Chelsea are now plotting an offer to rival Liverpool and PSG for the signing of a star centre-back, after they missed out on a deal for widely reported Dean Huijsen, who’s joining Real Madrid.
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Before the 20-year-old agreed his dream move to the Bernabeu, Chelsea were believed to be top contenders in the race for Huijsen.
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Reliable reports from the start of May indicated that Chelsea made Huijsen a “strong” offer to join them after holding productive talks with the defender’s representatives (Simon Phillips), and they were apparently ready to hand him a “lucrative” seven-year contract (TEAMtalk).
2. Arsenal
71
3. Newcastle United
66
4. Chelsea
66
5. Aston Villa
66
6. Man City
65
7. Nottingham Forest
65
At one point, Chelsea were convinced that Huijsen would make the move to Stamford Bridge, but that dream has now been quashed by Real’s advances for the ex-Juventus starlet.
Los Blancos have agreed to pay Huijsen’s £50 million release clause, and this season will officially be his last in the Premier League as he nears a return to his homeland, despite eagerness from the division’s top sides to keep him in England.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, commenting on Huijsen’s impending move to the Spanish capital, expressed his delight for the centre-half.
“Obviously, from my point of view, you never want to lose this type of player because he’s been so good for us,” said Iraola.
“But there’s also a part where you feel happy for him, because he’s going to Real Madrid. I think that’s what he really wanted to do. And obviously, we hope everything goes well for him.”
For Chelsea, it is back to the drawing board for BlueCo, who remain keen on strengthening Enzo Maresca’s back line with a key addition at the heart of his defence.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescacelebrates after the match
It’s long been reported that Chelsea want a new centre-back as one of their main transfer priorities. Defensive trio Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah have all been linked with summer departures from Cobham, and some reports in France even state that Chelsea could consider selling Wesley Fofana.
Chelsea plot £46m bid for Benfica defender Tomas Araujo
Taking this into account, Maresca’s side are still firmly in the market for another defender, with Benfica star Tomas Araujo now climbing up the shortlist after Huijsen’s switch to Madrid.
According to Chelsea News, they were in for the Portugal international last summer, but Chelsea ultimately didn’t come close enough to his £67 million release clause.
However, that interest remains, and Chelsea are considering a bid worth up to £46 million for Araujo. That being said, both Liverpool and PSG are also keen on signing the 23-year-old, so they’ll face stiff competition akin to the race for Huijsen.
It is little surprise that is the case, either, with Araujo drawing comparisons to Barcelona legend Gerard Pique.
“Tomas Araujo is a modern defender, with solid build-up play and the ability to defend the area, while also possessing good anticipation and ball control,” wrote Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo.
“Tomas Araujo is like a Portuguese Gerard Pique. Therefore, it’s no surprise that several Premier League teams have picked up the phone to inquire about his services.”
It now feels more like a matter of when and not if Ange Postecoglou is relieved of his duties as Tottenham Hotspur manager.
The Australian coach has done well enough in the Europa League this year and stands one game away from the final, but in the Premier League, they sit in 16th place with 19 defeats to their name.
Understandably, then, there have been numerous reports in recent weeks linking a number of top-class managers with the club, with Andoni Iraola being one of the most notable.
Yet, while the Spaniard would likely do a brilliant job, a recent report has now linked the North Londoners with an even better candidate.
Tottenham's manager search
Before getting to the manager in question, it’s worth looking at a couple of the other names that have been linked with the Tottenham job in recent weeks, such as Niko Kovač and Oliver Glasner.
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The former would be difficult to take away from Borussia Dortmund, but it would almost certainly be worth the effort, as not only has he turned the side around, but he’s also got an impressive track record of winning major silverware with Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Interestingly, Glasner has also got a track record of success with Frankfurt, winning the Europa League with them in 2022, and on top of that, he’s led Crystal Palace to the FA Cup final this season, which would have been unthinkable when he took over.
Yet, to be comfortably described as ‘far better than Iraola,’ Spurs potential hire would have had to do something even bigger than that in recent years, which is where Xavi Hernández comes in.
According to a recent report from Spain, Tottenham are one of several teams interested in hiring the former Barcelona boss.
Alongside the Lilywhites, the report claims that German giants Bayer Leverkusen and Saudi Pro-League side Al Hilal are also keen on the Spaniard.
