All posts by z3u9t.icu

Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar and the Gunners recruitment team have already been linked with a few interesting players heading into next year, but it is believed one star in particular is top of their agenda.

Arsenal laying groundwork for 2025 signings after fruitful summer

The north Londoners spent just above £100 million on five key additions before the summer deadline, with David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, Neto and Raheem Sterling all putting pen to paper on moves to the Emirates Stadium.

Ornstein suggests £240,000-per-week Arsenal star has a "significant" injury

The Gunners are gearing up for their opening Champions League game of the season.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 18, 2024

Arsenal spent £27 million on Raya after agreeing an obligation to buy the Spaniard following his 2023/2024 season-long loan, with Edu also agreeing a £42m deal to sign Calafiori from Bologna.

Merino joined Arsenal for £32 million, having decided to swap Real Sociedad for the Premier League, but Arsenal’s most headline-grabbing transfer deal came right at the eleventh hour on deadline day.

Alongside back-up keeper Neto, Arsenal agreed a season-loan for ex-Man City star Sterling from Chelsea, who Arteta knows very well from his time with the Sky Blues.

Goals

19

Assists

12

Yellow cards

13

Red cards

0

Minutes played

5,335

The Englishman made his debut for Arsenal on Sunday, coming on for 10 minutes during their 1-0 North London Derby win away to Tottenham, and there is hope he can resurrect his career in north London following a lacklustre two seasons at Chelsea compared to previous years at City.

While plenty of business was done over the summer, with Arsenal also agreeing a host of outgoings, Edu is on record stating that transfer planning is always ongoing behind the scenes.

“You can’t sign for the sake of signing. It has to be a process that takes weeks and weeks,” said Edu on Arsenal’s recruitment policy in an interview with Estadao earlier this year.

“On my desk, I have reports of over 180 pages on one player. It’s really detailed stuff. Physical, technical, mental profile, whether he has Premier League experience, whether he’ll be able to adapt. Everything. We analyse our deficiencies, where we can improve, where we can invest and then we go in search of that new name. We’ve been discussing what I’m going to do now since January. It’s not my decision or Mikel’s. It’s a group decision.”

According to recent reports, Arsenal are targeting Jonathan David as his Lille contract expires in 2025, making him a potential free agent option. As well as this, Edu is believed to be eyeing Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich, with the Canadian star also out of contract next summer.

Another Bayern Munich star in winger Leroy Sane is attracting rumoured Arsenal interest too, so it appears Edu’s planning could be firmly underway for 2025.

Edu prioritising Arsenal deal for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko

According to CaughtOffside, while David is a player who the Gunners admire, RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is top of their agenda once again.

Arsenal failed with a proposal to sign Sesko in the summer, who rejected their advances in favour of a contract extension at Leipzig. However, it is believed that the Slovenia international has a “gentleman’s agreement” to leave the Bundesliga side in 2025 or 2026 (Fabrizio Romano), meaning a future move to Arsenal remains on the cards.

CaughtOffside claim Edu is prioritising an Arsenal deal for Sesko next year, so this could be one to watch. The 21-year-old scored 18 goals in all competitions last season and has got off to a good start this campaign with a goal and two assists from his first four games.

There are suggestions that Sesko’s new contract includes a £63m release clause, but it is unclear whether Arsenal would be open to paying that figure.

Former England international and now pundit Carlton Palmer has buzzed at a “fantastic” piece of news that has emerged regarding one Burnley player.

Burnley off to solid Championship start

Scott Parker’s side have made a promising start to the new season, sitting in fourth place in the Championship heading into the weekend action. Only one defeat has come their way in the opening five matches, with belief growing that a quickfire return to the Premier League could be on the cards.

Next up for Burnley is the visit of Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon, in a game that the Clarets will be strong favourites in, as they look to narrow the gap on current league leaders West Brom, who are three points clear of them currently.

Burnley conducted some strong business in the summer transfer window, bringing in the likes of Mike Tresor, Maxime Esteve and Hannibal Mejbri, but keeping hold of important figures was also key.

