All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur sunk to another defeat, their 20th of the season, in the Premier League when they were beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace on Sunday.

A double from Eberechi Eze, who scored just before and just after the half-time break, put Spurs to the sword, and it could have been even more if not for eight saves from Antonin Kinsky between the sticks.

The Czech star was given a rare run-out in goal as he is not eligible to play in the Europa League, but the shot-stopper was not the only player who was given a rare chance to impress, as Ben Davies also came in at centre-back.

Why Ben Davies should not start the Europa League final

The Wales international came in to start in the left-sided centre-back position against Palace, after he was an unused substitute in both legs of the semi-final clash with Bodo/Glimt.

Davies won seven of his 13 duels against the Eagles, just over half, and put in a decent, but unimpressive, display at the heart of the defence. He certainly did not do enough to suggest that the manager should keep him in the team for the Europa League final after the clash with Aston Villa next weekend.

Appearances

8

7

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.3

2.0

Duels won per game

2.9

4.5

Ground duel success rate

50%

54%

Aerial duel success rate

50%

86%

As you can see in the table above, Micky van de Ven has been far more defensively dominant than him in Europe, which is why the Dutchman should be in line to start against Manchester United.

Davies is not the only player from Sunday’s starting XI who should be ditched from the team after the Aston Villa game, though, as Djed Spence must also be binned for the final.

Why Djed Spence should not start the Europa League final

The English defender lined up at left-back against Palace and did not cover himself in glory for either of the goals with his positioning on that side of the pitch, whilst he also gave the ball away 12 times and only completed 76% of his attempted passes.

Chalkboard

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

Football.london handed him a player rating of just 3/10 and wrote that he was ‘all over the place’ and that Palace took ‘advantage’ of his poor positional play throughout the match, despite winning eight of his ten duels.

It is not the first time that his positioning has been questioned. When playing in his more natural right-back berth, Football FanCast suggested that he should have been dropped after the 5-1 defeat to Liverpool because he was allowed his market to get in behind on at least three occasions, once leading to a goal, on that day.

Ange Postecoglou, therefore, should not select Spence at left-back for the Europa League final because his unreliable positioning could cost them big time against the Red Devils.

Spurs will not want to gift chances away, as they did against Liverpool and Palace, with Spence at full-back because his positioning lets the United wingers in too many times down the flanks, which is why he should be dropped.

Destiny Udogie, meanwhile, has averaged 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and won 66% of his duels in the Europa League, whilst also offering a naturally left-footed option to progress the ball in possession down that side.

Not another Mourinho: Levy makes "genius" coach Spurs' top target

Even if Tottenham triumph in the Europa League, most expect Ange Postecoglou to be sacked, so doest Daniel Levy have a “genius” coach top of his list?

2 May 10, 2025

It is now down to Postecoglou to take Spence out of the XI, whether that is for Villa next week or after the clash with the Villans, in order to play Udogie at left-back in the Europa League final.

Liverpool’s incredible season under Arne Slot is nearly at an end, with the Dutchman making the impossible task of taking the baton from Jurgen Klopp look easy.

Having lost just twice in the Premier League all season, Liverpool have won the title at a canter, moving 15 points ahead of Arsenal after thrashing Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to seal the deal.

Slot is a tactical genius, an expert in eking every last ounce of quality out of his players. Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones are among the standouts in this regard.

However, he’s also found a way to take Mohamed Salah to the next level. The Egyptian forward is a shoo-in for the clean sweep of individual honours in English football after his extraordinary, talismanic campaign – and it’s not even his last on Merseyside, having penned a two-year extension last month.

Two more years of Mohamed Salah

Amid all the happy furore on the red half of Merseyside in recent days, Salah took some time to issue a statement on his social media platforms.

Chiefly commenting on Liverpool’s triumph, it’s curious that Salah should end his message by saying that his side’s efforts and ultimate success “applies to next season as well.”

He’s a natural-born winner, always talented and hungry but chiselled into world-class shape at Anfield, indeed the architect of Slot’s triumph, having posted 33 goals and 23 assists across all competitions this season.

He might be a matter of months away from his 33rd birthday, but Salah is very up at the head of football’s elite table, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goal contributions per 90 (1.21), as per FBref.

