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Arsenal are still very much in the hunt for the Premier League title, despite Liverpool opening up a sizeable gap at the top, with the Anfield side also having a game in hand.

It is no secret that the Gunners haven’t been at their fluent best this term. Indeed, across 22 top-flight games, they have won just 12.

However, there is a long way to go, as nothing is won in January. Mikel Arteta needs to regroup his squad and get them fired up for the next few months. If the north Londoners can play to their potential, the title race might get exciting.

As such, we have taken a deeper look into various reasons why the Arsenal faithful should still be feeling positive heading into the conclusive stages of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

£48m champ, £33m steal: 5 players Arsenal must consider signing this month

The Gunners may look to bring in reinforcements this month to strengthen their Premier League title bid.

By
Dominic Lund

Jan 6, 2025

The odds may be stacked against them, but these are the reasons why Arsenal can still win the league title this season.

1

Liverpool are due a blip in form

Arne Slot has taken to life at Liverpool with ease. Not only are the Reds top of the league, but they are also in the semi-finals of the League Cup and the fourth round of the FA Cup, while also leading the way in the Champions League’s league phase.

All in all, the Merseyside outfit have lost just two games and Slot has a wonderful chance of lifting multiple trophies during his maiden campaign in charge.

However, such good form comes with its downfalls. Liverpool are due a blip amid a relentless run. The question is, when will it occur?

Arteta will hope this arrives sooner rather than later, especially with games running out. When it does, Arsenal must be ready to take advantage and claw back the gap at the top of the table.

2

Gunners are on the hunt for signings

Since the start of the 2020/21 season, Arsenal have made just four January signings, with three of them coming in January 2023.

If Arteta wishes to end the club’s 21-year league title drought, bringing in a new signing or two could be a major boost to their cause.

With Gabriel Jesus ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament against Manchester United recently, this leaves Kai Havertz as the only centre-forward option for Arteta (albeit a somewhat makeshift one), indicating the imperative nature of signing a new striker.

Benjamin Sesko is one player who has been linked with a move to London in recent weeks, while Brighton & Hove Albion forward Evan Ferguson and Igor Jesus, currently of Botafogo, are also options that Arteta is thought to be considering.

Havertz has scored 14 goals in 30 games across all competitions this season so far – hardly prolific by any stretch of the imagination. With Bukayo Saka also out injured for the foreseeable future, another centre-forward will be the main priority before the transfer window slams shut in a couple of weeks.

Much will depend on Arteta’s budget, too. He might need to sell a player or two to fund a new arrival, especially one that can spearhead the Gunners to the title.

Mikel Arteta's 10 worst Arsenal transfer flops – ranked

Mikel Arteta doesn’t always get it right in the transfer market, but who are his biggest mistakes?

By
Ross Kilvington

Jan 17, 2025

3

Arsenal could go on a crazy run of form

Arsenal prefer to be chasers when it comes to trying to win the Premier League title. During the 2022/23 campaign, the club were seven points clear of Manchester City after 16 games.

The club won 41 points in the next 22 matches, but City claimed 53 to steal the league crown away from the north Londoners’ grasp.

However, you only need to look back to 31st December, 2023 for some hope which could suggest a title revival is yet in sight.

Arsenal sat fourth and looked like they had bottled yet another title chase. The next 18 games saw them win 16, draw one and lose one to narrowly miss out on the league crown by just two points as City claimed a fourth title in a row.

This suggests that doing the chasing is something Arteta and Arsenal prefer, rather than being the club that everyone is aiming for at the top of the table.

Going on a similar run to last term over their final 16 games would certainly pile plenty of pressure on Liverpool. Would Slot’s team be able to stand up to that, or could the Gunners yet repeat history and overtake them?

The closest title races in Premier League history

Manchester City and Arsenal have delivered a Premier League title race for the ages – here are some of the tightest from years gone by…

By
Stephan Georgiou

May 20, 2024

4

Winning the Carabao Cup can be a catalyst

A solitary FA Cup triumph is all that can be shown for Arteta’s five-year reign in north London – and even that was achieved within his first year at the club.

