Chelsea have shown glimpses of their potential under Mauricio Pochettino, but so far just that. The Argentine is yet to get a consistent run under his belt at Stamford Bridge, with the size of the project that he is responsible for quickly becoming apparent. He will hope that the promising signs shown in the Blues' draw against Arsenal will act as a springboard for a successful run in the Premier League, as Chelsea look to make a return to Champions League football.
Many of the headlines in the summer were centred around Chelsea's transfer business, with a flurry of talents heading for the exit door, whilst Pochettino began his rebuild with a number of arrivals. With their goalscoring problem very much still their biggest weakness, however, the Blues could now turn to a former academy player.
Chelsea transfer news
It could be argued that Chelsea's excessive spending is yet to solve many, if any, of their problems. They remain on course for a disappointing finish and have suffered defeats against Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa already this season, also drawing against Bournemouth. Nonetheless, it looks as though Todd Boehly could return to the transfer market once more, given the latest Miles Leaburn transfer news.
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea and Brentford are mulling over a move for the Charlton Athletic striker, who still has two years remaining on his current deal at the club. Leaburn, of course, is all too familiar with Chelsea, having come through their academy before joining the Addicks in 2019. Charlton are in a strong position when it comes to keeping hold of their talented teenager, after they reportedly rejected an offer worth £3m from the Bundesliga in the summer.
When the January transfer window does open, as well as next summer's edition, it will be interesting to see whether Chelsea, or in fact Brentford, push ahead to sign Leaburn, who may still have dreams of Stamford Bridge success.
Miles Leaburn is "not just a goalscorer"
Leaburn's stats show just how well he has started for Charlton this season, scoring a goal every 86 minutes. The 6 ft 5 in giant has found the back of the net six times in just 515 minutes of action, which is just under six games. The fact is, the 19-year-old has been on fire this season, and has more than earned the reported interest of Chelsea.
His form has rightly received a lot of praise, including from former Charlton boss Dean Holden, who said, via London News Online: “It proves he’s not just a goalscorer. His all-round game, as much as he’s got to learn, is solid. He is not just a fox-in-the-box, he’s not just someone who will run in behind and he’s not just a targetman.
“All of those different parts of his game will improve because it is his first season in senior football. Why can’t he get to 12 or higher than that? He is such a great lad to work with – he wants to improve. He doesn’t for one second think he is the finished article, which is really exciting. Huge potential.”
Liverpool haven't been short of attacking quality in their lineups over the past couple of years, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane feared components of a Reds forward line over a number of seasons – both players routinely slotting in alongside Mohammed Salah to terrorise Premier League defences week in week out.
Jurgen Klopp's choice of fresh blood in attack ever since Firmino and Mane uprooted to Saudi Arabia have performed adequately in the absence of their two former star men, with Cody Gakpo relocating from the Netherlands to play under the German head coach at Anfield last December whilst Luis Diaz has now entered into his third straight season with the Reds this campaign after departing FC Porto in 2022.
iago-aspas-luis-diaz-diogo-jota-liverpool-opinion
Both players have shown glimpses of quality this season to date – with Diaz scoring at the death versus Luton Town last time out to steal a share of the points for his team – but eyes are shifting towards young Liverpool attacker Mateusz Musialowski now who is currently outscoring both the Dutchman and the Colombian at youth level.
Diaz and Gakpo will hope they can improve their numbers, looking over their respective shoulders apprehensively at Musialowski who is edging closer to a first-team berth if he continues his current rich vein of form.
Liverpool's attacking numbers this season
Gakpo has been utilised mainly as a substitute option by Klopp this campaign so far, only scoring two goals in top-flight action as a direct consequence with the 24-year-old last finding the back of net in a 2-1 away defeat to Tottenham back in September.
#1 Mohamed Salah
10
#2 Darwin Nunez
7
#3 Diogo Jota
6
#4 Luis Diaz
4
#5 Cody Gakpo
4
Stats via Transfermarkt.
The Dutch attacker's recent cameos off the bench have left much to be desired, only garnering a 6.1 overall Sofascore rating from his 24 minutes on the pitch against Luton – losing possession three times on the Kenilworth Road turf, alongside hitting one of this two efforts wide.
