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Arsenal could sign their new Cesc Fabregas in Lyon star Houssem Aouar amid Fabrizio Romano’s exciting transfer claim.

What’s the story?

Reports last summer suggested that Mikel Arteta’s side were very much interested in signing the France under-21 international, but a deal failed to materialise before the end of the transfer window.

Romano has now delivered an update on where things stand with Aouar and Arsenal with just a couple of weeks remaining in the summer window.

He said (via Football.London): “It is a complicated situation on agent’s side because as they say from France, it’s true that there is some situation from agent’s side, and that’s why I would keep an eye on Aouar till the last day of the window because now still some rumours we have with Tottenham and with Arsenal.

“These two clubs are really interested in Aouar. Fabio Paratici wanted him one year ago when he was at Juventus. He had to make a decision between Aouar and Chiesa, they decided to go for Federico Chiesa.”

Arsenal’s new Fabregas

The £26m-rated Aouar, who has been lauded as an “exceptional talent” and “special” in the past, has the kind of midfield characteristics which make him very similar to a certain Fabregas.

In the 2019/2020 campaign, the Frenchman bagged nine goals and provided another ten assists, setting up a couple of goals in the Champions League quarter-finals against Manchester City.

That level of goal-scoring and creativity is what Fabregas brought to the table in his heyday, with the Spaniard scoring 15 goals and providing another 15 assists in the Premier League alone during the 2009/10 season at the Emirates Stadium.

When you look at their underlying stats over their careers, they are remarkably similar. As per WhoScored, Aouar averages 1.8 shots per game to Fabregas’ 1.4, provides 1.2 key passes to the Spaniard’s 2.1, and is fouled 1.4 times per match compared to the former Arsenal man’s 1.1.

Just like Fabregas, the 23-year-old has also had experience of being a captain at a young age, having already worn the armband for Lyon on numerous occasions over the years.

While Martin Odegaard may have arrived from Real Madrid to fill that creative berth at the Emirates, Aouar could bring an added dose of creativity and goal threat from midfield too.

Meanwhile, Arsenal could sign their new Sol Campbell in this ace…

Liverpool have reportedly shown an interest in PSV Eindhoven winger Noni Madueke as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster his forward line.

What’s the story?

According to the Daily Mail, the Reds are one of a number of clubs from across the continent interested in securing the highly-rated 19-year-old’s services this summer.

The report claims that Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Leicester City were also amongst the 10 sides to send scouts to watch him in PSV’s recent defeat to Benfica.

With competition expected to be fierce for Madueke’s signature, Liverpool’s director of football Michael Edwards may have to move quickly to snap up the talented teenager ahead of his other potential suitors.

Liverpool fans will be buzzing

The England Under-21 international joined the Philips Stadion outfit back in 2017 after being released by boyhood club Spurs at just 16 and has gone on to establish himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young talents during his time in Dutch football.

In 32 appearances for Roger Schmidt’s side in all competitions last season, the skilful winger bagged nine goals and provided a further eight assists for his teammates, showcasing his truly top-class potential.

His outstanding displays earned praise from several plaudits, including former PSV ace Tommie van de Leegte: “He’s fast and has the capability to trick his opponent. He brings creativity and is very explosive in his actions,” said Van de Leegte (via Goal).

And he’s starting the current campaign in an emphatic fashion, contributing to seven goals in just nine outings in all competitions.

However, prising him away from the Philips Stadion may be a tricky task for Edwards, after Schmidt claimed that the talented teenager would be staying put this summer in a recent interview.

Speaking to ESPN (via Football.London), he said: “I’m not afraid [of Madueke leaving], why should I be? He will one day leave PSV if he continues to develop like he is now.

“I’m not afraid it will happen now. We can’t sell key players anymore. We’ve already done that with Donyell Malen, Denzel Dumfries and Pablo Rosario, so we can’t lose any more.

“And PSV is also a fantastic club for Noni to develop. He is very young, he can play a lot here, score goals and cheer with the team. I think he feels very good here.”

Originally, a price tag of around £34m was believed to have been placed on PSV’s prized asset, but following their exit from the Champions League in the play-off round, that valuation is thought to have been halved.

Therefore, Liverpool fans will surely be buzzing at the prospect of securing Madueke’s services. With Xherdan Shaqiri finalising his move to Lyon, Klopp has the room in his squad and should have sufficient room in his budget to bring the youngster to Anfield, thus significantly strengthening his attacking options.

