Eden Hazard has become the latest former player inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, joining a star-studded line-up of the competition's greats. The Belgian, a two-time Premier League champion with Chelsea across seven seasons with the club, also received a special message from former manager Jose Mourinho, who called him "one of the most amazing players" he has ever worked with.
Hazard's Premier League journey
Hazard arrived from Lille in 2012 and instantly became the main man at Chelsea. Over seven seasons, he made 245 Premier League appearances, scoring 85 goals and grabbing 54 assists. His close-quarters dribbling and speed were the standout features of his game in the capital, and the winger also had an ability to change games on his own, making him a nightmare for defenders.
His first league title at Stamford Bridge came in 2014-15. He played every game, scored 14 goals, and assisted nine more. That season, he won the Premier League Player of the Season, the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, and the Football Writers’ Player of the Year awards. In 2016-17, he lifted the league trophy again, scoring 16 goals, including jaw-dropping solo run and finish against Arsenal. Beyond the Premier League, Hazard helped Chelsea claim an FA Cup, a League Cup, and two Europa League titles.
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Mourinho's message
On top of receiving the prestigious award, Mourinho, who was in charge of Hazard and Chelsea during the 2014-15 title run, left a heartwarming message for his former player. "Eden, many congratulations on joining the Premier League Hall of Fame. Everybody knows that you belong there," he said. "You are one of the most amazing players that I ever worked with and of course you have to be there. You are in the Hall of Fame so now you stay in our memories – and by the way thank you so much for helping to win my last Premier League title!"
Mourinho's message is a clear sign of the respect he has for Hazard. Not just for the trophies he won, but for the way he played the game. Mourinho has had the luxury of working with some of the greatest players of all time, so for Hazard to receive a special mention from the now-Benfica boss will add a little something extra to the recognition.
Hall of Fame recognition
This year, Hazard joins Manchester United icon Gary Neville as the two new inductees, chosen by the 24 existing Hall of Fame members. Previous inductees include legends such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Paul Scholes, Dennis Bergkamp, Vincent Kompany, and Didier Drogba. The Hall of Fame honours players and managers who achieved 'exceptional' success and made significant contributions to the Premier League since 1992. Fans also had a say through a public poll.
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Hazard reflects on his career
Speaking about the induction, Hazard said: "For a small Belgian guy from Braine-le-Comte just playing football for fun, being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame with these great players at 34 years old is incredible. My dream was to play at the highest level and I did it, so I am really happy. Week after week, you have big games, and at the end of the season you lift a trophy with your teammates. It’s a beautiful feeling.
"When you score goals, when you win trophies, you just want more. I am proud to know I did a few good things for seven years in the Premier League. We don’t play the game alone, so this is for all the people who have supported me – my family, my teammates and the fans, my friends – this is for us all."
Hazard and Neville will be formally honoured at the 2025 Premier League Hall of Fame event on November 4, receiving engraved medallions and prompting a £10,000 donation to each player’s chosen charity. Even years after leaving Chelsea, Hazard’s legacy remains as strong as ever. You only need to watch a short highlight reel to remind yourself why he is rightly among the league’s finest.
West Ham have a new preferred choice to take over from Graham Potter, with the Englishman’s dismissal appearing inevitable after a poor start to 2025/2026.
Graham Potter on the verge of leaving West Ham
Potter’s nine-month tenure in the Hammers dugout has been one to forget so far.
Under his leadership, West Ham have recorded their second-worst win percentage of the Premier League era, behind only Avram Grant, who led them to relegation in 2011.
9. Sam Allardyce
30.7%
10. Julen Lopetegui
30%
11. Gianfranco Zola
27.8%
12 Graham Potter
26.1%
13. Avram Grant
18.9%
via StatMuse
The mood around East London is already sour, with supporters poised to stage protests against West Ham’s ownership at every Saturday home game this season (The Telegraph), and Potter’s side aren’t exactly helping matters.
Their hugely frustrating opening five Premier League games are best summed up in one word — fragile.
They’ve leaked 13 goals already, more than any other Premier League side, with seven of them coming directly from corner kicks. Rivals are taking serious advantage of West Ham’s set-piece weakness right now, and that is on the manager to fix.
