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Liverpool have started off the 2023/24 Premier League campaign impressively, drawing away to Chelsea in the season-opener before successive victories against Bournemouth and Newcastle United.

The latter – a snatch-and-grab victory courtesy of Darwin Nunez's incisiveness at St. James' Park, despite going a goal and man down in the opening half-hour – typified the mentality and belief Jurgen Klopp hopes to instil in his team, a mentality that dissipated as the Reds foundered last term.

A fifth-placed finish was a result of a dreadful run of form for the Anfield side, with a midfield sapped of vitality and a defence devoid of confidence meaning the club ended their illustrious seven-year streak in the Champions League, reaching three finals and winning one.

After such a dismal term, the winds of change were always going to shriek through Merseyside, with Klopp completely revamping the midfield.

Who did Liverpool sign this summer?

The 2023 summer transfer window was always going to be busy for Liverpool, with long-serving midfielders James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving in June upon the expiry of their contracts.

While such exits were expected, the exodus was exacerbated by Saudi Arabian interest in holding midfielder Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson, with the pair leaving for a combined £52m.

Creative gems Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai has already been purchased from Brighton & Hove Albion and RB Leipzig respectively, but Klopp's side needed a new No. 6, and they needed one badly.

Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia were both pursued in a high-profile transfer battle with Chelsea, but the affluent London side prevailed on both accounts, leaving the din of the alarm bells echoing around Anfield.

The astute option to sign 30-year-old defensive midfielder Wataru Endo for £16m from Stuttgart was exercised, filling the void, and Liverpool finished up their business by completing a £34m move for dynamic ace Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich, a long-standing midfield target.

Should Liverpool have signed Ryan Gravenberch?

Gravenberch's late acquisition was an imperative move; the failure to effectively buttress the existing ranks with a versatile, multi-functional midfielder would have left Liverpool in short supply in the central department.

Indeed, the ace joined the Bundesliga champions in a €24m (£20m) deal from Ajax last summer, with Die Roten sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic describing him as "one of the biggest talents in Europe" at the time.

European football expert Andy Brassell has also claimed that "the potential there is huge", despite a lacklustre season in Germany that resulted in just three league starts all season.

Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed that the player simply didn't fit the system at the Allianz Arena, and there is now an excellent opportunity for the ace to rise to prominence on English shores, playing a pivotal role in Liverpool's resurgence after a testing term.

While he doesn't fit the mould of specialist No. 6 – a natural defensive midfielder – Gravenberch does boast an all-encompassing midfield skill set that Klopp, who has dubbed the 6 foot 3 machine as an "exceptional talent", will now hope to mould to his own creation.

To emphasise this, FBref ranks the 11-cap international among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, and within the top 20% for total shots taken, progressive passes, successful take-ons and tackles per 90.

However, his travails with Bayern evidence a lack of trust across multiple managers, with Julien Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel both loathe to offer him a regular role in the team, despite the club's struggles last term.

There are numerous reasons to back up the managers' decision to keep him on the fringe; Nagelsmann was allegedly disgruntled with Gravenberch's lack of defensive application, while Tuchel, despite acknowledging his stunning "qualities", swiftly concluded that the ace was not fit for a defensive role at the base of the midfield.

While Liverpool have secured an exciting prospect, once hailed as the Netherlands' "greatest talent" by ex-Ajax ace Wim Kieft, Gravenberch was perhaps not the best fit Klopp's squad needed ahead of a crucial campaign, with former top target Matheus Nunes potentially the custom-made star to revamp the central engine.

How would Nunes have played at Liverpool?

While Liverpool might have failed to sign a high-profile specialist six, there will be optimism that the acquisitions made across the past few months will be enough to reform a side that fell by the wayside last term, exposing frailties and issues across the board.

Klopp will be hoping that the newly-signed quartet can make a marked improvement both in offensive fluidity and – more importantly – the protection of the backline, something that was arguably non-existent last year as 49 league goals were conceded – 23 more than the year prior.

Because of this, Nunes, who has recently completed a £53m transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Premier League champions Manchester City, would have been exactly what the Merseyside outfit needs to close the gap on the Citizens, who won the treble last season and are now vying for an unprecedented fourth successive league title.

Despite the Old Gold's struggles last season, Nunes impressed in his energetic role and was central to the squad's fluidity, completing 82% of his passes, averaging two tackles per game and winning 61% of his attempted dribbles.

As per FBref, he also ranks among the top 15% of midfielders for progressive carries, the top 3% for successful take-ons and the top 12% for progressive passes received per 90, underscoring a box-crashing mentality that would have benefitted Liverpool's high-intensity system immensely.

Described a "special" talent by his former coach Ruben Franco, it's perhaps telling that the £82k-per-week maestro was of a vested interest to Liverpool last summer, having agreed a £44m deal with Sporting CP for the Portuguese gem before withdrawing their bid, allowing Wolves to waltz in and snap up their man.

