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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

After losing Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United for £50m, Crystal Palace were left with just one right-back in the shape of Joel Ward.

Roy Hodgson’s side set about finding a replacement for the England U21 star, and were linked with a number of names to replace Wan-Bissaka.

Chelsea’s Reece James was the subject of interest from the south Londoners, who saw a £25m bid rejected for his services, while another man in the form on Montpellier right-back Ruben Aguilar was linked with a move to Selhurst Park – the latter eventually signed a five-year contract with Monaco.

Bullet dodged

We previously outlined how the Eagles may have dodged a bullet in missing out on the French right-back Aguilar.

At the time, the 26-year-old had made three appearances for the Ligue 1 side. In those showings, Aguilar picked up one red card, one yellow card and also conceded ten goals, provoking the point that Palace may have been fortunate to miss out on his signature.

However, his performances since that article was written have only further emphasised our point.

Still not improving

Since then, Aguilar has made five more appearances for the side who previously housed the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Bernardo Silva, and things really haven’t got much better for the man who was also linked with Palace’s rivals Brighton in the summer window.

Aguilar has shipped eight more goals in those five appearances, meaning that his inclusion in the Monaco backline has seen 18 goals conceded in total across his eight appearances.

To add more emphasis to the point, Aguilar has also been sent off once again – to receive two red cards in your first eight appearances for a new club isn’t going to set the best first impression.

His most recent dismissal – coming against a St Etienne side including ex-Palace man Yohan Cabaye – prompted an angry reaction in which he was seen kicking the VAR monitor on his way off the pitch.

He may well turn his Monaco career around, but as of now, it’s safe to say Palace may have dodged a massive bullet.

Real Madrid definitely have a squad pretty stacked with talent.

After all, the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes and Federico Valverde are some of the brightest young talents in the world of football.

Still, that doesn’t mean that Zinedine Zidane’s squad is complete – not in the slightest.

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In fact, looking at their squad list, there seems to be a glaring flaw in Los Blancos’ team – there is no natural replacement for their star, Casemiro.

The 27-year-old Brazilian is the only natural defensive midfielder in the whole squad and finding a suitable replacement for him should be at the very top of Florentino Perez’s to-do list.

And it seems that some of the fans have actually recognised that and have suggested Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi as a potential replacement for the South American.

When they were asked on social media about the young player joining their squad, many Madridistas stated that they would indeed love that transfer.

You can see some of their comments and replies down below:

Glasgow Rangers secured a much-needed Premiership victory against St Mirren on Sunday afternoon, making it two wins in four days.

The Ibrox side were made to work for the win, however, as the Buddies looked a solid attacking threat throughout the game and if it were not for a marginal offside call in the second half, they could easily have taken something from the game.

The performance wasn’t as fluid as against FCSB, but hopefully, this can inspire some confidence ahead of the clash against in-form Aberdeen on Wednesday evening.

Best and worst performers for Rangers vs St Mirren

Mohamed Diomande was moved to a more advanced position and scored the opening goal within 15 minutes, winning four of seven duels, succeeding with 100% of his long balls and managing three total shots.

Vaclav Cerny continued his recent goalscoring form, netting the winner and looking lively at times down the right flank.

Hamza Igamane was given a rare start, hoping to continue where he left off against FCSB. The striker failed to register a single effort on goal and was subbed off at half-time, with Cyriel Dessers coming on for him.

The Moroccan summer signing is still a work in progress. The more he plays, the better he will get. Robin Propper, however, is an experienced professional, yet he was bullied by the St Mirren attack.

Robin Propper’s game in numbers vs St Mirren

The centre-back has begun to establish himself as one of the first-choice defenders in the squad, partnering John Souttar regularly over the previous few weeks. Against the Buddies, Philippe Clement went with Leon Balogun as the Dutchman’s partner on Sunday.

Touches

68

Accurate passes

48/56

Total duels (won)

9 (4)

Possession lost

8

Dribbled past

1

Tackles

3

Balogun was excellent yet again, oozing class despite his advancing years. The same can not be said for Propper, however, as the former FC Twente defender struggled.

Indeed, the centre-back lost five of his nine contested duels during his 60 minutes on the pitch, was successful with just three of his eight long ball attempts, made zero interceptions and was dribbled past once.

The statistics suggest he wasn’t at the races, but it was more how the Dutchman couldn’t quite cope with the physical threat posed by Toyosi Olusanya, who took full advantage of Propper’s lack of physicality.

He was given a match rating of 6.4/10 by WhoScored following his poor display during the 2-1 win, with more criticism coming elsewhere.

