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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Leeds United have been linked with a move for West Brom’s 19-year-old full-back Nathan Ferguson this week as Football Insider have reported that the club are compiling a dossier about the defender.

The Baggies man has started 11 matches for Slaven Bilic’s side already this term, and with West Brom losing just one game so far this campaign it’s fair to say that he’s had a good start to life in the senior team at The Hawthorns.

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Makings of a top player

The defender has all the makings of a top player. The fact that he’s reportedly being watched by Juventus and Atletico Madrid tells you all you need to know, and his manager has been full of praise for him this season.

“Nathan is talented: he reminds me of Declan Rice, ” Bilic said. “He is only 18 on paper but his head and mind is like he’s 25 or 27. He’s a kid in a positive way in that he is not afraid to play.

“That’s the good thing about being young because he is thinking positively. It’s our job, and his family’s, to keep him humble and then there is no doubt that he has an extremely bright future and great career in front of him.” the Croatian manager noted.

Dilemma

Of course, signing a player with so much touted potential is an exciting prospect, but it will leave Marcelo Bielsa with a dilemma if he were to join the club.

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Full-back is a position where Leeds have a lot of cover with Barry Douglas, Ezgjan Alioski, Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas all capable of playing that role to a high standard.

It’s already tough enough for the Argentine to choose between those four players on a weekly basis at the moment, but if you add Ferguson to the equation, it becomes an almost impossible task.

After all, Ayling’s return to the side has seen Dallas have to move into the middle of the park, such are their options in wide defensive roles.

The teenager would be a great addition to the squad, particularly if they beat some of the names in for him, but if Bielsa wanted to incorporate him into the team right away, he would have a very tough decision to make.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

After starting his career at Arsenal’s Hale End academy, Bukayo Saka has progressed through the ranks at the club and now finds himself in a position where he can become a first-team regular. However, once upon a time, the same was once expected from Alex Iwobi as a youngster breaking through the academy and into the first team.

Saka, 18, has made a name for himself in a short space of time. His performance against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League placed his name on the footballing map after he scored his first goal since signing a professional contract for Arsenal.

The youngster also provided two assists in Germany as the Gunners’ cruised to a 3-0 victory at the Commerzbank-Arena.

Saka finds himself in a similar situation to where Everton forward Alex Iwobi was at the age of 20. The exciting, dazzling and intricate forward-thinking player looked set to provide a breath of fresh air at the club. Fleeting injections of exuberance had the Arsenal fans speculating over how high he could rise, a feeling that was at least partly manufactured by murmurs from inside the club.

Former manager Arsene Wenger hinted that his quality exceeded his youthful years and that he would continue on an upward trajectory, per Arsenal.com.

“The trick about him is that you forget how old he is when you seem him play. You never imagine that he’s 20 years old.

“I believe as well, looking back where he was one-and-a-half years ago and where he is today, what is very interesting with Alex Iwobi is that he is consistently moving upwards.”

Up, up and up, all the way to Everton. Wenger’s words do not represent the prophetic tale of progress that they represented back in January 2017, with his £40m summer switch representing a notable step down away from the big-six.

The media simply fuelled the hype, with Paul Merson gushing over Iwobi after an impressive performance against FC Basel in the Champions League.

While speaking to Sky Sports’ The Fantasy Football Club (via the Daily Express), the pundit drew comparisons with two of Arsenal’s most prestigious and internationally renowned talents.

“He was outstanding again against Basel on Wednesday night. He’s got a very good football brain. That’s what I like about him.

“He is playing with people whose football brains are at the top of their game, in the likes of Sanchez and Ozil.

But Iwobi has never quite managed to reach the heights that were once expected of him, and the fact he now plys his trade for a club who have finished in the top-four just once during the Premier League era underlines how much he still has to prove.

Saka, meanwhile, is at a similar junction to the one Iwobi found himself at when he was breaking through. Filled with promise, poise and expectation, the youngster has made a bright opening to the season.

His performance at Old Trafford stood out to Gunners’ fans during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

The links between Saka and Iwobi are clear: they are both attacking midfielder products of an Arsenal academy that have been hailed for their ability to organically produce high-class footballers.

The youngster who could yet become the player Iwobi was once expected to become has already scored one goal and provided three assists in five games this season, stats that suggest a success story is simmering beneath the surface.

Significantly, the club need to learn from the mistakes they made with Iwobi.

Too much was expected of the Nigeria international and his failure to mirror the hyperbole spreading through the media soon led to criticism from fans, with their expectations remaining much higher than what could reasonably be expected of an inexperienced flair player looking to make his mark at a top-four chasing outfit.

