Manchester United have not made the most successful of starts to the Premier League season, but Erik ten Hag will now hope to use the last-gasp turnaround against Brentford before the international break as a landmark in the club's season.

Having spent considerably over the summer, United recruited with sights set on building upon last season's third-place league finish and triumph in the Carabao Cup.

But inconsistency and various issues have compounded a lack of fluidity that has left the Old Trafford side in tenth place after eight matches, also bottom of their Champions League group after defeats in both games so far.

However, Scott McTominay's stunning brace from the bench against Thomas Frank's resilient Bees two weeks ago harnessed the fabled 'Fergie Time' aura that will linger perpetually at the Theatre of Dreams, no matter the form of the home side.

It does now mean that Manchester United have the chance to clinch their third Premier League win from four outings against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Clinching three points is the absolute minimum, and despite a spate of injury issues in defence, Ten Hag will be certain of his side's ability to get the job done.

What's the Manchester United team news?

Casemiro has been ruled out of contention having picked up a minor issue on international duty with Brazil, though Ten Hag stated that he is "confident" of the midfielder's availability going forward.

It's something of a mixed bag, as far as the rest of the team is concerned, with Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon both training this week following injuries; Sofyan Amrabat is also available despite missing both of Morocco's recent matches.

The Red Devils have been hindered by a deluge of defensive setbacks this season, and while Ten Hag is emboldened by greater options today, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Lisandro Martinez remain sidelined.

Amrabat, who signed on a loan worth £8.5m from Serie A side Fiorentina on deadline day in August – with an option to sign on a permanent deal next summer for £21m – has started the past two matches in the Premier League, but Ten Hag must now consider whether starting him in favour of another midfield machine would be the best move today.

How is Sofyan Amrabat performing at Manchester United?

Manchester United's pursuit of Moroccan machine Amrabat was well-documented this summer, and while there were concerns that a deal wouldn't cross the line, Ten Hag succeeded in welcoming his former player (at Dutch side Utrecht) in the dying embers.

The £65k-per-week ace had earned acclaim for his performances over the past few years and was even described as the "best central midfielder in the tournament" by journalist Carlo Garganese after his central role with Morocco at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He is, undoubtedly, one of the most composed and measured presences in Ten Hag's team, but his particular set of skills. while instilling control, do not quite progress the play as well as certain other phenoms in the Red Devils squad.

Over the past year, Amrabat ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, the top 10% for attempted passes and the top 14% for progressive passes per 90, but also ranks among the bottom 34% for assists and 27% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

FBref likens the 27-year-old to Arsenal's Jorginho, and this is quite an apt assessment of where his talents lie, and while he is "perfectly suited to Ten Hag's Man Utd", according to Statman Dave, the forthcoming match against Paul Heckingbottom's side could be a great opportunity to unleash Christian Eriksen.

Why should Christian Eriksen start vs Sheffield United?

Hailed as a “genius” by Statman Dave, Eriksen has been one of the finest playmakers in the Premier League over the past decade.

Player

No of Assists

Kevin De Bruyne

102

James Milner

87

Christian Eriksen

75

Ashley Young

71

Mohamed Salah

63

Signing for Manchester United from Brentford on a free transfer in 2022, the 31-year-old has now forged 53 displays, scoring three goals and supplying 11 assists.

The £150k-per-week maestro has posted one goal and one assist across seven matches this season, but has only started three times in the English top flight, having started from the bench on the past three occasions.

The Danish midfielder ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for assists, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for attempted passes and the top 7% for progressive passes per 90.

Clearly, Eriksen's talent lies in his ball-playing ability and creativity, and while Amrabat boasts a superlative level of passing, he is more disciplined and metronomic in his carriage.

Against the Blades, who are moored in deep waters already this season, United will ostensibly have little trouble with controlling the flow of the match – after all, today's hosts rank bottom for shots (71) and 19th for passes (2,773) in the division this season.

There is nothing to suggest that Amrabat and Eriksen couldn't thrive together in the middle of the pitch, and with Casemiro ruled out this is certainly a possibility today.

But given McTominay's destructive cameo last time out at Old Trafford, it would make sense to provide him with a starting berth against the Premier League's bottom club.

Ten Hag will want to restore the balance and get United, belatedly, up and running for good this term, and anything other than a victory over Heckingbottom's men will set the vultures circling.

Eriksen has not started any of the past three Premier League matches, but must be unleashed today to pump inventive life into the United squad, which will only benefit from his creativity.

Nottingham Forest have endured a testing start to the 2023/24 Premier League season, as Steve Cooper’s side continue to adapt to life in the top-flight.

