an initial £8.5m last summer and was valued at £2.9m by Transfermarkt at the time of the move.
He has enjoyed a very steady first full season at Parkhead, adjusting to permanent life in Glasgow, and has racked up a tally of 14 goals – two more than Kyogo – in all competitions. That includes three goals in ten matches in the Champions League, whilst Kyogo only scored three goals in 19 games in his Celtic career in that competition.
Idah, who scored twice in the 4-2 loss to Aston Villa, has shown that he can step up to perform on Europe’s biggest stage, which is something that the Japanese forward struggled with.
Champions League
Kyogo Furuhashi
Adam Idah
Appearances
19
10
Starts
17
3
xG
5.68
2.22
Goals
3
3
Big chances missed
8
2
Assists
1
0
Stats via Sofascore
This, along with the fact that he has outscored Kyogo – alongside Maeda – in all competitions this season, suggests that Rodgers hit the jackpot by recruiting him to be Celtic’s new number nine last summer.
His market value has also soared as a result of his form for the Scottish giants this term, with Transfermarkt currently valuing him at £4.2m – more than £1m more than he was valued at last year.
Celtic will, now, be hoping that Idah can continue to shine and show that he has what it takes to be the long-term number nine for the club, replacing Kyogo, and increasing his market value to potentially be sold on for even more in the future.
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1
The Hoops already have a centre-forward who has provided a bigger threat in front of goal than Kyogo did immediately before his exit, whilst also having a player with the potential to leave a bigger mark in Europe moving forward.
da bet7： Nottingham Forest are considering making a move to sign a “skilful” £20 million star in the summer, according to a new report.
Nottingham Forest transfer news
da bet nacional： The Reds have nine games to go in the Premier League to fulfil their dream and secure a place in next season’s Champions League. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been outstanding all campaign, with midfielder and captain Morgan Gibbs-White at the heart of that.
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He’s one of Europe’s most impressive young talents.
His performances have caught the attention of some of the big teams in the Premier League, but according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Forest will “do everything they can” to keep hold of the Englishman this summer. O’Rourke goes on to add that securing Champions League qualification will put the Reds in a stronger position to retain their best players.
As they look to keep hold of Gibbs-White, according to TEAMtalk, Forest are keeping a close eye on Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham ahead of the summer.
Forest are among the Premier League teams keeping a watchful eye on the Black Cats midfielder and could be ready to pounce should Sunderland fail to seal promotion. However, the Championship side are not looking to sell or negotiate with any team, meaning a big offer may have to arrive for them to be tempted.
Nottingham Forest considering move to sign £20m+ star
It is not only a new midfielder the Midlands side want, as according to reports from Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are weighing up a move to sign defender Fikayo Tomori from Italian giants AC Milan.
AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori.
The report claims that there is a concrete possibility that Milan look to sell the English defender this summer as long as they receive a €25 million transfer fee, which is roughly £21 million. Forest are keeping an eye on his situation, but they are not alone, as Newcastle United are also weighing up whether to make a move or not.
However, they may hold a small advantage, as Tomori already knows two Forest players in Ola Aina and Callum Hudson-Odoi, as he played with the pair at Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Tottenham could also be potentially interested in a deal for Tomori after they looked to sign the centre-back during the January transfer window. The Italian giants already have in mind replacements for Tomori should he leave the San Siro.
Fikayo Tomori’s 24/25 Serie A stats
Apps
14
Starts
11
Clean sheets
1
Interceptions per game
0.8
Tackles per game
1.6
Balls recovered per 90
3.0
Clearances per game
2.2
Touches per game
56.7
Passing accuracy per game
45.4 (93%)
The 27-year-old has been with Milan since July 2021, and while he was an instant regular in the team, this season he has lost his place, playing just 14 times in Serie A. Despite the disappointment of this season, Tomori has been largely successful in Italy, with him being described as a “skilful” defender by Franco Baresi.
He previously told The Daily Mail: “He is young and has played well so far when he’s had the chance. He is skilful and has great physical attributes. He is still adapting to the Italian league, and I think he can only grow as a defender and help us out.”
da betobet： Nottingham Forest have exceeded expectations this season and could be about to launch an ambitious bid in the transfer window for a renowned Premier League operator, according to a report.
