All posts by z3u9t.icu

Something feels different about Arsenal this season, doesn’t it? The Gunners sit pretty at the top of the Premier League table and they have a 100% record from their three Champions League matches.

A year ago, it was a struggle. Multiple red cards and injuries plagued a heavily talented squad and, until the latter stages of European competition, they struggled to hit top gear.

Yet for all of the reliance on set-pieces, for all of the ridiculous comments on long throws in recent days, Arsenal looks like the best team in the land.

Steady on. We know. Let’s not count our chickens just yet, but everything is looking rather rosy. Mikel Arteta’s men have shipped just one open-play goal all season and are yet to concede in the Champions League.

Their forward line, as demonstrated in that stunning 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid, is improving all the time too.

That’s hardly a surprise. Andrea Berta – once of Atleti’s parish – invested KSE’s money heavily over the summer on the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze.

Gyokeres went nine goals without finding the net before his brace on Tuesday night. The relief and delight were clear to see on the Swede’s face.

The number 14 has some way to go before he can be considered an all-time great but amidst Arteta’s setup, there are a few faces beginning to make themselves modern icons. Gabriel Magalhaes is the prime example.

Why Gabriel is now the best centre-back on the planet

Swing in a corner or set-piece and there is usually one result. Gabriel will be on hand to head home.

His record in recent years and indeed this season has been extraordinary. No central defender across the top five leagues in European football has scored more goals than his tally of 22 since 2020.

The big Brazilian is inevitable and his remarkable record in 2025/26 has only strengthened his argument as the best goalscoring defender around.

In his last five games, he has scored twice and also picked up two assists. There was that crashing header in the dying embers to win the game at Newcastle United and he followed that up by flicking on Bukayo Saka’s corner for Leandro Trossard’s winner at Craven Cottage a few days ago.

His performance against Atleti, however, was colossal. It was the 27-year-old who headed the Gunners in front from Declan Rice’s teasing free-kick and it was Gabriel who got on the end of Rice’s corner minutes later in the second half. He didn’t find the net this time but he did put it on a plate for Gyokeres to score from a matter of yards out.

But, can he defend too? You bet he can. Gabriel is one of the sternest central defenders in the land.

He has been dribbled past just 0.4 times per game in the league this season and is winning 77% of his ground duels. For context, of Premier League defenders to win more than ten ground duels in 2025/26, he ranks joint-fifth for percentage of ground duels won. He sits level with Virgil van Dijk in that regard.

1. Joel Veltman

89%

2. Noussair Mazraoui

82%

3. Daniel Ballard

78.57%

3= Trevoh Chalobah

78.57%

4. Kenny Tete

77%

5. Virgil van Dijk

76.92%

5= Gabriel

76.92%

Defenders who have won 10 + duels only

So, he’s a set-piece menace. He’s a warrior, he’s a leader of men and he’s a pretty damn good defender too.

Is there anything Gabriel cannot do? Perhaps not. He is undoubtedly one of the best players we’ve seen in the Emirates Stadium era. But, is he the best?

Arsenal's best player since Arsene Wenger retired

While Arsene Wenger’s final few years at Arsenal were not as victorious and triumphant as the early days, he is still remembered fondly. Besides the great Herbert Chapman, he is the finest manager the club have ever had and he had some remarkable players in his armoury.

Whether it was Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira or Robert Pires, the greats of Arsenal were around when Wenger was.

Chalkboard

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

Yet, since he retired, the Gunners have struggled and it’s not until recent years that Arteta has transformed them into title challengers again.

The aforementioned Gabriel has been a big part of that. As has Saka. Without him, there’s a very realistic chance that Arteta wouldn’t even still be in the job.

During the infancy of the Spaniard’s coaching career in north London, it was the Hale End marvel who got the Gunners out of plenty of sticky situations.

Yet, in recent years, they’ve found a transformational player, a generational talent who looks like he could eclipse some of the best players we’ve seen at Arsenal since Wenger walked away. Mesut Ozil? He’s making a bigger impact than him. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang? He’s certainly earned more respect than their former no.14.

Even better than Gabriel and Saka? Arguably so. Rice is your man and he’s becoming one of the finest specimens in world football.

