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Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat at Fulham kept them ten points behind Bournemouth on the rim of the top half of the Premier League, and it’s increasingly unlikely success will be found on the domestic front this season.

Ange Postecoglou is deep in his purgatory, cutting so many gloomy figures as the defeats roll in like hostile bowling balls. Spurs have indeed been left sprawling on the turf for much of the campaign, but hope remains.

Battling past AZ Alkmaar this month, the north Londoners are into the Europa League quarter-finals, pitted against dangerous Eintracht Frankfurt – who won the 2021/22 edition – next month.

Ange's increasingly uncertain future

Postecoglou is aggrieved as ‘Ange Ball’ has been reduced to flashes of style this season, injuries precluding his exciting tactics from being properly implemented. It has been a tough old season, and he’ll want to approach 2025/26 with a clean slate.

According to Monday’s Telegraph, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is one of the leading candidates to take over at Tottenham Hotspur should Ange be given the boot.

Postecoglou will make a compelling case to Daniel Levy regarding the importance of keeping him in the dugout, but the 42-year-old Bournemouth boss would be the perfect replacement, should the headsman be summoned.

What Andoni Iraola could bring to Spurs

If Tottenham fall against Frankfurt after the international break, Postecoglou will earn no reprieve as Levy’s patience finally wears gossamer thin.

Especially if the Lilywhites chairman gets a whiff of something promising from Iraola’s corner.

Bournemouth appointed the tactician in June 2023 after the expiry of his Rayo Vallecano contract. It was a bold, some even felt brazen, decision to oust Gary O’Neil after he kept the seaside town afloat, but a tremendous one in hindsight.

Tenth in the standings this year, Bournemouth trail Chelsea in the top four by a mere five points. Much is owed to Iraola’s stylish tactics.

According to Understat, the Cherries are behind only Liverpool in terms of xG (expected goals this season. They have converted 48 chances but should have notched 59.42, speaking of profligacy in front of goal.

What does this tell us? Well, for one thing, it makes a declaration on Bournemouth’s attacking quality, with aggression and a pack mentality toward winning turnovers and advancing into dangerous positions proving the nuts and bolts of the approach play.

While Postecoglou is a fiercely attack-focused manager himself, there are signs Iraola has his number. After all, Understat also record the Australian’s squad to have an xG total of 52.90 in the Premier League this year.

Dominic Solanke was brought in last summer as a belated Harry Kane replacement down N17. The 27-year-old joined from Iraola’s Bournemouth, signing for a club-record £65m figure.

In keeping with the season’s narrative, the £90k-per-week Solanke has suffered a share of injury misfortune, though he’s still managed to chalk up 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions, starting 27 of his 33 outings.

But he’s not quite hit the heights the lofty price tag spoke of. A seven-goal return in the Premier League across 20 matches is average at best. Ten big chances missed, as per Sofascore, further detail a lack of incisiveness that Tottenham have desperately needed to stem their defensive problems.

Dominic Solanke – Past Five Seasons (Premier League)
Season	Club	Apps (starts)	Goals	Assists
24/25	Tottenham	20 (20)	7	3
23/24	Bournemouth	38 (37)	19	3
22/23	Bournemouth	33 (32)	6	7
19/20	Bournemouth	32 (17)	3	1
20/21	Bournemouth	10 (2)	0	1
Data via Transfermarkt

Were Iraola to take the helm in the summer, the England international may return to the prolific heights of 2023/24, when he plied his trade under the Spanish gaffer’s wing.

That season saw Bournemouth break free of the relegation fodder and make headway in the top flight, fuelled by an attractive brand of football. Solanke was riding the crest of a wave, for sure, clinching 19 goals across the term, missing just 14 big chances and averaging a key pass every game (his rate stands at 0.7 with Spurs).

This serves as more corroboration as to Tottenham’s inferiority (this year, at least) in front of goal. Iraola is churning out a higher rate of clinical production and doing so with a flourish.

Solanke has already thrived in the system, the manager even hailing him as “good for any system,” his technical qualities making him the “complete number nine.”

As a consequence, it could just be a match made in heaven.

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There is of course optimism that Solanke can make a name for himself over the coming years, maybe even the coming months. Postecoglou’s ideology should be perfect for him, but Iraola has showcased a tactical grasp beyond that of Spurs’ somewhat rigid boss, eking every ounce of potency from him last year.

Postecoglou once presented the blueprint for total success at Tottenham. It was a new dawn, the start of a chapter promising prosperity. But the cracks have since splintered the playing surface, running deep. The period following the international break will be critical.