Writer Graeme Hanna criticised Propper after the game, saying: “Said it after Tannadice, Propper doesn’t have the physicality for our league and the opponents we face. He’s another questionable first choice signing.”

At 31, Propper is approaching the final few years of his career, which suggests he was signed as someone to plug the gap left by Connor Goldson, rather than someone who could have a bright future in Scotland.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Against Aberdeen, Clement must surely go with a defensive partnership of Balogun and Souttar in order to prevent the Dons securing another league win against the Light Blues on Wednesday evening.

Clement has struck gold on Rangers star who's worth 2x more than Kent

Rangers have already hit the jackpot on star who just joined this summer…

ByRoss Kilvington Oct 26, 2024

Leeds United could allow an in-form youngster to leave Elland Road on loan before the weekend, according to a new update.

Leeds transfer rumours

The transfer market may not be officially open again until January, however, the Whites can still sign free agents and use the loan market for non-league clubs, should they wish.

Daniel Farke and the 49ers Enterprises could dip into the free agent market following serious injuries to midfielders Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev, leaving Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell as his only senior midfield options. At the back, Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk are the only defenders fit due to Max Wober’s injury, which has resulted in Cheikhou Kouyate being linked with joining Leeds.

Reports have claimed a deal to be on and off in recent days, and when asked about Leeds signing Kouyate, Farke refused to confirm the name but did say the club are optimistic they will find “a good solution in the upcoming days or weeks”.

“I spoke about the situation. I never confirm any names and I won’t speak about players who are not under contract with us. I just speak about our players.

“We’re having a deeper look into the free agent market. We are also a bit light in the centre-back position, Joe Rodon is on four yellow cards.

“We have a few ideas and we’re carefully optimistic we’ll be able to bring in a good solution in the upcoming days or weeks, but I cannot say names.”

Leeds youngster Luca Thomas could join York City

Heading out of Leeds in the coming days could be young forward Luca Thomas, with National League side York City hopeful of signing the Whites gem on loan.

The 20-year-old has scored eight goals for Leeds’ youngsters in the current campaign and even made a cameo with the senior squad under Farke during pre-season.

York City boss Adam Hinshelwood commented on Thomas and a move from Leeds, revealing the 49ers Group are set for sit down talks on Thursday over a deal.

“Leeds have let him train with us for the last few days, so we can cast an eye over him, and we have done that. We’ve been impressed with what we have seen, so it’s down to us to have a chat with Tony [McMahon, Director of Football] and then speak to Leeds and see what is best.

“We’ve been really encouraged by what we have seen from him and we’re hoping that we will be able to do something there. We’re hoping, he’s been in for a few days and have liked what we have seen so far, so we will sit down with Tony tomorrow (Thursday) and speak to Leeds to see what we can try and arrange.”

Thomas has even been mentioned by some as a player who could become Leeds’ next Crysencio Summerville, so his development will be one to watch if he joins York on loan.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will be looking to make it four wins in a row this afternoon when they host Southampton at the Emirates.

The Gunners come into the game off the back of an impressive 2-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, maintaining their unbeaten start to the 2024/25 campaign.

However, attention switches back to the Premier League this weekend, as a familiar face in Aaron Ramsdale returns to North London for the first time after his transfer to the Saints during the transfer window.

Arteta will have some key calls to make over selection ahead of the clash, with numerous players looking to secure their place in the starting lineup.

The Spaniard may be without two key first-team members, with the duo both struggling with injuries ahead of the clash in North London this weekend.

21/04/2023

3-3

Draw

11/12/2021

3-0

Win

16/12/2020

1-1

Draw

23/11/2019

2-2

Draw

24/02/2019

2-0

Win

Arsenal team news

Arsenal have been well stocked in the right-back department with Ben White and Jurrien Timber currently the senior options available at Arteta’s disposal.

However, Englishman White has been missing for the last couple of outings with a slight injury, allowing for Dutchman Timber to take his place in the starting lineup.

The 23-year-old started the Champions League clash in midweek, but limped off at half-time with a suspected muscular issue, making him touch and go over a potential start once against Russell Martin’s side.

The Gunners boss provided an injury update on the pair in his pre-match press conference, stating: “We had to modify training for them [Timber and White], We have a decision to make. They are close, so good news.”

Should the pair miss out on the meeting at the Emirates, however, Arteta could deploy one first team member in a slightly unnatural position.

The man who could replace Timber & White

Midfielder Thomas Partey has started every game in the 2024/25 campaign, taking up a more senior role after the injury to Martin Odegaard.

