Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers looks to have been given a major shot in the arm after it emerged that one of his injured stars has made an encouraging step toward returning to contention.
Celtic prevail in Perth…
Last Sunday, Celtic had to dig deep against Craig Levein's stubborn St Johnstone side at McDiarmid Park, with second-half goals from Callum McGregor, Matt O'Riley and James Forrest ensuring the Hoops took maximum points from a difficult away encounter in an eventual 3-1 victory.
Nevertheless, things could've been very different in Perth. Undoubtedly, the Scottish Premiership champions failed to show their class for much of the proceedings before McGregor's 67th-minute equaliser. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Rodgers stated that he'd "never been angrier" than at half-time in his career as a manager when evaluating his side's first-half display, as cited by BBC Sport.
Joe Hart also played a major role in securing a hard-fought victory for his side, pulling off a heroic stoppage time save before Scotland international Forrest went up the other end to put the game beyond doubt in the same move, as can be seen below.
Nevertheless, the Glasgow giants remain at the top of the Scottish Premiership pile with 39 points in their opening 15 matches and have yet to taste defeat in the league this season.
In light of injury absences over the last few weeks, Rodgers has had to rotate his squad to a varying degree of success; however, recent developments suggest that one key man now may not be too far away from returning to first-team contention.
Daizen Maeda nearing Celtic return
As cited by The Daily Record, Celtic winger Daizen Maeda has returned to training and could return to first-team contention during the festive period after being ruled out with a knee injury last month.
Daizen Maeda statistics in 2023/24 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)
Appearances
17
Goals
2
Assists
3
The report also states that Israeli attacker Liel Abada is also back on the grass and may also be hoisted back into the fold between now and the winter break, which is set to begin on January 3rd following the Hoops' trip to St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership a day earlier.
Celtic forward Daizen Maeda.
Labelled "incredible" by Hoops manager Rodgers earlier this year, Maeda is a crucial part of the furniture at Parkhead and offers a unique blend of offensive dynamism alongside defensive capability. In the Scottish Premiership this term, the Japan international has averaged around two shots and 1.6 completed dribbles per match (Maeda statistics – WhoScored).
At the same time, the outlet show that the former Yokohama F. Marinos man has won 1.4 successful challenges per fixture in the Scottish top-flight, demonstrating his ability to pressurise the opposition consistently, forcing them to turn over the ball.
Bringing energy and hunger to the Celtic attack, Maeda has been a big miss for Rodgers and news of his potential return, alongside Abada's progress, will come as a welcome boost to everyone connected with the club.
Celtic were handed a boost earlier this month as Japan decided not to call Kyogo Furuhashi up alongside teammates Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda for the 2023 Asian Cup.
However, fellow centre-forward Hyeon-gyu Oh has been selected to feature for South Korea at the tournament and will be unavailable for the Hoops until the end of his country's involvement.
Kyogo is still searching for a return to the peak of his powers as the Japanese striker has only found the back of the net eight times in 22 Scottish Premiership appearances.
Kyogo Furuhashi
Last season, the 28-year-old plundered 27 goals in 31 league starts and averaged one strike every 87 minutes of action for the Glasgow giants.
His scoring frequency has dropped to one goal every 190 minutes of league football this term, which illustrates his drop-off in form since Brendan Rodgers arrived.
This, along with Oh's involvement at the Asian Cup, looks to have caused the club to want to dip into the market to add another number nine to their squad during the January transfer window.
Celtic transfer news – Joe Gelhardt
The Daily Mail have reported that Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt is attracting interest from Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers this month.
Rodgers appears to be eyeing up a swoop to land the former Wigan prospect, who has struggled for game time with Daniel Farke's side so far this season.
They could face competition from England for the talented ace, though, as journalist Alan Nixon recently reported – via his Patreon – that Championship side Blackburn Rovers are also pursuing a move for him, alongside his teammate Charlie Cresswell.
However, the Daily Mail report does not reveal whether it would be a loan or a permanent deal for the English youngster, or whether or not the Whites are prepared to let him leave before the end of the window.
Leeds forward Joe Gelhardt.
A permanent deal could be the way to go for the Hoops as it would allow them to bring him in as a long-term addition with the potential to develop over the years to come.
