Chelsea look to have uncovered another wonderkid from their academy, as Lewis Hall's market value continues to soar at Stamford Bridge.
Hall would make his debut under Thomas Tuchel last season and has made another seven senior appearances for the Blues so far this campaign, with the 18-year-old no doubt viewed as a long-term option in Graham Potter's squad.
The versatile left-back, who can also play in midfield, has also shone in the Premier League 2 so far this campaign and looks more than ready for the step-up to men's football, as he boasts three goals and four assists in just 15 appearances so far this term.
Hall was tipped for big things as soon as he made his Chelsea debut in the 5-1 win over Chesterfield in January last year, with teammate Callum Hudson-Odoi dubbing him "amazing" following the game.
The Englishman's emergence as a first-team prospect at Stamford Bridge was recognised by Goal in their yearly NXGN top 50, which emphasises his growing reputation in European football, and certainly suggests that he is a talent that Chelsea need to nurture, rather than letting him join the long list of failed wonderkids.
Goal suggested in that report that the 18-year-old is most comfortable in midfield, which suggests that his long-term future at Chelsea could lie there, but it is his positional versatility – as he can play wing-back too – which could see him established as a top talent at Stamford Bridge.
How much is Lewis Hall worth?
Unsurprisingly, Hall's fairly regular appearances under Potter this season have seen his transfer value shoot up, as FootballTransfers suggested that he was valued at just €1m (£880k) back in April 2022, but they now value him at €8.2m (£7.2m), which represents an incredible 718% increase in less than a year.
After making just his second appearance as a Chelsea player in their 2-0 defeat against Manchester City earlier in the season, the teenager earned a lot of praise from Potter for his performance.
He said:
“I really enjoyed his performance. He took responsibility, took the ball in tight areas, attacked the box, and could’ve scored a couple of goals on another day.
“So it was a really nice performance, a mature performance, I thought. He is a quiet lad but goes about his work. I’ve been really impressed with him.”
Although Chelsea have spent big money on both left-backs and central midfielders in recent years, with Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez two recent examples, Hall is a homegrown talent that looks to have both the ability and attitude required to make it at the top.
If he can continue to impress Potter at Stamford Bridge, his market value and reputation will only continue to grow further.
Newcastle United are reportedly leading the race to sign striker Marcus Thuram as a free agent this summer.
The Lowdown: Contact made
Newcastle have reportedly already spoken to Thuram’s agent over a potential move once his contract at Borussia Monchengladbach expires, along with fellow Premier League rivals Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea.
Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona and Inter Milan are also thought to be interested in his signature, with no signs that he will renew his current deal as of yet.
The Latest: Newcastle leading race
As per Italian news outlet Calciomercato, the St. James’ Park outfit are ‘in the lead’ in the race to sign Thuram.
They are able to offer a bigger salary than what he has currently being offered elsewhere, and so will be confident that they can secure his signature once he becomes a free agent.
It is surely a no-brainer for the North East club to sign a player of Thuram’s quality for free.
Lauded as ‘world class’ by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, and an ‘absolute beast‘ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the six-foot-four colossus has scored an impressive 41 times and supplied a further 26 assists in 122 matches in total for Gladbach, with 17 of those goal contributions coming so far this term (Transfermarkt).
With Chris Wood set to join Nottingham Forest on a permanent deal, the Magpies will have space for a striker in their squad, and they should be looking no further than Thuram in order to give fierce competition to both Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson.
Manchester United have made contact to express their interest in a move to sign a central talisman in January, according to a fresh report that has emerged.
The Red Devils have made an extremely mixed start to the new campaign having won nine and lost seven of their opening 16 games in thePremier League, although they are still firmly in contention to secure a place in the top four should they start picking up results on a more consistent basis.
Ahead of the upcoming window opening, Erik ten Hag will know that he needs to strengthen his squad should he want to try and qualify for the Champions League, and with Sofyan Amrabat having been nothing short of underwhelming following his summer arrival on loan, defensive midfield is a position that needs addressing.
