All posts by z3u9t.icu

West Bromwich Albion will enter the next Championship season slightly apprehensive at this moment in time, with lots of work needing to be done to fix the uncertain mood at the Hawthorns currently.

Carlos Corberan is being linked with a switch to a number of different clubs, with some reports even stating that he's been interviewed for the Burnley vacancy recently, whilst the likes of Kyle Bartley, Cedric Kipre and Alex Mowatt could soon be out of contract if their deals aren't renewed by the close of this month.

Yet, if the Baggies can ride this storm out and secure the future of Corberan alongside some key first-team personnel, they could well be in the promotion reckoning again, on the contrary, when a ball is kicked to start the 2024/25 campaign.

The Spaniard could even be convinced to stay put just off the back of one statement signing.

West Brom going after £6m-rated ace

According to report by Football Insider last week, West Brom are going back in for former loan star Mikey Johnston this summer, with a £6m price tag now slapped above his head by Brendan Rodgers' Celtic.

West Brom could do with more reinforcements going forward, owing to the club's recent retained list revealing that Matt Phillips would be allowed to walk away on a free transfer, and that could come in the form of Johnston, but it remains to be seen whether that hefty fee puts the West Midlands outfit off.

With Baggies chairman Shilen Patel also revealing that the club will have to be "resourceful" this summer when penning an open letter to the West Brom fanbase, a move for Johnston could well be deemed too extortionate to get over the line.

Yet, it could now be deemed as a necessary capture to potentially keep Corberan on-side and not have his head turned.

Why Johnston could get Corberan to stay

Johnston was exactly the electric signing the Baggies needed last season to raise the excitement levels at the Hawthorns, with the current Celtic man taking to Championship football like a duck to water after walking in through the door on loan in January.

The 25-year-old winger – who was described as being "special" by Corberan in 2023/24 – would help himself to an impressive eight-goal contributions from just 18 matches, with seven of those being goals for his loan side, matching Grady Diangana's total for the season, albeit from 18 games fewer than the ex-West Ham United attacker.

Games played

20

Goals scored

7

Goal conversion

30%

Shots*

1.3

Assists

1

Touches*

38.7

Big chances created

4

Endearing himself immediately to the Hawthorns faithful, with tricky gung-ho ascents forward becoming his speciality, Johnston would end up filling the void left behind by Jeremy Sarmiento jumping ship to Ipswich Town expertly, with the powers that be at West Brom now intrigued to see what the Republic of Ireland international can do over a full 46-game campaign.

With a lack of left wingers at Corberan's disposal, as Adam Reach has also been let go of who can play down the left-hand flank, signing Johnston feels like an ambitious deal that could have legs, even if the wild £6m price tag is off-putting.

The Baggies chairman will aim to try and strike a balance between spending big and remaining cautious in the transfer market, with Johnston deemed a splurge that could be worthwhile.

West Brom eyeing up move to sign Jonas Olsson 2.0

West Bromwich Albion could sign their next Jonas Olsson if this summer buy is pulled off.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 13, 2024

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to make it three wins from as many games under the leadership of Vitor Pereira as they face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League this afternoon.

Wins over Leicester City and Manchester United have moved the Old Gold out of the relegation zone and hopes are high the club can maintain their top-flight status under the new manager.

Against the Old Trafford side, the majority of the starting XI played rather well as they secured all three points, but there were a couple of players who underperformed.

Goncalo Guedes was deployed alongside Matheus Cunha as an attacking midfielder but didn’t have the same impact as the Brazilian.

Goncalo Guedes’ game in numbers vs Man Utd

The 28-year-old has scored five goals and grabbed four assists in all competitions for the Molineux outfit this season, but his display on Boxing Day wasn’t his best of the campaign.

The Portuguese star failed with both of his dribble attempts, registered just one shot on goal and failed to make a key pass or create a big chance in the final third.

Stat

Highest Ranked

Accurate passes

Matt Doherty and Andre (59)

Key passes

Kobbie Mainoo (3)

Shots on target

Matheus Cunha (2)

Ground duels won

Matheus Cunha (13)

Tackles

Toti Gomes (5)

Guedes also lost nine of the 13 ground duels he contested during his time on the pitch, along with losing possession a staggering 16 times and it is clear Pereira must make a change ahead of the clash against Spurs.

