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Leeds United continued their fantastic run of form in the Championship as they beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Goals from Dan James and Crysencio Summerville secured all three points for the Whites in Lancashire but it did nothing to close the gap on the top two.

Ipswich Town and Leicester continue to run away with the automatic promotion places as they sit on 48 and 49 points respectively, with a combined 31 wins from 40 matches.

Championship table (11/12/2023)

Position

Team

Points

First

Leicester

49

Second

Ipswich

48

Third

Leeds

41

Fourth

Southampton

38

Fifth

West Brom

32

Sixth

Sunderland

30

Daniel Farke's side, meanwhile, have won six of their last seven league games and sit seven points behind the Tractor Boys with 41 points in third place.

The Whites must continue to bring in the results and hope that the current top two slip up at some point and provide them with a chance to move up into the promotion places.

Bolstering the playing squad in January could give Leeds a boost and help them push for an automatic spot in the second half of the season.

Leeds transfer news – Sam Curtis

One player who has been linked with a potential move to Elland Road at the start of next year is impressive teenage full-back Sam Curtis.

90min reported last month that the Whites are one of a number of clubs eyeing up the 18-year-old defender ahead of the January transfer window.

The outlet claimed that Premier League giants Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Manchester City all want to sign him next month.

It added that Leeds, Middlesbrough, and Hull City are three Championship sides interested in Curtis, whilst reigning Scottish Premiership champions Celtic have also had an eye on the Irish prospect.

He currently plays for St Patrick's Athletic in his home country and his club are said to expect him to move on before they return to league action in February.

This suggests that a January transfer is on the cards for the right-back and this means that Leeds will need to move swiftly if they want to beat off the competition for his signature.

However, the report does not reveal how much it would cost to secure a deal for his services and that could play a telling role if it is out of the club's budget.

If they can afford him, though, Leeds could have an edge over the Premier League giants as they could offer the allure of regular first-team football, which the likes of City and Liverpool may not be able to offer with Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold standing in his way.

Farke could unearth his next version of Max Aarons, who he uncovered at Norwich City, by winning the race for Curtis' signature ahead of the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Max Aarons' Championship form for Farke

The German tactician placed his full faith in the talented right-back during their time together at Carrow Road as he handed the academy prospect a full first-team league debut at the age of 18.

Farke chucked Aarons in at the deep end in an East Anglian derby against Ipswich at the start of the 2018/19 campaign and the full-back went on to play a crucial role in the club's promotion to the Premier League.

The Canaries youngster went on to start 41 Championship matches in his first season at senior level and contributed with two goals and six assists.

He caught the eye with 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game to go along with a duel success rate of 58%, which shows that the impressive youngster made an impression at both ends of the pitch.

Norwich found themselves back in the Championship again for the 2020/21 campaign and Aarons, once again, produced fantastic performances.

The former England U21 international started 45 of their 46 league matches and made his presence felt with two goals and two assists from right-back. He also ranked within the top 4% of his positional peers at that level for progressive carries (3.27) per 90.

Aarons was rewarded for his stunning form with a place in the PFA Team of the Year for both the 2018/19 and the 2020/21 season respectively. He was also named the EFL Young Player of the Season at the end of his first campaign for Norwich.

These statistics and achievements show that Farke unearthed a gem in Norfolk and the German boss could do something similar with Curtis at Leeds.

The statistics that show why Leeds should sign Curtis

The talented prospect, who journalist Seán O'Connor dubbed a "rising star", has already played a full season of senior football despite the fact his 18th birthday was earlier this month.

Teammate Tom Grivosti hailed the 18-year-old whiz as "unbelievable" and claimed that he is "mature" beyond his years, which is a ringing endorsement for such a young player.

Curtis assisted three goals in 18 Premier Division appearances during his first foray into senior football during the 2022 campaign for St. Patrick's.

The Republic of Ireland U21 international followed that up with three goals and three assists in 34 outings in the Irish top-flight this year.

Alongside his attacking contributions, the teenage sensation caught the eye with his impressive defensive work. He made 3.4 tackles and interceptions and 5.2 ball recoveries across those 34 matches, to go along with a duel success rate of 63%.

For a point of reference, Archie Gray, who has been utilised out of position at right-back this season, has averaged 2.8 tackles and interceptions and won 54% of his battles across 19 Championship appearances.

