Newcastle United are keen to add a new forward to their ranks after a difficult start to the season in front of goal, according to reports.
The Magpies have scored just 13 goals in the Premier League this term, which is the joint fourth-lowest total in the division. Having been beaten 2-0 by struggling West Ham United on Monday night, they’ve also now failed to find the net in three of their last six top-flight matches.
Club
Goals
League Position
Southampton
9
20th
Crystal Palace
10
19th
Everton
10
15th
Newcastle United
13
10th
Ipswich Town
13
18th
Manchester United
13
12th
After the defeat to the Hammers, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was asked if his side’s goal return this season is a cause for concern. He replied: “Yes, it is. I can’t say anything other because it’s the most important aspect of the team.
“We need to score, we need to feel that confidence, to feel that belief, and we’ve had that for such a long time. “We’re probably still not as fluent as we have been previously, and so that’s stuff for us to try to fix.”
Semenyo wanted at Newcastle
To fix the problem, Newcastle are reportedly eyeing a move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. According to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas, the Cherries frontman has emerged as a January target for the Magpies following his impressive displays on the South Coast this season and last.
Semenyo has scored four goals in 12 games this term for Andoni Iraola’s side, while last year, he managed eight in 33 games.
Thomas claims that Newcastle are keen on the 24-year-old, ideally in the New Year, but would be unlikely to sign him in the upcoming transfer window unless other players leave the club.
Liverpool are also tracking Semenyo, according to Thomas, who says the Reds are assessing future targets that could play for Arne Slot.
Cook on Semenyo: "He's got a lot better"
Semenyo, who is valued at £16.7 million by Transfermarkt, joined Bournemouth in January 2023 from Bristol City, where he made 125 appearances and scored 21 goals across six seasons.
Though he had a slow start to life at the Vitality Stadium, he’s come into his own since the appointment of Iraola last summer, establishing himself as one of Bournemouth’s top stars.
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Following Bournemouth’s 3-1 victory over Southampton back in September, in which Semenyo was on the scoresheet, Cherries midfielder Lewis Cook heaped praise on the Ghana international, who has been capped 25 times by his country.
“As a team, we knew the quality he has and we saw that last year. He’s got to just keep working hard – being aggressive and being clinical.
“He’s got a lot better at running back and helping out the team too. He’s a powerful lad and has all the ability in the world. Hopefully he can continue to show that.”
Arsenal believe Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli could be fit to return from injuries after the March international break.
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Saka and Martinelli near returnCould be fit after March international breakArsenal currently threadbare in attackFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Both players are currently sidelined with hamstring injuries, Saka having been absent since before Christmas with a particularly serious muscle tear that required surgery. Martinelli followed his team-mate into the treatment room when he picked up an issue in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle, but there is hope that both players could play a full part in the run-in in April and May.
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Injuries to Saka, Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have left Mikel Arteta's side incredibly short in attack, with Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri their only recognised senior forward players. Arteta used Mikel Merino as an emergency centre-forward at Leicester on Saturday and was rewarded as the Spaniard scored a match-winning brace off the bench.
DID YOU KNOW?
Thomas Tuchel names his first squad as England manager next month and is very unlikely to have Saka to call upon. The Three Lions play Albania and Latvia in 2026 World Cup qualifiers at Wembley but must cope without a mainstay of their side over the last three years.
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The return of two key attacking players would be a huge boost for Arteta, whose side could still make this a memorable campaign. The Gunners trail Liverpool by seven points with 13 games to play in the Premier League campaign, while they are also in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Liverpool made it four wins from four in the Champions League last night, securing a convincing 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s side currently sit top of the league phase, after a hat-trick from Luis Diaz and one other goal from Cody Gakpo, punishing the opposition led by former Red Xabi Alonso.
After the four encounters, the Reds have scored ten times and conceded just once as they continue their excellent start to life under the Dutchman since his appointment over the summer.
His side have still only lost one outing in all competitions, falling to a 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest, highlighting how much of an immediate impact the 46-year-old has had on Merseyside.
Last night was no different, with multiple first-team members starring throughout and producing some impressive figures during their various performances.
Liverpool’s star performers against Leverkusen
As previously mentioned, Colombian winger Diaz grabbed himself his first hat-trick as a Liverpool player, having a huge impact on the European encounter.
Along with his three strikes, the 27-year-old also completed 88% of the passes he attempted, with two of them going into the final third – looking to create opportunities for his teammates despite his excellent form in front of goal.
