Aston Villa will be heavily linked with Joe Gomez alongside several other central defenders during the upcoming window as a result of missing out on Matthias Ginter, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
The Lowdown: Number one target
In a report published by Football Insider just last week, it was revealed that the 28-year-old German turned down a big-money move to the Midlands and has instead decided to join Freiburg from Borussia Monchengladbach on a free transfer.
As a result, Steven Gerrard is now believed to have made Liverpool’s Gomez the number one target on his wish-list this summer and could be set to make a move for him ahead of the start of next season.
The centre-back still has two years remaining on his current contract with the Merseyside outfit, but after falling down the pecking order to the likes of Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate under Jurgen Klopp, he could be tempted into looking elsewhere when the campaign is over.
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The Latest: Gerrard eyeing up Gomez
After failing to secure the signing of Ginter, Jones now expects there to be plenty of names doing the rounds at Villa Park. He told GiveMeSport: “I honestly think Villa will be linked with loads of centre-backs between now and June.
“Joe Gomez is obviously one that Gerrard has had his eye on for a while now with his contract situation – still possible that Liverpool renew that, though, so he’s waiting to see.”
The Verdict: An ideal candidate
The 41-year-old boss has been playing the pairing of captain Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa at the back for the majority of the season, but after finding themselves sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table, it would seem that Gerrard isn’t too happy with his current options and will look to bolster his back-line before anything else.
The £19.8m-rated Gomez has only played 282 minutes in the top-flight this term, but has still got plenty of experience under his belt, having made a total of 141 senior career appearances for Liverpool, showing that he could add some much-needed assurance to the backline.
Gomez, who was once dubbed a “top-quality” player by his teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, will no doubt already have an established relationship with the Villa manager given both of their previous connections to the Reds, and this could prove to be the deciding factor when it comes down the defender choosing where the next chapter of his career will be.
In other news… a reliable journalist has revealed that Villa are set to hold contract talks with one of their star players at the end of the season.
Manchester United are acting on a mega-money bid that would see Napoli striker Victor Osimhen trade the Serie A for the Premier League if it all comes to fruition.
What’s the word?
That is according to La Repubblica, via Sport Witness, who claim that Manchester United “have already come forward” for the 23-year-old striker “with an offer of €100 million” (£84m).
Corriere dello Sport’s report is along the same lines, with the outlet stating that Manchester United and Arsenal “may make a sacrifice (a big bid) that would make him happy.”
The report states that “Napoli would not falter” if they were “faced with an indecent proposal worth €110 million” (£92.5m), but would “let the deal happen.”
United’s “Lion Heart”
If there is one thing that Manchester United need in the side, it is heart. Previously dubbed a “Lion Heart”, Osimhen brings that in abundance.
The 23-year-old has had a tough upbringing. His mother died when he was still a child and his father lost his job three months later. He sold bottled water in the middle of traffic to help his family get by financially.
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It seems as though his work ethic has transitioned into his play style on the pitch, with Osimhen willing to graft from the front in order to win back possession for his side. The Nigeria international’s match average of 10.31 pressures in the attacking third are elite level, as per FBref, and fit perfectly with the pressing system that Erik ten Hag will seek to employ at the Old Trafford side.
Osimhen is enjoying yet another prosperous season at Napoli in Serie A, with his five times in a row.
With two goals) combined.
With his average of 3.89 shots total per 90, he pips that of Erling Haaland’s average of 3.65, with the Norwegian previously linked.
His threat up top could see him become a talismanic figure for the Red Devils, and with his link as a similar player to Erling Haaland, as per FBref, he could well be United’s version of the Dortmund sensation.
In other news: Man United now plotting bid to sign £70m “machine”, he’s a big upgrade on Martial
Tottenham Hotspur are understood to be keeping a close eye on transfer developments between Tomas Soucek and West Ham at the end of the season, according to Claret & Hugh.