He was replaced by Hwang Hee-chan with just 15 minutes remaining and the South Korean star scored the decisive second goal which wrapped up a 2-0 win for the home side.

With this in mind, Hwang should be unleashed in place of Guedes this afternoon as he could cause the Spurs’ defence plenty of damage.

Pereira must unleash Hwang Hee-chan against Spurs

The forward hasn’t exactly enjoyed the most productive of seasons throughout 2024/25, with his goal against United his first of the season.

Chalkboard

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

He has only started three games all campaign, but this should change today, as Pereira looks to continue the club’s impressive momentum of late.

Hwang was hailed by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright back in 2021, who said: “He has got everything [Hwang], he has got pace, skill, touch and awareness and he’s always driving to get into the box.”

These attributes were on show last term, as the South Korean maestro ended up scoring 13 goals for the Old Gold while also creating four big chances, averaging 0.6 key passes per game and succeeding with 1.2 dribbles each match in the Premier League.

When compared to his positional peers in the top flight last season, Hwang even ranked in the top 9% for successful take-on percentage (52.2%) per 90, showcasing his dribbling skills.

If unleashed against Spurs, he will be keen to carry on where he left off against the Red Devils. Another goal or assist would certainly give him a great chance of forcing his way into Pereira’s starting XI, and he might just help move Wolves further away from the drop zone.

Imagine him & Cunha: Wolves lodge enquiry to sign Raul Jimenez 2.0

Wolves are showing interest in a German international…

ByRoss Kilvington Dec 28, 2024

The Glasgow Rangers squad could look very different next season if Philippe Clement has his way and is able to bring several new players to the club.

Combined with a few current first-team players being sold, this summer could be the biggest turnover of players in recent memory, something which has been a few years in the making.

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst tried to reshuffle things at Ibrox in 2022, before being sacked just a few months later. While Michael Beale suffered the same fate.

Clement appears to be a bit more savvy in the transfer market than those two and this could see plenty of young talent join the Gers in the coming weeks.

Who will arrive? Who will depart? These are the key questions which will be answered across the summer, including what the dream starting XI may be ahead of next season.

1 GK – Jack Butland

The Englishman was arguably the finest signing the club made last summer, saving the Light Blues on numerous occasions last term.

He will play a big part throughout 2024/25 as Clement looks to topple Celtic domestically and deliver a first championship title in four years.

2 RB – Reuell Walters

The Arsenal youngster has been linked with a move to the Gers recently, who could seal his signature on a free transfer, as it appears that Walters has turned down a new deal at the Gunners.

Could this move finally mean James Tavernier will be sold this summer? The interest in the captain comes from Steven Gerrard, who wishes to bring his former player to the Middle East this summer.

Tavernier will turn 33 in October and this summer could be the final chance for the club to really cash in on the defender, who failed to lead the Light Blues to either the Scottish Cup or Premiership title last term.

Walters might be young, but his ceiling is extremely high, and he could develop rapidly in Glasgow.

3 CB – John Souttar

The Scot bounced back from an injury-plagued debut season in Glasgow to make a total of 41 appearances last season, and he could move into his preferred right centre-back role ahead of the coming season.

Connor Goldson is also being targeted by Gerrard with regard to a potential move, and it feels like this is the right time for the club to sell the defender.

With two years left on his deal, the Ibrox side could demand a decent fee, which, in turn, would fund future purchases for Clement.

4 CB – Clinton Nsiala

The talented defender will join Rangers from AC Milan in July on a pre-contract, having agreed a move last week.

The 20-year-old may not have made a senior appearance for the Italian side, but he is highly regarded at the club and the move could prove to be a smart investment by Clement.

It remains to be seen how much involvement he will gain in the first team, but giving him regular game time will allow him to vastly improve.

5 LB – Ridvan Yilmaz

The Turkish defender has endured plenty of ups and downs during his two years at Ibrox, but under Clement, Yilmaz finally began to show some consistency.

Rangers may have signed Jefte, a young Brazilian left-back, but it looks as though the 23-year-old will be the first choice heading into the new season.

