All posts by z3u9t.icu

Chelsea remain extremely involved in the summer transfer market despite kicking off their Premier League campaign today and now a new update has emerged on another target.

Who are Chelsea trying to sign?

According to popular French news outlet L'Equipe, Chelsea have held talks this week to sign Montpellier striker Elye Wahi.

As per the report, West Ham United are preparing an offer reported to be worth €33m (£28m) including bonuses, however, Chelsea could be set to complete a second Premier League hijack as Wahi has already held talks with the club's hierarchy.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

That said, the Blues are slower in their approach compared to the Hammers.

Is Moises Caicedo going to Chelsea?

One of the biggest transfer sagas of the summer has unfolded over the last 72 hours with Chelsea and Liverpool competing for the signature of Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.

The Reds submitted a £111m bid for the Ecuadorian in the early hours of Friday morning which was accepted by the Seagulls, however, it has been widely reported that Caicedo would prefer a move to Stamford Bridge and Chelsea are set to hijack proceedings with an enormous offer of £115m – a bid that has not yet been officially submitted.

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has been sharing updates over the last few days about the potential deal, and in the latest report he has claimed:

"Understand the agreement between Moisés Caicedo and Chelsea is for a contract valid until June 2031.

"…but the contract will also include an option until 2032, one more season.Caicedo agreed personal terms with Chelsea at the end of May. Clubs working to close deal now."

In the meantime, Mauricio Pochettino will be focused on not only kicking off their Premier League campaign which ironically commences today against Liverpool, but will also be looking at other areas of the pitch that need bolstering, with the attacking threat a huge focus beyond the ongoing midfield situation.

How good is Elye Wahi?

Romelu Lukaku has been given the green light to secure a permanent move away after spending last season on loan with AC Milan, whilst former forward Kai Havertz joined London rivals Arsenal this summer, a player who could be comfortably replaced by the acquirement of Wahi.

The Montpellier goal machine has become a stand-out performer not only for the French club but has been one of the highest-performing forwards in the entirety of Ligue 1 – ranking as the seventh top-scorer, fourth for non-penalty goals and first for percentage of shots on target, as per FBref.

When comparing Wahi's output with Havertz last season, the Frenchman comfortably outperformed his positional peer in a number of key attributes including goal contributions (24 v 8), shots on target rate (58.1% v 44.3%), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.43 v 0.14), successful take-ons (38.2% v 28.3%) and shots on target per 90 (1.29 v 1.09).

Despite only being 20 years old, the talented centre-forward has already earned high praise for his qualities in front of goal, with ex-Caen academy director Francis de Taddeo revealing Wahi's key strengths:

"He is a powerful, athletic and fast player with a range of dribbling skills where only he knows what he is going to do next."

If there is one area where Havertz lacks, it is his athleticism and speed. Wahi, therefore, may well represent a powerful new upgrade for Pochettino to utilise.

With that being said, there is no doubt that the attacker would be a great piece of business for Chelsea this summer, presenting their Argentine coach with a real threat and upgrade on their departing German in the final third.

As Southampton look to earn promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, manager Russell Martin has reportedly identified the target that he wants to focus on to close out his first transfer window as Saints boss.

So far this summer, the recently relegated side have welcomed four reinforcements, whilst bidding farewell to the likes of Romeo Lavia and James Ward-Prowse.

That number could stretch to five in the coming weeks, however, as Southampton turn to Leeds United.

What's the latest on Cody Drameh to Southampton?

According to Fabrizio Romano, Martin has set personally his sights on long-term target Cody Drameh. The right-back's Leeds contract expires next summer, making him a free agent, and the Southampton manager is even willing to wait until January to land him in a cut price deal.

Of course, from a Leeds perspective, selling to a potential promotion rival would be far from ideal, but if Drameh doesn't put pen to paper on a new deal then they could be left with no choice.

It remains to be seen just how much the Yorkshire club would demand for the fullback, though, with Transfermarkt's valuation sitting at €3.5m (£3m). The Saints could, of course, use the funds potentially gained through the sale of Che Adams, amid Everton's reported £12m bid for the striker.

Should Southampton sign Cody Drameh?

After losing Livramento to Newcastle United, Southampton could undoubtedly do with a reinforcement at right-back, particularly a younger option to replicate Livramento's impact. And that's where Drameh could come in.

As things stand, Kyle Walker-Peters is Martin's first-choice option, but beyond that, the Saints lack depth on the right-hand side of their backline. Drameh, still only 21-years-old, enjoyed an excellent season last time out on loan at Luton Town, where he played a key role in helping the Hatters to gain promotion to the top flight.

Southampton will be hoping for the England U21 international to have a similar impact if they push ahead to secure his signature before the transfer window slammed shut.

