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Liverpool have been so vulnerable this season, with Arne Slot having struggled to come up with solutions to opposition set-ups and his own squad’s staggering capitulation, having dominated and cantered toward the Premier League title last season.

To say Virgil van Dijk’s backline has been leaky would be an understatement, and that is the crux of the Reds’ troubles, their form the stuff of relegation, two wins from ten in the top flight.

However, the defenders aren’t solely to blame, with Liverpool lacking creativity and sparkle in the final third.

The form of Alexander Isak has been a particular concern, with the Sweden international having endured a slow and stodgy start to the season, months into a British-record £125m transfer that secured for the club “the best striker in the centre-forward” in England last season “by a country mile”, as had been said by pundit Ally McCoist.

The latest on Alexander Isak's fitness

It’s not been plain sailing for Isak since forcing a record-breaking move to Merseyside on transfer deadline day. In fact, the 26-year-old has only scored twice across all competitions, and once in the Premier League.

Injuries and missing out on pre-season have stunted his seasonal development, and Slot issued an unwelcome update on Friday morning: Isak picked up a knock at the San Siro, and he may be sidelined for the Anfield clash against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon.

This is just the latest in a growing line of setbacks. Liverpool signed Isak for six years, but the fact remains that more would have been expected from such a world-class talent at this stage.

Indeed, few would have expected Isak to have flattered to deceive as he has so far this season. Regardless of Liverpool’s crisis, this is a proven and world-class striker; he tore defences apart last season, including Liverpool’s, and on multiple occasions at that.

Isak only had four goals for Newcastle at this stage last season. Food for thought. And he’s not the only one who’s struggled since making his summer move to Merseyside, with a fellow recruit having left everything to be desired so far.

Liverpool signed a bigger problem than Isak

Like Isak, Jeremie Frimpong has been plagued by injury problems since joining Liverpool this summer, but unlike Isak, he has been sidelined for a longer spell, and there is less optimism that he will pick himself up and become a major player for the Anfield side.

Sporting director Richard Hughes activated Frimpong’s £29.5m release clause at Bayer Leverkusen at the start of the summer, bringing to Merseyside one of the fastest right-siders in the game, hailed as “a monster” in the attacking third by The United Stand’s Beth Tucker.

However, the Netherlands man, 25, has only started once in the Premier League this season due to injury, and this is a concern given he had navigated through his years in Germany without any detrimental fitness setbacks.

Isak has been a worry for Slot’s side, but he has also proven himself in the harsh English climate, one of the best in the world. Frimpong, however, is more of an unknown, and the £100k-per-week star’s first few months at Liverpool have hardly been propitious.

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Moreover, Frimpong’s preference to play in a wing-back role could see him struggle to find his feet in his best position.

Jeremie Frimpong – Career Stats by Position

Position

Apps

Goals + Assists

Right wing-back

140

26 + 35

Right-back

133

7 + 20

Left-back

18

1 + 2

Right wing

5

3 + 0

Attacking midfield

4

0 + 0

Data via Transfermarkt

The issue: Liverpool do not use a system which employs wing-backs, and Frimpong perhaps lacks the economy of strength and the awareness to nail down a starting berth as Liverpool’s right-back in the Premier League.

For example, he only won 44% of his duels in the Bundesliga last year. Liverpool correspondent Dominic King noted this week that the Dutchman “has not had a great start” to life back in England, and with Conor Bradley and even Dominik Szoboszlai as his positional rivals, Frimpong might have a tough time establishing himself at the club, even when back to full fitness.

Could it be that he is simply not a stylistic fit? Liverpool have a host of problems they need to fix, and with Mohamed Salah’s future uncertain, the signing of a new right-sided forward would deepen Frimpong’s struggles, leaving him struggling to show FSG that they have got bang for their buck.

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Posts 2 ByAngus Sinclair

Manchester United hit their nadir last season, but Ruben Amorim is a stoic sort and has knuckled down and made tentative progress with the Premier League giants.

Maybe the Portuguese tactician was a little too frank during interviews, but at least he understands where the cracks lie for the Old Trafford side, who finished 15th in the league and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

There have been positives throughout the Premier League Summer Series in America, for sure, but the Red Devils still have improvements to be made, irrespective of who might be welcomed to the fold.

