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Leeds United’s late show against Sunderland on Monday night handed Daniel Farke’s side a huge step towards ending their stint in the Championship come the end of the season.

The victory over their promotion rivals moved them seven points clear of third place, with just 13 games to go, extending their unbeaten run in the league to 15 in the process.

Pascal Struijk’s two efforts off the bench demonstrated the importance of substitutes for the Whites this campaign, with every player, whether it be a starter or an impact player having a say in their ambitions of returning to the Premier League.

It’s safe to say the disappointment of last season’s play-off final defeat is firmly in the rearview mirror, potentially going one better in securing automatic promotion given the current buffer they’ve built in recent weeks.

However, the fact Farke has been able to do so after numerous key departures over the summer has made the German’s job at Elland Road all the more impressive.

Crysencio Summerville’s stats at Leeds in 2023/24

After relegation to the second tier in 2022/23, winger Crysencio Summerville was handed a crucial role in the first team to try and secure Leeds an immediate return to the top flight.

He’d previously been an impact player in the Premier League the season prior but cemented his place as a key performer for Farke in his debut campaign at the helm.

The Dutchman would register 20 goals and nine assists in his 46 league outings, producing countless moments of magic and subsequently claiming the Championship Player of the Year award.

However, after such a successful stint, coupled with the failure to claim promotion, Summerville would depart to join West Ham United last summer in a deal worth £25m.

Losing such a talented player was always going to be a blow for the supporters, but it appears that the club have done a superb job in landing a replacement for the youngster – aiding their chances of returning to the top flight this year.

The Leeds star who’s now a £25m star in the making

Players like Summerville don’t come around very often possessing a skill set that not many talents are capable of replicating – making any replacement have a huge task on their hands.

However, Manor Solomon arrived on loan from Tottenham over the summer, with supporters not knowing what to expect after his lack of impact in North London.

Regardless of the expectations placed on his shoulders, it’s safe to say the Israeli international has exceeded beyond anyone’s imagination, registering seven goals and seven assists in his 26 Championship games to date.

The 25-year-old has popped up at key moments for Farke, including the 2-0 win over Norwich City, in which he registered a goal and an assist, playing a vital role in the triumph against the manager’s former side.

Despite his lack of impact in previous seasons, he was labelled as a similar player to Summerville in 2022/23 by FBref, matching or bettering the Dutchman in numerous key areas.

Solomon, who’s previously been dubbed a “monster” by one analyst, matched the former Whites fan-favourite for goals, whilst also posting a higher shot-on-target rate – showcasing his clinical edge in attacking areas.

He also completed more take-ons per 90, subsequently achieving a higher success rate, evidently a better dribbler than Summerville – something which has aided his efforts in the final third this season.

Whilst he’s only on loan in Yorkshire this campaign, supporters will be hoping that, regardless of which division they will be playing in next year, Solomon joins the club on a permanent basis.

Should he do so, the Israeli could well be the club’s next big-money sale, following in the footsteps of Summerville – having a huge impact on the first-team, whilst also pocketing a pretty penny in the process.

Mateo Joseph 2.0: Leeds could hit gold with "clinical" & "exciting" teen

The Leeds United youngster has caught the eye with his performances at youth level.

By
Dan Emery

Feb 19, 2025

Alisha Lehmann has delivered another nod towards critics of her supposedly showbiz lifestyle by saying that she could play for another 10 years.

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• Serie A title winner in Italy
• Preparing for 2025 Euros
• Fully committed to football

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Switzerland international is currently on the books of Italian giants Juventus. Her debut season with the Bianconeri delivered Serie A title glory, with the decision to leave WSL side Aston Villa in 2024 being vindicated.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lehmann has continued to face questions of whether she is as committed to her chosen profession as she could be, with off-field endorsements flooding in after becoming one of the most recognisable figures in the women’s game.

• WHAT ALISHA LEHMANN SAID

  The 26-year-old forward has always sought to silence any doubters, with the Swiss star adamant that football is her life. She has told : “I love it. I could literally play every day.

  “So when I have some holidays, I just go to the beach and play football. And this makes me the happiest. When you play a sport or you do something you love, you enjoy it so much that you don’t need anything else.”

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• @alishalehmann7 Instagram
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Quizzed on whether she could spend another decade in the professional game, taking her well into her 30s, Lehmann added: “Maybe, yeah, I don’t know. I mean, that’s a long time. Football is something that I will always do. I want to play as long as I can.”

