A lack of consistency has cost Manchester United massively this season, with the FA Cup the only piece of silverware that can realistically be won.
One of the main reasons for this is that Erik ten Hag hasn’t been able to field the same starting XI frequently, with underperformance and injuries often causing rotation.
This has particularly been the case for the backline, with a handful of players failing to nail down a position, including an individual whose value has dropped since his arrival.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s start to life at Man United
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was supposed to be the heir to Antonio Valencia when the United captain left in 2019, as he was brought in that summer off the back of an impressive campaign for Crystal Palace, playing a key role in a defence that kept 12 clean sheets in the 2018/19 season.
The young right-back joined the Red Devils for a fee of £50m, which is still the Eagles’ biggest sale to this day, with the next highest figure being £25m.
Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka in action
At that point, Wan-Bissaka was one of the most promising defenders in England, with ex-United player Paul Parker even claiming that he was the best right back in the Premier League and better than Trent Alexander-Arnold.
He got off to a flyer in his first campaign at Old Trafford, as the former Eagles gem was nominated for the MUFC August Player of the Month award. Throughout the season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started the "machine," as per commentator Jim Beglin, in 34 matches, where he kept 11 clean sheets and picked up four assists.
Wan-Bissaka’s value in 2024
Fast forward to this season, and Wan-Bissaka has struggled to cement himself as Ten Hag's go-to right-back, starting just ten games in the Premier League.
Diogo Dalot is the preferred option on that flank, with his continuous availability and the fact that he "offers more in attack" – as per journalist Francis Abban – giving him the advantage over the 26-year-old, who has missed ten games this season with a hamstring injury.
Nonetheless, his lack of game time and lack of youth on his side have seen his value drop over the years.
December 2019
£34m
October 2020
£34m
December 2021
£32m
November 2022
£15m
December 2023
£17m
Wan-Bissaka’s value peaked as he joined United, and he maintained that number until halfway through 2021. However, his estimated worth began to drop during United’s terrible 2021/22 season, which saw Solskjaer leave, Ralf Rangnick join, and the club finish sixth in the league.
The 6 foot gem's estimated value then decreased to its lowest point at the beginning of the Ten Hag era, with the English ace’s first start under the new boss coming against Burnley in December.
Luckily, he has started to feature more frequently, which has seen it rise back up slightly to £17m – as per CIES Football Observatory – but United still arguably overpaid for the defender originally in 2019.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
If United decide to move the defender on at the end of the season, they would be looking at a rather large loss, and therefore, Wan-Bissaka’s move to Manchester has been far from a success.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has now decided to axe a "very exciting" Spurs player who's also been told to find a new club before February 1.
Spurs shifting players on in January
The Lilywhites have managed to shift a few high-earning big names off their books this month, in what is a boost for chairman Daniel Levy as he saves potentially millions on player salaries.
£34m star among favourites to join Spurs as Ange targets "elite" signing
He could come in to replace a big figure.
By
Emilio Galantini
Jan 25, 2024
Ivan Perisic, who joined Hajduk Split on a season-long loan and will join them permanently for free when his Spurs contract expires, has agreed to be paid just 85p a week – in what is an incredible gesture to his boyhood club.
Dier, who was on a reported £85,000-per-week salary at Tottenham, joined Bayern Munich on loan and will again sign for them permanently when his contract expires in the summer – giving Thomas Tuchel's side the chance to seal his signature for free later this year.
Alongside Dier and Perisic, the likes of Djed Spence, Japhet Tanganga, Sergio Reguilon and Ashley Phillips have also moved elsewhere on temporary deals – trimming Postecoglou's squad and balancing the books.
All confirmed Tottenham deals for January
Transfer
Timo Werner
RB Leipzig (loan, arrival)
Radu Dragusin
Genoa (permanent, arrival)
Djed Spence
Genoa (loan, exit)
Ashley Phillips
Plymouth (loan, exit)
Japhet Tanganga
Millwall (loan, exit)
Sergio Reguilon
Brentford (loan, exit)
Ivan Perisic
Hajduk Split (loan, exit)
Eric Dier
Bayern Munich (loan, exit)
While a good few squad members have departed Tottenham, reports suggest more could follow them. Emerson Royal has been subject to bids from Al Nassr, while uncertainty still surrounds the future of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Many media sources in recent months have claimed that Hojbjerg could be replaced by Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, as Postecoglou eyes a new midfield running man.
