There is still a long way to go, but this season really is shaping up to be a spectacular one for Arsenal.

Thanks to their wins over Bournemouth and Aston Villa and Manchester City’s draws with Sunderland and Chelsea, Mikel Arteta’s side are now six points clear in the Premier League.

Moreover, with players returning from injury, there is an expectation that the Gunners will only get better as the campaign progresses.

As if that wasn’t enough for Arsenal fans, the club could also have the chance to sign a longterm target in the summer, someone who’d be an upgrade on the inform Leandro Trossard.

Arsenal handed chance to sign Trossard upgrade

While there are a few players who have underwhelmed for Arsenal so far this season, there are more who have seriously impressed.

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The likes of Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, and Bukayo Saka, for example, are playing like men possessed, but perhaps the most improved player of all has been Trossard.

The Belgian wasn’t bad last year, but he has been playing at an unbelievable level so far this season, constantly popping up with goals and assists when the team need him most.

However, he could still find his game time reduced somewhat next season as the Gunners may soon be handed the chance to sign a long-term target who’d be an upgrade on the 31-year-old.

At least that is according to reports from France, which claim that Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola could be on the move in the summer.

Speaking on Ici, L’Équipe journalist Loic Tanzi said, “I think that Barcola will be a real topic next summer, to leave Paris Saint-Germain.”

This could be music to Arsenal’s ears, as just last month the North Londoners were credited with strong interest in the game-changing winger.

It could be a hugely expensive deal to get done, though, with reports from last summer stating that the Parisian side value their star at around €100m, which is about £86m.

Even so, if there is any chance Arsenal can sign Barcola this year, they should take it, as he could be a game-changing addition and a serious upgrade on Trossard.

How Barcola compares to Trossard

Now, one of Barcola’s many strengths is the ability to play on both flanks if needed.

However, like Trossard, his primary position is on the left, and based on current form, the Belgian would be his primary competitor for game time at Arsenal.

So, which winger comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when looking at their raw output from the start of last season to today, it’s the Frenchman who comes out ahead.

For example, in this period, he has scored 26 goals and provided 24 assists in 86 appearances, totalling 5301 minutes.

This comes out to an incredible average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 106.02 minutes, which lends plenty of credence to analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he’s “one of the best left-wingers in Europe.”

In contrast, the former Brighton & Hove Albion star has scored 17 goals and provided 16 assists in 79 appearances, totalling 4783 minutes.

This comes out to a less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.39 games, or every 144.93 minutes.

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Okay, what about their underlying numbers? Who comes out looking better when we take a look under the hood?

Barcola vs Trossard

Statistics per 90

Barcola

Trossard

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.65

0.52

Progressive Passes

4.22

4.12

Progressive Carries

4.56

3.19

Shots on Target

1.90

0.76

Passing Accuracy

83.9%

71.8%

Key Passes

2.11

1.76

Shot-Creating Actions

4.35

3.71

Goal-Creating Actions

0.67

0.34

Tackles Won

0.78

0.76

Successful Take-Ons

2.11

0.76

All Stats via FBref for the 25/26 League Season

Well, rather unsurprisingly, it’s once again the PSG gem.

The 23-year-old does better in almost every single metric, including things like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, key passes, passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Trossard is a great player and has been nothing short of brilliant so far this season.

However, Barcola would clearly be an upgrade, and therefore, if Arsenal have the chance to sign him this year, they should take it.

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Manchester United have enjoyed a mixed campaign in the Premier League this term and have now identified a potential replacement for Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.

Manchester United's stalemate with Wolves shows need for signings

Despite keeping pace in the race for European football, Manchester United’s draw with Wolves earlier in the week was a stark reminder that arrivals are necessary for Amorim to succeed at Old Trafford.

Admittedly, the Red Devils were depleted to some extent. Still, Gary Neville blasted the former Sporting boss for taking off goalscorer Joshua Zirkzee at half-time after his effort opened the scoring on another night that left more questions than answers for many.

He said: “He’ll point to injuries and AFCON. But every team is in a similar situation. I’m not sure what happened with Zirkzee. If he’s not injured, it’s a bizarre substitution to make.”

Now, Manchester United will prepare for quickfire fixtures against Leeds United and Burnley. However, there is a patent obviousness that new arrivals are needed to address squad depth issues now that the January window is open.