Gakpo's poor individual display on top of Liverpool's overall underwhelming performance was fortunately bailed out by Diaz's late goal on the night, the Colombian forward netting his first Reds goal since the second matchday of the season as a result to help his team draw 1-1.
Musialowski will hope that both players continue to blow hot and cold for Klopp's men, with the German manager unafraid in the past to call upon certain youngsters to make an impact in his starting eleven – Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones springing to mind who have slotted into the first team after breaking through at youth level.
Musialowski's numbers this season
Described as "supremely talented" by Liverpool social media channel TheRedmenTV, the Polish attacker is excelling in his current age bracket for the Reds.
Linked with a move away from Liverpool this summer per reports, Musialowski has stayed focused on his game away from rumours and is playing out of his skin for the U21s as a result.
The Polish winger has bagged six goals in all competitions for the youthful Reds side after eight matches, assisting a further two goals to provide for his teammates. The latest of those goals came on Tuesday evening as the club fell to a 2-1 defeat against Barrow in the EFL Trophy.
Musialowski's effort versus Morecambe in the EFL Trophy recently saw Liverpool's number 92 remain persistent, hitting a deflected effort in eventually after the ball returned to his feet off the back of a slaloming run into the area.
Dubbed the "Polish Messi" for his tricky feet at youth level, the 20-year-old will hope his continued goalscoring exploits at U21 level means he's given the chance to impress in Klopp's first team sooner rather than later.
This could come at the expense of Gakpo and Diaz, with competition heating up in the attacking spots at Anfield.
Manchester United could now part ways with one first-team star in January, who they hope to recoup a big transfer fee for once the window re-opens, according to a report.
Man Utd's room for improvement…
Undoubtedly, Manchester United have had a campaign that has presented its fair share of challenges for Erik ten Hag, who has had to fight fire on and off the field at Old Trafford. Away from the action, Jadon Sancho has been embroiled in a public spat with the Dutchman that has seen the England international placed into exile since early September.
At the same time, Brazilian winger Antony has also spent time away from the first team due to an off-field investigation, while the Red Devils came under fire earlier this year due to their handling of events involving controversial loanee Mason Greenwood.
In the Premier League, the Red Devils have lost five out of their opening 12 fixtures. However, seven victories, including four in their last five matches, have elevated them to sixth in the divisional standings and five points away from Tottenham Hotspur in fourth. Nevertheless, room for improvement is needed if the Red Devils are serious about qualifying for the Champions League in 2023/24.
Of course, United are present in the competition this year and to put it lightly, their start has been sub-par, with one victory and three losses putting them bottom of Group A, which contains Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen.
This weekend, the Red Devils face a difficult test away to Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday before clashes against Galatasaray, Newcastle United and Chelsea, which could go a long way to determining the direction they are headed under Ten Hag's leadership.
Casting an eye to January, the Dutchman could now be set to get rid of one player once the window opens as he continues to shape his squad.
Jadon Sancho up for sale
According to Football Insider, Manchester United are ready to accept an offer for Sancho in January to help bolster their budget for potential incomings, which will also be aided by not having to pay his £250,000 per week wage.
The report states that Manchester United hope to land a considerable fee for his services, with an exit either on a permanent basis or a loan deal now believed to be a certainty in the New Year. Serie A giants Juventus have been credited with an interest in the 23-year-old alongside his former club Borussia Dortmund and several Saudi Pro League sides.
Sancho, who was previously labelled a "brilliant footballer" by Manchester United boss Ten Hag earlier this year, has struggled to make his mark at Old Trafford, registering 12 goals and six assists in 82 appearances for the Premier League giants across all competitions (Sancho statistics – Transfermarkt).
Now out in the cold at Manchester United, it may be a wise move from both parties to cut his time at the club short to remove the attention caused by his prolonged absence from first-team duties.
Glasgow Rangers return to domestic action this weekend following the prolonged international break and Philippe Clement will be hoping his side can continue from where they left off.
Six wins and a draw in his first seven matches is a positive start, but the foot must not be taken off the gas as the club face 12 matches in just 38 days, starting with a tie against Aberdeen this Sunday.
If the Ibrox side can emerge from this period unscathed, then Clement could delve into the transfer market to add another fresh face or two to his squad.
Rangers transfer news
At the start of the month, the Scottish Sun claimed the Gers were showing an interest in centre-back Nathaniel Adjei as Clement aims to bolster his defensive options.
