All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United have received a big injury blow ahead of the new Premier League campaign, with a key midfielder set for a lengthy absence.

How old is Joe Willock?

Joe Willock has been an impressive servant for the Magpies to date, having made the move to St James' Park from Arsenal back in 2021. The 23-year-old has made 88 appearances to date, scoring 13 goals in that time, proving to be an energetic option who can shine both in midfield and out wide.

Newcastle begin their Premier League account with a home clash against Aston Villa on Saturday evening, as they look to kick on after a superb 2022/23 campaign – one that saw them finish fourth and seal a return to the Champions League.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

For that to happen, the Magpies need to bring in more signings and hope that they get fortunate in the injury department, but they have already received a blow, in that respect, following a fresh update.

How long is Joe Willock out for?

According to The Athletic's George Caulkin, Willock will miss the beginning of the Premier League season, and isn't expected to return until after the international break next month:

"Newcastle United will be without Joe Willock until after the first international break. Willock, 23, has had discomfort in his hamstring following his serious injury which ruled him out of the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

"Newcastle have therefore elected to allow the midfielder to recover until the first international break, which begins on September 4."

While Willock isn't necessarily the first name on Newcastle's team sheet, not being as important as someone like Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes or Alexander Isak, for example, he remains an important squad figure. For that reason, this absence comes at a real setback for the Magpies, at a time when squad rotation is so key across four different competitions.

He has been described as "underestimated" by Joleon Lescott and Michael Owen in the past, while Steve Bruce once hailed him as a "terrific athlete", highlighting why he could be such a big loss in the coming weeks.

While Willock may not always be a player who makes headlines and produces match-winning moments, his work ethic is vital to the way Newcastle play, and he is the type of footballer whose energy may only be truly missed when he isn't available.

The hope is that the Magpies are able to get by without him, however, especially with Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes arriving from AC Milan and Leicester City respectively, so they do feel better-equipped to handle his absence.

Willock is someone who needs to be fit for much of the campaign, though, doing exactly what is asked of him when he plays, and chipping in with the odd goal and assist here and there.

Thankfully, there are only three Premier League fixtures to hurdle before the international break, so it could worse – admittedly, the games are tough ones at home to Villa, away to Manchester City and against Liverpool at St James' – but Newcastle are a better, more balance-looking outfit when he is around.

West Ham have been linked with a move for Montpellier forward Elye Wahi in the summer transfer window and now a new update has emerged.

How good is Elye Wahi?

The 20-year-old is an exciting young prospect making a name for himself in France, having made the leap from Montpellier's B team back in 2020. He has scored 32 goals in just 92 appearances for his current club, which is an impressive return for someone who is still so young.

Wahi's performances haven't gone unnoticed across Europe and there is the possibility that he could look for a new challenge before the end of the current transfer window. His current Montpellier deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2025, and while that is still two years away, they will know that they could begin to earn less for him the closer the deal gets to running out.

West Ham are looking for attacking reinforcements this summer, and they have been linked with a move for Wahi recently, seeing him as a good option to come in and bolster the choices at David Moyes' disposal.

The Irons are thought to be closing in on the signature of Ajax superstar Mohammed Kudus, with personal terms reportedly agreed, and Wahi could be next up on the agenda going by this latest update.

Will West Ham sign Elye Wahi?

According to The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg on Twitter X, West Ham are "stepping up" their interest in Wahi alongside Kudus, going into more detail in the report itself:

"Steidten is also driving the interest in Wahi, who scored 19 goals in Ligue 1 last season. The France Under-21 striker has interest from Chelsea, Eintracht Frankfurt and Paris Saint-Germain but West Ham are serious contenders for his signature. West Ham are set to hold initial talks with Montpellier, who are asking for £30m.

"Moyes wants a striker and West Ham had a £40m bid for Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke rejected last month. They retain an interest in Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun and Feyernoord’s Santiago Giménez is another on their list."

