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Leeds United completed their first signing of the summer transfer window on Tuesday as Joe Rodon officially joined the club on a permanent deal.

The Wales international has put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Elland Road and committed his future to the Whites after spending the 2023/24 campaign on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

A fee of £10m has reportedly been paid for the towering central defender to ensure that the star titan remains in West Yorkshire for next season and beyond.

Academy graduate Archie Gray has, in a separate transaction, signed for Spurs for a fee in the region of £40m after just one season in the first team for Leeds, which has opened up a gap at right-back and in midfield within the squad.

The summer transfer window still has just under two months left to run and this means that Daniel Farke and his team have plenty of time to dip into the market to find players to plug those gaps.

Leeds United interest in English midfielder

Rodon may not be the only player Leeds sign from Tottenham Hotspur this summer as the Whites are reportedly keen on a deal to sign another talent from the Premier League side.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Farke wants to sign former England U21 international Oliver Skipp from the Lilywhites to bolster his options in midfield.

The report claims that the West Yorkshire outfit want to add him to the squad after signing Rodon from the North London team, particularly after Gray's departure.

It adds that Skipp is a big admirer of the German head coach, as they worked together during Norwich City's title success in the 2020/21 campaign, and that could give them an advantage in this transfer pursuit.

However, GIVEMESPORT reveals that the 23-year-old talent could also attract interest from the Premier League and may be hesitant to drop down to the Championship.

Spurs are also reluctant to allow him to move on from the club as Ange Postecoglou views him as a squad option who could be called upon next season, despite being behind the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Pape Matarr Sarr, and potentially Gray now too.

It is now down to Farke and his team to work hard to convince Tottenham to part ways with the English maestro and then to persuade the player to drop down to the second tier to be a part of their attempt to return to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

If the ex-Canaries tactician can get a deal over the line for the right-footed metronome then he could come in as a fantastic partner for Ethan Ampadu.

Ethan Ampadu's debut season at Leeds in numbers

The Whites swooped to sign the defensive midfielder from Premier League side Chelsea on a permanent deal to anchor Farke's midfield last summer.

He started the campaign playing alongside the likes of Gray and Glen Kamara in the middle of the park but was eventually called upon at centre-back during the second half of the season due to Pascal Struijk's absence through injury.

Despite playing in different positions in either half of the term, the Welsh titan remained a consistent and impressive force in the spine of the team as they competed to secure promotion out of the Championship.

Appearances

46

Sofascore rating

7.24

Tackles and interceptions per game

2.9

Ball recoveries per game

6.9

Ground duel success rate

57%

Aerial duel success rate

63%

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old battler provided a fantastic defensive presence for Leeds throughout the campaign with his ability to make tackles, interceptions, and recoveries on a consistent basis.

He was also a monster in duels with opposition players, with a high success rate in physical contests both on the ground and in the air last term, which shows that the Welshman has the quality to dominate matches.

Struijk is due to be back from injury for pre-season and this suggests that he could return to the team alongside Rodon at the start of the campaign, which would then allow Ampadu to return to his favoured midfield role, potentially next to Skipp.

He could be a dream partner for the English midfielder as they are both defensive workhorses who can also provide progressive quality in possession.

Why Leeds should sign Oliver Skipp

Firstly, Ligue 1 side Rennes are reportedly interested in a deal to sign Kamara from the Whites and that would open up a starting spot next to Ampadu in midfield.

Secondly, Skipp is a young player, at the age of 23, with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and grow, which means that he could be brought in as an immediate starter whilst still having the potential to improve and increase in value moving forward.

The right-footed whiz has racked up 77 Premier League appearances for Spurs, and over 100 outings in all competitions for the club, and showcased his quality in and out of possession last term.

Skipp won 58% of his ground duels and completed an impressive 92% of his attempted passes across 21 appearances in the top-flight last term, which shows that he can dominate players on the deck and retain possession at a fantastic rate at the top level.

The former England youth international, who Farke once hailed as a "perfect" lad, is also a proven performer in the Championship who knows what it takes to earn promotion to the Premier League.

Pass accuracy

87.6%

88.1%

Progressive passes

4.86

5.15

Progressive carries

1.63

1.20

Tackles

2.33

1.52

Interceptions

1.17

1.39

As you can see in the table above, Skipp provided a progressive presence in the midfield as Norwich won the second division title with Farke at the helm that term.

His ability to win possession through tackles and interceptions coupled with his quality on the ball makes him a well-rounded midfielder who could star alongside Ampadu, as they are both dominant talents who could boss games for Leeds next season.

