All posts by h79snht.top

Opener slams 66 off 32 and then picks up 2 for 25 to put home side top of North Group

ECB Reporters Network07-Jun-2024

Lancashire 176 for 8 (Wells 66, Hasan 3-47) beat Birmingham Bears 168 for 6 (Hain 59, Wells 2-25) by eight runsEarly pacesetters Lancashire Lightning beat Birmingham Bears at fortress Emirates Old Trafford to stay top of the embryonic Vitality Blast North Group table, with Luke Wells to the fore.Lightning just defended a 177 target to win by eight runs, sealing their third victory in four games as Wells opened with a career best-equalling 66 off 32 balls, then returned 2 for 25 with his legspinners and added two catches.Bears missed the chance to leapfrog their hosts to the group’s summit, losing for the first time in three matches as they replied to 176 for 8 with 168 for 6 despite Sam Hain’s 59 off 44.Lancashire are now unbeaten in 23 group fixtures at Emirates Old Trafford since the end of summer 2020, excluding matches where not a ball was bowled. Surrey did, however, win here in last summer’s quarter-final.Wells clattered five early sixes before bowling Chris Benjamin to put the skids under Birmingham at 56 for 3 in the seventh over of their chase.The tall left-hander, playing his 48th T20 match, lit up the first half of Lancashire’s innings with his flurry of sixes, including three successively over midwicket off Pakistan pacer Hassan Ali at the start of fourth over, which went for 27.That gave Lightning, invited to bat on a used pitch, valuable momentum at 47 for 1 having only taken eight runs from the first two overs.Wells only scored one off his first six balls yet reached his fifty off 22, taking Lancashire to 73 for 1 after six.He dominated an 80-run stand inside six overs with captain Keaton Jennings from 18 for 1 in the third over. But Bears fought back superbly with four wickets for 30, starting with Jennings stumped off a leg-side wide from left-arm wristspinner Jake Lintott.As spin put the squeeze on, Lintott also had Wells stumped by captain Alex Davies to finish with 2 for 29, while Danny Briggs got Tom Bruce and a brilliant George Garton throw running in from deep midwicket ran out Matty Hurst – Lancashire 128 for 5 in the 14th.Hasan returned to get three wickets in the final over – Steven Croft, Chris Green and Luke Wood caught in the deep – as the hosts lost momentum.But their score was still very competitive courtesy of Wells’ early fireworks, which felt like the exception rather than the norm on this sluggish surface.Lightning quicks Mitchell Stanley and Luke Wood removed openers Davies and Rob Yates caught at third and deep square-leg respectively in the space of three balls to leave Bears 23 for 2 in the third over. Benjamin was then bowled trying to slog sweep Wells, and Bears were struggling.They reached 76 for 3 after 10 overs, needing 101 more. England fringe quick Saqib Mahmood, playing his first T20 match in just over a year following injury, then had Dan Mousley caught at long-leg by action-man Wells – 76 for 4 in the 11th.Bears then hit back, as they had done with the ball. Hain and Jacob Bethell shared 62 inside seven overs, the latter contributing 33 before falling caught behind off Wells.At 138 for 5 in the 17th, Bears needed 39. But Hain, with a season’s best score in all formats to his name, then drilled Wood to Wells at mid-off – 147 for 6 with 11 balls left. That proved decisive, leaving Mahmood defending 24 off the last.

Manchester United now want to “advance” a move for a £85m striker, who’s a “mix” between Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, according to reporter Ben Jacobs.

Man Utd's striker pursuit heating up

Signing a new striker is on the agenda of a number of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, and Man United are no exception, but they will have to be willing to spend big to lure one of Europe’s top centre-forwards to Old Trafford this summer.

Target

League goals in 24/25

Asking price

Viktor Gyokeres

39

£68m

Victor Osimhen

26

£50m+

Moise Kean

19

£44m

Jonathan David

16

£0

The pursuit of a new striker comes amid widespread criticism of United’s current first-choice option, Rasmus Hojlund, with the Stretford Paddock’s Adam McKola singling the Dane and Andre Onana out for criticism during the 2-2 draw away at Lyon in April.

