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Southampton have been extremely busy this summer transfer window to date, adding in new gems to strengthen the team, whilst also tying down former loan stars to permanent deals.

Fans of the newly promoted South Coast outfit would have been overjoyed to see Flynn Downes return for good recently, whilst they'll be equally excited to see the likes of Nathan Wood and other new recruits strut their stuff when Premier League football finally gets underway next month.

The Saints are unlikely to be done there with their business this hectic off-season, however, as a statement buy looks to be in the works by Russell Martin's men.

Southampton planning record swoop of Celtic gem

It's looking more and more unlikely by the minute that Celtic will be able to keep Matt O'Riley in Glasgow past this summer, with the 23-year-old admired by many different suitors.

Southampton are named as being one interested party willing to battle it out for the Danish gem, as per Scottish outlet the Daily Record, alongside the likes of Juventus, Inter Milan and other European giants.

It will still take a mammoth bid for the Hoops to consider parting ways with their electric star, with the Daily Record further stating that a Scottish record fee will be needed to get a bumper deal over the line.

That record currently stands at £25m – which Celtic managed to win when the likes of Kieran Tierney and Jota moved on from Celtic Park – and they will be holding out for a similarly excessive amount for their star number 38.

What O'Riley will offer Southampton

Scoring goals for fun over his two impactful years in Scotland to date, this ambitious swoop could see the Saints win their best midfield talent since letting go of James Ward-Prowse, with O'Riley also potentially striking up a fine partnership in the centre of the pitch with Downes along the way.

Much like Ward-Prowse, who garnered a reputation for being a player who wouldn't shirk the spotlight in tense games at St. Mary's, O'Riley has been a consistent performer for Celtic since moving up there two years ago, after making a name for himself in the EFL with Milton Keynes Dons.

Martin will be very much going after the highly-rated midfielder based on his electric goalscoring numbers too, with the on-fire 23-year-old bagging 19 goals last season in all competitions for Brendan Rodgers' men, on top of amassing an equally impressive assist haul overall of 18.

Games played

38

37

Goals scored

9

18

Assists

4

13

Scoring frequency

385 mins

181 mins

Shots*

1.2

2.9

Big chances missed

2

10

Big chances created

9

14

O'Riley sweeps the floor with the former Saints icon when it comes to his numbers for Celtic last campaign against Ward-Prowse's output from his swansong Southampton season, but there's no guarantee that the ex-MK Dons man can shine in the same devastating fashion in the Premier League week in week out.

Martin will have his fingers crossed that he can take to his new surroundings like a duck to water, with the license there for him to attack freely, partnered next to a steady head in Downes.

Downes very rarely put a foot wrong last campaign in the Championship for Southampton, bowing out from the regular season with an unerring 93% pass accuracy averaged per contest, and should be able to set up O'Riley for a number of chances in the top-flight.

There will be some trepidation from Southampton's end on how they will manage to compete with the top dogs again, but with signings such as O'Riley in the pipeline, the Saints will aim to unsettle the elite division and stay put.

Southampton pushing ahead to sign "brilliant" £7m ace after recent enquiry

A bid has now been tabled by the Saints.

ByHenry Jackson Jul 22, 2024

It's been a reasonably successful summer for Tottenham Hotspur thus far, with wins in every pre-season game and an exciting signing already bedded into the team in Archie Gray.

Daniel Levy and Co have also secured the services of 18-year-old Yang Min-Hyeok, who will join the club in the new year.

However, it's not just about the incomings, as it appears that Emerson Royal's move to AC Milan is now approaching completion.

More good news: the Lilywhites may be able to sign his ideal upgrade for less than initially thought.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

A recent report from the Italian publication Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness claims that Tottenham have maintained their interest in Fiorentina full-back Michael Kayode and see him as a replacement for Royal.

According to the story, Aston Villa saw an offer of around €15m – £13m – rejected last month as La Viola are after €20m for the young star, which is €10m less than was reported prior and works out to about £17m.

