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An “unbelievable” Premier League player is now at the “top” of Tottenham Hotspur’s list of targets to replace Cristian Romero in the summer, according to former goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Romero heading for the exit door

At the end of April, it was revealed Romero has informed Tottenham that he wants to leave this summer, amid interest from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid, who have been working on a deal for the centre-back for several months.

With Daniel Levy open to selling the defender, it is now looking increasingly likely he will be on the move this summer, and Spurs’ performance in the Premier League is unlikely to do them any favours when it comes to holding on to their best players.

A 2-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace is the latest poor result for Ange Postecoglou’s side, in what has frankly been a terrible Premier League campaign, with the Lilywhites sitting in 17th place, having now lost 20 matches.

Tottenham now frontrunners and pushing to sign "incredible" maestro for £0

Spurs are leading the race for a midfielder, despite interest from Manchester United.

ByDominic Lund May 11, 2025

Bizarrely, Tottenham still have a chance to make a success out of the 2024-25 season, however, as a triumph in the Europa League final would end their 17-year trophy drought, while also securing qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Speaking to Tottenham Hotspur News, Robinson has now revealed that victory in the Europa League could be crucial when it comes to attracting their top target to replace Romero, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

Robinson said: “With Romero leaving, it’s looking more and more likely day by day that he’s going to move on. So you could argue that Tottenham are already a centre-half short.

“Guehi would be top of the list if they can beat anyone else to his signature. But without Champions League football, finishing 16th, potentially 17th in the Premier League, is that an attractive proposition? Or can Newcastle offer Champions League football and a better salary? And that’s where Tottenham are at the moment. There’s so much hanging on their Europa League success.”

Guehi could be "unbelievable" Romero replacement

Guehi showcased exactly why he is at the top of the shortlist on Sunday afternoon, putting in a commanding performance in his side’s 2-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The centre-back made 14 defensive actions throughout the match, the highest number of any player, while also winning six out of the seven ground duels he contested, which secured the 24-year-old an 8.3 SofaScore match rating.

Not only that, but the £60m-rated England international has now established himself at international level, most notably making six appearances for the Three Lions at Euro 2024.

Anthony Gordon lauded Guehi as “unbelievable” in light of his performances at the Euros, and having followed that up with an impressive campaign for Palace, there is every indication he could be a fantastic replacement for Romero.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot could oversee some significant squad changes this summer and his side could now have taken a step forward in their hunt to sign a new striker, per reports.

Liverpool could now kick transfer activity into gear

Other Monday mornings pass by with little in the way of incident, but Liverpool fans will have been rocked by confirmation that Trent Alexander-Arnold will join Real Madrid on a free transfer. Fabrizio Romano has delivered the news that will undoubtedly have Reds fans talking for weeks to come, meaning Arne Slot will need to dip into the market for a replacement.

Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez could arrive at Anfield to provide competition for Andy Robertson on the left of the backline, though the other side will now likely demand more attention due to Alexander-Arnold’s bitter departure. Barcelona’s Jules Kounde is on the list to replace the Reds’ academy graduate. However, he will cost in the region of £68 million to prize away from the La Liga giants.

Arne Slot is now a Premier League winner and won’t be keen on hanging around as his side look to establish themselves as England’s dominant force over a number of years.

Statement arrivals will be needed to fend off a new challenge from the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal next term, while there may also be transfer battles between the traditional ‘Big Six’ to land talented assets.

Now, Liverpool are said to be positioning themselves for a clinical striker who is commanding the attention of several elite clubs this summer.

Liverpool embark on Benjamin Sesko scouting mission

Per TBR, Liverpool sent scouts to watch RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko in action against Bayern Munich last weekend alongside representatives from Arsenal and Chelsea. The Slovenia international’s entourage are in regular talks with the clubs mentioned and England appears to be the striker’s likeliest destination this summer.

Benjamin Sesko’s record in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

43

Goals

21

Assists

6

Manchester United and Newcastle United may also be worth watching out for in the race for his signature. No final decision has been made on Sesko’s future, though his camp are comfortable with the way things are shaping up.

Labelled as someone with “incredible potential” by Jurgen Klopp, the 21-year-old scored in front of scouts before Bayern Munich were confirmed champions on Sunday due to Bayer Leverkusen dropping points. Showing his clinical nature, Sesko has directed 31 of his 67 shots in the Bundesliga on target alongside completing an impressive 38 dribbles this term.

Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota could be at risk of moving on this summer, and Sesko would definitely be an ideal alternative that could cement his place as number one striker at Anfield for years to come.

When all’s said and done, those of a Chelsea persuasion may well look back at the 2024/25 campaign as one of progress and a return to that title-winning feeling.

The Blues are nailed-on favourites to lift the Conference League trophy next month, having also put themselves in the mix for a return to the Champions League after two years away, fifth in the Premier League but with Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa snapping at their heels.

It’s all to play for across these closing weeks, and Enzo Maresca will certainly hope that his team’s talisman, Cole Palmer, can rediscover his form in front of goal after going 17 matches without finding the back of the net.

Chelsea are understood to be gearing up for a big summer, one which could elevate Stamford Bridge back to the forefront of English and European football.

While a striker, centre-back and maybe a goalkeeper too are all priority positions for BlueCo, signing the right silky, right-footed winger could go a long way toward returning to the top.

A player, perhaps, in a similar vein to Eden Hazard.

Why Chelsea need their next Hazard

Hazard is one of the greatest wingers in Chelsea’s history, in the Premier League’s history. The stylish Belgian arrived off the back of a Ligue 1 title triumph with Lille in 2012, signing in a deal worth £32m, aged just 21.

His fleet-footed bursts up and down the left channel, the way the ball stuck to him as if glued; Hazard was a phenomenon, scoring 110 goals and supplying 78 assists across 352 appearances.

Money well spent, not least because he finally departed after winning the Europa League in 2018, joining Real Madrid in a staggering £130m transfer.

It’s saddening to see that he fell by the wayside in Spain, ended up retiring at the age of 32 after posting just seven goals across 76 Los Blancos features.

Of course, Hazard isn’t just fondly remembered for his tricks and flicks; the left-sided forward, who former Manchester United star Ander Herrera once said was “the best player I have played against,” led Chelsea to six major honours across his seven seasons.

Hazard has earned his place alongside the club’s legends, winning two Premier League trophies and two Europa League titles to match, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Chelsea could certainly make use of a new winger on his level, and they may well find one this summer, with Todd Boehly’s transfer committee lining up a mammoth bid for one of the most exciting up-and-comers in the game.

Chelsea leading race for top talent

According to Caught Offside, Chelsea are ramping up their efforts to sign Juventus talent Kenan Yildiz, who has been all the rage in Turin this season.

In fact, it’s been revealed that the west Londoners are leading the race right now, pushing the hardest to get the deal done despite registered interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool.

Juventus don’t want to let their prized prospect go and have retorted to sniffing suitors with demands of a €100m (£87m) payment, should Yildiz, 19, be allowed to leave.

However, the fifth-placed Old Lady are in the thick of a fight for a place in next year’s Champions League, and should they fail, the Blues will be well placed to swoop.

What Kenan Yildiz would bring to Chelsea

Yildiz hasn’t been performing at the highest level for long, but he’s got the minerals to become a bona fide superstar and could prove to be Chelsea’s poster boy over the coming years.

He could emulate Hazard as a star man in the Premier League, bringing his own brand of intensity and technical skill.

As per FBref, Yildiz ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers performing in Serie A this season for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes and progressive carries, the top 8% for successful take-ons and the top 9% for tackles per 90.

His displays drew comparisons to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia by the data-driven site, before the Georgian artist transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in January.

Clearly profiled in a similar mould to Hazard, Chelsea fans would surely get excited if the owners managed to orchestrate a deal.

His alliance of properties create something complete and singular in its strength. Analyst Ben Mattinson has lauded the Turkey international for his “magic” talent, but more gushingly, the Turkish native’s former coach, Sokyan Baskar, has made the bold claim that his protégé is “more talented than Cristiano Ronaldo.”

He’s also shown himself to be positionally dynamic, another string to the bow and one which Maresca will delight in adding to his fold.

Left winger

24

4

2

Attacking midfield

13

2

3

Right winger

7

2

0

There’s no doubt that Yildiz needs to work on his prolificness, but that’s hardly a concern at this maiden stage, not when he’s firing across every other cylinder.

Juventus have actually struggled for purchase in attacking phases this term, ranking seventh in Serie A for xG (expected goals). Dusan Vlahovic is their top scorer in the division, with just nine goals to his name.

Still, Yildiz has made his mark, scoring six goals but missing only four big chances, as per Sofascore, which denoted a natural composure and clinical edge. Moreover, he’s averaging 1.5 key passes per game while proving relentless in the duel.