The Reds secured promotion back in 2022, and renewed their Premier League status on the penultimate day of the 2022/23 campaign, with the hope there to grow on their confirmation of survival.

Away from the leap from the Championship to the top tier, Cooper has orchestrated some severe changes to the squad since Forest’s promotion, with 34 players added to the ranks since last summer.

From loans, to transfers, to capturing free agents, the Tricky Trees have seen a host of players take to the pitch at the City Ground over the past year, which has undoubtedly halted the progression to some degree as the squad continues to adapt.

Starting the season facing Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City from the opening six fixtures was never going to be an easy task for Cooper’s side, however positive signs have been traceable from the first ten games.

The issue remains, however, that the Reds are edging towards the relegation zone, sitting five points above the drop in 16th, having secured only two wins so far.

As a result, it looks as though Cooper could be in a position to eye even further reinforcements to bolster his side, in the bid to register Forest as an established top-flight side rather than one adapting post-promotion.

Nottingham Forest transfer targets

According to the latest rumours surrounding potential January targets for Forest, it seems as though the Reds will be eyeing additional forwards this winter.

One name that has circulated is summer target Samuel Iling-Junior, who is said to be set for a transfer from Juventus, who are hoping they can cash in on the Englishman.

A report from Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, claimed that the winger could be available for a minimum price of €15m (£13m), adding that Premier League trio Everton, Brighton and Forest are eyeing the movements of the 20-year-old.

Another forward that has been mentioned with reference to Forest is Stuttgart talisman Serhou Guirassy, who is wanted by both the Reds and Fulham, according to BILD – as relayed by Tribal Football.

The 27-year-old has already netted 14 Bundesliga goals in only eight games this season, highlighting just how prolific a signing he could be for Forest.

During the summer, Forest were denied the chance to sign Turkish winger Karem Akturkoglu due to their bid of €11m (£9.5m) being deemed too low by Galatasaray, as per reports in the player's homeland.

A fresh report from Turkey – as relayed by TEAMtalk – has provided further information that suggests that the Reds could opt to delve back in for the forward this winter, however they would be joined by a host of Premier League clubs who are also interested.

In 2022, a report from football.london credited Arsenal’s supposed admiration for the 25-year-old, who quoted that the Lions would be looking for a price in the region of €20m (£17m) for their star.

It will be an interesting development to follow if the Reds decide to knock once again for the Turkey international, who would undoubtedly be a statement signing at the City Ground.

The stats that suggest Karem Akturkoglu could be a good signing for Forest

The 25-year-old has started the 2023/24 campaign in exemplary fashion, having scored five goals and recorded seven assists in 19 appearances in all competitions.

The forward has already shown his worth against English opposition, having claimed a goal at Old Trafford in the Champions League in the Lions’ win over Manchester United to showcase the danger he can impose.

Contributing to goals is nothing out of the ordinary for the Turkey international, who contributed to Galatasaray’s title-winning campaign last term, scoring ten goals and registering 14 assists in all competitions.

Average

Rank in squad

4

1st

3.1

1st

0.4

1st

7.39

2nd

As demonstrated in the graph above, Akturkoglu is one of Galatasaray’s best performers so far this term, exploiting his talent on the left flank to inspire his teammates to get forward.

Identifiable as a tireless figure in the wide channels, the 25-year-old could be the perfect signing to add further star quality to Cooper’s options going forward, in the bid to promote a higher standard of play at Forest.

Karem Akturkoglu’s style of play

While Akturkoglu is a typical dynamic and direct wide player, the £23k-per-week gem is also an assured playmaker, and can bring an array of elements to any side in the final third.

A scouting report via The Scouting App described the winger as a 'must-watch in European football', attributing his 'enormous technique' and 'dribbling abilities' to his success in Turkey.

The Scouting App also lauded the 25-year-old as a 'difficult element to contain' due to his direct nature and speed, qualities that the Reds know all too well can be used to great effect.

This summer, the Premier League side bid farewell to Brennan Johnson, who was a key part of Cooper’s front line in both the Championship and the Premier League – having scored 26 league goals across the last two seasons combined.

The Welshman is known for his "frightening" pace among a host of strengths – as per compatriot Joe Allen – expertise that Forest were forced to live without as he signed for Tottenham on deadline day.

Cooper’s set-up at Forest relies heavily on the potency of his wide players, making Akturkoglu a particularly strong candidate for the manager to eye in January to finally replace Johnson.

How Karem Akturkoglu compares to Brennan Johnson

Once praised as “unstoppable” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Turkish forward has the capacity to fill the void left by Johnson, with his approach to play very similar to the Forest academy graduate.