Those of a Tottenham Hotspur persuasion will hope the worst of the club’s issues this season are behind them.

It’s been a tough ride, with Spurs nursing grievances relating to seemingly endless injury issues. Well, for Ange Postecoglou and his brood, there may be actual light at the end of the tunnel ahead of the final three months of the campaign.

Tottenham might be on the wrong end of a cliff in the Premier League as they look to climb toward the European places, but they are into the last 16 of the Europa League, facing AZ Alkmaar in a two-legged tie over the next few weeks.

Rotation, an incongruous term only a few weeks ago down N17, is possible. And needed. Those such as Pedro Porro are exhausted, with performance levels sliding.

Pedro Porro's struggles in 24/25

Porro has been an important part of Postecoglou’s Tottenham project over the past couple of years, but he’s indeed struggling this season, both positionally and in staying strong against pacey wingers.

But the Spaniard’s issues can’t solely be blamed on being overworked. Porro, 25, records energetic, high-output numbers. He’s athletic and tenacious, but has limitations defensively, exposing Tottenham time and time again.

Indeed, Ange watched in frustration as his side’s three-match winning streak in the Premier League was ended in midweek against Manchester City, with Porro enduring a torrid time against the fleet-footed Jeremy Doku.

With the resurgent Djed Spence playing out of his skin this term, Porro may well be fighting for his long-term starting place at Tottenham – but he’s not the only one.

Others have fared worse in 2024/25, with one particular first-team regular surely playing out his final few months of football under Postecoglou’s wing.

Levy must cash in on Spurs "passenger"

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy needs to do a lot of self-reflecting this summer as he and Postecoglou devise a plan for success.

Fresh faces are sure to be needed, but Spurs should also push certain strugglers towards the exit door – with one midfielder flattering to deceive once again this term.

Frankly, Yves Bissouma hasn’t been at the races for a while, lacking discipline and composure. While technically gifted and a robust midfielder with a dynamic approach, Tottenham have been let down one too many times.

It’s rather telling that the Mali international has only started one Premier League match in 2025 – and in that very game, against Arsenal, he was hooked at the interval.

As per Sofascore, the 28-year-old has only won 51% of his contested duels in the top flight this season, having also averaged 2.1 tackles per game and made four errors. To highlight his regression in defensive phases, he won 2.9 tackles per fixture in 2023/24, winning 59% of his duels.

Correspondent Alasdair Gold even branded him a “passenger” after Spurs were thrashed by Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, with Bissouma not stepping up and adding the punch to the midfield that his injury-depleted team needed.

All the pointers suggest Bissouma has been made expendable by Postecoglou, and if a lasting resurgence is to become a reality in north London, he will need to be sold and replaced.

Given next season will be the final year in his £55k-per-week contract, the need for Tottenham to cash in while they can is only heightened.

Spurs' "fearless" prospect was the next Bale, now he's struggling in Turkey

The talented international enjoyed a great career away from Spurs.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Feb 28, 2025

Darwin Nunez is reportedly open to joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal amid mounting speculation over a Liverpool exit.

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• Nunez linked with Liverpool exit
• Al-Hilal eye Reds striker
• Uruguayan open to transfer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Foot Mercato, the Uruguay international is not against joining Al-Hilal this summer but Liverpool have not received an offer for his services so far. However, the report adds that the Saudi team have established contact with the 25-year-old's representatives.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Nunez cost Liverpool a whopping £85 million ($115m) in 2022 but he has not lived up to that hefty price tag since then. The ex-Benfica man has scored 40 goals and added 26 assists over three seasons but now it seems a parting of the ways is in the offing.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Al-Hilal have reportedly turned their attention to Nunez after Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who has been on loan at Galatasaray this season, snubbed their advances over a summer transfer. While the Nigerian is not interested in that switch, Nunez may be a more gettable target.

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• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Nunez, who has also been linked with Atletico Madrid and Napoli, is likely to feature for Uruguay in their latest 2026 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night as they host Venezuela. Incidentally, there is a chance he may have played his last game for Liverpool.

Leeds United’s up-and-down March continued at Queens Park Rangers at the weekend as Daniel Farke’s promotion-hungry Whites had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Loftus Road.

When Leeds found themselves 2-0 down after half an hour, a draw come full-time would have been more than a welcome final scoreline, but Sheffield United are now level on points with the West Yorkshire side at the very top of the Championship due to this slight misfire.

Farke will just hope he can get more out of his star players between now and the close of the campaign, with a number of his vital first-team personnel suffering from a poor day at the office against Marti Cifuentes’ Hoops.

