All posts by z3u9t.icu

Chelsea summer of spending is set to continue as they eye up another attacker, and have reportedly made an enquiry for a player available for just £25m this summer.

Blues need forward additions

After a disappointing sixth-placed Premier League finish last time out, Chelsea's decision to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino and appoint Enzo Maresca as their new head coach was understandable, if a little surprising given the way that they finished the season.

But what is clear is that he will need further additions to improve the side – the Blues actually scored the fifth most goals in the Premier League, but with European football now to contend with they will need a deeper squad to be able to compete across multiple fronts.

Goals scored 23/24 Premier League

Manchester City

96

Arsenal

91

Liverpool

86

Newcastle United

85

Chelsea

77

Aston Villa

76

To that end, they are keen to add at least one more striker to their ranks this summer, with Nicolas Jackson suffering a mixed campaign despite ending the season with 14 goals in the top flight. There will also be question marks as to whether Cole Palmer can reproduce his outstanding output, which saw him net 22 goals across the season, a record only beaten by Erling Haaland (28).

The club have held talks with Lille for in-demand striker Jonathan David, who found the net 19 times in Ligue 1 last time out and could be available for just £25m this summer as he heads into the final year of his contract.

However, he is also wanted by several other clubs, and a younger option is Barcelona teenager Marc Guiu, who the Blues have apparently jumped ahead of the queue for by entering contract talks with the 18 year-old.

Chelsea enquire for Bundesliga starlet

Now, it has emerged that they have also enquired for 21-year-old attacker Maximilian Beier, who has also caught the eye of Manchester United and Liverpool with his performances this season.

The Hoffenheim youngster enjoyed an excellent campaign, scoring 16 times in 33 Bundesliga games, and was rewarded with a call up to the German national side, making his debut in the most recent round of June internationals and coming on as a substitute in their final Group A game, which saw them rescue a draw against Switzerland.

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The Blues are reportedly interested in the 2024 European Championship centre-back.

ByDan Emery Jun 24, 2024

Hoffenheim’s sporting director, Alexander Rosen, has praised Beier, claiming that: “Maxi is a super guy and an extremely talented striker. He is incredibly fast, dangerous and can kick really well.”

And Sky Sports have linked Chelsea to the young talent, with Florian Plettenberg explaining on X that the Blues have "made a specific enquiry" about the forward, who has a 30m euro (£25.3m) release clause in his contract with Hoffenheim.

A move may not come easily this summer, with Beier still having three years left to run on his £16,000 a week deal with the German side and a clear starter heading into the new season, whereas the Blues may only be able to offer him a more supporting squad role to begin with. But with Chelsea keen to sign just about every young talent around, a transfer can't be ruled out.

Chelsea's top transfer target for the 2024 summer window has been revealed as a £100,00-a-week playmaker, according to reports.

Chelsea transfer rumours

A new era at Chelsea began last week when the Blues announced Enzo Maresca as their new manager, with the Italian putting pen to paper on a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge, which includes the option of a further year.

Chelsea want £30m signing who Palmer thinks is going to be "world-class"

The Blues are one of several Premier League sides battling for his signature.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 10, 2024

The Italian has replaced Mauricio Pochettino in the dugout after the Argentine finished 6th in the Premier League last season and did not win any silverware. Despite Maresca only joining the club officially last week, work has already begun behind the scenes on the transfer front.

The capital outfit have signed Tosin Adarabioyo to a four-year deal following a free transfer from Fulham but he is not expected to be the only player through the door at Stamford Bridge this summer. Chelsea would reportedly like to sign Dayot Upamecano from Bayern Munich in the current window.

Elsewhere, the Blues are said to be eyeing a move for Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. And, in a potentially huge deal, Chelsea are reportedly set to make an offer for Manchester City's Julian Alvarez in the next few days.

Chelsea chiefs' main target is now £100,000-p/w star

However, one the main players tipped to make a move to west London this summer has been Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise. Chelsea's interest in the English-born talent is well documented at this point, with reports last week claiming director Joe Shields is the main "cheerleader" behind a move for the Eagles star, while new manager Maresca is apparently also hoping a transfer can be completed.

