تمكن فريق النصر من تسجيل الهدف الثاني أمام الشباب في المباراة الجارية الآن بينهما ضمن منافسات الدوري السعودي للمحترفين.
تقام المباراة على ملعب استاد الأمير خالد بن سلطان بنادي الشباب، في خضم منافسات الجولة السابعة من عمر الدوري السعودي.
طالع.. فيديو | لابورت يسجل هدف النصر الأول أمام الشباب في الدوري السعودي
وأحرز كريستيانو رونالدو، هدف النصر الثاني من ركلة جزاء في الدقيقة السابعة من الوقت بدل الضائع “97”.
وسجل إيميرك لابورت الهدف الأول للنصر بعد ركنية تم تنفيذها بعرضية لداخل منطقة الجزاء وصلت إلى لابورت الذي سددها بقوة داخل الشباك في الدقيقة 69.
وجاء هدف الشباب في الدقيقة 89 عن طريق علي الحسن بالخطأ في مرماه بعد عرضية من نواف عامر الصعدي حاول إبعادها لكن الكرة سكنت الشباك.
ويدخل فريق النصر مباراته وهو محتلًا المركز الثالث في جدول ترتيب الدورس السعودي برصيد 14 نقطة.
ونجح النصر في تحقيق الفوز في 4 مباريات والتعادل في مواجهتين ولم يتلق أي هزيمة، وسجل لاعبوه 14 هدفًا واستقبلت شباكه 3 أخرى.
أما الشباب فيحتل المركز الرابع بسلم ترتيب الدوري السعودي برصيد 12 نقطة، بعد أن فاز في 4 مواجهات فيما تلقى خسارتين، سجل لاعبوه 5 أهداف فيما استقبلت شباكه 3 أهداف. هدف النصر الثاني أمام الشباب في الدوري السعودي
Celtic decided to bring Brendan Rodgers back to Parkhead for a second spell in the dugout last summer after the departure of Ange Postecoglou to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Northern Irish head coach has had a mixed season so far as the Hoops were knocked out of the League Cup in August and finished bottom of their Champions League, whilst they remain top of the Scottish Premiership table.
This suggests that it has been far from a perfect reunion, particularly after Postecoglou won the domestic treble last season, but there have been a number of positives as well.
Rodgers has, for example, played a blinder with central defender Liam Scales since his return to Glasgow as the central defender's value has skyrocketed this season.
Liam Scales' value last summer
The Republic of Ireland international spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Aberdeen in the Premiership and was valued at €600k (£513k) by Transfermarkt at the end of May 2023, which was also his value upon the Northern Irishman's appointment on June 19th.
Scales made 31 appearances in the Scottish top-flight for the Dons and completed 75% of his attempted passes, as he gained valuable minutes in the division.
Aberdeen's Liam Scales looks dejected after the match
The 25-year-old titan also made 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game and won 66% of his duels on the ground, which shows that he was able to dominate opposition attackers on the deck.
Ahead of that season, he had only made 13 competitive appearances for Celtic. This is why going out to play regular game time was crucial for his development, as his progression was hindered by his lack of minutes at Parkhead.
Liam Scales' current market value
At the time of writing (09/02/2024), Scales is valued at €2m (£1.7m) by Transfermarkt, which is a big increase of 233% from the €600k valuation at the start of the season.
Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, and Nat Phillips were all signed to compete in his position at centre-back last summer, which made the task of emerging as one of the first-choice options for Rodgers look like a challenging one for him.
However, the former Leicester City head coach has placed his faith in the former Aberdeen loanee and hit the jackpot with a string of impressive performances at the back.
23/24 Premiership
Liam Scales
Squad rank
Sofascore rating
7.58
3rd
Accurate passes per game
92.9
1st
Interceptions per game
1.0
4th
Clearances per game
3.9
1st
Tackles per game
1.7
7th
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Scales ranks highly among his teammates in a number of metrics in the Premiership so far this season for Celtic.
The Irish colossus, who was hailed as "outstanding" by Chris Sutton earlier this season, has started 23 league matches for the Hoops and made 147 ball recoveries in those games.
