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Wolverhampton Wanderers are reported to be eyeing one of their summer targets ahead of the January window, as Gary O’Neil looks to strengthen his side in preparation for the second half of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

There was worry as to how the Old Gold would start the season, however, the Englishman has the squad firing again, with the Molineux outfit currently sitting comfortably in 12th in the table.

Despite the encouraging form of late, O’Neil admitted earlier in the season that his squad is “£80m short” in quality, with the January window set to be an interesting one for the Midlands club.

Wolves transfer targets – Josh Brownhill

In the summer, a report from TEAMtalk revealed that Wolves had made an ‘approach’ to sign Burnley midfielder, Josh Brownhill.

Nothing came of the rumours the narrative has re-emerged ahead of the winter market opening, with talkSPORT reporting this week that O’Neil’s side are ‘monitoring’ the Englishman’s situation.

The 27-year-old’s contract is set to expire at Turf Moor next summer, with talkSPORT relaying that the Clarets hope to activate the option of an additional year to ward off his admirers.

Signed by Burnley for £9m from Bristol City in 2020, Brownhill could be the cost-effective acquisition that the Old Gold desire in January.

How Josh Brownhill compares to Mario Lemina

With two goals in 11 appearances in the Premier League, the £45k-per-week Englishman sits as Vincent Kompany’s second-highest scorer, reinforcing his importance to the struggling bottom-of-the-table squad.

From a Wolves perspective, signing Brownhill could add to the depth of the squad that was heavily depleted in the summer due to the need to generate profit from sales.

Aside from being a strong creator for the Clarets, averaging the second-highest rate of key passes per game (1.1), the midfielder could offer similar to one of O’Neil’s stars at Molineux.

As per FBref, the 27-year-old is statistically comparable to Wolves dynamo Mario Lemina, suggesting the firepower that he could add to the Old Gold’s midfield alongside the Gabon international.

Josh Brownhill

Mario Lemina

74.0%

84.0%

3.12

2.60

1.38

0.28

3.46

1.39

1.85

2.41

1.27

1.85

1.04

1.30

As highlighted in their statistics portrayed above, while the 30-year-old Molineux star is a more assured defensive asset, the Burnley ace offers more in the final third, giving O’Neil food for thought when reflecting on how to craft his midfield.

From Joao Gomes to Boubacar Traore, the Englishman is yet to work out his favoured combination to partner Lemina in the engine room, with interest in Brownhill suggestive of what he wants going forward in a pivot.

The former Bristol City whiz is showing signs that he could be the perfect fit to accompany the Gabonese gem, with his presence in midfield having the ability to offer O’Neil an added threat in the final third, as well as an assured figure to protect the back line.

It’s clear that Burnley wish to keep hold of their "sublime" asset, as lauded by journalist Josh Bunting, in what has been a nightmare start to their Premier League resurgence, with Wolves’ recurring admiration an interesting narrative to follow.

Leicester City could be set to lose one of their first-team stars in January, with a fresh report revealing that he is wanted by a huge club overseas.

Leicester City transfer news

Over the summer, Enzo Maresca’s side sanctioned the sales of nine players on a permanent basis, whilst a further three were sent on loan for the remainder of the season in search of more regular game time, and here is how the club’s outgoings panned out:

James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur)

Victor Kristiansen (Bologna)

Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United)

Boubakary Soumare (Sevilla)

Timothy Castagne (Fulham)

Luke Thomas (Sheffield United)

George Hirst (Ipswich Town)

Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa)

Caglar Soyuncu (Atletico Madrid)

Daniel Amartey (Besiktas)

Ayoze Perez (Real Betis)

Jonny Evans (Manchester United)

The King Power Stadium outfit, however, might still be forced to cash in on even more next year, one in particular being Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has reportedly previously attracted significant interest from Liverpool in the Premier League.

The Foxes have now additionally received more attention regarding a favourite in the Midlands in the form of Kelechi Iheanacho, who is facing an uncertain future with his deal being set to expire at the end of the current term in the Championship (Leicester contracts).

The Nigerian striker was linked with a move to Crystal Palace, Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Everton before the deadline in September, and whilst a switch failed to come to fruition at the time, the 27-year-old is believed to have gained an admirer from overseas.

