Tag Futebol

The question remains for those of a Leeds United persuasion – can Joel Piroe cut it in the Premier League?

The hope will be that the Dutchman can replicate the heroics of Patrick Bamford in 2020/21, with the Englishman notably firing in 17 top-flight goals under Marcelo Bielsa, having netted 16 times during the club’s promotion push the year prior.

In the case of Piroe, the former Swansea City man ended the most recent campaign with 19 goals to his name, having hit 14 Championship goals the previous season, with that coming despite not being a “natural number nine”, as per pundit Clinton Morrison.

Whether or not the Dutchman can thrive amid the step up remains to be seen, although what is evident – as Morrison pointed to – is that further reinforcements will be needed, particularly if young Mateo Joseph is to depart.

Having seen the last six promoted sides slip straight back into the second tier, Daniel Farke and co will need Premier League-proven options to avoid a similar fate, with the search for new faces seemingly already underway.

Latest on Leeds's search for a striker

Report back in May indicated that a surprise target had emerged in the form of Everton’s Beto, with the former Udinese man ending 2024/25 with eight league goals to his name, after netting just three times the previous season.

Elsewhere, there have also been suggestions that Farke could look to secure a bargain deal for departing Leicester City hero, Jamie Vardy, with the 38-year-old looking for a new home amid his expiring contract.

That duo don’t appear to be the only Premier League options that the Yorkshire side are considering, however, with The Athletic’s Beren Cross outlining that the club are also showing an interest in Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Cross, Leeds are said to have made enquiries about signing the Brazilian, with club sources said to have ‘acknowledged’ that interest, albeit while hinting that there are more likely candidates to arrive at Elland Road this summer.

Even so, with just a year left to run on his existing deal at Craven Cottage – with the option of a 12-month extension – the 24-year-old would represent a viable option, with Newcastle United also in the running for his signature.

While perhaps not the glamour name that supporters will be craving, it’s worth noting that there is an element of Erling Haaland about Muniz…

How Muniz compares to Erling Haaland

In another universe, perhaps the Manchester City man would have been plying his trade in Yorkshire, with the club having famously made an attempt to sign the Leeds-born sensation back in 2017.

Unfortunately, Leeds have had to witness the Norwegian go on to shine elsewhere, notably firing in 121 goals in just 142 games at the Etihad, after previously netting 86 times in 89 games for Borussia Dortmund.

Muniz, it must be said, doesn’t come close to reaching those levels, although – as per FBref – the Fulham star is said to be a stylistically and statistically similar player to Haaland, among those in their position in Europe’s top five leagues – as well as in the Premier League.

Indeed, the top two most similar players to Muniz in the top-flight in 2024/25 were Beto and Haaland, with there evidently a particular type of striker that Farke and his recruitment team are chasing.

That likeness between Muniz and Haaland, in particular, is notably evidenced by just how clinical they are in front of goal, with the former ranking in the top 3% of top-flight strikers for non-penalty goals per 90, having scored eight goals last season from just eight starts. The Man City man, meanwhile, ranks in the top 8% in that regard.

Jack Hinshelwood

0.28

Chris Wood

0.26

Jorgen Strand Larsen

0.26

Richarlison

0.24

Jhon Duran

0.23

James Maddison

0.23

Marc Cucurella

0.21

Yoane Wissa

0.21

Rodrigo Muniz

0.21

Equally too is that much-needed single-minded or perhaps selfish streak that both possess, with Muniz ranking in the top 10% for total shots per 90, while his prolific counterpart ranks in top 12% for that same metric.

With the one-time Middlesbrough loanee also ranking in the top 10% for aerial duels, it showcases just what an imposing focal point he is, much like the 6 foot 4 Haaland, having rightly been lauded as a “handful” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Also hailed by Mattinson for his “seriously impressive” 2023/24 season, in which he scored nine league goals from only 18 starts, Muniz could be the clinical figure that Leeds are in need of, with a more consistent run of games the only thing that has perhaps held him back in west London.

