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Nuno Espírito Santo publicly expressed his disappointment about the lack of new signings Nottingham Forest had made and, well, this appears to have had the desired effect.

In the last week, they have signed Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee, both presented to the City Ground crowd before Sunday’s demolition of Brentford, before Arnaud Kalimuendo then also joined on Monday.

Nevertheless, as the Garibaldi Reds prepare for a first European campaign in 30 years, eagerly awaiting next Friday’s Europa League draw, they are far from finished in the transfer market yet, so will two familiar faces soon arrive at the City Ground?

Nottingham Forest's busy transfer activity

Confirmed by the club on Thursday evening, Nottingham Forest have now signed Douglas Luiz from Juventus.

The deal is a season-long loan containing a €30m (around £26m) option to buy, which becomes an obligation should he feature in a certain number of Premier League fixtures.

During his time at Aston Villa, the Brazilian international became one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, but endured a nightmare year at Juventus, accumulating a miserly 877 minutes in a Bianconeri shirt; that’s only 17.6% of their total minutes!

Transfer Focus

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

However, he is not the only player on his way to Nottingham because, according to a report by the Guardian, Forest are ‘working on a deal’ to re-sign Matty Cash from Aston Villa.

The right-back joined the Tricky Trees’ academy as a 17-year-old, making 141 first-team appearances, before being sold to Aston Villa for £14m in 2020, the Villans’ first-choice in that position from the day he arrived until now.

The aforementioned Guardian report notes that, due to PSR concerns, Villa will sell ‘if his valuation is met’, while The Athletic add that the Poland international is now Forest’s primary target, having failed in the pursuit of Rico Lewis from Manchester City.

Thus, could Aston Villa cash in, so to speak, with Matty, potentially, nearing a return to the River Trent?

What Matty Cash would bring to Nottingham Forest

Cash has been a key figure during Aston Villa’s rise in recent seasons, making 181 appearances for the Claret and Blue Army to date, including starting their Premier League opener against Newcastle last weekend.

Manager Unai Emery labelled him “versatile”, adding that he is continuing to improve both going forward and defensively, while Gregg Evans of the Athletic claims that he is ‘one of the Premier League’s best right-backs’, so let’s test that assertion.

Tackles

56

25th

% of dribblers tackled

72.1%

8th

Interceptions

79

50th

Ground duels won

95

26th

Successful dribbles

19

15th

Big chances created

3

31st

Note: all rankings are among defenders only.

As the table outlines, Cash ranked highly for a wide variety of metrics in the Premier League last season, despite seeing only a little over 2,000 minutes, out of a possible 3,420.

The most eye-catching statistic is his percentage of dribblers tackled, with Toti of Wolverhampton Wanderers the only player to attempt 30 or more tackles who boasted a better figure.

So, why would he be such a shrewd addition for Forest?

Well, simply, they need full-back depth. Ola Aina and Neco Williams are the first-choice duo but beyond them, there isn’t much else.

Àlex Moreno provided left-back cover last season, but his loan from, coincidentally, Aston Villa is now over, while Nuno had such a scarcity of options that teenager Zach Abbott, a centre-back by trade, started the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley in April, just his second-ever senior start.

Going forward, as the Tricky Trees attempt to balance both domestic and Europa League commitments, Cash would get plenty of minutes, even if full-back is not an obvious position of weakness.

In midfield meanwhile, Luiz is going to have to work hard to earn his place.

The always impressive Elliot Anderson partnered Ibrahim Sangaré at the weekend, while Forest also have club captain Ryan Yates and Nicolás Domínguez in their squad.

During his final season at Villa, Luiz really flourished when deployed further forward, but that surely isn’t going to happen at the City Ground, considering they kept hold of talisman Morgan Gibbs-White, despite Tottenham triggering his £60m release clause, and have just signed Hutchinson and McAtee for a combined £67.5m.

So, while Luiz is an excellent player, he faces plenty of competition for minutes, while Cash fills a need for greater full-back depth.

More prolific than Wood: Nottingham Forest chasing £25m "physical beast"

As Nottingham Forest seek to add even more attacking firepower, could they sign a “physical beast” worth £25m who outscored Chris Wood last season?

ByBen Gray Aug 19, 2025

West Ham United are now “open” to the loan signing of an “outstanding” forward who’s scored 20 goals for England, with Graham Potter in need of attacking reinforcements.

