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Tottenham Hotspur kick off their Champions League campaign later this evening as they prepare to welcome Spanish side Villarreal to North London.

The Lilywhites beat West Ham United 3-0 in the Premier League at the London Stadium on Saturday, thanks to goals from Micky van de Ven, Pape Matar Sarr, and Lucas Bergval.

Thomas Frank will have to make at least one change to his starting line-up for this clash with Villarreal, though, because Mathys Tel was not included in the squad for the Champions League.

The former Bayern Munich forward started in the number nine role for Spurs against the Hammers at the weekend, but failed to register a shot on target or a chance created for his side, per Sofascore.

This means that he may well have been dropped from the starting XI even if he had been included in the Champions League squad. Either way, he will not be involved this evening.

Interestingly, the player selected by Frank to replace Tel in the team may have to face off against former Tottenham central defender Juan Foyth tonight.

How Juan Foyth has fared since leaving Spurs

The Argentina international joined Spurs from Estudiantes LP in 2017 and only played 32 times in all competitions before his permanent move to Villarreal in the summer of 2021, after spending time on loan with the Spanish side the season before that, per Transfermarkt.

Foyth did not have much of an impact on the pitch for the club, playing just 16 matches in the Premier League in total, but Villarreal did pay £13m to sign him permanently from them.

At the time of writing (16/09/2025), Transfermarkt value the central defender at roughly £12.9m. This suggests that Spurs and Villarreal got good value out of that deal, as he has not significantly improved or declined in the last few seasons.

Foyth, who scored against Real Madrid back in March, has found a home in Spain, playing 139 appearances in all competitions for Villarreal to date, per Transfermarkt, and appears to be settled since moving on from England.

The Argentine central defender started 17 of his 19 appearances in LaLiga for Villarreal during the 2024/25 campaign, but he was not shy of making the odd mistake.

Appearances

19

Starts

17

Clean sheets

5

Ground duel success rate

56%

Aerial duel success rate

59%

Error led to shot

2

Error led to goal

1

As you can see in the table above, Foyth made three errors that led to shots or goals for the opposition, and his team only kept five clean sheets in his 19 outings.

This shows that Spurs can get joy out of their former defender if they put pressure on him and put a team out that can consistently test him with balls into the box and in behind the Villarreal backline.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With this in mind, Frank could totally embarrass the former Tottenham centre-back by unleashing Richarlison in Mathys Tel’s place in the number nine position this evening.

The Brazil international played 19 minutes off the bench in the 3-0 win over the Hammers on Saturday. Now, he should be named in the starting line-up for the first Champions League match of the season.

Why Richarlison should start for Spurs

Richarlison should come into the team because he is a striker who has the physical and technical attributes to totally embarrass Foyth if the Argentine defender is not at his best.

In terms of being able to test the centre-back physically, the Brazilian forward is a willing runner who can stretch play by running the channels and making darts in behind to cause problems for the entire backline.

The centre-forward has also won 2.3 aerial duels per game, at a success rate of 45%, per Sofascore, which shows that he can hold his own in the air against physical Premier League defenders.

Richarlison is far from just a physical lump who will cause Foyth problems with his running and pure power, though, because he can also be very effective with the ball at his feet when at his best.

The former Everton and Watford attacker won the club’s Goal of the Month award for August, for example, with his stunning strike against Burnley on the opening day.

Richarlison has scored two goals and provided one assist in three starts for Spurs so far this season in the Premier League, per Sofascore, which shows that he has had a strong start to the campaign in front of goal.

In fact, his form over the last 365 days suggests that he has all the tools and form to cause real issues for Foyth in this Champions League clash this evening.

Non-penalty xG

0.41

Top 31%

Non-penalty goals

0.49

Top 25%

xAG

0.18

Top 15%

Assists

0.24

Top 14%

Progressive passes

2.19

Top 25%

Progressive carries

1.54

Top 30%

As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old number nine ranks highly among his positional peers across the best leagues in Europe when it comes to both scoring and creating goals.

