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A Brazil international says his friends and family members are now urging him to join Arsenal, describing the Gunners as the ‘perfect’ club.

Arsenal prepare for Chelsea after statement Bayern Munich win

Arsenal’s commanding 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night has set the stage perfectly for Sunday’s blockbuster Premier League clash with second-placed Chelsea this weekend.

Mikel Arteta’s side maintained their perfect Champions League record with a dominant second-half performance that overwhelmed the previously unbeaten German champions.

Jurrien Timber’s header from Bukayo Saka’s corner opened the scoring before teenage sensation Lennart Karl equalized with a composed volley to end Arsenal’s clean sheet streak in the competition.

However, the second period belonged entirely to the hosts. Substitute Noni Madueke, after returning from two months out with a knee injury, broke the deadlock with his first Arsenal goal before Gabriel Martinelli capitalized on Manuel Neuer’s catastrophic error to seal all three points.

The result sends Arsenal three points clear at the top of the Champions League table and represents their first victory over Bayern in a decade, ending a winless run against the Bavarians dating all the way back to October 2015.

Martin Odegaard’s late comeback appearance off the bench provided even more encouragement ahead of the weekend’s crucial encounter at Stamford Bridge.

The captain’s return offers Arteta additional midfield creativity just when Arsenal need it most, facing a Chelsea side riding high after their own impressive European victory over Barcelona.

Sunday’s clash represents a genuine title race test. Arsenal arrive in excellent form, having thrashed Tottenham 4-1 in the North London derby before dispatching Bayern, and they’re currently on a phenomenal 16-game unbeaten streak.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea, meanwhile, sit just six points behind the league leaders following their Champions League demolition job.

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Away from the pitch, sporting director Andrea Berta continues to weigh up how best to strengthen Arteta’s squad for the long-term.Reports suggest that Arsenal have already held ‘initial’ talks over Elche sensation Rodrigo Mendoza, amid his comparisons to Pedri, but someone else has now opened the door for a potential N5 move.

Luiz Henrique makes Arsenal transfer admission

That man is Zenit St. Petersburg winger Luiz Henrique.

The Brazilian, who boasts 11 caps for his country, joined the Russian Premier League side back in January following a brief stint in his homeland at Botafogo.

Before that, he was at Real Betis in La Liga after coming through the ranks at Fluminense, and he’s been discussing his next career moves in an interview with Globo Esporte.

Speaking to the outlet, as translated by Arsenal News, Henrique claims that his close circle have told him to join Arsenal, expressing how he is a “huge fan” of that idea.

The 23-year-old, who’s bagged one goal and three assists in 14 league appearances this season, is in Carlo Ancelotti’s thinking for the 2026 World Cup.

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He was included in the Brazil squad for recent friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia, making appearances off the bench, and Henrique’s versatility to play almost anywhere in attack would appeal to Arteta.

However, as yet, there’s been no links to the forward from an Arsenal perspective, at least not this year.

That being said, Henrique has clearly invited the north Londoners to make a move, so the door is wide open.

The old cliche goes that if you can’t beat them, join them, but the same is also true that if you can’t stop them, then sign them. Liverpool appear to be doing the latter.

Few players will have given Anfield hero Virgil van Dijk sleepless nights in recent years, although Alexander Isak might well be one of them, with Newcastle United’s Swedish sensation proving an absolute menace for the Dutchman and his fellow defenders.

Described by the Reds skipper as “definitely the most in-form striker at the moment in world football”, ahead of the Carabao Cup final in March, the returning Isak duly scored in that Wembley showpiece to seal an emotional, surprise win for the Magpies.

In all, the former Real Sociedad man has netted four times in just six appearances against the Merseysiders across all competitions, with that likely to have played its part in their apparent bid to prise the 25-year-old from St James’ Park on a £120m deal.

