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Mauricio Pochettino faces a major challenge as Chelsea manager heading into the 2023/24 campaign, with confidence low following a woeful 12th-place finish in the Premier League last term.

The Blues only conceded 47 goals, with only six teams conceding fewer across the entirety of the season, yet their ability to put chances away was terrible, scoring just 38 times. Relegated sides Leicester City and Leeds United both scored 13 and ten more goals respectively than the Stamford Bridge outfit, and it goes to show just how lacklustre they were in front of goal.

Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz both finished on nine goals apiece, enough to rank them as the joint-highest scorers in the squad, with centre-forwards Armando Broja and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netting just four goals between them, a dreadful return.

In the case of Aubameying, the ex-Arsenal and Barcelona man has been tipped to follow the flock of Blues to Saudi Arabia, while recent reports have suggested that Broja – who missed much of last through injury – also angling for a move.

The duo earn a combined £200k-per-week at the club and Pochettino must surely be tempted to brutally ditch the pair in order to free up some wages for a striker who could arrive at Stamford Bridge and improve their meagre goal tally alongside new arrivals Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson.

Could Chelsea sign Folarin Balogun this summer?

With a new out-and-out striker evidently required if Pochettino aims to deliver some sort of success next season, the club have been linked with a move for Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun and his representatives have spoken to the Blues ahead of a potential move during the summer transfer window.

He won't come cheap however, with the Gunners wanting £50m for the young hitman, yet judging by his form for French side Stade Reims during 2022/23, it could turn into a bargain.

The 21-year-old spent the campaign on loan in Ligue 1 and finished the season having netted 21 league goals, and this was enough to rank him as the fourth-best scorer in the division, finishing behind Kylian Mbappe, Alexandre Lacazette and Jonathan David – not bad company to keep that’s for sure.

Young coach Will Still lauded the youngster for his impressive spell last term, saying: “He's unbelievable, he has real talent but he is also just a top person.

“He's trying to learn the language – we have a bit of banter because his French is terrible (but) I think he realises: being good here will allow him to get the spotlight and attention he needs.”

His spell has certainly given him the spotlight judging by the interest from Chelsea recently and Pochettino could give him the opportunity to turn into a world-class performer.

Balogun ranked in the top 9% across Europe’s top five leagues for total shots per 90 (3.63) clearly indicating that he gets into shooting positions on a regular basis while he also ranks in the top 19% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (5.94) and a move to Chelsea could see this figure get better due to the attacking nature of the Argentinian’s tactical system.

The United States international would be a wildcard choice for the Blues, yet his clinical nature is something that Chelsea desperately require, and he could well be worth taking a chance on.

If they can poach the 5 foot 10 starlet from their London rivals, the Stamford Bridge outfit could then have the licence to show both Broja and Aubayameng the door.

Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta are keen on signing Montpellier forward Elye Wahi but face stiff competition for his signature, according to reports out of France.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Gunners have been very busy so far this transfer window as sporting director Edu attempts to back Arteta with marquee additions. Arsenal fell just short of the title to eventual treble-winners Man City last season, despite being in pole position for much of the 2022/2023 campaign.

In response, they've taken swiftly to the transfer market, having put pen to paper on deals for the likes of Kai Havertz from Chelsea, defender Jurrien Timber and a club-record £105 million deal for Declan Rice from West Ham United.

The latter player represents a significant signing for Arteta in particular, with the 24-year-old becoming England's most expensive ever player ahead of both Jack Grealish (Man City) and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid).

More signings haven't been ruled out, either, as the north Londoners maintain an interest in Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia among others, Though reports suggest they're now looking more at outgoings to balance the books, it is believed Arteta and co are eyeing an electric young striker.

According to French news outlet Foot Mercato, both Arsenal and Newcastle hold an interest in signing Wahi from Montpellier this summer. It is believed the Frenchman is being targeted by both sides, but they may need to hurry and formalise that interest if they're serious.

Strasbourg, recently bought by Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, will attempt to sign the 20-year-old who is also on the list of Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt – if the latter side manage to sell Randal Kolo Muani.

