Wolves and Gary O'Neil could sidestep their financial fair play concerns this summer by picking up a soon-to-be free agent to bolster their frontline, it has emerged, with the move endorsed by one pundit.
Familiar issues haunt Wolves
Wolves have been one of the surprises of the season, with O'Neil steering them well clear of relegation, despite arriving days before the season got underway. But that doesn't mean that it's all sunny at Molineux. They still remain one of the lowest-scoring sides in the Premier League, with just 46 goals all season (the same number as Luton Town and fewer than Brentford).
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A striker remains a must for O'Neil's side, and he maligned the lack of action in January.
"We had a Premier League number nine lined up to come in and help us and a fairly small amount of money stopped us doing it", he explained. Unfortunately, the club were not in a position to be able to help us with that due to financial reasons.
"The situation the club is in is showing now. You can see now why the aim at the start of the season was to stay in the Premier League."
Now, they could have been handed the opportunity to sign a Premier League-proven attacker for free.
Palmer backs Adams to Wolves move
That move comes in the shape of Che Adams, who is on course to become a free agent this summer and who has enjoyed a strong season in the Championship with Southampton, scoring 15 goals so far this campaign and helping spearhead a late push for automatic promotion.
Leeds and Wolves are both believed to be chasing the striker, but pundit Carlton Palmer believes that Wolves have the edge, and that a move to Molineux could be perfect for Adams.
“For Leeds to have any chance of signing Che Adams they’ve got to be in the Premier League. Then it’s the opportunity of playing. Che won’t want to go to Wolves and be sat on the bench, or anywhere sat on the bench."
Southampton striker Che Adams.
“But I think it would be a good move I’d like to see him at Leeds United, but I think it would be a good move for Wolves and Gary O’Neil if they were able to capture his signature.”
Adams would bring plenty of Premier League experience with him, having spent four seasons in the top flight with the Saints previously.
Che Adams in the Premier League
Season
Appearances
Goals
2019/20
30
4
2020/21
36
9
2021/22
30
7
2022/23
28
5
He certainly has a fan in compatriot Ally McCoist, who dubbed him a "terrific" player when he hit the international scene.
"Adams has started his international career really positively and has scored in the last two games against Moldova and Denmark. Apart from that, his general play has been terrific. But take it from me, as a striker you want to be hitting the back of the net and those goals will have done him the world of good", he explained.
Though perhaps an underwhelming addition to the Wolves ranks, he could be exactly what is needed to propel O'Neil's side up the Premier League next season, while leaving money in the bank to address other areas.
Liverpool put Tottenham Hotspur to the sword in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon but the emphatic performance came too late for the Premier League title.
The recent slump that has seen Crystal Palace and Everton defeat Liverpool has handed Arsenal and Manchester City a foothold in the title race that now appears insurmountable, with both of the Reds' rivals requiring just one win from their remaining fixtures to end Liverpool's paltry hopes.
Still, the free-flowing display against Spurs highlighted the quality of this Liverpool side and then some, with out-of-sorts Spurs brushed aside after a brilliant hour that had seen Liverpool take a four-goal lead.
Liverpool's Harvey Elliott scores
Naturally, it's never straightforward and defensive frailties were exposed when Richarlison and Heung-min Son halved the deficit in the closing stage, but it was too little too late and a top-three finish in Jurgen Klopp's final season is now confirmed.
But Klopp's legacy will live on, with so many talented players on the Anfield books. Incoming manager Arne Slot will have a mammoth task in succeeding Klopp this summer but with rising stars like Harvey Elliott in the squad, Liverpool are surely set for a lasting position of promise.
Harvey Elliott's performance vs Spurs
Last season, Elliott completed 46 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool and proved himself a high-quality youngster, impressing despite his side's woes and being hailed for his "special" quality by Klopp.
This year, after sweeping changes to the midfield, he's played more of a bit-part role in the Premier League despite featuring prominently in cup competitions, but with displays such as the one against Tottenham, Slot is going to find it hard to offer the 21-year-old anything less than a starring role.
Minutes played
83'
Goals
1
Assists
1
Touches
68
Accurate passes
47/53 (89%)
Shots on target
4
Key passes
5
Dribble attempts
1/1
Duels won
3/4
Tackles
1
It was the definition of an all-encompassing creative display. Elliott was a constant source of supply for his teammates while also demonstrating an improvement in his defensive game, winning three of his four duels. Moreover, his 89% pass success rate bespeaks his technical poise and composure.
That's without even mentioning the stunning strike. Salah collects, head raised, goal in sight. Will he shoot? Probably. No. He's sent it to Elliott, the young gun collecting with coolness and surging across the edge of the box, skipping over Rodrigo Bentancur's lunging challenge with balletic grace. He's ready. Anfield's ready.
The curling strike from range sent Liverpool into rapture and confirmed Elliott's masterful performance at a time of great need. Teammates stared on in awe; Ange Postecoglou looked away and shook his head. When it rains, it pours.
