All posts by n8rngtd.top

Sunderland are interested in completing the signing of a "great player" as a possible replacement for Jack Clarke this month, according to an update from reliable journalist Alan Nixon.

Sunderland transfer news

The Black Cats find themselves in a poor run of form at the moment, with Michael Beale struggling to impress the masses after an uninspiring start. Friday's 1-0 defeat at home to Hull City saw some supporters already calling for his head, and new signings this month are needed to inject fresh life into Sunderland's Championship promotion push.

Notts County striker Macauley Langstaff has been backed to seal a move to the Stadium of Light, with the Englishman in sensational goalscoring form in recent years, while contact has also been made with former midfielder Yann M'Vila over a switch.

Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore has emerged as a Sunderland transfer target, too, with the Welshman struggling to enjoy regular game time for the Cherries, and no doubt eyeing more minutes elsewhere. Leicester City's Luke Thomas has also been linked with bolstering the Black Cats' left-back options, so there are clearly lots of targets out there ahead during the January transfer window.

Sunderland want Liam Millar

According to Nixon on Patreon [via The 72], Sunderland are keen on signing on-loan Preston attacker Liam Millar, seeing him as an ideal potential replacement for Clarke.

Currently on loan from FC Basel, the 24-year-old is considered a primary target by the Black Cats, but only if the right offer comes in for Clarke, who they clearly want to keep hold of for as long as possible.

Retaining his services appears to be the priority for Beale, considering he is arguably the best player at the club currently, but if he does move on, Millar, a Canada international, could represent a strong option. Preston captain Alan Browne has hailed his quality as a player recently, saying:

"I don't think we've had someone similar to that, probably since (Aiden) McGeady in terms of one-v-one. We've had some pace and got past players that way, but to actually have that skill to go past a player – it's quite rare in football now actually. You don't see it as much; it's more tactical and powerful runners. But yeah, he is a great player and we have to make sure we keep getting an arm around him."

Millar, formerly on the books of Liverpool, made one appearance for the first team and featured 75 times for the Reds' Under-23s and Under-18s combined, so may have the pedigree of representing one of the biggest clubs in the country, as well as winning 24 caps for Canada.

Reliable reporter says Sunderland do want to sign "master" striker

He’s previously earned a nickname related to Erling Haaland.

By
David Comerford

Jan 19, 2024

This season, the forward has eight goal contributions (three goals and five assists) in 16 Championship starts, also averaging 2.2 dribbles per match, and he could hopefully be a shrewd replacement for Clarke, should the worst happen and the current Sunderland ace find a new challenge.

Since Nottingham Forest's play-off final victory against Huddersfield Town on 29th May 2022, they haven't been shy of splashing the cash.

After a 23-year absence from the Premier League, the East Midlanders have displayed their intent to retain their top-flight status by backing manager Steve Cooper in the transfer market.

They've spent in excess of £200m across 34 signings and Football FanCast has compiled a list which details all of those additions.

Serge Aurier – Free transfer

Former Tottenham Hotspur right-back Serge Aurier was brought into the City Ground on a free transfer in September 2022.

Considering Forest didn't have to outlay a single penny to land the 85-cap Ivory Coast international, other than his wages of course, this move was pretty risk-free.

Aurier made 24 Premier League appearances last term, and was a key member of their survival campaign.

A success by all accounts, then.

Loïc Badé – Loan

Quite a bizarre deal, this one.

Loïc Bade, a France Under-21 international, had just come off the back of his first season at Rennes, where he made 21 appearances across all competitions, helping his side achieve a fourth-placed finish.

Newly-promoted Forest signed the young centre-back on a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy, but he failed to make a single appearance at the East Midlands side, before being shunned back to his parent club in the January transfer window.

Now, the 23-year-old is at Sevilla, where he has already won the Europa League with the Spanish outfit, starting and playing all 120 minutes of the final in Budapest against Jose Mourinho's Roma.

