All posts by z3u9t.icu

Arne Slot eased the pressure when he led his Liverpool side to victory over West Ham United at the weekend, but in a matter of days, the Reds will have hosted Sunderland and travelled to Elland Road to face Leeds United, and that will make a more accurate barometer of this squad’s level.

The pressure has cranked up in recent weeks, and who of a red persuasion could contest the scrutiny? The Premier League champions had lost nine of 12 matches in all competitions before arresting the slump, and after the November international break, Anfield has been left reeling after successive drubbings dished out by Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven.

It’s clear that Liverpool have lost their way, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get back on track. A summer of record-breaking spending has packaged the Reds team with so much quality, but it’s true that Liverpool are an imbalanced outfit.

Sporting director Richard Hughes may need to dig back into the transfer market, which will be upon us in less than a month.

Liverpool's January transfer plans

It’s incredible that after spending more than £400m this summer, Liverpool still need to address a number of areas across Slot’s squad. Namely, Liverpool need a centre-back, and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has emerged as a leading contender to strengthen the frontline this January.

But with Marc Guehi out of contract at the end of the season and Manchester City also holding talks for Semenyo’s services, FSG may be tempted to look elsewhere.

And according to Caught Offside, Juventus’ rising star Kenan Yildiz has been shortlisted as a Semenyo alternative, having enjoyed a rip-roaring start to the campaign in Italy.

The 20-year-old certainly wouldn’t come cheap. Viewed as one of Serie A’s brightest young stars, Juventus do not want to sell the attacking midfielder, but a concerted approach from FSG could help shift some weight.

With Chelsea also interested, the Old Lady are looking to bank a €100m cheque (translating to £88m) for their prized player.

Why Liverpool want Kenan Yildiz

Yildiz might be young, but he is “already one of the best left wingers in the world”, according to one Serie A scout, and has a far higher ceiling than the 25-year-old Semenyo besides.

Semenyo is the talk of the town in the Premier League, but he’s gone five matches without a goal involvement after such a prolific start to the campaign.

Yildiz, by contrast, is spreading out his output, notching both strikes in Juve’s recent 2-1 league win over Cagliari.

He is a ferocious runner and he is sharp with his playmaking. As per data-driven site FBref, Yildiz ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.

In this he has what it takes to match Semenyo’s athleticism and dynamism. In this he can become one of the Premier League’s finest.

Moreover, Yildiz has only missed one big chance in the Italian top flight, scoring four times.

Matches (starts)

12 (11)

12 (12)

Goals

4

6

Assists

3

3

Touches*

52.4

49.6

Shots (on target)*

2.4 (1.1)

2.2 (1.2)

Accurate passes*

27.1 (85%)

19.9 (77%)

Chances created*

2.3

1.3

Dribbles*

1.5

1.8

Recoveries*

3.7

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

0.9

1.8

Duels won*

4.2

6.3

From a statistical standpoint, Semenyo has probably enjoyed the better season so far, but data only tells so much of a story in football, and Yildiz is clearly making startling progress at such a young age, close now to establishing himself as one of the best in the business.

He is “100% a superstar”, in the eyes of analyst Ben Mattinson, so dynamic and electric down the left flank. His duelling success doesn’t yet match Semenyo, who is one of the Premier League’s most combative wide forwards, and in just a few years, he could be far outstripping the Ghana international.

Whether Liverpool opt to fork out close to £100m for an up-and-coming talent remains to be seen, but Yildiz has already proven that he belongs on the world stage.

Semenyo would be a terrific signing, but the Turkish winger has that special something that suggests he could become one of the very best in the business.

Better move than Semenyo: Liverpool set to table bid to sign £53m "machine"

Liverpool and FSG are considering a host of positions ahead of the January transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 1, 2025

Arsenal are now prepared to break the bank to sign Vinicius Jr, amid a major new update on the forward’s future at Real Madrid.

The Gunners should be well-positioned to start competing for the signatures of some of the world’s best players once again, having announced themselves as serious contenders for the Premier League title as a result of the 4-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Signing the Real Madrid star would certainly be a major statement of intent, given that he is still regarded as one of the best wingers in world football, despite narrowly missing out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or, finishing as runner-up behind Manchester City star Rodri.

Interestingly, an exciting new report has now suggested that the move could be a realistic possibility, following a major new update on the Brazilian’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu…

Arsenal prepared to break the bank for Vinicius Jr

According to a report from Spain, Arsenal are now prepared to break the bank to sign Vinicius Jr, with the Emirates Stadium now one of his most likely destinations, having informed Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez he does not currently wish to sign a new contract.

The winger’s unwillingness to put pen to paper on a new deal stems from a difficult relationship with manager Xabi Alonso, and negotiations have now stalled, which could open the door for a move to north London, and Stan Kroenke & co clearly mean business.