Why Leeds struggled against QPR

Whilst the likes of Ao Tanaka, Junior Firpo and Jayden Bogle stood out and impressed once more – with the full-back duo having a say in both goals – there were also a whole host of faces that struggled to get going versus QPR.

Indeed, Brenden Aaronson fell victim to yet another quiet showing, as the American attacking midfielder failed to register a single shot on the Hoops net while registering a timid 26 touches of the ball.

Away from Aaronson, Joel Piroe also put in a lacklustre performance in front of goal, with the ex-Swansea City striker unable to fire a single on-target effort on Paul Nardi’s busy net.

Piroe, who is the division’s second-top scorer with 15 goals, he is in a lean patch of form now having gone goalless across his last four matches. It’s not what you need at all heading into the campaign’s final few months.

Thankfully, these limp performances up top didn’t result in a defeat being tallied up next to Leeds’ name, but to gift Farke and Co even more firepower ahead of some crunch games, the German must be considering starting one of his most explosive talents.

£50m-rated star can help Leeds improve in the final third

There might well be some regret on Leeds’ end that they didn’t go all out and strengthen in January, particularly with some performances recently looking somewhat fatigued.

Regardless, there is an abundance of exceptional talent for Farke to pick from when everything is ticking along smoothly, with Wilfried Gnonto turning into an impact substitute now in Championship action.

The “electric” forward – as he was labelled by football statistician Statman Dave – has only started 20 of his side’s 35 second-tier games this campaign, but has still managed to register a sterling total of five goals and five assists.

While he perhaps hasn’t been at his free-flowing best this term, Gnonto offered Leeds a lot more than Aaronson in the forward areas at Loftus Road, with the £3.8m buy gifting the promotion chasers a livewire presence that helped Farke’s men to push on to clinch a share of the spoils.

After coming on, the Italian missed one big chance and won three duels from his memorable second-half cameo.

Proving himself to be a Premier League calibre performer in West Yorkshire too, with six of his Leeds goal contributions coming in the elite division, it’s fair to say that even if he’s not starting week in week out at the moment, Leeds struck gold when signing the diminutive attacker for that mere £3.8m fee, considering his valuation now stands at an eye-watering £50m according to reports.

That is an increase of 1215%, with the potential for Leeds to gain more for Gnonto than they managed when selling the likes of Archie Gray for £30m and Kalvin Phillips for £45m, further reinforcing the shrewdness of the original deal.

Before the 21-year-old considers parting ways, however, he will hope more goals and assists come his way as Leeds desperately attempt to return to the Premier League away from any wobbles in confidence seeping in.

In short, he now simply has to start games over Aaronson if Leeds are serious about securing promotion.

Orta sold him for £840k: Leeds must rue losing "dangerous" Aaronson upgrade

Leeds United already had an upgrade on Brenden Aaronson and they sold him for just £840k.

By
Dan Emery

Mar 16, 2025

Representatives are apparently keen for one player to join a surprise new club from Chelsea this summer, and it is believed the man himself has also given his approval to the potential summer transfer.

BlueCo set for host of Chelsea summer sales

Todd Boehly, BlueCo and the recruitment team have a plethora of key decisions to make in regard to potentially departing players very soon, with just nine games remaining of the Premier League season.

Talks opened: Chelsea now willing to pay £50m to sign "relentless" forward

The Blues are now in contention to sign a highly sought-after attacker.

By
Dominic Lund

Mar 25, 2025

Raheem Sterling, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja, Ben Chilwell, Djordje Petrovic, Kepa Arrizabalaga and David Datro Fofana all appear to face uncertain long-term futures at Stamford Bridge, after manager Enzo Maresca ultimately gave the green-light for all of them to leave on loan either last summer or in January.

When they all return to west London, Maresca and co will be faced with an influx of players who were not wanted this season, and it is Chelsea’s mountainous task to find new homes for the vast majority of these men.

Chelsea are also very open to selling Christopher Nkunku, who reportedly agreed terms to join Bayern Munich in January, while uncertainty surrounds winger Mykhailo Mudryk. The Ukranian failed a drugs test recently, which resulted in an on-field ban, and financial expert Stefan Borson claims that their policy of securing players to long-term contracts may actually backfire.

“They clearly still believe in very long contracts despite the situations that they found themselves in with [Mykhailo] Mudryk and many other players,” said Borson to Football Insider.

