Arsenal could already be looking ahead to next season, just two games into the 2023/24 campaign, with a new report linking the Gunners with a sensational transfer move next year.

Focusing on this term, Mikel Arteta has recruited strongly in the summer transfer window so far, hiring Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya to bolster his squad in the hope to better the highs of last season.

With two wins in two, things are rolling at a maximum success rate for the north Londoners, however there remains room for improvement with a few names listed as potential new arrivals.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

After the devastating injury to Timber just 50 minutes into his Premier League debut, the Gunners have been linked to a number of defenders, including Barcelona centre-back Jules Kounde and Real Valladolid starlet Ivan Fresneda.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

While the injury to Timber is an immediate blow, another area that the Premier League runners-up were expected to bolster was their strike options, particularly when considering the absence of Gabriel Jesus and the pending departure of Folarin Balogun.

Perhaps this summer it looks unlikely that a striker will be recruited, however, a recent report by FootballTransfers has named the club as being interested in a blockbuster move for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Evan Ferguson in 2024.

The audacious report claims that the £100m Irishman is ‘on the radar’ of the north Londoners, for what is speculated to be a significant ploy to capture the teenager in the future.

What could Evan Ferguson offer to Arsenal?

Having sensationally been dubbed as a “good striker” by Kylian Mbappe prior to France’s match-up with Ireland, the 18-year-old has won the approval of those leading the way to forming the next era of generational talent.

In his breakthrough campaign last year, the robust centre-forward netted six goals and provided two assists in only 19 appearances, with only 10 of which coming from starts, via Sofascore.

The youngster has continued where he left off in the 2022/23 calendar, opening his scoring tally during the season opener against Luton Town at the Amex.

A move for the £20k-per-week teen could be deemed outrageous considering the price tag on his head, however, the matter remains that Arsenal need a reliable marksman, and they’re an extremely hard archetype to locate, whatever the level.

At just 18, Ferguson has shown that he can cut it in the top-flight already, with his talents suggesting that he could be a devastating addition to the Gunners should the report be believed.

In this instance, Arsenal should look to their north London neighbours who tortured the Reds by taking a chance on one of their young strikers, with a certain Harry Kane departing the capital as the Premier League’s second-highest all-time goalscorer.

At just 21 years of age, he enjoyed a breakthrough season at Tottenham.

Kane was given the chance to showcase what he would do, which resulted in him scoring 213 Premier League goals some nine years later.

The similarities extend further than that, though, as seemingly Spurs are also in the coveted race to sign the Irish wonderkid, reportedly viewing the teenage talent as a 'dream' replacement for the departed England skipper.

Further to that case, former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given specifically likened Brighton's academy gem to the prolific marksman, as he said back in March this year:

"He's a number nine, he can drop off into the number ten position, similar to Harry Kane with all of his brilliant positions."

Fellow Irishman Damian Delaney also approved of this opinion, adding: "I agree with Shay – there are shades of Harry Kane about him when you watch him."

While Arteta’s side have hugely progressed in recent years, the club have still failed to equip a reliable goalscorer to their ranks, especially not one that was close to being as prolific as Kane.

In signing Ferguson, the Spaniard could give the Irishman a dedicated role in his squad, in a chance that just could follow suit to their neighbours in producing the next upcoming marksman, which would undoubtedly fire Arsenal up the ranks within England and Europe.

Everton could finally be making progress in their hunt for a new talisman, with Sean Dyche pulling all the stops to ensure his Premier League outfit beat a hasty retreat from relegation danger.

What's the latest on Beto to Everton?

Following an exciting update from Fabrizio Romano, Everton could finally be closing on a new star striker, having approached Serie A side Udinese with a €25-26m (£21-22m) package.

The imposing Portuguese forward was on the Toffees' radar in January but no action was taken; with Dominic Calvert-Lewin still battling incessant injury issues, intrigue has been revisited and intensified.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Beto has a €35m (£30m) release clause in his contract, and while Everton might be reluctant to pay such a tall fee, time is running out and he would work well inside Dyche's system.

How good is Beto?

With Calvert-Lewin's fitness unreliable – indeed, the 26-year-old has been sidelined once more after picking up a facial injury against Aston Villa (having missed 17 games last year) – and Neal Maupay simply substandard up front, having scored just once since arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion for £15m last summer, signing a new talisman is paramount.

Concerningly, though, the summer market is but a whisker away from draping its curtains to a close, with just one week left until deadline day.

Moreover, Dyche's side has fallen flat in the early stage of the current campaign, losing to Fulham and Aston Villa and failing to score on both occasions.

