Category Uncategorized

Manchester City are now considering a move for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz to replace Riyad Mahrez, with Pep Guardiola believed to be a huge fan of the winger, according to a recent report from Football Transfers.

What's the latest Man City transfer news?

With Riyad Mahrez recently leaving to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, Guardiola is tasked with bringing in a replacement, and there have now been reports that a move for Michael Olise is a real possibility.

Although Chelsea have made an approach for Olise, a move to the Etihad Stadium is now believed to be "very probable", with the winger seemingly emerging as a key target to fill the void left in the squad after Mahrez's departure.

However, the Sky Blues do have some other players in mind, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently confirming that Rennes winger Jeremy Doku is "on the list" of targets to replace Mahrez.

Wirtz has also been a long-term target for the Citizens, with 90min claiming they had reignited their interest back in March, and according to a report from Football Transfers, they could now step up their pursuit of the Bayer Leverkusen winger.

The German is being eyed as an heir to Mahrez, with Guardiola said to be a huge admirer of his technical ability and potential.

Negotiating a deal for the 20-year-old may prove to be tricky, however, as Bayer Leverkusen have already sold Moussa Diaby during this transfer window, while Edmond Tapsoba is potentially heading to Tottenham.

With the futures of Jonathan Tah and Jeremie Frimpong also uncertain, the price for the youngster may be significantly inflated, but the Bundesliga club are willing to part with him for the right price.

One potential boost for City is that the player himself is open to a move, which could make negotiating personal terms much easier should a suitable fee be agreed with Leverkusen.

How good is Florian Wirtz?

There are indications the Germany international could be capable of going right to the very top, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailing him as "one of the world's biggest talents", in light of the impact he made after returning from injury last season.

The Pulheim-born youngster made a significant contribution for Leverkusen after showing the resilience to come back from a long-term lay-off, registering four goals and eight assists for the German side in all competitions.

Given that he has averaged 58.61 passes per 90 in the past year, placing him in the 96th percentile compared to his positional peers, the starlet could be a perfect fit for a Guardiola system, and he is already showing signs he could surpass Mahrez.

The attacker is a far better dribbler of the ball than his potential predecessor, placing in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons, with the Algeria international ranking in the 35th, while he has also averaged more shot-creating actions.

Wirtz has exhibited that he is more than capable of being a fantastic long-term replacement for Mahrez, and it is exciting news that Man City are in the race for his signature.

Liverpool have now received a boost in their pursuit of Nicolo Barella, with it being reported that Inter Milan are now willing to sell him if they receive a bid worth over €80m (£69m), according to reports from Italy.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

Fabinho has recently followed Jordan Henderson out the exit door, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, meaning there is now a pressing need for Jurgen Klopp to bring in new reinforcements in central midfield.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that Southampton's Romeo Lavia is Klopp's "priority" target in midfield, with talks currently ongoing, however the deal is not straightforward, with the Saints looking to hold out for a package worth £50m.

Fluminense midfielder Andre also remains an option for the Reds, with the Brazilian club said to be holding out for a fee of €25m (£21m), while they have made contact over Eintracht Frankfurt star Jesper Lindstrom, who is also being targeted by Arsenal.

According to recent reports from Italy (via Sport Witness), Liverpool have also been handed a boost in their pursuit of Barella, as Inter would now consider selling the midfielder, if they were to receive an offer worth over €80m (£69m).

The Serie A side are now closing in on a deal for Udinese's Lazar Samardzic, which means they may no longer consider the Italian non-transferrable, in what would come as a real boost to his potential suitors.

In the Premier League, the Reds "in particular" are keen to sign the 26-year-old, with their interest mainly being driven by Klopp, who is believed to be a "great admirer", however Manchester City are also in the mix for his signature.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

How good is Nicolo Barella?

It is clear to see why Klopp is such a huge fan of the Italy international, as he is a real threat going forward, averaging 0.22 non-penalty goals per 90 over the course of the past year, which places him in the 92nd percentile compared to his positional peers.

