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Manchester United left-back Sergio Reguilon will be available for the Premier League game away against Arsenal later today, Erik ten Hag has now confirmed.

What's the latest Man United injury news?

Ahead of Man United's trip to the Emirates Stadium, Ten Hag has a number of injury concerns, with Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo among the main players currently sidelined, and two first-team players have now also been ruled out.

Mason Mount is not expected to return from a "small complaint" until after the upcoming international break, with Luke Shaw potentially set to miss out for a little while longer, and United have recently released a statement about the left-back's fitness:

"Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has sustained an injury which will rule him out of forthcoming games," the statement regarding Shaw stated. "The muscle issue is still being assessed but the England left-back is expected to be out of action for a number of weeks."

As such, the Red Devils are short of options at left-back, with Ten Hag already being forced to play Diogo Dalot on his unfavoured side once this season, so it is a real boost that Reguilon is set to be available for this afternoon's game.

When asked by the media whether the Spaniard could be involved today, the manager confirmed he will be available, having already trained with the first-team.

Ten Hag also added: "He's very experienced," added Ten Hag. "Played for big clubs, played a lot of games in LaLiga and Premier League.

"We had a problem with Shaw and Malacia and I think we responded very well to that emergency situation."

Speaking after he completed his move to Old Trafford, the 26-year-old seemed eager to impress at his new club, saying:

"In life, you have to be ready for everything and the chance to represent this great club with such an illustrious history is one that I could not turn down.

"I know that I can contribute to Manchester United this season; I am ready to fight for this group and show everyone my qualities."

Is Sergio Reguilon on loan?

The Spaniard joined on a loan deal on deadline day, which means he is set to stay at Man United until June 2024, although, as with all loans, a permanent move could be on the cards if he performs well, and there are indications he could be a good addition.

Lauded as "fantastic" by members of the media, the former Real Madrid man has experience playing for some top clubs, including Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, while he also has some Premier League experience under his belt, making 52 appearances in the top flight for Spurs.

Given that Tottenham were willing to loan Reguilon out, there may be some concern over whether he is good enough for Man United, but at the very least he is a natural left-back, which means Ten Hag will not be forced to play Dalot out of position again.

Derby County have been dealt a huge blow involving one of their senior players, and Paul Warne has delivered a further update surrounding the setback at Pride Park.

What's the latest news at Derby?

In League One so far this season, Warne’s side have won three and lost three of their opening six fixtures, so it’s been a mixed start to the new campaign, where having taken nine points out of a possible 18, they find themselves sat 11th in the table.

Whilst the summer transfer window has now closed, the Rams boss has hinted that he could enter the market to bolster his ranks with free agents due to Liam Thompson, Max Bird, Kane Wilson and Joe Ward being sidelined through injury, and another one of his stars who is now set to also be out of action is Jake Rooney.

During Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers, the centre-back was forced off the pitch after just 14 minutes with what appeared to be a serious problem, and having since had a scan to discover the extent of his issue, it sounds like he won’t be staging his comeback anytime soon.

How long is Jake Rooney out for?

According to Derby's official website, Rooney has sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage to his right knee, and Warne has publicly addressed supporters regarding his situation. He said:

“It's heartbreaking news for Jake to suffer this injury. He had forced his way into the team in the last few games and done really well. It's tough being a young professional when you're trying to make your way in the game and to have this sort of injury is hugely disappointing.

"We are gutted for him, but he’s got our full support and we’ll do everything we can to help him get back in the best possible condition.”

How good is Jake Rooney?

Despite only joining the club last summer from Burnley, Rooney has already made 21 senior appearances for Derby and has become a regular feature of the senior squad, so considering the positive impact he’s had, this news will of course be a blow to Warne.

The rising star, who pockets £760-per-week, was averaging 3.3 clearances and 2.7 tackles per third tier game prior to his absence, via WhoScored, highlighting his desire to get stuck in and showing the rock he was at the heart of the boss’ backline.

Furthermore, the 20-year-old is extremely calm and composed on the ball having recorded a 78.5% pass success rate which is the fourth-highest throughout the whole of the team, though this is yet another attribute that the manager will have to cope without for a large remainder of the season.

Rooney has been dubbed a "class act" by Rams reporter Leigh Curtis given the talent he has at such a young age, and whilst this injury will be a major setback in his development, here's hoping that he will return stronger to become an integral player for the long-term future of the club.

Arsenal have been rejuvenated under Mikel Arteta, with the Spaniard rewriting both his own and the club's story in north London during his tenure so far.