Such bombshell news has become the talk of the town from a Premier League perspective, although on Tyneside, Eddie Howe and co don’t appear to have thrown in the towel just yet.

Still steadfast in their desire to keep hold of the 6 foot 4 machine, Newcastle may steer Arne Slot’s side toward potential attacking alternatives…

Liverpool's potential Isak alternatives

The obvious place to start is with the man who could well have a pivotal role to play in Isak’s future, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

The young Frenchman is being lined up as a future replacement for the Sweden star at St James’, albeit with Liverpool also throwing their hat into the ring, should it prove too difficult to get their top target out of the north east.

It would appear that it isn’t just that duo who the Merseysiders have their eye on, however, with the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones reporting that the champions are considering multiple other options in the bid for a new number nine.

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Among those said to have been discussed at Anfield is Manchester United outcast, Marcus Rashford, with the Englishman noted as one of the six Isak alternatives that have been considered.

As the report does note, such talks have not progressed any further as yet with it looking unlikely that Slot and co will pounce, albeit with the 27-year-old certainly available having been exiled by Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim.

Valued at £40m earlier this year, amid the chance for Aston Villa to purchase their loan signing on a permanent deal, Rashford would represent a far cheaper choice than that man Isak. He would also be far more controversial, however…

Why Liverpool could be targeting the new Michael Owen

It says it all that the last player to directly move between Liverpool and Man United was Phil Chisnall, with the forward scoring ten goals in 47 games at Old Trafford, before moving to Anfield on a £25k deal in 1964.

Even signing a player with a previous association to the ‘other’ club has been a rarity in modern times, with notable examples including a certain Paul Ince in the late 90s, alongside the more infamous ‘treachery’ of Michael Owen.

Once the golden boy of Liverpool, having emerged from the academy ranks as a dazzling teenager, Owen burned his bridges – and then some – after ending up on the books at United in 2009, having joined Sir Alex Ferguson’s side via spells at Real Madrid and Newcastle United.

Despite admitting that he had had his heart set on returning to Merseyside amid his exit from Madrid in 2005, no such homecoming came to fruition, with the declining striker later linking up with Fergie on a free transfer.

Still just 29 at the time of that controversial switch, it was evident that Owen’s powers were on the wane, with his last-gasp goal in a 4-3 win over rivals Manchester City the only real moment of note across the next three years. Just 17 goals in 52 games says it all.

While circumstances might be different in the case of Rashford, he too could prove to be something of a bizarre, unnecessary signing, this time for Liverpool, with it hard to see the wisdom in even considering the Three Lions star as an Isak alternative.

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Like Owen – who burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old at Anfield – Rashford was also once a teen sensation for Man United, having scored twice on debut as an 18-year-old back in February 2016, before ending that campaign with eight goals in just 18 games under Louis van Gaal.

Rashford’s last five Man Utd seasons (all comps)

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25*

24

7

3

2023/24

43

8

6

2022/23

56

30

11

2021/22

32

5

2

2020/21

57

21

18

*Not including record at Villa

Stats via Transfermarkt

High points have followed since for the academy graduate, namely his 30-goal season in 2022/23 during Erik ten Hag’s time at the helm, although inconsistency has been the theme of recent years.

As evidenced in the table above, the forward’s “unstoppable” 2022/23 campaign, as hailed by Ten Hag, stands out amid a rather underwhelming half a decade, in truth, with Liverpool not exactly targeting a player in his pomp.

As was the case with Owen, for all parties this appears to be a move best avoided, with the scrutiny and controversy unlikely to be made worthwhile by performances on the pitch.

Related He's better than Ekitike: Liverpool chasing "monster" £60m Isak alternative

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Rangers’ takeover deal has hit a major breakthrough this week, with 49ers Enterprises President Paraag Marathe and former banker Andrew Cavenagh agreeing a deal to acquire at least 51 per cent of the shares at Ibrox.

