All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

The progress made in such a short space of time by Chelsea Football Club this season has been phenomenal. After a few torrid seasons and billions of pounds spent, they are finally playing in a way that reflects the money they have spent.

Under new manager Enzo Maresca, the Blues are sitting comfortably in second in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Liverpool, although the Reds do have a game in hand. Momentum is on Chelsea’s side at the minute, having won their last five and not lost in their last eight in the top flight.

The young players Chelsea invested in have certainly stepped up this season more than ever, and the pieces are beginning to fall into place.

Chelsea’s best youngsters this season

The Blues’ starting lineup for the 2-1 win against Newcastle United was their second-youngest squad by average age in the Premier League era. That puts into context the inexperienced Maresca has to work with.

However, that does not define quality, and Chelsea’s young players have certainly stepped up this season. One of their stars in 2024/25 has been Nicolas Jackson. The 23-year-old striker has scored an impressive nine Premier League goals this season in 15 games, also grabbing three assists.

Another player who has stepped up and performed well is Noni Madueke. The former PSV Eindhoven winger is having a good time of things this term, reflected in the fact he is now an England international. He has scored five times and registered three assists in the top flight, having played 15 games. He also scored a hat-trick against Wolves in a 6-2 win at Molineux.

Romeo Lavia is someone else excelling this term. It has been something of a stop-start season for the Belgian, who has struggled with injuries since making the move to Stamford Bridge. However, he has played nine Premier League games at the heart of their midfield, and Jamie Redknapp has been full of praise, explaining he has “done ever so well” for the Blues.

Maresca clearly believes in the young players at Stamford Bridge. He might well give a chance to another of the Blues’ highly rated players this weekend against Everton, Josh Acheampong.

Why Acheampong could start vs. Everton

Young defender Acheampong has been fantastic when given a chance for Chelsea. He has played three games this term after making his first-team debut in the Premier League in 2023/24, although he is yet to make a top-flight appearance this term, having only been seen for five minutes in league action before today.

Highly reputable journalist David Ornstein broke some good news to Chelsea fans last week. He reported that the 18-year-old had agreed to sign a new four-and-a-half-year deal at Stamford Bridge. That is crucial for the Blues, who have locked down a player that Real Madrid wanted to sign, at least according to a report in October.

The young defender was impressive for Maresca’s side against Shamrock Rovers in the UEFA Conference League last Thursday. As per Sofascore, he had 127 touches of the ball, completing 101 out of 107 passes and winning eight from nine duels. He oozed class on and off the ball.

Touches

127

Passes completed

101/107

Pass accuracy

94%

Ground duels won

6/7

Aerial duels won

2/2

Tackles won

3/3

Dribbles completed

2/2

Should the London-born defender get the nod to start against Everton at the weekend, he could have a big job to play in keeping Iliman Ndiaye quiet. The Toffees attacker has two goals in the Premier League this term, including one in a 2-0 win over Ipswich.

Acheampong, described as an “outstanding” player by football analyst Ben Mattinson, could be vital in keeping the talented Toffees number 10 quiet. His obvious defensive talent, showcased against Shamrock Rovers in the week, could be crucial to stopping Ndiaye. Standing at 6 foot 1, the defender is an imposing figure, and his strength in duels could make life difficult for the Everton man.

In terms of how he may fit into the side, Acheampong can slot in at centre-back or right-back. With Marc Cucurella banned, Malo Gusto could move over to left-back, meaning the 18-year-old could play at right-back and potentially go up directly against Ndiaye.

Starting Acheampong against the Toffees would be a bold move from Maresca. However, his faith in young players and the obvious talent of the defender would not make it much of a surprise if he did unleash him.

The January transfer window officially opened for business on Wednesday and Celtic now have the opportunity to dip into the market to bolster their options ahead of the second half of the season.

They have already been linked to a plethora of attacking players, who could come in to improve Brendan Rodgers’ team, including Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

The Hoops have also been linked with two players on the left side of the pitch, with reported interest in Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney and Sarspborg winger Sondre Orjasaeter.

Celtic have also been touted with a move for a new centre-forward to come in and compete with Adam Idah and Kyogo Furuhashi, with Brondby’s Mathias Kvistgaarden said to be on their radar.

