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Everton will be "absolutely delighted" with some exciting off-field news that has emerged, according to football finance expert and Sky Sports pundit Kieran Maguire.

Everton stadium updates

It's fair to say that it has been a taxing period at Goodison Park in recent years, with not much success to enjoy on or off the pitch and a number of Premier League relegation battles coming their way.

The Blues have got through various managers who have tried and failed to turn the tide, while off-field issues surrounding owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright have also led to plenty of unrest, and even protests outside the ground.

The hope is that things at Everton are gradually changing for the better, however, with Sean Dyche starting to pick up more positive results and a huge change arriving at the end of the season.

A move to Bramley Moore Dock is planned at that point, as the Blues move into a shiny new home on the River Mersey, heralding the start of an exciting new era at the club. It should generate more funds for signings and potentially attract better players, assuming Dyche's men remain in the top flight beyond the current campaign.

Bramley Moore Dock hosts Euro 2028 matches

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire claimed that the Blues could be boosted hugely when Everton's new stadium is used as one of the ten grounds at Euro 2028, as was confirmed last week:

"I think Everton are looking to make a big statement with their new stadium. Being part of the Euro 2028 stadium shortlist will help to deliver that statement – and what a statement. We’ve seen the same in Manchester in the sense that the Etihad is going to be used instead of Old Trafford despite it having a smaller capacity.

"So I think Everton will be absolutely delighted and it will give them an opportunity to showcase the new stadium. On the back of that, they will earn other contracts for concerts and alternative uses for the Bramley Moore Dock stadium."

This is such a big coup for Everton, and perfectly outlines the importance of their stadium move, in terms of the club's growth moving forward, rather than simply staying at Goodison and being left behind.

Wembley

England

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham

Etihad Stadium

Man City

Villa Park

Aston Villa

St James' Park

Newcastle

Bramley Moore Dock

Everton

Hampden Park

Scotland

Principality Stadium

Wales

Aviva Stadium

Republic of Ireland

Casement Park

Northern Ireland

The fact that the new ground has even been picked ahead of Anfield speaks volumes, and is no doubt something that will aid local bragging rights with Liverpool supporters. As Maguire alludes to, the Blues could also become a venue for various other forms of entertainment, as the likes of Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium currently are, hosting music concernts, NFL matches and boxing events

This is all in the future for now, though, and it is essential that Everton's Premier League status is preserved this season, with relegation to the Championship having the potential to hold them back horribly.

The current signs are arguably promising, even though there have clearly been poor results so far in 2023/24, and fans should feel buoyed by one of football's biggest tournaments being featured in their new home in five years' time.

Newcastle United will travel to Bramall Lane on Sunday to face Sheffield United in the Premier League before welcoming Burnley to Tyneside the following weekend.

Forthcoming fixtures against newly-promoted opposition; a chance – with victory clinched against Brentford last time out – to put together a three-match winning streak to fully restore the feel-good factor on Tyneside after a challenging start to the campaign that left Eddie Howe's side nursing three successive defeats after a 5-1 win over Aston Villa hinted at such promise.

That's not to say the Magpies are in the mud, far from it. A minor blip does not erase the remarkable feats of the past 18 months or so, with Howe lifting the club away from relegation danger and now fighting for silver-laden success, having defied expectations with a top-four finish last term, despite the lucrative PIF club takeover.

AC Milan presented United with their first continental test of the season, with the Premier League outfit emerging from the San Siro with a point to start off their group phase.

It was an impressive result, all things considered, but the performance itself left little to be admired from an attacking standpoint, with £63m club-record signing Alexander Isak flattering to deceive.

How did Alexander Isak play against AC Milan?

Newcastle, frankly, got battered for large portions of the affair in Italy earlier this week. Despite demonstrating their quality on the ball and definitely proving to be the more energetic and high-octane team, Milan unleashed 25 shots on Nick Pope's goal compared to just six strikes from Howe's men.

Isak led the line for all of 89 minutes but was not among those to test Mike Maignan between the sticks, nullified by a resolute and solid home defence, who left him "knackered" by the time of his withdrawal, according to presenter Kev Lawson.

Isak game vs AC Milan by numbers

Statistic (Sofascore)

Match score

6.5

Goals

0

Assists

0

Total shots taken

0

Key passes

1

Pass completion

89% (17/19)

Dribble success rate

20% (1/5)

Duels won

42% (5/12)

As clearly delineated by the 24-year-old's listed metrics on the night, he endured a forgettable affair and found very little success, effectively marshalled.

While he did drop deep and look to influence the play from the centre of the pitch, he failed to do anything of note with his possession – which is why his pass success rate, which looks impressive on face value, actually doesn't work in his favour given that he failed to carry the ball into positive openings and didn't strike on goal himself.

