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West Ham United saw their incredible unbeaten European record fall as they were defeated 2-1 by Greek side Olympiacos in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

The loss was their first in 18 continental matches, but David Moyes’ men are still in great shape to qualify from their group and make the knockout stages.

Despite going two goals down, a Lucas Paqueta goal with just over 20 minutes left in the tie gave the Hammers a glimmer of hope, yet they could not rescue a point.

There was not a standout performer for the club and now attention turns to a home tie against Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

West Ham United fail to secure three points against Olympiacos

Overall, it was not a terrible performance by West Ham as they were simply outplayed on the night, yet several players did underperform.

James Ward-Prowse failed to score or assist while making just one key pass during the tie, while fellow summer signing Mohammed Kudus was deployed on the right wing, yet he failed to inspire a positive result, taking just 40 touches and succeeding with only one dribble attempt during his 72 minutes on the pitch.

The defence was also underwhelming during the tie. Konstantinos Mavropanos and Angelo Ogbonna lost possession 12 times combined, while they won only three out of their combined nine total duels, hardly a performance that was going to see West Ham secure yet another three points in Europe.

Ogbonna was making just his fourth start of the season and during the current campaign, he has played only five times, spending the rest of the time on the bench and this could be his final season in London.

Angelo Ogbonna could be entering into the final months of his West Ham career

The Italian defender has a contract that will expire at the end of the 2023/24 season and with the volume of centre-backs Moyes has to choose from, it could be difficult for him to land an extension.

Since joining the club from Juventus in the summer of 2015, he has made nearly 250 appearances yet it is clear that his influence has somewhat waned over the previous few seasons.

Indeed, the 35-year-old made just 16 and 11 Premier League appearances during the last two campaigns and last term, he ranked only eighth across the squad for accurate passes per game (20.8), while ranking 14th for tackles (0.7) and sixth for interceptions (1.1) per game.

He has featured in just two league games so far this season, and none since August, indicating that Moyes prefers to keep him for continental ties, and he could well be entering his final furlongs as a West Ham player.

It appears as though Moyes is looking to sign another centre-back in the January transfer window in order to give his side a boost ahead of the second half of the season.

West Ham United’s January plans

The 60-year-old tactician will be aiming to enjoy a productive winter window with regard to sorting his team out for the foreseeable future, especially with so many players out of contract at the end of the campaign.

The likes of Vladimir Coufal, Tomas Soucek, Ogbonna, and Pablo Fornals are all entering the final months of their deals with the Irons and in order to save a massive rebuild during the summer, Moyes could do some of his business in January.

There has been an update with regard to his plans according to Football Insider, who claim that the London-based side can secure a deal for defender Sebastian Caceres in January for a fee believed to be between £6m-£10m.

With Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur also keeping tabs on the player, West Ham face stiff competition and Moyes will need to make a strong pitch in order to secure his signature.

Sebastian Caceres could be an ideal Ogbonna heir for West Ham

The Uruguayan centre-back currently plays for Club America and has made 109 appearances for the Mexican side since joining back in 2020.

His contract expires in just over 12 months’ time, hence the low fee that Moyes could sign him for and this could represent an excellent piece of business.

The 24-year-old brute has demonstrated his abilities during recent World Cup qualifiers for Uruguay as they defeated Brazil and the defender and was lauded as “solid” for his performance and this has seemingly put some big teams on alert.

Indeed, across the recent four World Cup qualifiers against Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil, the centre-back was not dribbled past at all, kept one clean sheet, and won 63% of his total duels as he had a positive impact on the side which culminated in their historic win over the Brazilians.

Caceres still has plenty of developing to do, but a move to the Premier League could certainly bring him out of his comfort zone and enable him to improve his performances.

During the LIGA MX Clausura, Caceres ranked in sixth place across the squad for tackles per game (1.5), while ranking fourth for interceptions per game (one) and first for clearances per game (3.8), showcasing his raw potential and proving that he could still improve across a few metrics.

35

28

27

31

23

The recent international displays have allowed the defender to perform at the highest level and being part of a team that defeated Brazil is always going to generate some attention.

Moyes does still have plenty of defenders to call upon, yet with Ogbonna looking increasingly likely to leave next summer, there could be a space for another centre-back to arrive.