It’s remarkable that Liverpool were able to conquer the biggest prize without having invested, true, but also with the uncertainty around their superstars’ contracts.

Salah, like Virgil van Dijk, will be sticking around for a few more years, hungering toward more silverware and more individual accolades, both of which will surely come in one form or another.

1.

Alan Shearer

441

260

2.

Harry Kane

320

213

3.

Wayne Rooney

491

208

4.

Andy Cole

414

187

5.

Mohamed Salah

297

185

However, he’s not going to stay forever, and while fans have earned a wonderful reprieve from the eventual ending, FSG are bound to be hard at work as they identify a fitting successor, nice and prudent.

Well, news from elsewhere may be music to the ears of Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, with one of the best forwards out there potentially set to leave his club.

It would be quite something if the Reds struck true with this one.

Liverpool could sign their best forward since Salah

With Federico Chiesa flattering to deceive across his debut campaign in Liverpool, there’s a good chance he will be sold or loaned out this summer, with AC Milan interested in bringing Salah’s understudy back to his homeland.

Liverpool need to sign someone who could not only jockey with Salah but succeed him in the coming years. If FSG wish to aim for the stars, they may fancy an opportunistic bid for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo – a player who FSG have expressed considerable interest in over the past few months – who has been frustrated by his role in the Los Blancos attacking hierarchy, competing alongside Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.

That’s according to Spanish outlet Marca, who state that the 24-year-old will have no shortage of top European and Saudi-based suitors, with further Spanish sources claiming it would take a fee of €100m (about £87m) to convince Real to part ways.

Described as a “superstar” by his esteemed compatriot Neymar Jr., Rodrygo might be somewhat out of sorts but he’s still one of the best players in the world, ranking among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, as well as the top 14% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

The Brazil star’s Champions League pedigree and influential performances in seasons gone by highlight his quality and indeed the reasoning behind launching a marquee move for the player.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has even gone as far as to pronounce Rodrygo as being among “the best players in the world.”

While he’s only scored six times in La Liga this season, Rodrygo has missed just one big chance, as per Sofascore, averaging 1.6 key passes per game and winning 56% of his total duels.

Such roundedness bespeaks his level, but the ball-striking cleanness is what differentiates him. It’s no fluke, either, proven after a decent individual campaign in the Champions League that led to five goals before being knocked out by Arsenal, missing just two big chances.

Whether Slot would opt to unleash the right-footed Rodrygo on the right flank, as he has been forced to do with regularity over the past few years to accommodate Mbappe and Vinicius, or instead use him in a more natural berth is open to question, but you get the sense an unfettered role as Liverpool’s linchpin in the coming years could see Rodrygo finally maximise his potential.

After all, half of his goals this season have come from the left flank, despite only playing 12 of his 50 matches in the position.

Right winger

145

34

30

0.44

Centre-forward

82

22

8

0.37

Left winger

78

23

16

0.50

Attacking midfield

4

0

1

0.25

Though Liverpool would have to break the bank to get this one done, with Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Chiesa’s futures all uncertain, this might be one to keep a loose eye on, especially if his situation at the Santiago Bernabeu fails to improve.

The new Gravenberch: Liverpool ready bid for "one of the best in the world"

Liverpool are set to make a bid for a talent who could be Arne Slot’s next Ryan Gravenberch.

ByEthan Lamb May 1, 2025

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany is now very eager for the Bundesliga giants to sign a top Chelsea transfer target, with Enzo Maresca’s side facing even more competition for one player they are seriously pursuing.

Chelsea target new centre-back with summer names identified

The Blues are reportedly planning to reinforce the centre-back area this summer, following Wesley Fofana’s long-term injury and an evident shortage in that position.

Chelsea now very keen on signing "superstar" striker; may submit £39m offer

The Blues could be willing to launch a move for a forward, who may now be allowed to leave his club this summer.

ByDominic Lund Apr 15, 2025

Chelsea activated the recall clause in Trevoh Chalobah’s loan deal at Crystal Palace to bring him back to Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window, rather than sign a completely new name mid-season, but the Cobham academy graduate isn’t expected to have a long-term future under Maresca.

