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They have received plenty of criticism for it, but Chelsea have signed some extraordinary young talents in recent seasons.

For example, despite still being just 18 years old, Estevao has been a revelation for Enzo Maresca’s side this season.

The young Brazilian has already scored five goals and provided one assist in just 843 minutes, and looks like he could be something truly special.

So, fans should be ecstatic that Chelsea have now signed another highly rated wonderkid who’s been compared not only to Estevao but also to Moises Caicedo.

How Chelsea are repeating their Estevao success

As if Estevao’s doing what he’s doing this season wasn’t already enough, Chelsea fans will have a few more wonderkids making their way to the club in the summer.

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Perhaps the pick of the bunch, and the one who feels most ready to have an impact akin to the Brazilians, is Geovany Quenda.

The Blues paid a whopping £44m for the Portuguese gem back in March, and while that’s a lot of money to spend on someone who is still just 18, he already looks value for money.

For example, in 22 first-team appearances this season, totalling 1273 minutes, the dynamic winger has scored five goals and provided eight assists.

In other words, the “relentless” teenage sensation, as dubbed by Mattinson, is averaging a goal involvement every 1.69 games, or every 97.92 minutes.

Appearances

22

Starts

12

Minutes

1273′

Goals

5

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.59

Minutes per Goal Involvement

97.92′

Points per Game

2.32

Another wonderkid who’ll be making their way back to Stamford Bridge in the summer alongside Quenda is Kendry Páez.

The Ecuadorian midfielder is currently on loan with RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1 and, despite being just 18 years old, is making quite an impression.

In all, he has made 17 first-team appearances for the French outfit and was named young player of the month for September.

Perhaps even more impressive than his club record, the teenage star has also already won 23 caps for Ecuador and will undoubtedly play a role for them at the upcoming World Cup.

The conveyor belt of young talent is going to stop next year though, as BlueCo have now got their hands on another incredible prospect who has been compared to Estevao and Caicedo.

Chelsea's next wonderkid

It was announced on Wednesday that the consortium that owns Chelsea and Strasbourg, BlueCo, had agreed to sign Burkina Faso youngster Mohamed Zongo.

The 16-year-old will join the French club once he is 18, and according to the report, so long as he performs well, he will likely then move to the Blues at a later date.

While this isn’t a story that is going to get the fans all that excited, it is another example of the West Londoners’ owners being proactive and seeking out the best young talent in the world, which is a category Zongo most definitely belongs in.

For example, respected scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed him “one of the most exciting U17 talents in Africa.”

On top of that, U23 scout Antonio Mango has described him as a “magic” talent who has “incredible vision” and “ability to open up the game from all angles and areas.”

Something else that should excite the Stamford Bridge faithful is that he appears to be reasonably versatile, playing as both an attacking midfielder and a right-winger.

Interestingly, journalist and Chelsea writer Lloyd Canfield made a bold statement that the youngster “plays like a unique mix of Estevao and Moises Caicedo.”

The comparison to the Brazilian feels rather straightforward given the 16-year-old’s position and skillset.

However, when it comes to the Ecuadorian, Canfield argues that it’s his ability to shoot from range and control possession in the middle of the park that makes the comparison reasonable.

Ultimately, it’s going to be a while before fans can get a proper look at him, but if what those in the know say is true, BlueCo and, potentially, Chelsea have a real star on their hands.

The end for Tosin: Chelsea ready £52m bid to sign "outstanding" titan

The hugely exciting star could be just the Tosin upgrade that Chelsea and Enzo Maresca have been crying out for.

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England boss Thomas Tuchel is expected to offer Liam Delap a World Cup lifeline as he plans to discuss what the Chelsea striker needs to do in order to earn a first international call-up. Delap moved to Stamford Bridge from Ipswich for £30m over the summer after the young forward impressed for the relegated Tractor Boys. The Blues beat Manchester United to the signing of the 22-year-old.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Delap yet to score league goal since Chelsea switch

  Delap looked bright in his opening Chelsea appearances as he scored one and assisted another in the Blues' successful Club World Cup campaign. However, the young forward has largely struggled to transfer his Ipswich form to the west London side. Delap has failed to directly contribute to a goal in his opening four Premier League outings for Enzo Maresca's side.

