Manchester United are now seriously considering a move for a “lightning quick” Paris Saint-Germain star, with a surprise Marcus Rashford swap deal on the cards.
Rashford tearing it up on loan at Barcelona
Rashford has really managed to kick on since joining Barcelona on loan in the summer, amassing six goals and ten assists in all competitions, but it has recently emerged that the forward isn’t expected to make his stay at the Camp Nou permanent.
The Englishman is likely to have plenty of options to choose from next summer, however, with it being revealed Chelsea have held talks over a potential deal, while Tottenham Hotspur are determined to win the race for the 28-year-old’s signature and give him a leading role.
It is difficult to envisage a way back for the United academy graduate at Old Trafford, given his sour relationship with Ruben Amorim, and it has now been revealed the manager could get him off the books in a different way at the end of the season.
According to a report from Spain, Man United are now seriously considering signing PSG forward Bradley Barcola, and a surprise swap deal is possible, with Rashford potentially set to be sent in the opposite direction.
Barcola’s negotiations with the French club over a new contract have now stalled, which could open the door for a move to Old Trafford, although his current employers are very reluctant to sanction a departure.
With a market value of around €70m (£61m), a deal for the Frenchman would be on the expensive side, but there are indications he could be worth every penny…
"Lightning quick" Barcola impressing in Ligue 1 and Europe
Hailed as “lightning quick” by journalist Raj Chohan, the PSG star has put in some top performances in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League this season, regularly contributing with goals and assists.
Competition
Appearances
Goal contributions
Ligue 1
12
6
Champions League
5
2
The 23-year-old also played a major role in the French side winning the Champions League for the first time last season, chipping in with three goals and four assists in 17 appearances.
Man United appear to have recruited well in the summer, with new forward Matheus Cunha grabbing an assist in the 4-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, while Bryan Mbeumo already has six Premier League goals to his name.
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However, with the Red Devils looking to return to Europe next season, they may need more depth in attacking areas, and Barcola could be a brilliant addition to Amorim’s squad, so they should definitely try to negotiate a swap deal involving Rashford.
Since taking the job over five years ago, Mikel Arteta has helped to transform Arsenal.
He’s taken the club from one languishing in mid-table looking downwards to one that’s a genuine contender in every competition they take part in.
However, he has had to make numerous unpopular and difficult decisions during his tenure, such as terminating Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract in 2022.
It was the right thing to do, but it’s impossible to deny that the team could have used someone as prolific as he once was over the last few years, which could explain reports linking them to a certain attacker from the continent.
Arsenal target free-scoring forward
As things stand, this summer is shaping up to be quite exciting for Arsenal.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The club have already announced the signings of Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke.
Moreover, Spanish centre-back Cristhian Mosquera is set to be announced any day now, and Andrea Berta and Co seem to be finally nearing the end of their hunt for Viktor Gyokeres.
Arsenal manager MikelArteta
And yet, the Premier League runners-up don’t appear to be done yet, as they’re now looking at another prolific attacker from Europe, someone who could be Arteta’s new Aubameyang.
Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are one of several teams interested in Ademola Lookman.
The report has revealed that the Gunners have enquired about the player, who is also a target for Inter Milan.
While the competition could be a problem, the money involved is unlikely to be, with the report revealing that Atalanta want just £43m for their star attacker.
Ademola Lookman for Atalanta
It’s still a sizable sum of money, but given Lookman’s ability and record, one worth paying, especially as he could be Arsenal’s new Auba.
Why Lookman could be Arteta's new Auba
While it might seem like an odd comparison to make, there are several similarities between Lookman and Aubameyang that make it easier to see how the former could be Arsenal’s new version of the latter.
The first couple, and certainly the most surface-level, are that the Nigerian international would be joining the Gunners from a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues and doing so at a similar point in his career.
When the Gabonese put pen to paper in North London, he was 28 years old, and in just over two months, the Atalanta ace will be as well.
The next similarity, which is more concrete, is that, like the former North Londoner, the 27-year-old star is more than capable of playing out wide or straight down the middle.
Likewise, during his time at the Emirates, the Laval-born goal machine spent a great deal of time playing off the left, as well as up top.
Finally, and this is the most critical comparison of them all, the London-born ace has become an output monster in recent seasons, just as the former captain was for most of his time in N5.
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For example, across his 118 games for the Bergamo outfit, totalling 7538 minutes, the “world-class” attacker has scored 52 goals and provided 25 assists.
