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

Arsenal could make a move for Merih Demiral during the January transfer window, as reported by Bleacher Report.

What’s the story?

Demiral only moved to Juventus from Sassuolo in the summer of 2019 for a fee of €18m (£15.4m), but could be set to make a move again due to a lack of game time.

The Turkey international has managed just one solitary Serie A appearance this campaign, though there were positive signs to be had, as he won 5 aerial duels, while making 1 tackle and 3 clearances.

It is suggested that Arsenal will be kept in the loop if the 21-year-old becomes available at some point during the winter window.

The Gunners are also reportedly interested in signing RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano.

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Fulfilling a prophecy

Demiral has been a nomadic figure in 2019. Initially he joined Alanyaspor from Sporting Lisbon in the January window before he moved to Sassuolo on loan.

His temporary move to the Serie A outfit was made permanent in the summer but he almost immediately moved to Juventus just four days later.

If he was to make a move to the Emirates, this would see him fulfil a prophecy set by Sergen Yalcin, his manager from Alanyaspor, who 90min report to have said: “Merih Demiral will be a ​Premier League player within 1-2 seasons. The Turkish national team has its new centre-back for the next 10-12 years.”

It would be slightly bizarre if Arsenal were to sign Demiral as they would be the fifth club he has been involved with in 2019.

There are positive signs from his time at Sassuolo regarding his ability though, as he averaged 1.7 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 5.6 clearances per game.

When Arsenal’s defensive issues this campaign are taken under consideration, he may be able to make a difference for the team.

If the Gunners do indeed decide to swoop in January, Yalcin will proudly be able to say “I told you so”.

Derby County have received a worrying injury update regarding an “amazing” player, with manager Paul Warne delivering the news.

Latest Derby County news

The Rams won 1-0 at home to Cardiff City in the Championship last weekend, in a result that left them sitting in eighth place in the table, and they have had all week to prepare for their next outing this Saturday.

Warne’s side make the trip to a Sheffield United team who are sixth currently, having won three and drawn two of their five league matches to date, highlighting what a tough task it will be for Derby.

There are injury problems for Warne to contend with going into the match, though, with loan signing David Ozoh expected to be out for the foreseeable future, missing up to six weeks of action after having a scan on a hamstring injury.

Ozoh is far from the only Derby player struggling with a fitness issue at the moment, however, and a key update has now emerged regarding another Rams ace.

Derby suffer injury blow to "amazing" ace

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sheffield United, Warne confirmed that Liam Thompson is expected to be out injured until after next month’s international break due to a groin problem, missing four games in the process.

“Thommo will be out and I think he won’t be back before international break. We’ve got a bit of a dearth in the middle of the park, obviously, and Tom Barkhuizen has got a grade one injury.”

This isn’t ideal news for Derby, with Thompson proving to be a regular since breaking through from the club’s youth system. Granted, he is yet to start a Championship game this season, but he has come off the substitutes’ bench four times, showing that he is an important squad figure, not to mention making 81 appearances in total for the Rams.

Meanwhile, Warne has shown his appreciation for the 22-year-old as a footballer, saying of his attitude amid a possible move away: “In fairness to him, he’s trained really well and his attitude has been amazing. We had a similar conversation back in January and I just asked him to be patient and that he would get time and all that.”

Given the relentless nature of the Championship, it is imperative to have as many players available as possible week in, week out, with rotation essential to avoid legs tiring during the latter months of the season.

This is why players of Thompson’s ilk are so priceless, not always proving to be one of the first names on the team sheet, but often filling in when required and doing what is asked of them.

Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season

Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025

For that reason, the hope is that the Englishman is back as soon as possible after the internationals take place next month, kicking on his career at that point and showing that he is worth persevering with by Warne, ahead of his contract expiring at the end of this season.

Crystal Palace have been tipped to make a surprise addition to their ranks in January, with the Eagles even preparing their opening offer to add a fresh new face to Oliver Glasner’s side, according to one report.

Mixed start for Crystal Palace

The summer transfer window was dominated by speculation about potential departures from Selhurst Park, but the return of the Premier League has brought little consolation thus far.

"Talented" £40,000-p/w Crystal Palace ace won't play for "several weeks"

More frustration for Glasner.

ByTom Cunningham Sep 14, 2024

Michael Olise departed for Bayern Munich, while Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi were both strongly linked with moves to other Premier League sides, and Joachim Andersen departed for Fulham.

To replace their star winger, Palace signed several new attacking players, with Daichi Kamada arriving on a free transfer, Ismaila Sarr joining from Marseille and the club making a late move to sign Arsenal attacker Eddie Nketiah.

