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French publication L'Equipe didn't hold back in slating Mason Greenwood for his performance for Marseille against Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night.

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• Greenwood hammered by French press
• Hooked at half-time in PSG defeat
• L'Equipe suggested it should have been sooner

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Greenwood barely registered as PSG romped to a 3-0 half-time lead at Stade Velodrome. The only player both and rated lower was Amine Harit, whose first-half red card meant he didn't even get a score. Few were surprised to see the ex-Manchester United forward not return for the second half, although savagely suggested it wasn't soon enough to remove him.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite a flying start to his Marseille career with five goals in his first three games, Greenwood has only netted once more since August and coach Roberto De Zerbi said afterward that he wasn't happy with what he saw from the 23-year-old.

• WHAT L'EQUIPE SAID

  's explanation of the 1/10 rating read: "De Zerbi waited until half-time to take him off, and that was already too much, as his lack of involvement bordered on indecency. Without the ball, he loses interest in everything, like his little trot on the opening goal, and especially this catastrophic pass at the origin of the third goal. A fiasco."

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  WHAT LA PROVENCE SAID

  also gave out a 1/10: "Everyone knows, [PSG coach] Luis Enrique included, that he doesn't like to defend. In the sixth minute, he proved it again, watching Nuno Mendes double up without following him on [Joao] Neves' opening goal, a non-action that borders on a professional foul. At the origin of the third goal, he missed an easy pass."

Leeds United fans wouldn't have been best pleased when they turned on social media recently, with a heartbreaking development surrounding Archie Gray's future at Elland Road at the forefront of their minds.

It had been reported that Gray was going to be sold on to Brentford for £40m, a disappointing turn of events you would imagine, with the might of Bayern Munich once allegedly keen on the young Whites superstar away from Thomas Frank's Bees.

That bid has now been rejected according to fresh reports, but it will still be an uphill battle for the Championship side to keep a firm grip on their sought-after wonderkid this summer, with new midfield recruits being lined up by Daniel Farke subsequently.

Leeds keen on former Championship title winner

New bodies into the building this off-season could even see the German boss reunite with many an old Norwich face, with Oliver Skipp being eyed up by the German boss.

Football.London has reported that Farke is keen on a deal for the young metronome and that it could either be a permanent switch or a temporary loan move, with the nature of the deal dependent on Leeds' financial situation, which could be helped by Gray leaving, who has been on Tottenham Hotspur's radar.

Skipp would soften the blow of Gray leaving for Brentford, or any other interested party for that matter with Spurs' interest reigniting, well with the 23-year-old confident in his ability to shine in the second-tier, standing out in Norfolk when on loan during Norwich's title-winning 20/21 campaign.

He could also do with breathing life back into his waning career, having found minutes hard to come by under Ange Postecoglou in North London, with the potential for another promotion to be added to his CV a tempting factor as to why Elland Road could be his next onward destination.

Why Skipp would be a dream Gray replacement

Alongside filling a gap in the centre of the park if Gray was to move on, Skipp would also further give Leeds more depth in this area of the field if Ilia Gruev decides to relocate too.

Even if the Bulgarian holding midfielder was to stay put, Skipp could steal his place in Farke's XI off him, with the 23-year-old only absent from one second-tier match all campaign long when last playing at the level under the German.

Comparing Skipp against Gray, Leeds would be getting a tougher, yet more composed talent if they were to sign the on-the-fringes Spurs man, with Skipp coming out on top in every comparative statistic glancing at the table above.

Even back at Spurs, Skipp has shone when given a chance in the first-team spotlight, with Tottenham great Glenn Hoddle even describing the 23-year-old as "fabulous" previously, when defending valiantly this season just gone for his current employers when facing off against Brentford.

That showing saw Skipp misplace just one pass all match when he was on the pitch, alongside winning four duels, with the Tottenham number four an arguable coup for the second tier now, having played in the Champions League for the Premier League outfit too.

Previously rewarded for his excellent Norwich efforts with a place in the Championship Team of the Season, everyone at Elland Road will have their fingers crossed that a deal can happen, especially if Gray does depart as he would be a dream replacement.

Farke will also know he can rely on Skipp in the heat of a promotion push, hoping signings like these can give the Whites the upper-hand in another intense battle near the top of the division to come.

Leeds could suffer instant Red Bull blow as Bundesliga club plot £50m swoop

This would be a major blow for the Whites.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 30, 2024

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca had a bit of advice for Cole Palmer to become one of the "best players in the world".

