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Derby County will go into their Good Friday clash against Blackpool keeping their fingers crossed that another win in League One is forthcoming, even after falling to a crushing 1-0 defeat to Northampton Town last time out.

Sam Hoskins ruined the Rams' day out to Sixfields with an instinctive first-half strike, putting a dampener on proceedings after Paul Warne's men were full of confidence after overcoming automatic promotion rivals Bolton Wanderers in the game prior.

The likes of Curtis Nelson and Sonny Bradley didn't cover themselves in the glory in the narrow defeat to the Cobblers, with the latter of the two centre-backs receiving a late red card to add insult to injury from a Derby point of view.

Yet, Warne and Co wouldn't trade either of those underperforming faces in for this Rams flop in return who is now a forgotten figure at Pride Park after once being viewed as a statement purchase.

Raul Albentosa's time at Derby

Derby couldn't quite believe they managed to land Raul Albentosa's services in 2015, with a number of clubs interested in the Spanish defender after starring in his native country for SD Eibar before making the move to England.

Showing a "real desire" to join the ranks in Derbyshire according to then Rams manager Steve McClaren, it was a move that had plenty of intrigue and hype attached to it.

Albentosa would boast a reputation as being an imposing and goalscoring defender from his time with Eibar, bagging four goals over 50 games for the Spanish side alongside helping himself to an additional three assists.

That was never quite translated into his time donning a Rams shirt, however, with the move – which cost what now looks like an excessive £450k – undoubtedly going down as a major flop.

Only making nine appearances in total for his new English employers before jetting back off to sunnier surroundings in Spain once more, the former Derby number 36 would never really acclimatise to the demands or the cut and thrust of EFL football.

1. GK – Kelle Roos

2. RB – Cyrus Christie

3. CB – Raul Albentosa

4. CB – Jake Buxton

5. CB – Richard Keogh

6. LB – Craig Forsyth

7. CM – Will Hughes

8. CM – Omar Mascarell

9. CM – Jeff Hendrick

10. ST – Darren Bent

11. ST – Chris Martin

As can be seen above, Albentosa's full debut for the Rams wouldn't actually come about until December of his debut season owing to recurring hamstring issues plaguing the start of his doomed Derby stint.

Even when he was fully fit to face off against Chesterfield in the FA Cup, he would only be afforded a 45-minute run-out before being hauled off by McClaren who certainly must have felt the Rams weren't getting their money's worth whatsoever out of the ex-Eibar dud.

It would result in Derby offloading Albentosa to Malaga on loan just one season into his two-and-a-half-year contract at Pride Park, with the 6 foot 5 centre-back then leaving for Deportivo de La Coruña permanently after this loan was up.

In the list of all-time Rams' flops, Albentosa's name must be near the top of the pile with so much talk surrounding his capture focusing in on how many high-profile clubs Derby had beaten to get him into the building.

Tomori's strength, Sibley's left foot: Building Derby's perfect footballer

All of these Derby County greats would combine to make a fantastic footballer.

ByKelan Sarson Mar 20, 2024

Now, the one-time Rams man finds himself playing in Europe's 15th-ranked nation, 14 places below England – according to the UEFA coefficients – and he has managed to mend his broken career somewhat after the scathing experience of playing in England must have left some wounds on his ego.

Raul Albentosa's career after Derby

Albentosa has become a well-travelled individual after calling time on his unmemorable Derby stay, moving to far-away Romania and Bulgaria before finding a settled home recently in Denmark with Vejle Boldklub.

The now 35-year-old is captain of the Superliga club, amassing 69 appearances in total since joining in 2022 and firing in goals from the back to recapture his Eibar best even as his career gradually grinds to a halt.

Albentosa has managed to score eight goals for Vejle to prove his worth to his Danish employers, playing as a leader for the Scandinavian side after shirking away from the spotlight time after time at Pride Park.

The revitalised Vejle number six was crucial to his team beating Silkeborg in mid-February, making seven clearances and completing five interceptions to shut out their Superliga opponents whilst scoring late on to ensure his team would win 2-0 on the day.

It's been a great turnaround for a man lost to the Rams' history books, with many Derby fans just focusing on watching their current crop of heroes battle it out for promotion back up to the Championship than ever remembering names such as Albentosa's when recollecting on the past.

