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Everton are now believed to be interested in completing the signing of a highly rated Spanish defender during the summer transfer window.

Moyes positive after Everton draw with Man Utd

The Blues continued their pre-season with a 2-2 draw against Manchester United on Sunday night, as they prepare for the new Premier League season. Manager David Moyes has been slightly downbeat of late, saying Everton are “not ready” as the 2025/26 campaign approaches, but he was in more positive spirits after the United game.

“I’m more pleased with tonight’s game than I was with the other games because we got something from it.” But it wasn’t so much the result, it was more the performance was much more encouraging. And look, to be fair, we weren’t probably ready in the first two games regarding players fit and available for the games.

“But we knew that tonight we were a bit closer to something which looked like an Everton team. The other games, we’ve not really looked that way. So, yes, much happier tonight.”

Everton still need new signings before the summer transfer window closes, though, and it looks as though they are targeting a player in a key area.

Everton considering offer for £13m Juanlu

According to a new report from TEAMtalk, Everton are “considering” tabling an offer for Sevilla right-back Juanlu Sanchez this summer, with his current club willing to allow him to leave.

The Spaniard is valued at around £13m, and it is claimed that Moyes is now “prioritising the signing of a new right-back following the departure of Ashley Young” at the end of last season.

Juanlu has the potential to be just what Everton are looking for at right-back this summer, having been an ageing area of the pitch in recent years, with Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman limited there. The Sevilla ace is an exciting young player who won the gold medal for Spain at last summer’s Olympics, also being lauded by Garcia Pimienta.

“He has played as an inside midfielder [before], we were short on space in midfield due to Saul [Niguez]’s suspension and [Albert Sambi] Lokonga’s injury. I spoke to him, I knew he could do well in that position. Juanlu has an incredible present and a better future.”

Juanlu has already won four caps for Spain, scoring once for his country in that time, while 74 appearances for Sevilla by the age of 21 is already an impressive return, showing that he can shine in one of Europe’s top leagues.

The youngster would add defensive nous and attacking quality to Everton’s side, giving Moyes much-needed youth at right-back into the future, with his peak still likely to be a number of years away, too.

Former Barcelona player Bernd Schuster has warned Marc-Andre ter Stegen to find a new club if he wants to keep his Germany spot for the 2026 World Cup. Schuster believes the goalkeeper has 'no chance' of reviving his career at Camp Nou given the club’s history of moving on from players who fall out of favour.

• Ter Stegen stuck in the wilderness at Barcelona

  The relationship between Barcelona and Ter Stegen fell apart over the summer as the 33-year-old was told he would be dropped to third choice under coach Hansi Flick in the new season. Due to the arrival of Joan Garcia, the new undisputed starter, from Espanyol and the re-signing of Wojciech Szczesny, the club hoped to convince Ter Stegen to leave in an attempt to get his salary off their books.  

  The tension reached its peak when Ter Stegen, after requiring surgery on a back injury, refused to sign off on the medical report that would confirm to La Liga that he would be out for a lengthy period, which would allow Barcelona to use a large proportion of his salary to cover Garcia's, meaning he could be registered in time for their first game of the season. The German's refusal sparked disciplinary action as he was temporarily stripped of his captaincy, though he eventually relented and granted approval for the report to be sent to La Liga.

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  World Cup hopes at risk unless he leaves Camp Nou

  Due to the injury, the ex-Borussia Monchengladbach star is not expected to return to training for some time, but he is not expected to feature for the Catalan club regardless of his fitness. The shot stopper is reluctant to leave Barcelona after living there for 11 years, but a lack of playing time will likely result in him being left out of the Germany squad for the World Cup. National team coach Julian Nagelsmann has made it clear that he will only start at the tournament if he plays consistently for his club, and ex-Barca and Germany Schuster has warned a move is an absolute necessity.

• Schuster believes Barcelona will not give Ter Stegen another chance

  He told : “Since it’s well known how ruthless Barca can be with players they no longer need, if I were him, I’d look for a new club in the winter. 

  "Flick has clearly put his trust in new signing Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny as the backup. Ter Stegen won’t be given another chance.