However, as time runs out to make that a reality, perhaps a more likely exit could be that of Spurs starlet Bryan Gil.
The 22-year-old is expected to leave north London before deadline day, amid interest from clubs in both Spain and Italy.
Gil told to find new club after Postecoglou decision
HITC and journalist Graeme Bailey have an update on his future this week, and they claim Spurs have told Gil to find a new club.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou has apparently decided that the Spaniard doesn't feature in his long-term plans, and there are many suitors late in the window.
Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Valencia and Lazio are the interested clubs abroad, while Brentford, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Fulham could be options closer to home.
Called "very exciting" by editor David Cartlidge, supporters will perhaps be disappointed if Gil leaves permanently, as he arrived with a lot of promise.
Former Spurs boss Antonio Conte, despite hardly playing the former Sevilla starlet, even claimed he was born to play football.
James Maddison has been cut from the England provisional squad before the Three Lions play their final Euro 2024 warm-up game against Iceland.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Southgate makes decision to axe Spurs starEngland play Iceland on FridayDecision made before deadlineWHAT HAPPENED?
Per , Maddison has not been included in Southgate's final squad for the European Championship. The 27-year-old was included in the 33-man provisional squad and he played for half an hour of England's 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, but he has left the camp prior to the Three Lions' final friendly before the tournament against Iceland.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Maddison had struggled for form in the back-end of the season and only scored one Premier League goal between January and May, while providing our assists, after being ruled out for two months with an ankle injury mid-season. He has only won seven caps for his country and has never played at a major tournament. He was included in the squad for the 2022 World Cup but failed to play a single minute.
DID YOU KNOW?
Southgate will have to cut his squad down to 26 players, meaning that six other players will also be cut from his final squad. It remains to be seen if those decisions will also be made prior to the Iceland game, as England will fly to Germany shortly after the final whistle.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Southgate has plenty of decisions to make as England gear up for their fourth tournament under his management. The Three Lions kick off Euro 2024 against Serbia on June 16, and will also play Denmark and Slovenia in the group stage.
It is a well-known fact that Manchester United have been underwhelming in attack this season, which is highlighted by the fact that only three teams have scored fewer than them this campaign in the league.
However, the most scrutinised player is 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund, who only moved to the Red Devils last summer for £72m.
Since joining from Atalanta, the Danish striker has failed to live up to his price tag, as he has only netted twice in 16 Premier League matches.
Although those goals have arrived in his two most recent games, Erik ten Hag is still keen to address the centre-forward issue by scanning the market for a new star to lead the line.
Therefore, let's take a look at three dream strikers that Man Utd could sign in the near future to replace Hojlund.
1 Serhou Guirassy – Stuttgart
Stuttgart strikerSerhou Guirassy.
Serhou Guirassy is looking like one of the best value-for-money signings on the market, as according to Football Insider, Man Utd are interested in signing the Stuttgart star for just £15m in January.
The 27-year-old has been one of the most in-form strikers in the Bundesliga this campaign, netting 17 goals and registering two assists in just 14 appearances.
#1 Harry Kane
22
#2 Kylian Mbappe
19
#3 Lautaro Martinez
18
#4 Serhou Guirassy
17
#5 Erling Haaland
14
Those statistics blow Hojlund out of the water, and his reliability in putting the ball in the back of the net would make him a cheap, realistic upgrade on the Dane.
The next striker who could push Hojlund down the pecking order is perhaps a wildcard option, Brian Brobbey of Ajax, who formerly worked with Ten Hag at the Dutch club.
A report towards the end of last week from the Mirror stated that United are planning on making a move for Brobbey this summer.
The 21-year-old has become a key figure in the Ajax side this season, and he boasts an incredible record of 13 goal contributions in 16 Eredivisie starts.