Should Eddie Howe start Alexander Isak?

Isak was impressive last season and tantalised a future of prolific success on Tyneside, and that's despite suffering an injury-hit campaign.

Indeed, the £120k-per-week phenom posted ten goals and two assists in the Premier League despite only starting 17 times, heralded for his "complete" attacking abilities by former Willem II coach Adrie Koster.

Blighted by issues that sidelined him for 16 matches, the 6 foot 3 machine looks to have found his full fitness this season, and while he scored twice on the opening day of the term, against Unai Emery's Villa, he has yet to net again, starting four times since.

Undoubtedly, the goals will come sooner rather than later, but it might be wise for Howe to remove him from the starting line-up and offer someone else a chance to impress.

The same could be said for £55m summer signing Sandro Tonali, with the Italian midfielder – who was signed from AC Milan – "struggling to impact" the contest against his former side in the Champions League, according to Craig Hope.

A talented playmaker – who ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for assists per 90 – he has not quite hit the ground running despite scoring on his debut, and might also receive a relegation to the bench in the short-term.

Who could replace Alexander Isak?

Clearly, if Isak doesn't start as Newcastle's focal point up top then there is only one man tailor-made to lead the line and do so with a flourish.

Callum Wilson has been superb since joining Newcastle from Bournemouth for £20m in the summer of 2020, scoring 41 goals and supplying ten assists from just 81 matches since his arrival.

Last season, he scored no less than 18 goals from just 21 starting appearances in the Premier League, also registering five assists and earning praise for his "clinical edge" by editor Andrew Musgrove.

And after bagging three times in the Premier League already this term – despite only starting the recent win over Brentford, where his penalty proved decisive – the 31-year-old does indeed appear to have that sharpness to propel the Toon back into form.

As per FBref, Wilson – who just recently signed a contract extension with the St. James' Park side – ranks among the top 6% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 9% for assists per 90.

When comparing that with Isak, who ranks among the top 25% of forwards for goals and the bottom 21% for assists per 90, it's clear to see who offers the more clinical attacking edge.

Of course, the Swede is far more dynamic and boasts a higher ceiling, not just because of his youth but the range of his talents – also ranking among the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90.

But given that Wilson has yet to receive successive starts in the Premier League this season and boasts an impressive record against both Burnley and the Blades – with eight goals and an assist from 16 matches against the two teams combined – Howe might be wise to offer him a shot as the star man up front.

Isak might be a formidable force but he has not quite clicked into gear this season, and with Wilson possessing that Midas touch in attack under Howe's stewardship, he must be provided with a starting berth going forward.

Glasgow Rangers secured just their second Europa League victory of the season as they overcame Sparta Prague 2-1 at Ibrox on Thursday evening.

The turnaround under Philippe Clement has been incredible, with the Belgian winning five of his opening six matches in charge of the Light Blues, conceding just three goals in the process.

Everything seems to be clicking at exactly the right time and with another two European ties to come along with a League Cup final before Christmas, the 49-year-old will be aiming for success before 2024.

The positive start is an indication of the direction Clement wants to take the team, and by asserting his tactical ideologies onto the senior squad already, a campaign that looked set to be disastrous could well be salvaged.

The Belgian is having to work with a team that he inherited from Michael Beale and, despite offering a clean slate to everyone in the squad, there could be some activity in the upcoming January transfer window.

A few players may be shipped out, while it looks as though the former Club Brugge boss is already identifying potential targets in order to bolster his team ahead of the second half of the season.

Rangers January transfer news

Heading towards the winter window, the rumour mill begins to circle and, according to 90min, Rangers have shown interest in Everton defender Ben Godfrey.

They will face some competition, however, as Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also seemingly keen on securing a move for the centre-back.

Under Sean Dyche this season, Godfrey has dropped way down the pecking order and has featured for a grand total of just one minute in the league, signifying that his future lies away from Goodison Park.

With this in mind, Clement could potentially make a swoop for the player and, with his contract expiring in 2025, Everton may not stand in his way should a club come in for him in the winter.

The Gers signed just one centre-back in the summer transfer window – Leon Balogun – and he only signed a one-year deal, with Michael Beale missing out on a few targets in the position.

Godfrey could be an ideal acquisition for the club as Clement could restore his confidence by giving him regular game time north of the border, while his talents would allow him to thrive in Scotland.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the Light Blues have signed a player from England who had a bright future, yet their form had taken a dip, as Todd Cantwell has become an integral player in the Ibrox side.

Godfrey could have a similar sort of impact to that of Cantwell and this could give the Gers a monumental boost heading into the final few months of the season.

Todd Cantwell’s statistics since he joined Rangers

Once touted as a player who was worth £40m just over two years ago during his spell with Norwich City, Cantwell’s form was underwhelming during the first half of the 2022/23 season.

