Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has seemingly pulled a U-turn on his stance, with Edu Gaspar and co now ready to open talks over fresh terms for one member of the squad who’s been heavily linked with an exit.
Arsenal prepare to face Southampton after 2-0 win over PSG
The north Londoners maintained their unbeaten start to 2024/2025 against Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain this week, beating Luis Enrique’s side 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Arteta handed £42 million striker boost as Arsenal transfer stance emerges
He’s been in red-hot form this season.
ByEmilio Galantini Oct 4, 2024
Kai Havertz – who leapt highest to nod home a cross from Leandro Trossard – gave them the lead before a free kick from star winger Bukayo Saka ensured Arsenal’s win against a PSG side who had next to no answers for Arteta’s resolute midfield and backline.
The French heavyweights struggled to unlock Arsenal time and time again, with any real threat coming courtesy of the home side. Havertz threatened to make it 3-0 and really should have, but the forward’s tame free header did little to trouble PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Southampton (home)
Tomorrow
Bournemouth (away)
October 19
Liverpool (home)
October 27
Newcastle United (away)
November 2
Chelsea (away)
November 10
Nevertheless, Arteta will be very pleased with how his side managed the game overall against star-studded opposition. Attention now turns to Southampton, a Premier League match-up which Arsenal really should have no trouble winning on paper.
Thomas Partey is highly likely to start the encounter and make it his seventh nod from Arteta in the top flight this season, with his return to the fold being nothing short of remarkable.
Partey won every single one of his duels against PSG during an imperious midfield display, becoming a mainstay in Arteta’s starting eleven once again after making just 14 Premier League appearances in total last season.
The Ghanaian’s future is still up in the air, though, given his contract expires next summer. Partey was attracting interest from Saudi Arabia in the summer, and Edu will be very thankful that he decided not to part ways with the 31-year-old considering his newly stellar partnership with Declan Rice in the middle.
Despite his excellent form, the consensus has been that Partey is set to leave Arsenal next summer once his deal expires, with Arteta deciding not to extend his contract. However, according to The Boot Room today, this has now changed.
Arsenal now ready to open new contract talks with Partey
Indeed, following an excellent start to 2024/2025, Arsenal are ready to open new contract talks with Partey and are keen to keep him at the club.
The African’s preference is also to remain at the Emirates Stadium, with both the player and Arsenal deciding a move to Saudi Arabia wasn’t the best option during the summer window.
The proposed new terms, if agreed, would be for a further two years. It is added that Arteta and his coaching staff are massive admirers of the former Atletico Madrid ace, who was forced to sit out a lot last season partly due to reoccurring fitness issues.
Arteta hasn’t exactly hid his admiration for Partey over the last two seasons, calling the £200,000-per-week star a “really important” member of the team.
In what could finally see the Bluebirds find their next manager, Cardiff City have reportedly narrowed their options down to two final candidates, which include a Real Madrid legend.
Cardiff's managerial candidates
Since sacking Erol Bulut at the end of September, Cardiff have relied on Omer Riza on an interim basis. But whilst results have improved somewhat after Bulut took charge of their worst start to a season in 94 years, the Welsh side still sit rock bottom of the Championship table, three points adrift of safety and in desperate need of a permanent appointment.
Whoever comes in will have an almighty task, but Cardiff have at least turned a corner in their last two games, with a 1-0 victory over Millwall followed by a 1-1 draw against Bristol City last time out.
Get things right on the managerial front, and the Bluebirds may just build on those results to eventually move out of the drop zone and towards safety to put such a disappointing start behind them, especially if they make the right choice between the two reported final candidates.
"Fantastic" new coach would jump at chance to join Cardiff City – Palmer
The pundit “can see him leaving”.
ByBarney Lane Oct 10, 2024
According to Chris Wheatley of LondonWorld, Cardiff have narrowed their candidates down to Ruben Selles and Claude Makelele, with the latter being a potential arrival to steal the headlines. The Welsh side are reportedly in talks with the Chelsea and Real Madrid legend as he prepares to become the latest star to take to the dugout in the Championship.
Leaving after just three weeks in charge of Greek side Asteras Tripolis, Makelele will be desperate for another attempt in the technical area in what would be his second spell in Wales, having been Swansea City’s assistant manager in the 2016/17 campaign.
