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Sheffield United look to be the main big spenders in the Championship this January transfer window, with a deal edging ever closer for in-demand attacker Tom Cannon to join for around £10m.

On top of that, one confirmed transfer is already through the door in Ben Brereton Diaz, who links back up with the Blades after a fruitful loan switch during the 2023/24 season which raised a rare smile on the faces of United fans even as a depressing relegation was confirmed.

Chris Wilder will hope the Chile international goes on to be as successful as James McAtee was over two loan stints in South Yorkshire, before the exciting midfielder then found it immensely hard to make the grade back at Manchester City.

James McAtee's time at Sheffield United

Indeed, the City man was a great success when donning United red and white, with his efforts during the 2022/23 season helping his new side win promotion to the Premier League.

He amassed nine goals and three assists in league action as a lively presence from the middle of the park, leading to a second spell coming his way up in the promised land of the top flight.

The tricky 22-year-old would succeed here too, much like Brereton Diaz managed despite all the on-field difficulties, with a further six goal contributions coming his way in the league before heading back to the Etihad pleased with his time in South Yorkshire.

There must have been some temptation on the end of the Blades to get even more of the old band back together when it was widely reported this month that the Salford-born midfielder was growing restless with his game-time under Pep Guardiola, with Championship rivals Leeds United allegedly sniffing around.

But, no such reunion has occurred. Yet, that doesn’t mean Wilder wouldn’t welcome back another familiar midfielder instead…

Sheffield United looking at "brilliant" PL star

Much like McAtee, Wolverhampton Wanderers man Tommy Doyle must also be getting slightly agitated with his lack of consistent minutes at Molineux, with only three starts coming his way this season in the Premier League.

Off the back of that, the promotion chasers could be willing to test the waters with the Old Gold over securing a deal for Doyle to return to United, with the Sheffield Star reporting earlier this month that a move would be considered owing to the team’s light numbers centrally.

Like his former teammate in the middle, however, Doyle did more than enough during his first stint at the club to suggest he could stroll straight into Wilder’s starting XI, as seen with a thunderbolt effort finding the back of the net to send the Blades to an unbelievable FA Cup semi-final.

In truth, as much as McAtee would often steal the limelight as the standout loanee coming from a top-flight giant, Doyle was equally as key for Paul Heckingbottom’s men in promotion being tasted, despite not being front and centre of every single of the now Preston North End manager’s lineups.

Doyle’s league numbers for United (22/23)

Stat (* = per 90 mins)

Doyle

Games played

33

Games started

21

Goals scored

3

Assists

4

Big chances created

6

Touches*

43.3

Accurate passes*

24.5

Stats by Sofascore

Doyle more than delivered in crunch times at Bramall Lane with seven goal contributions managed from just 21 league starts, with Wilder wanting to bring in the 23-year-old for some added depth to help out the likes of Sydie Peck with Ollie Arblaster sidelined for the foreseeable.

Noted as being a “brilliant” talent in the past by Wolves journalist Lewis Keen when starring in spurts, United could really show they mean business in the promotion race by winning a loan star that has been successful in reaching the Premier League just two years ago.

Whilst Leeds United continue to be quiet in the window, their Yorkshire foes continue to flex their muscles, as the race for promotion heats up once more.

Related Wilder's next Egan: Sheffield United make enquiry to sign "immense" star

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Jan 20, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Com ingressos esgotados para a partida contra o Juventude, no próximo domingo, a torcida do Botafogo também aparece em peso no sócio-torcedor. O clube ultrapassou a marca de 30 mil associados no “Camisa 7” na noite desta quarta-feira.

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+ A vez do ‘Patrón’? Sem Kanu, Cuesta deve ter chance como titular do Botafogo

É o maior número de pessoas cadastradas no programa no ano. O Alvinegro ganhou mais de 7 mil sócios apenas em abril. O mês, vale lembrar, marcou o início do Campeonato Brasileiro.

Uma das ‘táticas’ usadas pela equipe do Botafogo, além de contar com a empolgação dos torcedores pelo novo momento que o clube vive dentro e fora de campo, é a possibilidade de comprar ingressos antecipados para os jogos.

A diretoria do Alvinegro está realizando ações exclusivas com os sócios na partida contra o Juventude, como acompanhar os jogadores na entrada das equipes, assistir ao jogo de um camarote e visitar os vestiários. O clube ainda não anunciou os vencedores.