And if Levy gets some encouragement from Iraola’s camp? Why, he’d be bringing “one of the best in the league” down N17, as is the opinion of analyst Ben Mattinson.

Talks of a sacking might be held in abeyance at the moment, but Postecoglou is quickly running out of time. With Iraola doing such good work on the South Coast, indeed getting the best from Solanke, bringing him in as a replacement might be a golden ticket toward a new level of success.

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Dominic Lund

Mar 17, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has his eyes on both Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes and Real Sociedad ace Martin Zubimendi, according to reports, but he could also look to bring in another highly-rated player with the duo.

Berta targeting Bruno Guimaraes and Martin Zubimendi for Arsenal

Earlier this week, journalist Eduardo Burgos broke news that Berta personally wants both Guimaraes and Zubimendi, not either or, to come in and bolster Mikel Arteta’s midfield ahead of next season.

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While Arsenal are struggling to finalise a deal for Zubimendi right now, with advanced talks stalling (CaughtOffside), they haven’t completely given up the chase either, and it is believed that the Gunners could strike a deal for Guimaraes for around £59 million if Newcastle fail to qualify for the Champions League.

News of Berta plotting moves for both midfielders was then backed up by reports closer to home, with GiveMeSport’s Ben Jacobs sharing that Guimaraes has been put forward by Arsenal’s new transfer chief as a serious option.

Arsenal’s interest in the Brazil international with Zubimendi appears pretty concrete at this stage, which comes as good news considering Thomas Partey and Jorginho are set to leave when their contracts expire this summer.

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Jacobs, sharing a further update on the club’s plans for what could be a record-breaking summer under Berta, says another Newcastle United star Alexander Isak remains firmly on their radar.

Arsenal may sign Alexander Isak with Guimaraes and Zubimendi

The £120,000-per-week striker has dazzled as one of the English top flight’s standout forwards this season, and despite the potential cost involved in their mooted double-swoop for Zubimendi and Guimaraes, it is believed Berta may also try to sign Isak for Arsenal alongside the pair.

“So Zubimendi is very much the Edu target, but Berta is going to be looking at Bruno Guimaraes,” said Jacobs to GiveMeSport.

“And my understanding is that Arsenal may try for both Zubimendi and Guimaraes, plus Isak or [Benjamin] Sesko.”

The Swede has scored 22 goals in just 32 appearances across all competitions, so Arsenal are well aware of his quality, but a deal for him could be too much to ask. Newcastle value their man at around £150 million, so the Gunners would need to smash their transfer record to even hope of prising Isak away from St. James’ Park.

Arteta personally wants Isak, according to other reports, but Sesko may be a much more realistic target considering the release clause in his contract.

تمكن وسام أبوعلي، مهاجم الأهلي من تسجيل هدف في شباك إنتر ميامي، في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025 لكن تم إلغائه بداعي التسلل.

ويواجه الأهلي خصمه إنتر ميامي، على ملعب “هارد روك”، في إطار مباريات الجولة الأولى للمجموعة الأولى من بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025.

ويتواجد الأهلي في المجموعة الأولى ضمن منافسات كأس العالم للأندية، رفقة أندية إنتر ميامي الأمريكي وبورتو البرتغالي وبالميراس البرازيلي.

اقرأ ايضاً.. فيديو.. رفض التبديل | إمام عاشور يغادر مباراة الأهلي وإنتر ميامي مبكرًا.. ومشاركة زيزو

وعند الدقيقة 29 من عمر الشوط الأول، أحرز وسام أبو علي هدفاً في شباك إنتر ميامي، لكنه تم إلغاء الهدف بداعي التسلل.

وتلقى وسام أبو علي تمريرة طويلة رائعة من كوكا، لينفرد المهاجم الفلسطيني بحارس إنتر ميامي، ليسدد بين قدميه وتهز الشباك، لكن حالة التسلل منعت تقدم الأهلي من تسجيل أول أهداف المباراة. هدف وسام ابو علي الملغي امام انتر ميامي بكأس العالم للأندية

Marsh has had keyhole surgery on his troubled ankle and will miss three months of cricket while Salt has not recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered in Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2022