Liverpool star Luis Diaz
However, midfielder Curtis Jones justified his recall to the starting lineup last night, producing a spectacular display and controlling the middle of the park for Slot’s men.
The 23-year-old returned to the starting eleven after being utilised as a substitute during the Premier League win over Brighton at the weekend, taking his opportunity with both hands.
The academy graduate featured for 74 minutes last night, providing a pinpoint pass to Diaz for the opening goal, showcasing his excellent ability to pick out his teammate and create clear-cut opportunities in the final third.
However, he also impressed defensively, winning 80% of the duels he entered, making one interception and two recoveries, as he also helped maintain yet another clean sheet for the Reds.
Despite Diaz and Jones’ respective displays for Slot’s side at Anfield, there was another talent who produced a night to remember in the Champions League.
The Liverpool talent who impressed against Leverkusen
After joining the club back in 2020 from Greek side Olympiacos, left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas has often been used as a backup to Andy Robertson, having to settle for minutes off the bench or in cup competitions.
During his first few seasons on Merseyside, he struggled massively, with club-legend Jamie Carragher dubbing the 28-year-old “stupid” following the draw with Luton Town last season, amid a reckless challenge from the defender.
First Impressions
What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.
He also came under fire from one of Carragher’s former teammates, Steve McMananan, during the shock 3-2 defeat to Toulouse in the Europa League last term in which Tsimikas was hooked at half-time, with the TNT pundit stating that he simply “fell asleep” for the Ligue 1 side’s opener.
However, new boss Slot handed him a second successive start last night, producing an incredible display and now looking undroppable, with Robertson undoubtedly struggling to dislodge the full-back.
Minutes played
80
Touches
66
Passes completed
43/48 (90%)
Interceptions
4
Tackles won
1
Ground duels won
2/2 (100%)
Dribbles completed
1/1 (100%)
Tsimikas featured for 80 minutes, starring defensively and restricting the opposition from creating any real clear-cut chances down the right-hand side.
He made four interceptions and won one tackle as he helped preserve the clean sheet, their third of the Champions League campaign so far this season.
The full-back also completed 90% of the passes, whilst also winning 100% of duels and completing 100% of the dribbles he attempted – having an impact at both ends of the pitch for the Reds.
Given his display, Slot may find it tricky to drop Tsimikas from his starting lineup ahead of the meeting with Aston Villa on Saturday night.
It’s great to see a player taking his opportunity in the squad with both hands, resurrecting his Liverpool career with many thinking at one stage he could’ve been set for the exit door.
90% passing, 100% dribbles: 8/10 Liverpool star was just as good as Diaz
Liverpool swept Bayer Leverkusen aside with a rip-roaring Champions League win.
Afghanistan’s strike bowler Rashid Khan believes the 2021 T20 World Cup could belong to spinners. Rashid, who will be playing his second T20 World Cup, said that the spinners are always “effective” on the pitches at three venues in the UAE, where the Super 12s, as well as the semi-finals and final will be played.”Conditions here are always good for spinners and it should be a spinners’ World Cup,” Rashid told . “Doesn’t matter how wickets are prepared here, it is always helpful for the spinners. Spinners will play a huge role in this World Cup. As we have seen in the IPL, spinners have brought back their team in the game. I feel that will be same in the World Cup as well. The best spinners will bring their team back in the game and win it.”Related
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FAQ: All you wanted to know about the T20 World Cup 2021
Afghanistan revise T20 World Cup squad, Mohammad Nabi to lead
While his IPL franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad, finished last on the points table, Rashid had another good season finishing with 18 wickets, the joint-highest for a spinner along with Yuzvendra Chahal and Varun Chakravarthy. Incidentally both Chahal and Rashid were among the top-10 wicket-takers even in the 2020 IPL which was fully played in the UAE as opposed to the just the second leg of the tournament this season.Overall in both IPLs in the UAE, the spinners have played a dominant hand at each of the three venues: in Dubai they have taken 30.8% of the total wickets taken, 30.1% in Sharjah, and 32.1% in Abu Dhabi.All these three venues will host the Super 12 matches as well, starting from October 23, along with the knockouts rounds. If the surfaces are to be on the slower side, Rashid felt a good spinner would always turn it to his team’s advantage. As an example, Rashid cited the low-scoring thriller in Dubai during the league phase of this IPL where Kolkata Knight Riders stuttered before eventually chasing down the Sunrisers’ 115-run target with two balls to spare.All the four spinners – Rashid, Chakravarthy, Shakib Al Hasan and Sunil Narine – played a key role for their teams making scoring difficult on a gripping surface.”On October 3, we played against KKR, they had around four spinners, all of whom bowled at an economy of 4-5 runs per over. Doesn’t matter whatever the kind of wicket is spinners are always effective in UAE conditions. At the same time we need to bowl well as well, it is not just enough to say everything will be done by the wicket. No, no, no.”According to Rashid, Afghanistan, who are in Group 2 along with India, Pakistan and New Zealand, would need to do “lots of hard work” considering all their opponents in the Super 12s are “good players of spin”. Afghanistan have played 14 T20Is at the three venues in the UAE and have won all of them.In the 2016 edition, Afghanistan progressed to the Super 10s’ stage, but could manage just a solitary win when they defended a 123-run target against the eventual champions West Indies.Rashid, who stepped down as captain on the eve of the World Cup, pointed out that for Afghanistan to do well this edition, the batters will have a big responsibility.”As long as you have a good total, if it is a slow track, skiddy, as a spinner it is very, very helpful because you can show your skills there and you can get the wickets. In this World Cup if you bat well, we [Afghanistan] can beat any side.”Read the interview with Rashid Khan
Leeds United go into this weekend’s set of Championship fixtures raring to go again, as Elland Road sets the stage for a showdown between Daniel Farke’s Whites and Mark Robins’ up-and-down Coventry City side.
The Sky Blues have won only once this season, and so the West Yorkshire outfit will go into the game wanting to prove to fans that they mean business, against a team that did manage to draw with Leeds last season away from home.
Largie Ramazani will hope he’s given the nod to start against Coventry this coming Saturday, after impressing with his first goal in Leeds colours in the 2-0 win over Cardiff City last time out, with other attackers such as Mateo Joseph also lively in spurts.
Ramazani & Joseph's importance to Leeds
Ramazani might well retain his space, dependent on Manor Solomon’s fitness, after announcing himself to the Leeds faithful in Wales.
His breakaway strike in the first half versus the now managerless Bluebirds broke the deadlock and allowed the away side to feel less nervy in the game, as the ex-Almeria man powered home an effort confidently after finding himself one-on-one with opposition goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
He will hope this is just the start for him donning a Whites strip, with Farke and Co hopeful he can be another tricky winger for the promotion chasers akin to the likes of Crysencio Summerville.
There will also be plenty more expected of the aforementioned Joseph this season, who found himself in and out of the 2-0 win for the most part but still managed to assist Ramazani’s crucial opener.
Games played
6
Goals scored
1
Assists
3
Shots per game
2.7
Big chances missed
2
Big chances created
4
Only managing 32 touches of the ball in total away from that important contribution, it is to be expected that Joseph – who is only still 20 years of age – isn’t the finished article just yet, but the table above suggests that he won’t be dropped for the test of Coventry on Saturday, owing to his promising numbers across the full campaign so far.
Amazingly, despite both players playing their part in Leeds’ last win on the road, their wages are still lower than one player who should be given the boot from Elland Road.
Why Leeds need to get rid of Darlow
Leeds fans must have thought the purchase of Karl Darlow last year was going to see Ilian Meslier be pushed all the way for a starting spot between the sticks, with the former Newcastle man having amassed 154 Championship games across his career, on top of featuring in 52 Premier League clashes.
Yet, the £400k move organised by Farke and the 49ers just hasn’t worked out whatsoever with the forgotten-about shot-stopper simply a bench warmer for the manager now, with his only display this season against Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup also very poor.
The nervy ‘keeper on the night would leak three goals as Leeds were comprehensively beaten by Michael Carrick’s men, with his hefty £30k-per-week wage now rightly under the microscope.
Alongside his £400k fee, Leeds have wasted £2m already on Darlow when taking into account his wage costs for all of last season too – as the fringes ‘keeper has also only made five appearances in total for the Whites, keeping zero clean sheets in the process.
In contrast, both Ramazani and Joseph take home a lesser £17.5k-per-week and £15k-per-week respectively, despite linking up in Wales to help their side go back to Elland Road with three points in hand.
It’s not just Darlow’s wage that will make for grim reading, with Patrick Bamford also raking in an outrageous £70k-per-week salary, even as Joseph gets more first team minutes now over the ageing attacker.
Leeds could look to move on the ex-Magpies man soon, therefore, with Meslier very much secure in his first-team spot away from Darlow’s woes.
