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Aston Villa should target a move for Ademola Lookman in this summer’s transfer window amid Lee Hendrie’s claim.

What’s the story?

The England U21 international is currently on loan at fellow Premier League side Fulham, where he has produced some impressive displays for a side battling to avoid relegation back to the Championship this season – he’s managed four goals and four assists in 27 top-flight games.

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Fulham would have to pay around £15m to make his move from RB Leipzig a permanent one, and ex-Villa man Hendrie has urged his former side to throw their hat into the ring.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, Hendrie said: “Lookman stands out for me. He’d be one that I would… I know bigger clubs would be looking at him, but he’d be the sort of calibre of player that I’d be looking at trying to get at the club because he’s creative and got that attacking threat.”

Better than Trezeguet

With his eight total goal contributions in the Premier League this season, the 23-year-old Lookman has already shown him to be comfortably better than Trezeguet when it comes to his end product – the Egyptian has yet to find the back of the net this campaign, and has only managed one assist in the top-flight.

The versatile Fulham winger also betters Trezeguet in all the key in-game metrics, averaging far more shots, key passes and dribbles per game than the Egyptian, really showcasing how much of a massive influence he has been for Scott Parker’s side this season.

Lookman of course burst onto the scene with Charlton before making a high-profile switch to Everton, and England international Michael Keane has raved about the former Toffees gem previously.

He said: “He has got everything. He is the most skilful player at the club along with Bernard. He can go both ways and he can score goals and he is young so he is only going to get better. If he can get consistency every time and keep learning, he will be a great player.”

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Given Hendrie’s wish for Villa to target a move for Lookman, Dean Smith should be going to the club’s hierarchy and putting the winger’s name forward.

Meanwhile, this Villa man had a shocker vs Spurs…

It’s still early on in Thomas Frank’s tenure, but there are a lot of problems at Tottenham Hotspur at the moment.

Now, they are certainly harder to break down under the Dane and sit much higher in the Premier League than they did under Ange Postecoglou.

However, the North Londoners are one of the worst teams to watch in the league and were utterly hopeless in the derby against Chelsea, a game in which they amassed an expected goals figure of just 0.05.

One of Frank’s most significant issues at the moment is that summer signing Xavi Simons isn’t firing, so it’s fans should be excited about reports linking them to an attacker who could help get the Dutchman back to his mercurial best.

Spurs target attacking reinforcements

In stark contrast to last season, Spurs are simply not scoring enough goals this year, with their return of 17 being the same as Manchester United, who not long ago were in yet another crisis.

Transfer Focus

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Moreover, across all competitions, their top goalscorer is Micky Van de Ven, with five.

However, while scoring has been a problem for the North Londoners, there is a massive caveat: the number of players out injured, including Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, and Dejan Kulusevski.

Fortunately, it appears as if the club are looking to address this lack of available firepower in the January window.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Spurs are interested in Porto striker Samu Omorodion.

The report has revealed that, alongside Chelsea, the North Londoners are leading the race for the Spanish striker and could make a move for him as soon as January.

However, with a release clause of €100m, which is approximately £88m, it could be a complicated deal to get over the line.

With that said, given his record, it would be a deal worth working on, especially as he could help Simons rediscover his form.

Why Samu would be a dream for Simons

While it sounds simplistic, the most significant reason Samu would not only be an excellent signing for Simons but also for Spurs is his goalscoring ability.

For example, despite being his first year with a new club, the Spanish marksman managed to rack up a brilliant haul of 27 goals and three assists in 45 appearances, which translates to an average of a goal or assist every 1.50 games.

This season has seen the 21-year-old score nine goals and provide one assist in just 12 appearances, two of which have come in the Europa League.

In other words, he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.20 games, which would be impressive for a seasoned professional, let alone someone so young.

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Now, were Simons to play alongside, or just behind someone, talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed “one of Europe’s most prolific players,” then there it would be reasonable to expect his assist tally to soar.

Samu’s recent form

Season

24/25

25/26

Appearances

45

12

Goals

27

9

Assists

3

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.66

0.83

All Stats via Transfermarkt

However, it’s not just the output that would make Samu a perfect teammate for the Dutchman, but also his physicality.