Southampton manager Ruben Selles andKamaldeenSulemana
Meanwhile, although Selles wouldn’t grab the same headlines, the Reading boss represents a solid option in his own right amid the chaos that he’s been forced to deal with in charge of the Royals amid their financial crisis.
Makelele could follow Rooney and Carrick path
In what makes a lot of us feel old these days, the likes of Tom Cleverley, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick no longer find themselves competing or playing alongside each other on the pitch. Instead, the former Premier League players find themselves competing in the technical area to add an added element of intrigue to the Championship.
All have had varying fortunes during their time in management, and could now be joined by former Chelsea midfielder Makelele. The Frenchman, perhaps alongside Rooney at Plymouth Argyle, would arguably have the most difficult task out of the fresh crop of former players turned managers.
Keeping Cardiff afloat – particularly without extensive experience – looks a tough task on paper, but this could be the true rebirth of Makelele’s managerial career which stalled in Greece, having returned to the dugout after five years away.
As the international break goes on, the Frenchman could be one to watch with Cardiff now down to their final candidates in their search to replace Bulut.
For the first time in Liverpool’s 132-year history, distinguished and draped in honours, 11 matches from 12 have been won to start a campaign, with the club’s six successive away victories since August equally setting a significant record.
RB Leipzig, unbeaten in the Bundesliga, were put to the sword in Germany despite threatening throughout their Champions League clash, allowing Liverpool to claim their third continental win on the trot.
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson
To think that Merseysiders had failed to bring in a new midfielder this summer, as had been the plan as Arne Slot settled into the chair, also neglecting ostensible fragilities at the back, and have still emerged as the most in-form team across Europe’s top five leagues is quite a thing.
The winter period looms large. There are many top teams both domestically and abroad who will seek to stifle Slot’s success, but the Dutchman’s Reds will continue to fight for silverware to the last.
27/10/24
Arsenal (A)
Premier League
30/10/24
Brighton (A)
Carabao Cup
02/11/24
Brighton (H)
Premier League
05/11/24
Leverkusen (H)
Champions League
09/11/24
Aston Villa (H)
Premier League
Darwin Nunez stepped up big time to score and put in a big performance against Leipzig, but Liverpool owe much to the continued rebirth of Ryan Gravenberch, with Mohamed Salah’s ceaseless output proving vital, yet again.
Salah & Gravenberch continue to thrive
Let’s get to Salah in a moment. We have Gravenberch to discuss first. Against Leipzig, yet again, the rekindled midfielder showcased his quality in the middle of the park, battling hard in a fierce war of attrition
Ryan Gravenberch in Champions League action
It wasn’t his finest performance, but the 22-year-old’s energy and press resistance were both on full colourful show against the German side. So alert to potential threats, the Netherlands international made a crucial intervention early into the second half and looks like he’s shaping into one of Europe’s finest number sixes, playing a role that no one envisaged last year.
Liverpool’s promising start to the season has since developed into something more special, and with every passing fixture, Gravenberch continues to prove his worth in Slot’s system. It’s like he’s been tailor-made for it.
Minutes played
90′
Touches
76
Accurate passes
60/63 (95%)
Long balls
2/2
Tackles
3
Interceptions
3
Clearances
1
Blocked shots
2
Total duels (won)
7 (5)
Peter Gulacsi was fantastic for the hosts, making seven saves and repeatedly denying the hungry Reds. The one-time Liverpool reserve goalkeeper denied Salah and saved three shots from Nunez, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Slot machine from ploughing forward.
It bears testament to Salah’s almighty skillset that he had a bit of an off day, failing to win a duel or complete a dribble, while still playing a crucial part in the match-winning moment, setting up his Uruguayan teammate.
That’s seven goals and seven assists apiece for the 32-year-old this season, whose £350k-per-week contract is entering its final stretch, heightening Liverpool’s fears of a departure by the end of the campaign.
It’s an eventuality that feels inconceivable. Unacceptable. Salah is still Liverpool’s main man in the final third, so influential and indomitable in his prolific ability. Alongside Gravenberch, the Egyptian has been one of the players of the season for sure.
He hasn’t quite been the cream of the club’s crop, however. Slot will have nestled into sleep in Saxony last night, where the squad remained until the morning, but awoken with a fresh solemnness that derives from the driven coach’s knowledge that the mountain yet scaled is vast and vertiginous.