Old Firm rivals Celtic are also keeping tabs on the defender, along with some European sides, as the race for his signature heats up.
The Light Blues could have received a recent boost, however, as Sunderland – who were credited with an interest in the youngster – won’t be making a move for him in January.
With reinforcements needed at Ibrox ahead of the second half of the season, especially if European progress is secured, Clement could now make a more concrete approach for the player.
It could take a fee of around £3m to lure him to Glasgow and this could be the only stumbling block.
Nathaniel Adjei’s season in numbers
The Gers have enjoyed previous success with recruiting players from Scandinavia, as Alfredo Morelos joined from HJK Helsinki in the summer of 2017, and enjoyed a wonderful six-year spell in Glasgow.
Indeed, the Colombian not only scored 124 goals for the club – becoming only the 18th post-war player to reach that total for the Gers in 2021 – but he is also the top scorer in European competition for the Light Blues.
This proves that there is quality to be found in Scandinavia and Adjei could have a similar impact, albeit at the other end of the pitch, should he move to the Premiership side.
For Hammarby last season, Adjei ranked fifth across the squad for accurate passes (40.8) along with ranking third for accurate long balls (3.5) and third for clearances per game (2.7), clearly impressing in the Swedish top flight.
His physicality is arguably one of his best traits as he won 61% of his ground duels while also winning 62% of his aerial duels in the league last term and this attribute could allow him to slot easily into the heart of the defence at Ibrox.
The Ghanaian was even dubbed a “physical monster” by Kai Watson – who runs the informative Rangers Journal – and he would be a colossus alongside Connor Goldson.
It didn’t take Morelos long to settle in following his move from Finland, as he scored 18 goals during his debut campaign, and Adjei could certainly follow in his footsteps.
Clement will be desperate to add at least one or two new faces to his squad in January and, at just 21 years old, Adjei fits the profile of a player who could be ready for first-team action straight away, while also having the potential to develop into a star.
The next few weeks could be very interesting indeed.
Everton's academy has produced some unbelievable talent over the years, some of which have gone on to reach their potential elsewhere, and others who have plummeted under the weight of their price tag.
Wayne Rooney is the most successful academy graduate in the club's history and it's highly unlikely they will ever produce someone who will eclipse what he achieved across his career.
Aside from scooping every trophy available at Manchester United, he also overtook Sir Bobby Charlton as the club's all-time top scorer with 253 goals and did the same with England, until Harry Kane blitzed past his record of 53 goals in 120 matches.
Whilst the likes of Rooney surpassed all expectations after departing Goodison Park, others have failed to live up to the potential that their formative years promised, and Jack Rodwell is a prime example of that.
Jack Rodwell's transfer value at Everton
Regarded as the next big thing when he broke into the Everton team aged just 16, Rodwell was one of several English talents who were overhyped in the early stages of their career.
It's common knowledge that any player who makes their Premier League debut at such a tender age is going to have the world watching them and that was the case with Rodwell, who accumulated 109 appearances for the Toffees before turning 21.
After garnering an impressive CV at Goodison, which included that goal against Manchester United in a 3-1 victory, he would soon earn a lucrative move to Manchester City for £15m in 2012.
During this period, the Cityzens needed to fill their quota of homegrown players and considering Rodwell was one of the hottest English prospects at the time, it seemed fitting that the 21-year-old joined the champions.
A box-to-box midfielder, who possessed an ability to drive forward with his strength and power, the Englishman was expected to utilise those attributes in Manchester but found his game time limited as world-class talents Yaya Toure and David Silva kept him out of the team.
Despite showing so much promise, Rodwell's move to Man City ended up being premature, ill-advised and disrupted by injuries as he made just 25 appearances at the club before accepting a £10m transfer to Sunderland in 2014.
Rodwell's transfer value at Sunderland
After joining Sunderland in search of regular game time, he struggled to impress at the Stadium of Light.
Between 2013 and 2017, he went 39 league matches without a win – a record streak of 1370 days.
With the North East giants plummeting into League One in 2018 as a result of their financial carnage, Rodwell was the poster boy for that mismanagement in the transfer window.
He was depicted as a villain during this period as the Netflix Sunderland till I die documentary showcased the repeated attempts made by hapless executives to offload him and his £70,000-per-week salary.