With Inter Milan now making progress in their pursuit of Hojlund, there may be funds to bring in a top-level replacement, and a “new name” has now emerged as a potential target, Jacobs has revealed to The United Stand, via GiveMeSport.

The reporter said: “They’re running data on some other names as well, including Hugo Ekitike, which is a new name that I can bring to the mix too.

“Liverpool are very interested, Chelsea have held some talks as well, but nothing’s going to happen in the next days with Hugo Ekitike either and Frankfurt want €100million, so he’s actually more expensive than Viktor Gyokeres.

“So right now, I’m told, if Manchester United can do Gyokeres, they would like to advance on it, but it will all depend on the overall cost and other suitors, and that’s why some of these other names are also concurrently being discussed.”

Free-scoring Ekitike likened to Neymar and Mbappe

Ekitike failed to make the same impact at the Parc des Princes as his former teammates, but having kicked on since leaving Paris Saint-Germain, he has been compared to Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Wesley Sneijder said: “I think he’s a mix between Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappé. I sincerely think so. He has the grace of Neymar, but also the movements of Mbappé.

“To suddenly accelerate, that’s something that Mbappé also has. And he’s only 22 years old. There’s really a lot of potential in this boy.”

Related Top 1% for dribbling: Man Utd ready to make bid for "world-class" £68m star

The Red Devils have now expressed a willingness to make a bid for a forward.

Posts ByDominic Lund Jun 11, 2025

The high praise from Sneijder came during a fantastic 2024-25 campaign for the French forward, during which he amassed 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 matches in all competitions for Eintracht Frankfurt, putting himself in the shop window for a summer move.

That said, while the Frankfurt star certainly caught the eye last season, a fee of €100m (£85m) is a tad high off the back of one prolific season, so the likes of David, Gyokeres and Osimhen could be preferable options.

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has now dropped a hugely promising Sunderland transfer update, following the permanent signing of Enzo Le Fee.

Le Fee joins Black Cats in permanent deal

It has been a positive start to the Black Cats’ summer, as they immediately plan for life back in the Premier League after their memorable promotion from the Championship last month. Sunderland have made a big statement by signing Le Fee on a permanent basis, following his loan spell at the Stadium of Light in 2024/25, snapping him up for a club-record fee of around £20m.

The Frenchman played his part in Regis Le Bris’ side’s promotion, registering three assists in 14 Championship starts, and he has spoken of his happiness at extending his stay on Wearside.

Sunderland could surpass Le Fee signing in summer spree

Writing on X on Thursday, Downie claimed that Sunderland could again break their transfer record this summer, overtaking the amount paid for Le Fee as they splash out on as many as five new arrivals.

This will be music to the ears of Black Cats fans, with the club showing real signs of ambition before the 2025/26 season gets underway.

In the past two years, all three promoted Championship sides have gone straight back down from the Premier League, so Le Bris’ job is to put a stop to that, aided by signing some top-quality players.

Sunderland’s 10 most expensive signings

Signed from

Cost

1. Enzo Le Fee

Roma

£20m

2. Didier Ndong

Lorient

£16.9m

3. Asamoah Gyan

Rennes

£13.5m

4. Steven Fletcher

Wolves

£12.8m

5. Adam Johnson

Man City

£10.7m

6. Jack Rodwell

Man City

£10.5m

7. Darren Bent

Tottenham

£9.9m

8. Wahbi Khazri

Bordeaux

£9.9m

9. Jeremain Lens

Dynamo Kyiv

£9.6m

10. Tore Andre Flo

Rangers

£9.3m

If Sunderland are able to break their transfer record twice in the same summer, it could only bode well in that respect, and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has further hinted at a busy summer taking place.

Related England legend said Sunderland star was the best he'd seen and as good as Owen and Figo

The Black Cats would love to have him back in their current squad…

Posts ByBen Goodwin Jun 4, 2025

Sunderland also must try and convince Jobe Bellingham to stay put, making it the perfect summer, but that may be wishful thinking at this point, with a move to Borussia Dortmund seemingly on the cards.

