All posts by z3u9t.icu

There's no two ways about it, Scottish champions Celtic have simply not got the best out of star man Kyogo Furuhashi this season, with the Japanese marksman seemingly suffering following the departure of former boss Ange Postecoglou over the summer.

After previously netting 54 goals in just 83 games under the man who brought him to Glasgow on a £4.6m deal in 2021, the 29-year-old has since scored 'just' 11 times in 30 appearances following Brendan Rodgers' arrival in the dugout.

While hardly a dismal return, that haul of eight Premiership goals is far from the former Vissel Kobe man's return of 27 in the league last season, having now netted just twice in his last nine top-flight outings for the Old Firm giants.

22 games (19 starts)

12 'big chances' missed

8 goals

3 assists

5 'big chances' created

16.7 touches per game

69% pass accuracy rate

38% total duels won

Stats via Sofascore

With Rodgers insisting last month that he hasn't asked anything different of the diminutive marksman to what Postecoglou had previously, the question remains as to why the £19k-per-week speedster is not firing on all cylinders at present.

Those concerns have only been heightened by the lack of depth in the striking department following Oh Hyeon-gyu's departure to represent his country at the Asian Cup, with the South Korean star the only other senior centre-forward option behind Kyogo in the Hoops' squad.

That has ensured that signing a new number nine has become something of a priority before the end of the window, with one promising talent seemingly catching the eye of those at Parkhead.

Celtic want to sign the next Jamie Vardy

According to Sky Sports journalist, Anthony Joseph, the Glasgow outfit are now "focussing efforts" on signing a new left-back and striker with just a week left in the window, having already snapped up Nicolas Kuhn from Rapid Vienna on a £3m deal.

One potential attacking target that the club may have their eye on is Bristol City's Tommy Conway, with a report from Football Insider last week naming Celtic among the list of suitors who are 'tracking' the England-born, Scotland U21 international.

The 21-year-old – who is also on the radar of Rangers – has just 18 months left on his current deal at Ashton Gate, thus ensuring that the Robins may be forced to cash in in the near future, rather than letting his transfer value diminish.

If the 6 foot 1 hitman is the subject of a late approach from the league leaders, he could well be Rodgers' next Jamie Vardy, having previously been likened to the Leicester City hero by former Bristol boss, Nigel Pearson.

How Tommy Conway compares to Jamie Vardy

As Conway himself admitted, he is a striker who typically looks to "go in behind" and stretch opposition defences, with that perhaps the reason – as well as his goalscoring capabilities – that Pearson "compares" the youngster to Vardy.

That is certainly an intriguing comparison and one that will have caught the eye of Rodgers, with the Northern Irishman having enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Vardy during his time in charge of Leicester, having ended his first spell with Celtic to join the Foxes in 2019.

In 157 games working under the one-time Liverpool boss, the experienced striker scored a remarkable 70 goals and contributed a further 30 assists, with the Midlands side notably going on to claim a first FA Cup triumph in 2021.

A player who evidently slotted in smoothly to Rodgers' way of playing – with the current Celtic boss describing him as an "icon" – Vardy thrived as the main man in attack at the King Power Stadium, with perhaps young Conway able to do the same at Celtic Park.

Celtic could land big Oh upgrade in late swoop for £4.5m+ SPFL marksman

The Hoops were previously linked with an interest in the impressive forward.

ByDan Emery Jan 25, 2024

There had been hopes that Kyogo could be a "younger, faster" version of Vardy for Rodgers to work with – according to pundit Frank McAvennie – yet amid the 5 foot 7 dynamo's recent woes, Conway could threaten his place in the side if a deal is to be agreed.

As Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie stated back in 2022, the Taunton-born hotshot has been "on absolute flames" in the Championship of late, with it no surprise that he is generating interest from a raft of elite clubs.

Tommy Conway's season in numbers

Despite being hampered by injury at times this season, Conway has chalked up a respectable haul of eight goals in 23 games in all competitions, including scoring six goals in 21 Championship appearances.

The Bristol academy graduate has particularly caught the eye this month, however, as a result of his displays in the FA Cup, scoring two goals in as many games against Premier League highflyers, West Ham United, to send his side into the Fourth Round of the competition.