Now, there has been a fresh update on Chelsea's interest in the 22-year-old. The update comes via GIVEMESPORT, who report that Olise is now the club's top target for the 2024 summer transfer window.

Olise, who is currently earning £100,000-a-week on a contract which runs until 2027, moved to Selhurst Park from Reading in 2021 and has earned high praise during his time in east London. Ex-Palace boss Roy Hodgson heaped praise on Olise after he created three goals for his teammates in Palace’s win at Elland Road last year.

“In the first-half he was a figure on the right but he wasn’t creating chances or showing aggression in his play. In the second-half he got it all right in both defence and attack and he showed what a wonderful player he is," said Hodgson.

“I have seen him for 10 days less than I have seen the others. What I make of him is that I think he is an enormous talent – he has got a great possibility to have a wonderful career and a wonderful future. We can only hope we at Crystal Palace can give him that platform.”

This past season, meanwhile, saw the winger excel under the guidance of Oliver Glasner, netting 10 and assisting nine in 19 league appearances.

Goals

10

Assists

9

xG

5.5

xA

5.8

Shot creating actions

82

Stats via FBREF

Such fine form has seen the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United also showing interest on Olise, but the report from GMS claims Chelsea believe that they hold an advantage over other clubs in the race for the wide-man's signature.

Tottenham Hotspur took a stride forward last season but Ange Postecoglou is searching for improvements across the board as he looks to take his team further, with patchy form pulling Spurs away from the Premier League's top-four, settling for the Europa League.

Is this a cloaked blessing? Postecoglou has been adamant that the Champions League will not define success as he continues to build, but Europe's elite club competition attracts the finest players, provides the firmest footing.

A defensive midfielder is coveted but, equally, Tottenham are hoping to sign a versatile wide forward to strengthen and dynamise the existing options. The Londoners might have found a big boost in that regard.

Spurs lining up talented forward

According to Tutto Juve, Tottenham are set to tussle with Manchester United and Newcastle United for the signing of Samuel Iling-Junior, who has been transfer-listed by Juventus for €15m (£13m).

The 20-year-old left winger broke into the Serie A side's first team this season but has been deemed expendable as the Old Lady seek to strengthen this summer.

For such a cheap price, it would almost be foolish not to at least lodge an offer and enter formal discussions; Iling-Junior is highly talented and might even have the perfect skill set to partner up with another summer target.

Dream Eberechi Eze partner

Speaking of Iling-Junior's qualities, former Chelsea and Tottenham academy coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst said in 2022: “Samuel brings the full package to the party, he has got everything. He is almost like a street footballer with his skill and balance. He brings almost everything to the table. He can play seven, eleven, a 10 or even in central midfield.”

Iling-Junior featured 27 times across all competitions, scored one goal and added two assists, with his "explosive" ability – as described by analyst Ben Mattinson – making him a tailor-made prospect for an ambitious Premier League outfit, and he could be the perfect partner for fellow Spurs target Eberechi Eze, someone who would no doubt be an exciting acquisition for the Londoners.

The Juve starlet is a maverick, ranking among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for progressive carries and the top 19% for tackles per 90, as per FBref. Pace, power, creativity, and combativeness all feature prominently in Iling-Junior's game.

The former Chelsea youth product, furthermore, has also been praised for his "high energy and work volume as well as dreamy ball skills" by journalist Antonio Mango, suggestingly that he is exactly what Postecoglou needs to add a layer to his left side.

And if Daniel Levy matches Postecoglou's ambition with incisive action and secures Eze's signature this summer, who, as per the Daily Mail, has a £60m release clause in his contract and is attracting interest from Tottenham, then a wonderful new partnership could be born.

Both players favour the left but Eze played regularly as a No. 10, attacking midfielder, last season, scoring the lion's share of his goals when central. Moreover, the Eagles phenomenon averaged 2.6 dribbles and five ball recoveries per top-flight match and thus would bring the energy needed to succeed at Spurs and bounce off the facets of Iling-Junior's game.

