Arsenal are laying the groundwork to bring in a new centre-forward after Gabriel Jesus’ season-ending injury, and they’re considering a new transfer target as a potential alternative to Juventus star Dušan Vlahović.
Arsenal making January moves for Dušan Vlahović
Vlahovic is a very familiar name to Mikel Arteta, as the Gunners once attempted to beat Juve to his signature back in 2022.
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Arsenal were very keen on the Serbian in January that year, during his days with Fiorentina (Sky Sports), but the Old Lady eventually managed to sway Vlahovic into swapping the Artemio Franchi Stadium for Turin.
Tottenham (home)
January 15
Aston Villa (home)
January 18
Wolves (away)
January 25
Man City (home)
February 2
Leicester City (away)
February 1
Juve sealed a £67 million deal for Vlahovic, but reports now suggest that he could potentially join Arsenal exactly two years after the Gunners fell short in their pursuit of the 24-year-old.
There are suggestions that Vlahovic is a top striker target for Arsenal in January, and Arteta’s side have reportedly already seen a loan bid rejected (Football Transfers).
Serbia'sDusanVlahovicand Nikola Milenkovic before the match
If this is indeed the case, it appears they still won’t stop in their chase for the centre-forward, as multiple media sources report that Arsenal’s pursuit of Vlahovic remains very much alive.
This is echoed by CaughtOffside, though they also report Arsenal have an astute alternative in mind if they cannot strike a deal for the hitman with 12 goals in all competitions this season.
Arsenal weigh up January move for Marseille striker Elye Wahi
According to their sources, Marseille striker Elye Wahi is on their list of potential centre-forward options. The 22-year-old scored 19 French top flight club goals for ex-club Lens in the 2022/2023 season, and his form across the channel eventually did enough for him to seal a switch to Marseille last summer.
Leicester City target Elye Wahi in action for RC Lens.
Wahi’s scored just three goals in all competitions since joining Roberto De Zerbi’s side, so he hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best of starts to his Marseille career, and it is now believed that Arsenal could offer him a route out of Ligue 1.
CaughtOffside write that Arsenal are weighing up a January move for Wahi, who’s viewed as another option should they fail to land Vlahovic, and other reports claim the Frenchman is valued at around £25 million – potentially making him a more doable mid-season transfer from the club’s perspective.
That being said, West Ham are also badly in need of a striker, and have set their sights on Wahi as a target themselves.
Wahi, called a “real beast” for his past form by members of the press, cannot be discounted as a good choice to come in for Jesus.
Leeds United are potentially closing in on their first signing of the January transfer window after reaching the asking price for a 21-year-old defensive midfielder.
Leeds United transfer news
It’s been a quiet transfer window so far for the Whites, but that might not be a major surprise given the fact that the Yorkshire side sits top of the Championship table and are one of the stronger performing teams in the division. Daniel Farke has made it clear that he isn’t a fan of this transfer window, but that doesn’t mean the club are not going to conduct some sort of business, as they continue to be linked with new arrivals.
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Daniel Farke is pushing to make reinforcements to his Leeds United squad.
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A report emerged earlier in the week that Leeds scouts watched Bali Mumba in action on Saturday in Plymouth’s game against Brentford in the FA Cup. The defender is well known to Farke, as he gave him his Premier League debut for Norwich City a few years ago, and the German may now be keen on reuniting with the defender. Potential exits are also on the cards for the Whites this month, with striker Patrick Bamford’s future very much up in the air.
Blackburn Rovers boss John Eustace has now confirmed that Bamford is on a list of transfer targets for his side this month: “Patrick is a very good player. I played with him at Derby a long time ago when he started out.
“He’s a consistent performer at this level; he plays for a huge club in Leeds. But there will be lots of names thrown towards me, and I’ll just say they’re good players. You’d have to ask the club. He’s a player on a long list that we have looked at, and we’ll have to see.”
Leeds reach £3m asking price for 21 y/o midfielder
The Championship side now have a new player on their radar, as according to Portuguese journalist Sebastiao Sousa Pinto, Leeds have made a €4 million offer to sign Djé D’avilla, which is the fee Leiria wanted for the player.
