All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United have shown they can survive without Marcelo Bielsa signing Illan Meslier in their team, the suspended number one shot-stopper absent for the first two games of 2024 with the Whites picking up back-to-back wins in both league and Cup with him out of the starting eleven.

A hot-headed move against Preston North End on Boxing Day that saw hm sent off could prove to be Meslier's undoing, even with Daniel Farke bringing his lofty 6 foot 7 goalkeeper back into the starting lineup away at Cardiff City in a thumping 3-0 win last weekend.

Rumours suggest that the Whites could land an upgrade on the unpredictable 23-year-old this month, with the Championship promotion candidates now in the driver's seat over one potential incoming.

Leeds searching for a new goalkeeper

Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb have confirmed this week that Leeds are leading the race to sign Polish goalkeeper Bartlomej Dragowski, with the current Spezia goalkeeper also on the radar of Rennes out in France.

But, although Leeds are described to be 'in pole position' to land the Serie B keeper, the report further elaborates that the West Yorkshire club will only be able to sanction such a deal for Dragowski if Meslier is moved on in the opposite direction away from Elland Road.

It will be an interesting transfer saga to watch unfold, but just casting an eye over Dragowski's up-and-down career to date at a glance, he could well be an improvement on the Frenchman currently in between the sticks at Leeds.

Leeds could land "fantastic" upgrade on Firpo & Spence after Phil Hay reveal

Leeds United could upgrade their defence significantly with this signing, slotting him in alongside an in-form Joe Rodon.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 17, 2024 How Dragowski compares to Meslier

Not featuring in the Spezia first-team fold since late November, Dragowski is in need of revitalising his career again after bursting onto the scene early into his career as an exciting talent to watch.

When the 26-year-old has pulled on the number one jersey for his Serie B outfit this season, he has shone however – keeping a clean sheet away at Lecco in mid-November, making five saves in the process to help Spezia pick up a point in the 0-0 draw.

Yet, it's his spell with Empoli in the division above in Italy that won him plaudits before this switch to Spezia which Leeds will hope they can tap into if he arrives to England.

During an away game with Empoli whilst out on loan from Fiorentina, the towering 6 foot 3 goalkeeper pulled off a ridiculous 17 saves in total to keep the scoreline somehow at 0-0 versus Atalanta – leading to football talent scout Jacek Kulig calling for the Italian club to 'build a statue' of Dragowski to honour his miraculous heroics in the net.

Farke could well look to Dragowski's pedigree playing in tense contests at venues such as the San Siro, and not buckling under the intense pressure, as grounds to attempt to sign the Spezia man this January.

Such heroics and form could well see the 'phenomenal' goalkeeper, as further described by Kulig, as an upgrade on Meslier. Some important stats such as save percentage tell you all you need to know.

Saves

3.38

1.67

Save %

71.4%

65.6%

Pass Success

76%

82.4%

Ball Recoveries

1.08

0.65

Clean Sheet %

23.1%

36.0

With Leeds' £30k-per-week French giant evidently unconvincing in spells this season on top of his moment of madness against Preston – conceding to Coventry City in late December to rid Leeds of a routine 1-0 home victory – the time could well be right for a shake-up in the net at Elland Road with Dragowski the obvious frontrunner to replace Meslier for good.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Destiny Udogie's performance vs Manchester City

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

Strengths

Weaknesses

Dribbling

Ball retention

Passing

Crossing

Interceptions

Tackling

Source: WhoScored

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

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

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

Spurs eyeing move for £100m "monster" who could surpass Romero

Ange Postecoglou would boast an incredible defence by securing this PL star’s signature.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 26, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

One Rangers player is set to leave Ibrox this week after an agreement was reached outside of the UK transfer window, according to new reports.

Rangers’ January window

The Gers and Philippe Clement were active in the winter window, with three new players arriving on loan for the remainder of the season. Fabio Silva, Mohamed Diomande and Oscar Cortes all moved to Glasgow from Wolves, Nordsjaelland and Lens respectively.

Meanwhile, there were some departures with Sam Lammers joining FC Utrecht on loan and Adam Devine heading to Motherwell for the second half of the season. Ibrox icon Barry Ferguson is happy with the club’s January business, though, saying:

“I’m quietly pleased with what I’ve been seeing and with the progress that’s clearly being made under Clement. He started early by bringing in Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves before January had even begun and by adding Mohamed Diomande and Oscar Cortes over the past few days, he’s added to the options available.