This means that the Scottish Premiership champions could be busy this month as they look to bring in several new players to bolster their squad before the deadline.

Bringing players in, however, will mean that others will have to be moved on from Parkhead to create space for new recruits to come through the door, and one player is already reportedly on the verge of an exit.

Odin Thiago Holm closing in on Celtic exit

According to GIVEMESPORT journalist Tom Bogert, MLS side LAFC are ‘finalising’ a deal to sign Celtic central midfielder Odin Thiago Holm on loan.

The reporter does not reveal, however, whether the Norwegian gem is joining on loan for the entire year, as the MLS campaign runs yearly rather than seasonally, or until the end of the Scottish season in May.

Holm joined the Hoops from Valerenga in the summer of 2023 and has failed to establish himself as a regular for the Scottish giants over the past 18 months at Parkhead.

The young gem, who turns 22 later this month, has found himself behind Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan, and Paulo Bernardo in the pecking order for the central midfield positions, with Matt O’Riley and Tomoki Iwata ahead of him last season before their respective exits in the summer.

This has meant that his game time has been incredibly limited since his move to Glasgow last year, and the youngster has not made the most of the opportunities that have come his way.

Appearances (starts)

9 (2)

3 (0)

Minutes

228

24

Goals

0

0

Assists

1

0

Pass accuracy

83%

71%

Duel success rate

46%

33%

As you can see in the table above, Holm has not been outstanding defensively or offensively in the middle of the park when given a chance, and that may be why he has struggled for more minutes on the pitch.

Therefore, it makes sense to send the 21-year-old midfielder on loan to LAFC so that he can go out and, hopefully, play regular football in the MLS to develop as a player and hone his skills, ready to return to Celtic in the future to have another crack at becoming a starter.

He may not be the only Hoops man to move on from Glasgow this month, though, as another player is reportedly attracting interest from elsewhere.

Celtic defender eyed by Champions League club

According to journalist Mark Hendry, Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb are showing an interest in Celtic left-back Greg Taylor in the January transfer window.

The reporter claims that Dinamo have been watching the Scotland international and have identified him as a target to potentially come in and bolster their squad ahead of the second half of the season.

67HailHail’s accompanying report from Hendry adds that Dinamo are keen to take advantage of his current contract situation at Parkhead, with the defender’s deal due to expire in the summer.

It reveals that Rodgers would like to keep the left-footed ace by pinning him down to a contract extension, but Taylor has yet to commit to a new deal and that has attracted interest from elsewhere.

With his contract running down, Dinamo would be able to negotiate a pre-contract with the Scottish star that would see him join them for nothing in the summer.

Transfer Focus

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

However, they could also use the situation to leverage a cheaper permanent deal this month, so that they could bolster their squad for the second half of this term rather than waiting six months.

Why Celtic should sell Greg Taylor

After allowing Holm to move on, Rodgers must brutally bin Taylor from the squad and abandon his desire to keep the full-back on an extended contract.

Dinamo’s interest in the defender provides the club with an opportunity to rake in some cash on a player who would otherwise leave for nothing in the summer.

His exit would also provide a platform for Barcelona loanee Alex Valle to step up as the first-choice in that position, with his performances so far this season suggesting that the potential is there for him to be an upgrade on Taylor.

Starts

12

6

Assists

4

3

Key passes per game

1.4

1.8

Pass accuracy

88%

88%

Dribbled past per game

0.5x

0.4x

As you can see in the table above, the Spaniard has offered more as a creative threat, with more assists and more key passes per game, and has been dribbled past by opposition wingers less frequently.

Selling Taylor would also save a fair chunk of wages for the Scottish giants. Per Salary Sport, the left-back is on £15k-per-week and that is three times as much as Liam Scales, on £5k-per-week.

That is despite the Ireland international offering more to the team on the pitch this season, winning 74% of his defensive duels across 16 league appearances, compared to Taylor’s 51% duel success rate across 14 league outings.

These statistics show that the full-back is not the strongest when it comes to winning his individual duels down the left flank, compared to Scales’ dominant defending, and selling him could allow the club to sign a new player in that role to offer more in that area of the game.

Celtic could sign their next O'Riley in move for £80k-p/w "revelation"

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers already loves the Premier League dynamo.

