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Arsenal are back. So some would proclaim anyway. Over the last three matches, Mikel Arteta’s side have scored a combined haul of 13 goals.

It’s amazing what happens when Martin Odegaard is in your team, isn’t it? The skipper missed a 12-game period after the first international break of the season and during that run, the Gunners rather fell off a cliff.

A rugged period between October and November’s international break saw Arsenal fail to win a Premier League game and that means they’re now nine points behind league leaders Liverpool, even if they did hold them to a 2-2 draw.

That said, Manchester United on Wednesday evening are likely to provide a far tougher test than the likes of Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.

As it happens, they’re now managed by Ruben Amorim who used to coach the Sporting team that Arsenal so ruthlessly dispatched in the Champions League a week ago.

The last time Arsenal played Manchester United at the Emirates

“Gabriel Jesus, he’s sat down one, and he’s won the game!” The roar from Peter Drury was glorious if you are an Arsenal supporter.

What a game this was back in September 2023. Arteta’s side needed a big win early in the Premier League campaign and that’s precisely what they got, defeating their old rivals 3-1 at the Emirates.

They were made to work incredibly hard for it, however. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring on 27 minutes before Odegaard hit back just a minute later.

We had to wait until injury time for the game to be decided though. That wasn’t before Alejandro Garnacho scored but saw his strike cruelly disallowed, a goal dear old Erik ten Hag probably still suggests was onside to this day.

Alas, the rub of the green was not with the Red Devils on that sunny afternoon. In the 96th minute, the ball fell to mega-money summer arrival Declan Rice at the back home who lashed home via a deflection for his first goal in Arsenal colours.

Off he went, darting away towards the corner flag, engulfed by his teammates. What a moment. The Emirates was bedlam.

The match was then decided in the 101st minute. The hosts broke from a corner through the lesser-spotted Fabio Vieira. He slid in Jesus who cooly sat Diogo Dalot down before sticking the ball past Andre Onana.

Arsenal will hope for a slightly less dramatic affair on Wednesday but they will take three points in any way they come as they look to chase down Liverpool.

Arsenal team and injury news

The North London side may have Odegaard back in the fold but this doesn’t look like a fully fit squad just yet.

The big news we await concerns defensive stalwart Gabriel Magalhaes. The Brazilian took a blow to the face at the London Stadium, an incident that saw him win a penalty for his side.

That being said, he was withdrawn at half-time with Arsenal citing management of the knock he picked up in Lisbon a few days prior.

Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey were both absent from the matchday squad against West Ham and could miss out again. Merino sat out last time owing to a knee injury while Partey’s issue was described as muscular, meaning the £33m and £45m signings are both doubts.

While their involvement remains more uncertain, full-backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu definitely remain out.

Arsenal's predicted lineup vs Manchester United

With Merino and Partey still doubts for Wednesday evening’s clash, it means a relatively unchanged team is likely to take to the field at the Emirates.

The undisputed number one, David Raya, maintains his place between the sticks and providing Gabriel is fit after Saturday evening’s substitution, will have an unchanged defence in front of him.

Jorginho shone in the win at the former Olympic Stadium and deserves to keep his place next to Declan Rice.

There might be claims for Kai Havertz to be rested but after scoring in consecutive fixtures he starts ahead of Jesus again.

The only change to the starting lineup will see Leandro Trossard drop out. Like Havertz, the Belgian has scored in successive outings but with Gabriel Martinelli waiting in the wings and ready to torment United’s defence with his pace, this feels like an ideal match for the Brazilian.

Saka loves him: Arsenal must unleash amazing star who Man Utd nearly signed

The incredible star is undroppable for Arsenal ahead of their match with Manchester United.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 4, 2024

Josh Sargent has sought to clarify his future at Norwich, with USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino offering no advice when it comes to transfers.

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• Reputation enhanced in the Championship
• Summer move being speculated on
• Contact with national coach ahead of World Cup

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 25-year-old striker has cemented his status as one of the most fearsome forwards in the Championship. He has, despite nursing more injuries this season, registered 13 goals in the 2024-25 campaign. Those efforts may not be enough to earn Norwich a play-off spot and another shot at promotion, however.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sargent is, however, seeing a step up into the Premier League speculated on. He is also said to be interesting teams in the Bundesliga and MLS. Canaries fans were concerned by recent comments from their top marksman in which he claimed to have a “decision” to make this summer.

