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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is expected to have retained the backing of FSG after a woeful start to the 2025/26 campaign, but the credit chequed into the bank is fast depleting as the champions flatter to deceive on the problem-solving front.

Soft, slow and stodgy, this is not the Liverpool we know. Slot’s Liverpool, last year, were a dangerous beast, so incisive and unforgiving as they secured toward the Premier League title.

But, nine losses from 14 matches in all competitions and just two wins from nine in the top flight have eradicated any hopes of challenging Arsenal for the trophy this season.

And it’s put Slot’s job on the line.

Why Liverpool could sack Arne Slot

Liverpool managed to avoid defeat at home against Sunderland on Wednesday evening, but the 1-1 draw, secured when Florian Wirtz’s fleet footwork forced an own goal from Nordi Mukiele late on, smacked of desperation.

You would be hard pressed to delineate Liverpool’s tactical identity under Slot’s wing this season. Their shape in the build-up. Their pressing patterns and attacking strategies.

It is damning that so much has been spent on strikers like Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, and that number nine is a barren patch at Anfield, with the supply line proving ineffective.

Wirtz needs to do better, but there’s no question that he’s a world-class talent with so much potential yet untapped.

However, this breadth of quality at Slot’s disposal means he simply has to work out a formula for results and impressive performances, with both in short supply.

If the Dutch tactician fails to get a tune out of this squad of elite, big-money players, he will eventually be dismissed by FSG, who might already have their sights set on a replacement.

The perfect Slot replacement at Liverpool

Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes know they and Liverpool’s wider project will lose face if they have to dismiss Slot, but if push comes to shove, they might just do so if it means they can appoint Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso.

Alonso, 44, acheived unprecedented success with Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga as undefeated champions in 2023/24, claiming the DFB-Pokal title too.

This road led to the Santiago Bernabeu, the Spaniard joining the club he played so much football for during his playing career this summer.

However, Alonso also has quite the connection with Anfield, and given the troubles that are plaguing Los Blancos at the moment, FSG may well be primed to pounce if an opportunity to appoint this exciting Slot replacement materialises.

Liverpool did explore a move for Alonso after Jurgen Klopp announced he would be stepping down at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, but he was in the thick of his Leverkusen tenure and did not feel the time for a step-up was right.

His 3-4-2-1 formation is unconventional, but Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has shown that such a set-up can work out in the Premier League, when in the right hands.

Xabi Alonso’s Managerial Stats

Club

Matches

PPG

Real Madrid

26

2.35

Bayer Leverkusen

140

2.14

Real Sociedad B

98

1.46

Data via Transfermarkt

Given that Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong worked under him in Germany, hitting such staggering heights, it could also prove the perfect appointment to get the best out of Liverpool’s immensely talented playmaker.

Wirtz, 22, has not hit the ground running at Liverpool, but the system has hardly opened its arms for such a player. In fact, most of Liverpool’s top players have foundered this season.

Even so, the German international ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League this season for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Alonso will surely get a tune out of a player he described as “a genius” during their time with Die Werkself.

Wirtz once said that “working with Alonso is a dream”. He lived that dream, and he may do so again before long, with the Spanish manager sure to be at the top of FSG’s wishlist, if Slot is indeed sacked in the coming months.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Dec 4, 2025

حرض توني فريكسا، المدير التنفيذي السابق لنادي برشلونة، إدارة بطل الدوري الإسباني على اتخاذ أي إجراءات ضرورية ضد النجم لامين يامال، حال خروج الأمور المتعلقة به عن السيطرة.

وواجه لامين يامال الكثير من المشاكل مؤخرًا، بسبب تصريحاته الإعلامية وحرصه على استفزاز خصومه بشكل مستمر، عبر مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، قبل المباريات الكبرى.