Liverpool have it all still to do. Attack might win you games, as the axiom has it, but it is your defence that wins you titles. Virgil van Dijk has hardly been away from the pantheon of modern centre-backs over the final years of Jurgen Klopp’s tenure, but he’s back with a vengeance this season and is spearheading the revolution at Anfield.
Virgil van Djik has been Slot's hero in 24/25
12 matches, 11 victories, seven clean sheets. Liverpool conceded mere minutes into their Champions League campaign following fine work from AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic, but they rallied to win that one 3-1 and have since claimed slender but significant victories over Bologna and Leipzig.
Van Dijk has been imperious. Liverpool’s vanguard might be earning praise for its potency in the final third, but let’s take a minute to hail the backline, leaps and bounds above its level under Klopp, where the gegenpressing nature of the style perhaps negated defenders from making the most of their acumen.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk
Penny for the thoughts of rivals who had written Liverpool off, consigned them to the wastebasket following the end of an era. One tenure might have taken its final breath but the body of the outfit has been given new life, and it is thriving.
In Germany, the Liverpool and Netherlands captain was the cement of his side’s football, keeping it together against a talented Leipzig frontline, swatting the danger away like a fly, barking at those around him, organising, marshalling, leading.
Duly rewarded with an 8/10 match rating by This Is Anfield, Van Dijk, 33, didn’t catch the eye as his robust partner did, and in fairness, hat tipped to Ibrahima Konate for yet another remarkable display.
Oh how he counterbalances Van Dijk’s style, melding together to form one utterly ridiculous defensive wall that has foiled all but Nottingham Forest this season. The one blot on the copybook. The lonely blemish that Slot cannot shake from his mind, revealing a layer of this man’s determined mind.
Virgil van Dijk in action for Liverpool
But Konate’s flashy athleticism and spatial awareness, as eye-catching as it was, were not mimicked by Van Dijk because the skipper’s intelligence and anticipation are almost prescient.
Both of his duels were won at the Red Bull Arena, and it was indeed Van Dijk who claimed more touches of the ball (81) than any other player on the pitch, having recorded a standout 95% pass accuracy.
Partner such facts with his expertly-saved header, and domination in possession, and it’s really not hard to piece together the focal point of Liverpool’s success this season.
Van Dijk is simply the best, and he proved once again on Wednesday evening that he is the driving force behind Liverpool’s pursuit of glory this year.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk
He’s been Slot’s main man. Van Dijk is playing with unparalleled verve and the wiseness of one who has been around the block many times, but still craving another taste of the pinnacle.
Winning one of football’s biggest prizes would surely consolidate his name, but just take a look at his performances. He’s the best in the world.
As bad as Trent: Slot must drop 6/10 Liverpool star who lost the ball 13x
Liverpool made it three wins from as many games in the Champions League in Germany last night.
Sunderland have long been on the hunt for a new prolific striker to call their own, with their recent activity in the transfer market involving a centre-forward joining the ranks very mixed to say the least.
Last season, the Black Cats really struggled in the striker department as the likes of Mason Burstow and Nazariy Rusyn regularly fired blanks for the Championship club as new recruits, with the Ukranian only managing a pitiful two goals all season long in the second tier.
Now, however, Regis Le Bris will feel he’s found a solution to Sunderland’s woes up top in Wilson Isidor, who is setting the Championship alight on loan from Zenit St. Petersburg.
Isidor's form this season
The Wearside outfit had to be patient in their attempts to snap up the Frenchman in the summer transfer window, with a loan deal not agreed until near the tail-end of August.
But, their patience has more than been justified now, as their new star attacker has bagged four strikes from ten Championship appearances to date, including a wonderfully taken first-time strike rippling the back of the net against Oxford United last month.
There will be a concern that Isidor won’t put pen to paper on a permanent stay, however, leaving Sunderland back at square one again when it comes to lacking a potent finisher in their camp.
Arguably, Isidor has been the first bright spark up top Sunderland have managed to uncover since the exit of Ross Stewart, which hit the Black Cats hard at the time but could now be seen as a sale that was worthwhile after all.
Former Sunderland striker Ross Stewart.
Ross Stewart's transfer value in 2024
The Scotsman was a man possessed at points when leading the line for Sunderland, with the 28-year-old renowned for being a deadly goal machine at the Stadium of Light by the time of his departure last year.
