All posts by n8rngtd.top

Gary Lineker has revealed whether he'd consider covering Leicester in the Championship as he approaches his final Match of the Day episode.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Lineker will leave Match of the Day in May
• Presenter remains a Leicester super fan
• Yet to confirm his plans for next season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Appearing on his The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker was asked by a listener if he would consider fronting a Match of the Day-style highlights show for the Championship if Leicester are relegated from the top flight this season. The Foxes, with whom Lineker started his professional career, are currently 19th in the Premier League table and face an uphill battle to avoid the drop.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lineker has never hidden his allegiance to Leicester, having made over 200 appearances and scored over 100 goals for his boyhood club after making his debut in 1978. The 64-year-old has endured a difficult season presenting Match of the Day as Leicester struggle under Ruud van Nistelrooy, with the Foxes currently 12 points adrift of safety with nine games to play.

• WHAT GARY LINEKER SAID

  "Oh to me, 'Gary would you do a Match of the Day style show for the championship next season so you can finally enjoy Leicester again?'," said Lineker, reading out the listener's question on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football.

  Lineker continued: "All right, we're not relegated yet! Thanks, Chris. Yeah, I mean I think there's a degree of invevitability about it. Well, one, we don't have the rights on the BBC to show the Championship and secondly no thanks!

  "I've never really had weekends off in my adult life unlike you guys [Alan Shearer and Micah Richards]. I turn up every Saturday, week in, week out. The old soldier… what a warrior, eh?"

• Getty Images Sport
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Lineker will leave Match of the Day at the end of this season after 26 years presenting the BBC's flagship Premier League highlights show. He will continue to work for the corporation next season, covering FA Cup games during the 2025-26 campaign before leading the presenting team at the 2026 World Cup, after which he will depart.

It’s been something of an up-and-down season for Arsenal this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been incredible in the Champions League and have a League Cup semi-final to look forward to, but in the Premier League, they have been subpar.

As things stand, the Gunners find themselves in third and nine points off league leaders Liverpool and have scored ten fewer goals, leading to fans and pundits suggesting they need offensive reinforcements next year.

So, it should come as no surprise, then, that recent reports have linked the club to one of the most exciting attackers in the league, someone who could spell trouble for Kai Havertz’s long-term place in the starting lineup.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal have a concrete interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha.

The report has revealed that the Brazilian ace is considered a more realistic target for the summer transfer window but that there is a world where he could join next month.

According to the story, the Old Gold would only sell their star attacker in January if an ‘astronomical offer’ was put on the table, which would be around the £90m mark.

Regardless of when the North Londoners make their move, they should be looking to sign Cunha, as he has been sublime for Wolves and could be a dream Havertz upgrade.

How Cunha compares to Havertz

Now, at this point in time, it’s Gabriel Jesus who is leading the line for Arsenal.

Yet, based on his poor form over this year and the fact he failed to put the ball in the back of the net against Ipswich Town on Friday, we would expect Havertz to find himself back in the starting striker role soon enough.

Therefore, were the Gunners to complete the signing of Cunha next year, it’s the German who would be his primary competition for a starting berth up top, but who comes out on top when we compare them.

Well, the first port of call for any centre-forward is their raw output, and this is where things get interesting.

For example, so far this season, the former Chelsea ace has scored 12 goals and provided three assists, whereas the “sensational” Wolves star, as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, has scored ten goals and provided four assists.

However, the former did so in 25 appearances while the latter did so in just 20, meaning they averaged a goal involvement on average every 1.66 and 1.41 games, respectively.

Okay, how about their underlying numbers, then? Is it another narrow victory for the former Atlético Madrid forward when we take a look under the hood?

Indeed, it is, as in practically every relevant metric, he comes out ahead, and by quite some way.

For example, the “world-class” talent, as dubbed by writer George Lakin, produces more non-penalty goals plus assists, more progressive passes and carries, more shot and goal-creating actions, more successful take-ons and more shots and shots on target, all per 90.

Ultimately, Havertz has proven himself to be an incredibly useful player over the last season and a bit, and it seems unlikely he’d be totally jettisoned from the squad anytime soon.

However, Cunha appears to be quite comfortably the superior player, so if Arsenal have the chance to sign him next year, they must take it, even if that means decreasing the German’s importance to the team.