Beto would bring ferocity and a focal attacking position to act as a conduit between ball and net, arguably typifying the type of centre-forward Dyche craves.

As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 20% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons and the top 10% for clearances per 90, also demonstrating above-average aerial prowess by winning 2.71 aerial battles per game.

He also boasts consistency in his goalscoring, having entered double digits across each of the past four league campaigns, including 21 across the past two Serie A terms with the Little Zebras.

Beto has been hailed as "strong," "prolific" and "Lukaku-esque" by talent scout Jacek Kulig to emphasise his physicality and brutish nature, with the high-profile Belgian striker having been described as a "monster" by Richard Keys for his own presence on the pitch.

Beto's likeness is further illustrated by journalist Sam Tighe, who has remarked on the Lisbon-born titan's ability to "spook defenders", utilising his 6 foot 4 frame and strength to beat defenders and serve as an efficient target man – as evidenced through his successful take-ons.

With such a distinguishable striker in the centre, wide man Dwight McNeil could finally be able to utilise his ball-playing ability to its full capacity.

Signing from Burnley for £20m last summer, the 23-year-old scored seven goals and assisted a further three from 36 outings in the Premier League, earning praise for his "magnificent" end to the season by scout Ryan Williams.

The £25k-per-week gem was not able to exhibit the full scale of his creativity last term with Everton failing in their collective creativity, but he did create 1.4 key passes and put in 1.4 crosses per match, as per Sofascore.

Calvert-Lewin should thrive off McNeil's delivery, ranking among the top 8% of forwards for aerial wins per 90, but he has been so out of sorts that he is not maximising his skill set.

Beto would bring consistency, and stand tall and firm as a pillar of offensive strength to provide the Toffees with the answer to their woes.

Perhaps the malaise will finally dissipate at Everton, and perhaps Everton will now shake off the issues that have besieged Goodison Park for several years.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is about to be the subject of a massive new world record bid from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, and a fresh report has revealed Reds fans now have very real reason to be worried.

What's happening with Mo Salah and Saudi Arabia?

Since arriving on Merseyside from AS Roma back in 2017, Salah has made a total of 308 appearances, but despite still having another two years to run on his contract, he’s attracted significant interest over the summer transfer window from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad.

The Reds have already rejected a £100m+ verbal proposal from Nuno Espirito Santo’s side for their right-winger, but reports soon after revealed that his admirers were preparing an improved £200m offer, a sum which would surely be enough to test the resolve of FSG and Jurgen Klopp.

Speaking after Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa, however, Dominik Szoboszlai was asked to deliver his verdict on the future of his 31-year-old teammate, to which he responded:

“It is football, everyone is talking. We are really happy that he has stayed. We are of course speaking between each other but he wants to stay, he wants to be here and be with us. We are really happy. We need people in the team like him."

How much are Al-Ittihad going to bid?

Sky Sports’ Transfer Centre reported on Monday evening that Al-Ittihad “want to make another offer” for Salah before the end of their window, which closes at 10pm UK time on Thursday. Senior figures there want to give themselves “one more try” at securing their target.

Since then, a report from The i Paper has gone one step further, revealing the Saudi Pro League outfit are "preparing to launch a world-record £215m bid". Most worryingly, they claim the Reds sensation wants to at least hear them out and that the offer coming to Liverpool is one "nobody can flat out refuse without at least considering what can be done when reinvesting such funds".

How many goals has Mo Salah scored for Liverpool?

During his six years at Liverpool, Salah has continued to be an integral member of the starting line-up and has played a huge part in the club’s success so it would be a disastrous blow to lose him, therefore, Klopp needs to do everything he can to keep hold of his veteran beyond Thursday.

The Nagrig native, who pockets £350k-per-week, has posted a remarkable 268 contributions (187 goals and 81 assists) in 308 appearances, showing how prolific he is, but even when the ball doesn’t hit the back of the net, he always poses a constant threat to a visiting team's defence.

Sponsored by Adidas, the left-footed attacker ranks in the 99th percentile for most touches in the opposition’s penalty area and he’s recorded 13 shots so far this season which is more than any of his fellow teammates, via FBRef, highlighting what a standout performer he still is at Anfield.

Salah, who has the versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline and even in attacking midfield, has also previously been named the club’s Player of the Year, displaying how much his individual efforts are appreciated by his peers and supporters, so Klopp will be hoping that he remains committed to the project and FSG are not tempted by the financials.