6 CM – Mohamed Diomande

The Ivorian joined on an initial loan deal in January which will be made permanent this summer. He shone during his first six months in Scotland, scoring twice in 19 appearances while showing a willingness to get stuck into the defensive side of things at the heart of the Rangers midfield.

Could a new signing become his main partner next season? As Clement looks like he is closing in on a Scottish talent…

7 CM – Connor Barron

The Aberdeen midfielder is being courted by several clubs on the continent and in England, while Rangers are also keen on keeping him in the country.

Indeed, the Gers have reportedly tabled an offer for the youngster in a bid to prevent him from falling through the net. Clement will need to sign more local talent, especially in a bid to meet homegrown quotas in Europe, and Barron fits the bill perfectly.

8 RW – Ross McCausland

The winger enjoyed a breakthrough season at Ibrox during 2023/24, scoring four goals and grabbing five assists in 39 games for the club.

He may only be 21, yet this experience will stand him in good stead ahead of the new season, which could see him retain his place on the right wing.

9 AM -Todd Cantwell

The Englishman enjoyed plenty of purple patches under Clement, but becoming more consistent will be his main goal for next term.

He did score eight times and notched seven assists, but if it weren’t for injuries, he could well have reached double figures on both metrics.

10 LW – Yusuf Kabadayi

It looks as though the Bayern Munich youngster could be the next player to arrive through the doors at Ibrox in the next week or so.

He will cost the Gers around £1m, which could turn into a wonderful piece of transfer business considering how impressive he has been during his stint in Germany.

The club need a pacy winger who can create chances in order to fill the void left by Abdallah Sima, and Kabadayi is the ideal candidate.

Liverpool have now received the green light to make their move for a defensive reinforcement in the January transfer window, according to reports.

Slot: Teams "think they can get a result" against Liverpool

It wasn’t a disaster at Anfield as Liverpool came from behind to rescue a draw against Sunderland, but it was hardly an inspiring performance from the Premier League champions yet again.

Despite breaking their transfer record to sign Alexander Isak in the summer, the Swede was back to his subdued ways just days after netting his first Premier League goal for the club against West Ham United. And whilst Florian Wirtz at least played a part in the equaliser and looked bright throughout, Liverpool’s attack was a far cry from their scintillating best of past campaigns.

What should concern Arne Slot the most is his own admission that teams now believe they can “get a result” against his Liverpool side. That should never be the case at the home of the champions, but the Dutchman also denied that Anfield’s fear factor has evaporated this season.

He told reporters: “No, not Anfield. For sure. But it’s clear that teams that play us now think they can get a result. Not only think, because that has been shown this season.

“And even in the games we’ve won, they also fuelled the confidence for other teams like, ‘Hmm, something is possible’ because the wins we had at the beginning of the season weren’t easy ones as well.”

The only positive for Slot to take from the Sunderland game is that his side, whilst found wanting in attack, were harder to break down defensively. With fixtures coming thick and fast, that defensive foundation will be important but so will any depth that Liverpool add in that area in January, especially if they sign Joel Ordonez.

Liverpool receive green light to make Ordonez move

As reported by TeamTalk, Liverpool have received a green light to make their move for Ordonez after maintaining contact with the defender’s camp. Racing alongside Tottenham Hotspur in pursuit of the Club Brugge defender, the Reds could land an ideal alternative for Marc Guehi.

Fewer touches than Alisson & only 2 passes: Liverpool flop must be dropped

Arne Slot has a huge call to make about one player after his showing for Liverpool last night.

2 ByEthan Lamb Dec 4, 2025

Despite reportedly reopening talks to sign the Crystal Palace man, Liverpool may be forced to wait until next summer when his contract expires to secure his signature. If that does prove to be the case, then those at Anfield should turn to Ordonez.

Although Como scout Ben Mattinson aired caution around Ordonez’s “aggressive” nature last year, it’s the exact trait that Liverpool have been lacking this season. The Reds have been physically outmatched and the arrival of the 21-year-old would go a long way towards solving that problem.

Jamie Carragher slams £280k-p/w Liverpool star who had no "excuses" vs Sunderland

There’s no denying that Chelsea employed a scattergun spending approach in the early days of BlueCo’s ownership, but that has since been streamlined over the past few years, with Enzo Maresca proving the perfect man for the job.