At the age of 21, Gelhardt is still in the infancy of his first-team career and has plenty of time left ahead of him to improve and grow as a player, which Celtic may not benefit from if they are only able to sign him on loan until the end of the current campaign.
With a long-term deal for the talented youngster, Rodgers could unearth the club's next version of Gary Hooper by securing a deal for the Leeds gem.
The former Hoops marksman, like Gelhardt, was a stocky and undersized centre-forward who made a name for himself through his prolific scoring ability in Scottish football.
Gary Hooper's record for Celtic
Celtic signed the English finisher from Scunthorpe United in the summer of 2010 and he went on to enjoy three fantastic years at Parkhead.
The 5 foot 9 attacker, who did not cut an imposing figure for opposition defences at the top end of the pitch, hit the ground running with 22 goals and nine assists in 36 appearances in all competitions.
Celtic forward Gary Hooper.
That included a staggering return of 20 goals and nine assists in 26 Scottish Premiership appearances, which is more than one goal contribution per game on average.
Hooper followed that up with 29 goals and 11 assists in 50 matches in all competitions for the Hoops – including two goals and one assist in five Europa League outings.
His final campaign in Scotland ended with a sublime return of 31 goals and ten assists in 51 games for Celtic. He scored two goals in seven Champions League clashes and two goals in four qualifiers for the competition.
Hooper's haul of 20-plus goals in three consecutive seasons for the club was not matched until Odsonne Edouard achieved the same feat by 2021.
In total, the impressive ace plundered 82 goals and 30 assists in 137 appearances for the Scottish giants in all competitions. This means that the English ace averaged a goal or an assist every 1.22 matches.
He then sealed a permanent switch to Norwich City in England and went on to score 20 goals in 70 games for the Canaries, with six goals in 32 Premier League appearances.
During his time with Celtic, Hooper was a prolific scorer who also had the ability to bring his teammates into the game with a solid return of assists, despite his short and stocky build as a number nine.
The statistics that show why Celtic should sign Gelhardt
Rodgers could unearth a striker with similar qualities to the ex-Norwich star by signing Gelhardt, who also stands at 5 foot 9 with a stocky build.
At the age of 21, the Leeds youngster is far from the finished article and there is no guarantee that he will be an instant hit at Parkhead this season. However, if they can land him on a permanent basis then the potential is there for him to develop into Hooper 2.0.
Gelhardt has only made six appearances in the Championship for the Whites this season and spent the second half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Sunderland.
Appearances
18
Starts
16
Goals
Three
Assists
Three
Duel success rate
42%
As you can see from the table above, the former England U20 international struggled to provide consistent quality as a scorer or a creator for the Black Cats last term.
However, Gelhardt did show promise in his limited Premier League minutes with Leeds earlier in his career. He plundered two goals and six assists in 35 appearances, despite only six of those coming as a starter.
The Celtic target's record at youth level, however, is what Rodgers may be looking at as an indication that he could develop into a lethal scorer for the club.
Leeds forward Joe Gelhardt.
Gelhardt scored five goals in five games for Wigan at U18 level and then went on to produce 20 goals and six assists in 31 outings for Leeds' U21s.
This means that the £14k-per-week marksman, whose movement was hailed as "impressive" by journalist Josh Bunting, racked up 25 goals and six assists in 36 youth team games before making a first-team breakthrough.
That is a return of one goal contribution every 1.16 matches on average, which is a very similar level of production in comparison to Hooper's time with Celtic.
Therefore, Rodgers could unearth the club's new prolific English marksman by striking a deal for Gelhardt and helping him to unlock his potential at first-team level.
Crystal Palace could be set to lose one of their most important players in January, with a new report claiming that he is looking to leave Selhurst Park.
Which players are leaving Crystal Palace?
Over the summer, Wilfried Zaha, Luka Milivojevic, Jack Butland and Vicente Guaita all departed the club on a permanent basis, alongside Luke Plange who put pen to paper on loan at League One side Carlisle United for the remainder of the season.
The Eagles could still be forced to cash in on even more of their first-team stars at the start of next year because nine of them will be out of contract at the end of the season, including the likes of Jeffrey Schlupp, Nathaniel Clyne and Will Hughes (Crystal Palace contracts).