Dean Henderson – Loan

Forest signed Dean Henderson on a season-long loan from Manchester United in the summer of 2022.

He appeared 18 times in the league before having his season cut short due to a thigh injury. Nevertheless, it will certainly go down as a solid signing.

If reports are to be believed, Forest appear eager to resign the United goalkeeper on a loan deal with an obligation to buy, but Crystal Palace are also in the race to land the 26-year-old.

Adnan Kanurić – Free transfer

Bosnian Goalkeeper Adnan Kanurić joined the club from FK Sarajevo last summer.

The young shot-stopper didn't make a senior appearance for Forest but he did appear twice for the Under-21s.

He was shipped out on loan in February to National League South side Oxford City, where he started 13 games, helping the club gain promotion to the National League.

He was released by Forest in July and is now without a club.

Wayne Hennessey – Free transfer

Veteran keeper Wayne Hennessey was signed, like Kanurić, to facilitate the number one, at the time, Henderson.

He's an experienced international and a safe pair of hands, a sensible addition to the ranks.

Hennessey still has one year remaining on his contract at the club, and is expected to predominantly feature in the cup competitions, barring any injuries.

Cheikhou Kouyaté – Free transfer

Like many of the transfers so far, they've all been pretty risk-free given no fee has been paid and Cheikhou Kouyaté's transfer is no different.

Kouyaté joined the club upon the expiry of his contract at Crystal Palace last summer and has been a valuable member of Cooper's side since.

A sensible signing.

Jesse Lingard – Free transfer

Jesse Lingard is in a slightly different boat from a lot of the other free transfers on the list. The former Manchester United forward joined the club on big wages, on a one-year deal.

His short stint in the East Midlands was underwhelming, particularly given the excitement around the deal when he first arrived.

Many fans had high expectations for the 32-cap England international, but he failed to live up to those. The 30-year-old didn't register a single-goal return in his 17 league outings.

A miss.

Brandon Aguilera – £812k

Forest signed the 2003-born attacking midfielder Brandon Aguilera last summer on a four-year contract from Costa Rican side LD Alajuelense.

He was immediately loaned back to his home nation with AD Guanacasteca, before joining Estoril Praia Under-23s setup in Portugal for the remainder of last season.

The Costa Rica international is now back at the City Ground and has made two appearances in the Premier League 2 (Reserve League), scoring one and providing as many assists in two outings.

Time will tell how successful this signing will be.

Josh Bowler – £2m

Josh Bowler became The Tricky Trees' 28th signing of the summer last year when he joined from Blackpool for a reported £2m.

Like Aguilera, he was immediately shipped out on loan. Firstly to sister club Olympiacos before rejoining Blackpool in January for the final four months of the campaign.

The winger was again sent out on loan this summer, this time joining Cardiff City.

Bowler doesn't appear to be in Forest's plans at all, so this transfer was another strange one.

Maybe they could profit on his sale further down the line should his spell at the Bluebirds be successful.

Harry Toffolo & Lewis O'Brien – £10m

Forest completed the signings of Huddersfield Town duo Harry Toffolo and Lewis O'Brien last summer in a reported £10m deal.

It's fair to say neither of the pair have really worked out. Toffolo was limited to just nine league starts last term whilst O'Brien made six before being loaned out to D.C. United in March.

They are both yet to feature in any of Forest's opening two games this season.

Roy Keane heaped praise on Chelsea star Cole Palmer after his spirited performance in England's stalemate against Slovenia.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Keane spoke highly of Palmer
• Chelsea star was arguably England's best performer
• Had 100 per cent passing accuracy

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Manchester United legend suggested Palmer should start regularly for the Three Lions heading into the knockout stage at Euro 2024 after the Blues attacker brought life into England's otherwise boring display against Slovenia in their final group game on Tuesday.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Palmer was introduced by Gareth Southgate in the 71st minute of the match in what was his first appearance for the Three Lions in a major tournament. The attacking midfielder had 100 per cent passing accuracy at the end of the match and created the best chance for his team when he forced Jan Oblak to make a low save in stoppage time.

