All posts by z3u9t.icu

Chelsea and senior club chief Todd Boehly are plotting to make a £30 million-plus player the club's next "priority" signing in January, according to reports this week.

Chelsea already making transfer plans ahead of January window

The west Londoners spent around £200 million on new signings over the course of the summer transfer window, with no less than 13 players putting pen to paper on moves to Stamford Bridge before the 11pm deadline on August 30.

Free agent once "close to signing" for Chelsea holds new talks to join them

He’s actively attempting to find a new club.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 10, 2024

Joao Felix, Mike Penders, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Renato Veiga, Estevao Willian, Filip Jorgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Aaron Anselmino, Caleb Wiley, Omari Kellyman, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho all agreed to join Chelsea, and it could've been one more, had it not been for their failed signing of striker Victor Osimhen.

Chelsea were locked in deadline day talks to sign Osimhen from Napoli, alongside Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, but neither side could strike a full last-minute deal for the Nigerian – who later joined Süper Lig champions Galatasaray on loan.

Appearances

25

Goals

15

Assists

3

Shots Per 90

3.86

Key Passes Per 90

1.05

Successful Take-Ons Per 90

0.73

A Chelsea move to sign Osimhen in January is still possible, as his temporary Galatasaray contract includes a break-clause, which would allow interested sides to strike a mid-season agreement.

The forward's new Napoli deal also includes a discounted release clause set at around £63 million, according to reports, so this could be one to watch in future. In the meantime, it is believed Chelsea are already making plans for the winter window.

Indeed, according to reliable Blues journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea are planning to loan out Mykhailo Mudryk in January, and there is a belief that Lecce starlet Patrick Dorgu is firmly on their agenda.

The 19-year-old, who's started all of their Serie A games so far this season, is regarded as one of Denmark's brightest up-and-coming talents. Dorgu made 32 league appearances for Leece last term over a breakout campaign for him, and the left-back's performances haven't gone unnoticed in the Premier League.

Chelsea planning to make Dorgu their "priority" January signing

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are considering whether to make Dorgu their "priority" January signing instead of Osimhen. The teenager is increasingly appreciated by Chelsea and a host of other top-flight sides, and could move for the left-sided starlet who can also play further up field on the wing.

There were reports over the summer that Lecce director Pantaleo Corvino was waiting for an official Chelsea bid to sign Dorgu, so this could be one to watch, though Fabrizio Romano has since claimed he could cost over £30 million to sign now.

"You can just say that with some players it can go incredibly fast," said Denmark Under-21s boss Steffen Højer on Dorgu.

"He has already had a lot of playing minutes in Serie A with Lecce, and he has done really, really well. What is special about him is that he is a quiet and calm guy, but things are just incredibly natural for him on a football pitch."

Celtic have gained a strong reputation over the years for developing talented young prospects before selling them on for big profit to European teams.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, who joined Southampton for £13m in 2015, Fraser Forster, Victor Wanyama, and Gary Hooper all earned big moves away from Parkhead from the Neil Lennon era.

More recently, Kieran Tierney completed a staggering £25m move to Premier League giants Arsenal from the Hoops in the summer of 2019, which made him the most expensive Scottish player in history.

That fee was matched by the one that the Bhoys raked in from Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad for Portuguese forward Jota, who left for £25m in the summer of 2023.

These sales show that the Hoops have made a habit of raking in huge sums of money for their talents over the years, which suggests that they have created a nurturing environment that allows players to thrive whilst winning trophies for the club.

The latest example of their fantastic work in that respect is central midfielder Matt O’Riley, who recently completed a move to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

Celtic's Matt O'Riley blinder

Former Celtic head coach Ange Postecoglou moved to sign the English-born starlet from League One side MK Dons for a reported fee of £1.5m at the start of 2022.

The 21-year-old central midfielder did not take long to adjust to football in Scotland, with a return of four goals and three assists in 16 Scottish Premiership appearances.

It was immediately clear that the Hoops had struck gold by signing the midfield maestro for a fee of just £1.5m, as he made an instant impact as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the club.

O’Riley followed that up with four goals and 14 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants in his first full season under Postecoglou.

The 23-year-old star then produced a staggering 19 goals and 18 assists in 49 outings in all competitions for Celtic under Brendan Rodgers last term, with the bulk of those goal contributions coming in the Premiership.

