All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United have now joined the transfer race to sign an “unbelievable” £100 million star this summer, according to a recent report.

Newcastle go six unbeaten with a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace

The Magpies continued to be without manager Eddie Howe for their game against the Eagles, but that wasn’t a problem for the Premier League side, as they blew Palace away with four goals in the first half. The 5-0 win on Wednesday night means it is 12 goals in their last three league games, and assistant manager Jason Tindall believes that is down to the team being “confident”.

103 touches, 87% passing: 9/10 Newcastle star is now as undroppable as Isak

Newcastle romped home to victory against Crystal Palace in a 5-0 demolition job at St James’ Park.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 17, 2025

Tindall told BBC Match of the Day: “We’ve got a fantastic squad, and the balance of the team has been great. We’ve got some players on the bench who can come on the pitch and make a difference. We’re confident; we’ve had a good run of results, and we have to remain level-headed and work hard every day to go out and deliver performances.”

The win against Palace has lifted Newcastle to third place in the Premier League, five clear of sixth-place Chelsea. Tindall has now stated that the Magpies have six cup finals to go and secure Champions League football for next season.

“That’s where we want to get to. Everybody in the Premier League wants to be in the Champions League. We’ve experienced it before, and we want more of it,” he told BBC Match of the Day.

“We’ve got six cup finals now remaining, and we have to stay focused to be able to go out there and deliver the performances we know will help us to get to the Champions League.”

Newcastle join Spurs in race to sign £100m Man City star

So as the Magpies close in on returning to Europe’s biggest competition, Howe and co. are beginning to look at potential transfer targets for this summer. According to a report from Spain, Newcastle are looking to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City but face competition from other Premier League teams.

The report states that the Magpies, as well as Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, have made themselves the main contenders to sign the England international this summer. The 29-year-old is under contract until the summer of 2027, but given he has struggled to become a regular in Pep Guardiola’s team, City are potentially looking to sell him this summer if they receive offers that meet their demands.

This report states that Newcastle see Grealish, who cost City £100 million, as a good player to bolster their options, especially if they secure European football. Both Villa and Spurs have been credited with interest in Grealish before Newcastle, but the Magpies may hope that securing Champions League football can give them the edge in this race, and the fact that he has the same agent as goalkeeper Nick Pope could also help them when securing a transfer.

Apps

189

Goals

27

Assists

29

Grealish, who has been dubbed “unbelievable” by Guardiola, has scored just one goal and grabbed one assist in the Premier League this season, as he’s had to be very patient, starting just seven games in the league so far. Grealish’s potential arrival at St James’ Park would see him compete with the likes of Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy for a starting spot.

Aston Villa have made some statement signings in the last few months, with the January transfer window a really impressive one for the West Midlands side.

Two of their notable signings were loanees, Marco Asensio from Paris Saint-Germain and Marcus Rashford from Manchester United.

The Spanish attacking midfielder has impressed for Villa. He has featured 16 times so far for the club, scoring eight goals and grabbing one assist. Rashford, meanwhile, has been electric, and has four goals and six assists in 17 appearances for the Midlands outfit.

They were both ambitious signings for Villa, and they might not be the last of them. The West Midlands side are reportedly close to signing Sverre Nypan, who is wanted by several of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The latest on Villa’s pursuit of Nypan

What a sensational coup this would be for Villa, if they do manage to get the signing of Nyapn over the line.

According to a recent report from Fabrizio Romano, the Villans are ‘are closing in on the agreement’ for the Norway star.

It would be some addition to the squad at Villa Park with Nypan highly rated across Europe. Indeed, football talent scout Jacek Kulig has suggested that he has a “huge future ahead” of him in professional football.

His stats for Rosenborg in 2024 show exactly why he is so highly rated. The 18-year-old midfielder played 28 top-flight games for his boyhood club in the last calendar year, scoring eight times and grabbing seven assists, including a hat-trick against Lillestrom.

The price Villa would have to pay for Nypan is cheap, too. As stated in a report from Birmingham Live, he may be worth around £10m, which seems an incredibly cheap deal for someone of such promise.

Aston Villa already have their own Nypan

While Nypan is evidently one of the hottest prospects in Europe, Aston Villa have already signing a player with similar traits. He’s also now worth a great deal more than the Norwegian after a scintillating campaign in the Midlands.

