Chelsea are believed to still be active in the summer transfer market, despite having just shored up their attacking line with two deals for Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte.

23 transfers, 24 if you count Buonanotte, have been conducted by Chelsea – and that’s not even including their various outgoing loan deals for the likes of Marc Guiu and Aaron Anselmino.

BlueCo’s hustle in the market has yielded over £300 million in player sales with around £320 million spent on new signings, with Enzo Maresca’s side registering a net-spend of just £20 million as they navigate PSR excellently.

Chelsea’s summer transfers
Incoming	Outgoing
Joao Pedro	Noni Madueke
Jamie Gittens	João Félix
Jorrel Hato	Djordje Petrovic
Liam Delap	Lesley Ugochukwu
Dario Essugo	Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Mamadou Sarr	Renato Veiga
Estevao	Armando Broja
Kendry Paez	Carney Chukwuemeka
Alejandro Garnacho	Mathis Amougou
Facundo Buonanotte	Basir Humphreys
	Kepa Arrizabalaga
	Marcus Bettinelli
	Christopher Nkunku
	Alfie Gilchrist

Exits for Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Mathis Amougou and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have made room for the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Jorrel Hato, but if Chelsea want to register Garnacho and Buonanotte for their Champions League squad next season, more sales could be required.

This is especially the case if Maresca wants to include Barcelona star Fermin Lopez, who is now a top target for Chelsea heading into deadline day after they missed out on Xavi Simons to Tottenham.

The Spaniard has become a key player for Hansi Flick, bagging eight goals and 10 assists in 46 total appearances last season, and Chelsea are believed to be trying their luck to sign him.

Reports suggest Maresca has been in contact with Lopez personally, and Chelsea are prepared to offer Barça a maximum of around £50 million for the player, not to mention a lucrative contract worth £250,000-per-week, but the player’s club want £60m (Sport).

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have even made a £40m bid for Lopez, but Barça are not keen on selling and must rely on the player’s decision to force through a transfer – unless they trigger his seismic £433 million release clause, of course.

Chelsea "working tirelessly" to sign Fermin Lopez after Facundo Buonanotte

As per TEAMtalk, Chelsea are “working tirelessly” to convince Lopez to join them, even after their deal for Buonanotte.

The Blues are ready to offer him a “lucrative” long-term contract, as previously reported, and personal terms aren’t expected to pose any issue in this potential deal.

While Barça are a roadblock, Chelsea appear to be doing all they can on the player front.

TT sources also claim that Lopez is warming to the idea of a Stamford Bridge move, but is yet to fully commit to the idea. The 22-year-old has emotional ties to Barça, having grown up as a lifelong fan, and he’s publicly denied notions he would leave this summer.

That being said, players can pull U-turns, and the prospect of a Premier League move is enticing for any athlete at any level.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São José-RS venceu o América-RN por 2 a 0 e assumiu a vice-liderança do Campeonato Brasileiro da Série C. O Zeca chegou a sua quinta vitória em 11 jogos. Um dos destaques da equipe na competição, o zagueiro Lucas Cunha, comentou sobre o bom momento do time e mais uma partida sem sofrer gols na competição, o terceiro até o momento, tendo a quinta melhor defesa.

Invicto no Passo D’Areia, o São José recebeu o América, precisando da vitória para assumir a vice-liderança. Foi só no segundo tempo que o Zequinha conseguiu abrir o placar, em cobrança de falta do goleiro Fábio Rampi. Alguns minutos depois, Sillas aumentou o placar e decretou a vitória.

– Vitória muito importante diante de uma equipe muito bem qualificada. Vencer um jogo desse nível e sem sofrer gols é muito importante dentro de uma competição tão difícil – comemorou Lucas Cunha.

Mesmo com a vice-liderança, a diferença de pontos entre o São José e o 9º colocado, Confiança, é de apenas três pontos. Para Lucas Cunha, essa é uma das edições mais difíceis dos últimos anos, o que mostra tamanho equilibro da competição, até o momento, mas que o Zeca tem tudo para continuar brigando nas primeiras colocações dessa primeira fase.

