All posts by n8rngtd.top

Wolves have been given fresh hope of signing Valencia winger Goncalo Guedes, with the La Liga club in need of generating money this summer.

The Lowdown: Guedes linked with Wolves move

The 25-year-old enjoyed an impressive 2021/22 season for Valencia, scoring 11 goals and registering six assists in La Liga and standing out as his side’s best player – none of his teammates registered a higher average match rating, managed more goals or provided more assists.

Wolves have been linked with a move for Guedes in the recent past, as Bruno Lage looks to make attacking reinforcements, but a move is yet to be sealed.

That could be about to change, however, following a new update from Spain.

The Latest: Wanderers given fresh hope

According to Plaza Deportiva [via Sport Witness], Wolves ‘have already sounded’ Guedes out as a summer target, with Valencia needing to generate €30million (£25.5m) in the coming months.

They need funds ‘as soon as possible’, potentially playing into Technical Director Scott Sellars’ hands.

[freshpress-quiz id=“398117″]

The Verdict: Snap him up Scott

Wolves were lacking attacking thrust throughout last season, scoring 38 goals in as many matches in the Premier League, and Guedes could be someone who improves that area of weakness.

The Portuguese gem has 66 goal involvements in 178 appearances for Valencia (36 goals and 30 assists), highlighting the end product he possesses, and he could provide great competition for the likes of Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence.

[freshpress-poll id=“399044″]

With Adama Traore possibly moving on permanently this summer, the funds would likely be available for Wolves to snap up Guedes, with his peak years still likely to be ahead of him.

In other news, a key Wolves transfer update has emerged. Read more here.

Aston Villa could well be nearing a notable summer setback, following an update on the future of assistant coach Michael Beale.

What’s the word?

As per the Telegraph’s John Percy, the Englishman is close to leaving his post at Villa Park, with Championship side Queens Park Rangers said to be keen on appointing the 41-year-old as their new manager.

Having previously reported that Beale was a potential candidate for the Loftus Road outfit, the respected journalist has now taken to Twitter to reveal that an agreement is now imminent: “QPR are close to appointing Michael Beale as manager. Beale is very keen to become a No 1 and AVFC have known there was always a chance of this happening since appointing Steven Gerrard.”

The west Londoners have been searching for a new permanent appointment following the departure of former Brentford boss Mark Warburton at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, after three seasons at the helm.

Gerrard fuming

After the highs of Villa’s early summer transfer business, this latest news will no doubt bring manager Steven Gerrard crashing back down to earth, with the Liverpool legend set to lose his trusty right-hand man in the coming days or weeks.

Formerly a part of the youth set-up with the Merseysiders, Beale was plucked by Gerrard following the latter man’s appointment as Rangers boss in the summer of 2018, with the duo going on to help guide the Old Firm outfit to a first league title in ten years in 2021.

The highly-rated coach then linked up with the former England captain again in the Midlands following Dean Smith’s sacking in November, with the expectation seemingly having been that he would remain a key part of the coaching set-up moving forward.

As it is, the Villans’ number two is now set for pastures new, leaving behind a notable void that will have to be swiftly filled before the Premier League resumes in early August.

For those on the outside looking in, it may not be too great a setback to lose an assistant coach, although Gerrard is acutely aware of the impact that his colleague has on the training pitch, previously stating of his compatriot that: “It would take me 15 to 20 years to become as good as Michael Beale as an on-pitch coach, delivering sessions on a daily basis, so I let Mick be Mick because he’s the expert.

“What I’ll never do is try to do someone else’s job when they are better than me at doing it. A lot of people won’t have a clue what Michael Beale does on the training pitch, but what he does is really quite special.”

Dubbed a “genius” by former Gers striker Jermain Defoe, Beale has also been credited as the “brains” behind the operation in Gerrard’s coaching staff, according to Northern Ireland international Kyle Lafferty.

That glowing praise highlights just what a loss the Bromley-born gem will be to his current employers, with the Villa boss, in particular, set to be impacted the most by a man who has been integral to the early success of his managerial career.