ByDan Emery Jan 1, 2025

It is now down to Rodgers to sanction a sale to brutally bin Taylor from the club, offering Valle more minutes whilst also opening the door to bring a new signing in.

If there is one thing Wolverhampton Wanderers need for their ongoing relegation battle, it is a sense of commitment to their fight for survival within their squad. That seems like something Vitor Pereira has looked to maintain during his short time at the club so far, and it was something former boss Gary O’Neil instilled.

In his first six games across all competitions, the Old Gold boss has overseen three wins, one draw and two losses. They were back-to-back defeats in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. It has been a solid start to his tenure at Molineux.

Almost all of the squad seems to be on board and ready to fight for survival. However, former club captain Mario Lemina seems destined to leave the West Midlands.

Lemina’s 2024/25 season

It has been a very strange season for Gabon international midfielder Lemina. He began the campaign as a key player for the Old Gold and has played 19 times across all competitions. At the beginning of the season, he was also club captain, although was stripped of that title.

During mid-December, O’Neil confirmed that the captaincy had been passed from Lemina to experienced full-back Nelson Semedo.

That came after a fight with West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen after their game at the London Stadium. O’Neil confirmed that “sparked the conversation” for a change in the captaincy.

Now, the West Midlands outfit might lose the midfielder altogether, in a situation that has escalated fairly quickly. After their 3-0 defeat away to Newcastle United, which Lemina was not part of, Pereira confirmed he “wants to leave” Molineux this month.

The new man in the hot seat at Wolves explained “with this energy and this mentality, I don’t need him”. It seems certain that the former captain will leave Molineux just one month after being relieved of his duties as skipper.

Indeed, the Old Gold may well have their replacement in mind already and could make a move before the end of the January transfer window.

Wolves’ dream Lemina replacement

The player in question here is Chelsea youngster Renato Veiga, with reports earlier in the window suggesting that Wolves had enquired about a potential loan move, which was rebuffed by the Blues. Perhaps, however, going in for another approach would be a wise choice for the Old Gold.

The 21-year-old has been impressive for Enzo Maresca’s side so far this term, having made 18 appearances across all competitions for the Blues.

He has scored twice and grabbed one assist, registering a goal and assist against Gent in the Conference League.

He has clearly made a lasting impression on Blues fans so far, with Alex Goldberg full of praise for the Portuguese star. He explained that “anything he touches turns to gold”, a metaphor of course, but still something that shows just how well he has played.

One of the biggest advantages of signing Veiga would be the fact Wolves have something of a utility man in their squad. Described as a “Swiss army knife” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, he can play in multiple positions in defence and midfield.

Indeed, this certainly rings true when looking at the positions he played for former club Basel, and, of course, Chelsea. The Portuguese starlet has been trusted across the defence, at full-back and centre-back, and in the midfield.

Position

Basel

Chelsea

Centre-back

4

2

Left-back

0

13

Defensive midfield

14

2

Centre midfield

6

2

Left midfield

0

1

This must be an appealing factor for Wolves, and one reason why Pereira might want to sign his countryman. Not only would they be bringing in a Lemina replacement in midfield, but also someone who can play at left centre-back in his back three system.

This certainly seems like the perfect deal for Wolves. It might be tough to convince Chelsea to part ways with their versatile star, but if it is possible, then it could be a fantastic piece of business for the Old Gold.

Imagine him & Larsen: Wolves can land their own Bowen by signing "monster"

Wolverhampton Wanderers remain interested in signing this attacking gem.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 15, 2025

Arsenal have had to deal with plenty of setbacks this season, but after their win on Wednesday night, there is a sense of positivity around the club.

Mikel Arteta’s side knew it was a must-win game against Tottenham Hotspur, and instead of crumbling under pressure, they rose to the occasion and came back from a goal down to win 2-1, which is even more impressive considering the absence of star attacker Bukayo Saka.

The Englishman is undoubtedly the Gunners’ most important player, but fortunately, his partner in crime and club captain, Martin Odegaard, looked back to his very best and helped run the show from midfield.

Arteta will be hoping that he can continue that form into the rest of the campaign now, but he could soon have some fresh competition, as recent reports have linked the club with a sensationally talented midfielder who could be the Odegaard to Ethan Nwaeri’s Saka a few years down the line.