His pass accuracy has jumped up from 75% last season to 88% this season, which suggests that the talented gem has composed himself on the ball to reduce his mistakes in possession.
Liam Scales in action for Celtic.
The Celtic enforcer has also won 70% of his ground duels in the league this term, a 4% increase from last season, as he has consistently dominated players on the deck.
Overall, Rodgers has hit the jackpot by providing Scales with an opportunity to impress as the centre-back has emerged as a player on the pitch and his market value has soared.
Manchester United have been crying out for a midfield overhaul for years, and Erik ten Hag has attempted to address that.
Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Mason Mount have all come in since the managers arrival, but they haven’t always been available, reliable, or good enough.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag watches on.
Last season, the boss relied on the former pairing prior to Eriksen’s injury, but the Red Devils haven’t had a consistent midfield pairing since the days of Scott McTominay and Fred under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Luckily, a hidden gem has emerged through the academy to save United, with Kobbie Mainoo now becoming one of the first names on the team sheet.
The rise of Kobbie Mainoo
Mainoo’s influence on the first team began during United’s pre-season tour, but his development was put on hold due to an injury inflicted on him by his own teammate Casemiro against Real Madrid.
The 18-year-old is already a key player for Ten Hag, and despite his lack of experience, he is a star that plays with the maturity and confidence of an elite, seasoned professional, but most importantly, the boss trusts him to not just perform but excel.
Mainoo is being rewarded for his performances, starting all of United’s last ten matches and earning the club's January Player of the Month award – having netted against both Newport County and Wolverhampton Wanderers in recent weeks,
The number of superlatives that could be used to describe the youngster is simply endless, although the teen could well have been aided by the presence of one former Old Trafford star who departed back in 2022…
Nemanja Matic was the one that got away
In the summer of 2017, Nemanja Matic switched London for Manchester to reunite with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho at United. The Serbian gladiator was purchased for a fee of £40m.
The towering star was regarded as “the best defensive midfielder in the world” by former boss Jorge Jesus, and he was imperative during Chelsea’s 2014/15 and 2016/17 Premier League title triumphs.
During his first season at United, Matic started 35 league matches and was excellent throughout the club's title chase, where they ultimately finished second, notably averaging 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game as well as recording an 88% pass accuracy rate.
Matic was a favourite of Mourinho, and in 2022, he left United on a free transfer after his contract had expired to once again join forces with the boss at Roma. As of today, the engine is still bossing the midfield as a 35-year-old, starring for Rennes and now Lyon.
Passes completed
59.50
Top 8%
Passes into final third
7.89
Top 2%
Touches
79.18
Top 8%
Interceptions
2.18
Top 4%
Ball recoveries
9.24
Top 2%
As you can see, Matic is still performing at an extremely high level despite his age, which just confirms the already-known fact that he’s a true professional and an “unbelievable” player, as per journalist Bolarinwa Olajide.
The 6 foot 4 ace is extremely technical, and his passing range is among the very best in France, which allows him to progress the ball with ease. The fact that he can dictate the play and progress it would take pressure off Mainoo to perform those tasks, allowing him to push further forward when in possession.
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With Matic’s ability to read the game, as shown by his high ball recovery and interceptions, the United youngster would have been able to venture into the final third more frequently, where he can produce moments of magic like his match-winning goal against Wolves. Even England boss Gareth Southgate views Mainoo as more of a number eight than a number six.
Overall, letting Matic walk on a free was a mistake, especially considering his profile is perfect for Mainoo. Nevertheless, he will always go down as a Premier League and United icon.
In his first season at the helm, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has had to deal with some drama surrounding centre-back Charlie Cresswell, who was dropped from the squad after expressing his frustration with his position in the pecking order. The duo have since held fresh talks, paving the way for Cresswell to return to the fold in recent weeks.
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Last summer, there was similar tension behind the scenes involving Wilfried Gnonto, who submitted a transfer request and withdrew himself from contention to try to force through a move to Everton. The Toffees made three bids for his services, the last of which was worth £25.7m, but Leeds held firm throughout the saga.
