All posts by z3u9t.icu

There has been a common theme with regard to Tottenham Hotspur's recruitment in recent times, with the Lilywhites having regularly looked to Italy in order to find potential gems who can go on to thrive in English football.

Previously, with Antonio Conte at the helm – backed by sporting director Fabio Paratici – the north London outfit notably snapped up the likes of Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie from Atalanta and Udinese, respectively, with the latter man belatedly joining the club this summer.

Even under Ange Postecoglou in the most recent window, the club again turned to Serie A in order to acquire goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli, with the relatively unknown quantity proving a real "revelation" in the Premier League thus far, as described by Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher.

One of the most notable deals involving Spurs and an Italian outfit came back in January 2022, however, with Conte and Paratici managing to strike a double swoop for the signings of Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus.

Following the success of that high-profile deal – with Kulusevski only recently signing permanently following an 18-month loan stint – Postecoglou could well be set to take inspiration from his predecessor by plotting another raid on the Old Lady in 2024.

Spurs transfer news

According to a report from Spain earlier this week, Tottenham are said to be interested in signing both Samuel Iling-Junior and Matias Soule from the Turin giants, with the club seemingly preparing a 'double offer' for the duo in January.

While Postecoglou and co could face rival interest from Newcastle United, they will seemingly be hoping to steal a march on their top-flight rivals, ahead of the window opening in just over a weeks time.

Spurs could land Romero clone with January move for £68m "beast"

Ange Postecoglou understands the importance of shoring up his defence amid a top-four push.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 21, 2023

As per the piece, Soule – who is currently on loan at fellow Serie A side, Frosinone – is valued at around €25m (£22m) by Max Allegri's side, while fellow youngster, Iling-Junior, is likely to command a fee closer to €18m (£16m), according to a prior report from TuttoMercatoWeb.

Coughing up in the region of £38m to sign the emerging talents – who are both 20 – could well prove to be a bargain move as far as Postecoglou is concerned, with the pair looking to emulate the success of Kulusevski and Bentancur at N17.

Kulusevski and Bentancur's record at Tottenham

In the case of Bentancur, it is fair to say that his time in England so far has largely been disrupted by injury, with the Uruguayan notably missing a fair chunk of 2023 with an ACL issue that he sustained back in February.

When the playmaker has been fit and available, however, he has shone at the heart of the midfield at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, chipping in with a respectable haul of six goals and six assists from just 48 appearances in all competitions.

The "immense" and "underrated" midfielder – as described by broadcaster Adam Smith – has certainly proven value for money despite his stint on the sidelines, having cost the club an initial fee of just £15.7m.

As for Kulusevski, the Swede has been an undoubted success even despite a difficult individual and collective campaign last season, in which he scored just twice across all fronts – albeit while registering eight assists.

Prior to that, the 23-year-old had sparkled in the second half of the 2021/22 season following his arrival in north London, having contributed to 13 goals and assists in just 18 league games as Conte's men secured a top-four berth.

Such electric form has been replicated this time around, with the one-time Parma man – who has earned comparisons to a certain Gareth Bale following his display against Nottingham Forest last time out – starting every league game this season, while scoring five goals and contributing two assists.

It is fair to say then that Spurs truly did strike gold by signing both Kulusevski and Bentancur under Conte's watch, with the aim now for Postecoglou to replicate that masterclass in the case of Soule and Illing-Junior.

Samuel Iling-Junior's style of play

Once on the books of Chelsea, Iling-Junior made the bold move to join Juve back in 2020, having since gone on to feature 24 times in all competitions for the Serie A side at first-team level.

While far from being a regular fixture under Allegri, the England U21 international has impressed when he has been given an opportunity to date, registering one goal and three assists from his left-sided berth.

In the younger age groups, the Islington-born menace – who typically features as a wing-back, or in a central midfield berth – showed his undoubted potential after scoring 14 goals and registering 15 assists in just 58 games for Juve's U19 side.

Described as a "flamboyant winger" and noted for his "pace", "acceleration" and "athleticism" – as per talent scout Jacek Kulig – Iling-Junior seemingly has the tools to sparkle in Postecoglou's attack-minded and relentless style, with it a scary thought to consider the combination of himself and Udogie down the left flank.

It would also be a mouthwatering prospect to consider young Soule also following his Juve teammate back to England, with the Argentine currently shining out on loan in Italy's top-flight.

