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Crystal Palace are now in ‘direct talks’ about signing a Bayern Munich star ahead of the looming January transfer window, according to a new report.

Crystal Palace prepare for Man United after excellent start to the season

Palace welcome Man United to Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon with Oliver Glasner’s side sitting just outside the top four, while the Red Devils languish nearer mid-table following Monday’s shocking home defeat to ten-man Everton.

Glasner’s impressive Palace project continues gathering momentum despite recent bumps.

Positioned just three points behind second-placed Chelsea, the South London club have managed 20 points from their opening 12 Premier League games — their strongest start to a top flight campaign since 1991-92 — all while conceding just nine goals.

Amid the uncertainty surrounding Glasner’s long-term future, not to mention Marc Guehi’s, and the fact they lost star playmaker Eberechi Eze in the summer, Palace’s start comes as a shock to everyone.

They’ve also coped extremely well with the added Conference League fixtures, and responded in excellent fashion after being denied what many perceived as their rightful place in the Europa League.

Allardyce names "arrogant" Crystal Palace man over Arsenal star in Team of the Season

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By
Dominic Lund

Nov 26, 2025

Following the departures of Eze and another quality forward, Michael Olise, in the last two years — Palace have relied on new stars like in-form striker Jean Philippe-Mateta to deliver the goods instead.

Palace’s unprecedented 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions, which was eventually ended by Everton in October, is also testament to the fine job Glasner has done with limited resources.

Crystal Palace’s 19-game unbeaten run in full
Palace 0-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Arsenal 2-2 Palace (Premier League)
Palace 3-0 Aston Villa (FA Cup)
Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
Tottenham 0-2 Palace (Premier League)
Palace 1-0 Man City (FA Cup)
Palace 4-2 Wolves (Premier League)
Liverpool 1-1 Palace (Premier League)
Crystal Palace (3) 2-2 (2) Liverpool (Community Shield)
Chelsea 0-0 Palace (Premier League)
Palace 1-0 Fredrikstad (Conference League)
Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
Fredrikstad 0-0 Palace (Conference League)
Aston Villa 0-3 Palace (Premier League)
Palace 0-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Palace (4) 1-1 (2) Millwall (Carabao Cup)
West Ham 1-2 Palace (Premier League)
Palace 2-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Dynamo Kyiv 0-2 Palace (Conference League)

However, if Palace are to convince the Austrian to remain at Selhust Park, chairman Steve Parish will need to showcase ambition.

According to reports, Palace could be active in the January transfer window, and it is believed that Bayern right-back Sacha Boey is a player of real interest.

Crystal Palace hold talks over signing Bayern Munich's Sacha Boey

The former Galatasaray star, who was once a rumoured target for Arsenal, hasn’t found life easy since swapping Turkey for Bavaria in 2024.

Boey has been in and out of Vincent Kompany’s starting elevens, and a January transfer for the 25-year-old is now growing increasingly possible.

That is according to Bayern Insider, who also report that Glasner is in ‘direct talks’ with sporting director Christoph Freund about a potential move for Boey.

Palace are also said to have made a ‘concrete offer’ for the Frenchman, who’s potentially looking to battle his way into Didier Deschamps plans for the 2026 World Cup next year amid stiff competition.

Even though the Bundesliga champions signed him for around £26 million, Bayern are now prepared to sell for half the price at around £13 million — opening the door for Palace to strike a bargain move.

Links to Boey will intensify reports that in-form Eagles right-back Daniel Munoz could leave in the near future, with Chelsea among those considering a swoop for the Colombian who’s arguably been one of Glasner’s top players this season.

Garrett Crochet took a stand last July, and that decision has now paid off.

Crochet, then with the Chicago White Sox, was one of the hottest names on the trade block last summer, but ultimately did not get traded before the deadline. Though MLB players often have little leverage in trade situations, Crochet used what he had by making it clear he would not pitch for a team that didn't plan on signing him to a long-term contract extension.

In the offseason, the White Sox would trade Crochet to the Red Sox, who signed him to a six-year, $170 million contract extension this week, a historic deal for a pitcher with four-plus years of service.

At his press conference after signing the extension, Crochet reflected on how his stand last July lead him to joining the Red Sox and now earning this massive deal.