Farke could land an "exciting" Piroe upgrade for Leeds

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ByDan Emery Jul 2, 2024

Therefore, Skipp, who has already worked with the manager could hit the ground running, could be a fantastic signing for the club to make after their deal to bring Rodon back.

Since Todd Boehly took on ownership, Chelsea Football Club have become known as the big spenders of Europe. They have not been known to look for any bargains, choosing to spend big money instead.

The Blues have spent an extraordinary £1bn since the American took the reins of the club in May 2022.

Twice, Chelsea have broken the British transfer record. Firstly, when they signed Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for £107m on transfer deadline day of the 2023 winter transfer window. They broke the previous record of £100m which Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish to sign the World Cup winner, who lifted the prestigious trophy just two months before his big move.

They then broke it again just months later in the summer transfer window. They eclipsed the deal to sign Fernandez by bringing Moises Caicedo to Stamford Bridge last August. The Ecuadorian international left Brighton to join Chelsea for £115m, after rejecting a move to Liverpool.

It is fair to say that the Blues have not exactly found any cheap deals since Boehly has been at the helm. The Fernandez and Caicedo deals are just two examples, but to have spent £1bn in 24 months tells you all you need to know. However, with that being said, they have recently been linked with one player who could be a cheap, and shrewd piece of business.

Chelsea target La Liga striker

The player in question here is Barcelona’s Spanish wonderkid striker Marc Guiu. The 18-year-old is a product of Barcelona’s esteemed La Masia academy and has impressed during his fleeting first-team appearances so far.

According to a report from reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are one club who are interested in signing Guiu this summer. The Blues are thought to be “exploring” a transfer for the youngster, who could depart his boyhood club.

However, Enzo Maresca’s side are not thought to be the only club interested in signing Guiu during the summer transfer window. Romano reports that German giants Bayern Munich are also “showing interest” in Guiu, as they look to find an understudy to first-choice centre-forward Harry Kane.

However, it is not clear if Barcelona will sell Guiu at this stage. Romano explains that the Catalan club hope to keep the exciting prospect at the club, and a new contract for the youngster will be “discussed” soon. However, interest is “now growing” in Guiu, and Chelsea are one of the clubs best placed to activate his £5m release clause.

Why Guiu would be a good signing

It was a La Liga debut to remember for Guiu on the 22nd of October last year when he came off the bench to score the winning goal against Athletic Club, at their temporary home Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

It was an 80th-minute winner from the teenage whiz, 33 seconds after coming on, to seal a 1-0 win and three points for Barca. During the game, he had just four touches and won two out of three ground duels, too, as per SofaScore.

In total, the youngster has played seven times for his boyhood club, all of which came last season, under Xavi who has now departed the club. He also scored in the Champions League against Royal Antwerp, although that was in a losing cause, with the Belgian side winning 3-2.

For the 18-year-old to have scored twice in 182 minutes, the equivalent of roughly two full 90-minute games is very impressive. It backs up what football talent scout Jacek Kulig said about him. Kulig described Guiu as a “natural born killer” who is an “incredibly dangerous player in the penalty area” during his exploits for Spain at the under-17 World Cup last year.

Should Chelsea add Guiu, who scored six goals in 16 games for Barcelona Atletic, to the ranks, he could well become the natural backup option to Nicolas Jackson.

The Senegalese striker had an impressive first season in the Premier League for the Blues, scoring 14 times in 35 games, as well as registering five assists. He was bettered by only Cole Palmer for the most goal involvements for Chelsea last season in the top flight.

Player

Games

G/A

Cole Palmer

34

33

Nicolas Jackson

35

19

Raheem Sterling

31

12

Conor Gallagher

37

12

However, the Blues do not really have a natural understudy to Jackson. In his absence, Raheem Sterling led the line once, and so did Palmer on occasion. Christopher Nkunku was often injured last season, but he is also a candidate to play up front.

Should they sign Guiu, Chelsea would be adding a talented youngster to their squad, whilst also providing Jackson with an excellent understudy, thus not taking away from the overall plan of the team, without a natural centre-forward. It would also allow Guiu to develop his game without the pressure of being the first-choice number nine at Stamford Bridge.

For just £5m, the youngster could be an ideal option for Chelsea and would also help reign in their spending as they look to get a better-refined squad for Maresca as he approaches his first season as a Premier League manager.

