All posts by n8rngtd.top

We are just one week into the Premier League season, and Arsenal already have a significant injury setback.

News broke yesterday afternoon that, after only just recovering from his hamstring injury that ruled him out of half of last season, Kai Havertz is out with a knee problem.

It’s not clear what the specific injury is, but it looks like the German will be out of action for some time, which is not what Mikel Arteta needs with a trip to Liverpool coming up.

However, there is some good news for the Arsenal faithful, as the club are being linked with an international star who could be the manager’s next Havertz.

Arsenal target their next Havertz

It has been an interesting summer for Arsenal so far this year, as just a few weeks ago, following Viktor Gyokeres’ arrival, spirits were high.

Transfer Focus

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

However, the sentiment in the fanbase took a nosedive this morning, mainly down to the news that Eberechi Eze looked almost certain to be heading to rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Unsurprisingly, this mood was not helped by the Havertz update, although Arsenal have acted quickly to give supporters something to look forward to with the Gunners incredibly hijacking Spurs’ bid to sign Eze, now agreeing a move themselves.

Eze hasn’t been the only Premier League attacker on the club’s radar. According to a recent report from the Sun, which has claimed Arsenal are still very interested in Morgan Rogers.

The report has revealed that the Gunners are now ‘weighing up a dramatic swoop’ for the Aston Villa star, who is valued at around £80m.

It goes on to claim that while the North Londoners were already keeping tabs on the Englishman, the injury to Havertz has only ‘increased the likelihood’ that the club will go back into the market.

It’s a lot of money to spend on one player, but Rogers is an outrageously talented player and would be more than worth it, especially as he could be Arteta’s new Havertz.

How Rogers would be Arteta's new Havertz

So, the first thing to say is that, yes, Rogers and Havertz have not played in the same position over the last couple of seasons.

However, while that is not the primary basis of this comparison, there are a few other similarities that suggest the Englishman could be Arteta’s new version of the German.

For example, while we are on the topic of positions, they both share the trait of being versatile and playing where their managers want them to.

In the case of the Villa star, he’s spent much of his time at the club moving between attacking midfield and both wings and has even spent a little bit of time up top, which might come in handy at the moment.

The former Chelsea ace, on the other hand, has primarily spent time leading the line, but was originally a left eight when he arrived in North London, and even spent some time on the right last season.

The other key similarity is that, if this transfer goes through at the price reported, it would be another massive signing from a fellow Premier League side, and one that is challenging the European places.

Finally, both players are now full internationals, and while the former Bayer Leverkusen player has far more senior caps to his name, that would be expected given the age gap.

With all that said, there is another massive reason why Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign the former Middlesbrough gem: his output.

For example, in his 54 appearances across all competitions last season, totalling 4496 minutes, the Halesowen-born “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, scored 14 goals and provided 16 assists.

That means the often “unstoppable” midfielder, as dubbed by former Liverpool defender turned pundit Jamie Carragher, was able to average a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 149.86 minutes.

Having that sort of output in this team could be the difference between another second-place finish and glory.

Ultimately, even before the injury to Havertz, Arsenal should have gone all out to sign Rogers, but now we know the German will be out for some time, the club should be solely focused on bringing the Villa star to the Emirates.

Fabrizio Romano: Arsenal could move for "interesting" target in £43m star

The Gunners have a potential late-window opportunity.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 20, 2025

Liverpool beat Bournemouth to get their Premier League title defence off to a flyer, though it was hardly a match without its vulnerabilities for the Anfield side as their defensive frailties were exposed against a spirited Cherries side.

Arne Slot cut a cool figure throughout his maiden year at the Liverpool helm, but he was left hot under the collar after Antoine Semenyo led a fightback from the visitors, who found themselves two goals down after the hour mark when Cody Gakpo coolly dispatched following Hugo Ekitike’s first-half goal, making it two in two for the £79m summer signing.

But while there was plenty of attacking intent on display, the Reds struggled to produce the kind of complete performance that the fanbase would have hoped for as they kicked off their title defence.

Liverpool's performance vs Bournemouth

Mohamed Salah got his goal in the last embers, paying an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota as he did so. His goal followed the volleyed strike of Federico Chiesa, who restored the lead before stoppage time after Semenyo’s double exposed Liverpool’s defensive problems.

But the Merseysiders got the job done, cementing their title defence with three points. Virgil van Dijk improved after his error-strewn display at Wembley in the Community Shield, but Slot’s backline struggled to perform, with Ibrahima Konate in particular singled out as a weak link, looking rusty in central defence.

