Transfer insider Dean Jones has made an exciting claim regarding Leeds United and a possible pursuit of Wolves winger Adama Traore.
The lowdown: Traore’s troubles
In January, the 26-year-old joined Barcelona on loan until the end of the season, with a £29m permanent option included in the deal.
However, since arriving in Spain, the powerful ace has made just 10 La Liga appearances for the Catalan giants, completing 90 minutes on only one occasion.
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Traore is now expected to return to Molineux at the end of the season, where his future remains in the balance.
The latest: Traore ‘open’ to Leeds move
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has suggested that Leeds will likely be among the leading contenders to land the Spain winger in the summer.
The journalist explained: “He knows they want him. I think he’s been open to it in the past. If there’s no future for him at Wolves, or Barcelona, then he will have to consider it.”
The verdict: Worth the risk
Traore was once dubbed ‘undefendable’ by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp due to his frightening pace, power and direct running style, possessing all the raw attributes to succeed at a high level, but he has often flattered to deceive in the final third.
Despite the eight-cap Spain international’s frightening physicality, he has just 24 direct goal contributions in 160 Premier League appearances and has earned a lowly 6.94 Sofascore rating in the Spanish top flight this term – taking only 23 touches per game – in a disappointing 2021/22 campaign.
However, with the long term future of Raphinha at Elland Road in doubt and fellow winger Dan James failing to hit the ground running in Yorkshire, Whites manager Jesse Marsch would indeed be wise to keep Traore in mind if the price is right this summer as Wolves potentially look to cut their losses on the 26-year-old.
In other news: Leeds want this powerful 12-goal striker who is ‘ideal’ for the Championship
Sunderland are back in action this evening for their second-leg semi-final play-off clash against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
The Black Cats secured a 1-0 victory over the Yorkshire club in the first leg at the Stadium of Light on Friday thanks to a goal from striker Ross Stewart.
Looking ahead to tonight’s clash, Sunderland manager Alex Neil revealed that his side have no new injury issues coming off the back of Friday’s win, which will be music to the ears of many fans of the Wearside club.
With that in mind, here’s how we feel the Black Cats could line up for tonight’s crucial showdown.
In goal, having kept a clean sheet last time out and saved Wednesday’s only shot on target, it seems likely that Neil would stick with Anthony Patterson to see if he can stop the home side from scoring this time around.
For the back three, we predict that Bailey Wright and Danny Batth will keep their places in the team but see Callum Doyle come back in from the start after making a late cameo on Friday to see out the win.
Labelled as a “very exciting talent” by Kevin Phillips, Doyle has racked up a lot of experience during his season with Sunderland on loan from Manchester City’s U23 side in terms of his playing time.
With that change in mind, we think that Dennis Cirkin will also keep his place in the side but move into the left wing-back role with Jack Clarke dropping out.
Having had his move to Tottenham Hotspur described as “bizarre,” the 21-year-old failed to have much of an impact last time out either in an attacking or defensive sense for his side.
For the right wing-back position, we can see Lynden Gooch lining up once again to make up the back five.
In midfield, rather than making anymore big changes, we think that the duo of Corry Evans and Luke O’Nien will make up the central midfield on this occasion.
Then for the final three attacking positions, having scored the winner in the first leg and racking up a total of 25 goals in 51 games this season, it’s safe to suggest that Stewart is likely to be the first name on the teamsheet for the Black Cats.
Behind Stewart, we can see Alex Pritchard sticking in the team to try and be an attacking nuisance once again.
Finally, with Neil suggesting that Nathan Broadhead could be available to play after missing the first leg through injury, we feel that the Sunderland boss will put him back in the team if he’s fit enough to add an extra attacking threat in his side.
In other news: Neil must ruthlessly axe “effortless” £25k-p/w SAFC dud, he could cost them promotion
Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch is set to make changes to his backroom staff this off-season and one move seems likely to happen…
What’s the word?
The Athletic’s Phil Hay reported that current Manchester United assistant Chris Armas was one of the candidates for a permanent position under the American at Elland Road, despite being impressed by Mark Jackson’s impact at the club.