Standing at 6 feet 4, the Melilla-born poacher is also incredibly strong and could help compensate for the lack of physicality that the former RB Leipzig ace has.

Moreover, this strength could help him hold up the ball for the North Londoners, in turn allowing the likes of Simons and Kudus to run beyond and cause chaos.

Ultimately, while it wouldn’t be cheap, Spurs should do all they can to sign Samu, as not only could he get Simons firing, but he could also rejuvenate the entire front line.

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Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes

With Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders already through the door, Manchester City are now reportedly in talks to sign a young midfielder this summer.

Man City open Club World Cup with routine victory

Whilst many Premier League sides are currently catching their breath following a frantic season, Manchester City and Chelsea are in America to compete in the Club World Cup. Some players have even gone from Premier League football to international duty then to the competition in a concerning period without a lengthy break, but that didn’t stop the Citizens from easing to victory in their opening game.

Securing a 2-0 victory courtesy of goals from Phil Foden and Jeremie Doku against Wydad FC, the only negative for Manchester City was Rico Lewis’ controversial red card.

Pep Guardiola was seen confronting the officials about the incident after the full-time whistle and he told reporters when asked about the red card in his post-match press conference: “[Rico’s] leg was little bit high, but he was on the grass. Touches the ball with the speed that they go through, your leg has to be a little bit high and the other player down.

“It was not intentional and it was a red card versus Crystal Palace after the referee came and said it wasn’t a red card. Rico never had intention to hurt anyone. A little bit unnecessary, the red card. The referee is the boss and had other intentions, VAR checked it and we have to accept the decision.”

Meanwhile, as the action continues on the pitch, the Citizens are set to remain just as busy in the transfer window amid reports that they’re not in talks to sign a Premier League gem.

Man City "in talks" to sign Dexter Oliver

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City are now “in talks” to sign Dexter Oliver from Tottenham Hotspur. Negotiations are reportedly advancing and all signs are pointing towards a move to The Etihad for the young midfielder who Romano described as “talented”.

At 16 years old, Oliver is undoubtedly one for the future whether that’s at Spurs or, indeed, Manchester City. And he wouldn’t be the first talent to break out of City’s youth system if he decided to swap the Lilywhites’ academy for the chance to join the Manchester club.

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From Cole Palmer to Jeremie Frimpong and Jamie Gittens, European football is littered with Manchester City’s talented graduates. Now, Dexter could commence his path towards similar stardom. Guardiola, meanwhile, will have the chance to make his mark on another young talent if the midfielder eventually breaks into the first-team.

Manchester United have struggled under Ruben Amorim so far. The Red Devils have so far been led in 21 matches by their new manager, but have managed to win just ten of those games, losing nine times and drawing two along the way.

There have been some incredibly disappointing defeats in there, too. They include a 2-0 defeat away from home against Wolverhampton Wanderers and a loss by the same scoreline at Old Trafford against Crystal Palace.

There have been some high points, including a win away to Manchester City and a draw at rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool.

However, they will now be without the man who scored the crucial goals in those games, Amad.

Amad’s impact under Amorim

In a season of huge disappointment for the Red Devils, one of the only good things has been the performances of Amad. The Ivorian forward was described as “unstoppable” after his Derby Day heroics by United legend turned Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.

Despite a big impact in the tenure of former manager Erik ten Hag, Amad found opportunities sparse under the Dutchman. However, that cannot be said for his time under Amorim. The Portuguese manager seemingly loves the attacker, and has, at times, relied on him to dig his side out of a hole.

In 20 appearances under the former Sporting CP boss, the United number 16 has managed six goals and five assists, with nine of those coming in games where his side won or drew. Amad’s contributions have been massive this season.

So, for United to be without Amad for the rest of the season, is a huge blow. Amorim confirmed last week that the Ivorian damaged his ankle ligaments and will miss the remainder of the campaign.

It leaves the Portuguese manager with the unenviable task of finding an in-house replacement.

Perhaps the answer could lie in United’s ever-productive Carrington academy.