Arsenal chase midfield gem

According to a recent report from the Telegraph, Arsenal are one of several sides incredibly interested in signing Norwegian wonderkid Sverre Nypan.

The 18-year-old talent is already a mainstay in Rosenborg’s first team, shares an agent with Erling Haaland, and according to the report, a decision on his future will be made in ‘the coming weeks.’

If the Gunners want to secure the phenom’s services this month, they’ll need to stump up around £10m, which might not be a lot in the grand scheme of modern football, but it is undoubtedly significant for a teenager outside of the top five leagues.

That said, it could well prove to be a bargain a few years from now, especially if the sensational midfielder can form a brilliant partnership with Nwaneri in the mould of Odegaard and Saka.

Why Arsenal should sign Nypan

It would be fair to say that in this Arsenal team, the most important attacking partnership is between Saka off the right and Odegaard playing his hybrid ten/eight role, which Arteta could recreate a few years from now with Nwaneri and Nypan.

We have already seen this season that, in the absence of the Gunners’ number seven, the manager prefers to start the 17-year-old off the right due to his ability to cut inside and fire off a shot with his left or go on the outside and lay off the ball from the corner.

So, if the young Englishman is already being used as a backup for his older compatriot, there is no reason to think the same couldn’t happen with the two Norwegians, if the Rosenberg ace signs, that is.

In fact, he played a similar role for the Norwegian side last season, starting 22 games in central midfield and, as his heat map shows, floating out wide during games.

Now, he did favour playing on the left-hand side last season, but as analyst Ben Mattinson says, he’s “completely ambipedal,” meaning he favours neither foot and could therefore dictate play from practically anywhere on the pitch with no problem at all.

On top of that, Mattinson actively describes the teenager as an “all-phase midfielder with the ability to control the pace of the game” which, again, at his very best is what the Arsenal captain can do.

With that said, there is every chance that the “elite level talent,” as Mattinson dubbed him, could end up being even better than his national team teammate, as despite being so young, he’s already racked up 60 senior appearances in which he’s scored 13 goals and provided 11 assists, which is incredibly impressive.

Appearances

60

Goals

13

Assists

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.40

Ultimately, £10m is a lot to spend on a teenager, but based on his performances in Norway, the way he is spoken about by those in the know and the prospect of seeing him develop alongside Nwaneri, Arsenal should be doing all they can to bring Nypan to N5 this month.

Way better than Wissa: Arsenal target £361k-p/w star who can leave in Jan

The incredible international would make Arsenal far more dangerous.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 17, 2025

Wolves are now looking to sign a potential bargain this winter as they look to bolster Vitor Pereira’s ranks in hopes of remaining a Premier League side in 2025, it has been reported.

Wolves leaking goals

Ahead of their clash with Chelsea, Wolves have already conceded 48 goals this season in just 21 games, and their leaky defence has shown little sign of improvement in recent weeks despite the change of manager.

Vitor Pereira began his reign with back to back clean sheets but Wolves have conceded at least twice in each of the next three Premier League games, and also conceded to Bristol City in the FA Cup.

With the joint second-worst defence in the Premier League, the Old Gold will need to address that if they want to have any chance of remaining in the top flight this season, sitting on the cusp of the relegation zone as things stand.

Wolves' most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a detailed look at Wolves’ 10 most expensive signings of all time.

ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025

So far, Wolves have been slow to act in the transfer market, though they plugged their hole in central defence with the arrival of Emmanuel Agbadou from Stade Reims in a deal worth €20m (£17m).

One player who won’t be arriving though is Manu Silva, who is reportedly on the verge of joining Benfica despite having agreed terms over a deal to move to Wolves this winter, joining up with former Wolves boss Bruno Lage in Lisbon.

However, that has not deterred Wolves from looking to strengthen, and now there is a claim that they are looking to sign a new goalkeeper for the second part of the campaign.

Wolves eyeing bargain shot-stopper

That comes as a report in Spain claims that Wolves are one of two Premier League sides showing a strong interest in signing Leganes goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic this month as they look to solve their leaky defensive issues.

Neither Jose Sa nor Sam Johnstone have enjoyed good seasons in 24/25, with the former being dropped by Gary O’Neil before being restored to the starting lineup by Pereira.