The Thorp Arch youngster has, however, only contributed with one assist as he is yet to register the first senior goal of his promising career.

Gray has been a solid performer at right-back but the signing of Curtis would provide Farke with a natural player in that position and a potential upgrade given his defensive and offensive contributions in the Premier Division this year.

Leeds could, therefore, land the German his next version of Aarons as a fantastic 18-year-old right-back who could develop over time, whilst it would also allow Gray to play in his natural position in midfield.

A former Everton employee has dropped an extremely worrying update regarding 777 Partners' potential takeover of the club, as the saga continues to rumble on.

Everton takeover latest

The Blues have had so much to focus on in recent weeks, with the 10-point deduction in the Premier League acting as a major blow in their relegation fight this season. While there is still genuine hope that the drop will be avoided, there is plenty of work to do for Sean Dyche and his players.

There is also the big matter of the takeover of the club hopefully happening in the near future, although progress appears to be slow at the moment, despite so many supporters craving the end of the Farhad Moshiri era at Goodison Park.

It is something that Everton simply must nail, rather than taking a gamble with new owners ahead of their move to Bramley Moore Dock at the end of this season, so patience may have to be required within the fanbase.

Worrying Everton takeover claim

Speaking to Football Insider, former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness dropped a worrying update over the Blues' takeover, casting doubt over 777 Partners' credentials and saying a deal with them may actually never happen.

"It does seem that there are some pretty severe question marks about 777 Partners. It’s interesting that the regulatory process has been changed to include the Financial Conduct Authority. I think that is the area where 777 may have issues getting past those regulations. There’s a possibility they may not get the approval to complete the takeover. That would be a major issue.

"I think the issues, particularly in North America with their business model, do raise some serious questions that need to be answered fully. They may well be answered, and the takeover may well go through. But I do have my doubts at the moment. Those doubts come from how they’ve financed deals in the past, and the legal challenges they are facing in the US.

"Those are the key areas. I certainly have concerns about the strength of financing, the solidity of the financing – and how they have handled certain deals. Is there enough money to do the Everton deal? Can it be clearly shown where that money sits, and where it’s from? Those are the key issues the Premier League and the FCA will be looking at. They’ll want clear sight of the funds. I don’t know if 777 can do that. I hope they can."

These are clearly damaging comments for any Everton supporters to hear, considering how much a takeover is wanted by the majority, both in terms of having improved finances and simply heralding the start of a new spell at the club.

Everton considering move to sign £5k-p/w "extreme talent" for Sean Dyche

The Toffees are looking to bolster their attacking ranks at the end of the season.

ByChloe Chadwick Dec 1, 2023

That being said, it would be a grave error to rush through a deal with 777 Partners, considering how many doubts seem to surround the proposed next Blues owners, and Wyness is clearly someone who knows his stuff on such topics, given his past roles in the game.

It is arguably reaching the stage where Everton should pull the plug on any dealings with 777, instead looking elsewhere for new investors who can take the Merseysiders into the future at their new home.

Harry Kane scored one and assisted another as Bayern Munich battered Union Berlin 5-1 in the Bundesliga.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Kane scored second goal of the game
• Thomas Muller bagged a brace in rout
• Bayern set to finish second in German top flight

• TELL ME MORE

  Bayern controlled the game for long stretches of the first half, and were good value for Leon Goretzka's opener – a fine strike into the roof of the net. Kane doubled the Bavarian advantage on the stroke of half-time with a free-kick from 30 yards out. The floodgates opened after the break. Thomas Muller bagged a brace, while Mathys Tel added one of his own. Union Berlin grabbed a late consolation goal that did little else other than spoil Bayern's clean sheet.

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• Getty
  

  THE MVP

  Who else but Kane? He may not have scored twice like Muller here, but he was still at the centre of all of the good things Bayern did. His free kick was a thing of beauty. Meanwhile, the England captain dictated play, took shots on goal, and served as a focal point for the Bavarians – who were entirely dominant. He may not end this season with the silverware he deserves, but Kane could not have done more for Bayern.

