All posts by z3u9t.icu

After two seasons of challenging Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, Arsenal can no longer be ignored: they are the real deal.

However, while Mikel Arteta has helped transform the Gunners into genuine contenders, they still need to take that final step and finally end their two-decade title drought, which will require more investment.

For all the valid criticism that has been laid at the feet of the Kroenkes in recent years, they haven't scrimped on transfers, and they look set to spend big once again this summer as the player lined up as the dream alternative to Martin Zubimendi isn't going to come cheap.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from the Mirror, Arsenal have maintained their interest in Newcastle United's star midfielder, Bruno Guimarães.

The story has revealed that due to rules around profit and sustainability, the Magpies could be forced into selling one of their stars. As the Brazilian has attracted interest from Manchester City and Liverpool alongside the Gunners, he could be the player sold.

The former Lyon ace reportedly has a £100m release clause inserted into his contract, and according to the Mirror, the North Londoners are set to 'consider triggering' it.

It would be yet another serious investment in the team, but with reports suggesting the club's other midfield target, Zubimendi, is unconvinced about leaving Spain, it seems like an investment worth making, especially as he looks more impressive than the Spaniard anyway.

How Guimarães compares to Zubimendi

Now, the first thing to say is that both players have proven themselves to be very talented midfielders this season, but if Arsenal can only sign one, there are a couple of reasons why they should go after Guimarães, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig described as having "world class potential."

The first, is that when comparing their underlying numbers, the Toon ace emerges victorious in almost every relevant metric including, non-penalty expected goals and assists, progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, shot and goal-creating actions, ball recoveries, tackles and tackles won, all per 90.

In his defence, the San Sebastian-born star does come out on top for statistics like clearances, passing accuracy, interceptions and aerial duels won, all per 90, but that's pretty much it.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals and Assists

0.31

0.14

Non-Penalty Goals

0.19

0.14

Assists

0.22

0.03

Progressive Passes

7.80

5.15

Progressive Carries

1.79

1.15

Shots

1.32

0.75

Shots on Target

0.44

0.37

Passing Accuracy

83.9%

85.7%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.94

1.87

Goal-Creating Actions

0.52

0.14

Tackles

2.42

1.66

Tackles Won

1.46

0.92

Blocks

1.43

1.12

Interceptions

0.94

1.25

Clearances

0.55

1.83

Ball Recoveries

6.50

5.73

Aerial Duels Won

0.47

1.49

Aside from his overwhelming superiority in terms of their underlying numbers, the second reason Arteta and Co should opt for the Brazilian "leader," as Kulig dubbed him, is his Premier League experience.

If the North Londoners were to sign the Magpies midfielder, they could do so confident in the knowledge that he can thrive in the English game, because that is exactly what he's been doing for the last few years.

On the other hand, signing a midfielder from La Liga who has never played outside of Spain will always be more of a risk.

Even if the Sociedad man adapted to English football, it probably wouldn't be instant, and when Arsenal are competing with a team like City every year, they cannot afford for any of their star players to start slowly.

Ultimately, while Zubimendi looks like a quality player, his unsureness about a move away from Spain is the perfect excuse for Edu and Co to go all guns blazing to sign Guimarães, as the Brazilian looks to be the far superior midfielder anyway.

Arsenal can forget about Sesko by signing "incredible" £85m "powerhouse"

The prolific striker could be the perfect alternative for Mikel Arteta.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 7, 2024

Philippe Clement may need to sell a few first-team players at Glasgow Rangers before he is able to spend much this summer.

Michael Beale’s lavish summer spending spree from last year looks like it could derail the club unless the Ibrox outfit can raise several million during the transfer window.

Sam Lammers has attracted attention after a stunning second half of the 2023/24 campaign – scoring 11 goals in just 20 matches for FC Utrecht – and he will be sold this summer.