While the pursuit of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak continues to rumble in the background, there will be plenty of attention on the other end of the field, with a £26m deal completed for 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni and a move still in the works for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

But Liverpool have already welcomed some new quality to their ranks, with two new starters playing against Bournemouth.

One of the newbies showed shades of the recently sold Darwin Nunez, and it wasn’t the goalscoring Ekitike.

Liverpool's new Darwin Nunez

Liverpool might have earned themselves a winning start to the Premier League campaign, but it was far from convincing against a slick Bournemouth side who implemented a high press to a good effect.

And Milos Kerkez certainly left plenty to be desired on his first league appearance in a Liverpool shirt. It was always going to be a match freighted with nerves for the 21-year-old, especially when pitted against his old Bournemouth teammates and Semenyo, who emerged the victor in that individual battle.

The young Hungarian lacked control and composure, lunging in with a series of challenges and being shown the flash of Antony Taylor’s yellow card before being replaced by the veteran Andy Robertson before the hour mark.

It was an erratic display which evoked memories of that man Nunez, who was sent off on his Anfield debut three years ago in a 1-1 draw with Fulham.

According to Sofascore, the 21-year-old won four of his ten attempted duels and made five clearances for Liverpool, also completing 93% of his passes, but he was also handed a 5/10 match rating by the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle, who drew attention to Semenyo getting the better of his former teammate at the Vitality Stadium.

Though Nunez ultimately succumbed to his mercurial nature, unable to channel it and succeed under first Jurgen Klopp’s wing and the Slot’s, his high-level talent was never up for question on Merseyside.

And the same could be said of Kerkez, who last season was remarked to be “one of the most talented left-backs in world football” by scout Jacek Kulig.

The rising star will hope to establish more of a stable level of success at Liverpool than Nunez, who joined Al Hilal this summer after three years with the Reds, but there’s no question that he will need to temper his aggression if he wishes to succeed Robertson and play a confident part in a backline that even at this early stage has shown that improvements are needed as Slot quests for a successful title defence.

He'd get Isak & Wirtz firing: Liverpool could sign "one of the best LWs"

Liverpool may yet sign a few more forwards in the transfer market this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 15, 2025

The Ballon d'Or. Love it or loathe it, it's the award every footballer in the world dreams of one day winning. And now, after a memorable 2024-25 campaign, the winner of the 2025 Golden Ball has been announced: Ousmane Dembele.

The France international was widely regarded as the best player on the best team in Europe last season, with Dembele scoring 35 times during Paris Saint-Germain's historic treble triumph.

Dembele finished just ahead of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who continues to wow the world with his wondrous performances on the wing for both Barcelona and Spain, while another PSG player, Vitinha, capped a remarkable rise to prominence by taking the final spot on the podium.

That trio were up at the very top of the rankings for 2025, but how did the rest of the 30-man shortlist shake out when all the votes were counted? Check out the official rankings below:

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  30Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)

  Olise slotted straight in at Bayern after his summer switch from Crystal Palace. Those who had watched him at Selhurst Park were familiar with his twinkling feet and sparkling dribbling, but very few pundits predicted 43 goal involvements in his first season at the Allianz Arena. Only right, then, that such a fantastic campaign earned Ballon d'Or recognition.

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  29Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)

  Liverpool's big-money signing of the summer enjoyed a brilliant final year with Bayer Leverkusen, contributing 16 goals and 15 assists as the club finished second in the Bundesliga. He was injured when Bayern Munich knocked them out of the Champions League, and that feels like no coincidence.

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  28Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

  The 34-year-old shows no signs of slowing down at Liverpool. He has signed a new contract, will be staying at Anfield for the foreseeable future, and played every game but one as the Reds lifted the Premier League trophy. Still a truly excellent defender. 

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  27Declan Rice (Arsenal)

  Rice appears to be back to his very best at Arsenal. The England international stunned supporters with an incredible brace of free-kicks in the Champions League thumping of Real Madrid, but the Gunners endured disappointment in both Europe and the Premier League, ultimately ending the season trophy-less. Rice, though, can hold his head up high after an excellent campaign. 

Wayne Rooney has continued his back and forth with under-fire Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, pointing out that the Portuguese should “expect to be criticised” given how desperate the situation has become at Old Trafford. Amorim continues to see his future called into question after just 50 games in charge of the Red Devils, with positive results proving hard to come by.

