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Arsenal have had the pleasure of seeing an abundance of attacking talent sport the cannon over the years, with Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta all having a scorer of some potency throughout their tenures.

The most notable of the Premier League era is of course the Gunners’ all-time leading goalscorer Thierry Henry, who scored 228 goals in 377 appearances during his time in north London, seeing him now cast in bronze at the Emirates.

While the Frenchman remains at the benchmark for others to attempt to reach, Arteta’s young and hungry talents of today are proving that they could be in good stead to hand Arsenal some well overdue major silverware.

The likes of talent of Bukayo Saka was unearthed in house at Hale End, however star forwards such as Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard were collected in the transfer market, all prevailing to be effective captures.

Emery and Arteta struck gold with their signings, who have contributed to a mass of goals so far in their careers at the Emirates, however not every signing has experienced such success at Arsenal.

Ironically it was one of Wenger’s attacking captures that failed to live up to expectation, as in 2016, all the hope was there for the legendary Frenchman to have discovered his next prolific source in the transfer window.

Lucas Perez's arrival at Arsenal in 2016

During the summer of 2016, it was announced that Arsenal had signed La Liga talisman Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna for a fee of £17.1m.

The striker, who was 27 years old at the point of his arrival, admitted he was “flattered” when he heard of Arsenal’s interest, as the Gunners looked for a new face to bolster their attack after relying solely on Olivier Giroud the season prior.

Wenger’s side had finished second in the 2015/16 campaign to Leicester City, giving the north Londoners fuel to improve their squad in the summer in order to continue the upward trajectory, however, this was far from the case.

The reasons why Arsenal signed Lucas Perez

Perez was signed after Arsenal had been unable to grasp their primary targets Jamie Vardy and Alexandre Lacazette, making critics gather quickly around the assumption that the Spaniard was the result of a ‘panic buy’.

Spanish football expert and journalist Guillem Balague was quick to defend the Gunners’ acquisition, explaining that the Premier League side had been “following Perez for a year”, branding the move a “top signing” for Arsenal.

In La Liga the season prior to his transfer, the 27-year-old had directly contributed to 27 goals in 26 appearances for La Coruna, scoring 17 and assisting ten in the league to showcase just what he could offer to Wenger’s front line.

The scene was set for the Spaniard to offer Arsenal a refreshed source for goals, after fans had become frustrated by the inconsistency of Giroud, and with an impressive scoring tally in Spain’s top-flight in 2015/16, the Gunners were poised to welcome the striker with open arms.

The impact of Lucas Perez at Arsenal

After all of the excitement of Perez’s arrival in what was a fairly inconclusive transfer window for Wenger’s side, things were quickly seen differently as the reality of the situation was realised.

The Spaniard made his Premier League debut in September against Southampton, however that start was just one of three starts that he secured for the Gunners during his year-long stay at the Emirates.

From lack of performance, to injury, to slipping down the pecking order, Perez failed to live up to expectation at Arsenal, and admittedly was given little chance to show his true potential in Wenger’s side.

The striker scored seven goals and registered five assists during his 21 appearances for the club, making the best out of what was a situation that starved him of game time due to competitions within the squad.

A hat-trick in the Champions League group stages against FC Basel was the highest point of the Spaniard’s time with the Gunners, however, he made it clear that he wasn’t at the Emirates to assume a sporadic role, despite being branded as "poor" by journalist Mattias Karen for his end product.

The reasons why Lucas Perez left Arsenal

A year after his arrival, Perez was sent back to La Coruna on a season-long loan, to grant his wishes of more game time after the north Londoners sealed the signing of long-term target, Alexandre Lacazette.

The forward made it clear that he was unhappy at Arsenal, telling Spanish media that the club had treated him badly, with the final straw being an “ugly gesture” in which Lacazette was handed Perez’s number nine shirt without asking, as relayed by Sky Sports.

On his return from his loan, the forward was prepped and ready to leave the Gunners, which he did, only by relocating to the other side of London, where he signed for West Ham United in a £4m deal.

History seemed to repeat itself, as Perez was handed only a slim chance to shine, leaving the London Stadium after just one year, having secured four Premier League starts that season, netting a total of six goals in 19 appearances in all competitions for the Hammers.

Lucas Perez's form since leaving Arsenal

After leaving England, Perez returned to his homeland, where he has remained since his exit from east London in 2018.

West Ham handed the out-of-favour striker to Deportivo Alaves, where he has since represented Elche and Cadiz, before this summer returning to his home club Deportivo La Coruna.

England

Spain

Goals

13

73

Assists

5

45

Via Transfermarkt

Currently playing the third tier of Spanish football at the age of 35, Perez has found sanctuary in his home country, as highlighted by his form at the point of his La Coruna return as he found himself among the goals with Cadiz in La Liga.

While things didn’t work for Perez at Arsenal, they certainly work for the striker in Spain, with him actually outscoring the Gunners’ current hitman Gabriel Jesus during the 2022/23 campaign.

