All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has had a break from club action this weekend during the last international break until the next one in March of next year.

The German head coach will have spent this time analysing how the season has gone so far and what he and his coaches can do to ensure that the team progresses and kicks on to secure automatic promotion.

Sunderland and Sheffield United, who currently occupy the top two positions, are two points ahead of the West Yorkshire outfit, which means that one game could flip the outlook on the campaign.

The Whites finished third in the Championship last term and that meant that they had to go through the play-offs, where they beat Norwich City over two legs before losing 1-0 to Southampton in the final at Wembley.

Leeds will surely want to remove any doubt and avoid the play-offs by finishing in the top two this season, and they will need their key players to remain fit and in fine form to do so.

During the current international break, numerous Leeds players have been in action for their respective countries, with mixed success on the pitch.

Leeds United's international performers

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Manor Solomon endured a frustrating night on Thursday, despite a strong result for his team, losing 100% of his duels and failing with all four of his dribbles in a 0-0 draw for Israel against France, as he was dominated by Theo Hernandez.

On Friday, Brenden Aaronson and Ao Tanaka did not feature for the USA or Japan respectively, whilst Wilfried Gnonto did not register a goal or an assist in a 2-2 draw for Italy’s U21s against France. Mateo Joseph also blanked and missed a ‘big chance’ in a 0-0 draw with England’s U21s for Spain.

Junior Firpo started as a left wing-back for the Dominican Republic against Dominica on Saturday and won nine of his 13 duels in a 6-1 win for his country, along with two chances created for his teammates.

Meanwhile, Joe Rodon caught the eye for Wales in a 0-0 draw with Turkiye. The Leeds central defender won three of his six duels and made eight clearances to help his side keep a clean sheet, earning himself a Player of the Match award.

He was not the only Whites star to shine for Wales in that match, however, as rarely-seen goalkeeper Karl Darlow also impressed between the sticks.

Karl Darlow starred for Wales

The English-born colossus opted to make himself available for Wales this season and it currently looks as though that was a great decision, as he has thrived on the international stage.

Darlow has now made three appearances for his country in the Nations League and Craig Bellamy’s side have won all three of those games, conceding just one goal in the process.

The 34-year-old ace starred in the 0-0 draw with Turkey on Saturday, with three saves, two punches, and one high claim to keep a clean sheet, whilst the Leeds man was helped out by Kerem Aktürkoğlu hitting the woodwork with his late penalty.

GIVEMESPORT handed him a player rating of 7/10 for his performance and wrote that he made ‘key saves’ to keep the hosts at bay throughout the match.

Darlow has only started one game in the Championship since his move to Elland Road from Newcastle United on a permanent deal in the summer of 2023, which means that he has not had much of a chance to showcase his quality between the sticks at club level.

He did, however, impress during his time on loan with Hull City in the division during the 2022/23 campaign. The shot-stopper made 12 appearances for the Tigers and conceded 1.7 fewer goals than expected based on the post-shot xG of the shots against him.

Appearances

3

Goals conceded

1

Save success rate

88%

Run-out success rate

100%

Saves made

7

As you can see in the table above, Darlow’s shot-stopping has been strong at international level for Wales this season, as it was during his time with Hull, and Farke must now take advantage of his form.

Chalkboard

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

The former Magpies goalkeeper has shown the manager that he can step up and perform at a high level, against countries like Turkiye, and this means that the German boss can now afford to finally ditch Illan Meslier from the starting line-up.

Why Illan Meslier should be dropped

The French shot-stopper, who joined the club amid interest in Emi Martinez in 2020, kept his ninth clean sheet in 15 Championship appearances in the 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers before this latest international break.

However, the man between the sticks has not been the main reason why Leeds have had such an impressive defence in the second tier this season, it has been the back four and team in front of him.

Meslier has only faced a post-shot xG, which measures the value of shots after they have been taken, of 6.5 in 15 games, and conceded nine goals, which shows that the Frenchman has underperformed as a shot-stopper so far.

Journalist Barry Collins described him as a “liability” in 2022 and his performances at Championship level have done little to prove the reporter wrong, with his biggest blunder this term coming against Sunderland – in the clip below.

Since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, Meslier has prevented -5.50 goals, based on the xG against him, which essentially means that an average goalkeeper would be expected to have conceded between five and six fewer goals than he has in that time.

The £30k-per-week liability has, therefore, underperformed significantly as a shot-stopper at Championship level, after conceding a staggering 22.32 more than expected based on xG in his last two seasons in the Premier League with the Whites.