With Richarlison among those mooted for a departure this summer and Heung-min Son featuring prominently at centre-forward – which may maintain its regularity even if a new striker is signed – Iling-Junior could find himself earning ample opportunity to impress down the wing, with his playmaking skill leading him to be described as an "assist machine" by journalist Michele Neri.

Attacking midfield

17

8

5

Left winger

8

3

1

Right winger

1

0

0

Left midfield

1

0

0

This would prove especially beneficial in regard to his partnership with Eze, who brings a host of attributes to the table but notably thrives through his goalscoring, actually ranking among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers for non-penalty goals scored and the top 5% for shots taken per 90.

To nail the point home, the aforementioned Mattinson has even predicted that Iling-Junior, England U21 international, could become a “[Bukayo] Saka rival” for England, offering the kind of snap and style in his athletic play to rival that of the Arsenal star, who scored 20 goals and supplied 14 assists in all competitions last term for Mikel Arteta's elite side.

Saka, while catching the eye with his clinical touch, solidifies his position as one of the Premier League's finest with remarkable underlying numbers, ranking among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers for shot-creating actions and the top 10% for tackles per 90. It's for this reason that Spurs' transfer target could successfully imitate his countryman.

Tottenham undoubtedly lack an element of pace down the left, and when athletic full-back Destiny Udogie found himself sidelined in the later stretch of the campaign, this was accentuated and then some, with Brennan Johnson pulled away from his favoured right side to try and inject some speed, proving to be less effective however.

With the requisite natural prowess and the ever-improving ability in important moments, Iling-Junior would be a credit to Postecoglou's project and would add the depth and skill needed to impress across multiple fronts next year.

Postecoglou will demand silverware of his players and without signing the likes of Iling-Junior, the Lilywhites simply won't have the firepower to maintain the charge across these different roads of the campaign.

What Spurs' starting lineup could look like after £201m spending spree

Spurs will want to give Postecoglou everything he needs to build a successful side this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 9, 2024

As Arne Slot looks to get his Liverpool tenure off to the best possible start, he could be handed a familiar face in the transfer market who has already played with Virgil van Dijk on more than one occasion.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds could be in for a busy summer if Michael Edwards decides to steal the headlines upon his Liverpool return. Those at Anfield have already been linked with a number of players on that front, from Real Madrid's Rodrygo all the way to Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva. Links to the latter come as particularly unsurprising given the gaping hole left behind by Joel Matip at the end of the defender's Anfield contract.

Liverpool could sign a potential £100m + star who's like Saliba

He is wanted by many clubs this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 6, 2024

Adding the finishing touches will be the task at hand for Edwards and Richard Hughes too, following the work of Jurgen Klopp and others to build Liverpool 2.0, and the summer window could see the returning club chief once again transform the Reds into a side capable of earning a Premier League and European crown in years to come, especially if one target is part of that.

According to Dutch outlet AD, Liverpool now want to sign Lutsharel Geertruida from Slot's former club, Feyenoord, this summer. The right-back, who can also play centre-back and defensive midfield in what is impressive versatility, has already played alongside Van Dijk for the Netherlands national team and could now do the same at club level.

With Newcastle and Tottenham also interested in signing the defender, however, Liverpool shouldn't waste any time before making their move this summer. The 23-year-old knows all about working under Slot and that alone would likely prove to be crucial at the beginning of the Dutchman's tenure. After reportedly being denied Crysencio Summerville, the former Feyenoord boss should be reunited with his impressive defender this summer.

"Hero" Geertruida can unleash Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold's transition from right-back into midfield is one that is already taking place for England and it is one that Liverpool should work on accommodating themselves. The signing of Geertruida could go a long way towards that. The Dutchman can help unleash the Reds star by slotting into the right-back role, whilst still carrying that crucial attacking threat, to allow Alexander-Arnold to step into the middle of the park once and for all.