“It’s not like these players that they’ve signed on seven, eight-year contracts are all working. I would say they absolutely are not working and a lot of them they’d like to shift on.

“Looking from the outside, it still seems a very odd approach on the contract side. But to be fair, the detail of those contracts may allow for earlier exits than the full terms.”

In any case, it looks as if Chelsea are set for another eventful summer window in terms of outgoings, and current AC Milan loanee João Félix comes as another player who could leave the club.

João Félix gives "greenlight" to Galatasaray move this summer

The Portugal international was signed just last summer in a £46 million deal from Atlético Madrid, but Felix appears out of Maresca’s plans after Chelsea approved his temporary spell at the San Siro.

According to Turkish news outlet Sporx, the attacking midfielder and his camp are already weighing up other destinations, and a surprise candidate for Felix’s signature has emerged in the form of Süper Lig champions Galatasaray.

They boldly claim in their headline that Felix has given his “green light” to join Galatasaray from Chelsea, and his representatives, particularly super-agent Jorge Mendes, are also keen for this switch to happen.

Okan Buruk’s side want to sign the 25-year-old in an ambitious swoop, even if they report his £144,000-per-week wages could pose an issue, while Felix is said to hold “positive” feelings about this possible transfer.

Given his once-sky-high potential, a move to Turkey could be deemed a serious step down at this stage in his career, but it is something he is apparently really considering.

Arsenal are reportedly being forced to hatch a 'Plan C' in an attempt to sign a new striker as talks for Benjamin Sesko & Viktor Gyokeres stall.

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• Arsenal desperate to sign a quality no.9
• Both Gyokeres & Sesko are high priorities
• No significant progress has been made

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The north London side had been hoping to finalise a deal for a top-class forward well before their pre-season tour to Singapore and Hong Kong in mid-July. However, as talks stagnate, the Gunners are having to reassess their approach, as revealed by

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko was once seen as the frontrunner to lead Arsenal’s attack next season. It was previously thought that a fee of around £60 million ($81.17m) could be enough to lure the 22-year-old Slovenian away from Germany. But Leipzig are now insisting on a figure closer to the £70m ($95m) release clause in Sesko's contract. This unexpected hike has forced Arsenal to pause their plans, with the club still reluctant to lodge a formal bid. The rising interest from two Saudi Arabian clubs has further complicated matters, as Arsenal fear getting drawn into a bidding war that could spiral out of control.

• Getty Images
  

  TELL ME MORE

  Gyokeres has also emerged as a key target after a stellar season in Portugal, guiding Sporting CP to another domestic league title. Initial reports suggested that the Swedish international could be signed for less than his £85m ($115m) buyout clause. However, Sporting president Frederico Varandas publicly denied the existence of any prior gentleman’s agreement allowing Gyokeres to leave for £59m ($80m). Sporting are now demanding approximately £67m ($91m) for the 27-year-old, a valuation Arsenal are hesitant to meet, considering the striker's limited resale value.

  Both Gyokeres and Sesko are believed to be aware that Arsenal are unlikely to sign more than one striker this summer. The result has reportedly been frustration in both camps, as the two forwards find themselves indirectly pitted against one another in a competition for a single opportunity.

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• ARSENAL'S PLAN 'C'

  Given the complications surrounding both Sesko and Gyokeres, Arsenal are actively preparing a ‘Plan C’ strategy. One such option is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, who is valued at around £60m ($81m) and remains on Arteta’s shortlist. The club is also considering Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, who has prior experience in the Premier League.

The USMNT icon has delivered a scathing assessment of the national team under the Argentine, suggesting he should bear significant responsibility

• Lalas questions whether players understand tactical approach
• Warns Gold Cup success won't erase concerning pattern of performances
• USMNT risk losing public confidence ahead of crucial 2026 World Cup on home soil

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  Following the USMNT’s 4-0 loss to Switzerland, former U.S. defender Alexi Lalas delivered pointed criticism of head coach Mauricio Pochettino. The defeat marked the team’s fourth straight loss and a particularly uninspired performance.

  Lalas argued that Pochettino shouldn't be let off the hook for the team’s struggles, saying the squad looks unsure of its identity – either because they don’t know what they’re trying to do, or they’re simply incapable of doing it. He added that, as a group, the team isn’t meeting the standard expected at this level.

  “This is where I get into Mauricio Pochettino," Lalas said on his podcast. "I don't think that he should be absolved by any stretch of the imagination with what is going on here."