Might a more prominent first-team player be ready to finally leave Rangers, however? Especially as interest in him is growing with each passing day…

Rangers could sell their top goalscorer from last season

James Tavernier finished the 2023/24 campaign with a tally of 24 goals – two clear of Cyriel Dessers – and there is no denying how much of a difference the captain makes in the final third.

When the pressure was on during the final few weeks of the season, however, Tavernier failed to raise his game, which saw Celtic win both the Premiership title and the Scottish Cup.

He failed to score in any of the final seven fixtures of the season. Could it finally be time to see the defender leave Glasgow this summer?

Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has shown interest in luring Tavernier and Connor Goldson to Saudi Arabian side Al-Etiffaq this summer, according to reports from the Middle East nation (via Football Scotland), while there also appears to be a new suitor for Tavernier.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, another former manager of the Glasgow side, is lining up a reunion with the Englishman at his new side Besiktas.

Reports in Turkey (via the Rangers Review) claim that the Dutchman is looking to bolster his team ahead of the new season, with Tavernier a main target.

The skipper will turn 33 in October and, with two years left on his current contract, this could be the perfect chance for Clement to remove all sentiment and sell him for a decent fee.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2023/24

58

24

12

2022/23

55

18

10

2021/22

58

18

17

2020/21

46

19

16

2019/20

46

3

15

2018/19

57

17

20

2017/18

46

9

9

2016/17

44

2

7

2015/16

50

15

23

This would allow him a licence to bring in his own players, but also for the club to finally make a fresh start this summer in the hopes of returning to the summit of the Scottish game.

There is certainly a lack of options available at right-back, which suggests the 50-year-old coach may need to invest in one or two in the coming weeks.

Could he turn to the Premier League in order to do this? There is one rising talent that has been linked with a move north of the border…

Rangers line up move for Tavernier replacement

Last week, Scotsman journalist Graham Falk delivered an update on the Gers transfer activity which concerned Arsenal starlet Reuell Walters.

Falk stated that the Light Blues were interested in making a summer move for the highly rated right-back in a bid to add some depth to the right side of the defence.

With Clement’s summer budget unknown, luring a few talented youngsters to Scotland without paying a penny could be considered wise, allowing the manager to save his funds for more high-profile targets.

Walters may only be 19 years old, but there is no doubting the talent he possesses which could see the Englishman reach the very top of the professional game.

What Reuell Walters could offer to Rangers

Despite emerging through the Hale End academy in recent years, becoming one of the most promising talents in the youth teams, Walters has yet to make his senior debut for the Gunners.

Last season, the teenager made the matchday squad on no fewer than 11 occasions, including for the Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven in December, yet failed to make it onto the pitch.

This experience, however, should give Walters plenty of confidence heading into the future, although it appears to lie away from Arsenal.

He is out of contract at the end of this month, which means the Ibrox side can secure him on a pre-contract deal at any time. Mikel Arteta looks as though he is keen to keep the right-back,

With first-team football a priority for his ongoing development, surely a move to Scotland would help in this regard, especially with the chance to play European football.

He may not offer the same attacking abilities as Tavernier, registering just six goal contributions across 80 matches for a variety of youth sides, but the current Rangers captain is an anomaly.

While his talents lie elsewhere, the defender was highly praised by analyst Ben Mattinson recently, who said:

“Reuell Walters is a physically gifted player. His 1v1 strength in duels is a joke, playing against the others at youth level he’s so strong and hence wins the ball off opponents well.

“A ball-carrying monster – Walters loves to drive up the pitch with conviction, brushing off challengers and shielding the ball with his body. Walters can carry the ball far past many players due to his powerful running style. This type of on the ball ability is invaluable.”

This suggests that while the youngster might not get on the scoresheet often, his strengths clearly lie in bringing the ball out from the defence and bursting down the right flank with ease, bullying defenders with his brute strength and pace.

Clement will be hard-pressed to find a player who is going to score 20 goals a season from right-back. This means he must improve his midfield and attacking options, adding players who can regularly chip in with ten or more goals a campaign, taking the pressure off the full-backs to contribute.