Pundit loves "fantastic news" on Burnley star Koleosho

Speaking to Football League World, Palmer spoke of his delight at Burnley youngster Luca Koleosho signing a new deal at the club in recent weeks, describing it as “fantastic”:

“It’s very important to keep your best players, especially the young ones, and he’s 20-years-old, very exciting and it was a shame he picked up an injury last season. But, he’s back now, and he’s up and running, scoring against Cardiff and Leeds. It was of paramount importance to keep the youngster. We know when you’ve got good young players that the top clubs will come looking.

“Burnley have got their sights on getting back into the Premier League, so it’s fantastic news that Koleosho is remaining at the club. Scott Parker has done a great job so far, the players are enjoying their football and hopefully they can continue carrying on as they look to win promotion.”

Koleosho has shown what a big player he is going to be for Burnley moving forward, having enjoyed such a positive start to the 2024/25 season.

The 20-year-old has scored twice in four Championship appearances, finding the net against Cardiff City and Leeds United. Former Clarets manager Vincent Kompany has also heaped praise on him in the past, saying:

“He’s just a fearless player, it doesn’t really matter who he’s up against. He was up against a top full-back against Arsenal but he’s done it in every single game, because in every game he’s managed to create and make something happen.”

Sometimes, keeping a player is just as important as any new signing that comes in and the idea of Burnley losing Koleosho at this point in his career doesn’t bear thinking about, so tying him down until the summer of 2029 feels significant.

Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season

Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025

The hope is that the young winger matures as the years pass, remaining at Turf Moor for as long as possible and helping his side get back into the Premier League, but there is sure to be further interest in him if he continues on this current trajectory.

Manchester City are weighing up whether to make a move in January to replace the injured Rodri, with a Brazil international one of two players they are looking at, according to a recent report.

Man City eyeing Vlahovic move as Juve prepare to take huge loss on £66m fee

City could soon land their long-term replacement for Julian Alvarez.

ByBrett Worthington Oct 1, 2024 Man City transfer news

Pep Guardiola is going to be without Rodri for the rest of the season, which leaves a big hole in City’s midfield even despite the emergence of Rico Lewis in that role. This means the club has a decision to make when January arrives about possibly replacing the Euro 2024 winner with an outside signing.

It has been reported already that Man City are in talks with Torino over the signing of Samuel Ricci. The 23-year-old is seen as a future star in that position, and the Blues could look to pursue a move when the January transfer window opens.

As well as Ricci, it was reported earlier this week that Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella is of interest to City. This report stated that the Italian was considered a top target for City, as he impressed Guardiola last month when the two teams met in the Champions League. However, a deal in January may be difficult to make happen, as Barella has not long ago signed a new contract and Inter are said to value him at £75 million.

Man City eye £51m-rated star as possible Rodri replacement

According to Caught Offside, Manchester City are interested in signing Atalanta’s Ederson as they consider whether to sign a replacement for Rodri in the winter window. As well as looking at Ederson, the Blues are also interested in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, but face competition from other Premier League teams for his signature as well as a massive price tag from the Eagles.

City are not going to panic and rush into the market for a replacement, but this report states that they have “stepped up their efforts” in monitoring Ederson, sending scouts to Atalanta games to keep an eye on the physical and tough-tackling midfielder.

Ederson has been in impressive form since joining the Serie A side, and he played a key role in their Europa League triumph last season. He was then the subject of interest from Manchester United and Liverpool during the summer, with it being reported that he had a price tag of 60 million euros, which is roughly £51 million.

Apps

98

Goals

8

Assists

3

This report goes on to add that Ederson would be City’s preference at this moment in time, but it remains unclear if the Serie A side will let go of one of their key players midway through the campaign. The 25-year-old has started all of Atalanta’s games this season; he has yet to grab a goal but has provided an assist in Serie A. The midfielder has also been capped by Brazil twice, as he starts to get recognition on the international stage.

Ahead of their return to Premier League action against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend, Newcastle United have reportedly received a second injury boost alongside Alexander Isak’s return.

Newcastle injury news

After injuries controlled the narrative for much of Newcastle’s last campaign and they failed to welcome further depth in the summer transfer window, concerns would have started to creep in when Eddie Howe was struggling for numbers once again before the international break. With defeat at Fulham followed by two draws against Manchester City and Everton, the Magpies desperately needed some reprieve.