Signing Caceres in January would give him a few added months in which he could settle in ahead of the 2024/25 season and with the likes of United and Spurs also chasing him, Moyes will need to act swiftly in order to secure his signature.

At the age of 24, he could be the dream heir to Ogbonna, who is currently poised to depart next summer, and be a long-term option for the Scottish boss to call upon over the years to come.

Leeds United continued their excellent form in the Championship with an incredible win away at runaway second-tier leaders Leicester City on Friday night, Georginio Rutter the difference maker as his poacher-like instincts ensured the Whites left the King Power Stadium with all three points.

Inflicting the Foxes to only their second defeat of the season to date, Daniel Farke’s men will now hope that Ipswich Town start to falter in order to make up some ground on the Tractor Boys in that coveted second automatic promotion spot.

The likes of Joel Piroe, Crysencio Summerville and Ethan Ampadu continue to impress the Elland Road masses, but it’s young Archie Gray – great nephew of Leeds icon Eddie Gray – that is standing out in the first team ranks at only 17 years of age.

The teen prodigy could well be Leeds’ next Stuart Dallas in the making, versatile in being able to play both centrally and at full-back and hopefully as reliable and as key as the 32-year-old has been to all major successes experienced by the Whites in recent years when called upon.

Dallas’ numbers for Leeds

Dallas was an integral part of the Marcelo Bielsa machine when the eccentric Argentine head coach galvanised Leeds to break out of their Championship mediocrity back to the promised land of the top flight, the Northern Irishman was excellent for the most part under Bielsa’s esteemed tenure.

Swapping between playing as a full-back, a winger or as a central midfielder, Leeds’ number 15 very rarely made a glaring error with his full-throttle performances winning him plaudits.

He would score five goals and assist a further three in the memorable 2019/20 promotion campaign up to the Premier League, netting on the final day versus Charlton in a 4-0 win with the champagne flowing at full-time.

Gray will hope he can follow in the footsteps of Dallas, the wide-eyed youngster already making an impact for the Whites’ first team this campaign despite still learning the ropes at senior level.

Gray’s numbers this season

Labelled as having “something very special” for such a young footballer by Leeds United journalist Phil Hay after starring in pre-season, Gray has shone in the cut and thrust of the Championship this campaign to reinforce this glowing praise.

Performing at a level way above anyone’s wildest predictions at 17, Gray has been a constant in Farke’s first-team plans – transitioning to full-back recently after starting the season centrally, with shades of Dallas’ game apparent in the teenager’s displays.

Games Played

14 (12 starts)

Key Passes

0.6 per game

Pass Accuracy

80%

Interceptions

0.7 per game

Tackles Won

2.2 per game

Ball Recoveries

5.1 per game

Successful Dribbles

0.7 per game

Stats via Sofascore.

Playing the full 90 minutes versus Leicester at right-back, Leeds’ number 22 excelled on the big occasion. Gray would win four of his five ground duels at the King Power per Sofascore, whilst remaining fearless on the ball throughout with 19 of his 23 passes on the night accurate.

He was equally as daring versus QPR at the start of October, successful with both dribbles attempted as his side went on to narrowly overcome the visitors from West London 1-0. That all-round nature that Dallas possesses is clearly also brewing inside the teenager.

Clocking up 16 first-team appearances this campaign, mostly as a midfielder, Gray is steadily becoming part of the furniture with Leeds with fans and coaches alike hoping that he goes on to have a sustained and successful career at Elland Road.

Flexible in where he’s selected by Farke, the 17-year-old is demonstrating a remarkable maturity far beyond his years – unfazed by the bright lights and media attention, his football doing the talking. The German head coach will hope he can continue to rely on his teenage starlet to perform, the world Gray’s oyster at this moment in time.

Glasgow Rangers could soon get the chance to bring a Champions League striker to Ibrox, with the forward in question open to the idea of a potential Gers move.

Rangers forwards Dessers and Igamane linked with Ibrox exits

Russell Martin is the man tasked by the 49ers Enterprises with bringing Scottish Premiership glory back to Ibrox, and the Gers are also looking to qualify for the Champions League, starting with next months qualifier against Greek side Panathinaikos.

