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Arsenal ceded ground in the Premier League after drawing against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, though Mikel Arteta will be elated by his side's comeback from two goals down.

Despite toiling for much of the first half, the Gunners flaunted their title-winning credentials with a sensational late fightback, and at this stage of the campaign, Arteta will indeed be far more impressed with the mentality than the squandering of the joint-top spot.

However, the tense affair was littered with several subpar displays, and there will undoubtedly be some post-match discussions regarding the poor performances, with Oleksandr Zinchenko at the epicentre.

How did Oleksandr Zinchenko play against Chelsea?

The Ukrainian dynamo has been an important figure at the Emirates Stadium since signing from Manchester City in a £32m deal in 2022, though against the Blues, he had an evening to forget.

Hooked at half-time, the 26-year-old's technical qualities had been completely negated by the electric pace of Raheem Sterling, with BBC Sports' Raj Chohan remarking at the England international's "immense" dribbling.

According to Sofascore, Zinchenko produced the worst match rating of the night (6.2) and picked up a yellow card for his travails, recorded to have been dribbled past and committed an error leading to a shot.

Having only won one ground duel too, it truly was an awkward and forgettable affair on an individual level, having also taken 33 touches but failed to demonstrate his passing skills with anything of note.

While the 57-cap international was the notable struggler, captain Martin Odegaard, so often the spark of ingenuity and inspiration in decisive matches, was a shadow of his former self, subdued in the middle of the pitch.

How did Martin Odegaard perform vs Chelsea?

Declan Rice stole the show once again with his talismanic role in orchestrating the comeback having fallen two goals down after the break, but Odegaard really did endure a tough night.

As per FBref, the Norwegian phenom ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, and the top 12% for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, but he failed to live up to such superlative metrics in a heated London derby.

The £240k-per-week machine only took 35 touches during his 78 minutes on the pitch despite Arsenal controlling the lion's share of possession; comparatively, Enzo Fernandez took 73 in the opposite squad.

Odegaard also lost the ball on ten occasions, highlighting just how wasteful he was in possession.

And while the former Real Madrid prospect made two key passes, he couldn't muster a shot nor succeed with his one attempted dribble, also winning just one duel on the night despite his central placement, leading journalist Sam Dean to remark how "off it" he was.

In his post-match ratings, football.london's Kaya Kaynak was displeased with the captain's contribution, writing: 'A bad day at the office for the Norwegian who struggled to ever really got on the ball. On the rare occasions that he did there was a distinct lack of quality.'

The 5 foot 10 Odegaard has been absolutely integral to the Gunners' ascendancy over the past several years, proving to be the squad's creative fulcrum and inspiring leader since receiving the captaincy in July 2022.

But there's no denying that he was off the boil in west London, and Arteta will look to swiftly stamp out any tincture of poor form to serve the squad in the fight for the gleaming Premier League trophy.

Football FanCast updates you with all the latest news surrounding EURO 2032.

As Germany prepares to host next year's European Championships, the focus will quickly turn to the following two tournaments and UEFA have today announced the winning hosts.

FFC will takes a detailed look at the 2032 host and their plans for the showpiece tournament.

Who is hosting EURO 2032?

Italy and Turkey will co-host EURO 2032, ending the Turkish Football Federation's five-time bid failure.

UEFA have rejected Turkey's last five attempts to host the European Championship, but with Italy joining forces, their sixth endeavour will finally bear fruit.

Italy, on the other hand, have hosted the showpiece event in recent times, staging four EURO 2020 fixtures, including the opening game between themselves and Turkey, ironically.

Interestingly, before the two federations teamed up to submit a joint bid, Turkey were thought to be leading the race to land the tournament.

Prior to the announcement, when speaking to Italian-based news outlet Gazzetta, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said: “Türkiye is a big competitor for Euro 2032 and is currently the favourite over Italy."

The reason is unclear as to why both nations ditched their individual attempts, particularly Turkey, who looked in good stead to have their bid accepted. Nevertheless, doing it this way removes any risk of missing out, and allows fans to experience two cultures.

Who was bidding to host EURO 2032?

Initially, Italy and Turkey were two separate bidders hoping to host EURO 2032.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) was planning to bid for EURO 2028, but decided against doing so, instead opting to submit their dossier for the 2032 edition to allow more time to redevelop facilities.

TFF's bid was planned for either EURO 2028 or 2032, however, UEFA confirmed that the TFF and the FIGC requested for their bids to be merged, leaving the UK and Ireland's 2028 proposal unopposed for the former, with Turkey unable to host both events.

Russia's proposed bid was declared ineligible by UEFA.

Italy: Which stadiums are potential EURO 2032 venues?

As part of the requirements to host EURO 2028 (which presumably are the same as 2032), nations must have a minimum of one stadium with a net seating capacity of at least 60,000, one (preferably two) with at least 50,000, four stadiums with at least 40,000 and three stadiums with at least 30,000.