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Jack Rodwell rinsed Sunderland dry
Jack Rodwell will go down as arguably the worst signing in Sunderland’s history, for how he drained the club.
Rodwell was eventually released in June 2018 and after making just 76 appearances for the club across four years, saw his expected transfer value (xTV) plummet to €1m (£868k), as per Football Transfers, which is a whopping £9m decrease from what the Black Cats initially signed him for.
Rodwell's transfer value now
It isn't uncommon to see footballers resurrect their careers after seeing them fall to the wayside, but Rodwell continued to fall in value and stature after leaving the Stadium of Light.
Following a spell with Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, he was a free agent again and had unsuccessful trials with New England Revolution and, rather surprisingly, Paulo Fonseca's Roma.
Despite making such a rapid crash, Chris Wilder took a chance on Rodwell in 2019 at Sheffield United, believing the Englishman – who was 28 at the time – could still fulfil his potential as a physically strong, athletic, tough-tackling midfielder.
However, after totalling just 73 minutes of football across 18 months at Bramall Lane, it became clear that taking a gamble on him was never going to pay off.
After being released by the Blades in June 2021, the former Everton starlet has since moved to Australia; first plying his trade for A-League Western Sydney Wanderers and now Sydney FC.
These days, a 32-year-old Rodwell is most likely enjoying a lavished lifestyle down under rather than his football and it's no surprise to see his xTV nosedive to €200k (£173k).
In hindsight, Everton made the right decision to cash in on the 6 foot 2 flop for £15m but Rodwell's career will always be the curious case of what could have been.
It’s fair to say David Moyes divides opinion in East London. Some West Ham fans love him for leading them to their first European trophy in decades after winning the Europa Conference League in 2022/23, and some just don’t rate him.
Regardless, he has done a good job of steadying the ship at a time when the club looked destined for the drop, and the 2023 summer transfer window looks like it has been a massive success. Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus are two great deals, with the latter certainly starting to settle at the London Stadium.
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Moyes and West Ham in the transfer window, however. Football FanCast takes a look at the Scottish manager’s ten worst West Ham signings.
10 Patrice Evra (Free)
Free transfer, 2018
Veteran leftback Patrice Evra was signed in the summer of 2018 to bring his invaluable experience to the club. His time at Manchester United had proven he was one of the best in his position in the world, but he was known to be a little unpredictable.
By the time he joined West Ham, he had stopped caring. He may constantly be telling people how much he “loves this game”, but it’s clear he didn’t care for the club. Evra would make just five appearances for the Hammers.
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His contract expired the next summer and he left. After no satisfactory offers for his services were received, he decided to retire from football.
9 Joao Mario
Loan from Inter, 2018
It may have only been a loan, but Moyes’ signing of Joao Mario was hailed by many as a real coup. He was impressive during his time at Sporting CP and had secured a move to Inter.
Unfortunately for him, opportunities in Italy dried up and it was decided he had to go out on loan. West Ham were amongst a number of clubs looking to secure his signature, and in January 2018, he put pen to paper.
He made his debut just two days later, coming on as a substitute against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup – a game West Ham would lose 2-0. After that, he never really made a mark. He did score in a 3-0 win against Southampton, but he returned to Inter the following summer after an underwhelming spell. He has since become a massive player for Benfica.
8 Alex Kral
Loan from Spartak Moscow, 2021
Following the huge success of the signing of Tomas Soucek, Moyes once again fancied a look at the Czechia national squad. This time he came across central midfielder Alex Kral, who had just signed for Russian side Spartak Moscow.
He wasn’t a goalscorer; in fact, he’s only scored a single league goal throughout his entire career, but he was a runner. West Ham signed him on loan with the option to make it permanent.
Kral would go on to make six appearances for the club before the loan ended. He’s still technically contracted to Spartak Moscow but has been on loan in Germany since his West Ham move, firstly with Schalke, and now with Union Berlin.
7 Jordan Hugill
£10m from Preston North End, 2018
West Ham have had some awful luck with strikers. In recent years they’ve had to deal with Simone Zaza, Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate, just to name a few. Jordan Hugill has to be counted among them.
The Hammers paid £10m for his services, potentially predicting that they were going to go down and would need a solid Championship striker, which Hugill was at Preston North End. It was a move that infuriated fans, just when they needed someone to lead the line.
