All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur are a club that have been blessed with a number of seriously talented players over the years.

The likes of Luka Modrić and Gareth Bale wowed fans in the early 2010s, Harry Kane broke through just a few years later, and Son Heung-min is now captaining the side and can still look incredibly dangerous at times.

However, the Lilywhites have also had their fair share of less successful signings over the years, and while there is still time to turn it around, Richarlison looks like he might be the club’s latest big-money flop.

What makes it worse is that just a few months before they signed the Brazilian, Antonio Conte was pushing the club to secure the services of a player who’s been on fire this season.

Richarlison's Spurs career

In June 2022, Tottenham spent a whopping £60m on Everton forward Richarlison, who had looked like a sensational talent for the Toffees over the last few years.

In all, the Brazilian attacker scored 53 goals and provided 13 assists in 152 appearances for the Merseysiders before moving down south, but unfortunately for the Lilywhites, his form did not follow him.

The 27-year-old’s first campaign in the capital saw him score just three goals and provide four assists in 25 appearances. While he did improve last year, racking up 12 goals and four assists in 31 games, it would be fair to say he has flattered to deceive so far.

However, while there is still time for him to improve, it does look like Postecoglou and Co have given up on him ever becoming the club’s starting number nine, as they splashed £65m on Dominic Solanke in the summer.

So, it’s hard to deny that when his fee and impact are taken into account, Richarlison’s move to Tottenham has been a failure, one made worse by the fact that a player the club tried to sign first is now tearing it up for a rival.

Spurs' failed pursuit of Luis Diaz

Yes, in the January transfer window, about six months before they signed Richarlison, Spurs were gunning to secure the services of Colombian international Luis Diaz.

According to an article from the Guardian at the time, Conte wanted to strengthen his team, and the then Porto star was one of the club’s key targets, so much so, in fact, that they made a £37.6m offer, which the club rejected.

Unfortunately for the North Londoners, this forced Liverpool into action, and just a few days later, they signed the tricky winger for an initial fee of £37.5m with £12.5m in further add-ons.

Since then, the 27-year-old dynamo has been through an awful lot on and off the pitch, and while there were some questions over his ability at points last season, he has started this year like a house on fire.

So far, the Barrancas-born star has scored five goals and provided one assist in just six games.

Appearances

26

21

51

6

Goals

6

5

13

5

Assists

5

3

5

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.42

0.38

0.35

1

Unsurprisingly, such incredible form has seen his valuation soar as well, with Transfermarkt now valuing him at around €75m, which is about £62m.

Ultimately, while all clubs miss out on transfer targets, Diaz would have been sensational under Postecoglou, and while Richarlison could eventually prove to be worth his £60m fee, it feels like that ship has well and truly sailed now.

Defoe loved him: £26m Spurs signing became the biggest "flop of the season"

It looked like Spurs had signed a world-beater.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 24, 2024

West Ham continue to struggle under Julen Lopetgui, only managing one point over the weekend against Brentford, drawing 1-1 with the Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Hammers have averaged just 44.1% possession so far this season, the sixth worst in the league, showing the struggles West Ham are having to implement Lopetegui’s more possession-based approach.

West Ham sit 14th in the Premier League, only scoring six goals in their opening six games, conceding ten times and only managing the one victory, which came against Crystal Palace.

The Hammers could do with an injection of attacking flair and creation, and one of the very best nearly joined them not long ago. He is now even out scoring both Jarrod Bowen and Mohamed Kudus.

Mohamed Kudus at West Ham

In August 2023, West Ham signed Mohamed Kudus from Ajax for a mega £38m fee, signing a five-year deal at the club.

In his first season at the club, the forward was electric in claret and blue, making 45 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing six assists for his new side.

Kudus was heavily praised after his strong debut season for the Hammers. However, he hasn’t got off to the quickest of starts this season, playing eight games, totaling 521 minutes, and only having one goal contribution (one assist).

There are even rumours now of an alleged conflict between Kudus and Lopetegui, with The Athletic explaining how words were exchanged between the pair in the dressing room after he was substituted last weekend.

