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Todd Boehly is eyeing a Chelsea move for Bayer Leverkusen youngster Florian Wirtz this summer as Mauricio Pochettino looks to continue his overhaul of the squad ahead of 2023/24.

What’s the latest on Florian Wirtz to Chelsea?

According to journalist Simon Phillips reporting on his Substack, the Blues are currently keen on making a move for the talented attacking midfielder as Pochettino looks to rejuvenate the squad.

The 20-year-old currently earns £76k-per-week at the Bundesliga outfit and if he joins Chelsea, he will surely secure a major increase on that figure. The German international has a contract until 2027, indicating that the Blues will need to submit a substantial offer if they have any ambitions of signing Wirtz during the transfer window.

Could Chelsea sign Florian Wirtz this summer?

The Stamford Bridge side are undergoing a huge rebuild this summer, with a mass exodus currently occurring, as seven players have already departed and there will likely be more as the club try to keep in line with the financial fair play rules.

There will need to be some new arrivals to offset the large volume of exits however, and Wirtz could be an excellent option, with the youngster looking to follow in the same trajectory as compatriot Kai Havertz.

Havertz left Chelsea to join Arsenal following a three-year spell at the Blues and he too, like Wirtz, played for Leverkusen before making a move to the Premier League.

The duo also tend to operate in similar positions too, with Havertz perhaps more forward-thinking as he is usually deployed as a centre-forward whereas Wirtz mainly plays just behind the striker, or on the right wing if required.

The “incredible” talent – as dubbed by Fabrizio Romano – has already scored 23 times and registered 30 assists during his spell at Leverkusen, despite only turning 20 in May and Havertz also shone at the club during the embryonic stages of his career.

The 24-year-old was even more prolific, netting 46 goals while securing 31 assists during his spell in Germany and the pair have both proven they are dangerous in the final third.

The youngster has actually outshone Havertz over a few attacking metrics across the previous 365 days, completing more successful take-ons per 90 (3.87 to 0.82), shot-creating actions per 90 (5.66 to 2.48) and progressive passes per 90 (6.71 to 3.27), underlining just how effective he is in the final third, and he could even be an upgrade on the former Chelsea star judging by these statistics.

Statman Dave even went as far as to hail him a “wonderkid” and the future appears bright for the German starlet.

Chelsea's transfer activity so far this summer has been dominated by players that have either left of are set to leave, but there is plenty of time remaining for new head coach Mauricio Pochettino to bring in one or two players of his own.

The Blues may be well stocked in attack, though the likely departures of Mason Mount and Kai Havertz will still leave a gap to be filled in terms of a creative player.

Plenty of names have been linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge, including the likes of Jonathan David and Wilfried Zaha, but another candidate has emerged that may just be an ideal fit in West London.

It could be argued that Chelsea have never truly replaced Eden Hazard since he joined Real Madrid in 2019, but versatile Ajax forward Mohammed Kudus could be just that man.

According to Chelsea football writer Simon Phillips, via his Substack page, the Blues have a serious interest in signing Kudus and have made him their priority option in terms of a number 10.

What can Ajax forward Mohammed Kudus bring to Chelsea?

Kudus can indeed play as a number 10, but as pointed out by Phillips, the left-footed speedster can play out on the right – where he is given licence to cut inside – and through the middle, whether as a centre-forward or playing just off one.

Indeed, that is much the same as Hazard, who showed across seven years at Chelsea that he was comfortable playing in an array of positions, namely out on the left and also through the middle.

It is not just positionally the pair are alike, though. Indeed, the comparisons grow stronger when looking at their dribbling stats. Taking the figures from Hazard's final Premier League season at Chelsea in 2018-19, he was successful with 67.32% of his take-ons, as per Squawka.

That is a staggeringly similar number to Kudus with Ajax in Eredivisie last season at 67.91%, with the 22-year-old unsuccessful from 2.1 take-on attempts per game, compared to 2.2 for Hazard.

They also have similar passing accuracies across those respective seasons (84.33% for Hazard, 87.6% for Kudus) and got away similar numbers of shots on target (1.4 v 1.5).

The comparisons do not stop there, either, as Hazard scored 0.5 goals per game from outside the box – the exact same figure as Kudus, though the latter preferred to use his left foot and the Belgian his right.

As highlighted by Independent writer Karl Matchett, Kudus is a "sensational" and "magical" player who, beyond being one of the best dribblers around, is also tactically aware, has an eye for goal and is aggressive in winning the ball back.