However, Martin could be without some star attackers for the two-legged European clash at the end of July, with Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane both mooted to leave Glasgow this summer.

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Dessers could end up moving to Greece with AEK Athens after agreeing a £30,000-a-week contract, however, the two clubs are yet to shake hands on a fee with the Gers rejecting a £4.5m offer.

Meanwhile, Igamane has agreed personal terms with Ligue 1 side Lille over a Rangers exit, and like Dessers, there is still work to be done over reaching an agreement on a fee.

Should both depart, then reinforcements will be required in the final third ahead of the 2025/26 season, and by the looks of things, one man is keen on the idea of joining Lyall Cameron and Max Aarons through the Ibrox door.

Luuk de Jong “open” to Rangers move

According to reports from the Netherlands, relayed by The Daily Record, experienced striker Luuk de Jong would be “open” to a move to Rangers this summer.

The 34-year-old is on course to become a free agent when his PSV Eindhoven contract expires at the end of the month, and there is hesitation over new terms, with Ricardo Pepi set to be first-choice striker next season.

After three years with PSV, De Jong captained the Dutch side throughout the 24/25 season, including in the Champions League.

A Netherlands international, De Jong’s future is up in the air and Rangers are ‘touted as an interested party’, something he could be open to as he reaches the twilight years of his career.

PSV Eindhoven

338

186

FC Twente

121

59

Sevilla

94

19

Borussia Monchengladbach

45

8

Barcelona

29

7

The Doetinchem District Council

19

3

Newcastle United

12

0

Netherlands

39

8

As can be seen, De Jong, who stands at 6 foot 2, has scored goals in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany during his career, so he could be a shrewd addition who would provide plenty of experience for Martin.

Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman even labelled De Jong as “more dangerous than Neymar” for his threat in the air, and during his career, the striker has scored 113 headed goals.

“When there’s a cross coming in, Luuk is more dangerous than Neymar. He’s a different kind of forward to what we have, and I think all teams should have one like him.”

Aston Villa are back in action this afternoon, as Unai Emery’s side look to put matters right after their defeat to Liverpool before the international break.

The Villans will welcome Crystal Palace to Villa Park in what is poised to be a thriller, with both teams showing a host of quality in their fixtures already this season.

The Midlands side have registered two wins and two losses, building some form after their embarrassing opening day thrashing at St James’ Park, as Newcastle United slayed Emery’s side 5-1.

After an encouraging summer in the transfer window, there has been an added influx of quality to the squad, with some new arrivals already showing their worth.

What is the latest Aston Villa team news?

Last time out at Anfield, Villa were shocked in the opening minutes, as Dominik Szoboszlai scored his first Liverpool goal after just three minutes.

Things went from bad to worse, and then worse again for Emery’s side, who lost Diego Carlos to injury in the 19th minute, to then concede their second moments later through a Matty Cash own goal.

There was worry over Carlos’ withdrawal following his lengthy time on the sidelines last season due to an achilles rupture, with the manager confirming that he will miss today’s game against Palace.

Placing the defence aside, after the attacking absence at Anfield, Emery could consider making changes to bring additional threat to the front line, with the Midlands side registering just 0.66 expected goals against Liverpool, via Sofascore.

Should Youri Tielemans start against Crystal Palace?

One player that could provide some added danger to the final third is Youri Tielemans, who was signed this summer on a free transfer from Leicester City.

The Belgian is a seasoned Premier League player with 155 appearances in the league already under his belt, however is yet to start for Villa this season.

During a press-conference while on duty with Belgium, the midfielder described the lack of game time as “not pleasant”, as relayed by Football 365, with him playing just 93 minutes over the four appearances he’s made so far.

Following the performance at Anfield, Emery may be inclined to shuffle his side to impose a better threat on Palace, with Tielemans being the ideal figure to generate chances.

Against the Reds, Villa failed to record a single big chance, which the Belgian could resolve with him creating ten big chances last season for Leicester, despite their relegation form.

Lauded as a “baller” by CBS journalist Aaron West for his pre-season form, the £150k-per-week gem could offer a lot to the squad at Villa Park, even more so with the motive of having a point to prove in order to receive more game time.

There’s a positive for Villa going forward, with Hodgson confirming that prized centre-back Marc Guehi will be out of contention due to injury, giving Emery more of an incentive to go full force on what will be a depleted back line for the visitors.