West Ham really need the Ghanaian to find his shooting boots if they are to fire themselves up the league, but it could have been very different if they signed a certain “one man show” as described by scout Jacek Kulig.

When David Moyes wanted to sign Cole Palmer

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham had agreed a deal to sign Cole Palmer in the summer 2023 window, before he eventually made his £42.5m move to Chelsea. David Moyes reportedly “tried very hard” to get the deal over the line.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

Palmer is now valued at a mighty £75m according to Transfermarkt, after his stellar campaign for the Blues last season.

The 22-year-old made 45 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, scoring 25 goals and providing 15 assists, wiping the floor with everyone at West Ham, including that man Kudus. So, how do the pair compare in 2024/25 to date?

Goals

1.07

0.00

Assists

0.71

0.17

xG

0.66

0.11

xAG

0.57

0.13

Progressive Carries

3.04

5.64

Progressive Passes

5.54

2.36

Key Passes

3.04

0.73

Shots Total

3.04

2.76

Shot-Creating Actions

5.00

2.91

Well, it’s night and day really. Palmer is outperforming Kudus in almost every metric analysed here, the only one the West Ham ace comes out on top in is progressive carries, which isn’t unexpected due to his playstyle being more centered around his carrying ability and use of his speed and power.

On the other hand, the England international is more precise with his movements and actions, making key passes, creating for himself and others, and delivering final actions with high efficiency, as seen from his goal and assist numbers.

Palmer just broke a Premier League record last weekend too, scoring a ridiculous four-goal haul in the first half of a game, something that has never been done before in the Premier League.

This is the level of player we are talking about here, and West Ham very nearly had him. Instead, they ended up with Kudus, who is an excellent player, and is bound to hit his stride soon this season, but imagine if they had signed Palmer instead, what could have been.

Guardiola raved over £35m West Ham ace, now he's as bad as Rodriguez

His time at the London Stadium has been up and down to say the least.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 2, 2024

Manchester United’s summer transfer window in 2024 was an interesting period for the Old Trafford club.

Under their newly appointed footballing hierarchy, the Red Devils made six major signings as they looked to improve on an eighth-place finish under Erik ten Hag last season. It has not quite gone to plan yet.

As has often been the theme under the Dutchman, United signed two players whom he coached at Ajax, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. They signed De Ligt’s international teammate with the Netherlands, Joshua Zirkzee, and also added Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte from Ligue 1 sides Lille and PSG respectively.

With Ten Hag’s future currently up in the air, it remains to be seen how United will plan ahead of the 2025 summer window, although they have been linked with one player who could add superb quality to their side.

Man United target Bundesliga midfielder

The player in question here is Bayern Munich and Germany international midfielder Jamal Musiala. The 21-year-old is regarded as one of the premium number 10s in world football and could be on his way out of the Allianz Arena within the next 18 months.

That is because his contract expires in 2026, and there are currently no signs that he will renew his current deal at the German giants. According to a report from The Mirror, via The Express last month, the German rejected the Bavarian club’s most recent contract proposal.

Thus, United, along with arch-rivals Manchester City and Liverpool, North Londoners Arsenal and Spanish giants Real Madrid, are interested in signing the youngster. The report from September suggests he could cost upwards of £120m, which would be a record fee for all of the sides named above.

How Musiala compares to Bruno Fernandes

At just 21 years of age, Musiala’s quality is simply indisputable. He has already played 171 times for Bayern, scoring 46 times and grabbing 34 assists since his breakout term in 2020/21.

This time around, the attacking midfielder has made a superb start to the season. He has already scored three goals and registered two assists in all competitions, with three of those strikes, plus one assist, coming in the German top flight.

Should the Red Devils get the signing of Musiala over the line, they could have their dream replacement for Bruno Fernandes.

United’s captain has been a shadow of himself this season and is yet to find the back of the net in 11 games. He does have four assists, although half of those came in the 7-0 Carabao Cup thrashing of Barnsley, and only one has come in the Premier League.

The United skipper’s form is certainly a cause for concern for Red Devils fans, and signing a replacement within the next few seasons might be on the agenda. Fernandes is 30 years of age, and struggling to find his best form. Musiala could be the dream alternative.