Gerrard may be getting the backing at boardroom level in terms of transfers, yet he will be enraged by potentially losing such a dressing room and training ground asset.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Luka Ivanusec to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Croatian media outlet Germanijak, who claim that Victor Orta has now restarted his pursuit of the GNK Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder ahead of Leeds’ 2022/23 campaign.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]

The report goes on to state that the Whites were believed to have agreed a €15m (£12.5m) deal for in the January window, only for the 23-year-old and his representatives to back out as a result of the Whites’ precarious position in the Premier League table at the time.

Imagine him & Aaronson

With Victor Orta having recently sealed the £25m signing of Red Bull Salzburg starlet Brenden Aaronson, the prospect of the Spaniard adding yet another extremely impressive addition to Jesse Marsch’s attacking options in the shape of Ivanusec is sure to be one that will excite the Elland Road faithful.

Indeed, despite his season being hampered by a groin injury, the £11.25m-rated talent still managed to catch the eye over his 27 1.HNL appearances, scoring three goals, registering five assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots, making 1.4 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the £6k-per-week attacker – who can also comfortably operate in central midfield and on either flank – average a SofaScore match rating of 7.09, with the 23-year-old playing a key role in Dinamo’s title-winning campaign.

The player who Sacha Pisani dubbed “exquisite” also impressed in European competition, scoring one goal and providing two assists over seven appearances in Champions League qualification, as well as bagging one goal and one assist over six Europa League outings.

As such, it is clear to see that the signing of Ivanusec – especially for a fee of around £12.5m – would be a fantastic piece of business for Orta to get over the line this summer, with the Croatia international undoubtedly possessing the potential to form a deadly partnership with Aaronson in Marsch’s new-look Leeds midfield.

AND in other news: Orta can unearth next Raphinha as Leeds now eye “spectacular” £12.5m-rated “marvel”

Everton will travel to London to take on Arsenal in their final game of the season after securing safety in the Premier League for next season following a victory over Crystal Palace earlier this week.

Frank Lampard will be relieved and feel that a weight has been lifted going into the game at the Emirates this afternoon, and it will be the first game that the Toffees boss will manage that doesn’t have detrimental repercussions if the side fails to take all three points.

With that being said, Lampard could make some drastic changes in his team to give players who have been rarely seen the golden opportunity to put their mark on the final Premier League game, and Anwar El Ghazi should be unleashed in the starting line-up against Mikel Arteta’s side.

The Aston Villa loanee made a six-month move to Merseyside in January when Rafa Benitez was still the Everton manager, but since his signing the management team has changed with Lampard appointed on Deadline Day, leaving El Ghazi as the forgotten man in the squad.

The £38k-per-week ace who was hailed “unstoppable” by former Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton, has only been given 11 minutes of football at Goodison Park over the last five months but has proven back at his parent club that he has the quality to positively affect the game against Arsenal today.

Last season El Ghazi scored 11 goals in 31 appearances, matching Richarlison’s goal tally for Everton this season, but it’s not just his goal-scoring capabilities that make him a danger against opponents.

According to SofaScore, in his 28 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa last season, the 27-year-old was successful in the majority of his dribbles (53%), taking 2.3 shots on goal on average per game, creating one big chance and making 0.9 key passes per game, proving that if given the chance he can terrify Arsenal.

Considering his lack of game time it would seem highly unlikely that Everton will extend his stay at Goodison Park beyond his loan deal this season, however, if Lampard does give El Ghazi the nod against Arsenal it could be the perfect opportunity for the player to prove he has what it takes to play first-team football back at Aston Villa next season.

AND in other news: Frank axes 28 y/o “walking red card” & starts “remarkable” ace: Everton predicted XI

Rangers ended their 2021/22 campaign on a high as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Ibrox side won the Scottish Cup final last weekend in their final game of the season.

Ryan Jack scored a stunning volley from distance and Scott Wright produced a composed finish as two substitutes sealed the win in extra time for Rangers.

It was van Bronckhorst’s first trophy in charge of the Premiership club, and the focus must now turn to what the Gers need to do in the summer transfer window to win multiple competitions in 2022/23.

Ross Wilson and the Dutch coach will be identifying targets to come in and improve the team and/or replace current stars who may be on their way out of Ibrox.

One player for whom the club have been linked with a move is Bolton winger Oladapo Afolayan. Journalist Alan Nixon previously claimed on his Patreon site that the Light Blues are looking at him as a potential £1.5m replacement for Ryan Kent, who may leave the club.