Richarlison was once described as a “goalmouth monster” by Ange Postecoglou. These statistics back that claim from the former Spurs manager up, as the striker has outperformed his xG over the last year.

The Brazilian forward is efficient in front of goal and can punish opposition defenders when they make mistakes, which is why he could embarrass Foyth if the former Tottenham man makes any ‘errors’ this evening.

Richarlison is a striker with the finishing quality to turn ‘errors that led to shots’ into ‘errors that led to goals’. It is now down to Frank, though, to select the forward and to set the team up in a way that can get the best out of him, and to put him in positions to press Foyth into making mistakes.

Worth more than Tel & Kolo Muani: Spurs let "sensational" star leave for £0

Tottenham Hotspur made a huge mistake in allowing one talent to depart the club.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 12, 2025

Chelsea have now submitted a bid for an “exceptional” £40m Arsenal target, with talks currently ongoing, according to a report.

Maresca still keen on more Chelsea signings

It has once again been an extremely busy transfer window for the Blues, having already brought in the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens, but Enzo Maresca remains keen on strengthening his attacking options even further.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons is among the main targets, with the west Londoners now making progress in their pursuit of the Netherlands international.

However, should Maresca’s side manage to get a deal for Simons over the line, it may be worth then turning their attentions to strengthening at the opposite end of the pitch, given that Mamadou Sarr is the only addition the manager has made to his defence so far.

Ajax’s Jorrel Hato, who is valued at around £40m, is one of the main targets, and there has now been a new update on Chelsea’s pursuit of the 19-year-old, with a report from The Boot Room revealing they are pressing to get a deal over the line.

Hato has agreed to move to Stamford Bridge, despite interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, and the Blues have now lodged an opening bid for the defender, which was knocked back by the Eredivisie side, as per TBR.

Better signing than Simons: Chelsea could see bid accepted for £34m star

Chelsea will need to improve their defence this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 27, 2025

However, despite the setback, the west Londoners remain in talks over a potential deal, having made the decision not to delay a move for the teenager, despite the fact Renato Veiga’s move to Atletico Madrid has now stalled.

Hato could be "exceptional" long-term signing for Chelsea

Despite his age, the Dutchman has already established himself as one of Ajax’s most important players, making 31 appearances in the Eredivisie last season, during which time the left-back’s attacking talents were regularly on display.

Indeed, the full-back picked up two goals and six assists in the Eredivisie, while he has also impressed in the Europa Conference League in the past, making some impressive tackles and passes in the 2023-24 campaign.

Not only that, but the defender has received high praise from scout Ben Mattinson, who said: “Hato is an exceptional athlete for his age whilst being a technical player who can carry through the lines.”

It is evident that Hato could be a fantastic long-term addition to Maresca’s squad, and Chelsea should make another offer soon, before the likes of Arsenal or Liverpool hijack the move.

Newcastle United are believed to be “gathering information” regarding a special young player, as they look to beat other top clubs to his signature this summer.

Isak set for showdown talks with Newcastle

The Magpies’ summer has been rocked by Alexander Isak wanting to leave the club, with the Swede strongly linked with a move to Premier League champions Liverpool. While no bid has been tabled for the 25-year-old yet, it looks as though one could be imminent this week, should the Newcastle star tell the owners that he wants to depart in face-to-face talks.

Should Isak move on from the Magpies this summer, it would be bitterly disappointing for anyone associated with the club, but they could at least receive a British record transfer fee for his services.

If that happens, an elite striker needs to come in as a direct replacement for the Sweden international, but also other top players across several areas of the pitch.

Newcastle "gathering information" on Italian defender

According to Corriere dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are “gathering information” on Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni, seeing him as a top-quality prospect to bring in this summer.