Saka needs to be nurtured, given the time to mature in order to get used to the physicality of the Premier League.

Having experienced players around him will quicken the process and help him to thrive at the top level.

Pundits will naturally sensationalise his ability in light of his most outstanding performances, but the lesson of Iwobi’s career so far should serve as a telling reminder for fans to not expect too much too soon.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

There has been plenty of talk about Red Bull Salzburg wonderkid Erling Haaland, but Liverpool will have to watch out for his strike partner on Wednesday evening.

The Reds welcome the Austrian outfit to Anfield knowing anything less than three points would be an abject failure. After losing in Naples, a win on Wednesday would get their European campaign right back on track.

And Haaland is understandably the name on everyone’s lips. Although he is an injury doubt, he is expected to play some part, and he has racked up a ridiculous 17 goals and five assists in all competitions this season.

That said, he owes plenty of credit for his incredible form to his partner in crime Hee-chan Hwang, who was nothing short of sensational in the last round of fixtures against Genk.

While Haaland grabbed a hat-trick, it was the South Korean international who scored best on Sofascore’s player rating system, amassing a remarkable 9.6 out of 10, compared to Haaland’s 8.7.

It’s easy to see why too, as the 28-cap man provided two goals and created a further big chance with three total key passes, as well as finding the score-sheet himself. In all competitions this season, he has five goals and nine assists.

So he knows how to score and provide goals, but what else can he do? Well, while Haaland is hanging off the shoulder of the last defender waiting to pounce, his 23 year-old strike partner can be found harassing defenders and forcing them into mistakes.

Indeed, he won the ball back four times in the final third against Genk, per Sofascore, a statistic Jurgen Klopp will certainly be impressed by considering his famed love of gegenpressing. He also lost possession just nine times, which is a lot better than it sounds.

Attacking players tend to be high on that number, for example Haaland lost the ball 20 times in that match while the third highest-rated player, Zlatko Junuzović, surrendered possession a whopping 25 times.

Hwang also completed 85% of his passes in the opposition half, and his ability to pop up all over the pitch and string things together in the final third, combined with his constant pressing, causes havoc for defenders, allowing Haaland to flourish.

The Reds will no doubt be watching the teenage sensation with a keen eye, but forget about Hwang at your own peril. The versatile young forward is clever, hard-working and knows where the back of the net is.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Arsenal will face Aston Villa this weekend and the Gunners simply have to deploy Nicolas Pepe as a winger instead of a striker.

On the chalkboard

At 2-0 up against Watford last weekend, Arsenal were almost home and dry.

After the break, though, the Hornets took the game to their opponents and ended up registering 31 shots in total as they clawed their way back to a 2-2 draw.

While the Gunners did find themselves in the ascendancy early on, it was more down to Pierre-Emerick Aubayemang’s clinical finishing rather than the team’s overall attacking play.

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Pepe is a winger, not a striker

Pepe has not shown the Premier League exactly what he is capable of so far. Across the first five matches of the league season, he has recorded just one assist. However, it doesn’t help when he is being played out of position, like at Vicarage Road.

The Ivory Coast international is a right winger. That’s where he has played the majority of his games, and where he performed at his best for Lille last term. He scored 23 goals and provided 12 assists on that flank, and it was those displays that will have convinced the north London outfit to part with a club-record fee for his services.

However, Emery decided to play him up front alongside Aubameyang last weekend.

Although it would be unfair to say he was ineffective – four successful dribbles indicate that he did at least have some kind of impact – he struggled to truly make his mark, taking just one shot throughout the game.

Just a week before, he lined up in his preferred role against Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby.

Despite playing against one of the division’s best teams in a tense atmosphere, the 24-year-old rose to the occasion and was arguably the Gunners’ best player, this time taking seven shots while also creating two chances, one of which ended up being an assist.

Against Spurs, his desire to cut inside was obvious, as his heatmap showed. On Sunday, though, he was unable to do so as he was asked to play in a more central role. This didn’t stop him drifting out to the right on several occasions, but it severely hampered his threat.

So far this season, Pepe has averaged 3.8 dribbles per game, which is the most in the Premier League. In the top 10, there are no natural strikers, which is telling. His ability to beat his man is one of his biggest strengths and puts him in dangerous positions. Although playing him up front does not stop him doing so, more congestion prevents him from being as potent.

One can only hope that Emery will allow him to perform to his best against Villa on Sunday by playing him on the right. If not, it could be another frustrating afternoon for the Gunners and for Pepe.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

It is early days but Fabian Delph has impressed for Everton since his summer arrival, and there are signs that suggest he will be an adequate replacement for Idrissa Gueye.

