All posts by z3u9t.icu

Former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers made several additions to the playing squad during the summer transfer window, and Wilfried Nancy is tasked with getting the best out of them.

The Northern Irish boss made 11 signings to bolster his options across the pitch before he eventually resigned after a 3-1 defeat to Hearts at the end of October.

Nancy has to try to get the best out of those signings in the coming months and years, as many of them have failed to live up to the hype so far this season.

Ranking Celtic's summer signings

Whilst this may say more about the rest of the business done in the summer, Benjamin Nygren has been the club’s best signing of the season, as he is currently Celtic’s top goalscorer in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, with seven goals in 25 games.

Kieran Tierney, who arrived on a free transfer, and Marcelo Saracchi, who joined on loan from Boca Juniors, have also been solid additions in the left-back position, sharing duties in that role.

Callum Osmand joined from Fulham after his contract expired with the English side and scored one goal and won a penalty in three first-team matches before picking up an injury, which suggests that he is an exciting talent to watch out for when he is back fit.

1

Benjamin Nygren

2

Kieran Tierney

3

Callum Osmand

4

Kelechi Iheanacho

5

Marcelo Saracchi

6

Ross Doohan

7

Sebastian Tounekti

8

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey

9

Hayato Inamura

10

Shin Yamada

11

Michel-Ange Balikwisha

Ross Doohan, who joined on a free transfer as a third-choice goalkeeper, is the dividing player between poor and good signings in the rankings above, as the most average addition to the squad.

We have Sebastian Tounekti in the lower half of the rankings because he is starting to look like one of the biggest wastes of money since Albian Ajeti.

Why Sebastian Tounekti looks like a waste of money

After creating four chances, completing five dribbles, and scoring one goal in his first two matches, per Sofascore, the Tunisia international looked primed to be a star for the Hoops. Rodgers even claimed that he “excites the crowd”.

Celtic paid £5.2m to sign the forward from Hammarby to make him the most expensive signing of the summer, falling just shy of the £6m mark that would have taken him into the club’s top ten most expensive signings in their history.

Unfortunately, three months later, Tounekti has recorded two goals and zero assists in 18 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has struggled to make an impact at the top end of the pitch.

Since Celtic paid £5m for Ajeti, who scored just nine goals in 48 games as a striker (Transfermarkt), the Hoops have signed six players for more than £5m: Jota (twice), Cameron Carter-Vickers, Arne Engels, Adam Idah, Auston Trusty, and Tounekti.

Jota was sold for £25m, before being re-signed, and Idah was sold for £6m after scoring 20 goals in all competitions last season, which shows that they were not complete wastes of money.

Carter-Vickers, of course, has been a long-serving regular starter for the club and Auston Trusty has made 50 appearances, now established as a regular starter, per Transfermarkt.

Engels, signed for £11m from Augsburg, has been fairly effective at the top end of the pitch, per Transfermarkt, with a return of 12 goals and 17 assists in 76 appearances since the start of last season.

This shows that the five other most expensive signings since Ajeti flopped at Parkhead have either been successful signings or had plenty of positives in their time at Celtic, even if it did not work out perfectly.

Tounekti, though, has one goal and no assists in his last 16 appearances for Celtic, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be a regular starter under the new manager, after he was the first player to be substituted in the 2-1 defeat to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Worse than Yang: Nancy must bin 3/10 Celtic dud who once had "the X factor"

This Celtic star who had “the X Factor” should be ruthlessly dropped from the starting line-up on Thursday.

ByDan Emery 3 days ago

For a player signed for £5.2m, he has not delivered enough quality at the top end of the pitch to suggest that he was a worthwhile signing, which is why he currently looks like one of their biggest wastes of money since Ajeti flopped at the club with his nine goals in 48 games.

West Ham are in dire need of a new striker to relieve the pressure on Nuno Espírito Santo.

Nuno Espírito Santo requests three signings for West Ham in January

Alongside a centre-forward, it is also believed that West Ham’s new boss has personally urged both chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady to bring a new defender and midfielder as soon as the next January window (GiveMeSport).

This is somewhat backed up by Sky Sports too, who reiterate that the Hammers are indeed targeting a defender, midfielder and attacker in January, with Nuno also getting “confirmation” he would have money to spend.