Nottingham Forest look forward to exciting summer
da bet7： Nuno Espirito Santo has restored his reputation as one of the most underrated coaches in the Premier League after guiding Nottingham Forest to continental qualification at the City Ground.
Coming as a surprise to many in footballing circles, their culture of shrewd investments and building a side capable of going the extra mile is likely to be key once again as they enter the market in pursuit of new recruits.
Generalview ofNottinghamForestfans in the stands
Fitting the bill, Nottingham Forest have lined up an exciting move for Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina to help bolster their chances of encountering another fine campaign next time around.
Coming in for a potential fee of £21 million, the Croatia international’s arrival would be a major signal of intent in light of an 18-goal contribution season in his homeland.
On the same token, Lazio forward Taty Castellanos is also said to be on Nottingham Forest’s radar amid news that he could be available to depart the Stadio Olimpico should a suitable offer for his services come forward.
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He could become the heir to Chris Wood’s Forest throne.
West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers will provide competition, but the Tricky Trees will feel confident they can prevail due to their European status. Undoubtedly, rival suitors for key targets will present a challenging market space for every ambitious manager looking for fresh blood.
Either way, Nottingham Forest have found plenty of diamonds over the past few years, so it won’t come as a surprise to hear that they are now in the mix for another talented operator.
Nottingham Forest line up surprise £35m Matheus Nunes deal
According to The Sun, Nottingham Forest are lining up a move for Manchester City star Matheus Nunes amid the Citizens’ pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White that could see the England international head in the opposite direction. It is added that City are ready to cut their losses on Nunes and value him at £35m.
Espirito Santo is a ‘big fan’ of the Portuguese central midfielder, who has also operated as a right-back this term due to a shortage of options at Pep Guardiola’s disposal.
Matheus Nunes for Manchester City in 2024/25 – all competitions
Appearances
38
Goals
4
Assists
10
Trophies
FA Community Shield winner
Despite a disappointing campaign for Manchester City as a whole, his impressive goal contribution tally lends some credence to the notion that Nunes could replace Gibbs-White if the latter were to depart this summer.
Labelled “special” by Guardiola, it is believed that the former Wolves man could be a useful ‘bargaining chip’ in any cross-negotiations, potentially feeding into the scope for a PSR-friendly agreement to be found between all parties.
Nevertheless, time will tell on that front. Nottingham Forest have emerged as one of the more ambitious forces in English football of late, and securing Nunes on a permanent basis would heighten their status in that bracket.
da bwin： Chelsea chiefs are now internally debating a potential deal for another rising star, according to a report out of Stamford Bridge this week.
Chelsea continue transfer policy of signing high-potential starlets
da fazobetai： Since the start of 2025, despite Enzo Maresca strongly suggesting that Chelsea need to bring in more experienced players, BlueCo have shown no sign of slowing down when it comes to their transfer policy of signing world football’s brightest up-and-coming talents.
Related £172k-per-week striker is waiting for Chelsea to contact him about joining
Chelsea are set for a big summer after qualifying for the Champions League.
2
Earlier this year, the west Londoners agreed a double-deal with Sporting CP to sign their rising star duo, Geovany Quenda (18) and Dario Essugo (20), for a total fee of around £62.5 million, with the former set to fully join them in 2026 and the latter this summer.
Race for Champions League qualification – Final standings
Rank
Team
Points
GD
3
Man City
71
+28
4
Chelsea
69
+21
5
Newcastle
66
+21
6
Aston Villa
66
+7
7
Nottingham Forest
65
+12
It is now also being reported by reliable media sources that Chelsea are planning a pre-2026 deal for 22-year-old Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.
Since Romano’s initial report, French media sources have claimed that Chelsea have moved in with a six-year contract offer to Emegha, and an agreement for the Ligue 1 sensation is merely a “matter of time”.
“Chelsea have offered Emanuel Emegha a six-year contract valid until June 2031,” wrote Foot Mercato reporter Santi Aouna on X.