As such, the potential venues in Italy are:

Stadium

Capacity

San Siro

75,817

Stadio Olimpico

70,634

Stadio San Nicola

58,270

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

54,726

Stadio Artemio Franchi

43,147

Juventus Stadium

41,507

Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi

39,371

Stadio Renato Dall'Ara

38,371

Stadio Luigi Ferraris

36,205

Unipol Stadium

25,000 expandable to 30,000

The average capacity across the 10 stadiums stands at 44,458.

Turkey: Which stadiums are potential EURO 2032 venues?

The potential venues in Turkey are:

Stadium

Capacity

Atatürk Olympic Stadium

74,753

Nef Stadium

53,611

Ülker Stadium

47,834

19 Mayis Stadium

45,000

Bursa Metropolitan Stadium

43,331

Konya Büyüksehir Arena

42,000

Senol Gunes Sports Complex

40,782

Conerdon Airlines Park

32,537

Kalyon Stadium

33,502

Atatürk Stadium

32,500

The average stadium capacity stands at 44,585, which is almost identical to that of Italy.

UEFA will select 10 stadiums, five per country, to stage EURO 2032. They have confirmed this process will conclude by October 2026.

What are the positives of Italy & Turkey hosting?

As previously mentioned, this was the Turkish Football Federation's (TFF) sixth consecutive attempt to host a European Championship.

That in itself shows the federation's continued hunger and desire to deliver a premier tournament. Additionally, the experience gained from each process will no doubt have been beneficial in their planning, with years of careful due diligence already conducted.

Sports Minister Muharrem Kasapoglu – prior to the announcement – said Turkey's facilities and infrastructure could add value to the tournament.

"The quality of our facilities, infrastructure, accommodation, young population.

"When you put it all together, we can say that our country shines like a star and is one of the most important sports destinations in the world. I think that Türkiye can add important value to Euro 2028 and Euro 2032.

"By becoming a candidate for the fifth time in a row to organize Europe’s biggest tournament at the national team level, our federation has once again shown its determination to the entire world.

"We have always prided ourselves on our modern stadiums and facilities, the passion for football in our country and our high level of organization," Kasapoglu said.

Turkey have also hosted multiple European finals, including last season's Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.

Whilst there were negative experiences faced by fans at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, it's worth considering that there will be key lessons learned from the organisers, which can be put in place ahead of 2032 to avoid a recurrence of any issues raised.

Meanwhile, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina believes Italy and Turkey's joint bid promotes the values of friendship.

"In addition to bringing two consolidated entities in the European football scene closer together, this project promotes the values of friendship and cooperation, involving two worlds characterised by deep historical roots and two cultures which, over the millennia, have mutually influenced each other, helping to shape the history of Mediterranean Europe in the process.

"Football aims to be a gateway for sharing the passions and emotions related to sport," Gravina said.

Having two host nations also presents fans with the opportunity to experience two different countries, along with their respective cultures and communities, further promoting a diverse tournament.

Both nations are rich in footballing history and have tremendously passionate fans, which will be beneficial in creating a captivating atmosphere.

What are the drawbacks of Italy & Turkey's hosting?

Last month's Champions League final in Istanbul exposed several flaws that will need addressing ahead of the European Championships in 2032.

The NGTC Group, who are experts in crowd management, released a report citing the many problems match goers faced leading up to, during and after the match.

Firstly, some of the supporters were reportedly left waiting for up to three hours in the midday sun for their transport to the stadium. When able to board the shuttle buses, they were overcrowded, with poor air conditioning and no available toilets.

The journey was initially expected to take an hour but stretched up to two and a half hours, to much of the fans' frustration.

Further, there were some complaints regarding the fan park, with issues relating to catering, toilets and seats for the less-able. The stadium also had sharp edges around the rim of the seating, which caused injury for some.

Following the match, many who were returning to the buses discovered unstable rubble walkways, lack of lighting and absent staff members, causing confusion and distress.

The NGTC closed their report with a few areas to focus on, ahead of the next major event held at the stadium:

"Ensuring adequate transport facilities, equipping fan parks with sufficient amenities, and maintaining ethical conduct among all staff members are some of the crucial areas to focus on. Perhaps most importantly, a dedicated and well-qualified security team."

Italy, on the other hand, have a great deal of renovating work to do on their stadia ahead of 2032, as most of their proposed venues fail to meet UEFA's criteria.

The governing bodies President Ceferin claims none of the stadiums are fit for purpose to even host the Champions League final.

Speaking to Italian-based news outlet Gazzetta, Ceferin said: "At the moment, there is not even a stadium in Italy that can host the Champions League final. This is something incredible. The UEFA needs more stadium guarantee."

It shouldn't, however, be an issue by the time the tournament comes around, as the FIGC do intend to redevelop much of the proposed venues. Across the 10 possible stadiums named, six are expected to undergo renovation.

The final drawback of the joint bid is travel. With two countries scheduled to host the event, it will mean fans will need to travel between countries, making it far more costly and inconvenient.

Further, the likely increase in flights between Turkey and Italy isn't exactly promoting an environmentally friendly tournament. The average flight time between the two nations is 3 hours and one minute, which is something worth noting.