Fulham (away)

April 20th

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 10th

Man United (home)

May 18th

It is believed Chelsea are likely to let Chalobah go permanently in the summer (BBC), so the west Londoners will be in need of another centre-back to reinforce Maresca’s defensive options, ahead of his second season in charge, where they could be competing in the Champions League.

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea are expected to ‘go big’ on the signing of a new defender, with Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi and Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen on their radar.

Stamford Bridge chiefs, according to The Mirror, are even contemplating the possibility of a £50 million part-exchange bid for the former, and could offer Chalobah as part of the deal to re-sign their ex-player.

Meanwhile, Huijsen’s excellent season at Bournemouth, combined with the fact he’ll be available for the value of his £50 million release clause this summer, has piqued interest from Chelsea and other elite Premier League sides.

According to the reliable David Ornstein, Chelsea have reached out to Huijsen’s camp for talks ahead of the summer window, so it appears the Spain international is a firm target for Maresca.

However, following these discussions with Chelsea, competition is growing for the “sensational” 20-year-old’s signature, and Maresca now faces a serious threat from Bayern in pursuit of Huijsen.

Vincent Kompany tells Bayern Munich to sign Dean Huijsen

According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, Kompany is “pushing” Bayern to sign Huijsen this summer, and the Bavarians have joined the hotly-contested race for his services as a result.

Kompany is said to be a “huge fan” of the former Juventus defender, and they’re believed to be really pressing for Huijsen alongside Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle – with Tottenham also believed to have made contact (David Ornstein).

However, all of them may even be left disappointed, as Huijsen reportedly favours a move to Real Madrid.

In any case, the Spaniard’s next destination is fast becoming one of this summer’s most intriguing transfer stories, and it isn’t hard to see why so many clubs are keen on him after his hugely impressive debut season in the Premier League.

“He is one of the highest quality prospects in European football at this age level,” said Fenerbache boss and former Blues manager José Mourinho.

“He will be a great footballer in the future.”

An “unbelievable” Wolves player is now “increasingly likely” to leave the club at the end of the season, according to an update from journalist Graeme Bailey.

Wolves nearly safe after impressive run under Pereira

After a season largely full of struggles in the Premier League, Wanderers are now one of the in-form teams in the division under the impressive reign of Vitor Pereira.

Wolves have won their last four matches in the league, including last weekend’s 4-2 victory at home to Tottenham, and they are now 14 points clear of the relegation zone ahead of 18th-place Ipswich Town. This means they are almost mathematically safe, preserving their top-flight status for at least another year.

New signings will be needed for Wanderers this summer, but it is exit rumours that are doing the rounds currently, with Fabio Silva’s time at the club set to come to an end. The Portuguese is currently on loan at Las Palmas and doesn’t seem to have a future at Molineux.

Wolves’ star player Matheus Cunha has also continually been linked with a move away from the club once this season comes to an end, with Arsenal among the top clubs who are thought to be eyeing him up.

"Unbelievable" Wolves youngster expected to leave

Now, speaking to Molineux News, Bailey claimed that Tommy Doyle looks “increasingly likely” to leave Wolves in the summer transfer window.

“It seems Doyle is increasingly likely to go. There’s a lot of Championship interest in him, we’re going to see a fair few Championship players go, so there’s plenty of opportunities for quite a few teams [to sign him]. He’ll find a club, he’ll be alright, it’s just he’s not particularly suited to Vitor Pereira’s system, that’s just how it is. I think the player is accepting that and that will facilitate his exit.”

The £10,000-a-week Doyle has struggled to be a key man for Wolves this season, starting only three matches in the Premier League, so an exit does make sense, despite Gary O’Neil once saying of him: “The sub that I have got to credit; Tommy Doyle because once we brought him on, he brought us some unbelievable quality with his passing and we managed to maximise this four vs three in this instance.”

Pereira appears to have made it clear that he doesn’t see the 23-year-old as an important part of his plans moving forward, leaving him out of the Spurs game and admitting: “I need to see competition in training – I need to see levels. Next game I will see.”