After going public about his disappointment in relation to his game time, the Belgian may be handed a chance to show his worth, which would be a strong point for Villa, with him recording an average of 1.15 key passes and 6.95 progressive passes last term for Leicester, via FBref.

The main priority for Villa will be to get back to winning ways, however giving their summer arrival a chance to flex his ability may be a positive route to claiming three points.

West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen has been linked with a move away from the London Stadium, and journalist Ben Jacobs has now provided an update on his future.

Is Jarrod Bowen leaving West Ham?

Bowen has been touted for a move elsewhere for quite some time, with reports from earlier this year suggesting that West Ham were braced for a potential summer exit, having been on the radar of fellow Premier League side Liverpool.

The forward's contract is set to expire in the summer of 2025, and the Hammers' board has been keen to tie him down to a new contract, but he could be viewed as a replacement for Mohamed Salah, as the Egyptian's Liverpool contract is set to end in the same year.

Earlier in the summer, it was reported the Englishman was close to agreeing terms to remain at the London Stadium, with only the minor details needing to be ironed out, but talks have presumably stalled, as there has been no progress on that front.

As such, there is lingering doubt over the 26-year-old's future with the Irons, and Jacobs has now suggested he may be forced to seek a move to boost his chances of playing for England.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, the journalist said: "Bowen is obviously content enough that he stands a chance, just by being at West Ham, to fight and get into the mix for Euro 2024. Otherwise, he would have probably pushed a little bit harder to go last summer, so I don't think England's a factor in this.

"From what I'm told, Bowen has been told by Southgate that staying at West Ham won't impact anything as far as Euro 2024 is concerned. But, of course, Maddison was told that when he was at Leicester.

"Even though he made the England squad for the last World Cup, although he was injured and that might have been a key factor, his opportunities were still more limited at Leicester compared to now going forward at Spurs. That might be at the back of Bowen's mind as well."

How many times has Jarrod Bowen played for England?

The right-winger is still on the fringe of the Three Lions squad, having only made four appearances for his country, all of which came in the UEFA Nations League back in 2022, and he was not included in Gareth Southgate's most recent squad.

Southgate has faced criticism for being biased towards players at "big clubs", with James Ward-Prowse also being snubbed earlier this month, so despite the manager's reassurances, Bowen may feel he needs to move elsewhere if his international career is to blossom.

With the England international's contract set to expire in the summer of 2025, David Moyes has a big decision to make in the upcoming window, and potentially next summer, as there is a risk of losing him for free if he does not pen a new deal.

With any luck, West Ham's positive start to the season will convince Bowen to sign a new deal, and Moyes will be hoping the "incredible" winger keeps up his current form, having scored three Premier League goals already this season.

Liverpool have reportedly been boosted in their efforts to sign a hugely exciting Premier League player, with a new update now emerging in the saga.

Latest Liverpool transfer news…

The Reds saw their squad significantly change during the summer transfer window, with the midfield the sole era that Jurgen Klopp focused on revamping completely. Out went Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all arrived at Anfield, adding youth and dynamism in the middle of the park that has already stood out this season.

The time will eventually come when other areas of the pitch need addressing, however, with Virgil van Dijk now 32 years of age and Mohamed Salah only a year younger, for example. The latter has already been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ittihad seeing a £150m approach turned down for Salah, and a 2024 exit isn't out of the question. Should that happen, Liverpool may look to sign a replacement, and one player who has emerged as a potential target is Wolves ace Pedro Neto.

The 23-year-old is being backed to join various Premier League clubs, and while he is contracted with Wanderers until the summer of 2027, that doesn't appear to be putting off potential suitors.

Do Liverpool want to sign Pedro Neto?

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool could be handed a boost in their quest to snap up Wolves star Neto, with the Midlands club now "ready to cash in on him while his stock is high". The report goes on to add that the Reds are "firmly in the mix" to sign the 23-year-old, but "they are not alone as interest also stems from Tottenham, Newcastle United and Aston Villa", as well as Arsenal.