Hazard joined Chelsea at a young age on a rather sizeable fee, something that could not be replicated with the signing of Yildiz, a “perfectly two-footed” winger, as said by talent scout Jacek Kulig, whose skilful movements and prodigious technical level suggests that he could be moulded into Maresca’s very own version of Hazard.

Better than Sesko: Chelsea leading the race to sign "phenomenal" CF

Chelsea appear to have moved ahead in the race to sign a player who Enzo Maresca loves.

2 ByEthan Lamb Apr 26, 2025

Andre Onana’s recent glaring errors may have heightened the search for a new goalkeeper, although as far as priority positions are concerned for Manchester United, it is surely the forward line that is in need of bolstering.

While Joshua Zirkzee – who has revived his United career after being booed off against Newcastle United back in December – did score a crucial goal in midweek, that backpost header was just the Dutchman’s seventh in all competitions this season, having struggled to truly fire following his £36.5m switch from Bologna.

The versatile attacker has been forced to line up in a perhaps unsuited centre-forward berth at times due to the woes of teammate Rasmus Hojlund, with the struggling Dane again looking lifeless on Thursday night, after registering just 11 touches in total.

In all, the former Atalanta starlet has only scored eight goals across all fronts in 2024/25, while fellow forward, Alejandro Garnacho, has only just bettered that tally with nine goals of his own, having chipped in with just two goals since Ruben Amorim took charge.

With Amad Diallo currently sidelined – and the likes of Antony and Marcus Rashford having been shipped out on loan – the attacking unit does appear particularly depleted, hence the need to recruit quality reinforcements this summer.

Latest on Man Utd's search for a forward

According to recent reports, it looks as if United could be ready to raid fellow Premier League sides for their prized possessions, with The Athletic reporting on Friday that both Liam Delap and Matheus Cunha are under consideration.

In the case of the Wolverhampton Wanderers star, the Brazilian – who has scored 13 league goals this season – is viewed as a potential solution in one of the two number ten berths in Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up, having operated on the flanks or centrally at Molineux this season.

The 25-year-old has already outlined his desire to “take the next step” in his career, with suitors able to land the former Atletico Madrid man for £62.5m this summer, amid the presence of a release clause in his current deal.

Transfer Focus

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

As per reports in Spain, however, the Red Devils are also considering attacking alternatives, with claims made that Amorim and co are preparing an offer for Paris Saint-Germain starlet, Désiré Doué.

The 19-year-old – who only joined the Ligue 1 champions on a €50m (£42m) deal last summer – appears to have caught the attention of the Old Trafford hierarchy amid his dazzling displays this season, with the Frenchman viewed as ‘one of their key future prospects’.

As per the piece, however, any deal would likely not come cheap, with it yet to be seen whether Luis Enrique’s side would be willing to cash in so swiftly.

How Désiré Doué compares to Matheus Cunha

The major benefit of landing Cunha this summer would be that the in-demand forward has already proven himself in the Premier League, having notably scored directly from a corner in the 2-0 win over Man Utd at Molineux on Boxing Day.

That ensures the £62.5m man would be a ready-made solution as far as Amorim is concerned, although it’s hard to deny that Doué represents the bigger talent, having been hailed as “one of the best in the game right now” by data analyst Ben Mattinson.

Indeed, the teenager scored a simply outrageous equaliser in PSG’s eventual 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, having rifled in a stunning curling effort that left Emi Martinez with simply no chance in the Villa goal.

That effort ensured the former Rennes starlet already has six goals and assists to his name in 12 outings in Europe’s top tier competition this season, having racked up 24 goal involvements in total in 2024/25. Cunha, by contrast, has ‘just’ 19 goal contributions for the Old Gold.

Capable of operating as an attacking midfielder or on the flanks, Doué would surely be an ideal option for the number ten berth in Amorim’s system, with Mattinson lauding him as a “genius” who can “create something out of nothing”.

Non-penalty goals

0.56

0.33

Assists

0.18

0.33

Shot-creating actions

3.82

4.93

Progressive passes

4.69

6.41

Progressive carries

3.68

5.71

Successful take-ons

2.03

3.34

Pass completion

71.6%

80.7%

Tackles

1.23

1.93

Interceptions

0.56

0.74

What sets Doué apart is just how strong he is across a range of metrics, as indicated above, having outperformed Cunha with regard to both attacking and defensive contributions, across the last 365 days.

