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Nottingham Forest are now interested in signing an “excellent” £29 million forward who has scored 14 goals this season, according to a new report.

Forest drop points in race for Champions League spot

It is now no wins in their last three games in all competitions for Forest, as their fight for a Champions League spot has taken a hit. Murillo rescued a point for the Reds on Monday evening after going a goal down thanks to Eberechi Eze’s penalty. The draw leaves Forest in sixth place on 61 points, two behind Chelsea and Newcastle United and one ahead of Aston Villa, who are sitting in seventh place.

Despite the dropped points, Nuno Espirito Santo was pleased with his side’s attitude and defensive performance and believes everyone in the Champions League race will give it their all. As he said, “all the teams in this big fight will give it a go”.

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Nuno told BBC Match of the Day: “Let’s think about the game. It was two halves, and in the first half, we were very good. It was good for us that we achieved the goal so soon after the goal for Crystal Palace. That gave us belief to fight for the game. After last week, a good attitude.

“It’s about finding ourselves again after the past three games. We defended better; it’s so obvious, against a talented opponent in Palace.

“The final games will be nervous, tight games. Everyone is fighting for something, and Selhurst Park is always a tough place to come. All the teams in this big fight will give it a go.”

Nottingham Forest want to sign £29m forward with 14 goals in 24/25

As Nuno and his team remain focused on the race for a Champions League spot, Forest chiefs and the manager are looking towards the summer transfer window. Now, according to La Opinion A Coruna, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest want to sign winger Yeremay Hernandez from Deportivo La Coruna.

The report states that there is a good chance Hernandez leaves the Spanish side at the end of this season, despite the fact he has just signed a new contract that runs until the summer of 2030. The winger was a wanted player in the January transfer window but stayed at Deportivo, where they inserted a release clause worth €35 million, which is roughly £29 million.

As well as Forest now showing an interest in a deal this summer, AFC Bournemouth and Brentford are also keen on striking an agreement. Teams from Italy, Germany and France are also keen on signing Hernandez, who has been dubbed “excellent” by Ben Mattinson in the past.

Yeremay Hernandez’s Deportivo La Coruna stats

Apps

94

Goals

22

Assists

10

However, all the teams are not going to have it easy signing the 22-year-old, as they will need to bring a lot of money and the skill to persuade Deportivo to sell one of their brightest players.

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It is unclear at this stage if Forest, as well as Bournemouth and Brentford, are willing to pay Hernandez’s release clause. The Spanish U21 international has been in fine form this season, as he’s netted 14 goals in 35 La Liga 2 games.

Tottenham Hotspur may now be languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, yet there is no sense that this struggling side have given up on their manager just yet, having put in a battling performance at home to Newcastle United last time out.

With Ange Postecoglou forced to put out a particularly depleted backline amid a raft of injuries – with Djed Spence and Archie Gray lining up at centre-back for the second half – the Lilywhites arguably deserved more on Saturday afternoon, having come close to grabbing an equaliser in the second-half as Brennan Johnson’s driven effort flashed agonisingly across the box.

Alas, it is not quite happening for the north London side at the minute, with rumours rife regarding potential replacements for the Aussie in the dugout, yet now could be the time to back Postecoglou, rather than show him the axe.

Indeed, the former Celtic boss has not been aided by the lack of squad depth at his disposal at present, with reinforcements certainly needed this month if this calendar year is to prove far more fruitful than the last.

Latest on Spurs' midfield search

As reported by Italian outlet AreaNapoli, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is said to have lodged an official offer for Palmeiras midfielder, Richard Rios, with the Colombian international emerging as a ‘concrete target’ for those at N17.

No mention was made of the nature of the bid, with the Brazilian outfit having reportedly rejected the proposal in order to keep the 24-year-old on board ahead of their involvement in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.

Whether Spurs can produce a fresh approach to secure a more immediate arrival remains to be seen, with the in-demand talent – who reportedly has a €100m (£83m) release clause in his existing deal – seemingly a figure who could re-energise the club’s midfield ranks.

Spurs' perfect Bissouma upgrade

One area that has been a problem for Postecoglou of late is that number six berth at the base of the midfield, with the previously injury-hit Rodrigo Bentancur having endured a spell on the sidelines due to suspension, while Yves Bissouma has endured his own disciplinary woes to date.

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Indeed, neither man has been able to truly nail down that starting role in 2024/25, with Bissouma having made ten Premier League starts thus far, while Bentancur has started nine times in the top-flight.