Matias Soule's season by numbers

Much like the Englishman, Soule was also plucked from his homeland back in 2020 after leaving Velez Sarsfield in order to make the move to Europe, yet has seen opportunities hard to come by at his parent club.

After making only 21 appearances over the last few years, the wing wizard was sent out to Frosinone in order to gain some much-needed senior experience, with that move more than paying off amid his heroics of late.

Despite his relative youth, the 6 foot sensation has already scored six times in just 14 Serie A games this season, notably impressing also due to his "superb dribbling skills" – as noted by the aforementioned Kulig.

The in-demand talent has successfully completed 4.4 dribbles per game in the league in 2023/24 and averages a remarkable 2.9 key passes per game as a marker of his immense creativity – with Kulusevski, for contrast, averaging just 1.7 and 2.3 for those same two metrics, respectively.

1 – Jude Bellingham

2 – Eberechi Eze

3 – Jamal Musiala

4 – Ayoze Perez

5 – Antony

6 – Isco

7 – Angelo Fulgini

8 – Dominik Szoboszlai

9 – Brahim Diaz

10 – Remy Cabella

via FBref

While it would be a real leap for the winger to attempt to replicate such feats in the Premier League, there is certainly enough there to be excited about for those back at N17.

With Spurs having reaped the rewards of signing Kulusveski and Bentancur from the Allianz Stadium almost two years ago, a repeat of that transfer masterclass involving Soule and Iling-Junior would certainly not be the worst idea.

Tottenham Hotspur have been told they've got a gem in their squad with "world-class potential", with speed "never seen" from a player in his position.

Spurs form under Ange Postecoglou

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is now an English top flight record-holder. Indeed, following the Lilywhites' 2-0 home win over Fulham on Monday, the Australian has now overseen the best ever start made by a new manager in the Premier League; guiding Tottenham to seven league wins out of a possible nine while remaining unbeaten. It's been truly remarkable considering they lost star striker and all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, with a few players in particular now shining under Postecoglou's tutelage.

Son Heung-min and summer signing James Maddison, as displayed by their latest heroics against Fulham, have formed a deadly partnership going forward. The former is now rediscovering the kind of form which saw him share the 2022 Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah, while the latter is proving one of football's biggest bargains this year.

Both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are also starring at the heart of Postecoglou's defence, with former Spurs striker Mido recently admitting he's been shocked by the Dutchman's form.

“I understand the idea of Ange [Postecoglou] that he wants a left-footed centre-back to start from the back and to have a better angle to see the whole of the pitch playing the ball between the lines and the diagonals," said Mido to talkSPORT.

"But defensively, I was really worried that this guy would struggle in the Premier League. I know in the Premier League that you always play against big guys up front and the likes of [Erling] Haaland and [Ivan] Toney, all the big guys, it’s very difficult to defend. It’s not like the Dutch league, it’s different, it could be a shock for him. But to be honest to the lad, he’s been brilliant."

Micky van de Ven news

Like Maddison, the 22-year-old gem is proving one of the summer window's best buys thus far, especially given Spurs chairman Daniel Levy paid just £43 million to prise him away from Wolfsburg. The Dutchman suits Postecoglou's free-flowing, attack-minded system as a pacy, assured and ball-playing defender.

Now, former head of Ajax talent development Ruben Jongkid has joined in on the praise for Van de Ven; revealing how the player's potential was first spotted long ago while overseeing his development at Dutch second tier side Voldendam. Speaking to inews, the coach insisted that Spurs have a player with "world-class potential" and "never seen" speed for a defender. Jongkid, going one step further, suggested that he is even better than Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni.

“His athletic ability and speed, I’ve never seen that for a centre-back or defender,” said Jongkid.“This is world-class potential so don’t come with €1.5m when [Alessandro] Bastoni [Inter’s left-footed centre-back who Spurs targeted last year] who probably has less talent already went for €31m."It will be interesting to see how van de Ven grows as a Tottenham player, but it's safe to say he's made the best possible start.

Chelsea came into this season on the back of an impressive pre-season campaign and with an element of hope that, with new boss Mauricio Pochettino, they could fight their way back into the European places come May.

However, with 16 games of the Premier League season already played – almost half – the Blues are once again in the bottom half of the table, and based on performances, rightly so.