If the Belgian can do this, signing Walters could be a logical move this summer. Not only does the 19-year-old have plenty of time on his hands to improve and develop naturally through exposure at first team level, but his market value could rise substantially over the next few years, thus allowing the club to make a serious profit on him.

Rangers will need to act fast, however, as a player of Walters' talent will have plenty of admirers lined up ready to offer him a deal.

Rangers edge closer to signing speedy Sima alternative

Rangers appear to have agreed a fee with one of their recent transfer targets…

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 10, 2024

Glasgow Rangers are back in action once again in the Scottish Premiership this evening as they prepare to take on Kilmarnock away from Ibrox.

The Light Blues are looking to finally get back to winning ways after frustrating draws with Falkirk and Dundee United in their last outings in the league under Danny Rohl.

A 98th-minute penalty from Nedim Bajrami salvaged a point against Dundee United, and the Gers head coach may want to make several changes to the team after that disappointing showing, including dropping Bojan Miovski from the side.

Why Bojan Miovski should be dropped

The Macedonia international has been a regular starter in the Premiership, starting nine of his 11 appearances in the league (Sofascore), and led the line on Wednesday night.

Miovski lost three of his five ground duels and four of his five aerial duels, per Sofascore, against Dundee United, whilst he also missed his only ‘big chance’ in front of goal, which sort of sums up his season so far.

The former Aberdeen marksman has lost 69% of his duels and missed five ‘big chances’ to go along with his one goal in his 11 league outings, per Sofascore, which shows that he has struggled physically and in front of goal in a Gers shirt.

These statistics show that the 26-year-old striker has not delivered enough quality on the pitch, in or out of possession, which is why Rohl should drop the forward from the starting line-up for this clash with Kilmarnock this evening, to give Danilo or Youssef Chermiti a chance to lead the line.

Chalkboard

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

Miovski is not the only player who should be dropped from the side that started against Dundee United, though, as Connor Barron should also be ruthlessly ditched.

Why Connor Barron should be dropped

Rohl should drop the Scotland international from the starting line-up because his performances in the last two league games have not been at a high level.

Barron started against Falkirk and Dundee United alongside Nicolas Raskin in the middle of the park, ahead of Mohamed Diomande, but failed to offer enough quality on or off the ball.

Minutes

76

90

Pass accuracy

90%

83%

Big chances created

0

0

Tackles made

0

1

Fouls committed

2

1

Ground duels won

3/6

1/5

Aerial duels won

0/1

0/2

As you can see in the table above, the former Aberdeen star lost the majority of his physical duels across both games, including 86% against Dundee United, whilst he did not create any ‘big chances’ for the team.

This shows that Barron has been a lightweight in his duels in recent games, as opposition players have found it too easy to get the better of him, which has made the Rangers midfield too easy to play against.

On top of struggling out of possession, the 23-year-old central midfielder has no goals, no assists, and no ‘big chances’ created in 12 appearances and seven starts in the Premiership this season, per Sofascore.

He does not offer much of a threat at the top end of the pitch and that has played a part in Rangers scoring just one non-penalty goal in 180 minutes against Falkirk and Dundee United.

Rohl has Diomande, who scored in his last league start against Livingston, available for selection and should bring him into the team to replace Barron for this clash with Kilmarnock this evening.

The Ivorian talent, who is off to the African Cup of Nations later this month, produced five goals and nine assists in midfield for the Scottish giants in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, which shows that he has the quality to make an impact in the final third when he is at his best.

Raskin repeat: Rohl lining up Rangers move to sign exciting "unicorn"

Rangers are reportedly eyeing up a move for a star who could be a Nicolas Raskin repeat.

ByDan Emery 7 days ago

It is down to Rohl, though, to unleash him alongside Raskin against Kilmarnock tonight to provide him with another chance to remind the supporters of his quality before his absence due to international duty, because Barron has not done enough in his place.