Potter "in need of attacking reinforcements" before deadline

It has been a disastrous start to the Premier League campaign for West Ham, and they have struggled at both ends of the pitch, suffering a 3-0 defeat away at Sunderland on the opening day, before being thrashed 5-1 by Chelsea last time out.

The Hammers’ only goal up to this point came through Lucas Paqueta, but there have recently been widespread suggestions the Brazilian could be open to a move this summer, with Tottenham Hotspur joining the race for his signature.

It would be a real risk for the Irons to cash-in on Paqueta, given that they have already lost Mohammed Kudus this summer, who they have failed to replace, with Callum Wilson the only forward that has moved to the London Stadium thus far.

West Ham now suddenly serious contenders to sign "exceptional" £25m maestro

Graham Potter is looking to improve his squad, after an extremely disappointing start to the season.

1 ByDominic Lund Aug 26, 2025

Of course, Potter knows he can rely on Jarrod Bowen, with the Englishman chipping in with a remarkable 23 goal contributions in the Premier League last season, but there has now been a suggestion that another forward is required before the deadline.

In an interview with Football Insider, transfer journalist Pete O’Rourke said: “West Ham are in need of attacking reinforcements. They’re short of attacking options, with a lot resting on Jarrod Bowen’s shoulders. So, West Ham are open to the idea of bringing Raheem Sterling in if it was a deal that suited them.”

“I don’t think it would be a permanent deal. I don’t think they’ll be looking to pay that type of money for him. We know that Chelsea are open to letting Sterling leave before the close of the window. If Graham Potter feels that he could add something to that West Ham team, then yes. It’s something that I’m sure that they are definitely exploring.”

Sterling would be risky signing for West Ham

Of course, Sterling is vastly experienced at both international and club level, having scored 20 goals for England, while also playing a major role in Manchester City’s period of dominance under Pep Guardiola.

The 30-year-old, who has been described as “outstanding” by Paul Merson, amassed a remarkable 131 goals and 86 assists in 339 games for City, but he would still be a risky signing for West Ham, given that the winger has clearly stagnated in recent years.

Most recently, the Kingston-born winger flattered to deceive at Arsenal, failing to score in 17 Premier League outings for the Gunners last season, which suggests the former City man is now past his best.

With Chelsea widely reported to be holding out for £20m for Sterling, a loan deal would make more sense for West Ham, given that it would be lower risk, but it may be a wise move to bring in a different forward with a more recent track record of success.

Manchester City find themselves in a mini-rut after two successive defeats, though could be about to announce a statement signing ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline.

Manchester City suffer problematic defeat at Brighton

Despite being billed as one of the Premier League title favourites, Manchester City have lost back-to-back Premier League matches after falling to a 2-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Erling Haaland opened the scoring and looked set to send the Citizens on their way to a victory, though a penalty from James Milner and Brajan Gruda’s late strike left Pep Guardiola with much to ponder after a disappointing collapse on the South Coast.

Speaking after the loss, Manchester City star Rodri admitted his side ‘are not at the level’ that they should be and urged newcomers to step up quickly if they have designs on fighting for major silverware.

He told Sky Sports: “Disappointed because we are Manchester City and we come here to win, but this is the reality. We are not at the level for a long, long time.”

“We are missing the level. It is a matter of the team and the changes. New players have to adapt, and of course, when you change the team that much, it is difficult. This is our reality, it is not for excuses and we have to see that this is not the way to achieve things.”

Man City plan to submit record £130m offer to sign Ballon d'Or nominee

The Citizens are ready to break the bank.

BySean Markus Clifford Aug 29, 2025

Undoubtedly, the lack of cohesiveness between Manchester City’s defence and goalkeeper James Trafford is one factor behind their shaky nature. £27 million was forked out on the stopper who joined from Burnley, while fan favourite Ederson looks set to depart before the window closes.

Needing a replacement with the wherewithal to become a rock behind Guardiola’s backline, Manchester City could now have found their man with time ticking before tonight’s deadline.

Manchester City set to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma

After weeks of speculation, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed on X that Manchester City are set to seal a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Ederson has agreed to join Fenerbahce, the renowned journalist added in his description, and the former AC Milan stopper is set for a medical this afternoon before an official announcement.

Weeks after Pep doubled down on Ederson’s importance to Manchester City, Donnarumma looks set to replace the Citizens’ legend between the sticks, though he hasn’t exactly had a simple journey of his own to get to this point.

