Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has refused to be drawn on speculation surrounding his relationship with manager Jose Mourinho.
Numerous media outlets have suggested that the pair have clashed, with The Sun recently reporting that the Frenchman is willing to quit United if Mourinho remains in charge.
The speculation has stemmed from the manager’s decision to drop Pogba for a few important games.
Questions have been raised over the £89m star’s position in the team, with some arguing that he is better suited playing further forward than as part of a two-man midfield.
The former Juventus midfielder, who signed for the Red Devils in the summer of 2016, was left out of the first XI for last week’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Sevilla.
At the weekend, though, Pogba returned to the starting lineup to help the North-West outfit earn a 2-1 triumph over Chelsea.
This week, the France international joined teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the opening of a Padel centre in Stockholm.
According to the Manchester Evening News, an Expressen journalist asked Pogba about his ‘situation’ with Mourinho.
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The midfielder made it clear that he did not want to discuss the subject.
“I’m only here to support Zlatan and talk about Padel.”
Tottenham’s most significant win at Wembley since making it their temporary home in Europe at the start of last season was as relentless as it was thrilling. From the opening few minutes it was abundantly clear that there would be goals and by the quarter-hour mark, onlookers were already privilege to three; Spurs scoring from two doppelganger counter-attacks down the left wing and Borussia Dortmund’s Andriy Yarmolenko netting a delicious curler in between. Late on, Harry Kane would seal the result with a swerving, low strike for Tottenham’s third.
Unquestionably, Dortmund represent Tottenham’s biggest scalp to date at Wembley and provide the most encouraging signs yet that the season-long stint in the national stadium won’t derail the incredible progress the team have made over the last two seasons. It was also Mauricio Pochettino’s most impressive result in Europe since becoming Spurs boss; prior to last night, Spurs’ record at Wembley since the start of last season was one win from seven, while Pochettino’s win rate in continental competitions as Tottenham manager was just 43% – hardly high enough to successfully marauding through the many knockout rounds.
After a pulsating victory against a team that embarrassed Spurs in Europe two seasons ago in a 5-1 aggregate demolition, it was quite clear Tottenham’s players and their manager were glad to have the Wembley hoodoo off their backs – or at the very least, have the evidence to convince people to stop harping on about it. Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane both grimaced when the BT Sport interviewer quizzed them on the Wembley curse post-match and perhaps most tellingly of how not necessarily the record itself but certainly the relentless discussion of it has frustrated the Spurs camp over the last year, Pochettino told reporters; “I hope it will stop the talk.”
“Maybe people will stop talking about hoodoos like they have been for the past year. It’s fantastic not only because of three points. I hope it will stop the talk that has been around the team and the club. It’s massive, massive to start in that way. To get three points. It was so important to get the three points against a fantastic team like Borussia Dortmund, who have unbelievable players. It’s massive for our confidence. It’s massive to avenge everyone. It’s true that the game was so tough and they dominated the game. But we were very clinical and it was important we found a way to win.”
And yet, Tottenham’s valiant victory at Wembley didn’t follow the template of a typical Tottenham match; the 3-4-3 became much more of a 5-4-1, Spurs focused their energies on hitting Dortmund’s disorganised defence on the counter and the Lilywhites finished up with just 32% possession. It’s difficult to remember an occasion in which Pochettino’s Tottenham had so little of the ball, let alone an occasion in which they actually won. Last season, Spurs averaged the third-most of any Premier League side at 57.4%.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with finding a new way of winning, especially when the old one becomes dogged by a temporary abode. It’s rather telling of how difficult Tottenham have found it playing in their more recognised, energetic, ball-retaining style at home this season that they lost to Chelsea and drew to Burnley before trouncing Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park last weekend. The problem, however, is whether that way seemingly more suitable to Wembley’s large pitch, more distant stands and less-charged atmosphere can actually be applied to the rest of Tottenham’s home outings this season.
