Manchester United could do with some new additions as they continue to navigate an inconsistent run of form and are reportedly eyeing up a high-profile swoop in 2024.
Man Utd's January plans…
Ending the year at the City Ground, Manchester United came up short against a resurgent Nottingham Forest side as Marcus Rashford's equaliser wasn't enough to claim anything in the East Midlands courtesy of strikes either side from Nicolas Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Languishing seventh in the Premier League table, it is clear that Erik ten Hag's side could do with some reinforcements once the window opens to freshen things up at Old Trafford. Nonetheless, Red Devils' football director John Murtough revealed at a recent fans forum that his side aren't expected to be too busy in the mid-season market, saying:
"Looking ahead to the January transfer window, we are not expecting it to be particularly busy. There will always be the possibility of deals around the edges of the squad, particularly in terms of finding opportunities for players who are not playing as much football as they would like.
Serhou Guirassy
19th December
Nico Williams
19th December
Donyell Malen
8th December
Max Moerstedt
7th December
Timo Werner
1st December
"However, we've always been consistent in saying that we do not see January as the optimal time to do business and our recruitment strategy remains focused on summer windows."
Despite this, names of several players continue to be mentioned in connection with Manchester United as they prepare for a month of incomings and outgoings, with the likes of Mauro Icardi, Jean-Clair Todibo and Serhou Guirassy all believed to be on the radar in the North West. Now, the Red Devils are plotting a potential high-profile deal that could see one of Europe's best midfielders move to Ten Hag's side in 2024.
Man Utd keen on Joshua Kimmich
According to reports from Spain, Manchester United are keen to sign Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich in 2024, who is also being eyed by their rivals Liverpool. The outlet claim that Manchester City and Barcelona have been keen on the Germany international in the past; however, they won't go to insane lengths to land his services and United could make an offer next summer.
Joshua Kimmich key statistics in 2023/24 – Bundesliga (Sofascore)
Accurate passes per game
70.7 (90%)
Tackles won per game
2.0
Balls recovered per game
6.3
Expected assists
3.56
Big chances created
3
Average match rating
7.37/10
Versatile Kimmich is out of contract at the Allianz Arena in 2025 so could be sold on this summer if he doesn't renew his deal at the Bundesliga giants in light of the danger they would face of prospectively losing him on a free transfer.
Labelled "phenomenal" by Jose Mourinho, the Rottweil-born utility man has made 20 appearances in all competitions this season, registering one goal and six assists in the process (Kimmich statistics – Transfermarkt).
Manchester United are no stranger to a statement signing, though if they were able to pull off the capture of Kimmich it could be lauded as, on paper, an impressive deal for the Red Devils.
It was a 4-1 victory and Tottenham Hotspur left Elland Road with the goods, though supporters would not be blamed for heading back to London with a sense of poignancy.
An abject end to the 2022/23 Premier League campaign had stamped an eighth-placed label on the London club, precluding the possibility of European football.
Harry Kane celebrates after giving Tottenham Hotspur the lead in the Premier League against Burnley.
It also convinced Harry Kane – who scored twice on that swansong showing against Leeds United – to complete a transfer to Bayern Munich, and while new manager Ange Postecoglou has succeeded in restoring Spurs' fight and verve this term, there is still a need for a high-class striker.
Latest on Spurs' hunt for a striker
According to a prior report from the Sun, Brighton & Hove Albion have slapped a £100m price tag on 19-year-old striker Evan Ferguson as Tottenham – among other Premier League outfits – eye his signature.
A more recent update from the Standard has revealed that Chelsea are also interested in the Republic of Ireland international, and given the Stamford Bridge side's opulence, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will need to act astutely to convince the teenager to join his project.
Evan Ferguson's style of play
Signing a new contract at the AMEX Stadium last week, extending his deal to 2029, Brighton are in an impregnable position regarding Ferguson's future and will only lower the drawbridge, so to speak, if they wish.
But should the young forward push for a move, teams like Tottenham would be well-placed to move in and seal a deal, with Kane's summer sale indeed opening up space for such a player and thus facilitating a transfer.
Brighton strikerEvan Ferguson.
Ferguson left Irish shores to join the Seagulls as a 16-year-old, having already made four senior appearances for his homeland side.
And while he's still a teenager, the eight-cap international has asserted himself as one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe, with his innate striking ability and predatory movement hinting at a future of real prosperity, and Tottenham are only too happy to provide him with the next step in his development.