While the fee is still sizeable, it's one entirely within the North Londoners' ability to pay, and therefore, Levy and Co should act fast before another side capitalises.

How Kayode compares to Royal

So, if Spurs are looking at Kayode as the replacement for the departing Royal, how does he compare to the Brazilian? Would he be the ideal upgrade, or would he be more of the same?

Let's start by looking at their output. While they're still defenders – just about, anyway – the modern full-back can be just as crucial in attacking phases, and the good news is that the young Italian does come out on top here.

In 37 appearances last season, he scored one goal and provided four assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 7.4 games, and while that's not mind-blowing, it's encouraging considering he's only just turned 20.

In contrast, the Lilywhites ace scored just one goal and failed to provide any assists in his 24 appearances last season, equating to, well, one goal involvement on average every 24 games, if you can even really call that an average.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Is it just as emphatic a victory for the "exciting" Fiorentina star, as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, when we look under the hood?

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.09

0.05

Progressive Passes

3.38

4.42

Progressive Carries

1.85

1.63

Progressive Passes Received

4.22

2.71

Passing Accuracy

81.4%

90.3%

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.09

0.54

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.73

0.16

Key Passes

0.80

0.23

Shot-Creating Actions

1.71

1.63

Tackles Won

1.30

1.71

Interceptions

0.84

1.32​​​​​​

Errors Leading to a Shot

0.07

0.08

Successful Take-Ons

0.84

0.78

Ball Recoveries

4.62

6.36

Yes, yes, it is. Aside from a few metrics like ball recoveries, progressive passes, tackles won, and interceptions, the Borgomanero-born gem comes out ahead in the majority of relevant statistics, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, passes and crosses into the penalty area, key passes, shot-creating actions, successful take-ons, and he even makes fewer errors leading to a shot, all per 90.

Now, his weakness in a few defensive metrics isn't ideal, but given his age and the fact that he "fears nothing", per manager Vincenzo Italiano, there's no reason to think he wouldn't improve those aspects of his game under the tutelage of Ange Postecoglou.

Charm offensive: Spurs move for ideal Son heir in £42m "entertainer"

The incredibly exciting youngster would be the perfect long-term replacement for the South Korean legend.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 30, 2024

Ultimately, with Royal clearly on his way out and the price for Kayode coming down, signing him this summer feels like a no-brainer for Spurs and a brilliant way to further strengthen the full-back area.

Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign another attacking gem alongside Arsenal’s Chido Obi Martin, Fabrizio Romano reports.

Obi Martin chooses Man Utd over Germany

The Red Devils and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have already made two big-money signings this summer, with Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro arriving from Bologna and Lille respectively. Unfortunately, Yoro has already suffered an injury in a United shirt during a pre-season friendly with Arsenal and is expected to miss three months of action.

It’s not the start he or United would have wanted, but Yoro could be joined by more new signings before the transfer deadline at the end of the month.

One teenage gem who is on course to sign for the Red Devils is Arsenal forward Obi Martin. The 16-year-old is set to leave the Gunners and had proposals from Germany, however, he has been convinced by the project at Old Trafford and has accepted Man Utd’s proposal.

The teenager caught the eye last season, scoring 10 goals in one game for Arsenal in a youth game against Liverpool, and by the looks of things, he will soon be joined by another young attacker who is currently at a Premier League club.

Man Utd agree deal for Crystal Palace gem

Romano took to X on Wednesday, revealing that after Obi Martin, Man Utd have also agreed a deal to sign Samuel Lusale from Crystal Palace.

“After Chido Obi Martin, Man United also agree deal to sign Samuel Lusale from Crystal Palace for the Academy. 16 year old winger set for United move after he turned down scholarship deal at Palace, as @MUFC_Youth reports.”

Previously, it was claimed that a deal was close, but it now looks as if a breakthrough has been made over a move for Lusale.