Games
32
Goals
13
Assists
3
Minutes played
869
Starts
7
Minutes per goal
67
Not only would Brobbey provide goals, but he would also elevate those around him with his ability to cause chaos in the final third, as shown by his shot-creating actions being in the top 5% in the Eredivisie this season, as per FBref.
Therefore, the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, and Alejandro Garnacho could benefit from the ex-Leipzig striker.
3 Viktor Gyokeres – Sporting
Sporting CP strikerViktor Gyokeres.
Despite only moving to Portugal this summer in a £20m deal from Coventry, Viktor Gyokeres could be on the move once again after impressing for Sporting.
According to a report from Correio da Mania via The Sun towards the end of December, Ten Hag is interested in signing the Sweden star, and his release clause of £87m could be activated this summer.
Gyokeres is the definition of a complete striker, who can score and create from nothing. The 25-year-old has scored an impressive 11 goals and provided eight assists in 16 Liga Portugal games this season.
The clinical striker beats Hojlund in almost every single metric, according to FBref's comparison tool, and the table below shows a handful of statistics from their respective leagues proves that.
Goals
0.69
0.16
Assists
0.50
0.08
Shot-creating actions
4.33
2.25
Successful take-ons
2.38
0.80
Touches (Att pen)
8.91
4.10
Sir Jim Ratcliffe will want to start his United adventure off with a bang, and signing a finisher who has been described as a "Rolls-Royce" striker, by football writer Zach Lowy, would be the perfect way to do so.
When Granit Xhaka left Arsenal in the summer of 2023, Mikel Arteta and Edu knew they needed to go to great lengths to replace his extraordinary output last season.
A £105m move for Declan Rice was signed, sealed and delivered while Kai Havertz, certainly to less fanfare, arrived from another part of London in Chelsea.
The £65m addition hasn't quite made the grade after moving to the north of the capital, with it taking until November for the German to finally score a goal in Arsenal colours from open play.
Perhaps realising the error of their ways, the Gunners have been looking at signing another midfielder according to reports.
Arsenal's midfield shortlist
Two names on the club's shortlist for 2024 reside in the Premier League with Amadou Onana, touted at £60m, interesting Arsenal, while Joao Palhinha of Fulham is another to be tipped with a move to join the ranks at the Emirates Stadium.
Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.
A wildcard option could well be that of Joao Neves, Benfica's next hot property in the middle of the park after Enzo Fernandez.
The teenage sensation has been strongly linked with Manchester United in recent months but Arsenal are another casting their eyes towards Neves. Reports in the build-up to the January window suggested that the Gunners were tracking the 19-year-old but with a release clause of £103m and no intention of selling, any move is incredibly unlikely, at least for now.
All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024
With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.
ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024
Yet, if the Kroenke's were to dip their hands into their pockets again for another mega midfield signing, Neves would offer some extreme quality to Arteta's side. Does anyone fancy another round of Santi Cazorla?
How Joao Neves compares to Santi Cazorla
Who is Neves we hear you ask? Well, a quick look at his FBref scouting profile indicates what a fine young individual this budding teen is.
Compared to positionally similar players across Europe's top five leagues and the top continental competitions, he ranks among the best 11% for passes into the final third (via FBref), indicating his progressive nature in possession of the ball.
Benfica midfielder Joao Neves.
Further sitting inside the top 17% for passes attempted, it's clear Neves is a player who offers plenty of protection and composure on the ball. However, he's more than just about passing play. Neves happens to be adept in the defensive and offensive phases of play.
Indeed, the Benfica starlet is in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe for goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, the best 1% for tackles won (3.95) and the finest 13% for interceptions (1.58 per 90). To put that into context, Rice makes 2.01 tackles per 90 and 1.73 interceptions.
Can you imagine the thought of the two playing together, therefore? Yeah, it's a dreamy picture to envisage. The progressive and classy nature of the two is a tantalising prospect.