Back in 2023, Edu and Co moved heaven and earth to bring the England international to the Emirates, paying a club-record £105m to sign him from West Ham. They fended off serial winners Manchester City to do so. It was a landmark move.

Well, since heading to Arsenal, Rice has made that fee look like a bargain. Since when has that sort of money ever looked cheap? Well, West Ham must be cursing their luck that they did not get more bang for their buck.

The midfielder was a mighty fine player at West Ham but he has gone on another level after his big-money move.

At the Irons, he was seen as a defensive midfielder but Arteta has transformed him into one of the best, if not the best box-to-box midfielder in the land. Rice’s work rate is simply incredible and his ability to win the ball back is second to very few.

But, at Arsenal, he’s now become a threat in the final third. He scored nine goals and registered ten assists last term, his best tally in a single season.

While the 26-year-old has only scored once in 2025/26, he has registered four assists, all from set-pieces. Indeed, that’s one area where Rice has been exceptional, particularly in the last year.

You won’t need a reminder but we’ll bring it up again anyway. His free-kicks against Real Madrid last season were a thing of beauty. However, it’s his delivery into the box that stands out most.

He was involved in two of the four goals against Atleti this week, swinging in a delicious ball for Gabriel to head home and then firing in the corner that led to Gyokeres’ second.

In the words of Sky Sports reporter Sam Blitz, the Three Lions star is now “the best set-piece taker in world football.”

If you didn’t think Rice could get any better, think again. He is the perfect all-rounder. Gabriel is a menacing centre-back and Saka’s creativity skills are sublime. Yet, the £240k-per-week earner has it all. He can score, he assist, he can defend and he’s arguably got the best set-piece delivery in Europe.

Few will argue against just how good Rice has been since he moved across London. The best signing we’ve seen since Wenger left? It’s hard to suggest he hasn’t been.

Rangers are reportedly confident that they will secure the signing of an "amazing" 23-year-old ace this summer, with fresh comments claiming their interest in him is "legit".

Rangers transfer news

Last season was a good one at Ibrox, even if the Gers fell short in their quest for Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup glory, having to settle for the Scottish League Cup instead. Philippe Clement's side feel close to matching Celtic despite his short time at the helm, and new signings this summer will take them up another level.

Plenty of fresh faces have already come in, from Jefte to Connor Barron, and highly-rated 17-year-old Motherwell ace Lennon Miller has been linked with a move to Rangers this summer. He is arguably seen as an alternative or an addition to Joan Jordan, with the Sevilla midfielder 13 years his senior and also backed to seal a switch to the Scottish giants.

The Gers are believed to have submitted an offer for Porto attacker Goncalo Borges, too, as Clement looks to add to his attacking options, finding more match-winners in the process. He is a two-cap Portugal Under-21 international, as well as representing his country in three other youth age groups in the past.

Atletico Nacional striker Edier Ocampo is another mooted target for Rangers between now and the start of next season, with an offer already tabled for his services.

Rangers' interest in "amazing" ace is "legit"

Meanwhile, speaking on the Transfer Show, Simon Halloran claims that Rangers' interest in Morgan Whittaker is "legit", with club chiefs seemingly confident of getting a deal over the line for the Plymouth Argyle striker:

"We’re continuing to be linked with Morgan Whittaker. As far as we’re aware, this is legit, that we’re wanting him. We wouldn’t be pursuing if we didn’t believe a deal could be done."

Whittaker could be exactly what Clement is looking for this summer, adding a genuine goal threat to the squad after a standout season for Plymouth. The 23-year-old scored 19 times in the Championship in 2023/24 overall, which is more than any Rangers player managed in the Scottish Premiership – James Tavernier topped the pile with 17 – and he has also been lauded by Plymouth's director of football Neil Dewsnip.

"Well done Morgan Whittaker. He has excited us here throughout the season. He has scored some amazing goals and to get selected in that team with the quality that exits in this league is a major achievement. He should be really proud of himself. The supporters I hope enjoy watching him play."

It is hard to find many negatives when it comes to Rangers signing Whittaker, considering he is still a young player who has already proven himself in the English Championship, which is arguably one of the most competitive and relentless leagues in the world.

