All posts by z3u9t.icu

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has wasted no time in immediately bolstering his new side, as he attempts to lead the club through the transitional period to try and return to the Premier League’s top four.

He’s already added centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo and central midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to his Blues squad, bringing the latter from Leicester City after the pair helped the Foxes secure an immediate return to England’s top flight.

The Italian will be hoping that the duo can make an instant impact at Stamford Bridge, with a real impetus on the new Blues boss to hit the ground running after his appointment during the off-season.

However, despite the recent additions, Maresca is still on the hunt for a new forward to lead the line for Chelsea, with numerous players linked with a big-money transfer to the Premier League this summer.

Chelsea’s hunt for a new striker

At this point, there aren’t many strikers in Europe who haven’t been linked with a move to Chelsea, with two forwards the most consistently linked with a switch to West London.

Newcastle forward Alexander Isak was linked a few weeks ago but the Magpies are reluctant to sell their star man with the PSR deadline now having passed.

The interest is hardly a surprise given his record of 21 Premier League goals in 27 outings, but any deal would set Maresca’s side back at least £100m this summer.

The Blues have also been linked with a deal to sign Napoli forward Victor Osimhen, following up on their long-standing interest in the Nigerian talisman.

Current Chelsea man Romelu Lukaku could be included in a move for Osimhen, but as it stands, PSG have the edge over Maresca’s side in the race for his signature.

However, his potential move to the French side could allow for a domino effect, allowing the Blues to sign current PSG man Randal Kolo Muani.

Journalist Graeme Bailey confirmed that Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign the Frenchman despite only arriving at the Parc des Princes for £75m back in September 2023.

In talks with intermediaries, they have allegedly reached out to clubs to inform the likes of Chelsea that Kolo Muani and his teammate, Goncalo Ramos, will be available.

Whilst it’s unknown how much a deal for the 25-year-old would cost, he could prove to be an excellent addition and the perfect alternative to Isak and Osimhen.

Why Kolo Muani could be the perfect Isak & Osimhen alternative

With the two main options undoubtedly setting the Blues back upwards of £100m, Kolo Muani could prove to be a cheaper, but just as effective, alternative to the duo.

With PSG wanting to sign Osimhen, they may offload other forwards to make way for his potential arrival, with Kolo Muani one option that may have to be sacrificed.

However, their loss could be Chelsea’s gain, with the 25-year-old averaging a better goal-per-shot-on-target ratio than both Isak and Osimhen.

He’s also won more aerial duels than the aforementioned duo, fitting the bill perfectly for that focal point that Maresca is hunting for during the transfer window.

Games

28

30

25

Goals + assists

12

23

18

Goals per shot on target

0.54

0.44

0.33

Aerials won

50%

20%

44%

Take-ons attempted

87

74

40

The “superb” ace – as he was dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has also demonstrated his ability with the ball at his feet, attempting more take-ons than the other transfer targets, allowing him to also play on the shoulder as well as with his back to goal.

The club’s hunt for a new striker has been going on way too long, with Maresca needing to be more direct with his approach to find the man to lead his forward line next season.

Kolo Muani might not be as glamorous as the likes of Isak and Osimhen – he doesn't score as often – but he certainly would prove to be a great option at the top end of the pitch.

He’s demonstrated his talents in the air and with the ball at his feet, but also his ability to find the back of the net – three features which are vital in a centre forward, but more importantly will help Chelsea mount a serious push for the Premier League’s top four.

He's better than Isak: Chelsea battling PL rivals to sign £86m "powerhouse"

He’s been a player in demand so far this summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 17, 2024

After failing in their first approach, Aston Villa have reportedly made a second attempt to convince one of their summer targets into a Premier League switch ahead of next season.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans have been one of the busiest sides in the transfer market so far this summer, especially in the Premier League. In total, they've welcomed five fresh faces with Amadou Onana reportedly on his way to make it a sixth. The Belgian's arrrival, alongside Ian Maatsen's, stands out amongst the crowd as the most impressive business that Villa have so far completed.

Aston Villa now "closing in" on swoop to sign "highly rated" gem for Emery

He’s one for the future.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 13, 2024

With so many incomings, however, departures always seemed likely as those in the Midlands have already seen with the exit of Douglas Luiz to Juventus and as they may see with Moussa Diaby. The former Bayer Leverkusen star has reportedly agreed personal terms with Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad and could now be on his way out of Villa Park just one year on from arriving.

The winger's exit would undoubtedly deal Unai Emery a frustrating blow this summer, but Villa could at least make up for Diaby's potential departure by reversing the trend of Saudi clubs signing European stars.

