According to French media outlet Foot Mercato, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Getafe centre-back Djene Dakoman, but they should forget about him and buy a player their arch-rivals Arsenal wanted in June.
What’s the word, then?
Well, Foot Mercato report that the 26-year-old is in demand after a brilliant debut campaign in La Liga with Getafe, with Sevilla and Atletico Madrid among the Spanish clubs interested, while Premier League sides Spurs, Leicester City, Arsenal and West Ham United are also keen.
Foot Mercato say that that the Togo international is valued at €35m (£31) having impressed and made the La Liga team of the season, impressing with his physical qualities and his reading of the game at the heart of the defence despite only being 5ft 10in tall.
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s north London neighbours were heavily linked with a move for £35m-rated Freiburg defender Caglar Soyuncu back in June, although no move materialised as they got Sokratis from Borussia Dortmund instead.
Why should they sign Soyuncu instead of Djene?
Well, despite what was unquestionably a fine campaign for the 26-year-old, he has still only had one season at the top level in Spain and his lack of height would perhaps be a concern if he was coming to the Premier League to play at the heart of the backline.
On the other hand, the Freiburg man stands at 6ft 2in tall and is known for his defensive qualities and his ability on the ball, which would mean that he would be a better fit under Mauricio Pochettino given his ability to play out from the back.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Given Djene is also four years his senior, it certainly makes sense for Tottenham, whose fans have urged their club to snap up an Everton ace, to pay a few million pounds more to get a player with more potential for the future and time on his side.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”273047″ player=”12034″ title=”Power Ranking the 1819 Premier League kits”]
Daniel Farke is enjoying a renaissance at Leeds United at the moment, when he once looked almost certain to be sacked.
The once under-pressure German has now spearheaded an unbelievable seven match unbeaten run in the Premier League for the Whites, with Noah Okafor coming out to state that the ex-Norwich City manager is a “top coach” for the swift turnaround in fortunes in West Yorkshire.
This is a complete change of narrative from when Farke was regularly being tipped to be axed in October and November, as the revitalised boss now hunts down some January additions to solidify the feel-good factor and to avoid a slump in form.
Leeds hold talks with La Liga star
Farke has done extremely well to maintain this impressive run of form, with the likes of Joe Rodon out of the side owing to injury.
He could bring in Chelsea outcast Axel Disasi to strengthen at the back, as the commanding Welshman remains sidelined, with a deal reportedly in the advanced stages for the Frenchman to leave Stamford Bridge behind for new opportunities at Elland Road.
Leeds are some way off completing another deal for Real Madrid sensation Gonzalo Garcia, on the other hand, with TEAMtalk revealing that the Premier League newcomers have been rebuffed in their latest approach for the Los Blancos centre-forward.
Indeed, the report states that Leeds have been admirers of the young Spaniard for some time now, having even been noted – back in November – to be planning a £17m bid for the 21-year-old’s services.
Nothing has materialised, though, with the latest set of enquiries from Leeds, and their top-flight rivals in Sunderland, being met with clear rejection, as Garcia fights for a starting place at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Leeds’ long-standing interest means this is a deal that won’t just fizzle out, however, as the Whites could go the distance all window long in trying to tempt Garcia to England, with the Madrid-born striker arguably a bigger talent than the free-flowing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, already situated at Elland Road.
Why Garcia is a bigger talent than Calvert-Lewin
Of course, when initially taking this statement at face value, this does feel like a ludicrous comment to make, with Calvert-Lewin deep in a purple patch of form in the Premier League, which has seen him power home eight top-flight goals donning Leeds white.
But, there will be a worry lingering at the back of everyone’s minds at Leeds, that Calvert-Lewin is prone to a slip-up in form, as evidenced by the ex-Everton marksman only powering home three top-flight goals all of last season, as his injury difficulties took a firm grip.
At 28 years of age, as well, it’s clear that Calvert-Lewin will be winding down his playing days in the near future, even with the Sheffield-born striker now sticking out as an arguable late bloomer, having been a largely inconsistent scorer of Premier League goals since a very early age.
It would take the 11-time England international 43 outings at the very pinnacle of English football to reach five league strikes.