  The summer signing did miss two months of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in a 2-0 home win over Fulham back in August, which has prevented the ex-Tractor Boys frontman from building up some form. However, Delap's return to action was marred by a second-half red card in a 4-3 League Cup win at Wolves last month, while he was unable to leave a lasting impression in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Qarabag and the subsequent 3-0 win over Wolves prior to the international break.

  Joao Pedro, who joined from Brighton over the summer, has also caught the eye upfront for the Blues and has scored more goals and provided more assists than any other Chelsea player in the Premier League this season. The Brazilian's impact has magnified Delap's struggles as the former Manchester City youth player looks to justify the club's decision to secure his services.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tuchel tipped to speak with Delap before March break

  Delap is expected to be contacted by England head coach Tuchel before long, however, with the German keen to discuss what the young forward needs to do in order to force his way into the national team, according to the Daily Mail.

  The report adds that "the Chelsea striker is hoping a good second half of the season can place him in contention for this summer's World Cup, which is now a little more than six months away", with rival forwards such as Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, Dominic Solanke, Danny Welbeck not yet considered to have a guaranteed place on the plane.

  As it stands, England captain Harry Kane is the only striker boasting untouchable status.

  It is understood that Tuchel will speak with Delap before England's next training camp in March to outline exactly what he needs to do at Chelsea to boost his chances of selection.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  England boss expected at Chelsea again soon

  Tuchel was spotted at Chelsea's 1-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League and 2-2 draw with Brentford in the Premier League, but Delap was absent from both games due to injury. The England boss is expected to attend several more Chelsea games before March, though, which will allow him to get a good look at the 22-year-old.

  Chelsea's next home league game comes against Arsenal next weekend following a trip to Burnley on Saturday and the welcome of Barcelona in the Champions League next week.

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• England discussing opponents for March friendlies

  England aren't in action again until the March international break having ended 2025 with back-to-back wins over Serbia and Albania to round off World Cup qualification with a 100% record.

  While England's opponents for the March friendlies haven't been confirmed, the Guardian last month reported that they have discussed potential meetings with Uruguay and Japan as part of their World Cup preparations.

Pair join Northern Superchargers after Pakistan players were snubbed in draft earlier this year

Matt Roller04-Aug-2025

Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim have signed contracts with Northern Superchargers, assuaging concerns that Pakistani players would be locked out of the Hundred under new Indian owners.The ECB insisted earlier this year that the identity of new investors – four out of eight are based in India, and a further two are Indian-American – would have no effect on the involvement of Pakistani players in the Hundred. “We’re aware of that in other regions,” Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said in February, “but that won’t be happening here.”Eyebrows were raised when no men’s players were signed at March’s draft, in contrast to previous seasons. But the snub could also be explained by the unavailability of Pakistan’s white-ball squads (due to a tour of West Indies and a tri-series in the UAE), their recent struggles in T20Is, and the late pullouts of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah last year.Related

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Then, on Monday, Amir and Imad became the first two Pakistan players to sign deals for the 2025 season, as late replacements at the Superchargers for Ben Dwarshuis (full season) and Mitchell Santner (two games) due to international duty. The Superchargers’ incoming owners are Indian media tycoons the Sun Group, who will assume operational control on October 1.Amir and Imad will link up with Ben Stokes in the Hundred, who revealed on Monday that he will play an informal, mentoring role at the Superchargers as he starts his rehabilitation from the shoulder injury that ruled him out of England’s fifth Test with India. Stokes opted out of the Hundred earlier this year, but will support Andrew Flintoff and Harry Brook.”You will see me knocking about the Hundred, not in a playing way,” Stokes said. “I had to make a decision in January if I would participate in the comp, but that was after my hamstring surgery. I said I’d still like to be a part of it, so I will be milling about. I won’t have a notebook and pen. I said I would come and give my time to the team. I will be cracking on with my rehab.”Most of England’s Test batters will be available throughout the Hundred, though most of their fast bowlers will be resting. London Spirit have roped in John Simpson as their wicketkeeping to face Oval Invincibles in Tuesday’s curtain-raiser, with Ollie Pope and Jamie Smith both rested, while Glamorgan allrounder Dan Douthwaite has also signed a short-term deal.Mark Chapman and Farhan Ahmed have replaced Rachin Ravindra (international duty, four games) and Marchant de Lange (injury, full tournament) at Manchester Originals, while West Indies allrounder Akeal Hosein will deputise for South Africa’s George Linde at Trent Rockets for two matches.The Hundred replacements:London Spirit: John Simpson and Dan Douthwaite to replace Jamie Smith and Ollie Pope for August 5
Manchester Originals: Mark Chapman to replace Rachin Ravindra (August 6-13), Farhan Ahmed to replace Marchant de Lange; Amuruthaa Surenkumar to replace Ella McCaughan
Northern Superchargers: Imad Wasim to replace Mitchell Santner (August 7-10); Mohammad Amir to replace Ben Dwarshuis
Trent Rockets: Akeal Hosein to replace George Linde (August 10-14)

