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Liverpool are interested in signing a hugely exciting Premier League player if he becomes available next year, according to a new transfer update.

Will Liverpool sign players in January?

The Reds have an extremely strong squad at their disposal currently, with world-class options dotted all over the pitch, and quality players behind them as backup. Jurgen Klopp completely rebuilt his midfield during the summer transfer window, bringing in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, among others, but he didn't add to the defence or attack.

Liverpool currently have magnificent attacking options in Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo, but that's not to say that that area of the pitch won't need freshening up in the future, especially if the former leaves at the end of this seasonm, as has been mooted.

It looks as though the Reds are certainly keeping an eye out for potential signings in the final third, following an exciting new update.

Which Premier League star at Liverpool keen on signing?

According to Football Transfers, Wolves star Pedro Neto is being looked at as a potential acquisition for Liverpool next year should he leave Molineux, along with Juventus forward Federico Chiesa:

"Liverpool have added Pedro Neto to their wishlist if Mohamed Salah leaves next year, FootballTransfers has been told. The Reds remain aware of Saudi Pro League interest in Salah and are making arrangements to ensure that a viable replacement is brought in if he does leave. Neto, who is a client of Jorge Mendes’ Gestifute, has been on the club’s radar for some time.

"The 23-year-old – who has been a revelation for Wolves this campaign – is now under consideration along with Juventus player Federico Chiesa, as FootballTransfers previously reported, and one other unnamed footballer.

"Sources have informed us that Liverpool are unhappy with Wolves’ current valuation for Neto, however, and there is a feeling within the club that rival sides will add a further £20m to any asking price when Salah leaves Anfield."

Neto is a special footballer who is having a superb start to the season, registering four assists in just seven Premier League games, which is a good return for a top side, let alone a struggling team. The 23-year-old's efforts certainly have gone unnoticed by Wolves manager Gary O'Neil, who recently described his standout attacking player as "absolutely incredible".

Neto is such an exciting footballer, running rings around Liverpool during the first half of the Reds' eventual 3-1 win at Molineux last month and assisting Hwang Hee-chan for the opening goal, and he would come in as someone who could mature into a world-class player over time.

There have been some serious injuries for the Portuguese in recent years, which would make signing him a possible risk, but if the medical staff are confident that he has overcome those issues, he could be a fantastic addition.

Neto isn't out of contract at Wolves until the summer of 2026, so he clearly wouldn't be available on the cheap, but if Liverpool could beat other top clubs to his signature, it could prove to be a masterstroke of a signing as the years pass.

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.

In the golden era of Chelsea's history when the likes of Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba were dazzling packed-out crowds in west London, goals were never an issue as that duo would strike fear into opposition defences with their sheer quality.

In the Blues near faultless title-winning campaign in the 2005/06 season, spearheaded by the tactical brilliance of Jose Mourinho, Chelsea posted 72 goals in the league, but perhaps more telling, Lampard and Drogba combined for 47 of them.

Forming an almost telepathic partnership across their time at the club, the two legends built up the most fruitful duo in Premier League history, holding the record for the most combined goals as a pair (36) from 2012 – holding it for a full decade – before it was broken by Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane in 2022.

In recent times, despite accumulating over £1bn on new players since Todd Boehly took over, the Blues are still toothless in front of goal, finishing sixth from the bottom for goals scored last term (38), behind the likes of relegated Leicester City and Leeds United.

Chelsea attempted to fix that problem with the £32m acquisition of Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson but it is fair to say, he hasn't had the desired impact thus far.

What has gone wrong for Nicolas Jackson at Chelsea?

Jackson has shown glimpses of the star striker that Chelsea so desperately desired through his piercing movement in-behind, ability to occupy dangerous pockets of space and being a handful for opposition defenders, lacking the most important part – putting the ball in the back of the net.

While the 22-year-old hasn't been helped by the injury to Christopher Nkunku as the pair formed what was looking like a budding partnership in pre-season, Jackson's attacking metrics paint a picture of someone who is doing everything but take his chances.