Market Movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?
In total, the ex-Ross County man would bag a mightily impressive 40 goals from 80 games situated on Wearside, which included firing home the decisive winner in Sunderland’s 2-0 play-off final win over Wycombe in 2022, which saw second-tier football return to the beleaguered side.
23/24
Muscle injury
152 days
22/23
Achilles tendon surgery
282 days
22/23
Hamstring injury
93 days
19/20
Hamstring injury
62 days
As a result of his reputation growing as a clinical finisher in the EFL, Southampton purchased Stewart for £8m last summer after he bowed out from the club with ten goals during his final second-tier campaign, but injury issues also got in his way as can be seen glancing at the table above.
The Saints should have operated more cautiously when splashing the cash on the 28-year-old with hindsight on their side, with Stewart in and out of the St. Mary’s treatment room throughout his cursed time on the South Coast to date, with only four league games coming his way last season as his fitness problems began to take over.
Across nine appearances when he has been fit, he hasn’t exactly found his goalscoring mojo either, with Stewart yet to break his goalscoring duck for Southampton.
Consequently, Transfermarkt now values the one-time £8m buy in and around the £3.7m ballpark, as the Black Cats are now made to look smart for selling on their star striker when they did.
Still, Sunderland won’t take great pride in the fact their former “unbelievable” talisman – as he was once labelled by teammate Alex Pritchard – has struggled since moving to Southampton.
Rather, they’ll just hope Isidor can be the second coming of their prolific Scotsman, as promotion back up to the Premier League remains the ultimate goal for Le Bris’ men.
Sunderland had the original Chris Rigg but he ended up leaving for £0
Sunderland let their original version of Chris Rigg depart the Stadium of Light for nothing.
Newcastle were victorious over Nottingham Forest taking them to eighth in the Premier League table, sitting on 18 points after 11 games played. The Magpies have won five times, drawn three, and lost three, now just one point from the top four.
Murillo put Forest 1-0 up in the 23rd minute, with the hosts going in at half-time leading Newcastle at the City Ground. But second-half goals from Alexander Isak, Joelinton, and Harvey Barnes secured all three points for the visitors.
Newcastle eventually got what they deserved, having 56% possession, creating two big chances and taking 17 shots, generating 1.56xG, and getting their goals in the end. T
here were some top individual performances in this game, starting with the first Newcastle goalscorer, Isak.
Alexander Isak's performance vs Forest
The 25-year-old looks back to his best now and his display on Sunday afternoon proved it.
The striker scored one and assisted one in Newcastle’s 3-1 victory over Forest, taking his tally to five goals in 11 appearances, along with two assists, totalling 918 minutes so far this season.
Alongside his goal, Isak took three shots in the game, managed 46 touches, made three key passes, and won two of his three aerial duels, putting in an excellent second-half performance to help guide the Magpies to victory after going behind in the first half.
But despite being a huge positive for Newcastle, especially in the second half of this game, there was another man who stole the headlines, achieving an 8/10 match rating from Shields Gazette.
Joelinton's MOTM performance in numbers
The 28-year-old Brazilian has made 14 appearances already this season, being an ever-present figure in Eddie Howe’s side, scoring two goals across his 1,170 minutes played.
He was signed by the club back in 2019, joining from Hoffenheim for a club-record deal of around £40m. Joining as a striker, and now playing as more of a central midfielder for the Magpies, Joelinton has now played 198 games for the club, scoring 27 goals and providing 15 assists.
Minutes
90
Goals
1
Shots
2
Touches
69
Accurate Passes
34/42
Key Passes
1
Ground Duels Won
6/10
Aerial Duels Won
4/6
Tackles
3
But on Sunday, the Brazilian started in a wide midfield position – not overly common for him – and battled hard with what was described as a “monumental” display from a “superstar” player by Toon reporter Andy Sixsmith.
He won six of his ten ground duels, alongside four of his six aerial duels, allowing Newcastle to win the ball back in dangerous areas and launch attacks quickly.
His three tackles, one interception and one clearance all came from playing in a more advanced wide role, showing his ability to do a job wherever he’s put, on both sides of the ball.
The 28-year-old scored the goal to put Newcastle 2-1 up, changing the game heavily in his side’s favour, picking the ball up on the edge of the area and then finding the back of the net in devastating fashion.