Last term, the forward played half of the season with Cadiz, before joining La Coruna in January, where over the course of the football calendar he scored 13 goals and provided eight assists.

Jesus scored 11 goals and replicated Perez’s record of eight assists in 2022/23, finding the net two times less than the former Arsenal outsider to put into perspective just how difficult it is for some players to adapt to the demands of the Premier League.

Jesus is far better suited to Arsenal, just as Perez is far better suited to the game in Spain, however one thing that’s for sure is that the Gunners learned from their mistake of recruiting the Spaniard, with their striker signings since his arrival proving to have improved significantly.

From Jesus, to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, gone are the days of lacklustre acquisitions in the strike department at the Emirates, and unfortunately for Perez, he had to be the final dud to change the trajectory in the transfer window for Arsenal.

After recent stutters against Luton Town and Toulouse, Liverpool got back to their ruthless best against Brentford in the Premier League to cap off an impressive start just before the third international break of the season. Sitting second and just one point away from league leaders Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp's side have the opportunity to go above last season's treble winners when they square off at The Etihad in the first game back after the international break.

If the Reds are to mount a serious title challenge, however, then they may need to look towards the January transfer window to complete Klopp's midfield rebuild. And reports suggest that FSG could be about to do exactly that.

Liverpool transfer news

Liverpool's summer overhaul, despite how many changes were made, has been fairly seamless. Those who arrived have slotted straight in and have impressed where the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho began to fail. Dominik Szoboszlai has been particularly impressive, offering the Reds mobility in the middle of the park once again. Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, has shown signs of becoming yet another bargain under Klopp, as he bounces back from Bayern Munich failure.

One struggle that has remained is the defensive midfield role, however. So far, Alexis Mac Allister has been shoehorned into the role and has, therefore, been exposed at times. Reports suggest that FSG could solve that problem in January though. According to Sport, Liverpool have taken the lead in the race for Andre Trindade. The Fluminense man is reportedly worth €35m (£30m) and has attracted the interest of the Premier League giants, alongside Barcelona.

Previous Liverpool transfer news suggested that the Reds had pulled out of the race to sign Andre, but now it seems as though they are leading the way in the chase for his signature in a major twist ahead of January. When the winter window opens, the Brazilian is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Liverpool leading the way for "monster" Andre

When looking at Klopp's newest version of his Liverpool side, there's a sense that the only player missing is an out-and-out defensive midfielder capable of replicating Fabinho's role when at his best. It has become clear fairly quickly that Mac Allister is not the man to do that and would be better used in a more advanced role similar to his Brighton & Hove Albion days. Andre, however, could be that player for the Reds. Andre's stats, compared to Mac Allister's, certainly suggest as much.

Player

Progressive Passes Per 90

Interceptions Per 90

Tackles Won Per 90

Andre Trindade

6.43

1.09

1.40

Alexis Mac Allister

5.42

0.69

1.21

It comes as little surprise that the Fluminense man has been at the centre of praise over the last year or so, including from ESPN's Fernando Campos, who posted on X: "Pressing and playing with the confidence of someone who knows he's different. Get out of the hush and make the team work. André Trindade is the best defensive midfielder in the country and is a monster of a player."

The January transfer window is around six weeks away from opening up for business and Liverpool are reportedly looking at a possible addition to their defensive options.

Liverpool's transfer news – Valentin Barco

According to a report from Calcio Mercato, via TEAMtalk, the Reds are ready to provide 'fierce' competition to land the signing of Valentin Barco from Argentine outfit Boca Juniors next year.

The outlet has claimed that Juventus and Manchester City are also interested in the talented 19-year-old left-back, who is said to have a release clause of €10m (£8.8m) within his current contract.

However, it is not stated who is currently leading the race to secure his signature and it remains to be seen whether or not Liverpool have a realistic chance of being able to sign him.

If Jurgen Klopp is able to bring Barco to Anfield, though, then the German head coach could have his long-term heir to Andy Robertson at left-back.

Robertson's Liverpool statistics

The Scotland international has managed one goal and zero assists along with 2.9 tackles and interceptions per match in eight Premier League matches so far this season for the Reds.

Last term, the 29-year-old ace racked up eight assists in 34 top-flight appearances for the club and his creativity has been a constant bright spark throughout his career at Anfield.

17/18

22

Five

18/19

36

11

19/20

36

12

20/21

38

Seven

21/22

29

Ten

22/23

34

Eight

23/24

Eight

Zero

As you can see in the table above, Robertson has always been able to provide his teammates with chances to score at the top end of the pitch, despite being a left-back.

The statistics that show why Barco could be Robertson's heir

At the age of 19, Barco is ten years younger than the current Liverpool star and could, therefore, be the long-term heir to his position in the team as he has plenty of room and time to grow and develop as a player.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him an "exciting" prospect and once described the gem as a "wonderkid". Kulig has also gone as far as to hail him as Argentina's version of former Brazil and Real Madrid left-back legend Marcelo.