That said, injuries haven't helped the young side, especially in the case of club captain Reece James, who had to come off against Everton on the weekend and is now set to spend a second spell on the sidelines this season.

While his absence will undoubtedly cause more headaches for Pochettino, there is some good news, as the latest player linked with Stamford Bridge could even replace the Cobham graduate altogether – Denzel Dumfries.

Chelsea transfer news – Denzel Dumfries

According to Italian outlet Calciomercatio, Inter Milan star Dumfries has courted the attention of Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United, with both teams keen on signing the player in 2024.

The interest of United is undoubtedly one of the barriers that the Blues will have to overcome if they want to sign the Dutchman, but the other is the price, as according to Calciomercato.IT, the Nerazzurri will not sell their player for anything less than €40m – which works out to about £35m.

It would represent another sizeable investment from Todd Boehly and co, though with how well the "monster", as described by journalist Alan Rzepa, has performed in Italy and the uncertainty surrounding James' fitness, it would likely be worth it.

Denzel Dumfries could replace Reece James and Malo Gusto

Now, James is obviously an enormous talent and widely considered one of the best right-backs in world football, but if he can't stay fit for more than a couple of months, then Chelsea simply can not benefit from his talent.

Since making his debut for the Blues in September 2019, the "world-class" 24-year-old, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has suffered 17 injuries – not including the latest one – which have made him miss a combined 463 days of action and 89 games for club and country, per Transfermarkt.

With a record such as that, the chance of James following a career trajectory similar to Jack Wilshere, another uber-talented youngster, is worryingly high. And with Malo Gusto – who is also currently sidelined – not exactly tearing up trees this year, it could be time for the club to look at another long-term solution at right-back.

When comparing the trios' underlying numbers, Dumfries simply has to measure up well with the Chelsea captain; if he can be 75% of the player 100% of the time, it will be more useful to Pochettino.

Unsurprisingly, there are some areas in which the former Wigan loanee comes out on top, such as tackles won and non-penalty expected goals and assists. However, the Serie A defender comes out ahead in plenty of other areas.

Stat (per 90)

Dumfries

James

Gusto

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.11

0.07

0.05

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.37

0.41

0.15

Red Cards

0.00

0.17

0.23

Shots on Target

0.29

0.23

0.00

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.78

0.70

0.17

Goal-Creating Actions

0.48

0.46

0.50

Blocks

1.17

0.93

1.17

Tackles Won

0.87

1.86

1.17

Aerial Duels Won

1.84

1.63

0.50

Errors Leading to Goals

0.00

0.23

0.00

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season

Ultimately, for as fantastic as James is, and for as outrageously high as his potential might be, the fact that he can't seem to string a run of games together at age 24 should be – and probably is – ringing alarm bells at Chelsea.

For the reasonable fee of around £35m, the two-time European champions should strongly consider signing Dumfries as he would be a more than adequate player to play in James' place and potentially instead of him if the injuries remain a problem.

Everton are believed to be keen on completing the signing of a former England international – one who has been called "fantastic" in the past.

Everton's points deduction

The Blues are going through an extremely tumultuous period in their history at the moment, with so much going on at the club, both on and off the pitch.

While Sean Dyche and his players have shown clear improvements in recent weeks, there have been massive distractions going on around them, not least the fact that the Blues have been deducted 10 points for breaching financial rules.

Everton make another complaint as board rage at fresh update

The Blues are not at all happy with a recent development.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 24, 2023

It is a decision that has been met with fury by many Everton supporters, with the majority feeling that it is harsh, and it immediately threw Dyche's men straight back into the relegation zone.

Not only has the points deduction been a huge talking point at Goodison Park, but the ongoing takeover of the club is also dragging along slowly. There is no clear sign of the Farhad Moshiri era coming to an end for the time being, with doubts surrounding potential incoming investors 777 Partners.

Everton could also be looking to make new signings once the January transfer window opens, depending on their finances, and they have been linked with a move for a former Premier League player.

Everton want Alex McCarthy

According to an update from Football Insider, Everton are eyeing a move for Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

"Everton have a strong interest in frozen-out Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, sources have told Football Insider. The 33-year-old has 18 months left on his deal at St Mary’s Stadium and lost his place to Republic of Ireland international Gavin Bazunu last season. Everton were tracking McCarthy in the summer and their interest remains alive ahead of the January window.

