Harvey Barnes played an important role in Newcastle United’s most recent outing against Brentford, in which the Magpies won 2-1. Goals from Alexander Isak and a sublime effort from Sandro Tonali were enough to claim all three points for Eddie Howe’s side.

For that strike from the Italian, it was Barnes who provided the assist. The winger, who started on the left wing, put in a strong performance. As per Sofascore, he created three chances, completed two dribbles, and, of course, grabbed his assist.

After a performance like that, you might expect he’d keep his place in the Newcastle starting lineup for their next game against Leicester City. But, with some players returning from injury, that is not a guarantee.

Newcastle’s team news vs. Leicester

There could be some big players returning from injury for the Magpies’ clash with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester side. One of those is experienced defender Kieran Trippier, who was withdrawn from the game against Brentford.

Likewise, Newcastle’s talismanic striker, Isak, was substituted in the 66th minute. Given his injury issues at times in a Magpies shirt, they certainly do not want to risk him getting sidelined for an extensive period of time.

In his pre-match press conference, Howe gave an update on both of their availability ahead of the Monday night trip to Leicester. The Englishman explained that his squad have managed to avoid “any big injuries from Wednesday night”.

With that being said, he did imply that there was a chance they might be sidelined at the King Power Stadium. Howe explained that his side “certainly have a few niggles”, and it remains to be seen if Trippier and Isak will be available.

There is another player who could be set to return from injury in time to feature in the East Midlands. Newcastle fans would surely love to have him available.

The Newcastle player who could feature vs. Leciester

If Newcastle have Anthony Gordon back for the game against the Foxes, it would be a huge boost. As well as his three-match suspension, the winger picked up an injury on England duty during the March international break.

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Howe was quizzed about him in the press conference before the Leicester game and gave an update on his progress. It certainly seemed positive, explaining that he is being “monitored” by the medical staff, before saying they “will have to wait and see” if he can play.

It has been another excellent season for Gordon in 2024/25. He has featured 34 times for the Magpies, scoring nine goals and grabbing seven assists. Between the start of November and the end of January, the winger went on an unstoppable run, scoring or assisting ten goals in a run of 14 games. As football talent scout Jacek Kulig said, he is “having a superb season”.

He is a player who steps up in the biggest moments, scoring goals in both legs against Arsenal, in the Carabao Cup semi-final. His goal in the second leg at St James’ Park was the fourth Newcastle scored in the tie and sealed their place at Wembley.

Gordon has the potential to hurt Leicester on Monday. His pace is deadly, and the directness with which he attacks is frightening for defenders. As per Sofascore, he has completed 1.5 dribbles and plays 2.1 key passes per game this term.

Gordon key stats in 2024/25 PL season

Stat

Per 90

Total

Goals and assists

0.5

11

Key passes

2.1

50

Dribbles completed

1.5

35

Expected goal involvements

0.54xGI

12.65xGI

Big chances created

0.3

6

Stats from Sofascore

Dropping Barnes for the “exceptional” Gordon, as football scout Antonio Mango called him, might be deemed harsh after his performance against Brentford. However, having the former Everton star available for the Champions League run-in will be crucial.

As he showed against Arsenal, he is a big game player, and with the skillset he possesses, he can be deadly against a fragile Foxes side. If Gordon is fit enough, he surely starts on Monday evening.

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Fresh from having been narrowly defeated by Nottingham Forest earlier this week, Manchester United are now gearing up for Sunday’s Manchester Derby – just under five months on from clinching victory in dramatic circumstances at the Etihad.

Having been trailing 1-0 heading into the final knockings of the game, an Amad Diallo-inspired comeback flipped the match on its head, with the Ivorian first winning a penalty following a clumsy foul from Matheus Nunes, before sealing the win in stoppage time with an expertly taken finish from the angle.

That euphoric finale ensured it was a fitting way for Ruben Amorim to seal his first win in the fixture, albeit – as is often the way at United – it was matters off the field that dominated the headlines both pre and post-match.

Indeed, the Portuguese coach had taken the bold decision to leave both Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford out of the matchday squad for the meeting with Pep Guardiola’s side, with the 40-year-old stressing that the pair had been omitted due to a “selection” choice, rather than due to illness or injury.