Fulham’s Joao Palhinha has been identified as a potential candidate by the manager, with the 28-year-old having firmly established himself as Marco Silva’s overall best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 7.18 (Fulham statistics).
July 4, 2022
Sporting CP
Fulham
Jul 31, 2020
SC Braga
Sporting CP (end of loan)
Aug 7, 2018
Sporting CP
SC Braga (loan)
The Portugal international came extremely close to joining Bayern Munich over the summer, but with a deal collapsing on deadline day despite him travelling for a medical, he ended up remaining at Craven Cottage, and his impressive performances have brought him onto the radar of other clubs in the top-flight.
Man United hoping to land Palhinha
According to Football Transfers, Man United are interested in Palhinha and have made Fulham aware that they would be keen to secure his services in January.
“Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have all expressed their desire to sign Palhinha in recent weeks, with FootballTransfers exclusively reporting that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are set to turn their attention to the Fulham man after learning Aston Villa’s asking price for Douglas Luiz. Sources have informed us that Palhinha may cost €58 million (£50m) in 2024, with a January move on the cards if a suitable bid is tabled.”
Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.
Palhinha could be a "monster" for Ten Hag
As it stands, Palhinha ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles so he loves to get stuck into challenges to try and win back possession for his team, but he’s also more than capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch (FBRef – Palhinha statistics).
Standing at 6 foot 2, Lisbon’s native has already posted three contributions (two goals and one assist), in 14 Premier League appearances this season, so considering how effective he can be both defensively and offensively, he’s such a well-rounded player.
Sponsored by Adidas, Ten Hag’s target even knows what it takes to compete and be successful at a high level because he has secured five pieces of silverware since the start of his career, so he will possess the winning mentality required to achieve what is expected of him at Old Trafford.
As dubbed by Video and Data Analyst Marcus Bring, Palhinha is a “defensive monster”, and when you look at all of the positive qualities that he could bring to the side, Man United have a no-brainer of a decision to make should the opportunity present itself in the coming weeks.
Southampton reportedly have a bid on the table for an exciting young player, but strong competition is also being provided by two Premier League giants.
Southampton eyeing January transfers
The Saints could be in the market for new signings when the January transfer window opens in the New Year, as Russell Martin looks to bring in players who can aid his side's promotion push. A recent report has claimed that Southampton are eyeing St Patrick's Athletic midfielder Adam Murphy, with a pre-contract move potentially being sorted in January.
Murphy isn't the only youngster who has been seen as a January target, however, with West Brom's Tom Fellows another player who could move to St Mary's, as the south coast outfit look to seal promotion from the Championship to the Premier League at the first attempt.
It does appear as though Southampton are looking to bring in exciting young talent, given the nature of those two updates, and a new claim further suggests that that is the case.
Southampton want Romeo Akachukwu
According to an update from The Irish Independent, Southampton still have a bid "on the table" for Waterford midfielder Romeo Akachukwu, but Manchester City and Arsenal are also interested in making a move for him.
"Southampton made a bid which would be a new record for a player from a League of Ireland club, worth in excess of the €500,000 Sunderland paid Cork City for Roy O’Donovan in 2007 and also up on the €450,000 Shamrock Rovers got from Manchester City for Gavin Bazunu, though the Hoops later received more based on bonuses and international caps.
"It’s believed that the Southampton bid is still on the table and has not formally been rejected by Waterford but the Blues are keen to maximise the potential to earn from the sale of Akachukwu, while Waterford’s parent club, League One side Fleetwood Town, are also eager to land him.
"Manchester City and Arsenal are also on his case but they would be likely to bring him in initially at academy level while Southampton have promised Akachukwu a quick route to first-team football."
Akachukwu may still only be 17 years of age, but he has already made an impressive impact at League of Ireland First Division side Waterford, proving himself to be an important part of the first team. Southampton offering him more chance of minutes could work in their favour, rather than being put into an academy by a bigger club.
