All posts by h716a5.icu

Leeds United currently find themselves in the relegation zone in the Premier League ahead of games against Chelsea and Liverpool at Elland Road this week.

The Whites have lost their last four matches in the top-flight and there is now speculation over the short-term future of their head coach, Daniel Farke.

The Guardian claims that senior figures at Thorp Arch expect the German manager to be sacked by the 49ers if he oversees losses to Chelsea and Liverpool in the next five days or so, after the 3-2 loss to Manchester City on Saturday.

It is hard not to feel a bit sorry for the former Norwich coach, though, because several of his stars from the 100-point Championship promotion campaign have failed to make the step up required to perform in the Premier League.

Leeds players who have failed to make the step up to the Premier League

Joel Piroe is perhaps the most obvious example of a player who has failed to make the step up from the Whites’ exceptional season in the second tier.

The Dutchman was the top scorer in the Championship last term, with 19 goals, yet has found himself as the third-choice striker behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, and has yet to score in seven outings this season, per Sofascore.

Ao Tanaka, meanwhile, was willing to candidly admit that his level is “not good enough” at the moment, as he has lost 58% of his duels in midfield across ten appearances in the top-flight, per Sofascore.

After 12 goals and nine assists in the 2024/25 campaign, Daniel James has failed to produce a single goal or assist for the Whites this term, per Sofascore, which shows that the Welsh winger has also struggled to deal with the step up.

Another one of last season’s stars who has failed to step up to the top-flight is right-back Jayden Bogle, who was exceptional in the Championship last term.

Why Jayden Bogle has been a liability for Leeds this season

The £45k-per-week star was described as a “massive signing” by pundit Micah Richards earlier this year, and it was hard to argue with that assessment after his form in his first year at Elland Road.

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.

Bogle scored six goals and created 11 ‘big chances’ in the Championship for Leeds, whilst also proving himself to be a solid defender at that level by winning 55% of his ground duels and 52% of his aerial duels, per Sofascore.

However, the step up to the Premier League is a significant one, and Bogle has been unable to make it, which has made him the club’s biggest defensive liability since Rasmus Kristensen in the 2022/23 campaign when they were last relegated from the division.

The Danish flop was a liability for the Whites that season because he offered little to the team from a creative perspective in possession, whilst being far too easy for opposition players to get the better of defensively.

Appearances

26

13

Sofascore rating

6.70

6.36

Key passes per game

0.3

0.3

Assists

1

0

Dribbled past

34x

13x

Ground duel success rate

54%

48%

Aerial duel success rate

56%

44%

Error led to goal

0

1

As you can see in the table above, Bogle has lost an even higher percentage of his duels on the deck and in the air than Kristensen did in the Premier League that season, whilst creating the same number of chances per game on average.

These statistics both illustrate how underwhelming the English full-back has been, as he has failed to transfer his Championship form over to the top-flight, and how he has been even worse than Kristensen was in a relegation campaign for the Whites.

Bogle’s Premier League struggles should not come as a massive surprise, though, because Leeds signed him off the back of playing in 34 of Sheffield United’s 38 top-flight games when they conceded a record 104 goals in 38 games, and he lost 53% of his ground duels in that time, per Sofascore.

Whilst it is still not even the halfway point in the campaign and there is time left for him to turn his season around, Bogle’s current form is on par with what he has shown in the past at this level, which was not good enough defensively then and does not look good enough now because of how easy it has been for opposition players to beat him in duels.

Dan James' dream replacement hasn't played for Leeds since October 2024

Leeds star James has struggled for his best form this season

1 ByJoe Nuttall Dec 1, 2025

Hopefully, the former Derby star can find a way to get back to his best at right-back to bring the exciting and dynamic play that he brought to the team to make him a “massive signing” in the Championship.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb had every excuse to be upset after Friday night's contest against the Los Angeles Angels. After throwing six innings of one-run ball, while striking out 12 batters, the 28-year-old ace was still handed the loss after his teammates couldn't get their bats going in a 2-0 loss.

When speaking to reporters after the game, however, Webb was smiling ear-to-ear—but not because of his team's performance. As seen (or heard) in the video below, someone passed gas during his post-game press conference. Webb did his best to keep it together, but ultimately couldn’t hold back a chuckle.

