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With only one win from their last five Championship matches, Sunderland are starting to slide down the rankings in the second tier at a worrying pace.

Tony Mowbray's Black Cats have slipped to ninth spot in the division after an unsatisfactory 1-1 draw with Millwall, three points shy of the coveted final playoff spot now occupied by Liam Rosenior's patchy Hull City.

Not all hope is lost however, and with plenty more second-tier matches still to be played, Mowbray's men could still well mount a surge back up the division to prove that they deserve to be in the reckoning for promotion this season.

The upcoming January transfer window could be crucial for Sunderland if they want to turn their fortunes around quickly, the Black Cats in dire need of a prolific striker to lead from the front and score pivotal goals to get more victories on the board.

Ali Al-Hamadi could well be the desired option to go after therefore, the Black Cats reigniting their interest in the AFC Wimbledon sharpshooter again who has been linked with a switch to the Stadium of Light previously.

Sunderland transfers latest

Sunderland have been reportedly interested in Al-Hamadi since October, the Sunderland Echo stating that scouts from the Stadium of Light had travelled to see the 21-year-old attacker play in the flesh.

The Black Cats haven't been alone in their pursuit of the young Dons man however, with Blackburn Rovers and Derby County also keen on adding the 11-time Iraq international to their ranks according to TEAMTalk.

This could make for an interesting transfer battle in January subsequently, with interest in the Wimbledon forward looking like it will only intensify when the transfer window does reopen owing to Al-Hamadi's blistering goalscoring form for the Dons showing no signs of stopping.

The stats that show why Al-Hamadi is a good fit for Sunderland

With Sunderland's average age coming in at 22.3 – the Black Cats boasting the lowest average age for the league as a result – Al-Hamadi could be a great fit for the Stadium of Light as a raw 21-year-old striker still honing his craft.

Moreover, Al-Hamadi would excel playing in a team that is now renowned under Mowbray for wanting to play an easy-on-the-eye brand of football.

Scoring eight times this season in the league, Al-Hamadi can also provide for his teammates with slick play on the ball.

The 21-year-old has also helped himself to five assists this campaign, the Iraqi-born striker unselfish in helping his teammates get in on the act too.

It is, however, Al-Hamadi's goalscoring prowess this season that will have alerted Sunderland to his services – football journalist Tom Williams on social media describing Al-Hamadi as an "absolute joke" this season in League Two going forward.

Mowbray will pray that if Sunderland do land Al-Hamadi in the transfer window, the 21-year-old can immediately hit the ground running making the hefty step-up to finally put an end to the striker issues plaguing Sunderland.

Adept at scoring with both feet this season – his numbers equally spread out with four scored using his left and four using his right – the current Dons striker would jump at the opportunity to sign for Sunderland and the potential of firing in even more goals wearing a brand-new Black Cats strip.

The January transfer window is fast approaching and Celtic could dip into the market to bolster their squad ahead of the second half of the season.

Brendan Rodgers may want to bring in fresh talent after his side were knocked out of the Champions League with a whimper, whilst they have also already been beaten in the Scottish League Cup.

It has been reported that Estoril left-back Tiago Araujo is a target for the Hoops ahead of next month, as the Northern Irish boss looks to make further additions to his group.

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The Portuguese defender could cost the Scottish giants a fee within the region of £4.2m and The Telegraph reported that they are 'trying' to secure a deal for his services.

This could spell danger for Argentine left-back Alexandro Bernabei, as Rodgers could land a big upgrade on the current Celtic dud in a swoop for Araujo.

Bernabei's Premiership career in numbers

The 23-year-old defender joined the Hoops from Lanus at the start of the 2022/23 campaign but has never been able to establish himself as a regular starter.

Bernabei made 15 Scottish Premiership appearances and started nine matches last season under Ange Postecoglou and contributed with one goal and three assists.

He also made 2.2 tackles and interceptions per match and lost 60% of his duels as opposition players found it far too easy to get the better of him in physical contests.

Since Rodgers' arrival, the Argentine full-back has made three substitute appearances in the top-flight this term and did not contribute with any goals, assists, or interceptions in those games, to go along with one tackle.