• WHAT JOSH SARGENT SAID

  Sargent has now addressed that statement, saying in the : “I'm pretty sure in the first half of that interview I said, 'I have a contract here at Norwich'. I'm very happy. My family's very happy here. It was in no way saying that I'm definitely gone at the end of the season. I'm very happy with the manager of the team. I was just trying to say there will be options. But that's not to say that I'm definitely leaving.

  “It's a decision that me and my family are going to have to make. Obviously, the team has to agree to me even leaving in the first place. So as of now, I'm very happy here. With that interview, I didn't try to come off in a bad way. It's become home for my family, and the fans are amazing to me all the time. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. I think it came off a bit in the wrong way. I didn't want to upset anybody like that.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Sargent is hoping to earn a place in the United States’ plans for a home World Cup in 2026. Playing at the highest level will aid that cause, but he added when asked if national team coach Pochettino has nudged him in a certain direction: “I haven't had any discussions with him about that, to be honest.

  “When he first came in, we had a good talk. He just asked how things were going at Norwich, and I said good. They're always keeping in touch and always watching the game. In terms of going to another club in my future, he hasn't said anything about that.”

Tottenham Hotspur travel to face Southampton at St Mary’s tonight looking to secure their first win in six attempts after a dismal run of form under Ange Postecoglou.

The Lilywhites have lost two and drawn three of their last five, with the last victory coming against Manchester City at the Etihad nearly a month ago.

Injuries have decimated the first-team squad, resulting in various players featuring in unnatural roles just to be able to make up the numbers, but the pressure has still been mounting on the Aussie after recent matches.

Tonight presents a great opportunity to return to winning ways against a Saints side who currently sit bottom of the Premier League, picking up just one win in their first 15 outings.

However, despite their lowly league standing, St Mary’s has been a tricky place to visit for Spurs over the last couple of years, with a surprise potentially on the cards – which would in turn pile more pressure on the 59-year-old.

Spurs’ recent record against Southampton at St Mary’s

After their relegation to the Championship in the 2022/23 season, this evening’s game will be the first clash between the two sides in 21 months, with the last meeting coming at the home of the Saints.

However, true to their recent record in the last few matches, Spurs were unable to claim all three points, drawing 3-3 in a game where former boss Antonio Conte produced an infamous rant after the final whistle.

Harry Kane, Ivan Perišić, and Pedro Porro were all on the scoresheet that day, but a catalogue of defensive errors cost them dearly – something which could be said in the present day too.

Their last win on the South Coast came way back in September 2020, claiming a convincing 5-2 win, with current captain Heung-min Son scoring four that day.

However, if Ange is to claim a similar result in the trip this evening, he must brutally drop two players who have failed to impress for the club in recent weeks.

The players Ange needs to drop ahead of Southampton clash

Timo Werner was dragged off at halftime in the recent Europa League clash against Rangers on Thursday night, rightfully so after his dismal showing during the first 45 minutes.

The German forward was blasted by the Aussie in his post-match interview, claiming he’s not at the level expected of an international-level star, undoubtedly putting his starting role at risk tonight.

However, he’s not the only player who must be dropped, with Son needing to be brutally dropped after his recent lack of impact within the final third.

The “incredible” South Korean, as dubbed by boss Postecoglou, has been a fan-favourite during his spell in North London but has struggled as of late, scoring just once in his last four matches, coming in the embarrassing defeat to London rivals Chelsea last weekend.

He also only managed one shot during the recent clash north of the border with Rangers, only completing one of his four attempted dribbles, losing possession 10 times and looking wasteful in possession.

Such a poor run of form could see him lose his starting role on the South Coast, potentially pushing Dejan Kulusevski into a more attacking role alongside Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson at the top end of the pitch.

It’s pivotal that Spurs return to winning ways tonight, ending their dismal run of form and putting their campaign back on the right track.

However, if they lose the clash, Ange’s job could be in danger, given the dreadful run of results. This is why he must brutally drop Son and potentially inject some fresh blood into the forward line to hand him the best chance of ending their current slump.

