One Tottenham star's agent is said to have an "agreement" with two clubs over him leaving in January, but there's a major issue in the form of Spurs' demands.
Spurs injuries mounting
The Lilywhites boss Ange Postecoglou is having to contend with numerous squad depth issues after a quartet of key players were forced to leave the field in their 4-1 defeat to Chelsea on Monday.
Postecoglou will be without defender Cristian Romero, who is set to serve a three-match suspension, and Destiny Udogie after the pair were shown red cards against Mauricio Pochettino's side earlier this week.
However, the most worrying absentees come in the form of James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, who will now be out of action until 2024 – as confirmed by Postecoglou in a press conference this afternoon.
“Micky obviously with that hamstring injury, we knew it was fairly significant, probably a couple of months for him looking into the new year," said the Australian (via football.london).
“Madders is a lot worse than we thought. He came off with an ankle injury and the next day wasn’t great, so we sent him for a scan. Again probably into the new year for him."
For now, the Spurs head coach is having to make do with limited options, but according to reports, there is a belief that the north Londoners could still opt to part ways with midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
While both Maddison and van de Ven could be back by January, when the window reopens, there is still a glaring lack of depth – so you could make the case that is wise to keep a player of Hojbjerg's experience.
Spurs are apparently open to selling Hojbjerg permanently but won't authorise a loan deal, which is backed by another update on his future from Italy.
Hojbjerg's agent has "agreement" with two clubs
The midfielder's agent apparently has an "agreement" with both Juventus and Atletico Madrid, as per newspaper La Stampa, but coming after Juventus chiefs met with Hojbjerg and his representation.
However, Spurs have adopted a firm stance over his exit – he leaves permanently for around £26 milllion or not at all. Hojbjerg was somewhat of a peripheral figure before Tottenham's current injury crisis, making most of his appearances across all competitions from the bench.
Some reports now hint Hojbjerg could be used in a makeshift central defensive role to cover for the injured van de Ven and suspended Romero, so it will be very interesting to see how that develops.
At his best, the Spurs midfielder is an extremely useful asset to have, with former goalkeeper Paul Robinson believing he was playing the best football of his Tottenham career not too long ago.
"I’ve been surprised by how much he has stepped up this year," said Robinson in October 2022 to Football Insider.
“I thought he was the one who would make way for Yves Bissouma. The club spent a lot of money on Bissouma. I think Hojbjerg recognised that and stepped up.
“He is playing to a level that we have never seen before. He is playing his best football in a Spurs shirt."
Tottenham have had their fair share of high-profile blunders in the transfer market, notably their summer transfer window business on the eve of the 2013/14 season kicking off saw Spurs spend their newly obtained Gareth Bale millions poorly – splashing £120m on flops such as Roberto Soldado, Vlad Chirches and Paulinho with Christian Eriksen the obvious exception.
Other faces that will remembered as duds when pulling on a Spurs strip over years gone by are Moussa Sissoko, David Bentley and Clinton N'Jie, the last of that forgettable trio never scoring for the north Londoners after the striker was tipped to have the potential to be a future bright spark for Tottenham.
Another stand-out transfer mishap was Vincent Janssen, the Dutch striker electric in his native Netherlands with AZ Alkmaar before uncharasterically turning goal-shy when relocating to England.
It's a transfer that had so much potential, squashed within a lacklustre first season as Janssen would then be sold on to Mexico.
Burning a hole in Spurs' pocket, the now 29-year-old's transition to the Premier League was bumpy after leaving the Eredivisie for a sizeable transfer fee.
The cost of Vincent Janssen's move to Spurs
In 2016, Tottenham must have thought they'd struck gold by signing Janssen for a reasonable £18.6m transfer fee considering the then 22-year-old's exploits in the Eredivisie before signing on the dotted line at White Hart Lane.
He would net 32 goals from 49 games for ex-employers AZ Alkmaar in total, including a terrific 27 goals in his final full season in the Dutch top-flight which saw the deadly striker win the golden boot beating PSV Eindhoven sharp shooter Luuk de Jong to the prize by a solitary goal.
Janssen would have first come onto the radar of English football fans a couple of months before this move to Spurs was completed however, scoring a penalty against England at Wembley Stadium when featuring for the Netherlands in the March before he joined in 2016.
The allure of joining Tottenham at the time came from Mauricio Pochettino transforming Spurs into an easy-on-the-eye team to watch, the Argentine boss steering his team to a third placed finish during the 2015/16 season which meant the Lilywhites now had Champions League football to savour.