Wahi could be a great option for West Ham as a squad player this summer, coming in as someone who can gradually make more of an impression over time. At just 20 years of age, he is still raw as a footballer, but his aforementioned record for Montpellier shows that is capable of scoring goals regularly at a high level.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Granted, the step up to the Premier League is great, but football talent scout Jacek Kulig recently outlined how the French star is now the "5th most prolific U-21 in Ligue 1 history after Kylian Mbappe, Bernard Lacombe, Karim Benzema & Yannick Stopyra", also hailing the "truly incredible season" he had last time around.

That goes to show what a special talent Wahi is, and what a formidable footballer he could grow into over time, so West Ham snapping him up at this point in his career could prove to be a masterstroke. Whether they are able to beat others to his signature remains to be seen, but it certainly looks like they are pushing hard to get their man.

Liverpool have been left frustrated for the majority of the summer transfer window, with their struggle to land a defensive midfielder no secret, before they finally settled on Wataru Endo.

The departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho almost seemed to cancel out the boost that the arrival of Alexis Mac Allster and Dominik Szoboszlai gave Jurgen Klopp.

Now, another one of the German's stars has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, which could reportedly see the Reds realise one of Juventus' fears this summer.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

As the summer transfer window edges closer and closer to slamming shut, Liverpool could yet have themselves a busy few days, with Klopp looking to build a squad capable of competing on all fronts once again.

The arrival of Endo at least put an end to the Reds' crisis in defensive midfield, but after losing both Fabinho and Henderson earlier in the window, it could be argued that the Premier League giants still need one more reinforcement in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, those at Anfield have been left on high alert following Al-Ittihad's reported interest in Mohamed Salah, whose exit would deal a significant blow to Liverpool's top four chances so late in the window.

As things stand, the Egyptian looks unlikely to leave the club this summer, with Klopp saying in his recent press conference, via ESPN: "There's nothing to talk about from our point of view, Mo Salah is a Liverpool player. If there would be something (a bid) the answer would be no."

Nonetheless, in the case of Salah's exit, according to Calciomercato, via Sport Witness, Federico Chiesa is on Liverpool's list of potential replacements, who Juventus reportedly value at €60m (£51m).

The Serie A giants reportedly want to keep the winger, and now they fear that a good offer from the Reds – as a result of the Salah rumours – will result in his exit.

Should Liverpool sign Federico Chiesa?

If Liverpool do lose Salah this summer, it would undoubtedly leave a gaping hole in their squad which not many players in Europe would be able to fill. Chiesa is among those who could, at the very least, attempt to fill the golden boots of the Egyptian… if he can stay fit.

As things stand, of course, it's very much a situation of break glass in case of emergency, but at his best, the Italian has the potential to play a starring role for most, if not all, of Europe's elite.

Statistically speaking, Chiesa even has some similarities to Salah, too. As per FBref, Salah made just 0.49 more progressive passes per 90 compared to Chiesa last season, who also made more progressive carries than the Egyptian.

Of course, Salah was involved in more goals, but the Juventus star would give Liverpool a different kind of approach from the wing, it seems.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

At his best, Chiesa has earned plenty of praise, too, including from Rio Ferdinand, who said, via The Metro: "He’s just a fantastic footballer. The intensity with which he plays with, we saw in the Euros he was the main goal threat for the Italians who went on to win the tournament.

"It’s his pace, his drive. He’s the one who is the threat, he’s potent, he wants to run in behind. He’s that modern day striker who can play anywhere across the front line and he’s as comfortable out wide as he is through the middle. He unnerves defenders with that pace, he’s so direct."

While the international break is now upon us, it does not look set to be a quiet week or so as far as Manchester United are concerned, with talk dominated by the situation involving manager Erik ten Hag and struggling winger, Jadon Sancho.

With the former Borussia Dortmund trickster having been a notable absentee from Sunday's matchday squad for the trip to Arsenal, Ten Hag subsequently confirmed that the player had been left out of the trip to the Emirates as a result of his underwhelming displays in training.

That surprise admission was followed by a quick response from the player on Twitter, with the 23-year-old insisting that such accusations were "untrue", while also going on to claim that he had been made a "scapegoat" at Old Trafford in recent times.