The emergence of youngster Ethan Nwaneri has seen the 17-year-old receive an increase in first-team minutes given the current injury situation – taking his opportunity with both hands and potentially seeing him rewarded with more frequent opportunities in the coming weeks.

He could be handed his first Premier League start as a result of his recent breakthrough, which could see Partey shift to an unfamiliar right-back role.

It wouldn’t be the first time the Ghanaian “monster”, as dubbed by presenter Adam Keys, has switched to a full-back position, featuring there temporarily at the start of last season after Timber’s ACL injury on his debut.

His ball-winning abilities – which have seen him average 1.5 tackles per 90 this season – alongside his excellent passing range could work wonders, potentially playing in an inverted role and pushing centrally into midfield when the Gunners are in possession.

Whilst it may be a last resort, Arsenal’s current injury situation may leave Arteta with no choice given knocks picked up by Timber and White in recent weeks.

However, given Partey’s experience in the role, he could be the perfect replacement for the aforementioned pair, providing an experience option in another must-win Premier League affair.

Not just Havertz: Arsenal star who won every single duel dominated vs PSG

The Gunners sealed a sensational win on the biggest stage.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 2, 2024

Manchester City are in advanced talks with Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard over a possible move to the Etihad, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Man City transfer news?

Pep Guardiola and Man City have already been busy this summer following a historic treble-winning 2022/23 campaign, with midfielder Mateo Kovacic the first to arrive from Chelsea in a deal worth an initial £25m. The club did lose captain Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona on a free transfer, so Kovacic looks set to fill the void left by the German.

More new signings appear to be wanted by City, though, with RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol a firm target in Manchester. However, talks have gone quiet recently, with RB Leipzig wanting around €100m plus bonuses.

There could be more exits on the cards as well, with recent reports suggesting that Kyle Walker had agreed on terms with Bayern Munich, despite being offered an Etihad extension.

As a result, City could soon be on the search for a new right-back of their own, and it looks as if they will target a player from Bayern Munich in Pavard.

Romano took to Twitter on Friday to share an update he’s heard regarding Man City and Pavard. He said that the Frenchman is top of City’s list when it comes to a new right-back, adding that talks with the player are at an advanced stage.

“Manchester City have now Benjamin Pavard on top of their list as new right back.

“Pavard is Man City’s priority in case Kyle Walker will join Bayern, deal advanced on player side but not completed yet. Bayern and City will discuss about Walker and Pavard.”

How good is Benjamin Pavard?

Pavard can play as a right-back or centre-back and has been with Bayern since 2019, making 162 appearances and contributing to 24 goals.

The 27-year-old has won the Word Cup and Champions League, and as per FBref, ranks in the top 1% of full-backs for passes attempted and progressive passes in the past 12 months, while also ranking in the top 3% and 4% for aerial duels won and interceptions, showing how he could be a smart signing for City.

Pavard doesn’t lack confidence either, and said that he feels his best position is at centre-back, however, at right-back, he believes he is defensively the best right-back in the world, more "complete" than Trent Alexander-Arnold and Achraf Hakimi.

“My position is a central defender. It always has been, this is where I feel most comfortable, where I take the most pleasure. This is where I find myself the best. I think we see more of my qualities in this position.

“A defender must first defend well. On paper, Pavard may be less sexy than Hakimi, Arnold, but I find that defensively I am more complete.”

It looks as if a move to City will be one to keep an eye on, especially if Walker completes a move to Munich.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has tipped Yves Bissouma to "thrive" at Tottenham Hotspur next season following an impressive start to pre-season.

What did Gold say?

There was great expectation when Bissouma arrived in north London following several impressive years at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Much like Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo this summer, there was a significant amount of hype surrounding a Brighton star moving on to 'bigger and better things' after having made such an impact on the south coast.

A deal of £35m including possible add-ons was enough to convince the Seagulls to sell and Bissouma was supposedly the answer to Tottenham's lack of grit in the centre of the park. The Mali international was meant add some much-needed bite to Antonio Conte's midfield.

However, things didn't go to plan. The 26-year-old made a slow start to the campaign and was being utilised as a substitute more than a starter in a Spurs side that was picking up points despite some questionable performances.

As 2023 rolled around, Bissouma still struggled for minutes and things would get much worse due to an ankle injury that required surgery. He spent 15 matches in the treatment room and only returned for the final four games of the Premier League season, making appearances in three.

A new season and manager provides new hope for the defensive-midfielder, who has already joined up with Spurs for pre-season.