As the international break brings domestic football to a standstill for the last time in 2023, Arsenal have the chance to revise their squad options in preparation for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign.

With it being 12 games into the Premier League season, Mikel Arteta’s side have shown a positive indication that they could fulfil another title charge, however injury woes of late have left the squad looking low on resources.

In the summer, four new faces arrived in north London in the bid to bolster the manager’s options for selection, after the lack of depth became a burden towards the end of the 2022/23 calendar, seeing Arsenal spend over £200m in the transfer market.

Another lucrative shopping spree won't be financially feasible, although further additions are needed when considering how low Arteta’s squad currently is on quality outside of the favoured XI.

One boost is that summer signing Jurrien Timber is set to return from injury within the first few months of 2024, with the Dutchman’s return set to feel like a new signing for the Gunners, who only got to enjoy 126 competitive minutes of their new arrival.

Jurrien Timber’s injury

In July, Arsenal confirmed the signing of the highly-rated Ajax defender, who arrived at the Emirates for a fee of £38m to bolster Arteta’s back line.

Signing the 22-year-old was an important capture for the north Londoners, who were hunting added versatility to the defence after benefitting from the positional successes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White during the 2022/23 campaign.

In Timber, the manager wasn’t just getting a new centre-back, the position he predominantly assumed in Amsterdam, but a highly flexible player with the ability to play on either flank in the back four, as well as being equipped to play in the favoured inverted role.

The 2001-born jewel seemed to fit in well to Arteta’s demands, playing fluidly in pre-season as well as shining in the Community Shield match-up against Manchester City at Wembley prior to the Premier League commencing – enjoying a 'good full debut', in the words of the Standard's Dom Smith.

Deployed at left-back, it looked as though Arsenal had found the perfect mix of Kieran Tierney’s defensive know-how and Zinchenko’s progressive expertise in Timber, however, the smiles surrounding his arrival were short-lived on the opening day of the Premier League season.

50 minutes into the Gunners’ clash with Nottingham Forest at the Emirates in August, the Netherlands international was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury, which was later revealed to be an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

It was suspected that the £38m acquisition would be out of action for around seven months, leaving Arteta back to squad one with his defensive options and without the quality that Timber had showcased in the opening moments of his career at Arsenal.

In October, journalist Chris Wheatley relayed that January could be a possible time for the Dutchman to ease into his return, with the knowledge that an injury as complex as an ACL rupture must be given the maximum time to recover, as per NowArsenal.

It was an agonising blow for the player just as it was for the Premier League outfit who had lost their new signing so early into the campaign, however his return could come at a perfect time for Arteta.

How Jurrien Timber could fit into Arsenal’s team

Prior to his injury, the boss highlighted that Timber’s pre-season performances showed that he is a “really versatile player”, adding that the 22-year-old can be used “in different positions” due to his vast range of ability.

As mentioned, the 5 foot 10 dynamo occupied the centre-back role for Ajax, and began life in north London as a full-back, with Arteta lauding the defender’s “capacity to invert and occupy different spaces”.

What’s interesting about the Utrecht-born star’s ability is that his return could have the potential to even bolster Arsenal’s midfield, an area of the pitch that has been starved of quality due to injury and lack of form so far in 2023/24.

As highlighted by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Timber’s attributes saw him endeavour in cameos in defensive midfield under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, opening a door to the possibility that he could return to such position during the Gunners’ time of need.

Mango dubbed the defender as a “smooth operator” for his approach to play in his homeland, also lauding him as one of the “most intelligent defenders in the game”, with his ability to pass through the lines making him a dangerous outlet from the back.

When studying the two-time Eredivisie winners’ statistics from the 2022/23 Eredivisie campaign, it’s interesting to note that FBref listed Edson Alvarez as one of the most statistically comparable centre-backs to Timber that season.

Alvarez similarly made the move to the Premier League in the summer, signing for West Ham United where he has since prevailed as a stellar defensive midfielder for David Moyes’ side, suggesting that his former teammate could do the same in England.

Jurrien Timber

Declan Rice

Granit Xhaka

Thomas Partey

91.6%

86.5%

84.7%

87.2%

8.62

6.60

5.89

8.37

2.38

2.42

1.26

1.23

1.40

2.17

1.02

2.54

1.25

1.73

0.45

1.01

9.78

6.41

4.45

8.37

90.62

68.06

56.86

82.17

As portrayed in the table above, the 22-year-old’s 2022/23 statistics support claims that he could be a valuable asset in the deeper areas of midfield for Arteta, when comparing his league stats to those of Arsenal’s defensive midfielders past and present, last season.

Timber’s ability and experience in playing the inverted role gives him a unique insight into playing in central areas more advanced than the back line, handing the manager another option in the engine room as the Gunners’ options continue to run weak.

Not only could the £38m capture’s return bolster the quality in the squad, but could also save the north Londoners millions by exploiting his resources in midfield, rather than spending big on reinforcements in such area.

While the date of Timber’s return remains uncertain, his return to the squad will be well celebrated by those at the Emirates, with a second shot to enjoy their summer signing when the 2023/24 campaign heats up.