Liverpool, Tottenham and Inter Milan are also said to be in the mix to sign the 18-year-old, and he is keen on the idea of playing in the Champions League, although the press in Italy believe he will reject the likes of Liverpool in favour of a move to Inter.

Given his age, Leoni wouldn’t arrive at Newcastle as an immediate starter, but the strides he has already made in his career suggests it may not be long until that is the case.

The Italian made 14 starts in Serie A last season, showing that he is already capable of looking at home in one of Europe’s top five leagues, and scout Jacek Kulig has described him as a “complete” player.

Newcastle have to be targeting younger centre-back moving forward, with the current ranks both ageing and injury-prone, and Leoni looks like a perfect option to come in.

Appearances

17

Starts

14

Minutes played

1204

Clearances per game

3.6

Aerial duel wins per game

1.0

Interceptions per game

0.9

Pass completion rate

88.7%

Goals

1

Assists

0

He could arrive as a squad player to begin with, learning from more senior colleagues, before maturing into a key starter for Eddie Howe, becoming a genuinely top-class defender if he reaches his potential.

Leeds United have a lot of big decisions to make on players currently at the club between now and when the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

The Whites need to decide which players are ready to make the jump from the Championship to the Premier League, and which ones need to be moved on.

Journalist Mike McGrath recently reported that Dan James is set to put pen to paper on a new long-term contract at Elland Road to remain at the club.

This is a big show of faith from Daniel Farke and the club as it shows that there is a belief behind the scenes that he will play a key role in the Premier League next term.

The Wales international plundered 12 goals and nine assists in the Championship last season, but there is still a question mark over his ability to make an impact at the top level.

Why Dan James may struggle next season

There is no doubt about the former Swansea star’s quality at Championship level, given that he produced 25 goals and 16 assists in two seasons with Leeds, but he has yet to prove himself consistently in the Premier League.

James has played four Premier League seasons in his career to date, with Manchester United, Leeds, and Fulham combined, and has never been a consistent performer in front of goal.

In those four campaigns, the Welsh speedster never managed more than four goals or more than six assists in the division, which is a far cry from the kind of form he has displayed in the second tier.

After a return of four goals and four assists in 31 Premier League starts in the 2021/22 campaign for Leeds, the Whites decided to send him out on loan to Fulham for the 2022/23 season.

Appearances

24

Goals

2

Key passes per game

0.4

Big chances created

3

Assists

1

Successful dribbles per game

0.3

Aerial duels won

0

As you can see in the table above, James struggled badly during his time with the Londoners, with just three goal contributions in 24 games before his return to Elland Road to play in the Championship.

This suggests that there is no guarantee that the Wales international will be a key player, at least as a regular starter, in the Premier League for Farke next season.

With this in mind, it may make sense that Leeds are reportedly interested in adding another option to the squad in that area of the pitch this summer.

Leeds enquire about deal for Serie A forward

According to TuttoJuve reporter Mirko Di Natale, Leeds United are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Timothy Weah from Juventus.

The journalist claims that the Whites have already made contact with the Italian giants to make an enquiry about a possible move for the USA international this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Di Natale adds, though, that there is plenty of competition for his signature because fellow Premier League side Everton and French outfit Marseille are also eyeing him up.

It has previously been reported that Nottingham Forest also have an interest in the versatile wide player, who is said to be valued at around £12m by Juventus.

It now remains to be seen whether or not the Championship champions are ready to move further with their pursuit of the 25-year-old ace, who could come in as an upgrade on Dan James.

Why Leeds should sign Timothy Weah

The Whites should push to strike a deal for Weah, for a fee of around £12m, before the end of the summer transfer window because he could be a quality addition to the group.

At a minimum, the American forward would provide James with real competition for his place and potentially push him to improve by taking away any complacency he may have.

However, the potential is there for Weah to arrive at Elland Road as an upgrade on the Welsh attacker if Farke unleashes him as a right winger on a regular basis.

