Leeds United continued their march towards automatic promotion from the Championship with a 4-0 win over Oxford United at Elland Road on Saturday.
The Whites secured all three points thanks to goals from Dan James, Jayden Bogle, Brenden Aaronson, and Manor Solomon, and sit second in the division as it stands.
When Marcelo Bielsa led the club to promotion in the 2019/20 campaign, he had the mercurial talent of Pablo Hernandez, who produced nine goals and nine assists that term.
That was the Spanish wizard’s last season of playing regular matches for the Whites, though, as Victor Orta and Bielsa moved to sign his replacement in the summer of 2020.
The end of Pablo Hernandez's time at Leeds
After a return of 34 goals and 38 assists in 151 matches at Championship level for Leeds, Hernandez had reached the latter stages of his career and became a bit-part player in the Premier League.
The veteran midfielder only started three of his 16 appearances in the top-flight, before moving on from Elland Road on a free transfer at the end of that term.
Former Leeds winger Pablo Hernandez.
Bielsa and Orta clearly predicted that situation because they swooped to sign his replacement in the summer of 2020, bringing in Rodrigo from Valencia for a reported fee of £30m.
After some thought that he may have come in as a centre-forward to give the team a goalscoring boost, the Spaniard played the majority of his minutes as an attacking midfielder in Hernandez’s place, which was predicted by one former Whites star.
First Impressions
What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.
Speaking to Football Insider, ex-Leeds man Noel Whelan said: “He doesn’t always go through the middle, he likes to play behind and drop into that number 10 role. When you have someone like that there’s no point having a number 10 because they’re going to get in each other’s way. He’s a number 10, I always knew from the word go that he was Pablo Hernandez’s successor.”
Rodrigo's Leeds form
Unfortunately, however, the £27m club-record – at the time – signing failed to live up to his compatriot’s legacy at Elland Road, with a return of seven goals and two assists in 27 matches in his first Premier League season with the club.
The left-footed forward followed that up with just six goals and one assist in 31 appearances in the top-flight during the 2021/22 campaign for the Whites.
Former Leeds forward Rodrigo.
Ironically, his best goalscoring form was saved for the year that Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, as Rodrigo scored 13 times in 31 matches.
Thanks to a £3m release clause negotiated by Orta, Qatar-based side Al Rayyan swooped in to sign the Spanish attacker for 10 times less than what the club initially paid for him in 2020.
Reported cost
£0
£30m
Appearances
175
97
Goals
36
28
Assists
41
5
As you can see in the table above, Rodrigo moved on from Elland Road with far less to show for his time in West Yorkshire than Pablo Hernandez did in 2021.
Ultimately, Orta’s £30m gamble did not pay off with a successful replacement for the Spanish wizard and the club eventually made a huge loss on the club-record signing, who struggled for form until the season that the Whites were relegated.
Daniel Farke and his team will hope to avoid any similar mistakes if they achieve promotion and get a chance to recruit for a top-flight season in the summer.
Ampadu repeat: Leeds eyeing move for £6m star with "crazy athleticism"
Leeds United are interested in a swoop to sign the defensive midfielder in January.
أعلنت لجنة الحكام بالاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، عن طاقم تحكيم مباراة الأهلي وحرس الحدود، المقرر لها اليوم الأحد، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
الأهلي يواجه حرس الحدود، على استاد القاهرة الدولي، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الرابعة من عمر المرحلة النهائية من بطولة الدوري المصري.
ويدخل الأهلي المباراة محتلاً المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 43 نقطة.
طالع أيضاً.. قائمة الأهلي لمباراة حرس الحدود في الدوري المصري.. موقف معلول واستبعاد أكرم توفيق
بينما يتواجد حرس الحدود، في المركز التاسع بترتيب المجموعة المتنافسة على البقاء في الدوري المصري، برصيد 22 نقطة. حكم مباراة الأهلي وحرس الحدود في الدوري المصري
Liverpool are staring down the barrel of a gun in relation to outgoings in 2025, with the overhanging black clouds of contractual uncertainty starting to become very real indeed.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is probably the most prominent name and likely member to depart this year, for his deal will expire at the end of the campaign and Real Madrid have a vested interest in his prized signature. They are doing everything to bring him to the Spanish capital.
It’s almost unbelievable that Arne Slot has taken to Anfield’s head chair so seamlessly, with such confidence, after Jurgen Klopp’s shocking decision to step down at the end of the 2023/24 term.
