All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

After another season in which they fought Manchester City for the Premier League title, Arsenal have a massive summer ahead of them to recruit the players who'll help them finally get over the line next year.

It looks as if Mikel Arteta is about to welcome his first new major signing in the coming days in the shape of Riccardo Calafiori, and there have been countless rumours linking the club to a whole host of talented strikers from Benjamin Sesko to Viktor Gyokeres.

However, the midfield is another area of the team that must be strengthened in the coming months, and the good news is that Edu Gaspar and Co seem to agree.

Based on recent reports, the latest player touted for a move to the Emirates has excelled there in recent seasons and could even help Declan Rice become even more effective.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from The Athletic, Arsenal want to sign a central midfielder this summer and have identified Real Sociedad's Mikel Merino as a player of interest.

The report claims that Arteta is a fan of the 28-year-old's overall talent and, in particular, his 'physicality.'

His age profile would make him an unusual signing for the Gunners considering their transfer activity over the last few windows, but according to The Athletic, they do not see this as a problem thanks to the 'relative youth of the squad.'

No price is mentioned in the story, but a report from Spain last month revealed that the Merino would be available for €25m, about £21m. This might prove to be a bargain, especially if he can form a brilliant partnership with Rice.

Why Merino would be a great signing for Rice

Now, to get straight to the point, there is one key reason why signing Merino is a brilliant decision for the team and for Rice, which is the position in which he thrives.

The Spanish international has started in other positions before, but the vast majority of his starts – 241, to be exact – have come in the centre of midfield, not in defensive or attacking midfield, but right in the middle, as an eight.

This is an area of the pitch that the former West Ham United captain started in 19 times for the Gunners last season, and while he said that playing this role leaves him "excited", he has also admitted that playing slightly deeper as a six is his "strongest position."

So, with this in mind, signing Sociedad's "monster" midfielder, as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, would allow Arteta to keep his record signing in the position, which he has admitted to being his strongest while fielding an out-and-out central midfielder in the eight role, which should also see that area of the pitch improve.

This shouldn't negatively impact the team's attack, either.

In 45 appearances last season, the 26-capped international scored eight goals and provided five assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 3.4 games – he showed his heading ability against Germany as well.

This level of output is only marginally worse than the Englishman's average of a goal involvement every three games, from 17 goals and assists in 51 games, and he did that in a far more effective side as well.

Appearances

32

7

6

Goals

5

2

1

Assists

3

1

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.25

0.42

0.33

Lastly, the 6 foot 2 titan might actually improve the team's overall solidity as well.

According to Squawka, he was the only player in Europe's top seven leagues last season to win over 300 duels over the course of the campaign – 326, to be precise.

Ultimately, Rice put in a fine shift in the middle of the park last season when called upon, but by signing Merino Arteta can get the most out of him by starting him at the base of midfield and playing a star whose bread and butter is acting as the midfielder that links defence to attack – and for just £21m, this transfer is a cost-effective no-brainer.

Forget Gyokeres: Arsenal now confident of signing £30m "powerhouse"

The prolific number nine could be a game-changer for the Gunners.

3 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 9, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur had plenty of positives to take from last season, from the emergence of a talent like Destiny Udogie to the scintillating football Ange Postecoglou had the team playing at times.

However, as should be expected in a new manager's debut campaign, there were a few issues ranging from a collapse in form from players like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski towards the end of the campaign, to a lack of goals throughout, as evidenced by the fact that six teams scored more than them in the league.

So, with this clearly an area of the team that needs improvement, it's unsurprising that the latest player touted for a move to N17 is a Premier League-proven goalscorer who could potentially help Kulusevski reach an entirely new level.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham have maintained their interest in Brentford striker Ivan Toney this summer and are now among the frontrunners to sign him.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report claims that West Ham United are also near the front of the queue for the Englishman's signature, but it is Spurs who have the edge, as the Hammers are currently looking for alternative options.

The story has also revealed that due to the striker's contract expiring next summer and the lack of interest in him from other clubs, the North Londoners are preparing to make a 'lowball offer' to the Bees, which could be below their new £50m valuation, per the Sun.