ويرى الكثيرون أن الضجيج المنتشر حول لامين يامال قد أثر على مستواه بشكل سلبي في الفترة الأخيرة، حيث إنه لا يقدم أداءً مشابهًا لما كان عليه في الموسم الماضي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. رد فعل ريال مدريد تجاه تصريحات لابورتا الساخرة من فلورنتينو بيريز

وقال فريكسا في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “لو كان لامين ابني، لقلت له إنه ليس بالمستوى الذي يُقال عنه، سأقول له استمر في العمل الجاد ولا تُصدق أي شيء تسمعه، ركز فقط على كرة القدم”، مؤكدًا على ضرورة حمايته ومنع الضجيج الإعلامي من تشويه مسيرته.

وأضاف: “إذا كان لدى لامين أي مشكلة تحتاج إلى معالجة، فعلينا مساعدته، نظريًا إذا وصل الأمر إلى حد لا يمكن فيه حل هذه المشكلة، فهذه ليست نهاية العالم، سيستمر برشلونة”.

وترى صحيفة “سبورت” أن فريكسا ترك الباب مفتوحًا بتلك الطريقة أمام سيناريوهات تتضمن ضمنيًا إمكانية بيع لامين يامال، إذا لزم الأمر، للحفاظ على استقرار النادي الرياضي أو المؤسسي.

وشدد: “لا أستبعد أي سيناريو، أفكر في ناديي، جميع أعضاء النادي موجودون هنا مؤقتًا فقط، المهم هو برشلونة”.

It’s become a running joke that players who arrive at Manchester United with a notable reputation tend to see their stock plummet, with Old Trafford having been a graveyard for the best and brightest over the last decade or so.

From Angel Di Maria to Alexis Sanchez, the signings of perceived ‘world-class’ talent have spectacularly backfired, with the pursuit of glamour names and marketing opportunities rarely equating to on-field glory.

Thankfully, it does appear that there has been a change in tack under the new INEOS regime, with Jason Wilcox and co having gone for young and hungry figures like Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko, alongside Premier League-proven talents in Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

With potential future captain Matthijs de Ligt now starting to shine at the heart of the defence, while veteran warrior Casemiro is enjoying a midfield renaissance, a strong spine is finally beginning to emerge under Ruben Amorim.

As defeats to the likes of Grimsby and Brentford have showcased this season, however, this new-look United side are far from the finished article, with it likely to take a succession of transfer windows for Amorim to be able to build a title-challenging squad again.

Investment in new recruits is certainly needed, although there is also a sense that there still remains plenty of ‘deadwood’ to be shifted too.

The players Man Utd need to sell in 2026

Whether it is in January or next summer, United face another pivotal year with regard to squad-building, with ruthless decisions needing to yet again be made in order to take this club where it needs to go.

In the most recent window, for instance, Amorim oversaw departures for the likes of Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, with the Portuguese having taken a particularly strong stance on those latter two names.

When next summer rolls around, it would be no surprise to see further peripheral figures also sent packing, with both Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte surely at risk, amid reports that Omar Berrada wishes to implement a two-year rule for new signings.

In essence, those brought in have a maximum of two years to make their mark or face the axe, with Zirkzee – who has played just 90 minutes this season – certainly out in the cold right now, while Ugarte was reportedly the subject of a dressing down from his former Sporting CP boss at the end of last term.

Question marks also remain over the futures of the aforementioned Casemiro and Harry Maguire, amid their expiring contracts, with the Brazilian – for all his importance – regularly unable to last the 90 minutes, having been subbed off on seven occasions in the top-flight this time around.

Long-serving defender Diogo Dalot also appears another player at risk, amid the change to a 3-4-2-1 system, with the orthodox right-back having come under fire this season for his struggles on either flank.

What is clear is that the likes of Amorim and Wilcox aren’t afraid to make the big decisions, a fact that was also evident with the handling of another former world-beater over the summer.

The Man Utd flop who finally needs to be sold

Signed for just £18m, Lammens looks like one of the bargains of the season in Premier League terms, with the Belgian ‘keeper still yet to taste defeat in his new surroundings, following a near faultless five games in the United goal to date.