Manchester United face a hectic run of fixtures before Christmas that could make or break their season depending on their success or failure in those matches.

The Old Trafford side have two vital Champions League ties against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray to come, while they also have to face Newcastle United, Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League.

If Erik ten Hag can get through this tough run, and it is a big if, it might just be the catalyst the club need to improve during the second half of the campaign and challenge for a top four spot in the table.

Having won just nine of the first 18 matches in the current season, Ten Hag may look to strengthen his faltering side during the January transfer window, especially as some of his players are attracting attention from elsewhere.

Casemiro is reportedly being targeted by clubs in Saudi Arabia according to 90min and this could leave a big void in the centre of United’s midfield.

The riches offered by the Middle East could tempt the Brazilian into making the move to Asia and this may mean Ten Hag delves into the transfer market.

Man Utd transfer news

While their midfield options could be lighter with Casemiro potentially departing, Ten Hag will also be keen on strengthening his defensive options ahead of the second half of the season.

The Red Devils have conceded 30 goals in just 18 matches this season already and something needs to be done to fix this leaky defence.

According to German outlet Bild (via TEAMtalk), United are keeping tabs on young French defender Castello Lukeba ahead of the January window with hopes of luring him to England.

The 20-year-old secured a move to RB Leipzig from Lyon in the summer, despite United showing interest in the youngster earlier this year.

Scouts from Old Trafford, according to the report, have been monitoring the centre-back this season, although a move might be deemed slightly unrealistic in the next few months given that he has only been in the Bundesliga since the summer.

He could emerge as a dream heir to Raphael Varane should he make the move to Manchester, especially as the former Real Madrid defender has been linked with a move away.

Raphael Varane’s future at Man Utd

At the beginning of November, TEAMtalk revealed that Varane was attracting attention from clubs in Saudi Arabia, and they were looking to make a move for the defender in January.

With just 18 months left on his current contract, the next transfer window could be the ideal time for Ten Hag to cash in on the 30-year-old and recoup a fee similar to the one they shelled out for him just over two years ago.

Having established himself as one of the finest centre-backs on the continent during his spell with Madrid, Varane has become more and more injury-prone since arriving in Manchester.

Indeed, since the beginning of the 2021/22 season, the Frenchman has missed 38 matches due a variety of injury issues and he as not quite been at his brilliant best, with his absences not allowing him to find his rhythm on the pitch.

This season, the 30-year-old has started just four Premier League matches while he fails to rank in the top ten in the squad for accurate passes per game in the league (30.4) along with ranking in the 15th spot for tackles per game (0.6) and 19th for interceptions per game, clearly proving that he has not been an outstanding contributor offensively or defensively.

Injury problems could be catching up with the French titan as, even when he is fit enough to feature, Varane has not been quite at the same level which saw him win four Champions League crowns with Madrid along with securing a World Cup winners medal for France in 2018.

By signing Lukeba, Ten Hag could unearth a natural heir to the United defender at the turn of the year.

Castello Lukeba’s career statistics

The young gem made his debut for Lyon during the 2021/22 season, eventually featuring 30 times in what was a breakthrough season, and his performances were widely praised.

Journalist Josh Bunting waxed lyrical about the defender in December 2021 following a match against Metz, saying: “Castello Lukeba again impressive for Lyon at Metz , really sharp young player not just getting the goal but he’s slotting into that back 3 very well, he’s a very accurate passer of the ball,gets on it and can move it quickly. Also has a good pass selection about him. Big prospect.”

30.4

57.5

0.6

0.7

0.1

0.3

2.5

2.5

1.8

3

As you can see within the table above, Lukeba has outperformed Varane at league level this term due to the defensive impact he has had on the pitch.

Another 38 appearances followed last term before he secured his big move to Leipzig in the summer and with his recent performances in Germany, Lukeba is beginning to look like the real deal.

The 20-year-old ace has already made 16 appearances, including four in the Champions League, and is looking settled at his new club this term.

Not only does he rank second among his teammates for accurate passes per game in the Bundesliga (57.5), but the defender also ranks in the top ten for tackles (0.7) and interceptions (0.3) per game, demonstrating how impressive he has been in defence.

Not only is he adept at passing and dictating the play from the heart of the defence, but he has impressive physicality for someone so young. Lukeba has won 63% of his total duels – three per game – in the German top flight this term and his ability to get the better of opposition players in one one-on-one battles is excellent.

The Leipzig sensation featured for the France U21 side on 14 occasions before finally making his debut against Scotland last month in a 4-1 victory, coming on with just three minutes left.

With his impressive performances this term, however, he could potentially sneak into the Euro 2024 squad next summer, and this would be the catalyst for him to really show his worth on the big stage.

Lukeba is certainly following in the footsteps of Varane and, if given continued exposure at the highest level, he may eventually reach his level.

United need another centre-back desperately and Lukeba is a fascinating prospect. While a move in the next few weeks might be out of the question, the Dutchman should be doing everything he can to lure the youngster to Manchester sooner rather than later.