Chelsea have started fast in the summer transfer window, and are looking to have their squad ready for pre-season under Enzo Maresca.

One area of the pitch being heavily linked for reinforcement is the wide areas, where Maresca likes to have his 1v1 specialist wingers, such as Stephy Mavididi and Adbul Fatuwu who he had at Leicester City.

And following suit from last summer, Chelsea were reportedly in again for Michael Olise from Crystal Palace, who is now set to join Bayern Munich, and has many Chelsea fans angered as they lose out on their number one target.

Chelsea's Olise alternative

According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Chelsea are now set to push for Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao, after Olise decided to make the switch to Bayern Munich over the Premier League club.

Williams has started both games for Spain so far at EURO 2024, and has impressed in those games, coming off the back of a sparkling campaign for Athletic Bilbao.

However, Williams has recently said "I'm very happy at Athletic", and having just signed a new deal, it wouldn't be easy to convince the Spaniard to jump ship.

How Williams compares to Olise

Both Williams and Olise thrive in the dribbling and carrying aspects of the game, both possessing a key blend of pace, agility, and ball control to beat their man 1v1.

Olise being a slightly more controlled dribbler, slowing the pace down to manipulate the ball in the way he wants, produces a high level of successful take-ons at 2.82 per 90, and 4.8 progressive carries per 90.

Compared to Williams who is more of a maverick dribbler, using that speed and ability to change direction at pace to beat his man. The Spain international completes 3.42 successful take-ons per 90, and 5.69 progressive carries per 90, bettering Olise in both of these metrics.

Both players have also had impressive G/A seasons for their respective sides, with Olise scoring ten goals, and providing six assists in his 19 appearances. Meanwhile, Williams scored eight goals, but provided 19 assists for Athletic, making 37 appearances in all competitions.

Olise comes out on top in the creative metrics, producing 5.79 shot-creating actions per 90, making 5.51 progressive passes per 90, and making 2.54 key passes per 90. Williams in comparison, creates 4.81 shot-creating actions per 90, makes 2.62 progressive passes, and makes 1.87 key passes.

These metrics show a difference in their preferred skillsets, Olise opting for more creative passes to impact the game, whilst Williams is slightly more direct with his dribbling, looking to beat his man and deliver the ball or get a shot off.

Olise also has a better track record of scoring goals, starting to make cutting inside on his left foot for a far post curler one of his trademark moves, scoring 0.64 non-penalty goals per 90, and taking 3.95 shots per 90.

Both players offer that spark from wide areas, Olise often operating from the right side for Crystal Palace, and Williams often operating from the opposite side for Athletic Bilbao. However, the Spanish "pace demon" – as he was described by Arsenal podcaster Adam Keys – can play on both the left and right, utilising his qualities on either side.

Chelsea are now on the verge of signing their answer to Olise

Chelsea are making early moves in the transfer window.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 23, 2024

Manchester United’s interest in a new midfielder this winter seems to be hotting up. The Red Devils could move on a couple of players in the middle of the park, if recent reports are to be believed.

Ruben Amorim seems happy to get rid of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte over the coming weeks.

It has not been an easy season for either of those players. Despite his obvious talent, Amorim continues to ignore Mainoo, and the Englishman has yet to start a Premier League game this term.

As for Ugarte, he is merely a squad player at Old Trafford, starting just two league games himself in 2025/26.

Whatever the future of the two midfielders, United seemingly have a few replacements identified.

Man Utd pursuing midfield target

There are a few names that keep popping up when it comes to United’s midfield targets. Two of those are England internationals Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton, both of whom United are interested in signing.

Of course, another player United are constantly linked with is Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.

The 21-year-old was a target over the summer for the Red Devils, and it has been confirmed by The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell that the club had actually ‘agreed personal terms’ with the Cameroonian midfielder at the time, albeit while opting against actually lodging a bid.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

As was the case then, this is not a deal that will come cheap for the 13-time Premier League champions.

They will have to smash their transfer record to sign the midfielder, paying £100m as per a report at the start of December.

However, Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in Baleba and could make a move of their own despite the hefty price tag.

Why Baleba would be an upgrade on Ugarte

It has not actually been the best season for Brighton’s key man in midfield, Baleba. The 21-year-old has featured in all 13 Premier League games, but has struggled for consistency and has not really found his best form.

Indeed, the former Lille star has mustered only 701 minutes in the top flight this term, and has only completed 90 minutes on one occasion.

So far this term, he averages just 7.7 full 90-minute games.