The central midfielder averaged a 6.94 WhoScored match rating in the Serie A last season, the fourth-highest in the Inter squad, amassing a total of six goals and six assists, the joint-third highest number of goal contributions of any Inter player.

With an average of 1.6 key passes per game, the Cagliari-born maestro is clearly a very creative player, however he is also happy to pitch in with the defensive side of the game when needed, as indicated by the fact he averaged 1.4 tackles during that time period.

Lauded as "fantastic" by Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, the Inter Milan star has proven he could be a quality addition to Klopp's squad, however he is not a like-for-like replacement for Fabinho or Henderson, given that his main qualities are on the front foot.

As such, it is important the Reds get a deal for Lavia over the line first, but they should undoubtedly reignite their interest in Barella, should Inter Milan make it clear they are willing to sell him this summer.

Leeds United target Charlie Taylor is a 'dependable' player that wouldn't be a risky signing for the Whites this summer amid speculation linking him with a move to Elland Road, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Charlie Taylor?

According to journalist Phil Hay of The Athletic, Taylor is a target for Leeds United and could be brought in as a replacement for Junior Firpo this summer.

Hay wrote: "Defensively, Leeds require a left-back having decided to listen to enquiries for Junior Firpo. They have been repeatedly linked with Ryan Manning, who is on a free transfer after parting company with Swansea City, and they are pondering bidding for Burnley’s Charlie Taylor, the defender who came through the academy at Elland Road".

Of course, Taylor was at Leeds United between 2011 and 2017, amassing 104 appearances for the Whites in all competitions and notching three goals and and 13 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Nevertheless, the £25k-a-week ace left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Leeds United support when he turned down a new contract at the club to head to Burnley in 2017, as per Sky Sports.

The 29-year-old was berated by then-Leeds United boss Garry Monk just before he left to join Burnley and reportedly refused to play in the last match of their 2016/17 campaign against Wigan Athletic, as the former Whites manager revealed: "There's no sugar-coating this – Charlie refused to play the game."

Now he could be set for a dramatic return to his former employers in a deal that would divide the support of the Elland Road side down the middle.

Speaking to Football FanCast, transfer insider Jones believes that Taylor would be a 'dependable' asset for Leeds United should he indeed make a comeback this summer.

Jones told FFC: "Certainly the new manager Farke will be helped by a deal like this and we've seen what Charlie Taylor's capable of, he's a very dependable player. That's the sort of thing that Leeds need next season, they don't want to take any risks and they don't want anyone letting them down. Charlie Taylor wouldn't do that."

Would Charlie Taylor be a good signing for Leeds United?

As always, the Sky Bet Championship is an extremely difficult division to navigate and having players like Taylor around with plenty of previous experience can prove to be pivotal to a side like Leeds United's promotion hopes.

Last term, the York-born left-back was almost ever present for Burnley, featuring 41 times in all competitions and producing two assists as the Clarets strolled to a return to the Premier League, as per Transfermarkt.

Defensively, Taylor stood up to the challenge for Vincent Kompany's side in 2022/23 and completed around 1.8 clearances per match in the English second tier, according to WhoScored.

In the eight league competitions ranked below Europe's top five divisions, Taylor has excelled in terms of passes attempted, getting through around 76.28 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the third percentile for this metric, as shown on FBRef.

Despite the obvious negativity that may emerge from some quarters if he was to rejoin the club, there is no doubt Taylor is an experienced performer that could help make Leeds United a solid outfit in 2023/24.

The summer transfer window is already in full swing, although transfer activity has been rather muted at Everton so far, with the Merseyside outfit yet to bring in any new faces with the new season just over a month away.

With the Toffees having also previously made no new signings in January amid their bid for survival, the need for further depth and quality is seemingly now even greater, with Sean Dyche no doubt in need of the appropiate tools to help avoid another relegation scrap in 2023/24.

Despite the rather quiet nature of the club's window so far, one name that has been mentioned is Sheffield United star, lliman Ndiaye, with Fabrizio Romano naming the Goodison outfit as one of the clubs who are interested in signing the 23-year-old playmaker.

