All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Sheffield United certainly suffered from a rude awakening on the opening day of the new Championship season.

Bristol City travelled to Bramall Lane with last campaign’s playoff agony at the hands of the Blades still evidently on their mind, as the Robins exposed constant weaknesses from the hosts to run out as unexpected 4-1 victors.

It hasn’t got any better for Ruben Selles with another two defeats smacking his forlorn team in the face, as the ex-Hull City boss now also attempts to welcome in more new signings before September comes around to turn around this dire start to his reign.

The Blades will be hoping that their next James McAtee-level signing is waiting in the wings, as the Manchester City outcast instantly settled into his South Yorkshire surroundings once upon a time to secure promotion.

McAtee's heroics at United

McAtee looks to be on the move this summer away from the Etihad for good, as the 22-year-old finally appears out from the periphery at the Citizens to try and become another side’s leading man.

When he was chucked into the first-team fold at Bramall Lane back in 2022, the silky, 5-foot-10 attacking midfielder was an instant hit, leading to McAtee extending his loan deal with the club to the following season when Premier League action was on the menu.

In total, the England U21s regular would pick up a stunning 14 goals and eight assists from 75 clashes in South Yorkshire, with a hefty 12 of those coming in the second tier as United jumped back up to the big time via automatic promotion.

Selles will still be dreaming of similar promotion heroics this season, even with the defeats piling up early on, with one signing potentially sticking out as a McAtee repeat if it gets over the line.

The "incredible" £10m star who could be a McAtee repeat

As much as McAtee did enhance the attack during his time at Bramall Lane, the priority in the here and now for Selles and Co. might well be to strengthen defensively.

Indeed, in recent weeks, the Championship promotion candidates have been dealt a harsh blow in losing first-team star Anel Ahmedhodzic to Dutch giants Feyenoord, after the Bosnian lined up for 42 contests last season as a key individual.

Therefore, picking up some fresh blood at the back could be integral to their promotion hopes, over needing to add some spellbinding forward players.

That’s where Callum Doyle could come in handy, with SportsBoom previously speculating this month that the Etihad-based youngster is on the United shopping list this summer, alongside a whole host of other EFL suitors.

Norwich City are also being floated about as a party keen on bringing back their former loanee to Carrow Road off the back of him hammering home a sweet strike such as this one he put away with confidence last season, despite predominantly lining up as a centre-back presence.

It could cost any potential suitor around the £10m mark to land the up-and-coming 21-year-old, but this might well prove to be a price worth paying on United’s end if Doyle’s added presence gifts Selles and Co. the boost they desire in the promotion reckoning.

Games played

40

Goals scored

1

Assists

7

Touches*

93.9

Accurate passes*

65.7 (86%)

Big chances created

7

Ball recoveries*

3.9

Clearances*

3.8

Total duels won*

3.8

Clean sheets

5

Doyle certainly showed off a lot of the same class McAtee brought to proceedings in South Yorkshire when plying his trade in Norfolk last campaign, with a standout seven assists picked up when playing his assured game out from the back.

On top of that, he also won an admirable 3.8 duels per contest for the Canaries, with his potential addition to a depleted backline making the loss of Ahmedhodzic sting less.

Hailed as “incredible” by his Norwich teammate Kenny McLean for his unerring ability with the ball at his feet, it does feel as if Doyle is ready for a switch where he shines even further up the EFL’s elite league, much like McAtee was handed in 2022.

History could repeat itself even more if Doyle is the calm and assured warrior who pushes Selles’ men up to those coveted promotion spaces despite such a bleak introduction to Championship life this season, as his senior game is taken to yet another level.

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Leeds United will only have Premier League matches to worry about for the rest of 2025 after they were knocked out of the League Cup on Tuesday night.

The Whites, amazingly, lost 3-0 on penalties to Sheffield Wednesday after missing their first three spot kicks, and will have to wait for the FA Cup in January to start their next ‘road to Wembley’.

Whilst supporters are still well within their rights to be frustrated with the manner of the performance and the overall result, it does now mean that they will not have any distractions from their attempts to rack up points in the Premier League.

Although you could argue that it does mean there are fewer opportunities for the fringe players in the squad to gain minutes and press their case to come into the league XI.

For example, the clash with Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night presented Daniel Farke with an opportunity to hand full debuts to Jaka Bijol, Noah Okafor, and Sean Longstaff.