Another one of Roy Hodgson’s favourites who might be heading for the exit door despite still having three years remaining on his deal is Marc Guehi, who has made a total of 92 appearances since moving to SE25 from Premier League rivals Chelsea back in 2021 (Transfermarkt – Guehi statistics).
The South London Press recently reported that Manchester United are still keeping close tabs on the 23-year-old centre-back as they weigh up an approach for their long-term target, and if the following update is to be believed, England’s international would relish the opportunity to complete the switch to Old Trafford.
Marc Guehi transfer update
According to Spanish reports (via CaughtOffside), sharing a transfer update on Guehi, Crystal Palace’s talisman would “welcome the chance” to sign for Man United at some stage in 2024.
The Selhurst Park star would be keen to work with Erik ten Hag, and he is likely to cost his admirers £60m, which is the valuation that has been set for him by Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
How good is Marc Guehi?
Standing at 6 foot tall, Guehi isn’t the biggest centre-back around, but that hasn’t stopped him from being a rock at the heart of the backline so far this season, where he’s averaging 4.9 clearances per game in the top-flight alongside a 91.3% pass success rate, which displays his calmness and composure on the ball (WhoScored – Guehi statistics).
The Abidjan native is also capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch having posted 22 contributions (14 goals and eight assists) since the start of his career, highlighting the threat he can pose when it comes to set pieces.
Furthermore, Hodgson’s regular feature has the ability to operate out wide at both left-back and right-back as well as his usual role in the middle, so his versatility is another attribute that makes him a great option for the boss to have at his disposal in the capital.
Finally, Guehi has been described as a “beast” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so whilst there’s a strong possibility that Man United will come calling next year, Palace chiefs need to do everything they can to fend off interest and retain the services of their defender.
Crystal Palace are said to be in the mix for a "rapid" Premier League player as manager Roy Hodgson seeks to bolster his options at Selhurst Park.
Palace transfer targets
The Eagles, going by recent reports, look to have two main transfer priorities ahead of January – a new striker and top centre-half. Only a handful of sides, namely Bournemouth, Burnley, Sheffield United and Fulham, have scored less goals than Palace in the top flight so far this season.
Those numbers make for fairly grim reading considering three of those teams look certain to be battling relegation to the Championship come next May.
Palace apparently want a new forward to strengthen their options in the attacking areas and provide a more potent goalscoring threat. Red Bull Salzburg striker Karim Konate, who's scored eight goals already this season, has been reported as a potential Palace target this week.
PSG striker Hugo Ekitike is another name to be repeatedly mentioned, while it is also believed that Hodgson's side are after a new centre-back.
Indeed, this comes as star defender Marc Guehi attracts interest from up and down the Premier League, with journalist Dean Jones reporting to TEAMtalk last month that Palace are keen to reinforce their defence and remain one of the division's best at the back.
"Much of Palace’s current success is built around the centre-back partnership of Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi," wrote Jones.
"The Eagles are beginning to identify players for the future in case their key assets are plucked away, however, with Guehi already being watched by Premier League giants. It is believed Palace have an awareness of Japanese international Ko Itakura, as well as [Willian] Pacho of Frankfurt.
"Itakura, 26, plays for Borussia Monchengladbach and has great game-reading and positioning skills that make him an intriguing option for any team build."
Palace fighting Spurs, Rangers and Newcastle for Ben Godfrey
Alongside both Itakura and Pacho, Hodgson's men are eyeing up a move for Everton defender Ben Godfrey, according to 90min this week.
The Toffees ace has found game time difficult to come by at Goodison Park and is keen to reignite his faltering career. Everton are also open to doing a deal in the winter window, with Palace joining Newcastle, Bournemouth, Burnley, Rangers and Spurs in their admiration for Godfrey.
The 25-year-old was included in Gareth Southgate's provisional squad for Euro 2021, clearly indicating he is a player of great potential when at his very best.
Everton's Ben Godfrey
As well as this, Godfrey has been praised for his physical attributes, namely his speed for a defender.
“Ben Godfrey catches pigeons, simple as," said former Everton defender Jonjoe Kenny on Godfrey when asked who is their fastest player in 2021.
