All posts by z3u9t.icu

If Aston Villa do end up finishing in the Champions League places this season, some of the credit will have to go to former manager Dean Smith, who helped to build the squad with which Unai Emery is achieving so much success.

Villa's top three scorers this season – Ollie Watkins (14), Leon Bailey (9) and Douglas Luiz (7) – were all recruited by Smith, while defender Ezri Konsa and goalkeeper Emi Martinez have started every single game for which they've been available. Right-back Matty Cash has also been heavily involved, with 15 starts from 20 games (Transfermarkt).

It's tempting to wonder how big a role another of Smith's targets could have played if Villa had been successful in their pursuit. In the summer of 2021, Villa made two bids for Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe, the second of which was worth £30m, but the Gunners simply refused to entertain any offers. Now, though, one journalist has talked up Villa's chances of bringing him to the Midlands should they choose to revive their interest.

Smith Rowe opening emerges

Smith Rowe missed five weeks of action between late October and early December through injury, but he's been fit and available for the rest of the season. Despite that, he's hardly been used by manager Mikel Arteta, only making six Premier League appearances (one from the start and five from the bench). Already, he's remained an unused substitute on eight occasions.

The cup competitions haven't offered much respite, either. Arsenal exited the League Cup at the second hurdle and Smith Rowe didn't make the XI for any of their Champions League group games.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist and transfer insider Dean Jones urged Villa to make an opportunistic return for Smith Rowe if indeed their interest is "still bubbling away". He thinks Arsenal will now be much more inclined to consider a sale, and wonders if Villa are already aware of his frustrating situation.

"Villa made a couple of bids for Smith Rowe last year, and if that interest is still bubbling away, then this would be an ideal moment to go and have another go," he said.

"I feel like Arsenal will be tempted to cash in on someone who isn't an essential first-team player. Smith Rowe is a very good player with a really good attitude and good application. I think it'd be a very good signing for Aston Villa. Part of me does wonder if they've been keeping an eye on the fact he's only started one Premier League game this season."

Smith Rowe has already shown huge promise

It's easy to forget how much excitement Smith Rowe was generating when he first broke into the Arsenal side. Jamie Carragher raved about him in the autumn of 2021, declaring that he was the "best player in the Premier League running with the ball" and describing him as a "special talent".

Meanwhile, former Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish used the nickname "the Croydon De Bruyne" during an England training session. Midway through the 2021/22 season, Smith Rowe was actually bettering the Manchester City star for assists, and minutes per goal contribution.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The Londoner would end the campaign with ten Premier League goals, earning a nomination for PFA Young Player of the Year and the Premier League's Young Player of the Season award.

90min has previously reported that Smith Rowe would consider his future in the winter if there aren't any signs of improvement in his Arsenal situation, and that moment of truth has now arrived, with Villa potentially watching on.

Manchester City have now made a double swoop to sign two English midfielders, having submitted an offer, but there could be major competition from their Premier League rivals.

Guardiola's youth record proves Neville wrong

Pep Guardiola has a patchy record when it comes to bringing through youth players, with arguably his biggest mistake being sanctioning Cole Palmer’s move to Chelsea, and the Man City manager has received criticism from Gary Neville in the past.

Speaking after Guardiola opted to take a smaller squad rather than name a youth player on the bench against Burnley during the 2021-22 campaign, the former Manchester United man said: “I think it’s a joke, I absolutely think it’s a joke.

Man City have signed a "world class" star who is a new Gundogan-type player

Manchester City have signed a new Ilkay Gundogan-type star with this world-class ace.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 13, 2025

“If you’re the academy or reserve team manager at Manchester City you must think ‘I’m wasting my time’. Forget the fact they’ve spent however much money, six players on the bench… to me it’s like a protest.”

In fairness, the City manager’s reluctance to promote youth hasn’t cost him, with his side going on to win the Champions League and four Premier League titles on the spin, and he has since gone on to introduce the likes of Oscar Bobb and Nico O’Reilly to the starting XI.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, in a report for The Boot Room, Man City have also now submitted an offer for two more youngsters, namely Middlesbrough midfielders Anton and Bailey Palmer, who have confirmed they have decided to leave the Championship side.

There could be fierce competition for the Palmer brothers’ signature, however, with Man United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea making proposals of their own.

Brighton & Hove Albion are also named as potential sutors for the duo, who are expected to move to their new club as a pair, and the young midfielders are due to announce their next destination later this week.

"Highly-rated" Palmer twins could be exciting long-term additions for City

The Middlesbrough starlets are both just 16-years-old, meaning they are yet to make a senior appearance for the Championship club, but they have both already been named in the first-team squad, which is a very encouraging sign.