Lookman’s recent form
Season
22/23
23/24
24/25
Appearances
33
45
40
Minutes
1858′
2809′
2871′
Goals
15
17
20
Assists
8
10
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.69
0.60
0.67
Minutes per Goal Involvement
80.78′
104.03′
106.33
All Stats via Transfermarkt
That means the 29-capped international has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes since joining the Serie A side.
For comparison’s sake, the former Arsenal star scored 92 goals and provided 21 assists in 163 appearances, totalling 12868 minutes during his time in red and white, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.44 games, or every 113.87 minutes.
Ultimately, they may not be exactly alike, but there are some undeniable similarities between Lookman and Aubameyang, and most crucially, the Nigerian superstar could have a similar impact at Arsenal that the Gabonese ace once had.
He's a dream for Xavi Simons: Arsenal expect to sign £55m star "soon"
Arsenal could seal a dream partnership by signing Xavi Simons and this centre-forward.
Tottenham Hotspur appear to have a new top manager target to replace Ange Postecoglou, according to an ex-scout’s “sources”.
Tottenham manager rumours with Ange under big pressure
It hasn’t been a second season at Spurs to remember for Postecoglou, although there is still the chance he delivers on his claim of winning a trophy in his second year.
Tottenham, who sit in the bottom half of the Premier League and have done so for large parts of the season, are still in the Europa League and will take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.
There have been a number of managers named as candidates to take over from Postecoglou, though, should Daniel Levy and co decide to make a change in the dugout.
Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino recently hinted at the chances of a return to north London, saying: “Look, when I left the club I always remember one interview I said I would like one day to come back to Tottenham and that is of course.
“I am in the USA, I am not going to no, I’m not going to talk about that, but what I said then still after six years or five years, I still feel in my heart that, yes, I would like one day to come back. We see the timing, like Daniel said.”
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He’s a player in demand.
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Meanwhile, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was also linked, however, Football Insider think the Cherries boss would be willing to snub Tottenham in favour of staying at the Vitality Stadium.
Marco Silva now top Tottenham manager target
Another manager rumoured to be of interest to Spurs is Marco Silva, who guided his Fulham side to a 2-0 win over Tottenham prior to the international break.
Now, talking to Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown has heard from his “sources” that Silva appears to be the new leading target for Tottenham.
“Tottenham, unless they put a run together from now to the end of the season, you would think that things might happen [to Postecoglou] there in terms of the sack for the manager.
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“Silva would certainly be top of the pops in terms of competition for that [managerial] spot, that’s what I’m hearing from my sources there.”
Marco Silva’s record at Fulham
Games
174
Wins
81
Draws
35
Losses
58
Goals scored per game
1.89
Goals conceded per game
1.46
Players used
65
The 47-year-old has been at Craven Cottage since 2021, and during that time, has taken Fulham back to the Premier League from the Championship and established them as a topflight club once more.
Now pushing for European football with Fulham, Silva is also attracting interest from Juventus, so if Spurs do want him as Brown claims, they may need to act over the coming months instead of waiting and can do so by activating his £6m release clause.
Tottenham Hotspur have an unseen teenage sensation who’s “just like” young forward Mikey Moore, which bodes well for manager Ange Postecoglou considering just how impressive the latter has been when given an opportunity.
Mikey Moore praised for Tottenham displays this season
It’s been a landmark season for Moore so far, who has been handed a fair few chances to impress by Postecoglou over the early stages of 2024/2025.
Levy sets price as sources close to Tottenham star await Man United bid
The Red Devils are apparently pretty keen.
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The 17-year-old was handed a Premier League start in Spurs’ 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, alongside cameos off the bench against Brentford, Man United and Brighton, but the Europa League is where Moore has turned the most heads.
His very impressive displays against Ferencvaros and Dutch giants AZ Alkmaar, where he started both encounters, earned Moore plenty of praise – with teammate James Maddison even comparing the teenager to Neymar.
Tottenham’s next five Premier League games
Date
Man City vs Tottenham
November 23
Tottenham vs Fulham
December 1
Bournemouth vs Tottenham
December 5
Tottenham vs Chelsea
December 8
Southampton vs Tottenham
December 15
“From minute 45 to 65 I thought we had Neymar on the left wing. He was brilliant. Just demanding the ball and fearless,” said Maddison on Moore to TNT Sports, after his performance against AZ.