Waterford
26
4
0
Republic of Ireland Under-17s
14
3
0
That is outlined by Akachukwu's statistics at senior level to date, with four goals coming his way in 26 appearances, and he is also a 14-time capped Republic of Ireland Under-17 international, finding the net three times in the process. Granted, the teenage midfielder may not be coming in as an immediate starter for Southampton, considering how inexperienced he remains, but if the club see him as someone who can blossom into a formidable footballer over time, they could do all they can to snap him up over the likes of City and Arsenal, which would be a real statement of intent.
Aston Villa have seen an abundance of talent take to the pitch at Villa Park over the years, however not all names have been as memorable as others.
Unai Emery’s current crop of stars are reviving the good times in the Midlands, from the expertise of Emi Martinez between the posts, to the reliability of Ollie Watkins leading the line, the Villans seem to be destined for new highs.
Having a reliable goalscorer hasn’t always been the case for Villa in the Premier League era, from Rudy Gestede to Danny Ings, some players have simply failed to live up to expectation of fulfilling the number nine role.
While some transfers have been worse than others when it came to acquiring strikers in the past, one name sticks out as having a woeful time at the club, however his form since leaving tells a different story.
Borja Baston’s statistics for Aston Villa
In January 2020, Dean Smith made the decision to sign striker Borja Baston from Swansea City on a free transfer, in the bid to boost his options going forward.
Smith had captured the signature of Brazilian forward Wesley in the summer prior, however following the new signing’s anterior cruciate ligament blow early into his debut season at Villa, Baston was introduced as an additional reinforcement.
borja-baston
The Spaniard had been in South Wales for three-and-a-half years prior to his move to Villa, signing for the Swans from Atletico Madrid in 2016, where he then endeavoured on several loan spells back to Spain before bidding farewell.
Earlier in the 2019/20 campaign, Baston had netted six goals in 20 Championship appearances for Swansea, making enough of an impact for Smith to deem him as the appropriate signing to make.
At the point of his arrival, Smith lauded the striker as being “hungry” to achieve, however by the summer, his time at Villa had ended with just two appearances, 16 minutes played and certainly no goals.
Borja Baston's Aston Villa career
Touches per game
4.5
Shots per game
0
Key passes per game
0
Dribbles per game
0
Error that led to shot
1
Goals
0
Figures via Sofascore
As highlighted in the table above, Baston’s time at Villa was a disaster and the hunger that he had displayed to Smith was nowhere to be seen, however since leaving, his form tells a different story.
What Borja Baston is doing now
After leaving Villa, Baston returned to Spain to sign for CD Leganes on a free transfer, where he took the time to rediscover his form slowly, scoring five goals in 35 appearances in the second-tier of Spanish football.
The 2021/22 campaign finally saw the forward come to life, as he signed for fellow La Liga 2 club Real Oviedo, and the goals began to fire in.
In that season, Baston netted 22 goals in 40 league appearances for Oviedo, coming joint-first in the league scoring charts to showcase his proficiency in the final third, after years of struggling to find his footing again.
Ollie Watkins
Borja Baston
2020/21
16
5
2021/22
11
22
2022/23
16
10
2023/24
9
3
Total
40
52
Figures via Transfermarkt
As portrayed in the table above, Baston actually outscored Villa frontman, Watkins, that campaign, and has managed to keep within reach of the Englishman since his exit from Villa Park back in 2020.
No one would have predicted that Baston would go on to hit 22 goals in a season after his time at Villa, however football is unpredictable and one right move can change the trajectory of a striker's form.
With football's ever-growing popularity and commercial reach, football kits have increasingly become seen as fashion pieces as well as representations of the teams that wear them.
It's not just clubs, though; international teams will regularly release one or two new kits every year, especially when there is a tournament on the horizon, and with Euro 2024 fast approaching, expect to see a raft of shirts released in the coming months.
With that in mind, Football FanCast has created a list of the 12 best shirts ever worn at the European Championships.
12 Poland 2012
Kicking off the list is an inclusion that may surprise some: Poland's home shirt from their European Championships on home soil in 2012.
While the tournament was excellent, with Poland and Ukraine being fantastic hosts, the men in white and red didn't do much on the pitch.
