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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke was brought in ahead of the 2023/24 campaign to lead the club back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

The Whites were relegated from the top-flight at the end of last season and now have a squad full of players with top level experience and a great chance to compete for promotion back to the big time.

Who did Leeds sign this summer?

Although they were able to keep hold of the likes of Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville, Leeds did allow a host of first-team players to depart and this meant that new signings were needed to bolster the squad.

Ethan Ampadu, Sam Byram, Joel Piroe, Glen Kamara, Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Ilia Gruev, Djed Spence, and Jaidon Anthony were all brought in to improve the depth and quality of Farke's options across the pitch.

Whilst Darlow was signed, from Newcastle United, to compete with Illan Meslier for a starting spot between the sticks, the ex-Hull City loanee has not been trusted in the Championship so far.

This could open the door for Leeds to sign a goalkeeper who has the quality to immediately replace the Frenchman between the sticks in January.

Were Leeds interested in Angus Gunn?

Phil Hay revealed, on The Square Ball podcast, during the summer transfer window that Norwich City colossus Angus Gunn was on the list of shot-stoppers that were appreciated by the Whites as they looked at their options.

That interest came two years on from the club's failed effort to land him in a £5m deal from Southampton ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, as the Canaries secured his signature amid late pressure from the Yorkshire-based side to snap him up.

However, their latest round of interest did not amount to anything as Darlow was brought in as a back-up to Meslier and they did not splash the cash on a new number one.

Football Insider had reported that Leeds were planning to sell the French shot-stopper during the summer transfer window but a move failed to materialise before the deadline passed.

The same outlet claimed that the club value him at a minimum of £20m and that Premier League sides Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur had both shown an interest in him, although they seemingly opted against a serious effort to sign him.

This suggests that the door could still be open for Meslier to depart in the upcoming January window if an attractive bid comes in for him, as the Whites were prepared to part ways with the former Lorient prospect ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Therefore, Farke must revive his interest in Gunn at the start of next year in order to finally ditch his current number one heading into the second half of the season.

How many clean sheets does Gunn have for Norwich?

The Norwich-born goalkeeper, who was twice-signed by Farke – in 2017 and 2021 – during their time together in Norfolk, has racked up 29 clean sheets in 106 competitive games for his current club.

He kept 15 shutouts in 45 matches on loan from Manchester City with Norwich during the 2017/18 campaign under the German head coach.

His form for the Yellows led to a permanent switch to Premier League side Southampton, where he only made 30 appearances and kept eight clean sheets in total before his move back to East Anglia two years ago.

Appearances

31

Goals conceded

65

Clean sheets

Six

How has Gunn performed for Norwich?

Since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, Gunn has been an excellent performer at Championship level and established himself as a star for the Canaries since taking the number one duties from the experienced Tim Krul.

The Scotland international has been an outstanding shot-stopper in the second tier over the last 15 months or so, as he has consistently proven himself to be capable of pulling off superb saves to keep out excellent efforts against his goal.

Gunn has saved 7.5 more goals than the average goalkeeper would have been expected to based on the post-shot xG value of the strikes he has faced in the Championship for Norwich.

This, essentially, means that the ex-Manchester City man has been significantly above average as a shot-stopper for the Canaries since the start of last season.

He has also showcased his ability as a sweeper. Over the last 365 days, Gunn ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers among the Men's Next 14 Competitions for the average number of defensive actions outside of his box (1.98) and the average distance of his defensive actions from his own goal (18.6 yards) per 90, as per FBref.

How has Illan Meslier performed for Leeds?

Meslier, meanwhile, has been a below-average performer between the sticks in terms of his shot-stopping ability since the start of last season.

The French prospect, who was signed for £5m from Lorient in 2020, conceded a staggering 12.4 more goals than the average goalkeeper would have been expected to have let in from the post-shot xG value of the shots against him in the Premier League last term.

He has been unable to push himself over the line into being an above-average shot-stopper with the drop down to Championship football as the 23-year-old dud has conceded 0.8 more than expected over the first 11 games of the campaign.

This suggests that Gunn is a considerably better goalkeeper when it comes to keeping out quality shots against him, particularly in the second division.

Meslier, who was once dubbed a "liability" by journalist David Kent, is also not as prevalent of a sweeper in comparison to the Norwich star as he does not rank inside the top 20% of goalkeepers in the Men's Next 14 Competitions for either of the aforementioned sweeping statistics over the last 365 days.

Therefore, Farke must now revive his interest in the 6 foot 5 EFL titan during the upcoming January transfer window as their respective statistics suggest that Gunn would come in as a big upgrade on the current number one.

