Sheffield United are now stepping up their pursuit of a “superb” midfielder, with an official offer set to be made soon, according to a report.
Blades looking to strengthen in attacking areas
Chris Wilder clearly feels some new attacking reinforcements are needed if his side are to go all the way and seal promotion from the Championship this season, and the Blades are now well-placed to win the race for two strikers.
A £13m fee has now been agreed with Leicester City for the signing of Tom Cannon, meaning only personal terms need to be agreed to get a deal over the line.
Should Wilder want to bring in more than one new striker this month, he is also in a good position to win the race for Southampton’s Ben Brereton Diaz, as the Chile international would only consider a return to United, despite interest from elsehwere.
Sheffield United now eyeing move to sign £300,000-a-year international
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ByBen Browning Jan 16, 2025
Not only do Sheffield United want to bring in a new striker, but they are also keen in bringing a new attacking midfielder this month, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of Besiktas’ Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
According to reports from the Turkish media (via Sport Witness), the Blades have now stepped up their interest in Oxlade-Chamberlain, with Besiktas trying to offload him this month, having deemed him surplus to requirements.
Liverpool's AlexOxlade-Chamberlain
The Championship promotion hopefuls are set to make an official offer for the attacking midfielder soon, aiming to take him on loan until the end of the season, although it is unclear whether they plan to make it a permanent deal in the summer.
There may be competition for the 31-year-old’s signature, however, with French side Nantes also said to be interested.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is proven at the top level
Although his Liverpool career was marred by injuries, the midfielder scored a memorable goal for the Reds against Manchester City in the Champions League back in 2018, one of nine in Europe’s top competition.
The Portsmouth-born maestro is a well-rounded midfielder, having also received praise from football writer Leanne Prescott for his defensive aptitude during his time on Merseyside.
The only concern over signing Oxlade-Chamberlain is the fact his best days are likely to be behind him, having failed to make an impact at Besiktas this season, appearing for a total of just 113 minutes in the Turkish Super Lig.
That said, the former Champions League winner with Liverpool may still be able to do a job at Championship level, and signing him on loan, rather than permanently, would make it a relatively low-risk move for the Blades.
It’s been a funny old season for Arsenal this year.
Mikel Arteta’s side are second in the Premier League and third in the Champions League, but if you were to ask their fans how the campaign has gone thus far, we bet a good portion of them wouldn’t be too pleased.
The North Londoners’ expectations are far higher than they used to be, so the fact that they’ve fallen behind the Reds is a big issue, and while they have been subject to a number of questionable decisions and had more than their fair share of injuries, the team have also been some way off their best for much of the season.
One of those who has been particularly disappointing has been club captain Martin Odegaard, who has just two goals and six assists this year, so recent reports linking the club to a Premier League star who could revive him next season should excite fans.
Arsenal chasing Premier League superstar
According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in Newcastle United star Alexander Isak.
Transfer Focus
In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners have ‘been pushing’ to sign the Swedish international, and while his £120m price tag is an obstacle, the North Londoners ‘are expected to keep trying until summer.’
However, they might not be alone, as the report claims that fellow Premier League side Chelsea and European royalty Real Madrid are also ‘alert to the situation.’
It’ll be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line for Arsenal, but given Isak’s immense ability, it’s one well worth fighting for, especially as he’d surely revive Odegaard’s fortunes.
Why Isak would be a dream teammate for Odegaard
So, there are several reasons why Isak would be such an incredible teammate for Odegaard and be able to revive his fortunes next season, but the most significant of all is his output.
For example, in 40 appearances for the Toon last season, he racked up a sensational tally of 25 goals and two assists, and then this season, he’s already notched up 19 goals and five assists in just 25 appearances.
That means the Swedish “nightmare,” as dubbed by Alan Shearer, maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.48 games last season and is currently averaging an even more incredible return of a goal involvement every 1.04 games this year.
Appearances
40
51
Minutes
2973′
3827′
Goals
25
14
Assists
2
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.67
0.41
Minutes per Goal Involvement
110.11′
182.23′
Appearances
25
31
Minutes
2012′
2576′
Goals
19
14
Assists
5
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.96
0.58
Minutes per Goal Involvement
83.83′
143.11′
In contrast, Kai Havertz, the Gunners’ defacto number nine, ended last season with a tally of 14 goals and seven assists in 51 appearances and has racked up 14 goals and four assists in 31 games so far this season.