• Safe for now: Amorim's win ratio as Man Utd boss

  Amorim kept his neck off the chopping block, for now at least, when seeing United to a 2-0 victory over Sunderland in their final game before the latest international break. While that win has helped to raise collective spirits a little, it is just the 19th success enjoyed by the Red Devils under their current coaching team.

  A win ratio of 38 per cent is considered to be well below par for a manager at Old Trafford, with United eager to push themselves back into contention for the most prestigious of honours. Rooney, as the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer, has suggested that he cannot see that happening any time soon.

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  Amorim's response to criticism from Rooney & Neville

  He told podcast when casting a critical eye over events in Manchester: “I just don't know what's going on. I have tried my hand in management and it didn't work out too well, I get it. Ruben Amorim is my age, he is still a young manager and I'm sure he still has a massive future, but what's going on at Man Utd, this is not Man Utd. I honestly hope he can turn it around and he does. But if you're saying to me, 'do you believe he will?', then, after everything I've seen, honestly, I've got no faith in it.”

  When quizzed on those comments, with Gary Neville another United legend who has asked uncomfortable questions of United and their tactical approach of late, Amorim said: “It’s normal, you can not run away from the results and then you have the baggage from last season. Last season, for me, it doesn’t matter. In relation of this season, we have already spoken about that. I am not saying this team will play better in a different system or not, that is not my point. My point is that if I look at the games we didn’t win, the most important thing when I watched the game was not that we lost because of the system. People have different opinions, that is ok.”

• Rooney hoping to see reversal in fortune for Man Utd

  Rooney has now joined the discussion once more, adding on his when reacting to the latest quotes from Amorim and his reluctance to consider a change in philosophy: “When I made them comments, it's not something I really want to do, but I feel you have to tell the truth on it. And Ruben Amorim himself has been critical of the players. And, you know, it wasn’t long ago he was telling us it was the worst Man Utd team in the history of the club. And that's him being honest, and if that's his thoughts, that's his thoughts. But for the players, they have to keep focused on what they're doing and he's the manager, listening to what he's saying and tactically what he wants and try and win games.

  “And that's the only way it changes really. Unfortunately, I've been there as a player and, you know, being criticised as a player and you have to just try and focus on your job and try and win games. And you are at Manchester United – it's still one of the biggest clubs in the world, so you have to expect to be criticised when you don't win or don't play well. And on the flip side to that, the benefits of playing well and winning games are huge.”

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  Anfield next up: Man Utd preparing for Liverpool trip

  Amorim has a couple of weeks to work with players who are not heading off with their respective countries on international duty. He will hope to have United ready to claim back-to-back wins in the Premier League when they take in a testing trip to old adversaries Liverpool on October 19.

Celtic are now in talks to sign a versatile defender who has been compared to Hoops star Alistair Johnston.

Celtic on course to sign Balikwisha

It could be a busy last week of the transfer window for those at Parkhead, with Hoops supporters voicing their frustrations at the lack of signings in the club’s 0-0 Champions League qualifier against Kairat Almaty.

Boost for Rodgers: The new signing Celtic want to make alongside Balikwisha

This is music to the ears of Hoops supporters.

By
Henry Jackson

Aug 22, 2025

So far this summer, Celtic have spent just under £4m on seven new players, whereas they received an initial £16.5m by selling Nicolas Kuhn to Como. Brendan Rodgers admitted after the draw in midweek that Celtic “need” more signings before the September 1 deadline.

“We need to improve the squad. There was clarity around that for a long time. So we see that. I think supporters see that. We certainly do in football. We need to improve. This is a performance club. This is a club that has to perform. And that starts on the field. You do that with getting the very best players you possibly can to allow you to perform.”

The Hoops have been heavily linked with Royal Antwerp forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha and now look set to sign the Belgian. Taking to X on Saturday, Sacha Tavolieri said:

It isn’t just Balikwisha who the Hoops are after, though, with defensive additions also on the agenda.

Celtic also in talks to sign full-back Marcelo Saracchi

According to journalist Cesar Luis Merlo, Celtic are interested in signing Boca Juniors full-back Marcelo Saracchi. It is claimed that the Hoops have “opened negotiations” for Saracchi, with a potential loan-to-buy option on the cards.

The 27-year-old is primarily a left-back but can also play as a right-back or left midfielder when required so would offer plenty of versatility to Rodgers’s squad.

A Uruguay international, Saracchi has previous experience in Europe, playing in the Champions League for RB Leipzig. He has also turned out for Turkish side Galatasaray and Spanish outfit Levante before moving to Boca Juniors in 2023.