Jesus upgrade: Arsenal lead race for "outstanding" £60m goal-machine

The prolific forward would be a game-changer for Arsenal.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 31, 2024

Mic'd Up: The Apple TV+ analyst talks 2026 World Cup, Club World Cup and passion for his beloved Aston Villa

The Club World Cup certainly has its critics. How can this tournament even exist in a 32-team format? Will fans show up? Will the players care? How much will a reported $1 billion pot serve as a point of motivation?

That much is unclear. However, it will serve as a barometer for just how much soccer matters in America, especially as a precursor to the 2026 World Cup, due to kick off in 14 months in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. At least, that's what Apple TV+ soccer analyst Kevin Egan thinks.

"Given the stadia around the country, given the ones also in Mexico and Canada too, the 48-team World Cup, the amount of flavor and color that's going to come to this country and beyond, you know, it's going to live up to it. It's going to be absolutely epic," he tells GOAL.

Egan would know. He has been around the game in the states for 10-plus years, and seen it in Europe before that. He knows how big this sport can be, and has watched it grow exponentially.

"This is the golden era for American soccer," he says, "with the Club World Cup, the World Cup coming to the Women's World Cup few years down the line. Like, there's an awful lot here to ensure that it thrives. I just have never seen it happen yet."

It should make for compelling viewing – and Egan will play his part. He discussed the World Cup, the Club World Cup, his beloved Aston Villa and more in Mic’d Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL US taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts, and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.

• Getty Images
  

  ON THE 2026 WORLD CUP

  GOAL: In 2026, you have the World Cup in America. What does it mean for the sport here? Are people going to care?

  EGAN: Without a doubt, without a doubt people are going to care, because they did in 1994 and the game wasn't even close to the level of popularity as it is now. It was the best World Cup on record back in 1994 attendance-wise. Given the stadia around the country, given the ones also in Mexico and Canada too, the 48-team World Cup, the amount of flavor and color that's going to come to this country and beyond, you know, it's going to live up to it. It's going to be absolutely epic.

  What happens to the game of football after the World Cup? I'm not so sure. I look at the great stuff that CBS are doing on a daily basis, yeah – they're going all in on soccer, and in the hope that, you know, this is the golden era for American soccer, with the Club World Cup, the World Cup coming to the Women's World Cup few years down the line. Like, there's an awful lot here to ensure that it thrives. I just have never seen it happen yet. So I want to truly see this develop and happen. And I hope the US men's national team and Canada, for that matter, and Mexico, can really produce at the World Cup, and give us that sense of belief that this team can go and challenge.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  ON THE CLUB WORLD CUP

  GOAL: The summer before that, in a couple of months, you have a couple of MLS clubs in the Club World Cup. What do we what do we make of that as a competition? Because it's had its critics. Are the MLS clubs going to do all right?

  EGAN: I honestly think Inter Miami will do well. This team has enough youth built around the stars. They need to blend in Allen Obando, the striker, because Suarez is going to need a break at some point. They need to get production out of someone other than Suarez further forward. Now look, they can also play Messi as a false nine. They can also build around him.

  But Seattle, they've got a lot to figure out before the Club World Cup. Traditionally, under Brian Schmetzer, they have started slow. This is a team that has started slow in recent seasons and rallied and done really well toward the latter stages. But Jesus Ferreira has not produced, yet, for this team – a big signing for them. Pedro de la Vega has not produced, another big signing. So they've got to get it right and quickly, Seattle. They head to a Club World Cup with a lot of pressure on them, and they've got the squad to do it, but they've fallen so short of the expectations to start the season.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  ON ASTON VILLA

  GOAL: What does it mean, as an Aston Villa fan, to see the team succeeding under Unai Emery?

  EGAN: I was talking to a colleague at Apple, Cal Williams. And he said something that resonated big time. He said, "I don't know how to act because we've never been here before. Should we be bullish about it? Should we be saying, of course, we're going to go after PSG, a a club that uno Emery knows well? Should we be kind of happy to be there and happy to get cast aside by PSG?" It's a weird one. And I became a Villa fan because of Paul McGrath, Ray Houghton, Steve Staunton, and Andy Townsend. They were all Irish internationals playing for Villa at the time, and I didn't want to be a United fan or a Liverpool fan, so I gravitated towards Aston Villa.

