Aston Villa must sign Atletico Madrid star Mario Hermoso amid a recent transfer update.
What’s the story?
According to Spanish publication Fichajes (via Sport Witness), Dean Smith’s side have joined the likes of fellow Premier League teams Everton and Arsenal in being interested in luring Hermoso to England.
The report adds that while Atletico haven’t yet put the centre-back on the transfer market just yet, they would be open to listening to sizeable offers for him this summer.
Better than Tyrone Mings
Currently valued at £34m by CIES, Hermoso is every bit the modern-day ball-playing central defender that clubs nowadays tend to want.
Analysis from Robbie Dunne called his passing “dangerous”, and when you look at some of the stats, it’s easy to see why.
According to stats website FBREF, the Spaniard ranks in the 93rd percentile for passes into the final third and in the 97th percentile for progressive passes across Europe’s top five leagues – a real indication of just how comfortable he is on the ball, and why he’s not someone who simply ‘stat pads’ by choosing the safe option.
Compare that to Mings who’s only in the 65th percentile for passes into the final third, and the 61st percentile for progressive passes.
And it’s not just his use of possession that is far superior to the England international either.
As per Whoscored, Hermoso also averaged an impressive 1.8 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game in La Liga last season for Atletico Madrid, while Mings could only manage 0.9 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per match in the Premier League.
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Given that he’s also left-footed, superb on the ball, and seemingly better than Mings in all the key areas, Hermoso seems like the kind of player Smith would love to have at Villa Park.
Meanwhile, Villa have hijacked a move for this star…
Aston Villa have now held talks to sell a £140k-a-week star, who Unai Emery described as “fantastic” earlier this season.
Villa looking to strengthen Champions League push with new signings
Villa are currently in a very strong position to qualify for the Champions League, sitting third in the Premier League table, eight points clear of nearest-rivals Liverpool, but they remain keen on bringing in some new signings to bolster their chances even further.
That is according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey, who said: “This Conor Gallagher situation’s come not out of nowhere. They were always probably one of the teams that were on the outskirts.
“But it doesn’t surprise me because let’s look at what Villa did last January. Their loan signings of Asensio and Rashford were phenomenal, weren’t they? They really made an impact. I was told Villa would do the same. It looks like they might be trying for Gallagher. I think there’s a real chance for this. Villa seem to have a belief that they can get this one done.”
Not only is a new central midfielder of interest, but the Villans have also set their sights on a striker, and it was recently revealed they have been given the green light to sign AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at Besiktas.
The interest in signing a new centre-forward stems from the fact Ollie Watkins is the only out-and-out striker on the books, with Donyell Malen predominantly featuring as a winger throughout his career to date.
Malen is the natural back-up option for Watkins, but according to Sky Sports reporter Gianluca Di Marzio (via Sport Witness), Aston Villa have now entered talks to offload the Dutchman to AS Roma on loan, with the deal including an option to buy.
With Leon Bailey potentially in line to return to Villa Park, having been unable to make an impact since arriving at Roma, the Italian club are looking to raid the Villans once again, setting their sights on a forward who has impressed at times this season…
Malen repeat: Aston Villa could see £11m bid accepted to sign "dominant" star
Aston Villa have identified one player who they want to sign before the January window slams shut.
ByEthan Lamb "Fantastic" Malen is solid option for Emery
The 26-year-old often only features as a substitute, but he has caught the eye when given the opportunity this season, chipping in with seven goals and two assists in 29 matches in all competitions.
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Not only that, but the Netherlands international, who pockets £140k-a-week, was also praised by Emery after the 2-1 victory against Burnley back in October, with the manager describing him as “fantastic” and adding: “If we can get Malen close to the box, he has qualities and is a fast player to shoot and he is clinical.”
Malen is a solid back-up option for Villa, so it would be a shame if they were to sanction a departure this month, although they could perhaps afford to lose him if a deal for experienced striker Abraham goes through.
Manchester United are now reportedly eyeing a January move to sign an impressive Premier League striker who’s currently outscoring Benjamin Sesko.
Man Utd eyeing Premier League striker
Whilst much of Man United’s focus has been on welcoming a midfield reinforcement next month, amid links with the likes of Ruben Neves, they could also add another attacking start.
Without the influence of Bryan Mbeumo, who’s at AFCON, and the ever-reliable Bruno Fernandes against Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Red Devils struggled to pick apart the worst side that the Premier League has to offer at Old Trafford.