They took two points from their first two games courtesy of two 1-1 draws. However, the draw against Russia on matchday two was almost seen as a win given that the visitors scored first and the fierce rivalry between the two teams. Unfortunately, a loss to the Czech Republic in their third game meant they finished rock bottom of their group, but they looked good doing it.
Poland tend to make great shirts most years, but this simple design with the rectangle across the chest, an eagle in the middle and a badge off to the side all come together to make an excellent, modern kit that wouldn't look out of place today, 11 years on.
11 West Germany 1988
Okay, we're going a little further back in time for this one.
Germany have a history of producing quality designs for international tournaments. Something about that white and black base just looks brilliant regardless of what else they do to it. That said, for our money, their 1988-1990 effort is their best to date.
The 1988 competition was staged in West Germany, and while the team made it out of their group – beating Spain and Denmark in the process – they were beaten in the semi-finals at the hands of eventual winners, the Netherlands.
The top itself is undeniably iconic. The plain white base with the German flag printed across the front in Adidas' best template is instantly recognisable, and Germany even modelled their 2018 kit on the design.
10 England 2021
The first England entry on the list, and like every other shirt here, it's a corker.
If we are being honest, England shirts can often be quite dull. You can't do much with an almost entirely white top, but for Euro 2020, Nike found a way to make it far more interesting.
The thick navy collar combined with the jagged stripes up the side gives some much-needed intricacy to the shirt, and we just love the badge's central placement – why can't all badges be central?
The tournament itself was a memorable one for the Three Lions as the cross-continent nature of the competition meant that they played most of their games at home, including a memorable round-of-16 win over Germany.
Alas, it was still England, and so it inevitably ended in penalty shootout heartbreak as Italy clinched the title in a tightly contested final at Wembley Stadium.
9 England 2022
england-fifa-womens-world-cup-2023
Back-to-back England, but the Lionesses' shirt for the 2022 European Championship deserves to be on this list.
Where the men came agonisingly close to lifting what would've been the country's first European title, the women went one better. The final was once again held at Wembley Stadium, only this time, the opposition was Germany. It was a fantastic spectacle, with England clinching it in extra time, much to the delight of a sold-out crowd.
The shirt itself was also a stunner. It didn't have the navy detailing of the men's, instead featuring a faint diamond pattern base with an iridescent Three Lions and Nike tick.
8 Sweden 1992
Much like in the domestic game, in international football, some teams are instantly recognisable from the colour of their shirts alone, and Sweden are a great example of that.
The rich yellow and royal blue colour combo is unmistakably Swedish, and it just so happens to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing combinations as well.
With so many iconic kits to choose from for the Swedes, we have opted for their 1992 home shirt. It has everything you'd want from a Sweden top: a rich yellow base, royal blue stripes that pop from a mile away, and a chunky retro collar with a perfectly placed Adidas logo at its base.
The competition itself took place in Sweden and was a relative success for the Swedes, as they made it out of their group and to the semi-finals, where they would be beaten by Germany.
7 Italy 2021
Few international football teams look as stylish as Italy, and their effort for the 2020 European Championship is no different.
When picking the best Italian shirts, you are spoilt for choice, but we reckon this is their best effort to date. The two-tone blue base looks brilliant on the pitch, and the Renaissance-inspired print just gives it that edge over some of their plainer designs, as do the collar and gold detailing.
It was also a tournament to remember for Gli Azzurri as they went in as dark horses and ended up winning it all after breaking English hearts in the final at Wembley Stadium.
6 England 1996
Okay, this is the last England shirt, we promise – but it is a beaut.
1996 is one of those years that has become mythologised in English football. It was a tournament that made people genuinely believe the team would finally lift some silverware again, and in front of a home crowd as well.
The game against Scotland and Paul Gascoigne's goal live on and are instantly recognisable for England fans – even for those who weren't around to see it – but as it always does, the tournament ended in penalty disappointment for the Three Lions, once again at the hands of the Germans.
That said, at least the team looked good, thanks to this brilliant shirt from Umbro. The incorporation of electric blue around the number and along the chunky collar really helped the shirt to pop, and a central badge always helps make a shirt look better.