• WHAT ROY KEANE SAID

  Speaking on after the match, Keane said: "I think [Kobbie] Mainoo looked very comfortable out there. The one I'm always excited to watch is [Cole] Palmer, he always has that x-factor. I know we were wondering why he didn't come on in that first or second game, but every time he gets the ball it looks like something is going to happen.

  "There was certainly a bit more flow to their game the last 15 or 20 minutes. There was still no end product and they didn't really test the keeper, but there were one or two positives with the clean sheet. They need to show more quality in the attacking areas, but I do love Palmer, I think he's amazing."

  He added: "Would you want to mark Palmer? You wouldn't want to play against him. He's so unpredictable, he can beat a man, go left or right. A lot of brilliant players affect the game, when he came on, you knew he was going to affect the game.

  "Every time he got it, we were looking at him. I'm hard to impress and I'm thinking 'something is going to happen'. Every time he gets the ball you think something is going to happen. He will think he should be in that starting XI. He won't think 'I'm learning and I'm glad to be here'. He will be looking at Gareth [Southgate], like the big personalities do, thinking 'Get me out there'."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• (C)GettyImages
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  Southgate's men could end up facing the Netherlands in their round of 16 clash on Sunday, though their opponents have yet to be confirmed. The 53-year-old might consider making some changes in his lineup to shake things up in the team ahead of the crucial knockout clash.

Xabi Alonso is a name that many fans are starting to hear more and more nowadays, as his Bayer Leverkusen side continue to defy expectations over in Germany, having gone unbeaten in the Bundesliga after 20 games.

And with the recent news of Jürgen Klopp announcing his departure from Liverpool at the end of the current campaign, a lot of rumours have started to circulate involving the former Reds midfielder.

Football FanCast has decided to take a deeper dive into his accomplishments, personal life and what made him the man he is today.

Who is Xabi Alonso?

Xabier Alonso Olano is a Spanish football coach and former professional player who is currently the head coach of Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.

Alonso was born on 25th November 1981 in Tolosa, Spain, making him 42 years of age.

He made a name for himself as a midfield enforcer, mainly in his time at Liverpool and Real Madrid. He ended his career with 18 trophies to his name, which included one World Cup, two Champions Leagues, two European Championships, three German and one Spanish league titles, two UEFA Super Cups, one German Cup winners' medal, one FA Cup, two Copas del Rey, one Spanish Super Cup, one German Super Cup and a Community Shield.

Xabi Alonso's salary at Bayer Leverkusen

When Xabi Alonso extended his contract with Bayer Leverkusen until August 2026, he is thought to have received a huge pay rise. According to German outlet Bild, the former Spain international now earns up to €6m (£5.12m) a year.

Just to put this into perspective, he would be the sixth-highest-paid manager in the Premier League.

Xabi Alonso's net worth

Of course, no one can put an exact number on Xabi Alonso's net worth apart from the man himself. However, Celebrity Net Worth claims that the Bayer Leverkusen boss is worth around $20m (£15.9m).

The majority of his money will have been earned during his trophy-laden playing career, with clubs like Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Real Madrid no doubt paying a high premium in terms of his wages. If you add his current managerial wages as well as any investments and side projects he may have, then you could say his net worth may even be more than that figure above.

Xabi Alonso's wife

The Spaniard is married to Nagore Aranburu.

There's a bit of a romance story involving the pair as they met all the way back during Alonso's youth days at Real Sociedad.

Nagore has had a number of jobs, working as a model, actor, fashion designer, and as many Liverpool fans will remember, a receptionist.

There is a rather comical story of when she worked as a hotel receptionist in Liverpool, where Peter Crouch later admitted he had fallen in love with her. Little did he know that it was Alonso's wife, which was later relayed to him by Jamie Carragher.

