All posts by z3u9t.icu

Everton have kicked off their Premier League campaign but are still on the look out for new additions to strengthen the squad, and now a fresh update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Hugo Ekitike?

According to journalist and transfer insider Rudy Galetti, Everton are "pushing hard" to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike before the transfer window closes on the 1st of September.

Galetti took to Twitter to reveal:

"#Everton are pushing hard for #Ekitike: talks with #PSG are progressing at a good pace."

"Understand the club is speeding things up to anticipate the competition of Eintracht and other 🇪🇺 teams interested in the ST."

"Hugo hasn't made a decision on his future yet."

How much will Hugo Ekitike cost?

There is no doubt that Sean Dyche will be desperate to improve the attacking threat at Goodison Park this summer, following a torrid Premier League campaign last season that left them struggling to create and convert goal-scoring opportunities throughout.

Everton scored the second-fewest goals (34) in the entirety of the top flight last season, with only Wolverhampton Wanderers hitting the back of the net on fewer occasions (31), something that must massively improve if they are to avoid another relegation scrap.

Indeed, the Toffees have secured the signings of Youssef Chermiti and Arnaut Danjuma already, but with Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggling to maintain his fitness and Dwight McNeil set to be side-lined for weeks with an ankle injury, there is definitely still to room to add depth and quality in the final third.

Ekitike is a fantastic youth prospect who has struggled for game-time at PSG over his first season in Paris, something the Frenchman would have been prepared for due to competing with Kylian Mbappe for the position in the highly-competitive front three.

Nevertheless, the 21-year-old scored three goals, registered four assists and created three big chances over 25 Ligue 1 appearances, despite only making 12 starts and averaging 46 minutes per game, according to SofaScore.

Not only that, Ekitike ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues per 90 minutes played for assists, interceptions and pass completion, as well as ranking in the top 20% for tackles won and blocks too, demonstrating that he is a huge asset in his role.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed the France U21 forward a "revelation" and has waxed lyrical about his strengths claiming he is a complete forward who "can also play as an inside forward" as well as being "fast & powerful" with "superb flair, agility & coordination for a player of his size".

Ekitike currently earns £80k-per-week, as per FBref, which would make him one of the highest earners at Goodison Park, and it has been reported that PSG would command a fee of around €35m (£30m) to part ways with their player permanently.

With that being said, the signing of Ekitike could be the final piece to add much-needed quality in the final third this season and if he can continue to develop his skills at Goodison Park, he could be massively valuable to Everton for many years to come.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to emulate one of the big acquisitions from this summer, emulating a fierce rival of theirs…

Who are Tottenham Hotspur signing this summer?

Despite things mostly going quiet on the transfer front for manager Ange Postecoglou, a huge blow in the form of Harry Kane's exit has surely seen those finances spike once again.

The Australian has already enjoyed a fine period of recruitment, but he will likely crave more wholesale changes in order to usher in his new era with more speed.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Whilst this window has largely been dominated by the free-spending of Chelsea, with Moises Caicedo their latest acquisition for a British transfer record, perhaps the Lilywhites could secure their own version of the Ecuadorian general by looking at who might now be available at Stamford Bridge.

Chances are surely set to be limited for Conor Gallagher with that latest signing, and with links persisting regarding a north London switch, his £50m price tag would represent a fine coup given he could likely offer similar to what the former Brighton and Hove Albion man can.

How good is Conor Gallagher?

Whilst a slightly more offensive asset than the 21-year-old in question, the England international has showcased all of the assets that made Caicedo so sought-after this summer.

After all, that loan spell at Crystal Palace marked his finest personal campaign to date, starring at Selhurst Park with his patented energy, creativity and proficiency in front of goal.

He would maintain a 7.08 average rating that season, buoyed by his eight league strikes, 81% pass accuracy, 1.1 key passes and two tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Somehow, the 23-year-old manages to be both combative and classy, with his tireless press having been lauded by The Athletic's Mike Stavrou:

"Conor Gallagher was absolutely relentless with his pressing and energy tonight. Some player Chelsea have got."

It seems like Mauricio Pochettino has been blinded by the lucrative light that Caicedo's potential arrival offered, and seems set to overlook Gallagher and all his talents.