According to Alasdair Gold, who was speaking on the Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham podcast, Bissouma has looked sharp in training so far and the journalist believes he has all the tools to succeed at Spurs next year.

"The guy that really for me, only purely on watching the [training] videos and it might be that Spurs have not shown him being absolutely appalling, but the player who looks so sharp for me is Bissouma. Oh my goodness." said Gold.

"Some of the touches he's taken. The biggest thing for me is he looks happy and full of confidence. He looks like he is in a system that is probably going to help him thrive as well under Postecoglou."

He added: "It's all set up isn't it really for Bissouma to thrive this season, hopefully."

Bissouma only managed 28 appearances in all competitions last campaign and will be desperate to get more minutes under his belt this term. Impressing Postecoglou in pre-season is of paramount importance.

The former Lille man could feel like a new signing for Tottenham if Postecoglou can get him fit and firing next season. Tottenham were often caught short in midfield due to injuries to Bissouma and teammate Rodrigo Bentancur last year.

Postecoglou generally likes to play with a three-man midfield, unlike Conte who tended to opt for two in the centre of the park, meaning opportunities should be rife for the Mali international.

Which midfielders are joining Tottenham?

With Harry Winks having joined Leicester City and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg rumoured with a Spurs exit, Tottenham could be light in midfield again next season.

22-year-old Oliver Skipp impressed last year, standing out as a potential bright spark, while 20-year-old Pape Matar Sarr is arguably not ready to be playing weekly for the Lilywhites.

Beyond that Spurs are left with Bissouma and Bentancur who will certainly need some help next season, especially given the latter is still undergoing his rehabilitation period at Hotspur Way.

Two loanees will return, however, with Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso coming back to Spurs from stints at Napoli and Villarreal respectively. What Postecoglou's plans are for the pair remains to be seen but given the Australian reportedly rejected a £17m bid for Ndombele per L'Equipe (via Sport Witness), maybe the Frenchman has a future at Tottenham after all.

Of course, Spurs have signed James Maddison already, although he is an attacking midfielder, and the Lilywhites will want to bolster their midfield options further in the market to help Postecoglou mould Tottenham in his image.

There are not too many midfielders currently being linked with Spurs, however, with the search for a centre-back taking priority at the moment.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their plans to overhaul their attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

What’s the latest on Danilo to Rangers?

According to the Heart & Hand Podcast, the Gers remain keen on a deal to sign Feyenoord centre-forward Danilo in the summer transfer window.

The official club sponsor claims that Michael Beale will still pursue a move for the Brazilian striker despite the club being close to bringing in Cyriel Dessers.

Fabrizio Romano recently reported that the Light Blues have agreed a fee with Cremonese and are set to finalise personal terms with the Nigerian.

However, this does not appear to alter their plans to swoop for the Eredivisie marksman, who has reportedly been valued at around €8m (£6.8m) by the Dutch outfit.

Where would Danilo fit in at Rangers?

If the Dessers deal goes through as claimed, the Gers would have four senior number nines on the books; including the Cremonese ace, Antonio Colak, Sam Lammers, and Kemar Roofe.

Therefore, the signing of Danilo on top of that could be bad news for one of Beale’s current options as it would restrict their game time, potentially leaving the club in need of moving them on before the deadline.

The Brazilian striker's arrival would spell trouble for Roofe as the former Leeds United frontman has been an unreliable player for the club in recent years, which could open the door for the manager to cut ties with him this summer.

Since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, the Jamaica international has missed a staggering 84 competitive matches across seven injuries, including 35 games due to a knee issue last season.

A player's most important quality is their availability, as they are otherwise unable to make an impact on results, and Roofe has proven himself to be a liability on that front.

Danilo, on the other hand, has only been absent for 16 competitive outings since the start of the 2019/20 season and made 48 appearances for Feyenoord last term, while the Gers centre-forward has only played 42 matches across the last two campaigns combined.

Therefore, the 24-year-old hotshot, who was once hailed by Erik ten Hag as the manager's best "finisher" at Ajax, would be a far better option for Beale to have in his squad due to his durability.

The £6.8m-rated ace also scored ten goals and provided three assists in 14 Eredivisie starts last season, which is a goal record only four Rangers players bettered in the Scottish Premiership – with three of them having started more than 17 times.

This shows that the potential is there for him to be an excellent scorer for the Light Blues whilst being able to offer more reliability in his availability in comparison to Roofe.

Tottenham Hotspur's chief scout Leonardo Gabbanini is being monitored by a number of other clubs as he impresses at Spurs as he awaits Daniel Levy's director of football decision.

Who is Leonardo Gabbanini?