Between them, the two have conceded nearly 9 goals more than they should have according to post-shot expected goals, a figure that is more than double the next worst team.

Now, Wolves may have found a ready solution in the form of 34-year-old Dmitrovic. The 6 foot 2 goalkeeper arrived at Leganes in the summer after a spell with Sevilla in which he lifted the Europa League, and has enjoyed a renaissance between the posts.

Though he has not made the most saves in LaLiga, he leads the way for goals prevented, keeping out almost 4 more than he should have, a figure that would rank him third in the Premier League at present.

Most goals prevented in LaLiga this season

Marko Dmitrovic

3.5

David Soria

3.1

Sergio Herrera

3

Juan Soriano

2.8

Alex Remiro

2.7

As per the report, the goalkeeper is available for just €2m (£1.7m) and it is claimed that his “experience in European football, combined with his affordable price, make him a very attractive option for interested teams”, with Leicester City also in the race to sign him.

Though certainly not a long term solution, should Dmitrovic be able to keep Wolves in the Premier League, he would be a bargain at less than £2m, a fee that would be repaid several times over with Premier League status.

West Bromwich Albion will hope they can fare better than their promotion rivals Sunderland managed versus bottom-of-the-table Plymouth Argyle when travelling down to Devon this Saturday lunchtime.

The Pilgrims proved that they cannot be underestimated by any of the Championship promotion pack with a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light, but Tony Mowbray will hope his side’s big 5-1 win over Portsmouth means they enter into this one with the same ruthlessness on display.

Mowbray has been here before in attempting to guide the Baggies up to the top flight and was successful all the way back in 2008, with midfield star James Morrison fitting in well throughout his debut season to make that promotion dream become a reality.

Morrison's impact at West Brom

Morrison wasn’t just in it for the short-term at the Hawthorns, however, with the now-retired 38-year-old going on to amass a mammoth 341 appearances across 12 esteemed years.

A large portion of those games would come in the Premier League, but Morrison was an instant success in the second tier during the 2007/08 campaign to help the Baggies lift the title on 81 points.

He would pick up an impressive six goals and five assists from 43 appearances as a mainstay of Mowbray’s promotion-winning outfit, before then establishing himself as a modern-day great in the West Midlands across the many seasons that followed.

Now, Morrison is a first-team coach back at West Brom alongside the manager who used to rely on him week in week out, with a hope in the air that this potential new midfield recruit could be the second coming of the popular Scotsman.

Mowbray targeting West Brom's next Morrison

Mowbray could well stumble upon Morrison 2.0 in Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Stuart Armstrong, as interest reportedly hots up again on the end of the Baggies to try and land the 32-year-old.

Linked previously in the window with a switch to the promotion hopefuls, Football League World has now added fuel to the fire by stating that West Brom are ‘pushing hard’ to try and land the ex-Celtic man’s signature with Sheffield Wednesday also sniffing around.

Away from both possessing the same national allegiance, Armstrong could come in and be as impactful as Morrison was if he relocates to the Hawthorns shortly, based on his glowing Southampton numbers during their own promotion story.

Before moving out to Canada, the £39k-per-week ace was a key part of the camp that won promotion to the Premier League under Russell Martin just last campaign, with his added presence to Mowbray’s group now perhaps boosting their chances of tasting that same success.

Stat – per 90 mins*

Armstrong

Games played

42

Goals scored

5

Assists

7

Big chances created

11

Touches*

58.3

Accurate passes*

35.9 (83%)

Key passes*

1.6

Looking at the table above, away from the likes of Adam Armstrong stealing the plaudits as a clinical striker for the level, his midfield teammate was also key at points in dragging his team to victories with a sizeable five goals and seven assists tallied up.

Creating a hefty 11 big chances should help the Baggies in their bid to be as lethal as they were against Pompey moving forward, with Armstrong’s play style from last season even seeing Martin describe the 32-year-old as a “smooth” operator and a “great athlete”.

He even has a free-kick effort like this up his sleeve, with West Brom hopeful that they can strike gold by snapping up the seasoned midfielder as a place inside the playoff picture in the Championship continues to be eyed up.

