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Let’s scale back two years. Liverpool had completed their midfield rebuild under Jurgen Klopp and were primed for a new chapter, putting that bleak 2022/23 campaign to bed.

Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and co had gone past their sell-by dates, and FSG went full ham as they countered the midfield exodus with four interesting signings: Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.

Those additions led Klopp’s side back into the Champions League and saw the German cap off his Anfield dynasty with one final slice of silverware, beating Chelsea against injury-hit odds in the Carabao Cup final.

Arne Slot approached the recent summer market with a similar need for change.

Well, similar insofar as much money needed to be spent, but Liverpool had just won the Premier League and were supported by the many years of Klopp’s labours. This is supposed to be a successful season for the Reds.

And it still could be, but so much has gone wrong for Slot’s tactically imbalanced team, who have lost four matches in a row and lack any sense of confidence or coherence.

We could pick at any area of the field, but the midfielders have certainly left something to be desired in recent months.

Liverpool need a new midfielder

Two years on, FSG may need to shop once again for a high-level midfielder. While the Merseysiders have talented options in the engine room, the woes of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai’s new role at right-back suggest more physicality and press resistance could be added to ease Gravenberch’s burden.

The 26-year-old Mac Allister, in particular, has been dreadful this term, lacking his typical coolness and energy on the ball, that rare ability to marry technical elegance with combative physicality.

That simply hasn’t been there, with one Premier League noting that the Argentina international is “not up to scratch” at the moment, winning only one tackle per game and losing 57% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

It hasn’t been good enough, and while, candidly, part of Mac Allister’s struggle is down to mismanagement, there’s a sense that an upgrade is needed to add a much-needed dimension to the midfield.

Well, that man could arrive in the form of Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, with Spanish sources confirming this week that the France international could be on the move in 2026, an update which has certainly put Anfield’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, on alert.

Valued by Los Blancos at around €80m (equating to £69m), Camavinga is no longer considered untouchable by Xabi Alonso, and those in Spain believe an audacious January bid could be staged by the Premier League champions.

The 22-year-old has been in Madrid for over four years, but injuries and Alonso’s vision have opened the door for potential suitors. Manchester City and Manchester United both expressed interest this summer.

Why Camavinga could be an upgrade on Mac Allister

Camavinga was regarded as a wonder-kid when he first took steps onto the professional stage. Joining from Rennes for around £35m in 2021, he has since featured 186 times for the Spanish giants, winning two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.

Though the past year has been an effort to maintain regular fitness levels for Camavinga, he remains a world-class talent, a “duel-monster” in the words of analyst Raj Chohan, who could benefit from a change of scenery, joining a Liverpool team where he could foster his skills for many years to come.

His arrival would not knock Mac Allister from his prominent position, but it would give him competition, to be sure, and Camavinga might even come to be an upgrade down the line, with the statistics drawn from the past year certainly suggesting he has what it takes to outstrip him.

Camavinga vs Mac Allister (past 12 months)

Stats (per 90)

Camavinga

Mac Allister

Goals

0.12

0.18

Assists

0.06

0.18

Touches

76.36

63.29

Pass completion (%)

90.1

82.7

Shot-creating actions

2.51

4.01

Progressive passes

5.07

5.64

Progressive carries

2.04

1.37

Successful take-ons

1.11

0.53

Recoveries

6.30

4.69

Tackles won

2.91

1.63

Interceptions

1.40

0.89

Aerials won

1.52

0.50

Data via FBref

As you can see, Camavinga has played with a touch more completeness and energy than his Argentine counterpart over the past year, and that having suffered with injury problems all the while. He might actually boast a higher standard of quality than Mac Allister, and that is not to the Liverpool man’s discredit.

There is also the matter of age. Camavinga is only 22 years old, and with a wealth of elite experience at that.

He might be struggling for minutes and fluency at Real Madrid, but he’s so young and clearly such a talented midfielder, an expert on the ball and relentless in the challenge.

