All posts by z3u9t.icu

They might not necessarily have the points to show for at the moment, but Ipswich Town have looked good enough to remain in the Premier League this season.

Kieran McKenna’s side are just about still in the relegation zone, but with wins against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, plus draws with Manchester United, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion, they have given their fans reason to be optimistic.

Unfortunately, there is no time to rest in the top flight, and this afternoon poses yet another significant test for the Tractor Boys as they play host to Newcastle United.

Worse still, they’ll be without a star striker, Liam Delap, as he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season on Saturday and, as such, is suspended for today’s game, but one of McKenna’s other star players could be the solution to this personnel issue.

Liam Delap's season so far

We aren’t too far off the midway point of the Premier League season at the moment, and so far, it would probably be fair to say that Delap has been one of, if not the most crucial player for Ipswich this year.

The former Manchester City prospect joined the club for around £20m in the summer, and while there was an element of risk in spending so much on someone with practically no top-flight experience, he has since put any doubts firmly to rest.

He didn’t necessarily hit the ground running, scoring just once in his first five league games, but since then, he’s added another five and provided an assist in 16 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 2.28 games in the competition.

However, it’s not just his output that makes the 21-year-old so brilliant; it’s also his ability to act as a focal point at times, bringing his teammates into play and generally giving opposition defenders something to worry about during games.

So, with all that said, his absence for the game against Newcastle is undeniably a big concern for McKenna and Co.

However, there is no need for doom and gloom just yet, as another of his impressive summer signings can step in for a game and potentially do a job for the side.

The Ipswich star who could stand in for Delap

So, we’ll get straight to the point: the Ipswich star who could step in for Delap at centre-forward this afternoon is Sammie Szmodics.

Now, before the pitchforks come out, we know that this might not be the first solution that comes to mind, but with George Hirst out injured and questions remaining over Ali Al-Hamadi’s actual level, starting the Irishman may be McKenna’s best option.

Furthermore, while he has primarily played out wide and in midfield over his career, he spent a handful of games playing up top for Blackburn Rovers and did reasonably well when doing so.

Appearances

14

Minutes

1254′

Goals

10

Assists

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.71

Minutes per Goal Involvement

125.4

For example, the “ridiculous” talent, as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting, made 14 appearances as a number nine for Rovers across the last three campaigns, in which he found the back of the net on ten occasions, equating to an impressive average of a goal every 1.75 games.

On top of that, his tally of three goals in 14 appearances this season isn’t too bad either, especially considering the team’s struggles to create chances and the fact it’s his first time in the Premier League.

Ultimately, Delap’s absence this afternoon is an issue, but in Szmodics, McKenna has an experienced attacker who has experience playing up top and putting the ball in the back of the net, so he should put his trust in him and start him.

He's outscoring Delap: Ipswich make contact over signing £20m monster

The incredible goalscorer would improve Ipswich’s squad.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 19, 2024

Glasgow Rangers are in festive action this evening as they return to Scottish Premiership action with a trip to face St Mirren away from Ibrox.

The Gers went into Christmas Day off the back of a 1-0 win over Dundee last weekend, thanks to a goal from Vaclav Cerny, and cut the gap to Celtic at the top of the table down to nine points.

Philippe Clement will be hoping that their rivals drop more points this afternoon and open up the door for the Light Blues to win again and cut the lead further.

The Belgian head coach is set to be without a few players for this clash with St Mirren, though, with a few injury issues in the camp for the Scottish giants.

The latest Rangers transfer news

Jack Butland was a late withdrawal from the starting XI against Dundee, with Liam Kelly stepping in to keep a clean sheet, to attend the birth of his daughter and could return between the sticks for this clash.

There are three players who certainly will not be involved, however, as Neraysho Kasanwirjo, John Souttar, and Tom Lawrence are all longer-term absentees and will not be available for selection today.

Wales international Rabbi Matondo, whose last appearance came against Celtic in September, has been back in training recently but has not been named in a matchday squad, and it remains to be seen whether or not today will be the day for his return.

With these pieces of team news in mind, and the performances against Dundee last time out, here is Football FanCast’s predicted Rangers line-up to take to the field against St Mirren this evening.