Nixon has since confirmed that the Gers are still eyeing up a potential deal for the attacker, although there were no other updates aside from that.

Dream Kent heir

By signing Afolayan, Rangers can land the dream heir to Kent’s throne at Ibrox, as the 24-year-old is a talented and exciting winger who can contribute in the final third.

He has been dubbed an “asset” by Bolton manager Ian Evatt, who also heaped praise on the winger’s playing style by saying: “The way that Dapo plays out wide is that he’s always drifting inside into pockets of space into half spaces and then looking to thread passes or dribble and drive and shoot, so as a number 10, he can really affect the game from that position.”

In League One this season, he managed 12 goals and four assists in 38 starts for Bolton. Although he only picked up four assists for his efforts, Afolayan was a constant threat when it came to creating chances, as he provided 1.6 key passes per game and created eight ‘big chances’ in total.

The 24-year-old, who completed 1.4 dribbles per game in the recently-concluded campaign, has the ability to have a huge impact in the final third, as he has shown that he can score goals and provide his team-mates with opportunities on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, Kent produced two goals and eight assists in the Premiership for Rangers in 2021/22. He created 10 ‘big chances’ and delivered 1.7 key passes per match as he made himself a reliable, exciting option for Van Bronckhorst on the left flank.

Albeit in a different league, Afolayan’s statistics suggest that he can have a similar – potentially bigger – impact in front of goal if he is able to adapt to Scottish football. They both play out on the left flank and can score and create goals, which is why the Ibrox club must try to strike a deal with Bolton to land the English attacker as Kent’s heir.

AND in other news, Rangers can finally replace Defoe in deal for lethal 29 G/A gem who “never gives up”…

A lack of batting options on tour has cost England – but they will hope for a World Cup dividend later this year

Matt Roller12-Mar-2023Too many cooks spoil the broth – but too few batters leave a T20 team exposed. England only picked five for their three-match series in Bangladesh, and find themselves 2-0 down after posting totals of 156 and 117, both of which have been chased down with relative ease.England’s initial 15-man squad for this series featured seven batters. Then, Tom Abell strained his side while playing for England Lions in Sri Lanka, and Will Jacks hurt his thigh in the second ODI. No replacements were called up, and so England’s Nos. 8-10 from the side that won the T20 World Cup in Australia have batted at Nos. 6-8 in Bangladesh.Those three – Sam Curran, Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan – are all competent players, but have hardly contributed in this series. England’s imbalance lurked uneasily throughout their defeat in Chattogram; as they slid from 91 for 4 to 117 all out in Mirpur, then didn’t use Jordan with the ball until the 19th over, it became impossible to ignore.”If we can’t put an extra batter or two on the ground in Bangladesh as an England cricket team… I don’t think it’s good enough just to say ‘we’re one batter short’,” said Nasser Hussain, visibly disgruntled on Sky Sports’ coverage. “You saw what it meant to them [Bangladesh] winning today. We have to treat that game with the same respect.”Related

• Salt 'frustrated' after failing to seize his chance for leading role

• Duckett committed to 'every single England chance I get' after rapid format switch

• Archer: 'No sense doing too much, too soon' as he builds into comeback across formats