Okafor arrived from AC Milan on a permanent deal earlier this month and the Whites will be hoping that he can add some attacking flair to the squad this season.

What Noah Okafor could bring to Leeds this season

The Switzerland international is a versatile attacker who could be deployed on the left flank as a winger or through the middle as a centre-forward option for Leeds, which provides Farke with flexibility in the way that he can select his teams.

It was on the wing where he made his full debut in the League Cup, though, and the pacey attacker showed glimpses of what he may be able to bring to the team this season.

Minutes

85

Key passes

2

Big chances created

1

Assists

0

Shots on target

2

Goals

0

Dribbles completed

4/8

Duels won

9/17

As you can see in the table above, Okafor was direct, completing four dribbles, and tried to make things happen at the top end of the pitch with two key passes and two shots on target.

Unfortunately, he was unable to register a goal or an assist to change the direction of the match, but there were plenty of positive signs to be encouraged by.

However, it is also worth taking into consideration that Okafor only produced one goal and two assists in 21 games for Milan and Napoli in all competitions last season, per Sofascore, and six goals and three assists in 36 outings in the 2023/24 campaign for the Italian giants.

This does not suggest that he is likely to hit the ground running as a forward who can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis for Leeds, purely based on his lack of consistency in the final third with Milan.

Okafor’s inconsistency in recent seasons and his lack of experience in English football may be why the West Yorkshire outfit are now reportedly looking at another addition out wide.

Leeds remain interested in Premier League forward

According to Football Insider, the 49ers are still eyeing a last-minute move for Tottenham Hotspur winger Manor Solomon before Monday’s transfer deadline.

The report claims that Farke wants to add multiple new attackers to his squad before the summer transfer window slams shut, including another winger on top of the addition of Okafor from Milan.

Transfer Focus

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It states that they remain long-term admirers of Solomon heading into the final days of the transfer window, suggesting that a last-gasp deal could still be on the cards.

Football Insider adds that the Israel international, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Elland Road, is ‘certain’ to move on from Spurs before the end of the window.

It is now up to Leeds to make an offer for the winger in the coming days in an attempt to bring him back to West Yorkshire, whether that is on loan or on a permanent basis, as he could be an even better option than Okafor.

Why Leeds should sign Manor Solomon

The Whites should look to bring the Israel international back to Elland Road because he has the potential to be an even better option than the former Milan man on the left flank, for a number of reasons.

Firstly, Solomon may be more reliable when it comes to staying fit. He only missed four games through injury last season, per Transfermarkt, whilst Okafor was absent for 13 matches for Milan and Napoli combined.

This means that he may be more likely to be available week-in-week-out for Farke in a gruelling Premier League campaign that may test the fitness levels of the players as they fight relegation.

Of course, Solomon’s quality on the pitch is another reason why he could offer more than Okafor on the left wing this season, given what he displayed in the Championship in the 2024/25 campaign.

xG

8.14

Top 8%

Goals

10

Top 6%

Shots on target

25

Top 12%

xA

10.30

Top 1%

Chances created

67

Top 5%

Assists

12

Top 3%

As you can see in the table above, the Spurs loanee was one of the best wingers in the division at scoring and creating goals, with 22 goals and assists combined in total.

Meanwhile, Okafor has not registered more than 20 goal contributions in a single season, per Sofascore, and has not produced more than nine since the 2022/23 campaign with RB Salzburg, who were a dominant force in Austrian football at the time.

This suggests that Solomon, who was described as “unplayable” by ex-Leeds boss Neil Redfearn last term, has the potential to provide a greater threat at the top end of the pitch from a left wing position, because of both his quality as a scorer and a creator of goals.

Finally, the Tottenham forward is also experienced in England and has played in the Premier League with Fulham and Spurs, as well as in the Championship with Leeds, which means that he could hit the ground running in the top-flight.

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Therefore, Solomon may be an even better option than Okafor, who has no prior experience in England, a patchy fitness record, and a lack of consistency in the final third in recent years, which is why the club should be pushing to sign him.

Glasgow Rangers head into the first international break of the season after drawing all four of their first four matches in the Scottish Premiership.

It has not been an ideal start for the Ibrox giants or Russell Martin, who will have to wait until the middle of September, at least, before grabbing his first win in charge of the club.

There were some positives for the Gers in their 0-0 draw with Celtic, including the debut of Bojan Miovski as discussed in the clip above and a clean sheet, but there were also some worrying performances.