On the contrary, Garcia is already eight goals down for Xabi Alonso’s men from 30 senior appearances, with his manager hailing him as an “unbelievable” and “aggressive” attacker to work with, when making considerable strides in the men’s game in Madrid.
Garcia’s last run-out in La Liga versus Real Betis saw him power home a sensational hat-trick, with Alonso and Co. not put off whatsoever in their aims to win, even as Kylian Mbappe was missing from the starting lineup.
Subscribe to the newsletter for Leeds transfer analysis Join the newsletter for in-depth Leeds transfer coverage and clear, expert analysis of targets like Gonzalo García and Axel Disasi. Subscribing helps fans follow transfer strategy, squad impact and what these moves mean for the club’s future prospects.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Thankfully, their homegrown sensation stepped up and delivered the goods, instead, with the red-hot striker showing why he’s been hailed as “incredible” in the past by scout Jacek Kulig, when putting away a stunning four goals in Club World Cup action in pre-season – even when facing the likes of European giants Borussia Dortmund and Juventus.
Garcia’s Real Madrid record
Age bracket
Games
Goals + Assists
RM Castilla
73
30 + 7
Real Madrid
30
8 + 3
Madrid Youth League
16
6 + 3
Sourced by Transfermarkt
With his blistering goalscoring record clear for all to see in the table above, it’s not the wildest shout to suggest that Garcia could surpass Calvert-Lewin’s long-standing career at the very top in time, with the 21-year-old also boldly dubbed as a “world-class” finisher by journalist Zach Lowy.
For now, Leeds will bask in the glory of Calvert-Lewin’s goalscoring prowess.
But, in the long term, landing Garcia’s services, against all the odds, could put them in an even better position for success, as the Spain U21 regular is already a feared goal machine on some grand stages, at just 21 years of age.
Deal in advanced stages: Leeds well placed to sign Ampadu 2.0 this month
Leeds United could secure a January signing very shortly by winning this dominant star’s services.
Manchester United began 2026 with a 1-1 draw away to bitter rivals Leeds United.
The Red Devils struggled to consistently create chances in what was a cagey game, but with so many defensive players on the pitch, worked hard to keep the home side at bay and ended up with a point.
The first 45 minutes zipped by without either side having much of a clear-cut chance. Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit the post with a header, but a combined expected goals tally of just 1.4 xG suggests it was not the most gripping of games.
It was Daniel Farke’s side who took the lead, just over an hour into the clash. Attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson managed to nip in behind young defender Ayden Heaven onto a loose ball, carrying into the penalty box and slotting home to send Elland Road into pandemonium.
The Red Devils did manage to hit back, just three minutes after the Leeds opener. It was Brazilian attacker Matheus Cunha who bagged, after being slotted through exceptionally by substitute Joshua Zirkzee. The United number ten took his chance well, slotting home past Lucas Perri first time with his right foot.
It was a new look attack on Sunday, with Amorim adapting the frontline again in response to a lot of absences.
How Man United adapted in attack vs. Leeds
It is no secret that United have been hit hard by attacking absences of late. Amad and Bryan Mbeumo are at AFCON, and Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo are injured. It has required some adaptation from Ruben Amorim.
We have already seen the Red Devils boss play a back four on Boxing Day, before switching to his favoured 3-4-2-1 against Wolves for the final game of 2025. Against Leeds, Amorim kept that same system, but made personnel changes.
The main change saw Patrick Dorgu push higher up, and Leny Yoro replace Zirkzee from the start. It meant the Dane played as United’s right number 10, where his intensity off the ball was important, though he did struggle in possession, perhaps because he was playing narrower than he did against Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
Despite keeping the same system throughout the game, Amorim did replace Yoro with Zirkzee at the 63-minute mark. This saw Dorgu play wing-back and Diogo Dalot right centre-back.
With the lack of attacking options on the bench, perhaps this adaptation could be seen as one that was made in an attempt to buy United a goal. Zirkzee, of course, had an immediate impact.
Despite the changes made by Amorim, there was still one attacker who struggled.
Man Utd's most disappointing player vs Leeds
It was yet another tough day at the office for summer signing Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian star failed to add to his two Premier League goals this season, and whilst he had a couple of brighter moments linking up play, generally struggled to make an impact at Elland Road.
