All posts by z3u9t.icu

During his time at Tottenham Hotspur, Mauricio Pochettino's leadership and faith he put into the youth provided the perfect combination for stars to emerge.

He was responsible for developing Dele Alli and Harry Kane into two of the Premier League's finest talents, with the former being crowned as the most valuable U21 player in 2017, over the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Gabriel Jesus.

With the Argentine inheriting a youthful squad at Chelsea, he has the opportunity to replicate that success in west London and that is made easier by the exceptional level of talent being churned off the academy conveyor belt.

The emergence of Levi Colwill is a prime example of the gems waiting to be unearthed from the underage groups. The 20-year-old starred on loan at Brighton last season and is now an integral part of Pochettino's plans having played in every minute so far.

While Colwill is leading the way for the next generation of young talent, Chelsea are blessed with quality all over the pitch, including centre-backs Bashir Humphries and Alfie Gilchrist, creative midfielders Omari Hutchinson and Leo Castledine as well as striker Mason Burstow.

The Blues are well stocked when it comes to the volume of quality in their defensive and midfield ranks, but no one has grabbed the bull by the horns and stamped their authority on the striker position in the first-team, and that could open up the opportunity for teenage sharpshooter, Ronnie Stutter, to be given an opportunity.

Who is Ronnie Stutter?

Ronnie Stutter switched east London for west when he made the switch from West Ham United at U14 level, departing the club in 2019 with the 18-year-old since becoming the figurehead of their youth setup.

A constant threat who loves scoring goals, Stutter is a pacey and direct striker, who likes to lurk on the shoulder of the last defender, waiting patiently to latch onto a pass before bursting through on goal.

When in and around the box, the teenage sensation is lethal at finishing his chances, demonstrating this at the start of this campaign by scoring all types of goals, including thunderous strikes from outside the penalty area, showcasing a calmness in one vs one situations and predatory instincts to finish chances in the box.

During his last two years at Chelsea, the youngster has fought several battles with injury but has bounced back from those minor setbacks by becoming the U21s main source of goals and relishing that responsibility.

In six Premier League 2 matches, Stutter has chalked up six goals, including a strike in the EFL Trophy against Northampton Town as he aims to follow in the footsteps of fellow youngster Mason Burstow, who finished as the U21s top scorer last season and is now thriving on loan at Sunderland.

He commented: "It shows that it is possible and if you take your chance doors will open for you".

The youngster's competition for a chance in the first team comes in the shape of Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja, but the former of those two has struggled since making his £32m move from Villarreal this summer, leaving the door potentially ajar for Stutter after being named on the substitutes bench in the 0-0 draw against Bournemouth.

How has Nicolas Jackson performed this season?

When Jackson came off the bench to score his second of the season against Burnley, a huge weight would have been lifted off his shoulders after struggling in the early stages of his Chelsea career.

Jackson has been frustrated by squandering several opportunities to score, and those struggles were encapsulated by his open goal miss against Nottingham Forest as Chelsea sunk to a 1-0 defeat.

According to Sofascore, the 22-year-old has garnered an xG of 4.09, missed seven big chances, recorded a goal conversion of 10% and 2.9 shots per game, which emphasises that while he's being served golden chances to score, he's failing to put them away.

With the striker being thrust into the limelight for his wasteful finishing, the youngster has attracted both criticism from Chelsea fans while being mocked by rival supporters, but Paul Merson feels the criticism of the youngster is unjust.

He said: "I don’t think it’s fair on him, so I’d definitely give him more time. Though Pochettino would take him out of the firing line if he could."

Jackson was indeed removed from the firing line – but not by choice – after serving a suspension for accumulating five yellow cards.

The Senegalese international returned with a bang by scoring against the Clarets and if that proves to be the goal that kick-starts a purple patch in front of goal, opportunities for Stutter to impress will lessen.

However, if Jackson continues to be wasteful then Pochettino may have to unleash their "brilliant" sharpshooter – as dubbed by journalist Felix Johnston – into the first-team setup.

Manchester United will be bidding to boost their hopes of Champions League progression with a positive result at home to Turkish giants, Galatasary this evening, with the Red Devils having lost their opening match in the competition away to Bayern Munich.

That 4-3 loss to the Bundesliga outfit came amid what has been a dire start to the new campaign for Erik ten Hag and his men, having also now lost four of their opening seven Premier League games, following the defeat to Crystal Palace at the weekend.