The teenage talent has showcased his attacking potential throughout 2023 and could be a like-for-like replacement for Robertson due to his ability to make things happen in the final third.

Barco has registered one assist and created three 'big chances' for his teammates in eight Libertadores starts this year, along with two assists and three 'big chances' created in six Copa de la Liga starts.

The talented left-back also caught the eye with one assist and 2.5 key passes per match across three starts at the U20 World Cup for Argentina earlier this year.

These statistics show that the young whiz has the ability to create chances and assist goals at an impressive rate from a defensive position, much like Robertson does for Liverpool.

Therefore, Klopp could land his next assist-king at left-back by securing a deal to sign Barco ahead of the likes of Manchester City and Juventus in January.

Liverpool's recent Premier League victory away to Burnley ended two successive draws at Anfield against rivals Manchester United and title contenders Arsenal, with the latter's recent dropped points meaning Jurgen Klopp's side will head into the new year in first place.

Of course, there is so much action yet to take place and injuries have made life tough for Liverpool, who have deceived prevalent praise for their success this season while still leaving plenty of room for improvement.

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Then again, while some might claim that the Reds are 'overachieving', Klopp deserves all the plaudits for discarding the struggling engine room of last term and welcoming four exciting additions to return the squad to title-chasing calibre.

These acquisitions – Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch – came at the expense of several other touted players throughout the summer months, though with the winter transfer window now just around the corner, Klopp appears to be lining up a bid for such a previous target.

Liverpool transfer news – Manu Kone

According to transfer specialist Rudy Galetti, Liverpool are back in for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone, whose contract expires in 2026 and is also being monitored by Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain.

While the Bundesliga side have no immediate urgency to cash in on the 22-year-old, he was available for a ballpark €35m (£30m) in the summer after impressing with his performances in Germany.

Fabrizio Romano was among the reporters in the summer to confirm that the Anfield side were eager to add Kone to the ranks, and though Klopp ultimately focussed his attention elsewhere, the rising star remains on the shortlist and could be signed in January.

Manu Kone's style of play

Kone has chalked up 70 displays for Gladbach since signing from his homeland team Toulouse in 2021, leading the German club's former sporting director Max Eberl to declare him an "interesting" player and a "top talent".

Swiftly asserting himself as an elite ball-carrier with adept defensive skills and a positional awareness that allows him to track and impede runners, Kone has got heads turning – with Liverpool at the front of the line.

Highlighting his skills, journalist Antonio Mango said: "Koné does all his work in the centre of the pitch, capable of leading attacking, he’s fantastic at transitioning from defence to attack. Koné has a little bit of swagger about him but in a good way, very confident and composed in possession and accomplished when being pressed."

Strengths

Weaknesses

Dribbling

Aerial duels

Tackling

Discipline

Passing

Long shots

*Sourced via WhoScored

This season, the 11-cap France U21 international's progress has been hampered by injury but he has started to find his feet in recent months, starting five of Gladbach's past six outings in the German top-flight.

Across his eight appearances in the league, Kone has completed 88% of his passes and averaged 2.1 tackles, 5.3 ball recoveries and 2.5 dribbles per game; while yet to return to his finest form, the core qualities on display denote his pedigree as one of the most talented midfield prospects around.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 21% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 13% for progressive carries, the top 2% for successful take-ons and the top 13% for tackles per 90.

He's certainly proved his level against high-quality opposition, with talent scout Jacek Kulig saying last season: "Another fantastic performance against Bayern. One-man army in midfield."

While the £32k-per-week gem is a multi-functional player with a dynamic approach to his craft, his defensive skill set appears to have enough about it that Klopp has decided to reignite his interest, with a transfer to Merseyside surely coming with the caveat that he will be deployed, principally, in the holding midfield role.

How Manu Kone compares to Wataru Endo

Liverpool enjoyed a successful midfield rebuild in the summer but still need to sign a specialist No. 6 to fortify the centre of the park for years to come, despite signing Endo from Stuttgart for £16m in August.

The Japan international was targetted after the Reds failed to stop both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia from joining Chelsea, and while this move was met with surprise initially, he has proved to be an industrious and important member of Klopp's high-flying side, having started the past five Premier League matches.

Of course, the decision to sign the midfielder perhaps even surprised Klopp himself, but he has popped up with some big moments – scoring a crucial thumping effort in a dramatic late turnaround against Fulham – to ensure that the side returns to form this season.

Further, having started all of his outfit's Europa League and Carabao Cup encounters – with Liverpool having topped their continental group stage and advanced to the semi-finals of the domestic competition – his ability to impress and serve consistently across multiple competitions has been vital to the fight for silverware.

Previously hailed as a "proper warrior and leader" by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Thatchard, the £50k-per-week star has been something of an unsung hero this season, but at 30 years old, he is not the lasting solution that Kone could prove to be in the future.

While he is an assiduous player, Endo is not one to progress the ball forward himself, nor is he the most inventive with his distribution, and while this is no detriment to his game, there is a sense that Klopp might opt for a more dynamic option for the years ahead.