Going by this flurry of reports, West Ham could be set for one of their busiest January windows in recent memory, and it’s definitely needed.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

West Ham limped to an uninspired 2-0 defeat to Brentford in their last game, which was Nuno’s first home match since taking charge as manager, with the east Londoners completely failing to lay a glove on Keith Andrews’ side who strutted to victory with ease.

The scoreline could’ve been even worse for West Ham, on a night marred by large protests from the Hammers faithful against their club’s ownership. Brentford attempted a whopping 17 shots on goal and found it far too easy on enemy turf, with this performance highlighting exactly why reinforcements are badly needed.

Even though West Ham look soft as butter defensively, almost every supporter is desperate to see Sullivan and Brady go into the market and sign an exciting striker who can provide that needed injection of quality going forward.

Callum Wilson, who has a torrid injury record, and the inexperienced Callum Marshall are Nuno’s only natural options right now, forcing the West Ham boss to play Lucas Paqueta as a false nine against Brentford on Monday.

This experiment failed, with Paqueta failing to make an impact and losing possession a whopping 23 times.

Niclas Füllkrug, adding to his extensive list of missed games already for West Ham, is set to be “out for a while” after tearing a muscle bundle in his thigh, so the German cannot be relied upon yet again.

Luckily for Nuno, media sources suggest that West Ham are actively trying to solve their striker conundrum, and a key target emerging for the Irons is £53 million Real Madrid sensation Endrick on loan.

Some reports claim that West Ham are even holding talks with Real over a temporary deal for Endrick already, coming after Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Brazil international is expected to leave on a dry loan.

Given Endrick’s desperation for game time, a temporary stint at West Ham could be perfect for all parties involved, with the 19-year-old still classed as one of Brazil’s most exciting up-and-coming talents.

West Ham in pole position to sign Endrick from Real Madrid

Endrick, thanks in part to fitness issues, hasn’t managed to work his way into the Real starting eleven on a consistent basis, but did score five Copa del Rey goals en route to the final last season, before Los Blancos lost to rivals Barcelona.

The Premier League could be beckoning for a player who’s looking to battle his way into Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the World Cup, and West Ham are looking to take advantage.

According to reports from Spain, West Ham are “leading the race” to secure Endrick on loan, ahead of both Newcastle and Aston Villa.

Nuno’s side have expressed serious interest in bringing the teenage striker to England, and Endrick himself sees a temporary move away as critical for his development.

However, while it is reported by some that discussions have been held, a temporary move to another La Liga side is also factored in as a serious option, so West Ham won’t have a free run at his signature.

Manchester United have now set their sights on signing Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid, according to recent reports, with talks over Casemiro’s contract beginning to drag on.

Ruben Amorim’s side entered the international break off the back of an impressive run rather than a crisis for the first time in the manager’s Old Trafford tenure. Their last-gasp draw at Tottenham Hotspur summed up their recent change in belief and featured yet another impressive display from Casemiro at the heart of their midfield.

Man Utd hold discussions to sign "unique" teen sensation ahead of Real Madrid

The Red Devils are looking to get one over the Spanish giants.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 15, 2025

It wasn’t so long ago that Jamie Carragher infamously told the Brazilian to “leave the football” before it leaves him, but it turns out that the former Liverpool defender couldn’t have been more wrong. Casemiro has rediscovered his best form under Amorim and now regularly keeps the likes of Manuel Ugarte out of the side.

Former Man United defender Rio Ferdinand recently hit back at Carragher’s comments following the midfielder’s return to form this season, claiming that he thought the comments were “disrespectful” at the time.

Now, reports are indicating that Amorim wants to keep hold of Casemiro — sparking what are proving to be complicated contract talks as the midfielder suddenly becomes an important player at Old Trafford.

Man Utd now eyeing Tchouameni move

If INEOS fail to agree a new contract with Casemiro at Amorim’s request, which would present a fresh midfield worry, then Man United will target a move for Tchouameni at Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain.

The French midfielder is valued at as much as €100m (£88m) by the Spanish giants and has clearly impressed those at Old Trafford as they aim to strengthen their midfield.

