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.

West Ham United are in the race to sign a new striker in January, but a report has revealed that they aren’t the only club hoping to bring him to the Premier League.

West Ham transfer news

The Irons appear keen to bolster their options in the backline having already been linked with moves for two defenders in the form of Perth Glory’s James Overy and Club America’s Sebastian Caceres, but the centre of the park is another area that they are looking to strengthen.

David Moyes has set his sights on Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli and Manchester United’s Scott McTominay in that defensive midfield role, though with centre-forward reportedly having been made the priority area heading into the upcoming window, the boss is ready to do battle to secure one of his top targets.

Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez has established himself as Arne Slot’s best-performing offensive player so far this season (WhoScored – Feyenoord statistics), and his impressive form has caught the eye of chiefs, but not for the first time at the London Stadium.

The Irons held preliminary talks for the 22-year-old over the summer both with his club and his representatives having been recommended to the hierarchy by technical director Tim Steidten, but having instead chosen to extend his contract, a deal failed to come to fruition before the deadline.

West Ham plotting move for Santiago Gimenez

According to The Mirror, however, Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez is of interest to West Ham who are considering taking a second bite of the cherry for their summer target.

“West Ham are among a long list of clubs chasing highly-rated Feyenoord frontman Santiago Gimenez. West Ham, Tottenham, Arsenal, Newcastle, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Lazio, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have all watched the 22-year-old in action during months gone by and Feyenoord are braced for winter approaches.

"Now Gimenez's value has sky-rocketed upwards of £40million although Feyenoord have no interest in selling their most-valuable asset, particularly halfway through the current campaign, in January.

"Although Gimenez is not the only target of interest – he is believed to be a popular pick among the Hammers' transfer committee despite widespread competition from across Europe.”

Since putting pen to paper at Feyenoord from Cruz Azul last summer, Gimenez has posted a remarkable 44 contributions, 38 goals and six assists, in 57 appearances (Transfermarkt – Gimenez statistics), with this prolific form having seen him described as a “Mexican Machine” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Slot’s left-footed star has also recorded a total of 38 shots so far this season which is more than any other of his fellow teammates (FBRef – Feyenoord statistics), highlighting his desire to create chances and hit the back of the net. Additionally, Gimenez knows what it takes to compete and be successful at a high level having secured six trophies for both club and country since the start of his career, so he could bring a real winning mentality to the squad at West Ham.

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…

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.

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.

West Brom are tussling with a host of other Championship clubs for the signing of an "excellent" international midfielder, according to a new transfer update.

West Brom transfer news

The Baggies have made an encouraging start to the season, currently sitting seventh in the Championship table and just outside the playoff positions on goal difference. Granted, Saturday's 2-1 defeat away to Southampton was a disappointing result, but it was certainly no disaster against another team who will be hoping to be back in the Premier League next year.

While Carlos Corberan has built a good squad at West Brom, the manager will no doubt be eyeing new signings once the January transfer window arrives, giving him more depth ahead of a busy run in the New Year. The ongoing takeover saga at the Hawthorns feels key in that respect, however, in terms of whether enough funds will be available under potential new owners by that point.

A new update suggests that the Baggies are intending on doing some key transfer business midway through the season, though, with an international player being eyed up.

West Brom want Callum Styles

According to a new claim from TEAMtalk, West Brom are keen on signing Barnsley and Hungary midfielder Callum Styles, with numerous other clubs also in the mix.

"A host of clubs are chasing Barnsley’s Hungarian international Callum Styles ahead of a possible move in the January window, sources have told TEAMtalk. Styles spent last season on loan at Millwall, which enabled him to stay in the Championship after Barnsley’s relegation, before returning to Oakwell this summer and now he is again attracting attention.

"TEAMtalk has been informed that recently promoted Premier League pair Burnley and Sheffield United, as well as Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion, have all shown an interest in the versatile 23-year-old, who is set to go to the Euros with Hungary next summer."

Styles could be a strong signing by West Brom, and while he may be playing in League One at the moment, there is no reason why he couldn't make the step up in January. That is proven when you look at Styles' statistics throughout his career, with an impressive tally of 124 appearances coming his way in the Championship, not to mention nine goals and six assists from the middle of the park.