Everton are keen to bring in some fresh blood during the January window and could now be lining up a multi-layered deal to acquire a former star at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Everton left frustrated after heavy defeat against Newcastle United

Despite holding home advantage, Everton were beaten convincingly by Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Saturday and will feel a sense of frustration at their poor defensive display, a rarity under the stewardship of David Moyes.

After a joyous victory away at Manchester United on Monday, despite having ten men for much of the affair, the Toffees failed to show the same resilience against Eddie Howe’s men and paid the price under the lights at their new stadium.

Speaking post-match, the Scot had no excuses for his side being unable to trouble the Geordies and made it clear that their European experience was a factor that helped shape a difficult night for the hosts.

He said: “We were beaten by a far better team. We go again, you move on but Newcastle were much better than us. You can see the experience they are gaining from playing in European games. They were just much more powerful than us all night.”

Even with a decent start to the Premier League campaign under their belt, Everton are building for January and could target FC Midtjylland forward Franculino Dju to try and arrest Thierno Barry’s goal drought since arriving on Merseyside.

Everton line up January move for England international who Alan Shearer called "world class"

The Toffees have spotted a low-cost opportunity.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 22, 2025

Celtic’s Daizen Maeda is also a wanted man and may be attainable, though they could also be willing to strengthen further back on the left-hand side if recent developments were to come to fruition.

Everton could look to re-sign Antonee Robinson

According to Alan Nixon on Patreon, Everton are keen to re-sign Fulham captain Antonee Robinson and believe £25m could be enough to secure his signature in January.

Armed with several formulas to potentially complete a deal, Vitaly Mykolenko has been mentioned as a potential swap option, with the Toffees unlikely to meet the Cottagers’ £40m valuation of the United States international.

Lauded by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley last season as being “one of the best left-backs in the world”, Robinson has made just four appearances for Fulham this term and has struggled with knee problems, which have seen him miss six Premier League matches in a row as he looks to get back to fitness.

Having come through the youth system at Everton before joining Wigan Athletic and then going on to move to West London, he is acutely aware of the club’s culture and would be a seamless fit, though it remains to be seen if the Blues can push a deal over the line.

While West Ham United have certainly signed some real talents over the last few years, they’ve unfortunately made more than their fair share of poor signings.

For example, the likes of Andy Irving, Mads Hermanssen, and Gianluca Scamacca are either failing to make the grade or have already failed, and that’s just from the last few summers.

Yet, perhaps the most disappointing addition the East Londoners have made in recent years is Niclas Füllkrug.

Fortunately, it looks like the German could be moving on sooner rather than later, although West Ham should make sure they get rid of another flop at the same time, someone former manager David Moyes was particularly excited about.

Füllkrug's West Ham disaster

When West Ham splashed £27m on Füllkrug last summer, there was a fair deal of excitement from some in the fanbase, as while he was certainly on the older side, he had just come off a stellar season for Borussia Dortmund in which he reached the Champions League final and chalked up 15 goals and provided ten assists in 43 appearances.

As if that wasn’t enough, he had also just spent the summer playing for Germany in the Euros.

Unfortunately, even those with the lowest of expectations for the veteran striker have since been disappointed with his efforts in East London.

In his first campaign with the club, injuries limited him to just 20 appearances, totalling 877 minutes, in which he scored just three goals and provided two assists.

This season has not been much better, as before his current injury, the 32-year-old had failed to score a single goal or provide a single assist in seven appearances, totalling 385 minutes.

Appearances

20

7

Minutes

877′

385′

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.25

0.00

Minutes per Goal Involvement

175.4′

N/A

So, with the former Dortmund star being both woefully ineffective and injury-prone, most fans weren’t too upset when news broke of his desire to leave the club in the winter window.

It now looks like such a move will occur, with several Bundesliga sides readying offers to take him off the Hammers’ hands.

Füllkrug will probably end up doing alright back in Germany, but his departure would be best for all parties involved, which is also the case for another West Ham dud Moyes once thought would be a success.