Already we're getting a sense of why Neves is similar to Cazorla though. He's intricate with his passing play, progressive and capable of doing his fair share of the dirty work. The comparison is supplemented by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Cazorla was one of the most gifted players in the Emirates Stadium era and is remembered particularly fondly by those of an Arsenal persuasion. He played a key hand in ending the club's trophy drought in 2014, scoring a scorching free-kick in the FA Cup final versus Hull City but overall, he was just marvellously gifted at football.
The Spaniard left in 2018 after a period of sustained injury hell that nearly ended his career but he did so with a mighty fine record in Arsenal colours, scoring 29 goals and supplying 45 assists in 180 outings.
With such a creative marvel in mind, let's dive a little deeper into how he compares to Neves.
Shots
0.89
0.95
Pass Success
88%
81%
Key Passes
0.74
2.41
Progressive Passes
6.52
8.67
Shot-creating Actions
2.89
4.63
Tackles Won
2.44
1.16
Interceptions
1.48
0.95
Carries
51.7
41.9
Progressive Carries
1.78
2.35
Despite there being some differences in the volume of each stat, you can see how their playstyles are alike. Both registered a high number of progressive passes and shot-creating actions, showcasing a preference for getting on the ball and creating openings for teammates.
Cazorla was one of the finest in the Premier League era at such a quality and thus, signing Neves would be truly exciting for supporters. With such a huge asking price, however, we might never see him in Arsenal colours.
Everton have released an update on the future of Dele Alli as he approaches the end of his current contract this month.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Alli sidelined for long spell due to injuryEverton contract expires in JuneClub announce he will stay to recoverWHAT HAPPENED?
The Toffees have confirmed that the former England international will remain at the club after next month, despite his contract expiring in June.
Dele is currently recovering from a groin injury and will continue to do so at Everton, as the club look to ensure his rehabilitation is not impacted by the contract situation.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT EVERTON SAID
Speaking in a statement released by the club, director of football Kevin Thelwell said: "Dele’s contract is coming to an end, but our medical team will continue to support him while he completes the intensive rehabilitation programme he is currently undergoing following the operation he had earlier this year.
"Both Sean and I agree it is important we ensure Dele’s rehabilitation is not impacted by his contract situation at such a critical point in his recovery.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Dele has not featured for Everton during the current season after suffering a setback in his comeback from injury earlier in 2024. The former Tottenham Hotspur ace underwent surgery in January on the groin issue, after it was previously hoped he would return during the 2023/24 season.
The midfielder picked up an initial hip injury while playing for Turkish side Besiktas, almost 15 months ago, where he also had surgery to address the issue.
Everton boss Sean Dyche has commented on his future at Goodison Park after his contract expires, where he said: "We'll see. My main aim and I've spoken to him endlessly about it is just to get him back on the pitch, get him playing, get him smiling, get him enjoying it again."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR DELE?
As previously noted, Dele will now continue the lengthy rehabilitation period at Everton following surgery. He has outlined his ambitions to get back to playing at the highest level in the future but will need to regain his fitness first.
Everton will likely assess his future once his recovery period is over.
Premier League clubs have often been known to splash the cash like there’s no tomorrow – even during the mid-season transfer window. January deals have a reputation of their own for requiring inflated transfer fees, chiefly down to the short turnarounds required to bid, sell and replace players before the deadline arrives.
The money has gone bonkers in recent years, with the English top flight’s biggest January moves all taking place in the past decade.
Whether selling or buying, English clubs have been able to exchange funds freely despite the looming threats of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations and the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules, which both purport to limit the amount of spending by even the richest in the land.
But who have been the Premier League’s most expensive winter movers? Here are the top 12 January window deals…
#
Player
Date
Left
Joined
Fee
Philippe Coutinho
Jan 2018
Liverpool
Barcelona
Enzo Fernández
Feb 2023
Benfica
Chelsea
Mykhailo Mudryk
Jan 2023
Shakhtar Donetsk
Chelsea
Virgil van Dijk
Jan 2018
Southampton
Liverpool
Jhon Duran
Jan 2025
Aston Villa
Al-Nassr
Bruno Fernandes
Jan 2020
Sporting CP
Manchester United
Omar Marmoush
Jan 2025
Eintracht Frankfurt
Manchester City
Oscar
Jan 2017
Chelsea
Shanghai Port
Christian Pulisic
Jan 2019
Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea
Aymeric Laporte
Jan 2018
Athletic Bilbao
Manchester City
Diego Costa
Jan 2018
Chelsea
Atletico Madrid
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Jan 2018
Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal
12 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal £56m from Borussia Dortmund, 2018
Arsenal outlaid a whopping £56m to sign Borussia Dortmund’s prolific frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 2018 January transfer window.