The English youngsters have also both made their debuts for the Three Lions’ U17 side, making a combined six appearances between them, which also indicates they are on the right path to become future stars.

Given their age, the twins are unlikely to be first-team regulars for Man City anytime soon, but they clearly have a lot of potential, and it would be exciting if Guardiola’s side were able to win the race for their signatures, considering the level of interest.

Glasgow Rangers are back in action once again in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night as they prepare to welcome Kilmarnock to Ibrox.

The Light Blues will be out for revenge after they lost 1-0 to Killie in their last meeting with them, thanks to an 87th-minute strike from Marley Watkins.

Philippe Clement’s men do come into this match in relatively strong form, though, off the back of back-to-back wins over Nice in the Europa League and St. Johnstone in the Premiership.

The Gers have won three of their last four games and are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions, and they will be hoping to extend that good run when they take to the field this evening.

Clement’s side won 1-0 last time out on Sunday against St. Johnstone. An own goal from Saints midfielder Jason Holt secured all three points for the away side, as he could only turn the ball into his own net from close range after Ianis Hagi’s superb ball into the box.

Hamza Igamane was selected to lead the line for that league match and the Morocco U23 international deserves to keep his place in the starting XI.

Why Hamza Igamane should start

Firstly, taking Cyriel Dessers out of the firing line has been a great decision by Clement as the Nigeria international has struggled badly this season.

The experienced forward has scored four goals and missed six ‘big chances’ in 12 outings in the Premiership, whilst he has scored one goal and spurned six ‘big chances’ in five Europa League outings.

His incredibly wasteful form in front of goal for Rangers has provided Igamane with a chance to showcase his quality from the start in the last two matches, and the young forward has grasped his opportunity.

The 22-year-old gem was selected from the start for the trip to Nice in the Europa League and enjoyed his breakthrough match in a Gers shirt, with two goals and one assist – with his second goal a fantastic run into the box followed by a composed finish into the bottom corner.

Igamane kept his place in the XI for the clash with St. Johnstone and offered a constant threat up front. He ended the game with two shots on target, one dribble completed, 78% pass accuracy, and 100% aerial duels won (2/2).

The summer signing must start again against Kilmarnock but there is one attacker who should be ditched from the starting XI for tonight’s match – Nedim Bajrami.

Why Nedim Bajrami should be dropped

The Albania international did not enjoy his best afternoon for the Light Blues in the win against the Saints, and should now be dropped from the line-up this evening.

He started the game on the left flank and struggled in and out of possession. His worst moment in the first half came when the midfielder failed to anticipate that Vaclav Cerny’s cross was going to come to him and it led to a shinned effort that bobbled towards the goalkeeper, when he could have made a clean connection to score.

That represented a ‘big chance’ missed for the summer signing from Sassuolo, whilst he ended the half without creating any ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

Out of possession, Bajrami was bullied by the St. Johnstone defenders and lost 100% (3/3) of his duels, which shows that the opposition found it too easy to get the better of him, before being taken off at half-time by Clement.

Appearances

9

Goals

1

Big chances created

4

Key passes per game

1.6

Assists

0

As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old has offered a big threat as a creator for the Scottish giants in the Premiership this season, but that was not on show last time out.

With games coming thick and fast, and with this being a midweek match, Clement must drop him to the bench to offer another player an opportunity to shine.

Chalkboard

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

Hagi moved to the left flank after Bajrami came off on Sunday, and provided the assist for the own goal from that position, and should be unleashed in that role from the start tonight, which would then open the door for the manager to bring Danilo into the XI.

Why Danilo should be unleashed

The Brazilian striker should be unleashed from the start in the league for the first time this season to partner Igamane in attack, with both players capable of operating as either the number nine or the number ten in Clement’s system.

That could mean that Rangers are fluid in attack, particularly with Hagi – capable of playing out wide or centrally – on the left, with constant movement and interchanging across the frontline to cause problems for opposition defenders.

The Kilmarnock centre-backs may not know who to mark or when to follow the striker back into midfield if Danilo and Igamane are constantly switching positions to cause havoc in the final third.

Danilo, who was once described as an “exciting” forward by Michael Beale, should also be unleashed from the start because he has impressed off the bench in his cameos in the Premiership since returning from injury this season.

Appearances

4

Starts

0

Minutes played

112

Shots on target

6

Goals

1

Big chances created

3

As you can see in the table above, he has averaged a shot on target every 18 minutes and a ‘big chance’ created every 37 minutes in the division this term, with all of his outings coming as a substitute.