Goals

8

5

Assists

3

4

Ball Recoveries

182

176

Key Passes

41

64

Geertruida's eight goals last season particularly stand out as impressive, with his attacking prowess clearly an important trait under Slot which those at Anfield could now see for themselves.

It's no surprise, looking at the numbers, that the right-back has earned significant praise in the Netherlands, with Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig dubbing him a "De Klassieker hero" on X:

Killing two birds with one stone due to his ability to play as a right-back and as a centre-back, Geertruida represents the type of player that Liverpool could be looking to target this summer.

Well, given the circumstances, that was an exceptional result for Chelsea.

Sure, Enzo Maresca’s side would have gone out there looking for a win, but considering Arsenal are the Premier League leaders, a point is not bad and has kept them within touching distance.

Moreover, when Moises Caicedo got himself sent off in the first half, it felt like only a matter of when, not if, the Gunners would take the lead.

There were sensational displays across the pitch for the hosts, including one monster that saved the Ecuadorian international from becoming the talking point.

Chelsea's standout stars

One of Chelsea’s best players this evening, and all season for that matter, was Robert Sanchez.

Chalkboard

The Spanish shot-stopper has come in for some harsh criticism over recent years, but against the Gunners, he was superb.

On top of his passing generally being on point and his collection of crosses being efficient, he also made several top-quality stops, like the one from Gabriel Martinelli’s shot in the first half.

Another hugely important player for the Blues was captain fantastic, Reece James.

The Englishman once again started the game in the middle of the park and was, in the words of presenter Olivia Buzaglo, “gargantuan.”

In his 94 minutes of action, he provided an assist, played two key passes, won 100% of his tackles, won 11 of 12 duels, didn’t get dribbled past at all, recovered the ball twice, and completed 100% of his dribbles.

It was just the sort of performance the team needed from their captain after Caicedo was sent off in the first half.

However, there was another starter who was just as vital to the win, and truly saved the Ecuadorian’s blushes.

The Chelsea player who saved Caicedo

Once Caicedo was sent off, there was an expectation that Arsenal would eventually wrestle control back from Chelsea and stamp their authority over proceedings.

However, the Blues clearly had other ideas.

Just three minutes into the second 45, James delivered an incredible corner into the Gunners’ penalty area, and Trevoh Chalobah rose to meet it and head it home.

It was a well-worked set-piece and a brilliant header that seemed to shock the visitors and gave the Stamford Bridge faithful something to cheer about and take their minds off the red card.

However, while that was the most memorable moment of his game, Chalobah did far more than just score, as he was superb at the back and showed some great on-the-ball skill, coming out from the back on multiple occasions.

He unsurprisingly made quite the impression on the watching press as well, with the Standard’s Dom Smith awarding him an 8/10 match rating at full-time.

The 26-year-old’s statistics more than justify such a rating as well.

Minutes

94′

Goals

1

Tackles (Won)

1 (1)

Clearances

6

Recoveries

4

Ground Duels (Won)

2 (1)

Aerial Duels (Won)

5 (4)

Dribbled Past

0

Touches

52

Shots

1

Fouls Won

1

In his 94 minutes of hard-fought action, the academy graduate won 100% of his tackles, made six clearances, recovered the ball four times, won five of seven duels, didn’t get dribbled past, took 52 touches and won one foul.

It was another performance from the Englishman that proves he’s more than just a stopgap until the club splashes the cash on a new defender.

Or, as Gary Cahill said in an interview that came out a few hours before the game, he is “the most underappreciated player at Chelsea.”

Ultimately, they might not have won, but Chelsea put in a sensational performance to claim a point against Arsenal, and alongside the likes of Sanchez and James, Chalobah saved Caicedo from becoming the talking point.

Chelsea have already signed their own Saka & he's "just like Estevao"

Chelsea are building a team of young superstars, and they have their latest talent waiting in the wings.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 29, 2025

It was a cameo that perhaps summed up Benjamin Sesko’s Manchester United career so far.

Introduced on the hour mark against Tottenham Hotspur, the Slovenian striker looked lively up against the likes of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, having twice got in behind the home backline late on.

