Aston Villa defender Matt Targett is set to return to first-team training this week after injury (via avfc.co.uk).
The former Southampton left-back was forced off in their recent Premier League fixture against Wolves due to concussion.
As mentioned Targett was withdrawn against Wolves with concussion after playing for 45 minutes (Transfermarkt).
The 24-year-old was replaced by Neil Taylor, and up until Wednesday had not been involved in first-team training.
However, the club have now confirmed that he is set to return later in the week and in line with the return to play protocols in the aftermath of a head injury he will be eased back into sessions (avfc.co.uk).
With Dean Smith’s side not in action until the 25th November due to an international break, it gives Targett plenty of time to recover and he should be able to face Newcastle United in the club’s next outing.
This is great news for Aston Villa, as Targett has been very impressive since breaking into the starting 11.
Having begun the campaign on the bench, the ex-Fulham loanee has started the Villans’ last six Premier League outings (Transfermarkt). Indeed, as per WhoScored, the former Southampton man averages the most crosses per game of anyone in the Villa squad with 0.8 per game, while his 1.8 interceptions (the second-highest average in the squad) could be crucial in helping Smith’s side launch counter-attacks.
Whilst Villa haven’t kept a clean sheet in that time, the 24-year-old has contributed in an attacking sense and has already registered one goal and one assist despite being a full-back.
Aston Villa fans, how impressed have you been with Matt Targett so far this season? Let us know in the comments below…
Southampton fans have taken to Twitter to express their anger and frustration at a recent Twitter post from the club’s official account.
The tweet takes supporters to a ‘Monday Briefing’ article, in which the club attempts to sell tickets to the Christmas event and home fixtures against Watford and Norwich – fans will also see an image with scarves reading ‘We March On’ as the first thing that appears on the page.
While this is merely just a standard club update that many football teams do, the timing is all wrong from Southampton.
After watching their side recently lose 9-0 at St Mary’s, and slip to within just a point of 20th-place Norwich, the south coast side should probably avoid trying to ram more purchasable goods and empty motivational shouts such as ‘We March On’ down the fans’ throats.
One supporter said that perhaps the fans could instead go and watch the Board of Directors be shown a PowerPoint presentation on “management responsibility and collective working”.
Another fan said that they’re not sure if this is what supporters want to be seeing right now.
Let’s take a look at some more of the Twitter reaction…
Heading into the international break, Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace sit 18th in the Premier League, still winless after seven games, having drawn three and lost four.
Palace have managed to score just five goals in their seven games played, only Southampton scoring fewer with four. This comes with the Eagles averaging 48.6% possession (11th best in the league), and averaging 13.1 shots per 90 (tenth best in the league).
Two of their five Premier League goals have come from striker, Jean-Phillipe Mateta, who has scored four goals and provided one assist in his nine appearances across all competitions so far this campaign.
Mateta's Crystal Palace career in numbers
Mateta signed for Palace back in 2022, having spent a year there on loan from January 2021. The Eagles reportedly paid around £9m to secure the striker’s services permanently from Bundesliga side, Mainz.
The 27-year-old has since made 115 appearances for the club, scoring 33 goals and providing seven assists, totalling 5,922 minutes played.
Last season, he was heavily leaned upon to provide the output from Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze’s creativity, scoring 16 goals in the Premier League in 35 games, whilst also providing five of his seven total assists that season.
The Frenchman has started this campaign fairly strong, netting four times in total, twice in the Premier League, but his chances have been far fewer so far, as the loss of Olise is causing Palace a few issues early in the season, to replicate the chance creation he added.
However, things could look even more different now had Palace made a striker signing in the summer window of 2023 after Mateta only scored two goals in the 2022/23 season, failing to find the net on a regular basis.
Crystal Palace's links to Che Adams
Back in August 2023, Palace were reportedly battling to sign Che Adams. The 28-year-old instead stayed at Southampton for the 2023/24 season before leaving on a free, joining Torino in July 2024.
One that got away
The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.
Adams has started the season strong in his new Italian setting, making nine appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals, and providing two assists, with three of his four goals coming in Serie A. Torino currently sit seventh in Serie A, having won three, drawn two, and lost two of their opening seven fixtures.
Initially not thought to be too prolific in English football, he’s proving the doubters wrong rather swiftly and is actually bettering Mateta in a host of metrics throughout 2024/25.