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• Palmer continues to fire on all cylinders
• Played crucial role in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Newcastle
• Maresca wants him to keep his composure when man-marked

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Palmer has been urged to embrace new challenges if he is to ascend to the elites of world football. Since his transfer from Manchester City, Palmer has taken Chelsea by storm. His debut season exceeded expectations, culminating in prestigious recognitions as both the Men’s PFA Young Player of the Year and the Premier League Young Player of the Season were taken home.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Palmer is showing that he was not a one-season wonder as he continues to deliver the goods for the Blues in the current campaign. He already has seven goals and five assists to his name across nine Premier League appearances. His recent contributions include a critical goal that sealed Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge and the 22-year-old will hope to replicate his heroics against the Red Devils on Sunday evening.

• WHAT MARESCA SAID

  In their last encounter with United at Stamford Bridge in April, Palmer lit up the game with a hat-trick, leading Chelsea to a thrilling 4-3 win. However, this time the challenge would be even tougher as defenders are paying more attention to Palmer and Maresca insisted that the young Englishman must adapt his game to this new level of scrutiny.

  "The next step for Cole is not to get frustrated when teams mark him man to man because all of the best players in the world are marked man to man," Maresca said.

  "After last season, for him it was the first season in terms of arriving at Chelsea, probably it was the opposite – they weren’t too worried about marking Cole. This year, they are now worried because of last year so he has to get used to it. The next step is going to be more difficult but he can do it."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PALMER?

  As the clash with United looms, the spotlight will inevitably fall on Palmer, who has already shown he can thrive in high-stakes encounters. With guidance from Maresca and support from his team-mates, Palmer’s journey to becoming one of the world’s best players is well underway.

Celtic are yet to make their first official signing of the summer transfer window, which opened for business last month, but there could still be plenty of change in the squad over the coming weeks.

The Hoops kick off their season in less than a month as they prepare to play host to Kilmarnock at Parkhead in the opening game at the start of August.

Their lack of business so far in the market has not been through a lack of trying, however, as the Scottish giants are reportedly working to make multiple additions to the squad.

Firstly, Brendan Rodgers' side are said to be preparing a bid to sign Sparta Prague goalkeeper Peter Vindahl Jensen to be their new number one, after Joe Hart's retirement.

The Bhoys are also reportedly in talks to sign Paulo Bernardo on a permanent deal from Benfica and are confident of sealing a swoop for Adam Idah on a permanent move from Norwich City.

Celtic could be set for a shuffle at the top end of the pitch with the Ireland international, Idah, re-joining and another striker possibly moving on, which would also open up space for another new signing in that position.

Celtic's potential striker shuffle

Firstly, it was recently reported that the Scottish Premiership champions are expecting to cash in on centre-forward Hyeon-gyu Oh this summer.

Belgian giants Genk are said to be interested in a deal to sign the South Korea international ahead of the 2024/25 campaign and that a sale could rake in in excess of £4m for his services.

However, there is yet to be any reports or official confirmation that the Pro League outfit have agreed a fee with the Hoops for the 23-year-old attacker.

Oh's exit from Parkhead could then open the door for the Glasgow-based side to jump into the market to land a replacement for him, with another striker possibly coming in to compete with Idah – should they sign him from Norwich – and Kyogo Furuhashi.

The Athletic reported last month that the Hoops are one of a number of teams eyeing up a potential swoop for Motherwell marksman Theo Bair.

Fellow Premiership outfit Rangers are also said to be keen on the Canada international, who has also attracted interest from Bundesliga clubs.

Rodgers and his recruitment teams should now pursue a deal to sign the 24-year-old dynamo before the end of the summer transfer window, because he could come in as a dream replacement for Oh ahead of next season.

Why Celtic are right to cash in on Hyeon-gyu Oh

The South Korean flop has not done enough during his time at Parkhead to suggest that he is likely to play a significant role on the pitch for the club moving forward.

Ange Postecoglou swooped to sign the striker from Suwon Bluewings in January 2023 for a reported fee of £2.5m in his last window in charge of the Hoops.

Oh enjoyed a solid, if unspectacular, start to life in Glasgow with a return of six goals and zero assists in 16 Premiership appearances during the second half of that season.

At the end of the 2022/23 campaign, Postecoglou joined Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and Rodgers was brought back for a second spell at Paradise.

The Northern Irish boss did hand the attacker opportunities to impress during the first half of the season, with 19 league outings by the 2nd of January, but Oh did not impress.