– No meu ponto de vista é a série C mais difícil dos últimos anos, o que mostra bem essa diferença pequena de pontos. Nós fizemos por merecer estar na vice liderança do campeonato, temos um esquema bem definido, temos consistência defensiva e o melhor ataque da competição, temos que continuar nos cobrando, corrigindo pequenos erros e continuar nos preparando para esse último terço da competição – disse o zagueiro.

Com o melhor ataque e a quinta melhor defesa, o São José vem surpreendendo, pois não era uma das equipes citadas para brigar pelas primeiras colocações da competição. Titular nas 11 partidas do Zequinha na competição, Lucas Cunha, falou sobre o campeonato da equipe e a boa temporada que vem fazendo nesse ano.

– O São José vem surpreendendo a todos que analisam de fora, pois nós jogadores, convivendo no dia a dia já tínhamos consciência de que poderíamos brigar na parte de cima da tabela – afirmou.

– Estou em uma temporada muito boa, sao 16 jogos do estadual pela Portuguesa santista e 11 somados pelo São José na série C, uma sequência regular e com atuações seguras – completou, Lucas Cunha.

O São José volta a campo pelo Campeonato Brasileiro da Série C no próximo domingo, 9, às 19h, contra a Aparecidense, no estádio Aníbal Toledo. Com uma vitória, o Zequinha permanece na vice-liderança e tem a chance de se aproximar do Amazonas, líder da competiçãocom24pontos.

Everton’s summer has been one of bold investment.

After losing several senior players, including Ashley Young, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the club moved swiftly in the market.

Thierno Barry arrived from Villarreal, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea, Tyler Dibling from Southampton, and, most eye-catchingly, Jack Grealish from Manchester City.

The start to the season has been encouraging. Everton lost their opening fixture 1-0 away at a raucous Elland Road but responded with a 2-0 home win over Brighton.

That momentum carried into a thrilling 3-2 victory at Molineux, giving supporters cautious optimism. Yet amid this excitement, Everton’s left-back situation remains one of the more pressing concerns.

For years, the position was locked down by club legend Leighton Baines, whose attacking instincts, set-piece expertise, and sheer consistency made him a fan favourite and one of the best full-backs in Premier League history.

Baines played 420 games for the Toffees, scoring 39 goals and assisting 64 more, becoming the first defender to reach 50 Premier League assists.

Now an assistant coach under David Moyes, Baines still casts a long shadow over the role he perfected.

Everton’s recent struggles in the position, however, have made his legacy all the more glaring.

Everton's issues at Left-Back

Everton’s problems at left-back were laid bare on opening day when James Garner, a natural midfielder, was forced to fill in against Leeds.

He performed admirably, even scoring against Brighton in the following game when deployed there again, but his inclusion underscored the lack of natural options.

Vitaliy Mykolenko remains the first-choice left-back, but his availability is a constant question mark.

Since joining Everton, the Ukrainian has missed 23 matches through injury, disrupting any rhythm in the back line.

His return for the full 90 minutes against Wolves was a welcome sight, but the recurring fitness issues mean the club cannot rely on him as a season-long solution.

The uncertainty at left-back has been a consistent issue since Baines retired, and it is little surprise Everton turned to the transfer market in search of an answer.

Their £8m move for one of Europe’s most promising young full-backs could prove decisive in addressing this long-standing problem.

Adam Aznou could be the next Baines

Everton’s decision to sign Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich was not just a short-term fix but a long-term investment in a player who has the potential to redefine their left side.

At 19, the Moroccan international has already built a reputation as one of the brightest defensive talents in Europe.

A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, he moved to Bayern in 2022, featuring in both the Champions League and Club World Cup, albeit for just 29 minutes combined.

The second half of last season saw him gain valuable senior experience on loan at Real Valladolid.

Despite the club finishing bottom of La Liga, Aznou shone individually, ranking second for dribbles completed among defenders with at least 500 minutes played, as per BBC Sport

Bayern board member Max Eberl openly admitted regret at losing him, underlining just how highly rated he remains in Germany.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has already described Aznou as having “huge potential,” a statement that captures the excitement surrounding the teenager’s arrival. Mattinson has also tipped him to be the heir to Baines under Moyes.

His statistical profile backs that up.