For starters, last night’s Dortmund side was a pale imitation of the one that reached the Champions League final under Jurgen Klopp in 2013 and even the Thomas Tuchel outfit Spurs came unstuck against in the 2015/16 Europa League. The Black and Yellows may be top of the Bundesliga table on goal difference but the quality has steadily drained out of the side over the last four years and more pertinent to last night’s fixture, some key players were absent – Marc Bartra, Marco Reus and Marcel Schmelzer to name a few. In fact, Dortmund’s injury list is nine men deep at this moment in time. Dortmund aren’t the fearsome proposition they once were in Europe, but they were particularly weakened last night.
Perhaps more instrumental in the defeat was Peter Bosz’s regardless insistence to employ a high line, something Tottenham appeared particularly set up to exploit and eventually played a hand in all three of their goals which were created by attacking the space behind the ever-pressing backline. Some teams will feel more tempted to employ similar tactics at Wembley this season than they would have at White Hart Lane last term simply because it still feels as much like a neutral venue as it does Tottenham’s home, especially in Europe and especially Real Madrid.
But on the whole, Tottenham won’t face that kind of line domestically every fortnight. In fact, as Chelsea and Burnley have already proved, most teams will come to Wembley packing out their own box and waiting to hit Spurs on the counter instead. Playing like the away team won’t work when Swansea, Barnsley and Bournemouth come to town in Tottenham’s next three Wembley outings. Last night’s performance was a fantastic performance from the Lilywhites, but the dynamics of the match were largely unique to the opposition.
Of course, as Pochettino himself alluded to, the psychological effects of the performance and result could have more impact than the tactics used. Whether it plagued the minds of his players or not, last night surely made Wembley feel a little more like home – shared memories are an essential part of tying communities together in any aspect of society. Footballers and fan bases in a new stadium are no different.
Yet, as the Lilywhites prepare to face a Swansea side that have conceded just two Premier League goals this season barring a final ten-minute capitulation against Manchester United and will take a particularly pragmatic approach into Saturday’s game, Tottenham still face the same question – can their way of playing be successful at Wembley, especially when there’s ten men behind the ball? Last night’s win may have raised confidence and left Tottenham fans feeling more acquainted with their season-long home, but it hasn’t found a solution to the most fundamental dilemma Spurs face at home this term.
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A watershed moment or a false dawn? The answer comes this Saturday.
West Ham United have activated in option in Adrian’s contract that extends the goalkeeper’s contract by one year, according to The Sun.
What’s the word?
The Spaniard has struggled for first-team action this season after losing his starting spot to Darren Randolph.
In fact, Adrian has started just 11 Premier League matches this season, his last of which was the 1-1 draw with Stoke City on November 5.
Since then the 30-year-old has featured twice, in the EFL Cup defeat to Manchester United and their loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup, in which he conceded nine goals in total.
Due to Adrian’s ousting from the number one spot, rumours have been rife that the Hammers are hunting for a new goalkeeper, but The Sun reports that the club have triggered an option that will extend his deal until 2020.
Should Adrian look elsewhere?
The difficulty when it comes to goalkeepers is that there is usually very little rotation.
In some cases, managers use the number one for domestic action and the second-choice option for cup competitions.
Arsene Wenger used that approach this season when he played David Ospina rather than Petr Cech in the Champions League.
Adrian was West Ham’s number one last season, but midway through this campaign he has relinquished the role to Randolph, which begs the question, ‘Why does he want to stay?’
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Most goalkeepers do not want to spend the majority of their time sat on the bench, and given Adrian’s experience, he is likely to fall into that category.
However, it was not that long ago when the Spaniard was first name on the teamsheet for manager Slaven Bilic, which means that there is an opening for him to work his way back into contention, particularly after Randolph conceded three goals in Saturday’s defeat to Bournemouth.
Whether it was ever a title race or not between Spurs and Leicester, the latter have won and are deservedly champions of England.
Spurs, although never really breathing down the Foxes’ necks, hung in there for the latter half of the campaign and have, arguably, been the best side in English football over the past few months, and this positivity must be harnessed.
Indeed, a campaign of Champions League football awaits – which would have been seen as a fantastic achievement before a ball was kicked – which will allow Mauricio Pochettino to keep his star names and sprinkle his squad with a little bit of star dust over the summer.