Speaking about his situation at Paris Saint-Germain, for whom he kept 17 clean sheets in 47 appearances across all competitions last term, he admitted that he has been somewhat forced out at the Parc des Princes after protracted negotiations to extend his £212,000-a-week deal fell through.

Either way, that all appears to be water under the bridge and Manchester City will land an apt replacement for Ederson who will make a major difference between the sticks.

Newcastle United have splashed the cash under PIF in recent years, welcoming a number of European stars to St James’ Park. The spending spree has also worked, with the Magpies qualifying for the Champions League back in 2023 and again in 2025, while also winning the EFL Cup.

Football FanCast takes a look at the most expensive transfers of all time for Newcastle.

1

Nick Woltemade

£69m

Stuttgart

2025

2

Alexander Isak

£60m

Real Sociedad

2022

=3

Sandro Tonali

£55m

AC Milan

2023

=3

Anthony Elanga

£55m

Nottingham Forest

2025

=3

Yoane Wissa

£55m

Brentford

2025

6

Anthony Gordon

£45m

Everton

2023

7

Jacob Ramsey

£43m

Aston Villa

2025

=8

Joelinton

£40m

Hoffenheim

2019

=8

Bruno Guimaraes

£40m

Lyon

2022

10

Harvey Barnes

£38m

Leicester City

2023

=11

Sven Botman

£32m

Lille

2022

=11

Tino Livramento

£32m

Southampton

2023

13

Malick Thiaw

£30m

AC Milan

2025

14

Lewis Hall

£28m

Chelsea

2024

=15

Chris Wood

£25m

Burnley

2022

=15

Joe Willock

£25m

Arsenal

2022

17

Miguel Almiron

£21m

Atlanta United

2019

=18

Callum Wilson

£20m

Bournemouth

2020

=18

Odysseas Vlachodimos

£20m

Nottingham Forest

2024

20

Michael Owen

£17m

Real Madrid

2005

Detailed look at Newcastle's 10 most expensive signings… 10 Harvey Barnes £38m from Leicester City

Winger Harvey Barnes was a long-term target for the Magpies, who eventually signed him from Leicester City for £38m after the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League in 2023.

Barnes had a brilliant individual campaign but couldn’t keep the club in the top-flight, instead signing a five-year St James’ Park deal. The Englishman arrived at the club with plenty of Premier League experience during his time with Leicester and has gone on to star in black and white.

9 Bruno Guimaraes £40m from Lyon

What a signing. Sky Sports has Bruno Guimaraes’ fee at £40m in January 2022, and he was so good in his initial six month-spell that Newcastle could have sold him for double that last summer, with reports suggesting champions Manchester City could have been plotting a player-plus-cash deal to bring the midfielder to the Etihad Stadium.

Instead, they held onto the Brazilian, and that was certainly the right move. Bruno looks like one of the best midfielders in the Premier League right now and Newcastle will do well to find a better signing anytime soon.

8 Joelinton £40m from Hoffenheim

Joelinton arrived for a club-record fee from Hoffenheim as the answer to Newcastle’s goalscoring woes in the summer of 2019. The £40m they paid, per The Guardian, always looked strange as the Brazilian had only scored seven times the previous season, while the most he’d ever managed was eight.

Thus, many joked about Joelinton during his early days on Tyneside, and it appeared Newcastle had made the wrong transfer as he finished his first campaign with two goals. However, it turned out they were just using him in the wrong position. After switching to a midfield role, the player looked transformed and now that £40m fee looks like a very good deal.

7 Jacob Ramsey £43m from Aston Villa

Jacob Ramsey

6 Anthony Gordon £45m from Everton

Sky Sports say Newcastle paid £45m for Anthony Gordon, which sounded like a lot at the time. However, the winger has now justified that fee and is one of the first names on the teamsheet.

In fact, Gordon’s displays during his first full season with the Magpies resulted in him being linked with a move away from the club. Instead of leaving, though, the Englishman signed a fresh long-term Newcastle deal towards the end of 2024.

5 Yoane Wissa £55m from Brentford

On what was a dramatic deadline day in the summer of 2025, Yoane Wissa signed for Newcastle with 30 seconds to spare before the window slammed shut.

A long-term Newcastle target, Wissa pushed for a move to the Magpies from Brentford, costing £55m and taking the number 9 shirt at St James’ Park.

