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Sunderland have "made their move" to sign an "excellent" player in the January transfer window, according to a new update from Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.

Sunderland transfer news

The Black Cats are looking at plenty of transfer targets this month, giving Michael Beale an opportunity to bring in players he specifically wants, assuming he remains in the job moving forward. One player who is a rumoured option is FC Basel attacker Liam Millar, with the Canadian making one appearance for Liverpool in the past and being seen as a possible addition at the Stadium of Light. He is currently on loan at Championship side Preston, where he has scored three goals and registered five assists this season.

Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore is another player who has been backed to join Sunderland this month, with the Wales international struggling to make an impact for the Premier League outfit this season, playing just 100 minutes of action in the competition across eight cameo appearances.

The Black Cats are also believed to be interested in signing red-hot Notts County striker Macauley Langstaff, who is taking League Two by storm after excelling in the National League, netting 20 times in 27 league matches in 2023/24 to date.

Sunderland want Callum Styles

According to Downie on X on Tuesday morning, Sunderland have moved to sign Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles on loan this month.

"Sunderland have made a move for Barnsley’s Callum Styles. The Black Cats looking to bolster their midfield & loan with summer obligation has been suggested for the Hungary international. Far from a done deal though."

This is an encouraging update for Sunderland, with Styles someone who could add a combination of ability and depth in the middle of the park, at a time when big improvements are needed to steer the Black Cats into the playoffs. The 23-year-old has been lauded by Barnsley manager Neill Collins: "Callum's talent is undoubted and again for me, he has been excellent in pre-season. As long as I have got players like that, I will be delighted. I hope I can just help him continue to improve and become the player he has got the potential to be. He's definitely enjoyable for everyone to watch."

Callum Styles' key career stats Appearances Goals

Hungary 18 0 Barnsley 151 22 Bury 47 3 Millwall 22 2 One thing that stands out most with Styles is that he is an 18-time capped Hungary international, becoming a key figure for his country alongside Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai. He appeared seven times in their Euro 2024 qualification campaign, helping them reach this summer's competition in the process, and he averaged 1.7 aerial duel wins per game and an enjoyed an 86.9% pass completion rate in that time.This all shows what an asset Styles could be for Sunderland for the remainder of this season, and if he really catches the eye on loan, a permanent deal this summer should be in the offing. 3 dream wingers Sunderland could sign if they need to replace Jack Clarke

Sunderland could well be drafting up a list of potential Jack Clarke replacements in case their star-man leaves.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 22, 2024

The EFL Cup final sees the first major piece of silverware in the English football calendar handed out. The tournament has been famed for its classic finales over the years, with a European place also up for grabs if an unfancied side makes it to Wembley.

Here, we take a look back at some of the most memorable showpieces the tournament has thrown up since its inception in the 1960s.

8 2019 – Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea (4-3 on penalties) Farcical scenes as Chelsea's Kepa refuses to be substituted

Kicking things off with a goalless draw, the 2019 final between Manchester City and Chelsea is perhaps best well-known for the altercation between Blues boss Maurizio Sarri and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Both clubs came into the game in different circumstances. Pep Guardiola’s City were at their juggernaut best as they went toe to toe with Liverpool for the Premier League title while at the time, still seeking a historic quadruple.

Chelsea, on the other hand, were in their first season under Sarri following the departure of Antonio Conte in the previous summer, with the Blues playing Europa League football for the first time since winning the competition in 2013.

The heated moment came when Sarri attempted to substitute Kepa ahead of the impending penalty shootout. Willy Caballero was poised to enter the fray, yet the Spaniard refused to leave the field.

With his authority challenged, Sarri appeared to leave the dugout altogether as Kepa somehow remained on the pitch. Unfortunately, he was unable to fully vindicate himself despite saving from Leroy Sane as City prevailed in the shootout, with Raheem Sterling scoring the winner after Jorginho and David Luiz were unsuccessful from the spot.