A reported £50m asking price might be a significant stumbling block, although if Leeds are looking to find their own version of the machine-like Haaland, then Muniz could well be the man.

49ers spend £90m: AI predicts 5 players Leeds United will sign this summer

It’s set to be a busy few months at Elland Road.

2 ByCharlie Smith Jun 7, 2025

Chelsea are in pursuit of more signings after Liam Delap as we fast approach the Club World Cup, with BlueCo now running out of time to register new players before that potentially lucrative tournament begins.

Chelsea eye left-winger after Jadon Sancho return to Man United

Following the £30 million deal which sees Delap swap Portman Road for Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca and co have shown absolutely zero sign of slowing down in the transfer market.

Chelsea propose "multi-player package deal" in talks for £85m forward

The Blues have held discussions.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 6, 2025

Instead, the Blues have continued to press on for other targets with serious gusto, holding talks with AC Milan over a move for goalkeeper Mike Maignan and reportedly chasing Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.

Maignan has apparently told Milan he wants to join Chelsea, as per Sky Sports and other reliable media sources, while journalist Simon Phillips reports that Hato is equally keen to join Maresca’s side and personal terms shouldn’t be an issue.

Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea

8.08

Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town

8.05

Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa

8.04

Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton

7.83

Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town

7.55

via WhoScored

If either man is to be registered before the CWC kicks off, Chelsea will need to hurry, as they now have just three days to get them on the books at Cobham.

BlueCo are also believed to be targeting a new left-winger, especially after they couldn’t agree terms with Jadon Sancho on a permanent stay in west London. The £300,000-per-week forward is returning to Man United, and Chelsea will pay a £5 million penalty fee to dodge his obligation to buy.

Sancho’s exit, combined with Mykhailo Mudryk’s on-field ban after his failed drugs test, has exacerbated Maresca’s need for another wide option – and they have plenty of options on their shortlist.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams sit chief among them, according to reports this week, but they’ve been offered plenty of alternatives.

Chelsea offered Bayern Munich duo Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman

As per intriguing information from SPTC, Bayern Munich duo Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman have actually been put forward to them.

On a combined £581,000-per-week in Bavaria, Gnabry and Coman, despite their past performances, appear to have fallen down Vincent Kompany’s pecking order and are not in the Belgian’s long-term plans.

It is believed both Gnabry and Coman were offered out to Chelsea, as representatives of the pair seek potential new clubs, but Maresca’s side decided not to move forward with a deal for either.

“Obviously it looks like we have since decided to push more on Jamie Gittens than any others,” wrote reporter Phillips.

“Rafa Leao was also mentioned earlier in the Spring but nothing has moved on that.

“And we’ve also heard that Bayern Munich have offered both Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry around to many clubs, including Chelsea. Leroy Sané has also been spoken about at Chelsea due to him becoming a free agent this summer. However, our sources don’t expect us to move on any of those three.

“Chelsea are looking to bring a new left-winger as well as a hybrid attacking midfielder who can play a number of positions. Xavi Simons is a name that was mentioned to me by a good source again today, and obviously there is the noise on Mohammed Kudus now as well as Chelsea’s serious interest in Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze.”

Despite the injury issues at Arsenal this season, Mikel Arteta has done a tremendous job, leading the side to second in the Premier League and a Champions League semi-final.

Such problems have allowed numerous players to stake their claim as a first-team regular, many of whom have grabbed their opportunity with both hands.

Left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly has emerged out of the academy setup in recent months and nailed down the position as his own despite his tender age.

The 18-year-old has made 31 appearances across all competitions since his debut back in September, going from strength to strength under the guidance of the Spaniard.

He’s been joined in the side by one player who’s managed to star, albeit in a role that he’s never previously featured in during his time in North London.

Mikel Merino’s role as a centre-forward at Arsenal

Central midfielder Mikel Merino joined Arsenal back in the summer from Real Sociedad, looking to cement his place at the heart of the side alongside Declan Rice.