4 Anthony Elanga £55m from Nottingham Forest

Newcastle’s early summer signing in 2025 was Anthony Elanga, who cost £55m after an impressive few years at Nottingham Forest.

The pacey right-winger contributed to four goals in five games against the Magpies for Nottingham Forest, which may have caught PIF’s eye.

3 Sandro Tonali £55m from AC Milan

Sandro Tonali arrived in a high-profile transfer from AC Milan in 2023, however, months after Newcastle splashed the cash, the Italy international was suspended for ten months following illegal betting charges.

The midfielder returned in 2024, and since then, Magpies supporters have seen why the club were willing to spend £55m on his signature, with Tonali a regular in the starting lineup.

2 Alexander Isak £60m from Real Soceidad

The arrival of Alexander Isak was a coup for Newcastle and a true statement that they wanted to sit at the top table. The Swedish striker was one of the top young strikers on the planet and few questioned the £60m fee in 2022, as reported by the BBC.

However, the summer of 2025 changed everything between Isak and Newcastle, with the forward going on strike, looking to sign for Liverpool. He got his wish, with the Magpies recieveing a British record £125m fee for Isak from Liverpool.

1 Nick Woltemade £69m from Stuttgart

Prior to Isak’s departure, Newcastle broke their transfer record by signing young German forward Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart.

After starring at the U21 European Championships, Woltemade was linked with the likes of Bayern Munich but instead moved to St James’ Park in a deal worth £69m.

Manchester United have been going through somewhat of a crisis over the last couple of years, with the club constantly falling way below the high expectations they’ve set for themselves.

Ruben Amorim’s side ended the previous campaign in a measly 15th in the Premier League, subsequently registering the lowest-ever finish in such a competition since its formation in 1992.

The main issue with his side is the lack of solidity in the middle of the midfield, with the 40-year-old yet to establish his best partnership in such an area of the pitch.

The likes of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo are all on the books, but the manager still hasn’t figured out which duo are best suited to his 3-4-2-1 system.

However, such an area has previously been one of the Red Devils’ strongest, with Sir Alex Ferguson previously able to rely on one of the best talents England’s top-flight has ever seen.

Paul Scholes time at Manchester United

Paul Scholes was a part of the Class of ‘92 squad, which saw a plethora of academy stars making the jump into the first team and help Ferguson win his 13 Premier League titles in Manchester.

Very few people could’ve imagined the impact he would’ve made in the first-team squad, subsequently going on to register over 700 appearances for his boyhood club across all competitions.

The vast majority of his appearances for the Red Devils came in England’s top-flight, being a part of 11 of the club’s top-division title triumphs – the second most in their history behind Ryan Giggs.

He spent a total of 19 and a half years as a first-team player for United, spending his entire career with the Red Devils before retiring in the summer of 2013.

Scholes would end his career with a total of 27 trophies won at Old Trafford, further highlighting the success that he achieved during his stint as a professional.

However, the club thought they had their next version of the Englishman a couple of years ago, but ultimately, he was offloaded on the cheap by former boss Erik ten Hag.

The former United star who was labelled the new Scholes

During the Ten Hag era as United manager, the Dutchman spent over £600m on new additions to help push the club back in the right direction after years of failures on the pitch.

The likes of Casemiro and Raphael Varane were both brought in from Real Madrid, offering the side the needed top-level experience if the club were to get back to their former glory.

The latter of the duo left on a free transfer in the summer of 2024, with the Brazilian still unable to prevent his discipline from spilling over, subsequently picking up four red cards in the last three years.

Donny van de Beek was another player who joined the Red Devils in an attempt to take the club up the table, joining in a £35m deal with £5m in add-ons back in the summer of 2020.

However, like many of the additions in recent years, he would fail to hit the heights many thought he would, subsequently registering a total of 62 appearances over a four-year period at Old Trafford.

He was labelled as “the new Scholes” by compatriot Edwin van der Sar at the time of his transfer, but it’s safe to say that the Dutchman struggled to put a run together in England.

Van de Beek only made over 20 appearances once in his four seasons in Manchester, with injuries also playing their part in disrupting his progress and nailing down his place in the starting eleven.