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These are attributes shared with Liverpool’s No. 10, though there’s a case to be made that the Frenchman is even more complete in his midfield game, hailed for his “extraordinary qualities” by former Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, who went on to claim his young star could “play anywhere on the pitch”.

Similar praise have been laid at Mac Allister’s feet in the Premier League. Shortly after the South American’s £35m transfer from Brighton to Liverpool, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole described him as a “superstar” signing for the Reds, drawing attention to his own ability to “play anywhere” his manager wants him to.

Such dynamism. Though Liverpool would want to retain Mac Allister’s services for as long as they can, it’s clear he plays a role unlike any other in the Liverpool squad. To put that another way, he provides a dimension his teammates cannot mimic.

And, with that in mind, adding Camavinga to the fold might prove a stroke of genius on Hughes’ part. Real Madrid might want something in the ballpark of £69m, but Liverpool could take advantage of his injury struggles and seat on the Santiago Bernabeu fringe over the past 12 months.

Looking at how it could all transpire in the long run, Liverpool might strike a player who could yet grow into one of the best in the world, eclipsing a star in Mac Allister, who has already provided the club with a higher brand of technical midfield play than they had been treated to in the years before his signing.

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Chelsea’s transfer activity has been leaked consistently over the last few days, with one club director now lifting the lid on a recent phone call as the Blues pursued another deal.

Chelsea targeting new attackers for Maresca after failed deadline deals

Enzo Maresca couldn’t quite get AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan or Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens through the door in time for their looming Club World Cup campaign (Sky Sports), with the pre-CWC deadline passing at 7pm on Tuesday.

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Chelsea also didn’t have enough time to strike what is a complex deal for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, but Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg insists that he is still one to watch, and the west Londoners remain in talks.

In the meantime, it is reported that Chelsea are prioritising a new attacker over the coming weeks, namely a left-winger, versatile attacking midfielder and second striker after Liam Delap (Simon Phillips).

Chelsea also haven’t given up hope of signing Gittens, and he could well be one they revisit later on in the window.

“The hype and briefings of bids being sent and rejected for Gittens yesterday afternoon was just all blown up and also, very delayed,” said journalist Simon Phillips in a recent Substack update.

“Chelsea walked from this way before lunchtime and the biggest offer we sent in was a £45m base fee and £10m add-ons. This was rejected and Chelsea walked. It is likely to come up again because Chelsea do rate Gittens, and it’s likely to still be a genuine pursuit for Chelsea still this summer.”

This is now being echoed by Dortmund sporting director Sebastien Kehl, who lifted the lid on their discussions with Chelsea in an interview with Tage Spiegel this week.

Sebastien Kehl reveals Chelsea phone call over signing Jamie Gittens

The Bundesliga chief shared details behind their negotiations, with Kehl also tipping Chelsea talks for Gittens to reopen.

“We spoke on the phone, in the end we did not agree, because we have different ideas about the current value of the player,” he said.

“Jamie definitely makes our team better. We are glad that he is there. We are in a good exchange and see how things are shaping in the future.

“Of course, at some point, if you take a player with it, you also have to sell. I assume that his market value will not fall. We will see to what extent we can keep it until the end of the tournament. There will be talks again.”

Dortmund and Kehl are rumoured to want as much as £55 million for Gittens, which is a steep price considering he played less of a crucial role for them towards the back end of 2024/2025.

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Just three of the 20-year-old’s 12 goals last season came in this calendar year, with Gittens also registering zero assists since the turn of 2025.

While Chelsea chiefs are believed to rate him, BlueCo also must not pay over the odds for him either, even if he’s Dortmund’s most sellable asset, and they’re likely to carry on charging top dollar.

The January transfer window officially slammed shut at the start of this month and it was a fairly busy month for Manchester United, with ins and outs at Old Trafford.

It was Ruben Amorim’s first chance to shape the squad in his vision, after he came in to replace Erik ten Hag, and he added two new players to his squad.

Patrick Dorgu came in on a permanent deal from Lecce to bolster the manager’s options in the wing-back positions, whilst 18-year-old centre-back Ayden Heaven joined from Premier League rivals Arsenal.