That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.42 games last season and a current average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games this season, which is probably better than most would have expected and more than good enough for most Premier League strikers, but it’s an average that pales in comparison to the Newcastle man’s.
On top of producing more goals and assists than the German, the former Real Sociedad star is also just far more clinical in front of goal, with Understat calculating that he has scored his 17 league goals this season from an expected goal figure of just 14.03, meaning he was able to score from chances they considered to be particularly difficult.
In contrast, Understat has concluded that the former Chelsea ace has scored his eight league goals this season from an expected goal figure of 11.11, which comes out to a quite significant underperformance of 3.11, which might help to explain why his captain’s assist numbers are somewhat underwhelming so far.
Newcastle Alexander Isak
In fact, while Understat does not take statistics from the FA Cup, we saw this issue play out in the game against Manchester United, as Sofascore credited the Norwegian for creating two big chances while they also then had the German down as missing two big chances, chances we doubt the Magpies’ sharpshooter would have missed.
Ultimately, Havertz is a talented footballer, but his wastefulness in front of goal this season is costing Arsenal, and while Odegaard has not been at his very best either, he’s still created opportunities, which we reckon Isak would have buried.
Therefore, if Arteta and Co want to give the Drammen-born maestro the best chance of getting back to his best next season, signing the Swedish superstar is the way to go, even if he costs an arm and a leg.
Arsenal struck gold on big-money star who's worth way more than Zubimendi
Arsenal look well poised to sign Martin Zubimendi in the summer.
Already setting their sights on some bargain deals, Rangers are now reportedly plotting a move to sign a Championship gem ahead of Crystal Palace when the summer transfer window arrives.
Rangers transfer news
Fresh from a shock cup exit at the hands of Scottish Championship side Queen’s Park, the Gers will be desperate to find some fresh positives as the pressure continues to increase on Philippe Clement. Reports have even gone as far as to suggest that the Belgian could lose his job if Rangers are knocked out of the Europa League last 16.
Off the pitch, meanwhile, what far from helped Clement is the fact that Rangers managed to welcome just one reinforcement in the January transfer window, which came in the form of Rafael Fernandes on loan from LOSC Lille.
The central defender has already made two appearances and made his first start in an unfortunate full debut to forget against Queen’s Park. Whether Fernandes proves to be a great success or not, however, it’s clear that those at Ibrox must and Clement a number of summer reinforcements.
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According to Football Insider, Rangers are now plotting a summer move to sign Zaid Betteka ahead of Norwich City and Crystal Palace. The Birmingham City teenager is yet to sign a new deal at the League One club and will, therefore, be free to leave this summer as things stand.
A bargain deal, Rangers should have no financial concerns over a deal for the young winger, who is set to have quite the decision to make when the summer arrives. Whilst Selhurst Park would be hard to turn down, the prospect of game time at Ibrox may well play a large part in Betteka’s choice.
Betteka has major decision to make
Having already made his senior debut for Birmingham, the pathway certainly seems there for Betteka to take at his boyhood club. Whether he takes it is another story, however. Interest from both Rangers and Crystal Palace hands him a crucial choice to make at just 18 years old. Given how he’s performed at U21 level so far this season too, Betteka is undoubtedly ready for more first-team action.
Amid Oscar Cortes’ consistent injury struggles too, Rangers may well need to consider signing another attacking spark sooner rather than later and Betteka can provide exactly that.
When the summer arrives, the Gers must simply act – whether that means signing the Birmingham youngster or shifting their attention to other options. When the window arrives, meanwhile, it may be too little too late to save Clement’s job.
Rangers managerPhilippeClementbefore the match
A world away in the Scottish Premiership title race and out of the Scottish Cup in shock fashion, those at Ibrox have plenty of important decisions to make in the coming months.
Arsenal have now submitted a £50m offer for an “outstanding” player who Tottenham Hotspur made a bid for during the January transfer window, according to a report.