READ MORE: The starting lineup at Spurs if they never sold Gareth Bale
After signing for his new team, Janssen revealed – when speaking to Spurs TV per the Guardian – that it had always been a dream for him to play at that elite level which made the switch to Tottenham a simplistic move to make.
He said: "When I was a little child I watched every game in the Champions League and now I can play it for myself. It’s a beautiful club, a traditional club in England.”
Monterrey
94
24
Almere City
74
32
Royal Antwerp
63
27
AZ Alkmaar
49
32
Tottenham
42
6
Fenerbahce
18
5
Stats via Transfermarkt.
Unfortunately for Tottenham, the goals would dry up for Janssen when he made the move to England with the ex-AZ man never living up to this billing of being a commanding and potent striker he had garnered in the Eredivisie in his new home.
Janssen's numbers for Spurs
Signed to give Harry Kane competition, the Englishman must never have really sweated about the potential of being dropped by Pochettino with a goal-shy Janssen waiting in the wings.
The Dutch attacker would have to wait nine whole games to get his first Premier League goal, scoring a penalty against Leicester City on the stroke of half-time in a 1-1 draw.
Tottenham flop Vincent Janssen.
After this strike against the Foxes, Janssen would only muster up one more top-flight goal for Spurs – leaving it until April of the same campaign to net again, rounding off a comprehensive 4-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth with a simple tap-in after an initial Cherries block.
In total, he would manage six goals for the Lilywhites with the domestic Cup competitions more fruitful for the 22-time Netherlands International – even scoring against Liverpool in the EFL Cup in a much-changed starting XI.
His poor stint in a Tottenham shirt even saw ex-Blackburn Rovers striker and football pundit Chris Sutton at the time comment on the situation, with Sutton feeling sorry for Janssen when speaking on BBC Radio Five Live.
He said: "You have to say you feel a bit sorry for him because it is hard to step into Kane’s shoes, but he hasn’t delivered.”
The disastrous move was put to one side in Tottenham quarters when Janssen left the club permanently in 2019 for Monterrey in Mexico, Spurs recuperating £8m in the process.
But, as much as Janssen did flop in English football, he has turned his career around since departing Spurs and is now the star man for Royal Antwerp out in Belgium.
Janssen's numbers since leaving Spurs
Outscoring Tottenham's shining light in James Maddison this campaign so far – Janssen hitting the back of the net six times in all competitions compared to Maddison's lesser three – the forward has undergone a career revival which has seen the 6 foot striker get back to his goalscoring best.
Scoring seven times from nine games played in the Copa MX in his first season out in Mexico was the confidence booster Janssen needed to shake off any doubts that he'd never recapture that deadly goalscoring streak he lost at Spurs again, eventually leaving Monterrey with 24 goals to his name for pastures new in Belgium.
Since joining Royal Antwerp in June last year, Janssen has already eclipsed his Monterrey total for Mark Van Bommel's outfit – netting 16 goals from 30 games in his debut campaign with the Reds, with Van Bommel's overperformers going on to lift the Jupiler Pro League title.
His goal output for Antwerp continues to flow, scoring a hat-trick in September versus Belgian opponents KV Kortrijk to help his side win emphatically in a 6-0 drubbing.
Janssen's first goal in that match at the Bosuilstadion saw an attacker brimming with confidence, connecting with a cross into the box first time to guide the ball effortlessly into the back of the net.
It's a sign of an attacker who has matured and learnt valuable lessons in the aftermath of his disappointing days at Spurs, the Dutchman often critiqued as being too static and passive when playing under Pochettino at White Hart Lane.
Now, he's found his goalscoring groove again and has been able to rebuild his career to the point where his time at Spurs just reads as a blemish on his otherwise impressive CV.
Liverpool are much-improved this season after toiling last year, but still seek improvements over the next few years to return to the very top of the game.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch were all signed to combat the summer exodus, but this well-wrought midfield could be bolstered further.
Who are Liverpool interested in signing?
According to Sky Sport Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Schalke 04's teenage sensation Assan Ouédraogo is attracting Jurgen Klopp's attention after bursting onto the scene in prodigious fashion, with Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton also interested.
Any deal would not materialise until the end of the 2023/24 campaign, when the 17-year-old's €20m (£17m) release clause would no longer be dormant.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Plettenberg does also claim that AC Milan currently hold the most "concrete" interest in the youngster's services, with the Serie A side's officials set to meet Schalke bosses for negotiations this week.
Who is Assan Ouédraogo?
The versatile midfielder is playing with age-belying confidence and swagger in Bundesliga 2, very much integral in Die Knappen's travails.
Also pursued by Bayern Munich, the rising star is robust and positive in possession, completing 81% of his passes this season, succeeding with 61% of his dribbles and winning 55% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.