Matches Played

15

Minutes

893

Progressive Carries

16

Progressive Passes

26

Tackles

28

Blocks

24

Source: FBref

The full-back sits in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 (1.91), the 91st percentile for tackles per 90 (2.82), and the 99th percentile for blocks per 90 (2.51).

These numbers illustrate not only his willingness to carry the ball forward but also his capacity to defend aggressively and positionally.

Though Everton supporters will need to be patient – he has yet to make a matchday squad on Merseyside – the club views him as a player capable of becoming their next Baines: dependable at the back, adventurous going forward, and a fan favourite in waiting.

Crucially, his development could be accelerated by the calibre of teammates around him, particularly Everton’s marquee signing of the summer – Grealish.

The England international arrived from Manchester City after Thomas Tuchel warned him that he needs regular minutes to secure his place at the World Cup.

He has begun the season brilliantly, registering four assists in three games, and looks every bit the creative force Everton needed on the left flank.

His ability to drift inside, carry the ball at speed, and thread through passes makes him the perfect partner for an overlapping full-back.

If Aznou can integrate into the side, his overlapping runs and willingness to push high up the pitch could dovetail perfectly with Grealish’s inside-left positioning.

For now, Aznou remains very much in the pipeline.

He will need time, patience, and careful integration, but the tools are all there for him to succeed.

Everton have a "match-winner" who's Moyes' new Pienaar & it's not Grealish

David Moyes could have this next Steven Pienaar now at Everton in this fantastic £22m star.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 5, 2025

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke did not get his wish for more quality at the top end of the pitch in the final few days of the summer transfer window.

The former Norwich City tactician made it clear, after the 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League, that his team needed reinforcements up front.

Farke said: “In defence and midfield, goalkeeper position and full-back position, we’ve done really good business. But we spoke quite open and honest about it, we would need to add some more quality up front.”

The board were unable to get any deals over the line after those comments from the German boss, although they did try to get a deal done for Harry Wilson on deadline day before Fulham pulled the plug at the last minute.

In the end, Leeds added three attacking players to their squad during the summer transfer window: Lukas Nmecha, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Noah Okafor.

The Switzerland international, Okafor, was the only player they paid a fee for, as strikers Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin both arrived as free agents.

Why Leeds United signed Dominic Calvert-Lewin

It is easy to understand why the former England international was an attractive target for the club when they sat down and discussed who they wanted to target in the transfer market.

Calvert-Lewin left Everton at the end of June after his contract with the Premier League side expired, which meant that he was available on a free transfer and Leeds did not have to shell out millions on a transfer fee.

The 28-year-old marksman also had 249 appearances in the Premier League under his belt, per Transfermarkt, during his time with the Toffees, scoring 57 goals and providing 18 assists.

On paper, Calvert-Lewin’s availability and experience made him a very attractive target for a team that had just been promoted to the top-flight from the Championship.

However, the English forward was also available on a free transfer for a reason. His injury record in recent seasons with Everton did not make for great reading.

Calvert-Lewin’s recent injury record

Season

Injuries

Games missed

24/25

2

15

23/24

3

6

22/23

4

29

21/22

2

33

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin has not been a reliable player over the last four years because he has suffered too many injuries, and missed too many matches.

On top of that, the former Sheffield United striker has underperformed his xG by 25.20 goals (57 goals from 82.20 xG) across his Premier League career, per UnderStat, which shows that the Leeds attacker is a wasteful finisher in front of goal.

Leeds supporters have already had a glimpse of his underwhelming finishing skills. Calvert-Lewin missed four ‘big chances’ in 32 minutes off the bench against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup, before firing his penalty over the bar in the shootout, per Sofascore.

The concerns over the ex-Everton marksman’s injury record and goal return may explain why the club are now being linked with another centre-forward ahead of the next window.

Leeds preparing January offer for Premier League striker

According to CaughtOffside, Leeds United are one of a number of clubs already eyeing up a potential swoop for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites are keen on a deal to sign the French centre-forward and that they are preparing to make a formal offer for his services at the start of next year.

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It states that Aston Villa and Newcastle United are also in the race to sign the former Mainz number nine. All three clubs are said to have made Mateta a priority target heading into the next transfer window.

