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It’s fair to say David Moyes divides opinion in East London. Some West Ham fans love him for leading them to their first European trophy in decades after winning the Europa Conference League in 2022/23, and some just don’t rate him.

Regardless, he has done a good job of steadying the ship at a time when the club looked destined for the drop, and the 2023 summer transfer window looks like it has been a massive success. Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus are two great deals, with the latter certainly starting to settle at the London Stadium.

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Moyes and West Ham in the transfer window, however. Football FanCast takes a look at the Scottish manager’s ten worst West Ham signings.

10

Patrice Evra (Free)

Free transfer, 2018

Veteran leftback Patrice Evra was signed in the summer of 2018 to bring his invaluable experience to the club. His time at Manchester United had proven he was one of the best in his position in the world, but he was known to be a little unpredictable.

By the time he joined West Ham, he had stopped caring. He may constantly be telling people how much he “loves this game”, but it’s clear he didn’t care for the club. Evra would make just five appearances for the Hammers.

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His contract expired the next summer and he left. After no satisfactory offers for his services were received, he decided to retire from football.

9

Joao Mario

Loan from Inter, 2018

It may have only been a loan, but Moyes’ signing of Joao Mario was hailed by many as a real coup. He was impressive during his time at Sporting CP and had secured a move to Inter.

Unfortunately for him, opportunities in Italy dried up and it was decided he had to go out on loan. West Ham were amongst a number of clubs looking to secure his signature, and in January 2018, he put pen to paper.

He made his debut just two days later, coming on as a substitute against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup – a game West Ham would lose 2-0. After that, he never really made a mark. He did score in a 3-0 win against Southampton, but he returned to Inter the following summer after an underwhelming spell. He has since become a massive player for Benfica.

8

Alex Kral

Loan from Spartak Moscow, 2021

Following the huge success of the signing of Tomas Soucek, Moyes once again fancied a look at the Czechia national squad. This time he came across central midfielder Alex Kral, who had just signed for Russian side Spartak Moscow.

He wasn’t a goalscorer; in fact, he’s only scored a single league goal throughout his entire career, but he was a runner. West Ham signed him on loan with the option to make it permanent.

Kral would go on to make six appearances for the club before the loan ended. He’s still technically contracted to Spartak Moscow but has been on loan in Germany since his West Ham move, firstly with Schalke, and now with Union Berlin.

7

Jordan Hugill

£10m from Preston North End, 2018

West Ham have had some awful luck with strikers. In recent years they’ve had to deal with Simone Zaza, Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate, just to name a few. Jordan Hugill has to be counted among them.

The Hammers paid £10m for his services, potentially predicting that they were going to go down and would need a solid Championship striker, which Hugill was at Preston North End. It was a move that infuriated fans, just when they needed someone to lead the line.

It’s not his fault he’s on this list, though. Hugill was given just 22 minutes throughout the entire second half of the 2017/18 season to prove to the fans that he was the man to lead them – an almost impossible task.

After numerous Championship loans, he’s now found a home at Rotherham United.

6

Nikola Vlasic

£34.5m from CSKA Moscow, 2021

This transfer just goes to show that one good international tournament does not a good player make. Vlasic impressed for Croatia at Euro 2020 and had a number of teams after him. West Ham finally got him for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £34.5m once add-ons had been factored in.

Throughout his career, he had played regular football, and although he did have the opportunity to prove himself, he was never consistently in the first team. His first goal contribution came in the form of an assist in the Europa League, and his first goal came in the Premier League in a 4-1 win against Watford.

Vlasic was then sent out on loan to Torino, a move that the Italian club would make permanent in August 2023 for an undisclosed fee. Perhaps West Ham didn’t want the world to know how much money they lost on him.

5

Gianluca Scamacca

£35.5m from Sassuolo, 2022

Young Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca came to West Ham with a big reputation. He was, and still is, one of Italy’s best young forwards. Since bursting onto the scene at Sassuolo, the hype began to generate, he just wouldn't live up to it at West Ham.

Injuries were the main reason he didn’t make it in east London, despite looking like someone who would love it there. He only scored eight goals in 27 appearances for the club, with a lot of them being as a substitute.

Both parties decided to call it quits after a single season. He’s now back in Italy with Atalanta and has gotten off to a fine start. Perhaps, like Sebastian Haller, he’ll be one that got away for West Ham.