These statistics show that the Hoops dud has not offered a consistent threat from an offensive perspective or a reliable defensive presence at the back, which may be why he has been so rarely used by the former Leicester City boss.

The statistics that show why Araujo could be an upgrade on Bernabei

Meanwhile, Araujo has earned his manager's trust at Estoril this season and has already started 13 Liga Portugal matches at left-back.

The 22-year-old whiz, who has scored one goal and created three 'big chances', has caught the eye defensively with 2.3 tackles and interceptions and 5.6 ball recoveries per match, whilst Bernabei has made two recoveries per game this term.

Araujo has won 44% of his ground duels in the Portuguese top-flight, in comparison to the Celtic lightweight's success rate of 33%, and this suggests that he could offer more strength on the deck.

The left-footed dynamo also won 67% of his aerial battles across 25 league outings last season, whilst Bernabei has never won more than 50% of his duels in the air for the Scottish side across a campaign.

These statistics suggest that Araujo could have more to offer than the current Bhoys full-back due to his ability to recover the ball more frequently whilst also winning a higher percentage of his physical battles on the pitch.

He also produced eight goals and eight assists in 59 appearances for Benfica at youth level, which suggests that the young gem could provide an attacking thrust to go along with his defensive qualities.

Rodgers could, therefore, land an upgrade on Bernabei by securing a deal for the "flamboyant" – as he was described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – left-back in January.

Manchester United have underperformed on every front this season, which has caused them to drop out of European football and sit eighth in the Premier League.

Erik ten Hag’s biggest issue this campaign has been in the final third, with his side scoring just 18 goals, only the bottom four teams have netted fewer.

With that in mind, the ex-Ajax coach will turn to the transfer market to fix his attacking problem this January.

Man Utd transfers latest – Benjamin Sesko

According to 90min, Benjamin Sesko is drawing attention from a number of Premier League clubs, with the Red Devils being one of those interested in signing the attacker.

Despite having a contract until 2028, RB Leipzig are willing to cash in on the Slovenian star, and they are set to demand a fee of around £39m according to other reports.

A loan with the obligation to buy could be on the cards, with Sesko reportedly unhappy with the lack of game time in Germany.

Benjamin Sesko’s style of play

Just like Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, the 20-year-old burst onto the scene at RB Salzburg before moving to a Bundesliga club, which instantly earned him the nickname "Mini-Haaland," as called by Goal’s features editor, Tom Maston.

Although he doesn’t like being compared to the Norwegian, Sesko himself has admitted they have similarities, stating: “we have height, and we are both fast."

The 6 foot 4 forward is a true goal-scorer who has netted 54 goals in 112 career appearances so far. Sesko is “absolutely rapid” and a composed finisher, according to Maston, using his large frame to bully defenders all game.

That does sound like the ex-Dortmund number nine, but how does Sesko actually compare to Haaland based on statistics from the last year, and how could he improve United?

Goals

0.75

0.98

Shot-creating actions

3.16

2.01

Touches

36.57

22.41

Successful take-ons

1.81

0.56

Tackles

1.05

0.13

As you can see, not only is the Slovenian an incredible goal scorer, but he also has excellent technical ability, which means he often likes to get on the ball and use his direct dribbling to get past the defender, almost in a similar way to the chaotic Darwin Nunez at Liverpool.

This is the first main difference between the two, as Haaland and even current United striker Rasmus Hojlund stay on the fringe of the game and can go long spells without even touching the ball.

The other aspect of Sesko’s game that makes him different from Haaland is that he works tirelessly out of possession to win the ball back for his side. This is an underrated side of the ex-Salzburg forward's game, and it would allow him to thrive in every game state at United, whether it be leading a high press and a counter press, or when Ten Hag opts for a low block like we saw at Anfield last weekend.

Overall, Sesko would be an excellent signing for Man United as he would offer a slightly different style to Hojlund, who has struggled to adapt to the Premier League by failing to score a goal in 13 appearances. Also, United having their own version of Haaland would make for some fantastic Derby Day stories.

Manchester United’s 2023/24 season has been frustrating and rather poor, with the FA Cup being the only remaining competition that can feasibly be won.

Erik ten Hag’s team are out of the race for the Premier League title, sitting in eighth, 14 points behind first-placed Liverpool.