Pereira's "sensational" Wolves star is now slowly becoming the new O’Hara

Wolves “sensational” star in danger of becoming new Jamie O’Hara

ByConnor Holden Apr 18, 2025

Doyle isn’t out of contract until the summer of 2028, meaning they could demand good money for him this summer, and it feels like the right time to sell.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers isn’t hanging around with the summer window around the corner and could now turn his attention to a surprise target, per reports.

Celtic's summer window is beginning to take shape

The Bhoys are well on course for the Scottish Premiership title and may seal their fate this weekend if they emerge victorious against Kilmarnock followed by Aberdeen defeating Rangers 24 hours later.

Unfortunately, Celtic missed their chance to guarantee league glory after a surprise defeat to St Johnstone last Sunday. However, Brendan Rodgers will know that misfortune will just be a minor setback en route to domestic glory.

With all that said, what does it mean for the reigning champions’ prospects come the window? On the face of it, the Hoops appear to be proactive at an early stage.

Augsburg midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj is said to be on Celtic’s radar and could be available for £3 million. On the same token, long-term target David Strelec is attainable for £4.2 million as potential competition to Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah across the frontline.

The fee could stretch to £5.9 million with add-ons, though Celtic would have no problem in paying a premium amid their rude financial health. On the flip side, that could prove to be a downside when negotiating for particular targets.

Celtic may lose "very good" £16k-p/w star amid surprise escape route offer

Celtic could offload a number of stars this summer ahead of next campaign.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 8, 2025

Nevertheless, there is little time to waste with Champions League qualifiers kicking off in the early part of next season. Rodgers will know his side need to be ready if they have designs on securing a spot in the league phase.

Stocking up on talent, the Irishman has now turned his attention to a surprise target who could bolster the ranks ahead of 2025/26.

Celtic look to strengthen goalkeeping ranks with Martin Dubravka

According to Chronicle Live, Celtic have taken an interest in Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka amid his uncertain future at St James’ Park due to rumours linking James Trafford with a move to the North East.

Coming as a surprise, the Bhoys could now pursue the Slovakia international despite already having Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo between the sticks. The latter has filled in recently due to his counterpart being ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Martin Dubravka vs Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo – domestic league

Martin Dubravka – Premier League

Save percentage rate

70.9%

Clean sheets

5 in 10 appearances

Goals conceded

12

Kasper Schmeichel – Scottish Premiership

Save percentage rate

77.3%

Clean sheets

19 in 30 appearances

Goals conceded

20

Viljami Sinisalo – Scottish Premiership

Save percentage rate

83.8%

Clean sheets

1 in 2 appearances

Goals conceded

1

Labelled “excellent” by Tom Heaton, the 36-year-old has racked up nearly 180 appearances for Newcastle United and earns £40,000 per week on the books at his current employers.

Observing the financial realities that come with PSR regulations in England, Dubravka may be a fairly straightforward sacrifice if Celtic want to deal for the veteran stopper.

Leeds United are in a dire situation. The Whites continue to lose games in the Premier League consistently, with their most recent defeat coming away to Manchester City, 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium.

Indeed, bagging two goals away to Pep Guardiola’s side was impressive, and the performance going forward was slightly better.

The Whites managed nine shots at Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal, with four of those finding the target. They were more clinical, too, scoring two out of the three big chances they created.

Yet, with another loss, the pressure continues to mount on Daniel Farke, and the underlying numbers are evidence as to why.

Leeds' underlying numbers this season

Many people expected the West Yorkshire side to be in a relegation fight by the end of the season, including ESPN pundit Bill Connelly, who predicted them to finish 18th. Well, they are now in that exact position in the Premier League, with 11 points to their name.

Goalscoring has been a real issue for the Whites this term. Farke’s side have only bagged 13 goals. That is better than one side, bottom-place Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have only scored seven times.

Leeds are drastically underachieving on their expected goals, too, a metric which currently stands at 16.96 xG. That is almost four goals more than what they have managed, the third biggest underachievement in the Premier League this season.

The spread of goals in their squad is perhaps concerning, too. Summer signing Lukas Nmecha is their top scorer in the Premier League with four, and only three players have found the back of the net multiple times. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is one of those, after he scored his second of the season against City at the weekend.