The West Ham star who must be sold

Aside from Füllkrug, the West Ham player most in need of being sold in the winter window is, unfortunately, James Ward-Prowse.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

The expectations around the Englishman’s £30m move in the summer of 2023 were even higher than for the German’s arrival, with then-manager Moyes highlighting his “leadership qualities” as a reason why he could become a “big voice” in the dressing room.

Now, to his credit, the former Southampton captain didn’t have the worst of starts during his time in the capital and actually ended his first campaign with a reasonable enough tally of seven goals and 12 assists in 51 appearances.

However, the wheels very quickly came off the following season as new manager Julen Lopetegui didn’t fancy him in his midfield and sent him away on loan to Nottingham Forest.

Unfortunately, Nuno, who was in charge of the Tricky Trees, also quickly realised he did not want the Englishman in the heart of his midfield and barely gave him any game time.

So, the Irons recalled the 31-year-old, and under Graham Potter, he once again became an important part of a team.

However, whether it was age, poor form or something else entirely, the former Saints star came back and looked miles off it and continues to look off the pace into this season.

He simply didn’t have the physicality or athleticism to do the defensive work required of a central midfielder, and he also became far more ineffective going forward.

So when Nuno was appointed manager in September, it was not a surprise to see the Portsmouth-born ace left out of the squad entirely.

Since the Portuguese manager has been in the dugout, the 11-capped international has not even featured in a match-day squad, and it is therefore fair to say his time at the London Stadium is well and truly over.

Therefore, like with Füllkrug, West Ham should sell Ward-Prowse as soon as possible.

West Ham star with "KDB-type quality" looks like Nuno's new Gibbs-White

The incredible talent could play a massive role in helping Nuno keep West Ham United in the Premier League this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 11, 2025

West Ham United manager Nuno has now commented on the ownership protest, which took place after the 3-1 victory against Newcastle United on Sunday.

West Ham picked up just their second Premier League victory of the season at the weekend, defeating Newcastle at the London Stadium, courtesy of a long-range Lucas Paqueta strike and a Sven Botman own-goal, before Tomas Soucek put the game beyond doubt in injury time.

Nuno managed to get his first win on the board despite a backdrop of discontent, with supporters planning a sit-in protest against the board, having reached the end of their tether with David Sullivan and Karren Brady.

The players seemed unaffected by the off-field issues, however, with Alfie Potts, who had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside in the second half, praising his teammates after the match, saying: “We all fought for the shirt, and we came away with three points, which I think was deserved.”

“I feel like everyone today showed that we’ve got the character and the challenge to come back from positions that we have been in the past, and we can win games, especially against teams like Newcastle who attack really well.”

Nuno directly asked about West Ham fans' protest

The West Ham manager was directly asked about what he thought of the supporters’ protest on Sunday, and he took the time to praise the Hammers faithful, saying: “I think the fans saw something in the team today and this is what we want, this is how we should look at the situation.

“How can we as a team, show to our fans that we want to fight, we want to change [the] situation.

“We want to make things tough for our opponents. We want to change our game, we want to improve our game. The fans [we] cannot thank them enough.”

Of course, the 51-year-old can’t directly criticise the ownership, especially considering some of his recent experiences, with the former Nottingham Forest manager being dismissed after admitting his relationship with Evangelos Marinakis had deteriorated.

However, Nuno’s assessment that the supporters were buoyed on by an encouraging performance is certainly accurate, with the Irons showing signs they are more than capable of getting out of relegation trouble.

West Ham were more than deserving of their victory, as despite the visitors dominating most of the possession, they failed to create any big chances in the match, while the hosts crafted two.

Nuno will be hoping his side can now start to build momentum, with an early six-pointer at home against Burnley pencilled in for next Saturday.

West Ham player ratings as Nuno secures first victory West Ham player ratings v Newcastle United as Nuno secures first victory

The Hammers returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win against Newcastle this afternoon.

ByDominic Lund Nov 2, 2025

Managers being hired and fired is very much a part of life in football, and the managerial merry-go-round is in full swing during the 2025/26 season.