Saying that, the recent draw against Everton corroborated Amorim’s desire for a new midfielder, with Manuel Ugarte flattering to deceive.

Why Man Utd need to replace Manuel Ugarte

Ugarte, 24, joined Man United from Paris Saint-Germain last summer in a deal rising to £50.5m. Last season, he left much to be desired, but did feature 45 times across all competitions, scoring twice and laying on six assists.

Man United showed some promise against the Toffees, but Vitalii Mykolenko dispossessed Ugarte in in the build-up to Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half goal, leading Bruno Fernandes to claim that his team “looked a bit lazy” at times.

Much has been made of United’s need for a focal frontman, but with Casemiro getting on, a secure and confident midfield anchor is equally as crucial to the success of the project.

That’s why INEOS are weighing up a move for Atalanta’s Ederson. As per TEAMtalk, the Brazilian could be available for around £52m this summer, which makes him the most expensive man on United’s midfield shortlist.

But there’s a reason for that. Man United have a ‘long-standing interest’ in Ederson, and if it proves financially viable, he could complete a midfield that needs reinforcing.

Why Man Utd want to sign Ederson

Ederson is a 26-year-old midfielder who has established himself as one of the best in the business over in Italy. Across 139 appearances in all competitions, he has scored 13 goals and supplied four assists.

Hailed as a “machine” of a midfielder by reporter Carlo Garganese, this is exactly the kind of hardy, dynamic player that Amorim needs to welcome to his squad, should he wish to return to European competition and challenge for silverware at the Old Trafford helm.

Instrumental in winning the Europa League in 2023, Ederson has the strength, self-belief and roundedness to succeed under Amorim’s wing in the Premier League, with the right balance in his performances to nestle into the United centre, acting as a tough-tackling six but also a progressive force.

League Stats 24/25 – Ederson vs Manuel Ugarte

Stats (* per game)

Ederson

Ugarte

Matches (starts)

37 (32)

29 (22)

Goals

4

1

Assists

1

2

Touches*

65.9

43.2

Pass completion

87%

89%

Big chances created

6

3

Key passes*

1.1

0.3

Dribbles*

0.6

0.6

Ball recoveries*

5.0

4.2

Tackles + interceptions*

2.3

3.6

Duels won*

4.9 (56%)

5.0 (53%)

Data via Sofascore

On the surface level, it doesn’t look like Ugarte did all that badly across his first Premier League campaign, but he’s susceptible to a poor error of lapse of focus, with one Man United content creator online even saying he “is frightened to death of passing forward.”

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No such problem for Ederson, who ranked among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Though Amorim and INEOS will continue to push ahead with a deal for a new number nine, this one could prove to be equally important.

Described by Italian journalist Damiano Er Faina to be “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world”, Man United might just hit the jackpot if they push ahead and complete their midfield with his many-faceted player.

The powers that be at Celtic made a huge call in the recent January transfer window when they sanctioned a move away from Parkhead for Kyogo Furuhashi.

He had racked up 85 goals in 165 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, proving himself to be a reliable goalscorer for the club over several seasons.

However, Ligue 1 side Rennes came in with an offer of £10m to sign the 30-year-old centre-forward and that was enough for the Hoops to decide to cash in on the Japan international.

Kyogo, who scored 34 goals in the 2022/23 campaign, left big boots to fill as the main man for goals for the Scottish Premiership leaders when he completed his move to France earlier this year.

Celtic, however, have not missed his presence in the number nine position because fellow Japan international Daizen Maeda has stepped up in his absence.

How Daizen Maeda has become the new Kyogo

The 27-year-old attacker has spent the majority of his career at Parkhead playing on either the left or the right flank, starting 120 matches in all competitions in those positions.

Whilst the majority of his appearances this season have also been in those two roles, Maeda has also started seven games as a centre-forward in the absence of Kyogo this term – scoring a staggering 12 goals in those matches.

He has showcased his positional flexibility and his quality at the top end of the pitch with his terrific performances on the wing and as a number nine, as the Japanese dynamo has emerged as the main man for goals at Parkhead.

Maeda has racked up an impressive haul of 28 goals and nine assists in 42 appearances in all competitions for Celtic so far this season, which shows that he has posed a constant threat to opposition defenders as either a winger or a striker.