The Scotland international is a proven Championship performer who has already worked with the German tactician and could, as a result, hit the ground running and take over from Meslier without being a liability between the sticks.

Tottenham Hotspur are "willing to shell out a considerable sum" for one club's star player who has become an "important target" for Spurs.

Who have Tottenham signed 2023?

Over the 2023 summer transfer window, new Lilywhites boss Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy opted to bring in seven major signings. Indeed, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, assured defender Micky van de Ven, England midfielder James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon, exciting striker Alejo Veliz and Wales forward Brennan Johnson all put pen to paper before deadline day.

The results of their business so far have been very fruitful, as Spurs are currently sitting pretty in the Premier League stands and second – just behind last season's treble-winning Man City side. Both van de Ven and Maddison in particular have stood out as a couple of the window's arguable bargains of the summer, especially the latter, who has already endeared himself to the Tottenham fanbase with an array of impressive performances.

Vicario, who came in to succeed long-serving number one Hugo Lloris between the sticks, has also been praised for his start to life at N17 – while Solomon has dazzled on-lookers in parts with some his brilliant one-v-one directness. The likes of Phillips and Veliz are seen more as rising stars for the future, so must wait patiently for game time, but there is already very high hopes at Spurs for Johnson's potential to become important.

What's the latest Spurs transfer news?

As the January transfer window approaches, Tottenham could move to reinforce their squad further, in particular by making a second central defensive signing after van de Ven this year. The north Londoners arguably lack cover in that position if the Dutchman or his partner, Cristian Romero, were to succumb to injury.

This has lead to reports that they could target the likes of Juventus star Gleison Bremer, Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly and Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba. Now, according to a report from Spain this week, Tottenham have added another name to their list of defensive targets for the winter.

Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, who starred for his club in the Turkish Super Lig last term, is apparently that player with the 24-year-old becoming an "important objective". As such, Spurs are apparently "willing to shell out a considerable sum of €30 million (£26m) to secure his services". Postecoglou's side are very interested Nelsson, and this could deal a blow to Sevilla, who are also chasing the centre-back.

The Denmark international stood out as a star defensive player for Galatasaray over 2022/2023; making more blocks per 90 and winning more aerial duels per game than any of his teammates in the league (WhoScored). Nelsson was also an untouchable member of manager Okan Buruk's starting eleven; featuring over more Super Lig minutes than any other outfielder in their squad (WhoScored).

These numbers suggest that he is a pivotal figure for Galatasaray, and it is little surprise Spurs are taking note of his exploits.

Chelsea booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after beating Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Mauricio Pochettino made four changes to the side that lost against Brentford and in a season that has been plagued with injuries and the Argentine would have been delighted to see one of his stars return to the starting lineup and open the scoring as Benoit Badiashile sent the Blues on their way to the last eight.

He wasn't the only player to return to the first eleven as Reece James gave a good account of himself on his return from injury, with the pair coming off unscathed in the 61st minute, just after Raheem Sterling put the icing on the cake with a curled effort into the top right corner.

Raheem Sterling's stats vs Blackburn

Described as "clinical" by journalist Ben Jacobs for his well-taken finish against the Championship side, Sterling showed shades of being back to his best.

The Englishman terrorised the visitors with his electric pace and explosive ball-carrying, fashioning space for his team while wreaking havoc in the Rover's defence.

Touches

60

Accurate Passes

26/32 (81%)

Key Passes

2

Dribble Success

5/9

Possession Lost

16x

Duels Won

8/17

Stats via Sofascore.

Sterling's strongest asset is his fleet-footed dribbling and he showcased that to devastating effect on Wednesday night, recording the most completed dribbles out of anyone on the pitch (5), as per Sofascore.

The 28-year-old's approach play was exceptional, expertly fashioning space to create a chance and complimenting that positive play by supplying the end product to match.

He was a constant thorn in the Rovers back line, making two key passes, creating one big chance and successfully completing 81% of his passes.

Perhaps more impressively, Sterling's hard work to press and win possession back for his team didn't go unnoticed, throwing himself into challenges and making two tackles while winning eight of his 17 attempted ground duels.

The former Manchester City man set the benchmark for a positive Chelsea performance on the night but midfield maestro, Enzo Fernandez, somehow managed to eclipse his impact with an outstanding display.

Enzo Fernandez stats vs Blackburn

When the Blues captured Fernandez for a British record £106.8m from Benfica in the January transfer window, many anticipated him to transform the midfield and lead their charge up the Premier League table.