  "In my opinion, his new club doesn't have to be an absolute top club. An ambitious Bundesliga club where he plays regularly would also be good. Because that's what he absolutely needs – otherwise, I can well imagine the national coach bringing Manuel Neuer back into the Germany goal for the 2026 World Cup."

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  Time running out for Germany goalkeeper

  With less than a year until the 2026 World Cup, time is running out for the Barcelona veteran. Unless he finds regular playing time soon, he risks losing the Germany No.1 spot he has long been chasing but could never fully claim with Manuel Neuer in the picture. And now, with the Bayern Munich veteran even being urged to return, the pressure is only mounting.

Former U.S. international Herculez Gomez says Ricardo Pepi's availability and fitness could be the deciding factors in whether the PSV Eindhoven striker secures the starting No. 9 role for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup. The 22-year-old forward recently returned for the Dutch champions after recovering from knee surgery that sidelined him for several months.

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  Pepi's finishing quality evident

  The ESPN analyst noted that the position remains wide open for the USMNT ahead of the 2026 World Cup, presenting a significant opportunity for Pepi.

  “I think he has shown, in the brief time he has played, this season and last season when fit, with the USMNT – if he’s fit – he is going to score goals,” Gomez said on Futbol Americas. “He’s got to stay fit, got to stay hungry. Because that No. 9 for the USMNT, if the World Cup is his bar, then it’s a wide open race. It was his, but if you’re not on the field, you’ve already lost it. And he’s not been on the field…

  "I hear a player who is being told to stay patient and I see a player that, in flashes, shows you good things. But I’ve been there myself… I don’t know where he is, only he knows where he is. But he’s got to stay patient, he’s got to stay strong and he’s got to take his chances with the national team when they come.”

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• Club form shows promise

  Since joining PSV Eindhoven in 2023, Pepi has shown glimpses of his potential, when available. The striker has contributed 34 goals in 78 appearances for the club, including key strikes in the Champions League.

  However, a knee injury last season led him to miss a majority of the season, and he has only just recovered, scoring a brace against NEC Nijmegen upon his return to full fitness.

• Striker competition intensifies

  Pepi's fight for the starting role comes amid increasing competition from other American forwards. Folarin Balogun became the favorite after his strong performance in the September friendlies, while Patrick Agyemang endeared himself to Mauricio Pochettino during the Gold Cup.

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  World Cup roster decisions ahead

  With approximately nine months remaining before the 2026 World Cup, time is running short for players to solidify their positions in Pochettino's plans.

  The upcoming international windows in October represent crucial evaluation opportunities.

It is fair to say that it has been an exciting summer for Sunderland since they beat Sheffield United at Wembley to earn promotion to the Premier League.

The Black Cats have not messed about in the summer transfer window, as they have splashed the cash to improve the options at Regis Le Bris’ disposal.

Possibly the most notable addition of the window so far has been the signing of experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £13m.

The Switzerland international has played over 200 games in the Premier League, over 100 matches in the Bundesliga, and over 30 times in the Champions League, per Transfermarkt, and the Black Cats are now on the verge of landing a similarly high-profile signing.

Sunderland set to sign Paris Saint-Germain defender

According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Sunderland have reached an agreement to bring Paris Saint-Germain defender Nordi Mukiele to the Stadium of Light.

Transfer Focus

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

The journalist claims that the 27-year-old is now closing in on a move to Wearside with ‘immediate effect’, and notes that he could be reunited with Xhaka after playing alongside him last season.

Fabrizio Romano adds that Mukiele has already said ‘yes’ to a move to Sunderland, which suggests that there may not be many problems with personal terms.

If the Black Cats can get this deal over the line in the coming hours, the club could have an exciting repeat of their Xhaka masterclass on their hands.

Why Mukiele is a Xhaka repeat for Sunderland

The new Sunderland captain arrived to much fanfare as a vastly experienced and well-known name in European football, particularly in England, and Mukiele would be a similar signing.

Although he does not have the same reputation in England, the France international is a well-known name to anyone who has kept up with European football in the past five years or so, as he has starred for RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayer Leverkusen.