Kelechi Iheanacho transfer update

According to FC Inter News, sharing a transfer update on Kelechi Iheanacho, Leicester are set to face a battle to hold onto their centre-forward who is wanted by Inter Milan, but it's stated that they are yet to make a decision on whether to pursue a deal.

“Among the players proposed is also Kelechi Iheanacho, a 27-year-old Leicester striker who will also expire in 2024. For the moment in Viale della Liberazione it's availability is recorded, but before arriving at a verdict it will be necessary to make several evaluations on the characteristics of the Nigerian.”

How many goals has Iheanacho scored?

Since the start of his career, Iheanacho has racked up an impressive 133 contributions, 86 goals and 47 assists, in 292 appearances, which shows how “prolific” he is in the final third, as hailed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig (Transfermarkt – Iheanacho statistics).

Sponsored by Nike, Maresca’s left-footed ace also ranks in the 99th percentile for pass completion so he has strong link-up play with his fellow teammates in and around the opposition’s penalty area (FBRef – Iheanacho statistics), and he can do more than just lead the line.

The Foxes’ £80k-per-week earner (Leicester salaries), has the versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline, including out wide on the left and right wings alongside as a second striker, so retaining his services is vital and he definitely deserves to be offered a new deal.

With Manchester United currently enduring a dismal start to the season after slipping to a sixth defeat in all competitions against Galatasaray earlier this week, the focus is once again on the club's recruitment following a mixed summer of business.

While £72m man Rasmus Hojlund has begun to fire with three Champions League goals under his belt so far, fellow marquee additions Mason Mount and Andre Onana have failed to convince in recent months, with the latter having been particularly culpable in the defeat on Tuesday night.

Unsurprisingly, there will be those questioning the decision to let former number one David De Gea depart on a free transfer over the summer, although the Spaniard was seemingly allowed to leave at the right time, having become "a big problem" for Erik ten Hag last season – as per pundit Jamie Carragher.

There are other figures whom the club have let go in the recent past that were possible errors of judgement, however, with promising playmaker Angel Gomes now flourishing after leaving Old Trafford on a free during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's time at the helm.

The diminutive midfielder – who was part of England's European Championship success at U21 level earlier this year – is now even being considered for a senior call-up by Gareth Southgate, indicating just how far the 23-year-old has come since moving on from Manchester.

Gomes isn't alone in having made Solskjaer look rather silly, however, with former academy colleague, Largie Ramazani, also now flourishing elsewhere following his departure from the Theatre of Dreams back in 2020.

Why did Largie Ramazani leave Man United?

Much like in the case of Gomes, the 5 foot 6 sensation had opted for a fresh start just over three years ago after failing to force his way into the first-team reckoning in Manchester, with the youngster's only senior outing coming in the Europa League dead rubber against Astana back in November 2019.

That late substitute appearance in the 2-1 group stage defeat had come amid Ramazani's sparkling form in the youth set-up for United, notably bagging 12 goals and assists in just 30 games at U18 level, before scoring 11 goals and contributing two assists in only 11 games for the U21's.

The promising Belgian had begun life on the books at Anderlecht before making the move to England in order to join Charlton Athletic, with that followed by his eventual switch to United on a scholarship contract in 2017, at the age of just 16.

Despite his promise in the youth ranks, it looked unlikely that the wideman would ever force his way into Solskjaer's plans, with the player ultimately rejecting the offer of a contract extension in 2020 after demanding a wage that the club are said to have deemed 'excessive' – as per Manchester Evening News.

With the Red Devils not necessarily viewing him as a player with a 'long-term future at the club' – as per MEN – there was seemingly an acceptance to let him depart, as Ramazani went on to join Spanish outfit, Almeria following the expiry of his deal.

How much is Largie Ramazani worth now?

The decision to not give the fleet-footed forward a proper chance to impress in the first team – and the subsequent decision to allow him to move on – appears to be a notable blunder as far as those at Old Trafford are concerned, with the 22-year-old having thrived since his move to Andalusia.

Having departed United for nothing under Solskjaer's watch, the Belgium U21 international is now valued at around €10m (£9m), according to CIES Football Observatory, with that only set to rise even further over the coming months and years.