Drameh also spent some time on loan at Cardiff City, where he earned plenty of praise, with former boss Steve Morrison saying, via Wales online: "He has been excellent. He was excellent in his first game, he was excellent at Barnsley, it was a right scrap but there were a few things when he was running back and making last-ditch tackles.

"He had a little bit of a down game, the Bristol City game, but outside of that he has been excellent. Having that break in the Liverpool game when he couldn't play, letting his body catch up on where it needs to be, now he is like a Duracell Bunny, isn't he? He just keeps going and going."

With that said, it's no surprise that Martin is a long-term admirer of Drameh, and if Southampton can finally welcome the fullback, they'll have themselves a solid addition to aid in the quest for promotion, damaging a rival in the process.

Journalist Alex Crook has shared a very promising further update on Fulham and their attempts to sign Everton star Alex Iwobi before deadline day.

Who will Fulham sign next?

Marco Silva has been up front over his side's need to strengthen further before tomorrow's 11pm cut off, having previously expressed his need to add quality in certain areas.

So far, Fulham have sealed deals for Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore from Wolves, as well as defender Calvin Bassey who joined in an £18.2 million deal from Ajax. Belgium international defender Timothy Castagne has also joined from Leicester City the most recently, with the club's vice-chairman Tony Khan expressing his excitement at the signing.

"I'm excited to welcome Timothy Castagne to Fulham," said Khan (via The BBC).

"He's a versatile and very talented defender with great experience in the Premier League and international competition for Belgium.

"I'm pleased that Timothy has committed to a four-year contract with us, and we believe that he'll be an excellent addition to Marco's squad."

Fulham have been tipped to be one of the busier sides late in this transfer window, with Silva apparently eager to sign a striker to replace the departed Aleksandar Mitrovic, who joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.

Meanwhile, it's also been claimed that Arsenal's Rob Holding and Everton's Iwobi are of interest to Silva as well, with talkSPORT'S Crook sharing a promising update on the latter.

Fulham are apparently in pole position to sign the Nigeria international and the Toffees are very much open to selling. Iwobi has just one year left on his contract, and Sean Dyche needs funds to bolster his own squad.

“I think this (Iwobi to Fulham) has got legs,” Crook said live on talkSPORT (via Goodison News).

"Iwobi only has a year left on his contract. I think Everton obviously are trying to give Sean Dyche the resources to rebuild the squad if they can sell Iwobi. I think they are open to doing that.

“Talks have taken place. There are rumours of another Premier League club also interested in Iwobi, but I think at the moment, Fulham would be the frontrunners.”

How good is Alex Iwobi?

The 27-year-old won the Everton Players' Player of The Season Award last term, all while starring over 38 league matches as one of their best-performing players per 90, according to WhoScored.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford won their overall Player of The Season award by contrast, highlighting Iwobi as Everton's star outfielder.

Iwobi racked up two goals and seven assists in midfield from that time, making him an enticing option for Silva and co who are looking to add attacking quality.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking in an interview, also called the former Arsenal ace "outstanding" for some of his performances last term.

“I like his versatility," said Robinson to Football Insider.

“His performances have been outstanding. He’s shown that he can play off the left, off the right, he can play centrally.

“I think you can see that Frank Lampard is getting the best out of him right now. He’s playing some of the best football of his career right now.”

If Fulham can strike a late deal for the African ace, he could be a very astute signing.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale underwent the biggest squad overhaul at the Ibrox side in recent years during the summer transfer window.

Having failed to secure a trophy during the 2022/23 season while watching rivals Celtic claim a treble indicated that change was needed at the Light Blues and time will tell whether the new arrivals can change the landscape of Scottish football in the coming months.

Failing to qualify for the Champions League group stages is a major disappointment and hope now lies in the Europa League, a competition which the Gers came so close to winning in 2022.

Who did Rangers sign during the transfer window?

Beale secured the services of nine new players over the summer, as Jack Butland, Leon Balogun, Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers, Abdallah Sima, Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell and Jose Cifuentes arrived in Glasgow.

Coupled with the fact 11 players were either sold or left due to the expiration of their contract over the course of the last few months, it’s evident that Beale is trying to build his own team, with sentiment not coming into the equation regarding the departures of several first team players.

Despite bringing in various new faces, the club did miss out on several key targets, of which some would likely have improved the first team squad, most notably Harry Souttar, Auston Trusty and Morgan Whittaker and time will tell whether not making a more concrete effort to sign them could come back and haunt Beale.

The 42-year-old will definitely regret one failed move for a winger who was shining on the continent and could have added something extra to the Gers attacking department, that of Luis Palma, who in the end, did secure a move to the Premiership…

Why did Rangers miss out on Luis Palma?