It is that last part that sets Kudus apart from Hazard. The Ghana international averaged 5.5 ball recoveries per game last season, whereas Hazard's figure was down at 3.2 in the 2018-19 season.

Many attackers have arrived at Stamford Bridge over the past four years with the promise of becoming the next Hazard, but in Kudus – expected to be available for around £40m – they may have finally found just that.

If Chelsea are looking for a big-name signing to truly kick-start Mauricio Pochettino's tenure as head coach, they do not come much bigger than Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar.

According to The Athletic, that is a possibility as PSG are open to getting the big-earning forward – on wages of £933k a week at the Parc des Princes, according to Capology – off their books this summer.

Is PSG superstar Neymar a realistic target for Chelsea?

Six years on from becoming the most expensive footballer in history when joining from Barcelona for a fee of €222m (£198m), Neymar's time in the French capital may finally be up.

The report suggests Chelsea hold an interest in the Brazil international, and the transfer is now a lot more feasible due to the Blues getting a number of their own big earners off the books early in the transfer window.

PSG would ideally still like to recoup some of the mammoth fee they splashed out on Neymar, but with the forward having two years of his contract to run, it is suggested removing his reported £48.5m annual salary off their books is also appealing.

Can Neymar still do a job in the Premier League?

This is not the first time Neymar has been linked with a move to the Premier League – or indeed Chelsea – with Manchester United said to also be showing an interest this summer.

There is no doubt that the samba star is not as highly regarded as he once was, not helped by a period of stagnation at PSG despite an influx of the world's greatest players, including Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

However, on the basis of last season, the £49m-rated Neymar is still as good as any player in the world in a number of areas. Indeed, he ranks in the top 1% of all forwards across Europe's top five leagues last season for chances created, as per The Analyst, while nobody can better him for touches of the ball.

Neymar is also in the top 5% for goals scored, netting 13 of them last season and assisting 11 more in 20 Ligue 1 outings. Many will point to the quality of the French top flight, but Neymar has scored regularly now in both LaLiga and Ligue 1.

It is a goalscorer Chelsea desperately crave, and in Neymar they would be signing a player who has scored 359 times in 584 career appearances for Santos, Barcelona and PSG.

As Brazil colleague at the time David Luiz put it previously, Neymar is a "phenomenon" – a status that he continues to justify based on the statistics alone, even if he has his many doubters.

With Christopher Nkunku having already arrived from RB Leipzig this summer, Chelsea could find his ideal partner in Neymar. Nkunku is himself a goalscorer (top 4% in Europe's top five leagues last season), and would surely thrive off the creativity that the Brazilian brings.

While there is no dispelling the fact Neymar struggles in certain defensive metrics, he ranks higher than expected for possession won – in the top 32% of forwards across Europe's elite divisions.

Interestingly, as per The Analyst, the two players most like Nkunku right now are Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who formed one of the Premier League's all-time great attacks alongside Roberto Firmino.

Neymar, meanwhile, is very alike Vinicius Junior in terms of their statistical profiles, and his compatriot did not exactly struggle to form a strong partnership with Karim Benzema at Real Madrid.

For all the talk that Neymar will take balance away from a team, there is just as much evidence to suggest he and Nkunku could tear up the Premier League in a double transfer that would seriously ignite Pochettino's tenure.

Arsenal are "on the verge of agreeing" a deal to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber alongside Kai Havertz, according to journalist Chris Wheatley.

Who will Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners currently have many plates spinning in north London, as manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu prepare for what will be a crucial 2022/2023 Premier League season.

Arsenal are trying to sign West Ham United star Declan Rice, but having seen their most recent bids rejected for the player, a third attempt is in the pipeline for a top target.

Meanwhile, Havertz is thought to be joining Arteta's side, as a wide variety of reliable sources have confirmed as much in the last few days – including the likes of Fabrizio Romano.

Arsenal have apparently reached an agreement to sign the German for around £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons, but reporter Wheatley says they're closing in on another deal after him.

Indeed, writing for London World, the journalist claims that they're "on the verge of agreeing" a move to sign Timber alongside Havertz – with both men nearing moves to Arsenal.

Wheatley reports that they have agreed personal terms with the Netherlands international, who is "set to make a £35 million move" from Ajax.

He claims that, although this exact fee is still to be fully negotiated and ironed out, there is real confidence that a deal for Timber will be finalised "in the coming days".

Who is Jurrien Timber?

