All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur have seen a shift in their recruitment strategy over the last few years – something which Fabio Paratici no doubt was at the centre of.

The Italian spent two years at the club between 2021 and 2023, subsequently turning the hierarchy’s attention to investing in younger talents for the immediate and long-term future.

In the summer of 2022 alone, the 53-year-old completed deals for full-backs Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence – that’s despite the latter being unwanted by then-boss Antonio Conte.

However, in the present day, both players have become key members of Thomas Frank’s first-team squad, showcasing the impressive work done in the transfer market.

The aforementioned duo will be hoping they achieve more sustained success than one player who demonstrated glimpses of quality during the early days of his career in North London.

The real reason behind Dele’s decline at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2015, Spurs forked out a reported £5m for the signature of attacking midfielder Dele – with many supporters unaware of the youngster.

At just 19, many anticipated the Englishman to join the youth setup in North London, but he would make himself an immediate fan-favourite as a result of his tremendous displays.

For the first three years of his stint at the Lilywhites, he was a regular starter – racking up 146 appearances, scoring on 46 occasions and laying on 35 assists for his teammates.

Such form saw Dele claim the PFA Young Player of the Year two years in a row, becoming just one of five players to achieve such a feat in the history of the Premier League.

However, in a remarkable interview with Gary Neville back in the summer of 2023, the former Lilywhites star opened up on his trauma from his younger years, which no doubt had an effect on his footballing career.

He was often called into question by José Mourinho for his attitude and laziness, also suffering numerous injuries, which plagued his progress in North London.

Dele suffered 11 separate injury setbacks in his seven-year period in North London, with such issues preventing his progress and seeing him miss 44 first-team matches.

His time with the Lilywhites came to a disappointing end back in January 2022, subsequently joining Everton on a free transfer – an unthinkable ending given his previous form.

The Spurs star who’s their best teenage star since Dele

Many supporters questioned Dele’s attitude during his time with Spurs, but after his courage to speak out about his mental health struggles, it’s safe to say many fans empathise with the midfielder.

Such issues have taken a huge toll on his professional career, with the former Lilywhites star now without a club at the age of 29 after leaving Como this summer.

However, there’s no denying he will forever be remembered by the fans for his countless moments of magic that gave everyone involved with the football club memories to last a lifetime.

From Goal of the Season strikes against Crystal Palace, to his memorable double against Chelsea that ended the Blues’ unbeaten 2016/17 record at White Hart Lane.

Such levels are rarely seen from such a young talent, but there’s current generation of supporters has their next remarkable youngster in the form of Lucas Bergvall.

Like Dele, he joined the Lilywhites for less than £10m, arriving as an unknown quantity to the majority of supporters after previously plying his trade for Djurgarden.

However, the Swedish youngster has rapidly developed into one of the club’s best players, a simply remarkable feat given he’s still just 19 years of age.

Despite his tender age, the midfielder has already racked up 56 appearances for the first-team and has subsequently featured in all but one game since Frank took the reins.

Bergvall even netted his first Premier League goal in the win over West Ham United last month, leading to head of scouting Rob Mackenzie labelling him as “a genuine generational talent”.

His underlying stats from 2025/26 highlight that the praise is certainly warranted, with the teenager completing 70% of the dribbles he’s attempted to date, whilst also ranking in the top 12% of all players in the league for assists registered.

However, out of possession, the Swede has been just as impressive, winning 2.6 tackles per 90 and coming out on top in a total of 5.5 duels per 90 – stats which make him the perfect box-to-box option.

Games played

7

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

84%

Dribble success

70%

Tackles won

2.6

Duels won

5.5

Recoveries made

3.8

Shots taken

1.2

Frank and Co will desperately be hoping Bergvall can continue on his current trajectory in North London, with the youngster having all the tools to be a key member of the squad in their hunt for added silverware.

There’s little doubt that he’s the best teenage star they’ve had on their hands since Dele’s emergence, but everyone will be hoping that the end to his story with the Lilywhites is a happier one.

Not Simons: Spurs flop is becoming their biggest waste since Ndombele

One Tottenham Hotspur player is rapidly struggling to match the fee paid for his signature in recent times.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 21, 2025

Sunderland have finally confirmed another new signing this summer, as Republic of Ireland international Alan Browne joins up with Regis Le Bris' group ahead of the forthcoming Championship campaign.