Enzo Maresca has issued an injury update on Cole Palmer ahead of Chelsea's crunch clash with bitter rivals Tottenham.

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Chelsea star Palmer been out injuredJackson & Madueke also been sidelinedMaresca issues update on trio ahead of Spurs clashFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Chelsea have been without striker Nicolas Jackson, winger Noni Madueke, and talisman Palmer of late. However, ahead of facing Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, head coach Maresca says all three are "good" after muscular injuries.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT ENZO MARESCA SAID

The Italian head coach told a pre-match press conference: "Cole Palmer is back, he is okay. Noni Madueke is better. Nico Jackson is better. They are all good."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Palmer is enduring a lengthy goal drought and many have observed Chelsea's drop in form, along with his, has coincided with Jackson's injury. But if both men are back fit to face Tottenham, that is a huge boost for the Blues. Plus, a win will strengthen their chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Chelsea return to Premier League action at home to Spurs on Thursday, followed by a trip to London neighbours Brentford on Sunday.

Celtic are believed to have received an offer for an “excellent” player ahead of the January transfer window, according to Sky Sports‘ Anthony Joseph.

Celtic transfer news

With January approaching fast, the Hoops will have the opportunity to make new signings, bolstering Brendan Rodgers’ squad for the second half of the season, hopefully boosting their chances of success in both the Scottish Premiership and Champions League.

A reunion with Kieran Tierney has been mooted in recent days, with the Scot struggling for playing time at Arsenal, being loaned out to Real Sociedad last season. In fact, it has even been claimed that the left-back would be willing to take a pay cut to return to Parkhead, with a free transfer at the end of the season possible when his contract expires.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Tahirovic has been earmarked as a potential long-term replacement for Callum McGregor in the middle of the park, with the 21-year-old midfielder currently plying his trade at Ajax.

Rodgers is also thought to be an admirer of Michel-Ange Balikwisha, too, personally wanting to bring him to Celtic. He is shining as a forward at Royal Antwerp, scoring 25 goals and registering 14 assists in 126 appearances for the Belgian side.

Celtic receive bid for "excellent" player

Taking to X on Thursday, Sky Sports reporter Joseph claimed that Celtic have received an offer for Stephen Welsh from KV Mechelen that may be accepted, ahead of a potential January exit for the remainder of the season:

It makes perfect sense for Celtic to allow Welsh to move somewhere else on a temporary basis next month, considering he isn’t seen as a key player currently.

The 24-year-old centre-back has made just one solitary appearance for the Hoops this season, coming in the Scottish League Cup, so letting him move to another club on loan would surely be beneficial for both the champions and the player himself.

It remains to be seen if Welsh will remain at Celtic for the long term, but he is still a relatively young player and has received praise from Paul John Dykes in the past, who said of him:

“My man of the match was young Welsh, this is my positive. Last night, we mentioned it on A Celtic State of Mind – lucky or a good source who knows but we knew he was playing last night. He came on, I thought he had a very good game. He was caught a bit flat-footed [for] the goal, I think. Can’t blame the young guy though. I thought he had an excellent game for his first game against Rangers.”

Related "Solid" Celtic target now willing to accept pay-cut to complete Hoops move

He desperately needs a move…

Posts 1 ByTom Cunningham Dec 19, 2024

Welsh’s current deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2027, so there is no great rush to make a decision over his future, but if Celtic don’t see him as a part of their long-term plans, accepting a permanent offer next summer could be the right time to get the most money for him.

England head scout James Taylor was on hand to see young batter’s knock against Kent