The Light Blues first started showing an interest in Palma before the transfer window even opened, with Greek outlet Sportime claiming the club were keeping tabs on the player and had sent scouts to watch his performance for Aris Thessaloniki against Olympiacos and the report suggested that a potential move would cost the club €4m (£3.5m).

It was then reported in May that the Ibrox side had submitted an offer of £4.4m in order to sign the winger as they looked in pole position to lure him to Glasgow before the window even opened.

The bid was swiftly rejected, and the saga continued to persist throughout the remainder of the window before Beale moved on to other targets.

Palma did eventually get his move, and it transpired that Celtic managed to secure his signature for a fee of £4.3m, seemingly nicking the player from under Beale’s nose right at the end of the transfer window.

It represents a big, missed opportunity and the Honduran star will now get an opportunity to shine in Scotland and the manager may live to regret not making a more concrete effort to sign him.

How good is Luis Palma?

Last season for Aris, Palma registered 21 goal contributions across all competitions – 13 goals and eight assists – as he sparkled in Greece, and it was these performances which arguably drew interest from other clubs.

His manager Apostolos Terzis even hailed him for his outstanding campaign, saying: "Luis has done that all season. He has been a huge player for us. We know there has been a lot of interest in him and it's not surprising.

“Hopefully, playing in Europe next season will persuade him to stay with us.”

He will be playing Champions League football following his decision to join Celtic, yet Beale could have secured another Ryan Kent if he had made the move to the other side of the city.

The Englishman left Rangers following five seasons in Glasgow and during that time, he scored 33 goals and registered 56 assists across 218 matches, which works out at a goal or assist every 2.4 matches, a decent return from the winger.

Last season, however, saw his performances drop under both Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Beale, netting only three times throughout the whole season, and it was perhaps apparent that his heart wasn’t in it anymore, departing for nothing when his contract expired.

His pace and keen eye for goal are traits Beale has yet to replace and Palma would have been an ideal heir for the former Liverpool gem.

In the league last term, the 23-year-old ranked second in the Aris squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.12), while also ranking first for goals (11), shots on target per game (0.9) and successful dribbles per game (one) as he showcased his attacking talents and proved to be one of their most dangerous threats in the final third.

In comparison, Kent ranked in a lowly tenth spot for overall match rating (7.03) while failing to even crack the top five for league goals (three) or shots on target per game (0.7) and although he did finish first for successful dribbles per game (1.9), it was clear that his end product was poor, negating the impact of his dribbling skills.

There is no doubt Kent will be a miss due to his ability to run at players and cause defenders nightmares, but his overall goal output over the previous 12 months wasn’t what it should be, and perhaps a move will work out well for both parties.

Beale could have signed Kent 2.0 in Palma, especially due to his wonderful statistics from the left wing last term.

It wasn’t to be for the 42-year-old, and he will see first-hand just how much of a talent the Honduran is when he begins to play for Celtic in the coming months.

The first Old Firm derby of the season takes place at Ibrox tomorrow and Palma could well make his maiden appearance for the club in the pressure cooker environment of one of the biggest derbies in the world.

If he sparkles under Brendan Rodgers, it will prove that Rangers suffered a huge transfer howler failing to pay just £4m to land him from the Greek side way back in May and there is no doubt he would have thrived under the former QPR manager.

Sunderland are closing in on the signing of a new striker on deadline day, according to reliable Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie.

What's the latest deadline day news?

The Black Cats have only won one of their opening four Championship matches this season, in what has generally been an underwhelming start to the campaign up until this point.

Tony Mowbray's side have flattered to deceive in their performances, and having done so well back in the second tier in 2022/23, they have to make sure this season doesn't end up being a significant step in the wrong direction.

Sunderland are having a busy end to the summer transfer window, with several outgoings forcing some last minute business on the incoming front.

Star striker Ross Stewart looks set to be on his way to Southampton in a £10m move, acting as an undoubted blow to the Black Cats, and it is clear that a replacement will be needed to help fill the void. It looks as though they are going to do just that, following an important new update.

Who are Sunderland signing?

According to Downie on Twitter, Sunderland are close to finalising the signing of Chelsea youngster Mason Burstow, in what could be a key piece of late-summer transfer business:

"Sunderland finalising a deal for Chelsea’s young forward Mason Burstow, as per reports. The 20-year-old was also wanted by AC Milan. Saw a bit of him in the summer over in USA, he looks a good player."

Burstow may be something of an unknown compared to someone like Stewart, who has been an established player for some time, but he could be a strong signing by Sunderland before the transfer window slams shut.

The 20-year-old arrived at Chelsea from Charlton Athletic in 2022, then enjoying a loan spell back at the Valley, and he scored six goals in 23 appearance for his former club – a solid return for such a young player still very much maturing in his all-round game.