There was even talk that the young dynamo had caught the attention of a raft of Premier League clubs during the recent summer window, with Everton having been quoted a fee of around €40m (£35m), amid their interest in the former Carrington gem.

That hefty price tag is yet another indication of the potential jewel that Solskjaer let slip from his grasp, with the Norwegian having overlooked a player who is now being described as the "Mini-Vincius" – according to talent scout Jacek Kulig – in relation to Real Madrid's Brazilian star.

How good is Largie Ramazani?

After previously flourishing in Spain's second tier – notably scoring eight league goals during the 2021/22 campaign – the £2.5k-per-week asset has made a smooth transition to life in La Liga since then, scoring three goals and contributing two assists last term.

As for this season, the "explosive" talent – as lauded by Kulig – already boasts four assists from just eight league outings, notably providing all three assists for teammate Luis Suarez – not that one – in the draw with Granada at the weekend.

That haul of four goal contributions is even more than young Alejandro Garnacho has achieved so far this term, with the Argentine international scoring just once and providing no assists in eight games in all competitions.

Unsurprisingly, Ramazani ranks in the top 8% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for assists per 90, as well as in the top 11% for successful take-ons, indicating his elite dribbling prowess and creativity from the flanks.

That is ahead of what the United teenager has recorded of late, with Garnacho ranking in just the top 42% and the top 37% for those same two metrics, respectively, showcasing that there is still room for improvement from this emerging superstar.

One further benefit that Ramazani also offers is his defensive work ethic as he ranks in the top 1% for interceptions per 90 – ahead of Garnacho (top 6%) – having been hailed as a "counter-attacking weapon" by Kulig.

With Ten Hag's attacking options currently failing to fire – with the likes of Antony and Jadon Sancho having been sidelined in recent weeks – having a player like Ramazani in the fold could have been hugely beneficial, yet alas, the Belgian gem is now shining elsewhere.

If they aren't already, United will increasingly grow to regret moving on Ramazani, such is his undoubted talent.

While it’s all gone quiet on the pitch for Chelsea, you can bet your bottom dollar that they’ll continue to be busy in the transfer market.

It’s now almost a week since the Blues were crowned champions of the world, to the surprise of many, demolishing Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the Club World Cup Final last Sunday, with Cole Palmer scoring twice at MetLife Stadium.

Enzo Maresca’s side won’t be seen again until they welcome Bayer Leverkusen and then AC Milan to Stamford Bridge for pre-season friendlies on 8 and 10 August respectively, just a week before the start of the Premier League season, but how many new players will they have to unveil by then?

Chelsea's search for more attacking talent

As we’ve come to expect during the Todd Boehly era, Chelsea have made plenty of signings this summer already, as the table below documents.

Mike Penders

Genk

Goalkeeper

£17m

Liam Delap

Ipswich Town

Striker

£30m

Dário Essugo

Sporting CP

Defensive mid

£18.5m

Mamadou Sarr

Strasbourg

Centre-back

£12m

Kendry Páez

Independiente del Valle

Winger

£17.3m

João Pedro

Brighton & Hove Albion

Forward

£50m

Jamie Gittens

Borussia Dortmund

Winger

£48.5m

Estêvão Willian

Palmeiras

Winger

£29m

Total outlay:

£222.3m

Following the arrivals of Estêvão Willian, Jamie Gittens, and Kendry Páez, to add to existing squad members Pedro Neto, Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Tyrique George, and João Félix, fair to say Maresca has plenty of wide attacking options.

Nevertheless, that has not stopped Chelsea continuing to recruit in the past, and, after Noni Madueke was sold to Arsenal for £52m this week, it would shock no one if they reinvested that money back into the squad.

Thus, according to reports in Spain, Chelsea are preparing to make a move for Morgan Rogers, making the Aston Villa midfielder, who is valued at around £78m, their number one priority.

They add that the Villans’ ‘reluctance to negotiate’ could prove a stumbling block although, speaking on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast, Dan Bardell stated that he expects Villa will need to sell a ‘big player’ this summer to comply with the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules, so could this see Rogers move to Chelsea?