In the case of Garnacho, the 20-year-old has since forced his way back into Amorim’s good books, having notably scored in the recent win over Leicester City, although as for Rashford, the England international hasn’t been seen in a United shirt since, having subsequently moved on loan to Aston Villa in February.

From scoring the winning goal in the derby back in March 2016, the same fixture at the Etihad perhaps marked the beginning of the end for the 27-year-old’s time with the Red Devils, with a permanent exit looking almost inevitable this summer.

Marcus Rashford's rise at Man Utd in 2016

Three goals in a week have ensured that Rashford is again the talk of the town at Villa Park, with the United academy graduate having shaken off his Amorim-led exile to kickstart his stuttering career under Unai Emery.

Having spoken of his desire for a “new challenge” back in December, the high-profile star – who could join the Villans on a £40m deal this summer – appears keen to leave life at Old Trafford behind, ending his lengthy association with the Red Devils.

In truth, it looks set to be a sad end to a story that started so spectacularly back in February 2016, with Rashford soaring from unknown teenager to household name overnight, following his brace against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.

That stunning display on debut – which had come amid a remarkable injury crisis in Louis van Gaal’s centre-forward ranks – was followed by another double just a few days later on his first Premier League appearance against Arsenal, with the 18-year-old cementing his status as the new poster boy at the Theatre of Dreams.

In all, the promising striker would end that 2015/16 campaign with eight goals to his name from just 18 senior outings, albeit with few having been quite as memorable as his winner against City on the road.

On what was just his fourth league appearance for United, Rashford proved the hero after surging past the ageing Martin Demichelis, before expertly slotting the ball past compatriot, Joe Hart, and sending the travelling fans into a frenzy.

Just under a decade on, the Red Devils head into a derby without their 138-goal graduate – who has scored six times against City – to call upon. Could Amorim, however, have the next Rashford ready to be unleashed instead?

Man Utd could be brewing the next Rashford

It is easy to forget just what an incredible story it was at the time of Rashford’s emergence onto the scene at first-team level, with the local hero even going on to end 2015/16 as part of England’s squad for the European Championships in France.

That journey was somewhat mirrored last season as Kobbie Mainoo – who was handed his first league start in November 2023 – subsequently played a vital role in the Three Lions’ surge to the Euro 2024 final, having also netted what proved to be the clincher in the FA Cup showpiece in May.

The midfield maestro is unlikely to feature this weekend, however, as the 19-year-old steps up his return from his latest injury setback, albeit with there the potential for another teenage talent to make his mark in the fixture, in the form of Chido Obi.

Chido Obi

Man Utd

7

Tom Wingate

Fulham

5

Amin Nabizada

Watford

5

Mason Cotcher

Aston Villa

5

Shim Mhueka

Chelsa

4

Finlay Gorman

Man City

4

Emmerson Sutton

QPR

4

Cruz Allen

Derby

4

Matty Warhurst

Man City

4

On Tuesday evening at the City Ground, Amorim’s men failed to score for the 11th time in the league this season, with the ex-Sporting CP boss resorting to throwing on Harry Maguire as a makeshift striker at the death.

With Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund having scored just six top-flight goals between them in 2024/25, a change needs to be made one way or another, with it perhaps an opportunity for Obi to have his own Rashford-like derby moment.

Described as a “goal machine” at academy level by data analyst Ben Mattinson, the Danish starlet was absent from the midweek defeat after starting in the U18s FA Youth Cup loss to Villa on Monday night, with Adam Lawrence’s side crashing out on penalties.

Obi had scored seven times in just three appearances in the competition prior to that, with his total tally at that age group for United standing at 12 goals from just ten outings thus far.

Signed from Arsenal last summer, the 17-year-old hasn’t quite emulated Rashford yet after failing to score in any of his four substitute appearances at senior level, albeit while certainly coming close in the FA Cup clash with Fulham, after being denied by Bernd Leno from the angle.

With United’s priority for the remainder of the season now the Europa League, Amorim may deem it wise to rest the likes of Hojlund and Zirkzee regardless, ahead of Thursday’s quarter-final, first-leg tie with Lyon.

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That could then allow Obi – who is ineligible to feature in Europe – the chance to secure a first start for Amorim’s side this weekend, with there perhaps no better time for the youngster to get off the mark.