Further fuel has since been added to the fire, with transfer insider Dean Jones believing that it’s a real possibility that Marsch’s former NYRB right-hand man swaps Old Trafford for west Yorkshire in the summer.
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“It would be a much better fit for him because, at the moment, it sounds like there’s almost zero respect at Manchester United,” he told GIVEMSPORT.
“He needs to work with people that understand what he’s good at and give him the respect that he clearly deserves in his field of work.
“Jesse Marsch is somebody that knows him well, he’s definitely contemplating how his backroom team shapes up for next season and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if he turned up at Elland Road.”
Boost for Marsch
This would be something of a major boost for the 48-year-old as working with people he’s enjoyed success with before is only going to help Leeds improve tenfold.
Armas has also been getting experience in the Premier League, under Ralf Rangnick, so should the Yorkshire giants stave off relegation, then it will come as another bonus.
Described as “very helpful” and a “good expert” by the interim Red Devils boss, the 49-year-old assistant was part of the set-up that won NYRB’s the Supporters’ Shield in 2018 and it’s believed that his social skills make him a valuable part of any backroom staff.
“Chris cares about people deeply. He wants to foster and establish relationships that go beyond the soccer field. As an athlete, I can tell you that’s one of the most valuable assets that an assistant coach can have – or any coach for that matter. It doesn’t surprise me that Ralf would want someone like that on his staff,” former New York Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty told The Athletic.
Some have even claimed that he has an “infectious positivity about him.”
With Erik ten Hag soon to be coming through the door in Manchester and his contract expiring on June 30th, we could well see Armas in the Leeds dugout next season and that is surely going to delight Marsch, who has worked with him before across the Atlantic.
AND in other news, Marsch must axe “horrible” & “negative” £29m Leeds duo, they’ve been shocking all year…
Journalist Graham Smyth was left stunned by the injury suffered by Stuart Dallas for Leeds United in their Premier League clash at home to Manchester City.
The Lowdown: ‘Madness’
Reacting to Dallas’ fierce challenge on Jack Grealish late in the first half, Gary Neville said on live commentary for Sky Sports (18:18-18:20pm) that it was ‘madness’ from the wing-back to go ‘flying’ into a tackle like that.
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The former Manchester United full-back added that it was ‘not a good one’ for Dallas as he was stretchered off after his fifth foul of the first half, and his teammates were ‘very concerned’ for him.
The Latest: Smyth stunned
Taking to Twitter, Smyth, who writes for the Yorkshire Evening Post, gave his instant reaction to the injury, claiming that Dallas looked ‘in agony’ in what were ‘awful’ scenes at Elland Road.
He noted that the Northern Ireland international came off to a ‘standing ovation’ from the crowd, as the supporters know that he will be greatly missed.
The Verdict: Big blow
Of course, losing Dallas for what looks to be a serious injury is certainly a big blow for Jesse Marsch and his team, especially considering that they have matches against Arsenal and Chelsea coming up in the top flight.
He has played in every single game in the division so far this season, scoring one goal and making one assist and playing in various positions under both managers (Transfermarkt), highlighting just how important he is.
Dallas has ranked among the Whites’ best performers this campaign, claiming no fewer than three man-of-the-match awards for himself in the league, while also ranking highly among his teammates in terms of average tackles, interceptions, crosses and through balls per match (WhoScored).
Nonetheless, the 31-year-old will be a huge loss if he is unable to play a part in their relegation battle.
In other news, find out what Marsch claim has Danny Mills baffled here!
AZ Alkmaar striker and former Tottenham golden boy Troy Parrott has been linked with a return to the Premier League, but could Spurs take the plunge and re-sign the young star once tipped to emulate Harry Kane?
Parrott has emerged as one of Europe’s most in-form strikers this season, with his prolific displays for AZ and heroic performances for the Republic of Ireland catapulting him back into the Premier League spotlight after rebuilding his career in the Netherlands.
The 23-year-old Dubliner has enjoyed a sensational campaign in the Eredivisie, demonstrating the clinical finishing and all-round game that once made him Tottenham’s most exciting academy prospect.