The Senegal international had been a key player for the Toffees in recent years and his form earned him a £30m move to PSG, leaving a big gap in the Everton midfield.

There are not many players at the highest level who are capable of fulfilling the role Gueye did to such a high level, and his consistency makes him quite unique as a result.

He provided so much energy in the middle of the pitch but since coming into the team it appears that Delph will make up for what was lost, and perhaps provide that bit extra that Everton are looking for.

Whilst the England international may not be able to match the 75 interceptions Gueye made in the Premier League last term, he does provide greater quality on the ball and should be able to perform as an effective box-to-box player for Marco Silva.

Although it falls some way below Gueye’s average of 2.2, Delph’s rate of one interception per game suggests he is able to read danger, and his average of 4.5 tackles proves he can prevent such threat and transition into a break for his team, with an ability to run with the ball also.

That ability on the ball is a key factor of Delph’s all-round game, one area of his play which places him above Gueye.

The PSG man had a pass accuracy of 84% last term which matches that of Delph this season, but he averaged ten passes less per game, and that indicates that Everton now possess two ball-playing midfielders in the middle of the pitch, with Andre Gomes or Morgan Schneiderlin acting as Delph’s partner.

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The England international also provides leadership to Everton, which is otherwise sorely lacking. His attempt to galvanise his team against Bournemouth is exactly what they need to get their season going, and considering he was brought in for £10m, his addition can be regarded as a very good piece of business.

There are still concerns over his fitness. He has already missed three league games and his predecessor only missed a total of five last season, with such reliability making him central to Silva’s plans.

Despite that, the 29-year-old hasn’t taken long to show what he is all about, and if he can make improvements in running with the ball and cutting out passes, then the impact of Gueye’s absence will be negligible.

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After he scored his first goal in red and blue in 799 days against Tottenham, as per ITV, Connor Wickham is surely more likely to start ahead of Christian Benteke for Crystal Palace against Southampton on Wednesday,  but the big Belgian’s skill-set is precisely what the Eagles need if they are to succeed at St Mary’s.

On the chalkboard

Until a few weeks ago, Roy Hodgson had just Ayew and the recently-loaned out Alexander Sorloth as natural strikers to choose from – some may argue the former is not suited to playing there, though – and, more often than not, the 71-year-old would opt for a fluid partnership of Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha up front.

Townsend showed during his side’s 2-0 FA Cup victory on Sunday that he is becoming adept at arriving in the box to take a shot at goal – indeed, the journeyman winger is the Eagles’ top scorer, with seven to his name in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt – but Zaha doesn’t seem to thrive in such a role.

The timely returns, though, of Benteke and Wickham mean that Hodgson finally has some depth up front; the former England boss’ new-found luxury means he can approach a game in many different ways but there is one clear, perfect choice to tackle Ralph Hassenhuttl’s men.

Big Ben

While he may have struggled to find a lethal touch this campaign and the one previous, there is no debating 28-year-old Benteke’s physical and aerial ability. The former Aston Villa striker is one of the most dominant hitmen in the league – as long as the ball is off the ground, that is.

Southampton might have been reinvigorated by Hughes’ departure and Hassenhuttl’s subsequent arrival, but question marks still remain over the defence in terms of their positioning and ability to deal with crosses – 6-foot-3 Benteke can capitalise on this if supplied well by Palace’s threatening wide-men and, while he may not break his scoring duck, will prove a handful for the Saints’ back-three.

It’s also evident that Zaha loves having the number 17 in the team – the speedster currently does most of his side’s hold up play but would be relieved of such duties if Benteke starts – and would perhaps find himself running at full-backs a lot more often.

The Ivorian is one of the most dangerous players in the league when he gets into full flow but such a sight has been a commodity this season as he is shifted out of position – will Wednesday be the return of the partnership that was so effective in the 2016/17 season?

Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video above…

Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah was fortunate to avoid injury after being targeted by pitch invaders during Egypt’s World Cup qualifier with Sierra Leone.

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• Reds forward in World Cup qualifying action
• Pharaohs pick up welcome win
• Injuries avoided when fans take to the field

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Pharaohs were out on the road as they endeavour to make their way towards FIFA’s flagship event in 2026. They emerged victorious on the day, with Trezeguet bagging a brace in a 2-0 win that has them perched at the top of CAF Group A with six points from two games.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Salah played the full 90 minutes for his country, with Premier League employers back at Anfield keeping a close eye on how he is getting on. They will have been less than impressed at seeing supporters take to the pitch during shocking scenes in Sierra Leone.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Punches were thrown as fans tried to get near superstar performers – with some clearly having Salah in their sights – and security staff had their work cut out trying to remove unwelcome guests from the field of play.