Xabi Alonso's squad number at Liverpool

Xabi Alonso famously wore the number 14 shirt throughout his time at Liverpool, and it's safe to say it served him well.

In terms of other clubs, it varied, but he has a clear favourite.

Xabi Alonso to Liverpool rumours

If the bookies are anything to go by, Alonso looks like the man to take the reins from Jürgen Klopp, as he's currently priced at 1/2 at Sky Bet to land the Anfield job this summer.

And the current noise around Liverpool is that the Spaniard has been pushed forward as a strong candidate to replace the German, which isn't really a surprise given how well Bayer Leverkusen are doing this season and his obvious links to Merseyside.

Xabi Alonso's retirement

Xabi Alonso announced his retirement on his social media back in March 2017 at the age of 35, with an iconic post that stated; 'Lived it. Loved it. Farewell, beautiful game.'

The 375,000 likes that the post received shows just how appreciated he was and how much he did for the game.

Xabi Alonso's stats as a player

Xabi Alonso made a whopping 695 appearances throughout this career, which spanned across five professional clubs. He managed to accumulate 43 goals and 69 assists across his career.

The three most notable teams were Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but he did also play for Real Sociedad and Eibar.

Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen managerial record

Xabi Alonso has set things alight this season at Bayer Leverkusen. The German club are currently 30 games unbeaten in all competitions and are sitting pretty at the top of the Bundesliga table.

The Spaniard has been in charge of 67 games in Leverkusen, losing just 10 times, drawing 14 and winning 43, which gives him a points-per-match total of 2.13.

Xabi Alonso's formation and tactics at Bayer Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso's favourite formation is 3-4-2-1, which has brought him huge success in Germany this term.

Everyone knows their roles. The centre of the pitch is packed with bodies, leaving room for the pacey wide-men to advance. Goals can come from anywhere in Alonso's sides, with his wing-backs and two more attacking midfielders playing huge roles.

The wide-men play high when in possession, but when the ball is lost, they pull back to around the halfway line.

One key to any Alonso side is having potent finishers throughout the side, which has been evident as Victor Boniface, Patrik Schick, Amine Adli, Nathan Tella, Jonas Hofmann, Florian Wirtz, Adam Hlozek, Jonathan Tah, Alejandro Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong have all contributed to a combined 76 goals so far this season, and we're only 30 games in.

USWNT boss Emma Hayes named her first roster for the Paris Olympics, with notable names missing

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• USWNT Olympic roster released
• Alex Morgan misses out
• Emma Hayes era for U.S. begins

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The USWNT squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics has officially been announced, with Emma Hayes making her first big call as manager of the storied program.

  Regulars such as striker Sophia Smith, midfielder Lindsay Horan and defender Naomi Girma highlighted the squad, but there also some some massive absences. Chief among them is Alex Morgan, who was left out of the 18-player squad.

  Morgan was not named among the alternates, either, with Jane Campbell, Hal Hershfelt, Croix Bethune and Lynn Williams named to those spots.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This group marks the start of the next generation for the USWNT. After a disappointing 2023 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. have bounced back with CONCACAF W Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup titles. However, the Paris games will be their first global tournament since New Zealand.

  The squad features several players who have been introduced post-World Cup, headlined by Jaedyn Shaw and Jenna Nighswonger. Stars Catarina Macario and Mallory Swanson are also back, having missed the World Cup due to injury.

• Getty
  

  THE ROSTER IN FULL

  Goalkeepers:Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

  Defenders:Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC)

  Midfielders:Korbin Albert (PSG), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Catarina Macario (Chelsea)

  Forwards:Crystal Dunn (Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)

  Alternates:Jane Campbell, Hal Hershfelt, Croix Bethune, Lynn Williams

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAYES SAID

  “Making an Olympic roster is a huge privilege and an honor and there is no denying that it was an extremely competitive process among the players and that there were difficult choices, especially considering how hard everyone has worked over the past 10 months,” said Hayes.“Choosing an 18-player roster plus alternates involved many considerations, but I am excited for the group we have selected and I’m looking forward to building on the work from last camp as we head into the Send-Off matches and then onto France. These are great opportunities for us to continue to show the progress we are making.”