Including Bamford: The three Leeds players Farke must cash in on in January

The Leeds United head coach must consider cashing in all three of these players.

ByDan Emery Nov 16, 2024

When it gets to the important stage of the season where Leeds are battling it out for an automatic promotion place, they will need their goalkeeper to be reliable as a shot-stopper and that is why Farke must consider unleashing Darlow instead of the underperforming Frenchman, particularly after his recent showings for Wales.

Things haven’t exactly been plain sailing for Arsenal in the Premier League this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side have suffered from poorly timed injuries to key players, questionable suspensions in big games, and an overall downturn in form just when Liverpool seem to have found theirs.

However, the last week or so has seen the Gunners get back to somewhere near their best with three impressive wins on the bounce and brilliant performances from defence to attack, particularly out wide.

Bukayo Saka has been utterly sensational, and Gabriel Martinelli has found himself on the scoresheet a couple of times to boot, so fans should be particularly excited about reports linking them to a player who’s been compared to the pair of them.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Steve Kay of Football Transfers, Arsenal are interested in Paris Saint-Germain’s incredibly exciting Bradley Barcola.

The report claims that the Gunners are keen to add another dynamic winger to their ranks in 2025, and the young Frenchman is one of the players they have identified.

Interestingly, while the report claims that a transfer for the 22-year-old looks unlikely at the moment, rumours of a growing split between him and manager Luis Enrique could provide the North Londoners with an opportunity to strike in the future.

In all, signing Barcola could prove complicated, but given his ability, potential, and comparisons with Saka and Martinelli, Arsenal should still try to get it done.

Transfer Focus

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

Barcola's comparisons to Saka and Martielli

So, before looking at Barcola’s performances for PSG over the last few seasons, let’s examine these comparisons to Saka and Martinelli and where they come from, for that matter.

While there are apparent similarities in the fact that all three are young and exciting wingers, the comparison in question actually stems from FBref.

The statistical hub compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Frenchman this season, while the Brazilian comes in fifth.

Non-Penalty G+As

1.20

1.29

0.66

Progressive Passes

3.20

3.89

1.97

Expected Assists

0.40

0.47

0.22

Shots

3.91

3.60

1.72

Live Passes

35.0

33.1

27.2

Goals per Shot

0.26

0.10

0.23

Goals per Shot on Target

0.53

0.29

0.43

Key Passes

1.80

3.33

1.58

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.50

2.04

1.32

Tackles

1.20

1.57

1.18

Aerial Duels Won

0.80

0.56

0.92

We can see this similarity best by looking at the underlying metrics in which the players rank closely. For example, the PSG ace and Hale End dynamo rank closely for statistics such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, expected assists shots, live passes and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Likewise, the former Lyon ace ranks closely with the former Ituano gem in metrics such as goals per shot and per shot on target, key passes and passes into the penalty area, tackles and aerial duels won, all per 90.

So, with it clear that the 11-capped international shares clear statistical similarities to both Arsenal stars, does he have the raw output to suggest he’d be able to keep up with them on the pitch? Absolutely.

In just 18 appearances this season, the Lyon-born dynamo has scored ten goals and provided two assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games and lending credence to analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he’s “one of the best LWs in Europe.”

Moreover, in 42 appearances last season, only 29 of which were starts, the 6 foot phenom scored five goals and provided nine assists, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that he was just 20 years old at the start of the campaign.

Ultimately, while it could prove complicated, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Barcola next year, as he already looks like a superstar at just 22, and with players like Saka and Martin Odegaard around him, the sky would b the limit for his potential.

Saka loves him: Arsenal must unleash amazing star who Man Utd nearly signed

The incredible star is undroppable for Arsenal ahead of their match with Manchester United.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 4, 2024

While there is still a lot to play for this season, the mood around Arsenal is not great at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side remain a distant second in the Premier League and look set to exit the League Cup next month thanks to their 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United in the first leg of their semi-final last night.

The Gunners would have been hoping to take at least a one-goal lead to St James’ Park, but the Toon had other ideas, and while Alexander Isak grabbed the headlines, Anthony Gordon put in yet another brilliant performance off the left.

The former Everton star has been sensational for the Magpies this season and scored their second goal last night, so recent reports linking Arsenal to a winger compared to him should excite the fans.

Arsenal chase continental champion

According to a recent report from respected journalist David Ornstein, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams.