Parrott started the season in blistering fashion, netting ten goals in his opening seven appearances across all competitions before a knee ligament injury disrupted his momentum at the end of August. Since returning to action, he’s added three more, taking his tally to 13 strikes in just 14 matches this term — one of the best records in Dutch football.
However, it is his recent international exploits which have truly captured attention across Europe.
In November’s World Cup qualifying double-header, Parrott delivered two performances that will live long in Irish football folklore. He scored both goals in a stunning 2-0 victory over Portugal, before producing an even more dramatic display against Hungary.
His hat-trick, including a 96th-minute winner, secured a miraculous 3-2 victory in Budapest and booked Ireland’s place in the World Cup play-offs.
This is a far cry from his spell at Spurs, where he ultimately failed to break into the first-team after successive loan spells in England’s lower tiers. Disappointing stints at Millwall, Ipswich Town, MK Dons and Preston North End yielded just 13 goals in 102 appearances, with Parrott making the bold decision to move permanently to the Netherlands.
Initially joining Excelsior on loan, where he rediscovered his confidence with 17 goals in 32 games, he secured a permanent transfer to AZ in the summer 2024 for nearly £7 million.
The move has proven transformative. Last season, Parrott scored 14 goals in 28 Eredivisie matches, including a stunning four-goal haul in a 9-1 demolition of Heerenveen. His performances helped propel AZ to fifth whilst establishing himself as the league’s joint third-highest scorer.
AZ 4-1 FC Groningen
8.83
AZ 4-1 FC Utrecht
8.40
Ajax 0-2 AZ
7.76
FC Volendam 2-2 AZ
7.19
AZ 1-5 PSV Eindhoven
6.66
via WhoScored
Now, with Parrott in the form of his life, Premier League sides are considering a move.
Tottenham stance on re-signing Troy Parrott amid buy-back clause update
West Ham are among Parrott’s suitors ahead of the January transfer window, and AZ are poised to demand nearly quadruple what they paid for the forward — having slapped a £26 million price tag on his head.
This is now backed up by GiveMeSport and reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, who also share the odds of Parrott re-joining Tottenham.
Unfortunately, for those who’d be keen to see the number nine back at N17, it is bad news.
GMS report that a Tottenham return for Parrott is ‘off the cards’, and it is believed that the north Londoners did not insert a buy-back clause in the deal which saw him join AZ last year. That being said, they do have a 20 per cent sell-on clause, so Thomas Frank’s side could get a decent seven-figure windfall via the likes of West Ham or Fulham if either side manages to strike an agreement.
Spurs’ disinterest in bringing Parrott back comes despite their hunt for a striker.
Dominic Solanke has suffered with injury issues this season, playing just 49 minutes all season, and the England international is apparently set to miss their upcoming clashes against Arsenal and PSG (The Athletic).
Meanwhile, Richarlison has struggled for form, and reports in Italy suggest Roma are eyeing a move for Mathys Tel amid his desire to leave Spurs in January.
Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange — Tottenham’s co-sporting directors — are prioritising the signing of a centre-forward, with Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney believed to be a top target, among others.
However, going by this latest update, Spurs’ potential new striker won’t be Parrott despite his transformation abroad.
The additions of Nico Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Anthony Elanga, and Aaron Ramsdale all signify ambition and squad strengthening.
Yet, balancing PSR compliance with retaining homegrown or academy-developed talent still remains a challenge.
Unlike the early days of the PIF takeover, when huge sums were spent without the need to sell players, Newcastle must now closely adhere to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
Players who might have stayed for development or depth are sold for compliance, while in the Ashley era, sales were primarily profit-driven.
These different approaches mean that Newcastle have let some talented players slip through the net – some of whom have gone on to flourish elsewhere.
This tension between compliance and talent retention was evident with Elliot Anderson, and it’s echoed in the story of another Premier League star.
Both illustrate how Newcastle’s policies can inadvertently push talent towards rival clubs, where they thrive in ways they may not have done at St James’ Park.
One of their own: Elliot Anderson
Anderson’s exit to Nottingham Forest in 2024 was emblematic of Newcastle’s new realities.
The 22-year-old local talent came through the club’s junior ranks and had been earmarked as one for the future.
Newcastle midfielder Elliot Anderson.