The 23-year-old Belgian will, as is the fact of life for a goalkeeper, make a mistake at some stage, although his strong early impression has already won over the Old Trafford faithful, with supporters and pundits alike willing him to be the second coming of Peter Schmeichel.

Getting people onside early on is particularly key in a position that Gary Neville regularly describes as the “most difficult position in English football”, with Lammens’ predecessor Andre Onana having failed to do just that upon his arrival in 2023.

Formerly part of Erik ten Hag’s famed Ajax side that reached the Champions League last four in 2019, Onana was reunited with the Dutchman four years later, joining from Inter Milan on a £47.2m deal.

The Cameroon international – who was actually available on a free transfer in 2022 – departed the San Siro having starred amid their surge to the Champions League final in his solitary campaign in Italy, producing an eye-catching display even amid defeat to Manchester City in the showpiece.

Speaking ahead of that eventual 1-0 win for the Etihad side, Pep Guardiola even hailed Onana as “one of the best in the world right now”, with it looking as if United had acquired a perfect replacement for the departed David De Gea.

Frustratingly for all concerned, the erratic ‘keeper looked a poor fit from the off, memorably lobbed from the halfway line on his Old Trafford debut against Lens in July 2023.

The sight of the £120k-per-week stopper tangled in his own goal set the tone for what was to follow, having also escaped punishment for a late punch against Wolverhampton Wanderers on his Premier League bow, before producing a string of blunders during United’s dismal European run.

In that 2023/24 Group stage alone, he made two errors leading to a goal, having followed that up with a further five errors across the 2024/25 season in the Premier League and Europa League, as per Sofascore.

Goals against

1.29

1.10

Save percentage

68.9%

81.3%

Save % (penalties)

25%

66.7%

Clean sheet %

26.5%

20.7%

Touches

40.32

41.59

Launch %

29.7%

32%

Crosses stopped

5.5%

11.2%

Defensive actions (outside area)

0.68

0.72

Perhaps the final straw came away at Lyon last term, with Onana engaging in pre-match verbals with Nemanja Matic, who branded him one of the “worst keepers in Manchester United’s history”.

Desperate to prove him wrong, United’s number 24 went on to play his part in both of Lyon’s goals, the second coming at the death just minutes after he had appeared to rile the home crowd by taking an age over a goal-kick.

The woes of Altay Bayindir did ensure he was subsequently reinstated, but the die was cast, with Amorim shipping out his previous first-choice stopper to Turkish side Trabzonspor late in the window.

With no buy option included as part of that deal, the 29-year-old – who has actually conceded just seven goals in eight Super Lig games in Turkey – will have to return to Manchester next summer, with INEOS swiftly needing to find a buyer for their exiled flop.

The problem is, the Red Devils will likely have to take a sizeable hit on their initial investment, with CIES Football Observatory deeming him to be worth a maximum of just €15m (£13m), even less than what United paid for Lammens.

Getting something for him is better than nothing, however, with the Red Devils needing to try and swiftly move on from this costly transfer mistake.

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Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton had front row tickets to the Paul Skenes show throughout the 2024 MLB season, and he was clearly impressed by what he saw.

Skenes didn't debut in MLB until May, and made only 23 starts throughout the season, but he's already on the track to stardom after taking the league by storm as a rookie. During a recent appearance on , Shelton was asked about Skenes's early dominance, and he offered a bold claim about the potential of the flame-throwing right-hander.

"Yeah, I mean, he's impressive. If you've been around him at all as a human being… he's so talented. The way he carries himself, the way he presents himself, it's definitely special," said Shelton.

Host Chris Rose then asked if it was possible that Skenes was the best young pitcher in the last 40 to 50 years.