Predicted Rangers XI to face St Mirren

Firstly, vice-captain Butland should return to start in goal after he only missed the 1-0 win last weekend for the birth of his daughter, with Kelly dropping back down to the bench.

With Souttar still out through injury, Clement should keep the back four that kept a clean sheet, with James Tavernier, Dujon Sterling, Robin Propper, and Jefte making up the defence in front of the former England international.

The Belgian head coach should also keep the midfield dynamic the same, as Mohamed Diomande, Nicolas Raskin, and Ianis Hagi provide a strong blend of combative play out of possession and forward-thinking, creative, play on the ball.

Minutes played

84

Shots

4

Big chances missed

2

Goals

0

Dribbles completed

2/5

Possession lost

20x

As you can see in the table above, Hamza Igamane struggled on the left flank last time out, missing the high-quality chances that came his way and losing possession far too often.

Clement should drop the Moroccan starlet off the back of that performance and unleash Nedim Bajrami, who Willie Miller claimed has “magnificent footwork”, in his place as part of the front three alongside Danilo and Cerny.

The Albania international has created four ‘big chances’ in seven league starts for the Gers and could provide a creative spark out wide, whilst dropping Igamane could be a good learning experience for the youngster and motivate him to push harder to win his place back.

Rangers struck gold on Ibrox star who is worth 2x more than Igamane

Rangers have hit the jackpot on a player who has increased their valuation…

ByRoss Kilvington Dec 24, 2024

Full starting line-up: Jack Butland; James Tavernier, Dujon Sterling, Robin Propper, Jefte; Connor Barron, Mohamed Diomande, Ianis Hagi; Vaclav Cerny, Danilo, Nedim Bajrami

Tottenham Hotspur host Liverpool in the Premier League this afternoon, still bouncing from the frenetic Carabao Cup victory against Manchester United on Thursday evening.

That performance has set up a semi-final showdown with Arne Slot’s squad in the New Year, and this weekend’s clash could be used as a yardstick down the line to determine how the exciting outfits match up.

Liverpool are two points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand but have ceded ground in each of their past two matches and look more susceptible with Ibrahima Konate sidelined through injury.

Spurs team news

Though Sunday’s visitors have one or two concerns, Tottenham have suffered a spate of setbacks in recent weeks that have limited their options considerably.

Guglielmo Vicario is still out, and thus Fraser Forster, 36, will reprise his place between the sticks once again after his horror show against the Red Devils.

Compounding this problem, star defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are still out until the New Year, and while Ben Davies is nearing a return, this one might come too soon.

While Spence made a good impression, he’s probably not going to start for this one, with Destiny Udogie believed to be fit once again after missing out in midweek. The robust left-back could be key against a Reds side that may just be eyeing him somewhat jealously.

Destiny Udogie could be crucial vs Liverpool

Udogie is set to be fit for this crunch clash, and it’s a good thing too, with his strengths perfect for the high-stakes fixture against the Liverpool machine.

Matches (starts)

28 (28)

16 (16)

Goals

2

0

Assists

3

1

Touches*

67.2

63.3

Pass completion

87%

89%

Key passes*

0.9

0.8

Dribbles*

0.9

0.6

Ball recoveries*

6.0

4.6

Tackles + interceptions*

3.7

3.8

Total duels (won)*

5.4 (50%)

5.8 (56%)

Some may claim that Udogie hasn’t been at his best this season, but the data would suggest that he’s continuing to make headway in England’s top flight and, let’s not forget, has only recently turned 22.

Described as a “monster” by journalist Travis Levison due to his physical and athletic qualities, Udogie is the perfect player to nullify a player like Mohamed Salah, who is 32 but still one of the most potent threats in Europe.

Salah’s athletic regression is a by-product of Father Time, but he’s catered his game to accommodate his age. It will take someone such as Udogie to come out on top.

Indeed, the Italian ranks among the top 7% of Premier League full-backs this year for progressive passes, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 14% for tackles and blocks per 90, as per FBref, making good on the claims from reporter Hunter Godson that he is a “sickeningly good” young talent who would walk into “nearly every team in the world already”, including the Reds.

Liverpool’s Andy Robertson may return to the starting line-up after being sent off against Fulham one week ago (missing out against Southampton on Wednesday) but the 30-year-old is starting to show signs of withering and given that Liverpool will be hunting for a left-back in 2025, might pay extra close attention to Udogie’s performance.

