All posts by z3u9t.icu

Glasgow Rangers have now won all three of their games since returning from the international break, scoring six goals while failing to concede during that spell.

Philippe Clement will be pleased with these results, and the display against Malmö was one of, if not the best, of the season so far.

Summer signings Nedim Bajrami and Neraysho Kasanwirjo were given their full debuts for the Light Blues, with both new arrivals shining for the Gers during the game.

It was Bajrami who impressed the most, scoring after just 55 seconds to give the club an early lead and went from strength to strength throughout the 90 minutes.

Nedim Bajrami’s game in numbers vs Malmö

The Albanian slotted into a slot on the left-wing during the Europa League win. Aside from his goal within the first minute, the 25-year-old offered a wonderful attacking threat in the final third.

Throughout his time on the field, Bajrami made four key passes, created four big chances and attempted two dribbles, proving that he was the man to make things happen for the Light Blues in Sweden.

He is clearly the player Clement needed to add some dynamism into his side and the former Sassuolo gem could be a wonderful signing.

This creativity could perhaps be better utilised in a number ten role against Hibs this afternoon. This could see Clement deploy another one of his summer signings in a slightly new role on the left flank…

The player who could start on the left vs Hibs

Jefte has been excellent during the embryonic stages of his spell in Scotland, playing seven matches already, although he was suspended in midweek.

Against Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League qualifiers, the young Brazilian played slightly further forward, which means Clement shouldn’t have any qualms about utilising him on the left wing domestically.

In the Premiership this term, the youngster has succeeded with 1.7 dribbles per game – a success rate of 71% – along with winning over 50% of his total duels. It is his attacking qualities which will be of greater use to Clement against the Easter Road side this weekend, however.

Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson hailed the Brazilian amid the links during the summer transfer window, saying: “Jefté looks like he will be a quality attacking threat. He’s tall and quick while still remaining agile on the ball.

Assists

0

Key passes per game

0.3

Successful dribbles per game

1.7

Total duels won per game

5.7

Possession lost per game

15

Tackles per game

1.7

“He always looks to drive at the opposition defence and is comfortable going outside or cutting inside. He’s also not afraid of having a pop at goal and has a thunderous strike in his arsenal.”

In his first couple of months in Scotland, he has settled in fairly well, giving Clement a solid option on the left side of the pitch.

With Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo injured, it opens up a space for the 20-year-old on the wing, and it could prove to be a chance for him to showcase his attacking qualities even more.

GvB wanted "special" star at Rangers, now he's worth £37m more than Jefte

The former Light Blues manager had the impressive defender on his “list” at Ibrox.

ByDan Emery Sep 25, 2024

Newcastle United had a curious summer transfer window in 2024.

They made five signings, although two of those were free transfers, namely experienced goalkeeper John Ruddy and defender Lloyd Kelly. On top of that, the signing of Lewis Hall was an obligatory agreement with Chelsea, following clauses met in his loan contract from the 2023/24 campaign.

The two other signings made by the Magpies were Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos and exciting young centre-forward William Osula, whom they acquired from Sheffield United.

Whilst the Magpies did not exactly spend big, compared to previous windows since the Saudi takeover, they have been linked with a big addition in the summer of 2025.

Newcastle target Premier League attacker

The player in question here is Crystal Palace and England international attacker Eberechi Eze. The 26-year-old, who is a crucial player for the Eagles, and made England’s squad for Euro 2024, was linked with a move away from Selhurst Park in 2024, but that did not materialise.

However, according to Football Insider over the weekend, Newcastle are among the clubs interested in prising the Palace star away from London.

Newcastle will not be alone in their quest to sign Eze next summer. The North East outfit are likely to go up against two longstanding Premier League rivals for Eze’s signature with the report noting that Tottenham and Liverpool want him too.

The England international had a £68m release clause in his contract in his contract over the summer which is inactive at the moment but can be activated again in the summer of 2025. That would see Eze become the Magpies’ all-time record signing, beating that of Alexander Isak in 2022, who cost £63m.

Why Eze would be a good signing

The 26-year-old attacking midfielder has been superb for the Eagles during his time at the club. He has so far played 133 times for the South London outfit, scoring 29 times and grabbing 18 assists.

The former QPR man was particularly excellent last season, scoring 11 goals and posting four assists in 27 Premier League games. This term, he has one goal in the first seven games, as well as two in the Carabao Cup to go along with an assist.