A major issue for the former Ajax boss of late has been the growing list of injury absentees, with the Dutchman set to be without a number of first-team figures yet again tonight.

What's the Man United team news vs Galatasaray?

As Ten Hag revealed himself on Monday, the Old Trafford outfit are still set to be without summer signing, Sergio Reguilon for the visit of the Super Lig side, ensuring that the hosts will be forced to deploy a makeshift option at left-back in the continued absence of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

The Spaniard remains on the sidelines alongside the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Amad Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo, while both Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek – who has not been included in the Champions League squad – are also still unavailable.

One notable change that could occur later today, however, is the return of Antony – as Ten Hag confirmed – ensuring that young Facundo Pellistri may lose his place in the side.

Will Pellistri play against Galatasaray?

Having been handed a second successive start against Palace last time out – after also starting against the Eagles in the Carabao Cup victory just days earlier – the promising Uruguayan was unable to truly make his mark in his 60-minute outing, with GOAL's Richard Martin writing that he 'couldn't make any tangible impact'.

As Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst also noted, the 21-year-old is 'still more useful as a substitute than a starter', having been unable to nail down a starting role on the right flank, despite the absence of both Antony and Sancho of late.

It would then be no surprise to see Pellistri return to the bench this evening – particularly with both Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount also able to slot in out wide – although the youngster may not be the only casualty of the weekend defeat.

What changes will Ten Hag make vs Galatasaray?

Despite the shortage of options in the defensive unit, one change that Ten Hag may look to make is at centre-back, with it perhaps time that Victor Lindelof makes way, in favour of former skipper, Harry Maguire.

As the aforementioned Luckhurst suggested following the loss to Roy Hodgson's men, the experienced Swede is 'still of it' and thus could let Maguire 'back into the side', having looked rather unconvincing despite the return of Raphael Varane alongside him.

Previously described as a player who gets "bullied" by former boss Jose Mourinho, Lindelof certainly 'did not relish any of the physical duels' up against the likes of Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Jordan Ayew – as per Luckhurst – having won just three of his eight total duels on the day.

Also dubbed 'pretty shaky' by Martin, the £120k-per-week dud is failing to warrant his inclusion in the side at present, hence why turning to Maguire could be a much-needed solution, as Ten Hag's men seek to stop the rot later today.

Sunderland return to action after the international break in the Championship this afternoon as they travel to Loftus Road to take on Queens Park Rangers.

What was Sunderland's last result?

The Black Cats head into today's game off the back of an emphatic 5-0 win against recently relegated Southampton at the Stadium of Light.

Tony Mowbray's outfit swept the Saints aside with relative ease as they produced a phenomenal and clinical performance on Wearside to secure all three points in style.

Jack Clarke opened the scoring with a well-timed run and header within the opening minute of the match and a double from midfielder Pierre Ekwah, with both goals coming from distance, put the team 3-0 up at half-time.

Bradley Dack pounced from close range and Chris Rigg headed past Gavin Bazunu to finish off the scoring during the second 45 to wrap up the 5-0 victory over Russell Martin's Southampton.

That result left Sunderland ninth in the Championship table after two wins, one draw, and two defeats from their first five matches of the campaign.

What's the latest Sunderland team news?

Mason Burstow and Adil Aouchiche are both available for selection after their deadline day moves to the club, although it remains to be seen if Nazariy Rusyn's visa has arrived in time for him to feature.

Aji Alese and Eliezer Mayenda are both back out on the grass but Mowbray has confirmed that they will not be in contention to play this weekend, whilst Jay Matete and Corry Evans are both set to be out until the festive period as they continue to recover from long-term injuries.

The absences in the midfield area of the pitch could open up the door for 16-year-old talent Chris Rigg to gain more first-team experience and the head coach should unleash him from the start today.

Will Chris Rigg start against QPR?

Mowbray should bring the teenage sensation in for his first-ever Championship start as a reward for his excellent performances so far this season.

Rigg was afforded the chance to start a first-team match for the first time in his career last month as the ex-Blackburn Rovers manager selected him in the starting XI for the EFL Cup clash with Crewe.

Sunderland ultimately lost on penalties to the League Two outfit but that should not be a slight on the 16-year-old dynamo as his display in the middle of the park was superb.

The England youth international produced a fantastic all-round performance in midfield as he showcased his qualities in and out of possession for the Black Cats, despite his young age.

