All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

In a recent episode of ‘The Beautiful Game Podcast’, Nigel James, the father of Reece James, was speaking about the Chelsea Academy. When quizzed on the biggest talent to emerge from the Cobham production line, he emphatically replied that it was “100%” Callum Hudson-Odoi.

This is glimmering praise, especially when considering the extraordinary quality of his son and the pool of players who began their careers as a Stamford Bridge youth.

However, Hudson-Odoi’s Chelsea career has drifted into irrelevancy and stands at a dangerous standstill. As a result, it has been confirmed by The Athletic that the 22-year-old wants to leave his boyhood club this summer and the Blues are prepared to listen to offers.

The winger feels the time has arrived for the next chapter in his career to find a better chance at regular first-team football. One of the clubs interested in this mercurial prodigy is West Ham, which can provide Hudson-Odoi with a massive opportunity to reinvent his stuttering career.

What’s the latest on Hudson-Odoi to West Ham?

According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, the Hammers are part of a Premier League cohort including Fulham, Nottingham Forest, West Ham, and Crystal Palace, that are interested in the Englishman and have made enquiries over what it may take to sign him.

Hudson Odoi only has one year left on his deal at Chelsea, and it's expected that an offer of around £10m would be enough to tempt the West London hierarchy into the sale.

Would Hudson-Odoi be a good signing for West Ham?

Hudson-Odoi has been at Chelsea since U8s level and has made 126 appearances for the senior team in all competitions.

The 2000-born forward was catapulted into the spotlight in the 2018/19 season by former manager Maurizio Sarri, who placed a huge amount of faith in the star. That year, he made his first start for the club in the Community Shield against Manchester City, then three months later he netted his first goal for the club against PAOK in the Europa League.

In April 2019, Hudson-Odoi made history when he assisted Olivier Giroud in the opening goal in a Premier League victory over Brighton to become the youngest player to assist a goal on his first domestic start, aged just 18 years and 146 days.

When Frank Lampard replaced Sarri, he described the attacker as “world-class”, and when he signed a new five-year deal at Stamford Bridge, he was projected to become Chelsea’s prize asset.

Since this, Hudson-Odoi has failed to find consistency or be regularly relied upon by either Lampard or Thomas Tuchel, though there is still a feeling that he holds that 'world-class' potential within him.

During his last two seasons in the capital, he only started 21 of 76 Premier League games. The German even resorted to starting the player at right-wing back as he continuously slipped down the pecking order.

The technician also had an underwhelming loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen last year, which has left Mauricio Pochettino uninspired and open to his exit.

Nevertheless, there is a spark within Hudson-Odoi. To appear in the Chelsea team at such a young age is an indication of his potential and the array of applause he has amassed from various greats within the game show he could flourish in a different environment.

He ranks within the best 16% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive passes and carries, and could provide pivotal competition for Said Benrahma next term.

The Algerian was the Irons’ top Premier League scorer last season with six goals, but four of them came from the penalty spot, and although he is a wondrously skilful asset, he can be annoyingly anonymous at times.

Indeed, the Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg has described the £55k-per-week man as “underwhelming” and “not worthy of the hype.” Considering he once scored 17 times in one season for Brentford, there is an argument to suggest he's fallen short of the mark.

As such, with David Moyes’ men lined up to compete in Europe again in the upcoming campaign, Hudson-Odoi could be set for far more minutes and has the capability to displace Benrahma.

Rangers are close to completing a deal to bring in Jose Cifuentes, according to Herald Scotland.

Who is Jose Cifuentes?

The midfielder was brought onto the footballing scene at just 16-years-old with Universidad Catolica in Ecuador. Despite being so young, he played five league games for the side and eventually joined CD America on loan to get even more regular football. Having caught the eye there in 2019, he was then poached by current club Los Angeles FC in the MLS.