Mikel Arteta looking to strengthen in multiple areas
One of the Gunners’ main priorities for the summer transfer window is to bring in a new striker, having opted not to bring in a new option in January, and a number of exciting options have been linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium.
Contact has now been made over a deal for Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui, while the north Londoners are also prepared to make a huge offer to ensure they win the race for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.
However, it is not just the striker position which Mikel Arteta is keen on strengthening, with Martin Zubimendi being targeted in midfield, while there is also a feeling a new centre-back could be brought in, with AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen said to be of interest.
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Huijsen is not the only Premier League defender Arteta has his eye on, however, with a report from Spain revealing Arsenal have made a €60m (£50m) offer for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, but they are not the only English club to have done so.
The report states a similar offer is on the table from Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham, with the latter club also submitting a £70m bid during the January transfer window, highlighting just how keen they are on getting a deal over the line.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehiin action
It seems likely Guehi will seal a move away from Crystal Palace this summer, given the interest from a number of the Premier League’s top clubs, and his contract is set to expire in 2026, meaning the next window is Palace’s last chance to cash-in for a large fee.
"Outstanding" Guehi impressing for club and country
It is no wonder the England international is attracting so much interest, given that he has put in some top-quality performances for club and country in recent times, being lauded as “outstanding” by members of the media for his displays at Euro 2024.
Since then, the 24-year-old has continued to be a key player for Palace, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.17 in the Premier League this season, the second-highest figure of anyone to have appeared in at least 50% of the games.
The centre-back has also proven himself to be a real threat at the opposite end of the pitch, bagging three league goals this season, and being nominated for goal of the month in January.
Guehi is clearly a top defender, who has earned a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs, but Arsenal already have a rock-solid centre-back partnership in Gabriel and William Saliba, so there are some doubts over whether the Englishman would be a necessary signing.
Manchester City’s mass overhaul of their squad has well and truly begun.
The Citizens spent £180m in the January transfer window on five new recruits which, as noted by Philip Buckingham of the Athletic, is a bigger outlay than all other 19 Premier League clubs combined.
Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush were thrown in the deep end for their debuts against Chelsea last month, Nico González appeared for the first time at Leyton Orient on Saturday, while we’re yet to see either Vitor Reis or Juma Bah, the latter having been sent out on loan to Lens.
Thus, the Sky Blues are set to continue this strategy come the summer, but for one problem position in particular, did they already have the perfect future first-team starter on their books that they have just agreed to sell?
Manchester City's right-back issue
Back in early January, following the 8-0 hammering of Salford in the FA Cup, Pep Guardiola dropped a major bombshell, revealing that club captain Kyle Walker had asked to leave the club and “explore options abroad”.
Well, a few days later, having made 319 appearances for the Citizens, Walker departed for AC Milan on loan, starting all four of I Rossoneri’s matches since, including Wednesday night’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Feyenoord at De Kuip.
Former Everton and Man City defender Joleon Lescott believes Walker is the “Premier League’s greatest right-back”, but the England international had indisputably not been at his best this season, with Oliver Kay of the Athletic noting that his “speed and athleticism”, attributes that had defined him for so long, were on the decline.
Nevertheless, with no direct replacement signed, Guardiola has been trialling Matheus Nunes at right-back, starting seven successive fixtures in that position, prior to the weekend’s FA Cup tie, with his manager believing the Portuguese international is making a lot of progress as a full-back.
On the contrary, Michael Cox of the Athletic describes Nunes as an “uncomfortable… makeshift right-back”, while Graham Ruthven of Forbes adds that he “doesn’t have the defensive instincts of a natural full-back”.
With 20-year-old Rico Lewis also seemingly out of favour, not starting any of the last seven Premier League or Champions League matches, the Citizens are still searching for the long-term heir to Walker’s throne, but did they just sell the perfect player for this role?
Manchester City's latest transfer blunder
Man City supporters, you have probably never heard of Yan Couto, which is fair enough considering he’s never made a first-team appearance for the club, coming closest in the 2021 FA Community Shield against Leicester, when he was an unused substitute.
Instead, he has spent his five years on Man City’s books out on loan, partially at Braga but mainly with fellow-CFG owned club Girona, spending three seasons in Catalonia, most notably helping Blanquivermells qualify for the Champions League for the very first time during the most recent campaign.