He was described as a “superstar” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, who explained that he thinks Eze thrives with less responsibility. He would certainly not be shackled by such an issue in a team that includes the likes of Isak and Anthony Gordon, to name two of the Magpies’ attacking options.

One player who the Eagles’ number 10 could replace in the Newcastle squad is Miguel Almiron. The Paraguayan was in talks to leave St James’ Park last season according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, but ended up remaining at the club. He since has just 30 minutes in the Premier League under his belt this term.

There is no doubt that the signing of Eze would be an upgrade on Almiron, and that is something that is backed up by the stats, courtesy of Squawka. Last term in the Premier League, the England international outperformed the Newcastle number 24 in several key metrics.

Last term, he averaged 2.4 chances created per 90 minutes, compared to just 1.1 from the Paraguay attacker. Not only that, Eze played slightly more forward passes than Almiron, with 8.3 each game, as opposed to 8.1 from the Newcastle man.

Take-ons completed

3.1

1.1

Take-on completion rate

51.88%

51.11%

Through balls

0.4

0.3

Forward passes

8.3

8.1

Chances created

2.4

1.1

Eze is a spellbinding dribbler, who is a master in tight spaces. He is superb at using his quick feet to evade pressure and ride tackles. Last term, he completed 3.1 take-ons per game, with the Newcastle winger far less, just 1.1 each match.

There is little doubt that the Crystal Palace superstar would be an upgrade on Almiron. Whilst £68m is a steep fee, he would improve the side and the Saudi PIF did not exactly spend heavily at St James’ Park in 2024.

There is certainly scope for such a signing, and Eze would be a brilliant way to upgrade the side as Howe looks to guide Newcastle back to Europe.

Worse than Gordon: Newcastle star who lost the ball 13x let his team down

Newcastle United had to settle for a 0-0 draw away at Everton after Anthony Gordon’s costly penalty miss.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 6, 2024

Crystal Palace had an excellent end to their 2023/24 campaign, finishing tenth in the Premier League, with Oliver Glasner taking over on February 19th, and leading the Eagles on a late charge for the top half, winning six of their final seven Premier League games of the campaign.

On the contrary, this season, Palace are winless in their opening seven games, leaving them on just three points in 18th place. The Eagles have only managed to score five goals in seven games, the second fewest in the division whilst conceding ten times.

Their struggles to create and score chances could have a direct link to the loss of Michael Olise, who left to join Bayern Munich for £50.8m this summer, after making 19 appearances last season, scoring ten goals and providing six assists in 1,278 minutes played for the club.

Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise at Palace

With 16 goals and assists coming from Olise last season, Eberechi Eze also provided a fair wedge, making 31 appearances in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists in 2,285 minutes. The England international joined Palace back in 2020 for a fee of around £16m from QPR and has gone from strength to strength since.

Indeed, the 26-year-old is now valued at a whopping £50m by Transfermarkt, similar to the fee Olise was sold for. Both were seen as jewels in the crown for that Palace side and losing one of them has had direct repercussions on their chance creation this season so far.

You can see the sort of numbers Palace have lost between last season and this season, with significant progressive numbers, shot volume, creative passes (key passes and xAG), and shot-creating actions.

Goals

0.43

0.70

Assists

0.24

0.42

xG

0.40

0.39

xAG

0.23

0.41

Progressive Carries

2.98

4.79

Progressive Passes

4.08

5.49

Shots Total

3.56

3.94

Key Passes

2.37

2.54

Shot-Creating Actions

4.82

5.77

Successful Take-Ons

3.03

2.82

Whilst Eze still provides high levels of these metrics, the numbers Olise offered alongside him have clearly been missed. Just look at how many metrics the Frenchman was better in.

It’s just as well they were able to keep not just Eze, but another star player at Selhurst Park. Glasner’s men might well be even worse off without them.

Marc Guehi's rise

One of the biggest positives for Palace this summer was holding onto star defender, Marc Guehi, who was linked with a move away during and after the European Championships in Germany.

Newcastle were the main club that made advances, with Palace turning down multiple bids from the North East club, the most notable being a £65m plus £5m offer.

Guehi was signed from Chelsea by the Eagles back in 2021 for a fee that could reach £20m. He was Patrick Vieira’s third Palace signing and went on to be quite a success at the club. The 24-year-old has made 120 appearances for Palace, scoring six goals and providing two assists in his 10,427 minutes played.