One goal, one assist, six shots on target, and three ‘big chances’ created in 112 minutes of league action is a fantastic return and illustrates why Clement must bring him in as a starter against Kilmarnock this evening.

Rangers signed their own Kante before he left after one forgettable year

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ByDan Emery Nov 25, 2024

Danilo could be fun to watch alongside Igamane in the final third, with both players technically-adept and mobile forwards who can cause plenty of problems for defenders, and should come in for Bajrami as part of the starting XI.

Arsenal are back. So some would proclaim anyway. Over the last three matches, Mikel Arteta’s side have scored a combined haul of 13 goals.

It’s amazing what happens when Martin Odegaard is in your team, isn’t it? The skipper missed a 12-game period after the first international break of the season and during that run, the Gunners rather fell off a cliff.

A rugged period between October and November’s international break saw Arsenal fail to win a Premier League game and that means they’re now nine points behind league leaders Liverpool, even if they did hold them to a 2-2 draw.

That said, Manchester United on Wednesday evening are likely to provide a far tougher test than the likes of Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.

As it happens, they’re now managed by Ruben Amorim who used to coach the Sporting team that Arsenal so ruthlessly dispatched in the Champions League a week ago.

The last time Arsenal played Manchester United at the Emirates

“Gabriel Jesus, he’s sat down one, and he’s won the game!” The roar from Peter Drury was glorious if you are an Arsenal supporter.

What a game this was back in September 2023. Arteta’s side needed a big win early in the Premier League campaign and that’s precisely what they got, defeating their old rivals 3-1 at the Emirates.

They were made to work incredibly hard for it, however. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring on 27 minutes before Odegaard hit back just a minute later.

We had to wait until injury time for the game to be decided though. That wasn’t before Alejandro Garnacho scored but saw his strike cruelly disallowed, a goal dear old Erik ten Hag probably still suggests was onside to this day.

2.27

xG

0.94

55%

Possession

45%

2

Big chances

1

17

Total shots

10

12

Corner kicks

3

532

Passes

462

11

Tackles

15

55

Ball recoveries

43

30

Ground duels won

27

13

Aerial duels won

13

Alas, the rub of the green was not with the Red Devils on that sunny afternoon. In the 96th minute, the ball fell to mega-money summer arrival Declan Rice at the back home who lashed home via a deflection for his first goal in Arsenal colours.

Off he went, darting away towards the corner flag, engulfed by his teammates. What a moment. The Emirates was bedlam.

The match was then decided in the 101st minute. The hosts broke from a corner through the lesser-spotted Fabio Vieira. He slid in Jesus who cooly sat Diogo Dalot down before sticking the ball past Andre Onana.

Arsenal will hope for a slightly less dramatic affair on Wednesday but they will take three points in any way they come as they look to chase down Liverpool.

Arsenal team and injury news

The North London side may have Odegaard back in the fold but this doesn’t look like a fully fit squad just yet.

The big news we await concerns defensive stalwart Gabriel Magalhaes. The Brazilian took a blow to the face at the London Stadium, an incident that saw him win a penalty for his side.

That being said, he was withdrawn at half-time with Arsenal citing management of the knock he picked up in Lisbon a few days prior.

Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey were both absent from the matchday squad against West Ham and could miss out again. Merino sat out last time owing to a knee injury while Partey’s issue was described as muscular, meaning the £33m and £45m signings are both doubts.

While their involvement remains more uncertain, full-backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu definitely remain out.

Arsenal's predicted lineup vs Manchester United

With Merino and Partey still doubts for Wednesday evening’s clash, it means a relatively unchanged team is likely to take to the field at the Emirates.

The undisputed number one, David Raya, maintains his place between the sticks and providing Gabriel is fit after Saturday evening’s substitution, will have an unchanged defence in front of him.

Jorginho shone in the win at the former Olympic Stadium and deserves to keep his place next to Declan Rice.

There might be claims for Kai Havertz to be rested but after scoring in consecutive fixtures he starts ahead of Jesus again.

The only change to the starting lineup will see Leandro Trossard drop out. Like Havertz, the Belgian has scored in successive outings but with Gabriel Martinelli waiting in the wings and ready to torment United’s defence with his pace, this feels like an ideal match for the Brazilian.

Saka loves him: Arsenal must unleash amazing star who Man Utd nearly signed

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 4, 2024

During last summer's transfer window, three Premier League teams – Chelsea (£424.8m), Spurs (£213.4m) and Manchester City (£211.1m) – spent more than Arsenal (£203.5m) outright. However, when you go by net spend, the Gunners (£124.7m) were second only to Chelsea (£203.5m) in the league rankings.