7 2011 – Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham City Defensive cock-up hands Blues unlikely Wembley victory

In one of the competition’s most recent cup final shocks, Birmingham City produced one of the great League Cup moments with a last-gasp win over strong favourites Arsenal.

The Gunners were battling on four fronts heading into the contest, and had responded to Nikola Zigic’s opener as Robin van Persie equalised before half-time.

Blues goalkeeper Ben Foster then pulled off a string of saves to deny Arsenal the winner they craved, before the mother of all mix-ups at the back allowed Obafemi Martins to stroke home into an unguarded net.

Both sides’ seasons unravelled after that, with Arsenal dropping out of Europe, FA Cup and title contention, while Alex McLeish’s team were relegated on the final day, with a place in the Europa League mere consolation.

6 1969 – Swindon Town 3-1 Arsenal Third Division Robins stun off-colour Gunners

Unfortunately for Arsenal, they had made something of a habit of falling at the final hurdle in the League Cup – and often in exceptional circumstances.

That was certainly true when they took on third-tier Swindon Town in the 1969 final at Wembley. While the build-up to the game was dominated by the Gunners being taken down by flu, they were nevertheless favourites to overcome their opponents.

As it happened, the Robins were unlucky not to have won the match in normal time, with Bobby Gould netting an equaliser four minutes from the end to force an extra period.

That was when the beleaguered Gunners’ race had been run, with Swindon grabbing two extra-time goals to secure a superb result and their first major domestic trophy.

5 1993 – Arsenal 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday Calamitous celebrations overshadow Gunners victory

While there was nothing overly remarkable about the 1993 final itself, the events that followed the final whistle are worthy of entering football folklore – for all the wrong reasons.

Arsenal had come from behind to win just their second League Cup title, with midfielder Steve Morrow getting the winner after Paul Merson had cancelled out John Harkes’ opener.

Unfortunately for hero Morrow, the exuberant celebrations from his captain, Tony Adams, led to him being taken to hospital with a broken arm, after the Gunners skipper slipped while trying to get Morrow onto his shoulders.

Morrow missed the trophy presentation as well as the remainder of the season. In fact, he wouldn’t receive his winners’ medal until Arsenal ironically met Wednesday again in the FA Cup final later that year.

Club

Times won

Last win

Liverpool

9

2022

Manchester City

8

2021

Manchester United

6

2023

Chelsea

5

2015

Aston Villa

5

1996

Tottenham Hotspur

4

2008

Nottingham Forest

4

1990

Leicester City

3

2000

Birmingham City

2

2011

Arsenal

2

1993

Norwich City

2

1985

Wolves

2

1980

4 1991 – Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Manchester United Sheridan goal wins cup for second-tier Owls against United

In what is the most recent example of a team outside of the top tier winning the competition, Sheffield Wednesday defeated would-be Premier League juggernauts Manchester United with a superb win at Wembley.

While this was a United team that only finished sixth in the old First Division, they would end the campaign as European champions with victory in the Cup Winners’ Cup against Barcelona just a few weeks later.

But they were left to pick themselves up from a rather embarrassing defeat, as John Sheridan’s strike handed the Second Division Owls their only League Cup to date and Ron Atkinson got one over on his old employers.

3 1988 – Luton Town 3-2 Arsenal Arsenal throw it away as Hatters come back to win thrilling finale

As mentioned, Arsenal just don’t seem to help themselves when they get to the League Cup final. Perhaps their most agonising defeat came in a five-goal thriller against Luton Town, who were seeking their first major trophy.

Arsenal had recovered from a goal down to lead with a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to goals from Martin Hayes and Alan Smith. A missed Nigel Winterburn penalty then shifted momentum dramatically, with Danny Wilson – who would later win the tournament again with Sheffield Wednesday – equalising late on, before Mark Stein’s free kick completed an unlikely, incredible comeback.