  He added, “And if he just wants to, you know, kick the can down the road and say, hey, listen, everybody, shut up shop and we'll meet you back here in June of 2026, OK? I don't agree with that. But if that's what is going to happen, then, you know, I think that we've got even bigger problems here."

  Lalas further hit out at the squad that Pochettino has put out for the USMNT’s last two friendly games and believes that they don’t look like they know what they’re doing on the field.

  “A team that does not look like they know what they want to do either, because like I said, they don't know what they want to do, or a team that can't do it,” Lalas explained.

  “And I do think that to be fair, even though this is a criticism, these players from a pure soccer perspective, individually and collectively, this group was not up to it. And this is a not an elite team they were playing against, but a team that will tear you apart. They barely broke a sweat. I'm talking about Switzerland," he said.

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• WHAT ALEXI LALAS SAID

  Lalas also believes that there are panic buttons being pushed in the backrooms of U.S. Soccer and even amongst the fans, especially in light of the USMNT’s current performances.

  “For someone like him [Pochettino], all that matters is the World Cup,” Lalas explained. “But pushing all of those chips into next summer and not only doing that, but then on the other side, when we are seeing these games, I mean, there have to be panic buttons being pushed behind the scenes. And certainly out there in American soccer land."

  The USMNT icon also insisted they level of criticism the U.S. are currently receiving is justified based on the results.

  “And you know, I know we wear our heart on our sleeve, and we can get incredibly emotional about this at something that's a good thing. We shouldn't apologize for that," Lalas said. "And when you see a performance like this again, with a team lacking any sense of how they want to play, how they want to press, and then you compound it with any sense of, you know, physical intimidation out there.”

  He added that, in his opinion, the team is reaching into dangerous territory where fans stop believing in them and start believing that they’ll embarrass the country at the 2026 World Cup.

  “Now we have been in difficult moments, and we have been in moments where we are debating as to whatever that quality is when it comes to this team. But I think we're into territory here right now where people are really worried about this team embarrassing themselves and then obviously embarrassing us as a nation at a home World Cup," he said.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lalas' comments touch on a broader issue of expectations versus reality for this generation of American players. Despite having more talent playing at top European clubs than any previous era, the national team has struggled to translate individual success into collective performance. Furthermore, the persistent tactical confusion and lack of cohesion observed in recent matches suggests fundamental issues that could undermine the team's World Cup campaign if not addressed immediately.

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• AFP
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  With their pretournament friendlies now over, the USMNT will turn their focus towards the 2025 Gold Cup, which starts on June 15 against Trinidad and Tobago.

Chelsea in the 2010s were always a team to be feared in the Premier League, with the club being the home to countless talents, helping them achieve various levels of success.

Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and John Terry were just three players who played pivotal roles during that era, helping the Blues win five league titles since the turn of the decade.

José Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Carlo Ancelotti have all led the club to league triumphs since 2000, but their last triumph came way back in 2016/17, with Enzo Maresca the latest man tasked with ending the drought.

The Italian has done superb work to lead the side into a top-four place heading into the closing stages of the campaign, but more work still needs to be done if they are to return to the summit.

He must wish he could rely on one player to provide the goods in the current side, especially after his previous success in the first team as a player at Stamford Bridge.

Ashley Cole’s stats as a player at Chelsea

Left-back Ashley Cole raised eyebrows way back in the summer of 2006, joining Chelsea and controversially leaving Arsenal in favour of a move to the West London outfit.

However, the move would allow the England international to take his career to the next level, becoming a vital member of the side over his eight years at the club.

The now-44-year-old featured over 320 times for the Blues, before leaving in the summer of 2014 after racking up a huge honours list – something which he wouldn’t have achieved had he stayed with the Gunners.

Cole won four FA Cups, and one league title, along with a Europa League and Champions League triumph, with his achievements undoubtedly cementing him as one of if not the best English full-backs ever.

However, fast-forward to the present day, the left-back position is a huge problem in world football, with the club making a huge mistake in allowing one player to leave – ending the chances of him following in Cole’s footsteps.

The former Chelsea star who was labelled the "next Ashley Cole"

In Maresca’s current first-team, Marc Cucurella has nailed down the left-back position in recent months, starting to show glimpses as to why the club forked out £62m for his signature.

The Spaniard has featured 27 times in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, scoring four goals and registering one assist, offering a threat at both ends of the pitch.

However, the hierarchy could’ve saved themselves millions by keeping hold of youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly, who previously spent time on the books as a youngster, but was let go by the Blues after a trial period.