As per Sofascore, Rigg won 60% (6/10) of his duels and made two tackles to go along with one clearance. He also completed both of his attempted dribbles and 91% of his attempted passes, two of which resulted in chances being created for his teammates.

The talented ace, who scored Sunderland's equaliser to send the game to penalties, was handed a Sofascore rating of 8.2 for his display, which was the second-highest score on the pitch behind Alex Pritchard's 9.0 rating.

Mowbray rewarded the excellent youngster with a cameo off the bench against Southampton last time out and the 16-year-old hotshot made the most of his opportunity with a fantastic leap and header to find the bottom corner after some superb wing play from Jewison Bennette on the left flank.

Rigg recorded a Sofascore rating of 7.3 for his eight-minute goalscoring showing against the Saints and these statistics show that the versatile gem, who can play in a variety of midfield roles or out wide on the right, has the potential to offer a big attacking threat for the club.

The former England U16 captain could also provide a creative presence in the middle of the park as he has registered four assists in 15 U18 matches for the Black Cats to date.

He showed glimpses of his creativity with his aforementioned two key passes against Crewe and this suggests that the academy graduate could be an exciting player for supporters to watch against QPR this afternoon, as he has the ability to score and assist goals.

Who could Rigg replace?

Mowbray could bring Rigg in to replace French dynamo Abdoullah Ba, who started on the right of the attacking midfield trident against Southampton, today.

However, this is not a necessary change borne out of poor performances from the 20-year-old ace. In fact, the former Le Havre prospect registered an assist against the Saints and has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.97 across four Championship appearances this term.

Rigg, on the other hand, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.75 across his two first-team outings in all competitions this term and has scored two goals to go along with two chances created.

Whereas, Ba has failed to score a single goal and has provided his teammates with five key passes in five games in all competitions for the Black Cats.

These statistics suggest that they both offer a similar level of creativity but Rigg's average performance level and goalscoring threat could be greater than the French ace's if Mowbray offers him the chance to play regular senior football over the weeks and months to come.

Rigg, who Mowbray once hailed as an "animal" with a "wonderful" left foot, has taken his opportunities so far this season and now deserves to be rewarded with the next step in his development – a senior league start.

The exceptional teenager excelled against Crewe in the EFL Cup after being named in the starting XI and grasped his chance to find the back of the net off the bench against Southampton earlier this month, which shows that he has the ability and physicality to compete at first-team level in spite of his age.

Therefore, the Black Cats head coach must now see whether or not the English whiz has what it takes to deliver consistent quality over the course of an entire Championship match, starting today against QPR at Loftus Road.

So it is time for Ba to move over to the bench, or another position in the attack, for this clash in order to provide Rigg with the chance for him to prove himself after some impressive displays so far this season.

Leicester City supporters have been through all levels of emotions in recent years, from the highs of winning the Premier League title in 2016 to the lows of being relegated to the Championship in 2023.

The Foxes defied all odds in that 2015/16 campaign and were written off from the get-go having survived relegation by the skin of their teeth in the season prior.

Despite being tipped for the drop, the industrious and energetic performances of midfield duo N'Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater as well as the formidable attacking partnership of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy dragged Leicester to England's top prize.

Throughout that campaign, that unplayable attacking pairing were involved in a whopping 59 of Leicester's 68 Premier League goals, etching their name into Foxes folklore in the process.

While Vardy is still plying his trade in the Championship at the age of 36, Mahrez has achieved world domination since departing the East Midlands.

How much did Leicester City sign Riyad Mahrez for

In January 2014, Leicester captured a 22-year-old Riyad Mahrez for around £400k from Ligue 2 side Le Havre, a fee which turned out to be one of, if not, the biggest bargains in the club's history, aside from Vardy's £1m move from Fleetwood Town in 2012.

A skilful right winger, who possessed incredible attacking attributes, including his precise ball control, ability to manipulate the ball in tight areas and his wand of a left foot – all combined together to produce countless match-winning moments.

In his first 18 months at the club, he helped Leicester win the Championship title in 2014 and then consolidate in the Premier League in 2015, but in 43 appearances across those campaigns, he only managed to post seven goals and eight assists.

While he showed glimpses of his world-beating class during the early stages, the true potential of his talents were showcased in the following campaign as Leicester scooped the Premier League and the Algerian startled defences with his fleet-footed dribbling and ruthless finishing.