It’s not his fault he’s on this list, though. Hugill was given just 22 minutes throughout the entire second half of the 2017/18 season to prove to the fans that he was the man to lead them – an almost impossible task.
After numerous Championship loans, he’s now found a home at Rotherham United.
6 Nikola Vlasic
£34.5m from CSKA Moscow, 2021
Nikola Vlasic for West Ham.
This transfer just goes to show that one good international tournament does not a good player make. Vlasic impressed for Croatia at Euro 2020 and had a number of teams after him. West Ham finally got him for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £34.5m once add-ons had been factored in.
Throughout his career, he had played regular football, and although he did have the opportunity to prove himself, he was never consistently in the first team. His first goal contribution came in the form of an assist in the Europa League, and his first goal came in the Premier League in a 4-1 win against Watford.
Vlasic was then sent out on loan to Torino, a move that the Italian club would make permanent in August 2023 for an undisclosed fee. Perhaps West Ham didn’t want the world to know how much money they lost on him.
5 Gianluca Scamacca
£35.5m from Sassuolo, 2022
West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca.
Young Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca came to West Ham with a big reputation. He was, and still is, one of Italy’s best young forwards. Since bursting onto the scene at Sassuolo, the hype began to generate, he just wouldn't live up to it at West Ham.
Injuries were the main reason he didn’t make it in east London, despite looking like someone who would love it there. He only scored eight goals in 27 appearances for the club, with a lot of them being as a substitute.
Both parties decided to call it quits after a single season. He’s now back in Italy with Atalanta and has gotten off to a fine start. Perhaps, like Sebastian Haller, he’ll be one that got away for West Ham.
4 Danny Ings
£15m from Aston Villa, 2023
West Ham striker Danny Ings.
Consistently scoring goals in the Premier League is a very hard thing to do, and Danny Ings deserves a lot of credit for doing just that, but at West Ham, it’s been disappointing. The form he found at Burnley and Southampton seems to have escaped him.
West Ham bought him for an initial £12m, which rose to £15m after avoiding relegation in the 2022/23 season. Ings played his part – he scored twice against Nottingham Forest to help secure top-flight football.
Without going as far as saying that Danny Ings has been a flop, he certainly has the ability to turn it around, he’s just unlikely to be given that chance. He’s still at West Ham, but they’re reportedly looking to move him on.
3 Flynn Downes
£12m from Swansea City, 2022
It's pretty heartbreaking to be putting Flynn Downes on this list. The midfielder is a massive West Ham fan, he’s living the dream he had as a young lad in playing for the club. Sadly, he hasn’t had much of a chance to represent them.
Downes made a name for himself with Swansea City in the Championship, and West Ham came knocking. A reported £12m fee was agreed, and he put pen to paper, just as any fan would.
He made 21 league appearances for the club he loves, and helped them to their first trophy in 43 years. If you’d have told him he’d do that at the start of his career, he’d have surely snapped your hands off.
He’s currently on loan at Southampton, and will no doubt be hoping he’s given another opportunity soon enough.
2 Maxwel Cornet
£17.5m from Burnley, 2022
West Ham United forward Maxwel Cornet.
Players need time, and Maxwel Cornet will surely get that, but his West Ham career has been underwhelming thus far. He signed in the summer of 2022 from Burnley for a fee thought to be around £17.5m, and has since failed to impress.
He’s the type of player that is always going to have moments. A piece of skill here, beating a player there – he just needs to do it more often. To be fair to Cornet, Moyes isn’t exactly known for letting his attacking players express themselves.
Cornet is perhaps best known for his controversial disallowed goal against Chelsea last season. VAR deemed Tomas Soucek’s very slight touch on Mendy to be a foul, and denied him what would have been his first and only league goal for West Ham.
1 Thilo Kehrer
£10.1m from Paris Saint-Germain, 2022
Thilo Kehrer
There is a bit of a running theme here; most of the players on this list just haven’t been given much of a shot. Moyes is an old-school manager, he knows his best XI and he sticks to it. It’s an important thing to do when you’re fighting at the bottom of the table more often than not. Kehrer is another player that’s happened to.
When the German centre-back made a big money move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, it was for a fee of around £32m. After four years at the club, West Ham signed him for £10.1m.
