All posts by z3u9t.icu

Jordan Pickford suffered agony for his nation once again, shipping twice as Spain overpowered a stuttering England side to win their fourth European Championship.

The shot-stopper will now return to Goodison Park, where he will ready himself for his eighth successive campaign as Everton's No. 1 between the sticks.

The Three Lions might have flattered to deceive when concerning playing style this summer but Pickford was exemplary throughout, with reporter Dominic King praising his contributions as "seismic".

He's one of the country's greatest goalkeepers, and while more people are starting to recognise this, the Toffees supporters need no reminder, having enjoyed his performances as one of the club's very best for many years.

He's rightly one of Everton's highest earners, but he's not the highest, with Abdoulaye Doucoure earning quite the pretty penny on the blue half of the River Mersey.

The Mali international has been a stalwart for Everton but he's on the decline, and given that he's stepping into the final year of his contract, it might be worth cashing in now.

Why Everton should ditch Abdoulaye Doucoure

Everton signed Doucoure from Watford in a £20m deal four years ago, with the attacking midfielder since completing 130 appearances, scoring 17 goals and adding 11 assists.

He's been a valuable servant and has even been hailed as his side's "catalyst" in attack by his manager, Sean Dyche, but he's now 31 years old and lost his goalscoring touch – his principle quality – during the latter half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Indeed, while Doucoure bagged seven goals across 32 Premier League appearances last year as he bounced between central midfield and a makeshift striking role, he blanked across 15 of his final 16 outings, failing to maintain the impressive form of the first few months.

And energetic he may be, averaging 4.5 ball recoveries per game (Sofascore), but he's also failed to showcase the kind of athletic robustness needed for true success in Dyche's system, winning a lowly 35% of his contested duels last term.

Which, of course, brings us round to that aforementioned point: Doucoure is earning quite the pretty pay packet at Everton. As you will see below, he's even earning more than Pickford, one of the outfit's best players and biggest leaders.

1.

Abdoulaye Doucoure

£130k-per-week

2.

Jordan Pickford

£120k-per-week

3.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

£100k-per-week

3.

James Tarkowski

£100k-per-week

5.

Idrissa Gueye

£80k-per-week

5.

Michael Keane

£80k-per-week

Doucoure was actually attracting attention from the Saudi Pro League back in January, with Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq making a formal approach, so perhaps opening that window once again would be a good idea.

With Everton accelerating talks to sign Napoli attacking midfielder Jesper Lindstrom, Doucoure could find himself playing a more peripheral role next term, and considering the player's lofty earnings and the club's present financial situation, it might not be a half-bad idea to let him depart and usher in the new wave of talent.

The Premier League club already need to replace Amadou Onana, who is joining Aston Villa for a fee of £50m, but this will undoubtedly be taken care of in due course. With Lindstrom coming in and Dele Alli targetting a resurgence, Doucoure should be sold.

Everton preparing bid for £25m Philogene alternative

This “exceptional” winger would be a real asset to Sean Dyche’s team.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 15, 2024

Leeds United must end the current summer transfer window with a squad that is ready to compete for automatic promotion back to the Premier League next season.

The Whites failed in the play-offs during the 2023/24 campaign and must now attempt to go one step further by finishing in the top two and avoiding the post-season tournament.

Daniel Farke has already lost Archie Gray and Glen Kamara from his squad, as they left to join Tottenham Hotspur and Rennes respectively, but has also added four players to the group.

Joe Rodon has signed permanently, after his loan spell, Joe Rothwell has joined on loan, and Alex Cairns and Jayden Bogle have both been snapped up on permanent deals.

Crysencio Summerville has recently been linked with West Ham United and Roma, whilst Brighton have had an offer rejected for Georginio Rutter.

This means that the Whites could lose more of their key players before the window slams shut at the end of August. However, Leeds could soften the blow of losing the likes of Summerville and Rutter by signing a new star duo.

Leeds eyeing Championship marksman

Firstly, Leeds have been linked with an interest in Blackburn Rovers attacking midfielder Sammie Szmodics, after his impressive exploits in the division last term.

The Whites are reportedly in the mix to sign the Ireland international alongside Premier League side Ipswich Town, who have just been promoted to the top-flight.