Thelo Aasgaard was selected to play in the number ten role for the Gers behind the Macedonia international, and failed to impress in an attacking sense.

Thelo Aasgaard's performance in numbers

The Norway international, who signed from Luton Town on a permanent deal this summer, was unable to offer a threat at the top end of the pitch, as he ended the game with zero shots on target and zero key passes, per Sofascore.

Aasgaard was also unreliable in possession, completing just 57% of his attempted passes, and Martin may not have been happy with how sloppy he was on the ball.

The former Wigan Athletic star was, however, a physical outlet for Rangers. He won nine duels, including eight of his 12 on the ground, and won two tackles without being dribbled past a single time.

Performance in Numbers

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Aasgaard put himself about and was up for the scrap defensively, which helped Rangers to avoid losing too many 50/50s, and was far from the worst performer for the Gers.

Martin's possible tactical mistake for Rangers against Celtic

One player who was even worse than Aasgaard against Celtic was left-sided attacker Mikey Moore, who was unable to cause Anthony Ralston many problems.

Ahead of the match, Ralston appeared to be the weak link in the Hoops defence due to the injury to first-choice Alistair Johnston. Despite that, Martin opted to move Djeidi Gassama over to the right flank to accommodate Moore on the left.

Gassama has scored four goals and provided one assist in nine appearances as a left winger for Rangers this season, which is why it seemed like he would be the most obvious option to take the game to Ralston and expose him on that side.

Minutes

72

Pass accuracy

44%

Shots on target

0

Key passes

0

Dribbles completed

1/3

Crosses completed

0/1

Duels won

4/9

As you can see in the table above, Moore did not take the game to the Scotland international and put in a disappointing all-round performance on the left flank, failing with 66.6% of his dribbles and completing just 44% of his passes.

That tactical decision also put Gassama out on the right, on his right foot, and meant that he struggled to take Kieran Tierney on down the outside in tight spaces, leaving Rangers too one-dimensional going forward.

In the end, the poor decisions in the wide areas heavily contributed to the team’s failure to create a single ‘big chance’ in the game, which left Miovski starved of service.

This is why Martin’s call to put Moore, who had an underwhelming afternoon, in on the left ahead of the usually electric Gassama was one that cost Rangers the win, as they were unable to take advantage of Johnston’s injury at right-back.

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Whilst it is not a guarantee that Gassama would have won the game for Rangers, his statistics as a left-winger suggest that there was a good chance that he would have made a big impact and could have sealed all three points with a moment of magic.

An Arsenal target now has his heart set on joining Manchester United, due to his deep respect for former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the club’s traditions.

Man Utd's standards have slipped since Ferguson's retirement

Man United are well-known for their rich history and traditions, which included wearing suits when arriving ahead of matches, but Wayne Rooney has revealed that standards started to slip after Ferguson’s retirement back in 2013.

Rooney said: “I remember we went to the League Cup final and players were wearing the suits with big, bright yellow trainers and stuff like that.

“I remember we went to the League Cup final and players were wearing the suits with big, bright yellow trainers and stuff like that. I went to Mourinho and said, ‘Listen, I’ve spoken to the players and you need to have a word here and to keep the standards. We can’t have that going to Wembley into a cup final.’

“He’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, I’ll speak to them’. And then as we came down to leave, I’ve seen Jose there and he’s got a zip-up top with no tie on. I was thinking, “What’s the point?”

With Rooney going on to reveal that players are allowed to wear whatever they want nowadays, one of United’s traditions has arguably been eroded, but that hasn’t stopped an up-and-coming star setting his sights on a move to Old Trafford.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Arsenal target Kirill Glebov, who currently plays for CSKA Moscow, has his heart set on joining Man Utd and dreams of a transfer, citing the Old Trafford atmosphere, the club’s traditions, and his deep respect for Ferguson as the key reasons.

Glebov is currently valued at just €1.5m (£1.3m), but the winger’s price tag could rise considerably if he continues his current form, having started the season very well, which has attracted the attention of the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Brighton.

Glebov could be future star for Man Utd

At this stage, United don’t appear to have a great deal of interest in the Russian, but there are indications he has plenty of potential, having made a flying start to the 2025-26 campaign for CSKA Moscow.

The 19-year-old already has four goals and two assists to his name in all competitions, which recently earned the teenager a first call-up to the Russian national side, making his debut in the 0-0 draw against Jordan last week.