Of course, it’s not likely that Spurs’ talent will be going anywhere soon, though that’s not going to stop Tottenham from showcasing Udogie in all his qualities, perhaps proving to be the difference-maker on a testing afternoon.

Levy must axe Spurs "horror show" who Postecoglou "really wanted" to sign

The experienced international has not been good enough for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 20, 2024

West Bromwich Albion had to make do with a draw on the road last time out in Chris Brunt’s latest game as Baggies interim boss.

If it hadn’t been for Welsh veteran Joe Allen unexpectedly scoring at the death, it would have been a successive win for the Northern Irishman in the Championship, but the Swansea City midfielder had other ideas unfortunately.

Whilst Brunt has impressed in spells since taking on the reins unexpectedly from Carlos Corberan, it seems as if the second-tier promotion candidates are pressing on with replacing the Spaniard outright.

West Brom holding talks with bold Corberan replacement

As per recent reports from @talkwba on X (formerly Twitter) West Brom look set to hold talks with former Young Boys manager Raphael Wicky about taking over from Corberan, in what would be a left-field choice of replacement.

Described as being ‘well liked’ by the second-tier outfit, the Swiss manager would join the English game off the back of succeeding in his native Switzerland, alongside managing further afield in the United States with Chicago Fire.

Whilst he boasts no experience of the tough demands of EFL football yet, the Baggies will pray he acclimatises swiftly to his new surroundings if a deal is to be secured, having already made a name for himself on these shores when getting the better of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City back in 2018 as Basel boss.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast's Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

What Wicky could offer West Brom

Wicky wasn’t facing off against the battered and bruised version of City now either, with his Basel side handing out a first home loss of the season to the super-confident hosts when picking up an almighty 2-1 scalp.

In that same run of fixtures in the Champions League, Basel also managed to get the better of Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United 1-0, with both titans of the English game remarkably humbled by the 47-year-old’s methods.

Domestically in Switzerland, Wicky would also prove to be a hit when he was Young Boys manager, leading the side to a Swiss League and Cup double as boss during a very successful 2022/23 season.

Therefore, everything points in the direction that he could go on to be a great successor to Corberan’s throne in managing to get more out of an underdog team like the now Valencia boss pulled off for the Baggies when he first arrived and they were near the foot of the Championship.

Games managed

321

244

Wins

168

96

Draws

62

64

Losses

91

83

Yet, despite Corberan turning West Brom into regular play-off challengers away from worrying about the drop under Steve Bruce, Wicky boasts more overall victories as a manager at 168 contrasted next to his counterpart’s 96, albeit from a significant boost of 77 more clashes.

Still, that win percentage – which comes in at 52% – cannot just be brushed aside after one look, with the 47-year-old wanting to pick up more and more victories as a boss if the Hawthorns do come calling soon.

Often utilising the 4-2-3-1 formation when in charge at Young Boys – alongside a more preferred 4-4-2 set-up – this will suit the current Baggies set-up perfectly well with Tom Fellows a constant menace down the wings alongside offering the team a strong defensive shape.

It was always going to be a tough ask for West Brom to immediately go out and find a dream successor, but in Wicky, the promotion hopefuls could strike gold on what is somewhat of an unknown entity.

West Brom struck gold on star who is now worth more than Mowatt & Johnston

West Bromwich Albion will pray this star isn’t tempted by a move away this January.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 4, 2025

The first two weeks of Chelsea’s winter transfer window have been dominated by chatter around who might leave. BlueCo were always prepared to sit back for the most part, having bolstered richly over the past year.

High-class players were never going to course through to the Stamford Bridge squad in bucketloads, but Chelsea are one of the sharpest operators in the transfer market and are always attentive to an exciting possibility.

Enzo Maresca deserves all the plaudits for his progress with the Blues, steering Chelsea away from the dysfunction and inconsistencies that have marred their efforts over the past few years.

There has been a bit of a blip in west London over the past few years, but this is a promising squad in its nascent phase, still looking for the right parts to move to the next level.

Chelsea looking to seal statement signing

Multiple sources reported on Monday evening that Chelsea have enequired about the availability of Bayern Munich forwad Mathys Tel, a long-standing target in west London.