The next Lukaku: West Brom targeting move for "exquisite" PL talent

West Bromwich Albion could soon welcome this promising youngster through the door.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 29, 2025

Anthony Gordon starred over both legs as Newcastle United, frankly, took Arsenal to the cleaners in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

He’s shaped into one of the best wingers in English football, winning Newcastle’s Player of the Year award in 2023/24, his first full season at the club.

There’s no love lost between Everton and their former starboy, who rose through the Finch Farm ranks before becoming a regular feature for the Blues during the 2021/22 campaign,

Pundit and one-time Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson’s verdict was that the young Toffee was “not enough of a goal threat” and failed to “hit the heights” of his breakout campaign, with Everton struggling and Gordon tempted by mounting interest in his services.

He got his wish and left in acrimonious circumstances. Everton banked a pretty penny for his sale, with Newcastle forking out £45m after Gordon’s transfer request, but Everton lost one of their finest youngsters before he could truly hit his stride on Merseyside.

It would be nice if David Moyes could bring another top talent through to the senior squad.

Everton's best current youth prospects

Gordon completed 78 senior appearances for Everton after graduating from Finch Farm but only scratched the surface of his lofty potential, scoring only seven goals.

The fact remains that he is one of the club’s finest prospects over the past decade, however, Moyes will be delighted to note that there is an abundance of quality pushing through to the fore right now.

Within the U21 set-up, right-back Roman Dixon, 20, has already made three senior appearances due to injury issues earlier in the campaign, while 19-year-old midfielder Jack Patterson will be looking to feature under Moyes after making headway over the past few years.

Up top, forward Omari Benjamin, poached from Arsenal’s Hale End, is pushing to make his senior debut before the end of the season, comfortably leading the club’s scoring charts with six goals to his name this term, notably scoring both as Everton beat Liverpool 2-0 before Christmas.

Benjamin was hailed for his ‘explosive finishing ability’ by The Guardian before joining Everton’s youth system and will be confident that he can emerge as the club’s finest prospect since Gordon.

However, that’s easier said than done when he’s competing with Braiden Graham.

Everton's most exciting star since Gordon

Sometimes, an up-and-coming forward emerges with a natural ball-striking ability that bespeaks top-level success. Graham might only be 17 years old but he has that knack for finding the back of the net.

Linfield boss David Healy once hailed Graham as a “deadly finisher” before his Everton transfer and he’s yet to let his former gaffer down in England. Graham scored twice for Linfield’s first team before leaving Northern Ireland and signing for the Toffees last summer.

He’s yet to be promoted to the U21s, but Graham is hardly failing to impress in the U18 Premier League, firing seven goals home across 11 matches, also racking up two assists.

Graham’s positional flexibility further suggests that he could be Moyes’ own version of the above-discussed Gordon, for he has been placed across a variety of roles this term.

Attacking midfield

4

3

1

Centre-forward

3

2

0

Right winger

2

1

0

Left winger

1

1

1

Perhaps more curiously, Graham seems to retain his clinical value wherever Leighton Baines, U18s manager, places him. The Northern Irish prospect is endowed with natural speed and an athletic ability that allows him to confuse defenders and link up with teammates before finding space and rifling well-struck shots into the inside netting.

Such transferrable skills are perfectly evidenced through his goals across every area of the frontline this term, and a larger sample pool would be needed to reach conclusive data.

His grace and balance do suggest that he would be well suited to a permanent role on the flanks or behind the centre-forward, dropping off opponents’ shoulders, bursting away and causing chaos.

Everton and Moyes like to play with a physical and focal number nine, and while Graham’s finishing ability suggests he could play such a role, the teenager may actually benefit from creating a dynamic partnership with a profile such as Beto or Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

There’s also the matter of Wayne Rooney, who was prodigiously promoted to the Everton senior set-up way back in 2002 by a certain Scottish manager.

Graham obviously won’t be expected to hit the same heights in the maiden stage of his career, but there’s little question that Moyes is the right type of manager to equip him with with confidence needed to earn opportunities among more senior teammates.

Where the Irish talent’s best position lies remains open to question, but with such an exciting and prolific start to life at Everton, there’s every chance that he will emulate Gordon and emerge as a talented and high-value member.

Let’s just hope that this time, the prospect in question won’t seek a future away from Merseyside while still developing their quality.