While the first couple of years were very much about building a team which could challenge the Liverpool/Man City duopoly, he has transformed a squad that is now fully capable of winning trophies.

Reaching the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup this season was certainly expected given the strength of the squad, but could winning the cup be a catalyst for more success?

Arteta’s side will have to do things the hard way after the Gunners lost the first leg of their semi-final against Newcastle United, failing to get the better of Eddie Howe’s side in a 2-0 home defeat.

The return leg takes place at St James Park – a ground where the North Londoners have won just twice under Arteta in five attempts.

Overturning the deficit to make the final will give the club a major boost, while winning the trophy for the first time since 1993 might just spur them on to claim another Premier League crown.

The best EFL Cup finals of all time – ranked

English football’s February showpiece event often has a lot to live up to. Here are some of the best League Cup finals ever seen.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Feb 8, 2024

5

Liverpool could go further in the cups

As mentioned previously, the Anfield side are still in with a chance of winning all four competitions they have entered this season.

The further the club progresses in each competition will place more strain on the squad, which could cause fixture congestion during the final few weeks of the season.

This could play right into Arsenal’s hands, especially if the Reds start losing a few matches and suffer a dip in form as the finishing line approaches.

Slot has some impressive squad depth at his disposal, but more games will also mean the club have a greater chance of suffering from more injuries, potentially losing key players just as Arsenal have this term.

6

Bukayo Saka's return

Bukayo Saka scored 9 goals and grabbed 13 assists for the Gunners across 24 matches in all competitions before being struck down with a hamstring injury in December.

Following the injury, Arteta addressed the situation, delivering some bad news which came at the worst possible time, saying: “He had a procedure. Everything went well. But unfortunately, he will be out for many, many weeks. I think it will be more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer.”

If everything goes to plan, Saka could be back playing for the first team by the start of March, giving the club a major boost heading into the final months of the campaign.

If he can pick up where he left off at the end of the calendar year, he could add some much-needed quality in the final third, thus bolstering Arsenal’s title challenge in the process.

However, Arteta’s men will need to keep pace with Liverpool until Saka recovers, which is certainly easier said than done considering their recent form.

Bukayo Saka's top 11 Premier League goals for Arsenal

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is a serious goal threat – here are his best strikes for the Gunners.

By
Ross Kilvington

Nov 2, 2024

7

More first-team players are set to return

While getting Saka back to full fitness is the immediate priority for the club, there are a few other first-team stars who are set for a return in the next few weeks.

Ben White has missed the previous 10 Premier League matches due to a knee injury, with his last appearance coming against Chelsea at the start of November.

The defender could be set to return at the start of February, which will give the manager a boost heading into the business end of the campaign, so White may become a secret weapon of sorts.

Elsewhere, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori have endured setbacks during the season, but they could also be back in contention by the start of February, giving Arteta more defensive options.

8

Arsenal have an easier run-in

In the club’s remaining eight away games in the top flight, Arsenal face six teams who currently occupy places in the bottom seven of the league table (at the time of writing).

They face Liverpool at Anfield in May, which is certainly being billed as a potential title decider, especially if Arsenal can remain within their sights.

The Reds, on the other hand, have to face seven of the current top 10. Across their final five matches, not only do they face Arsenal, but a clash with Tottenham Hotspur and trips to Chelsea and Brighton will also have to be negotiated.

Slot will be hoping the title is won by the time the Gunners tie rolls around, but if Arteta can spur his team on over the next few months, combined with a dip in Liverpool’s form, there is every chance the title race will still be open come May.

Roy Keane has pointed out three positions where new English champions Liverpool must strengthen in the summer.

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• Slot told to sign players in three positions
• Liverpool went down 3-1 against Chelsea
• Slot made changes in defence

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Just a week after they were crowned as the English champions for a record equalling 20th time, the Reds went down 3-1 against Chelsea in the Premier League last Sunday. Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer were on target for the Blues, while Jarell Quansah scored an own goal. Virgil Van Dijk scored Liverpool's consolation goal.