The former Gunners midfielder was hired as manager in December 2019, experiencing initial lows to build the foundations for the highs that have been present at the club in recent years.

Last season, Arsenal finished in second place, their highest league finish since the 2015/16 campaign under Arsene Wenger, and subsequently fired the club back into the Champions League after a six-year absence from the competition.

In that time, the 41-year-old has delivered two Community Shield prizes and one FA Cup, with last term having those at the Emirates dreaming of their first title win since the immaculate 2004 unbeaten season.

The Gunners did of course finish just shy of treble winners Manchester City, however faith was officially restored for the Reds, with such form subsequently prompting a strong streak of activity in the summer transfer window.

Arsenal got their business done swiftly, acquiring the services of Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya, as well as smashing their transfer record to welcome £105m midfielder Declan Rice to the fold.

It was a sufficient summer in terms of adding reinforcements to the squad, leaving deadline day quiet in contrasting fashion to years before.

Back in 2014, deadline day sparked a moment of euphoria at the Emirates, as it was announced in the dying hours of the window that Arsenal had signed Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil.

The deal that was worth £42.4m was hugely significant for Wenger’s side back then, as it marked the club’s new transfer record fee, smashing the previous highest fee by £27.4m, via BBC.

How good was Mesut Ozil?

At the time of his arrival, Ozil was renowned as being one of the best playmakers in Europe, having succeeded with Los Blancos – for whom he registered 81 assists in just 159 games – and cementing himself as a favourite in the German national team.

The then 24-year-old added glamour to north London in what was the biggest signing of the Emirates era at the time, making fans instantly fall in love with his on-field charm.

It didn’t take long for the Gelsenkirchen-born wizard to make his mark in the Premier League, registering his first assist on his debut against Sunderland.

It was the first of many assists for the “assist king”, as branded by COPA90, who recorded a total of 79 assists in all competitions over his 254 appearances for Arsenal.

Ozil matched his career high of 19 assists in a single league season in the 2015/16 Premier League season, a feat he had pulled off twice before for Madrid in the 2011/12 and 2010/11 La Liga campaigns.

Despite being a mammoth creator during his time in north London, the German was heavily criticised for inconsistency, with club legend Michael Thomas insisting that he “could have been so much more”, had he not struggled with “not enough consistency”, via CaughtOffside.

Things for Ozil deteriorated after Wenger’s departure, where he fell down the pecking order under Unai Emery, and even further under Arteta, who didn’t see the former Galactico in his plans.

In his final season at Arsenal, the German made only 18 appearances in the Premier League, scoring on one occasion to bring his time in north London to an end.

In 2021, the German said his farewell to Arsenal, with his tenure at the club splitting opinion as to whether he did enough, and whether he lived up to his price tag that was deemed high at the time.

With Ozil’s playing style being so unique, it’s difficult to base his time with the Gunners by forming comparisons, with not many posing to be as creative as him, despite perhaps adding more in other areas.

However, his Emirates legacy can be used in discussion to determine his career in the Premier League, with one name prevailing as a figure that has the ability to leave behind a more significant legacy than the German.

Can Martin Odegaard surpass Mesut Ozil?

Deployed in an identical position as a central attacking midfielder, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been one of Arteta’s most important players since his arrival as manager.

Like Ozil, the Norwegian made the move from Madrid to Islington, sealing the £34m switch to the club in 2021 after succeeding on an initial loan spell the season prior.

Signed by Real Madrid aged 16, Odegaard needed little introduction to the heights of his talents, showcasing them enough to earn a permanent move to the Premier League after his loan cameo.

Lauded as being “really special” by journalist James Benge, the 24-year-old was named Arsenal captain last summer, and has shone in taking on the responsibility at such a young age.

Last campaign, the Norway international had a hand in 23 goals in 37 appearances, leading the way for the Gunners to compete in the title race with City.

While Ozil made his fair share of goal contributions over the years at Arsenal, it was frequently argued whether he was doing enough to warrant his reputation, which was a fair topic to raise as he tended to slip under the radar when it mattered.

There was some confusion with Odegaard being named captain considering his age and time at the club, however it can’t be argued that the midfielder has stepped up to the challenge, being a motivational source on the pitch.

What the Norwegian brings is that need for someone to rise up and take control when times are tough, a trait that the German failed to take up consistently.

Arsenal have been blessed to have had two attacking talents as efficient as both Ozil and Odegaard, however now that the former Fenerbahce whiz’s time at the club has ended, the opportunity is there for the 24-year-old to surpass his heights.

