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Arsenal are back in action this afternoon following the international break, as Mikel Arteta’s side travel to west London to face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Gunners will hope to get their away form back on track after picking up just one point from their previous two trips away from home in the Premier League, with the Bees expected to be far from easy to overcome.

Following the two week pause in play for the international festivities, Arteta’s side is anticipated to look far different from the team that beat Burnley 3-1 at the Emirates last time out, with a number of faces set to re-enter the fold.

Arsenal team news vs Brentford

Away from injury, first choice shot-stopper David Raya will be unavailable for the fixture due to being ineligible to play against his parent club, as his deal at Arsenal is still a loan from Brentford.

Reports have surfaced to unsurprisingly relay that the Gunners wish to activate a permanent contract for the Spaniard, meaning more bad news for Aaron Ramsdale, who will get a rare chance between the posts this afternoon.

Against the Clarets, Martin Odegaard, Ben White and Gabriel Jesus were unavailable due to injury and illness.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta admitted that White and Odegaard will “hopefully” return to the fold against Brentford, but couldn't confirm the status of the two players for certain.

The talk of the international break was the emergence of Jesus, who had missed Arsenal’s previous five fixtures due to injury, however was called up to represent Brazil and played 90 minutes for his country whilst on duty.

Arsenal could eventually replace Jesus with £44m teen dynamo

Mikel Arteta could be close to unearthing another starlet at the Emirates…

ByRosie Tudball Nov 23, 2023

Despite returning after recording some impressive performances prior to his injury, there is some debate as to whether the four-time Premier League winner should automatically reclaim his number nine spot, as his replacement has been in terrific form in his absence.

The stats that suggest Leandro Trossard should keep his place in the XI

Predominantly fielded as a left-winger, Leandro Trossard has been Arteta’s guiding light when leading the line this season, recording a higher conversion rate than both Jesus and Eddie Nketiah when playing centrally, as per Sofascore.

Lauded for his “lively” presence in the final third by Arteta, Jesus’ energy and positivity has been missed, although the Belgian has provided a more clinical streak than the Brazilian, who admitted that scoring goals is not his “strong point” while on international duty.

Once dubbed “absolutely clinical” by journalist Phil Costa, the Belgium international has contributed to three goals in his previous two appearances for Arsenal, scoring two and assisting once, playing central on both occasions.

Trossard’s emergence as the Gunners’ most prolific striker must be celebrated, with the chance for Arteta to raise the level of performance of both Jesus and Nketiah to reach the form of the former Brighton whiz, who has made a stellar impact since arriving in January.

In Brentford, Arsenal face a task of keeping near to the top of the table while trying to overcome the Bees, who have won three of their previous five in the league.

Fielding Trossard over Jesus would benefit the north Londoners with reference to the challenge ahead, with the need to take their chances pivotal in a game that will be highly contested.

Celtic are considering a move to bring a new goalkeeper to the Scottish Premiership in January, according to a fresh report.

Celtic's season so far

The Hoops have made a remarkable start to the domestic campaign having won 11, drawn three and lost none of their opening 14 games, meaning that they currently find themselves clear at the top of the table ahead of their rivals Rangers.

Whilst Brendan Rodgers doesn’t necessarily need to enter the market to improve his squad given their outstanding form, Joe Hart and Scott Bain will both have reached the expiration of their deals at the end of the season (Celtic contracts), so the manager could do with discovering the availability of goalkeepers.

Celtic signal January transfer plans; Rodgers convinced he can land targets

Celtic are keen to strengthen in January to give them an edge in the hunt for the Scottish Premiership title…

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 26, 2023

Back in 2018, Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin put pen to paper at the Bernabeu Stadium, but during that time, he’s been sent out on three loans to CD Leganes, Real Valladolid and Real Oviedo, showing how low down in the pecking order he is under Carlo Ancelotti (Transfermarkt – Lunin statistics).