Appearances

37

Goals

18

Big chances created

14

Assists

13

Dribbles completed per game

1.0

As you can see in the table above, the Denmark international provided a huge threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a central midfield position for the Northern Irish head coach in the 2023/24 campaign.

His sensational form in Scotland attracted interest from down south and Brighton & Hove Albion eventually won the race for his signature for a reported fee of £25m.

Celtic played a blinder with the former Fulham prospect as they snapped him up for just £1.5m from MK Dons and turned him into a £25m player in less than three years.

The Hoops do not always manage their talent perfectly, however, as they once allowed a player to leave for nothing and he is now worth more than O’Riley in the present day.

Celtic fumbled Andy Robertson

Current Liverpool star Andy Robertson started his youth career with the Bhoys in 2003, at the age of nine, and spent six years in the academy before his departure in 2009.

The Scottish ace was released in the summer of 2009, at the age of 15, and later revealed that he went home and cried after that rejection, as it was his dream – having been a season ticket holder at the club at the age of two – to play in front of a packed out crowd at Parkhead.

Robertson has also spoken of the reasons behind his exit from Paradise. The Hoops opted against keeping hold of the youngster due to his lack of height and physicality, whilst he was one of a number of players who were allowed to move on for that reason.

The young gem was then picked up by Queen’s Park before joining Dundee United in the Premiership in 2013, which is where he produced three goals and six assists in 36 league outings.

After just one season with Dundee United, Premier League outfit Hull City swooped in to sign him for a reported fee of £2.8m in 2014, and that is where his rise in English football began.

Andy Robertson's current market value

At the time of writing (12/09/2024), Robertson currently has an Expected Transfer Value (xTV) of €34.6m (£29.2m), as per FootballTransfers, thanks to his fantastic form over the years in England.

This means that he is currently worth more than Matt O’Riley, who just joined Brighton for £25m, despite being seven years older than the Dane – at 30.

His rise in value over the years has been down to his sensational form for Liverpool, having signed for the Reds after three years and 115 appearances for Hull, where he has won the Premier League and the Champions League.

Jurgen Klopp’s side paid an initial fee of £8m, rising to £10m, for the Scotland international in the summer of 2017 and his current market value suggests that they struck gold, as he is worth significantly more than that after seven years at Anfield.

17/18

22

5

18/19

36

11

19/20

36

12

20/21

38

7

21/22

29

10

22/23

34

8

23/24

23

2

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish dynamo has been a consistent source of creativity down the left flank for Liverpool over the years.

Robertson has racked up 59 assists in his Premier League career, for the Reds and Hull combined, and currently tops the charts for assists by a defender in the history of the league, as he has overtaken Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return of 58.

The Liverpool star, who was once described as a “world-class” player by Klopp, has developed into one of the best defenders in Premier League history, as evidenced by the incredible record he currently holds.

£5m Celtic flop who was sold by Rodgers is outscoring Kyogo this season

The Hoops allowed the centre-forward to move on from Parkhead last summer.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 11, 2024

All of this – his soaring value, his performances, Klopp’s praise, his record in the English top-flight – suggests that Celtic blundered when they released him for nothing back in 2009, as they failed to make the most of the ‘world-class’ talent on their books.

Arsenal insiders are apparently convinced that a teenager at London Colney is just destined to become a star under manager Mikel Arteta, with those at London Colney highly rating him for quite some time.

Arsenal preparing for Leicester City after Bolton win

The Gunners enjoyed a brilliant night on home turf in midweek, sailing through to the next round of the EFL Cup in style with a 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers.

Gary Neville: "Very underrated" Arsenal ace way more crucial than Odegaard

The Sky Sports pundit has had his say on Arsenal’s best players.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 27, 2024

Declan Rice, Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz and a brace from Ethan Nwaneri sealed a routine win for Arsenal against the League One minnows, but Arteta’s side have little time to celebrate, as Leicester City await them in the Premier League this afternoon.

They go into the game without club captain Martin Odegaard once again, who is set to be sidelined for weeks as he continues his recovery from an ankle ligament injury. Odegaard may not return until late October, or perhaps even November, but Arteta is very pleased with how his side have responded without their captain.

“If you put me in this scenario before I started this season with the calendar that we were given,” said Arteta on Odegaard.

