All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

West Ham United have now submitted a major enquiry over a deal for a “magic” midfielder, who is keen on a move to the Premier League this summer, according to a report.

West Ham set sights on midfielder amid Alvarez uncertainty

There is now an expectation that Edson Alvarez will exit the London Stadium this summer, having fallen down the pecking order, and Ajax are thought to be considering a loan move for their former midfielder.

The Mexican was benched for Saturday’s 3-0 defeat against Sunderland, but starters Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse didn’t exactly fare well at the Stadium of Light, both being withdrawn after the 70-minute mark with the Hammers 2-0 down.

Consequently, Graham Potter may be eager to get at least one new central midfielder through the door prior to the transfer deadline, and the Irons have now joined the race for Bayer Leverkusen’s Aleix Garcia.

However, the five-time Spain international is not the only option on the shortlist, with Potter’s side now joining the race for a versatile midfielder, who is able to play in a multitude of positions.

That is according to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), which states West Ham have now submitted a major enquiry over a deal for RB Leipzig’s Eljif Elmas, who has regularly featured in attacking midfield and on both wings throughout his career.

Elmas has predominantly been utilised in a central midfield role, however, and the maestro was particularly impressive during a stint with reigning Serie A champions Napoli, who are also in the race for his signature.

Their new Rice: West Ham now in the mix to sign PL "monster" for Potter

West Ham are in the race to sign a midfielder who could be their best since Declan Rice.

ByWill Miller Aug 17, 2025

Despite only arriving at Leipzig for a fee of €24m (£21m) in 2024, the 25-year-old wants to leave the German club this summer, and he would be keen on a move to the Premier League or a return to the Serie A.

"Magic" Elmas could be exciting addition for West Ham

While the North Macedonia international’s move to Leipzig hasn’t worked out, with the Bundesliga side open to sanctioning a departure this summer, there are plenty of signs he could be a solid addition to Potter’s midfield.

The former Napoli man was a key player for the Italian club during their Scudetto-winning 2022-23 campaign, picking up six goals and three assists in 36 outings, with his side going on to lift the title.

Robert Earnshaw has also praised the Leipzig ace for his performances at international level in the past, saying: “He has this magic in him. He has the ability to create something out of nothing. Great movement, intelligent, he understands spacing and time and he can finish.”

Elmas’ attacking prowess, coupled with his versatility, could make him an exciting addition to West Ham’s squad, although the fact the North Macedonian struggled to adapt to life in the Bundesliga will be a concern.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has faced mounting criticism in the aftermath of their botched deal for Eberechi Eze, and talks for Man City winger Savinho haven’t exactly been plain sailing either.

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Eze ultimately chose a move to boyhood club Arsenal ahead of Spurs, despite agreeing personal terms with the latter, when Mikel Arteta’s side swooped in at the last second and offered him a chance of returning to N5.

Tottenham also had a verbal agreement with Palace over the finances of a deal for Eze, but as the old saying goes – a signing is never done until all the contracts are signed.

Arsenal’s dramatic late hijack leaves Thomas Frank still without a star number 10 to replace the injured James Maddison, nor does the Dane have an heir to club legend Son Heung-min out wide.

Just under two weeks ago, Tottenham entered talks for both Eze and Savinho in separate deals, prompting huge excitement among the fanbase, but there is the possibility that Frank ends up with neither.

Eze is completely off the table, but in Savinho’s case, the north Londoners are not giving up, despite City blocking the deal as things stand.

Reports from Brazil earlier this week claimed that Tottenham are vowing to go all out for Savinho behind-the-scenes after losing out on Eze, and his agents are in London right now attempting to facilitate a deal (Globo Esporte).

Spurs could even submit a club-record £69 million bid for the Brazil international, but Pep Guardiola has previously insisted that he wants him at Eastlands for “many years” amid Levy’s interest.

Savinho is out injured right now, funnily enough, but an alternative to the 21-year-old could be Real Madrid star Rodrygo – if Spurs can’t agree a deal for the City man.