The bulk of Manchester United’s business was, however, centred around outgoings as they were able to move on a number of players during the winter window.

Youngsters Dan Gore and Ethan Wheatley both secured loan exits for the second half of the season, whilst Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia, and Antony were also sent away on loan after failing to convince Amorim that they were ready to be important to the team.

The Red Devils, though, already have one eye on the summer transfer window at the end of the campaign, as they have reportedly identified a target to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

Manchester United plotting bid for new striker

Manchester United have struggled to get goals out of their strikers in the Premier League this season. Rasmus Holjund and Joshua Zirkzee have combined for five goals in the top-flight so far.

This shows that Amorim is not getting enough out of his two senior centre-forwards at this moment in time, which may be why the club are now looking to bring in another player in that position.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Manchester United are eyeing up Napoli number nine Victor Osimhen ahead of a summer swoop for the Nigeria international.

The report claims that they are set to make a summer bid for the impressive marskman, who is currently on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray, as they would like to improve their options in the striker position.

It adds that the United board are planning to hold talks over a possible deal for the former Lille centre-forward, as it has been ‘made clear’ that he does not have a future at Napoli beyond the end of his loan spell in Turkey.

GIVEMESPORT adds that the club are also set to make a decision on whether or not to keep hold of Holjund and Zirkzee in the summer window, which suggests that there is still a chance that one, or both, of them could move on ahead of next season.

Transfer Focus

Expand Collapse

The outlet reveals that Osimhen’s release clause at Napoli is set to drop to £63m in the summer, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Red Devils are prepared to bid at that price or if they will look to negotiate a cheaper deal.

Amorim should, though, push for the club to secure a deal for the striker because he could come in as the perfect addition for Amad Diallo next term.

Amad Diallo's form for Manchester United this season

The Ivory Coast international has finally emerged as a regular starter at Old Trafford and has carried the team on his back at times this season with his brilliance at the top end of the pitch.

Amad, who previously spent time on loan at Glasgow Rangers and Sunderland, has racked up nine goals and seven assists in all competitions from a right wing or right wing-back position.

The 22-year-old star has been utilised in a wing-back role by Amorim at times this season and his attacking output in that position has been exceptional, as shown in the chart below.

Amad has proven that he has the quality to provide a big threat in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals, with six goals and six assists in 17 starts in the Premier League so far this season.

The former Atalanta starlet is a striker’s dream because he takes up great positions to be passed to in the final third, whilst also being able to create high-quality chances for his teammates, as shown by his assist tally.

Why Victor Osimhen would be perfect for Amad Diallo

Manchester United could find the perfect centre-forward for Amad by paying £63m to sign Osimhen on a permanent deal from Napoli in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The 26-year-old striker is a proven goalscorer, who can also assist his teammates, and he has showcased his quality in a major European league in Italy, with 15 goals in the Serie A in the 2023/24 campaign and 26 league goals in the previous season.

Osimhen, once dubbed a “monster” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, found the back of the net on a regular basis for Napoli in the Italian top-flight, which suggests that he has the quality to make the most of Amad’s creativity at Old Trafford.

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That has been backed up by his impressive form for Galatasaray on loan in Turkey during the 2024/25 campaign, as he has continued to shine as an exceptional goalscoring force and as a creative presence in the number nine position.

Victor Osimhen (24/25)

Super Lig

Europa League

Appearances

16

6

Shots per game

4.6

7.0

Goals

12

5

Big chances created

10

1

Assists

4

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Osimhen has racked up an eye-catching 17 goals and 11 ‘big chances’ created in 22 appearances for the Turkish giants.

He is perfect for Amad because he can finish the chances that the winger creates whilst also being able to assist the Ivorian star with his own creativity, as also evidenced by his relationship with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at Napoli.

The former Napoli duo were both directly involved in the same goal 15 times in 50 matches in the Serie A, which shows that Osimhen can create a fantastic relationship with a winger who can also score and assist goals at an impressive rate.