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Therefore, United must look to improve their squad in January, with the former Ajax boss targeting midfield reinforcements.

Man Utd transfers latest – Federico Redondo

According to a report from TEAMtalk, United are set to battle Liverpool and Real Madrid for the signature of Federico Redondo, who is a “special” player, according to journalist Roy Nemer.

The Argentine could be purchased for as little as £8m in January, despite being a key player for Argentinos Juniors.

Although United doesn’t have much of a budget to work with due to the financial fair play guidelines, Redondo could move this winter.

Federico Redondo's style of play

At the age of 31 and with his long-term United career in question, Ten Hag could be looking to find a successor to Casemiro, mainly in the form of Redondo. The 20-year-old has shown plenty of signs of becoming an elite player, and if he signed for the Red Devils, he could learn the trade of a successful defensive midfielder by shadowing Casemiro every day.

The youngster has played 45 matches across all competitions for his club in 2023, often featuring in the defensive midfield role of a midfield three. However, let’s look at a handful of statistics from the last year that summarise his profile.

Passes completed

50.79

Top 15%

Pass completion % (Long)

86.6% (82.4%)

Top 15% (Top 3%)

Passes into final third

5.08

Top 29%

Progressive passes

7.07

Top 12%

Successful take-ons

1.36

Top 15%

Ball recoveries

8.42

Top 11%

Tackles

2.28

Top 35%

As you can see, Redondo is a well-balanced midfielder who has a vast skillset. The Argentine is comfortable with the ball at his feet, and he often shows bravery to pick up the ball in tight situations.

From this point, the midfielder will either retain the ball by laying it off to a teammate or use his press resistance to get on the half-turn and progress play. With Ten Hag wanting his side to be strong in transitions, it is no surprise they are looking at Redondo, who is excellent at playing accurate long balls, as shown above.

On the other hand, he is a proactive defender who uses his 6 foot 2 frame to mop up play and contest duels, as shown by his high ball recoveries stat. The prospect screens the back four extremely well and can cover ground with ease, which would help United in defensive transitions, but he doesn’t boast incredible defensive statistics.

That said, he could learn to develop his out-of-possession attributes off Casemiro, who has been previously selected as the best in his position by former Arsenal man, Gilberto Silva.

Furthermore, Redondo would be the perfect partner for Kobbie Mainoo, as together they would be a complete package. Both individuals are excellent in possession and would provide control, with the 18-year-old being called “elite with the ball” as per United’s U21 coach Travis Binnion. It is evident why Mainoo would love to play alongside him.

Overall, the signature of Redondo would make him the heir to Casemiro, while also ensuring that United have their midfield secured for the foreseeable future. The Argentine is already on his way to becoming a star, and for just £8m, United must do all they can to pick him up.

Newcastle United have been rocked by another exit rumour, with an "unbelievable" fourth player believed to be in talks to join a European club.

Trippier, Wilson and Almiron linked with exits

The Magpies have seen some shock transfer news emerge in recent days, with a number of influential figures strongly linked with moves away from St James' Park. Kieran Trippier is wanted by Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, with the 33-year-old potentially leaving Newcastle on a permanent basis, in what would come as a huge surprise.

The England international is thought to be open to the idea of enjoying a fresh challenge, and the Magpies' financial situation could force them into key sales, in order to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP).

Meanwhile, Callum Wilson is another player whose exit from St James' has been mooted, with Atletico Madrid keen on signing the striker on loan for the remainder of the season and AC Milan also in the mix. While the 31-year-old has been injury-plagued at times this season, he remains an important player for Eddie Howe, scoring seven goals in as many starts in the Premier League in 2023/24 to date.

Seeing both Trippier and Wilson depart during the January transfer window would be such a strange situation for Newcastle fans to witness, and reports on Monday suggest even Miguel Almiron could follow them too, linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab, in what is becoming quite a bizarre couple of weeks on Tyneside.

Jamaal Lascelles also in talks to leave Newcastle

It looks as though another experienced head also be on the move, with Sabah [via Sport Witness] claiming that Besiktas have held talks with Newcastle centre-back Jamaal Lascelles over the move to the club.