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  Slot rested Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate as he fielded Kostas Tsimikas and Quansah in the starting lineup. Former Manchester United star and pundit, Roy Keane, felt that none of the defensive replacements were good enough, while suggesting the areas where the newly crowned champions must strengthen this summer.

• WHAT ROY KEANE SAID

  Speaking on , Keane said: "They want to back that up. That's the big challenge for Liverpool. Possibly a left-back, a centre half, [and] potentially I would say striker. They've won the league, they'll be a big attraction for a lot of players. Winning the league's fantastic, you've got to back it up again next year."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  The Merseyside club will be back in action in the Premier League on May 11 as they take on Arsenal at Anfield.

Birmingham City are edging closer to completing the signing of an international player as their final signing of the January transfer window, according to an update from journalist Charlie Haffenden.

Latest Birmingham news

This has been a campaign to treasure for Blues supporters so far, with their players backing up the early-season hype and topping the League One table, standing out as the team to beat in the division.

Last Saturday’s 2-1 victory at home to Rotherham United was another positive step in the right direction for Chris Davies’ side, who sit four points clear of second-place Wycombe Wanderers, as well as having two games in hand on them, putting them in a wonderful position.

Meanwhile, Birmingham have been linked with plenty of new signings during the current transfer window, with Swansea City centre-back Harry Darling mentioned as an option earlier in the month. The 25-year-old looks set to stay put at the Championship club, however, not yet sealing a move away with the hours ticking by.

Mainz and USA midfielder Lennard Maloney is another player who has been linked with a move to St Andrew’s midway through the season, looking to further bolster Davies’ squad in the process. Like Darling, though, it looks like he will remain with the German side until at least the summer transfer window.

Now, an exciting rumour has dropped regarding some late business for the League One leaders, as they look to get one last move over the line.

Birmingham closing in on 31 y/o ace

According to Birmingham World‘s Haffenden on X, Birmingham are “on track” to sign Ulsan HD left-back Lee Myung-jae on deadline day, as they look to get a deal done for the 31-year-old South Korea international.

“Understand Birmingham City are on track to complete the signing of current South Korea international left-back Lee Myung-jae on a free transfer. Told the 31-year-old will be the final senior addition at BCFC in this transfer window.”

As mentioned, Myung-jae would be Birmingham’s final addition of the window, but he could be an astute signing with plenty of experience in his career. The left-back has won seven caps for South Korea, meaning the Blues would be signing a player with genuine pedigree at a high level, even though he hasn’t played in Europe before, which is one drawback.

For Birmingham, it is a case of being ruthless in the promotion battle and not giving the likes of Wycombe and Wrexham any sniff of hope, and signing players like Myung-jae will only boost their chances of making a return to the Championship.

Birmingham could land "heroic" Sanderson upgrade this month

Birmingham City could be busy between now and the close of the January transfer window.

3

By
Kelan Sarson

Jan 19, 2025

The fact that the South Korean can also thrive as a centre-back means that he could provide competition for Alex Cochrane on the left-hand side of the back-three that Davies often favours, and he could also be an option as a wing-back, even if it’s more attack-minded than his usual role.

Everton are back in action in the Premier League this evening as they prepare to welcome city rivals Liverpool to Goodison Park for the final time.

The Toffees lost 2-0 to Bournemouth at Goodison Park in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday and that, along with Liverpool’s shock defeat to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle at Pride Park, means that this will be the last Merseyside derby at the stadium.

They are, of course, set to abandon their long-time home to move to a new stadium for the 2025/26 campaign and they will be hoping for a memorable derby day to bid farewell to the hallowed turf.

In terms of the league table, a win is not the be-all-end-all for the Toffees, who are already nine points clear of the relegation zone and slowly climbing closer to midtable instead of being in a relegation scrap.