Appearances

156

Goals

35

Assists

25

Yellow cards

12

Red cards

0

Minutes played

12,108

“The fixtures that we had, the three away games that we had and the amount of injuries that we had to deal with and how we got out of that, I would be very, very pleased. It’s not just Martin, obviously he’s one of our best players and a player that has more impact on the team in many ways, but there were many others as well and the team has coped extremely well because we have an exceptional group. A lot of players have taken a different role in the leadership, in their importance in the team and they embrace that challenge. I’m really happy for that.”

With Odegaard out of the team for a while, it could be a wonderful chance to hand Nwaneri some senior minutes, following his impressive performance against Bolton.

Arsenal insiders are convinced Nwaneri will be a star

As per GiveMeSport, Arsenal insiders have been convinced that Nwaneri is destined for stardom, and they’ve held that belief since he joined the north London club at Under-9 level.

As such, they will not even entertain the thought of their 17-year-old prodigy leaving on loan for the second half of the season, as Arteta appears to have big plans for the teenage attacking midfielder.

“This will do him really good,” said former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown after Nwaneri’s performance against Bolton.

“We talked about having the experience around him, being able to play with Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice and others. He is going to learn so much and he has contributed in the game. He’s an unbelievably exciting talent and I think of all the coaches who want to bring on and develop young players, Mikel Arteta is the right person for him.

“A wonderful night for him and his family.”

Crystal Palace’s recruitment over the past couple of years has seen them sign some excellent talent who have made a huge impact on the first team or even bank the club a huge profit.

Michael Olise is just one example of a player who succeeded at Selhurst Park before leaving for a sizeable profit, with his funds undoubtedly making the club more sustainable.

The Frenchman arrived in a £8m move from Reading back in 2021, before featuring 90 times for the Eagles in all competitions, securing a £50m move to European giants Bayern Munich this summer.

Adam Wharton is another name who has starred for the Eagles in recent times, arriving as an unknown quantity from Blackburn Rovers in a £18m deal back in January.

However, just nine months on from his move to the Premier League, the 20-year-old has taken to the division like a duck to water, earning himself his first-ever England call-up for the Euro 2024 squad over the summer.

Their recent recruitment has been impressive, but they also managed to secure a move for another talent back in January 2017, with the signing enjoying a successful spell at Selhurst Park.

Patrick van Aanholt’s stats for Crystal Palace

Dutch left-back Patrick van Aanholt joined Palace in a £14m deal from Sunderland seven years ago, with the now 34-year-old cementing himself as the club’s first choice in that area over several years.

He amassed a total of 134 appearances for the Eagles over a four-year spell in the capital, scoring 14 times – a reasonable tally for a full-back it has to be said.

Van Aanholt was part of a side that continuously secured the club’s Premier League status, producing some memorable individual moments along the way, including a superb free-kick against Newcastle United back in 2020.

However, he would depart the club in the summer of 2021 at the end of his contract, joining Turkish side Galatasaray on a free transfer – ending his spell with the Eagles.

Whilst he was an excellent servant for the club, he moved to the club during the same period as a youth talent was on the radar of owner Steve Parish, with the club now ruing the failure to secure a deal for the talent.

The player who Crystal Palace missed out on

Alphonso Davies has rapidly emerged as one of the leading left-backs in world football despite his tender age of just 23 – starring on a regular basis for Bayern Munich.

Davies, who’s now teammates with former Palace star Olise, moved to the European giants back in 2018 from MLS Vancouver Whitecaps for a fee in the region of just £16.6m – a bargain given his current market value.

The Canadian international is now valued at £42m as per Transfermarkt, with Palace undoubtedly missing out by not completing a deal for the superstar when he was a youngster.

Josko Gvardiol

£63m

Theo Hernandez

£50m

Nuno Mendes

£46m

Alphonso Davies

£42m

Federico Dimarco

£42m

Current owner Parish admitted that he had the opportunity to sign the left-back as a youngster, claiming that a work permit scuppered a potential move.

In an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung via GOAL a couple of years ago, he said:

“When he was 15, 16 in a football school in Edmonton, where my sister lives, she recommended him to me.

“We flew to Canada especially to see the player. We wanted to sign him, but once again we couldn’t get a work permit in England. True story! I still have all the mails. I’m sure he would have been interested in coming to us – and we were very early!”