Since then, Saracchi has made more than 50 appearances for his current employers, scoring four goals and registering five assists.

As can be seen, Saracchi has also been compared to Johnston among other impressive full-backs, so he could be the competition Rodgers is after for the Canadian and Kieran Tierney, possibly filling in for the right-back who will be out for three months with a hamstring injury.

West Ham United have endured somewhat of a dilemma at centre-back in recent days, with Graham Potter yet to have an established partnership at the heart of his defence.

Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos started the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday – subsequently keeping their first clean sheet of the new Premier League season.

However, Nayef Aguerd looks set to depart the Hammers after refusing to travel with the squad for the trip to the East Midlands – with Marseille expected to land the Moroccan before the transfer deadline.

As a result, the manager and the hierarchy have been tirelessly targeting other options in the market to try and bolster the depth in such a department.

Numerous names have been mentioned throughout deadline day, with multiple players being frequently mentioned over a switch to the London Stadium.

West Ham’s hunt for a centre-back on deadline day

Earlier today, Braga star Bright Arrey-Mbi was seen as a viable option for West Ham – with a deal seemingly heading in the right direction before the 7pm deadline.

However, a deal has since gone quiet, which has seen the Hammers’ hierarchy pursue moves for various other targets – mainly in the Premier League.

The latest name mentioned is Chelsea’s Axel Disasi, with the Frenchman currently not part of Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans for the 2025/26 campaign.

It’s been reported by journalist Fabrice Hawkins that Potter’s side have made a late approach to the Blues to try and sign the 27-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa.

It’s unclear if the deal is a permanent or temporary one, but the Hammers are making a last-ditch attempt to secure his signature before the window slams shut.

Why West Ham’s latest is better than Igor

Deadline day always springs up a surprise or two, with this year’s instalment being no different – with West Ham being involved in a saga to land Brighton star Igor Julio.

The Brazilian centre-back has been allowed to depart by manager Fabian Hürzeler, after dropping down the pecking order in recent months at the AMEX.

He looked set to complete a loan move to Crystal Palace, but Oliver Glasner’s side pulled the plug on the transfer – resulting in Potter’s men taking advantage in recent hours.

It’s been reported that the 27-year-old has since travelled to East London to complete a move to join the Irons – but the hierarchy face a race against time to complete the transfer.

However, despite the move for the Brazilian, they could still complete a transfer for Disasi in the closing stages of the window – further adding needed depth to the backline.

When comparing their respective stats from the Premier League last season, the Chelsea man managed to outperform him in key areas – subsequently making him a better addition for Potter and Co.

Disasi, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by one content creator, managed to win more tackles and came out on top in more aerial battles – offering a needed defensive presence given the Hammers’ tally of eight goals conceded in three league games.

His dominance over Igor defensively is further highlighted in his tally of clearances and interceptions made per 90 – further handing Frank the added quality he craves at the back.

In possession, the Frenchman has been just as impressive, completing more progressive carries per 90 – arguably being a great ball-playing option should the side want to play out from the back.

While both players could make the move to the London Stadium, it’s clear that Disasi would provide the side with the added quality they desperately crave in the defensive third.

The signings could play a huge part in the club’s future in the Premier League, with Potter’s side desperately needing to build on their recent triumph at the City Ground.

Shades of Isak: West Ham consider last-gasp move for "monster" £29m striker

The international goalscorer would be unreal for Graham Potter and West Ham United.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 1, 2025

Thomas Zilliacus, a former interested party when it comes to takeovers at Manchester United, claims that he would be happy to return to the negotiating table if the Glazer family opened themselves up to a sale. He is prepared to work alongside another investor, be that Sir Jim Ratcliffe or somebody else, with the Finnish entrepreneur stating that he wants to look after the best interests of Premier League heavyweights.

• Man Utd takeover: Confirmation of interest after talks claim

  Zilliacus formed part of the process in 2023 that eventually led to Ratcliffe and his INEOS group acquiring a 25 per cent stake at Old Trafford and taking control of football operations. Little progress has been made since then, particularly on the field, with a disgruntled fan base continuing to ask uncomfortable questions of those pulling strings behind the scenes.

  There has been fresh talk of new owners being sounded out, with Turki Al-Sheikh – a man helping to take major sporting events to Saudi Arabia – claiming that discussions have been held. He posted on social media: "The best news I heard today is that Manchester United is now in an advanced stage of completing a deal to sell to a new investor… I hope he’s better than the previous owners."