And, in other news…Heir to Shaqiri: LFC eye move for “special” £19.8m-rated wizard, Klopp will love him 

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing exciting Sheffield United forward Daniel Jebbison in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Jebbison breaks record

The Blades may have had a season to forget last time around, suffering relegation from the Premier League, but Jebbison produced a moment to treasure.

The 18-year-old became the youngest-ever player to score on his full debut in the competition – he was 17 years and 309 days old at the time – bagging the only goal in a 1-0 win at Everton.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359346″]

The Latest: Leeds linked with move

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are eyeing up a move for the forward this summer, with the report claiming they ‘have an interest’ in him.

Aston Villa and Brentford are also mentioned as potential suitors, with Jebbison making five appearances for the Blades to date.

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The Verdict: One for the future

The Canadian looks a hot prospect with a bright career ahead of him, so it would be exciting to see him trade Bramall Lane for Elland Road.

He has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Micah Richards in the past and could perhaps be viewed as a long-term replacement for Patrick Bamford.

Jebbison likely wouldn’t be considered an immediate first-team option if he did join Leeds, but it is important that Marcelo Bielsa looks towards the future, as well as the present, with the Whites having already made additions to their youth set-up this summer.

In other news, Phil Hay has claimed that one player will join Leeds this summer. Find out who it is here.

Queens Park Rangers are reportedly interested in making a late summer move for Watford striker Andre Gray as transfer deadline day approaches.

The Lowdown: QPR make strong start

The Rs have made an impressive start to their Championship campaign, picking up 11 points from five games and sitting third in the table.

The hope is that Mark Warburton’s side mount a genuine promotion push this season, and new signings late in the transfer window could boost those chances.

The Latest: Gray linked with QPR move

According to The Daily Express’ Ryan Taylor on Twitter, QPR are locking horns with Middlesbrough to sign Gray before the window closes.

Both clubs are believed to be ‘keen’ on sealing a loan move for the 30-year-old, who has scored 21 goals in 125 appearances for Watford.

The journalist tweeted: “#Birmingham & West Brom going head-to-head for Troy Deeney. He’s already in talks with Blues, who are frontrunners. Andre Gray could also leave before deadline as reported in last week’s column, #QPR & #Boro among those keen on loan.”

The Verdict: Exciting potential signing

Gray has a huge amount of Championship experience, netting 46 times in 118 matches in the division, so he could be a shrewd signing for the Rs.

The £70,000-a-week forward could add the firepower that is needed to keep up a promotion tilt, improving the squad depth at Warburton’s disposal in the process.

Former Luton teammate Cameron McGeehan once hailed Gray as a ‘top player’, and the twice-capped Jamaica international could lift those around him given his standing in the game.

Speaking to Football Insider, Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has blasted an ‘under the radar’ summer transfer gaffe at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown: Paratici era underway…

Since the club announced his appointment in mid-June, a lot of eyes have been directed at new transfer chief Fabio Paratici as chairman Daniel Levy takes a back seat from transfers.

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Over his first summer window, the Italian oversaw a plethora of incomings and outgoings at N7 but only time will tell whether his deals will come to fruition.

One area he didn’t gain much luck in was signing a back up striker to superstar Harry Kane, with former England international Robinson now dropping a claim.

The Latest: Robinson blasts ‘under the radar’ transfer gaffe…

Speaking to Football Insider, the ex-Tottenham man has blasted Spurs for their failure to land another forward in the summer.

Robinson also believes the transfer gaffe has gone ‘under the radar’ and lots of people ‘have missed’ this blunder.

“It’s gone under the radar [the failure to sign a striker],” he explained.

“A lot of people have missed the fact that Spurs have not signed another striker.

“Vinicius has gone back because he was only on loan last season. To let Vinicius go without replacing him could be an oversight by Spurs.

“All of the talk in the last window was about – what if Harry Kane gets injured? When he was injured last season they struggled and they did not score goals.

“Yes, Son and Bergwijn can play there but they are not out-and-out number nines like Kane.

“People have forgotten about that because of all of the hype surrounding the potential Kane transfer and other deals. There is no direct cover in that area.”

The Verdict: Bang on the money…

Even though Paratici finally signed Spurs a star centre-half, brought in a couple of future stars, a goalkeeping alternative and very exciting right-back (Transfermarkt), we believe the failure to land an out-and-out centre-forward could indeed come back to haunt them.

Nuno is just one or two injuries, specifically to Kane or Son Heung-min, away from a real first team crisis with the only other natural option being teenager Dane Scarlett.

The last thing Spurs will want is to rely on the dazzling but inexperienced youngster and Paratici may have missed a trick in his failure to land a striker.