Such a statement is unlikely to go down well with a manager who has already ruthlessly shown Cristiano Ronaldo the door and stripped Harry Maguire of the captaincy in his tenure to date, with the end potentially nigh with regard to Sancho's time at the club.

What has happened to Sancho at Man United?

Quite what has gone wrong for the Englishman at the Theatre of Dreams is hard to ascertain, with it not too long ago that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lauded his shiny, new £73m signing as a player who would "form an integral part of [his] squad", following his arrival from Germany in 2021.

Having been forced to wait to get their hands on the one-time Manchester City asset – after failing to clinch a deal a year earlier – the hope was that Sancho would make up for lost time and hit the ground running in his new surroundings, after previously recording 114 goals and assists in 137 games for his previous employers.

As it has proved, the £350k-per-week enigma has since endured a particularly turbulent and underwhelming stint in red, notably missing a fair chunk of last season after being afforded time to address his "physical and mental" issues, as per Ten Hag.

That spell away from first-team action had seemingly been with one eye on helping to rejuvenate the misfiring marksman, although Sancho ended the season with just seven goals and three assists to his name in 41 games in all competitions.

With just 12 goals and assists in total in 82 outings over the past two years, it is easy to see why reports have indicated that the Red Devils were willing to cash in on the player over the summer for a fee of £45m, with Ten Hag said to have been growing 'increasingly impatient' with his shortcomings.

With that in mind, United may well rue their failure not to sign an adequate replacement for the London-born winger, with new West Ham United gem, Mohammed Kudus one such figure who could well have blossomed.

Did Man United want Mohammed Kudus?

As a player who worked under Ten Hag previously at Ajax, it was perhaps inevitable that Kudus would be the subject of speculation regarding a move to Old Trafford, with the Manchester Evening News naming him as a possible summer target amid his form at the World Cup in Qatar, after scoring twice for Ghana in the competition.

The Athletic's Andy Mitten also noted back in December that the 23-year-old was of interest to the United boss, among a handful of other targets, with the Dutchman said to admire the 'skill and dynamism' of his former asset.

42

5

4

3

1332

That was followed by further reports during the recent summer window that indicated that the Premier League giants were ready to enter the race for the forward's signature, with the player himself said to be keen on a reunion with Ten Hag.

Despite that apparent interest, the versatile gem – who can operate in midfield, on the flanks or in a centre-forward berth – ultimately sealed a £38m move to West Ham United last month, ensuring he could well wreak havoc on those at Old Trafford in the near future.

How good is Mohammed Kudus?

While the one-time Nordsjaelland sensation is yet to show his quality in the Premier League – having made just a late, stoppage time appearance for the Hammers against Luton Town at the weekend – he did dazzle in Amsterdam last term, scoring 18 goals and providing seven assists in 42 games in all competitions.

Hailed as a "star boy" by ex-teammate Calvin Bassey, Kudus was particularly eye-catching in the Champions League after netting four goals and contributing two assists in just six group games, including scoring in a 2-1 defeat away to Liverpool at Anfield.

The left-footed speedster appears to be particularly adept at dribbling past opponents with ease as he ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for successful take-ons, at an average of 4.37 per 90.

That record is far superior to what Sancho has achieved across the last 365 days as the United man averaged just 1.95 for that same metric, with pundit Tim Sherwood noting that he now "plays too safe", after losing that confidence and desire to try and beat his man.

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell even went as far as to suggest that Kudus shared a likeness to current Gunners gem, Bukayo Saka, with the pundit stating that the new Irons ace "plays a bit like Saka", as he "welcomes the contact and shifts away from it".

Saka, of course, has been in sparkling form for the north Londoners in recent times after bagging 14 goals and providing 11 assists in the Premier League last season, with that a far greater return than that man Sancho, who registered just nine top-flight goal involvements in 2022/23.

To have been able to find their own version of the Arsenal wizard in the form of Kudus would have been simply a dream scenario for those at Old Trafford, although Ten Hag may have to instead witness the West Ham dynamo shining at the London Stadium.

