Kai Havertz claimed he is ready to be the first-choice number 9 at both Arsenal and Germany after an impressive debut season at Emirates Stadium.
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Havertz ready to play as No.9 for Arsenal and Germany
Drew comparisons with Haaland and Kane
Scored 14 goals in debut campaign with the Gunners
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Germany international was off to a rocky start after moving to Arsenal from Chelsea last summer. However, he slowly played his way into form as the season progressed and finally ended up scoring 14 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions and providing seven assists.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
After an impressive debut season under Mikel Arteta, Havertz is now confident to deliver for his country at the upcoming Euro 2024. The forward claimed he is ready to be the target man for Germany, although he does not see himself as a traditional No. 9. He even cited Erling Haaland and Harry Kane's examples while explaining how the role of a striker has evolved in modern football.
WHAT KAI HAVERTZ SAID
Speaking to (via ), the 24-year-old said, "I clearly see myself as a number 9 in the national team – and that’s what I am now at Arsenal. But I don’t mean the classic nine. Where else are they available? Even Erling Haaland or Harry Kane, who you immediately think of, don’t just stand in the box and wait for the finish. The players who are waiting there no longer exist in modern football.
"I am someone who enjoys letting go and making deep runs. But it is also clear to me that I will be measured by goals."
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WHAT NEXT FOR KAI HAVERTZ?
The former Bayer Leverkusen star will be next seen in action on June 3 as Julian Nagelsmann's side take on Ukraine in an international friendly.
Southampton are one of a number of clubs who are interested in signing a highly-rated young player, according to a fresh transfer update regarding Saints' January business.
Southampton transfer news
Russell Martin's side are really putting the pressure on Ipswich Town in the Championship promotion race, now sitting just three points behind them in third place in the table. New signings would be a big shot in the arm for Southampton this month, and there have been a lot of players who have been linked with moves to St Mary's.
Liverpool attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho had emerged as a reported target for Saints, though he is set to join Hull, while Aston Villa starlet Lamare Bogarde is also believed to be a loan option. Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland is also a man in demand at the moment, outscoring anyone in the Scottish Premiership so far this season, and he is another player who has been linked with Southampton, in what threatens to be a busy month.
Now, another rumour has emerged regarding Saints' transfer business, with a highly-rated player believed to be on the south coast club's radar.
Southampton want Ussumane Djalo
According to a new transfer update from The Daily Mail, Southampton are keen on signing Porto midfielder Ussumane Djalo, having sent scouts to watch him in action. They aren't the only club interested, though, with an £8m move in the offing, due to a relatively low release clause that exists in his current contract.
Southampton manager Russell Martin.
"A number of English sides are monitoring Porto's teenage midfielder Ussumane Djalo. The 19-year-old has impressed in the UEFA Youth League and drawn attention from watching scouts. Manchester United, Brighton, Everton and Southampton have all had representatives spotted at Porto youth games in the last few months.
"The Portuguese have inserted a release clause around £8m for the skilful youngster who is considered a strong all-rounder. However, Confidential understands he could be prised away this month for considerably less."
Djalo is still a player who is learning his craft, not yet making an appearance for Porto's first team, but he has shone at youth team level for Portugal, as his statistics below outline.
Portugal Under-19s
6
0
Portugal Under-18s
11
0
Portugal Under-17s
13
1
Portugal Under-16s
4
1
Portugal Under-15s
3
1
The teenager is someone who is capable of playing in central midfield or more of an attacking midfield role, and he is a player who could add an extra sprinkling of creative magic in the middle of the park for Southampton, potentially helping change games from the substitutes' bench at times.
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Granted, Djalo's lack of football at senior level could make his signing a risky one, but it is encouraging to see Southampton considering taking a gamble on an upcoming star.
Celtic are hoping to lure Scottish centre-back Scott McKenna to Parkhead as Brendan Rodgers seeks to bolster his defence this January.
In the Scottish Premiership, Celtic's defensive record is strong. The Hoops, eight points clear at the top of the table, have only let in 15 in their first 22 matches. The only team to have conceded fewer is their Old Firm rivals, who also have two games in hand.
However, against stronger opposition in the Champions League, Brendan Rodgers' side have looked more exposed. Across their six matches, Celtic conceded 15 times, and that was a big part of the reason why they finished bottom of their group and exited Europe altogether heading into the new year. Only Belgian side Antwerp (17) conceded more in that phase, and so it's not particularly surprising that the club are seemingly intent on bolstering their backline in January.