The German giants don’t want to sell their 19-year-old prospect but admire Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku and could acquiesce if some sort of swap agreement was engineered.

Tel is a talented young forward, dynamic and versatile, but there are no guarantees that he’ll establish himself over the coming years, especially given that he has blanked across his 12 appearances in all competitions for Die Roten this season.

His potential is unquestionable, but Chelsea might be better off expending their energy in the transfer of a player who has proven his mettle in England’s top flight.

Stamford Bridge has been knocked out of kilter over the past several seasons but Chelsea are getting back on track, and Maresa’s project may benefit more from Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap.

Transfer Focus

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

Chelsea eyeing Tel alternative

Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League and will be targeting Champions League qualification; the title, unfortunately, looks unlikely for this year. However, Maresca will want to push for gold in the Conference League and FA Cup, so signing a player like Delap could be the difference maker.

The Athletic have reported that technical director Paul Winstanley has shortlisted the 21-year-old centre-forward as five to ten possible attacking reinforcements.

Ipswich are rumoured to be looking for a £42m payday to part with their thriving number nine, and while Chelsea have Nicolas Jackson at the front of the ship, this could be the perfect signing to complete Maresca’s frontline.

What Liam Delap would bring to Chelsea

Last summer, Delap joined newly-promoted Ipswich from Manchester City in a move worth £20m, raising a few eyebrows but also many nods of appreciation from analysts who saw the vision.

Ipswich are fighting to keep their place in England’s top division and have collected 16 points from 20 matched, sat in 18th place but behind Wolverhampton Wanderers only on goal difference.

Delap has been excellent as the team’s main goal source, clinching eight strikes and two assists across 19 matches as he confidently leads the line.

He’s the marksman, but Delap’s hardly motionless, not reliant on the creativity and movements of his peers. As per FBref, the Englishman ranks among the top 18% of Premier League strikers this season for successful take-ons per 90.

Tel does pack more of a multi-angled punch, ranking among the top 9% of Bundesliga forwards last season for assists, the top 6% for pass completion, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90.

Indeed, the France prospect has some curious qualities that could be effectively applied to Maresca’s system, nurtured and developed over the coming years. To be sure, Chelsea have a richness in depth that would allow the teenager to take the requisite steps over the coming years without shouldering too heavy a burden.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has remarked that “the sky is the limit” for the prospect, but is he perhaps too slippery and protean a talent? Are Chelsea better placed in delving down a more traditional track when targeting their next centre-forward?

Cole Palmer is a moveless presence at number ten, and Joao Felix serves as a wonderful foil, silky and artful. Tel has proved that he can score goals but given that he has yet to establish his best and most potent position, Delap would be the superior option for the greater good of Maresca’s project.

Centre-forward

33

5

1

Left winger

32

8

4

Right winger

14

4

1

There’s plenty to be admired here. He’s an ambipedal, technically skilled player, but, again, not what Chelsea need.

Delap has been described as a “one-man battering ram” by Opta Analyst, athletic and imposing as he surges into the danger area and unleashes shots on goal for Ipswich.

The Tractor Boys have surprised a few in staying on the precipice of the danger zone instead of foundering deep at the bottom of the Premier League’s pit. Delap’s goals and authority as the focal frontman has been crucial to the success of Kieran McKenna’s team after successive promotions.

The 6 foot 1 ace has only missed nine big chances in the Premier League this season despite having scored eight times, as per Sofascore. This is the mark of a truly clinical player, and with an average of 0.8 key passes per game, he’s also an adept playmaker.

For contextualisation: Jackson has scored nine top-flight fixtures across 19 this season, missing ten big chances. Delap could be the perfect counterpoint, playing a similar tactical role while bringing his own flair and bite.

Chelsea have got some big decisions to make this month, but if Maresca wants to keep the fluency of his squad intact, perhaps even expanding it, then this is the move to make.

UCL giants want him: Chelsea heading for De Bruyne 2.0 with £100k-p/w ace

Many Chelsea players are set to be sold from Enzo Maresca’s side this window.

ByEthan Lamb Jan 12, 2025

At this point, even the most optimistic of Tottenham Hotspur fans would likely admit that this season has been a disaster.

Ange Postecoglou has led his side to the club’s worst start to a season in the last decade, and unfortunately for the Australian, it’s not particularly close either.