  On the choice to drop Morgan from the Olympic squad, Hayes said, "It's not easy making a decision when there's only 16 outfield players and two goalkeepers on a roster of 18… I wanted to go in a different direction, and selected other players."

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney may have to shelve any interest in Tom Bradshaw, with transfer talk making Millwall boss Neil Harris “chuckle”.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Wales international generating rumours
• League One new boys looking to add
• Hollywood stars making deals possible

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  There has been plenty of speculation to suggest that the Wales international striker is registering on the recruitment radar at SToK Racecourse. Wrexham are being linked with another frontman after seeing Paul Mullin ruled out of their pre-season tour of North America by surgery on niggling back and hamstring injuries.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bradshaw is a proven EFL performer and has spent the last six years playing in the Championship with Millwall – scoring 42 second tier goals for the Lions. The 31-year-old would be another notable addition at Wrexham, but his current boss is eager to bring the exit rumours to a close.

• WHAT HARRIS SAID

  Harris has told of the gossip surrounding Bradshaw: “You [SLP] articulated a really good piece last week on Tom – how much he loves the club and how much he’d like to extend his stay here with his family settled in the area. Then, 48 hours later, someone puts it out that Tom Bradshaw has been linked with various clubs. I did read that and have a little chuckle to myself.

  “He [Bradshaw] is an infectious character. He gives a real energy and buzz around the place. I’ve really enjoyed coming back and working with Tom because he has developed so much as a character and a player since I signed him seven years ago. His game has slightly changed now. I look forward to continue working with him. Tom is with us and a massive part of the plans moving forward.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Wrexham may decide to focus on other areas of Phil Parkinson’s squad ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, as they already have Mullin, Ollie Palmer, Steven Fletcher, Jack Marriott and Sam Dalby on their books. Departures would free up space in North Wales, with Hollywood co-owners Reynolds and McElhenney expected to fund more market moves before the summer transfer window swings shut.

It's no secret that Arsenal have one of the best academies within the English football pyramid. Over recent years, the club have developed talents that have gone on to have very successful careers at the top level all over the globe.

Players such as Cesc Fàbregas, Ashley Cole and Serge Gnabry have all come through the Hale End Academy and had success in leagues such as La Liga, the Premier League and the Bundesliga.

Fabregas and Cole in particular enjoyed brilliant spells for the Gunners under then-boss Arsène Wenger before both going on to join rivals Chelsea in somewhat controversial circumstances.

However, a big talent from the Gunners' academy might have already slipped through the net, with a former Hale End academy player starring in Serie A over the past few years.

Where is Ismael Bennacer now?

After leaving the Emirates in 2017 for a reported £850,000 transfer fee to join Empoli, Ismael Bennacer has taken his career to the next level and started to show the Gunners what they could've had if they kept hold of the Algeria international.

Bennacer, now aged 26, plays for AC Milan in Serie A after joining the Italian giants in 2019 for a reported £15m on a five-year contract. During his four years at Milan, Bennacer has featured 152 times, scoring six times from central midfield.

The Algerian played a crucial part in the Milan side that reached the Champions League semi-finals last season before they were eventually knocked out by city rivals Inter Milan.

His stint with The Rossoneri has seen his market value skyrocket, with multiple sides across the globe holding interest in the former Arsenal midfielder. As per Transfermarkt, Bennacer's current market value sits at £30m, over £29m more than what the Gunners sold him for just under seven years ago.

His form in Milan has sparked interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United and Liverpool in recent years, with Bennacer more than capable of being a first-team starter in England's top flight after his successful stint in Italy.