Given Kone's expansive style and robustness, it's hardly surprising that Liverpool want to add him to the fold, and though he's definitely not the finished article, this is something that could play into the Anfield club's hands, allowing him time to develop while competing against the experienced Endo for a starting spot in the future.

Tottenham Hotspur extended their winning run in the Premier League to four matches with victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, maintaining their lead at the top of the table.

The meteoric rise under Ange Postecoglou's stewardship has been nothing short of exemplary, and against the Eagles, while not at their best, Spurs got the job done and brandished their title-winning credentials after securing a 2-1 victory.

Whereby last season only brought misery and a fourth managerial dismissal in as many years following Antonio Conte's sacking in March, there is now a tangible possibility that silverware – a premium so agonisingly out of reach for so long at Tottenham – could be gleaned.

Spurs' win against Roy Hodgson's side means that eight victories have been collected from ten Premier League matches, having drawn the opener away to Brentford and again against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Tottenham's performance vs Crystal Palace

Palace were resilient and looked to stifle the away side's attacking verve through a cohesive, collective understanding of the match plan, and while they held their shape well for the lion's share of the first 45 minutes, the tactical tweaks in the second half swayed the odds in Spurs' favour.

Indeed, after a drab opening half, the away side knuckled down and started to thread their plan together, with James Maddison warming after an ineffective first 45 and Postecoglou's substitutions working well.

Ben Davies earned his first Premier League start of the campaign in the absence of Destiny Udogie, but the 30-year-old stalwart was hooked during the break and replaced by the more energetic Emerson Royal, who was in the thick of the action and actively progressed the play.

Maddison's whipped delivery, forcing an own goal, put the Lilywhites in the driving seat shortly after the break while Heung-min Son's eighth goal in seven Premier League matches confirmed that three points would be returning to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With another win in the bag, Tottenham's manager praised the "disciplined" performance, and it was indeed the kind of composed and controlled display that was often elusively out of reach last term, as the north London club slumped to an eighth-placed league finish and conceded a staggering 63 goals.

Postecoglou deserves all the plaudits for the transformative effect that he has instilled, but there is little doubt that the signings made across the summer have been nothing short of superlative, with the likes of Maddison, Micky van de Ven and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario steering the ship on course.

James Maddison was "superb" again

Maddison, of course, has been the standout so far since joining from Leicester City for £40m in the summer, having scored ten goals and supplied nine assists in the English top flight despite only starting 28 times as his outfit plummeted into the Championship.

This term, he has already posted three goals and five assists from the opening ten games of the Premier League term, winning August's Player of the Month award, and while he did not add to his tally at Selhurst Park, he was once more at the centre of the success.

Hailed for his "superb" link-up play by football.london's Alasdair Gold, the England international warmed into his role in the second half, and after forcing Joel Ward to turn into his own net, he served reliably as the conduit, ensuring his teammates had apt supplementation.

Metric

#

Minutes played

89

Touches

57

Pass completion

31/16 (86%)

Key passes

2

Ground duels won

4

Dribble attempts

1/3 (33%)

Tackles

1

Clearances

1

It was by no means his most impressive display for the club, but it is an illustration of how consistent his performances have been since the summer, and as Spurs march on, he will continue to serve as the centrepiece.

Maddison is the obvious player to shower effusive words upon, but it was the performance of Pape Sarr that perhaps went under the radar despite exhibiting the sheer collective value of this newly-vitalised team.

Pape Sarr is Postecoglou's true hero

Sarr, aged 21, moved to Tottenham from Metz in a £15m deal in 2021 but returned to the French side on a season-long loan, and while he sat on the periphery last season, he is now very much at the core of the midfield.

Praised for his “unbelievable” performance by scout Lee Mayes, who remarked at how well he "ran the whole midfield", the Senegalese starlet took 92 touches and completed 89% of his passes – very much omnipresent in his duties.

Making two interceptions and clearances apiece and succeeding with his one dribble, he was everywhere on that pitch and played a big part in both of Tottenham's goals, with Gold among those waxing lyrical after the match.

Gold said: "Forgot to mention Pape Matar Sarr, who was terrific again. Never stopped running, providing an outlet and using the ball well on the whole. Played a big part in the second goal and still mad to think he's only 21. He's only going to get better and better under Postecoglou."

Against Crystal Palace, he demonstrated a maturity and energy that evades all but the select few midfielders who sit atop the pile, and it really is frightening to consider how good he might become over the coming years.

As per FBref, the all-action midfielder ranks among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 19% for assists, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 20% for passes attempted per 90.

Frankly, there is so much more to come, and Tottenham really have unearthed a jewel in this rising star, who has been sensational in the early phase of the campaign and a large reason behind such a relentless start.

And while Tottenham are currently five points clear in their table-topping position, both Arsenal and Manchester City have the opportunity to close the gap this weekend.

