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Arsenal are rampant. 25 goals. 6 games. 6 wins. The Gunners are well and truly up for the fight in this Premier League title race.

Mikel Arteta’s men have come back from some fun in the Dubai sun to revive their season after a torrid New Year period where not only could they not win, but they couldn’t even score a goal either.

There were relentless cries for a new striker in January and although that point may well still be true, they certainly don’t have any problems finding the net.

In the last three games they have beaten West Ham 6-0, Burnley 5-0 and now Newcastle United 4-1. They are the second top scorers in the Premier League and the best defensive side; if that isn’t title-winning form then we’d like to know what it is.

But who was key to that win? A certain bargain buy in Jorginho shone once more.

Jorginho’s performance in numbers

The Italian was criticised and questioned, perhaps rather maliciously after he was signed in January 2023. Why was Arteta signing a Chelsea player whose best years were behind him?

A fair enough question, but Jorginho has answered his critics and has become one of the most liked players in this Arsenal team over the last year.

He’s a player that doesn’t start every game but when the going gets tough and the difficult fixtures come around, the midfielder is always there.

He won the Man of the Match award in the 3-1 win over Liverpool a few weeks ago and stepped into the centre of the pitch with ease this time too.

Playing at the base of the midfield, it allowed Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard the freedom to play further forward.

The Champions League winner walked away with TNT Sports’ Player of the Match award once more having taken 108 touches of the ball, more than anyone else on the field.

Jorginho also completed 91 of his passes at an 89% success rate. He was fouled twice in his attempts to evade the press and played a key role in Arsenal’s second goal of the game, scored by Kai Havertz.

The former Chelsea man played the ball in behind for Gabriel Martinelli who then laid it on a plate for the German to roll home.

That said, there were a few others who were arguably just as impressive as Jorginho. One of those players was Rice.

Declan Rice’s performance in numbers

Arsenal’s £105m summer signing has been simply sensational since arriving from West Ham. He’s scored big goals, notably against Chelsea and Manchester United and now he’s become a wizard from set plays.

In that 6-0 drubbing over his former club a few weeks ago the midfielder created two goals from a set piece and also found the net with a rasping drive from range.

Rice may not have found the net on this occasion but he registered another assist, supplying the corner which led to a rare strike for the ever-improving Jakub Kiwior who made it 4-0.

It took his tally for the campaign to five assists in the league. However, it was a display that was filled with even more quality elsewhere.

Minutes played

90

Assists

1

Touches

60

Accurate passes

45/48 (94%)

Key passes

4

Crosses

3/6

Aerials won

1/1

Interceptions

1

The club’s record signing completed a staggering 94% of his passes, the best of any side at the Emirates on Saturday evening, with four of those proving to be a key pass.

Furthermore, the England international won 100% of his aerial duels during a dominant display that saw him handed an 8/10 match rating courtesy of Football.London's Kaya Kaynak.

Arsenal have fielded a number of different combinations in midfield throughout 2024, with Havertz lining up alongside Rice but in Jorginho there is a balance in the ‘bigger’ games that looks far better. On Saturday night the pair of them were both phenomenal.

Remember, this is a team still missing Thomas Partey too. Imagine what Arsenal’s central area will look like once he’s back. For Rice, it’ll only be even more beneficial.

Glasgow Rangers take a break from Premiership action this weekend as they welcome Ayr United to Ibrox for a Scottish Cup clash.

The tie will take on even greater significance as former Celtic captain Scott Brown is now in charge of the Honest Men, but the Light Blues should win comfortably.

The match comes just four days after their crucial win over Aberdeen in the top flight and this indicates that Philippe Clement may make a few changes to his starting XI tomorrow.

One player who will be dropped is Cyriel Dessers, as he put in a poor performance against the Dons.

Cyriel Dessers failed to take his opportunity vs Aberdeen

The Nigerian striker had scored in three of his previous four matches leading up to the midweek clash, yet he was largely ineffective in front of goal.