The 22-year-old has been a mainstay for Ajax under manager Maurice Steijn, playing more Eredivisie minutes last season than any other player in their squad (WhoScored).

Chipping in with two goals and two assists in that time, Timber also averaged a higher pass accuracy than all of his teammates (91.7%), making him a credible candidate for Arteta's fluid, attack-minded system.

Liverpool star and international teammate Virgil van Dijk has seriously endorsed the young defender, calling him a "great player" and "true professional" (via 90min).

“I wasn’t nearly as far along as he is now [at the same age],” Van Dijk said.

“He has so much potential. Hopefully he can develop further. Then it will be all right, I think.”

As Arsenal look to shore up and challenge for another league title, Timber may well be a fantastic addition, if they manage to get it done.

The Romelu Lukaku situation has become laughable. His £97.5m transfer to Stamford Bridge has evolved as arguably one of the worst signings in not just Chelsea history, but Premier League history.

The Belgian has reportedly ruled out a return to the Blues and has his heart set on another season at Inter Milan.

The Blues must find a way to navigate this deal and permanently free themselves from Lukaku.

The best possible outcome for Chelsea is they can secure an exchange deal involving Nicolo Barella.

What’s the latest on Nicolo Barella to Chelsea?

According to Corriere dello Sport, the West Londoners have enquired about bringing Barella to the capital in a package deal that would see Lukaku move in the opposite direction.

Last month, it was revealed that Liverpool are also interested in the 26-year-old, who has been valued at around £61m by his parent club.

How can Chelsea line up next season?

The Italian has been in imperious form for the Nerazzurri this term, as he made 52 appearances and recorded 19 goal involvements in all competitions.

He was a crucial component of a side that made the Champions League, secured top four, and won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.

The Euro 2020 winner has developed a formidable reputation for his impudent dribbling ability, intricate feet, close control and his athleticism to glide across the pitch.

This is showcased by the fact that he ranks within the highest 22% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for successful take-ons per 90, as well as the best 19% for progressive passes and carries per 90, according to FBref.

His addition could be especially crucial for Mauricio Pochettino, as Chelsea’s midfield only contributed a measly 12 goals between them in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Barella sits within the top 8% for non-penalty goals per 90, to emphatically display his threat in attack.

If Chelsea secured this outlandish coup, then Pochettino could potentially form a dream midfield, if the signing of Moises Caicedo was also completed, with the Londoners currently leading the race.

Brighton are set to demand £120m for the 21-year-old, who ranks within the best 13% for tackles and interceptions per 90.

His former manager Graham Potter described the Ecuadorian sensation as “fantastic” having “all the attributes to play at the very, very highest level.”

The prospect of Caicedo’s wondrous defensive acumen, combined with Barella’s magnificent attacking class is frightening and instantly places Chelsea in a far superior position.

As the 2021 Champions League winners begin the long journey to return to Europe’s most elite competition, Barella, who has been labelled as “top-class” by Jurgen Klopp, could be a key addition to the club’s ambitions.

Aston Villa could add to their summer spree in one of Unai Emery’s former talents, as a La Liga ace has been linked with a move to Villa Park.

Following the signing of Youri Tielemans, who will join the side officially on July 1st at the expiration of his Leicester City contract.

The Spaniard could bolster his attack further by signing the latest player linked to the club, as he aims to strengthen his side ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa?

As reported by GIVEMESPORT when speaking to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor, Aston Villa are eyeing Villarreal gem Nicolas Jackson.

The forward is reportedly a player Emery ‘likes’ as per Taylor’s understanding. He almost made the switch to the Premier League in January, had he not failed a medical at Bournemouth.

It was reported by the Southern Daily Echo at the time that the fee was believed to be in the region of £20m.

What could Nicolas Jackson offer Aston Villa?

Hailed as “extraordinary” by manager Quique Setien, the forward has made his mark in La Liga this season after being promoted from the club’s academy by Emery himself.

In 26 league appearances, the Senegalese talent has contributed to a total of 16 goals, scoring 12 himself and assisting four in an explosive individual campaign, via FBref.

The versatile striker, who can play on either flank as well as central, could form a new dangerous partnership at Villa alongside incoming signing Tielemans, who has been lauded as a “phenomenon” for his ability in midfield.

In signing the Belgian, Emery has equipped his side with a new injection of creativity and progressive strengths in the middle of the park, as shown by his statistics in comparison to position rival Emi Buendia.