However, the Gunners may need to be willing to make the Brazil international one of their highest earners to get a deal over the line, given that he has been demanding a very high salary to extend his stay with the Spanish club.

In truth, the 25-year-old isn’t having the greatest of seasons, failing to score or assist in his last 10 matches for club and country, so it is no surprise he has fallen down the pecking order at Madrid, most recently being benched for his side’s 2-2 draw against Elche.

The forward’s attacking output has been very impressive previously, however, having contributed a whopping 111 goals and 87 assists in 339 matches for Real Madrid, and Liverpool manager Arne Slot sung his praises earlier this month.

With Arsenal looking to lift the Champions League for the first time in their history this season, it would make sense to bring in Vinicius Jr, who has won the competition twice, and ranks very highly in the 2026 Ballon d’Or Power Rankings…

Where Vinicius Jr ranks in the 2026 Ballon d'Or Power Rankings Ballon d'Or 2026 Power Rankings

Who will be lifting the individual honour in 2026?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 6, 2025

One Serie A star is believed to be strongly considering joining Chelsea as talks slow down over a new contract, according to one media source.

Sticking to the pitch, Enzo Maresca is looking to put that disappointing 2-2 draw against Qarabağ in Azerbaijan behind him, with Chelsea preparing for their second meeting against the Premier League bottom side in just 11 days.

Estevao

8.2

Alejandro Garnacho

7.5

Leandro Andrade

7.4

Matheus Silva

7.0

Marko Jankovic

7.0

via WhoScored

In late October, Chelsea came out the other side of a thrilling seven-goal thriller at Molineux with a 4-3 victory in the Carabao Cup, but Maresca will be hoping for a much more routine win this time round as he looks to kickstart a consistent run of form.

Managerless Wolves remain the only team in the league without a win, making Maresca’s side the overwhelming favourites, and the statistics paint a very grim picture for the visitors.

The Old Gold have picked up just two points in 10 top flight games this season from two draws and eight losses, and every single Premier League side in history with two or fewer points at this stage of the campaign has gone on to be relegated.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are likely to extend their unbeaten streak across all competitions to three games, with Joao Pedro looking to impress once again, having been involved in six goals in his last nine Premier League appearances. His next game will be his 100th in the competition, becoming the 31st Brazilian to reach that milestone.

However, while Chelsea are expected to pick up all three points against Wolves, there are still gaping holes in the team that Maresca needs to address.

Defensively, it is believed that Chelsea are prioritising the signing of a centre-back in January after Maresca appeared to demand one in the summer window, but they could also sign a new goalkeeper.

Robert Sanchez committed five errors leading to goals last season, more than any other Premier League shot stopper, and Chelsea attempted to bring in AC Milan star Mike Maignan as an alternative earlier this year.

The 30-year-old, who’s poised to leave Milan as a free agent in 2026, is still attracting serious interest from Stamford Bridge heading into the new year, and Chelsea could offer Maignan a pre-contract in January ahead of a Bosman move next summer.

Mike Maignan "quite firmly leaning" towards Chelsea move next year

According to journalist Marco Pasotto, speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Milan News), Maignan himself is pretty keen on the idea of joining Chelsea.

The Rossoneri had wanted to extend his deal, but those talks have apparently slowed down, opening the door for Maresca’s side to move for him.

Maignan is among the best goalkeepers in world football and France’s undisputed number one, captaining Les Bleus in their last game against Iceland, so signing him on a free would be one of the biggest transfer snips of next year.

Chelsea haggled over Maignan’s price in the summer and couldn’t reach an agreement before September deadline day, but with Milan soon to be out of the equation, the only worry for BlueCo is rival interest from abroad.

Liverpool keeper Alisson has branded him an “elite” shot stopper and one of world football’s finest too, so it could be deemed a no-brainer to at least attempt finally getting him over the line.

It would be fair to say that it’s not exactly the best time to be a West Ham United fan at the moment.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have lost their last three games and currently look on track to be relegated from the Premier League.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom as it’s still early in the season and the Hammers do have a number of very talented players in their squad.

Moreover, while they sold one of their star players, Mohammed Kudus, in the summer, the manager has another player who is far better than he’ll ever be, and it could even be said that it was the right decision to sell the Ghanaian.

Why selling Kudus was the right decision

Now, the first thing to say is that on his day, Kudus can be a real game-changer, and during his first campaign for West Ham, he was exactly that.

For example, across 45 appearances for the Irons in 23/24, he racked up an impressive tally of 14 goals and nine assists, which works out to a goal involvement every 1.95 games.

However, as many a West Ham fan will report, the former Ajax star was only a useful player to have when the going was good, as in challenging moments he’d often go missing entirely.