This was a talent who had starred in two promotion campaigns and had scored six Premier League goals, yet he had made only ten starts for the East Anglian side before the transfer window opened in January.

Beale came to the rescue and secured his signature for just £1.5m, and it is beginning to look like one of the best pieces of business the club has done in years.

The Englishman registered 11 goal contributions – six goals and five assists – across just 20 games for the Glasgow side in the second half of last season and gave them some added attacking dynamism.

While he began the current season slowly, not helped by Beale’s tactics and an injury picked up against Celtic, Cantwell scored his first goal of the season against Sparta Prague in midweek, and it looks as though he is shining under the Belgian.

If the playmaker can displace Sam Lammers and return to his favoured number ten role, the next few months could be profitable for the former Norwich starlet.

Godfrey is an ex-teammate of Cantwell’s and his return to prominence could give the current Everton defender something to think about regarding his next career move, as he could become a key player at Rangers.

Ben Godfrey’s career statistics

The 25-year-old made 78 appearances for Norwich before signing for the Toffees in a £20m deal in October 2020 and he made a solid impression during his maiden season on Merseyside.

Godfrey made 36 appearances across all competitions and he ranked sixth out of the whole squad for accurate passes per game in the Premier League (33.3), along with ranking in the top five for clearances (3.5) and interceptions (1.1) per game, showcasing his growing talent and maturity, while it looked like Everton had a wonderful talent who could become a mainstay in their defence over the years.

79

0

78

5

51

1

15

1

He was even dubbed as a “revelation” by former professional boxer and Everton supporter Tony Bellew, yet just when things were looking rosy at the club, his appearances became less frequent.

Indeed, over the subsequent two seasons, Godfrey made 27 and then just 15 appearances under a succession of managers, with the low point coming during the current term.

His one start came during the EFL Cup clash against Doncaster Rovers as Dyche prefers the likes of James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Jarrad Branthwaite to play at the heart of the defence.

This opens the door for Rangers, who could rescue the 6 foot gem from what has been a year to forget and give him a platform to showcase his talents.

It has worked extraordinarily well for Cantwell since joining the Gers from Norwich and Godfrey could follow in his footsteps, putting a poor spell behind him in England in order to shine north of the border while challenging for domestic trophies.

Clement still has plenty of time to work out potential transfer targets, but he will be keen on bringing another one or two fresh faces to the club if he aims to end Celtic’s recent domestic hegemony.

It is an exciting time to be a supporter of the Light Blues, especially with the 49-year-old bringing the feel-good factor back to Ibrox and if he can sign someone like Godfrey in the coming months, it will do his reputation no harm at all.

Liverpool have enjoyed a strong start to the 2023/24 campaign as they remain in the race for the title alongside the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal after 13 matches.

The Reds are only two points off the top of the table and have lost once in their opening 13 Premier League games, to go along with eight wins and four draws.

Jurgen Klopp has reacted brilliantly to the disappointment of missing out on a top four finish, which resulted in no Champions League football this season, last term and his side are on course to challenge for silverware this time around.

Mohamed Salah has been in top form with a fantastic return of ten goals and five assists in 13 appearances for the Reds, whilst none of his teammates have managed more than four goals or four assists in the top-flight.

Whilst they have also played out wide, Liverpool's two centre-forward options – Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota – have combined for eight goals in 24 league matches.

Klopp's main goal threat comes from the right wing with Salah and he does not have a consistent number nine who he can rely upon to find the back of the net on a regular basis, which was also the case last season as Nunez plundered nine league goals.

That could change in the future, though, as the Merseyside-based outfit are reportedly interested in a swoop for a prolific teen striker…

Liverpool transfer news – Francesco Camarda

According to 90min, Liverpool are one of a number of clubs interested in signing 15-year-old AC Milan centre-forward Francesco Camarda.

The report claims that Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain are all keen on a deal for the teenage sensation.

It states that the Reds, alongside Premier League rivals City and Chelsea, have made contact with the player's family as they look to convince him to ditch Italy and secure a move to English football to continue his development.

He is not eligible to sign a professional contract with Milan until his 16th birthday in March and this means that clubs have the opportunity to snap him up before then.

However, 90min do add that it is currently likely that Camarda will opt to commit his future to his current side and sign a deal with the Italian giants, who are still concerned about the interest in his services.

This means that it could be difficult for Liverpool to persuade the 15-year-old and his family to make the decision to uproot and move to the Premier League side.

If they are able to do so, though, then the teenage marksman could be a sensational addition to Klopp's squad for the future as he appears to be an outstanding young talent with the potential to develop into the club's next version of Luis Suarez.

Luis Suarez's Liverpool goal record

The Uruguay international, who currently plays for Gremio in Brazil, enjoyed a goal-laden spell in England after his move from Dutch giants Ajax at the start of 2011.