According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa have made a new approach to sign Saud Abdulhamid from Al-Hilal, having already made an initial approach at the start of the transfer window. The right-back reportedly believes that now is the best time to move into European football after impressing in Saudi as a standout defender. Despite approaching Abdulhamid's representatives though, Villa are yet to open negotiations with Al-Hilal.

It could be quite the way to break the trend by luring a player who is regarded as one of the best right-backs in the Saudi Pro League to English football after the likes of Ruben Neves and now perhaps even Diaby chose to move in the opposite direction.

"Incredible" Abdulhamid has earned Aston Villa interest

A Saudi champion and one of the best defenders in the country, Abdulhamid has more than earned the interest of Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, AS Roma and others in a busy race for his signature. Villa, of course, after their new approach, will be hoping to take the lead in that race, but it remains to be seen whether they can reach an agreement on both personal terms and on a fee with Al-Hilal.

The 24-year-old ended last season with four goals and nine assists – eclipsing Matty Cash's five goals and three assists in the process – and could now make his biggest move yet to Villa Park. Dubbed "incredible" by Arab News, Abdulhamid could be a shrewd coup by those in the Midlands this summer.

Strength in depth could be key for Villa if they want to repeat last season's success in the Premier League whilst causing even greater upsets in the Champions League, and adding Abdulhamid to compete with Cash would bring exactly that.

This summer is a huge one for Tottenham Hotspur as they try to build on Ange Postecoglou’s solid first season at the helm.

His side secured a 5th-placed finish in the Premier League, narrowly missing out on a Champions League place – with the aim undoubtedly to secure qualification this season.

They’ve already invested in the squad during the transfer window, re-signing forward Timo Werner on loan, whilst splashing £40m on youngster Archie Gray.

However, despite the big-money addition of the midfielder, who starred for Leeds United last season, the Lilywhites are still targeting more new signings to increase their chances of building on last season.

Numerous names have been touted with moves to North London this summer, including one talent who has caught the eye of various sides in the Premier League.

Tottenham could sign £50k-p/w star this summer

In recent weeks, Tottenham have been linked with a move to sign Nottingham Forest right-back Neco Williams after his stellar campaign in 2023/24.

The Welsh international, who earns £50k-per-week, as per Capology, made 26 appearances for the Reds last season, claiming three successive Player of the Month awards after the arrival of Nuno Espírito Santo.

His subsequent form has also caught the eye of West Ham United and Manchester United, with the Premier League duo joining Spurs in keeping tabs on his progress at the City Ground.

The potential signing of Williams could play perfectly into the hands of one current Spurs talent who also joined the club from Forest just 12 months ago.

Why Williams could be a dream signing for Johnson

Brennan Johnson joined Postecoglou’s side in September last year for £47.5m from the East Midlands outfit, after his debut top-flight campaign that saw him score eight goals and register three assists.

He enjoyed a successful first season in North London, registering 15 goal contributions, the second most of any player in the Tottenham squad in 2023/24.

Johnson has previously starred with Williams at Forest and for the Welsh national side, with the pair potentially able to rekindle their link-up down the right-hand side should the full-back swap the East Midlands for London this summer.

Whilst Williams featured without the winger at club level during the previous campaign, he still produced some impressive figures that would allow Johnson to reach the next level in North London.

Games played

26

Progressive carries

2.6

Successful take-ons

1

Tackles

3.8

Blocks

2.4

Clearances

2.9

Progressive passes

2.6

The “incredible” defender, as dubbed by former boss Jürgen Klopp, averaged 2.6 progressive carries and 2.6 progressive passes, tallies that could allow him to once more create a successful partnership with his international teammate by progressing the ball forward consistently to provide the attacker with plenty of opportunities to weave his magic in the final third.

However, his primary role is to be solid defensively, a role that he excelled in last campaign, winning an average of 3.8 tackles per 90 – ranking him within the top 1% of all defenders in Europe.

He also averaged 2.4 blocks and 2.9 clearances, playing a starring role in Espírito Santo’s side towards the back end of the season.

It goes without saying that Williams’ potential signing would be an excellent one for Spurs, but it remains to be seen if they would pursue a move after their reported interest.

It would further strengthen the right-back area, but also hand the current Tottenham forward the opportunity to reach the next level after his impressive first season at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

After the wretched injury fortunes that plagued Manchester United's 2023/24 campaign, fans will have hoped that Erik ten Hag can put such issues to bed ahead of an exciting new era.

Bleakly, however, such misfortune seems to have seeped into the Dutchman's pre-season preparations, with star striker Rasmus Hojlund and £59m summer signing Leny Yoro injured in a friendly against Arsenal this week.

The former, who scored ten Premier League goals last season after joining from Atalanta for £72m, is out for six weeks, meaning he will likely miss the opening four fixtures of the term.