Manchester City are now the clear frontrunners in the race for an “incredible” £100m star, who could be brought in as an alternative to Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz this summer, according to a report.

Man City back out of Wirtz race

BBC Sport reporter Sami Mokbel has now confirmed that Man City have pulled out of the race for Wirtz, given that the total cost to bring the German to the Etihad Stadium would be way too expensive.

As such, the path could now be clear for either Liverpool or Bayern Munich to sign the 22-year-old, and City have moved on to alternative targets, with a fresh report revealing they are well-positioned to win the race for a Premier League star.

Related Man City now ready to submit formal £29m proposal to sign "pacy" defender

He’s a rising star.

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 16, 2025

According to GiveMeSport, Man City are now the clear frontrunners in the race for Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White, but much like the deal for Wirtz, it will be expensive to bring the attacking midfielder to the Etihad Stadium, given a reported asking price of £100m.

The Englishman is being eyed as a replacement for the outgoing Kevin De Bruyne, who has recently hinted that he could remain in the Premier League beyond the end of the campaign, with the Belgian seemingly open to the idea of signing for another English club.

Gibbs-White is now the top target to replace De Bruyne, but it remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola’s side are willing to shell out the huge asking price.

Gibbs-White could be "incredible" De Bruyne heir

Replacing De Bruyne will be a daunting task for whichever attacking midfielder City choose to sign this summer, but there are plenty of signs that Wirtz could’ve been a suitable option, given the level of his performances for Leverkusen in the 2024-25 campaign.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Bundesliga

31

10

13

Champions League

9

6

1

DFB-Pokal

4

0

1

That’s not to say the Forest midfielder isn’t a solid alternative option, however, having already proven himself in the Premier League, picking up seven goals and ten assists for the Tricky Trees during their push for the Champions League this season.

Not only are the England international’s attacking numbers impressive, but he has also received high praise for his work-rate from ESPN pundit Janusz Michallik.

As such, there are signs Gibbs-White could be a fantastic heir to De Bruyne, despite arguably not being as flashy a signing as Wirtz, and Man City should look to wrap up a deal before interest in the 25-year-old increases.

Manchester United have now submitted an offer to sign a £150,000-a-week Premier League player alongside their widely reported deal for Matheus Cunha, according to a recent report.

Man Utd closing in on Matheus Cunha signing

The Premier League season is not yet over, and the transfer window has yet to open, but already the Red Devils are closing in on their first signing of the summer. Given how the season has gone for United, it is no surprise to see that they are already working on plans for the summer, and the hope is that winning the Europa League, which will grant them entry into the Champions League, can help them secure some of the best players across Europe.

Wolves’ Matheus Cunha emerged as a target for United a few weeks ago, and the fact that he has a £62.5 million release clause means a deal is straightforward to complete. It was reported last week that United were in advanced talks to sign Cunha after it emerged that Arsenal hadn’t given up on signing the Brazilian.

Related Fabrizio Romano reveals one thing left before Cunha to Man Utd "here we go"

Man Utd are now close to announcing their first signing of the summer transfer window.

Posts ByBrett Worthington May 19, 2025

It now looks as though the Red Devils have all but won the race for Cunha, as according to Fabrizio Romano, United are close to signing Cunha after the Brazilian agreed personal terms, with just the small details left to finalise.

Man Utd submit offer to sign Emi Martinez

INEOS are seemingly not messing around and have already made an offer for another Premier League player. According to Argentine TV channel DSports, relayed by TEAMtalk, Man United have submitted an offer to Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, as he looks set to leave Villa Park – the Argentina shot-stopper was emotional waving to the Villa crowd after their final home game on Friday evening.

The 32-year-old is under contract until 2029, but this report states that he has an offer from United to leave the Midlands and move to Manchester. It doesn’t state how much the offer is and whether it’s a contract offer or a bid to his club, but either way United have made contact.