But then, Slot’s sharp tactical mind and cool interpersonal skills lend themselves to success at a top-performing club like Liverpool, who are sitting pretty at the top of the league and European tables.
Whichever angle you view it from, it’s been quite the ride already. However, FSG know that moves need to be made in both directions this year, with more than just the big non-committal three potentially heading for pastures new.
Liverpool facing 2025 exodus
As well as Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah continue to discuss contract extensions with Liverpool. The latter two are viewed with more optimism, but we’re well into January and there still hasn’t been a breakthrough.
Caught Offside have confirmed that talks have been held between Slot and Darwin Nunez to inform the Uruguay striker that his form needs to improve or he will find his place at risk, with a £60m price tag already having been slapped on his name.
Federico Chiesa only signed in the summer but may already be in danger of the chop, with injuries limiting him to just four appearances so far. Paris Saint-Germain are pushing to sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Napoli view Liverpool’s versatile forward as the perfect replacement.
There there’s Harvey Elliott. The midfielder has endured a tough season under Slot’s wing and is on the radar of Brighton & Hove Albion and Borussia Dortmund due to a lack of playing time, as per Sky Sports.
Frustratingly, the early knockings of the season kept Elliott on the sidelines after he fractured his foot on international duty with England U21s, with Slot calling it a “big disappointment” given that he would have earned ample opportunities over the coming months.
Well, the 21-year-old’s been fit for over a month now but is still limited to the bittiest of bit-part roles, seemingly giving rise to rumours that he’s heading for the door this year.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot and Harvey Elliott
If Liverpool were to entertain this notion, it would be a grave mistake. In fact, Slot may be in danger of creating his own Cole Palmer disaster with this talented playmaker.
Slot's own Cole Palmer disaster
We all know the story. In August 2023 Manchester City sold their homegrown talent, Palmer, to Chelsea in a deal worth £42.5m after he had played 41 times for the senior side and clinched eight goal contributions.
Manchester City's Cole Palmer celebrates scoring their first goal
Such a steep figure for one so young and untested on the major stage raised more than a few eyebrows, but Chelsea are revelling in the hindsight consensus, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher hailing the 22-year-old as “the best player in the Premier League” back in October.
With Mohamed Salah stealing the headlines this season, it might feel like Palmer has plateaued, a victim of that ‘one-season-wonder’ syndrome that gets pinned to any up-and-coming sensation on English shores, but Palmer is still performing at the top of his game, a real superstar in the making.
Matches (starts)
33 (29)
20 (20)
Goals
22
13
Assists
11
6
Shots (on target)*
3.2 (1.4)
3.5 (1.5)
Pass completion
83%
81%
Key passes*
2.1
2.9
Dribbles (completed)*
1.5 (53%)
1.3 (52%)
Ball recoveries*
3.1
3.2
Tackles + interceptions*
1.3
1.1
Total duels (won)*
3.0 (44%)
4.1 (56%)
There’s no question that he made the right move in 2023, becoming Chelsea’s main man instantaneously after struggling to break into Pep Guardiola’s elite-level unit. How the Spanish manager must rue his decision now.
It might have been the right move for Palmer, and there’s every chance that Elliott would nurture his qualities with teams like Brighton and Dortmund, but he can also make a marked difference in Liverpool’s growing project over the next several years.
As per FBref, the English ace ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and shot-creating actions and the top 6% for progressive passes and progressive carries, demonstrating age-defying skills in regard to his playmaking ability.
However, there’s no question that Elliott needs more action, or else he will push for a transfer away himself. Though he was sidelined for the opening months of the season, the £40k-per-week talent has only managed to feature off the bench in the Premier League since, with his six appearances totalling just 36 minutes of action plus stoppage time.
Elliott is still so young; it’s easy to forget that this is a player who has yet to even brush the outer fringes of his ‘prime years.’ Liverpool may come to regret not playing him all the same. He wasn’t called from the bench as Liverpool lost to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening, a match that yearned for a creative spark.
Last season, Elliott struggled for minutes until the business end. Ah, but then he showcased his skills and style, chalking up a goal and four assists across the final six Premier League matches of Klopp’s dynasty.
Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones celebrate
Just over one year ago, the one-time Fulham youngster admitted that he didn’t want to be known as a ‘super-sub,’ firm in the belief that his qualities called for a greater role. So then, we can hardly expect him to be content with his current situation, can we?