For Everton supporters, however, this is about more than points on the board and any seasonal objectives, it is about getting one over their rivals and disrupting their charge for the title.

Everton's last win over Liverpool

You do not have to go back very far to find the last time Liverpool walked away disappointed after a clash with their rivals, as Sean Dyche’s side secured a fantastic win at Goodison Park in April of last year.

Jurgen Klopp’s team came to the other side of Merseyside with a chance to move level on points with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

As they are this season, Liverpool were chasing a title and a win over Everton would have put them in a fantastic position to attack the final month of the campaign.

As you can see in the highlights above, however, the Toffees dented their chances of giving Klopp a big send-off with a phenomenal 2-0 win under the lights at Goodison.

Jarrad Branthwaite handed the hosts the lead in the first half when Alexis Mac Alisster scuffed his attempted clearance in the box straight to the England international.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin made sure of the three points in the second half when he brilliantly headed Dwight McNeil’s corner past Alisson to make it 2-0 on the night.

Unfortunately, though, the English centre-forward is one of the players who will not be available for David Moyes to select in his first Merseyside derby since returning for a second spell at the club.

The latest Everton team news

The former Sheffield United attacker, who is reportedly valued at £25m by Everton, will remain on the sidelines after he suffered a hamstring injury in the win over Brighton last month.

Youssef Chermiti, who arrived from Sporting for £15m in the summer of 2023, is currently out with a hamstring injury, after initially missing matches with a foot injury earlier this season, and will also be watching on from the sidelines.

This means that Everton will be without their £40m-rated attacking duo for this clash, whilst Chelsea loanee Armando Broja is also unavailable, and that means that Beto is the only senior, recognised, centre-forward option for Moyes.

Everton’s absentees against Liverpool
Player	Injury
Dwight McNeil	Knee
Seamus Coleman	Muscle
Youssef Chermiti	Hamstring
Armando Broja	Ankle
Dominic Calvert-Lewin	Hamstring
Orel Mangala	Knee
Via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Toffees manager is set to be without several important first-team players for this clash with Liverpool tonight, but he is also set for a boost.

Moyes confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Ukraine international Vitalii Mykolenko is due to be available after missing out on the defeat to Bournemouth with a calf issue.

Everton's predicted line-up

The Scottish boss could make a few changes to the starting line-up that was selected for the 2-0 defeat to the Cherries at Goodison Park last time out in the FA Cup.

England international Jordan Pickford should retain his position in the XI, as he has been the first-choice throughout the season in the Premier League, but the defence in front of him could look slightly different.

Everton have lined up with a 4-2-3-1 formation in all of Moyes’ matches so far but Liverpool arrive as the top scorers in the division, with 56 goals in 23 games, and the manager could be tempted to switch to a 5-2-2-1 formation to keep the likes of Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo at bay.

This could mean that winger Jesper Lindstrom could be dropped from the team to make way for Michael Keane, who has made 50 clearances in ten league games this season, to join James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite at centre-back, with Jake O’Brien remaining at right-back.

24/25 Premier League	Michael Keane
Appearances (starts)	10 (9)
Goals	2
Clearances	50
Error led to shot/goal	0
Ground duel success rate	42%
Aerial duel success rate	58%
Stats via Sofascore

On the left side, Mykolenko’s return to fitness should see Young dropped from the XI. The Ukraine international is a naturally left-footed player who would offer more balance on that side, rather than having Young trying to push forward on his weak foot.

This would create a back five that would be tasked with shutting out the best attack in the league and provide Pickford with a bit more protection than he had from the back four in the loss to Bournemouth on Saturday, by having another body in the way to block shots and make clearances.

As you can see in the XI above, the third change to the starting line-up could be the introduction of Carlos Alcaraz for his full debut in an Everton shirt.

The 22-year-old star, who joined on loan from Flamengo in January, created two chances, hit the post, and completed 93% of his attempted passes in just 25 minutes off the bench last time out, and could be more suited to playing as one of two attacking midfielders behind Beto than Abdoulaye Doucoure is.