The pair are not necessarily the most competitive of players. Whilst the Portugal international is a high-volume passer in the final third, trying expansive through balls and smart passes from all over the pitch, Musiala is a superb dribbler, a player who glides past defenders and excels in short, sharp combination play and fluid rotations.

With that being said, it is still possible to get an idea of the better this season by comparing underlying stats courtesy of Squawka.

Per 90 minutes this term, Musiala has created more chances with 1.7, and completed more take-ons, with 3.3, than the Portugal star. In contrast, Fernandes averages just one chance created and one completed take-on per game.

Shots in target

1.2

0.5

Chances created

1.7

1

Through balls

0.5

0.4

Forward passes

17.5

12.5

Take-ons completed

3.3

1

Take-on success rate

51.85%

60%

Fouls won

3.1

1

Described as someone who has “the potential to win the Ballon d’Or” by his national team boss Julian Nagelsmann, if there is ever a time to replace Fernandes, this could be it. With Musiala’s contract up in just under two seasons, they must pounce quickly to beat their rivals to his signature.

There is no doubt the Bayern superstar is a wonderful player. He is a creative force, a masterful dribbler, and someone who is nowhere near the top of their game yet. It would be a superb acquisition from United and one that would send a real statement to their rivals.

Not just Evans: Man Utd star who won 100% duels just saved Ten Hag

Jonny Evans was a rock at the back for Manchester United.

1 ByMatt Dawson Oct 6, 2024

Manchester United have produced some stellar players from their academy during the Premier League era. Of course, the most famous group is the esteemed Class of ‘92, featuring the likes of David Beckham, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes among others. They were a key part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side for years, winning the treble as their greatest achievement.

In the more modern era, the likes of Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay have flown the flag for Carrington academy graduates, with the Scot moving on over the summer, joining Italian giants Napoli.

Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are the most recent academy products to thrive in the first team under Erik ten Hag. Both youngsters scored in the FA Cup final victory against Manchester City last season.

Another United academy graduate, who is no longer at the club, has had a strange career but certainly left his mark at Old Trafford. That man is Paul Pogba.

Pogba’s United career

In August 2016, the Red Devils broke the then-world record transfer to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford. He cost a whopping £89m, having left for nothing in 2012, joining Italian giants Juventus.

His time at United has certainly split opinion over time. The Frenchman, who won the World Cup in 2018, played 233 times in that famous Red shirt, initially playing seven times in the 2011/12 season before his departure. In that time, Pogba scored 39 goals and grabbed 48 assists.

He also played a big hand in winning two trophies during his second spell at Old Trafford. The 31-year-old scored in the 2016/17 Europa League final against Ajax, which the Red Devils won 2-0, and played 90 minutes against Southampton in the Carabao Cup final that same season.

The former United number six scored some crucial goals during his time for the club. Aside from his strike against Ajax, Pogba found the back of the net twice against Man City in 2017/18 to help his side come down from 2-0 down and win 3-2.

He evidently had a big influence in the dressing room, and those who managed him at Old Trafford clearly viewed him as a leader. The 91-cap French international was United’s captain on 11 occasions during his time at the club.

Whatever the general opinion of Pogba’s spell at United is, there is no doubt he was a maverick on the pitch, a genius player who possessed incredible skill with the ball at his feet and sublime passing ability. Losing him for free was a big mistake from United, and is something they will be hoping to avoid with Mainoo, who seems to be getting a new contract soon enough.

However, the Red Devils are linked with another academy player who they lost on a free, and could end up buying him back like Pogba.

Man United target former academy star

The player in question here is Lille and England international midfielder Angel Gomes. The 24-year-old left Old Trafford in 2020, joining the French side where he has excelled and has since played for the Three Lions.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, the Red Devils are among several Premier League sides who are ‘continuing to track’ the midfielder. A price tag has not been named, and whilst the midfielder’s contract expires next summer, he would still cost a fee in January. He is valued at £24.3m as per Transfermarkt.

Indeed, this would certainly be similar to the Pogba situation; losing a highly-rated academy graduate midfielder for free, who was described as a “danger-man” by football statistician Statman Dave back in his academy days. The main difference between the two deals would be the fee, with Gomes set to cost far less than the Frenchman.