Whilst he started the season in his natural position, the injury crisis at the top end of the pitch saw the Spaniard shift to a centre-forward position – a decision that has worked wonders in recent weeks.

He came off the bench against Leicester City at 0-0, scoring twice in the closing stages, securing the win for Arteta’s men, leading to his regular inclusion as the focal point.

The 28-year-old has since registered four goals and three assists in such a role, with three of his seven efforts coming over the two legs of the Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid.

Given such a successful transition for Merino, it would be a risk to change the player featuring up front, but Arteta could do just that by utilising another player out of position.

The Arsenal star who could repeat Arteta’s Merino trick

The decisions made by Arteta over the last couple of months have been complete masterstrokes, leading to the success they’ve endured on the pitch.

With such issues plaguing the side in recent times, many would expect the side to limp over the finish line, but they have exceeded all expectations – having the opportunity to end the season by claiming their first European title.

Whilst Merino has done a sensational job at the top end, the boss could repeat such a trick by utilising Ethan Nwaneri as the central striker to balance the workload.

The 18-year-old has enjoyed his own breakthrough this season, notching eight goals in his 32 appearances across all competitions – starring alongside Lewis-Skelly at the Emirates.

Whilst the teenager is primarily a wide player, he has all the tools to star in a central position, potentially taking his career to another level in such a role.

Nwaneri, who’s been labelled “superb” by Jeorge Bird, has registered 2.3 shots per 90 in the Premier League this season, having the skillset to thrive in the final third.

He’s also completed 3.6 dribbles per 90, at a completion rate of 65%, able to drive at the opposition backline when dropping deep, allowing Bukayo Saka to run in behind.

Ethan Nwaneri’s stats for Arsenal in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	22
Goals & assists	5
Pass accuracy	89%
Shots taken	2.3
Successful dribbles	3.6
Dribble success rate	65%
Duels won	5.8
Stats via FotMob

Despite his small frame, he’s managed to win 5.8 duels per 90 this season, subsequently being able to put himself about and make the defender’s job even tougher than it would’ve been by Merino.

Whilst the Spaniard has done an impressive job in the role, the return of Saka has undoubtedly restricted the first-team minutes for Nwaneri, with Arteta needing an alternative to further his development.

A switch to a central position could work for the side, offering another dimension to their attack in their quest for European glory in the next couple of months.

Not just Rice: Arsenal's 8/10 star showed why he'd walk into Madrid's XI

Arsenal secured a place in the Champions League semi-final after a 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 17, 2025

Manchester City have endured somewhat of a disappointing campaign in 2024/25, with any hopes of retaining their Premier League title out of the window with just eight games remaining.

Pep Guardiola’s side only remain in the FA Cup, but will face an in-form Nottingham Forest side, who have recently beaten them, to have any chance of ending the season on a high.

A rebuild is desperately needed at the Etihad this summer, with groundwork being done in January after the arrivals of Abdukodir Khusanov, Victor Reis, Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez.

However, if it is to continue this summer, the Spaniard will have to brutally part ways with numerous fan-favourites who have helped the club achieve the heights they have in recent years.

One of which could be set for a switch in the coming months, potentially cashing in at the right time and ending his eight-year stint in the Citizens’ first-team.

Real Madrid plot summer move for Manchester City star

According to Spanish outlet DefensaCentral, Real Madrid are keen on a summer move for City midfielder Bernardo Silva – a move that could kickstart any rebuild in Manchester.

The Portuguese international has been a regular in Guardiola’s side since his transfer from Monaco back in the summer of 2017, often being a dependable figure in their success.

However, with Bernardo turning 31 this summer and his deal expiring in 2026, it could provide the right time to part ways and allow for fresh blood at the Etihad.

The report states that the LaLiga giants are huge admirers of Silva and keen to make a move this window, but won’t pay over the odds given his age and contract scenario.

Whilst on the face of things, offloading a player who’s made 40 appearances this season may seem like a big call, the time has ultimately come for the next generation to stake their claim in the first-team.