“Who knows what really were to happen if we weren’t to, somewhat take a stand for ourselves," Crochet said Friday, via Tom Carroll. "You know as a player, there’s not a lot of opportunity for you to have control of a situation. But it all led to being acquired by a team like the Boston Red Sox who wanted to make that mutual commitment. So I hope it could serve as a reminder for players that you have control of situations more than you think."

The extension is especially important for a player like Crochet, who only completed his first season as a starting pitcher in 2024. Prior, Crochet was a reliever and had missed time in recent seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Crochet became a starter, All-Star, and the AL Comeback Player of the Year in 2024, easily the best season of his career. His performance also meant that Crochet time could maximize his earnings as he exponentially increased his value as a player.

The Red Sox rewarded Crochet, and so far the 25-year-old pitcher has provided a strong return for Boston. In his first game after signing the extension, Crochet pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out eight. Over his first two starts with the Red Sox, Crochet is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 12 strikeouts.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has revealed that captain Marc Guehi will likely withdraw from the England squad ahead of November's international window. The centre-back suffered bruising of the bone in his foot in the Eagles' 3-1 victory against AZ Alkmaar in the Conference League on Thursday and is currently having to walk with crutches.

• Injury suffered against AZ

  The defender played all 90 minutes of Palace's victory in midweek and did not have to come off despite picking up the knock. Glasner would have been hopeful that his captain would be fit in time to face rivals Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, but the Austrian revealed Guehi is unable to walk unassisted and was unavailable for selection.

  It marks a bitter blow for both Palace and England boss Thomas Tuchel to whom Guehi has become a key player at the heart of defence. The former Chelsea man is adept on both the left and right side of central defence and had been forming nice partnerships with both Manchester City’s John Stones and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa in recent games.

  Guehi was the pick of the defenders in the last international break, providing his team-mates with two assists in the Three Lions’ rampant 3-0 defeat of Wales. With games against Serbia and Albania coming on Thursday and Sunday next week, it appears the Palace skipper will not be ready to play any part.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Glasner reveals extent of problem

  Speaking before Palace’s game against the Seagulls in the Premier League on Sunday, Glasner explained Guehi’s absence from the Eagles’ squad. "He can't even walk at the moment so the last two days he was on crutches," the coach said. "That's why he can't play. I don't know how this develops over the next couple of days. At the moment, it looks like he can't play for England as well."

  Per Sami Mokbel, the defender underwent scans on Friday to assess the injury he sustained against the Dutch side the previous night. The medical staff at the south London club found that he had suffered bruising of the bone and therefore would not be fit enough to make the squad for their weekend fixture.

  The injury has provided teenager Jaydee Canvot a chance to make a first Premier League start and demonstrate he is more than capable of filling into one of the three spots available in Glasner’s defence. Maxence Lacroix and USMNT star Chris Richards have been superb for the Eagles alongside captain Guehi, but will have to use all their experience to shepherd the 19-year-old Frenchman through a tough game afternoon at Selhurst Park.

• Guehi chased by European giants

  Guehi’s absence will provide Glasner with a chance to look at how his side could shape up if and when the captain decides to leave the Eagles. Guehi had been set to move to Liverpool before the start of the season and saw a deadline day move to Anfield collapse.

  The England international’s contract at the club expires in June 2026 and has been tipped with a move to a host of the biggest clubs in Europe. The Reds will be back in for his signature, but face competition from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

  However, recent reports suggest that the defender might be pricing himself out of a move to Los Blancos. The salary and signing-on demands from the centre-half are proving slightly too steep for the Spanish giants and could look elsewhere for further defensive depth.

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  England to experiment?

  With World Cup qualification already sewn up, Tuchel may look to experiment with his squad. The German has brought in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott to the squad and the Cherries midfielder could make his Three Lions debut.

  Elsewhere, Jude Bellingham returns to the squad and will add to the England boss’ midfield headache. The Madrid superstar had been out of the squad following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury, but amid a return to La Liga and top form, finds himself back amongst the group.

Being a left-back has changed over time, and now, being one of the best on the left-hand side of defence requires world-class attacking and defensive attributes.

In today’s game, Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes and FC Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde are seen as some of the best left-backs in the world.

The Best 15 Left-Backs in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the top left-back around in 2025?

ByCharlie Smith Oct 8, 2025

But who is the greatest left-back in history? Here is a look at 20 of the best left-backs, considering their longevity, consistency at the highest level, while also highlighting personal accolades and team honours.