The North American outfit stumped up a fee of around 2.7 million Euros (or £2.3m) to take him to the States and he has thrived ever since. He's become a frequent starter for the club and even helped them to second place in the standings in the 2022 season. Still only 24-years-old, he now has 123 appearances over the course of his footballing career and has bagged 13 goals with 15 assists along the way – solid stats for a central midfield player.

Having proven his mettle in the USA, Cifuentes could now be given the opportunity to try his luck in Scotland. That's because Rangers are now closing in on a move to bring him to the Scottish Premiership, according to a report from Herald Scotland. It suggests that a deal is pretty imminent for the midfielder, with a deal "expected" to be completed "sooner rather than later".

Is Cifuentes an Ecuador international?

Cifuentes will also add some international experience to the side. The 24-year-old talent has already become a reliable squad member for his national side, having made his debut for Ecuador back in 2019.

He hasn't featured as much as he would probably like – he has just 16 appearances to his name over the course of that four year period – but a move to Rangers could put him on their radar and get him some more caps under his belt. If he can impress on the European stage with the Gers, then that would surely help him to stand out too.

The MLS star then could soon become an official member of the Rangers team – and it seems as though it may only be a matter of when and not if now in regards to a transfer to see him wave America goodbye and say hello to the Scottish league for next season.

Arsenal are reportedly edging towards their first summer signing, as Eredivisie star Jurrien Timber has broken through as an intended target.

Mikel Arteta will aim to bolster his squad this transfer window after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title last season, securing the signing of this talent could prove to be a huge squad upgrade.

What’s the latest on Jurrien Timber to Arsenal?

As recently reported by Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal will ‘push’ on to strike a deal with Ajax over the Netherlands defender.

The journalist claimed that the Dutchman sees the club as an ‘attractive project for his future’, with ‘more to follow’ in terms of negotiation between the two sides.

A report via LondonWorld added that there is ‘confidence’ that a deal will be ‘finalised in the coming days’, with a fee of £35m stated to their understanding.

What could Jurrien Timber offer to Arsenal?

Hailed a “generational superstar” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Arsenal could land themselves one of the best upcoming talents in Europe by swooping the 22-year-old.

Deployed primarily at centre-back, the Dutchman is extremely versatile in his ability to cover the backline, and could act as a significant upgrade to Arteta’s plans to introduce a right-sided inverted full-back.

As reported by journalist Sam Dean, the Gunners had in their plans to recruit a ‘Zinchenko-like’ player, with the Ajax ace fitting the description perfectly in being one of the most effective progressive defenders in the Eredivisie.

His numbers support his plaudits, proving him to be a reliable outlet in defence with an assured 91.6% passing accuracy rate as well as showcasing his desire to be involved in play with an average of 81.65 passes attempted per 90, via FBref.

The 22-year-old’s ability on the ball could be perfect for the ongoing progression of Bukayo Saka, who has thrived this season in playing ahead of Ben White, forming an effective duo down the right side of Arteta’s favoured 11.

In 38 Premier League appearances, the English winger contributed 25 G/A, scoring 14 goals and assisting 11 in a memorable personal campaign, via FBref.

Playing ahead of an offensively competent full-back has unlocked Saka’s freedom going forward, but his numbers could be taken to the next level by switching out White for Timber.

Receiving an average of 14.71 progressive passes per 90 in the league, the 21-year-old ended the season at the top of the charts in this area in his position, showing his threat in getting into advanced positions.

Timber could be the perfect candidate to partner Saka on the right side, as told by his respective league-topping numbers in averaging 8.62 progressive passes per 90, the most of any centre-back in the Eredivisie, via FBref.

Arteta could hand the Utrecht-born gem the keys to unlocking the next stage of the Englishman’s potential in deploying him on the right side, giving him the chance to mirror the success that Zinchenko has seasoned the team with.

Tottenham Hotspur are homing in on their second signing of the summer in Brentford shot-stopper David Raya, with new manager Ange Postecoglou swiftly addressing the glaring weakness of the Spurs squad.