Superb dribbler

Injury-prone

Expert crosser

Lacking in aerial duels

Can play on either flank

Finishing can be erratic

This is a clear boost for Liverpool, who may well be having one eye on life without Salah at some point in the near future, even if his time at Anfield doesn't come to an end next summer. The 31-year-old is almost an irreplaceable figure, considering he has been one of the best players in the world over the past five years or so, but in Neto, the Reds could have a fantastic option.

The Wolves man, who shares the same agency as Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, has made a fantastic start to this season, chipping in with four assists in just seven Premier League appearances, one of which came in his side's 3-1 defeat at home to Liverpool, when he gave Joe Gomez a torrid time. At 23, he is still a young player who should only get better, and while injuries have dogged him in the past, the hope is that he has overcome the worst of them.

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has lauded Neto as a "huge talent" in the past, and he is one of the most impressive wide players in the league at the moment. His directness, pace and end product are all attributes that are similar to Salah's, and that could well appeal to Klopp, making this one to watch.

Glasgow Rangers delivered their most astute performance of the season in midweek as they thrashed Nice 4-1 in the French Riviera.

Philippe Clement will be looking for his team to keep their foot on the gas as they play St Johnstone away from home this afternoon. Given they are now trailing Celtic by a massive 14 points ahead of taking to the field in Perth, three points are imperative.

Truth be told, the Premiership title race already feels like a foregone conclusion, yet with another vital European game to come before Christmas, plus the small matter of a League Cup final, the Gers need to build momentum.

The Belgian may make some changes to his starting XI, which could see Jefte dropped to the bench after an average display in Europe on Thursday evening.

Jefte’s game in numbers vs Nice

The Brazilian has been a consistent member of the starting XI over the previous few months due to Ridvan Yilmaz’s absence, gaining vital minutes which will only aid in his development.

Against Nice, he struggled to make much of an impact, both defensively and going forward. He attempted four dribbles, yet succeeded with just one, while failing to deliver a single cross into the opposition box.

The defender won only one of his five duels contested, and he even lost possession 14 times throughout his time on the field, suggesting it was a sloppy display.

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Yilmaz was brought on in the second half for just his second appearance since suffering an injury back in August. The Turkish left-back should certainly be given the nod over Jefte for the league match today.

The Rangers star that Clement must unleash

The £5m signing from Besiktas in 2022 has enjoyed a few purple patches during his stint with the Gers, but the supporters want to see more from the player, especially given his obvious talents.

Last season, the 23-year-old made 33 appearances in all competitions, and it would have been more had he not suffered yet another injury on international duty towards the end of the campaign.

Metric per 90

2022/23

2023/24

Accurate passes

23.9

24.1

Tackles

0.9

1

Total duels won

2.8

3.4

Successful dribbles

0.7

1.3

Key passes

0.7

1.5

Domestically, he created six big chances, averaged 1.5 key passes and succeeded with 1.3 dribbles per game, proving that he was the heir apparent to Borna Barisic, certainly in terms of his attacking nature.

Yilmaz also impressed defensively, as he won 56% of his total duels per game and made one tackle per match. Clement even hailed the Turkish star as a “fighter” last season, suggesting the player had a big future ahead under the Belgian.

Hopefully, his injury problems are a thing of the past as he works himself back to full fitness. The clash against St Johnstone represents an ideal chance for Yilmaz to make his first start since August, having played only six games this term – just four of which have come from the start.

Whether or not Clement will start the £12k-per-week ace is another question, but squad rotation will be crucial over the next few weeks.

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Manchester United’s prospective new manager Ruben Amorim has already tasked INEOS with signing three new players, according to a new report. The Red Devils are looking to close the deal for Amorim as soon as possible, as he’s been made their number one target to replace Erik ten Hag.

INEOS think Amorim will transform £120k-p/w Man Utd star and "fabulous" gem

Man Utd’s hierarchy believe Amorim’s appointment could make one important change in the middle.

ByBrett Worthington Oct 29, 2024 Man Utd news and updates

It looks to be a matter of when, not if, as to when Amorim is announced as the new Man Utd manager. The 39-year-old has agreed in principle to take the Old Trafford job, and Sporting confirmed to the Portuguese stock exchange on Tuesday that United are willing to meet Amorim’s release clause. The deal appears to be in the final stages, and he will become the youngest manager to manage the Red Devils in the Premier League.