Whether that be Potter, or far more likely a replacement, West Ham are staring relegation in the face if they cannot plug their gaping holes – a fact not lost on critics like Wayne Rooney.
Reports suggest Potter could stay on at West Ham until after the Arsenal game, depending on how they fare at Everton, with ExWHUemployee suggesting that the hierarchy want to give any new boss the best possible chance of a good start at home to Brentford on October 20.
Out of every linked manager, Nuno Espírito Santo has been tipped as the favourite to take over from Potter at West Ham, and there are suggestions that he’s “close” to agreeing a potential deal if the latter does depart (ExWHUemployee).
However, while Nuno is most likely as things stand, insider Claret & Hugh has claimed that they’d actually prefer someone else.
West Ham would prefer Marco Silva over Nuno Espírito Santo
Indeed, that man is Fulham boss Marco Silva, who has done an excellent job at Craven Cottage with very limited resources for years.
The former Everton and Hull City manager had Fulham briefly contending for a European spot last season, with Silva’s side also making a solid start to 2025/2026 — losing just one of their opening five Premier League matches.
The Whites have won three games on the bounce in all competitions, and Silva is yet again doing very solid work in West London despite spending the least money of any Premier League side last summer.
Premier League’s lowest summer spenders
Team
Money spent
Money received
Net spend
Wolves
£121,000,000
£119,000,000
£2,000,000
Bournemouth
£120,000,000
£207,000,000
-£87,000,000
Everton
£112,000,000
£3,500,000
£108,500,000
Burnley
£111,000,000
£31,000,000
£80,000,000
Leeds
£98,000,000
£7,000,000
£91,000,000
Brentford
£85,000,000
£134,000,000
-£49,000,000
Brighton
£69,000,000
£133,000,000
-£64,000,000
Crystal Palace
£47,000,000
£63,000,000
-£16,000,000
Aston Villa
£37,500,000
£47,000,000
-£9,500,000
Fulham
£34,500,000
£15,000,000
£19,500,000
via BBC Sport
Now, C&H report that Silva is West Ham’s preferred managerial choice over Nuno, but the latter is still in pole position.
Sullivan and Karren Brady aren’t too keen on paying up to £10 million in compensation to take Silva off Fulham’s hands, meaning that Nuno is still the favourite to replace Potter as things stand.
This search for a new manager also comes amid increasing concern from West Ham shareholders over a potential drop to the Championship, so whether they move for Silva or Nuno, the board needs to get this appointment spot-on — especially amid growing unrest among the fanbase.
Brandon King, Kevlon Anderson and Johann Layne have earned maiden call-ups to the West Indies Test squad
ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jun-2025
Hope and King, who have played together often for WI in white-ball cricket, are in the Test squad•Associated Press
There was no place for Kemar Roach in West Indies’ squad for the upcoming home Test series against Australia, although the hosts have strengthened their batting by bringing back Shai Hope and John Campbell. They have also given a maiden call-up to Brandon King and Kevlon Anderson, while the fast-bowling attack has a new face in Johann Layne. Anderson Phillip has been retained.The third and final Test of the series in Jamaica, which kicks off the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both teams, will also be a day-night Test. It will be the third day-night Test in the West Indies and the second at Sabina Park.Roach played West Indies’ last Test, in Pakistan, where he picked up two wickets in a 120-run win that squared the series. Only four wickets fell to quick bowlers in that game in Multan. Roach was in decent form in the Test series in Bangladesh prior to that, picking up nine wickets in two games. He has since played in the first-class West Indies Championship for Barbados and, more recently, for Surrey in the County Championship.WI vs Australia schedule
June 25-29 – 1st Test in Barbados July 3-7 – 2nd Test in Grenada July 12-16 – 3rd Test in Jamaica (day-night)
“Despite being under consideration, veteran pacer Kemar Roach has not been included and has been duly informed,” Cricket West Indies (CWI) said about the 36-year-old in a press statement.Layne, a 21-year-old fast-bowling allrounder from Barbados, came into the 16-man squad after picking up 63 first-class wickets in 17 matches. Trinidad & Tobago’s Phillip last played Test cricket in December 2022, the last of his two appearances, but was in the squad in Pakistan and has a five-wicket haul in the ongoing unofficial Test for West Indies A against South Africa A in Gros Islet.The lead spinners in the side are captain Roston Chase and vice-captain Jomel Warrican, while Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph are the main quicks.The batting suggests a fresh start for the team after they finished