"The signing of Diomande looks particularly shrewd and not just because of the way the numbers were structured. They’ve landed an exciting talent on loan without having to stump up a significant fee until the summer.

"That’s smart financially but it also means the player will have an extra six months to bed into the squad and to familiarise himself with the club and with Scottish football. I suspect it might be next season until we see the best of him – and it might be a similar case with Cortes because the young man hasn’t played a lot of football so far this season in France.

"But Clement will gently bleed both of them into his team over the coming weeks and that will come as a huge boost – and maybe even a bit of a challenge – to the guys who have been there for some time. I know how I felt during my own playing days, when I was still a youngster trying to hold on to my place in the starting 11."

There is still time for exits with windows still open around the world, and it looks as if a move away is on the cards for one particular player.

Jose Cifuentes transfer update

There has been plenty of speculation in recent days regarding Jose Cifuentes, despite the midfielder only arriving in Scotland last summer. He reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Cruzeiro on the weekend, and it appears as if a move is progressing.

According to a new update from Brazil, Cruzeiro and Rangers have an ‘agreement well underway’ for the loan Cifuentes for one season. The report adds that Cifuentes, previously hailed as “terrific” by Tim Vickery, will leave Scotland on Friday and will head to his native Ecuador, where he will stay for around six days before hopefully moving on to Brazil to undergo a medical and sign a Cruzeiro contract.

Cifuentes has made 20 appearances for Rangers this season, 14 of which have come as a starter. However, he has been Rangers’ worst-rated player to have started six or more games, as per WhoScored, so a temporary move away could be best for all involved.

Arsenal, like much of the Premier League, had an extraordinarily quiet transfer window last month, and not even the madness of deadline day could get Edu and Co spending.

In fact, the only transfer completed at the club involved several youngsters going out on loan, the termination of Alex Runarsson's contract, the sale of Bradley Ibrahim to Hertba Berlin and one more deal which could prove to be very costly.

The Gunners have generally been quite savvy in recent transfer windows, with both the incomings and outgoings generally panning out. Still, this latest sale could backfire massively and bears an undeniable resemblance to Ashley Cole's exit all those years ago.

The Gunners fumble their full-back future

Before he was running up and charging up and down the pitch in the blue and white of Chelsea, Cole was a beloved member of arguably Arsenal's greatest-ever team, The Invincibles.

He debuted for the club in November 1999 against Middlesbrough, but he established himself in the side following an injury to Silvinho early in the 2000/2001 campaign.

What followed is well remembered by Arsenal fans as potentially the most significant period in the club's history. However, a shock move to the Blues in the summer of 2006 – allegedly over pay – tarnished his legacy with the north Londoners, and fans had to watch him lift every trophy there was with one of their biggest rivals.

The sale of arguably the "best to ever play in this country" in his position – according to pundit Darren Bent – the 107-cap former England international will always be one the worst decisions the Gunners have ever made, and unfortunately for fans, the transfer of Lino Sousa to Aston Villa on Deadline Day could pan out similarly.

Why Arsenal could regret selling Lino Sousa

It was amid the Deadline Day mania – well, maybe not this year – that Arsenal announced the permanent transfer of talented full-back Sousa to Premier League rivals Aston Villa – who then sent him on loan to Plymouth Argyle – and while many simply shrugged their shoulders, there were a few shocked by the news.

Data analyst Ben Mattinson was one of them, explaining that he was "gutted" due to his belief that the 19-year-old "might make it" in the first team and had a genuine shot at becoming "England's future LB" – sound familiar?

Now, comparing a teenager with Cole could be seen as hyperbole or as setting the youngster up for failure, but with how the Lisbon-born, England youth international performed for the Arsenal academy and with how he is spoken about by those who have seen him play, it might not be as far-fetched as you'd first assume.

In his 74 appearances across his time as a youth player for both Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion, the talented youngster scored seven goals and provided four assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 7.67 games.

Arsenal

West Bromwich Albion

52

22

5

2

3

1

0.15

0.13

While that might not sound outrageously impressive, Cole's 21 goals and 73 assists in his 701 professional games mean he averaged a goal involvement every 7.45 games.