Moyes is looking to build a dynasty at the outfit for the second time, and if his start to life is anything to go by, he’ll steer Everton away from the dysfunction that has dominated the recent years.

In The Pipeline

It all needs to come together, with academy players like Graham as part of the process.

After Alcaraz signing: Everton can now finally axe Dyche's "shining light"

Everton’s new signing might get a start at the weekend

1 ByJoe Nuttall Feb 6, 2025

With an in-form Bournemouth side awaiting them in a South Coast derby, Southampton could now be without one experienced leader alongside the issue with Jack Stephens.

Southampton injury news

10 points adrift of safety, Southampton are all but down and out in the Premier League with 14 games remaining. But that’s not to say they don’t have the chance to at least restore some pride to their campaign. Ivan Juric has shown in glimpses just how he could make his mark on the Saints if given a full season to do so.

Recent victory over Ipswich Town was one of the biggest signs that the former Serie A manager has shown that he could yet have a future at St Mary’s. Now, the aim should be to shape his identity more and more whilst crucially moving beyond Derby County’s historic 11-point record.

Southampton now in huge race to sign "rising star" forward for under £10m

The Saints have set their sights on a new forward.

ByDominic Lund Feb 13, 2025

Needing just two points to avoid that disastrous record, Southampton should have more than enough to avoid further embarrassment and perhaps even bring their rivals’ form to a crashing halt in doing so this weekend.

What will far from help their form, however, is the latest injury news. As revealed by Juric, Adam Lallana could now miss the Bournemouth game and be forced to sit out alongside Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Stephens.

Whilst Stephens and Harwood-Bellis are not fresh concerns, Lallana’s latest injury is a new blow for Juric to contend with. Already without captain Stephens, the Saints need the experienced midfielder’s leadership more than ever. Alas, in what sums his career up at times, Lallana has been hit with injury at the most frustrating time.

Despite coming full circle by rejoining his boyhood club in the summer, it has not been the return that Lallana would have been hoping for.

More injury frustration for "brilliant" Lallana

Of course, this isn’t Lallana’s first rodeo on the injury front. Far from it. The former Liverpool man spent a lot of his time at Anfield on the sidelines to bring his rise to a crashing halt despite getting off to the perfect start when Jurgen Klopp arrived.

As his injuries kept coming, so did fresh Liverpool stars to leave the midfielder tumbling down the pecking order. Leaving as a Premier League and Champions League winner nonetheless, Lallana is still a man met with ovation in the red half of Merseyside.

Now back at Southampton all these years later following a brief Brighton & Hove Albion stint, whilst his injury struggles have not ended, Lallana’s experience – as Russell Martin highlighted – is invaluable.

Martin told reporters when the veteran midfielder returned when still in charge last summer: “He’s been brilliant. To be on the pitch was not the only reason we signed Adam. I said that at the time. He’s going to really drive things for us with the players in that group and be a voice.

“He is already (a voice) in the meetings, which is brilliant. It’s enabling the others to grow a little bit and lead a bit. Taylor, Flynn, Jack, all those guys. “

Chelsea have now made a £50m offer for an “exceptional” Premier League player who is set to be in high demand this summer, according to a report.

Blues eyeing summer signings in several areas

At one stage this season, the Blues were looking like potential Premier League title contenders, but their form has been on a downward spiral since the end of 2024, falling down to sixth place as a result of Friday’s 3-0 defeat against Brighton.

Although the west Londoners have spent big on several big-name signings over the past few years, Enzo Maresca may be starting to feel like some more additions are necessary this summer, and the manager is set to strengthen in multiple areas.

A new winger is of interest to Maresca, with the Italian looking to replace Mykhaylo Mudryk, and a £75m move for Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma is being considered, while the likes of Yeremay Hernandez and Alejandro Garnacho also remain options.

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A new centre-back could also arrive at Stamford Bridge, with Levi Colwill looking poor in recent weeks, and Chelsea have been looking at options from within the Premier League, with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite emerging as one of the names on the shortlist.

According to a report from Spain, however, the Blues have already made a move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, submitting a €60m (£50m) bid for the defender, who is attracting attention from a number of top Premier League clubs.

Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have allegedly also made £50m offers ahead of the summer transfer window, at which point Guehi is widely expected to exit Selhurst Park.