Handed that break courtesy of the international break, Howe’s side have since been handed the positive news of Isak’s return to training ahead of their clash against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.

Newcastle have been without a goal in open play since his injury against Fulham four games ago, highlighting just how crucial a role he plays at St James’ Park. As they look to get back to their best in front of goal, however, the Swede isn’t the only one set to make a Newcastle return.

Newcastle may now lose £120k-p/w star after contract talks reach standstill

According to reports, Newcastle United are now at risk of losing one of Eddie Howe’s key men.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 16, 2024

As reported by the Shields Gazette, Callum Wilson is also back in training and in line to make his return for the first time in five months against Brighton this weekend. The veteran forward has been sidelined all season, but is finally set to make his return and hand the Magpies much-needed depth behind Isak.

Howe confirmed the returns in his press conference, telling reporters: “I don’t think they’ve been fit together for a sustained period for a long time. That’s had a negative effect on us a team of course because they’re two outstanding players, but also for themselves.

“They almost need each other to help propel them to their best performances. There’s nothing like that pressure of someone else competing for your shirt or playing with you, because when they’ve played together they’ve done really well together, albeit we haven’t seen it as much as we’d like.

“They’re two hugely influential characters off the pitch as well. Callum we’ve talked about many times, his energy and positivity. Alex is a totally different character but there’s an aura about him. We’re a much better team when we have both players around.”

"Outstanding" Wilson still has role to play at Newcastle

Whilst his current £46,000-a-week contract is set to expire at the end of the season and it remains to be seen whether he’ll put pen to paper on a new contract, Wilson still has a role to play at St James’ Park this season, and an important one at that.

An experienced forward, had Wilson been available in Isak’s absence then those draws against Manchester City and Everton, especially the latter, may have ended in three points.

As the festive fixtures approach, having both Isak and Wilson available should prove to be a major boost for Howe and Newcastle in pursuit of European qualification this season.

Aston Villa are set to be plunged further into a mini early season injury crisis as they return to Premier League action against Fulham after the October international break, it has been reported.

Aston Villa injury latest

Unai Emery’s side have put together an impressive start to the season, currently fifth in the Premier League, level on points with Chelsea and just one loss across all competitions. Their strong Premier League form has been backed up in other competitions, with two wins from their opening two Champions League games including a historic evening at Villa Park that saw them beat German giants Bayern Munich 1-0.

They are also in the next round of the Carabao Cup after a 2-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers, setting up a tie with Leicester City.

This has all come against a backdrop of injury concerns, with captain John McGinn still sidelined with a hamstring issue and not expected to return in time to face Fulham, while long-term absentees Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara both work their way back to full fitness from knee injuries and Emiliano Buendia is being slowly reintroduced.

Amadou Onana and Jacob Ramsey also both missed their 0-0 draw with Manchester United before the international break, while Ezri Konsa went down in the early stages of that clash and had to be replaced, limping around the pitch with an injury that Unai Emery later admitted he was unsure of the severity of.

“I don’t know exactly, but I think it’s the hamstring. We don’t know if it’s a big or small injury. Hopefully, it’ll be a small injury,” he explained. Now, another player may miss the clash with the high-flying Cottagers.

Aston Villa’s injury list as it stands

Player

Issue

Tyrone Mings

Knee

Boubacar Kamara

Knee

John McGinn

Hamstring

Jacob Ramsey

Groin

Amadou Onana

Thigh

Ezri Konsa

Hamstring

Aston Villa winger a doubt for Fulham tie

That comes as The Athletic report that winger Jadon Philogene has picked up a knock while on international duty with England’s U21 side and is now a major doubt to face Marco Silva’s side. The winger was re-signed over the summer from Hull City, penning a five year deal worth £40,000 a week.

He had started each of Villa’s last two games against Bayern Munich and Manchester United, and was just beginning to find his feet at Villa Park.

Unai Emery helped keep Aston Villa gem after £4m bid from Nottingham Forest

His decision has already been justified in a major way.

