As England gear up for March friendlies as well as Euro 2024 this summer, WhoScored have picked their strongest XI based on form this season.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Newcastle United are likely to continue to strengthen their thriving squad in 2024 after rising to prominence under Eddie Howe's leadership over the past two years.
Currently impressing in the Champions League after a fourth-placed Premier League finish last year, the Magpies are among Europe's most opulent outfits following the PIF club takeover.
And while great strides have been made, St. James' Park has been rocked by revelations surrounding summer signing Sandro Tonali, who might be facing a lengthy suspension.
Because of this, plans for defensive reinforcements might need to be shelved in the short term, with the emphasis focussed on enhancing the midfield.
United added some eye-catching new faces to the mix in the summer, but didn't touch the central defence despite much discussion regarding the matter.
That's hardly to say that the backline needed major surgery, Newcastle had just enjoyed their best Premier League season in two decades, let's not forget, and did so with the joint-best defence of the campaign, conceding 33 goals alongside champions Manchester City.
But names such as Goncalo Inacio and Joachim Andersen were regularly touted, and will likely enter transfer circulation once again as the winter transfer window looms closer.
That being said, it does indeed appear to be the bolstering of the midfield that is taking precedence, with a host of names reportedly being considered by Howe and technical director Dan Ashworth.
|
Top Five Most Expensive Newcastle Transfers Under Eddie Howe |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Transfer Fee |
|
Alexander Isak |
£63m |
|
Sandro Tonali |
£55m |
|
Anthony Gordon |
£45m |
|
Bruno Guimaraes |
£42m |
|
Tino Livramento |
£40m |
|
Sourced via Football Transfers |
|
Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe could join the Toon having last started in the Premier League in the 2021/22 season, while Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips is reportedly assessing his options having failed to make his mark since joining from Leeds United for £45m in 2022.
And whether Newcastle opt for an industrious option in light of the Tonali news or whether some fresh flair is injected, the options are wide-ranging for this burgeoning squad.
As such, Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz is attracting the club's attention, with Spanish outlet Sport – via Sport Witness – claiming that the Magpies are set to battle Manchester City for the German's signature.
His services would not come cheap, with United required to shatter their transfer record for the 20-year-old, who is valued at around €85m (£74m).
While not like-for-like, Wirtz would be a worthy replacement for Tonali, should his breach of betting laws prove to shackle him to the sidelines for an extended period.
Tonali signed for Newcastle from Italian side AC Milan in the summer for roughly £55m, having won the 2021/22 Serie A title and since earned praise from Howe for his "magnificent" level of performance.
Scoring on his debut against Aston Villa was a fantastic feat but probably not what he hopes to be the apotheosis of his career at St. James' Park, but now embroiled in a betting scandal, it could be some time before he is clear to fully grow into his skin.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney was banned from all football-related activity for eight months in May after admitting to 232 breaches, with his suspension culminating on January 16, 2024.
As per Sky Sports, 'Tonali is likely to face a lesser, but still lengthy ban for his help with the investigation – and for admitting his guilt.'
While he is free to train and play until a verdict is reached, which will not be immediately forthcoming; regardless, the chances of avoiding suspension are infinitesimal and Howe will now need to accelerate the urgency of a new midfield signing.
Wirtz is not a No.6 or even really a No.8, but Tonali is capable of playing both deep and higher in the midfield, and Wirtz could be the perfect signing to complement the current industrious crop.
Noted for his "phenomenal" composure and precocity by Jonathan Tah, Wirtz has already demonstrated his steely mentality after recovering from a lengthy ACL injury and posting four goals and eight assists from only 19 starts.
This season, he has already bagged three goals and four assists from ten games, primarily playing in an offensive and central midfield placement.
Such a presence would be perfect for Newcastle, acting as a conduit between the thirds and threading together the squad with rapier-sharp precision and technical prowess.
The £42k-per-week machine ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 3% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for passes attempted, the top 4% for progressive passes and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
Such “elite” creative capacity – as has been claimed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – puts him in good stead to blossom into one of the finest playmakers in the game (if he isn't already), and would likely place him above the likes of James Maddison, who was pursued by Newcastle in the summer.
Having signed for Tottenham Hotspur from Leicester City for £40m in June, the creative midfielder has already chalked up two goals and five assists in the top flight, winning August's Premier League Player of the Month.
And while Maddison, aged 26, ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for assists and shot-creating actions and the top 6% for progressive passes per 90, Wirtz is young and talented enough to eclipse his level in six years, or maybe sooner.
Prodigy. Generational talent. Turns of phrase that perhaps are a bit hackneyed at this stage and are attributed to too many rising prospects.