Sharing more on Arsenal's interest, the outlet explains that the north Londoners also have to make a sale before moving for Wahi.

Foot Mercato wrote:

"On the England side, Arsenal (which must sell Folarin Balogun) but also Newcastle (always on the lookout for a good shot) are also on the lookout,"

"Trained at the club, the seventh top scorer in Ligue 1 during the 2022-2023 financial year is, in any case, on the verge of a new challenge in his young career."

How good is Elye Wahi?

The promising young attacker, who bagged a brilliant 19 goals and five assists in 33 Ligue 1 appearances last season, has been praised by members of the media and club chiefs alike for his sky high potential.

"He was two or three years ahead of his peers in terms of what he could do," explains Pierre Ville, former Suresnes club president, to GOAL.

"He quickly outclassed them.

"During a tournament that we hosted, I saw him score a volley with the ball falling vertically out of the sky, like watching [Zinedine] Zidane in the 2002 Champions League final, but the boy was just 11 years old!"

Meanwhile, journalist Andrés Onrubia Ramos has called Wahi a "real beast" of a forward who will "definitely explode".

Ramos wrote on Twitter:

"Elye Wahi (2003). If he manages to polish the definition, we are facing a striker who is going to exceed ten goals per season. A real beast in space that, in addition, associatively also leaves interesting things. It should definitely explode."

Crystal Palace’s pre-season needs to start taking shape. At the moment, the club finds itself in a slightly precarious position, particularly in attacking positions.

Wilfried Zaha looks increasingly likely to depart Selhurst Park this summer, while Michael Olise is facing up to three months out and is set to miss start the start of the season as he picked up a hamstring injury in the recent U21 UEFA European Championship.

If Eberechi Eze suffered a similar injury to Olise, then it would be the Eagles criminally lacking depth and quality in forward.

The underwhelming trio of Jordan Ayew, Odsonne Edouard, and Jean-Philippe Mateta only managed 11 Premier League goals between them, so Steve Parish will need to identify reinforcements to eradicate any chance of relegation.

In the past, the Eagles have been linked with Charles De Ketelaere, a player who was once again mooted with a switch to southeast London this month.

What’s the latest on Charles De Ketelaere to Crystal Palace?

According to Italian journalist Daniel Speranza, Palace, as well as West Ham and Everton are chasing the 22-year-old gem, who could cost around €30m (£26m).

"After West Ham and Crystal Palace, Everton have also conducted a poll for Charles De Ketelaere in the last few hours," he tweeted. "The #Milan is firm on its requests: about 30 million are needed. Reflections in progress by the English clubs."

Would Charles De Ketelaere be a good signing for Crystal Palace?

When De Ketelaere joined AC Milan in the summer of 2022, he looked on course to continue his wondrous, meteoric rise to international stardom.

The 6 foot 3 prodigy began his career in his homeland at Club Brugge in 2008, before making his senior debut for the squad in 2019.

In 90 appearances in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League and Champions League play-offs, De Ketelaere recorded 33 goal contributions. As a result, he became the first player born this century to score at least 15 times and provide at least 15 assists in the division.

During this time he forged a formidable reputation for his positional versatility and his limitless potential, with Scouted Football summing up his style of play like this: “De Ketelaere's developed from a supporting wide attacker into a forward that strains defences from most angles and situations. He runs into depth, slips off blindsides, shoots off dribbles, gets onto crosses – flexible and effective. He's going to go a long way.”

However, his move to Italy has unravelled into disaster, making 40 appearances in all competitions and registering just one assist. It is a damning reflection upon a player unable to adapt to his new surroundings and may look for a different experience.

It would be harsh to discard his talent as he still remains in the infancy of his career, and if he can replicate the form he displayed at Belgium, he could provide the attacking impetus to possibly deputise for Zaha.

The Ivorian has been the heartbeat of Selhurst Park for many years, with 111 goal involvements in 305 top-flight outings.