  He went on to say: "Yesterday’s post about Manchester United's potential sale meant one thing: the club is in an advanced negotiation phase with a new investor. Just to clarify, I am not the investor, nor are they from my nation. I'm posting this as a fan who wishes the deal to happen, though it might not necessarily happen."

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  Man Utd valuation: How much it would take to buy Red Devils

  It is reported that United are currently valued at around £2 billion ($2.7bn), but a bid in the region of £5.2bn ($6.9bn) would be required in order to tempt the Glazers into a sale – taking into account future increases in value, with the Red Devils piecing together plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium.

  Zilliacus says he is prepared to enter into talks, telling the : "Last week, I was sitting and thinking through all the possibilities of investing in Manchester United and drafting a basic plan on how I could approach certain parties to see if something could be done. This is about joining forces with the right parties with the sole aim of bringing Manchester United back to where it should be as the number one club in the world.

  "I mean, my love for the club has gone nowhere and I think the opportunity is still there. So I would really welcome an opportunity to talk to the key players and see what can be done. The key players, of course, today, Ratcliffe, then if other parties would be keen to join as well, then that would be great. Some of the investors, I think it's almost everything or nothing, meaning either they own the club alone or they are not interested. So you would have to find the investors who are willing to look at what is best for the club and not what is best for the investor."

• Zilliacus willing to work with Ratcliffe & Sheikh Jassim

  Zilliacus added on putting supporters at the heart of his project, with the Glazers having vehemently opposed any fan-led initiatives: "I think the Glazers, unfortunately, are a good example of somebody who is not really looking out for the club, but rather using it as a cash cow. But in any case, they are not doing what should be done.

  "I have a program that involves the fans who are overseas, who cannot come to watch a game. And my program can evolve in a way that can bring significant new revenues to the club. So with that money the club could do all the things it needs to do to be truly the best football club in the world, where all the best players, the best managers, everybody wants to be there."

  He went on to say of potentially working alongside Ratcliffe or fellow former bidder Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani: “"I actually have nothing against working with people like Jim Ratcliffe or any investor, whoever that may be. Because I'm not in this to have a trophy that I can show off to other people. I'm in this to make a club that I've been a fan of since I was 12 years old the best club in the world. My heart cries when I see how things are going today. Manchester United are so far below where the club should be and could be if things were managed the right way.

  "When I had made my bid I realised that the Glazers were playing a game where Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim and myself were just trying to outbid each other. So the price was just going higher and higher and higher. I publicly said that this is madness, that this is money that should be used for the club and not to further enrich the Glazers. So I said, 'Why don't we join forces and take over the club together?' I'm still completely open to that, and I would be more than happy to speak to Sheikh Jassim or to Jim Ratcliffe or any other investor about how we could work together."

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  When did the Glazer family complete Man Utd takeover?

  The Glazer family completed their takeover of United in 2005. Their reign has faced plenty of opposition down the years, but nobody has been able to put a proposal in place that has convinced the American ownership group to sell up and walk away. That situation has contributed to regression on the pitch, despite big spending in the transfer market, with the Red Devils currently without European competition in 2025-26 as Ruben Amorim sees inevitable questions asked of his future as head coach.

Pep Guardiola longed to see Jack Grealish return to being the player he was when he helped Manchester City sweep to the treble. He waited and waited, and now has finally got his wish, albeit not in the way he would have hoped. Grealish feels like a brand new player away from City on loan at Everton, even more influential than in 2023, a talisman for his new club rather than just one of many stars.

Grealish will be limited to the role of spectator when Everton visit City on Saturday, but he will be fondly welcomed back by the Etihad Stadium faithful, who loved him for his happy persona and the way he revelled in the club's many triumphs. Grealish reached cult hero status when he became the focal point of the debauched treble celebrations, from blasting out music in the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, continuing the party in Ibiza and then taking things to a whole new level during the parade back in Manchester.

For Guardiola, though, Grealish was never quite the same player as in that season, his second after joining in Premier League record, £100 million move from Aston Villa. After curbing his usual sensibilities to suit Guardiola's demands, becoming a ball-hogging tactical chess piece known among team-mates and staff as a 'rest station' as he allowed others to take a breather while he kept possession or drew fouls, City signed Jeremy Doku to compete with Grealish. 

Phil Foden, who had been injured or ill for key chunks of the treble season, was another player who competed with Grealish for a place in City's midfield, and his role in the team subsequently faded amid a number of niggling injuries. At the end of a disappointing 2023-24 campaign for Grealish – but a record-breaking, fourth-successive title for City – Guardiola vowed: "He will be back. He’s struggled this ­season. Jeremy has made an incredi­ble step forward as everyone has seen in the last games, but Jack will be back at the level of last season – I’m pretty sure." 