Yet, his importance to the Brighton side when at his best cannot be understated. Described as a “beast” by Matt O’Riley, he played 34 times under Fabian Hurzeler last term, even chipping in with three goals and one assist.

Perhaps the pick of the bunch was this strike against West Ham United, which won him the goal of the month award.

Should United bring Baleba to Old Trafford, he would be a huge upgrade on Ugarte. Since his £50.5m move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, the Uruguayan international has been underwhelming.

Indeed, once a key player at Sporting under Amorim, Ugarte has struggled to get into the side. He’s only played nine times in the top flight this season, racking up only 301 minutes.

Last term, he was more of a regular, playing 39 times across the Premier League and Europa League, and even chipped in with two goals, but he has fallen firmly out of favour in 2025/26.

After United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town this season, Red Devils content creator Alex Turk described Ugarte as “embarrassing.”

Indeed, his lack of physicality and progression on the ball is far worse than that of Baleba.

There are stats which back that theory up, too. The Red Devils transfer target averaged 1.34 progressive carries and 6.41 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, compared to Ugarte’s 0.86 progressive carries and 6.12 ball recoveries each game.

Progressive passes

3.54

3.49

Progressive carries

1.34

0.86

Ball recoveries

6.41

6.12

Interceptions

1.55

1.34

Clearances

1.58

1.21

Of course, £100m is a huge investment, but for a player of Baleba’s quality, it might well be worth it.

He is far better than Ugarte in and out of possession, and would bring more of a physical presence to Amorim’s pivot.

This certainly feels like a deal United should try and get over the line, if they want to add better quality in the middle of the park.

Forget Dorgu: Man Utd flop is becoming their biggest liability since Onana

Manchester United have a star who is proving to be unreliable under Ruben Amorim in 2025/26.

ByEthan Lamb Dec 3, 2025

Leeds United are currently one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League after picking up 11 points from their first 11 matches of the 2025/26 campaign.

Whilst it has not been a disastrous start for the Championship champions, there are already some eyes wandering to the January transfer window with a view to the club bolstering the squad with new recruits.

Adding more goals to the team may be one of the priorities for the 49ers ahead of the window, as Daniel Farke’s side have only scored 11 goals in their 11 league matches.

Noah Okafor, Joe Rodon, and Lukas Nmecha are all currently tied on two goals in the Premier League this season, making them the club’s joint-top scorers.

25/26

Noah Okafor

Joe Rodon

Lukas Nmecha

2

22/23

Rodrigo

13

21/22

Raphinha

11

20/21

Patrick Bamford

17

As you can see in the table above, Leeds look to be on course for their first top-flight campaign without a player in double figures for goals for the first time since they were promoted under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020.

What the Whites would give to have Raphinha back at Elland Road for a second spell, as the Brazil international was a sensational signing by Victor Orta and Bielsa.

Where Raphinha ranks among Leeds signings since 2020

The left-footed forward was signed from Rennes for a fee of £18m in the summer of 2020 after Leeds had won the Championship title in the 2019/20 campaign.

It is hard to argue against Raphinha being the best signing that the club have made since their promotion in 2020, as he was a superstar for the Whites and earned them a significant profit upon his eventual departure.

The Brazilian phenomenon ranked first in the squad for ‘big chances’ created in both the 2020/21 and 2021/22 campaign, with 12 in the first and ten in the second, per Sofascore, which speaks to how important he was as a creative force.

Appearances

30

35

Goals

6

11

Big chances missed

4

6

Big chances created

12

10

Key passes per game

2.1

1.9

Assists

9

3

Dribbles completed per game

1.9

1.8

Raphinha, as shown in the statistics above, also provided a big threat as a scorer of goals, with a return of 17 strikes in 65 Premier League games for the Whites in total.

Leeds were relegated the season after he left the club and no players in the squad hit double figures for ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore, which speaks to the impact that his exit had on the team.

His £55m move to Barcelona in 2022 was also a club-record sale for Leeds, which remains the case today, and this is another reason why he must be considered their best signing since 2020, due to his undeniable impact on the pitch and the money that his sale generated.

He was an exciting signing at the time of his arrival in 2020, as a technically brilliant Brazilian forward coming in from Ligue 1, and the club could recapture that level of excitement with one of their targets for the next window.

Leeds lining up move for Premier League star

According to MOTLeedsNews, Leeds United are lining up a potential swoop to sign Manchester United central midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in the upcoming January transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites were interested in a move for the England international in the summer window, but the Red Devils were unwilling to sanction an exit at the time.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It states that ‘all signs’ point to a January exit from Old Trafford for Mainoo, due to his lack of game time this season, and that Leeds are keeping tabs on his situation with a view to a move for his signature.