Tottenham make approach for Rodrygo amid chance of Real Madrid loan deal

Frank and Guardiola are poised to come head-to-head this weekend, and it gives club officials a chance to hold further talks over Savinho, as widely reported elsewhere.

However, City appear to be making this very difficult, and Rodrygo’s pool of suitors is running low.

The 24-year-old Brazil star, who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, has struggled for starts under new manager Xabi Alonso, and Defensa Central have claimed that Real could sanction a loan-to-buy deal as Tottenham take note.

Now, Mundo Deportivo, relayed by Sport Witness, have an update on the story – reporting that Tottenham are the only side to have approached Real over signing Rodrygo – and his potential exit remains a ‘live’ possibility heading into the final stretch of this summer.

Jude Bellingham called the ex-Santos star their most “underrated” and “gifted” player this year, and if a deal is there to be had, it is certainly one worth considering.

Rodrygo would be the statement signing that Tottenham are crying out for after a very testing window, and one that could seriously lift spirits around N17.

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A “fantastic” Liverpool player appears to be edging closer to sealing a move away from the club before the summer transfer window slams shut.

Isak and Guehi getting closer to Liverpool

The Reds’ summer got off to such an exciting start, not least because Florian Wirtz joined in a record-breaking move from Bayer Leverkusen, but there has been a feeling that the Premier League champions need to sign both Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi to make it a truly memorable window.

While there is work to do in that respect, it increasingly looks as though the Premier League pair could both be heading to Anfield, with positive progress made.

Firstly, Newcastle United are signing VfB Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade, as well as retaining an interest in Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, meaning a second offer for Isak from Liverpool is more likely to be accepted.

Meanwhile, the Reds have reportedly submitted a £40m offer for Guehi, following his appearance for Crystal Palace in the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday evening, with the England international considered an ideal centre-back addition.

"Fantastic" Liverpool ace close to leaving

Now, according to various reports, Kostas Tsimikas is now close to sealing a loan move from Liverpool to Roma, with the transfer seemingly in its final stages and “one step away”. This comes after Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness] reported that the Greek was pushing for a move away from Anfield this summer.

This feels like a good outcome for all parties for now, prior to a likely permanent exit next summer, with Tsimikas unlikely to play much for Liverpool this season.

Premier League

2025

FA Cup

2022

EFL Cup

2024

EFL Cup

2022

Community Shield

2022

Milos Kerkez’s arrival has pushed him further down the left-back pecking order, so barring injury woes in that position, opportunities will be limited.

Tsimikas has been a good servant for Liverpool, making himself a hero by scoring the winning penalty in the 2022 FA Cup final shootout victory over Chelsea, and being called “fantastic” by journalist Ian Doyle, but he has never quite felt like a genuinely excellent option.

Liverpool "ready" to complete record-breaking double deal for Isak and England star

Liverpool have to wait for two deals to be completed first.

ByCallum Kemp Aug 28, 2025

That’s not to say he hasn’t performed well at times, keeping the pressure on Andy Robertson, but his time at Anfield should be reaching its natural conclusion.

Manchester United’s struggles over the last couple of years have been evident for all to see, with pressure subsequently mounting onto the shoulders of manager Ruben Amorim.

He was brought into the club back in November 2024 to try and overturn the dismal slump under Erik ten Hag, but it’s safe to say his spell at Old Trafford has been disappointing to date.

The 40-year-old has only achieved a win percentage of 39%, subsequently losing 19 of the 46 games he’s taken charge of – with one of the most recent being simply unforgivable.

His Red Devils side lost on penalties to League Two side Grimsby Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup, a result which has undoubtedly fuelled speculation around his future in the role.

However, his decision-making in key moments could prove to be his demise in the Premier League, often calling upon players who have constantly fallen way below the levels the fanbase expects from a United player.

Andre Onana’s decline at Manchester United

When David de Gea was released in the summer of 2023, United decided to fork out a fee in the region of £47m for the signature of goalkeeper Andre Onana – with many supporters hoping he would be able to be the club’s number one for many years.