He went on to plunder 82 goals and 46 assists in 133 appearances for the club in all competitions as he proved himself to be a reliable attacking threat for Brendan Rodgers.

Suarez really hit his stride in a Liverpool shirt during the 2012/13 campaign as the talented finisher produced an eye-catching 23 goals and five assists in 33 Premier League matches.

His best season in England, though, came during the following season. The outstanding number nine fired in a sensational 31 goals and assisted 12 for his teammates in 33 top-flight appearances – 43 goal contributions in total.

He completed 2.8 dribbles and made 2.7 key passes per game that term as the wonderful technician excited supporters with his terrific forward play, as the gem was able to beat opposition players, score goals, create chances, and assist his fellow attackers on a regular basis.

Liverpool's current centre-forward options are yet to prove themselves to be reliable outlets in the same way that Suarez was for the club in the past but Camarda is a young talent who has the potential to develop into that calibre of marksman.

Of course, this means that the Reds would be bringing in someone who is not likely to hit the ground running as he is still a youth team player who has not proven himself at first-team level.

That should not put them off swooping for his services, though, as the Milan teenager could be a terrific investment who goes on to be a huge success.

The statistics that show why Camarda could be Suarez 2.0

The 15-year-old ace has already broken a record at senior level for the Italian giants as he became the youngest player in Serie A history with an appearance against Fiorentina at the age of 15 years, 8 months and 15 days on Saturday.

They trusted him to make his debut before even being old enough to put pen to paper on a professional contract with the club and the teenager played 15 minutes of the 1-0 win for Milan.

As you would expect at the age of 15, Camarda struggled and lost all four of his duels whilst he also failed to complete his one attempted dribble in those 15 minutes. It was more about the experience for the young striker and the confidence that could come from being trusted at that age.

He has been a prolific scorer at youth level for Milan and looks to be a sensational prospect who could develop into being a lethal number nine.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed him as an "unbelievable" talent and, as of the 7th of November, relayed the striker's return of 11 goals in 17 matches at U17 and U19 level combined this season.

90min claimed that the 15-year-old ace has already scored over 400 goals at academy level for the Italian side, despite still having over four years of his teenage years left, and this highlights his remarkable scoring talent.

Camarda has racked up six goals and one assist in four appearances across the Coppa Primavera and UEFA Youth League so far this term, which speaks to his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

His incredible academy goalscoring record, with over 400 strikes, his goal return this season, and his emergence at first-team level at the age of 15 all suggest that he is a supremely talented young number nine with the potential to be a star.

Therefore, Liverpool could unearth their next Suarez and reliable goalscoring centre-forward – for the future – by winning the race to land the record-breaker's signature before March and helping him to develop and hone his skills as an evidently prolific striker.

Leeds United will hope 2024 is the year the Whites return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, triumphantly re-entering the top flight under the expert guidance of Daniel Farke after a disastrous relegation had killed the feel-good mood around Elland Road.

Farke could well need to add positive reinforcements to his squad this transfer window to aid this promotion push, adding in fresh blood to complement the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Daniel James already firing on all cylinders in West Yorkshire.

Farke could even boldly go back in for this failed summer buy this month, with former Leeds target Nadiem Amiri itching for a move away from Bayer Leverkusen now.

Leeds transfer latest – Amiri pursuit

Leeds felt sick to their stomach when Amiri refused to join the Whites late on in the summer transfer window, the deal all but done before the German attacking midfielder spectacularly pulled the plug last second.

The Championship promotion hopefuls could well go back in for the Leverkusen man this month despite this humiliating rejection however, TEAMtalk reporting in November that a deal could be back on with Amiri pushing for a move away from his current Bundesliga club after limited game time this season.

Leeds wouldn't be alone in their pursuit however, with German football website BILD further adding fuel to the fire by stating that French clubs Olympique Marseille and Olympique Lyon are also interested in signing the unsettled midfielder in an article last month.

The Whites will hope that potentially signing Amiri – who they could land at a bargain £5m price-tag – can supercharge Georginio Rutter's goal numbers, the Frenchman taking a back-seat with his assist output for the new 5 foot 11 arrival to shine instead.

Amiri's style of play

Frozen out of Xabi Alonso's plans this season – the ex-Liverpool player turned successful Leverkusen boss starting the 27-year-old in zero games this season in the league – Farke could well see something in Amiri that he can reignite on his arrival to Elland Road.

In his prime for the current top-flight leaders in Germany, Amiri was a dangerous attacking midfield prospect to contain – notching up 15 assists across his first two seasons at the BayArena, before experiencing a dip in form.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig even described the nimble midfielder as "superb" when Amiri starred for the German U21s back in 2019, further praising the now 27-year-old's "versatility" with Amiri capable of playing as a more traditional central midfielder too if needed.