Isak was very impressive, but Joelinton deserved his Player of the Match award for his dynamic display, and Newcastle fans will be hoping he can continue to deliver many more performances of that standard.
The next Lewis Miley: Howe has a "huge prospect" brewing at Newcastle
Howe could find the next version of Lewis Miley in Newcastle’s “huge prospect”.
Manchester United have been the home to countless attacking talents over the years, allowing the supporters to have memories that will undoubtedly last a lifetime.
Wayne Rooney was such a key first-team member under Sir Alex Ferguson, often being utilised as the star man at the top end of the pitch.
The Englishman registered a total of 253 goals in his 559 appearances for the Red Devils – breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record in the process with a stunning free-kick against Stoke City back in January 2017.
Robin van Persie may not have spent as many years at Old Trafford, but he had a huge impact, scoring 26 goals in his debut campaign at the club – helping Sir Alex claim the Premier League title in his final season at the helm.
The Dutchman scored numerous vital goals, including his mesmerising volley against Aston Villa after a phenomenal pass by the aforementioned Rooney.
However, in the current day, United often lack that focal point, with the hope that new boss Ruben Amorim can either unleash or land his own version of one superstar.
Ruben Amorim’s time working with Gyokeres
Striker Viktor Gyokeres has caught the eye over the last two seasons with his sensational goalscoring record under Amorim at Sporting Lisbon.
The Sweden international joined Sporting CP for a club-record £20m in the summer of 2023, after registering a total of 22 goals in all competitions as Coventry City narrowly missed out on promotion in the 2022/23 season.
Sporting CP strikerViktor Gyokeres.
However, the 26-year-old has since gone from strength to strength, taking his career to the next level and beyond under the new Red Devils manager.
In the previous campaign, Gyokeres notched a whopping 43 goals in the Liga Portugal, helping Sporting win the league title – ending the year as the division’s top goalscorer.
Whilst it’s still very early days in 2024/25, he’s demonstrated his progression once more, registering 23 goals in his first 18 outings – a truly staggering feat.
His goals have allowed the Portuguese outfit to cause some seismic waves in the Champions League, winning their last outing against Premier League winners Manchester City last week.
The Swede outperformed Erling Haaland throughout the meeting, scoring a hat-trick, further demonstrating the attacking prowess that he’s developed under Amorim.
Such a record has allowed for the United supporters to make calls over a potential move along with Amorim to Old Trafford, but any deal would set the club back around €100m (£83m) – a fee that could be too much ahead of the upcoming January window.
It could see the hierarchy look elsewhere for a new striker in January, with one name already being touted with a potential move to link up with Amorim, allowing the 39-year-old to find his new version of the Swedish superstar.
Man Utd make enquiry for £52m talisman
According to French outlet L’Equipe, Manchester United have made an enquiry about a potential move for Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku in January.
The 26-year-old joined the Blues for £52m back in the summer of 2023, but missed the vast majority of last season with a knee injury, returning to action under Enzo Maresca this campaign.
Nkunku, who’s previously been dubbed as “phenomenal” by Belgian scout Elijah Michiels, has struggled for league starts, with Senegalese attacker Nicolas Jackson preferred as the central striker.
However, he’s still notched an impressive tally of goals under the Italian, scoring ten times in his 17 appearances with six of his efforts coming in the Europa Conference League.
L’Equipe’s report claims that Nkunku is already said to be considering his future at Stamford Bridge after his lack of minutes so far under Maresca with United targeting a move for the talisman in the upcoming window.
It’s unclear if it would be a loan or permanent deal, but given his goalscoring form of late, it’s evident that he would provide that added edge the side has often lacked in the final third.
Christopher Nkunku
17
10
Alejandro Garnacho
18
7
Marcus Rashford
18
4
Bruno Fernandes
17
4
Amad Diallo
16
3
Rasmus Hojlund
12
2
Joshua Zirkzee
17
1
Antony
5
1
Given Amorim’s record with Gyokeres over the last couple of years, it could be an exciting prospect with Nkunku potentially being the Portuguese man’s next version of the European superstar.
Not just boasting goals in abundance, Nkunku – like the Sporting ace – knows how to assist goals as well, supplying nine in his final year with Leipzig to Gyokeres’ 15 in 2023/24. It certainly seems as though they’re cut from the same cloth in plenty of facets.