If Daniel Levy and Co can get their hands on Toney for £50m or less this summer, they should, as his goalscoring record would surely see the club ascend the table, and he could even help Kulusevski become unplayable.

How Toney could help improve Kulusevski

There may well be several reasons why Toney would be a great teammate for Kulusevski, from the personal to the professional, but when it comes to what he can do on the pitch, it boils down to just one: his output.

Now, last season was certainly disappointing for the Englishman in this regard, but considering he was banned from all footballing activities until the new year due to his betting-related ban, it would be entirely unfair to use this as a stick to beat him with, especially as the two campaigns prior were incredibly impressive.

For example, in his first season following promotion with the West Londoners, he scored 14 goals and provided six assists in 37 games.

Appearances

37

35

17

Goals

14

21

4

Assists

6

5

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.54

0.74

0.35

The following year, the Northampton-born "monster", as dubbed by manager Thomas Frank, did even better, scoring 21 goals and providing five assists in 35 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.34 games.

It's this ability to put the ball into the back of the net and chip in with the odd assist here and there that would help Spurs' Swedish wideman to become so much more effective next season, as under Postecoglou last year, only Son Heung-min and Richarlison produced over 16 goal involvements.

Moreover, according to Understat, the former Juventus star's tally of three league assists in 23/24 was a massive underperformance from his expected assists figure of 8.62, and while he undoubtedly had a small part to play in that, the failure of his teammates to put away his chances was a more significant reason for the disappointing discrepancy between expectation and reality.

Ultimately, based on how well Toney performed in his first two full seasons of top-flight football, there is no doubt that were he the one getting on the end of Kulusevski's chances, the Swede would have an awful lot more assists to his name, and Spurs could be gearing up for a return to Champions League football in 2024/25.

Bale 2.0: Spurs make approach to sign "explosive" £25m Udogie rival

The incredible youngster is a real “diamond.”

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 23, 2024

Therefore, even if Levy and Co can't negotiate his fee to below £50m, they should do what they can to ensure the Brentford poacher makes his way to N17 this summer.

West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui is working hard to build a side which could get back to securing European qualification next season.

So far, Max Kilman and Luis Guilherme have joined the side, while a deal is reportedly close for Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville.

Lopetegui is also chasing another centre-forward, with Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Füllkrug closing in on a move to London after the side agreed a fee of £27m with the German side for the player.

Slowly, but surely, a team which could break back into the European spots during the 2024/25 campaign is being built.

Opponent

Date

Aston Villa (H)

August 17

Crystal Palace (A)

August 24

Manchester City (H)

August 31

Fulham (A)

September 14

Chelsea (H)

September 21

West Ham United closing in on World Cup winner

It isn’t just his attacking options that Lopetegui is looking to bolster, as a move for Argentinian World Cup winner Guido Rodriguez is reportedly close.

That’s according to the Standard, who claim that the Irons are in advanced talks with the former Real Betis midfielder, who is currently a free agent after leaving the La Liga side at the end of his contract.

The 30-year-old will bring a wealth of experience to the club, and he would be an ideal signing for Lopetegui, especially on a free transfer.

Could the Spaniard land Rodriguez a perfect midfield partner? As he is chasing a midfielder who has won the Champions League twice…

West Ham United eyeing up move for ex-Barcelona midfielder

According to Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast (via Football Insider), West Ham are considering a move for Sergi Roberto, the former Barcelona midfielder.

Having left the Catalan giants following the expiration of his contract, Lopetegui would be able to sign him for nothing in a move similar to that of Rodriguez. Judging by his experience at the highest level, he could be a worthwhile addition to the squad.

Roberto and Rodriguez may even form a wonderful partnership in the heart of the midfield as West Ham chase a top-eight finish next season.

Sergi Roberto & Guido Rodriguez partnership

Rodriguez typically operates as a defensive midfielder, making 29 appearances in that position for Real Betis last season.

He demonstrated his defensive capabilities in the Spanish top flight last term, winning 4.9 total duels per game – a success rate of 60% – while making 2.2 tackles and recovering 6.5 balls per game throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Rodriguez ranked in the top 13% for interceptions per 90 (1.49) and the top 12% for clearances per 90 (2.05), yet more evidence of his defensive skills.