As per FBref, the diminutive ace ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 3% for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive passes, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 18% for blocks per 90.
He's shaping into a rounded player with a range of ways to inflict damage on his adversaries. Elliott will play a prominent part in the new era at Anfield.
Harvey Elliott celebrates at Anfield
He's not the only one to have not been an unwavering presence in the starting line-up in the Premier League however, with Cody Gakpo firing his way into form recently.
Cody Gakpo's performance vs Spurs
Gakpo, like Elliott, has been in and out of the starting line-up since completing an initial £37m transfer to Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, after enjoying a breakthrough performance at the 2022 World Cup with Netherlands.
Be that as it may, the 24-year-old has scored 15 goals and added six assists in all competitions this season, despite starting only 29 of his 51 appearances.
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo.
Against Tottenham, he hit a goal and an assist apiece at centre-forward, nodding home Elliott's whipped delivery to make it 3-0 after curling his own cross over Lilywhites defenders to hand Mohamed Salah a much-needed goal after 16 minutes, opening the scoring.
He's not perfect, but the dynamic Gakpo has provided Liverpool with a steady goal threat this season despite his positionally nomaic role within Klopp's squad.
The Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle was delighted with the £120k-per-week forward's performance and handed him an 8/10 match rating, writing: 'Excellent both in terms of leading the line and bringing others into play, strong on the ball and provided inviting assist for opener, leading to the reward of heading in the third.'
As per Sofascore, Gakpo complemented his goal contributions with 44 touches, hitting the target twice, creating two key passes for his teammates, succeeding with one of two attempted dribbles, winning five of eight duels and chipping in with a tackle.
His interchanging movements with Luis Diaz were especially eye-catching, ensuring that the Tottenham backline was left questioning their hosts' plan of action, keeping many attacking dimensions open, accessible.
With Darwin Nunez benched for the third time in four Premier League matches following poor form, Gakpo has an excellent opportunity to impress his compatriot Slot when he takes to the dugout next season.
How Cody Gakpo could fit in under Slot
Gakpo might just be taking this chance, having been one of Liverpool's most consistent and most influential performers over this recent drab run of results.
Perhaps a victim of his own versatility, the 6 foot 1 star has played four different positions over seven times each throughout the 2023/24 season and while he has been criticised, there are many facets to this sharp skill set that make him perfect for Slot's system.
Cody Gakpo scores for Liverpool
As per FBref, Gakpo ranks among the top 19% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 15% for progressive carries, the top 10% for successful take-ons and the top 2% for tackles per 90.
There are few centre-forwards capable of maintaining an impressive rate of scoring who offer such a diversified style of play, and Slot, who plays high-tempo, free-flowing attacking football, will need such a star.
Whether Liverpool decide to move for a new striker at this stage remains to be seen, but Gakpo has all the quality to succeed for years to come on Merseyside, and he might just win Slot over and play a prominent role over the coming campaigns.
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Anfield played to this maverick’s tune as Spurs were dispatched in the Premier League.
Southampton would have walked off the Hawthorns pitch at the end of the first leg versus West Bromwich Albion the happier of the two sides, with Russell Martin thankful for the heroics of Alex McCarthy in goal.
The Saints shot-stopper, who has filled in competently since Gavin Bazunu's nasty long-term injury, pulled off a number of important saves in the 0-0 affair including one vital save to deny Grady Diangana from point-blank range.
Still, the Southampton boss will want lots more from the attackers at his disposal for the second leg back on home turf in an attempt to turn over a steely West Brom side to comfortably progress through to the final at Wembley.
Sekou Mara might well find he's axed, therefore, for a different option to take his place up top after an uninspiring showing against the Baggies last time out.
Sekou Mara's performance vs West Brom in numbers
Mara struggled to ever really get going against the brick wall of West Brom's defence in the form of Kyle Bartley and Cedric Kipre, with that no-nonsense pairing for the hosts nullifying the Frenchman when venturing forward.
The lacklustre Saints number 18 would fail to hit a single on-target effort on Alex Palmer's net, whilst also being unable to complete a single successful dribble attempt from the two managed at the Hawthorns.
Minutes played
71
Touches
17
Accurate passes
6/8 (75%)
Shots on target
0
Successful dribbles
0/2
Duels won
4/10
Only managing a pitiful 17 touches of the ball, Mara would just stroll around the pitch like a passenger for large spells of the game before Martin gambled and hauled off the poor 21-year-old for a returning Ross Stewart.
Stewart's brief but impactful cameo could well mean he's in for a shout to start the second leg over Mara, managing to fire an on-target effort – bettering Mara from just 18 minutes of action – that nearly crept in if it wasn't for the instinctive leg of Palmer intervening.
Even with Stewart troubling the West Brom defence late on, his long-standing injury issues might put Martin off throwing him in from the get-go in such a big clash.