Brennan Johnson

Karem Akturkoglu

8

9

3

11

0.7

0.6

4

17

0.8

2.3

63%

70%

0.9

1.5

When comparing the respective 2022/23 league campaigns of both Johnson and Akturkoglu, the numbers show that the Galatasaray whiz could even offer Cooper an upgrade on his departed gem.

As portrayed in the graph above, the Kocaeli-born star could act as a far greater presence in the final third for Forest compared to how Johnson impacted the side last term.

Not only did the Turkey international score more goals and record more assists than the Welshman, but he also provided a significantly higher threat on a playmaking level, adding to The Scouting App’s claims that he is the 'complete' player.

Forest aren’t alone in their admiration for Akturkoglu, making a potential swoop for the winger even more of a challenge in January, however the prospect of capturing his signature is a highly exciting situation for the Reds to be in.

In the summer of 2016, new Everton owner Farhad Moshiri sought to make a statement of intent in the transfer window by unloading a war chest of funds on several players.

Unfortunately, their business in that summer would foreshadow what was to come as a misfiring transfer strategy continues to be at the forefront of their demise seven years later.

The only two success stories to come from that window were the £1.5m acquisition of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin from Sheffield United and the £7.1m shelled out for Aston Villa's all-action midfielder, Idrissa Gueye.

The rest of the personnel that arrived all drastically failed in an Everton shirt as Ashley Williams, Morgan Schneiderlin and Ademola Lookman bled the club dry across their spells at the club.

Yet, the most disappointing name on that list was Yannick Bolasie, as the explosive winger was captured from Crystal Palace for a reported club-record fee.

The fee Everton paid for Yannick Bolasie

Described by former manager Alan Pardew as "exciting", Bolasie had Premier League defences on strings for years at Selhurst Park with his searing pace and exceptional trickery, so when Ronald Koeman splashed £30m on the player, Everton may have felt like they were getting their money's worth.

The DR Congo international spent a successful four years at Palace terrorising defences, forming an indispensable partnership with fellow electric winger Wilfried Zaha as that destructive duo helped the Eagles soar back to the top flight in 2013, recording 26 goal contributions between them.

After destroying the Championship, Bolasie would become a thorn in the back of Premier League defences, utilising his pace and athleticism to carve through teams on the counter, without having the goal contributions to show for it.

He did not manage to score and only chalked up four assists across the 2013/14 season, however, the explosive winger would soon turn his sensational build-up play into dynamite in the following term, supplying 11 assists and four goals with Jamie Carragher labelling his performances as "outstanding".

By the time the Toffees snapped him up in 2016, Bolasie had established himself as one of the most exciting wingers to watch in the division, with the Athletic aptly describing him as "Palace's entertainer".

During his association with the South London club, he produced some sensational moments worthy of getting supporters excited, including the profound 'Bolasie flick' and the role he played in the 'Crystanbul' draw with Liverpool.

The Goodison Park faithful envisaged seeing him take Merseyside by storm with his eye-catching and powerful performances, but they were to be disappointed.

Yannick Bolasie's performance at Everton

The hair-raising and magical Bolasie would soon turn into a shell of his former self, perhaps falling victim to the huge expectations and pressure applied on his shoulders.

There was always a question of what Bolasie's ceiling was, impressing with his excellent approach play and ability to glide past defenders, while his output in the final third was severely lacking.

Everton's manager at the time, Koeman, would have felt he could have transformed the 50-cap Congo international into a goal-scoring phenom, which would have propelled him towards the upper echelon of Premier League wingers.

However, he was incredibly unfortunate to have ruptured his ACL early on in his Toffees career in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United. This horrendous injury sidelined him for just over a year and saw him miss a total of 63 games.

Bolasie never quite recovered from this huge setback, seeing his progress in Blue stall as he only scored two goals and supplied four assists in 32 appearances across five years.

A handful of new bosses followed, as did an influx of players and this saw him loaned out to several clubs, including Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Anderlecht.

He was released by Everton in 2021 and is now a free agent following a prosperous spell at Turkish side Caykur Risespor, rolling back the years with 20 goals in 55 appearances.

The capture of Bolasie, who ended up departing on a free transfer, turned out to be a huge blunder on Koeman's behalf as his exciting £30m signing failed to make a significant impact on the pitch and left for nothing.

Tottenham Hotspur look set to lose one of their first-team stars sooner rather than later as Ange Postecoglou looks to trim his squad, according to a fresh report.

Tottenham Hotspur's fine start in the Premier League

Despite Manchester City's victory over Bournemouth on Saturday, Spurs will have the chance to regain top spot in the Premier League table on Monday when they host London rivals Chelsea in N17.