The Lowdown: Breakdown in talks
The 27-year-old has reportedly held talks with David Moyes surrounding his future at the London Stadium, but they are said to have broken down as a result of the midfielder not being happy with the terms offered to him.
Discussions are set to be reopened once the current campaign has ended, with Soucek hoping for a more attractive deal to be placed on the table, considering that he has played 48 matches across all competitions for the Irons this term.
However, if the Czech Republic captain’s relationship with West Ham turns hostile, it would appear that there is plenty of interest in his services elsewhere in the capital in the form of Tottenham.
The Latest: Conte’s a huge fan
In a new article published by West Ham news outlet Claret & Hugh, it is claimed that Spurs manager Antonio Conte is a ‘big admirer’ of Soucek and will be ‘ready to move’ should talks break down again in the coming months.
The report added that a source close to both clubs explained that the Italian ‘has the money’ to attempt a deal for the midfielder and would be ‘hopeful’ that Spurs can land him if a settlement fails to be reached.
The Verdict: Fellaini-esque signing
The £40.5m-rated talisman, who has previously been described as Fellaini-esque after receiving praise from the Belgian himself, currently averages 1.3 shots per league game and is winning 3.8 of his aerial duels per 90 minutes, via WhoScored, showing just how effective he can be at both ends of the pitch.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel hailed Soucek as an “incredible” player earlier this season, so it’s no wonder that Conte is such a huge fan of the 27-year-old.
Despite it being more likely that the £47k-per-week colossus will stay with the Hammers as they are in desperate need of strengthening their midfield options, the possibility of playing football at the highest level in the Champions League in N17 could be too good of an opportunity for him to turn down.
In other news… one Spurs star has admitted that there has been a ‘radical change’ at the club since the arrival of Conte
Newcastle United are reportedly now ‘ready’ to ‘finalise deals’ for three players ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Lowdown: Five signings?
Sky Sports journalist and North East reporter Keith Downie has said that the St. James’ Park faithful will now look to make at least five major signings in the summer.
As well as a permanent deal for Aston Villa left-back Matt Targett, they are also looking at signing a new central defender, playmaking forward, striker and goalkeeper, and could add even more to that list if departures create openings in the squad.
The Latest: Deals in place
Taking to Twitter, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that the Tyneside outfit are now ‘ready to press ahead’ with transfer plans that were ‘set in motion’ in the January window, and will look to ‘finalise deals’ for Targett, Jesse Lingard of Manchester United and Hugo Ekitike of Reims.
Expanding in his article for 90min, the journalist also revealed that they have ‘enquired’ about the possibility of signing Dean Henderson from Manchester United or Bernd Leno of Arsenal, while they are looking at Sevilla’s Diego Carlos and AFC Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly to strengthen the centre of defence.
The Verdict: Exciting
These are exciting times for the Toon Army as their summer transfer plans already seem to be in motion, and it looks as if they could make at least five major signings by the end of the window.
The names that Bailey has mentioned fit into each position reported by Downie and the new owners may not stop there if they can ship out some of the fringe players at the club too.
Nonetheless, with Premier League safety all but guaranteed, they can now look forward to the next stage of the project, and fans should be delighted to see they aren’t hanging around after the naturally rushed nature of the January window.
In other news, find out which ‘world-class’ UEFA Champions League winner NUFC are now eyeing here!
West Ham United have now set their sights on welcoming a Premier League rival to become Nuno Espirito Santo’s first signing at the club, according to reports.
Frankfurt end interest in Fullkrug
It could be a fairly busy January transfer window on all fronts for West Ham as Nuno looks to mark his stamp on the side. The Hammers endured a frustrating summer transfer window and watched on as Graham Potter paid the price. In just under a month, however, they’ve got the chance to make up for lost time.
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That should see a number of reinforcements arrive, but it could also spell the end for a handful of current stars. And one of those likely to leave is Niclas Fullkrug. The towering German has simply never got going at the London Stadium and now finds himself behind the pecking order to Callum Wilson.