As well as this frightening productivity, the Eagles winger ranks within the top 20% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for successful take-ons per 90.

Similarly to De Ketelaere, Zaha has been shuffled across the frontline, with both players demonstrating high-level competence and adaptability.

Palace has never been blessed with an especially deep squad so this trait to play in various positions is vital.

De Ketelaere, who has been described as “so, so promising” by scout Jacek Kulig, is in need of revival and he could be tempted by the prospect of becoming Palace’s new talisman.

Arsenal continue to be linked with a host of potential new signings despite their proactivity, yet there is one freshly touted option that could form a frightening partnership with another of their summer additions…

Who is joining Arsenal this summer?

The latest transfer claim comes courtesy of French outlet RMC Sport, who suggest that the Gunners remain interested in signing Montpellier forward Elye Wahi.

Having enjoyed a truly outstanding season in his homeland, the 20-year-old finisher has unsurprisingly begun to garner widespread interest. Although Chelsea are noted as a potential destination, it is said that Mikel Arteta has enquired regarding his availability. Talks are expected to continue in the coming days.

Having had a €40m (£34m) price tag slapped on him back in May, the Frenchman will not come cheap despite his lack of experience. He would add to a transfer window of vast change for the north London outfit, having already welcomed Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz to the Emirates.

It is the latter of this trio that would likely benefit most from the proposed deal.

How good is Elye Wahi?

With Chelsea having endured one of their toughest campaigns in recent history, their German maestro unsurprisingly suffered too. Especially since he was often deployed as a centre-forward, despite his preferred position being deeper.

As such, he was often lambasted for his lack of cutting-edge and consistency, despite scoring nine goals in all competitions.

Should Wahi enter the fold at the Emirates, to compete with Gabriel Jesus, at last, the 24-year-old magician will be allowed to move into his starring role, where he can instead shine just behind the striker, dictating the play.

After all, when compared to other forwards across Europe, he does rank in the top 9% for progressive passes per 90, and did manage to average 1.1 key passes per game last term in the league too.

Combining this kind of creativity with the speed and directness of Wahi would offer a new dimension to the slow, mediated build-up that Arteta has been famed for. The young marksman did notch 19 goals in Ligue 1 last term alongside a further six assists, as if to outline his goalscoring credentials.

He also did so with a 30% conversion rate, suggesting that should Havertz create, he can be safe in the knowledge that the German will often score.

Were the Gunners to tempt the France U21 international to join, it could even bare striking similarities with their capture of Nicolas Anelka back in 1997.

Moving from Paris Saint-Germain, the teenager joined under the newly-appointed Arsene Wenger and immediately fought for his first-team spot.

When it came, he proved instrumental in finally securing Arsenal that coveted Premier League title, recording 12 goal contributions in the league and even scoring in their FA Cup final win as they claimed the double.

The year following he would record a further 17 league goals, truly establishing himself as a fine asset for his legendary French coach.

His confidence to move to a new country at such a young age paid off, and with an injury to Ian Wright handing him his chance, he never looked back.

Wahi could seek to emulate this path, as a compatriot sharing many of the physical similarities with the 44-year-old.

The two stand at 6 foot and 6 foot 1 respectively, and were blessed with lightning-quick speed and an ability to leave defenders for dead whilst playing on the shoulder.

Such a notion is emphasised by words from his national team coach at youth level, Sylvain Rippol, noted:

"He's a racy player, a space-taking player who hurts the opponent in behind and who makes them retreat. There are not many like him. And when I see the form of Elye, over the last few months, of course, the squad needs his qualities."

Perhaps a switch to north London could kickstart his career in the same way it did Anelka's, who would go on to win two English leagues, three FA Cups, one Italian league, a Champions League and a European Championship.

West Ham United have “held initial talks” regarding a summer deal to sign Manchester United defensive midfielder Scott McTominay, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Is Scott McTominay leaving Manchester United?

The Red Devils product has made 209 senior appearances since graduating from the club’s academy to become a regular feature of the first team, but last season, he fell significantly out of favour under Erik Ten Hag at Old Trafford.