However, two years on, his move to Old Trafford has been nothing short of a disaster, registering nine errors leading to goals, with many more questionable moments unfolding on the pitch.

Despite his lack of form in 2024/25, Amorim decided to start the Cameroonian against Grimsby – a decision that massively backfired, as he contributed to the host’s two goals at Blundell Park.

The penalty shootout gave the 29-year-old an opportunity at redemption, but he only managed one save from 13 penalties, often parrying the ball into the back of the net.

Such a performance has led to calls from the fanbase for the player to be sold – with a change between the sticks needed if the club are to progress in the near future.

The deadline day arrival of Senne Lammens will only push Onana closer to the exit door, with another first-team member needing to join him in leaving the club in the near future.

Not just Onana: Man Utd big earner needs to go

Spending big in the transfer market doesn’t equal success, as seen by United over the last couple of years, with the hierarchy spending around £800m on new additions since the summer of 2022.

Onana was just one of those additions, with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo the last duo to try and transform the club’s fortunes at Old Trafford.

The pair arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford respectively, with their transfers setting the club back around £133.5m, including potential add-ons.

Their combined tally of 35 league goals in 2024/25 has given the fanbase a reason to be positive, but other cutbacks need to be made in other areas of the club are to take the next step in their quest to return to their former glory.

Harry Maguire is another player who cost big money, joining in a £80m deal from Leicester City back in the summer of 2019 – a fee that remains the most expensive ever paid for a defender.

While the England international has racked up over 250 appearances for the Red Devils, he’s not had the impact many fans would’ve anticipated upon his move from the Foxes.

He’s come into question of the fanbase in recent times, just like Onana, with the 32-year-old falling down Amorim’s pecking order over the last few weeks.

Maguire hasn’t started a single league game so far this campaign, featuring for a total of just 13 minutes off the substitutes bench – with his extortionate wage no longer reflecting his importance to the side.

1

Casemiro

£350,000

2

Bruno Fernandes

£300,000

3

Matthijs de Ligt

£195,000

4

Harry Maguire

£190,000

5

Matheus Cunha

£180,000

6

Benjamin Sesko

£160,000

=7

Luke Shaw

£150,000

=7

Mason Mount

£150,000

=7

Bryan Mbeumo

£150,000

The centre-back is still being paid a staggering £190k-per-week, according to Capology, a figure that is higher than new additions Cunha and Mbeumo, who earn £180k and £150k-per-week respectively.

At 32, he’s undoubtedly coming to the back end of his professional career, with the hierarchy needing to clear the Englishman off the wage bill to fund moves for fresh blood at Old Trafford.

It’s clear he and Onana aren’t at the level required for Premier League success, which could see another clear-out of the squad take place in the next couple of transfer windows.

Man Utd may regret selling perfect Mainoo replacement for just £500k

Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing a young star to depart Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 4, 2025

Arsenal scouts have watched a “world-class talent” in action a number of times already this season, and they could be set to battle Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.

Gunners looking to bolster options in midfield

Mikel Arteta made major improvements to his squad in the summer transfer window, and Martin Zubimendi is already looking like a very astute signing, having been singled out for praise after scoring twice in the 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

Former Watford striker Troy Deeney said: “The technique on the first of his two goals against Nottingham Forest was frightening. It would have been so easy to get over that and put it into Row Z, and his header was nice as well.

“We see so many players that can’t head a ball any more and it was really calm. He ran the show and that is why Arsenal brought him in. They want him to be that maestro when they have loads of the ball.”

"He's still got it" – Odegaard says "complete" icon is Arsenal's best ever

The Arsenal captain has revealed who he believes the best player in the Gunners’ history is.

ByDominic Lund Sep 14, 2025

Christian Norgaard also arrived at the Emirates Stadium in the summer, meaning Arteta should be very well-stocked in the engine room this season, but the north Londoners have now joined the race for another central midfielder.

That is according to a report from journalist Ahad Shaukhat for the Daily Briefing, who states Arsenal scouts have now watched Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi on a number of occasions already.

Bouaddi is being targeted by a number of top clubs from across Europe, with bitter rivals Tottenham also in the race for his signature, but there have been suggestions a deal could be on the expensive side.