  And it's been like one of those journeys as a fan over the years that and I think my fandom has lessened over the years, working in TV and just maybe getting older with kids and stuff like that. I'm always watching the games, but it doesn't ruin my day if Villa don't win the game. I don't think about it five minutes later. That's just the way life goes, I suppose. But I'm fascinated by how it's going to play out, and what Unai Emery has managed to do taking over from Steven Gerrard, the state of the team at the time. And given where he's got this team now, competing in the for the FA Cup, for a top-four finish in the Premier League and a Champions League trophy. It's remarkable.

  GOAL: It's about consistency as well, right? You're not just a one season wonder.

  EGAN: One of the big keys is (Club President) Monchi. He's unreal. How did Villa get him? Like I knew all about Monchi from, from my days of covering La Liga with BEIN sports for years. And, he's just a fascinating guy and how he manages to produce at every club he goes to… the trophies, the success stories, the relationships he built. He seems to be in sync with Unai Emery, and they go out and they get a transfer window done, like Marco Asensio, Marcus Rashford. Andres Garcia has even added, you know, at times, when he's needed to at right back, a young player coming across from Levante. So it's just been really cool to see, as a Villa fan, that the club is managed so well right now.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Apple TV
  

  ON MLS 360

  GOAL: What's it like to be part of MLS 360? It looks chaotic in the best possible way.

  EGAN: I love the energy you can bring to that show. You welcome people into a show like you'd welcome them into your house for a party. Like you decide how you're going to open the door, the energy you give, the music, the food you put on, all those things every time you host a party in your house. And I feel the same way with 360, I need to bring that high octane energy. So if you look at Soccer Saturday, and what Jeff Stelling does, and the way he opens the show, the way he keeps that high octane energy that you absolutely need going from game to game. I'm trying to look at different shows and figure out, "OK, what makes that show work?" And Jeff Stelling's energy on soccer Saturday is infectious. What NFL do with Red Zone, you know, you've got to look at all these different shows and figure out why it works, what you could take from certain hosts, but then also just be yourself.

  I love the fact that you could tune into MLS 360, not know anything about the league or what's going on with the league, and hopefully myself and the analysts will give you enough knowledge and entertainment throughout. The first few hours are wild, because we could have eight games going on at the same time, even 10 games going on at the same time, and you're bouncing from match to match. You're dropping, hopefully, tidbits of knowledge and stats, information that you can then take to the local pub with your friends, if you're chatting about the games, or just for chatting with your buddies online, whatever it is. And it's so much fun, man, I'm loving every second of it.

Enzo Maresca has been told the Chelsea team he selected at Brentford on Sunday was "pathetic" and that the Conference League shouldn't be a priority.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Maresca's team selection branded "pathetic"
• Left out Palmer and Jackson
• Champions League is "be all and end all"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Maresca left both Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson out of his side for the 0-0 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium, a decision Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson vehemently disagreed with. Merson was "flabbergasted" at the decision as Champions League qualification should be the "be all and end all".

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT MERSON SAID

  Merson wrote in his Sky Sports column: "I couldn't believe the team Enzo Maresca put out at Brentford. When that team came out, I was flabbergasted. It was pathetic. Chelsea have won the Champions League. This is the Europa Conference League – and he's resting players for it? Getting into the Champions League has to be the be all and end all. They have to be in it. If they come sixth in the Premier League and win the Europa Conference League, it would be a shocker. A shocker. This is Legia Warsaw, no disrespect to them but they won't beat Chelsea over two legs. You have to beat Brentford."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Palmer is Chelsea's joint-top goalscorer with 14 goals, while Jackson has scored nine. The game finished 0-0 and left Chelsea in a more vulnerable league position heading into Thursday's Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg in Warsaw.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  The Blues sit fourth in the Premier League but with just a one point buffer to the teams outside the Champions League qualification positions. They take on Ipswich on Sunday before the second leg against Legia Warsaw next Thursday.

After a couple of disappointing draws, Arsenal are quietly putting together an impressive run of form.