Gnonto subsequently repaired his relationship with Farke by issuing an apology, but he was used sparingly in the first half of the campaign, starting just four Championship matches between the end of the transfer window and the turn of the year.
It seemed as if we may be in for a repeat of the summer's events in January, but instead, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Leeds are getting "closer" to extending the Italian's contract. The club's "priority" is to tie down the young forward, and they're now in the "final" stages of that process.
Crook surprised by Gnonto news
Speaking to GiveMeSport, TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook seemed baffled by the developments around Gnonto and suggested that the mid-season window hadn't panned out in the manner that Leeds had expected.
He said: "I think they were expecting some offers for Wilfried Gnonto in the January transfer window but that didn't materialise. It's a strange one because they fought so hard to keep him and he fought so hard to leave at the beginning of the season. He even went on strike and now he can't get in the team. So it's an odd one. But yeah, I do expect him to stay which probably means [striker is] not a priority position anymore."
Gnonto is reminding Farke what he can do
While Gnonto's imminent extension is definitely a surprise, it's also a welcome development for Leeds. In the past couple of games, the 20-year-old has offered a timely reminder of his qualities.
Wilfried Gnonto for Leeds United.
For only the fourth time since the start of October, he was given the chance to start in the FA Cup tie against Plymouth last month, and he would keep his place for the subsequent league game against Bristol City. Having repaid Farke's faith by scoring the winner at Ashton Gate, he made it three starts in a row in the midweek FA Cup replay, and got the ball rolling in an eventual 4-1 win.
Minutes
71
Goals
1
Touches
58
Passes
33/40
Crosses attempted
5
Duels won
5/9
Fouls drawn
4
A far cry from his rebellion in the summer, Gnonto is now showing a real determination behind the scenes in the eyes of Farke: "Willie is working hard and we wanted to show that we back him and trust him, to give him a chance to come into his rhythm."
He should without doubt be given the opportunity to to continue his spell in the XI when Leeds host Rotherham on Saturday afternoon and go in search of a sixth win on the bounce.
Christian Pulisic has aimed a subtle dig at Chelsea after the USMNT forward's return to form with AC Milan.
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Pulisic made the move to Milan last summerHe has netted 15 goals this seasonMilan finished second in Serie A this termWHAT HAPPENED?
Christian Pulisic has enjoyed a bounceback season with AC Milan this year following his move from Chelsea 12 months ago. The USMT star has returned to form and spoke to CBS Sports ahead of Saturday night's Champions League final about how has got his career back on track.
AdvertisementAC MilanWHAT PULISIC SAID
Pulisic was asked if it felt good to silence the haters and said: "Absolutely! It was a difficult couple of seasons for me before this and I was finally given an opportunity and I felt the trust right from the start at Milan.
“I was really excited to hit the ground running and play for such a historic club. It’s nice to feel like myself again and show people I can still play a bit."
Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Pulisic signed for Chelsea in January 2019 in a move from Borussia Dortmund that made him the most expensive American player of all time. But after failing to nail down a regular starting place in the Blues first team and netting just 26 times in four seasons, the 25-year-old sealed a transfer to AC Milan last summer and has scored 15 goals and served up 11 assists across all competitions in 2023/24.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR CHRISTIAN PULISIC?
A busy summer awaits for Pulisic, both on and off the pitch. Pulisic is set to be a key player for Gregg Berhalter in this summer's Copa America, as the USMNT get set to face Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia in Group C, while he will also be the subject of a documentary series on Paramount+ that will tell the winger's life story and rise to where he is today.
The transfer work conducted last summer has ensured that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp need not panic and lunge into completing business in January, having addressed his key concerns.
Indeed, Liverpool fell by the wayside last season, finished fifth in the Premier League and relinquished their seven-year stint in the Champions League – reaching the final three times and winning one.
But class is permanent and all that, and Klopp succeeded in reviving his squad with an injection of fresh quality and is now competing for silverware once again, top of the league table and in with a shout across every competition thus far.