Arsenal may already have their own Douglas Luiz in "special" teenager

The youngster has been tipped for great things in North London.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 2, 2024

Ultimately, a comparison to one of the all-time greats is always going to invite pressure, but with Mattinson's convictions combined with Argyle manager Ian Foster's claim that he possesses "huge potential" and his impressive youth record to back it up, Sousa looks set to achieve big things in the game – away from the Emirates.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ loan move for 18-year-old Noha Lemina last month was a sign that Gary O’Neil wants to focus on giving the youth a chance.

With the Wanderers seemingly guaranteed to stay in the Premier League for another year, but too far away from the European spots, the remainder of the season could provide the perfect opportunity to start drafting in some youngsters.

Playing games at the start of a player’s professional career is imperative to their success, but there is one particular youngster that has caught the eye thanks to just that.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the exciting prospect that the Wolves faithful are raving about and who could help ease the loss of Matheus Cunha.

Matheus Cunha’s season so far

There’s no two ways about it, Cunha has been absolutely immense this campaign, with the Brazilian living up to his £44m price tag.

The 24-year-old has scored nine Premier League goals this campaign while also acting as a source of creativity, providing six assists for his teammates.

His recent hatrick against Chelsea really cemented himself as one of the standout players of the season so far, with only six players having more goal contributions than the attacker.

However, Wolves’ recent 2-0 defeat to Brentford couldn’t have gone much worse, with the 20th-minute injury to Cunha being much more of a loss than the actual result. The former Atletico Madrid star is set to face a spell on the sidelines with a “significant hamstring injury.”

Nathan Fraser could be next up

Nathan Fraser is a name that all Wolves fans will know about, but he could just be the youngster to break through into the starting XI on a more regular basis, amid the news regarding Cunha's potentially lengthy absence.

The 18-year-old centre-forward already has two senior goals and an assist to his name after scoring against Brentford in the FA Cup and Blackpool in the EFL Cup.

But in recent weeks, the Irish star has made his Premier League debut against Manchester United and featured heavily against the Bees at the weekend.

With Wolves a goal down and lacking firepower due to the injury of Cunha, O’Neil swapped centre-back Toti Gomes for Fraser at halftime, giving the youngster 51 minutes to work his magic.

Minutes

51

Goals

0

Shots

0

Pass accuracy

80%

Key passes

1

Possesion lost

4

As you can see, Fraser was unable to put the ball in the back of the net or have an attempt at goal, but his confidence and quality were clear to see.

His one key pass, high pass accuracy, and possession lost tally of just four prove that he’s a technical player who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, while his two out of five duels won still indicate he has to adapt to the men’s game.

Nevertheless, it was a promising afternoon for the striker, who has been described as "dangerous" by Irish analyst Mark Broomy, and his future looks extremely promising.

Is it time for O’Neil to trust Fraser with a start in the absence of Cunha? It could well be…

After such a promising first season in charge, Erik ten Hag is now in a position where his role as Manchester United manager could be under threat.

The Red Devils only have the FA Cup left to win, and they face an uphill battle to achieve Champions League football, which would have been set as the minimum in August.

Indeed, their derby day defeat to Manchester City won't have helped their cause either but there are one or two positive stories coming from a topsy-turvy campaign at Old Trafford.

In truth, one of the only positive results to have come out of this season is the development of youth, with Alejandro Garnacho continuously improving and Kobbie Mainoo relishing his opportunity in the first team.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at which youngster has an extremely bright future at the club, even showing signs of being as good as Mainoo.

Kobbie Mainoo’s 23/24 campaign in numbers

18-year-old Mainoo has well and truly cemented himself as one of the most promising prospects in England, never mind Man United.

His quality and class were on display the second he stepped foot onto the field on his debut at Goodison Park against Everton, where he was handed the man of the match and an 8/10 ratingby the Manchester Evening News.

However, he’s only progressed even further since then, starting in all of United’s last 12 games prior to the midweek FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest and even becoming the match-winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers with a United goal-of-the-month move.

Mainoo now happens to be one of the first names on the team sheet, and the midfielder has become a player that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will want to build his midfield around.

However, there’s a 17-year-old player in the academy who is showing the quality to follow in Mainoo’s footsteps in the near future.

Man Utd may already have a bigger prospect than Amad in “enormous talent”

The youngster has been on fire for the U21’s.

ByTom Lever Mar 1, 2024 Finley McAllister could be next up

Finley McAllister is a name that not many Man United fans will have heard of before, but he has already been making waves in the academy.

The 17-year-old is a defensive midfielder who has played across multiple youth teams this campaign, as well as the England U17s. In addition to this, the local lad made his U18 debut at just 14 years old, a club record for the youngest player to feature for the team.

