All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Chelsea are seemingly starting to build some serious momentum.

On Saturday lunchtime, the Blues swatted aside Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the City Ground; Josh Acheampong breaking the deadlock, Pedro Neto firing home a free-kick and then Reece James making the points secure.

This result saw Ange Postecoglou sacked as Forest manager mere moments after full-time, ending his 39-day tenure.

Meantime, that’s now back-to-back league wins for Enzo Maresca’s team, who will take on Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday, but the Blues boss will be concerned by his growing list of absentees.

Levi Colwill, Benoît Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Enzo Fernández, Dário Essugo, Cole Palmer and Liam Delap all missed out due to injury, while Malo Gusto’s stoppage-time red card means he will sit out next weekend’s clash with Sunderland suspended, with João Pedro already banned for the Champions League tie.

Of course, one of these absentees is significantly more noteworthy than the others, so how should Maresca fill the void of his talisman?

The latest on Cole Palmer's injury

In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Maresca confirmed that Cole Palmer will be sidelined “for another six weeks”.

The 23-year-old has been plagued by injury issues throughout this season already, withdrawing following the warm-up at West Ham in August, before hobbling off inside 20 minutes at Old Trafford last month, not seen since.

With fierce London derbies against both Tottenham and Arsenal to come in November, as well as a Champions League clash against Barcelona, not having Palmer available for these games would be a major blow.

Minutes

3,191

2nd

Goals

15

1st

Assists

8

1st

Shots

121

1st

Shots on target

44

1st

Key passes

87

1st

Progressive passes

214

2nd

Shot-creating actions

202

1st

Goal-creating actions

15

2nd

Big chances created

24

1st

Attempted take-ons

113

1st

As the table emphasises, in the Premier League last season, Palmer ranked first for pretty much every available attacking metric; the second and third-highest goal-scorers, namely Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, have both been sold.

This time round, despite only starting two matches, accumulating 235 minutes, Palmer has already scored twice, on target against Brentford and Bayern Munich, both on the road.

Maresca added, during his aforementioned press conference, that “to replace Cole is difficult, because Cole is a very important player for us, probably one of the best players in the Premier League, so to replace that kind of player is always difficult… we don’t have another player like Cole, because Cole is unique”.

Of course, he is right, no current member of the Chelsea squad is at Palmer’s level just yet, but which player could get there soon and appears best-suited to start in his absence?

Chelsea's perfect Palmer deputy

Against Nottingham Forest, Maresca deployed a starting lineup surely no one could’ve foreseen, with Gusto alongside Roméo Lavia at the base of midfield, while Andrey Santos, Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho were deployed in-behind João Pedro.

He then made a triple alteration at half-time, Moisés Caicedo, Jamie Gittens and Marc Guiu all introduced, but there was still no room for Estêvão Willian, not brought on until the 78th minute, as he continues to be under-utilised.

In the previous game, the 18-year-old had announced himself to the world by scoring the injury-time winner against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, connecting with Marc Cucurella’s low cross at the back post.

Despite his tender age, Estêvão arrived in West London with a big reputation, not least after he scored against Chelsea during the Club World Cup quarter-finals for Palmeiras in July.

Even before that, he had been touted as a future global superstar.

Respected analyst Ben Mattinson has labelled him a “future Ballon d’Or winner”, while Brazil’s all-time top-scorer Neymar believes the teenager “will be a genius”, adding that he is a “big talent that is surging in Brazilian football”.

Before joining Chelsea for a reported fee of £29m, Estêvão scored 27 goals and registered 15 assists in only 89 appearances for Palmeiras, winning the Brasileirão title in 2024.

At international level, he scored his first senior goal for Brazil during a World Cup qualifier against Chile at the Maracanã in September, before netting twice as the Seleção smashed Korea Republic 5-0 in Seoul just last week.

Across his final season and a half in the Brasileirão, the youngster scored 13 goals, registered 12 assists, created 12 big chances and completed an average of 2.3 dribbles per 90.

Of course, moving to the Premier League is a step-up, but these numbers should not be dismissed because, according to Global Football Rankings, the top division in Brazil is the ninth-strongest league in the world.

Thus, both in terms of the eye test but also the statistics, Estêvão appears to be, stylistically, the best fit to replace Palmer.

His talent certainly warrants more than the four starts from ten matches he has enjoyed to date, not starting any of the last four matches.