4

Danny Ings

£15m from Aston Villa, 2023

Consistently scoring goals in the Premier League is a very hard thing to do, and Danny Ings deserves a lot of credit for doing just that, but at West Ham, it’s been disappointing. The form he found at Burnley and Southampton seems to have escaped him.

West Ham bought him for an initial £12m, which rose to £15m after avoiding relegation in the 2022/23 season. Ings played his part – he scored twice against Nottingham Forest to help secure top-flight football.

Without going as far as saying that Danny Ings has been a flop, he certainly has the ability to turn it around, he’s just unlikely to be given that chance. He’s still at West Ham, but they’re reportedly looking to move him on.

3

Flynn Downes

£12m from Swansea City, 2022

It's pretty heartbreaking to be putting Flynn Downes on this list. The midfielder is a massive West Ham fan, he’s living the dream he had as a young lad in playing for the club. Sadly, he hasn’t had much of a chance to represent them.

Downes made a name for himself with Swansea City in the Championship, and West Ham came knocking. A reported £12m fee was agreed, and he put pen to paper, just as any fan would.

He made 21 league appearances for the club he loves, and helped them to their first trophy in 43 years. If you’d have told him he’d do that at the start of his career, he’d have surely snapped your hands off.

He’s currently on loan at Southampton, and will no doubt be hoping he’s given another opportunity soon enough.

2

Maxwel Cornet

£17.5m from Burnley, 2022

Players need time, and Maxwel Cornet will surely get that, but his West Ham career has been underwhelming thus far. He signed in the summer of 2022 from Burnley for a fee thought to be around £17.5m, and has since failed to impress.

He’s the type of player that is always going to have moments. A piece of skill here, beating a player there – he just needs to do it more often. To be fair to Cornet, Moyes isn’t exactly known for letting his attacking players express themselves.

Cornet is perhaps best known for his controversial disallowed goal against Chelsea last season. VAR deemed Tomas Soucek’s very slight touch on Mendy to be a foul, and denied him what would have been his first and only league goal for West Ham.

1

Thilo Kehrer

£10.1m from Paris Saint-Germain, 2022

There is a bit of a running theme here; most of the players on this list just haven’t been given much of a shot. Moyes is an old-school manager, he knows his best XI and he sticks to it. It’s an important thing to do when you’re fighting at the bottom of the table more often than not. Kehrer is another player that’s happened to.

When the German centre-back made a big money move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, it was for a fee of around £32m. After four years at the club, West Ham signed him for £10.1m.

He was meant to be their centre-back for the future, and since he remains at the club, he still could be. He’s just fallen down the pecking order behind the likes of Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd.

Kehrer is now 27 years old, so he’s entering his prime as a defender. At some point, he’s going to want to be playing more regular football, whether that’s with West Ham or not.

The Premier League is harsh, most of Moyes’ signings at West Ham have actually proven to be very good deals – Jarrod Bowen and Jesse Lingard, for example.

Moyes knows the club inside-out, but the grass isn’t always greener.

West Ham have confirmed that David Moyes will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

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• West Ham confirm Moyes future
• Contract up at the end of season
• Julen Lopetegui set to arrive

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After speculation about Moyes' future earlier in the day, the Hammers issued a club statement on Monday evening clarifying his impending departure at the end of his the season after four and a half years in charge. Former Spain, Real Madrid and Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui is widely believed to be West Ham's chosen replacement, although the club has confirmed only that "the recruitment process for David's successor has begun".

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Moyes said in February that he had been offered a new contract by West Ham but was choosing to wait until the end of the season whether to accept it. It seems that no agreement was reached, leading to this parting of ways. Despite delivering the Europa Conference League trophy last season and taking the Hammers to the Europa League semi-finals a year earlier, some fans have made their feelings clear with a 'Moyes Out' banner in recent months.

• WHAT MOYES SAID

  Moyes said as part of the statement: "I have enjoyed four and a half brilliant years at West Ham, and the club is in a stronger position than when I returned back in 2019.

  "When I joined West Ham for a second time, the club was one place above the relegation zone, and it has been a terrific journey to have achieved three consecutive seasons in Europe. After leading the club to safety, we guided the team to finishes of 6th and 7th in the Premier League, and I was delighted when we won the Europa Conference League title last June – the club's first major trophy in 43 years.