United’s in-house Amad replacement

Sunday afternoon’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur was a memorable day for several of United’s academy players. Amorim named eight of them on the bench, bringing Chido Obi onto the pitch for the final throes of the game, for his first-team debut.

However, the solution to his Amad problem may not lie in the players he selected on Sunday afternoon in North London, but in the form of Shea Lacey, an attacker who was not involved against Spurs.

Lacey is an attacking player who is held in high regard and is believed to have a “huge future ahead”, according to football talent scout Jacek Kulig. The youngster has struggled with injuries in the last few months but is finally back to full fitness and playing weekly for United’s academy.

His record for the Red Devils youth side is impressive. He has played 30 times for the under-18s and the under-19s in the UEFA Youth League, scoring five goals and grabbing seven assists in that time.

Just like Amad, Lacey is a left-footed right winger, who excels in the half spaces and has exceptional close control. He is also comfortable cutting inside on his left foot and trying his luck from range, as this strike against Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023 shows.

The Liverpool-born winger is a player who can have a big impact in a short space of time. His stats on Sofascore from a 26-minute cameo against Galatasaray in the UEFA Youth League last season show this.

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In that short time, he created one big chance and won four out of seven ground duels.

Lacey stats vs. Galatasaray u19s

Stat

Number

Minutes played

26

Touches

20

Pass accuracy

78%

Passes completed

7/9

Chances created

1

Big chances created

1

Assists

1

Stats from Sofascore

Perhaps Lacey is the solution to replacing Amad. He is of a similar profile and excels in the same areas of the pitch as United’s Ivorian winger.

At 17 years of age, he is perhaps too young to be thrown into the deep end and start every week, but opportunities off the bench may be there.

In The Pipeline

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Lacey certainly seems like a player United fans can get excited about. Who knows, maybe a first-team debut isn’t too far out of the picture.

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Manchester City are interested in joining Arsenal in the race to sign an impressive forward, according to a recent report. The Blues continued their fine start to the season by brushing aside Sparta Prague on Wednesday night in the Champions League. Pep Guardiola showed once again the embarrassment of riches he has at his disposal, but that isn’t stopping them from eyeing new recruits ahead of the upcoming transfer windows.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Man City transfer news

The Blues have a wealth of options in their squad, and while that helps them in their various competitions, it can also be a hindrance, as players don’t get regular minutes. Matheus Nunes is one player who struggles for regular game time, and according to a new report, City are ready to sell Nunes at the end of the season.

The midfielder is keen to fight for a place in the starting XI, and while he was handed a start against Sparta Prague and may be handed another one on the weekend against Southampton, the Blues are ready to cash in. İlkay Gündoğan’s arrival has pushed him down the pecking order, and a departure is likely unless he impresses.

Meanwhile, as Nunes may be on his way out, City have their eyes on adding a very talented player to their squad. The Blues have shortlisted Raphinha as a possible transfer target, but the Brazilian isn’t considered a priority signing at this stage. City have been keeping an eye on the player for over a year and a half, and the club also have their eye on another attacker, one who has been excelling in Portugal.

Man City eyeing Viana's connections to hijack Arsenal for Gyokeres

According to The Mirror, Manchester City are eyeing a move for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres. The forward has been in sensational form since joining the Portuguese outfit from Coventry, and while City are keeping an eye on the player, Arsenal are also fans of the striker.

Gyokeres, who has been described as “unplayable” by former Coventry City teammate Maxime Biamou, joined Lisbon in July 2023 and has been electric in front of goal, and that has seen him linked with a move to the Premier League.

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This report states that Gyokeres is being considered as a potential replacement for Erling Haaland, who is attracting interest from Real Madrid and is said to have a release clause of £125 million, which expires in 2027. City are said to be trying to tie down the Norwegian to a new contract, but those attempts haven’t worked yet, and there is a worry he could join the Spanish giants in 2026.