Arsenal have now joined Real Madrid in the race to sign a “powerful” midfielder from a Champions League club, it has been revealed.

Gunners join race for another new midfielder

Mikel Arteta strengthened his squad considerably in the summer transfer window, with Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard arriving to bolster the midfield options, and the Spain international has made a flying start to life in the Premier League.

There have been suggestions that Zubimendi has already established himself as one of the best midfielders in the top flight, having formed a partnership with Declan Rice, with the duo creating three big chances between them in the 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

With the likes of Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze and Martin Odegaard also on the books, Arteta appears to be well-stocked in both defensive and attacking midfield areas, but the north Londoners have now joined the race to sign a Serie A star.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Arsenal are now monitoring Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram, who has an asking price of €70m (£61m), amid interest from a number of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Real Madrid and Liverpool are also in the race for Thuram, who has established himself as an important player since arriving at the Serie A club in the summer of 2024, and it could be difficult to get a deal done.

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Indeed, considering the midfielder has emerged as an important player and remains under contract until 2029, it could be tricky to tempt Juventus into a sale, but there is certainly interest on the Gunners’ behalf.

"Powerful" Thuram impressing in the Serie A

The France international, who Arteta is a huge fan of, has impressed considerably since returning to the country of his birth, catching the eye with his dribbling skills and ability to score goals and create chances for his teammates over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Non-penalty goals

0.15 (83rd percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.34 (95th percentile)

Progressive carries

2.60 (94th percentile)

Assists

0.15 (79th percentile)

Scout Ben Mattinson has also suggested the 24-year-old is a well-rounded midfielder, describing him as “balanced”, while praising the maestro for his “powerful carrying”, “physicality” and “quick feet.”

The Italy-born maestro, who has 13 Champions League appearances to his name, clearly has the talent to succeed at the Emirates Stadium, but there is no pressing need for Arteta to bring in a new midfielder anytime soon.

With Zubimendi showing his class ever since his arrival, Norgaard on the books as a back-up option, and Rice continuing to impress, chipping in with four goal contributions in the Premier League so far this season, the Arsenal boss already has plenty of top-quality options to choose from.

Celtic have failed to score in six competitive games in the 2025/26 campaign so far, most recently against Dundee on Sunday, as Brendan Rodgers has struggled to find consistent performers at the top end of the pitch.

The Hoops lost one of their most productive attacking outlets in the summer when they sold Nicolas Kuhn to Italian side Como for a fee of £16.5m.

Celtic’s number ten provided 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions last season, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he offered a consistent threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

The German winger’s number ten shirt was vacated when he left to sign for Como, and summer signing Michel-Ange Balikwisha took over the mantle this season.

Why Celtic need more from Michel-Ange Balikwisha

Celtic signed the Belgian forward from Royal Antwerp for a fee £5m to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch, but he has yet to nail down a place in the starting XI.

The right-footed attacker has provided one assist in seven matches in all competitions for the Hoops, failing to score a single goal, and was an unused substitute against Braga in the Europa League, per Sofascore.

