All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

European hangover? No chance. Liverpool blistered through Bournemouth’s backline in a resounding first half of football to move to the top of the Premier League after five matches – for today, at least.

Title favourites Manchester City and Arsenal face off in a crunch clash tomorrow afternoon but Liverpool have applied the pressure and rectified last weekend’s shock Anfield defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Arne Slot has a blemish on his Reds record but it’s an early account that highlights the promise – such promise – of his smooth-running tactical approach, with AC Milan also beaten in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Fans will be delighted with Darwin Nunez’s curled strike from the edge of the box to seal the victory before the break, but it was Luis Diaz who stole the show with an emphatic quickfire double.

Luis Diaz is reborn under Slot's management

Diaz was an ever-present member of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team last year but he only scored 13 goals across all competitions – with just eight from 37 appearances in the Premier League.

This term, the Colombian winger has bagged five from five in the top flight, also claiming an assist, underscoring his prolific resurgence under Slot’s wing. The Athletic’s James Pearce hailed the “classy” performance, with a stream of goals now added to an electric skillset.

He could have had four on another day. It’s a bit of a hackneyed expression but one that carries a ring of truth. Diaz has gone from strength to strength in the summer and has arguably been Slot’s best player so far.

Of course, there are a few others who would stake a claim, Ryan Gravenberch chief among them.

Ryan Gravenberch's performance vs Bournemouth

When Liverpool finished the 2023/24 campaign, few probably imagined that Gravenberch would bloom into one of soon-to-arrive head coach Slot’s standout stars – and at number six too.

He’s played every single minute of Liverpool’s campaign thus far, both in the Premier League and on the continent, performing with such class and gusto that the summer’s frustrations around failed attempts to sign a deep-sitting midfielder have been forgotten.

Writing in his post-match player ratings, the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle handed him an 8/10 score, writing: ‘Another impressive showing where his ability to maintain possession under pressure was to the fore. Composure helped Liverpool see game out.’

Minutes played

90′

Touches

95

Shots (on target)

1 (1)

Accurate passes

74/84 (88%)

Key passes

1

Long balls (completed)

3 (2)

Dribbles (completed)

1 (1)

Tackles

2

Clearances

2

Total duels (won)

10 (7)

The Netherlands international – who notably racked up 95 touches and completed 100% of his dribbles – is a crisp and elegant passer with an ever-improving defensive game and an innate urge to push forward, seeking to influence play with creative distribution and line-stretching movements.

He won seven duels. To contextualise this, Gravenberch won only 2.8 duels per game in the Premier League last season.

The 22-year-old has so much potential and is starting to show that he can dominate from the hub of Liverpool’s engine room. He was just as good as the flashy Diaz this afternoon.

Liverpool star looked "like Coutinho" when he joined, then Slot sold him

Will the Reds come to rue this decision?

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 19, 2024

Gary O’Neil’s Wolves side have got off to a nightmare start, finding themselves rock bottom of the Premier League after six games played.

Their only point so far came in a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest, with their worst loss coming at the hands of Chelsea in a 6-2 drubbing at Molineux.

Wolves have conceded the most goals in the league with 16 in six games, and O’Neil could be forced into more changes this weekend, with his side being hit with a virus this week.

How he must wish they still had a certain Max Kilman at their disposal.

Max Kilman's record at Wolves

Kilman left Wolves this summer after spending six years at the club, joining West Ham for a fee of around £40m. The 27-year-old defender made 151 appearances for the Old Gold, scoring three goals, providing three assists, and totalling 13,090 minutes played.

The Englishman was an important figure at the club, spending the entirety of last season as the captain.

But, losing him hasn’t only affected leadership, it has also affected their on quality on-pitch, such as passing out from the back, and defensive stability, having conceded 16 goals already this term.

Kilman has started all of West Ham’s games so far (eight), providing one assist, and contributing to two clean sheets in his 720 minutes played. But Wolves may well have their replacement already in the pipeline, in the shape of youngster, Alfie Pond.

Alfie Pond, the Kilman heir

Last week, The Athletic reported that Pond is “on standby” for his Premier League debut, following a virus outbreak at the club. O’Neil has already lost Yerson Mosquera to a knee injury, leaving just Craig Dawson, Santiago Bueno and Toti as senior centre-back options.