The Turkish side want to sign him for a "small amount" before the end of the month, but the Magpies are yet to respond "positively", preferring to keep hold of him instead. The player himself is still weighing up his future, with his current deal expiring this summer.

This is a tricky one for Lascelles, who will no doubt want to be a regular moving forward at a club, which is something that Howe can't promise him when everyone is fit. Newcastle have been linked with various centre-back of late, suggesting the manager wants a long term partner for Sven Botman, so it seems unlikely that the 30-year-old is seen as a future starter.

That being said, the Englishman is someone who has been a great servant and captain – one who still has plenty to offer – and Howe said of him last year:

"He's been an unbelievable captain for us. Captaincy doesn't just exist on the pitch, it has to exist off the pitch. The two things are so intrinsically linked. A lot of our success last year wasn't just down to the team, it came down to a group of players giving everything on and off the pitch."

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At 30, Lascelles isn't getting any younger, and if he doesn't get the long-term deal he craves at Newcastle, moving on at the end of the season on a free transfer makes sense. The Magpies could want a fee for him, however, given their FFP problems, which would only happen if they let him leave this month.

With the January transfer window well underway, Chelsea are back in the headlines and seeking further reinforcements in an attempt to stop the rot under Mauricio Pochettino in the Premier League. Now, according to reports, the Blues could swoop in and take full advantage of Newcastle United's need to sell players before landing incomings of their own.

Chelsea transfer news

Whilst Chelsea are yet to welcome any reinforcements this month, reports have linked them with moves for Ivan Toney, Etevao Willian and Evan Ferguson in deals that would hand Pochettino a much-needed attacking boost. If they manage to strengthen their frontline this month, Chelsea could yet turn their attention to landing arguably their best deal yet in the summer transfer window, taking full advantage of Newcastle's current situation.

According to reports in Spain, in an unexpected transfer twist, Chelsea are eyeing a move for Bruno Guimaraes, who reportedly has a release clause of €115m (£99m) at St James' Park. The London club are joined in their interest by Liverpool and could face a battle to land the Brazilian.

Newcastle, of course, would like to keep Guimaraes in an ideal world, but 'the club is forced to consider selling players'. The Magpies reportedly recorded losses of £73m last season and now need to sell players in order to stay within the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.

The sale of Guimaraes would go a long way in allowing Newcastle to welcome further arrivals and avoid any consequences for their hefty losses. And with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Liverpool and Chelsea reportedly interested, the midfielder is certainly going to be one to watch, especially during the summer transfer window.

"Magnificent" Guimaraes could be Chelsea's best midfielder

If Chelsea managed to land Guimaraes, he could instantly become one of Pochettino's best options at the heart of his midfield. The Newcastle star has played a vital part in the Magpies' recent rise, as they qualified for the Champions League and reached the Carabao Cup final last season. Now, he could have a similar opportunity to take Chelsea back among England's best sides. Here's how Guimaraes' stats compare to the current options at Stamford Bridge.

Bruno Guimaraes

1

3

31

148

28

122

Enzo Fernandes

2

0

38

122

17

68

Moises Caicedo

0

0

9

81

10

90

Conor Gallagher

0

4

36

108

27

137

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe would undoubtedly prefer to keep hold of Guimaraes, handing the midfielder plenty of praise in his first season at the club. Howe said:

"Yes, they love him and rightly so after today’s performance. He was magnificent in every discipline of the game. I think the biggest compliment I could give him is that on 95 minutes, with tired legs, for sure, for him – he’s getting used to the Premier League – but he’s managed to get himself in the box to score that header.”

In what could be Todd Boehly's smartest move yet, Chelsea could once again steal the headlines in the summer by securing Guimaraes' signature from Newcastle.

Tottenham Hotspur moved back into the top four last night after outscoring Brentford in an enthralling Premier League encounter, and post-match, Ange Postecoglou deflated any murmurings of incomings before this evening's deadline.

Centre-back Radu Dragusin and versatile forward Timo Werner have been welcomed to the fold this month and Spurs are contented, but never say never in the smouldering embers of the transfer window…

Spurs plotting last-gasp hijack

Romano might have relayed Postecoglou's comments regarding the likelihood of late movement but the transfer guru has also revealed that Tottenham remain focussed on hijacking Barcelona's deal for prodigious youngster Lucas Bergvall.