Premier League Top Four
Matches
Wins
Draws
Losses
Points
GD
1. Liverpool
20
13
6
1
45
25
2. Man City
20
13
4
3
43
25
3. Aston Villa
21
13
4
4
43
16
4. Arsenal
20
12
4
4
40
17
And as the Reds are firing on all cylinders, bolstering the fold is hardly paramount even if there are several concerns around the squad's depth.
Sealing deals for players that would improve the existing crop is a tricky task at the season's midpoint, and so Klopp appears to be preparing for the end of the campaign, with sights set on completing his new-look engine room.
Liverpool's midfield shortlist
Despite the several impactful midfield signings made at Anfield last summer, there remains a sense that something is missing, with Wataru Endo proving to be an astute addition in the holding role yet not considered the long-term solution.
Therefore, it makes sense that Liverpool have been linked with a move for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes of late, with the 26-year-old – understood to have a £100m release clause – revealed to be on the club's radar at present, with a host of other top European outfits interested.
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Signing Guimaraes will not be easy and for this reason, the Reds appear to be lining up an alternative in his Brazilian compatriot Douglas Luiz, with Football Insider reporting that Klopp's side have entered the race for the Aston Villa centrepiece with Barcelona, rivalling long-time admirers Arsenal for his signature.
Villa believe they have a gem of equal measure to Guimaraes on their books and are adamant that he will command a £100m fee, should he indeed depart Villa Park in 2024.
Douglas Luiz's season in numbers
Liverpool's success so far this season suggests drastic measures need not be taken over the next few weeks, with the current options in the centre of the park more than capable of charging the endeavours during the business end of the campaign.
It would also be near impossible to convince high-flying Aston Villa to part with arguably their best player at the midpoint, with so much on the line for Unai Emery's side.
Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz
Across all competitions this term, Douglas Luiz has posted seven goals and six assists across 30 fixtures, captaining his team on several occasions as they fight for top four in the English top-flight and silverware in the FA Cup and Europa Conference League.
As per Sofascore, Douglas Luiz has played 20 times in the Premier League this season, clinching six goals and three assists, completing 89% of his passes, averaging 1.5 key passes, 2.1 tackles and 6.2 ball recoveries per game while winning 63% of his dribbles and 55% of his contested duels.
Douglas Luiz: Biggest Strengths
# Passing
# Key passes
# Long shots
# Through balls
# Set-pieces
*Sourced via WhoScored
Furthermore, as per FBref, the £75k-per-week machine ranks among the top 17% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 16% for shot-creating actions and the top 21% for assists and passes attempted per 90, highlighting his attacking quality.
Such efforts have led The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell to pronounce him "the complete player" for his all-consuming approach to his midfield work, having sharpened his tools to a fine point while still maintaining the intrinsic defensive aptitude that makes him such a coveted prospect for a fluid system such as Liverpool's.
joao-palhinha-douglas-luiz-liverpool-opinion
But would he be the better pick when considering both him and the Magpies' Guimaraes? Both are high-class midfielders with plenty of Premier League experience, equally effective as the kernels of their outfits.
How Douglas Luiz compares to Bruno Guimaraes
Guimaraes might not have been on English shores for as long as his countryman but he has made quite the impression since signing for Eddie Howe's side from Lyon for £40m in January 2022, since featuring 87 times and clinching 11 goals and ten assists.
The parallels are intriguing, with both Newcastle and Aston Villa in the ascendancy since their midfield fulcrums took their own game to the next level, and either would be a credit to Liverpool's centre.
But it's simply not realistic to imagine both plying their trade on Merseyside, so the question remains as to which star would be better suited to life under Klopp's wing.
Douglas Luiz vs Bruno Guimaraes (PL Stats 23/24)
Stat (per 90)
Douglas Luiz
Guimaraes
Matches played
20
20
Goals
6
1
Assists
3
3
Pass completion %
89%
85.5%
Progressive passes
5.67
7.55
Progressive carries
1.96
1.58
Shot-creating actions
3.81
3.01
Successful take-ons
0.77
1.79
Tackles
2.11
2.24
Blocks
1.24
1.28
Interceptions
0.72
0.87
Clearances
0.77
0.61
Aerial wins
0.88
0.41
*Sourced via FBref
Well, it's clear to see that Douglas Luiz is more crisp in possession and creative when distributing the ball forward, despite Guimaraes' constancy in his progressive passing.
