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Hansi Flick has revealed why he did not include new signing Wojciech Szczesny in Barcelona's squad for their upcoming La Liga fixture against Alaves.

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• Szczesny joins Barca on short-term deal
• Goalkeeper to wait for debut
• Flick reveals selection decision

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona recently roped in former Arsenal and Juventus goalkeeper Szczesny on a free transfer as the Pole came out of retirement to join the Catalan giants as a temporary replacement for captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has been sidelined with a long-term injury.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While the former Poland international's arrival was confirmed earlier this week and was registered with the team, he failed to make be named in Barca's squad for their upcoming La Liga fixture against Alaves. Flick named a 21-member roster which included goalkeepers Ander Astralaga and Aron Yaakobishvili alongside current starting goalkeeper Inaki Pena.

• WHAT HANSI FLICK SAID

  Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Flick said, "[Szczesny] is in very good shape, but unfortunately he won’t travel to Vitoria because I think he needs more time to be with us and after the break, he’ll be ready and an option.

  "For his experience, for his character and for his quality, having Szczesny is very good for the club. When I spoke to him I thought he was a very friendly person, he said that he would contribute in any way he could to the team and I was impressed. He will contribute a lot of things."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  The Catalan side will aim to head into the international break with a win over Alaves and regain their three-point lead over arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has hit back at critics after Lamine Yamal left the La Roja squad after suffering a hamstring injury.

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• Yamal picks up injury with Spain
• Spain boss criticized for overplaying teenager
• De la Fuente fires back

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Yamal has been on top form since the start of the year, and the 17-year-old was a pivotal part of Spain's European Championship victory this summer. However, during Spain's recent Nations League clash against Denmark, the young starlet suffered a hamstring overload and De La Fuente has been criticised for overplaying the youngster. However, the La Roja boss is having none of it.

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  WHAT DE LA FUENTE SAID

  Speaking to the media, De la Fuente said: "Lamine had some discomfort at the end of the match. I spoke to him and he told me that he thought he wouldn't be 100% fit on Tuesday and when in doubt we always bet on the health of the athlete. Football is football, if it has to happen, it will happen. The message is always the same and that's why he's at home. He played because he had to play and there's no more debate.

  "What saddens me the most is that there are people who take the bait. I'll make that clear. Last year we played 17 international matches because we were lucky enough to reach the final of the European Championship, but this year we're going to play ten. In total 27 in two years, one a month. The problem is another and we have enough with our own problems.

  "I haven't spoken to anyone at Barça, although I have a good relationship with them. He's been honest, he's not feeling well and I thank him for his maturity to tell me that he's not 100 percent. I thank him for that."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  If Spain manage to beat Serbia later this week, the defending Nations League champions will qualify for the knockout stages. As such, De la Fuente was questioned whether he would rest the senior players for the last two group stage clashes. The La Roja boss responded: "We want to be first and we will continue to demand the maximum from ourselves. We all want to win and we have to use the tools we have. That's what we're paid for, but we're not kamikazes who put the health of the players at risk."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR SPAIN?

  Spain will take on Serbia on Tuesday, October 15 at Estadio Nuevo Arcangel as they will hope to wrap up qualification to the knockout stages as quickly as possible.

Under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur have hardly been a team intent on sitting back and defending.

No, they've played heavy-metal, high-intensity pressing football, playing right on the edge in their pursuit of glory.

Did it work? Well, yes and no. The Australian gained plaudits for such a style but it left them too open at times.

They ultimately went on to concede 61 goals in the league, more than Manchester United's and Crystal Palace's 58, the same as 13th-placed Fulham's and worse than 15th-placed Everton's haul of 51.

So, a defensive addition or two would certainly do the trick this summer.

Spurs' main defensive target

It looks as though the Tottenham recruitment team are ready to go toe to toe with some of the Premier League's finest in a bid to secure one target.

That happens to Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, a man who was central to that aforementioned record at Goodison Park.