The England international has gone on to captain the side in the absence of club captain, Joel Ward, becoming an ever-present and crucial piece of the Palace puzzle.

Clearly now valued at beyond even £65m, £15m more than Olise was allowed to leave for, and the supposed fee it would take to get Eze out of the club, they have clearly struck gold with this move. It’s certainly one of Steve Parish’s best pieces of investment.

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?

Wolverhampton Wanderers will consider themselves extremely unfortunate to not at least get one point against Manchester City, after the Citezens scored in the 95th minute to steal all three points, winning the game 2-1.

Jorgen Strand Larsen gave Wolves the lead after just seven minutes, before Josko Gvardiol fired one in from outside the box, to make it 1-1 in the 33rd minute.

City then scored in the last minutes of the game, with John Stones scoring to secure all three points for the away side, as they remain second in the division.

Gary O’Neil’s side have now lost six games in a row in all competitions, five of them being in the Premier League, and the manager could find himself in trouble, with Brighton up next, as Wolves sit rock bottom on one point.

Larsen's performance against Man City

The 24-year-old was the Wolves goalscorer, putting them 1-0 up after just seven minutes. Larsen has now made nine appearances for Wolves this season in all competitions, scoring three goals, and providing two assists.

Larsen scored with his only shot of the game, having just 19 touches, making 4/8 accurate passes (50%), losing all seven of his duels (ground and aerial), and losing possession seven times.

He took his goal well, arriving in the right place, at the right time, to tap it home. However, one of Wolves’ other forwards was more impressive, despite only getting a 6/10 match rating from MolineuxNews.

Matheus Cunha's performance against Man City

Matheus Cunha only played 67 minutes, completing 1/2 successful dribbles, 1/1 crosses, 1/1 long balls, making one key pass, creating one big chance, and winning 4/8 of his ground duels.

The 25-year-old, who was described as “phenomenal” by Max Kilman in January this year, has made nine appearances for Wolves so far this season, scoring three goals in his 637 minutes played so far. This is coming off the back of an impressive 2023/24 campaign, where he made 36 appearances, scoring 14 goals, providing eight assists, and totaling 2,772 minutes played.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Cunha

Larsen

Goals

0

1

Assists

0

0

Touches

25

19

Shots

1

1

Dribble Attempts

1/2

0/0

Accurate Passes

10/11

4/8

Key Passes

1

0

Long Balls

1/1

0/2

Crosses

1/1

0/0

Ground Duels Won

4/8

0/2

It is important to note these players had different roles in the game, Larsen being 6ft 4, his job was to pin the City defenders, look to be a threat in the box, contest aerial duels, and be an outlet.

Cunha, on the other hand, is more involved in all round play, dropping in to help Wolves get out, carrying it forward, looking to create for himself and others, as well as putting in a shift defensively.

Perhaps the decision from O’Neil to take Cunha off after 67 minutes was the wrong one, as he was clearly putting himself about in midfield, winning a fair number of his duels, and then helping the team to get out whether that was with his carrying or passing qualities.

Aston Villa’s momentum in the Premier League stalled once more following a frustrating 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Unai Emery’s side had won three of their last five before the clash with the Cherries, with the result at Villa Park their third draw in four games.

It was a disappointing performance overall for the Midlands outfit, who are normally dominant at home. However, it was not made easy by Andoni Iraola’s side, who were kept in the game thanks to a fantastic performance from goalkeeper Mark Travers.

John McGinn thought he gave his side the lead in the first 45 minutes. However, the goal was ruled out after it was deemed Ollie Watkins did not manage to keep the ball in play. Finally, with 76 minutes on the clock, half-time substitute Ross Barkley broke the deadlock, scrambling the ball over the line after Leon Bailey heeded a cross down.

The late drama did not stop there. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Brazilian forward Evanilson found himself unmarked in the Villa box, heading Marcus Tavernier’s free-kick home to snatch a point for the Cherries.

Although it was a disappointing performance from the Villans, there were still some standout performances throughout the game.

Villa’s best performers vs. Bournemouth

As has been the case for much of the 2024/25 campaign, Youri Tielemans was a standout player for Emery’s side on Saturday afternoon. The 27-year-old was given an impressive 8/10 rating for his work against the Cherries by John Townley, Villa correspondent for Birmingham Live.

As per Sofascore, his stats also suggest he performed well against Bournemouth. The Villa number eight had 91 touches in the middle of the park, and worked well in and out of possession, winning three duels and creating two chances.