However, Rovers are said to be looking for a fee of £20m for the prolific attacker and it remains to be seen whether or not either side will be able to strike a deal for his services.

If Leeds can secure a swoop for the Irish marksman, though, then he could be a terrific addition to the squad after his sublime outings in the Championship last season.

Szmodics racked up 33 goals and four assists in 48 matches in all competitions for Blackburn, which shows that he knows how to find the back of the net on a consistent basis.

Summerville (20) was the only player who scored more than 14 goals in the Championship for Leeds last season, which suggests that the 28-year-old ace would be a welcome addition to the group with his impressive scoring prowess.

Appearances

44

Goals

27

Minutes per goal

145

Conversion rate

19%

Big chances created

7

Duel success rate

42%

As you can see in the table above, Szmodics fired in a staggering 27 league goals and averaged one every 145 minutes, whilst also creating seven 'big chances' for his teammates.

This shows that he scored more goals than any of Farke's current options and that is another reason why the club should swoop to secure his signature ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Therefore, the attacking midfielder could be a brilliant and lethal signing for Leeds this summer if they can get a deal over the line, and he could form one half of a new star duo for the Whites – alongside another one of their reported targets.

Leeds' interest in electric winger

The Athletic reported last month that the West Yorkshire side are one of the teams interested in a swoop for Basel winger Liam Millar this summer.

It was claimed that fellow Championship outfits Burnley and Sheffield United are also keen on the Canada international, who played for his country at the Copa America.

The former Liverpool forward spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan with Preston North End in England and has now attracted interest from teams who want to bring him back to the second tier.

It was reported that the player is open to returning to the country but it remains to be seen how much Basel would demand from any of the interested parties to allow him to leave.

Therefore, like with Szmodics, it remains to be seen how viable a deal is for the electric winger. Leeds should, though, push ahead and attempt to get a move over the line due to the potential quality he could provide on the pitch.

Millar and the Irish whiz could form a new star duo for Farke in the Championship, as they have both proven themselves to be fantastic players at that level.

Why Leeds should sign Liam Millar

Szmodics' aforementioned statistics in the second tier perfectly illustrate why he would form one half of a star duo for Leeds, but what about Millar?

The £8k-per-week ace caught the eye with his performances on loan for Preston, despite having to play in a slightly unnatural wing-back role on the left, rather than being an out-and-out winger.

Cutting in on his favoured right foot, Millar still showed plenty of signs of promise from the left flank with his ability to score and create goals for his side.

Appearances

35

Goals

5

xA

3.58

Assists

5

Big chances created

7

Key passes per game

0.9

As you can see in the table above, the attacker outperformed his xG by over one goal and this suggests that he could thrive in a side that creates more chances for him to score.

He would play as a natural winger in a possession-heavy side at Elland Road, rather than as a counter-attacking wing-back for Preston, and this could provide him with more chances to showcase his quality.

Millar, who writer Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic described as being in "ridiculous" form for Preston, ranked within the top 12% of full-backs in the division for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.15) and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90 (5.90) and successful take-ons per 90 (2.54).

These statistics show that the 24-year-old ace is a progressive flanker who is constantly looking to beat his man and make things happen in the final third, as illustrated by his dribbling and goal contribution stats.

Farke must now bring him in to unleash the electric wizard in a more advanced role for Leeds than he had at Preston to get the most out of his attacking talent.

Millar and Szmodics could, therefore, be a new star duo for the Whites if they are both brought in due to their provenm attackign quality at Championship level, as the former could create high-quality chances for the Irishman to tuck the ball into the back of the net.

Leeds make contact to sign £3m star who could replicate Rutter

The Whites are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the impressive full-back.

1 ByDan Emery Jul 23, 2024

We are just over three weeks away from the Premier League kicking off for another season of suspense-filled football, and while every club has a lot to fight for, few have quite as much as Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta's side will be hoping it's third time's the charm as they look to finally end their two-decade title drought and stop Manchester City from winning an unprecedented five in a row.

However, to give themselves the best chance of doing that, they must bring in some talented players this summer, such as Nico Williams.