Balikwisha’s assist off the bench for Daizen Maeda’s winner against Motherwell before the international break has been his only meaningful contribution in a Celtic shirt to date, which is why he has only started two of his five outings in the Scottish Premiership.

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Celtic need more quality, goals, and assists from their £5m signing in the final third to justify the price tag and the number ten shirt that he inherited from Kuhn.

Whilst Balikwisha is failing to live up to the number ten shirt, there is another summer signing whose form for the club suggests that he could snatch that number from the Belgian.

Why Sebastian Tounekti is Celtic's next number ten in the making

Sebastian Tounekti arrived from Hammarby for a fee of around £5m, so a similar price tag to Balikwisha’s, and he has hit the ground running in Scotland.

The Tunisia international has started all seven of his appearances for the club since his move to Parkhead on deadline day, including four in the Premiership, two in the Europa League, and one in the League Cup.

Tounekti endeared himself to the supporters in his first appearance for the Hoops against Kilmarnock in September, with direct play that led to four chances created, per Sofascore.

The 23-year-old star scored his first goal for the Scottish giants against Partick Thistle in the League Cup, but he has yet to register a goal or an assist in the Premiership, despite his best efforts.

25/26 Premiership

Sebastian Tounekti

Appearances

4

Goals

0

Key passes per game

2.5

Assists

0

Dribbles completed per game

1.8

Dribble success rate

41%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Tunisian star has created ten chances for his teammates in just four appearances, but they have failed to take any of them, which suggests that he is incredibly unfortunate not to have assisted any goals.

Journalist John McGinley claimed “likes being a problem” to opposition defences. That is a quote that sums Tounekti up perfectly, as he is a fearless winger who likes to take players on and make things happen, just as Kuhn was for the Hoops last term.

Balikwisha, who has created 0.4 chances per game and failed to complete any dribbles in the Premiership (Sofascore), has not played with that same fearless attitude in his appearances on the flank.

Unless the Belgian winger can turn his form around and produce performances full of flair, leading to goals and assists, for Celtic in the coming months, there may be question marks over his suitability for the Scottish giants.

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If that becomes the case, Tounekti’s fearless performances could see him in pole position to snatch the number ten shirt away from him when the time comes, as he embodies what Kuhn provided with his exciting displays on the wing before his move to Como.

Despite slipping to a late defeat on the road at Crystal Palace on Saturday, Liverpool remain at the summit of the Premier League for the time being.

Arne Slot and Co had five straight league wins to thank for their table-topping position, but the concerning nature of their defeat at the hands of Oliver Glasner’s Palace will make those with connections to the Anfield giants worry about more crushing losses to come.

It’s too soon to be furiously pounding the panic button, but there will still be an uneasiness in the air surrounding Mohamed Salah’s poor performances of late, as the ageing winger now inevitably faces the winding down of his esteemed playing days.

Salah's poor performances in numbers

Staggeringly, if you remove his opening day strike against AFC Bournemouth from the equation, Salah only has a last-minute penalty against Burnley to shout about for his goalscoring efforts this season.

He does also have two assists next to his name, but it was a worryingly sub-par showing from the usually enigmatic Egyptian against the tough to break down Eagles, with Tyrick Mitchell managing to make the “world-class” ace – as he was once dubbed by Jurgen Klopp – look ordinary.

Salah was arguably lucky to last the full 90 minutes, with the lacklustre number 11 managing to complete none of his dribble attempts to try and catch out a resolute Palace defence, while also squandering two big chances to try and keep the Reds’ 100% record intact.

It does feel rather far-fetched that Salah will be dropped, though, even with these off-days popping up, but Slot will have one eye on the future now, surely, with the left-footed ace coming in at 33 years of age.

Thankfully, Liverpool do have some shiny starlets in the youth set-up who will be desperate to make more considerable strides in the first team picture soon, with one rising attacker maybe even aiming to become the next Salah in time.

Liverpool's up and coming Salah heir

When the day comes that Salah leaves Anfield behind, it will be an extremely tough task to try and instantly replace the Egyptian’s unmistakable star quality.