The 21-year-old, who is a ‘number six’ by trade, currently plays for Liga Portugal 2 side Leiria and has done so since July 2022. D’avilla started his career in the Ivory Coast before moving to the Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal United in 2021, a year before his move to Portugal.
The midfielder has only recently broken into the team at Leiria, after a loan spell away from the club, and he looks as though, during 30-plus appearances for the club, he has done enough to emerge on Leeds’ radar. Sousa Pinto reports that the Whites have made an offer which is roughly £3 million, and that is the amount that the Portuguese side is happy with.
Apps
40
Goals
0
Assists
1
However, a transfer still looks quite difficult to complete, due to the work permit he would need to get. Leeds are also not the only side interested in signing the player, as several teams have reportedly shown an interest in signing the young midfielder.
The January transfer window still has just over a week left to run and Glasgow Rangers are still reportedly looking at potential deals, for this month and for the summer.
Rafael Fernandes recently arrived on loan from Lille, with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season, but did not make his debut in the 3-1 win over Dundee United on Sunday.
However, the Light Blues are yet to bring in a frontline signing to come in as an immediate starter and upgrade for the squad, with the young defender their only addition of the window to date.
The Gers beat Dundee United 3-1, partly thanks to the stunning strike from Cyriel Dessers above, but they are in the market for another signing, with a player from the other side in Dundee on their radar – Lyall Cameron.
Rangers' interest in Lyall Cameron
The Daily Mail recently reported that Rangers are interested in a deal to sign the 22-year-old starlet when his contract at Dundee expires in the summer.
Clement and technical director Nils Koppen are looking to strike a pre-contract agreement this month ahead of a move for him in the summer, although Aberdeen are also in the running and want to convince him to join them over making the switch to Ibrox.
Cameron has scored five goals and provided four assists in 22 appearances in the Scottish Premiership for Dundee so far this season as an attacking or central midfield player.
Whilst he is out of contract, Rangers would still need to pay a compensation fee and wages for the 22-year-old Scottish whiz, which means that he would not come as cheap as advertised with his expiring deal.
Koppen could save the club’s money, however, after another excellent performance from Ianis Hagi on Sunday proved that he has what it takes to be a star for the Gers moving forward.
Ianis Hagi's performance against Dundee United
The Romania international was not in Clement’s plans, due to a contract dispute, at the start of the season and there may, therefore, have been transfer plans drawn up for the future without him being part of it.
His current deal is up at the end of the season but the manager reportedly wants to keep hold of the attacking midfielder and, hopefully, they can agree an extension with him, which would allow them to move on from Cameron and save money on a new signing.
Hagi has scored one goal and provided five assists, along with five ‘big chances’ created in 11 starts in the Premiership so far this season, with his latest assist coming for Robin Propper on Sunday.
Minutes
85
Touches
72
Key passes
3
Dribbles completed
2
Assists
1
Shots
3
As you can see in the table above, the mercurial playmaker was all-action, with dribbles, shots, touches, and chances created, in the win over Dundee United.
Hagi takes responsibility in matches by demanding the ball and trying to make things happen, which makes him an influential figure for Rangers week-in-week-out.
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He has proven himself to be a reliable contribution in the final third and has established himself as a regular starter, which is why Koppen could save Rangers money by moving on from Cameron and trying to negotiate a new deal with Hagi.
Brighton are now expected to progress in a deal to sign a new defender for Fabian Hurzeler as they look to bolster their ranks ahead of rivals Crystal Palace.
Brighton planning for the future
After their heavy summer spending, it is little surprise to see Hurzeler’s side having a quiet January despite their inconsistent Premier League form.
The Seagulls fell to a 1-0 defeat to Everton in their most recent outing, their fifth defeat of the campaign. However, they have also drawn 10 games, which leaves them 9th in the Premier League as things stand and six points outside a European place.
Wins over Manchester United and Ipswich suggested a revival was imminent after a run of eight games without a win, but their most recent defeat has seen that hope evaporate.
Nottingham Forest (Away)
Chelsea (Home)
Southampton (Away)
Bournemouth (Home)
Fulham (Home)
However, their transfer business so far this month has been firmly with eyes on the future rather than players capable of an instant impact. So far, they have only confirmed the addition of 21-year-old midfielder Diego Gomez from MLS side Inter Miami, and they are also keen to complete a deal to sign Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra with the club having reportedly already made a verbal offer to sign him ahead of rivals.