The former Bath City loanee first helped to send the tie to a replay after lashing in a stunning equaliser at the London Stadium, bursting in behind the Hammers' defence before firing home in a manner that Vardy himself would no doubt be proud of.

That was then followed up by what proved to be the decisive goal in a 1-0 win on home soil for the Championship side, Conway pouncing on a defensive mistake from the visitors before passing into an empty net from the angle.

The intelligence to pounce on that error as well as having the sharpness to take the opportunity will again have only served to corroborate those comparisons to Vardy, with former Leicester City coach Craig Shakespeare describing the Premier League winner as a "pest" due to his movement in the final third.

Rodgers will be fully aware just what a 'pest' Vardy truly was in his pomp, hence the wisdom in snapping up his heir apparent to provide genuine competition to Kyogo at Parkhead.

Leeds United had a relatively quiet January transfer window which just saw Connor Roberts arrive on loan, but rumours have already started circling about summer plans. Having already sold Luis Sinisterra to Bournemouth, it now looks as though those at Elland Road are ready to continue their ruthlessness by selling another player this summer.

Leeds United transfer news

One player who is yet to get his departure from Leeds is Wilfried Gnonto. The winger reportedly handed in a transfer request during the summer window, but failed to push through a move to Premier League side Everton.

The rumours then arrived once again last month, as the Italian was linked with a late move to West Ham United. Just like the summer, however, a move failed to materialise. Staying put in Yorkshire, Gnonto has since proven his worth in the Championship, scoring what turned out to be a winning goal over Bristol City.

One player who did get his move in the summer, however, was Jack Harrison. The winger, unlike Gnonto, completed a loan move to Everton and could now complete a permanent departure to confirm Phil Hay's earlier feeling that the Whites could sanction Harrison's departure.

Leeds missed out on an “amazing” Firpo replacement in January

Leeds United could have upgraded on Junior Firpo in the transfer window.

ByKelan Sarson Feb 11, 2024

According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, the 49ers and Leeds are ready to sell Harrison with or without Championship promotion this season, with offers expected from the Premier League and across Europe. Current loan club Everton are reportedly keen to turn the winger's deal permanent but could see any transfer thrown into doubt over their lack of top-flight security as things stand.

However, if Leeds go up, there is still a chance Harrison could return to the club, but it appears as if the price is right, the Whites will cash in.

Selling "Intelligent" Harrison could be a mistake

Whilst Leeds battle for promotion in the Championship, Harrison has been proving his Premier League quality at Everton. The winger has quickly become an important part of Sean Dyche's side and has picked up where he left off for a struggling Leeds team in the last campaign. That said, if the Whites do secure promotion to the top flight, then Harrison's numbers show that he is a player they should be looking to depend on rather than selling – even if they'd be clearing his reported £90k per-week wages.

Starts

17

Goals

3

Assists

3

Former Leeds manager Jesse Marsch was certainly a fan of the 27-year-old, previously saying:

"I feel like Jack is becoming a really solid, clear, intelligent, intensive player for us.

"So you know, obviously, we want to keep developing him and keep pushing him but I've been really happy with the progress that he's made over the last month and I think if he can continue to understand tactically and understand the mentality of the way we want to play, that he can get better and better and better. So yeah, and then I think again, all the players ahead of the ball will be able to put together more more dangerous actions and find more goals."

The mood and atmosphere at Manchester United have massively shifted since the turn of the year, with Erik ten Hag's side finally starting to pick up a run of results.

Their last defeat was seven games ago, and at the weekend, the Red Devils picked up another three points with a win 2-1 over Luton Town.

Rasmus Hojlund scored both goals within the first ten minutes, and his overall performance was impressive yet again, with Garth Crooks of the BBC saying United "have a new hero."

It's no coincidence that the upturn in results has occurred since Hojlund started firing, and the number 11 has already become a fan favourite.

Rasmus Hojlund's season in numbers

Hojlund's initial struggles in the Premier League and the concerns that were attached to the fact he failed to score in his first 14 league appearances can finally be put to bed.

The 21-year-old only needed to score his first goal to start flying, but the signs of him being an elite striker were already on show in the Champions League as he scored five in the group stage. The Dane was also getting into dangerous positions in the top flight, but his finishing wasn't always reliable, as shown by the fact he's missed 12 big chances this season.