As you can see in the table above, Mukiele has plenty of experience at the top level, with 200 appearances in two of the top five leagues in Europe in his career to date.

Sky Sports contributor Dougie Critchley describes the versatile star, who can play at right-back or centre-back, as a “dominant” defender and a “Champions League level player”, like Xhaka.

These comments and his statistics throughout his career show that Sunderland are on the verge of signing a vastly experienced player who has proven himself on some of the biggest stages in Europe, as was the case when they signed Xhaka from Leverkusen.

Mukiele played 15 times in the Bundesliga for Leverkusen in the 2024/25 campaign and showcased his dominant defensive work by winning 67% of his ground duels and making 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game, as per Sofascore.

This suggests that he will be an aggressive, strong, and experienced option for Le Bris to call upon at right-back or centre-back in the Premier League, given his performances in the German top-flight last term.

His experience at the top level and recent displays in the Bundesliga suggest that he will not be phased by what the Premier League will throw at him week-in-week-out, in the same way that the incredibly experienced Xhaka will be a dependable figure in midfield.

Sunderland could land their own Wirtz with move for "electric" £26m star

Regis Le Bris could soon be handed his very own Florian Wirtz at Sunderland.

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 13, 2025

Therefore, this could be another exciting and impressive piece of recruitment work done by the Black Cats in their attempt to build a team that will not look out of their depth in the top-flight.

Glasgow Rangers head into the first international break of the season after drawing all four of their first four matches in the Scottish Premiership.

It has not been an ideal start for the Ibrox giants or Russell Martin, who will have to wait until the middle of September, at least, before grabbing his first win in charge of the club.

There were some positives for the Gers in their 0-0 draw with Celtic, including the debut of Bojan Miovski as discussed in the clip above and a clean sheet, but there were also some worrying performances.

Thelo Aasgaard was selected to play in the number ten role for the Gers behind the Macedonia international, and failed to impress in an attacking sense.

Thelo Aasgaard's performance in numbers

The Norway international, who signed from Luton Town on a permanent deal this summer, was unable to offer a threat at the top end of the pitch, as he ended the game with zero shots on target and zero key passes, per Sofascore.

Aasgaard was also unreliable in possession, completing just 57% of his attempted passes, and Martin may not have been happy with how sloppy he was on the ball.

The former Wigan Athletic star was, however, a physical outlet for Rangers. He won nine duels, including eight of his 12 on the ground, and won two tackles without being dribbled past a single time.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Aasgaard put himself about and was up for the scrap defensively, which helped Rangers to avoid losing too many 50/50s, and was far from the worst performer for the Gers.

Martin's possible tactical mistake for Rangers against Celtic

One player who was even worse than Aasgaard against Celtic was left-sided attacker Mikey Moore, who was unable to cause Anthony Ralston many problems.

Ahead of the match, Ralston appeared to be the weak link in the Hoops defence due to the injury to first-choice Alistair Johnston. Despite that, Martin opted to move Djeidi Gassama over to the right flank to accommodate Moore on the left.

Gassama has scored four goals and provided one assist in nine appearances as a left winger for Rangers this season, which is why it seemed like he would be the most obvious option to take the game to Ralston and expose him on that side.

As you can see in the table above, Moore did not take the game to the Scotland international and put in a disappointing all-round performance on the left flank, failing with 66.6% of his dribbles and completing just 44% of his passes.

That tactical decision also put Gassama out on the right, on his right foot, and meant that he struggled to take Kieran Tierney on down the outside in tight spaces, leaving Rangers too one-dimensional going forward.

In the end, the poor decisions in the wide areas heavily contributed to the team’s failure to create a single ‘big chance’ in the game, which left Miovski starved of service.

This is why Martin’s call to put Moore, who had an underwhelming afternoon, in on the left ahead of the usually electric Gassama was one that cost Rangers the win, as they were unable to take advantage of Johnston’s injury at right-back.

Rangers tipped to hire Russell Martin replacement in "box-office" move

The tactician is already attracting huge criticism.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 30, 2025

Whilst it is not a guarantee that Gassama would have won the game for Rangers, his statistics as a left-winger suggest that there was a good chance that he would have made a big impact and could have sealed all three points with a moment of magic.