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The Swede is closing on a move to Barcelona but the Premier League club are persisting in calling the player in an attempt to spark a change of mind, even presenting an "important proposal" to steal a swoop for the 17-year-old rated at £8.5m by Djurgårdens IF.

Lucas Bergvall could be the next Mousa Dembele

Bergvall is right at the start of what promises to be a long and illustrious career given his innate ability, but he has only completed 29 fixtures and posted three goals and an assist for Djurgårdens.

Nonetheless, this has been ample time to showcase a vibrant and precocious skill set, with the 6 foot 1 teenager completing 88% of his passes and succeeding with 68% of his dribbles in the Allskenvan this term, as per Sofascore.

Having already made his international debut for Sweden, Bergvall has been described as a "generational" talent by one scout and is comfortable in playing across a range of midfield roles – something which has created early comparisons to Real Madrid phenomenon Jude Bellingham.

With Bergvall an adept progressor with the ball at his feet and a slick and intelligent distributor, he might prove to be the perfect and belated heir to Mousa Dembele's past position in the Tottenham team.

An elite and underrated star, Dembele was once praised as the "best in the world" by his Belgian countryman Kevin De Bruyne and was the glue for Spurs across his 249 appearances, combining every facet of the midfield game to boost the efforts of all around him.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Defensive contribution

Finishing

Dribbling

Passing

Tackling

Source: WhoScored

Dembele would thrive in Postecoglou's fluid and high-energy system and so too would Bergvall, who could emulate many of Dembele's best qualities to stake his claim for a prominent role on the major stage.

Barcelona might be calling and the allure of La Blaugrana is hard for any player to turn down but Tottenham offer a project that promises growth and Bergvall would be wise to consider a move.

Postecoglou claimed that his side's business is done but Daniel Levy will be working feverishly behind the scenes to pull off a stunning hijack.

Glasgow Rangers signed a few exciting players during the January transfer window, as Mohamed Diomande and Oscar Cortes arrived in Glasgow, along with striker Fabio Silva.

All three are aged 22 or under and injecting this sort of freshness into the first-team squad could work wonders for Philippe Clement as he chases down Celtic in pursuit of the Premiership title.

Hopefully, this is the beginning of a healthy relationship between Rangers and the transfer market, as over the previous few years, it has not been great, with money being wasted on a vast array of players.

Rangers’ recent transfer record

Under Michael Beale, the Light Blues spent vast sums on Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers and Danilo last summer, with the hopes that the trio could fire the club to glory.

Fast-forward seven months and Lammers is currently playing for Utrecht on loan, Danilo is out injured and Dessers has netted only 12 goals since joining.

Beale isn’t the only one to make mistakes when it comes to transfers, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, his predecessor, also had a few howlers.

While the Dutchman did oversee the sales of Nathan Patterson, Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo, bringing in a solid return for all three, he also undersold a few players.

Cedric Itten is a key example. He departed for a relatively small transfer fee due to Van Bronckhorst looking to raise funds, but over the previous 18 months, Itten’s market value has soared.

How much Rangers signed Cedric Itten for

Following the Covid-19 interrupted 2019/20 campaign, Steven Gerrard spent that summer bolstering his squad ahead of making a proper title challenge to not only win the 55th league title in the club’s history, but to also prevent Celtic from sealing their tenth title in a row.

The likes of Ianis Hagi, Kemar Roofe and Bassey all joined the Gers prior to the season kicking off, but it was the arrival of Itten which looked to have gotten the fans excited about the future.

The Swiss international arrived for a fee in the region of £3m, and it looked like a shrewd move, especially considering he had netted 19 goals in just 34 matches for FC St. Gallen the season before.

Cedric Itten’s Rangers statistics

It was always going to be tough for the striker to take the place of Alfredo Morelos in the starting XI and despite starting just nine matches out of the 37 he featured in for the Light Blues, Itten managed to score six goals and grab three assists.

This wasn’t enough to warrant him a place in the side during the start of the 2021/22 campaign, as the centre-forward was sent on loan to German side Greuther Furth – scoring against Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt – before Van Bronckhorst recalled him in January 2022.