The London-born midfielder played ten times for United, largely as an attacking midfielder. When he made his debut, he was their youngest-ever Premier League player and the first player born in the 2000s to make their English top-flight debut. He was just 16 years and 263 days old when he came on against Crystal Palace in 2017.

Since his move to France, via a loan to Portuguese outfit Boavista, Lille’s number eight has played 123 times for the club and has seen a redefinition of his role. He could now be considered a versatile midfielder capable of playing as a number six, a number eight or a number 10.

He is a controller in the middle of the park, possessing great technical quality and a high footballing IQ. The former Boavista man has worked on becoming a first-phase specialist, receiving the ball from the defenders and progressing play forwards.

Should the United academy graduate return to the club, he could form a superb partnership with 19-year-old Mainoo. Playing together in a double pivot, the duo could enhance United’s midfield quality and strike up a good balance between attack and defence.

Neither are a natural defensive midfielder, but both have defensive capabilities which means they can hold down the fort, allowing the other to foray forwards.

Indeed, both players excel in the final third, with Gomes creating an average of 2.4 chances per game this season, and Mainoo completing more forward passes, with 12.8 each match, as per Squawka.

Stat (per 90)

Gomes

Mainoo

Chances created

2.4

0.5

Long balls completed

1

1.8

Through balls

0.5

0.2

Passes completed in opposition half

24.3

20.7

Forward passes

8.7

12.8

Take-on success

75%

73.68%

Duels won

3.6

7.1

There might be a concern with lack of balance should this midfield pair ever form in that famous Red Devils shirt. However, against teams who are likely to sit deep and allow Ten Hag’s side to have the ball, it could certainly work.

The pair are yet to play together for England, with Mainoo missing the most recent squad due to injury. However, the United number 37 made way for the Lille man for his Three Lions debut, in the Nations League against Ireland.

Should the Red Devils get this deal over the line, it would be a huge statement of intent. Their former academy midfielder would certainly enhance the quality of their midfield and could form a deadly partnership with Mainoo, which would be one of the most technical midfield duos in Europe.

INEOS must axe Man Utd star who earns more than Mainoo & Garnacho combined

Man United paid £70m for the player but now they must get rid.

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 17, 2024

A report has shared David Sullivan’s new stance on sacking under-fire West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui, with the east Londoners also sounding out a potential replacement who’s won Manager of the Year in his country three times.

West Ham told to sack Lopetegui after disappointing start

The Spaniard always had huge shoes to fill after David Moyes, who guided the Irons to their first major trophy in decades, but many would’ve expected a slightly more promising start to the new Premier League season than this.

Saudi side make £83 million out-of-window offer to sign West Ham star

The Middle East has emerged as a potential destination for him.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 26, 2024

Lopetegui has managed just two wins in the top flight so far, going from late August to October without a single victory before their much-needed 4-1 demolition of newly-promoted Ipswich Town at the London Stadium.

However, a dismal loss to capital rivals Tottenham by the same scoreline followed soon after, which has piled more pressure on Lopetegui after technical director Tim Steidten backed him with a near-£120 million summer warchest.

West Ham summer signings

From

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Maximilian Kilman

Wolves

€47.5m

Crysencio Summerville

Leeds United

€29.3m

Niclas Fullkrug

Borussia Dortmund

€27m

Luis Guilherme

Palmeiras

€23m

Mohamadou Kante

Paris FC

Undisclosed

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Man Utd

€18m

Wes Foderingham

Sheffield United

Free transfer

Guido Rodriguez

Real Betis

Free transfer

Jean-Clair Todibo

Nice

Loan transfer

Carlos Soler

PSG

Loan transfer

West Ham summer departures

To

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Flynn Downes

Southampton

€17.85m

James Ward-Prowse

Nottingham Forest

Loan

Maxwel Cornet

Southampton

Loan

Kurt Zouma

Al-Shabab

Loan

Nayef Aguerd

Real Sociedad

Loan

Said Benrahma

Lyon

€14.4m

Angelo Ogbonna

Watford

Free transfer

Thilo Kehrer

Monaco

€11m

Nathan Trott

FC Copenhagen

€1.5m

Ben Johnson

Ipswich Town

Free transfer

Joseph Anang

St Patrick’s Athletic

Free transfer

West Ham face Manchester United on Sunday, with the clash representing a very important one for both Lopetegui and Erik ten Hag, as both tacticians battle to save their jobs.