Ange has found Spurs' new Soldado in "astonishing" transfer flop

The poor signing is becoming Spurs’ new scapegoat.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 13, 2024

Celtic will head into 2025 at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, just as they did in 2024, after a comfortable 4-0 victory over Motherwell on Boxing Day.

The Hoops would, of course, have gone into next year at the top of the division irrespective of their result on Thursday, though, because they have built a healthy lead at the top of the division.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are a whopping 12 points clear of Rangers in second place and appear to be on course for a fourth straight title in the league.

Goals from Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn, and Reo Hatate secured all three points for the Hoops at Parkhead, whilst Kasper Schmeichel did not have a single save to make between the sticks.

It was a dominant performance and a deserved victory for Celtic, who remain unbeaten in the Premiership after 17 matches, and Rodgers will surely be delighted with how his team is performing.

However, the January transfer window is around the corner and the Northern Irishman is reportedly in the market to add a left-winger to the group, which could put Maeda’s place in danger.

Daizen Maeda's performances this season

The Japan international scored his third goal of the season in the Premiership against Motherwell on Thursday, heading in from point-blank range into an empty net in the second half.

It was far from an effective performance from the winger, however, as he had missed two ‘big chances’ prior to that and lost four of his five ground duels, which shows that the forward was wasteful in front of goal and weak in battles with opposition players.

Being wasteful at the top end of the pitch has, unfortunately, become a theme for Maeda in the Premiership, as he has missed nine ‘big chances’ – scoring three times – in 14 starts in the division.

This shows that the 27-year-old attacker has let his teammates down by failing to make the most of the high-quality chances that they have created for him consistently in the top-flight.

Maeda, who has assisted three goals in his 14 league starts, also failed to provide consistent quality at the top end of the pitch in the Premiership in the 2023/24 campaign for the Scottish giants.

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese forward missed twice as many ‘big chances’ as he managed goals scored, and rarely offered much in the way of creativity, with one chance created every other game on average.

This means that Maeda has scored nine goals and missed 21 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership since the start of last season, whilst failing to create much in that time, and that is why there is the potential for the Hoops to land an upgrade in his position.

Rodgers could find that upgrade by swooping for one of the club’s reported transfer targets when the January transfer window opens for business next month.

Celtic's interest in £5m forward

Earlier this month, Norwegian sports outlet Nettavisen reported that Celtic are one of the teams interested in a swoop for Sarpsborg forward Sondre Orjasaeter.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

As mentioned earlier, Rodgers wants to bring in another left-sided attacker to come in and compete for a starting spot in the team in the second half of the campaign, to improve the depth of his options in that area of the pitch.

The Sarpsborg dynamo is a right-footed left winger, like Maeda, and would, therefore, fit the bill in terms of what the manager is looking for in the market next month.

It was not reported how much the Norwegian side would want for the 21-year-old star, though, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops are prepared to make an official offer for his services.

The Norway U21 international is currently valued at £5m by Transfermarkt and that, perhaps, could provide an insight into the kind of fee that Sarpsborg would demand for his signature.

Rodgers must, however, push for the board to secure a deal to sign the exciting young talent in January, because he could come in as a big upgrade on Maeda.

Why Orjasaeter could be an upgrade on Maeda

Orjasaeter’s form in the 2024 Eliteserien season for his club suggests that the potential is there for him to come in and offer more than the current Hoops man at the top end of the pitch.

The 21-year-old gem spent the 2023 season in the second tier with Sogndal and produced six goals and four assists in 30 appearances, along with a staggering 6.4 completed dribbles per game.

That impressive form earned him a move to Sarpsborg in the January transfer window at the start of this year, and he hit the ground running in the Norwegian top-flight.

In 2024, Orjasaeter racked up five goals, five assists, and 12 ‘big chances’ created in 28 league appearances in his debut season with the club, which shows that he is a productive winger who can make the difference in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

As you can see in the table above, the Norway U21 international has the potential to offer more than Maeda as an attacking force, with more ‘big chances’ created, more assists, and a better ratio of goals to ‘big chances’ missed.

Orjasaeter, despite his inexperience, also offers plenty to the team out of possession, with 4.2 ball recoveries per game – compared to Maeda’s 2.9 per match last term and 1.9 per game this season.