Rashford, unfortunately, now looks to be at the end of a fruitful journey at Old Trafford. For his potential successor, however, hopefully, the adventure is just beginning.

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Director Andrea Berta has personally held talks over signing a high-earning player as one of his first actions at Arsenal, and it is believed the Gunners target could now be tempted to join Mikel Arteta’s side as a result.

Andrea Berta's list of forward targets at Arsenal

Rumours have surrounded the acquisition of a new striker for Arsenal this summer, with Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko all repeatedly linked.

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Following Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s long-term injuries, the need for another prolific option up top is made all the more prevalent, with midfielder Mikel Merino currently being used as an emergency makeshift striker.

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

TBD

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Arsenal are developing a strong interest in Gyokeres to fill the void from next season, according to David Ornstein, while fellow reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has tipped Berta to make an offer for Isak.

However, while a new striker is believed to be high on Berta’s agenda, the Italian also plans to upgrade Arteta’s wide options.

According to GiveMeSport, Arsenal are targeting a left-winger this summer, and they’re even pondering the possibility of bringing in someone who can compete with Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side.

Last summer, under ex-director Edu, Arsenal displayed a real interest in Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams for the role.

It was reported at the time that Williams was a top target for Arteta, off the back of an impressive 2023/2024 campaign where he bagged 19 assists in all competitions, but the Spain international opted to remain at Bilbao for this season.

The 22-year-old’s contract includes a £48 million release clause, and Arsenal’s interest hasn’t gone away. However, they face very stiff competition for his services, as Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also targeting Williams.

Andrea Berta holds Arsenal talks with Nico Williams targeted

That is according to The Guardian and journalist Ed Aarons, who states that Berta has personally held Arsenal transfer talks with Williams’ representatives in “one of his first acts” as director.

In his report for The Guardian, Aarons also reports Berta’s influence could tempt Williams to join Arsenal over elite clubs in the race for his signature – following two years of heavy scouting from the Gunners.

The £200,000-per-week forward is also expected to push for a summer exit, but while his £48m release clause will be enticing, the major obstacle will lie in his rumoured wage demands. Williams apparently wants as much as £300,000-per-week at his new club, which would make him Arsenal’s highest-paid player.

The question is, would he be worth it? Williams carries a reputation as one of La Liga’s most highly-rated young attacking stars, completing the fifth-highest rate of successful take-ons per 90 in the entire division (WhoScored), and his exciting style would hand Arsenal another major weapon in the final third.

His return has lessened this season compared to last – scoring nine goals and assisting seven others in all competitions – but his form has picked up lately as we approach the summer window.

Aston Villa are now racing to sign an “impressively complete” defender, who could be available for £39m, but there is set to be fierce competition for his signature, according to a report.

Villa's summer transfer plans taking shape

Although Villa’s European exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain was a bitter pill to swallow, they still have an opportunity to make this season a success, with Champions League qualification and a potential FA Cup triumph on the line.

Should the Villans qualify for Europe’s elite competition once more, they should be in a strong position to compete for some top players this summer, and their summer transfer plans are now beginning to take shape.

Having lost Jhon Duran during the January transfer window, Unai Emery is eager to bring in a new striker this summer, and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha is among the targets, with a £75m offer on the cards.

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Rosenborg’s Sverre Nypan is of interest in central midfield, while Lens defender Facundo Medina may also be targeted to strengthen Emery’s options at centre-back, but there will be competition from Bayer Leverkusen.

According to a report from Just Arsenal, another centre-back Aston Villa have set their sights on is Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez, having put in some impressive performances this season, but there could be fierce competition from some top clubs.

Premier League rivals Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Chelsea are also in the race for Ordonez, while AC Milan headline the interest from abroad, and a deal could be relatively expensive.

Brugge are looking to hold out for €40m to €45m (£34m – £39m), highlighting the 20-year-old defender’s importance to the Belgian side.

"Impressively complete" Ordonez likened to Rudiger

Despite still being very young, the Ecuadorian has been a key player for Brugge this season, making 41 appearances in all competitions, including 12 in the Champions League, before his side were dumped out by Aston Villa in the round of 16.

In light of his performances this season, the Brugge star has also been lauded by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Kulig has likened the youngster to Real Madrid star Antonio Rüdiger in the past, given his pace, tackling and heading ability, which indicates he could be capable of going right to the very top.