Pond could be the beneficiary of Mosquera’s injury, having now played 28 games for the Wolves U21 side, scoring four goals and totaling 2,281 minutes. The 20-year-old has already had some minutes of senior football too, playing nine games for Stockport County last season.

So, how would he fit into the current defensive shape at Molineux?

You can see when comparing the stats of Mosquera and Dawson below that the former is the aggressor of the duo, looking to apply pressure, be aggressive in the duel, and win the ball.

Progressive Carries

0.00

0.61

Progressive Passes

1.43

1.82

Passes Attempted

49.0

53.9

Pass Completion %

85.4%

84.3%

Passes into Final Third

3.27

2.42

Tackles

2.24

1.21

Blocks

2.65

1.52

Interceptions

2.04

1.25

Aerials Won

2.24

1.52

On the flip side, the latter is certainly more conserved, ready to cover and offer support while leading the backline.

This could be the perfect environment for Pond to thrive, replacing Mosquera in the side, being the aggressive dueler, looking to replicate those high defensive actions of Mosquera, whilst Dawson takes that leadership cover role, helping the youngster through the game, and taking more on ball responsibility.

Now, if Dawson had been one of the names caught by the virus, it would pose other problems, but if not, Wolves could unleash their next Kilman & Dawson centre-back duo, with Pond taking the step-up to the senior side.

O'Neil must axe Wolves star who earns more than Mosquera & Gomes combined

This Wolverhampton Wanderers high earner could soon be ditched for good.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 1, 2024

Newcastle United have come a long way. The agony of missing out on European football last season – largely due to unfortunate injury problems – was met with a chorus of disappointment.

Of course, losing your place on the continent due to a rival winning the FA Cup after finishing below you in the Premier League (looking at you, Manchester United) is always going to sting, but it’s the fact that the Magpies have found a sense of belonging in the upper echelon that has been such a marvel.

Hats off to you, Eddie Howe. While the pumped-in funding from PIF has been the fuel for the new era, it’s been used very well indeed, with the transfer strategy seeing a host of top-class players welcomed through the gates.

The shift in the frontline has been particularly exciting, for Newcastle now boast the likes of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, two of English football’s most coveted stars.

How Isak and Gordon are performing

Neither is at their peak. Gordon, Newcastle’s Player of the Year for 2023/24, has posted two goals from seven league matches thus far but hasn’t carried over the sparkling form that saw him earn acclaim last year, though it will come, for sure.

The same can be said for Isak, Newcastle’s club-record signing at £63m, joining from Real Sociedad in 2022. The Swede, aged 25, has only scored one goal and has spent the past three matches out injured with a broken toe, but has been hailed as a “world-class” striker by pundit Harry Redknapp in the past and will be back at the top of his game soon.

When the forwards click into gear, Newcastle will surely hit the vein of form that could propel them into the conversation for Champions League contention, having performed with stop-start fluency across the opening months.

Still, it’s a world away from the woes of former times, with forwards routinely failing to impress during the shadowed days of Mike Ashley. That bygone era is safely wiped from Tyneside, with the failed forwards long gone.

Some former forwards have since gone on to enjoy excellent careers, perhaps making a comment on the conditions at St. James’ Park back in the day. Luuk de Jong is one such player, thriving in his homeland since leaving a decade ago – in fact, he’s outperforming Isak and Gordon today.

When Luuk de Jong played for Newcastle

Newcastle signed De Jong on loan from German side Borussia Mönchengladbach in January 2014, with the centre-forward – 23 at the time – having struggled to adapt to life in the Bundesliga.

His time in England’s northeast was probably more inauspicious, with the Dutchman failing to score and starting just eight matches across the latter half of the 2013/14 campaign.

While the current PSV Eindhoven star flattered to deceive, it’s worth remembering that he entered a Newcastle outfit that was struggling significantly, losing 11 of the 15 Premier League matches that De Jong was at the club.

PSV Eindhoven

301

174

89

Twente

121

59

37

Sevilla

94

19

5

Gladbach

45

8

4

Barcelona

29

7

1

De Graafschap

19

3

2

Newcastle

12

0

1

Now in the twilit phase of his senior career, De Jong is still firing true from number nine, having scored six goals and added four more assists across ten matches in all competitions this term, also captaining his side against Juventus and Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.

As you have read earlier, Gordon and Isak have not been performing the prolific touch that served them so well last term, with three goals and one assist between them. De Jong might be 34 years old and past his best, but his experience and composure have allowed him to continue performing well in his homeland – and in Europe.