The 29-year-old has bags of experience at the level, having been a loyal servant to former employers Preston North End for a staggering decade, with a fresh new challenge now coming his way.

This could be an ingenious free agent swoop, as Sunderland were crying out for more seasoned heads last season when the wheels started to come off, with another second-tier veteran reportedly following Browne in through the door.

Sunderland hold talks with EFL star

According to a report by the Northern Echo earlier this week, alongside previously being in talks with their new Irish recruit before he officially signed on the dotted line, Sunderland have also held conversations with former Sheffield United man Oliver Norwood over a summer switch to the Stadium of Light.

It's stated in the article that the Le Bris was keen on adding calm and experienced heads to the dressing room this transfer window, with Norwood able to offer that in spades, alongside the ex-Preston midfielder.

It has been reported that Sunderland's interest might have cooled down on Norwood after the capture of Browne however – according to football journalist Michael Graham – but the new French boss wouldn't turn his nose up at the prospect of having two second-tier experts at his disposal if possible.

When still on the books at Bramall Lane, Norwood would oversee two promotions up to the Premier League, with a mind-boggling four on his career resume overall.

With the Northern Irishman's knowledge of the division evident, signing the 33-year-old could prove to be another cheap masterstroke on the end of the Black Cats, as the pair could strike up a fantastic partnership to steer a youthful Sunderland side back to the top positions in the league.

What Norwood and Browne can offer Sunderland

As can be seen with this stylish finish from Norwood back in 2018, the ageing midfielder can offer lots all over the pitch for his new employers if signed, whether that be racing forward to join in with attacks or helping out with defensive duties.

Amassing a ridiculous 381 Championship appearances to date, with 25 goals and 48 assists managed along the way, it's almost a certainty that the former Blades man will be a reliable and dependable figure that Le Bris can rely upon in moments of deep crisis or tension.

Player

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

Norwood

381

25

48

Browne

346

39

22

Browne has accumulated similarly impressive numbers across his career, as can be seen looking at the table above, with all of those coming donning a Preston jersey.

The 29-year-old will quickly need to grow accustomed to his new surroundings, therefore, with Le Bris no doubt a fan of Browne's adaptability across the midfield spots too, as the Republic of Ireland international can play in an attacking midfield role or as a defensive option when needed.

It was from the attacking midfield spot last season where the ex-Preston number eight wreaked most of his havoc though, helping himself to four goals and four assists from league action.

Browne could act as an experienced head for Bellingham to lean off of subsequently, with Norwood – who has been dubbed the "finished article" in the division by former Blade, Carl Asaba – also pushing the likes of Dan Neil and Pierre Ekwah as a utility figure in a more holding role.

Sunderland fans will be encouraged by the players that look to be joining the building ahead of next season, praying that everything clicks into place and Le Bris can push the Black Cats back into the promotion reckoning.

Sunderland have a perfect Bellingham rival emerging in the academy

Regis Le Bris could call upon this Sunderland youngster to compete with Jobe Bellingham next season.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 10, 2024

Aston Villa are among a handful of Premier League clubs keeping an eye on an exciting Championship player, according to a new report.

The Villans play their second Champions League game of the season on Wednesday evening as they welcome Bayern Munich to Villa Park, but heading into the game there has been a bit of transfer news that could occur in 2025.

Emery benches Digne in 2 changes for predicted Aston Villa lineup v Bayern

Aston Villa will be nervously preparing for their Champions League showdown versus Bayern Munich.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 2, 2024 Aston Villa transfer news

Unai Emery’s side were very busy during the summer, as they put together a squad that could compete in the league once again as well as in Europe. It has been a good start to the campaign for the Midlands side, but it appears that they could have their eye on more transfer business in 2025.

Villa are said to be keeping a close eye on Atletico Madrid player Samuel Lino, as Emery is keen to improve his options on the left-hand side of his team. The club’s sporting director, Monchi, has been keeping an eye on the player ever since he joined the La Liga side in 2022, and it now seems they are readying their move.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are also looking to improve their forward line, as they are interested in signing Valencia striker Hugo Duro. They have been left impressed by Duro’s performances in Spain, and are keen to add him to their squad in the near future. Interest in Duro comes as there are still concerns about the future of Jhon Duran despite his excellent form in front of goal.