The north Londoners had only just signed Alexandre Lacazette the previous summer for a club-record £46.6m but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was clearly keen to add further firepower to his ranks.
Aubameyang enjoyed a fruitful four-year spell with Arsenal, netting just shy of a century of goals across 163 appearances, though his time did come to a sour ending.
Arsenal released a statement just weeks before he would eventually leave for Barcelona, which read: “Following his latest disciplinary breach last week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be our club captain, and will not be considered for selection for Wednesday’s match against West Ham United.
“We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed.”
11 Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid £57m from Chelsea, 2018
Diego Costa completed a mega-money move away from Stamford Bridge in favour of a move back to former club Atletico Madrid in January 2018.
After netting 20 league goals during the 2016/17 campaign, helping Chelsea to win their sixth Premier League title, Costa was frozen out over the summer.
Atleti’s transfer ban meant they couldn’t sign the Spaniard until the new year, but he eventually made his long-awaited second debut for the Madrid-based club on 3rd January 2018, scoring in a Copa del Rey last-16 tie against Lleida Esportiu.
The forward endured a difficult second spell with Los Colchoneros, managing a league-best of five goals, before cancelling his contract six months early in January 2021 due to personal reasons.
10 Aymeric Laporte to Manchester City £57m from Athletic Bilbao, 2018
Manchester City broke their transfer record to sign the classy left-footed centre-half in January 2018, paying Athletic Bilbao £57m.
Aymeric Laporte quickly established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League during his trophy-laden spell in England but ultimately lost his place in Pep Guardiola’s side towards the end, to the surprise of many.
Manuel Akanji’s arrival from Dortmund in 2022 appeared to be the turning point for Laporte’s City career, with the Switzerland international often the preferred defender in Guardiola’s system.
And that led to an exit in the summer just gone, signing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr – where Cristiano Ronaldo resides – in a deal worth £23.6m.
Nonetheless, City fans will remember his time at the Etihad fondly.
9 Christian Pulisic to Chelsea £58m from Borussia Dortmund, 2019
Chelsea forked out £58m to sign then-20-year-old Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund in January 2019.
The west Londoners loaned him back to the German outfit for the remainder of the season and he ended the campaign with seven goals and six assists across 30 appearances.
Whilst he did have his moments, his spell as a whole at Stamford Bridge was rather underwhelming, netting 26 times across 145 outings.
Having made just eight league starts last term, Pulisic’s Chelsea days looked numbered, and so it turned out to be, as he completed a permanent move to AC Milan in the summer.
#
Player
Left
Joined
Transfer fee
1
Christian Pulisic
Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea
£58m
2
Folarin Balogun
Arsenal
Monaco
£35m
3
Brendan Aaronson
Red Bull Salzburg
Leeds United
£24.8m
4
Tyler Adams
RB Leipzig
Leeds United
£20m
5
Sergino Dest
Ajax
Barcelona
£19m
8 Oscar to Shanghai Port £60m from Chelsea, 2017
Eyebrows were raised when Oscar departed Europe for the Chinese Super League in 2017, having just won the Premier League title earlier that year.
The Brazilian playmaker completed a colossal £60m move to Shanghai SIPG, now known as Shanghai Port, which at the time ranked as the seventh-highest transfer fee in history.
Oscar, speaking in 2017, gave his reasoning for leaving Chelsea: “When I made the decision to come here, I was thinking more of my family than of my career. I had other very good offers from big teams in Europe. But I thought a little more of my family, and after that – I am still young – I can return.”
It had been claimed he would earn £400,000 a week.