In the 2024/25 campaign, he played 22 times as either a full-back or a wing-back on both flanks, and was only given 16 outings as a winger or as a forward. In those 16 games, Weah scored five goals and provided two assists in the Serie A, which speaks to the kind of quality he can provide when played in his natural position.

The American star, who once scored against James and Wales at the 2022 World Cup, has shown that he can make a big impact in a major European league when played in the forward areas, and his form in comparison to the Leeds winger’s form in his last season in the Premier League further backs that up.

Pass accuracy

88%

71%

Dribbles completed

0.71

0.67

xG

0.19

0.22

Goals

0.27

0.22

Chances created

1.04

0.89

xA

0.07

0.09

Assists

0.11

0.11

As you can see in the table above, Weah posted more impressive attacking statistics than James did in that Premier League campaign, despite playing as a full-back for a lot of his time on the pitch for the Old Lady.

He managed five Serie A goals in total for Juventus, despite his constant position changes, whilst James has never produced more than four goals in a top-flight season.

These statistics suggest that the USA international, who was once hailed as “wonderful” by former boss Brendan Rodgers, has the potential to offer even more than James at the top end of the pitch from a right wing position.

The 25-year-old star has shown that he can compete at the top level, as further evidenced by a return of one goal and one assist in five starts in the Champions League last term, and this suggests that the forward is ready to hit the ground running in the Premier League.

Therefore, Leeds should swoop to sign Weah this summer because he could immediately improve the team, as an upgrade on James, as a player who has already proven his quality at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

More pointless than Meslier: £11m Leeds flop set to be sold for millions

Leeds United are reportedly set to sell a flop who is even more pointless than Illan Meslier at Elland Road.

ByDan Emery Jul 2, 2025

The 2025/26 season that’s soon on the horizon for Newcastle United looks to be another exciting one.

Eddie Howe’s Toon will find themselves back amongst Europe’s elite in the Champions League, with the hope they can compete for more silverware too after breaking their trophy hoodoo last season when lifting the EFL Cup at Liverpool’s expense.

To boost their chances of a similarly successful 25/26, therefore, Howe will know he needs to be backed in the chaotic transfer market, with this attacking star one potential addition that would surely enliven the St James’ masses ahead of the action kicking off.

Newcastle remain interested in move for Premier League winger

The Toon have been lining up a number of attackers this summer with talks reportedly due to take place to sign Joao Pedro from Brighton.

Another target is Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford, who after an impressive loan spell at Aston Villa, is now set to leave Old Trafford behind permanently.

However, to put that move to one side, as per a report from TEAMTalk, Newcastle remain interested in adding Nottingham Forest ace Anthony Elanga to their camp this summer, with a shock swap deal even potentially on the cards.

Indeed, the report elaborates that with the Magpies ‘stepping up their interest’ in the winger, they could be set to offer Harvey Barnes to Forest to smooth over proceedings.

Barnes’ inclusion in the deal would bring down the £50m valuation of the ex-Manchester United forward’s price tag.

Elanga could also be tempted to make the switch with the allure of Champions League football presumably a pull, with Howe also desperate to land the Sweden international as he hunts down pacey, new options to enhance his attacking personnel.

Why Elanga would be a better buy than Rashford

Snapping up the services of Elanga would surely mean the Magpies wouldn’t have to go back in for another of their attacking targets like Rashford, considering the 23-year-old is now surely viewed as an upgrade on his former Red Devils teammate after his blistering couple of campaigns at the City Ground, compared to Rashford’s up-and-down time of things.

After all, if it’s pace Howe wants in abundance, he will strike gold by picking up Elanga, with this unbelievable breakaway goal last season seeing him leave many a United shirt in the dust, before punishing his former employers even more with a clinical finish.

For good measure, he was one of the quickest players in the top flight of English football last season too.

The fastest & slowest players in the Premier League (2024/25)

Off the back of such counter-attacking magic, Elanga would rightfully describe himself as “one of the fastest players in the PL”, with the standout Swede thankfully backing up these rampaging forays more often than not with a meaningful strike or an assist.