Klopp rekindled his intrigue in January and was also believed to be plotting an approach this summer, but didn't make any further advancements on a player Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola once hailed as "one of the best players in the world", over one year before sealing his signature.

In the 2023/24 season opener against Manchester United, Nunes showcased his skills superlatively in his penultimate appearance for his Molineux outfit, recording a match rating of 7.4 – as per Sofascore – creating two key passes, making three tackles and five interceptions and winning an incredible 14 of his 24 contested duels at Old Trafford.

It is this tenacity and rounded style that would have been a brilliant asset for Klopp and co, and while Gravenberch could blossom into one of Europe's foremost midfielders over the next few years, the club might rue the failure to sign Nunes in the future.

Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder and club icon Carlton Palmer has given his verdict on what he thinks about two of the Owls' summer signings.

When Sunderland got promoted from League One in 2022, they entered the Championship with one of the strongest squads in the league – Black Cats’ sporting director Kristjaan Speakman managed to recruit the likes of Édouard Michut, Daniel Ballard and Amad Diallo, who would help the side finish in the playoffs.

Sheffield Wednesday on the other hand hasn’t managed to recruit as well as their new league rivals since their promotion to the Championship and losing manager Darren Moore only makes their fight for survival much harder.

Former Watford boss Xisco Muñoz was appointed as Moore’s successor, however, the Spaniard is struggling to guide his side to points.

The Owls currently sit 23rd in the Championship with their only point coming in a lacklustre 0-0 draw to Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.

And Palmer hasn't been too impressed by the deadline-day acquisitions of Jeff Hendrick and John Buckley…

What has Carlton Palmer said about Wednesday's transfer business?

Speaking to FootballLeagueWorld this week, Palmer said:

"Sheffield Wednesday needed to bring in some Championship experienced players into their squad, so on deadline day, they secured the services of John Buckley.

“It was believed that Buckley was the subject of a £3 million pound bid from Swansea on a permanent deal, but Buckley rejected the move to stay up north.

"Buckley has fallen down the pecking order at Blackburn starting only 21 games last season, but at 23, has played over 100 Championship games, so is a useful acquisition."

Palmer then turned his attention to Hendrick. The former Leeds United midfielder added:

"Hendrick is 31, is experienced, and has a lot of Championship experience.

"He spent last season out on loan at Reading playing 45 league games. Although they were relegated, that was due to the six-point deduction. So, [Hendrick is] another useful acquisition.

"Both are not top-drawer signings but useful additions to the squad."

Who have Sheffield Wednesday signed this season?

Wednesday’s deadline day business may save them from relegation as they managed to get a few additions through the door. One signing that the three-time FA Cup winners signed was Irish midfielder Hendrick from Newcastle United.

The 31-year-old had seen his minutes vanish at Newcastle United as the Magpies invested heavily in their midfield with the Dublin-born midfielder being nowhere near the quality of £55m rated Sandro Tonali or £42.7m Bruno Guimarães.

Name of signing Former club Price as per Transfermarkt Djeidi Gassama PSG 850k Pol Valentín Sporting Gijón 250k Juan Delgado Paços de Ferreira Free Di'Shon Bernard Manchester United Free Anthony Musaba Monaco Free Ashley Fletcher Watford Loan Devis Vásquez AC Milan Loan Mohamed Diaby Portimonense Loan Jeff Hendrick Newcastle United Loan John Buckley Blackburn Rovers Loan Bambo Diaby Preston North End N/A Reece James Blackpool N/A The £1.2m valued midfielder played three times for Newcastle in the 2021/22 season and was later shipped off to Reading the next year. During his time at the Royals, Hendrick played 45 times in the Championship scoring four and assisting once as his side were relegated.The Owls also reinforced on deadline day with 23-year-old John Buckley arriving on loan from Blackburn Rovers.Like Hendrick, Buckley also plays in the centre of the park and has already played 130 times for the Riversiders despite his relatively young age. Last season, the hard-working midfielder averaged 0.43 yellow cards a game (seven in total), so Muñoz may want to have a chat with his new signing about being less aggressive when defending.Whether Palmer is right in his assessment remains to be seen, but after the international break, the Spaniard will be hoping the arrival of these two midfielders will help change their fortunes on the pitch or they will face an instant return to the doldrums of League One.

Aston Villa have been a club on the up since the arrival of Unai Emery in November 2022, with the Spaniard rocketing the Villans to a European finish in his first spell in the Midlands.

The former Arsenal boss has transformed the outlook at Villa Park, even more so after the summer transfer window, in which he made some stellar signings, most prominently the record-breaking capture of Moussa Diaby.