His transfer, which saw goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos move in the opposite direction, was less about choice and more about balancing the books.
Jankuba Minteh was also reluctantly sold to Brighton, and in a mad dash to comply with regulations, potential moves for Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak were even considered.
Despite the circumstances, Anderson has thrived at Nottingham Forest.
At Forest, he made 37 league appearances last season, contributing two goals and six assists.
According to FBref, his statistical impact is impressive.
He ranked in the 88th percentile for assists per 90 (0.19), 77th for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.07), 89th for successful take-ons per 90 (1.18), 88th for tackles per 90 (3.07), and 87th for clearances per 90 (2.40).
Anderson’s performances were rewarded with his first England call-up, having previously represented Scotland at youth level, and he impressed in midfield against both Andorra and Serbia.
Newcastle may well regret the decision, not because the transfer was financially impractical, but because Anderson’s trajectory shows the club missed out on a homegrown talent that flourished once given first-team opportunities elsewhere.
That said, there’s another cautionary tale elsewhere.
Another cautionary tale for Newcastle
Matz Sels offers another example of Newcastle’s talent management challenges.
The 33-year-old goalkeeper joined Newcastle from Gent in 2016 but only made 14 appearances, sitting behind Karl Darlow in the pecking order.
Matz Sels
A loan to Anderlecht followed, before a permanent departure to Strasbourg in 2018.
After years abroad, Sels returned to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest in 2024, in a deal worth approximately £5m.
There, he became one of the standout goalkeepers in England.
Playing every minute of Forest’s 38 Premier League matches, he helped the club secure European qualification.
Sels’ consistency was rewarded with the Premier League Golden Glove – shared with Arsenal’s David Raya – after 13 clean sheets.
He also earned Forest’s Player of the Month award in February and was instrumental in a defensively resolute back four alongside Neco Williams, Nikola Milenković, Murillo, and Ola Aina.
As journalist Louis Wheeldon put it, Sels was the “best in the league” last season – a remarkable turnaround for a goalkeeper once considered peripheral at St James’ Park.
Matz Sels
13
46
David Raya
13
34
Jordan Pickford
12
44
Dean Henderson
11
51
Ederson
10
26
Robert Sanchez
10
34
Statistically, Sels’ 2024/25 season was exceptional.
He ranked in the 78th percentile compared to his peers for save percentage (74.6%) and 67th percentile for clean sheet percentage (31.6%).
While traditionally a more classic, less ball-playing keeper, Sels’ shot-stopping and command of his area proved crucial in Forest’s defensive resilience.
Sels’ story, alongside Anderson’s, illustrates how Newcastle’s prior focus on sales for non-footballing reasons has allowed talent to slip through the net.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.
While PSR regulations now necessitate tough choices, these examples serve as a reminder that careful talent management is crucial.
Players like Anderson and Sels, who might have been peripheral at St James’ Park, have flourished when trusted with regular first-team football.
Anderson’s midfield dynamism and Sels’ goalkeeping excellence are now key to Forest’s resurgence, emphasising that talent retention should not only be measured in financial terms but also in footballing impact.
As Newcastle continues to invest in a youthful, high-potential squad, the club must navigate the fine line between compliance and opportunity.
The lesson for Newcastle is clear: fostering talent within the club may offer rewards that outstrip immediate financial gain.
Failing to do so could mean more players slipping through the net and flourishing elsewhere.
Newcastle may regret losing £30m gem who's now playing like Isak & Ekitike
Newcastle may have already sold one answer to their centre-forward issues…
After failing to win once more in the Scottish Premiership, one journalist believes that Russell Martin is done at Ibrox and has suggested when Rangers could decide to sack their manager.
Martin admits Ibrox atmosphere is "difficult"
It couldn’t have been a much worse start for Martin. Rangers have been inescapably woeful. The Gers sit 10th and haven’t won a single game in five attempts in the Scottish Premiership to mark their worst start to a league campaign in 47 years. It’s history that the 49ers do not need at the start of a new era and history that Ibrox has turned toxic in the face of.