In fact, Ornstein claims that Arteta would like the club to sign the European champion in this window, but the finances involved would make that incredibly difficult to do.

For example, the talented winger has a release clause in his contract currently worth €60m – £50m – which adjusts for inflation, and on top of paying that in one go, the North Londoners would have to accommodate the player’s enormous wage, which supposedly stands at around £165k-per-week.

In all, it would be an incredibly costly transfer to get over the line, but given Williams’ ability and potential, it is one worth pursuing, especially as he’s been compared to Gordon.

How Williams compares to Gordon and why Arsenal should sign him

So, before we get to the reasons why Arsenal should be looking to sign Williams this month, let’s examine this comparison to Gordon and where it comes from.

Well, it primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the fourth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Spaniard over the last 365 days.

We can get a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by looking at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, expected assists, shots, progressive passes, crosses, goal-creating actions, carries and more, all per 90.

Progressive Passes

3.19

3.45

Shots

2.18

2.20

Expected Assists

0.22

0.24

Crosses

5.00

4.76

Goal-Creating Actions

0.58

0.60

Interceptions

0.36

0.36

Carries

29.6

30.7

With that said, there are other reasons the North Londoners should be looking to sign the Copa del Rey winner, perhaps most notably, his output.

Now, it would be fair to say that his tally of two goals and five assists in 24 appearances this season is somewhat underwhelming, but we saw just how effective the Spanish international could be last year.

For example, in just 37 appearances last season, the “unbelievable” live-wire, as dubbed by ex-professional Mike Grella, scored eight goals and provided 19 assists, meaning he maintained a sublime average of a goal involvement every 1.37 games – just imagine someone that effective on the opposite flank to Bukayo Saka.

Lastly, something the Gunners have been calling out for over the last season and a half is a left-winger who can, and often does, take on and beat their man, which is precisely what the Pamplona-born game-changer does.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, FBref places him in the top 6% of attacking midfielders or wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90.

Ultimately, while signing Williams this month would represent a massive investment from Arsenal, it looks like he’d be an investment worth making.

Their answer to Isak: Arsenal handed chance to sign £46m "world-class" star

The impressive international would make Arsenal far more dangerous.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 8, 2025

With Jhon Duran on his way to Al-Nassr, Aston Villa are now reportedly eyeing a late hijack to sign an England international in what would be a bargain deal for Unai Emery.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans have been among those at the centre of the transfer window since it swung open at the start of the month, welcoming both Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia whilst continuing their chase to sign a central defender.

Rather than an incoming, however, it’s exit news which has instantly dominated the headlines, with Duran reportedly on the verge of completing a shock €77m (£64m) move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

It’s the type of big-money sale that should instantly hand Aston Villa the spending power they need to get deals of their own over the line, which could yet see one England international arrive.

Aston Villa make contact to sign "smart" star who Emery personally wants

He desperately needs a move…

ByTom Cunningham Jan 29, 2025

According to Caught Offside, Aston Villa are now keen to hijack West Ham United’s move to sign Angel Gomes who could be available for a bargain price late on in the window with his current contract coming to an end at LOSC Lille this summer.

The former Manchester United man has thrived since finding his feet in France and even earned his first England call-up turning Lee Carsley’s temporary spell in charge of the Three Lions. It was then that the midfielder seemingly re-emerged onto the radar of the Premier League.

Now, those in the Midlands could swoop in and hand Gomes the chance to earn Premier League redemption this month.

"Smart" Gomes would increase Aston Villa control

If Aston Villa want to become an established Champions League side then adding more control to their game will be key. The Villans must break out of the habit of conceding leads as they did against West Ham last time out in a game that they ought to be winning in pursuit of a top four place, and Gomes would undoubtedly help them do exactly that.

The Lille midfielder, alongside Youri Tielemans, would turn Emery’s midfield into the epitome of control just when they need it most. Whether they strike a deal as early as this month or during the summer, Gomes should be high up on Villa’s wishlist.

Described as a “smart passer” by analyst Ben Mattinson, there’s no doubt that Gomes will be one to watch as his contract continues to tick down.

This season has felt like a slog for Arsenal.

It’s the third year on the bounce that Mikel Arteta’s side have fought for the Premier League, but instead of Manchester City, it’s Liverpool who, as things stand, look set to pip them to the crown.

The North Londoners haven’t been at their scintillating best for much of the campaign, but they have also been incredibly unlucky with injuries, with their two best attackers, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, out injured.