In the meantime, the 53-year-old is stuck with a player in Sancho who is struggling to deliver and has openly hit back at his comments, with some sort of resolution needing to be found sooner rather than later in what is yet another unwanted distraction for the club.

Manchester United face losing one of their first-team squad members in January, and a reliable journalist has revealed the club that are looking to prise him away from the Premier League.

Who have Manchester United signed recently?

Over the summer, Erik ten Hag secured seven fresh faces in the form of Andre Onana, Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, Jonny Evans and Altay Bayindir on a permanent basis, whilst taking Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat on loan for the remainder of the season.

In terms of outgoings, David De Gea, Fred, Eric Bailly and Dean Henderson were some of the bigger names to depart for good, and even though the window closed on September 1st, there have already been future exit rumours circulating around one out of favour player in particular.

Following the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the start of the month, Jadon Sancho took to social media to vent his frustration after being completely omitted from the squad which following disciplinary action, has since seen him placed on his own individual training programme away from the group.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Friday, the boss admitted that he doesn’t know whether the 23-year-old will ever play for the club again, and should that be the case, it sounds like he’s already got a potential suitor waiting to secure his services.

Is Jadon Sancho leaving Man United?

Taking to X, 90min's Graeme Bailey claimed that Sancho is attracting interest from his former club Borussia Dortmund who appear ready to offer their ex-attacker a lifeline to reignite his career after falling down the pecking order at Man United. He wrote:

"We understand that Jadon Sancho's former club Borussia Dortmund are keeping close tabs on the situation as they would be inclined to offer him a route back in January. It is believed that Sancho too would 'love' to return to the Bundesliga."

How many goals does Jadon Sancho have in his career?

Since the start of his career, Sancho has posted a remarkable 167 contributions (86 goals and 81 assists) in 263 appearances which has seen him dubbed a “phenomenon” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so whilst he’s acted out of line off the pitch, he has so much to offer on it.

The Red Devils’ left-winger, who pockets £250k-per-week, also ranks in the 96th percentile for pass completion which highlights how strong he is at linking up the play with his fellow attacking teammates in the final third, though it’s not just his usual role he can operate in.

The Elite Project Group Ltd client has been deployed in six various positions over the grass since first bursting onto the scene, including everywhere across the frontline and even two roles in the midfield, so the versatility that he provides makes him a wonderful option for the boss to have at his disposal.

Whilst Man United will take some time to assess their next steps regarding Sancho, it looks highly unlikely that he'll pull on the shirt again, therefore, it would be a real shame if this was how his journey was to come to an end at Old Trafford.

Newcastle United have endured a disastrous start to the 23/24 Premier League campaign, suffering three consecutive defeats against Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton.

Despite being put through a poor string of results, it is unable to knock the gloss off what has been a tremendous two years at St James' Park.

From surviving relegation in 2021/22 to qualifying for the Champions League a season later, the Saudi revolution, spearheaded by the managerial expertise of Eddie Howe, has helped propel the Magpies back towards the league's elite, a position they were familiar with during the late '90s and early 00s.

With a European campaign on the horizon, excitement is building and to fuel that, Newcastle have brought in players they think can help them navigate through their group of death that includes Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.

Who did Newcastle sign this summer?

Central midfielder Sandro Tonali was brought in for £55m from the latter of those clubs to provide Champions League quality in the heart of their midfield, while Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento were snapped up from relegated clubs Leicester and Southampton with left-back Lewis Hall arriving from Chelsea.

Although Newcastle have improved several areas of their squad, a recent injury to Sven Botman highlighted their lack of depth at centre-back and despite him being in line to return following the international break, lack of improvement in this position has seen them get exposed defensively.

With seven goals shipped in their first four fixtures, the Premier League's joint-best defence last season is plummeting under the weight of increased pressure, perhaps making them regret not snapping up their top two centre back targets, Antonio Silva and Edmond Tapsoba.

While Newcastle could continue to regret that decision, especially with more matches to be played this season, it isn't the only time that the Magpies have missed out on signing their top target having failed to land Moises Caicedo during the Steve Bruce era in 2021.