Fast forward to today, and McAllister is the captain of the U18s, playing 21 matches this season, and just like Mainoo, he’s proving to be a versatile player who can affect the game at both ends of the field.

U18 Premier League

14

2

4

UEFA Youth League

3

0

0

Premier League 2

2

0

0

EFL Trophy

1

0

0

FA Youth Cup

1

0

0

As you can see, the Salford-born prospect has added goals to his game while also acting as a creator, almost as a deep-lying playmaker who has the freedom to drift forward.

The 5 foot 9 ace has been the driving force behind the U18’s incredible run in the Premier League Cup, which has seen them reach the final. This week, the Red Devils defeated Crystal Palace’s U18’s 5-0 to make the final, with McAllister picking up a goal and an assist.

He’s a rather complete midfielder who has the personality and leadership that make him stand out above the rest, and he could just have a similar impact as Mainoo in the near future.

Derby County just about got over the line against Reading on Tuesday night in League One, surviving an almighty scare from the resilient Royals to win late on courtesy of a Conor Hourihane penalty.

The slim 2-1 victory sees Paul Warne's Rams continue to keep automatic promotion rivals Bolton Wanderers at arm's length by a solitary point, the Derby boss thankful for Dwight Gayle opening the scoring to set the tone before his ex-Aston Villa midfielder ended up securing the three points from the spot.

Sonny Bradley would have been even more appreciative of Gayle and Co after his poor performance at the back against Ruben Selles' men, the former Luton Town man at risk of dropping out of the starting lineup for Saturday's huge crunch clash with Bolton consequently.

Sonny Bradley's performance vs Reading in numbers

The usually rock-solid Derby number five had a torrid time of things by his standards against Reading, his off-day exposed further when you consider Curtis Nelson and Eiran Cashin went about their business as usual alongside their out-of-sorts teammate on the night.

Whilst Nelson and Cashin won 17 duels in total, Bradley would only win four of the eight duels that came his way at Pride Park which allowed the visitors from Berkshire to grow in confidence as the underdogs attempted to spoil the Derby mood.

They did just that when opposition striker Sam Smith scored three minutes after Gayle's opening strike to level the game, Smith somehow beating the towering frame of the 6 foot 5 Bradley to head past Joe Wildsmith to restore parity – a moment in the contest Bradley won't want to look back on, weakly allowing the Reading attacker to score.

Minutes played

71

Touches

28

Accurate passes

15/27 (56%)

Possession lost

12x

Duels won

4/8 (50%)

Accurate long balls

1/4

Looking at the table above, Bradley further underwhelmed when playing out from the back for the promotion-chasing Rams – the ex-Luton man amassing four fewer touches than shot-stopper Wildsmith on the night with 28, whilst also only completing 15 accurate passes.

In stark contrast, homegrown star Cashin next to Bradley in a centre-back trio would complete double that with 32.

Derbyshire Live journalist Leigh Curtis would still generously give Bradley a 6.5/10 rating in his post-match thoughts, but did state the usually dominant defender could have 'done better' for Reading's equaliser.

Warne was forgiving of his defending, however, stating post-match: "It was our intention was to take Sonny Bradley off early. He didn't feel well before the game and then he was sick. When he came off, you could see the state of him so I forgive him for not winning his header."

As a result, Warne could be tempted to shake things up significantly when Ian Evatt's Trotters come into town for an automatic promotion showdown this coming Saturday, particularly if Bradley is still unwell.

The player who could replace Sonny Bradley

It would be an unorthodox roll of the dice by the Derby boss, but he could well like what he saw by stand-in centre-back Kane Wilson enough late on against the Royals to start him against Bolton on the weekend.

Wilson is traditionally a full-back or midfielder, yet was given a run-out alongside Nelson and Cashin in the centre-back spots late on versus Reading and performed competently to ensure the Rams were victorious at full-time.

The former Bristol City man – who did play in a one-off contest in this spot for Forest Green before relocating to Ashton Gate – would better Bradley's duels won count with five tallied up from an impressive 19-minute cameo.

Other than that, Derby are stuck when it comes to personnel who can come in and do a job away from Bradley – Warne regimented in picking his usual suspects.

Bradley could still get the nod after this off-day therefore if he recovers his fitness, but with the matches coming thick and fast that are absolutely vital to Derby's automatic promotion dreams, the Rams boss could start to spring some selection surprises.