He was meant to be their centre-back for the future, and since he remains at the club, he still could be. He’s just fallen down the pecking order behind the likes of Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd.
Kehrer is now 27 years old, so he’s entering his prime as a defender. At some point, he’s going to want to be playing more regular football, whether that’s with West Ham or not.
The Premier League is harsh, most of Moyes’ signings at West Ham have actually proven to be very good deals – Jarrod Bowen and Jesse Lingard, for example.
Moyes knows the club inside-out, but the grass isn’t always greener.
It's now been reported that West Ham could lose a "big voice" in the January transfer window as "many clubs" circle to sign him next month.
Players who could leave West Ham in 2024
The Hammers could see a wave of figureheads depart east London for nothing in the summer of 2024, including manager David Moyes.
Moyes is unlikely to be offered a new West Ham contract, according to reports, while goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, defender Ben Johnson, young star Divin Mubama, midfielder Conor Coventry, prospect Joseph Anang, left-back Aaron Cresswell, and veteran centre-back Angelo Ogbonna could also leave upon the expiry of their deals.
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Star regular Tomas Soucek is officially on that list as well, but some reports suggest he's actually put pen to paper on a new long-term deal in secret. Indeed, Soucek has signed a new West Ham deal till 2027 which is yet to be formally announced (Daily Mail).
While the Czech Republic international won't be going anywhere, it would seem, the same cannot be said for out-of-favour defender Thilo Kehrer.
The German, who put pen to paper on a move to West Ham from PSG in the summer of 2022, has barely featured under Moyes this season.
This is despite West Ham's manager previously revealing Kehrer is actually a "big voice" in the Irons dressing room, not to mention a real personality who was "stepping up" behind-the-scenes at one point.
Thilo Kehrer
"Amazingly, I already see Thilo Kehrer stepping up in the dressing room, big personality, big voice," said Moyes on Kehrer last year (via The Standard).
"I said about players taking time to adapt, and it may sound like a manager’s excuse, but I actually think he has adapted really well.
“He has had a couple of moments but you would have to say he has come in and played well and showed in the dressing room he has a voice and trying to help the players.”
Playing just 18 Premier League minutes over 23/24 so far, it appears Moyes' opinion of the defender has changed since then.
Kehrer, for his part, is now said to be eyeing up an exit from the London Stadium as we approach January.
Kehrer now eyeing up West Ham exit
According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, writing via X, Kehrer is now open to leaving West Ham as his agents even start to sound out the market for potential landing spots.
The 27-year-old is apparently being chased by "many clubs", who have already made an approach to sign him.
IIt appears Kehrer, after just over one and a half seasons in claret and blue, could now end up departing in what would arguably go down as another failed transfer.
There's never a quiet day when it comes to Manchester United, with even the Christmas period not exempt from major breaking news and developments.
Late on Christmas Eve, it was announced that the impending investment of INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe had finally been confirmed, with the Billionaire businessman taking a 25% stake in the club to end months of speculation.
While there will be those angered by the fact that the Glazer family will still remain in place as part of the deal, it is believed that Ratcliffe will largely assume control of the footballing operation, as he seeks to revive an undoubtedly historic club to its former glory.
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The hope for United supporters will be that the 71-year-old – as well as the likes of Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc – can put in place a long-term plan to get the Red Devils back to the top of the domestic and European game, following a decade of turmoil and frustration in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
As for the short-term, there will also be a desire to see improvements made to the playing squad at Old Trafford, with the January transfer window perhaps an opportunity for Ratcliffe and co to give Erik ten Hag further reinforcements to attack the second half of the season.
One man possible target who is already reportedly being lined up for 2024 is Lyon sensation, Rayan Cherki, with the 20-year-old potentially set to be the first statement signing of the new regime in Manchester.
Man Utd transfer news – Rayan Cherki
According to Football Transfers, the promising Frenchman is on the radar of those at the Theatre of Dreams, having emerged as a 'key transfer target' for the Premier League outfit.
The report indicates that Cherki – who was linked with a move to rivals Chelsea over the summer – has been of interest to United over an extended period, the presence of Ratcliffe could see them step up their pursuit, with the Englishman keen to bring the player to the club.
Lyon's Rayan Cherki
The suggestion is that Ratcliffe – who also owns French side, Nice – could utilise his Ligue 1 connections in order to strike a deal for the young playmaker, with a deal in 2024 potentially set to be on the cards.