He might not find the same degree of success in the Premier League at this stage of his career, but it is an illustration that Newcastle might have eked out some talent from this veteran, had things been different.

Ultimately, though, it can only go down as a botched effort from the previous era.

Newcastle want £50m star who'd help Mitchell navigate Premier League rule

He’s a man in-demand…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 10, 2024

Chelsea chiefs are believed to be targeting a very highly-rated strike partner for the in-form Nicolas Jackson, and he once “really wanted” to make the move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea weighing January swoop for striker despite Jackson record

Jackson has been Enzo Maresca’s arguable biggest success story since the Italian took over from Mauricio Pochettino in the summer.

Real Madrid could offer Chelsea £83m star in exchange for Enzo Fernandez

The Argentine is said to be a top target for Carlo Ancelotti.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Oct 30, 2024

The former Villarreal sensation boasts an excellent record of six goals across 10 games in all competitions so far – finding the back of the net at least once in half of Chelsea’s Premier League matches – with Jackson adding another three assists and contributing to nine goals in total.

The 23-year-old has scored in each of their last two league games against tough opposition in Liverpool and Newcastle United, with his overall form giving BlueCo something to seriously think about.

Man United (away)

November 3

Arsenal (home)

November 10

Leicester City (home)

November 23

Aston Villa (home)

December 1

Southampton (away)

December 4

However, reliable Chelsea sources, like journalist Simon Phillips, claim that the Blues are very much still in the market for a new centre-forward. It is believed that the west Londoners have compiled a shortlist of targets, and they could move for any one of them as soon as January.

Ipswich Town star Liam Delap is being monitored by Chelsea ahead of a potential move, with Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Boniface, Evan Ferguson, Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen also on their agenda, according to Phillips.

The latter was subject to intense interest from Chelsea during the latter stages of the summer transfer window, and Maresca’s side were involved in a high-profile race with Saudi side Al-Ahli for Osimhen’s signature on deadline day.

However, neither side could strike a full deal for the £160,000-per-week Nigerian, who ended up making a move to Galatasaray on a temporary deal instead.

This is despite Osimhen’s eagerness to join Chelsea, as revealed by former midfielder John Obi-Mikel at the time.

“I know what Victor wanted, I know what the club offered him, I know where we got to, we finally got to a compromise, both sides had to compromise, I was just some little things here and there, paperwork, medical, and a few issues we just couldn’t get over the line and we didn’t have much time,” said Obi-Mikel.

“Both sides really played their part in terms of getting the deal done, and I commend Chelsea for that because I can see their ambition of where they want to take this club now and also on Victor’s side, how much he really wanted to come to the club.”

Chelsea eyeing Osimhen as Maresca seeks Jackson partner

According to The Boot Room, Chelsea are eyeing Osimhen despite Jackson’s excellent run, as it is believed Maresca’s side want to partner the African with a striker of the former’s undoubted quality.

If the club do strike a mid-season deal for Osimhen to complement Jackson going forward, it would be quite the coup, and it is entirely possible as the 25-year-old’s Galatasaray loan deal includes a break-clause for January.

This would allow interested sides, like Chelsea, to swoop in mid-season and take Osimhen away from the Turkish champions.

Paris Saint-Germain are willing to sell player they recently spent over £50 million on so they can sign an Aston Villa star instead come January, according to a recent report.

The Villans are currently in a tough patch, as they are winless in their last four games in all competitions and now face a tricky trip to Anfield to play Liverpool this weekend. Unai Emery will be keen to end this poor run of form and will be demanding more from his players.

11x ball lost: Emery must now ditch 4/10 Aston Villa star after Brugge

The Aston Villa ace struggled in Belgium

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 7, 2024 Aston Villa transfer news

In the last few transfer windows, Villa have been a very busy side, adding plenty of talent to their squad, and the same could happen again in January as they keep their watchful eye on players from England and across Europe.

Villa are keeping a close eye on the progress of Southampton’s Tyler Dibling and are leading the race to secure his signature at the end of the season, after he has put in some impressive displays in the Premier League.

Sporting Lisbon's Pedro Goncalves.

The Midlands side are also preparing an offer to sign Sporting CP winger Pedro Goncalves. The Villans had a representative in place for Sporting’s game against Manchester City in the Champions League to watch Goncalves, and they are now preparing to make a move in January.