It is then no surprise that he has caught the eye of those at the Theatre of Dreams, with the PSG man’s age, potential and current performances ensuring he could represent a greater investment than the capture of Cunha.

Now, the challenge will be trying to pluck him from the Parc des Princes…

He's better than Delap: Man Utd in talks to sign "sensational" PL star

Manchester United could forget about Liam Delap, with another striker firmly on their radar.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 12, 2025

During his first few months in charge of Manchester United, boss Ruben Amorim hasn’t been afraid of coming up with out-of-the-box ideas to push the side in the right direction.

His first major call was to unleash Amad Diallo in a wing-back role, seemingly getting the best out of the Ivorian – notching an assist within the first couple of minutes of the clash with Ipswich Town in the manager’s first game at the helm.

Before his injury setback, he notched 11 combined goals and assists under the 40-year-old, with the switch evidently taking his career to the next level at Old Trafford.

He also utilised midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine against Crystal Palace back in February, but such a move wasn’t as successful, with the youngster withdrawn in the 70th minute and unable to get on the scoresheet.

Amorim’s latest switch certainly caught the eye in midweek, nearly having the desired effect, with a future in such a role a possibility given his showing against Nottingham Forest.

Harry Maguire’s stats as a striker against Nottingham Forest

With United a goal down against Nuno Espírito Santo’s men with just two minutes remaining, the manager turned to Harry Maguire to try and get his side out of trouble.

The centre-back caused havoc within the final third after his introduction, registering three efforts on goal despite playing for less than 10 minutes, including stoppage time.

One of his shots was destined to trickle into the back of the net, but Murillo’s goal-line clearance prevented the 32-year-old from getting himself on the scoresheet.

He also managed to win 100% of aerial duels, with his xG of 0.60 higher than that of Rasmus Hojlund’s combined tally from his last nine outings as the Red Devils’s centre-forward.

Had Maguire found the back of the net, it would’ve been a masterstroke from the boss, but his display certainly made him a viable option going forward, with Amorim needing to make a similar bold call with another first-team member.

Amorim could now relocate Man Utd's "monster"

With just a couple of months until the summer transfer window, the boss doesn’t have long until he can make the additions he wants to help the side climb up the Premier League table in 2025/26.

However, the period between now and then will give him the opportunity to trial run numerous players in new positions to try and get a grasp on what’s needed when the window opens.

Noussair Mazraoui is one player who could swap roles in the next few games, with the Moroccan international previously operating in an unfamiliar role this season.

During the previous reign of Erik ten Hag, the Dutchman opted to feature the full-back in a number ten role in the Europa League clash with Fenerbahçe back in October.

Whilst it was seen as a strange move, the 27-year-old, who earns £135k-per-week, managed to produce an admirable display, opening the door to Amorim utilising the defender in a similar role in his 3-4-2-1 system.

Minutes played

90

Touches

64

Passes completed

39/47 (83%)

Shots on target

1

Accurate long balls

3/4 (75%)

Tackles won

2/4 (50%)

Defensive actions

9

Mazraoui, who’s previously been labelled a “monster” by journalist Dylan Penketh, managed to register a total of 64 touches and managed to win 50% of his tackles – having the skillset in both areas to impress.

On the face of it, such a call may seem like an outrageous decision, but given the lack of form from other players in the final third, it may be something which the 40-year-old could implement.

He’s shown he’s not been afraid to make a huge call with players in the past, with Mazraoui operating in a more attacking position, potentially his next role of the dice in the North West.

Best signing since Bruno: Man Utd prepare bid for "frightening" £60m star

Man Utd are already stepping up their summer transfer plans, according to the latest reports

ByRobbie Walls Apr 3, 2025

This season just keeps going from bad to worse for Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite no longer facing such a severe injury crisis, Ange Postecoglou’s side continue to disappoint the fans, and Thursday night’s dismal Premier League defeat to Chelsea was just another nail in the manager’s coffin.

There were dire displays across the pitch from the visitors, with club captain Son Heung-min perhaps being one of the most disappointing of all.

The South Korean superstar still has a role to play going forward but can’t be expected to start regularly next season, which might well be the club’s opinion, as reports are linking them to an international who could be a dream replacement.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

With how diabolically poor this season has been for Tottenham, Daniel Levy and Co have to go big in the summer and bring in a whole host of first-team quality players, regardless of who is in the dugout.