England international Conor Gallagher may arrive from Atletico Madrid to bolster the Red Devils’ dwindling midfield options. Manuel Ugarte could be the one to make way, while Al-Hilal star Ruben Neves is another option to explore this month.

Finances are likely to be available as INEOS aim to bring Manchester United back into a cycle of regular continental qualification. Nevertheless, there is work to do if they are to stay on course amid a tightly packed schedule over the coming months.

Either way, Amorim hasn’t enjoyed a linear ascent in the Old Trafford dugout and could eventually be replaced, according to reports.

Andoni Iraola could swap Bournemouth for Manchester United

According to CaughtOffside, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola could replace Amorim at Manchester United should the latter decide to make a change in the dugout after being identified as a candidate on a three-man shortlist.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and former Barcelona man Xavi are also in the mix if the Red Devils choose to act, illustrating that there is a plan in place should results take a downward turn over the months to come.

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Described as “one of the best in the league” by scout Ben Mattinson, he’s been earning plaudits for his success within a 4-2-3-1 system. Iraola has claimed an average of 1.34 points per Premier League match since arriving at the Cherries, winning 33, drawing 28 and losing 34 of his 95 clashes in the hotseat.

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Performing above expectations, his footballing philosophy has been picked up on within the corridors of power at Old Trafford. However, it remains to be seen how long Amorim will be given to convince his doubters.

Manchester United are a club adamant on moving forward as they continue to follow Amorim’s process. Albeit, you get the feeling some inside the building want to get back where they belong sooner rather than later.

West Ham United are interested in a deal to bring Alex Scott to the London Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by ExWHUemployee, with the club insider revealing on a recent episode of The West Ham Way podcast that David Moyes has sent scouts to watch the Bristol City midfielder in action at Ashton Gate this season, ahead of a potential swoop for the 18-year-old this summer.

Speaking about the Hammers’ interest in the England U19 international, Ex said: “Alex Scott who plays for Bristol City, he’s a midfielder. He’s only 18, but he’s been labelled the next Grealish – the Guernsey Grealish someone said in a report when I looked him up after I was given [his name].”

The next Grealish

Considering just how impressive Scott has been for the Robins so far this season, it is not difficult to understand why Moyes would be interested in a swoop for the midfielder this summer, nor why the 18-year-old is already drawing comparisons to the £72m-rated Manchester City and England star Jack Grealish.

Indeed, despite Bristol City’s struggles in the league this term, the £270k-rated sensation has been in breathtaking form over his 26 Championship appearances, scoring three goals, registering two assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.8 shots, making one key pass and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

The central midfielder who Jon Lansdown dubbed a “real talent” has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.4 interceptions, 1.5 tackles and winning five duels – at a success rate of 53% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the £2.5k-per-week teenager average a quite astonishing SofaScore match rating of 6.97, ranking him as Nigel Pearson’s fifth-best player in the second tier of English football.

As such, it is easy to see why Bristol City’s player pathway manager, Brian Tinnion, believes Scott is “one of the top young talents in the country”, with the 53-year-old stating of the youngster: “His work rate and his desire to learn has been unbelievable.

“He has been taken in very well by the senior lads, they know he’s got the quality to play with them. He has every single attribute you would want in a professional footballer. He can tackle, he’s great with both feet, he can head the ball, his delivery is good and his overall quality is great. He lets his football do the talking and he’s getting better all the time.”

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So, considering the sheer amount of potential Scott quite clearly possesses, it would indeed appear an extremely wise move for the West Ham board to sanction a swoop for the 18-year-old this summer, as, under the management of Moyes, the Bristol City sensation could well go on to become the Premier League’s next Grealish.

In other news: Moyes can form deadly duo as WHU plot bargain £17m swoop for 25 y/o “creative leader”

Wolves have been rather active during the transfer windows over the past few years since Fosun took charge of the club back in July 2016, both in terms of bringing new players to the club and moving some on elsewhere.

One player that left the Midlands club on a permanent basis in recent years that can now be seen as a good decision from the Old Gold is Ivan Cavaleiro, who made the move to Fulham in the 2020 January transfer window in a deal worth around £15m.