Aston Villa send scouts to watch two Boro stars

According to TBR Football, Aston Villa had scouts in place to watch Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney and Rav van den Berg against West Brom at The Hawthorns on Tuesday evening. The representatives from Villa were there to look at both West Brom and Boro, but they looked closely at Hackney in particular, who has been very impressive in the Championship this season.

Hackney, who has been labelled as “immense” by his manager Michael Carrick, scored the only goal on Tuesday, and it would be no surprise to see him turning out in the top flight next season. It appears that his form has caught the attention of Villa, who were joined by scouts from Nottingham Forest and Wolves.

Van den Berg meanwhile joined Boro in the summer of 2023, and was an important performer for them last season. The defender has missed the last few games through injury, but made his third start in the league on Tuesday as Boro picked up a huge result.

Rav van den Berg

Hayden Hackney

Apps

43

77

Goals

1

7

Assists

0

6

He may be someone that Villa look to bring in as a long-term replacement for Diego Carlos, who put in a struggling performance against Ipswich Town and hasn’t really nailed down a place during his time at Villa Park.

It has been an incredibly quiet transfer window for Arsenal this summer, especially compared to the last two years.

So far, the only genuine addition to the first team has been Riccardo Calafiori, and while Mikel Merino's move to the club is supposedly getting closer, it has felt 'close' for almost a month now.

What makes this more of a problem is that fans can see other teams strengthening, be it Tottenham Hotspur's capture of Dominic Solanke, Liverpool's move for Martin Zubimendi, or even Chelsea's surprise move to sign Pedro Neto, who was touted for a move to the Emirates several times over the last few months.

Now, while missing out on Neto is far from ideal, fans can take some solace in the fact that the club already has a player better than him in that position, and he is worth millions more.

The latest on Pedro Neto

Yes, on Friday afternoon, The Athletic's David Ornstein confirmed that Chelsea had reached an agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers for their star winger Neto.

According to Ornstein, the Blues will pay the Old Gold a fee of €60m plus €3m of add-ons, which converts to a total package of around £54m, which was later confirmed by Sky Sports News and BBC Sport.

It's an undeniably sizable fee for a player who has missed 100 games over the last three campaigns, but in the 24 appearances he did make last season, he scored three goals and provided 11 assists, so the talent is obviously there.

It's a surprising move, though, as, over the last few weeks, the two clubs most heavily linked with the Portuguese international have been Arsenal and their North London rivals, Spurs.

There is sure to be some level of disappointment among Arsenal fans who were excited by Neto's quality, but this is one transfer they shouldn't worry too much about missing out on, as they already have a far more valuable option in that area of the pitch.

Bukayo Saka's valuation in 2024

Yes, the player in question is Hale End superstar Bukayo Saka, who, according to Transfermarkt, is worth a whopping €140m, which is about £120m, or a massive £66m more than Neto.

Having a player worth this much is brilliant for a club regardless of how much they spent to sign them, but considering the Englishman came up through the academy and hasn't cost the club a penny in terms of a transfer fee, it's astounding.

Moreover, it's a totally justified valuation as well, as for years now, the "incredible" winger, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has been the star of the show at the Emirates.

Appearances

226

Minutes

17401'

Goals

58

Assists

53

Goal Involvements per Match

0.49

Minutes per Goal Involvement

156'

For example, despite still being just 22 years old, he has made 226 senior appearances for the North Londoners, in which he's scored 58 goals and provided 53 assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 2.03 games.

However, he took another step forward last season, as in just 47 matches for Arteta's side, he scored 20 goals and provided 14 assists, meaning he produced a goal involvement on average every 1.38 games, which is significantly more impressive than Neto's average of one every 1.71 games last season.

Moreover, unlike the new Chelsea man, the Ealing-born talisman has a relatively clean bill of health, having only missed 15 games for club and country across his entire career, compared to a staggering 126 for the Portuguese international.

Ultimately, Arsenal do need to sign a quality backup for Saka this summer, but given the price and his horrific injury record, they probably made the right call by not going for Neto.

Arsenal can finally axe Zinchenko by signing the "best LB in the world"

The incredible talent would be a game-changer for the Gunners.