Personal terms done: Man Utd midfielder agrees £4.5m-a-year deal to leave

He is the latest man to agree terms to leave the Theatre of Dreams.

16 ByBen Browning Aug 1, 2024

Lusale is represented by the agency Roc Nation, which was founded by American rapper Jay-Z. On their website for Lusale’s profile, they call the teenager a quick and dynamic winger who is highly regarded in the UK.

“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.”

Palace’s loss could be United’s gain in the long run, and who knows, if things go to plan, we may see Lusale and Obi Martin in attack for the Red Devils on the first-team stage in years to come.

Following a first season in which he led Tottenham Hotspur back into the Europa League, Ange Postecoglou will be hoping to go one better next season and take the North Londoners back into the Champions League.

Fortunately, the recent developments around Dominic Solanke's likely move to the club should make that objective far more attainable, as the Englishman will be the first quality out-and-out striker the club have had since Harry Kane left.

The former Lilywhites captain was a force of nature, and nobody is expecting the Bournemouth ace to match his performances, but there is optimism that under Postecoglou, the former Chelsea ace can keep finding the back of the net.

That might be more likely to happen if Daniel Levy and Co can secure a deal for another player the club have been linked with, a player who has been compared with Kane's old partner, Dele Alli.

Kane and Dele's sensational partnership

He might be one way back from the wilderness today with the publically stated aim of making it back into the England squad for the 2026 World Cup, but when Dele first broke through as a teenager, he looked set to reach the very top of the game.

Alongside Kane, the incredibly talented attacking midfielder was a crucial part of Mauricio Pochettino's exciting and dynamic Spurs side of the mid to late 2010s.

Not only did the Milton Keynes-born gem have a showreel of stunning strikes by the time he was in his early 20s, but he also had the raw output to back them up, with a mountain of goals and assists to his name that some players can't amass across an entire career.

For example, in 269 appearances for the Lilywhites, he racked up 67 goals and 58 assists, which equates to a seriously impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.15 games.

Of course, his assists would always be slightly juiced by playing alongside a striker as deadly as Kane, but for long periods, the partnership was very much two-sided.

Appearances

269

Minutes

19162'

Goals

67

Assists

58

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

153.2'

For example, according to an article from the club's website, the 6 foot 2 talent had already provided the England captain with seven assists by the end of March 2016, his first campaign in the top flight.

Moreover, prior to the start of the 20/21 season, Dele had provided the Walthamstow-born poacher with 16 Premier League assists, which was three more than Son Heung-min at the time.

Overall, the North Londoners were blessed with a striker who scored with every touch and an attacking midfielder who could supply him endless opportunities to do so, and there is a chance that they could sign someone to be the Dele to Solanke's Kane this summer.

Ramsey could be Solanke's Dele

Yes, the player in question is Aston Villa gem Jacob Ramsey, who Spurs are supposedly preparing an offer of £19m plus Giovani Lo Celso to try and sign this summer.

Now, we are not trying to say that Ramsey will reach the same levels as a young Dele, as with the comparisons between Solanke and Kane, that would be wholly unfair, but the pair could form a partnership akin to the one the former Spurs stars had.

The actual comparison to the Milton Keynes-born star stems from The Athletic's Gregg Evans, who, on an old episode of The Next Big Thing podcast, suggested that the Villa ace "is quite similar, really, to how Dele Alli was."

Evans argued that how the Great Barr-born dynamo made his "runs into the box" and the fact he's "very, very comfortable" on the ball were apparent similarities to the former Lilywhites ace.

Whether the "sensational" Villa star, as dubbed by journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor, can quite reach the levels of Dele is still to be seen, but based on some of his underlying numbers, there certainly looks to be a quality player there and someone who could help Solanke reach new heights.

For example, across all competitions last season, he produced 3.02 shot-creating actions, succeeded in 0.82 take-ons, played 1.12 key passes, took 1.95 shots, and produced a non-penalty expected goals and assists figure of 0.34, all per 90, per FBref.