Worse still, a player the club released as a youngster continues to thrive at the very highest level and has already scored more goals than Saka and Havertz combined.

Havertz and Saka's seasons

So, it would be fair to say that since he moved to Arsenal for £65m in June 2023, Havterz has been a player who has split opinions among fans and pundits alike.

The German international initially joined the club as a midfield option, but halfway through last season, when he was struggling to adapt, Arteta opted to move him up and make him the team’s starting number nine, which was a decision that more than paid off.

By the end of the campaign, the former Chelsea ace had scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in 51 games, but eight of those goals and seven of those assists came in just 18 appearances up top, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.2 games.

He hasn’t been quite as clinical this season and has received flak for it, but we’d argue that the Aachen-born marksman has been more effective than people have given him credit for, as in 34 appearances, he’s scored 15 goals and provided five assists, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 1.7 games, and also makes him the club’s top scorer.

From one player who sometimes has as many critics as fans to one who was in simply sensational form prior to his unfortunate hamstring injury: Saka.

In just 24 appearances, totalling 1828 minutes, the Gunners’ “legend in the making,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to an incredible average of a goal involvement every 1.09 games, or every 83.09 minutes.

In short, Arsenal are in for a serious uphill battle if they are going to overtake Liverpool without these two in the team, which makes the club’s distant decision to release a prolific goalscorer, who has more goals than he pair combined this season, as a child even harder to take today.

The former Arsenal prospect outscoring Saka and Havertz

With a club the size of Arsenal, there will always be incredible youngsters who slip through the gaps, such as Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Donyell Malen.

However, we aren’t sure many teams have made the decision to release a player who would end up being as unbelievably talented as Harry Kane.

The England captain was a part of Hale End until he was around 12 years old, when then-academy manager Roy Massey decided to release him, as he didn’t believe the youngster had what was needed to make it in the game.

Now, while the club have since come to regret that decision in a big, big way, it did take about three years for Tottenham Hotspur to swoop in and pick him up after he spent a few weeks on trial with Watford, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Following a number of loans around the Football League, the Walthamstow-born star finally made it into the Lilywhites’ first team and went on to become their all-time top goalscorer, racking up an incredible haul of 280 goals and 61 assists in 435 games before securing a mega-money move to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.

The “world-class” centre forward, as dubbed by Harry Maguire, has been just as devastating in Germany, and this season, he has already scored 29 goals and provided ten assists in just 31 appearances, totalling 2459 minutes.

That means he is not only outscoring Havertz and Saka combined, but he’s also averaging 1.25 goal involvements every game, or one every 63.05 minutes, which is utterly outrageous and the sort of output that would surely fire Arteta’s men to the title.

Appearances

31

24

34

Minutes

2459′

1828′

2776′

Goals

29

9

15

Assists

10

13

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.25

0.91

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

63.05′

83.09′

138.8′

Ultimately, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and Arsenal are blessed with a plethora of incredibly talented players of their own, but a world in which they kept hold of Kane is one that might’ve seen them win a lot more silverware.

An £85m superstar in the making: Arsenal struck gold on "incredible" dynamo

The sensational talent is already a game-changer for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 21, 2025

Manchester United have made a stuttering start to the 2024/25 campaign, piling yet more pressure onto the shoulders of manager Erik ten Hag.

The Red Devils have won just three of their opening eight matches so far this campaign, currently occupying 12th place in the Premier League.

They’ve also been on the wrong end of multiple embarrassing results, losing 3-0 to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford – with the supporters undoubtedly unhappy following the start to the new campaign.

The new-look hierarchy splashed out around £200m on five new signings over the summer to try and change the fortunes of the club in recent times, but up to now, it appears as though Noussair Mazraoui has been the only addition to make an immediate first-team impact.

As for the other new signings, there’s still time for them to settle into life in Manchester and demonstrate that they can be worth the huge transfer fees splashed out for their services.

Many will be hoping that they can provide better value for money than the majority of transfers from last season, which saw the club spend a fortune on talents who unfortunately haven’t made an impact under the Dutchman.

Manchester United’s transfer market in 2023/24

After finishing third in the 2022/23 campaign, there was a real expectation for Ten Hag to build on the impressive finish in his first season at the helm, with the board backing the 54-year-old in the market to give him the best chance of taking the side to the next level.

As a result, some big decisions were made, including allowing goalkeeper David de Gea to depart Old Trafford on a free transfer, whilst pursuing a move to land Senegalese stopper, Andre Onana from Inter Milan.