It’s really unfortunate that the club were unable to complete a deal for the talent considering the heights he’s gone on to reach since his failed move to the Eagles seven years ago, having been dubbed the “best left-back in the world” by Alexi Lalas.

However, unfortunately for Parish and the supporters, Davies will go down as yet another case of what could’ve been had they completed a move for the elite-level talent.

Crystal Palace wanted to sign £15m PL flop but ended up with Mateta

Palace nearly ended up with PL flop, but got Mateta instead

ByConnor Holden Oct 3, 2024

West Ham were beaten 4-1 by Tottenham yesterday, having just come off the back of a 4-1 victory against Ipswich before the international break.

Mohamed Kudus opened the scoring in the 18th minute, putting the Hammers 1-0 up, before Dejan Kulusevski equalised in the 36th minute to head in 1-1 at half-time.

Spurs came out on the front foot in the second-half, scoring three goals, one from Yves Bissouma, one from Heung-min Son, and one being an own-goal given to Alphonse Areola. To make matters worse, Kudus was also sent off in the 86th minute, for violent conduct.

The goalscorer was one of the better performers before his sending-off, and now the Hammers will be without him for three Premier League matches, including their next game against Manchester United.

Kudus' performance against Spurs

The 24-year-old has now made ten appearances for the Hammers this campaign, scoring two goals, and providing one assist in 693 minutes played. However, both of his goals have come in back-to-back matches, having started the season slowly, going eight games without a goal.

Having scored the opener for West Ham, it looked like Kudus would at least be able to come away from the game with his head held high, having four shots on target, completing 5/12 dribble attempts, completing 3/3 long balls, and winning 9/20 ground duels.

Stat

Kudus

Minutes

86

Goals

1

Touches

57

Accurate Passes

26/28

Crosses

1/2

Long Balls

3/3

Shots on Target

4

Shots off Target

1

Shots Blocked

2

Successful Dribbles

5/12

Ground Duels Won

9/20

However, what would have been perceived as a strong individual performance in a poor team performance, was overshadowed by his red card, losing his head in the final minutes of the game, and being given his marching orders.

But even after this, there is another West Ham player who performed even worse, playing a big part in a few of Spurs’ goals.

Todibo's Spurs shocker

Jean-Clair Todibo was given a 4/10 match rating by GIVEMESPORT, after having a big hand in two of Tottenham’s goals, one of which was awarded as an own-goal to Areola after rebounding off of the Frenchman, and one where Son was able to run at him in the box, find space and get a shot away.

Todibo has made seven appearances for the Hammers this season, since arriving in the summer from Nice. The 24-year-old has contributed to two clean sheets, and totaled 412 minutes so far, but the West Ham fans will be demanding more from him, especially after the Spurs shocker.

His metrics don’t look as bad, winning 4/5 ground duels, 1/1 aerial duels, making 5 clearances, three tackles, two interceptions, and one block. However, his part in two of the four goals was a big difference maker in the game, especially when these finer margins can decide games, as they did for Spurs.

Todibo, who was even worse than the Ghana international – who at least scored before his red card, must now be brutally ditched from the starting XI after his vital errors for two goals against Tottenham on Saturday.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking to get ahead of the rest as they make contact with a January transfer target, according to a new report.

It has been a frustrating campaign for Gary O’Neil’s side so far as their wait for a Premier League win continues, but securing a point at Brighton last weekend after being 2-0 down could be the springboard the club needs.

Wolves send scouts to watch £20m midfielder as they eye January transfer

Wolves are keeping an eye on a player they are interested in signing in January.

1 ByBrett Worthington Oct 28, 2024 Wolves transfer news

Two points from nine games is a poor return for Wolves, and while they have done reasonably well going forward, their habit of conceding goals is letting them down massively. The Old Gold have so far conceded 25 goals in the Premier League, the most by any side.

Injuries haven’t helped O’Neil, as his backline is always being changed, so it was no surprise to see them being linked with a move for a defender. Wolves have sent scouts to watch young defender Nathan Zeze, as they look to sign the Nantes player in 2025. However, they are not the only side interested in the 19-year-old, as Aston Villa are also said to be keen.