It has been an exceptional season for Villans attacker Morgan Rogers. The Villa number 27 became an England international this term, having been rewarded with his first caps off the back of the form he has shown at Villa Park.

Indeed, the 22-year-old, who has only been a Villa player for 18 months, has become a vital player in Unai Emery’s side. He has played 49 times in all competitions, and has 14 goals and 13 assists to his name.

One competition where Rogers really stepped up this season was in the Champions League. It was a fairytale run for Villa who reached the quarter-final before Paris Saint-Germain knocked them out. In 12 appearances, he managed seven goal involvements, including a hat-trick against Celtic in the final group game.

At the start of the season, former Liverpool defender turned Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said Rogers is an “unstoppable” force. Well, that is a claim that has certainly been proven right, given how well the Villans’ number 7 has played this term.

In fact, Rogers’ stats via Sofascore from the 2024/25 campaign are exceptional and showcase the high levels he has shown throughout. For example, he has played 66 key passes and has an expected goal involvement tally of 15.48 xGI (expected goal involvements).

Key passes

66

1.5

Big chances created

20

0.4

Dribbles completed

97

2.1

Tackles and interceptions

56

1.3

Expected goal involvement

15.48xGI

0.34xGI

With all that in mind, it might not be a surprise to hear Rogers’ estimated transfer value, which is 330% higher than the fee Villa will have to pay for Nypan. The England international is now valued at £43m by Transfermarkt.

The impact the England attacker has had in a Claret and Blue shirt so far has been sublime. As his high value shows, he has been a fantastic investment so far, and will surely only get better over the coming months.

Worse than Disasi: Emery must axe Aston Villa flop who lost 77% duels

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery must ruthlessly drop the flop who was worse than Axel Disasi.

ByDan Emery Apr 23, 2025

Aston Villa got back to winning ways with their 3-0 win against already relegated Southampton in the Premier League, having lost 3-1 at the Parc des Princes during the week in the Champions League.

Unai Emery’s side struggled to find the breakthrough against the Saints, with Ollie Watkins finding the net after 73 minutes, which opened the floodgates, as Donyell Malen and John McGinn added a second and third despite Marco Asensio’s duo of missed penalties.

It was a deserved victory for the Villans, keeping 60% possession, generating 3.03 xG in the match, creating six big chances and taking 25 shots.

But, Villa’s January window continues to steal the headlines, as their business during this period seems to have paid off in dividends, providing Emery with the necessary reinforcement to finish the season strong.

Indeed, it’s ensured that Jhon Duran hasn’t been missed in Villa colours…

How Duran is performing in Saudi Arabia

Jhon Duran was sold in the January window, as the 21-year-old striker joined Al Nassr for a fee of around £65m.

Duran made 78 appearances in his time at Villa, netting 20 goals, providing one assist and totaling 2,275 minutes played.

The young forward made a name for himself, coming from the bench to devastating effect, scoring four goals in the opening five Premier League games of the season, all of which came from the bench in just 131 minutes.

Since surprisingly departing, he has been on fire in Saudi, scoring seven goals in 11 games for his new outfit.

Back in the Midlands, many expected the signing of Marcus Rashford to fill the void of the Colombian’s goals, but as good as he’s been, Villa managed to pick up another super sub in the winter transfer window, who’s taken to Duran’s role like a duck to water.

Chalkboard

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

Emery's new Jhon Duran

Alongside the huge loan signings of Rashford and Marco Asensio in January, Villa also made a permanent signing to their attacking line, signing Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of around £19m with £2.5m in add-ons.

Since joining the club, it’s been a topsy turvy period for the 26-year-old who was disappointingly omitted from the club’s Champions League squad list for the knock-out stages.

Despite that setback, he has caught the eye across his 11 appearances for the Villans, netting three times in 340 minutes played. Malen can play all across the front line, on both wings and as a centre-forward, something he has already shown under Emery since arriving.

Minutes

24

Goals

1

Touches

13

Accurate Passes

6/7

Key Passes

1

Shots Total

1

Ground Duels Won

1/2

And over the weekend, Malen netted another goal coming from the bench – his second in recent weeks – playing just 24 minutes against Southampton, taking one shot and converting it into a goal for his side.

The Dutch forward only had 13 touches in the match, making six of his seven passes but made his most important touch count in front of the goal, much like Duran often did.