How Bennacer compares to Granit Xhaka

After Granit Xhaka's £21.4m move to join current Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard have cemented their place in Mikel Arteta's midfield.

However, the third and final spot in Arsenal's midfield is yet to be nailed down with multiple players trying to fill the void left by that of Xhaka.

Jorginho and Kai Havertz have often shared the final midfield spot. However, the Gunners should look to bring Bennacer back to the Emirates, with the former Arsenal man now rather remarkably the missing piece in Arteta's midfield puzzle.

Bennacer has averaged 1.9 successful take-ons in Serie A this season – a tally that ranks him within the top 3% of all central midfielders in Europe's top five leagues this season.

The Algerian is a great modern-day box-to-box midfielder, something the Gunners have missed since Xhaka departed. He's averaged 0.2 non-penalty goals per game this season, another stat that sees him rank comfortably within the top 12% of all midfielders in Europe.

Bennacer doesn't just excel in attacking areas. The full-blooded midfielder has proved himself to be just as solid defensively, averaging 1.6 blocks per 90 and 2.3 tackles per game in Serie A – with his average of blocks per game within the top 17% of midfielders this campaign.

When comparing Bennacer's stats from this campaign to Xhaka's from the 2022/23 Premier League season, the Algerian happens to average the same number of non-penalty goals per 90 as Xhaka, but the Milan midfielder does average significantly more blocks and tackles, with the Swiss averaging 0.8 and one respectively.

However, Xhaka does hold the edge when it comes to progressive passes completed per 90, with the former Arsenal captain averaging 5.9, 1.8 more than Bennacer's tally of 4.8 per game. Still impressive with the former Hale End product, nonetheless.

The AC Milan midfielder has a £42.5m release clause in his current deal, a figure that could prove to be a bargain given his ability at both ends of the pitch in recent campaigns.

Vinicius Junior issued an heartfelt apology to Brazil fans after sitting out the team's Copa America quarter-final loss to Uruguay through suspension.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Brazil knocked out of Copa America by Uruguay
• Vinicius was suspended for the match
• Forward apologised & vowed to inspire Brazil back to the top

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Brazil were eliminated from the 2024 edition of the Copa America by Uruguay at the quarter-final stage after a penalty shootout, with Vinicius suspended for the crucial match due to an accumulation of yellow cards. His suspension stemmed from receiving two yellow cards during the group stage matches – the first in a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, where Vinicius scored twice, and the second in a 1-1 draw against Colombia.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT VINICIUS SAID

  Following Brazil’s elimination, Vinicius took to Instagram to express his remorse and apologise to the fans. He wrote: “Copa America is over and it’s time to reflect, and know how to deal with defeat. The feeling of frustration kicks in again and again on the penalties.”

  The winger did not shy away from taking full responsibility for his unavailability, adding: "I received two yellow cards and watched elimination from outside again, but this time it’s my fault. I apologise for that."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Vinicius also addressed the criticism he has faced following Brazil's exit and insisted that he is his own biggest critic.

  "I know how to listen to the criticism and the harshest ones, believe me, come from within," he wrote.

  The Real Madrid star emphasised that he is just at the beginning of his journey with the national team and is committed to helping Brazil achieve its goals in the future.

  "My national team journey, fortunately, is just beginning," he said. "Next to my teammates, I'll have the chance to relocate our national team to the place it deserves. WE WILL BE BACK ON TOP! I LOVE YOU AND WE ARE TOGETHER! 7️⃣🇧🇷🤝🏿."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Vinicius will take a break from action before he returns for pre-season with Real Madrid in the Spanish capital. However, Carlo Ancelotti's men will soon leave for a tour of the USA, where they will face AC Milan in Chicago on July 31, before a much-anticipated clash against Barcelona in New Jersey a week later on August 3. They will conclude their US tour with a match against Chelsea on August 6.

Arsenal are well and truly on the hunt for a Premier League title this season.