The Gunners have been consistently linked with a move for the Spaniard, but whether they'll be able to get him is another thing entirely. So it's good news that Edu Gaspar ad Co have already lined up a brilliant alternative and someone who'd be the perfect Bukayo Saka rival at the same time.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Turkish publication Sabah Spor, Arsenal are one of several teams interested in signing Galatasaray ace Baris Alper Ylimaz this summer.

Alongside the Gunners, the report claims that North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur are set to meet with the player's representatives to discuss a possible transfer. At the same time, Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa are also 'closely following the player.'

The report reveals that Galatasaray would entertain offers in excess of €30m, which converts to around £25m, and while that's still a significant sum of money, it's somewhat reasonable in the modern game.

In all, if Arsenal can get ahead of the chasing pack for Yilmaz this summer, then based on his recent performances, they should bring him to N5, as he could be both the perfect rival for Saka and an alternative to Williams.

Why Yilmaz would be a great signing

Okay, so for those slightly unfamiliar with Yilmaz, you may be somewhat confused as to how a player could challenge Saka and be an alternative to Williams, but therein lies one of the Turkish international's biggest strengths: his versatility.

In his career to date, he has started games all over the pitch, from right-back to centre-forward, but his two most played positions have been left and right-wing, with him starting 66 games on the former and 64 on the latter.

It's this experience out on the left that could see the 24-year-old become the Gunners alternative to the Athletic Bilbao ace, and his time on the right, where he spent most of last season, that could see him come in as a challenge to Saka.

So, with that said, how does he stack up against the Hale End superstar when it comes to pure output?

Well, as you'd probably expect given the outlandish talent of the Englishman, the Gala ace comes out second best, but it's close enough to suggest that he could act as the perfect bench option for the Gunners or even as someone who could start some of the less important games to give the 22-year-old some time to rest.

Appearances

55

47

Goals

7

20

Assists

12

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.34

0.72

For example, while the Ealing-born gem scored 20 goals and provided 14 assists in 47 appearances last season, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.38 games, the Turkish dynamo scored seven goals and provided 12 assists in 55 appearances, equating to a slightly less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.89 games.

Moreover, with arguably the best centre-back in the world, Virgil van Dijk, describing the Rize-born star as a player who is "difficult for every defender" to play against, he'd probably surprise many Premier League fans.

Forget Merino: Arsenal in talks to sign a "monster" with shades of Vieira

The “world-class” midfielder would be unreal for the Gunners.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 22, 2024

Ultimately, Arsenal have needed a player who can step in and cover for Saka for years now, and with Yilmlaz supposedly available for just £25m this summer, signing him feels like a no-brainer.

Glasgow Rangers head into their second Premiership match of the season under severe pressure to secure all three points.

The 0-0 draw against Hearts last week immediately put the Light Blues on the back foot, meaning a win over Motherwell this afternoon is a must.

Philippe Clement should make a few changes to his starting XI. Will a player who has started the opening two games of the campaign be dropped?

Tom Lawrence’s stats vs Hearts

Tom Lawrence was deployed as the number ten in the season opener against the Jambos due to the likes of Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell being on the verge of leaving the club.

During the tie, the Welshman completed just 21 passes, created just one big chance and made one key pass while succeeding with only one of his four dribble attempts. These are hardly the statistics of a player looking to carve open opposition defences.

Defensively, the former Derby County gem lost possession 11 times throughout the game, along with winning just four of his 15 total duels, showing how poor he was in one on one battles against the tricky Hearts side.

Rangers simply couldn’t find a way through the defence last week and there is no doubt that a greater threat in the final third is required against Motherwell today.

Touches

43

Accurate passes

21/25

Key passes

1

Big chances created

1

Total duels (won)

15 (4)

Dribble attempts (successful)

4 (1)

Via Sofascore

Could Clement relocate a player into the number ten slot against Well? As Mohamed Diomande has the ability to shine in a more advanced position.

The man to replace Lawrence vs Motherwell

The Ivorian has forged a solid partnership already with new signing Connor Barron in the heart of the midfield.

With a win needed, however, could Clement place Dujon Sterling in the centre of the midfield alongside Barron, moving Diomande into the attacking midfield slot?

During the second half of last season, the African averaged 1.5 key passes per game in the top flight, while also creating one big chance and succeeding with 62% of his dribble attempts, solid statistics as he adapted to Scottish football.