However, they are yet to replace any of the goals or assists provided by the departing Olise, while the south London side have been uncharacteristically leaky at the back, with seven goals conceded in their opening four games and two of their new defensive signings set for spells on the sidelines already.

It has left them sitting just above the relegation zone with just two points to their name, while they were forced to rely on a stoppage-time Jean Philippe Mateta penalty just to rescue a draw against newly promoted Leicester City in their most recent outing. Now, they are already looking to January and the winter transfer window, if reports are to be believed.

Crystal Palace ready £8.5m move for new forward

That comes as reports in Spain claim that the Eagles are readying a move worth up to €10m (£8.5m) to sign Real Sociedad attacker Sheraldo Becker in what could be a somewhat bizarre move for the south London side.

Becker only joined Sociedad at the beginning of 2024 but has played across the frontline during his 23 appearances for the Spanish side, grabbing three goals in the process.

It was at Union Berlin that he really thrived, with content creator Shark Gutierrez dubbing him “class” and “quality” on X back in 2022 as he finished the season with 11 goals and 7 assists.

Sheraldo Becker at Real Sociedad

Appearances

23

Starts

14

Goals

3

Assists

2

Minutes per goal/assist

264

However, his performances at his new club appear to have caught Glasner’s eye, with the report claiming that Palace are “preparing an offer close to 10 million euros” to sign the 29-year-old, as they believe the “forward’s profile fits perfectly in the Premier League”.

It is added that Sociedad would be open to selling him as it would see them turn a profit on the £5m they signed him from Union Berlin for less than 12 months ago and that a deal “could be finalised in the coming months”.

On paper, it is a move that makes little sense to Palace at present, with three new faces already at the club to bolster their attack alongside Eze and Mateta. However, with reports linking both the England international and Olympic runner-up with moves away in the months to come and with Mateta having suggested he could have been open to leaving over the summer, it may well be an early move to replace either of their stars before they move on.

While their start to the Premier League season has been less than impressive this year, Manchester United did enjoy a stellar summer when it comes to their work off the pitch.

With Sir Jim Ratcliffe now in a position of influence at the club, United welcomed in a plethora of talented players to help bring the team forward, including Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Noussair Mazraoui and, most recently, Manuel Ugarte.

The former Paris Saint-Germain ace could be the perfect addition to United's midfield this season.

However, he'll have to really impress at Old Trafford to see his valuation surpass, or even match, one of his new teammates.

Ugarte's move to United

Yes, after a summer of back-and-forth over the fee, United finally signed their man in the dying embers of the transfer window for an initial fee of around £42m.

While it's not an earth-shattering fee for modern football, the move still represents a significant investment from the club. However, if the Uruguayan ace can reach his full potential at Old Trafford, it could look like a bargain in years to come.

Analyst Statman Dave has described the former Sporting CP ace as a "defensive monster" in the past, and based on his underlying numbers, it's not hard to understand why.

Tackles

4.18

Top 1%

Tackles + Interceptions

6.23

Top 1%

Dribblers Tackled

1.91

Top 1%

Tackles Won

2.36

Top 2%

Interceptions

2.05

Top 3%

Ball Recoveries

7.69

Top 3%

For example, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, the incredible "machine" as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, sits in the top 1% of midfielders for tackles, tackles plus interceptions and dribblers tackled, the top 2% for tackles won, and the top 3% for interceptions and ball recoveries, all per 90.

This ability to break up play and shore up his team's defence could make the 23-year-old an indispensable member of Erik ten Hag's team going forward. Still, despite the excitement surrounding his move, he is worth less than one of his new teammates.

Kobbie Mainoo's valuation in 2024

The player in question is none other than 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who, after enjoying a breakout campaign with United last season, is now one of the most essential members of Ten Hag's squad.

In fact, the academy product, who didn't cost a penny in terms of a transfer fee, is now valued at €60m by FOTmob, which converts to about £51m, or about £9m more than Ugarte cost last month.

This might seem like an awful lot of money for a player so young, but it is entirely justified, as despite his age, the "fabulous" midfielder, as dubbed by former England manager Gareth Southgate, has already established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

Appearances

32

Minutes

2405'

Starts

29

Goals

5

Assists

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.18

Minutes per Goal Involvement

400.83'

For example, last season, he made 32 first-team appearances for the club, 29 of which were starts, scored five goals and provided one assist before going to the Euros and making six appearances for the Three Lions, five of which were starts.

This season, he has started all four games for the Red Devils, and it doesn't look like he'll be dropped to the bench anytime soon. If anything, he could form an excellent partnership with Ugarte in the coming years and cement his place in the national side at the same time.