It was an incredibly disappointing display from Ruben Amorim’s side, who handed Wolves just their third point of the campaign. It summed up their attacking struggles when Joshua Zirkzee was substituted for tactical reasons at the break, despite the fact that United were already short on options.
UCL club now prioritising January move to sign £120,000-a-week Man United ace
The Red Devils could cash in.
ByTom Cunningham
Amorim confirmed the decision, telling reporters: “We were running around trying to get hold of the ball. We were struggling with their midfielders, and sometimes you can attack better with less strikers. We played with three strikers, and sometimes that’s not the best thing to attack well.”
If the answer to Man United’s attacking problems is to take a striker away from the side then that is arguably a problem in its own right. There’s no denying that INEOS set the groundwork for offensive improvement by signing Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, but whilst they’ve impressed, Sesko has struggled.
The big-money forward could have suffered the same fate as Zirkzee, having struggled to make his mark against Wolves. The former RB Leipzig star is still just 22 years old and has the potential to become world-class, but he may not be the answer for right now.
Instead, that could be another Premier League star. According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Man United are now eyeing a move to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta in the January transfer window.
"Amazing" Mateta would complete Man Utd's attack
With around 18 months until his current Crystal Palace deal comes to an end and a new contract currently unlikely, Man United could offer the Eagles an early chance to cash in on Mateta.
The Frenchman has enjoyed the most unexpected rise in the Premier League and is still outscoring Sesko in the current campaign, despite a recent dip in form.
PL stats 25/26
Mateta
Sesko
Minutes
1,464
864
Goals
7
2
Assists
0
1
Expected Goals
10.4
3.1
The one concern for United should be how Mateta has actually underperformed this season. Based on his XG, the French forward should have around 10 Premier League goals this season and not just the seven that he has netted.
Alas, he would still be an upgrade on the younger Sesko, who has underperformed by one goal himself in the Premier League.
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Whether Palace take their chance to cash in on Mateta is now the big question. Given the praise of Oliver Glasner, who called his striker “amazing” back in February, it seems unlikely that they’ll sell their star man midway through the campaign.
After a seismic summer which saw the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke arrive at Arsenal, it’s fair to say that it has been Mikel Arteta’s old reliables doing the business so far this season.
With that trio all enduring mixed starts to life at the Emirates, scoring just nine Premier League goals between them, the onus has been on those already at the club to deliver the goods.
Indeed, two of the Gunners’ emerging cult heroes have been particularly influential, with Leandro Trossard racking up his ninth league goal involvement against Aston Villa last time out, while Mikel Merino has scored five times himself in all competitions so far.
Whether it is as an auxiliary striker or in his usual midfield berth, Merino has largely been something of a revelation in north London, having already scored 14 times in 67 games, after netting 27 times in total in 242 outings for former club Real Sociedad.
In an era of youthful, long-term signings, the Spaniard has proven the benefit of acquiring ready-made additions, with that trend perhaps set to be repeated in 2026.
Arsenal holding talks over another midfield signing
Led by Andrea Berta, there appears to be something of a win-now policy developing at Arsenal, with new arrivals Gyokeres and Eze both 27, while Martin Zubimendi turns 27 early next month.
While London rivals Chelsea continue to seek out a raft of under-23 signings, the Gunners are reaping the rewards of their slightly more short-term thinking, with last summer’s acquisition of a now 29-year-old Merino the obvious case in point.
Although not deemed a glamour signing at the time, the towering left-footer has proven to be such a valuable, versatile asset, with Berta seemingly targeting a similar figure if reports are to be believed.
Transfer Focus
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According to Caught Offside, Arsenal are among the clubs interested in Bayern Munich powerhouse, Leon Goretzka, with the likes of Manchester United, Spurs and Juventus also in the mix.
As per the report, there is the suggestion that talks have already been held with the Premier League trio, in particular, with the piece outlining that the German’s representatives have made contact with those three clubs.
The report does add, however, that while both United and Arsenal are likely to be more inclined to move in the summer, with the 30-year-old out of contract in June, rivals Spurs could look to strike in the winter window.
Why Goretzka could be Arteta's new Merino
Arteta’s set-piece kings have formed a fearsome unit across recent windows, echoing the early Arsene Wenger era with a string of towering, intimidating operators all across the park, be it Gabriel at one end, or Gyokeres at the other.
Merino, at 6 foot 2, has added further physicality in the centre, alongside the far more slight Martin Odegaard, with Arteta having praised the £30m for being a “big, big threat” earlier this season.