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That said, Glebov is still at a very early stage of his career, and having strengthened their attack considerably in the summer, signing Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, Man United should now focus on bringing in a new central midfielder instead.

There is certainly no shortage of options on the shortlist, with Al Hilal’s Ruben Neves, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson all believed to be of interest.

Everton have raced out of the blocks firing on all cylinders so far this season.

Sometimes, change is unwelcome, but it appears that many of the new signings that arrived through the door this summer have been worthwhile investments, with the Toffees picking up two victories from a possible three in the Premier League so far.

Jack Grealish is hogging the limelight in this regard, and rightly so, as David Moyes beams from ear to ear about the attacking talent he now has at his disposal, alongside the assist king.

Why Grealish is king of Everton's new-look attack

There’s no danger that the former Aston Villa man could be hurt on the international break, with the 29-year-old far removed from Thomas Tuchel’s England plans at this moment in time.

Never say never about him donning Three Lions white again, however, if his early, scintillating form for the Toffees is anything to go by, with a stunning four assists seeing him lead the early assist charts in the Premier League.

Such has been the Englishman’s form that he’s in line to be crowned one of the division’s best players in the league over the first three gameweeks of the campaign.

It would not be a surprise if Grealish got in on the goalscoring act with a few strikes of his own, too, with Iliman Ndiaye leading the way for Moyes and Co in terms of goals, away from the number 18’s creative prowess stealing headlines.

Following on from his heroics at Goodison Park last season – where he netted nine strikes in league action – Ndiaye has taken to Everton’s new home at the Hill Dickinson Stadium like a duck to water, having actually picked up the individual accolade of scoring the first-ever goal by a Toffees player at their fresh and modern home.

He also helped secure Everton’s second victory of the season when bagging at Molineux, with the £17m spent on the ex-Sheffield United winger’s services last year continuing to reap its rewards.

Despite that, Grealish undenidably feels like their best player at the moment, but remarkably, there is another standout figure in Moyes’ camp worth even more than both Ndiaye and the Toffees loanee, who will surely be another player the Scotsman can rely on to keep up Everton’s red-hot start.

Worth more than Grealish & Ndiaye: Everton have struck gold

There will be some worries on Moyes’ end regarding the leaky nature of his defence across these promising victories.

Indeed, two goals were shipped away at Wolves last time out in league action despite their lowly early league position, with the centre-back partnership of Michael Keane and James Tarkowski perhaps a little too weathered to ride out a full season together.

This is where Jarrad Branthwaite will come to the rescue when he’s back to full fitness, having unfortunately had to sit out the start of this season so far, owing to injury concerns.

Reports suggest he should be back by the end of September, and it will be a welcome return to the first-team fold for Moyes, with the Cumbrian titan starring last campaign under the ex-West Ham United manager’s guidance when relegation worries still loomed large on Merseyside.

Games played

30

Goals scored

0

Assists

1

Touches*

51.9

Accurate passes*

32.7 (83%)

Ball recoveries*

3.1

Clearances*

6.3

Total duels won*

3.9

Clean sheets

8

Just two games back into Moyes’ second reign at the club, Branthwaite was heroically putting his body on the line during a 1-0 win away at Brighton and Hove Albion, winning a valiant four duels on the day, typical of his commanding duels won average for the entire campaign.

Hailed as “magnificent” by Alan Shearer when first making waves on Merseyside, it is incredible how quickly the 6-foot-5 warrior has become the first name on the teamsheet when fit, having originally only cost the Toffees a measly £1m to win from his local side Carlisle.

Now, off the back of being consistently imperious across 75 Premier League clashes and counting, his transfer worth has skyrocketed to a mighty £43m, according to Transfermarkt. Amazingly, Grealish is only worth around £24m as per the same source, while Ndiaye comes in at an even lower valuation of £19m.

While Moyes will undoubtedly be pleased with his side’s electric start, he will pray that this is a sign that they can compete near the top of the league all season long, rather than it being a flash-in-the-pan moment.

With Branthwaite back in the team shortly, more staunch defensive performances should be on display, with even more wins to then hopefully write home about.

He’s Everton’s best defender and a European charge could well be on the way once he returns.

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ByWill Miller Sep 6, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 2024/25 Premier League campaign has been defined by frustration and disappointment.

Five games in, they are rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points and a goal difference of -9.