There have been calls for West Ham to sack Lopetegui already, with journalist Dean Jones telling Sullivan and co to go out and find a replacement for the 58-year-old who clearly isn’t their right fit.

In the event West Ham decide to part company with the ex-Real Madrid, Spain and Wolves boss, it is believed that former Hammers backroom coach Edin Terzic is a candidate to replace Lopetegui.

West Ham sound out Sergio Conceicao as Sullivan makes Lopetegui decision

According to The Boot Room, former FC Porto boss Sergio Conceicao is a candidate to succeed West Ham’s current boss as well.

Indeed, the Primeira Liga title-winning boss has won his country’s Manager of the Year award on three separate occasions, but recently decided to leave Porto after seven years in the summer.

Chelsea were apparently offered Conceicao before electing to appoint Enzo Maresca, with West Ham now taking an interest in the 49-year-old. TBR write that West Ham are sounding out Conceicao as a potential Lopetegui replacement, but as things stand, Sullivan maintains his backing of the coach and wants to give him more time.

The Portuguese has won a grand total of 12 major trophies, with 11 of them coming during his time at Porto and one way back in 2011 – a Belgian cup triumph in charge of Standard Liege.

Given his success with Sporting CP, which has seen him win 71% of his matches in charge, Ruben Amorim will arrive at Old Trafford with high expectations of being an immediate success with Manchester United.

The 39-year-old has won two league titles during his tenure in Portugal, joining the Red Devils next week as he looks to make his mark following the upcoming international break.

However, he will have a huge task to turn around the early season slump that sees United currently occupy 13th place in the Premier League, 13 points off leaders Liverpool – a huge gap given the near £200m spent by Erik ten Hag during the summer.

It will take a quick transition for the first-team squad if they are to immediately adapt to the new manager’s 3-4-3 system, which is reliant on frequent overlaps from the wing-backs along with rapid transitions into forward areas.

Amorim will be hoping that his ideology will allow players who have been underperforming to flourish, whilst also allowing some to reach the next level, as demonstrated from his time in Portugal.

Viktor Gyokeres’ stats at Sporting

Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres has caught the eye over the last two months for his goalscoring exploits under Amorim in Liga Portugal, playing a pivotal role in the club’s recent success.

The Swedish international arrived in a £20m deal from Championship side Coventry City during the summer of 2023 after their failure to gain promotion to the Premier League – a bargain fee given his recent form for the club.

During his first campaign in Portugal, Gyokeres registered 43 goals and 14 assists in just 50 appearances as he helped Amorim’s side claim the league title ahead of Porto and Benfica.

However, in the opening months of the 2024/25 season, he’s taken his performances to the next level, already notching 23 goals and four assists in his opening 17 outings – including a hat-trick in the Champions League victory over Manchester City earlier this week.

As a result, there’s no surprise to see such interest in his signature, with many United fans undoubtedly wanting the 26-year-old to follow Amorim’s footsteps and make the move to the Theatre of Dreams in the near future.

Any transfer for Gyokeres would set the Red Devils back around €100m (£83m) given that’s the price tag of his current release clause, but it’s unknown if the club would be willing to match such a figure, potentially allowing one player to star instead.

The player who could be Amorim’s new Gyokeres

Big-money striker Rasmus Hojlund is yet to hit the ground running at Old Trafford this campaign, scoring just two times in all competitions – an average of one goal every five games.

His last outing against Chelsea was no different, failing to find the back of the net once more, failing to even register a shot, before being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee – who has scored just once for his new club – in the closing stages.

Games played

6

Minutes played

343

Goals scored

1

Shots taken

4

Duels won

38%

Aerial duels won

26%

Dribbles completed

40%

The Red Devils have only registered nine league goals in ten matches this season, showcasing their lack of threat, which could hand academy star Chido Obi-Martin an opportunity in the first-team under Amorim before too long.