While a bargain deal for soon-to-be free agent Goretzka would be unlikely to end in the Champions League winner operating as a makeshift centre-forward, the 6 foot 2 monster could also be a similar box-crashing threat from an advanced midfield role.
Described as a “machine” by ex-teammate Sami Khedira – who also praised his compatriot for working “like a madman” to regain his place back at Bayern – Goretzka has been something of an unsung hero at the Allianz Arena for over half a decade now, recording 49 goals and 48 assists in 310 games across all fronts.
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That return, like Merino, has also come with the bulky midfielder showcasing a versatility to feature in a variety of positions, having operated on either flank, as well as even in a full-back or centre-back berth on occasion.
Goretzka – Bayern Bundesliga record
Season
Games
Goals (Assists)
25/26
14
0 (0)
24/25
26
4 (1)
23/24
30
6 (9)
22/23
27
3 (2)
21/22
19
3 (3)
20/21
24
5 (6)
19/20
24
6 (9)
18/19
30
8 (5)
Total
194
35 (35)
Stats via Transfermarkt
For a squad competing across four fronts, such flexibility is a real asset, with Goretzka surely the type of figure that Arteta would relish the chance to work with and repurpose for his own demands.
Like Merino, it is the 67-cap German star’s physical prowess that is the main attraction, having ranked in the top 12% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, just behind the Arsenal man who ranks in the top 2%.
Again, like Merino, however, who ranks in the 6% for assists per 90, there is also a creative quality to be admired with regard to Goretzka, with one-time Schalke man ranking in the top 6% for progressive passes and the top 15% for progressive carries.
The all-round midfield asset in many ways, the experienced talent could well prove to be Arteta’s next Merino-style addition, should Berta manage to win the race for his signature – be it this month or over the summer.
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Arsenal could sign their new William Saliba in 2026.
Manchester United have been rocked by the unthinkable: Bruno Fernandes, infallible on the fitness front, is not fit.
Not the nicest Christmas present for those of a Red Devil persuasion, but Ruben Amorim’s side will have to endure, with the Portuguese Magnifico forced off at the weekend during the hard-battled loss at Aston Villa, unlikely to feature again before the New Year.
This has exacerbated an up-and-down season at a frustrating moment, and now, Amorim’s side will need to adapt, perhaps tweaking their winter transfer plans.
Man Utd's January priorities
Manchester United have been hot on the trail of Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo in recent weeks, but news has emerged on the eve of Christmas that the Ghanaian’s preference is to join Manchester City, and talks are advancing on that front.
The 26-year-old would be a fantastic addition, but there’s a case to be made that United’s attention should rest on another area of the pitch, with Fernandes’ injury and Amorim’s unwillingness to start Kobbie Mainoo emphasising the need for a centre-midfielder.
Well, according to the Daily Mail, Atletico Madrid star Conor Gallagher is on INEOS’s shortlist of midfield targets this winter and is viewed as a feasible option.
The former Chelsea star, 25, could be available on a loan deal, but Man United might equally find success in lodging a £35m offer.
It’s said that United held talks over a move back in the summer and are now readying a move for a number of midfielders, one of which includes the England international.
Why Conor Gallagher would be a fantastic signing
England international Gallagher has been at Atletico Madrid for over a year, and he has settled into life in Spain. A robust, all-action player, he would add to Man United control and dimensions on the ball while working tirelessly to protect the defence.
Hailed as an “intensity monster” by one analyst, who was discussing United’s interest and why they should sign him, Gallagher has proven himself in English football and again on the continent.
While he lacks Fernandes’ artistry and playmaking ability, Gallagher has managed to rack up some interesting creative metrics over the years, as evidenced across his final year at Chelsea, under Mauricio Pochettino’s wing.
Gallagher’s Recent Prem Seasons
Stats (* per game)
22/23
23/24
Matches (starts)
35 (18)
37 (37)
Goals
3
5
Assists
1
7
Pass completion
85%
92%
Big chances created
5
11
Key passes*
0.6
1.4
Dribbles*
0.7 (50%)
1.0 (68%)
Ball recoveries*
5.1
6.3
Tackles*
1.3
2.3
Duels (won)*
3.5 (45%)
5.7 (50%)
Stats via Sofascore
This is a complete, rounded midfielder, someone who aligns perfectly with the way that Amorim wants his Man United midfielders to play.