Roberto, on the other hand, tends to perform slightly further forward than Rodriguez, and he made 24 appearances for Barcelona last term, registering six goal contributions – three goals and three assists – in the process.

During his 14 La Liga appearances, Roberto created one big chance, succeeded with 75% of his dribbles, averaged 0.6 key passes per game and finished the season with a 90% pass success rate, not bad considering he only averaged 62 minutes per game.

Metric

La Liga

Champions League

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

1

Accurate passes per game

40.7

23.8

Total duels won per game

2.6

1.6

Big chances created

1

2

Despite this lack of game time domestically, he still shone when compared to his peers. Indeed, across Europe’s top five leagues, Roberto ranked in the top 2% for non-penalty goals (0.25), the top 5% for assists (0.25) and the top 4% for touches in the opposition penalty area (3.22) per 90, showcasing his attacking talents from the heart of the midfield.

These statistics clearly show that Rodriguez and Roberto could form a solid partnership in the West Ham midfield, offering both defensive and attacking skills to complement each other well.

Not only that, but the Spaniard is also like a current Manchester City star who was the player of the tournament at Euro 2024…

Why Sergi Roberto could be West Ham’s own Rodri

Rodri shone for Spain as they won their first major international tournament since 2012, finishing the tournament with a stunning 93% pass success rate while recovering 6.8 balls per game and winning 5.2 total duels per game.

He was the beating heart of this wonderful Spanish side and if Lopetegui could sign a player who performs like him, then West Ham would be all the better for it.

According to FBref, Rodri is the seventh-most comparable player to Roberto, which means the club could be signing their own version of the City gem should a deal be made for the 32-year-old this summer.

Last season, the pair registered similar domestic statistics with regard to shots per 90 (1.05 vs 1.9), pass success percentage (89% vs 92%), successful take-on percentage (50% vs 65.6%) and goal-creation actions per 90 (0.31 vs 0.71), evidence of their similarities last term.

Although he may not be at his peak anymore, Roberto – who has been described as "extraordinary" by ex-Barca boss, Xavi – would bring a host of big game experience to this West Ham side.

Throughout his career, the Spaniard has won seven La Liga titles plus two Champions League crowns, proving that he has what it takes to shine on the biggest stage of all.

Overall, Roberto made 373 appearances for his boyhood club since making his debut during the 2010/11 campaign, scoring 12 goals while grabbing 34 assists in the process.

It would certainly signal a major statement of intent if they were to bring the former Spain international to London in the next few weeks, showing that Lopetegui means business in the transfer market.

If deals can be done to bring him and Rodriguez to the club, then the midfield area will be bolstered significantly heading into the new season.

If the pair hit the ground running, completing both signings without spending a penny could soon be seen as a masterstroke by the former Wolves manager.

Time will tell however, but the signs are looking good for West Ham heading into a new season.

In the race: West Ham want "complete midfielder" who can replace Paqueta

Things are happening over in east London.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 2, 2024

Leeds United are in the market to land a new winger to replace Crysencio Summerville before the summer transfer window slams shut at the end of this month.

The Whites cashed in on the Dutch wizard, who moved to Premier League side West Ham United, and are now looking at players who could come in to bolster Daniel Farke's options out wide.

One player who does not look set to end up at Elland Road, though, is Norwich forward Jonathan Rowe. Marseille are reportedly poised to agree an £8m deal to sign the England U21 international amid interest from Leeds.

That news could force Farke to look elsewhere to find a new winger to come in and take Summerville's spot in the team on the left flank, and that could open the door to a swoop for one of the club's other reported targets in that position.

Leeds' interest in Dutch forward

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Whites are one of the teams eyeing up a swoop to sign NEC Nijmegen forward Sontje Hansen this summer.

It was claimed that Leeds and Birmingham City are both keen on a potential deal to sign the 22-year-old forward before the window slams shut.

However, the Dutch side are in a strong position with his contract, as he is not in the final 12 months of his deal, and that means that they can demand a sizeable fee, although the report did not mention an exact price.

Leeds could now repeat the masterclass they played with the initial signing of Summerville by swooping to land Hansen to bolster their wide options.