Ten Hag’s side subsequently splashed £47.2m including add-ons for the 28-year-old, nailing down the number one spot over the last couple of seasons – already impressing this term, keeping four clean sheets in the Premier League.

The club also made a move to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea during the same window, costing the Red Devils a whopping £60m – in a deal that has been disastrous after his failure to make an impact under the former Ajax boss.

Injuries have plagued his time in Manchester, restricting him to just 25 appearances in all competitions – currently costing them around £2.4m per appearance since his big-money transfer.

Sacrifices also had to be made to allow for the added investment into the first-team squad, with multiple brutal calls having to be made with youth talent who are only on the fringes of Ten Hag’s side.

Whilst he made 16 appearances in the 2022/23 campaign, winger Anthony Elanga only started five times in the Premier League – featuring for a total of just 422 minutes during the Dutchman’s first season in charge.

The Swedish international made it clear he wanted an increase in game time, subsequently leaving Old Trafford to join Nottingham Forest in a £15m transfer, allowing him to blossom in the process.

Elanga has since registered five goals and ten assists since departing, setting up Morgan Gibbs-White’s winner for the Reds against United back in December last year.

The 22-year-old has since been touted with a huge £50m transfer to fellow Premier League side Newcastle United in recent months – a signal of how impressive he’s been since his move away from his boyhood club, demonstrating that Ten Hag may have offloaded the talent too prematurely.

However, there’s another academy star who was sold during the same window, with his game time and value massively increasing as a result of his fresh start.

The player who United sold too cheaply in 2023

A major transformation of the club’s first-team squad was needed if the Red Devils were to progress to the next level under Ten Hag’s leadership.

Various former senior options were axed, including Eric Bailly and Alex Telles to allow for the aforementioned talents to arrive in Manchester – but they weren’t the only players who had to make way.

Centre-back Teden Mengi arrived in Carrington as a seven-year-old, having the dream of one day being a professional footballer for his boyhood side.

He spent 14 years at Old Trafford, often as part of the academy setup, but did manage to break into the first team and fulfil his dream of being a senior squad member.

Mengi would only feature twice, however, before departing on a permanent basis last summer, joining newly promoted Luton Town for a fee in the region of just €2m (£1.7m) – a bargain given his recent form.

The 22-year-old made 30 appearances under Rob Edwards in the Premier League last season, leading to large interest in his services, which also saw him feature for the England U21 side.

Despite suffering relegation back to the Championship at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, he’s continued his excellent personal form – scoring in the 1-0 victory over Millwall.

Teden Mengi’s market value in 2024

The centre-back has certainly showcased that he’s a phenomenal centre-back and has the capability of being effective in England’s top flight despite his departure from Old Trafford.

His subsequent form has seen a huge increase in his market value, with Mengi now valued at around £9m as per Transfermarkt.

The increase has seen a 440% jump from the fee the club sold him for just over 12 months ago, further evidence that the club sold him far too cheaply.

Mengi, who’s previously been dubbed “dominant” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is an example that sometimes you need to move on to reach your potential – leaving former employers to rue their decision.

Games played

30

Goals scored

1

Pass accuracy

78%

Dribble success

70%

Duels won

128

Aerial duel success rate

58%

Interceptions

58

Recoveries

126

Ten Hag’s current options of Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof aren’t exactly blessed with pace, but Mengi’s attributes could’ve provided that option at the back given their recent problems.

However, it wasn’t meant to be for the youngster, but it’s safe to say he made the right call to leave the club given his rapid rise at Kenilworth Road.

Man Utd thought they'd signed Scholes 2.0, then Ten Hag sold him for £420k

Man United lost millions of pounds on the deal

1 ByJoe Nuttall Oct 22, 2024

Antonio Conte was manager at Tottenham Hotspur for around 16 months, but it did not quite go how people may have hoped. The Lilywhites first appointed the experienced Italian coach in November 2021, but he left in March of 2023 by mutual consent.

He had a respectable record as manager of the club, despite never really challenging for any trophies. He coached Spurs for 76 games, winning 41 times and losing 23.

In the domestic cups, he failed to get the North Londoners to any finals, reaching the Carabao Cup semi-final in his first season and the FA Cup fifth round in both campaigns.

The second season was particularly disappointing, given the money Conte had to spend in the summer of 2022.

Spurs’ 2022 summer transfer window

The Lilywhites’ summer transfer window in 2022 was certainly a season in which they were well-backed. They made eight signings, although one of those was a loan deal which saw Clement Lenglet join the club from Barcelona. Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster also joined on free transfers.