But while Villa have their eye on adding to their squad in January or next summer, they may also have to deal with losing a player, as PSG circle with interest in one of their key performers.

PSG planning to sell £50m+ star to buy Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran

According to reports from Spain relayed by TEAMtalk, PSG are planning to sell Goncalo Ramos in order for them to sign Jhon Duran. Duran joined Villa in January of last year, but it is only recently that he has truly impressed.

After 10 top flight games in this campaign, he already has four goals to his name. The Colombia international has also bagged goals in the Champions League and EFL Cup this season, as he continues to shine particularly when he comes off the bench.

Duran’s performances for Villa have now caught the attention of big European teams, including PSG. The January transfer window is not far away, and the French side are looking to bring the 20-year-old to France, despite him just signing a new contract at Villa Park.

Apps

65

Goals

16

Assists

0

PSG are willing to let go of Ramos, who is valued at £54 million, a figure they paid to sign him from Benfica, to sign Duran. Villa will not want to lose the striker, and it was claimed last month that he has a price tag of £75 million on his head after his recent performances, but the player’s head may be turned by the chance to go from super-sub to main man.

Celtic welcome RB Leipzig to Parkhead in the Champions League this evening as they look to win for the first time since matchday one against Slovan.

The Hoops thumped the Slovakian side 5-1 in Glasgow on their opening night in the League Phase but their two matches since that have not been quite as comfortable.

Brendan Rodgers’ side followed up their win over Slovan with a devastating 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Germany, a game in which they were 5-1 down by half-time.

They then battled hard to secure a 0-0 draw away at Atalanta in their most recent outing in the Champions League, which means that they have four points in their three matches so far.

The Scottish giants had to dig in deep to land a draw in Bergamo, as the home side dominated the match – with 66% possession – and racked up 2.38 xG worth of chances without scoring.

Leipzig are currently second in the Bundesliga, with six wins and five goals conceded in nine games, and Celtic could face a similar test at Parkhead this evening, which means that they will have to contain the German side’s biggest threats.

RB Leipzig's biggest threats

They typically line up in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-2-2 system and this means that they often have two centre-forwards to occupy the defence and cause problems in the final third.

Those two strikers have, for the majority of this season, been Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko, who both offer different kinds of attributes at the top end of the pitch.

Openda is a fleet-footed, mobile, marksman who likes to make runs off the last line and has showcased his goalscoring quality this term, with five goals in eight Bundesliga starts, although he is yet to score in Europe.

Leipzig’s biggest threat in the Champions League so far, though, has been Sesko, who has scored three goals in three games in the competition – with two strikes against Juventus and one against Dortmund.

Appearances

9

3

xG

2.40

2.42

Goals

3

3

Aerial duels won per game

2.3

2.3

Aerial duel success rate

64%

70%

As you can see in the table above, the Slovenia international has scored six goals from just 4.82 xG across the Bundesliga and the Champions League this term.

The 6 foot 5 titan has also won the majority of his aerial battles, winning 2.3 per game on average, and scored two headers across both competitions, which illustrates how much of a challenge it will be to keep him quiet tonight.

Sesko is a centre-forward who offers quality in front of goal, as shown by his xG overperformance, as well as a physical presence for the centre-backs to deal with, which is why Rodgers must brutally ditch Auston Trusty from his starting XI.

Why Auston Trusty should be dropped

The USA international, who was signed from Sheffield United on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window, was selected to start alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers in the 6-0 win over Aberdeen in the League Cup at Hampden Park on Saturday.

His performance was rewarded with a player rating of 8/10 from The Scotsman, who wrote that the centre-back was rarely troubled by the Dons and kept things neat and tidy in possession.

Despite a strong showing, and a clean sheet, against Aberdeen, Rodgers must take the former Arsenal man out of the starting line-up as Sesko could take advantage of his struggles with aerial duels.

In the Premier League last term, Trusty barely won the majority of his battles in the air, winning 55% overall, as the Blades were relegated and conceded a staggering 104 times in 38 outings.

Appearances

3

Sofascore rating

6.60

Goals conceded

7

Aerial duels won per game

0.7

Aerial duel success rate

25%

As you can see in the table above, the central defender has struggled badly in the air in the Champions League this season, losing a whopping 75% of his contests.