ECB Reporters Network30-Apr-2022Harry Brook fell narrowly short of a maiden career double-century before lunch on day three as Yorkshire edged towards victory in their LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Kent at Headingley.Brook, Division One’s second-leading run-scorer behind unbeaten Kent opener Ben Compton, continued his super start to the summer by advancing from 131 overnight to 194 and taking his tally of runs to 512 in five innings this summer.Yorkshire were replying to 291, starting day three on 326 for 5 with a lead of 35, and were bowled out by mid-afternoon for a record 591 and with a lead of 280.Later in the day, Kent impressively resisted to close on 118 for 2 from 50 overs, giving them plenty of hope they can avoid a third defeat in four games to start 2022.So far, the visitors have not needed to face Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf in their second innings given he is having a minor niggle in his left side assessed by the Yorkshire medical team. And in-form Compton will be at the crease on 67 having taken his season’s tally to 534.Tongues are starting to wag regarding 23-year-old Brook’s chances of soon winning Test selection. Along with the likes of Tom Haines and Josh Bohannon, he is among a group of highly rated young batters and was watched here by James Taylor, England’s head scout.He has now scored at least fifty in every innings this summer, including another century at Gloucestershire two rounds ago, having had a memorable winter of T20 cricket which saw him make his international debut in January.Brook hit two sixes and 21 boundaries in his 265-ball innings, ended shortly before lunch when he gloved a pull at Nathan Gilchrist behind down leg. It was a tired looking shot to end his marathon 398-minute stay at the crease, and he was the third Yorkshire player to fall caught behind down leg following Adam Lyth and Dawid Malan on day two.Brook, who cut and square drove a lot of his runs, shared partnerships of 269 for the fourth wicket with Malan on day two and 151 with Dom Bess for the sixth during the third morning.Bess was also proactive on the way to 89, though sunk to his knees in disappointment when he fell short of a maiden century for the county. He was caught at slip following a loose drive at Jack Leaning’s off-spin as Yorkshire slipped to 496 for 7 early in the afternoon – a lead of 205. By that time, the maximum of five batting bonus points had been secured.Young all-rounder Matthew Revis added a belligerent 53, including three sixes. It was his maiden first-class fifty and contributed to Yorkshire’s highest first-class total against Kent. One of his sixes was slapped over cover after a ball from Leaning had slipped out of the Kent captain’s hand mid-delivery and landed wide of the cut strip.Revis was the last man out for Yorkshire, caught high at cover off the left-arm spin of George Linde, who claimed each of the last three home wickets to fall.Brilliant sunshine was replaced by an overcast sky after tea. Kent lost their first wicket beforehand when Revis had Test opener Zak Crawley caught and bowled with a low full toss for 5, the seamer hanging onto a sharp chance as the score fell to 18 for 1 in the 11th over.First-innings centurion Daniel Bell-Drummond departed for only two after tea when he drove Steve Patterson low to cover to make it 27 for 2 in the 18th.Patterson had Compton dropped behind by Harry Duke on 46, while Leaning also offered a couple of sharp chances to George Hill and Thompson on the way to 31.

All 32 clubs will split what is anticipated to be the largest prize ever handed out in club soccer across a seven-match format

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• Club World Cup prize money revealed
• $1B in funds to be handed out across all 32 teams
• Largest sum of money ever handed out in club soccer

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A record-breaking $1 billion is set to be awarded at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

  Details for how FIFA plan to fund the revamped 32-team tournament have not been released, but they have secured major sponsorship and broadcasting deals over the past few months ahead of the inaugural version of the competition.

  London-based streaming service DAZN secured exclusive global broadcasting rights for the tournament in December, with a contract reportedly worth around $1 billion. Twenty-four of the 63 matches in the U.S. will also be televised by TNT Sports, with clubs like Inter Miami and Paris Saint-Germain being highlighted for American audiences.

  FIFA has also secured sponsorship agreements with major brands such as Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Chinese electronics company Hisense, and Belgian brewer AB InBev.

  The prize money being offered is significantly higher than that of the previous men's or women's FIFA World Cups.

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• GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The prize money will be split between participation fees and performance-based rewards. reported that $575 million will be allocated towards participation, while $465 million will be tied to sporting performance in the competition. However, the participation fees will not be distributed evenly among all clubs. Rather, funds will be distributed via confederation, with the recognition that equal payments would have different competitive impacts across the globe.

  Manchester City and Chelsea, for example, could each receive $60-90 million from the tournament.

  FIFA will also provide "solidarity payments" of at least $150 million to clubs not participating in the tournament, which comes from a planned overall tournament budget of $2 billion. added that there are hopes that the number could climb to $250 million.

  Speaking in December, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: "Whatever FIFA does, [it] has to be global."

  FIFA has committed to not making "a single dollar of profit" from the tournament, with the governing body insisting they will reinvest the entire $1 billion into global club soccer. The prize money has, however, brought about concerns related to financial inequality in the professional game, with the likes of Chelsea and City being handed more financial freedom in negotiations.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The tournament will be hosted across 12 venues in 11 different U.S. cities, with the final being held at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, which will also stage the 2026 World Cup final.

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR THE CLUB WORLD CUP?

  The inaugural revamped tournament begins on June 14 and finishes on July 13.

Leeds United brought in German head coach Daniel Farke to the club in the summer of 2023 and he arrived with a proven track record of developing Premier League-level talent.