How Morgan Rogers would improve Chelsea

Rogers only joined Aston Villa from Middlesbrough for £15m as recently as January 2024, but has certainly burst onto the scene in the Midlands.

Last season, the 22-year-old scored 14 goals and registered 13 assists across all competitions, with former England manager Glenn Hoddle labelling him “wonderful” and “excellent” following his maiden international start against Latvia at Wembley in March.

Kurosh Moghtader of Total Football Analysis asserts that he is a ‘superb talent’ who operates best as an attacking midfielder.

Meantime, Ryan Benson of Opta’s the Analyst, believes he was amongst the ‘standout players’ in the Premier League last season, adding that his ‘ominous bursts and tidy footwork’ make him ‘a joy to watch’, describing him as robust yet graceful, like a raging bull on ice skates.

But how does he compare to the departing Madueke?

Let’s find out.

Appearances

54

46

Minutes

4,496

2,647

Goals

14

11

Assists

15

5

All statistics below are on a per 90 basis:

Shots

2

2.6

Chances created

1.5

1.4

Successful dribbles

2.2

1.4

Take-on success %

51.7%

49.5%

Touches

46

47

Average Sofascore rating

7.03

7.03

As the table below outlines, it is Rogers who comes out on top for the vast majority of attacking statistics, which suggests that he would be a huge upgrade for Chelsea at the top end of the pitch.

The Aston Villa star racked up a staggering 4,753 minutes for club and country, featuring in all but one of the club’s Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup fixtures, which is testament to his durability.

Nevertheless, even on a per-90 basis, when compared to Madueke, Rogers boasted better numbers in terms of chances created and dribbles, so he would surely be an excellent addition for Chelsea, even if a very expensive one.

Player now "set to leave Chelsea" with Saudi approach made

John Terry expected “big things” from him.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 19, 2025

While it hasn’t been the perfect start to the season for Arsenal, it’s been a pretty good one.

Mikel Arteta’s side have had to play Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Newcastle United in the Premier League, and have come out with seven points out of a possible 12 from those specific games.

Add to that thumping wins over Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, and a good 2-0 win away to Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, and it’s hard not to be optimistic about the campaign ahead.

However, there have still been a few problems here and there, whether it be mounting injuries or a perceived lack of threat, especially when it comes to the club’s new talisman, Viktor Gyokeres.

It’s been a mixed start to life in England for the Swede, which isn’t helped by a former Arsenal striker outperforming him on the continent.

Gyokeres' start to the season with Arsenal

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, it’s worth stating that, despite what some would have you believe online, Gyokeres has not had a terrible start to his Arsenal career, far from it.

However, it’s equally true that, so far anyway, the former Sporting CP star has not been the monstrous goal machine some had thought or hoped he’d be. After all, this is a player who found the net on over 50 occasions last term in Portugal.

He is officially the best striker in the world, so the Ballon d’Or awards would have you believe, anyway, so this certainly wasn’t a poor use of funds over the summer.

However, while he scored a wonderful goal and a penalty against Leeds, and then got himself another against Forest, it would be fair to say that the 27-year-old has struggled somewhat in the big games.

Granted, a significant reason he hasn’t been able to find the back of the net in the big games is the lack of service he’s received from his teammates, but even then, the very best strikers in world football can create their own chances.

His performance against Newcastle was a bit of a mixed bag as well.

While he held up the ball well at times, made some good runs and even won a penalty, which was then overturned, he still failed to do the most crucial thing: score.

Moreover, there were more than a few moments in which he got his feet stuck under himself, or took a touch too many and lost the ball in an advantageous position.

Yet, with all that said, it’s still early in the season, and as his teammates get more and more comfortable with his style of play, there is every chance he becomes that goal machine so many thought he’d be.

However, as things stand, he is currently being outperformed by a former Arsenal star whom Arteta let leave for free.

The former Arsenal star outperforming Gyokeres

While there are probably a few Arsenal players who could fit this label at the moment, the star in question is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabonese striker joined the Gunners back in the 2018 winter window, and to say he justified his £56m price tag would be a massive understatement.

The former Borussia Dortmund star would go on to become the fastest player in the club’s history to score 50 goals; he’d play a crucial role in their 2020 FA Cup triumph and even wear the captain’s armband at points.