But Wirtz is undoubtedly a bona fide revelation for Bayer Leverkusen and there are few players to boast a ceiling so high. Should he reach his potential having made the move to Tyneside, the dynamo has the skills to become one of the club's greatest playmakers.
Tottenham Hotspur's transition into life without club-record goalscorer Harry Kane has been seamless. The Lilywhites have hit the ground running under Ange Postecoglou, remaining unbeaten after eight games to sit top of the Premier League to make their star man's departure yesterday's news. With James Maddison, Heung-min Son and others stealing the headlines, it looks as though the only way is up for those in North London.
The question is, however, how long can a side last before the absence of a consistent 30-goal striker takes its toll? At some stage, Postecoglou will know that he may have a problem to solve, and that's when January and one particular transfer target could come into play.
Spurs arguably landed two of the deals of the summer in the form of Postecoglou and Maddison, with the latter quickly becoming the former Celtic manager's main man at the club. Despite their impressive work in the summer transfer window, though, the Lilywhites still lack an out-and-out number nine, having failed to replace Kane. As the January transfer window gets closer and closer with each passing day, however, a resolution to that problem could begin to arise.
The latest Jonathan David transfer news certainly suggests that may be the case, too. According to reports in Spain, via Caught Offside, Spurs have turned their attention to the LOSC Lille striker, who is reportedly valued at €40m (£35m). The report claims Spurs are said to be keen on signing David in the January transfer window as he fits into Postecoglou's plans. David, still only 23 years of age, could certainly help fill the golden boots of Kane, and may even be the final piece to the puzzle for Postecoglou at Spurs.
After David's goals and assists total reached the 30 mark in all competitions last season, having found the back of the net 26 times, and turned provider four times, he has got off to a similarly impressive start in the current campaign. So far, the Lille forward has found the back of the net on four occasions, and David's stats have even outperformed Spurs striker Richarlison in a number of areas in league action, as per FBref.
|
Player |
Goals |
Progressive Passes |
Progressive Carries |
|
Jonathan David |
2 |
18 |
13 |
|
Richarlison |
1 |
12 |
7 |
The Canada international has earned deserved praise for his performances in the last couple of years, including from journalist Austin Ditlhobolo, who previously posted on X: "Jonathan David, 21, is a predator in the box. Unbelievable finisher, who just fired Lille into the lead against Salzburg. Current French Ligue 1 top scorer. The Canadian hitman has scored more goals than Mbappe, Messi & Neymar. No wonder he was linked with LFC."
So, when the question inevitably comes the way of Postecoglou, regarding just who could replace Kane at Spurs, David may well become the answer for the Australian, making the January transfer window even more interesting to watch.
Manchester City have been handed a major boost ahead of their match against Arsenal, with defender Kyle Walker's injury considered "not too serious".
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Aston Villa are believed to be keen on signing a midfielder in January who would be open to leaving his current club, according to recent reports.
In a recent Aston Villa news update, the West Midlands-based club have confirmed on their official website that Italy international Nicolo Zaniolo is cooperating with the Italian Football Federation's investigation into alleged illegal betting activity in the country. Having also met with club officials at Aston Villa, Zaniolo remains available for selection under Unai Emery and no further comment will be made by the Premier League side on the matter.
Strengthening their reach across the globe, Aston Villa have also confirmed a strategic partnership with Japanese side Vissel Kobe as they aim to establish a platform for young players from Japan to have further pathways to further their career in Europe and potentially one day turn out at Villa Park. The J1 League side will send a delegation of individuals over to Birmingham at the end of November to formalise the partnership and two of their Under-16 players will train with Aston Villa's academy side as part of their visit to England.
Athletic Club winger Nico Williams is a transfer target for Aston Villa, with reports claiming that his current employers will look to put a new deal on the table to try and prevent the youngster from leaving in 2024. Barcelona have also been touted as a potential destination for the Spain international; however, he could now commit his future to Athletic Club and diminish any chance of Emery being able to tempt him to Villa Park.
|
Nico Williams statistics – 2023/24 (Transfermarkt) |
|
Appearances, goals and assists in all competitions |
|
Appearances: 6 |
|
Goals: 0 |
|
Assists: 4 |
According to an Aston Villa transfer update from Le Parisien, the Villans, and by extension president of football operations Monchi, are also believed to be keen on Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler, who is open to departing the Parc des Princes in the January transfer window. Brighton & Hove Albion, alongside La Liga side Valencia, are interested in the Spain international, who has been on the periphery at his current employers this term.
In 2023/24, Soler has featured on seven occasions for Paris Saint-Germain and has struggled to become a regular feature of Luis Enrique's plans, registering one goal and a solitary assist (Soler statistics – Transfermarkt).