However, United are not the only team to make an move for Martinez, as Spanish giants Barcelona have also made an offer, as well as there being interest from the Saudi Pro League. It is reported, though, that Martinez wants to continue playing in the Champions League, which at the minute puts United at a disadvantage unless they win the Europa League on Wednesday night.

Emi Martinez’s Premier League stats

Apps

195

Goals conceded

241

Clean sheets

62

Martinez, who is on a weekly wage of £150,000 at Villa Park, has played 36 of Villa’s 37 Premier League games this season, keeping eight clean sheets. His potential arrival at Old Trafford would see him replace Andre Onana, who has struggled for form this season and, like Martinez, has also been linked with a move away.

Aston Villa gave their Champions League ambitions a massive boost after they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on Friday evening.

Spurs had one eye on the Europa League final next week, but Unai Emery’s side delivered a confident performance.

The game was even balanced before Villa opened the scoring courtesy of Ezri Konsa, who netted from six yards out following a flick-on from Ollie Watkins.

Boubacar Kamara doubled the lead 15 minutes later with a shot from the edge of the box that all but sealed the victory.

In the end, the three points were well deserved, and the starting XI was excellent. Konsa must receive extra praise, not just for his goal but also for how imperious he was at the heart of the defence.

Ezri Konsa’s game in numbers vs Spurs

The Englishman has missed just four Premier League games for Villa this season, becoming one of Emery’s key players as they seek to make the Champions League group stages yet again.

Although used on the right side of defence at times this season, Konsa is at his best in the middle, using his incredible physical strength to win duels.

Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur – Key Statistics

Metric

Highest-Ranked

Accurate passes

Pau Torres (114)

Key passes

John McGinn (3)

Tackles

Amadou Onana (4)

Ground duels won

Amadou Onan (6)

Shots on target

Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins (2)

Via Sofascore

Against Spurs, he made three clearances and two tackles and won four of his six ground duels throughout the match.

Furthermore, he only lost possession twice and committed two fouls, but he was in total control against the North Londoners.

He will be integral to Villa should they finish in the top five and secure a spot in the promised land next term, that’s for sure, due to his fantastic defensive work.

Someone else who could also prove influential is Amadou Onana, who made just his fifth league start since the beginning of February on Friday evening.

Amadou Onana is now undroppable for Aston Villa

While plaudits have gone to Youri Tielemans for the superb job he has done in the Villa midfield this term, Onana may give Emery plenty to think about due to his display against Spurs.

The Belgian not only completed 91% of his passes, but he also succeeded with 100% of his dribbles, made a single key pass, and lost the ball only four times when he was on the pitch, which shows how reliable he was with the ball at his feet.

Four tackles and winning six of his seven ground duels proved his tenacious nature was on show for all to see, and it certainly gave the likes of Morgan Rogers and Marco Asensio more freedom to express themselves in the final third, as he constantly broke up Spurs attacks to regain possession for his side.

Journalist John Townley gave the former Everton man a rating of 8/10, saying that ‘Onana covered ground effortlessly and showed his range in possession, playing accurate balls out wide and combining well in tight areas. A strong all-round showing’, which shows that he was as good and as effective as Konsa.

Villa need to win their final game against Manchester United, who will either be on a high or despondent after the Europa League final in midweek, to secure a top-five finish in the top flight, and Onana’s performance against Spurs shows that he should be undroppable heading into that match.

If they perform like they did against Spurs, United will stand no chance.

Related Aston Villa eyeing "unbelievable" £51m star who impressed in front of Emery

He’s a wanted man.

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 17, 2025

Leeds United have a huge summer ahead of them in the coming months, needing to build a side capable of surviving the drop in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.

The Whites will be attempting to do something which no side has managed in the last two seasons, in maintaining their top-flight status after securing promotion from the Championship.

Southampton, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United have all tried and failed, handing Daniel Farke a huge task to prevent the club from being added to such a list.

The German has already had questions asked about his future at Elland Road, with the Whites manager potentially being replaced before the start of the next campaign.

Regardless of the situation, the foundations have already been laid for the summer window, with numerous players already linked with a summer switch to Yorkshire.