McKenna emerges as Celtic target
According to Sky Sports, both Celtic and arch-rivals Rangers are interested in Scott McKenna of Nottingham Forest. Forest have made him available for transfer this month, paving the way for a battle between the Old Firm clubs.
There's a possibility that McKenna could move north of the border on loan first, and then join his new club on a permanent deal come the summer when his Forest contract expires.
McKenna started Forest's first five Premier League games this season, but hasn't featured at all since. In December, the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel revealed that the club had banished him from first-team training ahead of an anticipated January exit. Even the sacking of Steve Cooper and the arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo as his replacement has failed to bring about an improvement in his situation.
Rodgers could get his man from 2018
It's a surprise to see McKenna treated this way. Signed in 2020 from Aberdeen, he's played 105 games for Forest, nearly half of which (51) came in 2021/22 as they achieved promotion back to the English top flight. The centre-back was instrumental in that achievement, winning man of the match when they beat Huddersfield in the play-off final (Sky Football).
He remained an important figure last season as Forest prolonged their return, starting 20 of the 25 games for which he was available, but now he's been completely frozen out.
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He'll be a familiar name for Celtic fans given his time with Aberdeen and his international career with Scotland, which now spans 30 caps (including one at the last European Championship). Manager Rodgers will certainly be familiar too, having made an attempt to bring him to Parkhead during his first stint as Celtic boss in 2018.
According to Football Scotland, Aberdeen rejected an initial £3.5m bid, and then Celtic refused to return with a better offer. Two years later, when he got his move to England, they may have thought that the ship had sailed, but with McKenna still of a decent footballing age at 27, Rodgers could finally get his man. If it is to be an initial loan, then it could come down to which Glaswegian club is willing to pay a greater share of his Forest wages, and which offers him a more significant role in the squad.
A report from The Athletic this week has suggested that a West Ham exit for one "wonderful talent" appears inevitable as we approach January.
West Ham players who could leave in 2024
The Hammers squad contains a fair few members who are approaching the ends of their deals. Pablo Fornals, Angelo Ogbonna, Lukasz Fabianski, Ben Johnson, Conor Coventry and Ben Johnson are all leaving for free in 2024 as things stand, as their contracts currently expire next June.
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Fornals could leave West Ham as soon as January, according to a recent report by Claret & Hugh, while Cresswell appears unlikely to remain after falling behind in the pecking order to Emerson Palmieri.
Beyond players who are nearing the expiry of their contracts, there have been suggestions that Nayef Aguerd may depart West Ham amid interest from Saudi Arabia. Manager David Moyes is said to have sent his personal scouts to run the rule over Stuttgart defender Dan Axel-Zagadou as a potential replacement.
nayef-aguerd-kaelan-casey-west-ham-opinion
Meanwhile, Brazil international and Irons star Lucas Paqueta still has admiring glances from Premier League champions Man City. The midfielder was a target for City in the summer, and reports from Paqueta's homeland state that they remain interested in signing West Ham's star (Rafael Reis).
There is also the curious case of winger Said Benrahma, who hasn't quite mustered his best form in claret and blue this season. Moyes has started the Algerian on just four occasions in the league so far, and his latest performance against Liverpool in the EFL Cup left a lot to be desired.
Reports from the last few weeks claim West Ham are open to selling Benrahma next month as the club look to free up space and funds for Moyes' January transfer kitty.
Benrahma exit "inevitable" at West Ham
Now, The Athletic has a small update on the 28-year-old and his future in east London.
West Ham correspondent Roshane Thomas wrote that Benrahma's exit from West Ham looks "inevitable" next month, coming after a sub-par display in their 5-1 defeat at Anfield.
Moyes doesn't appear to favour the former Brentford star too much, as evident by the player's lack of consistent opportunities in the top flight.
Said-Benrahma-in-action
Signed permanently for around £25 million in January 2021, Benrahma has gone on to make 152 appearances for West Ham in all competitions.
The winger has scored 24 goals and assisted 19 others in that time, but it appears he may well be approaching his final days at the London Stadium.
While Benrahma has become more of a peripheral figure of late, he can still contribute effectively when playing at his very best. Pundit and former West Ham striker Frank McAvennie has previously called him a "wonderful talent".
“At the time I thought it was stupid because there was a young player everyone was raving about in the exact same position, and they sold him and brought in Benrahma and I’m thinking really," McAvennie told West Ham Zone in October.