An upgrade is needed, hence where Rios – who has chalked up 13 goals and assists in 102 games for his current side – can come into the equation.

According to data analyst Ben Mattinson, Rios is a “ball-carrying machine” who represents “Colombia’s very own Yves Bissouma”, ensuring he could slot in perfectly as an upgrade on the Mali international.

As indicated in the table below, Rios comes out on top in a string of both attacking and defensive metrics amid his most recent league run (2024), with the one-time Flamengo man notably a more creative outlet, as shown by his superior record with regard to shot-creating actions.

Bissouma vs Rios comparison – League stats

Metric (*per 90)

Bissouma (24/25)

Rios (2024)

Games

16

24

Goals

2

3

Assists

0

4

Progressive passes*

6.21

5.31

Progressive carries*

1.36

1.39

Progressive passes received*

0.19

2.63

Shot-creating actions*

1.17

2.47

Tackles*

3.01

3.35

Blocks*

0.58

1.39

Interceptions*

1.26

1.19

Stats via FBref

That ability to create from deep – while also contributing in a defensive sense – could make the 6 foot 2 powerhouse perfect for the Postecoglou system, helping to freshen up a part of the pitch that has been something of an issue of late.

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With the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski ahead of him, Rios could present a dream foil for those creative figures, with Mattinson particularly impressed by his ability to “eat up a lot of ground in a short space of time”, ensuring he can take Spurs from defence to attack in an instant.

That front-foot approach would be just what Postecoglou is craving, with the hope being that Levy can get a deal over the line over the coming weeks, rather than waiting until the summer.

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With just over a week until the transfer window slams shut, West Ham United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign a Premier League winner for Julen Lopetegui.

West Ham transfer news

The Hammers have enjoyed quite the summer, with the additions of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo and Niclas Fullkrug arguably the standouts in a busy transfer window, which could yet get even busier. As deadline day approaches, West Ham have been linked with a move to sign Carlos Soler from Paris Saint-Germain.

The Spanish midfielder could instantly ease any fears over Lucas Paqueta's potential incoming ban for breaching betting rules and cap off a first summer to remember for Lopetegui. Of course, however, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss must still ensure that he puts together a balanced squad in pursuit of his first Premier League win at the London Stadium after losing 2-1 against Aston Villa on the opening day.

What could help Lopetegui's side begin to gel is the arrival of a Premier League veteran who has been frozen out of his current side. According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, West Ham have now been offered the chance to sign Raheem Sterling after contact and are being spoken to by his agent after the winger was made to train away from the Chelsea first-team alongside several others.

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Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca recently admitted that Sterling does not have a place in his side, saying via Fabrizio Romano: "I’ve been honest, he will have no minutes here. I am not saying Raheem is not a good player but I prefer different kinds of wingers. It’s simple."

Swinging the door open for Sterling's exit, it could now be West Ham who benefit by signing a Premier League winger who's played among Europe's best in the last decade.

West Ham should make Chelsea regret decision on "special" Sterling

Whilst it would be an expensive way to get one over on their rivals, given Sterling's reported £325k-a-week salary, West Ham could be rewarded in the best way possible by taking a gamble on the Premier League winner in the remaining days of the transfer window.

The 29-year-old is one of the most experienced forwards in English football these days and would arrive having earned his place in the Premier League's 100 club with 123 top-flight goals to his name and 193 senior goals in his career. Simply put, if there's a deal to be done, then the Hammers should at least attempt to land Sterling's signature.

The former Liverpool man was part of a dominant Manchester City side, helping the Citizens become the first side in English football history to accumulate 100 points in a single season, and earned the praise of Pep Guardiola as a result.

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The City boss said via BBC Sport in 2019, ironically after Sterling scored a hat-trick at the London Stadium: "I know the special qualities of the player, the consistency, physicality, the finishing.

"For the second goal against West Ham the control was not good but the finish good, the third goal was really good. He is in his first days playing as a striker but for me striker will be an incredible position for him, but he can play in three positions up front."

Newcastle United's injury troubles have been well documented in recent months, with Eddie Howe's side suffering from multiple long-term absentees throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

Jamaal Lascelles is the latest player to join the Magpies' extended injury list after suffering an ACL rupture during the sensational 4-3 comeback win over West Ham United just a couple of weeks ago.