An update on Leeds’ hunt for new signings this summer

Over the last few weeks, rumours have emerged over Leeds making a potential move for Newcastle United’s midfielder Sean Longstaff, but could face huge competition from other top-flight sides for his signature.

Everton have been named as the latest side to enter the race for his services, with the Magpies only demanding a £10m fee to part ways with the 27-year-old.

His experience in the division could be vital for the Whites’ chances of securing survival next season, potentially being joined by Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, if recent reports are to be believed.

It was reported by BILD via Sport Witness that the Whites are keen on a move for the 27-year-old this summer, looking to cement his place as number one under Farke.

It also states that no asking price has yet been set for his services, but that he could be open to a move to the Premier League to further his career at the top level.

Why Leeds’ target could be Farke’s next Tanaka

The 2024/25 season has been a hugely successful one for Leeds, ending their stay in the Championship, but also landing key talents such as Ao Tanaka in the process.

The Japanese international joined from Fortuna Düsseldorf last summer for a reported £3.5m fee, cementing himself as a key player in Farke’s starting eleven throughout the last few months.

He’s managed to rack up 44 appearances across all competitions, notching six combined goals and assists – even being named in the Championship Team of the Season.

Such a deal has been one of the club’s best in recent years, playing a pivotal role in their success and hopefully taking the Premier League by storm after his debut year in Yorkshire.

However, the manager could be about to land his next version of the star this summer in the form of Dahmen, who could follow in Tanaka’s footsteps by joining the Whites from a German side.

If he manages to get anywhere near the level of the Japanese star, he will be a fan favourite in no time, potentially playing a vital role in their chances of staying up.

The German has excelled in recent months, making 16 appearances, keeping nine clean sheets and conceding just ten goals during such a period – leading to journalist Christian Pohlmann labelling him as “extraordinary”.

Finn Dahmen’s stats for Augsburg in the Bundesliga (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

16

Clean sheets

9

Goals conceded

10

Save percentage

85%

Saves made

3.5

Errors leading to goals

0

Pass accuracy

68%

Stats via FotMob

His staggering numbers don’t stop there, saving 85% of the efforts that he’s faced this campaign, averaging 3.5 saves per 90 – handing Farke that added solidity he needs at the back.

Dahmen has also not made a single error leading to a goal, and is more than capable of playing out from the back, 68% of the passes he’s attempted throughout 2024/25.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the shot-stopper would set the club back this summer, the stats he’s produced are incredible, certainly bolstering the ranks at Elland Road.

Their dealings with landing players from Germany in recent months have been successful, as seen with Tanaka, which could lead to Dahmen being the next star to make the switch to England.

Related Bad news for Byram: Leeds want to sign "outstanding" £34k-per-week star

Leeds are reportedly interested in signing a Premier League defender, and it is bad news for Sam Byram.

Posts ByDan Emery May 1, 2025

Celtic are enjoying their renewed status as Scottish Premiership champions and could now strike to beat their rivals to the signing of a highly-rated youngster, per reports.

Celtic probe ahead of summer transfer window

The Bhoys are basking in the glory of a fourth successive league title and will look to hammer home their supremacy this season when they travel to face Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

However, their rivals have claimed victory in their last two Glasgow Derby encounters, leaving Brendan Rodgers with a point to prove against his opposite number, Barry Ferguson.

Truthfully, the Irishman can put forward a compelling argument that he has already met his remit with flying colours. He is now the third-most successful manager in Celtic history; trophies are the bottom line in Glasgow after all.

In light of this, Rodgers is likely to gain significant backing from the Hoops hierarchy this summer. According to reports, AC Ajaccio striker Moussa Soumano has emerged as a target at Parkhead, even if Brentford are deemed to be leading the race for his signature.

Crystal Palace winger Jesse Derry is also on Celtic’s radar, but he is likely to be one for the future should he join the club for a compensation fee after refusing to pen a new deal at Selhurst Park.

Related Celtic set to lose "fantastic" player until 2025/26 after painful injury

The Bhoys will have to do without one of their star men.