What's the latest on David Raya to Tottenham?

That's according to Fabrizio Romano, speaking to GIVEMESPORT – who has recently provided a pleasing update for Tottenham fans, underlining the increasing desire to sign the 28-year-old this summer.

Romano said: "For David Raya, they are confident. I think when all parties want the same, Brentford have already signed a new goalkeeper, the player wants to go, he's not extending the contract and Tottenham want him. When they all want the same, I think there is a good chance to make the deal happen.”

Bees boss Thomas Frank has previously been adamant that the Spaniard is available for no less than £40m, but there is a sense that with just one year left on his current deal, such a valuation might be whittled down.

Another report from the Telegraph does state that Manchester United are also intrigued by the player's availability, but Postecoglou can rest assured at present with his outfit firmly leading the pursuit.

How good is David Raya?

Veteran Hugo Lloris, who has occupied the No. 1 spot between the sticks since arriving from Lyon for £12m in 2012, still has one year remaining on his current deal but confirmed he wishes to depart this summer, having been at the epicentre of the club's defensive disarray this season.

Having made four errors leading to goal this term – the most in the Premier League – and Spurs having conceded 63 times in the league, it is evident that change is needed, with the 35-year-old, stalwart though he is, at the end of his career in north London.

And in Raya, who has been riding the crest of a wave with the Lilywhites' London rivals, an almighty upgrade would be achieved if the club manage to pull off the signing, with his ball-playing aptitude playing into Postcoglou's favour and his top-class shot-stopping feats good enough to rival any 'keeper across Europe.

Indeed, as per FBref, the two-cap international ranks among the top 8% of peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for save percentage and the top 6% for touches per 90, which illustrates his ability in possession and his superlative strength as a defensive wall, praised as "next level with the ball at his feet" by Dan Bardell.

Such a ball-centric game is no doubt attracting Postecoglou's undivided attention, with the former Celtic manager heralded for his "fast, attacking style of play" upon signing by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

By securing his signature, the Australian manager could emulate Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola's success with goalkeeper Ederson, who has been the glove-sporting centrepiece of the Sky Blues' incredible and illustrious exploits since signing from Benfica for £35m in 2017.

City's Spaniard manager called the 29-year-old Brazilian "the best" goalkeeper in the world with his passing ability, having succeeded with 53% of his long balls in the Premier League this season.

Raya might not be quite that good yet but his ability to play the ball comfortably from the back certainly deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the Man City stopper.

Starting with the perfect foundation to craft his outfit from is imperative for the success of Postecoglou at Tottenham, and by signing the Spanish 'keeper, such success could be realised.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to have moved ahead in the race to sign Leicester City midfielder, James Maddison, with the playmaker looking set to leave his current home this summer.

What's the latest on Maddison to Tottenham?

That's according to journalist Scott Wilson, who revealed that the Lilywhites have nudged in front of Newcastle United in the battle to land the 26-year-old, with the England international said to favour a move to north London ahead of making the switch to St James' Park.

Writing on Twitter on Monday, the transfer insider stated: "Tottenham ahead of #NUFC in the battle to sign James Maddison – with the Leicester midfielder preferring a move to London to a switch to the North-East. Suspect things might move fairly quickly once tonight's England game is out of the way…"

In his attached piece for the Northern Echo, Wilson went on to add that Spurs are seemingly ready to offer a more 'lucrative' salary in order to tempt the Coventry-born gem into making a move, with the player set to cost in the region of £50m with only 12 months left on his current contract.

Would Maddison be a good signing for Tottenham?

Despite the overall disappointment of slipping to relegation at the King Power Stadium, Maddison did enjoy a standout 2022/23 campaign on an individual basis after chipping in with ten goals and nine assists in just 30 Premier League games, taking his total tally for the Foxes to 96 goal involvements in only 203 outings across all fronts.