And that’s what the club must do; just make a few choice additions to compliment what’s already happening. That said, depth will be needed with the rotation that ‘Poch’ seized in the Europa League not an option for next season, but there’s no need to spend big, because the Londoners have plenty of options ready to step up.
With that in mind, here are FIVE youngsters that may well save the Argentine a fortune in the coming months…
DeAndre Yedlin
On loan at Sunderland, Yedlin’s performances have been a key part of Sunderland’s relatively strong survival hopes. The America international originally signed for the Lilywhites from Seattle Sounders back in 2015, but spent six months acclimatising to English football with the Londoners before being pushed into the deep end at the Stadium of Light.
Initially it looked as though the 22-year-old may indeed drown in the rising tide of relegation in the North East, but he’s come to the fore as the campaign has progressed, very much learning on the job under Sam Allardyce.
Pochettino is known to be a manager that demands a lot of his full-backs, so with top level European football and domestic responsibilities, Yedlin looks likely to get plenty of football alongside Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier, while his ferocious pace could make him a late counter-attacking option further up the field.
Josh Onomah
The 19-year-old has dipped in and out of the senior side this term, playing semi-regularly in the Europa League, while making seven appearances, all as a sub, in the Premier League.
Standing at 5ft. 11, Onomah is no giant in the holding midfield area of the pitch, but the England U19 international is tenacious, energetic and able to cover the ground, which may make him more appealing going forward that the once highly-rated Nabil Bentaleb.
Unlikely to be a starter, the teenager possesses sufficient quality and fits Pochettino’s plans well enough to be a squad player, which, at his age, may be enough to keep him happy.
Clinton N’Jie
We often see it… players that come in at a young age have a difficult first season before exploding in their second full campaign.
N’Jie has slipped further and further from the starting XI in recent times, due in part to injury issues, but the Cameroonian has too much raw potential to be written off just yet, and looks in the mould of a player that can shine once he’s taken to the pace and physicality of the Prem – Erik Lamela is a prime example of this.
The 22-year-old is able to play in any attacking midfielder role, and could well be a useful tool in Europe next season when Spurs could be forced into a rigid counter-attacking system against bigger sides – whom they’re likely to face given the Champions League’s seeding system.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Already dubbed the ‘new Ledley King’, Carter-Vickers is extremely highly thought of behind the scenes at White Hart Lane, with his athleticism and maturity having drawn comparisons with the aforementioned Lilywhites idol.
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The teenager’s inclusion in the European matchday squad against Monaco earlier in the campaign set tongues wagging among the north Londoners’ fanbase – as did his trip with the squad to face Fiorentina in the last 32 – but supporters are yet to get a glimpse of him in competitive action.
Alas, pre-season could hand the USA U-23 international a chance to impress Pochettino, who, beyond Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Kevin Wimmer, is not exactly blessed with centre-back options.
Harry Winks
Like his fellow midfielder, Onomah, Winks has had a few fleeting outings for Spurs in the Europa League this term, and although he’s amassed just 17 minutes of game time, he’s shown enough both in the senior ranks and in the youth teams to somewhat justify the hype.
Although talented, the lack of a defensive edge to his midfield game may see Winks overlooked by Pochettino, but in games where a little more guile is needed, the 20-year-old could be a useful option from the bench.
Tottenham Hotspur avoided an embarrassing Carabao Cup defeat last night, subsequently claiming a 3-0 victory over League One Doncaster Rovers.
The win keeps Thomas Frank’s hopes of claiming a trophy in his first year as Lilywhites boss alive, with a trip to face current holders Newcastle United awaiting them in round four.
It may have only been against a team two divisions below them, but the Dane will have been impressed with the relentless nature of the performance, which saw the Lilywhites have 55% possession.
Such an outing gave numerous fringe players a chance to stake their claim for a regular role in the starting eleven, with the Dane having some incredible strength in depth currently at his disposal.
However, the victory also allowed one other player to finally get the opportunity he’s craved to feature in his natural position after being forced to operate in an unnatural role as of late.