Why Hansen could be Summerville 2.0

In the summer of 2020, the West Yorkshire outfit moved to sign the right-footed Dutch left winger from Feyenoord on a permanent basis, after he had produced two goals and six assists in 21 appearances for ADO Den Haag on loan in the Eredivisie during the 2019/20 campaign.

Leeds gambled on him being able to make the step over to English football and to develop further, and it was one that paid off big time, as Summerville produced 19 goals and nine assists in the Championship last term.

Hansen could now follow in his footsteps as another right-footed Dutch left winger who can chip in with both goals and assists on a regular basis, if he can take his game to the next level.

Starts

25

xG

3.72

Goals

6

Big chances missed

4

Big chances created

7

Assists

4

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old whiz caught the eye as a finisher with six goals from 3.72 xG and as a creator with seven 'big chances' created for NEC last season.

The £5.9k-per-week star, who was once lauded as "prolific" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, produced more goals and more assists than Summerville did in the Eredivisie before his move to Elland Road.

He also impressed at youth level for Ajax earlier in his career, with 21 goals and 13 assists in 58 appearances for the Dutch giants' academy.

The next Gray: Leeds looking at signing “exceptional” young PL gem

Leeds United are keeping a close eye on this young gem as a potential buy.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 9, 2024

This suggests that the potential could still be there for Hansen to take a leap in his development to become a regular provider of goals and assists from a left wing position at Leeds, which is why the club could repeat their Summerville masterclass by bringing him to England.

Ipswich Town fans will soon be very aware of the almighty task that their Tractor Boys side has in front of them after the two opening Premier League fixtures are over and done with, starting with a home clash versus Arne Slot's Liverpool this Saturday.

After that, it's a daunting away tie with Manchester City, but fixtures towards the start of the season can always throw up surprise results, as the newly promoted side attempt to ride on the wave of unbelievable success that has come their way for as long as possible.

More signings through the door will obviously help Kieran McKenna's men to stave off the dreaded bottom three spaces, with the likes of Jacob Greaves and Omari Hutchinson already jumping ship to Portman Road this summer, and another potential loan signing could send out a real statement to the division about their intentions to stay put.

Ipswich in transfer battle to land Premier League outcast

As per a report by the Manchester Evening News, three Premier League clubs are keeping close tabs on the availability of Kalvin Phillips as the new season hurtles into view, with Ipswich one named party of interest.

Everton and Fulham are the other two clubs who are intrigued by the prospect of adding the Manchester City outcast to their ranks this summer as a loan option, alongside McKenna's men, with the former Leeds United man in dire need of a fresh start away from the Etihad soon.

Pep Guardiola was anticipating that Phillips' move away from the reigning Premier League champions would be on a permanent basis, and although that could still take place, all three parties would also be tempted by just snapping up the out-of-sorts 28-year-old temporarily.

What Phillips can offer Ipswich

This could well prove to be a marquee signing from those at Portman Road if Phillips joins and finally gets back to the previous best he managed under the mercurial management techniques of Marcelo Bielsa, having once cost City an eye-watering £45m to win his services.

Hutchinson would cost the newly promoted £25m less at £20m, but that would still prove to be the Suffolk club's most expensive purchase in their history, with Phillips potentially an even bigger buy if pulled off, despite the ex-Chelsea winger scoring the strike above to seal Ipswich's passage up to the Premier League.

McKenna has managed to get plenty more out of talents such as Conor Chaplin and other players in the Tractor Boys camp who looked resigned to only playing in the EFL across their careers, who are now on the cusp of playing in the top flight.

Therefore, if the former Manchester United man can transform the fortunes of his current crop from lurking in and around League One to now being worthy top-flight competitors, he could be the same reinvigorating presence for Phillips, who certainly needs an arm around him to get him back to his Leeds A-Game.

Games played

29

Goals scored

1

Assists

2

Touches*

65.0

Big chances created

5

Accurate passes*

41.0 (85%)

Interceptions*

1.6

Tackles*

2.6

Clearances*

1.7

Total duels won*

5.3

When Leeds first re-entered into the top-flight under Bielsa, Phillips shone in the middle of the park for his West Yorkshire employers, with a battle and grit apparent in his game alongside an ability to create and test the goalkeeper when advancing forward, as can be seen glancing at the table above.