While their defensive failures in this game would inspire George Graham’s men to the league title a year later, this was a moment to forget for the Gunners as Luton enjoyed one of their finest hours.

2 2005 – Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool (aet) Mourinho silences the fans as Chelsea edge classic

Chelsea’s first meeting with Liverpool at this stage of the competition was one for the ages. Seeking a first major trophy since the arrival of Roman Abramovich, the Blues got off to a horrendous start when John Arne Riise lashed home inside a minute.

A bizarre own goal from Steven Gerrard then levelled the scores after he headed past Jerzy Dudek. This prompted Jose Mourinho to infamously ‘shush’ the Liverpool fans, after which he was sent to the stands.

But his Chelsea side didn’t let this affect them in extra time, with Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman striking late in the added period to all but put Chelsea’s name on the trophy. Antonio Nunez swiftly pulled one back, but Chelsea held on to deny Rafael Benitez’s Reds.

1 2007 – Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea Drogba the hero as memorable Cardiff final descends into chaos

If you want drama, controversy, punch-ups, managers on the pitch and red cards galore, the 2007 League Cup final had it all.

Arsene Wenger’s youngsters had made it all the way to the final having seen off the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham in the previous rounds, while double league champions Chelsea were in their element under Mourinho.

The story began with 17-year-old Theo Walcott opening the scoring with his first Arsenal goal. Didier Drogba equalised soon after to leave the tie delicately poised.

Things got incredibly tense when John Terry went flying in for a header only to meet the boot of Abou Diaby, which knocked him unconscious and led to a lengthy stoppage.

And even after Drogba had expertly headed home a late winner once the match had restarted, there was still time for things to be taken up a notch.

Arsenal skipper Kolo Toure rather violently took offence to a challenge from John Obi Mikel, leading to an almighty scuffle between players on both sides. Mourinho and Wenger both entered the field in an attempt to calm things down, before Howard Webb handed Mikel, Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor their marching orders.

The match entered an (at the time) almost unprecedented 100th minute in regulation time, but the ten men of Chelsea held on to deny Arsenal yet another League Cup in a final that will be remembered for years to come.

To say it's been a season to forget for Chelsea so far would be an understatement, with the Blues already reportedly seeking summer reinforcements for Mauricio Pochettino. As Todd Boehly prepares to splash the cash once again, talks have supposedly opened to beat Newcastle United and Arsenal to a midfield target.

Chelsea transfer news

It's a rare occasion when Chelsea aren't in the headlines for their transfer activity, but January was a quiet month for those at Stamford Bridge, barring departures such as Armando Broja and Ian Maatsen. This comes despite Pochettino's December admission that his squad were lacking something. The Argentine said via The Premier League's official website:

"After the first half of the season, we need to check. That is the reality. If we are not receiving enough, maybe we need to do some movement. That is the thing to analyse with the sporting directors, to see if we can change this dynamic and improve in the second half of the season."

Two months later and there was, of course, no movement when it came to incomings, as the Argentine was forced to stick with what he's got amid a stagnating period in mid-table. Transfers could prove to be worth the wait, however. According to Spanish outlet Sport via TeamTalk, Boehly and Chelsea have made contact to sign Amadou Onana from Everton, alongside London rivals Arsenal, with both clubs in talks.

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In a tight battle to secure the Belgian's signature this summer, it could come down to who's willing to match Everton's reported £70m price-tag, in what could prove to be one of the most expensive deals of the transfer window. Given that Chelsea splashed out to sign Moises Caicedo just last year, it will be interesting to see where Onana would slot in at Stamford Bridge, should they complete a deal.

"Unique" Onana can add balance to Chelsea's midfield

By solving their midfield, Chelsea may see most of their current problems come to an end. The talent is certainly there too, with a World Cup winner in Enzo Fernandez and another player whoa arrived at over £100m last summer in Caicedo. But the Blues are arguably lacking one more standout star in a role that Onana can step into at Stamford Bridge. The Belgian could slot in next to Caicedo to form a pivot in the middle of the park, handing Fernandez the freedom to move forward, in the process.