Why City should look to sell Bernardo to Real Madrid this summer

There’s no denying that Silva has been a modern-day icon for City, racking up just shy of 400 appearances, and winning a total of 14 major trophies during his stint at the club.

However, despite his huge tally of outings this season, the midfielder, who’s valued at £46m by Football Transfers, has ultimately failed to match his usual high standards, with Guardiola needing to inject more energy into the heart of the side.

This summer could prove the last chance for the hierarchy to gain any money back on their investment, risking losing the “world-class” star, as labelled by Statman Dave, for nothing next January – with other clubs able to agree a pre-contract for his signature.

How Bernardo Silva’s stats compare from the last two years in the PL

Statistics (per 90)

2023/24

2024/25

Games played

33

26

Goals & assists

15

6

Pass accuracy

90%

87%

Chances created

2.3

1.8

Dribble success

65%

52%

Duel success rate

50%

47%

Touches per 90

81

68

Stats via FotMob

Gonzalez has already shown glimpses early on in his City career that he’s capable of being a key member for years to come, with a plethora of other young talent waiting in the wings.

Nico O’Reilly has demonstrated in recent weeks that he’s capable of stepping up to the plate, staking his claim for a regular starting role after notching two assists against Bournemouth – helping the club reach the next stage of the FA Cup.

Whilst the 20-year-old operated at left-back against the Cherries, he’s primarily a central midfielder, with Silva’s potential departure opening the door for him to thrive in his natural position.

As for James McAtee, he’s also waiting to get a consistent run in Guardiola’s side, only being restricted to substitute appearances within the Premier League this season.

However, the 22-year-old has still managed to notch two goals to date, showcasing he has the talent to become a regular should the Portuguese international depart in the coming months.

Whilst losing Silva would be a huge call, it’s one that is needed if the side are to return to the top of the English top division, needing new blood to take the side back to where they belong.

Investment from the hierarchy could help soften the blow, but it’s important that the manager hands the likes of O’Reilly and McAtee the opportunity to fulfil their potential at their boyhood outfit.

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Posts ByBen Gray Apr 3, 2025

With a blazing half-century in Ahmedabad, he shows Kings had picked the right man at the auction

Ashish Pant05-Apr-20242:50

‘Kudos to Shashank Singh for hanging in there all these years’

When Shashank Singh walked out to bat in his ninth IPL innings, Punjab Kings were 70 for 4 in the ninth over of their chase of 200 against Gujarat Titans. The required rate had rocketed to 11.47 and, according to the ESPNcricinfo forecaster, their win probability had plummeted to 4.77%.So, he had no option but to go for it. He had to take down the likes of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mohit Sharma. He had to believe he was the “best in the world”. He did and by the end of it all, his unbeaten 29-ball 61 took Kings to an unlikely three-wicket win in Ahmedabad.Related

• Shashank's redemption: from toiling on Mumbai's maidans to turning heads at the IPL

• Which IPL team has made the best use of the Impact Player rule?

• Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma make Punjab kings of Gujarat

Shashank will undoubtedly grab the headlines after handing Kings their second win of the season and their first on the road. But approximately three-and-a-half months ago, he had become the talking point for a different reason altogether. A reason beyond his control.On December 19, 2023, Punjab Kings successfully bid for a “Shashank Singh” during the accelerated round at the auction. Hammer down, bid sealed. Minutes later the team owners seemed to suggest to the auctioneer Mallika Sagar that this wasn’t the player they were looking for. But Sagar had moved to the next player by then, so the bid stayed.Kings later put down the confusion to a case of mistaken identity clarifying that the onboarded player was always on their targeted list. Shashank also put a statement on his social media account saying, “It’s All Cool … Thank you for trusting on me!!!!” But the “accidental signing” memes had already made their way to the internet.

It’s All Cool … Thank you for Trusting on me!!!! https://t.co/Gs9hOnRspa

— shashank singh (@shashank2191) December 20, 2023