Their attack has looked blunt, generating one of the lowest expected goals (xG) figures in the division – only Aston Villa, Burnley, and Leeds rank worse.

This stands in stark contrast to their Carabao Cup outings, where they have shown flashes of potential.

They beat West Ham in the second round with a convincing display and now have an opportunity to build momentum against Everton in the third round on Wednesday night.

For manager Pereira, this cup tie feels like more than just a fixture; it’s a chance to breathe life into a faltering season.

The departure of Matheus Cunha, who was instrumental last year, has left a void in Wolves’ attacking play.

While the defensive structure under Pereira’s three-at-the-back system has shown glimpses of resilience, the final third remains the glaring weakness.

Upcoming fixtures, including clashes with relegation rivals Sunderland and Burnley after the international break, demand fresh solutions.

Arokodare's difficult start at Wolves

When Wolves signed Tolu Arokodare from Genk for £24 million, there was genuine excitement.

The 24-year-old forward had just finished as the Belgian Pro League’s Golden Boot winner, scoring 21 goals and establishing himself as a dominant aerial threat.

In total, he netted 41 times in 113 appearances for Genk, suggesting he could be the answer to Wolves’ goalscoring problems.

So far, however, the transition has been anything but smooth.

Arokodare has featured twice in the Premier League for a combined 156 minutes, starting against Newcastle and Leeds. While his physical presence is undeniable, his output has underwhelmed.

Against Leeds, he recorded three shots, but only one was on target. His dribbling attempts yielded no success, and although he contested 13 aerial duels, he only won seven, as per Sofascore.

The numbers reflect a player still adjusting to the intensity and pace of English football.

Wolves fans were expecting a ruthless finisher; instead, they’ve seen a forward struggling to impose himself.

Pereira’s persistence with Arokodare has become synonymous with the side’s wider attacking malaise.

At a time when Wolves desperately need sharpness in the final third, he has looked like a work in progress rather than a solution.

How Pereira can get Wolves firing again

The return of Jorgen Strand Larsen could change the equation entirely.

The Norwegian striker has been Wolves’ talisman since arriving from Celta Vigo, having scored 14 league goals on loan.

That tally accounted for 22% of Wolves’ total strikes, a contribution that proved decisive in avoiding relegation last season.

His commitment was underlined this summer when he signed a new deal until 2030 despite Champions League club Newcastle United tabling bids of £50m and £55m.

Strand Larsen has already opened his account for the campaign, scoring twice in the Carabao Cup win over West Ham.

Yet an Achilles injury has sidelined him for the past two league games, leaving Wolves blunt in attack.

Now fit again, his return offers Pereira an ideal chance to reset the forward line.

The ideal partner for him is Jhon Arias, the Colombian winger-forward who joined from Fluminense for £15m.

Arias contributed four goals and 13 assists in Brazil last season, showcasing his ability to both score and create.

His versatility makes him well-suited to Pereira’s 3-5-2 system, where he could play just off Strand Larsen, stretching defences and linking midfield with attack.

Although Arias has only managed 179 league minutes so far, his technical qualities have been clear, having also been hailed for his “relentless” work off the ball by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Matches Played

12

Goals

1

Assists

4

Progressive Carries

48

Progressive Passes

55

He thrives in tight spaces, has the vision to pick progressive passes, and the pace to break lines – elements Wolves sorely lack when Arokodare leads the line.

If given a run of games, Arias could replicate the kind of strike partnerships Wolves have historically relied upon in Derek Dougan and John Richards.

Everton in the League Cup provides the perfect stage to test this combination.

Strand Larsen’s presence guarantees a focal point, while Arias’ creativity and movement would add unpredictability.

Together, they could finally give Wolves the attacking structure to match the defensive solidity that has, at times, looked promising.

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Chelsea hold concrete interest in signing a “spectacular” Barcelona star, with Enzo Maresca personally keen, and they could now be willing to submit an opening offer.

Blues keen to bolster options amid slow start to the season

After clinching Champions League qualification in the 2024-25 campaign, there was an expectation for the Blues to kick on this season, but it has been a slow start, having taken just eight points from their opening six games.

Most recently, Maresca’s side came up short in a 3-1 home defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion, which has led to speculation aboutthe manager’s future, with talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino suggesting the Italian may find it difficult to hold onto his job long-term.