Viktor Gyokeres’ Sporting Lisbon stats

Apps

63

Goals

56

Assists

19

Gyokeres is now considered a leading contender to replace Haaland, and the Blues have already made contact with the players’ representatives, as Sporting’s director of football, Hugo Viana, is set to join City at the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur may have missed out on Champions League qualification this season, but considering they lost Harry Kane last summer and had a new manager in the dugout, finishing fifth and qualifying for the Europa League was still a good showing.

Ange Postecoglou took a team playing terribly boring football under José Mourinho and Antonio Conte and turned them into one of the most exciting teams to watch in the country.

However, if he is going to lead them back into the top four and beyond, he'll need a new striker as Richarlison hasn't been able to show enough over the last two campaigns, and based on recent reports, Daniel Levy and Co seem to agree.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham are one of several sides keen on signing AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham this summer.

Alongside the Lilywhites, West Ham United and Aston Villa are said to be interested in bringing the Englishman back to the Premier League after his spell in the Italian capital.

The report has revealed that the Serie A giants are willing to sell, but it'll cost the interested parties around £40m to sign the former Chelsea ace, and while that's not cheap, it might prove to be worth it for Spurs.

How Abraham compares to Richarlison

Now, before looking at the pair's output, it's worth pointing out that Abraham, unfortunately, shares one of Richarlison's worst attributes: his injury record.

Since the start of the 2021/22 season, the Lilywhites forward has suffered eight injuries, which have seen him miss 34 games, and while the Roma ace has had to deal with as many injuries in that time, he's missed a whopping 51 games.

However, while that looks dreadful – because it is – 40 of those missed games came from a cruciate ligament injury, so there is every chance that, with the proper care in North London, he could maintain a fairly standard injury record from this point onwards.

These injuries limited the Englishman to just 318 minutes of first-team action this season, so to get a fairer comparison between him and the Brazilian, let's look at their best season with their current team and their career record to date.

The former Everton man's best season in North London has been this year, in which he found the back of the net on 12 occasions in 31 games while providing four assists for good measure, which equates to a goal involvement every 1.9 games on average.

In comparison, the Camberwell-born forward enjoyed his best campaign with the Giallorossi in 2021/22, when he scored an impressive 27 goals in 53 games and provided five assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.6 games.

Abraham and Richarlison's best season at their current club

Player (Season)

Abraham (21/22)

Richarlison (23/24)

Appearances

53

31

Goals

27

12

Assists

5

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.60

0.51

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Okay, so the 11-capped Englishman has had the best individual season out of the two marksmen, but who comes out on top when looking at their overall careers?

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Well, in his 338 games to date, the Nova Venécia-born star has scored 93 goals and provided 36 assists, giving him a career average of a goal involvement every 2.6 games.

Abraham vs Richarlison career stats

Player

Abraham

Richarlison

Appearances

385

338

Goals

162

93

Assists

42

36

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

0.38

All Stats via Transfermarkt

However, the former Chelsea "goal machine", as dubbed by academy coach Stephan Elliott, has an even more impressive record of 162 goals and 42 assists in 385 games, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.88 games across his entire career.

Ultimately, there is undoubtedly an element of risk in signing a player who has been tormented by injuries over the last couple of seasons, but given his record when he has played and the heights he has shown he's capable of hitting, Abraham is a player Levy and Co should be looking to bring to N17 this summer, even at the expense of Richarlison.

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Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich and reuniting him with his former manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.

The United boss is thought to be very keen on the idea of working with De Ligt again after their stint together at Ajax, although any move will of course depend on whether he's still in the job by the summer, with the Red Devils currently languishing down in seventh place in the table.

It's possible that the centre-back could become one of his top transfer targets for 2024 as he considers his future in light of limited game time at Bayern, where he's only started four of the ten Bundesliga games for which he's been available this season. And now, Ten Hag has received further encouragement from Germany.

De Ligt could receive green light to leave

According to Sky Sports, Man Utd target De Ligt could leave Bayern this year. If the reigning Bundesliga champions receive a "suitable offer", it's "likely" that he'll be allowed to move on, and that means his "chapter" at the club could soon be "history". Bayern bosses are aware of the player's current dissatisfaction, and that makes him a "candidate" to move on in the off-season.