“But when Ben gets going he’s rapid so I don’t know if they have a race or would have a race but yeah, it’s close between them two. Dominic is really quick too but I’d say Ben.”
The centre-back's future appears far away from Everton going by recent developments, and Palace could be a good landing spot for him.
After losing 3-0 to Manchester City at Old Trafford last time out – Erling Haaland showing no mercy with two goals in a comprehensive victory for Pep Guardiola's men – Erik ten Hag cut a forlorn figure again on the touchline as Manchester United boss.
It's not out of the ordinary in recent years for Guardiola's high-flyers to humiliate their rivals on their own patch, the gap between the two sides frightening and ever-growing.
It puts even more pressure on the shoulders of the Dutch head coach attempting to turn things around with the Red Devils, who continue to struggle and ultimately fold on the big occasion.
Five defeats from their opening ten matches in the Premier League is way off where an expectant Man United fanbase thought they would be under Ten Hag, the ex-Ajax head coach was meant to be the catalyst for change at Old Trafford when appointed.
Yet, it's pointing in the direction now of another managerial dismissal similar to the likes of Ralf Rangnick, Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Jose Mourinho before him – all unable to reach the heights expected of them.
The Red Devils could, therefore, look towards a serial winner to replace their current boss which would certainly appease the restless natives at the Theatre of Dreams – previous interest in Zinedine Zidane could well be reignited as a statement appointment.
Man United manager news – Zinedine Zidane
First linked with a switch to Manchester in 2021 according to football journalist Duncan Castles of the Telegraph, the iconic Frenchman's name could well pop back up in the list of names rumoured to replace Ten Hag who remains on extremely thin ice.
Zidane's agent would reject multiple advances from the Red Devils at the time, the 51-year-old taking time out of football after departing Real Madrid.
zinedine-zidane-manager-tottenham-hotspur
Man United would eventually settle for Rangnick, another notable misfire in their ongoing back catalogue of failed managerial appointments.
But, with the pressure ramping up on Ten Hag to fix the situation at Man United fast, Zidane should well be in the running to finally come to Old Trafford as boss to turn around the fortunes of the underperforming giants.
Zinedine Zidane's immense trophy collection
Two years now out of the managerial game, you imagine Zidane will be raring for a return to the limelight and Man United could present the former Ballon d'Or winner turned head coach with an opportunity to find his feet again.
Zidane would raise the standards at Old Trafford tremendously, the 51-year-old determined to win at all costs which saw his Real Madrid teams dominate the Champions League – the Frenchman spearheading his elite group to three Champions League titles in a row, the third and final honour coming at the expense of Liverpool with Gareth Bale's overhead kick stealing the show in a 3-1 victory.
He has also never lost a game versus Man United in his entire managerial career, beating the Red Devils 2-1 in the 2017 Super Cup final to add another trophy to his extensive collection as Los Blancos manager.
Burning out at the Bernabeu eventually, Zidane could well fancy the opportunity to kickstart a resurgence at the Theatre of Dreams if he was to return to the cut and thrust of managing again. Ten Hag may well have won trophies in the Netherlands but he doesn't have the CV that one of France's greatest players possesses.
Expectations would have to be tempered somewhat. Ten Hag was meant to be this saviour-like figure for the Red Devils when swapping Amsterdam for pastures new in Greater Manchester and it hasn't gone according to plan whatsoever.
Zidane would have to navigate through choppy waters initially, with the Man United job arguably a poisoned chalice ever since Sir Alex Ferguson walked away from his post ten years ago.
Aston Villa are certainly riding the crest of a wave right now as they secured their sixth Premier League win of the season with a rather straight forward 4-1 thrashing of West Ham United on the weekend.
Unai Emery was clearly just getting started by leading Villa to a seventh-place finish last season and their form during the current campaign ensures they have a realistic chance of securing a top six spot or whisper it quietly, a Champions League berth for next year.
Of course, they will have to maintain this over the course of a whole term while defeating established sides like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City at some point, but with the way the Spaniard has them playing right now, nothing appears out of the question.
Aston Villa managerUnaiEmery.
Having lured players such as Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres, and Nicolo Zaniolo to the club in a bid to strengthen his squad, and it has worked a charm.