However, after the goals began to dry up, and he fell out with Arteta over discipline and his off-the-pitch behaviour, his contract was terminated by mutual agreement in January 2022, which allowed him to join Barcelona for free in the same month.

He’d only stay in Spain for half a season before spending a dreadful year back in London with Chelsea, after which he made his way to Marseille, and once again regained his out-of-this-world ability.

In a single campaign in the South of France, the former Arsenal star scored 30 goals and provided 11 assists in 51 appearances, but instead of staying on, he made a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League.

Unsurprisingly, the “world-class” striker, as dubbed by Behdad Eghbali, also performed brilliantly in the Middle Eastern state, racking up an impressive tally of 24 goal involvements in 36 games for Al-Qadsiah.

Fortunately, the Laval-born monster felt the urge to return to European football this season and rejoined Marseille in the summer.

Since his return to the French giants, the 36-year-old has once again shown his quality, scoring three goals and providing one assist in just six appearances, totalling 337 minutes.

Appearances

6

8

Minutes

337′

572′

Goals

3

3

Assists

1

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.66

0.37

Minutes per Goal Involvement

84.25′

190.66′

In other words, he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or every 84.25 minutes, which, unfortunately for Arteta and Co, means he’s currently outperforming Gyokeres, and by some margin.

For comparison’s sake, the Swede’s three goal involvements in eight appearances, totalling 572 minutes, come out to an average of one every 2.66 games, or every 190.66 minutes.

Ultimately, it would probably be untrue to claim that Aubameyang is currently a better striker than Gyokeres, but Arsenal fans will be hoping the former Sporting star can start putting the ball in the back of the net more regularly as the season goes on.

Arsenal have signed a "Fabregas-type" player and he's "near-perfect"

The international ace has been a monster for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 29, 2025

Having already signed Romain Esse, Crystal Palace have now reportedly submitted an opening bid to sign a defender who could be handed the eventual task of replacing Tyrick Mitchell.

Crystal Palace transfer news

The Eagles have already completed one January swoop to sign young attacking midfielder Esse from Millwall and have already seemingly set their sights on further reinforcements. The former Championship star arrived for a reported £14.5m fee and could make his Premier League debut in the coming weeks under Oliver Glasner.

Welcoming the new signing, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish told the club’s official website: “We are delighted to welcome Romain to Crystal Palace, and we’re looking forward to working with him to continue his impressive progress to date.

“Romain is the type of player who gets crowds off their seats – the type of player long associated with South London and Crystal Palace Football Club – and everyone at the club is looking forward to watching him shine on the pitch, and fulfil his exciting potential.”

As one star arrives, however, Palace could be forced to replace another amid reports recently linking Manchester United with a move for Mitchell, who is out of contract in the summer.

Crystal Palace could sign immediate upgrade on Esse all for £25m

Crystal Palace announced the signing of Romaine Esse on Saturday.

ByConnor Holden Jan 19, 2025

In pursuit of a wing-back, the Red Devils could attempt to land a bargain deal as Crystal Palace struggle to agree a fresh deal with their defender in the closing months of his current contract. Set to lose Mitchell for free in the summer, the Eagles could act as soon as this month.

According to Fotospor, via Sport Witness, Crystal Palace submitted an opening bid worth €15m (£13m) to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf this month but have seen that offer rejected by Slavia Prague, who value their left-back at around €20m (£17m) this month.

"Dominant" Diouf could replace Mitchell

Although they reportedly saw their first offer turned down, Palace have still got just over a week to match Slavia Prague’s £17m price tag for Diouf this month. All signs are pointing towards a player capable of becoming a top left-back at the same time that Mitchell’s current direction is towards the exit door – handing Palace a simple answer to a pending problem.

The 20-year-old has impressed in the current campaign, especially going forward. In 28 appearances, Diouf has managed as many as nine goal involvements, having scored six and assisted another three, to highlight his standout attacking ability.

Earning plenty of praise as a result, analyst Rohit Kumaran described Diouf as “physically dominant” and a player with “quick feet” in his recent assessment of the rising star.