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He has carried his skills over to La Liga, and in Spain, he has fostered those qualities, ranking among the top 5% of the division’s midfielders for goals scored, the top 16% for progressive carries, the top 7% for tackles won and the top 9% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref.
Given the desperation of Man United’s midfield conundrum, it’s easy to see why Gallagher might be viewed as an ideal option to strengthen the ranks with, especially when considering the Three Lions star’s wealth of Premier League experience.
Semenyo would be a neat addition, but United might just need to ride the AFCON storm at the moment, welcoming the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo back to the fold in the new year.
With Gallagher adding meat and substance in the centre of the park, Amorim’s system might finally achieve the balance it has been struggling for over the past 12 months.
Better than Anderson & Wharton: Man Utd join race to sign £52m midfielder
Manchester United have identified another top target for the midfield department ahead of January.
It would be fair to say that, on paper anyway, last week was Arsenal’s toughest so far this season.
Therefore, Mikel Arteta’s side should be pretty happy with seven points from nine in games against Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
However, while the North Londoners were exceptional in the first two encounters, they were uncharacteristically poor away to the Blues, and that has understandably taken the shine off somewhat.
Moreover, while there were underwhelming performances across the pitch for Arsenal, one player in particular was really disappointing and currently looks miles off what fans saw last season.
Arsenal's underwhelming starters vs Chelsea
Starting at the back, and while he has arguably been one of Arsenal’s players of the season so far this year, Ricarrdo Calafiori looked way off the pace on Sunday evening.
Chalkboard
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Aside from a well-timed last-man tackle on Estevao in the first ten minutes, the Italian looked far shakier defensively than he has all year, losing two of the three tackles he made and getting a silly yellow card when he lost Reece James.
It wasn’t much better going forward either, as the former Bologna man failed to deliver a single cross for the attackers to get onto, and was understandably hooked at the interval.
Things didn’t go much better for Eberechi Eze, as following his hat-trick last weekend and assist against Bayern, the former Crystal Palace star was utterly ineffective at Stamford Bridge.
In fact, while it sounds harsh, it would be a fair assessment to describe him as anonymous on Sunday, as was Gabriel Martinelli, whose most significant contribution was a shot from outside the penalty area in the first half.
Finally, while they were not terrible, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie were clear downgrades on the Gunners’ usual partnership.
Moreover, on top of being less defensively solid, it was clear that they were less confident starting together, which massively impacted the team’s build-up.
With all that said, there was another Arsenal star on Sunday who looked way off the pace, and unfortunately has done all season.
The Arsenal star who has taken a step back
Unfortunately for Arteta, the poor performances on Sunday evening were not limited to the starters, as Myles Lewis-Skelly’s cameo off the bench was one to forget.
The Hale Ender was sent on to replace Calafiori after the Italian picked up his silly yellow card, but just nine minutes into the second half, he got one himself.
That moment sort of summarised the teenager’s display, as while there were a few moments of quality, like a run through the middle of the pitch towards the end, he largely struggled.
He offered little going forward and looked less than secure defensively and in possession, so much so that there were more than a few occasions when you could see Rice getting frustrated with him, notably when under no pressure at all, the youngster played the ball straight to a Chelsea player on the left-hand side of the pitch.
Unsurprisingly, the watching press were not hugely impressed with the youngster, with Arsenal writer Charles Watts awarding him just a 5/10 match rating at full-time.
Lewis-Skelly’s game v Chelsea
Minutes
45′
Expected Assists
0.01
Interceptions
1
Ground Duels (Won)
4 (2)
Aerial Duels (Won)
3 (0)
Fouls
1
Key Passes
0
Dribbles
0
Shots
0
All Stats via Sofascore
That might sound harsh, but his statistics justify it; in his 45 minutes, the 19-year-old produced an expected assists figure of just 0.02, lost 50% of his ground duels and 100% of his aerial duels, didn’t play a single key pass or cross and committed one foul.
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The worrying thing is that Sunday was not the full-back’s first poor performance of the season, as he also looked the weakest of the club’s starters against Bayern.
With that said, it would be unfair to blame this entirely on the youngster, club insider Hand of Arsenal, dubbed a “future captain,” as he’s just not been given enough game time.
One of the things that allowed him to play as well as he did last year was that Arteta picked him time and time again, in turn building his sharpness and understanding of the team’s rhythm.