He may not stop there, however, as his meticulous approach suggests there could be a few more arrivals during the January transfer window, and if Villa are still challenging at the top end of the Premier League while progressing in Europe, improving his squad depth could be crucial.
With this in mind, it appears as though the Midlands side are showing interest in a current Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler ahead of the winter window.
Are Aston Villa interested in signing Carlos Soler?
According to a recent report by Le Parisien (via One Football), Emery looks to be keeping tabs on the Spanish ace as the January window fast approaches.
The outlet claimed that PSG manager Luis Enrique is looking to add some more creativity to his side and could be set to bolster this area, yet this would potentially require him to make a few sales in order to accommodate some new arrivals.
Carlos Soler
Brighton and Hove Albion are also showing interest in the 6-foot gem and, having played for PSG and Valencia, his next stop could be the Premier League.
The 26-year-old ace is currently earning around £100k-per-week and this is certainly a wage that Villa could afford, especially when you consider that their highest earner is Boubacar Kamara, who is reportedly taking home £175k-per-week.
According to Football Transfers, Soler is currently valued at €25.6m (£22.3m), although he does have another four years remaining on his current contract, giving Enrique some more flexibility with the fee he could charge prospective buyers.
How good is Carlos Soler?
PSG won the Ligue 1 title last season and with the triumvirate of Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe obviously stealing headlines throughout the campaign, scoring 58 goals between them, it was Soler who played the unassuming role in the heart of the midfield.
Across 26 league matches last term, he scored three goals and grabbed three assists while registering ten goal contributions altogether in all competitions and key played a key role in their title triumph.
7
1
38
7
38
12
34
12
37
3
51
4
37
1
35
4
Before PSG however, he was an integral member of the Valencia squad, racking up a rather remarkable 38 goal contributions – 24 goals and 14 assists – across his final two full seasons with the Spanish giants, and it is clear he could give Emery and extra attacking threat from the heart of the midfield.
Over the previous 12 months when compared with positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions, he currently ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.32), the top 14% for assists per 90 (0.19), and the top 11% for progressive passes received per 90 (4.91).
This indicates that not only does he feature highly for goals and assists, but the midfielder likes to burst forward and receive the ball in dangerous positions on a regular basis.
Could he even be an upgrade on one of Emery’s summer signings? Youri Tielemans has failed to really showcase his true talents since joining Villa.
Is Carlos Soler better than Youri Tielemans?
Since arriving at Villa Park, the Belgian international has failed to start a league match under Emery and currently ranks in a lowly 12th spot for accurate passes per game (11.6), while also ranking 12th for key passes per game (0.2) and 11th for goals and assists(one) which indicate that he hasn’t made the required impact as expected.
In comparison, Soler ranks 15th for accurate passes per game (18.7) across the PSG squad while also ranking 15th for key passes per game (0.6) and seventh for goals and assists (two), and considering how tough it is to stand out at the French giants, he is performing fairly well when called upon.
The Spaniard has also registered more shots per 90 (2.32 vs 0.58) than Tielemans while also having a better pass success rate (87.7% vs 86.9%), taking more touches in the attacking third (64 vs 36) and receiving more progressive passes (13 vs five) per 90, suggesting that Soler has the edge on the Belgian across a wide range of performance metrics.
It is no wonder then that former Valencia star Curro Torres, who coached Soler during his time in the youth academy, praised him back in 2021, saying: “He is the complete midfielder and can act as a 6, 8 or 10; he has power, arrives in the box and can score.
“I know him and I know that he can still bring his game to the next level. He has taken on responsibility in the team too.”
These attributes could be a huge bonus for Emery as he aims to strengthen his side and with Tielemans not quite making an immediate impact following his summer arrival, Soler could see the potential to secure a regular spot in a team who are on the rise.
It would signal yet another statement of intent by the former Arsenal boss if he was able to lure the PSG midfielder to the Midlands, especially given his performances on the continent since making his debut for Valencia during the 2016/17 season.
If Emery wants constant improvement at Villa, he needs to continue his fine record in the transfer market and secure players who are heading to the peak of their powers.
Diaby and Torres fit that bill having joined during the summer and there is no doubt Soler is about to enter his prime years as a footballer, becoming an upgrade on Tielemans in the process, due to the aforementioned statistics.