He joins the likes of Sven Botman, Nick Pope and Joelinton, who are currently on the sidelines after suffering their own injuries, with the latter two potentially returning towards the end of the campaign.

However, another Magpies first-team player remains sidelined with the club potentially needing to cash in on him given his recent record with injuries.

Callum Wilson's stats in 2023/24

Striker Callum Wilson has often had to settle as Newcastle's second-choice option behind Alexander Isak, understandable given the Swede's record of 19 goals in all competitions so far this campaign.

The former Bournemouth forward has only featured 22 times this season and just twice in 2024, managing to score on eight occasions, in a term that has been plagued with injuries.

Wilson has suffered four separate injuries since 2023/24 commenced back in August, which has seen him miss large parts of the campaign.

He's been sidelined by two different hamstring issues, whilst a calf injury saw him miss a further two months before suffering a chest injury upon his return in the 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest in February.

Wilson's injuries in 2023/24

Injury

Days missed

Games missed

Chest injury

57

9

Calf injury

37

6

Hamstring injury

31

6

Hamstring injury

13

4

Stats via Transfermarkt

Wilson has a past of suffering with injuries, having twice torn his ACL during his time at Bournemouth, with the now 32-year-old starting to struggle to put a run of games together before picking up another problem.

That, coupled with his huge drop in market value, should see the club look at potentially moving him on when the summer window opens in a couple of months time.

Callum Wilson's transfer value in 2024

Nearly four years on from his £20m move to St James' Park, Wilson has seen his market value plummet by more than half with injuries playing a huge part in the decline.

The striker is now only valued at £8.5m as per Football Observatory, with the Magpies forward now valued at a staggering £77.5m less than man of the hour Bruno Guimaraes, whose market value is £86m.

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The 32-year-old attacker only has one year left on his current deal at the club, with Wilson turning 33 before the end of next season. That being said, the club should look to move him on this summer, just a couple of months after being linked with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.

Howe and the Saudi PIF should look to recruit a new young striker, who can develop and learn from current forward Isak whilst providing tough competition for the former Real Sociedad attacker.

Wilson has been a brilliant addition to the Magpies over the last couple of seasons but unfortunately, his injuries have been getting the better of him in recent times. Newcastle need to cash in to prevent him leaving the club for nothing in 2025.

To say that Aston Villa are flying under Unai Emery this season would be an understatement. The Villans sit as high as third in the Premier League and just four points adrift of league leaders Arsenal, who they play next. By the end of the weekend, the Midlands club could sit just one point away from the top of the league with Christmas fast approaching, summing up just how impressive they've been throughout the current campaign so far.

Their last victory, coming over champions Manchester City, was arguably their best yet under Emery. But it's not all good news for those at Villa Park as the January transfer window approaches, with one particular player potentially on the move when the winter window swings open.

Aston Villa transfer news

When it comes to incomings, Aston Villa got it fairly spot on in the summer. Moussa Diaby's stats, four goals and five assists show just how quickly he's settled in alongside Pau Torres, whilst Youri Tielemans and Nicolo Zaniolo begin to find their feet under Emery. All of that has resulted in new heights for the club in the Premier League as we near the halfway point. Amid their successful summer, however, is one man who is yet to make his mark and could already leave the Midlands club.

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According to Bild, Bayern Munich are interested in Clement Lenglet, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa from Barcelona. The La Liga giants are reportedly open to the move as long as the German side cover the defender's wages in full. Villa, meanwhile, reportedly want to see out their loan move for Lenglet, keeping him until the end of the season as planned.

This comes as a surprise, given Lenglet's game time. The Frenchman has not played a single minute in the Premier League and has been handed all of his opportunities in the Europa Conference League. Despite that though, Villa reportedly want to keep hold of their loanee.

"Quality" Lenglet needs move

When Lenglet secured his return to the Premier League after an impressive loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur last season, he would have been full of hope over his Aston Villa role – but things just haven't worked out. Whether it be Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres or Diego Carlos, Emery has opted for other options ahead of the Barcelona loanee, who may need a move elsewhere if he is to receive regular minutes in the current campaign.

With Bayern Munich reportedly interested too, Lenglet may not get a better chance to secure an end to a stint in the Midlands and a move to a club in the Champions League. It's a surprise that things haven't worked out so far at Villa, with Emery full of praise for Lenglet upon his arrival. Emery said:

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"Lenglet was a very good opportunity on loan for one year. He has experience in Barcelona, Sevilla and Tottenham playing at a high level, playing in Europe. I'm very happy with him because he is joining us with his quality, his experience."