Burstow has also made three appearances at senior level for the Blues, which is a big sign of his pedigree, and while he didn't find the net in those games, it says a lot that was able to hold his own at such a high level in the Premier League.

Former Charlton manager Johnnie Jackson has spoken of his fondness for the attacker in the past, saying:

"With every step up that he makes, he’s having an impact, so it’s fantastic for him because he’s a really humble young man who’s very respectful around the group. The lads respect him because of what he brings to the party and he deserves his place in the team. He deserved his start and now he’s rewarded us with a goal."

This further shows what a talent Burstow is, and he has the ability to make a big difference for Sunderland on loan this season, coming in and adding more firepower to a Black Cats side that has netted just four times in as many Championship matches in 2023/24 to date.

A concerning update has emerged on Celtic attacker Liel Abada as the Israel international has been hit with a possible blow this week.

What's the latest on Liel Abada's injury?

According to Israel-based outlet One, the Hoops forward has suffered a muscle injury that will keep him out of their matches during the break.

The report claims that the young wizard underwent an MRI to evaluate the extent of the problem and it has been confirmed that he has torn his quadriceps.

However, there is no mention of exactly how bad the tear is or how long he is expected to be out of action for. That is a concern for Brendan Rodgers as the talented ace could now miss a spell of games at club level if the injury keeps him out beyond this week.

Who could replace Liel Abada?

The Northern Irishman brought in nine new players to bolster his Celtic squad during the summer transfer window and this means that he has plenty of options to pick from.

Nat Phillips

Loan

Paulo Bernardo

Loan

Luis Palma

Permanent

Gustaf Lagerbielke

Permanent

Maik Nawrocki

Permanent

Hyun-jun Yang

Permanent

Hyeok-kyu Kwon

Permanent

Marco Tilio

Permanent

Odin Thiago Holm

Permanent

These moves have provided the former Leicester City boss with plenty of strength in depth throughout a number of positions, including the wide areas.

With this in mind, Rodgers must now unleash Hyun-jun Yang from the start to take Abada's place on the right wing as that is the role where the South Korean gem has played more times than any other throughout his career.

Whereas, Palma, who arrived from Greek side Aris FC on a permanent basis, has only played four career matches on the right and is predominantly a left-sided attacker.

How good is Hyun-jun Yang?

The 21-year-old magician has been an inconsistent performer in recent seasons but he has already shown glimpses of his huge potential since making the move to Parkhead over the summer.

Rodgers brought him off the bench with 20 minutes to go against Aberdeen last month and the talented youngster caught the eye with a fantastic cameo.

As per Sofascore, Yang completed four of his four attempted passes and created two 'big chances' for his teammates, one of which led to Matt O'Riley's goal to finish off the scoring at 3-1.

The dynamic winger showed off his dribbling ability by beating his man in the box with some trickery before cutting the ball back to the penalty spot where his Danish teammate was waiting to roll the ball into the back of the net.

He has made four Scottish Premiership appearances in total and is yet to score his first goal for the club but his aforementioned performances against the Dons illustrated the creative impact that the youngster can have at the top end of the pitch.

How many goals did Yang score for Gangwon?

Prior to his transfer to Celtic during the summer transfer window, Yang played for Gangwon FC in his home country and showcased his goalscoring ability from a wide position.

The 5 foot 9 star averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02 across 36 K League 1 in 2022 as he contributed with eight goals and five assists, whilst the exciting hotshot also created six 'big chances' for his teammates.

His fantastic displays throughout the 2022 campaign led to him being named the Young Player of the Year in South Korea, which shows how highly he was rated within his own country at the time.

However, the diminutive gem then failed to build on that impressive form during the first half of 2023. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.66 and managed one goal and one assist in 20 K League 1 appearances before his switch to Parkhead.

His inconsistent performances for Gangwon did not deter Celtic as they went ahead with their swoop for his services and they will be hoping that the summer signing will be able to replicate or improve upon the form he showed in 2022, rather than 2023.

Yang's display against Aberdeen was incredibly promising and suggests that the potential is there for him to be an excellent option out wide for Rodgers with his ability to make things happen in the final third.

His goalscoring form in 2022 also suggests that there could be goals to come from the 21-year-old talent to go along with his creative qualities.

This could make him a superb replacement for Abada on the right wing for however long the Israel international is out for with this muscular tear.

How many goals has Abada scored for Celtic?

The 21-year-old sensation has racked up 29 goals in 106 competitive appearances for the Scottish giants since his move to the club from Maccabi Petah Tikva in 2021.