Derby will just be raring to go again when Blackpool come to town on Good Friday, with all those associated with the League One giants wanting to return to the Championship and fast.

Whilst the current camp at Derby could etch themselves into the hall-of-fame at Pride Park by finally breaking back through to the second tier, there'll be no bad blood now on the end of the Rams towards Albentosa and his wretched time in Derbyshire nearly ten years on.

Warne will just have to pray that if his Derby side do return to the division above, they don't get caught out with expensive blunders like Albentosa in the here and now.

Tottenham could be set for a bidding war to sign one marquee defender for Ange Postecoglou this summer.

Spurs keen on signing another centre-back

As chairman Daniel Levy watches on with intent to see if Spurs can indeed seal qualification for the Champions League next season, the club chief and technical director Johan Lange and chief football officer Scott Munn are also working away on summer targets in the background.

Tottenham clear they will bid for £150,000-per-week star who Redknapp loves

He’s a key player for his club.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 16, 2024

The Lilywhites have been regularly linked with a new forward signing this summer. Wolves star Pedro Neto and Barcelona's Raphinha are rated highly at Spurs, according to recent reports, while there is also a belief that Postecoglou wants to add another defender to his ranks.

Spurs put pen to paper on a deal for Romania international Radu Dragusin in a £25 million deal from Genoa in the January window, gifting Postecoglou a much-needed centre-back alternative to Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero following Eric Dier's departure to Bayern Munich.

Of the names mentioned, Napoli defender Leo Ostigard, Borussia Monchengladbach ace Ko Itakura and Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly are among the centre-backs who are apparently attracting interest from N17.

Another defender who looks set to be a hot topic later in the year is Everton starlet Jarrad Branthwaite. The 21-year-old is on the radar of Real Madrid and Man United, as well as Spurs, amid his brilliant campaign at Goodison Park where he has shone as one of the standouts under Sean Dyche.

Everton 3-0 Newcastle

7.65

West Ham 0-1 Everton

7.64

Everton 2-0 Chelsea

7.46

Everton 0-0 Aston Villa

7.29

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Everton

7.25

Branthwaite is attracting real attention from Tottenham, with rumours surfacing just last week that United and the north Londoners are making the "most concerted" effort to sign the Englishman pre-summer (Daily Mail).

Tottenham set for bidding war to sign Branthwaite

Sports Broadcaster Ben Jacobs, speaking to GiveMeSport, has shared his own update on their interest in Branthwaite. He believes Tottenham will be in a bidding war to sign Branthwaite this summer, despite reports he could cost as much as £75 million to prise away from Merseyside.

"I think that there is going to be a bidding war, in many ways, during the summer. I think Tottenham will be there, and we know that Real Madrid have looked in the past as well," said Jacobs.

"It is true that bringing in at least one young centre-back is on Manchester United's positional radar. Homegrown players are also a key focus, so Branthwaite ticks a lot of boxes, especially with him being a left-sided centre-back."

Branthwaite has started 22 league games under Dyche as a mainstay of the Toffees eleven, with former Man United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy also calling him a "very complete" player with "speed".

“He is a great talent," said van Nistelrooy.

"The boy is 20, but he has a future. He is good on the ball, can play on the left or the right of centre-back because he is two-footed. He has height and speed, so he is very complete.”

A "magnificent" Rangers player is believed to be "very keen" on the idea of signing a contract extension at Ibrox, according to a new update regarding his future, with a deal potentially even wrapped up this month.

Rangers contract news

The Gers have got themselves into a great position in the Scottish Premiership, topping the table by two points as we head into the business end of the campaign, despite Saturday's hugely disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Motherwell.

Once the season reaches its conclusion, Rangers are going to have some big decisions to make regarding a number of players who are out of contract at the club in the summer, in terms of losing them on free transfers or offering them extensions.

Midfielder John Lundstram is one of those, with the Englishman recently turning 30 years of age, and the same applies to Borna Barisic, with the left-back staying put beyond the January transfer window, despite numerous links suggesting he could move on.

Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe are two other established names whose time at Ibrox could reach its conclusion in the next few months, while 35-year-old Leon Balogun could well see his time with Rangers come to an end, given his age.

"Magnificent" Ranger hero wants new deal

According to a fresh update from Football Insider, John Lundstram is "very keen" on signing a new Rangers deal in the "coming weeks", suggesting it could even be finalised and announced at some point this month.