£12m wasted: Farke must sell Leeds man who earns more than Gnonto
The Whites loanee must be ditched from the squad in one of the next two transfer windows.
Robbie Fowler says it is "fairly obvious" that Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will stay at Liverpool, but predicts Trent Alexander-Arnold will go.
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Liverpool stars could leave in summerFowler expects two to sign new dealsSays Alexander-Arnold likely to leaveFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Liverpool are in danger of seeing all three stars leave when their contracts expire at the end of the season. The Reds hope to convince the trio to sign contract extensions in the coming months, but Salah recently said he is in his "last six months" with the club and Alexander-Arnold is the subject of interest from Real Madrid.
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Despite the uncertainty, former Liverpool striker Fowler is confident that Salah and Van Dijk will commit to new deals. However, he believes the England right-back has his heart set on a switch to the Spanish capital.
WHAT FOWLER SAID
"My own personal point of view and it's certainly not inside information, I just think two of them will stay one of them will go and it's up to the people at home to come to their own conclusions on that," he said on
"I think it's fairly obvious, I think obviously Mo will stay and I think Virgil will stay. I love Trent as a player, I think he's probably one of the best in the world at what he does and of course I'd love him to stay but we'll see."
He later said: "He's won everything, he wants to maybe try something else. I want him to remain a Liverpool player. He's a world class player. Who knows what will happen."
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Liverpool are said to have offered a long-term contract worth a whopping £78 million ($97m) to Alexander-Arnold, though Madrid are reportedly considering a new bid to sign him in January. It remains unclear whether the club will be able to persuade him to snub the Spanish giants, or commit Salah and Van Dijk to new deals.
Having waited so long for Test debut, opener etches his name on away room board at first attempt
Alan Gardner02-Jun-2021Devon Conway has had to wait a long time for his chance in Test cricket. He moved from his native South Africa in his mid-20s to try to establish himself in a new country, then had to serve a three-year period before becoming eligible to represent New Zealand. He made his T20I debut last year and an ODI debut in March (current averages: 59.12 and 75.00), before being called into the Test squad to tour England.Once over here, there was another wait to see whether he would get his chance – finally confirmed by New Zealand’s coach, Gary Stead, a couple of days out from the Lord’s Test and made public on the eve of the match by captain Kane Williamson. Then, after finally donning the whites and walking down the steps to the middle after Williamson had won the toss, Conway waited patiently at the non-striker’s end as Tom Latham faced 18 consecutive deliveries from James Anderson and Stuart Broad.It proved well worth the wait for Conway, who finished his first day in Test cricket 136 not out, having marshalled a strong showing for New Zealand from start to finish. “It was a pretty surreal moment, I couldn’t have dreamed for a better start to my Test career,” he said afterwards.”It took maybe three or four overs to face my first ball, but I was pretty grateful for that. It gave me an opportunity to have look at the bowling from the non-striker’s end. I’ve never faced Broady and Anderson [before], so it gave me a chance to see how it was going off the wicket and get some clues from Tommy Latham. The communication was good and clear, so it gave me a chance before that first ball.”Related
'I sold my property, car, everything, because I wanted to start afresh'
Devon Conway to make Test debut at Lord's vs England
Unbeaten ton from debutant Devon Conway sets platform for New Zealand
The details of Conway’s decision to move from Gauteng, having struggled to break through from South Africa’s provincial set-up, to then churning out so many runs it was impossible for New Zealand to ignore him have been well rehearsed. But to have walked straight into the Test arena and onto the Lord’s honours board is something beyond the imaginations of most.”That [scoring a century on debut] never came across my mind,” Conway said. “Just getting a Test debut, a chance to play at this level, was all I thought about. Very happy, grateful for the opportunity from Cricket Wellington and also the Black Caps as well. A pretty special feeling, and one I certainly didn’t think about when I made that move.”When we arrived at Lord’s a couple days ago we walked into the changing room and got the opportunity to have a look at the all the legends and the names up on that honours board. Funny enough I had a conversation with Kane asking what it feels like to see your name on that board [for Williamson’s hundred at Lord’s in 2015], and the first thing he said when I went up into the changing room was ‘Now you know what it’s like, bro’. It’s pretty cool, it’s a great place and I’m grateful my name can go up there.”Besides having his name forever etched in the away dressing room, several other records fell to Conway, who was 136 not out overnight: the highest score by a debutant at Lord’s, eclipsing Sourav Ganguly’s arrival on the ground in 1996; the first overseas opener ever to score a century on debut in England; the fourth-highest score by a New Zealand debutant, with power to add.Devon Conway made an accomplished debut•Getty Images