  "I would like to thank all the players for their support, and all the success they have achieved, over the last four and a half years. I have really enjoyed working with everyone at West Ham, and I would like to thank the board for giving me the opportunity to manage this great club. I wish my eventual successor, the directors, the players, the staff, the fans, and everybody at West Ham, all the very best for the future."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WEST HAM?

  West Ham will finish the season with fixtures against Luton and Manchester City, with the clash with the former at the London Stadium on May 11 to be Moyes' last game in charge. The ninth place Hammers are seeking to hold onto a top half finish amid pressure from Bournemouth, Brighton and Wolves below them.

Juventus are now reportedly plotting to sell another one of their players to Tottenham, amid the consistent links surrounding winger Samuel Iling-Junior.

Spurs favourites to sign Iling-Junior

According to reports in the last few weeks, Spurs are real favourites to seal a deal for Iling-Junior as the Englishman doesn't appear to feature in Juve boss Massimilano Allegri's plans.

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Playing just 114 Serie A minutes this season, with zero starts in that time, the former Chelsea academy ace looks likely to leave in January. As the 20-year-old's future seems far away from Turin, multiple sources have backed that Tottenham are in pole position for Iling-Junior as we approach the winter window. Reliable Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella, writing on X, recently claimed that Ange Postecoglou's side are "leading the race" for his signing.

This comes as the likes of Sky Sports report that Spurs are very keen to sign a left-winger in January, with Iling-Junior coming as a genuine transfer target alongside former Celtic star Jota.

Juventus "would like to sell" Soule to Tottenham

There is a rich history of transfer business between Juve and Spurs. Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and winger Dejan Kulusevski joined the Lilywhites on January deadline day in 2022, with both going on to be huge successes in parts.

Now, according to some information from journalist Fabio Santini, who spoke to TV Play this week (via Sport Witness), Juventus "would like to sell" Matias Soule to Spurs.

The Argentine, who's currently enjoying a very productive loan spell on loan at Frosinone in Serie A, has bagged six goals and an assist in 13 league starts.

Santini adds that a fee of around £22 million is desired by Juve, with Palace also looking likely to be offered out.

“Juventus are working hard on two important midfield profiles. They had already come very close to Koopmeiners in June with a €40m offer and in January it could go up to €45m with the sales of Iling-Junior and Yildiz. They have never let go of the track leading to Berardi and would like to sell Soulé for €20-25m to Crystal Palace or Tottenham," said Santini.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is looking like a very exciting prospect right now, with journalist Zach Lowy also branding Soule a "special talent" as he dazzles for Frosinone.

Premier League clubs are pushing for the 3pm blackout rule to be scrapped with an eye on the 2027 TV rights negotiations.

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• Premier League clubs want blackout scrapped
• Looking to make changes for TV revenue increase
• No broadcasts on Saturday between 14:25 and 17:25

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Daily Mail have reported that there is once again a growing wave of Premier League clubs that are pushing for the Saturday, 3pm blackout to be scrapped going forward in a bid to improve their financial gains from broadcasting rights, with TV negotiations set for 2027. The push is also coming after the EFL announced that all of their opening matchday games for next season would be broadcast including the Saturday, 3pm fixtures.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It is said that clubs with a majority American ownership are pushing for this change in an attempt to attract more revenue. They are reportedly interested in broadcasting 3pm kickoffs as mid-morning games would be highly appealing to US viewers during a period when there aren't any live sports occurring in the country.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The football blackout is the policy that prohibits live television broadcasts of Premier League, Football League, or FA Cup matches on Saturdays between 2:45 and 5:15 p.m. While games can take place on that day and at that hour, they cannot be aired. On Saturdays, kickoffs for televised matches typically take place at 12:30pm or 5:30p.m.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR THE BLACKOUT?

  The blackout is the responsibility of the Football Association (FA) and if it is to be scrapped, the FA will have to apply for the rule change to UEFA before the revision can be brought into effect.

Manchester United have endured a frustrating first half of the 2023/24 campaign and will be hoping for significant improvement in 2024.

Erik ten Hag's side are currently seventh in the Premier League as it stands and have lost nine of their opening 20 matches in the top-flight.

The Red Devils have already been knocked out of Europe as they finished bottom of their Champions League group with one win out of six games, which means that they will not play any European football until next season at the earliest.

United are still in the FA Cup and have Wigan to come this weekend, which could be their most realistic chance of securing silverware this term.

The January transfer window, which is now open for business, has provided them with an opportunity to bolster the squad in order to give them a better chance of achieving success over the coming months.