Former Liverpool U18s head coach Neil Critchley once hailed Elliott for producing “some real bits of magic on the ball” and he’s translated this deep-rooted talent onto the major stage.
Maybe Elliott has watched Palmer’s rise and rise at Stamford Bridge and wondered if he should follow suit. He must not. Liverpool’s tactical team simply have to recognise the disastrous situation they would allow to develop.
The diminutive left-footer has spoken of the adaptation to Slot’s football, and while he has acknowledged that it has been “very intense,” he spoke of the style with a broad beam, eager to make headway in England’s top-placed team.
FSG have a big decision to make this month. They must make the right decision. Elliott cannot be allowed to venture off when he’s displayed such promise throughout his fledgeling career thus far, notching 25 goal contributions across 125 senior appearances for the Reds, starting just 54 of those matches.
Harvey Elliott and Jurgen Klopp
Let’s step back a moment and recall a comment made by Klopp when he was approaching the final moments of his distinguished Merseyside tenure. Klopp admitted that his great regret at Liverpool was failing to play Elliott more often.
Might Slot come to harbour similar regrets, should this wonderful force of a midfielder ply his art elsewhere next season? Liverpool might just find themselves rueing their own mistake in the mould of Cole Palmer.
Scored 4 v Klopp: Liverpool plot to sign "electric" £25m Salah replacement
Liverpool are considering a stunning winter signing who could be the difference-maker for Slot’s project.
Tottenham Hotspur have now expressed their interest in signing one player from an elite club in the looming January transfer window, with Ange Postecoglou’s side looking to strengthen mid-season.
Tottenham suffer Nottingham Forest defeat as injury crisis worsens
Spurs suffered their fourth defeat in five Premier League matches on Boxing Day, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s high-flying Nottingham Forest side beating them 1-0 at the City Ground through Anthony Elanga’s first-half strike.
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1
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The Lilywhites faced an uphill battle after Elanga’s opening goal, with the away side struggling to break them down, despite enjoying 71 per cent of the possession and completing 620 passes to Forest’s 261.
Forest managed to completely shut them out as Tottenham dominated the overall play but mustered just four attempts on target all game, with a very frustrating afternoon for Postecoglou compounded by Djed Spence’s added-time red card and Radu Dragusin’s injury.
Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures
Date
Wolverhampton Wanderers (home)
December 29
Newcastle United (home)
January 4
Arsenal (away)
January 15
Everton (away)
January 19
Leicester City (home)
January 26
Dragusin was forced off just minutes before the full-time whistle with an ankle problem, as confirmed by Postecoglou, who also held some praise for his team for working hard in the “disappointing” defeat.
“It’s obviously disappointing the defeat, tight game, it was never going to be the kind of game where there would be too many chances,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat to Forest.
“I still thought we had a fair chunk of it where we could have got something out of the game, but it was always going to be a tight game here. It was a disappointing goal we conceded, but aside from that the boys worked hard and we tried to generate as many opportunities as we could considering the context of the game and how Forest play, but we just couldn’t get over the top of them.”
While supporters anxiously wait to find out the extent of Dragusin’s injury, they will be hoping it is nothing serious, as Postecoglou could be left without any natural, senior central defensive options for the coming weeks.
Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies are all sidelined through injury, and if Dragusin is forced to join them on the treatment table for a prolonged period, it would surely force technical director Johan Lange to bring in another centre-back when the transfer window reopens next month.
Tottenham have been linked with a host of centre-backs ahead of January, but it is believed they could also seek to reinforce their attacking options.
Tottenham eyeing January move for PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani
Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, a very reliable Bundesliga source, has now revealed Spurs’ interest in signing £204,000-per-week PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani.
The 26-year-old is a firm favourite under Didier Deschamps at international level for France, but he’s struggled to assert himself at PSG, despite originally being tipped to seize Kylian Mbappe’s mantle after his exit to Real Madrid.
He is “set to leave” PSG next month, most likely on loan, according to Plettenberg, who also says that Tottenham have expressed an interest in signing Kolo Muani for January.
The Les Bleus star’s best club season came during the 2022/2023 campaign at Eintracht Frankfurt – where he scored 15 goals and bagged a further 11 assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances – and Spurs would be hopeful he could rediscover that form if they do elect to pursue a temporary deal.
