All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

It is seemingly the worst kept secret in football that West Ham United are in pursuit of a new centre-forward addition, having as yet failed to replace £45m flop Sebastian Haller following his departure for Ajax in January 2021.

The Hammers had reportedly been eyeing a move for Benfica’s 22-year-old hotshot Darwin Nunez in January, although failed with what would have been a club-record bid on deadline day, leaving them scrambling once again this summer to acquire a suitable alternative to Michail Antonio.

According to recent reports, David Moyes may well have found his man, with respected insider Claret and Hugh naming Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah among a list of possible striking targets ahead of this summer. Reports from Football Insider last month also suggested that the Irons were in the chase for the forward.

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The 22-year-old, Gunners academy graduate faces an uncertain future at the Emirates with his existing deal set to expire in June, having also rejected potential offers of an extension from the club.

The player himself revealed that he may wait until the end of the campaign before making a decision as to where he will be plying his trade next term, although respected journalist Charles Watts has admitted that he thinks it unlikely that the forward will remain in north London beyond the summer.

That decision could be to West Ham’s gain, with Moyes and co offering an attractive destination, with Champions League qualification still a possibility should they run out winners in the Europa League.

A move for a new forward addition is seemingly a necessity for GSB in the upcoming window, with the club simply unable to rely on Michail Antonio as the sole, senior centre-forward for another campaign.

The Jamaica international has scored eight Premier League goals this season, although six of those came during the first nine top-flight outings, with the former Nottingham Forest man now on a dry spell stretching back to New Year’s Day.

Nketiah’s goal return has been poor in itself, with just two league goals so far this season, although he has only been afforded a consistent run in the side in recent weeks, notably bagging a brace in the vital 4-2 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

His display in the recent win over the Hammers particularly caught the eye, with pundit Graeme Souness insisting he was the “best player on the pitch” and that he has provided Arteta’s men with “a new dimension” such is his quality in leading the line.

The £9m-rated gem had been resigned to domestic cup duty prior to his recent return to league action, although has showcased his unerring quality in front of goal in those competitions, notably bagging five goals in just five games in the Carabao Cup this season.

He now has 20 goals in 88 starts for his current side, as well as 16 goals in just 17 outings at England U21 level, making him the nation’s record scorer at that age group.

There is undoubtedly a great deal of potential there for a player once dubbed “extraordinary” by his current boss, with Moyes and co having the chance to take a gamble on that exciting talent without having to spend a penny, with the youngster available on a free transfer.

Despite largely being renowned for his finishing, he also puts in the hard yards too, ranking in the top 1% for tackles made and the top 10% for pressures among players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues, as well as in the top 11% for interceptions made.

Although Antonio has featured more regularly this season, his defensive stats are far inferior, with it time now that those at the London Stadium turn their attentions towards the younger man across the city.

In other news, GSB must complete WHU swoop for “unbelievable” £31.5m-rated star, Moyes will love him…

Aston Villa are ‘really keen’ on a deal for Bologna left-back Aaron Hickey, according to Ashley Preece.

The Lowdown: January links

Described as ‘incredible’ by Villa coach Austin MacPhee during the pair’s time at Hearts, Hickey was linked with a move to the Midlands in the January window.

Reports even suggested that Villa made a late winter window offer for Hickey which was rejected, with the Scot remaining in Serie A beyond the deadline.

Villa’s failed bid was thought to be worth £8.3m with a 20% sell-on clause, and it looks as if the club will go back in for the 19-year-old this summer.

The Latest: Precee’s claim

Preece held a Birmingham Live Q&A on Thursday morning, discussing a whole range of Villa Park topics.

As to be expected, one of those was on transfers, with one supporter asking Preece if he thinks a move for Hickey will materialise. This is what he had to say in reply, revealing Villa are still ‘really keen’.

“Villa really keen on that one. Club will wait for Targett to tie up £15m Newcastle move (expected to go through start of July) before progressing to sign Hickey.”