Villans goalkeeper Emi Martinez was another player who stood out on Saturday afternoon. The World Cup winner received a 7/10 rating from Townely, who praised him for ‘excellent’ distribution and some ‘smart saves’ he pulled off.

The Argentina number one had some eye-catching stats from the game, too. He had 60 touches of the ball, making two saves and completing three high claims. Martinez also had a 76% pass accuracy and completed five long balls.

As good as the likes of Tielemans and the Villa goalkeeper were against Bournemouth, there were also some disappointing performances from players in Claret and Blue. One of the players who struggled was Amadou Onana.

Chalkboard

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

Onana’s stats vs. Bournemouth

After his major £50m move from Everton to Villa over the summer, Belgian international Onana has looked like a particularly smart signing. He has made eight appearances in the Premier League, starting each one, and has scored twice.

Thus, an off-day against Iraola’s side might be surprising given how he has performed so far this season. The 23-year-old certainly looked out of sorts, struggling to get into the game and surprisingly losing key duels in the midfield. He was subsequently taken off for goalscorer Barkley at half-time.

His stats reflect just how tough of an afternoon it was for the Villa number 24. Onana managed just 42 touches, almost 20 fewer than Martinez. He lost possession five times and won just two of his four attempted ground duels.

Touches

42

Pass accuracy

88%

Passes completed

28/32

Number of times possession lost

5

Ground duels won

2/4

Fouls committed

1

Big chances missed

1

Indeed, the Belgian midfielder received a rating of just 6/10 from the aforementioned Townely. He explained that the early yellow card he picked up, after just four minutes, could have contributed to his substitution at half-time.

With the Villans set for a Carabao Cup meeting against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, before a tough trip to Tottenham Hotspur next weekend, Emery might well decide to rotate Onana out of the side.

Not only would this allow for rotation and minutes in the legs of other players, but could also allow the Belgian to start from the bench and find his best form with a busy Christmas period coming up.

Sold under Sherwood: Aston Villa's "beast" is now outscoring Messi in MLS

Aston Villa sold a player in 2015 who is now scoring more than Lionel Messi…

ByRoss Kilvington Oct 25, 2024

Chelsea are now big admirers of a “complete player”, having watched him closely this season, according to a report.

Chelsea transfer news

The Blues have become known for their activity in the transfer market since the arrival of Todd Boehly, however, there are now signs those days could be coming to an end. Journalist Guillem Balague reports that Enzo Maresca wants two players for every position, and with that now in place, the head coach does not envisage signing more than two or three players in each transfer window.

Balague also states that Maresca is allowed to sign any player he wants, as long as they are under the age of 24 and willing to commit to the long-term project at Stamford Bridge.

As such, we continue to see reports linking Chelsea with a number of young players, including Sporting CP starlet Geovany Quenda, who has a whole host of admirers in the Premier League.

The Blues have also made an approach to sign fellow Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande, indicating that Maresca is still keen to bolster his defensive options, and a new report has now detailed another option in mind.

According to The Boot Room, the west London club are big admirers of Gent left-back Archie Brown and have continued to watch him this season, with the Englishman also capable of playing at centre-back and left midfield.

Interest in Brown is said to be growing, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Brentford and Fulham all watching him closely this season. As such, there could be a huge battle for the 22-year-old’s signature, but current employers Gent could be in a strong negotiating position, given that his contract is not set to expire until the summer of 2027.

Chelsea now battling Real Madrid to sign "excellent" Fernandez replacement

He’s impressed in Italy.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 10, 2024 Chelsea's left-back options

Marc Cucurella remains Maresca’s first-choice option at left-back, starting the majority of games there this season, however, Maresca has also deployed captain Reece James in that area on occasion.

Ben Chilwell is also available but could leave Chelsea in January. The Blues appear to have a plethora of options, although both Chilwell and James have had their fair share of injuries over the past few years. As such, it may be wise for Maresca to bring in an additional reinforcement at left-back, and Brown could fit the bill, given that he is at the right age to be a part of the long-term Chelsea project, and he has impressed considerably with Gent.

Maresca is known for his attacking style of play, so it is important that his full-backs are capable of being a threat higher up the pitch, and the Gent star clearly is, given that he ranks in the 99th percentile for progressive dribbling carries per 90 over the past year.