Over in Manchester, United are "watching developments closely", and it's very much "conceivable" that De Ligt links up with Ten Hag again in the Premier League unless anything major changes between now and the end of the campaign.

United interest in Bayern target Araujo sets up transfer poker

The next question is how much Bayern will demand for De Ligt. It was only 18 months ago that they paid up to £60m to sign him from Juventus, and already there's talk of a departure. That move ranks as one of the ten biggest defensive transfers in football history, and incidentally, De Ligt also occupies third place after his £77m move from Ten Hag's Ajax to Juve in 2019.

He's still relatively young at 24, and his contract runs until 2027, so all these factors point to sizeable demands, possibly comparable to the £57m outlay for Lisandro Martinez in 2022. That's in addition to the player's reported £263k-per-week salary, which is thought to be one of the highest at the club.

However, if De Ligt remains outside Thomas Tuchel's first-choice XI in the coming months and Bayern express an openness to offers, that naturally reduces the strength of the club's negotiating position because he'd appear a less valuable asset.

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One intriguing subplot here is that both United and Bayern have shown an interest in Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo. Tuchel has already added Tottenham's Eric Dier to his squad this month, but he's after another reinforcement in defence, with PSG's Nordi Mukiele also considered.

In a strange way, it might actually be wise for United to let Bayern have a free run at Araujo and hope they can secure his services, before pouncing on De Ligt, who by that point would be categorically surplus to requirements. The stage is set, then, for a game of transfer poker.

One Manchester City midfielder still wants to join a new side, but there are a number of barriers blocking his departure, according to a report from Spain.

What year does Bernardo Silva's contract end?

Back in August, Bernardo Silva signed a one-year contract extension to keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2026, ending the speculation that he may choose to leave Man City after over six years at the club. Speaking after penning his new deal, the midfielder said:

“I’ve had six incredible years at Manchester City and I’m delighted to extend my time here,”

“Winning the Treble last season was extremely special and it’s exciting to be part of a squad where there is such a hunger and passion.

A move to Barcelona has been touted as a possibility for quite some time, with reports from the summer of 2022 detailing the La Liga giants were "fully convinced" they could sign the Portugal international, who was believed to be homesick.

There was also interest from the Saudi Pro League, with the 29-year-old said to be "on the cusp of a move to the Middle East" at one stage, but he ultimately opted to commit his immediate future to the Sky Blues.

However, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo, a move away could still be on the cards, with the Spanish publication revealing a release clause of around €58.5m (£50.2m) was included in the maestro's most recent contract.

The report states "the Portuguese player's desire continues to be to sign for Barca", with a move still possible next summer, but time is running out, given that he will be 30 years of age by that point, which means the Catalonian club may be unwilling to shell out a large fee.

Not only that, but Barcelona have a "delicate economic situation", which suggests they may not be able to match the release clause, despite desire on the player's behalf to make it happen. It remains to be seen whether Barca renew their interest, but they will now be well aware they only need to pay £50m to prise him away from City.

Is Bernardo Silva leaving Man City?

Given that the star is contracted until 2026, Man City remain in a decent negotiating position, as would-be suitors may be unwilling to shell out £50m on a player who will be 30 at the beginning of next season.

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However, the Lisbon-born midfielder has previously opened up about feeling homesick, while also adding that he would love to go back and play for Benfica in the not so distant future.

As such, it would not be a surprise if Silva seeks a move next summer, and City would be losing a top player, who Director of Football Txiki Begiristain has described as "exceptional."

Last season, the attacking midfielder was an integral player for Pep Guardiola en route to winning the treble, making 55 appearances in all competitions, and the manager will be hoping he can have a similar impact on Man City's ongoing campaign, but his long term future could be one to watch.

Liverpool are a club that boasts one of the richest histories in the English game, however, had only briefly returned to the pinnacle before they were dragged back down.

Fans had to wait 30 painstaking years before a Premier League title came to Anfield, with FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League victories having supplemented Jurgen Klopp’s success.

The hope is that, following a year of rebuilding and steady progression, this summer could mark the catalyst to once again pit them against the imperious treble-winning Manchester City.