Abada has hit double figures for goals in each of the last two full Scottish Premiership campaigns and has proven himself to be a reliable attacking option on the right flank in recent years.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.01 across 34 top-flight matches last term as the superb winger contributed with ten goals and five assists, along with ten 'big chances' created for his teammates.

These statistics are not significantly more impressive than Yang's aforementioned form for Gangwon in 2022, with their average standard of performance and number of goal contributions both coming in at similar levels.

This suggests that the potential is there for Yang to be an excellent replacement for Abada in the short term if he is able to find his feet in Glasgow and get back to his best on the pitch after a difficult year in K League 1.

The injury blow to the Israel international, if it does keep him out for a number of weeks, or even months, could provide the summer signing with the perfect opportunity to get a run of games under his belt in order to prove his worth to Rodgers out wide.

Yang, who was described by the Hoops head coach as an "exciting" player, is a winger who can deliver goals and assists and possibly replace the attacking output that Abada usually provides, which is why he must be unleashed from the start after the international break.

Leeds United are looking to gain immediate promotion to the Premier League this campaign, but one pundit has suggested that they should part ways with one of their star men after previous reports confirmed that they would be open to accepting a bid for his services.

What's the latest news involving Leeds United?

Cited by Leeds Live, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has expressed his delight at veteran Northern Ireland international Stuart Dallas returning to training at Thorp Arch, stating: "Yes, first of all, I'm really delighted because it was a tough road for him during all this rehab work and I'm quite sure there was some bit darker moments also for him. It's so tough when you're not allowed to do what you love to do, to play football and it's great to see him the first time back in team training, at least in big parts of the team training yesterday. "

The Whites take on Watford at Elland Road on Saturday and Farke also seemingly signaled that Ethan Ampadu would be okay to play a part in the Sky Bet Championship encounter if called upon, after the Welshman suffered a knock at Millwall last weekend and then playing in their goalless stalemate away to Hull City in midweek, as per BBC Sport.

Speaking on The Square Ball podcast, The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has indicated that young defender Charlie Cresswell could look to leave Elland Road if he continues to find first-team opportunities difficult to come by following his omission against Hull City on Wednesday, as he said: "It was notable that Cresswell was out of the squad. There has been a lot of interest in him. If he’s not knocking on the door or in the squad, then you can’t help feeling that he will start looking elsewhere."

Joe Rodon is suspended for the Watford clash in light of his red card at the MKM Stadium against Hull City, signifying that one of Cresswell or Liam Cooper will be entrusted to partner Pascal Struijk in central defence this weekend.

What has Frank McAvennie said about Illan Meslier?

Speaking to Football Insider, pundit Frank McAvennie has told Leeds and the 49ers to sell goalkeeper Illan Meslier in January to give either Karl Darlow or Kristoffer Klaesson a chance to stake their claim for first-team football at Elland Road.

McAvennie stated: "The money will be cut if they put him up for sale. The money will pennies in today’s game. The fee will be nothing like what they could have got if they were still in the Premier League.Do they need the money that much? I am not sure. If he is not doing it for them, get rid of him. There will be keepers there that can replace him, give someone else a chance and you never know you might unearth one of the greats."

Meslier, who is on around £30,000 per week at Elland Road, has made 133 appearances during his time at Leeds United across all competitions, racking up 33 clean sheets in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Foot Mercato, via The Daily Mail, shared quotes from the Frenchman back in the summer claiming that it would be difficult to turn down a move to Premier League giants Chelsea in the right circumstances amid links with a surprise move to SW6.

Nevertheless, he looks to have found his way back into the starting side at Elland Road after previously being displaced last term by Joel Robles in the season run-in, which eventually resulted in the Whites' relegation to the Sky Bet Championship.

Major footballing tournaments really galvanise English people as the nation bands together as one. This doesn’t just apply to the World Cup, but also the European Championship.

The Euros are edging ever closer, with Germany the host nation for 2024 as 24 teams descend on cities such as Munich, Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt.

England’s fiercest rivalry may return on German soil as Gareth Southgate looks to prove the doubters wrong and get hands on the silverware that he and his players deserve.

Some amazing England goals of the past see the likes of David Beckham and Joe Cole come to the fore. The former curled home THAT free-kick against Greece to send England to Japan, whilst the latter left off a vicious strike against Sweden at the 2006 World Cup. And how can anyone forget Geoff Hurst’s World Cup clincher in 1966?

The Three Lions have conceded some spectacular goals as well. Zinedine Zidane and Mikkel Damsgaard have both fired thunderous free-kicks beyond the reaches of English goalkeepers at the European Championship, not to mention the magic conjured up by Rui Costa in 2004.