He desperately needs a move away, but that move won’t come courtesy of Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite initial interest, the Bundesliga side have reportedly dropped out of the race to sign the former Borussia Dortmund man.
Where that leaves the 32-year-old is the big question. There reportedly remains interest from Italian giants AC Milan and there’s little doubt that a winter sale would be the best outcome for all parties.
In the meantime, the Hammers must look towards the transfer market for reinforcements of their own. Whilst a striker should sit top of their priority list, it is also worth noting that they could do with further competition for Alphonse Areola following Mads Hermansen’s struggles. And that could come courtesy of Jose Sa.
West Ham targeting Jose Sa move
According to Football Insider, West Ham are now targeting a move to sign Sa as Nuno looks to raid his old club in 2026. The goalkeeper was recently dropped by new manager Rob Edwards and could only watch on as his replacement, Sam Johnstone, also struggled between the sticks.
Sa, who is represented by the same agent as Mateus Fernandes, is certainly not short on experience. The 32-year-old has been in the Premier League for the last four years and has maintained his starting place for the most part. As backups go, he would be a solid option for West Ham.
The choice between Sa and Johnstone may be a tad more complicated these days, but it wasn’t so long ago that Gary O’Neil was full of praise for the former, saying in 2024: “There’s no headache, no. Johnstone was injured today. Jose’s trained really well and been excellent. Sam was injured, Jose was excellent and has always been ready. There’s no headache, it’s really clear where we go next.”
The goalkeeper’s arrival wouldn’t steal the biggest headlines at the London Stadium, by any means. Alas, it would solve Nuno’s frustrating Hermansen problem.
Nuno must cash in on West Ham star who's quickly becoming the new Di Canio
Heading into added on time at Fulham, Leeds United looked as if they were going to have to make do with a second successive stalemate in the Premier League.
A point would have likely been taken as well after a valiant defensive display in West London saw Joe Rodon win a commanding five aerial duels, while Karl Darlow in between the sticks stayed alert throughout, with three big saves registered.
Unfortunately, an own-goal right at the death from Gabriel Gudmundsson would hand the Cottagers all three points, as the summer purchase from Lille accidentally placed a header past Darlow – after stopping a Fulham attacker from connecting with a late corner-kick – to break Leeds hearts.
This sucker punch shouldn’t detract too much from the otherwise committed defensive display on Leeds’ travels, but the loss did definitely highlight the lack of cutting edge Daniel Farke’s relegation-threatened side possesses in attack, as another goal-shy performance was served up.
Leeds' poor displays in attack
Since the opening day victory over Everton at Elland Road, Leeds have failed to score a single goal from open play, with that worrying trend continuing away at Marco Silva’s fortunate hosts.
Not even the added presence of new signing Noah Okafor to the starting XI could inspire an improved performance in the forward areas, with the former AC Milan winger failing to hit a single on-target effort at Bernd Leno’s goal, before being hauled off just shy of the 70-minute mark.
Brenden Aaronson did show occasional glimpses of quality down Okafor’s opposing right-hand side, with one big chance unfortunately squandered by the hot-and-cold American, but it was another flat display that will seriously worry Leeds in their hunt for more wins near the foot of the division.
In particular, one underperformer up top at Craven Cottage will have irked Farke to the point where he feels his spot in the first team is no longer concrete, with a huge clash at the bottom of the table coming Leeds’ way next against Wolverhampton Wanderers, demanding a more potent display in the attacking areas.
The "bang average" Leeds star who must now be axed
It’s not as if Fulham blew away the visitors either, with Silva’s men being restricted to just five efforts all afternoon due to a tight-knit Leeds defence routinely keeping them at bay.
However, there is always a possibility that a side will come back into a game if your own finishing is so wasteful, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin endured another frustrating day at the office, leading the line for the away team.
Having missed four big chances on his debut as Leeds were dumped out of the EFL Cup at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday, Calvert-Lewin would have been looking for a swift change of fortunes, lining up for Farke’s men on Saturday. Instead, the ex-Everton marksman would trudge off the pitch after 69 minutes, looking rather dejected by his unmemorable efforts.