20 Patrice Evra

Starting the countdown is Patrice Evra, who is one of Man Utd’s best money buys in their history. Costing just £5.5m from Monaco in 2006, Sir Alex Ferguson helped turn Evra into one of the world’s best.

The Frenchman spent eight years at Old Trafford, captaining club and country, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

He possessed blistering pace, could defend one on one with ease and contributed to goals with his pinpoint crossing ability.

19 ​Jose Antonio Camacho

In the 1970s and 1980s, Spain and Real Madrid could rely on ​tough-tackling Jose Antonio Camacho at left-back, and he’d spend his entire club career at the Bernabeu.

Making more than 500 appearances for Madrid, Camacho’s passion and grit was combined with athleticism and skill, which saw him win 19 honours for Los Blancos.

18 Leo Junior

A favourite of Pele’s, Leo Junior was a regular for Brazil between 1979-1992 and after retiring, would go on to represent his country on the beach, winning six Beach Soccer World Championships.

On the grass, Junior began and ended his career with Flamengo and was nicknamed “Capacete” because of his afro hairstyle. An attacking full-back who played further forward when needed, Junior was comfortable with either foot and his knowledge of the game resulted in him going into coaching with Flamingo and Corinthians.

17 Andy Robertson

Not many would have predicted Andy Robertson to turn into one of the best left-backs the Premier League has ever seen when he joined Liverpool in 2017, but that is what’s happened.

The Scot has even arguably gone under the radar at Anfield and his attacking ability is just as good as his defensive attributes. A left-back who never tires, Robertson has been key in Premier League and Champions League triumphs at Anfield.

16 ​Hans-Peter Briegel

German left-back ​Hans-Peter Briegel was so athletic that he could have been a long jumper. However, he chose football, which turned out to be the correct call.

Named the German Footballer of the Year in 1985, Briegel won the 1980 European Championship with West Germany and, at club level, starred for 1. FC Kaiserslautern in Germany before heading to Italy with Hellas Verona and Sampdoria.

15 David Alaba

David Alaba began his career as a left-back and in his prime, was one of the best we’ve seen in the modern era, spending 11 years with German giants Bayern Munich.

As time has gone on, Alaba has also been used centrally after his move to Real Madrid. He has won more than 100 caps for Austria, 10 Bundesliga titles, four Champions Leagues and was named as his country’s Footballer of the Year on 10 occasions.

14 Jordi Alba

One of Barcelona and Spain’s best ever left-backs, Jordi Alba retired in 2025 following a glittering 19-year career.

The attack-minded full-back won 17 honours at the Nou Camp, including the Champions League, while also being a 2012 Euros winner.

A left-back loved by Lionel Messi, Alba provided an assist for the Argentine in his final league game, whereas Messi returned the favour.

13 Denis Irwin

An extremely reliable and underrated Man Utd star in the 1990s, Denis Irwin was worth every penny of the £650,000 transfer fee.

He was so good at Old Trafford that Ferguson said Irwin, who won seven Premier League titles, would be the only certainty in his all-time Man Utd XI.

The Irishman was also a free-kick specialist and was arguably ahead of the times, paving the way for how full-backs play today.

12 Bixente Lizarazu

French left-back Bixente Lizarazu starred for Bordeaux after coming through their academy which earned him an eventual move to Bayern Munich where he would end his career.

A 1998 World Cup and 2000 Euros winner, Lizarazu was part of one of the most iconic France teams in history. At club level, Lizarazu won five Bundesliga titles in six seasons with Bayern and the Champions League.

11 Andreas Brehme

Not only could German left-back Andreas Brehme defend, he could also score and nearly hit 100 career goals for club and country.

A set-piece specialist, Brehme was known for his unbelievable delivery and is rightly regarded as one of Germany’s best ever full-backs, starring for 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.

Tottenham announced their new leadership structure earlier this week with Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange both working as co-sporting directors, and there’s now been clarity as to specifically how they will operate together at N17.

Spurs announce Fabio Paratici return with Johan Lange promoted

Many speculated that Paratici’s return could spell the end for Lange’s involvement in Spurs’ recruitment strategy, but as confirmed by the club, he’ll be working side by side with the popular Italian.

Paratici, who worked as a consultant for months before coming back full-time — advising Lange, CEO Vinai Venkatesham, Thomas Frank and ex-chair Daniel Levy — officially returns to North London over two years after he was forced to resign due to his worldwide ban.