Yet, Martin might well chuck Che Adams into the deep end regardless for this second leg – with the Scotland international having injury concerns of his own – hoping he can be the difference-maker between his team exiting the playoffs and going to Wembley.
Che Adams as a potential difference-maker vs West Brom
Thankfully for the Saints boss, Adams has only been out of action since the start of May as opposed to Stewart who has been in the St. Mary's treatment room for the majority of the campaign.
Shaking off some cobwebs to potentially start, Adams would still be raring to go after firing in 17 goals in all competitions before the playoffs got underway.
Season
Games played
Goals scored
Assists
2023/24
45
17
6
2022/23
35
10
3
2022/21
33
8
3
2020/21
42
9
5
2019/20
35
4
2
It's been a phenomenal season for a striker once labelled as being "terrific" by Ally McCoist whilst on international duty, with Southampton hoping more goals are to come from the ex-Birmingham City man on the way to promotion being successfully reached.
With murmurs about Adams' future on the South Coast continuing to rumble, the 5 foot 9 gem bowing out by being the star that saw his side return back to the Premier League would be a particularly sweet ending to his five-year stay.
Southampton striker Che Adams.
Southampton will know they cannot underestimate Corberan's plucky Baggies, however, with the Saints needing to perform all guns blazing to seal a trip to Wembley for a chance at Premier League football again.
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Crystal Palace ended the Premier League season like a house on fire this year, and while plenty of fans probably welcomed the conclusion of the long and tiring campaign, the Selhurst Park faithful must be eager to see their side play again.
New boss Oliver Glasner has completely rejuvenated a team that looked stagnant under Roy Hodgson and turned them into one of the most exciting sides in the country, one capable of smashing Manchester United 4-0 and Aston Villa 5-0 at home.
Crystal Palace star Michael Olise.
The Austrian deserves plenty of credit, but he has been helped by having some genuinely excellent players in his team, like Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, and based on recent reports, the club could soon sign him another exciting attacking talent.
Crystal Palace transfer news
According to a recent report from Spain, Crystal Palace are among several clubs interested in Arsenal's talented academy product Emile Smith Rowe.
Emile Smith Rowe playing for Arsenal
The story has revealed that, alongside the Eagles, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton and Aston Villa are also keen on the Englishman and that he could be available for as little as €25m, which converts to about £21m.
It might prove challenging to compete with Villa for the midfielder's signature, but given Palace's location near his place of birth, Croydon, ability to offer more playing time and an excellent manager, there is every chance they could come out on top.
Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe.
If Steve Parish and Co can get this deal over the line, then they should, as handing Glasner a player as talented as Smith Rowe for his first transfer at the club would show a sign of intent that can only help bring the club forward.
How Smith Rowe would fit into the Palace team
Now, with the way Glasner has his side playing and the talented players he already has at his disposal, some might question where Smith Rowe would fit into Palace, but there lies one of the 23-year-old's biggest strengths: his versatility.
Attacking Midfield
52
17
Left-Sided Midfielder
25
12
Central Midfielder
10
0
Right-Sided Midfielder
3
0
Left-Winger
3
0
Centre-Forward
2
0
In his 115 appearances for the Arsenal first team, the Hale End graduate has started as an attacking midfielder, left-sided midfielder, central midfielder, right-sided midfielder, left-winger and even a centre-forward.
So, if the Eagles maintain their 3-4-2-1 formation going into next season, the Croydon-born ace could comfortably step into the middle of the park alongside Adam Wharton to allow Eze and Olise to keep their place as the two central attacking midfielders.
However, if the manager opts to use a more traditional formation incorporating wingers, the Arsenal star could start wide or in attacking midfield, depending on where his teammates are starting.
Moreover, while the "special talent", as described by Jamie Carragher, has struggled for game time in North London over the last couple of years, his output and form when given a real run of games was seriously impressive.
Appearances
33
37
Goals
4
11
Assists
7
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.33
0.35
For example, in the 2020/21 season, he returned four goals and seven assists in 33 games before doing even better the following year, returning 11 goals and two assists in 37 games.
Ultimately, while his name might not conjure the same level of excitement that it did a few years ago, Smith Rowe is still a relatively young and tremendously talented player who, alongside Olise and Eze – the contributors of 33 goals and assists this season – could help Glasner's Palace reach another level next season.
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Chelsea are reportedly planning talks with yet another manager after sacking Mauricio Pochettino, it has emerged, with Todd Boehly eyeing up a potential move.
Chelsea working through manager shortlist
It has been quite the week for Chelsea fans. After ending the Premier League season with a fifth straight win against Bournemouth, Mauricio Pochettino parted ways with the club by alleged mutual consent following an end-of-season review, before Manchester United shocked the footballing world to lift the FA Cup against heavy favourites Manchester City.
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The result bumped Chelsea down from Europa League football to a pair of August fixtures to qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League, Europe's third-tier competition won by West Ham in 2023 and set to be contested by Fiorentina and Olympiacos this time around.