Until their London rivals signed Moises Caicedo in mid-August, Arsenal's move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice was the most expensive ever conducted between two English clubs. On top of that, they acquired attacker Kai Havertz from Stamford Bridge, defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax and goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford on an initial loan.

Given that, relatively speaking, Arsenal weren't able to recoup much of this spend back through sales, it's no surprise that manager Mikel Arteta needs to think about balancing the books if he wants to add to his squad again in January.

Nketiah price set at £30m

According to The Star, Arsenal have slapped a £30m price tag on striker Eddie Nketiah amid interest from Crystal Palace. Nketiah is "highly-regarded at the Emirates" and so the Gunners will drive a hard bargain, even insisting upon a sell-on clause as part of a potential transfer.

The possible departure of Nketiah is connected to the arrival of a new centre-forward, with Arsenal interested in Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke as well as the well documented links to Brentford's Ivan Toney. Nketiah's exit could free up the funds and space to make a move for a new number nine.

"Complete" Solanke is better than Nketiah

Nketiah has played a significant volume of football this season, appearing in 27 matches and logging 1,266 minutes overall. He's started half of Arsenal's 20 Premier League games and banged in six goals, an average of one every 211 minutes. He's shown he's a decent understudy to Gabriel Jesus, but if Arsenal are keen on an upgrade and Nketiah commands a significant fee, then there's little point keeping him round.

At the start of the season, few Gunners fans would have had any interest in links with Solanke, who had never scored more than six goals in a Premier League season. However, just 20 games into the current campaign, he's already doubled that tally, with only Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland (both 14) ahead of him in the rankings.

Erling Haaland

Manchester City

Norway

14

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

Egypt

14

Dominic Solanke

Bournemouth

England

12

Son Heung-min

Tottenham

South Korea

12

Jarrod Bowen

West Ham

England

11

Hwang Hee-chan

Wolves

South Korea

10

Alexander Isak

Newcastle

Sweden

9

Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

England

9

Cole Palmer

Chelsea

England

8

Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea

Senegal

7

Significantly, Solanke's output looks sustainable. He's only marginally out-performing his xG (11.0), so you can't put his dramatic upturn down to freakishly good finishing (FBRef). Instead, it's reflective of the quality of his opportunities, and by extension, the intelligence of his movement in and around the penalty area.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who has scored more Premier League goals for the club than anybody else, is a big fan of Solanke, crediting him for a "brilliant" run of form after watching him "struggle" early in his career (Bournemouth Echo).

Meanwhile, Andoni Iraola, his manager at Bournemouth, has billed him the "complete" striker, emphasising that there are facets to his game beyond goalscoring. Indeed, when compared to positional peers over the last year, the 26-year-old ranks in the 75th percentile or better for blocks (0.9), clearances (1.4), progressive carries (1.96) and successful take-ons (1.26), which shows that he's a committed press-leader and a gifted dribbler (FBRef). No wonder Arsenal are interested in such a convincing all-round package.

Celtic return to action in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday as they prepare to travel away from Parkhead to take on Hearts in the evening kick-off.

The Hoops have had a two-week break, thanks to the last international window of 2024, and will be hoping to pick up where they left off, having won ten of their 11 matches in the league thus far.

Brendan Rodgers will be hoping that all of his stars return from international duty without any injury issues that could keep them out for the upcoming matches in the Premiership and the Champions League.

He may, therefore, be thankful that his three Japanese gems barely featured for their country, as Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate made one substitute appearance each, whilst Daizen Maeda featured in both games as a substitute.

The trio were not overworked by Japan in their two matches and will now return to Celtic fresh and ready to compete, and possibly start, against Hearts on Saturday.

Hatate has faced serious competition for his place in the starting XI for the Scottish giants this season, though, with the additions of Arne Engels and Luke McCowan, and the return of Paulo Bernardo, in the summer.

Reo Hatate's form for Celtic

The 26-year-old star has still managed to make the line-up on a regular basis in the Premiership, with nine starts in 11 matches, and that speaks to how much Rodgers trusts him.

Hatate, who was restricted to 16 league outings last term through injury, has prevented McCowan and Bernardo from being regular starters in the top-flight, with Engels and Callum McGregor the usual picks alongside him in the midfield three.

The Japan international has earned his place in the starting XI with dynamic and quality performances in the middle of the park, as he has been able to showcase his ability in possession.