Ultimately, the only way to know for sure if Evans was correct in his assessment that Ramsey will develop into a Dele-type player is to wait and see, but one thing that would certainly help is playing alongside a powerful and clinical striker such as Solanke.

The next Eriksen: Spurs offered chance to sign amazing English-born star

Spurs have been offered the opportunity to sign an exciting midfielder.

2 ByMatt Dawson Aug 9, 2024

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano says a £26 million player has agreed to join Arsenal alongside Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino.

Arsenal closing in on Merino signing from Real Sociedad

After weeks of talks in what has been the longest transfer saga at Arsenal this summer, it is believed that Merino is on the verge of making a north London move.

Transfer imminent: Arsenal target £25m "monster" who'd help unlock Odegaard

The incredible international would be a brilliant addition to Arteta’s squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 20, 2024

The 28-year-old, who starred for Sociedad over his 45 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring eight goals and assisting five others from midfield, looks very likely to be on the move before deadline day on August 30 – and the Emirates Stadium is his preferred destination.

“Merino just spoke the president of Real Sociedad confirming that Arsenal are in negotiations with Real Sociedad. He said, ‘as soon as the offer will be good, we will say yes’," relayed Romano in a separate update (via TEAMtalk).

“But let me tell you again here, guys, don’t worry Arsenal fans, Merino is coming and is coming very soon. They are fixing the final details of the deal, but Mikel Merino is fully expected to become a new Arsenal player in the final days of the summer transfer window.”

Games

32

Goals/assists

5/3

Pass accuracy

76.2%

Progressive passes per 90

5.91

Tackles per 90

2.79

Interceptions per 90

0.58

WhoScored

Merino reached an agreement on personal terms to join Arsenal a little while ago, and some media sources believe that the Spanish star doesn't want to join any other club except the Gunners this summer.

"My information is that this is on the verge of being done. Personal terms are agreed, a deal of around €30m (£25m)," said reporter Steve Kay.

“The clubs have agreed. Merino doesn’t want to sign for anyone else. He’s not signing a new contract. From what I’m hearing it’s the total opposite of what other publications have come out with because as far as I know this will be done in the next couple of days."

The former Newcastle midfielder's return to the Premier League with Arsenal appears imminent, and for around £25 million, he could be a bargain capture.

Joan Garcia agrees to join Arsenal with Mikel Merino

With just days remaining of this transfer window, time is running out for Edu Gaspar and co to make key new additions, including a possible replacement for Aaron Ramsdale.

The Englishman has been regularly linked with a move away this summer after losing his number one spot to David Raya last season, and Romano claims Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia is Arsenal's "priority target" to replace Ramsdale.

He adds that Garcia, who has a £26 million release clause in his contract, has already verbally agreed personal terms to join Mikel Arteta's side.

The Spaniard made 21 appearances in all competitions for Espanyol last season, keeping 12 clean sheets in that time and conceding just 10 goals.

Glasgow Rangers are interested in signing an international free agent to replace James Tavernier, who could still leave Ibrox in the coming days.

Latest on Tavernier’s Rangers future

During the summer transfer window, the Gers and manager Philippe Clement were busy in regards to incomings and outgoings ahead of his first full season in charge.

In total, 10 players arrived at the club either on permanent transfers or loan deals, whereas eight players have found new permanent homes and three were loaned out.

There was plenty of speculation on star right-back Tavernier, but talking at the beginning of August on his future given transfer rumours, he said: "I just don't take any notice, basically. There has been speculation for a long time now if it's a year and a half.

"I addressed it towards the end of last season, I am fully committed to the job in hand. That's where my mindset will always be, fully committed, coming day by day and trying my extreme hardest to push myself and the team on. To do what I do every single day is to be a professional footballer, it's like I'm 18 again. Every single day there is joy for me to come in to train, I am living the dream."