Therefore, while it’s true that Lewis-Skelly has taken a step back this season, fans shouldn’t worry too much, as more games on the horizon should give him more opportunities to play and rebuild that sharpness.
Arteta must drop 4/10 Arsenal star who lost every single duel vs Chelsea
Arsenal were not at their free-flowing best as they drew with Chelsea.
When Andrea Berta arrived at Arsenal towards the beginning of 2025, the transfer plan for the summer was abundantly clear.
The fact of the matter was that during his first window in charge, the squad needed more firepower and, chiefly, a striker was a necessity.
While there were links to the likes of Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko, both of whom got big-money moves elsewhere in the Premier League, the Gunners concluded a deal for Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swede had only spent two prolific seasons in Portugal with Sporting but he was already on the move and deservedly so.
Yet, while the centre forward has done a lot to improve the overall attack, there is a sense that they could do better in future windows.
Arsenal looking to sign new striker
Gyokeres may well have signed but Arsenal still do require a little bit more in attack.
Gabriel Jesus is back in full training but it’s wild to expect him to be at a productive level for a good few months yet after recovering from an ACL injury. Even if he did recover, he’s been linked with the exit door as he approaches the final 18 months of his deal at the Emirates Stadium.
Kai Havertz has also been a long-term absentee which has left Arsenal with only one fit centre forward for much of 2025/26 to date.
So, while Arsenal’s options in several areas now are deep, another striker wouldn’t go amiss.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
That’s where Borussia Dortmund frontman Serhou Guirassy comes into the equation.
According to reports in Spain, it suggests that Arteta and Co are vying with the likes of PSG for the striker’s services.
The report notes that Arsenal are ‘seriously considering’ a move but it’s likely they’ll have to pay around £44m in order to conclude a deal.
The Guinean has a release clause in his contract of that amount, meaning that like Gyokeres, he wouldn’t cost the earth to bring to England.
It’s said that Arsenal are thought to be willing to pay the required amount to get him out of Germany.
How Guirassy compares to Viktor Gyokeres
When Gyokeres signed for Arsenal while the club were on their pre-season Asia tour, there was much fanfare.
At last, Arteta had a proper goalscoring centre forward to add to his ranks. Last term, the former Coventry City star scored 54 goals in 52 games. It was a breathtaking campaign, one that saw him take home the Gerd Muller trophy for the best striker in the world during the last Ballon d’Or gala.
Yet, in Arsenal colours, Gyokeres has not had it all his own way. He’s been wasteful in front of goal and went on a barren run of seven games without scoring at one stage.
That said, he’s not been a complete flop. The Sweden international still has six goals to show for his efforts and has particularly pleased Arteta with what he’s offered to the team.
While he did not score during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League, Arteta summed up why he’s been so delighted with what the centre forward is offering. “I think he did the rest of the things you ask for from a striker. The way he’s linking with his teammates, the way he’s opening spaces, the way he’s threatening constantly the back line.”
However, while it does seem unlikely Arsenal will sign another striker, Guirassy could be an upgrade on what they already have.
Described as “one of the best centre-forwards in the world” by one notable football analyst on X, the 29-year-old has been in the form of his life over the last year. Crucially, he’s also demonstrated that form in a top-five European league, something Gyokeres had not done before touching down in London.
In 2024/25, Guirassy found the net on 38 occasions in 50 games, bagging a remarkable 13 goals in 14 Champions League matches. That included scoring five times across two outings with Barcelona.
But what separates him from Gyokeres? Well, a scorer of seven goals this term, the numbers showcase why.
Guirassy vs Gyokeres: 2025/26 League
Stat (per 90 mins)
Guirassy
Gyokeres
Goals
0.51
0.45
Assists
0.10
0
xG
0.59
0.52
Shots
2.76
2.13
Shot on target %
59.3%
36.8%
Pass completion
72.2%
60.7%
Key passes
0.71
0.90
Passes into final 3rd
1.02
0.45
Successful take-ons
0.20
0.45
Progressive carries
1.63
0.90
Aerial duels won
2.86
1.80
Stats via FbRef.
Not only has Guirassy scored more goals per 90 minutes and offered a higher xG, but he excels in bringing others into the game too.
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During the 2025/26 season to date, the Dortmund sensation has completed more accurate passes and more assists per 90. It might be Gyokeres who has played more key passes but clearly it’s the former who is more decisive with his final actions right now.