As things stand, however, there’s nothing to suggest that Tchouameni is looking to leave Real Madrid anytime soon and reports have claimed that he’ll only head for the exit door at the request of his club. Of course, if that does change, then the fact that he shares an agent with Bryan Mbeumo could provide United with an instant boost.

Minutes

874

614

Progressive Passes

5.88

4.41

Tackles Won

0.82

1.76

Ball Recoveries

4.23

5.74

The statistics suggest that Amorim is right to have some hesitation about letting Casemiro’s contract run down. The Brazilian has so far outperformed Tchouameni in a number of areas.

It highlights just how impressive he’s been in recent months rather than indicating anything major about Tchouameni’s form. The Real Madrid man is just entering the peak of his powers and has impressed the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, who previously dubbed him “fantastic”.

Amorim can axe Dorgu for one of Europe's "most exciting teens" at Man Utd

Manchester United are close to signing a new teenage winger, according to reliable reporter Samuel Luckhurst.

Man Utd making academy moves

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is into his first transfer window as co-owner of the Red Devils and is yet to make a senior signing for Erik ten Hag. The new co-owner has recently said that it will take two or three summer windows to complete an Old Trafford rebuild when it comes to the playing squad.

"I don't think the solution is to buy an Mbappe. We are more grassroots than that. One player is not going to solve the problem at Manchester United. The first thing we need to do is build a balanced squad and ultimately maybe top it off with one or two players like Mbappe. It will take two or three summer windows to get to a better place.”

It looks as if a new centre-back and centre-forward are on the to-do list at Old Trafford after Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial left upon their contracts expiring at the end of June. Ten Hag could target his fellow countrymen when it comes to defensive and attacking reinforcements, Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee and Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt two heavily linked players.

However, alongside senior signings, the club have also been working to secure the services of potential stars in the making at academy level. The club have already sealed deals for teenager Silva Mexes, the son of former Cardiff and West Brom striker Rob Earnshaw, and Australian James Overy, whereas Camron Mpofu from Reading is also expected to sign.

Now, another teenager has emerged on the Carrington radar, and it looks as if a move could be a matter of when he signs for United, not if.

Man Utd close to signing teenage winger

According to The Manchester Evening News’ chief reporter Luckhurst, Man Utd are close to signing Crystal Palace gem Samuel Lusale. The 16-year-old plays as a winger and recently represented Slovakia at the Under-17 European Championship in May.

Interestingly, Lusale is represented by the agency Roc Nation, which was founded by American rapper Jay-Z. On their website for Lusale’s profile, they describe the Palace gem as a quick winger who can play on either side.

“Samuel is a quick, dynamic winger who is regarded as one of the most exciting attacking players in the UK at under-16 level. Comfortable playing off the right or left wing, his electrifying pace and direct running with the ball makes him a constant threat to the opposition defence. He is often the source of goals and assists for his team.”

Man Utd chiefs ready to sell £190,000-p/w star who Ten Hag called "massive"

Ruthless from the Red Devils.

2 ByTom Cunningham Jul 4, 2024

His next move could be north to Manchester by the looks of things, and who knows, he could be the next wide teenager to progress into the first team after spending time in the academy after Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

Hoping to land their biggest deal of the summer transfer window so far, Leicester City have reportedly tabled a fresh £21m bid to sign a Serie A star for Steve Cooper.

Leicester City transfer news

The Foxes have created some much-needed positive headlines in recent weeks following a disastrous start to the summer, which saw manager Enzo Maresca and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall complete moves to Chelsea. Since then, Steve Cooper has arrived alongside four fresh faces, with those at the King Power hoping to build a squad capable of avoiding Premier League relegation in their first season back in the top flight.

Imagine him next to Ndidi: Leicester plot move for "fabulous" PL midfielder

Steve Cooper would love to have this new signing at his disposal next season at Leicester City.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 19, 2024

More arrivals could yet be on their way. Reports have linked the likes of Alexis Saelemaekers and Richard Rios with moves to Leicester in recent days, with the Foxes looking to use the next month to add further additions. The Championship winners do have to be careful on that front given that they've already run into trouble with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules once and face potential sanctions.

Nonetheless, those potential sanctions are seemingly not set to stand in the way of one big-money move this summer. According to John Percy of The Telegraph, Leicester have tabled a fresh £21m bid to sign Matias Soule from Juventus and are pushing to agree a deal for the young winger next week.