As a result, the 22-year-old was called up to the Brazilian national team for the very first time, debuting in World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay, before remaining on the bench throughout last summer’s Copa América, although this only after a dispute with the CBF, who demanded he change his “signature pink hair”, Couto later stating “they said the pink was a bit stupid”.
Yan Couto for Brazil.
His performances in La Liga last season earned widespread praise, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labeling him a “superb talent”, while Spencer Mossman of Breaking the Lines claims he is “up there with the best full-backs in the world”.
This attracted the attention of Borussia Dortmund, who signed him initially on loan last summer.
Well, a few months later, die Schwarzgelben agreed to make the move permanent for a fee of €30m (£25m), which represents a massive profit for Man City, who initially paid just £5m for his services from Coritiba.
So, was this a piece of masterful business from the Citizens, or will they regret selling Couto before ever giving him a chance?
Let’s see how the Brazilian compares to Walker, the man he would’ve been replacing.
Appearances
53
55
Minutes
3,223
5,602
Assists
11
4
Touches
2,456
4,588
Pass completion %
85.24%
88.87%
Take on success %
44.98%
76.41%
Tackles
61
68
Interceptions
16
36
Ball recoveries
195
241
Duels contested
359
292
Aerials duel success %
29.83%
67.42
Ground duel success %
46.36%
58.17
As the table outlines, Walker is more defensively solid, albeit Couto has played the majority of his football since the start of last season as a wing-back, with the Brazilian more of a threat going forward as a result, underlined by his 11 assists.
As noted by OptaFranz on Twitter, Couto carried the ball 286 metres in La Liga last season, the second-highest of any player in the division on a per-90 basis, behind only Frenkie de Jong; third on that list, none other than Savinho.
Still only 22-years-old, the Brazilian clearly has great potential, no defender in La Liga last season provided more assists, so Couto could prove to be the latest in a long line of players Man City may regret selling.
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One of Manchester City’s best-ever wingers continue to perform, even after being sold, so do the Sky Blues regret selling the attacker 2 years ago?
One of the biggest issues for Manchester United this season has been their ability in front of goal. The Red Devils have been incredibly underwhelming in that sense, managing just 29 goals in 26 games in the Premier League so far this term.
As per FBref, their underlying numbers are quite disappointing. They have an expected goals tally of 35.7xG, which is a disappointing -6.7 difference from their actual tally of 29 goals this term.
The number of goals they score per shot on target is the joint-worst in the English top flight, with 0.23. The club level with United at the bottom of the list is Southampton, rock bottom of the division and destined for relegation.
One player United will be turning toward for inspiration in front of goal is Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund’s 2024/25 season so far
The 2024/25 campaign has been a really disappointing one for Hojlund so far. He has scored just seven goals and has one assist to his name in 33 appearances, and is currently on a goal drought that goes back to the 12th of December.
In the Premier League, the Dane’s form has been even more disappointing. He has featured 21 times in the top flight this season, playing 1276 minutes in that time, the equivalent of 14 full 90-minute games. However, he has managed just two goals and hasn’t scored in 11 games.
This isn’t to say Hojlund can’t become a lethal goalcorer. He showed last season that is the case. In six Premier League games between December and February, the United number nine scored seven goals, becoming the youngest player to score in six Premier League games in a row.
With that being said, his form has been disappointing. Although he is young and should not have expectations piled upon him, the youngster would surely have wanted more goals at this stage of the season.
Perhaps, for United’s next game against Ipswich, manager Ruben Amorim will decide to make a change at centre-forward.
Man United’s alternative to Hojlund
There are not many options for Amorim should he decide to rotate Hojlund out of the side against the Tractor Boys. Joshua Zirkzee would be one candidate but given the shortage at number ten, it seems he might slot into a deeper role.
That leaves 17-year-old Chido Obi as the Red Devils’ best option as an alternative to Hojlund. The former Arsenal academy man has made two first-team appearances since making the move to United over the summer.
Described as a “homegrown” Osimhen during his time at Arsenal by academy expert Will Balsam, Obi’s first appearance for the club was a fleeting three-minute cameo in stoppage time against Tottenham Hotspur away from home.