4 ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 9, 2024

Arsenal are keen to sign a Premier League winner this summer as their hunt for attacking reinforcements heats up, according to one recent report.

Arsenal waiting on departures for statement signing

Like an overflowing nightclub, it seems clear that Mikel Arteta's side are now operating on a one-in, one-out policy ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.

Riccardo Calafiori's arrival has been the only major piece of business in north London so far this summer, with three other deals including two young goalkeepers and the anticipated permanent move for David Raya following his loan spell in the 2023-24 season.

Much of that has been down to sales; the Gunners parted ways with academy talent Emile Smith Rowe in a deal worth £34m last week, but that was their first sale of the summer with five more players leaving either on loan or for free.

As a consequence of Smith Rowe's exit, Mikel Merino's arrival from Real Sociedad, ostensibly to play in the same midfield role, has accelerated with personal terms having been agreed for the EURO 2024 winner.

The same is likely to happen in their frontline, with both Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson free to leave this summer should their valuations be met. Arsenal are believed to be holding out for £30m to part ways with Nketiah, while Nelson is attracting attention from across the Premier League as he seeks his own new challenge away from north London, just 12 months on from penning a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.

Should they depart, the Gunners are eyeing up a former Premier League winner to replace them.

Arsenal target Premier League striker

That comes as reports link Arsenal with a surprise move for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, with the English striker having enjoyed an excellent 2023-24 season with the Cherries.

Solanke still has three years left to run on his £70,000 a week deal at the Vitality Stadium, but has also been linked with a move to north London rivals Tottenham as clubs look to prise him away from the south coast.

The 26-year-old was part of Chelsea's Premier League title-winning squad in 2016/17 and has since forged a career for himself at Bournemouth, and found the net on 19 occasions last season, his best-ever Premier League return.

Dominic Solanke's impressive form at Bournemouth

Season

Goals

2023-24

19

2022-23

6

2021-22 (Championship)

29

Now, Caught offside claim that Arsenal "have turned their attention" to Solanke after refusing to pay the asking price for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, with a deal for the Swede now considered "very unlikely".

They add that Bournemouth do not want to sell the striker this summer, but that his contract on the south coast "contains a £65m release clause" which can be activated by any of the "big six" Premier League sides.

Edu could re-sign £197,000-per-week ex-Arsenal star to replace 26-year-old

The Gunners may look to a former hero.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 3, 2024

It means that Solanke could end up being a far cheaper option than the likes of Gyokeres or Victor Osimhen, who the Gunners have also been linked with, while Solanke is also "believed to be open" to the idea of leaving the Vitality Stadium this summer.

Is he the striker Arsenal should be looking to sign in the final weeks of the window?

Chelsea managed their second win in a row under Enzo Maresca, beating West Ham 3-0 at the London Stadium, winning for the first time there since 2021.

Maresca’s men kept their second clean sheet in consecutive games too. After struggling to keep the ball out of the net last campaign, this will be a very welcome sight for Chelsea fans, as the likes of Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella continue to build consistency.

Nicolas Jackson scored a first-half brace to put the Blues 2-0 up at half-time, before also setting up Cole Palmer just minutes after the break, giving Chelsea a 3-0 lead and a comfortable rest of the afternoon.

Jackson & Palmer's performance in numbers

Jackson has started the season in red-hot form, scoring four goals in his opening five Premier League games, and also providing two assists for the Blues.

Palmer, on the other hand, has started the new campaign as more of a playmaker for Maresca’s side, but that hasn’t stopped him from grabbing two goals to go along with his four assists.

Both players provided exquisite finishes, with Jackson applying a “trivela” (outside the foot) finish for his second goal, and Palmer smashing one in off the upright, for Chelsea’s third.

Alongside his three goal contributions, Jackson also made two key passes, had two big chances created, and had two shots blocked. Meanwhile, Palmer made one key pass, completed 2/3 long balls, created one big chance, and won 6/8 of his ground duels.

But despite these two Chelsea stars’ excellent performances, there is another man who was as important, if not even more important.

Levi Colwill's game in numbers

Colwill put in another formidable performance in central defence, scoring an excellent 8/10 rating from GOAL. The defender made a whopping eight clearances, won 50% of his aerials duels, completed one key pass, two of three long balls, and managed an 89% pass accuracy.