Sunday’s Premier League clash is a big one, with Stamford Bridge playing host to a top-of-the-table clash between Chelsea and Arsenal. The second-place Blues will narrow the deficit to just three points with a win.

This is a team building toward a period of sustained success, and the tactical readings suggest that Chelsea are already one of the most exciting attacking outfits in the division, even if there is a sense that there are several levels still to be scaled.

Chelsea

2nd

22.1

Man City

3rd

21.8

Arsenal

1st

20.7

Crystal Palace

5th

20.2

Man Utd

10th

19.9

However, a question mark lingers over number nine, with Liam Delap yet to prove he is the answer. Could Chelsea be looking to sign an upgrade?

Why Chelsea are searching for a striker

In fairness, Delap has spent a sizeable portion of his first months in west London in the infirmary. Still, since returning from a hamstring injury that has kept him out for much of the autumn, the English striker has started twice in the Premier League and failed to break his duck on both counts.

That said, he did net his first goal of the campaign for the Blues against Barcelona in midweek, coming off the bench and coolly converting to seal the 3-0 win after neat interplay between Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez.

However, the £30m summer signing from Ipswich Town has yet to prove he has what it takes to nail down a berth at the front of Maresca’s system, and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart are searching for a potential upgrade.

They may have found one. According to Sky Germany, Chelsea are among the outfits to have been informed that Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy is worth about €50m (£44m), applicable for a number of top European outfits.

Chelsea are in the mix, and though Delap and Joao Pedro make up a dynamic central strike force in west London, Guirassy’s clinical record suggests he could add an interesting dimension to a title-challenging side.

What Guirassy would bring to Chelsea

Guirassy, 29, might not fit the age profile Chelsea have focused on targeting in recent years, but his experience and maturity in the final third would serve as a neat counterpoint to the younger generation.

Delap caught the eye for Ipswich last season, a shining light as he scored 12 goals across 37 Premier League outings. Kieran McKenna’s side were relegated, but so many teams swarmed for Delap’s signature, and Chelsea won the race.

The 22-year-old has a future at Stamford Bridge, but Maresca’s side need someone in the now who can maintain a fight against Arsenal, while pushing deep into the Champions League too.

Guirassy is “one of the best strikers in Europe”, according to German legend Lothar Matthaus, and he ranks among the top 11% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

25/26

10

5 + 1

24/25

30

21 + 2

23/24

28

28 + 2

22/23

22

11 + 0

He’s hardly just a mindless poacher, with silky footwork and intelligent positioning that allows him to roam around the attacking half and link up with teammates.

But, at his core, Guirassy is indeed a goalscorer, and Chelsea may find that Delap earns fewer minutes with the Guinean striker in the mix.

It’s a tough one, but given the promising position Maresca’s side have placed themselves into, it might just be the move to make.

Maresca must finally sell Chelsea "passenger" who was like Estevao at 18

The international superstar may have once played like Estevao, but he’s now a problem for Chelsea.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 28, 2025

There has now been a major new update on Emiliano Martinez’s Aston Villa future ahead of the January transfer window, amid recent praise from manager Unai Emery.

Martinez was very keen to leave Villa during the summer window, amid interest from Manchester United, but he ultimately ended up staying put at Villa Park, with Ruben Amorim’s side opting to bring in Senne Lammens instead.

The Argentina international was left out of the squad for the 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace, given the doubts over his future, with Marco Bizot getting the nod between the sticks, but he has since been able to force his way back into the side.

Upon his return in the 0-0 draw against Everton, the 33-year-old received high praise from Emery, who said: “Today, his comeback has been fantastic. We have to protect him and feel him inside the group so he is comfortable and confident. He was fantastic.”

However, there has now been a major new update on the shot-stopper’s Villa Park future, which suggests a move could be on the cards very soon…

Aston Villa willing to accept January bids for Emiliano Martinez

According to a report from Football Insider, Aston Villa are now willing to accept January bids for Martinez, as they continue to explore replacements for their long-serving goalkeeper, who has been stripped of the vice captaincy.

Speaking about that decision, Emery said: “The first captain is John McGinn. We decided how we are, as well as managing the next captain. Usually, we have another captain, Emi Martinez, as second captain. But now, after speaking with him, I prefer to get him back. Konsa is the next one. Tyrone Mings, with Ollie Watkins too. Normally, we are managing it like that.”