Games played

38

25

Goals scored

6

6

Assists

11

3

Big chances missed

6

5

Big chances created

9

8

Whilst Rashford did shine away from Old Trafford last season on the temporary books of Villa, it’s also clear from the numbers that Elanga would be the better pick-up, with the 5-foot-10 winger far less jaded by the top-flight than the United outcast, registering a far greater goal contribution number of 17 last season, next to Rashford’s lesser nine.

On top of that, Elanga also has the added boost of 14 more goals and assists donning Forest red from the season before, as Rashford’s spell at the Swede’s former employers began to fall apart.

Moreover, unlike Rashford who is predominantly an out-and-out left winger, the Forest speedster would be able to offer Howe an option down either flank if needed, with the £50m-rated target up to 63 career games now as a right winger, on top of also tallying up 55 down the left.

Further lauded as “special” by Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, this could well be the platform the winger desires now to strut his stuff in the Champions League and beyond.

Dream Gordon replacement: Newcastle now eyeing "unplayable" English star

Newcastle may need to replace their most profitable winger this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 20, 2025

Sunderland are set for a busy summer of transfer business before the window closes at the start of September, as they look to build a team that can compete in the Premier League.

The Black Cats have already confirmed their first signing of the summer as Enzo Le Fee has joined the club on a permanent deal, after spending the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland’s French whiz scored one goal and provided one assist, whilst averaging 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game, in his 15 appearances in the Championship as a loanee.

The 25-year-old added a touch of class to the team, as shown in the clip below, and Regis Le Bris will be hoping that he can deliver in the Premier League as well.

Le Fee was not the only loan star on Wearside during the 2024/25 campaign, though, as central defender Chris Mepham was on loan from Bournemouth.

However, they have yet to agree a deal to bring the Wales international back to the Stadium of Light for the next Premier League season, despite a recent report claiming that they were considering a permanent move for him.

Why Sunderland may not sign Chris Mepham

Football Insider recently noted that Mepham has signed a one-year extension with the Cherries, which means that he will not be available on a free transfer this summer.

This means that Sunderland would have to pay a transfer fee for the central defender to sign him from their Premier League rivals, rather than being able to snap him up for nothing.

Whilst it remains to be seen how much Bournemouth would want for the centre-back, this could put the Black Cats off a potential deal as it may be more costly than previously expected.

Fellow newly-promoted side Burnley have also been linked with a possible swoop for the Welsh colossus, who was a solid, but not outstanding, performer for Sunderland in the second tier.

Tackles

1.3

7th

Interceptions

0.9

6th

Clearances

6.2

1st

Blocks

0.9

1st

Pass accuracy

87%

6th

Long passes made

2.1

5th

As you can see in the table above, Mepham excelled in some areas of the game, notably making blocks and clearances, but was not one of the top-performing defenders at the club when it came to making tackles or interceptions.

Sunderland may feel that they could find better value elsewhere in the market, as they look to bolster their defensive options, which may be one reason why they may not sign him on a permanent deal.

In fact, the Black Cats are reportedly looking at a Championship central defender who could be an even better signing than Mepham this summer.

Sunderland eyeing deal for Championship enforcer

According to the Daily Express, Sunderland are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a deal to sign Millwall centre-back Japhet Tanganga in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Black Cats, Leeds United, and Burnley all have a ‘concrete interest’ in the former Tottenham Hotspur defender, as they look to bolster their defensive options.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It states Crystal Palace are also keen on a deal for the 26-year-old enforcer, and that they could have an advantage in the race to sign him as a London club and a team with European football in the 2025/26 campaign.

The Daily Express reveals that he has a £1.2m release clause, that can only be activated by Premier League clubs this summer, which means that he could be a bargain signing for any of the interested teams.