Pep Guardiola was not impressed by suggestions that his Manchester City side were pegged back late on at Monaco in the Champions League due to the replacement of Rodri with Nico Gonzalez in midfield. The City boss defended the contribution Gonzalez made off the bench after coming on in the 61st minute, while he conceded that Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is not yet fit enough to play 90 minutes multiple times a week and "needs protecting" from recurring injury issues.

• Rodri replaced as Man City drop points at Monaco

  City led twice away at the Ligue 1 giants but were forced to settle for a point after Eric Dier equalised from the spot in the 90th minute. Gonzalez conceded the penalty for a high boot which caught the former Tottenham Hotspur man in the face, in what was certainly a moment of poor judgement by the midfielder.

  Guardiola was quick to justify his decision to substitute Rodri, though, stating that the 29-year-old was not fit enough to see out the game and must be eased back into the demanding schedule required across multiple competitions for the Cityzens.

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  Guardiola defends Gonzalez but makes concerning Rodri claim

  Guardiola said: “Are you suggesting that they scored because Nico Gonzalez was on the pitch and not Rodri? How can you prove that?”

  When asked if City can replace Rodri with just one man, Guardiola added: “We cannot play with 12. No, we cannot play with 12. I know Rodri is irreplaceable in many things. But Rodri could not play three days before because his knee was in a bad, bad condition. So, that’s why.

  “So, in that moment, Nico Gonzalez, in the 30 minutes he played, was the player who recovered most balls in the transition of attack to defence. We conceded less transitions than with Rodri, who conceded more in the first half when he was playing.

  “That is the reason why. I would love to tell you that ‘yes, because Rodri is not on the pitch, we concede the goal’. But I cannot prove that. Because if I had felt it, Rodri would have been on the pitch. But Rodri cannot play in certain moments, cannot play 90 minutes in many, many games. And Nico played really well against Burnley. Really, really good. He’s learning, he’s improving, and we need him.

  “Because Kova [Mateo Kovacic] is not ready, and Rodri cannot sustain yet the rhythm for games, 90 minutes. He made an incredible effort in the week against United, Napoli and especially Arsenal in that way.

  “I try to protect my players. Because look at what happened to Carvajal at [Real] Madrid, look what happens to players with many injuries, he’s injured again and again. So, sometimes I want the best players there, being fit, but they are still not. That’s why I have to protect the players.”

• Rodri eased back in by Guardiola after extended injury lay-off

  Rodri suffered an ACL injury against Arsenal over a year ago now, not making his return to first-team action until May. He has only made five starts in all competitions for his club since returning from the injury and has seen multiple minor setbacks since, including a knock picked up during the Club World Cup. His performances have yet to return to his imperious best, which is more than understandable.

  Getting Rodri back to full fitness will be a priority for City in the coming months. But, as stressed by Guardiola, the midfielder must be protected, or else further injury problems may occur. In the meantime, the likes of Gonzalez must step up – as that is precisely what he is in the squad to do.

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  The pressure is on as Man City look to return to their best

  The games will continue to come thick and fast for Man City, who face five matches in October across three different competitions. Their next Champions League trip to Villarreal is looking all the more important following their draw in Monaco.

  Guardiola has never gone two consecutive seasons in his managerial career without winning a league title, never mind without winning a major trophy. The Sky Blues may still be recovering from their limited pre-season following their Club World Cup exploits, a problem which is currently being felt to the extreme by its winners, Chelsea.

Former Chelsea star Diego Costa reignited his feud with former Liverpool enemy Martin Skrtel during a charity match between the Blues and the Reds. Costa, who was infamous for his flaring tempers during matches, has not changed and it was evident in his antics during the game, which was deemed to be a friendly encounter for a noble cause. Costa spent three years at Stamford Bridge between 2014 and 2017.

• Costa reignited feud with Skrtel

  Costa started upfront for the retired Blues stars, while Skrtel led the Liverpool side in the charity clash, which was a star-studded affair. It all started when another Blues legend, Eden Hazard, fed the former Spain international striker with a pass. As Costa tried to go past Skrtel, the ex-Reds star caught him on his legs with a fierce challenge. The striker immediately lost his temper and confronted the Slovak, but the duel was stopped by the linesman.  