He then came on for 20 minutes against Everton last weekend, and actually replaced Hojlund, further hinting that he could start ahead of the Dane against Ipswich.
For United’s academy sides this term, Obi has been in sensational form. In 12 appearances across all competitions for the academy, he has 12 goals and two assists.
That includes a phenomenal seven goals in three FA Youth Cup games, dismantling Chelsea along the way with four goals.
Opposition
Scoreline
Minutes played
Goals
Coventry under-18s
5-0
72
2
Preston North End under-19s
5-2
90
2
Chelsea under-18s
5-1
82
3
The young Danish striker could become United’s own Liam Delap, a young striker who is ripping it up for Ipswich this season. The England under-21 international has scored ten times in 25 Premier League games in 2024/25, in a side who have scored just 23 goals collectively.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapapplauds fans after the match
One similarity between the pair relates to their first-team debut. Delap, a former Manchester City academy star, made his debut for Pep Guardiola’s side, after honing his craft in the Citizens academy. That is similar to Obi, whose professional debut came in a United shirt after impressing for the academy.
Amorim would be making a bold move to unleash Obi against Ipswich, but perhaps it is the right decision. United are short of goals, but here is a player who knows how to find the back of the net, and is an “outstanding” player, according to football talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Having already been exposed to first-team football, the visit of Kieran McKenna’s men at Old Trafford on Wednesday night could be the perfect time for Obi to start his first professional game.
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David Moyes is a beloved figure at Everton, there’s no doubting that, with the Scotsman now back at the helm and guiding the Toffees away from any relegation concerns in the Premier League.
But, away from the here and now, he is also a much-loved presence in the blue half of Merseyside for the plethora of top talents he had at his disposal during his first 11 years at the club.
The likes of Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini are just a few standout names synonymous with the 61-year-old’s celebrated reign at Goodison Park.
Leon Osman is another name who will also instantly fill the Goodison masses with some nostalgia for yesteryear, having made over 400 appearances for the Blues once upon a time.
As it happens, Moyes may already have their new version…
Leon Osman's legendary status at Everton
The now-retired midfield star gained his first minutes in the senior team towards the start of Moyes’ first tenure, with the Scotsman arriving on the scene in 2002, as Osman then tasted his first chance in the senior team in early 2003.
From that point on, Osman went on to solidify himself as a reliable option in the centre of the park, with a hefty total of 58 goals and 36 assists coming his way from 433 overall appearances.
Still, despite regularly firing home sumptuous strikes, it could be argued that Osman is an underrated hero of Goodison’s past, compared with the aforementioned names of Cahill, Pienaar and Fellaini.
Now, in the modern-era of Moyes’ second Goodison tenure, there is a new face who could go on to become the club’s next Osman over time.
David Moyes' next Leon Osman
Indeed, there are definitely other players at this moment in time who are enjoying the limelight, with Beto one that is adoring his sudden spotlight by amassing six Premier League strikes this season, five of which have come under Moyes’ wing.
But, the return of James Garner in the middle of the park from injury has gone slightly under the radar, yet it could be just what the reinvigorated Blues need centrally.
Everton midfielder James Garner.
With Orel Mangala also sidelined, the ex-Manchester United man has slotted nicely into his team’s last few starting XIs, with an assist even coming his way against Leicester City during his first start since October to get his injury-disrupted season up and running.
Whilst he hadn’t exactly set the world alight during his first two campaigns at the club – with two goals and four assists picked up – Garner could definitely morph into the Toffees’ next iteration of Osman slowly but surely, with the retired Toffees legend also taking his time to go down as a modern great on Merseyside.
CM
27
1
2
DM
18
1
1
RM
11
0
1
AM
3
0
0
RB
3
0
0
LM
1
0
0
As can be seen looking at the table above, Garner – much like Osman managed during his time at the club – has proven himself to be a reliable utility figure all across the midfield positions at Goodison, with the versatile 23-year-old even capable of playing in defence.
But, Moyes will likely want to use him in the heart of his midfield, knowing he is capable too of mirroring his former great’s goal and assist numbers at the top of his game, having tallied up an impressive 18 goal contributions during a 69-game spell with Nottingham Forest.