This follows claims made by Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett back in January which suggested that Dyche and co had lodged a £25m bid to sign the Senegalese international on deadline day, with the player facing an uncertain future at Bramall Lane having now entered the final year of his contract.

Fresh form having propelled the Blades to promotion – after scoring 14 goals and laying on 11 assists in 46 Championship outings last term – Ndiaye could be the man to help bolster Dyche's attacking ranks this summer, following in the footsteps of the likes of Phil Jagielka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in arriving on Merseyside from the Yorkshire side.

Due to his likeness to the latter man as a figure who typically operates through the middle – or in a number ten berth – the hope will be that Ndiaye can prove as much of a success as Calvert-Lewin has been in recent years.

How much did Everton pay for Calvert-Lewin?

The England international was snapped up from the Blades on a bargain £1.5m deal back in the summer of 2016, having spent time on loan at Stalybridge Celtic and Northampton Town prior to that in his teenage years.

While injury has dogged the 26-year-old of late – having notably made just 17 league appearances last season – the 6 foot 2 striker has blossomed into the Toffees' main man in attack, having now scored 60 goals in 209 games in all competitions over the past seven years.

That includes a particularly fruitful spell during Carlo Ancelotti's time at the helm, with Calvert-Lewin bagging 13 league goals in the 2019/20 season, before plundering 16 top-flight goals in the following campaign.

Lauded as a "top striker" by Ancelotti, the Sheffield-born machine has proven to be a truly astute capture since joining from his local side, with the hope being that Everton can replicate that masterclass with the addition of another exciting forward in the form of Ndiaye.

The latter man has earned rave reviews as a result of his standout form in the second tier in recent times, with Sheffield United coach Jack Lester stating that the France-born sensation "does things you can't coach" such is his "natural" talent, with the 5 foot 11 gem also seemingly rather "fearless" when taking to the field.

That fearlessness could ensure that the fleet-footed ace is not overawed by the step up to life in the top flight, with the chance there for him to replicate Calvert-Lewin's success if he is to link up with Dyche and co this summer.

Top order a concern for Pakistan as they eye their first-ever Test series win in the Caribbean