  But the fight was far from over as he soon kicked Skrtel on the back of his leg, while challenging him from the break. Skrtel was visibly furious with the challenge as he pointed his finger at Costa and said something angrily, before the referee brandished a yellow card at the striker to warn him. It was supposed to be a friendly clash for charity, but Costa made sure it wasn't short of any drama. 

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• Watch Costa vs Skrtel duel

• Costa's battles with Skrtel

  This is not the first time that the Chelsea and Liverpool players clashed on the field. The pair famously came to blows in 2015 during a Carabao Cup clash between the two Premier League giants. Costa was charged with violent conduct by the FA after he allegedly stamped on both Skrtel and fellow Reds defender Emre Can during the match at Stamford Bridge, which led to a three-match ban for the Spain international. In the first half, Costa fouled Can, which sparked a furious reaction from the German midfielder. Then, in the second half, Costa stamped on Skrtel inside the penalty area.   

  Then Reds boss Brendan Rodgers had heavily criticised Costa for his harsh challenge, as he had said: "He could easily hurdle over the young player and he directs his studs right on to his ankle, which could've been nasty."

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  Liverpool's hot and cold start to title defence campaign

  Arne Slot's side kicked off the 2025-26 campaign on a high as they maintained a 100 per cent win record across all competitions. However, things went south after their loss against Crystal Palace. That defeat led to two more losses against Galatasaray in the Champions League and Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend, as they lost their position at the top of the table to another title favourites, Arsenal. The Merseyside club will next face old foes Manchester United in a derby in the Premier League on October 19.  

Liverpool and FSG splashed the cash in 2025, forking out more than £400m in the club’s biggest summer spending spree of all time. Alexander Isak rounded off the Reds’ dramatic window, costing a British record fee from Newcastle United.

But who else is on Liverpool’s most expensive signings list? Here’s the top 20 with a detailed look at the top 10.

Here's a detailed look at Liverpool's 10 most expensive signings:

10

Diogo Jota

£41m from Wolves

Liverpool made sure to capitalise on the additional time before the beginning of the 2020/21 season, which had been delayed due to the pandemic, by signing Diogo Jota on a five-year contract from Wolves.

Jota would go on to become a fan favourite at Anfield but tragically passed away in 2025 at the age of 28 after a road traffic accident. He will always be known as Liverpool’s number 20.

9

Fabinho

£44m from Monaco

Fabinho credited the exceptional infrastructure in place at Liverpool upon his arrival at the club in May 2018, but it was he who ended up being the much-needed spine for his side.

Having made over 150 appearances at his previous side Monaco, the Brazilian midfielder was sought-after due to his ability to play anywhere in the middle of the park.

With Emre Can on his way out as a free agent to sign for Juventus, Fabinho was deemed as the perfect replacement for Klopp’s side.

8

Naby Keita

£48m from RB Leipzig

Naby Keita surpassed Andy Carroll’s 2011 £35m record when Liverpool agreed to trigger the midfielder’s release clause with RB Leipzig in August 2017, securing his move to the club for the following season.

It was mostly a tale of two stories for Keita at Liverpool. The first began with promise, potential and hope; the second ended with injury, inconsistency and, eventually, his inevitable release.

7

Dominik Szoboszlai

£60m from RB Leipzig

When it was announced that James Milner, Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would all be leaving the club, Klopp knew he would need to splash the cash on a brand-new midfield in the summer of 2023.

Soon after completing the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for £35m, Liverpool told RB Leipzig they would be triggering the £60m release clause for Dominik Szoboszlai.

The Hungary captain had won the DFB-Pokal with Leipzig and secured a strong third-place finish in the Bundesliga, but it was his impressive performances on the international stage as Hungary’s captain that caught Liverpool’s eye.

6

Darwin Nunez

£64m from Benfica

Darwin Nunez signed for an initial £64m from Benfica in 2022 and started so well with the Reds, when his goal secured Liverpool the Community Shield against Manchester City.

However, things never really clicked into gear for the Uruguayan at Anfield, and he was sold to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal in 2025.