So, with Chelsea’s next three games against Ajax, Sunderland then Wolves in the EFL Cup, Maresca must make Estêvão a central figure in his team as he seeks to find a way to fill Palmer’s void.

Worse than Garnacho: Maresca must axe 4/10 Chelsea flop who had 55% passing

Chelsea were 3-0 winners away to Forest but this star struggled

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 18, 2025

There is no denying it: Arsenal are an incredible team at the moment.

Mikel Arteta's side have launched two serious bids for the Premier League title in the last two seasons and look set to make it three for three this year.

However, while the Gunners have quality in almost every position, there is still a general belief among fans that a clinical number nine is needed to take the club to the next level. So, links to Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres this summer have caught people's attention.

That said, recent reports have now placed the North Londoners in the conversation for another superstar centre-forward, and he might even be a better option.

Arsenal's striker search

According to a recent report from respected Italian journalist Gianluca DiMarzio, Arsenal could be about to make a surprise bid for Napoli star Victor Osimhen.

DiMarzio has revealed that the Nigerian superstar's reported move to Paris Saint-Germain has been put on hold as the Parisians 'wait' for his price to come down, a price set by his massive €130m – £109m – release clause.

The Italian claims this stand-off could see the Gunners come in with an offer for the 25-year-old 'sooner or later.'

Whether Arsenal makes an offer to match the release clause or not, bringing Osimhen to the Emirates this summer would send shockwaves around the Premier League and seriously boost the club's chances of winning the title – and he may be the ideal alternative to Gyokeres.

How Osimhen compares to Gyokeres

Okay, so let's just imagine, for a second, then, that Arsenal really are set to decide between Osimhen and Gyokeres for the striker they want to lead the line next season. Who comes out on top?

Well, when it comes down to the most important metric of all for strikers, output, it's not quite as straightforward as you may have imagined it would have been.

For example, if you were to judge them on last season alone, it would be the Swede who comes out well ahead, as he scored a whopping 43 goals and provided 15 assists in 50 games, while his potential rival could only muster 17 goals and four assists in 32 appearances, meaning that the pair averaged a goal involvement every 0.86 and 1.52 games, respectively.

However, when you go back just one season prior, the shoe is on the other foot.

For example, in just 39 appearances in 22/23, the "world-class" Nigerian, as dubbed by José Mourinho, scored 31 goals and provided five assists. In comparison, the then Coventry City forward scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists in 50 appearances, meaning that the pair averaged a goal involvement every 1.08 and 1.47 games, respectively.

Appearances

39

50

Goals

31

22

Assists

5

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.92

0.68

Appearances

32

50

Goals

17

43

Assists

4

15

Goal Involvements per Match

0.65

1.16

So, while it does look relatively even between the two poachers, the one thing the Napoli ace has is that he has been performing in a top-five league, whereas the Swedish international moved from the Championship to Portugal and has yet to prove himself at the top level.

Ultimately, it looks like Arsenal would do well to sign either Osimhen or Gyokeres this summer, but given the former's experience in Serie A and the Champions League, it might be wiser to go for him, even at a higher price.

Key target: Arsenal want to sign a £76m upgrade on Martinelli

The incredible youngster could become a world-beater in the future.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 24, 2024

As it was last year, this season has already been something of a roller coaster for Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lilywhites looked somewhat off the pace in their opening games, but in the last month or so, Ange Postecoglou’s men have looked like a seriously threatening side, even if there are still some issues to be resolved, as the loss to Brighton & Hove Albion made clear.

In fact, the North Londoners’ haul of 18 league goals is currently the second-best return in the competition and only one behind Manchester City, who have the frankly inhuman Erling Haaland leading the line.

Yet, it would appear that Daniel Levy and Co are looking to strengthen their already magnificent attack in the upcoming January transfer window, as according to recent reports, the club are keen on a Premier League striker who has won comparisons to Haaland and is currently outscoring Dominic Solanke.

Spurs transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are leading the race for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims that while the Lilywhites are ahead at the moment, the Englishman’s fine form has seen the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Arsenal and his former club, Manchester City, all take notice ahead of what could be an intense battle for his services.

While this level of interest is far from ideal for the North Londoners, the good news is that 21-year-old shouldn’t cost a fortune. The report has revealed that an offer in the region of €40m, £33m, should tempt the Tractor Boys into selling.

Now, this is still a sizeable fee, but given his fine form this season, the comparison to Haaland, and the fact that he’s outscoring Solanke, it could prove to be a long-term bargain.