The Gers are confident that an agreement can be reached in order to keep the midfielder at the club, having arrived from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021, making 141 appearances to date.

Retaining Lundstram's services has to be seen as a priority for Rangers this summer, even though he may recently have turned 30, as mentioned. He still has to much to offer, having started 26 of his side's Scottish Premiership matches this season, chipping in with three assists.

Appearances

27

Starts

26

Goals

0

Assists

3

Tackles per game

1.6

Key passes per game

1.4

Pass completion rate

88.6%

The midfielder's box-to-box energy can continue to be an invaluable asset for Philippe Clement's side moving forward – Andy Walker has hailed him as "magnificent" in the past – and there is no reason why he shouldn't be in and around his best for the next three or four years.

While new signings are vital in the summer window, retaining the services of some of Rangers' most reliable and established stars is just as important, keeping a stability at the club in the process.

Rangers already lining up summer move for their next Todd Cantwell

The Light Blues are keeping tabs on the out-of-contract Championship star ahead of next season.

ByDan Emery Mar 3, 2024

Whether they extend the stays of the likes of Barisic, Jack and Roofe remains to be seen, but the fact that Lundstram is so happy to stay put and continue contributing means that his extension should be seen as a priority to get sorted as soon as possible.

The India fast bowler also said he wasn’t himself sure if his inswinger that fetched him his maiden Test hat-trick had struck West Indies batsman Roston Chase’s pad first

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Sep-2019The conviction in Virat Kohli’s cry, ” [it struck the pad first]” from third slip when there was only a muffled appeal from the bowler Jasprit Bumrah himself stood vindicated as the review fetched Bumrah Roston Chase’s wicket, and a maiden Test hat-trick on Saturday. Bumrah, having become only the third Indian to achieve the distinction, attributed it entirely to Kohli.”Actually I didn’t know. I was not very sure of the appeal,” Bumrah told Kohli in an interview to . “I thought it was bat [first], so I didn’t appeal so much. But it was a good review in the end (laughs), and I think I owe the hat-trick to the captain.”

I owe my hat-trick to you – Bumrah tells @imVkohli @Jaspritbumrah93 became the third Indian to take a Test hat-trick. Hear it from the two men who made it possible

Full video here https://t.co/kZG6YOOepS – by @28anand #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/2PqCj57k8n

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 1, 2019

A visibly ebullient Kohli elaborated on the sequence of events that led to the review. “Yeah, we had a discussion,” he said. “I asked him [Bumrah] what he thinks; whether he thought the guy has hit it. So the only question was: is the ball in line. And he said, ‘Everything is in front of the wickets; it’s just that I think it’s bat.’ So we all discussed; Jinx [Ajinkya Rahane] thought he [Chase] is late on the ball, so we went for the review and it happened to be on the right side.”ALSO READ: The marvel that is Jasprit BumrahBumrah’s sensational 6 for 16, including the wickets of Darren Bravo and Shamarh Brooks in that hat-trick, reduced West Indies to 87 for 7 at stumps on the second day, and Kohli underlined how “amazing [it had been] to watch” his fast bowlers when they have been on song. The captain said India’s pace battery – mostly led by Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Bumrah – had been “outstanding” for the team over the last two years.ALSO READ: The boy they call Boom, by Sharda UgraEven in the last Test, Bumrah had taken a blink-and-you-miss-it five-for. Ishant finished with eight wickets in that match and Shami too chipped in with a couple to help India to victory by 318 runs.”There’s a lot of communication that goes on the field as well,” Bumrah said when asked to explain the fast bowlers’ success. “When I’m getting wickets, it’s somebody else’s job to create pressure, and when somebody else is getting wickets, [it’s] my job is to create pressure. There’s a lot of communication [even] when there is no help [from the surface about] what we can do.”Ishant, as you have seen, has played more 90 Test matches, Shami has played a lot of Test matches. So a lot of communication goes [on], ideas come in, we try to help each other out whenever things are not going well, we try to push each other. So there’s a good relation going on and, hopefully, from here we will continue.”As for his own success, whether on pace-friendly tracks – such as at Sabina Park – or those devoid of much assistance, Bumrah put it down to an uncomplicated approach.”Sometimes, when there is so much of help in the wicket… We saw in the previous innings as well [that] there was a lot of bounce [for the West Indians] and they were getting a lot of late movement as well,” he said. “So sometimes, when there is so much of help, you can get greedy for wickets and try to be over-aggressive, that time you have to keep things simple. Just try and bowl good balls, create pressure for the guy at the other end to get wickets. That was the thing that was going on in my head [today].”