The former Feyenoord manager clearly wanted an extra attacking option in his squad and he detailed his reasons behind recalling him early.

“Will I use Cedric? Yes, we called him back as he has different qualities from Morelos and Roofe,” said Van Bronckhorst.

“In that way sometimes a game will need a striker like him.”

It clearly didn’t work out that way, however, as he scored just twice during the final few months of the season and that summer saw the player go on the move yet again.

With the need for funds in order to secure new signings, Itten was sold for a cut price fee of £1.5m, half of what the Gers shelled out for him just two years previously.

It was another terrible piece of transfer business conducted by the Light Blues, and it has since come back to haunt them, as Itten’s market value has soared since making his return to his homeland in the summer of 2022.

Cedric Itten’s current market value

The Ibrox side struggled during the first half of the 2022/23 season as they slumped to six successive defeats in the Champions League and, while Itten may not have been the answer, giving him regular game time could have boosted his confidence.

Instead, he hit the ground running for BSC Young Boys in Switzerland, and he eventually finished the season with 23 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, going on to win the double in his homeland.

19

5

4

1

1.4

0.9

3

3

89

150

Not only that, but he ranked second among the squad for goals and assists (23) in the Swiss top flight, along with ranking second for shots per game (2.6), big chances created (seven) and for penalties won (two), as he demonstrated the attacking qualities which he failed to showcase during his spell in Glasgow.

While he may have only scored eight goals in 23 appearances this season, his performances since returning to Switzerland have made the £1.5m transfer fee a wonderful bargain for Young Boys.

According to Football Transfers, the former Gers frontman is now valued at €8.8m (£7.5m) and it is clear the club have endured a slight blunder by letting him leave on the cheap.

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If he continues to score at his current rate, then there is no doubt he will attract attention from bigger teams, and they may have to pay a small fortune to get their hands on the goal-scoring machine.

The deal represents yet another poorly constructed exit for a player who was simply not given enough chances to showcase his true worth in Scotland.

Some players take longer than others to acclimatise to the physical nature of Scottish football and making only 48 appearances – with the vast majority of them coming from the bench – is not much time to shine.

Young Boys certainly got the better end of the deal 18 months ago and hopefully Clement can learn from the failures of his predecessor, ensuring he seeks appropriate fees for first-team players who are looking to leave.

Itten’s form has even earned him a recall to the Swiss national team, scoring his fifth goal for his country against Andorra in September, and it goes to show that those who depart Ibrox often tend to recapture the form which saw them get a move to the club in the first place.

During his tenure at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp has been at the helm of some of the club's most exciting signings in history. Players such as Alisson and Virgil van Dijk were both brought to the club by the German and have since excelled.

This is shown by both the Premier League and Champions League title the side won whilst under the guidance of the 56-year-old. Klopp managed to turn a team with a fan base who didn't believe into world champions, a feat which many have tried and failed to do.

However, although the vast majority of Klopp's additions to his squad have benefited the side massively, there are some which seem to have left a sour taste in the mouths of some fans.

An example of one of these signings is that of Takumi Minamino. During his stint with the Reds, Minamino was often loved and hated by fans due to the inconsistency he showed.

Takumi Minamino's Liverpool career in numbers

After arriving at the club on the 1st January 2020 for a fee worth £7.25m, he didn't manage to contribute to a single goal or assist for the Reds for the remainder of the season.

That said, during Liverpool's run to both the 2021/22 Carabao and FA Cup finals, he was one of Klopp's best players, managing to score an impressive seven goals in just nine games. It was for that form that journalist Josh Bunting claimed he was "undervalued" by the manager.

If the Japan international managed to consistently put out numbers like this in the league, he could have very easily benched either Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino during their 'hay-days' for the Reds.

However, during that same season, the winger only played a total of 176 minutes in the Premier League and only managed to score three goals in the process.

It was this lack of consistency which resulted in Klopp choosing to sell the Japan international to Ligue 1 side, Monaco, in the summer of 2022 for a fee worth £15m.

Whilst with Monaco, the Minamino which tore Liverpool apart with a stellar performance (footage below) in the 2019/20 Champions League came out.