Delap's comparisons to Haaland and Solanke

Okay, so let’s start with the comparison to Haaland, and while some may deem it ever so slightly outrageous, it was first made by AP correspondent James Robson in September 2020, who said of the then 17-year-old forward that he had “a look of Haaland about him.”

Now, Robson based this opinion on the physical stature and goalscoring ability of the teenager at the time and considering he racked up an imposing tally of 46 goals and 16 assists in 55 appearances for City’s various youth sides, it’s not hard to see where he was coming from.

Moreover, while the Winchester-born poacher only made six first-team appearances for the club, this season has shown that he can be an effective Premier League goalscorer when given the opportunity to consistently start games.

Appearances

9

9

Minutes

634′

685′

Goals

4

3

Goals per Game

0.44

0.33

Minutes per Goal

158′

228′

For example, in his nine appearances so far this year, eight of which have come in the league, the England U21 star has scored four goals, which is one more than Soalnke has managed in as many games and in a far more dangerous team.

With that said, even if Levy and Co were able to get their hands on Ipswich’s “exceptional” talent in January, as dubbed by former professional Glenn Murray, he would likely come in as a backup for the £65m man at least for now, and given his age, that could be the best option for all involved.

It would allow Postecoglou to keep playing the former Bournemouth star while having a young, hungry, talented and reliable striker to come off the bench when needed and start in cup games, thus keeping the spotlight off of him and improving the overall quality of the squad.

Ultimately, while fans shouldn’t expect Delap to immediately come into the starting lineup and displace the talented Solanke, bringing him to N17 seems like a no-brainer if Levy and Co want to ensure Postecoglou has the best tools at his disposal – and the comparisons to Haaland are certainly a nice bonus.

Brennan Johnson is now being outperformed by a player Spurs let go for £0

Spurs may have made a mistake in allowing the talent to leave the club.

1 ByEthan Lamb Oct 23, 2024

Aston Villa only have a few days left to go to complete the remainder of their business as the summer transfer window officially slams shut on Friday.

The Villans have started the Premier League season with one win, against West Ham United, and one defeat, to Arsenal, and it still remains to be seen how well their current signings will fare this term.

Amadou Onana was the only new arrival in the starting XI for the clash with the Gunners, whilst Ian Maatsen and Ross Barkley came off the bench and Jaden Philogene was an unused substitute.

The Champions League outfit are reportedly in the market to make further additions to their squad before the deadline passes on Friday, however, with a Premier League defender on their radar.

Aston Villa eyeing Premier League enforcer

According to TEAMtalk, the Villans are one of the sides lining up a late swoop to sign England international Joe Gomez from Liverpool this week.

The report claims that fellow Premier League side Newcastle United are also keen on the versatile defender, who can play at full-back or centre-back.

It states that Villa and the Magpies have both made enquiries about his availability and the Reds are prepared to let him leave if the right offer comes in.

Earlier this summer, it was reported that the former Charlton ace is valued at £45m but it remains to be seen whether either of the interested teams are willing to pay that, or if a loan deal could be on the cards.

Villa's reported interest should come as bad news for Matty Cash, who could be impacted by the English battler's arrival at the club this week.

Why this is bad news for Matty Cash

The Poland international should be concerned by the side enquiring about a deal for Gomez because the Liverpool brute could come in and take his place in the team.

Villa deployed natural centre-back Ezri Konsa as a right-back in 23 matches during the 2023/24 campaign and Gomez could come in to fulfill a similar role, which would allow the ex-Brentford man to remain in the middle next to Pau Torres.

The Liverpool defender has played 114 games at centre-back and 98 matches as a right-back in his career, which suggests that he would be perfect for that hybrid role – coming inside to create a back three in possession.

Appearances

29

32

Key passes per game

0.4

0.7

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.5

2.1

Duel success rate

47%

54%

Aerial duel success rate

42%

74%

As you can see in the table above, Gomez could also come in as an upgrade on Cash in and out of possession for Villa, based on their form in the Premier League last term.

The Polish full-back let himself down from a physical perspective as he allowed opposition players to get the better of him more often than not, whilst Gomez was more dominant – particularly in the air.

Liverpool's 27-year-old ace also almost created twice as many chances per game as Cash, despite being a natural centre-back, and could provide more creativity down the flank.

Aston Villa could land dream signing for Rogers in move for £50k-p/w PL ace

The Villans have been touted with an interest in the impressive centre-forward this summer.