Mitch Marsh will miss the BBL after ankle surgery•AFP

Perth Scorchers have suffered a major blow to their BBL title defence with Australia allrounder Mitchell Marsh and England batter Phil Salt both ruled out of the entire BBL due to injury.Marsh will miss three months of cricket after undergoing keyhole surgery on his troubled left ankle. He has carried the ankle problem for many years and reinjured it during Australia’s ODI series against Zimbabwe in August, which ruled him out for over a month. It also compromised his preparation for the T20 World Cup and limited his ability to bowl in the tournament.Marsh’s decision to have surgery now will give him a chance to be fit for Australia’s next ODI assignment in India in March.Related

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Salt sustained a grade-two ligament injury on his left shoulder during the third and final ODI against Australia last week in Melbourne. He was diving to save a boundary and also suffered a concussion in the same incident and was subbed out of the game. His arm was in a sling in the rooms after the match to protect his shoulder and following his return to England he consulted a shoulder specialist who recommended he miss both the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament and the BBL.Phil Salt puts his body on the line in vain•Getty Images

Scorchers had already lost Laurie Evans after terminating his contract following a positive dope test. They recruited South Africa star Faf du Plessis for a seven-game stint as a short-term replacement for Evans prior to him heading to South Africa for the new CSA T20 league in January.Scorchers general manager Kade Harvey said the defending champions would look to source further replacements for Marsh and Salt.”Losing Mitch and Phil so close to the start of the season is very disappointing,” Harvey said. “Mitch is one of the best ball-strikers in global cricket with an incredible BBL record, and his leadership and presence around the group is enormous.”Phil has proven his class for England and in T20 tournaments around the world, so it’s unfortunate he won’t pull on the orange this summer.”We’re under no illusions about how difficult it will be to cover the absence of Mitch and Phil, but we take pride in the depth of our squad and have a lot of players capable of stepping up.”In better news for Scorchers, fast bowler Jhye Richardson is expected to be fit for the start of the BBL despite being kept out of Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield match against Queensland this week due to a bruised heel.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em entrevista coletiva após a vitória do Palmeiras por 4 a 2 sobre o Atlético-GO, o técnico da equipe goiana, Jorginho, disse que Abel Ferreira”desrespeita o país e os árbitros brasileiros”. Segundo ele, a impunidade permite certas atitudes do português. O Verdão se pronunciou oficialmente sobre o caso.

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– É uma coisa que me revolta como treinador, como brasileiro, porque vem no nosso país e está desrespeitando nosso país, nossos árbitros, dizendo que ele é cego, xingando de tudo quanto é nome e nada aconteceu. Mas está tudo bem, vai ficar como choro de perdedor e as coisas passam e não acontece nada, mas quero deixar meu protesto – afirmou Jorginho.

Em suas redes sociais, o Palmeiras divulgou uma nota de repúdio às falas do treinador adversário. O clube fez questão de utilizar a palavra “xenofobia” e disse que, no futebol brasileiro, deveria haver espaço para todos.

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Confira, na íntegra, o comunicado do Palmeiras:

“A Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras repudia com veemência as manifestações de cunho xenófobo que têm sido constantemente endereçadas à nossa comissão técnica.

Nascemos pelas mãos de imigrantes que não somente fundaram um dos clubes mais vitoriosos do mundo, como também contribuíram com a formação da sociedade brasileira e da identidade nacional.

A nossa história de 107 anos foi construída por jogadores, profissionais e torcedores de diferentes nacionalidades e etnias, sem distinção. Portanto, não toleramos declarações preconceituosas que incitem a aversão a estrangeiros.

Nossos gramados não são feudos reservados a pessoas de um só país. Pelo contrário, neles há espaço para todos que tenham vontade e capacidade de melhorar o futebol brasileiro.”

Not all their team-mates agree – “I like ODI cricket, it is just enough time to do enough,” says Ashton Agar

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2022Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch feel that for ODI cricket to remain interesting, the number of overs should be brought down to 40 for each innings.”I think I’d like one-day cricket more if it was 40 overs,” Khawaja told . “I played Pro40 in England a few years ago when they were playing 40-over cricket. I really enjoyed it.Related

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“I just think 50 overs is just that little bit too long now. T20 cricket is awesome. Test cricket is the pinnacle. I just feel like one-day cricket, if it could be 40 overs, I reckon that would just take out that little middle bit.”Finch – who recently retired from ODI cricket – agreed with Khawaja on 40 overs being the sweet spot, but expected the format to become popular around the time of the next World Cup, 50 overs or not.”The same debate keeps coming up every few years,” he said on the same programme. “When you’re 12 months away from a World Cup, people try and find relevance. But then the World Cup rolls around, and it’ll be bigger than again, and then another format will be on the chopping block.”But it’s that middle period Khawaja mentioned, that Adam Zampa suggested needs a close look. “There’s about ten overs in the middle that needs to be scrapped or something needs to be done with them, something a bit more exciting” he said. “Or, in between overs 20 and 30, there could be bonuses or extra free-hits, or something like that… make it a bit more interesting.”