If anyone can topple them, it is surely the Reds, who remain in a prime spot despite their tough recent campaign. After all, they are the only side other than Pep Guardiola's to boast a league title since 2017, having pushed them further than any other team.

Having already secured the acquisition of Alexis Mac Allister, the German tactician will be well aware that this is not enough to return them to the top alone.

Fortunately for fans, further reports have emerged this month continuing to link them with a swoop for Gabri Veiga.

Despite his €40m (£34m) price tag, he could actually pose another coup, especially given how his early-career form mirrors that of a true Anfield legend.

Could Gabri Veiga emulate any Liverpool legends?

Whilst one journalist, simply titled Rimedi, referred to the Spaniard as a “baby Kaka”, it is instead Steven Gerrard that it could be argued the 21-year-old truly imitates.

After all, in his prime, the Scouse general was actually an attacking midfielder, full of energy, passion, aggression and, above all, immense quality.

Viega seems like he is in possession of all of these attributes, having enjoyed a standout year for Celta Vigo in his homeland.

As a childhood fan of the club he stars for, the youngster’s tally of 11 goals and four assists in La Liga from midfield is a startling figure. When compared to other midfielders across Europe, he also ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals and the top 12% for progressive carries per 90, via FBref.

For comparison, although it was under the pragmatic stylings of Gérard Houllier, the former Aston Villa manager could only muster 15 goal contributions of his own across all competitions at the same age, 21. However, in his true prime he was a real offensive threat, even notching 38 goal contributions across just one year in the 2005/06 campaign.

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Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig sought to outline the other qualities that have helped make Veiga shine, noting his strengths as: “pace, passing, technique, shooting, off-the-ball movement, bravery, work rate”.

These are all attributes that saw Gerrard earn such success early in his glistening career, in which Jamie O’Hara has told talkSPORT (via Anfield Watch) that he was “the best midfielder the Premier League has ever seen.”

Although Veiga is unlikely to reach those levels that very few ever have, his emergence as a similar type of bustling goal-scoring midfielder could help rebuild Klopp’s dynasty, to once again make them challengers for the elite competitions.

Mikel Arteta has been dealt an injury blow as he confirmed that Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah is still ‘a few weeks away’ from returning.

The Lowdown: Niggling issue

Arsenal reporter for GOAL Charles Watts confirmed on his YouTube channel (via FootballFanCast) that Nketiah had ‘limped off’ in their 4-0 win at home to Everton in the Premier League earlier this month, and that she has been struggling with an injury issue for ‘a while’:

“Eddie Nketiah limped off at the end of the game.

“He went down as soon as the full-time whistle went, he fell onto the ground and then he got up and he limped off.“He went down the tunnel straightaway with one of the fitness coaches at Arsenal. He has been suffering with an issue for a while now, Eddie, which is kind of why he was rested at the weekend against Leicester.”The Englishman has since missed Arsenal’s last three games in total over all competitions, ahead of their second leg at home to Sporting in their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie. The Latest: ‘A few weeks away’

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of the clash at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta has confirmed that Nketiah is still ‘a few weeks away’ from returning to first-team action, in what he describes as a ‘nasty injury’:

“He’s getting better. He’s still in the boot so still a few weeks away. We need to be patient – it was a nasty injury. It’s a challenge that Eddie’s got ahead of him, but thank God he could have been worse so he’s not in a bad place.”

The Verdict: Big blow

For Nketiah to be ruled out for another few weeks at least is a big blow for Arteta and his team.

Both Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard have only just come back from injuries themselves, and so the Spaniard will want as many options in the forward line available as possible, especially if they get through in the Europa League and continue to fight on two fronts.

Nketiah has not been the most prolific so far this season, but has chipped in while Jesus has been out injured, scoring nine goals and making a further two assists in 32 appearances in total over all competitions (Transfermarkt).

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The 23-year-old offers so much more to the side though, with Arteta previously hailing his ‘incredible work-rate’.

Nonetheless, it is a blow for Arteta to be without Nketiah, as they look to beat Sporting before a potentially tricky London derby against Crystal Palace in the top flight on Sunday afternoon.