Ultimately, while it is a steep valuation for someone who is still just a teenager, Mainoo has proven the adage true that if you're good enough, you're old enough.

Man Utd hit the jackpot on "exceptional" ace who's worth more than Rashford

The promising attacker could have a bright future at Old Trafford.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 4, 2024

Newcastle United are reportedly keen to prise Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City this summer, as Eddie Howe seeks to continue his midfield overhaul at St James' Park.

What's the latest on Phillips to Newcastle?

With the Magpies having already wrapped up a deal for AC Milan playmaker, Sandro Tonali, the Telegraph are now reporting that the club could turn their attention towards the England international over the coming weeks, with the 27-year-old having endured a difficult debut season at the Etihad.

While the report suggests that the former Leeds United man – who made the move to Manchester on a £45m deal last summer – is hoping to stay and fight for his place under Pep Guardiola, a possible swift exit from the treble-winning outfit is potentially still on the cards.

Although the piece does not state how much a deal for the Yorkshireman would cost, the Mirror reported earlier in the window that Premier League rivals Liverpool were eyeing a £35m move for the 5 foot 10 ace.

Would Phillips be a good signing for Newcastle?

There is no denying that it proved to be a frustrating first season for Phillips with the Cityzens, with the 27-cap maestro having been restricted to a bit-part role in the club's glittering success, after racking up just 21 appearances in 2022/23, making only two league starts in that time.

While previously described as a "machine" by The Athletic's Jordan Campbell during his prior stint at Elland Road – where he made 234 appearances across all fronts and helped guide the club to promotion – the £150k-per-week man's recent woes should well be of concern to Howe and co.

Newcastle may wish to avoid making the same mistake as that of their bitter rivals, Sunderland, with talkSPORT pundit Ray Parlour suggesting that the situation of Phillips at City is "very similar" to that of Jack Rodwell – who also endured infamously dour stint at the Stadium of Light.

Much like his compatriot, Rodwell had shown early promise after rising up through the ranks at Everton, with then-Toffees boss David Moyes stating that the midfielder had a "good future ahead of him", prior to making the move to Man City on a £15m deal in 2012.

As it proved, the Southport-born dud arguably "wasted two years of his career" at the Etihad – according to journalist Leigh Curtis – as he made just 25 first-team appearances, before joining the Black Cats in 2014.

That move proved even more disastrous as Rodwell endured a run of 39 top-flight games without a win – a league record – having also been lambasted by former boss Chris Coleman due to his apparent willingness to see out of his contract, rather than move on elsewhere.

Described as the 'worst signing in Sunderland's history' by the Chronicle's James Hunter back in 2018, the current Sydney FC man endured a torrid time of it in the northeast, with those at St James' Park perhaps wary of seeing history repeat itself.

The Tynesiders could well follow in the footsteps of their long-time foes with the addition of Phillips, with the Leeds native – who Guardiola described as "overweight" last season – seemingly not the solution for Howe this summer.

Aston Villa have reportedly shown an interest in Borussia Dortmund ace Thomas Meunier, in a move that could significantly strengthen Unai Emery’s side.

The Villans are expected to have a busy summer, with Monchi set to team up with his former Sevilla colleague in the bid to continue the progression at Villa Park.

What’s the latest on Thomas Meunier to Aston Villa?

As reported by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Aston Villa have emerged as a potential suitor for Dortmund defender Meunier.

The report claims that the £165k-per-week Belgian is ‘studying’ options this summer after informing the club of his desire to leave.

Villa are named alongside Inter, Juventus and AC Milan as clubs that have ‘asked’ about the player’s situation, with a fee reported to be as low as €2m (£1.7m).

What could Thomas Meunier offer to Aston Villa?

Lauded as a “machine” by members of the media, the 31-year-old could prove to be a valuable asset to Emery’s squad, acting as a significant upgrade at right-back.

In 408 recorded career appearances, as per Transfermarkt, the Belgian has played at the top level against and among some of the continent's best talents, making him an individual with heaps of experience.

With Premier League veteran Ashley Young leaving the club this summer, Emery may opt to recruit added experience to his defence. He could achieve that by signing Meunier and equip the right side with a player capable of dethroning current options in doing so.

Matty Cash made 26 Premier League appearances for Villa this season at right-back, performing adequately as communicated by his average match rating of 6.76, via Sofascore.

The Poland international has been called “inconsistent and naive” in the past by Talent ID Andrew Ashburn, and as supported by his statistics, could find himself replaced should Meunier opt to make the move to the Midlands.

As per FBref, the former Paris Saint-Germain full-back averages 66.66 attempted passes per 90, ranking him in the top 11% of full-backs in Europe over the past year, showing his desire to be involved in game play.