Rangers make takeover breakthrough

The sacking of Philippe Clement was a big moment in the Gers’ recent history, and amid the Belgian’s struggles as manager, there has also been constant speculation off the pitch over 49ers Enterprises buying the club.

Now, a huge update from Sky Sports has claimed that the takeover of Rangers has been “agreed in principle”, heralding a new era at Ibrox in the process. There is a “growing confidence on all sides that it will be completed ahead of the new season”, which has the potential to create a far better feel-good atmosphere after a damaging defeat to Motherwell at the weekend.

This has been a season to forget so far for the Gers, even though they are still in the Europa League, with some patchy form throughout the campaign allowing Celtic to build a 16-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

The hope is that this takeover can be agreed as soon as possible, giving Barry Ferguson and his players an extra spring in their step, not to mention the fans.

Who is Andrew Cavenagh?

One relatively unknown figure until now who is heavily involved in the takeover is Andrew Cavenegh, with the health insurance magnate “leading” the bid along with the 49ers’ Marathe, who is a more publicised name due to his involvement at Leeds United.

It is thought that Cavenegh’s “involvement at Ibrox could be key in ensuring Scottish FA dual ownership rules are not a barrier”, as Marathe and the 49ers are limited to just a 29.9 per cent stake in the club because of their current involvement at Elland Road.

Cavenagh, a former banker, is the co-founder and former CEO of US based company ParetoHealth, with the report adding that they manage around £5.2bn in assets and “cover more than one million lives” in the States. ParetoHealth provides midsize companies (50–1,000 employees) with affordable healthcare benefits which “traditional insurance has failed” to do.

His role as CEO came to an end last month, seemingly in order to focus on this takeover of Rangers, having congratulated his replacement on taking up the job on LinkedIn: “The thing of which I’m most proud, however, is the team that we have built at Pareto. It is therefore with incredible pride that I share that Maeve O’Meara has been promoted to CEO.”

He revealed he will be stepping down to a lesser role as Executive Chairman from March onwards: “I will be serving as Executive Chairman and will work closely with Maeve on strategy and will stay closely engaged with our community. I am excited to dream big with Maeve and the best is yet to come.”

Educated at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania between 1988 and 1992, Cavenagh has enjoyed executive roles at Berkley Risk and Berkley Accident & Health prior to eventually kick-starting ParetoHealth as CEO in 2019.

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The American is a high-powered businessman who has dealt with pressurised situations in banking and insurance throughout his career, meaning Rangers are hopefully in good hands as they look to strike a deal with majority shareholder Dave King and others.

All Gers supporters want is for an end to this saga, allowing the club to kick on to bigger and better things in the coming years, become the powerhouse of Scottish football again.

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While there is clearly a huge amount of work to do in that respect, from bringing in the right long-term manager to providing more funds for new signings, the hope is that the influence of Cavenagh and others will aid Rangers greatly.

Sunderland go into this weekend’s set of Championship fixtures full to the brim with confidence, as an away trip to Queens Park Rangers awaits the table-topping Black Cats.

Of course, Regis Le Bris will have to guard against complacency seeping in, but if the Wearside outfit were to collect another early season victory this Saturday, it would be their tenth league win from 13 games.

Le Bris will know his team will have to keep firing on all cylinders in every department to keep this stellar run of form going, with 17-year-old Chris Rigg one huge presence in the middle of the park for Sunderland so far this campaign.

Rigg's form this season

Sunderland fans will be understandably excited about the teenager’s bright future in the game based off his electric performances in the second tier at the moment, with the homegrown gem not taken aback whatsoever by playing week in week out, despite his wide-eyed demeanour.

Away from any talk of his tender age, Rigg is letting his football do the talking at the moment, with three goals fired home from 12 first team appearances this season so far, including the crucial opener against Luton Town last time out on the road.

Also scoring this strike against Leeds United earlier in the month, in front of his adoring Stadium of Light masses, Rigg seems to just have the world at his feet at the moment with no pressure getting to him.