Goals
0.71
0.58
Assists
0.36
0.14
xG
0.35
0.33
Progressive Carries
0.70
0.59
Progressive Passes
0.93
1.57
Shots Total
2.14
1.30
Shots on Target
1.43
0.43
Goals/Shot
0.33
0.33
Shot-Creating Actions
2.79
1.96
Aerials Won
1.40
1.57
As you can see from their numbers, Adams is smashing it over at Torino, with manager Paolo Vanoli describing him as the “perfect player” for their plan.
Southampton striker Che Adams.
He is scoring more goals per 90 and providing more assists per 90 than Mateta, has more xG generated per 90, more progressive carries, a higher shot volume and shot accuracy, whilst also scoring at a rate of 0.33 goals/shot.
Mateta is providing better aerial battle numbers, which is to be expected with his 6 foot 3 frame, and whilst Mateta is scoring fewer, he is still scoring at the same rate per shot taken, with a 0.33 goals/shot ratio.
Southampton striker Che Adams
Palace probably won’t see this as a mistake, as Mateta showed last season what he can provide, and is still showing what he can do this season with limited service, but the Scotland international could have provided a different option upfront for the Eagles, as he is now showing some of his best form in Italy.
Arsenal legend Paul Merson says manager Mikel Arteta has a real headache to deal with ahead of his side’s looming clash against Premier League title rivals Man City at the Etihad Stadium, in what is arguably their biggest game of the season so far.
Arsenal dealt selection dilemmas with key men unavailable
The north Londoners will be unable to call upon a host of key players for their trip to the Etihad Stadium, with captain Martin Odegaard, midfielder Mikel Merino, defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, left-back Kieran Tierney and Ukraine international Oleksandr Zinchenko all sidelined lately.
Arteta handed possible Odegaard injury boost after initial Arsenal fears
The Norway captain has suffered significant ankle ligament damage.
ByEmilio Galantini Sep 21, 2024
Odegaard will be out for weeks after sustaining ankle ligament damage on international duty with Norway, while summer signing Mikel Merino is out with a shoulder fracture and won’t be back till late next month at the earliest.
Tomiyasu’s knee injury means he won’t potentially be back until their home game against Leicester City next weekend, with Zinchenko missing their last two games after picking up a calf problem.
Man City (away)
September 22
Leicester City (home)
September 28
Southampton (home)
October 5
Bournemouth (away)
October 19
Liverpool (home)
October 27
Tierney’s estimated return date is unknown, but a certainty is that he won’t be donning Arsenal red when Arteta’s side travel to Manchester today. Their shortage of midfielders means both Thomas Partey and Jorginho have been absolutely crucial, so sporting director Edu Gaspar will be relieved that he didn’t try and sell either man in the summer window.
The latter started Arsenal’s 1-0 derby win over Tottenham last weekend, playing a key role in thwarting the home side’s attack whilst providing balance in midfield next to Partey.
However, Declan Rice’s return to the fold against Atalanta saw the £110,000-per-week star dropped for their draw in Bergamo on Thursday.
Paul Merson says Arteta has a real problem over Jorginho
Writing in his column for sportskeeda, pundit Merson believes that Jorginho presents a real problem for Arteta to solve in the form of a selection dilemma.
“It won’t be as comfortable as the game against Tottenham,” wrote Merson. “I have a strong feeling Jorginho will play this game, despite Declan Rice returning from his suspension.
“With Kai Havertz in midfield the other day, it really helped both Thomas Partey and Jorginho. One thing Jorginho does really well is, he keeps the ball. During the 1-0 win at Emirates last season, City could not touch him, he was just too good.
“It’s a real headache for Arteta now. He must decide whether he should play Jorginho or not. A quick word on William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes as well, they are the best centre-back pair in the league. But I feel sometimes the work that happens in front of them goes unnoticed. Partey and Rice are both very disciplined and provide a lot of cover for the centre-backs.
“I like John Stones and Ruben Dias together, but they don’t play with each other consistently enough like the Arsenal duo.”
Leeds United are continuing to monitor new managers as pressure starts to mount on Daniel Farke, according to a new report. It has been a mixed start to the season for the Whites, as they have lost just one game in the Championship but find themselves a fair few points away from the top of the table already.
Leeds manager Farke scolded for wasting £7m on third division level player
Farke has been blasted for a decision he made at his previous job.