Season
Matches played
Goals
Assists
23/24
18
6
1
22/23
19
6
2
21/22
1
0
0
*Sourced via Transfermarkt
Described as a "superstar" by pundit Danny Murphy, the £30k-per-week ace also ranks among the top 4% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, as per FBref, showcasing his elite technical ability and ball-playing skill that only furthers the argument that he could succeed the dynamic Kane.
And given that Ferguson has also revealed that he idolises the England and Spurs record scorer, the semblance in style is only more understandable.
Ferguson could be Robbie Keane 2.0
But given his Irish roots, Tottenham could actually land their next version of Robbie Keane, who is his nation's record scorer with 68 goals and plundered 122 strikes from 306 matches for the Lilywhites, part of the last Spurs squad to win silverware, way back when.
Perhaps more agile and adroit in his craft than Ferguson – who admittedly is deceptively artful but is still an out-and-out centre-forward – the diminutive Keane was renowned for his versatility and effectiveness in offensive sequences, once praised as "one of the international greats" by compatriot Stephen Ward.
A stellar career and a brilliant player, one who is lionised down at N17 and rightly so; should Ferguson tread the same pathway as the Ireland legend then he too could rise to a position as one of the Premier League's great forwards, perhaps even spearheading a return to silver-laden success.
Rangers are in a three-way tussle to acquire the signature of an "absolutely brilliant" Premier League player, according to a new transfer update.
Rangers transfer targets
Philippe Clement is looking to bring in some fresh faces during the January transfer window, as he gets his first opportunity to sign individuals who he feels are right for his style of play. Various players have been linked with a move to Rangers before the end of the month, with the club's interest in Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland refusing to go away. Hellas Verona left-back Josh Doig, formerly of Hibernian, is also seen as an option to come in and be a key player.
Everton's Ben Godfrey has been backed to move to Ibrox in the recent past, too, should Clement feel the need to further add to his defence, and Michy Batshuayi is another name who has been thrown into the hat, though that one looks to have hit a wall.
Rangers want Ben Johnson
Now, according to Football Insider, Rangers are interested in signing West Ham defender Ben Johnson, but they aren't the only club keen on snapping him up.
Leeds United transfer target Ben Johnson before a Premier League game with West Ham.
"Rangers, Leeds United and Sheffield United are among the sides keen on landing West Ham star Ben Johnson this month, sources have told Football Insider. It is believed Southampton are also in the mix for the 23-year-old – who could leave the London Stadium on loan before the 1 February deadline.
"Johnson is entering the final six months of his West Ham contract and is keen to play regular first-team football after struggling for game time with David Moyes’ side. He has rejected several offers from the Irons over a potential new deal. It is believed Johnson has lots of interest from clubs in England and north of the border – with Rangers, Leeds, Sheffield United and Southampton the most keen on a deal."
Johnson could jump at the opportunity to move to Rangers this month, having fallen almost completely out of favour under David Moyes at West Ham, only featuring twice in the Premier League this season, just one of which was a start.
At 23, the Englishman is a key point in his career, in terms of not wasting some of his best years, and he could add both quality and versatility to the Gers' defence, capable of playing at centre-back and in either full-back role, as well as in midfield. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has hailed him in the past, too, saying: "Johnson’s performances have been of such merit that he deserves to be in the team. There is no doubt about that in my eyes. He has been absolutely brilliant since he has come in."
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There is the threat that Johnson could want to remain in England, potentially giving Leeds United and Sheffield United an advantage, but a move to Rangers would give him a chance to win the Scottish Premiership title this season, and hopefully in the coming years as well.
Tottenham Hotspur's recruitment team and chairman Daniel Levy have already been busy in January, but there's still a possibility of further signings.
Spurs could still sign a new midfielder
Manager Ange Postecoglou, speaking ahead of their clash with Man City in the FA Cup on Friday evening, said he is happy with Spurs' January business but also refused to rule out more incomings.
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The Australian declared that his side will look to take advantage of opportunities which present themselves, coming amid reports Spurs want to sign a new central midfielder.
"In terms of the rest of the transfer window, I was really pleased that the initial objectives we had in our head, which were someone in at centre-half and someone in the forward positions, that we ticked those off pretty early," said Postecoglou on the final days of January.
"And it’s not just been that we did them early, but they’re two guys who have really benefitted from having 10 days in the building with us, training, adjusting and all that. Both Timo and Radu are both in a really good place to help us going forward. As for what happens with the rest of it going forward, as I said last time, we’re always alert and doing work and if we can improve the squad we’ll look to do that. And if there are potentially any outgoings, we’re ready for that depending on what happens."