Having an effective player to come from the bench with fresh legs is something that worked well for Emery earlier in the season with Duran, and having a player like Malen who can do this, but also play in multiple positions across the front line gives Emery even more flexibility.

With Villa gaining £65m from the sale of Duran and bringing Malen in for nearly a third of that fee, it could be argued that as good as the former is at such a young age, the business wasn’t bad for the Midlands club, using the funds effectively to strengthen their squad.

Emery struck gold on Aston Villa star worth more than Doue & Kvaratskhelia

Aston Villa made a brilliant investment with this player

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 11, 2025

Arsenal returned to Premier League action with a bang last night.

Mikel Arteta’s side were not perfect by any means, but aside from a nervous last few minutes, they were comfortably the better team against Fulham and fully deserving of all three points.

Moreover, the game marked the long-awaited return of Bukayo Saka, who hadn’t played a minute of football since his hamstring injury against Crystal Palace back in December.

Unsurprisingly, the Hale Ender, who received a rapturous reception, was as effective as he’s ever been, scoring the North Londoners’ second goal just seven minutes after coming on.

However, while his return is excellent news for the team overall, it probably means a certain player won’t start another game this season.

Arsenal's frontline options

So, with the sensational Saka already looking like his old self, we wouldn’t be surprised to see him start the game against Everton on the weekend.

Appearances

17

5

3

Minutes

1300′

433′

119′

Goals

6

4

0

Assists

11

2

1

Goal Involvements per Match

1.00

1.2

0.33

Minutes per Goal Involvement

76.47′

72.16′

119′

After all, his 24 goal involvements in 25 games make him the team’s most productive player this season, and with the tie against Real Madrid coming next week, Arteta will want him as sharp as possible.

So, who’s likely to start down the middle for most of the rest of the campaign, then? Well, there are a few options, like Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard or even Ethan Nwaneri, but after last night, it seems almost set in stone that it’ll be Mikel Merino.

The former Real Sociedad star might be a central midfielder by trade, but since moving up top against Leicester City almost two months ago, he has been surprisingly effective. He has scored five goals and provided one assist in eight appearances as a centre-forward, which equates to a goal involvement every 1.33 games.

Now, nobody is under the illusion that he’s the answer long-term, but the 28-year-old has stepped up when his team has needed him, and that’s goals in back-to-back league games now.

Based on last night’s game, the player to the left of the Spaniard for the next few games should be Martinelli.

The Brazilian has not been particularly impressive this season, but against Fulham, he looked like the player who took the league by storm in the 22/23 campaign and was a constant threat throughout the 90 minutes.

He had Timothy Castagne beat from the very first attack, and while he didn’t get a goal, he did provide an assist for Saka through an utterly ridiculous backheel.

While that will likely be Arteta’s starting attack for the next few games, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Trossard and Nwaneri continue to be heavily involved until the end of the season, which is not something we can say for another attacker.

The Arsenal star who won't start again

With almost all of Arsenal’s fit attacking players already mentioned above, it’ll likely come as no surprise that the player in question is none other than Raheem Sterling.

Chalkboard

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

The Chelsea loanee joined the club on deadline day in the summer, and while he told the fans that they were going to “see the best” of him, they’ve seen anything but.

The Englishman has scored just one goal and provided four assists in 23 appearances for the North Londoners.

Worse yet, in his 12 Premier League appearances, the 30-year-old winger has provided just a single assist and hasn’t created a single big chance.

Moreover, since he was hooked away to Leicester almost two months ago, the Kingston-born ace has played just 22 minutes of league football in the four games he’s been eligible to play in.

Appearances

12

6

1

4

Minutes

307′

297′

80′

270′

Goals

0

0

0

1

Assists

1

2

0

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.08

0.33

0.00

0.50

Minutes per Goal Involvement

307′

148.5′

N/A

135′

Now, if he was earning a pittance, then this probably wouldn’t be such an issue, but the Gunners are paying him around £162k-per-week to sit on the bench and offer next to nothing when he comes off of it.

That certainly lends credence to Connor Humm’s assertion that his loan move has been an “absolute waste of time and money.”

Ultimately, it would be hard to describe Sterling’s loan to Arsenal as anything other than a failure. Furthermore, with Saka back in the side and Merino and Martinelli looking good, we can’t see a world where he starts another game this season.