Therefore, the Nigerian marksman could come in as the perfect signing for Amad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, which is why United must splash the cash to land his signature in the summer transfer window.

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Everton suffered a shocking start to the campaign, with four straight defeats to open the 2024/25 Premier League season, but Sean Dyche has found some respite in his side’s recent upswing in form.

Victory over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park was followed by successive draws against Leicester City and Newcastle United before the current international break, but there’s still plenty to do before the 16th-placed side steer safely away from the drop zone.

Everton’s Forthcoming PL Fixtures

Date

Opponent

League Position

19/10/24

Ipswich Town (A)

17th

26/10/24

Fulham (H)

8th

02/11/24

Southampton (H)

19th

09/11/24

West Ham (A)

12th

23/11/24

Brentford (H)

11th

If the Toffees fall back into a struggling spell, it could have dire consequences for Dyche, who was skating on the thinnest of ice only a few weeks ago.

Why Sean Dyche could be sacked

Dyche might have lifted Everton out of the Premier League relegation zone but many supporters will feel that the short rise in form might just prove to be a stay of execution.

Though the 53-year-old manager recently revealed that he has been unbothered by the din surrounding Goodison Park and his place at the helm, there has indeed been noise, with the Friedkin Group’s proposed takeover from Farhad Moshiri opening up further speculation that he will be replaced.

Who to bring in, though? Graham Potter and former boss David Moyes are both out of employment, but perhaps TFG would wish to delve down a different and more ambitious road, with Football Insider confirming that Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has been linked with the job.

The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur gaffer is an infamous figure in English football – Moyes has hailed him as a “serial winner” in the past – and while it would seem unlikely that he’d be brought in, it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

Friedkin will want to hit the ground running on Merseyside and ensure that Everton move away from the threat of relegation and then make headway in the Premier League, moving up to the upper end of the table.

Why Jose Mourinho could succeed at Everton

Mourinho replacing Dyche in the dugout at Goodison Park this season does seem like a far-fetched rumour, especially since he’s only been in a job at Fenerbahce since June of this year.

It’s been a decent start: Sarı Kanaryalar are fourth in the Turkish Super Lig but only two points off second-placed Samsunspor – albeit six points adrift from table-toppers Galatasaray, who have completed an imperious start to the campaign.

But wait. Might there actually be a grain of sense within this rumour? Everton could, frankly, spend the 2024/25 campaign battling against relegation, and systematically revamping the playing style might cause more harm than good.

In Mourinho, Dyche’s “direct and defensive” system would be superseded by the more flexible approach that the ‘special one’ employs.

While Mourinho might have garnered something of a reputation for rigid, deep-sitting football, the truth is that he implements different variations of the same whole depending on the club and its situation – for example, his trophy-laden spells with Real Madrid and Porto were characterised by attacking, in-your-face styles.

But a more pragmatic approach is what would be needed on Merseyside, and after Everton found such success in protecting Jordan Pickford’s goal across the 2023/24 campaign, Mourinho might be the perfect option to take what Dyche has built and upgrade it, fashion it into something even more.

Premier League 23/24: Most Clean Sheets

Rank

Club

Clean sheets

1.

Arsenal

18

2.

Manchester City

13

2.

Everton

13

4.

Liverpool

10

4.

Newcastle United

10

4.

Fulham

10

4.

Crystal Palace

10

Stats via Premier League

After all, with Mourinho pulling the strings, Jarrad Branthwaite might take the next step in his development and realise his world-class credentials.

Mourinho would make Jarrad Branthwaite a "monster"

Analyst Ben Mattinson hailed Branthwaite as a “beast” of a centre-half last season after he returned to Merseyside after a successful loan spell in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven, starting 35 Premier League matches and winning 68% of his duels, also averaging 4.5 clearances and 5.2 ball recoveries per match, as per Sofascore.