Ordonez is yet to prove himself in a major European league, but his performances for Brugge this season indicate he could now be capable of making the step-up, so it is promising news that Villa are in the race for his signature.

Manchester United are believed to be in contact with a club’s director of recruitment over the signing of an “outstanding” goalkeeper this summer, according to a new report.

Man Utd produce historic comeback

Ruben Amorim’s side may have had a season to forget, but their 5-4 win over Lyon on Thursday evening was one of the most dramatic nights Old Trafford has ever witnessed.

Having led 2-0 and seemingly heading into the semi-finals of the Europa League with ease, United suddenly found themselves drawing 2-2 after 90 minutes, before then trailing 4-2 in extra-time against ten men.

Remarkably, the Red Devils scored three times in the remaining minutes, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a penalty, Kobbie Mainoo brilliantly curling home and Harry Maguire heading in a memorable last-gasp winner.

It was a remarkable evening that has kept United’s season alive, and given the nature of their victory over Lyon, there will be some who feel that their name is on the trophy. Regardless of what happens this season, though, lots of new signings are a must, including in goal to replace Andre Onana, and one intriguing transfer target in that position has now emerged.

Man Utd make contact for Kaua Santos

According to Sport Bild, Manchester United have held talks with Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche over the signing of Kaua Santos this summer. The German outfit want £51m for his services and would rather keep hold of him.

It is claimed that Red Devils director of recruitment Christopher Vivell spoke with him during Frankfurt’s Europa League quarter-final first leg tie against Tottenham last week, as they look to entice the 22-year-old to Old Trafford.

Santos could be a strong addition for United ahead of next season, having enjoyed an impressive campaign for Frankfurt in Europe, standing out as a key man at a young age, especially for a ‘keeper. The Brazilian has started five matches in the Europa League this term, prior to being eliminated by Spurs on Thursday night, and the Red Devils may see him as having a higher long-term ceiling than Onana.

Santos has been hailed as an “outstanding” player by Bayern Munich and Germany legend Thomas Muller, while analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as among the “most promising” young ‘keepers in Europe.

While Onana has had good moments in a United shirt, he is an error-prone player who doesn’t seem to bring calm to the defence, and if Amorim wants to take his team to another level, an upgrade is required.

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Santos is admittedly still a goalkeeper learning his trade, but his performances this season suggest that he would be an exciting signing who should only grow as a player.

Liverpool are on their way to becoming Premier League champions and could soon have more positive news to share with their supporters as they hold an advantage in the race for an exciting midfielder, per reports.

Liverpool gear up for summer window after Salah announcement

Liverpool fans were treated to the news on Friday that Mohamed Salah has signed a new two-year extension at Anfield following months of speculation over his future.

The Egypt international has become an iconic figure among supporters and a talisman under Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot, who will now hope to convince Virgil Van Dijk that he should follow his counterpart’s path.

In essence, rectifying internal issues is the first step towards squad planning for next season. Looking towards the market, Liverpool are reportedly in pole position to sign Nicolo Barella from Inter Milan for a fee in the region of £87 million.

Defensively, Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo is on the Reds’ wishlist as Slot aims to bolster his side to fight on all fronts. With the Premier League title on the way, showing ambition in pursuing premium stars will be the main priority once the off-season comes around.

Liam Delap is another player that Liverpool want to sign as Ipswich Town veer closer to relegation. Nevertheless, Chelsea are also pursuing a deal that could amount to £30 million.

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Undoubtedly, competition is set to be fierce this summer among the Premier League elite. Manchester City, Arsenal and others will want to rebuild to provide a sustained title charge, so Slot and FSG will have their work cut out in pushing agreements over the line.

Having said that, Liverpool may have a key advantage over Pep Guardiola’s men as both sides fight tooth and nail to sign one of Europe’s brightest midfielders.

Liverpool confident of winning Xavi Simons race

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool feel they can beat Manchester City to sign RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons due to the strong Dutch contingent they already have present at Anfield.

Slot, Van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch are part of the Reds’ fabric, which they feel can entice the Netherlands international to opt for Merseyside over other destinations.