Nonetheless, the job that Postecoglou has done so far has been remarkable, and there would have been scant optimism that such a position of strength could have been established mere months ago.

With gifted stars like Sarr in the centre, there is every possibility that this season's success will endure, and Tottenham will prevail.

Liverpool have undergone quite the transformation since Anfield welcomed Jurgen Klopp to the dugout, with the esteemed German manager's influence welcoming a cascade of silver-laden success.

Before, Liverpool had languished for some time, and despite the unexpected title charge of 2013/14 – a season etched eternally into the club's lore despite coming up short – positivity was few and far between.

Brendan Rodgers' dismissal after an abject start to the 2015/16 season led to Klopp's appointment, and the rest is history, with Liverpool now soaring to heights that have secured Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup titles.

Now over eight years into Klopp's rule, Liverpool seems to have entered a new phase, with last season's decline serving as something of a watershed moment, comprehensively recrafting a midfield that was in dire need of renovation.

There remain many of the most important members of the first wave of triumph – namely, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and more – but there is undeniably a different feel to the current team.

One former star who was among the first to depart following the prosperity in the Premier League and Champions League is Georginio Wijnaldum, who has not had the smoothest of rides since leaving Merseyside for the final time.

Georginio Wijnaldum was a machine at Liverpool

Signing from relegated Newcastle United for around £25m in 2016, there was cautious optimism that Wijnaldum would contribute effectively to the touted revival under Klopp's leadership.

The now-32-year-old ace had just completed an impressive campaign on an individual level, posting 11 goals and five assists during his sole Premier League season with the Magpies, though the Liverpool manager recognised that his talent might be best utilised deeper in the midfield.

Over 257 appearances for the Anfield side, Wijnaldum only scored 22 times, though he was hailed for his "irreplaceable" role in the middle by Richard Jolly and proved to be indispensable with his superlative distribution.

Never dropping below an 87% pass success rate at league level, Klopp's midfield machine proved to be instrumental in the illustrious feats, now heralded in the club's history books for his efforts.

The 90-cap Netherlands star ended his Anfield affiliation in 2021, joining French giants Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, though he failed to make his mark in Ligue 1 and forged just 38 matches – clinching three goals and assists apiece.

He then joined Roma on loan and fractured his tibia in the early phase of the 2022/23 term, only returning in February in what proved to be a heavily disrupted stint in Italy.

At present, the veteran midfielder has signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, where he has so far scored five goals from seven outings across all competitions from central midfield, a tally that actually means he is currently outscoring each of Liverpool's current options.

Not known for his rate of striking while under Klopp's wing, he now has free rein to wreak havoc from the middle, and it is a testament to his ability and resilience that he has rebounded to produce such stellar numbers so far this term, actually outperforming Liverpool gem Dominik Szoboszlai, who has been a revelation on English shores so far.

Dominik Szoboszlai has taken "centre stage"

Liverpool had started the midfield rebuild with great promise this summer after signing Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion, but the capture of Szoboszlai for £60m from RB Leipzig confirmed that Klopp was targetting a return to the forefront and was pulling no punches in achieving this.

Deployed in the centre, the £120k-per-week machine has scored twice from 13 appearances for Liverpool so far, earning praise for the thunderous rocket against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup.

Wijnaldum deserves praise for the free-scoring touch he has unleashed on the Saudi Pro League, with his ever-impressive work rate and performances now replaced by a new form of star in Szoboszlai, who may not be matching his output but is unquestionably at the heart of the Liverpool renaissance.

The calibre and constancy in his performances has provided Klopp with the tools to restore the club's verve, with The Athletic's James Pearce remarking that the Hungarian has taken "centre stage", bringing energy and technical quality in abundance.

As per FBref, Szoboszlai ranks among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive carries, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 5% for blocks per 90, underscoring his value across the pitch.

Player

Club

Teun Koopmeiners

Atalanta

Joe Willock

Newcastle United

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

Martin Odegaard

Arsenal

Marcos Llorente

Atletico Madrid

Once hailed as a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller, Szoboszlai registered 42 direct goal contributions from 91 appearances for RB Leipzig and played an instrumental role in winning successive DFB Pokals before his departure.

Wijnaldum might be outscoring Szoboszlai at present, but the impression that the current Reds star has left on the pitch so far into his Liverpool career transcends something as black and white as direct goal contributions.

Indeed, the same could be said for the Dutchman, who was instead utilised for his industriousness and intelligence in the centre of the park, proving to be the metronomic presence to facilitate the prolific exploits of forward-placed teammates such as Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

So too has Szoboszlai set to work with his unrelenting approach to his craft, having completed 88% of his passes in the Premier League this season, also averaging 2.3 key passes and 7.1 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

Szoboszlai seemingly has the skills in the locker to cement his stature as one of Europe's leading midfielders, and indeed the expectation at Anfield after his blistering start bespeaks of his staggering potential.

To say that the Hungary captain has been a belated upgrade on Wijnaldum would be like claiming that one's boots are of finer quality than another's gloves; it is not quite a practical comparison.