This suggests that the exciting youngster puts the hard work in off the ball to help his team out defensively, which means that he could slot in perfectly on the left flank for Celtic – as he is a well-rounded attacker who provides quality on both sides of the game.

As well as Idah: Celtic flop fluffed his big chance to impress

The Celtic midfielder was given an opportunity to impress from the start.

1

By
Dan Emery

Dec 27, 2024

Therefore, Rodgers should push for the club to sign the £5m-rated star in January, who has the potential to be a big upgrade on Maeda if he can translate his performances over to Scottish football.

GOAL looks back at the league's inaugural match in 1996, with two MLS original sides set to meet again this weekend

On April 6, 1996, Major League Soccer made its debut, with 10 teams competing for the inaugural MLS Cup.

Fast forward 30 years, and that once fledging league has undergone immense growth, both in terms of size and profitability. What was once a struggling institution is now central to an ever-growing U.S. soccer landscape, a real hub of the beautiful game in a country that is embracing the sport more every day.

The league is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, now with 30 teams playing across the Eastern and Western conferences. Numerous rebrands, relocated franchises and expansion teams have come and gone – but MLS has has grown year after year. From LA Galaxy to Chivas USA, Tampa Bay Mutiny to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, there have been 32 franchises overall, with a 33rd – expansion San Diego FC – joining in 2025.

On Matchday 7 of the 2025 campaign, the San Jose Earthquakes and D.C. United meet in a cross-conference clash, but it's not just another early season match. It's a rematch of the league's first game from that spring day in 1996.

The San Jose Clash (now Earthquakes) hosted D.C. to kick off the league's first season, and GOAL looks back at that historic moment ahead of Sunday's rematch in San Jose.

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• Remembering the match

  It was a memorable quote: "Thank god for Eric Wynalda."

  That was Sunil Gulati said after the match. The former U.S. Soccer Federation president and previous MLS deputy commissioner, Gulati was a first-hand witness to Wynalda's goal that handed the Clash the first victory in league history.

  Wynalda, a seasoned U.S. international, scored the winning goal in the 1-0 decision. The striker cut in on from his left foot, slotting the ball onto his right before curling home a brilliant effort.

  "It would have been a very bad message if the game had ended up 0-0 and we had to go to a shootout to settle it," Gulati told MLS in 2016. "Eric – at the time the leading scorer for the US national team – to score a terrific goal late in the game was something that we couldn't have scripted. It was something that was very important, the result on the field."

  Wynalda deemed the goal a "relief," adding that a primary reason he chose to join the Clash was so that he could play in the league's inaugural game – the U.S. striker wanted that moment of glory.

  "Once the ball popped out of there and Ben [Iroha] got there first I was screaming at him to get me the ball because I had gotten myself into a really good starting point and I know Jeff [Agoos] really well," Wynalda told MLS. "I remember just wanting the ball so bad from [Iroha] and thank God he passed it to me early because I had a lot of time to think about it. I knew exactly what I wanted to do."

  The goal literally kicked off a 30-year journey for MLS, in some ways writing the script for professional soccer in the U.S.

  "That moment after was such a relief for so many reasons," Wynalda said. "I could watch it over and over again. But I don't watch the play, I watch the people and I watch my teammates because it was just such an enormous relief factor that that game didn't end 0-0. We got out of there with a win and a lot of attention to the league and an exciting finish which I think was really relevant.

  "We didn't want to go to a shootout; we wanted the game to end in the way that it did, which was pretty phenomenal. If you really think about it, it was a pretty cool script."

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  Who was on the pitch?

  Wynalda was just one of many iconic faces that took the pitch that day. Plenty of familiar faces from that monumental match still play a role in the American game today.

  SAN JOSE CLASH

  Goalkeeper: Tom Liner

  Defenders: Tim Martin, Troy Dayak, John Doyle, Michael Emenalo, Ben Iroha

  Midfielders: Jorge Rodas, Paul Bravo

  Forwards: Jeff Baicher, Victor Mella, Eric Wynalda

  Manager: Laurie Calloway

  For the Clash, Emenalo is arguably the most successful player – off the pitch – to come out of the San Jose franchise. The former Nigeria international has held Sporting Director roles at both Chelsea and Monaco, but is currently the SD of the Saudi Pro League – home of Cristiano Ronaldo and countless other former European footballers.