Xavi Simons’ performance against Doncaster
After joining in a £52m deal from RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window, Xavi Simons became a player with huge expectations at Spurs, but he’s so far struggled to reach the levels many hoped for.
He’s mainly operated in a wide left role, but he was handed a start in a more familiar central role against Doncaster last night – taking advantage of the opportunity handed his way.
The Dutchman featured for a little over an hour, but had a huge impact on proceedings – as seen by the underlying stats that he produced in North London.
Simons created seven chances and won four fouls – with both tallies being the most of any player on the pitch – subsequently highlighting the threat he posed to Grant McCann’s side.
He also completed 97% of the passes he attempted, with four of his efforts being into the final third – allowing him to create one big chance in the process.
Whilst he was unable to register a goal or assist last night, the 22-year-old looked a constant nuisance in the number ten role, with Frank needing to stick with him in such a position.
However, one other first-team player managed to impress, now arguably being just as important as the Dutchman, given his own impressive display against Donny last night.
The Spurs star who is becoming as important as Simons
Given the sheer volume of competitions this season, Frank needs to have every Spurs player up to scratch to try and allow for success in various tournaments.
His side have already claimed wins in three separate competitions in 2025/26, with the side already impressing in the Premier League, Champions League and the Carabao Cup.
Simons has started all but one game since making his big-money move to join the Lilywhites, but the Dutchman has rapidly developed into a key player for the Dane as a result of his creativity.
However, he’s not the only summer addition who’s already impressed in North London, with Joao Palhinha immediately exceeding all expectations placed upon him after his loan move to the club.
The Portuguese international joined from Bayern Munich, but to the disappointment of many, with the 30-year-old not seen as the man to improve the first-team squad.
He’s already scored twice despite his deep-lying role, with his latest effort coming against Doncaster last night – producing an incredible acrobatic effort which opened the scoring.
Palhinha also featured out of position at centre-back, but still managed to thrive, producing numerous incredible figures that helped the Lilywhites claim a crucial victory.
The former Fulham star completed 63 passes, at a completion rate of 90%, with the former of the two stats the most of any player who featured during the contest on home soil.
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Despite his defensive role, he also managed to complete four passes into the final third, able to provide those ahead of him with the chances to impress in front of goal.
Joao Palhinha – stats against Doncaster
Statistics
Tally
Minutes played
90
Touches
82
Passes completed
63
Pass accuracy
90%
Tackles made
2
Clearances made
6
Interceptions
1
Passes into final third
4
Stats via FotMob
However, Palhinha dominated without the ball, making two tackles, six clearances and one interception – helping the Lilywhites keep their fifth clean sheet of the 2025/26 campaign.
As a result of his showing, the loanee was handed a superb 9/10 match rating by The Standard’s journalist Matt Verri, further showcasing how impressive he was during the victory.
After such a display, Frank simply can’t afford to drop the Portuguese international from his starting eleven, with the experienced talent on a phenomenal run of form in the first team of late.
Should he continue his current impressive form for the Lilywhites, there’s no reason as to why Palhinha can’t be as undroppable as Simons, with the pair able to catapult the side to new heights in the months ahead when operating together.
Fewer touches than Kinsky: Frank must bench 5/10 Spurs star after Doncaster
Tottenham Hotspur secured their place in the next round of the Carabao Cup last night with a win over Doncaster.
Glasgow Rangers will need a new manager in the dugout at Ibrox when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway later this year, having relieved Philippe Clement of his duties in February.
Barry Ferguson came in to replace the Belgian head coach as an interim manager until the end of the season, and his side did beat Aberdeen 4-0 last time out in the league.
However, the former Rangers central midfielder has only won five of his 13 matches in charge of the club in all competitions, losing four of those games.
Ferguson’s most recent managerial experience before his current stint at Ibrox came at Alloa Athletic in the 2021/22 campaign, when he lost 17 of his 33 games at the helm.
These statistics do not suggest that the former Scotland international is the right man to lead the Light Blues back to glory in the Scottish Premiership moving forward, which is why he should not be a contender for the job.
It does appear as though Rangers are set to look externally for their new head coach this summer, as they have been linked with a move for Davide Ancelotti.