Newcastle United have been dealt a major injury blow regarding Callum Wilson ahead of their upcoming Premier League fixture.

What’s the latest?

Speaking after the 4-1 loss to Manchester United last weekend, Steve Bruce revealed that he could not put a timescale on the 29-year-old’s absence from first team action, but suggested that the centre-forward looks set to be sidelined for at least another two weeks due to injury.

On the England international’s injury, as cited by Chronicle Live, Bruce said: “We aren’t putting a time scale on it. But he could be touch and go for next week and the week after it.”

Fans will be devastated

With Bruce’s team having sorely missed Wilson in the heavy loss at Old Trafford last Saturday, the news that the forward also looks set to miss the Magpies’ clash with Leeds United on Friday, as well as potentially the fixture against Watford later this month, is sure to leave Newcastle fans devastated.

Since making the move from Bournemouth to St James’ Park back in the summer of 2020, the £19.8m-rated striker has been something of a revelation on Tyneside.

Indeed, over his 26 Premier League appearances last season, the £77k-per-week marksman scored 12 goals, registered five assists and created four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking 1.9 shots and making 0.7 key passes per game.

These returns saw Wilson earn an impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.99, ranking him as the Magpies’ second-best performer in the top flight.

The centre-forward has also started the 2021/22 campaign in fine form, scoring two goals and averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.03 over his three Premier League fixtures so far this season.

As such, it is evident how important the 29-year-old is to this Newcastle side, while it is also clear to see just how big of a miss he will be for the Magpies if he is ruled out for the rest of September.

In other news: Ashley must sanction Newcastle swoop for £9m-rated beast in January, he’d be a big coup

Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka will sign a new long-term contract at Villa Park on his 18th birthday, according to Ashley Preece. 

The Lowdown: Catching the eye

The 17-year-old was handed a three-year deal last October – the maximum period Villa were allowed to offer the youngster due to his age.

Since then, the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Monaco, PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig have all shown an interest in his services.

Chukwuemeka made his first Premier League start prior to the international break against Brentford, and it seems as if a new contract is now in the pipeline.

The Latest: Preece post

Preece took to Twitter on deadline day to share an update on Frederic Guilbert’s loan move to Strasbourg and Chukwuemeka’s new contract.

The reliable reporter claimed that Chukwuemeka will sign new terms when he turns 18 on October 20 – 48 days’ time.

“Frederic Guilbert has passed his Strasbourg medical & pens a loan move back to Ligue 1, announcement soon. Still 1/2 loans out to be completed re #avfc U23s. A big deal will happen on Oct 20 when Chukwuemeka signs new long-term contract on 18th birthday.”

The Verdict: Exciting times

Villa won a first FA Youth Cup since 2002 last season, and it appears as if the club are desperate to keep the majority of that side at the club for the long run.

Chukwuemeka’s new contract is expected to be similar to the one that Kaine Kesler agreed on earlier this summer – a five-year agreement.

Along with the pair, Villa also have Jaden Philogene-Bidace, Louie Barry, Brad Young and Aaron and Jacob Ramsey tied down to lengthy contracts, so it seems to be an exciting time when it comes to thinking of the future at Bodymoor Heath.

In other news: ‘Are you mad?’ – Many AVFC fans fume as news emerges.

Kristie Mewis appears to have confirmed that Emma Hayes will be the USWNT’s new head coach despite no official announcement being made as yet.

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• Demanding coaching role needs to be filled
• Various candidates considered for it
• Proven winner being lured away from Chelsea

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States are in the market for a new manager after parting company with Vlatko Andonovski on the back of a disastrous 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign that saw a global crown surrendered in spectacular fashion by the four-time champions.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Various candidates have been considered to fill the most demanding of roles, with Hayes emerging as the leading contender due to her remarkable record at WSL side Chelsea. Over the course of 11 years and more than 300 games in west London, Hayes has delivered six Super League titles, five FA Cup wins and a couple of League Cup triumphs.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Gotham FC star Mewis is looking forward to seeing what Hayes will bring to the USWNT fold, with the experienced midfielder telling reporters of an imminent appointment that is yet to be confirmed by U.S. Soccer: “She’s an outstanding coach and she has led Chelsea to so many championships and so many wins, and she’s a world respected coach. I'm super excited to see what she can bring to the team. She's exactly what we need and I really just think that she's going to take the team to the next level and, yeah, I’m just excited to see what she brings.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Hayes – who has previously worked in the United States with the Long Island Lady Riders, Iona College, the Chicago Red Stars, Western New York Flash and Washington Freedom – has been at Chelsea since August 2012 and was awarded an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours list for her services to football.