Mikel Arteta’s side have won their last four games, and in their previous 12 matches, they have only dropped points twice in those aforementioned draws.

So, while they remain six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, there is still reason for the Emirates faithful to be hopeful, although to ensure this title race goes down to the wire, the board must act in the transfer market this month.

Fortunately, that could happen, as recent reports have linked the club to one of the current stars of the league in a transfer that could mirror Leandro Trossard’s move in 2023.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Arsenal insider teamnewsanditx – via the Bottom Corner – Arsenal are close to agreeing on personal terms with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ star Matheus Cunha.

However, while this could be exciting news for the fans, teamnewsanditx also claims that the Old Gold will not sanction the sale of the Brazilian unless they receive a significant fee for him.

It’s not entirely clear how much this fee would have to be, but reports over the last few weeks have suggested it could be anything up to £90m, which would, if paid, make the forward the North Londoners’ second most expensive signing of all time.

It would be a costly transfer to get over the line, but given Cunha’s ability and what’s on the line, it could be worth spending over the odds, and if Arsenal do, then it’s a move that’ll mirror Trossard’s two years ago.

Why Cunha would be a Trossard repeat

So, before we get into why Arsenal would want to sign Cunha, let’s examine why his potential transfer would be a repeat of Trossard’s in 2023.

So, the first is that it would be an attacking acquisition made halfway through a campaign in which the team are hunting for their first Premier League title in two decades, and while the £60k-per-week Wolves’ ace is a brilliant player, there was very little talk of the Gunners being interested in him during the summer.

The second and more prominent reason it would be similar to the Belgian’s move is that it would be the Gunners once again going out and nabbing one of the most in-form forwards in the league from a non-big six outfit.

For example, before the title challengers paid the Seagulls £27m for their star winger, he had racked up an impressive tally of seven goals and three assists in just 17 appearances for them, or an average of a goal involvement every 1.7 games.

However, the one difference this time is that the former Atlético Madrid “monster,” as dubbed by teammate Joao Gomes, is in even better form than the 30-year-old was when he made his move.

For example, in just 20 appearances so far this year, he has scored ten goals and provided four assists, meaning he’s currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.42 games.

Ultimately, Arsenal are still just about in the Premier League title race, and with Manchester City now firmly out of it, this year may be their best chance to go on and win for quite some time.

Therefore, while it would probably require an overpay, the North Londoners should seriously consider splashing the cash on Cunha this month, as he looks more than good enough to fire them ahead of Liverpool should results elsewhere go their way over the next five months.

He's a bit like Harry Kane: Arsenal target "remarkable" £50m Jesus rival

The special striker could be a brilliant signing for Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jan 3, 2025

As Sporting CP show one attacking star the door this month, it’s Nottingham Forest who could take full advantage to seal a bargain £8m deal for Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

With the Premier League into the January transfer window, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that Nottingham Forest haven’t simply endured a solid run of form but they are, in fact, well on course to qualify for the Champions League if not more. Those at the City Ground will be trying their best to keep their feet on the ground, but that becomes increasingly difficult the more that a title race is merely mentioned – and rightly so.

Espirito Santo’s side have been the side to watch this season and continue the trend of outsiders breaking into the so-called top six. Last season it was Aston Villa, the season before that it was Newcastle United. Now, in a throwback to some of the club’s most historic moments, it’s Nottingham Forest who are hoping to book a European tour.

The January transfer window could yet boost that pursuit too. Names such as Baris Alper Yilmaz have already been mentioned and now a former Premier League gem has seemingly entered Forest’s radar.

According to Record as relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are now plotting a move to sign Marcus Edwards, who Sporting are looking to move on immediately this month following disciplinary issues.

The Portuguese side are reportedly so desperate to show the winger the door that they’re willing to accept an offer between €8-10m (£7-8m) rather than waiting on his hefty €60m (£51m) release clause this month.

Nottingham Forest monitoring versatile midfielder up for sale at just £8m

Nuno is looking at the possibility of strengthening his midfield this month.

By
Brett Worthington

Jan 13, 2025

Presenting Forest with quite the opportunity, those at the City Ground must consider whether to look past Edwards’ recent ill-discipline and hand him the chance to finally make his mark on the Premier League having left Tottenham Hotspur as a young player.