Everton’s French midfielder has contributed one goal and zero assists in 20 starts in the Premier League and could be kept in reserve to use his energy and running power off the bench if they need to see out a result in the second half.

Everton v Liverpool: Team news, where to watch, referee & VAR

It is the last meeting between the two sides at Goodison Park.

By
Charlie Smith

Feb 12, 2025

Real Madrid legend Dani Carvajal has hinted at his retirement as Los Blancos' near the signing of Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer.

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• Carvajal opens up on retirement
• Real Madrid set to sign Alexander-Arnold
• Defender admits he could take backup role

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Carvajal has been a major part of Real Madrid's successes over the last decade, with the Spanish right-back holding his spot in the first team since emerging in the 2013-14 season under Carlo Ancelotti. The Los Blancos captain has made 427 appearances throughout his career with the club and has won 27 trophies so far.

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  Carvajal was supposed to be the starter for Ancelotti this season as well, but suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) early in the campaign and has been out for the entire season. Real Madrid have now decided to improve the squad for the future and are nearing the signing of Liverpool right-back Alexander-Arnold, leading to Carvajal has now hinting at a possible retirement.

• WHAT CARVAJAL SAID

  Speaking to the media, Carvajal said: "It's been a long journey. My sports career is already nearing the end. I hope not, but I have to be realistic."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CARVAJAL?

  The Spanish international is highly unlikely to retire at the end of this season, but he may take up a back-up role at Real Madrid. However, after the World Cup 2026, he could be headed towards the end of his playing days.

Ruben Amorim is now ready to brutally axe one member of the Manchester United squad for a massive loss this summer, according to a fresh report, as he looks to put his mark on the Red Devils.

Manchester United transfer latest

It was a relatively busy January transfer window for Manchester United, but it was largely outgoings that dominated the headlines. The Premier League giants, who currently sit 13th in the top flight, sent a trio of first team players out on loan as they looked to trim their squad and their wage bill for the second half of the campaign.

Marcus Rashford joined Aston Villa for the remainder of the season in a deal that sees the Midlands outfit pay 75% of his hefty wages, which could rise to 90% based on performances. Unai Emery’s side also have an option to buy the forward at the end of the season for £40m should he impress in claret and blue.

Man Utd now eyeing move for £50,000-p/w target man with 15 G/A this season

He could be a rogue option to help Amorim’s side in the seasons ahead.

1

By
Ben Browning

Feb 6, 2025

Meanwhile, Antony’s agonising Old Trafford stay was also finally ended, with the club’s £86m signing leaving to join Real Betis on loan, and the Spanish side allegedly also paying a massive 84% of his wages during his time away from the Theatre of Dreams, with the duo’s exits saving the club significant funds.

These savings, in turn, helped the Red Devils move to sign Patrick Dorgu from Lecce, with the flying wingback arriving in a deal worth an initial £25m which could rise to £30m, a move that in turn allowed Tyrell Malacia to leave Old Trafford on loan.

But the Danish defender is just the first step in what is a major overhaul under Amorim at Old Trafford, with the club already exploring a move to sign former protegee Geovany Quenda this summer, and funds needing to be freed up to continue the job. Now, Amorim is reportedly ready to cash in on one of Erik ten Hag’s signings as he looks to find money to continue to make his mark at Manchester United.

Manchester United ready to cash in on forward

That is according to a fresh report from TEAMtalk, who point to Rasmus Hojlund as the player in question. The Dane arrived in Manchester from Atalanta with a hefty reputation as one of the most promising young strikers around, something which persuaded the Red Devils to shell out £72m (including add ons) to bring him to Old Trafford.

However, he has only shown glimpses of his potential, and has stuggled under Amorim since his arrival at the club in November, with the ex-Sporting coach opting to play midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as the no.9 in Hojlund’s place in their most recent Premier League outing.

Rasmus Hojlund under Ruben Amorim (Premier League)
Appearances	12
Starts	8
Goals	1
Assists	0

His best form came under Erik ten Hag, when he went on a goalscoring run that drew praise from Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer.