Not only that, but the Englishman’s all-round game is clearly impressive too, given that Gent’s former head of recruitment, Samuel Cardenas, described him as a “complete player” and a “solid defender”. With that in mind, Brown could be a shrewd signing for Chelsea this January.

Sunderland will know that their lightning-quick start out of the blocks in the Championship this season isn’t without its negatives, as well as obviously conjuring up many glaring positives.

A whole host of Premier League suitors are no doubt casting an eye over many of the top talents that are excelling at the Stadium of Light currently, with Regis Le Bris’ men not fluking their position at the top of the league whatsoever.

The likes of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg – to name just a few from the table-topping group the Frenchman works with – could be on the move this January, as Sunderland already begin to brace themselves for a nerve-wracking start to 2025.

Possible Sunderland departures in January

Bellingham and Rigg were linked with moves away from Wearside even when their side were struggling last campaign, so it’s not a great shock to see them being both lined up for bumper switches away now that Sunderland are sat at the top of the second tier.

The 19-year-old ace – who amassed seven goals last season during his debut campaign at the club – is being touted to potentially move on in January for around the £21m mark, with Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur one named admirer of the raw gem.

Rigg could blow that £21m out of water, despite only being 17 years of age himself, with a fee stretching to £30m reportedly put above the homegrown teenager’s head in preparation of the window swinging back open.

He does have three goals next to his name in league action, but that mammoth figure could be seen as a gamble to take on the end of whatever club does gain Rigg’s services down the line.

There is also another standout performer for Le Bris’ promotion-chasers that could soon be on the move, after bouncing back in style from recurring injury issues.

Dennis Cirkin's value in 2024

Picked up for £1m from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2021, Dennis Cirkin has consistently excited those with Black Cats loyalties ever since joining, when he hasn’t been in the Stadium of Light treatment room.

When he has been injury-free, the 22-year-old has been a joy to watch, with seven goals and five assists coming his way from 97 appearances, with his output this campaign raising a lot of smiles on Wearside.

Season

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

24/25

15

2

1

23/24

8

0

1

22/23

28

5

1

21/22

41

0

2

Cirkin is nearly at double the games he managed all of last season this campaign to date – as the young full-back has missed 234 days of Sunderland action in total as a result of injuries – with three goal contributions also coming his way as an attack-minded option down the left.

He also has picked up nine clean sheets from those 15 league clashes, more than living up to the “fantastic” billing once given to him by ex-Sunderland boss Lee Johnson during the infancy of his Black Cats playing days.

This outrageous solo strike against Coventry City earlier this month will have only intensified interest in the daring full-back this coming January, with Leeds United already named as one party keeping tabs on the 22-year-old.

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?

A bid in the region of £6m could be enough to steal him from Le Bris’ group when the window reopens, with this being the figure Tottenham once had as a possible buy-back clause option, according to reports.

Taking into account the £1m he was originally purchased for, and this £6m figure, Cirkin – who has been described as “eye-catching” by pundit Sam Parkin – has seen his value increase by 500% at the Stadium of Light.

If Sunderland can fend off interest in January, which is plausible considering Cirkin’s current employers are top of the division, they could possibly get far more than the touted £6m in the future, considering the likes of Bellingham and Rigg are projected to go for way more.

Before the anxiety of transfers take over, Sunderland will just look to strengthen their grip on top spot, with a trip to Millwall up next in the second tier after the international break ends.

Sunderland have struck gold on star who could be sold for more than Clarke

Sunderland will hope they can keep a firm grip on this star in January.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 12, 2024

It might be too early to say with any certainty, but it’s starting to look like Arsenal are getting back to their best.

Mikel Arteta’s side were in dreadful form before the international break, not winning any of their four Premier League games, but have now won back-to-back games for the first time in almost two months.

The North Londoners put in a stellar performance to beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 last weekend and then did even better to smash the impressive Sporting CP on Tuesday night.

Sporting CP (A)

5-1 (W)

Nottingham Forest (H)

3-0 (W)

Chelsea (A)

1-1 (D)

Inter Milan (A)

1-0 (L)

Newcastle United (A)

1-0 (L)

However, this afternoon brings with it a fresh challenge in a West Ham United side who beat Newcastle United at St James Park last time out, and if Arteta wants to stop the incredible £100m-rated Jarrod Bowen, he must start someone who shone in Europe.