Transfer Fee

£35m

Appearances

62

Cost per appearance

£564k

Minutes played

2,151

Cost per minute

£16.2k

Goals

2

Cost per goal

£17.5m

Assists

2

Cost per assist

£17.5m

Goal involvements

4

Cost per goal involvement

£8.75m

While he did pop up with multiple goals, his impressive moments were too and far between, subsequently seeing him falling down the pecking order in recent years.

He made just two appearances in 2023/24 before being sold by Ten Hag in the summer of 2024, joining LaLiga side Girona for a reported €500k (£435k).

However, the decision to offload him may have been the right one, especially after the 28-year-old limped off with an Achilles injury in the clash with Athletic Club on Tuesday night.

It’s a real shame that his move to England didn’t work out, especially after the hierarchy forked out a mammoth sum to prise him away from

Ajax back in 2020.

The praise in the early stages of his time at United gave reasons for the supporters to be optimistic, but unfortunately, they’re still hunting for the player to fill the boots of Scholes at Old Trafford.

Huge Amorim upgrade: Man Utd keen on appointing "incredible" PL manager

Manchester United have set their sights on appointing one manager who has exceeded all expectations.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 25, 2025

Planning ahead for 2026, Manchester United are now reportedly among the clubs leading the way in the race to sign a want-away star in a deal worth over £50m.

Man Utd's 2026 transfer targets

It’s no surprise that Man United are already thinking about 2026 targets. INEOS still have plenty to do before the Red Devils are an established top four team again and that starts with the next transfer window. Having already spent around £200m in the summer too, there’s little doubt that they’re willing to back Ruben Amorim.

Those at Old Trafford will be hoping to see Senne Lammens, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo all come good this season in what would hand Amorim a major boost. The Man United boss has already seen praise arrive for Mbeumo and will be desperate to see others find form to receive similar recognition.

Speaking about the former Brentford man, United legend Wayne Rooney said on his podcast, ‘The Wayne Show’: “He looks like the type of character who would be fine with it (going back to his old club).

“I think he’s been a real positive for Man United this season. I think his energy, his running off the ball, his commitment, he’s scored a couple of goals, he could have had more. So I’ve been really happy. I think he’s been, out of all the signings, the most positive one. And he looks like someone who will just take it in his stride.”

Man Utd want to beat Chelsea to striker signing, £10m-a-year wage not an issue

What a signing this could be for Ruben Amorim.

ByHenry Jackson Sep 26, 2025

It’s the type of signing that the Red Devils must aim for in 2026, with rumours already throwing up some interesting names. Following up from their summer spending, INEOS are already reportedly eyeing moves for Adam Wharton, Dusan Vlahovic and are among the leaders in the race to welcome a La Liga talent next year.

Man Utd one of leading clubs in Gallagher race

According to reports in Spain, Man United are one of the leading clubs in the race to sign Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid in 2026. The midfielder reportedly wants to leave the Spanish club in an attempt to secure his England World Cup spot and is valued at around £52m ahead of January.

Other Premier League clubs are reportedly interested in the midfielder, but it is United who have expressed interest at this stage, having had an offer rejected in the summer. Another former Chelsea player, the Red Devils will be hoping to secure a solution for their midfield problems.

Minutes

1,633

1,785

Progressive Passes

64

61

Tackles Won

32

49

Progressive Carries

24

16

Dubbed “intense” by Diego Simeone, Gallagher’s work in possession is particularly impressive compared to Ugarte. The England international would hand United the control that they’re looking for as a result and could also see Bruno Fernandes pushed back into one of the two advanced midfield roles.

When 2026 arrives, the Red Devils would be wise to pursue Gallagher in hope of finally stabilising what has been a struggling midfield for far too long at Old Trafford.

Manchester City are now circling to sign a £70m Premier League forward, who has made a fantastic start to the new season.

Haaland setting the pace in the goal-scoring charts

Erling Haaland will have his sights set on winning the Premier League Golden Boot for the third time, after finishing top of the goal-scoring charts in each of his first two seasons, and the Man City star is setting the pace in the early stages of the campaign.

Remarkably, the Norway international is averaging 1.42 goals per 90, having found the back of the net eight times in his opening six games, which places the centre-forward way out in front as the leading goalscorer.

Pep Guardiola has a number of top-quality attacking options to choose from, with Phil Foden proving he may be getting back to his best by picking up two goals and two assists in all competitions this season, while Jeremy Doku also has four goal contributions to his name.