As he’s currently unemployed, the World Cup winner has the luxury of joining whichever side he wants, so Daniel Levy and Co should do what they can to convince him, as he’d be an even better hire than Iraola.
Why Xavi would be a better hire than Iraola
So, if the decision Spurs have to make in the summer is between Xavi and Iraola, why should they go with the former?
First and foremost, while the Bournemouth manager did a great job getting Rayo Vallecano promoted to La Liga and has turned the Cherries into an upper mid-table Premier League side, he has no experience managing a huge club.
Moreover, this lack of experience at the top means we have no idea how he’d cope with the added pressure to get over the line in competitions.
In contrast, the former Barça boss led his former side to the title and Spanish in 22/23, which was their first in four years.
On top of that, when you compare their recent records, it further makes the case for the league winner, whom Joan Laporta dubbed “the best manager in the world.”
Games
143
84
Wins
91
34
Draws
23
20
Losses
29
30
Points per Game
2.07
1.45
For example, he won 91 games in charge of the Catalan giants, drew 23, lost 29 and averaged 2.07 points per game, while the Cherries boss has won 34 games, drawn 20 and lost 30 since taking the job on the south coast, which comes out to 1.45 points per game.
Ultimately, while Iraola would be a good hire for Spurs, Xavi has the experience and record to suggest he’d be an even better one.
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Newcastle United find themselves well in the hunt for a strong finish to the Premier League season and could look to pounce for a high-profile star on the market, according to a report.
Newcastle United's pursuit of summer signings
The Magpies have Champions League football firmly in their sights under Eddie Howe and will look to finalise their place in next year’s league phase before turning their attention to the summer transfer window.
Turning the spotlight on one of their direct competitors, Newcastle hope to sign James McAtee from Manchester City in the next few months and will take encouragement from the fact he has one year left on his deal at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City'sJamesMcAteecelebrates after the match
Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are also in the hunt for his signature, which may pose a challenge in convincing the England Under-21 international that Tyneside is the place to be ahead of next season.
On the same token, talks have taken place over Newcastle making a move for Douglas Luiz with Juventus sporting director Cristian Giuntoli. The possibility of a swap deal involving Sandro Tonali has also been discussed.
Looking to the future, Heart of Midlothian forward James Wilson is a Magpies target, even if he would likely be viewed as one for the future by chiefs at St James’ Park.
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PSR regulations will need to be met by Newcastle alongside every one of their direct rivals in the Premier League. In turn, that may lead to certain positions being prioritised for strengthening, while others could be left on the backburner.
Regardless, plenty of movement is underway in the North East and recent developments suggest that a marquee arrival could be set for a move to Tyneside.
Newcastle United ready to strike for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo
According to The Telegraph, Newcastle United are plotting a move for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who has wowed the Magpies’ recruitment team during extensive scouting missions over the last few years.
Howe would jump at the chance to bring in the Cameroon international if his current employers were willing to sell, though the Bees’ demand of over £60 million may provide food for thought once the summer window opens.
Bryan Mbeumo vs Anthony Gordon – Premier League attacking output in 2024/25
Bryan Mbeumo
Goals
18
Assists
6
Chances created
65
Shots on target
36
Completed dribbles
44
Anthony Gordon
Goals
6
Assists
5
Chances created
50
Shots on target
19
Completed dribbles
35
Labelled “fantastic” by Thomas Frank, Mbeumo has enjoyed a fantastic campaign in front of goal, registering 18 goals and seven assists in 38 appearances across all competitions.
His versatility is said to be a major reason behind Howe’s desire to land the winger. However, Newcastle are likely to wait and see what continental competition they end up in before stepping up their interest.
Attacking reinforcements appear to be on the agenda at St James’ Park and Mbeumo would be the ideal candidate to ensure the Magpies build from a position of strength.
Celtic could now make a move and sign an “excellent” 19-year-old, who is taller than every Hoops player, according to a new report.
Celtic begin preparations for the summer
The Hoops will be slowly turning their attentions to the summer, as they plan a recruitment drive that can not only help them stay top of the Scottish Premiership but can also help them when it comes to competing in the Champions League.