The 18-year-old Yoro however, has been sidelined with greater severity, suffering an ankle blow that is set to rule him out for three months, now slated to make his competitive debut at the end of October.

United have issues to solve in midfield, but Yoro's luckless fortunes appear to have accelerated talks for another centre-back…

Man United transfer news

According to Corriere dello Sport – as reported earlier this week – Man United are interested in signing Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer, who has a €66m (£56m) release clause and has also caught Liverpool's eye.

The Red Devils are locked in talks with Bayern Munich as they push to sign Matthijs De Ligt (alongside right-back Noussair Mazraoui), but the Brazilian could be the perfect alternative.

Given that his release clause expires at the end of next week, United will need to act quickly if they are to complete a deal, though with the pace things are moving at Old Trafford, this will probably be the case.

What Gleison Bremer would bring to Man United

Described as a "monster" of a centre-back by analyst Ben Mattinson, Bremer has been the veritable lifeforce of Juventus' rearguard since signing from Turin rivals Torino in 2022, completing a £35m transfer in July 2022.

As per FBref, the 6 foot 2 star ranks among the top 20% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored and the top 16% for aerial battles won per 90, emphasising his prowess in headed situations.

The 27-year-old has also proved to be ever-present, starting 36 Serie A matches last term, missing one fixture due to a yellow card suspension and another as he sat on the bench on the final day of the term.

The same cannot be said for De Ligt, with the Netherlands international missing the lion's share of last season due to injuries and starting only 16 matches in the German Bundesliga.

Now two years on from his £68m signing from Juventus – where Bremer is effectively his direct replacement – United have a choice to make in moving for one or the other, and while age is on De Ligt's side, Bremer is athletically robust and no doubt capable of starring for many years to come at the Theatre of Dreams.

Matches (starts)

36 (36)

31 (27)

Goals

3

3

Assists

0

1

Clean sheets

15

7

Pass completion

86%

91%

Ball recoveries*

5.4

4.7

Tackles made*

1.6

1.0

Clearances made*

4.0

2.6

Total duels won*

5.2 (58%)

4.7 (59%)

De Ligt is the real deal, no doubting it, but Bremer is actually performing at a superior rate – even when comparing the Dutchman's 2022/23 metrics against the Brazil internationals in Italy last year (it wouldn't be fair to collate against De Ligt's stats over the past year given his injuries).

The Juve titan might not be quite as crisp with his passing but he makes up for it with elite athleticism and a far more active defensive approach, getting stuck in and striking fear into the hearts of his opponents.

And in any case, Juventus were uncharacteristically devoid of the ball in the league last year, ranking 12th in the division for average amount of possession retained throughout (48.5%).

After all, he's received high praise indeed over in Italy, with Juventus legend Sergio Brio gushing over his defensive tools: "I really like Bremer. He’s an exceptional player with great timing and positioning on the pitch. The Brazilian is the best defender in Serie A today. I’m certain of it."

De Ligt has his strengths and there's little question that the arrival of either defender would see an improvement to United's backline, but INEOS are in a position where they must show the right ambition to pull the club from the dregs where it has languished over the past interminable years and rise to a position of power at the summit of the European game.

In Bremer, Ten Hag would find a steely new star at the back to ensure that Yoro's bleak start to life in England does not prove to be detrimental to the targetted resurgence. The teenage prodigy has all the talent in the world but his injury-ruined start is a sharp reminder from the get-go that he must be eased into the rigours of Premier League football.

Bremer would slot right in, having even been hailed for his "world-class" qualities by CBS Sports commentator Matteo Bonetti, and while De Ligt is the more prominent player, Bremer might actually boast the skillset to make the more significant difference in Man United's defence.

Given that United have already seen a bid for De Ligt rejected, it might be wise to simply move ahead with Bremer and enforce the backline with a player capable of guiding the club to glory.

Constant contact: Man Utd chase "insane" £42m star to solve Yoro problem

The incredible international would be an excellent signing.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 2, 2024

West Ham United could sign a player who Julen Lopetegui thinks may well be “perfect” for the Hammers, according to Fabrizio Romano.

West Ham’s summer signings

Eight new players have been brought in by technical director Tim Steidten this summer, however, the Irons may not be stopping there.