Arsenal's star performers

So, before getting to the player in question, let’s look at some of those who stood out for Arsenal on Tuesday night, starting poster boy Bukayo Saka.

The Englishman provided an assist for Kai Havertz in the first half and then picked up a goal of his own from the penalty spot at a moment when the Lisbon-based outfit threatened to get back into the game.

However, he wasn’t the only winger who looked good on the night, as Gabriel Martinelli reminded fans and pundits alike just how effective he can be by scoring the opening goal of the game, which also happened to be his fourth of the campaign.

Likewise, club captain Martin Odegaard showed for the second game running how much better the team are with him at the heart of everything.

The Norwegian superstar won the penalty that Saka converted, but he did so much more than that, as his close control and general footballing intelligence were vital in allowing the team to launch attack after attack throughout the 90 minutes.

With all that said, it wasn’t just a night for the attackers, as one of Arteta’s summer signings demonstrated just why he has to start every game he’s fit for, and why he’s the ideal player to bully Bowen this afternoon.

The Arsenal star who has to start against West Ham

So, with a plethora of defenders to choose from, especially on the left, Arteta has to make the right one if he wants to stop the talented Bowen this afternoon, and that would be Riccardo Calafiori.

The Italian international joined the club for a whopping £42m in the summer but has endured something of a stop-start beginning to his Arsenal career due to a few injuries he’s picked up since moving to England.

However, when he’s been fit, the former Bologna star has been simply sublime, both in his ability to maraud up the pitch “like a wild horse on the loose,” as journalist Sam Dean puts it, and in his ability to drop back and do the defensive side of the job.

Pass Completion

88.6%

Top 2%

Aerials Won

2.26

Top 2%

Interceptions

1.60

Top 7%

Assists

0.19

Top 11%

Non-Penalty Goals

0.12

Top 12%

Passes Attempted

64.99

Top 14%

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.08

Top 15%

Clearances

2.96

Top 19%

We can see this duality in the 22-year-old’s game best when looking at his underlying numbers, as according to FBref, he sits in the top 2% of full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion and aerial duels won, the top 7% for interceptions, the top 11% for assists, the top 12% for non-penalty goals and more, all per 90.

Moreover, this, combined with the fact that he stands at 6 foot 2 and is seemingly unfazed by the pressure, is why he has to go against Bowen this afternoon, as he has all the skill required to lock the Englishman down while posing a real attacking threat himself.

In fact, his ability to hurtle down the byline should help him keep a handle on the former Hull City ace as well, as he’ll have to think about tracking back more often than if it was Jakub Kiwior there, for example, or even Oleksandr Zinchenko who cannot pose the same physical threat.

Ultimately, Arsenal will be favourites heading into the game at the London Stadium, and rightly so, but if Arteta wants to give his team the best chance of claiming all three points, he must start Calafiori.

Arsenal in talks to sign exciting PL star who could be Declan Rice 2.0

The incredible talent would help future-proof Arsenal’s midfield.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 28, 2024

Everton manager Sean Dyche is now open to the idea of selling a “fantastic” Toffees player in the January window, according to a fresh transfer update.

Everton manager & transfer news

After a promising spell earlier in the season saw Everton find some form as they responded to an awful start to the campaign, they have gone backwards again in recent weeks.

Admittedly, the back-to-back goalless draws away to West Ham and at home to Brentford aren’t disastrous results, but they were dull performances, with Dyche’s men unable to break down 10 men for much of the game in the latter. For that reason, the manager is under increasing pressure to keep his job, even though it looks like his position is safe for the time being.

Everton also continue to be linked with new signings to bolster their squad, with former Liverpool midfielder Arthur Melo seen as a potential option to bring in. He is currently at Juventus, but could be eager to seal a move away to enjoy more regular playing time.

Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante is also reportedly being looked at by the Blues, with additions needed in the middle of the park. He has started 11 Serie A games this season, averaging 2 aerial duel wins and 1.5 tackles per game in the competition this season.

Everton willing to sell "fantastic" player

According to AS Roma Live, Everton and Dyche could be willing to sell Dominic Calvert-Lewin in January, seeing him as an expendable figure at this point in his Toffees career. Serie A giants Juventus are named as a potential suitor for the striker.

Allowing the 27-year-old to leave would generate transfer funds for new signings, with the Englishman likely to be of interest to plenty of clubs.

Everton fans may be split about his situation, with some still seeing the £100,000-a-week star as an important player and their best attacker, while will say he is past his best and injury-prone.