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It’s been reported that Celtic remain interested in signing Million Manhoef from Championship side Stoke City, despite the fact that he is valued at £10 million. The Hoops are also in the race to sign striker Moussa Soumano from AC Ajaccio, but they face stiff competition as Premier League-bound Leeds United are also keen on the player.
Signing a striker seems a priority for Brendan Rodgers this summer, as West Ham’s Danny Ings has also been mentioned as someone the Scottish champions could look to sign at the end of the campaign.
But as well as looking at proven players, Celtic are also in the market for young, exciting talents, and according to TBR Football, the Hoops have spoken to the representatives of Jesse Derry, who currently plays for Premier League side Crystal Palace. There are several teams from Britain and abroad who are chasing the signature of Derry.
Celtic could sign 19 y/o gem who is taller than every Hoops player
Derry is not the only young star the Hoops are chasing ahead of the summer, as according to George Shields, manager of Tayport, Celtic could be interested in signing goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu.
Nwosu is currently playing for Tayport, who are a team in the sixth tier of Scottish football, and the shot-stopper claimed his fourth clean sheet in a row on Wednesday evening. Shields has revealed that the Hoops could be about to make a move for his goalkeeper.
“He’s six foot eight, and I can see him getting a contract someplace, especially in Scotland,” he told The Herald.
“I don’t think he’ll have a problem getting a contract up here if I’m being honest. He’s only 19 years old, so he has plenty of growing to do. Maybe not physically, but he can clearly play at a good level. There is some word that Celtic might want a look at him, as well but we’ve not had confirmation of that yet.
“He has done really well playing for me at Tayport up to now, and we’ve put him in the shop window for these clubs. There’s no question that he has all the attributes to play at a high level.”
Nathaniel Nwosu
1.93m
Adam Idah
1.90m
Auston Trusty
1.90m
Viljami Sinisalo
1.90m
Nwosu, who has been dubbed “excellent” by Sheilds for his distribution, could join Kasper Schmeichel, Viljami Sinisalo and Scott Bain at Parkhead.
Tottenham Hotspur secured their place in the semi-final of the Europa League last night, with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.
Dominic Solanke’s first-half penalty was enough for Ange Postecoglou’s side, securing a 2-1 aggregate win after the 1-1 draw in North London last Thursday.
The triumph sets up a last-four clash with Bodo Glimt, moving the Lilywhites one step closer to European glory and potentially putting a superb end to a dismal season.
Tottenham Hotspur manager AngePostecogloucelebrates after the match
It certainly was a night to remember, giving a generation of supporters a new high in their time supporting the club, aiming to reach a first European final since 2019.
However, despite the impressive victory, numerous players failed to deliver in Germany, potentially putting their place in the side at huge jeopardy going forward.
Spurs’ poor performers against Eintracht Frankfurt
Winger Mathys Tel has been an inconsistent player to say the least since his January loan move from Bayern Munich, with last night no different for the Frenchman.
The 19-year-old only completed one of the five dribbles he attempted, whilst finding a teammate on just 33% of the times he delivered the ball into the 18-yard box.
He wasn’t the only one who struggled, with Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur looking a shadow of his former self during the victory over Frankfurt.
He featured for the entirety of the contest, but only managed to win 17% of the ground duels he entered, along with getting dribbled past twice as he was unable to make a huge impact on proceedings.
Despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other player failed to impress, with boss Postecoglou desperately needing to drop him ahead of Monday’s game with Nottingham Forest.
The Spurs player who needs to be dropped after Frankfurt
Injuries at Spurs have left Postecoglou with limited options at numerous points of the season, undoubtedly having a huge impact on the club’s lowly league standing.
Such an occurrence has allowed numerous players to stake their claim for a regular starting role, taking advantage of an opportunity that often wouldn’t be thrown in their direction.
Lucas Bergvall is arguably the biggest example of the situation, now being a vital member of the side, featuring for the entirety of the win against Frankfurt last night.
However, despite his success, winger Brennan Johnson was unable to have a similar impact, once again struggling to provide a reason as to why the hierarchy paid £47.5m for his signature.
The Welshman featured for 85 minutes before being replaced by Kevin Danso, with Ange opting to see out the result and switch to a back five for the closing stages.
Such a change was inevitable, but the 23-year-old did himself no favours during his time on the pitch, completing just 69% of the passes he attempted, whilst losing possession six times.