Appearances

11

Goals

3

Big chances created

4

Assists

0

Key passes per game

1.3

As you can see in the table above, Hatate has provided quality as both a scorer and a creator from a midfield position for Celtic in the Premiership, and he has been unfortunate not to register a single assist so far.

His return of zero assists from four ‘big chances’ created and 14 key passes suggests that his teammates have let him down with their wasteful finishing in the final third, as they have not made the most of his creativity.

The midfield whiz has also produced one goal and one assist in four matches in the Champions League for Celtic, starting three of those matches on the European stage, with his goal coming against RB Leipzig earlier this month.

Despite Hatate’s strong form in all competitions this season, Rodgers could go and land an upgrade on the Hoops star by swooping for one of the club’s reported transfer targets – Lennon Miller.

Celtic's interest in Lennon Miller

The Daily Mail recently reported that Celtic are interested in a potential move to sign the Scotland U21 international from Premiership rivals Motherwell when the January transfer window opens for business.

It was claimed that the Hoops and their Glasgow rivals Rangers are both preparing swoops to snap the Scottish starlet up ahead of the second half of the season.

The report added, however, that Premier League giants Liverpool are also keeping tabs on the 18-year-old dynamo and could join the race for his signature. This suggests that Celtic and Rangers could face some serious competition for his services, as Arne Slot’s side are currently top of the English top-flight and could be an attractive destination.

Celtic were dealt a blow by the attraction of a move to Anfield in 2022 when 16-year-old starlet Ben Doak decided to move on from Parkhead to join the Reds for a compensation fee of £600k.

The Bhoys will be hoping that the allure of the Premier League does not hurt them again, as Miller could be an excellent addition to Rodgers’ squad in January.

It was reported by the Daily Mail that Motherwell are set to hold out for a fee of around £4m and Celtic must now splash out to sign him as quickly as possible, to stop Liverpool or Rangers from beating them to his signature.

Transfer Focus

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

Journalist Mark Guidi recently claimed a fee of £3.5m plus add-ons would be a “bargain” for the Hoops and added that the “hot” sensation has the potential to get “hotter” in the future, suggesting that Celtic could then make a big profit further down the line.

Why Lennon Miller would be an upgrade on Reo Hatate

Rodgers should push for the board to snap the Scottish teenager up when the January transfer window opens for business because his performances in the Premiership this season have been nothing short of outstanding.

Miller only turned 18 in August and has already established himself as one of the stars in his position in the league, after playing 25 times as a 17-year-old in the division last season.

As you can see in the clip above, the teenage sensation did showcase his quality against Celtic earlier this year, spinning McGregor and providing a brilliant assist.

He used the 2023/24 campaign to settle into senior football and gain vital experience in the Premiership by playing week-in-week-out for Motherwell, and is now kicking on and thriving.

Appearances

11

11

Goals

2

3

Big chances created

5

4

Key passes per game

2.1

1.3

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.0

1.7

Ball recoveries per game

6.5

3.6

As you can see in the table above, Miller has offered a similar level of quality to Hatate in the final third, as they have both produced seven goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in the Premiership.

However, the Scottish starlet has provided far more to his team out of possession as a defensive and combative presence in the middle of the park, with 9.5 tackles, interceptions, and recoveries per game.

These statistics suggest that Miller would come in at Parkhead as an upgrade on the Japan international, by offering the same qualities at the top end of the pitch whilst being far better off the ball to protect his defence.

Celtic's huge talent who left for just £600k is now becoming "world-class"

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1 ByDan Emery Nov 20, 2024

At the age of 18, he is also eight years younger than Hatate and has more time ahead of him to develop and improve, which is why Rodgers must swoop to bring him to Glasgow in January.

Arsenal are a team on the up at the moment; of that, there can be no doubt.

Gone are the days of finishing eighth in the Premier League and meekly rolling over when playing the rest of the Big Six.

The Gunners, under the management of Mikel Arteta, have reestablished themselves among the country's biggest clubs, and while they might still fall short of winning the league in the face of the Manchester City juggernaut, they will get close.

This resurgence has been in large part thanks to some brilliant recruitment and the promotion of some incredibly talented youngsters, with one who, above all others, has come to symbolise this modern Arsenal side, a player who did not cost the club a penny and is now worth more than Phil Foden.

A diamond in the rough

A number of promising youth products have made the leap from Hale End to the first team in recent seasons, such as Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, and even Ethan Nwaneri, who got the shortest of run-outs early on last season.

However, when it comes to a youngster emblematic of Arsenal's resurgence in recent years, there is only one man it can be: Bukayo Saka.