5

Alisson

£67m from Roma

Alisson became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in the summer of 2018 when he signed for Liverpool from Roma on a six-year contract.

The deal surpassed Man City’s £35m signing of Ederson in 2017 and turned out to be a pivotal turning point during Klopp’s tenure at the club, having previously lost out on major trophies due to goalkeeping errors.

Although officials at the Merseyside club didn’t reveal the actual fee, his former club, Roma, said the deal was worth up to £67m.

Records are meant to be broken, however, and this one didn’t last long, as Chelsea signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao for £71m just weeks later.

4

Hugo Ekitike

£69m from Frankfurt

Hugo Ekitike was one of two star strikers to sign for Liverpool in 2025, with the Reds paying Frankfurt an initial £69m for the forward as they repalced Nunez.

Like Nunez, the Frenchman made an instant impression by scoring on his debut in the Community Shield, whereas Ekitike also netted the first goal of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

3

Virgil van Dijk

£75m from Southampton

Liverpool’s most expensive defensive signing of all time has arguably been their most important addition in the last decade. Now captain of the Reds, Van Dijk has won multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League at Anfield, establishing himself as a Liverpool legend.

The announcement that Van Dijk would join Liverpool at the turn of the new year in 2018 was a world-record deal for a defender at the time – a fee only since surpassed by Harry Maguire’s transfer to Man United (£80m) in 2019 and Josko Gvardiol’s to Man City (£77m) in 2023 – and has proven to be worth every penny.

2

Florian Wirtz

£116m from Bayer Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz was Liverpool’s record signing for just a matter of months in the summer of 2025 after he sealed a huge £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Germany international seemed to snub joining Bayern Munich in favour of heading to Merseyside with the Reds and signed a five-year deal at Anfield.

1

Alexander Isak

£125m from Newcastle

Alexander Isak is Liverpool’s and Britain’s record transfer, with the Reds finally sealing a deal on deadline day in 2025.

The Sweden international went on strike for weeks at Newcastle before finally getting his wish with a move to Anfield. Isak signed a six-year contract and set the Reds back a whopping £125m.

It’s been a couple of weeks since the transfer window closed, and it’s hard to remember a better summer for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta got practically everything he could have wanted, from a prolific number nine, to a new highly sought-after six, a backup for Saka and one of the most exciting young defenders in world football.

Moreover, with the signing of Eberechi Eze, he got someone who can replace Gabriel Martinelli out on the left or start as the team’s out-and-out ten.

It’s not even a problem that he’s closer to 30 than some would like, as Arsenal also look to be brewing their own homegrown version of the Englishman, and no, we aren’t talking about Max Dowman.

Why Eze could be a game-changer for Arsenal

Even though Viktor Gyokeres was far more prolific and Martin Zubimendi reportedly caught the attention of Real Madrid, Eze feels like Arsenal’s most important signing this summer.

Even discounting the narrative of his returning home and the story of his choosing the Gunners over Tottenham Hotspur, there are a few reasons why we think his move could be the most consequential.

Firstly, unlike some of the other new faces, the Greenwich-born maestro is already Premier League-proven.

Including the games against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest this year, he has made 149 appearances in the competition, during which he has scored 34 goals and provided 24 assists.

Secondly, the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, has proven himself capable of taking high-pressure games by the scruff of the neck and dragging his team over the finishing line.

For example, he scored in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the FA Cup as Palace won their first significant honour last season.

Finally, as we’ve already mentioned, his versatility means he can play out on the left or in the ten depending on what the team need, or which other players are out of form.

However, Arteta has to be careful not to play him out wide too often, as while the former QPR gem can play there, it’s clearly not his preferred position.

We can see this in his heatmaps from last season, when he clearly moves towards the middle the further up the pitch he gets.

Moreover, the vast majority of his goal involvements have come when he is playing in attacking midfield, 56 to be exact.

In all, Eze looks like he’ll be an incredible addition to this Arsenal squad, and in even better news, it looks like the club are already brewing their own version.

Arsenal's homegrown Eze

Now, given the way pre-season went, and the way he’s started the season prorper, some may assume that the player in question is the sensationally talented Max Dowman.