"Agile" Edwards is worth the risk

Disciplinary issues will be a concern for Forest, but Edwards is among the category of talents who are worth the risk and the belief that any such problems are a blip on an otherwise impressive track record. In need of a fresh start, the 26-year-old could quickly play his part in a stunning season for Nuno’s side and, in doing so, become one of the bargains of the window.

Described as “super agile” and a “creative winger” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Edwards was at his best for Sporting last season when he scored six goals and assisted another nine in all competitions. And whilst off-field problems have stood in his way of recreating that form in the current campaign, he still crucially has that quality in abundance.

As Forest push to create one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history, adding Edwards along the way for a bargain price certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea at the City Ground.

GOAL takes a look at some key storylines heading into Matchday 9 of MLS action in 2025

Matchday 9 is nearly here, and once it's in the books, we’ll officially be more than a quarter of the way through the 2025 MLS regular season.

Several teams are beginning to separate themselves from the pack. Inter Miami, the Vancouver Whitecaps, FC Cincinnati, and the Columbus Crew have all impressed in recent weeks, each becoming central to emerging storylines across the league.

The marquee matchup this weekend features the league’s last two unbeaten teams: Inter Miami and the Columbus Crew. Lionel Messi will try to crack Wilfried Nancy’s resilient Crew defense in what promises to be a heavyweight clash. These were the top two regular-season teams in 2024, and their last meeting in October was one of the year’s best matches.

READ MORE:

Elsewhere in the East, FC Cincinnati face Gregg Berhalter’s Chicago Fire – the only team to shut out Messi’s Miami in league play this season. Pat Noonan’s squad gets a major boost with the return of playmaker Evander from injury, while the Fire will look to ride the wave of excitement after this week’s high-profile transfer rumors involving Kevin De Bruyne.

Out West, red-hot San Diego FC meet Dean Smith’s Charlotte FC in a compelling cross-conference clash. Patrick Agyemang and Charlotte, currently third in the East, will take on Chucky Lozano and the second-place side from the West in one of the weekend’s most high-profile showdowns.

GOAL dives into all that and more in The Kickoff, a weekly preview of each MLS Matchday.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Will only one remain?

  Neither the Columbus Crew nor Inter Miami have yet to fall to defeat in MLS regular season action to begin the 2025 campaign. In the Eastern Conference standings, Nancy's men sit atop the throne at 18 points, while Messi and Co. are in fourth on 15 points – though they have a game in-hand.

  This Saturday, they'll meet in what is becoming a highly-anticipated match between two of the league's finest minds: Nancy and of course, Messi.

  Last October, in a match that ultimately settled the winner of the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield, the two sides played one of the best games of the campaign – with the coming out on top 3-2.

  This time around, the Crew will look to find themselves with three points, and they'll look to do so with new striker Daniel Gazdag – whom they secured for $4.5 million last week in a trade from the Philadelphia Union. He'll look to wreak havoc in the final third alongside star winger Diego Rossi, while their resilient defense will attempt to keep attack quiet.

  Miami, meanwhile, will look to the Argentine himself, while also getting Luis Suarez going. The Uruguayan has just one goal in seven appearances to begin the campaign, and has yet to show the best of himself in 2025. If he can find his shooting boots, it will lead to an entertaining affair – at minimum.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  San Diego looks to get back on track

  San Diego will be looking to bounce back this weekend after losing their second match of the season last weekend against the Colorado Rapids, while Charlotte has won four of their last five and is riding a streak of red-hot form.

  However, CLTFC could be at a disadvantage this weekend, with both U.S. international Tim Ream and star attacker Wilfried Zaha questionable for the match. Zaha recently underwent hand surgery, but trained fully on Thursday, while Ream was off to the side during Thursday's session. What CLT does have going for them, though, is Pep Biel – who is in outrageous form with five assists and three goals in eight matches.

  SDFC, meanwhile, will look to unleash Lozano in the final third with the Mexico international looking to continue his fine form. In five appearances this season, he has one goal and three assists, with three of those goal contributions coming in the last two games.

  CLT FC sit second in the Eastern Conference, and SD in third in the West. It's a match between two of the league's best to start 2025, and it will surely be an entertaining contest as a result.