Prior to this, he was in excellent form for Danish side FC Nordsjaelland, as he showcased his abilities going forward during the first six months of the Danish top flight.

Indeed, the 22-year-old grabbed three assists, created three big chances and averaged 1.1 key passes per game. These statistics came in just 13 matches, making them stand out a lot more.

Lauded as “aggressive” by analyst John Walker, moving Diomande slightly further forward could be a masterstroke by the Belgian this afternoon.

He wouldn’t be sacrificing anything in the middle of the pitch, as Sterling has proved capable of starring in that area previously, therefore it is a gamble certainly worth taking in a must-win clash.

There is no doubt that the Light Blues do need to bring another attacking midfielder to the club, as Clement cannot rely on Lawrence between now and 2025, especially with his previous injury issues.

Diomande as the number ten behind Cyriel Dessers today? Yes please.

As bad as Souttar: Clement must bin 2/10 Rangers man after Kyiv no-show

The Light Blues attacker endured a frustrating evening in the Champions League.

ByDan Emery Aug 7, 2024

Arsenal have held talks with the agents of a £60 million Brazil striker and new transfer target, coming after he scored 25 goals in all competitions last season.

Edu and Arteta exploring market to sign new Arsenal forward

An array of new attacking options and many interesting names have been linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium this summer, but sporting director Edu Gaspar is yet to officially get one over the line.

Talks ongoing: Arsenal believe they'll sign £55m ace soon, he wants to join

The Gunners are still trying to make their third signing of the window.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 13, 2024

A lot of the noise coming out of north London in the past fortnight has been centred around Arsenal's ongoing talks over a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, which has dragged on for quite a long time now.

Once, or if, Mikel Arteta sees his compatriot sign for Arsenal before deadline day – the Spaniard may be hoping he can bring in one more forward option. Indeed, a striker has long been viewed by some critics as the final missing piece of the jigsaw at London Colney.

Arsenal were rumoured to hold a serious interest in Ivan Toney as far back as 12 months ago, and have been regularly tipped to move for a striker ever since.

After Toney, Edu was tipped to bid for Victor Osimhen of Napoli, while Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres has also been on Arsenal's radar. Even Dominic Solanke was linked with an Arsenal move, before he opted to join their north London rivals Tottenham for a total fee of around £65 million.

Stats (per 90)

Gyökeres

Solanke

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.82

0.55

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

1.05

0.54

Progressive Passes

1.57

1.63

Progressive Carries

3.52

1.41

Shots

3.37

2.87

Shots on Target

1.64

0.95

Shot-Creating Actions

4.08

2.14

Goal-Creating Actions

0.65

0.16

Successful Take-Ons

2.10

1.06

Aerial Duels Won

1.91

2.63

Last season, Kai Havertz impressed in a makeshift centre-forward role, with the German putting himself ahead of Gabriel Jesus in Arteta's pecking order. However, reports suggest that Arsenal are still very much open to the idea of bringing in a new number nine.

Arsenal hold talks with Evanilson agents in search for forward

According to HITC, it is believed FC Porto striker and two-cap Brazil international Evanilson is now turning heads in north London.

Indeed, Arsenal have apparently held talks with Evanilson through his agents, following the 24-year-old's exceptional haul of 25 goals in all competitions for Porto last season.

However, the Gunners are not the only Premier League side registering their interest in Evanilson, as Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle United and West Ham have all done the same.

There are two other English sides currently above Arsenal in the race for him as well. Both Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth are the only sides to have formalised their interest in the South American marksman, who is rumoured to command a price tag of around £60 million.

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has weighed in with an update on Arsenal's plans for the final few days of this summer window, following their now confirmed deal for midfielder Mikel Merino.

Arsenal announce £32 million Merino signing after weeks of talks

Earlier this week, news that Arsenal fans have been waiting a long time for was finally dropped after weeks of talks.

Fabrizio Romano: £276k-per-week star who Arsenal want could make late move

He’s been dubbed a “surprise” potential transfer.

4 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 28, 2024

Indeed, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta finally got his hands on Merino, with Arsenal officially completing a £32 million move for the Spain international midfielder. His arrival at the Emirates Stadium is set to seriously reinforce Arteta's left-side of midfield, as Merino's towering 6 foot 2 presence and reputation for winning duels provides Arsenal with more tenacity.