However, MOTLeedsNews reveals that the main priority for the Whites is to sign a new number nine to bolster their attack, with any deal for the United midfielder on the back burner until they get that done.

If Leeds do land a new striker and go on to sign Mainoo on loan for the second half of the 2025/26 campaign, the central midfielder could be the most exciting signing since Raphinha.

Why Leeds should sign Kobbie Mainoo

In September, it was reported that a £79m price tag had been placed on the English starlet amid interest from Real Madrid, as United looked to scare teams off an attempt to sign him on a permanent basis.

£79m is £43.5m more than Leeds have ever spent on a player and £24m more than the club have ever sold a player for, which shows that Mainoo may be the most valuable player in the club’s history, even if he only joins on loan.

It would be an incredibly exciting signing for supporters and surely viewed as an ambitious move by neutrals, because the midfield star has made 80 appearances for Manchester United and been capped ten times by England, per Transfermarkt, despite not turning 21 until next April.

Mainoo, as explained by Ruben Amorim in the comments above, is in an unfortunate situation at Old Trafford because he has found himself behind club captain and Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes in his position because of the manager’s 3-4-2-1 system.

Before Amorim’s time at United, the English midfielder excelled in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system under Erik ten Hag in the 2023/24 campaign, which bodes well for a potential move to Leeds, as they are Farke’s two preferred formations at Elland Road.

Take-ons attempted

2.71

Top 20%

Take-ons completed

1.42

Top 18%

Take-on success rate

53.4%

Top 28%

Goal-creating actions (take-ons)

0.09

Top 4%

Goal-creating actions (shot)

0.09

Top 2%

Goal-creating actions (fouls drawn)

0.05

Top 9%

As you can see in the table above, Mainoo earned his place in the England team and as a regular starter for United thanks to his impressive play in possession under the Dutch coach.

The 20-year-old midfield star, who was dubbed “generational” by teammate Rasmus Hojlund, was among the best midfielders in the Premier League at creating chances and carrying his side up the pitch with his ball control and mobility, which could helpd Leeds to improve their dismal goal tally of 11 goals from 11 games.

Mainoo, as shown in the clips above, also provided quality defensively, tracking back to make vital challenges, and showed potential as a goalscorer with five goals in all competitions, per Sofascore.

Therefore, the England international should not be judged by his failure to get into the current United team, as that is almost purely down to the manager’s preferred tactics.

Bamford 2.0: Leeds chase ST with 15 goals in 25/26, he'd save Farke's job

Leeds United are interested in signing a striker who could save Daniel Farke’s job at Elland Road.

ByDan Emery Nov 15, 2025

Overall, Leeds fans should be incredibly excited by the prospect of signing the young star, as he could be just as exciting a signing as Raphinha was, for different reasons, despite the fact that it would only be a loan deal.

There has been plenty of speculation over who the next Celtic manager will be at Parkhead since Brendan Rodgers decided to resign from the role last month.

The Northern Irish head coach decided to move on from the Glasgow giants after a defeat to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership left his side eight points adrift of first place.

Rodgers won the league title in both of his seasons back at the club, as shown in the graphic above, and it will take some doing to find an upgrade on the former Liverpool manager.

The latest on Celtic's manager search

The Daily Record claims that interim boss Martin O’Neill held talks with Dermot Desmond on Friday to discuss his future, and that he is willing to stay on longer if required.

Manager Focus

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However, the report adds that the experienced manager has told the club that the sooner they find a long-term replacement for Rodgers the better, because of how important the January transfer window will be.

The outlet reveals that Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen was in the running to land the job – he was even reported to be a frontrunner – but that the tactician is now ‘likely’ to sign a new contract with the Norwegian side.

Meanwhile, the Daily Record’s latest update claims that the club are in talks with Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy as their number one target to take the role, with the Hoops hoping to snap him up before the end of the international break.

It was recently reported that Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen is on Celtic’s radar as a possible replacement for Rodgers, and he could be the club’s own version of Knutsen if they decide to go down that route instead of getting a deal done for Nancy.

Why Nicky Hayen would be Celtic's own Kjetil Knutsen

Stripping style of play and formations aside for a moment, the Bodo/Glimt boss would have been an exciting appointment because of his domestic and European success.