The Verdict: Smart move?

As Preece states, Matt Targett looks set to seal a permanent move to Newcastle, which will leave Gerrard with just Lucas Digne and Ashley Young as left-back options heading into his first full season in charge.

Young is out of contract in the summer and will be 37 before the start of the 2022/23 campaign, while Digne may not feature again this season through injury.

Therefore, bringing in Hickey, who has been a regular in Italy this season and even earned his first two Scotland caps, could be a smart move, with many in the media expecting him to explode in 2022.

He’d rival Digne for a starting spot in the Midlands and would also provide Gerrard with an option as a left-midfielder and even on the right-hand side if required.

In other news: ‘I’m told…’ – Preece reveals big Aston Villa ‘deal’ Gerrard wants now on the verge. 

Manchester United certainly raised eyebrows during the summer transfer window, especially after dropping over £200m on new additions to bolster their first-team ranks.

Such spending may have come as a surprise to many, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe previously stating before the summer that no massive deals would be conducted.

The vast majority of their efforts were directed to the final third, as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko were all added to Ruben Amorim’s attacking department.

However, the trio have all made an immediate impact at Old Trafford, scoring seven times between them in the first nine Premier League outings of 2025/26.

As a result of their shopping spree, it would be a surprise to no one that other players will need to be offloaded during the January window to try and balance the books.

The United players who could leave the club in January

Over the last couple of days, United forward Joshua Zirkzee has been strongly touted with an exit from Old Trafford – no doubt due to the form of the aforementioned trio.

It was reported earlier this week that the Dutch international is keen on a temporary or permanent move away from the Red Devils in January, with Aston Villa interested in his signature.

Manuel Ugarte is another first-team member who could be shown the exit door in the next few months, with his move to the Premier League failing to deliver at present.

The Uruguayan international cost a staggering £50m from Ligue 1 outfit PSG last summer, but his move has failed to hit the heights – as seen by his lack of game time under Amorim in 2025/26.

He’s only made two starts in England’s top-flight this season, even dropping behind 33-year-old Casemiro in the club’s pecking order during the early stages of the campaign.

One other first-team member in the form of Diogo Dalot could also find himself one step closer to the exit door after failing to impress over the last couple of months.

Despite making six league appearances under Amorim this season, the Portuguese international has fallen way below the standards expected of him – as seen by his tallies compared to the other options at the manager’s disposal.

The 26-year-old has only completed 75% of the passes he’s attempted in the Premier League, the lowest of any defender in the Red Devils squad – showcasing his lack of impact in recent weeks.

The United star now on borrowed time

The Erik ten Hag era at United was a period largely full of disappointment, with the Dutchman unable to take the club back to their former glory during his tenure in charge.

The 55-year-old spent a little over two years in the role at Old Trafford, achieving a 56% win record and also winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during such a period.

However, the eighth-place finish in 2023/24 was disappointing to many fans, with the start to last season ultimately spelling the end of his time in England.

Ten Hag was responsible for bringing Zirkzee and Ugarte both to the Theatre of Dreams, further highlighting how disappointing his work in the transfer market at the helm.

Despite the failures in the window, the Dutchman deserves huge credit for his work in the development of midfielder Kobbie Mainoo – subsequently handing the youngster the chance to cement his place in the first team.

He would have been an unknown quantity to many supporters, but the 20-year-old amassed a total of 32 appearances in 2023/24, even scoring on five separate occasions.

Many of his efforts were crucial ones, from last-minute winners against Wolverhampton Wanderers and efforts against Manchester City in the FA Cup final – it truly was a season to remember for the academy graduate.

Such performances led to journalist Liam Canning labelling Mainoo as United’s “best player” in March 2024, but it’s safe to say it’s not been plain sailing for the youngster since Amorim’s arrival.

In the Premier League in 2025/26, the Englishman has failed to start a single outing, subsequently being restricted to just seven substitute appearances – totalling just 138 minutes in the process.