If that wasn’t enough, Guirassy is a better and less chaotic carrier of the ball. Gyokeres resembles something of a raging bull when he’s gallivanting forward but there’s more of a smoothness to Arsenal’s latest transfer target. The fact he averages more progressive carries substantiates that point.
To round things off, Guirassy is also far more likely to win his aerial duels, something that Arsenal have perhaps missed since Havertz’s injury.
To put Guirassy’s numbers into further context, he won more aerial duels (3.77) per 90 than the German did (3.03) in 2024/25.
So, while the Dortmund striker may only be one goal ahead of Gyokeres this term, he offers something of a hybrid situation between Arteta’s two leading marksman. That could well offer the Spanish manager a fabulous balance as Arsenal hunt down their first Premier League title in over two decades.
Newcastle United’s win over Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League on Wednesday evening was much-needed, but Eddie Howe knows his side have not yet responded to the bitter Premier League defeat at West Ham United last weekend.
Now, they have the opportunity to do that against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. This is a tough match, with Keith Andrews’ side rallying after a difficult summer transfer window and defying a few by easing away from the relegation pack so far this season.
The Bees have lost just one of their five home fixtures in the Premier League this term, a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, and, alarmingly, United have not won away from St. James’ Park, losing three in a row in the top flight. They do, however, have a strong recent record against the Londoners.
Newcastle Recent Record vs Brentford
Season
Competition
Result
24/25
Premier League (H)
2-1 win
24/25
Carabao Cup (H)
3-1 win
24/25
Premier League (A)
4-2 loss
23/24
Premier League (A)
4-2 win
23/24
Premier League (H)
1-0 win
Data via Transfermarkt
With the November international break looming large, this is the perfect opportunity for the Toon to prove they have what it takes to establish consistency both on Tyneside and on the road.
However, they will have to do this without Anthony Gordon, who has been ruled out after injuring his hip in midweek.
The latest on Anthony Gordon's fitness
Gordon has not been in great form for a while. Across his past 19 Premier League outings, the England international has failed to score or assist a goal.
But the 24-year-old is still one of the most talented wingers in the country, and he will be missed against a resilient Brentford outfit.
Howe intimated in his pre-match press conference that Gordon will be unavailable, having suffered a recurrence of the hip injury that has plagued him this year after about an hour of action in the Champions League.
Of course, we can’t ignore the frustrating watch that preceded the setback. Chronicle Live gave Gordon a 5/10 match rating and commented that he didn’t look right down the left channel.
Gordon will be sidelined for this one, but Howe may well have considered replacing him anyway after a tough spell.
Harvey Barnes is the most likely candidate to move onto the left wing, but there’s an even more left-field option that the manager may want to consider, especially after Joelinton found form in the centre of the park several days ago.
Howe can unleash Gordon replacement in new role
Newcastle have enough resources available to find that elusive away win without Gordon in the mix. But it will require a big performance, with players stepping up and kick-starting their season.
Among these is Jacob Ramsey, who joined Newcastle from Aston Villa for £39m plus £4m in add-ons this summer. The Boyhood Villa fan has struggled with injuries over the past few years, but he was a popular and talented figure in the Midlands, and there’s a sense from Newcastle’s rivals that they have lost a potential superstar.
Fitness issues have plagued him at the start of his career in a new setting, and because of this, Ramsey has only featured seven times across all competitions, with just one start in the Premier League.
It was a dour day in the capital for Newcastle last weekend, but Ramsey showed something of his quality when entering the fray after the interval, with Sofascore recording that he completed two dribbles, made three recoveries and won four of six duels throughout the second half.
Given the robustness of Newcastle’s central engine room, it would be foolish to unleash Ramsey in the ten berth against tough-tackling Brentford. However, he has the dribbling ability and creativity to service Woltemade from the left, leaving Howe to pick one of Barnes or Jacob Murphy to play from the right flank.
The former Villan played like a man with a desire to nail down a starting spot at the London Stadium, and while his efforts were to no avail, his commitment cannot be questioned.
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This is a versatile playmaker whose skills could damage the home side from the wing. When played out wide, Ramsey has historically had something of a penchant for an evenly spread output.
Jacob Ramsey – Career Stats by Position
Position
Apps
Goals (assists)
Left midfield
70
12 (12)
Central midfield
67
11 (4)
Attacking midfield
59
17 (10)
Left wing
8
1 (2)
Right midfield
4
0 (0)
Centre-forward
2
2 (0)
Data via Transfermarkt
Hailed as a “monster” of an attacking midfielder by analyst Ryan McKeown, Ramsey’s pace, fluid movement and impressive athleticism – when at full fitness – now need to be channelled into something prolific. Howe signed the player with a vision in his mind, and now he must put that plan into action.