The Senegalese has scored only twice in the Premier League this term – the latest coming in a 4-1 victory against Burnley – a goal he hopes will truly kickstart his Chelsea career, however, the youngster could have had several more goals to his name.

According to Sofascore, the 6 foot 1 marksman is joint second in the league for big chances missed (7), fifth for the most expected goals (xG) accumulated (4.09), while his goal conversion of 10% paints a sorry picture of striker squandering big opportunities in front of goal, as seen during their defeat against Nottingham Forest.

Despite being in the early days of his Chelsea career, should he continue to be wasteful in front of goal, Mauricio Pochettino could ditch him and splash the cash on one of Europe's most promising goal-getters, Lois Openda.

What would Lois Openda bring to Chelsea?

The RB Leipzig forward has been ripping it up in the Bundesliga since making the £37m (€43m) switch to the German giants this summer.

Having netted an astonishing 58 goals combined across his past three seasons for Vitesse Arnhem and RC Lens, Openda is a lethal finisher, exhuming a calmness in front of goal, an attribute that isn't distinguished from Jackson.

Lauded as "exceptional" by Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the talented 23-year-old has taken the footballing world by storm in the past year and this is demonstrated by his incredible shooting stats, ranking in the top 3% for non-penalty goals against his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues, top 6% for shots on target, top 12% for total shots and top 32% for shot creating actions per 90, via FBref.

While clever movement and lightening pace frees the Belgian into dangerous positions, similarly to Jackson, the fact he ranks so high for non-penalty goals suggests he's uber-efficient in and around the box, displaying the attributes that could get Chelsea challenging towards the top end of the table.

With four goals and two assists in seven Bundesliga appearances so far this campaign, including a strike in the Champions League against Manchester City, it is no surprise to see Premier League's circling for his signature with Liverpool and Manchester United reportedly entering the race, alongside Pochettino's men.

A deal would be near impossible to complete in January given he's only just signed for Leipzig, but if he continues this rate of scoring, the £80m rated youngster will begin a bidding war next summer that the Blues desperately need to win.

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."

What a hectic transfer window it has been so far for Newcastle United. The Magpies have been embroiled in a crazy transfer saga with Liverpool surrounding Alexander Isak and Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike, which is yet to come to a conclusion.

Indeed, the exact makeup of Eddie Howe’s squad next season is still not clear, and with a few players out of the door, which will soon include Leeds-bound Sean Longstaff, he may have to rely on youngsters if signings are not made soon.

This has previously not been an issue for the Englishman, with Lewis Miley rising through the ranks to become an important player.

The Magpies seem set to add another young talent to their squad in the coming days.

Newcastle’s pursuit of young talent

Signing an exciting young player and thinking ahead to the future is something the Magpies have done before. Young Australian winger Garang Kuol joined the club in 2023 and has since gained experience on various loan spells.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, perhaps the North East giants are about to repeat the masterclass. They are said to have ‘won the race’ to sign South Korean talent Park Seung-soo, having agreed a deal for the youngster.

That is being reported by website Football Asian, who claim he will be in Newcastle this week to ‘complete a medical’ ahead of the move. What makes this acquisition so impressive for the Magpies is the fact that they beat off fierce competition to sign Park.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, French side Marseille, as well as RB Salzburg and FC Midtjylland, were all interested, but Newcastle won what was described as a ‘year-long pursuit’ of the winger.

Why Park would be a good signing

Despite being just 18 years of age, Park has clearly made a huge impression playing for his club, Suwon Bluewings, where he has become an important player. Korean football expert Ross Davis described him as an “exciting” talent, which Newcastle seem to agree with.

The teenager, who is an international for South Korea at under-20 level, has played 28 times in professional football so far. He has one goal and three assists, all of which came last year in the K League 2 for Suwon, the club whose academy he graduated from.