“But he proved me wrong, he’s a great talent, a wonderful, wonderful talent. So it just shows you David Moyes knows what he’s doing.”
Glasgow Rangers dropped points in the Premiership for the first time under Philippe Clement on Sunday.
The 1-1 against Aberdeen meant the Ibrox side didn’t lose ground in the title race, yet a win would have closed the gap on Celtic at the top.
The Light Blues had 11 shots on target during the tie, but it was a last-minute penalty which saw the points shared at Pittodrie and now the attention turns to the Europa League clash against Aris Limassol on Thursday evening.
There will likely be a few changes to the starting XI ahead of the tie, and Leon Balogun will be one who definitely drops out as he is not included in the Europa League squad.
Leon Balogun’s game vs Aberdeen in numbers
The 35-year-old has proved very useful under Clement’s reign so far and has started four of the previous eight matches under the Belgian.
The Nigerian was in fine fettle against Aberdeen, winning 100% of his ground duels during the tie along with winning 60% of his aerial duels, and his strength in these one-on-one battles is tremendous and a vital asset.
Balogun arguably should have had a goal or two also, missing two big chances to bring Rangers back into the game, while even hitting the woodwork and his threat at the opposite end of the pitch gave the Gers an advantage at times.
Former Rangers defender Leon Balogun.
Clement will miss him against the Cypriot side, but the question remains, who will step up and replace him at the heart of the defence?
John Souttar could make his first start since the 0-0 draw against Sparta Prague in the Europa League last month.
John Souttar’s season in numbers
The former Hearts centre-back arrived at the club in 2022 and was looking to make the step up after shining for the Gorgie outfit.
He suffered an injury during the first league game of the season, however, and Souttar made just 13 appearances throughout 2022/23.
The 6 foot 1 titan knuckled down in pre-season and started eight of the opening nine matches of the season in both the Champions League qualifiers and the Premiership.
Hailed as a “presence” by current teammate Ryan Jack, Souttar has shone in the top flight during the current campaign. Across the whole squad, the 26-year-old currently ranks fourth for accurate passes per game (63.3), while also ranking fourth for accurate long balls per game (4.7) and second for clearances per game (3.4), indicating how impressive he has been in defence since becoming a regular member of the starting XI.
Souttar has also won a staggering 80% of his ground duels in the Premiership this season and his physicality is clearly a key strength which allows him to brush off opposition attackers with ease.
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While Balogun may not be in the European squad, Clement must unleash Souttar alongside Connor Goldson at the heart of the defence.
Not only will he manage to shackle Aris, but a 90-minute run out could do wonders for his confidence having missed a few games recently with a muscle problem.
Sitting top of the Premier League as we approach the middle of December, it's fair to say that Liverpool's recent rebuild has so far been a success under Jurgen Klopp. The German welcomed four new midfielders during the summer transfer window, as the likes of Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Fabinho and others headed for the exit door.
Ever since, Klopp has reaped the rewards. His new-look midfield have almost instantly found their feet at Anfield, allowing the Reds to get back far closer to their best than before. Reports suggest that they're not done there, however, with one more player needed in the middle of the park. When the January transfer swings open, Klopp could finally get the final piece to a puzzle that could end up forming a Premier League title.
Liverpool transfer news
As impressive as Liverpool's rebuild was in the summer, you could argue they still failed to sign a top defensive midfielder. The Reds brought Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister through the Anfield door, but did not replace Fabinho. Instead, the responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of Mac Allister, who operates better in a more advanced role and has struggled as a defensive midfielder at times. However, with Liverpool's problem clear, the January window could hand them a solution.
According to TeamTalk, Liverpool have held talks with Joao Palhinha's representatives over a potential January move. The Fulham man has also attracted the interest of Manchester United and Arsenal and very nearly completed a move to Bayern Munich in the summer, handing the Reds plenty of competition in the race for his signature. If those at Anfield are to pursue a deal, meanwhile, it could cost them more than £60m in order to meet Fulham's reported price tag in the winter window.
"Impressive" Palhinha is a better defensive midfielder than Mac Allister
As Liverpool continue to impress and push for the Premier League title, whether they sign a defensive midfielder or not in January could make or break their hunt for the ultimate silverware. Not only could it complete Klopp's midfield rebuild, but it may also allow Mac Allister to play free from the shackles of such defensive responsibility and in his best role. Get the best out of the Argentine and the Reds could be firing on a new level entirely. Palhinha's stats show the difference he'd make compared to Mac Allister in the role.