The good news is that seems to be their plan, as they have been linked with a number of serious stars, with one of the most consistent being to LOSC Lille star Jonathan David, who’s out of contract in the summer and has already amassed a tally of 33 goal involvements in 42 games.

Interestingly, the North Londoners have also been linked with Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, who didn’t start on Thursday night but has enjoyed a relatively impressive season thus far, racking up a haul of eight goals and four assists in 29 appearances, and would certainly add some more dynamism to the Lilywhites’ attack.

Transfer Focus

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

However, the most exciting link of them all is to another Englishman in London, Eberechi Eze.

Yes, according to reports from Spain, Spurs have maintained their interest in the Crystal Palace star, and alongside Manchester United, they are leading the race to secure his services.

However, on top of beating the Red Devils to his signature, Levy and Co will have to stump up at least £60m to get their man.

It would be a lot of money to spend on one player, but given Eze’s immense ability, it would undoubtedly be worth it, especially as he could even be the club’s perfect Son replacement.

Why Eze could be a dream Son replacement

So, the first thing to say is that yes, Eze’s most played position is attacking midfield, but he is no stranger to playing off the left, and when you combine his appearances in left midfield and at left wing, it comes out to 80.

Moreover, five of his ten senior England caps have come at left wing and one in left midfield, so while he has spent much of this season in the middle of the park, he’s still a natural out wide, which is vital if he is to replace Son as a regular starter next season.

With that cleared up, then, why would the Palace ace be a good replacement for the South Korean superstar?

Well, the first big bonus is that despite playing for a team outside the traditional ‘big six’, the former Queens Park Rangers’ gem has proven himself to be a reliable scorer and assister of goals.

For example, in just 31 appearances last season, the 26-year-old “wizard,” as dubbed by Declan Rice, scored 11 goals and provided six assists, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.82 games.

Appearances

31

32

Minutes

2285′

2547′

Goals

11

6

Assists

6

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.54

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvementw

134.41′

169.8′

This year, the Greenwich-born maestro has scored six goals and provided nine assists in 32 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.13 games.

Finally, on top of his impressive level of output, the £100k-per-week dynamo’s underlying numbers also make for pleasant reading.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 3% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers for total shots, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for successful take-ons, the top 15% for key passes and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Son is still a useful player and someone who could play a role in the squad for a few more years, but Spurs need someone more impactful and reliable to start consistently on the wing next season, some like Eze.

He lost 100% duels: Ange must axe anonymous 5/10 Spurs dud after Chelsea

Spurs limped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 4, 2025

Arsenal are a club with a proud history of developing and promoting young talent into the first team.

Mikel Arteta has carried that tradition on during his time, with the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and now Max Dowman all getting chances under him.

However, when it comes to the most successful Hale End product under the Spaniard’s stewardship, it’s hard to ignore Bukayo Saka, who has become a world-class superstar in recent years.

So, fans should be very excited about another young prospect making his way through the academy, who has been likened to a young version of the England international.

Saka's academy journey

Saka joined Hale End as a seven-year-old, with him later revealing that it was his father who pushed for him to join the club over others.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The Ealing-born gem made his debut for the club’s U18 against Fulham in August 2017, a game the Gunners would lose 4-1.

The youngster would end that season with a respectable haul of eight goals and four assists in 22 games.

The following year, he made just six appearances for the U18S and 24 for the U23S, scoring six goals and providing nine assists for the latter.

However, that was also the season in which he made his first-team debut, away to Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava in the Europa League group stage, under Unai Emery.

At this point, the exciting prospect was still very much seen as a left-sided attacker and had made just a single appearance on the right across both campaigns.

The 19/20 season brought the end of Saka’s time in the academy setup, as he made just one appearance for the U23s in a Premier League 2 game against Everton, which they drew.

Appearances

28

25

Goals

16

6

Assists

6

9

In all, the now 24-year-old made 28 appearances for Arsenal’s U18s, in which he produced 22 goal involvements and 25 appearances for the U23s, in which he produced 15.

Everyone now knows how the rest of the story goes, and so fans should be excited that there is another Hale End talent currently being compared to Saka.

Arsenal's next Saka

With the likes of Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly and now Dowman, it feels like Hale End can’t stop producing incredible talents, and the next one off the line might just be Brando Bailey-Joseph.

The 17-year-old has been so impressive in recent months that, despite only signing scholarship terms with the club a few months ago, he has already put pen to paper on a professional deal.