Looking at those numbers, it might not be a surprise that Leeds are struggling as much as they are. It is why Farke’s job is under pressure, although an alternative could have been identified.

Leeds' Farke alternative

A recent report from talkSPORT suggests that the Whites are ‘admirers’ of former Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou.

Of course, he hasn’t long been out of the game, having left the East Midlands a few months ago, but could already return to the Premier League if Leeds approach.

His first season in North London showed exactly how good he can be. Described as a “highly entertaining” manager by former Spurs star Graham Roberts, Postecoglou played high-octane football, which helped the Lilywhites qualify for the Europa League.

That is a style the Elland Road faithful might be used to. Marcelo Bielsa, one of their best managers in recent years, was famed for his energetic brand of football, a style Anthony Hudson said is “a really positive approach.”

In fact, former Chelsea and Arsenal defender William Gallas has even said that “demands remind me a little bit of Bielsa” because of how “physically exhausting” it can be. Remember Bielsa’s famed murder ball? Well, that could be back at Thorp Arch before too long.

In Postecoglou’s first campaign in the hot seat at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, the Australian won 21 games in 41 that he coached. His side were fluid going forward, bagging 79 times across all competitions.

It is interesting to look at a comparison between the numbers that Postecoglou’s Spurs put up in their first 13 games in the Premier League, compared to Farke’s side from this season. Indeed, they stack up well and hint at the attacking football he could bring to Elland Road.

For example, Spurs had scored 25 goals in those opening 13 matches in 2023/24. They were overachieving slightly when it came to expected goals, too. The Lilywhites racked up 23.83 xG, a steady pace along with their actual total.

Points

26

11

Expected points

20.66xPTS

17.88xPTS

Goals

25

13

Expected goals

23.83xG

16.96xG

Goals conceded

17

25

Expected goals conceced

21.28xGA

18.52xGA

It is easy to see how Postecoglou could be an upgrade on Farke. The Australian manager might play risky football with a high line, but it has proven to be entertaining and a good source of goals.

The numbers highlighted show what fans can expect to see if the Whites execute Postecoglou’s game plan well. He could certainly bring an exciting brand of football to Elland Road and would ultimately be an upgrade on Farke.

Fewer touches than Perri: Farke must bin Leeds star who lost the ball 14x

Daniel Farke must drop one player after Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 30, 2025

The Premier League is back, and it’s a massive weekend for Arsenal.

On the one hand, title rivals Manchester City have to play away to Newcastle United; on the other, they host bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Moreover, while Mikel Arteta has usually gotten the better of the Lilywhites, he’ll have to make do with defensive stalwart Gabriel Magalhaes.

With that said, the Gunners should still come out with all three points, especially if Arteta drops Eberechi Eze for one of his most important players.

Why Eze should be dropped

So, the first thing to make clear is that Eze is an outrageously talented footballer who will undoubtedly play a large part in Arsenal’s season as the year goes on.

Chalkboard

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

However, it would be fair to say that what is equally true is that he’s yet to show his full breathtaking ability in red and white, and therefore, should probably drop to the bench in this vital game.

After all, while he has racked up two goals and three assists for the team, he has just one goal involvement in the last six league games, and can, at times, go missing.

Now, if this were last season, there would be a solid argument for moving him out to the left, but Leandro Trossard has rolled back the years and is, frankly, undroppable.

So far, the Belgian has racked up eight goal involvements for the North Londoners, of which three have come in the last four league games.

Therefore, the former Crystal Palace star might be best served coming off the bench late into the game, as his ability to produce moments of magic is second to none.

Then, in his place, Arteta should bring one of the club’s best players back into the lineup, someone who has been compared to Dennis Bergkamp.

The Arsenal star who should replace Eze

While it would be a surprising move, Arteta should look to play Martin Odegaard instead of Eze tomorrow afternoon.

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, this is predicated on the Norwegian being fit enough to start.

However, considering he was training with the first team earlier in the week and the manager was rather vague about his status, it feels like he might be.

Moreover, it’s not as if the Spaniard doesn’t have a track record of suddenly bringing players straight back into the side.

With all that said, why should the 26-year-old come back into the side for this game?