one off the bottom – Pakistan were last – in the nine-team WTC 2023-25 table with three wins in 13 games.Campbell is back as an opening option after last playing a Test in June 2022, having served an anti-doping violation in the interim period. He was in good touch at the WI Championship to finish as Jamaica’s top-scorer – and seventh-highest overall – with 517 runs from 11 innings. Campbell and Anderson scored three centuries apiece in the competition.Anderson was one of the stars of the tournament, scoring 573 runs in 11 innings to finish as the third-highest run-getter overall, and Guyana’s best. King, a white-ball star who has turned out for West Indies in 52 ODIs and 63 T20Is so far, played four WI Championship games for Jamaica, scoring 242 runs in eight innings.Hope, an experienced Test-match player with 38 Test caps and a batting average of 41.85, last played a game in November-December 2021.Related
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“I’m excited about the inclusion of young prospect Kevlon Anderson, who comes in after solid seasons in our domestic competitions to help provide stability in the top order, while the return of Shai Hope is welcomed given his consistency in white ball cricket.” head coach Daren Sammy said in a statement. “Brandon King’s inclusion fits a role we have identified that needs special focus to take our team to those closer to the top of the rankings.”We analysed what the top teams in the world are doing and what is needed for us to bridge the gap. We have identified a direction, along with the group of players and resources to give us the best advantage as we seek to take the team up ladder and challenge the best in the world.”Former captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach and Mikyle Louis make up the rest of the squad, adding heft and experience. Joshua Da Silva, Alick Athanaze, Amir Jangoo, Kavem Hodge, Gudakesh Motie and Kevin Sinclair are the players to have been dropped from the squad that played in Pakistan. Da Silva, the wicketkeeper-batter, has been ignored despite finishing the WI Championship as it’s second-highest scorer (583 runs in ten innings), while another senior cricketer, Jason Mohammed, was overlooked despite topping that table with 679 runs in ten innings, inclusive of four centuries. Mohammed, 38, has never played Test cricket.Kemar Roach, 36, has been left out of the Test squad in favour of younger fast bowlers•AFP/Getty Images
“The start of the [WTC cycle] is critical to building positive momentum as we strive to work our way up the rankings. Beginning with a strong showing against a team like Australia would be ideal in our quest to bring West Indies back to the helm of Test Cricket”, CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe said. “It was imperative that we sought to put a squad together that was well equipped, in both and the batting and bowling departments, to manage the ebbs and flows of this format of the game, while possessing the ability to apply pressure in key phases, through disciplined, purposeful play.”Sammy, asking for patience from fans towards the players and the team, promised exciting cricket in the series.”I am truly looking forward to this series because we want to start off strongly and make our home turf a fortress during this cycle, while having our passionate and proud fans behind us,” he said. “The matches will be challenging but I believe in this core of players, and they are eager to wear the maroon and make our fans happy.”West Indies squad for Test series against AustraliaRoston Chase (capt), Jomel Warrican (vice-capt), Kevlon Anderson, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales
Nottingham Forest haven’t enjoyed a positive start to life under Ange Postecoglou and a key update on his future has now emerged from the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest suffer damaging Europa League defeat
The fairytale return of Nottingham Forest to the European scene was a just reward for an excellent campaign last term. However, their shock 3-2 defeat at home to FC Midtjylland was a stark reminder of the frailties present within Postecoglou’s side.
Despite being alive in the majority of the Australian’s matches so far, conceding at awkward times has led to six games without a win under the former Celtic boss, breeding an elevated level of pressure on him to get it right in the East Midlands.
Speaking post-match, Postecoglou remained unbothered by chants calling for his dismissal, claiming that nothing surprises him in football anymore.
He said: “I heard it. They’re fans, they want to see their team win, and they’re entitled to their opinion. Nothing surprises me in football any more. We’ve just got to keep going. There is no hiding in the sport we’re in. Got to keep your head up and recover. We have a tough game against Newcastle at the weekend.”