It will all be about managing the 17-year-old appropriately, however, so he doesn’t burn out as the gruelling season progresses, with a worry in the air too that a bigger fish could swoop in and steal him away from Sunderland shortly.

Sunderland will know all too well what happens when a promising youngster doesn’t quite reach the heights expected of them, with this raw and direct midfield gem arguably the club’s original Rigg when he burst onto the scene back in 2013.

Sunderland's original Rigg

Duncan Watmore is now a forgotten name somewhat to Wearside locals, with the diminutive attacker now on the books of Millwall after his long stay at Sunderland unfortunately fizzled out.

Picked up from non-league Altrincham, after scoring goals by the bucket load for the Greater Manchester side, Watmore would be fast-tracked to the glitz and glamour of the Premier League a couple of seasons into his time at the club, having made quite the impression in the U23 ranks.

Watmore would help himself to a mightily impressive 20 goals and eight assists from 37 games lining up for the U23s, leading to his moment in the spotlight in the men’s team finally coming about during the 2015/16 season.

Much like Rigg is showing in the here and now, the energetic winger would take that opportunity with both hands when plunged into the deep end of the first team, firing home three goals from 23 clashes in the top-flight as the Black Cats just narrowly avoided the relegation spaces by two points.

Yet, although Watmore was a joy to watch at the peak of his powers in the senior mix as a gung-ho style attacker, injury issues would soon begin to be the Sunderland number 14’s undoing.

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Serious injury layoffs would see Watmore miss countless games for his side campaign after campaign, with the Manchester-born winger fit for just six Championship games during the 2017/18 season, as the Black Cats attacker and his club continually cursed their bad luck.

Watmore’s injury issues at Sunderland

Injury type

Season

Days spent out injured

Ankle injury

18/19

74 days

Knee injury

17/18

372 days

Knee injury

16/17

286 days

Ankle injury

15/16

69 days

Sourced by Transfermarkt

In total, Watmore would miss 801 days of action for Sunderland as a result of finding himself going in and out of the Stadium of Light treatment room regularly, leading to the winger being released in 2020 during Phil Parkinson’s time in charge.

He has since shone for Millwall, with an impressive tally of five goals from 13 games this season, but the 30-year-old must now look back on his bright beginnings at Sunderland with some annoyance, knowing the difficulties he would go on to face.

Sunderland will just pray the same doesn’t happen to Rigg, in terms of injury issues popping up, as the teenage ace looks to take his side back up to the Premier League.

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Manchester City's squad does not lack much and that has been evident by their impressive trophy haul in recent seasons under Pep Guardiola.

They won the treble in the 2022/23 campaign and followed that up with another Premier League title last season, which means that they are now seeking five in a row next term.

One thing that they do not have in abundance, however, is pace on the flanks since the likes of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane moved on from The Etihad, with Jeremy Doku currently being the club's only speedy wide player.

Guardiola could now finally replace Sterling, who joined Chelsea for £50m two years ago, by signing a Champions League winner to add a direct, pacey, option on the right side of his attack in the 2024/25 campaign.,

Man City's interest in Champions League winner

TEAMtalk reported earlier this month that the Cityzens are the only team with a 'concrete' interest in signing Real Madrid forward Rodrygo this summer.

The outlet claimed that the Sky Blues are keen on a deal for the Brazil international as Guardiola believes that he would be an ideal addition to his already-impressive array of attacking options.

TEAMtalk added that the Spanish giants, who won the Champions League last season, would demand a mouth-watering fee of £100m to allow the 23-year-old star to depart.

It remains to be seen, however, whether or not City are prepared to place £100m on the table for the Brazilian wizard to add him to their squad this summer.

If the Premier League champions can get a deal over the line for the right-footed speedster, though, then they could finally replace Sterling on the wing.