“Yes I think people get frustrated at, maybe it gets a bit too long, but I think that’s just because of the advent of T20 cricket”Ashton Agar

However, not all their team-mates agree with them. Ashton Agar, for example, said he liked the 50-overs-a-side format the way it has been.”I like ODI cricket, it is just enough time to do enough,” Agar said. “You know, ten overs [per bowler] is a lovely amount of bowling time. Fifty overs is a good time to bat, like it gives the guys lower down the order a bit of time if there’s a few wickets that have fallen.”Yes I think people get frustrated at, maybe it gets a bit too long, but I think that’s just because of the advent of T20 cricket. So I like ODI cricket.”Alex Carey, meanwhile, said that “there’s still lots of room in the game for one-day cricket for sure”, and cited the example of the 2019 ODI World Cup, where “the atmosphere was incredible”, for proof of the format’s popularity.In terms of solutions, Nathan Lyon had one: “One ball from one end, or both ends… stop giving the batters a new ball to hit,” he said. “It’s only 25 overs old, it’s still hard, I’d like to see… bring reverse swing back, bring spin back into it.”

Batter’s focus is back on playing good shots instead of strike-rates and six-hitting and he credits Rohit for giving him the space to figure that out

Shashank Kishore09-Sep-20223:08

Is Kohli back to his best?

Rohit Sharma has hailed Virat Kohli’s “work ethic” and his attitude of “never letting things go no matter what” following his first T20I century in India’s Asia Cup fixture against Afghanistan. In turn, Kohli credited the “space” Rohit and Rahul Dravid have given him upon his return from a six-week break for the recent success.”Personally, since I’ve come back from a break where I didn’t touch the bat for the longest time in the 13-14 years I’ve played, a lot of things were put into perspective,” Kohli told Rohit in a chat on BCCI’s official portal. “I got a lot of clarity from you guys [pointing to Rohit] and the team management, to just allow me to bat. That was very important.Related

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“The space I got made me feel very relaxed. When I returned, I was excited to see how I could contribute to the team. Playing this way was important for me because the World Cup is big and if I play well, I can contribute big for the team.”I’d spoken to Rahul [Dravid] three-four days back, where batting first, especially the middle overs phase, how I can improve my strike rate. My only goal was to work on whatever I need to improve, I will try it at the Asia Cup. I honestly didn’t expect it [to score a T20I century]. I was shocked, [and] as you also mentioned after that, no one expected a century from me in this format after a long time. I was pleasantly surprised, grateful and honest.”Kohli finished the Asia Cup with 276 runs in five innings, striking at 147.59. After India’s game against Afghanistan, he was the leading run-getter in the tournament, 64 ahead of second-placed Mohammad Rizwan. He had made two fifties and a century, his 71st in international cricket and first in over three years.The standout aspect of that hundred was his end-overs acceleration after having opened the batting. On 59 off 40 going into the last five, he switched gears and scored his next 63 runs off just 21 balls. There were no nerves even as he approached a landmark that had eluded him for 1020 days. On 94, he played a disdainful pull to bring up his century. It was a drought he broke in style.”I got a lot of clarity from you guys [pointing to Rohit] and the team management, to just allow me to bat,” Kohli said•AFP/Getty ImagesEqually noteworthy was Kohli’s propensity to step out of his crease, especially against spin, something he’s done quite a lot at the Asia Cup, seemingly to try and increase his scoring options. Between April 1, 2018, and the start of the Asia Cup, Kohli stepped out once every 7.9 balls on an average in all T20s. This Asia Cup, as per ESPNcricinfo’s data, he stepped out once every 4.9 deliveries.In trying to raise the bar, Kohli also brought out shots he doesn’t often play, like the conventional sweep. The one he hit off Mujeeb Ur Rahman was only his 24th sweep against spinners in all T20s in this time period, out of the 1200-plus deliveries he has faced from them. This includes all kinds of sweeps, including the slog, so the numbers for the conventional sweep would be even lower.Kohli explained how his focus has been on playing good cricket shots, without worrying too much about strike rates and six-hitting, something he said had bothered him prior to his break. He admitted to having been “desperate to do something that wasn’t in my game” at that point.”My aim was to always to play all three formats, and I banked on good cricketing shots,” he said. “I always came to every tournament or series thinking six-hitting is not a big strength of mine. I can [hit sixes] when situation demands, but I’m better at finding gaps and hitting boundaries, so as long as I can hit boundaries, it will still serve the purpose for the team.”I told the coaches as well that I’m going to try and hit gaps rather than thinking I’ve to hit sixes to improve strike rates in T20 cricket. That thing I removed from my system in this tournament, and that helped because I was able to come back to my template. But it’s about being in a good space and enjoying your batting.”We can play in many ways, but my role is to play as per the situation and if it demands I have to take the scoring rate higher, I should be able to do it. My aim was if I can be in this zone, I can be relaxed because I know if I’m set for 10-15 balls, I can accelerate. I’m very happy that especially from the team’s point of view, I’m back to being in my template I’ve played for a while, which I was going away from because I was desperate to do something that wasn’t my game.”Rohit, who was conducting the interview, agreed that the knock against Afghanistan was a fine lesson in pacing an innings. “Obviously in T20 cricket we talk about big hitting and all of that. But that [century] was the perfect example of how to craft an innings without focusing so much on the big hitting,” he said. “That was wonderful to see. I know it personally because I’ve seen you bat long enough.”