Why Davide Ancelotti could be exciting for Rangers
It was recently reported that the son of Carlo Ancelotti, who is currently part of his father’s coaching staff at Real Madrid, is closing in on the Rangers job.
The Light Blues were reported to be pushing to bring him to Ibrox to convince him to take his first role as a senior head coach, rather than going to join his dad when he becomes the Brazil manager later this year.
The Rangers-linked coach has worked with his father at Real Madrid, Everton, and Bayern Munich, and has been described as an influential figure behind the scenes.
Former Bayern midfielder Javi Martinez, as quoted by the BBC, hailed Davide’s influence on Carlo: “The evolution process never stops and it is more difficult to adapt for older coaches. Davide completes Carlo and helps him understand the evolution of football. Davide is incredible: prepared, serious, a great person, like his father.”
As you can see in the graphic above, he has learned from one of the best managers around, given the incredible number of trophies his father has won, and that illustrates why him being an influential figure on his coaching staff is a big positive ahead of a possible move to Rangers.
This is why, despite his lack of outright managerial experience, Ancelotti could be an exciting appointment for the Gers and a chance to get behind a new era at Ibrox, which could be kickstarted with an excellent signing.
Rangers make contact to sign English forward
According to The Herald, Rangers have made contact with Blackburn Rovers forward Tyrhys Dolan to remain informed on his situation ahead of the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Gers want to keep tabs on the English attacker, who could become a free agent this summer if he does not extend his contract with the Championship side.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It reveals that Blackburn would value Dolan between £5m and £10m but they could lose him for a nominal compensation fee if he runs down his contract to sign for the Light Blues.
The report, however, adds that Premiership rivals Celtic are also monitoring the winger ahead of a possible swoop for his services in the summer window, which shows that there will be competition for the 23-year-old dynamo’s services.
Tyrhys Dolan in action for Blackburn Rovers.
This means that Rangers may have to act fast once it becomes clear that Dolan will be available to sign when his contract at Ewood Park expires at the end of June, as they will have to beat other teams to his signature.
The board should push to get a deal over the line for the Blackburn star because he could be an excellent signing to kick the Ancelotti era off with a bang, should a move to appoint the Real Madrid coach go through.
Why Rangers should sign Tyrhys Dolan
The Light Blues could kickstart the Ancelotti era in exciting fashion by signing Dolan because he is a promising young talent with the potential to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch in Scottish football.
At the age of 23, the Blackburn star would arrive with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player, which means that he could be a long-term addition to the side as well as having the quality to make an instant impact.
As you can see in the clip above, Dolan is also a player who has showcased his quality in the final third in the Championship for the English side this season.
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The incredibly versatile attacker, who can play on the left, on the right, as an attacking midfielder, or as a striker, has shown that he has the potential to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis if put in the right environment.
Dolan has only averaged 38.1 touches per game in a Blackburn team that ranked 16th in the league for xG, with 51.6 xG in 46 matches, which shows that he was not getting loads of touches in a well-coached attacking side.
Vaclav Cerny, meanwhile, has delivered 12 goals and three assists with 50.7 touches per game for Rangers on the right flank in the Premiership this season.
24/25 season
Cerny (Premiership)
Dolan (Championship)
Appearances
31
44
Touches per game
50.7
38.1
Shots
90
51
Goals
12
7
Conversion rate
13%
14%
Big chances created
6
7
Assists
3
6
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Dolan enjoyed a better conversion rate of shots to goals than Cerny has managed so far this season in the Premiership, and created more ‘big chances’ for his side with roughly 12 fewer touches per game on average.
These statistics suggest that the English star’s output at the top end of the pitch could soar if he was put in a Rangers team that gives him plenty of touches in the final third, with more chances to take shots and create chances as an exciting wide player.
Dolan, once hailed as “outstanding” by former boss John Eustace, would also provide an exciting celebration for supporters when he scores, as shown in the clip above.
In all seriousness, though, he could be the perfect first signing of the Ancelotti era as a superb young talent who has the quality and the potential to be a star at Ibrox, with the chance to be more influential in the final third as part of a more dominant and attacking team than he has been at Blackburn.