Broad-shouldered and imposing, the 22-year-old has an exciting future ahead of him and has already attracted interest from some of Europe’s heavyweights, with Manchester United failing with a series of official bids this summer.

Mourinho, who to this day boasts the Premier League record for fewest goals conceded in a season (15, with title-winning Chelsea in 2004/05), could turn Branthwaite into an “absolute monster”, a reputation that some analysts already believe he holds, such as talent scout Jacek Kulig.

There’s a distinguishable aggressiveness to Branthwaite’s game – although it’s not to a fault. As per FBref, he ranks inside the top 25% of recordable defensive metrics that the site presents, highlighting his robustness and energy.

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It would go down a treat under Mourinho, who could refine and lift some of his more negative attributes – such as a lack of passing accuracy.

Branthwaite might not rank highly for pass completion and progressive passes, but then he’s performing in Dyche’s counter-attacking and deep-lying system and this precludes the kind of ball-playing success that other defenders are able to achieve, thus distorting the metrics.

He’s technically proficient and this could be lifted even higher under Mourinho, whose defensive qualities might look to be the 61-year-old’s bread and butter from a tactical standpoint but does not negate the technical ability and intelligence of his tactical plans – after all, he’s one of the most decorated managers in history.

If the Friedkin Group are serious about turning Everton toward a new age, perhaps this is the managerial move to make. A statement of intent.

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Aston Villa could be set to take advantage of another club's misfortune this summer as they look to bolster their ranks with a raid of a heartbroken Leeds United, it has emerged.

Emery pens new deal as summer plans begin

After a historic Premier League season for the Villans in which they ensured their return to the Champions League for the first time since the 1980s, they have moved fast to reward Unai Emery for his achievements. The club announced that the Spaniard had penned a new five-year deal at Villa Park on Monday, warding off interest from clubs across Europe in the process.

"I am very happy to take this step and the responsibility of leading this club", Emery explained.

“Since I came to Villa with Wes and Nassef we found always the best environment and structure to develop a project with the highest ambition.

“All the football structure with Monchi and Damian and the owners, we share the same vision and same goals. There’s a great chemistry in Aston Villa. And the element of the fans’ support also makes the difference to feel like home. We are really excited to continue this journey with no limits to our dreams.”

It comes just a month after a previous extension in his contract had been triggered, and now allows the club to turn their attentions to on the pitch additions. To that end, they have already taken advantage of one club's misfortune as they close in on signing Ross Barkley from Luton Town in the wake of his side being relegated on the final day of the season. Now, they could be set to repeat their trick.

Villa keeping tabs on Leeds star

That comes as Aston Villa lurk over a potential move for Leeds star Crysencio Summerville, who is almost certain to leave the club this summer following their failure to get promoted back to the Premier League.

£15,000 per week Summerville, who was named Championship player of the season for his efforts at Elland Road, has attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs and is expected to make the step up ahead of the new campaign.

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Initially valued at around £40m, that tag may drop as the summer wears on thanks to Leeds United's financial position. The Whites need to raise around £73.5m just to pay off outstanding transfer fees, and it has previously been claimed that Leeds will need to raise upwards of £100m this summer through player sales alone, something that Summerville's departure is certain to contribute to.

Summerville's impressive Championship season

Appearances

43

Goals

19

Assists

9

Shots on target per 90

1.18

And the Birmingham Mail claim that Villa are "tracking" the Dutchman as they look to take advantage of any financial issues and potentially bag a bargain as they grapple with their own financial fair play concerns.

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Able to offer Champions League football and potential regular first team action, Emery's side could well be a enticing option for Summerville, but should Leeds hold firm on their asking price then a deal may become difficult to complete.

Sunderland are believed to have identified an "amazing" player as their "top" target in the January transfer window, according to an update from journalist Alan Nixon.

Sunderland transfer news

The Black Cats will feel that they are right in the Championship promotion mix currently, finding themselves seventh in the table and only outside the playoff places on goal difference.