Our Lionesses got the job done against Germany at Wembley last summer and thus have gone one step further than the men ever have. The glorious chance for the Three Lions still awaits them, but for now, Football FanCast has taken a look back at some of the greatest goals scored by Englishmen at the Euros.

10 Daniel Sturridge v Wales, Euro 2016

Kicking things off with an instalment of the fierce sporting rivalry between the Welsh and the English.

A thunderous free-kick from Gareth Bale made Joe Hart look foolish, but the Three Lions were able to snatch a late win out of the jaws of defeat.

After Jamie Vardy's equaliser, Daniel Sturridge got the final touch in what was a very scrappy move. It was by no means a great goal, but the drama and importance of it can't be understated for the fans and for that tournament itself.

Any chance to see Sturridge pull out his infamous celebration in a white England shirt is a blessing.

9 Andy Carroll v Sweden, Euro 2012

Going back to the prior European Championship where England underperformed in classic English style.

That being said, all three of their goals against Sweden are worth reliving, with Andy Carroll, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck finding the back of the net for the Three Lions on a topsy-turvy night.

Andy Carroll's dominant header kicked off proceedings as England aimed to kickstart their campaign after a battling draw with France.

Carroll is a player who may never get the respect that he deserves, but in this moment, he may have hit his peak in an England shirt, expertly nodding home Steven Gerrard's superb cross-field pass.

8 Ray Wilkins v Belgium, Euro 1980

Cast your minds back to the earlier days of the Euros and to a man who is sadly no longer with us, Ray Wilkins.

He picked up the ball, took on the entire Belgium backline with a single touch and then rounded off this move with a perfectly chipped finish back in 1980.

Due to the fact that this game ended in a draw and that they were defeated by Italy thanks to a goal from the iconic Marco Tardelli, Wilkins' magic was all in vain, with his nation not making it out of their group – though it was still a strike fondly remembered all these years on.

7 Eric Dier v Russia, Euro 2016

Kieran Trippier's free-kick at the World Cup is a major highlight for the modern England fan, but he isn't the only Tottenham Hotspur man to score a cracker of a set-piece.

This is another game which is maybe overshadowed by the outcome, with a Vasili Berezutski header earning Russia a point at the death, but Eric Dier's goal was quite something.

Dier has never been known as a goalscorer for club nor country, so to see him dispatch this free-kick with the perfect accuracy made the moment all the more sweet for England fans everywhere.

6 Raheem Sterling v Germany, Euro 2020

Even closer to the present with the most recent competition, and one England fans may not be too keen to relive.

Getting to a final is no mean feat, but to lose in the manner the Three Lions did and for the years of hurt to go on was quite the kick in the teeth.

Beating Germany in the round of 16 was a definite highlight given the struggles endured against them in the past, and it was the two star forwards, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, who scored the goals.

For the opener, Sterling started the move, with quick and concise passing seeing the ball end up at the feet of Luke Shaw. The full-back then fired the ball across the box, where Sterling found space and coolly passed it in beyond the reaches of Manuel Neuer.

5 Wayne Rooney v Croatia, Euro 2004

Rewinding to a less successful tournament for England in the form of Euro 2004.

The tournament was held in Portugal and saw the hosts get to the final, only to lose to Greece, who are now written into history as one of the most unlikely winners of all time.

England’s tournament ended in the quarter-finals at the hands of Portugal, though they more than had their moments in the group stages.

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side won twice in Group B, so it wasn’t all doom and gloom. And during their 4-2 victory over Croatia, the first of the four England goals that day was scored by a certain Wayne Rooney.

His thunderous effort from outside of the box was a trademark Rooney finish and made it 1-1 after Niko Kovac struck early on. Rooney's equaliser would probably be more appreciated if goalkeeper Tomislav Butina hadn’t got a fingertip to it – but there was no stopping it whatsoever.

4 Luke Shaw v Italy, Euro 2020

Kieran Trippier’s free-kick in the World Cup semi-final against Croatia two years prior to Shaw's finale strike came too early in the minds of many people, and the same could be said for a goal from another defender in a huge England game.

Manchester United’s Luke Shaw, who assisted Sterling’s opener against Germany, isn’t known for his goalscoring prowess.

But you wouldn’t have known it when watching the game under the infamous Wembley arch against Italy. Southgate’s men came flying out of the blocks and played with such bravado that it seemed as if no one could stop them.

A perfect, flowing team move started by Shaw and Mason Mount in the second minute came to a conclusion after a beautiful Trippier cross was met by the flying full-back. He timed the effort perfectly and left Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded in the goal with no idea what had just occurred.

The rest of the game doesn’t need to be talked about, but that moment alone is something that Shaw deserves to be remembered for.

3 Alan Shearer v Netherlands, Euro 1996

The podium spots are upon us, and for the bronze medal goal, we have to go back to 1996 – another hugely positive and joyous tournament for the Three Lions.