Indeed, the 28-year-old’s overall numbers from the 1-0 defeat don’t paint a pretty picture, with Calvert-Lewin giving up the ball every three touches, just one glaring statistic of many that makes for some pretty grim reading.
Minutes played
69
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
15
Shots on target
0
Accurate passes
5/8 (63%)
Total duels won
6/6
Possession lost
5
The brand-new number nine did throw himself about valiantly with all six of his duels won, but it’s clear that Calvert-Lewin is still bereft of confidence in front of goal, with zero shots on target being registered at Leno’s goal, despite his commanding presence in the air.
His passive showing in terms of peppering Leno’s net would even see Sky Sports’ Michael Dawson, when speaking on Gillette Soccer Saturday, state that Calvert-Lewin was “bang average” throughout, with a starting spot now not looking so secure.
Further handed a low 6/10 rating post-match by the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth, who bemoaned Calvert-Lewin ‘needlessly’ finding himself offside throughout the tense affair, it will be interesting to see who the German picks for the crunch clash at Molineux.
With Joel Piroe and Lukas Nmecha also at the former Norwich City’s disposal up top, it could well be that one of those reserve faces gets the nod over the former England international shortly, as Calvert-Lewin has depressingly failed to hit the ground running in West Yorkshire.
£2.5m Leeds player now house-hunting to seal permanent Elland Road exit
The Whites appear set to swiftly offload the man in question.
One of the biggest concerns emerging among the fanbase at Leeds United at the moment appears to be the lack of goal threat in the team in recent games.
The Whites have failed to score a goal from open play in the first four matches of a league season, failing to score in any of their last three games in the division.
Lucas Nmecha’s penalty in the 1-0 win over Everton on the opening day of the 2025/26 campaign is the only league goal that has been scored by the Whites since they won the Championship title.
Leeds scored a whopping 62 goals to avoid relegation in their first season back in the top-flight under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign, with Patrick Bamford’s 17-goal haul standing out as the headliner from that attack.
Daniel Farke has to find a way to platform his attackers in a way that allows them to be as effective as Bamford was that season, because one of his forwards does have the potential to be a big threat in front of goal.
Leeds swooped to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton this summer and one of the reasons why they moved to bring him in was because he is a proven Premier League player.
Why Calvert-Lewin could be the goalscorer Leeds need
Despite his experience in the league, signing the 28-year-old centre-forward was a risky move by the Championship champions because he has not been at his best in front of goal for several years.
Per Understat, Calvert-Lewin only scored three goals from 8.85 xG in the Premier League for the Toffees in the 2024/25 campaign, which led to them deciding to allow him to depart from the club on a free transfer.
The 11-cap England international also missed 21 matches through injury in the 2024/25 and 2023/24 seasons combined, per Transfermarkt. This means that Leeds are banking on being able to help him avoid injuries in a way that he has been unable to do in recent years.
24/25
8.85
3
23/24
13.63
7
22/23
6.50
2
21/22
6.22
5
20/21
18.21
16
19/20
16.11
13
18/19
6.17
6
17/18
5.44
4
16/17
1.25
1
As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin did score an eye-catching 29 goals in the Premier League between the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns for the Toffees, which shows that he does have the capability to score plenty of goals in the top-flight.
It is down to Farke to find a way to get the best out of the striker, though, and down to the player to take his chances when they come to build his own confidence back up.
If Leeds can get Calvert-Lewin firing at his best, then they could have their next version of Bamford from the 2020/21 season to fire them to safety in the Premier League.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
To help the former England international, Farke could revert to the 4-2-3-1 formation that served him so well in the Championship. The Whites scored 95 goals in 46 matches and racked up 100 points with that formation, before switching to a 4-3-3 in the Premier League to provide more stability in midfield.