Michael Beale's reign is still in its infancy, however, with the Englishman replacing Tony Mowbray as manager last month, and he may feel that he needs to bring in players who can suit his style of play in the January transfer window, in order for his team to have the chance to making it back into the Premier League.

Sunderland have been linked with a host of different attacking players recently, including Barnsley forward John McAtee, who they are looking to sign ahead of fellow Championship side Ipswich Town. Blackburn Rovers attacker Sam Gallagher is also seen as a target for the Black Cats, and he is seen as a good alternative for Bournemouth ace Kieffer Moore.

It would certainly be a surprise if the club failed to complete a single signing in the whole of January, and a fresh update has outlined which individual is wanted by them more than most.

Sunderland want Kieffer Moore

According to reliable reporter Nixon on X [via Sunderland News], Sunderland see Bournemouth striker Moore as a top transfer target in January.

He is thought to be at the "top of the list" when it comes to reinforcements this month, as Beale looks to complete some important business to aid his side's promotion chances, with no bid made for Gallagher due to their desire to land Moore.

Moore could be a fantastic addition by Sunderland this month, possessing so much experience at the top level, including playing for Wales at major tournaments, scoring 12 goals in 40 caps for his country in the process. The 31-year-old is someone who has been valued by so many of his managers down the years, and former Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy once lauded his quality as a player, saying:

"He's been terrific. Not only that, when he's not scored he has been on the pitch almost every minute of every game. The shift he puts in every week is amazing. We have not got a direct replacement for him, so he has played all the games. Testimony to that is that he knows we haven't got a direct replacement and he knows he is going to play all the games, but he doesn't take his foot off the gas, he keeps going."

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Moore is an attacking player who could give Sunderland that extra bit of firepower between now and the end of the season, with his physicality and aerial presence a nightmare for defenders to handle at times, and he will surely be keen to get more playing time away from Bournemouth.

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His aforementioned international pedigree speaks volumes about his ability, and he has also netted 47 times in 155 Championship appearances, showing what a force he can be in the division.

Southampton splashed the cash on deadline day as they snapped up Ross Stewart from Sunderland for an initial fee of £8m, which could rise to £12m including add-ons.

Who are Southampton's most expensive striker signings?

The Saints have not been afraid to lavish out big fees in order to find a consistent number nine to bolster their attacking options over the years.

They will now be hoping that the former Black Cats star does not follow in the footsteps of a certain Guido Carrillo, who turned out to be a huge flop at St. Mary's after his move to the club under Mauricio Pellegrino.

Top five signings (excluding Carrillo)

Fee paid (via Transfermark)

Danny Ings

£21.6m

Paul Onuachu

£15.5m

Adam Armstrong

£15.2m

Manolo Gabbiadini

£14.6m

Che Adams

£14.4m

The club have had mixed success with their recruitment at the top end of the pitch over the years but the signing of Carrillo was a particularly poor piece of business, all things considered.

How much did Southampton pay for Guido Carrillo?

Southampton signed the centre-forward from French side AS Monaco for a club-record £19m fee in January of 2018 in an attempt to find a reliable scorer.

The striker had worked with Pellegrino, who was the manager at the time, at Argentine club Estudiantes and the club decided to back their head coach by securing a record deal for Carrillo, with vice-chairman Les Reed stating that he was confident that the player would benefit the Saints for "years" to come.

It was reported that the Argentine boss made a number nine signing a priority after £75m was raked in from Liverpool for central defender Virgil van Dijk, which provided him with the funds to splash out on a big addition.

However, it was a strange move for Southampton to make as Carrillo was 26 and had yet to prove himself to be a consistent or reliable goalscorer.

Football Transfers rated his Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at €13.1m (£11.2m) at the time of the move, which suggests that they paid far above the going rate to secure his services.

The £19m signing arrived off the back of just 15 goals and four assists in 65 Ligue 1 matches for Monaco. He had joined the French side after scoring 40 goals in 140 appearances for Estudiantes in his home country.

During the first half of the 2017/18 campaign, the 6 foot 2 forward scored only four goals and created zero 'big chances' for his teammates in 15 league outings for Monaco.