  Wynalda, meanwhile, has held various coaching roles across U.S. soccer – most notably with the Las Vegas Lights from 2018-2020. He's also worked as an analyst for both FOX and ESPN, as well as hosting a radio show with Sirius XM.

  D.C. UNITED

  Goalkeeper: Jeff Causey

  Defenders: Thor Lee, Jeff Agoos, Said Fazlagic

  Midfielders: Mario Gori, John Harkes, Richie Williams, Marco Etcheverry

  Forwards: Shawn Medved, Berthy Suárez, Raúl Díaz Arce

  Manager: Bruce Arena

  Players that represented United that day have done well with finding a home for themselves within the game. Richie Williams is the head coach for the New England Revolution's MLS NEXT Pro side, while Marco Etcheverry recently held a role as an assistant coach in D.C.'s academy.

  Jeff Agoos was recently named president and GM of soccer operations for the NWSL's Portland Thorns, while John Harkes is the technical director for McLean Youth Soccer – and prior, was Sporting Director and coach of the Greenville Triumph in USL.

  And of course, there's Arena.

  He has been a consistent winner on the touchline. He ended up taking D.C. to the promised land during their debut season, claiming the inaugural MLS Cup. The Clash themselves made the playoffs, but fell in the opening round in a best-of-3 series to eventual runners-up Los Angeles Galaxy.

  "Typical of any new league, and a lot of people not knowing what the heck they were doing, including myself, it was hectic," Arena told reporters, recalling that inaugural match. "It was a little bit crazy. Coming to San Jose was exciting and all, but I don’t think we had a team ready to play. And I think the team that played on April 6, 1996, was much different than the team that played in the MLS Cup final, in I believe November that year. Hectic times, but exciting to get the league going."

  But for one of MLS' most significant coaches, he's still playing his role in growing the league.

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  A generation, linked

  Manager of D.C. on that day, Arena – now 73 and MLS' all-time winningest coach – is giving it one last go on the touchline as manager of the Earthquakes, the organization that beat his team in his first professional match.

  Captain of D.C. in 1996, John Harkes, will be watching Sunday's events unfold with a keen eye too, as his son Ian will be available for selection – though, unlike his father 30 years prior, Ian will be representing San Jose in the match. One thing remains the same between them both, though: Arena – who was on the touchline for John in 1996, and will be for Ian on Sunday.

  “I'm torn now emotionally, because I want to support my son, who’s playing for San Jose, the opposition,” John told MLS earlier this week. “I'm thinking about going out there in my retro D.C. United kit. My wife’s like, ‘Oh, I don't know. You might get beat up.’ "

  Ian, meanwhile, knows how momentous the occasion is. Growing up with his father being a professional for both club and country, and now an established professional himself, the younger Harkes is looking forward to this weekend's match.

  “It is really special to have the crossovers there and both of us be involved,” Ian told MLS. “It'll be an exciting occasion, for sure, and everyone will be up for it, and just what it will mean to this community.”

  Arena, meanwhile, has watched the league build over 30 years. He's been around for every up and down, twist and turn.

  In addition to raising the MLS Cup five times, Arena also captured the Supporters’ Shield four times and has been MLS Coach of the Year four times. At the international level, he led the U.S. men’s national team to two FIFA World Cups – making the quarterfinals for the first time in 72 years in 2002.

  "I'm very proud of our league, our national team program, the American players – who I would think in 1996 globally, had no respect around the world," he told GOAL. "And today, the top American players are sought after by many leagues and many clubs around the world. So we've made a lot of growth in 30 years.

  "It's still challenging for MLS, we've dealt with some tough times – in the the first 10 years of the league where there were a lot of questions about whether we could maintain this league. And great support from the some of the initial owners, like Lamar Hunt and Phil Anschutz and Robert Kraft – they stuck with the league, and the league is around today because of the support those men gave the league. So it's great that we're still going 30 years [later]."

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  Looking ahead

  San Jose is set to honor the occasion with a halftime ceremony during the match at PayPal Park.