But Szoboszlai could certainly play a role every bit as important over the coming years, and the fact that Wijnaldum is outscoring him at present does not negate the effect that Klopp's new hero has made on Merseyside.

Manchester United are keen to strengthen this month and are now reportedly willing to pay the release clause of one of their well-documented targets.

Manchester United January transfers

Given his side's inability to consistently carve out results this campaign, Erik ten Hag will be keen to utilise the January window as a launchpad to reboot Manchester United's campaign as the Dutchman endeavours to elevate their standing in the Premier League.

Speculation has already ran wild over who the Red Devils could look to recruit this window, especially in the forward areas, as identifying and acquiring support for Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial in attack creeps up the priority list at Old Trafford.

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Speaking in his Daily Briefing via CaughtOffside, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Manchester United are keeping informed on Bayern Munich striker Eric Choupo-Moting as they look to add variety in the final third.

Romano stated: "Bayern Munich striker Eric Choupo-Moting is one of many names being discussed internally. It’s nothing concrete, nothing advanced yet. Still, Bayern have Harry Kane and Mathys Tel as options up front, so obviously there’s not so much space for Choupo-Moting and Man United have been informed of his situation. At the moment it’s not a negotiation, from what I’m told, but it may become one to watch."

The Cameroon international is believed to be part of a four-man shortlist of strikers who the Red Devils could try to entice to the North West, with Timo Werner, Thomas Muller and Serhou Guirassy also in their thinking.

United willing to pay Guirassy release clause

According to reports in Spain, via The Faithful MUFC, Manchester United are ready to pay a fee of £15.1 million to sign Stuttgart striker Guirassy this month, which is in line with his release clause at the Bundesliga outfit.

Serhou Guirassy in-game statistics – Bundesliga (Sofascore)

Goals per game

1.2

Shots per game

3.4

Shots on target per game

1.8

Expected goals

11.56

Big chances missed

10

Average match rating

7.86/10

The outlet claim that the Guinea international has been on the radar at Old Trafford for quite some time and is now viewed as an option the Red Devils could look to invest in; however, he will not be available during January as he is on international duty at the African Cup of Nations.

Previously dubbed "incredible" by Dean Jones on the Ranks FC podcast, the 27-year-old has already notched 19 goals and two assists in 16 appearances this campaign across all competitions (Guirassy statistics – Transfermarkt).

Looking ahead, Guirassy could provide a spark in attack at Manchester United if he were to move to England this month, though we will need to wait and see on that front.

Arsenal are speculated to be one of the many sides ready to make a presence in the January transfer window, as Mikel Arteta eyes quality reinforcements to bolster the squad depth at the Emirates.

The Spaniard, alongside Edu, orchestrated an impressive summer of business in the transfer market, welcoming over £200m worth of acquisitions to strengthen the side that just missed out on the Premier League title in the 2022/23 campaign.

Currently sitting just one point from the summit, Arsenal’s pending activity could be the difference between the north Londoners being part of the race once more, and claiming their first Premier League trophy since 2004.

It’s forecast to be a busy winter for the Gunners, if the news surrounding potential January targets is to be believed, as a host of talent is already being linked with a move to the Emirates in 2024.

Arsenal transfer targets – Strikers

While reports have speculated that the midfield will be the primary point of rejuvenation this winter, the north Londoners have also been named as a club interested in a list of top-quality strikers.

One name that has popped up as a target is Brentford forward Ivan Toney, who is said to be valued at £100m by the Bees, as he prepares to return from his ban from football in the first month of 2024.

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The Mirror reported that Brentford’s valuation of their star talisman comes in the hope of warding off interest from Arsenal, who are claimed to be eyeing the 27-year-old.

Away from the Premier League, this week a report from 90min told of fellow target Marcos Leonardo’s future plans, stating that both the Gunners and Manchester United are ‘on alert’ as the 20-year-old plots to leave Santos.

In January, the Brazilian football calendar will have concluded, giving the striker the chance to spread his wings in Europe, with a list of clubs already monitoring his movements due to his goal-scoring proficiency in South America.

It’s added that the Serie A side will expect a fee in the region of £20m for their forward, as a move looks imminent, with the player’s agent speaking to outlets in Brazil to reveal his client “wants to have a European experience, and his time will come this winter.”

It will be interesting to follow the direction of the youngster’s future steps, with his links to Arsenal coming at an interesting time, correlating to news regarding the future of strikers already in north London.

How Gabriel Jesus’ future could look

Reports in Spain, relayed by The Hard Tackle, have speculated that Real Madrid are plotting a move for Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian being a former target for Los Blancos under Carlo Ancelotti.

It’s stated that Madrid have ‘reignited their interest’ in the 26-year-old, whose future at Arsenal could be under question regardless of the Spaniards’ interest, especially as several strikers have been linked with a Premier League move.