It's perhaps a testament to Newcastle United's meteoric rise under the management of Eddie Howe that there is disgruntlement after a slow start to the season, with an incisive 5-1 win over Aston Villa followed by a trio of defeats.

Last season, the Magpies blitzed into form and ascended to heights unseen for decades, clinching Champions League qualification with a top-four finish and wiping away the struggles that had plagued the club for so many years before the PIF takeover in 2021.

While the results haven't favoured the Tyneside club in the early phase of the 2023/24 term, Howe will maintain every confidence that his side can forge a successful path for themselves once again.

How have Newcastle performed this season?

Last season, Newcastle were built on fluidity, cohesion and resilience, which very much formed the foundation of a tremendous year – United completed the Premier League campaign with the joint-best defence (alongside champions Manchester City).

And while the opening dismantlement of Unai Emery's Villa tantalised a continuation of the resounding success, away defeats to Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion and a home loss to Liverpool have left the side bogged down in the bottom half of the table.

Falling to Liverpool was particularly bitter, having taken the lead through Anthony Gordon's strike – who capitalised on Trent Alexander-Arnold's mistake – shortly before Virgil van Dijk took Alexander Isak out as he pushed through on goal; Darwin Nunez's late off-the-bench brace quickly turned delight to despair.

It might now be time for Howe to tinker away after making minimal changes across the opening phase of the season…

How good is Sean Longstaff?

Sandro Tonali kicked off the summer spending when completing a £55m move to St. James' Park in July, but so far it does not look like the Italy international and Bruno Guimaraes are working well together in the centre of the park.

Because of this, it might be wise to place Sean Longstaff back into the starting line-up, with the 25-year-old midfielder playing 41 times last year, scoring three goals and providing four assists.

Rated at £18m by Football Transfers, the £50k-per-week ace impressed with his bouncing presence and worked well as a counterweight to Guimaraes' technical, orchestrating presence beside him.

Guimaraes is not quite the specialist six that Newcastle might crave to hold the midfield together, but that does not mean that he is not a "world-class" option – as he has been called by teammate Dan Burn – who will serve as the fulcrum of much of the club's success over the coming years.

He has performed admirably since his £40m transfer to St. James' Park from French side Lyon in January 2022, so much so that the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona have come sniffing, and has been duly rewarded with a looming new lucrative contract.

Part of the reason his role in the deep-lying position worked so well last term was due to Longstaff's energy and industriousness, hailed for his "vital role" as United's "unsung hero" by pundit Jamie Rednapp, who provided an analysis after the Brighton defeat and highlighted the upswing in results when Longstaff receives a starting berth.

This is evidenced through his metrics, with FBref ranking the homegrown talent among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 12% for progressive passes received per 90 – perhaps why he has been dubbed an "absolute machine" by some in the media.

In time, perhaps the midfield axis of Guimaraes and Tonali will gel and form the heart of a truly terrifying partnership, but right now, with the emphasis surely on returning to winning ways, it might be prudent to return to the tried-and-tested formula.

Despite paying the big bucks to secure the services of Tonali, who is undoubtedly a first-rate playmaker, the balance of this Newcastle team has been knocked, and with a tough test awaiting against Brentford, reinstating Longstaff to the starting fold might be the apt solution to get the club back on the rise.

A new dawn has risen in north London with Tottenham Hotspur now under the management of the Australian Ange Postecoglou.

And the early signs of the Big Ange revolution in N17 are extremely positive with the Lilywhites impressing many in the opening stages of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

With the positivity surrounding the club comes excitement from the fans who have had to endure an underwhelming few years under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Given Spurs fans will be keen to ride this wave of positivity, we at Football FanCast have taken a look at the social media accounts and podcasts every Spurs fan should follow to keep up to date with the latest news and views on their club.

Journalists

Alasdair Gold Youtube & Twitter

Perhaps the most well-known Tottenham Hotspur journalist, Alasdair Gold has racked up over 230k followers on the social media platform X.

The football.london journalist often provides the inside scoop on all things Tottenham ranging from transfer news to injury updates and provides a range of content across multiple channels.

Indeed, Gold’s work spans from live blogging from Spurs matches home and away to his hour-long videos posted to his YouTube channel.

If you want to keep up with all things Spurs, this man provides content accessible through almost every means – even a WhatsApp update feed.

Charlie Eccleshare, Athletic correspondent

One of The Athletic’s Tottenham correspondent’s, Charlie Eccleshare also provides a range of written content which caters for just about every Tottenham fan’s need.

The journalist provided breaking transfer news over the summer but also offers longer-form articles which take a deeper dive into some of the underlying topics concerning the north London club.