  Wynalda, John Doyle, Eddie Lewis, Altimont “Freddie” Butler, Troy Dayak, Tom Liner, Dave Gold and Dave Salzwedel will represent the Clash during the ceremony, while Arena, John Harkes, Jeff Agoos, Shawn Medved and Marco Etcheverry will be present for D.C. United.

  Fan-favorite supporter and Clash cheerleader Krazy George will also be on-hand for the event. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a throwback inaugural pennant, while retro gear will be available for fans to purchase.

  The match will be full-circle for the league, and they'll celebrate how far they've come. And Arena doesn't think MLS is done growing. American soccer is climbing in all aspects, including this summer's FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be played in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. A pivotal moment for the national team, Arena also thinks it will be a real turning point for the domestic game as well.

  "I think after the World Cup in 2026, (MLS) is going to be one of the most sought-after leagues in the world by top players," he said. "That shows the global view of the sport in this country, Mexico and Canada – that the sport has arrived in our region, which is a real positive."

Manchester United's Andre Onana will not be part of Ruben Amorim's squad for their trip to Newcastle.

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• Onana out of Man Utd's squad vs Newcastle
• Made two costly errors against Lyon
• Amorim grants time off

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Onana came to United as a highly-rated goalkeeper with strong showings at Ajax and Inter, but the same has not been the case with the Red Devils. Most recently, the Cameroonian failed to live up to the task against Lyon, with two mistakes off the back of trash-talking the French side and getting into a war of words with Nemanja Matic. Onana has now been left out of United's squad for their clash against Newcastle on Sunday, according to multiple reports.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The revealed that United and Amorim have afforded Onana a bit of leeway and decided to give the goalkeeper some time away ahead of the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final. According to reports, the Cameroonian is 'traumatised' after his wife, Melanie Kamayou, was mugged after a thief took her Rolex watch and designer handbag, which were valued at tens of thousands of pounds, in the Cheshire village of Alderley Edge.

• TELL ME MORE

  Per , United boss Amorim is wary of the situation that has affected Onana and his family and sympathises with them; as such, he decided to give his goalkeeper some time off to clear his head. It had been reported earlier on Sunday that several of Onana's team-mates wanted him to be dropped in light of his error-strewn season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ONANA?

  While reports have suggested that Onana could be dropped by Amorim for the crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon, it is still unknown whether the Cameroonian will be in goal for that clash.

Looking to get any business completed early in the January transfer window, Crystal Palace are now reportedly fast-tracking their move to sign a Championship star for Oliver Glasner.

Crystal Palace transfer news

Still fighting for survival in the Premier League – sitting just six points clear of the dropzone – it could be a big month for Crystal Palace, who have already been linked with a number of names. Among those mentioned have been Miguel Almiron and Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham in deals that would see two northern rivals become teammates in South London.

Bellingham would be a particularly impressive coup, given both his potential and current performance at Sunderland in the Championship. Betting on a Bellingham to succeed in the middle of the park certainly isn’t a bad idea, that’s for sure.

Almiron, meanwhile, has reportedly been offered to the Eagles as Newcastle United attempt to cash in on their struggling winger. At 30 years old and worth a reported £21m, however, it remains to be seen whether those at Selhurst Park will take the Magpies up on their offer. Instead, they look set to turn their attention towards the Championship.

Free transfer: Crystal Palace in talks to sign £48k-p/w ace for Glasner

He could be a very smart signing for the Eagles and Oliver Glasner.

By
Ben Browning

Jan 5, 2025

According to Sky Sports’ Peter Smith, Crystal Palace are now fast-tracking a deal to sign Romain Esse from Millwall, who are reluctant to let their young talent leave this month.

The teenager’s release clause and Palace’s persistence may yet leave them with little choice though. Any deal could also be made easier by the fact that Esse is under the same agency as Marc Guehi.

Of course, it wasn’t so long ago that Palace were signing a young attacking midfielder named Eberechi Eze from Championship side Queens Park Rangers. Now, years later, Esse can follow in his footsteps from Millwall.

"Talented" Esse can follow Eze path

By completing a move from the Championship to Crystal Palace and the Premier League, Esse would be following the same path as current star Eze. And the latter could instantly get the chance to become familiar with the 19-year-old in Glasner’s 3-4-2-1 system, which accommodates two advanced midfielders.