As Mitchell edges closer and closer to the exit door at Selhurst Park, Palace would be wise to keep their sights set on signing Diouf either this month or in the summer.

Manchester United are now racing Barcelona and Real Madrid for the signature of a “total footballer”, who is attracting growing interest from across Europe.

Man Utd eyeing midfielder amid Mainoo uncertainty

There are now doubts over Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford, with it recently being revealed the young Englishman is pressuring INEOS to sell him to Real Madrid in January, viewing the Santiago Bernabéu as a dream destination.

Mainoo has been unable to force his way into Ruben Amorim’s plans, having made just two appearances in the Premier League so far this season, both of which coming as a substitute.

It is perhaps no surprise the 20-year-old is looking to leave his boyhood club, given that receiving regular game time will be crucial to his chances of going to the 2026 World Cup, having been omitted from the most recent England squad.

"Massive fan" – Gerrard has named Man Utd legend among his "favourite players"

Steven Gerrard has made it clear he is a huge admirer of a former Manchester United star.

ByDominic Lund Sep 16, 2025

With the youngster’s future up in the air, the Red Devils are looking to sign a new midfielder, identifying Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba as a target, and they are expected to hold a meeting with the 21-year-old.

Baleba is not the only young central midfielder on the shortlist, however, with a report from Caught Offside revealing that Man United have now joined the race for Ajax maestro Jorthy Mokio, who is attracting growing interest from across Europe.

The likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea are also keeping a close eye on Mokio, who is capable of playing in both defensive midfield and at centre-back, with the 17-year-old’s versatility deemed to be one of his key strengths.

Ajax are eager to keep hold of the teenager, whose contract doesn’t expire until 2027, but a bid in the region of €30m (£26m) could make the Dutch club reconsider their stance.

"Total footballer" Mokio is one for the future

The Gent-born midfielder/defender has already established himself as a first-team regular for Ajax, which is an encouraging sign, making 22 appearances for the Eredivisie side, and scout Ben Mattinson believes he is a very talented youngster.

Mattinson also adds: “Mokio on the ball is exceptional. Sprays passes effortlessly and plays through the press like a quality midfielder.”

The Ajax starlet’s defensive ability has been on display regularly over the course of the past year, while also proving himself as an impressive dribbler of the ball.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Blocks

2.82 (99th percentile)

Clearances

2.35 (84th percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.25 (94th percentile)

Progressive carries

2.03 (92nd percentile)

With Baleba expected to cost over £100m, it would make sense for Man United to target a low-cost alternative, and Mokio’s potential availability for around £26m makes him an attractive option.

Combine that price tag with his ability to play at centre-back too, notably hailed as “one of the most talented teenage CBs in world football” by scout Jacek Kulig, this is certainly a saga to keep an eye on.

Change will soon be afoot at Everton, but how drastic, and surface-level, remains to be seen. Will Sean Dyche stand in the dugout this time next year? Will the Friedkin Group have completed their club takeover? Will the squad bear many different faces?

Everton need reorienting. It’s been difficult, over the past several years, for a club whose prestige and devoted fanbase yearns for a place on the top floor of the Premier League, but instead languishes near the pit.

The first-team squad is obviously going to need reinforcing, with various positions demanding improvements. But Everton must ensure that they free themselves of several struggling stars to ease the process.

The money won’t flow, not from the offing in any case. Everton bosses will need to approach the market with tact and a shrewd eye.

Let’s take a look at three players who might receive the chop this winter.

1 Dominic Calvert-Lewin

First up, we have Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Most Everton supporters are aware that the 27-year-old striker is nearing the end of his £100k-per-week contract, but a January departure should not out of the question, amid the risk of losing him for nothing next summer.

He’s started each of Everton’s 11 Premier League fixtures this season but has failed to marry an impressive level of performance with his rekindled fitness.

2024/25

11

2

7

2023/24

32

7

16

2022/23

17

2

6

2021/22

17

5

3

2020/21

33

16

17

To have manufactured nine big chances in front of goal this season and taken only two of those seems to be emblematic of Everton’s woes. This is a team bereft of attacking inspiration, but also encumbered by a striker lacking a finishing touch.