Nonetheless, Hojlund has now become the youngest-ever player to score in six Premier League games in a row, with his tally reaching seven in the league along with two assists. This makes him the top goal contributer for Ten Hag's side in the league.

However, a potential problem that the former Ajax boss could face lies in the absence of the youngster through injury or if his form starts to drop, with Anthony Martial – who is out of contract this summer – being the only like-for-like swap. Luckily, the Dutchman could just have the perfect long-term rival for Hojlund, who is waiting for an opportunity to shine.

Joe Hugill could be up next at Man United

Joe Hugill is a striker who has been on the radar for a while now after he moved from Sunderland to Man United in 2020. The 6 foot 2 gem has torn defences apart in the academy, with his unique blend of height and pace making him a sought-after profile.

However, MUTV pundit Luke Chadwick was impressed with the slightly less aesthetic side of his game, claiming that the 20-year-old is more of an "old school" centre forward, which makes him the perfect backup for Hojlund, who has also been described that by journalist Vayam Rohit Lahoti.

The striker's numbers really do speak for themselves, and during his time in the academy, he has become known for being a clinical finisher while also having great technical ability, which has caused some to compare him to Harry Kane, who is widely regarded as the "world's best striker" – as per pundit Andros Townsend – and previously rose up through the youth ranks at rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Burton Albion

4

1

1

Altrincham

7

1

0

Man United U18's

24

18

4

Man United U23's

57

31

3

Total

92

51

8

In January, the towering number nine joined struggling League One outfit Burton Albion on loan to gain experience in the men's game, and in two starts, he has scored and picked up an assist.

With Hojlund guaranteed to be the future star to lead the line at Old Trafford, Hugill may have to wait a little longer for his chance in the first team, but he would definitely be an incredible rival for the Dane to have.

Rather than splashing the cash on a replacement for Martial this summer, Ten Hag could instead look to the academy again, having already put his faith in the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Arsenal are enjoying another brilliant season in the Premier League under former player Mikel Arteta, with his side currently sitting just two points off leaders Liverpool with 12 games remaining.

Arteta's side have only lost four times in the league so far this campaign, with the Gunners boasting the best defensive record in the division – conceding just 23 times in the 26 league games so far this season.

The North London side have also kept ten clean sheets in the Premier League – two more than any other side, with Arteta's side adopting Sir Alex Ferguson's quote that "attacking wins you games, defending wins you titles".

One player has been crucial in the club's attempts to end their 20-year drought without a Premier League title after his summer arrival at the Emirates. However, his time could soon be coming to an end in Arsenal red.

Aaron Ramsdale's record at Arsenal

David Raya joined the Gunners on loan with an option to buy last summer, with the Spaniard being crucial in Arsenal's attempts to get one over Manchester City after their title battle last season.

Aaron Ramsdale has subsequently dropped down the pecking order, with the former Bournemouth 'keeper now becoming Arteta's second-choice behind the in-form Raya.

The "phenomenal" 25-year-old – as dubbed by David Seaman, has made 88 appearances since his debut for the club in 2021. However, only five of those have come in the Premier League this season, with Ramsdale suffering as a result of Raya's arrival.

Very few would have predicted this turn of events on the back of last season, with Ramsdale earning a spot in the PFA Team of the Year after helping Arsenal finish as runner-up behind Manchester City.

During his two and a half years in London, he's kept 28 clean sheets for the Gunners in England's top flight, form that saw him become a regular in Gareth Southgate's England squad.

It's clear from his time at the Gunners that Ramsdale is a top-quality Premier League 'keeper and is way too good to sit on the substitute bench week in and week out, with the club potentially wanting to off-load the 25-year-old due to his high weekly wage.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

How much Aaron Ramsdale has cost Arsenal

The Stoke-on-Trent-born goalkeeper joined Arsenal for a deal totaling £30m including add-ons from relegated Sheffield United during the summer of 2021.

His four-year deal saw him earn £110k a week, a figure that is £10k a week more than teammate and flavour of the month Jorginho, who has enjoyed a positive spell in the Gunners' midfield of late, notably winning the Man of the Match award last time out against Newcastle.