Why Rodrygo could be Sterling 2.0

Firstly, Rodrygo is a pacey forward, who was named as one of the fastest players in LaLiga last year due to his 'electric' movement, who can offer a direct threat in behind opposition defences.

Whilst the likes of Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva can offer control and ball retention on the flanks, the Real Madrid star can provide something different with his speed, movement, and goalscoring quality.

Alongside his pace and runs in behind, Sterling was a big goal threat for City and ended his career at the club with a return of 131 goals in 339 appearances in all competitions – better than one every three matches on average.

23/24 LaLiga

Rodrygo

Appearances

34

Goals

10

Assists

5

Big chances created

5

Key passes per game

1.4

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Rodrygo hit double figures for goals in La Liga, whereas Grealish, Doku, and Bernardo combined for just 12 Premier League strikes.

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The Brazil international, who U23 scout Antonio Mango dubbed "sensational", has plundered 36 goals in all competitions since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, which speaks to his reliability in front of goal, with 18 goals per season on average.

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Guardiola would be bringing in a fast and direct forward, who can play on either flank or through the middle, and bolster his wing options due to his superior goalscoring quality in comparison to Grealish, Bernardo, and Doku, which is why Rodrygo could be Sterling 2.0.

The feeling around Manchester United over the last decade has been that the build-up to a transfer has often been more exciting than the player’s actual performances on the field.

However, the fans' first impression of a player is often a telltale sign as to how long they’ll last at the club.

Starting off with a bang is vital, especially at a club like United, where expectations and demands are often far higher than what a new signing has previously experienced.

Therefore, let’s take a look at an Erik ten Hag signing who shone on his debut, but has struggled ever since.

Antony’s start to life in Manchester

It is reasonable to presume that if former Ajax boss Ten Hag was never appointed as Man United manager, the chances of Antony signing for the club would have decreased significantly.

Prior to his £86m move to the Premier League, the Brazilian winger was lighting up the Eredivisie and the Champions League with his dazzling dribbling, skilful nature, and extreme confidence, which caused Brazil’s national team coach Tite to say he “has Neymar characteristics.”

On his debut for United against Arsenal in a 3-1 win at Old Trafford, Antony opened the scoring via a composed finish, with his dramatic celebration making him an instant favourite.

The winger would then go on to become the first United player to score in his first three Premier League matches, netting against Manchester City and Everton. After achieving that feat, United icon Wes Brown even went on to claim that “he’s like Messi and Maradona” in terms of his “wand” of a left foot.

Antony’s 2023/34 campaign

Throughout the remainder of that previous season, Antony went on to score five more goals and pick up three assists, with his form falling off as the season progressed.

During pre-season, Antony looked fresh and sharp, particularly impressing against Borussia Dortmund and Lens with two goals and an assist. However, he has been unable to carry those promising performances into the Premier League.

The Brazilian has now played 19 games in the league this season, and he has absolutely zero output to show for it, with his performances being extremely frustrating for both the boss and the fans.

Even United legend Andy Cole said “he would drive me absolutely mad,” further adding:

“He doesn’t score enough goals for me or create enough chances for his team-mates.”

Antony's 2023/24 Stats

Competition

Matches

Goals

Assists

Premier League

19

0

0

Champions League

4

0

0

FA Cup

1

1

1

EFL Cup

1

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see, Cole’s analysis is rather spot on, with his only goal contribution in 25 games being against League Two side Newport County in the FA Cup, where he had to tap into an open net for the goal.

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Antony’s last start was that game, and he has started on the bench for all of United’s last three. However, what will concern the 23-year-old the most is just how well Alejandro Garnacho is playing in his role, scoring twice against West Ham United and offering much more of a threat.

It’s fair to say that it’s difficult seeing Antony turn his career around at Old Trafford, especially with United now reportedly looking to sign a new right-winger in the summer and Sir Jim Ratcliffe open to letting him leave at the end of the season.