Did Newcastle nearly sign Moises Caicedo?

Indeed, Chelsea broke the British recorded transfer fee by signing Caicedo for £115m from Brighton this summer but there was a time when Newcastle could have signed him for a bargain price of just £4.5m.

Indeed, when the North East club were monitoring his performances in the Copa Libertadores at Independent del Valle, the Seagulls swooped for the 19-year-old and on the William Hill's Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Bruce explained why they lost out in the race to sign him.

He said: “When I was at Newcastle we tried to sign Moises Caicedo for £4.5 million and I remember thinking what a good player he was,

"The chief scout at Newcastle, Steve Nixon, came and told me that I had to see him play and that he was sensational.

“He ended up choosing Brighton instead of Newcastle and that will go down as one that we missed out on because now he’s gone on to become the British record transfer fee for £115 million, but he is a top, top player.”

Caicedo has made a rapid rise to stardom since moving to England, becoming one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League and that, coupled with his hefty transfer fee, will make Newcastle regret not beating the Seagulls to his signature.

How good is Caicedo?

Caicedo was a key cog in Brighton's 22/23 season, playing a crucial role as the Seagulls recorded their highest-ever Premier League finish and qualified for Europe.

The 21-year-old, who was normally deployed in a double pivot with Alexis Mac Allister, showcased his ball-winning abilities next to the more creative Argentine, ranking in the top 10% of positionally similar players in Europe's big five leagues for interceptions (1.61) and best 14% for tackles won (2.87) per 90, via FBref.

Hailed as a "monster" by several, including Sports Scientist Dr Rajpal Brar, Caicedo has showcased his wonderful ability to cover ground and win possession back so that when teams broke through Brighton's press, he was there to recover the ball and unleash his side back into the ascendancy.

Described by former teammate Leandro Trossard as "brilliant", Caicedo demonstrated that brilliance with the volume of tackles he made as only Fulham's Joao Palhinha (144) made more tackles than the Ecuador international (100) last term.

While he's tremendous at regaining possession, he's also very strong with the ball. He placed within the top 6% for pass completion (88.5%), top 19% for passes into the final third (5.19) and top 22% for progressive passes (6.28).

As demonstrated by the stats above, Caicedo's tidiness in possession and ability to control the ball in tight spaces was a crucial aspect of his game that transformed Brighton into a possession-based team, with his passing range allowing the Seagulls to successfully play through the thirds.

It is clear to see why Chelsea broke their transfer record to sign Caicedo given his domineering displays for Brighton and while he is yet to show why he's worth that fee for the Blues, it's only a matter of time before he elevates his new club to new heights, making Newcastle regret not signing him further.

Pairing together Chelsea's recent ethos of spend first, worry later under Todd Boehly and a history of loaning out a whopping 41 players at one time back in 2019 – it comes as no surprise that sometimes talent can slip through the Blues' net.

However, it's more unbearable than ever when said talent sits right under a club's nose. Today's agonising focus is a prime example in the face of the west London club's recent stagnation.

How much have Chelsea spent?

Well, if you got lost in the constant stream of moves to Stamford Bridge (we don't blame you), Chelsea spent £345.9m this summer alone. The eight moves that followed last season's especially insatiable expenditure saw Todd Boehly's total as owner now approach the billion pound mark.

One flagship capture, of course, was that of Brighton's 21-year-old Moises Caicedo. After gaining attention in a progressive Roberto Di Zerbi side as a hardworking midfield warrior, the Ecuadorian sparked a dramatic bidding war between Liverpool and Chelsea.

Eventually, he chose Stamford Bridge as his new home and penned a jaw-dropping eight-year contract with the option for an additional year, in a move that totalled £115m.

The size of the fee was emphasised further by Caicedo's boyhood club Independiente del Valle. After smartly inserting a sell-on clause, they are set to receive around £22m for a player they let go to Brighton for just £4m.