As we know, Tavernier remained at Ibrox beyond the Scottish deadline, however, he is still being linked with a move away from the club.

According to HITC, there are a number of Turkish sides still interested in the defender before their window closes on September 13. Istanbul Basaksehir, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and, Besiktas, now under the management of ex-Ibrox boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst, are all keen on Tavernier’s services.

Therefore, with the possibility of a departure for Tavernier, Rangers have been looking at replacements, which has led them to an experienced free agent.

Rangers eyeing Cyrus Christie move

According to HITC, Rangers are eyeing a move to sign Cyrus Christie as a potential Tavernier replacement. The 31-year-old has been without a club since leaving Hull City in the summer but is attracting interest from a number of clubs.

Alongside Rangers, Championship clubs Coventry City, Millwall, Plymouth and Preston North End are also keen on Christie, whereas he has interest from sides in Greece and Turkey.

Christie, once called “excellent” by Martin O’Neill, is primarily a right-back who can also play as a centre-back or central midfield if needed, as per Transfermarkt. He started his career on the books of Coventry City and went on to play for Derby, Middlesbrough, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Swansea City before joining Hull.

In total, Christie has made 320 appearances in the Championship and 28 in the Premier League, while also winning 30 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

Rangers ready to sell "exceptional" £30k-p/w ace they just rejected bids for

Offers are believed to be imminent.

1 ByHenry Jackson Sep 7, 2024

By the looks of things, a move out of England for the first time in his career could be on the cards with Rangers, making this one to watch.

One of the best academies in English football throughout the Premier League era is undoubtedly Manchester United’s Carrington. The Red Devils have produced some spectacular players over the years, many of whom have gone on to become top-flight legends and iconic figures at Old Trafford.

In the first team at the moment, Erik ten Hag has several academy graduates. They range from the likes of Marcus Rashford, who has become a key player for his boyhood club, to breakout stars Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, United’s goalscorers in their 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City last season.

However, not all of their academy graduates make it at Old Trafford, with some slipping through the cracks and making a name for themselves elsewhere. One of those players is Angel Gomes.

Angel Gomes' career so far

Gomes has been making waves recently, having impressed for England over the last week, making his senior bow under Lee Carsley against the Republic of Ireland, before making his first start against Finland.

He made his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace in May 2017 and became the first player born in the 2000s to play in the Premier League, at 16 years and 263 days old.

However, things did not really pick up for the midfielder, who could not get a look in for the Red Devils. By the time he left on a free transfer to Lille in 2020, he had made just ten appearances for his boyhood club.

The now 24-year-old, who is the godson of former Red Devils winger Nani, has since found a home at the French club. He has now made 118 appearances for the four-time Ligue 1 champions, scoring eight times and registering eight assists.

He has adapted his game superbly, going from an enterprising number ten as a youngster to the deep-lying playmaker we see today. His most recent appearance for the Three Lions at Wembley was superb, and he operated as a 'regista', orchestrating play from a deep role.

His performances earned him an 8/10 from Patrick Rowe, a journalist for Sky Sports, who dubbed him “an intelligent player”. His stats on Sofascore were also superb, completing an incredible 116 out of 123 passes at a 96% success rate.

Stat

Number

Touches

130

Passes completed

116/123

Pass completion rate

94%

Ground duels won

4/8

Long balls completed

3/4

Tackles won

2/2

There is certainly a case to be made that United made a mistake in letting such a talented academy graduate leave for free. It is certainly a mistake they would want to avoid making with another talented young midfielder they have coming through the ranks, Dan Gore.

Man Utd's next Angel Gomes

It has been a frustrating 12 months for United’s young midfielder Gore, who made his first-team debut last season. Ten Hag gave him his maiden Red Devils appearance in the Carabao Cup against Palace, the same opponent Gomes made his debut against, on his 19th birthday.

The youngster also played one minute against Aston Villa on Boxing Day last season, his Premier League bow.