It's been a strange season for Manchester United this year, one that has seen them score a last-minute winner against bitter rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup but also lose 4-3 to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League.

Erik ten Hag's side have been far from their best for most of the season, although one of the bright sparks has been summer signing Rasmus Hojlund, who has been scoring for fun since the turn of the year and, while club captain Bruno Fernandes hasn't been at his best, he's still been reasonably productive.

The pair are undoubtedly some of the club's most important players, yet their combined wages still amount to less than that of a former player who left the team as an unequivocal flop.

Rasmus Hojlund and Bruno Fernandes' wages at Man United

Now, Hojlund only joined the team in August of last year following his £72m transfer, and given that he was only 20 at the time, isn't earning an outrageous sum of money – by football's standards, that is – at around £85k-per-week.

For that investment, the Red Devils have received 13 goals, and two assists in just 31 appearances, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every two games or so, which is an impressive level of output considering the pressure that was placed upon him and with it being his first season in English football.

Player

Højlund

Fernandes

Appearances

31

223

Goals

13

72

Assists

2

63

Goals Involvements per Match

0.48

0.60

Fernandes, on the other hand, has been with the club for over four years following his £67m move in January 2020. In that time, he's secured one extension, which took his £180k-per-week wages up to an eye-watering £240k.

That said, his performances for the Red Devils in those four years have been brilliant. He's scored 72 goals and provided 63 assists in 223 games, which works out to a quite remarkable goal involvement every 1.65 games.

So, while the pair take home an enormous £325k-per-week between them, they're probably worth it, which is something that cannot be said about a former flop who pocketed more than that on his own.

Alexis Sanchez's salary at Manchester United

Come on, who else could it have been?

Alexis Sanchez joined United from Premier League rivals Arsenal in January 2018 in a swap deal that cost around £30m and saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan go the other way.

The former Barcelona ace agreed to a four-and-a-half-year deal that saw him make an astounding £350k-per-week, which, had he seen out in Manchester, would have come to around £81.9m.

Unfortunately for the three-time European champions, this was a deal that did not work out in any way, shape or form. In the season and a half he actually played for the club, the Tocopilla-born ace scored just five goals and provided nine assists in 45 games.

Therefore, when adding the £30m worth of fees it took to sign him, the £6m worth of wages they covered when he joined Inter Milan on loan for the 2019/20 season and the 82 weeks they paid him £350k, the whole deal cost United a whopping £64.7m – talk about a bad deal.

Fees

£0m

Wages per week (Total)

£350k (£28.7m)

Wages Paid to Inter Milan

£6m

Total Cost

£64.7m

Appearances

45

Cost per Appearance

£1.4m

Goals

5

Cost per Goal

£12.9m

Assists

9

Cost per Assist

£7.1m

Goal Involvements

14

Cost per Goal Involvement

£4.6m

To put that into context, the "woeful" winger, as journalist John Cross described him, cost the Red Devils around £12.9m-per-goal, £7.1m-per-assist, or £1.4m-per-appearance.

Ultimately, signing Sanchez has to go down as one of the worst business decisions in the club's history.

Man Utd need to cash in on Mourinho signing who's worth less than Mainoo

The talented international has never looked entirely at home in Manchester.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 20, 2024

That said, the fact that neither Hojlund nor Fernandes are anywhere near the wage he was on is undoubtedly a sign that the club has learned its lesson.

Chelsea could get rid of striker Romelu Lukaku for good this summer in a swap deal for one club's "big" and "mobile" number nine, according to a report this week.

Boehly eyeing new centre-forward for Chelsea

Chairman Todd Boehly and the wider Blues recruitment team are reported to be eyeing a new striker for manager Mauricio Pochettino next season if the head coach does indeed stay on that long.

Chelsea sources coy over target as Todd Boehly puts club chiefs to work

He could be “one to watch”.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 19, 2024

The Blues have languished in mid-table for the majority of this season, with Pochettino under mounting pressure, and you could argue that a real factor in that has been Chelsea's lack of a 25-plus goal-per-season forward.

Nicolas Jackson has impressed in flashes but arguably isn't quite the finished article just yet, with the majority of Chelsea's goals coming courtesy of summer signing Cole Palmer.