Adding more creativity and goals to the team should be a priority as 16 other Premier League sides have outscored United so far this season.

Man United transfer news – Rayan Cherki

With this in mind, ten Hag should push for the club to secure a deal for reported transfer target Rayan Cherki before the end of the window.

FootballTransfers reported last month that the Lyon starlet is on the club's radar as they consider a swoop to sign the talented attacking midfielder.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to be keen for the Red Devils to complete a deal for the French whiz and the young ace has been of interest to the club 'for a while'.

Football Insider reported in November that Newcastle United and Manchester United were both keeping tabs on Cherki ahead of the January window.

They claimed that both teams see him as a star in the making, whilst fellow Premier League side Chelsea could also enter the race for his signature.

The outlet also added that Lyon are set to demand a fee of up to £40m, and a minimum of £30m, to part ways with the exciting gem in 2024.

This suggests that it would not be a super expensive deal for the club to complete. However, they could need to beat off interest from Chelsea and Newcastle to land his signature, which could be difficult if they continue to lose matches and plummet down the table over the coming weeks.

United must work hard to win the race for Cherki and convince him to make the move to Old Trafford as ten Hag could bring him in as an instant upgrade on Mason Mount, who arrived from Chelsea last summer.

Mason Mount's season in numbers

The England international joined the club from the Blues ahead of the 2023/24 campaign for a reported fee of £55m, plus an extra £5m in potential add-ons.

It has been a frustrating first six months in Manchester for the attacking midfielder as his form on the pitch has been poor and he has been hit with injury woes.

The 24-year-old attacker recently made a return to training after a calf injury that caused him to miss ten competitive matches, which came after he was absent for six games due to injury earlier in the campaign.

On the pitch, Mount has produced zero goals, zero assists, and zero 'big chances' created in eight Premier League appearances – including four starts.

He has played 12 matches in all competitions for the Red Devils and contributed with zero goals, one assist, and one 'big chance' created in total.

As you can see from the table above, United signed Mount off the back of an unproductive season in front of goal for Chelsea in the top-flight during the 2022/23 campaign.

He did not contribute with goals, assists, or 'big chances' created on a regular basis for his boyhood club but that did not stop ten Hag from swooping to sign him for up to £60m.

The England international's struggles this term should, therefore, not be a surprise and there is no recent evidence to suggest that his form is going to drastically improve in the coming weeks or months.

This is why the United head coach should now push to sign Cherki this month as the French ace could come in as an immediate upgrade on the former Chelsea lightweight.

The statistics that show why United should sign Cherki

The 20-year-old magician has been in splendid form for Lyon over the past 18 months and has the potential to offer more than Mount at the top end of the pitch.

Since the start of last season, Cherki has made 51 Ligue 1 appearances for his club and chipped in with four goals, eight assists, and 17 'big chances' created.

This means that the French youngster has produced a goal or a 'big chance' created every 2.43 league matches for Lyon during that period.

Whereas, Mount has three goals and three 'big chances' created in 32 Premier League games for Chelsea and United combined since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, which is one every 5.33 matches on average.

These statistics suggest that Cherki has the ability to make an impact at the top end of the pitch far more frequently than the current United whiz, which could, therefore, help to increase the goal output from ten Hag's team.

In fact, the 20-year-old talent currently ranks within the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers within the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for shot-creating actions (5.19) per 90.

Meanwhile, Mount ranks below average in the bottom 49% of attacking midfielders and wingers with 3.70 shot-creating actions per 90 over the last 365 days.

This shows that the United target, who was once hailed as a "joy to watch" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, can offer far more than the English dud in possession.

Therefore, ten Hag must pursue a deal for the £40m-rated wizard as the evidence of the last 18 months indicates that Cherki – with his creative brilliance – could elevate United's attack to a level that Mount is not capable of reaching.

Pedro Santos has been savaged on social media over supposedly “embarrassing” antics that saw him request Lionel Messi’s shirt after an MLS game.

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• Argentine in action against D.C. United
• Portuguese defender asked for jersey
• Some supporters less than impressed

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The D.C. United defender found himself in direct competition with eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi during a rain-soaked fixture at Chase Stadium in Florida. The Herons ran out 1-0 winners on the day, with Leonardo Campana stepping off the bench to settle the tie deep into stoppage-time.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As is often the case, Messi fielded shirt swap requests at the final whistle. Portuguese star Santos was the man to win that race, with the all-time great handing over his sodden jersey in the tunnel. Santos was delighted to land himself a much sought-after memento, but fans around the world have been left asking “when will this end? Your team just lost!”

• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  One unimpressed follower on X, @musaseka17, said: “This is embarrassing. Messi didn't even ask for his jersey. When you see there is a genuine exchange, Messi takes their jersey.” Another, @superpete13, responded by saying: “If the opposition treated him as they should Miami would lose a lot more games.” Not everybody shares that opinion, though, with @Tim_Chase7 claiming: “Is it shameless? Sure. But how many opportunities does any player have to play against and possibly get the jersey of the best player ever? Especially mid level players. They’re capitalizing”. That view was supported by a fan that said: “Shirt swap is a part of football, it will never end yes the team lost but to meet Messi and swap shirts with the greatest player in football history is a bigger honor.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

  Messi remains the star attraction in MLS and will continue to pass over his shirt on a regular basis to opponents that want their own Inter Miami No.10 jersey. A trip to Vancouver is next on the agenda for the Argentine icon.

Alisha Lehmann has reacted to a piece of artwork completed in her honour, with the Aston Villa star hailing the artist in question as “the best”.

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• Swiss star impressed by picture
• Villa figure prominently in past work
• Ever-growing fan base for couple

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The stunning pencil drawing shows Lehmann on international duty, with the Swiss star sporting a training bib. Every minute detail has been captured in the piece, with it difficult to tell whether the image has been drawn or captured on film.

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• WHAT LEHMANN SAID

  Lehmann has been left suitably impressed after becoming aware of the etching, with the Villans forward loving the fact that her likeness has been put down on paper. She has posted on Instagram after sharing an image of the artwork in question: “The best thank you so much.”

  Instagram

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sam Joesbury is responsible for the Lehmann sketch and has posted on his own Instagram account: “My latest A3 pencil drawing and probably the most time consuming graphite drawing I’ve ever done!@alishalehmann7had to be drawn perfect from the hair to the holes on the training bib! It’s definitely one of my best drawings and I’m thrilled with the outcome!”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Joesbury has previously produced a piece for Lehmann’s boyfriend Douglas Luiz, presenting him with said drawing – which features him in a Brazil jersey – after an Aston Villa game. He was also invited onto the pitch at Villa Park to gift a picture to Diego Carlos.

A top off-field target for Manchester United is now thought to be keen on an Old Trafford move, according to a new report.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans at Man Utd

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to buy 25% of the club and take control of footballing operations of the Red Devils, and it looks as if he could make sweeping changes when he arrives following the £1.3bn deal. He has already decided to fire chief executive Richard Arnold, whereas director of football John Murtough could be the next Old Trafford casualty.

It has recently been reported that Murtough is holding meetings over potential January transfers for United, however, he could be given a new role by Ratcliffe and INEOS when their investment is ratified, which could be after the winter window. (The Daily Mail)

Fabrizio Romano shares agreement to axe Man Utd player unhappy with Ten Hag

A January deal has already been rubber stamped.

By
David Comerford

Dec 21, 2023

As a result, a new director of football is seemingly on the agenda for Ratcliffe and co, with Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth emerging as a top target for the position.

Recent rumours claimed that those at St James’ Park are braced for an approach from Man Utd for Ashworth and have already been looking at possible replacements, which include Bournemouth recruitment expert Richard Hughes. Now, a further update has emerged regarding the Red Devils and Ratcliffe in what is a boost for Ratcliffe.

Dan Ashworth keen on Man Utd move

According to Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey, new top target Ashworth is now “very keen” on taking the role at Old Trafford, with Man Utd holding behind-the-scenes talks over a possible deal.

The 52-year-old is attracted by the proposition so could end up leaving Newcastle, which he joined back in May 2022 after departing Brighton & Hove Albion.

It looks as if a move to Manchester for Ashworth could materialise, and should that happen, it may come as welcome news to Gary Neville. The Red Devils legend took to X earlier this season to share an interaction he had with Ashworth prior to the Magpies’ 3-0 win at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup.

“On my way up to the gantry last night, I bumped into Dan Ashworth. He transformed the FA’s structure, set Brighton up for this incredible period of success and has now built a strong foundation for the new owners at Newcastle. He’s competent, highly qualified and knows what he’s doing.