He also lost 66% of the duels he entered against the German opposition, whilst managing just 22 touches – a tally less than that of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who registered 45.
Minutes played
85
Touches
22
Passes completed
11/16 (69%)
Duels lost
4/6 (66%)
Possession lost
6x
Shots taken
0
Dribbles completed
0
As a result of his showing last night, Johnson was handed a measly 6/10 match rating by the London Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick – highlighting how disappointing he was in the triumph.
Given his display, Ange simply has to drop the winger ahead of the clash with his former side, needing to give other players an opportunity to demonstrate their quality.
He’s struggled massively in recent weeks once again, potentially needing to be taken out of the firing line to recapture his early season form in North London.
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Just when Arsenal thought their injury problems this season were about to ease, the Gunners were dealt a huge potential blow ahead of their crunch clash with Real Madrid next week.
Defender Gabriel pulled up early during their Premier League win over Fulham, which incidentally saw the welcome return off the bench of Bukayo Saka, who ended up scoring Arsenal’s winner.
With injuries and suspensions biting all season for the north Londoners, many have pointed to this as a primary factor in Arsenal’s faltering title bid this term.
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But how bad has it really been for Mikel Arteta’s side, and how do their injury numbers compare to their top-flight rivals? We have crunched the numbers to find out.
For this list, with the help of data from Transfermarkt, we have covered three main areas:
Players injured – The number of different first-team players unavailable during the 2024/25 Premier League season Number of injuries – The number of separate periods missed through injury throughout the senior squad Matches missed – The cumulative number of matches first-team players have been unavailable for in the current campaign
Note: All stats are correct following the end of play on 1st April 2025.
Team
Players injured
Injuries
Matches missed
18
32
139
14
34
114
15
22
128
18
27
194
21
34
173
20
29
126
10
14
109
12
20
130
12
14
71
17
25
105
13
14
104
15
21
78
14
29
124
18
29
134
19
22
126
8
10
60
17
28
95
21
35
159
10
13
64
15
16
140
1 Arsenal 32 injuries, 139 matches missed
There’s no getting away from the fact that Arsenal have had a horrendous season in terms of keeping key players fit – and the stats suggest they have had it worse than many of their Premier League rivals.
Mikel Arteta has had to deal with long-term absentees like Ben White and Bukayo Saka this season, with both players only just returning to full fitness. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all out for the foreseeable future.
Only three clubs can claim to have suffered more injuries than Arsenal’s 32 throughout the campaign, while the Gunners rank in the top five for each of the key injury metrics we have looked at, pointing to a high volume of not only the number of injuries, but also the lengths of the layoffs.
At the time of writing, Arsenal first-team players have missed a combined 139 Premier League matches, with that surely set to rise in the wake of Gabriel’s worrying injury in midweek.
Metric
Total
PL rank
Players injured
18
=5th
Injuries
32
4th
Matches missed
139
5th
Every Arsenal game missed by Bukayo Saka through injury
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ByBarney Lane Nov 15, 2024 2 Aston Villa 34 injuries, 114 matches missed
Aston Villa have suffered more injury setbacks than Arsenal, which may go some way to explaining why they have not been as impressive this year in the league, albeit amid a dazzling Champions League campaign.
However, the big picture is slightly brighter for Villa in the sense that some of the players involved, such as Diego Carlos and Jaden Philogene, are no longer at the club.
Most Premier League clubs this season have also seen more different players enter the treatment room, so it could be argued that Villa have got off lightly in the injury department this year.
3 Bournemouth 22 injuries, 128 matches missed
Bournemouth’s injury record this term isn’t too bleak, but for a handful of long-term injury layoffs.
The Cherries only just welcomed back Marcos Senesi from a hamstring problem, while the likes of Adam Smith, Luis Sinisterra and Enes Unal have been out for the majority of the season.
But compared to their top-flight rivals, they’ve been blessed more than most this year, which is just as well with Andoni Iraola’s impressive side looking to qualify for Europe this term.
4 Brentford 27 injuries, 194 matches missed
Brentford players have missed the most Premier League games this season through injury, though this is largely owing to several players being left unavailable throughout the campaign.
Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva and Gustavo Nunes have not been able to make a single league appearance, while summer signing Igor Thiago only managed a brief comeback from injury before ending up crocked once more.