Better than Saka: 8/10 Arsenal star just dropped his best game in years

Bukayo Saka returned to the Arsenal team as they beat Fulham 2-1.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 2, 2025

Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham United side are showing signs of green shoots, but there is much work still to be done in the fight to stave off the threat of relegation from the Premier League.

West Ham’s inconsistencies have plunged them into the drop zone, but a glass-half-full mentality would tell you that Nuno has claimed eight points from four games and the squad’s understanding in this new system is tightening, deepening.

But this is also a precarious and anxiety-inducing position. Former technical director Tim Steidten left much to be desired on the recruitment front, and now additions are needed up top and across the backline.

West Ham need to sign a striker

Niklas Fullkrug’s £27m transfer from Borussia Dortmund to the London Stadium has not gone to plan. Injuries have been the German striker’s biggest inhibitor, but he has scored only three times across 29 matches, and a winter exit, ahead of the 2026 World Cup, looks on the cards.

The 32-year-old has indeed been slated for a January departure, probably back to his homeland, and that leaves West Ham in a sticky position, with Jarrod Bowen and Callum Wilson in need of support.

Help may arrive in the form of Santiago Gimenez, with Italian outlet Il Messaggero relaying that the Mexican forward is destined for a move to the Premier League, with the Irons one of the clubs who could put forward a bid of around €30m (equating to £26m).

Sunderland are also interested, and given that Milan would be open to selling the 24-year-old for around that price, the Londoners will need to be snappy in getting a deal done.

What Santiago Gimenez would bring to West Ham

Gimenez stands at 6 foot 1 and is a physical and imposing attacking profile. In this, he would be the perfect profile to replace Fullkrug, whose physicality and focal command in the box are among the finest in Europe.

After joining AC Milan from Feyenoord last winter, Gimenez made a positive start to life in Serie A, scoring five goals and supplying two assists across the latter half of the 2024/25 campaign, playing 14 times and starting only seven of those games.

However, he has petered out under Massimiliano Allegri’s wing this season, yet to score in the Italian top flight. Gimenez is still relatively young and has the athleticism to succeed in the Premier League, and he could be the perfect presence to dovetail into the front of Nuno’s system, having been hailed as a “machine” in the box by talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past.

His particular approach suggests he would be perfect for Nuno’s West Ham project, Chris Wood would bear testament to that, having been the spearhead of the Portuguese tactician’s incredible tenure at the Nottingham Forest helm, prolific and talismanic.

Wood is among the most physical and commanding strikers of recent years; certainly, his blend of clinical shooting, steely hold-up play and intelligent movement has allowed him to blossom into “one of the best in the Prem”, as claimed by reporter Jamie Martin.

And his time in Nuno’s system proved a match made in heaven for both. Now, Gimenez could make his mark as the new version, especially if given the trust and care that have been lacking throughout his year in Italy.

Under Espirito Santo’s stewardship, Wood enjoyed arguably the most productive spell of his career, scoring 20 goals from 36 Premier League matches as the Tricky Trees secured a place in Europe.

Sean Dyche

165

53 (0.32)

Nuno Santo

60

32 (0.53)

Garry Monk

48

30 (0.62)

Nigel Pearson

62

20 (0.32)

Kenny Jacket

19

11 (0.58)

Chris Hughton

29

11 (0.38)

Gimenez could play a similar role in this West Ham team, the catalyst for attacking change after a tough chapter in the club’s modern history.

Finishes like Bowen: West Ham offered chance to sign "insane" Wilson upgrade

The international goalscorer could be just the player to spearhead Nuno’s West Ham project.

ByJack Salveson Holmes 6 days ago

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta suggests the Gunners could be without a key player until 2026 after a pre-Chelsea injury update.

Arsenal set for Premier League six-pointer against Chelsea

The Gunners face a brief period of assessment ahead of Sunday’s Premier League blockbuster at Stamford Bridge, with Arteta sweating over the fitness of a few key players following Wednesday’s triumphant Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

Their commanding 3-1 victory over the German champions came at a cost, with Leandro Trossard forced off in the first half through injury.

The Belgian’s withdrawal was a fairly worrying sight given his excellent form this season, though substitute Noni Madueke stepped up brilliantly in Trossard’s stead to score his first goal for the club.

Arteta played down fears surrounding Trossard’s injury in his post-match press conference, suggesting the decision to withdraw him was precautionary rather than enforced by serious damage.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

However, the manager’s cautious approach means Trossard’s participation against Chelsea remains uncertain, with Arsenal’s medical staff set to analyse his condition ahead of Sunday.

Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres are also doubts for this weekend, with Arteta refusing to confirm their involvement against Chelsea following their spells out through injury.

Havertz has been nursing a knee problem which required surgery, keeping him out since the very start of 2025/2026, while Mikel Merino has deputised well in place of Gyokeres, who hasn’t featured since their 2-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.

Arsenal hold 'initial talks' to sign Real Madrid target who Arteta thinks is 'ideal'

The Gunners are moving in ahead of January.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 28, 2025

Gabriel Jesus continues to work his way back to full fitness after 11 months out with an ACL injury, with the Brazilian participating in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week.

Jesus is actually set for an ‘earlier than expected’ return from injury, but uncertainty continues to surround his compatriot Gabriel Magalhaes.

The star defender injured his thigh on international duty with Brazil and is set to miss the trip to Chelsea, with Arteta also asked if he’ll return before the end of 2025.

Mikel Arteta suggests Arsenal star Gabriel could be out until 2026

When asked by reporters if Gabriel would make a return to the field this year, Arteta’s answer cast doubt.

This suggests that the £100 million defender may not be back until 2026, thrusting summer signings Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera right into the spotlight.

Hincapie was given the nod for Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Spurs last weekend, and the Ecuadorian performed very well alongside William Saliba at the heart of Arteta’s backline.

Mosquera was then chosen to partner Saliba against Bayern, and again earned plaudits for his display, so Arsenal’s boss has a key selection decision to make against Enzo Maresca’s side.

West Ham United have now made an enquiry over the signing of Union Saint-Gilloise striker Promise David, amid doubts over Niclas Fullkrug’s future at the London Stadium.

West Ham have been much-improved from an attacking point of view since the beginning of November, scoring eight goals in their last three Premier League games, with Callum Wilson finding the back of the net three times in his last two outings.

Most recently, a first-half brace from the former Newcastle United man put the Hammers in a very strong position to pick up three points at AFC Bournemouth, but the Cherries fought back and Nuno’s side squandered a two-goal lead, which will undoubtedly be frustrating for the manager.

That said, Wilson’s recent form in front of goal is definitely encouraging, especially considering Niclas Fullkrug’s future with the Irons is now in major doubt, as revealed by Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg earlier this month.

West Ham lodge enquiry to sign Promise David

With Wilson’s current deal to expire in the summer, and the Englishman potentially in the latter stages of his career at 33-years-old, West Ham have now made contact over a deal for a new striker, namely Union Saint-Gilloise star David.

That is according to a report from Claret & Hugh, which states enquiries have been made about a deal for the centre-forward, with chief analyst Max Hahn particularly keen on bringing in players from the Belgian Pro League.

The 24-year-old remains under contract at the Belgian club until 2030, which puts them in a strong negotiating position, but there are signs it could be worth the Hammers paying whatever they ask for.

The eight-time Canada international is off to a flying start to the campaign, having already scored eight goals in all competitions, including one on his Champions League debut in the 3-1 victory against PSV Eindhoven back in September.

The Ontario-born centre-forward also caught scout Jacek Kulig’s eye as a result of his form during the 2024-25 campaign, being lauded as “outstanding” in March, before going on to finish the season on 24 goals in all competitions.

With Fullkrug looking to move on, it would make sense to bring in a new striker this January, especially given that there are still likely to be concerns over Wilson’s injury record, having spent long periods on the treatment table during the previous two seasons.

Callum Wilson’s injury record

Games missed

2023-24

28

2024-25

29

It would be a gamble to sign David, with the Canadian yet to prove himself in a major European league, but his goalscoring record in Belgium is certainly encouraging.

West Ham send scouts to watch the "best" striker in the Championship West Ham now send scouts to watch the "best" striker in the Championship

The Hammers are hoping to be impressed.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 22, 2025

Casemiro wasn’t just on the brink at Manchester United, he looked to have gone over the cliff.

Who can forget that night at Selhurst Park in May 2024, with the Brazilian – albeit deployed in an unorthodox centre-back role – looking all at sea as Crystal Palace ran riot to romp to a 4-0 victory.

Jamie Carragher’s infamous “leave the football before the football leaves you” quotes appeared to hint that the end was nigh for the ageing midfielder, a fact only heightened amid the former Real Madrid man’s dismal start to the following campaign, having been hooked at the break following a disastrous 3-0 loss at home to Liverpool in September.