The Preview by Danyal Rasool29-Apr-2017Match facts
April 30, 2017
Start time 10:00 local (14:00 GMT)Misbah-ul-Haq could add yet another chapter in his captaincy book in Bridgetown•AFPBig pictureNow that the buzz around Younis Khan’s 10,000th run is over, the focus shifts to the dreary business of the Test series unfolding around it. Weather delays and uninspiringly sedate batting at times from both sides give the first Test a dreary, old-fashioned feel. However, there were absorbing periods that left you wanting more, particularly in the last session of the fourth day, when Yasir Shah beat West Indies into submission just as the Test threatened to meander to a forgettable draw.The build-up to the second Test is not so different to the first, particularly for the West Indies, who must go back to the drawing board. It’s all very well working out the opposition’s weaknesses and setting elaborate plans, but all that is unlikely to bear fruit when you then go on to lose five wickets in the first 30 overs of the game, and drop straightforward catches, like they did in Kingston.From Pakistan’s point of view, it was as efficient a Test as they could have hoped for. They were on top right from the start. Mohammad Amir turned in his best performance since his return to cricket, Yasir did what world class second-innings spinners need to do, and their middle order piled on the runs. Their only concerns might centre around the seemingly intractable puzzle of an endlessly misfiring top order, a concern only appeased by the fact that it was well hidden in Jamaica.Form guideWest Indies LWLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WLLLLIn the spotlightIn a depleted side that suffers from a paucity of genuine quality, West Indies appear to have found, in Shannon Gabriel, the man who comes closest to matching that description. He was the man his captained turned to every time it looked like the West Indies were out of ideas, with the 29-year old providing the breakthrough – or at least creating chances – more often than not. His aggression cost him half his match fee in Kingston, but that sort of passion might be appreciated by the West Indies fans. On a Barbados pitch that has traditionally offered more pace and bounce than the Sabina Park surface, Gabriel is perhaps the likeliest to make the sort of telling contribution that eluded his side last game.Ahmed Shehzad, not for the first time, finds his Test career at a precipitous stage. It is a pattern that has regularly repeated itself: inconsistency at the international level, rich form domestically, rinse, repeat. Apart from a pair of fifties, Shehzad has struggled to get going since his return to the highest level during the limited-overs leg of this tour. With Pakistan’s selectors showing impatience at the top order – Kamran Akmal has already been dropped from the Champions Trophy squad – Shehzad must be feeling the pressure of playing for his place again. Whether that stifles him or spurs him on may well have a significant outcome on the second Test.Team newsWest Indies’ squad is unchanged from the one that fell to a seven-wicket defeat in Kingston. Eyebrows were raised when Shimron Hetmyer and Vishaul Singh were both selected to make their debut in a side that already lacks experience, and one of them could make way for Jermaine Blackwood.West Indies (possible): 1 Kieran Powell, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Jermaine Blackwood, 4 Shai Hope (wk), 5 Roston Chase, 6 Vishaul Singh/Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Shane Dowrich, 8 Jason Holder (capt), 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Shannon GabrielPakistan could stick to the side that won the first Test, even though Misbah-ul-Haq did say they would consider the possibility of playing two spinners. That would also give them a fifth bowling option, so necessary in an attack that relies on three fast bowlers.Pakistan (possible): 1 Azhar Ali, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Mohammad Abbas, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Yasir ShahPitch and conditionsThe forecast for the second Test is better than the it was in Kingston, even though rain is expected on the fourth and fifth days. The surface in Bridgetown is generally hard and fast, and if it is overcast, the toss could assume great importance. Jason Holder, the West Indies captain, felt the pitch looked “unusually” dry on the eve of the Test, so spin could play a fairly significant role as the match goes on.Stats and trivia If Pakistan win this Test, it will mark their first ever Test series win in the Caribbean. The first Test marked the sixth time two Pakistan bowlers took six or more wickets in a Test. The last time this happened was in 2002. Quotes”It’s interesting. I’ve been out there a few times since I’ve been back here, and it looks pretty dry – unusually so. Normally you would expect a little bit more in terms of the surface but it looks quite dry, it’ll be interesting to see if it’ll last all five days or if it deteriorates quickly. Not quite sure, so it’s just a matter for us, especially, to make use of our first innings when we bat.”

Matt Miazga was "forcibly removed" from the officials' locker room after FC Cincinnati beat New York Red Bulls last weekend.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Cincinnati advanced to knockout round on penalties
• Miazga handed second yellow in shootout
• USMNT star entered referee's locker room after match

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Professional Soccer Referees Association posted a statement claiming that a player had gained unauthorized access to the officials' locker room and was "forcibly removed" by security.

  They said: "After the Nov 4th NYRB/FC Cincinnati match, a player gained unauthorized entry into the Officials’ locker room & was forcibly removed by stadium security while acting in an aggressive & hostile manner. No one's safety should ever be at risk & we expect MLS to act accordingly."

  The Philadelphia Enquirer followed the PRSA statement with a report that the individual was Cincy defender Miazga . However, the Cincinnati Enquirer then claimed that stadium security was 'not involved at all' in the situation, and that the PRSA report was exaggerated. The Athletic confirmed the report of exaggeration, revealing that a source on the incident said “the entire thing has been blown out of proportion.”

  MLS has begun an investigation of the incident, releasing a statement saying: “The safety of PRO officials must never be compromised and an investigation into this matter is being conducted.”

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The USMNT defender was shown a yellow card during regulation of the match before receiving a second in the shootout; he scored his kick, and then, in the eyes of the official, appeared to mock the New York Red Bulls fans with heart gestures. He also blew a kiss to the crowd.