The Villans recently identified Manchester City’s James Trafford as a potential target, with the Englishman being kept out of Pep Guardiola’s starting XI by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Man United retain an interest in the Villa star, so there may be interest during the January transfer window, with Amorim personally requesting a winter deal back in October.

Should the 57-time Argentina international decide he wants to leave, there is no point Aston Villa standing in his way, but it would be a shame to let him go, given the level of some of his performances over the past few weeks.

The former Arsenal man has kept clean sheets in three of his last four matches in all competitions, most recently keeping a clean sheet after denying Antoine Semenyo from the penalty spot in the 4-0 victory against AFC Bournemouth.

The World Cup-winning goalkeeper remains under contract until 2030, so Aston Villa should be able to command a good fee for his services if they do decide to cash-in, but it would be a risk to sell one of their most experienced players.

Emiliano Martinez has been named as one of the best goalkeepers in the world The Best 15 Goalkeepers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who’s number one of the best number ones in the world?

1 ByCharlie Smith Nov 28, 2025

Chelsea got back to winning ways on the weekend.

Enzo Maresca’s side took on Tottenham Hotspur away from home, and as they tend to do in this fixture, left with all three points.

From front to back, the Blues looked back to their best, and more importantly, Joao Pedro got back on the scoresheet.

The Brazilian has the quality to be a hugely important player for Chelsea, and one of the club’s most exciting youngsters could help him one day reach Cole Palmer’s numbers, and no, it’s not Estevao.

Pedro's future at Chelsea

When Chelsea completed the £60m signing of Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion, there was plenty of understandable excitement, as sections of the fan base assumed the club had their new long-term number nine.

Chalkboard

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

This idea was further reinforced during the pre-season, as Maresca started him up top for three consecutive games during the Club World Cup, during which he scored three goals.

However, things quickly changed once the season began, as following the first game against Crystal Palace, the manager played the 24-year-old as a second striker for two consecutive Premier League games, in which he scored two goals and provided two assists.

Unfortunately, following Liam Delap’s hamstring injury, the former Brighton star was once again forced to lead the line.

So far, in the seven league games he has started there, he has scored just once and provided one assist.

In short, it has become abundantly clear that while hugely talented, the former Watford star is at his very best either as a second striker or a slightly more aggressive ten.

Now, for those fans who watched him on the south coast, this shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise, as while he did make 16 appearances up top last season, he also made 12 between second striker, attacking midfield and left-wing.

Centre-Forward

16

Second Striker

8

Left Winger

2

Attacking Midfield

2

So, if Maresca wants to get the most out of Pedro, he’ll have to start him behind another striker, and fortunately, someone who might help him reach Palmer-levels is joining Chelsea for next season.

The player who could help Pedro reach Palmer-levels

Now, while someone like Estevao could help Pedro up his output in the coming seasons, the 18-year-old is undoubtedly at his best out wide.

Therefore, what the former Brighton ace needs is another prolific forward to come in and start ahead of him, someone who will help not only boost his assist numbers, but also his own goal tally.

Fortunately, Chelsea might have just the young talent to do just that, joining in the summer: Dastan Satpayev.

The Khazak phenom is set to join the Blues at the end of this season, and while he’s still young and therefore a long way from the finished product, he looks like a superstar in the making.

With that said, why could he help Pedro put up Palmer-level numbers, though?

Well, simply put, while he can play in several positions, he is primarily a centre-forward, and a seriously exciting one at that.

For example, despite still being just 17 years old, the “future Ballon d’Or winner,” as dubbed by one analyst, scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2409 minutes last season.

That works out to an incredible average of a goal involvement every 1.37 games, or every 100.37 minutes.

Just imagine a forward as dangerous as that competing for a place with Delap ahead of a Pedro who has had a year to get used to life at Stamford Bridge.

Ultimately, it’s still early in his career, but if Satpayev is even half the player many believe him to be, then he could certainly help the former Brighton man reach the creative and goalscoring levels of Palmer in the near future.