Games played

25

Minutes played

1656

Pass accuracy

87%

Chances created

1.7

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

63%

Duels won

5.9

Interceptions made

1.2

Recoveries made

4.8

Mainoo has previously voiced his displeasure at the lack of action since the 40-year-old’s appointment – even requesting a temporary loan move away this summer to gain valuable game time.

However, such a request was swiftly rejected by the manager and the board, but he still remains behind the likes of Ugarte and Casemiro in the current pecking order.

Given the lack of faith shown in him by the manager, it’s safe to say the youngster will be on borrowed time at Old Trafford, and the club could look to cash in on him – with a £70m price tag previously mooted.

Ten Hag may have struggled in the role, but one of the best things he did in Manchester was show the needed faith in Mainoo to allow him to flourish in the professional game.

Amorim could learn a thing or two from the Dutchman, as the Red Devils potentially risk offloading yet another top talent far too prematurely.

Casemiro replacement: Man Utd to make £42m bid for "one of the best CMs"

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for a new midfielder in January.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 29, 2025

It seems that the Everton bubble has now well and truly burst under David Moyes.

Only one meagre win has been picked up in the Premier League by the Toffees across their last five contests in the demanding division, with Tottenham Hotspur applying a lot more salt to the Merseyside outfit’s wound when humbling them 3-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday evening.

Micky van de Ven’s quickfire double would kill the contest in the first half, before Pape Matar Sarr made sure of the three points when his late effort beat Jordan Pickford.

Unfortunately for Everton, Beto forgot to pack his shooting boots again, leading the line for his out-of-form side, with the number nine cutting an isolated figure once more.

Why Beto may be dropped

To his credit, he did try to acrobatically beat Guglielmo Vicario in the second half after a quick run forward by Iliman Ndiaye found him in space. Unfortunately, as is his luck at the moment, the Italian pulled off a jaw-dropping save to preserve his clean sheet.

That means the ex-Udinese attacker’s goalless run of form in the Premier League now stretches to six straight matches, with this audacious effort on goal his only real memorable contribution during the 3-0 defeat.

Indeed, Beto would only amass 14 touches of the ball during his 66-minute stint on the pitch, with the aforementioned Pickford even coming in with more, having tallied up a far greater 36 come the full-time whistle.

Even when the ball was at his feet, he did very little with it, with just four accurate passes accumulated, away from the imposing 6-foot-4 attacker, also only winning two of the six duels he went in for, as he let his side down aerially.

Van De Ven would have no trouble in the air; on the other hand, as his two headers sealed all three points for Thomas Frank’s very effective visitors.

While the commanding Dutchman stood out as a major positive both in attack and in defence for Spurs, Everton looked regularly ropey themselves when push came to shove defensively, with this underperformer at the back now fearing for his first-team spot, alongside a goal-shy Beto.

The 4/10 Everton flop who must now be dropped

It will certainly worry Moyes in the Toffees dug-out that his side haven’t kept a clean sheet in league action since facing off against Aston Villa in the middle of September.

To try and remedy his team’s ongoing defensive issues, the Glaswegian could be prepared to drop Vitaliy Mykolenko, who endured another torrid evening in the Premier League against Frank’s rampant away side.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

58

Accurate passes

27/38 (71%)

Accurate crosses

0/3

Successful dribbles

0/1

Possession lost

19x

Tackles won

0/1

Clearances

3

Ball recoveries

3

Total duels won

3/10

Dribbled past

2x

The more you read into the table above, the more damning Mykolenko’s poor day at the office becomes, with the Ukrainian full-back failing to register a single accurate cross, a single successful dribble, or a single successful tackle won across his disastrous 90 minutes.

To pile on the misery even more, the out-of-sorts number 16 also managed to lose possession a costly 19 times down the left flank across the entire duration of the 3-0 loss, while only 30% of his duels were also won. Safe to say, he won’t be looking back on his sixth Premier League start of the season with much glee.