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old dud underperformed his xG by more than one goal, with five goals in 20 league outings in total.

Alongside his wasteful finishing, Oh also offered little as a creator for his teammates as he only made 0.3 key passes per game and did not produce a single 'big chance' or assist in his 20 Premiership appearances.

These statistics show that the South Korean flop was not good enough as a scorer or a creator of goals to earn himself regular minutes on the pitch, which is why Celtic are right to sell him this summer if they can get a bid of more than £4m from Genk.

Why Theo Bair would be a dream replacement

The Hoops should then swoop to sign reported target Bair as a dream replacement for Oh as he is a proven Premiership performer who could come in and challenge Idah and Kyogo.

If Celtic do snap up the former on a permanent deal from Norwich, Rodgers would already have two senior centre-forward options but having three competing for a place could improve the competition in the squad and help to deal with the demands of domestic and European football.

Bair enjoyed a fantastic season for Motherwell in the top-flight as the SPFL star earned himself a place in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year, with 15 goals in 38 league games – three times as many goals as Oh managed.

As you can see in the table above, the Canada international ranked well against Celtic's forward options, with more goals and more assists than all of them.

The 24-year-old ace, whose work rate was hailed as "top drawer" by boss Stuart Kettlewell, would come in as a proven Premiership striker who has shown that he can find the back of the net on a regular basis at this level, without wasting a huge number of 'big chances' – like Kyogo last season.

Celtic set to pull off "miracle" as £4m+ sale of forward expected

The Hoops are reportedly set to cash in on the rarely-seen attacker this summer.

1

By
Dan Emery

Jul 9, 2024

His vastly superior statistics to Oh also suggest that he would come in as a dream replacement and upgrade on the Genk target, and provide Rodgers with three – assuming Idah signs – excellent centre-forward options to call upon next term.

Serie A side Roma look set to join the race to offer Real Madrid wonderkid Endrick a new challenge in the January transfer window.

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• Endrick struggling for game time in Madrid
• Could move on loan in January
• Roma latest club linked with Brazilian

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Endrick only arrived at Real Madrid in the summer but has already been linked with a loan exit after struggling for first-team minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. Premier League strugglers Southampton have been credited with an interest in the Brazilian, while Roma are also ready to ask Los Blancos for a January loan, according to .

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  Roma have just appointed Claudio Ranieri as manager until the end of the season and are eager to boost a flagging attack. The Italians are on the lookout for young, exciting players and feel Endrick fits the bill perfectly. Yet they may well face competition for his signature, with La Liga side Real Valladolid, now owned by former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo, also in the mix for his signature.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Endrick has managed just 56 minutes of La Liga action so far this season for Real Madrid over eight substitute appearances, with the club also bringing in Kylian Mbappe in the summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENDRICK

  Carlo Ancelottii has used Endrick sparingly and he's expected to be on the bench again on Sunday when Madrid take on Leganes in La Liga. Fans will have to wait and see if the youngster does look for a move away in January in order to play regularly, but he may not lack for offers if he does seek a temporary switch away from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Life under Julen Lopetegui is well and truly underway at West Ham United, with the Spanish tactician working on shaping his team ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Hammers enjoyed comparative success in the Premier League last season, finishing eighth after languishing to a 14th-place finish the year before (the same season, albeit, that saw the Conference League conquered), but pragmatic performances and a bleak end to the season saw the club part ways with David Moyes, and usher in a new era.

West Ham are less than one month away from their season opener against Aston Villa, and while technical director Tim Steidten is pulling no punches in strengthening the squad, the hunt for a top-class centre-forward rages on.

West Ham searching for new striker

As per reports relayed by Caught Offside, West Ham have received a major boost in their bid to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney, for the Bees are reluctantly willing to settle for less than £50m after top outfits were dissuaded by their lofty price tag.

Toney wants to leave Brentford this summer, but with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United withdrawing from consideration, the Hammers and London rivals Tottenham Hotspur are currently the only contenders.

What Ivan Toney would bring to West Ham

Banned from May 2023 to January 2024 due to FA betting breaches, Toney returned to action emphatically at the start of the year but petered out toward the end of the campaign, with injury-hit Brentford struggling to reach the fluency they had achieved over the previous two years in the Premier League.

Still, four goals and two assists across 16 starts isn't the worst haul in the world after an extended spell of inactivity, especially when considering the stunning heights that were reached prior.

He's even been praised for having the "mindset of a lion" by his manager Thomas Frank, and could finally provide West Ham with the focal frontman needed to rise to the fore.