It is a well-known fact that Manchester United have been underwhelming in attack this season, which is highlighted by the fact that only three teams have scored fewer than them this campaign in the league.

However, the most scrutinised player is 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund, who only moved to the Red Devils last summer for £72m.

Since joining from Atalanta, the Danish striker has failed to live up to his price tag, as he has only netted twice in 16 Premier League matches.

Although those goals have arrived in his two most recent games, Erik ten Hag is still keen to address the centre-forward issue by scanning the market for a new star to lead the line.

Therefore, let's take a look at three dream strikers that Man Utd could sign in the near future to replace Hojlund.

1

Serhou Guirassy – Stuttgart

Serhou Guirassy is looking like one of the best value-for-money signings on the market, as according to Football Insider, Man Utd are interested in signing the Stuttgart star for just £15m in January.

The 27-year-old has been one of the most in-form strikers in the Bundesliga this campaign, netting 17 goals and registering two assists in just 14 appearances.

Top scorers in Europe's best 5 leagues
Player	Goals scored
#1 Harry Kane	22
#2 Kylian Mbappe	19
#3 Lautaro Martinez	18
#4 Serhou Guirassy	17
#5 Erling Haaland	14
Stats via Whoscored.

Those statistics blow Hojlund out of the water, and his reliability in putting the ball in the back of the net would make him a cheap, realistic upgrade on the Dane.

2

Brian Brobbey – Ajax

The next striker who could push Hojlund down the pecking order is perhaps a wildcard option, Brian Brobbey of Ajax, who formerly worked with Ten Hag at the Dutch club.

A report towards the end of last week from the Mirror stated that United are planning on making a move for Brobbey this summer.

The 21-year-old has become a key figure in the Ajax side this season, and he boasts an incredible record of 13 goal contributions in 16 Eredivisie starts.

Brobbey's record under Ten Hag
Games	32
Goals	13
Assists	3
Minutes played	869
Starts	7
Minutes per goal	67
Stats via Transfermarkt.

Not only would Brobbey provide goals, but he would also elevate those around him with his ability to cause chaos in the final third, as shown by his shot-creating actions being in the top 5% in the Eredivisie this season, as per FBref.

Therefore, the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, and Alejandro Garnacho could benefit from the ex-Leipzig striker.

3

Viktor Gyokeres – Sporting

Despite only moving to Portugal this summer in a £20m deal from Coventry, Viktor Gyokeres could be on the move once again after impressing for Sporting.

According to a report from Correio da Mania via The Sun towards the end of December, Ten Hag is interested in signing the Sweden star, and his release clause of £87m could be activated this summer.

Gyokeres is the definition of a complete striker, who can score and create from nothing. The 25-year-old has scored an impressive 11 goals and provided eight assists in 16 Liga Portugal games this season.

The clinical striker beats Hojlund in almost every single metric, according to FBref's comparison tool, and the table below shows a handful of statistics from their respective leagues proves that.

Gyokeres vs Hojlund
Stats (per 90)	Gyokeres	Hojlund
Goals	0.69	0.16
Assists	0.50	0.08
Shot-creating actions	4.33	2.25
Successful take-ons	2.38	0.80
Touches (Att pen)	8.91	4.10
Stats via FBref

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will want to start his United adventure off with a bang, and signing a finisher who has been described as a "Rolls-Royce" striker, by football writer Zach Lowy, would be the perfect way to do so.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is eyeing a move for a "fantastic" attacking player who is also wanted by Arsenal, according to a new transfer update.

Liverpool eyeing Salah successors

The Reds are flying at the moment, progressing to the FA Cup fourth round after a 2-0 win away to Arsenal on Sunday, but that's not to say that new signings aren't needed in the near future.

Klopp is expected to be on the lookout for a new forward this month with Mohamed Salah away at AFCON, and the Reds will eventually need to replace the Egyptian King for good too, given his extensive links to the Saudi Pro League over the last 12 months.