Amorim has Ten Hag to thank for Man Utd star whose value has risen 23471%
The incredible youngster has come on leaps and bounds at Man Utd.
Todd Boehly has certainly spent a small fortune at Chelsea after his takeover in May 2022, with the American investing a whopping £1.2bn in his attempts to take the club back to the summit of the Premier League.
He appointed Italian Enzo Maresca as the latest man to try and point the club in the right direction after Mauricio Pochettino’s departure at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
The 44-year-old has made an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge, winning 11 of his first 18 matches in charge, leading the club to third place in the league, just a point off Manchester City, who have won the division in each of the last four years.
Maresca has a hugely talented squad at his disposal, undoubtedly aiding his task at the helm, with numerous players already producing some impressive numbers in recent weeks.
Chelsea’s star performers in 2024/25
Winger Cole Palmer has continued his excellent form from the previous campaign into the current one, producing some phenomenal numbers in the process.
Chelsea star Cole Palmer
In his 12 league matches in various attacking roles, the former Manchester City ace has registered seven goals and five assists – which included a four-goal haul in just 45 minutes against Brighton.
The England international has the joint-second most amount of goal contributions in the division after the third international break, with only former Blue Mohamed Salah achieving a higher tally.
Striker Nicolas Jackson has been a man that has received a heap of criticism in recent years, with the fanbase often wanting a more senior focal point to lead the line for Maresca.
However, the Senegalese has answered his critics perfectly with his start to the new season, scoring seven times in 12 matches – matching Palmer’s tally of goals in the league.
The 23-year-old now appears to be worth every penny of his £30m transfer fee that was forked out for his signature in the summer of 2023, with Jackson having time on his side to improve further.
However, the same can’t be said for one player who has struggled once more in the opening months of 2024/25.
The player who Maresca needs to offload
Winger Mykhailo Mudryk arrived in West London for a huge £88.5m transfer fee during January 2023, beating rivals Arsenal for the signature of the Ukrainian.
Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk
Upon his move to the Bridge, the 23-year-old was dubbed as a “hugely exciting talent” on the day he signed by owner Boehly, but nearly two years on, he’s yet to show why they forked out such a hefty fee for his signature.
Mudryk, who earns £100k-per-week, has made 72 appearances in the Blue of Chelsea, scoring just nine times – an average of once every eight games he’s featured in – a below-par record for such a big-money signing.
Many have argued his corner, claiming he needs time to settle into life in the Premier League, but his record of seven league outings this season without a goal and an assist could prove he’s no longer at the level needed for Maresca.
The Italian also has the likes of Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, João Félix and the aforementioned Palmer ahead of the former Shakhtar Donetsk ace in the pecking order. That’s not to forget the likes of Estevao and Kendry Paez – fellow forwards – who could also occupy a role ahead of Mudryk when they arrive.
Cole Palmer
12
Christopher Nkunku
11
Nicolas Jackson
10
Mykhailo Mudryk
7
João Félix
6
Pedro Neto
6
Noni Madueke
5
Undoubtedly, the Blues could be set to lose a huge portion of their investment if they were to permanently part ways with the youngster in January.
The best course of action could be to loan the attacker out until the end of the campaign to a lower-end top division English side and reevaluate his situation in the summer.
It’s a huge disappointment to see such a promising player fail to deliver, with Chelsea undoubtedly wasting a huge amount of money in the deal to sign Mudryk nearly two years ago. Whether it’s now or in the summer; selling him is ultimately something they will have to do eventually.
Chelsea must regret losing Palmer-esque star who left after just 2 weeks
Chelsea let go of an academy gem after just a few weeks in the Cobham academy.
Manchester City are in the midst of an incredibly poor run of form. Pep Guardiola’s side have failed to win in their last seven games in all competitions and have not won in the Premier League since the 26th of October when they beat relegation-threatened Southampton 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
It has been an inexplicably bad spell for the Cityzens, who have struggled without talismanic midfielder Rodri, who is sidelined with an injury. Guardiola’s side have a chance to bounce back on Wednesday night as they face high-flying Nottingham Forest at home.
The legendary manager will be relying on his biggest stars to get City out of this rut, with Phil Foden needing a good performance after a poor season so far.
Foden’s stats in 2024/25
After an incredible 2023/24 campaign, where he starred to help City win their fourth consecutive Premier League title, this season could not have been more different for Foden.