#1 Kai Havertz

£280k

#2 Gabriel Jesus

£265k

#3 Declan Rice

£240k

#4 Martin Odegaard

£240k

#5 Thomas Partey

£200k

#6 Bukayo Saka

£195k

#7 William Saliba

£190k

#8 Gabriel Martinelli

£180k

The 'keeper has spent over two-and-a-half years in the capital accumulating over £15m in wages – taking the total price of his deal to £45m since his move from the Blades.

With Ramsdale still having 28 months left on his deal, Sporting Director Edu may look to move him on in the summer whilst his transfer value is still at its peak, subsequently clearing some money off the Gunners' expensive wage bill.

He was linked with a move to Chelsea and Nottingham Forest during the January window, with Arsenal unable to find a replacement for Ramsdale. However, the summer will give both parties a good chance to complete a move away from the Emirates, allowing the talented 'keeper to develop his game further.

Dan Ashworth is already pushing for a Manchester United move to sign a Premier League star, according to a new update.

Ashworth to Man Utd latest

It is no secret that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has wanted to bring in Ashworth from Newcastle United as the Red Devils’ new sporting director, with the 53-year-old currently on gardening leave at St James’ Park.

Those at Old Trafford need to negotiate a deal with Newcastle for Ashworth, with journalist Ben Jacobs expecting a compromise to be reached between the two clubs.

"If Manchester United get to a point where they are prepared to wait, whether it gets done today, tomorrow or next week becomes less relevant because they have got more time.

"Everyone knows that Dan Ashworth will end up at Manchester United. His move to Old Trafford isn't really in any doubt, otherwise Newcastle wouldn't have announced that he was leaving. It's just a case of ironing out the club-to-club negotiations, and I eventually expect a compromise to be reached."

Report claims Man Utd are in talks with "unique" manager to replace Ten Hag

The Red Devils could make the change this summer.

ByBen Browning Mar 12, 2024

Should a move go through, Ashworth will be tasked with bringing in new players for Erik ten Hag, should the Dutchman remain in charge, and there have been rumours over a double deal for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana.

There has now been an update on the former of the two, with Ashworth getting involved.

Ashworth pushing to sign Branthwaite for Man Utd

According to Football Transfers, Ashworth is now pushing to sign Branthwaite for Man Utd after persuading INEOS and Ratcliffe that the 21-year-old is the player the club need to build their defence around.

Ashworth is hoping to conclude a swift deal, with those on Merseyside wanting around £75m for the centre-back, which could be broken down into £65m plus add-ons. Branthwaite has certainly caught the eye recently, with both Real Madrid and Tottenham also looking at the player.

Brighton 1-1 Everton

7.74

Everton 3-0 Newcastle

7.65

West Ham 0-1 Everton

7.64

Everton 2-0 Chelsea

7.46

Everton 0-0 Aston Villa

7.29

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Everton

7.25

He has been a regular under Sean Dyche and has come in for praise from Jamie Carragher, who said just last month: “I think he is [special]. And what is really special as well is the amount of centre-backs we have in the Premier League aged 21 or younger.

“I remember being a young lad going in myself at Liverpool and it’s an unforgiven position, I had to go to full-back for the next three or four years and then go back to centre-back, so you can see the quality we have.

“Branthwaite has been outstanding, Murillo I think has been outstanding. But I think this lad has been pretty special and he’s a big part of why in my eyes Everton still have a great chance of staying up, him and his partnership with Tarkowski.”

After a season to forget in the Premier League, Newcastle United must go again this summer and make up for previous mistakes in the transfer market by solving the current problems in Eddie Howe's squad. And there may not be a better way to do that than by welcoming a Premier League champion.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies, of course, had a summer to forget last time out, signing Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento, Harvey Barnes and Lewis Hall. In a disastrous campaign, Tonali was almost instantly handed a lengthy ban for breaching betting rules and has only just been allowed to return to training, Barnes has struggled with injuries and Hall has struggled to win the faith of Howe. As we approach the end of the season, Livramento is the only summer arrival to have made a truly positive impact.

As they look ahead to the forthcoming summer window, the Magpies will have to act without Dan Ashworth, who has been placed on gardening leave amid rumours of a move to Manchester United. the Old Trafford-bound sporting director could miss one of Newcastle's smartest coups yet, however.