This is made especially frustrating when comparing that aforementioned standout campaign with the former Independiente del Valle gem's recent term, which saw him star. He would also boast a 7.08 average rating, with only his 89% pass accuracy marking a notable increase on his new teammate's figures.

With just two goal contributions all season in the league, his key passes per game stood at 1.2, whilst his tackles increased to 2.7, via Sofascore.

Few would argue with the quality that he offers, but he has hardly done enough to suggest that he is a far better option than Gallagher, especially considering Caicedo boasts just 53 senior appearances for the Seagulls, whereas the Cobham graduate has amassed 117 appearances across spells at three top-flight English clubs.

Both are clearly progressive and yet not afraid to stick their foot in when the time dictates. However, one is seemingly worth double what the other is.

Postecoglou will be hoping to maintain some semblance of financial intelligence despite the vast funds recently received, and starting off that spending with the shrewd acquisition of Gallagher could see them secure their own version of Chelsea's new energetic midfield star for a fraction of the price.

While Newcastle United appear to be done and dusted during the 2023 transfer window, Eddie Howe is still mulling over fresh faces to bolster his thriving outfit in the future.

Having qualified for the Champions League with a fourth-placed Premier League finish last term, the Magpies have worked diligently on the transfer front this summer to ensure that the squad is ready for European football and a challenge to emulate last year's feats.

Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have all been added to the first team, and while the spending is ostensibly complete, one exciting star remains of a vested interest.

What's the latest Newcastle transfer news?

According to i news, Newcastle are plotting their next move and have identified Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams, with the 21-year-old 'under consideration' for a swoop when Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations permit.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

Believed to hold a £42m release clause in his contract, Williams is now in the final year of his contract, and Howe could soon land his man on a cut-price deal.

How good is Nico Williams?

Although Williams is only young, he has already captured the awe of the masses in Basque Country and has been praised for his "daring" approach on the pitch by former manager Marcelinho.

Last season, the eight-cap Spain star scored nine goals and supplied six assists from 43 matches across all competitions as he dazzled in his wide attacking role, receiving praise for his ability in 1v1 situations, pace, and progressive nature.

This is showcased through his ranking among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, and, as such, Howe could have his hands on the next version of Allan Saint-Maximin by securing the winger's signature.

Saint-Maximin departed St. James' Park for £23m in July after forging 124 appearances for the Magpies, posting just 13 goals and 21 assists.

The 26-year-old ranks among the top 14% of positional peers for assists, and the top 1% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, and has also been dubbed a "wizard" by journalist Graeme Bailey for his brilliant, fleet-footed displays on the pitch.

Alas, the 26-year-old never quite ignited the kind of cutting edge that Howe covets, which is evidenced through his Tyneside exit and the subsequent £39m signing of Harvey Barnes, who scored 13 Premier League goals last term and ranks among the top 5% of positional peers for goals per 90.

However, given Williams' youthful age and inexperience, Howe will likely feel he can craft a refined version of the Magpie fan favourite by nurturing the whiz to the fore, maintaining his blistering pace and dribbling skills while adding goals and assists with regularity.

Described as a "sensation" by journalist Shina Oludare, Howe is wise to get in on the action, and while this is a transfer that likely will not occur over the next week, the winter transfer market could prove to be a tantalising time indeed as the burgeoning Premier League side assess their next move.

Chelsea have been tipped to win the race for one of the top-flight's most exciting talents by Owen Hargreaves.

The former England midfielder has praised Brighton and Hove Albion gem Evan Ferguson after a scintillating performance against Newcastle United on Saturday, in which he scored his first senior hat-trick in a 3-1 win over their league rivals.

Ferguson has understandably made headlines after his most recent performance, with fans and pundits around the country in awe at his maturity at such a young age and has now been backed to seal a switch to Stamford Bridge in the future.

What did Hargreaves say about Ferguson?

Hargreaves appeared on 'The Kelly & Wrighty Show' alongside Arsenal legend Ian Wright to discuss the game, where they had plenty of praise for the Irishman.

On the striker's performance, he said:

“That was against the best defence in the Premier League last season. Dan Burn looked very worried about Ferguson.”