7 Omar Marmoush to Manchester City £63m from Eintracht Frankfurt, 2025
Manchester City went big on signing a challenger for Erling Haaland’s starting spot by bringing in Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt.
After dazzling in the first half of the 2024/25 season in Germany, Marmoush made the move to the Premier League after the clubs agreed on a £63m package, with £4m of that fee in add-ons.
He became the biggest Premier League incoming that winter and was one of four mid-season City arrivals.
6 Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United £47m (potentially rising to £67.7m) from Sporting CP, 2020
Manchester United landed the signature of Bruno Fernandes in 2020 for an initial fee worth £47m that could rise to £67.7m with add-ons.
The Portugal international has been a revelation for the Red Devils and is widely regarded as their best player, having scored 69 goals whilst laying on 59 assists across 207 appearances.
Erik ten Hag appointed the 29-year-old club captain at the start of the season, evincing just how highly thought of he is around Carrington.
Fernandes penned a new deal in 2022, keeping him at Old Trafford until 2026, with the option of a further year.
5 Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr £71m from Aston Villa, 2025
Al Nassr's JhonDuranreacts
The biggest deal of the January 2025 winter window from a Premier League perspective was Jhon Duran’s exit from Aston Villa as he joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
The Colombian linked up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia after an eye-watering £71m move – not bad for an £18m move from two years prior.
4 Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool £75m from Southampton, 2018
Virgil van Dijk became the world’s most expensive defender when he completed a £75m move to Liverpool in January 2018.
The towering Dutch defender quickly established himself as one of the best players across the continent and even finished runner-up to Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or rankings.
The top 10 players who have never won the Ballon d'Or award
Football FanCast has taken a look at the best players to have never won the award.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 1, 2023
He was a central figure in Liverpool’s first Premier League title triumph during the 2019/20 season and famously went a reported 50 games without being dribbled past.
Previous Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson departed the Merseysiders in the summer and Van Dijk assumed the armband, evidencing his glowing status around the changing room.
The 64-cap Netherlands international has already cemented himself in conversations regarding the best centre-back in Premier League history.
3 Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea £89m from Shakhtar Donetsk, 2023
Chelsea continued their heavy spending under new owner Todd Boehly when they shelled out £89m for Shakhtar Donetsk’s rising star Mykhailo Mudryk earlier this year.
The fleet-footed wide player is still in the early stages of his Premier League career, but many would admit, perhaps including himself, that it’s been a pretty disappointing start to life in west London.
Mudryk has found the net just twice in 31 outings and looks to be pretty bereft of confidence, though, he has looked a real threat at times.
The 2001-born Ukraine international is still a fledgling professional footballer and has plenty of time to develop under the experienced wings of Mauricio Pochettino, so only time will tell how successful of signing he’ll be.
Chelsea: Every signing Todd Boehly has made at Stamford Bridge
O São Paulo colocou à disposição do Governo do Estado, o Morumbi e suas dependências para serem locais de vacinação da CoronaVac, vacina que está perto de ser aprovada pela Anvisa (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária), contra a Covid-19.
Palpitômetro: Quais são os favoritos em cada jogo da 29ª rodada? Escolha!
Em carta assinada pelo presidente Julio Casares, e endereçada ao Governador do Estado de São Paulo, João Doria, o Tricoloroferece seus espaços para o que for necessário no combate à pandemia do novo coronavírus.
VEJA A TABELA DO BRASILEIRÃO E SIMULE OS RESULTADOS
RelacionadasSão PauloTime feminino do São Paulo volta aos trabalhos na próxima segunda-feiraSão Paulo08/01/2021Futebol NacionalMeia ex-São Paulo se destaca por número de dribles na Série BFutebol Nacional08/01/2021São PauloNúmeros de Luan mostram sua importância para o São PauloSão Paulo08/01/2021
São Paulo coloca Morumbi e estruturas do clube para serem locais de vacinação da CoronaVac, vacina contra a Covid-19. Veja os detalhes no @lance_saopaulo pic.twitter.com/Y7WIbeqQLQ
— Gabriel Santos (@ga_obiel) January 8, 2021
– Assumindo nossa responsabilidade social neste importante e crítico momento vivido por toda a população, mas inteiramente confiantes no sério trabalho conduzido pelo Governador João Doria e por todo o Comitê Executivo, manifestamos nosso posicionamento em disponibilizar toda a infraestrutura do São Paulo Futebol Clube para aquilo que for necessário, inclusive o Estádio Cícero Pompeu de Toledo, para local de vacinação – diz parte do comunicado enviado por Casares.