Manchester United are interested in signing a central talisman to replace Casemiro in January, according to a reliable journalist.

Casemiro receives offer to leave

According to The Daily Mail, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial have all been made available for transfer next month, with the club’s football director John Murtough having travelled to Saudi Arabia to tout potential suitors.

The Red Devils’ defensive midfielder is believed to have recently received an offer from a mystery club in that particular country, so should he indeed seal a departure in the coming weeks, Erik ten Hag will have to go on a hunt to find a suitable replacement.

Everton’s Amadou Onana appears to have been highlighted as a possible candidate, with the 22-year-old having emerged as Sean Dyche’s second best-performing defensive player so far this season (WhoScored – Everton statistics).

The Belgium international is a long-term target of the hierarchy having reportedly held talks to join over the summer, and while a deal failed to come to fruition before the deadline, chiefs are considering taking a second bite of the cherry to bring him to Old Trafford.

Man United keen on Onana

Taking to X, Sebastien Denis revealed that Man United want to sign Onana, but they aren’t alone in their pursuit with Barcelona also in the race to secure his services in January.

“Exclusive: Amadou Onana impresses in the Premier League and could leave the Toffees next summer or even this winter. Everton is asking for between 55 and 60 million € [£47-51m]. Barca has already met the midfielder's entourage. Manchester United still very interested in the former Lille player.”

Onana is a "one-man army" in the centre

Standing at 6 foot 3, Onana brings a completely different dimension to the centre of the park with his height, where he's not only strong at winning his individual battles in the air, but he also loves to get stuck into challenges to try and win back possession for his team in the Premier League.

Aerial Wins – 2.8

Tackles – 2.5

Clearances – 1.1

Pass Success Rate – 85.4%

The Dakar native is additionally capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch having scored three goals and provided the same number of assists since joining Everton last summer, with his desire to get involved both defensively and offensively making him a well-rounded player (Transfermarkt – Onana statistics).

Ten Hag’s target is even a versatile operator having been deployed in five different positions following his arrival on the professional scene, including three roles in the midfield, as a centre-back and even at centre-forward, so he would be able to provide fantastic cover in other areas of the pitch.

As described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Onana is a “one-man army” because of all of the things that he can do at once, so should the board be able to get this deal over the line in the coming weeks, it would be a massive coup for Ten Hag.

Leeds United could be set to lose one of their first-team stars next year, with a fresh report revealing that he is unhappy with his current situation at Elland Road.

Leeds exit updates – Summerville, Dallas, Ayling, Gnonto

Crysencio Summerville is expected to be the subject of interest once again in January having emerged as a target for Premier League trio Everton, Bournemouth and Burnley over the summer, but he’s not the only one who could be heading for the exit door.

The Whites have seven permanent existing members of their squad who will have reached the expiration of their deals at the end of the current campaign, including the likes of Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas (Leeds contracts), so chiefs may decide to cash in should they not want to risk losing them for free.

The Yorkshire outfit could additionally sanction the sale of Wilfried Gnonto, who has made just six starts and three substitute appearances this season in the Championship (WhoScored – Gnonto statistics), and the left-winger hasn’t exactly been committed to his future as of late.

The Italy international was previously the subject of attention from Everton, whilst Calciomercato have more recently reported that Lazio and AS Roma have both made contact with his agent to discover the conditions of a deal, so there’s a chance that the 20-year-old could be on his way to the Serie A.

Wilfried Gnonto transfer update

According to Football Insider, Wilfried Gnonto isn’t settled at Leeds and he’s therefore set his sights on a departure in January.

“Wilfried Gnonto is unhappy with his situation at Leeds United as the January transfer window approaches, sources have told Football Insider.

"Daniel Farke has been happy to keep the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter, Dan James and Joel Piroe together as an attacking unit – and has so far seen no reason to bring the Italy international back into the fold permanently.

"But Gnonto wants to play regular first-team football as he targets a place in the Azzurri’s squad for next year’s European Championships in Germany – should they qualify. It is believed there will be interest once again in the winger’s services in the January window.”

During his time at Leeds, Gnonto has posted ten contributions, five goals and the same number of assists, in 38 senior appearances (Transfermarkt – Gnonto statistics), with his form in the final third making him an “unpredictable” player to read, as per journalist Josh Bunting.

Sponsored by Puma, Daniel Farke’s £20k-per-week earner (Leeds salaries), also ranks in the 99th percentile for progressive carries, which highlights his desire to use his pace, take on his marker and push his team as high up the pitch as possible (FBRef – Gnonto statistics).

Furthermore, Gnonto is a versatile operator having been deployed in seven different positions over the pitch since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even three roles in the midfield, so it’s important that the boss does everything he can to retain the services of his forward in January.

Aston Villa have seen their outlook transformed by Unai Emery, who arrived in October 2022 following the dismissal of Steven Gerrard.

The Spaniard quickly changed the spirit within the squad he inherited from the Englishman, inspiring an overall higher level of individual performance and more positive approach to play that inspired the start of something special at Villa Park.