After more than 17 months of delays, USA Cricket’s 2020 general elections finally concluded this week
Peter Della Penna04-Aug-2022After more than 17 months of delays, USA Cricket’s 2020 general elections finally concluded this week with Atul Rai and Kuljit-Singh Nijjar prevailing in a stacked field for the club director and individual director positions respectively. Nadia Gruny was also reelected for the female elite-athlete director position in a candidacy that was unopposed.Rai, the southern California administrator who also served as president of the since-expelled USA Cricket Association (USACA) in the early 2000s, returns to the board after being league director from 2018 to 2020. He replaces the incumbent club director, Ajith Bhaskar of New York, after receiving 51.30% of the votes of club officials.Related
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According to a USA Cricket press release, approximately 77% of the 558 club officials eligible to vote wound up casting ballots, though no official vote total was released.Nijjar, of Dallas, Texas, replaces the incumbent Suraj Viswanathan of northern California, who had also been serving as the USA Cricket board secretary during his tenure. Nijjar eventually won 52.40% of the vote after three rounds of preferential voting, in which the candidate with the lowest vote total is eliminated after each round and votes retabulated until a 50% majority for the winner is achieved.As for the individual vote, the number of voters who submitted officially verified ballots was a tiny fraction of the eligible voting membership base of 12,381 members. According to USA Cricket, approximately 34% of those members wound up submitting a ballot during the two-week voting period that ran from July 8 to July 22, once again highlighting the apathy within theUS cricket landscape.The voting period was marred with issues symbolic of the 17 months of delays. The initial email ballots that were commissioned on July 8 wound up being nullified after a technical issue in which the election service, ElectionBuddy, sent ballots out to all voters to be able to vote for both the club and individual director positions instead of just the category they were eligible to vote for. It meant that anyone who did not submit a second ballot did not have their vote recorded.Another issue that arose during the voting period itself was the discovery of fraudulently registered individual members to various clubs. After voting began, USA Cricket’s nominating and governance committee sent out an emergency email asking club leaders to confirm and self-verify by the election deadline all true members that had previously been deemed legitimate members of their clubs by the NGC. It resulted in three clubs reporting fake voters claiming to be affiliated with their clubs, and subsequently those votes were cancelled.
أحرز الدولي السنغالي، ساديو ماني لاعب نادي النصر، 4 أهداف (سوبر هاتريك) لفريقه أمام الأخدود، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما مساء الإثنين، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين.
النصر فاز على الأخدود، بنتيجة 9-0، وذلك في إطار ختام مواجهات الجولة الـ 31 من عمر مسابقة دوري روشن.
رباعية ساديو ماني، جعلته يصل إلى الهدف رقم 13 له خلال بطولة الدوري السعودي للموسم الحالي 2024-2025.
وزاد المهاجم الصربي ألكسندر ميتروفيتش، مهاجم نادي الهلال، من رصيد أهدافه إلى 16 هدفا، بعد تسجيله هدف الهلال الأول أمام العروبة في المباراة التي انتهت بفوز الزعيم الهلالي بنتيجة 4-0.
كما واصل الثناني الفرنسي كريم بنزيما مهاجم نادي الاتحاد، والمغربي عبد الرزاق حمد الله، مهاجم فريق الشباب السعودي، المنافسة مع البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو قائد فريق النصر، على صدارة ترتيب هدافي الدوري السعودي للموسم الحالي 2024-2025.
وسجل كريم بنزيما قائد نادي الاتحاد، هدفين لفريقه أمام الفيحاء، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما الأحد، انتهت لصالح العميد بنتيجة 3-0.
ووصل بنزيما بهدفيه إلى 21 هدفا، محتلًا المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب هدافي الدوري السعودي، ومتساويًا مع المغربي عبد الرزاق حمد الله بنفس عدد الأهداف.
وكان عبد الرزاق حمد الله، أحرز هدفي فريقه الثاني والثالث أمام الأهلي، في اللقاء الذي أقيم بين الفريقين، انتصر فيه فريق الشباب على الأهلي بنتيجة 3-1.
طالع | النصر السعودي يطيح بصفقته الأوروبية الكبرى
ويتصدر كريستيانو رونالدو، ترتيب هدافي الدوري السعودي، برصيد 23 هدفًا. ترتيب هدافي الدوري السعودي
– رونالدو – النصر – 23 هدفًا.
– كريم بنزيما – الاتحاد – 21 هدفًا.