ByDan Emery Aug 26, 2024

Therefore, Villa's interest in the England international is bad news for Unai Emery's current right-back, as it could spell the end of his time as a regular in the team.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta now appears set to promote one very highly-rated teenager to the first team, as a senior member of the Spaniard's squad faces a fresh injury setback.

Arsenal prepare to face Wolves in opening Premier League game

Following their two month-plus break from action, Arsenal are now gearing up for the new Premier League season and another opportunity to loosen Man City's stranglehold on the title.

Talks ongoing: Arsenal believe they'll sign £55m ace soon, he wants to join

The Gunners are still trying to make their third signing of the window.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 13, 2024

The Gunners have fell just short of City in the last two campaigns, pushing Pep Guardiola all the way to the final day last term, but not quite possessing enough to leapfrog their arch rivals.

After signing Italy international defender Riccardo Calafiori, and potentially Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino soon (Pete O'Rourke), Arsenal chiefs will be hoping Arteta's side can go that one step further and usurp City as the champions of England come next May.

Arsenal host Gary O'Neil's Wolves on Saturday in their bid to make the best possible start, with an array of tricky fixtures awaiting Arteta soon afterwards.

Team

Date

Wolves (home)

August 17

Aston Villa (away)

August 24

Brighton (home)

August 31

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Arsenal will also be hoping for a near-fully fit squad for their clash at the Emirates this weekend, but it is believed versatile £100,000-per-week defender Takehiro Tomiyasu could well be on the treatment table.

Arteta set to promote Myles Lewis-Skelly after Tomiyasu injury at Arsenal

According to Football Transfers, Tomiyasu is facing a fresh injury setback which will keep him out for another month, resulting in a potential opportunity for 17-year-old academy gem Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The young midfielder, who featured often in pre-season preparations, could come in to replace Tomiyasu in the matchday squad. Indeed, Arteta is apparently expected promote Lewis-Skelly to the Arsenal first team following Tomiyasu's recent problem, where he will hopefully have a chance to impress.

The Englishman, who is yet to make his professional senior debut for Arsenal, is very highly rated at the club.

“You know when you see a player and you think, ‘yeah, you’re just a little bit different’," said journalist Charles Watts on his YouTube channel last year, after Lewis-Skelly's excellent performance against Man City in their FA Youth Cup semi-final win (via TBR).

“That’s the kind of impression you get when you sit there and watch Lewis-Skelly. His close control, his ability to get himself out of tight situations, the way he runs with the ball. Just his presence on the pitch, he’s got something special.

“You can see why there’s so much excitement about him at Arsenal. If anyone at Arsenal was going to get the winner last night, and deserved to get the headlines, it was probably him, as he was very good.”

Meanwhile, former Arsenal midfielder and Hale End academy coach Jack Wilshere has tipped the teenager for a very bright future at the club.

“We give him the tools he needs to develop, but you see certain moments that are not coachable," said Wilshere on Lewis-Skelly.

"Certain players can’t do that, only certain players can but there’s much more that comes with it like how he lives. He’s a top kid but he has to manage that going forward when he gets a bit more attention. He comes from a great family which is massive, and I know that they’ll steer his journey and be present throughout that, a bit like me with my dad and family. That’s so important.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers face yet another difficult task in the Premier League this weekend as they seek their first three points of the season.

Gary O’Neil’s men have been given a poor draw when it comes to fixtures, taking on Arsenal, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and now Liverpool in the opening six games.

If they can somehow come away from the clash against the Anfield side with a point or better, then the Old Gold can start to look forward in a more positive way.

O’Neil could make a few changes for the clash, with Jorgen Strand Larsen potentially dropping to the bench this weekend.

Jorgen Strand Larsen’s game in numbers vs Villa

The on-loan striker has scored just once for the Molineux side but was given the task of leading the line against Villa last weekend.

Despite taking the lead, Wolves suffered a 3-1 loss, but Larsen didn’t play too badly. During the match, he attempted two shots, won four of his six aerial duels and lost possession just twice – albeit while touching the ball on just 12 occasions.

All he needs now is to turn these performances into goals, then his confidence will soon begin to soar.

For the Liverpool clash, however, could O’Neil mix things up slightly and choose someone who has already found the back of the net for the club this term?

Goncalo Guedes has already netted three times since returning from a loan spell at Villarreal, although they have come in the EFL Cup.