5 Denmark 1992
Scandinavia's second representative on the list, Denmark, have produced some stunning kits over the years, but we reckon their home shirt for the 1992 European Championship takes the cake.
The 1986 top might get more attention, but the design and history attached to this one give it the edge. The plain red base paired with the striped red and white sleeves really makes this top stand out amongst other red and white shirts – and we just love a retro collar.
1992 is probably the greatest year in Danish football due to the fact that they – somewhat surprisingly – won the European Championship that year. It was surprising for a couple of reasons: one, for as good as they were, they were underdogs compared to teams like Germany and the Netherlands; and two, they didn't even qualify for the tournament.
The Danes only entered the competition after Yugoslavia were disqualified following the breakup of the country and the ensuing violence.
4 USSR 1988
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or the USSR, might not exist anymore. Still, when they did, they had an excellent track record in international tournaments – and an even greater record of beautiful kits.
The 1988 European Championship was the last Euros they appeared in, as they played as the Commonwealth of International States (CIS) for the 1992 edition of the tournament following the dissolution of the state.
1988 was a massively successful tournament for the team, though, as they beat England and the Netherlands in the group stage before beating Italy in the semi-final. Unfortunately, they couldn't do the double over the Dutch in the final, and they would have to settle for second at their last-ever Euros.
The shirt itself was a stunner. The base was red and white and used one of Adidas' best-ever templates, while the collar and detailing made it stand out from the others that used the same base design.
3 Croatia 1996
Now, this one might be a bit marmite in that some will love it – like us – and some will probably hate it, but you just cannot make a list like this and not include Croatia's iconic shirt, specifically the 1996 edition.
The checkerboard pattern is certainly garish; there's no getting away from that, but it's unique, eye-catching and instantly recognisable. The tricolour detailing around the collar and sleeves takes it up another level and comfortably makes it one of the three best kits ever worn at a European Championship.
The team themselves had a reasonably impressive tournament that year, with group-stage wins over Turkey and Denmark – who were then the reigning champions. However, they were ultimately knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Germany.
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis who has been found guilty of ball-tampering twice (UAE 2013 and Australia 2016) and been on the receiving end of it at least once (by Australia, in 2018) has called for the ICC to “apply harsher” punishments to those who are caught altering the condition of the ball.Before du Plessis left to play Sri Lanka, who are reeling from their own captain Dinesh Chandimal’s recent involvement in ball tampering, he was asked whether the ICC should change the regulations around the issue and and was decisive in his response. “They have to. It’s happening too often. They definitely need to do that as quickly as possible,” he said. “I know they met a while ago but it doesn’t look like anything has changed. It’s still the same rules and stuff, so they need to change that. The penalties needs to be harsher for ball tampering.”In fact, the ICC is set to approve stricter penalties for the offence imminently. Under the revised rules, ball tampering will be upgraded from a Level 2 offence to Level 3, meaning the maximum penalty for such a breach would increase from a ban of one Test or two ODIs to a ban of four Tests or eight ODIs.Du Plessis, who did not seem aware of this, also called for clarity over what constitutes ball tampering, as he has done since he was found guilty after the Hobart Test in November 2016. Then, du Plessis was caught by television cameras with a mint in his mouth, applying mint-infused saliva to ball. He was found guilty of ball tampering, fined 100% of his match fee, appealed the charge and lost but escaped a ban. Since then, du Plessis has insisted the ICC must clarify what constitutes an “aritifical substance” as it relates to ball tampering, and he reiterated that on Sunday.”I have probably said it too much but there are too many grey areas when it comes to the ICC and the rules. One, you want clarity and, two, you want consistency and that’s definitely something that’s not been part of that body of laws for a while now,” du Plessis said. “There’s a lot of captains that have been speaking about it for a lot of years so, hopefully, when they do bring in all these new things there will be a lot of clarity and, most importantly, consistency for all teams.”All that would indicate du Plessis is likely to sympathise with Chandimal, who also admitted to putting something in his mouth, though Chadimal could not remember whether it was a cough lozenge or an almond, and claimed he had no intention to tamper with the ball. Chandimal was suspended from Sri Lanka’s third Test against West Indies for his misdemeanour, and now faces another sanction after also being charged with a Level 3 offence for conduct contrary to the spirit of the game.Dinesh Chandimal has a chat with head coach Chandika Hathurusingha•RANDY BROOKS/AFP/Getty Images