His stats from the game really reflect that. The former RB Leipzig star had 51 touches of the ball, but lost possession 14 times. He failed to complete a dribble, create a chance, complete a cross, or win a tackle.
Sesko key stats vs. Leeds
Stat
Number
Touches
51
Possession lost
14x
Shots
3
Big chances missed
2
Expected goals
0.74xG
Dribbles completed
0
Chances created
0
Stats from Sofascore
Overall, it was a really disappointing showing from the United number 30. One person who was critical of Sesko at full-time was Goal journalist Richard Martin. He gave the striker a 4/10 post-match rating, explaining that he “seemed to infuriate his team-mates with his lack of movement.”
Subscribe for the newsletter: deeper Man United insight Craving deeper takeaways on Man United’s tactical tweaks, Sesko’s form and selection dilemmas? Subscribing to the newsletter gives focused match analysis, tactical breakdowns and player-tracking that put performances into clearer context – and broader club coverage too.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
It will be fascinating to see what the immediate future holds for Sesko. He is a player whose “confidence was shot,” according to Martin, and the Red Devils really need someone up front who is firing at the moment.
Amorim has options at his disposal if he wishes to drop Sesko from the side, too. Zirkzee is the natural replacement, and it might also create fluid rotations with Cunha, another player who can operate as a number nine.
Either way, his form must pick up soon, or United might find they struggle to get consistently better in front of goal. For a team that is already struggling with attacking absences, Sesko’s lack of form has come at a bad time.
Ugarte upgrade: Man Utd hoping to sign "monster" for £35m after talks
Time could be running out for Manuel Ugarte at Manchester United.
The expectation at Sunderland this January is that the Black Cats are set for a quiet month on the transfer front.
After splashing a hefty £162m in the summer, it’s not the greatest shock in the world to see the Premier League newcomers rein in the excessive spending with January now here, considering the Wearside giants are comfortable in eighth spot currently.
Regis Le Bris hasn’t completely ruled out any moves taking place, however, with the ex-Lorient manager recently commenting that the “unpredictable” nature of the window could see them make a last-minute swoop, as they begin to be linked with this midfield talent from Serie A.
Sunderland make Serie A star a surprise target
Of course, while it has been quiet in terms of concrete movements, that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill at the Stadium of Light from spitting out fanciful rumours.
Indeed, reports from Spain had suggested that Sunderland were willing to break the bank on Barcelona playmaker Fermin Lopez, with £69m alleged to be the steep amount the Black Cats were going to have to cough up.
Sunderland had also been linked to Lazio warrior Matteo Guendouzi, but it looks more likely that the ex-Arsenal midfielder will join Fenerbahce, instead of setting foot back on English shores.
Still, a more successful approach this January could come in the form of Lazio’s arch rivals AS Roma, as Edoardo Bove plots a return to the beautiful game.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Reports from Italian outlet Leggo suggest that Bove will have to leave the Stadio Olimpico behind, with a termination of his contract imminent.
The midfielder has courageously fought his way back from suffering a cardiac arrest while on loan at Fiorentina, although having been fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD), he can’t play in Serie A again.
Sunderland could come to the rescue in this regard, with the report stating that both the Black Cats and Nottingham Forest are interested in his services from the Premier League, alongside enquiries coming his way from the Bundesliga.
Le Bris could work his magic yet again on another exciting midfield talent if Bove were to mount a return on Wearside, with the Italian potentially going down as another sublime Enzo Le Fee-style deal, if a surprise move gets off the ground before February’s deadline.
Why Bove could be Le Fee 2.0
This time last year, Le Fee was at a crossroads in his own career in the Italian capital, having failed to collect a single goal or assist from ten clashes at Roma.
Now, he is a firm fan favourite at the Stadium of Light, with the silky 25-year-old at the heart of Sunderland’s fast-paced equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, when linking up with his Black Cats teammates to devastating effect.
The midfielder did have a moment to forget against Brentford, though, following his failed Panenka penalty effort, although he is up to a stunning three goals and seven assists from 38 appearances for Le Bris’ men, with Bove hopeful that he can reignite his career in a similarly striking fashion, if he does have to ditch Roma shortly.