As well as looking at adding in defence, O’Neil and Wolves are also keen on adding more firepower to their attack. The Midlands side have made Watford’s Giorgi Chakvetadze a top transfer target for January. Club scouts have taken in recent Watford games to watch the player, and he has now been “shortlisted” as a player to buy if they are able to do business in January. The Hornets could look to demand as much as £20 million for the midfielder, who only signed a five-year deal last month.

Given Wolves’ situation in the league, they are looking at ways of improving it, and they also have their eye on another forward-thinking player, this time someone from France.

Wolves now making early move to sign 21-goal attacker in January

According to Africa Foot, relayed by Sport Witness, Wolves have identified Toulouse winger Zakaria Aboukhlal as a target for January. The 24-year-old has been with the French side since July 2022, after he joined them from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

Aboukhlal started his career at Willem II, and after progressing through the age groups, he then moved to PSV’s under-19s in 2017. He progressed to their under-21s, and in 2019, AZ decided to snap him up, and he went on to play 90 times for them in all competitions.

The 24-year-old has now been impressing in France with Toulouse, and this report states that Wolves have “established contact in recent hours” in order to convince the attacker to move to England in January. It goes on to add that the Premier League side are working on trying to secure Aboukhlal on a loan deal with an option to buy, but as of yet there is no mention of any figures involved.

Apps

65

Goals

21

Assists

6

Talks between the parties have started, but it is not made clear whether that is Wolves and the player’s representatives, the two clubs or both. Either way, Wolves look to be keen to land the winger in January, who has scored 21 goals since joining the French side, taking his career tally for club and country to 36.

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are reportedly willing to part ways with another one of their young talents in the year to come, and are even willing to let him cross north London and join rivals Tottenham.

Arsenal ruing Chido Obi-Martin exit

Arsenal have seen some high-profile young talents leave the club in recent seasons, and there are fears that they may have just made another mistake.

The major case in previous years was with Serge Gnabry, who was wasted on loan at struggling Premier League side West Brom before becoming one of the best wingers in world football at Bayern Munich.

This summer, another gem escaped their grasp in the form of Chido Obi Martin, who tore the U18s apart in Arsenal colours last season, scoring 32 times in just 18 games, scoring at a rate of once every 45 minutes.

He secured a high-profile move to Manchester United over the most recent transfer window, and got his Red Devils career off to the perfect start, scoring after just 15 seconds on his way to a 14-minute hat-trick in the U18s.

Still just 16 years old, the young Danish talent is expected to work through the age groups this season, but his form could well see him fast-tracked to the first team should it continue. This would leave Arsenal once again feeling shortchanged as they look for a dominant no.9 of their own amid links to the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Alexander Isak.Now, reports suggest another impressive talent could be let go, and his success might hurt even more. Tottenham look to sign Arsenal gem

That comes as a report from Spain claims that Tottenham are keeping a very close eye on Arsenal loanee Karl Hein, who is currently out on loan at Real Valladolid.

The 22-year-old, who has made just one senior appearance for the Gunners, has turned in a series of impressive performances in LaLiga, keeping three clean sheets in 11 outings thus far.

Growing feeling inside Arsenal that "strongest striker" could sign for them

The Gunners think they’ve got a real chance.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 26, 2024

And as per the report, Hein has caught the eye of both Tottenham and Chelsea as the London pair look to strengthen their ranks, and the Estonian “fits the profile” of the goalkeeper that they want to bring in.

It is added that Arsenal “could consider selling him in the next transfer window”, though a summer sale is more likely than a winter one given his loan agreement in Spain. Indeed, the Gunners have even set a price, with the report claiming that they “would be willing to sell the young Estonian for between 15-20 million” euros (£12.5m-£17m).

Karl Hein in 2024/25

Appearances

11

Clean Sheets

3

Goals Conceded

21

Save %

60.4%

% of crosses stopped

7.5%

The goalkeeper signed a new contract with the club last summer, and Arteta admitted that he had been left impressed by the 22-year-old.

“Karl impresses us on a daily basis with his attitude and commitment,” the Gunners boss explained. “We appreciate being able to contribute to his development. I would like to congratulate him on earning a new contract.”

With Neto only in north London on loan, there is a vacancy at the Emirates Stadium, but a first-team spot elsewhere in London may be an offer too good to refuse if it arrives.