The former Arsenal boss has taken pleasure in handing some of Gerrard’s struggling stars a new lease of life, with his utilisation of John McGinn and Tyrone Mings adding to the list of areas that Emery has improved since arriving in the Midlands.

Despite guiding Villa to a seventh-place finish and a spot in the Europa Conference League, Emery has been unable to assist every player with an improved level of performance, as highlighted by one of Gerrard’s signings prior to his sacking.

How much did Aston Villa pay for Leander Dendoncker?

In the summer of 2022, Villa signed midfielder Leander Dendoncker from West Midlands rivals Wolves for a fee of £13m.

The Belgian had secured 159 appearances for the Old Gold, scoring 12 goals and claiming four assists in that time from central midfield.

While the former Anderlecht whiz was a reliable player for Wolves, he found himself battling for a starting spot under Bruno Lage, as the talents of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho were favoured to run the engine room.

Once lauded as a “top player” by former Molineux boss Nuno Espirito Santo, Dendoncker’s move to Villa came as a result of his varied game time under Lage, and at a pivotal time for the Villans who were poised to take a new-look midfield into the 2022/23 campaign.

With Dendoncker and highly-rated free agent, Boubacar Kamara signed that summer, Gerrard’s options in the middle of the park were greatly enhanced, however whether this was a positive for the Belgian was yet to be discovered.

How much does Leander Dendoncker earn at Aston Villa?

In signing for Villa, the midfielder was not only presented with a new opportunity to grasp consistent game time in the Midlands, but also handed an improved salary to ease the transition.

At Wolves, the Belgian picked up a wage of £75k-per-week, a figure that rocketed to £90k-per-week at the point of his arrival at Villa Park in 2022.

Currently, the 28-year-old earns the fifth-highest salary at Villa, receiving a healthy package of £4.68m-per-year.

His £90k-per-week wage sees him currently earn more than the likes of Douglas Luiz and Jacob Ramsey, raising questions as to whether the Belgian has warranted such rewards so far in his career at Villa Park.

What happened to Leander Dendoncker?

Unfortunately for the towering asset, history repeated itself at Villa as it did at Wolves, as he is far down the pecking order amid the wealth of competition in his position.

Emery favours to field the likes of Kamara, Luiz and McGinn over his other options in midfield, Dendoncker and his countryman Youri Tielemans, who are forced to wait for their chance to shine.

Leander Dendoncker's appearances at Aston Villa

Competition

Apps

Starts

Premier League

22

7

FA Cup

1

1

Carabao Cup

1

1

Europa Conf League

1

1

Europa Conf League Qual

1

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

As highlighted this season, the midfielder has been given the opportunity to start fixtures thanks to Villa’s European and cup involvement, however he looks far away from being on the cusp of a Premier League start any time soon.

In 24 league appearances last term, Dendoncker secured only nine starts, averaging just 39 minutes per game to convey how out-of-favour he is in comparison to his teammates in the position.

So far, the Belgium international has secured just 26 appearances for the Villans and has failed to contribute in the final third – without a goal or an assist in all competitions – not helped by his poor performances in the engine room.

While Dendoncker is waiting to earn his first Premier League start of the season, he was given the chance to start in the Europa Conference League against Zrinjski, and also in the Carabao Cup against Everton, yet he was hooked at halftime on both occasions.

The midfielder left Molineux in the hunt for game time and was presented with an even steeper uphill battle at Villa Park, not aided by his performances when his chances have come, having been branded “so poor” by journalist Tom Parker.

How much is Leander Dendoncker worth now?

An exchange worth £13m is considered to be a matter of pennies in the current climate of the transfer market, however Villa may be haunted by the money spent to bring Dendoncker to the club.

The Belgian’s lack of game time and poor performances have seen his market value crash dramatically, as highlighted in the graph below via Football Transfers, spelling worrying times for Villa who would be fortunate to receive anything close to £13m for a possible future sale.

From being purchased just last summer for £13m, Dendoncker’s expected transfer value (xTV) currently sits at €6.4m (£5.5m), seeing a rampant decline since his arrival at Villa Park.

In October 2022, Football Transfers documented the 28-year-old’s xTV as being in the region of €17.2m (£14.9m), conveying that Villa paid a valid price for their acquisition, a figure that sits at almost £10m more than his value exactly one year down the line.

Considering his place in the pecking order within Emery’s squad, it looks highly likely that the former Wolves ace’s value will continue to decrease, with game time far from guaranteed to be handed to him on a regular basis in order to build form.

What does the future hold for Leander Dendoncker?

As Emery continues to test just how far he can push his current crop of talent at Villa, Dendoncker’s future at the club looks to be further and further away, as reinforced this summer following the close of the transfer window.

As reported by Football Insider, the Belgian was eyed by Turkish side Fenerbahce before the window in Turkey closed, with the report claiming that the forgotten man “is free to quit” his role at Villa as a result of his place in the pecking order.

While the validity of the report remains merely speculation, it could be seen as the start of a possible exit route for the midfielder, who is deemed as nothing more than a rotational figure by Emery.

