All posts by n8rngtd.top

Paris Saint-Germain’s turbulent October continues to expose cracks beneath their star-studded surface. A frustrating 1-1 draw against Lorient has left coach Luis Enrique visibly exasperated, calling his team’s display “bad” and lacking “composure.” With points slipping away, key player injured, and a defining run of fixtures approaching, PSG’s dominance in Ligue 1 suddenly looks fragile.

• PSG falter again as Lorient expose familiar flaws

  PSG’s trip to Lorient wasn't a fixture to remember as the Parisian's fell short of clinching a win, drawing their third match of the season. Despite enjoying most of the possession, the champions looked unusually blunt and uninspired in attack. After a goalless first half where Lorient comfortably absorbed pressure, PSG finally broke through in the 52nd minute when Nuno Mendes finished off a neat move involving Warren Zaire-Emery and Senny Mayulu.

  But just two minutes later, Lorient equalised through Igor Silva, punishing a rare but costly lapse in PSG’s defence. From that point on, the Parisians chased shadows, struggling to create clear chances despite throwing bodies forward. Their lack of sharpness in front of goal and failure to deal with transitions made the performance one of their most frustrating this season. Enrique’s expression on the touchline said it all as the Spaniard was filled with irritation, disbelief, and disappointment, which he clearly expressed in the post-match press conference.

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  Enrique's blunt verdict on performance

  The draw in Lorient is not an isolated slip; it’s part of a broader trend that’s begun to worry PSG supporters. Since their 1-0 defeat to Marseille in late September, PSG have stumbled repeatedly – drawing against Lille, Strasbourg and now Lorient, all while looking short of rhythm and conviction. Matches that once looked routine are now turning into tests of resilience they keep failing to pass. The Parisian coach didn’t hide his frustration in his post-match interview.

  "Why did they cause us so many problems? It’s simple, I think we played a bad match. We had a very bad first half, we didn’t create any chances, the opponent defended very well, and it was difficult. We improved a little in the second half, but I think we could play another 90 minutes without scoring today," said Enrique.

  Reflecting on PSG's shortcomings in the game, the PSG head coach said: "I think we lacked composure, we didn't create chances, it's difficult to win an away game like that… Lorient's low block? We're used to those phases of play because most teams defend like that, but when you don't have one-on-ones, movement in space, runs in behind, and you lack composure, it's difficult. Is there frustration? Yes, of course, that’s why I’m a coach. When you don’t get what you want, it’s difficult to manage.”

  PSG are currently on top of the table with 21 points, however, Monaco are coming close to closing the gap being in second place with 20 points followed by Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lens with 19 points each. 

• PSG's pattern of decline and Desire Doue's injury blow

  From the 1-0 loss to Marseille’s high press to the latest draw against 16th-placed Lorient, PSG’s performances reveal a clear pattern of stagnation. Defensive errors, hesitant decision-making and an inability to break compact lines have all combined to blunt the team’s dominance. Even in matches they win, like against Auxerre or Brest, their play often drifts between moments of brilliance and long spells of uncertainty.

  The situation worsened against Lorient with  Desire Doue’s injury. The French winger was in visible pain and taken off the field in stretcher after a serious hamstring issue. Coming just weeks after his return from a calf strain, the timing couldn’t be worse. Enrique confirmed post-match that it was “not good news,” a statement that further dampened PSG’s night.

  For Enrique, the tactical frustrations now merge with personnel challenges. Without Doue’s dynamism, PSG lose a key link between midfield and attack which is something they have already struggled to establish consistently. Add to that their recurring defensive lapses and lack of final-third precision, and the champions suddenly look less like an unstoppable force and more like a team grappling with its own identity.

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  Enrique faces tough challenges against Nice and Bayern Munich

  With a crucial Champions League clash against Bayern Munich looming and a tricky Ligue 1 fixture versus Nice scheduled beforehand this Saturday, Enrique has no time to dwell on disappointment. His next challenge is both tactical and psychological as he pushes to revive confidence, improve finishing, and tighten a defence that’s looked fragile under pressure.

  The Spaniard will likely demand a reaction against Nice, using the match as a dress rehearsal before Bayern. But the growing list of injuries, coupled with recent fatigue, means squad management will be critical. PSG’s title ambitions remain intact, but their aura of control is slipping.

Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United has certainly divided fans, and the jury is still out as to whether it works or not. One of the major changes to the system compared to previous great United teams over the years is the midfield.

Amorim operates with two number sixes in a double pivot, with two number 10s ahead of those, either side of the striker. He has adapted Bruno Fernandes’ game, with the talismanic United midfielder now playing in that pivot, rather than close to goal, where he has had lots of previous success for the club.

Another player who has been affected by the different system is Kobbie Mainoo.