Tottenham vs Chelsea match preview

So far, Tottenham have been in fine fettle domestically, winning eight and drawing two of their opening ten league matches; however, tough encounters are on the horizon for Postecoglou's men as they aim to prove their mettle as title contenders.

Nevertheless, the initial signs emanating from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are very positive indeed, especially when factoring in how the goal burden has been shared around the Lilywhites' squad.

Son Heung-min leads the scoring charts with eight strikes for Spurs, while James Maddison has three goals, and Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski and Cristian Romero are all tied on two apiece this term across all competitions (Tottenham squad statistics – Transfermarkt).

Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies are doubts for the visit of Chelsea and will undergo fitness tests before a decision on their availability is determined.

Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic and Ryan Sessegnon are all unavailable for selection as Postecoglou looks to become only the third manager in Premier League history to go unbeaten in their first 11 games in charge, which would see him join Nottingham Forest's Frank Clark and former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri in achieving this feat.

Of course, Chelsea's visit will also mark the return of Mauricio Pochettino to his old stomping ground for the first time since he was sacked by Tottenham in 2019. Speaking before the London derby, as per BBC Sport, Pochettino stated: "It's really special to go back to a place where we created amazing memories together. It's special, I'm not going to lie. That is true."

Even though Spurs are seemingly entering a new era on the field, another one of the old guard could now be set to depart, according to latest reports.

Tottenham Hotspur's next five fixtures – all competitions

Competition

Opponent

Venue

Premier League

Chelsea (H)

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Premier League

Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)

Molineux

Premier League

Aston Villa (H)

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Premier League

Manchester City (A)

Etihad Stadium

Premier League

West Ham United (H)

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Eric Dier now set to leave Tottenham Hotspur

According to a transfer update from Football Insider, Tottenham star Eric Dier is set to leave the club in 2024. Dier is keen to run down his contract and leave as a free agent rather than be sold in January. Spurs will listen to offers in January for the former Sporting CP man, who has not featured at all under Postecoglou's stewardship.

The England international reportedly believes more options to continue his career trajectory would become apparent if he is available as a free agent, after talks collapsed between Dier and Tottenham over a contract extension in north London.

Dier, who has previously been hailed as a "reliable player" by Antonio Conte, has made 360 appearances for Tottenham across all competitions during his time at the club, notching 13 goals and 12 assists (Dier statistics – Transfermarkt).

Now, it looks as if the experienced defender could be set to embark on a new venture as his time at Tottenham slowly draws to a close.

Enzo Maresca's Leicester City have enjoyed an unbelievable start to the Championship this season, sitting top of the tree in the second tier at the time of writing with 13 wins from 16 matches – at one stage, the Foxes had won nine games in a row before Leeds United spoiled the feel-good factor and defeated the formidable Foxes.

That defeat to the Whites was then followed up with another narrow 1-0 defeat on the road at Middlesbrough, Michael Carrick's men getting the better of Leicester at the Riverside Stadium.

Showing chinks in their collective armour, Maresca will look to January as a time where he can bolster his squad with a couple of new additions especially if the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall leave the building.

Here's what a predicted Leicester XI could look like come the end of the January window…

1 GK – Mads Hermansen

Only missing one game under his Spanish manager this season since joining from Brøndby IF this summer, the young Dane has been fantastic in goal this Championship campaign for the Foxes.

The 23-year-old has only conceded ten goals from 16 second-tier matches to date, Hermansen solving the issue of Leicester not being able to successfully replace Kasper Schmeichel by giving the club another terrific Scandinavian shot-stopper.

2 RB – Ricardo Pereira

The Portuguese right-back is a given to retain his spot in Maresca's starting eleven regardless of January incomings or outgoings, the 30-year-old reliable in defence whilst remaining attack-minded when needed.

Pereira this campaign so far has shone even when the Foxes have a rare off-day, winning five of his six ground duels last time out in the 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough per Sofascore.

3 CB – Jannik Vestergaard

Hailing from Denmark much like his goalkeeper, Vestergaard is also a key component to Leicester's steely defence this campaign alongside Hermansen.

Averaging a 7.38 Sofascore rating this season in the second tier, Vestergaard has stood out in terms of his tireless work at the back with Leicester's number 23 recovering the ball an average of 5.4 times per game so far this season.

4 CB – Wout Faes

A regular first-team figure in the Premier League for the relegated Foxes, Faes has only cemented his spot in the team further since Leicester suffered the drop with the Belgian centre-back excellent at thwarting Championship strikers.