With reference to legacies, the club captain has the opportunity to guide the Gunners to silverware untouched by Ozil during his time in England, with him frequently being at the heart of positive things under Arteta.

The keys are there for the Norwegian to open the doors left locked by the German during his time at the Emirates, with consistency the firm difference between what can make a player unforgettable instead of memorable.

Everton have been backed to appoint an up and coming English manager to replace Sean Dyche, with one BBC pundit hinting the man in question would be well suited to the role at Goodison Park.

Is Sean Dyche under pressure?

In the Premier League, Sean Dyche’s side have had a hugely disappointing start to the new campaign having suffered four defeats and secured just one draw from their opening five games, so with only a single point on the board, they find themselves in the relegation zone.

Speaking to TalkSPORT, a Toffees supporter recently called for the boss to be relieved of his duties with the side yet to show any signs of improvement, and interestingly, there was one out-of-work coach that he named as someone he’d like to take to the dugout instead.

Following his departure from Chelsea back in April, Graham Potter is yet to return to the sidelines and start his next adventure, but that has been more of a personal choice to take a break because he has been offered the chance to get back to work.

Scottish Premiership giants Glasgow Rangers reportedly earmarked the 48-year-old as a potential candidate to replace Michael Beale should he be sacked, but the same outlet claim that he has rejected the opportunity to make the move north of the border, meaning that he is still a free agent on the market and waiting to be snapped up.

Are Everton appointing Graham Potter?

Speaking to the Premier League Weekend Wrap, BBC Radio 5 Live man Don Hutchison delivered his verdict on Everton’s poor opening to the season and name-checked Potter as someone who could revitalise the squad.

As quoted by Goodison News, he said: “I wonder what they can do under Graham Potter. Because that group of players are underperforming. You have to take six points from Brentford and Luton Town if you are Sean Dyche.”

What is Graham Potter's managerial record?

Since the start of his managerial career, Potter has recorded 185 victories and 118 draws from 440 games whilst averaging 1.53 points per match, via Transfermarkt, and even though his spell at Chelsea didn’t go as well as hoped, he’s still a coach with plenty to offer.

The Solihull-born boss has been hailed for his “attacking” style of play by journalist Josh Bunting, while his preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1, and that is a tactic that’s worked well in the past with him twice beating the outfit on Merseyside when in charge of the opposition.

Furthermore, Potter shares the same agent, Wasserman, as Andre Gomes and Joao Virginia, so this existing connection that his representative already has to the club could give the hierarchy a small advantage should they decide to sack their current leader and replace him with the man who used to be at Stamford Bridge.

Whilst Everton fans will be aware that this is nothing more than speculation at this stage, they will end up wanting someone new in charge should performances and results not improve in the near future, so this could be one to watch over the next few weeks and months.

With Harry Kane having sealed a £100m move to Germany this summer, the Englishman's exit eclipsed Tottenham Hotspur's previous record departure – ten years on from the sale of Gareth Bale back in 2013.

The Welsh wing wizard was snapped up at the tail-end of that summer window by La Liga giants Real Madrid, with the Spanish outfit forking out a reported fee of around £85.3m, a sizeable increase on the Lilywhites' initial £10m investment back in 2007.

The now-retired forward had warranted that interest after emerging as the undoubted talisman at White Hart Lane, notably bagging 26 goals and registering 14 assists in just 44 games in all competitions during the 2012/13 season.

Rather than attempting to fill the former Southampton man's void with a marquee, high-profile replacement, however, Daniel Levy and co opted to instead spread the funds around, bringing in the infamous 'magnificent seven' to help bolster Andre Villas-Boas' ranks.

While that septet did include a certain Christian Eriksen – who went on to make 305 appearances for the club in all competitions – it was largely a tale of disappointment, with Roberto Soldado, for instance, netting just 13 goals following his £26m switch from Spain.

Among those who also failed to live up to the billing was Erik Lamela, with the Argentine winger – who actually spent longer at N17 than Eriksen – not making the impact that was expected at the time of his arrival.

Why did Tottenham sign Erik Lamela?

While the north Londoners did not actively seek a direct replacement for departing hero, Bale, it was suggested at the time that Lamela could prove the perfect solution, with club legend Ossie Ardiles having stated:

"He is not as powerful but he is more skilled than Bale. He has been nicknamed the ‘new Messi’ and that’s right – it’s a sign of how talented he is."