Why Kobbie Mainoo is in an awkward situation

It has certainly not been the easiest season for one of the most exciting young midfielders in the world, Mainoo. The 20-year-old ranked 36th in the recent Golden Boy awards, highlighting just how big a talent he is.

However, the 2025/26 season has not been plain sailing for Mainoo, through no fault of his own. The boyhood United star has only played 166 minutes across five games this term, and has registered an assist in that time. He’s yet to start a Premier League game.

Well, many United fans are confused as to why the England international cannot break into their starting lineup. Former Red Devils midfielder Owen Hargreaves said after the Manchester derby that he’ll “never know” why Amoirm isn’t picking Mainoo.

Indeed, it is strange, given the young midfielder’s exploits during his short career so far. The 20-year-old has started a final at a major tournament for England and scored an FA Cup final-winning goal.

Mainoo’s lack of involvement at United this season has certainly been disappointing, given his obvious talent, and left him in an awkward situation. Interestingly, there was a former United midfielder who was ahead of him at one stage.

The ex-midfielder ahead of Mainoo

Although Mainoo has not been given any opportunities this season, the 20-year-old is without doubt a huge talent. He could certainly be viewed as the heir in line to the throne when it comes to legendary United midfielders.

Well, before Mainoo made his first-team debut, there was someone else who could have staked a claim to that title. Fellow academy graduate Zidane Iqbal made his first-team debut just under a year before the England international, but did not quite follow the same career path.

Iqbal’s only game for United came in the Champions League against BSC Young Boys. He only played one minute of normal time, and never failed to get onto the pitch again, despite being on the bench several times.

The Iraqi international left the club for Dutch side FC Utrecht in 2023 and was sold for just £857k. He has since gone on to make a real impression for the Eredivisie side, making 41 appearances and scoring once.

The midfielder’s best skill is his passing, which has really shone during his time in the Netherlands. Last season, he averaged 6.58 progressive passes and 5.4 passes into the final third per 90 minutes, ranking him in the top 11% and 16% respectively, of midfielders in the Dutch top flight.

If Iqbal had stayed at Old Trafford and been given a chance to show off his talent, he could have been the natural successor to the famous number 18 shirt. That has previously been worn by midfield maestros Fernandes and, earlier, Paul Scholes.

Interestingly, the Iraqi international looked up to Scholes as a youngster. He once explained, “I’d kind of just base my game off him and put myself in his shoes”, which is not a bad way to learn the art of control in midfield.

Well, to wear the number 18 shirt as a creative midfielder at United, you really do need to be a player capable of pulling the strings. Fernandes has 86 assists in Red so far, and the legendary Scholes amassed 82, per Transfermarkt.

The stats show just how well Iqbal can dictate the game in midfield. He has proven himself to be a true controller of the midfield in a top league, and surely could have been considered worthy enough of donning that famous number 18 shirt.

United fans can only look back on this as what could have been. Iqbal was ahead of Mainoo in his development and perhaps could have formed the perfect partnership alongside the 20-year-old, with the number 18 on his back.

Bigger mistake than McTominay: Man Utd sold their own Trent for just £5m

Man Utd’s recruitment record has been called into question, with Scott McTominay not the only former star now shining…

By
Robbie Walls

Sep 23, 2025

The Braves will look to keep pace in the NL playoff picture while keeping another team out of it in the Giants.

The Giants had a successful trip to Los Angeles against the vaunted Dodgers, can the team keep it going against the Braves? The team will hope that rookie Hayden Birdsong can improve on his shaky first outing, but I'm banking on some optimism in his shaky start.

Keep reading to find out why I'm backing the Giants as big underdogs in Atlanta.

Giants vs. Braves Odds, Run Line and Total 

Run Line

• Giants: -1.5 (-118)
• Braves: +1.5 (-102)

Moneyline

• Giants: +168
• Braves: -200

Total: 8.5 (Over 100/Under -122)

Giants vs. Braves Probable Pitchers

• Giants: Hayden Birdsong (0-0, 5.79 ERA)
• Braves: Raynaldo Lopez (6-2, 1.70 ERA)

Giants vs. Braves How to Watch

• Date: Monday, July 1
• Time: 9:40 p.m. EST
• Venue: Truist Park
• How to watch (TV): Bally Sports South, NBC Sports-Bay Area
• Giants Record: 41-44
• Braves Record: 46-36

Giants vs. Braves Key Players to Watch

San Francisco Giants

Heliot Ramos: Ramos appears to finally have a place to stay in the big leagues after going back and forth between the minor leagues in the prior two seasons. Ramos hit .304 in the month of June across 27 starts with eight home runs and 24 RBI’s, giving some life to the Giants mediocre lineup. 