Boos echoed around the stadium as Rangers fell to defeat once again last weekend. Even as Martin returned from the tunnel after half-time, he was met with the anger of his own home fans. This time it was Hearts who benefitted, picking up their first Ibrox victory since 2014, and compiling Martin’s misery to a new level entirely.
Martin admitted that the atmosphere at Ibrox is currently “difficult”, but also claimed that some fans didn’t want him at the club in the first place – telling reporters: “I don’t think many of them wanted me here in the first place.
“We have a lot of new guys in there. We have a lot of players trying to feel their way in an environment that’s really difficult to feel their way into. Really, really difficult. So we just have to make sure they’re alright as human beings first and improve their performance. But there’s anxiety at the moment.”
Rangers flop who's "not helped his team" is as big a problem as Martin
This Glasgow Rangers flop has been as much of a problem for the team as Russell Martin this season.
ByDan Emery Sep 16, 2025
Whether that is the case or not, however, there’s no denying that time is running out for Martin to save his job and one journalist has now set a date that he could be sacked.
When Rangers could sack Russell Martin
According to the Daily Record’s Andy Newport, Martin could be sacked if he doesn’t get a result against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. If the Gers exit the cup competition, it will mark five games without a win and potentially game over for Martin’s tenure.
Newport told Daily Record: “In the eyes of the supporters, he’s toast, he’s done. When he came in, it was the most lukewarm of receptions he got when he was appointed, and the scepticism and the concerns the fans have had since then have only grown. If Martin doesn’t get a result against Hibs, that’ll be the end for him.”
That verdict is no real shock. The biggest surprise is arguably that he is still in a job after the Hearts game and Ibrox’s reaction to that result. Alas, as things stand, Martin seemingly has one last chance to save his job in Scotland.
The final day of the Premier League season saw controversy and agony for Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s side were on the cusp of qualifying for the Champions League, but ended up falling down to sixth in the table and only reaching the Europa League after a 2-0 loss away to Manchester United.
The controversial moment came with the scoreline at 0-0. Morgan Rogers, a key player for the Villans, stole the ball from Altay Bayindir’s grasp and converted home. However, the referee blew the whistle before the England international scored, meaning VAR could not intervene.
With Villa missing out on Champions League football, you may think that will stop them competing for the big signings this summer with those who did qualify. However, before the window has even opened, that does not seem to be the case.
The latest Villa transfer news
It seems like the Villans will need to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer. Recent reports suggest that Emiliano Martinez will leave the club, with former side Arsenal lining up a move if David Raya leaves North London.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
If that is the case, reports in one Spanish newspaper, via Sport Witness, suggest the Villans have placed a bid for his replacement.
That man is Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who is also wanted by La Liga giants Barcelona, as well as the Gunners and south coast outfit Bournemouth.
Espanyol's Joan Garcia makes a save
There is also interest from Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli, who have just won their fourth Scudetto. If Villa really have made a bid, it would need to be in the region of £21m, which is thought to be his release clause.
Why Garcia would be a good signing
There is perhaps no goalkeeper who is more highly rated in Europe this season than Garcia. The 24-year-old, who was born in Sallent de Llobregat, a small town outside of Barcelona, was named in WhoScored’s La Liga team of the season.
Indeed, that was the sort of impression he left on the rest of European football this term, hence the interest from Villa and co. Garcia kept eight clean sheets in 38 La Liga appearances for Espanyol this season.
RCDEspanyol'sJoanGarciain action with FC Barcelona's Hector Fort
According to FBref, there were just six goalkeepers in La Liga who kept more clean sheets than Garcia in 2024/25. Impressively, he made the most saves with 140, and had the fifth highest save rate of 75.5%.
Goals conceded per game
1.34
14th
Saves
140
1st
Saves per game
3.68
4th
Save percentage
75.5%
5th
Clean sheets
8
=6th
A colossus between the sticks, the 24-year-old was described as a “big game player” by football analyst Ben Mattinson. Garcia certainly stood up for the count against Real Madrid in 2024/25.
At the start of September, he made ten saves in a single game, which he repeated against Real Betis days later. In the return fixture in February, he kept a clean sheet to help his side win 1-0.