Despite visible chinks in his armour now appearing, Salah does boast an unbelievable 248 goals and 116 assists for the Reds, with two Premier League triumphs and a Champions League trophy lifted off the back of his blistering heroics.

Still, everybody has their day in the sun before they have to walk away, and with Liverpool already beginning to put the pieces together for a new-look attack with Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz in through the door this summer, there could soon be a queue of candidates wanting to take over from the modern day icon as Liverpool’s electric spark down the flanks.

Rio Ngumoha might well fancy his chances at being a long-term successor to Salah’s throne, having already lit up the Premier League this season with a Salah-like moment of quality when breaking Newcastle United hearts with a last-gasp winner at St. James’ Park.

In the right place at the right time to smash home that decisive strike, the tricky 17-year-old also managed to complete one successful dribble, despite only being present on the Tyneside turf for eight minutes.

Having also scored and assisted for fun in pre-season for Slot’s men – with two goals and two assists registered against the likes of Athletic Bilbao and AC Milan – it does feel like only a matter of time before Nguhoma enters into the Dutchman’s first team plans and remains there.

The future is immensely bright for this talented teen, with his former youth coach in Saul Isaksson-Hurst even going as far as to say he could one day make the Ballon d’Or shortlist like Salah.

Nguhoma’s current moment in the spotlight at Anfield could have well been Chelsea’s own success story in an alternate reality, with the teenage sensation lining up nine times for the Chelsea U18s before moving to Merseyside.

Of course, Salah was also once let go of prematurely by the Blues, before turning into a world beater donning Liverpool red.

With a Salah-like directness present in his game, also making him “one of the best young wingers in Europe” according to Secret Scout, there is an unbelievable level of hype already surrounding the 17-year-old’s name.

It will be up to the England U19 international and those around him to ensure he is brave enough to ride these choppy upcoming waves, but a homegrown Salah potentially being in the works is an absurd thought.

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Angus Sinclair

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Did the ball or the keeper’s gloves hit the stumps, or both, and which came first? “There was enough doubt,” says Aakash Chopra

ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-20251:58

Shubman Gill’s runout – the Time Out verdict

Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler were going well, having added 62 for the second wicket and taken Gujarat Titans (GT) to a solid 149 in the 13th over against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Just then, the partnership was ended by a run out, a dismissal that sparked debate: were the bails dislodged by the throw from short fine-leg, or by wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen’s gloves? Gill was given run out by the TV umpire, but Aakash Chopra said “there was enough doubt” to turn the appeal down.Here’s what happened: Zeeshan Ansari, the legspinner, bowled a googly to Buttler, who flicked the ball behind square on the leg side, and the batters took off for a single. It didn’t seem too hurried, but as Harshal Patel hurled the ball at the stumps, Gill needed to stretch to get to the crease at the striker’s end. As the ball came in, Klaasen’s right hand – he stood adjacent to the stumps, not behind the line of the throw – seemed to go quite close to the stumps just as the ball appeared to hit them.”My point is simple, that hitting the stumps is not good enough these days. We’ve seen Jofra Archer bowling at 145 clicks, it hits the stumps, it’s visible to the naked eye, you can clearly make out that it’s hit the stumps, but the bails haven’t come off – thank you very much. You have to establish, there has to be conclusive evidence to suggest that the bails have come off courtesy that hit, the ball hitting the stumps, because, afterwards, we also saw the hands also flicking the stumps,” Chopra said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show.Related

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The decision was sent to TV umpire Michael Gough, who, not certain after the initial replays, asked for one that would show the trajectory of the ball, whether it (a) changed direction as it passed the gloves, to confirm that there was a deflection, and (b) hit the stumps. The replays seemed to suggest the ball did change direction. The question was what hit the stumps first: ball or gloves?”In my opinion, there was enough doubt. That’s what I felt. There is enough doubt to suggest that it wasn’t the ball,” Chopra said. “Because the moment it hit the stumps, the zing [lights] didn’t actually come on. Strangely enough. The hand, the glove was really close to the stumps, and it looked like, to me, that they’d hit the stumps. So what caused the disturbance in the end… it is definitely [doubtful].”Gill was given out. It didn’t affect GT much, as they still got to an above-par 224 for 6 and then stopped SRH at 186 for 6 to climb to No. 2 on the IPL 2025 points table. But Gill was visibly unhappy with the decision, and showed it as he returned to the dugout and again, after the game, when he spoke to the officials.