That came after the towering striker plundered seven goals and one assist in 19 Ligue 1 matches for his former club throughout the 2016/17 season.

These statistics show that Southampton signed a relatively experienced player who had yet to find his scoring boots on a regular basis at senior level.

They were gambling on him finally developing into a consistent scorer whilst being able to adapt to English and Premier League football. That turned out to be an expensive gamble that did not work out.

How many goals did Carrillo score for Southampton?

The Argentine ended up playing just ten matches in all competitions for the Saints and did not find the back of the net on a single occasion.

Pellegrino handed him seven Premier League appearances during the second half of the 2017/18 campaign, which included five starts, but he was unable to hit the ground running at St. Mary's with zero goals and zero 'big chances' created.

Carrillo only completed 66% of his attempted passes and lost 63% of his duels throughout those top-flight matches for the club, as per Sofascore, an indication that he struggled with the quality and physicality of the division.

The former Monaco marksman did not provide a goal threat, did not create for his teammates, was not a reliable passing option through the middle of the pitch, and was dominated by opposition players from a physical perspective.

Pellegrino was sacked in March 2018 and his replacement, Mark Hughes, opted to send Carrillo out on loan to LaLiga outfit Leganes for the 2018/19 campaign.

The Argentine finisher spent two seasons on loan with the Spanish outfit and contributed with ten goals and two assists in 60 appearances for the club.

How did Carrillo leave Southampton?

Southampton eventually decided to cut ties with the £19m flop as they released him on a free transfer in the summer of 2020, two-and-a-half-years after his club-record move to the club from Monaco.

Journalist Josh Bunting described it as a "disappointing" situation for the Saints as they received £0 back off their initial £19m investment on the striker.

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It was a howler of a move by Reed and Pellegrino in 2018 as they gambled on a player who had shown few signs of being ready to take the Premier League by storm after his struggles in France.

The warning signs were there and it turned out that they should have been heeded as Carrillo went on to flop in England and left for nothing after failing to score a single goal for the club.

Where is Carrillo now?

He is currently back playing for Estudiantes in Argentina at the age of 32 and has scored five goals in 27 games since making the move earlier this year.

Football Transfers currently rates his xTV at just €1.5m (£1.3m), a whopping £17.7m less than the fee that Southampton paid to secure his signature at the start of 2018.

He has not proven his worth since departing the Saints on a free transfer which only goes to emphasise the disaster that played out regarding Carrillo during his time in England.

Reed seemingly trusted Pellegrino's opinion on the centre-forward, as he had already worked with the ex-Monaco man in Argentina, and was willing to spend a huge sum of money off the back of his thoughts, despite the statistics not backing it up.

It ended up being a costly howler and Russell Martin will be hoping that Stewart does not go down the same route over the years to come.

The head of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau has claimed that fans will have a say in whether or not current Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro will stay in charge.

Why will fans have a say in the next Nigeria manager?

The former Porto and Sporting Lisbon manager took over back in May 2022, and it was claimed then that he would have a potentially hard time winning over supporters.

Indeed, BBC Sports writer Oluwashina Okeleji noted: "Peseiro will need to surpass his predecessor's achievement to win over demanding fans in Nigeria."

This was because the country's last foreign boss, Gernot Rohr, departed as the Super Eagles' longest-serving manager after taking charge in 2016 and leading Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup and a third-place finish at the 2019 Nations Cup.

Well, Peseiro has managed to secure qualification for next year's Africa Cup of Nations but they didn't manage to make it to the 2022 World Cup. What's more, with four wins and fives losses since, he has been criticised by local media and fans for what some "poor team selections and colourless performances".

That is according to Okeleji again, who once more is reporting for BBC Sport. This new article then quotes the NFF head who explains why fans will have a say in the coach's future.

Speaking interview on the Gbamm! LovingFootball radio show, Gusau explained: "We have the plan to push the votes to Nigerians to hear their views and thoughts.

"We've tried the foreign coaches and also the local coaches, and it seems they were having some kind of problems.