The Ukraine international is typically his manager’s third-choice shot-stopper behind Thibaut Courtois and Kepa Arrizabalaga when all members of the trio are fully fit, and with his terms set to run out upon the conclusion of the current campaign (Real Madrid contracts), the 24-year-old has been highlighted as a target at Parkhead.

Celtic eyeing swoop for Andriy Lunin

According to The Daily Record, Celtic are contemplating a move for Lunin at the start of next year, and there's a chance that he could be made available due to his lack of game time and minutes at Real Madrid.

“Real Madrid's backup keeper Andriy Lunin might just be available in January despite a recent run in the team. Record Sport understands he's one of the keepers under consideration at Celtic and while his recent prominence at Real might suggest he'll be a tricky man to land, Carlo Ancelotti dropped a hint that his stint in the team is coming to an end this weekend.”

Lunin could be a "top goalkeeper" for Rodgers

Since the start of his career, Lunin has kept 37 clean sheets from 112 games. Standing at 6 foot 3, Real Madrid’s colossus has made 15 saves from 17 shots on target against this year, giving him a save percentage of 88.2% (FBRef – Lunin statistics), which is higher than the 72% that Hart has managed so far this season (FBRef – Hart statistics), showing that he’d be an upgrade on the existing number one.

Sponsored by Nike, the Ukrainian additionally ranks in the 98th percentile for penalty saves so he has an excellent record when it comes to spot kicks, making him a really well-rounded player and one who would surely decide the odd cup fixture here and there too.

According to Carlo Ancelotti, Lunin is a “top goalkeeper” between the sticks, so if the right opportunity was to present itself, Celtic have to fully pursue a deal for their target by trying to fend off interest elsewhere and secure his services in January.

It took just two weeks of pain and suffering but Everton are now firmly outside the relegation zone once more after an emphatic 3-0 victory at home to Newcastle United on Thursday night.

In fact, the Toffees have been tremendous throughout the campaign, with a ten-point deduction back in November generating an unfair reflection of the team's position in the Premier League table. Everton have now earned more points overall than Chelsea and would be tenth in the top-flight had they not been punished.

One player who has been a rock at the back for the Merseyside club is Jarrad Branthwaite, but with rumours of the centre-back being linked elsewhere, Everton are said to be looking around for a new central defender.

Everton transfer news – Jake O'Brien

According to a recent report from Foot Mercato, Everton are keeping tabs on Lyon centre-back Jake O'Brien ahead of the January transfer window.

The French outfit are in free-fall at the moment and currently sit rock bottom of Ligue, despite reaching a Champions League semi-final merely three years ago.

The Irish defender moved to Les Gones during the summer for around £850k, having previously played for his boyhood club Cork City before joining Crystal Palace.

With the Eagles, O'Brien was sent out on loan to Swindon Town and eventually Belgian side RWD Molenbeek before making the switch to the Groupama Stadium, having failed to make a single competitive appearance for Palace at Selhurst Park.

Incidentally, O'Brien is Lyon's joint-top goalscorer with three goals, alongside former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, having scored 27% of the team's goals which is incredible for a centre-back. Additionally, O'Brien has ranked quite high statistically when compared to all other central defenders from Europe's top-five leagues.

Per 90 Metric

Percentile Ranking in Men's Big Five leagues

Non-Penalty Goals

99

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

99

Passes Completed

76

Pass Completion %

88

Short Passing Completion %

87

Long Pass Completion %

92

Aerial Duels Won %

96

Ball Recoveries

87

23/24 Stats via FBref

Jake O'Brien's stats this season

O'Brien could be the perfect replacement for Branthwaite at Goodison Park as the latter is currently being touted with a move to Old Trafford ahead of the January transfer window as Erik ten Hag looks to shore up his leaky Manchester United defence.

The rumoured pursuit of O'Brien has similar connotations to the deal which saw Branthwaite move to Merseyside back in 2020 for a mere £1m from then-League Two outfit Carlisle United.