However, with the Villan more frequent in his forays forward, this is only natural, and while Guimaraes' greater success in beating his opponent with the ball at his feet suggests superiority, the clip below negates such an argument.
Guimaraes is also a little more active in his defensive duties but infinitesimally so; in the Premier League this term, his average of 2.2 tackles and 6.1 ball recoveries per game is practically identical to his countryman's, with his duel success rate of 57% marginally better.
Douglas Luiz is also way more commanding aerially and this is important for Klopp in winning second balls and instigating counter-surges with snappy speed.
Once described as a "warrior" by broadcaster Jack Grimse, Luiz would not come cheap but given his multi-functionality in his craft, he might just be the perfect addition for a Liverpool team targeting a new wave of illustrious success.
There's not a great deal to complain about at Liverpool right now – bar the usual injuries and Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo's absences on international duty this month – with Jurgen Klopp's side firing across all cylinders.
Top of the Premier League after 20 fixtures, there is a growing belief that the Anfield side could claim their second league title under Klopp's leadership, also into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and the knockout stage of the Europa League.
January 2019 was the last time the Reds opted not to strengthen the ranks at the season's midpoint, and while Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo's additions over the past two years suggest that business could be done this month, last summer's sweeping changes mean that it is unlikely anything drastic will happen.
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Joel Matip is out for the season but Jarell Quansah's rise to the fore has come at the perfect time, with Endo's recent displays anchoring the midfield suggesting that heavy spending is not needed in that department.
This is not to say that Liverpool aren't monitoring and plotting ahead of the campaign's conclusion, however, with a Premier League phenom reportedly being lined up.
Liverpool transfer news – Michael Olise
According to Football Insider, Michael Olise's new release clause with Crystal Palace is well in excess of £40m, with Liverpool – alongside Chelsea and Manchester City – interested in securing his signature.
Chelsea activated Olise's £35m release clause in August but a completed deal never materialised and the Eagles convinced their star attacker to sign fresh terms, raising the buyout in his contract.
Liverpool have been sending scouts to observe the France U21 international in action for the past few months and will be at the front of the race to sign him in the summer.
Michael Olise's style of play
Palace signed Olise from Championship club Reading for only £8m in 2021, and after an impressive debut campaign that saw him clinch 12 direct goal contributions from just 16 starts across all competitions, the whiz posted 11 assists from 31 starts during the 2022/23 league campaign.
As per FBref, the 22-year-old ranks among the top 16% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for tackles, the top 13% for blocks and the top 6% for interceptions per 90.
Inventive, artful and industrious, Olise embodies the application and dynamism that Klopp demands in a player, and it would be wise to ensure that moves are made to stand a good chance of closing a deal in several months.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Crossing
Aerial duels
Creativity
Tackling
Taking set-pieces
Dribbling
Direct free-kicks
Ball retention
Defensive contribution
*Sourced via WhoScored
A man of many talents, Olise would be a credit to Liverpool's team and could even serve as the principal creative outlet, allowing the dynamite forwards to wreak havoc with their shooting.
Of course, playmaking isn't the only string to Olise's bow, as has been evidenced through his clinical exploits this term…
Michael Olise's season in numbers
Returning from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the opening three months of the 2023/24 campaign, Olise has plundered five goals and an assist from just seven Premier League matches so far.
Heralded as a "pure joy to watch" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 5 foot 10 gem has been an electric presence, maintaining his flair and creativity despite his newfound cutting edge.
Indeed, as per Sofascore, Olise has completed 81% of his passes and averaged 2.2 key passes, 2.7 dribbles and 7.4 duels per game.
Certainly not one-dimensional, it's no wonder that some of English football's mightiest forces are eager to secure his services, and should Klopp succeed in this transfer endeavour, he might even make a transformative move to replicate Tottenham Hotspur's signing of James Maddison.