2 ByBrett Worthington Sep 17, 2024 Daniel Farke under pressure at Leeds
Farke was brought in by Leeds last year as the club felt he was the best choice to get them back into the Premier League, and while it was a slow start to the 2023/24 season, they certainly found their groove as he guided them to a top six finish.
However, Leeds of course fell short and were beaten by Southampton in the play-off final, a result that has seemingly put the manager under pressure heading into this campaign. The Yorkshire side have played five Championship games so far, but they have won just two, drawing another two and losing against Burnley on Saturday.
Farke is now “under pressure” according to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, and while the reporter claims this pressure is not immediate, his long-term future at Leeds is definitely in doubt.
Matches
61
Won
33
Drawn
13
Lost
15
Leeds monitoring "genius" Farke successor who's top of the league
And according to Football Insider, Leeds are continuing to monitor West Brom manager Carlos Corberan. The Spaniard is said to be “highly regarded” by Leeds’ higher ups, who could change their manager should results not improve under Farke. The report goes on to add that Corberan is said to have a release clause of just £2 million in his Albion contract.
As well as Leeds being interested in Corberan, other Championship sides also share the same feeling towards the Spaniard, as he continues to impress at the Baggies. The 41-year-old joined them in October 2022, and while he has yet to seal promotion with the club, he has improved the levels and made them a consistent challenger.
West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.
Corberan, who was described as being a “genius” by former Leeds player Romario Vieira, has guided West Brom to the top of the Championship after five games this season, with their latest result being an impressive win away at Portsmouth. The former Marcelo Bielsa student has overseen 90 matches in charge at the Hawthorns, 43 of which he has won, and he has picked up 148 points, averaging 1.64 per match.
West Brom are unbeaten in the league so far this season, with the only disappointment being a shock defeat to Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur are set to continue their unrelenting summer window, despite having already welcomed two new faces as of early July.
Despite having tempted James Maddison to vastly improve Ange Postecoglou's midfield, there could be a suggestion that this alone might not be enough to promote the vast upturn that the Australian will crave
Having watched the Lilywhites slump to an eighth-placed Premier League finish last term, the future will likely consist of a revitalised Chelsea and Liverpool, an ever-improving Arsenal and Manchester United, and a Newcastle United team that will be desperate to retain their place in the top four.
That is even without mentioning the gatecrashers, as Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion now both have a taste of European football, too. Further reinforcement is needed to re-establish their place amongst the elite.
Given the all-action attacking philosophy of their new boss, which often consists of two aggressive No 8s, perhaps the addition of another offensive-minded midfielder could provide the perfect partner for their £40m man as the spearhead of a frightening engine room.
Given what reports in Spain have noted in recent months, that man could be Crystal Palace's £19m-rated star, Eberechi Eze.
Would Ebere Eze improve Tottenham Hotspur?
The England international starred last campaign for the Eagles, as a catalyst for their comfortable finish way clear of the relegation zone, with which they flirted for some time.
As a skilful attacking midfielder, the versatility of this trickster will likely be of huge value to someone as tactically astute as Postecoglou. He will see the 25-year-old as someone to underpin his system, able to morph to aid its progression and switch intelligently mid-game.
Not to mention he is just naturally a very talented footballer, as outlined in his ten goals and four assists last season posted in the league. This earned him his 7.12 average rating, which was further bolstered through 1.5 key passes, 1.1 tackles and 1.9 successful dribbles per game, via Sofascore.
To add the elegant ace alongside another the imperious Maddison would mark an instant injection of creativity from deep that they have been sorely lacking.
Last season, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg combined for a total of just nine league goals between them. Both Eze and the former Leicester City man surpassed that on their own.
When compared to other central midfielders across Europe, where Roy Hodgson and Patrick Vieira often deployed him, the former QPR wizard ranks in the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90.
Tottenham Hotspur'sBenDaviesin action with Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze
To imagine him striding out with the ball at his feet, forging space for his hypothetical teammate to then provide that deadly finishing touch, seems like a match made in heaven. It is no wonder he was branded a "magician" by Micah Richards, with his consistently spellbinding performances earning him a potential big move.
This pairing of Eze and Maddison could lead the press, create from anywhere and wreak havoc on opposition defences, yet they retain the mindset that makes them hard workers, too. As a couple of roaming 8s within the same team, they could cause carnage for the rest of the division.