Bove wasn’t always the most consistent performer for Roma or Fiorentina, with only eight goal contributions heading his way from 77 Serie A contests, but he has been lauded as a very entertaining player at his peak, having been hailed as “box-crashing threat” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
With Bove further lauded as a “very fine” player to watch by current Juventus boss Luciano Spalletti, when eyeing him up for a potential Italy cap, Le Bris will hope this is another gamble that pays off, with the Rome-born midfielder also capable of playing in various positions for his team’s cause, like the skilful Frenchman.
Want clearer transfer insight? Subscribe to the newsletter Subscribing to the newsletter unlocks deeper, expert-driven take on Sunderland transfer links and the wider transfer market, helping you understand the strategic picture behind rumours and potential signings across leagues.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Amazingly, Le Fee has already lined up in seven different positions for Sunderland since swapping Italy for England, with one assist even coming his way when lining up as a makeshift centre-forward.
Bove’s career numbers by position
Position
Games
Goals + Assists
CM
109
22 + 12
AM
11
1 + 1
DM
8
1 + 0
LM
4
1 + 2
LW
2
0 + 1
RM
2
0
CB
1
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Bove can more than rival the number 28’s malleable nature, though, with the 23-year-old capable of lining up as an additional centre-back body if needed, when looking at the table above.
It’s clear, however, that – if he were to move to Wearside – he would shine in the more advanced areas of the pitch, as another exciting left-field move is potentially signed off on.
If all goes swimmingly, Bove could go on to be seen as another success story for Le Bris to boast about, in the same way Le Fee has been turned into an accomplished Premier League performer, barely a year on from leaving the restraints of the Serie A behind.
Sunderland willing to smash transfer record to sign "amazing" Barcelona ace
After three years of second-place finishes in the Premier League, there’s a real sense of optimism that this year could finally be the one Arsenal end their title drought.
The Gunners have now gone a remarkable two decades without a top-flight triumph, with Mikel Arteta the closest manager post Arsène Wenger to ending such a drought.
However, they have often fallen at the final hurdle, on two occasions to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, whilst doing so to Liverpool in the 2024/25 campaign.
At present, Arteta’s men currently sit two points clear of the former as the season approaches the midway point, with their destiny certainly in their own hands.
The Spaniard would certainly write himself in the club’s history should he achieve such a feat, but he certainly has many people to thank for the recent revival in North London.
How Arsenal have become title favourites in 2025/26
The two previous Premier League seasons have presented glaring areas of improvement for Arsenal – squad depth in various areas and a focal point to lead the frontline.
During the summer window, Sporting Director Andrea Berta worked tirelessly to try and solve both issues, seemingly doing so to great effect at present.
The hierarchy landed the defensive additions of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, subsequently offering needed centre-back cover for William Saliba and Gabriel.
Arteta’s midfield department also received hefty back, as seen with the arrivals of Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze and Christian Norgaard – subsequently allowing Mikel Merino to operate as a number nine.
The Spaniard has continued his fine goalscoring form into the current season, already scoring five times across all competitions – including two in the Champions League.
However, he’s often acted as a backup to Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swedish international taking the iconic number 14 shirt after his £65m switch from Sporting CP.
Whilst he’s only netted six goals to date, he’s shown glimpses of being the talisman the Gunners have been lacking, as seen with his double against Atletico Madrid.
The Arsenal star who must now be axed by Arteta
Such investment was desperately needed if Arsenal were to mount a serious push for the Premier League title this season, with Arteta being handed all the tools he needs to achieve such success.
The fans now have a squad they can be proud of in their attempts to end such a drought, whilst also having the depth many teams would crave to help them cross the line.
However, the backing from the hierarchy has certainly made competition for places even harder – something which certainly isn’t a bad problem for a manager to have.
In essence, it should hand the players the extra motivation to nail down their places in the starting eleven, which should make the side an even bigger force to be reckoned with.
However, it appears to have had the opposite effect on winger Gabriel Martinelli, with the Brazilian currently enduring a season to forget under Arteta at the Emirates.