Why Michael Olise would be Klopp's own Maddison
Maddison was crowned the Premier League's Player of the Month in August after a brilliant start to life in London, signing from relegated Leicester City for £40m last June.
While the Foxes fell into the second tier, the 26-year-old was hardly culpable after scoring ten goals and providing nine assists from only 28 starts.
destiny-udogie-james-maddison-tottenham-opinion
But such feats attracted Spurs' attention and his signing was considered a bargain for one so talented, with the Times' Henry Winter remarking that it was "buys of the summer", especially given that Newcastle United had fiercely pursued a transfer since the PIF takeover back in 2021.
The Magpies failed with a £50m summer bid in the past before seeing fresh discussions come to nought after Tottenham edged ahead in the race.
The England international has been sidelined with an ankle injury for the past few months but is soon to return to match action and continue to stake his claim as one of the finest creators in the Premier League, averaging 2.9 key passes per outing.
The £170k-per-week star ranks among the top 3% of positional peers for assists, the top 1% for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for progressive passes per 90, showcasing his elite ball-playing ability.
While Maddison plays centrally and Olise tends to be deployed out on the right wing, Liverpool could triumph in signing a creative player from a lower-positioned side in the league ladder and nurture them toward a starring role at the forefront of the European game.
After all, Kulig has said in the past that the Selhurst Park maverick is “one of the best wide playmakers in Europe”.
The fact that Chelsea failed to sign Olise at the start of the season draws another parallel between this transfer saga and Maddison's; Liverpool will need to ensure that they capitalise and sign an elite talent.
O técnico Marcos Vizolli terá problemas para encarar o Grêmio, no próximo domingo (14), às 20h30, em Porto Alegre, pela 36ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Isso porque o lateral-direito Juanfran, o meia Igor Gomes e o atacante Pablo levaram o terceiro cartão amarelo no empate por 1 a 1 contra o Ceará, e estão fora do confronto.
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O primeiro que recebeu e advertência foi o camisa nove. Com 22 minutos do primeiro tempo, ele puxou Samuel Xavier no campo de ataque e foi advertido. Sem ele, Vizolli pode escalar Tréllez ou Carneiro no ataque para fazer dupla com Luciano.
SIMULE OS JOGOS DO SÃO PAULO NO BRASILEIRÃO
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Igor Gomes tomou o amarelo aos três minutos da segunda etapa. Ele dividiu com Fernando Sobral e levou demais o pé, dando uma solada. O árbitro Savio Pereira Sampaio deu o amarelo. Os substitutos podem ser Hernanes ou Tchê Tchê, caso Gabriel Sara se recupere.
Logo depois, aos 21, Juanfran se desentendeu com o auxiliar técnico do Ceará e acabou recebendo o terceiro amarelo. Igor Vinícius deve entrar em seu lugar.
Com o empate, o São Paulo permaneceu na quarta colocação, com 59 pontos, longe da liderança do Brasileirão. O Tricolor segue sem vencer no ano, com quatro derrotas e três empates em sete jogos.
It's been reported this week that Chelsea are "set to cash in" on one of their "selfless" players next month, even if he actually wants to stay.
Chelsea transfer plans for January
Despite spending in and around £400 million in the summer transfer window, Mauricio Pochettino's side have undergone a mixed bag of form so far this season.
Sitting in and around mid-table, the Blues could seriously improve in some areas, as some issues arguably lie both in defence and further forward.
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Long-serving centre-back Thiago Silva also looks set to leave Chelsea when his contract expires in 2024, prompting reports that chairman Todd Boehly and co are eyeing his successor.
Chelsea have been linked with Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah in this regard, while other media sources believe Napoli star Victor Osimhen is a top target for Pochettino as he chases a prolific goalscorer.
Boehly's heavy spending over the last 12 months, though, means Chelsea may have to sell on more of their squad members in an attempt to comply with FFP.
Chelsea "set to cash in" on Chalobah
This is echoed by TEAMtalk, who claim that outgoings are set to be a big theme of Chelsea's January transfer business.