There have already been sackings in the Premier League and Championship, with Ange Postecoglou’s 39-day tenure in charge of Nottingham Forest arguably the main managerial story of the season.

All 20 Premier League managers' salaries (lowest to highest)

How much each Premier League gaffer earns.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 21, 2025

Here is a full list of dismissals from the Premier League and EFL.

Manager

Club left

Date

Nuno Espirito Santo

Nottingham Forest

9th September

Ruben Selles

Sheffield United

14th September

Mike Dodds

Wycombe Wanderers

18th September

Michael Flynn

Cheltenham Town

20th September

Graham Potter

West Ham

27th September

Steve Bruce

Blackpool

4th October

Matt Bloomfield

Luton Town

6th October

Paulo Pezzolano

Watford

8th October

Ange Postecoglou

Nottingham Forest

18th October

Darren Ferguson

Peterborough United

25th October

Noel Hunt

Reading

26th October

Vitor Pereira

Wolves

2nd November

Will Still

Southampton

2nd November

Liam Manning

Norwich City

8th November

Alan Sheehan

Swansea City

11th November

David Hughes

Newport County

15th November

1 Nuno Espirito Santo Nottingham Forest

Nuno Espirito Santo was the first manager sacked in the top four leagues, despite leading Nottingham Forest to Europa League football.

A breakdown in relationship with those above him at the City Ground resulted in his departure, with Nuno taking the West Ham jobs weeks later and Forest not having any luck with his replacement.

2 Ruben Selles Sheffield United

After parting ways with Chris Wilder, Sheffield United brought in Ruben Selles, believing he was the man to take the Blades back to the Premier League.

However, Selles lost all six of his games in charge and was out the door in mid September, with Wilder returning shortly after.

3 Mike Dodds Wycombe Wanderers

Former Sunderland assistant Mike Dodds was in charge of Wycombe for seven months. One win and five defeats in their opening eight League One games saw Dodds depart, with Michael Duff being named as his replacement.

4 Michael Flynn Cheltenham Town

Michael Flynn was sacked by Cheltenham Town in September after losing nine matches from 12 across all competitions.

Rock bottom of the 72 EFL sides at the time of his dismissal, Flynn was replaced by Steve Cotterill, who managed the Robins between 1997-2002.

5 Graham Potter West Ham

After taking over at West Ham at the beginning of 2025, Graham Potter couldn’t see the year out at the London Stadium after a woeful start to the 2025/26 season.

Sacked on a Saturday two days before a game, the Hammers moved quickly to appoint Nuno Espirito Santo.

6 Steve Bruce Blackpool

Steve Bruce’s return to management with Blackpool lasted 12 months, with the experienced former Premier League boss losing seven of 11 League One games in 2025/26.

The 64-year-old was replaced by Ian Evatt, who spent seven years as a player at Bloomfield Road.

7 Matt Bloomfield Luton Town

Matt Bloomfield couldn’t keep Luton Town in the Championship in the 2024/25 season, and a poor start to the League One campaign resulted in his sacking.

The Hatters moved swiftly after parting ways with Bloomfield, bringing in former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.

8 Paulo Pezzolano Watford

It is very rare these days that Watford go through a season without making a managerial change, so Paulo Pezzolano’s departure wasn’t exactly a shock.

The Hornets, in one post on X, shared the news of Pezzolano’s exit and the return of Javi Gracia.

9 Ange Postecoglou Nottingham Forest

Ange Postecoglou’s time in charge of Nottingham Forest was short and not so sweet at all, failing to win any of his eight games.

After a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea and just 39 days in charge, Evangelos Marinakis brutally parted ways with his second manager of the season, bringing in Sean Dyche days later.

10 Darren Ferguson Peterborough United

Darren Ferguson’s fourth spell as Peterborough United manager came to an end in October after winning three of the Posh’s opening 13 games.

He previously won four promotions with the club but had the club bottom of League One at the time of his departure.