As well as welcoming five new faces to the squad, Emery bid farewell to a host of talent through sales, with one academy star in Cameron Archer leaving after rumours of him eventually breaking through.

How much did Aston Villa sell Cameron Archer for?

Archer worked his way from the academy to eventually gain minutes with the first team and then thrive on loan.

However, despite penning a new deal in 2022, the Englishman departed to Sheffield United on a permanent basis.

In a deal worth £18m, the striker has already shown his worth with the Blades, scoring on his Premier League debut at Bramall Lane.

Who could replace Cameron Archer?

While the sale of the 21-year-old was a good move for the player due to the current pecking order in the position at Villa, his move leaves a door open for another up-and-coming talent to eye a sporadic role around the first team.

The club have a list of budding talent currently excelling at Bodymoor Heath, as well as those that are relishing loan spells, with one being Louie Barry, who has already had a contrasting journey in the early days of his playing career.

From the highs for departing for the infamous La Masia set up in Barcelona to struggling loan moves following his switch to Villa, Barry looks to be finding his feet again in League Two, with the hope that his future could still be in claret and blue.

How good is Louie Barry?

Lauded as “very intelligent” by former manager Ben Garner during his loan at Swindon Town, the versatile forward could have a part to play under Emery in the future.

The 20-year-old, who can play on either flank or as a striker, impressed back in the 2020/21 Premier League 2 season, in which he showcased his goal-scoring prowess by netting 13 goals in 17 appearances at academy level.

Such success prompted the loan move to Swindon, where he continued to impress in League Two, scoring six in 14 appearances as he rediscovered his form back in England after his quick spell in Barcelona.

Last term was a difficult one for the youngster, who endeavoured on two loans, firstly in League One with MK Dons in which he netted one goal, followed by a drop-down to League Two where he only scored twice for Salford City, via Transfermarkt.

It seems as though his current spell at Stockport County back in the fourth tier could decide his future with reference to his parent club.

With three goals in six appearances so far, things are going swimmingly for the winger, who could still make an impact at Villa Park should he be given a route to success, earned by his application while at Stockport.

Given Archer’s successful stint in the Championship prior to his move, the striker was a far more accomplished forward for the Villans to call upon if needed, with Barry’s claim to replace him still far from considerable at present.

A strong loan spell can make the difference, and at just 20 years old, the future is bright for the winger, who could find sanctuary under Emery, with other Premier League managers having already sung his praises.

Back in 2021, Jurgen Klopp dubbed Barry a “proper threat” after he scored against Liverpool in the FA Cup, telling of how high his potential is should he get the ball rolling once more.

Liverpool may well be on the up once again after a substandard year last time out, but Jurgen Klopp's side have recrafted their success with a very different feel to the side that achieved such illustrious success since the German's appointment in 2015.

Indeed, after falling flat and finishing fifth in the Premier League last term, Klopp and co decided to shake things up and revamped the midfield, something that was long overdue.

An exciting crop of talented players have replaced the likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Fabinho and co, and the early results from the 2023/24 campaign suggest that the Anfield narrative will be far more favourable this time around, with three successive victories following a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to start the season.

The midfield rebuild might have dominated the discourse this year, but over the past few years, Klopp has been reconstructing a frontline that was once considered irreplaceable, and while the legendary trio of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will never be topped, the new-look attack has every chance of being world-class as it continues to gel.

When did Liverpool sign Sadio Mane?

Salah, of course, still plies his trade for the Merseyside outfit today, while Firmino, one of the silkiest, ingenious forwards of his generation, departed at the end of his contract this summer.

Mane was the first to break away, leaving one year ago, but will forever be remembered for his “electric” pace – as hailed by football writer Leanne Prescott – and incisiveness on the left wing of Liverpool's offence.

Heralded as "absolutely insane" by his former Liverpool manager, Mane was one of the pioneers for Klopp's Liverpool, completing a £34m transfer from Premier League rivals Southampton in June 2016, with his new boss revealing he had been tracking his progress for four years.

Mane, who diligent Saints had sealed from Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg for £10m two years earlier, had posted 25 goals and 14 assists for the south coast club across his two campaigns, including a record-breaking fastest hat-trick in Premier League history against Aston Villa.

It was an exciting acquisition of a talented, Prem-proven star, and while all could see the potential that the Senegalese winger held, few envisaged the blistering rise to the top at one of English football's all-time great frontlines.

How good was Sadio Mane at Liverpool?

Leaving Liverpool in a deal worth up to £35m in June 2022, Mane drew the curtain on an illustrious Anfield career that saw silver-laden success across a wealth of competitions, notably the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Scoring 120 goals and supplying 48 assists across 269 outings, the 97-cap Senegal star's dynamism, rapier-like attacking qualities and demonic speed proved invaluable to Klopp's system, with Mane hitting 40 goals in the English top flight alone between 2019-2021.