The Foxes' interest in the Serie A star is an open secret these days, and their £21m move would be their most expensive yet this summer, not to mention a statement of intent ahead of their Premier League return. That said, even if it is their biggest move, it remains to be seen whether Juventus will deem their £21m bid enough to show Soule the door next week.

Still just 21 years old, the Argentinian would undoubtedly be an impressive coup.

"Fantastic" Soule can replace Dewsbury-Hall spark

Following Dewsbury-Hall's exit, welcoming a player who can replicate the Englishman's impressive output and creative spark should be at the top of Leicester's priority list this summer – and that should align with their ambitions to sign Soule.

The Juventus gem enjoyed an excellent season out on loan at Frosinone last term, providing the bright spark in a campaign to otherwise forget for the relegated Serie A side. Following a "fantastic start", as described by Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, Soule only got better, ending the season with 11 goals and 3 assists in all competitions.

A player who still has plenty more to offer, Soule would quickly become a vital part of Cooper's side if he completes a summer switch to Leicester. For just £21m, he may even be looked at as one of the bargains of the window if he hits the ground running in the Premier League.

Aston Villa can surely call their 2023/24 season a success. After Unai Emery became the manager in October 2022, he has overseen a huge transformation of a side that was destined for relegation under Steven Gerrard, to a team that has qualified for the Champions League ahead of next season.

Their fourth-place finish in the Premier League this season was Villa’s joint second-highest ever since the top flight was rebranded from the First Division to the competition we all know today in 1992.

They only bettered that in the inaugural season, 1992/93, with their fourth-place finish in 1995/96 the equal second-best.

This was largely thanks to the superb performances of Ollie Watkins, who scored 19 goals and registered 13 assists in 37 Premier League games, a tally which saw him win the playmaker award. As per Sofascore, his 32 combined goal involvements were only bettered by Cole Palmer, who scored and assisted 33 times for Chelsea last season.

With Villa set for an exciting campaign in 2024/25, it will be a big summer transfer window. There are already links of several incomings for the Villans, but also some outgoings, with one man potentially on his way out of Villa Park to join a giant of Italian football.

Aston Villa regular could depart

The player in question here is Villa’s Poland international right-back, Matty Cash. The former Nottingham Forest man was an important player under Unai Emery last term, but an exit from the Villans could be on the cards over the summer transfer window.

Indeed, that is according to a report from Gianluca Di Marzio, the esteemed Italian journalist. He reports contact between Italian giants AC Milan and Aston Villa for a potential transfer of Cash “have continued”, as the two clubs look to strike an agreement.

As per the report from Di Marzio, Villa are hoping to sell the Poland international for a fee of around £25m, which would represent almost £10m of profit for the right-back. They paid East Midlands club Forest £16m to acquire his services back in the summer window of 2020.

He could be the second player Villa sell to Italy this week, with Douglas Luiz set to join Juventus. That deal will also see midfielder Weston McKennie and former Chelsea academy player Samuel Iling-Junior go the other way, with Juve also paying £16.8m.

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ByAngus Sinclair Jun 6, 2024 Why this is an important deal for Villa

On the face of things, this might seem like a strange move for Villa to do given Cash’s importance under Emery last season. The Polish full-back played 29 times in the Premier League, generally only missing games through injury and suspension.

However, it is a necessary deal to do, given they need to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. As an article by Sky Sports explains, this means that when clubs add up their accounts “they can have made a loss no greater than £105m across the previous three seasons”.

Over the past season, this was breached by both Everton and Cash’s former club Forest, who both suffered points deductions as punishment. Thus, it is vital that clubs stay on the right side of the threshold.

In selling Cash, Villa will not only receive money in the immediate future that can help balance their books, but also save money on Cash’s wages.

As per Capology, he earns £80k per week at the moment, which is even more than the aforementioned McKennie, a likely incoming for Villa. The American currently earns £53k-per-week as per Capololgy, meaning that a similar total will also save Villa money in the long term and help them stay in the green for PSR.