"I'm sorry guys," he laughed. "Farts are always funny. Not gonna lie."

He's not wrong.

The Giants fell to 13-7 after dropping their second straight game on Friday. They'll return to the field on Saturday afternoon for a 4:07 p.m. EST first pitch from Anaheim's Angel Stadium.

We'll be at the edge of our seats for any more postgame cheese cutting.

Over the last couple of years, Leeds United has been the home to numerous star defenders, many of whom have captured the hearts of the fanbase as a result of their performances on the pitch.

Right-back Luke Ayling joined the Whites for just £500k from Bristol City back in the summer of 2016, racking up over 250 appearances for the club over an eight-year period.

The 33-year-old was part of the previous side that won promotion back to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020, before being a mainstay throughout their stint in the top-flight.

The current squad also has many stars that have replicated such an achievement, with the likes of Jayden Bogle, Ethan Ampadu and Junior Firpo cementing their place in club history after their respective parts in the promotion.

However, this summer presents boss Daniel Farke with another opportunity to strengthen his squad, handing more players the chance to adhere themselves to the fanbase in Yorkshire.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new additions this summer

Over the last couple of days, Leeds have made serious moves to land new attackers at Elland Road, to hand Farke with added ammunition within the final third.

Fabio Silva is one player who’s been touted with a move to the club in recent days, with talks being held for the Wolves star, who scored 10 goals on loan at Las Palmas in 2024/25.

However, another name has been thrown into the mix over recent days, with Udinese’s Jaka Bijol the latest player on their radar, according to one Italian outlet.

They claim that the Whites have had their first offer rejected for the 26-year-old centre-back, but remain in talks over a deal and are preparing a second offer.

The defender made 34 appearances in Serie A this season, with no breakthrough yet in a deal for the Slovenian international, who’s valued at around €20m (£17m).

Why Leeds’ £17m target could be Farke’s own Jansson

Centre-back Pontus Jansson joined Leeds way back in the summer of 2016, originally moving on loan from Italian side Torino, before joining on a permanent basis 12 months later.

The Swede made 120 appearances during his two spells at Elland Road, capturing the hearts of the supporters as he helped the club register a third-place finish in 2018/19.

His rise to stardom in Yorkshire was demonstrated by previously being named the club’s captain and offering them a commanding presence at the heart of the defence.

He would eventually leave to join Brentford after a four-year spell with the Whites, playing a huge part in their rebuild and allowing the club to return to the Premier League back in 2020.

However, fast forward six years on from his Elland Road departure, the hierarchy have the opportunity to land their next version of the centre-back in the form of Bijol.

The Udinese star would follow suit by joining the club from an Italian side, whilst offering a commanding presence at the back – as seen by his figures this campaign.

Bijol, who’s been labelled “monstrous” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has made 5.5 clearances per 90 this campaign, along with 3.3 aerials won – handing the Whites added quality in the back line in their attempts to avoid the drop.

Games played

34

Minutes played

2963

Aerials won

3.3

Aerial success rate

68%

Clearances made

5.5

Pass accuracy

84%

Progressive passes

3

Passes into final third

3.3

His aerial dominance has been further demonstrated by his tally of 68% aerials won – a tally that puts him within the top 6% of all players in Italy’s top flight.

The defender also offers a composed touch in possession, completing 84% of his passes, whilst also playing 3.3 balls into the final third per 90 this campaign, subsequently able to have an impact at both ends of the pitch.

£17m for a player of Bijol’s experience in today’s market could well prove to be a bargain, with the 26-year-old able to make himself a hero if he can prevent relegation in 2025/26.

He also has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Jansson at Elland Road, with the Swede showcasing that signing players from Italy has been a success in previous years.

Better than Beto: Leeds set to make bid for "one of the best CFs in the PL"

Leeds United could finally be about to land a talisman to catapult them to Premier League survival.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 11, 2025

Manchester United could now make a move for one of Real Madrid’s top targets, having been left impressed during scouting missions, according to a report.