• THE BIG LOSER

  Kane's arrival was always going to make things difficult for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The aging forward was a regular as the Bavarians made a late league run last year, but has seen his minutes slashed this campaign. Today he was handed a rare start, but stuck out on the left wing. Choupo-Moting didn't exactly flop there, but he looked immensely uncomfortable. His days at the club are surely numbered now.

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• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Bayern's focus will stay with Bundesliga play, as they're set to take on Frankfurt next weekend. After that, attention turns to the Champions League, where they will face Real Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

Newcastle United's preservation of impressive form despite the spate of injuries to key players is a glowing testament to the spirit and togetherness that manager Eddie Howe has instilled over the past two years.

Despite an early-season blip that yielded a three-match skid in the Premier League, Newcastle have been immense across the park and have climbed back up to fifth place in the table, now just four points off Liverpool and Arsenal in the top four.

And while successive defeats against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League have hindered the Magpies' chances of qualification to the knockout phase, they are still very much in with a shout with two matches to play, just three points off leaders Paris Saint-Germain despite sitting bottom of the group.

This week's loss against the ferocious Yellow Wall was a blow, sure, but Howe's threadbare side has been beset with so many injuries that it's a small wonder that they are still in the position that they are.

Indeed, less than one week ago in the Premier League, an injury-hit Newcastle repelled Arsenal's efforts at St. James' Park to secure three points; mere days before, Old Trafford was silenced in the Carabao Cup as the Tyneside team's rotated squad emerged as 3-0 victors.

But let's be honest, depth is a pre-requisite for success at the highest level, with Newcastle's present issues precluding Howe from achieving all that is possible this year.

With this in mind, United are sure to be busy in the market next year, and Lyon star Rayan Cherki is among those eyed for transfer.

Newcastle transfer news – Rayan Cherki

According to Football Insider, – as reported earlier this week – Newcastle are set to wage a transfer battle for Cherki against divisional rivals Manchester United, with both clubs keeping tabs on the player's development.

Cherki, aged 20, has been a prodigious presence with Les Gones over the past several years and was of a vested interest to Chelsea in the summer, who ultimately could not persuade the Ligue 1 team to sell.

Rated at £52m by CIES Football Observatory's valuation model, Cherki is out of contract in 2025 and may well be tempted to move, with Lyon enduring a terrible campaign and currently mired in last place in the French top-flight.

Rayan Cherki's style of play

Across 112 senior appearances for Lyon, Cherki has posted 14 goals and 17 assists, having scored five goals and provided six assists across all competitions last year, starting 21 times in the league.

Hailed for his “absurdly skilful” movements and tricks by journalist Tom Williams, the £60k-per-week gem's dynamism allows him to find success across the frontline, which could be crucial in convincing Howe to make his move.

Renowned for his elegance and breathtaking dribbling, Cherki is also two-footed and at ease both prioritising his goalscoring and creativity.

The Magpies have bolstered their attacking ranks with players such as Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes this year, but Cherki may well be the final piece of the puzzle to complement Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson as the focal frontmen.

#

Player

Club

1

Leroy Sane

Bayern Munich

2

Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid

3

Kvhicha Kvaratskhelia

Napoli

4

Kingsley Coman

Bayern Munich

5

Raheem Sterling

Chelea

*Sourced via FBref

Clearly, Cherki is a talented player, boasting skills that liken him to some of the wiliest weavers that European football has to offer, and given that he is only in the fledgling phase of his career, there is so much to get excited about.

And if Howe was to convince him to make the move to Tyneside, the Frenchman could be moulded into an incredible outlet to open a new dimension to the team.

For all the talent at the Toon manager's disposal, Cherki would bring natural flair and creativity that could surpass anything the squad currently boasts.

The stats that show Rayan Cherki would be a good signing for Newcastle

Cherki might be struggling right now but such is the magnitude of his side's capitulation this season; despite his woes, Cherki has still maintained a decent level of performance, completing 82% of his passes and averaging 2.1 shots and 1.2 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

Still attempting to influence the play himself and provide support to his frontal peers, Howe knows that this rising star is willing to fight.

Given that Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior is listed as a comparable player to the Lyon man, it appears Newcastle could get their mitts on quite the player, unearthing a regen with a knack for ploughing forward with menace and unleashing creative might on hapless defenders.

As per FBref, Cherki ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shots taken, the top 5% for shot-creating actions and progressive carries, the top 4% for progressive passes and successful take-ons and the top 11% for passes attempted per 90.