There were five other major signings made that summer, although one of those, Destiny Udogie, spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Udinese, from where he joined Spurs. Another player also moved from Serie A. Cristian Romero joined the Lilywhites on a permanent deal for £42.5m, after joining the club on loan the previous season.

There were also two deals made for players within the Premier League. One of those saw Everton striker Richarlison make the move from Merseyside to North London.

He cost the club £60m, although he has struggled to make a real impact so far. He did score twice against the Toffees in February 2024 in a 2-2 draw.

Yves Bissouma also joined Spurs in 2022, signing from Brighton and Hove Albion for a fee in the region of £25m up front and a further £10m in add-ons. He is still an important player in Ange Postecoglou’s side today.

The eighth signing made under Conte that summer has not really worked out for either party, although he does still play for the club. That player is Djed Spence.

Djed Spence’s Spurs career

After an incredibly successful 2021/22 campaign on loan with Nottingham Forest from Middlesbrough, Spurs took a punt on Spence ahead of Conte’s first full season in charge. He cost £12.5m up front and a further £7.5m in add-ons from Boro.

The right-back was fantastic in Forest’s promotion success in 2021/22. He was an influential member of Steve Cooper’s squad, playing 39 times in the Championship, scoring twice and grabbing five assists.

He also played every minute in the play-offs as Forest beat Sheffield United in the semi-final and Huddersfield in the final.

Spence’s Lilywhites career has been incredibly tough so far. He has played just 11 games for the club across two seasons, having gone on loan in the 2023/24 campaign to Leeds United for the first half of the season and Italian outfit Genoa for the second half.

Season

Competition

Games

Minutes

2022/23

Premier League

4

5

2022/23

Carabao Cup

1

25

2022/23

FA Cup

1

13

2024/25

Premier League

4

64

2024/25

Carabao Cup

1

45

Just weeks after the former England under-21 international made the move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Conte revealed it was not a signing he wanted to make. The Italian manager said the “club decided to buy him”, but explained that he hoped he would “become a good, important player” for the club. Sadly, it has not quite worked out like that for the wing-back.

It remains to be seen where Spence’s future lies. Postecoglou may well decide to keep the wing-back at the club, but at this stage it does not seem like he is in his plans.

Once touted as “Premier League quality” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, he will surely be desperate to get his career back on track, be it at Spurs or a different club.

He's outscoring Son & Kulu: Spurs must rue losing their own Saka for £0

The incredible talent is now tearing it up for one of Spurs’ biggest rivals.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 30, 2024

Fair to say, it’s been an eventful week at Everton.

On Thursday, mere hours before their FA Cup tie at home to Peterborough United, it was announced that Sean Dyche had been sacked, leaving Leighton Baines and club captain Séamus Coleman in caretaker charge, overseeing an unspectacular 2-0 victory.

Remarkably, this is the first time any Premier League club have sacked their manager on the day of a game, prior to kick off, for 30 years.

Then, on Saturday morning, it was confirmed that David Moyes had returned, 13 years after leaving Merseyside for Manchester United, having overseen a whopping 518 matches during his first spell in charge.

With the Toffees currently 16th in the Premier League table, a mere one point clear of the relegation zone, reinforcements are needed, but could the first arrival of the second Moyes-era be imminent?

Everton want to bolster their forward line

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Everton are ‘in talks’ with Olympique Lyonnais over the signing of Ernest Nuamah.

Meanwhile, reports from France on social media claim the deal is only ‘one step away’ with an ‘agreement almost reached between the different parties.’

Numah joined Lyon from Danish Superligaen side Nordsjælland for a reported €30m in 2023, suggesting the Blues are unlikely to get him on the cheap.

However, as noted by Colin Millar, Matt Slater and Matt Woosnam of the Athletic, les Gones have been provisionally relegated from Ligue 1 “following an audit of their finances”, informed they must “satisfactorily improve their financial situation before the end of this season”.

As a result, Nuamah appears set to be sacrificed, although no Everton supporter should consider this a done deal until he has officially put pen to paper.

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That’s because, in the summer, Nuamah was reportedly on the verge of joining Fulham, only to “vanish” part-way through his medical, after breaking down in tears, declaring his love for OL and refusing to move to West London, with American owner John Texter subsequently forced to send an apology letter to the Cottagers.

Fair to say, the Toffees will be hoping to avoid similar complications.