Mohamed Salah

41

Sadio Mane

24

Roberto Firmino

22

Steven Gerrard

21

Luis Garcia

10

Statistics sourced via Statbunker

A big game player, Mane was simply integral, and will forever remain so distinctive, so awe-inspiring, that seeking to directly replace him would be futile.

That being said, Luis Diaz was signed from Portuguese giants Porto for an initial £37m in January 2022 – six months before Mane left – to serve as the heir, but the Colombian is a distinctive personality on the pitch himself, with his arrival a continuation of the outfit's fluidity, rather than a like-for-like replacement.

Throw Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo into the pot, and Liverpool do indeed boast a reformed frontline, and while Mane's departure will always remain a poignant day, it is pleasing to see the work on the transfer front has been apt enough to maintain the ferocity up front.

As said, Mane cannot be replaced, but there could be the next version of the wide forward already on the club's books, with exciting youth prospect Trent Kone-Doherty continuing to impress within the academy fold as he targets a first-team debut sooner rather than later.

Who is Trent Kone-Doherty?

Hailed for his "superb" early performances by journalist Paul Gorst, Kone-Doherty is a precocious forward looking to make waves among Liverpool's senior side in the near future.

The 17-year-old has made a prolific start to life at Liverpool, scoring 12 goals and supplying three assists from 23 matches across all competitions, and he will be hoping that this is the year he makes his senior debut, with the Europa League opening the door for the likes of the Republic of Ireland youth international to earn opportunities to impress.

Giving his thoughts on the youngster's quality to the Liverpool Echo, U18s coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson said: "He's a very good player and showed he can finish, he can go on the outside, and whether or not he's up against people who are bigger or a lot stronger, he still has the ability and football brain to go past people."

Such characteristics are similar to Mane's, who found success across the frontline and merged deadly finishing with deceptive strength and physicality.

He could even prove to be a bigger talent than Kaide Gordon, who has been a notable name among the Liverpool youth crop for several years now – immensely talented, but impeded by horrendous luck with injuries.

Indeed, the wily winger boasts some incredible ability for one so young, having scored 11 goals and provided five assists since joining from Derby County for around £3m in 2021, with his potential affirmed by Klopp, who dubbed him an "exceptional" talent.

He's also bagged the first goal of his senior career for the Reds, and while he has been decimated by injuries over the past few years, the 18-year-old is now in contention for a return after 17 months out.

Describing himself as "fearless", Kone-Doherty has started the current campaign in fine fettle, bagging two goals and an assist from his first three outings.

Noted as a 'tricky and exciting winger blessed with great pace' by Liverpoolfc.com, the teenage prodigy looks to hold the natural prowess to emulate a renowned star of Mane's ilk, while nurturing a growing clinicalness in front of goal, which could combine to create a weapon tailor-made for Klopp's high-octane system.

Mane was equally unflappable in the offensive third, and given the semblance of skills and innate qualities, perhaps Liverpool do have a homegrown option to serve as the ideal Mane heir, wreaking havoc for the Anfield side for years to come.

Chelsea have managed to make a decision on the future of a first-team star who has attracted high-profile interest over the last few months, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest news involving Chelsea?

Speaking on The Overlap, former Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher has indicated his belief that Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk should be given an extended run in Mauricio Pochettino's starting line-up.

The 45-year-old stated: “When you bring a player in, for instance, Mudryk, we know he hasn’t done well. He cost £80million-odd, but they’re still buying wingers left, right, and centre. I’m thinking you’ve got to give that lad a chance. You’ve got to say there’s a path to go and play. Every player must feel like there’s not really an opportunity there for them because there’s someone going to take their place two games later."

Blues' boss Pochettino meanwhile is of the opinion that Chelsea's performances haven't been fairly reflected in terms of results so far this term, as he stated in a recent interview: "I really believe in the project because I think the balance is good, but the problem is that we cannot show it.

"The results don’t reflect the balance because we have players who should be important today who are not in the team because they are injured. Even with all the players fit maybe you can lose games but when there are the circumstances that we have now, it is about having patience and trying to recover all the players."

Is Armando Broja leaving Chelsea?

Speaking on his YouTube channel, transfer guru Romano has detailed that Chelsea striker Armando Broja is set to remain at Stamford Bridge despite interest in his services from the likes of West Ham United and AC Milan. Romano stated: "For Armando Broja, it is really important for him to be back and play some minutes and return to his level. It is important to mention that over the summer two clubs approached Chelsea – AC Milan and West Ham – and one more club from abroad, really interested in Armando Broja."

He then added: "Chelsea discussed internally about the situation but then their position was very clear – Armando Broja is not for sale. They trust him, they want to keep the player at the club. They believe that he can be an important player for many years, not just for this season."