Throughout the match, Dessers managed only 28 touches, won zero of his attempted duels and completed only 16 passes in what was a poor display all-round.

It looked as though he was returning to some sort of form following the winter break, but when Clement needed him most, the 29-year-old failed to produce the goods.

This should mean Fabio Silva gets unleashed from the starting XI tomorrow, and it could be the ideal match for him to add to his goal tally.

Fabio Silva must be unleashed by Rangers against Ayr United

The Portuguese striker may only be at Ibrox on a temporary basis, but he could establish himself as a key member of Clement’s team over the next few weeks.

Silva is valued at €12.8m (£11m) according to Football Transfers, and he demonstrated his class against Livingston last weekend, scoring a wonderful opener.

This was not enough to force his way into the starting XI against the Dons, but when he came on for Dessers with just over 30 minutes remaining, he had the chance to shine.

The 21-year-old did look much more dynamic than the striker he had replaced, succeeding with two of his three dribble attempts along with making a key pass, and his willingness to drop deep and link up with the midfielders meant he wasn’t isolated.

0

1

2/3

22

1

Indeed, Silva could have added the cherry to the cake in the final moments as he missed a golden chance to make it 3-1 to the Gers, but his effort drifted wide by the narrowest of margins.

Lauded as “infectious” by teammate Connor Goldson for his performances in training, a solid display against the second tier tomorrow may cement his place as the main striker over the coming weeks.

The game is a perfect opportunity for Clement to give some minutes to a variety of fringe players as he analyses who belongs in his long-term plans and who doesn’t.

While the Light Blues should secure passage into the quarter-finals, they will have to be wary of complacency, but the Belgian manager will have the side well drilled heading into the match.

They last won the Scottish Cup in 2022, ending a 13-year drought in the process, but the 49-year-old will be desperate to add the trophy to the League Cup which is already nestled in the Ibrox trophy room.

There has been a big late twist in the battle between Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday to sign USMNT striker Duncan McGuire, according to an update from journalist Chris Wheatley.

Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday updates

Rovers enjoyed an excellent 4-1 win over Wrexham in the FA Cup fourth round on Monday evening, setting up a meeting with Newcastle United in the last-16 in the process. They made light work of their much-talked-about opponents, avoiding a banana skin in the process.

Away from the on-field action, Jon Dahl Tomasson will be hoping for possible new signings to arrive at the club the January transfer window reaches its conclusion later this week, ensuring that his side have the best opportunity of keeping themselves well clear of the Championship relegation zone as they battle to keep hold of Adam Wharton.

One player who has been linked with a move to Blackburn this month is Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips, who finds himself completely out of favour at Anfield currently, behind the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah in the defensive pecking order

Over at Hillsborough, the Owls primary focus has been finding more goalscoring prowess, with links to Orlando City striker Duncan McGuire heating up in recent days as the USA international even rejected a new contract to try and force through a move to England.

Duncan McGuire transfer news

Revealing a twist on Tuesday morning, Wheatley reports that Blackburn are closing in on the signing of McGuire, jumping in at the last second to take advantage of his contract situation and seal a 7-figure deal.

"Excl: Duncan McGuire is on the verge of completing a £2.3m move to Blackburn Rovers from Orlando City. Sheffield Wednesday also in race but Blackburn’s offer includes a more favourable payment schedule. McGuire expected to travel to the UK tonight, if all goes to plan."

This is great news for Blackburn supporters and an unhappy end to the window for the Owls, with McGuire someone who has impressed in the MLS, scoring 15 goals in 37 appearances with Orlando. He has also won a cap for the USA, likely adding to that tally in the future, considering he is still only 22 years of age.

He has been described by Stars and Stripes FC as someone with a "low centre of gravity and physical presence" and who "wants to fight for every ball", not to mention "bringing a high work rate and wanting to "make defenders’ lives miserable".