Cole Palmer

11

Nicolas Jackson

9

Raheem Sterling

6

Mykhailo Mudryk

4

Enzo Fernandez

3

This has led to reports that Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is firmly on the Chelsea agenda heading into this summer, among other striking options, and the club have been urged to sign another centre-forward.

"How many times have Chelsea gone down that route of signing an experienced striker?" said pundit Pat Nevin to OCB Scores (via The Metro).

"You think of the certain strikers that Chelsea have signed in the latter stages of their career, the likes of Shevchenko, I could go through a number of them.

"If you are creating a number of chances which Chelsea are, maybe you just need someone who can put the ball in the net. Evan Ferguson would be the more obvious one to go for. If you’re going down the route of signing a young striker, Ferguson would be the one I would look at.

"Someone is needed upfront because when we’re asking Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s best player, to play upfront with his back to goal, of course he can do it but you’re putting your best player out of position."

One striker signing for Chelsea which certainly hasn't worked out is Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Roma and actually playing pretty well, which could give them hope in finding a permanent suitor for the Belgian this summer.

Roma themselves may well want to take that option after his impressive 23/24 season, and it is now suggested that a familiar striker could come the other way to sweeten a deal.

Suggestion Chelsea could sign Abraham in Lukaku swap deal

That is according to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, who are currently unwilling to pay the £37 million needed to sign Lukaku, on £325,000-a-week.

As a result, the idea of a discount, with Tammy Abraham returning to Chelsea, is "on the table". Indeed, a Chelsea swap deal for Abraham with Lukaku going the other way is apparently possible.

The Englishman has been out for the entirety of this season with an ACL injury, but has impressed in Serie A with Roma in prior seasons – netting 17 league goals over the 2021/2022 season. Abraham has also been called a "big" and "mobile" striker by pundit Kevin Campbell (Football Insider).

Despite making an astonishing 34 new signings since promotion back to the Premier League in 2022, Nottingham Forest have still failed to find a long-term replacement for a fan favourite.

Goalkeeper Brice Samba left the club after promotion, with the Frenchman wanting a return to his home country before signing for Lens and becoming a regular within the French national setup.

The loan signings of Dean Henderson and Keylor Navas temporarily filled the void for the Reds, with the duo both impressing at the City Ground, but not signing for the club permanently.

Forest instead signed Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos for a combined £18m, with neither of the pair failing to nail down the number one spot, with the club investing in Matz Sels during January to further bolster their goalkeeping ranks.

However, despite Sels being a solid addition, the club still need a long-term solution between the sticks with the club registering interest in another Brazilian.

Forest interested in signing another goalkeeper

The Reds have enjoyed success with multiple Brazilian players since promotion to England's top flight, with the likes of Murillo, Felipe, Renan Lodi and Danilo all impressing following their respective moves to the club.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Forest are interested in signing 24-year-old 'keeper Bento, who made his Brazil first-team debut during the 1-0 victory over England at Wembley on Saturday.

The report states that he's valued at around £15m, with Nuno Espirito Santo's side facing competition from the likes of Chelsea and Wolves for his signature.

The Athletico Paranaense shot-stopper has made 11 appearances for the Brazilian side, only conceding six times this campaign and keeping five clean sheets in the process.

Bento has made 148 appearances for his boyhood club, with the goalkeeper being a regular for Paranaense since his debut back in 2020 at the age of just 20.

He's more than capable with the ball at his feet, whilst being a brilliant shot-stopper as demonstrated in the 3-3 draw with Spain earlier this week.

Bento would solve Forest's biggest issue

Since Samba's departure in 2022, the club have failed to replace him, with the Reds settling for short-term options, as demonstrated by the loan signings of Henderson and Navas.

Sels has taken the number one spot under Nuno, but when comparing the two this season, it's clear that Bento would be a huge upgrade and certainly a great investment.

Goals against

1.1

1.3

Save percentage

78%

63%

Crosses stopped

7.4%

3.6%

Clean sheet percentage

32%

19%

When looking at the table above, it's clear the Brazilian is better in all areas, with Bento conceding fewer goals per game, whilst maintaining a brilliant save percentage and coming out to claim more crosses than Sels.

With Bento being just 24, he has the potential to get even better with the 'keeper still in the early stages of his professional career. His national team debut this month reflects his quality and potential, with the youngster taking his opportunity with both hands.

Given Forest's recent success with Brazilians, the club should work tirelessly to pursue a deal for the Paranaense shot-stopper, with Bento having the potential to be the Reds' long-term Samba replacement.

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