West Ham summer signings

From

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Max Kilman

Wolves

€47.5m

Crysencio Summerville

Leeds United

€29.3m

Niclas Fullkrug

Borussia Dortmund

€27m

Luis Guilherme

Palmeiras

€23m

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Man Utd

€18m

Wes Foderingham

Sheffield United

Free transfer

Guido Rodriguez

Real Betis

Free transfer

Jean-Clair Todibo

Nice

Loan transfer

West Ham summer departures

To

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Flynn Downes

Southampton

€17.85m

Said Benrahma

Lyon

€14.4m

Thilo Kehrer

Monaco

€11m

Nathan Trott

FC Copenhagen

€1.5m

Ben Johnson

Ipswich Town

Free transfer

Joseph Anang

St. Patrick's Athletic

Free transfer

Wan-Bissaka was the most recent signing and told the club's official website after joining from Manchester United: "It was a no brainer for me to join West Ham – I’m excited and happy to be here,” said the 26-year-old, who will wear the No29 shirt.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be back in London, and I’m excited for what’s coming. I was born here, so I know the ins and outs of London, which plays a big part in my life, so to be back playing in this city means a lot to me."

After Wan-Bissaka, another centre-back and a central midfielder have been linked with the Irons in Nantes’ Nathan Zeze and Paris Saint-Germain’s Carlos Soler.

A bid has reportedly been made and turned down for Zeze, whereas the Hammers were looking to accelerate a move for Soler. Now, Romano has made a claim about Soler possibly heading to the London Stadium.

Romano makes Soler to West Ham claim

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano said the links regarding West Ham and Soler are “true” and that he could be the “next” addition for the Irons.

"That (Soler) is a concrete option for West Ham. It's true, he's one of the names they have on their shortlist. And now, obviously they will also need to assess all the possibilities and consider all the options. They've been fantastic in the summer transfer window. Wan-Bissaka was also a tough one, not an easy deal. They've been able to get it done on player and club side, and it was a complicated negotiation.

"Todibo was a crazy saga. So they've been putting a lot of efforts into bringing in these new players in recent weeks. Now they are considering Carlos Soler, it's true, it's a possibility. I think he could probably be the next one.”

Romano then added that Lopetegui is the one “pushing” for Soler who he thinks could be a “perfect player” in the top flight.

“What I'm hearing is that Julen Lopetegui is pushing a lot to have Soler. He believes that Soler could be a perfect solution and a perfect player for the Premier League with his skills. I think he could probably be the next one [signing].”

Soler is 27 years of age and is valued at around £17m by PSG, with previous reports saying that the asking price won’t be an issue for West Ham, and following Romano’s recent comments, it looks as if this rumour has legs.

There are just four days to go until the transfer window slams shut, and Manchester United are among several Premier League clubs still looking to do some business.

Erik ten Hag's side have already been busy in the market this summer, bringing in a number of quality additions, such as Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee, but you can always add more quality to the team.

Recent reports have revealed that the Red Devils could kill two birds with one stone in their next deal by getting rid of Jadon Sancho and replacing him in one fell swoop.

However, it might not be a deal that's too popular with the fans.

Manchester United transfer news

According to a recent report from Daily Mail journalist Sami Mokbel, Raheem Sterling is open to moving to United as part of a deal that would see Sancho move to Stamford Bridge before the window closes on Friday.

It's unclear whether United would be willing to accept this deal, but the report comes just a day after murmurings of a potential swap deal emerged, with it now clear that neither winger has a future at their current clubs.

It is unclear if the Pensioners would be willing to offer cash on top of the winger, but given their respective ages, that may be a way to convince Sir Jim Ratcliffe to accept the deal.

The United faithful might not be overjoyed at the prospect of Sterling coming in to replace the English winger who has struggled to adapt to life at the club, but given his record, it might be a gamble worth taking.

How Sterling compares to Sancho

So, the first thing to say is that while Sterling has spent more time playing off the left of a front three than anywhere else in his career, he has still started 172 games off the right and, therefore, should have no trouble playing there at Old Trafford.

With that said, how do the two Englishmen stack up against one another?

Well, from a pure output perspective, it's a clear victory for the former City star, as in 43 appearances for the Blues last season, he scored ten goals and provided eight assists, equating to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games, which does not sound like a player who is finished at the top level.

In contrast, the Red Devils' talented winger scored three goals and provided three assists in 24 appearances, mainly in Germany, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every four games.

Okay, what about their underlying numbers, then? Does the "incredible" 29-year-old, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, come out ahead when we take a look under the hood?

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.50

0.27

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.59

0.28

Progressive Carries

5.45

5.57

Progressive Passes

3.55

5.51

Progressive Passes Received

11.0

10.2

Shots

2.29

0.68

Shots on Target

0.88

0.28

Passing Accuracy

73.9%

80.1%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.87

4.66

Goal-Creating Actions

0.64

0.51

Indeed, he does, and while it's a slightly tighter affair than their output, he still comes out on top in most relevant metrics, including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes received, shots and shots on target and goal-creating actions, all per 90.

Ultimately, while this deal might not please fans, and it might not even happen at that, there can be no doubt that Sterling is a vastly more effective winger than Sancho, and adding him to Ten Hag's squad would surely only make the team stronger, even if he played a squad role, so to not disrupt the development of Amad Diallo.