Why Goncalo Guedes should be unleashed by O’Neil

The manager has unleashed the Portuguese gem in both cup games so far. Along with his three goals, he has also created a big chance, averaged 1.5 key passes per game and has taken four shots per match, underlining how impressive he has been in front of goal.

The £27m signing from Valencia in 2022 hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best of times in the Midlands, yet it looks as though O’Neil is set to give him a chance to showcase his talents this term.

Journalist Andy Brassell lavished praise on the player when he was signed, saying: “For Wolves I think Guedes will be absolutely fantastic, they need that little bit of extra bang up front, maybe they could be in a bit of trouble if they’re not scoring goals.

“He’s someone who can play as a striker or as a winger, lightning quick, on his day as good as it gets.”

The key for Guedes now is to ensure he delivers decent performances in the Premier League when called upon.

His display against Brighton in the cup could well see him secure a start against Liverpool, but he will need to back this up.

Goals

1

Assists

0

Key passes

2

Total shots

4

Touches

32

Possession lost

12

Wolves aren’t quite in trouble, yet. But they will need to pick up points soon, otherwise O’Neil could come under some pressure.

Their fixtures have been tough, no doubt about it, but this is a team that beat Chelsea twice and Manchester City last term. The next few weeks could be interesting indeed.

Wolves wanted to sign "unplayable" star for £21m, now he's worth £103m

Wolves wanted “super” striker, who’s now worth five times the amount

ByConnor Holden Sep 27, 2024

Aston Villa’s summer transfer activity looks set to reach new highs as they appear to be closing in on a move for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.

Having lost Douglas Luiz to Juventus a few weeks ago, Unai Emery was certainly in the market for another central midfielder as a replacement, especially considering the Midlands side are set to make their first foray into the Champions League group stages next season.

How much Aston Villa are paying for Amadou Onana

A deal to sign Onana from Everton is likely to cost Villa a staggering £50m, just shy of the club-record fee they paid to sign Moussa Diaby a year ago from Bayer Leverkusen.

It is evident that playing in Europe’s premier club competition was a big incentive for the midfielder, who featured in all of Belgium’s four matches at Euro 2024, and the signing signals a massive statement of intent from Emery.

However, the Spaniard already has a player in his current first-team squad who is worth the same as Onana, one who could secure the club a substantial profit should he be sold in the next few weeks.

Dream for Onana: Aston Villa could sign £34m “duel monster”

The Midlands outfit has been busy indeed this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 17, 2024 Aston Villa have struck gold on English sensation

Jacob Ramsey might not have made as much of an impact as anticipated last term, mostly due to injury issues, but the youngster has shown plenty of potential since making his debut for the club during the 2018/19 campaign.

Season

Games

Goals

2023/24

21

1

2022/23

38

6

2021/22

35

6

2020/21

24

0

2019/20

2

0

2018/19

1

0

The Englishman emerged through the academy before establishing himself as a regular in the first-team squad during the 2020/21 season, making 22 appearances for Villa in the top flight.

The following two seasons saw Ramsey miss just seven league games, scoring a mightily impressive 12 goals and grabbing eight assists in the process, slowly becoming a key player in the squad.

The 23-year-old made just 16 Premier League appearances last term, yet this didn’t stop interest from other clubs, as Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the midfielder this summer.

Indeed, Emery has slapped a price tag of £50m on one of his prized assets in order to deter any bids, particularly with the fact that Luiz has already departed the club in recent weeks.

The 2024/25 campaign could be an important one for Ramsey as he looks to integrate himself back into the starting XI after a hit-or-miss 12 months which saw him miss 27 matches for Villa through injury.

This price tag is the same as what the Midlands side are about to spend bringing Onana to Villa Park, which certainly suggests that they have struck gold on their homegrown talent who has firmly established himself as one of the most gifted midfielders in the Premier League.

Should a bid in this region arrive over the next few days, it might be tough for Emery to turn it down, but if the young midfielder continues to improve, there is no reason why he can't increase this valuation by enjoying a wonderful 2024/25 season for Villa.

Jack Grealish repeat: Important Aston Villa star could leave for PL club

Another of Aston Villa’s finest academy graduates could depart.

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 4, 2024

So far so good for Glasgow Rangers this summer. Not only has Philippe Clement recruited a few players prior to pre-season, but he has recruited well at Ibrox.

Jefte, Connor Barron and Oscar Cortes are all aged 22 or under, and it looks like there will be more to come for Rangers in the next few weeks.