The former Newcastle United ace will don the number 23 shirt and could even make his Premier League debut this weekend against Brighton, with sporting director Edu Gaspar saying that Merino's physicality and athleticism will be a huge asset.

“We are so happy to have completed the transfer of Mikel Merino," said Edu to Arsenal's official website.

Appearances

247

Goals

27

Assists

30

Yellow cards

56

Red cards

2

Minutes played

19,449

Transfermarkt

"This has been another great team effort from many people at the club to finalise the transfer of a player who attracted interest from a number of clubs over the summer.

“Mikel was a key target for us this summer, and we identified him as a player who can fit perfectly into our squad and profile to improve us, as we aim to build on our strong performances of last season. With Mikel’s arrival, he brings us an added high quality of experience, physicality and athleticism as we look forward to this season ahead. We welcome Mikel and his family to the club, and look forward to seeing him play in the Arsenal shirt.”

After the 28-year-old put pen to paper on a long-term contract at Arsenal, the general consensus is that Arteta and Edu may not be done there, as we fast approach summer transfer deadline day.

Arsenal have been linked with a late move for Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, among others, as they consider upgrading their attacking options ahead of a long and challenging title race with Man City.

Arsenal looking at "last-minute" chance to sign new forward

This has now been backed up by respected transfer reporter Romano, who says that Arsenal are indeed looking at a "last-minute opportunity" to sign a new forward before the window closes.

“I think it’s not going to be a super big name. I don’t expect Arsenal to go for a central striker," said the journalist on Men in Blazers (via TBR).

"There was some fear around the injury of Gabriel Jesus, but I’m told it’s quite positive. The idea of Arsenal is to sign a winger rather than a number nine, looking at a last-minute opportunity on the market."

Chelsea have only claimed four points from their opening three Premier League matches under Enzo Maresca, but there's evidence enough that the Blues are building something.

Frankly, the last few years have not been great under BlueCo's ownership, and while Mauricio Pochettino started to instil some fluency toward the end of his one-term stint, Maresca has been brought in to head a long-term project.

Against Crystal Palace, Chelsea might have only secured a draw, but they showed promising signs, with hope growing that the west Londoners will put to bed the issues of recent seasons under Maresca's wing.

How Chelsea performed vs Crystal Palace

The Italian's ball-playing vision is shaping up and was displayed through an emphatic first half against Palace on Saturday, with Nicolas Jackson scoring his second of the season and Chelsea looking slick and stylish – assured.

But Stamford Bridge was silenced by an Ebere Eze stunner after the break to restore parity and frustrate Maresca, who watched on as the pendulum swung and the control was lost, the contest becoming far more frenzied.

Maresca's decision to drop Enzo Fernandez into a makeshift right-back role contributed to the issues, with the Argentine looking unnatural and unable to produce the all-encompassing work that would be required.

Malo Gusto's injury blow

Gusto was forced off in the second half with an injury to cast a gloomy setting on Chelsea's pre-international-break performance. Reece James has not yet returned to first-team training after suffering a hamstring injury himself before the season started – albeit the club captain has been suspended anyway following a red card at the end of 2023/24.

The 21-year-old is a big talent but he's young and will need to raise his defensive game to another level if he wishes to perform with the steeliness that the Blues need across the duration of the campaign.

Minutes played

74'

Touches

46

Accurate passes

32/24 (94%)

Key passes

0

Dribble attempts

0/0

Tackles

1

Clearances

1

Total duels won

1/4 (25%)

Dribbled past

1x

Taking the whole season into account, Gusto has impressed with his doggedness and defensive robustness, averaging three tackles per game, but he's won less than half of his ground duels – 48% – while making an error leading to a shot against Manchester City on the opening day.

Chelsea correspondent Bobby Vincent was hardly scathing of Gusto's performance on Saturday, providing him with a 6/10 match rating, though he did note that the Frenchman 'struggled going forward', as well as his issues in protecting the rear.

That's not a regular occurrence, but Gusto's injury blow accentuates the interminable wait for James to return to the field, fit and firing once again. The powerful and athletic full-back could be the catalyst under Maresca's wing.

Because of that, even if the French defender has bounced back from his own ailment, he must be replaced.