Unfortunately, that dream start to life at United will most likely be the peak of his career with a Red Devils badge on his chest.

Everton find themselves hovering close to the relegation zone year after year and on the evidence of this campaign so far, face another battle to avoid falling through the trap door.

Initially, it looked as though the Toffees had turned a corner after posting an impressive 3-1 victory over Brentford, but their woes soon returned as Luton Town condemned Sean Dyche's side to an embarrassing 2-1 loss on Saturday afternoon.

Everton's rapid decline has boiled down to the lack of forward direction at the top of the football club and the board's inept decision-making has trickled into their transfer dealings.

Players such as Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Andre Gomes and Davy Klaasen – who arrived for huge fees and provided very little value – have epitomised their struggles in the market.

A similar trend played out in the summer of 2016 as the Toffees brought in Yannick Bolasie, Morgan Schneiderlin and Ashley Williams for a combined £56m (€65.5m).

While that trio massively underwhelmed at Goodison Park, Everton did unearth two hidden gems that summer who have gone on to become solid signings. One was Idrissa Gueye, who joined from Aston Villa for £7.1m, and the other was Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

How much did Dominic Calvert-Lewin cost Everton?

After finishing in 11th place in the 2015/16 season, newly appointed manager Ronald Koeman was given the funds to bolster his squad and lead them on a charge towards Europe.

The Dutchman kept most of his shopping on English shores and one of those deals saw him unearth Dominic Calvert-Lewin from League One side Sheffield United for a reported fee of £1.5m.

At the time, the England U20 international was a relatively unknown prospect after spending the second half of that season on loan at Northampton Town, scoring five times in 20 appearances.

Although those returns were uninspiring, the 19-year-old would soon prove to be a shrewd signing for the club, becoming the prolific striker that the Toffees were crying out for.

How much is Calvert-Lewin worth now?

According to Football Transfers, Calvert-Lewin's expected transfer value sits at £9m (€10.5m) – a 500% increase to their initial outlay of £1.5m – although the 27-year-old was once worth far more than that figure, however, his stock has taken a dramatic tumble following a series of injuries. Indeed, as recently as 2020, he was reportedly being valued by his club at a staggering £80m.

Cast your eyes back to 2017 – Calvert-Lewin had just helped spearhead the England U20's to a World Cup triumph, scoring the winner in the final, and the 21-year-old was ready to replace their departing talisman, Romelu Lukaku, who joined Manchester United that summer for £75m.

Speaking about filling the void left behind by the Belgian, the Englishman said: "With Rom leaving I knew there was going to be an opportunity for me to get more game time in my preferred position.”

Calvert-Lewin wouldn't get a chance to lead the line under Koeman, who instead stationed him out wide to find space for his newly assembled playmakers; namely Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Davy Klaasen.

With Koeman unable to find the right formula and Everton finding themselves in the bottom three, the Dutchman was sacked, and this moment proved to be the turning point in the striker's career.

How many goals has Calvert-Lewin scored?

While his goal-scoring exploits wouldn't take off in the 2017/18 or 2018/19 season, only netting ten times in the league, Calvert-Lewin became a phenomenon as the focal point in Everton's attack in the two that followed as the 6 foot 2 marksman hauled an impressive 13 goals in 2019/20 and 16 in 2020/21.

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He drew plaudits from manager Carlo Ancelotti for scoring 21 goals in all competitions during the 2020/21 campaign with the Italian labelling him as a "top striker".

On the back of that monstrous season for the prolific forward, Arsenal, Newcastle and Manchester United all registered an interest in Calvert-Lewin but Everton were only willing to sell him for a very high price as his expected transfer value rose to £33m (€39m), according to Football Transfers.

Since then, however, Calvert-Lewin's career has gone on a downward spiral and so has Everton's, speaking volumes about how crucial the £100k per-week sharpshooter was to their success.