£150k

Clement Lenglet, Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans

£130k

Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins

£120k

John McGinn, Lucas Digne, Emi Martinez, Leon Bailey

£100k

Diego Carlos, Tyrone Mings, Pau Torres

£80k

Matty Cash

Whilst losing Cash is frustrating, it was always necessary for the Villans to sell this summer. By moving the full-back on, as well as Luiz and Jhon Duran, who is Chelsea-bound, it helps them balance their books correctly to avoid facing the same punishment as the Toffees and Forest did last season, which could have easily cost them both relegation from the Premier League.

Aston Villa could sign dream Gallagher partner for just £15m

Emery could complete a shrewd signing for a player he knows well.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 11, 2024

Leeds United are a matter of days away from kicking off their 2024/25 Championship season as they prepare to face off against Portsmouth at Elland Road on Saturday.

The Whites will be looking for a fast start to the new campaign after they narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League back in May, losing 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley.

Daniel Farke is now hoping that it is second time lucky for his side as the German goes in search of his third promotion out of the second tier, having won the title twice during his time with Norwich City.

The West Yorkshire outfit's hopes of promotion have been dealt a blow by the exit of winger Crysencio Summerville, though, as the forward has joined West Ham United on a permanent deal this month.

Starts

41

Goals

19

Conversion rate

15%

Assists

9

Dribbles completed per game

2.3

The former Feyenoord youngster, as shown in the table above, was a constant menace to opposition defences in the league last term and Leeds are looking to dip into the market to secure his services.

Leeds eyeing up Premier League winger

According to journalist Alan Nixon, the Whites could pursue a deal to sign Crystal Palace wide man Jesurun Rak-Sakyi before the end of the window.

The reporter claims that fellow Championship sides Sheffield United and Hull City are both trying to secure his services on loan for the 2024/25 campaign, whilst Queens Park Rangers have also been linked.

Nixon adds that Leeds could come in with a move for the 21-year-old whiz if they do not sign Jonathan Rowe from divisional rivals Norwich City.

Football Insider recently reported that the Whites have already had an offer of £7m quickly rejected by the Canaries for the England U21 international.

The outlet added that the Yellows are set to demand a fee of at least £15m for their academy graduate, who has one year left on his current contract at Carrow Road – with an option to extend that by a further year.

This means that Leeds offered less than half what Norwich want for the impressive winger and it could, therefore, be a difficult deal for Farke and his recruitment team to get over the line.

However, the German boss could forget all about raiding his former club for Rowe by securing a deal to sign Rak-Sakyi from Palace instead.

Jonathan Rowe's form for Norwich

Firstly, it is easy to see why Leeds are interested in signing the Canaries youngster to bolster their options on the flanks in the wake of Summerville's move to the London Stadium.

He's a young and proven Championship performer who could come in and hit the ground running at Elland Road, whilst also having the potential to improve and develop over the years to come – at the age of 21.

Rowe is someone Farke could work with on the training pitch to help him fulfill his potential but he is also an excellent player who could make an instant impact on the pitch.

Appearances

32

xG

5.36

Goals

12

Big chances created

1

Assists

2

Key passes per game

0.8

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old dynamo was a goal threat for the Canaries in the second tier last term, in his first full season at senior level.

12 goals from an xG tally of just 5.36 also shows that Rowe's finishing was exemplary. He rarely wasted a high-quality chance to find the back of the net, scoring almost seven more goals than expected based on the quality of opportunities that were created for him.

However, the English gem did not provide much in the way of creativity. The Norwich youngster made less than one key pass per game and only created one 'big chance' in 32 outings during the regular season.

This suggests that Rowe would be unlikely to replace the creativity Summerville displayed on the flank, with his nine assists in the Championship.

Whereas, Rak-Sakyi is a player who could come through the doors at Elland Road with the potential to make an impact as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Why Leeds should forget about Rowe

Instead of splashing out a staggering £15m to sign a player from one of their Championship rivals, the West Yorkshire side could save their money and land a loan deal for the Palace youngster as a potentially better alternative.

Rak-Sakyi is coming off the back of a frustrating season where he was used as a squad player for the Eagles – making just eight first-team appearances.

He did, though, fire in four goals and provide one assist in three U21 matches for the Premier League 2 side, which offered a glimpse at the quality he can offer.