• Mehidy and Shanto put the seal on Bangladesh's series win over England

But selection for this tour has been a delicate juggling act, with the vast majority of the squad that travelled to New Zealand for the Test series given time off ahead of either the IPL or the English summer, and a number of white-ball specialists without central contracts opting to play in the Pakistan Super League instead.Take Jason Roy, for example. England could have asked Roy to stay put for another week when Jacks flew home, but doing so would have meant sacrificing a proportion of his PSL earnings in exchange for three England match fees. Any financial loss would have been relatively small, but the ECB ceded control of Roy’s schedule when they opted not to award him a central contract for 2022-23.In practice, the decision not to hold Roy back in Bangladesh paid off. He could have spent this week opening the batting against a strong Bangladesh attack in challenging conditions; instead, he flew back to Pakistan and thrashed 145 not out off 63 balls for Quetta Gladiators, an innings he described as his “favourite-ever” of a T20 career spanning over 300 games.Naturally, a handful of fringe players may feel hard done by: Sam Hain, who captained England Lions in Abell’s absence at the end of the Sri Lanka tour, is a much-improved T20 player and would have brought some solidity to this batting line-up; Jordan Cox, who has been running the drinks for Lahore Qalandars, was an unused squad member on England’s seven-match tour to Pakistan in September and might wonder how he has not been given a chance all winter.But England’s apparent rationale was that those players are low enough down their pecking order in white-ball cricket that the prospects of them being involved in the 50-over World Cup later this year – or the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the US, which is only 14 months away – were minimal. As such, they took the chance to promote their allrounders and give them experience on spinning subcontinent pitches.”It’s a different balance and it’s a different feel to the team, wanting to give exposure to guys – especially in these conditions – who will also probably play a part in the 50-over World Cup,” Jos Buttler said. “It felt like it was a great chance to expose the allrounders, batting maybe one spot higher than they maybe would in our normal team.”And, look: the way cricket is at the moment, there’s a few players who have opted not to be here anyway for various reasons. It felt like instead of calling someone else up, [we would be better served] trying to use the guys who will be exposed to these conditions in the 50-over World Cup as well.”Rehan Ahmed made his debut in Dhaka, where England were short of batting options•AFP/Getty ImagesIn other words, the short-term pain of jeopardising their chances of winning a rearranged bilateral series that will soon be forgotten would be worth the long-term gain of giving Curran, for example, the chance to bat at No. 6 and face more balls than he usually does in T20 internationals.It is the same logic that has informed England’s white-ball strategy since Rob Key and Matthew Mott took over as managing director and white-ball coach last year, working back from major targets. England’s chance of winning this series would have been higher with an extra batter in their squad – but they believed their World Cup hopes would be enhanced without one.

Why didn’t Buttler open?

Speaking after the game, Buttler was pressed on his decision to demote himself to No. 4. He has a stellar record as an opener for England – averaging 49.20 with a strike rate of 152.22 – but opted to shuffle down into the middle order for the first time in five years on Sunday. Dawid Malan moved up to open from No. 3, with Moeen Ali replacing Malan in that role.”We’ve obviously got a bank of left-handers in our middle order,” Buttler said. “[It was] just an opportunity to change that up a little bit. Dawid Malan is very comfortable opening or batting at No. 3 and I just felt like it would be a good change to pose some different questions to the opposition, and try and break up our left and right-handers.”Malan and Moeen’s promotions also meant Bangladesh did not target Phil Salt’s weakness against left-arm spin until the sixth over – though he was eventually dismissed by a left-arm spinner regardless, for the fourth time in five innings on this tour.”I’m very comfortable batting anywhere in the order,” Buttler added. “I’ve spent a hell of a lot of my career as a middle-order player. I felt like we’ve got some good options and it felt like it would be an opportunity to try something different. I don’t really read too much into it either way.” As the 2024 T20 World Cup comes into view, he will undoubtedly return to the top.

There has been a general acceptance across the opening weeks of the 2025/26 season that Liverpool have not quite clicked into gear yet.

Arne Slot’s side have struggled to control games and win comfortably, instead drawing upon their deep-rooted winning mentality to come up trumps in the late stages of fixtures.

But against Crystal Palace in the Premier League last weekend, the Reds were on the receiving end of a last-minute winner, ending their flawless start. And in the Champions League on Tuesday night, in Istanbul, Liverpool were soundly beaten by Galatasaray.

Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have been pillars of strength for so many years for the Anfield side, but these veteran talismans need some support. They need some younger Liverpool superstars to step up and accept some responsibility.

Liverpool's leaders need more support

Much has been made of Liverpool’s defensive fragility this season, but the blame cannot be attributed to the captain. Van Dijk has been as redoubtable as ever at the rear, but he’s been failed by unpolished full-backs and an error-stricken partner in Ibrahima Konate, who was woeful once again against Galatasaray.

Salah is 33 years old, and he practically hauled Liverpool’s frontline to the Premier League title last season, scoring 34 goals and supplying 23 more across all competitions.

Yes, he’s not been at his sharpest or liveliest this season, but he hasn’t exactly been helped out by a fully functioning frontline and a robust and active build-up system behind him.

The Egyptian King was benched for the midweek European clash, but this shift mattered little as Liverpool toiled away and lacked any sense of fluency.