That glowing praise from his legendary compatriot was an indication of just how highly regarded Tottenham's new number 11 was, even though the player himself had moved to reject any comparisons to the shirt's former incumbent.

Such rave reviews had no doubt been warranted amid Lamela's fine form during his time in Italy for Serie A giants, Roma, having contributed 21 goals and 13 assists in just 67 games in all competitions for his previous employers.

That impact in Rome had only served to heighten the talk regarding the 'next Messi' – as noted by journalist Ian Hawkey – with it having been easy to see why Villas-Boas and Levy were so keen to get their man amid Bale's departure.

How much did Tottenham pay for Erik Lamela?

While it was Soldado who had initially been the most expensive capture of that 2013 window – ahead of Paulinho – the purchase of Lamela saw the club break their transfer record once again, with the 5 foot 11 playmaker joining for a fee of around £30m.

Perhaps burdened by that hefty price tag, the Bale successor was unable to have the impact that he would have hoped for during his debut campaign in English football, having been ruled out for much of the season with a back issue.

As it proved, the marquee signing was something of a bystander to proceedings as he scored just one goal and provided only four assists in 17 games in all competitions in 2013/14, with rumours having been rife that summer that a move to Inter Milan was on the cards.

No such exit occurred, however, as the Buenos Aires-born enigma stayed put until his departure two years ago, although, despite that lengthy stay at N17, it wasn't exactly a smooth ride for the left-footer from then on.

What went wrong for Lamela at Tottenham?

There's no denying that the 25-cap Argentina international was capable of moments of genius during his time in Lilywhites, notably scoring that outrageous Rabona against Asteras in the Europa League back in October 2014.

The fleet-footed dynamo also replicated that attempt against bitter rivals Arsenal in 2021 – earning the famed Puskas award in the process – with such strikes serving as a reminder of the quality that the wideman did possess.

The problem was, however, that those flashes of brilliance were far too infrequent, with Lamela hardly proving himself to be someone whom the likes of Mauricio Pochettino or Jose Mourinho could rely upon.

Under Pochettino, in particular, the one-time River Plate star was unable to establish himself as a regular starter in the side, with the current Chelsea boss preferring a forward line involving Kane, Eriksen, Heung-min Son and Dele Alli.

The issue was seemingly his "inconsistency", as pundit Paul Robinson noted amid Lamela's impending exit, with the former England stopper going on to add: “Everybody knows the guy’s got heaps of talent. When you say about his injuries and his inconsistency, he never quite made it to the level of the player we expected.

“He was one of the players that replaced Gareth Bale. There were four or five players, weren’t there, that came in when Bale left. It was to try and fill these gaps.

“I’m not saying he was that player but he certainly had the ability to do things out of the ordinary. That’s the frustrating thing for managers, when you think you’ve got a diamond and the diamond only shines now and again."

With 82 goals and assists in 257 games in all competitions for the club under his belt, the experienced asset finally departed in 2021 in order to join Sevilla, with Bryan Gil moving in the other direction.

Where is Erik Lamela now?

That return to Spain has proven rather fruitful for the 32-year-old as he boasts a haul of 22 goal involvements in just 81 appearances in all competitions for his current employers, including netting twice in only six La Liga appearances this season.

The £55k-per-week asset was also particularly crucial during the Andalusian side's shock Europa League triumph last season after scoring twice and registering two assists in eight games in the competition, with two of those goal contributions coming in the semi-final victory over Juventus.

After years of pain at Spurs, the ageing talent was finally able to end his search for silverware, making a positive start to life in his new surroundings so far.

That impact in Seville is an indication that the 'frustrating' talent has certainly enjoyed a respectable career, although those prior comparisons to the iconic figure of Bale do now look rather foolish.

Under-fire Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has claimed that his project with the Red Devils is "going in the right direction".

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• Ten Hag insists United "going in the right direction"
• Won the club's first trophy in six years
• Reiterates injuries having ruined their chances

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils are now on a two-game losing streak in the league and have fallen 11 points short of the top four after 27 games this season. Ten Hag's position is now under strain due to the team's performances and given the addition of new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but the Dutchman has reported that he is pleased with the club's direction under his leadership.

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• WHAT TEN HAG SAID

  Speaking to the media ahead of the game, the Dutchman said [via ]: "The project is going in the right direction when we have the players available. Top football is about winning games and we're working, keep working on better performances. We want to play to maximum levels and we will have to do it with the players available, who are good players. In key positions you miss players who have a very high impact on the way we want to play.