Vinicius Jr., meanwhile, ranks among the top 2% for assists, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, and the top 1% for progressive carries, successful take-ons and touches in the attacking box per 90.

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

G/A rate

23/24

12

4

4

0.67

22/23

55

23

21

0.80

21/22

52

22

20

0.81

20/21

49

6

7

0.27

19/20

38

5

4

0.24

18/19

31

3

12

0.48

*Statistics provided via Transfermarkt

The Brazilian wizard is now – quite unequivocally – world-class, and has risen to become one of the most prolific presences in European football.

Still only 23, Vinicius Jr. has demonstrated impressive incremental growth since his maiden days in the Spanish capital; while the 2018/19 campaign produced superior results to the two ensuing campaigns, he had largely featured off the bench and inflated his numbers through some maulings of lesser opposition in the Copa del Rey.

Nonetheless, he announced himself emphatically and currently serves as Los Blancos' starring centre-forward, now living up to praise from legendary compatriot Ronaldinho back in 2019, when the former Barcelona star proclaimed him to be "among the best" in the world in just a few years.

Now, this is very much the truth, and if Cherki can emulate the Madrid man at St. James' Park and start to ramp up his numbers to greater levels, he too could cement a spot among the game's elite.

There has been a suggestion that Tottenham Hotspur could now move for a "blistering" £70 million player wanted by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

Spurs transfer targets – January

The high-flying north Londoners, who currently sit pretty atop the table, have enjoyed an absolutely sensational start to life under head coach Ange Postecoglou. The former Celtic boss is already a record holder, having enjoyed the finest start to a campaign of any new manager in Premier League history.

Tottenham's eight wins from a possible 10 so far have been truly impressive, especially after the departure of star striker Harry Kane to Bayern Munich over the summer. They've remained unbeaten in that time too, though there are some concerns over Postecoglou's lack of depth behind his traditional starting eleven.

Both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been imperious at the heart of Spurs' defence, but Postecoglou only has Eric Dier to turn to if either one become unavailable. As a result, Tottenham are interested in Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah as an alternative, with Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly targeted by Spurs as well.

Postecoglou is also said to be eyeing up a wide forward. Spurs reportedly like Al-Ittihad winger Jota for instance, with journalist Dean Jones now sharing news on a more ambitious target to come in and provide competition for Dejan Kulusevski.

Tottenham could move for Pedro Neto

Wolves winger Pedro Neto, who has been a revelation under Gary O'Neil so far this season, could emerge as an option for Spurs in January. That is according to Jones, who suggests to GiveMeSport that Tottenham could move for Neto. He adds that a deal will be difficult to do, partly because of his marquee price tag, but also due to the competition from both Arsenal and Liverpool.

The Portuguese is starring since his return from a long-term injury, with pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor urging Arsenal to sign Neto earlier this campaign.

“They need proper backup for Saka and Martinelli. Trossard, Vieira and Smith Rowe," said Agbonlahor to Football Insider.

"These are all good players, but there’s no one with that blistering pace. Neto has shown that. He’s had a tough two years with injury, but he’s got that. He would suit Arsenal perfectly if they could get him in.”

His brilliant form, though, could mean that Neto will cost around £70 million to prise away from Wolves. O'Neil, commenting on the winger's form, also says he's been "absolutely magnificent".

“Pedro has been absolutely magnificent since I’ve arrived," said O'Neil on Neto's form to the English press.

“We’ve done a lot of work with him. Last year his performances were probably under what they should have been for a player of his quality, but he’s bought into everything we’ve asked of him and the improvement in him has been incredible.

“He’s willing to work every day and take on board what we ask. He looks like a really top player at the moment.”

Reactions from current and former players after a sensational, see-sawing Test at Edgbaston

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Aug-20181:45

A brilliant advert for Test cricket – Root

It’s lovely. It’s the favourite format for me. It’s the best format in cricket. We absolutely love playing Test cricket. People watching it as well should love it equally. They understand the game and there’s nothing better than testing yourself over five days against top quality opposition and I’m sure every player playing Test cricket will vouch for that as well.
Anyone who says it’s dead can just come and watch it on repeat.
I have dreamt of this growing up. Playing Test cricket, in front of these big crowds, with all these players I’ve seen growing up. Stokesy, Jimmy, Broady, I’m just trying to learn a bit every day.