The arrival of Ruben Amorim, and the shift to a midfield pairing, looked like the final nail in the coffin for his Old Trafford career, with all eyes on the January window and a potential Saudi exit.

Fast forward almost 12 months, however, and the 33-year-old – as he was back in his debut campaign in Manchester – is the glue in this side again, with Saturday’s 2-2 draw away at Tottenham Hotspur outlining the stark drop off that occurs when the five-time Champions League winner is withdrawn.

Manuel Ugarte seemingly can’t cut it, while Kobbie Mainoo is being groomed as Bruno Fernandes’ successor, ensuring a long-term replacement for Casemiro still needs to be found.

Man Utd's record with & without Casemiro this season

It is telling – and rather frustrating – that even in a season of largely just one game a week for the Red Devils, Casemiro still appears unable to complete a full 90 minutes, having been substituted off in seven of his nine Premier League starts this term.

Indeed, the solitary 90 minutes that he has played came recently against Nottingham Forest, in which the £350k-per-week star opened the scoring, with the veteran destroyer far too often withdrawn in the closing stages.

Against Brighton, for instance, United were coasting at 3-0 when the one-time Porto man was replaced on the 70-minute mark, before the Seagulls swiftly staged a stirring comeback in his absence.

A similar scenario occurred last time out, with the away side’s 1-0 lead in north London quickly flipped on its head after Ugarte slotted in alongside Fernandes instead, rubber-stamping Casemiro’s status as arguably one of the most important players in Amorim’s lineup.

That importance is emphasised most notably by the fact of the 20 goals the Old Trafford side have conceded in all competitions this season – including the grim night at Grimsby – 15 of those came when the Brazil skipper wasn’t on the pitch.

Ugarte, a ball-winner and workman-like midfielder by trade, looked to be the perfect successor to his fellow South American upon arrival in Manchester, although now well into his second season, the 24-year-old remains a polarising figure, with Amorim reportedly telling the Uruguayan he no longer recognised the player he had previously coached at Sporting CP.

Hope remains that the aforementioned Mainoo could still thrive alongside Fernandes, rather than act as his deputy, although whether the young Englishman has the defensive nous remains to be seen, with United crumbling when the changes were made in that 4-2 thriller against Brighton.

Non-penalty goals

Top 10%

Total shots

Top 15%

Assists

Top 34%

Pass completion

Top 29%

Progressive passes

Bottom 29%

Progressive carries

Top 35%

Successful take-ons

Bottom 1%

Touches (att pen)

Top 15%

Tackles

Top 1%

Interceptions

Bottom 47%

Aerials won

Top 5%

Clearances

Top 10%

With options limited beyond that in the midfield department, Amorim might have to get creative to find a perfect replacement for Casemiro moving forward.

Man Utd's wildcard Casemiro replacement

Ugarte – unused in the Europa League final – looks destined for an exit before too long. Mainoo, meanwhile, is facing his own uncertainty, having yet to start a Premier League game in 2025/26.

Neither has taken their chance when introduced off the bench, ensuring Amorim could look elsewhere to fill that midfield void, with a potential solution already in-house in the form of ex-Arsenal starlet, Ayden Heaven.

Still just 19, the England youth star has quietly impressed since his arrival from the capital back in January on a £1m deal, with only a cruel injury sustained against Leicester City cutting short his early progress in the first-team ranks.

A powerful, athletic presence, the 6 foot 2 teenager has thus far been deployed in a left-sided centre-back role under Amorim, albeit with his hopes of game time having been hampered this term by the form of Luke Shaw in that starting berth.

With Lisandro Martinez also nearing a return from injury, Heaven could then be nudged into third choice, with a player of his talent and potential arguably far too good to simply be pushed into the periphery.

That is why shifting the Hale End graduate back into midfield could be the answer, with the rangy left-footer having largely featured as a number six or number eight in the Gunners youth ranks in the past.

In the view of respected analyst Ben Mattinson – now a scout for Serie A side Como – the Islington-born sensation “is a midfielder, not a centre-back”, highlighting “his ability to receive the ball under pressure”.