His form at academy level for Palace has always been strong. Rak-Sayki has scored 24 goals and assisted eight in 40 U21 games for the club, along with eight goals and eight assists in 17 U18 matches.

The left-footed ace, who was described as "remarkable" by Roy Hodgson, has also showcased his attacking quality in senior football with Charlton on loan in the 2022/23 campaign.

Appearances

43

32

Goals

15

12

Assists

8

2

Big chances created

5

1

Key passes per game

1.3

0.8

Completed dribbles per game

1.8

1.1

As you can see in the table above, Rak-Sayki was a star for the Addicks with his ability to score and create goals, with 23 direct goal contributions in 43 matches.

Albeit at a lower level, the Palace youngster outscored Rowe and provided far more creativity for Charlton than the Norwich whiz did in the Championship last season.

Rak-Sakyi's statistics at academy level and in League One suggest that the potential is there for him to offer more than the £15m-rated Leeds target at the top end of the pitch, due to his goalscoring prowess and creative quality.

Imagine him & Gnonto: Leeds in the race to sign "exciting" star

The Whites are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Premier League defender.

ByDan Emery Aug 6, 2024

Therefore, Farek could forget all about a move for Rowe this summer by winning the race to sign the former Charlton loanee to bolster the squad.

The January transfer window officially slammed shut on Monday night and Leeds United went through the winter market without splashing any cash on new recruits.

Ultimately, they decided that there were no available players who suited what they wanted, or any players who could come in to realistically improve the playing squad.

Daniel Farke has an incredibly strong group at the moment, as evidenced by their place at the top of the Championship table, and they showcased that with a 7-0 win over Cardiff City at the weekend.

The Whites ran riot at Elland Road to smash the Bluebirds and ensure that they remained at the top of the table, with Sheffield United, Burnley, and Sunderland in hot pursuit.

Leeds are once again back in action in the second tier this evening as they prepare to travel to the CBS Arena to take on Frank Lampard’s Coventry City side.

The last time the two teams met was back in September, when Mark Robins was in charge of the Sky Blues, and it was a comfortable win for Farke’s men on the day.

What happened when Leeds last beat Coventry

The West Yorkshire outfit secured a 3-0 win over Coventry when they clashed at Elland Road earlier this season, in what was a fairly routine afternoon for Leeds.

Robins’ side ended the match with just 0.41 xG and zero ‘big chances’ created, despite having 52% of the ball, which shows that they struggled to break down the Whites defence.

Meanwhile, Leeds created 1.66 xG and two ‘big chances’, with eight shots on target in total, and that allowed them to stroll to the victory on the day.

The hosts took the lead after just 16 minutes when Italian forward Wilfried Gnonto latched onto a cross from Junior Firpo to rifle an effort into the roof of the net from just inside of the box.

They found their second goal just four minutes into the second half when Jayden Bogle opened his account for Leeds by side-footing a shot past Ben Wilson after Largie Ramazani slipped a ball through to him.

The third and final goal came in the 79th minute as substitute Joel Piroe kept his shot, from Gnonto’s cross, on target and benefitted from some weak goalkeeping from the Coventry stopper.

Leeds face a different test this evening, however, as they now have a new manager, Lampard, in the dugout, and they have won each of their last four matches in the Championship.

Coventry are, therefore, an in-form team and Farke could look to make some changes to his team, from the one that beat Cardiff 7-0, to ensure that his players are fresh, with Brenden Aaronson one star who could be rested.

Why Brenden Aaronson could be rested

The USA international, who returned to the club after a loan spell with Union Berlin last summer, has been leaned on by the German head coach week-in-week-out so far this season.

He has started 28 of the club’s 30 Championship matches and averaged 79 minutes played per match. Out of the outfield players at the club, only Joe Rodon (2,696) and Jayden Bogle (2,427) have played more minutes than the American midfielder (2,386), which illustrates how much workload he has had this term.

The 24-year-old ace found the back of the net in the 7-0 win over Cardiff, firing past defenders on the line after Dan James had the presence of mind to pick him out, but had gone five matches without a goal contribution before that rout.

Appearances

30

xG

8.58

Goals

8

Big chances created

6

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, Aaronson has been a solid, but unspectacular, contributor in the final third for Leeds in the Championship this season.