One of the biggest benefits of Park’s game is the fact that he can play on both the left and right flanks. That certainly gives Howe options if he chooses to integrate him into the squad straight away. It also makes him an attractive prospect for sides looking to bring him in on loan, if that is the route Newcastle choose to take.

Howe would surely be hoping that Park can have an impact on the first team just like Miley did. The 19-year-old, who is a boyhood Geordie, has struggled with injuries in recent months, but has still made an impactful start to his Newcastle career.

Miley, who is from Stanley, just south of St James’ Park, has played 46 games for Newcastle so far, scoring three goals and grabbing four assists. One of his standout moments was this magical assist for Isak against Chelsea last season.

It is that sort of magic that Howe would surely want Park to recreate in the long run. In many ways, the Magpies boss might want him to become the second coming of Miley, in the sense of a young player stepping up in the first team.

Well, if his numbers via Sofascore from the 2024 K League 2 are anything to go by, he has the ability. Not only did he contribute to an average of 0.5 goals each game, but he averaged 2.2 key passes and 5.4 successful dribbles per 90 minutes.

Minutes played

586

41.9

Goals and assists

4

0.5

Key passes

14

2.2

Dribbles completed

35

5.4

Tackles and interceptions

5

0.8

Expected goal involvements

4.34xGI

0.67xGI

Described as a “lanky dribbler” by Davis, and standing at over six feet, the physical tools might well be there in the long run for Park to succeed in the Premier League. It certainly seems like he has the technical ability to do so.

Howe would surely love to have another exciting young talent stepping up in the same way Miley did, who can be a huge benefit for Newcastle in the short and long term. Park certainly has the tools to do that.

Isak heir: Newcastle in talks to sign "exceptional" £40m Ekitike alternative

Newcastle are still on the hunt for a striker this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 17, 2025

West Ham United have a proud history of promoting youth players.

The likes of Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Mark Noble have all made their way through the Hammers’ legendary academy.

In more recent times, Declan Rice is probably the best player to come out of the club, and while he did go on to join a London rival, he did so after 245 appearances.

Since he left, the club have struggled to replace him, but that may soon be about to change with someone Jarrod Bowen rates highly.

West Ham's most exciting academy stars

The good news for West Ham fans is that, while the first team might be somewhat lacking in quality, there are plenty of promising youngsters in the academy at the moment.

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Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

For example, they might just have a homegrown version of El Hadji Malick Diouf soon in Emeka Adiele.

The 18-year-old left-back has been in fine form this season, and as things stand, has amassed an impressive tally of one goal and six assists in just eight appearances for the U21 side.

Described as someone “full of confidence and tenacity” by one analyst, it might not be too long until fans get to see him in first-team action.

The same could be said for one of the academy’s best goalscorers: Josh Landers.

The 18-year-old Scotsman joined the Hammers from Hibernian in February of this year and, as one analyst puts it, as one analyst puts it, has “hit the ground running.”

So far this season, the Innerleithen-born gem has already scored five goals in five appearances, totalling 269 minutes for the U21s, which is a goal every 53.8 minutes.

Appearances

12

8

Goals

9

5

Assists

0

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.75

0.62

Finally, although he is a bit older and has now played in the first team, Callum Marshall is still someone worth keeping an eye on, having been named Huddersfield Player of the Year while on loan there last season.

West Ham's future Rice

So, while it’s clear that West Ham have a number of exciting attackers and even the odd full-back coming through, who is the youngster that might one day emulate Rice? That huge task falls to the hugely promising Preston Fearon, but what makes him similar to the Hammers’ former captain?

Well, firstly, like the England international, the 18-year-old gem joined the East Londoners from Chelsea.

More crucially than that, though, he’s someone who can play a few different positions but is primarily a midfielder. More specifically, he thrives as a six and an eight.

Central Midfield

14

0

5

Defensive Midfield

9

0

2

Attacking Midfield

2

0

0

Right Winger

1

0

0

Right Midfield

1

2

0

Centre-Back

1

1

0

For example, since joining the Irons’ academy set-up, the youngster has made 39 appearances across the U18s and U21s, of which 14 have been in central midfield and nine in defensive midfield.