Signing the England international could even be a bigger coup than that of N'Golo Kante, whose name has sent Hammers circles into overdrive this week following revelations from The Guardian that the experienced French midfielder is in talks with West Ham regarding a £20m transfer.

Kante, a Premier League winner with Chelsea and Leicester City and a World Cup champion too, is now 33 but proved at Euro 2024 that he still has the levels to compete at the highest level – pundit Gary Neville called him "the best player on the pitch" during Les Bleus' 1-0 win over Austria – having left Chelsea for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League one year ago, after an injury-hit year.

There's no question that Kante would be the highest-profile and highest-quality midfielder at the London Stadium since Declan Rice's time, and it could be the difference-maker in chasing down continental qualification and silverware once again, this time under Lopetegui's wing.

But, just as Kante would be a transcendental signing, so too could Toney revolutionise West Ham's attack. The 28-year-old is strong, imposing and technically impressive, with his presence and link-up play making him one of the most influential forwards in Europe.

West Ham have unearthed golden opportunities to sign two players who would make all the difference, and must now ensure that the deals cross the finish line.

Imagine him & Todibo: West Ham pushing to sign £15m "monster"

His club are hoping to cash in this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 18, 2024

Neymar has hit back at "talker" Rodri after the Manchester City star told Vinicius Junior to "pay attention" to become a better footballer.

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• Rodri beats Vinicius Jr to Ballon d'Or
• Winger told to "pay attention" to improve
• Neymar hits back at Man City man

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rodri was named the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner last month, pipping Madrid's Vinicius Jr to the coveted accolade. After the 28-year-old sent a warning of sorts to the winger, the Brazilian's compatriot Neymar has come to his aid with a dig at the Spaniard.

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• WHAT RODRI AND NEYMAR SAID

  Rodri said this week: “I think he's [Vinicius Jr] an intelligent guy and he'll realise over time that the more he pays attention to the pitch, the better he'll be. Like everyone, he has areas for improvement both on and off the pitch. He's young, I'm sure that people will give him good advice and even more so when he's at Madrid. It's a club with values.”

  Then, in an Instagram post, Al-Hilal's Neymar commented: "He [Rodri] became a talker now."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There has seemingly been some bad blood over this Ballon d'Or award, which started with Madrid boycotting the Paris ceremony when they found out Vinicus wasn't going to win. And it seems these latest comments may just add fuel to the fire.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  While City's Rodri continues his recovery from a season-ending knee injury, Vinicius will be focusing on Madrid's La Liga trip to Leganes on Sunday.

GOAL US writers discuss FIFPRO World 11 nominees, with Messi looking to extend his record number of appearances

The FIFPRO World 11 nominees are out, with the 2024 winners set to be revealed next week. Both the men's and women's side offer glittering shortlists, with as many big names left out as there are included.

But they also come with plenty of intrigue. After all, although 26 finalists have been named for each, only 11 can make the final team. That means sacrifices have to be made. On the men's side, the biggest question is around Lionel Messi. The Inter Miami and Argentina star has made the team a record 17 times in a row. But after spending a season in MLS – dominant at times, but also missing games after an injury in the Copa America final with Argentina – that run could come to an end.

There are also some pretty hefty omissions, with a handful of Premier League talents left off the voting lists.

As for the women, the usual suspects are here. But there's not much of a U.S. presence, with only Naomi Girma and Lindsey Horan among the nominees – with "Triple Espresso" attackers Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson not shortlisted.

And keep in mind, these are all peer-nominated players. A record 28,000 players from 70 countries have voted for the 2024 Men’s World 11 and Women’s World 11.

Of course, the great thing about awards is they engender debate. To that end, GOAL US writers break it all down in a special FIFPRO World 11 edition of… The Rondo.

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  Should the Messi streak continue?

  Tom Hindle: He should make every single World 11 until he retires, but football doesn't work that way. Messi made an absolute mockery of MLS this season, should end the year as league MVP, and also captained Argentina to a Copa America title. The issue is, there are players who made an equal impact in bigger leagues. Can he get in the side ahead of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Erling Haaland or even Lamine Yamal? Tough to say. This might be it.

  Jacob Schneider: From a worldwide perspective, no. It's time for a new wave of talent to make their presence known. The days of Ronaldo and Messi are still with us, but at the same time, it's no longer their spotlight. He's been brilliant for Miami, but at the same time, others deserve it now.