Guardiola was not correct. Having made 10 Premier League starts the previous season and contributed to four goals, Grealish made only seven starts while scoring once and assisting once in the Premier League. Amid increased competition from Savinho and Omar Marmoush, Grealish was an unused substitute in the FA Cup final despite City chasing the game against Crystal Palace.

Halfway through the season, Guardiola admitted that he had effectively given up on Grealish: "Do I want the Jack that won the treble? Yeah I want it, but I try to be honest with myself for that." Grealish, however, is that player once more – he just had to leave City and Guardiola behind to rediscover himself.

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  Something to prove

  When Grealish was looking for a new club in the summer, he had various conversations with David Moyes. The Scot, who has been a Premier League coach for more than two decades, knew exactly how to push Grealish's buttons. Moyes saw a player who had fallen in the estimation of football fans, just as he had done after his nightmarish 10-month spell managing Manchester United immediately after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. 

  And just as Moyes emerged from that harrowing time at Old Trafford to win a European trophy with West Ham and oversee an incredible resurgence at Everton, who were in danger of relegation when he returned at the start of 2025, he believed Grealish could turn it around.

  "The knowledge that he thinks he’s got a little bit to prove and to stand up," Moyes explained after signing Grealish on loan on the eve of the new season. "I’ve had to do that myself. I’ve had to come back from being knocked down. Sometimes you have to have that resilience to bounce back, to fight back and to show everybody. I just sense Jack is carrying that with him now. I hope it shows through this season because, if it does, then we’ll get a lot of good things from Jack."

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  Feeling loved

  It did not take long for Everton to get the best out of Grealish. In his first start for the club, he inspired them to a 2-0 win over Brighton in their first-ever competitive game at the brand new Hill Dickinson Stadium, setting up both goals. In that full debut, Grealish equalled the number of goals he had contributed to in his final season with City.

  In his next game at Wolves, Grealish provided two more assists in a 3-2 win. No player created more Premier League goals in August, and Grealish was deservedly named the English top-flight's Player of the Month. Just over a month on, Grealish snatched victory over previously unbeaten Crystal Palace by scoring in added time to seal a 2-1 win. It was his first goal for the Toffees, and it was a scrappy one at that, but it also spoke of his desire as he blocked an attempted clearance from Daniel Munoz in the six-yard box to divert the ball in. Grealish had been urging himself to score a late goal in Everton's previous two games, and it proved to be third time lucky.

  "It was an unbelievable feeling," he said. "Do you know what’s mad? In the last few games when we’ve been here, we’ve been drawing and I keep saying to myself in the 85th minute: ‘Come on Jack, imagine if you scored now’. I did it against Villa and West Ham and didn’t score, so today I said the same thing again and scored."

  Grealish also dedicated his goal to "all the Evertonians who’ve made me so welcome". He added: "The way they've made me feel since I've come here when I see them, not even at the stadium but just around the place, it's so nice. There's no better feeling in life than to feel loved."

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  Symbol of 'iconic' stadium

  Moyes could see that Grealish needed more care and attention than he was getting at City under Guardiola. "He probably needs a bit of love and attention," he said after the Palace game. "He is making a big difference. Whether it is his assists, his presence, lots of things. So all credit to him. He is playing the minutes he may not have had in recent years. You know, he's so good. What Jack gives us is something just on the edge, which, hopefully it's on the edge of creativeness and maybe scoring goals.

  "It's nothing to do with me, let me tell you – it's all to do with Jack and his own mentality to be better," Moyes added. "There's a wee bit to prove, I'm sure – I think we all have. I think in life, you've always got something you have to strive to do. And I think Jack wants to show that he's a good player. I think he's showing it at the moment."

  And while the Everton boss hasn't tried to take credit for Grealish's revival, he is clearly doing something right. Grealish seems to fit at Everton much better than he did at City, precisely because he is the main man, just as he was at boyhood club Villa. Only Iliman Ndiaye can come close to him in the the Everton squad in terms of talent, but in terms of status, Grealish is by far and away the most famous player.  He is the centre of attention for fans and his shirt has proven to be the biggest selling one at the club shop.

  Grealish has become a symbol of the club's spectacular new 52,000 capacity stadium which sits on the River Mersey. "It's incredible, it feels iconic," he said of the new arena. And he is its icon.