The 16-year-old joined the Red Devils from Premier League rivals Arsenal during the off-season, originally linking up with the U18 side, but he’s already taking the level by storm despite his tender age.

After notably netting 32 goals in 21 games at U18 level for the Gunners, Obi-Martin registered a hat-trick on his academy debut for his new employers against Nottingham Forest a week ago, before contributing with an assist in the 8-0 rout of Leeds United last weekend.

In The Pipeline

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

Despite being 16, the striker stands at 6 foot 2, having that big presence that Amorim desires in his centre-forwards as seen with Gyokeres at Sporting.

He has the pace to beat the defenders, along with the strength to hold them up, before having a cool head to slot home – leading to former Arsenal academy coach Jack Wilshere dubbing the youngster as “exceptional”.

Given his age, it may take a little bit of time before the new boss utilises the talent within his first team at Old Trafford, but he’s proven he knows where the back of the net is.

The lack of goals will be a concern for the 39-year-old, with Obi-Martin certainly one to watch during Amorim’s tenure in the North West.

Amorim must immediately axe Man Utd flop who earns far more than Mainoo

Manchester United’s deal to sign him has been a complete disaster.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 6, 2024

Southampton are interested in signing a £16 million+ player who has the same agent as Adam Armstrong, according to a recent report from a Sky Sports journalist.

The Saints return to Premier League action this weekend as they welcome leaders Liverpool to St. Mary’s Stadium, looking to bounce back from their defeat to Wolves last time out.

Southampton hit the jackpot selling a star who's now worth £18m less

Southampton sold on this former striker at the best possible time.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 18, 2024 Latest Southampton news

As their game against Liverpool approaches, one concern that will be on Russell Martin’s mind is who plays in goal for his side. That is because Southampton suffered a major injury blow at the start of the international break, as Aaron Ramsdale withdrew from England duty as he suffered a suspected fractured finger and is now looking at a spell on the sidelines.

But this international break wasn’t all doom and gloom for Southampton and some of their players, as defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis scored on his England debut against the Republic of Ireland. He described it as a “magical” night at Wembley on Sunday as England won 5-0.

He said: “It is every young kid’s dream to make their debut for England, but to get a goal was magical. I was given a few hints on Saturday that I would be needed at some point, so I was just getting myself ready for that, but you also don’t believe it until it happens. When I got the nod to come on, I was over the moon. I fancied myself in the box as I like scoring headers.

“They have always spoken about how there is a pathway [from under-21s to first team], even when Gareth Southgate was in charge. We know the door is open if we take our chances. Playing for my country at every level is something I take great pride in. To play for the seniors is what dreams are made of. It is the pinnacle of football.”

So, as Martin prepares his side for their important winter run of games, the club have their eyes on a player who they could look to sign in January.

Southampton eye move for £16m+ gem with same agent as Armstrong

According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Southampton are interested in signing Hertha Berlin’s Ibrahim Maza. The Algerian international has been with the German side from an early age but has only just recently broken into the first-team set-up.

The 18-year-old has performed very well for Hertha Berlin in Bundesliga 2 this season, as he’s got three goals and two assists to his name in 12 games. Maza is more known for being an attacking midfielder, but he also has the ability to play as a winger, as well as a striker if needed.

Plettenberg reports that Maza is being scouted by a number of Premier League clubs, with Southampton making regular checks on him, as well as Wolverhampton Wanderers. But they are not the only teams interested from England, as Fulham, Leicester City, Newcastle United, and West Ham are also keeping a close eye on the midfielder.

Games

25

Goals

4

Assists

4

Hertha Berlin want Maza to be part of their promotion push this season, so a move in January could be difficult for the Saints to complete. However, should they fail to be promoted, Maza will likely leave the German side and would be available for a fee of £8-16.7 million. It will obviously depend on where Southampton are playing their football next season, but they could have an advantage in the race, as Maza has the same agent, CAA Stellar, as current Saints striker Armstrong.

Crystal Palace finished tenth in the Premier League last season, changing managers halfway through the campaign, and navigating their way to their joint-best finish since hitting the top flight.