In other news: ‘Finished article’…Sky pundit in awe of Spurs starlet who’s an ‘improved version’ of Ndombele, find out more here.

West Bromwich Albion are expecting to receive a substantial settlement in the tribunal regarding Nathan Ferguson’s departure from The Hawthorns.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Joseph Masi’s report for the Express & Star, with the journalist revealing that, despite it having been more than a year since the right-back’s move from West Brom to Crystal Palace on a free transfer, the tribunal to determine the fee the Premier League side owe Albion is yet to take place – something which is largely down to the pandemic.

However, Masi continued to state that Valerien Ismael’s side are expecting the fee they are eventually awarded by the tribunal to be a sizeable one, as Palace had agreed an initial £11 million transfer fee for the defender in the January transfer window prior to his summer move.

Ismael will be delighted

Considering the fact that Ferguson’s move to Palace occurred a year before Ismael was appointed West Brom manager, the fact that the Frenchman looks set to receive a considerable fee for a player he did not work with is sure to delight the 45-year-old.

Indeed, should the tribunal have taken place at any point over the previous 12 months, Sam Allardyce would more than likely have spent the fee received for Ferguson in the January transfer window, on a player who – it can be assumed – would not have fit the criteria Ismael likes his signings to meet.

As such, while Masi revealed that The Professional Football Compensation Committee are yet to appoint a panel so that the tribunal can begin, and while no date has been reported as to when the proceedings could be set to start, it would seem likely that Ismael is in line to receive a windfall of cash at some point this season, which the Frenchman could then put towards either January or summer additions to his first-team squad.

In other news: Fresh report reveals twist on “fantastic” West Brom beast, Ismael will be devastated

Crystal Palace’s under-23s enjoyed a fantastic night in Premier League 2 on Monday, recording a 6-1 win away to their Leicester City counterparts [cpfc.co.uk].

In a comprehensive victory away to the young Foxes, David Omilabu, Rob Street and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi all scored braces as they ran riot at the Midlands club’s training facility. Wanya Marcal-Madivadua hit back with a consolation strike for the home side. [cpfc.co.uk].

Summer signing Michael Olise made his first start in Palace colours, playing 60 minutes before being replaced by Nya Kirby.

The victory takes Crystal Palace into seventh position in the Premier League 2 table [Premier League].

In light of this news, it’s little wonder that loads of Crystal Palace diehards took to social media to express their reaction to the “outstanding” result.

Crystal Palace fans react

Replying to the Crystal Palace Academy Twitter account, here is what some Eagles supporters had to say about the under-23s’ emphatic triumph:

“Amazing performance from the boys. Rak-Sakyi is so close to being in the first team squad. Amazing from all of them and some valuable minutes for Olise”

Credit: @redandbluesite

“Congratulations boys. Fantastic effort. Keep it going.”

Credit: @LeeJack1905

“Absolutely brilliant boys, well done”

Credit: @cpfcmaz

“Absolutely outstanding”

Credit: @Ukhilal1957

“You’ve just got THRASHED by the best academy in the country @LCFC”

Credit: @eliascpfc

“Brilliant performance by our young Eagles and a well deserved victory! The front three of Omilabu, Street, and Rak-Sakyi all got a brace.”

Credit: @alex_westry

In other news, a former Crystal Palace man has given his prediction regarding where the Eagles will finish in the Premier League.

When you look at the way Thierry Small, Mohamed-Ali Cho and Dan Rose have all left Everton over the last year, you’d suggest the Toffees have a problem with their academy.

Goodison Park has always been a breeding ground for exceptional young footballers but you can’t help but feel there will be a sense of regret over the trio if they thrive elsewhere.

Cho has already hit the ground running in French football where he is shining with Angers and that kind of impact serves as a lesson to not only Marcel Brands but also the first-team manager.

Rafa Benitez has been keen to involve the younger players in his plans with Anthony Gordon earning minutes in the early stages of the campaign. Jarrad Branthwaite also earned a start in the Carabao Cup but he has competition rising through the academy.

That comes courtesy of Reece Welch, a 17-year-old who has been impressing Brands and youth coaches for a while now.

In standing at 6 foot 4, his heading ability is akin to Yerry Mina but his overall playstyle is much more comparable to Ben Godfrey.

After being named in the Guardian’s Next-Gen list for 2020, journalist Andy Hunter wrote: “Welch is a composed, skilful central defender.”

Meanwhile, the Echo describes him with the following words: “His athleticism is similarly equipped to the modern game. Fast, strong and broad-shouldered, he will look even more imposing when he naturally begins to fill out.”