Progressive Carries

16

9

Progressive Passes

71

87

Tackles Won

26

24

Ball Recoveries

112

98

It's no surprise, given the numbers, that former Belgium manager Roberto Martinez was so full of praise for Onana when he completed his Everton move. Martinez said that Onana has a "unique profile" before going on to say:

"Someone with such physical presence and dynamism is needed, just think of [Marouane] Fellaini in 2018. He is also a leader on the pitch who has made strides in his career. From Germany, to France and now the Premier League… He deserves this.”

Arsenal are ready to make a move for a marquee striker this summer, and have already decided to join the race for one superstar.

Arsenal chase new number nine

It is no secret that Arsenal are in need of a striker this summer. The Gunners are in unstoppable form in the Premier League as things stand, but have struggled in the out and out forward department nonetheless.

Gabriel Jesus has been sidelined through injury, managing just 13 starts and finding the net just four times. Meanwhile, Eddie Nketiah has struggled to take on the mantle, which has led to Mikel Arteta experimenting with one of Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard as his striker in recent weeks.

Player

Premier League Minutes 23/24

Premier League Goals 23/24

Gabriel Jesus

1099

4

Kai Havertz

1525

5

Eddie Nketiah

1030

5

Though effective in the short term, it is clear the Gunners need a new frontman for next season, and there is already significant speculation as to who that player could be.

Osimhen on Gunners radar

Obviously, Victor Osimhen is the name that springs to mind when looking across the striker market, with the Nigerian attacker having a £113m release clause in his contract according to reports in Italy. The problem is that the Gunners are not the only side keen on adding the Napoli man to their attack, with Premier League rivals Chelsea and European giants Paris Saint Germain both also keen on the forward and both likely to be able to offer a more financially lucrative package.

That is not set to deter Arteta and Edu however. As per Sports Witness, the club are "ready to sign up" for the race for his signature, with Osimhen having previously stated that a move to the Premier League would be his dream.

The £113m release clause would also come with hefty wages, with Osimhen likely to demand a significant increase on his current £8.5m per year deal (£163,000 per week).

Osimhen's first preference appears to be Chelsea, but barring a major turnaround in the second half of the campaign the Blues will not be able to offer a chance to shine on the Champions League stage, while Arsenal are set to be in next season's competition as things stand, something that could work in their favour.

The decision follows up on Mikel Arteta's recent comments where he insisted that his side must be 'in the conversation' to sign Kylian Mbappe when he leaves Paris Saint Germain this summer, despite his destination already seemingly set in stone in the form of the Santiago Bernabeu.

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Should they fail to land Osimhen, the club have plenty of other options. Ivan Toney has gone on record revealing that he would like his next club to be Arsenal or Liverpool, while the Gunners have also been linked with RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who has a £43m release clause in his contract with the German side.

Chelsea are having yet another below-par season and find themselves currently residing in mid-table in the Premier League.

The London-based club are a massive 14 points away from the top four despite spending over £1b over the last two seasons on transfer and loan fees alone.

This figure is astonishingly high and puts into perspective how badly they've played since the arrival of Todd Boehly at Stamford Bridge.

Out of the many additions made by Boehly in order to try to make his club one of Europe's powerhouses once again, the vast majority have failed to make an impact on the club since their arrival.

There is, however, one signing in particular which stands out above the rest for being woeful despite earning a bumper wage.

Marc Cucurella's form since joining Chelsea

Marc Cucurella joined Chelsea in August 2022 from Brighton and Hove Albion for a fee which was worth around £63m.

The move came off the back of his first in England's top flight, where he performed above and beyond what was expected of him.

For his one and only season as a Brighton player, the Spain international managed a total of 38 appearances and contributed to two goals.