Man Utd ringing the changes ahead of important summer

After finishing 15th in the Premier League last season, this summer could be one of the most important in Man United’s modern history, and INEOS have already started to ring the changes, signing Matheus Cunha and making a key off-field decision.

It has now been revealed that Jason Wilcox has taken up the role of sporting director, which had been vacant since Dan Ashworth’s departure last November, and the 53-year-old has a big rebuilding job on his hands over the next few months.

Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Marcus Rashford are among the forwards who could leave, with the latter being widely linked with Barcelona, which means it could be important for the Red Devils to bring in more attacking options, despite having already signed Cunha.

Man Utd hold secret talks to swap Sancho for "generational" £75m PL forward

The Red Devils have held discussions over a swap deal involving Jadon Sancho…

ByDominic Lund Jun 4, 2025

According to a report from Caught Offside, one attacking midfielder who Man United scouts have been left impressed by is Como’s Nico Paz, having monitored the 20-year-old’s progress in Italy this season.

The Red Devils could make a move for Paz, but Real Madrid’s interest could be an obstacle, with the Spanish heavyweights identifying the youngster as a top target, given that new manager Xabi Alonso is believed to be a huge fan.

As such, Madrid could be tempted to trigger the €8m (£7m) buy-back clause and sign their former player, although the Tenerife-born maestro may only be willing to move back to Spain if he receives guarantees over his first-team place.

"Exceptional" Paz could be ready to join top club

It is little wonder that Madrid are looking to sign the Argentina international for a bargain fee, considering he enjoyed a fantastic breakthrough season in Serie A last term, picking up six goals and nine assists in 35 outings.

The starlet’s attacking numbers certainly catch the eye, but perhaps equally impressive is the fact he is also willing to pitch in defensively, having displayed his ability to win back possession on a regular basis over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

1.71 (81st percentile)

Interceptions

0.70 (88th percentile)

Blocks

1.64 (96th percentile)

It is evident to see why Alonso is so fond of the Como star, and he is not the only former Madrid star who appreciates the Argentine, with Toni Kroos previously saying: “This lad (Nico Paz) should be training with us every day because he’s exceptional.”

Paz could be a fantastic long-term addition to Ruben Amorim’s squad, but it could be difficult to compete for his signature with Real Madrid, given the allure of playing for the Spanish side.

The domestic season may have only ended a couple of days ago, but there’s no rest for the wicked, and the powers that be at Arsenal will already be hard at work ahead of the summer transfer window.

New Sporting Director Andrea Berta will be keen to prove his worth as soon as possible by making the right additions to get the club over the line in the Premier League and maybe even the Champions League next year.

However, the Italian will need to get his skates on, as the last few weeks have seen Liverpool making significant moves in the market, with the seemingly imminent signing of Florian Wirtz being the most impressive signal of intent.

Fortunately, if reports are to be believed, the Gunners are now looking at another high-profile international who could be their answer to the German star.

Arsenal looking at former Premier League forward

With this summer feeling like the most important since Arteta’s appointment in 2019, there have unsurprisingly been a slew of incredible players linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Nico Williams and Jamie Gittens.

Transfer Focus

The former has been a target for the Gunners for over a year now and has a release clause worth around £50m in his current contract, which may well prove to be value for money, as in 45 games for Athletic Bilbao this season, he has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists.

Likewise, Gittens has enjoyed a pretty impressive season with Borussia Dortmund this year, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 48 games and could be available for about £46m.

However, for a player to be Arteta and Co’s answer to Wirtz, they’ve got to be seriously special and capable of changing games for the team, someone like Julian Alvarez.

According to a recent report from Spanish outlet Marca, Arsenal are among a number of clubs keen on the Atlético Madrid star.

In fact, while the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona are credited with an interest in the Argentine, the report makes it clear that the Gunners are currently leading the pack and are ‘are now the strongest bidder for his services.’

While no price is mentioned in the report, he reportedly has a £126m release clause, but this might prove a tad steep.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Alvarez’s immense ability, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he could be Arsenal’s answer to Wirtz.

Alvarez could be Arsenal's answer to Wirtz

The first thing to clear up is that, yes, both players primarily play in different positions, with Alvarez generally starting up top and Wirtz in midfield, but both players have proven themselves to be quite versatile.