– عبد الرزاق حمد الله – الشباب – 21 هدفًا.
– إيفان توني – الأهلي – 20 هدفًا.
– خوليان كينيونيس – القادسية – 19 هدفًا.
– ماركوس ليوناردو – الهلال – 17 هدفًا.
– ميتروفيتش – الهلال – 16 هدفًا.
– سالم الدوسري – الهلال – 14 هدفًا.
– ميزياني ماوليدا – الخلود – 14 هدفًا.
– أوباميانج – القادسية – 14 هدفًا.
– ساديو ماني – النصر – 13 هدفًا.
– جورج نكودو – ضمك – 13 هدفًا.
– جورجينيو فينالدوم – الاتفاق – 13 هدفًا.
– حسام عوار – الاتحاد -12 هدفًا.
يمكنكم متابعة ترتيب هدافي الدوري السعودي بشكل محدث باستمرار من هنا
Charlie Dean will replace injured England captain Heather Knight as skipper of London Spirit for the Women’s Hundred.Dean, the 21-year-old off-spinner, takes over from the vastly experienced Knight, who missed England’s entire Commonwealth Games campaign – they lost the bronze-medal play-off to New Zealand – with a hip injury that has left her needing to use crutches and is expected to keep her on the sidelines for a period of months.”It’s a great opportunity for me, I’m really looking forward to leading this team,” Dean said. “Obviously, we are gutted that Heather can’t join us this year, but we have an exciting squad filled with experience and young talent and we can’t wait to get started on Friday.”Related
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A relative newcomer to the England set-up, Dean earned her only T20I cap for England during the washed-out second match in that leg of the Ashes series in January. She didn’t take the field as play was abandoned in the fifth over with England 25 without loss. Dean was not part of England’s squad for the Commonwealth Games, which was played as a T20 competition.She has played 16 ODIs, making her debut against New Zealand last September, most recently in the series with South Africa, which she finished as leading wicket-taker.Dean was key to Southern Vipers’ Charlotte Edwards Cup triumph in June, taking two wickets and sharing a match-winning partnership with Ella McCaughan to help defeat Central Sparks by six wickets in the final. She was also the competition’s second-highest wicket-taker.In 2021, she took six wickets for London Spirit, who finished their inaugural campaign in fourth place on the eight-team table, at an average of 28.00 and an economy rate of 7.09. During that time, she impressed Knight and made her international debut a short time later.Dean will lead an impressive international contingent at London Spirit, including two Australian Commonwealth Games gold medallists in Beth Mooney – the Games’ leading run-scorer – and fast bowler Megan Schutt, as well as talented New Zealand allrounder Amelia Kerr.London Spirit open their 2022 season against Southern Brave, last year’s runners up, in Southampton on Friday.
Over the space of 24 hours, Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League have taken a huge boost. It’s funny how quickly football changes, isn’t it?
The Gunners have been dealt two bitter blows in their bid to win silverware across their previous two matches, losing in the Carabao Cup to Newcastle and then in the FA Cup to Manchester United.
However, after Liverpool drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta’s men managed to close the gap to four points at the summit by defeating their arch-rivals, Tottenham, 2-1 on Wednesday.
It wasn’t a vintage performance but it was enough and, positively, Arsenal are beginning to find solutions in the final third.
Over the last three games, the Gunners have created an xG tally of 7.78. Whereas in the few games before that they struggled to create at all, they are at least now coming up with chances. They’re just finding it difficult to find the back of the net.
Any chance of a new forward this month, Arteta? For a moment, however, let’s focus on the positives.
Arsenal's best players against Tottenham
Since Bukayo Saka’s fateful hamstring injury, the club have needed players to step up.
It’s been a challenge finding someone to replace him and they have now tried five different players; Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling on the right since Saka was ruled out.
All of them bar Sterling have scored – so you could say they have stepped up – but you’d still want more from your forward line.
One player who really needs to do more is Martin Odegaard. Thankfully, the Norwegian might be slowly creeping towards his best form again.
Performance in Numbers
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The club captain registered a whopping ten key passes in the FA Cup defeat to Man United a few days ago and dictated play beautifully again on Wednesday in the derby, registering four key passes and supplying the assist for Trossard’s winner.
Speaking of Trossard, it was about time the Belgian did something. He has struggled for form, notably not scoring in seven straight league outings before the visit of Ange Postecoglou’s side.