“I really like him. That’s six games on the spin now scoring goals. I’ve loved his attitude, it’s been really tough for him at times but he’s stuck at it, he’s been patient and now he’s getting his rewards”, he explained after he scored twice against Luton Town.

“His second goal was instinctive, I mean his reaction. You have got a split second to think about things there. The ball has come at him with pace and then to twist your body and guide it in, it’s an incredible and very clever finish.”

However, he has struggled to find form since and now the report claims that Manchester United are willing to cash in on the Dane this summer, and will accept offers around the £40m mark, something that would mark a massive loss on their initial outlay.

It is claimed that “a new striker is a priority for Amorim in the summer” and, as a result, “there is a good chance” Hojlund could be moved on amid interest from West Ham United and Juventus in the 22-year-old. His departure could allow Manchester United to move for former Amorim pupil Viktor Gyokeres, in whom they hold a long-term interest.

Players in the United squad are unhappy after being afforded just two tickets each for their family and friends for the European final against Spurs.

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• Ratcliffe continuing cost-cutting measures
• Decision has gone down poorly with squad
• Ruben Amorim paying for staff to attend

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ratcliffe has continued his cost-cutting measures at United by limiting the amount of tickets each player is allowed for next week's final Europa League final against Tottenham, leaving a number of Red Devils stars unimpressed by the decision. According to the Daily Mail, there will be just two tickets available per squad member, news which comes shortly after it was revealed manager Ruben Amorim will pay out of his own pocket for 30 of United's staff to attend the game with their families.

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  It was hoped Ratcliffe's investment in United last year would usher in a period of greater stability after decades of mismanagement from the Glazers. However, the INEOS chief's penny-pinching has drawn criticism from fans while on-field results have been poor aside from the run to the Europa League final.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  United and Spurs have been given 15,000 tickets each for the showpiece at San Mames next week, though it is believed travelling Tottenham supporters will outnumber their Red Devils counterparts in Bilbao.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  While all eyes at United are on next week's final, Amorim's side first have to face Champions League-chasing Chelsea on Friday night. Victory at Stamford Bridge would see them move up to 13th in the Premier League.

Manchester City have some fantastic academy talents in their current squad. Pep Guardiola has the luxury of calling upon some of the most exciting homegrown talents, but arguably none fit the bill more than Phil Foden.

He has now made over 300 appearances for his boyhood club and has scored and assisted over 150 times. He has an extraordinary record as a City player.

Some of the other academy talents at Guardiola’s disposal this season include Rico Lewis and James McAtee, with Oscar Bobb another player who came through the ranks, although he has been injured for most of the campaign.

City’s homegrown crop could have been so much better had director of football Txiki Begiristain not made the mistake of selling some exciting talents.

The exciting academy talents who Man City sold

Perhaps the biggest mistake the Citizens have made in recent years was to sell Cole Palmer. The Wythenshawe-born attacker moved to Chelsea in 2023 for £42.5m and has since gone on to become a deadly attacker.

The England international already has 60 goals and assists in just over 70 appearances for the West Londoners. Jamie Carragher said at the start of the season that if he continues at the current trajectory, he could be considered “the best player in the Premier League”.

Another blunder City made in the transfer market was to sell Morgan Rogers. Now at Aston Villa, he originally joined Middlesbrough from City’s academy, where he is just shy of 50 games for the club. In that time, he has over 20 goals and assists, and has made his England debut.

The East Mancunian side sold another deadly finisher last summer, letting Liam Delap join Ipswich Town. He has over ten goal involvements already this term, playing for a Tractor Boys side struggling for form.

However, perhaps the worst sale of an academy star in recent seasons is a player who broke City’s heart in the Champions League earlier this week.

Man City’s biggest sale error

It has been a tough week for City, who lost 3-2 in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Goals from Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and former academy star Brahim Diaz were enough to earn Los Blancos all three points.