Fans can find Eccleshare on the social media platform X as well as The Athletic’s weekly Spurs podcast.

Dan Kilpatrick Twitter

Similarly to the likes of Gold and Eccleshare, Dan Kilpatrick is one of the most well-known Spurs correspondents with a significant following on the likes of X.

Kilpatrick covers the north London side for the Evening Standard and also writes a variety of articles which span from the latest information coming out of the Premier League club to how Postecoglou has transformed the side he inherited – for example.

As is the case with most of the well-respected journalists, Kilpatrick can also be found speaking all things Tottenham on The Tottenham Way podcast.

Michael Bridge from Sky Sports

Self professed Tottenham fan, Michael Bridge is often seen hitting the screens on Sky Sports News where he is frequently providing his insight into the latest rumblings around N17.

As well as providing the latest news coming out of Spurs, Bridge is no stranger to providing his personal opinion on what is happening around the club.

As well as featuring on the UK’s biggest sports broadcast, Bridge can also be found on X and often featuring on the Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel.

Social Media

The Spurs Web Twitter

Football news is a constant cycle and keeping on top of the latest breaking news can prove to be a daunting task – especially in the transfer window.

However, X’s biggest unofficial Tottenham news account remains The Spurs Web who provide a range of posts to accommodate for every Spurs fan’s needs.

The account aggregates news from a huge variety of news outlets from across the globe as well as providing fans with topical discussions and even throwback clips to remind fans of some of the club’s best moments.

Even the likes of former Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen are known to like the occasional post from this account.

The Spurs Express Twitter

Similarly to The Spurs Web, The Spurs Express account aims to provide their followers with the latest news surrounding the club from across the world.

Across the international break, the account looked to offer fans an insight into how some of their players were performing for their respective countries with a statistical breakdown of some of their performances.

There is very rarely a quiet day when it comes to Tottenham Hotspur and following accounts such as this feels like a necessity for any Spurs fan.

Lilywhite Rose Twitter

There are a number of big Tottenham news accounts out there who offer a similar service, however, Lilywhite Rose does provide fans with something completely different.

It can be easy to get caught up in the big signings clubs make in the transfer window, but it is important to consider the next big talents coming through the club’s ranks.

The likes of Harry Kane have emerged through Tottenham’s youth system and the Lilywhite Rose account on X aims to keep on top of the latest news coming out of the club’s academy.

Ran by BBC contributor John Wenham, the account provides a keen insight into the latest news to emerge from the youth levels, youth players away from the club on loan and even offering debate on matters concerning Postecoglou’s first team.

Chris Cowlin Youtube & Twitter

Potentially best known for his content produced during the construction of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Chris Cowling is a match-going fan who provides a range of content from that very perspective.

On top of providing videos from the stands, Cowlin also provides a variety of Spurs-related content on his YouTube channel and relays the latest news and quotes involving the club on his X account.

A Spurs content creator who covers just about all bases.

Matt Hayes Youtube & Twitter

If the likes of Charlie Eccleshare’s work does it for you, then dropping Matt Hayes a follow will likely cure your fix for detailed analytical pieces concerning the Lilywhites.

Indeed, this Spurs fan often takes a deeper look into topical discussions surrounding the north London club to provide fans with a more in-depth understanding of the club they love.

As well as sparking debate on X, Hayes is also a frequent panelist on the Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel.

Ricky Sacks Twitter

Host of the Last Word on Spurs, Ricky Sacks is a regular face on Sky Sports when it comes to providing the voice of the fans on all matters Tottenham.

The podcast host can be found on X where he shares links to the latest shows coming to the LWOS channel as they host some familiar names to discuss the latest happenings in north London.

Fulham beating Chelsea is something of a rarity but given the latter’s form, Fulham will be confident that they can get a result when the Blues visit Craven Cottage this weekend.

This West London derby will witness its latest Premier League instalment under the lights with this game set to take place on Monday night.

Mauricio Pochettino is already under immense pressure at Stamford Bridge with his side wallowing down in 14th whilst Fulham aren’t playing badly, but they’re just desperately calling out for a striker to fill the Alexsandar Mitrovic-sized void up front.

With these two going toe-to-toe in just a few days, we at Football FanCast have delved into the history books of this fixture so you have all the information for Chelsea’s trip to their local rivals Fulham.

Fulham vs Chelsea: Who has the better head-to-head record?

It isn’t all that surprising to read that Chelsea have dominated this fixture with their 49 victories in competitive games working out as a win percentage of 57%.

In the Premier League era, Fulham have won just two of 32 league meetings.