After all, despite a tough year on the Englishman’s part, he has shown his quality through his underlying data, with FBref revealing he ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past yerar for pass completion, the top 9% for tackles and the top 6% for success rate when taking on opponents per 90.
Now, the impetus is on building up match fluidity and avoiding another injury setback. Should Ramsey succeed in this, he might even come to pile pressure on Gordon for a place on the left flank.
Newcastle have options as they prepare to take on Brentford at the Gtech, and after signing a talent such as Ramsey for a hefty fee this summer, surely this is the perfect time for him to announce himself in the Premier League under Howe’s wing.
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One of the biggest troubles for Leeds United this season is how poorly they have performed in front of goal. Daniel Farke’s side find themselves in a relegation battle, which many people expected would be the case. ESPN journalist Bill Connelly said they need “random bursts of quality attacking” to help them stay up.
Well, things haven’t worked out that way so far for the Whites. They’ve found the back of the net just nine times, better than just two sides, including bottom of the league Wolverhampton Wanderers. Leeds’ expected goals tally is just 12.94xG, the 12th best in the top flight.
One man who has struggled for his best goalscoring form is Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Calvert-Lewin’s struggles in front of goal
Leeds secured the signing of Calvert-Lewin in the summer on a free transfer, after his contract at Everton expired. He was brought in with the aim of bolstering their Premier League goalscoring stocks, although it hasn’t really worked out that well so far.
The experienced 28-year-old, who has 11 caps and four goals for England, has not quite hit the ground running in a Leeds shirt.
In nine games for the club so far, Calvert-Lewin has only found the back of the net once, against fellow strugglers Wolves.
It was a good finish, too, from the new Leeds number nine. He got on the end of a loopy cross from Jayden Bogle, finding space between the Wolves defenders and heading home. That is the kind of striking instinct Leeds fans may have expected.
However, it hasn’t really worked out for Calvert-Lewin, aside from that goal. His underlying numbers are surprisingly low, averaging just 2.8 shots per 90 minutes, with an expected goals per game of 0.33xG. That places him in the 25th percentile for Premier League strikers.
With a huge game against Nottingham Forest next up, Farke may decide to rotate the striker out of the side in favour of a man who knows where the back of the net is.
Leeds’ Calvert-Lewin alternative
Ultimately, Leeds need to start finding the back of the net more consistently soon. Goals win you football matches, and right now, they could do with a few victories to help propel them up the table.
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Well, Farke could well make the decision to axe Calvert-Lewin against Forest this weekend, and bring in Joel Piroe.
The Dutchman is someone who knows where the back of the net is, and Farke even called him the “best finisher” he’s ever seen as a manager.
With strikes like this one against Bristol City in the Championship last season, it is easy to see where the Whites’ boss is coming from.
Piroe bagged from quite a tight angle outside of the area, which takes some doing.
Indeed, he has put up some impressive numbers in a Leeds shirt so far. In 102 games for the club, the striker has 33 goals and ten assists. Last term in the Championship, Piroe was the main man up front and bagged 19 goals with seven assists in 46 games.
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His underlying stats showcase how deadly he can be, too. During the league-winning 2024/25 season, the Dutch striker averaged 0.56 goals per 90 minutes, with an expected goals tally of 0.49xG. Both of those stats placed him in the top 5% of Championship strikers.
Piroe – 24/25 Championship
Stat (per 90)
Number
Percentile
Goals
0.56
95th
Shots on target
1.14
89th
Expected goals
0.49xG
95th
Shot-creating actions
2.43
84th
Goal-creating actions
0.38
91st
Stats from FBref
Bringing Piroe into the side for the trip to the City Ground could be a stroke of genius from Farke. He has a point to prove, having fallen out of favour this season. He’s only played 164 top-flight minutes, but would surely love to get more regular game time.
Calvert-Lewin has been out of form this season. With someone who Farke himself has admitted is a deadly finisher waiting in the wings, he could be the difference in helping find the back of the net more often.
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Sunday’s League Cup semi-final was always going to be an unmissable event, but this latest Old Firm derby is even more intriguing than usual.
Both Glasgow giants have changed managers in recent weeks, with this only Danny Röhl’s fourth match in charge of Rangers, while Martin O’Neill is back in the Celtic hot seat on an interim basis, following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation on Monday.