His display in Leicester's 3-0 triumph over Preston North End at the start of October exemplified Faes' overall game – winning two of his three ground duels, whilst accurately picking out teammates with six of his nine attempted long balls as per Sofascore.

5 LB – James Justin

Heralded as the next best thing in English football after signing a deal to join Leicester back in 2019, Justin is one of the first names on Maresca's team sheet currently with his contributions at full-back key.

Much like Vestergaard alongside him in the back four, Justin very rarely has a poor game. This was apparent in the away loss at the Riverside suffered last weekend, the Foxes number two winning four successful tackles across the 90 minutes per Sofascore unfortunately to no avail for his side.

6 CM – Hamza Choudhury

At Leicester since 2005, working his way up the ranks with plenty of loans away from the King Power Stadium, Choudhury is now in and around the first team centrally and will remain in the midfield trio under Maresca even if other individuals are potentially pinched.

With Wilfred Ndidi and the aforementioned Dewsbury-Hall both rumoured to be out of the door, Choudhury will be even more crucial to Maresca's plans if Premier League suitors swoop in for his top talents.

7 CM – Harry Winks

An experienced presence in the centre of the park for the Foxes, notching up over 200 appearances for Tottenham in the first team, Harry Winks has only missed seven minutes of Championship football to date this campaign since leaving Spurs behind.

He's even scored a screamer for his new employers in league action, hitting a thunderous strike into the back of net versus QPR to the rapturous adoration of the die-hard Leicester away fans packed into the Loftus Road away end.

8 CM – Lewis Fiorini

Maresca does look to be facing a losing battle to keep Dewsbury-Hall at the King Power past this January, with interest in his wanted man intensifying in recent weeks from the likes of Fulham wanting to add the talented midfielder to their ranks.

Maresca could well flex his previous Manchester City connections by replacing Dewsbury-Hall with current City man Lewis Fiorini, the Scottish 21-year-old a hit out on loan in the Eredivisie at NAC Breda and also lower down the EFL pyramid with Lincoln City.

Scoring 16 goals from central midfield in his career to date, Fiorini's next destination simply has to be Leicester to replace an expected departee in Dewsbury-Hall.

9 RW – Jhon Arias

Linked with Leeds United on top of other interested parties, the Foxes could break hearts at Elland Road by signing Jhon Arias from under the noses of Daniel Farke's men.

Lacking a fixed right winger option at this moment in time – with Pereira played further forward in the loss at Middlesbrough to accommodate – current Fluminese man Arias would be the perfect, explosive attacker signing Maresca would want to take his Foxes team to another level altogether.

The South American forward has managed nine goals and 14 assists from his year to date out in Brazil, ready to be unleashed onto the Championship if signed.

10 ST – Ben Brereton Diaz

Ben Brereton Diaz is being lined up for a return to Championship football just months after departing Blackburn Rovers for Villarreal, the Chile international yet to score for the La Liga side with the Spanish club impatient and unsatisfied with the striker's impotency.

Leicester City could offer the ex-Blackburn man a lifeline, leading the line for the Foxes to cruise home to an automatic promotion spot and return to the Premier League again.

Netting 22 goals during the peak of his Rovers powers during the 2021-22 season, Maresca would be overjoyed with his addition to the group.

West Ham United are admirers of an exciting young coach should they decide to sack David Moyes, according to a reliable journalist.

West Ham's up and down season continues

The Irons have made an extremely mixed start to the new campaign having won five, drawn two and lost five of their opening 12 games, meaning that they currently find themselves ninth in the top-flight table heading into the international break.

Following Sunday’s 3-2 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest, which just about epitomised their campaign, Moyes’ side will have gained some confidence that they are able to go on a positive run of form upon their return to domestic action, but regardless, there have been some questions asked about the manager’s position in the dugout.

According to 90min, David Sullivan is happy for the Scotsman to see out his contract until the end of the season unless a candidate that fits the profile of what he’s looking for was to become available between now and then, but it’s not the first time that chiefs have assessed their options in the market.

The London Stadium outfit have previously been credited with an interest in Feyenoord’s Arne Slot and Lille’s Paulo Fonseca, as per the same report, and they have now set their sights on an alternative who has experience playing in the Premier League.

West Ham chiefs considering Michael Carrick

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Dean Jones revealed that Michael Carrick is of interest to West Ham and admitted that he has the attributes to match what the board are searching for.

“My expectation would be that they look to be forward-thinking. Unless West Ham suddenly find themselves in crisis and need crisis management, that's the only time I could see them going for somebody with huge experience as their next appointment.