Fulham vs Chelsea: Who has more wins at Craven Cottage?

The majority of Fulham’s wins in this fixture have come on home soil and in fact, only 1/3 of the draws have taken place at Craven Cottage.

They bounced around a few different grounds in the late 1800s before arriving at their current location in 1896. Fulham only ventured away from the Cottage between 2002 and 2004 whilst it was under renovation, sharing Loftus Road with Queens’ Park Rangers for those two seasons.

Fulham vs Chelsea: Who has more wins at Stamford Bridge?

Chelsea have won less games against Fulham when playing on their patch but at the same time, have held their rivals to just two wins of their own which is staggering really.

Stamford Bridge is the one and only home of Chelsea since they were formed as a football club in 1877.

Fulham vs Chelsea: Who has the better cup record?

These two have crossed paths four times in the League Cup and six in the FA Cup with there being replay fixtures on three different occasions.

Both of Fulham’s cup victories against Chelsea came in the FA Cup, beating them after a replay in the round of 16 in the 1935/36 season, and then under the same circumstances 15 years later.

The most recent clash between these two in a cup competition was the third round of the 2011/12 League Cup campaign. No goals were scored and so it went to a penalty shootout with Bryan Ruiz’s miss handing the tie to Chelsea, despite Frank Lampard kicking proceedings off with a miss of his own.

Fulham vs Chelsea: How have the last 5 meetings played out?

Whilst Chelsea have remained as a Premier League mainstay, Fulham have been up and down in recent years between the top-flight and the Championship. This is their first of the last three campaigns in which they have lasted more than one season in the promised land.

3rd February 2023- Chelsea 0-0 Fulham:

This has been a rough year thus far for the Stamford Bridge faithful and last season was very much the same. They watched their side finish down in 12th in the league, eight points below West London rivals Fulham.

When the two went to battle at the Bridge in early February, a star-studded Chelsea side were unable to find a breakthrough and it finished goalless.

12th January 2023- Fulham 2-1 Chelsea:

Fulham took full of advantage of the home support in the reverse fixture though, winning 2-1 at Craven Cottage just a few weeks prior after the game had been postponed earlier in the season.

Willian opened the scoring against his former club before defender Kalidou Koulibaly levelled proceedings just after the break. The visitors were then put between a rock and a hard place when debutant Joao Felix saw red for an overzealous tackle and it was former Tottenham Hotspur man Carlos Vinicius that made Felix pay by scoring the winner.

1st May 2021- Chelsea 2-0 Fulham:

Fulham weren’t in the Premier League for the 2021/22 season and the year prior, Chelsea got the better of them in this fixture.

Kai Havertz scored a brace for the home side with the Cottager’s relegation becoming all the more imminent as a result.

16th January 2021- Fulham 0-1 Chelsea:

Mason Mount assisted one of those two Havertz strikes and back in January of 2021 he scored the only goal of the game away from home, the other notable event in the game being Antonee Robinson’s red card at the end of the first half.

3rd March 2019- Fulham 1-2 Chelsea:

Going back a further two seasons once again and there were some real throwback names who made the difference at Craven Cottage this time.

Gonzalo Higuain and Jorginho scored the goals for Chelsea either side of a Calum Chambers strike which was assisted by Dutchman Ryan Babel.

Who has played for both Fulham and Chelsea?

Steve Sidwell (Chelsea 2007-2008; Fulham 2011-2014)

Steve Sidwell is maybe best known for his time as either at Reading or Fulham but he also graduated from the Arsenal academy and went on to play for Chelsea too.

Sidwell arrived at Stamford Bridge to a mixed reception and he was unable to establish himself as a first-team regular there.

Scott Parker (Chelsea 2004-2005; Fulham 2013-2017)

Scott Parker not only played for Fulham but he of course managed them as well. He ended his playing career at Craven Cottage and started his managerial career there too with mixed results, and back in the day he played for Chelsea too.

Parker’s spell in blue was brief, lasting just a single season, but this was another London notch under his belt having played for Charlton Athletic, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur on top of these two teams from the capital.

Willian (Chelsea 2013-2020; Fulham 2022-current)

The final of these three players is still playing and is still playing for Fulham as a matter of fact.

Willian, who was mentioned earlier for scoring against Chelsea whilst donning the white shirt of their West London rivals, was first introduced to Premier League fans due to his exploits at Stamford Bridge. He looked as if he was leaving Fulham this summer but he remains a part of Marco Silva’s squad and it really would be poetic justice if he was to come back to bite the Blues once again.