He has slightly underperformed against his xG and a return of six ‘big chances’ created in 28 starts as an attacking midfielder in a dominant Farke team is a bit underwhelming.

Aaronson could benefit from finally being rested, though, as it could allow him to be fresher for future fixtures, to improve his output at the top end of the pitch, and that is why Farke should finally rest him for this clash with Coventry by unleashing a Leeds star in a new role.

The new role Wilfried Gnonto could play

Wilfried Gnonto starred in the 3-0 win, with a goal and an assist, over Coventry back in September and the manager should consider bringing him back into the starting XI for this clash, after he came off the bench against Cardiff.

The Italy U21 international, who scored as a substitute against the Welsh outfit, has made all of his appearances for the Whites this season on the left or right flank, with eight starts on the left and 13 starts on the right in all competitions.

Farke should, now, unleash the £30k-per-week star in a new role as an attacking midfielder to take Aaronson’s place in the central position behind Joel Piroe. It is a position that he has started in on 16 occasions throughout his career, so it is not entirely unfamiliar to him, but it would be a fresh experience in the current campaign.

Gnonto, who Statman Dave once described as “electric”, has the quality to make an impact at the top end of the pitch and could thrive as a number ten, as it could allow him to operate closer to the box than he usually does out wide.

Starts

20

xG

4.78

Goals

5

Big chances created

9

Assists

5

As you can see in the table above, the Italian sensation has offered plenty to the team in the final third this term, with a return of 14 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 20 appearances.

Unlike Aaronson, Gnonto has outperformed against his xG and has almost created a ‘big chance’ every other start on average, which shows that he can offer relatively consistent creativity.

Leeds must regret selling 20-goal ace who could have been their own Buendia

Leeds United dropped the ball when ditching this attacker prematurely.

ByKelan Sarson Feb 5, 2025

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for him to provide even more than the American midfielder in a number ten role, which is why Farke should unleash him in that new position this evening.

One area West Ham have already bolstered ahead of Julen Lopetegui's first season in charge is the midfield department, bringing Guido Rodriguez in on a free transfer.

In Lopetegui's system, the need for comfortability on the ball is apparent, and West Ham have done their best to address that this window in the defensive line, and adding Rodriguez in midfield. Having midfielders that can affect the game both offensively and defensively is important, as they can join both first phase build up, and last phase attacks.

Rodriguez made 29 appearances in all competitions last season for Real Betis, scoring two goals, providing one assist, and contributing to eight clean sheets in his 2,241 minutes played.

West Ham to sign another midfielder?

According to Fabrizio Romano West Ham have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of ex-Chelsea midfielder, N’Golo Kante, amid recent links. The Frenchman currently earns over £400k-per-week in Saudi Arabia, which West Ham wouldn't be able to replicate.

Atlético Madrid has also shown an interest in recent days, with Romano reporting that Al-Ittihad's stance remains the same, "not for sale".

Kante made 44 appearances for Al Ittihad last season in all competitions, scoring four goals, providing six assists, and contributing to 15 clean sheets in his 3,822 minutes played.

Kante vs Rodriguez comparison

The 33-year-old Kante and 29-year-old Rodriguez would both bring a wealth of experience to this West Ham side, having both captained their sides at one stage last season.

Of course, one thing Kante has over Rodriguez is Premier League experience, having played the majority of his career in the league, winning multiple league titles and individual honours throughout 227 outings.

Kante made his last Premier League appearance on the 5th June 2023, providing an assist in a 3-1 victory for Chelsea over Bournemouth. Despite only managing ten games in that season, some of Kante's per 90 numbers were still brilliant.

Progressive Carries

3.86

0.40

Progressive Passes

5.92

3.21

Passes Attempted

54.9

50.4

Pass Completion %

80.3%

85.0%

Key Passes

2.11

0.28

Tackles

2.50

2.49

Blocks

1.71

1.45

Interceptions

1.51

1.49

Ball Recoveries

8.82

7.67

Aerials Won

0.26

0.92

It's important to note, Kante's stats above are based on 772 minutes of football in the 2022/23 season. However, the stats do not seem to be skewed compared to his prior season at Chelsea, where he completed 2,546 minutes and achieved better per 90 metrics in many areas.