This is exactly what happened in his second season at the club.

For example, in 35 appearances across all competitions last season, the Accra-born international was only able to score five goals and provide four assists.

Appearances

45

35

Goals

14

5

Assists

9

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.51

0.25

That means his average dropped from a goal involvement every 1.95 games to one every 3.88 games, and worse yet, his fifth goal of the season came in the final league game against an already relegated Ipswich Town, when nothing was on the line.

Moreover, his underlying numbers were just as unimpressive, so he wasn’t just getting unlucky.

According to FBref, he only ranked in the top 32% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the league for shot-creating actions, the top 37% for non-penalty expected goals and progressive carries, the top 43% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and more, all per 90.

In short, while he might have been useful this season, West Ham were probably smart to sell him for £55m, especially as Nuno has another more talented star who will give his all for the badge when things get tough.

The West Ham star miles better than Kudus

Now, West Ham do have a few players who could help them get out of trouble by the end of the season, including Lucas Paqueta, El Hadji Malick Diouf, and Mateus Fernandes.

Chalkboard

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

However, when it comes to the most important star of all, and the one who is still comfortably better than Kudus, it’s obviously Jarrod Bowen.

The modern legend has already cemented his name in club folklore with that Conference League Final-winning goal, but he continues to be the most dangerous attacker in the squad.

For example, since joining the Hammers in January 2020, the former Hull City ace has racked up a sensational tally of 77 goals and 53 assists in 248 games, averaging a goal involvement every 1.90 games.

Moreover, while Kudus was letting the fans down with his performances and output last season, the Englishman was picking up the slack and consistently delivering, scoring 14 goals and providing ten assists in 36 games, which is a goal involvement every 1.5 games.

What about this year, though? How does the Leominster-born star’s output stack up to the Ghanaian international’s?

Well, in 13 appearances for his new side, the former Hammer has scored one goal and provided five assists.

That comes out to a reasonably impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.16 games.

For his efforts, the Irons’ “unplayable” talisman, as dubbed by Thomas Frank, has scored three goals and provided two assists in ten appearances.

Appearances

10

13

Goals

3

1

Assists

2

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

0.46

Amazingly, that means that, despite playing for a team threatened with relegation, Bowen has maintained a better average of a goal involvement every other game.

Therefore, while Nuno might have been able to tune out of Kudus at West Ham, he already has a far better player at his disposal, and one that will fight to the end for him and the team.

Nuno must now finally ditch West Ham man who's "national league standard"

Nuno has to make some changes to save West Ham’s Premier League status, and one of them is to drop the poor performer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 28, 2025

Crystal Palace are now weighing up a January move for a goal-scoring midfielder, who enjoyed a very impressive 2025 campaign.

Palace join race for new midfielder

Palace have fared very well recruiting young players in recent years, with Adam Wharton one of the best examples, most recently assisting Eddie Nketiah’s opening goal in the 2-1 victory against Fulham, which helped send Oliver Glasner’s side up to fourth in the Premier League table.

However, the Eagles seem to be in a constant battle to retain the services of their star players, with Eberechi Eze joining Arsenal in the summer, while Marc Guehi remains of interest to the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Wharton is also attracting interest from some of the world’s biggest clubs, with Manchester United and Liverpool being named as potential suitors, which means Glasner may have to start thinking about bringing in a long-term replacement before too long.

According to a report from Football Insider, Crystal Palace have now set their sights on a new target, with it being revealed they are weighing up a January move for UCD midfielder Adam Brennan, who has enjoyed a fantastic 2025 campaign.

Indeed, Brennan has amassed 13 goal contributions for the League of Ireland First Division side this term, registering nine goals and four assists in 28 outings, meaning a whole host of English clubs are now lining up to secure his signature.

Hull City invited the 18-year-old on trial last month, but the Tigers have now been joined by Birmingham City, Wrexham and the Eagles in the battle for his services.

Brennan could be one for the future

Despite competing in the second-highest division of Irish football, it is still impressive that the teenager managed to find the back of the net so regularly at such a young age during the 2025 campaign, showcasing that he could be a future star.

Crystal Palace could now sign £80k-a-week "warrior" in "good value" January deal

There has been a new update on the Eagles’ pursuit of a defender.

ByDominic Lund Dec 3, 2025

That said, with the Irishman yet to prove himself in the top tier, it could be a while before he is ready to test himself in the Premier League, and Palace should look to hold on to Wharton for as long as possible.

The former Blackburn Rovers man remains under contract until 2029, which means the Eagles should be in a strong negotiating position, and if they manage to keep the core of their squad together, they could make a real success of the current season.