If Villa do bring Garcia to the club this summer, they will be hoping he can be as good as Pau Torres has been in that famous Claret and Blue shirt. The Spaniard made the move to Villa Park back in 2023 for £31.5m from LaLiga side Villarreal.
During his two-year stay at Villa Park so far, the defender has made 73 appearances, even managing to chip in with two goals and three assists, although both of those strikes came last season.
Once described as a “fantastic player” by former Man United midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Torres has been excellent for Villa. That is in spite of some injuries which he has been able to bounce back from.
If Villa do bring Garcia to the club this summer, they will surely be hoping he can have as much of an impact in the West Midlands as Torres has so far, following his own switch from Spain.
He certainly brings great pedigree, and will surely be hoping to have a big part to play as they look to win the Europa League next season.
Emery's next Saka: Aston Villa learn asking price for "elusive" star
Aston Villa are in the hunt for a Turkish winger this summer.
Chelsea’s Champions League ambitions are still in their own hands.
On Friday night, in a game that lacked quality for long periods, the Blues battled to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, with Marc Cucurella the night’s only scorer, heading home a Reece James cross at the back post.
This goal prevented Enzo Maresca’s team from slipping out of the top five, and victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on the final day will secure Champions League qualification, although anything less would almost certainly see them miss out.
With the Conference League final in Wrocław to come, followed by the Club World Cup stateside, it’s set to be a busy summer on the pitch for the Blues, while, off it, you can better your bottom dollar that they’ll be active in the transfer market, with a new striker top of their list of priorities.
The latest on Nicolas Jackson's future
One man not involved in the victory over Man United was Nicolas Jackson, commencing his three-match suspension, having been sent off, following video review, for colliding with Sven Botman’s face last Sunday.
The Senegalese striker will also be banned for next weekend’s trip to Nottingham, as well as the opening day of next season in August, but where will he find himself in the pecking order by then?
Well, Maresca certainly views Jackson as an important figure, praising his out-of-possession work rate, and he has certainly been a key figure this season, scoring 12 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions, with nine of his ten in the Premier League coming before Christmas, which Ed Dove of ESPN described as the ‘finest goal-scoring run of his Chelsea career’.
Chelsea'sNicolasJacksonreacts after sustaining an injury
So let’s assess Jackson’s Premier League statistics this season, and how they compare to the rest of the division.
Minutes
2,220
129th
Goals
10
19th
Goals per 90
0.41
28th
Shots
76
15th
Shots on target
34
9th
Shots on target%
44.7%
28th
Goals per shot
0.13
65th
Goals – xG
-2.3
555th
Big chances missed
19
4th
The table underlines that Jackson is certainly not a clinical finisher, with only 13 players, out of 569, registering a lower goals – xG figure in the Premier League this season, while only three players have missed more Opta-defined big chances.
In summary, Jackson takes a lot of shots but not a lot of them are goals, so, if Chelsea are going to be competing to win the biggest trophies again, they probably need a better centre-forward, so could one be available?
Chelsea could land Nicolas Jackson upgrade
According to a recent report by Jörg Weiler and Yannick Hüber of Bild, Chelsea have been given the opportunity to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, claiming that he has a €70m (around £59m) release clause in his contract.
They added that Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and Real Madrid are also interested, even if die Schwarzgelben’s sporting director Lars Ricken is insistent the striker will not move this summer.
So why are so many of Europe’s top clubs interested in Guirassy’s services?
Well, after scoring 30 goals for Stuttgart last season, he joined Dortmund for a reported fee of £14.7m in the summer, netting 33 times across all competitions during this campaign, including 13 in the Champions League, making him the joint-top scorer in the tournament, alongside Raphinha.
His Bundesliga statistics across the last two seasons are pretty impressive too.
Harry Kane
36
25
61
Serhou Guirassy
28
20
48
Loïs Openda
24
9
33
Ermedin Demirović
15
14
29
Tim Kleindienst
12
16
28
Benjamin Šeško
14
13
27
Omar Marmoush*
12
15
27
*joined Manchester City in January 2025.
As the table shows, only Harry Kane has scored more Bundesliga goals than Guirassy this season and last, the Guinean doing so in a largely dysfunctional Dortmund team this season, making his exploits all the more impressive.