Unfortunately, Caicedo's impact has been a little underwhelming so far with just two starts to his name. What they could do for another of the summer's big money movers in Declan Rice…

Why did Declan Rice leave Chelsea?

Back in 2013, Chelsea painstakingly released a 14-year-old Declan Rice. England's centurion and Arsenal's new fan favourite started his footballing life at Cobham back in 2006.

Rice was so naturally adept that, despite never playing organised football as a child, he was still good enough for Chelsea's academy. He played alongside fellow midfielder Mason Mount, and began an infamous friendship with the now-Manchester United man.

Where Mount was the youthful poster boy, Rice was released in 2013 and perhaps, as the player claims, it was down to his slender height at the time. In disbelief at Chelsea's blasé nature (Rice is still uncertain as to why), West Ham emphatically signed the youngster.

With new opportunities, a welcome growth spurt, and success in the Hammers' development sides – Rice took just two years to break into the first team.

Just how good is Declan Rice now?

West Ham steadily showed prying Premier League eyes Declan Rice's capabilities. From 2015 until his move to Arsenal this summer in a £100m transfer, Rice amassed over 200 league appearances for West Ham and capped his final emotional term with victory in UEFA's Europa Conference League.

Rice's final season illustrated his level as Opta statisticians included him in their team of the season. Featuring as the sole West Ham representative, Rice won possession more than anyone else (334 times), and made the most interceptions (63).

Meanwhile, he ranked ahead of Caicedo in some key midfield metrics, sitting second for ball carries (702), ball carry distance (7,136m) and ball carry progress distance (3,827m) behind only Rodri when it came to positional peers. It's safe to say that letting him go was a big mistake from Chelsea's point of view.

Rice also covered extensive distance. His third-highest rank of 412km is nearly the equivalent of running 10 marathons. It's clear why some journalists, including the Telegraph's Sam Dean, have been quick to label the midfielder a "monster."

Evidently, letting a player go for free and seeing him become a world-beater will be a bitter pill to swallow. With Chelsea's recent spending spree, it would be quick (and probably harsh) to say that they haven't learned from their mistakes either. In one regard, that statement rings true with numerous talents having been overlooked by a club and owner who likes the flash of new toys.

Yet, with the Americanised notion of vast multi-year contracts, Boehly looks to be instilling the best young talent for a long time to come – creating a new-money developmental side of the game not quite seen before.

Pundit Frank McAvennie has lavished praise on one Arsenal player he says you "do not really notice" quietly doing an amazing job.

Latest Arsenal news

Mikel Arteta's men go into their clash with Bournemouth having won four out of their first six league games, and are also in the Last 16 of the EFL Cup after a 1-0 win third round win over Brentford in midweek. Wins over Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Man United and Everton help to keep Arsenal in the mix at the Premier League's summit, but they haven't exactly been at their imperious best.

Three out of four of Arsenal's wins have been by narrow one-goal margins, with Arteta's men also dropping points at home to both Fulham and Tottenham recently. The Spurs game was unfortunate, as Arsenal took the lead twice only to be pegged back by captain Son Heung-min both times.

"We feel like we lost two points," said Arteta after the Spurs match. "It's true there was a lot of change in the dominance of the game, but especially when we had more control and more dominance in the game, and we score the goal, they score straight away. We started quite good, we scored the goal, but straight away we concede.

"So, emotionally, that was a difficult one to take. I thought we struggled for a period of 10 or 15 minutes later, we lacked a lot of composure with the ball and we made it a basketball game. But I think in the end we pushed, pushed and pushed, but couldn't get the win.

"The hardest thing to do is put the ball in the net. We've done it twice but I think we conceded two really poor goals. At this level, they're going to punish you because they've got top players."

Arsenal supporters will now be hoping their side can put in a statement performance by thrashing Bournemouth on the south coast.

Bournemouth vs Arsenal preview

The north Londoners could be missing a host of players, a list including Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Fabio Vieira, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard.

Rice and Saka in particular will be sore, sore misses – with McAvennie explaining how the former has seriously impressed him. The former Celtic striker claims he's a player than can often go unnoticed due to the creative players around him, but he quietly goes about his job brilliantly.

