Dragon Feeds
West Ham beating Chelsea to land this 18-year-old sensation would be a terrific coup by Pellegrini
West Ham opinion: Hammers should win the race for Leon Maloney
According to The Sun, West Ham have joined Chelsea in the race to sign Portsmouth whizkid Leon Maloney, who made his first-team breakthrough at Fratton Park the last term.
Despite the current transfer embargo, Chelsea have stepped up their interest in the promising 18-year-old winger after receiving positive reports on his abilities from various scouts, The Sun understands.
The same report claims that West Ham also believe Maloney has the technical abilities and the natural finesse to evolve into a Premier League quality player over the next two or three years with a bit more polishing.
Recently-relegated Fulham are also keen to secure the services of the Fratton Park prodigy, as are a number of other Championship and League One clubs. (h/t The Sun)
However, Chelsea and West Ham are set to face stiff competition from the Netherlands in their pursuit of the talented 18-year-old this summer.
Wim Jonk, who is the current manager of Dutch second-tier side Volendam and former Head of Academy at Ajax, has been left impressed by the League One starlet. (h/t Sun)
The Sun suggests that Jonk wants to bring Maloney to Volendam on loan for the upcoming season and draft him into his first-team plans, with a view to making the move permanent.
However. Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett is also keen to integrate Maloney into his plans for the next term, so it remains to be seen what the future holds for the 18-year-old.
The Isle of Wight-born attacker plundered as many as 26 goals for Portsmouth’s academy side last season, having largely featured in a wide role in the final third.
He was loaned out to Isthmian Premier Division side Bognor Regis Town to allow him to continue his development with more regular minutes, with a view to making the jump from the academy side to senior football.
Maloney finally made his Portsmouth debut in a 2-0 victory over Southend United in the Checkatrade Trophy in January and that might as well prove to be his last at Fratton Park, with several bigger clubs weighing up moves for him this summer.
To put things into perspective, Maloney has only a single year left to run on his scholarship deal at Portsmouth and West Ham should look to snap him up for a thrifty sum of money this summer.
The 18-year-old has hardly played any senior football but he looks like a real talent at this stage of his career and the Hammers might have a gem on their hands if he goes on to fulfil his potential at East London in the years to come.
The Hammers already have some talented youngsters like Grady Diangana, Xande Silva, Conor Coventry, Josh Cullen and a few others hovering in the periphery of the first-team and Leon Maloney could be brought in to improve the depth of the reserve and development side.
Given that the 18-year-old hasn’t played a lot at the senior level, he is likely to be drafted into the U-19 or U-21 side and then it will be up to him to work his way up the ladder.
West Ham have already made a strong statement of intent this summer with deals for Sebastien Haller and Pablo Fornals and, while Maloney is not likely to play an immediate role in the first-team, the Hammers should look at him as one of the future.
All clubs need to supplement their youth sides with top-quality talent in order to build a strong platform and keep moving in the right direction. Maloney would add to West Ham’s homegrown quota of players, which is certainly another advantage.
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Verdict
With that in mind, it should be a no-brainer for Manuel Pellegrini to complete a deal for the burgeoning Portsmouth talent this summer.
Tottenham
Finland International Signs New Long Term Contract With Tottenham Hotspur Women as Midfielder Commits Future to Spurs
Eveliina Summanen has signed a new long term contract with Tottenham Hotspur Women, extending her stay with the club beyond her 100th appearance milestone. The 27 year old Finnish defensive midfielder has been a consistent positive throughout Spurs’ ups and downs over the past four years since joining in January 2022.
Summanen has evolved into a genuine fan favorite at Tottenham, featuring across all midfield positions before settling into her current defensive midfield role. Her ability to control matches, strike dead balls, and unsettle opposition players has made her an invaluable asset to Martin Ho’s side as they push for Champions League qualification this season.
Ho Praises Infectious Professionalism
The Spurs boss heaped praise on the Finnish international’s influence both on and off the pitch. Ho highlighted Summanen’s technical quality in possession, ability to play forward under pressure, and tactical understanding as attributes that provide stability and direction to the team.
Ho particularly emphasized her infectious behaviors in training and preparation, noting that her professionalism and attitude set standards for the entire squad. This is smart business from Tottenham, who are securing key players as they establish themselves among the WSL elite.