The former Manchester City star has played off the right and left, as a second striker and even in midfield a number of times in his career.

Likewise, the soon-to-be Liverpool star has made appearances as a second striker, striker and winger before.

On top of this, even though the Atleti star is more of a goalscorer than the German, he has also proven himself to be a creative outlet.

For example, according to FBref, the 25-year-old, who has “the ability to change games out of nowhere,” per analyst Ben Mattinson, sits in the top 2% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions from live passes, the top 5% for passes completed, the top 6% for passes into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

Appearances

54

Minutes

3705′

Goals

29

Assists

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.66

Minutes per Goal Involvement

102.91′

Finally, and this is perhaps the most crucial similarity of them all, the Calchín-born superstar has proven he is capable of becoming a team’s most important and talismanic attacker.

In his first season with Atleti, with the pressure of a big price tag hanging over him, the “world-class” forward, as dubbed by City content creator It’s LB, has scored 29 goals and provided seven assists in 54 games, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games.

Ultimately, if Liverpool are going to sign Wirtz this summer, Arsenal need to make their own statement addition to their attack, and Alvarez looks to be the perfect candidate.

He's a lot like Isak: Arsenal make contact to sign £42m Havertz upgrade

The incredible goalscorer would be great for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025

Arsenal have now received the green light to sign their “number one striker target” for a fee of just over £60m this summer, with talks now advancing, according to transfer expert Pete O’Rourke.

Gunners ramping up striker pursuit

In many ways, Mikel Merino has done an impressive job since being forced to fill in as a makeshift striker, scoring at Anfield in the recent 2-2 draw against Liverpool, while also assisting both goals in the 2-1 victory against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

However, with the Spaniard more accustomed to being a midfielder, it is looking increasingly likely the Gunners will bring in a new striker this summer, and there are signs that £75m-rated RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko could be a huge upgrade on Kai Havertz.

Sesko is believed to be one of the north Londoners’ top targets, alongside Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, with sporting director Andrea Berta understood to be a huge fan of the Swede, who recently led his side to Liga Portugal title glory.

There has since been a new update on Arsenal and Berta’s pursuit of Gyokeres, with O’Rourke telling Football Insider: “For Gyokeres, talks are advancing between Arsenal and his representatives,“

“[Gyokeres] is emerging as the number one choice for Arsenal, and it seems there’s a willingness from all parties to get the deal done.

“The player is happy to come and Sporting CP are happy to sell for just over £60million.”

Arsenal's top 25 Champions League moments

Arsenal have enjoyed some of their greatest European nights in the Champions League.

ByMark Marston May 15, 2025

In the same report, it is revealed that Mikel Arteta isn’t totally sold on the idea of signing the 26-year-old, which indicates that Berta is driving the move.

Despite the manager’s concerns, however, it appears as though the deal is edging closer to completion, having received the green light from Sporting.

"Sensational" Gyokeres could be final piece of the jigsaw

Arsenal’s reluctance to sign a new striker in recent transfer windows has been much-maligned, with the decision arguably costing Arteta’s side in their Premier League title pursuit this season, considering they have had to make do without an out-and-out striker since February.

Havertz being ruled out for the rest of the season was a major blow for the Gunners, particularly considering he is not the only player to spend a long period of time on the sidelines, with Bukayo Saka also missing large parts of the season.

Player

PL matches missed

Kai Havertz

13

Bukayo Saka

13

Gabriel

9

Gabriel Jesus

17

As such, Arsenal should undoubtedly be looking to bring in a new striker this summer, and it is exciting news that a deal for Gyokeres, who was once lauded as “sensational”, is now edging closer to completion.

The Sporting star has been simply incredible in front of goal this season, netting 39 goals in 33 Liga Portugal games, while also scoring six times in the Champions League, indicating that he could be the final piece of the jigsaw for Arteta.

A video circulated on social media in the wake of Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion on the south coast. It depicted Trent Alexander-Arnold in front of a charged away crowd, singing for their title-winning squad.