Everton have since bumped up their asking price for the 21-year-old to £25m. Like Branthwaite, O'Brien also has experience in the English lower leagues, having made 21 appearances for Swindon, and could be available for an incredibly cheap amount, especially with Lyon sitting bottom of France's top flight.

The Irishman is said to be worth £4m, according to the CIES Football Observatory.

Furthermore, even if Branthwaite was to remain with Everton, O'Brien could provide depth and quality on Sean Dyche's bench, particularly with Ben Godfrey being linked with a move elsewhere this winter. The ex-Norwich City defender has played merely 91 minutes all season under Dyche and O'Brien has outperformed him in almost every metric so far, based off of Godfrey's stats last season.

Goals

0.38

0

Expected Goals

0.25

0.14

Progressive Passes

3

2.13

Passes To Final 1/3

3

2.7

Passes To Penalty Area

0.13

0.11

Pass Completion

90.5

64.8

Aerial Duels Won %

73.9

46.9

Touches

69.3

43.9

Tackles

0.5

2.25

Tackles Won

0.5

1.41

Interceptions

0.38

0.91

Stats via FBref

Godfrey has been making more tackles than O'Brien, although the latter has a higher success rate. However, apart from interceptions, the Lyon star trumps the Everton defender.

If Godfrey leaves this January, Dyche should look no further than O'Brien to be an upgrade on him due to his superior defensive and in-possession capabilities across the board to repeat the club's Branthwaite masterclass.

Celtic could be set to lose one of their most important players next month, with a fresh report revealing that he’s been watched by scouts sent from a new admirer.

Celtic confirmed ins and outs

The Hoops sanctioned the sales of ten players during the previous transfer window, with seven of those leaving on a permanent basis, while the remaining three were sent out on loan for the rest of the season to increase their experience and game time.

Jota (Al-Ittihad)

Sead Haksabanovic (Stoke City)

Carl Starfelt (Celta De Vigo)

Liam Shaw (Wigan Athletic)

Albian Ajeti (Gaziantep)

Adam Montgomery (Fleetwood Town)

Conor Hazard (Plymouth)

Vasilis Barkas (FC Utrecht)

Ismaila Soro (Beitar Jerusalem)

Osaze Urhoghide (Amiens)

The Scottish Premiership side have Greg Taylor, David Turnbull, Joe Hart and Scott Bain who will have all reached the expiration of their deals at the end of the campaign, so there’s a chance that they could also soon be heading for the exit door (Celtic contracts).

Back in September, Matt O’Riley put pen to paper on fresh terms, meaning that he has committed himself to the club until at least May 31, 2027, but regardless of his situation, the central midfielder hasn’t stopped attracting interest thanks to his impressive performances since the start of the term.

The Denmark international has firmly established himself as Brendan Rodgers’ overall best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 7.85 (WhoScored – Celtic statistics), and the 23-year-old’s outstanding displays appear to have been assessed live in action by a club in the Premier League.

Newcastle are watching O'Riley

According to TEAMtalk, O’Riley is of interest to Newcastle, but they have been warned that it will cost a record fee in order for him to leave Celtic in January.

“Newcastle United have scouted the 23-year-old on multiple occasions, including whilst he was playing senior international football for his country, Denmark. Any deal will be a Scottish transfer record, with the Hoops demanding over £25m for the star.

"O’Riley is happy at Celtic but would find a move to England hard to turn down with the opportunity to play in the world’s best league and the obvious financial gain too much to reject.”

Celtic need to keep "magician" in O'Riley

In the Scottish Premiership this season, O’Riley has already clocked up 14 involvements, nine goals and five assists, from 16 appearances, showing just how prolific he can be in the final third, and he’s able to pose a constant threat to the opposition's defence (Transfermarkt – O’Riley statistics).

Standing at 6 foot 2, the left-footed colossus has recorded 47 shots over the course of the current campaign which is more than any of his fellow teammates, representing what a standout performer he is in the attacking areas of the pitch in comparison to his peers (FBRef – Celtic statistics).