Moyes could well have seen enough to be convinced to drop his 4/10 defender – as was the low post-match rating handed to him by Liverpool World’s Will Rooney – for Everton’s next league contest versus the top-flight’s biggest surprise package of the season so far in Sunderland, with the adaptable James Garner a potential candidate who could replace him, alongside summer recruit Adam Aznou.

It’s clear from Everton’s overall showing that things have become alarmingly stagnant and quick, as Moyes looked dejected when speaking to the media after the game.

He will surely be hoping for a much-improved performance from his downtrodden team at the Stadium of Light at the start of next month, as Beto and Mykolenko are both potentially moved out of his starting XI plans.

Everton scouts spotted watching "incredible" striker with 42 goals in 49 games

This would be a sensational piece of business.

ByHenry Jackson Oct 24, 2025

Leeds United were willing to splash the cash to back Daniel Farke in the summer transfer window to bolster the squad for a season in the Premier League.

Whilst they may not have brought in the winger, Harry Wilson, that they wanted on deadline day, the Whites did add to the manager’s options in several key positions across the pitch.

Their work in the summer window has helped them earn eight points from their first seven Premier League matches. A very respectable return for a newly-promoted outfit.

Ranking Leeds United's summer signings

The Championship champions brought in ten new signings to improve the squad in the summer, and we have ranked them based on how they have looked so far.

We have gone for Noah Okafor in first place because the winger has scored two Premier League goals already and looks like he could be a real difference-maker in the final third, which could be the difference between being relegated and staying up.

1

Noah Okafor

2

Anton Stach

3

Gabriel Gudmundsson

4

Sean Longstaff

5

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

6

Lukas Nmecha

7

Lucas Perri

8

James Justin

9

Jaka Bijol

10

Sebastiaan Bornauw

Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and James Justin are all in the bottom three because they have played 18 minutes of Premier League football between them.

Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson, and Anton Stach have been regular starters and established themselves in the XI fairly quickly, hence their rankings, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin still has a bit to prove with one goal and eight ‘big chances’ missed in all competitions, per Sofascore.

Whilst it remains to be seen how these signings will be remembered in the future, we can review how some of the club’s signings performed when they were last promoted to the Premier League.

The Whites splashed the cash to break their transfer record to sign Rodrigo for Marcelo Bielsa in the summer of 2020, and the transfer did not go exactly to plan.

How much money Leeds United lost on Rodrigo

Leeds reportedly paid a fee of £27m to sign the Spain international to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch, but he failed to provide consistent quality in the final third.

Rodrigo scored seven goals and provided two assists in 27 Premier League matches in the 2020/21 campaign, before a return of six goals and one assist in 31 games in the 2021/22 season, per Sofascore.

At the end of that second season, journalist Phil Hay said: “My criticism more and more is that the impact of that investment just hasn’t been felt. Not enough of their signings have made a difference.

“Even on Wednesday, watching Rodrigo against Chelsea, I still can’t work out what he is. Where does he really fit in and is he ever going to work. That’s a £27million player.”

The reporter could not work out where the left-footed forward would fit in, and it was fair to question his contributions after 13 goals in two seasons as a £27m club-record signing.

In that 2021/22 campaign, pundit and former player Michael Dawson also claimed that he was “hiding” and “non-existent” in a clash with Southampton in October 2021, which shows that pundits and journalists alike were unimpressed with his performances.

Rodrigo scored 13 goals in the 2022/23 campaign, as Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, and eventually left the club to join Al-Rayyan for a fee of just £3m.

This shows that the Whites had a howler with the signing of the Spaniard because he was criticised by pundits and journalists in his first two seasons at the club, scored goals in a season that the team struggled in, and then left for £24m less than what he was signed for.

The new Phillips: Leeds star has made effortless transition to PL life

This Leeds United star has made an effortless transition to the Premier League in the same way that Kalvin Phillips did.