So calm and composed during his early United outings thus far, Heaven has that ability to drive forward from deep with the ball at his feet with ease, with comparisons to a certain Paul Pogba having previously been made by his grassroots football coach Terry Bobie:

The type of player who can dominate a midfield, like Pogba, it would certainly be worth giving Heaven a chance to shine in a more advanced role, having largely passed every test so far in a United shirt.

Indeed, his solitary Europa League start against Real Sociedad saw him win 100% of his duels, while not being dribbled past once, as per Sofascore, producing a performance that simply belied his youth.

With the physical prowess that United appear to be in need of in the absence of Casemiro, the £1m man might just be a bargain solution to Amorim’s longstanding midfield problem.

Man Utd teen who was "beating Yamal" could now replace Amad during AFCON

Man Utd will lose Amad, Mbeumo and Mazraoui just before Christmas due to their AFCON commitments.

1 ByJoe Nuttall Nov 12, 2025

Chelsea’s brilliant run of results, which saw them beat the likes of Benfica, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, came to a screeching halt on Saturday afternoon.

Instead of picking up another Premier League win against the recently promoted Sunderland, Enzo Maresca’s side managed to lose 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Chemsedine Talbi.

What is most frustrating about the game, though, is that while the West Londoners were not anywhere near their best, they still had chances to win, taking seven shots on target to the Black Cats’ four.

Unfortunately, they just didn’t have their shooting boots on, although with the striker situation at the club, that is hardly surprising.

So, there is an argument that Maresca should look to drop Marc Guiu and start one of Cobham’s most exciting prospects, a striker compared to the legendary Didier Drogba.

1

Goals

2

68%

Possession

32%

16

Total Shots

10

7

Shots on Target

4

629

Passes

293

10

Shots in the Box

7

8

Tackles

14

Chelsea's striker situation

In the summer, Chelsea decided to sell Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan and João Félix to Al-Nassr, while also loaning out David Datro Fofana to Karagümrük and Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich.

Chalkboard

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

Now, while these weren’t necessarily bad moves for the club, they did only sign Joao Pedro and Liam Delap to replace the leaving players, and when the latter went down with a hamstring injury earlier this season, they were forced to recall Marc Guiu from his loan with Sunderland.

Moreover, while nobody can question Pedro’s ability, it has become increasingly clear that his best position is just behind another striker, either as an advanced ten or a classic second striker.

In other words, due to their business and the injury to the former Ipswich Town star, Maresca has been forced to either use Pedro out of his best position, start the young Tyrique George up top when he’s a natural winger, or, as he has done recently, play Guiu.

To give the former Barcelona gem his credit, he did score against Ajax in the Champions League, but against the Black Cats on Saturday, he was poor.

In fact, the Spaniard was so underwhelming that the Standard’s Sam Tabuteau gave him just a 4/10 match rating, writing that he showed ‘plenty of energy but not a lot of finesse.’

In short, Chelsea really need another option up top this season, and while it would be a risk, it looks like Cobham might have the player for them – a player compared to Drogba.

Chelsea's future Drogba

Now, it should really go without saying that comparing a youngster to Drogba is not something that should be done lightly.

After all, the Ivorian icon was one of the best strikers to ever play in the Premier League and is most certainly a massive Chelsea legend.

With that said, there is plenty of excitement building around 18-year-old Shim Mheuka, so much so that one analyst has made the bold comparison, calling him “the new Didier Drogba.”

So then, what makes him such an exceptional talent, and one worthy of a proper run in the first team?

Well, simply put, he is starting to look like a real goal machine and potentially one of “Cobham’s finest” prospects, per talent scout Jacek Kulig.

For example, despite being just 16 at the start of last season, he ended the campaign with 11 goals and three assists to his name, 30 appearances across the U18S and U21S.

Moreover, he also got a few run-outs in the first team, making five appearances totalling 118 minutes across the Conference League and Premier League.

Appearances

59

Goals

31

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.66

This season, he has taken another leap forward, and as things stand, he has already scored ten goals and provided two assists in just ten appearances, totalling 883 minutes for the U21S and Youth League sides.

That works out to an average of 1.2 goal involvements every game, or one every 73.58 minutes, and if that’s still not enough, he has also racked up a tally of ten goals and three assists in 18 appearances for England’s U19S.

Ultimately, while it is still so early in his career, it is becoming increasingly clear that he is a lethal goalscorer, and while he might not reach the level of a Drogba, he might be able to have a significant impact on the team this season.

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