During his time with Norwich City, the ex-Borussia Monchengladbach boss developed the likes of James Maddison, Emiliano Buendia, Max Aarons, Ben Godfrey, and Harrison Reed, among others.

They all played under him with the Canaries before becoming regulars in the Premier League, with Godfrey – who now plays for Atalanta in the Serie A – the only one of those stars who do not currently play in the English top-flight.

Farke showcased his individual coaching talent during the 2023/24 campaign with the Whites, as a number of players emerged as Premier League-level talents.

After Leeds just missed out on promotion, losing 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley, Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray, and Georginio Rutter all moved on to the Premier League.

They were sold to West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively, and it will be interesting to see if Farke can develop any more players to get to that level this season – with Wilfried Gnonto being one of the contenders.

Wilfried Gnonto's form this season

Summerville’s exit from Elland Road in the summer transfer window cleared the space for the Italian to step into the spotlight as the focal point of Farke’s attack.

In the 2023/24 campaign, the Dutch forward was the main man for Leeds, with a return of 19 goals and nine assists in the Championship, and that left Gnonto as the Robin to his Batman, scoring eight goals and providing two assists.

The former Zurich star has stepped out of Summerville’s shadow this season to emerge as a key player for the Whites in the second tier on the flank.

Appearances

36

12

Goals

8

2

Key passes per game

0.6

1.6

Big chances created

5

7

Assists

2

4

As you can see in the table above, Gnonto has already created two more ‘big chances’ and provided two more assists than he did in the whole of last season, in 24 fewer appearances.

This, along with 1.0 more key passes per game on average, shows that the forward is taking more responsibility in possession and looking to be the man to make things happen for Leeds in the final third, to win matches and vital points for the team.

However, teams should be looking at a different player when assessing stars from Leeds who are ready to play in the Premier League, as Farke may have unearthed his next top-flight talent already in central midfield maestro Ao Tanaka.

How much Leeds paid for Ao Tanaka

In the summer transfer window, the Whites went into the market to land a replacement for Glen Kamara, who signed for Rennes, and eventually swooped for the Fortuna Dusseldorf star.

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

The West Yorkshire outfit reportedly splashed out a fee of £2.95m to sign the Japan international from the 2. Bundesliga side, after his impressive performances last season.

Like Leeds, Fortuna Dusseldorf just fell short of promotion to the top-flight after they lost in their play-off clash with Bochum, and the central midfielder was key to their push to come close to reaching the Bundesliga.

Appearances

30

Goals

7

Big chances created

6

Assists

3

Pass accuracy

89%

As you can see in the table above, Tanaka featured in 30 of their matches during the regular season and contributed with 13 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined, whilst also being incredibly reliable in possession with a pass success rate of 89%.

His use of the ball in the 2. Bundesliga was particularly impressive when you consider that the Japanese maestro ranked within the top 14% of his positional peers in the division for progressive passes per 90 (5.66).

This shows that Tanaka was progressive with his use of the ball and did not play safe, backwards and sideways, passes. He was incisive and looked to make an impact with his passes, which may be why Farke felt he would be a good fit for his Leeds team.

Ao Tanaka's form for Leeds

The midfielder had to be patient at the start of his career with the Whites, as Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu had established a strong partnership together,

His first four Championship appearances for Leeds all came as a substitute before an injury to Ampadu in the win over Cardiff provided him with an opportunity to come in as a starter.

Since then, Tanaka has been a go-to option for Farke in the middle of the park and the former 2. Bundesliga star has thrived in English football so far.

With nine appearances under his belt in the division, the 26-year-old star ranks within the top 17% of midfielders in the league for progressive passes per 90 (6.16).

He also ranks within the top 19% or higher of his positional peers for tackles (2.64) and interceptions (1.59) per 90, which shows that he blends technical proficiency and a forward-thinking mindset with strength out of possession.

Appearances

9

Starts

5

Pass accuracy

92%

Ground duel success rate

56%

Aerial duel success rate

50%

As you can see in the table above, Tanaka has been effective with his passing and in his duels, winning the majority of his battles on the ground against opposition players.

These statistics suggest that the 26-year-old star, who was once hailed as “underrated” by journalist Bence Bocsak, is ready to make the step up to the Premier League, as he can combine the technical quality needed with the intensity and physicality that is demanded of players in the top-flight of English football.

Tanaka is an all-round central midfielder who can read the game to make an interception, use his physicality to win a challenge, and use his technique and ability to dictate matches in possession, which is why he could already be a Premier League level talent for Farke.