Spurs have been heavily linked with Chelsea star Conor Gallagher, but as we fast approach deadline day, the possibility of his arrival grows smaller and smaller given just the size of this deal.
While some in the game maintain a belief that Gallagher to Tottenham is still possible, Chelsea could demand as much as £60 million to part company with the 23-year-old.
Tottenham could make "cheap" move for Buck
Alternatives have been mentioned as a result, like Atalanta star Ederson or Blackburn's Adam Wharton. CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, speaking to The Last Word on Spurs podcast this week, suggests a bargain option could be New England Revolution ace Noel Buck.
Jacobs says Tottenham could sign Buck as a possibility this month and it is believed he'd cost a "cheap" fee in the region of £5-6 million.
“Kasey McAteer at Leicester, I have mentioned him before, that could grow legs," said Jacobs when discussing midfielders who could join Spurs.
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou.
"Noel Buck isn’t impossible. He’s currently at New England Revolution, Tottenham’s interest is historical. So if they are to reignite that they will have to move rather than continue anything ongoing, but the fee there is quite cheap, only £5-6m."
The MLS sensation has made 27 league appearances for New England over their latest campaign, scoring three goals and registering an assist, and their USA manager Gregg Berhalter has already called him a "really strong" player.
Buck has represented England at Under-19 level but would still potentially be eligible to play for the US national team, as he is a dual-national.
Tottenham Hotspur are enjoying success under Ange Postecoglou and there is every possibility that the club will return to the Champions League next season after failing to qualify for European football at all last year.
It's also quite clear that Postecoglou is building something set to last in north London, shrewdly signing talented players and encouraging the quality of the existing crop back into the limelight.
Tottenham were made mincemeat of on too many occasions last season and Postecoglou's appointment was crucial to prevent further woes, a plummet into the abyss of midtable.
Last weekend, victory over Brighton & Hove Albion pushed Spurs back into fourth place and Aston Villa's home defeat against Manchester United the next day confirmed the position – with just 14 matches left to play in the Premier League, there is hope indeed.
While this senior success is at the forefront of the club's current endeavours, the formative fold are actually surpassing Postecoglou's men and top the Premier League 2 table with a perfect record after 11 matches.
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates.
Much has been made of Spurs' lack of squad depth over the duration of the campaign and indeed the likes of Jamie Donley and Alfie Dorrington have found regular places in the matchday plans since November to combat these issues, now alleviated after chairman Daniel Levy welcomed Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner in the winter transfer market.
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Donley and Dorrington are exciting prospects but they are not the only teenage talents capable of wedging their way into the first-team, with left-back Charlie Sayers pushing for more after some excellent displays this season.
Charlie Sayers' season in numbers
Sayers, aged 19, joined Tottenham from Southend United in December 2021 and has since gone from strength to strength within the youth fold, at present a standout member of England's finest-performing U21 squad.
Having amassed 38 appearances for Tottenham's respective development outfits, Sayers is indeed now knocking on Postecoglou's doorstep and will be among the most likely options to wedge their way into the senior set-up going forward.
Of course, the fact that Spurs have been knocked out of both domestic cups and failed to qualify for Europe last season means that if Sayers is to grace the pitch with the first team before the summer it will come in the Premier League, and with everything on the line the Australian manager will be more circumspect than he might like when handing out debuts to the formative players.
Regardless, Sayers is proving himself and will be sure to take the next step in his development sooner rather than later, having completed nine appearances in all competitions this term and started five times for his table-topping team in the Premier League 2.
In the EFL Trophy, as per Sofascore, he has exhibited his elite athleticism and energy down the left channel by averaging 1.3 key passes, two tackles and 7.3 ball recoveries per match across three fixtures, also completing 85% of his passes.
Charlie Sayers' style of play
Club insider Superhotspur has described Sayers as a tall defender capable of performing both centrally and out wide, boasting a wide range of passing and with good pace to keep things ticking down the flank.
The report goes on to denote a preference to play the ball out and maintain fluency in possession, two points that certainly work in his favour when considering the system that Postecoglou implements and the style that he expects his players to bring to the table.
Eric Dier, Spurs stalwart to a degree, was ostracised from the first-team action and sold to Bayern Munich last month after clearly not offering the skill set that Tottenham now require.
Radu Dragusn was brought in as a replacement but there is definitely room for a new left-sided defender to bolster the ranks – the likes of which Tottenham perhaps haven't seen since a certain former club captain, Jan Vertonghen, who was equally as supreme in possession in the two positions Sayers is capable of playing in. As a result, the teenager – who has been hailed for his "outstanding" qualities by former Southend manager Phil Brown in the past – seems to fit the Belgian's void perfectly.