Liverpool will "bid again" for Southampton's exciting young midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer and could do it as soon as "the next few days", according to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Romeo Lavia joining Liverpool this season?

It has been a summer of change for Liverpool this year, especially in the centre of the park.

So far, the club have sold two of the players that have been instrumental in the domestic and European successes of recent seasons, with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson making their way to the ludicrously wealthy Saudi Pro League.

Coming the other way have been Alexis Mac Allister, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth £35m, rising to £55m and Dominik Szoboszlai, who swapped life in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig for Meyseyside in a deal worth £60m.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

And while these additions to the team certainly make Jurgen Klopp's side stronger, they still need to add a new number six into the mix, something they seem well aware of considering their pursuit of Saints star Lavia.

So far, the Merseysiders have made two separate offers for the youngster, one worth in the region of £34m plus £4m in add-ons and a second worth £41m, both of which were rejected by the Southcoast club, per the Liverpool Echo.

Not a club to be deterred, the Reds are now preparing a third offer for the Belgian international and could make it as soon as the "next few days", per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on the That's Football YouTube channel, saying:

"We have to wait for Liverpool to prepare the third proposal for Romeo Lavia. The first one was £37m rejected, the second was £42m rejected, so it was a very clear way from the club because Southampton want £50m. That's what they want for Romeo Lavia.

"And let me say that [Southampton] have always been strong in negotiations this summer, for example, with Newcastle. When they negotiated for Tino Livromento, many rumours were saying £23m-£24m, Southampton always said £40m package or nothing and in the end, they got £40m for Tino Livromento. So it is almost the same for Romeo Lavia.

"They want £50m, that's going to be the fee, Liverpool know that very well, so I expect them to bid again, I expect them to try again in the next days this week. Lets see if they can reach an agreement, but for sure Romeo Lavia remains the main target for Liverpool in the midfield."

Would Romeo Lavia be a good signing for Liverpool?

To be succinct, Lavia could be an excellent signing for Klopp to make this summer. The move is only made all the more essential following the departure of Fabinho to Saudi Arabia, meaning that the team now have a glaring vacancy in the midfield just ahead of the back line, a vacancy Lavia could make his own.

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In his 26 starts for Southampton last season, the 19-year-old provided one assist maintained a passing accuracy of 86.4% and maintained an average match rating of 6.56, per WhoScored.

His standout statistic, however, is the number of blocks he makes per 90, 1.90, which according to FBref, puts the 5 foot 11 "monster" in the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues.

If Klopp and Co can negotiate a lower price for Lavia, they should certainly be doing all they can to bring him in, and to be honest, they should just pay the £50m if the Saints refuse to budge because, at just 19, the young Belgian could be a genuine superstar in the future.

Tottenham Hotspur should target Brendan Rodgers as their next manager following another setback in their search, former striker Darren Bent has claimed.

What's the latest on Spurs' manager search?

The club were dealt a blow as talks broke down with Feyenoord manager Arne Slot, and there appears to be no easy solution in sight to replace Antonio Conte, who was dismissed over two months ago.

There have now been links with Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, but former Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has now been mooted for the vacant role in North London.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Bent claimed that Rodgers' experience in the Premier League could make him the ideal manager to help make Spurs competitive.

"For me, he'd be perfect. He plays attacking football, I get that it sometimes goes a bit stale towards the end, which I understand, but look what he did in his pomp at Leicester, back-to-back fifth-place finishes," he stated.

"Yes, maybe he should have got fourth, but fifth with Leicester, winning the FA Cup in the manner in which they did, he nearly won the league at Liverpool, I know it was about the Gerrard slip but it was close.

"He's done great things at Celtic, I really like watching these teams play, so I don't understand why he's not been approached by Tottenham."

Should Spurs move for Rodgers?

Spurs encountered problems negotiating with Feyenoord over Slot, and they may face issues convincing clubs to part ways with their current head coaches.

Rodgers is currently a free agent, having been dismissed from his role at Leicester earlier on this season, and he is reportedly interested in the role.

His experience has seen him manage at both ends of the table, having competed for the title with Liverpool and helped take Leicester to Europe and FA Cup glory.

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He helped nurture attacking talents at his previous clubs, with the likes of Jamie Vardy, James Maddison, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge thriving under the Northern Irishman.