The 17-year-old has been widely reported to have a price tag of £40m, which would be a huge amount to pay for a teenager.

"World-class talent" Bouaddi is one for the future

Despite his age, the young Frenchman has already established himself as a regular starter for Lille, making a total of 58 senior appearances for the French club, including four in Ligue 1 so far this season. Already he has emerged as “one of the best young midfielders in Europe”, in the words of football writer James Brooke.

Earlier this year, the Lille starlet also received very high praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who lauded him as a “world-class talent”, while also describing the youngster as having “excellent technical capacity & ball carrying ability.”

That is underlined by the fact the Senlis-born ace ranks in the 90th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, when compared to other midfielders, and the 85th percentile for tackles over the same timeframe.

Having already started to make a name for himself in Ligue 1, Bouaddi clearly has a lot of potential, and may not be too far off first-team level for a top Premier League club, so Arsenal should undoubtedly look to win the race for his signature.

While his time at the club didn’t end in the way many hoped it would, it’s impossible to overstate the impact Arsène Wenger had at Arsenal.

The Professor, as he was often referred to, helped turn the club into an international powerhouse during his 22 years at the helm, winning three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups, and seven Community Shields.

He also brought some of the best international players the league had ever seen to North London, including Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès, and Cesc Fàbregas.

The young Spaniard was sensational during his time at the club, and it looks like Mikel Arteta could have found his own version, and we aren’t talking about Martin Zubimendi.

Fàbregas' early Arsenal career

Arsenal agreed to pay Barcelona around £2m to sign Fàbregas in the summer of 2003, and while that now looks like a bargain, you have to remember he was still just 16 years old at the time.

He made his full first-team debut just a few months later, starting a League Cup game against Rotherham United in October, although he would finish that season with just three appearances and a goal to his name.

The following campaign would be very different indeed, though, as he would go on to make 46 appearances for the side, with 33 coming in the league.

Moreover, despite not even being 20 years old, the tremendously exciting Spaniard played a key role in the Gunners’ FA Cup triumph that year, making six appearances, five of which were starts and playing 86 minutes of the final against Manchester United.

By this point, it was crystal clear that the North Londoners had got their hands on a truly world-class player, and talent scout Jacke Kulig would later put it, he was “one of the best U21s in Premier League history.”

The following season saw him help the club reach their first Champions League final, and while they lost 2-1 to his former club, the Arenys de Mar-born ace played 74 minutes, even though he was still just 19.

In recognition of his ability and importance to the team, the mercurial midfielder was named captain in November 2008.

Appearances

303

Starts

266

Minutes

23847′

Goals

57

Assists

95

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

Minutes per Goal Involvement

156.88

Points per Game

1.99

However, much to the disappointment of the Emirates faithful, he would eventually push for a move back to Barça in the summer of 2011, with a tally of 57 goals and 95 assists in 303 games for the club.

In all, Fàbregas remains one of the most exciting young players to have ever played for Arsenal, but there is someone in the current squad who could also be in line for similar praise a few years from now, and we aren’t talking about fellow Spaniard Zubimendi.

Arsenal's new Fàbregas

Now, there is certainly an argument to be made that Zubimendi could be looked upon as the ‘new’ Fàbregas due to his technical skill and the fact that he’s a midfielder.

Chalkboard

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

However, in this instance, the player is a little more left-field: Cristhian Mosquera.

Yes, we know that he plays in a totally different position and, therefore, style to the former Arsenal star, but there remain a few key similarities between the pair.

First and foremost, like the Gunners’ former midfield maestro, the impressive centre-back has moved to the North Londoners at a very young age.

Granted, at 19, he is three years older than Cesc was, but as centre-backs tend to hit their peak two years later than midfielders, they are at a fairly similar point development-wise.

Moreover, even though he’s made the move while still being just a teenager, the former Valencia ace already looks utterly at ease in the Premier League and Champions League.

For example, he didn’t look remotely out of place when he came on for the injured William Saliba at Anfield.