Although he failed to spark into life on loan at West Ham United – making a notable number of errors – if McKenna can get back him to his prime, it might well prove to be a masterstroke of a buy.

He could give healthy competition to the likes of Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo at Portman Road, therefore, with a need for an experienced Premier League performer clear, as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has also been linked with a switch to Suffolk recently in the midfield spots.

Once described as an "outrageous" player on the ball by Man City and England teammate John Stones, England international Phillips needs to make sure this next move is the right one, and joining the feel-good group at Ipswich could be his best possible choice.

35 caps for England: Ipswich could sign "superb" star who'd be like Morsy

Ipswich Town could ambitiously go after this star to strengthen in midfield.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 12, 2024

Into the final week of the transfer window, a summer-long saga is finally reaching its conclusion, according to Fabrizio Romano, with one Chelsea outcast now reportedly set to get his move.

Chelsea transfer news

The Blues have once again stolen the headlines throughout the summer, welcoming a whole host of fresh faces and opening themselves up to the same questions about Todd Boehly's supposed strategy. Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher took aim at the west London club following the announcement of Joao Felix's arrival – Chelsea's 10th signing of the window.

Chelsea followed that up by losing against champions Manchester City on the opening day as their problems continued to look unsolved. That said, the final week of the window could go a long way towards repairing what needs fixing, and perhaps answering Carragher's question, with sales mooted.

He's available: Chelsea plot move for £40m dream Osimhen alternative

Chelsea looking at Osimhen alternatives

ByConnor Holden Aug 24, 2024

According to Romano, Napoli have reached a verbal agreement to sign Romelu Lukaku in a deal worth €45m (£38m) including potential add-ons. After much toing and froing, the Italian giants are seemingly set to finally get their man.

Of course, it's no surprise that Antonio Conte is the manager who has come swooping in to end Lukaku's Chelsea nightmare, given the success that they had together at Inter not so long ago.

"Excellent" Lukaku leaves a Chelsea flop

The curse of the Chelsea No 9 has no limits. Whether you're Alvaro Morata, Fernando Torres or Lukaku, it seems as though it will infect what many believe to be Golden Boot contenders and turn them into goal-less tools of frustration at Stamford Bridge.

When Lukaku returned to the club in a big-money deal worth a reported £97.5m, he ticked every box. This was a proven goalscorer in the Premier League who had refound his best form in Italy.

All signs pointed towards him being the signing of the summer in 2021 rather than a transfer flop. Yet, here we are, three years, an early controversial interview, and a distinct lack of goals later, and Lukaku is heading for the exit door with a whimper rather than a roar.

Appearances

59

Goals

15

Assists

2

Joining up with Conte again, the Napoli boss will undoubtedly be pleased to see Lukaku, having praised the Belgian earlier this summer, saying when asked about a potential reunion (via Sportskeeda): "He's an excellent player, top player. There's nothing else to say. You always hope to have a player like Romelu on your side and not against you."

Despite a frustrating transfer window that has left several gaps in the Newcastle United first team, Eddie Howe will be delighted with his side's start to the Premier League season.

A draw against Bournemouth on the south coast is sandwiched between St. James' Park victories over Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, taking seven points from a possible nine into the September international break.

Newcastle failed in their bid to sign top target Marc Guehi, with Crystal Palace standing firm in their resolve to keep the centre-back. Lloyd Kelly was brought in to shore up the backline but more is needed, it is felt. Despite this, captain Kieran Trippier could soon leave, despite the transfer window having slammed shut.

Why Trippier is set to leave Newcastle

According to Sky Sports, Newcastle could part ways with Trippier this month since the 33-year-old has lost his place in the starting line-up to rising star Tino Livramento – who shone in the 2-1 win over Spurs.

While the majority of European transfer streams have closed off, the Turkish Super Lig is still open for business, and Besiktas, Fenerbahce and Eyupspor have all made enquiries.

Trippier is in the penultimate year of his £120k-per-week contract, placing him among the Toon's highest earners. This is not justifiable given his stark decline last year, making three fatal errors across his 28 Premier League appearances.