A career No. 3, Conway said he “tried to not think it was too much different to what I’ve experienced in the past” when told he would be opening the batting alongside Latham. One thing that was different, however, was the lower bounce at Lord’s, which led to his one sustained period of difficulty against the pace of Mark Wood.”It was a challenge, because he was really digging it in. The nature of the bounce where I’ve grown up is, with that sort of length, you trust it going over the top of you and I didn’t quite realise when he digs it in that short it’s still only going to be chest or head height. Once I wore one or two on the body it was about coming up with Plan B here. The positions I was getting into was probably not ideal, so I thought just trust it and take it on. He’s pretty quick but it’s about being nice and still, being positive and making a quick decision.”Conway also showed the faith in his game gained through a 108-match first-class career that started back in 2009 to respond to the demands of the situation. After going to lunch having scored 43 out of New Zealand’s 85 for 1, he retrenched as England claimed the wickets of Williamson and Ross Taylor during the early afternoon, adding just 28 runs in the session to ensure his team’s advantage was not lost. Then, just when it seemed he could be becalmed, Conway kicked on again during the evening and needed just 22 balls to accelerate from 77 to his hundred.”The biggest thing I’ve been working on is my mindset, trying to keep positive throughout,” he said. “Last thing I want to do is get tentative, and if I’m in a look-to-score mindset, that gets me in the best positions, the decision-making is a bit clearer and that’s when I’m at my best. That might be my strength right now.”There was a lovely period from about 70 when I got balls in my areas, so I tried to stay positive. When I got to that moment I didn’t overthink it, it was about acknowledging but still sticking with the job. It’ll take a few days to sink in, but a pretty awesome day.”
It's not been the brightest of starts to the season for Everton, who have lost each of their three Premier League fixtures, the last of which stung keenly, letting a late two-goal lead slip.
Indeed, despite winning 2-0 at home to Bournemouth, having played with confidence and style, Everton inexplicably capitulated and the Cherries lashed in three strikes to send the atmosphere at Goodison Park spiralling through the floor.
It cast a black blanket over an already disappointed fanbase, having lost 3-0 and 4-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur previously, but there were positives to take from last weekend's result.
Sean Dyche and his Toffees team have been mired in the trenches before, and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin fit and firing, they might just have the firepower to shoot away from the relegation fodder this season.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin's resurgence
Calvert-Lewin, of course, will need to stay fit, something that he has not done with consistency over the past several years.
2024/25
3 (3)
1
1
2023/24
32 (26)
7
2
2022/23
17 (15)
2
1
2021/22
17 (15)
5
2
2020/21
33 (32)
16
1
2019/20
36 (30)
13
1
2018/19
35 (19)
6
2
2017/18
32 (18)
4
5
2016/17
11 (5)
1
0
Not including the current fledgling campaign, Calvert-Lewin has only started over half the fixtures in the Premier League season on three of eight attempts.
But when he's on top, he's on top. The 11-cap England international has scored 55 goals across 216 Premier League appearances and is regarded for his physicality and quality as the focal frontman.
Last season, he enjoyed a revival that saw him feature across 32 top-flight fixtures, lacking his former prolificness but finding his feet toward the end, posting four goals and an assist across the final seven fixtures as Dyche's outfit clicked into gear.
It's important to put things in perspective. Four matches into the 2023/24 season, Everton had lost their opening three top-flight fixtures while defeating Doncaster Rovers in the second round of the Carabao Cup, identical to present results.
Everton also finished comfortably in 15th place, and had they not suffered an eight-point deduction, they would have finished 12th.
Calvert-Lewin's late-season resurgence proved vital in hitting a winning patch of form and steering away from the dreaded drop zone. The Athletic's Patrick Boyland even remarked that he looked "like the DCL of old" following a commanding display against Liverpool.
Everton have bolstered their No. 9 spot by signing Armando Broja on loan from Chelsea with the option to make the deal permanent for £30m next summer, but Calvert-Lewin's early-season form, scoring a goal and an assist apiece already, suggests that he could take some shifting from the starting spearhead spot.
He will need to juggle the workload, however, for an extended layoff could prove to be ruinous for Dyche and his plans. Everton could do with another dynamic attacking presence – Broja, aged 22, is talented but scored only two goals across 27 matches last year.