His admirations continued, saying:

“I like the fact that all three goals were different. The first one was an easy one, he was in the right spot. The second was a great goal.

“He’s a bit of an old school centre-forward, he’s got that physical profile.”

The one-time Manchester United midfielder then suggested Chelsea as a likely destination for the emerging sensation – “Probably Chelsea," he said when asked about the Irishman's future, adding: "because they buy all of Brighton’s players”.

Who is Evan Ferguson?

The 18-year-old joined the Seagulls academy in January 2021 from Irish side Bohemians, despite interest from Liverpool.

Since making his first-team debut for Brighton in August 2021, aged just 16, he has played 33 times in all competitions scoring 14 goals, 4 of which have come in the opening four games of the 2023/24 Premier League season.

After an FA Cup quarter-final brace in March, the clinical striker earned the plaudits of BBC's Danny Murphy who labelled Ferguson a “superstar”, while Gary Lineker took to Twitter to write: “I see a real centre forward before my eyes.”

Ferguson is the latest of Brighton’s incredible talents that we have seen burst onto the scene in the Premier League in recent years, joining names such as Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister.

As with the previous players, the Irishman hasn’t been spared from links to some of the biggest clubs in the league, with Sky Sports reporting (via GOAL) in August that he was Tottenham’s ‘dream’ replacement for Harry Kane.

Arsenal are also thought to be plotting a £100m move for the Seagulls star next summer, per FootballTransfers.

Meanwhile, it was no secret that Chelsea were trying to bring in another frontman before the transfer window slammed shut last weekend.

With Nicolas Jackson yet to hit the ground running – having scored just once in four starts – and Christopher Nkunku's injury troubles, Chelsea could continue their search for a centre-forward next summer and with Ferguson’s strong progress so far, it would be unsurprising to see Chelsea go after the Brighton man.

The two sides have done business on numerous occasions in recent years, with owner Todd Boehly spending big on the likes of Caicedo and Marc Cucurella to name a few, while Tariq Lamptey and Billy Gilmour have gone in the other direction.

Hargreaves was merely speculating on where Ferguson may end up in the future but given the evidence above, he could well be the latest figure to swap the south coast for west London in the near future.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino could be dealt another injury blow at Stamford Bridge following news that one of his players limped off with a knock during the international break, as per reports.

What's the latest news involving Chelsea?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are believed to be keeping tabs on Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra and could look to take advantage of their relationship with the French satellite club to bring the 19-year-old to Stamford Bridge.

Diarra was the subject of interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer; however, Chelsea intervened to block any potential move as they see him as someone who could develop into a top star in west London. Last term, the French youth international made 30 appearances in all competitions, registering three goals and three assists in the process.

Cited by Football London, Chelsea legend John Terry has backed Blues' boss Pochettino to bring success to his former club, as he stated:

“I love Poch. I’ve been around him and I promise you now he is a top, top manager and he will get us to the levels we need to be at.”

Chelsea sit 12th in the Premier League after four games, having taken four points from an available 12, signifying that there is plenty of room for improvement for Pochettino's new-look squad.

One man who hasn't been able to contribute on the field for Chelsea this term is Romeo Lavia, who sustained an ankle injury in training and could be out of action for some time, according to The Evening Standard.

Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Carney Chukwuemeka and Christopher Nkunku also remain on the sidelines for the Blues among others, which has hampered their ability to field a full-strength side under Pochettino so far.

Who else is injured at Chelsea?

As relayed by The Metro, Chelsea's injury list could be about to grow bigger due to Mykhailo Mudryk being withdrawn by Ukraine in their 1-1 draw against England on Saturday night in the 90th minute. The 22-year-old also required medical attention in the first half of proceedings following a clash with Marcus Rashford.

Nevertheless, he was later taken off in the aftermath of a collision with Kyle Walker and now may be unavailable for a period of time due to a suspected calf problem.

Mudryk, who was labelled the "real deal" by Steven Gerrard earlier this year, has struggled to find any sort of rhythm at Chelsea since joining the club for £88.5 million from Shakhtar Donetsk back in January. Overall, the Ukraine international has made 20 appearances for the Blues across all competitions, notching two assists; however, is yet to find the net for his current employers, as per Transfermarkt.