All the while, speculation has been flying as to who may arrive in the Chelsea hot seat come the new season, with the Boehly-led ownership now looking for their fourth permanent manager in their two-year stint in charge of the club.
Chelsea managers under Todd Boehly
Thomas Tuchel
Graham Potter
Mauricio Pochettino
Bruno Saltor
Games managed
7
31
51
1
Win %
43%
38.7%
53%
0%
Points per game
1.43
1.42
1.78
1
The likes of Kieran McKenna, Jose Mourinho, Thomas Tuchel, Thomas Frank and Roberto De Zerbi have all been considered and discarded, while Leicester City's Enzo Maresca has also held positive talks over the weekend and is now close to a Stamford Bridge move. However, a new candidate has emerged, and it could be the most bizarre one yet.
Chelsea keen on Xavi
That comes courtesy of a report from Portugal, which claims that the Blues will hold talks with former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez to "evaluate the possibility" of him becoming the new man in the dugout at Stamford Bridge.
It had been expected that Xavi would remain Barcelona boss after finally making a U-turn in his decision to leave the club, a stance he had initially outlined midway through the season.
However, in a shock twist, the club then decided to sack the Spanish coach, and are on the verge of appointing Hansi Flick to the vacant Camp Nou role in place of the 44-year-old.
Xavi, who has a reputation for being an attacking coach, would certainly fit the criteria for the new Chelsea boss, with the Blues owners "determined to snare the next big thing in coaching and help steer that eventual manager to the top", something that they deemed Pochettino unfit for.
But it seems an altogether unlikely move given the Spaniard's recent difficulties with the Barcelona board, for which he ultimately paid with his job. The Blues may be on the hunt for a more calm presence in the Chelsea dugout who is happy to work in the head coach rather than manager role, with Maresca seemingly the favourite to take charge as it stands.
A colossal 6ft 5 player could be tempted to join Arsenal this summer, following a great season at his club and with a £55 million price tag set for him.
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Sporting director Edu Gaspar, speaking to the media recently, admitted that transfer planning for this window has been ongoing since as far back as January.
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The Brazilian has a very clear idea of the player type he wishes to bring to Arsenal when the window reopens on June 14, coming after Mikel Arteta came to within a whisker of clinching Arsenal's first Premier League title in 20 years.
They fell just short courtesy of one of England's greatest-ever sides in a Man City team lead by Pep Guardiola, but Arsenal's rise over the last few seasons has been absolutely remarkable considering where they were.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
Arsenal 5-0 Sheffield United
The Gunners, after two failed title charges, will attempt to make it third-time-lucky next season, as they aim to win the league for the first time since 2004. Fresh faces to bolster Arteta's squad will be imperative to maintain their place among England's elite, with Edu prepared to spearhead Arsenal's transfer pursuits.
"You can’t sign players for the sake of signing. This has to be a process that takes weeks and weeks," said Edu.
"There on my desk, I have reports with more than 180 pages on a player. It’s really detailed stuff. Physical, technical, mental profile, if you have Premier League experience, if you will be able to adapt. It has everything.
"We analyse our weaknesses, where we can improve, where we can invest and then we go in search of that new name. What I am going to do now, we have been discussing since January. It’s not my decision or Mikel’s alone. It belongs to a whole group."
One of the key areas which Arsenal want to address is the centre-forward position, despite the north Londoners scoring 90-plus goals in the league alone last season. Both Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah face uncertain futures at Hale End, with Arsenal apparently set to sign an "important" new striker this summer.
A plethora of names have already been linked, including RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko who has a £55 million release clause.
"Great" Benjamin Sesko could be tempted to join Arsenal
The Slovenia international bagged 18 goals in all competitions for Leipzig last season, and the 6ft 5 star is believed to be a target for Arsenal. Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Dean Jones claims Sesko could be tempted to join Arsenal and leave Leipzig.
"My hunch is that Arsenal weren’t planning to do business as soon as the window opens in mid-June, but with Sesko that would be necessary," said Jones.
"So this is something they have to decide right now. If Arsenal do put their foot down on this one then he’ll be tempted to go for it. They could definitely turn his head and he would be a great addition to that squad."
With the regular season behind us, all eyes are on Germany as Euro 2024 gets underway.
This year's tournament will see the homes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Hertha Berlin play host to games this summer.
England will be hoping to mark Gareth Southgate's tenure as England manager with their first major trophy since 1966, while France will be hoping to right their World Cup final defeat from 2022.
Goalscorers are also set to make their mark, and with the third 24-team finals getting underway, we could see a record number of goals in a European Championship tournament.
But who has scored the most goals since the competition began in 1960? Football FanCast has looked at the top 12 all-time goalscorers in Euros history to find out.
For this list, players are ranked by overall goals at the tournament's finals, followed by number of appearances, penalties scored and minutes played where necessary.