“[He has] that young, fearless mentality and you never want to take that away from him. He’s a young kid, a brilliant lad, a lovely boy. He takes in information, and he’s got bags of ability, so I’ll be there as an older player, hopefully with some wise words to help along the way.
Mikey Moore’s stats for Spurs against AZ Alkmaar
Statistics
Tally
Minutes played
88
Touches
54
Passes completed
29/36 (81%)
Shots taken
3
Dribbles attempted
4
Aerials won
1/1 (100%)
Touches in opposition box
6
Stats via FotMob
“He’s got all the ability. It’s just about knuckling down and working hard, which he does to be fair to him.”
Moore has been called a £200 million sensation in the making, and while Postecoglou was quick to shoot down comparisons with Neymar, it is safe to say that the England Under-19 international could have a pretty big future ahead of him.
Pundit hails Tottenham teenager Luca Williams-Barnett who's "just like" Moore
However, according to academy expert and pundit John Wenham, another youngster who supporters should watch out for is Luca Williams-Barnett.
The 16-year-old is on fire for Spurs’ Under-18s right now, bagging nine goals and four assists in eight league outings so far this season, and Wenham has told Tottenham News that Williams-Barnett is “just like” Moore. Not only that, but Wenham also states that Williams-Barnett is becoming a “bit of a cheat code”.
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“Williams-Barnett’s goal contributions are incredibly similar to what Moore was doing,” Wenham said.
“A lot of supporters would say that having Moore was like having a cheat code when the forward was playing with the Under-18s.
“And I’d say that just like Moore, Williams-Barnett is also becoming a bit of a cheat code.”
With the Euros out of the way and another season of Premier League football on the horizon, will it be third time's the charm for Arsenal in 2024/25?
After two seasons of challenging Manchester City at the top of the table, Mikel Arteta and his squad of talented players must take that next step before they begin to lose momentum.
The best thing that Edu Gaspar and the club at large can do to help them in that endeavour is to bring in some quality additions in the transfer window.
Luckily for fans, that may well happen, as the latest player touted for a move to the Emirates has been compared to Leandro Trossard and would be the perfect rival for Bukayo Saka on the right – oh, and he's already played for the club before.
Arsenal transfer news
According to a recent report from German publication Bild, Arsenal are interested in Borussia Dortmund's Dutch attacker, Donyell Malen.
Donyell Malen for Borussia Dortmund.
The report claims that the 25-year-old dynamo is considering his future and eyeing a challenge away from Germany, and in an interview from earlier this year, he opened the door for a return to N5, where he spent several years as a youth player before moving to PSV in 2017.
The good news for the Gunners is that this potential signing wouldn't cost them an arm and a leg, as the report has revealed that Dortmund are prepared to sell him for around £34m.
It wouldn't be a bargain, but given his performances last season, the comparisons to Trossard and the potential that he could offer Saka a real challenge on the right, £34m doesn't seem too bad.
Malen's comparison to Trossard and Saka
Now, before assessing how Malen stacks up against Saka and how effective he could be as a challenger to the incredible Englishman, let's look at this comparison to Trossard.
It stems from FBref, which compares every player in Europe's top five leagues based on their position and then creates a list of the ten most comparable for each player and, in this case, they have identified the Belgian as the most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Dortmund ace across those five competitions.
The easiest way to see this similarity is by looking at the underlying numbers where the pair rank quite closely, such as non-penalty expected goals and assists, actual non-penalty goals and assists, progressive carries and passes received, key passes, aerial duels won and shot-creating actions, all per 90.
Malen & Trossard
Stats per 90
Malen
Trossard
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists
0.63
0.58
Non-Penalty Goals
0.66
0.66
Assists
0.05
0.05
Progressive Carries
3.69
3.61
Progressive Passes Received
8.23
8.47
Key Passes
1.11
1.31
Shot-Creating Actions
3.74
3.55
Aerial Duels Won
0.35
0.27
All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 PL Season
That said, while the comparisons to the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace are now far clearer, how would the "sizzling" Dutchman, as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, get on as a rival to the Gunners' Hale End superstar on the right?
Well, the first thing to say is that while he would likely be talked about as a rival for the Englishman, in reality, he'd probably end up becoming a backup, which, given the Ealing-born superstar's tally of 20 goals and 14 assists in 47 games last season is not a slight at all.
However, even as a de facto backup for the 22-year-old ace, the former PSV winger would still get plenty of game time across all the competitions Arsenal are set to play in next season.