The 53-year-old played a significant role in the signings of key Tottenham stars, including Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr, with his comeback seen as a major boost for the Lilywhites.

1. Cristian Romero

£42.5m

2. Dejan Kulusevski

£25.5m

3. Rodrigo Bentancur

£21.5m

4. Pedro Porro

£40m

5. Djed Spence

£20m

He was a key ally of Levy, and the latter’s exit after 25 years last month threatened to derail a move for Paratici (talkSPORT).

However, Venkatesham, regardless of Levy’s departure, ultimately decided that Paratici should be involved in an official capacity, and it’s hard to argue given the transfer chief’s track record, extensive contact list and reputation as a fierce negotiator.

Paratici and Lange's very different Tottenham director roles explained

While Paratici and Lange are ‘co-sporting directors’ by title, the duo will actually have very different tasks, as explained by Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

It is believed that Paratici will be the ‘dealmaker’, overseeing the task of getting star players through the door, while Lange’s responsibilities are geared more towards scouting and talent-spotting.

Paratici’s reputation as a transfer expert precedes him.

Having honed his skills at Juventus and Tottenham before, he is known for his shrewd negotiation tactics, ability to close high-profile moves and strategic approach to the market. Paratici excels at identifying the right moment to strike whilst leveraging relationships with clubs and agents to secure key signings.

By contrast, Lange brings a keen eye for talent and a deep understanding of player development.

His background as a technical director at FC Copenhagen and sporting director at Aston Villa highlights his experience in scouting and building a sustainable recruitment strategy.

Lange’s focus on the long-term pipeline of talent, youth integration and data-driven scouting will back up Paratici’s deal-closing prowess, with the duo set to complement eachother nicely and divide key responsibilities.

It is a fantastic move by Spurs, and if their dynamic proves successful, other Premier League sides may even take inspiration.

It was the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday, and it was a mixed night for Chelsea’s men’s team.

On the one hand, there was only one representative from the club in the final 30 players, but on the other hand, Cole Palmer was as high up as eighth.

The Blues have never actually had a player win the award while on their books, but they’ve had a number come incredibly close, like Frank Lampard and Jorginho.

However, there is a player in the current squad who could become the first Chelsea player to win it while plying his trade at Stamford Bridge, and we aren’t talking about the incredible Palmer or even Alejandro Garnacho, as much as he probably thinks he will get it at some point.

Chelsea at the Ballon d'Or since 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown in football, there was no Ballon d’Or ceremony in 2020.

Chalkboard

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

So the first ceremony of the 2020s was held in 2021, and it was a great one for Chelsea.

With them being the reigning Champions League champions at that point, the Blues had five players on their books who made it into the final 30, with Jorginho coming third.

However, with the 21/22 season not exactly going their way, the West Londoners’ presence at the following year’s ceremony was dramatically reduced to just a single player: Antonio Rüdiger.

Things worsened in 2023, as not a single player from the men’s team was included on the final list of nominees, nor did any youngsters make it into the final ten for the Kopa Trophy.

Things have improved somewhat since then, as Palmer was ranked 27th last year and eighth this year; however, in both cases, he was the only representative for the men’s team.

With all of that said, there is a certain youngster in the current squad who has a genuine chance at winning the award for Chelsea, and we aren’t talking about the Englishman nor the recently signed Garnacho.

Chelsea's future Ballon d'Or winner

So, the first thing to say is that while we do not really think Garancho will ever be good enough to win the Ballon d’Or, nor has he shown us anything to suggest otherwise, Palmer might.

After all, the Englishman has featured in the final shortlist twice now and looks to be getting back to his best.

However, in this instance, we are talking about another player altogether who could be Chelsea’s first winner of the award: Estevao.

The West Londoners beat several other top sides to his signature in the summer of 2024, but due to his age, he had to wait another year to officially join up with Maresca’s squad.

During his time with Palmeiras, the 18-year-old wonderkid amassed an impressive tally of 27 goals and 15 assists in 83 appearances, totalling 5,610 minutes.

Estevao’s Palmeiras record
Appearances	83
Minutes	5610′
Goals	27
Assists	15
Goal Involvements per Match	0.50
Minutes per Goal Involvement	133.57′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

In other words, he maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.97 games, or every 133.57 minutes.