Philippe Clement may have breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Nedim Bajrami’s deflected effort had found the back of the net for Glasgow Rangers at Hampden Park on Sunday.

The Light Blues came from behind to secure a 2-1 win in the semi-final of the League Cup against Motherwell, having been 1-0 down at half-time in the match.

Goals from Cyriel Dessers and Bajrami in the second half ensured that the Gers will have a chance to defend their crown against Celtic in the final next month.

The League Cup is the only trophy that Clement has won in his tenure at Ibrox so far, lifting the trophy by beating Aberdeen in the final last season, and he is now looking to make it two from two in the competition.

Winning the first trophy of the season could give him a massive boost amid plenty of speculation over his position as the manager of the Scottish giants.

Philippe Clement's position at Rangers

Daily Mail writer Gary Keown recently published an article stating that pressure is growing on the Belgian boss and questioned why the club have not already made the decision to part ways with him.

Of course, it has only been just over two months since the Gers opted to extend his contract until the end of the 2027/28 campaign and they may be reluctant to admit that was a mistake so soon after that decision.

Football Insider, however, recently reported that the former AS Monaco head coach is on the brink of losing his job at Ibrox and that he may be one bad result away from the sack.

That came just before the League Cup clash with Motherwell and suggested that Clement may have lost his job if his side had not completed a turnaround at Hampden.

He has come under pressure after a number of disappointing results this season, starting with an aggregate defeat to Dynamo Kyiv that meant that the Gers fell short of qualifying for the Champions League.

Rangers were also comfortably beaten 3-0 by Celtic in the first Old Firm match of the season, whilst they have lost two of their last three matches in the Scottish Premiership – losing 1-0 to Kilmarnock and 2-1 to Aberdeen.

The Scottish giants have had more success in Europe recently, winning two of their three Europa League games, but still lost 4-1 to Lyon at Ibrox.

Rangers are currently nine points behind both Aberdeen and Celtic in the Premiership table and a title charge, even at this early stage of the season, is already looking unlikely.

Chalkboard

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

The Gers boss has not been helped by some of the performances from the experienced members of his squad, with captain James Tavernier just one of the players who have failed to step up in the big moments.

James Tavernier's struggles this season

The Light Blues skipper has not been at his best in the 2024/25 campaign and that was summed up best by the manager substituting him on Sunday with the score at 1-1, which turned out to be the right call as the Gers went on to win.

Journalist Mark Guidi recently stated that there are “huge” question marks over the Englishman’s position in the squad and that Clement could help to save his own job by dropping the captain down to the bench in the coming matches.

Tavernier produced 24 goals and 12 assists in all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign, but has only managed one goal and three assists in 17 matches this term.

That return at the top end of the pitch is, simply, not good enough when you consider how much of the team’s attacking play goes through the skipper.

Appearances

10

3

Goals

0

0

Assists

2

0

Shots per game

1.3

0.7

Possession lost per game

20.5

13.7

As you can see in the table above, Tavernier has lost the ball a staggering 246 times across those two competitions and only contributed with zero goals and two assists.

He has been far too wasteful with his use of the ball and Clement now has a decision to make over whether or not he keeps the captain in the starting XI, whilst pundit Chris Sutton believes that it could be his last season at the club.

Tavernier, however, is not the only player whose performances are potentially set to cost the manager his job, as Cyriel Dessers has also had a big part to play in the team’s struggles.

Cyriel Dessers' form this season

The Nigeria international did a sit-down interview with BBC Sport at the end of last season and stated that he felt he was a “scapegoat” at Rangers, being blamed for “everything” on the pitch.

That was after the experienced forward produced 22 goals and nine assists in 54 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues in his first campaign at Ibrox.

Whilst not ‘everything’ is his fault this season, there is no getting away from his disappointing performances in a number of big games for the Light Blues, which has contributed to Clement’s job coming under pressure.

The very first game of the season summed up his issues in a Rangers shirt as the centre-forward missed two ‘big chances’ in a 0-0 draw with Hearts, which meant that the Gers started the campaign on the back foot straight away.

Minutes played

90

71

83

Goals

0

0

0

Shots on target

1

1

0

Assists

0

0

0

Duels won

2/9

0/4

0/7

As you can see in the table above, Dessers has struggled badly in all three of the club’s defeats in the Premiership this season, to go along with his poor display against Hearts in their only draw.