Aston Villa have endured a challenging start to the 2025/26 Premier League season, but signs of improvement are beginning to emerge under Unai Emery.

Narrow victories over Fulham and Burnley have lifted confidence at Villa Park, though the side currently sits in the bottom half of the table, highlighting the inconsistency that has defined their opening months.

Looking ahead, Villa face a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, a side renowned for their possession control, quick transitions, and high-intensity pressing.

Emery’s challenge is clear: to compete effectively, Aston Villa need midfield steel capable of breaking up opposition play while enabling progression into attack.

This balance between defensive solidity and attacking support will be key to exploiting space and sustaining pressure.

Two players who could provide that blend are the legendary Mousa Dembélé, whose career embodies technical control and forward drive, and Villa’s own hero, whose physical presence offers a defensive and transitional anchor.

Why Mousa Dembele is the Premier League's midfield benchmark

Though retired, Mousa Dembele’s career offers a perfect reference point for the type of midfield steel Villa require.

The Belgian midfielder, during his seven-year tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, combined exceptional technical skill with immense physicality.

Known for his ability to retain possession under pressure, progress the ball through crowded midfield areas, and link defence with attack seamlessly, Dembélé became a pivotal figure in the Premier League.

Across over 250 Premier League appearances for Spurs, Dembele excelled in key metrics such as progressive carries, progressive passes, and successful take-ons under pressure.

He also contributed defensively, intercepting passes, breaking up opposition attacks, and maintaining possession in critical areas.

His playing style allowed creative teammates the freedom to operate higher up the pitch while giving managers confidence that the midfield remained stable and balanced.

For Villa, Dembele’s blueprint is instructive.

In matches like Sunday’s clash at Spurs, they will need players who can control possession in central areas, dictate tempo, and facilitate progression into attack.

Emery’s side requires someone capable of shielding the back line while providing outlets for forwards like Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers.

Villa’s ability to press effectively, transition quickly, and retain control under pressure depends on such a midfield figure – combining technical proficiency, tactical intelligence, and physical resilience.

Aston Villa's own Dembele must start

Amadou Onana, standing at 6 foot 5 and described as a “one-man army” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, brings the kind of physical presence Villa need to complement technical midfielders and provide defensive reassurance.

Signed from Everton in July 2024 for a reported £50m, Onana has made 37 appearances for Villa as of October 2025, contributing six goals since his arrival.

While he has not yet been directly involved in assists or goals this season, his impact is felt in his ability to dominate central areas, win duels, and break opposition lines, all critical for progression into attack.

Onana’s style suits Emery’s requirement for midfield steel, with now the time for him to potentially replace young Lamare Bogarde in the centre of the park.

His height and strength give Villa an aerial advantage, particularly against teams like Spurs that rely on intricate passing and late runs into the box.

Goals

3

Shots

19

Progressive Carries

31

Progressive Passes

83

Shot-Creating Actions

34

Onana’s composure on the ball allows Villa to control possession in congested areas and drive attacking transitions effectively, ensuring he is the perfect replacement for Bogarde on Sunday.

He has demonstrated versatility, capable of operating as a deep-lying pivot, a box-to-box presence, or in more advanced positions to link defence with forward play.

This physical presence, combined with his technical ability, ensures Villa can both absorb pressure and initiate attacks.

Onana’s defensive contribution is evident: he averages multiple interceptions and recoveries per game, shielding the back line and providing a platform for players like McGinn to operate higher up the field.

His presence allows Emery to balance creativity and discipline, ensuring Villa do not sacrifice stability for forward momentum.

Against a Spurs midfield comprising experienced players like Joao Palhinha, Pape Matar Sarr and Bentancur, Onana’s ability to retain possession, control central areas, and facilitate progression into attack will be vital.

When paired with energetic, technically proficient teammates, he offers the backbone Villa needed to challenge for points and sustain pressing intensity over 90 minutes.

By blending the technical control and forward progression exemplified by Dembele with Onana’s physical presence and defensive discipline, Aston Villa are better equipped to handle the challenges of the Premier League’s top sides.