There has been much talk about the likes of Donley as the Lilywhites' standout prospect and indeed the playmaker has been in scintillating form this season with six goals and 12 assists from 16 matches, but Sayers has demonstrated that he has the making of a star and could make the left-back role his own in the years to come.
After all, it's potentially easier to break in as a full-back than in the forward areas of the pitch; just ask Bukayo Saka at Arsenal who began his career as a left-sided defender.
Of course, Destiny Udogie is the first-choice left-back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and that doesn't look like it will change any time soon, but Sayers could be an excellent understudy to add some depth and dynamism over the coming years.
How Charlie Sayers compares to Destiny Udogie
Udogie signed for Tottenham from Udinese in a £15m deal back in 2022 but spent the 2022/23 campaign back on loan with the Serie A side, honing his craft and doing so rather impressively, praised as an "incredible talent" by journalist Josh Bunting.
He's taken to life in English football, under Postecoglou's stewardship, seamlessly, the 21-year-old posting two goals and three assists across 21 league outings, with his efforts leading footballJOE's Hunter Godson to remark that he "gets into nearly every team in the world already."
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 20% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 15% for pass completion, the top 12% for tackles and interceptions and the top 11% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.
On the note of ball-carrying, he also averages 6.1 ball recoveries per match in the Premier League this season so Sayers would be able to slot right into that role as the understudy. The Italian defender is also similarly crisp in his passing with an 86% success rate this term.
Sayers still has a bit of a way to go until he establishes himself as a senior at Spurs but he definitely has the tools to do so and might just find himself attracting attention in the years to come as he bids to emulate both Vertonghen and Udogie.
As the old saying goes, 'When it rains, it pours,' and it sure is pouring for Crystal Palace this season.
The Selhurst Park faithful have been put through the wringer of late, with a loss to Everton in the FA Cup, Premier League humblings from Arsenal and sworn rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, and now an injury crisis that sees the likes of Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Marc Guehi set to spend a significant amount of time on the sidelines.
With so many things going wrong at once, it's not hard to understand why fans have been making their displeasure at the board and Steve Parish known in recent games, and while it isn't all his fault, Roy Hodgson's lack of results and tedious football has made his position at the club untenable.
Roy Hodgson's side host Wolves on Sunday
So, with news that he's not long for the hot seat, who's set to replace him?
The Eagles search for a new gaffer
The fan protests seem to be working in south London, as a report from The Guardian has revealed that Parish 'strongly contemplated sacking Hodgson' in the aftermath of the club's embarrassing 4-1 defeat away to Brighton over the weekend.
However, the report has also revealed that finding a suitable replacement willing to take over before the end of the season is proving to be complicated.
One of the names on the list is former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper, a man who helped guide the Tricky Trees to topflight status, was once tipped for the England job, but was ultimately let go when his team hit a bad vein of form.
So, would the 44-year-old be a good choice to succeed Hodgson?
How does Cooper compare to Hodgson?
Now, while Cooper might not necessarily be the most glamorous of managerial hires, and the way it ended at Forest will inevitably be held against him, his body of work is impressive, and there isn't an apparent reason why he would fail at Selhurst Park.
His journey in coaching started at Liverpool, where he worked his way up to become manager of the U18s for the 2012/13 season before landing the job of England's U16 manager for a year between October 2014 and June 2015. At that point, he became the manager of the U17's for three years and took the team to World Cup glory in 2017.
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper.
A triumph as impressive as this understandably turned heads in the Football League, and two years later, he took over Swansea City before finally landing his most recent job in charge of The Garibaldi in September 2021.
So, with a career path like that, data analyst Ben Mattinson's claim that he would be "the next England manager" makes a lot of sense.
However, for all his impressive experience, he can't compete with the decades that Hodgson can call on, including spells as the Inter Milan boss and England manager.
That said, in terms of their most recent jobs, the junior coach comes out ahead, as in his 107 games with Forest, he won 42 games, drew 27, lost just 38 and collected 1.43 points per match.
Cooper
Hodgson
107
37
42
12
27
10
38
15
1.43
1.24
In comparison, Hodgson has taken charge of 37 games since returning to Palace last year, won just 12 of them, drawn ten, lost 15 and collected just 1.24 points per match.
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Ultimately, though it may be harsh on a man who clearly cares about the future of Crystal Palace, it would be a smart idea from Parish and Co to give Cooper the job, as he has an impressive track record both with junior and senior sides.