These statistics show that the striker, who has scored three goals and missed six ‘big chances’ in ten games in the division, has let his manager down in the big games and cost Rangers big time.

Therefore, Dessers – along with Tavernier – is costing Clement his job and could play a big role in the Belgian being sacked if his performances against the top teams do not improve in the coming weeks.

Not just Clement: Rangers must cash in on their £30k-p/w star

Rangers latest defeat could have big implications to the manager and a few players.

ByRoss Kilvington Nov 1, 2024

Liverpool find themselves in a promising position, heading into the wintry December period that, so often, clears the fog that shrouds any team’s destiny in a campaign.

To put that another way, Liverpool are five points clear at the top of the Premier League while also holding first place at the midpoint of the newly-shaped Champions League group phase. Arne Slot couldn’t have hoped for a brighter start, with that shock Anfield defeat against Nottingham Forest still the only blot on the copybook.

There’s a trek still to be made in 2024/25, but Liverpool have the quality and togetherness to challenge for the biggest prizes right to the finish line.

Optimism on that front is often tempered with reservation, for the Reds have been crushed between football’s two great millstones (Manchester City and Real Madrid) all too often in recent years.

Slot and FSG will be sure to recognise the position they have claimed, and though the squad is brimming with quality, the winter transfer window could present an opportunity to make one or two impactful signings. Here’s their dream lineup after January…

1 GK – Alisson Becker

Alisson Becker will still be the star man between the sticks, Caoimhin Kelleher his deputy, but whether the Brazilian is actually fit in January is another matter entirely.

In any case, he’s one of the best in the world, and though much is going on within the goalkeeping department at Anfield, the 30-year-old shouldn’t be going anywhere for a few years yet.

2 RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold

Unfortunately, Trent Alexander-Arnold may very much be headed somewhere next year – namely, the scorching Spanish capital. He’s out of contract next summer, Liverpool’s lifeblood, the city’s golden child.

The all-inspiring right-back is supposed to stay forever, emulate Steven Gerrard, assume the captaincy and herald the new Slot-led era toward illustrious success.

Football isn’t a perfect world, and this one’s future path is a nebulous thing. He’ll be part of Slot’s plans until the end of the season, though.

3 CB – Ibrahima Konate

Several Liverpool stars have really stepped up their game this season, but Ibrahima Konate might just take the cake. He’s been monstrous. The France international, so powerful, so mobile, so strong, is firmly on course for his finest season in Liverpool colours.

Matches (starts)

22 (17)

11 (10)

Goals

0

1

Assists

0

1

Clean sheets

5

5

Touches*

75.5

70.2

Pass completion

88%

91%

Key passes*

0.4

0.3

Ball recoveries*

4.4

2.9

Tackles + interceptions*

2.5

1.6

Clearances*

2.3

3.6

Total duels (won)*

6.0 (66%)

4.3 (76%)

Just look at the underlying data. Less defensive actions bespeak maturity and positional authority. He’s coming on leaps and bounds, perhaps even outperforming his partner…

4 CB – Virgil van Dijk

Like Trent, Virgil van Dijk’s contract expires at the end of the season. Widely recognised as one of the best centre-backs of his generation, the 33-year-old is still at the top of his game and will hopefully extend his trophy-filled stay on Merseyside.

5 LB – Antonee Robinson

One Rob’ out, another Rob’ in. Andy Robertson’s influence has waned over the past year, and Antonee Robinson could be the perfect replacement, with reports suggesting he is at the top of Liverpool’s shopping list.

Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley has hailed the £40m-rated USMNT international as “one of the best left-backs in the world,” and with each passing performance, such lofty praise looks more justifiable.

6 DM – Martin Zubimendi

The one that got away. For now. Martin Zubimendi added Merseyside to the sizeable list of destinations that he has rejected in favour of remaining in his beloved Basque Country.

But Liverpool are persistent and present a compelling case besides. The Spain international, valued at £50m, will surely wish to marry his elite-level skill set with a fitting club at some stage, hailed as one of “the best centre midfielders in the world” by his trophy-winning international boss Luis de la Fuente.

Of course, his arrival would knock another Liverpool midfielder’s playing time for six, and this may well prove to be Dominik Szoboszlai, whose energy and tenacity are all well and good, but are not sweetly matched by a potent streak befitting a roaming midfielder in a team like Liverpool.