Everton suffered defeat at Goodison Park in midweek, Aston Villa spoiling David Moyes’ exciting return to the dugout. It was a hard-fought Premier League contest and the hosts will have taken solace from their aggression and commitment.

But Moyes will surely know the weight of the task on his shoulders, with the Toffees lacking the main elements of attacking success and desperately in need of some fresh inspiration this month.

The January transfer window does present a fantastic opportunity to bolster the ranks, and with Armando Broja’s ankle injury meaning he will likely be recalled to Stamford Bridge, Everton are ready to sign a new centre-forward.

Everton eyeing new centre-forward

Spanish sources have issued a remarkable revelation that Everton are in the running to sign Barcelona striker Vitor Roque, who is currently on loan with La Liga side Real Betis.

Betis are hesitant as to forking out for a permanent deal for the 19-year-old, but with La Blaugrana eager to cash in, Everton could steal ahead and tempt the teenager with Premier League football.

It feels like there are multiple variables that could inhibit Everton in their pursuit of a deal, but stranger things have happened and the Blues desperately need something new at number nine.

What Vitor Roque would bring to Everton

A powerful forward with a keen-edged strike on goal, Roque has the perfect skill set to thrive at the front of Moyes’ Everton ship. Cut from the traditional striker’s cloth with some modern conversions, the Brazilian might not be the best ball player in the game but he’s been praised for his “special” qualities by former Atletico Madrid star Diego.

Roque’s fledgling career at Barcelona didn’t work out, sure, but he’s still one of the most talented young strikers across Europe and would be a credit to Moyes’ team, fronting a unit that would cherish his quality as a standout member.

Matches (starts)

16 (12)

Goals

4

Assists

0

Shots (on target)*

2.4 (1.1)

Pass completion

73%

Key passes*

0.6

Dribbles completed*

0.4

Total duels (won)*

2.8 (34%)

There’s plenty to be worked on, but Roque has hit a degree of prolificness after a tough start to life in Spain, and could now take his career to the next level with Everton, starring as the focal frontman.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin might be the club’s no. 1 man up front this season, but given that he’s out of contract in the summer and currently suffering from a 16-game barren run in the Premier League, there’s every reason for Moyes to freshen things up.

Roque’s not just a target man either, ranking among the top 17% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries (2.04) and the top 10% for interceptions (0.40), as per FBref, emphasising the athleticism and energy that would charge Everton’s system.

FBref also record that he has a statistical likeness to Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland, who has recently extended his contract in the Premier League to 2034, the highest-paid footballer on English shores.

Haaland is of course the gold standard when it comes to centre-forwards competing across the globe, having absurdly scored 111 goals across 126 City appearances, notably winning the treble in 2022/23.

Like Roque, Haaland is a menacing striker who imposes himself on defenders with strong loping runs and powerful finishes, hailed by Pep Guardiola for his “unique” personality both on and off the field.

Roque runs more than his Norwegian peer, who ranks among the bottom 31% of positional peers for progressive carries (0.97) per 90, so the Everton target might actually have the upper hand in that regard.

But with one of the deadliest presences around, why shouldn’t Moyes move to strengthen his Everton side with a player endowed with similar properties? It could be a game-changer as the Blues fight to turn their fortunes around over the coming months.