CaughtOffside adds that Crystal Palace are ready to demand a fee of around £40m for their star striker should any of those three teams attempt to snap him up in January.

It now remains to be seen whether or not any of the interested teams are willing to offer as much as £40m, but it the report does claim that Leeds are ‘determined’ to improve their attack with respect to their pursuit of the striker.

Why Leeds should sign Jean-Philippe Mateta

The Whites should pay the £40m that it could take to prise Mateta away from Selhurst Park in the January transfer window because he could come in as an instant replacement for Calvert-Lewin, just five months on from his arrival at the club.

As aforementioned, the concern with the former Everton man is that he will not deliver enough quality in front of goal, due to his injury record and his underwhelming finishing in the Premier League over the years.

Leeds may get to January and realise that they need a prolific centre-forward to lead them to safety in the top-flight, and Mateta could be just the man for the task.

The French attacker is a proven Premier League striker whose form in recent seasons suggests that he would arrive in West Yorkshire as a huge upgrade on Calvert-Lewin for Farke.

Mateta scored 16 goals from 10.94 xG in the top-flight in the 2023/24 campaign, per Sofascore, whilst Calvert-Lewin scored seven goals from 12.93 xG for Everton that term.

24/25 Premier League

Mateta

Calvert-Lewin

Appearances

37

26

xG

13.53

6.75

Shots on target per game

0.9

0.8

Goals

14

3

Big chances created

7

1

Assists

2

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Eagles frontman also outperformed the current Leeds striker in front of goal last season, scoring 11 more goals and outperforming his xG once again.

The Palace star, who was described as a “threat” by podcaster HLTCO, is a proven and clinical goalscorer who knows how to find the back of the net on a consistent basis in the division, something Calvert-Lewin has not shown in recent seasons.

Mateta has also only missed four Premier League games through injury in the last two seasons, per Transfermarkt, and could be far more reliable for Farke week-in-week-out.

Therefore, signing the £40m-rated striker in January could be a huge move by the club to improve the team and immediately replace Calvert-Lewin in the number nine position, given that the Frenchman appears to have far more to offer to the side.

Related Summerville really rates him: Leeds have their own O'Reilly in 19-year-old star

Leeds United may already have their own Nico O’Reilly in a young talent who is currently out on loan.

Posts ByDan Emery Sep 8, 2025

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ready to back Ruben Amorim in the January transfer window, with an “amazing” player now high on Manchester United’s shortlist.

Man Utd have big decision to make with Amorim at "breaking point"

Man United signed off with an unconvincing 3-2 victory against Burnley before the international break, which didn’t exactly silence the critics, and club legend Wayne Rooney believes the manager will be feeling the pressure.

Speaking after the EFL Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town, Rooney said: “Manchester United is so different to where he’s been before. You come in and there’s the media team, the commercial team, the fans and the media.

“There’s a pressure with United, which he will never have felt before. When you’re not winning games, that can start to get [to you] and it looked like he was at a breaking point.”

£1m+ Arsenal target has heart set on Man Utd move due to Sir Alex Ferguson

The Red Devils would be well-positioned to win the race for a forward.

ByDominic Lund Sep 10, 2025

As such, INEOS have a big decision to make on Amorim’s future, given that the Portuguese manager’s record since arriving last November has been far from impressive, averaging just 1.37 points per match across 46 games.

However, a new report from TEAMtalk states that Ratcliffe and co are ready to back their manager in the January transfer window, suggesting the Man United ownership still believe in Amorim’s project.

The 40-year-old is set to be provided with the funds to strengthen his squad this winter, and a new central midfielder is believed to be of particular interest, with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson featuring high up the shortlist.

After joining Forest from Newcastle United for £35m last summer, Anderson has enjoyed an impressive rise, recently receiving his first call-up for England, and it would be fair to say the midfielder grasped the opportunity with both hands, impressing journalist Craig Hope.

"Amazing" Anderson impressing for club and country

Not only has the England international caught the eye for the Three Lions, but he has also received plaudits for his performances at club level, being described as “amazing” by former manager Nuno last season.

The 22-year-old is an incredibly well-rounded midfielder, as showcased by the fact he provides an attacking threat, picking up eight Premier League goal contributions last season, while his tackling ability is also impressive.