Unfortunately, the Argentine has been a central figure in a woefully underperforming side over the last ten months, typifying the club's struggles in piecing together a squad capable of challenging.

On Wednesday night, however, the 22-year-old rose to the occasion and showed his truly world-class talents.

Touches

131

Accurate Passes

102/110 (93%)

Key Passes

7

Duels Won

11/13

Times Fouled

5

Tackles Won

6

Stats via Sofascore.

A midfield metronome, who likes to control the tempo of a football match with his exceptional passing range, Fernandez was central to everything positive that Chelsea did, with journalist Nizaar Kinsella describing his performance as "ridiculously dominant".

That evaluation couldn't be closer to the truth as the World Cup winner recorded a Sofacore match rating of 9.0 – the best of any player for either side – made an astonishing 131 touches and completed 93% of his incredible 110 passes, as well as seven key passes.

If Fernandez was exquisite in possession, his desire to ferociously press and win the ball back was absolutely phenomenal, rarely giving the visitors a moment's peace in the engine room.

He came out on top in a whopping 11 of his 13 ground duels and made the most tackles in the match (6), putting in the sort of defensive performance that brought his South American roots to light.

When in this sort of form, Fernandez is a joy to watch and if he can translate that level of performance to the Premier League, the critics will soon realise why Chelsea shelled out a triple figure sum to lure him to Stamford Bridge.

From EFL goalkeepers to Serie A players with famous brothers, there are a lot of very tall players available to be used in the new EA FC 24.

Football FanCast runs you through a list of the 15 tallest male players at your disposal in the game, as per Futbin.

The 10 Fastest Male Players on EA FC 24

15 Sebastian Selin (Hammarby IF)

Height: 6ft 8 inches

6ft 8 is quite some height and yet there are a number of players on this list that are that tall.

Sebastian Selin is the first to meet that criteria, a bronze goalkeeper from Sweden.

14 Anosike Ementa (Viborg FF)

Height: 6ft 8 inches

It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that a lot of these players will be goalkeepers but Anosike Ementa is one of the few that doesn’t fit that mould.

The Dane is a striker and he plies his trade in the top division in his home nation.

13 Massamba Ndiaye (Clermont Foot 63)

Height: 6ft 8 inches

From Denmark to France with Clermont Foot’s goalkeeper Massamba Ndiaye.

He is 64 rated with one of his highest attributes involving the ball being at his feet.

12 Samuel Brolin (AIK)

Height: 6ft 8 inches

The goalkeeper union continues to dominate heading into the silver cards with Samuel Brolin being the first up.

Brolin is another of the 6 ft 8 players on EA FC and he plays for Swedish side AIK.

11 Kjell Scherpen (SK Strum Graz)

Height: 6ft 8 inches

Kjell Scherpen certainly catches the eye with his impressive 5-star weak foot.

A goalkeeper having 1-star skill moves is hardly groundbreaking, but his weak foot makes the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee a fascinating card.

10 Skelly Alvero (OL)

Height: 6ft 8 inches

Frenchman Skelly Alvero is a defensive midfielder, with his height making him a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the park.

He has 3-star skill moves and 3-star weak foot, as well as the best stat on his card being 80 physical.

9 Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (Torino)

Height: 6ft 8 inches

Milinkovic-Savic is of course a well-known name in European football, particularly in the Serie A, but it is Vanja who makes this list as opposed to Sergej.

The Torino goalkeeper is our first gold card with a rating of 76 and is yet another 6ft 8 man.

8 Cian Tyler (Coventry City)

Height: 6ft 8 inches

The first of a few EFL goalkeepers on this list comes from the Championship, with Coventry City.

Cian Tyler is just 21 and so is one for the future both with Coventry and Wales.

7 Matthew Nocita (Red Bulls)

Height: 6ft 8 inches

New York Red Bulls have several players of a smaller stature on their roster but at the other end of the spectrum is Matthew Nocita.

Nocita is a centre-back who has 4-star weak foot.

6 Corey Addai (Crawley Town)

Height: 6ft 8 inches

Returning to the other side of the Atlantic with Jamaican shot-stopper Corey Addai.

The Crawley Town man is once again, 6ft 8.

There aren’t many better feelings than watching your team home and away.

Win, lose or draw, we’re there to support our beloved clubs whether it be at the home ground or as part of a tiny away section.

League One in particular is as competitive as ever, containing some historic names of English football, and so with that comes a number of must-visit grounds.