"Everton will have little money to spend in the transfer market amid the uncertainty caused by their devastating 10-point deduction which was administered last week. However, loan deals and free transfers could be possible avenues available for Toffees boss Sean Dyche as he vies to keep the club in the Premier League."

McCarthy may not be the most earth-shattering signing by Everton if he made the move to Goodison in January, considering he is a veteran who wouldn't be a key starter, but he could still be a savvy addition.

The 33-year-old has picked up a huge amount of experience down the years, with the Blues transfer target making 147 appearances in the Premier League, not to mention winning one cap for England.

Meanwhile, former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl clearly rated McCarthy highly during their time together at St Mary's, once saying:

"He has been absolutely top drawer. Some of the saves on Monday were just outstanding to be honest. He has been like that from day one since I have been here – not just in games but training. The level of all the goalkeepers has been fantastic but Alex, particularly in the games, has kept us in there. He’s made some very good saves not many keepers would actually make so I’m pleased for him."

McCarthy could be a good backup option to Jordan Pickford, not to mention increasing the English quota in Dyche's squad, so a January move would make plenty of sense.

Sheffield United have been dealt a fresh injury blow to one of their summer signings alongside John Egan, according to a fresh update.

Who is injured for Sheffield United?

At Bramall Lane, Paul Heckingbottom currently has Chris Basham on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his freak lower-leg injury sustained during the 3-1 defeat to Fulham in the Premier League earlier this month, but he’s not the only one facing an extended spell out.

Blades star John Egan is expected to miss the remainder of the season after picking up a seriously severe Achilles tendon problem, and unfortunately for the boss, there is a third senior squad member who he won’t have back at his disposal for a while.

Before September 1st, Tom Davies joined the club on a free transfer from Everton, and whilst he’s so far only made three appearances, the central midfielder looks like he could prove to be a real quality acquisition for the manager (Transfermarkt – Tom Davies stats).

However, England’s former youth international has suffered a major setback to his start to life in Yorkshire if the following update is to be believed, with the 25-year-old inflicting damage on himself during a recent training session at Shirecliffe Ground.

2021/22 – Knee injury

223 days

2020/21 – Bruise

7 days

2019/20 – Illness

5 days (Data via Transfermarkt)

Tom Davies injury update

According to The Sun who have shared an injury update on Tom Davies, Sheffield United are set to be without their new recruit for at least the next 12 weeks after he sustained an unexpected trauma behind the scenes:

“Tom Davies picked up a freak injury in the last kick of a training session. Davies was practising shooting when he tore a thigh muscle. He will now be missing for four months.”

Sheffield United supporters will know that Davies hasn’t yet been given a fair chance to prove what he’s capable of, but having previously been praised for possessing a “battling spirit” by journalist Josh Bunting, his absence in the centre of the park will no doubt be a blow for Heckingbottom.

The Liverpool-born talent was recording an 85.4% pass success rate prior to his injury which highlights his calmness and composure on the ball, alongside averaging 1.3 tackles per top-flight game so he loves to get stuck into challenges (WhoScored – Tom Davies stats).Sponsored by Adidas, the midfielder is also capable of contributing to efforts in the final third having posted 19 involvements, 11 assists and eight goals, throughout his career, so he’s an extremely well-rounded individual that can get involved at both ends of the pitch.

Finally, Davies, who pockets £30k-per-week (Sheffield United salaries), is a versatile operator having been deployed in six different positions over the grass since the start of his career, including everywhere across the centre and even at right-back, but this is another attribute that the head coach will have to cope without for the foreseeable.

Glasgow Rangers face yet another midweek match as Philippe Clement is enjoying no respite from the hectic schedule during his short spell in charge of the Ibrox side.

Since taking charge of the Gers on 15 October, the Belgian is about to embark on his fourth match in just under three weeks and with cup games and European ties also to come before Christmas, the former Club Brugge boss will have to manage his squad smartly.

Rangers team news vs Dundee

Clement will have to do without a few players for tonight’s tie against Dundee, as John Souttar has now been ruled out along with Nicolas Raskin, who was substituted off against Hearts at the weekend having suffered an ankle injury.

The 49-year-old is certainly perplexed by the injury problems the squad has endured since the start of the season and declared his feelings while speaking with the media prior to the match this evening.