What is Fulham’s biggest victory over Chelsea?

14th February 1951: Fulham 3-0 Chelsea

Given that Fulham have only beaten Chelsea 10 times, there were hardly a plethora of victories to comb through.

It is an FA Cup replay that comes in as Fulham’s biggest victory in this fixture though as they won 3-0 in the round of 16. The game on Chelsea’s patch finished 1-1 but then Fulham had home advantage on their side for the replay and wiped the floor with their bitter rivals.

Sadly, Fulham were then beaten by Blackpool by a single goal at the next hurdle and so they were unable to challenge for silverware after all.

What is Chelsea’s biggest victory over Fulham?

7th April 1984: Chelsea 4-0 Fulham

Although Chelsea may have won against Fulham a considerable amount of times, the games between these two are often very tight and so maybe the Cottagers are misrepresented.

That being said, the Blues did score four unanswered goals in this fixture in the 1983/84 season. Interestingly enough, this is the most recent meeting of these two in the Championship dating back nearly 40 years, owing to the pair both then playing regularly in the top-flight instead.

Fulham vs Chelsea: Key stats

• This will be the 33rd league meeting between the two clubs in the Premier League era
• Chelsea haven’t scored in their last three matches
• No one has kept more clean sheets than Fulham’s three, but they’ve also conceded the most penalties this season as well (also with three)

Fulham vs Chelsea: Famous fixtures

7th March 1964- Chelsea 1-2 Fulham:

As was mentioned previously, Fulham have only ever won this fixture twice away from home and so these two victories deserve to be celebrated.

One came in the Championship in the October of 1979, where they won 2-0 and the other came 15 years prior, but in the top division. Pat O’Connor and Steve Earle scored the goals for Bedford Jezzard’s Fulham side in front of over 26,000 fans at the Bridge.

28th December 2009- Chelsea 2-1 Fulham:

The other famous fixture being discussed was won by a scoreline of 2-1 but this one went the way of Chelsea instead.

Chelsea won their third of five Premier League titles in the 2009/2010 season under the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti and they also got their hands on the FA Cup that year as well.

In the league, in late December, Fulham came to town and after a superb Zoltan Gera goal left Chelsea stunned, they left it late to rally and win the game. Didier Drogba equalized before a Chris Smalling own goal ensured the comeback but Chelsea only finished a single point ahead of second placed Manchester United that year so this fixture made all the difference.

Social media went into a frenzy after Jeremy Doku survived a potential penalty incident for a "reckless" high challenge on Alexis Mac Allister.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Liverpool and Man City draw 1-1
• Doku survives after reckless challenge
• Social media users claim Liverpool robbed

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool's scintillating 1-1 draw at Anfield against Manchester City saw very late controversy after Doku caught Mac Allister at the end of injury time. Referee Michael Oliver decided not to point to the penalty spot for a foul on the pitch and the Video Assistant Referee cleared the incident with the same view. However, social media users believe the referee showed bias towards City in the situation , with Liverpool missing out on one final chance to win the game.

Advertisement

• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  Well-known Manchester United fan Mark Goldbridge seemed to feel Liverpool were harshly done by as he said on X: "Unbelievable that at the end. Speechless. Anywhere else on that pitch Doku is studs up and reckless. Liverpool have been robbed there. And it's Oliver for City again…"

  @elfayz said: "Doku didn’t even touch the ball. Liverpool got robbed, plain and simple."

  @JamesPearceLFC said: "Jeremy Doku so fortunate to get away with that one. Stuart Attwell on VAR. Can't help but think if that's earlier in the game he sends the ref to the monitor for an incident like that."

  X user @LFCJ7 mocked the decision by saying: "He doesn’t even touch the ball🤣🤣 they said doku’s foot was in a ‘reasonable position’ ahahaha"

  @FootballReprt on X said: "Mac Allister won the ball with his shoulder. Doku made contact with the ball, but you can't make that challenge, I mean come on! That's a penalty and a red card."

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT KLOPP SAID ABOUT THE INCIDENT

  Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said: "This is a penalty for all football people on the planet. If you think it is not one then maybe you aren't a football person."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT?

  The draw meant that Arsenal have kept their lead in the Premier League standings, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference and one point ahead of Manchester City. It seems that the title battle is headed towards a spectacular climax with just 10 matchdays remaining till the end of the season. Arsenal are yet to play the Citizens and Liverpool will fancy their chances of taking advantage despite the draw.