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Moreover, considering he scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 38 games last season, he'd be an incredible weapon off the bench for Arteta.
Ultimately, Malen proved that he was more than good enough to play for a top team last season, and while he would almost certainly remain behind Saka in the pecking order at the Emirates, he'd still end up getting a fair amount of game time as the Gunners look to attack on all fronts next season.
Moreover, if he's the player who can finally allow the North Londoners' number seven to get some genuine rest during the season, then his importance to the team would stem from more than what he can do on the pitch. Therefore, Edu and Co should do what they can to bring him to the club this summer.
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The impressive international could make the Gunners even more dangerous.
In January, Jurgen Klopp revealed that he would be stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season, ending a glittering tenure at Anfield that has restored the club from a shadowed period.
In fairness, few supporters would contest that he reserves the right to dictate his future after such superlative work, and having rebuilt successfully with sweeping changes to the engine room last summer, the Merseyside outfit is in a fine place to start a new chapter with full focus on adding to the trophy cabinet and sustaining their position at the forefront of the Premier League.
Indeed, with the 2023/24 campaign now approaching the business end, Liverpool are at the summit of the top-flight, preparing for this weekend's Carabao Cup final against Chelsea and into the fifth round of the FA Cup and the Europa League's last 16.
It was indeed the centre of the park that was the crux of Liverpool's issues last term, with Klopp's self-branded heavy metal style of play no longer practicable, with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho James Milner and co seemingly past their sell-by date.
Such stars, so important throughout the German manager's silver-laden era, were shipped on, and while this was the right decision for each, they did still play a part at the club.
The same, regrettably, cannot be said for Naby Keita, who also departed last June upon the expiry of his contract in what can only go down as a colossal failure of a signing once brimming with excitement and anticipation.
Liverpool's signing of Naby Keita
Back in August 2017, news broke that Liverpool had agreed a club-record deal with RB Leipzig to sign talented centre-midfielder Keita, with the transfer to be formalised after the 2017/18 campaign.
The Guinea international had a £48m release clause but Liverpool were willing to pay a premium to secure his services, winning the race despite a vested interest expressed by Barcelona.
It was a deal to send a frisson of excitement coursing through Merseyside, with former Reds manager even remarking that he saw comparisons between the dynamic star and iconic Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
His ubiquity in the midfield did bespeak an all-encompassing nature that drew such comparisons, having clinched 37 goals and 26 assists from 152 fixtures in Germany with Leipzig.
But, alas, he was branded a massive "disappointment" by former player Dietmar Hamann – words surely echoed by the Liverpool fanbase – after year upon year of injury problems and consequent poor form.
Naby Keita's Liverpool career
In total, Keita chalked up 129 appearances for Liverpool and posted 11 goals and seven assists, and while there were inevitable flashes of quality throughout his time in England, he came unstuck and never produced the full scope of his natural skill set.
Naby Keita: Premier League Stats by Season
Season
Apps
Starts
Goals
Assists
22/23
8
3
0
0
21/22
23
14
3
1
20/21
10
7
0
0
19/20
18
9
2
3
18/19
25
16
2
1
Source: WhoScored
Never featuring from the outset more than 16 times in any one Premier League campaign, the 29-year-old quickly fell by the wayside and never regained his footing, winning much silverware at Anfield but offering contributions of inconsequential value.
Given that he earned a pretty penny at the club – £120k per week – it's hardly as if he didn't deplete FSG in all their frugality of their resources either.
His nightmare journey was indeed ended last summer and he closed the door on his Liverpool career and penned a deal with Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, snapped up for free but suffering a similar fare overseas.
Naby Keita's season in numbers
Returning to Germany, Keita at least left Liverpool with an array of shiny prizes, and while the rigours of Premier League football could hardly have helped his case as he fought and failed for fitness, Werder Bremen presented a clean slate.
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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.
Of course, Keita had proved himself and then some on the German scene in the past and the slower pace theoretically hinted at more a fruitful career.
But the niggling woes that have eaten away at him are not easily rectified, and Keita's return to his erstwhile fluency is not something that will be easily restored, as if alchemised into something robust after taking leave of Klopp's high-octane set-up.
In fact, the diminutive ace has only featured three times for his current club, withdrawn before the hour mark on his lone starting berth, and yet to play since.
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Only completing 69% of his passes that day, against Hoffenheim, Keita's ring rust was patently clear, losing all five of his contested duels and also being dribbled past.