The North Londoners currently sit 15th in the Premier League with a meagre points haul of just 24, and the only positives are that they remain in three cup competitions, the development of their youngsters and the evolution of Dejan Kulusevski.

Games

22

6

4

1

Wins

7

3

4

1

Draws

3

2

0

0

Losses

12

1

0

0

Points

24

11

/

/

Goals For

45

11

9

3

Goals Against

35

7

5

0

The 24-year-old has, for the most part, been Spurs’ best player this season and shown that he must be the centrepiece of Postecoglou’s rebuild over the next few years, so recent reports touting a Champions League-winning player compared to the Swede for a move to the club should excite fans.

Tottenham target Premier League star

According to a recent report from Spain, Tottenham are one of several sides keen on signing Manchester City star Jack Grealish, whom they view as someone who could add quality and versatility to the attack.

Transfer Focus

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

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that German giants Borussia Dortmund and Italian royalty Inter Milan are also interested in landing the English attacker this month, which could complicate things.

How much the 29-year-old might cost the interested parties is not established in the story, but given his diminishing importance to the Premier League champions, the estimation of £30m from Football Transfers does not seem too unrealistic.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, and the fans might not be behind it right away, but we’ve seen what Grealish can do when given a chance to express himself, and in a Postecoglou system, he could get back to something like that, and the fact he’s been compared to Kulusevksi can only help.

How Grealish compares to Kulusevski and why Spurs should sign him

So, before we look at a couple of the reasons Spurs might want to sign Grealish this month, let’s examine this comparison to Kulusevski and where it’s come from.

In this case, it primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in the Premier League this season, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the sixth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Swedish dynamo.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, expected and actual assists, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.36

0.45

Shots on Target

0.59

0.66

Expected Assists

0.22

0.18

Actual Assists

0.15

0.20

Passes into the Final Third

2.35

2.69

Shot-Creating Actions

5.91

5.69

Goal-Creating Actions

0.30

0.46

Carries into the Final Third

2.65

2.79

On top of the statistical similarities between the pair, they also share the ability to play in midfield or on the wing, depending on what their manager and team need from them, which is just one of the other reasons the Lilywhites might want to sign the City ace.

With that said, his lacklustre form this season, which has seen him rack up just five goal involvements in 21 games, cannot be ignored, but it also cannot be viewed in isolation and as a tool to suggest he’s not got what it takes to play for a ‘big six’ side anymore.

To see that the Champions League winner, whom Jamie Redknapp once said has “got everything,” can still make it at the top level, we only need to look at his last couple of years with boyhood club Aston Villa.

In his penultimate season with the Birmingham side, the “superstar” playmaker, as dubbed by presenter Dan Bardell, scored ten goals and provided eight assists in 41 games for the relegation-threatened side, and then did even better the following campaign, racking up seven goals and ten assists in just 27 games, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.58 games.

Ultimately, fans might be hesitant over the potential signing of Grealish this month, but if the ultra-aggressive Postecoglou can take the shackles off and get him back to his silky best, then Spurs will have a sensational footballer on their hands.

Their answer to Saka: Spurs heavily involved in race to sign £30m PL star

The special talent could be unreal for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 22, 2025

Celtic have made just one signing in the January transfer window, but it has been an addition that has certainly been a sentimental one for the Bhoys. Portuguese attacker Jota returned to the club after 18 months, for £8m, and grabbed a goal on his second debut.

The Scottish outfit will be hoping to add one or two more players to their squad on deadline day. With time ticking, Brendan Rodgers’ side could make a late move for one midfield starlet.

Celtic's deadline day activity

According to a report from The Scottish Sun on Sunday evening, Celtic ‘could launch a fresh deadline-day bid’ to sign Motherwell’s young midfield star Lennon Miller. They have reportedly already had an offer for the 18-year-old rejected.

They are set to face competition for his signature from Italian side Udinese, who have also seen bids rejected. Motherwell are believed to want £4m for their number 38 if he was to leave on deadline day.

Why Miller would be a good signing

It has been a really impressive campaign so far for 18-year-old Miller. He has played 26 times for the Well so far this term, scoring four goals and grabbing six assists in 26 games across all competitions. That includes both goals in a 2-1 win at home to St Mirren.