Player
Nation
Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal
14
Michel Platini
France
9
Alan Shearer
England
7
Antoine Griezmann
France
7
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Netherlands
6
Patrick Kluivert
Netherlands
6
Alvaro Morata
Spain
6
Romelu Lukaku
Belgium
6
Wayne Rooney
England
6
Thierry Henry
France
6
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Sweden
6
Nuno Gomes
Portugal
6
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The former Benfica – and one-time Blackburn Rovers – striker just sneaks his way onto our list at number 12. Of course, he has scored the same number of goals as some other players who feature later on in this list, but Nuno Gomes has had more than his fair share of Euros matches.
He has scored six goals across 14 appearances in all, the majority of which came in Euro 2000 where he returned an impressive four goals across his five matches as Portugal made the semi-finals.
But following his first Euros tournament, Gomes was only able to provide a further two goals across nine further showings.
11 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) 6 goals
Appearances
13
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2004, 2008, 2012, 2016
Best performance
Quarter-finals (Euro 2004)
From Nuno Gomes to one of the all-time greats in Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Sweden international will feature in a lot of goalscoring lists following a stunning domestic career.
And despite not playing for one of the international powerhouses, he makes this list. The legendary striker provided a steady return of two goals each at Euro 2004, 2008 and 2012.
However, he did not find the back of the net in Euro 2016 and was unable to feature at Euro 2020 as a result of a knee injury.
Despite his consistent form in front of goal, Ibrahimovic was unable to guide Sweden past the quarter-final stage, which they last reached at Euro 2004, losing on penalties to the Netherlands.
10 Thierry Henry (France) 6 goals
Appearances
11
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2000, 2004, 2008
Best performance
Winner (Euro 2000)
From one legend to another, Thierry Henry comes in on this list as the first player to actually get his hands on a winner's medal.
It was Euro 2000 – Henry's first taste of the tournament – where the former Arsenal striker was able to lift the trophy. And he certainly played his role in helping them to triumph.
Henry returned three goals in that tournament, including France's first goal in their 2-1 semi-final win over Nuno Gomes' Portugal.
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Romelu Lukaku remains one of the players on this list who may yet improve their standing by the end of the tournament, the forward's Belgium side set to be heavy favourites in a group involving Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine.
Indeed, the forward, now once again seeking an exit from Chelsea at club level, will be leading the line for the Red Devils this summer having netted 14 goals in their seven qualifying games.
No one scored more than the Belgian in qualifying, which could mean he's the man to stop as his side seek a first international honour. However, to do that, he will have to lead Belgium to the semi-finals for the first time in his career – a stage not reached since 1980, when they were beaten in the final by West Germany.
Lukaku has only played in two Euros tournaments and the 2020 edition proved a fruitful one for the 31-year-old, who netted four times – including against the eventual winners, Italy.
Belgium's group stage draw and their form under Domenico Tedesco could give the ex-Everton forward a great opportunity to be in the running for the Golden Boot.
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ByStephan Georgiou Jun 10, 2024 8 Wayne Rooney (England) 6 goals
Appearances
10
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2004, 2012, 2016
Best performance
Quarter-finals (Euro 2004 & Euro 2012)
The first entry for the Three Lions comes in the form of England's former all-time record goalscorer, Wayne Rooney. Although Rooney provided six goals, the furthest he reached was the quarter-finals.
Four of the former Manchester United star's goals came in his first tournament, Euro 2004. This tournament ended in disaster for the Englishman, however, as he was forced off in the quarter-final against Portugal due to a metatarsal injury – who knows how things would have panned out had he stayed fit?
In his final six Euros appearances, Rooney was only able to provide England with two goals – one in each of the 2012 and 2016 editions.
He just pips Lukaku here, having played 753 minutes compared to the Belgian's 845, though he could well be overtaken by the end of this year's tournament.
However, he'll always have his dazzling performance against Croatia in 2004 to look back on…
7 Alvaro Morata (Spain) 6 goals
Alvaro Morata celebrating a goal for Spain.
Appearances
10
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2016, 2020
Best performance
Semi-finals (Euro 2020)
Another player who will have the opportunity to add to his tally is Spain and Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata. He will arrive in Germany following an impressive 2022 World Cup display for Spain where he scored three goals in four appearances.
And his return in his two Euros tournaments have also been fairly impressive, with three goals netted at Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.
On top of all of this, Morata has shown some impressive form thus far in La Liga under Diego Simeone, which will surely have him as Spain's go-to striker ahead of the summer. He is La Roja's captain, after all.
He places ahead of Lukaku and Rooney, with none of his goals being penalties.
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ByCharlie Smith Jun 9, 2024 6 Patrick Kluivert (Netherlands) 6 goals
Appearances
9
Goals
6
Tournaments played
1996, 2000
Best performance
Semi-finals (Euro 2000)
Patrick Kluivert first featured at Euro 96, where the Dutchman was able to get his name on the scoresheet in his side's group stage game against England.