While he's still only 29 years old, it will take a sustained run of competitive fixtures to bring him back to a semblance of his former level, and the likelihood of this is troublingly uncertain.
Naby Keita in action for Liverpool.
The worst part about the whole ordeal is that this is a player of elite talent, a midfielder of dynamic ability, catching the eye with his many-faceted strengths, stricken by ceaseless anatomical issues.
Keita was once described as a "world-class" footballer by his former Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk. His prowess was known to those around him, is known.
But unfortunately, the reality of his Anfield career is one of poignancy and wistfulness. He might have won the whole gamut of Liverpool's major silverware under Klopp's leadership, but he'd give a lot to rewind and start afresh, injury problems expunged.
When Jurgen Klopp took the helm at Liverpool in 2015, few foresaw the magnitude of his appointment and the far-reaching effects it would have on a city desperate for more.
Of course, Liverpool is separated by a contrast of colour, a schism slicing red and blue, but while Everton have been moored in the murky abyss over recent years, the Reds have risen to the fore and secured silverware across a multitude of fronts, notably winning the Champions League and the Premier League in successive seasons.
It hasn't been without a hitch, with the 2020/21 season's slide from title contention a by-product of mounting injuries and the absence of support due to coronavirus restrictions.
And, who could forget, the misery of last season, when a team so mighty suddenly felt startingly sapped of its life and energy, with ageing legs and many years as a unit starting to take its toll, and the intense, high-octane nature of Klopp's system suddenly wasn't implemented in a befitting manner.
Moves were made over the summer, however, to devise an apt solution, which came in the form of a comprehensive midfield restructure. Out with the old; in with the new.
While the Anfield side watches from afar as teams compete in the Champions League, the Europa League presents an opportunity to glean the final piece of elusive silverware to have escaped Klopp's clutch.
And while the current Liverpool team is altered from the imperious outfit of several years back, it undoubtedly boasts enough talent to emulate Klopp's former feats.
Amid all of the alteration, Trent Alexander-Arnold remains at the centre of the project, having graduated from the academy and served as one of the fulcrums of the Klopp era.
How good is Trent Alexander-Arnold?
Ever since an 18-year-old, Alexander-Arnold fired home a free-kick against Hoffenheim in a 2017/18 Champions League qualifier, the Liverpool support have known that they hold a gem in their hands.
And he has indeed proved to be a glittering sensation for his boyhood club, having played an important role in every piece of silverware won under Klopp's leadership, earning praise for his devastating delivery and passing prowess.
Having now completed 280 appearances for his outfit, Liverpool's vice-captain has plundered 16 goals and 73 assists and is regarded to have "qualities that are not far off Lionel Messi" by talkSPORT's Tony Cascarino, who was referencing his ball-playing skills.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 3% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for attempted passes and the top 6% for progressive passes per 90 – very much one of the foremost creators in the game.
Most Premier League Assists For Liverpool (LFCHistory)
Player
No. of assists
Steven Gerrard
92
Mohamed Salah
62
Steve McManaman
58
Trent Alexander-Arnold
55
Andy Robertson
53
The £180k-per-week full-back has cemented himself among the most creative players in world football, let alone Liverpool's squad, and his particular set of skills would be welcomed by the lion's share of European outfits.
Given that he went on a remarkable purple patch in the late days of the 2022/23 season, clinching seven assists across his final ten outings of the Premier League campaign, to take his total tally to ten, it's interesting that a former Liverpool flop managed to equal his tally.
Ryan Kent barely made a scratch at Anfield before moving on after a sole showing, but he has since forged a praisable career for himself.
Why did Liverpool sell Ryan Kent?
In 2019, Liverpool sold Kent to Rangers for an initial £6.5m with a further £1m attainable through add-ons, ending a lengthy stay on Merseyside after joining the Reds aged seven and progressing through the academy.
Long admired for his pace, trickery and effectiveness across both wings, Kent only earned one senior appearance for the club – having scored nine goals and provided six assists across 30 outings for the development squad.
Spending the majority of his early days as a professional out on loan, the Ibrox side sealed a one-year loan deal in 2018 while he was 21 years old, which proved to be the key point of significance in his career so far.
Kent had just won the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award during his loan stay with the Gers, having posted six goals and assists apiece from just 21 starts in the Scottish Premiership that year.