Rangers: 49ers plotting statement signing of "very talented" £4m Brazilian
The Gers’ prospective new owners have set their sights on a midfielder.
Looking to repeat their transfer genius of the past, Brighton & Hove Albion have now reportedly opened talks to sign another South American youngster ahead of European giants Real Madrid.
Brighton transfer news
As arguably one of, if not the best, ran club in the Premier League, Brighton relish the transfer window and they could yet prove exactly why once again this month. For any side looking to become an established top flight side, those at The Amex have created the blueprint to follow by creating stars, selling them for huge profit and then welcoming replacements capable of enjoying a similar rise.
As a result, they once again find themselves on course for a top half finish in what would be a fantastic first season under Fabian Hurzeler – the youngest manager in Premier League history at just 31 years old.
Now, having previously welcomed Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo and Julio Enciso, the Seagulls look set to make a return to the South American market to land another young star.
According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Brighton have opened talks to sign Vitor Reis from Palmeiras in a deal that could cost as much as £25m. Despite interest from Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea, the Sussex side look set to act early enough to secure another impressive coup.
Sky Sports: Brighton could move to sign "excellent" defender this month
Fabian Hürzeler is keen to strengthen his defence this winter.
ByDominic Lund
Just 18 years old, Reis could yet prove to be an Enciso repeat, given that the midfielder also arrived at a young age and from his home country of Paraguay in the summer of 2022.
Vitor Reis for Palmeiras
A central defender rather than a midfielder on this occasion, Brighton may have found their eventual replacement for ageing captain Lewis Dunk for years to come.
Brighton can land "heir to Thiago Silva" in Reis
At just 18 years old, Reis has found himself at the centre of some impressive praise, including from Ben Mattinson. The analyst even went as far as claiming that the defender is “Brazil’s heir to Thiago Silva” before describing his aerial ability as “strong” and dubbing the teenager a player with “ice-cold composure” back in October.
Real Madrid’s interest should paint quite the picture of just how highly Reis is rated across European football and, therefore, the significance of Brighton’s potential January swoop.
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For the young central defender himself, meanwhile, Brighton represents an intelligent move. It’s a move that Mac Allister made – a player on course to become a Premier League champion at Liverpool these days.
It’s also a move that Caicedo completed before becoming one of the most expensive midfielders in football history by joining Chelsea in 2023. Now, it’s a path that Reis could follow to become the latest young South American to sign on the dotted line at The Amex.
Leicester City are interested in completing the signing of an "outstanding" Premier League attacker before the summer transfer window ends, according to reliable journalist John Percy.
Leicester transfer news
It has been a solid summer in the transfer market for the Foxes, who knew the importance of strengthening their squad after trading the Championship for the Premier League. That being said, they have also had to spend wisely amid the threat of a potential points deduction due to breaches of profit and sustainability rules.
In terms of Leicester's most significant additions of the summer to date, midfielder Oliver Skipp represents a strong addition with plenty of experience to his name at one of the biggest clubs in the country, having been at Tottenham since his youth team days.
Meanwhile, Bilal El Khannouss represents an eye-catching addition for Belgian side Genk, providing more competition in attacking areas, and the same applies to Jordan Adew, who has come in from Crystal Palace. At the other end of the pitch, Caleb Okoli could be a strong signing from reigning Europa League winners Atalanta.
There will be some Leicester supporters who will be hoping to see the club strike some late transfer business on Friday, and it looks as though that may be happening.
Leicester "exploring" move for "outstanding" forward
According to the reliable Percy on X, Leicester are keen on signing Crystal Palace striker Odsonne Edouard before deadline day reaches its conclusion. The former Celtic man cost the Eagles an initial £14m when he joined in a loan-to-buy deal from Glasgow, but has never quite found his feet at Selhurst Park.
Additional firepower is sure to be something that Steve Cooper craves in his attack, given the difficulty of finding the net in the Premier League for newly-promoted sides, and Edouard could be a shrewd addition at the King Power Stadium.