The Bees’ defence has borne the brunt of their medical problems, with Rico Henry also among the major absentees, while Kristoffer Ajer and Ethan Pinnock have both spent long periods out of action.
Brighton have suffered injuries to the most players this season (21), along with Spurs.
The Seagulls have fared rather better than Ange Postecoglou’s side in the league, and will still harbour hopes of a European finish despite their issues.
The bulk of those stem from the likes of James Milner, Tariq Lamptey and summer signing Ferdi Kadioglu, while Solly March has yet to manage a run of games under Fabian Hurzeler.
Their current total of 173 league matches missed through injury is the second-worst in the Premier League behind Brentford, so all things considered, it could be argued they’ve been performing above their expected level this year.
6 Chelsea 29 matches, 126 matches missed
Chelsea'sNicolasJacksonreacts after sustaining an injury
Given the size of Chelsea’s squad, it is inevitable that injuries will be a recurring problem. Indeed, with 29 separate injuries to deal with, only four top-flight clubs can say they’ve had it worse.
The Blues have seen 20 first-teamers enter the treatment room so far this term. Reece James has been among the frequent visitors, along with Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson.
While there are a fair amount of players without first-team experience also struggling to stay fit (such as Aaron Anselmino and Omari Kellyman), the severity of injuries to players Enzo Maresca would often start could point to why the west Londoners’ title challenge faded rather quickly.
Reece James injury history: Every game missed by Chelsea star since 2021/22
The defender has endured a torrid few seasons at Stamford Bridge.
Crystal Palace have fared rather well on the injury front this season, which will surely have had Oliver Glasner counting his blessings given the Eagles’ slow start to the campaign.
Cheick Doucoure and Matheus Franca have been among their chief absentees this term, but on the whole, Palace have only suffered injuries to 10 players since August – two of whom are currently off the books at Selhurst Park.
In fact, bar the long layoffs in the squad, Palace have one of the fittest squads in the league.
8 Everton 20 injuries, 130 matches missed
Given their struggles in recent years, it will have been imperative that Everton keep players fit to give themselves the best chance of survival this season.
And while they’ve had their fair share (eight players have missed a period of seven straight games or more), the Toffees compare pretty well to their Premier League rivals, with injuries not exactly widespread throughout the squad.
With Premier League clubs experiencing an average of 23.4 injuries this year so far, Everton’s tally of 20 has proved more than manageable, particularly following David Moyes’ return to Merseyside.
9 Fulham 14 injuries, 71 matches missed
Fulham could claim to be one of the most consistent sides in the Premier League this term – and having the majority of their squad to choose from almost certainly plays a key role.
The Cottagers have been blessed by the injury gods this year, losing just 71 matches throughout the squad this term after 30 matches played.
When you also consider they currently have three long-term injuries creating the bulk of this, Marco Silva’s fitness team must be doing something right.
10 Ipswich Town 25 injuries, 105 matches missed
Ipswich Town were always going to be up against it as far as staying up was concerned this year, and while the Tractor Boys are not down yet, they could have done with a bit more luck on the injury front until now.
The number of injuries they have had so far has been pretty average compared to their rivals, though Ipswich currently have several first-teamers who may not make a return before the end of the campaign.
With the majority of those players attackers, you could argue that injuries have played a part in their lack of potency this year, despite the stats suggesting they have got off relatively lightly.
Arsenal “could make a move” for a “world-class” forward, who Mikel Arteta is known to be a big fan of.
Gunners eyeing new forward after "painful" Aston Villa defeat
Arteta’s side suffered one of their first real setbacks of the season on Saturday, with Aston Villa emerging as 2-1 winners after Emiliano Buendia’s late winner, and the manager was left frustrated by the manner of the defeat.
The Spaniard said: “Last kick of the game we have the chance with the cross from Declan for Noni and Viktor. We don’t score. Goal kick long, second ball, clear the ball, individual action. The ball comes inside the box and you end up losing it. It is painful.”
On the brighter side, the Gunners remain two points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, and a number of Arteta’s summer signings have hit the ground running at the Emirates Stadium.
Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke have received praise for their performances, with Eberechi Eze also catching the eye, most notably scoring a hat-trick in the emphatic 4-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur last month.