Then, in the games against Nottingham Forest and Athletic Bilbao, he helped to keep two clean sheets while completing a staggering 75 passes in both games.

In fact, the 6 foot 3 “monster,” as dubbed by one analyst, has adapted to life in North London so well that one Arsenal content creator has gone as far as labelling him the “signing of the summer.”

In other words, we expect the Alicante-born titan to become a key member of the squad very quickly despite his age, much in the same way that Fàbregas did when he joined over 20 years ago.

Then, there are also the other, more surface-level similarities, such as both being Spanish and making the move to England from La Liga sides.

Ultimately, Arsenal look like they have hit the jackpot with Mosquera, and we would not be surprised to see him develop into a player as important to the club as Fàbregas once was.

Arsenal fans gave £60m ace the Madueke treatment all summer, now he's set to star

The Arsenal star could be in for a career revival this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 19, 2025

Newcastle United took out their Premier League frustrations on Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Fresh off surrendering a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Arsenal in the top-flight to remain 15th in the top-flight standings, Eddie Howe’s Magpies went in for the kill against their shaken hosts, who might have expected a closer battle, considering they sit top of their own domestic league standings.

The travelling Toon contingent were treated to a goal-fest at the Joseph Marien Stadium, with Newcastle running out convincing 4-0 victors due to a whole host of standout performers, as Anthony Gordon continued his fine form in Europe’s elite competition versus Sébastien Pocognoli’s men.

Gordon's impressive performance in Belgium

Scoring last time out in the Champions League as a Marcus Rashford-led Barcelona narrowly beat Newcastle, Gordon picked up from where he left off at St James’ Park when making the trip to Belgium.

The England international hasn’t had the most vibrant of campaigns so far but was outstanding this week, with the tricky number ten a major thorn in the side of hosts all night long.

He notably completed five dribbles across the course of the one-sided contest. Still, despite his slick nature, it was his partner on the opposing right channel in Anthony Elanga who won the Toon the first of two penalties Gordon confidently put away.

Nick Woltemade had opened the scoring by this point. Still, just on the stroke of half-time, Gordon would essentially end the contest with his coolly dispatched penalty, which beat a helpless Kjell Scherpen, who had to fish another spot-kick out of the back of his net from the electric 24-year-old in the second half.

Winning nine ground duels for the cause as well, Gordon will hope he can put in an equally lively performance when Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest travel to Tyneside next in the Premier League, having yet to pick up a goal or assist this season in league action.

Amazingly, while Gordon did help himself to a brace, there was another Newcastle star who caught the eye even more.

Newcastle star proving he is now one of the best in the world

The Toon do have a lot of exciting players on their books at this moment in time who could easily slot into a lot of elite sides if given the chance to do so. Alexander Isak has now gone but Howe already has another talisman.

Sandro Tonali’s name instantly springs to mind in this regard, with one Toon-focused content creator after the final whistle had been sounded on the big win away at Union, going as far as to declare the energetic Italian as “world-class”.

Fortuitously collecting this assist when his effort was cleverly diverted home by Woltemade only tells a mere fraction of his tale in Belgium, with the relentless drive he has displayed in the Premier League in spades this season – with 3.7 ball recoveries averaged per league clash – on full display in Europe’s premier competition, too, winning four duels in total helping him to completely dominate proceedings centrally.

Tonali dictated the game throughout with 90 touches overall, which led to journalist Henry Winter declaring the 25-year-old as “incredible” for both his quality on the ball and also his unwavering stamina levels.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

1

Touches

90

Accurate passes

64/72 (89%)

Total duels won

4/8

Off the back of another near faultless showing, it’s not completely absurd to say Tonali is one of the best in the world in his central midfield position, right now, with the constantly active number 8 clearly a vital cog capable of helping Newcastle through some treacherous clashes on stages such as the Champions League.

After all, if Ryan Gravenberch is in that conversation for Arne Slot’s Liverpool, Tonali should follow closely behind for Howe and Co.