As a result, Andrews Sefa of 3Sports labels him “clinical”, while Abdullah Mamaniyat of Breaking the Lines praises his ‘great movement’ and his ‘ability to create goals out of nothing’.
So, the big question remains: how does he compare to Jackson?
Well, let’s find out.
Appearances
77
74
Minutes
5,891
6,101
Goals
29
63
Assists
11
12
Goals – xG
-6
+6
Shots
179
221
Shots on target %
45.8%
44.8%
Shot-creating actions
166
171
Goal-creating actions
22
32
Touches per 90
26
35
As the table outlines, Guirassy comes out on top for almost every single metric included, with his goals – xG figure of +6 in stark contrast to the -6 posted by Jackson, which speaks to the gulf in quality between the two centre-forwards.
Ryan Benson of Opta’s the Analyst labels Guirassy ‘the complete striker’, an assertion all available statistics support, so it is clear that he would be a massive upgrade on Jackson, and his potential arrival, for just £59m, could take Chelsea to the next level with his clinical finishing in front of goal.
Worse than George: Maresca must axe 3/10 Chelsea dud to clinch UCL football
Chelsea saw off Man United to restore their place in the Premier League’s top four.
Arsenal trio Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have sealed new contracts in a major boost for Mikel Arteta, according to a report, but the Spaniard still faces the prospect of losing a “massive” player.
Andrea Berta tasked with keeping vital Arsenal stars
As Gabriel attracts reported interest from Saudi Arabia, and Saliba’s links to Real Madrid refuse to go away, it is vital that new sporting director Andrea Berta cements the long-term futures of Arsenal’s star centre-back duo with Saka.
Mikel Arteta "loves" £161k-per-week Barcelona star and wants him at Arsenal
The 43-year-old is a huge fan.
ByEmilio Galantini May 21, 2025
The Athletic recently reported that Arsenal have opened talks with Saliba over a new deal, and with Saka’s contract expiring in 2027, securing fresh terms for the latter is actually one of Berta’s top priorities.
“We will touch on several names, but I wanted to start with the top priority, which is absolutely Bukayo Saka,” said reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano on the Here We Go podcast last month.
“Bukayo Saka is out of contract in the summer of 2027, so it’s not something urgent, it’s not a worrying situation for Arsenal. But in general, Arsenal want to give a new contract to Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal 4-2 Leicester City
9.63
West Ham 2-5 Arsenal
9.47
Arsenal 3-1 Southampton
9.41
Arsenal 2-0 Wolves
8.72
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
8.40
via WhoScored
“So some contacts have already started. Now Bukayo and his agents will have the opportunity to meet with Andrea Berta to understand the strategy from the new director, and that’s always something important. You can start the conversation already months ago, of course, but then you need to speak to the new director to understand the view, to understand the project, and this is what’s going to happen with Bukayo Saka.”
All three Arsenal stars have played a pivotal role for Arteta since the beginning of 2022/2023 and beyond, with Gabriel and Saliba forming their stellar partnership around that time and Saka consistently standing out as England’s most exciting wide player.
Arsenal 'agree' Saka, Gabriel and Saliba deals but face Partey blow
According to Football Transfers, making a very bold claim this week, Arsenal have actually “already agreed” new deals for Saka, Gabriel and Saliba.
The outlet reports that they’re set to put pen to paper on extensions after progressive talks, which comes as some very good news for Berta and Arteta, but the same cannot be said for the reinvigorated Thomas Partey.
The £200,000-per-week midfielder has arguably enjoyed his best season to date at the Emirates, fighting his way back into Arteta’s starting eleven and bolstering a number of key positions, including right-back, in excellent fashion.
However, talks are yet to be resolved over the Ghanaian’s extension, and there is a realistic possibility that Arteta loses Partey when his current contract expires beyond June 30th.
While Arsenal have agreed to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, this scenario is one Arteta will still be keen to avoid.
“He’s a massive player for us, and he’s shown that week in, week out,” said Arteta on Partey’s resurgent 2024/2025 form.
“He’s started the season really well, really fit. The way he came back post-holiday was probably in the best condition that he’s been.”