To rubberstamp the defender’s important, the England international had 74 touches in the game, which is more than Jackson (30), and Palmer (31) combined.

Colwill is evidently pivotal for Maresca’s side, especially when it comes to breaking the lines with his passing, often kickstarting Chelsea’s attacks with incisive passes into the midfield.

Progressive Carries

0.60

Progressive Passes

4.40

Passes Attempted

71.0

Pass Completion %

92.1%

Passes into Final Third

4.40

Tackles

0.60

Blocks

1.40

Interceptions

1.11

Aerials Won

2.20

Often averaging the most touches for Chelsea, and orchestrating play from the back, Colwill makes 4.40 progressive passes per 90. This is a key feature in his game, and something that is very important to the new Blues boss, as he looks to maintain possession, looking for the right opening before firing a pass into the midfield, or even directly into the forward line.

Colwill’s passing ability is arguably his best quality, with a limitless range, and an array of techniques, showcasing his quality on the ball. But the 21-year-old is also imperious at the back, averaging 2.20 aerials won per 90, and 1.11 interceptions.

Colwill has had a superb start to the season and is becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet for Maresca’s Chelsea side, as the Blues’ defensive record continues to improve.

Forget Jackson: 9/10 star just had one of his best games for Chelsea

He was as good as Nicolas Jackson against West Ham…

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 21, 2024

Arsenal were a tour de force in the Premier League last season, and while they couldn't quite dethrone Manchester City, they were comfortably the second-best team in the competition.

From Kai Havertz at the top of the pitch to David Raya in between the sticks, Mikel Arteta's squad was full of stars with a genuine claim to being the player of the season, and one who really kicked on was Ben White.

The Englishman was an ever-present in the team and won the Player of the Month Award in March, but based on recent reports, he could be in for a fight next season, as the latest name touted for a move to the Emirates is an incredibly impressive defender.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Gerard Romero (via Caught Offside), Arsenal are interested in Barcelona star Jules Kounde and have been in contact with the Blaugrana about the player.

The bad news for the Gunners is that the Catalans do not want to sell the talented defender lest they are made a seriously significant offer.

However, it is still early in the transfer window and with the North Londoners clearly keen on the Frenchman, this might be a transfer worth working on, even if it could impact White's place in the team.

How Kounde compares to White

Now, like White, Kounde is a versatile defender who can play as either a centre-back or a right-back, but with William Saliba and Gabriel firmly established at the heart of the Gunners' best-in-class back four, he'd likely come in as competition on the right.

So, how does he compare to the Englishman?

Well, from a pure output perspective, the Arsenal man comes out ahead. In his 51 appearances last season, he scored four goals and provided five assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 5.66 matches, which for a right-back isn't half bad.

In contrast, the "sensational" Frenchman, as dubbed by analyst Marcus Bring, scored two goals and provided four assists in 48 appearances in 2023/24, which equates to a less impressive average of a goal involvement every eight games.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Can the former Sevilla ace even things up with what's going on under the hood? In short, yes, yes, he can.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.12

0.15

Progressive Passes

6.87

5.88

Progressive Carries

1.74

1.21

Shots

0.66

0.51

Shots on Target

0.22

0.18

Passing Accuracy

89.5

84.3

Live Passes

74.0

57.2

Shot-Creating Actions

1.79

2.50

Goal-Creating Actions

0.22

0.22

Tackles

1.19

1.38

Tackles Won

0.81

0.75

Interceptions

0.95

0.97

Clearances

2.86

2.11

Successful Take-Ons

0.52

0.29

Ball Recoveries

4.83

3.51

Aerial Duels Won

2.31

1.09

According to FBref, the 25-year-old, whom former manager Xavi dubbed "one of the best defenders in the world," comes out ahead in most metrics, including progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, passing accuracy, live passes, tackles won, clearances, successful take-ons, ball recoveries, and aerial duels won, all per 90.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion ace does edge it in metrics like non-penalty expected goals and assists, shot-creating actions, tackles and interceptions per 90, but that is about it.