The Molineux outfit originally signed the Portuguese attacker from French club AS Monaco in August 2016 for a fee of £7m before eventually loaning him out to the west London club in the summer of 2019.

During his time as a Wolves player, the 28-year-old managed to score 19 goals and provide 20 assists in 106 appearances across all competitions.

Since joining Fulham, the winger’s attacking prowess seems to have depleted somewhat with just 11 goals scored and eight assists provided in 101 appearances.

This could be why his overall market value has also decreased since leaving Wolves. In June 2019, Transfermarkt rated his market value listed at £9m whereas it now stands at just £4.05m, showing a whopping decrease of 55%.

Despite Fulham’s impressive season in the Championship with 21 wins out of a possible 33, things haven’t been particularly positive for the former Wolves attacker from an individual point of view either.

WhoScored have given him an overall performance rating of only 6.52/10, making him the second-lowest rated player to start more than one league game.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that not only did Jeff Shi make the right decision in letting the £24k-per-week Cavaleiro join Marco Silva’s side but also how well they did by receiving a transfer fee bigger than what they had originally paid for him.

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Having been slammed for his “pathetic” actions in trying to get Cardiff City player Perry Ng sent off during Fulham’s recent 1-0 win against the Welsh club by Steve Morison, it’s not hard to say that the winger wouldn’t have been a big miss for Wolves this season, even though scoring goals hasn’t been their strong point in this campaign.

In other news: Journo drops Molineux claim that “Wolves won’t want to hear”, fans will be sweating – opinion 

Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes Leeds United will not want to lose chief executive Angus Kinnear, GiveMeSport report.

The Lowdown: Resign claims

It has been a period of change at Elland Road in recent weeks, with Jesse Marsch coming in to replace Marcelo Bielsa as head coach.

There could well be more exits to come behind the scenes, with insider sources at the club suggesting Kinnear will resign at the end of the season.

There have also been rumours regarding director of football Victor Orta departing over the coming months, with the San Francisco 49ers having the option to buy the club in full by January 2024.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s comments

Talking to GiveMeSport regarding Kinnear after the resignation claims, O’Rourke had this to say.

“Angus Kinnear has done a good job in the background at Leeds United, so they wouldn’t want to lose him as well as Bielsa in a matter of months.

“Maybe that might point to more influence from the 49ers and the American side of things as well.”

The Verdict: Would be a blow

Phil Hay has previously claimed that the San Francisco 49ers’ want to keep Kinnear and Orta on board after they have taken full control, ruling out O’Rourke’s claim regarding American influence.

Kinnear has played his part in transforming the Whites from a mid-table Championship club to a Premier League side off the field, along with Orta, owner Andrea Radrizzani and Bielsa.

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He’s also highly thought of by the 49ers’, so should he resign over the coming months, it would prove to be a big blow going forward, especially as we are unsure what division Leeds will be playing in next season.

In other news: Phil Hay drops huge Leeds news from Thorp Arch before Villa. 

Football.London reporter Alasdair Gold has delivered an exciting claim involving Spurs striker Kion Etete.

What’s the story?

During a Q&A on Reddit, Gold said: “There are huge hopes for Scarlett as long as he keeps his head down and keeps working hard. Parrott is having a really good season of development at MK Dons and keep an eye on Kion Etete, who is tearing it up at Cheltenham.

“I think Spurs will buy a striker though this summer to support Kane and it’s down to those three to fight it out to provide another option.”

Could be Spurs’ future

After clinching Etete’s signing on loan, Cheltenham manager Michael Duff said: “He has been out on a successful loan (with Northampton Town). He’s 6 foot 4 inches, runs in behind, can hold it up, we think he’s a good young player, so we’re delighted to have him. He came on the radar in the summer but we weren’t quite sure he was ready for League One.”

When you look at the 20-year-old’s start for the Robins, it’s clear to see that he hasbags of ability and potential.

In just eight games in League One, he has come up with five goal contributions (two goals and three assists) and started seven times, clearly earning the trust of his manager very quickly after his debut.

Indeed, Gold has even previously hinted about Etete potentially becoming an option who Antonio Conte considers back at Spurs when he returns from his loan spell in the summer.