As previously mentioned, his indispensable partnership and telepathic understanding with Vardy was instrumental in their success and Mahrez had the season of his life, plundering 17 goals and supplying ten assists in the top flight.

Those tremendous returns saw him get shortlisted for the 2016 Ballon d'Or alongside world-class players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

In the 2016/17 season, Mahrez tailed off in the top flight, only recording six goals and four assists, but did play a vital role in Leicester's run to the Champions League quarter-finals with six contributions in nine appearances.

The 5 foot 10 whiz used the allure of Champions League football as fuel to earn a move to an elite European club and on the back of his 12 goals and 11 assists in 2017/18, Manchester City came calling.

How much did Leicester sell Riyad Mahrez for

Man City smashed their transfer record at the time to capture Mahrez for £60m from Leicester and the rest is history.

Across his five-year spell at the Etihad, which came to an end in the summer as he completed £30m move to Al-Ahli, the 83-cap Algerian was instrumental to City's trophy-laden period, winning the Premier League title in all but one of his seasons at the club.

Dubbed by Pep Guardiola as "exceptional", Mahrez had to contend with a whole host of star-studded competition in Manchester, battling it out with Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva among others for a spot on the right flank.

Despite falling victim to the Spaniard's rotation policy, he was still adored by his former teammates and centre-back Aymeric Laporte was one of many who showered him with praise, labelling him as "unbelievable" for his performances in a City shirt.

He may have bid farewell to Manchester this year, but he capped his time at the club in the best way possible by playing a crucial role in their treble-winning campaign, scoring three times in the Champions League, five times in the FA Cup – including a hat-trick in the semi-final against Sheffield United – and posting 15 goal contributions in the Premier League.

15 goals / 13 assists

24 goals / 9 assists

14 goals / 9 assists

13 goals / 16 assists

12 goals / 12 assists

In 236 appearances for the Citizens, he plundered 78 goals and supplied 59 assists – not bad for someone who was originally discovered by Leicester in the French second division and cost them a measly £400k.

Now currently ripping it up for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli with four goals and six assists in 11 matches, Mahrez will always be remembered by the Foxes faithful for dragging them to an unthinkable title win, yet what could have been had he remained at the King Power instead…

Wolverhampton Wanderers have enjoyed an impressive run of form in the Premier League and are already nine points clear of the relegation zone after 12 matches.

The Old Gold have only lost one of their last seven top-flight matches under Gary O'Neil and have secured impressive wins against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, both by a scoreline of 2-1, during that period.

It has been a solid start to the campaign for the club, with four wins in 12 league outings, as they have scored 16 times – more than nine other sides.

This has come after Wolves ended the 2022/23 campaign with a measly 31 goals in their 38 Premier League games, which was the lowest tally in the entire division.

Luton

1-1 draw

Man City

2-1 win

Aston Villa

1-1 draw

Bournemouth

2-1 win

Newcastle

2-2 draw

Sheffield United

2-1 loss

Tottenham

2-1 win

However, their current form and goalscoring success does not seem to have put O'Neil off looking at possible recruits to bolster his attack in the January transfer window, as the English tactician has been linked with Norwich City winger Jonathan Rowe.

Wolves transfer news – Jonathan Rowe

A recent report from TEAMtalk revealed that Wolves are one of a number of clubs showing an interest in signing the talented Championship starlet in 2024.

The outlet has claimed that the Old Gold are prepared to join the race to secure his signature alongside a host of other Premier League teams.

Brentford, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Aston Villa, and Burnley are all also said to be keeping tabs on the 20-year-old forward ahead of a possible swoop for his services.

It is stated that Norwich want to keep hold of the winger ahead of the second half of the season as he is a crucial player for David Wagner, but they will need to bat away approaches from top-flight clubs in order to do.

His current contract is due to expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, however, the Canaries have an option to extend it by a further 12 months. The Yellows are also said to be hoping to tie him down to a further extension in order to secure his long-term future at Carrow Road.

However, TEAMtalk did not mention how open to putting pen to paper on a new deal Rowe is or whether or not the forward would be keen to jump ship to sign for Wolves, or another Premier League side, in January.

If the club can secure a deal for the exciting young dynamo, though, then they could land their next version of Diogo Jota for O'Neil by snapping up a goalscoring left-sided attacker.

Diogo Jota's Wolves career in numbers

The terrific ace initially joined on loan from Atletico Madrid for the 2017/18 Championship campaign and hit the ground running in English football.