Twice, the £74m signing was threaded through by fellow substitute Mason Mount, although – having scored just two goals for the club to date – he perhaps unsurprisingly failed to convert those promising openings.

These certainly weren’t gilt-edged, must score chances – with Van de Ven producing a stunning recovery challenge to deny the ex-RB Leipzig’s man second attempt – yet a striker in confident mood would likely have fared better.

To then add insult to injury, quite literally, Sesko sustained an injury issue in the midst of that sight of goal, subsequently forcing the visitors to see out proceedings with just ten men, as he hobbled down the touchline.

Fears mounted over the potential severity of that setback, and while the prognosis isn’t as worrying as first feared, it’s no doubt far from ideal.

How long Sesko will be sidelined for

The sight of Sesko being withdrawn late on in north London will have undoubtedly been an unwelcome one for Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese coach already facing a notable upheaval in the forward line in the near future.

Indeed, both Amad and Bryan Mbeumo – alongside Noussair Mazraoui – are set to head to AFCON when the competition kicks off on 21 December, potentially ruling out the dynamic duo out of a string of games heading across the festive period and into the New Year.

Having allowed the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony to depart over the summer, Amorim isn’t exactly blessed with attacking depth as it is, ensuring a further blow is far from ideal.

As reported by The Athletic, Sesko, thankfully, won’t be sidelined for a lengthy period, with it looking likely that the 22-year-old will only be absent for three to five weeks, thus perhaps limiting the need to acquire a suitable replacement or back-up in injury.

That said, United – who return to action against Everton on Monday – are heading into a typically hectic period in the Premier League calendar, with a string of games in the pipeline between now and the end of the year.

24/11/2025

Everton (H)

30/11/2025

Palace (A)

04/12/2025

West Ham (H)

08/12/2025

Wolves (A)

15/12/2025

Bournemouth (H)

21/12/2025

Villa (A)

26/12/2025

Newcastle (H)

30/12/2025

Wolves (H)

Whether Sesko will be back fit and firing in time to feature again in 2025 remains to be seen, with attention now turning to just how Amorim can replace him – starting against the Toffees next week.

Man Utd's answer to Zlatan could replace Sesko

The most likely solution, of course, would be for the aforementioned Mount to return as part of the attacking trio, with Matheus Cunha – who led the line against Spurs – again nudged into a number nine berth.

Chalkboard

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

That being said, the Brazilian wasn’t exactly at his scintillating best against Thomas Frank’s side, losing possession 13 times from just 35 touches, as per Sofascore, amid a rare poor performance, having looked far more effective as one of the number tens against Brighton – the game in which he scored his first goal for the club.

With that in mind – and with 17-year-old Chido Obi still yet to be seen at first-team level this season – the chance may finally come for Joshua Zirkzee to re-establish a starting role for himself, having been a bystander to proceedings in 2025/26 to date.

As explored over the weekend, United’s “modern-day Berbatov” is running out of time at Old Trafford on current evidence, featuring for just 90 minutes in total across league and cup, while yet to start a Premier League game in the new season.

That limited role has come following an injury-hit summer for the Dutchman, although it has been telling that Amorim has typically turned to Cunha to lead the line when opting to take Sesko out of the firing line, with Zirkzee swiftly sliding down the pecking order.

Something of a cult figure at United now, after fighting his way back from being jeered off against Newcastle United last year, the 24-year-old does at least deserve an opportunity to impress once again, with there certainly still a player in there somewhere.

Seven goals in 54 games for the club to date doesn’t exactly make for great reading, although his quality was no doubt evident during his stint at Bologna, having ended 2023/24 as Serie A’s Young Player of the Year.

It was that form in Italian football which even led to “comparisons to Zlatan Ibrahimovic” – as noted by analyst Ben Mattinson – with the one-time Bayern Munich man described as “just like” the enigmatic Swede as he is an “insane athlete”.