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Apr 28, 2025

In the background, plenty of groundwork will be ongoing to ensure the Bhoys have adequate quality present to combat the challenge of competing in the final Champions League qualifying round next term.

Homegrown players will be needed to meet squad quotas regardless of what league phase they end up in, so it won’t be a surprise that they are now battling their rivals for one of Scotland’s brightest young talents.

Celtic and Rangers race to sign Hearts forward James Wilson

According to Chronicle Live, Celtic and Rangers are both racing to sign Heart of Midlothian forward James Wilson alongside Premier League outfit Newcastle United.

Becoming a regular at Tynecastle, the 18-year-old earned his first Scotland cap against Greece earlier this year and has been scouted by either side of Glasgow’s divide, while the Magpies have sent representatives to watch the youngster several times.

James Wilson’s breakout season at Hearts – first-team and B team level

Appearances

37

Goals

11

Assists

2

Impressive at senior level, Wilson has netted six times in 31 appearances and is capable of playing either on the right flank or as a central striker.

Lauded for his “brilliant” campaign by James Penrice, the prodigious talent has also managed to create 11 chances on Scottish Premiership duty.

Evidently, Wilson still has plenty of growth to come in the next few years, but all the telltale signs are there that he could go on to be a star of Scottish football with the correct development plan.

Celtic will hope they can convince him that Parkhead is the place to achieve that feat, though he would likely be met by stiff competition for his place.

The striker position has been a huge issue for Everton over the last couple of years, with no player able to fill the void and nail the role down as their own.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin started the season as the number one option, but his injury issues have once again reared their head, failing to appear in a single game since the end of January.

The 28-year-old has also recently been linked with a move away from Merseyside this summer, with Manchester United and Nottingham Forest ready to pounce for his signature.

Beto has since filled in over the past couple of weeks, scoring five goals in four appearances at one stage, but has failed to find the net in any of his last five outings under David Moyes.

Such form could see the manager delve into the market to land a new talisman, with one name linked with a move to kickstart the move to the Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium.

Everton plotting summer move for £80m talisman

According to TBR, Everton are targeting a move for Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis this summer, but gave some serious competition from other sides in England’s top-flight.

Newcastle United, Forest, Fulham and West Ham United are also interested in making a move for the 26-year-old this summer, unsurprisingly so given his form in Portugal.

The Greek international has registered 24 goals and nine assists in his 46 appearances across all competitions, including seven in the Champions League.

The report states that the Liga Portugal outfit don’t want to part ways with their star man, but could be resigned to losing him should any side trigger his £80m release clause.

Whilst it would be an astronomical fee for the Toffees to pay, he would provide the goals needed in the final third, being their own version of a player who’s set the Premier League alight.

Why Pavlidis would be Moyes’ very own Isak at Everton

Newcastle forward Alexander Isak has thrived beyond the imagination of everyone in the Premier League, firing the Magpies to new heights during his time on Tyneside.

The Swede has netted 59 goals in his 102 appearances for Eddie Howe’s side in the last three seasons, leading to links to the likes of Arsenal and Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

However, any deal for the 25-year-old would set any interested parties back around £150m, highlighting how impressive he’s been since his move to St James’ Park back in the summer of 2022.

The Toffees could land their very own version of the Swede this summer in the form of Benfica ace Pavlidis, who’s been labelled as a similar player to Isak by FBref.

When delving into their respective stats from the ongoing campaign, the Greek has managed to match or outperform the Magpies’ talisman in numerous key areas – highlighting how much of an impressive addition he would be.

How Pavlidis compares to Isak in 2024/25 so far

Statistics (per 90)

Pavlidis

Isak

Games played

28

27

Goals & assists

19

25

Pass accuracy

75%

75%

Shot-on-target accuracy

48%

43%

Shots on target per game

1.5

1.4

Aerials won

1.4

0.9

Aerial success rate

38%

33%

Stats via FotMob

Pavlidis, who’s been labelled “fantastic” by former footballer Jay Bothroyd, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has notched a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing his clinical nature in the final third.

He’s also won more aerials per 90, whilst also winning more of the aerial battles he’s entered, potentially offering Moyes the all-round centre-forward presence he’s been lacking at Goodison.