ByBen Browning Oct 14, 2024

However, the report claims that after being withdrawn against Ukraine in the closing stages, Philogene “underwent scans on Monday” after an injury scare. Fortunately, the injury is not thought to be serious, which means that Philogene could return in the short term even if he is unable to recover in time to take on Fulham.

Emery will be hoping that his side can continue their strong form even without a host of first team options, with those out injured only set to add further depth to his squad as they return when the season wears on, aiding Villa’s bid for back to back top four finishes for the first time in their recent history.

West Ham spent the best part of £120m last summer, making five new signings, four of which were considered big first-team additions to improve the squad ahead of their 2023/24 campaign, after their UEFA Conference League success.

The best deal of the lot is looking to be Mohammed Kudus, who joined from Ajax for just £38m, making 55 appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals and providing seven assists in 4,204 minutes played.

Player

Fee (£)

Mohammed Kudus

£38m

Edson Alvarez

£35.4m

James Ward-Prowse

£30m

Konstantinos Mavropanos

£19m

Andy Irving

£1.4m

West Ham also spent £19m on central defender Konstantinos Mavropanos from Stuttgart, who made 33 appearances for the Hammers last season, scoring once, and totalling 2,706 minutes played.

But to replace Declan Rice, the Hammers made a few signings, with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse joining the club, one of which is still there, and one of which is now already out on loan elsewhere.

It’s safe to say of all those signings, it is Kudus who has enjoyed a far better year…

Mohammed Kudus' time at West Ham

Kudus made 45 appearances in his first campaign for West Ham, scoring 14 goals, providing six assists, and totalling 3,511 minutes played.

The 24-year-old’s ability to drive with the ball, carry the team forward, create chances for himself and others, and unleash shots from a variety of zones, makes him an excellent addition for the Hammers.

This season has started in slower fashion for Kudus, scoring just two goals in his ten appearances, as West Ham have struggled to get going under new manager, Julen Lopetegui.

The Ghana international, who is currently earning £90k-per-week, will also now serve a three-match ban, after his red card against Tottenham at the weekend. But another player on West Ham’s books was also sent off a few weeks ago, and he is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest.

Comparatively, he has not really earned the wage he’s been taking home.

James Ward-Prowse's failed time at West Ham

West Ham completed the signing of James Ward-Prowse in 2023, joining the club from Southampton for around £30m.

The 29-year-old midfielder is on £115k-per-week and £6m-per-year at West Ham, earning more than Kudus, Emerson, Alvarez, Tomas Soucek, and Michail Antonio, all players who remain a key part of the first-team squad.

The Englishman made 51 appearances for the Hammers last season, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists but he flattered to deceive. Now, the midfielder is on loan at Nottingham Forest for the duration of the 2024/25 season having been alienated by the new manager.

Goals

0.15

0.06

0.23

Assists

0.26

0.06

0.07

xG

0.15

0.06

0.20

Progressive Carries

0.62

0.78

0.41

Progressive Passes

4.48

3.53

2.89

Pass Completion %

83.6%

86.1%

76.1%

Tackles

1.25

2.91

1.52

Blocks

0.90

2.16

1.57

Interceptions

1.01

1.55

1.26

Aerials Won

0.79

1.16

3.40

These metrics show Ward-Prowse only outperformed the other West Ham midfield options in two areas, with the most progressive passes per 90, and the most assists per 90.

However, with plenty of their progression and creation coming from more forward-thinking players, the other metrics such as defensive actions, and pass accuracy became more important to the team, which Alvarez and Soucek covered better.

Extra defensive qualities, including the height of Alvarez and Soucek, was needed for David Moyes’ side, and as Lucas Paqueta could offer plenty of what Ward-Prowse was offering the team, he became less important and thus has been moved on by Lopetegui.

That’s helped cater for new midfielders such as Guido Rodriguez and Carlos Soler.

West Ham must sack Lopetegui to appoint manager who's a "class act"

Lopetegui could be in trouble, and West Ham must appoint “class act” 4-3-3 head coach as a replacement.

ByConnor Holden Oct 21, 2024

Arsenal supporters have been handed some relief in regard to the club’s transfer planning, in the wake of sporting director Edu Gaspar’s sudden departure from N5.