It is little wonder that Anderson is high on Man United’s shortlist, and he should remain a key target, regardless of whether Amorim lasts until the January transfer window.

Matt Henry, who had been included in New Zealand’s squads for the fourth and fifth T20Is against Pakistan despite an injured shoulder, has been officially ruled out, and will continue “his injury rehabilitation programme,” New Zealand Cricket said on Saturday.Zakary Foulkes, who had been selected only for the first three games of the series, has been retained for the last two games as Henry’s replacement. Foulkes was persisted with after returns of 1 for 11 (three overs) in the first game and none for 32 (three overs) in the second game, both of which New Zealand won.In another tweak to the squad, Kyle Jamieson, who was Player of the Match in the first T20I for his returns of 3 for 8 but was expensive (none for 54) in the third game, which Pakistan won, has been left out for the last two games. Will O’Rourke, who had originally been picked only for the first three games, has been added to the squad in Jamieson’s place.Henry had injured his right shoulder while diving in the outfield during the Champions Trophy semi-final win over South Africa earlier this month, which put him out of the final against India, and has also been managing an ongoing left-knee issue.Of the New Zealand quicks, Jacob Duffy has played all three matches of the series, and leads the wicket-takers’ list with seven strikes, while James Neesham and Ben Sears have played two games each. Ish Sodhi and captain Michael Bracewell, the two spinners, have also played all three games.New Zealand lead the series 2-1, with the fourth and fifth games to be played on Sunday (in Mount Maunganui) and on Wednesday (in Wellington).

New Zealand squad for last two T20Is vs Pakistan

Michael Bracewell (capt), Finn Allen, Mitchell Hay (wk), Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wk), Mark Chapman, Zakary Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi

CSK couldn’t handle the seam and swing of Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood after RCB batters dominated CSK’s attack

Sidharth Monga28-Mar-20251:29

Knight: Patidar’s form is a perfect start for his captaincy

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended their Chennai jinx in style, beating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) there got the first time since the first IPL – by a whopping 50 runs, CSK’s biggest defeat at home. The contest was so dead that more than half of CSK’s chase was all about finding out if and when MS Dhoni would bat. He eventually did so at No. 9, only for the second time in his career.The build-up was all about how RCB would tackle 12 overs of spin, but the conditions rolled out inverted the spotlight: how would CSK handle eight overs of traditional seam and swing from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood? Not very well, as their combined figures of 7-0-41-4 demonstrated.And that after RCB’s batters dominated the CSK attack on what was not a straightforward pitch. Like Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar, Khaleel Ahmed drew seam movement and extra bounce, but CSK didn’t have any more such bowlers. Rajat Patidar led RCB’s innings, full of intent, capitalising on a dropped catch when he was on 17, and finishing with 51 off 32 balls. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were allowed to bowl only five overs, which were taken for 59 runs.Salt, Padikkal knock CSK aroundKhaleel drew some seam movement and uneven bounce in the first over, but CSK hadn’t planned for such conditions. They don’t have quick bowlers who can hit the good length and just short. They were going to open with Ashwin, and they did. Only for the first ball to not come out right and for Phil Salt to pull him for a six. The over went for 16, forcing the early introduction of Noor.On his way to the Purple Cap, Noor and Dhoni recreated a lightning stumping to get rid of Salt for 32 off 16 balls, but Devdutt Padikkal denied them any relief. The left-hand batter took down Jadeja in ways Jadeja is not accustomed to: a sweep and a charge down the wicket to consign him to a 15-run first over.1:34

