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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

So after a summer transfer window in which Manchester United were linked to what quite possibly could have been every player on planet Earth, the Red Devils failed to end up signing someone in arguably the most crucial of positions. The number ten.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were linked with late moves for the likes of Christian Eriksen, Paulo Dybala and Bruno Fernandes, amongst others, but failed to see a deal materialise before the window shut. The club still have a few options to play in that all-important role just behind the striker, but there are certainly caveats with a number of them.

Paul Pogba – arguably United’s best man for the job – could still yet leave due to the transfer deadlines in other European leagues closing later, Jesse Lingard remains a picture of inconsistency, and Juan Mata is well past his best.

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Reports in recent weeks have claimed that Solskjaer is keen to implement a high-intensity approach and a desire to press from the front. The number ten often plays a crucial role in how that system potentially takes effect; when the ball is there to be won, the midfielder can push on alongside the striker to pressure the centre-backs, whilst when possession is too difficult to regain immediately, they can drop back and help form a more compact shape.

Landing someone like Eriksen – who averaged an impressive 1.2 tackles per game in the Premier League last season – would have gone some way to helping United’s new approach.

Forgetting the defensive aspect, creativity is in rather short supply given United’s current make-up in midfield. Not one player managed ten assists in the Premier League last season, with Pogba managing nine and both Lingard and Mata recording a measly two. On the other hand, Eriksen registered an impressive 12. Having a playmaker who can dictate the tempo and have the ingenuity to unlock packed defences is something United simply struggled with last season.

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In those tight, high-pressure games where a moment of magic is needed, Solskjaer may regret not dipping into the transfer market and buying a bona-fide star in that heavily influential number ten role.

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Liverpool fans are in a strange position ahead of this summer. The Reds did a lot of their much-needed business last summer, bringing in a top goalkeeper and a reliable defensive midfielder as well as cover for the front three in Alisson, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri. However, this summer what they need is a lot less clear.

There have been far fewer rumours linking players with an Anfield switch this summer, although there have been a few talks of a left-back coming in deputise for Andrew Robertson, and this report from The Daily Mirror is looking at the possibility of bringing in Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham. The youngster is a boyhood Kopite and whilst the Cottagers want £40 million for him, he shouldn’t cost that much.

When Fulham went down a lot of clubs will have turned their heads to have a look at Ryan Sessegnon’s situation, and The Mirror have reported that alongside Liverpool the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Juventus are all looking at throwing their names into the hat to sign the versatile left-sided ace. He may not be as good as Andrew Robertson, but he can provide cover for the Scot and is certainly better than Alberto Moreno.

You can read the Reds’ verdict on Sessegnon here:

The Reds seem keen on swooping for Sessegnon and who can blame them given his age and his incredible potential.

Chelsea have a lot on their plate at present, and that’s likely to leave fans dreaming of better times. Unfortunately for them, though, there’s still no end in sight for the Blues’ struggles, and it seems as though one of their arch rivals is enjoying exactly what most Chelsea fans would love. 

Since the departure of Jose Mourinho, Man Utd have exploded into life, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer impressing at the helm at Old Trafford. That, on its own, is enough to frustrate fans. The Red Devils and Chelsea have been rivals for years, yet the Blues have, as of late, not been very competitive.

For Chelsea fans, however, the latest comments from Solskjaer are going to only make the mood at Stamford Bridge worse.

Discussing the Red Devils’ youth contingent, the Man Utd boss said: “Angel has been in that successful England U17 team, with (Jadon) Sancho and (Callum) Hudson-Odoi and (Phil) Foden, so he’s been a big part of that. I’m definitely sure that if he gets a chance he’ll do well. Jimmy Garner, he’s a Michael Carrick but 20 years younger, so I’m sure he’ll do well, and Chong, he’ll definitely be taking people on if he comes on.”

He added: “They’re ready, they’re kids”.

Chelsea have become infamous for their lack of focus on young talent in recent years, and that’s only worsened under Maurizio Sarri. Callum Hudson-Odoi is arguably one of the best young players in Europe, yet he’s not made a single Premier League start so far this season.

Meanwhile, Solskjaer is talking up the chances of three youngsters; and that just shows how different the two managers are. Sure, Man Utd have a few injury problems at present, but Chelsea’s form has been so poor lately that the manager has had more than enough chances to include a few youngsters. But he hasn’t.

He just doesn’t trust them, and Solskjaer clearly does.

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Chelsea fans want to see young players make it at Chelsea, make no mistake, and if Sarri isn’t going to give them chances, that will only increase their desire to see change.

Thoughts?

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Arsenal extended their incredible unbeaten run to 17 games with a 2-1 in away at Bournemouth on Sunday and the match was not without talking points.