Although the stats may not showcase how solid he was across the season, he showed enough to get Chelsea to spend enough to make him the second-most expensive left-back in world football.

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge, the one-time Barcelona full-back has appeared on 45 occasions but, he has only garnered a total of two assists during that time.

His regular role in Chelsea's starting XI is largely due to the sheer number of injuries and time on the sidelines that Ben Chilwell has been faced with.

The England international has spent a total of 83 games on the sidelines since the arrival of the 25-year-old, which has resulted in the Blues relying on Cucurella more often than not.

To make matters worse, during their Premier League clash against Everton on the 10 December, Cucurella was himself struck down by injury and forced off the pitch early.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

His injury was so severe that he had to undergo surgery, which has kept him sidelined for the past couple of months.

As with all players who get injured, their salaries are still paid in full, which leaves clubs in a bit of a pickle. Hence, why now, the Spain international is bleeding the London-based club dry.

Marc Cucrella's total cost at Chelsea

After being at the club for around 81 weeks now, the salary Cucurella has received is eye-watering. Over the time he has spent at the club, the 5 foot 8 defender has gained around £12m in wages alone – raking in a staggering £175k-per-week, as per Capology.

Player

Wages

Raheem Sterling

£325k-p/w

Reece James

£250k-p/w

Wesley Fofana

£200k-p/w

Ben Chilwell

£200k-p/w

Christopher Nkunku

£195k-p/w

Enzo Fernandez

£180k-p/w

Marc Cucurella

£175k-p/w

Figures vis Capology

It would appear that such an outlay – which comes to £75m in total when including his initial transfer fee – has not been justified, with talkSPORT pundit Jamie O'Hara even branding him a "disgrace" following Chelsea's Champions League tie against Real Madrid last season.

This judgement came after Chilwell was sent off after pulling on the shoulder of Rodrygo in the box. The only reason the England international decided to commit the foul in the first place was due to the poor positioning of Cucurella for the goal.

This isn't the first time a situation has occurred like this with Cucurella, and it likely won't be the last. So, not only have Chelsea spent a near-record-breaking fee on the left-back, but they have also made themselves £12m lighter for a player who seemingly isn't up to the standard they expect.

So, it is without doubt that the left-back has bled the club dry and looks set to be yet another Boehly signing who won't make the cut in the near future.

Sitting fourth in the Premier League, few can contest Aston Villa's success this season. Unai Emery's men have defied the odds to keep pace with the big boys whilst continuing to compete in Europe. Now with the transfer window on the horizon, NSWE are desperate to make sure this season is not a one-off.

Villa's Portuguese scouting mission

After acquiring 46 percent of Vitoria Sport Clube back in February 2023, Portuguese football is far from unchartered territory for the Villa owners. With a keen interest in the region, it is now suggested that club officials have made the journey south to watch one of the league's top sides and keep an eye on potential signings.

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According to Sport Witness, Villa are interested in signing players from Portugal with club officials attending multiple FC Porto games in recent weeks. Whilst extensive scouting networks are nothing new in the modern game, the report claims NSWE have someone specific in mind – although they could not identify who.

Reports out of Portugal state that officials from the West Midlands outfit watched Porto's recent victories over Arsenal and Benfica. The former saw the home side cause a 1-0 upset against the Gunners, whilst Sunday's top of the table clash with Benfica saw Porto run away 5-0 winners.

With little certainty as to who Villa officials are keeping tabs on, reports out of a local outlet in Porto have suggested a couple of names that could be on their radar.

Local reports suggest two targets for Villa

Whilst local paper O Jogo has no concrete information on who Villa were scouting, they do suggest that Porto talents Galeno and Alan Varela could be on the club's radar. Varela is a midfielder who is at his best with the ball at his feet. A passing maestro who puts in the dirty work too, he could be the perfect replacement if Douglas Luiz is to depart this summer.