His goal was brilliantly taken, though, fashioning an opportunity onto his left foot before firing past new Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
Another to shine was 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, the first 18-year-old to start for Arsenal in a north London derby since a certain Cesc Fabregas.
The teenager was calmness personified at left-back, completing 94% of his passes and winning four of his five duels. He only lost possession five times from 46 touches too. He really is making that position his own and looks every bit a senior player already.
Sadly, not everyone caught the eye.
Arsenal's poorest performers against Tottenham
One man who appears to be struggling for confidence right now is Kai Havertz who just can’t seem to find the back of the net.
Against Newcastle a week ago, the German missed a gilt-edged headed chance from just yards out before he spurned a succession of opportunities last Sunday, most alarmingly firing over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Havertz struggled again this time, missing two big chances including a free header inside the area.
The goals will no doubt flow again for the former Chelsea man but his last three performances have summed up why Arsenal have reportedly considered signing a player like Benjamin Sesko.
Another underperformer was midfielder Thomas Partey, a player who showed why the Gunners are allegedly closing in on the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
Minutes played
90
Touches
61
Accurate passes
41/45 (91%)
Key passes
1
Accurate crosses
1
Shots
1
Dribble attempts
0
Duels won
5/8
Possession lost
8x
Tackles
4
Interceptions
2
Dribbled past
1
Error leading to shot
1
Considering his average performance it was perhaps a surprise to see the Ghanaian last the full 90 minutes at the Emirates Stadium.
While the midfielder completed 91% of his passes and won five of his eight duels, had the player tracked back in the build-up to Spurs’ goal, they may have kept a clean sheet.
Indeed, Partey let Pape Matar Sarr run down the right-hand side of the pitch under no pressure, with Tottenham eventually forcing a corner that wasn’t cleared properly and then Heung-min Son finding the net.
It was a moment in the game that drew mass criticism with The Athletic’s Aaron Catterson-Reid commenting that “Partey is a ghost in transition” while Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley noted that “his lack of effort is shocking”.
So, while Partey cost £45m when he first penned terms with Arsenal, he shouldn’t be fetching a single penny over the summer with his contract due to expire.
It’s time for Arteta to replace him. Zubimendi, we’re waiting for you.
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Chelsea faltered yet again against Bournemouth, giving up a 1-0 lead to go 2-1 down in the second half at Stamford Bridge. Luckily for Enzo Maresca’s side, club captain Reece James managed to score a 95th-minute freekick after returning from injury this week, to rescue the Blues a point.
An inability to hold onto their leads, starting second halves slowly and then losing control of games as the team comes under adversity, have all been common themes of late for Maresca’s men. In recent weeks, the Blues have lost 1-0 leads to Fulham, Crystal Palace and now Bournemouth, also dropping points against Ipswich and Everton.
Whilst a big part of this is the inexperience and age of the squad, the balance has also been off since the injury to Wesley Fofana, which could see the Chelsea directors move in the January transfer window for a replacement for their star right central defender.
Chelsea's search for a centre-back
According to reports from GIVEMESPORT earlier this week, Chelsea have been keeping an eye on Sporting defender, Ousmane Diomande, scouting the 21-year-old in the Taca de Liga final last weekend.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Reports from before the summer window in 2024 stated his price would be somewhere around his €80 million release clause (£67m).
Other names the Blues are said to be watching in Portugal include Benfica pair, Tomas Araujo and Antonio Silva, as Chelsea look primed to move on from Crystal Palace defender, Marc Guehi.
Diomande has made 25 appearances so far this season, contributing to ten clean sheets in all competitions, totalling 1,893 minutes played.
Diomande vs Fofana comparison
Fofana has made 12 appearances for Chelsea this season (all 12 coming in the Premier League), contributing to three clean sheets and totalling 1,017 minutes played. Maresca himself even praised Fofana, stating “I love Wes” and calling the Frenchman a “fighter”.
That said, Diomande has been described by Ben Mattinson as a “hybrid between Gabriel & [William] Saliba”, having the physical elements to his game, alongside the technical quality to progress the ball and play out from the back in an elite possession-based system.
That likeness to the Arsenal pairing – who have been dubbed the best centre-back duo in Europe by Rio Ferdinand – among other factors, ensures he could actually represent a perfect replacement for Fofana.