Described as a "majestic and complete footballer" by Breaking The Lines in an analysis piece on his abilities during his time at Valencia, Soler has managed to record a pass success rate of 89.1% in Ligue 1 this term for Paris Saint-Germain and is a tidy presence in the midfield who can be relied upon to distribute possession efficiently, as per WhoScored.
Aston Villa find themselves in a position where they need to juggle both domestic and European footballing endeavours and bringing in someone such as Soler would serve to further bolster Emery's depth in the engine room.
Erik ten Hag's side face a daunting task to try and get back into Europe's elite competition and failure to do so will leave them in a financial mess
Thirteen years ago in early April, Manchester United went to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea in a Champions League quarter-final tie. On Thursday they head there knowing that victory is essential if they want to retain any hope of qualifying for the competition next season.
These two giants were regulars in the latter stages of the Champions League but have dramatically fallen out of the continental conversation, with Chelsea missing out on all three European competitions this season and United failing spectacularly in their voyage, finishing bottom of their UCL group.
Chelsea are effectively doomed to miss out on European football again completely as they sit 12th in the Premier League but the Red Devils still have a glimmer of hope of making it back into the big time, despite their dismal 1-1 draw at Brentford last time out.
Due to the expansion of the Champions League from next season, a fifth-placed finish could be enough for United to qualify. They currently trail Tottenham in fifth by nine points but can cut that gap to six with victory at Stamford Bridge. Given Spurs' reputation as apparent 'bottlers', United could still catch them and sneak into the Champions League by the back door.
But if this doesn't happen, how big of a mess would the club be in? What will be the true cost if Erik ten Hag's side miss out on the Champions League?
Lionel Messi's return to the starting XI for Inter Miami vs Rayados was not enough to see them through to the next round of the Champions Cup.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Enjoying an unbeaten start to life at Rangers, Philippe Clement will already have an eye on the January transfer window, when he will look to add vital reinforcements to his squad at Ibrox. As things stand, with a game in hand, the Gers sit as many as eight points behind Scottish Premiership leaders and Old Firm rivals Celtic.
The winter transfer window will certainly help the former AS Monaco manager make his mark at Ibrox too, which could include the arrival of one particular Premier League defender in what would be a major transfer for the Gers.
Truth be told, it was the summer transfer window that quickly became the beginning of Michael Beale's downfall at Rangers. The former Queens Park Rangers boss watched on as the Scottish giants failed to replace the likes of Ryan Kent, welcoming players who have since struggled such as Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers. They were mistakes that eventually played a part in costing Beale his job after a disappointing start to the campaign, and they are errors that Clement must not repeat.
With that said, we are already getting an idea as to who the new boss may target. According to 90min, Rangers are interested in Ben Godfrey, who Everton are open to selling in the January transfer window. The central defender has featured in just one Premier League game this season and could do with a fresh start amid reported interest from the Scottish side, as well as Newcastle United, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur.
It remains to be seen whether it will be Rangers who push ahead with a deal in January, with Everton's price-tag potentially making all the difference. The Toffees signed Godfrey for £20m back in 2020 and they will want to recoup a decent chunk of that fee in any future sale, perhaps leaving the Gers priced out of a winter move.
At 25-years-old, Godfrey still has plenty to offer and would benefit from a move away to the Premier League and to Scottish giants Rangers. We've seen the likes of Jack Butland make similar moves, before enjoying great success at Ibrox. Now the Everton man could have the chance to follow in the goalkeeper's footsteps. The fact that Dujon Sterling's agent is the same as Godfrey's could certainly help too, in terms of the club having recent dealings with his representatives.
The England international has received plenty of praise when at his best for Everton, including from Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, who told his Five Podcast: "Ben Godfrey, as good a defender as he is, going forward isn’t his best attribute and really he’s not going to be overlapping all game. He is not like Danny Alves, he’s not like Kyle Walker or Trent Alexander-Arnold. His main attribute is to get you one v one and defend against you. He’s great at that.”
Celtic head into the November international break – the last of the year – on the back of a win as they thumped Aberdeen 6-0 at Parkhead on Sunday.
The Hoops needed a reaction after they were comfortably beaten by Atletico Madrid by the same scoreline in the Champions League earlier that week.
Brendan Rodgers' side bounced back to secure an impressive win against the Dons, thanks to goals from Kyogo Furuhashi, Hyun-jun Yang, Luis Palma, David Turnbull, and Hyeon-gyu Oh (x2).