Non-Penalty Goals

0.12

74th percentile

Passes Attempted

66.65

89th percentile

Pass Completion %

87.3

90th percentile

Interceptions

1.11

64th percentile

Blocks

1.73

86th percentile

Whilst Varela's quality is clear, Galeno was arguably the stand out of the two games, scoring the only goal in the win over Arsenal as well as a brace at the weekend.

Galeno's stats for season have seen him provide 12 goals and 10 assists in just 35 games. With five of his goals coming in the Champions League, he is clearly a player built for the big stage that could be a huge asset to Emery's side. A winger with an eye for a goal would shift some of the scoring onus off Ollie Watkins and benefit the entire team as a result.

Whatever Villa's Portuguese excursion may bring, they are not watching these games for no reason and fans can expect the Villans to continue to pursue their targets.

Aston Villa failed to make the most of their rivals slipping up on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur were hammered 3-0 by London rivals Fulham and that created an opportunity for the Villans to extend the gap between themselves and Ange Postecoglou's side in the hunt for Champions League football.

Unfortunately, they only gained one point as they moved three clear of Spurs after Michail Antonio's first-half header was then cancelled out by Nicolo Zaniolo's second-half strike at the London Stadium.

Two players – Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers – were handed their first Premier League starts of the season and one of those players, the Colombian centre-forward, failed Unai Emery's big test badly.

Morgan Rogers' stats against West Ham

The January signing from Championship side Middlesbrough did not grasp his opportunity with both hands but also did not do himself a huge disservice.

Rogers was selected to play on the left flank and tried to get himself involved in the match with 44 touches of the ball in 63 minutes on the pitch.

Minutes played

63

Dribbles completed

2/3

Passes completed

20/26

Duels won

4/11

Possession lost

11x

As you can see in the table above, the former second division starlet did complete 67% of his attempted dribbles and managed to win four physical duels throughout the game, which shows that he put himself about and worked hard to make things happen.

The 21-year-old dynamo also registered one shot on target, as he forced Alphonse Areola into a save, but failed to create a chance for his teammates.

These statistics show that Rogers was average without being terrible on the wing as he did not have a howler but did not stand out as a key performer for the Villans.

Why Jhon Duran was worse than Morgan Rogers

Duran also made his first Premier League start of the campaign, having scored two goals in 14 substitute appearances before Sunday, and let Emery down badly after the Spanish head coach placed his trust in the striker.

The Colombia international was worse than Rogers as he was completely ineffective at the top end of the pitch, which led to the manager taking him off to be replaced by Moussa Diaby – who went on to assist the equaliser – at the break.

Duran was a lightweight for the Villans out of possession as West Ham's players beat him in 80% (4/5) of their duels with the former MLS forward, which shows that he was far too easily beaten in physical contests.

The 20-year-old attacker also failed to register a single effort on goal or chance created for his teammates, along with a 0% (0/1) dribble success rate, on the ball. Whereas, Rogers had a shot on target, completed two dribbles, and won four of his duels.

These statistics show that the young marksman struggled with both sides of the game as he failed to make the most of a huge chance to showcase his quality from the start in a Premier League game and let Emery down badly.

He was worse than Rogers, who at least tried to make things happen and did win some of his physical contests, and may not get another opportunity to start in the league any time soon, based on this disappointing performance.

With or without Champions League football, it looks as though Tottenham Hotspur are set to continue their backing of Ange Postecoglou, who has seen a number of new players arrive during his first year in charge. Now, reports suggest they are considering a bid to welcome a record-breaker in the summer.

Tottenham transfer news

Daniel Levy and co have splashed the cash in the last two windows to welcome the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin and many more, and this summer looks set to be no different. Whilst the Lilywhites won't have the Harry Kane money to spend this time around, the rumour mill indicates that they'll still be in a position to strengthen Postecoglou's squad.