Everton midfielder James Garner
Lauded as “phenomenal” off the back of his City Ground exploits by pundit Trevor Sinclair, the £30k-per-week star is perhaps rather underrated – much like Osman – and will now hope he is free of any lingering injury concerns.
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Everton are moving forward, but all the same, David Moyes’ return has created a nostalgic feel to this Goodison Park, who are poignantly and perhaps fittingly preparing to depart for Bramley Moore.
A new era begins with an old dog, but Moyes is proven on Merseyside and indeed elsewhere, leading West Ham United through three successive campaigns on the continent and indeed winning the Conference League in 2022/23.
Everton manager DavidMoyes on the touchline before the match
Can he lead the Toffees back to a rich and lasting period? Moyes has already got to work shaping Sean Dyche’s squad to his design, with one member in particular carrying the qualities to become the Scot’s next version of Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta under Moyes' wing
Younger Premier League fans will exclusively recognise Arteta for his time in the Arsenal dugout, taking a meandering outfit back to the forefront of domestic and European football.
However, he once roamed Premier League pitches at the heart of Arsene Wenger’s Gunners midfield, and before that, Moyes’ Everton.
Intelligent, silky and dynamic, Arteta bridged gaps between central- and attacking-midfield berths, with Moyes hailing him as a “complete” and “conscientious” player during the duo’s marriage.
Across 209 Everton appearances (all with Moyes at the helm), Arteta proved himself to be one of the most technically gifted footballers in the top flight from the offing, making the move to north London in August 2011 for a £10m fee after informing the Blues he wanted out and was willing to take a pay cut to make it happen.
It’s perhaps a testament to Moyes’ adoration of Arteta’s style during his playing days that he instantly moved to sign his next version of the Spanish maestro when arriving at Everton back in January.
Everton's new Arteta
Everton’s recruitment has been generally shoddy over the past decade, but Dyche and departing Director of Football Kevin Thelwell did make one or two good moves before leaving.
Chalkboard
It means Moyes has got players such as Iliman Ndiaye, Beto and Jake O’Brien to fashion into shape, all showing positive signs in recent months. However, the 61-year-old did need to dip into the winter market to sign Charly Alcaraz on loan from Brasileiro Serie A club Flamengo.
Everton midfielder Charly Alcaraz
Everton have the option to sign the attacking midfielder permanently for a shrewd £12m fee at the end of the season, and on the basis of the early evidence, the 22-year-old has talent in spades and could become a high-class player in Moyes’ system.
Positionally, Alcaraz has been around the block.
Although, saying that, the Argentina youth international has also partaken in a nomadic journey across the opening years of his career, Everton being his fifth club as a professional.
He even joined Juventus on loan last season, with the Serie A giants deciding against activating the £40m clause to land his signature for good. Even so, it denotes the high regard Alcaraz is held in.
Central midfield
74
10
5
Attacking midfield
19
4
2
Right winger
14
4
2
Centre-forward
10
2
2
Defensive midfield
9
1
0
Left winger
7
1
2
Right-back
1
0
0
Journalist Antonio Mango described him as a “special talent” in the past and it’s clear to see why. Alcaraz has the qualities to become a multi-functional general in the same vein as Arteta, especially when looking at his athletic ability through the lens of FBref’s data.
Though he hasn’t yet played enough in England for his metrics to be recorded, FBref record that Alcaraz ranks among the top 7% of midfielders in the Brazilian first tier in 2024 for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.
He’s got a range of attack-focused skills to damage Everton’s opponents, but also a combative and hard-working side that will see him find true success in Moyes’ system.
Charly Alcaraz celebrates for Everton
Arteta was renowned for his passing, but he also played out on the right wing and later shifted into a deeper-lying midfield berth. Alcaraz has natural-born creativity and an energetic approach besides, but he’s actually begun to showcase maturity in defensive phases, making an impression at Goodison Park.
Let’s examine that in closer detail.
Alcaraz has played five times in the Premier League so far for Everton, enjoying a goal-and-assist performance against Crystal Palace during a February win at Selhurst Park.