Beto is making headway in an Everton shirt for the first time and Armando Broja will be looking to make his debut in the coming weeks. There is cause for optimism up front at Goodison Park.

Given the financial issues that the Merseysiders are beset with, it would be tempting to accept an offer for Calvert-Lewin, should one be forthcoming this winter. There are sufficient options to compensate for a player who, truthfully, is flattering to deceive as the end draws near.

The 11-cap England international might not be the only one to leave before his time. This next Evertonian is really struggling to impress.

2 Jesper Lindstrom

At the start of August, Jesper Lindstrom aimed to “show the world I still have my level,” but unfortunately that hasn’t been the case. Or, if it has, then his level is one that languishes low.

The Danish winger has some attractive properties: he’s technically sharp and proactive both in and out of possession – Lindstrom works tirelessly, in attack and defensive situations.

His end product has let him down, and in a team that is fighting relegation and lacking a free-scoring centre-forward, this is a big problem. The Athletic’s Paddy Boyland said though: “Still, at least he’s troubling defenders and a bit of something different for Everton in attack.

It’s not all that different, though, given that he can’t conjure up a steady stream of goalscoring. Signed from Napoli on a one-year loan deal, with an option for a £18m purchase next summer, he has since posted just one assist across ten appearances, yet to score.

Is this enough to suggest that he deserves a permanent place in an Everton squad heading into a new era? Honestly, if the club are hoping to level up in the years to come, Lindstrom will need to showcase some dramatic improvements, especially with transfer targets like Luiz Henrique being considered.

Henrique is making waves in the Brasileiro Serie A, and reports late last week revealed that the Toffees have been dazzled by the winger’s quality and could table an official bid in 2025.

Henrique ranks among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers across divisions similar to the Brazilian top flight over the past year for progressive carries per 90 (2.82), as per FBref, and could bring that electric flair to Dyche’s team.

He’d need a player of quality and security behind him down the right lane, though, and while veteran Seamus Coleman will hope to keep his role in the first-team squad, Ashley Young must surely be ditched.

3 Ashley Young

Young is 39 years old and still kicking (literally) in the Premier League. He’s led one of the most storied careers in English football across the past two decades, but Father Time is calling and he can’t reprise his role in Everton’s squad next year.

In fact, it might be in the outfit’s best interests to rid themselves of the versatile defender next year. He’s out of contract next summer, having penned a one-year contract extension this summer.

Remarkably, he’s still operating at a good level, most notably coming out on top in 65% of his ground duels this season, as per Sofascore, but Young’s recent bright patch is not going to be sustained, and indeed, has been preceded by some dreadful performances that led to him being described as “diabolical” by pundit Andy Hinchcliffe, who also lambasted his “dreadful defending.”

Nathan Patterson’s fitness levels have left plenty to be desired, but the Scottish defender is a talented player and will be desperate to restore his place in the squad, having been an unused substitute for Dyche’s side across the past four matches in the Premier League, previously sidelined for the duration of the season’s early stage.

Young only earns £40k per week, but it’s going to be a fresh start for Everton, hopefully, and Young must be ushered out to avoid further stagnation.

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Arsenal could look to part ways with a “creative player” in the January transfer window, after he’s been left “frustrated” by manager Mikel Arteta.

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Kieran Tierney is back from his hamstring injury, which previously kept him out since Euro 2024, and the Scotland international even featured on Arteta’s bench for their impressive 5-1 win away at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

However, the consensus is that Tierney has accepted he will be sold by Arsenal, with Arteta looking to potentially give him more game time in the build up to January so the left-back can attract suitors.

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Poland international Jakub Kiwior is also expected to leave Arsenal in the near future, having played a bit-part role this season, while Emirates Stadium hierarchy are set to make big decisions on the long-term futures of midfield duo Jorginho and Thomas Partey.

Both players are out of contract at the end of this Premier League season, and there is a belief that Jorginho is being tempted by Besiktas with a move to the Turkish Süper Lig.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown, who remains well-connected in the beautiful game after 10 years working in recruitment at Old Trafford, has also cast doubt on the futures of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus.

“There are three players at the club they’d be looking to sell,” said Brown to Football Insider.