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McGuire could provide Blackburn with the extra firepower required to ensure that they don't suddenly get themselves into a relegation battle, and the fact that they look likely to beat Wednesday to his services is an added boost, ensuring their rivals aren't strengthened.

It's important to remember that Tottenham Hotspur have made great strides in their overall performance since Ange Postecoglou was appointed in the summer, but their defeat against Manchester City in the FA Cup was a sombre reminder of the progress still to be made.

Restricted to one paltry shot on goal all night, the hosts were out-fought and out-thought by last season's champions in the cup competition, whose profligacy looked set to drag the game toward Manchester for a replay, with dynamic defender Nathan Ake thumping in a messy goal, the only goal, from a late corner.

The loss means that Postecoglou's chance of securing silverware in his first season in English football borders on infinitesimal, falling in the Carabao Cup in the second round and failing to qualify for European competition last term, eight points behind top-placed Liverpool in the Premier League.

But it's important to put things in perspective: Tottenham have conducted astute and effective business in the transfer market since the end of the 2022/23 campaign, rekindled the finest form of stars such as Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero, and absorbed and adopted an identity that bespeaks the high-class potential of Postecoglou in his bid to bring eventual major honours to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But, as already stated, Spurs were not on par with City last night; limp in attack but defiantly resilient in defence, Postecoglou's side might have lost, but the return of Micky van de Ven is crucial heading into the business end of the campaign.

Micky van de Ven's game vs Manchester City in numbers

James Maddison returned to action off the bench having spent over two months on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury against Chelsea in November to kick off a five-match winless run, but for all his brilliance, the influential playmaker might not be the most important cog in the system.

Fellow summer signing Van de Ven, who completed a £43m transfer from VFL Wolfsburg in August, was also injured against Chelsea, but has now started two matches in succession for Tottenham and was utterly mesmerising in his defensive duties versus the Sky Blues.

As per Sofascore, the Dutchman took 76 touches and completed 97% of his passes, losing the ball only twice, and remarkably made seven clearances as he consistently thwarted City attacks and rid his zone of advances.

Also winning two of his three contested ground duels and succeeding with three out of four long balls, illustrating his laser-focussed distribution, Van de Ven is truly an exceptional star in the Tottenham rearguard, with his electric pace and elite athleticism making for a singular skill set.

To emphasise this, the £50k-per-week ace ranks among the top 9% of centre-halves across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Penning his post-match thoughts, the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick bestowed the 22-year-old with an 8/10 match rating despite defeat, writing: 'Spurs' last line of defence made several important last-ditch interventions, including a block to deny Julian Alvarez a certain goal.'

It was another monstrous showing from a young gun with so much potential yet to be realised on English shores, and while Van de Ven attracted attention for his efforts, left-back Destiny Udogie deserves plaudits for his protection and energy, another big reason behind the Lilywhites' resurgence this season.

Destiny Udogie's performance vs Manchester City

Described as an "absolute brick" for his efforts down the left channel, Udogie might not have captured the awe like the Dutch defender to his right, but the 21-year-old produced yet another impressive performance against high-calibre opposition.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Dribbling

Ball retention

Passing

Crossing

Interceptions

Tackling

Source: WhoScored

His aptitude as a defensive force was on full show as is becoming pleasingly usual, and while Udogie didn't enjoy the attacking success that he might have liked, he can hold his head high as one of the best performers on a tough evening.

Winning a whopping nine duels, Udogie was indeed crucial in stifling the visitors' surging forward motions. He also took 70 touches, completed 88% of his passes, and made three clearances and tackles apiece to further underpin a noteworthy effort.

Pundit Clinton Morrison was certainly impressed, remarking during the first-half battle that Udogie "has been the best left-back in the Premier League" this season.

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As was Kilpatrick, who handed the 6 foot 2 full-back an 8/10 match rating to perch alongside Van de Ven as Postecoglou's shining light, writing that he 'covered confidently behind the back four and stepped into midfield with usual poise.'