Skilful and silky at his best for the German giants, the fringe figure of Amiri now did manage to pick up an assist in DFB-Pokal action recently when given a rare start – helping Leverkusen convincingly beat SV Sandhausen 5-2 at the start of November.

Amiri could well give Joel Piroe healthy competition if the 27-year-old did finally put pen to paper on a Championship move, the former Swansea star fading in and out of games in the last few weeks with zero successful dribble attempts managed away at West Brom to close out 2023 for Leeds.

Whereas, his slick counterpart excels in carrying the ball forward with intricate deftness – Amiri completing 2.78 progressive carries per 90 minutes over the last year according to FBRef, with 1.71 successful take-ons another stellar statistic sticking out.

Amiri could well be the creative maverick Leeds need in that attacking midfield spot to begin catching teams out more regularly, instead of settling for goal-shy performances seen in back-to-back 1-0 defeats on the road before a big win against Birmingham City was secured.

Rutter could also explode into life in front of goal and begin to add more strikes to his slim season tally of four goals as a direct consequence of this move, knowing he doesn't have to do the heavy lifting anymore and constantly be a focal point to create openings for other teammates.

Eddie Howe will want his Newcastle United side to click back into gear to respond to recent poor performances in the Premier League against Sunderland, getting vocal dissenters on Tyneside back on side with a comprehensive win in the Tyne-Wear Derby.

It won't be a walk in the park for the Magpies hopping over to enemy soil in Wearside however, Michael Beale's hosts gunning for promotion in the Championship away from the distraction of the FA Cup.

Howe will look to change things up for the prospect of facing off against a buoyed on home side in such a big clash, potentially making four changes to the lineup that lost 4-2 to Liverpool last time out in top-flight action…

1 GK – Martin Dubravka

Martin Dubravka will remain in-between the sticks for the Tyne-Wear face-off, the Slovakian shot-stopper pulling off a remarkable ten saves at Anfield – as per Sofascore – to ensure Newcastle weren't further embarrassed in the 4-2 loss.

2 RB – Valentino Livramento

With Eddie Howe stating that Kieran Trippier is touch and go in the buildup to the Sunderland showdown, the Magpies boss will more than likely keep faith in his stand-in right-back Valentino Livramento for tomorrow's Cup tie.

The 21-year-old has competently filled in to date with Tripper sidelined, making three interceptions in total versus Fulham in mid-December to help his team comfortably win 3-0.

3 CB – Fabian Schar

Worrying Newcastle fans when he limped off in the Fulham win owing to a hamstring issue, the Magpies faithful will have breathed a collective sigh of relief that Schar's injury wasn't a long-term one.

Instead, the Swiss titan has remained in the first team and continues to battle valiantly – accurate with seven of his nine long balls in Newcastle's 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the tail-end of December, wanting to make things constantly happen even with the game getting away from Howe's men.

4 CB – Jamaal Lascelles

The first change could see Sven Botman rested for the high-pressure occasion of Sunderland away, Botman playing four matches on the trot without a breather after returning from a lengthy injury layover.

Jamaal Lascelles will be trusted to slot back into the side and partner Schar most likely, the 30-year-old centre-back contributing to five Newcastle clean sheets when playing this campaign.

5 LB – Lewis Hall

Howe could also opt to start Lewis Hall over Dan Burn at the left-back spot, Hall offering Newcastle more exuberance and energy as a youthful option away from a tired and lethargic Burn.

The latter man has also been poor in recent contests for the Toon – only winning six of his 13 duels last match versus the Reds – and so it could be time to give Hall another opportunity.

6 CM – Lewis Miley

Howe isn't afraid to start his youngsters and push them straight into the deep end whatsoever, with 17-year-old Lewis Miley having to feature regularly for Newcastle in the Premier League owing to injuries piling up at St James' Park.

The teenage midfielder hasn't let any big occasion completely throw him off just yet, creating two big chances when pulling on a Toon strip so far this campaign and even scoring in the Fulham win to the joy of those watching on in Tyneside.

7 CM – Joelinton

The third change from the Liverpool defeat could see Bruno Guimaraes boldly axed to make way for Joelinton to come back in centrally, the Brazilian number 39 way off the pace against the Reds in a second-rate showing.

Losing possession 19 times in total to routinely hand Liverpool the ball back, Guimaraes' creativity was also stunted in the 4-2 defeat with zero shots on Alisson's goal registered and zero key passes managed.

It could well be the time therefore for the former Lyon man to be dropped to freshen up proceedings, Joelinton the sort of figure too who will be giddy to get one over on Sunderland as a tenacious and lively figure adored by the masses at St James' Park when firing on all cylinders.

8 CM – Sean Longstaff

The final central midfield spot will be occupied by Sean Longstaff, the 26-year-old a bright spark away at Liverpool where others failed to get going.