It was a day to forget for the England trio as the Cityzens crashed out of their second cup competition in the space of four days

Manchester City crashed out of the FA Cup quarter-finals on penalties on Sunday, defeated by a Tottenham team that were down and out until a mix-up between Khiara Keating and Laia Aleixandri gifted them a 96th-minute equaliser. Keating did her best to atone for the error in the shootout, but one save wasn't enough as England stars Alex Greenwood and Chloe Kelly were both denied by Spurs' own penalty hero, Becky Spencer.

There were just six minutes on the clock when Mary Fowler broke the deadlock for City, her shot finding the back of the net with the aid of a deflection after a lovely flick from Bunny Shaw. However, that didn't open the floodgates for the Cityzens, with Shaw herself guilty of a couple of missed chances before she was subbed off due to an injury concern with around 20 minutes left to play.

It looked like her team had done enough without her to reach the semi-finals, but Spurs were piling the pressure on and it was Beth England who prolonged this encounter. Not long after she had blazed a golden chance over the bar from just a few yards out, the forward found herself in the right place at the right time to benefit from miscommunication between Keating and Aleixandri, able to tap into an empty net deep into stoppage-time.

City boss Gareth Taylor introduced Kelly ahead of extra-time and she came closest to stopping the tie from going to penalties, forcing a good save out of Spencer and even hitting the bar with a free-kick, but the Lionesses winger faltered with her spot-kick, as did Greenwood, with Spurs scoring three out of four before centre-back Amy James-Turner stepped up to beat Keating with an effort that sent City crashing out of a second cup competition in just four days.

GOAL rates Man City's players from Brisbane Road…

• Getty Images
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Khiara Keating (3/10):

  Needless error gifted Spurs the goal that took the game to extra-time. Saved a spot-kick in the shootout but unfortunately it wasn't enough.

  Kerstin Casparij (6/10):

  Got up and down the pitch really well to be an asset in both halves.

  Laia Aleixandri (4/10):

  Comical mix-up with Keating led to Spurs' equaliser, though she seemed to have it covered until her goalkeeper intervened.

  Alex Greenwood (6/10):

  Superb on the ball in the first half, one defence-splitting pass to Hemp in particular really catching the eye, but her influence waned as City struggled. Took a poor penalty.

  Leila Ouahabi (5/10):

  Struggled when pressed. Offered a good crossing option in the final third, but didn't showcase that enough.

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• Midfield

  Yui Hasegawa (7/10):

  Offered great support whenever her team attacked, constantly on the move to get involved. Took a great penalty.

  Filippa Angeldahl (5/10):

  Lacked end product and good decision-making. Ran her socks off, though, and scored her spot-kick.

  Jess Park (6/10):

  Her first-half performance oozed confidence, with her always wanting to be on the ball and make things happen. Faded out of the game as City struggled, though.

• Getty Images
  

  Attack

  Mary Fowler (7/10):

  Might have had some fortune with the deflection but linked up well with Shaw for her goal and was generally City's liveliest player. Great penalty.

  Khadija Shaw (6/10):

  Lovely flick to tee up Fowler to break the deadlock. Had chances to add a goal to that assist but couldn't convert before being subbed off with an injury.

  Lauren Hemp (7/10):

  Provided her team with a constant outlet down the left and created some good chances. Held the ball up well when moved centrally after Shaw's withdrawal.

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  Subs & Manager

  Laura Coombs (5/10):

  Came on at a time when Spurs took over so struggled to make an impact in the 90 minutes.

  Esme Morgan (5/10):

  Came on a few minutes after Coombs to try and help City see the game out but had some shaky moments.

  Chloe Kelly (6/10):

  Brought on for extra-time and was the best player in that 30 minutes, forcing a good save out of Spencer and hitting the bar. Took a surprisingly poor penalty, however.

  Gareth Taylor (4/10):

  Decision to start Fowler paid dividends but his subs could've come earlier and there should've been more of them when Spurs put the pressure on, too, to disrupt an opponent growing in confidence that would eventually equalise and win the tie.