Villa have spent millions to welcome and maintain Dendoncker at Villa Park, and are yet to see just why they opted to spend the money to bring him to the club last summer.

It is believed an "underrated" Arsenal target actually would like the club to make a transfer bid for him as sporting director Edu continues his work this month.

Edu looking for January signings at Arsenal

Previous reports have suggested that manager Mikel Arteta would ideally like two new full-backs, a centre midfielder and a striker (Miguel Delaney), but certain roadblocks make strengthening all four positions near impossible this month.

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Arsenal spent north of £200 million last summer, which has somewhat limited their budget, and Financial Fair Play regulations mean they may have to be careful about how much they spend in January.

That being said, that hasn't stopped Edu from attempting to reinforce at least a couple of key areas. Indeed, there have been claims that Arsenal have opened talks to sign Everton midfielder Amadou Onana this month, with the Belgian apparently keen to join them.

Reliable transfer source Fabrizio Romano, speaking to Kick last week, also stated that Arsenal signing a new full-back is certainly a possibility.

“A new full-back for Arsenal? Yes it is a possibility, it is a possibility for Arsenal to bring in a new full-back in January," said Romano this week.

"They have to see what opportunity they can find, if it’s a loan deal, but Arsenal are exploring options in that position, they are in the full-backs market, I can confirm that, there is a possibility, there is a chance, we will have to see, but I think it’s a possibility."

Despite some limitations, Arsenal could still see some new faces make the move to north London. In terms of their chances of signing a new striker, one player who continues to attract attention is Brentford star Ivan Toney.

The England international, who is set to return from his ban for alleged gambling breaches this month, scored 20 league goals last season and has been heavily linked over the last few months.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank poured cold water on the possibility of Toney leaving before January 31, unless they were handed an unbelievable offer. The Dane refused to clarify what he defined as an irresistible bid for his man, and given the nature of the transfer window, you cannot rule anything out.

Toney would welcome Arsenal move to sign him

According to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking on The Done Deal Show, relayed by TBR Football, Toney would welcome an Arsenal bid to sign him over Chelsea.

"My understanding remains that yes Toney would welcome a move from Arsenal, more so than Chelsea, and for Chelsea he’s not necessarily top of the list," said Jacobs.

The desire of the player to join Arsenal is certainly there, and that may help in Edu's possible attempt to bring him to the Emirates Stadium – either this month or later in the year.

The 27-year-old, even before his excellent 2022/2023 campaign, was starring at Brentford with journalist Dean Jones calling him a largely "underrated" player.

Chelsea's prodigious academy is one of the greatest in world football at churning out some of the most promising young talents on the planet.

The Blues have forged this legacy by investing in state-of-the-art facilities and the best equipment to ensure that youngsters have all the tools they need to become stars.

This was particularly prevalent in the 1990s as the west London giants watched arguably their greatest-ever defender, John Terry, come through their academy, assert his dominance at the heart of their defence and rack up an incredible 717 appearances across a 19-year association with the club.

Across his glittering career at Stamford Bridge, he became a rarity among the world of defenders at the time through his ability with the ball at his feet, underscored by the fact he's the highest-scoring defender in Premier League history with 41 goals.

These days, being comfortable with the ball is imperative for any modern centre-back and Levi Colwill, who has been dubbed as the "next John Terry", is certainly that in abundance.

How much Chelsea paid for Levi Colwill

Much like Terry, Colwill is a graduate of Chelsea's academy, joining at the age of 9 through their development centre programme.

Initially, his introduction to football came with Sunday league side City Central, where he intriguingly played alongside Jamal Musiala.

If that wasn't an indication of his quality, Colwill's composure from an early age as well as his steady physical presence with growth, more than made up for it.

A physical specimen off the ball and a calming presence on it, the youngster had the requisite tools to become the next star to blossom from the club's underage groups, but he just needed a regular taste of senior football so he could develop in skill and stature.

With this in mind, after three outings in the Papa John's Trophy, Colwill was loaned to Huddersfield Town in the 2021/22 campaign, inspiring the Terriers to the Championship play-off final.

Despite scoring an own goal that saw his side crumble at the final hurdle, the Englishman impressed across 29 appearances while watching his expected transfer value (xTV) shoot up to €7.3m (£6.3m) in July 2022.

Levi Colwill's transfer value at Brighton & Hove Albion

After an excellent campaign under the stewardship of Carlos Corberan in the Championship, plaudits continued to rain down on Colwill during his spell at Brighton & Hove Albion last term.

In an exciting and youthful Seagulls side with an average age of 23.64, the 6 foot 2 titan fit into the progressive style deployed by Roberto De Zerbi like a glove.

A commanding presence at the back and an expert at spraying passes through the thirds, Colwill showcased glimpses of his unerring traits on the South Coast as he featured in 17 matches in the top flight and helped his side record a sensational sixth-place finish.

Not only that, but he also saw his xTV rise even further, from €7.3m in July 2022 to €10.8m (£9.3m) in May this year, with the 20-year-old looking ready to become a first-team regular at Chelsea.