Speaking to Brazilian news outlets, the four-time Premier League winner claimed that finishing is not his “strong point”, which is a fair statement considering the Brazil international is yet to score more than 14 domestic league goals in a season.

Despite not being the clinical presence that Arsenal perhaps need, Jesus’ contribution to Arteta’s attack sometimes seems irreplaceable, with his animalistic energy infectious to building charges into the final third.

If the former Manchester City star was to leave the Emirates, he would be sorely missed for reasons far beyond scoring goals, although if he was to say, it must be debated that his future could be away from leading the line.

Why Marcos Leonardo would be a good signing for Arsenal

In signing Leonardo, the Gunners could revive the presence of a “cold-blooded” striker, as the 20-year-old was once lauded by U23 scout Antonio Mango, as well as having Jesus in the attack to support the budding talisman.

57

21

6

41

13

12

45

21

4

33

11

8

As portrayed in the table above, the Santos sensation – who has also been noted for his "exceptional pace" by Mango – is by far the more clinical out of the two forwards based on his form over the 2022 and 2023 Brazilian football calendars, although Jesus is more of the creator.

Signing a talent as prolific as Leonardo could spare the pressure on the 26-year-old to score consistently, while Arteta could still use the strengths of his £45m man in a slightly deeper role to benefit Arsenal in the final third to maximum effect.

Depth is another factor that the Brazil U20 international could bolster at the Emirates, with Jesus and Eddie Nketiah being the only identifiable centre-forwards in the first team, reinforcing the need for reinforcements in future windows.

How Marcos Leonardo compares to Gabriel Jesus

When it comes to overall gameplay, Jesus has transformed the energy levels in Arsenal’s front line, with his ability to carry the ball and cover ground being some of his greatest assets as a roaming forward.

Although the two Brazilians occupy the same position, their tactical setups are almost opposing, with the 26-year-old’s vision to support and create rather than to be the figure to bury the ball in the net and conclude such sequences.

Gabriel Jesus

Marcos Leonardo

26

27

11

13

1.2

1.1

16

12

14%

18%

1.2

1.0

Hailed as an “absolute killer in the penalty area” by talent scout Jacek Kulig and dubbed a "deadly weapon" by Mango, Leonardo boasted a higher conversion rate and scoring tally in the Brazilian Serie A than Jesus in the 2022/23 Premier League.

It’s easy to forget that the striker is only 20 years old, considering how effortlessly scoring goals comes in his game, making his instinctual qualities an attractive subject for Arsenal to consider partnering with their low-scoring forward.

As well as pairing the duo together, Arteta could be handed the opportunity to rotate the two high-quality strikers to promote an advanced level of performance, as well as being gifted the opportunity to unearth Leonardo as an eventual heir to the ex-City whiz.

Arsenal have seen just how successful buying young talent from Brazil can work out, with Gabriel Martinelli turning himself into a crucial first-team member after arriving as a teen from Ituano.

In Leonardo, the Gunners could secure a sizzling goalscoring talent, and a player that could both compete with, and eventually replace Jesus, whose future of leading the line at the Emirates is debatable.

Declan Rice became the most expensive West Ham United academy graduate in the history of the club when he completed his move away from the London Stadium this year.

The England international signed for Arsenal for a club-record £105m, which is a record between two English clubs and just shy of the British transfer record of £106.8m that was set by Enzo Fernandez' move to Chelsea from Benfica.

West Ham's current most valuable former academy players:

Declan Rice

£78m

Josh Cullen

£11.2m

Ben Johnson

£8.6m

Toni Martinez

£6m

Sorba Thomas

£5.2m

A number of talented players have come through the youth set-up for the Hammers over the years and the likes of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, and Rio Ferdinand paved the way for them when they became England stars after starting their careers in London.

Rice appears to be the next academy graduate who is set to enjoy a fantastic career now that he has moved to Champions League side Arsenal, but West Ham do not always make the best decisions over their young prospects.

One player whom David Moyes may now regret allowing to move on too early is central midfielder Pierre Ekwah, who departed the club in January to sign for Championship side Sunderland.

How many appearances did Ekwah make for West Ham?

The French battler did not make a single first-team appearance for the Hammers during his time at the London Stadium but did catch the eye with his performances at youth level.

He racked up nine goals and three assists in 39 U21 matches before his move to the Black Cats. However, that was not enough to convince Moyes to hand him an opportunity to impress at senior level.

Ekwah did showcase his quality against first-team opposition in the EFL Trophy for West Ham, though, during the first half of the 2022/23 campaign.

The midfield ace averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 across three appearances against Walsall, MK Dons, and Cheltenham as he caught the eye on and off the ball.

His creativity was on full display with two key passes per game for his teammates to open up the opposition's defence at the top end of the pitch. Meanwhile, no Hammers player managed more than 1.4 key passes per match throughout the Premier League season last term.

He also made two tackles and interceptions combined per outing and won 54% of his individual duels, as per Sofascore, which showed that the young gem was ready to deal with the physicality of the professional game.