Rangers can forget about Jordan with move for "midfield machine"

Philippe Clement could lure a Premiership sensation to Ibrox during the transfer window…

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 29, 2024

The fact that those high up at Ibrox are reportedly confident of getting their man can only bode well, assuming Halloran is on the money with his update, and the Englishman could jump at the chance to represent a huge British club.

Despite going a man down in just the seventh minute, Tottenham Hotspur picked up their third win on the bounce against Qarabağ FK on Thursday night.

Ange Postecoglou’s side had a rough start to the season this year, with just seven points from a possible 15, but following their win in the Europa League, it looks like they may have just turned things around.

Brennan Johnson has found his goalscoring boots, Guglielmo Vicario is back in fine form, and Dominic Solanke is well and truly off the mark.

However, one of the few negatives to come out of the victory against the Azerbaijani champions is that club captain Son Heung-min was forced off in the 71st minute and, according to the manager, could miss out on the game against Manchester United tomorrow afternoon.

While this is far from ideal, Postecoglou has several options to solve this potential issue.

1 Relocate Dejan Kulusevski

Yes, perhaps one of the more likely solutions the Australian could consider tomorrow afternoon is to start Swedish international Dejan Kulusevski off the left of the front three.

Now, it is true that the former Juventus star is far more accustomed to playing off the right and even in the centre, for that matter, but he has played in Son’s position before.

In fact, he has started there 13 times in his career – including twice at Spurs – scoring twice and providing three assists, equating to a goal involvement on average every 2.6 games.

Moreover, the “special, special player,” as Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir dubbed him, is naturally left-footed, which should at least help with the transition, which, with his immaculate technical ability, should already be rather easy.

It might not be the perfect solution, but moving Kulusevski to the left certainly seems like it would help keep the quality of the starting lineup relatively high.

2 Hand Mikey Moore his first start

Now admittedly, this one might be a tad unlikely, but if the captain is unable to play and Postecoglou wants to keep Kulusevski either on the right or in midfield, then why not give Mikey Moore his first start?

Yes, given it’s United away, it would be an almighty show of faith in the 17-year-old, but as the saying goes, if they’re good enough, they’re old enough, and by all accounts, it looks like he is.

Appearances

24

4

5

Goals

19

1

0

Assists

13

2

0

Goal Involvements per Match

1.33

0.75

0.00

For example, in just 33 appearances for the club’s various youth sides, the youngster whom U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed was “born to play football” has scored 20 goals and provided 15 assists, equating to a mind-blowing average of a goal involvement every 0.94 games.

Moreover, unlike with the first suggestion, the Southwark-born has played plenty of football off the left, meaning he should be able to come into the set-up with minimal fuss and show the league what he is all about.

Ultimately, this would be the bold, perhaps even foolish option, but as Spurs fans will surely attest, to dare is to do.

3 Bring back Timo Werner

The final option, starting Timo Werner, is probably just as likely as the first, if not a little bit more, but we’d hazard a guess about it being the least popular among the fans, and by quite some way at that.

It would be fair to say that since his loan deal was extended for another year, the German international has not impressed in North London.

In his five appearances so far, totalling 131 minutes, the former Chelsea ace hasn’t scored or assisted a goal, and in his one start against Coventry City, he was quite abysmal, picking up a 2/10 match rating from Spurs writer Alasdair Gold for his troubles.

Ultimately, if Son is unable to take part tomorrow afternoon, then Postecoglou is going to have to come up with a solution, and while he might be tempted to bring in Werner for his second start of the campaign, he would be much better off going with Kulusevski, or gambling on Moore.

15x ball lost, 0 key passes: Ange must now boldly drop 5/10 Spurs ace

The experienced international put in an erratic display.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 27, 2024

A top European club are trying to sign a Wolverhampton Wanderers player who cost the club £10 million on a free transfer despite him still having up to two years on his deal, according to a new report.

Wolves now eyeing double deal in same position as their £4m summer signing

Wolves are already eyeing two positions to strengthen in the January transfer window.

2 ByBrett Worthington Sep 4, 2024 Wolves transfer news and updates

Wolves added eight players to their squad over the course of the summer, with their most expensive capture being midfielder Andre, who joined the club on deadline day.