While the highly-rated "baller" – as described by The Athletic's Carl Anka – is likely to operate in an attacking midfield role in Ange Postecoglou's preferred 4-3-3 formation at N17, the £110k-per-week man has also been utilised in a wide berth in recent times, scoring three goals and registering four assists in seven outings as a right winger last season, as per Transfermarkt.

The former Norwich City man's quality on the flanks is also illustrated by his statistical likeness to his compatriot, Bukayo Saka, as he boasts an 89.4% similarity to the Arsenal wizard – according to Opta's Player Radars – with that seemingly making the 21-year-old the closest match to the Leicester ace.

That comparison can be seen by the fact that the latter man ranks in the top 4% for goals, while Saka ranks in the top 3% in that regard, with the pair also alike due to their creative quality, as Maddison ranks in the top 6% for chances created, while the Gunners dynamo ranks in the top 12% for that same metric – as per Opta.

That likeness to Saka is particularly noteworthy amid the youngster's recent standout display for the Three Lions against North Macedonia on Monday evening, with the fleet-footed gem bagging a hat-trick in that thumping 7-0 win at Old Trafford.

Such a stellar performance followed what was a largely standout season for the 5 foot 10 speedster as he registered 14 goals and 11 assists in the top flight as part of Mikel Arteta's ultimately failed title challenge, having been lauded as "exceptional" by national team boss, Gareth Southgate.

For Postecoglou to be able to land his own version of Saka with the signing of Maddison could prove to be a particularly special piece of business, with the hope being that the three-cap menace can prove just as influential in north London as his international colleague.

Newcastle United have made agent contact to enquire about a summer deal to bring Inter Milan star Marcelo Brozovic to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Marcelo Brozovic?

Brozovic is a midfielder who currently plays his football at the San Siro Stadium having moved there permanently following a successful loan spell from Dinamo Zagreb back in 2016, and across both spells, he’s made a total of 330 appearances to date.

The Croatia international still has another three years to run on his contract in Italy, but having made just 19 Serie A starts from 38 games last season, he’s fallen significantly down the pecking order under Simone Inzaghi.

Furthermore, the Croatian veteran reportedly feels like he’s not as much of an integral member of the squad as he once used to be so he could be wanting to make a fresh start during this window, and should that be the case, he’s already got an admirer in Eddie Howe at St. James’ Park.

Are Newcastle signing Brozovic?

According to Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Newcastle have "sent signals through intermediaries" to enquire about a potential summer deal for Brozovic. The Magpies wanted to make indirect "contact" to "test the transfer waters", though at this stage, it appears that the midfielder "could be heading" for Saudi Arabia. Inter Milan have "denied" rumours that their talisman is in talks to complete that particular switch, but the player is believed to be "open to a lot of things".

Could Brozovic be a good addition for Howe?

Newcastle will be aware that Brozovic is leaving his prime being 30 years old already, so offering him a short-term deal would probably be the best outcome, but considering the hugely positive impact he can still have, the defensive midfielder would be a top-class recruit for PIF.

The Epic Team client, who can play with both feet equally, was averaging 1.3 tackles per league game last season and he’s calm and composed in possession having recorded an 89.6% pass success rate, which was higher than any of the players already in the northeast. That suggests that he’d be an upgrade on the options that the boss already has available to him, or at least offer some experience to the rising stars in the current midfield ranks.

Inter Milan’s £183k-per-week earner also got involved in the final third having posted eight goal contributions (five assists and three goals) in 28 Serie A outings which has previously seen him dubbed “irreplaceable” by former professional Gianfranco Matteoli, so it would be a massive coup should he put pen to paper in the weeks ahead.

Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has now shared a ‘hopeful’ Tottenham Hotspur transfer update for supporters.

The Lowdown: Spurs set for busy summer…

Already bringing in Croatia footballing legend Ivan Perisic on a Bosman deal, Spurs are showing real statements of intent so far as they aim to back manager Antonio Conte.