However, according to a report from The Boot Room, Pep could now look to enhance his forward options even further, with Man City circling to sign AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, after the winger’s fantastic start to the campaign.

Previously, Semenyo has been valued at £70m by the Cherries, and the forward’s stock is only likely to have risen after amassing six goal contributions in his opening six Premier League games this season.

In light of his performances, the Ghana international has now attracted the attention of a number of English clubs, namely Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, with Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Atlético Madrid also keen.

The 25-year-old has admitted that his dream is to play for a Champions League club, which means a move to the Etihad Stadium should appeal, although Bournemouth are reluctant to sanction a winter departure.

Man City prepare bid to beat PSG to "dominant" £43m+ midfielder in January

The Citizens are looking to make a statement in the market.

BySean Markus Clifford Sep 29, 2025 "Unbelievable" Semenyo could excel at the Etihad

Lauded as “unbelievable” by reporter Lewis Cox, the Bournemouth star has established himself as one of the best forwards in the Premier League over the past three seasons, having shown consistent signs of improvement.

Season

PL appearances

Goal contributions

2023-24

33

11

2024-25

37

17

2025-26

6

6

Perhaps the former Bristol City man’s most impressive individual performance this term came against Liverpool, scoring a brace to claw his side back into the game, although they did eventually go on to lose the game 4-2.

The Ghanaian is clearly a talented player, given his exploits across the past three seasons, but there are doubts whether he would be a necessary signing for Man City, with Savinho in line for a new contract.

Pep already has plenty of options in wide areas, with Doku and Omar Marmoush also on the books, so it may not be wise to shell out around £70m on Semenyo.

Injuries. The bane of Mikel Arsenal’s life. The bane of Arsenal’s very existence over the last year.

It’s not too preposterous to suggest that without them last season, the Gunners would have secured the title over Liverpool.

Arteta is certainly not one to make excuses when they have players on the treatment table but the fact of the matter is, they missed Gabriel, Kai Havertz and chiefly, Bukayo Saka, to major hamstring injuries.

Combine that with Martin Odegaard’s ankle problem a year ago and they were, if you pardon the pun, severely hamstrung by the events that played out.

Fast forward to the current campaign and, despite injecting nearly £300m into the player squad, adding more depth to Arteta’s ranks, they are feeling the effects of it again.

Havertz has been out since August, William Saliba has also missed a period of a few games and Saka endured another little niggle of his own too. That’s without mentioning Noni Madueke, Saka’s backup, who is also out injured.

So, when Odegaard limped from the field during their 2-0 win over West Ham last weekend, you could hear the drones inside the Emirates Stadium.

The latest on Martin Odegaard's injury

This has been a particularly troubling year for the Arsenal skipper. During an early-season international break last term, he suffered an ankle injury while playing for Norway and he’s arguably not been the same since.

That problem kept the skipper out for a few months and even when he did return, there was a sense that the Arsenal midfielder didn’t feel comfortable. He didn’t trust his ankle enough to strike through the ball cleanly when taking shots. It also impacted his playmaking ability.

The numbers below rubberstamp that fact. From 2023/24 to 2024/25, his base numbers were way down on what you would expect.

Games

35

30

Goals

8

3

Assists

10

8

Conversion rate

17.02%

10%

Chances created *

3

2.4

Duels won *

3.7

2.9

It’s typical, therefore, that as soon as Odegaard began to find his form again, he was struck down by another injury.

In the brief glimpses we’ve seen of the former Real Madrid man this season, there have been promising signs, no less so than against Olympiacos in the Champions League.

During Arsenal’s 2-0 win, the Norwegian simply ran the show, supplying the pre-assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s opener and then carving open the defence to assist Saka’s late strike.

It was vintage Odegaard but he was soon injured again, sparking fears that this could be a Jack Wilshere situation all over again.

Indeed, against West Ham last weekend, he hobbled off for the third successive league match, creating a little bit of history in the process. Worryingly, he became the first player in Premier League history to be substituted in the first half of three consecutive fixtures.

So, what’s the problem? Well, he left the Emirates wearing a brace on his knee last week and subsequent scans showed that he had suffered a medial collateral ligament injury. As a result, he pulled out of Norway’s fixtures over the ongoing break.

A suspected timeline of return has not yet been revealed, sparking fears that Odegaard could be out for a number of weeks.

How Arsenal can solve their Odegaard injury blow

The most likely solution for Arsenal will be Eberechi Eze. Signed in the summer, it was widely expected that the mega-money £67.5m arrival would play out on the left-hand side.