With high-profile pundits such as Tim Howard among his detractors, Postecoglou has work to do in order to prove the doubters wrong, but that sort of challenge saw him win the Europa League last term, hence why it would be premature to count him out.
Nottingham Forest star fumes at something he's "never seen" before vs Sunderland
The Tricky Trees are still yet to find a victory under Ange Postecoglou.
By
Sean Markus Clifford
Sep 28, 2025
Newcastle United await on Sunday and won’t be an easy outfit to overcome. Nevertheless, their indifferent start to the Premier League season may offer a sliver of hope to the travelling supporters.
Either way, a change in mood is needed at the City Ground, though how are the Nottingham Forest hierarchy feeling about Postecoglou’s situation? Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on that front.
Fabrizio Romano on how Nottingham Forest view Ange Postecoglou
Writing in his GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Romano has confirmed Nottingham Forest are being patient with Postecoglou and believe that he simply needs time to adapt before results improve at the City Ground.
Truthfully, Postecoglou is between a bit of a rock and a hard place, though he is certainly made of strong stuff and has shown he has the thick skin to come through adversity.
However, his side need to find a level of stability, as two draws and four defeats isn’t going to cut it if Nottingham Forest want to survive. Making their priorities clear, Evangelos Marinakis and company are opting to keep the faith for now.
There was a lot to like about Arsenal's win over Leicester City on Sunday. Despite concluding last season by stunning Barcelona to win the Champions League, the Gunners have been nowhere near their best at the start of this new campaign, suffering four successive defeats in all competition for the first time since January 2022. Unconvincing but vital wins against Brighton and Benfica allowed them to fight back before the international break and their return to action at the weekend, in a 4-1 victory over the Foxes, was much-improved.
Arsenal were more positive in the final third, provided better service to the long-starved Alessia Russo and showed real impetus and ruthlessness to kill the game off quickly, racing into a 3-0 lead before half-time. That they did it all despite a flurry of new absentees – with Olivia Smith, Frida Maanum, Lotte-Wubben-Moy and Kyra Cooney-Cross all missing – made it all the more impressive as the likes of Stina Blackstenius and Laia Codina stepped up in rare starts.
Though not as lesser-spotted as others, there was also an opportunity at the King Power Stadium for Beth Mead, who was arguably the Gunners' best performer on the day. The former Ballon d'Or runner-up has occupied the role of substitute more often than starter in recent times, for club and country, with her future in north London even in question over the summer. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, though, Mead has shown that she still has plenty to give as she comes into a strong vein of form that could really benefit an Arsenal team entering a vital run of fixtures.
Getty ImagesImportant difference-maker
Starting on the right, where she is best-suited, Mead caused plenty of problems for the Foxes on Sunday. It was her cross that led to the Gunners' opening goal after just seven minutes, converted clinically by Russo, and her perfectly-weighted pass that Blackstenius swept into the back of the net to make it 3-0.
Mead did plenty of the gritty stuff in this win, too. Winning eight ground duels and recovering possession three times in a performance that was as hard-working as it was eye-catching, this was a reminder of what the 30-year-old can do.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesHead of steam
It was a continuation from the international break, too, where Mead was afforded starts in both of England's fixtures as the absences of Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Jess Park and Grace Clinton massively reduced Sarina Wiegman's options in the wide areas. Had the squad been fuller, the Lionesses boss would've likely rotated more, but instead Mead took full advantage of the opportunity to play 90 minutes in back-to-back games for just the second time in 2025.
In the defeat to Brazil that England kicked-off their October camp with, the Arsenal star was one of the few Lionesses to put in a decent performance, causing problems for the South American champions with her direct and positive approach. She completed no fewer than six key passes, won 11 of her 17 ground duels, delivered three accurate crosses from four attempts and completed three of her four dribbles, while also winning the penalty that Georgia Stanway converted to give England a chance of getting a result.
What stood out most was how often Mead drifted into central areas from her position on the right wing, picking up pockets in which she could receive the ball and hurt the opposition with the time and space she had. That continued a few days later against Australia, as she again created chances aplenty and showcased her footballing intelligence.