Mikel Arteta's men have won their last six games in the league and, aside from a slight blip in the Champions League, look imperious.

The team's resurgence over the last couple of years has been in no small part thanks to some brilliant signings by Arteta and Edu, and there is one who is already worth more than Gabriel Jesus.

Gabriel Jesus' transfer value at Arsenal

Arsenal signed Jesus from league rivals Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for around £45m.

The Brazilian debuted for the Gunners on 5 August that summer and scored his first goals for the club in the next league game against Leicester City, netting twice and providing two assists to boot.

Over the course of the season, the "crazy" forward, as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in just 33 games, although, as it had at the Etihad, injury disrupted his campaign.

The former Palmeiras gem suffered a knee injury while away at the World Cup and missed 17 games for club and country before returning to the fold in mid-March.

A hamstring problem and more issues with his knee have already seen the 26-year-old miss 16 games for the Gunners this season, and while he has managed to net eight times in 23 games this campaign and provide five assists to boot.

However, his inability to remain fit for a whole season has limited his potential impact at the Emirates, which could explain why Football Transfers' Expected Value Model value him at just €59m – about £51m – despite his evident talent.

A valuation that happens to be considerably lower than that of one of his newest teammates.

Why Kai Havertz's transfer value has increased at Arsenal

Yes, the much-maligned Kai Havertz does, in fact, have a higher market value than Jesus.

Football Transfers value the German at around €83m, which is about £71m, or £20m more than the former City ace – and £6m more than Arsenal paid to sign the midfielder from Chelsea.

However, this new price tag is a relatively recent development, as in early December, Football Transfers considered the former Bayer Leverkusen gem to be worth just €69m – £59m – which, given his form at the time and since, makes sense.

Before the turn of the year, Havertz was still settling into his role at Arsenal and while he had racked up five goals and one assist, he, in the words of German journalist Raphael Honigstein, looked "lost in Arsenal's midfield."

However, since Arsenal's trip to Dubai, the "magnificent talent", as Kulig dubbed him, has been a critical player in the Gunners' tremendous form.

He has started five of the last six games, played in midfield and upfront, and scored two goals and provided one assist in the previous two matches alone.

So effective was the 24-year-old against Newcastle United that Ally McCoist described him as "a nightmare for Botman and Schar" and that he played the role of false nine "very, very well."

Arteta may have let £26m talent leave Arsenal too soon

He left the Emirates permanently back in 2022.

By
Ethan Lamb

Feb 28, 2024

Ultimately, this combination of his red-hot form for the Gunners, his impressive potential and his relatively young age all combine to make him a valuable player to have in the squad, and with an injury record incomparable to Jesus, it makes sense to see him valued more.

Brazilian star Neymar has announced the birth of his third child, with model Amanda Kimberlly, less than nine months after the arrival of his second.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Samba star has a 12-year-old son
• Now the father to two baby daughters
• Looking to get professional career on track

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 32-year-old, who is now contracted to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, has revealed on Instagram that he his the proud father of two girls. The latest of those was welcomed into the world on July 3, with Neymar sharing images of baby Helena.

Advertisement

• THE GOSSIP

  The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward was joined at the hospital by his 12-year-old son Davi Lucca, who he had with ex-partner Carolina Dantas. Neymar also had a little girl, named Mavie, with Bruna Biancardi in October 2023 – with their relationship confirmed as being over a matter of weeks later.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Brazilian model and influencer Kimberlly has now made Neymar a father for the third time. She has also posted images on social media, alongside the message: “My favourite month, July. A special thank you to my doctor who went beyond the professional side, welcomed me and gave me a lot of strength during these 9 months. And my support network, thank you for EVERYTHING!”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT?

  Having had plenty to celebrate off the pitch of late, Neymar will be hoping to do similar on the field over the coming months. He has worked his way back from a serious knee ligament injury and will be ready to make his mark for Al-Hilal in 2024-25 having been restricted to just five appearances for them so far.