However, it was the 2000 tournament where Kluivert came into his own and provided the Netherlands with five goals; three of those came in the quarter-finals against Yugoslavia. He finished as the tournament's joint-top scorer alongside Savo Milosevic.
Kluivert went to Euro 2004, but he did not play a single minute and was forced to watch from the bench.
5 Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands) 6 goals
Appearances
8
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2004, 2008
Best performance
Semi-finals (Euro 2004)
It is back-to-back entries for the Netherlands, with former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy coming in fifth spot. Across his club career, Van Nistelrooy was able to net a staggering 331 goals across all competitions.
And he was equally impressive for his country, for whom he returned six goals in the Euros despite playing just 741 minutes of football.
Euro 2004 was the Dutchman's first real taste of the European tournament and he wasted no time in finding the back of the net as he provided four goals in his opening three games.
Although he never got further than the semi-finals, Van Nistelrooy went out in style with a goal against Russia in 2008 (at around 12:00 in this highlight video). Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to see the Oranje progress, despite seeing off France and Italy in the groups.
4 Antoine Griezmann (France) 7 goals
Appearances
11
Goals
7
Tournaments played
2016, 2020
Best performance
Runner-up (Euro 2016)
Despite lifting the World Cup, Antoine Griezmann has not been able to get his hands on the Henri Delaunay trophy. He will have the opportunity to add that to his list in the summer, though.
In 2016, the Atletico Madrid forward ended the competition as the top scorer having netted a stunning six goals in France's journey to the final – which ended in heartache against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal at the Stade de France.
Perhaps the standout goals at that tournament for Griezmann came when he bagged a brace in the semi-final against Germany; the only two goals of the game.
Euro 2020 was not quite as impressive, however. Griezmann was only able to score once and will surely be looking to put this right in the summer when he plays in Germany.
Every Player of the Tournament at the European Championship
Since its inception in 1996, UEFA has handed out an award for the best player at the European Championship. But who has been given the accolade?
England's wait for another trophy goes on, but it hasn't been through the want of trying over the years, with the likes of Alan Shearer providing an impressive return at the European Championship.
The Premier League legend retired with a solid return of seven goals in nine appearances, with the 1996 tournament in his home country proving to be his best.
Indeed, the former Newcastle United striker was able to provide England with five goals that summer and ended the tournament as the top scorer. It is difficult to pick a favourite from his entire career, but his finish against the Netherlands during the group stage is surely one of his best for England on one of Wembley's greatest days.
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Football FanCast has taken a look back at England’s past Euro campaigns.
Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers enjoyed a respectable return to the dugout at Parkhead with a haul of two trophies during the 2023/24 campaign.
The Northern Irish head coach had left Leicester City the previous season and took the opportunity to come back to Glasgow for a second stint in charge after Ange Postecoglou made the move to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
After a difficult first half of the campaign, in which his side were knocked out of the League Cup and finished bottom of their Champions League group, Rodgers led his team to two pieces of silverware.
The Hoops lifted the Scottish Premiership title at Parkhead before securing the SFA Cup with a 1-0 win over Rangers at Hampden Park the following weekend.
They will now be looking ahead to next season and plotting ways to improve the squad to ensure that they win more trophies to add to the cabinet, after the summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month.
Whilst supporters may want to see household names, or at least names that they have heard of before, coming in to bolster the team, the Bhoys could add to the group by landing a talented young marksman.
Celtic's interest in English academy star
According to Secret Scout on X, Celtic are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a deal to sign teenage academy forward Ajay Matthews from English Championship side Middlesbrough.
The report claims that the Hoops are one of the teams that have held discussions with the player to secure his signature ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
It states that the 18-year-old attacker is due to move on from Michael Carrick's side this summer but it remains to be seen whether it would be for a fee or on a free transfer.
Rangers, Newcastle United, Brentford, Southampton, and Brighton & Hove Albion are the other clubs said to be keen on a swoop for the 18-year-old starlet.
All of the aforementioned teams, alongside Celtic, have held talks over a deal for the teenage centre-forward and are all said to be hopeful that they can convince him to make a move from Boro.
However, it remains to be seen whether Matthews would be interested in a move to Scotland or if he would prefer to remain in England to join one of the Premier League outfits in the running.
If the Scottish giants can win the race for the Middlesbrough attacker then he could come in as a replacement for Hyeon-gyu Oh ahead of next season.
Why Celtic should cash in on Hyeon-gyu Oh
Earlier this month, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph claimed that Belgian giants Genk had submitted an offer of £4m to sign the South Korea international.
The journalist claimed that the two clubs were in talks over the structure of a potential deal but there has not been an update in the subsequent two weeks since that news.
Celtic striker Hyeon-gyu Oh.
At the time, Joseph added that Oh is "keen" on the move as he would like to leave Parkhead to go and play regular first-team football, after a frustrating year in Scotland.
The 23-year-old forward found himself sitting on the sidelines as the third-choice striker for Rodgers during the second half of the campaign, behind Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah, who was on loan from Norwich City.