The best replacement for Malo Gusto

It has been so frustrating to watch one of the Premier League's finest players founder over recent years, simply because of his misery on the fitness front.

James, aged 24, is a Champions League winner and “one of the best in the world”, having been hailed as much in the past by recent Palace recruit Trevoh Chalobah.

The international break comes at a good time for Chelsea, allowing Gusto and James to continue their recuperation. The former has been one of the outfit's better performers since joining from Lyon in a £26m transfer in 2023, but he's no James, and it's clear that the return of the England international could spark meaningful change.

The defender missed large portions of Pochettino's reign with various setbacks, only starting five Premier League matches and being sent off twice.

But he's adept at using his power and physique to shuttle up the flank and wreak havoc with his fine array of passing and natural goalscoring sense.

Indeed, over the course of the 2021/21 campaign, as per FBref, James ranked among the top 2% of full-backs for goals scored, the top 1% for assists, the top 3% for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for passes attempted and the top 6% for progressive passes and successful take-ons per 90.

Matches (starts)

26 (22)

Goals

5

Assists

9

Clean sheets

5

Touches*

76.1

Pass completion

90%

Key passes*

1.9

Ball recoveries*

4.8

Tackles*

1.3

Ground duels won*

3.8 (61%)

He was at the peak of his powers and it goes to show what a player Chelsea have in their midst, his ability lying dormant and awaiting its deserved resurgence.

Look at the table above and you will see that James is a monstrous attacking force but so too is he a crunching defender, winning 61% of his ground duels – which is an impressive feat for a full-back, invariably pitted against lightning-fast wingers.

That defensive fortitude has been carried across his past two seasons too, even though he has been heavily affected by injury. In 2022/23, he won 66% of his ground battles, and then 64% last year.

It's frightening to think of the kind of player James could yet become, for he performs so well when available and is still only 24. Gusto was welcomed to London as the skipper's understudy but has played a far more hands-on role than was probably anticipated, and in fairness, he's looked impressive.

But the club skipper is still Chelsea's main man, and he must return to the starting line-up as soon as possible to ensure that Maresca's budding project hits the ascendency after the international break.

For now, fans wait with bated breath to hear of news of the right-backs' respective return dates, and while James must be handled with care, there are two weeks now where he can really work on returning to match fitness.

Fewer touches than Sanchez: Chelsea must bench 4/10 star after Palace

This Chelsea attacker wasn’t at the races whatsoever versus Crystal Palace.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 2, 2024

Arsenal's overall recruitment strategy has improved significantly since Mikel Arteta and Edu came together.

The Gunners' overall fortunes have improved too but that's largely because of the work done off the field, behind the scenes. The two lead a strict plan. Buy the right profile of player and buy wisely. If things don't go to plan, that's okay, just make sure you have a backup plan.

Perhaps the finest examples of that are Leandro Trossard and Jorginho. Arsenal sought mega-money signings – they've not been afraid to do that in recent years – with Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo targeted. Arsenal ended up being priced out of both players so they brought in two proven Premier League talents instead.

Trossard has been one of the biggest success stories to date, scoring 17 goals in all competitions last term, only three fewer than poster boy Bukayo Saka.

They've also sold pretty well too. Arsenal were a bit of a laughing stock in this department a few years back but last summer and indeed this one, they have bucked that trend with some important sales that will help to fund transfer windows to come.

1. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

£35m

2. Folarin Balogun

£35m

3. Eddie Nketiah

£30m

4. Cesc Fabregas

£28.6m

5. Alex Iwobi

£28m

6. Emile Smith Rowe

£27m

7. Joe Willock

£25m

8. Marc Overmars

£25m

8. Emmanuel Adebayor

£25m

9. Robin van Persie

£24m

10. Nicolas Anelka

£23m

There's also been the small matter of Declan Rice. Arsenal absolutely demolished their transfer record to bring him to the club in a mega £105m deal last summer.

Amazingly, they've already recouped that cash with most of it arriving through the door this summer.

Here are four players, all of which featured in the 2018/19 FA Youth Cup, who have helped to pay back that transfer fee.

1 Folarin Balogun 2 senior goals for Arsenal

Last summer Arsenal decided to cash in on American forward Folarin Balogun to the tune of £35m, the joint-highest fee the Gunners have ever received for a player.