The versatile English attacker scored 27 goals and grabbed 12 assists in 53 games across all competitions last term, winning the PFA Player’s Player of the Year as a result.
This campaign has been almost the complete opposite for City’s number 47. In 17 games across all competitions, he has just three goals and an assist to his name.
Incredibly, the 24-year-old is yet to score in the Premier League this season and has a long way to go to match his 19 strikes in the top flight last term.
Indeed, there is no doubting Foden’s talents. The England international is clearly an incredible player. Not only do his stats showcase that, but Guardiola himself has publicly lauded him many times.
In a press conference in 2019, he explained that “Phil is the most, most, most talented player I have ever seen in my career as a manager”. That is high praise from a man who has previously coached Lionel Messi for several years.
It is certainly frustrating that Foden’s form has dipped this season. Whilst Guardiola has persisted with him in recent weeks, it might be time for a change.
The Spaniard may well decide to rotate the Englishman out of the side before the Forest clash and bring in a different type of profile of player…
The Man City star who could replace Foden vs Forest
Belgian winger Jeremy Doku made the move to the Etihad Stadium for an expensive fee of £55.5m in the summer of 2023. The 22-year-old has impressed during his time at the club, and has shown flashes of brilliance up and down the flanks for City.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
So far, the former Anderlecht attacker has played 57 games for the Premier League champions, scoring eight times and registering 13 assists in that time.
He caught the eye with ten assists in the Premier League last term in his debut campaign. However, the 2024/25 campaign has not been quite as fruitful yet, with four goals and assists in 14 appearances.
The 22-year-old can be a real point of difference against Forest and could be the man to help get City out of this terrible run of form. He is a formidable dribbler, thriving in one-vs-one scenarios, where he is statistically one of the best players in the world.
As per FBref, Doku averages 4.47 completed take-ons and 8.17 carries into the penalty box per game over the last 365 days. He places in the top 1% for each.
Stat (per 90)
Number
Ranking (Europe’s top five leagues)
Progressive carries
13.31
Top 1%
Carries into final third
4.28
Top 1%
Carries into penalty box
8.17
Top 1%
Take-ons attempted
9.94
Top 1%
Take-ons completed
4.47
Top 1%
Take-on success rate
47.7%
Top 1%
There is no doubt what Doku could bring to this City side; quick dribbling which will add a unique element to a team that has been void of ideas of late. As football statistician Statman Dave described him, the winger is “electric” on the ball, and is largely unlike any of his teammates.
He could utterly terrorise Forest, with it perhaps wise to line him up on the right flank up against former Aston Villa man, Alex Moreno, who has already been dribbled past 1.7 times per game on average this season. Ola Aina, on the other side, has been dribbled past just 0.6 times per league outing.
Dropping Foden and bringing his Belgian teammate into the side would be a bold call, but perhaps an unsurprising one given the Englishman’s recent form. Perhaps the change out wide will be exactly what City need to get themselves out of this awful run of form.
Man City readying move to sign "ball-striking monster" to replace Alvarez
Manchester City are looking to bolster their forward line with an exciting addition in January.
Aston Villa kept to their label as being an entertaining watch this mid-week in the Champions League, having beaten RB Leipzig 3-2 in a thrilling contest in Germany.
Away from starring on Europe’s biggest stage, Unai Emery’s men also boast 23 goals scored from 15 Premier League clashes, as the Villa Park masses often lap up the exhilarating action on display.
Jhon Duran – Aston Villa
Morgan Rogers has been one notable player that has got supporters out of their seats this season, alongside the continued exploits of Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins up top, who regularly share the goal load for the Villans.
Duran & Watkins' form this season
Duran has remarkably got ten goals next to his name this campaign from very limited starts, which included him scoring a sumptuous strike last match versus RB Leipzig when unleashed onto the Red Bull Arena turf.
Just eight minutes after being introduced, the potent Colombian would hammer home this fierce effort past a hapless Peter Gulacsi, as the away fans inside Leipzig’s stadium went barmy off the back of such a sweet strike rippling the back of the net.
Watkins wouldn’t add to those cheers unfortunately as a strike passed him by on Tuesday night, but the 28-year-old has been clinical at points for his team back in the bread and butter of the Premier League, with seven goals fired home from 15 appearances.