  Postgame, Miazga said: “I’m annoyed,” he told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “The referee gave me a yellow card. For what? I went to my fans that I played for since I was 14 years old and gave them a heart. I gave them a heart and I was showing them my love. I get a yellow card for that? For what? And I have to take (that) and I’m suspended now. And after the game he gives me a yellow card because I asked ‘what the hell are you doing?’ Everyone’s yelling at the referee. Yeah, of course. I feel singled-out. I was speaking to (Rivas) the whole game normally. He’s talking to me nicely all game.”

  Miazga, per The Athletic report, went to speak with referee Victor Rivas about the yellow card postgame and was then removed from the situation by an FC Cincinnati staff-person, not stadium security.

  Head coach Pat Noonan said that Miazga 'knows better' and should not have put himself in that scenario postgame. “Matt’s suspended for the next game and that shouldn’t happen,” he said. “Matt knows better, we shouldn’t be missing him for the next round, as simple as that.”

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Miazga came through the academy at New York Red Bulls and grew up in New Jersey. There is, therefore, also a suggestion that he was merely paying homage to his hometown after scoring his penalty, but the gesture was not well received by the referee or the home fans.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  After advancing from Round One of the MLS playoffs after knocking out the New York Red Bulls, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and 2023 Supporters' Shield winners will host the winner of the best-of-three series between the New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

  As things stand, the Union lead the series 1-0 and game two takes place Wednesday evening.

Manchester City have tried to snap up Warren Zaire-Emery as part of a potential transfer deal to send Bernardo Silva to PSG, according to a report from reliable journalist Fabrice Hawkins.

Is Bernardo Silva leaving Manchester City?

The Portugal international has once more been a first-team regular for the Premier League outfit, helping his team to not only claim another league title but to win both the FA Cup and Champions League too, completing a historic treble. With 34 games under his belt in the top flight this campaign, he managed four goals and five assists along the way and now has three more winners medals to his name thanks to his efforts.

His showings have led to keen interest in his signature this summer from PSG, who now want to try and secure a deal for the player during the transfer window. The French side have already tried to convince City into doing business with them by offering both players and cash, with the Ligue 1 club prepared to let both Marco Verratti and Gianluigi Donnarumma leave the club to bring Silva in.

Now, according to a report from Fabrice Hawkins, Pep Guardiola's side were prepared to do a swap deal with PSG – but not the one that the French club wanted. Instead, City "offered" to take Warren Zaire-Emery off their hands as part of a potential deal for their versatile maestro.

The Ligue 1 side though promptly rejected this approach and it seems as though they are not too keen to let go of the youngster. It's unclear how much he would cost to buy outright too, although CIES Football Observatory suggest his value could be around the 20 million Euros (or £17.1m) mark.

How many games has Warren Zaire-Emery played this season?

Despite being just 17-years-old, he has already featured quite frequently for PSG. Over the course of the 2022/23 season for example, the player featured in the league on 26 occasions, with eight starts.

Even though Zaire-Emery is fairly inexperienced, he still managed to score two goals for the side though and the fact he has been selected so often shows how highly he is rated and valued in a squad packed with big money signings. He certainly appears to have the ability to go far in the game too, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig calling the player a "top talent" based on his form over the course of the current season.

It's no surprise then that City were eager to snap him up as part of a potential transfer deal – it appears though that they may have to try something different if they do want to add the youngster to their ranks this summer window.

Newcastle United have opened "talks" regarding a contract extension for Joelinton at St. James' Park, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

When is Joelinton out of contract at Newcastle?

The Brazil international first arrived in the Premier League from Hoffenheim back in 2019 and has since gone on to become a regular feature in the northeast, clocking up a total of 157 appearances to date.

The Magpies talisman still has another two years remaining on his contract at St. James’ Park, but having established himself last season in a remarkable personal campaign as Eddie Howe’s overall second best-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 7.24, he’s bound to attract interest during the upcoming window.

PIF and the boss will be pleased to learn that the 26-year-old is yet to have any clubs chasing him as far as public knowledge is concerned, but you can never be too careful as we approach this busy time of year and it sounds like the hierarchy are keen to tie him down before any potential suitors start circling.