Such a rate of return would be incredibly impressive for a seasoned attacker, but coming from a teenager, it’s out of this world.

It goes a long way in lending credence to respected analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that the Franca-born gem is a “future Ballon d’Or winner.”

On top of his exploits back home, the dynamic winger has already looked dangerous in his short Chelsea career.

Coming off the bench, he’s been a constant threat, and then during his first Premier League start against West Ham United, he provided a brilliant assist for Joao Pedro.

Finally, he has also already won seven senior caps for Brazil, in which he’s scored his first international goal.

Ultimately, while Chelsea have a host of brilliant players, we think Estevao could well be their first-ever Ballon d’Or winner.

Maresca must drop 5/10 Chelsea man who was as bad as Garnacho vs Lincoln

The dynamic ace was anything but for Chelsea in the League Cup last night.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 24, 2025

Mumbai Indians (MI) legspinner Karn Sharma, who played a key role in his side’s 12-run win on Sunday, feels that while there was no one turning point in the game, Karun Nair’s wicket broke Delhi Capitals’ (DC) momentum.Batting first, MI set a stiff target of 206, but DC seemed to be cruising in their chase. They were 113 for 1 after ten overs, a returning Nair leading the charge with an explosive half-century.Karn had gone for nine in his first over. But he got rid of Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs and KL Rahul in his next three overs to finish with 3 for 36. In between, Mitchell Santner bowled Nair for 89 with a near-unplayable delivery.Related

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“At that time, the situation was like they were going 10-11 runs per over,” Karn said after the game. “So my role was just to take wickets in the middle overs, and the way they were batting, every wicket was important.”Obviously, KL Rahul is a big name and he had finished the game for them in the last match. But all the wickets were important for us at that time. After Karun got out, their momentum broke. And after that, we got two-three wickets quickly. That changed the game.”MI also benefitted from the new rule in the IPL. When dew set in during the second innings, they got the ball changed after the 13th over. It was with the changed ball that Karn dismissed Stubbs and Rahul.1:17

Chawla: A lot of credit goes to Karn

“I have played a lot in Delhi, so I know how the ball will behave on this wicket,” Karn said. “But we didn’t expect dew because there was no dew in the first innings.”When you get the ball replaced, the new ball has an upright seam, so it gives you purchase from the wicket. That helped us.”Karn, who was playing his first game of the season, had come in as Impact Player during the second innings. Left-arm seamer Ashwani Kumar was another option for MI but Piyush Chawla, former India legspinner, felt MI went with Karn after seeing DC spinners getting help from the pitch.”They [MI] were waiting because they must be thinking whether to go with Ashwani or with Karn,” Chawla said on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut. “But I am sure they must have made up their mind looking at the first innings, the way Kuldeep [Yadav] and Vipraj [Nigam] bowled.””You have to give a lot of credit to Karn because it’s not easy when you come to a team after six-seven [five] games and then all of a sudden you get a chance in this kind of situation where the other team is going berserk.”

Marizanne Kapp is also among the group, underlining her commitment to continue playing international cricket

Firdose Moonda17-Mar-2025

Annerie Dercksen was named the ICC’s Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year for 2024•ICC via Getty Images

Allrounder Annerie Dercksen, who was named the ICC’s Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year for 2024, has earned her first national contract for South Africa. Dercksen was named on a 15-player list for the 2025-26 season which excludes Lara Goodall and Delmi Tucker from last year’s group.Goodall and Tucker have been on the fringes of the first-choice squad while Dercksen has established herself across all formats and appears regularly, leading to her promotion.The rest of the contracted squad includes familiar and experienced names including captain Laura Wolvaardt, former captain Sune Luus, allrounders Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk, senior batter and seamer Anneke Bosch and Ayabonga Khaka and left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba.Significantly for South Africa, Marizanne Kapp is also among the group, underlining her commitment to continue playing international cricket after being talked out of retirement early last year. She is understood to be considering this year’s ODI World Cup as a swansong but with the next T20 World Cup 15 months away, may also be eyeing that tournament as well.There are no new names among the squad, which demonstrates the consistency in South African selection but could point to concerns about the next generation coming through. Under-19 wicketkeeper batter, Karabo Meso, for example, who has already been capped at senior level was not considered for a national contract despite being named batter and player of the recently completed SA20 Schools competition. However, South Africa’s director of cricket Enoch Nkwe is pleased with the continued development of the current players and sought to reward them for that.”The continuity in the squad recognises the team’s outstanding achievement in reaching a second consecutive World Cup final, highlighting CSA’s commitment to rewarding consistent performance and building on the team’s recent success on the global stage,” he said, in a statement. “As we prepare for a pivotal year with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India, this squad offers the right balance of experience and youthful energy. We believe this group is well-equipped to compete at the highest level and continue making the country proud.”South Africa have been on an extended break since December, when they hosted England at home and won only one of the seven matches across all formats. They head to Sri Lanka in April for a tri-series which also includes India in preparation for the ODI World Cup, and will also play a series in West Indies for three ODIs and three T20Is in June before the tournament.South Africa contracted squad: Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon, Laura Wolvaardt