Daniel Farke should be commended for thinking on his feet when it comes to the right-back position at Leeds United this season, thrusting Archie Gray into the spotlight in an ingenious move.
Onto 34 appearances for the season at just 17 years of age, with 20 of those coming as a makeshift full-back, Gray has helped ease concerns over who could come into the side in that position in what has been a problem area at Elland Road.
Archie Gray for Leeds United.
Concerns have further been eased by the addition of Connor Roberts. The Welshman was linked with a move to Elland Road throughout January and then finally put pen to paper on transfer deadline day.
Signing on loan from Burnley, the full-back will spend the rest of the season with Leeds with Farke having bolstered his defence depth impressively.
The aforementioned problems arguably stem, however, from Stuart Dallas picking up a serious injury two years ago.
Once a stalwart in the Whites lineup in defence, he is now sadly burning a rather large hole in Leeds' wage bill by unfortunately becoming a permanent fixture in the treatment room.
Stuart Dallas' salary at Leeds
At the peak of his powers for Leeds, talk around how much Dallas was earning was irrelevant chatter compared to his heroics on the pitch.
During the 2019/20 campaign for Leeds – who Argentine icon Marcelo Bielsa managed at the time – Dallas would manage to fire in five goals on top of picking up three assists as the Whites soared to automatic promotion from the Championship.
The Northern Irish star wasn't done there, however, smoothly transitioning to the demands of the Premier League the season after with eight goals and two assists notched up from 38 appearances.
Dallas' £45k per week wage wouldn't raise any eyebrows therefore at the time, with the now 32-year-old a key first-team presence loved by the Elland Road masses.
Adept at playing in a whole host of positions away from just Gray's current spot – able to play at left-back, further forward down the wing and even in central midfield – it must have been a gutting blow when the news was announced that Dallas had suffered a femoral fracture playing against Manchester City back in April 2022.
Still, with his wage making him the sixth-highest earner currently in West Yorkshire, the time could come soon when Leeds need to assess Dallas' future at the club and whether he will ever make a plausible comeback after such a horrific injury.
Dallas' salary at Leeds compared to the squad
Dallas is by no means the highest earner at the football club, Georginio Rutter and Patrick Bamford are both tied for that title at a handsome £70k-per-week.
Yet, with Rutter's dazzling performances of late and Bamford's fantastic reemergence back onto the scene after injury issues of his own, their hefty wages could be justified.
1. Georginio Rutter
£70k
2. Patrick Bamford
£70k
3. Junior Firpo
£60k
4. Daniel James
£50k
5. Pascal Struijk
£50k
6. Stuart Dallas
£45k
Sourced by Capology
Dallas hasn't managed to play a single minute of action for Leeds since his horrendous injury, which has seen him sidelined for nearly two years now, with key figures in the Whites first team right now such as Ethan Ampadu perhaps justifying a better cause for a wage increase in the future.
Ampadu comes in at £5k-per-week less than Dallas despite rolling up his sleeves all season long as a tough battler for Farke's troops, establishing a formidable partnership in defence recently with Joe Rodon to play their part in the Whites making it seven wins on the spin in the Championship.
Leeds defender Stuart Dallas.
With Dallas also reaching the end of his career now regardless of his fracture, the Northern Irishman 32 years of age, Leeds will need to brace themselves for the day where they'll need to kindly and sadly sever ties with their esteemed servant to free up room in the wage bill.
Perhaps this may well happen if they secure promotion back to the Premier League in the summer.
Arsenal are firing on all cylinders at the moment and have managed to pair their steely defence with a ruthlessness in front of goal they haven't shown before.
The Gunners have won their previous six Premier League games by an absurd margin of 25-3 and, aside from their blip in the Champions League, have looked unbeatable.
Mikel Arteta has seen his team go from one that scored a single goal from 63 shots before the winter break to one that can't stop scoring, which is even more impressive considering Gabriel Jesus has been injured for a month.
Position
Player
Appearances
Goals
1
Bukayo Saka
34
16
2
Leandro Trossard
31
10
3
Martin Odegaard
33
8
3
Gabriel Jesus
23
8
4
Kai Havertz
36
7
4
Gabriel Martinelli
31
7
5
Eddie Nketiah
32
6
The Brazilian last played against Nottingham Forest on January 30th, and while he's likely to come back into the side when fit, the player fans thought was his backup, Eddie Nketiah, might not.
The Englishman has been fit for this run of games but hasn't been picked, which could spell trouble as a Hale End gem with an eye for goal continues to develop.