He arrived in England as an unknown quantity to many supporters, with the hierarchy forking out a reported £6m for his signature from Brazilian side Ituano.
Despite originally being signed to join the youth team, the attacker fought his way into the manager’s plans, even becoming a first-team regular and scoring ten goals in his debut year.
As a result, former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp even dubbed the attacker as the “talent of the century”, but it’s safe to say he’s failed to hit the heights many expected.
In 2025, he’s now racked up just shy of 250 appearances for the Gunners, scoring on 43 occasions, but he’s often come under fire for his inconsistency in attacking areas.
Arteta has preferred the likes of Leandro Trossard ahead of him in the pecking order this campaign, as seen by the Brazilian’s measly tally of just five league starts.
His underlying stats in the Premier League this season highlight his lack of positive impact, with the manager desperately needing to axe him from his long-term plans.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The 24-year-old has completed just 72% of the passes he’s attempted, which currently ranks him within the bottom 10% of all other attackers in England’s top-flight.
Gabriel Martinelli – PL stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
12
Games started
5
Goals & assists
1
Pass accuracy
72%
Dribbles completed
33%
Chances created
0.6
Times dispossessed
1.4
Successful crosses
0.4
Stats via FotMob
He’s also completed just 33% of the dribbles he’s attempted, whilst also registering just 0.6 chances created per 90 – further highlighting his lack of creativity in attacking areas.
Martinelli’s struggles are summed up in his tally of times dispossessed by the opposition per 90, currently losing the ball 1.4 times per game, the second highest of any player in the squad.
There’s no doubt the Brazilian is a player who massively relies on confidence to succeed, but unfortunately, his impressive performances are too far and between at the Emirates.
He’s been unable to deliver on a consistent basis over the last couple of months, which no doubt has led to the attacker struggling to nail down a regular starting role.
As a result, Arteta must look to axe the 24-year-old from his first-team plans, with a new left side forward needed to help bolster the club’s title credentials.
Bad news for Nwaneri: Arsenal have already agreed to sign their next Dowman
Nwaneri could have some serious competition for game time at Arsenal in the future.
Tottenham are already making some progress on their transfer plans heading into 2026, with ‘very advanced’ discussions being held on the player side.
Tottenham make plans to sign new attacker
Spurs are believed to be ramping up their pursuit of attacking reinforcements ahead of the January transfer window, with Thomas Frank desperate to address the creative issues plaguing his side right now.
The Lilywhites were once again unconvincing against Newcastle on Tuesday, despite nicking a 2-2 draw courtesy of captain Cristian Romero’s brace.
Romero’s diving header and overhead kick in added time were Spurs’ only shots on target the entire game, so it remains clear that the north Londoners could do with that extra injection of quality going forward.
FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa has reportedly emerged as one of the club’s primary targets, with Spurs ‘intent’ on signing the 21-year-old, according to some reports.
The Spain international has impressed again this season with six goals and one assist in 11 league games for Porto, while his overall record stands at 37 goals in 62 appearances since joining the Portuguese giants from Atlético Madrid last year.
Dominic Solanke has been plagued by ankle problems since the start of 2025/2026, undergoing surgery in early October and remaining sidelined, with Mathys Tel, Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani arguably failing to set the world alight.
Tottenham could prove 'irresistible' to manager who Levy was urged to hire before Frank
He’s on the verge of leaving his current club.
1 ByEmilio Galantini
Kolo Muani’s also suffered injury issues which have limited his availability, but the Frenchman did put in a stunning shift against parent club PSG in the Champions League last week.
He bagged a brace and an assist during the 5-3 defeat as Spurs’ shining light, though he needs more support with Richarlison proving inconsistent and Mathys Tel still pretty raw.
That being said, with Solanke nearing a return, Tottenham are reportedly more likely to sign a wide forward than a central striker in January.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye are both rumoured targets to bolster Tottenham’s attack, with the former’s contract containing a £65 million release clause which will be active in early January.
However, Man City are just as keen on Semenyo as Spurs, meaning Frank’s side could face an uphill battle against the Premier League title contenders.
A potential alternative to Semenyo, according to Sky Sports Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri, comes in the form of RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande.