Levi Colwill's value now

As soon as he arrived at Stamford Bridge, Mauricio Pochettino made it known that Colwill was going to play a huge part in his plans, with the Argentine describing him as a "big talent" and a "great character".

In 11 appearances this term, Colwill – who has been dubbed by Antonio Mango as "insane technically" – has shown how good he is with the ball at his feet while operating as a centre back or left back.

This is demonstrated by the fact he's been thrown into the same bracket of ball-playing defenders as Jules Kounde, Alessandro Bastoni and David Alaba by FBref for his exceptional ball-playing attributes and calmness in possession.

Despite being only 20 and the youngest on that list, he ranks within the top 9% across Europe's top five leagues in the past year for passes attempted, top 6% for shot-creating actions and top 16% for progressive carries per 90.

Progressive passes

4.26

Passes attempted

76.48

Shot creating actions

1.36

Progressive carries

1.05

Progressive passes received

0.79

All stats via FBref

Whilst he's near faultless with the ball at his feet and displays an exquisite passing range beyond his years, he does need to improve defensively, as implied by his ranking in the bottom 24% for tackles and bottom 29% for interceptions.

However, considering his value has skyrocketed to a whopping €60m (£52m), as per CIES Football Observatory, Colwill is developing rapidly under Pochettino and has played a major role in their strong defence this term.

Chelsea's season in numbers

Whilst Chelsea's attack has come alive in recent weeks, scoring four in both fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, the Blues have been hard to beat this term.

As the saying goes, you should always build from the back and with the summer additions of Robert Sanchez, Axel Disasi and Moises Caicedo, in particular, Pochettino has successfully solidified the spine of their team and this is reflected by their impressive defensive metrics.

According to Understat, only five teams have conceded more expected goals (xG) than the Blues, with a total of 16.63 placing them just behind the likes of Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Manchester City.

Contrary to the previous statement about Colwill's defensive abilities, the Englishman has made a colossal impact in helping preserve a strong rearguard that has only been breached 16 times, five of which arrived in the last two matches.

Despite being deployed as a left back on five occasions, the Englishman – who the Argentine said could become one of the greatest defenders in England – has still thrived alongside the veteran Thiago Silva.

The Brazilian has helped refine the defensive side of his game, having placed in the top 23% among defenders in the Premier League for tackles this season (1.83), which is a vast improvement from only recording 0.59 per game during his spell at Brighton last term.

If Colwill can continue his upward trajectory, as demonstrated by his exceptional statistics and current transfer value, he has the opportunity to become a generational defender for the Blues, as Terry did.

Leeds United could be ready to part ways with one of their experienced heads at Elland Road and journalist Phil Hay has given some important insight into the latest news regarding his future.

What's the latest news involving Leeds United?

In an interview with German outlet BILD, Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche has praised the impact of on-loan Leeds United man Robin Koch at the Bundesliga outfit. Factoring in the fact Eintracht Frankfurt have conceded just three goals so far this campaign, Krösche has complemented the partnership of Koch and teammate Willian Pacho, stating: "We are doing very well defensively. It’s unbelievable how stable Pacho is and how Robin has fit in."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Ben Jacobs believes that securing promotion to the Premier League may be a key element in whether Italy international Wilfried Gnonto decides to stay at Elland Road for the foreseeable future.

Jacobs said: "It will all simply depend on whether Leeds go up or stay in the Championship. If they stay in the Championship, I think they’ll let Gnonto leave. But if they go back up into the Premier League, he may not want to leave."

Of course, Gnonto is currently out with a ligament injury and will also require surgery, leaving him out of contention until after the next international break has concluded, cited by Leeds Live. Next up for Leeds United is a trip to Southampton this weekend as they look to continue their unbeaten streak in the Sky Bet Championship, which currently stands at six games without a defeat.

As per reports, Crystal Palace have scouted Leeds United youngster Archie Gray; however, any January approach from the South London-based outfit is deemed to be unlikely.

Who could leave Leeds United?

Speaking on the Square Ball podcast, The Athletic journalist Hay has given an update on the future of out-of-favour Leeds United man Helder Costa: "We’ll see what happens – the expectation was that he would go. As Farke said himself, Costa had said that he wanted to leave, hence why he wasn’t involved at all over the summer and there is simply no way he can be reintegrated now. He hasn’t trained through pre-season; he isn’t familiar with what Farke’s doing.

"He's been training on his own. There was obviously the Turkish window as well, which would’ve been an option. I think we all expected that he’s probably would go back to Saudi but noting has developed there. One of a handful of things is going to have to happen. Either they terminate his contract, or when they get round to January they find somewhere for him to go for six months so that he can burn down what’s left on his deal then move on, or he just sits tight until the end of the season and moves on as a free agent."

Costa has made 71 appearances for Leeds United in total over the course of his time at Elland Road, registering eight goals and 11 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Nevertheless, all signs point to Farke no longer wanting the Angola international around and this could prompt Leeds United owners the 49ers to pay off the 40 weeks remaining on his £32,500 per week contract, which would equate to roughly £1.3 million.