Edu announces Arsenal exit after five-year stay

The former Gunners midfielder was arguably one of Arsenal’s finest off-field appointments in recent years, with the high-ranking club chief playing a key role in transforming them from a mid-table side to genuine Premier League title contenders.

Edu tried to sign Barcelona superstar before Arsenal exit with talks held

He was a key target for the Brazilian.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 5, 2024

The Brazilian, who was responsible for an array of key first-team signings and Mikel Arteta’s appointment, is now drawing the curtain on a memorable five-year stay at the Emirates – after it was announced on Monday that he is officially parting company.

Chelsea (away)

November 10

Nottingham Forest (home)

November 23

West Ham United (away)

November 30

Man United (home)

December 4

Fulham (away)

December 8

The news appeared to come out of nowhere, and it was the last thing fans wanted to hear, following a run of disappointing top-flight results which have left Arsenal playing catch up in the title race and seven points behind leaders Liverpool.

Edu now appears set to work under Evangelos Marinakis, where he will head up operations to oversee the development of clubs like Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Rio Ave under the Greek’s umbrella.

Jason Ayto could be a clear choice to replace Edu at Arsenal, considering how closely he has worked with the 46-year-old during their time together in north London. For now, those within and outside the club will be thankful for Edu’s influential services and saddened by his exit.

“We respect Edu’s decision and thank him for his immense contribution and dedication to drive the club forward,” said club co-chair Josh Kroenke in a statement.

“Everyone at the club wishes him well. We are all so fond of him and the positive energy he brings to everything and everyone. Change and evolution is a part of our club. We remain focused on our strategy and winning major trophies. Our succession plan will reflect this continued ambition.”

Comforting Arsenal transfer update shared after Edu Gaspar exit

Naturally, questions have been asked about how this impacts Arsenal in terms of preparation for both January and next summer.

Reliable journalist Simon Collings, writing a piece for Standard Sport, has shared a comforting update on Arsenal’s transfer plans after Edu’s exit this afternoon.

Indeed, he writes that Arsenal’s transfer groundwork is often done well in advance, sometimes even 12 months, and the club’s remaining executive team have real experience conducting marquee deals – so it appears they will be more than capable of filling in while Arsenal contemplate how best to replace Edu long-term.

In a time like this, the club’s all-round structure will be put to the test, as well as their general recruitment team, so it will be very interesting to see how they cope without Edu as Arteta chases a first league title for Arsenal in 21 years.

After the excitement of emphatically beating Champions League-chasing Aston Villa in the Premier League last weekend, Tottenham Hotspur went on to lose their following two games.

Ange Postecoglou has been able to turn his Spurs side into one of the most exciting and entertaining teams to watch in the entire country, but he has yet to be able to drill their inconsistent streak out of them.

The North Londoners can look near enough unstoppable one day and easily beatable the next, and if the Australian doesn’t do something about this soon, he could be in trouble.

Fortunately, there is something he could try, something Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta did a few years ago when his position was under increasing scrutiny.

Spurs' up and down season

So, it’s quite challenging to decide whether this season has been a good one for Spurs just yet, as following a poor start in which they drew to Leicester City and lost to Arsenal and Newcastle United, their form has been a little all over the place.

Games

11

4

2

Wins

5

3

2

Draws

1

0

0

Losses

5

1

0

Goals For

23

8

4

Goals Against

13

5

2

For example, in the Premier League, the North Londoners have hammered the high-flying Brentford, tore Manchester United to pieces at Old Trafford, thumped West Ham United and Villa 4-1 and yet, they have also handed Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace their only wins of the season and managed to throw away a 2-0 lead in their game against Brighton & Hove Albion last month.

This inconsistency has even followed the Lilywhites into the Europa League, as last week they came away 3–2 losers from their clash with Galatasaray.

Moreover, with the chances the Turkish side had in that game, the final score was really quite flattering to Postecoglou’s side.

What makes the whole situation even more confusing is that while some players have been notably poor this season, like Radu Dragusin, who was sent off on his Europa League debut for the club, and Timo Werner, whose only positive contributions so far this season has been his performance against Manchester City in the League Cup, it’s hard to determine just why the team cannot maintain a good run of form.