They must get rid: Man Utd ace who earns more than Maguire set to be sold

Erik ten Hag won’t be too gutted to see the back of this Manchester United man.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 26, 2024

To be fair, Richard Hughes did claim that Liverpool’s summer transfer window would lead toward a “crescendo”, and the Merseysiders are raising the volume at this late stage.

Liverpool have started the Arne Slot era off impressively, winning both their opening Premier League matches without conceding, but it’s a long ol’ season ahead, and reinforcements have been in nonexistent supply this summer.

Opportunistic is the word that’s being bandied about, with the Reds satisfied with the team that Slot inherited from Jurgen Klopp but accepting of the fact that improvements could be made.

Liverpool aren’t a side to spend with a scattergun approach, however, and though most fans feel that central defence and no. 6 are the priority positions, Hughes and co are focussing elsewhere.

Liverpool’s late-stage transfer plans

FSG love a surprise swoop and have certainly shocked a few with the news that signing Federico Chiesa is being weighed up.

The Juventus forward has an undesirable injury record but also operates across a range of positions and would add depth and dynamism.

Right-footed, he might not be the perfect successor to Mohamed Salah’s throne. But he appears to embody that ‘opportunistic’ mantra, with a reported €15m (£13m) outlay very good business for a player about to turn 27 with demonstrable prowess at the highest level.

Might Liverpool be better off dipping down a different route, however? Chiesa's arrival would not be without its caveats, and there's clearly money to spend, on the right player, of course.

Liverpool eyeing Federico Chiesa alternative

Chiesa enjoyed a largely injury-free campaign last year but his track record leaves nothing to be desired in that regard, and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo could be a brilliant alternative.

Liverpool don't have fond memories of dealings with the Basque club for reasons we need not delve into, but according to Caught Offside, Kubo could be an attainable player and is said to be at the top of Hughes' list.

The 23-year-old's La Liga outfit value him at £55m, significantly higher than Juventus value Chiesa, but Liverpool could find a lasting bond through the Japanese's talents, given that he performs at a higher all-round level than the Old Lady forward.

Matches (starts)

30 (24)

33 (25)

Goals

7

9

Assists

4

2

Shots taken*

1.5

2.3

Big chances missed

4

9

Pass completion

81%

77%

Big chances created

10

12

Key passes*

2.0

1.6

Ball recoveries*

3.3

1.9

Tackles*

0.9

0.6

Dribbles*

1.8 (56%)

1.1 (42%)

Total duels won*

4.8 (55%)

2.9 (44%)

As you can see, Kubo might add more of a complete package than his Italian counterpart, whose wretched injury record could prove to dissuade the Reds, even if he's available for a bargain figure.

Kubo, a 35-cap international for Japan, ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 19% for successful take-ons and the top 17% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref. Playmaker.

Hmm, not quite the all-scoring talisman. But that's okay. Kubo has scored 0.24 goals per 90 over the past year while chalking an xG (expected goals) rate of 0.13 per 90, highlighting a preciseness to his finishing that could see him thrive in a bouncing team such as Liverpool's

The Redmen created 102 big chances in the Premier League last season, and no team placed more. This term, just two matches in, Liverpool have created nine, top again. Running on that limited pool, the trajectory points toward an unsustainable 171 big chances come the end of the year, but it's promising nonetheless.

Back to Kubo. The diminutive winger has proven himself a deceptive marksman, now just imagine how his fruits could bloom in a rich profusion on Merseyside – he'd surely be the better pick than Chiesa; he might even live up to be the perfect Salah successor.

Why Liverpool should sign Takefusa Kubo

It's early days yet, but Slot's insistence on starting Diogo Jota as Liverpool's leading centre-forward illuminates the Dutchman's tactical thinking, expecting his system to be headed by a refined and dynamic goalscorer.

At Feyenoord, his attacking line was carried by the free-scoring success of Santiago Gimenez, who plundered 53 goals and 13 assists over 93 matches for the Eredivisie side.

1.

Mohamed Salah

44

25

0.56

2.

Darwin Nunez

54

18

0.33

3.

Cody Gakpo

53

16

0.30

4.

Diogo Jota

32

15

0.47

5.

Luis Diaz

51

13

0.25

Jota ranks among the top 2% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, as per FBref, so he's clearly capable of playing that part – but then we all know that, don't we?

That's a roundabout way of alluding to life without Salah. We all want the decorated Egyptian to pen an extension to his £350k-per-week contract, but he's 33 in July and will need completion on the wing even if he does stay on for another year or two.

Salah's currency is goals, and with 213 over 351 appearances for the Merseysiders, it would be an onerous task to find someone to fill a Salah-shaped hole just so.