According to Football Transfers, Howe and Newcastle are preparing a move for Oleksandr Zinchenko, who Arsenal value at €45m (£39m) this summer. Those at St James' Park aren't the only interested party either, with Bayern Munich also reportedly eyeing a move for the left-back in an attempt to replace Alphonso Davies, who currently looks on course to become a Real Madrid player sooner rather than later.

Outscoring Isak: Newcastle may have sanctioned their £1.7m sale too early

The player left Newcastle United behind in a £2m deal.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 7, 2024

Howe reportedly wants to strengthen his defence and signing a Premier League winner in Zinchenko would certainly be a place to start. As Newcastle look to make their return to European football next season, the Arsenal left-back could be one to watch this summer.

"Perfectionist" Zinchenko is better than Burn

Not only would Zinchenko bring winning experience to the current Newcastle side, but he'd also be an undoubted upgrade on Dan Burn, who has struggled at times this season. The Ukraine international and multiple time league winner, for just £39m, would be one of the bargains of the summer, as his stats show.

Progressive Carries

35

12

Progressive Passes

193

59

Tackles Won

27

22

Key Passes

24

8

That said, it remains to be seen whether Mikel Arteta would sanction such a departure away from The Emirates this summer. The Arsenal boss was full of praise for Zinchenko when he arrived in North London in 2022, saying via Squawka: “First of all, his mentality. He’s used to winning – winning is the only thing and winning in the right way.

“He’s a perfectionist and a really demanding boy, I know him so well, and after that he brings qualities that we didn’t have in the squad. He gives us a different option to play within the role in different spaces, and I’m really happy to have him.”

In what could be a busy summer, Newcastle would be wise to target a player of Zinchenko's calibre as they look to upgrade on Burn and add some experience to Howe's side.

Arsenal have made great strides under Mikel Arteta. They sit top of the Premier League table and are into the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in 14 years. That doesn't sound bad, does it?

A large part of that has been the immense recruitment strategy that Edu and Co have deployed in north London since Arteta's arrival as manager in 2019.

There have been far more hits than misses, particularly in recent years with a host of 2023 signings shining of late.

We're running out of superlatives for the great Declan Rice, and so we should be considering his £105m price tag. He has won games on his own; just think of those late strikes against Manchester United and Luton Town for instance.

There is David Raya too. No Arsenal signing has arguably been questioned more than him during Arteta's reign but his penalty heroics – making two saves against Porto – demonstrate that he is the rightful no.1 at the Emirates Stadium. There has even been a revival for Kai Havertz who has scored four times in his last four Premier League matches.

However, if a different strategy was employed at Colney then only Rice would have been signed. London-born, what would the starting XI look like if the club could only buy and select local talent?

We've taken inspiration from the Athletic Bilbao model. Over the 125 years of the club's existence, they have operated with only Basque players at their disposal, utilising footballers from a region of northern Spain and across the border in France. Aymeric Laporte is one of the most poignant examples of recent times.

It's a fascinating tactic and it would be interesting to see what Arsenal's squad would look like if they deployed a similar strategy, recruiting and utilising players exclusively born in the London area.

Intrigued to find out who's involved? We've got all the answers…

1 GK – Arthur Okonkwo Born: London

The goalkeeper situation was rather tricky. Not a huge number of stoppers have risen to prominence in the modern era after being born in London so we've opted for 22-year-old Arthur Okonkwo on this occasion.

Aaron Ramsdale hails from Stoke-on-Trent while David Raya is Spanish so would be ineligible in this hypothetical squad of players.

Okonkwo is currently on loan at Wrexham in League 2, living the high life under Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. He'd be required to make quite the step up if this starting XI was real.

2 RB – Reece James Born: Redbridge

There isn't a great depth of current Arsenal defenders from London so we've opted for probably the best option in the Premier League; Reece James.

The Chelsea skipper has a wretched injury history, notably playing just 390 minutes and eight games of league action this term but on his day he is an electric talent. For the Blues, James has supplied 21 assists since breaking into the senior setup. Just imagine that sort of quality in Arsenal's all-London lineup.

3 CB – Reuell Walters Born: Lambeth

The sole representative currently at Arsenal in our backline is academy star Reuell Walters. A regular trainer with the senior side, the 19-year-old hasn't played a single minute of first-team football this season but has been on the bench in the Premier League on eight occasions, highlighting how much Arteta rates his qualities.