Newcastle United are now in pole position to sign an impressive central defender ahead of Serie A giants Juventus, according to recent reports.
Newcastle "playing the atmosphere" vs Sunderland, says Howe
It doesn’t get bigger than the Tyne-Wear derby this weekend. Newcastle are set to travel to face Sunderland in the Premier League for the first time since 2016 and they’ll be looking to ground the high-flying Black Cats in statement fashion.
The goals have finally returned for Eddie Howe’s side in recent weeks, but they’ve remained fragile in the other direction – conceding a late equaliser against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek. In any derby, however, form goes out the window. Instead, Howe admitted that his side will be “playing the atmosphere”.
As if the Magpies needed any extra motivation, they have the chance to move above Sunderland and potentially into the top six if they secure victory and other results go their way. It could be the perfect turning point for their Premier League campaign.
Defeat, meanwhile, would once again expose just how much work Newcastle have got to do in the January transfer window, whether it’s welcoming a midfield star or turning towards Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic.
Newcastle leading race to sign Tarik Muharemovic
According to TeamTalk, Newcastle are now in pole position to sign Muharemovic ahead of Juventus in 2026. The central defender has consistently impressed in Italy this season and has been closely monitored by scouts from both St James’ Park and the San Siro, courtesy of Inter Milan.
Standing at 6’2, Muharemovic could provide Howe with a replacement for the injury-prone Sven Botman alongside Malick Thiaw, who has thrived since arriving in the summer.
Minutes
990
993
Progressive Passes
36
50
Tackles Won
8
10
Ball Recoveries
35
45
At 22 years old, the Sassuolo star is yet to reach the peak of his powers and Newcastle have the chance to swoop in early to land what would be an impressive addition.
Dubbed an “excellent left-footed centre-back” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Muharemovic seems to have the world at his feet ahead of 2026. Both Juventus and Inter are chasing his signature, but the Premier League could be awaiting.
Fewer touches than Ramsdale: Howe must drop Newcastle man who won 2 duels
Eddie Howe must now drop this Newcastle United star ahead of this weekend’s hotly anticipated Tyne-Wear Derby.
1 ByKelan Sarson 4 days ago
Following the success of Thiaw, it’s also no surprise that Newcastle decided to send their scouts back to Serie A and towards the Sassuolo man in an attempt to repeat their transfer genius.
Howe's "diamond" looks like another Guimaraes in the making at Newcastle
Reliable journalist David Ornstein has shared an important update on Arsenal's pursuit of Douglas Luiz from sources "inside the club".
Arsenal identify Luiz as dream transfer target
The north Londoners signing a new central midfielder in January is seen as a real possibility, according to reports in the last month. Mikel Arteta has been forced to deal with Thomas Partey's reoccurring injury problems this season, and while his side are sure-fire contenders for their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years, a squad imbalance could change that.
"Really excited" – Romano shares Ivan Toney to Arsenal news he's "hearing"
The Brentford star is a top target for Arteta.
ByEmilio Galantini Dec 13, 2023
Teams across the division are dealing with injury problems aplenty, and even just one or two absences could threaten to derail Arsenal's title charge. Mohamed Elneny and Jorginho's contracts also expire at the end of this season, making the need for another option all the more prevalent next month.
As a result, central midfield is expected to be a transfer priority for Arsenal in January, with the likes of Monaco's Youssouf Fofana and Fulham star Joao Palhinha linked to joining Arteta. However, it's Villa midfield general Luiz who is seen as a "dream" target for Arsenal.
Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.
“The dream target for Arsenal in midfield is Douglas Luiz," said journalist Fabrizio Romano late last month.
"It’s a complicated deal, though, because Aston Villa are having a fantastic season. I think it would take very important money to make Villa change their minds about Luiz, so he’s Arsenal’s dream target – they see him as a perfect midfielder with a big future."
The Brazilian has been in fine form under Villa boss Unai Emery this term, starting all 16 of their league games while scoring five goals and assisting two others in the process.
Ornstein shares important Luiz transfer update out of Arsenal
Now, another reliable reporter in The Athletic's David Ornstein has shared what he's heard about the possibility of Luiz joining Arteta in January.