Further hailed as being the “heist of the century” by Magpies-based journalist Thomas Hammond, with Tonali costing around the £55m mark to sign back in the summer of 2023 from AC Milan, Newcastle will hope they can continue to get the best out of their exceptional gem for many years to come, cautiously hoping they don’t fall victim to another Isak situation.

Newcastle's "nightmare" star now in danger of becoming their next Almiron

Newcastle need this man to rediscover his finest form, and fast.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 1, 2025

Leeds United suffered defeat once again yesterday afternoon, with Daniel Farke’s side now winning just one of their last eight games across all competitions.

Burnley were the latest side to prevent the Whites from claiming all three points, with goals from Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaaouna on the scoresheet for Scott Parker’s side.

As for Farke’s men, it was an outing to forget at Turf Moor, with the Clarets now sitting just a single point behind them in the current Premier League standings.

Given the recent lack of form, questions could start to be asked about the current situation, with a solution desperately needed to be found to bolster their chances of survival.

However, some of the questions will need to be directed at the board, with numerous players currently not at the level of a side that could stay in England’s top-flight.

The disappointing showing of Aaronson against Burnley

At times in the Championship, midfielder Brenden Aaronson was often called into question for his lack of impact, as he often went missing in key moments of matches.

The 24-year-old ended last season with nine goals and two assists, but many expected him to be replaced in the starting eleven upon promotion back to the Premier League.

However, he’s featured in all eight outings to date, even starting the defeat in Lancashire yesterday, but was unable to have any positive impact on proceedings.

Aaronson featured for 66 minutes before being withdrawn, subsequently missing a big chance in the first half that would’ve put Farke’s men in the lead.

He also only won 50% of the duels he entered, registering just 40 touches of the ball – subsequently being unable to provide the creative spark the side needed.

However, despite his display, he wasn’t alone in failing to deliver, with one other player unable to take full advantage of the opportunity handed his way against the Clarets.

The Leeds star who’s on borrowed time after Burnley

After losing to one of their promotion rivals, it was always going to be a disappointing day for Leeds and the fanbase, but some of the showings were nothing short of unacceptable.

Losing is one thing, but many of the players struggled to match expectations, which led to numerous below-par outings – something which evidently contributed to the defeat.

Aaronson was just one of a handful of players who failed to deliver, with such a performance likely putting his starting role at risk in the next couple of weeks.

However, he shouldn’t be alone in that aspect, with fellow attacker Jack Harrison once again failing to deliver after being brought back into the fold in 2025/26.

The Englishman was a key figure in the Whites’ squad during previous years in the Premier League, but it’s evident that he’s no longer the player he once was.

Farke handed him his first league start of the season during yesterday’s defeat, but it’s a decision that backfired given his lack of impact against the Clarets.

Harrison was replaced at the same time as Aaronson, but his showing was arguably worse, as seen by the stats produced during his time on the pitch.

Minutes played

66

Touches

40

Big chances missed

1

Crosses completed

0

Dribbles completed

0

Possession lost

14x

Passes into final third

1

Shots on target

0

He attempted seven crosses during his performance, but failed to complete any of them, with a similar story being told in terms of his attempted dribbles.

The 28-year-old also missed a big chance in front of goal and only made one pass into the final third, which highlights his lack of creativity at present.

However, the stat that best showcases his dismal outing was his tally of possession lost, subsequently giving the ball away on 14 separate occasions yesterday.

It was yet another afternoon to forget for Harrison and Leeds, with boss Farke desperately needing to find a solution to their recent slump in the Premier League.

Such a division is one of the most unforgiving in the world, but the manager desperately needs to get on top of their form and drop the aforementioned duo if the club are to head in the right direction.

Farke could unleash Leeds' best English talent since Rio Ferdinand

Leeds fans can get excited about another rising English starlet at Elland Road.

1 ByJoe Nuttall Oct 17, 2025

Sunderland still have some time to wait until they face off against arch rivals Newcastle United back in the Premier League.

The middle of December sees Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats clash against Eddie Howe’s Magpies in what promises to be a hotly contested Tyne-Wear Derby, with the last fierce meeting between the two enemies in the top-flight coming all the way back in 2016 in a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.