Based on their numbers over the past year, the 31-year-old averages marginally higher than Cash in a variety of attributes required to excel as a successful full-back, averaging 2.79 tackles to the 25-year-old’s 2.72 per 90 and 1.44 interceptions to his 1.29 per 90.

Being a strong full-back in the Premier League nowadays relies a lot on an individual's ability to be progressive in play, with managers opting to hand inverted roles to their wide defenders in the bid to support offensively.

Meunier averages higher than the Villa right-back when it comes to progressive passes, recording an average of 3.94 to Cash's 3.71 per 90, with a similar pattern evident in progressive carries, scoring 2.31 per 90 to Cash’s 2.08.

For a limited price, Emery could capture an experienced and established full-back in the Belgian, who could upgrade and provide depth at right-back ahead of next campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur seem to be engaged in a fierce battle for their top target this summer, with the latest update outlining the competition…

What's the latest on James Maddison to Tottenham?

Taking to his Twitter, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano offered the latest verdict on the future of Leicester City gem James Maddison.

With the midfielder having starred in a relegated team, many are vying to rescue him from a level far below his station.

Ange Postecoglou obviously shares the hierarchy's interest in the 26-year-old, but Newcastle United stand in their way.

The Italian journalist wrote on Twitter: "Newcastle will insist on James Maddison deal this week as they don’t want a long saga — he’s top target but decision has to be made soon. Tottenham are also working on player side, still pushing and into the race; no bid was submitted last week despite reports."

It is expected that the Foxes will command a fee in excess of £50m, likely buoyed by this saga set to develop.

Could James Maddison help the Tottenham squad?

In acquiring this creative England international, Postecoglou could instantly reinvigorate an attacking force that somewhat faltered last campaign. Were it not for the goalscoring exploits of Harry Kane, it could have proved a truly abysmal year for the Lilywhites, even worse than it already was.

The 29-year-old notched 30 league goals, and was hardly helped out by the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and Heung-min Son.

The latter's underperformance in particular was frustrating given how consistent a threat he had proven to be since joining in 2015. He has hit double figures in the league in every season but his first, yet saw his numbers drop from 23 goals in the 2021/22 term, and 17 the year prior, to just ten league strikes in his most recent campaign.

To reignite the 30-year-old back to his previous levels, this midfield magician would surely offer the supplementary talents needed to place him in more profitable situations.

After all, for a weak Foxes side, he still managed 19 goal contributions and maintained an impressive 2.3 key passes per game.

His scything passing range could cut through defences to find the electric Son in behind, with the former Norwich City maestro's early-season form even leading pundit Dean Saunders to suggest he was "world-class".

Perhaps when surrounded by such an abundance of truly quality attacking talent, placed in the free-flowing system that Postecoglou will seek to employ, Spurs and indeed Son could finally get back on track with Maddison the catalyst for such a return to the top.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for Harry Kane this summer but now a new update has emerged that could put a dampener on the dreams of bringing him to Old Trafford.

What's the latest on Man United's interest in Harry Kane?

According to The Times, the Red Devils are losing hope of being able to secure the signature of the Tottenham Hotspur striker this summer.

As per the report, Daniel Levy remains firm on not wanting to part ways with his biggest asset whilst Erik ten Hag remains keen to make Kane his leading man in the forward line.

It is claimed that Man United have tried to strike a deal to secure the striker's services already but Levy is adamant that he will not be sold to strengthen a Premier League rival, despite having just one year left on his contract.

Should Man United continue their pursuit of Harry Kane?

There is no doubt that the Manchester giants will be desperate to strengthen in the centre-forward role this summer after the abysmal efforts from loanee Wout Weghorst and mainstay Anthony Martial, with no time to waste in finding the perfect player to take up the role ahead of next season.

However, giving up on the signing of Kane – dubbed "exquisite" by Jamie Redknapp – should not be an option for Ten Hag as the 29-year-old would be a huge asset in the forward line and would comfortably become the club's answer to Wayne Rooney, with the now retired striker never really replaced at Old Trafford.

The compatriots boast incredible similarities as Kane replaced the Man United legend as the most trusted centre-forward for the England national team, not only following in his footsteps to captain the side but also breaking his all-time goal-scoring record on the international stage too.

In terms of their style of play, the pair share even more likeness with Rooney often dropping deeper than a traditional number nine into a versatile play-making role towards the latter stages of his career.

That very much saw him trouble opponents in the same way the Spurs striker does for his team too, both comfortable, confident and prolific in a deeper role with quality wingers either side operating to provide chances for them.