Player
Tackles Won
Interceptions
Clearances
Joao Palhinha
32
22
21
Alexis Mac Allister
18
17
8
Fulham boss Marco Silva will be desperate to keep hold of Palhinha, who he was full of praise for last season, saying:
"He leads through his attitude, he's not the most vocal guy and he's improving his English as well. I want him to be more vocal and in that position it's important. His attitude, his commitment, the way he leads the others around are things that are hard to find in football.
"In moments (when) we lose the ball, his reaction is impressive and we want to take the best from him and in other moments we want him to keep improving. We won the ball in a high area and our players took the right decisions. Then, the finish from Joao was great."
Aston Villa have made an exciting start to the Premier League campaign under Unai Emery; however, Sky Sports expert Kieran Maguire has been reacting to recent news behind the scenes at Villa Park.
Aston Villa off-field developments…
Despite taking 22 points from their first ten fixtures in the English top flight, Aston Villa have had to tread carefully regarding some off-field developments at the club that have come to light in recent weeks.
An update from the Villans' official website last month revealed that summer signing Nicolo Zaniolo had been assisting the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) with their enquiries into an investigation into alleged illegal betting activity in the country, alongside meeting with senior club officials.
Zaniolo, who has attracted attention from media circles due to his implication in the alleged scandal, was dropped from the Italy squad last month alongside Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali for their double-header against Malta and England while football authorities in Italy tried to establish the nature of their proposed involvement in any illegal betting activity.
Nevertheless, reports indicate that Zaniolo is unlikely to face disciplinary action for any football-related offences and will instead incur a small fine for using online sites to play poker and blackjack, which he has admitted doing despite stringent regulations surrounding football and gambling.
The Italy international has been a key part of the Villans' consistent start to the season and could start away to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday as Emery's men aim to break into the top four of the Premier League.
Nicolo Zaniolo's statistics for Aston Villa in 2023/24 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)
Appearances
13
Goals
0
Assists
0
Nicolo Zaniolo key statistics – Premier League (WhoScored)
Shots per game
1.9
Successful dribbles per game
1
Key passes per game
0.8
Kieran Maguire drops Nicolo Zaniolo verdict
Speaking to Football Insider, Sky Sports expert Maguire has indicated that 'hard to feel sympathy' towards Aston Villa over Zaniolo's recent difficulties in light of the Villans' controversial agreement with front-of-shirt sponsor BK8, an online gambling enterprise that has caused controversy in the past, with Norwich City cutting ties with the brand back in 2021.
Delving into the relationship between football and gambling, Maguire stated: "It’s exactly the same risk as signing a player who has suffered a serious injury such as an ACL. So it’s part of the business. I think it’s a much broader issue in terms of this ongoing relationship between the betting industry and young footballers who have significant amounts of cash.
Aston Villa midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo.
"They have a competitive nature. They are attractive VIP customers to the betting industry who don’t seem to make a huge effort to screen things. It was an illegal gambling operation that he’s alleged to have been involved with and there will always be those. But it’s hypocritical to feel a lot of sympathy for Villa considering they recently decided to partner with a rather tawdry gambling organisation themselves. So it is hard to feel sympathy for them."
Undoubtedly, the intertwining nature between football and gambling will continue to be a complicated one as more instances of activity relating to the two become apparent across Europe.
Southampton could be set to lose one of their top first-team players, with a fresh report revealing that he is being targeted by a big admirer in January.
Southampton transfers 2023
Over the summer, Russell Martin’s side sanctioned the sales of 16 players in total, ten of those being either for a fee or on a free transfer on a permanent basis, whilst the remaining six were sent out on loan for the rest of the season as follows:
Permanent Departures
Loan Departures
Romeo Lavia (Chelsea)
Armel Bella-Kotchap (PSV Eindhoven)
Tino Livramento (Newcastle United)
Duje Caleta-Car (Lyon)
James Ward-Prowse (West Ham United)
Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor)
Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen)
Romain Perraud (OGC Nice)
Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco)
Lyanco (Al-Gharafa SC)
Moussa Djenepo (Standard Liege)
Mateusz Lis (Goztepe)
Mislav Orsic (Trabzonspor)
Mohamed Elyounoussi (FC Copenhagen)
Dan Nlundulu (Bolton Wanderers)
Ibrahima Diallo (Al-Duhail SC)
Despite the previous window having now closed, the south coast outfit might still be forced to cash in on some of their players in the new year should they not want to risk losing them for free at the end of the season, one of those being Che Adams, who has publicly refused to admit whether he’s thinking about signing a new contract or leaving.