Well, beyond him being the captain and this being a heated derby, he adds an element of control and metronomic understanding to the midfield that Eze doesn’t.

Moreover, on top of leading the press, the former Real Madrid wonderkid can play a sensationally weighted pass in behind a defence, which is what he was starting to do again before his recent injury.

It’s this ability to see a chance before most other players and act on it that led former Arsenal star Ray Parlour to describe the Drammen-born ace as “very similar” to the legendary Bergkamp.

The 67-capped Norwegian obviously isn’t on the same level as the Invincible, but that is something he shares with him.

Appearances

205

Starts

177

Minutes

15595′

Goals

41

Assists

40

Goal Involvements per Match

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvement

192.53′

Finally, even though he had a poor campaign last season, the former dynamic difference-maker still has an excellent record, producing 81 goal involvements in 205 appearances.

Ultimately, so long as he’s fit enough to start, Arteta should replace Eze with Odegaard for Arsenal’s game on Sunday.

Arsenal handed another injury doubt for Tottenham clash after twist and Gabriel blow

It could see the recall of an exciting talent.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 21, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking to make a splash in the January transfer market and could sign a Premier League ace who loves playing against the Old Gold.

Wolves’ defensive and attacking problems Edwards needs to fix

The task facing new Wolves manager Rob Edwards is a big one after his return to Molineux involved club chiefs paying Middlesbrough around £3m in compensation.

Edwards, a former Old Gold defender, will need to shore up the Wolves defence, with no other Premier League side conceding more than Wolves so far after 11 games (25).

Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Edwards’ new side have also struggled to finish chances.

Still without a win and on two points from a possible 33, Wolves have scored just seven league goals, again a division low, and have failed to find the net in six of their 11 top-flight fixtures.

Fosun are looking to back Edwards in the January transfer market, and it appears as if Wolves are eyeing a new goalkeeper to rival both Jose Sa and Sam Johnstone.

Wolves and Edwards keen to sign "aggressive" £90,000-p/w Premier League flop

He’s cost £1m for every appearance made so far.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 14, 2025

A loan-to-buy bid for Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas is thought to be in the pipeline, whereas an offer is also in for Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia.

Wolves eyeing move to sign Everton winger Dwight McNeil

Now, according to reports from Football Insider, Wolves are also looking to sign Everton winger Dwight McNeil when the winter market opens.

It is suggested that both loan and permanent offers will be explored for the Toffees ace, whereas Man City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is another target for Edwards and Wolves chiefs.

McNeil made the move to Everton from Burnley for £20m back in 2022, and during his Premier League career, has enjoyed playing against Wolves for both the Clarets and the Toffees.

Games

12

Wins

5

Draws

4

Losses

3

Goals

1

Assists

6

The left-footed winger has registered multiple assists against the Old Gold, and his ability from set pieces even saw him compared to Arsenal star Declan Rice by pundit Chris Sutton.

However, McNeil has fallen out of favour on Merseyside under David Moyes this season following the arrival of Jack Grealish, playing just 51 minutes of Premier League football in 2025/26.

Therefore, a move to the Midlands could make sense for all involved, and by the looks of things, it will be one to watch over the coming months.

£55m spent & Hackney signs: Dream Wolves XI Edwards can build in January

David Moyes has been reluctant to rotate at Everton this season. The Merseysiders are 14th in the Premier League after a summer of sweeping change, yet signings such as Tyler Dibling and Merlin Rohl remain on the fringe.

In fairness, Moyes did say at the start of the season that Everton’s deep-rooted issues would take more than one summer to eradicate and remould into something progressive, but some are questioning why more is not being made of the resources at hand.

Everton

14th

19

Man United

8th

20

Tottenham

6th

20

Brentford

12th

21

However, there is one change the Scotsman would love to make that hasn’t been possible. Indeed, Jarrad Branthwaite continues to languish on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury, and his return would do the Toffees the world of good.

Moyes needs Branthwaite back at Everton

Branthwaite is arguably Everton’s best player. Certainly, he would be the most profitable, with Manchester United billed £70m for the potential signing of the England international last year. No move came to fruition.