Calvert-Lewin made himself a hero during last season’s memorable 2-0 win at home to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, with Danny Murphy hailing his goal against their rivals:

“He gets the rewards of his great performance, yes why is he on the back post? Where is Van Dijk? Why is Trent not blocking him? A man of his quality in the air, it’s a fantastic leap, but you can’t be free.”

Injuries haven’t been as much of an issue for Calvert-Lewin this season, but he has struggled to make an impact in the final third, scoring only 2 goals in 12 Premier League starts.

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He is out of contract at the end of this season, so Everton know that January will be the last chance to earn a fee for the attacker, meaning that selling him midway through the season may be the best outcome, assuming they can bring in an excellent replacement.

Chelsea are flying right now, claiming a fourth successive Premier League victory on Sunday afternoon, fighting back from 2-0 down to defeat fierce rivals Spurs 4-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Jadon Sancho and Enzo Fernández both pulled off long-range strikes, while Cole Palmer converted a pair of second-half penalties, the second of which was an audacious, impudent Panenka.

This means Palmer has now converted 12 out of 12 spot-kicks in the Premier League, the most any player has taken without ever missing one, surpassing the previous record held by Yaya Touré, and that wasn’t a bad way to do it, was it?

This victory lifts Enzo Maresca’s team clear of both Arsenal and Manchester City, now very much Liverpool’s nearest-challengers, just four points adrift the league-leaders, albeit the Reds have a game in hand.

Given that the Blues’ next seven opponents are Brentford, Everton, Fulham, Ipswich, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Wolves, they’re likely to hang around the title conversation a little while longer yet.

Chelsea star wanted by Europe's elite

Following Sunday’s game, Jamie Carragher stated on Sky Sports that he believes Palmer has been the best-performing player in the Premier League since the start of last season.

Well, based on these statistics, it’s hard to dispute that claim.

Palmer

33

17

50

Mohamed Salah

31

18

49

Erling Haaland

40

5

45

Ollie Watkins

26

16

42

Bukayo Saka

21

19

40

Son Heung-min

21

14

35

Alexander Isak

27

5

31

As shown by this table, just seven players have accumulated 30+ goals and assists in the Premier League since the start of last season, with Palmer’s brace at Tottenham meaning he has had more direct goal involvement than any other player during this time-frame, one more than Mohamed Salah, albeit having made three more appearances.

The English star’s phenomenal form is not going unnoticed because, as claims from Spain suggest in recent days, Real Madrid are interested in signing the Englishman, with president Florentino Pérez allegedly admiring his ‘qualities and potential to become a global icon’.

The Blues signed Palmer for £42.5m, which now appears to be an absolute bargain, with CIES Football Observatory believing his value has more than doubled in 18 months, stating he is worth around £96m, which is probably a conservative estimate.

Having signed a further two-year extension in August, Palmer is now contracted to Chelsea until 2033, meaning he would not come cheap, with the aforementioned report acknowledging that ‘the player’s price tag would be a major obstacle’.

An Eden Hazard repeat for Chelsea

Historically, Real Madrid do seem to have a habit when it comes to poaching the Premier League’s premier talent; David Beckham (2003), Cristiano Ronaldo (2009), Xabi Alonso (2009), Luka Modrić (2012) and Gareth Bale (2013) all spring to mind.

We’ve intentionally left Real Madrid’s all-time record signing off this list, because that may be a rather sensitive issue for Chelsea supporters given that, despite the countless number of Galácticos that have donned the famous all-white kit at the Bernabéu over the decades, Eden Hazard’s £88.5m move from Chelsea remains the most Los Blancos have ever paid for any player.

Fair to say, this transfer was not a success, given that the Belgian made only 76 appearances for Los Merengues, scoring a miserly seven goals, before unceremoniously retiring without a club at the age of 32 in October 2023.

Of course, should Real Madrid make a move for Palmer, they’d certainly be seeking to avoid a sense of déjà vu, but considering Palmer is just 22 years old, there’s minimal chance of this happening.

In more modern times, the Champions League specialists have shown a willingness to spend big on young talents: Aurélien Tchouaméni (£66m), Vinícius Júnior (£40m), and of course Jude Bellingham’s £88m move the clearest recent examples.

Nevertheless, the Spanish giants may be forced to break their all-time record fee should they wish to sign Chelsea’s star attacker, as they did five years ago.

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