The Eagles spent €67.80m (£56.5m) during the 2023/24 season, making six permanent signings, two of which came in the January window. Palace didn’t make any money from sales that season, but club legend, Wilfried Zaha, did leave on a free.

Matheus Franca, Dean Henderson, Daniel Munoz, Rob Holding and Jefferson Lerma were five of the six signings, but the best of the bunch was one made in January, who could turn out to be their most valuable asset since Michael Olise.

Michael Olise at Crystal Palace

The 22-year-old made 90 appearances in all competitions for the Eagles, scoring 16 goals, providing 25 assists, and totalling 5,782 minutes played.

Last season, in just 19 Premier League games, Olise scored ten goals, and provided six assists, thriving in an inside right position for Oliver Glasner, which led to the Frenchman attracting interest from Europe’s elite.

Olise was sold to Bayern Munich in the summer, raking in a fee of around £50.8m. Yet they could still have a player on his way to being worth double that of Olise, bought in the 2023/24 season, and already showing signs of a world-class midfielder in the making.

Crystal Palace's £100m star in the making

Adam Wharton was signed from Blackburn for a fee of around £18m, with possible add-ons of £4m. Since joining the club, the 20-year-old midfielder has made 26 appearances, yet to score a goal, providing four assists, and totaling 1,978 minutes played.

The English midfielder is already seen as a similar profile to Declan Rice and Bruno Guimaraes, according to FBref, both of whom are perceived to be two of the best midfielders in the league. Wharton is currently absent, having had groin surgery, after playing in pain for the past couple of months.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Wharton

Rice

Guimaraes

Progressive Carries

0.87

2.13

1.38

Progressive Passes

8.84

5.82

6.51

Passes Attempted

52.5

50.6

50.4

Pass Completion %

78.7%

82.8%

82.0%

Shots Total

1.35

1.07

1.32

Passes into Final Third

5.65

4.02

5.23

Key Passes

1.16

1.23

0.64

Shot-Creating Actions

3.77

2.79

2.75

Tackles

2.61

1.72

2.48

Interceptions

1.35

1.07

0.93

Wharton is already showing his class at such a young age, bettering Rice and Guimaraes in seven of the ten metrics analysed above. His ability to make progressive passes, dictate play during build-up in a composed fashion, and still make defensive actions to protect his side in transition, makes him an extremely valuable asset, even at just 20 years old.

The fact he makes more tackles and interceptions than Rice and Guimaraes, whilst also having better numbers than them for passing metrics, shows just how good he is, especially when you consider the former West Ham United skipper was signed by the Gunners for a fee of around £105m, while the Brazilian was believed to have a release clause of £100m over the summer.

Wharton is already seen as the ninth most valuable defensive midfielder under 21-years-old, by CIES Football Observatory, but with interest being speculated from Manchester City and Liverpool, the midfield sensation could soon be seen as a £100m man in the mould of Rice and Guimaraes, eclipsing the value of their most recent high profile sale, Olise.

Crystal Palace struck gold with "wizard" who was sold for 535% profit

The incredible talent was sensational for Crystal Palace.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 12, 2024

Manchester United have been credited with an ongoing interest in a new forward in recent months, and now a familiar name has resurfaced as Ruben Amorim looks to tune his squad to his style of play.

Amorim begins Manchester United reign

A 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town kickstarted Amorim’s Premier League tenure at Old Trafford and offered a stark reminder of just how much work was needed in Manchester.

Opting for a midfield duo of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, the pair offered little by way of mobility, while Diogo Dalot and Jonny Evans are likely to be ousted from any first-choice XI in the months to come.

Man Utd now want to sign "tough-tackling" £24k-p/w star who Amorim loves

He could be the perfect addition for the Red Devils in 2025.

ByBen Browning Nov 25, 2024

Up front, Marcus Rashford opened the scoring but offered little else, while neither Rasmus Hojlund nor Joshua Zirkzee inspired confidence when they were introduced from the bench.

The need for a new forward is clear despite hefty investment in recent months, and United continue to be linked with a move for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres given his links to Amorim.

However, they also appear to be keeping a close eye on another impressive option.