“Last night, we saw the Theatre of Dreams turn into the Theatre of Nothing. Every single United fan bored and flat. On the pitch, the players in shock, the performances woeful and a manager struggling in front of our eyes. We’ve seen it before, we know how it ends and we’ve had enough.”

It looks like a deal will be one to watch in the new year, and at this moment in time, all the signs are looking positive.

Theirs is a special bond between the pair that has survived many highs, lows and a whole bunch of madness

The history between Mario Balotelli and Roberto Mancini is an erratic story that spans 17 years. It starts at Inter in 2006, intensifies at Manchester City, and fades out with the national team. A father-son love story that delivered success in two countries, turned sour – almost violent – but never truly ended in bitterness or hatred.

Respected coach Mancini thrust the troubled striker into the Inter first-team at the age of 17 and saw the world-class potential beyond the rebellious spirit. He took his beloved youngster to England, after the striker had burned too many bridges at San Siro, and put up with his outrageous behaviour before he was sent back to his homeland.

Still, Mancini never stopped loving Balotelli and refused to shut the door to another chance, even after the striker drifted into obscurity. To many, Balotelli is a meme before memes. The gif that keeps on gif-ing. To others, including Mancini and likely himself, he is a failed promise once capable of greatness. Here, GOAL takes a look at the odd relationship between the two:

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  Perfect beginning

  Born in Sicily to Ghanaian parents who could not meet his healthcare needs, Balotelli was placed into foster care and taken to the north of Italy, where his journey into football began at local team Lumezzane. At the age of 15, he made his professional debut in Italian football's third tier and impressed enough to convince Inter to snap him up.

  Before long, Mancini brought Balotelli into the senior team at San Siro, trusting him to make his debut in a friendly against Sheffield United, where he scored two goals. A month later, Balotelli made his Serie A debut for the Nerazzurri, and three days after that, he scored twice to seal a 4-1 Coppa Italia win over Reggina. He truly caught attention in the next round of the competition, though, when he fired two past Juventus in a 3-2 victory that sent his team into the semi-finals.

  By scoring three goals and setting up just as many in Serie A as Mancini's side finished top of the table, only three points above Roma, Balotelli truly announced himself as one of the country's most promising young players.

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  Goodbye, Mancini; hello, Mourinho

  Mancini departed at the end of Balotelli's debut season having delivered three straight Serie A titles. Jose Mourinho, clawing his way back into the game after being sacked by Chelsea, replaced the Italian and promised glory.

  Balotelli helped deliver on those assurances. After scoring in the Supercoppa Italiana win against Roma, his stock rose even further when he became the team's youngest-ever scorer in the Champions League in what was an excellent display against Anorthosis Famagusta. Partnering Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front, Balotelli connected perfectly with the Swedish striker to fire in an early opening goal. Inter twice fell behind against the Cypriot side, but Balotelli helped rescue them each time, setting up two goals to seal a 3-3 draw that proved crucial in propelling the Italian club into the knockout stages as they finished just a point above Werder Bremen.

  Mourinho didn't quite trust Balotelli to start every game in the beginning of the season, but the 18-year-old striker won him over and yet again scored vital goals in the run-in to the end of the season – a late winner against Bologna, two in a 3-3 draw with Roma, and goals in draws against Palermo, Juventus and Chievo – as Inter won another Scudetto.

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  Bad boy

  That season wasn't all smooth sailing for Balotelli, though. Mourinho dropped him from the team for a lack of effort in training and he was often criticised for his behaviour on the field, receiving 10 yellow cards in all competitions. His conduct barely improved the following season, and his first sending off sparked a legendary story from Mourinho.

  "We went to Kazan in the Champions League. In that match all my strikers were injured. No [Diego] Milito, no [Samuel] Eto'o, I was really in trouble and Mario was the only one," he said. "Mario gets a yellow card in minute 42, 43. So when I go to the dressing room at half-time, I spend 14 minutes of the 15 speaking only for Mario.

  "'Mario, I cannot change you. I cannot make a change. I don't have a striker on the bench. Don't touch anybody. Play only with the ball. When we lose the ball, no reaction. If somebody provokes you, no reaction. If the referee makes a mistake, no reaction. Mario, please.' Minute 46, red card!"

  It was actually the 60th minute Balotelli received his second yellow, but Mourinho's comedic point still stands. Balotelli, despite his talent, was unreliable and had frequent clashes with opponents, team-mates and his coach.