Goals have certainly not been hard to come by for the Bhoys this season as they have racked up an outstanding 34 Scottish Premiership goals in 13 matches, which is eight more than any other team.
|
Celtic's top Premiership scorers (via WhoScored) |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Goals |
|
Kyogo Furuhashi |
Six |
|
David Turnbull |
Six |
|
Matt O'Riley |
Six |
|
Luis Palma |
Four |
|
Hyeon-gyu Oh |
Three |
Rodgers has a host of players who have showcased their ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis, as shown by the table above, and there is no immediate need to make any further additions to the attack during the January transfer window – from a scoring perspective.
However, the Hoops do have a player in the academy right now who has outscored all of the aforementioned options and is surely pushing for a first-team spot – Rocco Vata.
The teenage Lennoxtown starlet has enjoyed an impressive season so far at academy level and has scored more goals than first-team stars Matt O'Riley and Kyogo in all competitions.
Celtic's sublime central midfielder has been in fine goalscoring form for the Scottish giants this term and has racked up six goals in 17 games in total.
His Premiership form has been particularly eye-catching as the 22-year-old maestro has showcased his ability to score and create goals on a consistent basis.
O'Riley has registered six goals and five assists in 12 league matches for the Hoops throughout the 2023/24 campaign, which means that he has averaged almost a goal contribution every game on average.
This highlights how important the talented whiz has been for the Parkhead outfit as his involvement in the final third has led to great success.
The Denmark U21 international has been a constant creative threat for the club with an outstanding 2.9 key passes per match, which is 0.3 more per outing than any of his teammates have managed.
He only found the back of the net three times in 38 Premiership clashes during the 2022/23 season and has been able to step up his game in front of goal this term with Rodgers at the helm, after Ange Postecoglou's departure to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur over the summer.
The former MK Dons star is a reliable attacking option from midfield for Celtic and has proven that he has the quality to deliver goals and assists with impressive regularity from the middle of the park, which is why he is one of the team's star players.
Meanwhile, Kyogo has not been at the peak of his powers but has still been a goalscoring threat for the Hoops with eight goals in 18 matches in all competitions this season.
The Japan international is Celtic's joint-top scorer in the Premiership, as aforementioned, with six strikes in 13 appearances so far this term. This means that the forward has averaged a goal every 2.17 league games.
Whereas, the 28-year-old marksman enjoyed a phenomenal 2022/23 campaign as he produced a stunning 27 goals in 36 Premiership clashes for the Bhoys. This was a return of one finish every 1.33 outings on average for the Scottish giants.
These statistics suggest that Kyogo's form has dipped this season after his incredible performance in front of goal last term, as he has scored less frequently.
The right-footed finisher has, however, improved his Champions League output with a return of two goals in four European clashes so far this season, with goals against Atletico Madrid and Lazio.
This has come after his dismal production of zero goals and one assist in six group stage matches in the competition during the 2022/23 campaign.
Rodgers could now unearth another terrific goalscoring threat for his team, alongside O'Riley and Kyogo, by promoting Vata, who has outscored both of them, to the senior squad.
The 18-year-old starlet has been in phenomenal form for the academy side and has showcased his ability to find the back of the net with impressive regularity.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig once claimed that the Irish ace has an "exciting" future ahead of him in the game, which is backed up by his statistics so far this term.
Playing for the B Team, Vata has smashed in an eye-catching nine goals in seven Lowland League matches for the young Hoops, which is one goal every 0.78 games on average.
The talented whiz has also scored one goal in one Challenge Cup clash and is, therefore, into double figures for goals for the 2023/24 campaign.
His superb form has come off the back of a return of 11 goals and one assist in 28 appearances in all competitions for the club, which included four Premiership outings.
He is a versatile forward who can play through the middle as a number nine, in an attacking midfield role, or out wide on either flank. This means that Rodgers could use him in a variety of ways and that there are a number of positions in which he could make his first-team breakthrough in.
Postecoglou handed him four substitute appearances in the league last season and the talented teenager impressed with two 'big chances' created for his teammates in just 44 minutes of action.
He, therefore, showcased his creative qualities at first-team level and could provide a spark of invention in the final third for the Hoops in the future, whilst his current form for the academy side indicates that the young gem also has a scoring streak to be unearthed by Rodgers.
If Vata can replicate anywhere near the kind of goalscoring prowess that he has shown for the B Team for the senior outfit then the Ireland U21 international could be a star for the club moving forward.
Here's everything we know about the new season of Welcome to Wrexham.
The story of Welsh soccer club Wrexham continues to captivate viewers across the world as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney attempt to make miracles by steering the team to glory.
Welcome to Wrexham on HuluWatch now
Seasons one and two were massive hits, earning mostly positive reviews among critics, with the acting duo helping to conjure moments of history in north Wales.
Here, GOAL brings you everything we know so far about Welcome to Wrexham season three, including when it is released, how to watch and more.