Striker Hamza Igamane appears to be close to a move, while players such as Callum O’Hare and Reuell Walters are other talented individuals who have been linked with a move north of the border to join Clement’s revolution.

This transfer strategy – one which sees the Gers manager forming the bulk of his squad with promising youngsters – may be a gamble, but it is one the 50-year-old has to take, otherwise he could end up like his predecessors.

Michael Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst both spent lavish sums of money on a host of players who failed to light up Ibrox. Both were sacked as a result after just ten and 12 months respectively.

Thankfully, the Belgian has taken a different route and there is a new name being linked with a move to the Scottish side…

Rangers make enquiry about former Premier League defender

The Light Blues are hardly blessed with a transfer war chest, which suggests Clement has to be smart about the signings he wishes to make ahead of the new season.

While some funds will be spent – depending on how much is raised via sales – plenty of his business will be loans or free transfers.

One name to have cropped up recently is Ryan Sessegnon, with Rangers reportedly looking at bringing the former Tottenham Hotspur gem to Scotland this summer.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, West Ham United have made contact with the player in a bid to keep him in England next season.

They aren’t the only ones who wish to sign Sessegnon, however, as Rangers are also mentioned as a club who have made an enquiry about whether he'd like to join.

Indeed, other sides such as Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Real Betis, Monza and Atalanta are showing plenty of interest, which suggests Clement will have plenty of competition to fend off.

Dujon Sterling

Chelsea

2023

Leon Balogun

QPR

2023

Kieran Dowell

Norwich City

2023

Jack Butland

Crystal Palace

2023

John Souttar

Hearts

2022

Tom Lawrence

Derby County

2022

Fashion Sakala

KV Oostende

2021

John Lundstram

Sheffield United

2021

Nnamdi Ofoborh

Bournemouth

2021

Via Transfermarkt

There is no doubting his talent, but the Englishman hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best of times recently due to suffering from a succession of injuries.

Ordinarily, Clement should avoid moves like this, especially as it seems to sum up the club’s transfer market over the previous few years.

In Sessegnon, however, Clement could potentially get the best out of him should he decide to move to the Gers.

What Ryan Sessegnon could offer Rangers

The 24-year-old burst onto the scene with Fulham during the 2016/17 campaign when he was just 16, making a total of 30 appearances, scoring seven times and grabbing four assists in the process.

After a couple of years in the Fulham first team, Sessegnon’s displays were certainly going a long way to helping him reach the very top of the game.

In 2018, he was even compared to Gareth Bale after his ability to burst down the left flank in order to cause havoc in the final third.

After 120 games for the Cottagers across just three seasons, which featured 25 goals and 18 assists, Spurs signed him for £25m, which was looked upon as somewhat of a bargain considering how much they could potentially sell him for down the line.

Slavisa Jokanovic, his former manager at Fulham, once dubbed Sessegnon as “special” but his spell in North London was anything but.

Indeed, over five years, he made only 57 appearances, scoring just three goals as injuries hit him hard.

If Clement can get him back to the sort of form he displayed for Fulham between 2016 and 2019, then he could be a wonderful signing, but it is a big if.

Not only that, but he could form a stunning partnership with Oscar Cortes down the left wing.

Oscar Cortes’ statistics for Rangers last season

The young Colombian signed on a six-month loan back in January from RC Lens in a bid to gain some regular game time after a tough start to life in France.

He made just four appearances for the Ligue 1 side, yet managed to score and grab an assist, showing massive potential.

During the early stages of his Ibrox spell, Cortes shone when called upon on the left flank, scoring once and chipping in with two assists before an injury against Kilmarnock in February ruled him out for the season.

In just six games, the 20-year-old created a big chance, averaged 1.2 key passes and 1.7 shots on goal per game, showing his attacking intent.

Now, imagine if a player like Sessegnon was playing just behind him, linking up with the Colombian winger down the left side of the pitch. The duo could cause havoc.

During his final season in the Championship for Fulham, Sessegnon registered six assists, created 11 big chances and averaged 1.2 key passes per game.

Adding in the fact he succeeded with 1.2 dribbles, it becomes clear that if Clement can bring him back to his best, the Englishman could be a superb signing.

It won't be easy, especially considering the problems the former Fulham gem has endured recently, but managing to secure his signature on a free transfer would allow the manager to keep his precious transfer funds for other targets.