The two sides did butt heads in the FA Cup back in 2024, as an Alexander Isak-led Toon comfortably swept aside their Championship hosts 3-0 on the day, but the Wearside outfit is a completely different beast now with Le Bris at the helm, as opposed to their once bruised nature as second-tier regulars.

While there will be a lack of niceties exchanged at the Stadium of Light in December, Sunderland will know that there are some strong performers already in their camp who will be ready for any intense battles ahead, with the likes of Noah Sadiki not fazed whatsoever by the intensity of the top-flight so far.

Sadiki's early promise at Sunderland

With new signings such as Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele, and Omar Alderete receiving a lot of the early praise this season, and rightly so, Sadiki has arguably slipped under the radar as another mightily impressive summer pick-up.

Indeed, the former Royale Union Saint-Gilloise battler might just be 20 years of age, but he looks cut out for the grind of the English top-flight already, having been an ever-present part of Le Bris’ starting lineups across Sunderland’s seven Premier League clashes so far.

He has made one of those starting central spots his own with his energy and quality clear for all to see, with his running statistics on the opening day against West Ham United seeing him cover a ridiculous 11.5km across the 90 minutes.

With an assured 85% pass accuracy also averaged per Premier League game so far, it could be argued that Sadiki is actually Sunderland’s own unique take on Newcastle warrior Bruno Guimaraes, with the 20-year-old just needing to add goals and assists to his Black Cats repertoire to be on the road to rivalling his South American counterpart.

At the moment, he has zero goals or assists next to his name.

This could come soon, though, with Sadiki actually helping himself to four goal contributions last season during his swansong Belgian Pro League season.

But, with six ground duels won effortlessly at the City Ground before his side’s 2-0 slip-up at Manchester United, it might well be that Sadiki excels more as a tireless anchor for the Sunderland cause, as opposed to marauding forward on occasion and hammering home sweet efforts, like Guimaraes.

Instead, one of Sadiki’s equally lively teammates could have more of a compelling argument to hand on why he’s Sunderland’s very own version of the Magpies captain, having been in and around the intense environment of the top-flight for far longer than the promising number 27.

Why Sunderland's "genius" is their own Guimaraes

When Guimaraes arrived on Tyneside in January 2022, Sunderland’s main rivals were used to middle-of-the-road finishes in the Premier League. Now, with the Brazilian as a key cog in Howe’s machine, Champions League football is regularly served up.

Of course, Sunderland won’t be expecting to be in Europe’s elite competition anytime soon, but it’s abundantly clear from how the Black Cats have started this season that Granit Xhaka is already a transformative presence – much like Guimaraes once was at St James’ Park – who can help the Wearside outfit to a high-up finish right after promotion.

Much like the number 39 chips in time after time with crucial goals and assists, the former Arsenal warrior has more than played his role in Sunderland collecting early wins in their immediate bid to beat the drop, with the last three goals Le Bris’ men have scored in the tough division coming about from Xhaka popping up with an assist.

This, clearly, sets him apart from Sadiki, who can spray a lovely pass here or there, but hasn’t quite grasped the same level of incision as the Basel-born midfielder.

But, much like his Toon foe, Xhaka is also definitely well-versed in what it takes to be a physical presence when needed, having even been branded a “monster” by Arsenal-based writer Connor Humm when still at the Emirates, off the back of the 33-year-old winning 130 duels during his final top-flight campaign in North London.

Games played

7

7

Goals

2

0

Assists

0

3

Touches*

59.7

72.9

Accurate passes*

35.7 (83%)

46.4 (84%)

Big chances created

0

4

Ball recoveries*

5.8

5.1

Total duels won*

6.7

6.4

This side of his well-varied game has been on full display donning Sunderland red and white, too, with Xhaka not a million miles off Guimaraes’ “world-class” nature, as he was once glowingly labelled by scout Jacek Kulig for never letting his standards slip on Tyneside.