Vale ressaltar que no começo da pandemia, em março, o São Paulo chegou a disponibilizar o Estádio do Morumbi para ser um dos hospitais de campanha em combate a Covid-19.
West Ham United fans will be eagerly anticipating an injury update on Jarrod Bowen's status and have now got their wish from a specialist in the subject.
West Ham's striker situation…
On the face of it, West Ham United have some decent striking options to choose from at the London Stadium, with Michail Antonio, Danny Ings and Divin Mubama being naturally predicated centre forwards. Mohammed Kudus and Bowen are both capable of featuring as a number nine and have both occupied a central slot at times this campaign.
Nevertheless, injury issues have started to take their toll on David Moyes' ability to pick a strong offensive lineup over the last few weeks, leaving the Scotsman with no choice but to make alterations to his side.
Jamaica international Antonio returned from the recent international break injured; however, he avoided a serious concern as scans proved that he only strained his medial ligament, which will render him unavailable for around a month, according to The Evening Standard.
Three Lions winger Bowen also sustained a problem on international duty, which is something Moyes touched on in his post-match press conference after the Irons' 2-1 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor, as he stated: "Jarrod is, I hope, not too bad. But he just wasn’t ready to play and we couldn’t get him ready for the game."
Giving nothing away with regards to the extent of Bowen's injury, West Ham United fans will hope that their star man isn't out on the sidelines for too long as they enter a congester run of festive fixtures. Now, an update on his situation has emerged from an expert in physical therapy and sports science explaining the permutations and potential length of Bowen's absence.
Jarrod Bowen injury verdict…
Speaking to West Ham Zone, injury expert Dr Rajpal Brar has allayed fears that Bowen could be set for a considerable spell on the sidelines and expects him to be back in contention sooner than other reports have suggested.
Jarrod Bowen in-game statistics 2023/24 – Premier League (WhoScored)
Shots per game
2.8
Dribbles per game
1.6
Average match rating
7.34/10
Brar stated: "The only reason for those reports to be true, we’re talking over six months out – would be an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
"However, that is certainly not the case. It’s hard to give specifics on what it might be because not much information has been given out by the national team or the club. But, he should be fine for the coming games."
This campaign, Bowen has once again been in imperious form for the Irons, registering nine goals and three assists in 16 appearances across all competitions (Bowen statistics – Transfermarkt).
Carrying the torch in attack for West Ham United, Bowen has also successfully performed 45 shot-creating actions in 2023/24, with nine directly leading to goals (Bowen statistics – FBRef).
Moving into a busy period of matches, Moyes will be keen for Bowen to return to action as soon as possible at the London Stadium due to the constant threat he provides no matter the opposition.
Latest West Ham transfer news: £35m ace and La Liga superstar on radar
It’s a new era at the London Stadium – here’s what Julen Lopetegui could be up to in the transfer market…
Glasgow Rangers gave Philippe Clement the perfect start to life at Ibrox as they secured a routine 4-0 win at home in the Scottish Premiership on the weekend.
Hibernian were put to the sword and after just one match, it already looks as though the Belgian is trying to imprint his own tactical style and identity on the pitch, something which Michael Beale failed to do during his final few months in charge.
The victory has certainly begun a new era at the Light Blues and several of the current players will now have clean slates as to impress the 49-year-old tactician and put their teething problems behind them.
This includes the likes of Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers, who have both struggled under the weight of expectations since joining the club in the summer.
They have scored a combined total of five goals and this is not good enough for a club the size of Rangers, especially with the vast sums of money Beale shelled out for them.
With the January transfer window just around the corner, Clement could potentially bulk up his squad by making a few signings and much will depend on the situation the team finds itself in at the current time.