Indeed, reports from Sky Sports suggest that while Man United are interested in the young English talent, Manchester City and Spurs are both tracking him too.

The trouble may well be Branthwaite's price tag. The 21-year-old is thought to be valued between £60m-£70m; a pretty penny indeed.

Why Branthwaite would be a good signing

Well, the fact of the matter is that Spurs need to improve at the back, even if they do have the likes of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven in their armoury.

Romero was a fine asset throughout the 2023/24 campaign, using his bullish attitude to dominate attackers. As such, he ranked inside the top 10% of central defenders in the Premier League for tackles, the top 17% for aerials won and the top 1% for non-penalty goals, showcasing his impact at both ends of the pitch.

On the other hand, Van de Ven had more of a topsy-turvy debut campaign in north London. Heralded for his ridiculous pace, clocking up the fastest speed in the Premier League this term, he has had a few nervy moments.

Remember that game against Newcastle? Yeah, the Dutchman will want to forget it quickly with Alexander Isak having sent him to the deck at St James' Park.

So, the defensive axis at Spurs could well do with another alternative. Radu Dragusin signed in January but he is hardly the calibre of player that Branthwaite is.

He is a left-footed sensation and in the words of Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, is a "pretty special" talent.

That left-footedness would no doubt help Postecoglou's team in possession, giving the Lilywhites a more natural angle to play from down the left-hand side.

It's something a certain Jan Vertonghen gave to Tottenham during his 315 appearances for the club. Also blessed with the ability to play at left-back, Spurs' former skipper was particularly gifted in possession, just as Branthwaite is.

Both possessing a beautiful left foot, the Everton star is particularly composed on the ball. Now, Sean Dyche's style of play didn't particularly lend itself to Branthwaite thriving in this area last term but he did stand out during a loan spell at PSV in 2022/23 where he was given more creative freedom on the ball.

As such, he succeeded with 87% of his passes, ranking within the top 19% of central defenders in the Eredivisie. His long pass completion rate of 71.2% was also enough to rank him within the best 6% of centre-backs that term.

So, how does Vertonghen compare? Well, playing for Anderlecht in the Belgian top-flight, he also completed 87% of his passes and funnily enough completed 70.3% of his long passes, desperately close to Branthwaite's tally.

Although Branthwaite's passing numbers from the 2022/23 campaign don't quite trump Van de Ven's, their position isn't all just about how well you can find a teammate.

The Toffees sensation would still be a superb pick-up. After all, there was a reason Dyche's men kept the second-most clean sheets in the division (13), this term.

Spurs eyeing "unstoppable" £60m Kulusevski & Richarlison upgrade

He has 11 goals and assists in the Premier League this season

By
Joe Nuttall

May 23, 2024

Leeds United fell at the final promotion hurdle last month as they were beaten 1-0 by Southampton in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

The Whites had the chance to make an instant return to the Premier League at the first time of asking but did not step up to the big occasion in the capital.

They will now have to prepare for another season in the second tier as they attempt to earn promotion at the second time of asking, which is also how many seasons it took for Marcelo Bielsa to navigate his way out of the league.

Daniel Farke could be set for a busy summer as his squad could change a fair bit between now and the end of the upcoming summer transfer window.

It was recently reported that forward Wilfried Gnonto is keen on a move to Italy, whilst winger Crysencio Summerville has been linked with Liverpool, and German giants Bayern Munich have been touted with an interest in teen starlet Archie Gray.

This suggests that the Whites could be in the market to bring in reinforcements for their squad this summer, to either bolster their existing options or replace any stars who move on.

Leeds United's interest in EFL sensation

According to the Blackpool Gazette, Leeds are one of a number of clubs keen on a possible swoop to sign Stade Brestois attacker Karamoko Dembele.

The report claims that it remains to be seen what the French side are going to do with the 5 foot 6 attacker next season after he just spent the year on loan with Blackpool in League One.

It states that Sheffield Wednesday approached the Ligue 1 outfit with a view to taking him on loan for the 2024/25 campaign, but no decision appears to have been made on his future as of yet.

Along with Leeds, there are plenty of other English teams eyeing up the young starlet ahead of the summer window, with Everton, Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Fulham, and Brentford all said to be keen from the Premier League.

Meanwhile, newly-promoted Leicester City and Southampton are also in the mix, along with the Whites, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday from the Championship.

This suggests that there will be plenty of competition for his signature this summer and Farke and his team may need to act fast in order to secure his services.

If Leeds do win the race to sign Dembele then they could land an alternative option to Georginio Rutter, who enjoyed a superb season, in the number ten position.

Georginio Rutter's Championship season in numbers

The French wizard was named in the EFL Team of the Season for the Championship back in April after his terrific creative performances for the Yorkshire-based outfit.

Signed from Hoffenheim in January 2023, Rutter was relegated from the Premier League with Leeds last year and used that relegation to thrive in the second tier this term.

His creativity was his best asset throughout the 2023/24 campaign as he showed himself to be one of the best players in his position at creating high-quality chances for his teammates.

The 22-year-old magician ranked within the top 2% of his positional peers in the Championship for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.29), the top 2% for assists per 90 (0.39), and the top 2% for shot-creating actions per 90 (4.41).

This shows that not many players in the division were better at assisting goals, creating high xG opportunities, or being involved in moves that led to shots being taken on goal.

Whilst Rutter thrived as a creative presence in the Leeds side, racking up 15 assists and 22 'big chances' created, he did let himself down when it came to finishing chances.

As you can see in the table above, no player underperformed their xG by more than the French forward within the Whites squad this season, as he scored just seven goals from an xG of 16.05.

Dembele could now come through the door as an alternative option to Rutter in the number ten role, as a player who could offer quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Why Karamoko Dembele could be Georginio Rutter 2.0

Firstly, the EFL star is also a left-footed whiz who is typically deployed in an attacking midfield role, which means that he could operate behind the striker in Farke's 4-2-3-1 set-up.

Dembele's form in League One for Blackpool does, though, suggest that the potential is there for the gem, who boss Neil Critchley hailed as "exciting" and "beautiful to watch", to be more ruthless in front of goal than Rutter.

He plundered eight league goals from 4.00 xG and the xG of his shots on target came to 5.28, which shows that the quality of his shots still outperformed his xG but the youngster also had a helping hand from opposition goalkeepers as they underperformed against his efforts.

Dembele did not miss a single 'big chance' in front of goal all season, whilst Rutter missed 17, and this indicates that the Whites could improve their efficiency in the final third by having him in their side.

As you can see in the table above, both players are skillful maestros who like to get on the ball and make things happen to split open the opposition's defence with incisive passes to create chances for their teammates.

Rutter registered more assists and 'big chances' created but Dembele was far more efficient with his attempted dribbles and created more chances per game on average, which shows that they both thrived in different areas.

However, it remains to be seen how the Blackpool loanee's form would translate over to the Championship, which means that this move would be a bit of a gamble by Leeds.

Leeds lining up swoop for bargain PL player to replace Gnonto

The Whites have been credited with an interest in the experienced forward this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 6, 2024

It appears to be one worth taking for the Whites, though, based on his superb performances in the third division during the 2023/24 campaign, as he could be Rutter 2.0 and offer Farke a useful alternative in the number ten role.

Manchester United are reportedly back in the hunt to sign Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong and the Red Devils are pondering a move in January.

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• Man Utd want Frenkie De Jong in January
• Midfielder struggling for minutes under Flick
• Recently returned from long injury absence

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  United have had a poor start to the season under Erik ten Hag with the Dutchman having been heavily linked with an early season sack. However, INEOS and the Red Devils' top brass have reportedly backed Ten Hag to stay on as the manager. United have mainly struggled in the middle of the field this season with Casemiro and new signing Manuel Ugarte struggling.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As per , Ten Hag has demanded the signing of Barcelona's De Jong, who formerly played under him at Ajax. United have already shown interest in the Dutch midfielder's services over the last two years as Ten Hag is said to be a big fan of the 27-year-old. The Red Devils are now looking to make a move for him yet again in January as De Jong's place in Hansi Flick's side remains a major question mark.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  De Jong recently returned to action after a protracted injury absence but has not received a lot of playing time with Marc Casado, Pedri and Eric Garcia getting the nod ahead of him in Flick's double pivot. With Gavi, Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez returning to action soon, it is possible that the Dutchman may ride further down the pecking order and as such a potential move away could be an enticing option for both club and player.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR DE JONG?

  The Dutchman is expected to be in Barcelona's squad for their clash against Sevilla on Sunday, October 20. However, whether the midfielder will be given his first start of the season remains to be seen.

Manchester United have sorted their Erik ten Hag replacement, appointing Ruben Amorim as their new head coach.

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• Amorim announced as new Man Utd boss
• Replaces Ten Hag in dugout
• Will not join for two more weeks

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils have unveiled their new boss after days of speculation linking Amorim with the job at Old Trafford. The Portuguese manager will leave Sporting on November 11 and sign a contract until 2024 with Manchester United. The club have confirmed that Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge until Amorim arrives.

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• WHAT MANCHESTER UNITED SAID

  In a club statement, Man Utd said: "Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Rúben Amorim as Head Coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements. He has signed a contract until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year. He will join Manchester United on Monday 11 November once he has fulfilled his obligations with Sporting CP.

  "Rúben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football. Highly decorated as both a player and coach, his titles include winning the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting CP, the first of which was the club’s first title in 19 years. Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge of the team until Rúben joins."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Amorim is highly rated across Europe for his tactical mind and system. Liverpool were in the hunt for his services in the summer before settling for Arne Slot but now the 39-year-old will be heading to the Premier League as one of the division's youngest managers alongside Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler. Man Utd will have to pay £9.2million ($11.8m) in compensation to Sporting and will have the option to extend his contract by a further year to 2028.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Van Nistelrooy will do his best to keep things moving in an upward trajectory at Man Utd until Amorim arrives in 10 days. His first game in charge will come after the international break away to Ipswich on November 24. Van Nistelrooy's future remains up in the air after arriving this summer to assist Ten Hag.

Leeds United are thought to be eyeing a £4m forward who is currently away with his national side at Euro 2024, according to a new report.

Red Bull buy minority stake in Leeds

The Whites and Daniel Farke are preparing for another season in the Championship after the playoff final heartbreak against Southampton at Wembley last month.

Since then, the main talking point at Elland Road has been on Leeds’ new partnership with Red Bull. The soft drink company has bought a minority stake in the club, with chairman Paraag Marathe saying:

“I am thrilled that Red Bull is joining us to build a bright future for Leeds United and shares our deep respect for this truly special club,” the chairman. As chairman, our consortium of investment partners will be invaluable to me as we approach this important moment for the club, now and into the future. Red Bull’s addition is a historic milestone that will further empower the club to reach its full competitive potential.”

Meanwhile, Red Bull’s chief executive of corporate projects and investments, Oliver Mintzlaff, said on the investment: “We are delighted to be an important element and partner of Leeds United. A club that is certainly one of the biggest in England and has a rich and successful history. The ambition to bring Leeds United back to the Premier League and establish themselves in the best football league in the world fits very well with Red Bull. We look forward to the partnership and are optimistic and energized about the future.”

Great news for Gray: Leeds eyeing up "unbelievable" first signing

The Whites reportedly have the talented young defender on their list of targets.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 16, 2024

Red Bull, who are involved with RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, RB Bragantino and RB Brazil, will become Leeds’ front of shirt sponsor for the 2024/25 campaign, and by the looks of things, the Whites and the 49ers Enterprises are eyeing up one player from one of the aforementioned clubs.

Leeds eyeing Petar Ratkov move

According to GiveMeSport, one player at Euro 2024 who is on the radar at Leeds is Serbia’s Petar Ratkov. The forward signed for RB Salzburg in a £4m transfer just last year, with GMS saying that Leeds’ interest was there even before Red Bull's investment.

“Ratkov is contracted until 2028 and Salzburg's sister club RB Leipzig are watching his progress closely. A move within the group is more likely in the coming years than this summer.

“Rangers still hold an interest in Ratkov after missing out on him 12 months ago. Leeds are also tracking his progress, something that pre-dates Red Bull's strategic investment in the club.”

Ratkov is just 20 years of age but has already made more than 100 senior appearances at club level, the majority of which came with former side FX TSC in Serbia.

An out-and-out centre-forward, Ratkov has already played in the Champions League, so could be viewed as a potential long-term option when it comes to replacing Patrick Bamford, who missed the end of last season through injury.

Leeds’ new partnership with Red Bull could help in any potential transfer due to their links with Salzburg, so it could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months.

Leeds United had enjoyed a relatively quiet summer transfer window, with no major exits or incomings for Daniel Farke's squad, until the last few days.

It was reported that Brentford were set to sign Whites star Archie Gray in a £40m deal but issues over the payment structure meant that the move fell through.

That, however, has not stopped the England U21 international from closing in on an exit from Elland Road as the 18-year-old starlet is reportedly set to join Tottenham Hotspur for £40m.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the two teams have reached an agreement for that price and the young whiz has agreed a long-term contract with Ange Postecoglou's side.

Wales international Joe Rodon is also set to come the other way from Spurs to sign for the club on a permanent deal for £10m, after his loan spell in West Yorkshire last term.

These two deals would see them bring back their starting right-sided centre-back from the 2023/24 campaign but lose their first-choice right-back, which could see them dip back into the market for another full-back.

However, they could also be on the lookout for attacking reinforcements and one of their reported targets could come in as an upgrade on Joel Piroe.

Leeds United's interest in young wizard

Last month, the Blackpool Gazette named Leeds as one of a number of clubs showing an interest in a deal to sign Karamoko Dembele from Brest.

The report stated that fellow Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday had already made an enquiry over a possible swoop to snap up the 21-year-old wizard.

Wednesday and the Whites are not the only sides keen on signing him, though, as the outlet revealed that Everton, Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Fulham, Brentford, Leicester City, Southampton, and Middlesbrough are also keeping an eye on the young talent.

This suggests that Farke and his team will face plenty of competition to secure his signature before the end of the transfer window, should they opt to act upon their interest and pursue an agreement with Brest.

The Blackpool Gazette added that it remains unclear as to what the Ligue 1 side's plans for the talented ace, who spent last season on loan with Blackpool, are and this means that it is unknown as to how much he would cost Leeds, or any of the other interested parties.

If the Whites can get a deal over the line for the former Celtic starboy, however, then they could land a player with the potential to be an upgrade on Piroe at Elland Road.

Joel Piroe's mixed success at Leeds

The Dutchman was signed from Championship rivals Swansea last summer and spent the majority of his first year in West Yorkshire as a number ten or second striker.

A centre-forward by trade, Farke opted to start him as an attacking midfielder or second striker in 23 matches, with only 15 outings as a striker.

This appeared to limit his best quality – goalscoring – and highlight the deficiencies – passing and mobility – as he often struggled as a number ten.

Piroe had racked up an impressive tally of 41 Championship goals in his two seasons with the Swans combined, mainly playing as a centre-forward, which was an average of around 20 per campaign.

Instead of carrying that form over to Elland Road, the Dutch attacker ended the 2023/24 campaign with a return of 13 goals in 45 league appearances during the regular season.

This shows that his goalscoring rate was affected by the change in position from his spell with Swansea to his first season with Leeds, with seven goals fewer than his average tally in Wales.

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed ace also struggled to provide much creativity from a number ten role, with just two assists in 45 appearances.

His lack of mobility and athleticism was also on display in a deeper role. Opposition players found it far too easy to get the better of the 6 foot 1 forward as he lost the majority of his duels, and the vast majority of his aerial contests.