Athletic qualities are what Godfrey has in abundance, particularly speed and power.

Although the centre-back’s reading of the game is also first class, it’s his ability to recover quickly that makes him such a valuable asset to the Toffees.

Fortunately, Welch also possesses traits like that.

He starred for Everton U21s as they beat Morecambe in the EFL Trophy last week and via The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland, was their man of the match.

During that clash, the teenager won six of the eight defensive duels he was involved in, demonstrating he can battle well against senior professionals.

Ultimately, that is the biggest test for a youth player when they attempt to make the grade in the first-team.

He passed the test with flying colours as David Unsworth told official club channels at full-time: “I thought the back three (Astley, Welch and Anderson) were superb – and they had to be. You can’t fault anybody tonight.”

Luckily, Welch has not only gained experience in that competition but he’s also trained with the senior players at Finch Farm, something that will prove invaluable if he is to work his way into Benitez’s plans.

He’s certainly one for Everton supporters to keep tabs on.

AND in other news, Richarlison 2.0: Teen “revelation” sees his value soar by 400% after leaving Everton…

Manchester United suffered their second loss of the season on Wednesday evening as West Ham United knocked them out of the Carabao Cup.

The Reds Devils defeated the same opposition while on Premier League duties over the weekend but couldn’t repeat the trick after manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made 11 changes to his starting lineup.

A ninth-minute strike from Manuel Lanzini was enough to see off the hosts on an underwhelming night for United, with West Ham earning a place in the last 16 of the competition as a result.

One player who struggled more than most on his return to the side was summer signing Jadon Sancho. Although he showed flashes of his true potential, it was another frustrating night for the youngster.

Sancho arrived at Old Trafford as part of a £73 million deal back in July but has so far failed to register a single goal or assist in seven appearances for his new side.

The England international was unable to stop Ryan Fredericks as the Hammers full-back surged between him and Alex Telles on his way to setting up Lanzini for the only goal, setting the tone for a frustrating night’s work.

As per SofaScore, Sancho failed to have a single shot on target during the 90 minutes, was unsuccessful with his only attempted dribble, and lost possession a whopping 15 times, highlighting his ineffectiveness in the final third of the pitch.

He was unable to link up with the likes of Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard as the hosts struggled to get in behind their well-organised opponents, leading to a goalless night for United.

Sancho also only won 50% of his duels against a physical West Ham side and was dribbled past on one occasion. Better days lie ahead for the highly-rated 21-year-old, but it’s been a difficult start to life upon his return to English shores.

And, in other news…Lost 67% of his duels: Man Utd lightweight let Ole down again against West Ham 

Leeds Live’s Beren Cross has delivered his verdict on Leeds United’s summer signing Junior Firpo amid a mixed start to life at Elland Road.

What’s the story?

Marcelo Bielsa’s side signed the flying left-back from Spanish giants Barcelona in the summer, and he’s been thrust straight into the action in the Premier League, playing five out of the first six games and completing the full 90 minutes in the past three.

The Whites have struggled as a team however, lying in the bottom three heading into this weekend’s fixture against Watford at home, and Cross has now delivered his take on Firpo’s first few weeks at the club.

He said: “On the face of it, picking up a Barcelona left-back for less than £15m looked good value and it’s too early to say it won’t prove to be good value. We are six league matches into Firpo’s Leeds career. It’s unfair to to say he’s not going to work out for United.

“The raw materials are there. It’s down to him and Bielsa to unlock that potential. Alioski was a separate matter. The club wanted to keep him, made him an offer, but the bottom line is he was offered a lot more money elsewhere and he has a family to think about long after retirement.”

Takes time to adapt

While Firpo may not have been a regular starter at the Camp Nou last season – he played just 18 times in all competitions – he is the kind of attacking left-back who seems to be a perfect fit for Bielsa’s Leeds.

In his real breakthrough season with Real Betis during the 2018/2019 campaign, Firpo managed three goals and four assists in La Liga, as well as averaging 0.8 shots, 0.8 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per game.

The fact he’s had a difficult start to life at Leeds, at a time where the team as a whole has been struggling it should be said, should not disguise the fact that he will take some time to settle in.

Perhaps more than any club in the Premier League, adjusting to things at Elland Road with Bielsa’s notoriously intense tactics and famed pressing is arguably the most difficult.

Leeds fans simply have to be patient with someone like Firpo, but his attacking instincts should see him really shine eventually when he finds his feet in English football.

Meanwhile, Leeds could find their next Pablo Hernandez in this star…