• Imagn
  

  Battle for the East

  News broke Thursday evening that Evander will return for Cincy this weekend after missing the past two matches due to injury. The Brazilian has four goals and one assist in six appearances this season, and is the heart of the attack for . FCC, riding a three-match winning streak, will look to pull off a result against the Fire – but Berhalter's men are resilient, and have shown that of late.

  The Fire may be without a win in three matches, but they're the lone team to defeat the Supporters' Shield-leading Whitecaps this season, while also holding the scoreless last week. Led by U.S. international Brian Gutierrez and DP duo Jonathan Bamba and Hugo Cuypers in the attack, they're no easy foe to knock down – and it feels like they're due for a big performance.

  Cincy, who sit third in the East, hold just a four-point lead over the eighth-place Fire. A win for Berhalter's men would close that gap to just one point, while a victory for the away side could see FCC shoot to the top of the conference, if both Charlotte and Columbus drop points.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  What's trending

  + With two goals on Saturday, Vancouver striker and U.S. international Brian White can become the first MLS player since Chris Wondolowski in 2019 to score six goals across a two-game span. If he scores three, he will be the first player in MLS history to bag seven across two games.

  + With two goal contributions for Charlotte on Saturday, Biel will become the fastest player in CLT history to reach 10 goal contributions in club history. The Spaniard currently leads all of MLS in goal contributions heading into the Matchday, as well.

Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly interested in signing a midfield target who Arsenal are already confident of securing this month.

Tottenham transfer news

Ravaged by injuries and suffering several moments to forget as a result, it’s been as bleak as it can get for Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham who are in desperate need of fresh faces before the transfer deadline arrives. On that front, several names have threatened to steal the headlines as the Lilywhites.

Among those names includes Brian Brobbey, who has even reportedly been spotted in London amid talks to swap Ajax for the Premier League. With Dominic Solanke currently sidelined, signing the Dutch forward would certainly be an intelligent move from those in North London this month but it remains to be seen whether they’ll splash out.

Speaking about his side’s need for fresh faces this month, Postecoglou told reporters earlier this week, via The Standard: “There’s not a lot more depth I can give. “I’ve still got to manage this team and get them ready. We got back [from Germany] at 2am last night. I’m not out there trying to find opportunities for the club, that’s not my role at this time.

“There isn’t time to do it. I have daily communication with Johan [Lange, technical director] in particular and he’s trying everything he possibly can to get the help we need. I don’t think I’m stating anything other than the obvious and for me to come here and say something else would be disingenuous: this playing group needs help.”

Lange threatening to open "surprise" Tottenham talks for once-£84m striker

Spurs are yet to seal an outfield signing this window.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jan 25, 2025

Following that public plea, recent reports suggest that Postecoglou could yet get his wish this month. According to The Boot Room, Tottenham are interested in signing Sverre Nypan this month but face competition from rivals Arsenal, who are reportedly confident that they’ll sign the young midfield talent ahead of Spurs and Manchester City.

"Decisive" Nypan set to increase Tottenham frustration

Stuck in the depths of the Premier League’s mid-table and even flirting with the relegation battle at times this season, Spurs are struggling to attract fresh faces who could finally turn things around for Postecoglou. And Nypan may yet cause them further frustration, with Arsenal swooping in alongside fellow interested club City, who the midfielder watched in action against Chelsea this weekend.

The 18-year-old is undoubtedly a player who could play a large part for the Lilywhites alongside the likes of Archie Gray, but it seems as though it would take some move to convince the Rosenborg star into a winter switch over other clubs. Described as “decisive in the final third” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Nypan could be exactly the calibre of player that Spurs need.

With just over a week left until the transfer window slams shut, Postecoglou has made his side’s desperation for reinforcements no secret and those in North London must now act.

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez has fired back at his critics, as the struggling striker basks in the Reds' 20th Premier League title.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Liverpool win their 20th Premier League title
• Nunez basks in glory of champions status
• Takes shots at his critics with cigar in hand

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Nunez has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism over the last three years since his move to Liverpool from Benfica, as the striker has been through a number of dry periods. His inconsistent showings have also called his future into question. However, both Jurgen Klopp, previously, and now Arne Slot have backed the Uruguayan to do well with the Merseyside club.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Nunez has made 139 appearances with Liverpool and has bagged 66 goal contributions, including 40 goals, and this season has seen him bag just five strikes as Liverpool cruised to their 20th Premier League title. The 25-year-old has now taken shots at his critics as he basks in the glory of becoming a league champion.