The 26-year-old has 18 goals to his name in the Premier League, showing that he knows how to be a success in the division, and during his Celtic days, Neil Lennon had this to say about him: "What we have with Odsonne is an outstanding, talented player."
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In fact, Edouard's record in a Hoops shirt further outlines his ability, with 87 goals scored in 179 matches, and he also has an incredible record at youth team level for France, scoring 43 times in just 51 caps.
Odsonne Edouard's France stats
Caps
Goals
France Under-21s
14
17
France Under-19s
13
5
France Under-18s
9
4
France Under-17s
15
17
At 26, the Frenchman is still young enough to improve further as a player, so there don't feel like many negatives to Leicester snapping him up, offering him a route out of Palace at the same time, where he isn't a regular starter.
All confirmed Premier League done deals: summer transfer window 2024
Find every incoming and outgoing for each 2024/25 Premier League club here.
Manchester City may be in the driving seat for the Premier League title again, but the 2023/24 campaign has been another positive one for Arsenal Football Club and one full of promise.
Mikel Arteta's side look magnitudes more composed this year, as demonstrated by their lack of collapse compared to the last two seasons, and their incredible goal difference (+57) shows how clinical and organised they have become.
It's a squad filled with excellent players such as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and even Kai Havertz – much to the chagrin of Chelsea fans.
Still, there is one who is perhaps the most important to Arteta's system, a player who has been compared to James Maddison in the past but has seen his valuation soar past the Englishman's this term.
How Odegaard compares to Maddison this season
Of course, the player in question is Norwegian superstar and former wonderkid Martin Odegaard, who, over the last few years, has made the Gunners midfield his own.
However, before he joined the red side of North London on a permanent deal in the summer of 2021 for just £34m, there were genuine conversations among fans and pundits about whether Arteta should go for the then-Leicester City ace Maddison instead.
Edu Gaspar and Co opted to sign the former Real Madrid prospect and a couple of years later the Foxes star finally moved to North London, only instead of donning red and white, he now wears just the latter, but how have the pair fared this season? And did Arsenal make a mistake back in 2021?
So, from a purely output perspective, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the Spurs ace has missed 13 games for club and country this season, while the Arsenal captain has remained injury-free for the most part, missing just five games for club and country in November.
Second, due to the Gunners' European adventures, the Drammen-born star has played significantly more games than his counterpart, coming in at 45 across all competitions to the Lilywhites ace's 25. So, to make it a more accurate reflection, this comparison is based purely on their Premier League performances.
Maddison vs Odegaard: Premier League
Players
Maddison
Odegaard
Appearances
23
32
Goals
4
8
Assists
7
8
Goal Involvements per Match
0.47
0.50
All Stats via Transfermarkt
With that said, in his 23 games this season, the former Norwich City gem has scored four goals and provided seven assists, meaning he's producing a goal involvement on average every two games.
In comparison, the Norway captain has scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 32 league games so far, giving him a goal involvement on average every two games as well.
However, the major difference here is how the pair have played post-Maddison's injury.
In the 12 games the Lilywhites star has played since his return, he has provided just two assists and scored one goal, while his competitor has provided five assists and scored four goals of his own across the 14 league games he has played in that period.
Maddison vs Odegaard: Post injury
Players
Maddison
Odegaard
Appearances
12
14
Goals
1
4
Assists
2
5
Goal Involvements per Match
0.23
0.64
All Stats via Transfermarkt
It's clear from these numbers that both players are incredibly creative and effective midfielders in their own regard, but the Englishman's drop off in output post-injury is impossible to ignore and likely to affect his valuation.
Odegaard and Madison's valuations compared
Now, while there isn't much to separate the two midfield maestros regarding their output across the season as a whole, there is a massive difference in how the pair are valued.
According to the CIES Football Observatory, the "incredible" Spurs ace, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is worth just €40m, which is around £34m. In comparison, the "electric" Arsenal gem, as described by Izzy Christiansen, is valued at a whopping €150m, which converts to around £128m, or more than three times the valuation of his London rival.