The former Chelsea youth product went into this season as backup behind the talented but increasingly injury-prone Jesus, and so there was a feeling that he would get a reasonable amount of game time over the year.
For the first part of the campaign, this was true, as when the former Manchester City ace was absent, Nketiah stepped into the fold, and by 1 January, he had made 26 appearances for the team, with 13 of those being starts, in which he scored six goals and provided four assists – a reasonable if unspectacular return.
Appearances
32
Starts
13
Minutes
1345'
Goals
6
Assists
5
Minutes per Goal Involvement
122'
However, since the turn of the year, he has made just six appearances, but all of them have been off the bench and only add up to 88 minutes altogether, in which time he has not scored or assisted any goals.
Now, this sort of involvement might be understandable had Jesus been fit and in the team, but he hasn't been. Instead, Arteta has opted to alternate between Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz in place of the Englishman, making it feel like his time as an essential member of this Arsenal team is ending.
The Lewisham-born forward could remain and fight for his place. He has shown he can score in the top flight, but with Jesus set to return soon, the club supposedly looking for a new striker in the summer and the emergence of a talented nine in the academy, it seems like the 24-year-old's time in red and white is up.
Why fans should be excited about Khayon Edwards
So, the youngster who could potentially put the nail in the coffin of Nketiah's Arsenal career is 20-year-old Khayon Edwards.
The Islington-born nine has been a force of nature for the Gunners' youth teams over the last few years and, across 76 appearances for the U18 and U23 sides, has a remarkable return of 37 goals and 13 assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.52 games.
Interestingly, while it's common for youth team players to start in multiple positions with junior teams to try and find where they excel best, Edwards has played the vast majority of his games as a centre-forward, so he has plenty of experience in the role.
Understandably, his exploits at youth level have attracted plenty of attention from more than just scouts and the like, as Kaya Kaynak, football.london's chief Arsenal writer, described him as a "deadly" forward when he watched him play in 2021.
Team
Arsenal U18
Arsenal U23
Appearances
41
36
Goals
23
14
Assists
9
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.78
0.50
On Arsenal's own website, he has been described as 'a hard-working attacker whose style of play and potency in front of goal emulates fellow academy grad, Eddie Nketiah', which does suggests he has the ability to make it into the first team.
With such an impressive resume at youth level, the 5 foot 11 goalscorer was sent out on loan to League One side Leyton Orient at the start of February in the hope that some first team football could give his development a real boost.
In the month he has been in East London, he has started two games and come off the bench twice to pick up a total of 157 minutes of action, and while he has failed to score thus far, he did impress manager Richie Wellens with his energy, as he claimed "We’re starting with a front three, and at times we ran them ragged. Really clever sometimes in pockets, sometimes outside, our rotations were fantastic."
Khayon Edwards could form a brilliant partnership with Ethan Nwaneri
So, Edwards is a fantastically talented young striker with a real chance of displacing Nketiah in the first team a couple of years from now, but excitingly, he could do so alongside another of Hale End's most promising youngsters, Ethan Nwaneri.
The 16-year-old first grabbed the headlines in September 2022, when Arteta made him the youngest Premier League player of all time when he substituted him on against Brentford at just 15 years and 181 days old.
However, he's more than just a niche pub quiz answer in the future, as he currently has 16 goals and nine assists to his name in just 44 youth team appearances for the Gunners, and he has plenty of experience playing with Edwards.
Team
Arsenal U18
Arsenal U21
Arsenal YL
Appearances
23
20
1
Goals
15
5
1
Assists
5
4
0
Goal Involvements per Match
0.86
0.45
1
For example, the pair both played and scored against Reading's U21 side in September 2023, with Nwaneri in midfield and Edwards up top, in what could be a visage of an Arsenal side to come.
While three years Edwards' junior, the "special player", as U23 scout Antonio Mango dubbed him, has two senior appearances under his belt and could well break into the first team around a similar time despite his younger age.
Moreover, his ability to play in multiple positions and Arteta's claim that he has the "ability to take the ball in tight areas, to escape a little bit like Jack Wilshere used to do" suggests he could occupy that same midfield role he did against the Royals, feeding balls into the frontline and racking up assists as his fellow Hale End graduate racks up goals.
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Ultimately, there is a long way to go for both promising youngsters, but with their records at the youth level and the way people in the know talk about them, don't be too surprised if they are tearing it up for Arsenal in the Premier League in a few years.