But he’s played his role and played it well over the past several weeks, with Sofascore noting the South American has won 52% of his ground duels at Everton having completed 82% of his passes and created four big chances along the way.
This bodes well indeed. The £20k-per-week star is proving he can grow as a player and contribute across different phases of any particular contest.
In 2022/23, when he plied his trade with imperilled Southampton, Alcaraz won only 36% of his duels and created just one big chance across 18 Premier League outings. There was a player in there to be sure, but he was unrefined and could hardly have been expected to offer more than he did – scoring four goals – for a wayward outfit spinning toward relegation.
Charly Alcaraz for Southampton
Moyes has only welcomed one player to the Everton first team so far, and in Alcaraz, he might just find a long-term star, especially with Abdoulaye Doucoure reaching the end of his contract this summer.
He’s already shifted between attacking and more central midfield roles for Everton this season, and indeed has all the trappings of a budding maestro in the middle of the field, one who could see Moyes restore the spirit of Arteta to his new-look Everton team.
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The powers that be at Celtic made a huge call in the recent January transfer window when they sanctioned a move away from Parkhead for Kyogo Furuhashi.
He had racked up 85 goals in 165 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, proving himself to be a reliable goalscorer for the club over several seasons.
However, Ligue 1 side Rennes came in with an offer of £10m to sign the 30-year-old centre-forward and that was enough for the Hoops to decide to cash in on the Japan international.
Kyogo, who scored 34 goals in the 2022/23 campaign, left big boots to fill as the main man for goals for the Scottish Premiership leaders when he completed his move to France earlier this year.
Celtic, however, have not missed his presence in the number nine position because fellow Japan international Daizen Maeda has stepped up in his absence.
How Daizen Maeda has become the new Kyogo
The 27-year-old attacker has spent the majority of his career at Parkhead playing on either the left or the right flank, starting 120 matches in all competitions in those positions.
Whilst the majority of his appearances this season have also been in those two roles, Maeda has also started seven games as a centre-forward in the absence of Kyogo this term – scoring a staggering 12 goals in those matches.
He has showcased his positional flexibility and his quality at the top end of the pitch with his terrific performances on the wing and as a number nine, as the Japanese dynamo has emerged as the main man for goals at Parkhead.
Maeda has racked up an impressive haul of 28 goals and nine assists in 42 appearances in all competitions for Celtic so far this season, which shows that he has posed a constant threat to opposition defenders as either a winger or a striker.
Daizen Maeda
11.5
13
+1.5
Kyogo Furuhashi
14.14
10
-4.14
Nicolas Kuhn
9.32
10
+0.68
Arne Engels
8.76
9
+0.24
Adam Idah
10.28
8
-2.28
As you can see in the table above, he is the top scorer for the Hoops in the Premiership this season and has outperformed his xG by more than any of the other top five scorers in the division.
You can also see that he has scored three more goals than Kyogo managed before his departure, despite having almost three less Expected Goals, which speaks to how ruthless he has been in the final third.
Maeda has, therefore, become the new and improved Kyogo for Celtic by leading the way as the go-to man for goals for Brendan Rodgers this season.
The Hoops did not have to go and sign a new player to replace the Rennes striker and they may not have to sign a new player when it comes to eventually replacing Maeda in the future, but his replacement seems unlikely to be Daniel Cummings.
Why Daniel Cummings is not a future star for Celtic
The exciting 18-year-old centre-forward has been making waves in the academy this season with his incredibly prolific performances for the B team.
Cummings, who made his first-team debut against Aston Villa in the Champions League earlier this year, has racked up a staggering 29 goals in 31 matches across the Lowland League and the UEFA Youth League.
Daniel Cummings for Celtic
The teenage sensation has scored six goals in 12 matches for the Youth League side and 38 goals in 54 outings for the B team throughout his career in the academy to date, including 12 goals in 19 Lowland League games last term.
However, Celtic and their supporters may never get to see him fulfill his potential at Parkhead, because his contract expires this summer and it was recently reported that he is in talks with West Ham over a move to the Premier League side.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
This is why the Hoops youngster may not be a future star or a Maeda replacement for Rodgers, as he could be on his way out of the club at the end of the season, but there is another young striker at the club who could emerge as a key player down the road.