One player who now seems more and more likely to leave is versatile defender, Trevoh Chalobah. The 24-year-old seems out of favour under Pochettino, with Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest thought to be potential landing spots for him mid-season.
The player himself wants to remain at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea are "set to cash in" on Chalobah regardless. The Englishman has been in west London since childhood, though it now appears likely he'll wave goodbye to his boyhood club in January.
Trevoh Chalobah
While Pochettino doesn't see Chalobah as viable for the long-term, he's a player who appears to have split opinion at Chelsea over the last 12 months.
Former interim boss Frank Lampard, for instance, was actually a big fan of his.
“He’s such a selfless lad. He doesn’t say ‘I want to play in this position,” said Lampard to the media last season.
“Maybe (his best position) will become apparent, but I think he’s played really well in a back three for the club. (He had) a really good period when he first got into the team, he can play well as a centre-back in a back four and at right-back. The bigger picture is the way he’s been applying himself since I’ve come back.
“He’s a delight to train with every day because he comes in with an enthusiasm, low maintenance, and when you talk about the things you want, he tries to do them on the pitch, which is a great thing.
“In my short period here, you look at what are the games and the individual players, I’ve been very happy. I was looking forward to working with Trev because I didn’t get that chance when I was here before.”
Fresh off the back of two dismal 3-0 defeats at Old Trafford, Manchester United found solace on the road with a narrow, 1-0 victory over Fulham in the Premier League this afternoon, as Bruno Fernandes struck a late blow at Craven Cottage.
That well-placed strike from the Portuguese playmaker in stoppage time may well have papered over the cracks of another limp showing from Erik ten Hag's men, in truth, with the Red Devils hardly inspiring much confidence for much of the 90-plus minutes.
As such, despite the end result, the former Ajax boss will need to reflect on the overall performance from his side on the day, with £86m man, Antony, among the worst performers yet again in his right-wing berth.
Antony's game vs Fulham in numbers
It remains frankly head-scratching that United forked out such a sizeable fee for a player who seemingly offers nothing in an attacking sense, with another game going by in which the 23-year-old failed to score or register an assist.
With no goal contributions to his name in all competitions this season – as well as just four goals and two assists in the Premier League in total since the start of last season – it beggars belief that Ten Hag continues to select such a misfiring asset week-in, week-out.
While options on the right flank are limited, the one-time Sao Paulo man must find himself ditched moving forward following an "abysmal" performance – according to journalist Samuel Luckhurst – having been hooked after 63 minutes after making few inroads in attack.
The one-footed enigma notably failed to provide a single key pass and completed just one of his four attempted dribbles, while defensively he was also rather suspect, having been branded "pathetic" by TNT Sports pundit Jermaine Jenas in commentary for failing to prevent his compatriot, Willian, from firing at goal in the first half.
Antony
His replacement, by contrast, made the most of his limited time on the pitch, with Facundo Pellistri having arguably been Ten Hag's "unsung hero" on the day and now "needs to start games ahead of the woeful Antony", according to Forbes' Sam Pilger.
Facundo Pellistri's stats vs Fulham
As Statman Dave noted on Twitter, the young Uruguayan made a "big difference" after entering the fray off the bench, having even gone close to getting himself on the scoresheet after seeing his weak-foot attempt saved by Bernd Leno at the near post.
While the 5 foot 9 gamechanger was unable to open up his scoring tally for United, he did register a first Premier League assist after teeing up Fernandes for the game's decisive goal, having initially shown real endeavour and fight down the right flank in the build-up to that clincher.
Aside from that stunning contribution, the former Penarol ace did only make 15 touches in total – while also committing two fouls – yet there was enough there for both Ten Hag and supporters to be encouraged by moving forward.
As someone who arguably "offers more than Antony", Pellistri now seemingly just "needs a proper run in the team" – in the words of journalist Jay Motty – having thus far played second fiddle to his fellow South American over the past 18 months or so.
On the evidence of today's showing, however, it must well be time for Antony to be ruthlessly dropped moving forward, with a change in attack needed if United's frontline are to start truly firing this season.