The Athletic have claimed that Chelsea have asked Mudryk to 'tone down' his work in the gym as he continues to search for a run of consistency. Mudryk is believed to do additional work away from the club in separate gyms and meets all fitness requirements by the club.

Of course, his move has yet to fully catch fire at Stamford Bridge; nevertheless, his dedication cannot be faulted as he tries to prove his worth in English football, but he could now be ruled out through injury.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are a club adapting to change after a hectic summer at Molineux.

The Old Gold said goodbye to a host of players and a manager during the summer break, with former boss Julen Lopetegui bidding farewell just five days before the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

Gary O’Neil was a quick replacement for the former Real Madrid manager, trusted to lead the depleted squad into the Premier League season after a period of uncertainty.

Due to restrictions relating to Financial Fair Play (FFP), Wolves were forced to make sales to generate cash, however, due to such constraints, the players sold weren’t able to be sufficiently replaced in the market.

Despite having to wave away star names such as Matheus Nunes and club captain Ruben Neves, the Midlands side made over £100m in sales, balancing the books in order to put themselves in a more assured financial position going forward.

Like every team, Wolves have recorded both strong and weak movements in the market over the years, making questionable signings and sales, although the club have also struck gold in some instances.

One player, in particular, that of Benik Afobe, enjoyed a rich scoring streak at Molineux and was sold under bizarre circumstances, however, the club got the best out of his resources and made a profit.

How much did Wolves sign Benik Afobe for?

Signed in the January window of 2015, Wolves captured the signature of highly-rated striker Benik Afobe from Arsenal.

The then 21-year-old had graduated from the Gunners’ academy, making the move to the Old Gold in the Championship following an explosive loan spell in the division below with MK Dons.

In the first half of the 2014/15 League One campaign, the forward made a significant impression on those interested in his services, scoring ten goals in 22 appearances as well as six goals in just four League Cup appearances.

It was clear to see why Wolves eyed the striker, who had prevailed as a natural goalscorer following his experience on loan spells, making the move the ideal path for both club and player.

There was no worry of an adaptation for the Hale End graduate, who got stuck into life in the Midlands where he left off at MK Dons, scoring frequently and setting the tone for forwards at Molineux.

How many goals did Benik Afobe score?

In the second half of the 2014/15 campaign in the Championship, Afobe netted 13 goals and recorded five assists for his new club, showcasing just how prolific he could be in front of goal.

The 2015/16 campaign was a repeat of the season before, as the striker ended the season having represented two clubs in different leagues due to loan experience.

Afobe started the term at Molineux, scoring nine goals in 25 appearances in the Championship, however in January was swooped up on a permanent move to the Premier League to sign for Bournemouth, just one year after signing.

Wolves had reportedly turned down numerous bids for their star striker, however, a £10m bid could not be rejected, with the player wanting to experience playing in the top flight.

Before his departure, the manager at the time Kenny Jackett lauded his striker for his “professional” handling of being subject of transfer rumours, however, his desire to play in the Premier League proved to outweigh his desire to finish the season at Molineux.

It wouldn’t be the last time that Afobe and Wolves were together, as in 2018, the Congolese sensation was back in the Midlands on a half-season loan spell from the Cherries.

The move at the time was critical for the Midlands side, who were hoping to seal promotion to the Premier League, which they did by May, with Afobe contributing six goals in 16 appearances to help the club secure promotion.

What happened to Benik Afobe next?

In the summer of 2018, Afobe made the move back to Molineux permanently in a £10m transfer, however, what came next was a bizarre turn of events.

The striker had already yo-yo’d back and forth between clubs throughout his career, with the permanency of his final Wolves deal being far from secure.

After penning his new deal with the Old Gold, Afobe was attracting interest just four days later, with Stoke City rumoured to be hoping to make a move for the forward.

Within the first two weeks of June, the former Arsenal youngster had signed for Wolves and then moved to Stoke City to sign a six-month loan deal with an obligation to buy in January 2019.

The obligation to buy was a fee of £12m, meaning Wolves had made a £2m profit in a matter of days, with there being confusion with the deal as a whole.