The most straightforward answer may just be that the side are still adapting to Postecoglou’s style and philosophy, and therefore, fans should expect more teething problems as the season progresses.

However, if that’s the case, the manager may want to copy something Arteta did a few years ago, something that could both get more fans back on side and pay dividends in the coming campaigns: start Mikey Moore.

Chalkboard

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

Why Postecoglou must start playing Moore

Yes, one of the ways Postecoglou could get a reaction out of his team and potentially please some unsure fans at the same time is to involve Moore in much more football this season once he gets over his current illness.

Now, we don’t mean bringing him off the bench every few games or starting him in the cup competitions.

Instead, the manager should be giving the highly-rated, hungry and “fearless” youngster, as dubbed by James Maddison, the opportunity to start a considerable number of games this season.

There may be some who’ll argue that he’s too young, but as the old adage goes, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough, and based on his sensational performance against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, for which he won the Man of the Match award and was compared to Neymar by Maddison, he’s certainly good enough.

Moreover, while it is only junior football, his form for the Lilywhite’s youth teams is simply staggering.

Games

24

4

5

Goals

19

1

0

Assists

13

2

0

Goal Involvements *

1.33

0.75

0.00

In 33 games for the various junior sides, the up-and-coming “superstar”, as dubbed by journalist Fabrizio Romano, has scored 20 goals and provided 15 assists, so keeping him at that level feels entirely pointless.

Lastly, for the fans who are unsure, you only have to look down the road at your bitter rivals, as when Arteta was under immense pressure a few years ago, he and the rest of the team were dragged out of the depths by a 19-year-old Bukayo Saka and 20-year-old Emile Smith Rowe.

They were both massively inexperienced in the 2020/21 season, yet Saka ended the campaign with a haul of seven goals and nine assists from 46 appearances, and Smith Rowe racked up seven goals and seven assists in 37 games, but perhaps more importantly, they helped to get fans back on side and were shaped by the manager.

Ultimately, it is a lot to ask of Moore, but given the esteem in which he is held by so many in the know, it feels more like a matter of when and not if Postecoglou starts handing him more and more game time and, given the pressure he currently finds himself under, why not now?

Their own Osimhen: Spurs could land dream Solanke rival in £84m monster

The exceptional centre-forward would be a game-changing addition to the Spurs squad.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 8, 2024

Glasgow Rangers return from the international break with a key run of fixtures between now and the start of January.

They face two European ties, several Premiership matches, with an Old Firm League Cup final sandwich in between everything. There is no doubt the next few weeks could make or break the Light Blues campaign.

Will Philippe Clement be in charge for much longer, however? As rumours about his future have been ongoing for the previous few weeks.

Philippe Clement’s Rangers future

The Belgian looked like his time in Glasgow was up just a few weeks ago, as the Gers suffered domestic defeats to Aberdeen and Kilmarnock, slipping nine points behind the former in the table.

With the chase for a 56th league title seemingly over after just a few months, Clement was a man under pressure. He did sign a contract extension in August, however, which would cost the club a fortune to pay off early.

In the latest turn of events, the 50-year-old has been linked with the Belgium job due to his former CEO at Club Brugge, Vincent Mannaert, securing a top role within the Belgian FA.

If they did turn to Clement, a compensation fee would need to be paid to the Gers, saving the club from shelling out millions in the process.

While unlikely, in football, anything can happen. Who could the Glasgow side approach as their new manager should Clement depart in the coming weeks?

One name stands out more than the others and he is currently a free agent…

Why Rangers should turn to Ruud Van Nistelrooy

Ruud Van Nistelrooy finds himself back in the job market after leaving Manchester United upon Ruben Amorim’s appointment a few weeks ago.

The 48-year-old joined United in the summer as an assistant to Erik ten Hag, but after a caretaker spell which saw him win three of his four matches in charge, he wasn’t retained.

Hailed as “very ambitious and very driven” by Ten Hag, the former United striker has prior experience of managing a big European team.

During the 2022/23 campaign, Van Nistelrooy was in charge of PSV Eindhoven, operating with a 4-3-3 system which could work well with the current Rangers squad.

