All posts by hc12369.com

The start of the year has brought with it the beginning of another new era for Chelsea Football Club.

The Blues announced the departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day, and then just a few days later, announced Liam Rosenior as his permanent replacement.

The former Strasbourg boss has quite the challenge on his hands, with qualification for next season’s Champions League surely the objective.

Fortunately, the transfer window is now open, and if reports are to be believed, Chelsea are planning to bring in some top-quality players to help their new manager, including one who’d be a monster upgrade on Pedro Neto.

Chelsea target Neto upgrade

While he’s certainly not a known quantity among Premier League fans, Chelsea supporters have reason to be excited about Rosenior’s appointment.

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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The 41-year-old might not be the most experienced of managers, but his record in France was impressive: in 63 games, he oversaw 32 wins, 14 draws and just 17 losses.

Moreover, he has proven himself capable of working with young players, with Strasbourg being the first team in Europe’s top five leagues to field a lineup of players born in the 21st century earlier this season.

However, to help the Blues push on, he’s going to need some more ready-made stars in the squad, which is what the club seem intent on providing him.

At least, that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Chelsea are interested in a ‘big name’ in the form of Rafaël Leão.

In fact, the report has revealed that the club intend to spend €150m on the AC Milan star and Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez.

The report states that the West Londoners are planning to spend €75m of that money on the Spaniard, leaving as much to be spent on the Portuguese star, which converts to about £65m.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but given Leão’s immense ability, it’s one Chelsea should fight tooth and nail for, especially as he’d be a dream upgrade on Neto.

How Leão compares to Neto

Now, throughout his career, Neto has spent more time on the right, but not by much.

For example, in his club career, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star has made 78 appearances on the right, 69 on the left, and 25 up top.

Moreover, with Estevao being the sensational talent he is and Cole Palmer probably being more effective on the right, the Portuguese international is going to be more of a left-sided player for Chelsea, as he was in the game against Manchester City.

Neto’s positional versatility

Position

Games

Gs

As

Right Winger

78

12

18

Left Winger

69

10

8

Centre-Forward

25

1

5

Second Striker

17

5

5

Attacking Midfield

11

3

1

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Unfortunately, this would then put him in direct competition for gametime with Leão if BlueCo get their man, which is a competition he’s not going to win for several reasons.

First of all, he’s not as reliable a source of output.

For example, since the start of last season, he has scored 15 goals and provided 12 assists in 78 appearances, totalling 5298 minutes.

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That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.88 games, or every 196.22 minutes.

In contrast, the Milan star has scored 19 goals and provided 14 assists in 63 appearances, totalling 4335 minutes.

That comes out to a far more impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.90 games, or every 131.36 minutes, which lends credence to analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he’s “one of the best LW’s in the world.”

Unsurprisingly, the former LOSC Lille star also comes out looking better when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

For example, the 26-year-old does better in most relevant metrics, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, carries into the penalty area, passing accuracy, and more, all per 90.

Leão vs Neto

Statistics per 90

Leão

Neto

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.61

0.43

Shots

2.60

1.74

Shots on Target

1.12

0.64

Passing Accuracy

76.6%

74.2%

Shot-Creating Actions

2.36

3.49

Goal-Creating Actions

0.37

0.35

Carries into the Penalty Area

1.36

1.16

Aerial Duels Won

1.36

0.29

Interceptions

0.12

0.35

Clearances

0.62

0.35

Progressive Passes

2.47

2.97

All Stats via FBref for the 25/26 League Season

Ultimately, while it might not be the easiest of transfers to pull off, Chelsea should do all they can to sign Leão, as he’d be a massive boost to the team and a clear upgrade on Neto.

Related Chelsea have already signed Rosenior his very own Semenyo

The sensational talent could be a game-changer for Rosenior at Chelsea.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes

Manchester City look set to welcome an addition to their squad early on in the January transfer window, as they close in on a deal for Antoine Semenyo.

According to Fabrizio Romano, a deal “is almost done” to bring the Ghana international to The Etihad from Premier League side Bournemouth, as Pep Guardiola looks to bolster his attacking options.