Sunrisers’ captain underlined the importance of banking on experience in a knockout after his side entered its second IPL final in three seasons

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2018Two nights after being pipped by a late Faf du Plessis onslaught that cost them a four-day break and a direct entry into the final, Sunrisers Hyderabad did it the hard way at Eden Gardens. They snapped a four-match losing streak by beating Kolkata Knight Riders by 14 runs to enter their second IPL final and have another crack at Chennai Super Kings, who they are yet to beat in three attempts this season.”It was a great fighting effort from the lads,” Sunrisers captain Kane Williamson told Star Sports. “The game ebbed and flowed. Kolkata are an outstanding side, they deserved to be here and the game could have gone either way, but it’s nice it fell our way in some crunch moments. Credit to the way the boys finished off the first innings to get a very competitive total. The game was slipping away at the start of the chase, but we knew if we held strong and picked wickets through the middle, we could squeeze. We’ve now got another game of cricket left.”After being asked to bat, Sunrisers were struggling at 134 for 6 in the 18th over. Rashid Khan, however, smashed an unbeaten 34 off 10 balls to lift the total to 174 for 7. He then claimed 3 for 19 with the ball, including the key wickets of Chris Lynn and Andre Russell. In addition, he effected the run-out of Nitish Rana, who was promoted to No.3 to counter the legspinner’s left-handedness. Rashid capped the night with two catches in the last over.”He (Rashid) was brilliant but he’s got another game, so we’re going to keep him wrapped up,” Williamson said. “The final is our focus now. As a team, we fight until the very last ball and we showed that today. It’s a real team effort. Rashid was certainly the Man of the Match and he was brilliant, but a lot of guys chipped in. It’s a great fighting effort, which is the attitude we want to see from Sunrisers.”Sunrisers had made three changes coming into this knockout bout. They left out Manish Pandey, their costliest signing at USD 1.6 million (approx) INR 11 crores, after he had managed only 284 runs in 13 innings. at a strike rate of 115.44. Instead, they backed Deepak Hooda in the middle order and recalled a fit-again Wriddhiman Saha in place of Shreevats Goswami. Williamson underlined the importance of balance without losing experience as a key reason for the move.”The thing we didn’t change was our balance [despite the changes], he said. “We did make some adjustments because we had injuries obviously. Saha was injured, but he came back and it was nice to have his experience. [Shreevats] Goswami contributed well, got some exposure, but for us to have that experience in the final was a big thing. Every one of those guys in the squad have played a huge part, whether it’s on the field or carrying drinks. It’s been a huge collective effort, but we still have another game of cricket left.”Shakib Al Hasan, now into his third IPL final and his first with Sunrisers in his debut season, gave a peek into the spirit in the team. Williamson also touched upon it as he spoke of Carlos Brathwaite. The West Indies allrounder had conceded 20 runs off the 18th over against CSK, but Williamson still backed him to defend 18 runs off the final over at the same venue, where he had hit Ben Stokes for four sixes to deliver West Indies’ second World T20 title two years ago.Brathwaite took the wickets of the well-set Shubman Gill and Shivam Mavi to close out the game. “Carlos will be happy because he might have thought he was responsible for the loss against CSK, even though he really wasn’t, and might have taken it personally,” Shakib said. “The way he came back today was terrific.”

When it rains it pours for Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag's men likely still licking their wounds following the weekend's dismal 3-1 defeat at home to high-flying Brighton and Hove Albion – a result that has contributed to the club's worst-ever start to a Premier League season.

With three defeats from five so far, ahead of Wednesday's trip to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League, things on the pitch are going about as well as they are off it, with the former Ajax boss also having to deal with the banishment of both Antony and Jadon Sancho at present.

Those woes have only been heightened by the ongoing injury crisis which has engulfed the club, with the likes of Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat currently sidelined – the latter man having yet to feature since his deadline day arrival.

It is in the defensive ranks, in particular, where the Red Devils currently look particularly depleted, as Ten Hag is set to be without Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia for the foreseeable future, while Raphael Varane has also been absent in recent weeks.

That dearth of options has now been compounded by the news that resurgent right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is also set to be sidelined over the next two months or so, with the Englishman having sustained a hamstring injury during his brief, late substitute appearance against the Seagulls.

How good has Wan-Bissaka been this season?