As per FBref, Tielemans averages 6.95 progressive passes per 90 to the Argentine's 5.15 per 90 over the past year, showing that he can distribute play in a positive light going forward.

This could benefit the likes of Jackson, who is a player that can make a move count in the final third, as shown by him ranking in the top 6% of forwards in Europe in terms of non-penalty goals, averaging a huge 0.68 per 90, via FBref.

Being a player that has strengths in producing key passes as per WhoScored, Tielemans is the ideal player to have playing behind a talent such as Jackson, who is a strong finisher and dribbler.

With an average of 6.59 progressive passes received per 90, the Senegalese ace enjoys getting on the end of through balls, signalling that Emery could get the best out of the young star in his free-flowing system at Villa.

Despite no official contact being reported yet, it’s clear that the Spaniard wants to get business done quickly and with the transfer window fast approaching, only time will tell if the rumours are to be believed.

Leeds United reportedly see West Brom boss Carlos Corberan as a possible ideal option to be their next manager moving forward.

Has Corberan been linked with Leeds job?

The 40-year-old has done a hugely impressive job at the Hawthorns during his short spell there to date, having arrived when they were second-bottom of the Championship late last year.

West Brom ended up coming close to finishing in the playoff positions, however, and if Corberan had been in charge a little longer, chances are they would have achieved that goal.

Since Sam Allardyce's exit as Leeds manager was confirmed last week, numerous names have been linked with replacing him in the Elland Road hot seat. Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers have emerged as high-profile options, but Corberan's name has also been thrown into the hat.

The Whites seemingly consider the Spaniard as a strong choice to come in, having seen the job he is doing with the Baggies, but it remains to be seen if he will eventually be the man to be handed the reins.

Is Corberan really a target?

According to Football Insider, Corberan is indeed "on the shortlist" at Leeds currently, and it is unlikely that they will look to bring in a "traditional figure" in the mould of Allardyce.

Interestingly, the West Brom boss is seen as "ideal" by those high up at the club, should they want to bring in a long-term appointment who can build something special over time.

Leeds are further boosted by a claim in the report that states that Corberan's future with the Baggies is also in doubt "amid a backdrop of financial issues at the club".

It is so important that the Whites get this decision spot on, avoiding the same ludicrous situation they have found themselves in this season, with Jesse Marsch, Javi Garcia and Allardyce all in charge at some point in the campaign.

Corberan may still be a young manager – one who isn't as proven or well-known as the likes of Gerrard and Rodgers – but the progress he has made at West Brom has been bordering on astonishing, and he has even reportedly been inspired by the style of former Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa.

The fact that Corberan has worked at Leeds in the past is also a bonus, having spent three years in charge of the Under-23s between 2017 and 2020, and he will have learned plenty from Bielsa in that time.

Liverpool survived an early scare to bounce back to winning ways against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Tuesday night, having been held to a draw by Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur side just a few days prior.

Manager Jurgen Klopp had been critical of Spurs’ defensive showing in that clash at Anfield, although the same could not be said of Steven Gerrard’s outfit, with the Midlands side netting inside just three minutes in what was a breathless start to proceedings.

After recovering quickly to strike back soon after through Joel Matip, the Reds completed the comeback midway through the second half through Sadio Mane, the Senegal international’s strike moving the Merseysiders level on points with Manchester City at the summit, albeit with the reigning champions having played a game less.

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The headlines will no doubt go to that man Mane for his crucial late effort – which keeps the club’s title hopes alive – although one man who endured an uncharacteristically anonymous showing was former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Diogo Jota, with the Portuguese sensation suffering a rare off day.

The £54m-rated man has enjoyed a fine second campaign under Klopp’s tutelage, having netted 21 times in all competitions so far this term prior to the midweek clash, although rarely looked like adding to that tally following a limp display in attack.

In his 90-minute outing, the £120k-per-week star lost possession 14 times from just 42 touches – a dismal ratio of losing the ball once every three touches – ensuring he finished with just a 72% pass completion rate as a result.

The 25-year-old also won just two of his total duels and failed to register a single shot on target, eventually ending the match with just a 6.6 match rating, as per SofaScore – the second-worst among his teammates in the starting lineup.

Furthermore, he also made fewer passes (23) than substitute Jordan Henderson who played just an hour after Fabinho’s withdrawal through injury.

The Express writer Archie Griggs was also critical of the one-time Porto man’s performance, handing the player a 5/10 rating in his post-match analysis and stating of his display that: “Often managed to get himself into some promising areas and played a role for his team in attack but, like so many of his team-mates, appeared to lack the required end product over the course of the contest. Pressed well in the early stages of the match but ended up faltering away and did not exert as great an influence as he would have liked at Villa Park.”