Given that he also ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across similar divisions over the past year for goals, the top 14% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, his aptitude in surging forward and providing a creative threat is clear.
Such qualities could put him in good stead to become Liverpool's starring member of a burgeoning youth fold, surpassing even the talent of 18-year-old Spaniard Stefan Bajcetic, who was so important for the struggling Reds last season.
Having made 19 appearances last term, scoring against Aston Villa in the Premier League, the dynamic midfielder saw his season curtailed in March due to injury, though he is wedging his way back into the team at present and earned a start in the Europa League against LASK.
Described by journalist Zubin Daver as a "special" talent, Bajcetic is impressive but might see his ability surpassed by such a precocious talent as Ouédraogo, who is attracting the attention of some of Europe's goliaths.
He's even been touted as the next Xabi Alonso by the German Bundesliga's official website, with the former Liverpool star and current Bayer Leverkusen manager among the crispest, most refined midfielders of his generation.
Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic.
Lauded as a "proper champion" by Steven Gerrard, who revealed that he misses playing alongside the Spanish maestro at Anfield, Alonso was renowned for his all-encompassing midfield game, elegance and defensive application, which are attributes both Bajcetica and Ouédraogo would do well to absorb.
It would be a fantastic prospect to see the second coming of one of the most beloved stars in Liverpool's modern history back in the centre.
Dubbed the "stand-out” by reporter Ben Bocsak, Ouédraogo is very young and remains in the embryonic stage of his development, but he boasts all of the skills to cement his stature as one of Europe's foremost prodigies and could do so over the coming years. Just hopefully at Liverpool.
Chelsea have had some of football's most talented players on their books, with the likes of Didier Drogba and Gianfranco Zola leading their attack.
However, in their 118-year history, the blue side of London have seen some of the world's best players slip through their fingers.
Therefore, we at Football FanCast have compiled a list of 11 players Chelsea should never have sold.
11 Oriol Romeu to Southampton – £5m (2015)
Former Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu.
Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu joined Chelsea at just 19 years old from Barcelona in 2011, but in his four-year stint at Stamford Bridge, he failed to ever break into the first team, making only 33 appearances and going out on loan twice (to Stuttgart in Germany and Valencia in Spain) before moving to Southampton in 2015.
Nevertheless, since leaving the Blues the 32-year-old has gone on to have an illustrious career.
During the 2016/17 season, Romeu completed the third most tackles in the Premier League (117), only behind N’Golo Kante and Idrissa Gueye, furthermore between the 2016/17 and 2018/19 campaigns the Barcelona youth academy graduate was the Saints' top tackler, showing just how crucial he was to their side.
To make things worse for Chelsea, after leaving Southampton for Girona in 2022 Romeu has returned to his boyhood club where he has continued to impress.
10 Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool – £12m (2013)
Despite only being 34, today Daniel Sturridge is more commonly found appearing for Sky Sports’ punditry team. However, after leaving the Blues over a decade ago the striker became one of the Premier League's most prolific strikers.
The Englishman spent four seasons with Chelsea, making 63 appearances (32 off the bench), but he was only able to score 13 goals and in his final season, he only managed one goal. This led to his £12m January transfer to Liverpool, where his career took off.
After his move, Sturridge scored goals 10 in 11 starts and during his first full campaign in 2013/14 the Premier League winner netted 21 times and formed one of the most iconic partnerships in the leagues with Luis Suárez.
Perhaps Chelsea and previous owner Roman Abramovich would have been smart to hold onto the two-time Champions League winner, as since the departure of Drogba and then Diego Costa they have struggled to find a star striker.
9 Juan Cuadrado to Juventus – £17m (2017)
Chelsea paid £23.3m for winger Juan Cuadrado in 2015, however, the Colombian only ever made 13 appearances, of which only four starts, furthermore he never scored during his spell with the club. This means that he cost the five-time Premier League Champions £5.83m for every start the winger made.
Following a return to Italy on loan with Juventus (just seven months after moving to England) the 35-year-old criticized Chelsea for not giving him a chance.
He said to the Evening Standard: "I don't think I was given enough opportunity to show what I can do, but that's football. I'm happy to be back being a protagonist with Juventus."
And maybe Cuadrado was right, as after making his move to Juventus permanent in 2017, he went on to play 314 times for the Old Lady, scoring 26 goals and assisting 59 times, while also winning 11 trophies.
8 Fikayo Tomori to AC Milan – £25M (2021)
Fikayo Tomori first joined Chelsea in 2005 and worked his way up from just Under-8s level, all the way to the first team, where he made 27 appearances.