It also reveals that Tanganga would like his future to be sorted by the end of the month, possibly to be ready for a pre-season with a new club, but it does not state what his preference is at this moment in time.

Why Sunderland should sign Japhet Tanganga

The Black Cats must now push to win the race for Tanganga ahead of Burnley, Leeds, and Palace because he could be an even better signing for the club than Mepham would be this summer.

Whilst the former Sunderland loanee is far from immobile, there may be concerns about how he would handle the step up in intensity and pace in the Premier League.

Whereas, Tanganga is an incredibly mobile and rapid central defender who can cover ground quickly and has the physicality to deal with top-flight attackers.

Carlton Palmer told Football League World: “He is capable of playing in the Premier League, he’s got the physical tools to cope with the demands of the top-flight with his positional play and reading of the game, while he has tremendous recovery pace.”

Appearances

38

40

Tackles per game

1.4

1.4

Interceptions per game

0.9

0.9

Dribbled past

0.5x

0.3x

Duels won per game

4.9

5.9

Ground duel success rate

55%

61%

Aerial duel success rate

63%

63%

As you can see in the table above, Tanganga’s superior physical attributes in comparison to Mepham were on display in the Championship last season.

The Millwall colossus was dribbled past less frequently, which is because he has the pace to keep up with attackers when they try to knock it past him, and won a higher percentage of his duels on the ground overall.

This suggests that Tanganga would be more suited to dealing with Premier League attackers in one-on-one situations defensively than Mepham would be next season, due to his more impressive physicality.

Therefore, he could be a better signing for the Black Cats this summer because he is more likely to deal with the step up to the top-flight to help Le Bris’ side in their battle against relegation.

Sunderland now make approach for £13k-p/w defender with 25 UCL appearances

The Black Cats have launched a move for a “talented” player, who has tested himself in the Champions League.

ByDominic Lund Jun 12, 2025

It is now down to Sunderland to activate his £1.2m release clause and to convince him to make the move to the Stadium of Light, instead of joining one of the other three interested parties from the Premier League.

Chelsea have identified Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite as a top centre-back target for the summer transfer window, following yet another impressive campaign for the commanding centre-half.

£47m star has already agreed to join Chelsea with club talks "to follow"

Enzo Maresca’s side are busy behind-the-scenes amid their Club World Cup campaign.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 17, 2025

This time last summer, much to the bemusement of fans and critics alike, Branthwaite was a surprise omission from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 – but he’s since taken that rejection in his stride.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

The 22-year-old starred for Everton again last term, playing a key role as David Moyes’ side comfortably avoided the drop, and supporters will be hoping that Branthwaite will repeat those same feats at their new home on Bramley-Moore Dock next season.

Five years after Carlo Ancelotti handed Branthwaite his senior top flight debut against Wolves, followed by a succession of productive loan spells at the likes of Blackburn Rovers and PSV Eindhoven, the towering 6 foot 5 starlet is now a wanted man across the Premier League.

His growing list of admirers includes Chelsea, with the addition of a centre-back still on Enzo Maresca’s to-do list after the west Londoners missed out on a deal for Dean Huijsen, who eventually chose to join Real Madrid instead.

Chelsea made contract offers to Huijsen, but it wasn’t enough to convince the Spaniard to U-turn on his dream move to the Bernabeu, with Maresca’s side back on the hunt for exciting defensive options.

Jarrad Branthwaite's fresh stance on joining Chelsea

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, writing via his Substack, Chelsea have been handed a boost in pursuit of Branthwaite as an alternative to Huijsen, as BlueCo set their sights on the Englishman despite rumours he’s set to command a seismic £80 million price tag.

It is believed that Branthwaite could now ask to join Chelsea, amid “frustration” that Everton have placed such a large asking price on his head.

“Chelsea intend to push for him [Branthwaite] again and there is a possibility that they offer players to Everton in an attempt to get the fee down and make the deal more appealing on both sides,” said Phillips.