Moreover, on top of his defensive sensibilities, the exciting prospect is capable of chipping in with goal involvements as well, with him scoring three and providing seven assists in his career so far.

Finally, he is also seen as a player who could genuinely make it into the first team, and not just be a part of the squad, but really thrive.

For example, on top of featuring in pre-season, he has also received praise from Bowen, who described him as a “special player” and went on to tell the club’s website that he’s “never seen someone nutmeg so many people in training.”

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Ultimately, it’s hard to predict how a youngster will develop in football, but it does seem as if Fearon has it all, and therefore, he could end up becoming West Ham’s new Rice.

After suffering a rather baffling 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ipswich, perhaps this international break came at exactly the right time for Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side.

This has been a topsy-turvy campaign, to say the least, with the Aussie battling against all sorts of demons on the domestic and continental stage.

It was classic Spurs, really. They had enjoyed a thrilling week where they beat Manchester City and Aston Villa only to lose their next two, against Galatasaray in the Europa League and then to relegation-threatened Ipswich just a few days later.

Postecoglou will have had plenty of time to get things right over the last week and a half, therefore, but it doesn’t get much easier with Manchester City to come on Saturday evening. Fortunately, some of his star players enjoyed a cracking time of it with their international sides.

Spurs' star players during the international break

This wasn’t the busiest of breaks for those who don Spurs colours with plenty of stars actually not called up. Yet, those who did get the call-up certainly caught the eye.

Club captain Heung-min Son scored twice for South Korea, once against Kuwait and another against Palestine.

There was also good fortune for Dejan Kulusevski who has only gone from strength to strength this season. He featured in Sweden’s 2-1 win over Slovakia last week before truly dazzling against Azerbaijan in a 6-0 win for the Swedes on Tuesday evening.

Man in demand Viktor Gyokeres helped himself to four goals while the other two came from the boot of Kulusevski who enjoyed an excellent night for his country.

Seemingly rejuvenated by playing in a more central role, he flourished as a no.10 behind the aforementioned Gyokeres and Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.

Not only did Kulusevski score twice but he supplied an assist and managed a total of six shots on the night, also boasting 113 touches, the most of anyone by a margin of 30.

Minutes played

90

Touches

113

Goals

2

Assists

1

Passes completed

56/68 (82%)

Dribbles completed

4/4

Key passes

8

Fouls won

4

Duels won

9

That said, he wasn’t the only Spurs star to catch the eye over the last few days. Wales’ Brennan Johnson also delivered an impressive performance on Tuesday night.

Brennan Johnson's performance in numbers

This has been a real breakthrough campaign for Johnson so far, notably scoring seven goals for Spurs with six of them memorably coming in six consecutive matches.

Not just a livewire at club level, the former Nottingham Forest winger has also shone on the international stage, scoring for Wales against Iceland during October’s international break.

He was in fine form again in the latest set of fixtures, scoring for Craig Bellamy’s side against the Icelandics again on Tuesday during a 4-1 victory. Not just content with finding the net, Johnson also registered an assist for a goal scored by Liam Cullen.

It was a phenomenal display from the 23-year-old who was awarded a 9/10 match rating courtesy of Sofascore and his overall stats summed up why.

Minutes played

89

Goals

1

Assists

1

Touches

49

Accurate passes

24/27 (89%)

Key passes

2

Accurate crosses

1/3

Shots on target

2

Successful dribbles

2/2

Duels won

8/9

Fouls won

3

Tackles

3

During the contest, Johnson impressively completed 89% of his passes and created two chances. Completing 100% of his dribbles and winning eight of his nine duels, the Icelandic defence never stood a chance of containing him.

No player on the pitch won more ground duels while no player in the Welsh attack left the field boasting more touches of the ball (49).

Hopefully, Postecoglou will get a similar tune out of the wide man against City this forthcoming weekend.