To say that Everton's recruitment in recent years has been poor would be an understatement, having welcomed the likes of Cenk Tosun and Moise Kean, who both failed to add any attacking spark at Goodison Park. It remains to be seen whether their additions in the summer transfer window avoid flop status, too, with Beto, Jack Harrison, and Arnaut Danjuma particularly under pressure but looking positive so far.

Sean Dyche's side have turned a corner recently, putting an end to a winless run of five games in the Premier League by defeating Brentford before knocking Aston Villa out of the Carabao Cup. With a crucial relegation six-pointer against Luton Town up next, too, Everton will hope to make it three consecutive wins, and two in a row in the Premier League.

As they improve on the pitch, those in charge at Goodison Park are also set for improvements off the pitch after reportedly agreeing a deal which should only help them when the January transfer window opens.

What's the latest Everton news?

The investment of 777 Partners should at least ease Everton's financial worries if all goes well, hopefully ensuring funding for their new stadium, and now their attention could turn towards January reinforcements, which could make or break their season.

Getting recruitment right is important for any side, but if a side battling relegation gets things wrong in January, then it is likely to end in at least one season in the Championship. And that's where the addition of Phil Boardman could boost Everton's survival chances.

According to Football Insider, the Toffees have reached an agreement with Portsmouth to sign their recruitment chief, with an eye on avoiding any further transfer flops when it comes to January reinforcements. Boardman will be boosted by the fact that he previously worked with Everton's director of football, Kevin Thelwell at Wolverhampton Wanderers, which should make the transition fairly seamless.

Who is Phil Boardman?

Arriving at Portsmouth in 2017, Boardman has helped the League One club welcome a number of signings, including in the summer just gone, which saw them welcome several players on free deals, avoiding a single transfer fee to highlight how smart Boardman can be. And, so far, those signings have worked out, with his club sitting top of the league.

Everton will hope that the chief of recruitment can bring his quality in abundance to Goodison Park, where he will be tasked with putting an end to what has been an endless stream of transfers to forget. If he does ensure that Everton's January recruitment turns their fortunes around, then Boardman may well go down as their smartest addition of the season.

He will have some task on his hands, that's for sure, but Dyche could certainly do with the reinforcements when the winter transfer window opens. Backed by the investment of 777 Partners, too, those at Goodison Park may have an adequate transfer budget to play with.

For now, whilst improvements are made off the pitch, Dyche's focus will be on mounting a consistent run of form at Everton, and guiding them further and further away from relegation trouble.

And just like that, any optimism slowly building around Arsenal has been dashed within a few days.

Mikel Arteta’s side went into the weekend eight points off of Liverpool atop the Premier League table but with a game in hand.

However, Mikel Merino wasn’t able to repeat his goalscoring heroics, and, thanks to a Jarrod Bowen strike, the Gunners fell to a shock 1-0 defeat to West Ham United, made worse by the Reds picking up all three points away to Manchester Cityjust a day later.

While there were a lot of problems with Arsenal’s performance, their lack of firepower was once again evident, which only further puts a spotlight on the club’s dreadful January transfer window, which interim Sporting Director Jason Ayto could make up for in the summer by bringing in a genuinely game-changing attacker.

Arsenal's appalling January

In early November last year, amid a rocky run of form for the team, it was announced that then-Sporting Director Edu Gaspar had resigned from his position at Arsenal, which, in truth, came as quite a shock to fans and pundits alike.

The former Invincible had been a key player in the club’s recent resurgence and rebuild under Arteta, so there was plenty of uncertainty over what this meant for the project as a whole and, specifically, how this would impact the January transfer window.

In the Brazilian’s absence, Ayto, the assistant Sporting Director, stepped into the hot seat, and while there have been reports that the higher-ups at the club have been impressed by him, it would be fair to say the supporters have not.

The simple reason for this disconnect between the board and the fanbase is that, despite the squad’s evident need for attacking reinforcements, which was made all the more acute by the recent injury crisis, nobody was signed in the recent window.

Worse yet, there were undoubtedly deals that could be done, as evidenced by Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa’s significant business and then the fact that it appeared as if Ollie Watkins might’ve been attainable in the closing days.

In all, the abject failure to address the club’s dire needs in the last window has obliterated much of the fans’ goodwill that had been built up in recent seasons, and unless Ayto pulls off a miraculous game-changing signing in the summer, he might never win the fans back onside – fortunately, there is one star who could be just that for him.

The game-changing signing Arsenal could pull off

A number of attacking talents have been consistently linked with Arsenal over the last year, such as Nico Williams, Benjamin Sesko and Dušan Vlahović.