  "We want to be successful, we need to be successful, but sometimes seasons are going like we are now in but we don't accept that. We will fight, we have had problems and still have problems with the squad injury-wise. But with the players we have available we will fight, and we go into every game – it doesn't matter who is the opposition – we go for the win.

  "It [his win percentage] tells that we are in the right direction. So imagine we had many more players available and we had not so many setbacks and injuries, it could easily have been 75 wins and that tells the bright future of this team when players are available. When you compare it with other managers, other teams in a building stage, or previous managers in this big club then you can see there is a bright future.

  "It is a good balance in ages in this squad. Young players, middle-aged players, experienced players together. Imagine when they are available, it could easily have won 75 from 100 games. It is a big difference with the stats you mentioned."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Omari Forson's absence from United's match against Everton in the Premier League on Saturday marks the 48th time that a player has missed a match for the Red Devils due to an injury or illness. This season's disappointments mark a decide change from last season, when Ten Hag led United to their first trophy in nearly six years in the League Cup. They also finished third in the Premier League standings and advanced to the FA Cup final, falling to defeat to treble-winners City.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Ten Hag will lead his side out against Sean Dyche's Everton in Saturday's early kick-off at Old Trafford as they look to end their two-game losing streak in the league. A win could see them close the gap on fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who are currently six points away.

James McClean admitted he was "p*ssed" off with himself after picking up a suspension as Wrexham were held to a goalless draw with Harrogate Town.

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• Wrexham held to 0-0 draw with Harrogate
• Winger McClean to miss next two matches
• Frustrated over his actions

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Dragons missed the chance to go joint top with League Two leaders Mansfield after failing to break down a resolute Harrogate at the Racecourse on Tuesday night. To make matters worse, former Republic of Ireland international McClean will miss the Welsh side's next two games due to picking up his 10th booking of the season – something he was "frustrated" about.

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  WHAT JAMES MCCLEAN SAID

  The 34-year-old wrote in an Instagram story: "A night of frustration, a point gained tho[ugh], p*ssed with myself picking up a suspension now but we drive her on."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While many Wrexham fans may feel like this result was two points dropped rather than one point gained, they are now up to second in the table with nine games remaining. However, third-placed Stockport have two games in hand and are just a point behind, and Crewe are just three points back in fourth. Although it is very close, Wrexham are in the automatic promotion spots ahead of the final stretch of the season.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Phil Parkinson's Wrexham, who have the best home record in the division, have a chance to strengthen their hold on the automatic promotion spots when they host Tranmere at the weekend at the Racecourse.

Crystal Palace are now scouting a striker who was last season’s “top-scoring teenager” in Europe, but they may face competition for his signature from Premier League rivals Leicester City, according to a report.

Palace planning for the summer

After a difficult start to the campaign, Palace have found their feet as the season has gone on, and they look set to secure yet another mid-table finish in the Premier League, despite there still being a third of the season left to play.

Oliver Glasner will no doubt be looking to take a step forward and push for Europe next season, but it could be a difficult task, with doubt lingering over the futures of Marc Guehi and Jean-Philippe Mateta, who have both been attracting attention.

In truth, it looks likely Guehi will move on in the summer, given that the defender will have just one year remaining on his contract by that point, but Steve Parish is determined to keep hold of Mateta, with a big pay rise potentially on the cards.

Crystal Palace scouts keeping a close eye on £20m gem ahead of the summer

Crystal Palace are among the teams interested in signing a rising star in the second tier.

By
Brett Worthington

Feb 17, 2025

That said, it is by no means a guarantee the striker will remain at Selhurst Park, and the Eagles are now looking at new options ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to a report from Bold (via Sport Witness), Crystal Palace have been keeping a close eye on FC Midtjylland striker Franculino Dju, having sent scouts to watch the Danish Superliga star in recent weeks.

Leicester are also named as potential suitors for Dju, and there is a feeling the Foxes are particularly keen on getting a deal done, given that they have watched him in action on several occasions.

Bayer Leverkusen and Besiktas have also been named as potential suitors in the past, so there is unlikely to be a shortage of interest this summer, particularly considering how impressive the now 20-year-old has been in Denmark this season.

Dju among Europe's most prolific young strikers

Amid links to Leverkusen and Torino in the winter, reporter Farzam Abolhosseini said the Midtjylland star was the “top-scoring teenager” in Europe last season, having enjoyed an impressive breakout campaign in Denmark.