The Albania international, who was labelled "devastating" by Albania assistant coach Sergio Porrini in the past, recently returned from a long-term injury with an 11-minute cameo in the dying embers of Chelsea's defeat to Aston Villa, which was his first appearance for the Blues since late 2022.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is suspended for his side's trip to face Fulham next Monday in the Premier League, potentially offering up a golden opening for Broja to cement his place as an important part of Pochettino's plans moving forward.

With all signs pointing to Chelsea deciding to keep Broja for the foreseeable future, it will now be up to the 22-year-old to prove his worth in the coming weeks.

The fact that Jonny Evans has been a regular feature in Erik ten Hag's Manchester United squad this season probably paints the perfect picture of the disarray that the Red Devils have found themselves in, losing four of their first seven Premier League games. Though decimated by injuries at times, United have still not been up to standard, leaving the door open for January reinforcements.

It looks likely to arguably be one of the most important transfer windows of Ten Hag's United tenure, especially if his side remains in crisis mode. With that said, reports suggest that the Red Devils have already made their first move for one particular target, who they could push on for come the winter window.

What's the latest Man Utd transfer news?

There's no hiding for Manchester United this season – they spent big in the summer. Ten Hag secured the majority of his transfer targets. Whether that be Mason Mount or Rasmus Hojlund, the Dutchman got what he desired. So, just how things have gone so horribly wrong so far this season is anyone's guess. But, the transfer market could hold the solutions to United's problems.

They have particularly struggled defensively this season, and have had their depth exposed in central defence, with Evans, at 35 years old, forced into the side at times. That depth could be solved by the potential arrival of Goncalo Inacio, however.

Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke has provided an Inacio transfer update, reporting that Manchester United have seemingly made their first move by scouting the defender in recent weeks, who has a £52m release clause.

Amid interest from the Premier League, Sporting Club have reportedly become resigned to losing the 22-year-old, providing both United and Liverpool, who are also interested in the Portugal international, with a major boost. If the two rivals go head-to-head for Inacio's signature, it will certainly spice things up in the January transfer window, that's for sure.

How good is Goncalo Inacio?

Starting all seven games in the Premeira Liga with Sporting CP sitting in top spot by a point, Inacio's importance in Portugal has far from decreased this season. Statistically speaking, too, Inacio has outperformed both Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, as well as Victor Lindelof, as per FBref.

Player

Progressive Carries

Progressive Passes

Blocks

Interceptions

Goncalo Inacio

16

59

7

6

Raphael Varane

6

26

4

1

Lisandro Martinez

6

26

4

2

Victor Lindelof

4

12

4

1

It's the types of performances that he is putting in this season which has seen Inacio earn significant praise, including from analyst Raj Chohan, who labelled the player as a "dominator". With that said, Manchester United could be keen to get any deal wrapped up as smoothly as possible, especially with Liverpool potentially sniffing around, looking to add to their own defensive options. When the January window opens, Ten Hag will be well aware of just how important it is that United get things right.

Sean Dyche bolstered his Everton squad well in the last transfer window to date, signing experienced personnel such as Ashley Young mixed with exciting attacking talents being added to the squad from abroad such as Beto to give his group a nice blend ahead of an expected battle against the drop.

Other transfer windows from the past have generated more hype with the bodies brought into the building away from the more low-key approach by Dyche, namely the summer 2018/19 window where Everton splashed major cash on Lucas Digne and Yerry Mina from Barcelona, whilst also raiding the then manager Marco Silva's ex-club Watford for Richarlison.

All three players would go on to have successful careers in Everton blue over a number of seasons, before departing for pastures new recently.

Yet, a forgotten face from that same transfer window has managed to rejuvenate his career – Bernard's career looked to have fallen to the wayside after an up-and-down time in Merseyside but the attacking midfielder has managed to turn his fortunes around.

How much did Everton spend on Bernard?

Everton signed the diminutive attacking midfielder on a free transfer back in 2018, the 5 foot 5 winger joining the Toffees after a dazzling season with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Bernard scored nine goals in total for the Ukrainian outfit during the 2017/18 campaign, notably netting versus Manchester City in a Champions League group stage tie as Donetsk humbled Pep Guardiola's men 2-1.

Everton landing the attacking midfielder on a free transfer deal felt like a steal at the time, a low-risk high-reward deal for the Toffees.

Why did Everton sell Bernard?

Despite not flopping instantly in a Toffees strip – Bernard a regular first-teamer during Everton's 2018/19 season playing all but four of the Premier League games that campaign – his days were numbered as an Everton man after Carlo Ancelotti arrived onto the scene as boss.

In his final season on Merseyside, the Brazilian midfielder would only feature 12 times with his playing time reduced to a grand total of 448 minutes.

By the end of his three-season stint with the Blues, he was very much a player afforded a few minutes here and there off the bench without ever breaking back into the first-team fold.

But, with eight goals and seven assists from 87 starts for the club, he didn't leave the Premier League as a complete, abject failure as he did contribute when infrequently called upon.

He would leave Everton for the United Arab Emirates in 2021, Bernard rumoured to be receiving a huge pay packet after swapping Merseyside for the Middle East.

How has Bernard performed since leaving Everton?

The 31-year-old has been a globetrotter since leaving Goodison Park behind, playing in both the UAE and Greece with Sharjah and Panathinaikos respectively.

Comparing his statistics with the likes of Dwight McNeil still with the Toffees, the skilful Brazilian is actually now outperforming the English winger.

He has out-assisted McNeil by some distance, scoring 11 goals and assisting a further 11 goals in total since leaving Everton. Last term, he racked up five assists, whilst McNeil, served up three in 2022/23, proving to be off his creative best.

The ex-Donetsk man has also been prolific not just in terms of assisting, netting three goals already this campaign in Super League 1 for the Greens of Panathinaikos.

Everton could well do with the experience of Bernard as another attacking option in their current set-up, the 31-year-old excelling away from Goodison Park after leaving the Toffees under Rafa Benitez for a fee under £1m.

Claret and blue is one of the most famous colour combinations in all of English football, and Aston Villa & West Ham United are perhaps the two clubs most synonymous with these colours.

Both sides have enjoyed huge successes over the years and a number of players have played for both Villa and the Irons.

Here is Football FanCast's list detailing some of the best players to play for both of these teams in the Premier League era.

John Carew (Aston Villa 2007-2011; West Ham United 2011-2012)

English football fans will remember John Carew best for his time with Aston Villa, but he did have a season at the Boleyn Ground as well.

Carew joined Aston Villa in January 2007 as part of a swap deal with French side Lyon, with Milan Baros being the man to go the other way.

The Norway international reached double figures for league goals on three occasions with Villa, his highest tally being 13 from 32 appearances in the 2007/08 season.

Carew may have failed to make a long-lasting impact on the West Ham faithful but he is certainly a hero of yesteryear at Villa Park.

Carlton Cole (Aston Villa 2004-2005; West Ham United 2006-2015)

If you want a striker that is loved by all West Ham fans, look no further than Carlton Cole.

Cole scored 40 times in the Premier League for the Hammers, on top of an additional 14 during their time in the Championship.

One of his most famous goals for West Ham came at Wembley Stadium, giving them the lead in the play-off final against Blackpool. A young Tom Ince struck back before Ricardo Vaz Te wrote himself into club folklore with the winner.

Prior to arriving in east London in 2006, Cole had a loan spell at Villa from Chelsea, where he made 27 league appearances, scoring three times.

Joe Cole (West Ham United 1998-2003, 2013-2014; Aston Villa 2014-2016)

Next up is Carlton’s namesake Joe Cole, another attacking player that the West Ham fans will have fond memories of.

Cole scored that superb goal against Sweden in an England shirt at the 2006 World Cup and also won three Premier League titles in Chelsea blue. Before that, though, he played for his beloved West Ham just like Frank Lampard did.

The 41-year-old was named Hammer of the Year in 2002/03, a campaign which saw him play all but two top-flight games, scoring four times. However, he was unable to help steer the Hammers clear of relegation. Cole also scored in a 3-2 FA Cup victory over Nottingham Forest that season.

Joe Cole returned to Upton Park a decade after he first left, and after one season there, joined Villa in 2014 in what was a relatively unsuccessful spell for all concerned.

James Collins (West Ham United 2005-2009, 2012-2018; Aston Villa 2009-2012)

Welsh defender James Collins was with West Ham for a long while, though he spent three years at Aston Villa while the Hammers were relegated and promoted back to the Premier League.

He first broke through into professional football as a Cardiff City player, with his first transfer taking him to the English capital.

Collins wasn’t used as regularly as he may have liked, and so, with the 2009/10 season already underway, he jumped ship to the other team in claret and blue.

The centre-back made nearly double the number of appearances for West Ham as he did for Villa, and so is better known for playing for the former. His second spell with Villa isn't one many will recall due to the fact that he only signed a short contract and then got injured almost immediately.

Rachel Daly (West Ham United 2020; Aston Villa 2022-present)

Moving over to the Women’s Super League, where Aston Villa fans must have been on cloud nine watching Rachel Daly last season.

The striker arrived from NWSL side Houston Dash and picked up the Golden Boot having taken up a centre-forward slot for Carla Ward's side. Daly’s 22 goals were rivalled closely by Khadija Shaw of Manchester City, but it was the England star that prevailed.

Daly had been playing her club football in the US for the best part of a decade when she arrived on loan at West Ham in 2020, so fans this side of the pond weren’t used to watching her in action regularly.