Celtic already have their next Daizen Maeda brewing
Celtic have 21-year-old Johnny Kenny on their books and his contract is not due to expire until the summer of 2026, which means that the youngster is set to be at the club next season – barring any summer transfer away from Glasgow.
The Ireland U21 international returned from his loan spell at Shamrock Rovers in January and has featured in five matches off the bench in all competitions to date, registering one assist.
Kenny has, therefore, not had too many opportunities to showcase his quality in a Celtic shirt yet, but his form for Shamrock Rovers in 2024 suggests that the potential is there for him to emerge as a Maeda-esque star for the club in the future.
The young marksman, who spent the 2023 and 2024 campaigns on loan in Ireland, scored 20 goals in all competitions for his loan club last year, including a return of five goals in six matches in the Conference League.
Starts
6
xG
3.78
Goals
5
Minutes per goal
95
Big chances missed
1
Big chances created
1
Assists
1
As you can see in the table above, Kenny was ruthless in front of goal in Europe for Shamrock Rovers, outperforming his xG and only missing one ‘big chance’ in six matches.
He also scored 13 goals in 29 league matches, whilst Maeda has scored 13 goals in 27 Premiership games this term, and this shows that the centre-forward can make an impact domestically and in Europe at the top end of the pitch.
These statistics show that Kenny has already proven himself at senior level, unlike Cummings, but it is now down to the Irish youth international to prove that he can do it in a Celtic jersey.
He has shown that the potential is there for him to be a big goalscoring threat in the number nine position, in domestic football and in Europe, and it is down to him to make the most of any chances that Rodgers gives him to impress, as he could develop into Celtic’s next Maeda up front.
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At the age of 21, there is still plenty of time left for him to develop and improve as a player, and the Hoops can afford to take their time with him, which may also be why losing Cummings to West Ham this summer may not be a disaster – as they already have Kenny.
Chelsea are now determined to move ahead of Real Madrid in the race to sign a “phenomenal” £50m defender who’s been compared to Sergio Ramos, according to a report.
Blues considering defensive rebuild
The Blues have continued their approach of signing up-and-coming talents, recently sealing out-of-window moves for Sporting CP youngster Dario Essugo, who operates in central midfield, alongside 17-year-old winger Geovany Quenda, who is set to arrive in the summer of 2026.
However, there are also indications Enzo Maresca’s side could look to upgrade their defence this summer, with targets being identified at both full-back and centre-back.
There could be a departure from the west Londoners’ usual focus on youth, with a deal for 28-year-old Nottingham Forest right-back Ola Aina now being worked on, following the defender’s impressive performances in the Premier League this season.
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Another Premier League defender enjoying a solid campaign is AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, with David Ornstein recently revealing the centre-back is being looked at closely by the Blues ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop.
There has now been a further update on Chelsea’s pursuit of Huijsen, with a report from Spain revealing they are now determined to move ahead of Real Madrid in the race for the 19-year-old’s signature.
AFC Bournemouth's DeanHuijsenduring the warm up before the match
Maresca’s side could be the club most willing to shell out the €60m (£50m) release clause included in the defender’s Bournemouth contract, despite widespread interest in his signature, with Newcastle United, Bayern Munich and Liverpool also keen.
Interestingly, the report states the Blues could look to make an ‘aggressive’ offer to ensure they win the race for the Spaniard, which may include tabling a more financially appealing contract than Madrid would be willing to offer.
"Phenomenal" Huijsen likened to Ramos
The teenager spent time with Malaga as a youth player, where he attracted attention from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, so it is perhaps a little surprising he ultimately ended up at Bournemouth, arriving on a six-year deal last summer.
However, the youngster’s decision to sign for the Cherries has been validated by the amount of game time he has received this season, making 23 appearances in the Premier League, during which time he has scored two goals.
The Spain international’s goal-scoring ability has drawn comparisons to Madrid legend Ramos, who was his idol growing up, and he once scored 12 goals in half a season during his time with Malaga, despite featuring at centre-back.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded Huijsen as “phenomenal” after a solid performance against Newcastle United earlier this season, and his performance on several key defensive metrics over the past year indicates he could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea.