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Things are really heating up in the run-up to Christmas across Europe's top leagues, with Inter reclaiming top spot in Serie A, Lens surprisingly leading the way in Ligue 1 and Barcelona continuing to pile pressure on Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid. Over in Germany, though, it seems that nobody is really capable of dethroning Bayern Munich, but Premier League leaders Arsenal are looking more and more nervous with each passing week.

So, who were the big winners and losers of the latest round of action across the continent? GOAL runs through all of the major talking points below, including a massive 'cupset' in Edinburgh and more supporter unrest in Florence…

Getty Images SportWINNER: Arne Slot

Arne Slot admitted Liverpool benefited from "a bit of luck" in Saturday's 2-0 win over Brighton, but felt like they were due some good fortune in light of the "injuries and other things" they've had to deal with in recent weeks. One of those "other things" was obviously Mohamed Salah's quite remarkable attempt to undermine the Dutchman's authority after the 3-3 draw with Leeds United last Saturday week.

Such a shocking show of insubordination would have probably sparked civil war under a more combustible coach, but Slot is as cool as they come and the Dutchman deserves immense credit for following up a hard-fought win at Inter in the Champions League with a morale-boosting win over Brighton, during which he looked like the bigger man by not only welcoming Salah back into his squad, but also bringing him on when the unfortunate Joe Gomez went off injured in the first half.

The Egyptian even contributed an assist for Hugo Ekitike's killer second goal before bidding farewell to all four corners of Anfield ahead of his flight to Morocco to link up with his national team for their Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Whether the winger returns to Merseyside after the tournament concludes is not yet clear, as it was hard to believe Slot when he said that there is no longer any issue to resolve with his star player. However, the manager has undeniably done well to take a significant amount of the tension out of the situation – even if it's only for a few weeks…

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLOSER: Arsenal fans' nerves

Just over a month ago, there was talk of Arsenal running away with this season's Premier League. They'd won five games in a row while defending champions Liverpool had gone into freefall and Manchester City were leaking goals at an alarming rate.

However, Arsenal have dropped points three times since their comfortable 2-0 victory at Burnley at the start of November, and they should have done so again on Saturday after a dire display against Wolves at the Emirates, with the hosts needing two own goals to overcome the weakest team in the league.

Of course, Mikel Arteta's men are unlikely to play as poorly in many more games this season, while winning ugly is undoubtedly the mark of champions. However, the very fortuitous win over Wolves made it painfully clear to Arsenal's long-suffering supporters that there won't be too many easy games either – not for a team that is so incredibly desperate to win the title after three consecutive runners-up finishes.

The north Londoners remain favourites to finally end their major trophy drought this season but, with City resurgent, it's going to be a long and nerve-racking ride for Gooners. 

Getty Images SportLOSER: Newcastle

A little under two years ago, Newcastle's players celebrated a 3-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light with a team photo in front of their fans. On Sunday, it was the Black Cats' turn, after a well-deserved 1-0 win over their most hated rivals.

Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade decided the Tyne-Wear derby in the home side's favour, by unintentionally planting a cross from Nordi Mukiele past his own goalkeeper shortly after half-time. However, it would be wrong to single out the German after what was an atrocious team performance from Eddie Howe's troops. Indeed, midfielder Bruno Guimaraes admitted after Newcastle's first league loss to Sunderland since 2016, "The whole message in the changing room was: 'Do it for the fans' and we didn't.

"It's so embarrassing for me and frustrating because we know we have a better team than them. It's clear for me. But we didn't perform like a better team – it makes me feel angry." And rightly so, because Newcastle's supposedly 'better team' are now four points and five spots below seventh-placed Sunderland in the Premier League table.

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Getty Images SportWINNER: Morgan Rogers

Cole Palmer got back among the goals for Chelsea, Phil Foden maintained his fine form in Manchester City's win at Crystal Palace, while Jude Bellingham set up a goal for Real Madrid in their crucial victory over Alaves. However, the most impressive performance delivered by an English attacking midfielder over the weekend came courtesy of Morgan Rogers, who once again showed why he's Thomas Tuchel's preferred No.10 by scoring  twice as Aston Villa came from behind to beat West Ham 3-2 at the London Stadium.

Unai Emery's men have now won nine games in a row in all competitions and sit third in the Premier League, just three points behind leaders Arsenal, meaning talk of a title challenge no longer seems quite so unrealistic. Certainly, with Rogers in such scintillating form (eight goal involvements in 16 matches), anything seems possible for Villa.

"I'm scoring quite a few lately," the 23-year-old told . "I want to score as much as possible and help the team and, at the moment, we're on a great run, so let's see where that takes us."

Chelsea has been the home to countless elite-level attackers over the years, helping the club transform into one of the biggest names in England and across Europe.

Eden Hazard will go down as one of the most memorable, featuring over 300 times for the Blues, scoring some crucial goals – helping them claim the Premier League title twice during his seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

The Belgian would also make the club a hefty profit in the process, leaving for Real Madrid for a fee in the region of £150m in the summer of 2019 – making them a profit of £118m on their investment from 2012.

Frank Lampard was another who featured at the very top level during the entirety of his time in West London, making just shy of 650 appearances for the Blues, breaking their record and becoming the top scorer in their history with his tally of 211.

The Englishman has since returned to manage the first-team squad on two separate occasions, trying to stabilise the ship in uncertain times such as embargoes and poor on-field performances.

One striker will remain in the hearts of almost all supporters forever after his impact at the club following his out-of-the-blue transfer under José Mourinho.

Didier Drogba’s stats for Chelsea

Didier Drogba will always be remembered for his goalscoring ability with his array of different finishes following his time at the Bridge, scoring 147 times in his 344 appearances for the Blues during a combined 11-year stint in West London.

He joined the club in the summer of 2004 from Ligue 1 side Marseille, with then-manager Mourinho having to convince former owner Roman Abramovich to splash the cash for his signature – with the Ivorian his number one target.

Drogba scored various key goals for the Blues, but his ability to create an opportunity or an opening in front of goal, essentially out of nothing, made him as popular as he was, with the fans adoring him for his efforts.

The now 46-year-old achieved double figures in every season he played in England bar his final one in 2014/15, providing the goals when the side needed them most.

Undoubtedly, his most memorable moment for the club came in the 2012 Champions League, where he scored the crucial equaliser, before scoring the winning penalty in the shootout – cementing himself in the club’s history forever.

It’s now been nine years since his final game for Chelsea, with various managers and behind-the-scenes staff trying to find the club their new version of the African superstar.

However, their attempts are yet to be successful, with one player previously having high hopes upon his move to England.

Chelsea's next Didier Drogba not living up to the hype

Fellow Ivorian David Datro Fofana followed in the footsteps of his compatriot, joining the Blues in an £8.4m deal from Norwegian side Molde back in January 2023.

The striker would make four appearances in the second half of the 2022/23 season, which remain his only appearances for the club to date after his transfer.

His move to the Bridge was an exciting one, with Turkish commentator Hakan Gulec, dubbing the 21-year-old as the “baby Drogba” – a huge heap of pressure that up to now, he’s failed to live up to.

Fofana has since been sent on various loan spells across Europe to allow him to reach his potential and have an opportunity to prove that the comparisons really on in his career were accurate.

Union Berlin and Burnley were the sides who signed the youngster on temporary loans, before returning to West London this summer for pre-season ahead of 2024/25.

However, he wouldn’t get his chance under new boss Enzo Maresca, being shipped on loan to Turkish side Goztepe after a failed move to join Greek outfit AEK Athens.

Fofana’s stats on loan at Goztepe (2024/25)

Statistics

Tally

Games played

6

Goals scored

1

Pass accuracy

71%

Dribbles completed

33%

Duels won

34%

Shots taken

3

Aerials won

48%

Stats via FotMob

Given his young age, there’s still a lot of time for Fofana to progress and reach the levels he was credited with before his move to England, but he needs to do so quickly if he is to remain at the Bridge.

Owner Todd Boehly isn’t afraid to axe or sign new players if he feels that an area needs strengthening, with the centre-forward area undoubtedly the one in need of most attention – but Fofana could find himself on the brink if he doesn’t impress this season.

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Posts ByConnor Holden Nov 14, 2024

Adelaide Strikers made it four wins in a row and completed a strong weekend as they aim for a place in the finals. The bowlers set up the victory as Brisbane Heat failed to make it to three figures before Katie Mack’s half-century guided the chase home with 22 balls to spare.Strikers’ attack kept the pressure on throughout and Heat struggled to push above four runs an over for much of the innings until a late cameo from Laura Kimmince who struck 22 off 11 balls. Megan Schutt and Darcie Brown sent down 28 dot balls between them while Amanda-Jade Wellington and Jemma Barsby contributed a joint tally of 24.Wellington had struck twice in her first over when she held a sharp return catch to remove Georgia Redmayne then added Georgia Voll three balls later.Heat were given some hope when Courtney Sippel produced another excellent new-ball spell to remove Dane van Niekerk and Laura Wolvaardt in consecutive balls. van Niekerk was held very low at cover, a catch that was referred to the TV umpire, the Wolvaardt edged a wild drive. However, any thoughts of a collapse were put to bed by Mack, with a 46-ball fifty, and Tahlia McGrath who never had any run-rate pressure to worry about. Mack’s eight fours were more than Heat managed in their whole innings.Izzy Wong produced a wonderful delivery to remove Ash Gardner•Getty Images

Sydney Sixers’ campaign was all-but ended by local rivals Sydney Thunder as they paid the price for another insipid batting display. Issy Wong, the English fast bowler, stood out with the ball then Smriti Mandhana did what few other batters have been able to achieve on the Mackay wicket.Sixers’ top-order, which saw yet another reshuffle with Shafali Verma returned to opening, was dismantled inside the powerplay as they fell to 3 for 22. Shafali was run out by a direct hit from Deepti Sharma, Alyssa Healy clipped to square leg and Ash Gardner was bowled first ball by a wonderful delivery from Wong which swung at pace past the outside edge.Ellyse Perry tried to fashion a recovery but the pace of scoring was pedestrian with the Thunder attack offering very little. Left-arm spinner Sam Bates, who had opened with a first-over maiden, went for just 14 including 16 dots and captain Hannah Darlington claimed 2 for 15. The last three matches in Mackay have seen first-innings totals of 7 for 91, 7 for 94 and 6 for 94.In a smart move to try to overcome conditions, Thunder promoted Sammy-Jo Johnson with a license in the powerplay and her 12 off 9 balls set the tone even though she and Phoebe Litchfield fell in quick succession to the impressive Lauren Cheatle. Mandhana marshaled the chase, adding 53 with eight overs with Corinne Hall, to ensure the result was never in doubt. Radha Yadav did not bowl after injuring herself diving to make a save near the boundary.The result lifts defending champions Thunder off the bottom of the table.

شهدت الجمعية العمومية الاستثنائية للاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف”، التي عُقدت اليوم، حسم ستة مقاعد في اللجنة التنفيذية للاتحاد بالتزكية، بعدما لم يترشح أي منافس ضد الأعضاء الذين ترشحوا للمناصب المخصصة لمناطقهم. أعضاء اللجنة التنفيذية بالاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف”

الكاميروني صامويل إيتو (منطقة الوسط).

التنزاني والاس جون كاريا (منطقة الشرق والوسط).

الليبيري مصطفى راجي (منطقة الغرب A).

الغاني كيرت أوكوراكو (منطقة الغرب B).

الجزائري وليد صادي (منطقة الشمال).

الكونغولية بيستين كازادي (مقعد المرأة).

طالع أيضًا | أشرف صبحي: مصر مستمرة في دعم الكرة الإفريقية.. وخصصنا لـ “كاف” أرضًا بالعاصمة الإدارية

ويعكس هذا الاستقرار داخل اللجنة التنفيذية استمرار الثقة في الأسماء التي تواصل العمل داخل الاتحاد الإفريقي، في ظل توجه “كاف” لتعزيز برامجه التطويرية والبنية التحتية للمسابقات الإفريقية، مع التركيز على تحسين الموارد المالية للاتحاد وتعزيز التنافسية على المستوى الدولي.

وجاءت تزكية الأعضاء الستة بالتزامن مع التجديد لرئيس الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم، الجنوب إفريقي باتريس موتسيبي، لفترة جديدة بالتزكية، بعدما لم يترشح أي منافس ضده، ليبقى على رأس “كاف” دون الحاجة إلى تصويت.

ويواصل موتسيبي قيادة الاتحاد القاري بعد أن تولى منصبه لأول مرة عام 2021، خلفًا للملغاشي أحمد أحمد، حيث يسعى إلى استكمال خططه لتطوير الكرة الإفريقية وتعزيز حضورها عالميًا.

If Yorkshire intended to invigorate their Championship challenge by pitting themselves against Warwickshire on an old-fashioned Headingley seamer, they will be none too confident that things will turn out in their favour after a frantic first day in which 18 wickets fell. Warwickshire had the better of things, holding a 60-run lead with only two Yorkshire wickets intact.Nottinghamshire’s 10.5-point cushion over the chasing pack with two matches remaining meant that victory was essential for both sides, but batting bonus points could hardly be cast to the wind in such a manner, and the odds are that neither side will manage a single one.Warwickshire are a tough nut to crack on unresponsive surfaces, adept at taking a game long and wearing down their opponents, but the return of Chris Woakes from the cancelled England Test gave them extra bowling firepower and he joined Liam Norwell in taking three wickets before losing his way slightly late in the day. It was his first red ball fixture for Warwickshire for three years.”I’m supposed to be playing a Test match, but it’s a shame,” Woakes said. “What happened, happened. It would have been a great end to the series. I haven’t played a county four-day match for quite a while, but with the season coming to a conclusion and things still up for grabs, it’s great to be here.”England match-ups are a rarity in a debilitated Championship, so the presence of Woakes and Dawid Malan felt particularly significant, especially as not many of England’s Test squad had been included across the country. On this occasion, the odds were heavily stacked in Woakes’ favour, but Malan would be disappointed that his was one of the few giveaway wickets to fall as he cut high to backward point when on 9.Only two batters made more than 16 in the chaos. Michael Burgess’ vigorous 66 from 90 balls was a fine counterattacking innings from No. 6 and crucially enabled Warwickshire to add 52 for the last three wickets. Gary Ballance played Yorkshire’s lone hand, his unbeaten 51 from 96 balls the only measured innings of the day.After winning the toss, Yorkshire took advantage of seam movement more than swing. Fears of Dom Sibley’s obduracy proved ungrounded when Matt Fisher seamed one back to have him lbw. Ben Coad then removed Will Rhodes and Sam Hain in successive balls with deliveries that left them, Hain squared up and chipping into the off side, high up the blade.Yorkshire’s skipper, Steve Patterson, 37 now, carries a lean and hungry look on pitches like these. Big break-backs bowled Chris Benjamin, offering no shot, and Matt Lamb and then had Woakes lbw stuck on the crease. It was a demanding first-class debut for 17-year-old Jacob Bethel and he soon became Patterson’s fourth victim, and the 450th of his career.Burgess, though, played defiantly – and with increasing licence, no more so than when he ramped Coad over fine leg for six. It was a shot of similar ambition that saw him caught at deep square leg off the same bowler two balls later.Yorkshire found life just as tough as Woakes and Norwell took advantage of conditions. Before the fall of Malan, Yorkshire had lost both openers. George Hill was late on a ball that came back to have him lbw and Adam Lyth, whose form has been so poor that he must have retained faith largely on loyalty, was then struck plumb in front by Norwell.As the floodlights came on after tea, Yorkshire’s plight worsened. Dom Bess and Jordan Thompson both failed to return the fight – Bess bowled through a huge gate, Thompson suckered on the pull. Ballance met Woakes with more confidence than anybody. Without his half-century, Yorkshire would have been in a parlous state.

While there has been some more bad news off the pitch for Arsenal this week regarding the fitness of Martin Odegaard, things have been going rather well on it.

Mikel Arteta’s side picked up their third away win in as many years against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and did so without their captain or Declan Rice in the team, setting things up perfectly for Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City.

However, before the Gunners can get too ahead of themselves, they need to prepare for the opening game of their Champions League campaign against Atalanta tonight, and given the quick turnaround, changes to the lineup must be made, one of which should see Leandro Trossard replaced with one of the most exciting youngsters at the club.

Why Leandro Trossard should be dropped

So, there are two key reasons why Trossard should be dropped for tonight’s European tie, and you might even say they are contradictory.

The first is that while he wasn’t bad against Spurs on the weekend, he was underwhelming and remained rather quiet throughout the game despite moving between midfield and forward positions alongside Kai Havertz.

His match statistics reflect his mixed performance. In his 80 minutes on the pitch, he took just 30 touches, failed to have a shot on target, maintained a passing accuracy of just 75%, lost six of ten duels, lost the ball nine times, and was dribbled past once.

Minutes

80′

Touches

30

Shots on Target

0

Passing Accuracy

12/16 (75%)

Duels (Won)

10 (4)

Lost Possession

9

Dribbled Past

1

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (1)

Shots Blocked

1

Key Passes

2

Big Chances Created

1

Fouls Won

2

Interceptions

1

Tackles

1

However, the Belgian also succeeded in 100% of his dribbles, had a shot blocked, played two key passes, created one big chance, won two fouls and made one interception and tackle.

So, while the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace wasn’t at his best, he still offered something, which explains his 6/10 match rating from the Standard’s Simon Collings and leads into the second reason he should be dropped to the bench tonight: fitness.

With Odegaard out of the team, Arteta does not have many players who can come in and play the attacking midfield role aside from Trossard. With the must-win game against City coming up on the weekend, the 29-year-old should be rested, even if he wasn’t spectacular against Spurs.

Overall, the combination of a middling performance in the North London Derby and the need to keep him fresh for Sunday’s game regardless means Arteta should drop Trossard.

Why Ethan Nwaneri should start

Yes, the player Arteta should turn to in place of Trossard this evening is talented youngster Ethan Nwaneri.

There were calls for the 17-year-old to start in the North London Derby last week, but even for an academy product as highly rated as he is, that might have been a step too far.

However, an away game against Atalanta within the context of Odegaard’s injury might be the perfect opportunity to hand him his first competitive start.

Now, that is not to say the Italian side are an easy opponent, they certainly aren’t, but the extreme pressure and hostile environment during an away derby match just won’t be there, and judging off his cameo against the Lilywhites, the Hale Ender, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig described as one of England and Arsenal’s “biggest jewels” looks like he’s been playing top-flight football for years.

In those ten minutes, he won his only duel, completed his only dribble, made one clearance, blocked a shot, took eight touches, and generally looked fearless in possession.

Moreover, his record for the youth sides is exemplary, as in 52 appearances across various junior teams, the “top talent”, as dubbed by Kulig, has scored 27 goals and provided ten assists, meaning he has averaged a goal involvement every 1.40 games primarily as an attacking midfielder.

Ultimately, Trossard should be rested to keep him fresh for City, even if he was underwhelming against Spurs, and in his place, Arteta should hand the incredibly exciting Nwaneri his first competitive start for Arsenal. It might be a lot of pressure for the 17-year-old, but as they say, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.

Wilshere thought Arsenal ace was the next Saka, then he left for £0

The incredible talent might have made an impact this season.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 18, 2024

Glasgow Rangers returned to Ibrox with a bang over the weekend as they secured progress to the semi-finals of the League Cup for the fourth season in a row.

Hampden Park wasn’t the best hunting ground over the first few games of the season and a return home could reinvigorate Rangers.

It was a relatively straightforward 3-0 victory for Philippe Clement’s men over Dundee, as Cyriel Dessers scored either side of a James Tavernier penalty which sets up the Light Blues nicely for the Europa League tie against Malmö this week.

A first start was handed to Nedim Bajrami, who delivered an inch-perfect cross for Dessers to score his second and, despite playing outside his comfort zone on the left flank, it was a positive start for the Albanian.

For once, there wasn’t much to complain about as Clement got his tactics spot on. After drawing a blank in his previous two matches, Dessers returned to the scoresheet against the Dens Park side.

Despite the criticism he has faced in the past, a return of seven goals from just nine matches this term has certainly proven that he can now be relied upon to score on a regular basis.

It marks a major difference to how poor he was during the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, as there was plenty of criticism directed at his direction…

Dessers' numbers in the 2023/24 season

Michael Beale sought to improve his attacking options last summer following Alfredo Morelos’ departure, which led to the Englishman signing Dessers for a fee of £4.5m as a replacement.

The Nigerian centre-forward had scored ten goals during the 2022/23 season, hardly a clinical marksman that the club required to prise the Premiership title back off Celtic.

He managed to open his account against Servette in the Champions League qualifying stages, before grabbing two assists against PSV Eindhoven in the next round. He went scoreless in the first four league matches, however.

Between August and the start of January, Dessers found the back of the net just six times, while missing a host of big chances in the process, hardly a suitable replacement for Morelos.

The nadir came during the second Old Firm clash of the season against Celtic, a game which the Light Blues lost 2-1.

Metric

Premiership

Europa League

Goals

16

1

Assists

4

1

Goal conversion percentage

16%

33%

Big chances missed

27

0

Big chances created

8

0

He played the full 90 minutes in the defeat, failing to register a single shot on target while winning just three of his 14 contested duels as the striker was bullied during the match.

What Chris Sutton said about Cyriel Dessers

If he was more clinical in front of goal, the Light Blues might have snatched a point from that game, and his performance was criticised by former Celtic striker Chris Sutton after the game.

The Englishman discussed Dessers performance when talking to Sky Sports, saying: “Dessers killed Rangers today.

“He had opportunities, wasn’t decisive enough and it’s not like his link up play is up to much as well. Rangers need to address that situation – they may have already done in Fabio Silva, who wasn’t a phenomenal goalscorer for Wolves but is a young player.

“There’s been a lot of money spent on him in recent times. But there’s an opportunity for him to be the main man for Rangers.”

After that defeat, the 29-year-old scored 13 goals in all competitions, yet the club came up short in both the Scottish Cup and Premiership.

The criticism from Sutton clearly saw the player return to some sort of goalscoring form and, while there was interest in him during the summer transfer window, but nothing materialised as he remained at the club.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Cyriel Dessers’ statistics this season

After failing to sign key target Albion Rrahmani during the summer window, Clement only added one centre-forward to his squad – Hamza Igamane.

It was clear he was going to take a few weeks to build up his match fitness, however, which meant Dessers was tasked with being the main option for Clement, especially with Danilo taking baby steps after his knee injury.

An equaliser against Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier certainly boosted his confidence, no doubt, and this was followed by goals against Motherwell in the League and against St Johnstone in the League Cup.

He has certainly started the campaign much better compared to his maiden season at the club. Given his stature as the number one choice to lead the line, Clement clearly still trusts him to score often.

While he may be scoring on a more regular basis, he could still be much more clinical in the opposition box.

Across five matches in the Premiership this term, the attacker has missed four chances, but his goal conversion rate currently stands at 25% at the time of writing. This will certainly decrease as the season goes on, but it certainly proves that he has improved in front of goal.

The striker has also demonstrated his all round game too, registering one league assist along with creating two big chances, averaging 0.8 key passes per game and succeeding with 0.8 dribble attempts each match.

Dessers will have some competition in the coming weeks from Igamane, who is slowly building up his match fitness and could prove to be a very positive signing for the Light Blues.

Until such a time comes, however, the 29-year-old will be tasked with leading the line, both domestically and in Europe, as Clement chases more silverware with the Gers.

The season is still young, but if Dessers can continue his current scoring rate, there is no doubt that he will surpass the 22 goals he registered throughout 2023/24.

The onus for him will be to start finding the net in the big matches, against Celtic, for example. If he can do that, then the former Feyenoord forward could endear himself to the fans, that’s for sure.

Rangers starlet who left Ibrox for £0 is now a star of European football

The Ibrox side have a history of letting talented players depart for nothing…

1 ByRoss Kilvington Sep 22, 2024

Kylian Mbappe regrets that he might not be able to share the dressing room with Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Mbappe idolised Ronaldo since childhoodTough to play together nowFrench forward now at Real MadridFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mbappe's admiration for Ronaldo is well-documented. Growing up, he idolised the Portuguese icon and closely followed his legendary tenure at Real Madrid, where Ronaldo shattered records and achieved numerous milestones. This admiration extended to Mbappe recreating the famous "Uno, dos, tres, Hala Madrid!" chant from Ronaldo’s 2009 presentation during his own unveiling last summer.

AdvertisementGetty Image/ GOAL ARWHAT MBAPPE SAID

Following his memorable experience of playing alongside Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe admitted that partnering with Ronaldo would have been an exciting chapter in his career.

Speaking to , Mbappe said, "I’ve played with great players: Lionel Messi, Neymar, [Antoine] Griezmann, [Paul] Pogba, [Karim] Benzema… It would have been fun to play with Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s going to be very difficult now, but I was lucky enough to play against him, a legend of the sport."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Since joining Madrid in the summer after leaving PSG, Mbappe has already made his mark, helping the club secure the Intercontinental Cup on Wednesday. This victory marked his second major trophy with the Spanish giants after the UEFA Super Cup in August, further cementing his place among the club’s elite.

However, Mbappe knows he has a long way to go to match Ronaldo’s unprecedented achievements at the Santiago Bernabeu. Ronaldo, who scored an astonishing 450 goals in 438 appearances for Madrid, remains the club’s all-time top scorer. Mbappe, with 13 goals in 23 matches so far, is aware of the daunting task of replicating such a legacy.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE & RONALDO?

Mbappe is set to return to the pitch on Sunday when Real Madrid host Sevilla in a crucial La Liga encounter. Ronaldo, meanwhile, is enjoying a well-earned winter break in Riyadh and will be back in action with Al-Nassr on January 9 against Al-Akhdoud in the Saudi Pro League.

Everton are believed to be preparing an offer for a "top-level" Premier League player before the end of the transfer window, according to a new claim.

Everton transfer news

The Blues made a disastrous start to their 2024/25 campaign on Saturday afternoon, being beaten 3-0 at home to Brighton, with Ashley Young sent off to compound Sean Dyche's misery. It is an early blow for the supporters, who have been hoping for a more successful season, and it arguably highlighted the need for more new signings between now and the end of the month.

Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove has emerged as one rumoured transfer target for Everton, with a £13m move potentially on the cards. In May 2023, he became the youngest-ever player to score in a European semi-final, highlighting what an exciting talent the 22-year-old is.

Meanwhile, Arthur Melo has been linked with a move to Goodison Park in the coming weeks, although his brief time as a Liverpool player could make it a tricky piece of business to get done. Currently at Juventus, the Brazilian could be seen as an alternative to Kalvin Phillips, who has joined Ipswich Town on loan.

Everton must keep hold of the most important players at the club currently, one of whom is Dominic Calvert-Lewin. One report has claimed that the 27-year-old could still leave the club before the deadline.

Everton ready loan offer for Arsenal striker

According to a fresh report from Football Insider, Everton are preparing a bid for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah this summer, with a season-long loan move from the Emirates in the offing. The move "could depend on whether Calvert-Lewin leaves the club before the window closes", though.

The Blues "could be given a free run at the striker", with Marseille and Bournemouth seemingly out of the race to sign him, but Crystal Palace and Wolves are mentioned as potential suitors.

Nketiah could be a really astute signing for Everton for the 2024/25 campaign, possessing proven Premier League pedigree and nerveless finishing.

It is wholly understandable why the Englishman could do with a temporary move away from Arsenal, given the quality ahead of him in the pecking order, but Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has still heaped praise on him, saying:

"Well to me he is top level. He’s started nine out of our ten Premier League games, so that tells you how much we trust him and the importance he has in the team. I’m really happy for him, an academy player to experience a Premier League hat-trick. He needs to enjoy the moment, he fully deserves it, and hopefully there are many more to come."

The £100,000-a-week Nketiah has scored 38 goals in 168 appearances for Arsenal, two of which have come vs Everton, which is a good return for a player who is often introduced from the substitutes' bench, and he also netted a highly impressive 16 times in just 17 caps for England's Under-21s.

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This further shows why the 25-year-old could be a good addition for Dyche, providing him with additional firepower and a player who is desperate to prove his worth to his current employers.

In recent days, Everton’s move to sign Irish centre-back Jake O’Brien has been the talk of the town, with the one-time Crystal Palace man finally putting pen to paper on Tuesday.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed earlier this week that the Toffees had agreed a €20m (£17m) fee with Lyon for his signature, with the youngster agreeing a five-year deal on Merseyside.

The centre-back will join Iliman Ndiaye, Tim Iroegbunam and Jesper Lindstrom in arriving at the club this summer, with Sean Dyche quietly building a very talented squad at Goodison.

However, their business may not be finished, with the Merseyside club still targeting more reinforcements in attacking areas, after a deal to sign Wilfried Gnonto stalled over the last few days.

As a result, they could reignite interest in one player who has previously been touted for a move to Everton after wanting more consistent game time at his current club.

Everton could move for £40m talent once more

Earlier in the transfer window, the Toffees were linked with a plethora of attacking talents to potentially bolster Dyche’s forward line that only managed 40 goals in 38 Premier League games last season – the second-lowest of any side in the division.

One player who was linked with a move to Merseyside was Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, who made his intentions clear to leave in a bid for more regular first-team minutes to further his development.

However, as of yet, no side has presented an offer to Mikel Arteta’s side for his services, with Everton needing to swoop in with a bid to prise the English talent away from the Emirates this summer.

It’s previously been reported that it would take an offer in the region of £40m for the Gunners to part ways with the 25-year-old, but given the lack of interest in his services so far this window, Dyche’s side may be able to negotiate a cut-price deal for the striker.

It may seem a hefty price tag, but when comparing his stats to that of another star Premier League forward, it may allow the Toffees to grab themselves a potential bargain.

Why Nketiah could be Everton’s own Watkins

Ollie Watkins – who is noted as a similar player to Nketiah, according to FBref – set the Premier League alight back in the 2023/24 campaign, registering 32 goal contributions in 37 appearances as he helped fire Aston Villa to a Champions League place.

When comparing the Villa talisman to Nketiah, although he’s dominated in terms of goal contributions, the Arsenal ace has produced some phenomenal stats that blow the England international out of the water.

The “top-level” Nketiah, as dubbed by boss Arteta after his hat-trick against Sheffield United last season, averaged more shots per 90, while winning more aerial duels – making him a great fit for Dyche’s system which demands an aerial presence from his centre-forwards.

He also excelled with the ball at his feet, averaging more progressive passes and more progressive carries per 90 – allowing the Toffees to have more success in the final third with his ability to create and finish opportunities.

Despite Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto both being at the club, Everton still need a centre forward to further bolster their chances of moving further clear of the drop zone in the 2024/25 campaign, with a Watkins-esque marksman likely to do the trick.

It’s evident that Nketiah has a lot of qualities that would hugely improve the club’s forward line, with the club needing to do everything they can to secure a deal for the 25-year-old this summer.

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