From Wolves to Bournemouth, to Wolves, to Stoke, Afobe endured a whirlwind few years, which didn’t show any signs of settlement as he joined Bristol City on loan in 2019, followed by another loan in Turkey at Trabzonspor for the 2020/21 campaign.

On returning to Stoke from Turkey, it was unknown what would happen next for the striker, who spent the remainder of his playing days in England at Millwall.

An initial loan deal with the Lions turned into a one-year permanent contract, where he scored a total of 15 times in all competitions over the two seasons for the Championship side. That record was perhaps an indication that the Old Gold sold him at the right time.

Where is Benik Afobe now?

Despite being unsettled for the majority of his career, Afobe maintained his ability to score, netting a recorded 109 domestic goals at various levels and clubs.

The 30-year-old now resides and plays in the UAE and represents Al-Dhafra FC, whom he signed for in August from fellow UAE club Hatta.

Benik Afobe career history

Bournemouth

70

Millwall

65

Wolves

64

Stoke City

51

Huddersfield Town

35

MK Dons

30

Trabzonspor

29

Bolton Wanderers

23

Arsenal U21

20

Sheffield Wednesday

13

Bristol City

12

Reading

3

Hatta

Unknown

Al-Dhafra

Unknown

From north London to the Middle East, Afobe’s career has taken him on a journey through football, playing for 14 clubs since signing his first professional contract at Arsenal in 2010.

His journey at Wolves amounted to 29 goals in 64 appearances in all competitions, with him fondly remembered at Molineux despite the stop-and-start feel of his time in gold.

A £2m profit worked out to be a strong business move for the Midlands club, who have maintained their Premier League status following the striker’s contribution to their push for promotion.

Newcastle United have had scouts keeping tabs on an exciting new defender, and a fresh report has revealed the chances of him moving to the Premier League.

What's the latest transfer news at Newcastle?

Last week, Eddie Howe received an in-house boost when Callum Wilson put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension that runs until 2025, but outside of the northeast, there have been a few names doing the rounds as to who the boss could potentially target in the market next year.

CBS reporter Ben Jacobs recently name-checked the black and white stripes as a possible destination for West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen should he be on the move, while other outlets have linked the likes of Paris Saint-Germain’s Hugo Ekitike and Royal Antwerp’s Arthur Vermeeren with a switch to St. James’ Park.

Now, a new name to have entered the fold is Boca Juniors left-back Valentin Barco who, having worked his way up through the academy ranks to get promoted to the first-team, has so far made 22 senior appearances for Jorge Almiron’s side.

In addition, Argentina’s youth international will be out of contract in December 2024 meaning that his club could be tempted to cash in should they receive a respectable offer to risk not losing him for free at the end of next year, and if the following update is to be believed, the 19-year-old has a whole host of clubs chasing him.

Are Newcastle signing Valentin Barco?

According to 90min, Newcastle, Chelsea, Manchester City, Brentford, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest have “all watched” Barco in recent weeks. However, Brighton and Hove Albion are currently in pole position to secure the defender’s services having already held talks with his representatives.

Celtic, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Porto, Roma, Juventus, PSG and Monaco have also been keeping close tabs on the in-demand teenager, but as previously stated, Roberto De Zerbi’s side are the favourites.

Boca Juniors are looking to get their prized asset to sign a new long-term contract to fend off interest, but with his current deal including a €10m (£8m) release clause, potential suitors have sniffed out the ideal opportunity to sign him.

How good is Valentin Barco?

Whilst Barco is still at a very young age, he’s already been dubbed the “Argentinian Marcelo” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and even though he might not be ready to be thrown straight into the senior action, he would be a fantastic signing for the long-term future of Newcastle.

Boca’s left-footed ace posted three contributions (two assists and one goal) in 19 outings across all competitions last season and loves to use his pace to burst down the flank and whip balls into the opposition’s box, racking up 48 crosses, which is the third-highest total throughout his squad, via FBRef.

Sponsored by Adidas, Barco, who represented his nation at the U20s World Cup, even has the versatility to operate everywhere down the left-hand side of the pitch in defence, midfield and attack, so this really is a no-brainer of a deal to pursue.