Unfortunately, in an important update, there's bad news. The reporter claims there is no chance of Villa green-lighting Luiz's sale to Arsenal with doubts "inside" Arsenal whether he's the right fit after all.
“There is always speculation around Douglas Luiz and he signed a new contract last January when Arsenal tried to sign him," said Ornstein on The Athletic Football podcast.
"It’s been described to be a no chance that Arsenal will get him this January and people I speak to of an Arsenal persuasion dispute that they’re going to go for him or that he’s the profile that everyone inside the club wants."
This could come as a surprising one given the widespread reports indicating that Arsenal really like the former Man City midfielder, with Arteta rumoured to be a big fan of Luiz.
Percentage of passes found – 91%
Percentage of successful passes in own half – 99%
Balls recovered per game – 2.8
Completed take-ons per 90 – 75%
In any case, we believe a great alternative could be France international Fofana. The in-form 24-year-old, according to journalist Ryan Taylor recently, could be a "viable, realistic and affordable option".
Manchester United could be set to lose one of their first-team stars next summer, with a fresh report revealing that he’s set to receive an offer alongside Bruno Fernandes.
Bruno Fernandes – Saudi Arabia links
According to reports, Fernandes has emerged as a target for some of the biggest clubs in the Saudi Pro League who are keeping close tabs on his situation, with the same outlet claiming that his admirers are willing to offer up to £87m to prise him away from Old Trafford at the end of the season.
The Red Devils midfielder’s entourage are expected to hold talks with representatives from the wealthy division to discuss what a potential switch would look like upon the conclusion of the current campaign, but if the following update is to be believed, he might not be the only senior squad member heading for the exit door.
At the start of the season in the Premier League, Harry Maguire looked to have fallen significantly down the pecking order, but having started the past five consecutive games in the top-flight (Transfermarkt – Maguire statistics), Erik ten Hag appears to have handed the centre-back another lifeline.
West Ham United were heavily linked with a move for England’s international over the summer, whilst Everton also had a proposal rejected, and despite a deal failing to come to fruition for either club before the previous deadline, the 30-year-old is now attracting interest from a new potential suitor in the Serie A.
Juventus plotting swoop for Harry Maguire
According to JMania (via Sport Witness), Juventus are considering tabling a bid for Maguire next summer. The Allianz Stadium outfit are preparing a “monstrous offer” thought to be in the region of €30m (£26m) for their target, but with no further information available, it remains to be seen whether these claims are completely accurate.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire.
Maguire has become "undroppable" under Ten Hag
Standing at 6 foot 4, Maguire is able to provide a real physical presence with his height at the heart of the defensive backline, and since being brought back into the team, he’s more than proved why he deserves to keep his place in the starting line-up at Man United.
The Sheffield-born talent is currently averaging 3.1 clearances and the same amount of aerial wins per game in the Premier League (WhoScored – Maguire statistics), but he’s also capable of posing a threat to the opposition when it comes to the action in the final third.
Sponsored by Puma, Ten Hag’s colossus has clocked up 54 goal contributions (29 goals and 25 assists) since the start of his career, so not only is he effective in his own position, but he can even help the side be successful at the top end of the pitch.
Since he’s returned to the team, Maguire has been described as an “undroppable” player by journalist Josh Bunting for the leadership qualities and the determination that he’s shown, so whilst a summer exit initially seemed likely, it might be a good idea to keep him in the building beyond next summer.
Tottenham Hotspur once again showcased the immense progression already made under Ange Postecoglou, as they overcame great adversity on the road to record a well-earned 1-0 victory against Luton Town.
Having dominated the opening half, forging numerous chances without any reward, the game was turned completely on its head when the referee made the bold, but ultimately correct decision to hand Yves Bissouma his second yellow card.
Having been rightly booked earlier for quelling a counterattack, his second came following a slaloming run in which he weaved past three opposition players. Clearly expecting contact, the Mali midfielder threw himself to the ground on the edge of the box, turning back to the referee in expectation.
However, what came was instead his marching orders, and once again the Lilywhites were left with it all to do.
Fortunately, there is more than enough character in their squad to overcome seemingly any obstacle at the moment, and the quality shone through despite getting fortunate with a couple of huge misses from the hosts.