  Ryan Tolmich: Not this time. Had he dominated in the Copa America, maybe, but Argentina's triumph was just as much about the togetherness of the team as it was about Messi's own brilliance. The fact is that he was injured a bit too much of this year to really have a case, particularly when there are so many incredible attackers fighting for spots in the team.

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  Who was overlooked on the Men's World 11 shortlist?

  TH: There are a few that fans will feel pretty aggrieved about (and have every right to do so.) The puzzling one, though, is Mo Salah. He was the best attacking player not named Erling Haaland in the Premier League last season, with 28 goal contributions to his name in 32 games. Could he perhaps have grabbed a few more goals? Sure. Might he stand more of a chance if Liverpool had won the Prem? Yes. But not even getting a nomination is just silly. Also a word for the massive Trent Alexander Arnold erasure.

  JS: It has to be either Salah or Bukayo Saka. Both had stupendous 2023-24 seasons at the club level, and should have deservedly been voted in as nominees.

  RT: It could very well be recency bias a bit here, but Salah needed to be on this list. Even before his recent goal explosion, he was among the best in the world and, now, he might just be the very best. No offense to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but neither should be in over Salah.

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  Who was overlooked on the Women's World 11 shortlist?

  TH: It's pretty unforgivable not to include any of the USWNT's famous Triple Espresso but the omission of Smith, in particular, just seems a bit silly. She has scored 24 goals across her last 41 NWSL games, and at times kept the Thorns afloat last year. There's also the small matter of an Olympic gold medal to consider. Leaving out the other two is understandable, with Swanson coming off injury and Rodman's numbers not quite up to scratch. But Smith is a formidable forward, world-class attacking presence, and match-winner. What more does she have to do?

  JS: Don't think there is another answer outside of Triple Espresso. All three should have at least received nominations after spearheading the USWNT's run to the gold in Paris. At the club level, Rodman even led the Spirit to NWSL Championship game in 2024, while Smith geared her side to the postseason.

  RT: Take your pick of USWNT stars. Despite winning the gold, just two Americans were named to the nominee list. Horan and Girma more than deserve their nominations, but what about Triple Espresso, who were the real stars of this Olympic tournament? They'll get their chances in the years to come, but it felt like at least one of them should have been around the team this year.

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  Name three players who HAVE to make the Men's World 11

  TH: Where to start? Let's go with Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, robbed of Ballon d'Or-ee Vinicius Jr, and Virgil Van Dijk. Everyone else can sort of figure it out.

  JS: Dani Carvajal, Rodri and Vini Jr. Carvajal was absolutely breathtaking for Real Madrid and Spain in 2024, leading Los Blancos to a UCL title and Spain to a EUROS championship – where he claimed the trophy alongside Rodri. The Man City midfielder, meanwhile, was the most important part of City's treble-winning roster, while Vini was the runner-up for Ballon d'Or 2024 – and was Madrid's most important attacker in 2024.

  RT: Rodri is a lock. He is the best midfielder in the world after all, and has that Euro success in his back pocket. The Real Madrid duo of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. have to be there, too, for their role in the club's Champions League triumph. Outside of those three, it feels like the race is pretty open elsewhere, largely because so many players had strong seasons in different competitions.

In 2003/04, it was Arsenal who were crowned the Invincibles. In 2023/24, it was Germany's Bayer Leverkusen, now the proud owner of a certain Granit Xhaka, who were enjoying an unbeaten season.

It was a miraculous accomplishment from Xabi Alonso's men, not least because they had finally toppled Bayern Munich's dominance.

Well, on Wednesday evening, the two teams pitted themselves against each other in a friendly at the Emirates Stadium. Who came out on top? Arsenal.

It was a mightily fine display from the Gunners who came out of the traps flying, scoring two quick goals through Oleksandr Zinchenko and Leandro Trossard. Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz added to the scoreline and sealed what ultimately finished as a 4-1 victory.

Not much can be read into pre-season activities but this was a sublime outing, one that will have supporters dreaming of another title charge.

So, who stood out? Well, the aforementioned Zinchenko had a pretty decent first half.

Oleksandr Zinchenko's performance in numbers

The Ukrainian endured what was a rather topsy-turvy 2023/24 campaign. Suffering from injuries and a lack of form at certain stages, he had to make way for the likes of Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu at left-back.

This season, he will face even more competition. Jurrien Timber has been deployed at left-back since returning from his ACL injury and it's thought that new signing Riccardo Calafiori will also play there.