Celtic’s top scorers

24/25 Premiership

xG

Goals

xG differential

Daizen Maeda

11.5

13

+1.5

Kyogo Furuhashi

14.14

10

-4.14

Nicolas Kuhn

9.32

10

+0.68

Arne Engels

8.76

9

+0.24

Adam Idah

10.28

8

-2.28

Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, he is the top scorer for the Hoops in the Premiership this season and has outperformed his xG by more than any of the other top five scorers in the division.

You can also see that he has scored three more goals than Kyogo managed before his departure, despite having almost three less Expected Goals, which speaks to how ruthless he has been in the final third.

Maeda has, therefore, become the new and improved Kyogo for Celtic by leading the way as the go-to man for goals for Brendan Rodgers this season.

The Hoops did not have to go and sign a new player to replace the Rennes striker and they may not have to sign a new player when it comes to eventually replacing Maeda in the future, but his replacement seems unlikely to be Daniel Cummings.

Why Daniel Cummings is not a future star for Celtic

The exciting 18-year-old centre-forward has been making waves in the academy this season with his incredibly prolific performances for the B team.

Cummings, who made his first-team debut against Aston Villa in the Champions League earlier this year, has racked up a staggering 29 goals in 31 matches across the Lowland League and the UEFA Youth League.

The teenage sensation has scored six goals in 12 matches for the Youth League side and 38 goals in 54 outings for the B team throughout his career in the academy to date, including 12 goals in 19 Lowland League games last term.

However, Celtic and their supporters may never get to see him fulfill his potential at Parkhead, because his contract expires this summer and it was recently reported that he is in talks with West Ham over a move to the Premier League side.

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This is why the Hoops youngster may not be a future star or a Maeda replacement for Rodgers, as he could be on his way out of the club at the end of the season, but there is another young striker at the club who could emerge as a key player down the road.

Celtic already have their next Daizen Maeda brewing

Celtic have 21-year-old Johnny Kenny on their books and his contract is not due to expire until the summer of 2026, which means that the youngster is set to be at the club next season – barring any summer transfer away from Glasgow.

The Ireland U21 international returned from his loan spell at Shamrock Rovers in January and has featured in five matches off the bench in all competitions to date, registering one assist.

Kenny has, therefore, not had too many opportunities to showcase his quality in a Celtic shirt yet, but his form for Shamrock Rovers in 2024 suggests that the potential is there for him to emerge as a Maeda-esque star for the club in the future.

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The young marksman, who spent the 2023 and 2024 campaigns on loan in Ireland, scored 20 goals in all competitions for his loan club last year, including a return of five goals in six matches in the Conference League.

24/25 Conference League

Johnny Kenny

Starts

6

xG

3.78

Goals

5

Minutes per goal

95

Big chances missed

1

Big chances created

1

Assists

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Kenny was ruthless in front of goal in Europe for Shamrock Rovers, outperforming his xG and only missing one ‘big chance’ in six matches.

He also scored 13 goals in 29 league matches, whilst Maeda has scored 13 goals in 27 Premiership games this term, and this shows that the centre-forward can make an impact domestically and in Europe at the top end of the pitch.

These statistics show that Kenny has already proven himself at senior level, unlike Cummings, but it is now down to the Irish youth international to prove that he can do it in a Celtic jersey.

He has shown that the potential is there for him to be a big goalscoring threat in the number nine position, in domestic football and in Europe, and it is down to him to make the most of any chances that Rodgers gives him to impress, as he could develop into Celtic’s next Maeda up front.

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At the age of 21, there is still plenty of time left for him to develop and improve as a player, and the Hoops can afford to take their time with him, which may also be why losing Cummings to West Ham this summer may not be a disaster – as they already have Kenny.

West Ham United recorded yet another loss, their seventh of the season, as Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge of Leicester for the first time, guiding them to a 3-1 thrashing over the Hammers.

Julen Lopetegui’s side had more of the ball (61% possession), took more shots (31) and generated more xG in the game (3.10).

However, despite the Foxes only having eight shots in the game, they managed to create seven big chances, more than West Ham’s five big chances, which starts to tell the story of how Lopetegui’s side are struggling this season.