Chelsea are showing a strong interest in signing their former player, but it remains to be seen whether they are able to tempt him back to Stamford Bridge, given the level of interest.

"Exceptional" Guehi has earned big move

The 24-year-old is likely to have a number of clubs to choose from this summer, having earned a move to a top club with some impressive performances for Palace and England.

Although the Three Lions were ultimately unsuccessful in their bid to win the Euros last summer, the Palace star received praise from members of the media for his performances throughout the tournament.

The England international has also been indispensable for Palace this season, making 24 appearances in the Premier League, showcasing his leadership qualities by captaining his side.

As things stand, a move to Arsenal could appeal to Guehi the most, given that they are near-certain to have Champions League football on offer, but Chelsea could put themselves in a strong position to win the race if they also secure a top-four finish.

Mikel Arteta has done a superb job of transforming Arsenal after his appointment back in December 2019, taking the club from mid-table strugglers to consistent Premier League title challengers.

The Gunners have finished runners-up in two consecutive seasons to Manchester City, potentially finishing in the same position this year, but to Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

Injuries and poor recruitment from the hierarchy in January have certainly halted the club’s chances of ending their two-decade wait for a league triumph, with the Spaniard having to operate with a makeshift forward line in recent weeks.

However, if they are to take the next step and claim title glory, the board desperately need to back Arteta once again, handing him the quality and depth needed to finally go one better than second place.

A repeat of one window could allow for such success, with a previous summer transfer window setting the club up for the progress they’ve seen over the last couple of years during the manager’s reign.

Arsenal’s transfer window in the summer of 2021

After an eighth-placed finish the season prior, the board handed Arteta the funds to improve his first-team squad, securing a £30m deal to sign Martin Odegaard on a permanent basis after his loan spell at the Emirates.

The Norwegian has since made over 150 appearances for the Gunners, often being the most creative player in the side, as seen with his tally of 36 goals and 28 assists since his big-money transfer.

Ben White also arrived during the same window, adding that defensive quality that had for so long been lacking under the management of former boss Unai Emery.

The 27-year-old cost £50m from fellow Premier League side Brighton, matching Odegaard in making over 100 appearances, but has struggled with fitness issues in 2024/25, restricting him to just 13 games across all competitions.

However, despite the big-money arrivals, the hierarchy also conducted excellent business in offloading multiple players, including one who Arteta was a big fan of after his appointment.

The player who Arsenal struck gold offloading

Given the success of the Arsenal academy, the first team is usually always benefitting from young talent who are looking to stake their claim for a consistent place in the squad.

Miles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri are just two of the latest academy graduates to be challenging for regular minutes in Arteta’s side, gratefully benefiting from the ongoing injury crisis in North London.

However, another player who found himself in a similar position was midfielder Joe Willock, who emerged into the senior picture back in the 2017/18 campaign.

The Englishman made 78 appearances for his boyhood side over a four-season period, with his best undoubtedly coming in 2019/20, registering 44 appearances across all competitions – leading to Arteta dubbing him a “special” talent during his first year in charge.

Willock would fall down the pecking order in 2020/21, making just seven league appearances in the first half of the season, subsequently moving to Newcastle United on loan for the second half of the campaign.

He would find a massive run of form during his temporary stint at St James’ Park, scoring eight times in just 14 appearances, leading to a permanent £25m deal to join the Magpies at the end of the season.

However, since his big-money transfer, he’s only managed to score 10 goals in 117 appearances, struggling to replicate the form that led to his subsequent move to Tyneside.

2021/22

31

2

0

2022/23

43

3

6

2023/24

14

2

0

2024/25

29

3

1

Total:

117

10

7

The added investment from the hierarchy at Newcastle has also seen him start just seven league matches this campaign, falling down the order – just like he did before departing the Emirates.

Given his lack of form, coupled with his decline in minutes under Eddie Howe, the Gunners certainly made the right call in allowing Willock to depart, cashing in on the 25-year-old whilst his stock was at its highest.

His move is evidence of how impressive the academy could be for Arteta over the coming years, either allowing the Spaniard to gain key talent for the first team, as seen with Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, or moving them on and gaining a huge fee – subsequently helping them in their quest for Premier League glory.

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