Despite signing Eze and Madueke, however, Arsenal remain interested in signing another new forward, and journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed they “could make a move” for AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.
Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke confirmed that a number of top Premier League clubs are in the race for Semenyo’s signature, namely Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Ghanaian’s £65m release clause will become active in the January transfer window, but the interested clubs may also choose to wait until the summer, at which point he will be available for just £50m.
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ByDominic Lund 5 days ago "World-class" Semenyo may be ready for Emirates move
Lauded as “world-class” by Bournemouth teammate Justin Kluivert, the 25-year-old got off to a very impressive start to the campaign, and ranks third in terms of total goal contributions in the Premier League.
Player
Club
Goal contributions
Erling Haaland
Manchester City
18
Igor Thiago
Brentford
11
Antoine Semenyo
AFC Bournemouth
9
Arteta is known to be a big fan of the London-born forward, who is also impressive in the air, averaging 2.14 aerials won per 90 over the past year, which places him in the 97th percentile, compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.
The former Newport County man has been impressing in the Premier League for quite some time, scoring a remarkable solo goal against Burnley during the 2023-24 campaign.
Clearly, Semenyo could now be ready to make the step-up to a top club, but having signed the likes of Madueke, Eze and Viktor Gyokeres in the summer, there are question marks over whether Arsenal need to bring in another new attacker next month.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have now held exit talks over another key player as well as Joao Gomes, who has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United.
Wolves could be set to lose Joao Gomes in January
Gomes has recently emerged as a transfer target for United, with Ruben Amorim’s side keen to bring in the Portuguese midfielder this winter, and a €50m (£44m) fee has been touted.
It would certainly be a risk for the Old Gold to sell one of their key players, considering their Premier League status is already under major threat, having taken just two points from their opening 12 matches.
However, given that the central midfielder’s value will decrease if Rob Edwards’ side are unable to avoid the drop, it could make sense to cash-in and re-invest the money into other areas of the squad.
Gomes is not the only Wolves player who could be moving on in January either, as revealed by the Tenias Que Haber Tirado podcast on X, who state that Celta Vigo are now “considering the return” of former player Fer Lopez, who only arrived at Molineux in June.
The La Liga club have held talks over a loan move in the upcoming transfer window, which could make sense for all parties, given that Lopez hasn’t exactly made a flying start to life in the Premier League…
"Incredible" Lopez yet to prove himself in England
Wolves would’ve had high hopes after signing the attacking midfielder in the summer, considering the rave reviews from former coach Paul Grainger, who said: “I have seen some of the best players in the world play football. I have never seen a footballer like him. He was literally incredible. From the first day, I knew he was going to be a superstar.”
However, the 21-year-old is yet to reach those lofty heights, having started just one Premier League game this season, which was the 3-1 home defeat against Leeds United, and the youngster hasn’t received any minutes since the 2-0 defeat against Sunderland last month.
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In fairness, the Spaniard was one of very few players who impressed against Leeds, setting up the Wanderers’ only goal in style, and he is still young and adapting to life in the Premier League, so it would be way too early to sanction a permanent move.
However, if Lopez isn’t a part of Edwards’ plans, there is little reason to keep him around, and a loan move could make sense for all parties in the January transfer window.
October was certainly a month to remember for Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim enjoying the best month of his tenure after taking the reins 12 months ago.
His Red Devils side won all three of their Premier League outings, even beating defending champions Liverpool at Anfield for the first time in just under a decade.
As a result, Amorim has been handed the Premier League Manager of the Month award, with the 40-year-old claiming the trophy for the first time at Old Trafford.
Such a record has catapulted the club up England’s top-flight in 2025/26, with the first-team finally heading in the right direction after getting to grips with the 3-4-2-1 system.
The success of the team is certainly credit to the manager and his tactics, but there’s no denying that he has one player to thank for the recent upturn in league form.
Why Mbeumo won October’s Premier League Player of the Month
As part of the £200m summer spending spree, United landed the signature of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford – forking out a staggering £71m for his services.
The Cameroonian arrived with huge expectations after scoring 20 league goals last season, with the attacker already starting to come good after his big-money transfer.
He scored his first top-flight goal in the win against Burnley back in August, but his career at Old Trafford has ignited after his form over the last month.