These statistics suggest that Sesko, given his aerial dominance, could take advantage of the summer signing in those situations to cause Celtic huge problems, which is why Rodgers must take Trusty out of the team to avoid that issue. T

The Celtic titan who should replace Auston Trusty

The Hoops head coach must unleash Liam Scales in his place in order to give the Scottish giants the best possible chance of silencing the former RB Salzburg sensation.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Unlike Trusty, the Republic of Ireland international is a towering central defender who has the presence and physicality to consistently dominate opposition forwards in the air, in the Premiership and in the Champions League.

In the 0-0 draw with Atalanta last time out in Europe, the former Aberdeen loanee won five of his seven aerial contests and made nine clearances to help his side keep a clean sheet.

Meanwhile, Trusty got away with losing five of his six aerial duels in that game because Mario Pasalic failed to score from any of his six headed attempts, which generated an xG of 1.0.

Sesko’s form for Leipzig this season, particularly aerially, suggests that he would not be as forgiving as the Atalanta midfielder was in front of goal, which is why the Hoops cannot afford to have a centre-back who is a liability in those situations tonight.

Appearances

10

3

Sofascore rating

7.61

7.07

Headed goals

1

1

Aerial duels won per game

5.7

4.7

Aerial duel success rate

76%

74%

As you can see in the table above, Scales has dominated players in the Premiership and in the Champions League in aerial contests this season.

The left-footed brute, who was lauded as “fantastic” for the team by Rodgers, has proven that he has the physical and defensive qualities that will be needed to keep a player of Sesko’s quality quiet this evening.

That is why the manager must bring him back into the starting XI to play on the left side of the defence, with Cameron Carter-Vickers on the right.

Worth more than Kuhn: Celtic lost a real star whose value's soared 1,300%

The former Celtic forward has thrived since moving down south to the Premier League.

1 ByDan Emery Nov 3, 2024

When Enzo Maresca took over as Chelsea boss in the summer, there were questions raised about how he would manage such a bloated squad. Thus far, however, he appears to have done a fantastic job.

The Italian coach has both trimmed the fat, selling and loaning out a number of players, and he also successfully rotated those in his squad across the Blues’ various competitions to give everyone playing time.

Chelsea’s players look, at least for the most part, happy, and the club is firing on all cylinders. They are currently third in the Premier League – seven places ahead of where they were at the same stage last season under Mauricio Pochettino – and are breaking records in the Europa Conference League.

Nkunku wants out amid Man Utd interest

One player who doesn’t appear to be enjoying life at Stamford Bridge this season, however, is Christopher Nkunku. The Frenchman, who joined the Blues from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023, has been limited to just one Premier League start all season, with Maresca preferring Nicolas Jackson as his main man up-top.

Nkunku has been a regular for Chelsea in their cup competitions, and has taken his opportunities with both hands, scoring 10 goals – a figure that makes him the club’s top scorer this term.

Chelsea’s top scorers this season (All competitions)

Player

Games

Goals

Christopher Nkunku

17

10

Cole Palmer

13

7

Nicolas Jackson

12

6

Noni Madueke

13

5

Joao Felix

10

5

But according to Football Insider, games in the Europa Conference League aren’t enough for the France international, who they claim could now be ready to make a bold move in order to try and persuade Maresca to give him his chance in the top flight.

In a recent report, the publication claimed that Nkunku is ready “to demand an increase in playing time”, which if he does not get, “will look to move to a club who can guarantee a starting place”.

Manchester United and Nkunku’s boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain are understood to be among those interested in the 27-year-old.

Maresca offers Nkunku hope

Amid Nkunku’s reported unhappiness, Maresca has offered hope that the Frenchman could soon feature in the Premier League. Following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal before the international break, Maresca distanced himself from claims that he has a distinct first and second team.

Man United now eyeing January move for another Chelsea player after Nkunku

Ruben Amorim could raid Stamford Bridge next year.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 14, 2024

“The ones that played tonight, probably in three weeks they are playing Conference, and the ones that are playing Conference, they can play in the Premier League,” he explained.

“Joao Felix can play in the Premier League. Nkunku can play Premier League. All of them can play Premier League,” he said. “I always repeat the same thing. Just because they played today doesn’t mean they’re going to play the next one. You have to compete, you have to perform in the right away.”

Things might not be exactly going as planned for Arsenal in the Premier League at the moment, but the team’s transformation over the last few years has been spectacular.