Summanen Building Legacy at Spurs
The midfielder has grown into a real fan favorite since arriving four years ago, never afraid to challenge for loose balls or go to ground making tackles. Her special talent for riling up opposition was perfectly demonstrated when she got Ella Toone sent off, only to be bizarrely penalized for “successful deception of a match official” in a decision that still rankles with supporters.
Summanen has also scored spectacular direct free kicks for both Spurs and Finland throughout her career. Tottenham have once again refused to specify the exact length of this “long term” contract, but keeping their midfield rock secured is excellent news regardless of whether it’s two, three, or four years.
Chelsea
Revealed: Why Paul Green Left Chelsea Women in Shock Exit as Emma Hayes Departure Exposed Perceived Lack of Leadership at WSL Powerhouse
Paul Green left Chelsea Women after the departure of legendary manager Emma Hayes exposed a perceived lack of leadership at the WSL powerhouse, Daily Mail Sport understands. Women’s football was left stunned on Monday when the club announced their head of football had departed following 13 years’ service in an era that saw the team lift 19 trophies.
The move came just a week after Hayes’ replacement, Sonia Bompastor, signed a new contract. In the days previous, Bompastor had voiced her frustration at recruitment during the summer, highlighting a lack of squad depth as one of the reasons Chelsea found themselves nine points behind leaders Manchester City. This criticism clearly struck a nerve with senior figures at Stamford Bridge.
Green Held Responsible for Leadership Gaps
It is understood that Bompastor’s views reflected a wider view already held by key figures in the club’s hierarchy, and that Green appears to have been held responsible. A review into Chelsea’s disappointing season so far has been carried out and concluded that a fresh structure was needed to best support the staff and players.
Following Hayes’ departure, Chelsea shifted from a manager led model to a head coach model. Hayes was known to have been heavily involved across all areas and took on the vast majority of major decision making. Bompastor’s remit is more that of a pure coach, with a focus on performance and technical style rather than overall running of the club and recruitment.
Transfer Window Identified as Problem Area
Decision makers have put many issues down to gaps that gradually emerged and widened in the club’s leadership post Hayes. The transfer window was one of the areas identified as needing improvement. Chelsea will now seek a replacement as part of a new leadership structure with the aim of ensuring consistency and accountability going forward.
Chelsea
NBA Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Becomes Part of Chelsea Women Ownership Group as Two Time MVP Joins Reddit Co Founder Alexis Ohanian in Latest Investment
Two time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has become a part of Chelsea Women’s Football Club’s ownership group. The Milwaukee Bucks star confirmed his new stake acquisition on the Women’s Super League club on February 8 in a post via social media, joining Reddit Co Founder Alexis Ohanian as the latest investor in Chelsea Women after he acquired a 10% stake in the club in May 2025.
“I’m proud and honoured to partner with my friend Alexis Ohanian, joining the ownership group of Chelsea FC Women, a historic club built on passion, excellence, and a winning culture,” said Antetokounmpo. This is a significant coup for Chelsea Women, bringing in one of basketball’s biggest global stars at a time when they need fresh investment and ideas.
Latest Football Investment for Greek Freak
Chelsea Women becomes the latest football team the Greek Freak has invested in recent years. Antetokounmpo, alongside his three brothers Thanasis, Alex, and Kostas, acquired an undisclosed stake in Major League Soccer franchise Nashville SC in March 2023.
Prior to this in August 2021, following his NBA Championship victory with the Milwaukee Bucks, Antetokounmpo became a minority owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, acquiring an undisclosed stake in the Major League Baseball franchise. The NBA star clearly has a passion for sports ownership beyond basketball.
Controversial Kalshi Deal Sparks Criticism
In addition to his investment in Chelsea Women, Antetokounmpo also announced he has become an investor in the prediction markets company Kalshi. The announcement was met with widespread criticism, given potential conflicts of interest with an active NBA player investing in a betting related company.
Kalshi allows users to buy and sell event contracts to make predictions on sports outcomes. While Kalshi stated Antetokounmpo would be forbidden from trading on NBA related markets, serious questions remain about the appropriateness of this investment.
Also read: Martin Ho Highlights What Tottenham Hotspur WFC Lack After Another Big Game Collapse Against Chelsea
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