Mesut Ozil was dropped to the bench and did not feature despite the Gunners’ difficulty unpicking the Cherries defence for much of the game, but Unai Emery has come out with a pretty decent explanation for why the former Real Madrid playmaker was left out.

An unexpected change in formation to a 3-4-3 meant that the inclusion of a number 10 was never going to be easy – albeit Ozil is capable of playing on the right of a front three – and the former Sevilla boss put it this way to Arsenal media:

“We thought how we can be better in the match today, which is very demanding with the physicality and the intensity, but every player is important.”

“(Bringing Ozil on) depended on how the match was going”.

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In light of Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s poor showing in the 30-year-old’s stead, the Emirates faithful had some pretty strong words for Emery as they lamented the bold move.

Playmaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

Everton will be taking on a West Ham United team that have not picked up a single win since the Premier League season began.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side have lost all four of their matches – the only club in the division to do so.

Despite this, it would be understandable if some Everton fans were nervous about Sunday’s meeting at Goodison Park due to their injury woes.

Marco Silva is expected to be without Phil Jagielka, Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane, Andre Gomes, Yerry Mina, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and a handful more.

On top of that Richarlison is serving a ban following his recent sending-off, which means that the Toffees have a limited team to choose from.

The Merseyside outfit have had a mixed bag of results since the season began.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”291236″ player=”12034″ title=”Jose Mourinho Has Turned Into Arsene Wenger”]

Silva’s team have not lost a game but they have picked up just two wins in five outings in all competitions, with one of those victories coming in the Premier League.

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On Reddit, some fans have been discussing the club’s injury crisis.

Do the Football Gods just hate us? from r/Everton

Comment from discussion Do the Football Gods just hate us?.Comment from discussion Do the Football Gods just hate us?.Comment from discussion Do the Football Gods just hate us?.Comment from discussion Do the Football Gods just hate us?.Comment from discussion Do the Football Gods just hate us?.Comment from discussion Do the Football Gods just hate us?.

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Everton manager David Moyes is not happy with his attacking options. Between them, Beto and Thierno Barry have only scored five times in the Premier League this season, missing a combined total of 12 big chances, as per Sofascore.

For reference, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is thriving for Leeds United at Elland Road. January’s Premier League Player of the Month, the English striker has eight goals from his past nine matches.

But Moyes knows that the centre-forwards are not alone in their struggles, and he is also searching for ways to improve his side’s build-up play and dynamism from midfield.

Everton targeting English midfielder

Everton have been bolstered by the progress made by long-term injury absentees Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman. Especially the former. In this, Moyes’ defensive issues have been eased.

But with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall injured, Idrissa Gueye still away at AFCON and James Garner attracting interest from Manchester United, a well-placed central midfield signing wouldn’t go amiss.

And according to TEAMtalk, Everton are in with a shot at AC Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, having been offered the one-time Chelsea prospect as he looks for a route back to England. Talks are believed to have taken place with intermediaries.

Loftus-Cheek, 29, is in the penultimate year of his contract in Italy, and would bring a progressive and physical kind of style that Moyes knows well.

How Loftus-Cheek could star under Moyes

Loftus-Cheek has only started eight times in Serie A this season, but he’s racked up since joining from Stamford Bridge in a £15m deal in 2023, showcasing an aptitude for scoring, with 11 goals and four assists to boot.

He is an athletic and passionate player, remarked by pundit Ian Wright to play with a “fire in his belly” as he commands from midfield.

Given his progressiveness, he might even operate in a similar way to Declan Rice, who thrived, of course, under Moyes’ wing at West Ham United.

Rice has unlocked a more expansive style of play since joining the Gunners, but he still showcased such qualities in Moyes’ Hammers project, and given that the Scotsman has implemented a similar style at the Hill Dickinson, you begin to see why Loftus-Cheek has been earmarked.

He is not as good as his Arsenal compatriot, but the £85k-per-week talent is cut from similar tactical cloth, and thus could play an important role for Everton over the latter stage of the campaign, adding flavour.

Declan Rice in the Premier League

Season

Apps

Goals + Assists

25/26

20

4 + 5

24/25

35

4 + 7

23/24

38

7 + 9

West Ham – Arsenal (£105m)

22/23

37

4 + 2

21/22

36

1 + 4

20/21

32

2 + 1

19/20

38

1 + 3

18/19

34

2 + 0

17/18

26

0 + 0

16/17

1

0 + 0

Data via Transfermarkt

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 4% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 3% for aerial duels won per 90, underscoring both his stamina and physicality, winning duels and adding an attacking dimension when he drifts forward and into space.