Chelsea striker Armando Broja.
Casting our mind back, Everton could definitely make good use of two former players, namely Anthony Gordon and Ademola Lookman, who have both shot to the upper echelon of the world's pantheon of players.
The latter, in particular, might just be the biggest regret when it comes to player departures.
How Gordon compared to Lookman in 2023/24
Atalanta superstar Lookman once plied his trade in Merseyside blue, signing from Charlton Athletic for a fee rising to £11m way back in January 2017.
A versatile winger with a love for scoring, he's one of Everton's brightest attacking talents of the past decade, with Gordon another to have carried high potential throughout his early days at the club before being sold and since realising his potential elsewhere.
Gordon was sold to Newcastle United for £45m in January 2023, and while the England international has since gone from strength to strength and been the subject of interest from Liverpool, who eyed a £75m deal this summer, Lookman would give him a good run for his money in claiming the tag of the player at the higher point.
Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon
It's quite simple really; after all, Gordon isn't on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, is he? He also posted 12 goals and 11 assists across all competitions last season for the Toon, winning their Player of the Year award. But alas, Lookman trumped him – and won gold during his continental campaign besides.
Indeed, Lookman's tally of 32 goals for the Bergamo-based outfit to date is more than Gordon has achieved in his entire senior career, with the Englishman netting just 21 times for the Toffees and the Magpies, respectively.
Still only 26 years old, the Nigerian forward has plenty yet to give but has recently hit the pinnacle of his career, scoring an emphatic hat-trick against previously invincible Bayer Leverkusen in last term's Europa League final to hand the Serie A side their first-ever European title.
He joined as a teenager, and this 19-year-old prospect carried exciting qualities under both Ronald Koeman and then Sam Allardyce but failed to bring it together on English shores, despite scoring on his debut against Manchester City's Pep Guardiola.
Indeed, in total, four goals across 48 matches were registered for the Blues, but his talent was recognised by Germany's RB Leipzig, who signed him for £22.5m in July 2019 during Marco Silva's time at the helm, after enjoying his performances on loan in 2017/18 – where he scored five goals and added four assists across just 11 outings in the Bundesliga.
Now playing for Atalanta, he's positively exploded. Last year, Lookman bagged 17 goals and ten assists across 45 matches in all competitions to outshine Gordon's return, now honoured with a nomination for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
And why not? On top of his extraordinary performance on one of the biggest nights in Atalanta's storied history, he has maintained a fierce threat throughout, ranking among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.
Such a meteoric rise has even earned the £38k-per-week talent a summer of interest from high-profile suitors such as Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, though Italian sources' suggestions that Atalanta were looking for a €70m (£59m) figure appears to have dissuaded the interested parties.
This transfer price means that Lookman is worth more than any of Everton's forwards. Calvert-Lewin was pursued by Newcastle United in the summer but the Magpies were put off by Everton's demands of £40m earlier in the summer.
Ademola Lookman for Atalanta
Of course, Lookman's post-Toffees career has been cardinal for his development; remaining on Merseyside, he may not have found the gusto to propel him to the 2024 Ballon d'Or candidate list or hit such a value, having now become an undoubted "superstar", as per 90min's Sean Walsh.
But one can't help but rue the failure of Silva and Co to keep a hold of him and ignite his career. Given that the likes of PSG and Arsenal hold a vested interest, it's clear that quite the pretty penny could have been fetched.
Everton have hit the jackpot on "monster" who's worth more than Broja
The Chelsea forward has joined on loan with an option to buy for £30m…
Manchester United were latest team to fall victim to the Gunners' set-piece prowess, which could give them an edge in the title race
Arsenal are the set-piece kings of the Premier League. Mikel Arteta's men cemented that standing on Wednesday as Jurrien Timber and William Saliba both scored from corner routines to wrap up a hard-fought 2-0 home win over Manchester United, which saw them close the gap on Liverpool at the top of the table to seven points.
For the first 50 minutes of the game, United stifled the Gunners while sticking to new manager Ruben Amorim's compact 3-4-3 formation, and the atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium fell flat. But Arsenal always have a Plan B to fall back on.
Once the dead-ball deliveries started raining down, United were left completely overwhelmed, and in the end, they were fortunate not to lose by a far wider margin. They are not the first side to buckle under that pressure, though, and won't be the last.
No other team in Europe can match Arsenal's total of 22 goals from set-pieces since the start of last season; it's a unique strength that ensures they are never out of a game. But some consider the approach to be a form of anti-football.