So how about Liverpool just… don't. Kubo is not a high-class goalscorer but he is an exceptional footballer, highly effective down the flank; creative in possession, and combative out of it.

His numbers leave something to be desired but Kubo is still only in the early-ish stage of his career and could whet his tools to a sharp point under Slot's management at Liverpool.

Hailed as a "special talent" by journalist John Bunting, Kubo would be the perfect addition to a Liverpool side craving silverware and success at the start of a new era. Kubo would help, serving initially as Salah's foil before growing into his skin and succeeding the Egyptian, starring for the Merseysiders, starring for Liverpool.

He's a dream for Jota: Liverpool considering late swoop for PL "superstar"

His club are bracing themselves ahead of deadline day…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 27, 2024

West Bromwich Albion fans will be dreaming about their side making a long-awaited return to the Premier League at the end of this current season with Carlos Corberan's men sitting pretty in second spot in the Championship after four league games played.

Of course, there's a lot of second-tier action still to come, but the West Midlands side will have high hopes that they can compete for promotion once more, having made the playoffs last campaign under the popular Spaniard's guidance.

Under Corberan, lavish purchases through the door have been very rare at the Hawthorns, and that would likely remain the case even if promotion was secured, owing to the fact the Baggies have been burnt a lot when it comes to major flops in their not so distant top-flight past.

Oliver Burke's name, or rather 'the Scottish Bale', definitely falls into the high-profile dud category, having cost the Baggies an extortionate £15m back in 2017 as a major statement buy under the up-and-down regime of Tony Pulis.

Oliver Burke's time at West Brom

Burke never justified that steep price tag when donning a West Brom strip, with the former Scotland international only going on to make 24 first-team appearances for his new club, before leaving for Sheffield United in 2020.

He was even chucked out on loan to the likes of Celtic and Deportivo Alavés in Scotland and Spain to see if he could re-energise his failing career away from England, but it would never see him breathe life back into his cursed spell at the Hawthorns when returning.

Burke would only manage to score one goal for the Baggies, with only three assists too before going on to become a nomad after another forgettable stint unfortunately greeted him at Bramall Lane.

He has since played for the likes of Millwall, Birmingham City and Werder Bremen without ever really fitting in, leading to his transfer value taking a drastic hit, with the days where he was once worth an eye-watering sum of money firmly in the past.

Oliver Burke's transfer value in 2024

As per Football Transfers, Burke's value is now way down at a meagre £928k, a far cry from his pomp where he was regarded as an exciting young talent when still on the books of Nottingham Forest.

To add further context, Tom Fellows – who is only into his second full senior campaign donning a Baggies strip – is worth far more at £3.5m, despite only being 21 years of age and still relatively inexperienced.

Yet, Fellows' three assists from just four Championship games this season to date is only one goal contribution off matching the lacklustre output Burke has managed for Millwall, Werder Bremen and Birmingham from his last 39 competitive games.

Werder Bremen

19

2

1

Millwall

31

4

3

Birmingham

23

0

0

Sheffield United

36

2

1

With his contract up next year at his current employers in Bremen, with zero games handed to him so far during the 24/25 campaign, it looks increasingly likely that the German titans will pull the plug on him staying put when it expires.

It remains to be seen whether Burke would be given another chance to prove himself in the English game – as he is only 27 years of age still – but West Brom supporters won't hold any fond memories when it comes to the Scottish dud's time at the Hawthorns.

It's a sad demise for a star who was expected to go on and become a top talent when emerging through the youth ranks at Forest, but a tale West Brom fans won't extend much of their sympathy towards.

Worth more than Furlong & Mowatt: West Brom struck gold with 6 ft 2 star

West Bromwich Albion used to rely on this star at the back.

1 ByKelan Sarson Sep 8, 2024

Liverpool are purring under Arne Slot, who has inherited a top-class team and all that but is instilling his vision with expertly worked dispatch.

Against Ipswich Town, the newly-blooded style demonstrated its adaptability; against Brentford, at Anfield, Slot’s controlled approach was discernible; against Manchester United, Old Trafford was squashed and the Reds started to look like a genuine force.

Nottingham Forest are up next, headed to Merseyside as they look to preserve their unbeaten record to start the campaign – a win and two draws – they will face one of their toughest tests against Slot’s Liverpool, who are hungry to extend their perfect start.

Liverpool team news

Harvey Elliott will play no part in the coming run of fixtures after fracturing his foot with England U21s this week. The 21-year-old has scarcely featured yet this term but was expected to step up with the fixtures coming thick and fast.

That aside, positivity. Alexis Mac Allister completed a full session of training on Thursday and is in contention after a fitness concern with Argentina last week. Moreover, Curtis Jones has made his recovery and will be hoping to start.