Previously compared to William Saliba, it surely won't be too long before we see the Lambeth-born youngster make a breakthrough.

4 CB – Max Kilman Born: Chelsea

The Wolves skipper is Chelsea-born, coming through the ranks at Welling and then earning a move to Maidenhead United. A Jamie Vardy-esque rise from non-league football has subsequently taken him to the Premier League.

The centre-back is now comfortably one of the better English centre-halves in the division and has even been linked with a £30m move to Napoli. If Arsenal's transfer policy centered around London-born talent then they'd surely only be too happy to oblige for such a fee.

5 LB – Luke Shaw Born: Kingston upon Thames

The scorer of a goal in a European Championship final, Shaw is undoubtedly one of the finest talents to come out of London and walks into a side of capital-born talent.

Ben White is the only English defender regularly used by Arsenal and could be fielded at left-back, although was born in Poole, Bournemouth, so is ineligible for selection. The Man United full-back has been signed instead.

6 CM – Joe Willock Born: Waltham Forest

Now at Newcastle United, Willock has taken his game to a new level after graduating from the Arsenal academy under Unai Emery.

The central midfielder actually appeared 78 times for the Gunners first-team while at the club, scoring 11 goals and registering four assists.

However, after a swashbuckling loan spell in the Toon, where he famously netted seven games on the trot in the top flight, Arsenal cashed in to the tune of £25m. It's unlikely that would have happened if they only relied on Londoners.

7 CM – Declan Rice Born: Kingston upon Thames

Arsenal's club-record signing is an absolute shoo-in for this team and is perhaps one of the finest talents to ever come out of London.

Of course, Rice learnt his trade with West Ham United and after joining the Gunners last summer has become one of the most elite midfield players in the game.

The England international has now added attacking contributions to his arsenal – pardon the pun – scoring six goals and supplying seven assists throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

8 CAM – Emile Smith Rowe Born: Croydon

Now an outcast in the current Arsenal side, Emile Smith Rowe features prominently in this London-born XI as one of its key creators.

The 23-year-old's career has been ravaged by injury in recent years and is now seemingly not trusted by Arteta, with the Englishman starting just twice in the Premier League this term.

Arsenal supporters long for the days when he found the net on 11 occasions in 2021/22 but truth be told an exit looks inevitable this summer. It's safe to say he'd be far more important in a London-based XI.

9 RW – Bukayo Saka Born: Ealing

Who else? Saka walks into this team as one of the club's very best players. The winger is Arsenal through and through having risen through the ranks of the academy to make 216 first-team appearances.

The 2023/24 term is proving to be the best of the young attacker's career, netting 16 goals and laying on 15 assists across 37 appearances. Not bad indeed.

10 LW – Reiss Nelson Born: Elephant & Castle

Like Smith Rowe, academy graduate Nelson has found it tough to break into the starting lineup ahead of Saka and Co this term but he will always live long in the memory for that last-gasp goal against Bournemouth last season.

Sure, there might be better options around but Nelson is a pure Arsenal lad and would deserve a chance to make the left wing spot his own if the club could only select those hailing from London.

It's been a good week for Arsenal. They came away from the Etihad with a point and took all three from their game against Luton Town while resting a number of starters.

Mikel Arteta even gave Gabriel Martinelli another short runout towards the end of the game as he continued his recovery from the foot injury he sustained against Sheffield United.

Jorginho-martinelli-arsenal

The 22-year-old has been one of the Gunners' most productive players for a couple of years now, but his place in the team could be under threat based on recent transfer rumours.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a report earlier this week from GOAL (via TEAMtalk), Arsenal are interested in signing Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville in the summer.

However, the report also revealed that the Gunners' cross-city rivals, Chelsea, are incredibly interested in the Dutchman's services and could compete for his signature once the window opens.

While the prospect of competing with the Blues is far from ideal, the talented 22-year-old's potential price tag of just £26m will surely encourage Edu Gaspar and Co to make an offer.

Adding the Peacocks' gifted wideman to the squad would undoubtedly improve Arsenal and give the fans something to get excited about, but it might not be such brilliant news for Martinelli.