There are certainly a few benefits to signing the Scotland under-21 international. One of those is the fact he would add leadership to the Bhoys squad, despite his age. This term, he has captained Motherwell ten times, including once against Celtic in the Premiership.

He would also add versatility to Rogers’ squad. The midfielder can play in a variety of positions in the centre of the park, having played as a number six and a number ten nine times this term, and slotting in the number eight role on six occasions.

Should Celtic bring Miller to the club on deadline day, he could be the perfect upgrade on midfielder Luke McCowan.

The 27-year-old has been an important player for Rogers this season and has five goals and three assists in 24 games across competitions, albeit with that return falling behind Miller’s own tally of ten goal involvements

If there is one area in which Miller excels over the Celtic number 14, it is his defensive ability. The 18-year-old, having played as a defensive midfielder this season, just brings that defensive nous that you need as a deeper lying player.

This is certainly backed up by the stats on Squawka. For example, per 90 minutes this season, Miller has won 6.1 duels compared to just 5.2 for McCowan. His on-the-ball quality is also there, as his 54.55% take-on success rate shows. In comparison, the Celtic man has a 45.45% take-on success rate.

Stat (per 90)

Miller

McCowan

Duels won

6.1

5.2

Ground duel success

60.28%4

48.21%

Ball recoveries

6.8

6.5

Take-on success rate

54.55%

45.45%

Assists

0.4

0.4

This could be a fantastic deal for the Bhoys. Not only would they be adding versatility and leadership to Rogders’ squad, but Miller can bring that extra ability out of possession, something helpful in the Champions League knockout stages.

£4m seems like a worthy investment for a midfielder who football analyst Ben Mattinson believes could “become world-class” at some point in his career.

Dream Kvistgaarden alternative today: Celtic could sign "brilliant" £8m ace

Celtic could land dream alternative to Mathias Kvistgaarden by signing this player on deadline day.

ByDan Emery Feb 3, 2025

Leeds United have made an approach to sign a £15m player compared to Archie Gray, according to The Athletic.

Farke makes teasing Leeds transfer claim after Burnley draw

The Whites remained top of the Championship following a 0-0 stalemate at Turf Moor against promotion rivals Burnley on Monday evening.

Daniel Farke’s side, like so many others, failed to get past the Clarets defence but did stretch their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions.

Talking after the game, Farke said: “Good result for us, good point on the road. “Happy with the clean sheet, our defensive behaviour. Two of the best sides in the league, difficult game, difficult circumstances with the weather. They’re on a massive unbeaten run as well, especially at home. It was a game of few mistakes. Both teams were there without crucial mistakes, both teams were struggling to create enough chances.

“I’m pretty happy with how we controlled their processes without the ball. I wish we would have been a bit more confident and committed with the ball. Of course when a chance comes along you have to be a bit more on it. In the build-up and midfield play we were patient enough but the final decision, pass or finish could have been a bit more convincing or committed or better prepared. That’s the only thing I could criticise a little bit.”

The German also teased a potential transfer update for supporters ahead of this weekend’s Elland Road clash with Cardiff City.

Leeds and the 49ers Enterprises are yet to make a January signing, with rivals Sheffield United, Burnley and Sunderland all adding to their squads or the second half of the campaign.

Some late activity could be on the cards for the Whites, though, with an approach made for a new transfer target.

Leeds make enquiry for Matt Targett

According to The Athletic, relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds have made a late enquiry to Newcastle United over a potential transfer for Matt Targett.

The left-back, who cost the Magpies a total of £15m from Aston Villa, could be on the move from St James’ Park before the February 3 deadline, and Leeds are seemingly keen.

The 29-year-old has also represented Fulham and Southampton alongside Villa and Newcastle, winning 1-0 at Elland Road with Villa in 2021.

Aston Villa

89

3

5

Newcastle United

44

0

1

Fulham

21

1

2

Southampton

63

1

5

He’s played just 80 minutes of senior football under Eddie Howe this season, so an exit appears to make sense for all involved. Leeds have Junior Firpo and Sam Byram as left-back options, but with both out of contract at the end of the season, Targett could be a shrewd option.

As per Football Transfers, former Leeds youngster Archie Gray, who moved to Tottenham last summer after starring at full-back, has been named as a player similar to Targett, and it looks as if a late move to Elland Road is one to keep an eye on.