Tottenham in 'very advanced' discussions with Diomande's camp
As per the reporter, Tottenham are in ‘very advanced’ discussions with Diomande’s representatives — positioning themselves alongside Liverpool as frontrunners in the race for his signature.
Spurs have monitored the Ivorian for months, and Tavolieri says that both the north Londoners and Arne Slot’s side are pressing in negotiations with the 19-year-old’s camp, though no club has yet made formal contact with Leipzig.
Diomande joined Leipzig for £17.5 million from Spanish side Leganes last summer and has quickly impressed, with the Bundesliga side now slapping a reported £88 million price tag on his head to ward off suitors.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The left-winger has scored four goals and racked up four assists in 14 appearances across all competitions this season, establishing himself as a star regular in Ole Werner’s attacking setup.
The promising talent only made his first senior club appearance in March and has enjoyed a meteoric rise since then, with Leipzig now poised to demand a fee which could eclipse their record sale of Josko Gvardiol to City for £79 million.
Barcelona have also expressed rumoured interest but haven’t opened negotiations with his agents, putting Liverpool and Tottenham in the driving seat.
Both Premier League clubs are even considering a January move, according to some reports (Foot Africa), though Leipzig are fully aware of the growing interest and haven’t yet held talks with any club.
For Frank, the signing of Diomande could be a risky one, as he’s only burst on the scene very recently and may cost serious money.
The Premier League is finally back tomorrow, and Arsenal continue their campaign with the North London Derby on Sunday afternoon.
However, it could be a more challenging game than last year, as even with Martin Odegaard back in training, Mikel Arteta’s side could be without several key players.
The manager wouldn’t say whether the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz or Gabriel Martinelli were back in contention, for example, but one player who is sure to be out is Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Brazilian centre-back is set to be out for at least a few weeks, and while that’s a massive blow, the solution could be to move another defender into a different position.
Arsenal's record against Spurs
Arsenal’s game against Spurs on Sunday afternoon will be the 212th competitive meeting between the rivals.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Their first encounter came all the way back in November 1896, when the Gunners were still south of the River, and ended in a 2-1 Arsenal victory.
Since then, while the Lilywhites have had periods of dominance, it’s the red side of North London that have had the better of the rivalry, winning 89 games, drawing 55 and losing 67.
Unsurprisingly, Arteta’s side have been even more dominant than that in recent years, losing just two of the last ten meetings, drawing one and winning the other seven.
Moreover, the title chasers are undefeated in their last six games against their old enemy and, despite being in a spot of bother form-wise at the time, won the most recent meeting 2-1.
Arsenal’s recent record v Spurs
Season
Home/Away
Result
22/23
Away
2-0 (W)
23/24
Home
2-2 (D)
23/24
Away
3-2 (W)
24/25
Away
1-0 (W)
24/25
Home
2-1 (W)
What makes that win all the more impressive is that Son Heung-min actually opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute.
However, Arsenal were back in front just 19 minutes later, thanks to a Dominic Solanke own goal and a brilliant effort from Leandro Trossard.
With all that said, even though Arteta has consistently gotten the better of Spurs, the game on Sunday will be a tough one, but he might already have a solution to Gabriel’s injury.
Arteta's solution to Gabriel's injury
The good news for Arsenal is that there are a few ways Arteta can go about replacing Gabriel.
For example, he could bring Cristhian Mosquera back into the side, play Ben White there or even hand a start to Piero Hincapie.
However, the former is right-footed, White hasn’t played at centre-back in a long time, and the Ecuadorian is still unproven in this team, so throwing him into a derby might be unwise.
Therefore, while it might not be the most popular decision, Arteta should move Riccardo Calafiori from left-back into the Brazilian’s position.
Now, there are a few reasons for this, and the first is that, like the injured star, the Italian international is left-footed, and while that might not seem all that important at first, it really is.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
It gives the defence some real balance and makes it easier for him to play out from the back when going up the left-hand side of the pitch.
The second reason the dynamic defender should be moved into the back two is that he’s already got plenty of experience playing there.