Celtic’s “midfield magician”, as hailed by a member of the media, has even helped to secure four pieces of silverware during his time at the club, so making the decision to retain his services beyond next month has to be a no-brainer no matter the price.

Fulham are in talks to sell one of their regular features to a rival in the Premier League in January, according to a fresh report.

Fulham exit rumours

Over the summer, Joao Palhinha was close to completing a move to Bayern Munich having even travelled to undergo his medical, and despite a deal collapsing late on deadline day, it’s believed that his admirers are considering another approach in the coming weeks.

Since then, Willian has also been linked with a departure because he is being monitored by a number of clubs in both the MLS and Saudi Arabia, but if the following update is to be believed, he might not be the only one who is soon heading for the exit door.

Fulham looking at move to sign new "complete" striker for Marco Silva

The Cottagers are wanting to bolster their attacking ranks.

ByChloe Chadwick Dec 7, 2023

Back in 2020, Antonee Robinson first joined the club from Wigan Athletic and the left-back has gone on to become an integral member of the senior squad, making 128 appearances over his three, almost four years at Craven Cottage (Transfermarkt – Robinson statistics).

The USA international has firmly established himself as Marco Silva’s overall second-best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 6.97 (WhoScored – Fulham statistics), and the 26-year-old’s impressive form has caught the eye on Merseyside.

Fulham receive approach for Robinson

According to 90min, Fulham have received an enquiry for Robinson from Liverpool, and it’s believed that the two parties are now in negotiations to discuss a switch due to the player being keen to move onto new pastures in January.

“Liverpool have reached out to Fulham to discuss a deal for left-back Antonee Robinson in the January transfer window, 90min understands. Sources have confirmed to 90min that Robinson is open to moving to Anfield and Liverpool are now working in the hope of striking an agreement with Fulham.”

Silva needs to keep "dangerous" Robinson

Being a left-back, Robinson is strong in the natural defensive aspect of his game which he’s proven this season because he’s currently averaging 2.7 interceptions, 2.6 tackles and the exact same number of clearances per top-flight game (WhoScored – Robinson statistics).

The Milton Keynes-born talent is also capable of bursting down the flank to make a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch where he’s recorded 61 crosses since the start of the term which is the second-highest total throughout his squad (FBRef – Fulham statistics).

Silva’s left-footed ace has been able to turn these chances into the end product over the course of his time in the capital having racked up 12 contributions, nine assists and three goals, for the Cottagers, so he appears to be an extremely well-rounded player.

As described by Josh Bunting, Robinson can be “dangerous” on the break when working with his attacking counterpart Willian higher up the pitch, so the thought of losing him is a huge blow, so the club should decide to retain his services beyond January.

Arsenal begin their hunt for a record-extending 15th FA Cup victory as they prepare to face Liverpool this evening.

Mikel Arteta won't be resting on his laurels as he aims to secure his second trophy as manager of the club – four years after winning the same competition against Chelsea.

Over the previous few weeks, however, the Gunners have suffered two defeats in the Premier League, and they have only won one fixture since a 4-3 victory over Luton Town at the start of December.

This signifies that despite the club sitting fourth in the table and just five points behind the Anfield side, Arteta needs to bolster his squad in the January transfer window.

small

They have naturally been linked with a few names so far, yet it is a potential swoop for a current Premier League midfielder which could be one of his most important moves.

Arsenal transfer news – Amadou Onana

It is no secret that Arteta is after some midfield reinforcements – either this month or in the summer – and according to a report from TEAMtalk earlier this week, Arsenal have shown interest in Everton gem Amadou Onana ahead of making a swoop for the player.

Indeed, the report indicates that the Gunners have in fact made an approach for the Belgian as they look to add some more talent into their midfield area.

The club have been linked with a move for Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz in recent months following his impressive start to the season for the Midlands outfit, scoring seven times as Unai Emery’s side have lit up the top flight.