The charismatic and skillful Gunners gem burst onto the scene during Unai Emery's first season in charge, making his debut off the bench in a Europa League game away to Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava, before making his first start against Qarabag FK a couple of weeks later.

He would be given his first run-out in the Premier League against Fulham in January of the same season, but with only seven minutes to play, he would have to wait another season for his full league debut.

That came against Aston Villa in September 2019, and while he was not able to score or assist in that game, he did set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's equaliser at Old Trafford in the following match – talk about making a case for yourself.

It would be fair to describe Arsenal as an incredibly tumultuous place when the Hale End star was breaking through, with managerial changes, fan discontent, and a general feeling that the club was up a creek without a paddle.

This instability is best demonstrated by Saka being the only player still at the club who started against Villa in September 2019. Moreover, the only players on the bench who are still plying their trade in N5 are Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Martinelli.

Ultimately, it is rather surprising that the Ealing-born prospect even survived all the upheaval at the club, although he did more than just that; he thrived.

Saka's unstoppable rise

It was in the 2020/21 season that the Gunners' 'little chili' truly established himself as one of the most exciting prospects in the country, with Arteta now playing him more as a wide midfielder or winger instead of as a left-back he was able to impress fans and terrify defences with his quick feet and football IQ, which U23 scout Antonio Mango described as being at the "highest level".

In all, the "creative genius", as he was dubbed by Mango, has now played 209 games for the North Londoners, in which he has scored 49 goals and provided 53 assists, meaning he has averaged a goal involvement every 2.04 games since his debut at just 17 years old.

209

49

53

0.48

While a return like that is impressive just in and of itself, it is made even more impressive by the fact that he has played 21 games at left-back, and only played as an out-and-out winger for 87 games of his Arsenal career.

However, he has not just been a revelation for the Gunners. Alongside his exploits at club level, the "future icon", as he was dubbed by talent Scout Jacek Kulig, has been electric for the English national team, and has already become one of the most important players in the squad.

In his 32 senior caps, the 22-year-old has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists, meaning he is providing a goal involvement every 1.68 matches for the Three Lions, a truly remarkable record for someone so young, especially considering the plethora of wide talent that Gareth Southgate has to choose from.

However, it is not just the wide players that Saka is outperforming in the England set-up, it's everyone. The Gunners' wide wizard has been named England's Player of the Year for two years running now, beating out the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham to claim the prize.

Saka's current valuation

So, with such a meteoric rise – one that is showing no signs of slowing down – just how much money is the Hale End graduate worth in today's market?

Well, according to the CIES Football Observatory, the young Englishman is currently worth a whopping €200m, which works out at around £171m.

Now, realistically, the Gunners will not be selling their 'starboy' anytime soon, and you can imagine that the fans would rather see mant other players in the squad leave before the academy graduate departs.

However, it shows that clubs can make much more money by developing and nurturing their stars, as any potential sale is registered as all profit under the current rules, given that he joined the academy for nothing.

One of Saka's contemporaries, and another Premier League prodigy, is Manchester City's Phil Foden, due to his age, position, and importance to the national side.

However, according to CIES, the City gem is worth a fair bit less than his title challenger, coming in at a valuation of €150m, or about £128m.

The Stockpot-born dynamo has scored 74 goals and provided 50 assists in 251 games, meaning he has averaged 0.49 goal involvements per match since making his debut for the treble winners.

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While their personal statistics are incredibly similar, their different valuations show how important Saka is to Arsenal, whilst Foden has a way to go before he gets there within the City squad.

Ultimately, both youngsters are uber-talented and look destined to dominate the game for the next decade-plus. Still, Arsenal's academy superstar has already taken so much responsibility upon his shoulders, so it does make sense to see him valued slightly higher in today's market.

Arsenal and Arteta have hit the jackpot with Saka, and they will be hoping that the next academy graduate to become a superstar is just around the corner.

Glasgow Rangers will hope that the signings they made during the winter window are enough to lead them to more glory during the remaining months of the 2023/24 campaign.

Philippe Clement could yet rue missing out on several players, however, especially a striker who had been discussed plenty during the window…

Shankland move never happens

Lawrence Shankland was the name that was on most people's lips throughout the transfer window, but it appears Clement did not show much interest in bringing him to Glasgow in the first place.

There is no doubt the 28-year-old would have scored plenty in this Rangers side, especially with the creative talent that would have generated plenty of chances, but it looks as though it was not to be.

Clement will still be able to call upon the likes of Cyriel Dessers, Fabio Silva and potentially Kemar Roofe (if he can even return to full fitness) as they look to battle Celtic for the Premiership crown.