How Ernest Nuamah compares to Dwight McNeil

Ghanian commentator George Addo Jnr on Twitter describes his compatriot as “some talent”, with journalist Owuraku Ampofo adding that he is “a fantastic dribbler”.

Wesley Mak of Opta’s The Analyst labels him as “a multi-functional forward” capable of playing anywhere across the front three, comparing him to West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, another Ghanian attacker who began his career at the world-renowned Right to Dream Academy.

Well, considering Everton are the Premier League’s second-lowest scorers this season, ranked rock-bottom for xG, the Blues need all the attacking reinforcement they can get, but how does Nuamah compare to their joint-top scorer Dwight McNeil?

Appearances

56

56

Minutes

3,205

4,732

Goal

8

7

Expected goals

6

4.3

Assists

4

10

Expected assists

5.1

12.2

Shots on target %

39.7%

27.4%

Shot-creating actions

109

190

Crosses

122

365

Attempted take-ons

160

103

Progressive carries

146

111

The table outlines that these two wingers are stylistically very different.

McNeil is much more a creator, hence why he’s accumulated significantly more assists and expected assists while, last season, only eight players across Europe’s “top five” leagues put in more crosses than his 229; Dyche-ball at its finest.

Meanwhile, Nuamah is much more of a dribbler, registering more take-ons and progressive carries, with the Ghanian significantly more of a goal threat, bagging 15 goals during his final campaign at Nordsjælland, on target against such illustrious opponents as Paris Saint-Germain and Eintracht Frankfurt since making to move to Lyon.

Well, considering Everton have scored nil during eight of their last ten Premier League outings, failing to find the net in a whopping 39% of the league games Dyche took charge of, Nuamah will certainly be a welcome addition for all Evertonians.

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Manchester United have now held talks with a “sensational” ace in the hope of beating Liverpool to his signature, according to a new report.

Man Utd keeping their transfer options open

As the summer transfer window gets ever closer, the transfer stories begin to heat up, and the Red Devils look to have their eyes set on numerous players who they hope will help improve Ruben Amorim’s team.

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Southampton’s Tyler Dibling is a player who has been on United’s radar for a while now, but it appears that the Premier League side are ready to step up their interest. It is being reported that United are now ready to sign Dibling, as other teams circle with interest, but they may have to pay as much as £100 million to get the young Englishman to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils see Dibling as someone who can become their new right wing-back as well as possibly operate as one of their number 10s.

But he is not the only player who is on their radar for becoming their new right wing-back, as the Red Devils are willing to battle Barcelona to win the race for Givairo Read, who currently plays for Feyenoord. He could cost United just £20 million this summer.

Man Utd battling Liverpool in the race to sign Frimpong

But if the 20-time Premier League champions are willing to pay more, then they may turn their attentions elsewhere. According to TBR Football, Man United have held talks over the signing of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen but face a strong battle to secure his transfer.

Liverpool are keen on signing the Dutch international as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, but they now face competition from United and Man City, who have both held talks with Frimpong’s camp in recent weeks.

It doesn’t say how those talks went or what they were focused on, but it is another sign that Amorim wants to strengthen his right-side this summer.

United see Frimpong, who has been dubbed “sensational” by The Guardian columnist Dominik Diamond, as a perfect fit for their right wing-back role. Frimpong has played a similar role at Leverkusen, where he scored nine goals and recorded seven assists in 31 Bundesliga games last season as Leverkusen were crowned league champions.

Frimpong

Dalot

Apps

26

28

Starts

19

28

Goals

4

0

Assists

5

2

Progressive carries

75

53

Progressive passes

43

85

Tackles (Won)

29 (22)

60 (35)

Blocks

21

20

Interceptions

7

35

Take-ons attempted (Successful)

62 (19)

40 (19)

Frimpong’s potential arrival at Old Trafford would see him replace Diogo Dalot, who has come under scrutiny throughout different times of this 2024/25 campaign. Frimpong’s ability to get up and down the pitch, as well as create and score goals, makes him the ideal player Amorim wants in his team, but it is going to cost the Red Devils £40 million plus to get a deal over the line.

There have not been many positives this season for Glasgow Rangers. The Ibrox side won’t win any domestic silverware, trailing their arch-rivals by 16 points in the Premiership title race, also being knocked out of the Scottish and League Cups.

Barry Ferguson did mastermind a 3-1 victory over Fenerbahce in the Europa League first leg of their last-16 clash, but even the most optimistic Rangers supporter will feel glory in Europe is beyond them.