It appears as though Arteta is looking to move on to other targets, with Onana now being targeted.

Any prospective move could come at a huge cost, however, as the Goodison Park outfit are reportedly valuing the midfielder between £70m-£90m and this could prove to be a big stumbling block for Arsenal.

2023

2023

2023

2022

2021

During the summer, the Spaniard splashed out a club record £105m transfer fee to lure Declan Rice from West Ham United and despite the lavish sum, he is certainly shown his worth.

This suggests that a move for Onana could perhaps allow Arteta to replicate his Rice masterclass and sign another midfielder from a fellow Premier League side and give them a platform to continue their development.

Declan Rice’s Arsenal statistics

The Englishman swiftly emerged as one of the most gifted midfielders in the country during his spell at West Ham, progressing from the academy to club captain within just a few years.

He eventually made 245 appearances for the Irons since making his debut during the 2016/17 campaign, and he departed as a hero, leading the club to their first major trophy since the 1980 FA Cup by winning the Europa Conference League in June 2023.

He had been admired by a host of clubs, yet it was a move across London to Arsenal which was the logical option, and he hasn’t disappointed during his first six months at the Emirates.

Indeed, the midfielder currently ranks second among the squad for accurate passes per game in the top flight (62.8) along with ranking second for tackles (2.1) and first for interceptions (1.5), indicating that he has been a positive influence in the Arsenal side, especially from a defensive viewpoint.

The 24-year-old can also contribute in an attacking sense too, as he has scored some vital goals this season.

His first goal for the Gunners came against Manchester United in a thrilling 3-1 victory in September, while the former West Ham starlet netted a wonderful last-minute header against Luton to claim all three points, and he has adapted well to Arteta’s methods and demands.

Onana is in a similar mould to the Arsenal midfielder and there is no doubt he could settle in well at the club should he make a move to the Gunners in the near future.

Amadou Onana’s season in numbers

Frank Lampard may have struggled in his role as Everton manager, but his signing of Onana was among one of his finest pieces of transfer business.

The 22-year-old cost the club £33m from French side Lille in August 2022 and he enjoyed a decent first season for the Toffees, making 35 appearances across all competitions and scoring once.

This has given him a platform to become one of Everton’s best performers this season under Sean Dyche.

His displays this term have seen him garner praise from a wide range of sources. Under 23 scout Antonio Mango was one such admirer, saying: “He’s such a physical specimen, he has all attributes to become a real Midfield Powerhouse.”

Talent scout Jacek Kulig went even further in his praise for the talented Belgian, claiming he was a “complete package” following another excellent performance for the Toffees last month.

Across the whole Everton squad in the top flight this season, Onana ranks first for accurate passes per game (32.7) while also ranking third for big chances created (four) and third for tackles per game (2.6) which demonstrates how effective he is in various performance metrics.

He is without doubt, one of Dyche’s most important players this season, and he could thrive at the heart of the Arsenal midfield, enabling the likes of Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz to utilise their attacking abilities.

The Belgian’s defensive acumen sees him rank in the top 5% in Europe’s big five leagues for aerial duels won per 90 (2.47) along with ranking in the top 25% for tackles won per 90 (2.47) and if there is one player Arteta should target this month, it must be Onana.

Much will depend on how much the Spaniard has to spend in the current transfer window, and he may have to move on some deadwood in order to raise the required funds to sign the Everton gem.

Rice has proved that £105m can go a long way and with the Toffees wanting around £90m for their star man, Arteta could repeat his stroke of genius by luring Onana to the Emirates in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur marched into the FA Cup fourth round with a hard-fought victory over Premier League rivals Burnley on Friday night, and while Ange Postecoglou's side weren't at their best, victory is all that matters at this stage.

There was a certain profligacy to the hosts that will undoubtedly place a sense of unease within the squad and its supporters with Heung-min Son absent at the Asia Cup for – likely – the next month.