The great ‘Ibra’ enjoyed a short but sweet stint at the Theatre of Dreams, netting 28 goals in all competitions in his solitary full season under Jose Mourinho, having swiftly cemented talismanic status as the club’s marquee number nine.

Zirkzee, evidently, is of different character and experience, but like Ibrahimovic, at 6 foot 4 he is still a real focal point when leading the line, ensuring he might be the best fit to try and replace Sesko at the top end of the pitch.

While a self-described ‘nine and a half’, Zirkzee’s route to game time does appear to be as a number nine in this side, with there still an intrigue to see what he can conjure up with the likes of Cunha and Mbeumo working off him.

As a man who netted twice in a 4-0 thrashing of Everton at Old Trafford last season, the £105k-per-week marksman could be the difference maker again this time around.

Man Utd's "future £100m" star is already their own version of Adam Wharton

Manchester United must ensure this young midfielder has a pathway to superstardom.

3 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 18, 2025

Manchester City picked up another three points in the Champions League with a 4-1 home win over German side Borussia Dortmund.

Pep Guardiola’s side scored twice in either half to propel themselves up to fourth in the table and maintain their unbeaten record.

City got into their groove pretty quickly at the Etihad Stadium. It took just 22 minutes for them to take the lead, with Phil Foden firing home from outside the penalty area into the bottom left corner.

Just seven minutes later, City had their second, and to nobody’s surprise, it was Erling Haaland who bagged the goal. Criminally, the Norwegian centre-forward was given acres of space in the box by his old side, slamming home his effort after Jeremy Doku pulled the ball back across the box.

Foden had his second goal just before the hour mark, once again tucking his effort into the bottom left corner. Dortmund pulled one back in the 72nd minute, but Rayan Cherki’s stoppage-time goal off the bench sealed the win for the Cityzens.

It was a strong showing from City, with Haaland and Foden two of the standouts for Guardiola’s side.

How Haaland and Foden downed Dortmund

Is there anyone who can stop Haaland? Well, his former side couldn’t, as he scored his 18th goal of the season in just 14 games. The striker, who captained City on the night, has bagged five times in the Champions League already this term.

His performance clearly impressed Simon Bajkowski, chief City journalist for the Manchester Evening News. He gave the Citizens number 9 a post-match rating of 8/10, and said his night’s work was “brilliant again.”

As for Foden, his two goals, which were carbon copies of each other, perfectly encapsulated what makes him so good.

Operating in the right half-space, the England international showed great technical ability to carve out both chances, which he took with great poise.

His stats from the game are a great reflection of how well he played. City’s number 47 was constantly involved, having 71 touches and creating three chances. He also worked hard off the ball, making five recoveries.

The City duo were standouts for Guardiola’s side on Wednesday, but one of their teammates also shone.

Man City star is as important as Foden & Haaland

Guardiola will surely be pleased to see such a big win against an opponent who could have proved to be a tough test. The performances from Haaland, Foden and Cherki off the bench are encouraging signs for the Citizens.

It was not just those three who impressed, though. Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders put in a strong showing at the Etihad Stadium. He set up both of Foden’s goals, pulling the strings from an advanced midfield position.

The Dutchman also has some impressive numbers from the game. Like Foden, Reijnders created three chances and looked after the ball well in midfield with a pass accuracy of 88%. He also won two out of three ground duels and made things tough for the visitors when they had the ball in the centre of the park.

Touches

41

Pass accuracy

88%

Passes completed

28/32

Opposition half passes completed

18/22

Ground duels won

2/3

Chances created

3

Assists

2

It was a superb performance from Reijnders, which stood out to Citizens fan page over on X, City Chief. They described it as a “masterclass” in the midfield, and said it was “easily his best performance in a City shirt so far.”

After a night’s work as good as that from the 27-year-old, it is easy to see why he can be as important as Haaland and Foden. He brings plenty of control and helps City sustain attacks.

On top of that, the Netherlands international has a good relationship with another great technical player, Foden. According to Squawka, it is the first time the England international has bagged twice in the Champions League match, and the first time Reijnders has assisted two in a game in the same competition.