After all, Arteta required upgrades on the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard and he thought he’d signed one here.

Yet, Eze’s initial performances on the left lacked a bit of sparkle. They were solid enough but it was clear he was playing in a role he doesn’t enjoy quite as much. Against Bilbao in the Champions League, he produced just one key pass, down on his 2024/25 seasonal average of 1.7 while playing more centrally for Crystal Palace.

It’s in that central role where Eze has featured across Arsenal’s last three games. The difference has been noticeable.

He found the net against Port Vale and then versus Newcastle, he was desperately unlucky not to score a couple, denied by Nick Pope fabulously on two occasions. Against West Ham, supporters were cruelly robbed of seeing him line up alongside Odegaard for very long when the latter went off.

The scorer of 14 goals and the provider of 11 assists last season, the England international is certainly the most obvious candidate to replace Odegaard.

Yet, in two Hale End gems, Arteta has two more luxurious options: Ethan Nwaneri, who played regularly in the Odegaard role during pre-season and the generational Max Dowman.

It’s unlikely that Dowman is given a start but this feels like an ideal opportunity to give the 15-year-old game time in a role where the club envisions his future.

To date, the sparkling teenager has only been seen at first-team level on the right flank, starring in pre-season when he notably won a penalty against Newcastle, before featuring for 27 minutes in Premier League action from that role.

Dowman may not have played many league minutes just yet but he’s still made a big impact, becoming the second-youngest player in the division’s history and winning a penalty in the 5-0 win over Leeds.

As Mikel Merino commented earlier this year, the youngster is already “unbelievable”. Fellow midfielder Declan Rice has also waxed lyrical. “I’ve never seen a 15-year-old so comfortable around the first team, it’s insane.” Quite.

What Dowman is doing is not normal. Not even Nwaneri burst onto the scene in such a way. He was 15 when he debuted but had to wait another few years for regular opportunities. This kid is already getting them. Do we have another Lamine Yamal on our hands?

1. Ethan Nwaneri

15 years, 5 months

2. Max Dowman

15 years, 7 months

3. Jeremy Monga

15 years, 8 months

4. Harvey Elliott

16 years, 1 month

5. Matthew Briggs

16 years, 2 months

Expectations must be tempered and we must be cautious here. Merino’s next comment was to remind everyone, “he’s only 15, so obviously he has many things to learn.”

But, what makes this young starlet so special? Well, he’s got the ability to score and assist at will, netting 19 in 23 last season and creating five goals. Meanwhile, his ability to glide past players with ease has already made him a target for defenders.

Data analyst Ben Mattinson outlines how the teen is already a “foul magnet” and that’s something Arteta has also picked up on.

Commenting on Dowman’s development earlier this season, the Spaniard said: “He’s so used to it [being kicked by defenders] that now he knows to let the referee deal with it and my teammates probably to defend me, and I will carry on playing.”

So, while the Hale End prodigy is unlikely to start while Odegaard is injured, Arteta must use it as an opportunity to give further minutes to the club’s biggest academy talent.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 6, 2025

Tottenham’s brief unbeaten streak under Thomas Frank came to an abrupt end at home to Aston Villa last Sunday, with pundit Gary Lineker expressing concern over one star in a key role.

Tottenham's lack of creativity a concern for Thomas Frank

Spurs made an excellent start to proceedings against Villa when midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who recently signed a brand-new contract, opened the scoring with five minutes on the clock, feeding off midfield partner Joao Palhinha’s knock back to hand Spurs the lead.

However, that was as good as it got for Frank’s side.

Tottenham failed to convince going forward throughout the match, ultimately paying the price against a well-organized Villa side, with summer signing Xavi Simons criticised as Spurs lacked creative spark.

From the offset, the Lilywhites found it difficult to create clear-cut chances. Tottenham’s forwards, particularly on the counter-attack when one of Palhinha or Bentancur won the ball back off Villa, lacked that cutting edge to craft anything of note.

Joao Palhinha

7.8

Boubacar Kamara

7.5

Emiliano Buendia

7.5

Rodrigo Bentancur

7.4

Morgan Rogers

7.1

via WhoScored

Ultimately, Frank’s midfield failed to provide the necessary service to Spurs’ front line, leaving them starved of quality opportunities.