Fair to say, in the last decade or so, some ultra-talented players have come through Manchester City’s academy.

As noted by Miguel Delaney of the Independent, Cole Palmer, Roméo Lavia, Morgan Rogers and Liam Delap are all flourishing elsewhere in the Premier League right now, having either been sold or discarded by Man City as youngsters in recent seasons.

Rob Dawson of ESPN adds Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jadon Sancho and Brahim Díaz to this list, while Sam Lee of the Athletic would include James Trafford, Gavin Bazunu, Sam Edozie, Juan Larios, Pedro Porro, Shea Charles and Tommy Doyle to those who’ve been sold for big fees.

So now, at a time when Man City have, as Jamie Jackson of the Guardian puts it, an “ageing squad”, they’ve sold off their best young talent, so are unable to refresh the team, but could the next generation of youngsters change that fact?

They’ll be looking towards Arsenal for inspiration, that’s for sure…

Ethan Nwaneri's amazing impact at Arsenal

During Sunday’s 5-1 demolition at the hands of Arsenal, Manchester City experienced first-hand the value of keeping your best young talent at the club and putting them in the first team when Ethan Nwaneri spanked home the fifth, really rubbing salt into the wounds.

A year ago, Football Insider reported that Man City actually attempted to sign Nwaneri, but Gooners everywhere are delighted that this did not come to pass.

That’s because the teenager has seven goals to his name this season, becoming the second-highest Arsenal scorer in history for goals scored at the age of 17 or younger, behind only John Radford, whose goals came in 1964/65, one shy of his tally of eight.

Nwaneri has earned rave reviews, with James McNicholas of the Athletic noting during a recent Arsecast Extra how extraordinary and unique it is for a 17-year-old to have a “trademark goal”.

He has also become only the third Premier League player to score seven or more goals before celebrating their 18th birthday, after Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, both of whom were strikers, and both had pretty decent careers didn’t they?

Yousef Teclab of Breaking the Lines described Nwaneri as a “prodigious talent”, while Ali Tweedale in Opta’s The Analyst believes Arsenal supporters should be “very excited” about his talent.

So, could Pep Guardiola learn a thing or two from his former assistant when it comes to unleashing top teenage talents?

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Manchester City are brewing their own Ethan Nwaneri

As alluded to earlier, Manchester City have, as Neil Leigh puts it, quite the “conveyor belt” when it comes to academy talent, so could Reigan Heskey be the next cab off the rank?

Born in January 2008, we know, we feel old too, he joined Man City’s academy at the age of eight, and is the son of former Leicester, Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey, who won 62 caps for England, scoring seven goals.

Heskey junior has come in for rave reviews, with scout António Mango on Twitter stating he is “flourishing” and that his talent “can’t be ignored”, while Bix Williams, who writes about Man City’s Academy for Salford Now, states that it’s “only a matter of time before he makes that big jump”.

A winger by trade – like Nwaneri – the 17-year-old has been in phenomenal form this term notably scoring 20 goals in 24 games. So, let’s assess how Heskey and Nwaneri compare at youth level.

UEFA Youth League appearances

7

1

UEFA Youth League goals

3

1

EFL Trophy appearances

1

4

EFL Trophy goals

1

0

Premier League 2 appearances

3

24

Premier League 2 goals

3

11

FA Youth Cup appearances

3

7

FA Youth Cup goals

1

8

Under-18 Premier League appearances

16

16

Under-18 Premier League goals

13

7

As the table shows, Heskey compares favourably to Nwaneri for a lot of statistics, especially his output in this season’s UEFA Youth League, scoring a brace against Feyenoord as the Sky Blues reached the round of 32, set to face Midtjylland next week.

By the time he made his breakthrough at Arsenal, Nwaneri had much more PL2 experience than Heskey currently has, still predominantly plying his trade at U18 level, but it is clear that Man City have a hot prospect on their hands, one that they’ll have to give an opportunity to in the first team, or he’ll simply become just the latest player to leave.

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Manchester City are a club that is not used to making mistakes or falling short across all competitions in the way that they have done under Pep Guardiola this season.

The Cityzens won the last four Premier League titles and won the treble – the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup – in the 2022/23 campaign.