Have Newcastle offered Joelinton a new contract?

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg revealed that Newcastle have now entered discussions with Joelinton about the possibility of him putting pen to paper and committing his long-term future to the club. He wrote:

"Excl. News #Joelinton: @NUFC wants to extend his contract beyond 2025 now! Talks have started. Early stage. Result open. After a top season the 26 y/o is about to make his debut with Brazil. Key player."

Newcastle will know that Joelinton was one of their most standout performers last season, and considering the high standard of quality that he displayed, the attacking midfielder being rewarded with improved terms is nothing less than he deserves.

The ROGON client, who earns £85k-per-week, racked up eight goal contributions (six goals and two assists) in the top-flight during the previous term and ranked in the 97th percentile for number of attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area and the 94th percentile for successful take-ons, as per FBRef.

The Alianca native, who offers wonderful versatility with his ability to operate in seven different positions, is also highly regarded among his fellow players and black and white striped supporters having taken home the Player of the Year award in 2021/22, and this love story will only develop even further should he sign on the dotted line in the weeks ahead of us.

The Argentine has done the unthinkable by taking over at Stamford Bridge, but it's a move that makes sense, despite his Spurs love affair

After an exhaustive and exhausting search for a permanent manager, Chelsea's co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart have found their man: Mauricio Pochettino.

It was unthinkable that the cherished former Tottenham boss would ever take charge of another Premier League club, let alone one of Spurs' greatest rivals, but the concept of Pochettino taking his seat in the Stamford Bridge dugout is something that Chelsea and Spurs fans alike will have to get used to, with the Argentine's arrival on an initial two-year deal finally being confirmed on Monday.

It will be a divisive appointment in some quarters, given his seemingly unbreakable bond with the Tottenham fanbase (however one-sided that relationship has become), but he is the ideal candidate to guide Chelsea out of the mess they currently find themselves in and on to better things.

GOAL breaks down just why that's the case…

• Getty
  

  The perfect project

  Things were supposed to be wildly different at the end of Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali's first full season as Chelsea owners, especially after two transfer windows of lavish spending.

  But instead of fighting for silverware, the Blues find themselves out of each cup competition and desperately staving off a descent into the mire of lower mid-table, more than 30 points off the pace set by Premier League leaders Manchester City and second-placed Arsenal.

  Similarly, but perhaps not as drastically, Pochettino's stock has dipped since his unceremonious dismissal at Paris Saint-Germain a year ago, but he is still regarded as one of the best in the business and will be keen to prove that at Stamford Bridge – much like another PSG cast-off, Thomas Tuchel, before him.

  As a result, Pochettino's arrival cannot be viewed as a top manager joining a top club, but rather a coach with a point to prove joining a team that is in desperate need of galvanising.

  Chelsea could well be the perfect fit; Pochettino's reputation is built upon improving struggling teams and helping them to reach their full potential; he guided Southampton to what was their highest-ever Premier League finish in 2013-14, before famously taking a Tottenham side that had been incapable of qualifying for the Champions League to the final of the 2019 edition.

  That incremental improvement at both clubs has been underpinned by an exciting, front-footed brand of football, and Boehly and Eghbali will be desperate for Pochettino to implement those ideas with an expensively assembled squad bursting with unfulfilled attacking talent.

  Chelsea and Pochettino are wounded animals, and together they could become something very dangerous.

Advertisement

• (C)Getty Images
  

  The longevity Chelsea crave

  That's not to say that Pochettino turned Spurs' fortunes around as soon as he arrived at White Hart Lane.

  He only took Tottenham from sixth to fifth in his first season and still missed out on that elusive Champions League place – something Tim Sherwood was effectively sacked for a year prior.

  The key in north London, though, was that he was given the time and afforded the patience to mould the team in his image, ultimately building something incredibly special over a five-year period and breathing life into the club both on and off the pitch.

  Given the resources and existing squad that will be at his disposal at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino will back himself to replicate his exploits on the west side of the capital and oversee gradual improvement. A title challenge within the next three seasons should perhaps be the realistic aim.