After rising through the ranks in City’s academy, the Morocco international went on to make 15 appearances for the first team under Guardiola. He scored two goals in that time, both coming in the Carabao Cup against Fulham.

The 25-year-old left the club for Madrid in January 2019 as a teenager. He reportedly cost the Spanish giants £15m, including add-ons, which, given his record at the La Liga outfit, seem like they surely have been met, at least partly.

He has played 96 times for the club so far, scoring 18 goals and registering 18 assists in that time. Last season, the Moroccan was on fire and managed eight goals and seven assists in 31 La Liga games as Los Blancos lifted the title.

Once again, Diaz has been in excellent form for Madrid in 2024/25. He has four goals and six assists in 30 appearances across all competitions, averaging one goal involvement every three games.

Diaz record by competition for Madrid 2024/25
Competition	Games	Minutes	Goals	Assists
La Liga	18	775	3	2
Champions League	6	315	1	1
Copa Del Rey	3	223	0	3
Suerpcopa	2	16	0	0
Super Cup	1	7	0	0
Stats from Transfermarkt

Given his impressive exploits since making the move to the Spanish capital, Diaz’s value has risen greatly. The “Messi-esque” superstar, as Owen Hargreaves once described him, is worth £52.9m according to CIES Football Observatory.

That is an incredible rise in his value compared to what the Citizens sold him for. In fact, the Real Madrid number 21 has seen his transfer value increase by 252%, an incredible rise for someone who was allowed to leave for such a cheap fee.

Reflecting on the value, it is surely something which must make City wish they had kept Diaz all those years ago. He has gone on to be a fantastic player at one of the world’s biggest clubs, and might well have scored the goal which, in theory, could have knocked them out of the Champions League.

It is a decision that Begiristain might wish he could reverse.

Man City star who Pep sold in 2022 is now outperforming De Bruyne & Savinho

Man City might wish they still had this player at the club

By
Joe Nuttall

Feb 13, 2025

Borussia Dortmund have admitted they are open to selling Jamie Gittens amid speculation of him being disgruntled at the club.

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• Dortmund open to selling Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
• Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle reportedly interested
• German club's sporting director confirms they may cash in

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 20-year-old forward, who had a limited role under coach Niko Kovac, is open to returning to England, with Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle United reportedly ready to make a move for him this summer. According to reports, Chelsea are willing to offer the Englishman double his current salary.

  The Bundesliga club is expected to hold discussions in the coming weeks as they assess potential offers for the prodigy, who is currently valued at around €50–60 million.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Gittens' situation at the German club has taken a dramatic turn this year. Despite a blistering start to the season with five goals and four assists in just 15 Bundesliga games under former head coach Nuri Sahin, the English winger has found himself more often on the sidelines since Niko Kovac took over the club in late January.

  In the 2024-25 season, he managed 48 appearances for Dortmund and scored 12 goals and five assists. Dortmund are not pressured to sell with more than three years left on his contract, but their larger objective to lower the salary bill can speed up his exit. As part of a planned summer squad shake-up, the club is also thinking about getting rid of other first-team players, such as Giovanni Reyna, Niklas Sule, Salih Ozcan, and Julian Brandt, according to a report from the Mirror.

• WHAT SEBASTIAN KEHL SAID

  Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has hinted that the club could be open to letting go of one of its rising stars this summer, depending on the offers they receive.

  Speaking to Sport1, Kehl said there is strong interest in the player and confirmed that discussions are set to begin soon.

  “There’s definitely a market for him. He’s a very exciting player,” Kehl stated. “We’ll be having discussions soon. If offers come in, we’ll have to deal with them.”

  Kehl also gave insight into Dortmund’s broader strategy ahead of the summer transfer window.

  “We want to reduce wages,” he explained. “That said, it’s possible we’ll continue with some of these players. But some may no longer be part of the BVB squad next season.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GITTENS AND DORTMUND?