With Son, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr all returning from international duty in the coming weeks, Tottenham will feel that they boast a squad of varied talent and sufficient depth to challenge for a Champions League spot come May.

But without doubt, Udogie's fitness will be imperative in this endeavour, with the Italian signing for the club from Udinese for £15m in 2022 and spending last season back on loan with the Serie A outfit, now vital in the north London team's project, having now played 20 matches across all competitions this term, starting every time.

Tottenham's best chance of a trophy this season closed when Ake fired into Vicario's goal with minutes of normal time left, but that's okay, sting as it may.

Postecoglou is creating a dynasty, and rising stars such as Udogie are evidence of a glittering future. It's heard in the euphonious bellowing in the stands, it's felt in the manner that the players conduct themselves on the pitch.

The Australian will stick to his style and know that success will come, and Udogie and Van de Ven will indeed be right at the centre as Tottenham return to the success that it yearns for with every fibre of its being.

Manchester United's lack of goal-scoring prowess has been a hot topic of conversation this season.

The Red Devils have only netted 24 goals in 21 matches this campaign, which has played a huge role in their current eighth position in the Premier League.

With that in mind, Erik ten Hag will look to reinforce the striker position this January by aiming to secure a short-term fix.

Man Utd's search for a new striker

According to Fabrizio Romano, Man United are interested in signing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting this month.

Talks have taken place between the club and his agents, as a move could be completed this month.

The reporter took to social media to say: "Man Utd have discussed signing Eric Choupo-Moting, but no club-to-club negotiations with Bayern yet."

Why Choupo-Moting would be a good signing for Man Utd

It is well-known that United's star signing of the summer, Rasmus Hojlund, has struggled to adapt to his new surroundings and with the step up from the Serie A to the Premier League.

The 20-year-old has scored two goals all season in the league, which have both come in his last two matches. Yet, he has been firing in the Champions League with five goals, which proves he's an exceptional talent.

However, the pressure of having to perform can become overwhelming, and his winner versus Aston Villa on Boxing Day was celebrated with more relief than enjoyment. That said, Ten Hag could look to bring in an experienced striker on a short-term deal who can take some pressure off Hojlund's shoulders.

Choupo-Moting could be that individual who is currently playing second fiddle to Harry Kane at Bayern. The 34-year-old has only started three Bundesliga games all season, playing an average of 23 minutes per game.

Nevertheless, the table below proves that the ex-Stoke City player would be a good signing for Man United, based on his stats from the last year across Europe's top leagues.

Non-penalty goals

0.50

Top 17%

Shots total

3.64

Top 10%

Touches (Att pen)

6.87

Top 7%

Shot-creating actions

3.81

Top 9%

Key passes

1.49

Top 15%

Passes completed

21.86

Top 9%

Progressive passes received

7.62

Top 16%

As you can see by his non-penalty goals, shots, touches in the attacking penalty box, and progressive passes received, Choupo-Moting is the definition of a true number nine who would provide a reliable source of goals, unlike Hojlund.

The 6 foot 3 star has even been called "the best target man in the world" by his teammate Serge Gnabry, which potentially foreshadows just how large his impact could be at Old Trafford. That is supplemented by a broad range of statistics, notably the fact that he ranked within the top 17% of forwards at the World Cup in 2022 for aerial duels won.

It's also echoed by his ability to shrug off defenders when running with the ball, tackled by an opponent just 28% of the time when attempting a take-on. That puts the Cameroon international impressively within the best 2% of forwards in Europe over the last year.

The 34-year-old evidently has a completely different style of play from Hojlund, however, and he could well elevate the game of those around him with his technical ability and capability to drop deeper to get on the ball.

This would provide Ten Hag with an opportunity to have different attacking patterns, depending on the opponent and who leads the line. The fact that he ranks in the top 9% for passes completed proves that, whereas the Dane ranks in the bottom 23% in the Premier League, as per FBref.

Overall, the signing of Choupo-Moting could be an extremely smart move, and one that in the interim could well have Hojlund running scared.