That has bumped Watkins’ overall total for the West Midlands titans to a stunning 77 goals, with his consistency in front of goal leading to Duran usually being left out of the main XI for the former Brentford star to lead the line.
Not every purchase into the building in attack has gone to be a rip-roaring success, however, with this former flop really struggling throughout his cursed stay at Villa Park.
Wesley's career since leaving Villa
The dud in question here is Wesley, who cost Villa an extortionate £22m back in 2019 from Club Brugge, with many left hoping that the new Brazilian recruit could be their next Christian Benteke.
After all, Benteke would go on to net 49 goals for the Villans from 101 games after also once plying his trade in Belgium, but Wesley would get nowhere near that bumper amount himself during a rotten stint in England.
He would initially bed in well with four goals registered in the Premier League from eight games, which included this composed finish beating Jordan Pickford to open his Villa account, but a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up during his debut season would end up killing his career at Villa Park.
Past those wretched injury demons, Wesley would only be fit to play another four times in the West Midlands to score another two strikes, which would lead to his sad permanent departure in 2023 to Stoke City, leaving the club on a free transfer.
Stat – per 90 mins*
Wesley
Games played
15
Goals scored
12
Assists
3
Shots*
1.9
Shots on target*
1.3
Scoring frequency
102 mins
Goal conversion %
43%
Stats by Sofascore
Although he would never get off the mark for the Potters, Wesley has managed to breathe life back into his playing days in Turkey for Fatih Karagümrük, where he has now transformed himself into a feared goal machine.
Amazingly – although it is in the Turkish second division – the South American has managed to better both Duran and Watkins in terms of goals scored in league action, with an impressive 12 league goals from just 15 contests.
He must play over his brief Villa career in his head and wonder what could have been if it wasn’t for extended periods in the treatment room, with the 28-year-old at least content that he’s back to his best years on from this ordeal.
Whilst Wesley continues to fire in goal after goal, Duran and Watkins will hope they can do similar under Emery, as a hectic list of fixtures awaits the Villans deep into December.
Aston Villa have struck gold on star who is now rivalling Haaland & Mbappe
Aston Villa supporters know how phenomenal this star can be.
Four Lads Had A Dream have paid special praise to one “excellent” Rangers player after his performance in his side’s 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham.
Rangers impress in Spurs draw
The Gers faced a big test of their European credentials on Thursday evening, as Spurs made the trip to Rangers for an important Europa League clash at Ibrox.
Philippe Clement’s Rangers side more than held their own on the night, taking the lead through Hamza Igamane, only to be pegged back by a Dejan Kulusevski’s strike with time running out. The draw leaves the Scottish Premiership giants sitting eighth in the table, remaining level on points with Spurs and still having a good chance of reaching the knockout stages.
The big games continue to come thick and fast for the Gers, whose next assignment sees them take on rivals Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday afternoon. Victory at Hampden Park would not only earn them bragging rights, but also take some pressure off the shoulders of Clement.
There were plenty of Rangers players who shone against Spurs on Thursday, as the hosts had 15 shots compared to the Premier League side’s tally of 12, and one player has come in for particular praise.
"Excellent" Rangers player hailed v Spurs
Taking to X, Four Lads Had A Dream lauded the performance of Nicolas Raskin in Rangers’ draw with Spurs, describing him as “the player we knew he could be”.
The positive reviews coming Raskin’s way are fully deserved, with the 23-year-old producing a superb performance in the middle of the park against top-class opposition. The Rangers midfielder completed 91% of his passes at Ibrox, according to Sofascore, as well as winning six out of eight ground duels and making four interceptions to go with three clearances.
Raskin is going to be an important player for Rangers as the season goes on, both domestically and in Europe, with Kenny Miller once describing him as “excellent”.
The Belgian provides both technical quality and tenacity in midfield, as highlighted by an average of 3.3 tackles and 1.3 dribbles per match in the Scottish Premiership so far this season.
At 23, Raskin is still such a young player who is still learning his trade, having arrived from Standard Liege last year, and there is no reason why he can’t continue to mature into one of Rangers’ most important players in the coming years.
Better than Igamane: Rangers star "who could run all night" was real hero
The Rangers central midfielder was the true hero for Philippe Clement on the night.
ByDan Emery Dec 13, 2024
Gers supporters will be hoping he can produce a similar performance against Celtic this weekend, inspiring the Gers to League Cup glory in the process.