It seems to have gone too far the other way, though, with the lack of attacking threat in the team at present, which is why the manager must go back to a 4-2-3-1 and unleash Wilfried Gnonto in a lesser-seen role for him to get the best out of Calvert-Lewin.
Why Gnonto could get Calvert-Lewin firing again
The bulk of the Italy U21 international’s appearances for Leeds in the 2024/25 campaign came on the left or the right flank, as he only played centrally in three of his 46 outings in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.
Gnonto has also started this season as a wide option in the 4-3-3 formation, starting the first three matches on the left wing, but he has yet to deliver a shot on target or a ‘big chance’ created.
The move back to a 4-2-3-1 system could help to get the best out of the Italian forward whilst also providing Calvert-Lewin with more support and more creativity around him at the top end of the pitch.
As you can see in the graphic above, Gnonto would slot in behind the striker with Dan James on the right and Noah Okafor on the left flank, which would mean that Leeds have three attackers supporting the forward instead of two wingers and three central midfielders who are not specialist attackers.
The reason why Farke should unleash the Italian youngster, who Statman Dave once described as “electric”, in a central position behind Calvert-Lewin is that his career statistics suggest that he is at his best playing off a number nine.
Right wing (62)
14
10
Second striker (48)
20
7
Left wing (38)
7
4
Attacking midfield (18)
4
1
Right midfield (9)
2
0
Left midfield (7)
0
1
Striker (6)
2
0
As you can see in the table above, Gnonto’s best return of goals and assists combined per appearance in his career is as a second striker, which is a role he could play in a 4-2-3-1 in the hole behind Calvert-Lewin.
The former Zurich star scored nine goals and created ten ‘big chances’ in 26 starts in the Championship last season, per Sofascore, whilst playing as a winger, so imagine what he could produce as a regular starter as a second striker, which appears to get the best out of him.
Gnonto’s ability to score and create goals from central positions could benefit Calvert-Lewin in multiple ways, because the Italian’s goal threat could take some of the pressure off the striker and his creativity could provide the Englishman with the chances he needs to score.
As aforementioned, Calvert-Lewin needs plenty of chances to score and unleashing Gnonto as a second striker as part of a formation change that would improve the team’s attacking set-up could be exactly what Farke needs to do to get him firing.
Leeds messed up selling James & Gnonto upgrade who'd solve Farke's big issues
A star sold by Leeds United last year would solve the club’s current attacking problems as an upgrade on Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.
Liverpool are pushing to make a series of sweeping changes to Arne Slot’s squad nice and early, thus allowing themselves to kick their feet up and bask in the sun after winning the Premier League.
It’s been a terrific season for the Reds, whose dominance in the top flight established a commanding lead before Christmas, which was held confidently across the latter half of the year.
Liverpool fans – Anfield
Only after the Premier League was wrapped up did Liverpool ease their trademark intensity – and by quite a bit at that. Only two points were claimed from a possible 12 to see out the season, with the last taste of victory, a 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur, securing gold with plenty of room to spare.
Slot has been against heavy rotation for the majority of the campaign, but he has dished out the changes over the past month. However, Darwin Nunez was still limited to cameos, last making a league start on Boxing Day.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez
The Uruguayan striker is set to leave the club this summer, and rightly so. Everyone wanted it to work out, but he pales in comparison to his predecessors at number nine.
Liverpool's longing for an elite striker
Nunez has the minerals to be a world-class player, but, frankly, he’s failed to bring it all together and must be sold. Such an argument is certainly reinforced when flicking back over some of the contemporary strikers the Merseysiders have been treated to.
Luis Suarez being chief among them, with the Uruguayan, Nunez’s countryman, only surpassed by Mohamed Salah in terms of efficacy and consistency in front of goal at Liverpool, across the past several decades.
However, would it be fair to say Suarez failed to capture the fanbase’s adoration quite to the same level as Fernando Torres in his prime?
It just might. Torres signed as a Liverpool player in 2007, aged 23. The package was worth £20m, and it was widely accepted that Rafael Benitez had scored the Premier League giants a bona fide bargain.