In fairness, Liverpool were probably right to sell Kent, talented as he may be, he did not boast the full gamut of qualities requisite for success under Klopp's ambitious tutelage, and the monetary reward for his sale was well worth the sanction.
Had he remained at the club, inescapably in the shadow of players such as Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, basking in the light would simply have been impossible, and he would have languished during a time when kickstarting his career was the most auspicious move.
How is Ryan Kent performing now?
Having spent five campaigns at Ibrox, Kent joined Turkish giants Fenerbahce on a free transfer after his Rangers contract expired in the summer.
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So far, he has been used sporadically but has still posted a goal and two assists from just five starting showings across all competitions.
Once hailed as a “wizard” by former teammate Leon Balogun, the 26-year-old had been an implacable offensive weapon for Rangers, finishing his time at the club with 33 goals and 56 assists from 218 displays, winning the Premiership and Scottish Cup for his travails.
Last season, he secured ten assists himself, matching Alexander-Arnold's seasonal collection; now, of course he does not boast the same level of creative genius as the Liverpool phenom, but it is an illustration of his quality.
Evidently, Liverpool do not miss Kent and have done just fine since his departure, but it is pleasing to witness the increase in quality stemming from the club's academy across recent years, with other stars such as Raheem Sterling, Anthony Gordon and Jack Harrison enjoying themselves in the Premier League after once playing their early days at the side.
And while Kent's creativity deserves applause, he's no Alexander-Arnold, and Liverpool will count their lucky stars that time and energy was invested in nurturing the 25-year-old into the player that he is today.
Arsenal have largely enjoyed a successful start to the summer window, tying up a move for Kai Havertz amidst pressure from Real Madrid, and then battling off Manchester City to secure a deal for Declan Rice.
Even Jurrien Timber's imminent signing marks a massive success, given the strong interest Manchester United showed in the Dutchman last summer before opting for Lisandro Martinez.
Therefore, it could be argued that Mikel Arteta's sole failure of the window thus far was failing to tempt Ilkay Gundogan to also join his revolution.
The German international, whose contract was due to expire this summer, was unsurprisingly coveted by plenty of Europe's elite. Pep Guardiola wanted him to re-sign, whilst Barcelona were also in the race for the man who had just captained his side to an infamous treble.
Despite the Gunners continuing to be linked too, it was instead the Catalan giants who convinced the 32-year-old, with his switch to Camp Nou confirmed just last month.
It was a missed opportunity to secure a serial winner, and a top-quality technical operator who could have further improved a system that helped the north London outfit lead the Premier League title race for so long.
However, such has been their intelligence in the market already, an alternative has cropped up who arguably boasts far greater value given the longevity promised should they acquire Gabri Veiga from Celta Vigo.
Whilst his reported €40m (£34m) price tag might prove a stumbling block, the 21-year-old would help fill that advanced central midfield role for potentially the next decade, with Arteta able to morph the Spaniard in his image.
What type of midfielder is Gabri Veiga?
Last season for the Cityzens, Gundogan featured 51 times across all competitions. Despite having enjoyed finer goalscoring seasons in the past, it felt like few had been as important as the ones notched on their way to the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League titles.
As such, his tally of 11 goals and seven assists underpins a legendary campaign for a man who will go down in history at the club.
However, his importance to Guardiola's system was not solely tied to these figures, as his intelligence and ability to retain possession helped enforce their stranglehold on possession throughout matches.
Their revolutionary philosophy was largely upheld through his presence beside Kevin De Bruyne, as a floating central midfielder to link play and pop up in between the lines.
As such, when compared to other midfielders across Europe, the former Borussia Dortmund maestro ranks in the top 12% for pass completion and the top 4% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, via FBref.
He would accept the ball in tight areas, and still keep the play ticking over.
Although Veiga has enjoyed a far more all-action term for his boyhood club, there is precedent to believe that he could easily be moulded into such a role, given the assets he already boasts.
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Having recorded 15 goal contributions last season in La Liga, already the figures are comparable to Gundogan's. However, he too ranks in the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, suggesting this ability to float into space and take possession.
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Such an ability to ghost into these areas even led journalist Euan McTear to brand him "dangerous" when speaking to Zach Lowy about his form.
Combining this with the 77% pass accuracy in the league, that can easily be improved upon, and those attributes that made Gundogan so successful are all there for Veiga to work with too.
Despite his price tag being far more than the free transfer they could have got, this Spain U21 international would arguably mark better business given the bright future he boasts.