Mikel Arteta took over a side down in tenth five years ago and, over the following seasons, turned them into one of the best sides in the country, and one that is still just about in a title race for the third year running.

While the Spaniard’s sensational man management and clever tactics have certainly played their part in the Gunners’ rejuvenation, so have his signings, with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice now hugely important to the first-team.

1

Declan Rice

£105m

West Ham

2

Kai Havertz

£65m

Chelsea

3

Ben White

£50m

Brighton

4

Gabriel Jesus

£45m

Man City

=

Thomas Partey

£45m

Atlético

It was the £105m transfer of the latter last summer that really signified the club’s return to the top table of English football, and now reports are linking them to a talented loved by Ian Wright, who could be Rice 2.0.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several Premier League teams interested in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

Alongside the Gunners, the report claims that title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City are keen to land the services of the talented youngster.

However, in developments that should excite the Arsenal faithful, the story has revealed that the North Londoners have already held talks over a potential transfer in January and are hopeful that an offer of €55m – £46m – will do the trick, although the Eagles are holding out for a figure closer to €65m, which is about £54m.

It could prove a costly transfer to get over the line, but given Wharton’s ability and potential, it is one well worth pursuing, especially as the last English midfielder they signed from the Premier League worked out rather well.

Wharton could be Rice 2.0 for Arsenal

So, the first thing to say is that we don’t think Arsenal will be looking at Wharton to be a replacement for Rice, just that in signing him, they would be, in a way, repeating what they did to secure the 25-year-old’s signature last year.

For example, heading into the 2023 summer transfer window, they knew they needed a new midfielder capable of playing in the six and left-eight, so they pursued an English talent from a fellow London-based Premier League team, as they would be should they sign the Palace star.

On top of that, like the former West Ham United captain, the 20-year-old Eagles star broke into senior football at an incredibly young age, making his first team debut for Blackburn Rovers at just 18 years old in an EFL Cup tie against Hartlepool in August 2022.

Over the following season and a bit, the young “phenom,” as dubbed by analyst Jon Mackenzie, went on to make 51 appearances for the first team, in which he scored four goals, provided five assists and was hailed as “one of the most exciting English U-19 talents around” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Since stepping up to top-flight football following his £22m move to Palace in February, the Blackburn-born gem has looked just as impressive and currently has 26 appearances for the South Londoners under his belt, which have been split pretty evenly between central and defensive midfield.

Appearances

51

26

Goals

4

0

Assists

5

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.17

0.15

Moreover, his adaption to the Premier League was so impressive that Gareth Southgate opted to take him to Germany for the European Championships, and even though he didn’t play, it’s a sign of just how highly he is thought of by those in the game.

Speaking of which, Arsenal legend Wright described the 20-year-old as being like a “Rolls-Royce” back in April, which is the same thing Danny Murphy said of Rice in 2021, while David O’Leary said the same thing after the Gunners’ home win over Manchester City last season.

Ultimately, as both Wharton and Rice can play as a six or eight, there is no reason Arteta couldn’t have them both in his starting XI, so the club should pick up the pace and bring the youngster north of the river as soon as they can before someone else beats them to him.

Arsenal confident of signing £115m "nightmare" who'd be their own Gyokeres

The incredible goal-scorer would be a game-changer for Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 27, 2024

Celtic are looking to complete the January signing of an attacker who has been “absolutely on fire” over the last year, according to an exciting new transfer report.

Celtic transfer news

The Hoops are being linked with plenty of new signings currently, with an audacious move for Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen being mooted in some quarters, in what would be a high-profile piece of business.

The Scottish Premiership giants may have to wait until the end of the season to snap up the Dane, however, at which point he will be out of contract at Old Trafford and available on a free transfer. At 32, his best days are now behind him, but that’s not to say that he wouldn’t be a hugely exciting addition to Brendan Rodgers’ squad.

A separate transfer claim has suggested that Celtic are eyeing two attacking players in the January transfer window, with left-sided and central options being eyed. They wouldn’t necessarily be immediate starters, whoever the additions are, but the plan would be to provide Rodgers with even more depth in the final third.

Rumours also continue to link the Hoops with a move for Motherwell’s highly-rated young midfielder Lennon Millner, but the likes of Newcastle United and Rangers are also thought to be providing competition for his signature. The teenager has started 13 league games this season, scoring two goals and registering four assists in the process.