How Crysencio Summerville compares to Gabriel Martinelli

The first thing to clear up is that while Summerville has played a lot of his career as a right-winger, he has primarily played left-wing this season. Were he to sign for Arsenal, he would, therefore, compete directly with Martinelli; if there is one player who is practically guaranteed to start in Arteta's team, it's Bukayo Saka out on the right.

There is always a chance that the Leeds ace would be happy to come in as a backup option, which at that price might make sense for the Gunners, but realistically, he's not going to want to go from regularly starting at Elland Road to sitting on the bench at the Emirates.

So, with that said, who is having a better season from a pure output perspective?

Well, it's the Rotterdam-born star who wins this round, as he has scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in 40 games for Daniel Farke's side this season, and as talent scout Jacek Kulig says, he's "absolutely on fire."

Appearances

40

34

Goals

18

8

Assists

9

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.67

0.38

In comparison, the Gunners' Guarulhos-born gem has scored eight goals and provided five assists in 34 appearances, meaning he is averaging a goal involvement every 2.6 games compared to Summerville's average of every 1.4 games.

Okay, so what about the pairs' underlying numbers? Well, unfortunately for the former Ituano prospect, once again, his potential new teammate and rival comes out ahead, and while it's not emphatic, it is quite comfortable.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.67

0.55

Non-Penalty Goals

0.42

0.30

Assists

0.24

0.20

Progressive Passes

4.44

2.98

Progressive Carries

5.05

5.51

Progressive Passes Received

9.18

15.4

Shots on Target

1.30

0.76

Goals per Shot on Target

0.33

0.40

Passing Accuracy

78.3%

78.0%

Shot-Creating Actions

6.23

4.10

Goal Creating-Actions

0.48

0.56

Successful Take-Ons

2.57

1.82

The former Feyenoord gem produces a higher non-penalty expected goals and assists figure, scores more non-penalty goals, provides more assists, makes more progressive passes, has more shots on target, has marginally better passing accuracy, produces more shot-creating actions, and completes more take-ons, all per 90.

To be fair to the Arsenal ace, he is more clinical with his shots on target, completes far more progressive carries, produces more goal-creating actions, and receives more progressive passes per 90, but it's not enough – even if competing in a higher league.

Arsenal's "monster" who didn't play against Luton was the biggest winner

The brilliant player didn’t step foot on the pitch but now looks more secure than ever in his starting role.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 4, 2024

Ultimately, from the statistics alone, it appears quite clear that Summerville would be a brilliant addition to this current Arsenal squad and potentially even an upgrade on Martinelli if he can reproduce his current output in the Premier League.

Tottenham could move for a 22-goal forward this summer, after claims his club will let him go for just £17 million.

Spurs hunting for new striker as Postecoglou eyes Kane replacement

Ange Postecoglou deserves real praise for guiding Spurs to a potential top four finish in their first full season without club-record goalscorer Harry Kane.

Tottenham "ready to seal" a potential "bargain" deal for Ange this summer

The Lilywhites are keen to shore up multiple areas.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 10, 2024

While the Spurs boss is adamant that sealing Champions League qualification is not his full focus, sourcing a way to replicate Kane's 25-plus-goals-per-season was never an easy feat.

The likes of Son Heung-min and Richarlison, who've scored that number of goals between them in the Premier League this season, have been key for Postecoglou alongside other members of the squad.

Goals and assists have come from all areas of the pitch in Postecoglou's fluid, interchangeable system – with right-back Pedro Porro contributing seven assists and getting on the scoresheet once with a sublime finish against Nottingham Forest last weekend.

However, while Kane's absence hasn't really been felt this term, reports suggest that Tottenham could look to bring an "A-list" striker this summer. Big names like Brentford star Ivan Toney, who is very likely to leave his club in the next window, have been named as potential targets for Postecoglou.

“I’d say go and get him,” exclaimed pundit Alan Hutton to Tottenham News on whether Spurs should bring in someone like Toney.

"Of course, £60million is a lot but he’s a goalscorer. He does it Brentford week in and week out, he’s got really good stats, he looks like a leader and he’s grown in stature. You can see how confident he is, taking penalties for England is no problem, he’s just a cool, calm customer.

“Yes, Richarlison has done alright but I don’t think he’s an Ivan Toney, I don’t think he’ll get you the goals he could do. I think that takes Spurs to the next level if he can continue his goalscoring form for the next coming season."