Leeds are brewing their own Wayne Rooney in star who's a "major talent"

The Leeds United ace is a promising young talent who has developed under Daniel Farke.

ByDan Emery Oct 30, 2024

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s spell at Glasgow Rangers was certainly a mixed bag, that’s for sure. Of course, he ended the club’s 13-year winless drought in the Scottish Cup, with the Gers defeating Hearts 2-0 in 2022.

The Dutchman was also the man in charge of the side which reached the Europa League final that very same season, masterminding stunning wins over Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig on the way to Seville.

That showpiece in Spain may not have ended in favour of Rangers, but hopes were high that they could win trophies under Van Bronckhorst heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

His record domestically wasn’t the greatest, as the swashbuckling European style didn’t exactly work to the same degree at grounds such as Tannadice and Easter Road.

The former defender also had a poor record in the transfer market, spending money on players who failed to really live up to expectations…

Rangers signings under Giovanni van Bronckhorst

During his first summer transfer window, the manager spent £4m on signing Ben Davies from Liverpool, £3m on Rabbi Matondo from Schalke and £1.8m on Antonio Colak from PAOK.

Elsewhere, John Souttar and Tom Lawrence arrived on free transfers, while Malik Tillman joined on a loan deal until the end of the campaign.

It was a mixed bag indeed, with only Matondo, Souttar and Lawrence still part of the current squad. This window wasn’t as bad as the January one, however.

Van Bronckhorst made three loan signings which were expected to bolster his squad during the second half of the 2021/22 season: Aaron Ramsey, James Sands and Amad Diallo.

Player

Club signed from

Aaron Ramsey

Juventus (loan)

James Sands

New York City (loan)

Amad Diallo

Man United (loan)

Mateusz Zukowski

Lechia Gdańsk

Malik Tilllman

Bayern Munich (loan)

John Souttar

Hearts

Tom Lawrence

Derby County

Antonio Colak

PAOK

Ridvan Yilmaz

Besiktas

Ben Davies

Liverpool

Rabbi Matondo

Schalke

While Ramsey went down a storm among the supporters, the other two failed to inspire much confidence, especially as Celtic were fighting hard for domestic honours.

Diallo was certainly a wildcard signing, but he didn’t make the most of his time in Glasgow, which, considering his age and experience, was perhaps expected.

Amad Diallo’s Rangers statistics

The young winger cost Manchester United a staggering £19m in January 2021, despite playing only five senior games for Atalanta.

It was a massive gamble by the Old Trafford side, with Diallo making nine appearances for the club before moving to Glasgow on loan.

The Ivorian had plenty of talent and promise, but it was evident that the physical nature of Scottish football could prove detrimental to his development.

After just five minutes of his debut, however, this theory looked like it would be proven wrong as he netted the opener against Ross County.

He started the next game, a chastising 3-0 defeat to Celtic in which he barely had a sniff of the ball, and it clearly affected his confidence. The winger started just four more games for the Light Blues after that, scoring twice.

He did end up with a Scottish Cup winners medal, but bringing someone with such little experience as the club was chasing honours, both domestically and in Europe, was a strange one.

Fast-forward two and a half years and Diallo is finally making his mark for United, showcasing the talent that made the club splash out nearly £20m to sign him in the first place.

Amad Diallo’s Man United statistics

Before making it at the Red Devils, Diallo continued his apprenticeship out on loan, this time during the 2022/23 campaign with Sunderland.

In 42 games for the Black Cats, the winger scored 14 goals and grabbed four assists as the club secured a spot in the playoffs.

He returned to United a better player, but a knee ligament meant his first appearance of 2023/24 didn’t arrive until the end of December.

Overall, 12 appearances, two goals and one assist hardly signify the best of times, yet Diallo became a hero for the club as he scored an extra-time winner against Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. By the end of the season, he had added a winners medal to his collection, setting himself up nicely for the current campaign.

He enjoyed fleeting moments of promise under Erik ten Hag, but it was under the tutelage of caretaker manager Ruud van Nistelrooy when Diallo came alive.

Two goals and an assist during his four matches in charge indicate Diallo could be a big success for Ruben Amorim.

“He has been incredible actually in training, he was never affected by not playing. He always trains well and is asking me to do more. That’s an example.” Said the former striker following United’s win over PAOK in the Europa League.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

If he can remain fit, there is no reason why the Ivorian cannot keep his place out wide under the new manager, especially when everyone will be starting from scratch.