Appearances
20
Starts
3
xG
6.35
Goals
5
xG differential
-1.35
Assists
0
As you can see in the table above, the South Korean dud only started three league games in the entire season and underperformed his xG tally by just over one goal.
This shows that he was unreliable in front of goal whilst also offering very little creativity, with zero assists and zero 'big chances' created for the side.
Celtic are reportedly keen to bring Idah back on a permanent deal, although they have to wait for Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup to make a decision in pre-season, and that would leave Oh as the third choice option once again.
As Joseph claimed, the 23-year-old does not want to be watching on from the bench week-in-week-out again and if the Hoops can get £4m, or more, for a back-up option then that could be terrific business from a footballing and financial perspective.
Why Celtic should sign Ajay Matthews
The 18-year-old could come in to form part of the B team to continue his development whilst also being used as the third-choice striker for the first-team.
After Idah's arrival at the start of February, Oh only made two appearances in all competitions and this shows that there would not be a lot of pressure on the teenager's shoulders immediately.
He could ease his way into the senior set-up as a back-up striker who would only be called upon when Kyogo and the Ireland international, or whoever they sign instead of him, are unavailable.
Back in April, Fabrizio Romano reported on interest in Matthews from teams in Europe and stated that the young attacker had scored a staggering 16 goals in 17 starts at academy level for Middlesbrough in all competitions.
Appearances
12
7
19
Goals
4
5
9
Assists
2
3
5
As you can see in the table above, nine of those goals came at league level as he worked his way up from the U18s to the U21s during the 2023/24 campaign.
14 direct goal contributions in 19 league games is a fantastic return, as is 16 goals in 17 starts, and these statistics show why Carrick decided to hand him a senior debut in the Championship last season.
Matthews played 22 minutes in two games against Leeds United and Cardiff City. He did not score in either match but did complete 100% of his attempted passes.
It now remains to be seen whether or not the English starlet can carry his outstanding goalscoring record at academy level over to the first-team but it is a gamble that could be worth taking for Celtic.
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He would only come in as a third-choice striker to replace Oh, should the South Korean complete a move to Genk, and that would mean that it would not be a disaster if he failed to make the step up, as they would have two others ahead of him, which is why they should take the risk.
As Aston Villa prepare for the 2024/25 campaign, Unai Emery knows that his job has barely started.
Sure, Villa Park deserves to revel in the knowledge that it has risen to heights uncharted for many, many years in the Midlands, enjoying a season competing in the Conference League and now returning to Europe's elite club competition after so many interminable years away, finishing fourth in the Premier League.
But the efforts of the past few years must now be used as a launchpad for reaching illustrious levels. Villa has risen from the rubble and it has risen through Emery's design, the Spaniard transforming a struggling outfit, gleaning its latent quality and moulding it into something tangible, something uniform and positive.
Unai Emery
While PSR has dominated the early stage of Villa's transfer window, Monchi and Co deserve a lot of credit for sealing some shrewd early deals to strengthen, albeit sacrificing Douglas Luiz and a couple of homegrown talents to stay on the right side of the financial scales.
But now, the Villans are set to bolster with a big deal or two, with sights set on succeeding both in the Premier League and Champions League.
Aston Villa chasing Euro 2024 star
According to Football Insider, Aston Villa are tussling with top-flight rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the signing of Nico Williams, who has been in first-class form with Spain at Euro 2024.
Villa are long-term admirers and failed with an approach for the Athletic Bilbao winger back in January 2023, having been rejected despite meeting his release clause.
Now, though, things are different. The 21-year-old's stock has risen considerably and he has a host of top European suitors – including Barcelona – on his trail. With a £49m release clause in his contract, this could be an opportune time to strike – and Emery's outfit have already put in plenty of groundwork.
Nico Williams' style of play
Pace, and barrels of it. Williams is principally a left-sided winger who "terrorised defences" with his physicality and sharp athletic skills, as has been noted by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Matches played
3
Matches started
3
Goals
1
Assists
1
Pass completion
93%
Shots per game
2.3
Key passes per game
3.0
Ball recoveries per game
3.0
Dribbles per game
3.0
Duels won per game
4.0
He's risen to continental prominence for his performances for Spain at the European Championships, with the table above underscoring quite how remarkable his level has been over these past several weeks, but Williams has earned his place after a season of impressive skills in Basque Country.
Indeed, Bilbao ended a 40-year wait for silverware last season as they defeated Mallorca on penalties in the Copa del Rey final, with Williams particularly destructive throughout that cup campaign, posting three goals and five assists across six fixtures.
Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams.
That, however, is just a glimpse into Williams' overall seasonal tally, having actually scored eight goals across all competitions and, more importantly, racked up an incredible 19 assists to mark him as one of Europe's very best wide playmakers.
His performances have led FBref to list Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon as one of the 21-year-old's most comparable players.