Xavi Simons’ key Bundesliga statistics in 2024/25

Goals

7

Assists

5

Chances created

42

Touches in opposition box

67

Completed dribbles

25

Duels won

107

Valued at just over £60 million, Simons could potentially come in as a replacement for Luis Diaz, while Manchester City are eyeing the 21-year-old as a long-term successor to Kevin De Bruyne.

Labelled “amazing” by ex-teammate Dani Olmo, the Amsterdam-born man has registered eight goals and six assists across all competitions, featuring either in attacking midfield or off the left flank.

Now, the onus is on Liverpool to push a deal over the line. Fresh blood is needed to maintain the hunger for silverware in years to come, and Simons would be a statement signing to bolster the ranks.

Nicolas Jackson is becoming a hot topic again at Chelsea, having returned recently from injury after missing five Premier League games due to injury.

Whilst the 23-year-old has scored nine times this season, also providing five assists, he is now without a goal in his last 11 Premier League games, last netting against Brentford in December.

Enzo Maresca has made it clear he is a fan of Jackson and his contribution to the team, making relentless runs in behind, pressing from the front and putting in those extra yards.

However, his lack of goals, paired with the likes of Cole Palmer’s drop in form, has seen Chelsea struggle to find the back of the net in recent months.

It seems almost inevitable Chelsea will sign a striker in the summer as they look to provide Maresca with another centre-forward to compete with Jackson. There is one man in particular who is dominating the links in the media as of late.

The latest on Chelsea's interest in Liam Delap

Liam Delap is being heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, with Manchester United also said to be in the running for the 21-year-old Ipswich Town striker.

The latest on any prospective move is that the Blues have reportedly held talks with Ipswich regarding a possible summer move.

The English forward has made 31 appearances this season in the Premier League, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists.

The 6 foot 1 forward is built perfectly for the Premier League, having the physical capacity to bully defenders with his broad build, whilst having the technical quality to match, having joined the Manchester City academy in 2019 after coming through at Derby.

Liam Delap vs Nicolas Jackson in 24/25
Stats (per 90 mins)	Delap	Jackson
Goals	0.45	0.42
Assists	0.07	0.23
xG	0.35	0.56
Progressive Carries	2.23	1.99
Progressive Passes	1.15	1.48
Shots Total	2.25	3.33
Goals/Shot	0.17	0.13
G-xG	+0.12	-0.14
Shot-Creating Actions	2.31	3.06
Aerial Duels Won	1.92	0.79
Stats taken from FBref

When comparing Delap’s underlying metrics to Jackson’s, you can see how their two profiles differ, with the former offering a higher level of clinical finishing and box presence, winning 1.92 aerial duels per 90.

Both players have the ability to progress via their carrying quality and run the channels, but Jackson has shown a higher level to link and provide for his teammates so far, making more progressive passes and creating more shots.

However, rather than splashing the cash, perhaps Maresca could look towards Cobham to unleash their own Delap.

Chelsea's Cobham "jewel"

Looking back down the ranks at Chelsea and you will quickly notice a cracking young striker coming through the academy by the name of Shumaira Mhueka, often shortened to “Shim”.

Mheuka came over from Brighton’s academy in 2022, spending two years at Cobham before making his first senior breakthrough this season.

The 17-year-old possesses an innate ability to create his own shooting angles, having excellent agility and ball manipulation in and around the box. He has the ball-striking qualities to match and is already showing signs of utilising his body mass to protect the ball and unsettle defenders.

Mheuka has been described as “Cobham’s finest” by Jacek Kulig, who also labelled the young striker an “amazing talent” and it’s clear to see why.

The teenager has made 16 appearances for the U21 side in Premier League 2 this season, scoring four goals and providing two assists. In total he has scored ten goals in 21 appearances at youth level throughout 2024/25.

Last term he was on fire, however, bagging ten in 17 fixtures. His form in the youth ranks has already earned Mheuka four senior appearances, racking up 73 minutes across those four games.

Given the chance, Mheuka could prove to be the striker Chelsea need in years to come, saving the club a lot of money and fixing their goal-scoring woes all in one go. How long that takes and which development path is taken is another story.

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Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace have largely been in excellent form since the start of 2025, only losing three times in their last 11 Premier League matches, keeping eight clean sheets in all competitions this calendar year and earning themselves a spot in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

The Eagles didn’t start the campaign at 100mph. After losing the likes of Michael Olise and Joachim Anderson in the summer, Palace had to reassemble their tools, find ways to recruit and replace those players and then begin to build.