For Röhl, it feels as though momentum is starting to build in Glasgow’s West End, following back-to-back Premiership victories over Kilmarnock and Hibs so far this week.
Nevertheless, there is nothing quite like an Old Firm derby to set the zeitgeist, so victory at the national stadium on Sunday would only enhance Röhl’s hero status among the Rangers support, but what lineup should he select against their fierce rivals?
Rangers team news vs Celtic
First and foremost, it has transpired this week that midfielder Connor Barron is suspended.
The £14k-per-week star has been cautioned during both League Cup ties so far this season, victories over Alloa Athletic and Hibernian at Ibrox, so will serve a one-match ban at Hampden.
Given that Barron started the mid-week win at Easter Road, at least one change to the lineup will be required, but a few more are forecast.
Elsewhere, Dujon Sterling remains sidelined long-term due to an achilles injury, still yet to feature this season, but attacker Oliver Antman could return, having missed the last two matches due to illness, which would be a boost.
In total, four changes are forecast when compared to the lineup that left Leith with all three points on Wednesday, but will this team have enough to defeat Celtic?
Rangers predicted XI vs Celtic
As Danny Röhl seeks to figure out which players he can count on, one man whose spot is not up for debate is Jack Butland.
He was the Gers’ hero against Hibs in mid-week, saving a late Jamie McGrath spot-kick, thereby preserving the club’s first clean sheet away from Ibrox since December last year, a sequence of 25 matches that broke the club-record set in Victorian times.
In front of him, Röhl is likely to stick with the back three deployed in both domestic matches so far.
This is good news for Nasser Djiga who, after high-profile mistakes against Dundee and Club Brugge in August, sent off in the former and rather gifting the Belgians a goal in the latter, found himself cast aside.
Nevertheless, the Wolves loanee will keep his place alongside Derek Cornelius and John Souttar.
At wing-back is where the first change will be made.
Having been introduced at half time in Edinburgh, James Tavernier will return, making his 43rd Old Firm appearance, but there is a question mark over who gets the nod on the other side.
The captain replaced Jayden Meghoma in the capital, with Max Aarons shifting across to left-wing-back, so it’s tough to forecast who Röhl will go for, but the teenager on loan from Brentford is the more natural option.
In the middle, given Barron’s suspension, Mohamed Diomandé is the obvious candidate to come in and partner Nicolas Raskin, the pair rekindling their partnership that was the most effective part of Rangers’ team last season.
In this system, Röhl needs two players who can cover a lot of ground, something that certainly is not Joe Rothwell’s forte.
Attack is, by a significant distance, the toughest area of the team to forecast, with seven players, realistically, vying for three spots.
Having scored in each of the last two matches, thereby on target in back-to-back Premiership appearances for the first time since December, Danilo is likely to keep his place, but could be the only member of Wednesday’s front three to do so.
After a generally anonymous performance in Leith, Mikey Moore is set to drop out, the Spurs loanee still yet to score for the Gers.
This would see Djeidi Gassama return to the forward line, having scored five times so far this season, albeit all of which have come in Europe, looking to change that at Hampden.
When he arrived, then-manager Russell Martin labelled the Frenchman “an exciting player who will get supporters on the edge of their seats”, and that has certainly proved to be the case so far.
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To complete the forward line, Röhl seems to see something in Youssef Chermiti that supporters do not, the 21-year-old joining Rangers for £8m from Everton, a fee that could rise all the way to £10m, a club record in the post-liquidation era.
The big money signing has started two of the last three games, scoring his first goal for the club off the bench against Killie last Sunday.
However, deploying two centre-forwards against Celtic would be bold, which may well count against both Chermiti and Bojan Miovski, meaning Thelo Aasgaard is the most likely candidate to come in, chosen over Antman, given his recent bout of illness.
Rangers predicted XI vs Celtic
Formation: 3-4-2-1
GK
Jack Butland
CB
John Souttar
CB
Nasser Djiga
CB
Derek Cornelius
RWB
James Tavernier
CM
Nicolas Raskin
CM
Mohamed Diomandé
LWB
Jayden Meghoma
RM
Thelo Aasgaard
LM
Djeidi Gassama
CF
Danilo
Röhl does have options and plenty of talent to work with, even if that certainly did not appear to be the case during Martin’s ill-fated tenure.
So, does this XI have enough quality to beat a depleted Celtic?
Only time will tell!
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