Concrete interest: Moyes chasing his next Lingard masterclass at Everton

Everton are ready to make an exciting signing this month.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 17, 2025

The American scored for the second-straight game on Saturday to bag his 14th strike of the regular season

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Norwich City fall to Plymouth 2-1Sargent scores 14th goal of season still in race for promotion playoffsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

U.S. men's national team striker Josh Sargent scored a terrific goal for Norwich City on Saturday in their 2-1 loss to Plymouth in the English Championship. The 24-year-old smashed home from close range with a lovely left-footed volley.

It was his 14th of the campaign, and his 10th since his return from injury in January. However, another disappointing result from Norwich has them departing the match with their heads low.

The sit 11th after the full-time whistle in the Championship as they continue their hunt for a promotion playoff spot in an attempt to play Premier League soccer in the 2025-26 season.

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Sargent has been a man in form for the in 2024-25, and has now scored in back-to-back games since returning from the CONCACAF Nations League with the USMNT – where he left the camp goalless – extending his scoreless streak with the national team to 2019.

If he continues his fine club form to close out the regular season in England, he will be in contention to be called up to the national team again this summer in either the June FIFA international window, or during the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR NORWICH?

The return to the pitch on Tuesday for a match against Sunderland as they look to bounce back from Saturday's performance. Now sitting eight points out of a promotion playoff spot, their hopes of top-flight soccer next season are slowly beginning to fade.

Many Chelsea fans thought the Blues could struggle to score at the same rate they did last campaign under new manager Enzo Maresca, as his football is more methodical, looking to slow the game down and assert control.

However, Maresca has managed to implement the perfect blend, controlling games effectively with 56.4% possession, whilst still creating high xG chances, forcing artificial transitions, taking 15.3 shots per 90, and scoring 35 goals.

Chelsea are the top scoring team in the Premier League this season, four goals ahead of second-place Liverpool in this statistic and the Blues could be looking to add another creative attacker, who could take them up to another level.

Chelsea could sign Premier League starlet

According to reports from CaughtOffiside, Chelsea are interested in Southampton wonderkid, Tyler Dibling. Manchester United are also said to be interested in the 18-year-old superstar, alongside Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa and West Ham.

The report states Dibling would cost at least €25m (around £20m), but the Saints are determined to fight to keep hold of their young superstar, having already lost him once to Chelsea back in 2022, before returning to Southampton just two months later.

Hailed as a “special” player by pundit Danny Murphy, Dibling has made 16 appearances so far this season, scoring once, providing two assists, and totalling 957 minutes played. He has also shown his versatility, playing multiple positions for Russel Martin’s side, including right-wing, attacking midfield, and even centre-forward.

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What Tyler Dibling could bring to Chelsea

The 18-year-old attacker has been praised as a “creative” talent by scout Jacek Kulig, who spoke about the youngsters’ elegance on the ball and his close control in tight spaces.

Thus, his ability to manipulate the ball in confined spaces, find clever passes through tight gaps, and drift inside to get shots off, is reminiscent of Chelsea legend, Joe Cole.

But another player Dibling is compared to, and one who has also played for Chelsea is Callum Hudson-Odoi. Stats-led website FBref suggest the two wide players are “similar players” and here’s why…

Goals

0.09

0.16

Assists

0.18

0.08

xG

0.11

0.10

xAG

0.12

0.10

Progressive Carries

4.52

5.04

Progressive Passes

3.55

2.65

Shots Total

1.36

1.63

Key Passes

1.29

1.88

Shot-Creating Actions

3.66

4.53

Successful Take-Ons

2.37

1.71

First and foremost, both of the wingers in question are creative forces who like to use their full toolset to create chances for both themselves and others.

The ability to carry the ball themselves into the opposition half, commit defenders 1v1, find clever passes into the box, but also cut inside and get a shot off themselves, makes them unpredictable with their actions.

Whilst Hudson-Odoi is currently completing more key passes, generating more shot-creating actions, and completing more progressive carries per 90, Dibling is actually providing more assists, with 0.18 to Hudson-Odoi’s 0.08, and more xAG (expected assisted goals) per 90, with 0.12 to Odoi’s 0.10.

Chelsea have shown their quality in the attacking areas this season, being the top scorers in the Premier League but the impact of a creative winger who has a complete toolset, much like Jadon Sancho who was also signed this summer, gives Maresca the opportunity to mix up his approach, using more direct wingers in certain games, and better creative passers in others.

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