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This might seem like a massive difference for two quality players, but it likely takes into account the fact that Maddison is two years older than his competition, has a significantly worse injury record that shows no sign of improving, has minimal European experience, and, perhaps most crucially, he has never shown any leadership qualities, unlike the Gunners star, who captains his club and national side.
Arsenal & Tottenham's five most valuable players
Valuation
Arsenal Player
Valuation
Tottenham Player
€200m (£171m)
Bukayo Saka
€80m (£68m)
Dejan Kulusevski
€150m (£128m)
Martin Odegaard
€80m (£68m)
Destiny Udogie
€100m (£86m)
Gabriel Martinelli
€60m (£51m)
Pedro Porro
€100m (£86m)
Kai Havertz
€60m (£51m)
Cristian Romero
€100m (£86m)
Declan Rice
€60m (£51m)
Brennan Johnson
Arsenal & Tottenham Valuations via the CIES Football Observatory
Ultimately, while the Lilywhites dynamo is an undeniably talented and entertaining player to watch, Arsenal played a blinder by signing Odegaard instead, and his recent valuation is just more validation of their decision back in 2021.
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Despite some initial hope following an impressive pre-season and opening-day draw with Liverpool, Chelsea are stumbling through a miserable Premier League campaign for the second year on the bounce.
The Blues finished in 12th place last season, and after 16 games this year, they find themselves in precisely the same position, only this time they have Mauricio Pochettino in charge.
The former Tottenham Hotspur manager has struggled to turn his crop of promising youngsters into a clinical team capable of winning the league, but the latest player linked to Stamford Bridge, Ivan Toney, could help him change that.
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The Brentford man could add some much-needed bite to the attack and form a lethal partnership with Cole Palmer, one of the few bright sparks in Chelsea's season.
Chelsea transfer news – Ivan Toney
According to The Guardian, Chelsea are once again set to dip into the transfer market in 2024 as Pochettino eyes a 'top striker' to help give his squad some end product, with Toney being one of the main men on his wishlist.
The Bees forward is still serving his eight-month betting ban but would be available to play again in mid-January, lining up perfectly for him to kick on at a new club.
While there is an element of risk in signing a player who hasn't played football for over half a year, Toney's 20 goals in 33 league appearances last season should go some way in quelling those concerns.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
However, the most significant obstacle to this deal's completion is likely to be the price. Sky Sports has reported that Brentford will only sell their star striker should someone match their £100m valuation, which is a huge commitment, even for Todd Boehly and co.
With that said, the prospect of seeing one of the country's most clinical strikers linking up with Palmer should be enough to convince the board.
Ivan Toney could be the dream partner for Cole Palmer
There is no getting away from just how poorly the first third of the season has gone for Chelsea this year. The club are currently closer to the relegation zone than the top four, and were it not for Everton's ten-point deduction, they would be down in 13th place.
However, Palmer's arrival from Manchester City towards the end of the summer window has been the only thing fans can cling onto as the Manchester-born dynamo has already made himself arguably the team's most important player in a matter of months and at just 21 years old.
In his nine Premier League starts for the club, he has scored five goals and provided two assists for his teammates, and it would likely have been more were the players around him as clinical as Chelsea forwards are supposed to be.
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When looking at the pair's underlying numbers, it becomes crystal clear that with Toney, dubbed a "monster" by Brentford boss Thomas Frank, leading the line and the "magnificent" Palmer, as described by Alan Shearer, either on the wing or behind, the Blues would be a dramatically more dangerous proposition for opposing teams.
Ivan Toney & Cole Palmer
Stats
Toney
Palmer
Goals
20
5
Assists
4
2
Non-Penalty Goals + Assists per 90
0.56
0.54
Progressive Passes per 90
2.41
7.04
Progressive Carries per 90
0.61
3.78
Shot-Creating Actions per 90
2.01
4.47
All Stats via FBref for the 2022/23 & 2023/24 Premier League Seasons
Both players produce spectacular non-penalty expected goals and assist numbers, while Palmer's progressive passing could practically gift Toney the Golden Boot alone.
Ultimately, it would require another massive investment from the Chelsea board, but with how they have spent in previous transfer windows, they simply must go again and finally secure the striker that can fire the Blues back up the table.