Atlanta Braves

Marcell Ozuna: Enjoying a career year, the 33-year-old Ozuna is in shouting distance of a triple crown bid. He is hitting .300 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI’s as he has done his best to mitigate the loss of Ronald Acuna Jr. in the middle of the Atlanta lineup. While the Braves offense has fallen off as a whole, Ozuna has produced at a high level, which has helped keep Atlanta firmly in the postseason mix. 

Giants vs. Braves Prediction and Pick

San Francisco will start Hayden Birdsong for the second time. While he struggled in his first start, he showcased some serious velocity (85th percentile fastball velocity) and generated swings and misses. 

Against a free-swinging Braves team, Birdsong may be in line to put together a strong start with low expectations. Meanwhile, I’m interested in fading Reynaldo Lopez, who has a 1.70 ERA but an xERA of 3.98. 

Lopez has been outperforming expectations all season long, but I expect regression to settle in as the season goes on. He still has an above average walk rate of more than three batters per nine innings and has been limited to about five innings per start this season. 

With shaky control, Lopez will put a ton of pressure on a below average Braves bullpen, and I’ll side with the Giants group of relievers to do a better job backing up Birdsong and outperform this price.

Lastly, the Giants have been doing better than the Braves at the plate. San Francisco placed 12th in OPS last month while Atlanta was 17th in the same metric. 

I’ll take the big underdog in San Francisco. 

West Ham United are facing the grim prospect of Premier League relegation and the financial fallout could be catastrophic. An expert has warned that dropping to the Championship would cost the club up to £120 million ($160m) in lost revenue from television rights, ticket sales, and sponsorships, compounding growing unrest among fans amid the club's worst league start in decades.

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  West Ham facing battle to avoid the drop

  The situation at West Ham has reached crisis point, with results and morale spiralling in the wrong direction. The Hammers’ dismal run – four points from eight matches and five consecutive home defeats – has left them rooted near the bottom of the Premier League table. It marks their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1988-89, a season that ended in relegation.

  Their 2-0 defeat to Brentford on Monday was particularly sobering. It was the first time in club history that West Ham have lost their opening four home games of a league season and only the second time they’ve suffered five straight top-flight home defeats – the last occurring almost a century ago in 1931. Their latest loss deepened discontent among supporters, who staged boycotts and protests against the club’s ownership.

  Nuno Espirito Santo, the club’s fourth manager in 16 months, has failed to spark a revival since taking over. The former Nottingham Forest boss admitted after the Brentford game that his team were "very far" from having an identity, conceding that "we have a problem". His side’s lack of fight, creativity, and defensive discipline has left them looking bereft of confidence ahead of crucial clashes with Leeds and Burnley – both of whom are direct relegation rivals.

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• Hammers warned over financial implications of relegation

  Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has painted a bleak picture of what relegation would mean for West Ham’s finances. "Relegation would be a pretty big hit for West Ham,” he told the . "They made £270m in 2024, over half of that was television money. That would drop by something in the region of £120m."

  Maguire also warned that the club’s commercial and matchday revenues would take a substantial blow. "They would struggle to sell 60,000 tickets each week, especially if they don’t have a great season. They’d have substantial reductions in commercial revenue as well," he explained.

  The expert added that the club’s financial structure could further complicate recovery efforts. "My concern would be, while they don’t have any borrowings, the elephant in the room is that West Ham owe £191m in instalments for players they have already signed," Maguire noted. "That has got to come out of future cash. That would put pressure on the owners, who presumably would have to go down the borrowing route."

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  Unrest behind the scenes at London Stadium

  Relegation would trigger a cascade of financial repercussions beyond the immediate loss of revenue. Most of West Ham’s senior players are understood to have relegation wage clauses, which would automatically reduce salaries but still strain the budget. The club would almost certainly have to sell its most valuable assets – including Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta – to balance the books.

  There are also ownership implications. The late David Gold’s family, who own a 25% stake, have been exploring a partial sale, but relegation would drastically reduce the valuation of those shares. Potential investors would be reluctant to buy into a Championship club facing reduced income and instability. Such uncertainty could delay much-needed structural reform behind the scenes, particularly in recruitment and squad management.

  Fan frustration has already reached boiling point. The supporters’ group Hammers United claim more than 20,000 season-ticket holders boycotted the Brentford game, and further demonstrations are planned, including a sit-in protest after the next home fixture against Newcastle. The relationship between the fanbase and ownership – particularly co-owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady – has deteriorated to new lows amid accusations of mismanagement and poor communication.

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• Fellow relegation battlers up next

  On the pitch, the Hammers’ immediate focus must be survival, but their upcoming fixtures offer little comfort. Trips to Leeds and a home clash against Burnley loom large as season-defining encounters. Failure to secure victories in those games could see the club further adrift, intensifying pressure on Nuno to deliver results amid growing fan hostility.