It remains to be seen if anyone will arrive at Anfield in the January transfer window or if they wait until the summer, but one player who has been linked with a move to the club is Wolves star Pedro Neto.

The 23-year-old has stood out as one of his side's most impressive players in recent years, providing constant quality out wide and registering seven assists in just 11 Premier League appearances this season.

Jurgen Klopp considers Pedro Neto hijack

According to a new update from Caught Offside, Klopp wants Liverpool to sign Wolves winger Pedro Neto, who is also wanted by Arsenal, with the report reaffirming the Reds' desire to increase their attacking depth in Salah's absence.

"Finally, the Merseyside giants also have two targets in attack, with a potential battle with Arsenal on the cards as Wolves winger Pedro Neto works his way onto Klopp’s radar. The 23-year-old has been hugely impressive in the Premier League this season, and Fabrizio Romano has told CaughtOffside that he expects him to be a summer target for Arsenal."

Neto is a wonderful footballer, not only because he is easy on the eye with his slick dribbling ability, but also because he provides consistent levels of end product, proving that he has substance to his game. He is contracted at Wolves until 2027, however, so he won't be arriving on the cheap.

The Portugal international is someone who can play on either flank, either hitting the byline from the left or cutting inside from the right, and he is a player who should only get better for the next five or six years. Wolves manager Gary O'Neil is a big admirer of him, too, saying of him in September: "He will be hugely important for us, he’s a fantastic player, hugely talented and he’s working extremely hard without the ball as well as bringing big quality with it, so I’m really pleased with Pedro."

Liverpool clearly face stiff competition from Arsenal, who despite their current poor form, are still a side with some brilliant young players who Neto could want to play with, whether it be Bukayo Saka or Gabriel Martinelli.

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The influence of Klopp is something that could easily give the Reds the edge, however, given his standing out as one of the greatest man-managers of his generation, and he could be a superb replacement for Salah, even though the Egyptian staying put for a few more years would be preferable.

Leeds United will hope this season ends in a triumphant promotion straight back up to the Premier League, with Daniel Farke's side currently four wins from four in the Championship in 2024 to start the year in the best way imaginable.

The Whites have only leaked one goal along the way when picking up those victories, hoping to make it a flawless sequence of results in January by progressing into the next round of the FA Cup against Plymouth Argyle tomorrow.

To elevate Leeds to even loftier heights, in an effort to bridge the gap between the Whites and Ipswich Town currently in second spot instead of settling for the playoffs, Farke and Co could attempt to sanction a deal for this attacking star before the transfer window slams shut.

Leeds going after Championship promotion winner

It's no secret that Leeds have been attempting to add a number of players to their squad this January to propel them into the top two, linked with the likes of Ben Davies, David Brooks, and more to try and add in some top-quality additions.

Leeds' interest in Burnley winger Manuel Benson has also been well publicised, with football journalist Sacha Tavolieri offering a development on Thursday about the West Yorkshire side's continued pursuit of the 26-year-old – stating that the second tier outfit are 'still pushing' for a deal to happen.

The explosive forward is an in-demand figure however, with Southampton apparently leading the race to sign Benson ahead of Leeds according to Football Insider who have revealed that an agreement has been reached between the Clarets and the Saints.

Yet, there could still be various twists and turns to come before deadline day and Leeds won't just fade away.

The Whites will press on and will still attempt to sway the Belgian gem away from relocating to St. Mary's for the rest of the season, Benson a potentially game-changing purchase with the Clarets man a previous promotion winner at the level.

How Benson could take Leeds to the next level

Benson was unplayable at points for Vincent Kompany's second tier champions last campaign, dazzling Championship defences with deft footwork often then followed up with a stunning strike finding the back of the net.

Scoring 12 times last season – including a strike against arch-rivals Blackburn Rovers sealing the division title – Benson also notched up three assists as a vital part of Burnley's terrific 101-point haul that saw the Lancashire club stroll to the top honour.

Described as being "electric" by EFL pundit Sam Parkin after netting a brace against Middlesbrough that same season, this is a deal that could really make promotion an easier feat to achieve for Leeds.

The Belgian attacker will also come to Leeds with a point to prove, frozen out of the first-team plans by Kompany when making the step-up to the Premier League after once being a dependable hero the Clarets manager relied upon.