“You do not really notice what he is doing at Arsenal because he has got all these wonderful players around him," said McAvennie to Football Insider. "He is doing his job but he is very good at it. I think there will be a few people missing by the time it rolls around.“

The 24-year-old signed from West Ham in the summer window for around £105 million, which is a club-record, and he has even managed his first goal in an Arsenal shirt this season. Rice could go on to become a pivotal player, and supporters will be hopeful he is available as soon as possible.

The clouds appear to be circling over Old Trafford once again in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, with Manchester United having made their worst start to a season since 1986 after losing six of their opening ten games in all competitions.

Manager Erik ten Hag does still have credit in the bank after reaching two cup finals last season while qualifying for the Champions League – notably winning the Carabao Cup – yet it remains to be seen whether that was simply a false dawn for a club that appears to be caught in a vicious cycle of frustration and despair.

Any pre-season optimism has been swiftly extinguished following a litany of issues both on and off the field, with Ten Hag now facing a real battle on his hands to avoid suffering the same fate as his predecessors, many of whom faltered after overseeing an initial revival.

As has been the way over the last decade and beyond, however, one thing that has regularly sparked a sense of hope and positivity is the club's academy set-up, with Marcus Rashford, for instance, having been a shining light since his breathtaking emergence back in 2016.

In more recent times, wing wizard Alejandro Garnacho – who scored five goals last term – has forced his way into the first-team picture, as too has Tunisian international, Hannibal Mejbri this time around, with the 20-year-old playmaker having caught the eye in recent weeks.

How has Hannibal Mejbri performed this season?

After spending last season on loan at Birmingham City in the Championship, few would have expected the French-born gem to be promoted into Ten Hag's ranks this term, particularly following summer interest from the likes of Borussia Dortmund.

Having ultimately stayed put in Manchester despite those admiring glances from afar, the youngster has taken his chance in the early weeks of the campaign amid a string of injury woes, notably scoring his first goal for the club against Brighton and Hove Albion.

That stunning strike was followed by a first Premier League start of the season against Burnley last month, with the relentless midfielder having been lauded for his "perfect" performance by his manager, after providing a much-needed sprinkling of energy and commitment in the centre of the park.

While club legend Paul Scholes has hinted that the hardworking asset will have to do more than simply "giving everything" if he is to solidify his position in the senior ranks, he is arguably an "exceptional" player, as former United man Alan Smith has claimed.

Mejbri does still have a way to go to nail down a regular starting berth, having been hooked at half-time in favour of the experienced Christian Eriksen against Galatasaray earlier this week, yet he appears to be the latest in a long line of sparkling academy graduates.

Who are the best academy talents at Man United?

The former Monaco man's chance had come with Ten Hag also currently without teenage maestro, Kobbie Mainoo, with the 18-year-old another who the club have high hopes for, having previously been lauded as "exceptional" by journalist Steven Railston.

The Stockport native was notably part of the young United side which claimed FA Youth Cup glory back in 2022, featuring as part of a squad that included the likes of Garnacho and Marc Jurado – the latter man having since moved on to Espanyol.

Featuring alongside Mainoo in that glorious outfit – who beat Nottingham Forest in the showpiece – was another teen sensation in the form of Dan Gore, with the pair having been "superb" as part of that surge to the final, according to Railston.

GK

Radek Vitek

RB

Marc Jurado

CB

Rhys Bennett

CB

Louis Jackson

LB

Sam Murray

CM

Kobbie Mainoo

CM

Dan Gore

RM

Sam Mather

CAM

Isak Hansen

LM

Alejandro Garnacho

ST

Charlie McNeill

The 19-year-old has already enjoyed a taste of life at senior level after coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace last week to make his long-awaited debut, with that hopefully just the start of a strong career at the Theatre of Dreams for the Englishman.

How good is Dan Gore?

Although the academy starlet had just under half an hour to make his mark against the Eagles, it was certainly a 'bright debut' for the midfielder – as per GOAL's Richard Martin – as he 'did not look overawed by the occasion at all'.