Andre

Fluminense

Rodrigo Gomes

SC Braga

Sam Johnstone

Crystal Palace

Pedro Lima

Sport Recife

Tommy Doyle

Man City

Bastien Meupiyou

FC Nantes

Jorgen Strand Larsen (Loan)

Celta de Vigo

Carlos Forbs (Loan)

Ajax

But despite the many arrivals, it seems that Gary O’Neil didn’t get everything he wanted in the summer. It has come to light this week that the Premier League side will be heading into the January transfer window looking to strengthen in two key positions.

Wolves are going to look to sign a centre-back in January, but one that is experienced at Premier League level, while they will also look to sign a left-back as well. They were looking to strengthen at centre-back during the summer, with West Ham’s Nayef Aguerd a target, but a deal never worked out, and he instead moved to Spain.

Rayan Ait-Nouri meanwhile is the club’s only natural left-back, but he has made a stuttering start to the new season, and O’Neil may want to add more competition to that area of the team.

European club eye Wolves player who cost £10m

According to Turkish outlet A Haber, related by Sport Witness, Fenerbahçe are interested in signing Wolves midfielder Mario Lemina. The report states that the Turkish giants are looking to bring the player in on a free transfer before their transfer window closes, despite the fact his contract runs until 2025 and has the option for a further year.

Manager José Mourinho is keen to bring in an experienced midfielder to partner Fred in his midfield, and with their window open until the 13th of September, they are looking to get the Gabon international to fill that void.

It goes on to add that Fenerbahçe are expected to contact Wolves soon over the availability of the player, who cost Fosun roughly £10 million.

Lemina is said to be interested in a return to Turkey after playing for Galatasaray, but only if Fenerbahçe offers him a long-term contract. The 31-year-old joined the Old Gold from French side Nice in January 2023, and since then, he has played 62 games, scoring five goals and recording three assists.

Aston Villa are still eyeing up a couple of deals which could see their transfer window go from solid to spectacular.

Trevoh Chalobah is being eyed as a potential replacement for Diego Carlos should he be sold before the end of the window.

Unai Emery is also tracking a La Liga sensation too, and signing him could prove to be a bigger coup than Amadou Onana…

Aston Villa transfer news

As reported earlier this week, Aston Villa have been offered the chance to sign Atlético Madrid striker Samu Omorodion.

The belief is that the club have not made an offer for the youngster, yet this could see Emery lose out on him to a host of clubs who appear keen on securing his services this summer.

It looked as though he was closing in on a move to Chelsea, yet that deal fell through. If Villa did want to make a concrete offer, then it could see them shell out around £34m.

The attacker recently won the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics with Spain, defeating France 5-3 in an enthralling final, but it seems as though he is destined to leave his homeland this summer.

Given his talent and hype surrounding the player of late, he could be one of the biggest signings Emery makes this summer.

Samu Omorodion’s season in numbers

The youngster spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Deportivo Alaves from Madrid, and he took the chance to enjoy a breakout season for the club.

Goals

9

Assists

1

Shots on target per game

1.9

Key passes per game

0.5

Successful dribbles per game

0.6

Total duels won per game

3.5

Indeed, across 36 matches in all competitions, he scored nine times while grabbing an assist, showing flashes of his prodigious talent.

Among his teammates, the Spaniard ranked first for goals and assists (ten) in La Liga, while also ranking first for goal frequency (a goal every 223 minutes), first for shots per game (1.9) and second for shots on target per game (0.8), evidence that his loan spell was a success.

This set him up nicely for the Olympic football tournament, and he featured for Spain, who won gold for the first time since 1992.

While he may have only started one game, the striker netted once while averaging 0.8 shots per match, highlighting his desire to add to his goal tally.

U23 scout Antonio Mango lauded him as a “beast” during his spell on loan last term, as Emery could certainly land a major coup in bringing him to Villa.

Onana has proven he can shine in the Premier League and will be important for the Midlands side as they look to build on last term, but Omorodion’s potential is frightening.

If they lure him to the club, Emery will have a sublime talent on his hands, one that will need to be developed carefully if he wishes to fulfil his potential.

£34m on the surface seems like a lot, but if he can turn into the world-class attacker he is destined to be, it could turn into a bargain.

Dream Duran replacement: Aston Villa submit bid for £15m "monster"

Unai Emery is targetting another centre-forward this summer…

ByRoss Kilvington Aug 11, 2024

Wolverhampton Wanderers and manager Gary O’Neil are reportedly looking at signing an “excellent” free agent right now, according to one journalist.