However, after 16 years in London, the centre-back permanently left the club, after his loan move to AC Milan was made permanent.
Since moving to Italy, the Canadian-born defender has excelled. During his first full season with the Rossoneri, Tomori won Milan’s first Serie A title in 11 years, while also making the team of the season.
It may be that Chelsea regrets selling the 25-year-old, with the squad being remade under the ownership of Todd Boehly, the blue side of London lacks some much-needed leadership and experience, which Tomori could have provided.
7 Tammy Abraham to Roma – £34m (2021)
Roma striker Tammy Abraham
Tammy Abraham had a very similar career path to Tomori, joining Chelsea at just seven years old, the striker worked his way up to the first team, where he made his debut at just 18 years old.
The England international broke into the Chelsea first team during the 2019/20 season under manager Frank Lampard, and in 34 league appearances, the 25-year-old scored 14 goals and finished the season as the Blues’ top scorer.
However, only a year later Abraham was sold to Roma, after a disappointing 2020/21 campaign where he scored just six league goals.
Since moving to Roma, the Chelsea academy graduate has shown his boyhood club what they could have had, scoring 36 goals in 107 games and winning the UEFA Europa Conference in 2022.
6 Declan Rice to West Ham – Released (2014)
n'golo-kante-declan-rice-west-ham-opinion
Declan Rice never made it into Chelsea’s first team and was dropped from their youth set-up at just 14 after joining in 2006.
This led the England international to join London rivals West Ham, where he became a club legend.
In his eight years with the Hammers Rice made 241 appearances and became the club's captain, and in his final game for West Ham in 2023, he won the Europa Conference League, which was the London club’s first trophy since 1980.
Although the 24-year-old received interest from Chelsea after leaving, he eventually moved to bitter rivals Arsenal for a record £105m, leaving the Stamford Bridge outfit wondering how they let him get away.
5 Jamal Musiala to Bayern Munich – £172k (2019)
Jamal Musiala
Jamal Musiala has emerged as one of Europe’s brightest young stars since breaking into the Bayern Munich first-team during the 2020/21 season.
Since leaving London the 20-year-old has already won four German League titles and a Champions League, on top of this he has been nominated for the 2023 Golden Boy – which is awarded to the best U21 player in Europe.
This prompted Golden Boy founder Massimo Franchi to reveal that he thought Musiala could have been integral to Chelsea.
Speaking to TZ he said:
"That FC Bayern took him from Chelsea almost for free was incredibly smart. An incredible loss for Londoners.
"It would be like the Louvre losing the Mona Lisa!"
According to Football Transfers, the German international is now worth £82.2m, meaning if Munich were to sell the former Chelsea academy player, they could make at least a £82m profit.
4 Arjen Robben to Real Madrid – £30m (2007)
Arjen Robben left PSV and moved to Chelsea in 2004 for £16m, however, he was out the door just three years later after only making 67 league appearances, scoring 15 goals and providing 16 assists.
After Leaving England, the winger moved to Real Madrid, where he again had an unsuccessful spell and was sold to Bayern Munich after two years.
But this move to Germany proved to be the making of the former Dutch international, as he became one of the world's best players.
The 39-year-old spent 10 seasons in Germany, where he made 309 appearances, scored 144 goals and made 101 assists, while also winning eight German League titles, a Champions League, and Bundesliga Player of the Year.
Proving to Chelsea and Real Madrid what they missed out on.
3 Eden Hazard to Real Madrid – £130m (2019)
Real Madrid's former forward Eden Hazard.
Eden Hazard has to go down as a Chelsea club legend, he was voted Chelsea’s Player of the Year a record four times and won two Premier Leagues and two Europa Leagues while making 352 appearances and scoring 110 goals.
Unfortunately, the fairy tale came to an end in 2019 as the winger sealed his dream move to Real Madrid.
However, this move saw his career come off the rails, after numerous injuries and only 54 league appearances, the 32-year-old's contract was terminated with a year to go, and he is yet to find a new club.
This has left Chelsea, their supporters, and probably Hazard wondering what would have happened if he had stayed in London.
2 Mohamed Salah to Roma – £12.75m (2016)
It is unlikely that anyone in 2016 would have believed you if you had suggested that Mohamed Salah would become the highest-scoring African player in Premier League history or break the record for most Premier League Player of the Month awards in a single season.
However, he has certainly proved his doubters and Chelsea wrong.
The Premier League winner struggled while at Chelsea, only playing 19 times and scoring twice, meaning that he has scored more goals against the Blues than has for them, with seven in 21 appearances against the two-time Champions League winners.
Speaking to GQ in 2022 the Egyptian revealed the pressure was too much for him while at Chelsea.