Johnson axed for "special" £50m signing in dream Spurs XI after January

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Everton take on Manchester United this weekend as they look to end their four-game winless run which stretches back to the middle of October.

The Toffees occupy 15th place in the Premier League table, just a couple of points off the drop zone, but they face a massive challenge at Old Trafford today.

Indeed, Ruben Amorim secured his first win in charge of United during the Europa League clash in midweek, and he will be keen to keep up the momentum.

One player who Everton must watch out for is Bruno Fernandes, who can cause all sorts of problems for their backline.

Why Bruno Fernandes will be a danger

Across 12 Premier League games this season, Fernandes has scored twice and registered three assists while creating eight big chances. Under Amorim, the Portuguese gem should be able to take his game to new heights, both domestically and in Europe.

Against Bodo/Glimt, the midfielder tended to drift to the left wing during the game, where he made one key pass, had five shots in total and took 95 touches. He may not have got on the scoresheet, but there was no denying how impressive his performance was.

The Everton defence will need to be at their very best to combat him this afternoon. If they can, the club could secure a positive result.

At the other end of the pitch, Sean Dyche might just have his own version of Fernandes in Dwight McNeil, who has operated as a number ten to great effect this season.

Everton's answer to Bruno Fernandes

Dyche decision to utilise McNeil as an attacking midfielder has been rewarded with some excellent performances, with the former Burnley man single-handedly keeping Everton above the drop zone.

Three goals and three assists have been registered in the top flight, while the Englishman has also created eight big chances and averaged 2.7 key passes per game, which is more than Fernandes, who averages 2.1 key passes each match.

Metric

Fernandes

McNeil

Goals

2

3

Assists

3

3

Key passes per game

2.1

2.7

Big chances created

8

8

Successful dribbles per game

0.8

1.6

Total shots per game

3.1

1.9

In terms of dribbles, McNeil also leads the way over the United sensation, averaging 1.6 dribbles per game to just 0.8 for Fernandes, signifying just how good he has been in the Premier League this season.

The £25k-per-week star is vital to how Everton play and Dyche must continue to unleash him just behind the main striker, especially with the destruction he can cause.

Journalist Joe Thomas previously hailed McNeil as “magic” in 2022 when Frank Lampard was in charge of the Merseyside outfit. Under Dyche, however, McNeil has taken his game to new heights this season.

Without him, the Toffees would certainly be lower than where they currently find themselves and if McNeil is on form against the Red Devils, Amorim’s first league match at Old Trafford might just be a difficult one to negotiate.

£80k-p/w Everton star could now leave for free in 2025 with Calvert-Lewin

Is it the right time to let him leave?

1 ByHenry Jackson Nov 30, 2024

The weekend was one of mixed emotions for Arsenal fans. On one hand, Liverpool leapfrogged them into first place, but on the other, they came away from the Etihad with a point.

It's the first time since May 2016 that the Gunners have avoided defeat away to Manchester City, and while it would've been better to collect all three points, one still keeps them in the Premier League title race.

It was a result built largely on an immense defensive effort from the entire XI, with very few chances coming for the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus.

That said, the Brazilian probably had the best chances for the north Londoners, and while he certainly wasn't terrible, he probably shouldn't start tonight.

Gabriel Jesus' performance against City

It's been an interesting season for the former City man. Despite looking dangerous in the Champions League and racking up six goal involvements in as many games, he's struggled to do the same in the Premier League, scoring four goals and providing three assists in 20 games.

This lacklustre form has only been exacerbated by his consistent injury problems, which have seen him miss 16 games this season and the fact that, in his absence, the team seems to have found their best form with Havertz as a spearhead.

However, the "tremendous" São Paulo-born gem, as Arteta described him, is clearly a fantastically talented player, and so it makes sense for the Spaniard to try what he did at the Etihad and start the 26-year-old on the left of a three.