Wolves suffer Yerson Mosquera injury blow

The Old Gold haven’t had the start to the new Premier League campaign that they would have wanted, failing to win any of their opening five top-flight fixtures. To rub salt into the wound, things went from bad to worse on Saturday during a 3-1 defeat to rivals Aston Villa after defender Yerson Mosquera was forced off through injury. The club has since confirmed that he is unlikely to play again this season.

Mosquera was a regular under O’Neil during the early stages of the campaign, playing every Premier League minute before going off against Villa, with Wolves’ head of high performance Phil Hayward claiming that it is unlikely Mosquera will play again in 24/25 as he requires surgery.

“Yerson has now had all of the various assessments and scans which unfortunately confirm injuries to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). We will be visiting specialists in the coming days to finalise the plan for surgery; this will take place in the next two weeks. Timescales are difficult to state prior to surgery but it is highly unlikely he will feature again this season.”

Wolves’ injury list

Possible return date (Premier Injuries)

Boubacar Traore

December 26

Toti Gomes

September 29

Enso Gonzalez

No return date

Sasa Kalajdzic

No return date

Bastien Meupiyou

October 20

Yerson Mosquera

June 1

As a result, it looks as if Wolves could turn their attention to the free agent market to replace Mosquera, with one experienced defender being looked at.

Wolves eyeing free agent James Tomkins

According to HITC journalist Graeme Bailey, Wolves are considering a move to bring former West Ham and Crystal Palace centre-back James Tomkins to Molineux.

The 35-year-old is still without a club after leaving Selhurst Park in the summer, and being a right-footed centre-back could slot in to replace Mosquera in the squad over the coming months or possibly for the rest of the season.

Wolves are only able to bring in English-based free agents as there is no space left in O’Neil’s 25-man squad for any non-homegrown players, so Tomkins could be the man to arrive. An experienced defender, Tomkins is also an Olympian after representing Great Britain back in 2012. He came in for praise while at Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson, who called him “excellent” and a “senior figure” back in 2019.

“He’s been excellent. He was fantastic the other night in a tough game for us. He handled it brilliantly. We have been lucky to have Tomkins and Sakho as our centre backs. He is taking on the role as the senior figure.”

West Ham

243

11

Crystal Palace

136

10

It looks as if a cut-price and short-term move to Wolves for Tomkins could be one to look out for in the coming days and weeks, going off this transfer update from Bailey.

Manchester United are interested in signing an "incredible" new left-back this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano, with the Red Devils "monitoring" the player but yet to make a move.

Man Utd transfer news

Erik ten Hag will be desperate to bring in as many players as possible in the current transfer window, aiding his side's chances of returning to the top four next season, following a bitterly disappointing Premier League campaign in 2023/24. Sergio Reguilon spent a chunk of last term on loan at the club, and the Red Devils are thought to be interested in signing him from Tottenham on a permanent basis.

With Joshua Zirkzee already brought in from Bologna this summer, further attacking additions are to be expected, and Crystal Palace maestro Eberechi Eze is reportedly a strong target for United. The England international caught the eye with his performances last season, scoring 11 times in 24 starts in the league.

A swap deal with Federico Chiesa and Jadon Sancho has also been mentioned as a possible piece of business this summer, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe looking to snap up the Italian from Juventus, allowing the current United man to head in the opposite direction after a disappointing stint at Old Trafford.

It has become clear that Casemiro isn't the world-class force he used to be, highlighting the need for a new defensive midfielder to come in, and Paris Saint-Germain enforcer Manuel Ugarte is a rumoured option.

Man United keen on signing "incredible" Spain youth star

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano said that Manchester United see Girona left-back Miguel Gutierrez as an option this summer alongside Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez, and are "monitoring" the Spain U21 international.

"He [Miguel Gutierrez] could be one of the options, he's one of the players they've been monitoring. At the moment, I'm not aware of direct negotiations with Girona to be honest, but he could be one of the names.

"So we know that Manchester United want to add one more left-back. We already mentioned Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth as an option – it's not an easy one because Bournemouth want to keep the player for one more season and maybe sell him next summer for a higher value. So it's not an easy one, but Kerkez is there."