He said:
“It was so tough for me, mentally. I couldn’t handle the pressure I had from the media, coming from outside.
“I was not playing that much. I felt, ‘No, I need to go’.
“You have two choices: to tell the people that they are right to put you on a bench or to prove them wrong.
Although Aston Villa have slipped up in recent matches, with zero wins coming their way so far in November, there have still been plenty of positives this season for the Villa Park masses to cling onto.
The Villans are only a point off third position in the early Premier League standings, with a winnable game up next against Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace gifting Unai Emery’s men a chance to bounce back from any recent poor results.
Emery will also know there’s more than enough talent in his camp to turn around this stumble in form, with the likes of Morgan Rogers and other stars at his disposal excelling away from some unwanted losses.
Top Villa performers this season
Rogers does feel like the obvious player to start with here, considering he has just won himself a new bumper deal at Villa Park until 2030, after also being gifted a senior England international call-up.
The constantly entertaining attacking midfielder has fired home three goals and picked up three assists across all competitions, wth his top performance levels not wavering in the Champions League whatsoever, with a ridiculous seven dribbles successfully registered against Bologna on Europe’s biggest stage in October.
There is also Rogers’ teammate up top in Ollie Watkins who has shown flashes of his brilliance in front of goal this season to date, despite failing to score for Emery’s men in their last five clashes.
He does still have a healthy return of five strikes next to his name from 11 Premier League contests, with Watkins also scoring this international break lining up alongside Rogers for the Three Lions versus Greece.
Not every top Villa star this season has been a guaranteed starter week in week out either, with Jhon Duran known now as a clinical striker in the West Midlands from off the substitutes bench.
Jhon Duran's value at Villa
Duran continues to look more and more like a bargain every game he dons a Villa strip, with the former Chicago Fire striker an Emery purchase for just £18m back in January 2023.
Whilst the Colombian would initially settle in well with five Premier League goals fired home during the 2023/24 season, this campaign has seen him become a man-possessed in front of goal, with many of Villa’s most memorable moments having the on-fire 20-year-old at the front and centre of them.
Of course, no article chronicling the insane rise of Duran at Villa would be complete without waxing lyrical about his clever strike versus Bayern Munich in the Champions League, which ended up winning the hosts the tight contest 1-0 over the Bavarian giants.
That inventive strike would come about after Duran had only been present on the Villa Park turf for 20 minutes, as he stepped up to replace Watkins in some style.
Stat – per 90 mins*
Duran
Games played
11
Games started
0
Minutes averaged*
25
Minutes played overall
278 mins
Goals scored
4
Expected goals
2.37
Scoring frequency
70 mins
He has also been an electric option late on in games in the top-flight, with four goals coming the South American’s way despite the fact he hasn’t started a single contest in the division as only 278 minutes of action have been afforded to him.
The major impact the Villa number nine has managed to have on games has resulted in the likes of Arsenal reportedly being interested in his services, with a hefty €90m (£75m) price tag now above his head, according to reports from his native Colombia.
That is a crazy increase of 316%, when taking into account his original £18m fee, with that low fee now looking to be a golden bargain for Emery and Co.
Villa won’t want to part ways with the 20-year-old anytime soon, despite ridiculous amounts of money now being discussed, as Emery no doubt views his “weapon” – as he was once referred to by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – as integral to Villa ending this current season on a high.
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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke will be pleased with where his team currently is in the Championship table, after they moved to the top on Sunday.
A dramatic 4-3 win over Swansea in Wales, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Wilfried Gnonto, ensured that the Whites moved above Sunderland and Sheffield United on goal difference.
However, the German boss could still have some decisions to make when the January transfer window opens for business in around five weeks.
There is one player in the squad who should be ruthlessly cashed in on ahead of the second half of the season, despite once being an exciting talent who was hailed by Marcelo Bielsa.
The Leeds talent who Marcelo Bielsa loved
In November 2021, the Argentine tactician brought teenage talent Joe Gelhardt into his Premier League squad and said that he was not surprised by his integration.
The former Wigan Athletic starlet’s finishing was described as “very good” by Bielsa, who also claimed that the forward “always creates danger” in matches.
Leeds forward Joe Gelhardt.
Gelhardt, who pundit Jamie Redknapp dubbed a “wrecking ball” and hailed as “really exciting”, featured in 20 matches in the 2021/22 Premier League season and contributed with two goals and two assists as a teenage prospect.
He then played 15 times and provided two assists under Jesse Marsch in the Premier League the following term before being sent out on loan to Sunderland in January 2023.