Knutsen has won 39 of his 79 games in Europe, per Transfermarkt, and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League and the quarter-finals of the Conference League. On top of that, the Norwegian boss has won the Eliteserien title in four of the last five seasons, which shows that he can win titles and progress a team in Europe.

Hayen, meanwhile, qualified for the league phase of the Champions League this season, something Celtic failed to do, and reached the semi-finals of the Conference League in the 2023/24 campaign.

Matches managed

30

79

Wins

15

39

Draws

4

15

Losses

11

25

Points per game

1.63

1.67

Best finish

Conference League semi-finals

Europa League semi-finals

As you can see in the table above, Knutsen and Hayen have a similar record and set of achievements at European level, which suggests that they would both help the Hoops to compete in Europe.

Like the Bodo/Glimt boss, the Belgian tactician has had domestic success with one Pro League title in two seasons, whilst his team currently sit second in the division after 14 matches, per Transfermarkt, in his third campaign in charge.

The 4-2-3-1 manager, who was described as “unbeatable” by one scout on X, also won the Belgian Cup last season and the Super Cup in the current term, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he knows how to win domestic trophies.

Therefore, Hayen could come in as Celtic’s own version of Knutsen because he would arrive with a similar pedigree, as they are both managers who have had similar levels of domestic and European success with their current clubs.

Celtic hold talks to hire "talented" manager who's like a young O'Neill

With Kieran McKenna seemingly unlikely to leave Ipswich Town, Celtic have reportedly held talks over appointing a “very talented” young EFL manager.

ByBen Gray Nov 13, 2025

Whereas, Nancy has only ever managed in the MLS with Montreal and Columbus Crew, which means that he would not bring the same experience and proven track record in European football that Hayen would.

Everton will surely feel smug about the number of top-drawer academy products they’ve managed to uncover.

The likes of Anthony Gordon and John Stones have the blue half of Merseyside to thank for kickstarting their Premier League careers, before Newcastle United and Manchester City beckoned, while Everton undoubtedly got more out of Dominic Calvert-Lewin than what was expected, after once picking him up as an 18-year-old prospect from Sheffield United.

71 goals would come Calvert-Lewin’s way across 273 games, but even he will know his rise to Toffees first-team glory pales into insignificance when weighed up next to Wayne Rooney’s remarkable ascent from teenage prodigy at Goodison Park to world-beater with Manchester United.

David Moyes was the boss who first gave Rooney a chance in the Everton senior mix at just 16 years of age, as the Scotsman now goes about assessing what promising youngsters he currently has at his disposal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium who could also go on to have an extensive career at the very top.

Everton's most promising youngsters right now

Many of the Everton U21s personnel right now will surely be dreaming of their Rooney moment in the spotlight under the Glaswegian.

Omari Benjamin could well feel he’s deserving of a first-team opportunity very soon, especially if Beto continues to fluff his lines on Merseyside, with the former Arsenal youth player turned rising star at the Toffees boasting two goals this season in Premier League 2 action.

Up to 12 goals in total now for the U21s, it only feels like a matter of time before the 19-year-old hotshot is handed some men’s minutes.

Other names catching the eye include Justin Clarke, who also boasts two goals himself this season in the Premier League 2, alongside 18-year-old Joel Catesby, who is more of a creative force than a goalscoring menace, having accumulated seven assists to date in both the U18 and U21 picture.

Moyes will have to err on the side of caution with some of these promising starlets, however, with the gap between youth football and the pressures of the Premier League a notoriously hard one to bridge.

That’s why the youth-focused boss will be over the moon with how well this other exciting youngster is doing out on loan away from Everton, as the Toffees potentially now have their best prospect since Rooney burst onto the scene.

Everton's biggest prospect since Rooney

The once wide-eyed number 18 would never look back after being slotted into the first team at just 16, with 17 goals and four assists tallied up for the Toffees during his first stint on the Merseyside, ending up being just the start of his unbelievable tale in the Premier League.

Harrison Armstrong will hope his current loan spell with Preston North End is a similarly memorable first chapter he can look back on in a few years time after he’s exploded in the Everton first-team set-up, with one Preston-based content creator already tipping him to have a “huge future” beyond Deepdale.

Armstrong has even picked up a Man of the Match accolade out on loan in Lancashire, too, with seven duels won across the course of his bruising 90 minutes, the sort of grit Preston needed to complete a 3-2 comeback win over Sheffield United on Friday night.