Focusing on the third tier, Football FanCast has ranked the top ten away days in League One which you should be looking to embark on if your team ever gets the chance.

For this list, we've considered the area, affordability, potential nearby activities and the stadiums themselves when coming up with the best away trips League One has to offer.

10 The Valley – Charlton Athletic

We are kicking things off in the capital, in particular Greenwich, where we have The Valley.

This is the home of Charlton Athletic, who were playing Premier League football as recently as 2007, but have since hit a bump in the road.

Fans of the Addicks currently find themselves struggling to get out of League One, but they do have an excellent stadium to show off with a capacity of over 27,000.

Visiting such a big stadium at this level of course means that a sizeable away allocation comes with it as well – a couple of thousand are able to attend.

Given that Charlton is London, it is easy enough to make a weekend out of a clash with this team, as there is no shortage of activities and pubs and whatnot in the surrounding area.

One slight downfall, though, is that with the location comes more expensive drinks than fans from further afield may be used to.

Away day rating: 6/10

9 Memorial Stadium – Bristol Rovers

Travelling further west to Bristol now, which is a two-team city.

Bristol Rovers and Bristol City divide the land in blue and red and it is the latter who are the more established, having been in the Championship consistently for nearly a decade now.

Rovers are the team going under our microscope with their ground, the Memorial Stadium.

The stadium itself has a capacity of just over 12,000, so whilst it may not be competing with the venues that have graced the top flight, it is still very impressive.

Rovers originally spent 89 years at Eastville Stadium but left there in 1986 and then moved to the Mem ten years later.

Away day rating: 6/10

8 Weston Homes Stadium – Peterborough United

Iconic stadiums losing their names to sponsors is a plight that is working its way through the EFL.

Peterborough United’s London Road is the first victim on this list, but the Weston Homes Stadium is certainly not as bad as another that will feature later on.

The Posh is a highly regarded club, this reputation being boosted by the openness shown by owner and chairman Darragh MacAnthony when it comes to the dealings in the transfer windows.

Peterborough has a historic cathedral if that is something that piques your interest before or after your team goes to battle with the Cambridgeshire side. Beyond that, there is a fair amount of general history on show and as the location suggests – Cambridge isn’t far away at all, either.

London Road is another stadium that holds a very respectable capacity, which is in excess of 15,000, with the possibility of a great atmosphere from home and away supporters.

Away day rating: 6/10

7 Pride Park – Derby County

Derby County are the first club to creep beyond the 6/10 mark and hit the heights of a very respectable seven.

They are another team who have played top-flight football in the Premier League era, although they do of course hold that haunting record for the lowest points tally.

Pride Park is where they call home, and according to BetVictor, this is the best ground in all of League One.

GiveMeSport states that season ticket price, price per game, stadium utilisation, total mileage, number of votes, atmosphere, location, stadium view, infrastructure and food were the various criteria that were assessed in BetVictor’s study.

Back in 1888, Derby were one of the 12 founding members of the Football League, showing just how steeped in history they are, making them a shoo-in for this list.

Away day rating: 7/10

6 St James’ Park – Exeter City

St James’ Park is a famous location up in Newcastle but also down south as well, with Exeter City having a ground of their very own going by the same name as the Magpies’.

Exeter are very proud of their reputation of being a fan-run club and so that quickly endears them to the football purists who come to visit in Devon.

The Grecians are a loud and proud group of supporters, with their clashes against local rivals Plymouth Argyle always being extremely fierce whether it's at Home Park or St James’.

There is a standing area and a seated area for away fans at Exeter, which is a nice touch, and with a fine city just minutes away from the ground, the stadium itself is worth a visit.

Away day rating: 7/10

5 Bloomfield Road – Blackpool

Returning to the trend of former Premier League teams, Blackpool reached those particular heights with Charlie Adam as captain and Rob Edwards and Ian Evatt also featuring – a pair who now manage Luton Town and Bolton Wanderers respectively.

Blackpool is known for having its infamous tower, the Pleasure Beach, waterparks and a zoo.

Once again, this is a location which would be suitable for the family, so a weekend getaway could be arranged around the main event of a football match.

Bloomfield Road has a capacity of 17,625, with the figures for away fans able to creep into four figures once again.

The presence of plentiful empty seats does lead to Blackpool being marked down, but it remains a desirable location for away fans, for sure.

Away day rating: 7/10

4 Kassam Stadium – Oxford United

Peterborough United affords you the chance of visiting Cambridge, while the other famous university city can be attended when your team goes toe-to-toe with Oxford United.