Vaclav Cerny has been a hit since joining the club on loan from Wolfsburg, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, although finances will likely prevent the Gers from securing his signature on a permanent basis.

Hamza Igamane has also been another bright spark for the club. Costing just £1.7m from Moroccan side AS FAR last summer, the 22-year-old has since netted 13 goals in all competitions, despite this season being the first outside his native Africa.

One of the most underrated players since he returned to the starting XI in October has been Nico Raskin.

The Belgian has missed only two games between September and the time of writing, establishing himself as a key member of the team.

How Nico Raskin has grown in importance at Ibrox

Against Celtic at the start of the year, Raskin was given the captaincy due to James Tavernier missing the game through injury.

During the 3-0 victory, Raskin provided an assist while also making two key passes, creating a big chance and winning 60% of his ground duels throughout the game.

He controlled the midfield, making four interceptions and three tackles which nullified Celtic and contributed to the stunning Old Firm win.

The midfielder has struggled with his injury problems during his first year or so at the club, but his performances this season have proved he is now indispensable to any future success at Ibrox.

Raskin may not offer too much in the final third, but in terms of providing effective support in the heart of the midfield, he has been crucial.

In the Premiership, the Belgian has averaged 3.6 tackles per game, along with averaging 7.8 ball recoveries, 1.6 interceptions and 1.4 clearances each match in the top flight.

If he continues this current form until the end of the campaign, the new manager might have to fend off interest from other clubs this summer.

Indeed, these impressive performances for the Light Blues have seen Raskin’s market value soar since joining the club.

According to Transfermarkt, the Belgian is currently worth around £5.5m and this value should only continue to rise over the coming months ahead of the summer transfer window.

He has the highest market valuation in the entire squad apart from Cerny, who will depart this summer once his loan spell ends.

Whoever comes in to take charge of the Gers ahead of the 2025/26 campaign must utilise Raskin in his desired position, as he could be an ideal choice to take over the captaincy from Tavernier, especially following his display against Celtic in January.

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Having also starred in continental competition, shining against Fener last week and standing out against Spurs, he’s certainly following in the path of a Europa League hero from a few years ago.

Rangers' European hero is now worth less than Raskin

Joe Aribo may have only been at the club for three seasons, yet he developed from a raw talent to a player who scored in a major European final.

Glimpses of his talent were on show during the Gers title-winning 2020/21 campaign, where he registered 15 goal contributions – eight goals and seven assists – as the club went the entire league season undefeated.

2023/24

40

4

1

2022/23

27

2

0

2021/22

57

9

10

2020/21

43

8

7

2019/20

49

9

8

2018/19

39

10

5

2017/18

34

6

3

2016/17

22

0

7

From a personal point of view, the following season was even better. Indeed, the Nigeria international scored nine goals while chipping in with ten assists across all competitions, helping the Gers reach the 2022 Europa League final.

He opened the scoring in that match against Eintracht Frankfurt, becoming just the fourth player in the club’s history to score in a European final. Unfortunately, Rangers lost the game on penalties to the German side.

With Giovanni van Bronckhorst needing to raise some funds that summer in order to bring in the players he wanted, a few were moved on.

How Joe Aribo is playing in 2025

Calvin Bassey departed the Ibrox side in 2022, with Ajax signing him for a club-record fee after an impressive campaign.

This bolstered the coffers, but when Southampton came in for Aribo, a deal was concluded that could rise to around £10m, and it was too good to turn down, that’s for sure.

This fee proved to be a significant profit on the midfielder, although they would have a big gap to fill.

Aribo hasn’t exactly proved his worth on the south coast, however, struggling to adapt at times.

The “exceptional” gem – as so dubbed by his manager Ivan Juric recently – scored just twice for the Saints in his first season.

He helped them secure a place back in the Premier League last term, defeating Leeds United in the playoff final, but they look set to drop back down into the second tier.

Now part of a team that could end with the fewest points in Premier League history, Aribo has netted three top-flight goals. As a result, his value has decreased since making his move south of the border three years ago.

Now, according to Transfermarkt, Aribo is currently worth £5m and if he fails to perform in the Championship next term, this could drop even lower.

This valuation is even lower than Raskin’s at the time of writing, indicating that the Gers have struck gold by selling Aribo when they did, maximising the best possible transfer fee for the former Charlton Athletic midfielder.

The new manager will be aiming to bring in his own players for cheap, before making millions on them after a few years at Ibrox. That’s a certainty.

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