One factor behind United going after Amorim is that they believe his arrival will help midfielder Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguayan failed to appear much under Ten Hag, and that became a concern for INEOS, as they see him and Kobbie Mainoo as the future of their midfield, and a partnership between the pair can help transform them.

The Portuguese isn’t through the door yet, but he has already suffered a potential blow, as Luke Shaw has suffered an injury setback. The left-back has yet to play for United this season, his last game for them being against Luton Town in February, as he suffered a calf injury in pre-season training and was expected to be back in the squad soon, but has now suffered a setback, but it is unclear how far away from a return he is now.

It appears to be only a matter of time before Amorim is named the new United manager, and he has already requested three new additions for his new side.

Ruben Amorim already requests Man Utd to sign three new stars

According to TEAMtalk, Amorim has identified Goncalo Inacio, Ryan Edwards, and Pedro Goncalves as players he would like to bring to Manchester United, requesting INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe to secure deals for the trio. All three players are at Sporting CP and have been key to what Amorim has achieved in Portugal, and he now looks keen to bring them to Manchester with him.

The Red Devils added five new players to their squad in January; three defenders, a midfielder, and a forward, but Amorim already has his eyes on where he would like to strengthen. Despite adding Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro in the summer, Amorim is keen to bring Inacio to Old Trafford with him, as he could be a possible replacement for Harry Maguire.

The defender is considered one of the best young defenders in Europe, and Amorim’s connection could give them an advantage, as he’s got a release clause of just over £50 million. As well as Inacio, Edwards is also seen as a player who could add quality to this United team. The Red Devils are looking to move Antony on, and Edwards may be seen as an ideal replacement.

Apps

185

Goals

17

Assists

11

The final player that Amorim seems keen on reuniting with is Goncalves, but he could be the most difficult to prize away from Sporting, as he’s considered a vital player for the club. Sporting would demand a big fee for his services and are reluctant to sanction his departure midway through the campaign.

Since Mikel Arteta entered Arsenal Football Club he has been ruthless with his decision-making. He takes no prisoners, that’s for sure.

After one too many misdemeanours, the Spaniard removed the captaincy from Pierre Emerick-Aubayemany and subsequently told him to leave the club.

There’s also the goalkeeper situation. Aaron Ramsdale was fine. He had some great moments in an Arsenal shirt. Remember that jaw-dropping stop to deny James Maddison’s free-kick against Leicester? Alas, Arteta had seen enough. In came David Raya.

The way he’s now phasing out Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus is also pretty ruthless but they aren’t good enough. Let’s be honest, here.

One of the more peculiar moves during Arteta’s reign was the freedom with which Granit Xhaka left the Emirates Stadium.

Why Granit Xhaka left Arsenal behind

The redemption arc of Xhaka’s Arsenal career was a sight to behold. This was a player who cupped his ear and tossed the captain’s armband on the floor during the reign of Unai Emery.

There was surely no way of coming back from that. Well, the Swiss defied the doubters, defied all critics and is now seen as a club icon for his performances under Arteta.

It was during the 2022/23 season that the midfielder shone brightest, scoring a career-best nine goals and also registering seven assists across all competitions. He had quickly become one of the finest central players in the Premier League.

However, he wanted to go and in swooped Beyer Leverkusen who snapped Xhaka up for a measly fee of £21.4m. Why did he go? Well, it was to seek a new challenge at a late stage in his career.

Since then, the now 32-year-old has enjoyed a fabulous time of it. He won the Bundesliga unbeaten last season and reached the final of the Europa League. He was among the Ballon d’Or nominees too.

Xhaka ended up ranking in 16th place, ahead of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Declan Rice.

Did Arsenal miss him last term? Perhaps. That being said, club-record signing Rice did a pretty decent job in his stead, being named in the PFA Team of the Year for 2023/24.

That said, will the Gunners miss another midfielder? Quite possibly, for this young Frenchman is now ranking pretty closely to Xhaka in certain metrics.

When Arsenal sold a "monster in the making"

The 20th June 2020. It’s a poignant date in Arsenal’s history. An unsuspecting game with Brighton during that dreaded COVID season happened to alter the timeline of many careers as Arsenal lost at the Amex Stadium.