People of an older generation may know Oxford’s home as Grenoble Road, but it is now known as the Kassam Stadium in honour of Firoz Kassam, who owned the club between 1999 and 2006 as well as having a stint as chairman.

Kassam paid just £1 for the club due to the financial difficulties they were enduring at the time.

Oxford is considered to be a great place to visit, while as of 2021, it was named as the eighth-most expensive area in the country to buy a pint, so visiting fans will have to be wary when they flock to the nearby pubs.

Away day rating: 8/10

3 Toughsheet Community Stadium – Bolton Wanderers

Weston Homes Stadium isn’t the best name around, but that is nothing compared to the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

There have been a lot of changes to the name of Bolton Wanderers’ home, from the Reebok Stadium to the University of Bolton Stadium and now to this.

But this name is one of very few blemishes on an away day to Bolton, in truth, with the size of the stadium certainly working in their favour.

Referring back to BetVictor’s research, Bolton ranked 14th in the entire Football League. This put the Trotters ahead of Premier League grounds such as Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United to name just a few.

Away day rating: 9/10

The top ten away days in the Premier League – ranked

An away day is one of the best parts of being a football fan, but which is the best in the Premier League? Football FanCast has taken a look.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 22, 2023 2 Oakwell – Barnsley

Barnsley join Bolton at an away day rating of 9/10, but the former gets the slight edge, and finishes second on the list as a result.

Oakwell is an old-school, classic ground for football and Barnsley in general are a club with a lot of history.

They are firmly ingrained in the landscape of England from a football perspective which makes it a worthwhile away day instantly.

The club doesn’t own the stadium anymore, with the council having to take over to save the club from facing extinction, and whilst they have gone from the Championship play-offs to League One in just a couple of years, Barnsley remains a massive club that deserves a lot of respect and admiration.

Away day rating: 9/10

1 Fratton Park – Portsmouth

There aren’t many better grounds that one can visit in the EFL than Fratton Park.

The University of Portsmouth labels itself as “one of the most affordable UK cities for university students”, and why can’t that carry over to football fans wanting to frequent the pubs, particularly when “the cost of a pint [is] averaged at £4.51, one pound cheaper than London.”

We have no notes for Pompey, it is a club with a great following in a nice area and Fratton Park is the best stadium in League One, all things considered.

Away day rating: 10/10

Leeds United are eyeing up four wins in succession when they travel to Stoke City this evening in the Championship.

The Whites secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Norwich City last time after returning from 2-0 down as a Shane Duffy own goal and a Crysencio Summerville brace sent the away end into pandemonium.

Ahead of this fixture against the Potters, Daniel Farke is anticipating an intense performance from the opposition, which could mean making some alterations to his side to freshen up proceedings.

What is the latest Leeds United team news?

Farke confirmed that there were no fresh injury concerns to his squad following their win over Norwich, however, Junior Firpo, Djed Spence and Stuart Dallas remain the only absentees.

Theoretically, the German head coach could name the same starting XI as last time out but given the Championship's hectic schedule, it would be wise for him to utilise the full breadth of his squad.

With that being said, he could drop Dan James, who was wasteful against Norwich and replace him with Wilfried Gnonto.

How did Dan James perform against Norwich?

The fleet-footed winger terrorised the Canaries' back line with his searing pace but once he got himself in a position to produce the final pass or cross, he showed a lack of composure.

Throughout his career, James has been criticised for his wastefulness in the final third – having been dubbed "headless" by pundit Darren Bent – and despite Leeds dropping down to the Championship, that continues to be a theme that plagues the rest of his game.

In his 84 minutes on the pitch at Carrow Road, the 26-year-old was threatening in the build-up phase but he was seriously lacking any substance to go with his approach play, aside from supplying the cross that was inadvertently turned into his own goal by Duffy.

According to SofaScore, James only made one successful dribble, misfired two of his eight attempted crosses, lost possession on 17 occasions and missed one big chance.

That is an indication, if it was ever needed, that the former Manchester United man lets the ground swallow him up when he enters a dangerous position, instead of remaining composed and producing a piece of quality to go with it.

Gnonto's performances, however, paint a picture of someone who can provide the X Factor in the final third having burst onto the scene in the Premier League last season.

How has Wilfried Gnonto performed for Leeds this season?

When Wilfried Gnonto handed in a written transfer request in the summer, few would have expected him to still be plying his trade in the Championship.

However, a move never materialised and the Italian now looks set to play a huge part in the Whites charge for promotion.

The "special" forward – as lauded by former Leeds assistant coach Michael Skubala – made an instant impact on his return from injury by providing the assist off the bench for Crysencio Summerville's curled effort.