Stat

Ranking

Goals per 90

First – 2.6

Big chances

First – 128

Expected Goals

First – 82.9

Accurate crosses per 90

First – 6.4

Shots on target per 90

Second – 7.3

While he may have suffered a two-legged defeat to the Ibrox side in the Champions League qualifiers, PSV did win the Dutch Cup that term, while scoring 127 goals across 50 competitive matches, losing just eight games all season.

It was certainly a positive season which built the foundations for the club to win the Eredivisie title last term and the Dutchman would be seen as a progressive appointment by the Ibrox faithful.

He won’t be available for long, as his short caretaker spell at Old Trafford has boosted his profile considerably, therefore the club must act swiftly.

Much will depend on Clement’s situation, but Van Nistelrooy would make a wonderful replacement, no doubt about that.

Rangers must sack Clement to appoint manager with 3 league title wins

The Glasgow Rangers head coach has endured a difficult start to the season.

ByDan Emery Nov 21, 2024

Leeds United missed the chance to move above Sheffield United at the Championship summit after falling to a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon.

A win would have seen Daniel Farke’s men move into top spot in the division on goal difference, yet the Whites ultimately walked away with nothing, as Todd Cantwell’s first-half penalty proved to be the game’s defining moment.

The manner of the loss will no doubt rankle with Leeds supporters, not least Farke’s decision not to change things up until the 70th-minute mark, with those late alterations doing little to spark the visitors into life.

While the German tactician may then need to look at himself following that outing at Ewood Park, questions must also be asked of a number of his side on the day, with far too many having been off the boil.

How Leeds fared against Blackburn

While it may have been Ao Tanaka who bundled over Tyrhys Dolan to hand the hosts that decisive spot kick, the summer signing wasn’t alone in looking shaky defensively, with Junior Firpo having also been under-par at left-back.

The former Barcelona man notably lost the ball on 12 occasions and won just six of his 11 total duels, as per Sofascore, on what was the defender’s first outing since the defeat to Millwall.

Perhaps a greater issue, however, was the lack of creativity and quality in the attacking ranks, with United States international, Brenden Aaronson, failing to provide a single key pass in his number ten berth.

Stat

Highest ranking

Touches

Joe Rodon (116)

Accurate passes

Joe Rodon (90)

Key passes

Dan James (3)

Possession lost

Aynsley Pears (22)

Duels won

Tyrhys Dolan (10)

Aerial duels won

Danny Batth (6)

Tackles

Ao Tanaka (5)

Dribbled past

Tyrhys Dolan (4)

Shots on target

Wilfried Gnonto (3)

The former Red Bull Salzburg man was, unsurprisingly, among the trio to make way in that first raft of changes, having now gone five league games without contributing a goal or an assist. Grim reading for any playmaker.

In the words of journalist Beren Cross, the 24-year-old was “well off it”, as too – he said – was Joel Piroe, with the Dutch marksman again proving a major issue when leading the line.

The Leeds star who must now be dropped

Piroe, it must be said, remains something of an enigma for the Elland Road side. The one-time Swansea City and PSV Eindhoven man does boast a haul of seven goals this season, yet he is far from a traditional, orthodox number nine.

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As journalist Graham Smyth noted during the encounter, “part of Leeds’ problem” is the way in which Piroe seeks to drop deep or pop up in wide areas, rather than get himself inside the penalty area.

That said, the 25-year-old failed to offer much when he did move away from his centre-forward berth, having been restricted to just 27 touches in total – fewer than teammate Illan Meslier in the sticks (30).

Equally, the misfiring marksman – who did score last time out against Luton Town – also recorded a pass accuracy rate of just 73% and failed to win any of his four total duels, having also lost the ball on eight occasions prior to being withdrawn late on.

As Cross noted in his post-match player ratings for Leeds Live, Piroe – who was awarded a measly 3/10 match rating – was ‘really poor’ and ‘barely involved’, with a decision now needing to be made ahead of next week’s clash with Derby County.

With young Mateo Joseph offering a perfect alternative through the middle, it might be time for Farke to shake things up moving forward.

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