“I would expect them though to go for somebody who's younger, more forward-thinking and is more in tune with the way that the game is heading in the next 10 years, rather than how it's been for the last 10 years. That's what I would be thinking. Carrick is a really interesting one, but we have to see which direction his career goes in right now. But he's definitely somebody who is on West Ham's radar.”

Michael Carrick's record at Middlesbrough

Since being appointed at Middlesbrough, Carrick has won 29, drawn eight and lost 16 of his 53 games in charge, taking a total of 95 points from a possible 159 whilst averaging 1.79 points per match (Transfermarkt – Carrick statistics), so he’s really settled into life at the helm at the Riverside Stadium.

The Wallsend-born coach, who is 42 years of age, was also named last week’s Championship Manager of the Week for successfully beating Leicester City, so he’s proven that he’s capable of overcoming a squad of mostly Premier League players.

Furthermore, Carrick, who is “perfect” at bringing out the best in his stars and developing younger talents, according to journalist Josh Bunting, led the northeast outfit to the second tier playoffs at the end of last season, so for a manager who already knows what it takes to compete and be successful under big pressure, he could be the ideal candidate for West Ham.

Chelsea opted to hire Mauricio Pochettino as manager in the summer and Todd Boehly armed him with the necessary funds to bolster his squad.

While a ludicrous amount of money was spent on the likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, a key theme was present throughout the majority of their business and that was a strategy of recruiting players under the age of 23.

Since Boehly took over, the Blues recruitment model has shifted towards acquiring youngsters, who they can develop into superstars, as opposed to players in their prime.

Pochettino boasts a strong track record of developing young players, so he felt like the perfect man to lead Chelsea into a new era.

And he's already demonstrated those powers by getting the best out of Palmer, who has posted eight goal contributions since arriving from Manchester City in the summer.

Competition for places in the first-team is overflowing, but the Argentine also has an impressive roster of players to handpick from his academy, including 17-year-old winger Ato Ampah, who could become the club's next Raheem Sterling.

Ato Ampah's season in numbers

The explosive winger, who signed as an under-11 from grassroots football, has been in terrific goalscoring form in the under-18 Premier League this term and has demonstrated his ability as a regular source of goals from wide.

Described by Chelsea's official website as a 'very quick and dynamic attacking player', Ampah has racked up an impressive four goals and supplied two assists in four matches, including a hand in all five goals in their 5-1 rout of Aston Villa.

Much like Sterling, who can operate on either flank, the talented teenager can play in a number of forward positions and this show of versatility will only increase his first-team chances in the future.

Ampah has always had the desire to beat his opponent with pace and skill to fashion opportunities for his team, with the video above depicting the youngster terrorising defences in the under-16s, and this season he's producing the end product to match his sensational approach play.

Likewise, Sterling has become renowned for those attributes throughout his career, rising to prominence as one of the league's most coveted wingers.

It is therefore impressive that Ampah – who has already trained with the first team – is currently on par with such a quality player in terms of scoring and that is a testament to the teenager's talents.

Raheem Sterling's season by numbers

During his first 38 games in a Chelsea shirt, Sterling struggled to replicate the form he showed at Man City, having only scored nine goals.

However, since the arrival of Pochettino, the 28-year-old has shown signs of returning to his scintillating best.

In 14 matches this season, the Englishman has produced five goals and supplied two assists in all competitions and although that form didn't warrant him a place in Gareth Southgate's latest England squad, the second half of the season will prove pivotal to his chances.

With a shot at EURO 2024 glory on the cards next summer, the fleet-footed winger will want to play a starring role in his nation's chances having featured at every major tournament since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

While his clear aim is to get back into England reckoning, Ampah will be continuing his development in Chelsea's youth setup with the hope of one day fulfilling his dream of pulling on the famous Blue shirt.

Liverpool have received a huge boost after learning that one of their sidelined players has returned to training ahead of Saturday's highly-anticipated encounter vs Manchester City in the Premier League, according to a reliable journalist.

Liverpool injury news

The Reds currently have Andrew Robertson, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Conor Bradley out on the sidelines with their own respective problems as it stands, although there has recently been some more positive news regarding three other squad members.

At Anfield, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez are all expected to stage their comeback during this weekend’s fixture at the Etihad Stadium, and if the following update is to be believed, they might not be the only ones stepping back onto the grass.

Liverpool legend is now "turning heads" at Anfield ahead of possible return

Have they found Klopp’s successor?

ByHenry Jackson Nov 20, 2023

Despite being called up to represent France, Ibrahima Konate had to withdraw from his nation’s squad for the international break due to sustaining a hamstring injury which initially will have no doubt caused concern among supporters.