In his six appearances under Farke this term, Gnonto has averaged more successful dribbles than James per game (2.2/0.6), a better pass completion (82%/77%) and fewer big chances missed, as per SofaScore.

Whilst James has supplied four assists compared to Gnonto's one, the 20-year-old can prove against Stoke, if given a start, that he has the capacity to punish teams emphatically, unlike the Welshman.

If the diminutive teenager is unleashed from the off, the Potters won't know what's hit them.

Manchester City are now believed to be closing in on an agreement with one of Europe's bright young gems as Pep Guardiola's side build for the future at the Etihad Stadium, according to reports.

Manchester City profit from rivals dropping points…

Despite not being in Premier League action over the course of the weekend, Manchester City find themselves in a handy position after their rivals for the title all dropped points.

Aston Villa recorded a draw at home to Chris Wilder's improved Sheffield United; meanwhile, Liverpool and Arsenal had to settle for a point apiece at Anfield on Saturday evening, which has left the Citizens in a handy position as they look to win their fourth successive league crown.

As it stands, Guardiola's men are six points off top spot with 34 points from 17 matches played; however, they retain a crucial game in hand that will take them to only three points off the summit despite a recent run of form that has yielded just one win in their last six domestic fixtures.

Man City make contact to sign "top talent" with a £21m release clause

The Sky Blues are looking to secure the services of a new prospect next month.

ByChloe Chadwick Dec 19, 2023

Of course, their good week was rounded off by the fact the Club World Cup has also headed back to the North West after a successful trip to Saudi Arabia following a 3-0 triumph over Urawa Red Diamonds in the last four alongside a 4-0 thrashing of Diniz's expansive Fluminense side in the final.

Tougher tests are yet to come for Manchester City, though claiming another piece of silverware could be the perfect tonic to re-ignite their title challenge as Guardiola looks for his men to enter their usual cruise control from the mid-season period until the end of the campaign, where they typically start to pick up in consistency and rhythm in their league performances.

On the transfer front, the Sky Blues also look to be closing in on the capture of a talented young gem who has been offered financially advantageous terms to move to Manchester.

Manchester City closing in on Matija Popovic

According to Football Insider, Manchester City are closing in on an agreement with Partizan Belgrade youngster Matija Popovic after offering the 17-year-old a "big-money" five-year contract to sign on the dotted line at the Etihad.

Matija Popovic statistics for Partizan Belgrade Under-17's – Kadetska liga (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

25

Goals

21

Assists

5

Matija Popovic facts

Height

6ft 4in

Positions operated in

Attacking midfield, right wing, central striker

AC Milan are also said to be keen on the Serbia Under-17 international; however, the Citizens are now in pole position to wrap up a deal to sign the attacker, who could soon arrive for a development fee as he is approaching the end of his contract at his current employers. The report adds that scouts and recruitment chiefs from the Etihad have been massively impressed with the player.

Talent scout Jacek Julig also gave a flavour of what Manchester City fans could be led to expect with Popovic earlier this year, labelling the German-born youth as someone with a "very unique" profile.

Building for the future seems to be a key part of Guardiola's vision and Popovic appears to be someone with an exciting collection of traits that could potentially be a star of the future in the blue half of Manchester.

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers could have a difficult situation to manage at the start of next year as a number of players look set to be unavailable due to international duty.

The 2024 Asian Cup takes place between the 12th of January and the 10th of February and this means that the Hoops could be without a number of their top players during that period, depending on selections and how far their respective countries go in the tournament.

Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Hyeon-gyu Oh, and Hyun-jun Yang are just a few of the Bhoys talents who could be on their way to the competition and miss games for the Scottish giants.

This could leave Celtic particularly light at the top end of the pitch as both of their recognised centre-forward options could be competing in the Asian Cup and, therefore, be unavailable for selection for Rodgers.

With this in mind, it could be beneficial for the Parkhead side to bring in another number nine during the January transfer window to lead the line in their absence.

They already appear to be on the case as the Hoops have been touted with an interest in striker Sydney van Hooijdonk, who is the son of former Bhoys star Pierre.

Celtic transfer news – Sydney van Hooijdonk

According to Italian outlet Corriere di Bologna (20/11/2023 printed edition, Sport page 3), via 67HailHail, Bologna are prepared to sanction a loan deal for the young ace in January.

The report has claimed that the Serie A outfit are willing to send him out on a temporary basis for the second half of the season in order to free up space for them to bring in their own additions in that area of the pitch.