A new left-back is essential for United this summer, even though Luke Shaw remains a key man when he is fit, with the Englishman simply unavailable too often these days.

The Girona ace could be a fantastic option for Ten Hag, with seven assists coming his way in La Liga last season, as he stood out as an influential performer for a side who eventually finished third in the table behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Man Utd submit bid to sign "formidable" Luke Shaw replacement

He impressed at Euro 2024.

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 14, 2024

Still just 22 years of age, United would also be signing a young player with vast potential, and football talent scout Jacek Kulig has lauded him in the past, calling him "incredible". It may be that Kerkez is still the preferred option, with Premier League experience already in the bank, but Gutierrez could be a superb addition in his own right.

Manchester United’s summer transfer window of 2020/21 did not go the way they had intended it to at the start of the summer.

The club, then managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, were strongly rumoured to want to sign the likes of Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham, but they ended up signing very different players.

Their marquee signing that summer was legendary striker Edinson Cavani, on a free transfer. The Uruguayan striker had left Paris Saint Germain just months before, with United eventually snapping him up in October, at the end of what was an extended transfer window.

Young wingers Amad and Facundo Pellistri were also signed during the summer window of 2020, from Atalanta and Penarol respectively. Both are slowly beginning to make a name for themselves in the first team and have enjoyed successful loan spells, with Amad scoring an incredible late winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup last April.

Brazilian left-back Alex Telles, who now plays for Saudi side Al-Nassr, was also brought in by United that summer, from Porto. He struggled to nail down a starting spot during his time at Old Trafford.

However, there was one other signing, who still remains at this club to this day, who has never settled in at Old Trafford and could well depart four years after he made the move to Manchester, to make room for potential incomings such as Manuel Ugarte.

Midfielder to leave Man Utd

The player in question here is Donny van de Beek, who joined United from Ajax in 2020, for an initial £34.6m, which could rise to £39m due to add-ons. However, after a tough time at Old Trafford, he could be in line to leave the club this summer.

At least, that is according to a report from Tyrone Marshall, a journalist for the Manchester Evening News. He reports that United are “working on a permanent exit” for the Dutchman, who himself would like to leave Old Trafford.

A potential destination for the player has not been made clear at this stage, although his loan to Eintracht Frankfurt did not offer any clarity on his future.

The German side declined to turn his loan spell at the club permanent, deciding against activating the £9m buy-clause in his contract. However, United will search for a new club this summer, given Van de Beek’s contract expires in 12 months, with the club not willing to let him leave for free.

Why Man Utd should cut their losses

Van de Beek’s time at United has been very frustrating for all parties, given his lack of game time and injury record. He has played just 62 times for United in all competitions across his four seasons at the club, scoring twice and registering two assists. Not only that, but he has missed 52 games for the Red Devils due to injury.

Incredibly, the Dutchman is one of the top 15 highest earners at United and is currently within the top 10 highest pay brackets at the club. This is certainly a problem for United, given his lack of minutes at Old Trafford, hence why a sale is best for all parties, meaning United can reinvest that money.

Amount per week

Player(s)

£350k

Casemiro

£300k

Marcus Rashford

£250k

Mason Mount

£200k

Antony

£195k

Jadon Sancho

£190k

Harry Maguire

£150k

Luke Shaw, Christian Eriksen

£120k

Victor Lindelof, Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez

£90k

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Donny van de Beek

£85k

Rasmus Hojlund, Diogo Dalot

The player who they could bring in as an alternative to Van de Beek is Ugarte. The PSG midfielder is thought to be “close” to joining the Red Devils, as reported by Diego Munoz of ESPN Uruguay.

The pair are nothing alike in terms of their midfield profile, with Van de Beek a number 10 who likes to pick the ball up in pockets behind the striker, and PSG’s number four a defensive midfielder who excels as a ball-winner, exactly what United are missing.

As per Fbref, he averages 5.97 tackles and interceptions and 8.14 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, both of which rank him in the top 1% amongst midfielders in Europe.

Incredibly, Van de Beek is worth substantially less than the Uruguay international, according to Football Transfers. The former Ajax man is valued at just £4.3m, compared to Ugarte’s valuation of £35m, a whopping £30.7m less than the PSG midfielder.