"Arsenal is the new Stoke City, right?" Dimitar Berbatov said while covering the game as a pundit for . "Depending on set-pieces to give you the win." They were, however, bitter and unfair words from an ex-United striker.
Arsenal should not be written off as one-dimensional; Arteta is simply covering all bases to try and deliver the club's first league title in 20 years.
Getty Images Sport'Impossible to defend'
Every time Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka walked over to the corner flag, you could sense the fear among the United squad. The routine always starts the same way: four or five of Arsenal's most physically imposing players line up on the far side of the six-yard area, before crowding around the opposition goalkeeper like bees being drawn to honey as the ball is swung in.
Andre Onana was completely helpless on both Arsenal goals, with Timber nodding home the first at the United keeper's front post, and Saliba turning the ball into the net for their second after a deep corner from Saka found Thomas Partey. The Gunners constantly mixed it up with their delivery, and put blockers in place that made it very difficult for United to win first and second balls.
Amorim tried a zonal marking system to combat the threat, which backfired. But plenty of other teams have opted to go man-for-man, and the result has been the same.
"As coaches, when we prepare these strategies, you know what the opposition are going to do," Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, who previously managed in the Premier League at Wigan and Everton, said on the panel. "The uniqueness of Arsenal's work is that they always find a little trick that makes things impossible to defend if the delivery is right."
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Over the last two seasons, 25 percent of Arsenal's 119 Premier League goals have come from set-pieces – as per . However, that record is still inferior to Tony Pulis' Stoke, whose ratio reached a staggering 43% between 2008 and 2013.
The Potters were masters at maximising every corner and free-kick opportunity, but their main weapon was Rory Delap – who became known as the ultimate long-throw-in specialist. It was rare for Stoke to try and score from open play; they relied purely on physicality to accumulate points.
Arteta does not want his Arsenal to be tarred with the same brush. “We want to be very dangerous and very effective from every angle and every phase of play,” he said after the United win. “Last year we scored the most goals in the history of this football club, not because of only set-pieces but because of a lot of things that we have. We want to create individual and magic moments, too.”
Getty'Most annoying bloke in football'
Set-pieces should be considered part of Arsenal's "magic". The Gunners are getting so much success because of the countless hours spent refining their process on the training ground, with set-piece coach Nico Jover having an especially profound impact on Rice, who set up Timber's goal against United.
"When you go up for a corner it's a chance to score a goal, so to score both of them from corners, Nico will be buzzing and I'm so happy," Rice said. "Seeing clips, I know the weight I need to put on the ball and it's just about repetition. I put a few good balls in and could've had a couple of assists, so it was nice to get one."
Jover takes Arteta's place on the edge of the touchline whenever Arsenal win set-pieces high up the pitch, barking instructions to Rice and Saka as well as the runners in the penalty area. United legend Gary Neville described the Frenchman as "the most annoying bloke in football" during a watch-along special for 'The Overlap' podcast, which reflected the jealousy brewing throughout the whole league.
Arsenal now have an advantage over their rivals because of Jover's innovative methods, but Arteta is adamant that their collaboration does not centre solely around dead balls. "We share a very clear vision about how we want to put everything together," the Arsenal boss said at his pre-match press conference. "It's not about open play or set-pieces, it's how everything is connected, aligned and can work efficiently in our team."
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(C)Getty ImagesPerennial entertainers
Arsenal can hurt opponents in so many ways; set-pieces is just one of them. Arteta's side warmed up for United by thrashing Nottingham Forest, Sporting CP and West Ham, scoring 13 goals across those three games, and some of their football was a joy to behold.
When the likes of Saka, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are firing on all cylinders, Arsenal are almost impossible to stop. There is a ferocious intensity to all of their work on and off the ball, while Arteta also encourages self-expression to open up defences.
"A lot of players can create their own goals," he said in midweek. "We can create goals from short counters and long counters, slow build-ups, restarts and the opportunity to open up the opposition. Every single phase of play let’s maximise it, keep working on it, keep improving."
Arsenal can outplay any team on their day, and are deservedly revered as English football's perennial entertainers. But that's not enough to win titles. Arteta knows that, which is why he has embraced a variety of different styles over the last two seasons.
Leeds United have less than a week to prepare for their opening day clash with Portsmouth in the Championship at Elland Road on Saturday.