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Manchester City have now moved into pole position in the race for a “superstar”, and they are now ready to make a bid of over £65m.

Pep eyeing long-term additions to his defence

Pep Guardiola has made it clear he is a huge admirer of Matheus Nunes this season, saying: “He can be an incredible right-back,”

“Matheus is a holding midfielder with incredible physicality and as much as he is focused, he can become one of the best [right-backs].

“He has special attributions to play in the sides, and in the last two or three games he has played unbelievable.”

Nunes has remained a key player for Man City in recent weeks, starting the last three games, with Abdukhodir Khusanov also capable of slotting in at right-back, doing so in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen back in November, while also impressing against Arsenal.

Despite Pep being blessed with a number of options in defence, the City boss remains keen on making long-term additions to his backline, according to a new report from TEAMtalk, which states he views Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento as the complete package.

The Blues have now moved into pole position in the race for Livramento’s signature, despite interest from a number of Premier League clubs, and they are ready to make a bid of more than £65m, which could include add-ons, while summer signing James Trafford may also be used as part of a swap deal.

"Superstar" Livramento may find it difficult to dislodge Nunes

Lauded as a “superstar” by Newcastle content creator Kendall Rowan, there are signs the right-back could be a good fit in a Guardiola system, with his passing ability particularly impressive over the course of the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Pass completion %

85.9% (90th percentile)

Progressive passes

5.17 (87th percentile)

Pep has been keen on signing the full-back for quite some time, and he is now vastly experienced in the Premier League, having made 103 appearances in the competition, while he has also tested himself in the Champions League for the second time this season.

The 23-year-old could be able to push for Nunes’ place in the starting XI before too long, but it will be difficult to dislodge the Portugal international, given that the City star is arguably a more well-rounded right-back at the moment.

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The 27-year-old has displayed a keen eye for creating chances this season, chipping in with one goal and three assists in the Premier League, while Livramento has just four goal contributions in 93 games for Newcastle.

As such, the Engand international may have to improve the attacking side of his game if he is going to take Nunes’ shirt.

Making his first move as sporting director, Ross Wilson and Newcastle United have now reportedly agreed a deal to sign a young defender ahead of rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Eddie Howe backs "great" Ross Wilson appointment

With the focus now firmly back on domestic football after the conclusion of the October international break, Eddie Howe has had his say on Wilson’s Newcastle arrival.

The former Bournemouth boss, who has worked with both Dan Ashworth and Paul Mitchell at the club, has now backed the new sporting director ahead of the Magpies’ trip to face Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.

The former Nottingham Forest man arrives to calm the storm in Newcastle’s transfer department, which endured the most chaotic summer window. Whether that means reinforcements for Howe remains to be seen.

Having broken their transfer record to welcome Nick Woltemade and replace one of the world’s best strikers in Alexander Isak, PIF certainly proved that they’re willing to spend without PSR issues in the way and that has reportedly seen Wilson spring into action from the off.

Newcastle agree deal to sign Kenchington

According to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, Newcastle have now agreed a deal to sign Josh Kenchington from Barnsley in Wilson’s first move as sporting director. The England U15 centre-back also had interest from Tottenham Hotspur, but is seemingly set to make the move to Tyneside in the near future.

Likened to Manchester City star and multiple-time Premier League winner John Stones by Hope, Kenchington now has the chance to follow in the England international’s footsteps from Barnsley to the top flight.

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Comfortable on the ball and already over 6ft, there is understandable excitement around the young defender’s arrival. Those at St James’ Park aren’t afraid to hand young players opportunities when they’re ready, either, with the likes of Lewis Miley already benefitting from that.

Although he is unlikely to be in and around Howe’s first-team for a few years yet, Kenchington is certainly one to watch at youth level. If he proves to be anywhere near as talented as England star Stones, then Newcastle will have an undeniable gem on their hands. As first moves go, Wilson may have just pulled off an inevitable bargain.