But Alexander-Arnold did not cut the figure of a jubilant hero, who has played an important role for his boyhood club in winning his second Premier League title. Indeed, the 26-year-old was unreadable, though perhaps the more cynical among us would suggest he looked forlorn, poignant.

The reality is probably more simple: Trent is joining Real Madrid as a free agent this summer and has been met with critical response, booed by his own fans at Anfield last weekend.

It’s a nuanced debate, but one which remains at its core a sorry conclusion to the Reds career of one of Liverpool’s greatest contemporaries, whose rise from the academy has been in line with the illustrious successes of Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot.

But he’s leaving with an atmosphere of hostility, and it’s a real shame that the whole saga was not carried out with more transparency and tact.

For example, Harvey Elliott may well join Alexander-Arnold in leaving the club this summer, but to a wholly different reaction, no doubt.

Harvey Elliott's post-Brighton comments

Elliott, 22, has been at Liverpool since he was 16, joining from Fulham. He’s played 146 appearances for the club, notching 35 goal contributions.

While Klopp hinted before he left that one of his biggest regrets was not giving Elliott more playing time, Slot has limited the rising midfielder’s action to that of a bit-part player, and his future is now being questioned.

Elliott scored against Brighton on Monday night, tapping in from close range following fine work from Conor Bradley.

He also assisted Dominik Szoboszlai’s fortuitous goal before half-time, though it was more of a ‘Busquets-esque’ pass than a flash of creative inspiration.

Still, Elliott has demonstrated his potency when called upon this year, scoring five goals and laying on three assists across all competitions despite only starting six times.

As per FBref, Elliott also ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe this season for passes attempted, the top 1% for progressive passes and the top 21% for shot-creating actions per 90.

In spite of all this, it’s looking ever more likely the young playmaker will be sold this summer, especially after his post-match comments.

Newcastle United have been named among Elliott’s admirers in recent weeks, and while it’s a tough pill to swallow, the ace might be right in admitting he needs to do the right thing for his career. FSG would be seeking out a £50m fee to let him leave.

And he’s not the only young star who faces the axe this summer, with Liverpool perhaps needing to sell Jarell Quansah too.

Why Liverpool must sell Jarell Quansah

In December 2023, Joel Matip’s professional career came to an abrupt end. He didn’t know it at the time, but the experienced Liverpool centre-half would be forced into retirement by the ACL injury sustained in a frenzied Premier League victory over Fulham.

Liverpool were a tad threadbare at the back, but up stepped all 6 foot 5 of Quansah from the academy; the year before, he’d been a fixture at Bristol Rovers in League One, but played an important role to guide Liverpool back into the Champions League.

Things haven’t gone so smoothly since Klopp left last summer, though, and the 22-year-old may now be sweating over his future on Merseyside, restricted to a peripheral role in Slot’s system.

After his rip-roaring start to senior life at Liverpool, Quansah has stumbled. He’s not yet fallen by the wayside, but there’s sure to be a concern over his campaign as a whole, with Tactically Matt saying he “never plays, and when he has this season, he’s not been good.”

The data pool is admittedly smaller, but who could argue Quansah has retained his lofty level since Slot took the reins? Who could say the young graduate is in a position of promise at Liverpool, confident in his chances of earning regular action next year?

Matches (starts)

17 (13)

13 (4)

Goals

2

0

Assists

0

0

Touches*

76.5

36.2

Pass completion

89%

92%

Key passes*

0.2

0.2

Ball recoveries*

4.2

1.5

Tackles + interceptions*

2.5

1.4

Clearances*

2.3

2.1

Duels (won)*

4.5 (64%)

1.6 (45%)

Errors

2x

2x

It’s all gone a bit awry, but Quansah is now a Premier League champion after playing an instrumental role in clinching the Carabao Cup last year.

Given that he’s been hailed for his “absolute monster” performances by talent scout Jacek Kulig, it’s clear the future is bright for this young buck. However, his future is a nebulous thing right now.

Powerful, dynamic and good on the ball, there’s a lot to like. There have, indeed, been flashes. Though such moments are better defined by a longer variation of the phrase: flashes in the pan.

He lacks that special something that characterised his maiden campaign as a first-team regular, and though there’s ample time for Quansah to rise back to the fore, Liverpool may be interested in cashing in, with Newcastle also interested in the defender.