It is stated that Celtic have already made opening enquiries about a possible swoop to secure his services, although it remains to be seen whether or not they would want a permanent or loan deal.

A temporary arrangement could be the perfect solution for Scottish giants as van Hooijdonk could come in to provide relief whilst Oh and Kyogo are possibly away with their respective countries and then the club are not tied down to three senior strikers beyond the end of the season.

Rodgers only lines up with one centre-forward in his favoured formation and it could be difficult to keep three first-team options happy, particularly when Celtic are bottom of their Champions League group and on course to be kicked out of Europe this season.

Van Hooijdonk is not a new target for the Hoops as Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph named him as a player who had been on the club's radar throughout the summer transfer window. Although, they either opted against a move at that point or were unable to strike a dela with Bologna.

Celtic could now find a lethal partner for Luis Palma during the second half of the season by signing the Serie A prospect to bolster their attacking options, as they could thrive alongside each other.

Luis Palma's season in numbers

The Honduras international has enjoyed a terrific 2023/24 campaign since his move from Aris FC over the summer and is proving himself to be a superb signing by Rodgers.

He has hit the ground running in Scottish football and has showcased his ability to provide consistent quality as a scorer and a creator of goals from out wide.

Palma arrived at Parkhead off the back of a return of 13 goals and eight assists in 36 appearances in all competitions for his previous club last season. The exciting ace then started the current campaign with two goals and three assists in five outings for the Greek side before his move to Scotland was completed.

Since his switch to Paradise, the 23-year-old whiz has racked up five goals and five assists in 12 matches for Rodgers – with nine of those goal contributions coming in the Scottish Premiership.

Minutes played

90

Sofascore rating

10

Goals

One

Assists

Three

Big chances created

Two

Key passes

Seven

Dribbles completed

Four

Palma's most recent Celtic performance (via Sofascore)

As you can see by his latest Hoops showing, Palma is capable of the spectacular and has plundered an outstanding four goals and five assists in five league starts for the club so far.

He has created four 'big chances' and produced 2.6 key passes per game for his teammates in the top-flight, which shows that the former Aris star is able to consistently open up the opposition's defence to create opportunities for his fellow attackers.

Sydney van Hooijdonk's goal record

Palma could, therefore, be a fantastic partner for van Hooijdonk in the final third as the Bologna youngster has the potential to be a reliable scoring option for Rodgers.

The 23-year-old marksman has only scored one goal in 11 first-team matches for his current club but proved himself to be a lethal scorer in Dutch football.

He started his career with NAC Breda and racked up 42 goals and two assists in 57 U17 and U19 appearances combined before a step up to the senior squad, where the young finisher produced 23 goals and four assists in 70 outings.

This form earned him a move to Bologna and the Italian side opted to send him out on loan to Heerenveen for 18 months to continue his development.

Van Hooijdonk, who was once hailed as "prolific" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored six goals and created two 'big chances' in 13 Eredivisie matches during the first five months of his loan spell.

He followed that up with a sublime return of 16 goals and one assist in 30 league starts for Heerenveen as the right-footed dynamo showcased his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

His record of 22 goals in 43 league starts for the Dutch side on loan meant that van Hooijdonk averaged more than a goal every other match during that period.

Now, imagine how lethal the £9k-per-week gem could be in front of goal with the supreme talent that is Palma out wide providing him with a regular stream of chances, and 'big chances', to score from for Celtic.

They could thrive next to each other in attack whilst Oh and Kyogo are potentially unavailable, which is why this could be a fantastic piece of business by Rodgers.

Despite spending Christmas Day atop the Premier League tree, it has been a pitiful couple of weeks for Arsenal, in which they have lost three games on the bounce.

While there are often multiple reasons a team goes through a poor patch, with the Gunners, it is painfully obvious what is letting them down: their attack.

Mikel Arteta's front line have been misfiring for much of the season, but the performances against West Ham United and Liverpool at the Emirates were perhaps the worst games the attack have had in quite some time.

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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The good news for Arteta and the Arsenal faithful is that the latest player touted for a move to N5 has been scoring for fun this season: Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke.

Arsenal transfer news – Dominic Solanke

According to the Daily Star, Arsenal are still on the lookout for a new striker this January, and while Brentford's Ivan Toney remains a player they are keen on, Bournemouth's Solanke is another number nine that they would like to bring to north London.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, this won't be a cheap deal to complete, with the Mirror reporting that any move for the former Liverpool striker will cost at least £50m, which would represent a serious investment for a winter signing.