Pujara: Kohli was trying too hard

Patidar ruins CSK’s plansWhen Ashwin got Padikkal out for 27 off 14 deliveries, CSK would have hoped to re-establish control. But the presence of Patidar meant they were not able to bowl spin at Virat Kohli, who struggled to achieve even a run a ball. Patidar took a six off Noor the moment he overpitched. Kohli, playing Matheesha Pathirana for the first time, took 16 runs off his second over, and RCB were 109 for 2 in 11 overs.Like Ashwin earlier, Jadeja nearly had his own back when he drew a mis-hit from the enterprising Patidar, but Deepak Hooda dropped a sitter at long-off. In the next two overs, Patidar offered three half-chances, but none of them was taken. Kohli’s offering was taken, though, and the pressure on Liam Livingstone, and eventually his wicket, reduced RCB to 145 for 4 in the 16th over.RCB end stronglyRCB kept the intent up, though, and Jitesh Sharma hit the second ball he played for the shot of the match, an inside-out drive off a Noor wrong’un over extra cover for six. Patidar played a delectable pick-up shot off a Pathirana slower ball in the next over. This 27-run stand in 13 balls gave RCB the impetus they needed before the death overs.In the death overs, though, both fell, even resulting in just one run off the 19th over, bowled by Pathirana. However, Tim David took them 20 past what CSK believed to be par with three sixes in the last over, bowled by Sam Curran, who has now bowled four overs for 47 runs in two matches.MS Dhoni got some hits in, but couldn’t avoid a record home defeat•BCCIFast-bowling clinicIt was a brief window, but Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar displayed what a threat they can be if there is anything available in the pitch. Not one ball in the powerplay was pitched outside the 6-10m zone. Bhuvneshwar kept testing the 6-8m length, and Hazlewood kept at bashing 8-10m. Bhuvneshwar looked for swing, and Hazlewood for uneven bounce and seam.Hazlewood got Rahul Tripathi and Ruturaj Gaikwad in his first over with steep bounce, and Bhvuneshwar took his 73rd powerplay wicket when he nicked off Hooda.A long meanderOnce three wickets were gone in the powerplay, the rest of the chase was just a meander towards an inevitable end. The spinners didn’t give much to Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube to hit. The asking rate got high, and they were obliged to hit, realising the pitch was not as easy as RCB made it look.Dhoni kept teasing his fans by batting after Jadeja and Ashwin. Yet there were 4.4 overs left when he walked out to bat at No. 9. Only in the last two overs did he get some hits in, but couldn’t avoid a record home defeat.

Nottingham Forest are probing in their hunt for some late transfer additions and are now preparing a bid to bring a talented midfielder to the City Ground, according to a report.

Nuno Espirito Santo situation still uncertain at Nottingham Forest

Despite a fantastic campaign for all involved last term, Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has come under the microscope in recent days after publically calling for more reinforcements before the window closes.

With the power struggle at the City Ground rumbling on, European football expert Julien Laurens believes the former Tottenham Hotspur boss won’t win a battle of wits with Evangelos Marinakis, but it remains to be seen whether speculation over his future will begin to subside.

He said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “This is a battle that Nuno will lose. We all know that once you start questioning your owner, it’s done. For him to come out with this unprompted – he offered it to the whole world – he knows that it is coming and that he can’t win this battle.”

Either way, Nottingham Forest are pushing for signings and Aston Villa star Matty Cash is a key target to offer competition for Ola Aina at right-back.

Furthermore, the Tricky Trees want to bring in Fenerbahce goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic to battle with Matz Sels and Angus Gunn, given their busy schedule that will involve juggling both domestic football and their Europa League adventure.

Earning a surprise upgrade on European competition at the expense of Crystal Palace has offered greater recognition for Forest’s excellent 2024/25 campaign.

Nevertheless, their Premier League rivals are beginning to make tracks on the recruitment front, so it will come as no surprise to hear that they are now set to make a beeline for a talented midfielder who could be on the move.

Nottingham Forest preparing bid for Mads Bidstrup

According to Salzburger Nachrichten via Nottingham Forest News, Nottingham Forest are preparing a £17 million offer for RB Salzburg star Mads Bidstrup, though his current employers are set to boot out the bid despite being tempted to cash in.

Encouragingly, the Koge-born man is said to be open to a move to the City Ground, meaning that if a higher proposal is submitted, he may edge closer to pitching up on the River Trent ahead of the transfer deadline.

Nottingham Forest now submit higher bid than West Ham for £15m midfielder

The Tricky Trees are looking to move ahead of their Premier League rivals in the race for a midfielder.

1 ByDominic Lund Aug 24, 2025

Labelled “silky” and “outstanding” by AnalyticsForest, the 24-year-old is Salzburg’s club captain and has made eight appearances already this season, featuring either in central midfield or a deeper-lying role.