The journalist said: “He’s one who’s maybe going under the radar slightly, but I think I’ve always kind of felt with him – that his physical build, his stature, he’s a big guy – if he comes back and he’s had a cracking second half of the season at Cheltenham, Conte might have a little look at him in the summer. And he might think, you know what, he’s a different kind of option.”

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Either way, Etete appears to be a very exciting prospect for the future.

AND in other news – Sold for £18m, now worth under £1m: Levy played a blinder with shocking Spurs disaster

Leeds United were offered the chance to sign Donny van de Beek in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Beren Cross, with the Leeds Live journalist revealing in a recent Q&A that the Whites were offered the services of both Manchester United’s Van de Beek and Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Winks this winter, however, Marcelo Bielsa turned both players down.

When asked about Leeds’ January transfer window, Cross said: “In January, players were certainly offered to Bielsa in the form of Van de Beek and Winks, but [Bielsa] declined them. I would say [not signing players] was largely led by Bielsa because of the squad size he likes to retain, but he also maintained he was happy to have new players if they were better than what he already had.”

Marsch will be fuming

While it is true that, following his £35m move to Old Trafford back in September of 2020, Van de Beek has somewhat struggled to find any real level of consistency in his performances, it is undeniable that the 24-year-old would have made a fantastic addition to Jesse Marsch’s current options in attacking midfield – particularly following Tyler Roberts’ season-ending hamstring tendon injury.

Indeed, the £22.5m-rated dynamo proved his true ability over 23 Eredivisie appearances during his final season at Ajax back in 2019/20, scoring eight goals, providing five assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots and making 1.8 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £120k-per-week attacker earn a quite astonishing seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.32, ranking him as the joint 12th-best player in the top-flight of Dutch football that year.

The same season, the Netherlands international was in equally impressive form over his five Champions League outings, bagging two goals, registering one assist and creating two big chances, in addition to taking an average of 1.6 shots and making 1.6 key passes per fixture.

These metrics saw the man Frank Lampard dubbed a “top-level player” average a remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.32, ranking him as Erik ten Hag’s fourth-best performer in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

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As such, the argument that Van de Beek would not have improved the current Leeds side would be an extremely difficult one to make, leading us to believe that Bielsa’s decision to turn down a move for the 24-year-old playmaker in the January transfer window will be a call that will have left Marsch fuming.

AND in other news: Marsch can find Leeds’ next “wrecking ball” in 16 y/o prodigy who “should be revising”

Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp is no closer to making a return from injury, The Evening Standard have reported.

The Lowdown: Skipp’s absence

The 21-year-old had been a regular when fit this season, making 28 appearances in all competitions. However, he hasn’t featured since February due to a groin problem which has ruled him out of Spurs’ last 11 games.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-copy/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Antonio Conte was hoping to have the midfielder available for the match against Newcastle following the international break, but that now looks unlikely.

The Latest: Skipp still sidelined

The Evening Standard shared a story on Monday, looking at both Ben Davies and Skipp. The former recently pulled out of the Wales squad as a precaution after feeling tightness in his quad during a 2-1 win over Austria.

He could well make the clash with Newcastle, but the report added that Skipp’s hopes of being fit for the meeting with Eddie Howe’s side on Sunday are ‘all but over’ as he is yet to return to training.

The Verdict: Caution needed

Skipp’s complicated injury is thought to be the result of playing so much football over the past 18 months. Therefore, when the 21-year-old is available for selection, Conte could decide to be careful with the midfielder.

Spurs’ medical chiefs can use Leeds star Patrick Bamford as a perfect example of too much too soon, with the striker suffering a recurrence of a foot problem which will now keep him out for a further six weeks.

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Nobody at Tottenham will want that to happen with Skipp, so caution will be required over the coming weeks.

In other news: Journalist now makes Paulo Dybala to Spurs claim

Speaking on Friday ahead of the West Midlands derby against Aston Villa, Wolves manager Bruno Lage revealed that all of his players have come back fit and ready from the international break.

What’s the latest?

During the press conference on Friday ahead of today’s clash at Molineux, the 45-year-old said: “Everyone came back with good news from national teams because every player [involved in qualifying] got to the World Cup, and we are just waiting for Tony Roberts and Wales, because they didn’t play, I think they will play in the first days of June, but everyone else will go to the World Cup.