Though he's still one of the most creative right-backs in the business, the former England international is not the complete package anymore, and given that he wishes to play regular football from the outset, it's probable that he will move on soon.

Should that occur, Newcastle may well regret not signing a new right-back. Emil Krafth has been called to the centre with Fabian Schar suspended and Sven Botman recovering from an ACL injury that has ruled him out for the rest of 2024.

Michael Kayode was linked with a move to Tyneside, and perhaps Howe wishes his side took the leap and snapped the talent up.

Newcastle must rue not signing Trippier replacement

Trippier is 34 in two weeks, and though he's led a storied career and been a stalwart for Newcastle, he was noticeably on the decline last season and has now been replaced by Livramento.

He would be an excellent back-up, but Newcastle should have moved to sign Kayode from Fiorentina. As per Corriere dello Sport back in July – via Sport Witness – Newcastle were the latest of a long line of English clubs to take an interest in the 20-year-old.

Having enjoyed an exemplary breakout campaign on the senior stage, he had been tagged at €30m (£25m) by La Viola, but no outfit met the demands and he has stayed put to continue his development.

Matches (starts)

26 (22)

Goals & assists

2

Clean sheets

6

Pass completion

87%

Key passes*

0.6

Ball recoveries*

4.0

Tackles*

2.0

Clearances*

1.5

Dribbles*

0.8 (51%)

Ground duels won*

3.6 (63%)

Hailed as a "duel monster" by data analyst Ben Mattinson, Kayode is actually considered to be a similar-styled player as Livramento, as per FBref, with a steely defensive game and a technical sharpness that would play to the strengths of a team like Newcastle, seeking fluency and forward movements.

With physical strength and high-level athleticism blending with a defensive aptitude that suggests he would survive the test of the Premier League, and perhaps even thrive, Kayode could be a real superstar.

The Italian looks like he's only got better over the summer too, having made his seasonal introduction off the bench against Parma and dazzled. He was only on the field for 17 minutes, but the barrelling star won all five of his duels and completed each of his three dribbles.

There's so much to like, and given his quality, it seems likely that one top suitor or another will snap him up before too long. Might Newcastle rue their decision not to act down the line?

Newcastle must regret selling £13m star who's now worth more than Tonali

The Magpies sold a player in 2018 who is now at another Premier League club

1 ByRoss Kilvington Sep 3, 2024

Sheffield Wednesday and Danny Rohl are believed to have held discussions to sign free agents in the near future, according to a new update from The Sheffield Star.

Sheffield Wednesday latest news

The Owls have come crashing back down to earth after their thrilling 4-0 win at home to Plymouth Argyle on the opening weekend of the Championship season, losing their next three matches in the competition.

Confidence was sky-high after that victory, but losses to Sunderland, Leeds United and Millwall have shown Rohl that there is a lot of work to do in order to prevent another relegation battle, let alone be thinking about a possible promotion charge in the coming months.

Next up for Wednesday is a trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday afternoon, with the west London club currently 12th in the table – eight ahead of the Owls – in what is another important day at the office for Rohl and his players.

It was a productive summer transfer window at Hillsborough, with a number of signings made, including the permanent arrival of Ike Ugbo, who shone on loan last season. That's not to say that further quality is needed, however, and a free transfer update has emerged.

Sheffield Wednesday in talks over free agent signings

As reported The Star, Sheffield Wednesday have held talks over free agent signings, as Rohl looks to bolster his squad options further, with the manager saying:

"Maybe it looks sometimes easier from the outside to think 'Oh he is free and he is free'. We have some information, maybe some players are still free but they have different things in their mind what they want to do, maybe change to a different country but they have to wait until the new season starts in that country. We will look to all these pictures and if there is opportunity and it makes sense from both sides, then there is no question mark that we shall do it, but if it is not possible then we will not do it."

Asked whether they had held discussions with any available players, Rohl added: “Of course. It's not like we sit here and do nothing! We do it, we do our homework, but there is a lot more to it than just bringing a player here, there is a bigger picture and at the moment it could also be helpful to have a smaller group that grow up together and that they go through this situation, then we are stronger than before.”

These last three games have certainly exposed Wednesday when it comes to their quality and depth, showing that they are still a fair way adrift of the best teams in the Championship, most notably Sunderland and Leeds.