It really seems as though selling Van de Beek to make room for the likes of Ugarte might well be the best possible move for United to make this summer. Not only would they be allowing the Dutchman to rebuild his career elsewhere, but they would be saving money on wages and adding a profile to their squad that fits better.

Therefore, ten Hag must brutally ditch him from the squad before the end of the summer transfer window as he continues to reshape his midfield options.

Liverpool supporters have fallen head over heels for Arne Slot already, with the new era at Anfield spearheaded by the ex-Feyenoord boss starting on a fantastic footing.

Three wins from three in Premier League action means the confident Reds are tied at the top of the league with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who are – unsurprisingly – the only other unbeaten team in the division, but Slot's men do boast the fact they are yet to even leak a goal.

Despite these staunch defensive displays, the transfer rumour mill seems to indicate that the Premier League title chasers are eyeing up this new centre-back, who could soon be available on a free transfer.

Premier League Table: Latest EPL standings for 2024/25 season

Stay up to date with the English Premier League standings after matchday 33.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025 Liverpool pondering free transfer

As has been reported by Caught Offside, Liverpool are keen on a potential deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Jonathan Tah, after the central defender nearly joined German giants Bayern Munich this summer.

With Virgil van Dijk's current deal at Anfield expiring next year, it makes sense that Slot and Co are keeping their options open as to who could join if the Dutch colossus does end up walking away from Liverpool.

Likewise, back at Leverkusen, the reigning Bundesliga champions are unsure about Tah's future at the club with his contract up next year too, with the Reds tempted down the line to try and secure the 28-year-old on a free transfer.

It is noted that a dream move for the Leverkusen number four would be to join the Premier League, having been linked with a move to Newcastle United in the past, with the allure of the Reds far stronger than the Magpies.

How Tah can be the next Matip

Tah could end up being Liverpool's next Joel Matip, away from any talk about the Germany international being Van Dijk's successor, with Matip never looking back after exiting the Bundesliga himself for new pastures back in 2016 when Liverpool came calling.

There are further similarities too, if Tah does end up making the leap to the Premier League, with Matip also joining on a free transfer after his Schalke deal had expired.

The 33-year-old defender would go on to lift a Champions League and a top-flight title during his decorated spell with the Reds, with 11 goals and six assists managed from 201 games, as Matip garnered the reputation for being a consistently steady and reliable option to have around the building.

Games played

31

Goals scored

4

Assists

1

Touches*

79.1

Accurate passes*

66.7 (95%)

Ball recoveries*

5.2

Clearances*

3.1

Total duels won*

2.9

Clean sheets

12

Tah has also proven his worth for Xabi Alonso's men as a source of goals, with four managed last season on the way to Alonso's side lifting the Bundesliga proudly aloft, on top of managing 12 important clean sheets too.

Calm on the ball with a 95% pass accuracy averaged per game, Tah does play in a similar way to Matip, who managed 49.8 accurate passes per game last season when he was thrown into action by the now-departed Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League.

Slot would have loved Tah being around on the opening day when he had to hook Jarell Quansah off at half-time versus Ipswich Town, with the 21-year-old nervous against the Tractor Boys.

On the contrary, the Leverkusen star – who stands at a towering 6 foot 5 frame – would have knocked Ipswich's confidence by imposing himself on to the contest, with one of his former teammates Christoph Kramer once referring to the 28-year-old defender as a "defensive battleship".

Liverpool didn't go overboard in the recently closed transfer window with Federico Chiesa joining as the only real notable addition, but they could win themselves an excellent deal soon if they end up landing Tah for nothing, especially if he becomes as dependable as Matip used to be for the Reds.

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Tottenham Hotspur do not kick off their 2024/25 Premier League campaign until they travel to the King Power stadium to take on Leicester City on Monday night.

Ange Postecoglou and his team have been able to watch the opening weekend of the division unfold before they take to the field in the last match of the gameweek.

The Australian head coach will surely be eyeing up a minimum target of securing a top four position in the league this term, having missed out on Champions League football last season.

Daniel Levy has dipped into the transfer market to strengthen the squad during the summer transfer window, in an attempt to improve the manager's options across the park.