But he has yet to grace the Hill Dickinson pitch, having sustained an injury in pre-season. Several weeks ago, a complication in the defender’s muscular recovery led to surgery, and now he is set for an extended spell on the sidelines, with some sources suggesting he will not be ready until after the new year.

This is a powerful and front-footed centre-half whose 6 foot 5 presence demands respect. Much has been made of Everton’s struggles in the final third this season, but we must also acknowledge the ramifications of not having your best defender fit for the opening months of the campaign (this was also true for Sean Dyche last year, when the Blues started off on a four-match skid).

Michael Keane has done a fine job in stepping in for the younger man this season, arguably outplaying the vice-captain James Tarkowski beside him, but there’s no question that Branthwaite, described as an “absolute monster” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would walk back into the line-up when fit enough to do so.

Everton have made headway this season, but further improvements are needed if Moyes’ side are to break the surface of expectations and find a space among the heavyweights in the Premier League.

Moyes, to be sure, must be more open to unleashing those bit-part members of the squad. Perhaps they could make a marked difference. There’s one youngster who is considered an elite talent, and yet he has not featured this term. Moyes must now unleash him.

Moyes must unleash "generational" youngster

This summer, Everton completed a wave of signings. The most notable addition was Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City, while big buys included Dibling and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry.

But the arrival of Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich, for around £8m, has fallen under the radar. The 19-year-old is an attack-minded left-back, though his versatility permits moonlit roles further up the field and even in an alternative right-back placement.

It is his dribbling that stands out most. Last season, while out on loan in La Liga with Real Valladolid, Aznou averaged two dribbles per game, which stood as the second-highest success rate of any defender in the Spanish top flight (data via BBC).

The Moroccan has even been described as a “generational talent” by the aforementioned Kulig, and it’s curious to note he is alongside Branthwaite in having yet to make his first-team debut for Moyes’ side.

The difference is that he has not been injured, but rather, kept from the action by his manager. Seven times in succession, he has sat on the bench in the Premier League, and seven times in succession, he has remained unused.

There are concerns about the player’s physicality, but there is undoubtedly a reluctance on Moyes’ part to unleash youngsters. Last month, Dibling started against Crystal Palace and ended the 63-year-old’s 185-match streak of not naming a teenager in the starting line-up. Dibling was hooked at half-time.

It has been said that Everton are open to loaning the teenager out this winter, sending him somewhere for a short stay and with the view toward providing him with a suitable environment for growth.

There is reason to this possible route, but whether it is truly the best course of action for an Everton side in need of more dynamism down the flanks is another question. However, Branthwaite before him went out on loan with PSV Eindhoven and returned to the Premier League a better player for it.

Perhaps Aznou could emulate his fellow defender in this regard, heading out for the second half of the campaign before returning next summer and shining thereafter.

Vitalii Mykolenko is limited in his attacking output, with data platform FBref ranking the Ukrainian among the bottom 9% of full-backs in the Premier League this season for shot-creating actions per 90 (0.86). Likewise, Jake O’Brien has been dependable in his makeshift right-back role, but he is naturally a centre-back and his game reflects this.

The left-footed Branthwaite’s return and the robustness he adds could actually be perfect for Aznou as the Morocco international looks to establish himself on Merseyside. It’s a debate with substance on both sides: Aznou could help Everton with his progressiveness this year, and yet a slow, gradual integration might be better for his long-term development.

Patience was always going to be required for a young and talented full-back whose experience on the major stage is shallow. In this, Moyes’ decision to keep him on the sidelines is understandable.

However, many would not agree. There have been opportunities to unleash Aznou, and instead, he plies his trade under Paul Tait’s wing in the development squad.

There’s a sense that Everton are going to attack the January transfer window and target a new centre-forward and fresh full-backs besides. Might it be that Aznou is the answer to the club’s issues down the wings?

In La Liga last season, he won an average of 2.2 tackles and 5.8 duels per game (as per Sofascore), triumphing in 51% of that latter metric.

Work is needed, of course it is, but surely this wonderful and exciting prospect deserves a chance to shine after Everton won the summer tussle for his signature.