Palace currently find themselves in the Champions League places, and managing to qualify for Europe again could convince Glasner to stay, amid previous interest from the likes of Man United and Tottenham Hotspur.

With the Austrian’s contract up in the summer, Palace retaining their top players could be the best course of action when it comes to keeping hold of their manager, but Brennan could also be a shrewd long-term addition to the squad.

Celtic clinched their place against St Mirren in the final of the League Cup on Sunday with a 3-1 win over their Glasgow rivals at Hampden Park.

The Hoops needed extra time to get past their ten-man opponents, though, with goals from Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand in the last 30 minutes sealing the win.

Interim head coach Martin O’Neill has won his first two matches in charge of the club, after beating Falkirk 4-0 in his first Scottish Premiership game last week.

Football Insider now reports that the interim boss has a chance to land the role until the end of the season if he picks up positive results in the next two games.

The outlet claims that O’Neill is closer to landing the job on a ‘permanent’ deal after beating Rangers 3-1, which would provide the club with more time to find a longer-term successor to Brendan Rodgers.

Whether Sunday was his last game or if he will be at the club for the rest of the season, the experienced manager appears to have unearthed a diamond for the next head coach in Callum Osmand.

Why Callum Osmand is an exciting prospect for Celtic

The Welsh youngster was signed from Premier League side Fulham in the summer after his contract with the English side expired at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

In the club’s official announcement post, Rodgers said: “He’s a quick and powerful striker and I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

Unfortunately, though, despite those comments from the Northern Irish boss, Osmand did not play a single minute of football under Rodgers before his resignation last week.

24/25

22

11

4

23/24

29

21

6

22/23

21

11

2

21/22

1

0

0

Total

73

43

12

The 19-year-old centre-forward arrived at Parkhead as an incredibly exciting prospect because of his return of 43 goals in 73 matches for Fulham at U18 and U21 level.

His complete lack of minutes under Rodgers, though, meant that supporters were unable to see his quality on the pitch, which they have now seen under O’Neill in the last two games.

Osmand scored his first goal for the club in the 3-1 win over Rangers on Sunday, sliding in to convert Kieran Tierney’s cross, and came off the bench for his Scottish Premiership debut against Falkirk in O’Neill’s first game in charge.

To come on in such a big game, at a crucial time, and make a vital impact speaks to the youngster’s maturity and his quality, which is why he looks like such an exciting prospect for Celtic at the age of 19.

Osmand is not the only teenage attacker at the club who could be unearthed as a potential future superstar by O’Neill at Parkhead, though.

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Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The interim manager has shown that he is willing to bring young players into the first-team squad, as evidenced by Osmand’s emergence, which is why he should also look to unleash Rhys Dargie from the B team.

Why Rhys Dargie is as exciting as Callum Osmand

O’Neill could unearth another future superstar for the Scottish giants, as he has with Osmand, by bringing the versatile Scottish attacker into the senior side in the coming weeks, should he remain in post.

The 18-year-old predominantly plays on the right wing for the B team, per Transfermarkt, but he can also play on the left, through the middle as a striker, and in central midfield.

Dargie has produced four goals and three assists in ten appearances in all competitions so far this season, per Transfermarkt, whilst Benjamin Nygren (six) is the only first-team player with more than four goals.

The teenage talent is currently out with an injury, with no return date out in the public domain, but his form before his spell on the sidelines suggests that he is a player who should be on O’Neill’s radar when fit and available.

Dargie racked up nine goals in 11 matches in the Lowland League in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt, whilst he also scored against Rangers in the Glasgow Cup final at the end of the season.

These statistics suggest that the young winger has the potential to provide goals and assists at first-team level if he can handle the jump up in quality, as Osmand has in recent days.

There is no guarantee that academy form will translate to senior level, of course, but Dargie’s performances at youth level suggest that he is as exciting a talent as Osmand is.

Appearances

75

26

Minutes played

5,324

1,601

Goals

46

13

Minutes per goal

114

123

Assists

13

3

Minutes per assist

410

533

As you can see in the table above, the 18-year-old forward has scored and assisted goals at a fairly similar, albeit slightly worse, rate at youth level, which is impressive when you consider that Osmand is a striker and the Scottish forward mainly plays on the wing.

This is why O’Neill should look at Dargie as a potential option on the right flank in the coming weeks, if he is fit enough to come into contention, as he could emerge as a surprise star for the club.

Osmand’s big moment against Rangers on Sunday shows that a change in management can unearth talent that was not being utilised by the previous coaching group, which could also be the case for Dargie if he is given an opportunity to shine.

O’Neill, therefore, could provide the next permanent Celtic manager with two incredibly exciting talents who could be future superstars for the Hoops by offering Osmand and Dargie first-team experience.

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It was a big talking point at Hampden Park.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 2, 2025