Instead, outgoings have been the focus with Julio Enciso joining Ipswich Town on loan, while Evan Ferguson could also depart before the end of the transfer window.
Liverpool's Wataru Endo chases Julio Enciso
Now, it seems that Brighton have one more deal to try and complete in the next week.
Brighton could complete £15m+ signing ahead of Crystal Palace
That comes as the agent of defender El Hadji Malick Diouf has reportedly explained that Brighton could seal a deal to land his client in what would be a record sale for Slavia Prague.
Diouf has been the subject of intense interest this winter, and Crystal Palace made an offer to sign the fullback earlier in the window, only for it to be rejected. Now though, it is Palace’s rivals who seem to have managed to seal a deal, which will come as a delight to the Seagulls faithful.
According to Africa Foot, the Senegalese defender may well be on his way to the Amex, and his agent has disclosed the details of a potential deal. It is claimed that Brighton are ready to offer “€16m plus €2m in bonuses” (£15.1m), while “a five-year contract worth €4m net per year”, roughly £63,000 per week after tax is waiting for Diouf.
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Left-back has been a problem position for the Seagulls, with Valentino Barco having failed to impress either at the Amex or on loan with Sevilla this season, leaving no natural alternative to Pervis Estupinan in Hurzeler’s ranks.
Diouf may well fix that issue, while the 20-year-old could also prove the long-term successor to the Ecuadorian on the south coast.
After a strong start to the season under new manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have seriously dropped off in recent months.
Since 22nd December, the Blues have won just two Premier League games, suffering losses to Ipswich Town, Fulham and Manchester City, while drawing with Everton, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth.
This poor run of form has seen Maresca’s side slip from second in the league – just two points behind leaders Liverpool – to sixth place, with the possibility of European football next season now in serious doubt.
The cause of this decline is unclear, but from the outside, it seems to be a combination of factors: a squad filled mostly with young, inexperienced players, Maresca’s struggle to manage an over-inflated squad that has become harder to control as the weeks go by, and a lack of quality in key positions.
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In goal, for instance, Robert Sanchez has been the most error-prone ‘keeper in the Premier League this season, seemingly costing Chelsea points week after week.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Nicolas Jackson’s goals have dried up and Christopher Nkunku often looks aloof, with his mind seemingly elsewhere during his cameo appearances in the top flight.
While little business was done in January, Maresca will no doubt be hoping to use the summer to reassess his squad and bring in fresh talent capable of meeting his expectations and delivering for the Stamford Bridge faithful.
With that in mind, here are five players we believe Chelsea should target in the summer.
1 Alessandro Bastoni Inter
Inter Milan defenderAlessandro Bastoni.
Chelsea currently have no fewer than eight centre-backs in their squad, but aside from the injured Wesley Fofana, none has fully convinced this season.
To complement Fofana’s pace, power and relentless attitude, the Blues need to pair him with a composed, ball-playing defender who can help steady the ship. Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni is arguably the best example of such a player in Europe today.
A superb passer and astute dribbler, the Italian is as composed as they come when it comes to playing the ball out from the back. Standing at 6 foot 3, he’s also a physical presence, capable of winning the ball cleanly in the air and on the ground.
While he would be a dream and a sensible acquisition, Bastoni is currently tied to Inter until 2028, so he may require a big-money bid.
Chelsea certainly have the financial muscle to make such a splash, and with his fellow countryman Maresca at the helm, a connection with the manager could help persuade him to test his luck in a new league.
2 Johan Bakayoko PSV Eindhoven
PSV Eindhoven's JohanBakayokoin action
With the exception of the excellent Jadon Sancho, Chelsea’s wingers have been underwhelming this season. Pedro Neto has scored just twice in the Premier League, while despite netting seven goals, Noni Madueke has frustrated Maresca and Chelsea fans with lacklustre performances, selfishness in the final third and an inability to track back.
Mykhailo Mudryk, meanwhile, remains suspended after failing a drugs test.