Certainly not a household name or familiar face, Gabbanini has been at Tottenham for just under a year. Arriving as the club's chief scout from Watford back in the summer of 2022, he was brought to north London by the now banned former Spurs director of football Fabio Paratici.

Despite Paratici's disgraced departure, Gabbanini has been thoroughly involved in building this summer's transfer plans. He has been in direct discussions with chairman Levy and new manager Ange Postecoglou ahead of a busy window.

However, Gabbanini is a "wanted man" and Spurs may have to fend off interest from other clubs in their 43-year-old talent spotter.

Journalist Alasdair Gold, speaking on his YouTube channel, stated: "From my understanding, there are a lot of clubs looking at Gabbanini. He is a wanted man because of his abilities and his network as well, and his scouts that he employs."

"So keep an eye on what happens there. If there is another director of football type brought in and Gabbanini kind of feels overlooked, or feels that he doesn't quite fit with the new director of football, it will not be long before someone comes in for him. I think Lazio were kind of sniffing around him recently as well."

While Spurs look for a new director of football, Gabbanini's responsibilities will increase this summer, with Gold even suggesting that the Italian could be considered for the job himself. However, his lack of experience in a similar role may put Spurs off appointing him.

Tottenham are already facing battles to keep some of their star players this summer, with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min linked away, so losing a key member of the recruitment team would be disastrous at this stage of the window.

Gold describes Gabbanini has having a "great eye for talent" and as a "modern" scout that teams data analysis with the classic 'eye test'. Gold also claims that Spurs' chief scout will "quickly evaluate a player and deliver a firm opinion".

Who are Spurs looking to sign?

It promises to be a hectic summer for Gabbanini and his team who are already monitoring a wide variety of players ahead of Postecoglou's debut season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Lilywhites have already made Dejan Kulusevski's loan permanent and are closing in on the acquisition of Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for £17.2m.

Tottenham are reported frontrunners for Leicester City's James Maddison, while also taking an interest in Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba and a potential reunion between Postecoglou and Kyogo Furuhashi.

It is expected that Postecoglou will be given in excess of £100m to spend in the transfer window this summer as he tries to build this Spurs team in his image.

Liverpool will prioritise the signing of a "physical" midfielder this summer as Jurgen Klopp's side look to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.

What kind of midfielder do Liverpool want?

Having already brought in Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister earlier this summer for an initial fee of approximately £35m, Liverpool are expected to bolster their midfield ranks further in the transfer window.

Having an endured a difficult campaign in which the midfield was held largely culpable for poor form, Klopp has prioritised fixing his engine room. The signing of Mac Allister helps, as well as the wages freed up by the departing Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner, but more is required if the Reds are to return to the top of the pyramid.

Having already been linked with a host of new names this window, Fabrizio Romano believes Liverpool will focus on a more robust, "physical" midfielder next to follow on from the signing of a more creative playmaker in Mac Allister.

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Romano stated: "So, I think from what I'm told, Liverpool will give priority to a physical midfielder after signing a creative midfielder in Alexis Mac Allister. So, the idea is to go for a physical midfielder now."

"Manu Kone remains on the list, Khephren Thuram remains on the list, these two names for sure."

He added: "Liverpool will explore also other options, for example, they appreciate Barella but they know very well that the player is very happy at Inter and is going to be very difficult to sign Nicolo Barella. There is no release clause into his contract, so it is a very complicated situation."

A more physical midfielder makes sense given Klopp's desire to play high-intensity, counter-pressing football which requires a more combative and disciplined central midfield.

What do we know about the transfer links so far?

Of those mentioned by Romano, Nice's Thuram appears to be the priority target for the Reds. Journalist David Lynch even claimed that an agreement is expected to be struck between the two clubs for the 22-year-old, with Le Parisien suggesting a fee of just over £50m would be required to get a deal done.

Manu Kone, who is currently a teammate of Thuram for France at the U21 European Championship, has been linked with the Reds, but Florian Plettenberg has suggested that a move for the Borussia Monchengladbach man is "very unlikely".

Meanwhile, Nicolo Barella's high price tag appears to have put him out of Liverpool's reach, but certain Italian sources have suggested a bid could be coming Inter's way. It is thought that the 26-year-old would cost just under £70m, which would make him Liverpool's most expensive midfield signing of all time.

A final midfield name that has been linked is Celta Vigo sensation Gabri Veiga, who has enjoyed a hugely impressive season in La Liga. A £34m release clause in the youngster's contract makes him an even more tantalising prospect, but he is more of a technical player than others on Liverpool's shortlist.