As mentioned, this is a good group of players with plenty of options all over the pitch, but if the right individual is available to bring in for free, the Owls should jump at the chance as soon as possible.

Sheffield Wednesday dud who left for £0 is now outperforming Ugbo

Sheffield Wednesday dropped a clanger letting go of this former player when they did.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 12, 2024

Rohl didn't name-check anyone in his comments, so it remains to be seen who Wednesday are potentially looking at snapping up, but former Newcastle United defender Paul Dummett is currently without a club and could be a good example of a shrewd option.

Granted, he is now 32 years of age, but he could provide experience at the back, and is capable of playing at centre-back and left-back, adding more versatility to Rohl's squad.

Celtic avoided a significant upset in the League Cup on Sunday by coming from behind twice to beat Championship side Falkirk 5-2 at Parkhead.

The second division outfit went 1-0 and 2-1 ahead in the first half and led at the break, before the Hoops rallied and eventually secured a comfortable win in the second half.

Brendan Rodgers’ side went out in that competition at the first available opportunity last season, losing 1-0 to Kilmarnock, and they are now in the semi-finals of it this time around.

The Northern Irish head coach won the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup in his first season back at Paraside last term, and will now be hoping to secure a League Cup for the first time since his return.

After Paulo Bernardo’s goal in the first-half, a quickfire double from summer signing Adam Idah turned the game around in the second half – taking Celtic from 2-1 down to 3-2 up inside three minutes.

The two former Hoops loanees were not the real stars of the show, however, as substitute Nicolas Kuhn produced an unbelievable performance off the bench.

Nicolas Kuhn's performance against Falkirk

The German winger came off the bench in the 61st minute, alongside Greg Taylor, Arne Engels, and Hyun-jun Yang, whilst his side were 2-1 down to Falkirk.

11 minutes after his introduction, the Scottish giants were 3-2 up and the forward had two assists to his name. He assisted Idah’s first goal by racing down the left of the box and slotting a ball across for the striker to tap into an empty net, before feeding the Irish marksman with a pass into his feet on the edge of the box to set him up for his second.

The former Bayern Munich youngster then got his name on the scoresheet in the 81st minute. Engels played a defence-splitting pass through the middle for the winger to race through on goal and delightfully dink the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper to make it 4-2.

Just a few minutes later, Kuhn scored his second and Celtic’s fifth by reacting to a loose ball on the edge of the box and lashing in and a bouncing volley into the bottom corner.

This meant that the substitute winger plundered an incredible two goals and two assists in around 29 minutes on the pitch, helping to turn the game around from 2-1 down to 5-2 up – having been involved in all four of the goals to complete the turnaround.

Kuhn has established himself as a key player for Celtic but there were some doubts over his potential when he first arrived at Paradise at the start of 2024.

Nicolas Kuhn was criticised by expert

In the January transfer window at the start of 2024, the Scottish giants reportedly splashed out a fee of £3m to sign the attacker from Rapid Vienna on a permanent deal.

Expert Dorian Schuster, who had been tracking Kuhn’s statistics and performances in Austria for Transfermarkt, spoke on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, as transcribed by The Scottish Sun, and criticised the forward and Celtic’s deal to sign him.

Schuster claimed that the winger’s shooting was “terrible” and that it could be a “major issue” for the club in European competitions, whilst also adding that he is “injury-prone”.

The 24-year-old gem did miss 14 games through injury in the 2022/23 campaign and missed eight ‘big chances’, scoring twice, in the Bundesliga in the first half of last season, which may have been why those comments were made.

He then stated that Transfermarkt valued the Rapid Vienna star at just €1.5m (£1.2m) and that was less than half as much as Celtic reportedly paid for his services.

The expert also questioned whether or not Kuhn would be able to “have fun” with Premiership defenders, due to his injuries and lack of physicality.

After a slow start to life in Glasgow, providing two goals and two assists in 14 league appearances last term, the German wizard has now made himself undroppable for Rodgers in the current campaign.

Nicolas Kuhn is now undroppable

The left-footed magician has produced a staggering five goals and six assists in eight appearances in all competitions for Celtic so far this season, starting six of those matches.