If Liverpool could sign their next version of the Spanish World Cup winner, they may well be laughing all the way toward a successful Premier League title defence.
And they might just be in the race for such a player.
Liverpool moving to sign new Torres
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Liverpool are firmly in the race for Atletico Madrid centre-forward Julian Alvarez, who left Manchester City to play under Diego Simeone in an £82m deal last summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Liverpool have reportedly ‘sounded out a move’, but Arsenal and Barcelona are also interested, with the Gunners understood to have the lead in the race at this stage.
Los Colchoneros don’t want to sell their talisman, of course, but they would entertain offers that exceed what they paid to City one year ago. He supposedly has a £126m release clause, but this might prove a tad steep.
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez
Why Alvarez could be Slot's own Torres
Liverpool would do anything to have a striker in the same vein as Torres back in the mix, and Alvarez truly could be that man.
This season, the “ridiculous” forward – as he’s been called by Statman Dave – has been a revelation for Atletico Madrid, scoring 29 goals and adding six assists across all competitions, including a seven-goal haul from ten matches in the Champions League.
This newfound level of potency marks progress from his days under Pep Guardiola’s wing, perhaps because he has been upgraded to a berth of greater importance.
River Plate
122
54
31
Manchester City
103
36
19
Atletico Madrid
53
29
6
Argentina
44
12
33
Journalist Roy Nemer even made the bold statement that Alvarez has been “the best forward in the world” this season, with his 29-goal return in Simeone’s Atletico team making a convincing comment on his qualities and indeed capacity to reach even higher in another system.
Slot’s system? Just imagine. Alvarez is sharpening his developing prolific sense at the front of Liverpool’s team, backed up by the likes of Salah and Florian Wirtz, with Bayer Leverkusen receiving an official proposal from the Anfield side on Monday.
There’s a real chance that Slot’s creative capacity would know no bounds with such players threading passes in toward a mobile and dynamic focal point such as Alvarez.
As per FBref, the Argentina star ranks among the top 6% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues this season for all of shot-creating actions, passes attempted and progressive carries, as well as the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 12% for successful take-ons made per 90.
All told, he’s the “complete player”, as described by Marca editor Matias Wodner. And in a way, this suggests he could become Liverpool’s new version of El Nino, especially given that Liverpool would be reeling him in from Atletico Madrid.
When Torres arrived at Liverpool, his prowess was undeniable, but there was clearly room for improvement. This was perfectly enforced. Before leaving contentiously for Chelsea, the iconic striker scored 81 goals and added 19 assists across just 142 fixtures in a Liverpool shirt.
His pace, sharp movements and lethal finishing led one Steven Gerrard to describe him as the “best striker in the world” back in 2009, with something in the Anfield air eliciting the finest form of the Spain star’s career, vindicated upon a high-profile move to Stamford Bridge which stocked Torres’ trophy cabinet but failed to yield the same prolific results.
If Alvarez were to make the move to Merseyside this summer, though, you could envisage a long-term future in Slot’s squad to be sure.
Julian Alvarez for Atletico Madrid.
The 25-year-old has already won the Premier League twice, posting 31 goal involvements across his two campaigns despite only starting 44 matches in total.
He’s the real deal, and with rumours surfacing that Atletico are interested in talking to Liverpool about the potential signing of Nunez, this might be one to keep a close eye on.
He's the new Coutinho: Liverpool set to sign "generational" star very soon
Liverpool are moving quickly to make new signings for Arne Slot’s side.
Sunderland supporters have been seriously put through the wringer by their side in recent memory, with League One football even on the menu back in 2019.
But, all that agony and woe surrounding the Black Cats has been finally lifted courtesy of Regis Le Bris’ heroics from the dug-out, as the Frenchman proudly brings Premier League football action back to the Stadium of Light.