Fulham are expected to open talks over the signing of versatile Fenerbache defender Ferdi Kadioglu, according to reports out of Turkey.
Who will join Fulham this summer?
As per recent rumours, the Whites and manager Marco Silva are getting busy in identifying transfer targets ahead of what will be a crucial 2023/2024 season.
Fulham comfortably avoided relegation last time round and even contended for Europe following a first full campaign back in the Premier League.
Silva’s side wish to upgrade key areas of the squad, defensively, in midfield and further forward, with Man United midfielder Fred, Leicester City defender Timothy Castagne, Coventry City’s Viktor Gyokeres and Norwich full-back Max Aarons.
Fulham star Joao Palhinha, after his own exceptional debut season in England, is said to be a man in demand as well with Man United, Liverpool and West Ham all eyeing up a move for the £90 million man.
It appears there could be a flurry of both incomings and outgoings at Craven Cottage this summer window, and according to Turkish-Football sources, they have their eyes on Kadioglu of Fenerbache.
Fulham manager Marco Silva
The 23-year-old, who has been capped for Turkey’s national team, is a player attracting serious interest from Silva and co with Fulham scouts running the rule over him recently.
Most interestingly, club chiefs have been impressed with some of his performances, and it is expected that formal Fulham talks to sign the player will take place.
This is after Fenerbache were contacted by the west London side, and if they can find middle ground on price, it is believed they will commence negotiations.
Who is Ferdi Kadioglu?
Kadioglu is described as a versatile right-back option, who can play on either flank, at wing back and even the winger positions.
Only Attila Szalai played more top flight minutes than the young defender last season, showcasing what an indispensable asset he is for Fenerbache.
During that time, Kadioglu chipped in with three goals and four assists, completing the 22/23 campaign as one of Fenerbache’s best-performing players per 90 according to WhoScored.
The Turk also averaged their joint-highest rate of tackles per 90 at the back, with Emre Sarigul, founder of Turkish-football.com, tipping him to a success way back in 2020.
Arsenal are now on the verge of completing a move for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.
Is Jurrien Timber joining Arsenal?
According to a report from The Mirror, Timber believes he has an agreement in place with Ajax that will allow him to make the switch to the Emirates Stadium, having turned his back on a move to Manchester United last summer.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has recently revealed Arsenal are set to make another offer for the Ajax star, having already had one bid knocked back, as the player himself considers the project "perfect" for his aspirations.
Mikel Arteta is said to view the 22-year-old as a "priority target for this window", and the Gunners boss is now very close to completing a deal, according to a new update from Plettenberg.
Taking to Twitter, the Sky Sports reporter claimed the defender is on the "verge" of completing a switch to north London, as he "wants to join" and the verbal agreement is now "done."
Finalising the move now all comes down to the second official offer, and an "agreement is expected" for a fee of around €40m – €45m (£34m – £39m) plus bonus payments, which Plettenberg believes would be a "good deal for all parties."
"Jurrien Timber, on verge to join Arsenal! Bayern is not involved at this stage. The player wants to join Arsenal. Verbal agreement is done. All depends on the second official offer now. Agreement expected between €40-45m transfer fee + bonus payments. Would be a good deal for all parties."
What position does Jurrien Timber play?
The 5 foot 10 defender has most commonly been deployed at centre-back throughout his career so far, however, he is versatile and has made 49 appearances at right-back, another area in which Arteta is reportedly keen to strengthen.
Football Scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the Ajax academy graduate as "exceptional", as he makes up for his lack of height with his "understanding of the game, anticipation, pace and ball skills."
Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber.
Last season, he averaged 1.2 interceptions per game in the Eredivisie, the joint-second highest figure in the squad, which indicates that Kulig is correct in his assessment about the Utrecht-born defender being able to read the game very well.
Over the past year, the Utrecht-born defender has also showcased his passing ability, ranking in the 99th percentile for passes attempted and his pass completion rate per 90, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level. Timber has proven that he is more than capable of making the step up to the Premier League, and it is exciting news that the deal now appears to be very close to completion.
Jonathan Lewis could be a bargain signing for Leicester City as they look to find a replacement for Harvey Barnes.
What's the latest Leicester City transfer news?
Following their relegation from the Premier League, the Foxes face a wild summer as the club looks to revamp their side ahead of their first Championship campaign in almost a decade.