There is no doubt he will demand a decent wage to swap England for Scotland, yet for the chance to win trophies and play in Europe, it could be a move that breathes new life into a career which has gone from promising to stagnant in a blink of an eye.

Much will depend on how much of a gamble Clement is preparing to take on Sessegnon. Plenty of players from down south have arrived at the club and struggled, failing to make much of an impact.

The 24-year-old could be different. That is if he can stay fit and healthy.

Imagine him & Barron: Rangers ready to move for "irreplaceble" star

The Light Blues are reportedly keen on a deal to sign the Scotland international.

ByDan Emery Jun 25, 2024

It’s been a brutal start to the Premier League season for Everton this year.

Sean Dyche’s side have lost four from four, they’ve conceded 13 goals, scored just four of their own, and seem utterly incapable of holding on for a win after blowing a 2-0 lead for the second time in as many games yesterday.

While the Toffees did take the lead during the game at Villa Park and at one point looked on course for a first win of the campaign, there were several notably poor performers, including one who’s becoming a real problem for the Merseysiders and ended up taking fewer touches than Jordan Pickford in goal.

Pickford's performance in numbers

Now, the first thing to clarify is that Pickford has proven over the years that he is a great keeper, one more than capable of playing for a Premier League side pushing for Europe, but following a 3-2 loss, it’s rather difficult to shower a shot-stopper with praise, even if his performance wasn’t too bad.

For example, the Liverpool Echo’s Chris Beesly gave the Englishman a 6/10 on the day for his all-round display, but was sympathetic when it came to his involvement in the three goals, claiming that there’s ‘little you can do’ about a goal like Jhon Durán’s and that ‘he could do nothing about Watkins’ finish for the equaliser.’

So, while the former Sunderland ace cannot be entirely blamed for the three goals, the 6/10 rating seems fair, especially as his individual statistics from the match aren’t particularly impressive either.

Minutes

96′

Saves

4

Goals Conceded

3

Goals Prevented

-0.64

Runs out

2

Punches

1

Touches

42

Passes (Accuracy)

22/31 (71%)

Long Balls (Complete)

21 (12)

Clearances

1

For example, in his 96 minutes of action, he made four saves but produced a prevented goals figure of -0.64, succeeded in his two runs out, punched one ball, took 42 touches, was accurate in only 71% of his passes, and completed just 12 of 21 long balls and made one clearance.

In all, while he conceded three goals, Pickford was let down by his defence, and while he wasn’t great, he also wasn’t as bad as the scoreline would suggest, which is something that cannot be said about one of his teammates who took fewer touches than he did.

Ashley Young's performance in numbers

Yes, likely to no one’s surprise, veteran full-back Ashley Young is the problem player Dyche must consider dropping from the starting XI.

The former England international has buckets of experience, both in defence and on the wing, but it would be fair to say that for part of last season and so far this season, he has caused more problems for the Toffees than he has solved, and his display at Villa Park yesterday was another underwhelming one – to put it diplomatically.

The former Villa man was given a 5/10 by the Echo’s Beesly after the game, who wrote that it was simply ‘more pain for him back at the Villa’ and that he was ‘targeted in the right-back berth early on’.

Minutes

96′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Expected Assists

0.01

Clearances

5

Tackles

3

Ground Duels (Won)

5 (4)

Possession Lost

5

Key Passes

0

Touches

40

Crosses

0

Long Balls (Complete)

7 (4)

Passes (Accuracy)

19/23 (83%)

Dribbles

0

Fouls

1

That might sound like a harsh rating to give the 39-year-old, but based on his statistics from the match, it’s more than fair.

In his 96 minutes of action, the Stevenage-born ace took just 40 touches, lost possession five times, produced an expected assist figure of just 0.01, was accurate in just four of seven long balls, didn’t attempt a single cross or dribble, committed one foul, maintained a passing accuracy of just 83%, made five clearances and three tackles and won four of five ground duels.

Ultimately, while it wasn’t Young’s worst performance in an Everton shirt, it was another one in which he wasn’t particularly sound at the back and offered little to nothing going forward.

If Dyche wants to ensure the Toffees’ survival and lead them back to where they belong, he should look to drop the Englishman going forward.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are arguably Liverpool's most important and influential players, and all may depart on free transfers at the end of the campaign.

Liverpool's summer spending (or lack thereof) has left a disquieting air around the fanbase, though contextualising the situation is important.