Newcastle United have had an incredibly eventful season on and off the pitch in terms of the changes that have taken place in the dressing room and behind the scenes.

In terms of their results in the Premier League, after being in and around the relegation zone for a large period of time, Eddie Howe has now been able to take the Toon to ninth place in the league table.

One player that hasn’t contributed much to the side in recent weeks, however, is goalkeeper Karl Darlow.

Having played in eight league games between September and November, the 31-year-old failed to keep even one clean sheet and ended up conceding 15 goals in total.

To highlight how disappointing the shot-stopper was during his spell in the team earlier this season, he was claimed to be looking “nervous” between the sticks by Alan Shearer during the Magpies’ 3-3 draw against Brentford.

With the upcoming summer transfer window on the horizon, it seems as though this could provide the manager with a chance to finally get rid of the Englishman and bring in a replacement to potentially compete with Martin Dubravka for the number one spot.

According to a report from Spain (via The Sun), Newcastle are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Praised for his “outstanding” performance against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season by journalist Ives Galarcep, the Costa Rica international has made a combined total of 266 appearances for Real Madrid and PSG across all competitions.

In those games, the 35-year-old has managed to keep a whopping 100 clean sheets, showing precisely why Mauricio Pochettino called him “top-level”.

This season has seen the £197k-per-week veteran play in 19 league fixtures for Mauricio Pochettino’s side and rack up the second-highest save percentage (79.5%) in the entire league, highlighting what a capable shot-stopper he is.

In comparison to Darlow, he has only been able to pick up a save percentage of 64.9% in the Premier League this season.

Even though he’s older than Darlow, he definitely has the quality to be a solid option for Newcastle ahead of the Englishman should he make the move to St. James’ Park this summer.

With all of this in mind, the Toon should definitely explore the possibility of securing a deal for Navas if the opportunity arises.

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Everton are reportedly now ‘keen’ on signing Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi in the summer.

The Lowdown: Chelsea woes

Batshuayi has not always been the happiest at Chelsea, as he has been sent out on loan five times since signing from Marseille for a whopping £35.1m back in 2016.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-4/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Called ‘top class’ by Frank Lampard when he was manager at Stamford Bridge, and a ‘hero’ by Football Vlogger and Blues supporter George Benson, the striker has contributed to Premier League and FA Cup titles for Chelsea, but the summer could well be the time that he finally moves on permanently.

The Latest: Everton ‘keen’

Writing in his latest piece for TEAMtalk, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that the Goodison Park faithful, as well as Leeds United, are now ‘keen’ on signing Batshuayi this summer.

Chelsea have given the ‘green light’ for his exit, and should the Merseyside club avoid relegation from the Premier League, they could take advantage of the situation.

The Verdict: Risky

Of course, given his troubles at Chelsea, signing Batshuayi would be a risk.

However, that is not to say that it could not be a shrewd move, as he has scored a total of 165 goals for club and country combined over the course of his senior career, and at 28 years of age, still has room left to grow and really hit his prime.

It would mean that the Toffees would probably have to get rid of at least one of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to make room for the Belgium international though, and if they do get relegated down to the Championship, any deal is likely to be cut off.

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Newcastle United’s summer has been nothing short of turbulent so far.

£55m being splashed on ex-Manchester United youngster turned Nottingham Forest star Anthony Elanga definitely raised a few eyebrows early on in the hectic transfer window, with Aaron Ramsdale also joining the ranks, rubber-stamping the Magpies’ failed pursuit of James Trafford.

The agony of missing out on Trafford to Manchester City will be nothing compared to the expected sorrow of Alexander Isak deserting St James’ Park, as Liverpool continue to sniff around for the potent Premier League marksman.

The Toon surely has a standout replacement up their sleeve for Isak if the clinical Swede does up and leave, leading to even more cash being potentially splashed by Eddie Howe and Co.