There was one man whose poor performance perhaps went under the radar, but whose performance was the most detrimental of the lot.

Ryan Gravenberch has been a revelation under Slot’s wing, but he suffered a truly wretched showing against Galatasaray.

Gravenberch's worst game under Slot

Gravenberch has been incredible since Slot replaced Klopp in the Liverpool dugout. The disparity in performance between the Dutchman’s first two terms in the Premier League bears testament to that.

Already the 23-year-old has scored two goals and assisted one more in the Premier League this term, making gains in advancements and beginning to add an invaluable dimension to his game.

It goes without saying that Gravenberch, the 24/25 Hublot Young Premier League Player of the Year, is crucial to the Slot machine operating at full capacity.

And so it’s no surprise that his poor showing in Turkey directly impeded Liverpool in their build-up play and their control – or lack thereof – in the centre of the park.

Indeed, courtesy of data from Sofascore, Gravenberch lost 85% of his duels on the evening (five out of six), and failed to make even a tackle or interception in spite of the hosts’ relentless press.

He was hooked shortly after the hour mark. While Slot will have had one eye on the strip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, it also begs the question as to whether the coach had seen enough and felt a tactical change was needed too.

Journalist Beth Lindop remarked only a few weeks ago that “he’s on par with Salah and Van Dijk as Liverpool’s most important players.”

This remains true, but perhaps shines a brighter light on his importance. If Gravenberch has an off-day, Liverpool are currently lacking the answers to overcome that ever-larger hurdle.

Not Isak: Liverpool star is their own version of Arsenal icon Thierry Henry

Liverpool have enjoyed incredible success with this talent in their mix.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 29, 2025

Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund are exploring defensive options in case star defender Nico Schlotterbeck leaves the club for Bayern Munich next summer. They have identified one strong candidate in the form of Chelsea defender Axel Disasi and a past connection with Dortmund coach Niko Kovac might help them in securing his services.

• Dortmund target Disasi

  Disasi was considered a big signing at Chelsea back in 2023, when the Stamford Bridge-based outfit paid a reported €45 million to bring the player to London from Monaco. However, the five-time French international, now 27, has not been able to make a mark at the Blues and manager Enzo Maresca is not looking at him as a potential starter. Dortmund have been monitoring his situation and have seen his performances both at Chelsea and at Aston Villa, where he spent the second half of the 2024-25 campaign. 

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Schotterbeck hesitant for new contract

  Dortmund might capitalise on this situation to sign the player, in case Schlotterbeck leaves the club. As per , Bayern have their eyes on the former Freiburg defender. His contract at Dortmund runs until 2027, but there seems to be no developments regarding an extension despite the club's desire to tie him down for the long term. As a result, the Black and Yellows might be compelled to sanction a sale next summer and pave the way for a new signing. 

• Apart from Schlotterbeck, Niklas Sule also sees his contract end next summer. And if he wants to stay at Dortmund, he'll have to take a pay cut. Disasi will emerge as a potential replacement for either of the aforementioned Dortmund stars, and fans can expect him to reunite with his former manager, having worked with him for two years at Monaco.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Dortmund to face Bayern this week

  With the international break over, the Bundesliga, along with other domestic leagues, is set to return this weekend. The first assignment for Dortmund will be against Bayern in Der Klassiker at the Allianz Arena on October 18.

This season feels like it’s set to be a pivotal one for this Chelsea project.

Enzo Maresca has a season under his belt, the players from last season are that bit more experienced in the Premier League, and they looked unreal in pre-season.

Add to that the impressive signings the club made in the summer, and it’s not unreasonable to expect a genuine title challenge from the West Londoners this year.

There are several players who will play a key role in that challenge, including one who cost them even more than their old transfer target, Xavi Simons.

Chelsea's potential difference-makers this season

It should really go without saying at this point, but so long as he’s fit and available, Cole Palmer will be one of Chelsea’s most important players this season.

After all, in just two years, the Englishman has managed to rack up a simply incredible haul of 43 goals and 29 assists in 98 games.

Another key player for Maresca this year is going to be Trevoh Chalobah.

The defensive stalwart was an important player for the Blues upon his return from Crystal Palace mid-way through last season, but with Levi Colwill now out for most of the campaign, he’s become even more critical to the team.