He played a key role in promotion to the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo with a return of 17 goals and five assists in 44 appearances that term.

Diogo ended the season with at least five more goals than any of his teammates and was unfortunate not to have registered more than five assists. The impressive gem created a whopping 13 'big chances' but his fellow attackers were not able to make the most of those opportunities.

This led to a permanent transfer to Molineux for a reported fee of €14m (£12m) and the Portugal international went on to prove his worth at Premier League level.

Across two top-flight seasons with the club, Diogo racked up 16 goals and six assists in 67 matches as he showcased his ability to find the back of the net at the top table of English football.

The ex-Atletico Madrid dynamo also made his mark in Europe with an excellent return of nine goals and five assists in 14 matches – across qualifying matches and regular Europa League appearances.

In total, Diogo scored 44 goals and provided 19 assists in 131 outings for the club in all competitions – an average of one goal every 2.98 games throughout his time with Wolves.

Rowe's form for Norwich suggests that the potential is there for him to come in and make a similar impact, as another player who predominantly plays on the left flank but can also be deployed centrally or on the right.

Rowe's season in numbers

The 20-year-old whiz has enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Canaries at Championship level and has showcased his potential as a goalscoring from a wide position.

He has established himself as a regular starter for the Norfolk-based side and contributed with seven goals and one assist in 16 league appearances, along with one goal and one assist in two EFL Cup matches.

In fact, Rowe currently ranks within the top 9% of his positional peers in the Championship for non-penalty goals (0.53) per 90, which illustrates how impressive his contributions have been.

The 5 foot 8 magician has also scored one goal in two England U21 outings this term, having been called up by his country after a phenomenal start to the campaign.

His goalscoring form for Norwich at first-team level, which has been described as "scintillating" by pundit Carlton Palmer, should not be a huge surprise as his performances in the academy showcased his knack for finding the back of the net on a regular basis.

Rowe scored 12 goals in 31 U18 appearances for the Canaries before being promoted to their U21 set-up, where the talented ace smashed in 11 goals – alongside seven assists – in 31 matches.

The Norwich star has scored eight goals in 18 first-team matches for his club this season, which is an impressive return of one strike every 2.25 outings on average.

These statistics show that, like Diogo Jota was for Wolves, Rowe is a goalscoring left winger whom Norwich can rely upon to find the back of the net with relative consistency.

He is yet to prove himself at Premier League level, with one assist in 13 appearances earlier in his career, but his form this term suggests that the potential is there for him to make the step up, which is why O'Neil could secure Wolves' next huge goal threat on the left flank by swooping to sign the gem.

Mikel Arteta will be thrilled with the way his side has played this season, with the dream of lifting the Premier League title looking very achievable.

Arsenal currently sit first in the table with 39 points, one point ahead of Liverpool, having won 12 of their 17 games so far.

The Gunners have conceded the joint fewest number of goals this season, 15, yet they want to strengthen their defence even further by signing an incredible Portuguese centre-back.

Arsenal transfers latest – Goncalo Inacio

According to A Bola via SportsWitness, Arsenal are looking to secure a deal for Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio in 2024 to improve their defensive options.

The 22-year-old is a key player at his club, and he has a current market value of £26m, as per Transfermarkt, but sporting director Edu will have to pay more than that to land his signature.

Sporting, as per the aforementioned report, are demanding a fee in the region of €60m (£52m), his release clause, which is understandable considering the Portuguese club is in the middle of a title charge.

How Goncalo Inacio compares to William Saliba

Goncalo Inacio is a Portugal international who became a starting player for his club Sporting at the age of 19. The defender is now 22 and is one of the key players in Ruben Amorim’s side, featuring 21 times this season already.

The number 25 is a left-footed centre back who thrives as the wide left defender in a back three, and he could be Arteta's left-footed version of a current Gunners superstar if Edu is able to secure a deal for his services in January.

Inacio offers an incredible amount of control to the Sporting side, both in possession and out of possession, which instantly draws comparisons to William Saliba, who brings that to the Arsenal side.

Below is a table that highlights the similarities between the two players, using stats from the last 365 days across the top five men's European leagues.

Passes completed

72.44

69.30

Progressive passes

6.59

3.59

Progressive carries

1.05

0.45

Touches

91.43

82.48

Dribblers tackled

1.05

0.5

As you can see above, the duo is dominant when entering duels and tackling dribblers. With them both at centre back, Arsenal would be able to commit more men forward and gain even more control, with the pairing almost single-handedly able to stop counterattacks. This would benefit the Gunners massively, due to Oleksandr Zinchenko taking on an inverted role and leaving the left-back position vacant at times during overturns of possession.