Loftus-Cheek is no spring chicken, but he’s still a robust and effective midfielder, capable of collecting and driving the ball forward while upholding the midfield principles that Moyes would demand.

The one-time Chelsea man would perhaps emulate Rice in that regard. He may not be of the same standard as England’s star midfielder, but he shares a likeness with him, and through this, he could become a mainstay for an industrious Moyes outfit at Everton.

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Following a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal, Leeds United are reportedly in talks to sanction the departure of a player who earns over £900,000 a year at Elland Road.

Farke: Arsenal thrashing not "season-defining"

Daniel Farke could have counted on one hand the amount of Premier League fans that expected Leeds to head to Arsenal and secure a shock victory, such is the difficulty for newly-promoted sides against the top six.

It was always likely to be the ruthless welcome back to the top flight that Everton were unable to hand the Whites, but Farke was quick to claim that their 5-0 defeat was far from “season-defining”.

Whilst their trip to the Emirates should be one that Leeds learn from, they should also move on quickly and prepare for both Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup and then Newcastle United’s visit to Elland Road next weekend.

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As they look to return to winning ways, however, they may have to do so without one attacking player who could be heading to La Liga before the end of the transfer window.

Valencia in talks to sign Ramazani

According to Sacha Tavolieri, Valencia are now in talks to sign Largie Ramazani on loan from Leeds this month. The winger was left out of Farke’s squad to face Arsenal after the German opted to pick other options.

Now, he could leave on loan to the La Liga club, managed by former Marcelo Bielsa assistant Carlos Corberan, who could reportedly cover his £910,000-a-year salary and have a buy option included in their deal.

Since then, reports from Spain have claimed the 24-year-old has ‘fully agreed terms’ with the La Liga side. After just one season at the club, Ramazani’s time at Leeds looks destined to come to a swift end this month.

The fact that the winger was left out of Farke’s squad to face Arsenal was never a good sign, even though the Leeds boss told reporters when questioned about that decision: “It was just due to the decision about Noah Okafor, not against Largie.”

Nottingham Forest could now look to hijack a rival Premier League club’s move for an “unbelievable” player, according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey.

Forest's summer transfer plans taking shape

Forest still have plenty to play for this season, with Champions League qualification still very much on the cards despite the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa last weekend, while they will also have dreams of winning the FA Cup.

However, with the summer transfer window edging ever closer, it is important Nuno begins to lay the groundwork ahead of next season, and the manager appears to be particularly keen on signing a new striker.

Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, AFC Bournemouth’s Evanilson, and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha are some of the biggest names on the shortlist, with Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin also emerging as an option in recent days.

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Bolstering his attacking options appears to be a priority for Nuno, but there have also been suggestions the manager could look to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer, with replacements being eyed for Matz Sels, despite his impressive form.

Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is one of the names on the shortlist, with the 26-year-old set to be available for £25m, now the Saints’ relegation from the Premier League has been confirmed.

Speaking to Nottingham Forest News, transfer expert Bailey has now confirmed Burnley’s James Trafford is also of interest to the Trickly Trees, saying: “They have been delighted with how Sels has performed, he has been superb but I know they are looking at the market.

“There are some very good goalkeepers going to be available – Aaron Ramsdale, James Trafford and Caoimhin Kelleher amongst them, and Forest like those three – and that isn’t including the plethora of foreign options. It is not definite but they are looking at it.”

Trafford could be "unbelievable" signing

Sels has been reliable for Forest between the sticks this season, starting all 31 of their Premier League matches, but there are clear indications Trafford could be an upgrade on the Belgian.

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Burnley have shipped just 12 goals in the Championship this season, which is by far the best defensive record in the league, and he has received high praise from minority owner JJ Watt, who lauded the goalkeeper as “unbelievable”.

That description is fully justified, given that the 6’6″ colossus ranks extremely highly on a number of key metrics for goalkeepers over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Goals against

0.30 (99th percentile)

Save percentage

86.0% (99th percentile)

Save % (Penalty kicks)

100% (95th percentile)

Clean sheet percentage

70% (99th percentile)

Trafford has long been expected to sign for Newcastle United this summer, and it may be difficult to hijack the move for the goalkeeper, but if Champions League football is on offer at the City Ground next season, moving to Forest could be an attractive proposition.

Everton are interested in signing a “fantastic dribbler” who now wants to leave his club this January, according to a report.

Everton takeover nearing completion ahead of January

The Friedkin Group are now on the verge of completing their takeover of Everton, having received Premier League approval, meaning the new owners could be at the helm by the time the January transfer window begins in just a few weeks time.

With the Toffees currently just three points clear of the bottom three, the new owners may feel that some new reinforcements are needed this winter, and a number of attacking targets have been identified by the current regime, including Corinthians’ Yuri Alberto.