"Yeah, I think he has all the tools and I definitely think he's in the conversation… I think with the tools he has, the mindset he has, the way he works, he's definitely in that conversation with the best young pitchers we've seen over the last 40 years. The pure stuff is as good as I've seen at this young of an age since I've been in the big leagues," Shelton said.

Despite starting just 23 games last season, Skenes, 22, finished third in NL Cy Young voting. He started the All-Star Game for the National League after making just 11 starts. He ended the campaign with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts across 133 innings on the mound.

Skenes has all the makings of a generational talent, and it seems his manager is well aware of that heading into his second season in the bigs.

Aston Villa have now reportedly formalised their move to sign an impressive Bundesliga attacker ahead of rival interest from Barcelona in 2026.

What Aston Villa need in January

Whilst Thursday’s 2-1 defeat against Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League provided them with another setback, things have been looking up for Aston Villa following a disastrous start.

Having failed to win any of their first six games in all competitions, they’re now on a run of just one defeat in six which came last time out in unexpected fashion. Following a disruptive summer surrounded by the future of key men and PSR issues, Unai Emery almost has his side back to their very best at long last.

Alas, there’s still work to be done. If those in the Midlands can negotiate a way past their PSR problems, then the January transfer window represents the perfect time to make up for a frustrating summer.

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Emery was forced to miss out on a number of targets and is now dealing without the squad depth that he needs to compete on all fronts, especially in his frontline.

Just like last season, that could be solved by a number of potential loan deals – one of them being for Endrick. The Real Madrid wonderkid is reportedly set to leave the Bernabeu on loan in January and Villa are among the clubs interested in his signature.

Emery benefitted from the arrival of out-of-favour stars Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford last season and may now get a repeat one year later courtesy of Real Madrid.

The teenage star may not be the only player on his way, either. Reports are now suggesting that Villa have formalised their move to sign a Barcelona target.

Aston Villa formalise Asllani move

According to reports in Spain, Aston Villa have now formalised their move to sign Fisnik Asllani from Hoffenheim. The 23-year-old forward has enjoyed an impressive season in the Bundesliga so far, attracting interest from Villa and even Barcelona as a result. Sparking an interesting race, Emery should be keen to get his man.

Since being described as a “superb complete forward” by scout Jacek Kulig last month, Asllani has taken his total to five goals in eight games in all competitions – four more than the struggling Ollie Watkins.

If Aston Villa want to secure the future of their frontline, then Asllani is their man. Beating Barcelona to his signature would also represent quite the move from a side entering 2026 off the back of a frustrating summer transfer window.

In a repeat of last season, the January arrival of an attacking star could turn Villa’s campaign around.

يلتقي منتخب قطر للناشئين تحت 17 عامًا، مع نظيره جنوب إفريقيا، اليوم الخميس، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للناشئين، على ملعب منصور مفتاح رقم 7 ضمن الجولة الثانية من منافسات المجموعة الأولى.

ويطمح العنابي إلى تحقيق الفوز الأول في البطولة لتعزيز حظوظه في التأهل إلى دور الـ32، بعد خسارته في المباراة الافتتاحية أمام إيطاليا 0-1.

طالع.. ترتيب مجموعة السعودية في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا بعد الخسارة أمام النمسا

وفي الجهة المقبلة فإن جنوب إفريقيا حقق الفوز على بوليفيا 3-1، لتتصدر ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 3 نقاط متقدمة بفارق الأهداف على المنتخب الإيطالي، بينما يحتل العنابي المركز الثالث دون نقاط.

وتعد مواجهة اليوم الأولى في تاريخ مواجهات الفريقين على مستوى كأس العالم للناشئين، والثامنة للعنابي أمام منتخب أفريقي، حيث يسعى العنابي للاستفادة من ميزة اللعب على أرضه لحسم الفوز. موعد مباراة قطر وجنوب إفريقيا في كأس العالم للناشئين

وتنطلق المباراة بين الفريقين في تمام الخامسة وخمس وأربعين دقيقة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسادسة وخمس وأربعين دقيقة بتوقيت قطر. القناة الناقلة لمباراة قطر وجنوب إفريقيا في كأس العالم للناشئين

ومن المقرر أن تنقل قنوات بي إن سبورتس المفتوحة المباراة.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

Any Premier League outfit with well-lined pockets can spend money on attractive players. Newcastle United’s financial fortunes changed when PIF swooped in nearly four years ago, but there’s far more substance to the Toon’s revival.