His time at Celtic saw him establish a period of dominance in Scotland with the Hoops, winning seven domestic trophies in a three-year spell.

He could be a perfect fit for Spurs, and with plenty of issues to contend with, such as the uncertain future of Harry Kane, someone with his pedigree and experience could help iron out the problems at the club.

Newcastle United’s owners have stressed the development of St. James’ Park is a long-term project and not something which will happen soon.

What’s the latest?

Earlier this week, it was reported the Saudi Arabian-based owners had bought back the patch of land known as Strawberry Place opposite the stadium.

The site was initially sold by the previous owner, Mike Ashley, back in 2019 for a sum of money believed to be worth in the region of £9m.

However, the site is now back in possession of the club and it is believed it will be used in the hope of expanding the Gallowgate End in the years to come.

But, speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Craig Hope has stressed the club are making it clear this is not a project which will happen over the coming months:

(3:10) “The word been stressed to me by the club is long-term, you know, we’re not going to buy this land and then all of a sudden, within the next sort of 12-18 months or even two years, turn St. James’ Park into a 60k/65k seater stadium, that just probably isn’t feasible for, for a variety of reasons.

“First and foremost, you know, they’ve got to explore all options from it from a structural point of view, could it be that modern technology means you don’t actually have to go out into Strawberry Place?”

Moving on up

Given the recent success of the club and the fact the previous owner is now well and truly out of the picture, there has naturally been a huge increase in demand for tickets.

It has been reported that over the summer there were around 30,000 fans aiming to snap up a season ticket and the 1,000 which were made available were bought almost instantaneously.

St. James’ Park currently holds just over 52,000 fans but there will be major issues for the club to overcome if they are to expand the stadium.

The stadium backs onto building issues on basically every side of the ground with listed buildings, a conservation area (Leazes Park) and structural headaches all to consider.

And through buying back Strawberry Place, the club will have to navigate various structural issues if they are to expand out the Gallowgate End.

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Below the site runs the local metro system which will likely require an awful lot of money and the best architects around to navigate a way to make this happen.

The club certainly have the financial power to do so, but this just shows how it is not going to be something which happens in the summer or even the summer after that.

This is going to be a huge project for the club and it seems they will be assessing all options of what modern technology can do before deciding to potentially build out onto Strawberry Place.

Liam Rosenior will have his work cut out for him to turn around Chelsea’s middling season.

Slumping all the way down to an unsatisfactory eighth spot in the Premier League standings, after losing 2-1 at near neighbors Fulham, it’s fair to say the Blues’ campaign has unravelled, leading to Enzo Maresca being dismissed.

It remains to be seen whether Rosenior is the man to reinvigorate Chelsea out of their slouched state, with the January transfer window no doubt a helpful boost to his chances, as he attempts to stamp his authority on his fresh ranks.

Chelsea handed edge in race for £38m star

Rosenior will surely aim to strengthen the backline at Stamford Bridge this month, with Chelsea’s last clean sheet in all competitions falling all the way back in mid-December, when winning 2-0 versus Everton.

Antonio Rudiger could spectacularly return to West London to fix these defensive concerns, while a Strasbourg reunion with Valentin Barco could also be on the cards for the newly appointed Englishman, as the inconsistent Blues look for more competition with Marc Cucurella.

Rosenior could also be gifted a very promising starlet for the future, a mere month into his new job post, as talkSPORT now reports that the Blues have an edge over Arsenal in the race for Genk gem Konstantinos Karetsas.

The report revealed that Mikel Arteta’s men very nearly sealed a £38m deal for the Greek playmaker in the summer, only for a move to fail to get over the line.

Now, with Rosenior installed in the Chelsea hot-seat, European football expert Andy Brassell has tipped the West Londoners to make a January swoop for the 18-year-old, who would surely jump at the chance of working under the ex-Derby County boss, owing to his ability to develop players at Strasbourg.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will push for a move for the teenage sensation, but if a deal were to whir into motion, Rosenior could be about to win his very own Estevao, as another exciting midfield talent prepares to take the Premier League by storm.

Why Karetsas can be Rosenior's own Estevao

While the wheels came off the Maresca reign quickly, the Italian should be commended for how much he managed to get out of Estevao, as he hung onto his Chelsea employment.