"She can play in the pocket really well," Wiegman noted when asked about Mead following the 3-0 win over the Matildas. "She finds pockets and she's intelligent in that. That's what I wanted her to do today, too. When they dropped and had a lower block, of course, you want to break down that block and you want to challenge them in decision making. We try to create overloads and she plays a big part in that."
Getty ImagesFalling out of favour
Things have not been easy for Mead in recent months. After Chloe Kelly joined Arsenal on loan from Manchester City at the end of January, the 30-year-old found herself on the bench on a more regular basis, starting only six of the Gunners' final 13 games of the season having been named to the line-up 13 times in the 20 fixtures prior to Kelly's first appearance back in the colours of her childhood club.
It's not just about the numbers, either, but also the occasions. In the Champions League quarter-final second leg, when Arsenal had to come from 2-0 down against Real Madrid; in the Champions League semi-final second leg, when the Gunners were out to overturn a 2-1 deficit in Lyon; and in the final of that competition, against all-conquering Barcelona, Slegers opted for Kelly over Mead in her starting XI.
She has had to endure similar disappointments with England, too. Mead started all five of the Lionesses' games prior to the 2025 European Championship, with an impressive return of three goals and two assists from those appearances. But after keeping her place for England's tournament opener, a 2-1 defeat to France, she lost it when Wiegman reshuffled to great effect.
Throw in the regular talk about her Arsenal future, amid very public interest from big-spending London City Lionesses, and it would make sense for Mead to look unsettled in her performances.
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Getty ImagesStill making her mark
But that wasn't the case. Mead still produced three goals and three assists in those six starts after Kelly's Arsenal return, her most notable contribution coming off the bench in the Champions League final when she slipped Blackstenius through to net the title-winning strike.
At Euro 2025, the numbers don't quite do her impact justice, but Mead was incredibly influential as a substitute, bringing calmness and composure to the table when Wiegman turned to her during the Lionesses' run to a second successive continental crown. That came in different positions, too, be they out wide or more central.
Now, with back-to-back England starts followed by two in succession for Arsenal, Mead is showing that it's not just as a substitute that she can make telling contributions.
Chelsea are now preparing an offer worth over £87m to sign an “elite” new striker in a blockbuster move, it has been revealed.
Blues preparing bid for yet another new striker
The Blues made it three wins on the spin in all competitions on Saturday afternoon, with Pedro Neto particularly catching the eye, being awarded a 9.5 SofaScore match rating after chipping in with a goal and an assist.
Enzo Maresca’s side relied on their defenders to provide the other goals, with Josh Acheampong and Reece James also getting in on the act, and it was a late strike from the captain that wrapped up a 3-0 victory on the road.
Joao Pedro, on the other hand, was unable to have much of an impact on proceedings, and the Brazilian has now gone four Premier League games without a goal, after making an impressive start to the campaign.
Of course, it is still way too early to lose faith in Pedro, but the west Londoners are never shy about spending big in the transfer window, and they have now set their sights on a new striker.
That is according to a report from Spain, which states Chelsea are now preparing an offer of more than €100m (£87m) for FC Porto star Samu Omorodion, who has established himself as one of the most promising young strikers in Europe.
There is a feeling that Omorodion would be a perfect fit in the Premier League, and the Blues are now willing to spend big to get a deal done, with the striker potentially in line to become one of their most expensive signings of all-time.
The blockbuster move is being considered for next summer, rather than January, which gives the 21-year-old the remainder of the season to prove he is the right man to lead the line for Maresca’s side.
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ByDominic Lund Oct 19, 2025 "Elite" Omorodion has ability to be the main man for Chelsea
The Spaniard enjoyed a very impressive debut campaign in Portugal last season, and the early signs this season show that he could be capable of eclipsing his previous league goal tally, having made a fantastic start.
Season
Liga Portugal appearances
Goals
2024-25
30
19
2025-26
7
5
Scout Ben Mattinson also lauded the Porto star last season, while also suggesting he has the ability to make the step-up to one of Europe’s top leagues.
Chelsea have implemented a policy of signing and developing exciting young players since BlueCo’s arrival, and Omorodion fits the bill in that regard, with the youngster clearly talented enough to lead the line at Stamford Bridge.
Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke will surely be incredibly frustrated by his side’s lack of quality in the final third after what happened at the end of the summer transfer window.