Longstaff would get an assist for his efforts come full-time, delivering a corner-kick into the perfect area late on for Botman to power home a header, and will hope he can contribute again versus Sunderland but with Newcastle coming out as victors instead of losers.

9 RW – Miguel Almiron

The fourth and final switch in personnel could see Miguel Almiron come into the front three for the tantalising game against the Black Cats, with Joelinton moving back to the middle of the park with this potential change.

Almiron has shown flashes this campaign of his immense quality – helping himself to three goals in the league and one assist – but the Paraguayan attacker needs to up his game soon to reach the heights of his previous goalscoring numbers he's managed with the Toon.

At the peak of his powers last season, Almiron managed to bag 11 goals in total with football journalist Josh Bunting labelling the former Atlanta United man as "sensational" when on-song for the Magpies previously.

Newcastle's £60k-per-week man would want nothing more than to endear himself again to the hardened Magpies fanbase with a strike against the Black Cats tomorrow, the nimble forward electric on his day.

10 ST – Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak will also want to strike fear into the Sunderland defence tomorrow with another gung-ho display slaloming forward, the Swedish sharp-shooter finding the back of the net in the last two games in the Premier League prior to this Cup clash.

Isak scoring three games on the trot would surely silence the home fans packed into the Stadium of Light, helping Howe's Magpies pick up a coveted win in the Tyne-Wear Derby.

Aston Villa have found phenomenal form in 2023 under Unai Emery. The wins have arrived, and, therefore, so has a place in the Europa Conference League, leading to an exceptional summer landing players like Moussa Diaby and Nicolo Zaniolo. It has been a near-flawless tenure for Emery, but success is not without its negatives in football, and when the transfer window swings open, the Midlands club may find that out the hard way.

Whilst players continue to reach new heights at Aston Villa, other clubs, be it in the rest of Europe or in the Premier League, will begin to come calling, with one top manager already setting his sights on one particular star player.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans did well to not only recruit the right players during the summer, but also keep hold of those who earned a place in Europe in the first place. The likes of Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins stayed put, rightly convinced that Emery's project is the place to be. They may not be so lucky when the January transfer window opens, however, given the latest Douglas Luiz transfer news.

According to reports in Spain, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has never been so interested in Luiz, and believes that the addition of the Brazilian would strengthen his squad in January. It won't be an easy deal, and Villa are in a strong position with Luiz's contract not expiring until 2026, but the Villans will be on high-alert.

From Emery's perspective, he will surely be desperate to keep hold of his defensive midfielder, who would be hard to replace mid-way through the campaign, with fixtures coming thick and fast, including a potential European knockout tie. The winter window could certainly test the resolve of the star players currently plying their trade at Villa Park.

Douglas Luiz's stats

It's been another impressive season when it comes to Luiz's stats. The midfielder has played a vital part, helping Villa get off to a strong start, leaving them fifth in the table and just four points adrift of table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur. Compared to current Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, Luiz stands out even more, as per FBref.

Player

Progressive Carries

Progressive Passes

Tackles Won

Blocks

Interceptions

Douglas Luiz

13

46

13

10

4

Rodrigo De Paul

9

26

6

4

0

The former Manchester City man has earned plenty of praise during his time at Villa, too, including from Emery, who said, via The Birmingham Mail: “His improvement is to be strong in the structure I am creating. Offensively, strong structure trying to occupy good spaces, trying to take passion to get the ball to them.

"Don’t lose this structure offensively then, when we have to react defensively as well, he’s in very good positions to start pressing against them. Of course, sometimes we can have more possession of the ball, sometimes less.

“The idea is to try and keep ball possession for a long time. If we are not doing it, we have to keep our structure defensively strong. We’re being very competitive starting in our structure. Away from home we’re showing it. At home, there’s not the balance I want.”

Chelsea’s Champions League push continues.

On Sunday, the Blues claimed a vital 3-1 victory over the newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge; Enzo Fernández broke the deadlock inside three minutes, a freak own goal doubled their advantage, before Cole Palmer ended his goal draught by converting a stoppage time penalty.

Having now won three Premier League games on the spin, Enzo Maresca’s side remain fifth, three points clear of both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, desperately hoping to cling onto the final Champions League position.

Regardless of whether they remain in the top five places or not, Chelsea are set to spend big this summer, because that’s simply become their modus operandi under Todd Boehly’s ownership, so could they get their hands on a new centre-forward?

Chelsea seeking to sign a new striker

Some notable names have been linked with a move to the Bridge this summer with the likes of Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins reportedly on their radar.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Now, according to a report by journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea are “keeping close tabs” on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with Arsenal and Liverpool both described as ‘huge admirers’.