“It was good news and it was a good environment yesterday because everyone came back with the good news. I was happy because I was supporting everyone, so I was happy for them because qualifying for a World Cup is a big moment for everyone.”

Delight for Wolves

Lage’s comments about his players returning from international duty will surely leave the Wolves faithful delighted ahead of today’s derby encounter.

The manager, and indeed supporters of the Old Gold, may well have spent the last fortnight sweating on the fortunes of every player who had flown out to represent their countries, as Lage was already trying to cope with several standout absences.

Raul Jimenez is suspended for the next two matches after his second red card of the season against Leeds in Wolves’ last outing, while the same night saw Ruben Neves incur a knee injury which could have ended his campaign prematurely. Nelson Semedo and Pedro Neto are also doubtful for the visit of Steven Gerrard’s side this afternoon.

The importance of the first two players in particular cannot be overstated. The Mexican has been the team’s top scorer in league action with six goals, also providing three assists for good measure, while WhoScored rank Neves as the squad’s second-best performer when players to start two games or fewer are disregarded.

With Villa having almost a fully-fit squad at their disposal, Lage could not have afforded any further setbacks during the international break, particularly with his team losing three of their last four matches to leave their hopes of European qualification in doubt.

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Therefore, he and the Molineux faithful will be relieved and delighted to have made it through the break with a clean bill of health for everyone who had been in international action over the past fortnight.

In other news – Lage could finally unearth Wolves’ new Diogo Jota in “unpredictable” £33m speedster

West Ham are reportedly clear favourites to sign a forward who manager Nuno Espírito Santo believes could be a crucial addition to the squad.

West Ham poised for pivotal January as Fullkrug nears Milan move

The Hammers and AC Milan are currently putting the finishing touches on Niclas Fullkrug’s loan move to AC Milan, which will include a buy option, not an obligation, worth around £12 million.

This comes as West Ham urgently scour the market for forward reinforcements, with Nuno’s side trapped in the relegation zone and desperately short of goals heading into the January window.

The Hammers currently sit in the bottom three in the Premier League table with their attacking options looking worryingly thin after Fullkrug made clear his desire to leave the London Stadium.

Veteran striker Callum Wilson, who’s been in great form recently, provides cover alongside young prospect Callum Marshall, but neither represents a long-term solution for a club fighting for survival.

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Nuno knows January represents a critical window to address their goalscoring woes before it condemns them to the Championship, alongside their leaky backline.

Norwich City forward Josh Sargent has emerged as a primary target according to recent reports, with the American international offering both experience in England and physical presence.

The 25-year-old reportedly appeals to West Ham’s hierarchy after expensive overseas signings repeatedly failed to adapt to English football’s demands.

In terms of targets abroad, Serie A could be a fruitful talent pool.

Roma’s Artem Dovbyk, who finished the 2023/2024 campaign as La Liga’s top goalscorer during his time at Girona, is reportedly a target for West Ham alongside Fiorentina star Moise Kean.

Former Wolves winger Adama Traore also features on Nuno’s wishlist with the manager keen to reunite with a player he coached previously at Molineux.

Sources suggest Traore’s lack of game time at Fulham could facilitate a January move, though Wolves are also monitoring the situation.

Adama Traoré 'expected to complete' West Ham move in January

That is according to insider Claret & Hugh, who report this week that Traore is ‘expected to complete a move’ to West Ham in January ahead of the Old Gold.

Fulham are keen to recoup a fee for the 29-year-old before his contract expires next summer, making a January sale increasingly likely.

Wolves and manager Rob Edwards are considering a loan deal with either an obligation or an option to buy depending on whether the club find themselves in the Championship come season’s end.

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West Ham face similar relegation concerns, but Nuno remains particularly determined to reunite with Traore after working successfully with him before.

The Portuguese also views his former winger as an ‘important’ addition to his struggling squad.

Traore has started just one Premier League game for Fulham this season and turns 30 in January, making regular first-team football his priority as he enters the latter stages of his career.

Currently earning around £65,000-per-week, the Spaniard will likely accept reduced wages to secure the move.

If the transfer materialises, Traore would provide depth on the right wing, though Nuno may even also explore deploying him as a striker given West Ham’s desperate need for attacking options.

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