Cementing his reputation as a tough tackler, he has won 21 duels on league duty this term, via Fotmob, and has previously spent time at Brentford before joining the Austrian giants.

With some experience of English football already under his belt, Bidstrup will hope he can show his maturity to claim a place in Espirito Santo’s engine room.

Copenhagen confirmed that after an MRI, Rodrigo Huescas has been diagnosed with a torn ACL. The former Cruz Azul fullback will miss the rest of the season and faces a race against time to be fit for the 2026 World Cup. The injury occurred 13 minutes into Copenhagen’s Champions League clash against Qarabag. Huescas went down in clear pain.

• AFP
  

  Tough loss for El Tri

  Huescas, one of Mexico’s brightest young players and the country’s only representative in this season’s Champions League, faces the possibility of missing the 2026 World Cup after Copenhagen revealed the full extent of his injury.

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• AFP
  

  Playing at his peak

  Huescas was enjoying the best moment of his career. Since leaving Cruz Azul for Denmark in 2024, he had quickly become a standout performer for Copenhagen and a key figure in Javier Aguirre’s plans with the Mexican national team. Now, his future is clouded by uncertainty as El Tri lose a vital option on the right flank.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  World Cup in jeopardy

  Huescas now faces the harsh reality that an ACL tear typically requires between six and nine months of recovery. That timeline would make it almost impossible for him to be fit for the World Cup opener on June 11. 

  It completely re-routes what had been shaping up to be a breakout phase of his young career, just as he had cemented his place with El Tri.

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• AFP
  

  Who can replace him?

  With Huescas sidelined, the door could open for Jorge Sánchez or Julián Araujo to step in and claim a spot on Mexico’s right flank as the World Cup approaches.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has urged teenage sensation Estevao Willian to follow the positional pathway undertaken by his fellow team-mate Cole Palmer. Maresca addressed talk of a position change for Estevao and believes that the young Brazilian can seamlessly transition from a right winger to an attacking midfielder, provided he is "physically prepared" for the challenge.

Estevao impressive during adaptation period at Chelsea

Estevao's minutes have been managed quite meticulously by manager Maresca as the youngster adapts to the rigours of the Premier League. However, the €57 million (£50m/$67m) signing has shown flashes of brilliance despite only starting four games and managing only 326 minutes in the eight games he has played across all competitions. He bagged an assist in the 5-1 drubbing of West Ham in August, but has since failed to contribute to a goal directly.    

AdvertisementAFPPalmer's injury opens doors for Estevao

Palmer has had rotten luck with injuries in the first two months of the 2025-26 campaign. Ahead of the second league game against West Ham in August, the ex-Man City starlet suffered an issue during warm-up, forcing him to miss the game despite being named in the starting XI. It was then revealed that Palmer was diagnosed with a groin injury, which kept him out for three weeks. He returned to action against Brentford in mid-September, after the international break, but suffered a relapse in his groin during the dismal 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.   

Although the Blues have the on-loan Facundo Buonanotte to count upon in the No.10 role amid injuries to Palmer and Liam Delap, who is a centre-forward, Maresca believes Estevao can make the transition to a No.10 and plug in in the absence of their 23-year-old talisman.  

Estevao reminds Maresca of Palmer

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Maresca said: "I think Estevao reminded me a lot of Cole when Cole was with me in the U23s at City, and when he was with us in the first team. I think Cole's path has been similar to Estevao's path in terms of starting wide as a winger. And then slowly, slowly you can move inside.”

However, the Italian head coach also admitted that the Brazil international will need to bulk up in order to thrive in the new role. “The Premier League is completely different compared to other countries in the world. If you want to play in the middle, you need to be physically prepared,” the former Leicester City boss said.

“I think Cole now is like that. In the past, he needed to develop that. I see Estevao exactly in the same way.”   

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Getty/GOALLiverpool challenge awaits Chelsea

It will be interesting to see how Maresca sets up his team and who makes the cut in his starting XI against the defending Premier League champions on Sunday. Desperate for a win after two defeats and a draw in their last three league outings, the 45-year-old will be under pressure to get both his player combinations and tactics right against Arne Slot's men.