After leaving behind Benfica in search of first-team minutes, the centre-forward bagged 17 goals in all competitions for Midtjylland last term, while also picking up six assists.

The Guinea-Bissau international seems to have been vindicated for his decision to move to Denmark, given that he is now a key player for the Danish side, and he is gaining experience at a high level, making five Europa League appearances this season.

However, the move to Midtjylland seems like it could be a stepping stone for the former Benfica man, who has now proven he is ready to take the next step in his career, and his goal record indicates he could be a success for Palace in the Premier League.

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side will be looking to get back to winning ways in the Premier League, as they face Aston Villa at Villa Park, coming off the back of back-to-back defeats to Brighton in the last two weeks, not only being knocked out of the FA Cup, but also dropping out of the top four in the league.

The Blues smashed Villa 3-0 in the reverse fixture this campaign at Stamford Bridge, with goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernández and Cole Palmer. Chelsea dominated the fixture, holding 64% possession, taking 17 shots, creating two “big chances” and generating 1.69 xG.

One issue Maresca will have to solve heading into this game is the striker problem at Chelsea right now, with Jackson and Marc Guiu both out injured, meaning Christopher Nkunku has been the one filling in the gap up top in recent weeks.

Christopher Nkunku's centre-forward issue

Nkunku has made 32 appearances this season for Chelsea, being used in a number of different roles by Maresca, scoring 13 goals in all competitions, providing four assists and totalling 1,417 minutes played.

Whilst his overall goal tally is good, it’s the functionality of the team that suffers with Nkunku in the side, as he isn’t playing in his natural attacking midfield position.

Therefore, Chelsea are not benefiting from the same set of skills Jackson brings to the side, making clever runs in behind, driving play forwards and opening up larger spaces for Cole Palmer to operate within. This has not only seen a decline in goals from the striker, but also from Palmer himself in recent weeks.

With Jackson and Noni Madueke both out injured now (Chelsea’s second and third top scorers in the league this season) and Palmer now going five consecutive games without a goal contribution, Maresca will be tasked with finding a way to produce goals against Aston Villa.

Chelsea's potential new striker solution

A different approach the Italian coach could take is playing Pedro Neto through the middle, providing a similar ability to make runs in behind as Jackson did, therefore stretching the pitch and affording that extra bit of space in the pockets for Palmer.

Not only could this revitalise Palmer, but it could also bring a new dynamic to the front line, allowing the Blues to penetrate in behind again, something they failed to do against Brighton despite the space afforded to them.

Neto has made 29 appearances so far this season, scoring four goals, providing five assists and totalling 1,617 minutes in all competitions.

Wolves coach, Shaun Derry, described Neto as a “remarkable” young man who is very serious about football, having great enthusiasm for the game which can be infectious throughout a team.

It’s this sort of energy Chelsea could use right now, and having Neto leading the charge in a slightly unorthodox role could have a trickle-down effect with regards to energy and desire.

Now worth 2x more than Mudryk: Chelsea must rue letting star leave for £0

Chelsea made a huge error in allowing the talent to leave Stamford Bridge on a free.

By
Ethan Lamb

Feb 21, 2025

Manchester United could be dealt a potentially huge blow to their summer transfer plans, as they hold talks with HMRC over unpaid taxes.

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• HMRC in talks with United over taxes
• May owe money for deals with players and agents
• Outcome could affect summer spending

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils are reportedly in talks with HMRC, the UK Government's department for the collection of taxes, according to . The discussions are thought to involve potential money owed for dealings with players and their representatives, with any discrepancies owing to a different interpretation of the rules in place.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The talks come as part of HMRC's improved efforts to collect money from Premier League clubs, with £124.8 million ($158.9m) recouped from top-flight clubs last tax year – over double the previous year's amount. While good for the UK Government, if United are found to owe a significant portion this would heavily impact their summer transfer plans. The Red Devils were already constrained to a frugal January due to the need to balance the books.

• WHAT HMRC SAID

  Speaking after collecting that £124.8m amount, the UK tax authorities wrote in a statement: "We will continue to carefully scrutinise arrangements between clubs, players and agents to ensure the correct tax is paid. We work closely with the football industry to educate and deal with tax risk head on.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  This summer will be the first window under minority investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who could see his transfer stategy hindered before it has even started. United are reportedly already preparing for the sales of several players to raise the necessary funds, with the likes of Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire mooted for exits. Ratcliffe may need to add a few more names to the chopping block if said talks are unsuccessful.