However, while all three of those forwards would undoubtedly improve the Gunners’ squad and even the first-team, it would be hard to honestly describe any of them as genuine game-changers who’d be able to come right into the first team and almost single-handedly fire the North Londoners to Premier League or even European glory.

On the other hand, Alexander Isak certainly could and, therefore, would, without doubt, be a truly game-changing addition to Arteta’s squad.

The Newcastle United striker is one of the most exciting forwards in world football and has been consistently touted for a move to the Emirates for quite some time now.

While signing him would be incredibly challenging, reports from late last year revealed that the Toon might be willing to cash in for a whopping £150m.

Now, that is an extraordinary amount of money, but the Swedish international is an extraordinary player, and from what we have seen of him over the last season and a bit, he is likely worth every penny.

For example, in just 40 appearances last term, totalling 2973 minutes, the Solna-born “nightmare,” as dubbed by Alan Shearer, scored 25 goals and provided two assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.48 games, or every 110.11 minutes.

Somehow, the 25-year-old monster, whom Jamie Carragher labelled “the best striker in the Premier League,” has done even better this season and, in just 30 appearances, totalling 2367 minutes, has scored 21 goals and provided five assists, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 1.15 games, or every 91.03 minutes.

Ultimately, Arsenal have done incredibly well to get back to the top table of English football in recent years, but their lack of business in January has undoubtedly damaged the trust the fans had in the board.

So if they, and especially Ayto, want to win that back in the summer, they have to go big in the transfer market, and they can’t go much bigger than signing Isak.

Outscoring Saka & Havertz: Arsenal must rue releasing "world-class" star

The incredible striker would be unreal for Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Feb 21, 2025

The annual NXGN lists are back for another year, highlighting 25 of the most incredible teenage talents in the women's game

The annual NXGN lists are back for 2024, as GOAL ranks the world's top teenage talents in men's and women's football, crowning winners that will follow names like Lena Oberdorf, Jude Bellingham, Melchie Dumornay and Rodrygo in being recognised as the best young footballer on the planet.

Covering all five continents and representing 18 different countries, the 2024 Women's NXGN list is a truly global one, featuring established senior internationals, title winners and names that already have lit up major tournaments, as well as prospects who look set to have those achievements in their futures.

Without further ado, here is the 2024 Women's NXGN list, ranking the 25 top young talents born on or after January 1, 2005…

• GOAL
  

  25Brooke Aspin (Chelsea – loan at Bristol City)

  Brooke Aspin has been showing off the qualities that make her one of England's most exciting prospects ever since she broke into the Bristol City first team at the age of 16. Fast-forward two years, and she's helped the Robins win promotion to the Women's Super League, overcome an incredible personal battle with the life-threatening illness that is sepsis and signed for Chelsea, the dominant power in English women's football.

  A born leader as well as a determined defender, 18-year-old Aspin is not short of ambition and she has the talent to help her achieve whatever she wants.

Advertisement

• GOAL
  

  24Toko Koga (Feyenoord)

  Previously quoted as saying that one of her career goals is to be a successful player overseas, Toko Koga took the first bold leap towards achieving that in January when, having just celebrated her 18th birthday, she left home to join Feyenoord in the Netherlands. The versatile defender has already become a fixture in the starting XI at her new club thanks to her impressive technical ability, athletic qualities and tendency to be an aerial threat.

  The excitement around Koga's potential is well-recognised within the Japan set-up, too, with her already starting to be integrated into the senior team by head coach Futoshi Ikeda.

• GOAL
  

  23Liana Joseph (Lyon)

  It's hard to put into words just how impressive Liana Joseph's contributions in the 2023 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship final were. Spain completely dominated the first half, but France's No.9 slowly started to send a few warning signs after the break, and it was just past the hour when she punished them on the counter, finishing coolly to give France a lead that she then doubled 10 minutes later.

  It's not going to be easy for Joseph to break through at Lyon, but the 17-year-old is already getting a few opportunities. The French giants would certainly be foolish not to make the most of her promising talent, too.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• GOAL
  

  22Amanda Allen (Orlando Pride)

  You have to be quite talented to make your senior international debut at the age of 17, especially for a nation that has just won Olympic gold. Amanda Allen is indeed quite talented. After squeezing that milestone in just in time to rub shoulders with Canada icon Christine Sinclair, the now-19-year-old forward is learning plenty from another legend of the game at club level, too, as part of an Orlando Pride roster that also includes Brazil's Marta.

  A fearless, confident attacking player who poses a threat to defenders in many different ways, Allen's evident desire to learn and improve makes her potential even greater.