West Ham's big pressing issue under Lopetegui

West Ham are conceding 15.8 shots per game this season, the fourth most in the division. Teams are able to carve through the Hammers press with relative ease, due to the spacing between their lines of pressure.

The front four look to press high, aiming to lock off one side of the pitch, and force play down one side. The issue here is the depth of their midfield pivot and back four during this phase of pressure.

Teams are able to easily find the spare man around the West Ham front four, then attack the big space left between the front four and back six (pivot and back four). This pressing scheme is extremely disconnected and is becoming a key issue for the side.

So much so that Lopetgui’s future looks in doubt, and West Ham already look to be assessing their options for his predecessor.

West Ham looking at Italian manager

According to reports from Calciomercato, former Juventus manager, Massimiliano Allegri, is on West Ham’s managerial shortlist should they sack Lopetegui.

Interestingly, the Italian was in London last week to watch Tottenham take on Roma, and he’s allegedly been taking English lessons too. Perhaps this mean he could be lining up a role in England?

The biggest issue with this appointment, however, would be the money involved, as the reports claim Allegri would demand around £6.6m per year, which is double the £3.3m of Lopetegui.

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That being said, he would be a great move for the Irons. The Italian coach was with Juventus from 2021-2024, with his side finishing third in Serie A last campaign.

Playing in a 3-5-2 formation, Allegri’s side conceded just 11.6 shots per game, the sixth lowest in the Serie A last season. This could be the extra defensive unity the Hammers need in order to start getting results.

One man who could benefit from this is winger Jarrod Bowen, who could play as the secondary striker in this 3-5-2 system. Bowen has averaged 2.84 shots per 90 this season, generating 0.19 xG, and scoring 0.31 goals per 90.

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Last season, the England international was scoring 0.47 goals per 90 minutes, and generating 0.35 xG per 90, often playing as a striker for the Hammers.

By unleashing him in a front two, he would have the freedom to drift into wide channels, link play, and make runs in behind, working off of a more physical striker, such as Niclas Füllkrug, who scored his first goal for West Ham in their 3-1 loss against Leicester.

This new role could allow Bowen to thrive, getting the best out of him, and allowing his output to increase, which could go hand in hand with West Ham climbing the table. Other positional changes could see the likes of Mohammed Kudus playing as a wingback, and Edson Alvarez playing as a central centre-back in a back three.

One thing is for sure, change is needed for West Ham, as they drop ever closer to that dreaded relegation zone, and the owners will want to strike before it is too late, looking to get their season back on track.

Related West Ham dud may have cost Lopetegui his job after a 4/10 performance

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Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb

Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli are now considering signing a Tottenham superstar in what would be a pretty ambitious summer swoop, coming after a key departure from the Middle East.

Players who could still leave Tottenham before deadline day

Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga, Eric Dier and Ivan Perisic were the first players to depart Spurs this summer, with their contracts expiring late last month. They were soon followed by former club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele after the club agreed to terminate his deal a year early.

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Ndombele has since joined OGC Nice in Ligue 1, making a return to his homeland on a free deal. Sessegnon is yet to find a new club since leaving Tottenham, while Perisic and Dier remain at Hadjuk Split and Bayern Munich respectively after they both agreed to join their sides on loan in January.

Tanganga also returned to Millwall on a permanent deal after spending last season on a temporary stint at The Den. Wales international Joe Rodon's exit is the only departure which has made Daniel Levy any immediate money back, having re-joined Leeds United in a £10 million move with Archie Gray going in the other direction.

Tottenham's best-performing players in the Premier League last season

Son Heung-min

7.30

James Maddison

7.17

Pedro Porro

7.05

Cristian Romero

7.04

Dejan Kulusevski

7.03

Ratings via WhoScored

Midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has joined Marseille on an initial loan deal, but while it'll start as being a temporary move, the Ligue 1 side are obligated to buy him for around £17 million at the end of next season – with Spurs therefore in line for a windfall next year.

So, plenty of senior players have quit N17, and there could be even more. As first reported by reliable club insider Paul O'Keefe, Girona are in talks with Spurs over signing Bryan Gil, coming after the Spaniard's lack of chances under Ange Postecoglou last season.

Tottenham have also been keen to use Giovani Lo Celso in a swap deal for Jacob Ramsey, putting the Argentine's future into doubt, while AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund are chasing a deal for Emerson Royal.