Arsenal lead race for "magic" £50m Martinelli rival

The sensational talent could help the Brazilian return to his best or replace him altogether.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 28, 2024

Ultimately, with White producing more goal involvements and Kounde having the better underlying numbers, it would be fascinating to see which one would come out on top in a battle for the right-back position at the Emirates, and while he may cost a significant sum, this seems like a transfer worth pursuing for the Gunners.

Celtic will once again have to worry about whether or not they will be able to keep hold of their top performers during the summer transfer window.

The Scottish giants have cashed in on many of their key players over the years; including the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama, Odsonne Edouard, Moussa Dembele, and Kieran Tierney, among others.

Last year, Brendan Rodgers lost electric forward Jota to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad and central defender Carl Starfelt to Spanish side Celta Vigo.

The Northern Irish head coach is now at risk of seeing another Hoops sensation move on from Parkhead with speculation over the future of his star midfielder.

Celtic place new price tag on midfield magician

According to Spanish outlet AS, Celtic value Danish wizard Matt O'Riley at an eye-catching fee of €40m (£33.7m) amid interest from Atletico Madrid.

The report claims that Diego Simeone is looking to bolster his midfield options and the former MK Dons ace has emerged as an option for the LaLiga giants.

It states that Atletico would be prepared to offer €20m (£16.9m) to sign the left-footed talent, which is only half of what the Scottish side are asking for.

AS also relays a report from Danish publication Tipsbladet during the previous transfer window that claimed the Bhoys wanted €29m (£24.5m) for the exciting gem at the time.

This shows that Celtic's valuation of O'Riley has rocketed up by £9.2m over the last few months, which could make it difficult for Atletico to get a deal done – particularly if they are only willing to go as high as £16.9m.

It, therefore, remains to be seen whether or not any team will be prepared to splash out £33.7m to land the English-born playmaker this summer.

Celtic could hit the jackpot with Matt O'Riley

If the 23-year-old maestro is sold for a fee in that region then it would represent the Scottish giants hitting the jackpot on the former League One talent.

Celtic swooped to sign the attacking midfielder from MK Dons, called "immense" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, in January 2022 for a reported fee of £1.5m, which is significantly lower than the kind of price he could go for this summer.

Selling the Denmark international, who was not selected for a place in his country's Euros squad, for £33.7m would be a staggering profit of 2,146% on that initial £1.5m outlay, illustrating how much of a blinder the club played by bringing him to Parkhead in the first place.

Sofascore rating

7.91

1st

Goals

18

1st

Assists

13

1st

Big chances created

14

1st

Key passes per game

2.5

1st

As you can see in the table above, O'Riley was exceptional in the Scottish Premiership for the Bhoys during the 2023/24 campaign with his ability to make a big impact in the final third.

Kelleher signs, £8m star bought: What Rodgers' dream Celtic XI could be

A look at what the Hoops team could be next season if they have a successful summer transfer window.

ByDan Emery Jun 15, 2024

He showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals as the Atletico target led the way for the club in a host of key attacking metrics, which has led to the Hoops placing a new, stunning, valuation on his head.

Chelsea have been extremely busy under their next manager Enzo Maresca this summer, bringing 11 players to the club, letting go of 11 on permanent deals, and allowing 13 to head out on loan.

The Blues have let go of youth talents such as Lewis Hall, Ian Maatsen and Omari Hutchinson this summer, as well as selling one of their best players last season, 24-year-old Conor Gallagher, who came through the Cobham pipeline.

Chelsea have already been known to sell youth talents "too early" in the past, one brilliant example being Jamal Musiala being sold to Bayern Munich for £170k back in 2019.

However, there's another who Boehly and Co may well regret selling so cheaply…

Hudson-Odoi's stats at Chelsea

Callum Hudson-Odoi came through the ranks at Cobham, widely seen as one of the most exciting prospects at the time. Making 55 appearances for the Chelsea U18 and U21 teams, the youngster managed to score 30 goals and provide 17 assists in those games.

The youngster was described as Chelsea's "wonderkid" back in 2018 by reporter Nizaar Kinsella, after scoring and assisting on his first start for the Blues against PAOK and it was during this season (2018/19) that he impressed new manager at the time, Maurizio Sarri, becoming a regular in the squad.

The English talent went on to make 126 senior appearances for the Blues, netting 16 times and providing 21 assists in that time, but it could have been very different if it wasn't for his big injury.