Moreover, having the likes of Daniel James, Wilfried Gnonto, and Crysencio Summerville at your disposal already before even adding the £25k-per-week Burnley forward into the mix, the Whites could end up just bulldozing teams with the amount of flair and talent in their forward positions.

Winning the race for his signature as they push to bring him to Elland Road would also prevent Southampton, who they are competing with for a top two position, from landing him. This would stop them from signing a fantastic attacking talent who could improve their chances of securing promotion.

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Leeds will have to keep level-headed, however, knowing that the lottery of the playoffs can be a cruel mistress if automatic promotion isn't achieved, but will be cautiously optimistic about their chances of sealing a ticket back up to the top-flight in convincing fashion if Benson joins.

Denting Southampton's own ambitions in the process too, this is a transfer Leeds must persist with to give Farke's men an almighty edge in the promotion race.

Erik ten Hag could reportedly continue at Man United as Sir Jim Ratcliffe might be forced to stick with the Dutch manager amid calls for sacking.

Article continues below

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• Ten Hag's future hangs in the balance
• Man Utd have drawn up a potential shortlist
• Yet could continue with Ten Hag

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  England legends, Michael Owen and Paul Scholes, have publicly called for Ten Hag's head after the 4-0 humiliation at Crystal Palace. Yet, there remains a glimmer of hope for Ten Hag as he might be deemed indispensable by Ratlicliffe and Co. due to a lack of promising alternatives in the market – a candidate who can potentially repair a sinking ship and help it cruise along the rough waters, according to . Ten Hag's two years of experience at the helm may provide him with a valuable advantage over potential replacements.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Nonetheless, the United management have reportedly drawn up a shortlist to replace Ten Hag – a decision that they would ponder upon after the FA Cup final on May 25. Among the potential candidates are Thomas Tuchel, the outgoing Bayern Munich manager, Gareth Southgate, who may be available post England's Euro 2024 campaign, and Graham Potter, currently seeking employment after his tenure at Chelsea ended in April 2023.

• WHO COULD REPLACE TEN HAG?

  Tuchel emerges as a strong contender given his impressive track record, including the 2021 Champions League triumph with Chelsea. However, recent setbacks with Bayern Munich and concerns over his squad management skills may affect his candidacy.

  Southgate garners admiration for his transformative work with the England national team. His calm demeanour could be an asset in the demanding role of a United manager. Yet, his cautious style may not align with the club's tradition of bold and attacking football.

  Meanwhile, Potter presents an intriguing option with his progressive playing style and success with Brighton in the Premier League. However, his dismal performance with Chelsea raises more questions than answers about his credentials.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  While Potter, Tuchel, and Southgate are credible candidates, they are not elite options which will convince Ratcliffe to swing the axe on Ten Hag. The manager has had to work with over 60 injuries during the campaign and Ratcliffe might be inclined to offer him more time to prove his mettle – unless the Red Devils suffer an embarrassing defeat to City in the Cup final at Wembley.

Burnley are embroiled in a relegation battle at Turf Moor and could look to help their cause by bringing a talented player to Lancashire in January, according to a report.

Burnley's persistence with Vincent Kompany

Undoubtedly, the Clarets have shown commendable persistence with Vincent Kompany over the course of this term as he continues to bring an entertaining brand of football to Turf Moor despite outside criticism of his approach. In the aftermath of the Clarets' 5-0 victory over Sheffield United last weekend, Belgian boss Kompany praised his players for their commitment to carrying out his style of play that he has unwaveringly stood by despite learning some harsh lessons along the way in the Premier League.

"I don't take it for granted, the amount of pressure there was on the game to turn up and perform, it is a difficult thing to do. I work with an awesome group of players; all I am doing as a coach is hoping every weekend they can translate their hard work into results. Today is one of those days."

As we so often see in the English top flight, managers come under increasing pressure to deliver the results required to maintain their status on a year-by-year basis in the division, sometimes to the detriment of a long-term vision being the primary concern at any given club.

Burnley eyeing "brilliant" player for Kompany to boost survival chance

The Clarets are in desperate need of reinforcements…

ByTom Cunningham Dec 3, 2023

The Clarets don't have this problem due to their faith in the man who assembled a side that wreaked havoc in the Championship last season on their way to promotion, which can only bode well for the future as Burnley continue to acclimatise to their new position in the football pyramid.