One of Everton’s marquee summer signings in 2025 was young centre-forward Thierno Barry. The Frenchman joined from Villarreal over the summer, costing the Toffees a fee said to be £27m. He signed a four-year contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

David Moyes is certainly easing him into his new club, which is smart given he is just 22 years of age. Barry has played just 143 minutes so far, and although he hasn’t scored, his record for the Yellow Submarine last season suggests he has top potential. He bagged 11 goals and assisted four in 35 La Liga games.

Eventually, it seems as though the plan is for Barry to replace Everton’s current first-choice striker, Beto.

Beto’s season so far

The man leading the line this season has tended to be Guinea-Bissau international Beto. The 27-year-old has struggled to find his best form on Merseyside, but this term he’s shown a glimpse of what he can do at his best.

That is best highlighted by the fact he’s already scored this season, both in the Carabao Cup against Mansfield and in the Premier League.

That strike in the top flight came in the 3-2 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the former Udinese star opening the scoring thanks to a Jack Grealish assist.

Yet, the striker has not really shown his best form in an Everton shirt, across his time for the club. In 75 appearances since moving to Merseyside in 2023, he’s only found the back of the net 17 times.

Beto’s average of 0.22 goals per game certainly leaves a lot to be desired. There are flashes of brilliance, and he scored eight Premier League goals in 30 games last season, but he has yet to prove himself a reliable and consistent asset.

It may well be the case that Everton look at bringing through a new striker soon enough. Barry is waiting in the wings, and they also have someone out on loan who could be a perfect long-term option.

Everton’s on-loan Beto replacement

The Toffees have certainly got some good options in their academy. Young playmaker Harrison Armstrong is someone who has been in and around the first team and grabbed two assists in the cup clash with Masfield.

Another player who could one day break through and become the eventual Beto replacement is Martin Sherif. The 19-year-old is currently out on loan at League One club Rotherham United and has made a strong start despite picking up an injury.

The Dutchman, who has played for the Netherlands at under-17 level, has featured three times for the Millers this term. He’s already bagged one goal, scoring on his debut in a 2-2 draw against Wigan Athletic, a game in which he also played 90 minutes.

His stats from that game against Wigan show the kind of quality that the young striker has. Although he only had 23 touches, he made them count, registering two shots on target. Off the ball, he won five duels, showing an impressive work rate.

Touches

23

Pass accuracy

83%

Key passes

1

Shots on target

2

Goals

1

Duels won

5

The 19-year-old, described as a “nuisance” of a striker by journalist Lewis Bower, has featured on the bench for the Toffees. Although he is yet to make his debut, Sherif has featured in the matchday squad nine times.

As for his record for the academy sides on Merseyside, the numbers are yet more evidence that he could become a top striker.

In the under-18s Premier League, he’s scored 21 times in just 40 appearances, and has five Premier League 2 goals.

It remains to be seen just how much longer Beto can keep his place in the starting lineup at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. One thing is for sure, with Barry an option for Moyes and Sherif gaining valuable loan experience, the competition for places is exciting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

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Arsenal are now expected to rival Liverpool for the signature of an “elite” player, who Declan Rice is a big fan of.

Gunners lay down marker with victory against Nottingham Forest

The Gunners suffered an early setback in the Premier League title race at Anfield before the international break, with Liverpool emerging as 1-0 victors, but they got right back on track against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.

A Martin Zubimendi brace either side of Viktor Gyokeres’ third goal of the season ensured the north Londoners picked up all three points, sending Mikel Arteta’s side back to the top of the Premier League table.

As expected, Arteta’s side have looked particularly impressive from a defensive point of view up to this point, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s arguably unstoppable free-kick the only goal they have conceded in the opening four games.