For example, during his time with Bologna, he made 29 appearances at centre-back and only six as a full-back. Moreover, during pre-season, he once again played there when Gabriel was out with the injury he picked up against Fulham last season.
Finally, the 23-year-old “wild horse,” as dubbed by the Telegraph’s Sam Dean, has already played plenty of football this season, so he should be far more familiar with the tactics than one of the other options. And while he did return early from international duty, there is a good chance he is ready to play.
Ultimately, while Arteta has several options to replace Gabriel on Sunday, he should go with the £120k-per-week Calafiori.
Arsenal handed another injury doubt for Tottenham clash after twist and Gabriel blow
Manchester United have made an approach to sign Elliot Anderson, and Nottingham Forest’s demands to sanction a departure have now been revealed.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Man United plan to bolster their options in the engine room next year, when commenting on their interest in Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller and Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher.
The transfer expert said: “January is not going to be easy. It’s going to be about opportunities in the summer could be different. And for sure, Manchester United in 2026 will add again, at least one midfielder.”
The desire to sign a new central midfielder comes amid uncertainty over Kobbie Mainoo’s future, with it recently emerging the youngster is in advanced talks to join Napoli, while Ruben Amorim may also need to plan for life after Casemiro, as the Brazilian’s contract is due to expire next summer.
The 33-year-old is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal, despite putting in some solid performances this season, with Rio Ferdinand praising the former Real Madrid man for his performance in the 2-1 win against Liverpool at Anfield last month.
Ferdinand said: “He was outstanding in that first-half yesterday. I think his positional sense and awareness in that midfield area in a big game like that was invaluable.”
Man Utd make approach to sign Elliot Anderson
According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, Man United have now made an approach to sign Nottingham Forest star Anderson, having “registered concrete interest” in signing the midfielder.
Forest have been “informed” of their Premier League rivals’ desire to get a deal done, but it would be fair to say they are playing hard ball, as a fee in the region of £100m – £120m is “still being demanded.”
It is no wonder the Tricky Trees are hesitant to sanction a departure unless they receive a huge fee, considering the Englishman has impressed for both club and country this season, putting in a fantastic performance on his Three Lions’ debut against Andorra back in September.
More recently, the 23-year-old got on the scoresheet in Forest’s 3-1 victory against Leeds United, bagging the third goal from the penalty spot to help his side secure what could prove to be a vital three points in the relegation battle.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Lauded as “sensational” by The Athletic’s Nick Miller, the four-time England international has also impressed from a defensive point of view over the past year, placing in the 89th percentile for tackles per 90, when compared to other midfielders, having averaged 2.89.
Anderson is exhibiting very promising signs at Nottingham Forest, but £120m would be a huge fee to pay for a player who is not yet regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, so Man United should try and get a deal done for a much lower fee.
Man Utd shortlist another British midfielder as Casemiro replacement Man Utd shortlist British Casemiro replacement thriving after two major knee injuries
The Red Devils are set to make sure Ruben Amorim gets his wish as they head into 2026 at Old Trafford.
While they’ve not all been hits, Chelsea have signed some seriously talented players over the last few years.
The best of them all, though, has undoubtedly been Cole Palmer, who has taken the Premier League by storm since his arrival in 2023.
The Englishman has already produced 74 goal involvements for the side in just 101 appearances and, so long as he’s fit, will most certainly be going to the World Cup with England.
So it’s great news that Cobham looks like it may well have just produced Chelsea a right-footed version of the ice-cold superstar.
Chelsea's most exciting academy gems
Cobham has long been one of, if not the best, academies in England, and there are once again a handful of seriously exciting academy prospects who could soon be making a significant impact on the Chelsea first team.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
For example, Shim Mheuka has been on fire for some time now and even made a few appearances for the senior side last season.
As things stand, the 18-year-old phenomenon has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in just 12 appearances across various youth sides, totalling 977 minutes.
Mheuka’s Chelsea youth record
Appearances
61
Goals
34
Assists
9
Goal Involvements per Match
0.70
All Stats via Transfermarkt
That comes out to an outrageous average of 1.33 goal involvements every game, or one every 61.06 minutes, and helps to explain why respected talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as “the future of Chelsea and English football.”