The Magpies' Player of the Season has been highly sought-after in recent weeks, as has Williams, and while the England international has some exciting qualities, Williams might just trump him in the years to come.
Why Villa are interested in Nico Williams
Athletic Bilbao's unique transfer policy that precludes signings from beyond Basque Country has led to heightened salaries for many of the club's top talents.
Williams, perhaps the cream of the crop, is behind only his brother, Inaki, in the salary charts, taking home a pretty penny at £169k per week. Such earnings, admittedly, already see the Spaniard pocket more than Villa's highest earners, and thus an exception to the structure would need to be made.
But Villa have been concerted in their efforts to sign the fleet-footed star, shown tenacity in their long-term pursuit. Now, there's a real sense that Monchi will pounce on the opportunity to sign the player, with his talents simply irresistible.
As per FBref, Williams ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 20% for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90.
It's no wonder that he's been labelled a "pace demon" by Arsenal podcaster Adam Keys, dribbling at a notably frequent rate and bringing the different facets of the wide game together to suggest that he has the trappings of a world-calibre sensation.
Matches played
31
35
Matches started
29
34
Goals
5
11
Assists
11
10
Pass completion
79%
82%
Big chances created
10
16
Key passes per game
1.5
1.6
Ball recoveries per game
4.2
3.6
Dribbles per game
2.8 (48%)
1.5 (49%)
Duels won per game
5.2 (46%)
5.3 (49%)
While the stats show that Gordon has been more creative over the past year, in his division, Wiliams is more progressive and actually racked up more assists, speaking of his incisive nature. Moreover, let's not forget that the £169k-per-week talent maintained his assist tally over various competitions, nearly hitting the 20 mark.
It's also worth noting that Gordon is two years Williams' senior and that the Bilbao wideman will be expected to go from strength to strength over the next few years. If his international escapades are anything to go by, there's no question that Williams will be performing at an obscene level in the near future.
Both left wingers are coveted on the market right now and it's clear to see why, but if Villa were to secure Williams' services, they might just land a prodigious talent destined for stardom.
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It's been over three weeks since the transfer window opened, and after a slow start, Tottenham Hotspur have finally started making moves in the market.
They have been linked to a long list of talented players from Eberechi Eze to Santiago Gimenez, but made their first permanent signing last week as they splashed £30m on Leeds United's incredibly exciting wonderkid Archie Gray.
However, Daniel Levy and Co are seemingly just getting started.
The latest player touted for a move to N17 is another up-and-coming youngster who could be seen in the same way as Gray in time.
Tottenham Hotspur transfer news
According to a recent report from journalist Alan Nixon via GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham are one of several clubs interested in Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham.
Alongside the Lilywhites, Nixon claims that Southampton, Crystal Palace and Brentford are keen to bring the younger brother of England star Jude Bellingham to the Premier League this summer, but it is the latter two clubs who pose the biggest threat to Spurs.
The good news for the North Londoners is that as long as they can agree personal terms with the 18-year-old, they shouldn't have too much trouble sorting out a deal, as the Black Cats would be willing to sell for an offer in excess of £20m. However, recent updates suggest that his preference may be to stay in the Northeast for another season.
Paying £20m might sound somewhat outlandish for a player his age, but based on how well he performed last season and how he is spoken about, it would be an investment into what he could become – similar to Gray.
Why Bellingham could be another Gray
Like Gray, last season was Bellingham's first full campaign of senior football – he only played half of 22/23 – and like the Peacocks star, he looked right at home, even if he was moved all over the pitch.
In 47 appearances for the Black Cats, the Stourbridge-born gem scored seven goals, provided one assist and started in five different positions, from centre-forward to defensive midfield.
In contrast, the former Leeds ace made 52 appearances for the Whites, provided two assists and started in four different positions, from right-back to attacking midfield.
Moreover, the Sunderland prospect is spoken about similarly to the Durham-born star, with U23 scout Antonio Mango describing him as a "wonderkid", former professional Niall Quinn dubbing him "incredible", and former manager Tony Mowbray describing the youngster as an "absolute diamond."
When you examine his underlying numbers, it's easy to see why he has impressed so many people in his short time at the Stadium of Light.
Non-Penalty Expected Goals
0.18
Top 5%
Non-Penalty Goals
0.17
Top 11%
Touches in the Opposition's Penalty Area
2.48
Top 11%
Progressive Passes Received
4.49
Top 12%
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists
0.26
Top 14%
According to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across the next best 14 competitions, the 6 foot 3 dynamo ranks in the top 5% of midfielders for non-penalty expected goals, the top 11% for actual non-penalty goals and touches in the opposition's penalty area, the top 12% for progressive passes received and the top 14% for non-penalty expected goals and expected assists, all per 90.
Ultimately, there is always going to be an element of risk when spending a considerable sum of money on a player so young, but as in the case of Gray, Bellingham looks to be the real deal. While it may take him time to adjust to Premier League football, he could have a very bright future at Spurs – if they can secure his services, that is.
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