In the Premier League, the 26-year-old was handed just ten starts and was forced to sit on the bench for the majority of the time, being introduced from the sidelines on 14 occasions, via WhoScored, and with the recent arrival of Mason Mount alongside Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, he’ll only continue to be out of favour and low down in the pecking order moving forward.

The Scotland international does still have another two years to run on his contract, but it’s likely that he will be on the move during this window in order to receive more game time elsewhere, and should he depart, he has an admirer in David Moyes at the London Stadium.

The Independent’s Miguel Delaney has reported that the Irons hold a “strong interest” in the central talisman who has been made a priority target by chiefs in the capital, and if the following update is to be believed, it sounds as if they have taken their admiration one step further by initiating contact.

Are West Ham signing Scott McTominay?

Taking to Twitter, Sheth revealed that West Ham have reached out to Man United to discover what it would take to get a deal over the line for McTominay in the coming weeks. He wrote:

“West Ham have held initial talks with Manchester United over Maguire & McTominay. Gap in valuations for both players. United see them as very important members of [the] squad. While not encouraging offers, it would require very big bids for United to even consider a sale.”

Who would Scott McTominay replace?

West Ham are yet to replace former captain Declan Rice following his move to Arsenal so Moyes will be aware that he needs to recruit a suitable successor, and having been dubbed a “hero” by journalist Josh Bunting, McTominay could be the ideal candidate he’s looking for.

Man United’s 6 foot 3 colossus ranked in the 99th percentile for clearances and the 98th percentile for aerial wins by midfielders last season, highlighting how strong he was at getting rid of the danger and protecting his backline, despite having a short amount of time to prove himself to Ten Hag.

The Lancaster-born talent, who also scored three goals and provided one assist across all competitions during the previous campaign, would additionally provide the boss with versatility with his ability to play in five various positions, including three roles in the midfield and at centre-back, just like Rice.

The Red Devils are reportedly looking to receive a fee of £40m in order to sanction the sale of McTominay which shouldn’t be a problem having received £105m for Rice, so if the opportunity presents itself, this is a deal that the hierarchy should be all over.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could eventually be stumped in their bid to land Bristol City playmaker Alex Scott as they struggle to scramble funds together to acquire the England youth international, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Is Alex Scott moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers?

As per The Express & Star, Wolves are in a precarious position with regard to their pursuit of Scott after seeing separate bids of £18 million and £20 million turned down for his services by Bristol City.

The report states that the money needed to sign the 19-year-old is 'unavailable' due to a risk of breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules, potentially putting their efforts to buy Scott in doubt.

Football Insider have revealed that Bristol City chairman John Lansdown is holding out for a fee of £25 million before he will agree to sanction the Guernsey-born playmaker's exit from Ashton Gate.

Last term, the youngster established himself as a key player for Bristol City, registering two goals and five assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Over the course of the window, Bournemouth, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan have all been linked with Scott, which is a testament to his potential despite his relative inexperience in the game.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that Wolves could eventually be upended in their efforts to land Scott as his other suitors may spot an opportunity to take advantage of their financial irregularities.

Jones stated: “This has become very frustrating. One week ago, Wolves looked like they might be able to start moving forward, but these FFP fears continue to hold them back.

“But, at the same time, others touted, like Spurs, aren’t moving either. If anyone is a threat, it might be Bournemouth. They have gone a little quiet and may be working on something.”

What now for Wolverhampton Wanderers?

In all honesty, Wolves have endured a torrid transfer window and only Republic of Ireland international Matt Doherty and experienced stopper Tom King have been added to Julen Lopetegui's thin squad as new additions this summer, as per Transfermarkt.

Big-name departures such as Ruben Neves and Nathan Collins haven't helped their cause, while dressing room presences such as Diego Costa and Joao Moutinho have also left the building, which is hardly cause for optimism around Molineux as the new Premier League campaign draws closer.