  He helped Inter to three Serie A titles and the Champions League, but he was walking a tightrope due to his gift for creating controversy. When Manchester City came calling, Inter agreed to let him go for almost €30 million. A reunion with Mancini, it was hoped, would get him back on the right path.

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  Back together

  After being sacked by Inter in 2008, Mancini spent over a year away from the game before City snapped him up to replace Mark Hughes as manager during the 2009-10 season. The Abu Dhabi-based owners were spending huge sums of money in an attempt to bring the club to the pinnacle of English and European football, and Mancini's success in Italy marked him as the ideal man to deliver on that promise.

  After a promising first term, Mancini's side brought Balotelli to the Premier League and he got off to the perfect start when he scored in a 1-0 win against Timisoara in Europa League qualifying. But catastrophe then struck, as he was ruled out until late October with a knee injury.

  It didn't take long for the best and worst of Balotelli to appear at City. In just his second Premier League start for the club, he scored two goals as they ran out 2-0 winners against West Brom. The striker did not get to see out the whole game, though, as he was sent off for violent conduct after a clash with Youssouf Mulumbu just an hour into the game. The suspension saw him ruled out of the derby match against Manchester United three days later.

  Regardless, he went on to claim the Golden Boy award that year and score his first Premier League hat-trick against Aston Villa.

  Everything was going smoothly as City booked a spot in the FA Cup final with a win against Manchester United, leading to Mancini and the City players going wild in their celebrations. But Balotelli just couldn't help himself, sparking a violent reaction from Rio Ferdinand on the field. The United players swarmed around him; they were furious. Balotelli, though, had a smile on his face and winked at Ferdinand, the ultimate wind-up merchant at it again. As always, Mancini was right there trying to keep his favourite boy calm.

  In the final against Stoke City, Balotelli played a key role in the winning goal and was even named Man of the Match.

Despite spending Christmas Day atop the Premier League table, Arsenal endured a miserable end to 2023 that saw them lose to West Ham United and Fulham before kicking off 2024 with an equally demoralising loss to Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Mikel Arteta's men still look quite impressive in defence and midfield, but their attack has seemingly fallen off a cliff, with players who were clinical only last season now struggling to find the back of the net.

One of those players is Gabriel Martinelli, who ended last season with 15 goals and five assists in the league, but now, with over half of the league campaign completed, the young Brazilian has just two goals and two assists to his name.

Offensive reinforcements are clearly needed to help the Gunners kick on in 2024, and Martinelli might want to keep an eye on one young target who could just prove to be a threat in the future: Palmerias' Estêvão Willian.

Arsenal transfer news – Estêvão Willian

According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), Arsenal are among four Premier League sides 'bidding hard' to sign Brazilian youngster Estêvão.

The report reveals that, alongside the Gunners, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all keen to secure the 16-year-old's signature this year, as are Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

With the nickname 'Messinho' – which means little Messi – it would be fair to categorise the young winger as a wonderkid and one of the most sought-after at that.

With the amount of hype and attention centred on the youngster, the first official offer is sure to start quite the bidding war, and while there is undoubtedly risk in going big for a 16-year-old, it might just be worth it if talent scout Jacek Kulig is correct in his assessment that Estêvão is a "world-class talent."

Estêvão Willian could be the perfect competition for Gabriel Martinelli

For as underwhelming as Martinelli has been this season, at least in terms of goal-scoring, it would be unfair to expect a relatively inexperienced youngster to come in right away and take his spot. Still, the arrival of Estêvão would undoubtedly provide the fan favourite with some added competition.

The Palmeiras winger can play on the left and right of a front three, so he shouldn't have any trouble fitting into Arteta's system, and based on his performances at the U17 World Cup, he looks to be the real deal.

The "crazy prospect", as described by Jacek Kulig, registered the most assists for Brazil, the most crosses, the most attempts at goal, the most sprints and the most presses, which altogether paint the picture of a very well-rounded and incredibly hard-working winger, who would surely feel at home with the intensity of the Premier League.

Martinelli himself offers that raw pace and pressing ability, so for another likeminded player to come in would surely give him a run for his money over the forthcoming years.

At the end of the day, if Arsenal sign one of the "biggest talents in South America", as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, all of their wingers should start looking over their shoulders.

However, considering the talismanic status that Bukayo Saka has cultivated at the Emirates, it would be hard to see anyone displacing him in a few years, leaving Martinelli as the most likely to lose out if he doesn't rediscover his goalscoring form in time.