7 CM – Ryan Gravenberch

Back in May, not many Reds supporters would have been all that devastated by Ryan Gravenberch’s sale, for he had failed to properly assert himself at Anfield after transferring from Bayern Munich for a £34m.

He’s come on leaps and bounds, with a good claim to the Premier League’s best midfielder so far this season. He’s playing the role that was rolled out for Zubimendi, but the duo could actually cohabit in the middle of Slot’s park.

8 CM – Alexis Mac Allister

Perhaps not yet at his best this season, but Alexis Mac Allister is a midfielder whose quality transcends data charts etc etc. He’s as intelligent as they come, with crunching tackles and shrewd passes that provide Liverpool with something crucial.

Think of him as the flour in the cake, not the most flavoursome element but fundamental all the same. That said, though, the 25-year-old isn’t against a show-stopping moment.

9 RW – Mohamed Salah

Rinse and repeat the Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk quandaries. If that dreaded eventuality is realised, this one might sting the most.

Mohamed Salah is 32 but still one of the most incredible forwards that English football has ever seen. He’s posted ten goals and ten more assists across 17 appearances this season, with plenty more yet to come.

10 LW – Luis Diaz

Luis Diaz takes the spot on this list, but Cody Gakpo is just as important. The respective left wingers have been trying to outdo each other this season, though neither has had success in demoting their counterpart, for both have been brilliant.

This guy sure knows how to dismantle a defence. How funny, that so many Liverpool supporters were willing to cash in on him this summer. Sweet summer children that we were.

Manchester United are now ready to make a mammoth offer to sign a Serie A star for new boss Ruben Amorim, it has been reported, as the Red Devils look to rebuild under their recently appointed coach.

Amorim draws first Man Utd game

A tough 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town marked Amorim’s first Premier League game in charge of Manchester United, with the Portuguese coach explaining after the game that he expects the rebuild at Old Trafford to be a lengthy process.

“I know it is frustrating for the fans but we are changing so much in this moment with a lot of games,” he revealed. “We are going to suffer for a long period. We will try to win games but this will take time.

“We have to risk it a little bit [now] and in the next year we will be better [otherwise] next year at the same stage we will be here with the same problems.”

Man Utd star who Solskjaer sold for just £1.2m is now on par with Fernandes

The former Manchester United talent has still demonstrated his talents away from Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 27, 2024

Part of the problem is that the players in the Manchester United squad do not reflect the playstyle that he is trying to implement; against Ipswich, he opted to use Amad Diallo as a wing-back, with Noussair Mazraoui at centre-back and a midfield pair of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.

Further forward, Bruno Fernandes was stationed as one of the no.10’s, but struggled to get into the game too much from his position on the right side of attack, while Marcus Rashford contributed the early goal but little else at the top of the pitch.

The transfer windows ahead will be vital in their progression under Amorim, and now a fresh report has claimed that the Red Devils and INEOS are ready to pay one target big money over five years.

Man Utd ready mammoth contract for forward

That is according to a report in Italy, which points to Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the player in question.

The Georgian forward, who has been dubbed “sensational”, still has almost three years left to run on his contract in Naples, but Napoli are trying to get him to sign a new contract at the club.

But that is now in jeopardy, as the report claims that Manchester United are ready to blow Napoli out of the water with a massive contract offer to Kvaratskhelia.

This offer will amount to a huge “five-year contract at €8m net per season” which could see him take home a mammoth €40m (£33.3m) across his five years at Old Trafford.

That would work out at around £128,000 a week, a sum that would not even make a dent among Manchester United’s highest earners, but would be a massive upgrade on his current £32,000 a week deal in Naples.

Player

Weekly wage

Casemiro

£350,000

Bruno Fernandes

£300,000

Marcus Rashford

£300,000

Mason Mount

£250,000

Antony

£200,000

Of course, that is only half the battle, with Manchester United still needing to convince Napoli to part ways with their winger, but it is added that should he enter the final two years of his deal without an agreement over a renewal, the Serie A giants will be open to a sale at around the €100m mark, though they are “open to there being a formula to reach that point rather than it being an outright payment”.

Could Kvaratskhelia be the first major signing of Amorim’s era at Old Trafford?