One of the only bright sparks against the Seagulls was Enzo Fernandez, with the Argentinian getting on the scoresheet, while Moises Caicedo was also solid, winning eight of the 12 duels he contested and making three tackles.

However, according to a report from Spain, Chelsea still remain keen on bolstering their options in midfield, holding concrete interest in signing Barcelona’s Marc Casado, and they may even be willing to submit a €40m (£35m) bid for his services.

Maresca is personally keen on signing Casado, having identified the need to bring in a new central midfielder, and there are indications that the Spanish club could be open to a sale in the January transfer window.

Barca, given their well-documented financial issues, need to free up wages, but the midfielder has previously expressed his desire to fight for his place, so it remains to be seen whether he is open to a departure.

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Given the La Liga champions’ squad is so stocked with talent, the Spaniard has received inconsistent game time this season, although he has impressed when given the opportunity, picking up an assist in the emphatic 6-0 victory over Valencia.

Sergio Busquets was also left very impressed with the young midfielder during the 2024-25 campaign, calling him “spectacular” last November.

The 22-year-old has featured in the majority of Barca’s La Liga matches this season, but given his talent, that is not enough, so it would make sense to move to a new club this winter.

Signing a new goalkeeper should be Maresca’s number one priority, given the start Robert Sanchez has made to the season, most recently getting sent off in the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United.

However, should Chelsea decide to sign a new central midfielder, Casado has the ability to be a success at Stamford Bridge, and a fee in the region of £35m feels fair, given his age.

They might be in the relegation zone and have a single win from their last five Premier League games, but the future could be bright for West Ham United.

Granted, things off the pitch and the relationship between the ownership and fans are in a dire state, but with Nuno Espírito Santo now in the dugout, there is a feeling that he could steer the side to a respectable finish this season.

Moreover, while they have not performed well enough, there is real talent in this squad, with summer signing Soungoutou Magassa being someone who could explode with the right coaching.

On top of that, there are several truly exciting players in the academy, including one who could be unreal with the Frenchman and has been compared to former Hammer Mohamed Diamé.

Why West Ham signed Magassa

In late August, West Ham completed the £17.3m signing of Magassa, and while it was undoubtedly done with the intention of him making an impact this season, it also feels like a move that could help make the midfield so much better in the long term.

The simple reason for this is that the incredible Frenchman is brilliant when it comes to the defensive and offensive side of the game – he is someone who can shield the backline, but also spring attacks for his side.

For example, the respected analyst Ben Mattinson has claimed that the Stains-born gem has an immense ability to “spray passes wide out to the wings” but that he’s also got very “high potential” for playing as a six “due to how he reads the game and his pure athleticism.”

Likewise, U23 scout Antonio Mango has highlighted how “strong in both offensive and defensive duels” the youngster is.

This ability to excel in both parts of the game is unsurprisingly represented in his underlying numbers.

Dribbles Challenged

3.59

Top 1%

Dribblers Tackled

1.80

Top 2%

Blocks

2.07

Top 2%

Ball Recoveries

6.98

Top 3%

Passes Blocked

1.52

Top 4%

Tkl+Int

4.84

Top 4%

Tackles

3.25

Top 6%

Interceptions

1.59

Top 7%

Switches

0.76

Top 8%

Tackles (Def 3rd)

1.38

Top 8%

Through Balls

0.41

Top 11%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.48

Top 11%

Shots Blocked

0.55

Top 12%

Tackles (Mid 3rd)

1.38

Top 14%

Touches (Def 3rd)

17.28

Top 14%

Touches (Def Pen)

3.59

Top 15%

Successful Take-On %

61.9%

Top 15%

Goals/Shot

0.13

Top 17%

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for dribblers tackled and blocks, the top 3% for ball recoveries, the top 8% for switches, the top 11% for through balls and more, all per 90.

In short, Magassa is an excellent prospect, and in more good news, West Ham could have another gem who’d be brilliant alongside him, someone who has been compared to Diame.

West Ham's ideal teammate for Magassa

There are several exciting prospects currently plying their trade in West Ham’s academy, from Josh Landers to Preston Fearon.

In The Pipeline

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

However, only one youngster has been compared to former Hammer Diame, which is Mohamadou Kanté.

The promising Frenchman joined the club from Paris FC last summer, but remained in the French capital for the season, where he made eight appearances in what turned out to be a promotion-winning campaign.

Described as having “good anticipation” and being “very calm and composed on the ball” by one analyst, another has been bolder, claiming he “moves like Mo Diame.”