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Among those who have already grabbed the headlines regarding Spurs is Morgan Gibbs-White, who is looking likely to be among those sacrificed to help Nottingham Forest avoid a second PSR punishment. Sitting one point adrift of safety after their four-point deduction, Forest may even lose Gibbs-White for an even cheaper price if they suffer relegation this season.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Spurs are eyeing a shock summer move to land a record-breaking defender. According to reports in Spain, Spurs are considering a bid to sign Harry Maguire from Manchester United, who has enjoyed a resurgent spell after a torrid time at Old Trafford.

Initially signed for £80m back in 2019, Maguire broke the record to become the most expensive defender of all time in a tag that has only stood in his way ever since. Now, United are almost certain to suffer a major loss if they decide to sell the former Leicester City man this summer. Benefiting from that, reports suggest, may well be Spurs, as they look to bolster Postecoglou's backline.

Given the injury troubles of Van de Ven, welcoming Maguire would certainly be a wise piece of business from Spurs, especially if they can land a bargain deal this summer.

"Proactive" Maguire can forget United struggles with Spurs move

Whilst Maguire has put an end to the negative noise at Manchester United, that may only be temporary given the pressures of Old Trafford. And if the England international gets the chance to put an end to his current nightmare for good, he should take that chance. He wouldn't be stepping down to a different level, either, with Spurs also a top-six club vying for a place in the Champions League.

Maguire's stats also show that he'd be more than capable of stepping in and keeping up with Cristian Romero if Van de Ven's injury issues persist next season.

Blocks

2.02

1.43

0.71

Interceptions

1.47

1.62

0.76

Aerial Duels Won

3.72

2.52

1.41

Progressive Passes

4.19

6

4.06

Erik ten Hag could yet be hesitant to lose Maguire after his recent return to form, however, having sung his praises earlier this season. The Dutchman said via The Guardian: “I have to say Harry is playing like we want him to play. Very proactive out of possession, dominating his opponent, stepping in when necessary, reading the game, good covering but also in possession very proactive, stepping in, delivering good passes, switching; yes, I am happy with his performance.”

Arsenal's resurgence over the last couple of years has been based on several different factors, but one of the most important has been squad building.

Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have overseen the recruitment of some brilliant players, such as Martin Odegaard, Gabriel, and Declan Rice, but they have also sanctioned the sale of those who were not good enough.

The team Arteta took over and the one today is almost entirely different, and the wage bill has been transformed in the process, with players who actually contribute earning the big bucks, unlike just a few years ago when a player who was never really good enough took home more than Emile Smith Rowe earns today.

Emile Smith Rowe's salary at Arsenal

Smith Rowe has endured an interesting career at Arsenal, breaking through as one of the most exciting young talents alongside Bukayo Saka a few years ago, to someone who has seriously struggled for game time over the last couple of campaigns through a mix of injury problems and the development of the surrounding team.

That said, it should not be forgotten just how good the young Englishman was at points for the North Londoners.

Appearances

112

Goals

18

Assists

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.26

For example, in the 2020/21 season, the Croydon-born gem scored seven goals and provided seven assists in just 37 games, and then followed that up with 11 goals and two assists the following campaign, at which point he was described as "incredibly prolific" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Just before the start of that fruitful season, the 23-year-old ace signed a new deal with the club that increased his £15k-per-week wages to £40k-per-week. While that could be considered a lot of money for a player who has made just 31 appearances across the last two seasons, he has already proven that, when given a chance, he can operate at a high level.

In comparison, a player who used to earn more than Smith Rowe currently does never fulfilled his potential at the club and arguably never came close.

Calum Chambers salary at Arsenal

Yes, the player in question is former Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, who joined the Gunners for £16m from Southampton in the summer of 2014, signed by Arsene Wenger, before joining Aston Villa for around £2m in January 2022.

The Petersfield-born ace made just 122 appearances for the club across his seven-and-a-half-year stay, scoring five goals and providing nine assists. He did spend one season on loan with Middlesbrough and one on loan with Fulham.