Lesser-known options are also appearing via the media on a consistent basis. Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush is attracting interest from Spurs, while Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez has been repeatedly linked this week.

Another who's been sporadically mentioned is Union St.Gilloise striker Mohamed Amoura.

Tottenham could make a move for Amoura after £17m claim

The Algerian, who's been called his country's biggest star since Riyad Mahrez, could leave for as little as £17 million despite scoring an impressive 22 goals in all competitions this campaign.

Union 2-1 Liverpool

9.09

Union 1-1 Toulouse

7.47

Union 2-1 LASK

6.96

Liverpool 2-0 Union

6.40

LASK 3-0 Union

5.71

GiveMeSport have an update this week, and they claim Tottenham could make a move to sign Amoura this summer as the Lilywhites actively search for new number nines.

Postecoglou's reliance on the likes of Son is something which they intend to fix when the window reopens, and they've been conducting checks on Amoura ahead of a possible swoop later this year.

The 23-year-old only arrived at Union from FC Lugano last summer, but given the growing clamour for his services, he could well be on the move again.

The 2023/24 season has been a tough one for Newcastle United. Eddie Howe’s side have not quite lived up to expectations in the Premier League, and currently sit sixth in the table, 13 points off a top-four spot.

In the Champions League, the Magpies crashed out of the group stages in devastating fashion, finishing fourth in a tough group which consisted of AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund.

Under Howe, the squad has come on leaps and bounds. The pinnacle of the Englishman’s time in charge was when Newcastle reached the Carabao Cup final in 2022/23, although they did go on to lose the game against Manchester United.

This season, Howe’s side have been completely ravaged by injuries. They currently have nine first-team players out injured, with three of those players midfielders, namely Joelinton, Lewis Miley and Joe Willock.

This has led to Newcastle being linked with several midfield targets over the past few months. However, there is one name in particular who the Magpies are strongly linked with, and a move could come about this summer.

Newcastle's midfield transfer plans

According to Chronicle Live’s Chief Newcastle Writer Lee Ryder, the Tynesiders sent scouts to Stamford Bridge recently to watch Chelsea midfielder, Conor Gallagher. The 24-year-old’s current deal at Chelsea expires in 2025, and there is no current indication that he will sign a new contract with the Blues.

According to CIES Football Observatory, Gallagher is currently valued at £69m, a sizeable fee. However, it could well be the case that Newcastle could get the midfielder for less, considering his contract expires in a year.

Gallagher has been a key player under Mauricio Pochettino this season. The 24-year-old has played 43 games in all competitions, scoring five goals and registering eight assists along the way.

In signing the one-time Crystal Palace loanee, Newcastle would be recruiting a wonderful engine in the centre of midfield. In possession, he is a creative player and is an underrated final third player. Gallagher averages 1.48 key passes per 90 minutes, as per Fbref, which places him in the top 21%.

Off the ball, Gallagher is a diligent presser who works hard out of possession. This is proven by his 0.51 final third tackles, which place him in the top 5%, and 3.81 tackles and interceptions he makes, placing him in the top 19% among midfielders in Europe.

However, if Gallagher is seemingly unattainable for Newcastle this summer – or if the club wish to utilise their funds elsewhere – they may well have an alternative option, whom they brought in last summer.

Newcastle’s perfect Gallagher alternative

The player in question here is 18-year-old Travis Hernes, who joined Newcastle from Shrewsbury on 1 September last year for an undisclosed fee.

Hernes is a highly-rated youngster, who was described by his former academy manager Charlie Musselwhite in an interview with Chronicle Live as “elegant on the ball and quality in possession” before he explained Hernes is “best as a box-to-box”.

In The Pipeline

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

Hernes has already played professional football; he made his first-team debut for Shrewsbury against Wolves under-21s, who are his former academy side, in which he played 23 minutes and made a good impact, scoring Shrewsbury’s only goal of a 2-1 defeat.

In total, Hernes has played six first-team games but has spent the majority of this season playing youth football for Newcastle, where he has scored three goals and registered three assists.

Perhaps there is a scenario where Hernes gets an opportunity in the Newcastle first team in the near future. Whether or not they sign Gallagher, he could well be a good option for Howe as he continues his development, and there is every chance the Magpies could look to bed him into the first-team fold at St James’ Park.

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