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

Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney remains one of the deadliest strikers to have played at Old Trafford, and it appears that he hasn’t lost his ability to score stunning goals, even after his retirement.

Wayne Rooney scores blockbuster goal in Nexon Icons match

While the Premier League begins to heat up again after the conclusion of the international break, football fans on the other side of the world were able to take in a thrilling match-up of legends in Seoul on Sunday.

In the latest instalment of the Nexon Icons 2025 Series, FC Spear and Shield United went head-to-head for the Nexon trophy and plenty of the world’s best at their craft were on show in front of their adoring crowd.

Rooney led the line for FC Spear, followed up by a support act of epic proportion, including Didier Drogba, Thierry Henry, Kaka and Steven Gerrard, among other star-studded faces.

On the other side, Carles Puyol, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Iker Casillas were just some of the names on display, but former Manchester United star Rooney grabbed the headlines, even if his side went on to lose 2-1 courtesy of strikes from Maicon and Joo Ho Park.

As seen below, the Three Lions icon delivered a magnificent effort from outside the area to level the scoring, one that bore striking similarities to his strike in Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat against Barcelona in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley.

Forever a legend at both Everton and Manchester United, he is enjoying life after his playing days and still has a God-given talent most footballers would kill to replicate. Now, it remains to be seen whether he dips his toe back into management.

Full transcript of line-ups from Nexon Icons match

Shield United: Young Kwang Kim, Iker Casillas, Alessandro Nesta, Michael Carrick, Marchisio, Gilberto Silva, Joo Ho Park, Sol Campbell, Claude Makelele, Ashley Cole, Maicon, John Arne Riise, Nemanja Vidic, Carles Puyol, Young Pyo Lee, Rio Ferdinand.

FC Spear: Bum Young Lee, Gianluigi Buffon, Ja Cheol Koo, Ki Hyon Seol, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Clarence Seedorf, Eden Hazard, Wayne Rooney, Gareth Bale, Kaka, Steven Gerrard, Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Ji Sung Park, Didier Drogba.

What next for Wayne Rooney in management?

On the management front, Rooney is without a club after leaving Plymouth Argyle in 2024 after a run of five wins, six draws and 14 losses in 25 matches across all competitions.

Previously, he has also enjoyed spells in charge of Derby County, DC United and Birmingham City, albeit the Manchester United hero has enjoyed varied degrees of success at all four clubs.

Wayne Rooney picks between Celtic and Rangers, wished he played for them

The former England striker wanted to head to Scotland during his career.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 11, 2025

Speaking to The Rest is Football earlier this year, Rooney admitted he would like to take on a new challenge in the dugout, but only if it comes in the right set of circumstances.

“I would like to go back in (to management). But it would have to be the right club. Certainly the right club. I think you always have that ego, don’t you? You always have that confidence you could go in and get the best out of a bad or difficult situation.”

Coaching vacancies will become available throughout the next few months, though some would suggest that Rooney putting his boots back would be an even better use of his time!

Who's hot, who's not? GOAL ranks all 14 teams across the National Women's Soccer League

Matchday 24 of 26 reminded fans that NWSL is one of the most competitive leagues in the world. Of five teams eligible to claim spots in the playoffs, only Orlando Pride secured their berth. At the other end of the table, three teams jockeyed to avoid elimination – and only the Utah Royals succumbed to an end-of-season blow.

INDIVISA presents the latest 2025 NWSL Power Rankings.

• 14Chicago Stars

  Prior Ranking: 14

  Result: Drew Racing Louisville 1-1

  Ramifications: Jameese Joseph scored her third goal of the year to give Chicago a 1-0 lead over Louisville, and – were it not for Bethany Balcer’s stoppage-time equalizer – they might have secured three points. Alyssa Naeher’s eight-saves were massive in this game for Chicago, no matter the result.

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• 13Bay FC

  Prior Ranking: 13

  Result: Drew Seattle Reign 1-1

  Ramifications: The fact that Bay FC is already eliminated from the postseason doesn’t stop them from being competitive. While playing playoff-contending Seattle, Bay looked ready to take all three points on the road – and they nearly did before Jess Fishlock’s late equalizer.

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  12Houston Dash

  Prior Ranking: 9

  Result: Lost to Angel City 2-0

  Ramifications: Technically, Houston can still make the playoffs. But losing to Angel City was a big blow for the Dash, who are winless in their last three games, with two defeats and one draw. They’ve got table-topping Kansas City up next, which will almost certainly spell the end of their postseason hopes.

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• 11Utah Royals

  Prior Ranking: 12

  Result: Lost to 3-2 to San Diego

  Ramifications: The Royals finished their year in incredible form, going eight-games undefeated before the loss on the weekend. They fended off elimination as long as they could, but after falling to San Diego at home, the Royals are officially out of this year’s postseason.

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. 

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  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.

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  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.