After the first ten matches of the season, Palace found themselves 17th, only picking up seven points in that time.

But due to their excellent form since then, Palace now find themselves in mid-table in the Premier League, with the top seven not too far out of reach.

So why did it take a while at the start of the season, and how much did Glasner’s side miss Olise?

Michael Olise's creative burden

Olise was sold to Bayern Munich in the summer, joining the German giants for a fee of around £50m. Since joining Bayern, Olise has been in sublime form, making 43 appearances, scoring 13 goals, and providing 16 assists.

But, the Frenchman was key in his time at Palace, making 90 appearances in his three years at the club, netting 16 times, providing 25 assists and totaling 5,782 minutes played.

Having Olise on the right and Eberechi Eze on the left made it tough for teams to contain the Eagles, with the duo often combining to create chances out of nothing.

With Olise gone, more focus being solely on Eze and a right-hand side that had to be re-invented, it was always going to take some time to find the best way to replace the French wingers’ presence.

That being said, Glasner has certainly found a way to do it.

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Glasner's "spectacular" duo have replaced Olise

Crystal Palace signed Ismaila Sarr from Marseille in the summer, joining for a fee of around £12.6m. The 27-year-old was the clear signing destined to take the spot of Olise on that right-hand side, but the difference in overall quality is clear, and therefore, a new dynamic on that side would be needed.

Daniel Munoz, working in tandem with Sarr on the right, has been Glasner’s key weapon to replacing Olise’s output, with both players proving to be very direct, making clever runs in behind and stretching play for their teammates. This right side has proven to be a key outlet for Palace this season.

Goals

0.17

0.29

Assists

0.14

0.11

xG

0.15

0.33

xAG

0.14

0.26

Progressive Carries

1.51

2.52

Progressive Passes

2.44

2.91

Shots Total

1.04

1.93

Key Passes

1.22

1.41

Passes into Pen Area

0.72

1.41

Shot-Creating Actions

2.29

3.85

Successful Take-Ons

0.61

0.60

When looking at the pair’s underlying metrics this season, you can see how their combined effort has helped to replace the French star, both getting forward and getting shots off, both putting balls into the box, chipping in with output and contributing in build up.

Munoz was described as “spectacular” by Jefferson Lerma and that is certainly one way to describe the pair down that right-hand side, working in tandem to attack in a direct fashion and create chances for the team.

Whilst Olise will never fully be replaceable, losing a world-class talent is always tough to replace, even more so when you are a mid-table Premier League side.

Therefore, Palace fans must be fairly happy with their right-side rebrand, with Glasner proving he can make it work.

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While there remains a slither of hope that this season ends in Europa League triumph for Tottenham Hotspur, there is no escaping from the fact that, at least domestically, it’s been diabolical.

Ange Postecologu’s side have lost 19 games in the Premier League, and it feels like a certainty that they’ll finish the season with 20 to their name.

However, for all the doom and gloom – of which there is plenty – there remains a reason to be hopeful about the club’s future: their youngsters.

The likes of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Mikey Moore look like superstars in the making, and if recent reports are to be believed, the club are looking to add another name to that list, someone who’d be a massive upgrade on Brennan Johnson, and has been tipped for Ballon d’Or glory.

Tottenham's transfer targets

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other youngsters who’ve been linked with Spurs in recent weeks, such as Dean Huijsen.

Transfer Focus

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The Spanish international reportedly has a release clause worth £50m in his current Bournemouth deal, and while that is a lot to spend on a youngster, it could well be worth it, as he’s already made 32 appearances for the Cherries this term.

Another youngster from the South Coast who has been heavily linked with the Lilywhites this year is Tyler Dibling.

The Southampton star has racked up a reasonable tally of four goals and three assists in 35 games so far this season and will be available for reportedly £35m.

Finally, the most exciting player, and the one who’d be a significant upgrade on Johnson, is Rayan Cherki.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Spurs and Manchester United are now leading the race to sign the highly-rated Lyon youngster.

The report claims that the 21-year-old could be available for around €35m, which comes out to £30m.