These displays for West Ham came after he started his career with Chelsea, where Ekwah scored five goals and provided two assists in 24 matches for their U18 side.

How much was Ekwah worth at West Ham?

At the time of his move to Sunderland in January 2023, FootballTransfers placed the central midfielder's Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at just €60k (£52k).

He had yet to make the first senior appearance of his career and the Black Cats took a leap of faith to sign him from the London-based side as Tony Mowbray seemingly saw the potential there for Ekwah to be an excellent option for his team.

Whereas, Moyes never offered him the chance to shine in a West Ham shirt in a competitive setting and sanctioned a permanent exit for him in January, without seeing what he could do out on loan or in a match for his first-team.

How many games has Ekwah played for Sunderland?

Mowbray has made the France U20 international a key cog in his Black Cats side this season and he has made 25 appearances for the club in total this year.

However, Ekwah did not become an immediate success at the Stadium of Light as the second half of last season was a struggle at times.

He had not played any senior football before his move to Wearside and the end of the 2022/23 campaign was his introduction to the professional game.

The French gem averaged an unimpressive Sofascore rating of 6.57 across 14 Championship appearances for Sunderland, which was the 23rd-highest score within their squad. This shows that the midfield maestro struggled to adapt at first as he was not among the club's top performers.

Ekwah, who journalist Josh Bunting once hailed as "excellent", has now found his feet at senior level, though, and has emerged as an outstanding player for Mowbray at the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

He has averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 7.27 across six Championship games so far this term, which is the fifth-highest score within the club, and caught the eye with his fantastic performances in midfield.

The former Chelsea prospect has been reliable in possession with 90% of his attempted passes being completed and showcased his defensive instincts with three tackles and interceptions per game, to go along with two goals, as per Sofascore.

How much is Ekwah worth now?

At the time of writing (29/09/2023), FootballTransfers has placed his xTV at €3.4m (£2.9m) and this shows that his market value has skyrocketed since leaving West Ham in January.

His xTV has soared by a staggering 5,566% from the initial €60k that he was valued at earlier this year, which shows that exposure to first-team football has helped him to thrive as a player.

Mowbray and Sunderland showed faith in the young dynamo's ability and they are now benefitting from it on the pitch with his sublime performances in the Championship this season.

Ekwah also has the time, at the age of 21, to develop and increase his value further at the Stadium of Light, which could be helped if they are able to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Therefore, Moyes had a mare with the sale of the former Chelsea academy prospect in January as his xTV has soared since his London Stadium exit and the Scottish head coach did not give him a chance to prove himself with the Hammers.

West Ham could also have sent him out on loan instead of sanctioning a permanent move in order to see how he would fare with regular first-team football.

This could have given the manager the evidence he needed to make a decision on the player's future, instead of doing so without knowing how he would cope with senior games.

Chelsea are fearing the worst over an injury to one of their first-team stars as well as the issue with Marc Cucurella, according to a reliable reporter.

Cucurella injury update

During the Premier League 2-0 defeat to Everton, Cucurella was forced off the pitch with a serious lower leg issue, and following further assessments with knee and foot specialists, the defender is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

After undergoing surgery, Mauricio Pochettino’s star is still recovering in hospital and isn’t expected to return to the grass until February at the very earliest, and if the following is to be believed, he’s not the only one who the manager will have to cope without having at his disposal for the foreseeable future.

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At Goodison Park, Reece James was also withdrawn prematurely and replaced by Levi Colwill after just 27 minutes, which will have sparked plenty of concern among supporters considering the misfortune that the right-back has suffered since the start of the season.

The Blues captain has made just five starts in the top-flight so far this campaign due to being ruled out of action with a hamstring problem (WhoScored – James statistics), and it sounds like the club’s medical staff are extremely concerned about the 24-year-old’s situation this time around.

James may need hamstring surgery

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Chelsea are worried about James and confirmed that they have entered discussions to decide whether he needs to go under the knife.

“A final decision on whether or not the full-back will undergo surgery will be made within the next few days — that’s the plan internally. Make no mistake though, for sure Chelsea are worried.

"They want James to be in the best possible condition to perform at the highest levels — the player wants the same, but this is not the case at the moment. Chelsea are in talks with medical specialists about how to help and prevent this issue from becoming an even bigger problem. Everybody hopes James can come back even stronger.”

While James is naturally a right-back, Chelsea will know that he’s stronger in the offensive aspect of his game having posted 32 direct contributions – 21 assists and 11 goals – in 156 senior appearances during his time at Stamford Bridge (Transfermarkt -James statistics).

The England international also currently ranks in the 96th percentile for successful take-ons, highlighting his desire to use his pace to dribble past his marker and create as many chances as possible for both himself and his fellow teammates in the final third (FBRef – James statistics).

Having been dubbed “world-class” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Pochettino will therefore know that not having his skipper available for selection for a while is a huge blow, so everyone associated with the club will be hoping that he is able to stage his comeback as soon as is safe to do so.