Four goal contributions in less than 800 minutes represented a very solid stint in east London, but West Ham didn’t make the move permanent and it was in Birmingham where the European Championship winner truly came to the fore.

Stewart Downing (Aston Villa 2009-2011; West Ham United 2013-2015)

Stewart Downing played over 400 times for Middlesbrough and is a club legend there, as well as representing both halves of this claret and blue duo.

Aston Villa came first for Downing, making the move in 2009 from Boro following their relegation. He was always a player with a bright creative spark that could also find the back of the net himself, and that shone through during his time Villa Park.

Downing’s 11 goals and 13 assists for them is slightly better than his record of seven and 11 respectively for West Ham, with both of these returns coming in 79 outings, remarkably enough.

Marlon Harewood (West Ham United 2003-2007; Aston Villa 2007-2010)

Marlon Harewood played for a number of different clubs but only made more appearances than in his West Ham tenure with Nottingham Forest. The City Ground was his home as a youngster and made the move south to London in his mid-20s.

Alan Pardew was the man to sign Harewood for the Hammers, and he had an instant impact, scoring 17 and assisting 11 on the way to play-off promotion out of the Championship.

Harewood’s form continued up front in the top flight, including a hat-trick against who else but Aston Villa.

After four years with West Ham, the forward joined the West Midlanders but was unable to replicate his form in front of goal. Harewood scored five league goals in the 2007/08 season before spending the majority of 2009 on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United.

Thomas Hitzlsperger (Aston Villa 2001-2005; West Ham United 2010-2011)

After playing youth football in his home country of Germany, Thomas Hitzlsperger joined Aston Villa.

His professional debut came at Villa Park against Liverpool, and following a loan spell with Chesterfield, he was deemed ready to be a regular. Hitzlsperger made over 100 appearances in a Villa shirt, including 10 in the EFL Cup, scoring four goals in that tournament alone.

He left Villa for Stuttgart where he received a lot of praise from the powers that be in Germany in the form of 52 international caps.

The midfielder from Munich spent a single season at West Ham between 2010 and 2011 and was unable to make a notable impact, in truth.

Danny Ings (Aston Villa 2021-2023; West Ham United 2023-present)

Danny Ings is still a West Ham player currently and the jury is still out on him from the London Stadium faithful.

His injury issues have continued over from earlier in his career and the feisty striker has been unable to provide capable support to Michail Antonio, let alone challenge him for a starting spot under David Moyes.

Ings joined West Ham from Aston Villa, and it was definitely the latter club who got the better end of the deal.

He contributed to 22 goals in 52 Villa appearances and then the club from Birmingham secured an eight-figure fee for his services, recouping most of their outlay for him when signing from Southampton in 2021.

David James (Aston Villa 1999-2001; West Ham United 2001-2004)

At the other end of the field, David James also played for both of these clubs, with a mixture of fortunes.

Injuries and relegation struck during his time with West Ham, so Aston Villa perhaps chose the perfect time to sell once again.

James, who earned 53 caps for England, made a combined 186 appearances for these two teams, which is a decent tally no matter what.

Liverpool and Portsmouth were probably his more famous clubs, however, while it has to be said that he was prone to an error here and there.

Tottenham Hotspur have a notable reputation for nurturing their academy prospects, turning their starlets into notable first-teamers who go on to have celebrated careers in the game.

The obvious example is of course Harry Kane, once just a youth player with humble beginnings before going on to surpass all expectations, becoming Tottenham's top scorer in their history with an astounding 278 goals in total which saw him go above the great Jimmy Greaves.

Glenn Hoddle, Ledley King and many more have all stepped up to the mark too when a first-team opportunity came calling after developing as a youth player with Spurs, King actually staying put at Spurs for the entirety of his playing career.

Tottenham will hope they can have their next superstar in the making with 16-year-old Mikey Moore, likened to Paul Gascoigne by ex-Spurs striker Jermain Defoe recently for his ability to "glide past people" with ease.

A closer look at Tottenham's academy sensation, Mikey Moore

Born in 2007 – the same year Harry Kane was still just a youngster at Spurs – Moore is being touted as the next best thing in Tottenham quarters.

The young forward even appeared on the Guardian's Next Gen List released at the start of the month, a list that picks the best of the best involving emerging youngsters in football.

Switching between playing at left wing position and an out-and-out centre forward, Moore has been a revelation at U18 level for Spurs the past couple of seasons.

His goalscoring prowess has come to the forefront particularly in the last few weeks, netting a remarkable seven goals from six starts including a further four assists – Moore singlehandedly able to win games for his side up top.

Last time out versus Norwich City, he scored a hat-trick and supplied two assists as the rampant U18 Spurs side won 7-2 with Moore virtually impossible for the opposition defenders to contain and thwart.