Perhaps the biggest triumph of Ange Postecoglou's tenure at Tottenham Hotspur so far is implementing the entertaining football that was nowhere to be seen last term.
Harry Kane might have scored 30 Premier League goals as he leapfrogged Wayne Rooney into second in the all-time scoring charts, but it was a one-man show for much of the campaign and Antonio Conte's dismissal in March – Daniel Levy's fourth managerial sacking in as many years – spoke of the decline that threatened everything.
To put things into context, while there have been grumblings that Spurs are marred by inconsistency (they are) and Aston Villa's fine form could prove to be too much for Tottenham in their top four (maybe, maybe not) there is evidence of progress after last year's eighth-placed finish.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou.
In time, Postecoglou's project will hopefully soar to new heights, and while nothing in football is certain the Australian manager has implemented a discernable, attractive identity that has married into a shrewd, thought-out recruitment strategy.
While this hasn't always been the case, certainly not in recent memory, Tottenham have welcomed the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario and Brennan Johnson – and more – since the summer to form a new-look promising side.
Moreover, the club arguably boasts the finest youth institution in the country right now, with the U21s top of the Premier League 2 and so much quality flooding in.
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For all that talent, it would be quite the feat if someone were to surpass a player of Dele Alli's calibre, but that might just be the case given some of the prospects' performances.
Dele Alli's Spurs beginnings
Dele is unquestionably one of the finest youngsters to make their mark in the Premier League. Ever. Signing for Tottenham from MK Dons for around £5m back in 2015, opting for the north London club over suitors such as Liverpool and Newcastle United, the 27-year-old played a key role in a formidable Tottenham attack under Mauricio Pochettino's leadership.
GK – Hugo Lloris
RB – Kyle Walker
CB – Toby Alderweireld
CB – Jan Vertonghen
LB – Ben Davies
CM – Eric Dier
CM – Ryan Mason
CAM – Dele Alli
RW – Heung-min Son
LW – Nacer Chadli
ST – Harry Kane
Clinical, confident and creative, Dele thrived in the shadow of centre-forward Kane, playing off his Three Lions teammate to combine for some sumptuous play, praising the "perfect deliveries" he received during the balmy days of Pochettino's tenure.
Former Spurs star Dele Alli.
The Argentine manager, now in the Chelsea dugout, was only too happy to provide Dele with a platform, gushing over his lofty potential: "If he is not the best young player in Europe, he’s one of the best. Look at his age and his statistics, the potential is massive."
Alas, the table below depicts a sombre tale, one of a bleak decline that is a by-product of mental health issues and a turbulent upbringing that the player himself revealed to Gary Neville on The Overlap in a heartbreaking and candid interview in 2023.
23/24
0
0
0
22/23
2
0
0
21/22
10
1
0
20/21
15
0
1
19/20
25
8
4
18/19
25
5
3
17/18
36
9
11
16/17
37
18
9
15/16
33
10
9
While the past few years have been torrid, Dele will forever be remembered for his unbelievable introduction to life in the Premier League, leaving defenders eating dust and defying the odds with the constancy of his output.
Jaw-dropping strikes, expertly-timed headers, innate movement into dangerous positions, Dele had it all and while Tottenham are currently nurturing a collective crop of youngsters beyond anything the club has seen in a long time, it would take some player to overtake the now-Everton player.
Well, that ace might just materialise in the form of Lucas Bergvall, who will join the fold during the summer.
Why Lucas Bergvall is Spurs' biggest talent
Interestingly, Tottenham purchased Bergvall from Djurgårdens IF in the January transfer window and loaned him back to his current club for the remainder of the campaign, much the same as when Dele made the move from League One.
Hijacking Barcelona's deal for the Sweden international, 18 years old at the time, Levy engineered a real statement of intent in completing the transfer for a fee approaching £8.5m, with Bergvall endowed with the talent to succeed at the highest level for many years to come.
Described as a "generational" talent by one scout, Bergvall is a rangy centre-midfielder with natural press resistance, impressive strength and vision that will leave Spurs' forwards salivating.
His former coach, Andreas Engelmark, has waxed lyrical over his potential and believes the all-action skill set sets him in good stead to succeed: "In terms of his skillset, he’s good with the ball. He’s a good passer, he can drive with the ball. He’s pretty complete in that way. He has the physicality to be a good ball-winner as well but I think that’s something he needs to be more consistent with to take his game to the next level.
“I think his best position is as a No 8 and we will see in the next few years if he sticks with that position or is going to become more of a 6.”