Terry Venables’ men were being hounded by the media for off-the-pitch incidents, and it seemed that they were baying for blood and looking forward to reporting on even more failures.

Whilst he didn’t reach the final, Alan Shearer won the Golden Boot for the tournament with five goals, ahead of the likes of Hristo Stoichkov, Davor Šuker, Brian Laudrup and Jürgen Klinsmann.

One of those five goals was the end product of another memorable team move scored against the Dutch in the group stages.

The Netherlands had names such as Seedorf, De Boer, Koeman, Bergkamp, Kluivert and (Jordi) Cruyff, but they were no match for the English. Braces from Shearer and Teddy Sheringham earned England a big three points in the group and Shearer’s second was the pick of the bunch.

He first scored from the penalty spot, while his second was a thing of beauty. Paul Gascoigne did all the work out wide and found Sheringham, who played a clever pass to Newcastle hero Shearer, who fired the ball into the roof of the net with great aplomb.

2 Danny Welbeck v Sweden, Euro 2012

Euro 2012 is easily forgotten from an English point of view. Spain may have won their third of three consecutive major titles and Fernando Torres was on fire, but that will have done little to help get over another disappointing quarter-final exit.

The tournament ended at the first knockout stage after losing to Italy on penalties after a decent showing in the group.

Former Manchester City and Aston Villa defender Joleon Lescott scored in a 1-1 draw with France, before Roy Hodgson’s side edged out Sweden in a five-goal thriller. Wayne Rooney then scored the only goal of the game against Ukraine.

It is that 3-2 win over Sweden that we are focusing on, here. Andy Carroll opened the scoring before Theo Walcott made it 2-2 later in the game. The all-important winner, however, came courtesy of Brighton and Hove Albion’s Danny Welbeck.

Carroll’s header was mighty, whilst Walcott’s effort from range was bamboozling, though neither lives up to Danny Welbeck’s flick. Substitute Walcott sent the ball into the box and his former club teammate had the awareness to deftly flick the ball beyond the reaches of Andreas Isaksson to secure a superb comeback victory.

1 Paul Gascoigne v Scotland, Euro 1996

From a goal that perhaps doesn’t get talked about enough, to one that many non-English football fans will be sick and tired of hearing about – particularly the Scots.

There aren’t many figures more beloved by the Three Lions faithful than Paul Gascoigne for everything he did on the field, and his strike in front of a home crowd against the Auld Enemy was almost undoubtedly his finest moment in England colours.

It all began with Tony Adams sliding in on Scotland’s Gordon Durie and giving away a penalty. Gary McAllister stepped up to take the spot-kick, though he was denied by David Seaman, much to the delight of the majority of the fans packed inside of the old Wembley Stadium.

Shortly after, the ball went long, there were a couple of flick-ons and then Gascoigne had the ball. He calmly chipped it over the head of the oncoming Colin Hendry, and as the ball came back down, he smashed it low and hard beyond Scotland goalkeeper Andy Goram to make it 2-0.

Everything up to this point was iconic and memorable enough, only for the 'dentist’s chair' celebration to be brought out, mimicking the epic booze-filled action they had undergone on their tour of Asia prior to the Euros.

There really isn't a goal that comes anywhere close to this one. Here's to making more memories in 2024…

Manchester United have experienced a rocky start this season in the Premier League, losing four of their opening eight contests in the top flight.

The Red Devils have also been leaky at the back, even in their wins – conceding two goals to Nottingham Forest in a 3-2 victory, Andre Onana shaky in the United net as he gets used to his new surroundings away from Ajax.

It's seen doubts raised about the defenders currently playing for the Red Devils, the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane under the spotlight for their performances.

One player that is used to the waves of scrutiny Man United players get is Harry Maguire, often the target of abuse after Man United lose.

He could well be moved on in January when the transfer window opens, the 30-year-old arguably overstaying his welcome at the club.

How is Harry Maguire playing this season?

United's number 5 has barely featured for Erik ten Hag's men this campaign, his first ninety minutes of the season came against Brentford last time out – Maguire present throughout as Scott McTominay singlehandedly turned the game around with two stoppage-time strikes.

Before that encounter, Maguire's time in the side had been significantly cut. The former Leicester City centre-back was used sparingly off the bench versus Arsenal and Crystal Palace, only featuring for three minutes in the latter match as the Red Devils lost 1-0 to the Eagles.

Other than that, he's either been out of the squad completely or made to make up the numbers on the bench and watch on.

Still, Maguire's win percentage in a Man United shirt and for England since the Qatar World Cup shows his worth when called upon.