Archie Gray has been brought in from Leeds United, Dominic Solanke was snapped up from Bournemouth, and Wilson Odobert is the latest recruit from Burnley – with all three joining on a permanent basis.

There are still just under two weeks left to go before the end of the summer transfer window and this means that there could be further additions before the deadline passes.

Tottenham are still reportedly in the market to make further additions to the group, with a defender seemingly on the agenda for the Lilywhites.

Spurs preparing bid for Brazilian ace

According to reports in Brazil, Levy is readying a Spurs bid to sign right-back Vanderson from AS Monaco before the end of the month.

The reporter claims that the Premier League side are prepared to offer €32m (£27m) as an initial fee for the Brazilian defender, along with add-ons and bonuses to take it beyond that.

This shows that the Lilywhites are serious about a swoop for the former Gremio whiz, as they are willing to pay a significant sum of money to add him to their squad.

Andrade does not reveal whether or not that will be enough to tempt the Ligue 1 outfit into cashing in on the full-back, but adds that the two clubs are in ongoing talks over a potential deal for the 23-year-old star.

It had previously been reported that Spurs are looking at Vanderson as a replacement for Emerson Royal, who recently completed a permanent move to AC Milan.

Emerson's exit from the club has left Pedro Porro as Postecoglou's only senior option at right-back, which is why a move for the Monaco defender does make a lot of sense this month.

If Tottenham can get a deal for Vanderson over the line before the end of the window then he could be a dream addition to play behind Odobert, who has just signed from Burnley.

What Wilson Odobert could bring to Spurs

Firstly, it is worth remembering that the French talent is only 19 and it would be unfair to expect great things from him in his first season at the club.

He only has 29 games of Premier League experience under his belt for Burnley and will need time to continue to adjust to the league and to first-team football.

However, despite his age and inexperience, Odobert is an exciting player who could still produce moments of quality in a Spurs shirt when given an opportunity to perform this season.

Appearances

29

xG

2.81

Goals

3

Big chances created

7

Key passes per game

1.1

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, the teenage whiz did well with the chances that fell his way as he scored three goals from just 2.81 xG for the relegated side.

Meanwhile, his teammates let him down with their wasteful finishing as they could only find the back of the net two times from his seven 'big chances' created.

Odobert ranked within the top 31% of midfielders in the division for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.14) and the top 29% for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.21), which shows that he was an above-average creator in the Premier League.

The 19-year-old sensation also started the current campaign in fantastic form with a goal and a 'big chance' created against Luton Town in the Championship before his move to Spurs was completed.

Tottenham could now land a perfect right-back to play behind the winger, who can play on the left or the right flank, by landing Vanderson this month.

Why Vanderson would be perfect for Odobert

To understand why the Brazilian would be an ideal partner for the Frenchmen, it is first worth noting that the former Burnley man is not the strongest out of possession.

Odobert lost 55% of his duels in the Premier League last season and ranked within the bottom 18% or lower of his positional peers for clearances, aerial battles won, tackles, and interceptions per 90 respectively.

This suggests that Spurs would, before the winger develops and improves that side of his game, need a defensively strong full-back behind him to make up for the youngster's lack of defensive awareness.

Vanderson's form in Ligue 1 for Monaco last season suggests that he would be the perfect player to support Odobert down the flank, due to his ability to compete in and win duels.

The Brazilian defender did not provide a huge attacking threat, with three goals and one assist, in his 20 Ligue 1 outings last term, but did showcase his defensive quality with a whopping 4.8 tackles and interceptions combined per match.

Tackles

3.29

Top 3%

Interceptions

1.92

Top 5%

Blocks

1.59

Top 18%

Dribblers tackled

1.76

Top 6%

Passes blocked

1.48

Top 5%

As you can see in the table above, Vanderson was one of the best full-backs in the French top-flight in a host of defensive statistics in the 2023/24 campaign.

The 23-year-old ace, who U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed has "breathtaking energy", also started the current Ligue 1 season in sensational form on Saturday.

He assisted one goal, created two 'big chances', made six tackles and interceptions combined, and won 57% of his duels against Saint-Etienne – showing off his ability in and out of possession.

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Overall, Vanderson appears to be the perfect target to come in and play at full-back with a winger who is not defensively aware, as he can make up for that with his sensational defensive play.