ByDan Emery Oct 7, 2025

It was a signing that did not prove to be value for money in the long run, and Farke and the 49ers will be hoping that none of this summer’s transfers are remembered as poorly as this one.

Glasgow Rangers central midfielder Nicolas Raskin is facing an uncertain future at Ibrox in the summer transfer window, amid interest from a host of clubs.

Plenty of teams south of the border have all been linked with an interest in the midfielder in recent weeks.

It would be a big blow for Russell Martin to lose the Belgian this summer, after the 24-year-old Rangers star racked up five goals and 11 assists in the Scottish Premiership and the Europa League combined last term.

However, Raskin is not the only player who the new Gers boss should be concerned about losing, as an offer has reportedly been made for another one of his key stars.

Offer submitted for Rangers star

Whilst the likes of Mohamed Diomande and Hamza Igamane have also been linked with moves away from Ibrox this summer, there is no interest in one of the club’s defenders.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, Trabzonspor are interested in a deal to snap up Glasgow Rangers central defender John Souttar ahead of next season.

The reporter claims that the Super Lig side, who have John Lundstram and Borna Barisic in their squad, have submitted an offer to tempt the Light Blues into cashing in on the Scotland international.

However, there is no mention of how much money has been put on the table by the European club, or whether or not Rangers would be willing to sell the former Hearts man this summer.

Why Rangers should keep John Souttar

The Gers should reject this offer from Trabzonspor in order to keep Souttar at Ibrox ahead of next season, as he is as important as Raskin to the team.

He is a leader and a strong presence at the back for the Light Blues, as a proven Premiership performer at the heart of the defence, and should be the player Martin builds the defence around.

Souttar, who was hailed for his “vintage” performances for Scotland by Andy Robertson, was the best centre-back at the club in the 2024/25 campaign, ahead of Robin Propper, as a dominant defensive force.

Appearances

24

27

Clearances per game

6.1

4.0

Dribbled past per game

0.1x

0.4x

Long pass accuracy

69%

46%

Ground duel success rate

74%

62%

Aerial duel success rate

66%

64%

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish titan was significantly better than the Dutch flop, as he was dribbled past fewer times per game and dominated opposition attackers with more efficiency.

Souttar also won 68% of his duels across ten appearances in the Europa League, making 6.6 clearances per game, which shows that he was also dominant on the European stage against high-quality opposition.

The 28-year-old colossus, who is in the prime years of his career, may not be as flashy and exciting as Raskin, who scores and assists goals at an impressive rate, but he is just as important to the team because of his reliable defensive work week-in-week-out.

Souttar is experienced, but not old, and can be counted on to deliver consistent performances when he is available to play, which is not something that should be overlooked as Rangers look to build a team to compete for the Premiership title.

Better than Gassama at Ibrox: Rangers racing to sign "wonderful" £10m star

Rangers are reportedly keen on a deal to sign a star who is even better than Djeidi Gassama.

ByDan Emery Jul 13, 2025

The Light Blues need experienced and dependable stars to help the younger players in the squad to settle in and adapt to playing regularly in the Premiership, which is why Souttar is so important for Martin and why the club should reject Trabzonspor’s offer.

West Ham United have now submitted a £22m offer for an “exciting” player who turned down a move to Manchester United, according to a report.

Hammers set for busy summer transfer window

There are set to be plenty of changes at the London Stadium this summer, with replacements needed for the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Danny Ings and Kurt Zouma, who have all been released following the expiration of their contracts.

It looks like some of the Hammers’ summer transfer business could be funded by another departure, with Mohammed Kudus emerging as a major target for two of their Premier League rivals.

The Hammers have already knocked back a £50m bid from Tottenham for Kudus, but with the north Londoners set to make another approach, it is looking increasingly likely that Graham Potter will need to bring in a new winger this summer.

Following Fabianski’s exit, a new goalkeeper will also be required, and West Ham have now made a €25m (£22m) offer for Parma shot-stopper Zion Suzuki, according to a report from Parma Live.