The new boss stated: "It's quite a puzzle, it's the biggest puzzle that I ever saw, to be honest with all the injuries. We started with a lot of players who are not available, some players then falling out in the last couple of weeks.

"It will be very important every game to look really good at the minutes of every player and try to build their physical condition and robustness to have a bigger squad available in the next couple of months.”

This will need to be fixed sooner rather than later, especially if Clement wants to lead this group of players to any sort of success this season.

Another Premiership win tonight will continue to build the confidence ahead of the League Cup semi-final on Sunday, but changes will have to be made to the starting XI, as there were several players simply not pulling their weight – Sam Lammers being the prime example.

Sam Lammers’ season in numbers

The Dutch forward cost the Ibrox side £3m during the summer transfer window, but he has yet to display this type of form since moving to Scotland.

The warning signs should have been apparent for Michael Beale before he signed the player, as Lammers managed to score just six times since the start of the 2020/21 season, yet he still splashed the cash on him.

The 26-year-old now has just one goal in 19 appearances for the Gers while he currently ranks third for big chances missed across the squad in the league this season (four), along with ranking 19th for key passes per game (0.4) and fifth for shots on target per game (0.8), hardly the statistics expected by someone who cost that much.

He was offered yet another start against Hearts, this time deployed on the right wing, yet he failed to offer anything meaningful in the final third.

Not only did Lammers fail to have a shot on target during the match, but he missed one big chance, lost possession 14 times and was dribbled past twice. His performance was the latest in a long line of disappointing displays since his summer arrival and something has got to give.

Clement is besieged by injuries, which obviously makes picking a starting XI harder, especially when he has to rely on players who are not in form, but the manager could explore the opportunity of playing some of his youth prospects.

Ross McCausland has looked lively during his brief senior appearances this term and against a Dundee side who will likely play the low block and attack on the counter, his creativity could be vital.

Ross McCausland’s statistics at youth level

The 20-year-old winger has emerged as one of the finest youth talents at the Light Blues, showcasing his ability both domestically and against European opposition.

Across four appearances in the UEFA Youth league last season, McCausland scored twice while he also registered 12 goal contributions – eight goals and four assists – in the Lowland League, and it’s evident that he offers a solid attacking threat from the right wing.

During his time at youth level, the Northern Irishman has featured 50 times, scoring nine goals and grabbing ten assists and judging by his fleeting appearances for the first team, he could be a better option than Lammers out wide.

Ross McCausland’s statistics at senior level

The youngster actually made an immediate impact on his senior debut for the Light Blues back in May 2022. Against Hearts in the final match of the league season, he came on with just 30 minutes to go and managed to register an assist during a 3-1 win for the club.

He was restricted to just two minutes under Beale last season, yet the winger has taken his chances well when called upon during the current campaign.

While McCausland has yet to start a league match during 2023/24, his three substitute appearances have so far yielded an impressive 1.7 key passes per game while he has also created one big chance and recovered 2.3 balls per game.

His statistics for the former two metrics are actually better than what Lammers has achieved, as the Dutchman has failed to create a big chance, while averaging just 0.4 key passes, and it is evident who Clement should give a chance to this evening.

1

0

0

0

0.4

1.7

0

1

4

0

David McCallum, the Rangers B coach, has praised McCausland highly in the past, saying: “You can see what Ross [McCausland] has got in talent, two goals tonight that were top class but he’s not the only one.”

The whole point of developing players via an academy is to give them an opportunity in the first team to see if they are ready to make the step up.

The 20-year-old has certainly grabbed the chances he has been presented with this term with both hands and his performances must surely be giving Clement a serious selection headache.

Lammers has been dreadful of late, and it is now time for him to take a break from senior action. This should open the door for the talented young winger to start against Dundee and show the new management setup exactly what he is made of.

Leeds United are back in Championship action in the early kick-off on Saturday as they travel away to take on Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

The Whites are currently third in the league and are fighting to close the gap between themselves and Ipswich Town and Leicester City in the automatic promotion places.

Daniel Farke's side are seven points away from second and eight away from the top spot as the German tactician attempts to win promotion up to the Premier League for the third time in his career.

Leeds head into Saturday's clash with Blackburn off the back of a 3-2 win over Middlesbrough last weekend, as they came from 1-0 down after three minutes to secure all three points.