Berno Leno suffered a serious knee injury that led to Emiliano Martinez’s triumphant rise to become the best goalkeeper in the world. It was also Matteo Guendouzi’s last match in an Arsenal shirt.

Visibly angry at the challenge from fellow countryman Neal Maupay that hurt Leno, he somehow avoided punishment despite grabbing him by the throat.

Arteta had seen him enough, though, and that summer he was being sold in a £9m move to Marseille. Guendouzi left having flattered to deceive. He had mass potential but his attitude problems – as we saw in that clash with the Seagulls – often got the better of him.

Moving back to his homeland after initially being signed from Lorient, the France international did so having played on 82 occasions for Arsenal.

Described as a “monster in the making” by scout Jacek Kulig, the now 25-year-old is now impressing in Serie A for Lazio alongside Nuno Tavares. Remember him?

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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.

After a summer move, Guendouzi has played 14 times in which he’s scored once and registered a solitary assist. But, it’s his Xhaka-like qualities that are going under the radar.

Indeed, as per FBRef, the former Arsenal man ranks among the very best Europe has to offer for progressive passes. Compared to players in Europe’s top five leagues this season, he sits in fifth place for that metric with 96.

He sits just ahead of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi (91) and only just behind Joshua Kimmich (126) who ranks first and Xhaka (125) who sits second in the listings.

So, are there many other similarities between the two midfielders? Let’s take a look.

Goals

0.09

0.10

Assists

0.09

0.30

Pass success %

88.5%

90%

Short pass success %

94.4%

94.8%

Long pass success %

73.4%

72.5%

Key passes

1.13

2.20

Progressive passes

8.35

12.5

Tackles won

0.61

0.60

Let’s be honest. Xhaka is quite evidently the better football but it’s clear that there are plenty of similarities between the two players.

Arteta wasn’t to know but in a parallel universe, perhaps Guendouzi was the long-term heir all along? From a passing point of view, very little separates them and they also make a similar number of tackles per 90 minutes.

As data analyst Ben Mattinson once said, the now Lazio ace is a great “what could’ve been” player.

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BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Alan Hutton is under the belief that Tottenham "will have always been in contact" about signing a speedy player for 2024/2025.

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Despite the presence of Timo Werner, Bryan Gil, Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and Manor Solomon in their squad already, it is believed Tottenham are admirers of both Wolves star Pedro Neto and Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace heading into the summer.

Manager Ange Postecoglou doesn't appear to favour Gil in his starting line up, leading to rumours that the Spaniard could in fact leave N17 this summer, while the consistently-injured Manor Solomon could quit Spurs if they end up bringing in two wingers (Dan Kilpatrick).

This would free up space for a new wide attacker for next term, and a decision must also be made on the long-term future of Werner.

Spurs 3-1 Crystal Palace

7.68

Spurs 3-2 Brentford

7.36

Spurs 2-1 Brighton

6.91

Spurs 1-2 Wolves

6.66

Man United 2-2 Spurs

6.64

The German, signed on loan from RB Leipzig in the winter transfer window, bagged his first Spurs goal against Crystal Palace last weekend and has registered a further two assists so far during his time at N17.

His deal is thought to contain a £15 million buy-option, something which may well entice the wider Tottenham recruitment team if Werner can display the kind of form which motivated Chelsea to splash £47.5m on him in 2020.

Hutton thinks Spurs will "always" be in contact over Werner deal for 24/25

Now, speaking to Tottenham News, former Lilywhites defender Hutton has suggested that Spurs will always have been in contact over signing Werner permanently for 24/25.

“I think they will have always been in contact about it,” said Hutton.

“I don’t think that will change between now and the end of the season, they will always be monitoring that situation. It always goes back to the same thing for me, he needs more than one opportunity to score a goal.

"You see Eze, fantastic free-kick but before that Werner has a great opportunity one-on-one with the goalkeeper and he shows amazing speed and that’s what he’s all about getting into position.

“Sometimes I just think when he has too long to think about it, I never feel confident that he’ll score. If that was Son, I’d put him down to score. But he got his goal and he’s off the mark. Well done, it’s good for him and good for the club, but I think they’ll be monitoring the situation from now until the end of the season to see if he’s a guy that can fit in long-term or not. Then they’ll have to make the decision."