Emanuel Emegha
“The intention is for him to stay in Strasbourg for another year and then go to Chelsea. A full agreement is just a matter of time.”
As Maresca’s side carry on planning for the long-term, Brighton starlet Valentin Barco, who spent the 2024/2025 on loan at Strasbourg, has now entered their radar.
Chelsea hold internal talks over signing Valentin Barco from Brighton
The Argentine midfielder can play in a variety of roles on the left, and he was the “most signed wonderkid” on popular PC game Football Manager last year.
According to CaughtOffside, while no formal approach has been made yet, Chelsea are holding internal talks over a potential move for Barco, and Maresca is believed to be a personal admirer of the 20-year-old.
Valentin Barco against Marcelo for Boca Juniors.
“(He’s a) left back but he’s not going to be playing there, I don’t think,” said South American football expert Tim Vickery.
“He’s a left-sided attacking midfielder. Very good running with the ball. Amazing power that he generates from his left foot. Good from set-pieces.
“He can combine well. He had a sweet little thing going with Edison Cavani at Boca Juniors.”
Barco is fresh off a productive campaign at Strasbourg, finishing 24/25 as one of their best-performing players in Ligue 1 by average match rating per 90 – starting 14 Ligue 1 matches and bagging two assists (WhoScored).
It is little surprise Chelsea have taken note of his displays, possibly while keeping tabs on Andrey Santos’ progress in France and scouting Emanuel Emegha. In any case, the Blues’ relationship with their sister club may end up paying dividends again.
Man City were once linked with a move for Barco in 2023 as well, indicating he’s a player of real promise.
da cassino： Leeds United had to put out a statement to defend their captain, Ethan Ampadu, after his former partner posted a picture of their child in a Galatasaray shirt.
da stake casino： The Whites pointed out that they are separated and that the Wales international is sensitive to the situation, and that he did not have any responsibility for the image being published on social media.
It is a shame that this situation has created problems for Ampadu after what was a truly brilliant season from the versatile star, who is now a hugely valuable asset for the club.
Ethan Ampadu's current market value
At the time of writing (19/06/2025), the Welsh star is valued at €16m (£13.4m) by Transfermarkt, which is significantly more than the fee the Whites paid for him in the summer of 2023.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
Leeds reportedly paid a fee of £7m to sign the defensive midfielder from Chelsea ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and he is now worth almost twice as much, thanks to his form for the club in the Championship.
Ampadu has made 84 appearances in all competitions for the West Yorkshire outfit in that time, helping the team to keep 35 clean sheets in the second tier.
There is a former Leeds defender, though, who is now worth even more than the Wales international, having left the club on a free transfer last year – Robin Koch.
Robin Koch's current market value
The Whites swooped to sign the German defender from Freiburg for an initial fee of £11.5m in the summer of 2020 and he went on to play 77 times for the club across three seasons at Elland Road.
After Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, Koch opted to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the 2023/24 campaign until his contract ran out in the summer of 2024.
Leeds defender Robin Koch.
This meant that the towering centre-back, once dubbed a “monster” by winger Vincenzo Grifo, left to sign for Frankfurt on a free transfer last year, and that has turned out to be an absolute bargain for the German side.
Robin Koch
22/23 Premier League
24/25 Bundesliga
Appearances
36
30
Goals
0
3
Dribbled past per game
0.9x
0.4x
Clearances per game
4.1
6.5
Aerial duel success rate
62%
67%
Duels won per game
5.2
4.7
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Koch’s performances for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season have been far more impressive than his displays for Leeds in the Premier League were, which has led to interest from elsewhere.
Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg recently reported that Bayer Leverkusen are prepared to trigger his release clause, which is worth up to €20m (£16.8m), whilst Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also interested in signing him.
This shows that Koch’s value has soared since his exit from Leeds because he is now worth far more than the £11.5m that the club paid for him in 2020, and obviously more than the £0 they got back for his services in 2020.
The Whites, therefore, may rue how his situation unfoded because they were unable to extract a transfer fee from his exit, as he ran his contract down, and now he is closing in on a big-money move for even more than club captain Ampadu is worth.
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