Despite that victory, Farke could look to make a few changes to the starting XI from that match and here is our predicted XI to line up at Ewood Park…

1 Karl Darlow

The first change could come between the sticks as Karl Darlow could start for the first time in the Championship since his move from Newcastle United over the summer.

Illan Meslier's performances have left a lot to be desired so far this season and could be taken out of the side after he let in two goals from four shots against Middlesbrough.

Appearances

19

12

Post-shot xG prevented

-1.8

+1.7

Save success rate

62.7%

75%

As you can see from the table above, Darlow's performances on loan with Hull at this level last term were far more impressive than the current Leeds number one's this term, which is why Farke could benefit from bringing the summer signing in for the first time.

2 Archie Gray

At right-back, Archie Gray could continue in an unnatural position to him as Djed Spence continues to work his way back to full fitness. The teenage starlet won seven of his 11 duels and completed 93% of his passes against Boro last time out.

3 Joe Rodon

At the heart of the defence, Wales international Joe Rodon should keep his place after an impressive showing in the 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough.

He won three of his five duels and completed an eye-catching 99% (95/96) of his attempted passes as the Tottenham Hotspur loanee showcased his quality in and out of possession for the team.

4 Liam Cooper

The second change that could be made to the XI is Liam Cooper being reinstated ahead of Dutch central defender Pascal Struijk, who struggled last weekend.

Against Boro, the left-footed enforcer lost four of his six duels – including three of his four on the ground – as the opposition found it far too easy to get the better of him. He was also dribbled past three times and only made one tackle and one interception throughout the 90 minutes.

Cooper, on the other hand, has only been dribbled past three times in ten Championship appearances and won 60% of his duels in those matches.

The Scotland international is an experienced and reliable option for Farke to call upon and Struijk's weak display last time out could tempt the manager to bring the veteran in alongside Rodon.

5 Sam Byram

Sam Byram should continue at left-back after a sublime performance from the summer signing from Norwich City against Boro last weekend. He made five interceptions and three tackles to go along with his deflected cross for the equalising goal from Dan James.

6 Ethan Ampadu

In midfield, Ethan Ampadu should make his 20th start of the league campaign. He has started every Championship match for Leeds since his move from Chelsea.

The 23-year-old enforcer has made his presence felt in the middle of the park with 3.6 tackles and interceptions combined per match.

7 Glen Kamara

Alongside the Wales international, former Rangers maestro Glen Kamara should keep his place. The Finnish whiz completed 94% of his attempted passes and won five of his seven duels against Boro last time out.

8 Dan James

On the right of the attack, Farke could select Dan James once again as the Welsh wizard has been in fantastic form so far this season.

He scored last weekend and is now up to six goals and four assists in 14 Championship starts for the Whites since the start of the campaign.

9 Joel Piroe

Another player who could start once again is Joel Piroe. The Dutch forward scored from the penalty spot against Boro and is up to eight goals and one assist in the second tier this term.

He has thrived in a number ten position, despite being a centre-forward by trade, and has proven himself to be a reliable goalscorer for the Whites.

10 Crysencio Summerville

On the left, Crysencio Summerville should star as the electric winger has been in phenomenal form since the club were relegated down to the Championship.

Farke has his own Kaoru Mitoma in Leeds' "complete" 5 ft 9 sensation

The exciting magician has been on fire in the Championship so far this season.

ByDan Emery Nov 2, 2023

The 22-year-old whiz has made a consistent impact at the top end of the pitch with a return of eight goals, six assists, and nine 'big chances' created in 14 starts.

Arsenal returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a dogged display against Burnley at the Emirates Stadium, with Mikel Arteta's side emerging 3-1 victors despite the visitors' valiant efforts.

Having fallen to defeat against Newcastle United on Tyneside last week, Arsenal secured three points today courtesy of goals from Leandro Trossard, William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko, now level on points with league leaders Manchester City, who play Chelsea tomorrow.

In the absence of Gabriel Jesus, who has now missed the past three Premier League fixtures with a hamstring injury, Eddie Nketiah has deputised up front but was removed today after his "anonymous" presence against the Magpies, with Trossard given the nod instead.

Leandro Trossard's performance vs Burnley

Trossard's dynamism proved to be crucial in unlocking a disciplined Burnley backline, who stifled much of Arsenal's attacking advances in the first half before the Belgian found the back of the net right before the break with a brave-headed effort.