Arne Slot inherited a top-class squad from Jurgen Klopp and has proven throughout an impressive pre-season and opening-day victory over Ipswich Town in the Premier League that he has the gumption and tactical sharpness to succeed.

There is also a reluctance to adopt the scattergun approach that has proved ineffective for several nameless rivals, instead, the right player, should an opportunity arise, will be pursued.

Liverpool's late-stage transfer plans

Liverpool have never been the thriftiest of spenders under FSG, but there's no doubt that an addition or two could make a world of difference for Slot.

Having recently completed sales of Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg and Bobby Clark – with more fringe outgoings expected – the Reds are banking a hefty sum this summer, and must redirect the transfer cannon toward a layer of depth.

Liverpool are stepping back into the revamped Champions League and will face a catalogue of gruelling fixtures in a league-table format, so it's likely that should Joe Gomez be sold, a new centre-back will be brought in.

A holding midfielder is also coveted on Merseyside, but a recent update from transfer insider Graeme Bailey reveals that Liverpool could actually strengthen further upfield, with Atletico Madrid's Samu Omorodion offered to the Reds.

Chelsea are out of the equation after looming near completing a deal earlier in the window, but Aston Villa are also admirers and will rival Liverpool for a £30m transfer – FSG need to weigh up quickly whether to get the move done.

Why Samu Omorodion rejected Chelsea

Omorodion is scarcely into his 20th year but has already garnered quite the reputation in Spain, with the Atletico Madrid striker having made his mark on loan at Deportivo Alaves last season, bagging eight goals and an assist across 34 La Liga matches (21 starts).

It's a little convoluted, but Omorodion actually started the 2023/24 campaign with a goalscoring performance against Atletico Madrid, bagging for Granada during the league opener before convincing Diego Simeone and his crew to activate his €6m (about £5m) buyout clause.

He hasn't actually featured for Los Colchoneros but his performances with Alaves did enough to entice Chelsea, though the move fell apart after differences in financial technicalities.

Reports from Spain suggested that Omorodion had rejected the Blues after they attempted to buy 50% of his rights, and now Liverpool could be free to complete a move themselves.

The door is now open for Liverpool to complete the transfer and sharpen Slot's frontline to a fine point, but whether he will sign remains to be seen.

Why Liverpool should sign Samu Omorodion

The interminable wait for that elusive first signing goes on. Liverpool have money to spend, though whether a deal will be sanctioned is another matter entirely.

The more pragmatic side of the argument would point toward Anfield's first-class frontline, with depth on the left and at centre-forward. Salah's possible departure and a lack of actual alternative on the right flank would suggest that there lies the pressing concern.

Omorodion is pretty much exclusive to the No. 9 position, but he would offer something different in that regard, with Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and even Darwin Nunez more fluid in their positional value.

Centre-forward

13 (5)

27 (12)

47 (16)

Left winger

14 (7)

12 (3)

7 (2)

Right winger

5 (3)

7 (1)

0 (0)

Attacking midfield

0 (0)

7 (0)

0 (0)

Spanish-Nigerian striker Omorodion has the pace and raw physicality to thrive in the Premier League while providing Slot with an out-and-out striker to shape over the coming years, having already been hailed as a "beast" by scout Antonio Mango.

His shifty movements and agility highlight the framework for a career of success, and while the powerful 6 foot 4 star's raw nature saw him miss 19 big chances despite only scoring nine in the Spanish top flight last term, it does suggest that he could outstrip Nunez.

Nunez joined Liverpool from SL Benfica in a move rising to a club-record £85m figure, but the 25-year-old's wastefulness across his two campaigns has left plenty to be desired.

Indeed, the Uruguay international has converted just 20 of his 67 big chances in the league for Liverpool, with his repeated efforts skewing every which way.

He missed 27 big chances last season alone in the Premier League, with his 11-goal haul only two strikes higher than Omorodion's tally.

Five years the Atleti starlet's senior, it makes a telling comment on the respective skillsets. Omorodion is young and unrefined; it's nothing to worry about that he's not yet a polished goalscorer of the highest standard.

Nunez is an incredibly dynamic and influential forward with a bundle of ways to inflict pain on his opponents, but he will need to improve swiftly under Slot, lest he lose his place in the Anfield squad.

And given that Liverpool's Dutch head coach has already proven that he has a ruthless streak about him, there's every possibility that he will move to sign Omorodion before the end of the month, for the young striker could truly grow into one of the Premier League's finest, boasting all the natural elements to do just that.

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