Takumi Minamino's stint at Monaco in numbers

As aforementioned, Minamino now plys his trade for Monaco. The winger is 29-years-old and has an almost guaranteed starting spot within the French club's set-up.

However, it hasn't all been smooth sailing since he arrived. Last season was his first in Ligue 1 and his inconsistency once again showed through.

The 29-year-old has played a total of 25 times in all competitions and only managed to contribute to five goals. He has, however, been deployed across the front three and, on occasion, in attacking midfield throughout the season.

Following his poor first campaign at the club, Monaco's then sporting director, Paul Mitchell, spoke about the attackers' form: "Takumi Minamino is [the signing] that has had the most difficulty integrating for the time being," he said.

"We have to be patient. I hope that his goal against Reims will lead to many more. It's paradoxical because he's the oldest player on the list (of arrivals)."

It now, however, seems as if their patience has paid off, as, Minamino has seemingly turned over a new leaf and is now outperforming one of Liverpool's star-signings, Dominik Szoboszlai.

The pair have an equal number of goals and assists with both contributing to five goals and four assists each. However, Minamino has managed to achieve this output in 11 fewer games than Szoboszlai has, which showcases how settled he is now.

This upheaval in form likely has a lot to do with Monaco's manager, Adi Hutter, as he knew Minamino from his RB Salzburg days.

This gave the Austrian an idea of where best to capitalise on the Japan international's strengths and how best to use them in a tactical system.

Mikel Arteta has done a brilliant job of rebuilding Arsenal after taking over the job from Unai Emery back in December 2019.

The former Arsenal midfielder has been given funds to improve the playing squad, allowing them to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool for the Premier League title.

On the whole, Arteta and the board have invested the money well with the signings of players such as Declan Rice from West Ham United and Gabriel from Lille – with the pair costing a combined £132m.

However, within the big investment, the club have spent a lot of money on players who have failed to live up to expectations of their hefty price tags.

One of the main examples of the club's poor spending is one of Gabriel's former teammates who he played with during his time in Ligue 1 for Lille.

Nicolas Pepe's comparison to Thierry Henry

Arsenal announced the signing of winger Nicolas Pepe on the 1st of August 2019, for a club-record fee at the time of £72m on a six-year deal.

The winger was highly sought after, with clubs such as Bayern Munich interested in signing the then 24-year-old. However, Pepe decided to join Arsenal, with a lot of hype around the Ivorian.

Pepe made his debut ten days after his signing, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute away at Newcastle United, before making his full debut against Liverpool at Anfield two weeks later.

The former Lille forward showed glimpses of his skills, however, failed to provide consistency regularly which led to questions over the club's recruitment. Pepe finished his first season in north London with five league goals and six assists – a poor return from a player that cost such a huge figure.

Despite his shaky start to life in the Premier League, Pepe was tipped to follow in the footsteps of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry by Graeme Souness.

He famously noted: "You think of their best ever player Thierry [Henry], he came here and didn’t have a great first season, took some time, and I see Pepe being a star here. He's got great feet, [he's] electric and still a baby."

No one was to know what the future held for the winger, but he certainly didn't live up to expectations at the Emirates.

The Ivorian finished his Arsenal career this summer, after five years at the club which included a loan spell back to France, where he joined Nice for the 2022/23 campaign, scoring six times in 19 league appearances.

2019/20

42

8

10

2020/21

46

16

5

2021/22

23

3

6

Pepe left the Emirates on a permanent basis this summer after 112 appearances in North London, joining Trabzonspor in Turkey on a free transfer five years after his £72m move.

Nicolas Pepe's stats after Arsenal

Since his move to Turkey, the "horrendous mistake" as described by Arsenal journalist Charles Watts, has featured nine times in the Süper Lig, scoring just twice and registering one assist.

Pepe has missed over two months through injury so far this season, with the winger really struggling to replicate the form that he found for Lille before his move to the Premier League.

It's clear to see that Pepe's move to Arsenal was a complete disaster for all parties involved. After fighting off interest from some of Europe's elite, it looked as though, for a period, the Gunners had completed some quality business.

However, fast-forward five years and Pepe, at the peak of his career at 28, is struggling to showcase his talent. It was a huge risk taken by the club in signing the winger and unfortunately, it was one that backfired.