Looking ahead to January, Kompany is now believed to have a new defender in his sights who could arrive for a cut-price fee, according to a report.

Burnley eyeing Eiran Cashin

According to TEAMtalk, Derby County defender Eiran Cashin is a target for Burnley alongside a host of other clubs as he continues to impress at Pride Park under Paul Warne. The report states that Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United, Sheffield United, Birmingham City and Middlesbrough are all in the frame to sign the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international.

Cashin will be a free agent in the summer of 2024 if he fails to sign a new contract at his current employer. Derby County are hopeful the Mansfield-born star will choose to commit his future to the club; however, if he doesn't, the Rams may look to cash in on his services in January, potentially making him available for a cut-price fee.

Labelled "outstanding" by former manager Wayne Rooney in 2022, Cashin has made 23 appearances in all competitions for Derby County this term, registering one goal in the process (Cashin statistics – Transfermarkt).

Burnley already have an encouraging crop of talented young stars at Turf Moor and Cashin could fit in well with Kompany's long-term plans at the club, making this a deal to watch.

With just under half of the Premier League season complete, it would be fair to describe Chelsea's campaign thus far as shambolic, as just like last year, the club that so prided themselves on ruthless efficiency and finding a way to win now find themselves in the bottom half of the table and closer to the relegation zone than top four.

Mauricio Pochettino was supposed to come in and steer the club in the right direction, but instead, the west Londoners look more adrift than ever.

However, the one positive is that the team are currently producing the fourth-highest expected goals number in the entire league, meaning that adding a clinical striker to the mix could see the side fly up the table.

Poch can supercharge Palmer and Chelsea with £100m "monster" signing

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 13, 2023

Napoli star Victor Osimhen has recently been touted for a move to Stamford Bridge. However, the latest player linked could be a wiser option given the £120m the Italians want for their forward, in the form of Sporting CP's Viktor Gyökeres.

Chelsea transfer news – Viktor Gyökeres

According to Simon Phillips (via The Chelsea Chronicle), Chelsea are determined to sign a new striker in the January transfer window, but with the price for Osimhen potentially reaching up to £120m, Swedish striker Gyökeres has moved up their wishlist.

The Sporting star joined the club from Championship side Coventry City in July for a fee in the region of £20m.

His recent arrival means that any move in the winter will come at a premium, with Portuguese outlet Record reporting (via Sport Witness) that it would take an offer of about €100m – £86m – to secure the marksman's signature.

While that is still a lot of money, it represents a discount of £34m on Osimhen's price and, considering that the former Coventry player has racked up 16 goal involvements in 16 games for the Portuguese giants, it would probably be worth it.

How Viktor Gyökeres compares to Victor Osimhen

Now, either of these players would be a dramatic improvement on the attacking options Chelsea currently have at their disposal, and while the Nigerian "goal machine", as described by journalist Mimi Fawaz, has a better track record in Europe's top five leagues, Gyökeres looks like he could be just as good.

He was lethal in the Championship last season, scoring 21 goals and providing 12 assists in just 47 starts and despite changing leagues in the summer, he has continued right where he left off this season.

Dubbed as "unplayable" by his former teammate Maxime Biamou, the one-time Brighton & Hove Albion man stacks up well against the Nigerian when their respective underlying numbers are compared.

The Serie A winner just comes out on top in arguably the most crucial statistic, non-penalty expected goals and assists, but in essentially every other metric, the Swede has the advantage, and by quite some way in some instances.

Stats (per 90)

Gyökeres

Osimhen

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.45

0.54

Progressive Passes

2.02

1.09

Progressive Carries

3.53

1.74

Shots on Target

1.17

1.09

Passing Accuracy

74.0%

64.7%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.77

1.85

Goal-Creating Actions

0.50

0.33

Successful Take-Ons

2.44

0.43

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season

Progressive passes, carries, passing accuracy, shot-creating actions, and successful take-ons are all areas in which Gyökeres is well clear of the former Lille man, potentially hinting towards a more complete player who could be as helpful in creating chances as he is in finishing them.

Ultimately, there isn't an enormous difference between the two superstars, but the more impressive creative stats and the cheaper price tag make Gyökeres the more appealing target.