After initially enjoying just four minutes of action in the first half of the 2022/23 campaign – sparking speculation that a January exit could be on the cards – it is fair to say that 2023 has been the year of 'The Spider', as he has enjoyed a remarkable return to form of late.

The former Crystal Palace man appears to be in line for a new contract extension such has been his renaissance since the World Cup break, having notably been one of the few bright sparks in the current campaign, providing one assist and averaging 83% successful dribbles per game as a marker of his improved attacking displays.

The 25-year-old was particularly impressive in the win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening weekend after teeing up Raphael Varane for the game's winning goal, having been a 'good performer' on the day, according to Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

For such a promising beginning to the season on an individual basis to be halted by injury will be of real frustration to both the full-back and Ten Hag, with the Dutchman now needing to consider just how he can replace the stricken star moving forward.

Who can replace Wan-Bissaka at Man United?

Of course, the obvious candidate to take on that starting role is Diogo Dalot, with the Portuguese right-back having been deployed in that berth on Saturday after Wan-Bissaka was hampered due to illness.

Games

26

19

Starts

24

16

Goals/Assists

3

0

Tackles and interceptions (per game)

3.5

3.3

Total duels won

65%

55%

Key passes (per game)

1.1

0.8

Avg. match rating

7.05

6.98

While that is the former Porto man's natural role, the 24-year-old has also been forced to cover at left-back this season due to the loss of both Malacia and Shaw, with it likely that he may be asked to slot into that unorthodox role over the coming weeks, if Sergio Reguilon fails to perform.

That latter man did initially impress on debut against Roberto De Zerbi's side after producing a lively, attacking display, although as Luckhurst noted, the Spaniard was 'exploited' for the game's opening goal, while his 'rustiness was apparent in the second half'.

There may be a case to be made that Dalot could shift over to the left to provide greater defensive security, while the right-back vacancy could be taken over by a promising academy talent, despite Ten Hag's prior claim that Sofyan Amrabat can fill in at full-back.

With the Moroccan international needed to help aid United's midfield woes – with that department branded as "non-existent" during the win over Wolves by Gary Neville – Ten Hag would be better served prising Habeeb Ogunneye from the youth set-up instead.

Who is Habeeb Ogunneye?

With the Old Trafford outfit having allowed promising Spaniard and FA Youth Cup-winning defender, Marc Jurado to join Espanyol on a permanent deal this summer, it is young Ogunneye who has stepped up to replace the 20-year-old in the U21 side.

The London-born teenager – who previously made 18 appearances for the U18's, assisting three goals – has played in all four Premier League 2 games so far this term at right-back, while also starting in the EFL Trophy clash with Stockport County last month.

That outing against senior opposition showcased the full array of the 17-year-old's talents, as he made two tackles and two interceptions as a sign of his defensive prowess, while also providing one key pass as a marker of his ability in an attacking sense, as per Sofascore.

It is that threat going forward that has particularly caught the eye in recent times, with the Englishman appearing to possess the ability to simply glide past opponents when carrying the ball out from defence.

Of course, attempting to replicate such displays in the senior ranks is a difficult task, although Ogunneye can likely take inspiration from the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, two teenagers who have already forced their way firmly into Ten Hag's plans.

It may seem too hasty to already be thinking about plunging a 17-year-old into the backline, but with injuries mounting at the Theatre of Dreams, the experienced tactician may have little choice but to put his faith in the gifted and emerging superstar.

With rumours already rife that the United boss is keen to strengthen at right-back next summer – with Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong one name to have been mentioned – he could potentially save the club millions by unearthing an exciting academy prospect such as Ogenneye over the coming weeks and months.

Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and the rest of the board backed Brendan Rodgers throughout the summer transfer window with nine new signings.

Who did Celtic sign this summer?

The Hoops head coach was able to bolster his playing squad in a number of positions in spite of the club coming off the back of a treble-winning campaign.

South Korean enforcer Hyeok-kyu Kwon and Norwegian talent Odin Thiago Holm both arrived on permanent deals alongside Paulo Bernardo on loan from Benfica to improve his options in the middle of the park.

The defence was also strengthened with the arrivals of Swedish titan Gustaf Lagerbielke and Polish ace Maik Nawrocki for undisclosed fees, whilst Nat Phillips has also joined on loan from Premier League side Liverpool until the January transfer window.