Speaking to Football Insider last month, journalist Pete O’Rourke revealed that the German boss wanted two additions to the squad that never came to pass.
The reporter said: “There will be a hint of frustration for Daniel Farke – they missed out on some targets. They are still lacking a bit up front, Leeds and he fears for them on that front – not getting the deal done for Manor Solomon will be a blow to Farke and the Leeds fans, because he had such a great impact there on loan last season.
“They tried to sign Harry Wilson on deadline day from Fulham and weren’t able to get that deal over the line as well, so they were looking to add some creativity in the final third.”
Instead of landing Manor Solomon, who scored ten goals on loan at Elland Road last season, or Harry Wilson, the club were unable to land any additional attacking signings in the final days of the window.
That recruitment failure from those above Farke has left the manager in a position where Jack Harrison is starting in the Premier League, which is a tough position to be in.
Why Leeds need to move on from Jack Harrison
The English winger returned to Elland Road in the summer after spending the previous two seasons on loan with Everton, which meant that he did not take part in the club’s two Championship campaigns.
Harrison’s form with the Toffees did not suggest that he was likely to return to Thorp Arch to improve their options at the top end of the pitch, as he struggled badly last term.
In the 2024/25 campaign, the left-footed dud scored one from 3.52 xG and failed to provide any assists in 34 appearances and 24 starts in the Premier League, per Sofascore, which shows that he was incredibly ineffective in the final third.
25/26 Premier League
Jack Harrison
Appearances
7
Starts
1
Goals
0
Big chances missed
1
Key passes per game
0.1
Assists
0
Successful dribbles per game
0.4
Cross accuracy
13%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Harrison has offered very little in possession on the pitch this season, with no goals and just one chance created in seven appearances in the Premier League.
The £90k-per-week flop’s form for Everton last season suggests that he is unlikely to improve much from this point, which is why the club should be looking to move on from him in the summer.
Farke wanted Wilson and Solomon at the end of the window, which suggests that he was not happy with his wide options, and it has been reported that the club will go back in for Wilson in January.
A move for the Fulham forward, who has scored seven Premier League goals since the start of last season (Sofascore), could leave Harrison surplus to requirements.
The English winger is not the only player in the squad who may be on borrowed time ahead of the January transfer window, though, as there are others who have struggled to adapt to the top-flight.
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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Brenden Aaronson is one and as as much as this may not be a popular thing to point out, there is a case to be made that central midfielder Ao Tanaka may not be suited to playing in the Premier League.
Why Ao Tanaka may be on borrowed time at Leeds
The Japan international was a star for the Whites when they won the Championship title last season, using his ability on the ball to dominate matches for Farke. After all, his manager described him as “unbelievable” for his performances.
He ranked within the top 7% of midfielders in the division for passes attempted per 90 (72.43) and for progressive passes per 90 (7.03), per FBref, which shows that he excelled in possession in the second tier.
The 27-year-old star also scored five goals from a central midfield position to help Leeds on their way to winning the tite with a staggering 100-point haul.
However, the step up to the Premier League has meant that Leeds have had to alter their style of play as they are unable to dominate matches with the ball as much as they were able to do in the Championship, which has been bad news for Tanaka.
Journalist Graham Smyth raised concerns over the midfielder’s physicality last month, saying: “My concern with Tanaka was physicality in the Premier League. He got run over a few times towards the end of the last season. I worried a little bit, against the most elite athletes in the Premier League.”
The central midfielder’s form in the top-flight so far this season backs up the reporter’s concerns, as he has struggled in his duels across his six appearances so far.
Ao Tanaka’s physical struggles in the 25/26 Premier League
Opposition
Duel success rate
Burnley
0% (0/0)
Spurs
67% (2/3)
Bournemouth
20% (1/5)
Wolves
0% (0/0)
Arsenal
0% (0/6)
Everton
29% (2/7)
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Tanaka has only won more than 29% of his duels in one of his six outings in the Premier League this season for the Whites.
Per Sofascore, he has lost 76% of his duels in total, including 80% of his ground duels, and this shows that opposition players have found it far too easy to get the better of him in physical contests.