That is surely no coincidence. That relationship, plus the creative influence and technical quality, Reijnders adds to the City side, makes him one of their most important players, as he showed against Dortmund.

Man City "monster" is closest thing Pep's had to Messi & it's not Cherki

Pep Guardiola has found his new Lionel Messi at Manchester City in pure “monster” and it is not Rayan Cherki.

Oct 30, 2025

Newcastle United’s topsy-turvy campaign continued away at Brentford on Sunday afternoon.

Fresh off collecting another Champions League victory versus Athletic Club at St James’ Park in mid-week, the hope would have been that Eddie Howe’s Magpies would travel to the Bees and start to turn around their stuttering domestic campaign.

Unfortunately for the travelling masses at the Gtech Community Stadium, Newcastle would, instead, crash to their fifth defeat of the Premier League season already, as an Igor Thiago-inspired comeback clinched a 3-1 win for Keith Andrews’ hosts.

Eddie Howe has nowhere to hide after “another awful away day” as journalist Craig Hope brutally put it, with Dan Burn’s sending off late on starting the demise, which saw Brentford sneak home two quickfire efforts inside the final 12 minutes.

The 6-foot-7 warrior wasn’t on his own, though, in putting in another disastrous defensive display, as one of his partners on the day in Sven Botman, was also exposed as a weak link throughout the 3-1 loss.

Botman's poor performance in numbers

This is the second Sunday in a row where Newcastle have travelled to London and surrendered a one-goal lead, with West Ham United also getting the better of them by the exact same scoreline to start November.

In both defeats, the Dutchman has looked shaky and susceptible, with Botman even managing to score an own goal against the Hammers.

While he was spared his blushes in this regard against the Bees, he was still a liability in the centre-back positions throughout, as Thiago’s late 95th-minute game-clinching strike saw the below-par number 4 fail to keep a close eye on the action.

Away from being run ragged by the 24-year-old hotshot, Botman also trudged off at the end with only two of his six duels being won, alongside failing to win a single tackle to try and stop a Brentford side who only grew in confidence, the more the game went on.

Howe might well be tempted to throw Fabian Schar back into his starting XI if Botman keeps up these shoddy performances, with the 25-year-old only managing to collect a slim two clean sheets in league action this season when featuring for the up-and-down Magpies.

With Burn now suspended for Newcastle’s next league tie after the international break against Manchester City, and Nick Pope taken off towards the latter stages of the 3-1 loss, it could be a new-look defence that takes to the field against the revitalised Citizens, as another underperformer at the back fears Howe’s selection wrath.

Newcastle star was just as bad as Botman

Howe is now being stung for being too loyal towards long-standing St James’ Park servants, with Burn very visibly not at the required level anymore to be a starting left-back.

Kieran Trippier also struggled throughout on the right flank against Andrews’ hosts, with the return of Tino Livramento from injury – who Howe stated could be back for the clash against Pep Guardiola’s men – only troubling the 35-year-old’s starting position going forward even more.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

81

Accurate passes

47/60 (78%)

Accurate long balls

2/5 (40%)

Accurate crosses

0/5

Possession lost

20x

Dribbled past

2x

Total duels won

4/11

Often, the ex-Atletico Madrid defender’s saving grace is his ability to conjure up an opening from nowhere, with an inch-perfect free-kick delivery getting the ball rolling in the Champions League last Wednesday night, as Burn then headed home the right-back’s inviting delivery.

Against Brentford, though, this split-second creativity was nowhere to be found, with Trippier failing to register a single accurate cross, which led to Nick Woltemade cutting an isolated figure up top, once more.

Trippier also gave up possession a high 20 times, while also looking rusty when Brentford attacked with pace and energy – much like Botman – with only four of his 11 duels being successfully won.

Livramento’s return from injury has possibly come at the perfect time, so Howe doesn’t have to persist with selecting his declining captain, with Burn also fearful he will be removed from the team for good, for Lewis Hall to take over left-back duties.