It's no surprise to see outlandish suggestions that Moore could well be the next Gazza for Spurs therefore, Defoe stating as such whilst appearing on the No Tippy Tappy Podcast when Moore was only 15.

He said: "It’s a big statement, but he reminds me of Gazza a little bit, the way he glides past people, it’s easy and he’s doing it at 15. Hopefully we see him in the Premier League soon."

Such praise has resulted in Spurs tieing down Moore to a new bumper contract, the five-time England U17 international signing on the dotted line to extend his time with Tottenham until 2026 to deter any potential suitors from attempting to buy the teenage starlet.

A bright future lies ahead for Tottenham's Mikey Moore…

It's too early to say whether or not the 16-year-old will go on to have an esteemed career with longetivity, Moore is still a teenager learning and developing in the youth ranks.

Ange Postecoglou also won't want to fast-track him into the senior fold in case it hampers his progression, with Moore perfectly comfortable playing regularly for the U18's at this moment in time.

Moore will just want to continue his dazzling current form, the youngster twisting and turning defenders for fun regularly whilst also remaining clinical in front of goal

Only time will tell if Moore can reach the heights of Gazza, with the former England hero – who won the FA Cup and scored 33 goals in 112 games for the club – having been an 'icon of his generation', as per Spurs' official website.

Trying to emulate the enigmatic and balletic playmaker is no small feat, but if Moore is this highly thought of at just 16 years of age, the heights he could possibly get to are frightening.

Tottenham Hotspur got off to a dream start to life under Ange Postecoglou after the Australian took charge of the London club in the summer, going unbeaten in the Premier League after ten games and battling it out with Manchester City, Liverpool and bitter rivals Arsenal for the top spot.

However, on Monday, Spurs' bubble burst and Ange's men came crashing back down to earth following a devastating double injury blow and two red cards which handed Chelsea all three points on Mauricio Pochettino's return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Summer signings James Maddison and Micky van de Ven were replaced in the first half. The former sustained an ankle injury during the game while the latter is said to have endured a serious hamstring problem and could be sidelined for months.

Postecoglou is short on quality at the back and with Van de Ven possibly out of action until the new year, the club have already turned their attention towards his replacement.

Who Spurs could sign to replace Van de Ven

According to a report from Football Insider, Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba is one of three players on a shortlist at Tottenham Hotspur to replace the injured Dutchman, alongside Bournemouth star Lloyd Kelly and Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

The London club were linked with Tapsoba during the summer transfer window too, deciding to go with Van de Ven instead, but have now reportedly reignited their interest in the Burkina Faso international.

Tabsoba has been an integral part of Leverkusen's back three under head coach Xabi Alonso as the German outfit are sitting top of the Bundesliga, locked in an intense title race with champions Bayern Munich. When he first moved to the BayArena in 2020 for £15.5m, journalist Antonio Mango tweeted that the central defender is a "monster", who is intelligent, good on the ball, quick and strong.

Manchester United were linked with the 24-year-old during the summer as Erik ten Hag was hoping to bolster his defensive department. A report from Football Transfers claimed that Leverkusen had slapped a £40m price tag on Tapsoba but the defender has since penned a new five-year deal in Germany, keeping him at the club until 2028.

How Tapsoba compares to Eric Dier

At the weekend, Football Insider revealed that Tottenham's backup centre-back Eric Dier has decided he wants to leave the club after negotiations over a new contract collapsed. Dier's deal expires at the end of the season and so Spurs may be looking to add Tapsoba as a replacement for the England international. Nevertheless, the Burkinabé is statistically a far better defender than Postecoglou's number '15'.

Dier has had limited game time this season, so all of his stats must be taken from the previous campaign. This season, Tapsoba has averaged 1.12 tackles per 90 for Leverkusen, winning 0.92 per 90.

Meanwhile, Dier averaged 0.92 tackles per 90 last term, winning merely 0.61 per 90, according to FBref. The Tottenham-linked defender also wins the ball higher up the pitch than the man he could well be replacing, averaging 0.71 tackles per 90 in the middle and final third compared to Dier's lowly 0.44 per 90.

Tapsoba is far more useful in possession for his team, hence why Alonso has favoured him in a back three during his time in the Leverkusen dugout. The former Vitória de Guimarães star is an excellent ball progressor with his dribbling and boasts 1.94 progressive carries per 90, including 1.73 carries into the final third.

On the other hand, Dier averaged just 0.29 progressive carries per 90 last season as well as 0.29 carries into the final third per 90, playing in a much more conservative system. Furthermore, Tapsoba has been averaging 6.43 progressive passes per 90 this term, while Dier mustered 2.78 per 90 in the previous campaign.

Tapsoba is rapidly becoming one of the best defenders in German football and has all the attributes to play in Ange's high line, hence why he would be a good fit for Spurs in the absence of van de Ven.