This may be why Farke has preferred a midfield trio of Ethan Ampadu, Sean Longstaff, and Anton Stach, as all three of them have won over 50% of their duels in the top-flight, per Sofascore.
Tanaka is a brilliant technician, as evidenced by his aforementioned form in the Championship, but the physical nature of a relegation battle in the Premier League seems to have rendered him ineffective in the middle of the park.
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If these issues persist until January, there may be a decision to make on his short-term future at Elland Road in the next January transfer window.
Chelsea have received plenty of stick over the last few years for their transfer policy.
While some of that criticism is certainly justified – every team gets things wrong – much of it isn’t.
While they aren’t the finished article, Enzo Maresca now has a squad full to bursting with exciting young talents, and he’s only going to get his hands more ahead of next season.
Chelsea have already secured the services of several brilliant prospects set to join the side at the end of the season, including one who has been compared to Erling Haaland of all people, and no, it’s not Joao Pedro or Liam Delap.
Players set to join Chelsea in the summer
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other exciting gems set to join Chelsea next summer, like Brazilian left-back Denner.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The Blues agreed to sign the young Corinthians gem in March of this year, but due to him not turning 18 until next February, he has had to stay in his homeland.
Described as a “marauding LB with so much quality in the final third” by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be used as backup for Marc Cucurella or sent back out on loan – either way, it’s an exciting addition.
Moving up the pitch to the attack, and to a youngster who looks set to be a star for years to come, Geovany Quenda.
The West Londoners agreed a deal to sign the 18-year-old the same month they signed Denner, but while the Brazilian is thought to have cost around £11m, the Sporting CP prospect could end up costing as much as £40m.
The frankly absurd price tag – for someone his age – is a reflection of just how highly-rated the dynamic winger is, with Mattinson describing him as “relentless” and “highly unpredictable.”
Despite still being so young, the Bissau-born gem has already made 64 senior appearances for the Lisbon outfit, in which he’s scored four goals and provided 12 assists.
However, while these two players will likely need time to adapt next year, there is another attacking addition that will be arriving in the summer, someone a few years older, someone who has been compared to Haaland.
The Chelsea player compared to Haaland
For a young striker to be compared to the otherworldly goal machine that is Haaland, they’ve got to be something quite special.
Fortunately for Chelsea, Emanuel Emegha, who is set to join the squad in the summer, looks to be quite the special forward.
The comparison to the Norwegian powerhouse comes from FBref, which examines all forwards across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League, and the Europa League.
In this instance, it has been concluded that the Manchester City striker is the fourth most similar forward to the Dutchman.
You can gain a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by examining some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked closely.
Non-Penalty G+As
1.59
1.61
Goals per Shot
0.20
0.29
Key Passes
0.80
0.71
Passes into the Final Third
0.80
0.71
Carries into Penalty Area
1.20
1.07
These metrics include key attacking statistics like non-penalty goals plus assists, goals per shot, key passes, passes into the final third, carries into the penalty area and more, all per 90.
Now, while they share some key statistical similarities with one another, nobody is going to claim that the Strasbourg player will be as prolific for the Blues as the Norwegian is for City.
However, that’s not to see he’s a slouch in front of goal either.
For example, in 29 appearances last season, the “simply phenomenal” gem, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 14 goals and provided three assists, and then this season, he’s put the ball in the back of the net four times and provided two assists in just six games.
Ultimately, while it remains to be seen how he fares in the Premier League, Chelsea look set to secure a brilliant goalscorer in Emegha.
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A “creative” midfielder who’s made three Champions League appearances this season has now been identified as a January transfer target by Leeds United chiefs.
Leeds keen to strengthen in January amid dip in form
The Whites have now failed to win in their last three Premier League matches, which means they now sit just three points above the relegation zone, and it may not be too long before the teams below them get their act together.
Nuno, who led Nottingham Forest to Europe last season, is vastly experienced in the Premier League, with the Tricky Trees’ performance last season proving the manager has what it takes to guide the Hammers to safety.
Sean Dyche’s arrival at Forest should also be a boost, given the former Everton manager’s record of avoiding the drop, leading the Toffees to a 17th-placed finish in the 2022-23 season, after taking over when they were in 19th place and two points from safety.