Federico Chiesa could be involved for the first time after signing from Juventus in a deal worth £12.5m last month, but he may not be thrown right into the starting mix. Despite his probable start on the bench, Slot might want to consider dropping Diogo Jota for the first time this season.

Why Liverpool should drop Diogo Jota

Jota has started all three of Liverpool’s opening matches under Slot and has scored one goal and claimed one assist. He played a crucial role against Man United before the break, working tirelessly and prodding the backline to allow the likes of Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah to capitalise, but it wasn’t his finest showing by any stretch.

Jota failed to complete each of his five attempted dribbles against the Red Devils while also losing all ten of his contested duels. It was a display that underscored the depth of Liverpool’s attacking talent, and that the Portuguese is not immovable at number nine.

And anyway, his injury record leaves plenty to be desired. Jota must be handled deftly, especially when considering the forthcoming sprint of fixtures, as they do not want to overwork him and end up without the forward for a period of time due to injury.

Cody Gakpo will hope for his first starting berth of the season, but it is Darwin Nunez who should get the nod this time. The dynamic striker has a good record against today’s opponents and has the skills to succeed at the front of Slot’s system.

Slot must unleash Darwin Nunez

Nunez scored 18 goals and claimed 13 assists across all competitions last year, though he continued to ebb and flow from the expected fluency, with his inconsistent performances in the final third.

He’s got a myriad of weapons to hurt opponents but comes up short too often. He’s wasteful and erratic. He’s also brilliant, heralded as Liverpool’s “agent of chaos” by many – as relayed by journalist Theo Squires.

Matches played

29 (19)

36 (22)

Goals

9

11

Assists

3

8

Big chances missed

20

27

Pass completion

67%

72%

Big chances created

11

11

Key passes*

1.0

0.9

Dribbles*

0.6 (49%)

0.4 (43%)

Duels won*

2.8 (38%)

2.4 (38%)

Nunez’s lack of growth across his two campaigns in the Premier League marks the crux of the problem, for he has yet to lift his underlying numbers and is still just as profligate, if not more so. He missed 27 big chances last year despite only scoring 11 times, which simply isn’t good enough.

However, the electric Nunez scored home and away against the Tricky Trees last year and will be confident that a starting berth could extend that hot streak, especially after the manner of his contribution in the City Ground fixture earlier in 2024.

He’s only featured off the bench this year but Nunez could hit the ground running in this new tactical system by simply latching onto the imperious form of his side’s talisman Salah. The 32-year-old has already scored three goals and added three assists across three games for the Reds, and you wouldn’t bet against him making his mark today.

If Nunez does fail to score, should he start, he might also find his playmaking skills tuned to the Egyptian’s frequency, with ten of his 17 assists for the Merseysiders placed at Salah’s feet. This level of interchangeability could be crucial, keeping Liverpool’s adversaries guessing.

Some of this is down to Salah’s brilliance, of course, but Nunez is a tireless forward with sharp movements and intelligent awareness. His inability to hit the mark with consistency does not nullify the expansive scope of his skillet.

Indeed, as per FBref, Nunez ranks among the top 10% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 17% for progressive carries, and the top 21% for tackles per 90.

That final metric is particularly interesting, highlighting a tenacious and willing approach to his defensive game, always eager to help out. Slot has a vibrant and broad range of attacking talent at his disposal, but the Uruguayan is arguably the most distinctive of players and will be hungry to showcase his unique talent.

Liverpool will be expected to defeat Forest on home soil today, but Espirito Santo’s side have shown strength of character and tactical understanding across the opening weeks, and they will not roll over for the hosts.

Forest have taken the most amount of shots in the Premier League this season with 53 – Liverpool are joint-second, with 48 – with their 21 shots on target also the most in the division. This is an early alarm bell for the Anfield side but suggests that Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are apt to surge forward, and thus are susceptible on the counter. Nunez territory, that.

Slot would be wise to make a tweak or two, and with Jota’s injury record and recent showing in the Premier League, it’s surely the time to unleash Nunez, who was once labelled an “unstoppable” force when at his best by Jurgen Klopp, and get a taste of his style under new management.

The Uruguay international should be unleashed ahead of Jota through the middle of the pitch, with Salah and Diaz flanking him on either side.

Liverpool ace was meant to be the new Sterling, now he’s a free agent at 28

The talent has endured a rapid decline in recent years.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 12, 2024

Let’s talk signings. The summer transfer window is firmly in the past now and Eddie Howe is proving his tactical acumen by crafting an impressive start to the 2024/25 campaign with Newcastle United.

Defensively, United were all over the shop against Fulham last weekend, seeing their unbeaten start cut at Craven Cottage as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat. How Marc Guehi could have made the difference in that one, but he remained at Crystal Palace despite a string of high bids thrown at Steve Parish’s desk.