Sesko’s team are ‘in active talks’ with those three clubs as the German side aim to rake in a reported £70m for his signature.

It looked as though the Slovenian would be on the move last summer but signed a new contract in Leipzig, just as Chelsea and Arsenal were ‘ready to trigger’ his then £55m release clause, according to Ed Aarons of the Guardian.

Now though, Sesko appears to be ready to move on from the Bundesliga, so where would he fit in at Stamford Bridge?

Why Sesko would be an upgrade on Nkunku

As reported by Sky Sports Deutschland this weekend, Christopher Nkunku ‘has decided to leave Chelsea’ at the end of the season, with Fabrizio Romano adding that the Frenchman is ‘keen’ to depart the club.

Nkunku was not even a substitute for Sunday’s win over Liverpool, nor last Thursday’s victory over Djurgården in Stockholm, with manager Maresca later confirming he will be sidelined for a fortnight due to a “small problem”.

The 27-year-old, who himself arrived from RB Leipzig for £52m two summers ago, has never managed to establish himself as a key figure in West London, as the table below outlines.

Appearances

56

Minutes

2,555

Starts

24

PL appearances

38

PL starts

11

Matches missed injured

36

Matches an unused sub

7

Apps 15 minutes or less

15

Goals

17

PL goals

6

UECL goals

7

Assists

5

As the table emphasises, the French forward has never been a regular in Chelsea’s starting lineups, especially in the league.

He has scored 14 goals this season, but seven of these have come in the Conference League, while he was also on target against Morecambe in the FA Cup, having bagged a hat-trick against Barrow in the EFL Cup.

So, with bearing in mind he also played/plays for Leipzig, would Sesko avoid a similar fate?

Well, all available evidence suggests that, whoever gets their hands on the striker this summer, will have secured the services of an exceptional striker.

Analyst Ben Mattinson believes he possesses “electric pace”, impressed by his “two-footed ball-striking” ability, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout exclaims that he is “a superb centre-forward in the making”.

So, let’s take a look at the powerful forward’s Bundesliga statistics this season.

Goals

13

8th

35th

Assists

5

28th

117th

Shots

65

11th

162nd

Shots on target

29

11th

46th

Goals – xG

+3

11th

43rd

While his statistics may not leap off the page, Sesko’s screamer against Bayern Munich on Saturday took his tally to 21 for the season across all competitions, four of which came in the Champions League, to go with the 18 he managed last time round.

He also scored five times in this year’s UEFA Nations League, a tally only bettered by Viktor Gyökeres​​​​​​​, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo and Razvan Marin; pretty eclectic company to keep.

Alex Barker of Breaking the Lines believes the Slovenian striker to be a ‘generational’ talent, while Raphael Honigstein and Mark Carey of the Athletic forecast that he’ll continue to develop and get better, hence why Soham Mukherjee of Goal labels him ‘one of the hottest names in the European transfer market’.

Thus, Sesko would surely be an excellent signing for Chelsea, representing a clear upgrade on the wantaway Nkunku.

Best signing since Palmer: Chelsea could land a £60m Gyokeres alternative

Chelsea should sign a “clinical” Premier League striker instead of Viktor Gyökeres

ByBen Gray May 4, 2025

Over the years, Chelsea have unearthed a long list of stars from their academy who have gone on to establish themselves in the first-team picture.

It is a testament to the excellent facilities at Cobham that enable the Blues to continuously streamline talent into the senior setup year after year.

It is also remarkable that current first-team stars Levi Colwill, Reece James and Conor Gallagher don't scratch the surface of the obscene amount of quality that started crafting their legacy at Stamford Bridge.

Of course, the most famed world-beating talent known for beginning their careers in the underage groups at Chelsea are Jamal Musiala and Declan Rice; two players who would have perhaps helped the Premier League giants dominate for over a decade.

Those two are the biggest examples of ones that got away and while the Blues are prolific at unearthing more homegrown talent, they are also astute at poaching talent from lower league clubs in England – as has been the case with current academy sensation, Leo Castledine.

Leo Castledine's statistics at youth level

Chelsea poached the promising playmaker from AFC Wimbledon in 2020 after scouring the football league for the next potential star in the making.

'An attacking midfield player who has the ability to play box-to-box, he likes to create and score goals and is very tenacious in the tackle', as described by Chelsea's official website, Castledine's exceptional all-round attributes have seen him make a rapid rise through the underage groups at Stamford Bridge.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the 18-year-old showcased his versatility by operating in a number of positions, including as a deep-lying player, an attack-minded midfielder and even as a centre-back.

It is therefore impressive that the youngster managed 11 goals and two assists in 27 appearances after making the jump to under-21 level last term.

Dubbed a "huge talent" by journalist Felix Johnston, the teenager has continued making huge strides towards a first-team call-up this term by posting sensational numbers in Premier League 2.