It is not made clear how much the versatile attacker – who can also feature on the flanks – would cost the Red Devils, having reportedly been valued at around €50m (£43m) in the summer amid those admiring glances from the Stamford Bridge side.
Rayan Cherki's style of play
Lauded as a "generational talent" by journalist Andres Onrubia Ramos, the Lyon native is a figure who has undoubtedly caught the eye in his embryonic senior career to date, scoring 14 goals and providing 18 assists in 119 games in all competitions for his current side.
While described as "very inconsistent" by Eurosport France’s Martin Mosnier, the mercurial maverick seemingly has the tools to flourish if placed in the right environment, with Mosnier have listed his array of qualities:
"He’s really an attacking midfielder although he can also play as a left winger. Cherki is an exceptional dribbler, one of the first things one notices when watching him is that he appears to be ambipedal, as he can seemingly utilise both feet equally well.
“His strengths are as follows: key passes, dribbling and his ability to create something out of nothing."
It is that ability to 'create something out of nothing' – as well as his rise at Lyon – that has perhaps unsurprisingly sparked comparisons to compatriot, Karim Benzema, with the latter man having also begun life with the Ligue 1 outfit, prior to his heroics at Real Madrid.
Described as the 'new Benzema' by various outlets, the youngster's potential has seen him tipped to potentially even emulate the former Ballon d'Or winner, with French football expert Jonathan Johnson having notably said of his talents:
"Probably the best young player to emerge from Lyon’s youth academy for many years, possibly even since Karim Benzema."
In the case of Benzema, the now-veteran marksman scored 66 goals in 148 games for Lyon prior to joining Los Blancos in 2009, eventually going on to win a raft of domestic and European honours at the Bernabeu, as well as contributing 519 goal involvements in 648 games.
Also a player who United themselves were seemingly keen on signing under Ferguson all those years ago, the 36-year-old is certainly the type of figure that Ten Hag would likely love to work with – hence signing his heir apparent in the form of Cherki.
Rayan Cherki's season by numbers
It has no doubt been a difficult campaign for the 5 foot 10 starlet on both an individual and collective basis, with Lyon finding themselves in a scrap for survival near the bottom of the table after a wretched first few months of the season.
Already working under his third manager of 2023/24, Cherki has seemingly found it difficult to properly flourish so far this term, chipping in with no goals and just two assists in 17 games in all competitions in Ligue 1.
1- Ousmane Dembele
2 – Edon Zhegrova
3 – Leroy Sane
4 – Kingsley Coman
5 – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
6 – Matteo Politano
7 – Vincius Junior
8 – Florian Wirtz
9 – Chris Fuhrich
10 – Jeremie Boga
via FBref
That being said, the in-demand gem still compares favourably to those in his position in Europe's top five leagues, ranking in the top 7% for progressive passes, the top 8% for successful take-ons and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90, indicating his dynamic threat with the ball at his feet.
With the flexibility to operate either out wide or more centrally, the £43m-rated man could not only offer a stern competitor to Bruno Fernandes in a number ten berth, but could also rival the likes of Antony on the flanks – the Brazilian among those tipped for an exit under Ratcliffe and co.
While there may be those hoping for more experienced additions amid the latest crisis to have engulfed the Old Trafford outfit, if Cherki is to arrive either in January or next summer, he could signal a real shift towards a new long-term vision for the Red Devils.
After an incredible 3-2 Boxing Day comeback over Aston Villa, Manchester United travelled to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, where they suffered yet another disappointing 2-1 defeat.
It seems that every positive step is followed by a poor showing, which has meant that they sit seventh in the Premier League.
The United faithful are becoming increasingly frustrated with Erik ten Hag's team, as some individuals are completely underperforming.
Antony’s performance in numbers vs Forest
Antony’s game against Forest was another addition to his catalogue of unconvincing and incredibly frustrating performances.
This was his 21st game of the season, and he is still yet to register a goal or an assist, but what’s even worse is the fact that he’s staggeringly picked up more yellow cards than goal contributions since joining the club.
The Brazilian was subbed just after the break due to an injury, but prior to that, he was very ineffective, giving the ball away 12 times and only winning four of his ten individual battles.