It might be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Cherki’s immense ability and potential, it’s worth fighting tooth and nail for, especially as he’d be a big upgrade on Johnson.

How Cherki compares to Johnson

So, as Cherki’s primary position is off the right, his main competition for game time at Spurs would be Johnson, but who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when it comes down to their raw output, it’s the Frenchman who comes out on top, and by quite some way at that.

For example, in just 41 appearances, totalling 2894 minutes, he’s scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.32 games, or every 93.35 minutes.

In contrast, the Welshman has scored 16 goals and provided seven assists in 46 appearances, totalling 2987 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every other game, or every 129.86 minutes.

Unfortunately for the former Nottingham Forest ace, the comparison remains just as one-sided when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.71

0.52

Non-Penalty G+As

0.88

0.60

Progressive Passes

9.31

3.03

Progressive Carries

4.17

2.47

Key Passes

3.33

0.82

Passes into the Final Third

4.46

1.08

Passes into the Penalty Area

3.33

1.52

Live Passes

52.7

26.2

Shot-Creating Actions

6.23

1.99

Goal-Creating Actions

0.93

0.30

Successful Take-Ons

2.11

0.82

For example, Lyon’s “future Ballon d’Or winner,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, comes out ahead in almost all relevant metrics, such as actual and expected non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, key passes, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Johnson has been a useful player, it’s clear that Cherki would be a massive upgrade and, therefore, Spurs should do all they can to sign him this summer.

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When it comes to world-class players, Tottenham Hotspur have had their fair share in the Premier League era.

For example, while they never managed to get over the final hurdle, the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Mousa Dembélé were unreal under Mauricio Pochettino.

However, go back just that little bit further, and you get to Gareth Bale, who for quite some time was arguably one of the best wingers in world football.

So, fans should be ecstatic about recent reports that have linked the club with another sensational wideman who could be their best winger since the Welshman.

Tottenham transfer news

With just how terribly this season has gone for Tottenham, it’s unsurprising to see the club linked with a host of talented players in recent weeks, such as Marcus Rashford.

The Englishman could be available for around £40m in the summer, which might prove to be a reasonable price for the Manchester United product, as across his time with the Red Devils and Aston Villa this term, he’s produced 20 goal involvements in 41 appearances.

A slightly cheaper and far younger option is Tyler Dibling.

Transfer Focus

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

The Southampton gem has been one of the few bright sparks for the Saints this season, could be available for about £35m and would fit in with the club’s current crop of young talents.

However, as promising as the Exeter-born prospect is, he’s not going to come in and make an instant impact, unlike Jarrod Bowen.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Spurs are keen to land the West Ham United star from their London rivals this summer.

Alongside the Lilywhites, Liverpool have also been credited with interest in the Englishman, and while the Hammers do not want to sell, the two parties could make an offer of up to €60m for the 28-year-old, which is about £51m.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Bowen’s immense ability, it’d be one worth fighting for.

Why Bowen would be Spurs' best winger

So, should Spurs get their way and leapfrog Liverpool to sign Bowen this summer, why would he instantly become their best winger in a long time?

Well, there are a couple of reasons, but perhaps the most important is that he’s a reliable source of goals and assists.

For example, in just 32 appearances this term, he’s scored ten goals and provided nine assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.68 games.

In contrast, Son has scored 11 goals and produced 12 assists in 43 appearances, which comes out to one every 1.86 games.

Brennan Johnson has scored 16 goals and produced seven assists in 46 appearances, which comes out to a goal involvement every other game.

Appearances

32

43

46

17

Goals

10

11

16

3

Assists

9

12

7

0

Goal Involvements*

0.59

0.53

0.50

0.17

And finally, Wilson Odobert has scored just three goals in 17 appearances this season, which comes out at one every 5.66 games.

On top of the number of goals and assists he produces, the Irons’ “game-changer,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas, has also proven that he can handle the most significant occasions, as he scored the winning goal in the 2023 Conference League Final.

Last but not least, while he thrives out on the right, the Englishman is incredibly versatile and can play up top and as a second striker as well as off the left at times, which would allow whoever’s in the Lilywhites’ dugout far more tactical flexibility.

Ultimately, while he might not reach the same levels as peak Bale did, Bowen has the ability and application to be Spurs’ best winger since the Welshman left.

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