On Wearside, Xhaka has also been a rock early into this competitive season, with 6.4 duels won on average, putting him on the same lofty pedestal as his counterpart, who was once touted to leave Howe and Co. behind for a staggering £100m.

Considering Sunderland landed their midfield veteran for just £17m, this is extremely impressive to see.

With 17 goals also coming his way in the Premier League when situated at Arsenal, it could be that Xhaka elevates his game even more in the weeks to come and becomes the constant Sunderland needs to push up the division, much like Guimaraes has been their every step of the way for Howe’s men as they turned into a Champions League-level outfit.

With Xhaka now wearing the armband with pride, it will be fascinating to see where both Sunderland and Newcastle are in the league standings come their showdown on the 13th of December, with the Black Cats very much fancying their chances of Tyne-Wear glory if their “genius” – as he was recently labelled by Sky Sports’ Don Goodman – puts in another game-changing display.

Sunderland "powerhouse" is in danger of becoming a modern-day Altidore

This Sunderland attacker is in danger of turning into a modern-day Jozy Altidore.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 7, 2025

West Ham are in dire need of a new striker to relieve the pressure on Nuno Espírito Santo.

Nuno Espírito Santo requests three signings for West Ham in January

Alongside a centre-forward, it is also believed that West Ham’s new boss has personally urged both chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady to bring a new defender and midfielder as soon as the next January window (GiveMeSport).

This is somewhat backed up by Sky Sports too, who reiterate that the Hammers are indeed targeting a defender, midfielder and attacker in January, with Nuno also getting “confirmation” he would have money to spend.

Going by this flurry of reports, West Ham could be set for one of their busiest January windows in recent memory, and it’s definitely needed.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

West Ham limped to an uninspired 2-0 defeat to Brentford in their last game, which was Nuno’s first home match since taking charge as manager, with the east Londoners completely failing to lay a glove on Keith Andrews’ side who strutted to victory with ease.

The scoreline could’ve been even worse for West Ham, on a night marred by large protests from the Hammers faithful against their club’s ownership. Brentford attempted a whopping 17 shots on goal and found it far too easy on enemy turf, with this performance highlighting exactly why reinforcements are badly needed.

Even though West Ham look soft as butter defensively, almost every supporter is desperate to see Sullivan and Brady go into the market and sign an exciting striker who can provide that needed injection of quality going forward.

Callum Wilson, who has a torrid injury record, and the inexperienced Callum Marshall are Nuno’s only natural options right now, forcing the West Ham boss to play Lucas Paqueta as a false nine against Brentford on Monday.

This experiment failed, with Paqueta failing to make an impact and losing possession a whopping 23 times.

Niclas Füllkrug, adding to his extensive list of missed games already for West Ham, is set to be “out for a while” after tearing a muscle bundle in his thigh, so the German cannot be relied upon yet again.

Luckily for Nuno, media sources suggest that West Ham are actively trying to solve their striker conundrum, and a key target emerging for the Irons is £53 million Real Madrid sensation Endrick on loan.

Some reports claim that West Ham are even holding talks with Real over a temporary deal for Endrick already, coming after Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Brazil international is expected to leave on a dry loan.

Given Endrick’s desperation for game time, a temporary stint at West Ham could be perfect for all parties involved, with the 19-year-old still classed as one of Brazil’s most exciting up-and-coming talents.

West Ham in pole position to sign Endrick from Real Madrid

Endrick, thanks in part to fitness issues, hasn’t managed to work his way into the Real starting eleven on a consistent basis, but did score five Copa del Rey goals en route to the final last season, before Los Blancos lost to rivals Barcelona.

The Premier League could be beckoning for a player who’s looking to battle his way into Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the World Cup, and West Ham are looking to take advantage.

According to reports from Spain, West Ham are “leading the race” to secure Endrick on loan, ahead of both Newcastle and Aston Villa.

Nuno’s side have expressed serious interest in bringing the teenage striker to England, and Endrick himself sees a temporary move away as critical for his development.

However, while it is reported by some that discussions have been held, a temporary move to another La Liga side is also factored in as a serious option, so West Ham won’t have a free run at his signature.