Whilst £80m may appear to be a hefty sum for a player who is unproven in the Premier League, the 26-year-old has demonstrated his qualities which would certainly boost the club’s attacking department in the future.

With multiple sides interested in his signature during the upcoming window, they will have to work tirelessly to complete a deal, but it would be one that is worthwhile if he can replicate his form from recent seasons.

Related Their answer to Salah: Everton want to sign "generational" Liverpool talent

Everton are targeting a summer move for a player who could upset a few should he join the Toffees.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Apr 10, 2025

The final nail in Ipswich Town’s Premier League coffin could well have been handed to them on Saturday, as Vitor Pereira’s Wolverhampton Wanderers recovered well on the road to beat Kieran McKenna’s hosts 2-1.

Ipswich did race into a slim one-goal lead in the first half courtesy of Liam Delap, but it was to no avail as the Old Gold eventually clinched a dramatic three points, meaning the gap between the Tractor Boys in 18th and Wolves in 17th spot is at a sizeable nine points.

Therefore, McKenna will likely be preparing for Ipswich to drop back down to the Championship very soon, with a hope that Omari Hutchinson will stick it out in Suffolk if a bruising relegation is confirmed.

Hutchinson's heroics at Ipswich

After all, Hutchinson’s finest form donning Tractor Boys blue came about when Ipswich last found themselves in the entertaining EFL.

The ex-Chelsea man would fire home a hefty ten goals and pick up an impressive six assists during Ipswich’s promotion-winning exploits back in the 2023/24 season, leading to McKenna and Co landing Hutchinson for a bumper £20m.

He has since acclimatised to the demands of the top-flight well – even if an instant return to the Championship is on the cards for his employers – with this breakaway effort against Chelsea in December one of five goal contributions he’s managed from 27 league clashes.

If Hutchinson does stay put, he will hope he can wriggle free of any injury concerns that have made this season somewhat stop-start for him, with the 21-year-old missing from his side’s last crushing loss to Wolves.

But, regardless of what does occur with the Ipswich number 20 moving forward, McKenna will know he has his next Hutchinson in the making in this entertaining ace who has previously taken the Championship by storm.

McKenna's next Hutchinson in the making

Everyone associated with the Portman Road strugglers will hope when relegation is inevitably confirmed, all the building blocks are put in place for Ipswich to mount an instant return to the top-flight.

Already possessing a top talent for the division in Jaden Philogene-Bidace will make this mission easier to accomplish, with the ex-Hull City star twisting and turning second tier defences for fun when Ipswich were hunting down automatic promotion last time around.

Hutchinson’s Championship numbers (23/24) vs Philogene’s (23/24)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Hutchinson

Philogene

Games played

44

32

Goals scored

10

12

Assists

5

6

Shots*

1.5

3.6

Big chances missed

4

6

Big chances created

7

7

Stats by Sofascore

As can be seen glancing at the table above, Philogene tore the second tier to shreds playing as a fast-paced loanee for the Tigers, with the 23-year-old actually bettering Hutchinson’s blistering numbers in the process by picking up three more goal contributions from 12 less encounters.

Therefore, McKenna will have full faith in Philogene to dust himself down and get back to his rampaging best if second tier football returns on the menu, with one audacious effort for Hull last season leading to him be recognised by FIFA as a Puskas award nominee.

Dubbed a “special” talent by his then-Hull boss in Liam Rosenior, McKenna will further hope he can be as impactful as Hutchinson by delivering the goods to see promotion be instantly achieved.

Philogene could perhaps be capable of even more on the books of Ipswich, considering the Tigers finished just outside the playoffs in seventh position despite their dazzling attacker’s heroics.

Whatever does transpire this summer, the Tractor Boys won’t want to dwell on matters for too long, with everything in place for a finish near the Championship summit if stars such as Philogene can be as exciting as Hutchinson proved to be.

Related Ipswich may have found the Premier League's new Alexander-Arnold

The incredible talent is one of Ipswich’s most important players.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 6, 2025