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As such, Daniel Farke’s side need to get their act together sooner rather than later, and they may need to strengthen their squad in January to avoid an instant return to the Championship.
It is clear the Whites are particularly keen to strengthen in the middle of the park, having opened talks to sign Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Issouf Sissokho earlier this week, and they have now set their sights on a Champions League midfielder.
That is according to a report from Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), which reveals Leeds chiefs have now identified Inter Milan maestro Piotr Zielinski as a target for the January transfer window.
Zielinski is a ‘prime candidate’ to leave the Italian club this winter, and he has emerged as a popular target at Elland Road, although the newly-promoted side will have to spend a ‘significant’ amount to get a deal done.
The Poland international’s huge wages could feasibly pose a problem too, with it being reported he rakes in a whopping £133k-a-week.
Zielinski has the quality to help Leeds avoid the drop
Leeds’ number one goal this season will undoubtedly be to preserve their Premier League status, and the Inter midfielder has the quality to help them avoid the drop, given his vast experience at the top level.
The Pole has made 54 appearances in the Champions League, including three this season, and 10 en-route to Inter reaching the final against Paris Saint-Germain last season.
Once lauded as a “creative spark” by journalist Josh Bunting, the former Napoli man has remained a consistent source of assists over the past year, averaging 0.23 per 90, which places him in the 93rd percentile compared to other midfielders.
It is a little early for Leeds to press the panic button, considering they currently remain outside the relegation zone, but if come January they are in need of proven top-level players to lead them to safety, Zielinski could be an ideal addition.
علق المحلل الرياضي خالد بيومي، على توقيت إعلان قائمة منتخب مصر الأول لخوض معسكر نوفمبر، استعدادًا لـ كأس الأمم الإفريقية.
معسكر منتخب مصر في الإمارات سينطلق في الفترة بين 10 إلى 18 نوفمبر الجاري، ويأتي في إطار استعدادات المنتخب للمشاركة في بطولة كأس الأمم الإفريقية 2025.
ويشهد المعسكر الذي سينطلق في نوفمبر الجاري، مواجهة ودية ستجمع بين منتخب مصر مع أوزبكستان يوم 14 من نوفمبر الجاري على ملعب هزاع بن زايد.
طالع | إبراهيم حسن يعلن موعد انضمام لاعبي رباعي السوبر إلى معسكر منتخب مصر
وقال خالد بيومي في تصريحات لقناة “أبو ظبي”: “بصراحة، كنت أتمنى أن يتم إعلان قائمة المنتخب بعد مباريات السوبر، حتى لا يتأثر أي لاعب، سواء كان موجودًا في القائمة أو خارجها، هذه وجهة نظري الشخصية، لكن اختيار الكابتن حسام حسن لإعلان القائمة في هذا التوقيت تحديدًا، في رأيي، لم يكن قرارًا صائبًا”.
وتابع: “كان من الأفضل الانتظار حتى لا تحدث بلبلة أو يؤثر القرار على أي لاعب، خصوصًا أن جميع اللاعبين يحلمون بالمشاركة في كأس الأمم الإفريقية وكأس العالم، وهذا حق مشروع لهم جميعا”.
وأضاف: “حوالي 90% أو حتى 95% من قوائم المنتخبات المشاركة لم تعلن بعد، وبالتالي كان من الطبيعي جدًا أن ننتظر قليلًا، أنا لا أوجه انتقادًا لكابتن حسام، ولكنني لست مع فكرة تصدير مشكلة لأي لاعب في محفل كبير ينتظره الوطن العربي وإفريقيا، خاصة أن المباراة تجمع بين فريقين كبيرين جدًا”.
وكشف: “الكلام الذي تردد اليوم عن ناصر ماهر وتغريدته على تويتر كان رد فعل سلبي من اللاعب، ونتمنى أن يتدارك الأمر في مباراة الغد، لأن ناصر لاعب كبير ويقدّم أداءً مميزًا جدًا”.
واختتم: “بالطبع القائمة شهدت عودة بعض اللاعبين وأسماء جديدة، لكن ما المشكلة لو كانت القائمة تضم 27 لاعبًا؟ لماذا نصدر مشكلة من لا شيء؟ كان من الممكن ببساطة الانتظار حتى يوم الإثنين فقط”.