As of right now, Ismaila Sarr and Eze are the duo handed the responsibility behind Jean-Philippe Mateta, but Esse’s potential arrival could quickly change that to hand Glasner a positive selection headache within his frontline.

In what is still a young career, the Millwall youngster has already found himself at the centre of praise. Former manager Gary Rowett foresaw his pending rise in 2023, telling reporters as relayed by South London: “I’ve been pleased with him. There’s been an opportunity to play him a bit further forward at some point.

“But at the moment his quality is not going to stop him getting in the first team, it’s going to be all the other things around it. He’s already probably as talented as anyone we’ve got. He’s developing really nicely.”

A striker has been at the top of Enzo Maresca’s shopping list ever since he arrived as Chelsea manager, with this January undoubtedly no different.

The Blues recruited well over the summer window, landing the likes of Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho, subsequently improving the threat in wide areas alongside Cole Palmer.

However, no deal was completed for a new focal point, leaving Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu as the two out-and-out strikers at the Italian’s disposal.

The Senegal international has been the number one option in the Premier League during 2024/25, scoring nine times in 19 matches – the second-highest tally behind star man Palmer.

Despite his form in front of goal, it may not be enough to secure his regular starting role, with the hierarchy already looking for attacking reinforcements in January.

Chelsea’s hunt for a new striker in January

Although we’re only a week into the transfer window, numerous names have been touted with a move to Stamford Bridge, including Ipswich Town star Liam Delap.

The 21-year-old joined the Tractor Boys for £20m from Manchester City in the summer but has wasted no time in impressing, scoring eight times in his first 19 top-flight matches in 2024/25.

Such interest has captured the interest of the Blues board, with the Englishman just one of many attackers currently on their radar.

However, Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović is a name that continues to be linked with a move to West London, but Maresca’s side aren’t alone, with Arsenal also in the hunt for the Serbian international.

The 24-year-old has scored seven times in Serie A to date, but could be allowed to leave the Old Lady should any side fork out €75m (£62m) during the January window.

However, despite the interest in the aforementioned players, the hierarchy should reignite interest in another attacker who would undoubtedly improve their front line and potentially be their own version of a Premier League star.

The player who could be Chelsea’s own Haaland

Erling Haaland has been the leading marksman in England’s top division since his move to join Pep Guardiola’s side ahead of the 2022/23 season – finishing as top scorer in both of his two seasons in England.

The Norwegian has been a constant menace to the backline of every side in the Premier League, registering a staggering 111 goals in just 125 appearances – including 16 this time around despite the Citizen’s recent decline in form.

Every club wishes they could have a clinical scorer, with Haaland having such quality in abundance, but the Blues could land their own version of the superstar in the form of Benjamin Sesko in January.

The Slovenia international was widely linked with a move to the Bridge in the summer, but a deal was never completed, which saw the 21-year-old remain at Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

He’s continued his impressive form into the current campaign, scoring 11 goals across all competitions – leading to yet more rumours over a move to join Chelsea during the ongoing window.

At the end of December, TEAMtalk confirmed the club were in contact with the German side over a potential move, with Arsenal and Manchester United also waiting in the wings.

The striker would be a superb addition for the club, finally ending their hunt for a new number nine, whilst aiding their ambitions of securing a top-four finish come the end of May.

Sesko had previously been dubbed the “new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with the comparison more than just their huge frame, pace and aerial ability when delving into their respective stats from 2024/25.

Whilst the City ace has massively outscored the Leipzig man, the “monster” Slovenian, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has a higher shot-on-target rate, proving that he’s more accurate with the chances he’s presented within the final third.

He’s also completed more take-ons per 90 and won more aerial duels, making him the perfect all-round focal point that the Blues have desperately been hunting for in the past six months.

Whilst it’s unclear how much any deal for Sesko would set the club back, it would be a superb deal regardless given his talents, not to mention his potential to improve given his tender age.

If he does manage to get anywhere close to the level of Haaland should he make the move to England, he would be worth every penny – handing Maresca a deadly finisher to boost their title credentials in the years to come.