To address their issues on the right wing, the Blues should target Madueke’s former PSV Eindhoven teammate, Johan Bakayoko.
The Dutchman scored 14 goals and registered 14 assists for PSV last season, earning multiple individual honours.
He’s continued his impressive form this season with nine goals and three assists, and has stood out with his tight control, footballing intelligence and ability to score with both feet – qualities he showcased in spectacular fashion when he netted against Liverpool in the Champions League.
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Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez
In addition to strengthening their options at centre-back and right-back, Chelsea also need more depth at left-back. Marc Cucurella has been solid so far this term, but he can’t be expected to play every match, while Malo Gusto is unable to operate on that flank.
Moreover, young Renato Veiga has now left for Juventus for the rest of the campaign, and Ben Chilwell has moved to Crystal Palace. Therefore, someone new may be being lined up for the summer.
A standout acquisition here, at least in our view, would be Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez. One of the standout defenders in the Premier League this season, the Hungarian has been defensively solid and dynamic going forward.
His all-around game was on full display during a man-of-the-match performance in a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in November. Kerkez contributed both assists for Bournemouth on the day, along with three clearances, two ball recoveries and an interception.
4 Diogo Costa Porto
Chelsea’s need for a new goalkeeper is perhaps their most pressing issue, with Robert Sanchez having already made five errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season.
Porto’s Diogo Costa would be a definite upgrade, and at 25 years old, he is a player who could be the Blues’ No 1 for many years to come.
Costa has been one of Europe’s most reliable goalkeepers in recent years, recording 78 clean sheets in 183 appearances for Porto, including 11 in 20 league games this season.
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1 ByBarney Lane Jan 27, 2025 5 Victor Boniface Bayer Leverkusen
Chelsea have long been searching for a successor to the legendary Didier Drogba, who tormented Premier League defences with his power, skill and an unrivalled ability to perform when it mattered most at Stamford Bridge.
While Nicolas Jackson’s link-up play might even surpass Drogba’s, his lack of clinical finishing is becoming a growing concern, with the Senegalese striker often costing the Blues valuable points.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface not only fits the Drogba mould – big, strong, dominant in the air, and surprisingly deft for his size – but he is also far more ruthless in front of goal than Jackson.
Since the start of last season, the Nigerian has scored 30 goals, averaging a goal every 103 minutes, while Jackson has found the net 26 times, with a goal every 204 minutes.
Chelsea have lost their third consecutive game, losing 2-1 against Aston Villa at Villa Park. The Blues took a 1-0 lead through Enzo Fernández, but it was a game of two halves as Villa scored two second-half goals through Marco Asensio, taking all three points on the day.
Enzo Maresca made plenty of tactical tweaks for this game, bringing Reece James into a more permanent defensive midfield role, which allowed Malo Gusto to overlap from right back and Cole Palmer to drift from the right wing.
The Blues held 48% of the ball, but still managed to take more shots than Villa (15). However, the Villans did generate more xG with 2.56, compared to Chelsea’s 2.12 xG, with Unai Emery’s side also creating three “big chances” compared to Chelsea’s two.
So what exactly went wrong in the game, with such a good first half performance, what were the key differences in the second half?
Filip Jorgensen's moment of madness
Filip Jorgensen made a crucial error when the Blues were still tied 1-1 with the Villans in the 89th minute, spilling a well-struck volley into his own net, gifting Asensio with his second goal of the game.
The Danish keeper made four saves in the game, but, of course, did have a costly late error which turned one point into zero for the away side. Jorgensen also had a 61% passing accuracy, misplacing nine of his 11 long balls attempted in the game.
The young stopper has been the first-choice in recent weeks, in place of Robert Sanchez – who has made five errors leading to a goal in the Premier League this season – although having also shipped three at the Amex last time out, he’s hardly taking his chance with both hands.
But Jorgensen wasn’t the only player to have a poor performance for the Blues, as another individual was rated even worse by The Standard, earning himself a 4/10 match rating.
Christopher Nkunku's woes continued
Christopher Nkunku has been playing out of position for much of the season. Despite being a more natural attacking midfielder, the Frenchman has had to sacrifice his best position to Cole Palmer, which has seen Nkunku playing as a striker or left-winger.