James Maddison's return from an ankle injury that has kept him out for nearly two months does come at the perfect time, however, with the England international an upgrade on Giovani Lo Celso, who was poor last night.

Giovani Lo Celso's game vs Burnley in numbers

Lo Celso has been an important player at Tottenham over the past few months, scoring two goals and supplying two assists (last time out in the Premier League), and providing the creative spark from the centre in Maddison's absence.

Hooked before the hour mark, the Argentinian midfielder suffered one of his less influential showings despite maintaining the technical prowess that has led to a revival on English shores.

Stat

#

Minutes played

58'

Touches

52

Accurate passes

38/40 (95%)

Key passes

1

Dribble attempts

1/1 (100%)

Ground duel %

5/9 (56%)

Tackles

2

Clearances

1

*Sourced via Sofascore

Handing him a 5/10 match score, football.london's Alasdair Gold wrote: 'A muted performance from the Argentine and he came off in the second half walking a bit gingerly.'

While his creativity was not at its apex, the blame can hardly be attributed to Lo Celso given the lifeless effort of Richarlison up front, who regressed after his recent purple patch.

Richarlison's performance vs Burnley

Richarlison has scored five goals from his past five Premier League games in a resurgence that has been most pleasing to those of a Tottenham persuasion, but he was bailed out by Pedro Porro's rifled effort late in the second half against Burnley.

As per Sofascore, the 26-year-old took two shots, failed to attempt a single dribble, only took 24 touches all night (fewer than Guglielmo Vicario between the sticks) and failed with his one attempted cross.

Furthermore, he lost all four contested duels as he failed to strike fear and formidability into the arrowhead, also offside once and committing two fouls.

TalkSPORT host Ally McCoist has said in the past that he is a "very frustrating" forward to watch at times, and this was encompassed through last night's wayward performance.

Gold was even more scathing in his post-match remarks when concerning Richarlison – whom he handed a meagre 4/10 match rating – writing: 'Fluffed a couple of early efforts when put into the box. Yes, the service into him wasn't great but he made a mess of what did come his way in the final third so the ball never really stuck up top for Spurs. Postecoglou will need more from him while Son is away.'

The Brazilian will now need to step up, and with recent news filtering through that former Chelsea striker Timo Werner is on his way to Tottenham on a six-month loan deal, he will need to ensure that he returns to top form.

That possible arrival of the German could have the one-time Everton man fearing for his place in the coming weeks, with there an argument to be made that he should be dropped ahead of next weekend's clash with Manchester United, such were his woes on Friday night.

Unlike Everton and Nottingham Forest, Chelsea avoided Premier League charges for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) this week, but trouble is reportedly brewing ahead of the 2025 review. The Blues have spent in excess of £1bn since Todd Boehly's takeover in 2022, and they may have to make sacrifices to ensure they are compliant with the league's requirements.

Chelsea: Every signing Todd Boehly has made at Stamford Bridge

The full list is absolutely crazy!

ByAlex Caple May 5, 2025

One of those may be offloading Trevoh Chalobah, an academy graduate whose sale can be classed as pure profit in the books. Chalobah could leave the club this month amid the possibility that Bayern Munich reignite their summer interest.

Elsewhere, Thiago Silva is approaching the expiry of his contract this summer and there have yet to be any talks over an extension. The Brazilian turns 40 this year and his time at Stamford Bridge may be coming to an end.

If Chalobah and Silva do move on, then Chelsea will have to find a replacement at centre-back while operating within the bounds of the PSR. The club have been watching their former player Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace, and Jean-Clair Todibo at Nice, but now another target has emerged.

Diomande subject of Chelsea talks

According to Football.london, Chelsea have held talks with Sporting CP over Ousmane Diomande. The 20-year-old has played his way onto the Blues' shortlist, prompting them to make contact over a deal.