Adding to his strike with a fine assist after his looping corner met Saliba's head before the hour mark, Trossard has proved his worth once again and now boasts six goals and two assists from just seven starting appearances across all competitions this term.

The 28-year-old also hit the woodwork, took 51 touches, completed 79% of his passes, created two key passes and won four duels, as per Sofascore.

In his post-match player ratings, football.london's Arsenal correspondent Kaya Kaynak handed the star an 8/10 score, writing: 'Seems to bring the best out of those around him when he plays up top. Martinelli looks more comfortable while his link with Saka is superb. Another goal and assist today.'

It was a stellar showing, but perhaps not the best of Arteta's men on the night; that award goes to Zinchenko, who was sensational in his all-encompassing work for the home side.

Oleksandr Zinchenko's stats vs Burnley

The Ukranian star signed for Arsenal from Manchester City in a £32m package last year, and while he has not always been fit, he has been integral in many of the club's resounding performances.

While the victory over the Clarets was not quite a trademark display, it was a testament to Arsenal's ability to get the job done and Zinchenko was the veritable engine charging the whole affair.

Remarked at being "everywhere today" by Gunners reporter Connor Humm, the £150k-per-week left-back scored a stunning goal to consolidate the victory after Saliba restored the lead in the second half.

But his exploits were so much more than just his goalscoring contribution, remarkably taking 116 touches, completing 87% of his passes, winning a staggering 14 duels, placing two key passes, succeeding with all seven of his long ball attempts, and getting stuck in with a whopping five tackles.

Kaynak was effusive in his praise for Trossard and matched his words for Zinchenko, stating: 'One superb flick to free space for Bukayo Saka in the first half. Showed equally superb technique when firing home Arsenal's third.'

As has often been the case for Burnley this season, they didn't actually play too badly but succumbed to defeat regardless, and had Zinchenko's omnipresence not been at Arteta's disposal the chances of success would undoubtedly have slimmed.

It was a formidable show of strength from the dynamic force, and Zinchenko has reminded the Premier League of his talent with a talismanic performance today.

Liverpool secured a 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday lunchtime, but if the hosts took their chances in the first half, the narrative would have been a completely different one at full-time.

The Reds were sluggish and lethargic to begin with and Wolves capitalized by launching a barrage of attacks – led by the irrepressible Pedro Neto – who provided a superb cross for Hwang Hee-chan's opener inside seven minutes.

The Portuguese should have had a second assist to his name, however, Matheus Cunha failed to convert his wicked delivery.

With the Brazilian spurning a golden opportunity to double their lead, Liverpool gained encouragement as Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Klopp's substitutions Luis Diaz, Harvey Elliott and Darwin Núñez made a huge impact and helped inspire a second-half comeback.

While that trio reined in the plaudits for their impact off the bench, youngster Jarell Quansah quietly went under the radar, performing admirably on his full debut.

How did Jarell Quansah perform against Wolves?

Quansah was the latest gem to be unearthed from the Liverpool academy on Saturday, following in the footsteps of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic in recent times.

In the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, the 20-year-old was drafted into a makeshift back line and although some youngsters would have crumbled under the pressure, Quansah shined like a diamond in the rough, especially in the first half, as Liverpool's disorganised defence were made to deal with an onslaught of Wolves attacks.

Considering the situation he was thrown into, this was the baptism of fire that the youngster needed, impressing particularly after Wolves took the lead.

Reflecting on the Englishman's performance, Klopp said: "I have to say he did really well. He was good,

"In possession as well he was calm. It was like we had just met in the car park before the game with the organisation in the first half. But he played really well."

With the German waxing lyrical about his ability in possession, Quansah made 91 touches, recorded a 96% pass completion and accurately placed all three of his attempted long balls, as per Sofascore.

Quansah's defensive capabilities were also outstanding. He won three out of his four ground duels, made three tackles, two interceptions and was only dribbled past once.

Following this performance, the young defender drew high praise for how he conducted himself considering his tender age with Joe Cole saying: "He looked like he'd played for decades in Liverpool's first team."

Lauded as "absolutely phenomenal" by fellow academy graduate Alexander-Arnold, Quansah is the latest star to come off the conveyor belt at Melwood, but he isn't the only talent to have made the step-up into the Reds senior setup in recent times.

When he was thrust into the spotlight last season, 18-year-old Bajcetic made an even bigger impact than Quansah.