Stat
Nkunku
Minutes
76
Touches
44
Accurate Passes
23/23
Key Passes
2
Shots
1
Successful Dribbles
1/4
Ground Duels Won
6/13
Tackles
3
Interceptions
2
Despite having 100% passing accuracy in the game, making two key passes and even putting in a shift off the ball, winning six ground duels, making three tackles and two interceptions, Nkunku wasn’t involved enough on the attacking end, often struggling to get himself in the game out on the left wing.
The few times he did receive the ball, he often had to check back inside, slowing Chelsea’s momentum and allowing Villa to regroup defensively. It doesn’t quite seem to be clicking between Nkunku and Palmer, who often prefer to operate in the same areas.
With Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke and even Marc Guiu all missing from the Chelsea front line, Nkunku may be afforded a few more chances, but he is surely operating on borrowed time now, as Chelsea fans’ patience is running thin with the French star.
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With the summer transfer window approaching, Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony believes that Norwich City will attempt a move to sign one of his defensive stars.
Norwich transfer news
With just four points standing between themselves and the Championship top six, there’s still every chance that Norwich enjoy an exciting end to the season in the remaining 13 games. It would certainly be an excellent achievement if Johannes Hoff Thorup took his side to the play-offs at the first time of asking in England’s second tier, but a winless run of three games suggests there’s work to be done in pursuit of that goal.
Meanwhile, as that battle continues, those at Carrow Road could already be setting their sights on summer reinforcements who could bridge that gap on the top six and take Thorup’s side up a level or two.
The rumours are already getting underway and have already been fuelled by another EFL chief. Peterborough chairman MacAnthony even believes that Norwich will attempt to sign Emmanuel Fernandez this summer after failing to secure his signature at the end of the January transfer window for £2.5m.
Sharing his surprise at Fernandez’s stay, MacAnthony told The Hard Truth podcast, as relayed by the Peterborough Telegraph: “It blew my mind and the mind of my gaffer when Manny and his brothers turned the deal down.”
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He then went on to say: “Norwich became irritated and I don’t blame them. Manny’s had a lot of grief in his life in the last 18 months, but I believe Norwich will try again in the summer. At 23 he’s a magnificent prospect.
“He has all the attributes needed to have a great career. He wins everything in the air, 80% of his headers in fact which is way above average, and he can play out with the ball. With the right coaching and improvement he can be like Ethan Pinnock and James Tarkowski who made their way up the leagues to the top.”
Norwich should go again for Fernandez
A 6’6 central defender who is still just 23 years old, Norwich should return to secure Fernandez’s signature this summer, even despite their irritation over their January failure.
Compared to both Pinnock and Tarkowski – albeit by a chairman perhaps eyeing profit – Fernandez could unlock the next step for Thorup’s side at Carrow Road, which would see them step into the top six once again.
Emmanuel Fernandez for Peterborough.
When the summer transfer window swings open, it will certainly be interesting to see whether MacAnthony is left in shock once again or if Norwich finally get the defender they’ve been chasing since the turn of the year.
Given how he’s been praised, the 23-year-old is undoubtedly one to watch – whether it’s at Peterborough or in the Championship with Norwich, as he looks to replicate Tarkowski and Pinnock’s Premier League success.
One of the more successful periods for Manchester United in recent seasons came under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Red Devils legend took charge of the club for 168 games over a period that spanned almost four years.
Initially taking over as caretaker manager, the Norwegian brought the feel-good factor back to Old Trafford and picked up some famous wins, including that famous away win at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
As permanent boss, the former United striker led the club to third, then second in the Premier League and the Europa League final, where they lost 11-10 on penalties to LaLiga side Villarreal.
If there was one thing Solskjaer did well during his time at the club, it was bringing through youngsters.
Academy stars who played under Solskjaer
There is no doubt that the scorer of the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final understands what it means to play for United. He continued the long tradition of bringing through academy players, giving 16 different youngsters a first-team debut.
Perhaps the most successful academy graduate under Solskjaer was Anthony Elanga. Now at Nottingham Forest, the youngster impressed under the Norwegian manager. He played three times under his tutelage, scoring once in that time, against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.