According to recent reports, Spurs are also willing to entertain bids for Richarlison amid interest from Saudi Arabia, so there could be a few more outgoings on the horizon before deadline day on August 30.

Al-Ahli considering bid for Tottenham superstar Son Heung-min

Few would put superstar player Son Heung-min up for sale, despite his age (32) and contract expiring in under 12 months. The South Korea legend finished last season as Postecoglou's top scorer in all competitions, with 17 goals and 10 assists.

The £190,000-per-week forward is far too crucial to sell this summer, and efforts must be made to tie Son down with a new contract. While it is unlikely that Levy and co will entertain offers, that hasn't stopped Saudi side Al-Ahli from eyeing an ambitious move.

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Indeed, according to journalist Rudy Galetti, Al-Ahli are considering a bid to sign Son from Tottenham this summer, as they look to replace Allan Saint-Maximin – who left for Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce on a season-long loan.

It is unclear just how much the north Londoners would even consider selling for, but it could need to be a serious marquee figure.

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to continue their youthful overhaul as they look to snap up another teenage talent, according to reports.

Tottenham investing in youth

Ange Postecoglou is doing an excellent job in north London, with Champions League qualification still a distinct possibility come the end of the Premier League campaign.

The success is being driven with a youthful side including the likes of Destiny Udogie (21), Pape Matar Sarr (21) and Brennan Johnson (22), while there is a clear transfer policy to sign younger players such as centre-back pairing Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin (both 22).

Permanent signings under Ange Postecoglou

Player

Age

Manor Solomon

24

James Maddison

27

Brennan Johnson

22

Micky van de Ven

22

Guiglielmo Vicario

26

Radu Dragusin

22

Alejo Veliz

20

Ashley Phillips

18

Luka Vuskovic

17

Lucas Bergvall

18

There is an even greater effort being made behind the scenes too, with the club looking to secure plenty of young talent for the longer term. This season alone, they have added Alejo Veliz (20), Ashley Phillips (18) and Luka Vuskovic (17).

Their major achievement, however, was beating Barcelona to the signing of Swedish star Lucas Bergvall, signing the teenager for £8.5m in January, with the midfielder set to make the north London switch in the summer of 2024. It is understood that there were five bids for his services, including Barca and a bid from the Bundesliga, but that Spurs ultimately prevailed.

Though there is plenty of transfer work on the senior side likely to be done too, Tottenham technical director Johan Lange outlined the plan for the years to come in north London.

"We want to be a destination for the best young talent out there and that can be talent coming into our academy in the foundation phase, or later and being developed in the academy, or in this case with Lucas it can be a player that we decide to try to see if we can buy them from a club abroad, in this case Djurgarden", he explained.

Spurs trying to beat Spanish pair for 18 y/o sensation

Now, Spurs could be set to repeat their Bergvall success and snatch another player out of Barcelona's hands, this time one that they already own. The player in question is youngster Dani Rodriguez, who is also thought to be being chased by Athletic Bilbao. The 18-year-old winger is out of contract this summer, though there is some confusion over whether Barcelona have an extension option in the current deal (as reported by transfermarkt).

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As per Sport Witness, however, he appears certain to leave Barcelona this summer and it had been Atletico Bilbao that were most confident of securing his signature. But Tottenham's arrival on the scene has doused their hopes of landing the teenager, and they add that 'they’re not confident' of beating the north London side to his signature should it come to it, with both Spanish sides now fearing missing out.

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For their part, his potential departure is understood to be 'causing lots of worry' at Barcelona, with Rodriguez having started all seven of their UEFA youth league games and grabbing four goals and three assists in the process. Clearly a prodigious talent, his acquisition would be another major coup for Postecoglou's side in the wake of Bergvall's arrival, and would continue their impressive youth policy of the last few months.

West Ham United are seemingly interested in a replacement for Michail Antonio. Although the Jamaican international has certainly left a mark on the Premier League following his dramatic ascent through the divisions, the 33-year-old's consistency has sometimes left fans with a lot to be desired.

Who could replace Michail Antonio?