The argument behind such a comparison is that, like the retired midfielder, the youngster has “long-ranging legs that eat up ground & extend to win the ball off the toes of the opposition.”

However, he’s more than just a tenacious ball-winner, with the same analyst highlighting his “nibble feet & intelligent, composed passing.”

It’s the combination of all these traits that have seen him rack up an impressive tally of two goals and two assists in just eight appearances for the U21s so far this season.

Moreover, as he’s comfortable playing in central and defensive midfield, he could end up being a brilliant partner for Magassa, with one driving forward and the other sitting back to help the defence.

Ultimately, it’s still early in his West Ham career, but Kante looks to be a real star in the making.

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Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 0-0 draw by Monaco in the Champions League last time out, but it was the hosts who had the better chances to win the match.

The French side created five ‘big chances’ in the game, compared to Tottenham’s one, and Guglielmo Vicario prevented a whopping 2.68 xG with eight saves.

Whilst Thomas Frank will be concerned that his goalkeeper needed to make so many saves, the Spurs head coach should be concerned about the lack of potency in the final third.

Tottenham have struggled at the top end of the pitch under the former Brentford boss in the Premier League so far this season, as shown in the table below.

1

Crystal Palace – 33

Crystal Palace – 22

2

Man City – 27

Man City – 17

3

Liverpool – 24

Liverpool – 17

4

Chelsea – 23

Leeds – 14

5

Arsenal – 22

Man Utd – 14

6

Man Utd – 22

Arsenal – 13

7

Brighton – 18

Newcastle – 11

8

Leeds – 17

Nottingham Forest – 11

9

Newcastle – 15

Chelsea – 10

10

Everton – 15

Everton – 10

Spurs do not rank within the top ten Premier League sides for ‘big chances’ created or missed, as they sit 15th in the division for ‘big chances’ created with 13, per Sofascore.

On top of struggling to create chances on a consistent basis, it also remains to be seen whether or not the Lilywhites have a striker who can provide consistent quality in front of goal.

Ranking Tottenham Hotspur's striker options

Mathys Tel, Richarlison, and Dominic Solanke are the main centre-forward options at Frank’s disposal this season, although Solanke is currently making his way back from an ankle injury.

Despite scoring a goal against Leeds United last month, Tel may rank at the bottom of the manager’s options in the number nine position, because he is still a young and inexperienced player.

The France U21 international has scored four goals in 28 appearances in all competitions for the club, per Sofascore, which shows that he still has development to go through before he can offer a consistent threat.

Richarlison is currently the first-choice number nine, in Solanke’s absence, and he has scored eight goals in 37 matches since the start of last season, per Sofascore, including three goals in eight Premier League outings this term.

Appearances

27

Starts

25

xG

10.97

Goals

9

Big chances missed

12

Minutes per goal

245

xA

1.15

Assists

3

As you can see in the table above, Solanke scored more goals in the Premier League alone last season than Richarlison has managed in all competitions since the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

This suggests that the England international is the best striker in the current Spurs squad, but the club are reportedly keen on a player who is even better than him.

Spurs ready to pay up for Serie A striker

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by TuttoJuve, Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Juventus centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that Fabio Paratici is eyeing up a potential swoop for the Serbia international, but will face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.

It adds that all three clubs are willing to pay the fee that Juventus are looking for, which is up to £22m, as they look to move on from Vlahovic in the upcoming January transfer window.

The experienced striker’s contract in Turin is set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, which is why the Old Lady are keen to move on from him in January to avoid losing the forward for nothing in the summer.

Why Spurs should sign Dusan Vlahovic

Paratici should push to secure a deal for Vlahovic ahead of both Chelsea and Manchester United because he could arrive in North London as an instant upgrade on Solanke.

The Serbian number nine’s form last season and throughout his career at the top level suggests that he would offer a far more clinical and lethal presence at the top end of the pitch for Spurs.

Vlahovic scored 17 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, including the summer Club World Cup, and hit double figures for goals in the Serie A, per Sofascore.

Starts

21

25

Goals

10

9

Minutes per goal

180

245

Shots on target per game

1.0

1.0

Assists

4

3

Aerial duels won per game

1.3

1.7

Aerial duel success rate

48%

43%

As you can see in the table above, Vlahovic was far more prolific than Solanke at league level, as shown by their respective minutes per goal ratios, whilst he also won a higher percentage of his aerial duels and provided more assists.