Chandimal, Sri Lanka’s coach Chandika Hathurusingha and manager Asanka Gurusinha have already pled guilty to the charge but will try to argue that the four-suspension-point penalty (which equates to two Tests) is too harsh. Their hearing is scheduled to take place on July 10, two days before the first Test against South Africa, and if they are unsuccessful, Sri Lanka will be without a captain and a coach for the series.Du Plessis did not seem aware of the second, more serious charge, and was briefed about it by a CSA official before the press conference, but focused his attention on the difficulties his own team may face, rather than the troubles the opposition could have. “I am expecting tough conditions,” he said. “I think Sri Lanka will look at it on paper and think we’ve got a better side on paper and I think they will try and make it as dry as possible and spin as much as possible.”South Africa have not played Tests in the subcontinent since their tour to India in late 2015, where they were defeated 3-0, losing an away series for the first time in nine years and also the No.1 Test ranking. That defeat resulted in South Africa’s batsmen embarking on a careful dissection of their technique and du Plessis hopes they can show improvement on this tour. “It will be a nice opportunity to test ourselves in tough conditions. There were a lot of lessons learnt by us [in India]. You have to go through something like that to pick your game apart, start from scratch and look at how you get better.”Still, South Africa will travel to Sri Lanka without their best batsman of their successful summer, AB de Villiers, who has retired from the international game. Du Plessis played down de Villiers’ departure and chose to see it as an opportunity for a younger player to make a name. “AB has only played the last one or two series for this Test team, so he has actually not been playing for a while,” du Plessis said, referencing the almost two-year-long sabbatical de Villiers took between January 2016 and December 2017. “It will be a nice opportunity for Temba [Bavuma] or somebody else to put his peg in the ground and make the position his own again.”South Africa have opted for a squad with only four fast bowlers – and three specialist spinners – but du Plessis indicated they will trust their quicks to do most of the work. “No matter what the conditions are, a big strength of our team will always be our fast bowlers, especially the personnel we have; [Dale] Steyn, Kagiso [Rabada] and Vernon [Philander] are all wicket-taking bowlers. Those three have proven they can do it in any conditions. Dale has got a fantastic record in the subcontinent and KG [Rabada] is gold. He will be able to do anything, and we’ve got Keshav [Maharaj],” du Plessis said. “If we want to and there’s an opportunity to, because the conditions are really bad, then we can look at a second spinner.”Tabraiz Shamsi and Shaun von Berg are the other two spinners South Africa have included, while Lungi Ngidi is their fourth pace option.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that a high-earning Man United player would fit right into his first team at the Emirates, according to a report, with sporting director Andrea Berta and co now planning to open transfer talks.
Berta considering deal for Saka alternative at Arsenal
While Berta’s “top priority” is agreeing a contract extension with star winger Bukayo Saka, as per Fabrizio Romano, it has also been reported that the 53-year-old is considering the possibility of bringing in an alternative to the Englishman this summer.
Berta has Arsenal in "pole position" to sign cut-price Brazil international
The transfer chief’s influence is tipped to play a vital role.
By
Emilio Galantini
Apr 3, 2025
Saka was a sore miss during his lengthy lay-off due to a hamstring injury, with the £195,000-per-week star finally returning to action this week in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham – scoring their second and playing a crucial role as Arteta’s side grabbed all three points.
Arsenal’s next five Premier League games
Date
Everton (away)
April 5th
Brentford (home)
April 12th
Ipswich Town (away)
April 20th
Crystal Palace (home)
TBD
Bournemouth (home)
May 3rd
His absence seriously debilitated Arteta, who watched on from the sidelines as Liverpool eventually seized a huge gap at the top of the Premier League table, with Arne Slot’s side now looking certain to win this year’s domestic crown.