They rode their luck, but stars like James Maddison, Cristian Romero, Pape Matar Sarr and Micky van de Ven all stood up and retained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Who played well for Spurs vs Luton?
Whilst the latter will steal the headlines for his winning goal and defensive solidity, it was an all-around effort to quell the muted threat of the Hatters whilst operating with just ten men.
However, unsurprisingly the former Leicester City maestro once again stood out, with Sofascore recognising another impressive contribution by handing him an 8.5 rating, the highest of anyone on the pitch.
A constant creative threat as always, the 26-year-old would record four key passes and created two big chances too. However, winning seven of the 11 duels he competed in also was indicative of someone who rose to the physical challenge posed, given he was fouled on four separate occasions.
Then, it must also be outlined how assured a presence their Argentinian defender offered, with his 106 touches and 90% pass accuracy marking an exemplary afternoon who continues to expel his once-reckless play style with each game.
Despite the praise rightly distributed across the side, it is also worth noting those that very nearly let them down. Obviously, Bissouma's thoughtless first half severely hampered his teammates, and yet it could be argued that Richarlison endured an even more torrid display.
Luton Town (A)
1-0 W
Liverpool (H)
2-1 W
Arsenal (A)
2-2 D
Sheffield United (H)
2-1 W
Burnley (A)
5-2 W
The Brazilian was anonymous, profligate and an utter disappointment yet again, even seeing his time on the pitch cut short to readjust following the sending-off.
How did Richarlison play vs Luton Town?
Starting from the left wing, in a role where he had excelled the week earlier during their controversial win over Liverpool, it was expected that the 26-year-old would maintain his fine form and finally kick on after a year of struggling to establish himself in north London.
However, it arguably marked one of his weakest displays in front of goal, having missed two golden opportunities to put them in front.
The first saw Dejan Kulusevski flash a beautiful left-footed ball across the box, and admittedly Richarlison's anticipation was good. He was goal side of his full-back and looked certain to score. And yet, a complete misjudge saw him strike high and wide from close range, with the scores remaining level.
Spurs would continue to push, with Maddison creating this time, slipping the forward in behind. Although his shot had to be rushed, it marked another opportunity squandered, with his shot saved by the foot of the goalkeeper and cleared.
As if to further emphasise a tough afternoon, even their Italian shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario would record more touches (59) than the former Everton star (41), with Postecoglou's decision to sacrifice him more than merited.
Richarlison's 6.5 rating perhaps flattered his awful showing, which very nearly proved costly had Van de Ven not bailed him out. Not only was he profligate though, but he would also achieve 0% success with his two attempted dribbles, losing five of the nine ground duels he competed in, and losing possession 12 times, via Sofascore.
After such an abysmal performance, the former Celtic boss will certainly have reservations about starting him again once the international break concludes.
How has Richarlison played this season?
His performance may have been outstandingly poor with regard to his finishing, but this is a notion that has become frustratingly commonplace nowadays for the misfiring dud who was once so lethal on Merseyside.
In the season before the £90k-per-week flop would move to north London, the £60m striker scored ten and assisted five for a woeful Toffees side that narrowly escaped the drop. It was expected that Richarlison would therefore thrive when placed beside a better calibre of player, but that has clearly not been the case.
Last campaign saw the 46-cap finisher score just once across the entire league term, having only managed to match that tally thus far this year too. Such form was always bound to draw ridicule, with pundit Jamie O'Hara telling talkSPORT after yesterday's clash: "Terrible. He was bad. We are better without him. We are actually better with 10 men. We actually played better with 10 men after he came off. He is struggling, he really is."
This is a notion supported by journalist Ade Oladipo, who branded him "useless" for his lack of contribution after last season.
To truly outline just how toothless the 5 foot 10 flop has been, in the league he is averaging 2.3 shots per game, and yet conversely averages just 0.1 goals per game. Postecoglou cannot continue with such profligacy in his attacking areas, and had he not been saved by his centre-back, those missed chances could have proved costly.
Two favourable fixtures are now on the horizon for Spurs following the international break which the Australian will have his sights set on winning, before they once again face a tough run set to threaten that faultless record thus far.
Should their Brazil international retain his spot for these fixtures, it seems that their chances of winning will certainly take a hit.