Moreover, according to one analyst, he is currently looking “very reminiscent of a young Saka.”

The argument he puts forward is that, like the Gunners’ talisman, there has been a lot more talk around other youngsters in the academy over him, and he is just quietly plugging away in the background.

Appearances

16

Minutes

1098′

Goals

4

Assists

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.5

Minutes per Goal Involvement

137.25′

For example, in 16 appearances this term, totalling 1098 minutes, he has scored four goals and provided four assists.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every other game, or every 137.25 minutes, which would be pretty good for a striker, let alone a winger who has been moved between both sides over and over again.

In addition to the output, the analyst also points out that, like Arteta’s mercurial number seven, he has shown an “incredible technical” ability in the academy.

This is an opinion shared by Hale End expert Will Balsam, who claims that the youngster’s “fire feet, chopping into the grass constantly, make it impossible for defenders to know what’s coming.”

Ultimately, while it’s so early in his journey, Bailey-Joseph looks like he could be the next Hale End star to make it in the first team and follow in Saka’s footsteps on the wing.

Rice was fuming with him: Arsenal's "future captain" has regressed big time

It has been a season to forget for the Arsenal star so far this year.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 1, 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has done very well to navigate the club’s list of injury problems this campaign, particularly in attack.

Arsenal are currently sweating over the fitness of Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres as they prepare for the North London derby against Tottenham right after the international break.

Arteta, depending on developments, faces another potential selection headache in the final third, but makeshift number nine Mikel Merino has once again done well to fill the void left by Gyokeres since his injury against Burnley.

Most of the aforementioned stars are racing to be fit for their clash with Tottenham on November 23, with Havertz and Madueke believed to have impressed Arsenal rehab staff in their recoveries from knee problems.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Unfortunately for Jesus, the derby comes too soon for him, despite returning to full training, and he’ll be the last Arsenal star to make his comeback after rupturing his ACL against Man United in January (Simon Collings).

Even without a large number of their attacking contingent, Arsenal have still marked themselves out as the team to beat — thanks largely to their imperious defence and set-piece dominance.

The Gunners have scored eight goals from corners in their opening 11 top flight games this season, the most ever recorded by any team at this stage of a Premier League campaign. Their 36 corner goals since the start of last season tops all of Europe too, with set-piece coach Nicolas Jover largely credited for Arsenal’s superb dead ball threat.

They also recorded eight consecutive clean sheets before the 2-2 draw with Sunderland last weekend, equalling a club record that had stood for 122 years since 1903, and they still boast the best defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues, having conceded just five in all competitions so far.

While Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have taken a lot of the credit for being two of world football’s best centre-backs right now, you cannot underestimate the impact of Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori in the full-back areas.

Ray Parlour has described them as two of Arsenal’s players of the season so far, with Calafiori’s form even prompting reports that Myles Lewis-Skelly could leave in January due to a lack of game time.

The last thing Arteta needs is an injury concern for the Italian, but according to TUTTOmercatoWEB, that’s exactly what he’s got.

Riccardo Calafiori nursing hip injury as Arsenal learn recovery timeline

According to the Italian news outlet, Calafiori is managing a hip problem on international duty, raising concerns ahead of Tottenham.

The Italian national team are preparing for two critical World Cup 2026 qualifying matches against Moldova and Norway, but the versatile defender’s availability has been called into question.

During Italy’s training session under manager Gennaro Gattuso, Calafiori was spotted completing individual work away from the main group due to discomfort in his hip.

The 22-year-old is being carefully managed by the medical staff as they assess the severity of the issue and determine the best course of action, but there is optimism for Arsenal, as Arteta learns his expected recovery timeline.

Calafiori remains with the Italy squad rather than being sent home, suggesting the injury is not considered serious enough to warrant an immediate return to Arsenal. While the former Bologna star is expected to miss their clash with Moldova, Azzurri officials are targeting a return for Calafiori against Norway instead — allowing him time to recover.

Arsenal will be praying this doesn’t turn out to be more serious and he can in fact feature against Spurs, but all the signs appear good so far.

Arteta will be monitoring the situation closely, hoping Calafiori can avoid aggravating the injury during Italy’s fixtures. With the North London derby looming, Arsenal cannot afford to lose the key defender, particularly given the importance of maintaining their excellent defensive record that has underpinned their phenomenal start to the season.

Celtic are reportedly preparing to make their first contact with Wales manager Craig Bellamy, who has become the latest of a number of coaches to be linked with the vacant managerial role.