With figures such as James Maddison likely headed for the door, and Youri Tielemans already having departed for Aston Villa, the Midlands club has a lot of work to do as they build a squad ready to pursue promotion at the first time of asking.
Barnes is another name who is reportedly on his way out of Leicester, but it seems they've already found a replacement for the Englishman and one that looks like a bargain at that.
Playing in Major League Soccer (MLS) for Colorado Rapids, Lewis has caught the attention of a number of clubs this season, including newly-promoted Burnley, and with reports suggesting he'd cost just £500k, a move for the 26-year-old would be quite the bargain Barnes replacement for Leicester.
Would Jonathan Lewis be a good Harvey Barnes replacement for Leicester?
Symbolically playing for the Rapids, Lewis is regarded as one of the fastest players in the MLS and suits the bill of a like-for-like Barnes replacement nicely.
Predominantly playing on the left, similarly to the England winger, the 26-year-old dynamo also has the ability to feature on the right or in a central forward position, offering flexibility that Leicester would benefit from in a long Championship season.
With four goals and an assist in 19 appearances this season, Lewis hasn't been firing on all cylinders, but if last year's 10 goal contributions are anything to go by, the winger is capable of contributing significantly to the team's offensive output.
His goal contributions might not reach the heights of Barnes', but Lewis successfully completed 1.1 dribbles a game, while the Leicester man completed 0.8, so Lewis is actually outperforming the Leicester man in terms of their ball-carrying skills and the Englishman was actually dispossessed significantly more often a game (2.2) than the MLS star (0.6) too.
Soccer Football – Pre Season Friendly – Preston North End v Leicester City – Deepdale Stadium, Preston, Britain – July 23, 2022 Leicester City’s Harvey Barnes scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes
Sure, the American isn't as prolific as Barnes, but with the Englishman set to leave Leicester for what's reportedly going to be around £30m, and the Lewis set to be available for just £500k due to his contract expiring next summer, bringing him in to replace the departing star can only be considered a great bit of business for the Foxes as they operate under a tighter budget than years past.
Having once been labelled "very competitive" by his former New York City FC manager Patrick Viera, it's clear that the winger would always give 100%, something the Foxes' squad has been accused of lacking as they were relegated from the Premier League.
Given the low price tag and evidence above, new Foxes boss Enzo Maresca would be well worth a punt this summer transfer window.
Arsenal are keen on West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice this summer, though his current employers 'were quite dismissive' over their opening bid to try and land the England international, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
What's the latest transfer news involving Declan Rice?
According to Sky Sports, Arsenal were rebuffed in their first attempt to try and land Rice and saw a bid of £80 million plus add-ons turned down for the 24-year-old.
The report states that the offer was comprised of several 'slow installments' with 'tough contingencies attached to it' while the Hammers are said to value Rice at around £120 million, though are potentially willing to accept a fee of £100 million if the Gunners pursue a player-plus-cash deal.
As per The Daily Mail, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have all signaled their own interest in Rice, creating a tug-of-war between four clubs for his services.
West Ham could look to drive the price up by initiating a bidding war for Rice as they look to gain the maximum amount of financial reward for the London-born midfielder.
Capology understand that Rice earns around £60,000 per week on the books at the London Stadium on a contract that runs until June 2024.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has detailed that both the structure of the proposed deal and amount offered from Arsenal led to West Ham United rejecting their initial bid for Rice.
Jacobs told FFC: "West Ham sources were quite dismissive of the opening bid, but this isn't just about Arsenal hitting a British transfer record number. This is about payment terms and this is also about add-ons that are gettable rather than less likely. It's about the number and it's about the structure and at the moment, Arsenal are off the number and off the structure."
Would Declan Rice be a good signing for Arsenal?
Rice has been an extremely efficient presence in West Ham United's midfield over the last few years and looks primed for a tilt at playing for an elite-level club such as Arsenal next term.
In 2022/23, the 24-year-old made 50 appearances in all competitions for West Ham United, registering five goals and four assists, as per Transfermarkt.
As per WhoScored, Rice was West Ham United's most consistent performer over the duration of the campaign, averaging a match rating of 7.01/10 for his exploits.
FBRef also show that he was able to drive his side forward from midfield and successfully carried out 112 shot-creating actions in total.
Arsenal are keen to sign Rice, though now may have to enter into a protracted saga to secure his signature amid significant interest from other Premier League clubs this window.