"Maybe we didn't get it right in the area of getting the right person.

"We are surely going to push it to the public, whether we should continue with Peseiro or he should go."

What happened with Jose Peseiro's Nigeria wages?

The report claims that his contract with the NFF expires on 30 June, so this situation should be resolved pretty soon.

However, it remains unclear just how desperate Peseiro will be to stay in the job. After all, back in November – six months after being appointed – it was reported that he had yet to receive a single pay cheque from his employers. Even so, the 63-year-old didn't make an official complaint to the NFF at the time.

Once more, as per BBC Sport, Gusau claimed his

organisation will only pick the best man for the job and nationality will not be a factor.

He added: "Whether we are going to consider an indigenous coach, we are also going to push that to Nigerians on the phone.

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"The public will tell us if they think going for a Nigerian will be best for Nigeria at the moment or we appoint another foreign coach.

"We will get their views, look at it and then we will do what we have to do as a board and come out with a decision."

Luke Edwards took to Twitter to share his disgust at an opportunity squandered by Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson in the first-half of today’s Premier League clash.

The Lowdown: Another frustrating result for Newcastle

It was heartbreak for Eddie Howe’s men as they went fell to a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City after Phil Foden’s first-half goal and Bernardo Silva’s second not long after being introduced.

The Magpies did not perform too badly, enjoying spells of possession but they just weren’t able to create enough opportunities as they ended the match with a rather disappointing five shots to their name.

The Latest: A costly Callum Wilson miss

It’s safe to say that the Newcastle faithful weren’t the only ones annoyed with the a certain opportunity in the first-half, as Telegraph reporter Luke Edwards took to his personal Twitter account to show his dismay as Callum Wilson fluffed a golden opportunity, calling his miss ‘woeful’.

He said: “A quite frankly woeful effort from Wilson when set up perfectly by Trippier”.

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The Verdict: A cause for concern for Newcastle

It really was a day to forget for Callum Wilson. He ended up being hooked off in the 63rd minute, registering just one shot which was off target, having just 14 touches, a passing accuracy percentage of just 60 and lost possession six times (Sofascore).

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Ever since the World Cup, Newcastle fans just haven’t seen the same Wilson, with just one goal to his name in his last 11 appearances in all competitions (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, both Wilson and the Toon must now put this defeat to one side and concentrate on the battle to finish in the top four in the Premier League, as their recent run of results have allowed Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur to get deeper into the mix.

Former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has delivered his verdict on how Martin Zubimendi has taken to life at the Emirates Stadium.

Gunners off to a flying start to the season

After coming second in the Premier League three years on the spin, Mikel Arteta identified the need to strengthen his squad considerably in the summer transfer window, and spent heavily, bolstering his options in a number of key areas.

Viktor Gyokeres was arguably the statement signing, amid widespread demand for Arteta to bring in a new striker, and the Sweden international is off to a solid, if not spectacular start, having scored three goals in his opening seven league games.

Folllowing the departure of Thomas Partey, it was also vital to strengthen in midfield, and Zubimendi was among the most notable additions, with the Spain international starting six of the seven Premier League games up to this point.

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As such, the Spaniard has clearly managed to impress Arteta, and he has also caught the eye of Gilberto Silva, despite the Brazilian admitting he wasn’t aware of who he was before the Gunners finalised a summer deal.

Zubimendi establishing himself as key player for Arsenal

It is no surprise that Arteta has started the Spain international so consistently, considering he has put in some fantastic performances in the Premier League, averaging a 7.33 SofaScore match rating, the second-highest figure of any Arsenal player.

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The 26-year-old also won the Guinness Goal of the Month award for September, courtesy of a phenomenal strike in the 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest, during which he scored two goals in one game for the first time in his career.

There were some concerns that Zubimendi’s new midfield partner, Rice, may have been ruled out due to injury, but the 26-year-old featured in England’s 3-0 victory over Wales, meaning he looks on course to be available for the trip to Fulham next weekend.