This could well be the best way to get the most out of Jesus going forward, but in Sunday's game, he still struggled to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

It's an opinion shared by GOAL's Charlie Watts, who gave him a 6/10 on the day and wrote that he was both 'lively and frustrating', an assessment backed up by his individual statistics from the game.

Minutes

72'

Expected Goals

0.17

Expected Assists

0.26

Shots on Target

0

Shots off Target

2

Dribbles (Successful)

4 (3)

Accurate Passes

8/10 (80%)

Lost Possession

7

Duels (Won)

12 (4)

Dribbled Past

2

Fouls

3

In his 72 minutes of action, the right-footed marksman registered an expected goals figure of 0.17 and an expected assists figure of 0.26. He took two shots that were off target, succeeded in three of his four dribbles, was accurate in just 80% of his passes, lost eight of his 12 duels, was dribbled past twice, and committed three fouls.

Lastly, while dangerous, Jesus couldn't provide Arsenal with a genuine outlet to relieve the immense pressure they were under. So, for tonight's game against Luton Town, Arteta should drop him to the bench.

Why Gabriel Martinelli should start

Yes, the player in question is the incredibly dynamic Gabriel Martinelli, and there are two key reasons why he should be selected to start ahead of Jesus.

Appearances

163

Goals

41

Assists

24

Goal Involvements per Match

0.39

The first reason is simple: he's Arsenal's best left winger. In 46 games last year, the "sensational talent", as U23 scout Antonio Mango described him, scored 15 goals and provided six assists. While his return of eight goals and five assists this season is a little underwhelming, he has still looked incredibly dangerous when on the pitch.

The 22-year-old's blistering pace and tenacious style of play have made him an essential element to how Arsenal attack teams. His ability to break down the left, push back the defending team and bring his teammates into play will be crucial if Arsenal are to end their two-decade title drought this season.

It should be no surprise that the three games he hasn't started recently have also coincided with a drop in the goals scored by his teammates.

Reason number two is related to that, and it's all about his match sharpness.

When Arteta introduced the former Ituano gem towards the end of the City game, it was quite clear that he wasn't up to speed yet. So a game against a much easier opponent at the Emirates is the perfect opportunity to play him back to full readiness, especially with the two legs against Bayern Munich just around the corner.

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Ultimately, the Gunners will likely prove too strong for the Hatters regardless of which Brazilian starts out on the left, but with there being no margin for error anymore, it is imperative that Martinelli is fit and ready to go for the rest of the run-in.

Leeds have had some fabulous kits over the years, of which many have become sought-after retros among the shirt-collector community.

Football jerseys have become something of a fashion item in many wardrobes across the globe, and Leeds have certainly contributed to that trend.

Over the Whites' 105-year history, they've had several manufacturers designing their kits and some have certainly been better than others, to say the least.

Our list consists of strips from recent years and right back until the late 80s, so we've included a wide range of retro classics and modern-day crackers.

Rank

Kit

Manufacturer

01/02 Home

Nike

19/20 Away

Kappa

00/01 Away

Nike

20/21 Third

Adidas

02/03 Home

Nike

92/93 Away

Admiral

89-91 Away

Umbro

92/93 Home

Admiral

15/16 Away

Kappa

13/14 Away

Macron

05/06 Away

Admiral

09/10 Away

Macron

07/08 Home

Admiral

08/09 Home

Macron

16/17 Home

Kappa

15 2016/17 Home Kappa

Fresh-faced Kalvin Phillips, pictured above, dons this beauty of a home shirt from Leeds' 2016/17 Championship campaign. Made by Kappa, the jersey sports a trendy collar which adds a unique and distinctive quirk. A clean number.

Unfortunately, the Whites' performances didn't live up to the kit that season, as they fell five points adrift of sixth-placed Fulham, who occupied the final play-off place. Garry Monk was in post as gaffer, but resigned shortly after the campaign.

14 2008/09 Home Macron

Although not sponsor-less, the faint text actually makes for a cleaner look and the blue v-neck collar is a nice touch.