Gelhardt scored three goals and assisted a further three in 18 appearances at Championship level for the Black Cats during that spell, before returning to Elland Road upon Farke’s arrival last year.
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Why Joe Gelhardt should be sold
In the 18 months or so since then, the 22-year-old forward has failed to do enough to suggest that he has what it takes to kick on and become a regular in West Yorkshire.
The left-footed attacker was rarely used during the 2023/24 campaign. He finished with zero goals and zero assists in ten appearances and two starts in the Championship, which shows that Farke did not trust him to play regularly in the second tier.
Leeds forward Joe Gelhardt.
Gelhardt also scored one goal in three outings in the cup competitions, with a strike in an EFL Cup win against Shrewsbury Town, but that was not enough to earn more game time in the league.
This season, the young centre-forward has only played three times and amassed 73 minutes of action across all competitions for the West Yorkshire outfit.
Per Capology, Gelhardt earns as much as both Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe, on £15k-per-week. This suggests that the Whites are not getting value for money, as Joseph has scored two goals and provided three assists whilst Piroe has scored six and assisted two.
The former Wigan prospect, who was loved by Bielsa in his early days at Elland Road, has simply not kicked on since his early success in the Premier League under the Argentine boss.
He has failed to break into Farke’s team in the Championship and, now, must be ruthlessly ditched from the squad when the January transfer window opens, due to his lack of impact on the pitch.
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Ibrahima Konate will be a huge loss for Liverpool while he is out injured. Arne Slot confirmed following the win over Manchester City last weekend that the defender will be “out for a few weeks” after an injury sustained in the Champions League clash against Real Madrid the previous midweek.
He has been imperative for the Reds this season, as they sit top of the pile in the Premier League. The Frenchman has played 12 times in the top flight, with his centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk explaining “the qualities he has are outstanding” earlier in the season.
However, with Konate sidelined for the foreseeable future, Van Dijk will need a new partner at the heart of the Liverpool defence. Joe Gomez was the man who took up that mantle last weekend.
Gomez’s stats this season
With Konate’s impressive form this term, it has not been a campaign filled with opportunities for England international Gomez. He has played just nine games in all competitions, with four of those coming in the Premier League.
Frustratingly, he has played just 145 top-flight minutes altogether, with his first start coming last weekend against the Cityzens. Indeed, that was a positive performance against the reigning top-flight champions.
Gomez earned an impressive 8/10 for his efforts against Pep Guardiola’s side. The Guardian journalist Andy Hunter praised the former Charlton Athletic defender for “an assured defensive display” against City.
He has come a long way under Slot since the first game of the season. The 27-year-old, who has never scored a professional goal, was left out of their season opener away to Ipswich Town.
That led to a report from The Times explaining that he could depart the club over the summer, although that did not materialise. Since then, the defender – who was ironically close to a move to today’s opponents, Newcastle United – has knuckled down well and put in a strong performance against City to prove his worth in the squad.
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez
With the games coming thick and fast for Liverpool, Slot may well decide to rotate his side around and could leave Gomez out of the starting lineup against Newcastle, in favour of Jarrell Quansah.
Why Quansah could start against Newcastle
The 2023/24 campaign was a breakout season for Reds academy product Quansah. He played 33 times under Jurgen Klopp, becoming an important squad player and even being named in England’s provisional Euro 2024 squad.
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However, this season has been the opposite for the 21-year-old. Under Slot, Quansah has featured just four times in all competitions, with just two of those games coming in the Premier League.
Interestingly, the defender did make a start at Portman Road at the start of the season, with his other appearance coming off the bench against City last weekend. In that heavyweight showdown, he helped to hold down the fort and ensure City did not find a route back into the game.
It may well be seen as a risk to drop Gomez in favour of the youngster who has had fewer minutes this term. However, as the stats from the 2023/24 Premier League season, courtesy of Squawka, there is not too much between them from a numerical standpoint.
On the ball, Quansah played more forward passes per game, with 29.6 to Gomez’s 17.9, and won more aerial duels, with 3.5 compared to just 1.6 for his teammate.
Stat (per 90)
Quansah
Gomez
Pass accuracy
88.76
86.25
Forward passes
29.6
17.9
Tackles and interceptions
3.2
3.4
Aerial duels won
3.5
1.6
Ground duels won
2.4
4
Ball recoveries
5.5
5.7
It is a chance for the “exceptional” defender, as football scout Antonio Mango described him, to stake a claim in the Liverpool side whilst Konate is sidelined. He will be coming up against Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak, one of the most deadly attacking duos in the Premier League.
They have four joint goal involvement in 60 games together so far, and although they have not been in the best form this term, there is a chance to make a statement to Slot by keeping them quiet.
Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak
It would be a bold call for Slot to bring Quansah into the side, especially coming up against Isak and Gordon. He will have his work cut out against two lethal attacking players, but it is a challenge the Liverpool academy graduate will surely rise to meet, as he tries to lock down a regular starting spot.
Fewer touches than Kelleher: Liverpool must boldly axe 8/10 ace after City
Liverpool swatted Manchester City aside in the Premier League to go nine points clear at the top.
Nottingham Forest face arguably the toughest test in club football this weekend when they take on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.
Nuno Espírito Santo's side come into the encounter looking to return to winning ways after falling to a 2-0 defeat against fellow relegation-threatened side Everton.
The Reds have failed to win in their last three league outings and sit perilously close to the dropzone, amid very real fears of a relatively swift return to the Championship.
However, the chances of the Reds picking up three points on Sunday are extremely thin, with the Premier League champions unbeaten in 90 minutes since the start of December.
Forest claimed a crucial point against City last season after Chris Wood tapped home from close range after a sensational team move which involved every single member of the Reds side.
If Nuno's side are to claim anything from the fixture, he must recall two players to the starting lineup, with the duo deserving of a starting position after missing out against the Toffees last weekend.
Why Anthony Elanga must start against City
After picking up a minor injury a few weeks ago, winger Anthony Elanga has failed to start in any of the last two Premier League games but managed to come off the bench during the defeat at Goodison Park.
Gio Reyna replaced the Swede on the right-hand side of the attack, but failed to make a real impact before making way for the former Manchester United man after just 53 minutes.
Elanga has managed five goals and registered eight assists in the Premier League this season, with the forward thriving from regular game time after his move to the City Ground.
He should start based on his stats alone, but his "electric" pace on the counter-attack – as hailed by pundit Paul Robinson – could cause City a lot of problems, especially given Pep's tendency to start with three centre-backs, potentially allowing for huge gaps down either flank.
Forest will likely sit behind the ball for the vast majority of the encounter, looking to break where possible, but Nuno should also turn to another Reds player to combat the Citizens' potent forward line.
The man to partner Murillo against City
After returning to the starting lineup against Everton on Sunday, centre-back Moussa Niakhate struggled for much of the game trying to deal with the aerial threat of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Senegalese defender only managed to win 50% of his duels on Sunday, whilst giving possession away ten times and committing a singular foul.
Niakhate, who is left-footed like Murillo, featured on an unnatural right-side of the centre-back partnership, struggling to make the impact he usually would have if he played in his usual role.
Nuno decided to drop Andrew Omobamidele for the crucial clash, a decision which turned out to be a costly one given the Irishman's impact alongside the Brazilian so far this campaign.
The "sensational" talent, as dubbed by writer Brendan O'Brien, has started eight games in the Premier League under Nuno and looks like the perfect partner alongside Murillo at the back, offering balance and allowing each other to feature on their natural side of the backline.
Appearances
10
Passes completed
263
Pass accuracy
87%
Duels won
19
Interceptions
13
Recoveries
20
The former Norwich City man has proven to be an excellent addition for the Reds since his summer transfer, with the 21-year-old having the potential to be a long-term starter at the heart of Forest's defence.
He's got the potential to become a brilliant Premier League centre-back, but he needs consistent game time in order to reach the heights all Reds fans know he's capable of, with Nuno needing to reunite the Irishman with Murillo ahead of the tricky test against City on Sunday evening.
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Whilst anything could yet happen on the pitch in what is likely to go down as one of the greatest Championship promotion races in history, Ipswich Town have reportedly set their sights on completing some business away from the action.
Ipswich transfer news
As things stand, Ipswich sit top of the Championship and on course to achieve historic back-to-back promotions to reach the Premier League in style, but just two points separate them and third-place Leicester City, who have a game in hand. In touching distance of a Championship campaign to never forget, Kieran McKenna's side are unlikely to do things the easy way in the final six games, as we saw last time out against Southampton.
Now, with an East Anglian derby against Norwich City awaiting them, Ipswich have turned their attention towards the summer transfer window, as they begin to think about their Premier League dream becoming a reality.
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According to Mike McGrath and John Percy of The Telegraph, Ipswich are now eyeing a move to sign Seny Dieng from Middlesbrough alongside both Newcastle United and Crystal Palace. Boro reportedly want to secure a deal worth double the £2m fee that they paid out to sign the goalkeeper from Queens Park Rangers last year.
After an impressive campaign in the Championship, the Senegal international looks set to have a decision to make this summer. As for Ipswich, there would arguably be few better ways to potentially announce themselves in the Premier League than by beating the likes of Newcastle to a key summer signing. The shot-stopper is certainly one to watch in the forthcoming window.