There’s been a major shake-up in the Scottish Premiership so far this season. It’s not champions Celtic who lead. It’s not their Old Firm rivals Rangers. Instead, it’s surprise champions-elect Hearts who have taken an eight-point lead at the top whilst those in Glasgow have descended into chaos.

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The Russell Martin experiment proved disastrous at Ibrox and a chaotic managerial hunt then followed before they landed on Danny Rohl. Now, Celtic are set to follow suit following Brendan Rodgers’ decision to leave the club – bringing an end to his second spell in charge of the club.

Those at Celtic Park will be hoping that their managerial search ends far quicker than Rangers’ did, given that their rivals were rejected by their top two choices.

As a result, work is instantly underway in search of a replacement for Rodgers. Names such as Ange Postecoglou, Edin Terzic and even Kevin Muscat, who rejected Rangers, have all threatened to steal the headlines so far, but it remains to be seen if any of the three emerge as priority choices.

Muscat would of course be an interesting choice after he rejected Rangers. Whether he’s the right choice should be the question asked by Celtic, however. The 52-year-old is yet to have any managerial success in European football and has enjoyed much of his career in Australia, China and Japan.

If Muscat is ruled out then the Bhoys could turn towards Bellamy, who has also emerged as a key option.

Celtic preparing first Craig Bellamy contact

According to Sky Sports, Celtic are now preparing to sound out Craig Bellamy among others about their vacant managerial role in the coming week.

The Wales manager has impressed on the international stage and has admirers at Celtic Park, despite losing both games in the last break, a friendly against England and World Cup qualifier defeat to Belgium. Alas, it remains to be seen whether he’d leave his post at Wales in the middle of that qualifying campaign.

Games

14

Wins

6

Draws

4

Defeats

4

As things stand, Wales sit third in their qualifying group and still have hope of reaching the 2026 World Cup. Luring Bellamy away from that may prove all too difficult for Celtic.

There’s no denying that he would be an excellent choice, though. Speaking to Sky Sports when Bellamy was appointed in his current role, former Wales striker Rob Earnshaw said: “It’s an excellent appointment.

“When I was thinking, ‘who could take Wales forward?’ He was one of the first names I thought about. He’s got a very sharp mind, a great passion for the game and they’ve made the right choice.”

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Sky Sports presenter Dan Bardell has now shed light on a “sneaky” Leeds United moment against Aston Villa, which VAR may have missed in Unai Emery’s side’s 2-1 win at Elland Road.

Morgan Rogers’ second-half double sealed Aston Villa a 2-1 win at Leeds and lifted his side into the Premier League’s top four. The England forward cancelled out Lukas Nmecha’s early opener for Leeds soon after the interval before his exquisite free-kick secured Villa a sixth win from their last seven league games.

A fifth defeat in six league matches was a bitter pill to swallow for Leeds, who remain in the relegation zone and had nothing to show for a spirited display, which saw them match their opponents for long periods.

Leeds dropped into the bottom three for the first time this season after Saturday’s results and a second home league defeat of the season heaped further pressure on head coach Daniel Farke.

Eight of Leeds’ 11 points prior to kick-off this season had been won at Elland Road and they made the ideal start, taking an eighth-minute lead after a lengthy VAR decision.

Sean Longstaff’s free-kick was hooked back across goal by Gabriel Gudmundsson and after Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez dropped the ball under pressure from Anton Stach, Ezri Konsa’s attempted clearance rebounded off Nmecha and into the net.

VAR Paul Tierney concluded after a lengthy check that neither Gudmundsson or Stach had been offside.

"Sneaky" moment VAR may have missed in Leeds v Aston Villa

Nmecha’s third goal of the season was confirmed after a lengthy VAR check for offside. There will have also been some fears that a foul could’ve been given, something which may not have been checked in great detail.

Taking to X during the first half, Sky Sports man Bardell suggested the goal shouldn’t have stood due to a “sneaky nudge”, despite the fact Martinez should’ve done a lot better, saying: “Could be disallowed for a couple of things there, but not great from Martinez, although I do think there was a sneaky nudge too. Not ideal.”

Ultimately, regardless of whether there was meaningful contact, the Argentinian should’ve done a lot better, considering he is still regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

That said, Villa managed to force their way back into the game regardless, with Rogers putting in a fantastic second-half display, bagging a brace, which ensured his side moved up to fourth in the Premier League table.

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