In his first three seasons as an Arsenal player, he earned a cool £45k-per-week, but in the 2017/18 season, that went up to £50k-per-week, or around £10k-per-week more than Smith Rowe is currently earning.

Therefore, for the five and a half seasons he was an Arsenal player – taking away the two years he spent on loan – the 29-year-old cost the club around £14.6m in wages alone.

Combined with the £16m fee and the £2m they got back for him, the North Londoners paid around £28.6m for very little return from the Wenger dud.

Transfer Fee

£16m

Sold For

£2m

Wages Total

£14.6m

Total Cost

£28.6m

Appearances

122

Cost per Appearance

£234k

Goals

5

Cost per Goal

£5.7m

Assists

9

Cost per Assist

£3.1m

Goal Involvements

14

Cost per Goal Involvement

£2m

That means that the versatile defender cost around £234k-per-appearance, £5.7m-per-goal, or £3.1m-per-assist – talk about value.

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Ultimately, it's hard not to consider Chambers's time at Arsenal a mistake, although it makes the wage Smith Rowe earns look justified.

The Gunners were, in the end, bled dry by the English defender who did not turn out to be value for money after being signed by Wenger from Southampton back in 2014.

Tottenham are now eyeing one club's star midfielder this summer as they become increasingly likely to lose him for nothing.

Spurs looking to shore up midfield for Postecoglou

As the future of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg seems far away from Spurs, with the Dane's contract expiring next year, it is believed that Ange Postecoglou could look to shore up his midfield with a replacement more suited to his style.

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Hojbjerg has featured very regularly under Postecoglou and made real contributions, but the vast majority of his appearances have come from the substitute's bench. Fabrizio Romano backs that the 28-year-old could depart N17 in search of more game time.

In terms of the names linked to potentially succeed Hojbjerg ahead of 2024/2025, the likes of Chelsea star Conor Gallagher are attracting interest from Spurs.

Atalanta midfielder Ederson and Everton's James Garner have also been mentioned as Tottenham targets in the last two months, with technical director Johan Lange seemingly shortlisting Gallagher alternatives in the event he signs a new Chelsea deal.

"Garner is probably a Gallagher alternative that Tottenham might look at," said journalist Dean Jones to GiveMeSport in February.

"Obviously, it's very early days to be analysing the summer transfer window. We know that Tottenham are still waiting to see if Conor Gallagher does become available because there is a feeling still that he might and the longer that contract situation goes on, the longer they will believe that something might be able to happen. But if Conor Gallagher does end up signing a contract extension, they need to have a list of names they immediately turn to. And I guess James Garner kind of fits the profile somewhat so yeah, an interesting one to look out for."

You cannot rule out new targets appearing on a weekly basis as we slowly approach the summer window's opening, and a name now being floated by the press is Leicester City midfielder Wilfried Ndidi.

The 53-cap Nigerian has made 26 Championship appearances this season, scoring two goals and five assists. These numbers would be greater if he hadn't been ruled out from December-March through injury, with Ndidi contributing effectively during Leicester's chase for promotion.

Leicester City 4-0 Plymouth

7.94

Leicester City 3-0 Preston

7.89

Southampton 1-4 Leicester City

7.65

Leicester City 1-0 Bristol City

7.43

Blackburn Rovers 1-4 Leicester City

7.41

The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season, and according to HITC, Tottenham are a potential landing spot for him this summer.

Tottenham eyeing Ndidi move with Leicester likely to lose him

Indeed, Leicester are "increasingly likely" to lose Ndidi for nothing, and this has alerted Lange and co. Spurs are said to be eyeing a free move for Ndidi alongside a host of other top-flight sides, and he could be a cost-effective option to succeed Hojbjerg.

“He is an incredible player," said former Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers.

"The offensive players get the credit but he does the dirty work. He has this brain for the game, where he can smell danger and always finds himself there. The timing of his challenge is very good and he’s up there with the top players at winning the ball back."