How good is Stefan Bajcetic?

A destructive and combative defensive midfielder, described by journalist Zubin Daver as "special", Bajcetic stepped up to the plate last season and did a remarkable job of screening the Reds backline.

Prior to his season-ending injury in March, the 6 foot 1 titan impressed with his aggressive nature, ability to reclaim possession and get his side quickly on the front, placing in the top 7% for dribblers tackled, top 12% for interceptions, top 13% for aerials won and top 28% for ball recoveries when compared to players positionally similar to him in the Premier League last term, as per FBref.

Throughout this campaign so far, Liverpool have missed having a destructive player in the middle of the park, someone capable of shielding their defence, breaking up play effectively and driving them up the field with purpose.

Although Wataru Endo was brought into the club to do that job, the Japan international is still acclimatising to English football and has rarely featured since their 2-1 win over Newcastle.

Instead of utilising Endo, Klopp has chosen to use Alexis Mac Allister in the deep-lying playmaker role, but this has left the Reds exposed on the counter-attack with the Argentine prone to being caught upfield.

With that said, as evidenced by his 15 appearances for the club last season, Bajcetic is the ferocious, tough-tackling and aggressive midfielder that Liverpool have missed in their engine room.

Following his excellent performance in the Merseyside derby in February, teammate Salah backed up this point by directing high praise towards the teenager, saying: “Since he started playing for us, he has been our best player maybe so hopefully he keeps that confidence and keeps going.”

The fact that Salah labelled him as their best player during that period suggests how highly regarded he is at the club, as was his consistent place in the team prior to his injury.

Bajcetic made a huge impact for Liverpool prior to his injury and if Klopp unleashes him again, he could solve their current midfield conundrum and show why he is a bigger talent than Quansah.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be "very keen" on what one high-earning player could offer them as they eye up a January move to sign him.

Who will Spurs sign in January?

Spurs will be boosted by the confirmed appointment of new technical director Johan Lange on November 1, with the Aston Villa chief coming in to replace ex-director Fabio Paratici and is to work under new Chief Football Officer Scott Munn. Ange Postecoglou's arrival has already rejuvenated Tottenham following the departure of ex-boss Antonio Conte earlier this year, with table-topping Spurs currently sitting first in the Premier League standings.

The Lilywhites have won six out a possible eight games so far this season, all while displaying their free-flow, attack-minded style of "Ange-ball" to thrilled supporters. However, that isn't to say they won't be busy in the January transfer window. Tottenham fans could see another central defender come in as back up for Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, especially considering Eric Dier currently isn't favoured and looks likely to leave next year when his contract expires next year. Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, Juventus star Gleison Bremer, Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly and Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba have all been linked with moves to N17.

Meanwhile, new strikers like Santiago Gimenez and a replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have been mooted as possibilities also. Speaking of successors for Hojbjerg, one very interesting name is being reported this week.

Kalvin Phillips transfer news

Man City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who has found life increasingly difficult at Eastlands since his multi-million pound move from Leeds United in the summer of 2022, is set to find game time even more limited when Rodri returns from suspension after the international break. The England international, despite not being given many opportunities, has been praised by Pep Guardiola this season.

“He played really good today," said Guardiola after City's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest recently. "For the type of game that we needed, defensively and keeping the ball and run, he was amazing. I’m so pleased for him because he’s an incredible guy, never one bad face when he didn’t play the minutes."

Football Transfers, sharing the latest update on Kalvin Phillips and his future at City, say Tottenham are "very keen" on signing the £150,000-per-week midfielder (SpotRac). Spurs are admirers alongside the likes of Everton and Newcastle, and a move for Phillips is intriguing for Tottenham given the possibility he could rekindle his Leeds form. It's added that he is "likely" to leave Manchester.

Former Leeds midfielder Andrew Hughes, speaking to The Athletic, once called him a "very special" player, saying:

"He’s one-paced but he’s made that work for him and, in the end, it doesn’t matter. I’ve been lucky enough to watch training at Leeds and you see it with the midfielders — out early before the main sessions and making sure whichever team they’re going to be playing, they know where to take the ball and where to pass the ball. It’s about intelligence.

"The only way to get someone who can cover and do the same job perfectly is to spend £50 million, at least, that’s what a player like him costs. Rather than talking about how other players match up, you just have to accept he’s very special.”