This season, however, City are 20 points behind Liverpool with 12 games left to play in the top-flight and they have already been knocked out of the League Cup and the Champions League.

As aforementioned, Manchester City are not used to making recruitment errors but some of their decisions in the last few transfer windows should be questioned, going back to when they decided to cash in on Cole Palmer in the summer of 2023.

Chelsea swooped in to sign the Cityzens academy graduate for a reported fee of £40m, with £2.5m in add-ons, ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and he has gone on to become a star in the Premier League.

Manchester City's Cole Palmer mistake

The England international’s soaring market value and incredible form on the pitch in the top-flight suggests that City and Guardiola made a big mistake when they allowed him to move on from the club.

At the time of writing, Palmer is currently valued at a whopping €130m (£108m) by Transfermarkt, which is significantly more than the initial £40m the Sky Blues raked in for him around 18 months ago.

Phil Foden (Man City)

£116m

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

£108m

Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)

£54m

Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)

£41m

Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)

£41m

Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

£33m

Romeo Lavia (Chelsea)

£33m

Rico Lewis (Man City)

£33m

As you can see in the table above, the Chelsea star is the second-most valuable former Manchester City academy graduate actively playing, only behind current Cityzens star Phil Foden.

Interestingly, Lewis and Foden are the only two of the eight most-valuable graduates who are still at the club, which suggests that City have fumbled several supreme young talents.

Palmer’s form for Chelsea may be particularly frustrating for the club, though, as he has starred in the Premier League, whereas the likes of Gittens and Frimpong are currently playing in the Bundesliga.

The English magician has racked up a staggering 39 goals and 21 assists in 74 appearances for Chelsea as an attacking midfielder, which shows that he has the quality to make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch on a consistent basis.

City’s decision to sell Palmer was a big mistake, given his incredible output for the Blues, and that opinion is further validated by his form in comparison to Foden this term.

Phil Foden's declining form

The two Manchester City academy graduates won the top awards in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign. Palmer won the PFA Young Player of the Year trophy and Foden was named the PFA Player of the Year.

City’s number 47 enjoyed a terrific season as he ended the year with an exceptional return of 19 goals and eight assists in the Premier League, which led to his peers voting him as the best player in the division.

Unfortunately, Foden has been unable to maintain that impressive form heading into the current campaign and has been outperformed by Palmer in the top-flight.

Appearances

26

21

Goals

14

7

Big chances created

19

7

Assists

6

2

Key passes per game

2.7

1.8

As you can see in the table above, the Chelsea wizard has significantly outperformed his former teammate as both a scorer and a creator of goals, further illustrating the error City made by cashing in on him in 2023.

This suggests that Guardiola would have had an even bigger talent on his hands if he had not green-lit the academy graduate’s move to Stamford Bridge in 2023.

Where Are They Now

Palmer, however, is not the only former Manchester City star who is outperforming Foden this season, as Guardiola appears to have repeated the mistake he made with the left-footed ace with the sale of Julian Alvarez last year.

Julian Alvarez's form this season

The Argentina international moved on from The Etihad last summer when Atletico Madrid swooped in to secure his services for a reported fee of £82m, which was – at the very least – a significant fee in comparison to Palmer’s £40m move to Chelsea.

Alvarez was an important player for City, though, and was described as “almost undroppable” by Guardiola in the 2023/24 campaign, in which the forward racked up 19 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.

They seemingly decided that they would be fine without his considerable contributions in the final third, however, as they allowed him to leave and did not sign a direct replacement for him last summer.

The decision to move on from Alvarez was a repeat of their Palmer blunder because he has been in fantastic form for Atletico Madrid this season and has, as the Chelsea star also has, outperformed Foden.

Starts

20

8

xG

7.44

2.19

Goals

9

6

Minutes per goal

186

97

Big chances created

5

2

Assists

2

1

As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old sensation has caught the eye as a ruthless finisher, outperforming against his xG, in LaLiga and the Champions League for the Spanish giants this term.

He has racked up 23 direct goal contributions (19 goals and four assists) in all competitions for Atletico, which is eight more than Foden (ten goals and five assists) has managed for City this term.

Therefore, Alvarez has outperformed Foden at the top end of the pitch this season and he could have stepped up as a key player once again for City if they had not moved on from him last summer.

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