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He’s a future star…

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However, there has now been a suggestion that Arteta remains keen on strengthening his backline even further, with a report from The Boot Room revealing Arsenal are now expected to rival Liverpool for the signature of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

Arne Slot’s side are still the favourites to sign Guehi, despite missing out on a £35m deal during the summer transfer window, but there could now be stiff competition for the centre-back’s signature, with a whole host of Europe’s top clubs, including Chelsea, also keen.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey adds: “He is a fantastic person and everyone who meets him relays that fact – I was told by one high ranking Premier League executive that signing him is one of the ‘least risky’ transfers that anyone could do.

"Elite" Guehi would provide incredible depth for Arteta

Arteta is already blessed with a number of top-quality options at centre-back, with William Saliba and Gabriel forming a formidable partnership, which led to the Gunners boasting the best defensive record in the Premier League last season.

Having also signed Cristhian Mosquera in the summer transfer window, there are doubts over whether signing another defender is necessary, but the Crystal Palace star clearly has the ability to be a success at the Emirates Stadium.

Lauded as an “elite” centre-back by writer Eddie Gibbs, the 25-year-old is now an established England international, picking up 25 caps, with Statman Dave recently singing him out for praise for his performance in the 5-0 victory against Serbia.

The Englishman, who Rice is a big fan of, scored his first goal for the Three Lions in the thrashing, while he has also made a flying start to the season at club level, particularly impressing in a 3-0 victory against Aston Villa.

Guehi stats vs Villa

Number completed

Goals

1

Duels won

5

Clearances

5

Tackles

3

That said, it could be very difficult for Guehi to displace Saliba or Gabriel in the starting XI, so a move to Anfield could make more sense, especially if Ibrahima Konate doesn’t sign a new contract.

Ilkay Gundogan has lamented Galatasaray's mental fragility following their 5-1 Champions League thrashing by Eintracht Frankfurt. The ex-Manchester City star claimed his side were superior until the German team equalised, after which their "heads were hanging down". Gundogan admitted they "invited" Frankfurt to score and must improve as a group as they look to bounce back from the humiliation.

Gundogan on Galatasaray's UCL loss

Galatasaray got off to the perfect start in Frankfurt when Yunus Akgun scored just eight minutes into their first game of the competition. However, a Davinson Sanchez own goal tied the game after 37 minutes, and the Bundesliga club ended the first half with two stoppage time goals to put them fully in control at the break.

Gundogan has claimed Galatasaray were "clearly the better team" before the mental collapse that resulted in the stunning 5-1 demolition. Speaking to after the match, the former City captain expressed his frustration at the simple mistakes and poor reaction from his side after conceding the equaliser.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGundogan on Galatasaray's mental collapse

The 34-year-old midfielder, who joined the Turkish giants in the summer, was positive about his team's initial performance but was critical of their response to adversity. He pinpointed Frankfurt's first goal as the moment the game turned, suggesting his team's spirit broke after the setback.

"I think we were clearly the better team until the 1-1 score – we even had chances to score the second goal," Gundogan began. "Then we conceded the 1-1 and you could already see on the pitch that their heads were hanging down and that their courage was somehow lacking."

'We invited Frankfurt to score'

Galatasaray conceded two more goals in the second half, with Gundogan admitting the defeat was self-inflicted. He stated that errors at this level will always be punished and that Frankfurt were clinical in taking their chances.

"It felt like we invited Frankfurt every time we conceded, simply giving them away," a disappointed Gundogan said. "In the Champions League, every opponent has the quality to punish these errors. If you make the first, the second, the third, then you'll be punished at some point. Frankfurt did that coolly today and scored five goals accordingly. It just wasn't good enough overall."

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Getty Images SportWhat next for Galatasaray in Europe?

The heavy defeat is a significant blow to a Galatasaray side that invested heavily in the summer, bringing in established top-level talent like Gundogan and Leroy Sane, who set up their goal, to compete in Europe. The midfielder issued a call for his team to function better as a unit to achieve their objectives. 

"We have a lot of individually strong players who can play at a very, very high level. We have to manage to bring that to the pitch as a group," he added. The Turkish club's aim remains to qualify for the knockout phase, with seven games remaining in the Champions League's new league stage to turn their campaign around.