Subsequently, the 19-year-old went out on loan to League One side Port Vale for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign. However, he made just one appearance for the Valiants, before unfortunately picking up an injury which ruled him out for the rest of the season.

As per a report from the Manchester Evening News, Gore dislocated his shoulder in a training session just before pre-season, meaning he missed the Red Devils tour to the United States.

However, the report explains he should be back soon enough, citing 'the early weeks of the 2024/25 season' as his targeted return from injury. He will be hoping he can break into a fairly thin-on-the-ground United midfield, with opportunities potentially coming in the Carabao Cup and the Europa League.

In terms of his profile, Gore is a technical midfielder and is particularly a superb ball carrier. He is small in stature, just 5 foot 5, although this is something he uses to his advantage, much in the same manner as the diminutive Gomes.

The Carrington graduate uses his low centre of gravity superbly and is able to slalom past defenders with ease and progress the ball through the lines. He was described as an “exciting talent” by football scout Antonio Mango.

Having already seen his FA Youth Cup-winning colleague, Mainoo, break into the first-team fold – with the pair lining up together in that showpiece triumph in 2022 – Gore could be the next big thing off the conveyor belt at Old Trafford.

There could be a case to be made that a Gore-Mainoo axis could be the future of United's first-team midfield, with the pair seemingly developing a real understanding together, as Gore himself has noted:

"Kobbie [Mainoo] is a top player and a good lad as well. We work well with each other. If one is out of position the other will fill in. We have a good connection, and we know each other very well."

While Gore’s contract expires in 2026, he still has plenty of time to recover from injury and impress the Red Devils’ coaches and manager, with the hope of soon following in Mainoo's footsteps.

Whatever happens, the club will want to avoid another Gomes situation and lose an excellent youngster for free only for him to kick on and become an England international a few years later.

INEOS should've sold Man Utd dud who earns 10x more than Mainoo

He is their 4th-highest earner

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 8, 2024

West Ham are currently undergoing a huge shift in style. New manager Julen Lopetegui has taken the reins, there have been plenty of incomings and outgoings during the transfer window, and the new manager is trying to guide the group into a more ball-dominant era.

This is a big change from David Moyes last season, who is known as a more pragmatic coach, looking to defend first, and hit teams on the break in transition. The Hammers averaged 40.5% possession last season, the fourth lowest in the division.

Another big change the Hammers are still trying to recover from, is the loss of Declan Rice, who left to join Arsenal in 2023 for a fee of around £105m, signing a five-year deal with the Gunners.

Declan Rice's career at West Ham

Having started off at Chelsea’s academy, Rice eventually moved to West Ham aged 14, having been released by the Blues. The midfielder then emerged through West Ham’s academy, making 32 appearances for the U21 side, before earning his senior debut against Burnley in 2017.

Rice went on to make 245 appearances for West Ham, scoring 15 times, providing 13 assists, and totaling 20,580 minutes, captaining the Hammers and leading them to a UEFA Conference League triumph.

The England international’s meteoric rise saw him become the ninth-youngest player to reach 200 Premier League appearances at 24 years and 105 days. With his prime years still ahead of him, many believe he will go on to achieve even bigger things with Arsenal and even the national team.

That said, once upon a time, they had a player who possessed just as much potential.

Reece Oxford the forgotten man

Another 25-year-old that came through the West Ham academy ranks is Reece Oxford, now described as the “forgotten talent” of English football by scout Jacek Kulig. The 6 foot 4 central defender showed promise at a young age, making the senior team bench at just 15-years-old.

Oxford made 43 appearances for the West Ham U21 side, scoring five goals and providing two assists in 3,676 games, but only managed 17 appearances for the senior side, totaling 802 minutes played.

Ex-West Ham manager, Slavan Bilic, was a massive fan of the player and spoke about Oxford’s hype around the club, and how it actually overshadowed Rice, stating “I couldn’t move around the place without hearing that Reece Oxford was going to be the next big thing. Dec’s was a different story. He was able to come in without the same expectations.”