The 26-year-old played three times in October, scoring three times and registering one assist – subsequently achieving a goal contribution in every game he played – helping him win the division’s Player of the Month award.
He scored within the first two minutes of the victory over Arne Slot’s side on Merseyside, undoubtedly playing a vital role in the triumph and making himself a fan-favourite.
Mbeumo’s goalscoring tally for the month ended with a double against Brighton and Hove Albion, helping Amorim’s side make it three wins in a row for the first time in his tenure.
The United star who should have won Player of the Month
During the last few weeks, numerous United players have managed to catch the eye and are deserving of more credit for their impact in the Premier League.
Senne Lammens made his Red Devils debut in the first triumph over Sunderland at the start of October, with the Belgian since cementing his place as a regular starter between the sticks.
The 23-year-old has already kept a clean sheet in the Premier League, whilst also playing a vital role in the historic victory at Anfield – as he made a total of five saves.
He’s not been alone in impressing, with Amad Diallo also massively thriving despite operating in a somewhat unnatural right-wing-back during the recent run.
However, central midfielder Casemiro has gone somewhat under the radar, especially after his poor form at the start of the campaign, which led to fans questioning his future at the club.
The Brazilian international has since resurrected his career at Old Trafford, with Amorim starting the experienced star in all of the victories during October.
Such a period has allowed the 33-year-old to prove some incredible numbers, many of which should have seen him being named the Player of the Month over Mbeumo.
Casemiro, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has registered two goals and assists in as his three matches – with both of his efforts coming against Brighton.
However, other numbers such as 90 passes completed and 148 touches showcase his ability to dictate the play despite his deep-lying midfield position.
Games played
3
Goals & assists
2
Minutes played
213
Passes completed
90
Touches
148
Defensive contributions
31
Tackles won
9
Recoveries made
13
Duels won
16
Out of possession, he’s been just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 13 recoveries and 16 duels won, with such numbers allowing Bruno Fernandes to operate in a more advanced role.
The revival of Casemiro over recent weeks is nothing short of sensational, with huge credit needing to be directed his way after his recent performances.
Mbeumo has also done superbly well to win the award, but his teammate will no doubt feel aggrieved that he wasn’t able to get his hands on the trophy.
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Jeff Stelling has criticised Unai Emery as a result of one moment in Aston Villa’s 1-0 victory against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
Cash leads Villa to victory over Man City
Emery continued his stellar record at home against Man City on Sunday, with the manager overseeing his third straight victory against Pep Guardiola’s side at Villa Park, courtesy of Matty Cash’s first-half strike from just outside the box.
It was a stellar performance from the full-back, who was voted the Player of the Match, and the Poland international has since put pen to paper on a new contract which lasts until 2029.
The Villans have really turned a corner in recent weeks, having picked up victories against some top teams, defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on the road earlier this month, and the Premier League table now makes for much better viewing, having moved up to eighth.
The manager has also silenced the talk about his future, after it was reported last month that Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers were all unhappy with the Spaniard, given the slow start they made to the campaign.
The 53-year-old has certainly turned the corner, but Stelling was still left unimpressed with some of the decisions he made on Sunday, calling out the decision to substitute Jadon Sancho in the second-half, having only introduced the winger just before the 30-minute mark.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Stelling came to Sancho’s defence, saying: “He’s a soft target, because over the years it’s been easy to point the finger at him, but I think on this occasion it was wrong to point the finger at him.”
Sancho's Villa career yet to truly take off
It was always going to be a risk signing the 25-year-old, given that he was unable to live up to his huge price tag at Manchester United, and his Villa career is yet to take off, having only featured for 226 minutes across five matches in all competitions.
Emery defended the decision to substitute the former Man United man by pointing out he has done the same thing with other players before and wants to introduce the Englishman slowly: “Yes, sure he’s (Sancho) not happy but I did it before with Morgan Rogers, with Emiliano Buendia, with Leon Bailey, and he played 60 minutes on Thursday,”
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“Today when he (Buendia) was injured, my plan was maybe in case he (Sancho) was going to play 30 minutes, but I decided to play more and he played 45 minutes.”
That said, given the scale of media attention Sancho received at Man United, it was a strange decision from Emery, who risks damaging his summer signing’s confidence, even if the manager didn’t substitute him due to being unhappy with his performance.