Another youngster that Solskjaer brought through was James Garner. The midfielder is also still playing in the top flight with Everton but made seven appearances under United’s former number 20. He was an important player in the 2019/20 Europa League group stage, playing four out of the six games.
Some of the other notable names that Solskjaer gave a debut to include creative midfielder Hannibal, now playing at Championship Burnley, and centre-back Teden Mengi, who plies his trade at second-tier side Luton Town.
He also gave a record-breaking debut to one United youngster, but things did not pan out as he might have expected at Old Trafford.
The record-breaking Man United youngster
When thinking of the great young players to debut for United, names such as Duncan Edwards or Norman Whiteside might spring to mind. More recently, Angel Gomes was a prominent young debutant. However, another player on the list is Shola Shoretire.
At the age of 17, Newcastle-born Shoretire played against the Magpies, to become the second-youngest player to make his Premier League debut for the Old Trafford club, as per Statman Dave. Gomes was the only player younger.
David Gaskell
1956/57
16 years 19 days
Jeff Whitefoot
1949/50
16 years, 3 months, 15 days
Duncan Edwards
1952/53
16 years, 6 months, 4 days
Angel Gomes
2016/17
16 years, 8 months, 20 days
Willie Anderson
1963/64
16 years, 11 months, 4 days
Norman Whiteside
1981/82
16 years, 11 months, 17 days
Shola Shoretire
2020/21
17 years, 19 days
Andy Ritchie
1977/78
17 years, 28 days
David McCreery
1974/75
17 years, 1 month
Alex Dawson
1956/57
17 years, 2 months, 1 day
Just days later, he played in Europe for the first time, a 14-minute cameo against Real Sociedad in the Europa League. Not only was he hailed as an “enormous talent,” by journalist Rich Fay but manager Solskjaer said that the Red Devils youngster would go on to become “a very good player” for his boyhood club.
However, that was not the case. Shoretire went on to play just three more times in that famous Red shirt, making five appearances in total, with his last game coming in the 2021/22 campaign.
After a loan spell at League One outfit Bolton Wanderers, the United academy graduate left the club upon the expiration of his contract last summer despite being valued just as highly as Amad in the dying stages of the season from a monetary point of view. He made the move to Greek side PAOK on a free transfer, although the Red Devils got a compensation fee of £500k.
He has since made 23 appearances for his new club across all competitions, scoring four times in that time, playing on both the left and right flank. In a full-circle moment, Shoretire made a six-minute appearance at Old Trafford with his new side in the Europa League this season.
It was sadly not to be for Shoretire at Old Trafford. The club’s second-youngest Premier League player only made a handful of appearances, not living up to Solskjaer’s words after his second game for the club.
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On a sunny Saturday lunchtime in Nottingham, Manchester City were defeated 1-0 by Nottingham Forest in a huge game in the race for a Champions League spot.
The reigning Premier League champions never really had an opportunity to win the game, although they may well have been happy with a point given how well Forest have played this season.
Unfortunately for City, they could not hold on, with Callum Hudson-Odoi the man who scored the only goal of the game for Forest. Morgan Gibbs-White played a sublime ball over the top, switching the play over to the former Chelsea winger. He drove into the City penalty box, slotting home at the near post for 1-0.
It was a disappointing performance from City, who, as per Sofascore, dominated possession, with 69% of the ball, and also had more shots than Forest, with 14 compared to the home side’s nine. However, Guaridola’s side managed just three on target.
The result leaves City scrambling for a top four finish, and the unthinkable might happen; they might not qualify for the Champions League. Guardiola said at full-time that they have “ten finals from now on” to reach Europe’s elite club competition.
It was a tough day for the Citizens, with goalkeeper Ederson one of the players who could be particularly disappointed.
Ederson’s performance vs. Forest
It was very much a mixed bag of a day for City’s first-choice goalkeeper Ederson. He made some fantastic saves, particularly one just past the hour mark. However, he certainly could have dealt with the winning goal better.
The impressive save he made, in the 66th minute, was a brilliant stop to deny eventual goalscorer Hudson-Odoi. The Forest number 14 cut inside on his right foot, and sent a curling effort towards the City goal.