While Football Insider have published a recent report suggesting Quansah could be allowed to leave on loan this summer, The Magpies have registered their interest in recent months, with The Times claiming in March Eddie Howe’s side felt confident a bid worth £30m plus add-ons could tempt FSG to cash in.

Liverpool are in need of sweeping changes this season and Slot’s reluctance to heavily rotate has proven a judicious call, for the Reds have faltered more often than not when playing without some of the stars of the show.

Quansash might feel somewhat scapegoated, but since Liverpool are making big-money moves, cashing in might be a good idea.

He'd be incredible with Kerkez: FSG want to sign £50m "tank" for Liverpool

Liverpool are looking to make sweeping changes in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair May 19, 2025

After a middling season in which they ended up finishing fifth in the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur decided to splash the cash on a new centre-forward.

Daniel Levy and Co went out and spent a club-record £65m on then-Bournemouth star Dominic Solanke, who had just racked up a haul of 25 goal involvements in all competition.

Now, while the Englishman has not been poor this year, his eight goals in 25 league games is a far cry from the often inhuman exploits of Harry Kane that fans were so used to seeing in campaigns prior.

So, with that in mind, it’s not surprising that we have seen reports in the last couple of months linking the North Londoners to another striker ahead of this summer, including one who’s won comparisons to the club’s all-time top scorer.

Spurs' striker search

Before getting to the free-scoring dynamo in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other marksmen linked with Spurs in recent weeks, like Liam Delap and Daizen Maeda.

Transfer Focus

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

The former reportedly has a £30m release clause in his current deal, and considering he’s scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 34 Premier League games for a terrible Ipswich Town side, he could prove to be a very savvy signing.

Likewise, while the latter is playing north of the border, he’s been nothing short of spectacular this season, racking up a simply unreal tally of 45 goal involvements in 48 games, and once again, with a relatively modest price tag of £25m, he may be too good a deal to miss out on.

However, Daniel Levy and Co might be after more of a sure bet to lead the line next year, which would explain some of the links we have seen to Jonathan David in recent weeks.

If the North Londoners do act on this supposed interest, then the good news is that the Canadian international wouldn’t cost them a penny in transfer fees, as his contract with LOSC Lille is set to expire at the end of the season.

It could still be a complicated transfer to get done, but David is certainly someone Spurs should be doing all they can to sign, especially as he’s won comparisons to Kane.

How David compares to Kane

Before getting into some of the other reasons why David could be looked at as a young Kane, it’s worth examining where this comparison has come from.

Well, in this case, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one and, in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the seventh most similar forward to the Lille gem.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, progressive carries, goals per shot and shot on target key and live passes, carries and more, all per 90.

Progressive Carries

1.28

1.12

Goals per Shot

0.17

0.15

Goals per Shot on Target

0.37

0.36

Key Passes

1.28

1.31

Live Passes

22.3

23.5

Carries

17.9

19.6

Ball Recoveries

2.26

2.27

Furthermore, while we wouldn’t want to suggest that the Canadian international is as good as the Lilywhites legend – very few players in world football are – he has shown a level of consistency up top that mirrors the 31-year-old’s.

For example, since the start of 21/22, the New York-born monster, whom journalist Tony Marinaro dubbed “one of the best strikers in the world,” has scored 96 goals and provided 25 assists in just 182 club appearances.

What makes that continued level of output that much more impressive is that it’s come in a traditional top-five league, whereas some of the other aforementioned strikers linked with a move to Tottenham have thrived in comparatively weaker leagues.

Finally, as the England captain did in N17, the “mind-blowing” goalscorer, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has shown a surprising level of loyalty to Les Dogues, as, thanks to his consistently brilliant numbers season on season, he probably could have left earlier than this year but did not.

Ultimately, everything from his underlying numbers and raw output to his commitment to the cause reminds us of a younger Kane, and should Spurs want to supercharge their attack next season, they’ll do what they can to sign David in the summer.

Conte 2.0: Spurs looking at hiring "phenomenal" Postecoglou upgrade

The vastly experienced manager would be an incredible hire for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 7, 2025

Last night was not the game or result Arsenal would’ve been hoping for ahead of their Champions League semi-final next week.