Chalkboard

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

However, that’s not the case, as while he could well develop into an Eze-esque star for Arsenal, he is still just 15 years old, and we haven’t really seen enough of him to determine something like that.

Instead, when it comes to the Gunners’ homegrown version of the former Palace star, we are talking about none other than Ethan Nwaneri.

There are a few reasons for this, and the first is where he plays.

Like his older teammate, the Hale Ender is someone who can play in a number of roles – with Arteta even claiming he could play up top last season – but he seems to have two he’s most comfortable with, which are right-wing and attacking midfield.

Moreover, while he can play out wide, as he did for much of last year, he spent most of his time in the academy playing as a ten, and he’s even told the press that it’s his preferred role.

The second similarity is that the “phenomenal” talent, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock, has already proven himself to be a significant goal threat, as well as someone who can create.

For example, in 37 appearances, totalling just 1378 minutes, the Enfield-born dynamo scored nine goals and provided two assists, which comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or every 125.27 minutes.

Finally, like the 27-year-old, the Gunners’ next big thing is an entertainer on the pitch.

He’s not afraid to try something audacious with the ball at his feet, and according to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, and that dribbling past an opponent is always one way to get the fans on their feet.

Ultimately, Eze could well be the difference for Arsenal this season, but Nwaneri could end up being just as, if not more, important in a few years.

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.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 19, 2025

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has denied reports of a disciplinary issue with Lamine Yamal, saying that claims he wanted to drop the teenager from the starting XI are false. It had been reported that the German wanted to punish the winger ahead of the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain, but sporting director Deco intervened.

• Flick vs Yamal?

  According to a report from , Flick intended to punish the 18-year-old for a lack of punctuality by dropping him from the starting line-up, a decision that was ultimately overruled following Deco’s mediation. 

  The alleged flashpoint occurred when Yamal arrived late for a team meeting prior to the crucial European fixture. Flick, a coach known for his strict adherence to discipline, reportedly informed the winger that he would not be starting the match as a consequence. This approach is consistent with Flick's management style, having previously sidelined players such as Jules Kounde, Raphinha, and Inaki Pena for similar infractions.

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• AFP
  

  Barca boss addresses rumours of feud with teen star

  Flick was asked about the reports at a press conference on Friday and quickly denied any such incident took place, insisting Yamal had no such punctuality issues.

  “I'd like to know where this comes from; this is garbage," he said. "I'm especially grateful that this club, and Deco in particular, believes in our work. They would never ask us to do this. It's not true; I have nothing to hide. It's garbage, and if anyone says it, they're lying."

  Asked if he has concerns about Yamal's private life, he said: "For me, what counts is that when he's here, he puts in the effort and commitment. And that's what he does. He had a few days off after working hard, and I don't interfere in his private life."

• Barcelona's wider concerns over Yamal's off-field focus

  The report that Flick denies is not the first to suggest a growing unease at Barcelona regarding Yamal's conduct. While acknowledging the player is often the first to arrive at the training ground, there is a belief that his behaviour in recent months has been a cause for concern.

  One source was quoted as saying: “There is some concern about Lamine’s day-to-day life. It’s not alarming, but we don’t like some of the things that have been happening with the player in recent months. We don’t like the way he’s been living and the life he’s been leading.” The club's hierarchy is now said to be monitoring the situation closely, hoping the young star does not deviate from the path to success that has been laid out for him. The lack of punishment for Yamal, when contrasted with the sanctions handed to his teammates, has also reportedly caused some friction within the squad.

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• Reports of rift denied amid claims of 'political motives'

  Before he addressed the speculation publicly, reported that sources close to both Flick and Yamal had strongly denied any serious conflict. While Yamal's tardiness is not disputed, these insiders insist the situation was blown out of proportion.

  Furthermore, the counter-report claims that Flick's position was never in jeopardy and that his authority remains intact, with one source quoted as insisting the German would have resigned had he been overruled by Deco. There is a growing suspicion within the club that such rumours are being spread with ulterior motives, possibly for "political or electoral purposes" aimed at destabilising the current board and management.