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

Bilic spoke on that infamous Oxford debut, where the Hammers beat Arsenal 2-0, with the 16-year-old at the time “pocketing” the brilliant Mesut Ozil. That said, Bilic believes from this moment, Oxford had issues such as injuries, causing him to lose some confidence and focus, thus hindering his development.

Oxford is now playing for FC Augsburg, having left West Ham in 2019 for just £3m. The Englishman has made 80 appearances for the German outfit, scoring three goals, providing two assists, and totaling 5,300 minutes played.

The 25-year-old is now valued at just £1.2m by Transfermarkt, a lower value than he had even back in 2016, aged 17, when the defender was valued at £3m. This alone shows the fall off of one of England’s highly regarded talents, one that may actually have allowed Rice to emerge out of the spotlight.

West Ham hit gold on "generational" talent who's now worth more than Rice

He could be the difference-maker above all others this season…

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 10, 2024

Leeds United are looking to build on their win over Cardiff City as they prepare to play host to Coventry City at Elland Road in the Championship on Saturday.

The Whites are currently sixth in the division after their 2-0 win over the Welsh side last time out, and have only lost one of their first six matches.

Daniel Farke’s side are looking to secure promotion from the league at the second time of asking, after they lost 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final last season, and three points against Mark Robins’ side will be another step in the right direction.

Largie Ramazani and Joel Piroe scored the goals for Leeds last time out against Cardiff, after the hosts were reduced to ten men through Joe Bagan’s red card for fouling Wilfried Gnonto on the edge of the box as the last man.

Farke may still look to make some changes to his starting XI from that match, with one potentially forced, and here is our predicted Leeds line-up to take to the field on Saturday.

1 GK – Illan Meslier

Between the sticks, French stopper Illan Meslier should keep his place after keeping another clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Cardiff last time out.

The left-footed only made two saves against the Welsh side but did provide a reliable outlet on the ball for Leeds, completing 89% of his attempted passes.

2 RB – Jayden Bogle

At right-back, summer signing Jayden Bogle deserves to retain his position in the team after an impressive performance against Cardiff last weekend.

The English defender won eight of his 12 duels and created two chances for his teammates, which shows that he made an impact in and out of possession.

3 CB – Joe Rodon

The former Swansea man, Joe Rodon, had little to do against the rivals of his former club, as Leeds dominated the ball and kept attacks away from their centre-backs.

He did not win a single duel, or make any clearances, blocks, or tackles, in his 90 minutes on the pitch, but did complete 95% of his attempted passes.

4 CB – James Debayo

The first change to the starting XI could come at the heart of the defence for Leeds. Pascal Struijk could miss out with an adductor injury, with his availability said to be a last-minute call.

With Max Wober also out with a knee injury, Farke’s options are to move Ampadu back into a centre-back role – as he did last season – or call upon academy talent James Debayo.

In his pre-match press conference, the German boss revealed that he has been “very impressed” by Debayo in training and starting him next to Rodon would allow Ampadu to continue in midfield, which is why that is the route the manager could go down on Saturday.

5 LB – Junior Firpo

At left-back, Junior Firpo should retain his place in the side after the former Barcelona man produced a strong showing last time out against Cardiff.

He won five of his eight duels, making three tackles and two interceptions, and created three chances for his teammates, which shows that the defender offered quality at both ends of the pitch.

6 CM – Ethan Ampadu

Ampadu should captain the team in the middle of the park and will not play at centre-back to replace Struijk, with Debayo boldly unleashed at the back instead.

The Wales international won eight of his 11 duels in midfield against Cardiff and will look to offer a combative presence for Leeds against Coventry.

7 CM – Ilia Gruev

Next to the skipper, Ilia Gruev could be named in the starting XI once again, having started all six of the club’s Championship matches so far this season.