The Ivorian, who's currently representing the host country at the Africa Cup of Nations, has a release clause of £69m in his contract, and Sporting will apparently force any suitors to pay that amount in full if they want to sign him this month. In the summer, however, it's thought that there may be more room for negotiation given that the Primeira Liga club will have ample time to plug the gap.

Chelsea should wait until summer for "elite" Diomande

It's been a whirlwind period for Diomande, who only moved to European football with Danish club Midtjylland in the summer of 2022. Six months, and an impressive loan spell at Portuguese second-tier side Mafra, later, he was snapped up by Sporting. Now, he's being linked to two sides in the Premier League's big six, with Liverpool also said to be interested.

Even though he hadn't played a game of European top-flight football when he arrived, Sporting showed trust in Diomande instantly. He made 11 league starts in the second half of the 2022/23 campaign, and played the second legs of the Europa League knockout ties against Arsenal and Juventus. This season, he'd started every league match for the club before heading off to AFCON.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

38 games isn't much of a sample size for Chelsea and Liverpool when it comes to judging a player, but his numbers illustrate why they're so intrigued. He's posted a tackle success rate of 83.3% this season, the second-best in the league, which shows that he almost always wins possession when he puts his foot in. No wonder U23 talent scout Antonio Mango has labelled him "elite".

On the ball, meanwhile, he's supremely precise, ranking third in the league for pass completion (91%), and despite missing the last three games, he remains in the top six for touches (1,165), progressive carrying distance (2,342 yards) and passes into the final third (94). This highlights just how ambitious he is in possession, which is sure to appeal to Mauricio Pochettino, too.

If Chelsea do lose Chalobah, Diomande could be the ideal replacement, although it would be wise to wait until the summer given that they are currently walking a financial tightrope.

One pundit has been giving his reaction to the news that a West Bromwich Albion regular could be leaving The Hawthorns before the end of the month.

West Brom transfer news

So far this month, Carlos Corberan has added to his attacking ranks after losing the loan services of Jeremy Sarmiento. The 21-year-old has since joined Championship rivals Ipswich Town, however, the Baggies have raided second-tier side Bristol City for Andreas Weimann.

The Austrian has put pen to paper on a loan deal until the end of the season, whereas Callum Marshall has also arrived from West Ham, and there could be further additions before the deadline on February 1.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

Celtic wingers Liel Abada and Mikey Johnston have emerged as winter window targets, but there is also the possibility of a number of exits. Reports have claimed that West Brom are in talks with Trabzonspor over a move to allow Okay Yokuslu to return to his former club, whereas youngster Tom Fellows is being looked at by Leicester City and Southampton.

Kyle Bartley is another who has been linked with an exit from the Midlands.

Luton Town eyeing move for West Brom’s Kyle Bartley

According to recent rumours from The Telegraph, Bartley is on a list of targets for Premier League side Luton Town in the final days of the January transfer window.

“West Brom defender Kyle Bartley is on a shortlist of centre-backs on Luton’s radar to strengthen Rob Edwards’ back line. Bartley, 32, has experience in the Premier League with Swansea and his current club and has six months left on his deal at the Hawthorns, where he has been a regular this season in the club’s bid for promotion to the Premier League.”

Reacting to the rumours, BBC pundit Carlton Palmer claimed it would be a “massive blow” for West Brom and Corberan if he does leave. Talking to Football League World, he said:

"Bartley is one of the best defenders in the Championship, and has Premier League experience with over 50 appearances. Luton Town have identified Bartley as a potential signing, but with West Brom fifth in the Championship table, in a play-off place and aiming for a play-off spot, they would be reluctant to let the player go in January.

"However, Bartley is out of contract in the summer, and with the club no further ahead with the takeover, any suitable offer, you would assume, would be accepted by the West Bromwich Albion board. This would be a massive blow for West Brom and Carlos Corberan, in his attempts to achieve what he is trying to do this season."

The 32-year-old, hailed as “incredible” in 2022 by pundit Kevin Campbell, has been a regular under Corberan and has made 185 appearances for West Brom, more than any other club during his career.