"Weapon" Dieng can compete with Hladky
Whilst there have been times in which Dieng's position as Middlesbrough's number one has come into question, he has since won his place back under Michael Carrick to cement himself in his side once more. In doing so, he has earned the interest of Ipswich, who now have the chance to land an ideal competitor for Vaclav Hladky.
Save Percentage
65.4%
66%
Clean sheets
9
13
Pass Completion Rate
79.3%
85.3%
Saves
68
99
It may prove to be a tough deal to negotiate, however, given how much a fan Carrick is of Dieng. The Boro boss said earlier this season via The Northern Echo when asked about his goalkeeper: “For us, we feel it’s an extra kind of attacking weapon and having a keeper like Seny is an extra kind of string to your bow. It’s an extra player on the pitch who can play with the ball and is comfortable to do so.
Middlesbrough managerMichaelCarrick
"It gives you an extra player in possession, which is something we believe in and like to use. It’s certainly not play at all costs, but it’s certainly our preference and Seny has fitted in so well with that."
Liverpool turned a corner at the weekend, professionally defeating West Ham United at the London Stadium to arrest the shocking slump that has sent Arne Slot’s project into a spin.
However, it’s important for those of a Red persuasion not to get too excited. West Ham are hardly in good form, teetering on the edge of the Premier League relegation zone.
But there were some positives to be taken after that industrious win. Particularly, Liverpool looked sharp in attack, with Alexander Isak netting his first league goal for the Reds and Cody Gakpo notching a goal and an assist. Florian Wirtz sparkled in his creative role.
There has been talk of FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes dipping into the transfer market for a new forward in January, but if anything, the win over the Hammers and Liverpool’s abject form highlight a different area that needs attention.
Liverpool's winter transfer plans
It’s clear that Liverpool need a centre-back. Top sources have also linked the Premier League champions to prolific Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, who has a £65m release clause valid from January.
However, the centre of the park appears to have been overlooked. Certainly, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch have not formed a convincing partnership this season, and a tough-tackling and dynamic option could be worthwhile for a Liverpool side looking to bounce back.
As per Caught Offside, Liverpool are expected to table a €60m (£53m at current exchange rates) bid for Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, with the French midfielder no longer considered untouchable at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It’s understood that Los Blancos have held informal discussions about the 23-year-old’s future after an injury-affected few years, but Camavinga is one of the best in the business, and Liverpool could hit the jackpot by signing him for a comparatively affordable fee.
Why Liverpool want Eduardo Camavinga
Camavinga has been at Real Madrid for most of his professional career, having left France and Rennes and joined the Spanish giants in a €40m (£34m) package back in 2021.
He’s won the full gamut, and, on an individual level, been hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig as “a real war machine in midfield”. One of the sternest criticisms Slot’s side have faced pertains to their lack of physicality and bite in midfield this season, outduelled in most of their defeats – and there have been a whole host of losses.
Camavinga would fix that, settling into the six berth. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 12% for successful take-ons, and the top 1% for tackles won per 90, emphasising his ball-playing quality and the gritty defensive acumen that would stabilise Slot’s sinking system.
Looking at those metrics – and more – in a different format, see how Camavinga could add more defensive solidity to the engine room when assessing his data against that of Mac Allister, whose form has plummeted this season.
Goals
0.11
0.18
Assists
0.11
0.20
Touches
76.18
63.79
Pass completion (%)
90.8
83.3
Shot-creating actions
2.44
3.80
Progressive passes
4.76
5.76
Progressive carries
1.93
1.46
Successful take-ons
1.13
0.67
Recoveries
5.72
4.65
Tackles won
2.72
1.46
Interceptions
1.25
0.91
Aerials won
1.30
0.56
But those metrics are taking across a year-long stretch, and the Argentine was among the creme-de-la-creme last year as Slot’s Reds romped their way to the title.
Semenyo might be a stellar addition to a Liverpool side who opted against a direct Luis Diaz replacement this summer, but Gakpo has held down the fort measurably well, and Rio Ngumoha, 17, was entrusted with a regular first-team role after an impressive emergence season.
Real Madrid are in a state of upheaval right now, and signing a player of Camavinga’s ilk for a decent figure won’t come around too often. Wataru Endo is scarcely used by Slot and Gravenberch and Mac Allister need proper competition.
Should Liverpool instil some French flair into their midfield in the form of Camainga, they would be sure to level up, adding the joie de vivre that has been lacking this term, and a tough-tackling presence that would ease the defence’s burden and free up the forwards to reach new heights.
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