The Peacocks finished fourth in League One sporting this strip, and missed out on promotion in the play-offs after Millwall claimed a 2-1 aggregate semi-final victory.

13 2007/08 Home Admiral

Fan favourite Jermaine Beckford wheels off in celebration rocking Leeds' Admiral-made home kit. The striker enjoyed a prolific campaign donning this strip, scoring 20 goals in 40 league appearances.

The sponsor isn't in your face, which is sometimes one of the biggest problems with modern-day jerseys, but it's the classy blue and yellow collar that really makes this number a beauty. The iconic Coca-Cola sleeve badge is worth noting, too.

However, despite a marvellous home strip, the season ended in heartbreak as the club suffered a 1-0 play-off final defeat at Wembley to Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers, leaving them in England's third tier for a second successive season.

12 2009/10 Away Macron

The iconic blue and yellow colours of Leeds United are paired beautifully on this number, manufactured by Macron. The collared classic was worn during the club's League One promotion-winning campaign, which saw them accumulate 85 points.

Whilst the two contrasting colours might not be to everyone's taste, it's certainly a refreshing change from the dull away strips we often see nowadays. Good job, Macron.

11 2005/06 Away Admiral

Admiral produced a lovely navy and light blue away number for the West Yorkshire club here. The racing-esque stripe down either side of the jersey adds a trendy feature, whilst the centralised badge creates a retro feel.

Unfortunately, that season saw Leeds dealt a 3-0 defeat by Watford in the Championship play-off final. Manager Kevin Blackwell was sacked later that year after a troubled start to the following campaign.

Robbie Blake, pictured above, and Rob Hulse ended the season as top scorers with 11 goals apiece.

10 2013/14 Away Macron

This shirt just screams Ross McCormack. The unusual gold jersey is probably like marmite for a lot of people, you either love it or hate it, but we love this Macron-made jersey.

Perhaps the sponsor could've been a little smaller, but notwithstanding that, it's a lovely strip that embodies everything an away kit should be – unique!

McCormack netted a whopping 28 times in the Championship that year, and unsurprisingly took home the Golden Boot. It turned out to be his final season at the West Yorkshire club as Fulham paid £11m for his services in the summer.

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The age-old phrase 'less is more' certainly applies here. No sponsor, just a proper football kit. The traditional Leeds colours of yellow and blue create a fabulous away strip that deserved so much more than a 13th-placed finish.

The Whites had two managers in post that season in the form of Uwe Rosler, who began the campaign before getting the boot in October, and Steve Evans, who also got the sack shortly after.

This period as a Leeds fan was certainly a dull and uninspiring time. Between 2012 and 2016, they failed to finish inside the top half of the Championship.

8 1992/93 Home Admiral

Throwing it right back to the early 90s, here.

The old badge will certainly bring a great deal of nostalgia to certain generations, and if you are a sucker for retro kits, you'll love this one. The navy collar breaks up the white beautifully and the subtle yellow detailing running across the fixture really makes this a super jersey. Of course, it wouldn't be a 90s kit if it wasn't a bit too baggy for the players! Fantastic work again, Admiral.

7 1989-91 Away Umbro

Another gorgeous yellow away strip manufactured by Umbro. The nostalgic badge, paired with the blue collar, makes for a kit desired by many football fanatics.

The strip was worn during Howard Wilkinson's reign as manager and was donned during the Whites' promotion campaign back to the top flight in 1989/90.

The jersey is listed on Classic Football Shirts for £199.99, further evidencing just how valued and sought-after it is.

6 1992-93 Away Admiral

Now, this one really is complete marmite. As aforementioned, away strips shouldn't be dull in our eyes, they should be risky colourful attempts to produce a creative masterpiece, and that's exactly what this kit is.

It was worn when Leeds were reigning top-tier champions, but they only just survived the drop, finishing in 17th place, two points above the relegation zone. Eric Cantona was pinched by rivals Manchester United midway through the season and ended with 15 goals. It's a shame that a stunning kit was marred by a littering of poor results throughout the year.