Mikel Arteta’s side lined up against Crystal Palace, who happen to have an FA Cup semi-final this weekend, and put in one of their most lacklustre and underwhelming performances of the entire season, which saw them pick up their 13th Premier League draw of the campaign – the second most in the competition.

From David Raya between the sticks to Raheem Sterling in attack, there were dire displays across the pitch for the Gunners.

However, there was at least one player who put in yet another impressive showing, a player who has made himself undroppable and is starting to resemble Granit Xhaka in certain ways.

The story of Xhaka's redemption at Arsenal

Arsenal paid Borussia Mönchengladbach around £30m for Xhaka in the summer of 2016, and while he wasn’t particularly poor, it would probably be fair to say he underwhelmed for the first few seasons of his career in North London.

However, it was clear from the get-go that he was a passionate player and that, combined with his seniority, saw him handed the captaincy by former manager Unai Emery in September 2019 following a vote from his teammates.

Unfortunately, the team’s results nosedived soon after and, following an unsavoury episode in which he swore and goaded a jeering Emirates before throwing the shirt and armband to the floor, he had the captaincy stripped from him less than two months after receiving it.

The Swiss international would later reveal that at that point, he was set on leaving the club but eventually decided to stay and fight for his reputation after being convinced to do so by the recently appointed Arteta.

While it took some time, the Basel-born titan eventually started to win the fans back onside, and finally, after three years of graft, he was handed the armband again by Arteta in the absence of Martin Odegaard away to Brentford in September 2022, a game that also saw the fans begin to sing his name again, much to his appreciation.

That season would be his best in red and white as he racked up a brilliant tally of nine goals – two of which came in his final game – and seven assists in 47 appearances from central midfield.

Xhaka left the club that summer, but instead of doing so under a cloud of controversy as it seemed he would just a few years earlier, he left as a cult hero and with a rapturous Emirates Stadium singing his name.

Now it looks like a player in the current squad could be crafting something of a cult status for himself this year.

16/17

46

4

3

2

17/18

48

3

8

0

18/19

40

4

5

0

19/20

41

1

2

0

20/21

45

1

2

1

21/22

30

1

2

2

22/23

47

9

7

0

The current Arsenal star with shades of Xhaka

There are probably some of you thinking that the player in question is Mikel Merino, as, after all, the Spaniard is positionally similar to Xhaka and has seen his stock skyrocket among Arsenal fans in recent months, but you’d be wrong.

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Instead, the current Gunners star who is starting to have shades of the Swiss international about him is none other than Jakub Kiwior.

Okay, so we know the pair couldn’t be more different in terms of position and, therefore, playstyle, but where they play has practically nothing to do with this comparison, as it’s based on their standing within the fanbase more than anything else.

For example, just a few months ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find a fan who’d had a particularly strong feeling towards the Polish international, as while he’s stepped in here and there, he’s never really looked like a first-team quality player.

In fact, it was only in December that Arsenal podcaster Phil Costa branded the former Spezia ace “shocking,” claiming that “he hasn’t kicked on at all since joining” and that, at the end of the day, “he isn’t good enough.”

Now, in his defence, it wasn’t an uncommon opinion, with content creator and fan Alexander Moneypenny describing the international as “shakey” following his underwhelming performance vs Bayern Munich last season.

So, while there wasn’t the same vitriol that there was surrounding Xhaka’s fall, there was a similar desire from plenty of fans to move the Tychy-born star on and find someone better as soon as possible, which in turn led to some serious concern over how he’d cope covering for Gabriel Magalhães following the Brazilian’s hamstring surgery.

However, instead of becoming a weak spot in the team, the “extraordinary” defender, as dubbed by Robert Lewandowski, has stepped up in a massive way.

For example, aside from a minor mistake early on in the first leg against Real Madrid, he was simply sensational. Moreover, after William Saliba’s mistake that led to a goal in the second leg, there is a strong argument that he was the better centre-back of the pair.