Fortunately, he’s made an impressive start to the season, with three starts, two clean sheets and a goal to his name.

Finally, the first few games of the season have shown us that, despite still being just 18 years old, Estevao looks ready to play an important role in this team.

He might not start too many games when everyone is fit, but his direct approach means he could be incredibly effective as an impact sub, someone who could terrify settled defences.

Yet, there is another player who has impressed even more this season, someone who could be a serious difference-maker for Chelsea and cost more than Simons did.

The Chelsea star worth more than Simons

While they eventually decided against signing him, it was widely reported that one of the players Chelsea were keenly interested in for much of the summer this year was Simons.

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?

However, when the Blues made it clear they were no longer interested, Tottenham Hotspur swooped in, paying around £51m plus add-ons to RB Leipzig for the talented Dutchman’s services.

Now, that may well end up being a brilliant deal for the North Londoners, but the Pensioners probably don’t care, as they made a game-changing attacking signing of their own, splashing £60m on Joao Pedro.

So far, it would be fair to say that the World Champions made the right choice in signing the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace, as he has looked like a player worth twice as much.

For example, he scored three goals in three games in the USA, bagged another two in the pre-season friendlies and already has two goals and two assists in three Premier League games.

Moreover, FBref place him in the top 3% of forwards in Europe’s top-five leagues for expected assisted goals, the top 5% for passes into the penalty area and the top 7% for carries, all per 90, which suggests he’s not just getting lucky.

Finally, if we compare his output from last season to that of Spurs’ new star, it becomes quite clear that BlueCo got the better deal.

For example, the “insane dribbler,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored 13 goals and provided seven assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2299 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.65 games, or every 114.95 minutes.

In contrast, the former Leipzig gem scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in as many appearances, totalling 2763 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes.

Ultimately, while Simons may well be a hit for Tottenham, Chelsea look like they have the better and more valuable player in Pedro.

Alongside Lopez: Chelsea join race for Barcelona gem with "infinite" talent

The Blues have set their sights on another Barcelona attacker…

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 8, 2025

Chelsea have now held talks to sign a “1v1 specialist” forward, and they are tempted to trigger the €40m (£35m) release clause in his contract.

Maresca keen on new attacker after Simons blow

After missing out on Xavi Simons to Tottenham Hotspur, the Blues have now been forced to move on to alternative options in attacking midfield, and Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez is rapidly emerging as a major target.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that contact has now been made with the La Liga club over a deal, with an opening offer already being submitted.

However, reports from elsewhere have detailed that Lopez is unlikely to be sold unless the Spaniard makes it clear he wants to leave Barcelona this summer, so it could be difficult for the west Londoners to get a deal over the line.

That said, Enzo Marezca clearly remains keen on adding another forward to his ranks before the transfer deadline, with talks now being held over a deal for SC Braga star Roger Fernandes.

That is according to a report from A Bola, which states Chelsea have now initiated contact over a deal, with the Premier League club now weighing up whether to trigger the €40m (£35m) release clause in Fernandes’ Braga contract.

Better than Buonanotte: Chelsea hold talks to sign £86m gem after Garnacho

Chelsea look set to delve back into the transfer market after deals for Facundo Buonanotte and Alejandro Garnacho.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 31, 2025

Braga would not be willing to settle for anything less, with the Blues planning to sign the 19-year-old now, before immediately loaning him out to sister club Strasbourg, where game time would perhaps be more of a guarantee.

"1v1 specialist" Fernandes is one for the future

Scout Ben Mattinson lauded the youngster when he first burst onto the scene, saying: “Roger Fernandes is another player I love at Braga. 1v1 specialist with great whipped cross on him. A creative, unselfish winger. Also his maturity for only 17 is crazy, you can tell why he’s played so much already.”

Despite still being a teenager, the Braga starlet has amassed an impressive number of goals and assists in his opening two full Liga Portugal campaigns.

That said, the right-winger is still very young, and Chelsea are already well-stocked out wide, most recently confirming the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.

As such, while Fernandes could be a fantastic long-term addition to Maresca’s squad, the main focus should be to bring in a new attacking midfielder to provide competition for Cole Palmer, while a new striker may also be needed to replace Nicolas Jackson and the injured Liam Delap.