“And that’s Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko, and Kieran Tierney. They’re not in the manager’s plans. When it comes to sales, you have to look at who your assets are. We know there’s been interest in Saliba, for example, but I think he’s one of the last players they’d ever consider selling for any sort of money. If they feel they need to raise money, they’ve got these players who they’re far more likely to turn to. That’ll take a big chunk off of the wage bill and help them to reinvest in strengthening their squad.

“So first are foremost, these are the players I expect they’ll cash in on.“

Arsenal could decide to offload Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand

According to GiveMeSport, a new player in Arsenal’s ranks could be set for the mid-season exit door – highly-rated midfielder Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand.

The 21-year-old was subject to approaches in the last window, but the Gunners ultimately kept him, in the hope that he could battle his way into Arteta’s plans.

However, Oulad M’Hand has been left “frustrated” by his lack of game time under Arteta. The Dutchman has been named in just two matchday squads so far this campaign, and GMS now write that Arsenal could look to offload Oulad M’Hand in January.

The former Netherlands Under-17 international could seriously benefit from an Emirates exit to kickstart his senior career, having lauded himself as a “creative player” with plenty to offer.

“I’m a central midfielder and I like to play box to box,” said Oulad M’Hand on his ability.

“Offensively, I’m a creative player and I can play with my left or right foot. I score goals and get assist, and defensively I like to think I do my bit too, especially in the transition.”

Chelsea are in fast-moving talks to offload a “very big” player in their squad, with his suitors apparently eager to get him tied up and over the line by the very start of January.

Chelsea prepare for Astana as Enzo Maresca confirms squad decision

The west Londoners are back in action this afternoon, as manager Enzo Maresca prepares his side to face off against Kazakhstani minnows Astana in the Conference League.

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Chelsea have been allocated a bizarre kick-off time of 15:30 this afternoon due to time zones, with Kazakhstan being five hours ahead of the United Kingdom, so local supporters will watch the two teams play at around 20:30 in their region of the world.

Maresca also has to factor in their Premier League clash against Brentford on Sunday, and the Italian has vowed in his pre-match press conference to give as many players as possible a full 90 minutes each week, no matter what competition.

“We have a session this morning,” said Maresca on Chelsea’s line up against Astana in his pre-match press conference.

“The general decision [over the squad] is already there but we will see.

“Some of them will be here, some of them will fly with us. We try to manage in the same way we have done until today. We have many young players with us, the rest will be working.

“The target since we started the season is to allow all of them, no matter the competition, to play 90 minutes every week. Most of those who play tomorrow would have also played against Southampton last week. So we will try to keep them in the regular situation of playing 90 minutes every week. This is what we’re trying to do.”

Brentford (home)

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Everton (away)

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Fulham (home)

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Ipswich Town (away)

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Crystal Palace (away)

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Youngster Josh Acheampong has attracted recent interest from Real Madrid amid disputes over a new Chelsea contract, but his omission from the squad has come to an end recently, as the club are apparently close to tying him down with an extension.

The 18-year-old is also likely to start against Astana this afternoon, confirms Maresca, which would be his second senior appearance of the season after a brief cameo in the Carabao Cup against Barrow.

A player who could also feature tonight is exit-linked midfielder Cesare Casadei, but according to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, tonight could be one of his last games in Chelsea blue this season.

Chelsea in fast-moving talks over loaning Cesare Casadei to Monza

As per the outlet, via Sport Witness, Chelsea are in rapid negotiations over loaning Casadei to Monza, and the Serie A side are very keen to sign him by January 2, as they desperately look to bolster their midfield options.

Talks are said to be “moving quickly” and have been ongoing for several weeks, and the potential transfer is seen as a real win-win.

The 21-year-old, who worked with Maresca at Leicester, has featured regularly in cup competitions and attracted praise from Chelsea’s head coach – but this move would allow the player to garner more minutes in his homeland.

“This year, we are using him like a holding midfielder,” said Maresca on Casadei’s use for Chelsea in October.

“The reason why is because I think we go in the direction where the middle you need physical players. Cesare is very big, physically strong and helps us when we want to press. On the ball, he is improving a lot. Tonight he played one touch, so we are very happy. For him, it’s the same as the rest; many things he can do better but he is in the right direction.”