That said, for a striker who has 12 goals and one assist in 19 Premier League appearances this season, he could prove to be worth every penny for a title-chasing Gunners side.

Moreover, club legend Thierry Henry seems to be a fan of the Englishman, telling Amazon Prime (via the Metro): "I guess it was a bit too much when he was younger. But what he is doing right now is brilliant."

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ByMatt Dawson Jan 8, 2024 Why Dominic Solanke could unlock Arsenal's attack

Now, last season proved that Arsenal's attack is not to be taken lightly; from Gabriel Martinelli to Eddie Nketiah, practically every attacker at the club played their part in running Manchester City close for the title, but it just wasn't enough. Indeed, their top four scorers, Martinelli included alongside Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard all netted double figures in 2022/23.

Unfortunately, the attack hasn't been able to produce the same output this season, and the need for a clinical number nine has been painfully obvious, which is precisely where Solanke could come in.

The 26-year-old has already reached double figures for the season and looks set to breach the 20 goals a season mark, which is only made all the more impressive considering he is doing it for a Cherries side that many had tipped for relegation just a couple of months ago.

In comparison, Jesus has scored just three league goals, Martinelli has scored twice, Saka has found the back of the net six times, and Nketiah has scored five goals.

So the "predatory" number nine, as described by Soccer Saturday pundit Kris Boyd, has the Arsenal attackers beaten when it comes to pure goalscoring, but how do his underlying numbers stack up to the Gunners' recognised strikers?

Well, given his performances this season, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see that the "complete" Solanke, as described by his manager Andoni Iraola, comes out on top in most striker-related metrics.

Goals

0.64

0.29

0.46

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.60

0.60

0.43

Shots on Target

1.12

1.35

0.93

Goals per Shot on Target

0.52

0.21

0.50

Aerial Duels Won

2.13

0.96

1.57

The Cherries ace has a better non-penalty expected goals and assists figure than Nketiah, and while Jesus has more shots on target per 90, Solanke has a far better conversion ratio than the Brazilian. Likewise, his propensity to win aerial duels would add an extra layer to Arsenal's attack.

Ultimately, while it would cost the club a significant amount of money if Arteta is serious about ending Arsenal's two-decade title drought, he should be pushing for this transfer.

Manchester City could accept a club record offer after putting a huge price tag on one of their star player, a new report has claimed.

Man City transfer news

The treble winners have begun the campaign in solid fashion under Pep Guardiola, although back-to-back defeats in the Premier League to Wolves and Arsenal prior to the international break have seen them trail Tottenham at the top of the table. In the week, City recorded another Champions League victory away to Young Boys, defeating the Swiss side 3-1 in Group G, with goals from Julian Alvarez, Manuel Akanji and Erling Haaland.

Recent updates have claimed that Real Madrid and Barcelona are interested in signing Alvarez, although City are confident the forward will stay at the Etihad. Now, a further development has emerged.

According to Football Insider, who shared a new Julian Alvarez transfer update, City could now accept a huge £80m offer, which would make him the club’s most expensive sale of all time. However, City “do not need the money” and are “desperate” to keep the player, which explains the huge asking price.

Man City’s most expensive sales

Alvarez has made an impact at the Etihad, with Guardiola saying last year:

“I knew him in a bit from the TV, the clips at River Plate – I am surprised how good he is. All of us are impressed how he is as a centre forward, the work ethic and many things.

“He is always positive and always in training sessions he gives everything. I like these kind of players. He was involved in two goals in the last game so he has quality to play. We are delighted. Julian is an exceptional player.’”

More recently, Ally McCoist has also praised the forward, believeing he goes under the radar for the Sky Blues.

“I thought he was superb tonight. I said he went under the radar a little bit, what I meant was that when you think of Man City’s key figures you maybe think of the goalkeeper [Ederson], of [Ruben] Dias, Rodri, Haaland.

“Alvarez maybe wouldn’t immediately spring to mind, but on form like that it would be very difficult to keep him out of the side.”

However, as can be seen below, a possible Alvarez exit for £80m would see him smash the transfer record at City when it comes to player departures.

Man City record sales

To

Fee

Raheem Sterling

Chelsea

€56.2m

Ferran Torres

Barcelona

€55m

Gabriel Jesus

Arsenal

€45m

Leroy Sane

Bayern Munich

€49m

Cole Palmer

Chelsea

€47m

You can see why City would want such a big fee as well, with the player scoring 24 times and providing 10 assists so far for the club, so his future could be one to watch in 2024. (Julian Alvarez stats – Transfermarkt)