In eight appearances, Castledine has chalked up an impressive four goals and six assists, including a glut of goals in victories over Blackburn Rovers and Fulham, with Mauricio Pochettino rewarding that form with a place on the bench in their 2-0 victory over Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

The above statistics also illuminate his prominence even further knowing he's currently supplying goals at a faster rate than first-team star Cole Palmer.

Cole Palmer's statistics this season

The 21-year-old starlet, who arrived from Manchester City in the summer, has become instrumental to the Blues creativity in the final third this term, much like Castledine.

With three goals and two assists in the Premier League, which means he's tied on five goal contributions with Nicolas Jackson, the Englishman has seamlessly slotted into various roles in Pochettino's system, namely cutting in from the right or floating in behind the Senegalese hitman.

The Argentine emboldened the above statement by offering huge adulation towards the youngster, praising him for how he's quickly adapted to life at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "He showed a great performance with character and personality,

"We are happy with the way he has arrived. He arrived on the last day of the transfer window but is playing like he’s been here ten years, showing his character and personality."

Palmer's close control and willingness to receive the ball in tight spaces have delighted the masses since he arrived at the club, with the youngster showing Pep Guardiola what he's missing out on.

Indeed, the £75k per-week whiz has now remarkably played more Premier League minutes for Chelsea than he did for Man City and while that's an impressive statistic on its own, the fact Castledine is outscoring such a talent is a testament to his boundless potential that Pochettino must unlock sooner rather than later.

Brazil hosted their greatest footballing rivals, Argentina, on Tuesday night in a qualifying game for the next World Cup. And it was a Superclasico which did not disappoint with the current World Cup-holders inflicting Brazil's first-ever defeat at home in the World Cup Qualifiers.

The three points went the way of the visiting team thanks to a second-half goal from defender Nicolas Otamendi, who headed home a corner from Tottenham Hotspur's Giovani Lo Celso. Although the goals were not exactly flowing at the Maracana, it was a game which was not short of incidents both on the pitch and in the stands. Football FanCast have gathered some of the talking points which may not make the standard highlights reels…

Gabriel Martinelli on fire for Brazil

The Arsenal winger has been in fine form in the early stages of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign and he has certainly carried that into the international break. Just last week, Gabriel Martinelli opened his account for his nation in their dramatic game against Colombia.

At the age of just 22-years-old, Martinelli has racked up nine appearances for his country but the goal last week was the first time he has been able to find the back of the net. And he was clearly still brimming with confidence in their clash with Argentina as he took on two players down the line, including Tottenham's Cristian Romero.

Newcastle's Joelinton shown red card

It has been a turbulent start to the campaign for Newcastle United's Joelinton who was forced to sit out a number of games through injury earlier in the campaign. However, he still received a call-up to the national squad for the November international break.

He did start the game against Argentina on the bench but replaced Arsenal's Gabriel in the second-half. And his appearance proved to be nothing more than a disaster as nine minutes following his introduction, he was shown a straight red card…

Romero denies Martinelli with stunning clearance

Tottenham's Romero will be missing for the next couple of games in the Premier League through suspension, but he was certainly a busy man on Tuesday night. The current World Cup-holders were able to keep a clean sheet against their arch rivals and the Spurs defender can be handed a lot of the credit for his heroics at the back.

One of the more noteworthy moments from the centre-back was his clearance off the line from a Martinelli shot, which had beaten Emi Martinez.

Julian Alvarez amused by Raphinha fail

Raphinha's future at Barcelona is under growing speculation with some reports suggesting a potential return to the Premier League could be on the cards for the Brazilian. The former Leeds United winger's stock will not have been helped on Tuesday night when he attempted to beat Julian Alvarez with an 'elastico', which seriously backfired with the ball going out of play.

To rub salt into the wound, the Manchester City forward was unable to hold back his amusement at Raphinha's failed skill move and was seen covering his own laughter as his side won the throw in.

Romero kicks out at Jesus

Although Romero put in an impressive defensive display, it would not be a true Cristian Romero showing without a bit of controversy. Just a matter of weeks after being shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Enzo Fernandez in the Premier League, he was spotted leaving a little bit in on Jesus on Tuesday.

Granted, the Arsenal forward made the most of it – potentially in hope of seeing Romero booked or worse – but it has to be said the Spurs defender did manage to catch the striker with his boot.

Martinez gets involved

It wasn't just on the pitch where there was a heated battle, as the Brazilian police were seen clashing with a section of the Argentina fans in the stands. And it was quickly apparent that the players were not willing to sit back and watch it unfold, with Aston Villa's Emi Martinez spotted jumping and attempting to prise a policeman's baton away from him.

The scenes in the stands did not make for pleasant viewing, but Martinez tried to do his best before being ushered away by stewards.