Celtic eyeing January move for attacking sensation

According to a new update from Football Insider, Celtic are interested in signing Brondby attacker Mathias Kvistgaarden in the January window, having been linked with him in the past as well. The Hoops have “set their sights” on the 22-year-old, who is a long-term target, with the player himself suggesting that he “would be interested in a move away.”

Kvistgaarden could be an ideal January signing for Celtic, acting as one of the aforementioned additions midway through the season, bolstering Rodgers’ squad in the process. Granted, playing time wouldn’t be too easy to come by, considering the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah are already good options to lead the line, but he has plenty of pedigree and would be a long-term capture.

Kvistgaarden has scored 10 goals in just 12 starts in the Danish Superliga this season, highlighting his prolific nature in front of goal, while football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded him for being “absolutely on fire” at one stage last season.

The fact that Kvistgaarden could be available in January instead of next summer would be an added bonus for Celtic, allowing them to sign an exciting young player earlier than expected.

Better than Bernardo: Celtic ace who had 164 touches has silenced doubters

The Celtic defender put on a masterclass against Ross County on Saturday.

ByDan Emery Dec 1, 2024

As mentioned, he may have to accept that he would have to bide his time, in terms of starting regularly, but his record this season suggests he could immediately be a healthy threat to Kyogo and Idah, among others.

Arsenal are expected to make an “official” bid for an £83 million defender in the coming weeks after “constant” talks with his camp, with Mikel Arteta and co said to be the “main” contenders for his services as we fast approach 2025.

Arsenal holding talks with key transfer targets ahead of January

The departure of influential sporting director Edu Gaspar hasn’t thwarted Arsenal’s transfer plans for January and next summer, with interim replacement Jason Ayto and managing director Richard Garlick overseeing their recruitment strategy for the time being.

Arsenal in "serious danger" of losing £200k-per-week starter after N5 talks

It would be a blow for Arteta.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 13, 2024

Arsenal are currently on the hunt for Edu’s long-term replacement, but in the meantime, it is business as usual for the Gunners’ transfer department as Arteta seeks to reinforce a few key areas in the squad.

There are reports this week that Arsenal face losing Thomas Partey on a Bosman next summer, with talks over a new deal stalling (The Mirror), while fellow veteran midfielder Jorginho is also set to leave at the end of this Premier League season on a free as things stand.

Everton (home)

December 14

Crystal Palace (away)

December 21

Ipswich Town (home)

December 27

Brentford (away)

January 1

Brighton (away)

January 4

This has led to claims that Arsenal have held initial talks over Adam Wharton, with the north Londoners said to be planning a potential move for the Crystal Palace and England midfielder in January to shore up their numbers in the middle of the park (CaughtOffside).

Meanwhile, to relieve some of the pressure off Kai Havertz’s shoulders, with striker Gabriel Jesus seriously out of form right now, it is also believed that Arsenal are weighing up the possibility of bringing a new centre-forward to the Emirates.

Arsenal have reportedly been in contact with Dusan Vlahovic’s representatives ahead of a potential move for the Serbian, who is currently enjoying a fine season at Juventus with 10 goals in all competitions (TEAMtalk).

Vlahovic recently helped Juve to a 2-0 win over Man City in the Champions League, scoring the opener against Pep Guardiola’s side, and his exploits are apparently not going unnoticed by Arteta.

Arsenal are considering their options all over the pitch, whether it be January or next summer, and that includes in defence. Arteta has been forced to deal with numerous injuries to his backline this season, with Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko all sidelined most recently.

Arsenal expected to make "official" bid for Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis

Palmeiras starlet Vitor Reis, who has a fast-growing reputation as one of South America’s rising star defenders, has been linked with a switch to N5 this season.

Reliable media sources like The Athletic say that Arsenal are indeed keen on Reis, with a report from Nosso Palestra now shedding further light on the situation.

The news outlet writes that Arsenal are expected to make an “official proposal” for Reis in the “coming weeks”, after negotiations “intensify” over the Brazilian, and it is also believed that they’re in “constant” contact with the player’s representatives.

There is apparently a “possibility” this move could happen as early as January, but Palmeiras believe it could be more likely for the summer, when Premier League sides have that bit more money to spend.

Reis’ contract includes an £83 million release clause, but it is likely Palmeiras will sell for less. Alongside Arteta’s side, there are rumours that Real Madrid are seriously interested in the Brazilian sensation.