The Lilywhites’ recently announced a £150 million equity increase which, according to reliable reports, will be used to reinforce the Italian’s options ahead of his first full Premier League season in charge.

Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni, Brentford big name Christian Eriksen and Man City striker Gabriel Jesus are just some of the names on Conte and transfer chief Fabio Paratici’s radar.

In what could be a real summer of change, Bridge of Sky Sports has now shared a ‘hopeful’ update after Spurs completed a deal for Perisic.

The Latest: Bridge shares ‘hopeful’ Spurs transfer update…

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Writing on Twitter in the last 48 hours, in reply to a supporter who asked if a right-wing-back and centre-half were next through the door, he explained:

“What I can say now is the club wouldn’t target anyone they thought wouldn’t join the club. That’s why I’m hopeful. I’ve just had to remind myself it’s May 31st.”

That statement is following on from a previous message where he claimed Tottenham want two more additions over the ‘next few weeks’.

The Verdict: Promising?

Tottenham, based off these messages from Bridge, appear to be getting a fair bit of their business done early and are aiming to fulfil Conte’s desires.

That alone is very promising as the club steer away from chairman Daniel Levy’s age-old tactic of doing deals late in the window to pressure clubs into quick-fire cheap sales.

Indeed, it’s safe to say this summer could be the most exciting one at Spurs for some time, given how long supporters have grown frustrated by Levy’s tactics.

In other news: £50 million Tottenham target drops teasing four-word transfer hint for Conte…find out more here.

Frank Lampard is reportedly plotting a move for Barcelona star Memphis Depay in order to bolster Everton’s attacking options ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

According to reports from Spanish outlet Sport, the Toffees are among the clubs who are interested in the 28-year-old, with Arsenal and Newcastle United also keen on securing the services of the Dutchman.

His contract expires at the end of next season, and Lampard could be tempted to lure him to Everton as part of a possible summer rebuild.

However, valued at £40.5m by Transfermarkt and with a wage of £158k-p/w, Depay won’t come cheap.

Depay would be a great coup for Everton

Everton narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League with a stunning 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace on Thursday, but Lampard won’t want to be in that position again, and his squad could be in need of an overhaul during the summer.

Signing Depay would be a solid piece of business, with his first season in Spain seeing him score 13 goals in 37 appearances despite Barcelona experiencing some considerable struggles during the campaign.

With Richarlison (11) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (five) struggling for goals this season in comparison to 2020/21, it’s clear that a new centre-forward is needed to improve the Toffees’ attack for next term.

Over the course of the 2021/22 season, Depay has generated more shot-creating actions (76) in La Liga than both Richarlison (62) and Calvert-Lewin (26) in the English top flight. The Dutchman is also effective from wide areas, putting in 61 crosses, with the Everton duo only managing 31 between them.

This vast skill set would no doubt please Lampard, and with former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman describing Depay as a “joy to watch”, Everton could do a lot worse than bringing the former Manchester United forward back to the Premier League.

AND in other news, Everton handed huge injury lift as early Arsenal team news emerges

There was a period of time when the mere thought of dropping Mateusz Klich from the Leeds United team was unheard of.

Axing him from the starting XI would have sent shockwaves around Elland Road and it’s clear to see why.

The Poland international was a dedicated and influential figure, one that typified Marcelo Bielsa’s brand of football.

Klich could do it all; defend fiercely but also provide a spark in the final third.

At one stage, he’d started 92 consecutive matches under Bielsa but the brutal cutthroat nature of the Premier League has gobbled him up and spat him back out for the media and supporters to tuck into their own feast of criticism.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title=”Read the latest Leeds United news and rumours!”]

The 31-year-old stands proud at the moment as one of the best players to grace Leeds in recent memory. He is a promotion-winning midfielder and has played for the Whites on 176 occasions, scoring 22 times in the process.