Adams may not be the only one heading for the exit door though, with Carlos Alcaraz, the central midfielder who has only recently put pen to paper on an improved deal which runs until 2028 (Southampton contracts), having emerged as a target for a club in the Premier League.
Carlos Alcaraz transfer update
According to The Evening Standard, who have delivered a transfer update on Carlos Alcaraz, Fulham are considering a swoop for the 20-year-old in the Championship, but it remains to be seen whether they will make a move for him with other options also on the table.
“Fulham are likely to face competition for Guirassy, who joined Stuttgart in a permanent move from French side Rennes over the summer, from a host of bigger clubs.
"The Cottagers remain interested in several alternative forward options, with Genk’s Gift Orban, Southampton’s Carlos Alcaraz and Sporting’s Geny Catamo among those also being tracked.”
Southampton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz.
How much did Southampton pay for Carlos Alcaraz?
When Alcaraz signed from Racing Club back in January, Southampton paid £12.3m for his services (Daily Mail), and during his time at the club so far, he’s shown huge glimpses of why he was worth every penny for Sport Republic to splash their cash on.
Argentina’s youth international has posted seven contributions, five goals and two assists, in 32 appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Alcaraz statistics), form which has seen him described as a “beautiful” footballer by journalist Josh Bunting.
In addition, Alcaraz currently ranks in the 99th percentile for shots by players in his position, which highlights his constant desire to hit the back of the net even if the end product isn’t always there (FBRef – Alcaraz statistics), so it’s vital that Saints chiefs do everything they can to fend off interest and keep their star in the building for the foreseeable future.
Jurgen Klopp's midfield rebuild has breathed new life into his Liverpool side, who are attempting to write another historic chapter in what has been an era full of success under the German. In many ways, the Reds have benefitted from enduring a season away from the Champions League with the Europa League handing them a fresh chance to rest key players.
As a result of that rotation, Liverpool are firing on all cylinders and have lost just once all season – and even that came in controversial fashion. One of the many reasons for that form has been the avoidance of injuries to key players. The Reds have been fortunate to keep hold of the likes of Virgil van Dijjk, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai, who have all remained fit throughout the Premier League campaign so far.
Klopp hasn't been entirely without his fitness issues, however, with one particular player set to miss even more action than expected.
Liverpool injury news
Liverpool have suffered small knocks throughout the season but nothing to bring their momentum to a crashing halt. Much of that could be down to the fact that they've reduced the age of their squad significantly in the last few years, showing Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, James Milner, Fabinho, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the exit door in favour of Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo.
One player who survived the rebuild is Thiago Alcantara, who has perhaps shown his age with his struggle to get back to full fitness after a hip surgery. And now, Klopp has suffered a fresh injury blow, with Thiago set to be out until the new year, as confirmed by James Pearce of The Athletic. The former Bayern Munich star is yet to play this season and, despite looking on course to return at the end of last month, will now miss two more months.
Back in October, Klopp clearly expectd Thiago's return to come a lot sooner, saying: “I don’t know, I will not put pressure on that (his return). If they will be back after the (October) international break, we will see. Hopefully, it would be cool."
"Outstanding" Thiago out until 2024
Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara
Thiago's return would undoubtedly add the cherry on top of Liverpool's new-looking midfield, given the mouth-watering prospect of the Spaniard's potential partnership with Mac Alister and Szoboszlai. Those at Anfield will seemingly have to wait until the new year to see that trio line up together, however, as the veteran continues to struggle with injuries.
Thiago is, of course, in the final year of his contract at Liverpool, making his injury issues all the more frustrating. It remains to be seen whether he'll be handed a new deal, but if he continues to be sidelined, questions must be asked whether it would be a worthwhile move from the Reds to keep hold of their midfielder.
Klopp is certainly a fan of Thiago, previously telling TalkSport: “Haha, yeah he probably wants to be a Bentley, rather than a Rolls Royce, so he’s a bit quicker! But no, he’s an outstanding player – wow.
“I knew that when he arrived here, of course. He was unlucky with injuries and stuff like this at the start, but when he is fit he can give the game a real rhythm. He’s got an eye for that, he calms the game down in the right moments, he has a sensational overview of the game. I saw that a lot in football games, too, I just didn't have the feet to use it. So thank God he does! I can imagine you enjoyed it, I did as well.”