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  'Warrior in training'

  Despite his rock-star status, Grealish does not strut around like he owns the place. His attention to fans looking for photos and autographs has been noted, as indeed it was at City. But his work ethic is also being talked about in a way that it was not necessarily praised in Manchester.

  "The thing I’ve noticed is that Jack’s one of the first in and one of the last out every day (at training)," midfielder Kieran Dewsbury-Hall told . "He’s always doing the recovery, ice baths, massages, putting himself in the best possible position to perform. He’s kept himself in the right shape. Everyone knows Jack’s at his best when he’s got a smile on his face, playing confidently. He wants to play every week and show people what he’s about."

  Carlos Alcaraz added: "What I have been really impressed about is that he has been a real warrior in training. We want that attitude. We are at a club where we are all in it together. He is a great guy. In the short time he has been here, he has chatted to everyone and tried to get to know everyone."

Arsenal supporters were all hoping their clubs would invest heavily in the squad this summer, but even the most optimistic Gooner must surely have been pleased, and surprised, by the extent of the summer recruitment.

On deadline day, Piero Hincapié was unveiled as the eighth summer signing, joining on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with an obligation to buy of around £45m, becoming the first Ecuadorian in the club’s history.

Before this, the Gunners had spent around £267m, bolstering all areas of their squad, after Mikel Arteta’s team were so significantly hampered by injuries last season.

While certain signings have garnered all the headlines, could one of Arsenal’s under-the-radar arrivals actually prove to be the best signing any Premier League club made this summer?

Arsenal's attacking reinforcements

We’ll ultimately never know, but it’s safe to assume that Arsenal would not have invested in their squad quite as heavily as they did, had current Premier League champions Liverpool, the side they’re ultimately attempting to dethrone, spent even more.

The Reds’ signed Alexander Isak for £125m on deadline day, shattering the Premier League record transfer fee, taking their summer outlay to around £450m, with Florian Wirtz’s £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen a short-lived British record.

The German is yet to sparkle in a Liverpool shirt, albeit it’s very early days, and he did score a scrumptious free-kick against Northern Ireland at RheinEnergieStadion last Sunday, showcasing his talent.

Isak meantime is, arguably, the best striker in the world, not a bad player to add to your squad if you’re Arne Slot, but it’ll be interesting to see how he fits in, considering fellow new recruit Hugo Ekitiké has already caught the eye, and how long he takes to get up to speed.

Nevertheless, the champions now possess an array of attacking talent, with Arsenal recruiting Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres in response.

Eze is set to make his eagerly-anticipated home debut against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, while Gyökeres has earned mixed reviews so far, barely involved against Manchester United and Liverpool, but scoring a brace during the Gunners’ only home game to date, the 5-0 demolition of Leeds.

However, could a less heralded new recruit actually prove to be Arsenal’s best?

Arsenal's best summer signing

With Jorginho and Thomas Partey both departing Arsenal as free agents this summer, the base of their midfield has undergone a major revamp, and an important one at that, given that the player in this position is very much the nucleus of an Arteta team.

Martín Zubimendi is the new midfield fulcrum, arriving to little fanfare, even though he deserves much more.

There are a few reasons for this.

First, David Ornstein of the Athletic reported as far back as mid-January that his move from Real Sociedad was essentially a done deal, meaning by the time he arrived in July, most anticipation and excitement had subsided.

Also, at the time, Gyökeres was still yet to join, with Gooners fixated on the striker signing, unable to be pleased about anything else until that was done.

Nevertheless, Zubimendi is someone worth heralding, not least because the Spanish international turned down the chance to join Liverpool 12 months earlier, emphasising the attractiveness of moving to Arsenal.

The reason Zubimendi was so sort after is simply because he is an exceptional player, as the table below documents.

Worth noting that Zubimendi’s statistics last season are all the more impressive given that his Real Sociedad side ended up 11th in La Liga, their lowest finish since 2018, losing almost half of their matches.

Upon his arrival in North London, Arteta spoke glowingly about his compatriot, praising his “football intelligence”, adding that he will bring “a huge amount of quality”, concluding that “he has all the attributes to be a key player”.

Already in Arsenal’s opening three matches, Zubimendi has been able to show what he is all about, completing 145 of his 167 passes, 11 of which have been into the final third, while 12 are categorised as progressive.

The 26-year-old may not be someone you’ve really noticed during Arsenal matches so far, more a player you need to witness in the flesh to truly appreciate, but he crucially has the capabilities to increase the Gunners’ speed of in-possession play, improving the team at both ends of the pitch.