The Irons will have to submit a higher bid in order to get a deal over the line, however, considering the 22-year-old is happy to remain at Parma and the Italian club want to keep hold of him.

Offer made: West Ham now leading race to sign "powerful" £20m+ defender

The Hammers could be closing in on their first signing of the summer.

1 ByTom Cunningham Jul 6, 2025

Several Premier League clubs have also been named as potential suitors for Suzuki, including Chelsea and Man United, with the goalkeeper once turning down a move to Old Trafford because he didn’t want to be second choice behind Andre Onana.

"Exciting" Suzuki could be ideal signing for West Ham

Football scout Ben Mattinson was left impressed by the Japenese shot-stopper’s performances in the Serie A last season, saying: “Zion Suzuki pulled off a phenomenal save against Roma and he’s rightly making the headlines.

“Despite Parma’s struggles at times this season, Zion Suzuki has stood out for his performances in goal. Remains one of the most exciting young keepers right now.”

The New Jersey-born goalkeeper was a regular starter for the Serie A side throughout the campaign, indicating that he could immediately challenge for Alphonse Areola’s starting spot, and there are signs the Parma man could be an ideal signing for West Ham.

Having averaged 43.59 touches per 90 over the past year, which places him in the 89th percentile, Suzuki is clearly comfortable with his feet, which indicates he could be a good fit in a Potter system.

As such, the Hammers should return with a higher offer, especially given that a long-term replacement for Areola is needed, with the French goalkeeper now 32-years-old.

Tottenham Hotspur appear to have lost out in the race for a highly-rated forward, as La Liga champions Barcelona agree terms to seal his signature before Thomas Frank’s side had the chance.

Tottenham preparing bid for £30m colossus wanted by Napoli, Milan and Inter

Spurs could scupper Antonio Conte in the race for his signature.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2025

Spurs are expected to back their new manager to the hilt this summer, especially after they qualified for the Champions League with their historic Europa League final win in Bilbao.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The Lilywhites are set for a significant financial windfall, which Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge described as “huge” in terms of their recruitment drive. Chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange no longer have to operate under a sell-to-buy policy, with Spurs already agreeing a permanent deal for Mathys Tel as they continue to scour the market for new wingers.

With Son Heung-min’s future uncertain, amid links to Saudi Arabia, the likes of West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus, Man City outcast Jack Grealish, Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, Southampton sensation Tyler Dibling and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo have all been linked within the past fortnight.

Tottenham face competition from Man United for Mbeumo, who’ve now submitted a fresh £60 million bid for the Cameroonian, while Bournemouth are expected to demand around £70 million for Semenyo (The Athletic).

Levy and Lange will need to either dig deep into the Tottenham coffers or get very creative in their pursuit of a high-profile winger, as all of their reported targets are likely to cost a premium.

The north Londoners did have their eyes on a bargain option, though, in the form of FC Copenhagen starlet Roony Bardghji.

Bardghji, dubbed the ‘Swedish Messi’ by some, burst on to the scene with a heroic performance against Man United in the Champions League nearly two years ago.

He bagged a stunning late winner against them at the end of an unlikely 4-3 group stage victory over the Red Devils in November 2023, with Bardghji set to leave Copenhagen on the cheap this summer as his contract expires in late December.

The 19-year-old, after coming back from a serious injury, is now on the verge of joining Barcelona – but Spurs did try their hand.

Barcelona hijack Tottenham talks for Roony Bardghji

Tottenham held talks with Bardghji and his representatives in a bid to tempt the winger to London, according to journalist Graeme Bailey and TBR Football, but Barça are now seemingly set to “win the race” for his signature.

That is according to TBR again in another update this week, with Bailey reporting that while Tottenham hoped to inspire a ‘Lucas Bergvall-type’ transfer by opening talks with Bardghji, Hansi Flick’s side have hijacked their move by closing in on a deal for the top talent.

This is echoed by reliable media sources like Fabrizio Romano, who believe that Bardghji’s move to the Camp Nou is merely a matter of time with terms agreed.