“The other further info we have received from SPTC sources is that there’s a feeling now that Branthwaite could actually leave Everton this window for a Champions League club – which puts Chelsea in a strong position.

“We’ve also heard that he is a little frustrated, on Everton putting such a big valuation on his head. We had initially heard that Branthwaite would not actively push for a move. But it has now transpired that he is keen on Chelsea and could end up asking for the move. He loves Everton and wants to respect them, but he is keen to advance now to the next stage of his career and play UCL football. I don’t foresee him kicking up a fuss as such, but he may privately ask for the move.”

His ball-playing ability and defensive intelligence would complement Chelsea’s possession-based system under Maresca, offering both quality for now and excellent long-term potential.

However, there is little denying that Chelsea will definitely want to re-negotiate the mooted fee Everton are demanding, and Branthwaite’s desire to join them could play a pivotal role in this.

Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admitted he was an “inch” away from signing a player who would go on to become an “all-time great” at Arsenal.

Mourinho is already regarded as one of the best bosses there has ever been, enjoying plenty of success and winning major honours with FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Man Utd and AS Roma.

FC Porto

Champions League

2004

UEFA Cup

2003

Liga Portugal

2003, 2004

Taça de Portugal

2003

Portuguese Super Cup

2003

Chelsea

Premier League

2005, 2006, 2015

FA Cup

2007

League Cup

2005, 2007, 2015

Community Shield

2005

Inter Milan

Champions League

2010

Serie A

2009, 2010

Coppa Italia

2010

Italian Super Cup

2008

Real Madrid

La Liga

2012

Copa del Rey

2011

Spanish Super Cup

2012

Manchester United

League Cup

2017

Community Shield

2016

AS Roma

Europa Conference League

2022

Cristiano Ronaldo even called Mourinho the best manager he has ever worked with back in 2015, saying: “I would put him at the top, I always say that. He’s a good coach, he did many good things and won many trophies for other clubs.”

During his career, the Portuguese tactician has entertained the footballing world with some brilliant quotes and touchline moments, and he has also struck gold on numerous players in the transfer market.

Jose Mourinho’s best signings in pictures

From defensive stars at Chelsea in Ashley Cole and Petr Cech to attacking icons in Samuel Eto’o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, there have been plenty of high-profile names Mourinho has persuaded to join him down the years.

However, one of the near-misses Mourinho had in the early days of his coaching career was with Thierry Henry, who would go on to become an Arsenal icon.

9 of the best Jose Mourinho quotes

The Special One has had a way with words over the years.

ByBarney Lane Dec 2, 2024 Mourinho and Robson nearly signed Henry for Barcelona

Now Arsenal’s record goalscorer after a memorable eight-year spell in north London, Henry was signed from Juventus in 1999.

He won two Premier League titles at Highbury and lifted the FA Cup on three occasions, going down as one of the best players the top flight has ever seen.

Juventus only had the French forward for a matter of months before selling him to the Gunners, and they signed him from AS Monaco.

It could have been so much different, though, with Mourinho revealing in 2014 that during his time as Barcelona assistant manager to Sir Bobby Robson, the Catalan giants were an “inch” away from signing Henry from Monaco.

Henry would come up against Mourinho on numerous occasions but never worked under the Portuguese boss, who called Henry “one of the all-time greats”.

Arsenal have now been contacted by the entourage of a Manchester United star, ahead of a potential summer move, according to a report.

Gunners stepping up winger pursuit

With Mikel Arteta’s side poised to finish second for the third year on the bounce, the board are set to spend big in the upcoming window, and The Mirror’s John Cross has revealed there are two key areas in which the manager is looking to strengthen.

Bukayo Saka’s lengthy spell on the sidelines this season underlined his importance to the Gunners, but there may be some concerns about Gabriel Martinelli’s attacking output, with the Brazilian hardly setting the world alight in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old picked up just eight goals and four assists in the 2024-25 campaign, and the north Londoners could now be presented with the opportunity to raid one of their Premier League rivals for a potential replacement.