Rodgers' attacking arsenal was added to with the signings of South Korean Hyun-jun Yang, Honduras international Luis Palma, and Australia international Marco Tilio, who all came through the door on permanent moves.

However, the former Leicester City boss could also add to his first-team group by dipping into the academy to promote one of the outstanding talents in the B team side – Rocco Vata.

How good is Rocco Vata?

New signing Paulo Bernardo could need to move aside in order for the 18-year-old starlet to finally be unleashed as his form so far this season at youth level has been nothing short of phenomenal.

The Glasgow-born maestro has racked up six goals in five games for Celtic B and is showcasing his ability to offer a consistent goalscoring threat from an attacking midfield position.

He has found the back of the net five times in four Lowland League outings and scored once in one Challenge Cup match for the youthful Bhoys and Rodgers must now pay attention to the teenage gem's displays as he could have the potential to make a big impact for the first-team.

His fantastic performances this season have not come out of the blue, either, as Vata enjoyed a successful 2022/23 campaign with 11 goals and one assist in 24 matches for the B team.

The magical ace, who was reported to be on his way out of Parkhead this summer before eventually staying put, racked up nine goals and one assist in 16 Lowland League clashes and earned himself opportunities with Ange Postecoglou's squad.

Vata made four appearances in the Scottish Premiership for Celtic last season and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 over 44 minutes of action on the pitch.

Despite his limited minutes, the Republic of Ireland U21 international caught the eye with his impressive creativity as he provided his teammates with two 'big chances' and completed 89% of his attempted passes, as per Sofascore.

For context, Daizen Maeda only created six 'big chances' in 1925 minutes of Premiership football and captain Callum McGregor produced four 'big chances' for the attackers in a whopping 2759 minutes of game time.

This illustrates how special Vata's contributions in just 44 minutes were during the 2022/23 campaign as the talented youngster justified Postecoglou's decision to bring him into the first-team fold.

The Irish dynamo's form this season now shows that he is too good to be playing academy football as it has been far too easy for him to dominate matches at that level with his goalscoring prowess from midfield. As such, Rodgers should finally unleash him for the Hoops.

His statistics suggest that the £280-per-week ace has the potential to offer more than new signing Bernardo, who is yet to prove himself to be as impressive as Vata – at youth or senior level.

How good is Paulo Bernardo?

The 21-year-old central midfielder's career statistics do not suggest that he is as good as the Celtic academy star when it comes to providing attacking contributions from the middle of the park.

Bernardo spent the second half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan with FC Pacos de Ferreira and he managed two goals and zero 'big chances' created in 13 Liga Portugal appearances, whilst the Portugal U21 international also completed 82% of his attempted passes.

That came after the Benfica prospect failed to score a single goal and created one 'big chance' for his teammates in 17 top-flight outings for his parent club throughout the previous season.

In total, the Portuguese talent has scored two goals and assisted one in 39 senior games in his career to date, which is one goal involvement every 13 clashes on average from midfield.

This came after Bernardo managed seven goals and five assists in 38 matches for Benfica B, two goals and one assist in 23 outings for their U23 side, and two strikes in nine U19 appearances.

Therefore, he racked up 11 goals and six assists in 70 youth team games for the Portuguese club, which is an average of one goal involvement every 4.12 matches.

Whereas, Vata, who has been capped five times by Ireland's U19s, has scored 17 goals and assisted one in 29 academy games for the Scottish giants; a goal contribution every 1.61 outings on average.

This suggests that the Celtic prodigy, who was once hailed as an "exciting" talent by scout Jacek Kulig, could offer more quality in midfield than Bernardo when it comes to making a big impact at the top end of the pitch on a consistent basis.

He has already shown glimpses of his quality at first-team level with his showings for Postecoglou's side last season and Rodgers must now offer him the chance to showcase his talent again this term, as the potential is there for him to be a better option than Bernardo – who is three years older than him.

At the age of 18, Vata is a player with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve, which is why more exposure to senior football could help his growth as he learns how to navigate a senior environment.

The teenage wizard, who coach Dara O'Dea previously claimed has a killer attitude that "never stops", deserves to be rewarded for his sensational form for the B team and that is why Rodgers must unleash him ahead of Bernardo over the coming weeks and months.