Maresca must drop Chelsea star who had fewer touches than Sanchez vs Spurs

Chelsea just about got over the line on Saturday evening as slim 1-0 victors at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 2, 2025

After sacking Will Still, Southampton have now reportedly set their sights on hiring Stoke City manager Mark Robins, who scores well in their data-driven recruitment model.

The Saints have had a nightmare 18 months. Following relegation from the Premier League, which very nearly saw them break Derby County’s record-low points total, they turned to Still in an attempt to bounce straight back. Things didn’t quite go as planned, however, and the former Reims boss has now been relieved of his duties.

Releasing a statement after sacking Still, who won just two Championship games, technical director Johannes Spors said: “Will is a great person who gave everything to try and improve performances and results.

“Ultimately that process has taken longer than any of us would have liked. By making a change now we believe it gives us the best chance of turning things around this season and climbing back up the league table.”

Sitting as low as 21st in the Championship, the Saints can’t afford to get their next appointment wrong. Already, names like Russell Martin have been mentioned in a return that is likely to spark mixed reactions.

The former Saints boss was sacked by Rangers earlier this season following a dire spell in charge, but could yet get the chance to restore his damaged reputation at St Mary’s.

Frank Lampard has also been mentioned as a potential candidate following the work that he’s done at Coventry City. Alas, the Sky Blues currently sit top of the Championship and luring Lampard away at such a promising stage of his project would be no easy task.

Instead, another manager that Coventry fans know all too well could yet arrive to steer the Saints in the right direction.

Southampton now eyeing Mark Robins

According to talkSPORT, Southampton have also set their sights on Mark Robins. The Stoke City boss has scored well on their data-driven recruitment model as they look to hire the perfect next manager. Whether they can lure him away from Stoke is another question, however.

Having taken Coventry to the play-off final in the past, Robins has more than proved his ability to compete at the top of the second tier. And that has only continued at Stoke, who sit as high as third in the league after playing 13 games.

The fact that the 55-year-old turned Coventry into a side capable of reaching Wembley across a long-term project should make him a standout candidate for Southampton, who need a transformation themselves.

Unsurprisingly, Robins earned plenty of praise during his time at his former club. Former Coventry player Garry Thompson told reporters when the club sacked the veteran manager: “He got on with his job nice and quietly, he did a fantastic job.

“I’d be very surprised if he’s out of a job for another three or four months because he did such a good job at Coventry, a lot of clubs when they are looking for a manager will look towards Mark Robins.”

Southampton set sights on Russell Martin return

While things are looking a little bleak at the moment, Arsenal are still in a position that seemed almost impossible just a few years ago.

Mikel Arteta’s side have gone from languishing in eighth place for back-to-back campaigns to fighting for the Premier League title for the third year on the bounce.

The Spaniard has overseen a massive overhaul of the side he inherited in December 2019, with only a few players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli surviving and continuing to play significant roles in the first team.

However, there is another survivor who was a part of the squad during Arteta’s first season, a player who joined the club that summer and was tipped to be a future captain, but now has to be sold for his own sake.

Arsenal's 2019 summer signings

So, before we get to the player in question, let’s examine a couple of other signings made that summer, starting with a player who is unfortunately considered one of the club’s worst additions of all time, Nicolas Pepe.

Under the management of Emery, Arsenal decided to smash their transfer record in July 2019 and spend a whopping £72m on the Ivorian international, who, in their defence, had just scored 23 goals and provided 12 assists in 41 appearances for LOSC Lille.

Unfortunately, as most fans will attest, the talented winger did not show that sort of form in North London, and while he left the club for good last September as a flop, his final tally of 27 goals and 21 assists in 112 appearances isn’t quite as bad as some would have you believe.

In stark contrast, the North Londoners also paid a hefty £27m for a relatively unknown 18-year-old centre-back from Ligue 1 that summer, a young defender who has since established himself as one of the best in the world, William Saliba.

Yes, while he would spend the next three seasons on loan in his home country, the Gunners secured the services of their number two in 2019, and following his competitive debut for the side against Crystal Palace in August 2022, he’s racked up 98 appearances for the team, signed an extension in 2023 and is rumoured to be getting another one soon.

However, the Bondy-born titan wasn’t the only defender signed by the club that summer, but unfortunately, the player in question has followed a path closer to Pepe’s than his in N5, despite being touted as a future captain at one point.