The former Werder Bremen star has yet to register a goal or an assist in the division this term and should be aiming to rectify that in the coming games.

8 RW – Wilfried Gnonto

On the right side of the attack, Wilfried Gnonto should keep his place in the team after he played an important role in the win over Cardiff last weekend.

It was the Italy U21 international’s surging run that forced Bagan to haul him to the floor, albeit momentarily, and take the red card for his side in the first half, which allowed the Whites to go on and control the game with ease against ten men.

9 AM – Joel Piroe

The second change to the starting XI could come in the number ten position as Joel Piroe could be rewarded with a start ahead of Brenden Aaronson.

In the last three matches, the Dutch forward has come off the bench and scored two goals – against Hull and Cardiff – and Farke may look to reward his impressive cameos with a start.

It would be harsh on Aaronson, who has produced two goals and one assist in the Championship this season, but rotation is important when there are 46 games to play in the campaign and he will get plenty of other opportunities to shine.

For this match, Piroe, who was once hailed as “dangerous” by journalist Josh Bunting, should be given a chance to show what he can do from the start after his impressive goalscoring exploits off the bench in recent weeks.

10 LW – Largie Ramazani

On the left side of the attack, Largie Ramazani should make his full debut at Elland Road after his first start in Wales against Cardiff last Saturday.

Manor Solomon remains out with a back injury but the Belgian whiz deserves to start, irrespective of whoever else is available, after a fine finish to open his account for the club in the first half last weekend.

Leeds United head into the international break off the back of a 2-2 draw away at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland last Friday, after conceding in the 97th minute through an Illan Meslier mistake.

Whilst Daniel Farke will be frustrated that his side conceded so late on to cost the team two points, he will surely be pleased with yet another positive performance from Junior Firpo at left-back.

The former Barcelona man scored his first goal at Championship level, to add to his nine assists since the start of last season, with a cultured finish into the bottom corner.

Despite his impressive form, the defender currently has an Expected Transfer Value (xTV) of just €2.4m (£2m) on FootballTransfers, and is not the most valuable full-back in the squad – Jayden Bogle is.

How much Leeds signed Jayden Bogle for

The Whites swooped to sign the right-back from Sheffield United, who had just been relegated to the Championship, for a reported fee of £5m.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

At the time of that move, the Englishman had an xTV of just €3m (£2.5m) after he had played a part in the Blades finishing bottom of the Premier League.

Bogle played in 34 of the club’s 38 matches in the division, as they conceded a whopping 104 goals, and struggled in and out of possession, losing 53% of his ground duels and completing just 70% of his attempted passes.

However, despite his poor form in the top-flight, Leeds appear to have hit the jackpot with the defender, due to his performances on the pitch and his soaring market value.

Jayden Bogle's current market value

At the time of writing (09/10/2024), FootballTransfers rates his expected transfer value at a whopping €11.9m (£10m) and this means that his value has already soared millions higher than it was at Sheffield United, and higher than the fee that the Whites paid for him.

This shows that the club have struck gold by signing the right-back after a difficult spell in the Premier League, as they managed to pick him up at a low point, which has allowed them to bring him back up.

He has been given an opportunity to start week-in-week-out in the Championship in a dominant Farke team and it has allowed him to thrive, which has caused his value to soar – making him the most valuable full-back in the squad and worth more than Firpo.

Appearances

9

Sofascore rating

7.22

Big chances created

3

Assists

0

Pass accuracy

82%

As you can see in the table above, Bogle has showcased his attacking quality with three ‘big chances’ created in nine appearances for the club in the second tier so far this term.

His defensive work has also caught the eye, however, as the 24-year-old star has made 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game and won 59% of his duels in total.

Bogle, who was described as “fearless” by former boss Paul Heckingbottom, has hit the ground running at Elland Road and Farke will be hoping that he can continue to shine down the right to help the team to push for promotion back to the Premier League.

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