They will be lining up without the league's reigning Player of the Year after Crysencio Summerville's transfer to West Ham United was officially confirmed on Saturday.
The Whites have cashed in on Archie Gray, who moved to Tottenham Hotspur, and Glen Kamara, who left to sign for Rennes, alongside the Dutch forward during the summer transfer window so far.
Daniel Farke has, however, been able to bring in Joe Rodon, Alex Cairns, Jayden Bogle, and Joe Rothwell to bolster his squad across the pitch.
There is still a number of weeks left before the window slams shut for business and this means that Leeds could make further signings to improve the team, with the aim of building a side that is ready to compete for promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.
The West Yorkshire outfit are reportedly looking to make another addition to their midfield ranks as they target a youngster from the top-flight.
Leeds register interest in Premier League teen
According to Football Insider, Leeds have registered a formal interest in Liverpool central midfielder Bobby Clark as they look to land the teenage starlet this summer.
The report claims that the Whites have made a move to sign the England U20 international on a season-long loan from the Premier League giants.
It states that Liverpool are more likely to sanction a loan exit from the talented whiz, rather than allowing him to leave permanently, amid interest from Austrian side RB Salzburg.
Bobby Clark for Liverpool
Football Insider adds that fellow Championship teams Sheffield United and Norwich City are also interested in signing Clark on a season-long loan.
Both clubs are said to be preparing formal offers to land the midfield whiz and it may come down to where Liverpool feel his development is best served.
However, it remains to be seen where the Reds would prefer him to go or where the player himself sees himself playing in the 2024/25 campaign.
This means that it is unclear as to how likely Leeds are to win the race for his services before the summer transfer window slams shut at the end of this month.
If the Whites can come out on top and bring the former Newcastle United youngster to Elland Road, though, then he could be Farke's own version of Mateusz Klich.
Why Mateusz Klich was a key player for Leeds
Marcelo Bielsa's arrival in Yorkshire in the summer of 2018 was a blessing for the club and the players, none more so than the Polish central midfielder.
He had spent the second half of the previous campaign on loan with FC Utrecht in the Netherlands after mustering up just five Championship appearances in the first half.
Bielsa came through the door ahead of the 2018/19 season and clearly saw something he liked in Klich, as the midfield battler was immediately made a key player for him.
Starts
46
Goals
10
Assists
8
Big chances created
9
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.1
As you can see in the table above, the Polish ace started every single game in the regular season before the Whites missed out on promotion via the play-offs.
The right-footed maestro chipped in with 18 direct goal contributions along the way as he showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a midfield role.
Klich followed that up with six goals and five assists in 45 appearances as Leeds won the Championship title the following term, which shows that he remained an important member of the team during a promotion season.
It was then a question of whether or not he could handle the step up to the Premier League and the Poland international answered that in emphatic fashion, with four goals and five assists in 35 outings as the Whites landed a top-half finish in the division.
Overall, the central midfielder, who now plays for D.C United in the MLS, was a key player during the peak years of Bielsa's reign due to his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from midfield – providing a big attacking threat from that role.
Why Bobby Clark could be Mateusz Klich 2.0
Clark could come in as Farke's own version of Klich, as an attacking force from a midfield position, if he can enjoy a breakthrough season at first-team level after a smattering of senior appearances for Liverpool last term.
The 19-year-old star, who is reportedly valued at £12m by the Reds, has played 14 games for the Premier League giants and chipped in with one goal and two assists.
Bobby Clark in action for Premier League club Liverpool.
He caught the eye with one goal and one assist in two Europa League outings for Jurgen Klopp, which showed that the quality is there for him to impact matches at a high level.
Clark, who was described as "exciting" by reporter Lee Ryder, has the ability to make things happen at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position, which is also evidenced by his superb form for Liverpool's academy teams.
Appearances
27
37
14
Goals
13
5
1
Assists
5
6
2
As you can see in the table above, the Leeds target racked up 18 goals and 11 assists for the club's U18 and U21 sides combined as a central midfielder.
This shows that he loves to get forward to make a difference in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals, just like Klich did for the Whites under Bielsa.
It would be a gamble of a move from Leeds, however, as Clark has yet to prove his quality on a consistent basis at first-team level to date, but Klopp handing him plenty of opportunities last term speaks to his potential – as the German boss clearly deemed him ready to play in the Premier League and the Europa League.
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It is now down to the club and Farke to convince Liverpool and Clark that a move to Elland Road is the best next step in his development for the 2024/25 campaign.