Levy has now missed out on a potential bargain forward who could’ve joined for the meagre price of just £1.7 million, not to mention a player who’s been likened to Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah.

“He has very similar characteristics to Mohamed Salah,” said Scandinavian journalist Nicklas Degn.

“When Copenhagen have to come up with something brilliant or unlock a team, it is Roony they look to. He has this unique talent.”

It’s safe to say that Liverpool fans will have very little care for the ongoing Club World Cup in the United States of America. In fact, not many football fans in general have tuned in for proceedings just yet.

Chelsea’s opening game with LAFC was played in front of a minuscule crowd considering how big the stadium actually was.

Despite that, there are some talking points on the pitch, none more so than Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Real Madrid got their campaign underway against Saudi side Al Hilal on Wednesday and could only manage a 1-1 draw. Perhaps the gap to Saudi’s top sides isn’t as big as we may think.

How the media world reacted to Trent’s debut

It doesn’t feel like long ago now that Alexander-Arnold announced to the fanbase that he’d be leaving his boyhood club behind in favour of the Spanish capital, Madrid.

After he let it be know that he’d be departing; the right-back was understandably greeted with a chorus of boos. For one of the club’s most infamous academy graduates, this was surprising.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Yet, once all was said and done, the right-back didn’t actually end up leaving on a free transfer.

Before the aforementioned Club World Cup got underway, there was a frenzy in the transfer market as a plethora of teams tried to get early deals over the line.

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ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025

At Chelsea, it was striker Liam Delap arriving while Manchester City confirmed the additions of Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki. Not bad at all.

As far as Madrid were concerned, they ended up parting ways with around £8m in order to bring Alexander-Arnold to the club in time for the beginning of this summer’s tournament in the USA.

Well, after his debut on Wednesday evening, Florentino Perez and Co may well be wishing he hadn’t officially signed yet.

This clearly wasn’t Madrid at full strength but it was a horrible afternoon for the Merseyside defender.

He was slapped with a 5/10 match rating from one Real-based outlet, who noted the full-back had ‘some problems’ in the first half and was rather ‘discreet’ throughout.

Another Spanish publication, Football Espana, weren’t too kind either, also giving Trent a rating of 5/10. They were also damning of his abilities, writing that it was an ‘underwhelming’ debut where he was ‘not at his best defensively’. Now, isn’t that a surprise?

Closer to home, 90min gave the new signing a 4/10 rating, making note of how he ‘sometimes forgot’ his marking duties.

How Trent compares to Huijsen on debut

Also making his debut for Madrid in the game with Al Hilal was Dean Huijsen.

The Spaniard was the subject of interest from a plethora of Premier League clubs before the window got underway with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in particular chasing their signature.

The Reds were reportedly one of the favourites to prise him away from Bournemouth but like Alexander-Arnold, Madrid was an offer he could not refuse.

As it happens, the centre-back enjoyed a far better maiden game in Real colours, handed a 7/10 rating by Football Espana.

They wrote that, ‘in contrast to Alexander-Arnold, Huijsen looked assured in his debut. He helped a lot in build-up, which would have pleased Alonso.’

65

Mins played

90

2

Clearances

3

1

Interceptions

1

0

Tackles

3

57

Touches

80

89%

Accurate passes

87%

1

Key passes

1

1/4

Ground duels won

6/6

0/1

Aerial duels won

2/4

Despite the setbacks of not signing Huijsen and losing Trent, Liverpool appear to be in a good place, having confirmed the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong and reportedly on the verge of signing Florian Wirtz in a British record deal and Milos Kerkez.

Therefore, it’s unlikely they’ll be losing too much sleep over the Alexander-Arnold situation now.

Dream Huijsen alternative: Liverpool enter race to sign £50m Van Dijk heir

With a deal for Florian Wirtz all but signed, Liverpool are considering a swoop for a centre-back.

3 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 11, 2025