The Brazilian is considering a move in January, and he could be available for a fee of around £17m, which would make him a relatively affordable option to bolster Sean Dyche’s strike force.

Having scored just 14 league goals this season, Everton may view strengthening their attack as a priority, and it was recently reported that Lyon are now open to selling Ernest Nuamah in order to balance their books this January.

Nuamah wants to leave in January

Now, there has been a new update on Nuamah’s future, with CaughtOffside reporting that Nuamah wants to leave this winter, as he feels he has not received enough game time in Ligue 1 so far this season. A number of clubs are interested in signing the 21-year-old, with Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Fulham also name checked, while European giants AS Roma and Sevilla may also be tempted to make a move.

As it stands, Lyon are holding out for a fee of €25m – €30m (£21m – £25m), but the interested parties are struggling to meet the asking price, meaning they may also consider orchestrating a loan move.

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Although the Ghanaian has mainly been limited to cameo appearances as a substitute so far this season, there are signs that he could be a shrewd acquisition for the Toffees this winter. During his time with FC Nordsjaelland, the youngster received praise for his ability on the ball, as well as his shooting.

The starlet’s dribbling ability is particularly impressive, ranking in the 90th percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers in the top European leagues.

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That said, Nuamah is yet to really prove himself outside of Denmark, meaning it would be risky for the Toffees to shell out £25m this winter, and it could be wise to take him on loan first, should Lyon be open to that arrangement.

Leeds United now have the overwhelming task on their hands of replacing two of their key performers, with it looking very likely that Georginio Rutter will follow Crysencio Summerville out of the exit door very soon at Elland Road.

That means Leeds' car-crash 3-0 loss to Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup could be the Frenchman's final ever anticlimactic outing for the Championship side, as a move back up to the Premier League now beckons for the £40m attacker with Brighton and Hove Albion.

Away from this pending departure obviously dominating news around the second-tier club currently, Leeds are still on the hunt for a brand-new winger to replace the gaping hole left by the Dutchman, with a whole host of names floating about.

Leeds hold concrete interest in EFL promotion winner

As per Daily Express reporter Charlie Gordon, Leeds are very keen on adding Manuel Benson to their depleted attacking spots this summer, with the Whites holding 'concrete interest' in the Burnley gem.

Leeds had been looking at the likes of Jonathan Rowe quite heavily when searching for a golden new star to replace Summerville, but that move could be too difficult to get over the line now, hence a long list of other targets now being spoken about.

Million Manhoef has also been touted for a move to West Yorkshire, with the similarities between the Stoke City attacker and Summerville obvious, when glancing immediately at his Dutch heritage and his tricky and explosive ability for the Potters.

What Benson could offer Leeds

Prioritising a major move for Benson could be the best possible course of action for Farke and Co moving forward, with the Clarets attacker a former promotion winner in the Championship, on top of being an upgrade on Manhoef.

As well as offering a title win at the level on his CV, Benson can also offer the same slaloming runs to Leeds that Summerville had become known for before he moved on to West Ham United, as well as conjuring up an audacious finish at the end of such a pacey dart forward.

The sumptuous strike above from Benson pushed his side further on to achieving promotion glory come the end of the 2022/23 season, with the tricky Clarets number ten registering an impressive 11 strikes from 33 second-tier games overall.

Benson (22/23) vs Manhoef + Rowe (23/24)

Stat

Benson

Manhoef

Rowe

Games played

33

14

32

Goals scored

11

4

12

Assists

3

1

2

Scoring frequency

137 mins

205 mins

171 mins

Shots per game

1.8

2.6

1.8

Big chances missed

7

3

4

Big chances created

4

3

1

Stats by Sofascore

Taking in the table above as well, Benson would be the smartest player to bring into the building out of the options on the table, with more goal contributions managed from the winger on the way to the Clarets lifting the title than Manhoef managed for either Stoke or Rowe for the Canaries last season.

Moreover, the left-footed 27-year-old has also the experience of Premier League football on his resume over his two counterparts, with a hunger to get back there with Farke's men, even with recent setbacks being thrown their way.

Gnonto could also benefit in the long-term with this signing, with the dynamic Italian attacker loving life down the left channel against Portsmouth on the opening day, with one goal next to his name in the 3-3 draw and two successful dribbles completed.

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The "electric" Burnley forward – as he was described by football pundit Sam Parkin at the height of his second-tier powers – would compete with James down the right-hand side for a starting spot as a result, with the Leeds manager then content with the depth he has at his disposal, at least in this position.

Then, it will be about recruiting a stunning replacement to make Rutter's exit feel less damaging, as a new-look Leeds XI continues to be assembled from the ashes of last season's nearly men.

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