The Arsenal captain that could've been

Arsenal have had a long list of incredible captains over the years, like Tony Adams in the past, the technically brilliant, if a little controversial, Cesc Fàbregas in the early 2010s, the sharpshooting and, actually, just as controversial, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during Arteta’s earlier tenure, right up to the midfield maestro, that is Martin Odegaard today.

However, in the summer of 2019, the club signed someone who perhaps could have been on that list in another world, Kieran Tierney.

The Scottish left-back joined the North Londoners from Glaswegian giants Celtic that August for around £25m.

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.

While he hadn’t played outside the Scottish Premiership at that point, there was a lot of excitement about what he could become.

That was largely thanks to his sensational play for the Hoops and the perception people had of him as a hard-working, no-nonsense defender, someone who was a throwback to a bygone era.

The then-22-year-old endured a mixed start to his life in the capital, though, as despite looking good on the pitch, he could only make 24 first-team appearances, as injuries kept him sidelined for large parts of the campaign.

The following year was much better in this regard, as while he still suffered a few setbacks, the Douglas-born dynamo made 38 appearances for the first team, in which he scored two goals, provided four assists and was called a “natural leader” by the manager.

The good times wouldn’t last, however, and even though the following season saw former professional Ally McCoist describe him as the “obvious captain” following Aubameyang’s exit, the talented full-back was once again plagued by injuries, and he made just 25 appearances.

Those fitness concerns must have been the final straw for the manager, as that summer, he welcomed in Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City for £32m, and even though the Scotsman managed to avoid injury throughout the campaign, he was limited to just 15 starts and 21 substitute appearances.

Appearances

124

Goals

5

Assists

13

Goals + Assists per Match

0.14

Injuries (including Loan)

11

With the writing clearly on the wall, the former Celtic star joined Real Sociedad on a season-long loan last year, but as you may have guessed by now, injuries once again reared their ugly head and the 27-year-old was limited to just 26 appearances.

Today, the £110k-per-week full-back is still in North London but hasn’t made a single appearance all season thanks to yet another hamstring problem.

Therefore, even though he was once tipped to be the club’s future captain, Arsenal must do what they can to sell Tierney before his contract expires in 2026, for their own sake and his.

Arsenal planning offer to sign £83m star who could rival Saka & Martinelli

The “sensational” international would make Arsenal so much more dangerous.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 12, 2024

Manchester City are expected to announce the signing of Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland by Friday, according to The Athletic’s ever-reliable transfer guru David Ornstein.

The Lowdown: City win the race

The 21-year-old first joined the Bundesliga outfit in a £17m move from Red Bull Salzburg back in 2020, where he has since gone on to make 88 appearances for the club during that time.

The forward still has two years remaining on his current contract with the German side, but in recent months, has been attracting plenty of interest from several clubs across Europe, with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United being linked with a potential move for Haaland in the summer.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/man-city-newest-updates/” title=”Man City newest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Despite this though, it appears that the Sky Blues are the team to have won the race for the Norwegian’s signature, after reports have claimed that City are prepared to active his £63m release clause, with the striker agreeing a deal to make the switch to the Etihad ahead of the start of next season.

The Latest: Haaland move ‘a done deal’

The reliable Ornstein has basically confirmed this development by taking to Twitter on Monday to share the huge news:

“Erling Haaland to Man City a done deal + confirmation expected this week, according to sources in Germany. Personal terms complete & Dortmund anticipate City informing them in coming days of intention to activate release clause.”

The Verdict: Perfect Aguero replacement

If the Premier League giants do manage to pull off the Haaland signing, it would be absolutely huge for Pep Guardiola, especially considering that the highly sought-after attacker already has previous connections to the club, with his dad Alf-Inge having a two-year spell with City many moons ago.

The £135m-rated talisman has been in prolific form in the final third this term, having scored 28 goals and registered eight assists in just 29 outings across all competitions for Dortmund, as per Transfermarkt.

After missing out on Tottenham captain Harry Kane last summer, it’s about time that the hierarchy invested in a new centre-forward having not yet signed a replacement since the departure of Sergio Aguero, and it looks like Haaland could be about to follow in his father’s footsteps by making the move to the top-flight.

In other news… Guardiola has delivered a huge injury update on a first-team trio.