• WHAT NUNEZ SAID

  On social media platform X, Nunez posted a photo of himself drinking beer and smoking a cigar in the dressing room, and captioned the post: "Premier League champion, let them tell it however they want."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• WHAT NEXT FOR NUNEZ?

  The Uruguayan striker's future with Liverpool is up in the air as the Reds could potentially be open to selling him, with the likes of Atletico Madrid said to be interested.

It is very clear that, in 2025, Manchester City’s objective is to overhaul their squad by bringing in an array of young players.

Already in January, the Citizens have spent over £125m to recruit Abdukodir Khusanov (20), Omar Marmoush (25), Vitor Reis (19) and Juma Bah (18), as Pep Guardiola seeks to refresh his team.

However, could it be a youngster that Man City actually signed last January who proves to be the best value business of all?

Manchester City's highly-rated Argentine youngster

A year ago, Manchester City confirmed the signing of Claudio Echeverri for a reported fee of £12.5m plus add-ons.

As noted by Sam Lee of the Athletic, the teenager signed a contract until 2028, but would spend the remainder of 2024 back on loan at River Plate.

Well, that 12-month loan is now over, but Echeverri is currently in Venezuela competing at the South American U-20 Championship, scoring during a 6-0 demolition of Brazil and then against Colombia, as Argentina seek to win the competition for the sixth time.

La Albiceleste have reached the competition’s final stage, which does not conclude until 16 February, but it will be interesting to see if Echeverri is included in Man City’s Premier League and Champions League squads, thereby allowing him to feature upon his return.

So, who is Echeverri?

Well, data analyst Ben Mattinson describes the 19-year-old as a “future superstar”, praising his “ball-carrying and dribbling prowess”, adding that Man City have got themselves an “absolute bargain”.

Meantime, António Mango believes he is a “dribbling menace” while, according to Pro Future Stars, Echeverri is the third-best “infiltrating midfielder” under the age of 21 in world football, as per CIES powered by Wyscout.

Thus, in short, Man City supporters should be excited.

How Echeverri compares to past Man City stars

Of course, Man City have recent history when it comes to buying River Plate stars.

Julián Álvarez was signed for £14m in January 2022, with the Argentine scoring 36 goals in 103 outings for the Sky Blues, winning six major honours, before being sold to Atlético Madrid for a humongous £81m last summer, representing a huge profit.

So, let’s compare how Álvarez and Echeverri performed at the Argentine giants, before making the move to Manchester.

As outlined in the table above, Echeverri and Álvarez were at very different stages in their development by the time they arrived at Man City.

Álvarez, at 22 years old, won five major honours, including the Copa Libertadores, also already accumulating six senior competitive international caps before making the move.

In contrast, Echeverri has made less than 50 senior appearances for River Plate and is still only a youth international, thereby unlikely to make an immediate impact as Álvarez did, scoring on his debut in the FA Community Shield against Liverpool.

Writing in the Guardian’s Next Generation series for 2023, Juan Carlos Pasman labels the teenager “a classic number 10”, praising his “excellent close control, dribbling skills and… exceptional first touch”.

Echeverri is nicknamed “El Diablito”, which translates to the little devil, a homage to former Bolivian striker Marco Etcheverry, which gives you some idea of his playing style.

At the weekend, Guardiola deployed Marmoush in a quasi-number ten role, in-behind Erling Haaland, with Graham Ruthven of Total Soccer Show noting that the Norwegian looked much better with a secondary forward closer to him.

Thus, this very much could be a role that Echeverri would thrive in whenever he arrives in Manchester, with the Argentine set to be the next young superstar at Man City. Marmoush, then, isn’t the only reason for City supporters to be excited…

Their answer to Rice: Man City exploring late move for "elite" £42m star

Manchester City are seeking midfield reinforcements, so could they sign a number six many believe to be better than Arsenal’s Declan Rice.

By
Ben Gray

Jan 29, 2025