Once described as "Yaya Toure and Claude Makelele rolled into one" by Wayne Rooney, you can definitely see elements of both in this game and in the metrics. Averaging 3.86 progressive carries per 90, adding that thrust from midfield as Toure did.

But also, his 8.82 ball recoveries per 90, 2.50 tackles per 90, and 1.71 blocks, show his ability to consistently complete defensive actions, protecting his teams' backline and covering ground like no other.

As good as Rodriguez is, actually ranking fairly closely to Kante in some metrics (especially defensively). the France star would offer an unbelievable dynamic to the Hammers midfield, being able to progress the ball via his passing and carrying, but also protecting that defence and mopping things up in transition.

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In recent years, West Ham have been looking to increase their level of recruitment, aiming to improve their squad year upon year which has become even more possible since the big-money sale of Declan Rice.

The England midfielder was sold to Arsenal for a fee of around £105m, allowing the Hammers to invest plenty in the past two years.

In West Ham’s top ten most expensive transfers, four of the ten have been signed since Rice left the club, £123.5m being spent in the 2023/24 campaign and spending a further £123.4m in the 2024/25 season.

Sebastien Haller

£42.7m

Maximilian Kilman

£40.6m

Mohammed Kudus

£36.8m

Lucas Paqueta

£36.7m

Gianluca Scamacca

£33m

Edson Alvarez

£32.5m

Felipe Anderson

£32.5m

Kurt Zouma

£29.9m

Nayef Aguerd

£29.9m

James Ward-Prowse

£29.7m

But away from this list of their top ten most expensive transfers, the Hammers have had some bargains over the years, including one of their best-ever players who ranks 29th in the club’s most expensive transfer fees.

Dimitri Payet's incredible spell at West Ham

West Ham made the signing of Dimitri Payet from Marseille in 2015, with the Frenchman joining the Hammers for a fee of around £10m, which would turn out to be an absolute bargain.

West Ham co-chairman, David Sullivan, labeled Payet a “world-class” player who would be worth triple what they paid had he been in his “prime”. It’s easy to see why.

For the Irons, Payet made 60 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals and providing 22 assists in 4,981 minutes.

Capable of the magical and the extraordinary, his best moment was the extraordinary free-kick goal against Crystal Palace, a goal which finds itself on repeat to this day.

Unfortunately, Payet decided he wanted to return to France in 2017, heading back to Marseille for a fee of around £25m.

To this day, they arguably still lack that magic man, Jarrod Bowen aside, but they may well have the next Payet brewing at the London Stadium.

West Ham's "future icon" could be the next Payet

Bowen has been incredible since signing for West Ham from Hull, notably scoring the winner in the Conference League final, but he’s not the player in question here, it’s Mohammed Kudus.

Signed from Ajax in the 2023/24 summer transfer window, the 24-year-old forward joined for a fee of around £38m and has been a revelation since.

Indeed, Kudus has made 73 appearances for the club since arriving, scoring 17 goals and providing nine assists in his 5,718 minutes played. He may not have hit the dizzy heights of last term but he’s still a cracking player on his day.

Goals

0.37

0.12

Assists

0.17

0.12

xG

0.23

0.26

xAG

0.14

0.10

Progressive Carries

3.99

3.51

Progressive Passes

2.96

2.77

Shots Total

2.52

2.54

Key Passes

1.14

1.13

Shot-Creating Actions

3.52

3.68

Successful Take-Ons

3.93

3.16

When comparing the underlying metrics between Kudus’s first season at the club and this season (his second season) you can see how similar the metrics are. Despite this year being much tougher for the Hammers and the Ghana international struggling for output, the underlying metrics still look very strong, ranking highly for things like successful take-ons and shot-creating actions.

Described as a “future icon” of Ghanaian football by scout Jacek Kulig, he could also become this at West Ham, following in the steps of another magician in Payet. However, Kudus is already subject to plenty of interest from other clubs, and therefore, his decision to stay or leave could prove vital.

If Kudus decides to stay, he could go down as a legend over time, depending on the uplift of performances under Graham Potter.

However, if he does choose to leave, the fee that would be obtained would be very substantial, and it would be tough for Hammers fans to feel too aggrieved.

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