Kuhn was left out from the start against St Mirren, due to a slight injury issue, and was rested on the bench for the clash with Falkirk, but racked up two goals and three assists as a substitute in those games.

Despite Schuster’s claim that the winger is injury-prone, he has not missed a single matchday squad through injury for the Hoops since his move to the club in January.

Kuhn has also, certainly, had fun with Premiership defenders, despite the doubts of the ‘expert’, as he has completed 2.2 dribbles per match, with a success rate of 61%.

The former Ajax youngster has toyed with full-backs and been a constant threat down the right flank for Rodgers in the Scottish top-flight so far this season, with his ability to score and create goals.

Appearances

5

Starts

4

Goals

2

Assists

2

Big chances created

3

Key passes per game

2.2

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn has been directly involved in four goals in four starts in the Premiership, whilst creating more than two chances per match on average.

The 24-year-old star has also fired in three goals and provided three assists in two League Cup outings for Celtic, to help his side through to the semi-finals.

He was unlucky to only register one assist in the 5-1 win over Slovan in the Champions League last week, as the forward created four chances and two ‘big chances’ for his teammates – only to be rewarded with a solitary assist.

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These statistics show that Kuhn has performed brilliantly across all competitions so far for Celtic this season, which is why he has emerged as an undroppable player for Rodgers in key games and has proven his doubters from the start of the year wrong.

Wolves are still searching for their first win of the season, currently sitting rock bottom of the Premier League, having only earned one point so far in a handful of matches played.

Their one point came in a 1-1 draw to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, and their run of games isn’t going to get any easier, with Gary O’Neil’s side set to face Liverpool next.

Wolves have conceded the joint highest number of goals after five games, conceding 14 goals, and have only scored five. O’Neil’s men have given up on average 14.2 shots per game (the ninth worst in the division), and their defensive record will have to improve if they want to stay up.

Sadly, that is unlikely to improve after a blow to Yerson Mosquera.

Yerson Mosquera's injury blow

Wolves have confirmed Yerson Mosquera’s injury is a serious one, after being stretched off in the second half of their 3-1 loss to Aston Villa at the weekend.

Phil Hayward, Wolves’ head of high performance confirmed injuries to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Mosquera is set to undergo surgery in the next two weeks and will face a long time on the sidelines, with Hayward saying it is unlikely the 23-year-old will feature again this season.

The Colombian defender started all five of their Premier League games this campaign, playing 442 minutes, and trying to replace him will be a tough task for O’Neil, especially as pressure is already building, with Wolves sitting bottom of the Premier League.

A potential Mosquera replacement

In order for Wolves to address this issue, one option would be to look at the free agents available with one potential option that of James Tomkins, once of West Ham and Crystal Palace.

However, it just so happens that an ex-Premier League defender, once dubbed as “world-class” by Jürgen Klopp, is available, in the shape of Joel Matip. He certainly represents a much more convincing option than Tomkins.

The 33-year-old made 201 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 11 goals, providing six assists, and totaling 16,190 minutes played. Matip could be the perfect option for Wolves, to add experience at the back, and replace Mosquera on a short-term basis this season.

Passes Attempted

69.2

49.0

Pass Completion %

89.0%

85.4%

Progressive Carries

1.02

0.00

Progressive Passes

4.63

1.43

Passes into Final Third

3.06

3.27

Tackles

1.11

2.24

Blocks

1.76

2.65

Interceptions

1.19

2.04

Aerials Won

3.15

2.24

Matip would help to replace the towering Mosquera, who stands at 6 foot 2, and wins 2.24 aerials per 90. Matip stands at 6 foot 5, winning 3.15 aerials per 90, and adds a real physical presence, paired with a high understanding of the game, allowing him to be in the right place at the right time.

The 33-year-old would also add extra ball progression, via both carrying and passing. Having played in a top Liverpool side, the Cameroon centre-back is very composed on the ball and will look to break the lines, getting the ball into the feet of Wolves best players, and allowing them to shine.

Matip could be the perfect replacement for Mosquera, helping to solve their defensive issues, by adding extra experience at the back, leadership, and even a set piece threat with his colossal frame.

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