A poor night in what’s largely been an otherwise fruitful stint at Liverpool – with 34 goals and nine assists to his name in 80 appearances across all fronts since joining in the summer of 2020 – the 24-cap international will likely be hoping he hasn’t played himself out of contention for Saturday’s FA Cup final showdown with Chelsea.

With Mo Salah set to return after earning a rest on Tuesday night – and with Roberto Firmino back in contention after his recent injury layoff – there is simply too much competition for places to allow for any passengers.

Jota seemingly was a passenger against Gerrard’s men and will be fortunate not to be dropped to the bench at Wembley.

IN other news, “Met his agent…”: Sky Sports journo drops big Liverpool update, Klopp will be fuming

Liverpool want to offer out-of-favour centre-back Joe Gomez a new deal at the end of the season, according to a key update on Saturday morning.

The Lowdown: Gomez struggling for minutes

The 24-year-old has found himself down the pecking order for much of this season, struggling to oust the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate.

In fact, Gomez has been limited to just three starts in the Premier League and it has led to speculation over his future, with Aston Villa linked with a summer move.

The defender’s current Liverpool deal expires in 2024 but a big update is now doing the rounds with regards to his Reds future.

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The Latest: Contract claim emerges

According to The Liverpool Echo, sharing news in the early hours before Saturday’s clash with Spurs, the Reds will offer Gomez a new contract this summer.

It is stated that the club have ‘tasked Julian Ward with looking to tie down the defender’, with Jurgen Klopp still seeing him as an important part of his plans.

The boss has described Gomez as a ‘sensational’ footballer in the past.

The Verdict: Big decision for defender

This is great news from a Liverpool perspective, although Gomez will need to decide whether or not to extend his stay, having become a squad player these days.

With the World Cup approaching, he may feel he needs regular minutes in order to make England’s squad, and he could also want to be a key starter somewhere well beyond this winter’s competition.

If Gomez is content with his current role, however, slotting in at both centre-back and right-back from time to time, it is a no-brainer to keep hold of him and it would be a huge positive seeing him stay.

In other news, a key Liverpool injury update has emerged regarding one player. Find out who it is here.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola could also join the race to sign a £354,000-per-week star amid the plethora of transfer rumours in recent days, according to reports.

The Lowdown: City set to be busy?

Coming after the Sky Blues’ heart-breaking defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, an arguably undeserved loss when taking into account their performances over the two legs, City could be set for a busy few months.

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Guardiola is now tasked with re-grouping his side and gearing them up for a crunch Premier League clash with Newcastle United on Sunday as they continue to chase the title.

Following on from this season, an entertaining summer transfer window should lie in store, with City reliably believed to have already secured a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland.

They’re not finished there though as Guardiola and Etihad Stadium officials allegedly cast their eye on a new midfield signing after the Norwegian.

Fernandinho’s summer exit from Eastlands will prompt City chiefs to hunt for his replacement with West Ham star Declan Rice and, shockingly, Man United outcast Paul Pogba on their radar.

The Latest: Guardiola could join de Jong race…

Now, according to what has been collected by Daily Mail journalist Jack Gaughan, a supremely reliable source for City news, Guardiola could also ‘reignite interest’ in Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong.

This comes after the former Ajax sensation was ‘close to the Etihad Stadium’ in 2019 with his family even viewing houses in the North West.

After de Jong eventually decided on a move to Barca, it is believed Guardiola could try to tempt him to Eastlands again this year.

The Verdict: No-brainer…

The £354,000-per-week star comes as a real no-brainer in terms of quality.

According to WhoScored, only forward Memphis Depay has matched de Jong in terms of La Liga Man of the Match awards for Barcelona over 2021/2022.

The Netherlands international has also played the fourth-most minutes in Spain’s top flight under Xavi, coming as a real untouchable in their first team alongside Catalan veterans Sergio Busquets, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique (WhoScored).

Averaging the same pass accuracy as City mainstay and defensive midfield star Rodri (91.4%), de Jong would come as the perfect like-for-like alternative to Guardiola’s figurehead.

Lauded as ‘phenomenal’ by former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, we believe he is a far more credible potential signing than the likes of Pogba.

In other news: Man City take pre-summer steps to sign ‘absolutely unplayable’ forward alongside Haaland! Find out more here.