That birthday bow was seemingly richly deserved as far as Ten Hag is concerned, with the 53-year-old stating post-match that he does not hand out chances to young players unless they are warranted.

The hope will be then that such a 'bright' outing is the start of many appearances for Gore under the Dutch tactician, with the former Burnley youth asset arguably "one of the most talented youngsters" in the United academy, according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.

That viewpoint has been echoed in the recent past by youth coach Mark Dempsey, who hailed Gore as a "proper footballer", while also stating: "I think he’s a proper footballer, good with the ball, good without the ball, and he can travel with it. His final pass has to improve for me, that’s the last bit for him, but the rest is great," Dempsey told the MEN.

"I like to see him play football because he’s one of them to get fans off their seats. He smashes into people, technically he’s fantastic and he’s been terrific all season. He’s been captain a number of times and personality-wise, he’s a quiet boy, but he’s a leader".

Someone who "leads by example", according to Dempsey, young Gore only recently showcased his quality after scoring a stunning solo goal against Blackburn Rovers in Premier League 2, offering a further indication of his exciting potential.

With that area of the pitch having become a "long-term problem" for the Red Devils of late – according to The Athletic's Mark Critchley – perhaps the likes of Gore, Mejbri and the aforementioned Mainoo can represent some much-needed solutions.

At a time when nothing seems to be going right for the Premier League giants, yet again it looks as if the academy can provide a smaller glimmer of hope even in the darkest of times.

Some may have had doubts over Arsenal's ability to simply go again after the heartbreak of missing out on the Premier League title last season, but after the Gunners defeated Manchester City, it's fair to say that Mikel Arteta's side are well and truly back in contention once more. The North London club, alongside rivals Tottenham Hotspur, are still unbeaten, perhaps hoping that the international break hasn't brought their momentum to a halt.

It looks as though Arteta is already eyeing further additions to his squad in 2024, too, with one particular out-of-favour midfielder potentially receiving a second chance in the form of a move to The Emirates.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Gunners don't look like a side in need of any major reinforcements, as shown by their almost flawless start to the Premier League campaign. That's not to say that Arteta shouldn't aim to add even more depth, however, especially now that his side are competing among Europe's elite in the Champions League, as well as balancing domestic duties. And that could see them make a surprise move in the winter window, weakening Manchester City's depth in the process.

The latest Kalvin Phillips transfer news claims that Arsenal are interested in the former Leeds United midfielder. According to reports in Spain, via Caught Offside, the 27-year-old is on the radar of those at The Emirates, who could yet turn their interest into a concrete offer come January, or next summer.

It would certainly be an interesting move, given how much Phillips has struggled under Pep Guardiola, failing to do enough to ever earn a run in the Spaniard's treble-winning side. The fact that he is good friends with Gunners midfielder Declan Rice could see him favour a move to North London, too. Whether it be at Arsenal, or elsewhere, Phillips is a player in desperate need of a fresh start and minutes on the pitch, particularly if he wants to keep his place in Gareth Southgate's England side ahead of the Euros next summer.

How many times has Kalvin Phillips played for Man City?

To say that Phillips' game-time at Manchester City has been limited would be an understatement. The England international has started just two Premier League games since joining the Citizens in the summer of 2022. HHe has made just 15 appearances under Guardiola in England's top flight during that time. Even when Rodri was suspended for three games this season, Phillips did not get the call from the City manager.

The more that you look at it, the more it becomes clear that Phillips must move on if he is to get some crucial minutes on the pitch. When handed the chance, he has been more than capable in the past, too, earning the praise of Southgate, who said:

"He’s been excellent. The way he has taken to international football, it hasn’t surprised us because what we’d seen with Leeds, even in the Championship, we felt could convert into our team. We felt he could play an important role with us.

"To play in the enormity of the matches he did in the summer and play as well as he did is massive credit to him. He’s a very, very good player and he’s been a really important part of this – we’re 16 games unbeaten [in regulation time] now and he’s been a huge part of that."