Liverpool were thrashed 4-1 in their Premier League clash with Manchester City at the Etihad stadium earlier today and Jurgen Klopp will surely be massively disappointed with the performance his team put on.
The Reds looked uninspired and at times, uninterested in the meeting with their former title rivals, but the scoreline would've come as no surprise to the Anfield faithful following a season full of lacklustre displays from the Merseysiders.
Liverpool's lack of effort was reflected massively in their overall statistics throughout the game with just 31% possession, one shot on target, over 400 fewer accurate passes completed, and zero big chances created which ultimately led to the visitors being punished by Pep Guardiola's title-chasing side.
Indeed, the inevitable goal machine Mohamed Salah did secure the lead in the 17th minute with his sublime finish, however, the rest of his team did not look to be up to the occasion and carelessly allowed the Egyptian's strike to become a consolation prize when the final whistle was blown.
It way one-way traffic as Manchester City cut through Liverpool's midfield and defence like butter on many occasions with Trent Alexander-Arnold's position, in particular, being exploited over and over again which led to BT Sport commentator Darren Fletcher claiming that the right-back was "dominated" by Jack Grealish.
However, luckily for the boyhood Liverpool ace there weren't many other players who offered much better over their individual performances, with midfielder Fabinho also struggling to make a positive impact and ultimately became the villain at the Etihad.
How did Fabinho get on vs Manchester City?
The £180k-per-week midfielder has been a shadow of his former self over the season so far and has often come under scrutiny for his drop-off in quality in the centre of the pitch and today's display was another sobering realisation that Fabinho may never return to his once-influential presence.
Over his 90-minute performance, the Brazilian dud – dubbed "criminal" against Man City by Kenn Leandre – was dribbled past three times, lost six duels and conceded two fouls, proving that he lacked focus and caused more problems than he solved over the fixture.
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The former Monaco man – who earned a lowly 6.2 match rating, as per Sofascore – was also the subject of criticism from GOAL's Neil Jones, with the journalist stating that the 29-year-old 'looked a yard off the pace throughout'.
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These horrendous midfield performances have been nothing new for Fabinho and pundits have been bewildered by his rapid decline with former Chelsea full-back Scott Minto claiming earlier this season:
"You talk about (Jordan) Henderson, yes, but you talk about Fabinho at the moment. Who is he at the moment? I don’t know who he is, it’s like his twin brother playing at the moment. He’s certainly not the player that he has been in recent years."
With that being said, it puts a huge question mark over Fabinho's future at Anfield if FSG are willing to heavily reinvest and refresh the midfield this summer but there is no doubt something needs to change and fast.
Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in re-signing Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher this month and his potential arrival at Selhurst Park could allow Patrick Vieira to get rid of Will Hughes.
According to The Sun, the Eagles will launch a fresh move for the midfielder having made enquiries into re-signing him last summer, while the Metro claims that the England international is currently valued at £30m by his boyhood club.
Vieira is understandably keen to reunite with the 22-year-old after his starring performances on loan at Selhurst Park last season, with Gallagher notching eight goals and three assists in 34 Premier League appearances, averaging a 7.09 rating from WhoScored for his performances.
This campaign has been a disappointing one for the young midfielder at Stamford Bridge, as he has managed just one goal and one assist in 17 league appearances, earning a far-less-impressive 6.53 rating from WhoScored.
The report from The Sun claims that Gallagher is still committed to making it at Chelsea but if Graham Potter brings in more midfielders under the free-spending Todd Boehly, then the academy graduate might find his opportunities limited and could look to rediscover his best form at Selhurst Park.
Vieira was full of praise for the Englishman last season after he scored twice in a 3-1 win over Everton.
He said:
“Conor has this passion for the game when he is on the field like a Ray Parlour, but I would say he has maybe the quality finishing of a Frank Lampard.
“It is a manager’s dream to have a player like Conor because when he is on the field, he will give everything.”
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The French manager undoubtedly needs another all-round midfield option to play alongside Cheick Doucoure at Palace, with Will Hughes having sadly failed to cut it since his arrival from Watford in the summer of 2021.
The former Derby County man has made just 35 appearances since then, contributing one goal and one assist, while he has been limited to just 129 minutes of action in the Premier League so far this campaign.
Considering the different impacts the two midfielders have had in their time at Palace, it seems clear who Vieira would prefer to have in his side and adding Gallagher this month would surely allow the French manager to get rid of Hughes for good.