This means that Semenyo, who has a £65m release clause with the Cherries, is closing in on a move to Manchester City to fight for the title in the second half of the season.

Where Antoine Semenyo could fit in at Manchester City

With the likes of Rayan Cherki, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush, Oscar Bobb, and Savinho already at the club, some supporters may already be wondering exactly where the Bournemouth star will fit in.

City have recently lined up in a 4-3-2-1 system with Foden and Cherki playing behind Haaland, with Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders, and Nico Gonzalez in a midfield three.

Signing Semenyo, though, would provide Guardiola with the opportunity to abandon that formation and change to a 4-2-3-1, with Gonzalez and Reijnders behind an attacking midfield trio of Foden on the right, Cherki through the middle, and Semenyo on the left behind Haaland.

The Bournemouth star’s versatility means that he can play in numerous roles, as shown in the graphic above, but he has predominantly played on the left flank this season, producing nine goals and three assists, per Sofascore.

His powerful running, as evidenced in the goal against Liverpool above, could complement the slower and diminutive styles that Foden and Cherki bring to the attack, giving Haaland an attacker who can keep up with his pace and power on the break.

Whilst Semenyo could be a brilliant addition to Guardiola’s side in the coming days, City have been linked to another Premier League star who could be an even better signing.

The star who could be a better signing for Man City than Antoine Semenyo

City’s current focus is on getting a deal done for the Bournemouth star in the January transfer window, but they are also looking ahead to what they can do in the summer.

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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According to Sky Sports, Manchester City are one of the clubs interested in a deal to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The report claims that the Cityzens want to snap him up on a free transfer to bolster their backline, as John Stones and Nathan Ake may be heading into the final throes of their respective spells at The Etihad.

Guehi could be an even better signing for City than Semenyo if they are able to win the race for his signature as a free agent next summer, because he has the quality to be a consistent performer at Premier League level.

Whilst Semenyo is an exciting signing, given that he has scored 20 goals in the Premier League since the start of last season, the danger with signing attackers is there are no guarantees over consistency.

Marmoush, for example, scored 15 goals and provided nine assists in 17 Bundesliga games for Frankfurt before his move to City, per Sofascore, and he has produced one goal and one assist in 15 games for City this term.

Signing a Premier League-proven centre-back is a slightly safer bet, because defenders do not rely on having to produce big moments, with goals and assists, as they are judged more on the consistency of their overall performances week-in-week-out.

Marc Guehi (Premier League)

24/25

25/26

Appearances

34

17

Goals

3

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.6

2.7

Clearances per game

4.6

5.2

Duels won per game

4.9

5.5

Ground duel success rate

64%

62%

Aerial duel success rate

54%

69%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Guehi has been remarkably consistent defensively in the top-flight since the start of last season, averaging similar numbers across the board, whilst significantly improving in his aerial duels this term.

Subscribe to our newsletter for transfer insights Want clearer transfer context? Subscribe to our newsletter for focused coverage of moves like Semenyo to Man City or Guehi links, plus comparative analysis of how signings reshape squads and tactics.

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The England international, once described as a “monster” by journalist Bobby Manzi, has proven himself to be a dominant defender who can command a backline in the Premier League, as he also currently captains Palace.

Guehi would also only be 26 by the start of next season, a few months younger than Semenyo, who turns 26 this month, and this means that he would be a long-term signing for City, as well as a player who could hit the ground running.

The Palace and Bournemouth stars are both impressive Premier League performers who would be good additions in their own right, but Guehi is a consistent and reliable defender, rather than an attacker who relies on moments, which could make him a better signing for Guardiola.

Related Man City have a bigger talent than Semenyo in "Rashford-like" 17-year-old

Manchester City arguably already possess a bigger talent than Antoine Semenyo in this 17-year-old star.

Posts ByKelan Sarson

On top of the performance-based aspects, Guehi could also be a better signing for City because he would arrive at the club as a free transfer, rather than a £65m addition.