Antonio has enjoyed an intriguing West Ham career – with 100 direct goal involvements in 237 Premier League games, and last season's Conference League victory capping his spell in east London. However, with transition for the Hammers, an aging Antonio debatably doesn't strike the same fear he used to, as he netted just five league goals last term.

Close

So who could be his replacement at the London Stadium? Well, TEAMtalk has suggested Bayer Leverkusen's Adam Hlozek as an eye-catching heir. An even more imposing figure is cut by VFB Stuttgart's revelation Serhou Guirassy – whose ridiculous 14 goals in just eight Bundesliga games this term has had heads turning all around Europe. Today's focus though, doesn't come from Germany.

Instead rather, we move over the western border to the Netherlands as AZ Alkmaar's Greek forward Vangelis Pavlidis is the latest name to be tipped as a potential successor.

How good is Vangelis Pavlidis?

Ever-improving and ever-prolific since his switch to Eredivisie football in 2019, the 24-year-old has all the makings of a stalwart striker in any of the 'top five' leagues.

The Greek front man at Alkmaar initially got his formative start at VFL Bochum and then BVB Dortmund II, yet Holland was where the 'under the radar' goal rush started when he moved to Willem II on loan (and then permanently) in 2019.

At the Tilburg side, Pavlidis notched a total of 33 goals in 82 games. 28 of those came in 73 Eredivisie outings before he was snatched up by Alkmaar in July 2021.

41 goals in just 67 league games has the 6 foot 1 Greek propelling Alkmaar consistently near the top of the table. This season alone, a jaw-dropping (and improved) 13 goals in nine have helped them fly to second place. West Ham have moved along speculation by going to watch the Greek in his latest headliner performance.

How good could Vangelis Pavlidis be?

Goals are all well and good when underlining a striker's raw ability in front of goal, of course. But what about the more in-depth numbers when compared to similar strikers at his level?

Close

FBref provides a sparkling scouting report of Pavlidis, especially when compared to Porto's Mehdi Teremi, Sporting's Viktor Gyökeres and PSV's Luuk de Jong. When looking over a stat report littered with green – Pavlidis notably brings 0.80 non-penalty goals per 90 (ranking in top 2% among his European peers).

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His non-penalty xG is 0.54 per 90, which puts him in the top 6% percentile and even better – combining this with creating for teammates, his npxG + xAG (Assisted Goals) comes in at 0.74 – which lands him in the top 3% percentile.

Near-malleable in nature to his team's attack, it's hard to see a player of his ability not adapt to a greater challenge. Even if he didn't produce goals in the PL in a prospective move to the Irons, 29.57 passes per 90 (top 6%) and 2.75 progressive passes (top 11%) create space and chances for others. Pavlidis could really open the offensive floor for teammates – he causes havoc with 6.96 touches in the opposition area per 90 (top 1%).

The Greek wonder could be a well needed wrecking ball for Moyes' side, ensuring that with Antonio potentially set to be on his way sooner rather than later, the Scotsman can acquire a dream replacement.

Chelsea have now joined the race to sign Real Betis defender Luiz Felipe, who could be brought in to replace Wesley Fofana, though he is also a target for West Ham United, according to reports from Spain.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

Fofana is at risk of missing the majority of the upcoming season due to a serious knee injury, and Mauricio Pochettino has now confirmed that he could enter the market for a new defender to replace the Frenchman, saying:

We feel all so sad. All we can do is help him. After that, because he is a player that is important for the team and the squad. "Of course we now need to think and see if we keep as we are, or if we need to work to maybe add some players.”

The Blues have previously identified a number of centre-back targets, who they could now decide to make a move for, with Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio being named as a potential option at the beginning of this month.

Juventus' Gleison Bremer could also be a target, though there may be competition for his signature from rivals Tottenham Hotspur, with Ange Postecoglou keen on signing the Brazilian.

According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), Chelsea have now joined the race to sign Felipe, who could be brought in as a replacement for Fofana, with Pochettino including the Italian's name in his list of targets.

West Ham have already held talks with the 26-year-old's agent, and the La Liga side are waiting for them to make an official offer, however, the Hammers have delayed making their first move, allowing the Blues to enter the race for his signature.

Reports from earlier this month stated that the defender is valued at around €20m (£17m), meaning he would be an affordable option for Pochettino this summer.

How good is Luiz Felipe?