Chelsea want to sign "dominant" PL star who's better than Guehi & Chalobah

Enzo Maresca appears to be targeting defensive reinforcements for his Chelsea side.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has branched out into the world of “action movies”, with the Portuguese superstar revealing his new career move.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• All-time great is still going strong at 40
• Continues to expand his business empire
• Two films ready, with another on the way

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  At 40 years of age, the legendary frontman is beginning to draw up plans for when his playing career comes to a close. There is no sign of that happening any time soon, with the all-time great still plundering goals for Portugal and Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Ronaldo does, however, have a vast business empire away from football. He has also built up a record-shattering following on social media – with his toe being dipped into video production after launching the UR Cristiano YouTube channel.

• THE GOSSIP

  The former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward has now gone one step further by teaming up with filmmaker Matthew Vaughn – who has previously worked on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, X Men: First Class and the Kingsman series.

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• WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID

  Ronaldo has said: “This is an exciting chapter for me, as I look ahead to new ventures in business.”

  Vaughn added: “Cristiano has created stories on the pitch that I could never have written, and I look forward to creating inspiring movies with him – he’s a real-life superhero.”

  Ronaldo and Vaughn are said to be “disruptive champions at their game and will now combine the world of sport and storytelling through the launch of UR-MARV, an independent joint venture film studio embracing innovative technology, with a nod to tradition.”

Towards the start of 2023, Ipswich Town versus Bristol Rovers was amazingly a League One fixture, with the Tractor Boys very much a sleeping giant for the third tier.

Now, the two teams face off against each other in the FA Cup later today with the Gas still deep in the lowly division whilst Ipswich now face off against the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League away from focusing on the twists and turns of the EFL.

Kieran McKenna will know his team cannot underestimate the visitors from Bristol however, having been on the receiving end of a major Cup upset early last year when non-league Maidstone United came to town, as the minnows from Kent pulled off a monumental 2-1 win.

But, with the main priority being Premier League safety in Suffolk, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a number of first-team faces rested, hopeful that the reserve personnel picked can still secure a straightforward victory.

Players McKenna could look to rest vs Bristol

The first switch could see Liam Delap dropped from the XI, with McKenna not wanting to overwork his main source of goals against League One opposition.

Indeed, the ex-Manchester City man has been a mainstay of his manager’s Premier League lineups and rightly so, with a mightily impressive goal tally of eight strikes next to his name from those constant appearances.

With Delap also piquing the interest of Chelsea this transfer window, it’s unlikely he would want to overexert himself against the Gas, knowing an injury knock could trouble a potential move away.

Other key faces such as Leif Davis might well also be given a rare off-day, with the former Leeds United left-back starting every single Premier League game available to him this season.

Moving back to the lone striker spot, however, there is one reserve figure at Portman Road who would lap up an opportunity to start over Delap, with the aim of trying to prove his worth to the cause and perhaps stop Ipswich from feeling they have to fork out excessive millions this January on a fresh centre-forward.

The "unreal" star who could shine in for Delap

The attacker in question here is Ali Al-Hamadi, who has averaged just 13 minutes of Premier League action this season from his 11 appearances, zero of which have been starts.

Obviously, Delap’s space in the XI is as concrete as it could possibly be, but Al-Hamadi will still feel frustrated by his lack of minutes, having impressed last campaign when joining in January from League Two outfit AFC Wimbledon.

The Iraq international would fire home four strikes from 14 league outings for the Tractor Boys when utilised late on in games, with the former Dons man not struggling at all with the immense jump up in quality from the fourth tier to the league just below the Premier League.

Once labelled as an “unreal” talent to watch by football analyst Tom Williams when he was regularly firing them in for Wimbledon in the lower depths of the EFL, he could receive a much-needed boost in confidence facing off against Inigo Calderon’s men, knowing full well he has what it takes to outclass teams of Bristol Rovers’ standards.

It’s clear from the table above that there is a dangerous striker inside Al-Hamadi, with a devastating 27 strikes managed for the Dons, as he goes about trying to prove his worth still to McKenna even as he begins to be linked with a loan move away.

He could gifted that chance later today, with a positive performance from the forgotten-about 22-year-old perhaps making the Tractor Boys think twice about splashing out wads of cash on targets such as £30m man Igor Jesus, knowing they have competent cover for Delap already at home.

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