The Belgian may also be able to call on some youth talent should things get desperate, and he could even have a bigger talent than the current Hearts forward in his ranks – with Zak Lovelace making waves since joining in 2022.

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Giovanni van Bronckhorst looked like he pulled off a wonderful move when he secured the signature of Lovelace during the summer of 2022.

This was a player who had become the second-youngest debutant in Millwall’s history in December 2021, coming off the bench against Coventry to feature for the club.

During his first season in Glasgow, Lovelace was a hit for the B team, scoring 18 goals and registering ten assists as he proved he could emerge as a future first-team gem.

Van Bronckhorst actually gave him his senior bow not long after he joined, with the Englishman enjoying a cameo against Queen of the South in the League Cup.

Michael Beale gave him another outing during the final Old Firm match of the season in a 3-0 win over Celtic and following an injury crisis during the opening few months of the current campaign, interim manager Steven Davis started him against St Mirren.

The youngster looked threatening in the opening exchanges before he went down with a hamstring problem and has not been available since.

Former sporting director Ross Wilson hailed Lovelace as an “exciting young player” when he joined, but the injury came at a time when he could have made a solid impression in the first team.

The 18-year-old is a sensational talent and one that should have a big future at Ibrox if he can regain full fitness and prove his worth to Clement.

Perhaps he might be an even bigger talent than Shankland and the sooner he returns from injury, the greater chance he will have of breaking back into the senior setup under the new regime.

Missing out on a striker during the winter window may come back to haunt the club, but the future looks bright indeed.

Last season, Tottenham Hotspur were made to bemoan defensive injuries. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven missed extensive periods through injury. As did full-back Destiny Udogie.

Is it any great surprise, therefore, that Ange Postecoglou’s backline looked such a mess? Perhaps not, but the Aussie was still stubborn enough to refuse change.

Thomas Frank certainly seems more flexible with his style of football but one of the first things he has corrected is that leaky backline.

Only three teams, Arsenal (3), Manchester City (6) and Sunderland (6), have shipped fewer goals than Spurs (7) in the top-flight this term.

Yet, are things beginning to unravel in similar circumstances to Ange? Like the club’s former boss, Frank has now suffered his first big injury blow at the back.

Romero limped off during the warm-up of their game with Aston Villa and after initially being selected, was not fit enough to start. Without their captain, the Lilywhites suffered a 2-1 defeat.

Frank won’t fret quite yet, but he must find a way to get more of a tune out of his attack. Big-money summer signing Xavi Simons will play a big part in that.

Why Spurs need to see improvement from Xavi Simons

Even before James Maddison suffered a terrible ACL injury during pre-season, Frank and Co had made efforts to bring Nottingham Forest talisman Morgan Gibbs-White to north London.

We all know how that saga ended but Spurs’ pursuit of a new dynamic number 10 seemed cursed at one point.

It looked for all the world as though they were set to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. A deal was agreed and he was allegedly on his way to Spurs. Instead, a last-minute U-turn saw him head to boyhood club Arsenal. The solution was Simons.

The Dutchman had been courted by Chelsea but it was the Blues’ London rivals who eventually concluded a deal, snapping him up for £52m, a move that made him Spurs’ fifth-most expensive signing of all time.

This was an exciting acquisition. After all, he did score 11 goals and register eight assists for RB Leipzig in Germany last season.

Sadly, we’re yet to see the best of him in white. He is yet to complete a full 90 minutes in the Premier League and his only goal involvement, an assist against West Ham, came on his English top-flight debut. The Netherlands maestro has not scored or assisted since then.

West Ham (A)

71

1

Brighton (A)

29

0

Wolves (H)

78

0

Leeds (A)

74

0

Aston Villa (H)

79

0

For such a big-money signing, Frank needs to see more from him but it’s not as though he isn’t trying. Perhaps there’s a simple solution to all of this; Spurs need better players in their forward line.

How Spurs can get more out of Xavi Simons

How supporters must long for the days of Harry Kane and a prime Heung-min Son.

The duo aren’t showing any signs of slowing down away from Spurs with Kane simply in the form of his life this campaign, netting 19 times in 11 games for Bayern Munich.

As far as Son is concerned, he’s been lighting up MLS with his displays for LA FC. The South Korean has nine goals and three assists in his first ten outings for the club.

So, to see where the Spurs forward line is now will no doubt make a few fans hide behind the sofa. Combine the loss of Son with injuries to Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski and you have a real patched-together front line.

Dominik Solanke has played just 31 minutes of league football due to injury in 2025/26 while Richarlison has only beaten the goalkeeper once in his last seven Premier League matches.