With Fofana suffering a long-term injury, it is clear that Pochettino will need to bring in a replacement, and the Real Betis star could be a good replacement, given the level of some of his performances over the past year.

The Brazil-born centre-back has averaged 2.39 blocks per 90, placing him in the 99th percentile compared to his positional peers, while he also ranks in the 95th percentile for clearances per 90, having averaged 5.40 during the same time period.

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Lauded as "excellent" by members of the media, the Italy international also ranks in the 76th percentile for interceptions, but some of his other attributes leave a lot to be desired, particularly his ability in the air, as well as his passing.

The former Lazio man also has problems with his discipline, receiving three red cards over the course of seven matches last season, which will be a concern for Pochettino.

That said, at the price of just £17m, Felipe would still be a worthwhile signing for Chelsea, and they should now move swiftly to secure his signature ahead of the new campaign before West Ham re-enter the race.

Arsenal will be looking to address three key areas in the summer transfer window after their attention turns from the Premier League title.

What do Arsenal want to sign in the summer?

The Gunners were handed a slight blow to their pursuit of the Premier League title over the weekend in their clash at Anfield against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta's men had taken a 2-0 lead inside the first half and were looking comfortable to take all three points away from Merseyside.

However, the momentum changed dramatically and left the Gunners hanging on to what turned out to be a valuable point on the road.

Although eyes are firmly set on getting their hands on the title, it seems as if there are already some plans in place for the upcoming summer transfer window.

Indeed, speaking to GiveMeSport, insider Dean Jones has provided his information on the three key positions which Edu Gaspar will be looking to add to over the coming months:

"The Gunners will also look to sign a full-back, a young and emerging central midfielder, and an exciting wide forward," said Jones.

"Last week we revealed how Ridle Baku of Wolfsburg was a player that recruitment staff had started to keep a close eye on. That came on the back of Arsenal’s need for a right back being magnified by an injury to Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery."

Can Arsenal improve over the summer?

Coming up against a squad as strong as Manchester City's, any side that attempts to put forward a solid title charge will need to be almost perfect throughout the campaign.

Arsenal have not been too far off that this season with only three defeats to their name throughout the course of the league campaign.

One of those did come against Pep Guardiola's side which may provide some with an indication that they are not quite yet at the level of City in terms of their squad depth.

But it has to be remembered Arsenal have not played Champions League football for what six years nevermind offered a title push.

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But it will be interesting to see whether any major changes are made to the starting XI over the summer or whether Arteta looks to make some additions to his squad depth.

A huge crunch game is on the horizon for Arsenal when they visit City at the Etihad Stadium and that could provide an indication of any weaknesses which may need addressing over the summer window.

Southampton target Bamba Dieng ‘won’t be joining’ the Premier League club this month, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

The Lowdown: Agent contact made

The Senegal international was one of his nation’s standout performers at the World Cup, and having entered the final 18 months of his contract at Marseille, has been attracting plenty of attention.

Nathan Jones’ side reportedly showed an interest in the striker and were soon in talks with his representatives regarding a potential move to the south coast, but after an enormously quick development, it sounds like a switch to St. Mary’s is now off the cards.

The Latest: Dieng set to join Lorient

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday evening, Taylor revealed that Dieng is set to join Ligue 1 outfit Lorient with discussions having rapidly accelerated over the past 24 hours.

“Bamba Dieng won’t be joining Southampton. He is undergoing a medical with Lorient tomorrow ahead of £9m permanent move. Talks have moved very quickly. Negotiations were centred around swap deal but West Ham target Terem Moffi has rejected move to Marseille.”

Dieng was the subject of a similarly fast-moving saga in the summer, as his move to Leeds fell at the last hurdle.

The Verdict: Another blow for Jones

Southampton have already missed out on Villarreal’s former striker Nicolas Jackson, who ended up putting pen to paper at Bournemouth, and Dieng doing the same is a huge blow for Jones.

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The Adidas-sponsored star has netted 11 times and provided four assists during his spell at Marseille and currently ranks in the 97th percentile for expected goals per 90 minutes amongst forwards in the big five leagues.

The Saints being at the bottom of the table will be the reason why they are getting turned down, but the hierarchy somehow need to get an attacking reinforcement on board before the end of the window should they want to avoid the drop.