The hope will be that Sunderland’s emotional 2-1 win over Sheffield United will keep Jobe Bellingham around for a little while longer, amidst interest from elite sides such as Borussia Dortmund.
But if that is to be Bellingham’s swansong moment, he delivered yet another classy display for his top-flight-bound side from the middle of the park, alongside a whole host of other standout performers.
Sunderland's best performers vs the Blades
Before looking at the other heroes in Le Bris’ camp, Bellingham stood out once again as a key part of the young and promising Sunderland side.
The in-demand number seven would only misplace six of his 55 passes when offering the Black Cats calm through the middle on such a tense stage, whilst also winning six duels to display more grit and fight than an underperforming Sydie Peck for the Blades.
Bellingham wasn’t the only star who managed to show up for the big occasion, however, as Daniel Ballard put in another imperious display defensively when winning his own sizeable duels count of 11, whilst Eliezer Mayenda also shone when levelling the proceedings as a pacey option up top.
But, the main talking point afterwards was Tommy Watson’s last-minute winner, with the homegrown Wearside product capitalising on a lax pass by Kieffer Moore to fire home a stunning effort to seal Sunderland’s progression back up to the big time.
That was one hell of a parting gift from the 19-year-old hotshot, who is set to join Brighton and Hove Albion this summer for £10m.
Indeed, Watson is perhaps the club’s next Jordan Henderson as he goes on to potentially affirm himself as a Premier League regular with the Seagulls.
Why Watson could be Sunderland's next Henderson
Amazingly, Henderson was only one year older than Watson when his big move to Liverpool occurred.
He never looked back after waving goodbye to his boyhood club either, leading to the now Ajax man going on to make 492 appearances for the Reds, alongside winning 83 England caps.
Therefore, Watson will be aiming to follow in Henderson’s footsteps as an equally talented and promising starlet through the middle – albeit one who unfortunately does their best work away from the Stadium of Light.
After all, from only 24 first-team games to date, the 19-year-old is up to three strikes with the best left till last when breaking Blades hearts. To add context, Henderson would only power home two more efforts himself donning Sunderland red and white, even from 55 more outings.
U18s
40
18
7
U21s
31
13
11
First team
24
3
0
The attacker’s blistering numbers for the Black Cats at both an U18 and U21 level also show off a prodigy ready for the bright lights of the Premier League, albeit now without his hometown side.
Still, everyone associated with Sunderland will be overjoyed that it was one of their own that got them back up to the promised land regardless of his next onward route, with Roker Report writer Andy Tomlinson handing out an 8/10 post-match rating to Watson subsequently.
There will be a concern that Watson is only getting started and will be taken to new heights on the South Coast, much like Henderson managed at Anfield.
But, whatever does happen across Watson’s lengthy career to come, he will always have this moment of magic on his resume that took his boyhood employers back up to the Premier League.
Jobe Bellingham holds positive talks to leave Sunderland before play-off final
Chelsea look certain to enjoy a busy summer transfer window, especially if Enzo Maresca can guide them to the Champions League next season.
While the squad is filled with quality in several areas, a lack of depth, plus a shortage of a truly world-class centre-forward has impacted the Blues at times this term.
The Stamford Bridge side have scored 63 times in the Premier League this term, a tally bettered by the likes of Brentford (ninth) and equalled by Tottenham Hotspur (17th) throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescacelebrates after the match
As such, adding goals to his side will be Maresca’s main priority once the summer transfer window opens in just a couple of weeks.
Chelsea have been linked with their fair share of targets, no doubt about that, but how much will the manager be willing to spend to bolster his first-team squad?
Chelsea’s search for a new striker
One name that is on the list is Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap. Following his club’s relegation from the top flight back into the Championship, his release clause drops down to £30m, which makes him an attractive prospect.
Newcastle United and Manchester United are also keen, but is the talented Englishman a player who could spearhead a potential title challenge? That much remains to be seen.
Another target, and one with a higher ceiling than Delap, is Benjamin Sesko. Chelsea have been routinely linked with a move for the RB Leipzig frontman following his exploits on the continent.