Appointing Eddie Howe was a shrewd and calculated move. Less than one month before the former Bournemouth boss’s arrival at St. James’ Park in November 2021, The Times reported Unai Emery, Steven Gerrard and Roberto Martinez were at the top of the shortlist to replace Steve Bruce.

Newcastle looked elsewhere, and they haven’t looked back. Howe is the real deal, leading the Magpies to Europe across two of the past three campaigns and winning the Carabao Cup last season; victory over Liverpool at Wembley ended 70 years of searching for domestic silverware.

Newcastle have unloaded their financial strength across recent transfer windows, sure, but they are almost unerring in their strategy.

Many players are a testament to that, and Sandro Tonali is a shining example.

Sandro Tonali's Newcastle journey

In July 2023, Newcastle paid £55m to sign Tonali from AC Milan. It was Howe’s first signing of the summer. All knew United had recruited a top midfield talent, elegant and intelligent in the middle of the park, and he is now producing the goods with consistency.

He didn’t at first. The Italy international managed only eight Premier League appearances in 2023/24 before being suspended due to betting breaches. He would not return until after the start of the following campaign.

Tonali was worth the wait, though, having been hailed by pundit Paul Scholes this month as being the best midfielder in England.

Howe has reworked his central system over the past 12 months, rewiring the nucleus of his team by moving Tonali into the deepest area of the midfield, thus freeing Bruno Guimaraes to be more dynamic ahead of him.

Tonali’s Influence at NUFC (24/25 & 25/26)

CM

DM

Games

15

36

Wins

7

23

Draws

4

2

Losses

4

11

PPG

1.66

1.97

Data via Transfermarkt

The 25-year-old is a product of Howe’s vision and tactics. He has shaped him into a star. The English manager has something of a knack for crafting high-class midfielders, and he could do it again with Lewis Miley.

Newcastle's new version of Tonali

Miley is the boyhood star in Newcastle’s first team. Howe might dream of a reunion with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson down the line, but if Miley realises his potential over the coming years, that need will be lessened.

Already rather seasoned within Howe’s squad, the 19-year-old is a composed and cool customer in the engine room, not afraid to commit in the challenge, crisp on the ball and with an unteachable eye for goal.

Miley has faced adversity across the opening weeks of the campaign, with Howe condemning “unjustified” criticism and vowing to “protect” the homegrown talent last month.

An adaptable player, Miley could follow in Tonali’s footsteps under Howe’s wing, weathering adversity and working hard toward achieving respect and awe at St. James’ Park. He has the completeness to match the Italian, if not the experience or refinement.

Injuries have affected the young star’s rise to the Newcastle first team, but he has still made his mark over the past couple of years, already with 53 appearances for the seniors and seven direct goal involvements.

Pundit Pat Nevin has kept a close eye on Miley’s development and has even proclaimed him to be “the next young English superstar”, carrying a strength on the ball that belies his 19 years and showing technical qualities that will only harden as the months and years pass by.

That’s quite the claim from the one-time Scotland international, but it’s clear Miley has the natural talent and the determination to win over the doubters and make headway at Newcastle this season and thereafter.

With the Toon fanbase rallying behind him, Howe truly might unearth the club’s next version of Tonali.

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Still in the market for a centre-back, Newcastle United are already reportedly jostling for position in a race against Liverpool to sign a Premier League rival.