Newcastle in talks with £70m striker

At this point, it’s not exactly the best-kept secret that Newcastle are looking at fresh striker options, resigned to the fact that Isak is likely to exit.

Newcastle have been linked to a whole host of attackers, with Chelsea outcast Nicolas Jackson even reportedly on their radar, away from recurring stories suggesting that Yoane Wissa will soon leave Brentford behind for a move to St James’ Park.

However, away from those named, Newcastle United are also in talks with RB Leipzig goal machine Benjamin Sesko to fill the Isak-shaped hole that will soon appear, with Sky Sports’ Keith Downie revealing that a £70m offer is on the table.

However, it is yet to be accepted by the Bundesliga side, and negotiations are now ongoing to reach an agreement as the Magpies to sign the Bundesliga star this summer.

Downie does further state that Sesko would be open to a move to the Toon, alongside also being up for a switch to Manchester United, who are also keeping a close eye on the Slovenian to enhance their personnel up top.

For Newcastle’s sake, they will hope one of these avenues pays off very soon, with Elanga champing at the bit at the prospect of lining up alongside the lethal Sesko, as the pair go about terrorising Premier League defences together.

How Sesko could shine even more alongside Elanga

Throughout his goal-laden Leipzig stay to date, Sesko has been supplied with chances galore from a whole host of exciting attacking teammates.

Last season, Xavi Simons and Lois Openda – who are attempting to leave Germany behind themselves this summer – chipped in with 12 assists between them to help boost Sesko’s goal numbers in Bundesliga action to a hefty 13 strikes from 33 outings.

Games played

64

74

Goals scored

27

11

Assists

7

20

Big chances missed

18

16

Big chances created

6

23

These promising numbers in Germany could be taken to that next level in England if Sesko soon lines up next to an assist-hungry Elanga, as seen in the 23-year-old mustering up a healthy 20 assists across his last two Premier League campaigns at the City Ground.

Often, Elanga will dart forward with pace to burn, before laying it off to a poacher – such as Chris Wood – waiting for him to unlock a defence, with his ex-Forest teammate in Ryan Yates even going as to far to label him as a “dream” to work alongside, owing to his “you give him the ball and he can do the rest” level of ability.

Having such a rapid, but creative teammate by his side will be music to the ears of the lethal Slovenian, with his split-second instinct to fire home a chance, seeing him be dubbed a “monster” by football analyst Ben Mattinson.

Staggeringly, there could be even more to Sesko’s game that has yet to be unearthed, as the £70m attacker tries to follow in the footsteps of Isak with ease.

The 22-year-old striker will be helped along the way, if he does join, by Elanga being next to him, as the 25/26 campaign edges ever closer for a Magpies side leaping into an unknown future.

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New Barcelona signing Marcus Rashford once called a Real Madrid icon the best he’s ever played against ahead of Nou Camp legend Lionel Messi.

Marcus Rashford signs for Barcelona from Man Utd

The forward has officially competed a season-long loan move to the Nou Camp from Manchester United, with Barca also having the option to buy Rashford in 2026 for an initial £26m next summer.

Rashford becomes the first Englishman to sign for Barcelona since Gary Lineker, who did so back in 1986. Taking the number 14 shirt number with the Catalan giants, Rashford has been quick to praise current Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, calling the Ballon d’or contender “one of the leading players in the world”.

“He is a very special talent, and for me, I feel definitely last season, he is one of the leading players in the world, if not the best. Everyone wants to play with the best, and there is a lot of talent in this squad. I am happy and eager to play with them on the pitch. Maybe I can help them, and for sure, they can help me. It is going to be exciting.”

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Rashford will also come up against England teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham in the El Clasico in 2025/26, with Barca looking to retain their La Liga title under Hansi Flick.

Games

426

Goals

138

Assists

77

Red cards

2

Trophies

6

Rashford calls Cristiano Ronaldo best he’s played against

Back in 2017 when talking to ESPN, relayed by Football 365, Rashford was asked for the best player he has played with or against.