While the north Londoners battled to a 2-1 win away to Leeds before the international break, there were major signs beforehand that Tottenham quite simply need to improve in the attacking areas.

They were very fortunate to nick last-gasp draws against Wolves and Bodo/Glimt before they travelled to Elland Road, but Spurs’ luck ran out against Villa, who stole all three points in N17 thanks to a wonder goal from Emiliano Buendia.

Particularly after Tottenham’s loss to Villa, their lack of impetus in the final third is beginning to become a real worry, if it wasn’t already.

Concerns surround Richarlison’s ability to lead the line, while Dominic Solanke’s bad luck with an ankle injury, which required minor surgery, has limited the England international to just 49 minutes of action this season.

With Simons still getting up to speed, Frank is dearly missing the attacking quality of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison. He’ll be hoping to have the former back as soon as possible, with Kulusevski unable to take part since picking up a knee injury against Crystal Palace last season.

Tottenham face a tough trip to AS Monaco in the Champions League next, and Frank will have a key decision to make about who starts up front, if Solanke isn’t fit enough to make his long-awaited return.

Gary Lineker says Mathys Tel can't do basic thing right in Tottenham striker role

If Solanke proves unable to start against Monaco, Spurs could turn to Mathys Tel as his number nine once again.

Tel was handed the nod by Frank against both Leeds and Villa, opening the scoring at Elland Road, but was largely isolated and ineffective against Unai Emery’s side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Once tipped to eventually bag 40 goals a season by Julian Nagelsmann, the Frenchman may have some way to go before realising that prediction, and Lineker has revealed one key flaw in his game.

Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast this week (via GiveMeSport), Lineker says that Tel can’t do a basic thing right in the Tottenham striker role — namely that he lacks the natural runs in behind to beat the offside trap.

Ange Postecoglou played a key role in convincing the 20-year-old to join Spurs from Bayern Munich last January, on an initial loan which ex-chair Daniel Levy re-negotiated and secured permanently for £30 million.

While the Lilywhites worked hard to sign Tel, he’s racked up just six goal contributions (four goals, two assists) in 28 appearances thus far.

However, it is vital to remember that the ex-Rennes sensation is still very young, and Tottenham will be banking on Tel eventually reaching his full potential after flashes of true brilliance at Bayern.

Daniel Farke, manager of Leeds United, has been questioned for his side’s performance against Nottingham Forest.

Morgan Gibbs-White produced the perfect response to his England omission by helping Forest to their first Premier League win since the opening day of the season.

Gibbs-White was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next week’s World Cup qualifiers, but reminded the German of his talent with a decisive goal in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Leeds.

The midfielder’s second-half header helped end Forest’s nine-game winless streak in the league as they secured three points for the first time under head coach Sean Dyche.

It was far from pretty as they had to come from behind, Ibrahim Sangare cancelling out Lukas Nmecha’s opener for Leeds.

Elliot Anderson’s late penalty sealed a vital triumph for Forest, who have now taken four points from their last two games and look to be heading in the right direction.

They are just two points behind Leeds, who have lost four out of their last five matches. Following their latest defeat, manager Farke has been called into question.

Farke should have made earlier changes against Forest

Since arriving at Leeds in 2023, Farke has sometimes been questioned for his decisions surrounding substitutes. Often, the German seems to bring new bodies into the game only after the majority of minutes have been played.

Against Nottingham, Leeds made no changes until the 74th minute. This is despite having lost their one-goal advantage, finding themselves 2-1 down and offering little threat to their hosts. Such a decision was noted by commentator Jon Newsome who at the time of United’s substitutions, as per BBC Sport West Yorkshire.

England midfielder Anderson killed the game from the spot in the 90th minute after the lively Hutchinson, introduced from the bench, was fouled by Jack Harrison, a natural wide midfielder who replaced left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson.

In attack, Leeds were bereft of inspiration. They had just four shots before the 70th minute and of the 10 they had across the game, as per SofaScore, only three were on target. Beren Cross of The Athletic commented on the fact that, despite Farke saying he had been in team training for a fortnight, Italian forward Willy Gnonto, who would offer a much-needed creative spark, was not in the squad against Forest.

With an international break ahead of them, Leeds will face a number of tough fixtures as they look for what will be a needed improvement in form. With four defeats within their past five Premier League games, questions may soon be asked of Farke’s future at Elland Road if such a run continues.

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