Newcastle set to target defensive additions in January

The summer transfer window may be closed, but that hasn’t stopped Newcastle from turning their focus towards 2026. The Magpies are clearly aiming to be far more prepared than this summer’s window, which saw them scrambling for options right up until the death after missing out on several targets to Premier League rivals.

Giovanni Leoni was one of those targets and it’s no surprise that it was Liverpool at the centre of Newcastle’s frustration. The Magpies even outbid the Reds in pursuit of the Italian defender, but he had his heart set on a summer switch to Anfield in a familiar story for several sides in recent months.

Eddie Howe did at least welcome Malick Thiaw in the summer window, but it could easily be argued that Newcastle still needed added options at the heart of their backline.

Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are now 33 years old, whilst Sven Botman’s injury history is a concern in its own right. The fact is, aside from Thiaw, Newcastle simply do not have a list of centre-back options that will be at the peak of their powers for years to come.

Now that their striker problem has been solved by Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, Newcastle are seemingly ready to turn towards their backline. Reports are even suggesting that they could finally enjoy some revenge on Liverpool when 2026 arrives.

Newcastle targeting Van Hecke hijack

According to TeamTalk, Newcastle are now targeting a move to sign Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2026. Battling against Liverpool, who are scouting the Dutchman as an alternative to Marc Guehi, the Magpies will be hoping to finally get one over on the Premier League champions.

Now would also be the perfect time to do it. Van Hecke is on the rise and one that Newcastle should do everything to sign. At 25 years old, he is excellent in possession and more than holds his own off the ball. With two years left on his current Brighton contract, it’s no surprise that a growing list of clubs are interested.

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Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler will be more away than most of just how talented Van Hecke is. He told reporters in May: “I think it’s very important that we recognise he’s a very young player.

“He’s 23 and he plays an unbelievable season. He shows great character. I like his character because he’s very straight. He says his opinion, he always has good intentions.

“Of course, in some ways he needs to develop, but we always give him very honest feedback. And I think he has all the character sides to be one day captain, but that’s the long-term future at the moment.”

Manchester City’s 4-0 opening day success over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League now feels like an awfully long time ago.

Indeed, since Pep Guardiola’s men romped home to a resounding victory at Molineux, the Citizens have tasted defeat two times in quick succession, with Tottenham Hotspur proving to be their kryptonite once more in a 2-0 home loss, before travelling to Brighton and Hove Albion and coming unstuck late on in a 2-1 defeat.

This poor start to the season, after a topsy-turvy 2024/25 campaign, will be seriously worrying to those who fill out the Etihad week in, week out, who will now be fearing a defeat in the Manchester Derby later on today.

Suffering those two defeats on the spin does look to have jolted City into life as to what they could do when transfers are back in play, with one new defensive target already reportedly on their shopping list who could soon call Gianluigi Donnarumma a teammate at the back.

City's potential transfer business

It will be interesting to see if the former Paris St. Germain goalkeeper gets the nod to start over James Trafford against Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils, having now sealed a move to England.

Guardiola might well favour his new recruit over the young Englishman, considering City have conceded four goals across their last two defeats, with one effort conceded against Spurs all Trafford’s own making.

The Spaniard might also have a move for Marc Guehi up his sleeve to further improve his defensive personnel, with Football Insider recently revealing that City could soon beat Liverpool to the signature of the Crystal Palace centre-back.

Amazingly, the leaky former Premier League champions might even be able to snap up Guehi on a free transfer, with it going down as a big coup to snatch the England international away from the reaches of Anfield for nothing.

Just fresh off scoring his first-ever England goal during the international break, Guehi will hope he can land a bumper move in the near future to the likes of City, having seen a deadline-day move to Liverpool heartbreakingly fall through.

However, the inconsistent Citizens might well be brewing their own homegrown version of Guehi right now, who has been showered with some very high praise already, despite only being 17 years of age.