There were fears that Jurgen Klopp’s centre-back wouldn’t be available for selection for the club’s return to domestic action, but it would appear that isn’t in fact the case, with the 24-year-old already having his boots back on as he builds up his fitness.

Ibrahima Konate returns to training

Taking to X on Thursday, The Times' Paul Joyce confirmed that Konate has returned to training, alongside a few other of his teammates as Liverpool prepare to travel to Man City with a healthy squad on Saturday.

He wrote: "Liverpool’s South American contingent, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate all training today ahead of Manchester City game."

Klopp boosted by positive update on "outstanding" Konate

Despite having only made five starts this season in the Premier League, Liverpool will know what an integral feature Konate can be when at the top of his game, so the fact that he’s likely to be back at Klopp’s disposal this weekend will be a huge boost.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the colossus was averaging 2.6 clearances and 1.9 aerial wins per top-flight game prior to his absence (WhoScored – Konate statistics), showing what a rock he is at the heart of the backline and the physical presence that he’s able to provide.

Likes to play short passes

Passing

Concentration

Likes to dribble

Aerial duels

Discipline

Likes to tackle

Tackling

Commits fouls often

The Paris native, who pockets £70k-per-week (Liverpool salaries), is currently recording a 92.3% pass success rate which shows how extremely calm and composed he is in possession, therefore taking control of the play when he’s got the ball at his feet.

According to journalist Josh Bunting, Konate is an “outstanding” player and one who works wonders when playing alongside Virgil van Dijk, but regardless of whether he’s named in the starting line-up or not dependent on where he is with his fitness, the fact that he could be back in the squad is welcome news.

Brighton and Hove Albion are shrewd operators in the transfer market and that has been evinced on the pitch, with several unearthed gems now bearing fruit for the Seagulls.

Roberto De Zerbi's side finished sixth in the Premier League last term and are now plying their trade in Europe for the first time in their history.

The South Coast club, who were in League One 12 years ago, have leveraged themselves into a position where they were able to land the signature of a Barcelona superstar, Ansu Fati.

The Spanish loanee is due to return to the Catalan giants next year, as Football FanCast takes a look at the four Brighton and Hove Albion players who are leaving on a free next summer.

4 Ansu Fati

Left-winger, 21-years-old

Okay, this one is cheating a bit.

Ansu Fati's arrival from Barcelona in the summer caused quite a stir around the Premier League, as fans couldn't quite believe the Seagulls were able to attract his services.

That's not a knock on Brighton, of course, who were electrifying last year under the stewardship of De Zerbi and a home for talented youngsters to develop.

The Spaniard made his debut for Barca at the age of 16, becoming the second-youngest player to ever play for the club. He was once regarded as a future Ballon d'Or winner but injuries somewhat stunted his rocketing trajectory.

Read more: 10 potential future Ballon d'Or award winners

Nonetheless, Fati is still a quality operator and has evinced that already, netting four times whilst laying on one assist across 13 outings for Brighton.

The Amex will be his stage to shine for the remainder of the season before his one-year loan deal expires.

Ansu Fati's career in numbers

Team

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Trophies

Spain

10

2

1

1

Barcelona

112

29

10

3

Brighton

13

4

1

0

3 Adam Lallana

Attacking midfielder, 35-years-old

Former Liverpool and Southampton playmaker Adam Lallana was brought in on a free transfer in July 2020 and has amassed 82 appearances for the Seagulls, scoring four goals whilst laying on three assists.

The 35-year-old has started four league games this term which indicates he is still very much a part of De Zerbi's plans, though, there doesn't appear to be any discussions over extending his stay.

Speaking in March after penning a one-year extension, Lallana said: “It’s no secret that I’m really enjoying myself at this football club. Although I’m not getting any younger, I still feel that I can contribute a lot.

“The club and especially Roberto made that very clear, so it made my decision very easy.”

Lallana joined up with the England under-21s in September as a player-coach – perhaps revealing his future aspirations.

“It was an amazing insight for me into what may lie in the future, I was delighted with the opportunity and thankful to Brighton and Roberto (De Zerbi) for not just being happy for me to go, but excited that I got the opportunity," the former England international said.

Lallana's career path

Date

Left

Joined

Fee

October 1st, 2007

Southampton

Bournemouth

Loan

November 1st, 2007

Bournemouth

Southampton

End of loan

July 1st, 2014

Southampton

Liverpool

£26.9m

July 27th, 2020

Liverpool

Brighton

Free

2 James Milner

Midfielder, 37-years-old

James Milner left Liverpool in the summer and made the move down south to pen a one-year deal with Brighton on a free transfer.