Everton’s return to Premier League action has been marked by cautious optimism.

The move to their new home at the Hill Dickinson Stadium was christened with a 2-0 victory over Brighton, where Jack Grealish, freshly arrived from Manchester City, stole the show with two assists.

David Moyes’ side followed that up with another professional 2-0 win in the EFL Cup against Mansfield Town, hinting at early momentum, before seeing off Wolverhampton Wanderers in Saturday’s 3-2 victory.

But the season’s opening-day loss at Elland Road offered a reminder of the challenges ahead.

The squad remains in transition, with several high-profile departures, including Abdoulaye Doucouré, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Ashley Young.

For Moyes, who guided West Ham to European silverware before returning to Merseyside, the task is clear: moulding this group into a side capable of competing in the top half of the table.

Alongside Grealish, the Toffees have added Villarreal forward Thierno Barry, Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Southampton prospect Tyler Dibling.

These signings inject fresh energy, but Everton’s attack still partly hinges on Beto, whose output has typically fallen short of expectations – albeit while having netted on Saturday against the Old Gold.

That quest for greater firepower has led Everton to monitor options across Europe.

Scouts have been busy in recent weeks, and one name in particular has begun to stand out.

Everton's search for a striker

According to Africa Foot, Everton are one of several Premier League clubs keeping tabs on Franculino Dju, the FC Midtjylland forward enjoying a breakout season in Denmark.

The 21-year-old has exploded into form with nine goals and two assists in his first ten appearances of the 2025/26 campaign, with Nottingham Forest now particularly interested, alongside both West Ham United and Spurs.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig went as far as to describe the youngster as “unstoppable” after a blistering run of six goals and two assists across just three games.

Interest is not limited to England. Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, as well as Serie A outfit Fiorentina, are all tracking the Guinea-Bissau-born striker.

The report suggests it would take a fee closer to €20m (£17m) to convince Midtjylland to part ways with their starlet.

Everton were credited with interest earlier this month after sending scouts to Denmark to watch him in person.

With Beto struggling to deliver consistently, Moyes and his recruitment staff are eager to add more potency in the final third.

Transfer Focus

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

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Dju, who joined Midtjylland from Benfica in 2023, represents exactly the kind of profile they have been missing: young, dynamic, and brimming with confidence in front of goal.

How Franculino Dju compares to Beto

The comparisons between Everton’s current lead striker and their latest target are telling.

Beto, now 27, has plenty of physical presence at 1.94m and rarely misses games through injury, but his Premier League numbers underline his limitations, having scored just 12 goals in 63 appearances.

Beto – Stats 2024/25

Matches Played

30

Goals

8

Progressive Carries

15

Progressive Passes

16

Shot Creating Actions

26

Source: FBref

Data from FBref shows him ranking in the 74th percentile for total shots per 90 (2.87) and the 97th percentile for aerial duels won (5.81 per 90), underlining his role as a traditional target man.

Yet despite his strength in the air and reliability in build-up, his finishing remains inconsistent. Dju offers a very different profile.

At 1.86m he has the physical attributes to compete in the Premier League, but crucially, he combines this with greater mobility and sharper instincts in front of goal.

Last season, he managed 11 goals and three assists in 28 league appearances – steady numbers for a player adapting to senior football.

This term, however, his output has surged: nine goals and two assists in just 11 matches, placing him among the most clinical forwards in the Superligaen.

Statistical comparisons between the two highlight why Everton may view the 21-year-old as an upgrade. Dju averages 3.32 shots per 90 compared to Beto’s 2.87, while his 1.50 shots on target per 90 also edge the Portuguese forward’s 1.35.