However, Inacio excels when on the ball and even completely outperforms Saliba, who is regarded as one of the best in the Premier League. It is important to take league context into account, but his statistics are on another level.

Both centre-backs are excellent progressors of the ball, particularly from a passing perspective, but Inacio also offers the ability to carry the ball forward and evade the opposition press. The number of attacking situations Inacio creates is astounding, as reflected by his 1.91 shot-creating actions per 90, which is in the top 1% when compared to other centre-backs in Europe.

Overall, Inacio would have a Saliba-esque impact to the left of Arsenal’s backline, and it is no wonder why Arteta and Edu are so keen on bringing the Portuguese "sensation," as dubbed by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, who could rival Gabriel for his position in the side.

Manchester United are reportedly looking to sign an exciting young attacker ahead of rivals Manchester City next year.

Man Utd transfer news…

The Red Devils splashed the cash on three high-profile additions over the summer, with Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund all arriving at Old Trafford. Altay Bayindir, Sofyan Amrabat, Jonny Evans and Sergio Reguilon also made the move to Manchester, but on the pitch, things haven’t been going to plan.

Erik ten Hag’s side have lost half of their opening eight Premier League games and their opening two Champions League group stage fixtures, with the Red Devils returning to action this weekend against Sheffield United.

The January transfer window is also fast approaching, and by the looks of things, those at Old Trafford are already identifying potential targets for 2024, one of which being "one of the world's biggest talents" in the eyes of football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Sport Witness relayed a Florian Wirtz transfer update in the last 48 hours, claiming that Man Utd, Man City and Newcastle United are all in the picture to sign the player alongside Bayern Munich. The report adds that Wirtz is going to receive ‘very high proposals’ from England, with Leverkusen wanting around €85m (£74m) for his services next summer.

Florian Wirtz profiled…

Wirtz is primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play out wide or slightly further forward if needed. The Germany international has been on the books with Leverkusen since 2020 and has seen his transfer valuation rocket to a career-high €85m after starting at €10m when he arrived at the club. (Florian Wirtz profile – Transfermarkt)

Statistically, Wirtz has been a regular in recent years and has now made 113 senior appearances for Leverkusen, scoring 26 times and providing 34 assists, netting three times and registering four assists in 10 appearances during the current campaign. (Florian Wirtz stats – Transfermarkt)

Wirtz’s manager, Xabi Alonso, has even compared the player to Lionel Messi earlier this year, saying:

"There are good players and there are players who look good on the pitch. The player who looks good does things that are nice, but not necessarily efficient. Why is Messi so good? Because he knows how and when to play simple passes. Messi says: 'You're in a better position? Here, there you have the ball!' It's not always about making the most brilliant move, but the best and smartest. Florian can do that. That's why he's so good."

Therefore, with Bruno Fernandes approaching 30 years of age and Christian Eriksen already over 30 years old, United could see someone like Wirtz as a shrewd long-term addition, and by the looks of things, a deal is one to keep an eye on.

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag is in the market for reinforcements and is now eyeing a short-term solution to a key problem at Old Trafford, according to a report.

Manchester United's goalscoring woes…

Despite bringing in Rasmus Hojlund for £72 million in the summer window, Manchester United have struggled in front of goal this term and have scored just 18 times this campaign in the Premier League, making them the sixth-lowest chance convertors in the division.

Man Utd now eyeing £80m+ deal for "incredible" player to replace Martial

Martial will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season…

BySean Markus Clifford Dec 19, 2023

Only Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Luton Town, Burnley and Luton Town have scored less than the Red Devils in the league, which is a damning indication of where they need to spend in January in order to keep pace in their hunt for continental qualification.

Aside from Hojlund, who is yet to net a single Premier League goal for the club, Anthony Martial exists as Ten Hag's other striking option; however, the Frenchman now looks to be firmly on his way out of Old Trafford after The Athletic revealed that Manchester United will not trigger his 12-month contract extension clause, leaving him free to depart either in January for a fee or next summer on a free transfer.

In light of this, acquiring a new centre forward in January will become a crucial priority for the Red Devils as they seek to offer Hojlund assistance following his tough start to life at Old Trafford.

Now, one man who could add a wealth of experience to Manchester United's forward line has been identified as a potential loan target, according to a report.