Considering the forward only ever played ten senior games for the club, that's a remarkable achievement. It also goes to show the value of finding the right loan for your academy players.

If they enjoy success on a big stage then it's only going to hike their price up. Balogun could have been integrated into the Arsenal senior setup last summer but instead chose to go where he'd earn regular first-team minutes. You can't blame him.

However, after scoring 22 goals for Reims during the 2022/23 campaign, he underwhelmed after a permanent move to Monaco, netting just eight times last season.

On that evidence, Edu did well to sell him for such a high price.

2 Eddie Nketiah 38 senior goals for Arsenal

Considering Nketiah's experience it's rather remarkable that Balogun was sold for more. Either way,the £30m Crystal Palace will pay for the centre-forward has to be marked down as strong business.

It's pure profit from Arsenal's point of view and let's be honest, it's a deal that works out for all parties. Nketiah needed to leave. The number of matches he started under Arteta was growing smaller and smaller so a departure made sense. The fact he's staying in London is an added bonus for the striker too.

A scorer of 38 goals in 168 matches, the 25-year-old was never a prolific figure but his attitude, dedication and mentality were all first-rate attributes that made him a brilliant squad player for the Gunners.

They've certainly cashed in at the right time here.

3 Emile Smith Rowe 18 senior goals for Arsenal

This was the one that very few Arsenal fans wanted to see go through. Smith Rowe is a cult hero at the Emirates Stadium and is one of the reasons that Arteta is still in the job.

When the going got tough, he and Saka dug Arsenal out of a colossal hole. For that wonderful campaign in 2021/22, we thank you Emile. On his way to earning his first England cap, the 24-year-old was electric that term, scoring ten goals and supplying two assists. Those aren't jaw-dropping numbers but they certainly saved the north Londoners at the time.

Since then, Smith Rowe has struggled significantly with injuries. Even when fit, however, he moved out of the manager's plans as Arsenal's squad became better. Like Nketiah, a move this summer felt like the right thing to negotiate.

Joining Fulham in a deal worth £27m, he has already made an instant impact at Craven Cottage, scoring his first goal against Leicester during match week two.

The holder of 115 Arsenal appearances, it was truly sad to see him leave permanently a few weeks ago.

Arsenal struck gold on "pure talent" now worth way more than Smith Rowe

The incredible talent has been a sensational player for the Gunners.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 28, 2024 4 Joe Willock 11 senior goals for Arsenal

We're casting our minds back a few years ago now but Joe Willock was another of that 2018/19 FA Youth Cup squad that was eventually sold for a hefty wedge of cash.

Willock trod a similar path to the aforementioned Balogun, enjoying a fabulous campaign out on loan that saw his value rise significantly.

He was in inspired form for Newcastle United during the back end of the 2020/21 season, scoring in seven Premier League matches in a row. The Toon subsequently ended up paying £25m for his services but they are yet to see similar form from a player who has spent a lot of the time out injured.

Willock's sale caused a bit of uproar given his potential, but it's safe to say this was certainly the right decision and at precisely the right time.

You may well be wondering who else was part of that Youth Cup side. Well, the fifth member to earn regular first-team football is none other than Saka. It's certainly an amazing crop. Combine their fees altogether and you have a combined figure of £117m, more than the sum of money Arsenal paid West Ham for Rice.

That doesn't sound too bad, does it?

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

A player who Aston Villa decided to loan out during the summer transfer window has recently impressed on his debut for his new club.

For the Midlands side, it has been a strong start to the Premier League campaign, as they have won three of their opening four games and sit in joint-fourth with Liverpool.

Aston Villa in race to sign "magnificent" gem ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea

He’s a future star…

1 ByTom Cunningham Sep 15, 2024 Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans were very busy during the summer, as they brought in eight new players, and they also let 16 players leave the football club in different capacities. Unai Emery will be hoping that business works out well and helps the club have another strong season.