  At 51, he is still relatively young, he has previously professed his love of living in London, and he is an advocate for the attacking brand of football the Chelsea owners seem to want their team to play.

  Boehly and Eghbali had hinted that they wanted a manager for the long-term and there would be patience throughout the bad times, but having pulled the plug on their Graham Potter project very prematurely, they should have some confidence that Pochettino has the credentials to oversee the development of the team for a number of years.

• Getty
  

  The fans wanted him

  The general consensus has always been that Pochettino's profound connection with the Tottenham fanbase would be a stumbling block to a move to any other Premier League club.

  As it turns out, that is probably wasn't the case – and he was even willing to join one of Spurs' most bitter rivals.

  The Chelsea hierarchy was reportedly pleasantly surprised by the fans' reception to the news that Pochettino was in line for the role, a testament to the Argentine's popularity throughout the game and a reflection of a desire to laud his arrival over Spurs.

  Surprisingly, this is unlikely to be a divisive appointment, with Blues followers clearly craving the kind of synergy the coach fostered with Tottenham supporters during his time there – especially having failed to warm to his predecessor Potter – and another stick with which to beat their foes across the capital.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  The players wanted him

  It's not just the supporters who are in favour of Pochettino becoming Chelsea manager – the players are keen on the idea, too.

  According to , the first round of news that he could be coming generated excitement in the dressing room, with many members of the squad aware of the Argentine's coaching, motivational ability and man-management skills. They've no doubt been reading more about him since then.

  During his time in north London, it was clear that Pochettino's players would run through a brick wall for him, and having looked distinctly unmotivated at times under both Potter and interim manager Frank Lampard, the Chelsea squad is clearly prepared to get down to work for the right person.

Leeds United have been guilty of some poor transfer deals in the past but the appointment of Victor Orta in 2017 has helped to transform the Yorkshire outfit from Championship strugglers into a fairly solid Premier League side.

The Spaniard has also made mistakes, with the likes of Jean Kevin-Augustin no doubt at the forefront of Leeds fans' minds after the club were ordered to pay £24.5m in compensation to the rarely-seen Frenchman earlier this month, but in the large part, he has been responsible for signing some incredible players at Elland Road.

One such example is Tyler Adams, as the young midfielder's value has flown up during his time in the Premier League, and he looks set to be a vital player for The Peacocks in the significant future.

How much did Adams cost Leeds United?

Following the exit of Kalvin Phillips in the summer of 2022, it seemed clear that Leeds were going to have to invest heavily in a new defensive midfielder to fill the boots of the home-grown England international.

The USA international had accumulated 103 appearances during his time with RB Leipzig, contributing two goals and three assists, so represented a great option for Leeds when considering his experience of top-level football and obvious long-term potential.

Orta sanctioned a deal worth €17m (£15m), which could rise to €23m (£20.2m) with add-ons, and he has established himself as a key player at Elland Road throughout the 2022/23 campaign, earning regular starts under both Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia.

Across his 24 Premier League appearances so far this campaign, the tough-tackling midfielder has averaged a solid 6.73 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which sees him currently ranked as the fifth-best player in Gracia's squad.

Journalist Tomi Oladipo was quick to label Adams a "monster" in Leeds' midfield after their 3-0 demolition of Chelsea earlier this season and his average of 3.7 tackles per game, the best of anyone at Elland Road, certainly reinforces that.

Although Adams has been absent for Leeds' recent games through injury, with the Yorkshire outfit very much in the Premier League's relegation battle after their 5-1 defeat against Crystal Palace last time out, his performances have not gone unnoticed by the wider footballing world.

As per Football Transfers, the midfielder's transfer value has shot up to €39.6m (£34.8m), which represents a hugely impressive 133% increase on the £15m Leeds initially paid.

Therefore, Orta deserves a huge amount of credit for bringing in the £55k-per-week star on such a bargain deal, and Leeds fans will be hoping to see the 24-year-old continue to shine upon his return from injury.