With Sven Botman continuing his rehabilitation after a knee injury suffered last season and Fabian Schar missing much of the early phase this year after being sent off against Southampton in the opener, the missed opportunity was accentuated and then some.

Away from the backline, Newcastle failed to strengthen their attacking ranks with anything of significant impact, though they did triumph in rebuffing interest directed at one top talent who continues to shine at present.

Keeping Anthony Gordon was Howe's biggest success

Let’s talk Anthony Gordon. The England international was, at one stage of the summer market, looking like he might return to Merseyside and join Liverpool, his boyhood club.

But he didn’t. Newcastle’s 2023/24 Player of the Year remains at St. James’ Park and this is one of the – if not the – most important success stories of the summer months, along with keeping an iron grip on Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes.

The holy trinity, Howe’s glittering triumvirate at the top of the Magpies’ squad. Such players would fit right in at a host of top European outfits and could be catalysts in returning to the Champions League and maybe, just maybe, get a tangible shot at some silverware.

But we were talking signings – or, to be cynical, lack thereof. Newcastle’s frontline is not exactly spartan but it wasn’t bolstered outside of the £15m signing of William Osula from Sheffield United. The Blades were relegated and Osula, though talented, is a 21-year-old forward who blanked across 21 Premier League outings last year.

So they’ve got to make do. Of course, Isak is one of the Premier League’s deadliest finishers and Gordon is dynamic and athletic, but he can’t do it all alone and will feel that certain peers are flattering to deceive in the quest for returning to the top of the division and stepping back into continental competition.

There are some existing options who just aren’t it, and probably should have been sold to usher in a shinier, newer, more fashionable successor. So then, let’s talk about Miguel Almiron.

Newcastle need to axe Miguel Almiron

Almiron has been through the gears at Newcastle, that’s for sure. He moved to England at the midpoint of the 2018/19 campaign when joining Newcastle from Atlanta United for a club-record £21m fee.

One glorious spell of Lionel Messi-esque form aside, Almiron has not been the most productive of wingers in the Premier League since his arrival.

Indeed, after posting eight goals and an assist across nine matches throughout the autumnal months of the 2022/23 season – en route to qualifying for the Champions League – the Paraguayan has tailed off, only bagging three goals across the duration of last term.

24/25

2 (0)

0

0

23/24

33 (23)

3

1

22/23

34 (29)

11

2

21/22

30 (19)

1

0

20/21

34 (28)

4

1

19/20

36 (35)

4

2

18/19

10 (9)

0

0

This is not the finest return and, given Almiron’s lack of goalscoring success throughout his Premier League seasons prior, indicative that he will not return to free-scoring heights with any regularity.

It’s time to cut him loose. Had Newcastle succeeded in bringing in a new winger this summer, he may well be plying his craft elsewhere right now. Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga, for example, was the subject of concrete attempts to bolster Howe’s first team, but the Tricky Trees stood firm and turned down an offer worth £50m on transfer deadline day in August.

Almiron, aged 30, is in the penultimate year of his contract so there would be some recoup if he were sold in 2025, with clubs from the Saudi Pro League eager to sign him for £20m last January.

Moreover, Almiron earns £60k per week, which means that though he is not one of the highest-paid Newcastle players he does earn just as much as another forward who deserves to be taking home a bigger pay packet than his South American.

Who is it? You guessed it. We’re talking about Gordon. The 23-year-old agreed on a package probably fitting when he arrived from Everton for a £45m fee in January 2023. Now, though, he has far outstripped Almiron, who was riding the crest of a wave when he originally moved to Tyneside.

Matches (starts)

35 (34)

33 (23)

Goals

11

3

Assists

10

1

Touches

44.9

33.3

Shots (on target)*

2.3 (0.9)

1.2 (0.4)

Big chances created

16

6

Pass completion

82%

86%

Key passes*

1.6

0.7

Tackles + interceptions*

1.8

1.4

Ball recoveries*

3.6

2.9

Dribbles*

1.5

0.7

Total duels won*

5.3

2.6

The right winger’s faded underlying metrics have contributed toward his diminished role in Howe’s side. This season, despite Newcastle having failed to sign a new star on the flank, Almiron has been restricted to a bit-part role, featuring in two of the club’s five Premier League matches but playing a single minute in each.

Once praised for his “unique” style by Howe, Almiron now needs to be sold, especially as Gordon might feel aggrieved that he is earning the same as his declining peer after the interest of Liverpool in the summer.

Time to go: Newcastle must axe 4/10 man who earns as much as Isak

Howe needs to axe Newcastle man earning the same as Isak

1 ByConnor Holden Sep 26, 2024