Moving deeper down the pitch, and while it’s likely going to be a couple of years before he’s given a chance in the first team, Reggie Watson looks to be the real deal.
The 15-year-old can, and has played in a few positions for the youth sides, but is at his best as a six, with respected analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as a “midfield powerhouse.”
Another analyst has highlighted his impressive “passing and vision” as well as his knack for “dictating the tempo of the game.”
He’s not just impressive at club level either, as, after producing six goal involvements in six appearances for England’s under-15s, he was moved up to the under-16s, where he has already scored three goals in just six games.
With all that said, there is another gem who is arguably the most exciting of the lot, and the one who could be Chelsea’s own homegrown Palmer.
Chelsea's homgrown Palmer
While there are an impressive number of academy talents who could become first-team stars at Chelsea, one of the most exciting, and the one who could become the club’s homegrown Palmer, is Reggie Walsh.
The 17-year-old gem joined the Blues at the under-8s level and has worked his way through the academy, impressing at every step of the way and made his competitive debut for the club in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final against Djurgarden last season.
He then became the club’s youngest European starter in the second leg, aged just 16 years and 200 days.
With all that said, what about him means he could be the club’s next Palmer?
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Well, while he hasn’t got an outrageous goalscoring record with the youth sides, he, like the Blues starman, is a proper entertainer on the ball, someone capable of doing the simple things while also playing with some flair.
For example, he has been described as a “truly ridiculous” talent by Como scout Felix Johnston, and when asked about him last season, Maresca was full of praise for his playstyle, describing him as “perfect for our system.”
As if that wasn’t enough, another analyst claimed the youngster is “a joy to watch”, and u23 scout Antonio Mango went even further than that, stating that “watching Reggie Walsh perform is a thing of beauty.”
The right-footed gem isn’t just making waves at club level, though, as he’s gone through England’s u15s, u16s, u17s and u18s.
Ultimately, it is still so early in his career, but Walsh is clearly a star in the making, and like Palmer, is a truly entertaining player to watch.
Forget Delap: Cobham star who "lives & breathes goals" is Chelsea's future #9
The incredible Cobham gem could be a star for Chelsea but a problem for Delap.
Liverpool are now reportedly racing Real Madrid to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in 2026 amid comparisons with France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.
After spending over £400m in the summer, the Reds have set their sights on further arrivals to solve the glaring problems in Arne Slot’s squad. The Premier League champions find themselves in an unprecedented position, having lost six of their last seven games in all competitions.
They must find a solution against Aston Villa this weekend and their manager expects them to do exactly that back in front of their home fans in the league.
The Dutchman did, however, confirm that Liverpool are likely to be without record signing Alexander Isak and midfielder Curtis Jones just as Ryan Gravenberch works towards making a return.
No one expected Liverpool to find themselves in this position after spending big in the summer, but it’s now something that Slot must use to prove his worth.
The Premier League crown has slipped and for the first time, he is under increasing pressure. That said, it would be incredibly out of character for Michael Edwards to make any immediate decisions and last year’s title has certainly bought Slot plenty of time to turn things around.
What could change instead is the personnel on the pitch. Despite spending big in the summer, Liverpool could yet welcome further reinforcements in 2026 after Slot complained about squad depth in midweek.
This could finally see Marc Guehi arrive as well as teenage sensation Bouaddi in what would be two excellent moves.
Liverpool learn placement in Bouaddi race
According to reporter Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are now battling Real Madrid to sign Boauddi from Lille, who are readying themselves for the inevitable sale of their 18-year-old star.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Compared to Camavinga by Football Transfers, Bouaddi has become the most “talked-about player in Europe”, according to Bailey, and it’s now Liverpool who are “most interested” alongside Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Liverpool have been left burned by Real Madrid in past transfer windows, so they should be desperate to avoid a repeat and land one of Europe’s most promising stars.
Every Liverpool game that Jeremie Frimpong will now miss after latest injury
More bad news for the Reds
ByTom Cunningham
Their midfield is far from set these days, either. Alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Gravenberch, there has been a missing piece as of late that Bouaddi could provide for years to come.
Forget Endo: Liverpool star is looking like Fabinho in his final season