Arsenal fell to a shock defeat on the road on Tuesday night, as they could not follow up their emphatic Champions League curtain-raiser with another fine performance.

Instead, in front of a hostile French atmosphere, Mikel Arteta saw his men whimper to a disappointing 2-1 loss against RC Lens.

What went wrong for Arsenal vs RC Lens?

In a game that came down to the respective cutting edge each side boasted in front of goal, despite the Gunners taking the lead, a string of squandered chances afforded their hosts the opportunity to turn the game around.

As such, goals either side of half time saw them sneak in front, and despite boasting 67% of the ball and raining down 11 shots on goal, the north London side could not find a response.

The clash was also marred by the injury to Bukayo Saka, who had been a doubt for the past few fixtures but remained ever-present. Last night proved a step too far, and despite assisting the opener, the England international was withdrawn after 34 minutes.

Thus instigated Arteta's big issue, as his replacement, Fabio Vieira, narrowed their formation aggressively. Both he and Leandro Trossard were desperate to come to feet for possession rather than spin in behind and stretch the stubborn hosts, and as such once he was brought on, their attack was largely blunted.

However, this was hardly aided by the disasterclass suffered by the usually-magical Belgian wizard.

How did Leandro Trossard play vs RC Lens?

Starting on the left flank, it was a decidedly anonymous display from the former Brighton and Hove Albion man, who many expected and hoped would start, to replicate his Champions League form from their PSV Eindhoven clash.

Having scored and assisted in that emphatic 4-0 win, the 28-year-old could not have posted a more differing display last night, with his lack of influence emphasised due to the fact that even goalkeeper David Raya enjoyed more touches of the ball (32 v 52).

However, that was not all that underpinned a torrid night for Trossard, who remained profligate with what little possession he did enjoy.

Although it was far from a vintage performance from Arsenal, the £27m trickster could have put the game to bed with a golden opportunity, which he squandered. The winger received the ball from Kai Havertz inside the penalty area before chopping back onto his right foot and sticking a tame effort at Brice Samba. Then, to make matters worse, the £90k-per-week dud would go on to lose 75% of the eight duels he competed in, outlining a lack of physicality to match such a disastrous night.

Emphasising this disappointment further, the words of journalist Dan Kilpatrick stand as supporting evidence, who wrote the following before handing him a dismal 4/10 rating following the match: "Might have done better from close range but his shot was tame and easily saved. Faded and replaced."

Writer Phil Costa would then seek to outline that aforementioned narrowness issue, suggesting that should such a trend continue it could pose a worry for him and Arteta: "Our offensive distances were too big and I worry now with Trossard and Vieira wide – both who want the ball into feet – about being able to stretch the game."

Whilst hardly likely to curtail their entire Champions League campaign, the Spanish tactician will quickly want to figure out where the issues stemmed from and put them right. After all, he can afford hiccups at this stage, but if he is serious about challenging for elite honours, such a tactical and technical shocker cannot be afforded later on in the competition.

Arsenal had a busy summer in the transfer window, as Mikel Arteta and Edu welcomed four new faces to north London in order to bolster the title-challenging side of 2022/23.

The Gunners spent over £200m to acquire the signatures of Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, as well as bringing in David Raya on an initial loan from Brentford.

While the incomings seem to have worked for the club, who remain unbeaten in the Premier League, business regarding players that departed the Emirates has also prevailed as successful, with one name making a profitable exit.

Hale End graduate Folarin Balogun was sold to Ligue 1 outfit Monaco for a reported £35m, handing his boyhood club a £35m profit due to his rise through the ranks of the academy.

Why did Arsenal sell Folarin Balogun?

It’s not every day that a club cashes in on an academy graduate that has succeeded on loan, however for Balogun and Arsenal, the time seemed right for the United States international to depart.

After spending the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Reims, the striker caught the eye of a number of clubs in the summer, following his 21 goals in Ligue 1 during his season away from north London.

On his return, it became apparent that the American would not be handed an automatic push up the rankings due to his performances in France, with the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah favoured above him.

It was clear that Balogun didn’t wish to obtain a sporadic role at Arsenal, leaving an exit the best route for the player, and an even better outcome for the Gunners who received £35m for his services.

What is Folarin Balogun doing now?