Wolves had been in negotiations with West Ham in an attempt to acquire veteran full-back Aaron Cresswell ahead of the new campaign; however, the Hammers pulled the plug on any notion of a deal as a fee couldn't be agreed between both parties, as per The Daily Mail.

Old Gold boss Lopetegui has admitted he is "worried" about the size of the squad he has to work with at Wolves this term and the collective anxiety around the club is likely to continue the longer the window drags on if further reinforcements don't appear between now and the close of play in the market.

Nottingham Forest could pull off one of the coups of the summer, should reports be believed linking with to a true midfield destroyer…

Are Nottingham Forest signing Ibrahim Sangare?

Whilst this window has been dominated by the £105m Arsenal signing of Declan Rice, many of the smaller outfits have been working in the shadows to pry deals of that calibre without the huge fiscal burden that they often demand.

Especially those lower down the Premier League, who are so often hamstrung by FFP whilst the larger clubs are allowed to thrive.

However, that has not stopped Steve Cooper's talent ID, as they were linked just last week via reports in the Netherlands with a move for PSV Eindhoven enforcer Ibrahim Sangare.

Whilst his €37.5m (£32m) price tag might seem somewhat unattainable for a side that only avoided the drop late on last season, it is this kind of financial risk that could take them to the next level, to one day challenge alongside the free-spending Gunners.

How good is Ibrahim Sangare?

Placing the Ivorian powerhouse at the base of their midfield would immediately upgrade their engine room, not only offering defensive security to the backline but also a touch of quality that will see the ball progress with more finesse from deep.

In fact, the 25-year-old star boasts plenty of similarities with Rice, despite the huge disparity in their price tags.

The England international is famed for his ability to break up play and turn defence into attack in an instant. As such, last season in the league saw him post six goal contributions, one key pass and 2.1 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Such figures were closely emulated in the Eredivisie last term by Sangare too, who recorded six goal contributions too alongside 0.9. key passes and 2.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore. His 7.24 average rating would have made him Forest's best-performing player by some distance in the league last year.

Adding this shared quality with their mirrored physical frames, as they stand at 6 foot 1 and 6 foot 3 respectively, and there is precedent to assume that the PSV star will become a star under Cooper in no time at all.

Football analyst Aad de Mos sought to emphasise his skillset, as he spoke to Voetbal 4U about his touted move to Leicester City back in April: "Ibrahim Sangaré is better on one leg than Leicester’s midfield.

“He is extraordinary; this season, he has been the king of PSV. You only miss Sangeré when he’s not playing. You need someone like that, who picks up a ball and is always in between things with the point of his shoe. And lately he’s also been getting dangerous towards the opponent’s goal."

In fact, FBref serves to suggest that the Ivory Coast international is actually one of the best in his position on the continent, as when compared against midfielders across Europe he sits in the top 8% for non-penalty goals per 90, the top 9% for progressive passes per 90, the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90 and the top 18% for tackles per 90.

There truly is nothing that the midfield monster cannot do, and if he was to quickly translate that skillset into the Premier League, he would swiftly start to dominate English football and likely command a fee akin to the former West Ham United man he could well emulate.

Everton are interested in reinforcing their attacking options this summer, according to reports, as the start of the Premier League season edges closer and closer.

This has led the Toffees to Paris Saint-Germain, and Hugo Ekitike, with a new report indicating just where negotiations currently stand for the forward.

What's the latest on Hugo Ekitike to Everton?

The Premier League club have concrete interest in Ekitike, and are expected to commence negotiations with PSG to sign the striker on loan with an option to buy, which could become mandatory, according to Fabrizio Romano.

As things stand, the deal is reportedly in its early stages, with numbers and the terms of the deal not yet discussed with PSG or Ekitike.

With the Premier League season fast-approaching, however, Everton may be keen to get their business done as quickly as possible.

PSG, meanwhile, may not hold any sentiment over the forward, given that he started just 12 games in Ligue 1 last season, in which he scored three times, and assisted on a further four occasions.