As for the French youngster, Wilson Odobert, he is yet to score at all across ten games in all competitions.

With such a glut of misfiring players, is it any surprise that Simons has endured a difficult beginning at Spurs?

Assists

0.3

0.3

Chances created

2.1

1.7

Passes attempted

46.2

33

Forward passes

12.2

9.3

Sideways passes

22

15.5

A look at the numbers tells us that the Dutch midfielder is struggling without a fluid forward line. Worryingly, he’s playing fewer passes per 90 minutes than he did last season at Leipzig. That ultimately means he’s creating fewer goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.

He needs the players in front of him to make better runs and there is no better example of that than the aforementioned Odobert.

The former Burnley man, signed for £25m, is still a particularly raw prospect. He’s exciting and fleet-footed but he needs to be doing more to help Simons out.

The big-money summer arrival traditionally operates in the pockets of space on the left-hand side and it’s on the left flank where Odobert tends to operate. The clip below demonstrates precisely what we’re talking about.

Mathys Tel has the ball on the edge of the box and all he needs is for a few defenders to be dragged away by an overlapping run from Odobert to potentially feed Simons in acres of space.

What does the Frenchman do? He surges right into the area where Tel is aiming for, reducing the space and cutting out a chance to get a shot or pass away.

Had Odobert made an overlapping run, he’d have created more room for Spurs’ number 7 and potentially even received the ball himself. As Jamie O’Hara said after the game, he and Tel can be “painful” to watch.

The 20-year-old is a marmite figure. He did a fair bit right against Aston Villa, completing four of his five dribbles but he needs better end product.

He missed an OPTA-defined big chance on Sunday and only completed one key pass. If Odobert can marry his trickery with the ability to make better runs and make himself an option for Simons then things will improve.

Until then, however, it would be better if the Netherlands star operated from the left flank instead or someone like Brennan Johnson operated there.

A very highly-rated forward is now keen on joining Chelsea, with the Blues also reaching out to his representatives for potential transfer talks ahead of January.

Chelsea in the market for new striker despite Nicolas Jackson form

Enzo Maresca’s side are currently the Premier League’s top scorers and have been absolutely imperious going forward since the very start of 2024/2025, but that hasn’t stopped them from looking at potential new striker options.

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Nicolas Jackson’s strike against Brentford took the Senegal international’s tally to nine goals from 16 appearances in all competitions so far this season, as the former Villarreal star continues his impressive form under Maresca as a player capable of leading their line.

Christopher Nkunku has supplied plenty of goals off the bench as well, yet Chelsea chiefs reportedly remain on the lookout for another prolific scorer as we fast approach 2025.

Everton (away)

December 22

Fulham (home)

December 26

Ipswich Town (away)

December 30

Crystal Palace (away)

January 4

Bournemouth (home)

January 14

Reliable journalists like Simon Phillips have previously claimed that BlueCo are targeting the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface as potential options, but it is likely all of these forwards would cost Chelsea a marquee fee.

Another number nine who may be more obtainable, and one who’s shining in the Premier League right now, is Ipswich Town star Liam Delap.

The former Man City starlet has really impressed for a club competing at the bottom end of the table – scoring six goals in all competitions and putting in some Man of the Match displays – which has attracted attention from Stamford Bridge.

It is reliably believed that Chelsea have made contact with Ipswich over signing Delap already, holding talks with both the club and his agents (Simon Phillips), but the Tractor Boys are understandably reluctant to part company with such a key player mid-season.

However, whether it be mid-season or next summer, any interested side – apart from City who possess a £20 million buy-back clause – would have to pay around £42 million to obtain his signature.

This price tag appears doable on the service for Chelsea, and they’ve now been assisted by Delap’s reported stance over making a move to west London.

Liam Delap keen on joining Chelsea after talks with agents

According to TEAMtalk, Delap is interested in the prospect of joining Chelsea, even if the player is focused on doing a good job at Portman Road and the task at hand to avoid relegation.

The 21-year-old’s representatives have also held talks with Chelsea, as has been reported by other media sources, so it appears they’re seriously laying groundwork over a potential deal for Delap, as multiple media outlets continue to report contact and discussions.

Homegrown, young and becoming more and more proven in the top flight, it is clear to see why Chelsea are keen, and Maresca already knows the player well from their time together at Eastlands.

“He has a special quality. He is a different type of striker. The goal is offside, but he is there. I am happy for him,” said Pep Guardiola on Delap three years ago.

“He is 18-years-old. One of the precious values you have to be in that age is to be patient. If you fight in every training session, it will pay off in your career and you will get what you deserve.”