He would subsequently leave and join London rivals Arsenal, rising through the ranks over recent years before making the jump into Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad this season.

The 18-year-old has already made 26 senior appearances despite his tender age, scoring his first professional goal in the 5-1 rout over defending champions Manchester City earlier this campaign.

His subsequent form in North London over the last couple of months has seen him receive an England call-up for Thomas Tuchel’s first side since taking over the reins – further indicating the mistake the Blues made in allowing him to leave.

Such form for the Gunners has seen Arsenal’s U16 coach Dan Micciche label the teenager as the “next Ashley Cole”, a huge statement that is evidence of his huge rise at the Emirates during his youth years.

There’s no denying that Cucurella has been a phenomenal player for Maresca in recent times, massively helping their ambitions of reaching the Champions League ahead of next season.

However, given the Blues’ eye for young talents in recent months, as seen by the pending moves for Dario Essugo and Geovany Quenda, they may have been better off keeping the teenager – fixing the problem position for many years to come.

Should he manage to get anywhere close to the levels Cole produced during his time at the Bridge, Lewis-Skelly will turn out to be one of the country’s great full-backs, making the decision to allow him to leave one of huge regret.

Better than Estevao: Chelsea lost one of "England's biggest jewels" for £0

Chelsea may live to regret not keeping hold of the impressive young talent.

By
Dan Emery

Mar 18, 2025

Everton have produced plenty of superstars from their academy in recent years, but one of the most talented is certainly Ross Barkley. The Merseysider made 179 appearances for his boyhood club, scoring 27 goals and grabbing 25 assists in that time.

The Liverpool-born star had some standout seasons in that famous Blue shirt before his move to Chelsea in 2018. However, perhaps the most iconic was the 2015/16 campaign, where he scored and assisted 23 goals in 48 games.

Replacing the academy graduate has been tough for the Toffees, but perhaps they have the next version of Barkley brewing, someone who could challenge Carlos Alcaraz in that number ten berth.

When Everton could sign Alcaraz permanently

One of Everton’s key January signings over the winter was attacking midfielder Alcaraz. After getting a taste of the Premier League a few seasons back with Southampton, he joined the Toffees on loan until the end of the season.

One of the curious things about this deal was the buy clause that was included. Whilst it is undisputable that Everton can make the move permanent, there was initial confusion over whether it was merely an option or obligation to buy the Flamengo man.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano did reveal earlier this week, however, that the January arrival will sign permanently once he plays five more games for the Toffees, with the fee set at €18m (£15m).

His start to life at Goodison Park has been strong. He has played seven games so far, scoring and assisting one apiece. Both of those goal involvements came away from home against Crystal Palace, in a 2-1 victory.

Alcaraz has certainly made a good impression so far in that famous Blue shirt, although the club may have someone else waiting in the academy who could be this generation’s Barkley.

Everton’s next Ross Barkley

Just as Barkley came through the Toffees academy under Moyes, the Scot might well be able to repeat the masterclass by bringing young midfielder Harrison Armstrong into the first team.

The 18-year-old has already played six games at the senior level for the club, all of which came this season, but perhaps Moyes can look to really help him become an established member of the side.

Just like Barkley, the midfielder was born in Liverpool and is a graduate of the Everton academy. He is currently out on loan at Derby County, where he has actually played as a defensive midfielder, despite even playing as a striker for the Toffees’ first team.

The England under-18 international has played seven times for the Rams since his January loan move, scoring one goal against Plymouth Argyle, which was a stunning volley from outside of the box.

He wrapped his foot around the ball and bent his shot into the bottom right corner.

Statistically, the Everton loanee has impressed for Derby. Although he is only a short way into his career at Pride Park, the 18-year-old already has standout metrics. Jake Barker, a Derby supporter, podcast host and pundit, described him as a “special” player.

Armstrong has shown just how good he can be creatively. As per Sofascore, he averages 0.7 key passes per game. He has also been excellent off the ball. For example, he averages 2.1 interceptions per 90 minutes.

Everton fans can certainly get excited about Armstrong. Although the 18-year-old has been playing deeper than he has for the Toffees, he has shown excellent adaptability and could certainly perform well in a more advanced role, too.

Regardless of the impact that Alcaraz may make this season and beyond, the Toffees could well consider the teenage midfielder to be their new version of Barkley; the similarities and quality are there for all to see.

Moyes' dream XI at Everton: The new Ousmane Dembele signs, DCL finally axed

Everton could be set for a summer transfer window of sweeping change.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 29, 2025