Then again, last night, while the Frenchman made a costly mistake, he was near-enough faultless, scoring a goal, making some impressive tackles and earning himself an 8/10 match rating from journalist Tom Canton, which was more than justified by his statistics.

For example, in 98 minutes of action, he scored, made six clearances, won 100% of his duels, blocked two shots, made one tackle, lost the ball just seven times despite taking 135 touches, completed 115 passes, was accurate with two of three long balls, and was even successful in 100% of his dribbles.

Minutes

98′

Expected Goals

0.04

Goals

1

Clearances

6

Blocked Shos

2

Tackles

1

Dribbled Past

0

Duels (Won)

2 (2)

Lost Possession

7

Touches

135

Passing Accuracy

115/120 (96%)

Long Balls (Accurate)

3 (2)

Shots on Target

1

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (1)

Fouls

0

Ultimately, Kiwior has transformed from a player fans were worried about starting into one who’s outshining Saliba and becoming an increasing fan favourite for the no-nonsense way he’s going about his job – if that doesn’t remind you of Xhaka’s transformation, we don’t know what will.

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With a new stadium on the horizon, the future certainly looks bright for Manchester United and Ruben Amorim’s side.

However, will Amorim still be in charge by the time that new arena is built? It’s not looking likely at this rate.

While there may well be a light at the end of the tunnel in several years’ time, how does the Portuguese negotiate his side through the choppy waters of 2025?

The former Sporting boss has not won 20 of his 33 games at the helm and it may not be long before Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co get tired of what they’re watching.

That said, this isn’t a project that will be fixed or completed overnight. They need to give Amorim the time he needs to craft a squad rebuild and get United back on track. They will not do so with this current crop of players.

So, how could they strengthen in the summer?

Manchester United's summer transfer targets

One of the biggest problem areas for United this season has been their forward line. As a result, it’s not much of a surprise to see the club linked with a number of attackers.

The Premier League could be the area they target with the likes of Wolves star Matheus Cunha, Ipswich’s Liam Delap and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers all reported to be attracting interest from United.

While improving their firepower should be of utmost importance, they could do with some more creativity. Aside from Bruno Fernandes, they seriously lack in that department.

That might explain links to Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, therefore. A scorer against the Red Devils in France last week, reports from Spain suggest the playmaker is now on United’s radar.

The report notes that both the Old Trafford side and Chelsea are fighting it out for the player’s signature and considering his contract expires in 2026, a bargain £20m fee could be agreed.

It’s stated that both English giants are ‘willing to bid’ that amount in order to complete a deal over the summer. A deal could be complicated, however, by Lyon’s desire to keep the 21-year-old.

Why Cherki could be Man United's new Juan Mata

The hype surrounding Cherki has only been growing in recent years with his displays in Ligue 1 and in continental football certainly dazzling defenders and onlookers.

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Described as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by the Athletic’s Alex Barker, the French youngster has registered some jaw-dropping numbers this term.

While not a rampant goalscorer, finding the net on 11 times in 38 games, he is one of the most creative forwards in the game right now, posting 18 assists.

Capable of playing off the right wing or as an attacking midfielder, he is primarily left-footed so it’s clear to see where the comparison to a certain Juan Mata lie.

Mata – a creative marvel in the Premier League – there have been few better in English football at carving out regular goal-scoring opportunities.

Like Cherki, the Spaniard was capable of playing of playing in similar areas. 120 of his Premier League appearances came off the right and 110 came as a no.10.

They also share very similar traits. The table below reveals all.

Shots

2

1.4

Key passes

2.8

2.5

Dribbles

0.6

1.6

Fouled

1

1.2

Pass success

85%

85%

Passes

52.5

44.4

When comparing the metrics above, we’ve taken the best season of Mata’s career in England. That was at Chelsea but he dropped some fabulous numbers, posting 12 goals and 12 assists in the Premier League.

During that campaign, he registered a very similar number of key passes per game to Cherki, while their pass success rate was identical. They were also fouled on a similar number of occasions.

The largest difference, and this is a great point of difference for the Frenchman, is that he is a better dribbler. He notably ranks inside the best 7% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons over the last year.

This is a genius footballer and if he can evoke memories of Mata in English football, United would have an outstanding player on their hands here.

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