It's a risky game to anoint a talented teenager as a prodigy before they've even stepped foot on a Premier League pitch but there's an understanding and belief that Bergvall, guided aptly, could have the making of a leading figure in Postecoglou's first-team.
Why Bergvall is a dream for Richarlison
The fact that Bergvall is still malleable enough, in a positive sense, to be shaped and wrought into a star fit for purpose at the heart of Postecoglou's engine room is only a good thing, and his intelligence and determination to succeed suggests that he will absorb the Australian's style as he works to make an impression.
As per Sofascore, he has completed 88% of his passes in the Allsvenskan this season while succeeding with 68% of his dribbles, scoring two goals and supplying one assist from 11 starting appearances.
His gliding gait and precision in driving into the danger area make for the perfect player to play off Richarlison, much like Dele behind Kane way back when, and given that the Brazilian frontman has been in scintillating form for Tottenham recently, scoring nine goals from his past ten Premier League fixtures, Bergvall could indeed be the player to maintain this efficiency.
Richarlison scores for Tottenham.
Of course, Richarlison, aged 26, is hardly suffering from a lack of playmakers in midfield, with the elite Maddison flanked by Dejan Kulusevski and Heung-min Son, but Bergvall is a unique player with a singular identity on the field – there's a reason that Barcelona held such a vested interest in securing his services.
As per FBref, Richarlison ranks among the top 6% of centre-forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking penalty area for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, and that's despite alternating between the left wing and the striking role.
Bergvall will drive, surge, penetrate. He will pull defenders from their sentinels in the rearguard like a sprinting lightbulb attracting moths, allowing the ever-present-in-the-box Richarlison to find space and unleash, and score.
Postecoglou is cooking something at Tottenham, and the parties barely started; Bergvall is the elite talent who could elevate the squad to new heights. Finally.
Newcastle United and PIF could be ready to part ways with one of their stars this summer in a bid to strengthen their squad before the new season.
Below par season to date
Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup confirmed that Newcastle United will end the season without a trophy once more, and the Magpies have suffered a difficult season across all competitions.
Finishing bottom of their Champions League group, albeit having been handed the group of death, they have seen an injury list of epic proportions force Eddie Howe to rely on the same core group of players for much of the season.
They are on course for a poor finish in the Premier League too, with the Magpies currently in 10th place and having won just two of their last five league games, form that is unlikely to see them break into the top 8 and qualify for European football next season.
Newcastle's remaining games
Matchday
Opponent
29
West Ham United (A)
30
Crystal Palace (A)
31
Everton (H)
32
Fulham (A)
33
Tottenham Hotspur (H)
34
Manchester United (A)
35
Sheffield United (H)
36
Burnley (A)
37
Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
38
Brentford (A)
Should they miss out entirely, there may well have to be some painful departures come the summer, with plenty of their squad used to Champions League football and Financial Fair Play looming large in the rear-view mirror.
It is no secret that difficult decisions will have to be taken, with the club's CEO Darren Eales admitting as much earlier in the campaign.
“It's just the nature of the beast. If you trade players on, it creates more headroom," Eales explained. "You have to keep growing that headroom, increasing commercial revenue and player trading.
“Any decision we make will always be against the backdrop of the medium to long-term benefit for the club. It’s difficult to say specifically on certain players, but I can say that, if we’re going to get to where we want to get to, at times it is necessary to trade your players."
Now, reports suggest that the Magpies are coming round to the idea of possibly letting one man leave in order to ease their FFP concerns and allow them to continue what they hope is their upward trajectory.
Bruno Guimaraes could leave Newcastle
The man in question is none other than Newcastle talisman Bruno Guimaraes, who is understood to have a £100m release clause in his contract and is being tracked by a whole host of clubs ahead of a potential summer bidding war for his services.
Chief among the interested parties are understood to be Manchester City, and Pep Guardiola has made no secret of his admiration of the Brazilian.
“He is an exceptional holding midfielder. He is aggressive, with the ball or without the ball. At set pieces, he’s aggressive and is a real, complete holding midfielder since being at Lyon and now at a club who want to grow up and up."
Now, Football Insider journalist Pete O'Rourke reports that Newcastle 'will be forced' to sell one star this summer and that 'Guimaraes is high on the list of those who could be sacrificed', with the Brazilian frustrated with how the season has panned out to date.
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It is added that 'Newcastle need to raise funds before signing any targets'. With Guimaraes having a release clause in his contract, any deal could be concluded swiftly and could be the easiest way of raising quick cash this summer to fund their own transfer business, which the report adds could include as many as four new faces before the new season.