With the 27-year-old restricted to game time due to injuries, only featuring 34 times in the Premier League across the past two seasons, the former Sheffield United academy graduate has spent most of his time watching on from the stands, but now he's back and ready to help Dyche's side in their battle to avoid the drop.

Calvert-Lewin has scored twice in four appearances this term and has shown signs of the form that saw him once get labelled as an "exceptional footballer" by reporter Pete Graves.

Following a relatively slow start to the window, things look to be hotting up for Manchester United at present, with the Red Devils having already wrapped up a deal for England international, Mason Mount.

As per The Athletic, the Old Trafford outfit have now lodged a bid for Inter Milan goalkeeper, Andre Onana amid the continued uncertainty over David De Gea's future at the club, with Erik ten Hag and co also said to have made a handful of offers for Atalanta's 20-year-old striker, Rasmus Hojlund, amid the search for a new number nine.

The latter man may not be the only exciting young talent who could be on his way to the Theatre of Dreams this summer, however, with The Guardian's Ed Aarons having reported this week that United are among the clubs to have "enquired" about the prospect of signing Red Bull Salzburg teenager, Oscar Gloukh.

The 19-year-old playmaker only joined the Austrian outfit on a €7m (£6m) deal back in January after starting his career at Maccabi Tel Aviv, although the Israeli international appears to have caught the eye of teams across Europe – with Barcelona also showing an interest in his progress.

Heralded as "one of the greatest talents in Europe" by pundit Luis Vicente Matteo, the midfield maestro appears to be "another jewel in Salzburg's collection of talents", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig, with the Bundesliga side having repeatedly churned out potential superstars in recent years.

The Red Devils were notably interested in signing striker Benjamin Sesko from the club prior to the Slovenian marksman agreeing a move to sister club RB Leipzig, although it is the inability to prise Erling Haaland from the Red Bull Arena that will particularly sting for the Premier League giants.

With competition evidently fierce for young Gloukh, United must not make the same mistake again…

Did Man United nearly sign Erling Haaland?

It remains a real source of frustration for United supporters that the Norwegian machine never made his way to Old Trafford, with former boss Ole Gunnar Solskajer having reportedly recommended the young hitman to United after coaching his compatriot at Molde.

It was Haaland's stint at Salzburg which particularly captivated the attention of the Red Devils, however, as the Leeds-born menace scored 29 goals in just 27 games for the club across all fronts, sparking speculation that a move to England could be on the cards heading into the 2020 January transfer window.

As it proved, Ed Woodward and co were unable to clinch what would have been a notable coup as the explosive forward ultimately sealed a move to Borussia Dortmund, prior to wreaking havoc for neighbours Manchester City – for whom the 22-year-old scored 52 goals in just 53 games during a devastating debut campaign at the Etihad last time out.

For United to have come so close to wrapping up a deal over three years ago – with Solskjaer even meeting his representatives in the winter of 2019 – only to then fluff their lines remains a real blunder, with the aim likely not to make the same mistake again if they are serious about signing Gloukh.

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Although the latter man is yet to emulate Haaland's impact at Salzburg, the teen machine has still contributed four goals and assists in just 17 games over the last six months, after previously chipping in with 17 goal involvements in 33 games during his stint in Tel Aviv.

Having also previously netted against England in last year's U19 European Championship final, the 5 foot 7 dynamo also sparkled against the Three Lions at U21 level on Wednesday evening, notably registering six key passes in that eventual 3-0 defeat as a marker of his exciting promise.

That performance may have alerted even more clubs to his impressive potential, hence why Ten Hag and co need to steal a march and get to the front of the queue, ensuring that United don't endure a repeat of their Haaland heartbreak.

Liverpool transfer target Jude Bellingham remains the apple of Jurgen Klopp’s eye ahead of the summer transfer window, according to journalist Paul Joyce.

The Lowdown: Bellingham Liverpool’s main target

The Reds’ midfield has been a huge problem throughout the 2022/23 season, playing a major role in their struggles across four different competitions.