Amadou Onana

Everton

Ian Maatsen

Chelsea

Cameron Archer (now sold)

Sheffield United

Jaden Philogene

Hull City

Samuel Iling-Junior (now loaned)

Juventus

Lewis Dobbin (now loaned)

Everton

Enzo Barrenechea

Juventus

Ross Barkley

Luton Town

The transfer window doesn’t open again for a few months, but it appears as though Villa could be in line for a busy January. This is because Aston Villa are being linked with a move for Stoke City’s Souleymane Sidibe. Villa are said to be in a race with Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea to sign the 17-year-old, who has been impressing for the Potters.

Meanwhile, the Premier League side could have a fight on their hands to keep one of their rising talents. Inter Milan are said to be looking into a deal for Jacob Ramsey, as they believe they can sign him on the cheap as a replacement for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Inter believe they can sign Ramsey for £30 million and then down the line sell him for around £60 million.

So, while Villa potentially have a busy January transfer window or 2025 summer transfer window ahead of them, they will be keeping their focus on this campaign, and one of their recent purchases, who isn’t at the club, is already performing while out on loan.

Aston Villa player out on loan stars on debut

Aston Villa signed Samuel Iling-Junior from Juventus during the summer, but it was decided that the 20-year-old would spend this campaign on loan at Bologna. Iling-Junior made his debut for the Serie A side this weekend, and he is said to have really impressed.

The winger came on for the final 27 minutes of the match against Como and scored a late equaliser as Bologna recused a point. Il Resto del Carlino, relayed by Sport Witness, labelled Iling-Junior’s performance as “fresh and decisive,” and he has now “turned the tables” after an uncertain summer at Villa.

This report goes on to add that Emery had “rejected” Iling-Junior, and it also goes on to criticise their management of the winger. The situation has been described as being “surreal,” but Iling-Junior has managed to stand above the situation and impressed on his debut for Bologna.

Iling-Junior joined Villa in the summer after playing 45 times for Juventus, during which he scored two goals and recorded four assists. Before making his Bologna debut, the 20-year-old had played 36 times in Serie A, scoring two goals and chipping in with three assists. The attacker will be keen to use this opportunity with Bologna as a chance to show his parent club that he has what it takes to be a part of their first team plans going forward.

An “amazing” Champions League manager may well be an option to replace Sean Dyche at Everton, should he be sacked in the near future.

Everton drop more points at Leicester

The Blues were back in Premier League action on Saturday afternoon, making the trip to Leicester City and looking to get their first points of the season.

While they did at least manage a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium, there was a tinge of disappointment at the result, considering they took the lead through an Iliman Ndiaye goal in the 12th minute.

Everton couldn’t hold out, however, and Stephy Mavididi equalised with time running out, ensuring that Dyche and his players had to return to Merseyside with only a point to show for their efforts.

It was far from a disastrous result for the Blues, not least because it ended a run of four straight defeats in the league, but it didn’t do a huge amount in terms of taking the pressure off Dyche, who has been coming under pressure to save his job recently.

Champions League manager in frame to replace Dyche

According to the i, former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic could be seen as an option to replace Dyche at Everton in the near future. The 41-year-old is thought to be keen on managing in the Premier League.

He isn’t the only name mentioned, however, with David Moyes and Graham Potter also in the mix, with a potential return to Goodison Park lined up for the former.

Terzic could be an exciting appointment for Everton, considering he was only recently managing in the Champions League final, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid back in June.

There is no shame in that result, of course, and he deserves huge praise for reaching the biggest game in club football, with Jose Mourinho having nice things to say about him after the game:

“Time is not going to help you. It’s going to be very hard for the rest of your career, for the rest of your life, but you have to be very proud of the work you did because it was amazing. As a coach you couldn’t do more, you can’t put the ball in the back of the net. The coach can organise, can give mentality, can give confidence, and he did all that.”

It does look as though Dyche still just about has the support of the board, despite such a grim start to the season, but there is no question that more defeats in the coming weeks could prove to be the final straw.

There could be sense in bringing back Moyes, who may steer them away from the threat of relegation, while Potter is also a gifted manager, but Terzic could stand out as the most eye-catching and bold option.

Talks held: Everton nearly hired a “genius” in 2023, they got Dyche instead

The Blues have started the season in wretched form…

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 20, 2024

He is known for adopting an attack-minded 4-3-3 formation, which would surely appeal to Everton supporters, and his recent brilliance speaks for itself, with very few expecting Dortmund to be in the Champions League final last season.