Indeed, according to a report from The Boot Room, the agents of Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho have now been in contact over a potential move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, with the left-winger set to be sold.

Garnacho is frustrated about not being included in the starting XI for the Europa League final, and having accepted he needs to leave Old Trafford this summer, the Argentine is keen on a switch to Atletico Madrid, while Napoli are also in the picture.

It remains to be seen whether the 20-year-old is tempted by a move to Arsenal, but any deal is expected to amount to around £51m.

£359k-per-week striker would join Arsenal "immediately", Berta wants him

He’s apparently very keen.

ByEmilio Galantini May 24, 2025 "Generational" Garnacho needs summer move

Much like a whole host of other top players, the Argentina international’s career has stalled at Old Trafford, picking up just six goals and two assists in the Premier League this season, but there are plenty of signs the youngster could be a success elsewhere.

Lauded as “generational” by Statman Dave, the starlet holds the record for most goal involvements by a teenager in United’s history, while he has also received praise for his ability to create chances.

That said, Arsenal have identified a number of other winger targets, and it would be a risk to take a punt on Garnacho, rather than a player who is more proven at the top level.

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Rafael Leao

AC Milan

£145m

Nico Williams

Athletic Club

£49m

Ademola Lookman

Atalanta

£55m

Rodrygo

Real Madrid

£85m

Sunderland face no current competition in their efforts to sign a “fantastic” player in the summer transfer window, according to a new update.

Sunderland preparing for season-defining playoff final

The Black Cats face their biggest game of the season on Saturday afternoon, as they take on Sheffield United in the Championship playoff final at Wembley.

For Regis Le Bris and his Sunderland players, it is a truly enormous occasion for so many reasons, firstly because a return to the Premier League would bring so much joy to the fanbase, following years in both the Championship and League One.

Le Bris has sent out a message to the supporters before the game, saying: “Sheffield United will now be another very tough game. Coventry were really good in both legs, and Sheffield will be just as strong. We’ll be prepared for the fixture, and we’ll fight until the end. Our focus is now fully on the final. It’s really clear, this is the main objective of the season. We have to take the final step. It will be tough, but we must put the work in now to make sure we’re ready.”

The financial gains are also clearly massive for the Black Cats, generating plenty of funds for new signings, not to mention hopefully persuading current stars to move on. Now, a new incoming rumour has emerged ahead of the summer window.

Sunderland pushing to sign "fantastic" defender

According to a new update from Midi Libre [via Sport Witness], Sunderland are interested in signing Montpellier centre-back Modibo Sagnan this summer, as they look to boost their defensive options.

The 26-year-old has just suffered relegation from Ligue 1 with his current club and looks increasingly likely to enjoy a fresh challenge ahead of next season. It is claimed that the Black Cats are the only club seen as suitors.

Sagnan could be an ideal signing for Sunderland, although it remains to be seen if he would be willing to play in the Championship next season, highlighting the importance of Saturday’s clash with the Blades.

At 26, the four-cap Mali international is at a great point in his career, sitting right in his peak years, which is unlikely to change for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, legendary former centre-back Ronald Koeman has had this to say about him: “Modibo is a fantastic defender, so strong and intelligent. He’s shown in the Eredivisie he can dominate.”

Sunderland have impressed in defence this season, not least the monstrous Dan Ballard, who was his side’s match-winning hero in the playoff semi-final triumph over Coventry City, but reinforcements are still needed there.

Sunderland have struck gold on pacey star who's worth as much as Ballard

Sunderland have struck gold with this electric attacker who is now worth the same as Daniel Ballard.

ByKelan Sarson May 20, 2025

Le Bris will want to have as much competition for places as possible, especially if Sunderland make it back to the Premier League this weekend, so a move for Sagnan makes total sense, having averaged 4.3 clearances per game across 27 Ligue 1 appearances this season.