Still just two years into his professional career, the attacker said Cristiano Ronaldo was the best he had came up against during his time at the Bernabeu. However, he also name-checked former Red Devils teammate Wayne Rooney, Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and Brazilian star Neymar.

Former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Brazil striker Ronaldo also got a mention from Rashford, highlighting his World Cup displays.

“Brazilian Ronaldo has had the biggest World Cup performances, I’d say. And his were among the most enjoyable to watch. There were a lot of top players who performed in the World Cup and went to another level.”

Sunderland’s long wait to bring Granit Xhaka to the Stadium of Light this summer now looks to be over.

Indeed, the whole saga to bring the Swiss international back to English shores has seemingly concluded, as the ex-Arsenal enforcer looks set to complete a medical imminently after landing in Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen.

For £17m, it could well be Sunderland’s most important signing of the summer in offering Regis Le Bris’ troops some much-needed Premier League experience.

However, although experience has been sought after in clinching the 32-year-old’s signature, the Black Cats will also look to the future when making other standout summer purchases, knowing the success they’ve had with starlets such as Chris Rigg.

Sunderland show strong interest in £38m talent

Of course, the Wearside outfit will also be prioritising more Premier League-ready captures, away from going all in on their young and hungry model.

Stefan Ortega is the next top-flight star on their radar, having impressed in spurts as Manchester City’s back-up goalkeeper, with a surprise move for Jamie Vardy also allegedly on the cards after he waved goodbye to Leicester City recently.

But, there has also been apt time for Sunderland to scout out some promising talents who could go on to the club’s next big thing, with Fiorentina’s 20-year-old centre-back Pietro Comuzzo catching the eye in this regard.

As per reports from Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, Sunderland, Manchester United, and Nottingham Forest are all showing a strong interest in the up-and-coming Italian, with no offers coming Fiorentina’s way, just yet.

It could cost Sunderland a substantial £38m to get the deal over the line, however. But, this might be a worthwhile investment to make, if he suddenly explodes into life in the Premier League, much like Rigg managed under Le Bris’ wing in the second tier.

Why Comuzzo could be Sunderland's next Rigg

Rigg had already amassed 25 first team appearances at the Stadium of Light before the Frenchman’s inspired appointment.

But, he would really come into his own under the watchful eye of the ex-Lorient manager, who has even been hailed as a “father figure” in his approach with youngsters, according to journalist Luke Entwistle.

In total, the exciting 18-year-old midfielder would make 47 appearances last season as Sunderland triumphantly secured promotion, with four goals and one assist also coming his way to play a pivotal part in his side’s whirlwind ascent back to the Premier League.

Knowing what their team has managed to achieve with Rigg in such a short space of time will make the Wearside masses even more eager to see what Comuzzo could achieve in his fresh environment, with the 20-year-old already in and around the senior Italy circles as an international, after looking way beyond his years in his native country last season, much like the teenage sensation.

Games played

33

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Touches*

47.4

Accurate passes*

32.5 (86%)

Ball recoveries*

2.6

Total duels won*

3.6

Clean sheets

6

Comuzzo’s breakout campaign, which saw him collect a promising six clean sheets from 33 Serie A appearances, has led to him gaining many plaudits, with his former Fiorentina manager, Raffaele Palladino, hailing him as “extraordinary” for the maturity he displays when throwing himself into 3.6 duels on average in the testing terrain of the Italian top-flight.

That has further led to Palladino donning him a “soldier” for this resilience and energy, away from also being labelled as an “old-fashioned defender” by Italian scout Michele Fratini for his willingness to get stuck in, even as a 20-year-old still learning the ropes.

He will look to continue his upward trajectory on Wearside, with Comuzzo already one season down in a taxing top-flight environment.

This breakout offering in Florence has even seen him be shortlisted for the 2025 Golden Boy award, as he aims to become the next top starlet at the Stadium of Light in a similar vein to Rigg and other notable names before the 18-year-old.

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