While the talent of the 22-year-old is unquestionable, with him once lauded as “quality” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the forward has seen his value dip following his heroics of 2022/23, suggesting that Arsenal struck gold by selling him.

As per Football Transfers, the New York-born ace’s expected transfer value (xTV) has gone from a high of €23.6m (£20.4m) in May 2023, to €20.6m (£17.8m) where it sits currently, identifying a decline in value.

Despite starting life back in France well at Monaco, highlighted by his three goals in five Ligue 1 games, the forward’s xTV has taken a dip, however as nothing is predictable in football, it could rise once more if his form continues.

Taking into consideration Balogun’s form prior to his first experience in France, it makes sense as to why Edu and Arteta opted to run with the £35m from Monaco for his signature.

With just three goals in 18 Championship appearances for Middlesbrough in 2021/22 and two goals in ten for Arsenal across his total senior appearances for the Gunners, there was little indication whether the 22-year-old could achieve such heights back in England.

While there was certainly room for exploration into just how far his talents could span in the Premier League and beyond in north London, Arteta couldn’t warrant the former academy star a promised starting spot, and with no guarantee that his form could be translated, a price of £35m may not have circulated again.

Having scored 16 goals in their opening eight league games, Arsenal aren’t short of goals, portraying once more that the Gunners were right to collect the profit from Monaco to ship Balogun back off to France.

Everything that Arsenal have done over the last few months, regarding transfers and tactical shifts, has been to usurp Manchester City and win the Premier League title. Therefore, things are set to be no different in January.

Who could Arsenal sign in January?

With big-money acquisitions like Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, the pressure was understandably ramped up on two stars expected to perform. Whilst the jury is still out on the former, their club-record signing has taken to life in north London with ease, proving pivotal in their unbeaten league start as a calming yet destructive presence in the engine room.

The England international is slowly growing into one of the division's finest players, and Mikel Arteta could seek to lean on that by helping him reach new heights.

Although it may seem a strange move on the surface, reports have noted the Gunners' interest in Pep Guardiola's outcast Kalvin Phillips, who has struck up a fine partnership with the former West Ham United captain on numerous occasions for the Three Lions.

With chances limited for the 27-year-old, who is desperately seeking any opportunity to rekindle his once-promising career, perhaps Edu could be set to hand him one final chance at the highest level to prove his worth. His presence could even push Rice beyond that of Rodri…

Could Declan Rice surpass Rodri?

It was always bound to be the key comparison for these two sides both vying for the title, just as Martin Odegaard has often seen himself pitted against Kevin De Bruyne, and how the same has happened with Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden.

Guardiola's midfield compatriot has proven pivotal for the Citizens in extending their monopoly over English football, having shone in the engine room as a metronomic presence capable of dictating entire games from deep.

Whilst it did take him a year to acclimatise, last season saw him truly shine as an ever-present ace instrumental in their treble success. In the Premier League alone he would showcase his controlling mastery by recording eight goal contributions and a 91% pass accuracy, alongside 0.9 key passes, 1.9 tackles and 5.1 duels won per game, via Sofascore.

To compare that with Rice's start to the new term, and it is clear where the comparisons emerge from. The 24-year-old is also posting an impressive 92% pass accuracy, and whilst his key passes drop to 0.6 per game, he instead is recording 2.3 tackles and 4.4 ball recoveries per game.

The two are hardly far apart, and Phillips could provide the perfect addition to help his compatriot reach new heights, offering a platform for additional creativity should he return to his best.

After all, the former Leeds United man has been vocal about his enjoyment when playing beside him: "There's a lot of talk about me and Declan Rice fighting for one position but when we play together, I think we play really well. It’s an honour to play with him."

Then, ex-England manager Fabio Capello would rush to praise what Phillips offers, noting: "Phillips is not like Pirlo and he will never be. He is a much faster and more aggressive player, of good quality but he is not Andrea's heir."

Although it has been a long time since the £150k-per-week ace featured regularly, last starring during the 2020/21 league season which saw him maintain 1.2 key passes and 2.6 tackles per game, perhaps a show of faith from Arteta, plus placing him beside an old friend, could help him recapture these levels and help Rice become the paramount midfield player in the league.