In terms of goal involvements, the contrast is even sharper: Dju contributed to 22 last season in all competitions, ahead of Beto’s return of 13.

These numbers underline his ability not just to get chances but to convert them into tangible results.

Beyond the metrics, there is also the question of trajectory. Beto, though still in his prime years, has plateaued since arriving in England.

Dju, meanwhile, is on an upward curve, attracting attention from clubs operating at the top end of European competition.

For Everton, securing him now would not only provide an immediate injection of goals but also represent a longer-term investment in a player whose value could soar further.

There is also a stylistic element to consider.

Moyes’ teams traditionally thrive with a hard-working forward capable of stretching defences, linking play, and applying relentless pressure.

Dju’s performances in Denmark suggest he has the energy and work rate to fulfil that role.

His background at Benfica, renowned for producing technically gifted attackers, means he also brings a level of composure and ball control that could help Everton build more fluid attacking movements.

Of course, competition for his signature will be fierce.

Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund, in particular, offer the allure of Champions League football, while Fiorentina and Stuttgart can point to their track records of developing young forwards.

Everton, however, have one advantage: the promise of regular Premier League minutes under a manager with a proven history of trusting players he believes in.

For a Toffees side eager to move on from their over-reliance on Beto, the appeal is obvious.

Franculino Dju may not yet be a household name, but his numbers, profile, and potential all point in the same direction.

If Everton can get a deal over the line, they may just have found the forward capable of unlocking a new chapter at their state-of-the-art new home.

Related Moyes' new Fellaini: Everton ready to bid for "on fire" £19m star

Everton are ready to make an offer for their next summer signing, in the mould of Marouane Fellaini

Posts ByWill Miller Aug 30, 2025

Fabrizio Romano has shared an intriguing transfer update, and one which could open the door for Arsenal to make another signing before the deadline.

Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta have already enjoyed a fantastic summer window, spending north of £200 million on an array of key additions throughout the squad, whilst perhaps most notably ending the club’s long wait for a prolific striker by signing Viktor Gyokeres.

Alongside the Swede, who now dons Thierry Henry’s iconic number 14 shirt, Kepa Arrizabalaga joined as a reliable, low-cost backup goalkeeper from Chelsea.

In midfield, Martin Zubimendi arrived from Real Sociedad for around £51 million, offering more stability to Arteta’s already excellent options in the middle, while Christian Nørgaard soon followed after the Spaniard – bringing with him real Premier League experience as former captain of Brentford.

The attack received a further boost through Noni Madueke’s initial £48.5 million from Chelsea, with Arsenal also strengthening Arteta’s defence by signing highly-rated young centre-half Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia.

Despite their busy summer, and their need to sell, Arsenal continue to explore late additions.

Eberechi Eze – who was once released from the club’s academy – stood out as a key target for Berta earlier in the window and was heavily linked with a move back to the Emirates Stadium at one point.

Arsenal held talks with Eze’s representatives, and he was reportedly keen on joining, but it is now believed that the 27-year-old England international is closing in on a move to Tottenham instead – after both Spurs and Crystal Palace reached a verbal agreement this week.

With Eze now off the table, according to widespread reports, there is still a chance that Arsenal will sign a left-winger.

This would be dependent on Leandro Trossard leaving the club, though, amid links to Real Madrid’s Rodrygo among others (Ben Jacobs).

Arsenal could move for Atalanta outcast Ademola Lookman

Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, as per Romano, could emerge as a last-gasp summer opportunity – with a move to Inter Milan now off the cards.

The Nigerian submitted a transfer request recently, and confirmed his intention to leave, but the Nerazzurri have been unable to reach a deal and are now looking at other attacking targets.

Therefore, a Premier League return has now become increasingly more likely, with Romano suggesting that Arsenal could move for Lookman if Trossard leaves.

The versatile 27-year-old, who bagged 20 goals and seven assists in all competitions across 2024/2025, commands a price tag of around £43 million – which could be seen as a bargain considering the player’s exploits in the last 24 months.

Lookman famously ended Bayer Leverkusen’s season-long unbeaten streak with a stunning Europa League final hat-trick against them last year, clinching 2024’s African Player of the Year award.

Premier League cult hero, Jay-Jay Okocha, has also praised Lookman as a “unique” player.