The veteran has the option of a further year and that may well be exercised after starting eight matches across all competitions this term.

Milner has operated at left-back, right-back and central midfield, evincing his tremendous versatility – which is an increasingly popular trait in today's game.

Milner's career in numbers

Team

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Trophies

England

61

1

6

0

Liverpool

332

26

46

7

Manchester City

203

19

44

5

Newcastle United

136

11

19

0

Aston Villa

126

22

26

0

Leeds United

53

5

1

0

Brighton and Hove Albion

10

0

0

0

Swindon Town

6

2

0

0

1 Danny Welbeck

Striker, 32-years-old

Danny Welbeck joined the South Coast club in October 2020 following a brief spell with Watford. The former Arsenal forward signed a one-year deal at the time, which perhaps suggests maybe the Seagulls weren't totally convinced.

But he's established himself as a key figure under De Zerbi and his predecessor, Graham Potter, who awarded him with a new contract in August 2022.

Welbeck has made just shy of a century of appearances for Brighton, scoring 20 goals and providing 10 assists and has started seven league games this season before sustaining a long-term injury.

The 42-cap England international was stretchered off against Manchester City last month with what appeared to be a knee injury, though, his boss was not prepared to disclose the specifics.

"Unfortunately it's a very tough injury – football is like this and injury can happen. It's not my job to inform you about the injury, I know we've lost an important player for a long time but I don't want to cry because sometimes managers do when they lose players," De Zerbi said.

Welbeck's deal at the Amex is due to expire next summer and the extent of his injury could have a bearing on whether he's offered new terms.

Welbeck's Brighton career

Season

Appearances

Goal

Assists

2020/21

24

6

3

2021/22

27

6

3

2022/23

37

7

4

2023/24

11

1

0

Erik ten Hag will look to bolster his attacking options at Manchester United by acquiring a £36m-rated ex-Chelsea forward in January.

As per reporter Florian Plettenberg, the Red Devils have enquired about 27-year-old, Timo Werner, however negotiations are yet to take place.

The likelihood is that Werner will remain at his current club until the summer, but the move could develop over the next few weeks.

Why Man United want Werner

Following an impressive debut campaign as manager of Manchester United, Ten Hag has been dealt an unfair hand this season, due to the sheer number of players that have been unavailable, with the current list tallying up to ten.

This was on show at Goodison Park at the weekend, with the only attackers on the Red Devils bench being Facundo Pellistri and youngster, Joe Hugill.

Rasmus Hojlund was one of the players who endured time out, which left an injury-prone Anthony Martial as the main striker versus Everton. Unreliable is the most appropriate term to describe the French attacker and Ten Hag will want to ensure that his side isn’t without a true number nine like last season.

Availability is key and Werner’s injury record whilst he was at Chelsea wasn’t an issue, only missing nine matches throughout his time in London due to injury.

The RB Leipzig forward is known for his electric pace, movement beyond the opponent and being a natural goal scorer, who is lethal when confidence is high. Werner also recognises himself as a player who can perform in numerous roles and four years ago, he stated “I’ve become more versatile”.

Buying individuals who can cover a handful of positions will be beneficial to United, especially going into the second half of the campaign. Werner can feature off Hojlund, as a lone striker or as a left-sided forward, but Rafael van der Vaart isn’t convinced by the attacker, labelling him as a "blind horse".

The Bundesliga transfer curse

Manchester United have signed a handful of players from the Bundesliga in the past, with the majority of those individuals failing to live up to the high standards set by the United faithful.

Jadon Sancho, Shinji Kagawa and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all made the switch from Borussia Dortmund, yet despite having small spells of quality, a lack of consistency has been the driving force behind a shortened career at Old Trafford.

Sancho has been the notable Bundesliga nightmare, now alienated from the squad by Ten Hag after some less-than-favourable numbers. Indeed, the former Dortmund man has only registered 12 goals in 82 outings for the Red Devils.

Unlike the three aforementioned, Werner has played in the English top-flight prior and Premier League fans are more informed of his ability. During his first campaign at Chelsea, Werner played an important role in the UEFA Champions League triumph, whilst also scoring 12 goals and accumulating 15 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions.

However, the signing of Romelu Lukaku in the 2021/22 season affected the German and he later claimed that he “didn’t feel honoured enough”.

It is reasonable to presume that if Ten Hag had his full squad available, including Werner, then the rapid forward would not make it into his best starting XI ahead of Marcus Rashford or Hojlund.

Given the quote just mentioned and the fact that the boss doesn’t rotate often, dressing room unrest may occur like at Chelsea, which raises question marks on whether this would be a smart signing.