Additionally, he lacked intensity, intent, and the ability to create anything, with the 23-year-old often being forced to pass backwards due to his inability to take a man on.
Games
Goals
Assists
Shots
21
0
0
33
Games
Goals
Assists
Shots
33
1
2
69
Stats via TNT Sport & WhoScored.com
Football analyst Statman Dave described his showing as a "disasterclass,” which is extremely accurate and appropriate. The statistics below sum up his wretched evening in Nottingham.
xG
0.00
xA
0.03
Shots
0
Dribbles (succ.)
3 (1)
Pass accuracy %
78%
The man to replace Antony at Man Utd
The biggest issue that Antony now has is that Amad Diallo returned from injury to replace him at the City Ground, and the difference between the duo was night and day. The former Sunderland loanee didn’t look like a player who had been out since August, instantly setting the tempo and taking on responsibility in attack.
Unlike Antony, who stays on the touchline throughout a game, Amad often inverted to pick the ball up within the inside channel, creating combinations and linking up play. The 21-year-old showed his intelligence by retaining the ball when necessary while also working extremely hard to regain it. 94% pass accuracy, a shot on target, one key pass, and 100% duels won prove he was heavily involved in his short cameo.
Amad Diallo
However, what is even more worrying for Antony is that Alejandro Garnacho’s best performance in a United shirt came on the right against Villa. The Argentine netted a brace and was relentless throughout, using movement and direct dribbling to carve open the opponent.
The clear difference between Antony and the wingers is that the aforementioned duo simply makes things happen. Amad can create and score, as shown by his 16-goal contribution season at Sunderland, and Garnacho has also proved that this season. In short, the £85m man is too easy to play against.
Overall, if Garnacho doesn’t start, then Amad will, and therefore, it is reasonable to presume that the ex-Ajax man would currently be the third-choice right-winger at the Red Devils. This ultimately puts question marks around his future at Man United and with his job on the line, Ten Hag must start his best XI, unfortunately, Antony doesn’t feature in it.
It's difficult to judge Everton based on the Premier League table alone. As things stand, the Toffees sit just one point clear of the relegation zone, but without the deduction, they would be as high as 12th and 11 points clear of the drop. That said, those at Goodison Park must face their current reality and continue a solid season of results to keep their top-flight status intact once again.
It could yet be a damaging month for the Merseyside club, however, with a Premier League rival reportedly making contact to sign one of Sean Dyche's best players at Goodison Park. His exit would certainly deal the Toffees a major blow.
Everton transfer news
After already breaching Financial Fair Play rules, Everton's main priority may well be to stay within the regulations these days, rather than run the risk of another decuction, which could leave them all but relegated. This means that it could be a fairly quiet month in the blue half of Merseyside when it comes to incomings. Instead, Everton may be forced to shift their focus to keeping hold of certain players with one club reportedly circling to land one of Dyche's stars.
All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024
With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.
ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024
According to TeamTalk, Arsenal have made an approach to sign Amandou Onana from Everton this month. The Toffees will hope to fend off any interest by reportedly setting a huge price tag, with previous estimations sitting between £70m and £90m in what would likely be one of the most expensive deals in the transfer window this month.
Whilst Everton are reluctant to sell Onana, they reportedly see the midfielder as one of their most sellable assets, which could potentially see them cash in for the right price. As the window goes on, the Belgian will certainly be one to keep an eye on amid Arsenal's interest.
"Terrific" Onana is vital to Everton's survival chances
At just 22-years-old, Onana is only likely to get even better over time in the Premier League and that makes him vital to Dyche's side in both the present and future. As things stand, the Belgium international is vital to their survival chances, making a mid-season departure a potential disaster for those at Goodison Park. Onana's stats prove how important he is to Dyche, given that he's started 15 of Everton's 20 Premier League games in the current campaign.
It's therefore no surprise that Onana has earned plenty of praise from Dyche, who told Everton TV: “I thought Amadou [Onana] was terrific today, not just his goal but the ugly side of the game with his hard work and positional sense."
Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.
What stands out most when looking at Onana's performances is his aerial ability. The midfielder is in the top 95 percentile for aerials won when compared to midfielders in Europe's top five leagues. His 2.47 aerial duels won per 90 minutes makes him a vital player in Dyche's squad and someone that Everton should avoid selling at all costs during the January transfer window.