Former Monaco boss Philippe Clement.
The former Club Brugge manager should consider reigniting a swoop for summer target Michael Olunga, who was linked with a move to Glasgow during the early stages of the window, and he could certainly add some extra firepower to the first team.
Who could Rangers sign in January?
Having lost players such as Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, and Scott Arfield at the end of last season as their contracts expired, Beale had a major rebuilding job to do ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Back in May, Olunga was attracting attention from Galatasaray as they were looking for a new striker according to reports and his agent had even contacted the Turkish side.
Rangers were also mentioned as being keen on the player and on the surface, it looked like a perfect move. With Morelos leaving, there was a clear need for another centre-forward who could lead the line by himself, while also being clinical in front of goal and the Kenyan ace certainly fitted the bill.
Whether or not Clement revives any interest remains to be seen, yet with Lammers and Dessers failing to show their true talents in the final third, Olunga could be a reliable option.
How good is Michael Olunga?
The 29-year-old marksman has accumulated a wealth of experience over the course of his career across stints in Japan, Sweden, and now in Qatar for Al-Duhail.
His scoring rate for the Qatari side is exceptional, netting 88 goals across just 89 games and this is the type of player who could thrive at Ibrox, especially as he knows where the goal is.
He was heavily praised by his manager, Sabri Lamouchi, back in 2021 for a performance in the AFC Champions League where he netted a hattrick, saying: “Olunga deserves, of course, to be the man of the match.
“He’s a special player and his presence has helped us have a lot of attacking options.”
His ability to perform on the highest stage was evidenced by his displays in the AFC Champions League during 2022. He played eight games and managed to find the back of the net on six occasions, scoring every 117 minutes.
Kenya international Michael Olunga.
The 6 foot 2 goal machine took 3.9 shots per game and showed an eagerness to score as much as possible. With the Gers having to go a season without the goals and aggressiveness of Morelos for the first time since 2016/17, the Kenyan international could be an ideal replacement for the Colombian.
What happened to Alfredo Morelos?
Once a key figure at Ibrox, Morelos’ influence had waned by the time he left following the conclusion of last term, yet his presence is still missed, no doubt about it.
Over the course of his Gers career, the striker ended up scoring 124 goals across just 269 appearances for the Glasgow side and was a thorn in the side of many a team in Scotland and on the continent.
Indeed, his legacy perhaps stretches to that of becoming a cult hero for the club and his tally of 29 European goals is the best in their history.
He eclipsed Ally McCoist’s tally of 21 goals back in November 2020 and there is no doubt that when in his prime, Morelos was a striker capable of doing everything.
His final season was rather inconsistent, however, as he started only 23 matches as the forward was recovering from an injury which ruled him out of the final few weeks of 2022/23 – meaning he missed the Europa League and Scottish Cup finals.
Alfredo Morelos' career
Games
Goals
Rangers
269
124
HJK Helsinki
62
46
Independiente Medellín
23
5
Santos
2
0
Stats via Transfermarkt
Subsequently, Morelos scored only 12 times across all competitions due to the stop-start nature of his final season in Scotland, and it appeared that parting ways was the best move for all parties.
The striker is currently at Brazilian side Santos and none of the new arrivals look like they have the capabilities to be an ideal heir for the 27-year-old it must be said.
There is still time of course and once Danilo gets a solid run in the starting XI, he could go on a scoring run, but much will depend on the system Clement uses.
Taking another look at Olunga could be extremely beneficial and give Rangers another attacking option. He has similar strengths to Morelos, most notably being able to hold up the ball well while also being strong in the air, and these qualities could endear him to the supporters as a perfect heir to the former Gers star.
The Belgian coach may not get much of a budget during January due to the Ibrox side failing to qualify for the Champions League along with their major expenditure during the summer, yet there is no harm in potentially making a move for the 29-year-old gem in the coming months to bolster their attacking options.
Securing wins over his next few games will give Clement plenty of credit in the bank and this could spur on a new era in Glasgow, and if Olunga manages to replace the goals and presence of Morelos, the Colombian could be a thing of the past.