Howe stated at the full-time whistle that there are “no excuses” after the Toon succumbed to their fifth Premier League defeat of the season to date, with Newcastle needing to return after the international break refreshed and ready to break out of their inconsistent form, with both Trippier and Botman dropping down to the substitutes bench.

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ByTom Cunningham Nov 9, 2025

Is everything finally beginning to click into place for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United?

It feels as if Amorim has constantly been under pressure since taking on the poisoned chalice of the Red Devils gig, but recent results are now pointing in the direction that the Manchester side’s ongoing patience with their ex-Sporting boss is finally paying off, with an emphatic 4-2 win over Brighton and Hove Albion picked up on Saturday pushing the regular Premier League underachievers into a temporary top four position.

While a number of his new flashy summer recruits did stand out against the Seagulls, it was another night where Bruno Fernandes shone in attack, too, with the Portuguese playmaker very rarely falling victim to an off-day.

Why Bruno Fernandes was a standout

The alleged £47m forked out to land the skillful 31-year-old back in 2020 continues to look like a very wise use of cash.

Indeed, although he didn’t get in on the goalscoring act during the impressive 4-2 victory, he still managed to be a driving force for his team centrally to push them up the pitch, with three successful marauds forward tallied up by the much-loved number eight come the full-time whistle.

With nine ground duels won, the ever-present ace is still definitely proving his worth as a livewire, with plenty of credit in his bank for the season overall, as well, having assisted Harry Maguire’s late dramatic winner against Liverpool the match before this jubilant win back at Old Trafford.

With 187 goal contributions now next to his name donning United red, per Transfermarkt, it’s clear that Fernandes is one of the Premier League’s greatest transfer steals in recent memory.

Yet, there is a fresh, emerging hero in Amorim’s ranks who could already be viewed as another Bruno-like swipe, with the ace in question instantly hitting the ground running at the Theatre of Dreams after a statement £65m switch in the summer.

Man Utd have now uncovered their "best signing since Bruno"

Significant changes were needed in the summer in the Old Trafford attacking department, with a goal-shy Rasmus Hojlund not cutting the mustard up top.

Benjamin Sesko has already shown signs of promise as the Red Devils’ new leading marksman with two Premier League strikes next to his name, but it’s his attacking teammate against the Seagulls in Bryan Mbeumo who has been receiving the highest possible praise, having bagged a blistering two goals up against a leaky Bart Verbruggen.

Mbeumo doesn’t look fazed whatsoever by the pressures of being one of United’s main attacking sparks, much like Fernandes, who instantly slotted into the daunting Old Trafford environment all those years ago, with both of his confidently dispatched efforts against Brighton taking his Premier League goal tally to a weighty 46 overall for both Amorim and Co. and Brentford.

Five of those strikes have already come about as United’s flashy new number 19, but it’s his overall attacking game – away from his clinical edge in front of goal – that further places him on the pedestal of being the illustrious club’s “best signing since Bruno” in the eyes of statistician Statman Dave.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

2

Assists

0

Touches

59

Shots

3

Accurate passes

34/38 (89%)

Key passes

2

Big chances created

2

Successful dribbles

4/5

On another night, the Cameroonian could well have had an assist next to his name, with two big chances created off the back of Mbeumo, constantly wanting to bomb forward and entertain, much like a relentless Fernandes has shown he is capable of across his successful spell in England to date.

Deservedly so, Mbeumo would also be handed a 9/10 post-match rating by the Daily Express’ Archie Griggs, who simply stated that the red-hot 26-year-old was ‘the best player on the pitch’.

Further hailed as a star who has the “hunger to deliver a different level” by Sky Sports’ Gary Neville, it will be intriguing to see if United can keep up this winning sequence of games moving forward, as an Mbeumo-led effort potentially restores the Red Devils to their former glories.

With Matheus Cunha also at Amorim’s disposal, it really does feel like now or never for the Lisbon-born manager to bring successful days back to the red half of Manchester, with Fernandes lurking in the background also a wonderful asset to have on side.

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ByEthan Lamb Oct 25, 2025

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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