At the back end of the 2018/19 season, Hudson-Odoi suffered an Achilles tendon rupture, keeping him out for 143 days. But at such a young age, it began to seem hard for him to trust his body again, suffering multiple more injuries in the following seasons, including hamstring, hip, ankle and Achilles heel injuries.

Many put his stop-start Chelsea career down to that initial problem, taking the steam out of him before he fully got going, and struggling to ever get back to full fitness and trust in his body.

Fast-forward to 2023, and Hudson-Odoi made the move to Nottingham Forest for just £3m, a measly fee for a player who was still only 22 years of age and had huge upside potential, which had already been previously seen at Chelsea at such a young age.

Hudson Odoi's transfer value in 2024

Hudson-Odoi made 35 appearances for Nottingham Forest last season in all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in 2,252 minutes played.

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?

Since joining The Tricky Trees, the 23-year-old seems to have recaptured his confidence, managing his most minutes in a season of senior football.

Amid interest in the attacker's services this summer, Forest valued him at an eye-catching £40m, which is already 13 times the amount Chelsea sold him for, after just one year on Trentside.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Hudson-Odoi

Mudryk

Goals

0.39

0.29

Assists

0.05

0.11

Progressive Carries

5.39

5.26

Progressive Passes

2.82

2.57

Shots Total

1.84

2.00

Shots on Target

0.97

0.69

Goals/Shot

0.21

0.14

Key Passes

1.75

1.83

Shot-Creating Actions

3.98

3.43

Successful Take-Ons

2.09

2.23

When you compare the numbers from last season of Hudson-Odoi and Mykhailo Mudryk, the Englishman comes out on top in six of the ten metrics we've selected, including goals per 90, progressive passes and carries, shots on target, goals/shot ratio, and shot-creating actions per 90.

Mudryk cost Chelsea around £62m as an initial fee, compared to the £3m Hudson-Odoi was sold for. With the Ukranian's value tumbling to around £29m, as per Transfermarkt, it which makes you wonder if Chelsea should have held onto the Englishman.

Chelsea flop left on a free transfer, now he's outscoring Osimhen

Ex-Chelsea man outscoring their primary striker target

1 ByConnor Holden Sep 3, 2024

With the Championship campaign underway and the end of the transfer window approaching, Queens Park Rangers have reportedly reached an agreement to sign a player who was once dubbed the next Lionel Messi.

QPR transfer news

Those at Loftus Road have enjoyed a solid summer of arrivals so far, with Zan Celar the standout of the six fresh faces welcomed by Marti Cifuentes. The forward has previously played for the likes of AS Roma and may well rediscover his best form at QPR in the Championship. Still just 25 years old, there's still every chance that Zelar proves to be an excellent acquisition.

The forward, delighted with the move, told QPR's official website: “I am very excited. I can’t wait to start, join the team, join my new team-mates, start training and start matches. I think I will adapt well.

His first league start did not go to plan however, as Lucas Andersen's opener against West Brom on Saturday was answered by a clinical hat trick from the Baggies' Josh Maja, leaving the Hoops with nothing to show from their home curtain raiser.

In better news, Cifuentes' attack looks set to be boosted by another impressive arrival. According to Fabrizio Romano, QPR have reached an agreement to sign Karamoko Dembele from Stade Brestois, with the winger set to travel to complete his medical and confirm a deal worth a reported €3m (£2.6m), with add-ons.

Coming through the ranks at Celtic, Dembele was dubbed the next Lionel Messi, before eventually heading for the exit door. Now 21 years old, he finally found his form again on loan at Blackpool last season to earn a move to QPR this summer.

"Fantastic" Dembele is Championship-ready

After finally rediscovering his form in League One for Blackpool last season, Dembele is more than ready to make the step into the Championship and into Cifuentes' side. Dan Bennett of HaytersTV was recently full of praise for the winger, saying that Dembele "can be a fantastic player" if used well in England's second tier.

Throughout a campaign of revival last time out, Dembele managed an impressive eight goals and 13 assists. If he can replicate that in the Championship then QPR's reported deal worth just £2.6m will suddenly look like one of the bargains of the summer throughout English football.

Still just 21 years old, there's plenty more to come from Dembele, starting with this season at QPR as the London club hope for a season away from relegation trouble.