These statistics suggest that the Juventus striker, who was described as an “absolute monster” by reporter Carlo Garganese, would provide more quality than the Englishman in the final third.

That is further backed up by their respective career finishing statistics. Per UnderStat, Solanke has scored 38 goals from 52.23 xG in his top-flight career, whilst Vlahovic has 89 goals from 90.73 xG in his time in the Serie A with Fiorentina and Juventus.

This suggests that Vlahovic would provide a level of clinical finishing and goalscoring prowess that Frank does not currently have at his disposal in North London this season.

Therefore, Paratici needs to do all he can to convince the Serbian marksman to turn down potential moves to Manchester United and Chelsea to join the Lilywhites in the upcoming January transfer window, as he would improve the current first-team squad.

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After another bumper summer in the busy transfer window, Birmingham City might well have expected to take the Championship immediately by storm.

Indeed, the Blues welcomed in a whopping 14 new faces during the off-season, as the likes of Demarai Gray dramatically returned back to St. Andrew’s after a lengthy Premier League career, among other notable signings.

Unfortunately for Chris Davies and Co., Gray hasn’t quite sparked into life just yet during his homecoming, with the ex-Everton winger not alone in being a disappointment so far, as the Blues loiter in an underwhelming 15th spot in the second-tier standings at this moment in time.

Birmingham's disappointing summer recruitment

It’s not just all on the shoulders of the new recruits, however, as many of Birmingham’s dependable performers during their League One title heroics have also floundered under the pressure of now competing in the division above.

Keshi Anderson definitely falls into his category, with the Luton-born attacker still goalless in Championship action this season so far, despite firing home nine strikes in all competitions last campaign for Davies’ emphatic title-winners.

Thankfully, Jay Stansfield has remembered his shooting boots, with six goals already fired home.

But, to further pile on the misery, Marvin Ducksch – who cost around the £1.75m mark to pick up from Werder Bremen in the window – is also routinely firing blanks as another option up top.

Moreover, the aforementioned Gray doesn’t quite look the same electric, fresh-faced presence he once was at St. Andrew’s when he was a youngster trying to cut his teeth, with Birmingham’s 1-0 defeat to Bristol City last time out only seeing him amass a lacklustre 18 touches of the ball.

It must feel like an awfully long time ago now for Davies when he looks back on Birmingham’s jaw-dropping 111-point season in League One, with one new signing under so much scrutiny already, that he could be on borrowed time in the West Midlands only a matter of months into his EFL stint.

Why Birmingham's expensive gamble hasn't paid off

Thankfully, in recent years, whenever a big price tag has been attached to a player since Tom Wagner’s millions were added into the mix, they have often lived up to their hype.

Stansfield was boldly purchased for a whopping £15m, even as Birmingham found themselves marooned in League One, but he immediately backed up his lavish price tag when scoring the crucial goals – 19 league strikes to be exact – to clinch the Blues’ straightforward passage back up to the Championship.

Therefore, when the newly promoted Blues announced they’d acquired the services of former Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi for an equally hefty £10m in July, the expectation would have been that he would go on to be another superb Stansfield-like purchase.

After all, Kyogo had been branded as a “superstar” in Scotland by ex-Hoops teammate Callum McGregor, off the back of the Japanese gem firing home a stunning 85 goals in total for the Glasgow giants.

Moreover, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman also boldly stated that he would be a “really exciting” signing in England, after the new number nine showed off some entertaining tricks and flicks during his early days at St. Andrew’s.

Games played

11

Games started

5

Minutes played per game

47

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Big chances missed

7

Kyogo’s tale hasn’t played out to the expected script, though, with the once confident and assured striker who pulled on Celtic green and white week in week out now nowhere to be seen in the Championship.

The 30-year-old, instead, has become a wasteful option up top for Davies, with seven big chances missed across 11 league games to date, meaning he is still chasing his first league goal in the West Midlands.

Even Lyndon Dykes has two league goals next to his name, despite averaging just 25 minutes of action himself.

EFL pundit Adrian Clarke has even gone out of his way to state that Kyogo is “struggling”, with patience surely already running thin at St. Andrew’s surrounding the quiet number nine, considering his excessive transfer fee.

There is still time on Kyogo’s side to turn around his shocking Blues start, but if the goals don’t come soon, he might just have to be written off as an expensive flop.

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