Mauro Icardi wanted by Manchester United

According to Football Transfers, Manchester United are considering a loan swoop for Galatasaray forward Mauro Icardi in January as Ten Hag urgently looks to bring in another attacking option at Old Trafford.

Similar players to Mauro Icardi (based on statistical profiles from FBRef)

Player

Club

Cyle Larin

Mallorca

Dusan Vlahovic

Juventus

Akor Adams

Montpellier

Ludovic Ajorque

Mainz 05

Davie Selke

Koln

The 30-year-old is reportedly open to a move to the Premier League and any deal to bring him to the North West on loan would likely include a clause to make the agreement permanent. Argentina international Icardi netted against the Red Devils alongside former player Wilfried Zaha in the Champions League earlier this campaign, condemning Manchester United to a 3-2 home defeat.

Labelled an "animal" by former boss Luciano Spalletti, Icardi has been in brilliant goalscoring form this term, registering 17 goals and six assists in 25 appearances across all competitions (Icardi statistics – Transfermarkt).

Having also averaged around four shots per match in the Turkish top-flight term, Icardi knows where the goal is and could provide some crucial short-term cover in the final third for Manchester United (Icardi statistics – WhoScored).

Serhou Guirassy

19th December

Nico Williams

19th December

Donyell Malen

8th December

Max Moerstedt

7th December

Timo Werner

1st December

Aston Villa are certainly riding the crest of a wave right now as they secured their sixth Premier League win of the season with a rather straight forward 4-1 thrashing of West Ham United on the weekend.

Unai Emery was clearly just getting started by leading Villa to a seventh-place finish last season and their form during the current campaign ensures they have a realistic chance of securing a top six spot or whisper it quietly, a Champions League berth for next year.

Of course, they will have to maintain this over the course of a whole term while defeating established sides like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City at some point, but with the way the Spaniard has them playing right now, nothing appears out of the question.

Having lured players such as Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres, and Nicolo Zaniolo to the club in a bid to strengthen his squad, and it has worked a charm.

He may not stop there, however, as his meticulous approach suggests there could be a few more arrivals during the January transfer window, and if Villa are still challenging at the top end of the Premier League while progressing in Europe, improving his squad depth could be crucial.

With this in mind, it appears as though the Midlands side are showing interest in a current Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler ahead of the winter window.

Are Aston Villa interested in signing Carlos Soler?

According to a recent report by Le Parisien (via One Football), Emery looks to be keeping tabs on the Spanish ace as the January window fast approaches.

The outlet claimed that PSG manager Luis Enrique is looking to add some more creativity to his side and could be set to bolster this area, yet this would potentially require him to make a few sales in order to accommodate some new arrivals.

Brighton and Hove Albion are also showing interest in the 6-foot gem and, having played for PSG and Valencia, his next stop could be the Premier League.

The 26-year-old ace is currently earning around £100k-per-week and this is certainly a wage that Villa could afford, especially when you consider that their highest earner is Boubacar Kamara, who is reportedly taking home £175k-per-week.

According to Football Transfers, Soler is currently valued at €25.6m (£22.3m), although he does have another four years remaining on his current contract, giving Enrique some more flexibility with the fee he could charge prospective buyers.

How good is Carlos Soler?

PSG won the Ligue 1 title last season and with the triumvirate of Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe obviously stealing headlines throughout the campaign, scoring 58 goals between them, it was Soler who played the unassuming role in the heart of the midfield.

Across 26 league matches last term, he scored three goals and grabbed three assists while registering ten goal contributions altogether in all competitions and key played a key role in their title triumph.

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Before PSG however, he was an integral member of the Valencia squad, racking up a rather remarkable 38 goal contributions – 24 goals and 14 assists – across his final two full seasons with the Spanish giants, and it is clear he could give Emery and extra attacking threat from the heart of the midfield.

Over the previous 12 months when compared with positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions, he currently ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.32), the top 14% for assists per 90 (0.19), and the top 11% for progressive passes received per 90 (4.91).

This indicates that not only does he feature highly for goals and assists, but the midfielder likes to burst forward and receive the ball in dangerous positions on a regular basis.

Could he even be an upgrade on one of Emery’s summer signings? Youri Tielemans has failed to really showcase his true talents since joining Villa.

Is Carlos Soler better than Youri Tielemans?