Stats (per 90 mins)
Diomande
Fofana
Progressive Carries
0.22
1.24
Progressive Passes
2.64
2.21
Passes Attempted
81.2
62.2
Pass Completion %
94.4%
89.6%
Passes into Final Third
2.47
3.89
Tackles
1.10
1.15
Blocks
0.55
1.24
Interceptions
1.15
1.06
Aerial Duels Won
2.69
2.04
When comparing the two players’ metrics from this season, you can see the added responsibility Diomande has on the ball, averaging more passes attempted and making more progressive passes for his side.
However, his progressive carries are down, due to playing in the middle of a back three this season, rather than as the wide central defender like he did last season, which is more similar to Fofana’s role under Maresca.
Both defenders excel with excellent physical attributes, having brilliant recovery pace, long leg extension to aid their ground duels and an aggressive nature when attacking the ball, helping them to win aerial duels and make the first contact.
Diomande would offer a brilliant replacement for Fofana, adding the attributes back to Maresca’s side that have been missing since the Frenchman’s injury. The main issue that could come up later down the line, is when Fofana returns to full fitness, who becomes the starter?
Their next Lampard: Chelsea planning massive bid to sign "world-class" ace
Chelsea could be down to clinch a stunning transfer in 2025.
West Ham United are on the verge of sealing their first signing for new manager Graham Potter, as broadcaster Sky Sports share an exciting update out of the London Stadium.
West Ham attempting to support Graham Potter in January
There are gaping areas of the squad which need to be addressed by the Hammers hierarchy, with Potter looking to inspire an excellent second half to this Premier League campaign and potentially challenge for Europe.
West Ham in ongoing talks over signing "top-quality" England international
Graham Potter’s side sense an opportunity.
ByEmilio Galantini Jan 22, 2025
West Ham have a large list of transfer targets for midfield and going forward, with reliable club insider ExWHUemployee recently sharing the players in Potter’s thinking.
“The club does have some initial interest in Emanuel Emegha,” stated Ex (via West Ham Way).
“The 6’5 Dutch under 21s international has had a great season for Strasbourg in France and has 7 goals in 13 league appearances. The club started initial enquiries about 4 weeks ago, but it was considered a difficult transfer to complete.
“[Breel] Embolo is a highly rated Swiss international forward who plays for Monaco in France. West Ham have been linked with the forward a number of times in the past.
West Ham’s next five Premier League fixtures
Date
Aston Villa (away)
January 26
Chelsea (away)
February 3
Brentford (home)
February 15
Arsenal (away)
February 22
Leicester City (home)
February 27
“His playing style has been likened to Michail Antonio’s, and he is seen as a good longer-term successor to him. Injuries have been a bit of a concern during his career and these would need further exploration via the medical should we chose to go ahead with it.”
The credible club source also says that West Ham’s recent appointment of Kyle Macauley as a transfer chief from Chelsea has delayed any serious movement for players, as Potter is keen to acquire his input.
“Macauley’s appointment has been on the cards since Potter’s appointment and this does explain why there has been little movement so far,” stated Ex again.
“With many of Steidten’s suggestions not being given approval as Potter wanted the input from Macauley. Having already been linked with [Kiernan] Dewsbury-Hall, although he started Chelsea’s game yesterday, and Carney Chukwuemeka, who wasn’t in the squad, these players may also further develop.”
West Ham’s manager is apparently very keen on exploring loan deals for Chukwuemeka and Dewsbury-Hall, but Chelsea’s fringe duo are not the only midfielders on their radar heading into the final stretch of this January window.
West Ham agree deal to sign Ezechiel Banzuzi from OH Leuven
According to Sky, West Ham are closing in on the signing of OH Leuven midfielder Ezechiel Banzuzi.
The Netherlands Under-21 international has impressed in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, seemingly catching the eyes of West Ham’s scouting team. Banzuzi boasts two goals and five assists from 23 appearances in all competitions, with West Ham now apparently reaching an agreement for the 19-year-old.
“West Ham have agreed a deal with the Belgian club OH Leuven to sign midfielder Ezechiel Banzuzi,” said the broadcaster.
“The agreement is for £10 million up front plus £3 million in potential add-ons. Banzuzi due to fly for a medical in the next 24 hours. This one is on, and it should be completed relatively soon.”
Interestingly, some Belgian media sources have since denied that Banzuzi is on his way to West Ham, so it will be interesting to see how this develops, and it shows how no transfer is officially complete until the player signs on the dotted line.