According to GiveMeSport, Berta is pondering the transfer of a Saka stand-in who can provide a real quality and an attacking threat when the 23-year-old is unavailable – as Arsenal look to avoid being left short again in another title challenge next term.
We’ve already seen Arsenal repeatedly linked with a move for Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams this week, who’s capable of playing both on the left and right, while some reports believe Berta could land versatile Wolves forward Matheus Cunha.
New targets are likely to emerge before the first summer transfer window on June 1st, and a very surprising name has now come to light.
Mikel Arteta "determined" to sign Antony for Arsenal
According to reports in Spain, £200,000-per-week Man United outcast Antony is now being considered by Berta.
The Brazilian has seriously come into his own since departing Old Trafford on a loan deal to Real Betis, notching four goals and four assists in 12 appearances, including some big performances in Europe which helped the La Liga side to a Conference League quarter-final place.
Antony’s rejuvenated form has caught the eye of Arsenal’s head coach specifically, who is said to be a big admirer of the former Ajax sensation not wanted by Ruben Amorim.
Indeed, it is believed Arteta is “determined” to sign Antony for Arsenal, and sees the 25-year-old as perfect for his system. In response, Berta and Arsenal intend to open swift negotiations and want to secure his signature “as soon as possible”.
Arsenal are also prepared to submit a significant bid for Antony and better any offer made by Betis to keep him permanently. United, meanwhile, think the next window will be a golden opportunity to cut their losses on the forward.
da premier bet： Glasgow Rangers are set to face off against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox this evening in their penultimate match of 2023.
da mrbet： The Light Blues will head into 2024 top of the table if they can win their next two matches – today and against Celtic on Saturday – and that is a fantastic incentive for Philippe Clement and his players.
They are coming into this match off the back of a 2-0 win over Motherwell in the top-flight on Sunday, thanks to first-half goals from Kieran Dowell and Todd Cantwell.
With three games in the space of six days, the Belgian head coach could look to rotate his squad. With this in mind, the ex-Monaco boss must finally unleash Leon King from the start as a defensive midfielder over Dujon Sterling.
Dujon Sterling's performance against Motherwell in numbers
The summer signing from Chelsea has been deployed in a new role in the middle of the park by Clement and produced some impressive displays.
However, the 24-year-old ace did not enjoy his best afternoon on Sunday as the English whiz struggled in and out of possession throughout the game.
Glasgow Rangers defender Dujon Sterling.
Sterling lost 60% (6/10) of his duels throughout the match, which included two of his three on the deck, and did not make a single tackle or interception in 90 minutes on the pitch.
He also lost possession a staggering 20 times and did not create a single chance for his teammates, to go along with a pass success rate of just 64%.
These statistics show that the ex-Stoke City loanee struggled to impact the game at both ends of the pitch positively and this could open the door for King to be unleashed.
Why King should start against Ross County
The Gers academy graduate has spent the vast majority of his senior career at Ibrox as a central defender but was brought on as a number six against Motherwell.
This is not a new position for the 19-year-old enforcer, though, as he has played five matches as a central or defensive midfielder for Scotland U21s this season.
Clement has clearly seen enough from the 6 foot ace in training, and those appearances for his country, to suggest that it is a viable position for him in the Premiership, as evidenced by his cameo on Sunday.
King as a central midfielder for Scotland U21s
Statistic
vs Hungary U21s (14/10/2023)
Sofascore rating
7.1
Pass accuracy
78%
Duel success rate
71%
Tackles won
Two
Interceptions
Three
Blocks
One
King, who was once described as a "big Rolls Royce" by ex-Gers defender Allan Hutton, has the defensive abilities, given his upbringing as a centre-back, to be a terrific holder in front of the back four.
As you can see from the table above, the teenage talent can dominate the opposition midfield with his ability to come out on top in physical duels.
King, who completed 88% of his attempted passes in 15 Premiership games last season, is also reliable in possession and could retain the ball to distribute it to the likes of Cantwell and Dowell ahead of him.
Therefore, Clement must unleash the £8k-per-week titan for his first league start of the campaign ahead of Sterling as the anchor of the midfield.