The Red Devils and Gareth Southgate's England have only lost one of their last 18 matches when Maguire has started, that loss coming against Sevilla for Man United when the Spanish side humbled the Red Devils in the Europa League.

Despite a plethora of high-profile mistakes, the likes of which should see him moved on at the earliest opportunity having been dubbed a "liability" by talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan, the defender himself has been quick to point out the team's success when he plays.

He said recently: "I just have to make sure I am ready to take opportunities when they come along. My record under this manager speaks for itself. My win percentage when I've played is ridiculously high."

That provoked Maguire to come out and say he deserves more than his current role at Man United as a waiting-in-the-wings style figure.

Ahead of his involvement in upcoming England fixtures, the former Leicester man was to the point about his Man United future stating: "I'm not going to sit here all my life and play once every month and if it carries on then I'm sure myself and the club will sit down and have a chat about things."

That said, it would surely be a surprise if he sees out the full season at Old Trafford, particularly with one defender to return from injury in 2024.

How is Lisandro Martinez playing?

Of the current crop of Man United defenders, Lisandro Martinez looks as if he'll stay for the long haul in Manchester – the 25-year-old largely present in most United encounters this season up until a recent foot injury.

This is despite Martinez having a lower win percentage than Maguire, managing a 63.3% win percentage since Argentina lifted the World Cup.

Martinez has had his own critics too however in a United shirt, but harsh critics of Martinez's have changed their tune.

Former Liverpool player and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher even apologised for comments he made about the Argentine during the infancy of his Red Devils career, stating that the centre-back had turned into a "warrior" for the Red Devils.

With transfer rumours suggesting Man United are looking to youth to bolster their defensive options – Antonio Silva of Benfica linked with a switch to the Premier League from Portugal per the Record – Maguire's days as a Red Devil look like they could be coming to an end.

Tottenham Hotspur demonstrated their fiery intent on the transfer market over the summer, backing new manager Ange Postecoglou with some thrilling additions after the sale of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich.

And it's paying off handsomely, with the London club topping the Premier League table after eight matches, having failed to qualify for European football in its entirety last term.

The work must not stop now though, with the “revolution” of youthful signings – as said by football.london's Alasdair Gold – forming the foundation of what could be a golden age, and while the winter transfer window is well away, there might be another prodigy arriving soon.

Who are Tottenham interested in signing?

Spurs have blended youth with experience to emphatic effect this season, finely poised and confidently cohesive, and with the likes of Heung-min Son and Yves Bissouma offering leadership, there's surely room for another prospect as impressive as Arthur Vermeeren, who is causing quite the stir.

According to TEAMtalk, the teenage talent would garner a ballpark fee of £15m, though Spurs have demonstrated in recent months their willingness to spend on exciting but unknown commodities, with Argentina U20 forward Alejo Veliz joining in a £13m deal in August.

Liverpool, Manchester United, Brentford, West Ham United and Barcelona are also credited with an interest, but Postecoglou presents an enticing proposal indeed.

Who is Arthur Vermeeren?

The 18-year-old midfielder has already been touted to become the "complete" player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who seems to think that he could be set for a career lathered in luxury.

An important member of Belgian side Royal Antwerp's squad, Vermeeren has posted a goal and five assists across 15 outings this season, including two assists against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

He's already eclipsed his four direct contributions from last year, when he won the Belgian Pro League, signifying a growth that will certainly not slow down if placed within a thriving Tottenham outfit – bouncing off like-minded prodigies.

Already looking a dynamic ace, Vermeeren ranks among the top 13% of midfielders across divisions similar to the Belgian Pro League for progressive passes and tackles, the top 16% for interceptions and the top 19% for clearances per 90, as per FBref.

He's in the embryonic stage of his career but plays with age-belying swagger and guile, and with the strides he is already taking Spurs have to seal a swoop.

The promising maestro could even surpass Pape Matar Sarr, who has been so impressive for Tottenham at the heart of the midfield, now starting to live up to former praise from Fabrizio Romano of his "fantastic" potential, likening him to a young Paul Pogba.

This season, the Senegalese sensation, aged 21, has started seven of Tottenham's league outings and has dazzled with his all-encompassing craft, completing 90% of his passes, and making 1.1 key passes, 1.6 tackles and 5.4 ball recoveries per game.

Vermeeren, comparatively, boasts an 88% pass success rate in his division thus far, averaging 1.6 key passes, 1.8 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 8.3 ball recoveries per match, also succeeding with 63% of his dribbles – showcasing his potential superiority to Sarr.

Truly a "remarkable” youngster, as he has been called by one scout, it's very easy to forget that the Belgium U21 international is scarcely into adulthood, and should Postecoglou secure his services, it could be the starring moment of what tantalises to be an incredible reign in London.