Manchester United monitoring Premier League ace

A fresh report has revealed that Manchester United remain keen on signing Matheus Cunha in the transfer windows ahead.

United reportedly already held talks over signing the Brazil star in the most recent summer transfer window, but ultimately opted to sign Zirkzee – a decision that has not yet borne fruit, with the pair enjoying contrasting starts to the campaign.

Joshua Zirkzee

Matheus Cunha

Appearances

12

12

Goals

1

7

Assists

1

3

Shots on target per 90

1.18

1.2

Minutes per goal/assist

226

97.8

Now, they have retained that interest despite signing the Netherlands international, with the report claiming that “Manchester United and Tottenham are monitoring Cunha”, who still has two and a half years left to run on his £60,000-a-week deal at Molineux.

However, they will be forced to wait before making any move for the Brazilian, with the report adding that “Wolves insist no key men will be sold in the January transfer window” as they look to battle relegation, with Cunha a star man for Gary O’Neil as he singlehandedly wins points for the Old Gold, racking up ten goal involvements thus far in the process.

Earlier this season, he was hailed by pundit Micah Richards, who explained: “His football IQ is absolutely sensational. He’s the one who can unlock the doors. He finds the little pockets of space and makes the right decisions at the right times.”

It is claimed that “Wolves are aware of interest in Cunha” but “insist no sales will happen in January” – a decision that could actually work in Manchester United’s favour given reports of their limited budget in the new year, allowing one of their targets to be pushed down the priority list until the summer when increased funds may be available.

Of course, Cunha is well-versed in playing in a back-three system, having done so in Madrid and Wolverhampton to good effect.

The 25-year-old took time to warm to the Premier League following his move from Atlético Madrid, but now appears to be developing a clinical edge that was previously missing from his game, and Wolves could be set to make a massive profit on the £45m they shelled out to bring him to the Midlands.

In what should boost their chances of securing his signature, one Manchester United transfer target is now reportedly keen on completing a move to the Premier League next summer.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils’ problems have continued to be exposed under new manager Ruben Amorim, who has been left to pick up the many pieces left behind by Erik ten Hag’s Old Trafford failure. When INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrived, it truly seemed like a new era as fresh faces arrived behind the scenes and a new transfer policy emerged.

Man Utd willing to bid £30m+ to land bargain deal for "great" new signing

He could partner De Ligt and Maguire.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 8, 2024

However, after just one year at the helm, those whom many believed would be the ones to turn the club back in the right direction are beginning to make one wrong turn too many.

Starting with the end of last season when they decided to extend Ten Hag’s contract, INEOS have since sacked the Dutchman and most recently parted ways with their first-ever sporting director Dan Ashworth in a shock move.

Things aren’t going a lot better on the pitch, either, with Amorim suffering his second Premier League defeat in as many games in a 3-2 loss against Nottingham Forest this weekend. Swept aside by Arsenal and Forest in the same week, the extent of Amorim’s task has become clearer than ever at Old Trafford.

A true judgement can be made on the new manager’s progress when he has the chance to stamp his mark on the current squad rather than placing square pegs in round holes in the current campaign.

With that said, the Red Devils have reportedly been handed a transfer boost. According to CaughtOffside, Jonathan David is now keen on a move to the Premier League and could yet emerge to solve United’s striker problem given that INEOS appear to have previously made contact with his representatives over a free transfer at the end of his current Lille contract this summer.

"Strong" David would be an instant upgrade

As if well aware that he needs to impress ahead of a Lille departure next summer, David has been on fire so far this season – scoring a stunning 17 goals in 23 games and assisting a further three to boost his involvement even more. At just 24 years old, he will undoubtedly be one of the bargains of the summer – and one that Manchester United should go all out for.

The forward has earned deserved praise over the years, including from Premier League legend Thierry Henry, who previously said (via The Boot Room): “When you have a player like Jonathan David, who runs the way he does, in behind, his directness.

“Don’t ask him to come to play or assist because he has none this season. If he sees the centre-back dropping, then he will go in behind. But as soon as he sees there is a gap, he will run and he is also pretty strong too and he loves contacts.”