Man City's own homegrown Guehi

After all, the sparkling success story of Rico Lewis in the first team picture at the Etihad is enough to give City great confidence in the next generation of talents coming through, with Lewis recently penning a new contract at his boyhood club that takes him to 2030.

By that point, City academy starlet Stephen Mfuni will be hoping he’s making waves in the senior picture himself, having already been branded as “one of the most talented teenage CBs in world football” by scout Jacek Kulig last year.

Kulig further expands to state that Mfuni is both “dominant” and “elegant” with his general play out from the back, with the teenager now hopeful he can be a similar Lewis-style revelation in the City first-team and perhaps save Guardiola and Co. some hassle in the market by further being a Guehi-like presence.

After all, the in-demand Eagles defender is also a well-rounded player in his own right at Selhurst Park, having had to wrestle with the difficulties, too, of being a promising youngster himself at Chelsea.

He boasts an 85% pass accuracy in the Premier League this season, also matched by his ability to win four duels on average per clash as a dominant force aerially.

Games played

3

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches*

85.0

Accurate passes*

68.3 (92%)

Key passes*

1.7

Ball recoveries*

2.7

Clearances*

3.7

Total duels won*

4.3

Mfuni has also displayed this same forceful presence in the air when heading home a recent goal in U18 action versus the Red Devils last season, with his overall numbers for the England U19s in the recent U19 Euros – as seen above – further showing off a talent that’s both calm on the ball but fierce in a battle, much like the soon-to-be out-of-contract warrior.

Of course, it would be foolish to anticipate that Mfuni would be able to come into the first-team picture right away and be as confident as Guehi, with the 25-year-old having to fight hard himself to become a Premier League-established star, as seen in his top-flight debut not coming until he was 21.

Yet, the hope will be – down the line – that the teenage sensation can be City’s own homegrown version of Guehi, regardless of whether Guardiola and Co. get their hands on the 6-foot titan or not.

Guardiola now wants Man City to sign "fantastic" £69m star to replace Silva

Pep Guardiola personally wants him to sign…

BySean Markus Clifford Sep 13, 2025

Following a difficult start to life at Rangers, Russell Martin now reportedly faces the threat of losing one of his most influential players amid regular contact from an interested club.

Martin tells Rangers to "seize" Club Brugge chance

Martin would have been the most relieved man in Glasgow when his side got over the line against Scottish League One side Alloa Athletic in the Scottish League Cup. Despite securing a 4-2 victory, the Gers were once again forced into a frantic affair and were found wanting defensively as they allowed their underdog opponents back into the game on two occasions.

Now, arguably the toughest game of Rangers’ season so far awaits. Set to square off against Club Brugge in their latest Champions League qualifier, Martin urged his side to “seize” their opportunity against their Belgian opposition and to play “with a bit more joy” this evening.

Qualifying for the Champions League could be the major turning point that Martin so desperately needs in the early days of his tenure and it could also help keep hold of one star player.

AEK Athens in regular contact to sign Dessers

Despite reports emerging that a deal broke down between AEK Athens and Rangers to sign Cyriel Dessers earlier this summer, it now seems as though the Greek giants have reignited their interest. According to TeamTalk, AEK Athens have been in regular contact to sign Dessers, despite Martin being desperate to keep him in Glasgow.

Even worse than Jefte: Euro club set for talks with Rangers to sign £4m dud

Rangers are reportedly set to hold talks with a European club over a potential deal for one of their players.

ByDan Emery Aug 19, 2025

The forward’s exit would be the most frustrating twist of the summer for those at Ibrox and Dessers himself is reportedly open to the move before the transfer window slams shut.

Earning praise from Martin for the “brilliant” job that he did in a 3-0 win against Viktoria Plzen earlier this season, Dessers remains an important player at Ibrox despite previous criticism.

After scoring 29 goals and assisting seven more in all competitions last season, it should come as no surprise that Martin is keen to keep hold of Dessers in the remaining weeks of the window. Whether Rangers manage to do so may be another question entirely, however.