With three assists also next to his name in the Everton first-team picture, it’s clear that there’s a plausible pathway to the senior side for Armstrong under Moyes when this formative stint is complete, having also been previously dubbed a “first team regular in the making” at Everton by journalist Richard Buxton.

Everton U18s

22

5 + 1

Derby County

15

1 + 0

Everton U21s

15

3 + 1

Everton

8

0 + 3

Preston

8

0

The bold claims don’t stop here, either, with another Preston-oriented voice also wildly stating that he “will play for England one day” long after his Championship journey is up.

After all, the likes of Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins must still be eternally grateful for their respective EFL educations, before they then went on to receive a Three Lions cap.

Everything is pointing in the direction of Armstrong being Everton’s brightest prospect since Rooney’s whirlwind moment, with it now being up to the 18-year-old to succeed with all this hype weighing down on him.

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This season has started about as poorly as it could have for West Ham United.

As things stand, the East Londoners are stuck in the Premier League relegation zone, and while Nuno Espírito Santo earned a point in his first game, he’s overseen three losses since.

However, there is a chance for the Hammers to steady the ship at home to Newcastle United this weekend, in a game that’ll see Lucas Paqueta take one of his closest friends in Bruno Guimaraes.

West Ham would love a player of his quality in their side, and while that is a pipe dream, they might have the next best thing.

Paqueta & Guimarães' relationship

Speaking ahead of the game, Paqueta did the usual of telling the West Ham website that the team are “all ready for a big battle,” but he also went on to explain his relationship with Guimarães.

Chalkboard

He revealed that the two of them are “like brothers” and that, thanks to their time on and off the pitch together, they are “best friends.”

It’s not all that surprising that the pair are so close, as on top of representing Brazil, they also spent time playing for Lyon.

In fact, between the 20/21 and 21/22 seasons, the duo made 42 appearances for the French side, in which they combined for one goal, but maintained a healthy average of 2.00 points per game.

On the international front, the duo have played 24 matches with both of them on the pitch, in which they’ve combined for two goals.

However, with 13 wins, six draws and five losses in those games, they’ve only averaged 1.88 points together.

You can only imagine how much better West Ham would be if Bruno were starting just behind Paqueta.

However, while that is a dream, the club might have found their own version of the Toon star who could end up forming a similar relationship with Paqueta.

Paqueta's new Guimarães

While there are some talented midfielders in West Ham’s squad, like Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa, it’s Mateus Fernandes who could end up being Paqueta’s new Guimarães.

Now, while he isn’t Brazilian, there are a few reasons why he fits the bill, with the first being that, like the Newcastle star, he is more than comfortable playing in central midfield.

Therefore, while he can play in the ten, he’d be just as happy to sit that bit deeper and allow the Hammers’ Brazilian maestro to remain as the most attacking midfielder.

However, the most concrete reason why the “exceptional” former Southampton star, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, could become the new Guimarães is that he was one of the most similar players to him last season.

Yes, according to FBref, the Toon ace was the ninth most similar midfielder to the Irons’ summer signing in the entire Premier League last season.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.12

0.12

Shots

1.30

1.24

Shots on Target

0.43

0.36

Expected Assists

0.11

0.15

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.19

0.17

Switches

0.31

0.39

Shots Blocked

0.25

0.28

Interceptions

0.87

0.80

Aerial Duels Won

0.46

0.50

To gain a better understanding of how such a conclusion was reached, it’s worth examining some of the underlying numbers that led to the pair ranking so closely.

In this instance, these include specific attacking metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals, shots, shots on target, crosses into the penalty area, switches, and more, all per 90 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, given that they are both central midfielders, they also rank closely for more defensive metrics, such as interceptions, aerial duels won, and shots blocked per 90.

Now, with all that said, it would be foolish to expect the former Saints ace to match the performances of the Newcastle star, but the fact that they are so similar, and he’s six years younger, is certainly encouraging.

Ultimately, it may take some time for them to build a proper understanding, but so long as Nuno plays them both, there is every chance Paqueta could develop a similar understanding with Fernandes that he has with Guimarães.

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Danny Rohl has warned his players they “gave me a lot of information” following Rangers’ damaging 3-0 Europa League defeat to Brann in the Europa League on Thursday.

The 36-year-old head coach was installed as Russell Martin’s successor on Monday but there was no dream debut in Norway. Emil Kornvig opened the scoring five minutes before the break, Jacob Sorensen added a second after 55 minutes and Noah Holm fired in a third after 79 minutes for a comfortable win for the home side.