Indeed, the worry with signing such a highly-regarded youngster is that they could flop on the big stage. But, the Brazilian has managed to live up to his “world-class” billing – as was once handed to him by scout Jacek Kulig – consistently at Stamford Bridge, with his stunning strike against Barcelona the pick of the bunch from his six goal contributions donning Chelsea blue.

It would be deemed rather far-fetched for Karetsas to make similar strides immediately if he were to relocate to England over staying put in Belgium, but in time, he could become Chelsea’s next version of Estevao, under the new spell of Rosenior.

After all, the 18-year-old has already surpassed expectations so early into his fledgling career, with Karetsas capped nine times at a senior level by Greece.

He has been deserving of all these international opportunities, at such a tender young age, too, with the teenage attacker already up to 71 senior appearances for Genk, with a stunning five goals and 15 assists heading his way.

Subscribe to our newsletter for Chelsea transfer insight Get deeper transfer analysis by subscribing to the newsletter: informed breakdowns of Rosenior’s rebuild, profiles of targets like Konstantinos Karetsas, and scouting-led context on the young talents who could shape Chelsea’s squad.

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Subsequently, off the back of such inspired form in the senior ranks, Karetsas has been noted as being “so incredibly special” to watch by the aforementioned Kulig, alongside also being tipped to be a “future legend” of Greek football, as Estevao-levels of hysteria begin to build.

Karetsas vs Estevao (25/26)

Stat

Karetsas

Estevao

Games played

28

24

Minutes played

1821 mins

1005 mins

Goals scored

2

5

Assists

10

1

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Chelsea fans will be hoping they can cheer on another electrifying youngster who can instantly settle in the Premier League, much like Estevao, therefore, with Karetsas’ spellbinding form in the Jupiler Pro League and beyond this season, even seeing him trump the South American’s promising moments at Stamford Bridge.

If a move was to spark into life, Rosenior could soon win his very own Estevao, with the 41-year-old stating – after his reveal – that “I am good at what I do” as a new promising dawn spearheaded by Maresca’s bold successor is hopefully on the horizon.

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Manchester City could make a sensational bid for an “insane” player, who they made contact with earlier this summer, it has been revealed.

Lijnders impacting Guardiola's style at Man City

Jamie Carragher believes former Jurgen Klopp assistant Pep Lijnders is having a real impact on Pep Guardiola’s style of play, with Man City now playing a high defensive line, and scoring goals on the counter-attack against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Carragher said: “I couldn’t believe what I saw, the players were all jumping high up to try and catch the Wolves players offside. This is very Liverpool-like. It made me think how much influence is maybe the new coach having on this team.”

However, the Blues’ defensive frailties were on show in the 2-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur last time out, with James Trafford making an error leading to Joao Palhinha’s goal, while Rico Lewis won just two of the eight duels he contested.

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The Citizens are ready to swat aside the Champions League holders…

Posts 1 BySean Markus Clifford

Consequently, Pep may want to bring in a little more experience at the back, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma emerging as a major target, and there is also interest in a new right-back, who Lijnders knows very well…

Indeed, according to a report from Caught Offside, Man City could make a sensational bid to sign Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold in the January transfer window, with the former Liverpool man not exactly making a flying start to life in La Liga.

Dani Carvajal has managed to force his way back into Xabi Alonso’s side, which has led to doubts over Trent’s future, and City are monitoring the situation, having already contacted the right-back over a potential move to the Etihad Stadium earlier this summer.

The 26-year-old, who is reported to earn a base salary of around £276k-a-week at Real Madrid, has only made seven appearances for Real Madrid so far, but City are now in the picture for a shock move, with Guardiola in need of a long-term Kyle Walker replacement.

Trent would be "insane" signing for Man City

Given the recent history between Man City and Liverpool, the full-back linking up with Guardiola doesn’t seem like the most plausible of scenarios, although he has praised the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium in the past.

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The England international said: “People talk about City’s atmosphere and you know, hand on heart when we play them, the atmosphere is incredible, like we feel it. It’s intense.”

Lauded as “insane” by former footballer George Chomakov, the ex-Liverpool star has established himself as one of the best attacking full-backs in the world, while also impressing from a defensive point of view on occasion over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.22 (87th percentile)

Progressive passes

8.40 (99th percentile)

Tackles

2.64 (87th percentile)

Interceptions

1.23 (82nd percentile)

That said, even though Trent seemingly burned his bridges with Liverpool by leaving in the summer, a move to Man City seems relatively far-fetched, especially considering he is still in the very early stages of his Real Madrid career.