Since arriving at Villa Park, the Belgian international has failed to start a league match under Emery and currently ranks in a lowly 12th spot for accurate passes per game (11.6), while also ranking 12th for key passes per game (0.2) and 11th for goals and assists(one) which indicate that he hasn’t made the required impact as expected.

In comparison, Soler ranks 15th for accurate passes per game (18.7) across the PSG squad while also ranking 15th for key passes per game (0.6) and seventh for goals and assists (two), and considering how tough it is to stand out at the French giants, he is performing fairly well when called upon.

The Spaniard has also registered more shots per 90 (2.32 vs 0.58) than Tielemans while also having a better pass success rate (87.7% vs 86.9%), taking more touches in the attacking third (64 vs 36) and receiving more progressive passes (13 vs five) per 90, suggesting that Soler has the edge on the Belgian across a wide range of performance metrics.

It is no wonder then that former Valencia star Curro Torres, who coached Soler during his time in the youth academy, praised him back in 2021, saying: “He is the complete midfielder and can act as a 6, 8 or 10; he has power, arrives in the box and can score.

“I know him and I know that he can still bring his game to the next level. He has taken on responsibility in the team too.”

These attributes could be a huge bonus for Emery as he aims to strengthen his side and with Tielemans not quite making an immediate impact following his summer arrival, Soler could see the potential to secure a regular spot in a team who are on the rise.

It would signal yet another statement of intent by the former Arsenal boss if he was able to lure the PSG midfielder to the Midlands, especially given his performances on the continent since making his debut for Valencia during the 2016/17 season.

If Emery wants constant improvement at Villa, he needs to continue his fine record in the transfer market and secure players who are heading to the peak of their powers.

Diaby and Torres fit that bill having joined during the summer and there is no doubt Soler is about to enter his prime years as a footballer, becoming an upgrade on Tielemans in the process, due to the aforementioned statistics.

Manchester United are putting the wheels in motion for their upcoming transfer activity and are still keen to land a high-profile star on a free transfer, according to reports.

Man Utd return from international duty…

The Red Devils will return from the international break this weekend against Everton as they look to continue their positive form in the Premier League, which has helped to catapult the Premier League giants up to sixth in the division.

Winning four of their last five league matches, Erik ten Hag has managed to restore some credibility at Old Trafford; however, United are still some way off the terrifying force that they used to be, both domestically and in European competition.

Fabrizio Romano shares injury update out of Man Utd, says it's "great news"

United have endured their fair share of injury struggles over the last few months.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 23, 2023

Fighting fire among his squad, Ten Hag has had to deal with an extensive injury list over the course of 2023/24 and not much has changed on that front as his side now prepares to take on Sean Dyche's Everton. As cited by The Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils will be without Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Jonny Evans, Tyrell Malacia and Amad Diallo for the trip to Merseyside.

England international Luke Shaw has made his comeback to first-team training at Carrington and could be involved this weekend. At the same time, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund are expected to feature despite concerns. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been suffering from illness and Andre Onana was taken off on international duty with Cameroon, so it will remain to be seen whether they can return in time.

Man Utd's last five Premier League results

Manchester United 1-0 Luton Town

Fulham 0-1 Manchester United

Manchester United 0-3 Manchester City

Sheffield United 1-2 Manchester United

Manchester United 2-1 Brentford

Now, fresh information has come to light concerning the club's transfer plans, with a potential soon-to-be free agent on the agenda in the North West.

Man Utd still keen on Adrien Rabiot

According to Calciomercato via Sport Witness, Manchester United are still keen on Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who could be available on a free transfer in the summer of 2024 when his contract at the Allianz Stadium expires.

The report states that the France international came close to moving to Old Trafford last summer; however, concerns over his wages put an end to any speculation that he would be swapping Turin for Manchester, and he could soon be available to discuss pre-contract terms once more.

Labelled "a very elegant player" by his former international teammate Hugo Lloris, Rabiot has featured regularly for Juventus this campaign, registering a goal and assist apiece in 11 appearances across all competitions (Rabiot statistics – Transfermarkt).

Carrying the creative torch for Juventus from the heart of Massimiliano Allegri's engine room, the 28-year-old has also successfully carried out 30 shot-creating actions in Serie A, with three directly leading to goals (Rabiot statistics – FBRef).

Possessing elite-level experience and a composed temperament, Rabiot could prove to be an economically advantageous option for Ten Hag to bolster his options in midfield; so who knows, 2024 could finally be the year they get their man.