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Rangers are bottom of the 36-team table as they turn attention to the visit of Kilmarnock in the William Hill Premiership on Sunday.

Rohl warns players after defeat to Brann

Rohl appeared to fire a warning to the players who took part in Thursday’s humiliation, telling Rangers TV they “gave me a lot of information” and that they were not up to the required standard.

The new boss did however take responsibility for what is to come, with over two months before he gets the chance to change his squad in the January transfer window: “I have to develop and improve the players. I have to develop and improve the group. This is what I have to do. This is my job.

“We played a team who were organised, aggressive and did the basics right, and we didn’t.

“But my job is to lift them again, give them the solutions, and be ready on Sunday.”

Ally McCoist told talkSPORT he is struggling to commentate matches involving his old team.

Ally McCoist on punditry for TNT Sports.

“The three teams Rangers have played (in the Europa League) are bang average,” said the Ibrox legend on Friday morning.

“I’ll be brutally honest, last night I was as depressed as I’ve been throughout this whole debacle. I actually feel for the manager. I don’t know what he’s going to do. He might improve them in terms of a little bit of organisation.

“But I don’t think there’s anywhere near the level of improvement in that team that will be required to even get them up the league domestically. They’re just absolutely miles off it.”

The Gers will be seeking just their second win in the league this season when they host Kilmarnock on Sunday afternoon. They could be 16 points off the pace at the start of play if Hearts beat Celtic in the earlier kick-off.

Aston Villa will be looking to pile on the Manchester City misery when the two sides face off in the Premier League this coming weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s men are going through an unusual crisis at this moment in time, with eight defeats picked up from their last 11 outings in all competitions, as Unai Emery’s men now wait eagerly to try to add insult to injury by inflicting another loss onto the reigning top-flight champions just before Christmas.

Emery will likely stick with Jhon Duran as the lone striker for this big clash at Villa Park, safe in the knowledge that the potent Colombian could cause the leaky Man City defence all sorts of bother.

Duran's continued Villa heroics

After all, the Villa hotshot has started his side’s last two Premier League clashes after only being utilised as an impact man off the substitutes bench prior.

He has justified those starts, with two goals picked up from his last two top-flight contests, which included this consolation header finding the back of the net last time out in a slender 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

As is stated above, that took Duran’s goal total for the season all the way up to 11, as Ollie Watkins begins to worry his once concrete first team spot is no longer so solid with the clinical 21-year-old around.

Amazingly, despite the ex-Chicago Fire striker’s value increasing all the way up to £33m off the back of these heroics – as per Transfermarkt – one former Villa man’s value stands higher than that right now, despite failing to settle in his fresh environment.

The former Aston Villa man now worth more than Duran

The player in question here is Douglas Luiz, who sealed a move away from the Villans this summer when Serie A giants Juventus forked out in the region of £42m to land his services.

Arsenal were also known admirers at one point looking at the Brazilian, but Thiago Motta’s men would be the side to cough up that sizeable fee in the end, after he had become a reliable mainstay at Villa.

He would instantly fit in at Villa Park after a spell in Spain with Girona, with three goals and three assists picked up as a daring midfield option during his debut season on English shores.

The 18-time senior Brazil international would only get better from this point on, with a further 19 goals and 17 assists accumulated across his lengthy 204 game stay in the West Midlands, as Emery even singled out the star as being “amazing” last year when rumours begin to circulate he could leave Villa behind.

Yet, despite the Spaniard waxing lyrical, Emery would have to deal with the heartbreak of losing his midfield ace when Juventus eventually came calling.

Now, with hindsight a very fine thing, Luiz should have stayed put at a club that clearly adored him, as he’s found his transition to playing in Turn extremely choppy.

Stat – per 90 mins*

Luiz

Games played

8

Games started

2

Minutes averaged*

37 mins

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Big chances missed

1

Big chances created

2

Ball recoveries*

1.8

Total duels won*

2.6

Stats by Sofascore

Only starting two games for Juventus in league action so far, it’s clear from the table above the high standards Luiz was playing to at Villa have now escaped him, with injuries also troubling him in Italy to date.

Villa are the clear winners here overall, having banked that £42m wisely, with the likes of Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana all also shining in central midfield in their former star-man’s absence.

Reuters/Daniele Mascolo

The South American’s value still stands high above even Duran at the £37m mark, so not all hope will be lost that he can return to his tenacious best soon for Juventus, but he certainly would have envisaged the start of his career at the Old Lady to have gone smoother.

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