Amad Diallo’s market valuation at Man United

While it was clear the club overpaid for the player three years ago, it now looks as though he is finally beginning to increase his market valuation.

Indeed, according to Transfermarkt, Diallo is now valued at €22m (£18m), with this number continuing to rise, especially if his performances improve in the near future.

The move to Rangers came a bit too soon in his career, although he did show flashes of his genius during his spell in Scotland.

In the end, Diallo was never going to get the time to thrive on the ball, especially with defenders earmarking him as a weak spot in the starting XI.

There is no doubt Rangers have missed the boat on him now, as he looks to cement his place in the starting XI under Amorim, who could push the African to new heights over the coming months, that’s for sure.

A flop at Rangers, but a star in the making at United. Diallo is trending upwards. For that is a certainty.

Rangers wasted £6.8m on Van Bronckhorst flop who earned more than Danilo

Rangers wasted a fortune on a player who is currently out on loan…

ByRoss Kilvington Nov 12, 2024

It’s been an eventful campaign for Arsenal this season, and it’s still only October.

Mikel Arteta’s side have already faced the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and following last night’s victory in the League Cup, there is a good chance they could play one of them again should they beat Crystal Palace in the quarter-final.

What makes this start all the more extraordinary is that, thanks to a slew of injuries and suspensions, the Gunners have had to face their biggest rivals without a number of their star players, and yet they currently sit just five points off top spot in the league.

However, while some star players have been absent, others haven’t, including striker Kai Havertz, who has carried on his impressive form from last season into this one and looks more and more at home with every passing game. Yet, based on recent reports, the club could sign his replacement next year.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal remain very interested in Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Alongside the Gunners, Plettenberg has revealed that Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea are also keen on the Swedish international.

While this extra competition is far from ideal, the good news is that, according to the reporter, Sporting will allow the 25-year-old to leave next year, and that his exit, for a fee of between €60m to €70m – £50m to £59m – is now “planned.”

It could be a challenging transfer to get over the line due to the outside interest, but given Gyokeres’ sensational form and reasonable fee, it’s one worth pursuing, even if it would be bad news for Havertz.

How Gyokeres compares to Havertz

So, if Arsenal were to secure the services of Gyokeres next summer, it’s unlikely he’d come to North London to just sit happily on the bench, and with Jesus already firmly second choice, that means the Swede’s most significant competitor for first team football would be Havertz.

So, how do they stack up against one another?

From a pure output perspective, arguably the most important metric of all for a number nine, the Sporting star comes out miles ahead.

For example, in his 50 appearances for the Portuguese giants last season, the “unplayable” poacher, as dubbed by former teammate Maxime Biamou, racked up an outrageously impressive haul of 43 goals and 15 assists, and this season, he’s already scored 16 goals and provided four assists in 15 matches, meaning he averaged 1.16 goal involvements per game last season and is currently averaging 1.33 this year.

In contrast, the former Chelsea ace scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in 51 appearances last year and currently has seven goals and one assist to his name in 14 matches this season, equating to an average of 0.41 goal involvements per game in 23/24 and 0.57 per match this season.

Gyokeres vs Havertz

23/24

Gyokeres

Havertz

Appearances

50

51

Goals

43

14

Assists

15

7

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

0.41

23/24

Gyokeres

Havertz

Appearances

15

14

Goals

16

7

Assists

4

1

Goal Involvements per Match

1.33

0.57

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Now, there is the caveat that until the new year, the former Bayer Leverkusen star was playing in midfield for the Gunners, but even when we take a look at just his numbers when playing up top – 13 goals and eight assists in 28 appearances – they pale in comparison to the Swede.

Ultimately, there are, of course, other things Havertz brings to the table at the Emirates, like his ability to hold up the ball and press from the front, but when it comes to the most important metric of all, scoring goals, he’s a distant second to Gyokeres.

Therefore, even though it will almost certainly impact the German’s game time next season, Arsenal should go all out to sign the Sporting star next summer before one of their rivals get there first.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 30, 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.

Miguel Almiron: Newcastle (PL) Stats by Season
Season	Apps (starts)	Goals	Assists
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
Stats via Transfermarkt

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.

Premier League 23/24: Anthony Gordon vs Miguel Almiron
Stats (*per game)	Anthony Gordon	Miguel Almiron
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
All stats via Sofascore

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

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By
Connor Holden

Sep 26, 2024