Alex Mowatt

6.90/10

Cedric Kipre

6.89/10

Darnell Furlong

6.88/10

Matt Phillips

6.87/10

Kyle Bartley

6.85/10

As can be seen in the table above, he’s been a star performer during the current campaign, so losing his services could be a real blow, as Palmer suggests.

Arsenal's clash with Liverpool on Sunday afternoon was a huge one, more so for the Gunners.

Lose and Mikel Arteta's men would find themselves eight points behind the Reds in their quest to win the Premier League title.

That's an almighty way back if you want to be victorious come May. Still, thankfully for those of a Gunners persuasion, they lifted their performance levels to deliver one of their best displays of the campaign to date, winning 3-1.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring but a mix-up at the back between David Raya and William Saliba stunned the Emirates Stadium on the stroke of half-time.

Liverpool's own mix-up, involving Alisson and Virgil van Dijk allowed Gabriel Martinelli to give the north Londoners the lead in the second half before Leandro Trossard's last-gasp effort wrapped up the points.

It was a seismic victory for Arteta and his men who narrowed the gap to two points at the top end of the division. One player, in particular, starred for the Gunners; Jorginho.

9/10 Arsenal star was as good as Jorginho vs Liverpool

Jorginho put in a colossal performance vs Liverpool but another star stood out for Arsenal.

ByMatt Dawson Feb 4, 2024 Jorginho's performance vs Liverpool

Signed for just £12m in the winter of 2023, the Italian's arrival hardly did much to spark excitement among the fanbase at Arsenal. However, very quickly the £110k-per-week midfielder has become somewhat of a cult hero.

From that crunching late effort against Aston Villa last term to his display versus Liverpool on Sunday, the veteran is quite evidently a man for big occasions.

He was handed the official Man of the Match award for his performance against Jurgen Klopp's team, having boasted more touches of the ball (70) than any other Arsenal player. It was a superb display that gave Arsenal control, dominance and an element of calmness.

Such a display impressed Gunners icon Ray Parlour too.

Ray Parlour compares Jorginho to Martin Keown

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast on behalf of NetBet Online Casino, the ex-midfielder first revealed his surprise at Jorginho starting the clash:

"It was a bit of a shock when the team came up and it was a situation where you thought, hold on. Certainly, he [Arteta] got it right. He was fantastic in the end, Jorginho. I'm really pleased for him because he’s a really good pro."

It was a display that typified what the former Chelsea man has brought to the Emirates Stadium after joining a year ago. He is Arteta's voice on the pitch and that's a quality Parlour believes is crucial to having in your squad.

He told FFC: "He’s really good around the dressing room. Sometimes you need characters around the dressing room who even though you don’t play on a regular basis, you can keep pushing the lads. We had Martin Keown in the Invincibles who didn’t play many games but he was always in that area where if someone was dropping off he was pushing people. Jorginho is a certain player like that."

Signed for a measly fee, it could well prove to be one of Arsenal's biggest bargains of recent years, particularly when you consider the influence he could well be having on the younger members of the squad.

Speaking about what he brings behind the scenes, the Romford Pele added: "He [Jorginho] knows how to win trophies, he knows how to get over the line. People forget it’s a very young squad Arsenal have got. You do need a few experienced heads around the youngsters to help them.

"I could see him being appointed as a coach when he’s older. That’s why Arteta looked at him and thought 'I can see he’s going to help the youngsters. We will need him at certain periods in the season; there’s no doubt about that. Jorginho will know exactly what his role is coming into the club but if you need me I’ll be ready to go. I’ll train well every day'."

Arsenal have been struggling to find Declan Rice's ideal partner since he signed for the club from West Ham. Kai Havertz has played in the no.8 role, while Emile Smith Rowe even featured there against Nottingham Forest.

However, as was evident versus Liverpool, they may not even need one. After all, the double pivot of Rice and Jorginho worked a treat.