As a result, Zinchenko needs to impress and impress strongly. He did just that against Leverkusen on Wednesday evening, scoring the opening goal of the game in beautiful fashion. Havertz got down the left and then cut the ball back for the onrushing left-back who swept home devastatingly.

We know the full-back can contribute from that area of the pitch. Few play that inverted role as well as he can in European football.

He won't be judged on that alone, though, and it's in the defensive phases where he will scrutinised. That said, the former Manchester City man was up to the task and for the most part dealt well with the speedy Jeremie Frimpong on the right side of Bayer's attack. He won four of his five ground duels.

However, despite having a pretty good night, Zinchenko was overshadowed by his substitute, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Lewis-Skelly's performance in numbers

There has been what feels like a mass exodus from Hale End in recent months. The promising midfielder Charlie Patino has been linked with an exit while there have been confirmed departures for Reuell Walters – now at Luton – and Amario Cozier-Duberry – now of Brighton.

Goal machine Chido Obi Martin is also set to move onto pastures new, joining Manchester United after a remarkable time of it inside the penalty area last season.

That said, Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have both stuck around and they are now being rewarded for it. The duo have played a key part during pre-season, with the latter notably catching the eye, assisting Jesus' goal against United during their tour of the US.

For now, though, we want to talk about Lewis-Skelly, a teenager who is more than ready for more first-team appearances, and crucially, is ready to star at left-back.

A midfielder by trade, the 17-year-old has been excellent during pre-season and showed as much in the second half on Wednesday.

Playing on the left-hand side of defence, he completed 100% of his passes and won every duel he was tasked with battling in. He wasn't dribbled past once and looked a pillar of composure, maturity and confidence.

Pirouetting past players, making assured passes and making the correct decisions, it's clear to see why Mikel Arteta already has such a great degree of faith in the teenager.

Writing at full-time, Football.London's Kaya Kaynak gave the youngster a match rating of 8/10, describing his display as 'really composed' and 'diligent'.

This was a really encouraging 45 minutes of football from Lewis-Skelly, a young individual who despite the arrival of Calafiori and the reintegration of Timber, will be fighting tooth and nail for a place in the team.

With Zinchenko also not assured of his place, his emergence on the scene could well put an end to the Ukrainian's time in N5 before too long.

9/10 Arsenal star just proved why Mikel Merino won't be an instant starter

The talented ace might be a surprise contender for that left-eight position next season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 7, 2024

Southampton are reportedly planning an offer to sign an "outstanding" player in the summer transfer window, with a Premier League rival also in the mix.

Southampton transfer news

Saints transfer rumours continue to emerge thick and fast, with Russell Martin already buoyed by the fact that he has sealed permanent moves for Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes. Both were excellent en route to promotion from the Championship last season, so tying them down feels significant.

Ben Brereton Diaz's move to the South coast was confirmed on Tuesday, while Sassuolo forward Armand Lauriente is also considered an exciting attacking target who could join alongside the former Blackburn striker.

Meanwhile, Southampton are believed to be leading the race to sign Crystal Palace youngster Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, and another hugely talented young player, Ben Doak, is a rumoured loan target for Saints too. The 18-year-old Liverpool youngster has even been compared to Wayne Rooney, which speaks volumes about his potential.

Southampton planning offer for "outstanding" player

According to a new update from Sporx [via Sport Witness], Southampton are preparing a move for Fenerbahce right-sided ace Bright Osayi-Samuel. Fulham are also interested in snapping him up, though.

The 26-year-old could cost as much as £16.8m, however, with his current club not willing to sell him on the cheap, and new manager Jose Mourinho is believed to have been keen on the idea of retaining his services.

Osayi-Samuel could be a fantastic signing by Southampton if they strike a deal for him, potentially being seen as a great replacement for Kyle Walker-Peters, should the influential Englishman move on this summer, and if the former is planned to be used as a right-back.

The £49,000-a-week Fenerbahce man featured five times for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, meaning he now has a total of 18 caps for his country, while former Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Warburton once described him as "outstanding".

Osayi-Samuel already has a wealth of experience in English football, which can only bode well, making 109 appearances in the Championship and chipping in with a tally of 24 goal contributions (11 goals and 13 assists) along the way.

The Nigerian's versatility also makes him a strong squad option, having an ability to thrive at right back, in midfield or on either attacking flank, so Martin could view him as someone who covers various bases, making him feel like a few signings wrapped in one.

In an ideal world, Walker-Peters would stay put and Osayi-Samuel would also come in, but that remains to be seen. Whatever happens, Southampton should be looking to sign the latter, though, who could bring real quality to the team.