Too many current options are either too old, too young or too injury-prone, and Klopp was left to play a two-man midfield of Fabinho and James Milner against Real Madrid in midweek.

Summer additions in the middle of the park are absolutely imperative, as well as others, it Liverpool’s interest in Bellingham has been a priority for months now.

The 19-year-old has been endlessly linked with a move to Anfield, but with an exit from Borussia Dortmund looking probable this summer, there will be a massive auction for his services.

The likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid could all potentially sign Bellingham, in what could be one of the most important signings for any club in years, given his potential.

Liverpool’s attempts to sign the Englishman apparently took a hit this week, but Joyce has provided brighter news….

The Latest: Klopp desperate for move

Writing for The Times, the reliable reporter provided an update on the situation, admitting that Bellingham is still very much Klopp’s No.1 transfer target:

“Borussia Dortmund’s teenage tyro remains the apple of Klopp’s eye and the Liverpool manager will believe that with the 19-year-old on board, what has appeared at times as a chasm would narrow overnight.

“He considers Bellingham a transformative figure and that is a vision that Klopp would be keen to share with the England midfielder.”

He does state that others inside the club are wary that spending £100million on one player could be a risk, however, in terms of ‘putting too many eggs in one basket’.

The Verdict: Simply has to happen

Granted, Bellingham won’t solve Liverpool’s midfield woes on his own, especially at his age, but missing out on him now would be an enormous body blow.

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Thierry Henry recently suggested that the 22-cap England international wants to join the Reds this summer and it does arguably feel as though he is holding out for the Reds, with his father reportedly keen on the move coming to fruition.

Bellingham couldn’t be more perfect for this Liverpool team, possessing both technical brilliance and hard work – he has scored ten goals for Dortmund this season and averaged 2.6 tackles per game in the Bundesliga – and he would improve Klopp’s men in an instant.

The idea of him joining a rival, having looked like the front-runners for some time now, doesn’t bear thinking about for Reds supporters and the hope is that the player himself has made up his mind already.

Manchester United have already begun their January transfer window by signing Burnley striker Wout Weghorst on loan until the end of the season as Erik ten Hag moved to improve his squad’s attacking options.

The 52-year-old could be eyeing up another couple of signings before the transfer window closes, with another attacking potentially option on the cards, along with a defender.

The Old Trafford club have been linked with Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic since the summer, and according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth (live transfer blog, 10 January, 16:02; via MSN), United are continuing to monitor his progress and he could be available for just £7m – what looks a bargain fee in the modern transfer market.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s future at United is uncertain, but Ten Hag could have a licence to ditch the Englishman should he secure a deal for Juranovic.

The £90k-per-week defender has played only seven times across all competitions this season as the manager has often favoured Diogo Dalot at right-back, and it looks like his future lies away from Old Trafford.

On the other hand, the Croatian has been attracting interest due to his performances north of the border for Celtic. Since joining the current Scottish Premiership champions in the summer of 2021, he has made 51 appearances for the Hoops while scoring six goals and registering three assists.

He has been in superb form this season when he has played, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.19/10 across his nine league appearances so far, making 1.1 clearances and 1.3 tackles per game while succeeding with 58% of his total duels, proving to be a reliable option defensively.

The 27-year-old showcased his attacking abilities last season, netting three league goals and creating four big chances while making 1.3 key passes per game, and these traits could allow him to excel in Ten Hag’s side.

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Although Scottish football can sometimes looked down upon compared to the Premier League due to their positions on the UEFA association club coefficient, Juranovic was one of Croatia’s finest performers at the recent World Cup with a rating of 7.13/10, which suggests that he could more than hold his own against the best players in the world.

He was dubbed “unbelievable” by former Premier League defender William Gallas, and Ten Hag could ditch Wan-Bissaka and push for a move for the Celtic sensation this month as he continues to stamp his own authority on the United squad.