Of course, Ekitike's game time could have increased in the coming season due to Kylian Mbappe's exile from the first team, but the arrival of Goncalo Ramos has significantly dashed those hopes, perhaps making a move away suitable for all parties this summer.

Should Everton sign Hugo Ekitike?

It's easy to look at Ekitike's first season at PSG, and mark him down as a player to forget. But this is a striker who attracted interest from the Ligue 1 champions with his impressive performances in the first place.

Before making the move to the French capital, the Frenchman reached double figures for Stade Reims, scoring 11 goals and assisting a further five in all competitions.

Read the latest Everton news HERE…

Still only 21-years-old, too, the former Reims man has plenty of time to find his form once more – something that a move away could help this summer.

When compared to Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ekitike stands out. According to FBref, the 21-year-old makes more progressive passes, more progressive carries, scores and assists more goals, and has a better take-on success per 90 than Calvert-Lewin. And, whilst the current Everton man suits Sean Dyche's more aggressive style of play, Ekitike could be the ideal partner to add some much-needed elegance to Dyche's attacking plan.

The Frenchman has certainly attracted plenty of praise during his time in Ligue 1, too, with former Reims manager Oscar Garcia telling beINSPORTS, via Chronicle Live: “There is something very special about him. He’s young, and he has the quality to become a very good player. He’s a young man with a lot of quality but also a lot to improve on, but he works hard in training.”

So, with that said, it would certainly be an exciting piece of business if Everton sign Ekitike this summer. The only obstacle standing in the way would be his wages – the forward reportedly earns £80k per-week, which would make him one of the club's highest earners.

It may still be a deal worth pursuing for the Toffees, though, who could bolster their attacking options in the coming weeks.

Nottingham Forest target Aaron Cresswell has refused to train with the West Ham United team in recent weeks as he looks to "force through" a move away from East London after the Hammers rejected an initial offer from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, the situation has since developed, and Forest have emerged as the more likely destination for the three-capped Englishman, per Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor.

Nottingham Forest transfer news – what's the latest on Aaron Cresswell?

Despite spending the last nine years with the East London side – following his £2m switch from Ipswich Town – Hammers icon Cresswell looks set on leaving the club after his place as first choice on the left-hand side of the defence was taken from him last year by Emerson Palmieri.

His decision was probably made simpler when, despite making seven appearances for the club in their run to and eventual triumph in the Europa Conference League final, David Moyes didn't bring the £50,000-a-week man on in the final.

Earlier in the summer, the Daily Mail reported that Wolves were 'in talks' with the club over a potential £2.5m transfer for Cresswell, but the fee was deemed to be far too low and was promptly rejected, with Football Insider reporting that it would take a fee of around £4m to land his signature.

And while the same publication have since claimed that the West Midlands side are 'expected' to finalise the deal soon, fellow Midlands outfit Forest have emerged as a potential destination for the experienced defender, especially since he shares the same agents with Forest star Brennan Johnson.

According to the Sun's Alan Nixon, the Tricky Trees have now entered the race for the Tranmere Rovers youth product, with journalist Ryan Taylor thinking a move to the City Ground could be likely with it looking increasingly likely that Rayan Ait-Nouri will be staying with the Old Gold.

What has Ryan Taylor said about Cresswell?

Taylor explained that Cresswell refused to partake in team training following the Irons' refusal to accept Wolves' initial offer of £2.5m; however, he admitted that this could have changed in the ten days since.

He also explained that recent developments could mean that instead of Wolves, it's Forest that the Irons legend ends up playing for this season.

Taylor told GIVEMESPORT: "I don't know if it will happen, to be honest, because it looks like Rayan Ait-Nouri is going to stay at Wolves. He was in talks with Nice over a loan move. Wolves actually made a bid for Cresswell worth about £2.5million, but West Ham wanted £5million.

"It is true that he hasn't been training, I've checked that. I don't know if he is back in training now because this was about 10 days ago that he wanted to force through that move, but it's gone very quiet now.