If Arteta’s team do go on to achieve what they want to achieve this year, the £60m paid for Zubimendi’s signature will feel like a steal. Those on Anfield may well live to rue missing out on him a year ago…

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Glasgow Rangers centre-forward Bojan Miovski scored what will hopefully be the first of many goals at Ibrox in the quarter-finals of the League Cup on Saturday.

The Macedonia international arrived at Ibrox during the summer transfer window with a view to adding a big goal threat to Russell Martin’s side, but it had been a slow start to his career in Glasgow.

Miovski failed to find the back of the net in his first two starts in the Scottish Premiership, against Celtic and Hearts, and only managed two shots in those matches, per Sofascore.

However, the left-footed marksman was able to get his name on the scoresheet against Hibernian at the weekend, converting from close range after Mikey Moore’s ball across the box fell into his path.

Supporters will now be hoping that the 26-year-old centre-forward can kick on and prove himself to be a consistent goalscorer for the Light Blues, having scored 32 league goals in two seasons with Aberdeen in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns.

Miovski will be hoping to emulate Alfredo Morelos in a positive sense, as the former Gers number nine ended his career at Ibrox with a fantastic goalscoring record.

The duality of Alfredo Morelos' Rangers career

The current Rangers striker will want to go down the same path as Morelos at Ibrox in the sense that the Colombia international was a prolific scorer for the club for many years.

In 269 appearances for the first-team, the powerful centre-forward racked up 124 goals and 57 assists, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he offered a huge threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals throughout his time at Ibrox.

Topically, with a clash with Genk at Ibrox coming up this week, Miovski will also hope to emulate Morelos’ excellent return in front of goal in Europa League matches for Rangers.

As you can see in the table above, the Colombian marksman scored 28 goals and provided 17 assists in 56 Europa League games for the club, including qualifiers, which shows that he was lethal on the European stage.

These statistics prove that Morelos was a reliable figure at the top end of the pitch in Europe for Rangers, which Miovski will be hoping to be, starting with the game against Genk on Thursday.

Where Miovski will not be hoping to be like Morelos is with how the striker’s career at Ibrox ended, because he left on a free transfer in 2023 after previously being linked with big-money moves.

Rangers rejected an offer of more than £16m from Lille in 2020 and a bid of £10m from Porto in 2021, which shows that there was plenty of interest from top teams in Europe during his pomp at Ibrox.

The Light Blues opted not to cash in when his value was high. The striker went on to leave for nothing before going to sign for Santos in Brazil, exiting European football, in 2023.

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

It is far too early to judge which direction Miovski will go in at Ibrox, but there is another player in the squad who is in danger of following Morelos in the wrong direction.

Mohamed Diomande is in danger of losing his way in Glasgow unless he can turn his performances around and get back to his best under Martin this season.

Why Diomande is in danger of becoming the next Morelos

The Ivorian central midfielder caught the eye with some fantastic displays for the Light Blues, despite a disappointing season as a club, in the 2024/25 campaign.

Diomande, who was described as “complete” by analyst John Walker, proved his worth in the middle of the park in the Premiership with a return of four goals and seven assists in 36 appearances in the division, per Sofascore, whilst also winning 57% of his duels on the ground.

The left-footed star, who signed on a permanent deal last summer after an initial loan spell at the back end of the 2023/24 campaign, has shown that he can be a difference-maker in midfield.

Diomande’s impressive form for the Scottish giants led to interest from elsewhere this summer. Six Premier League clubs, including Everton, were said to be interested in the midfield star and Besiktas had an offer of £6.5m rejected by the Gers.

This shows that, as was the case for Morelos at his peak at Ibrox, there was significant interest in the Ivorian star because of his performances on the pitch last term.

Rangers, however, opted not to cash in. They will now be hoping that it is a decision that they do not live to regret, as the midfielder has endured a difficult start to the current campaign.

As you can see in the table above, Diomande’s performance level in and out of possession in the middle of the park has dipped significantly in the Premiership from last season to this one.

The Everton and Besiktas target has been too weak off the ball, losing duels on the deck and in the air too regularly, and has not offered anything at the top end of the pitch to win games for his side.

That has contributed to the club’s worst start to a league season in 47 years, with no wins, four draws, and one defeat after five matches in the Premiership.

This is also why Diomande is currently in danger of becoming the next Morelos at Ibrox because he may not find himself with enough suitors to attract a big-money exit from Glasgow if his performances do not improve.

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Therefore, the central midfielder could be the next player whom the club fail to cash in on at their peak value before losing them for less money later down the line.