Whilst taking all into consideration, the most striking and vital resemblance that the pair possess is their unrivalled finishing and ability to kill games with their vision for goal, something that would take Man United back to the elite level they were playing at when their all-time goalscorer represented the team in the final third.

Over 49 appearances in all competitions this season, the £100m-valued England captain – hailed as a "GOAT" of the Premier League by Christian Stellini – scored a whopping 32 goals and delivered five assists, as well as making up for 47% of Spurs' goal participations in the top flight and only finishing second to Erling Haaland in the race for the golden boot.

With that being said, if there is even the slightest chance that Man United could strike up a deal to sign Kane this summer they should grab the opportunity with both hands, as his leadership, style of play and hunger for goals could solve Ten Hag's biggest headache next season.

RB Leipzig are still pushing to complete the signing of Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho this summer, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

Is Carvalho still at Liverpool?

There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the future of the 20-year-old of late, following a disappointing first season in a Reds shirt where one may be forgiven for forgetting his existence in the squad.

Carvalho arrived at Anfield from Fulham in last summer's transfer window, with much expected of him, but he ended up being a bit-part player, at best. While a dramatic late winning goal at home to Newcastle United in August was a high point, the £40,000-a-week attacking midfielder only made four Premier League starts.

With new midfield signings expected to come in this summer – Naby Keita has joined Werder Bremen to free up spaces in the squad – and with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez all strong attacking options, it could be difficult for the Liverpool man to enjoy regular football in 2023/24, so he could depart soon.

A move to Leipzig has been strongly mooted numerous times of late, although it remains to be seen if Carvalho could leave on a permanent or temporary basis.

Are Leipzig signing Carvalho?

Writing on Twitter on Friday, Romano said that Leipzig are continuing to push hard to snap up Carvalho this summer, with negotiations ongoing in the coming days:

"Understand RB Leipzig have had more talks with Liverpool this week over Fabio Carvalho deal — told negotiations will continue over the weekend. Liverpool don’t want to lose the player on permanent transfer, now looking for the best solution."

Losing Carvalho permanently doesn't make a huge amount of sense for Liverpool, considering he still such a young player with a bright future, having been hailed as "unbelievable" by Jurgen Klopp earlier in the campaign.

A loan move is surely the best outcome for all parties, allowing the former Fulham man to enjoy some regular playing time next season, before returning to Merseyside a more mature player.

Should Carvalho then fail to kick on beyond that date, it could be time to simply accept that it is a move that hasn't worked out, but selling a big prospect at just 20 years of age, when he could yet become a huge star in years to come, feels reckless.

It should be stressed that he joined a Liverpool team who have struggled all season long, which won't have helped him settle and pick up confidence, so it is harsh to overly judge the lack of impact he has made.

Newcastle United are interested in making a "staggering offer" RB Leipzig midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

Is Szoboszlai shining for Leipzig?

This is arguably the most exciting time to be a Magpies supporters in many years, with everything seemingly going smoothly on and off the pitch under Eddie Howe.

Newcastle are preparing for a return to the Champions League next season, having finished fourth in the Premier League in 2022/23, and it now essential that they bring in top-quality new signings to ensure they keep moving in a positive direction.

One of those players could be Szoboszlai, who has caught the eye with his performances for Leipzig of late, proving to be one of their most effective creative players. Last term, he scored six goals and registered eight assists in 28 Bundesliga starts, as well as averaging 2.3 key passes per game – more than any other player at the club.

With Newcastle still seemingly circling for the £35,000-a-week Hungarian's signature, a key update has now emerged regarding the current situation.

Could Newcastle sign Szoboszlai this summer?

According to L'Equipe [via Sport Witness], the Magpies are "preparing to make a staggering offer" for Szoboszlai, amid interest in Lens striker Lois Openda, too.

The Leipzig man's current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2026, meaning they aren't necessarily in a rush to sell him, although they would clearly be able to receive big money for his services if they do move him on during the upcoming summer window.

Szoboszlai could be such an eye-catching signing for Newcastle, should they get a deal over the line, with the youngster a huge talent with an enormous future ahead of him. He has already scored 62 goals and added 67 assists during his club career, despite his tender years, across spells at FC Liefering, RB Salzburg and Leipzig, not to mention finding the net seven times in 30 caps for Hungary.

He has been dubbed "The Hungarian Maestro" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who has also described him as "something special", further highlighting what big talent he is.

Most at home in a central attacking midfield role, Szobozslai could be an alternative, and potentially cheaper, option to rumoured Newcastle target James Maddison, coming in and offering more of an attacking spark and goal threat than the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, for all their many plus points as players.