"I've actually seen that Forest might have a look at Cresswell as well, which is interesting. I think they need a little bit of cover and competition at left-back. He's only got one year left on his deal, which was just activated recently."

How old is Aaron Cresswell?

Born December 15th, 1989, in Liverpool, England, the 33-year-old is an incredibly experienced operator and, despite being on the wrong side of 30 for a professional footballer, still looks like he's got a lot left to offer whichever Premier League club decides to stump up the cash needed to get him out of the London Stadium.

According to WhoScored, in his 28 league appearances last year, he provided one assist, maintained a passing accuracy of 81.4%, won one aerial dual a game and averaged a respectable match rating of 6.61, which is quite impressive given the poor season the club had.

And whilst he may not have scored or created as many goals as he would've liked last year, his underlying numbers suggest he was a little unfortunate in that regard and was, in fact, quite a helpful creator going forward.

According to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the 5 foot 7 warrior sits in the top 10% for progressive passes, the top 15% for shot-creating actions and the top 21% for expected assists, all per 90.

He may not be the most exciting of signings for the Forest faithful, but given his vast experience and relatively cheap price tag, he would surely be an intelligent acquisition for Steve Cooper's side.

Tottenham Hotspur continue to search for their Harry Kane successor, but it is a process that was always bound to prove difficult given the talent they have lost…

Who could replace Harry Kane at Tottenham?

Numerous names have been touted with regard to that vacancy, as Ange Postecoglou likely wants to replace that goalscoring quality with similar proficiency.

However, he of all people will know just how impossible a task that is.

Instead, perhaps the Australian could look to mould his next star, investing his time and effort in youth just as he will have to be equally patient whilst integrating his system.

Whilst Dusan Vlahovic might mark the outstanding option given his pedigree for someone so young, as someone who the Lilywhites have been interested in this summer, perhaps they could divert their attention towards a shock move for Folarin Balogun.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Given a report emerged earlier in the week linking them with a swoop for their north London rivals' young star, with his £50m price tag far more attainable than what was touted for the Juventus marksman, with regard to quality, ceiling and price tag, there are arguments to be made for the USA international.

How good is Folarin Balogun?

Although far more accomplished at the top level, their respective most recent seasons could suggest that the tide might be turning in the favour of Arsenal's 22-year-old finisher.

After all, he did enjoy an outstanding loan spell in France, scoring 21 times in Ligue 1 and assisting a further three. H

is manager Will Still sought to emphasise the immediate impact of the youngster, noting: "He is a super complete striker, he is able to play with his back to goal, in depth. It is technically very clean. He scores, he is decisive."

Meanwhile, during this red-hot term that made many stand up and take note, the Serbia international was actually enduring an uncharacteristically profligate year for the Turin outfit.

Just ten league goals marked a massive downgrade from his 24 strikes the year prior, however, he does not boast nearly enough technical prowess with regard to link-up play and passing accuracy that could lend Balogun the upper hand.

Alongside his clinical finishing, the former England U21 international did also average one key pass per game to outline this creativity that he could add, where Vlahovic has little.

His 72% pass accuracy from last season suggests that he would fail to make it stick should they mix it up and go long, despite his 6 foot 3 frame.

Postecoglou has been vocal in the way he wants to set his side up, with an emphasis on pressing from the front and a relentless work ethic up top.

Following his appointment he noted: "It's all encompassing. Our defensive work starts at the front and making sure that our front three, whoever they may be, are our first line of defence. The players have bought into it.

"It's very easy, especially for an attacking player, to have the incentive of working hard in order to score goals, but to give them the incentive that if they work hard defensively it will also bring you goals has been a big challenge but the players have bought into it."

Again, this is something which Balogun excels in, with former teammate Shkodran Mustafi even suggesting how tireless he remains in his pursuit of his targets: "He’s a very strong and intelligent player. He’s a good striker and he’s hungry."

Whilst Vlahovic is far more experienced, with five years of top-flight senior football under his belt, Balogun's promise, heavily reduced price tag and ability in possession actually marks him as an upgrade on the former Fiorentina star.