  In the next few weeks, talks between Dortmund and clubs that are interested are likely to get more serious. The German club could look to reinvest funds from the winger’s potential sale to strengthen their squad. Reports suggest that BVB are eyeing moves for Jobe Bellingham and Robin Koch as part of a broader rebuild.

  For now, however, the club’s focus shifts to the FIFA Club World Cup, where they will look to make a strong international statement. Dortmund begin their campaign against Fluminense on June 17, before facing Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan Hyundai in the remaining group-stage fixtures.

Chelsea have seen a huge turnover of players since the arrival of Todd Boehly back in May 2022, with the American investing a small fortune into the playing squad.

The 51-year-old has spent over £1.2b on new additions in his near three-year spell at the helm, handing the likes of Enzo Maresca the funds to improve the first-team squad.

Whilst on the face of it, the money spent seems like a huge amount, the signings have been split between immediate first-team additions and investments for the future, potentially setting the club up for success down the line.

The Italian has subsequently built a settled side since his appointment in the summer, aiming to lead the Blues back to Champions League football ahead of 2025/26.

He and the supporters must wish they had one player to help lead them to such a feat after his own impact during his time as a player at Stamford Bridge.

N’Golo Kante’s time at Chelsea

Back in the summer of 2016, Chelsea forked out £30m for the signing of French midfielder N’Golo Kante from Leicester City – straight off the back of the Foxes’ remarkable Premier League triumph.

It would be a move that would allow the now 33-year-old to take his career to the next level, featuring over 250 times for the Blues over a seven-year period.

Kante won everything but a Carabao Cup during his time in West London, catching the eye with his relentless running and ball-winning ability, helping the side win the Champions League back in 2020/21.

However, injuries would get the better of him during his final years at the Bridge, restricting him to just nine appearances in his final year at the club before departing on a free transfer and joining Saudi side Al Ittihad in 2023.

Even though the likes of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández both signed for over £100m, neither capsulate the ability of Kante, with the Blues already offloading the player who was tipped to fill the void.

The player who could’ve been Chelsea’s Kante 2.0

Many players have tried to emulate Kante in the holding midfield role, with his pace, ball-winning ability and small frame, but none have quite been able to match the levels he produced in England.

However, at one stage, it appeared as though the Blues had unearthed a player to follow in his footsteps in the form of Scottish youngster Billy Gilmour.

The midfielder joined the club from Rangers as a 16-year-old back in 2017, originally linking up with the under-18 side before making the jump into the senior squad.

He would make his breakthrough during the 2019/20 season, featuring 11 times across all competitions, before posting the same number of appearances in the following campaign – impressing with increased opportunities – leading to former Blue Patrick van Aanholt comparing him to Kante.

However, he would move to Norwich City on loan in 2021/22, but wouldn’t return to the first team in West London, joining Brighton and Hove Albion the following year for just £9m.

The Scottish international, who’s previously been dubbed “world-class” Frank Lampard, registered 60 appearances for the Seagulls before moving yet again this summer, joining Italian side Napoli, but despite the transfer, he’s valued less than goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.

Billy Gilmour’s stats since leaving Chelsea back in 2022
Season	Team	Games	Goals	Assists
2022/23	Brighton	17	0	2
2023/24	Brighton	41	0	2
2024/25	Brighton	2	0	0
2024/25	Napoli	16	0	0
Total:		76	0	4
Stats via Transfermarkt

The Dane has struggled for Premier League minutes, producing a howler against Aston Villa that cost the Blues a point, but he’s still valued at £16.5m by Transfermarkt, a figure higher than Gilmour, who’s now worth just £13.2m.

The 23-year-old has since made 14 Serie A appearances since his move to Naples, having bags of time to develop further, showcasing the Blues the mistake they made in allowing him to depart.

It’s a shame that his time at the Bridge didn’t go to plan, especially after the early praise he received after his emergence in the side, subsequently having to move elsewhere to achieve his full potential.

However, it goes to show how impressive Kante was during his time at the club, with no player yet to match his success in London, undoubtedly going down as one of their best-ever midfielders given the success and impact he provided.

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