His partnership with Pablo Hernandez was a sight to behold in the second tier and it’s remarkable he even had the chance to establish that connection, let alone become a Premier League regular.

Bought to the club in 2017 as Thomas Christensen’s first signing, he was soon exiled on a temporary basis.

Yet, enter Bielsa, a man who not only transformed Leeds but rescued the career of Klich, a battling technician who was in danger of throwing away his prime years.

The Pole was nearly out the door until a meeting between him and Leeds’ former manager changed things.

Sadly, five Premier League goals later and his career is diminishing again. Many at LS11 can be accused of underperforming this term but Klich is surely one of the chief suspects.

Dubbed “non-existent” by Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison at one point this season, it’s not hard to see why that assessment has been brought into play. Klich has recorded a SofaScore average match rating of just 6.69 which paints a sorry picture.

He has found the net just once all term – a strike against Everton on matchweek 2 – and his performances lead us to believe that he should never be considered to start again by Jesse Marsch.

His display versus Arsenal on Sunday afternoon was particularly ropy too, with the lowlight including a rash and cynical tackle on Granit Xhaka that prompted a yellow card and some minor handbags just inside the hosts’ half.

Substituted during the interval, it was a symbol that even when the going gets tough, Klich cannot be relied upon anymore.

He no longer has Bielsa to comfort and cradle him and in Marsch, perhaps he finally has a coach who can get the best out of Leeds without him.

He lost the ball eight times during his 45 minutes on the field, meaning he lost it every 4.1 touches and 5.6 minutes.

Furthermore, the experienced midfielder completed just a mediocre 79% of his passes and lost a whopping 84% of his defensive battles.

If that wasn’t bad enough, he made only the solitary tackle and played 0 key passes. His influence on the game was significantly less than young Lewis Bate who after being introduced in the second period, added a purpose to the Whites’ play. The highlight was a delightful cross-field ball into open space on the left that picked out the man perfectly. Right there we saw the future of Leeds; not Klich.

With that in mind, Marsch must take the bold decision to keep him from the starting XI between now and the season’s end. It could just keep Leeds in the division.

AND in other news, Shocking: £13.5m-rated Leeds dud who lost ball every 2 touches dropped another stinker…

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch could be about to reshuffle the backroom staff at Elland Road, according to transfer insider Dean Jones. 

The lowdown: Settling in

The 48-year-old was appointed as the Whites’ boss following the departure of fan favourite Marcelo Bielsa in February and has set about attempting to retain the Yorkshire club’s Premier League status.

Currently just two points clear of the drop zone having played one game more than Everton, things remain precarious for Leeds heading into the final weeks of the 2021/22 campaign.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-2/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Despite the troubling situation, Marsch could already be looking toward summer changes at Thorp Arch…

The latest: Friends reunited…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that the American could have one eye on a reunion with current Manchester United assistant manager Chris Armas.

The journalist outlined: “It would be a much better fit for him because, at the moment, it sounds like there’s almost zero respect at Manchester United.

“He needs to work with people that understand what he’s good at and give him the respect that he clearly deserves in his field of work.

“Jesse Marsch is somebody that knows him well, he’s definitely contemplating how his backroom team shapes up for next season and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if he turned up at Elland Road.”

The verdict: Smart move

Should Marsch stay in situ as expected, regardless of Leeds’ top-flight status, bringing his former assistant from their work together in Major League Soccer for Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls would make plenty of sense.

As Old Trafford prepares for the arrival of Erik ten Hag, Armas appears almost certain to move on, and the Elland Road hierarchy should be primed to bring the 49-year-old New York-born coach to Yorkshire.

Regardless of the Whites’ fate this term, the board backed Marsch with a deal until June 2025 and therefore should be prepared to do so once again over the summer with coaching and player additions.

In other news, Phil Hay makes exciting triple transfer claim. Find out more here!