Everton flop "failed a succession of managers", now he's saving Moyes

This Everton veteran is proving to be the unlikely signing of the summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 7, 2025

Heading into Leeds United’s Premier League clash against West Ham United on Friday night, Daniel Farke was under some pressure in the Elland Road dug-out to pick up a positive result.

There had been reports, in the build-up to this must-win contest against the Hammers, that the top-flight newcomers had RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior on their radar as a potential replacement for the German.

Thankfully for Farke, his team hit back by collecting a 2-1 win over Nuno Espirito Santo’s strugglers, with the ex-Norwich City boss able to survive another day in the pressurised Leeds’ hot-seat, subsequently.

Brenden Aaronson really did step up when he was needed to during this tight win, with the American also able to respond to his critics emphatically with a man-of-the-match worthy display against the visitors from East London.

How Aaronson has turned around his Leeds career

Much like Farke has had to fight back against accusations that he isn’t cut out for the bright lights of the Premier League all across his managerial career to date, Aaronson has also had to deal with his fair share of critics deeming him not capable of being a top-flight level talent.

There had been some weight behind these comments, too, with Aaronson being deemed a “lightweight” presence that’s not “good enough” to pull on Leeds white by former Elland Road defender Jon Newsome, off the back of him only firing home one Premier League goal during his side’s disastrous 2022/23 season, which ended in relegation.

He hadn’t started this campaign in the best light, either, leading to the 25-year-old dropping in and out of Farke’s first-team plans. However, he was a force to be reckoned with against West Ham, perhaps saving his up-and-down career in West Yorkshire in the process.

Indeed, away from being the crucial individual who fired Leeds in front after just three minutes, Aaronson also constantly burst forward with purpose across the full match, with one of his three successful dribbles forward nearly resulting in one of the most memorable solo strikes of the season to date.

To his dismay, the resulting shot – after all his hard work had seemingly paid off – shaved the crossbar, with the ex-Red Bull Salzburg attacker also being praised at the full-time whistle for being a presence that “works his socks off” by his relieved manager, when winning a high eight ground duels.

He wasn’t the only presence in Farke’s XI who turned around their ongoing narrative in West Yorkshire, though, against West Ham, as one of Aaronson’s teammates on the night also breathed life back into their own stop-start tale.

The "monstrous" star who also saved his career

A lot of Leeds’ summer recruits have instantly hit the ground running, with Sean Longstaff already becoming an integral part of Farke’s starting lineup, with five big chances created in league action.

Noah Okafor has also seamlessly slotted into his new environment with two league goals already next to his name, but while those named have found adjusting to life in West Yorkshire to be straightforward, Jaka Bijol has struggled, on the other hand.

Before being handed a start against West Ham, Bijol had found himself rooted to the substitutes bench with zero league appearances to shout about, which was a surprise, considering the 6-foot-4 Slovenian didn’t leave Udinese behind for cheap this summer, having cost the Premier League newcomers a substantial £15m.

Thankfully, he made up for lost time with his commanding showing against the relegation-threatened visitors, with six duels won in total, seeing him already live up to his “monstrous” billing that was handed his way by analyst Ben Mattinson in Serie A.

Minutes played

90

Touches

75

Accurate passes

53/57 (93%)

Interceptions

2

Clearances

10

Ball recoveries

5

Tackles won

2/2

Total duels won

6/10

Joe Rodon would steal his thunder by standing out more in the heart of the Leeds backline, considering the Welshman popped up with a header to gift the hosts a 2-0 lead, but Bijol is also deserving of plenty of praise himself, having won all 100% of his tackles come the full-time whistle.

The “aggressive” number 15 – as he was also lauded by ex-Leeds defender Aidy White after the win was secured – further demonstrated a calmness on the ball under pressure with 53 accurate passes amassed, with Farke surely now ready to hand him even more league opportunities moving forward, considering that he’s finally off the mark.

Bijol’s playing days in England so far have been a slow burner, with the ex-Serie A titan now hopeful of even more minutes heading his way, as more wins are also picked by Farke and Co.

Forget Longstaff: £10m star is now Leeds' best signing since Bielsa left

This Leeds United star could now be considered the best signing the Whites have made since Marcelo Bielsa left.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 28, 2025