There is also the small matter of the 23-year-old being a 16-time capped Hungary international, playing alongside Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai for his country, and he has been hailed as "excellent" by Barnsley head coach Neill Collins.

Styles would bring plenty of experience with him into West Brom's squad, aiding their promotion push in the process, but he is also still only 23 years of age, showing that he would be a long-term addition who should only grow in the coming years. The fact that he will be hoping to play a key role for Hungary at Euro 2024 next summer could be an added bonus for the Baggies, assuming they qualify, with his performances potentially being even more focused between January and then.

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.

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.

Wolverhampton Wanderers face Fulham tonight in the Premier League, looking to put two consecutive wins together in the top flight for the first time this season, having put Tottenham Hotspur to the sword prior to the international break.

However, one of the stars of Wolves' showing against Spurs will be absent in London as Craig Dawson is suspended for the trip to Craven Cottage for picking up too many yellow cards this term.

In the short term, head coach Gary O'Neil could simply look to make a like-for-like replacement for the ex-West Ham United defender, but the manager could also choose to make a bold tactical decision which would affect the rest of the team.

Craig Dawson's stats this season

Losing Dawson through suspension is a big miss for O'Neil and for Wolves as a whole. The experienced centre-half moved to Molineux back in January for a nominal fee of £3.3m, after spending the last three years with West Ham in what was the most fruitful spell of the Hammers' history since the Premier League began.

Wolves "colossus" who won 100% duels was the hero alongside Lemina

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In fact, Dawson even earned himself a Europa Conference League winner's medal in June despite the fact that he hadn't featured for the east London club for five months.

The 33-year-old has been a rock at the back over the past year for the Old Gold and ranks well above average in a whole host of key defensive metrics when compared to all other centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues.

Per 90 Metric

Percentile Ranking

Blocks

94

Shots Blocked

99

% of Dribblers Tackled

81

Clearances

75

Passes Blocked

80

Shots

83

Shots On Target

74

Stats via FBref.

Dawson is particularly efficient when defending in his own box, hence why he ranks in the top 6% for blocks per 90, the top 1% for shots blocked per 90 and the top 25% for clearances per 90.

Against Spurs a fortnight ago, the veteran completed two tackles, competed in four aerial duels and even blocked one of the opposition's six shots on goal as Wolves clinched the victory in the game's dying stages. Nevertheless, the Midlands club will have to make do away at Fulham without Dawson's defensive nous.

Pablo Sarabia's stats this season

Wolves deployed a 5-3-2 formation in the win over Tottenham two weeks ago, with Dawson employed in the centre of the back three, supported by Max Kilman and Toti Gomes either side of him.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, O'Neil admitted that the most like-for-like replacement for Dawson is £8.5m summer signing Santiago Bueno, who has yet to make a single start in the Premier League.

The Uruguayan defender has featured for just six minutes for Wolves this season, coming off the bench during a 1-1 draw away at Luton Town back in September and so it could be seen as a risk to throw the 25-year-old into the deep end this week. However, O'Neil also has the option to change the team's formation completely.

Wolves' 5-3-2 worked wonders against Spurs prior to the international break but O'Neil has also chosen to set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 this term. While the former Bournemouth boss may not want to change a winning team, the absence of Dawson could allow O'Neil to revert to a back four by shifting Toti alongside Kilman in the heart of the defence and dropping Rayan Ait Nouri deeper as a left-back, freeing up the wings for Pablo Sarabia.

Sarabia moved to Molineux in January for £4.4m, like Dawson, but has failed to become a regular in the first eleven, having made just two starts in the Premier League this term. Nevertheless, the Spanish playmaker has registered five assists this season in all competitions. Only Pedro Neto has boasted more for Wolves.

The 31-year-old changed the game for Wolves last time out, coming off the bench to score the equaliser and assist the winner, leading Joe Cole to label his leveller as "brilliant". Sarabia starting would also cause Hwang Hee-chan to push over to the right wing in O'Neil's 4-2-3-1, leaving Matheus Cunha alone up top, although this could offer a nice blend of goalscoring and playmaking brilliance on the flanks for the visitors.

While O'Neil may not be keen to change a winning side, it will be difficult for the coach to ignore Sarabia's calls to start after his heroic late display against Spurs.

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.

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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.