Sesko
Elsewhere, Victor Osimhen remains a target, although he could be an expensive signing should he make the move to London in the summer.
Finally, Alexander Isak is a player who has also been mentioned with regard to a move to the capital. The Newcastle striker is arguably one of the finest players in the top flight, and signing him would signal a major statement of intent.
Isak is approaching the peak years of his career. But if the Blues wish to sign a striker who is just like the Swede, but a few years younger, then they could turn to the Bundesliga.
Chelsea eyeing move for Bundesliga striker
It appears as though Maresca will stop at nothing in order to bring in someone who has a track record for scoring goals.
Transfer Focus
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According to French news outlet RMC Sport, it is claimed that several clubs have made contact with Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike with regard to a potential move.
Chelsea are certainly in the hunt, although they face some stiff competition from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool ahead of the transfer window.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
Due to his strong performances that have led Frankfurt to third place in the Bundesliga, thus securing Champions League qualification, Ekitike is now valued at €100m (£85m), which represents a massive change of fortunes from just 18 months ago.
Back then, he was struggling to make inroads at PSG. Now he is one of the most desirable forwards in Europe.
He has proven his worth in a top-five league. Would a move to Chelsea help him continue his development?
Why Chelsea must sign Hugo Ekitike this summer
Nicolas Jackson has endured a campaign to forget, scoring just 12 goals all season. Marc Guiu is the only other senior centre-forward in the first-team squad and while he netted six goals and showed a lot of promise prior to injury, he isn’t at the level to lead the club’s attack consistently.
Making a move for Ekitike, therefore, is of the utmost importance to Maresca over the next few weeks, that’s for sure.
Analyst Ben Mattinson delivered some high praise on the Frenchman in March this year, saying: “A move in the summer seems inevitable and rightly so, Ekitiké is one of the best strikers out there ready to explode.”
You might say he has already exploded. Throughout the 2024/25 season, Ekitike has scored 22 goals and registered 12 assists in all competitions for Frankfurt.
He ranked sixth in the top flight for goals and assists (23) for the club, while also ranking third for shots per game (3.5) and fifth for big chances missed (16). This last stat is something that will get better with age, as his abilities in the penalty area should improve over the coming years.
Given how well he has performed in the Bundesliga, especially compared to players such as Harry Kane, Ekitike is finally looking like he will fulfil his potential.
The sky is certainly the limit. If he made the move to London, Ekitike could become Maresca’s own version of Isak, especially considering the pair of strikers share similar sorts of qualities.
Why Ekitike could be a younger version of Alexander Isak
According to WhoScored, both Isak and Ekitike like to dribble, while they can count key passes and dribbling as their main strengths. As per FBref, the Newcastle centre-forward is the fifth-most comparable player to the French sensation, across Europe’s top five leagues.
The pair have also registered similar statistics across a range of attacking metrics domestically this season, including goals and assists (23 vs 29), shots on target per 90 (1.55 vs 1.32), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.55 vs 3.07), touches in the opposition penalty area (196 vs 186) and successful take-ons (52 vs 42) for their respective teams.
Metric
Isak
Ekitike
Goals
23
15
Assists
6
8
Shots per game
2.9
3.5
Big chances missed
18
16
Goal conversion percentage
24%
13%
Key passes per game
1.6
1.3
It is evident that the two are extremely similar not only in their playing style but also in their attacking output in 2024/25.
Like Isak, the Frankfurt striker has an insatiable eye for scoring at every possible opportunity. That’s not to say he is selfish, however, as the youngster can also create opportunities for his teammates with ease, evidenced by his 12 assists across the whole season.
Hugo Ekitike for Frankfurt.
He might cost the club around £85m, but as someone who has the potential to get better and better as time goes on, it may turn out to be a wise investment.
Of course, securing a place in the Champions League is imperative. If so, one of the continent’s most in-demand strikers could be on their way to London.
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