Ederson made a superb save, tipping the shot onto the left post with an outstretched hand to keep it at 0-0.
However, he did not exactly cover himself in glory for the goal. Hudson-Odoi drove at Josko Gvardiol after picking up the ball from Gibbs-White, and went on the outside on his stronger foot.
His shot, which took a slight deflection off Gvardiol, beat Ederson at the near post, a chance he probably should have saved.
Chalkboard
In a season which has been tough at times for Ederson, conceding like that in a crucial match was far from ideal. However, he was not the only City player who struggled at the City Ground on Saturday.
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As disappointing as Ederson was at the City Ground, he was perhaps not as bad as Matheus Nunes. The Portugal international, who played at right back, struggled against Hudson-Odoi, who was sensational and relentless when driving at the City defence.
Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski gave Nunes a 5/10 rating for his performance. The chief Manchester City writer said he ‘gave away a few needless corners’, although was full of praise for the fact he ‘battled on through injury’.
In terms of Nunes’ stats from the game, they were somewhat underwhelming. The midfielder-turned-defender had 58 touches and completed 88% of his passes. Defensively he struggled, winning one out of three tackles and one out of six ground duels.
Stat
Number
Touches
58
Pass accuracy
88%
Passes completed
43/49
Ground duels won
1/6
Tackles won
1/3
Number of times ball lost
8
Right-back has been a slight issue for Guardiola this season. Kyle Walker looked a shadow of his former self, and has now left the club on loan. Rico Lewis is talented but still inexperienced, hence why he has turned to Nunes at times to play right-back.
With another disappointing performance from Nunes, it does seem like City might have to try and add depth at right-back, to give him some support. Well, they were linked with Andrea Cambiaso recently, and he can play both sides at full-back.
Whatever Nunes’ future holds, perhaps his days at right-back are numbered. He is a talented player, but has been exposed there at times, including by Manchester United star Amad in the Manchester Derby in December.
How long Guardiola perseveres with Nunes at right-back remains to be seen, but with “ten finals” left this season, it could be a bold call whichever way he decides to go.
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Leeds United are eyeing a move for a teenage winger who is enjoying a superb breakthrough season in Ligue 1, according to a new report.
Leeds drop points again in the Championship with draw at QPR
A month ago, Leeds United were the runaway leaders at the top of the Championship, five points ahead of second-placed Sheffield United.
After just one win in four games, however, that lead has now been eliminated, with Daniel Farke’s side now only leading the Blades on goal difference.
Following a draw at West Bromwich Albion and a defeat to Portsmouth, the Whites’ latest setback came at the weekend as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Queens Park Rangers.
Leeds had trailed Martí Cifuentes’ side by two goals before the break, but fought back to rescue a point, which was enough to ensure they stayed at the top of the Championship.
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“During this period of the season when you have to play the third game in six days and you are 2-0 down after 30 minutes, it’s a good point,” Farke said after the match, according to BBC Sport.
“QPR deserved to be in the lead because we were poor in the first 25-30 minutes. What was good was the reaction of my team today,” he added. “Yes, of course, we wanted to win this game [but] after the story of the game it’s a good point on the road.”
Leeds eyeing move for teenage winger Guirassy
Regardless of whether Leeds end the season by gaining promotion back to the Premier League or not, it already appears they are looking to improve their squad for next year.
According to Le Républicain Sportif, the Whites are already eyeing a summer move for Nantes youngster Herba Guirassy, who is enjoying a fine breakthrough season in Ligue 1.
The 18-year-old winger has scored twice in 15 games in the French top flight, and has impressed with his pace and skill out on the right flank.
Celtic are also understood to be interested in the Guinean, and Le Républicain Sportif report that Nantes, who are currently 13th in the league, could be willing to let him go for a fee in the region of €10 million (£8.4 million). Leeds and Celtic are interested in the attacker due to his ‘impressive technical skills’ and see his ‘potential as a major asset for the future’.
According to Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, Guirassy is a similar mold to former Arsenal and AS Roma star Gervinho, with his strengths being “pace, acceleration, ball control, dribbling, bravery, [and] athleticism.”
The teenager signed his first contract with Nantes in June 2023, and is currently tied to the French club until 2028.