Why Leeds should sign Karamoko Dembele

The Whites should now swoop to sign Dembele as an upgrade on Piroe in the number ten position, based on his form for Blackpool last season.

He spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at the League One side from Brest and his outstanding form in the third tier suggests that the potential is there for him to be an excellent addition for Leeds.

Firstly, the 5 foot 6 dynamo is a natural attacking midfielder who can use his speed, athleticism, and creativity to offer far more to the team than Piroe did.

Firstly, Dembele ended the season with a staggering return of 13 assists and 15 'big chances' created in 39 League One outings, compared to the Dutchman's unimpressive two assists and three 'big chances' created.

This suggests that the ex-Celtic man, who boss Neil Critchley lauded as "exciting" and "beautiful to watch", would be a gigantic upgrade on the current Leeds form when it comes to breaking down teams to create chances.

As you can see in the table above, Dembele did not disgrace himself as a goalscorer whilst offering far more from an athletic perspective, with his ability to win duels and dribble past opponents.

This suggests that he is far more suited to playing in a number ten position because he can hold his own in duels in the middle of the park and has the pace and dynamism to burst past players with the ball to open up space in transition.

Leeds could forget about Aaronson by signing "dangerous" EFL star

Leeds United could pull off a masterstroke if they signed this maestro for nothing.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 1, 2024

Therefore, Leeds could land an upgrade on Piroe by signing Dembele, who produced 23 direct goal contributions (nine goals and 14 assists) in all competitions last term, and hoping that he can translate his impressive form over to the Championship next season.

Ghana manager Otto Addo says he left Thomas Partey out of his latest squad against the Arsenal midfielder's wishes, but refused to explain why.

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• Partey out of Ghana squad for second time in a row
• Midfielder is playing crucial role for Arsenal
• Addo says 'confidential' reasons behind absence

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Partey was left out of his team's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches in October and he is once again absent from the squad for the matches against Angola and Niger later this month.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While the captain's absence last month was reportedly down to illness, he is currently fit and has started all of Arsenal's Premier League and Champions League matches this season, most recently playing the full 90 minutes against Inter on Wednesday. Addo has admitted that Partey wanted to be part of the team, but he has been left out for "confidential" reasons.

• WHAT OTTO ADDO SAID

  “I had a confidential talk with Thomas. I am a coach who always likes to protect the players, so I hope for your understanding," the Ghana boss said. "For me, the team is like family, I am not coming out with internal issues – but I made it quite clear to him. He wanted to come, he wanted to come, but I made it quite clear why he is not coming. Like I said, it’s confidential. It is difficult for me to mention all the things. It’s like that. We have to move on. Now, as you know, Thomas is not coming and it’s not a permanent thing, so we are always open for him to return. I hope that the things we talked that he will do better in that and that he will join the team maybe in the next window in March. I think he had a good perspective. We had a good talk and we are on good terms."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PARTEY?

  Partey may be disappointed to miss out on Ghana's next matches but will hope to shake off the disappointment as Arsenal prepare to face Chelsea on Sunday.

A host of talented players have been making an impact in new surroundings this term, giving their parent clubs reason to be excited for the future

A grand total of 118 Premier League players were loaned out in the summer transfer window. Fulham did not take the opportunity to arrange loan deals for any promising or out-of-favour members of their senior squad, but all of the other 19 clubs in the division did, to varying degrees of success.

We are not even halfway through the season yet, but some of the more high-profile loanees are already being deemed failures, including Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling. Sancho made a bright start at Chelsea after leaving Manchester United before tailing off dramatically, while Sterling has made zero impact at Arsenal since his switch away from Stamford Bridge.

There is never a guarantee that a fresh start will reignite the spark in talented players. But there are times when it does, like Daniel Sturridge at Bolton Wanderers back in 2011, or more recently, Jesse Lingard at West Ham.

A decent loan spell can be even more important for talented youngsters lacking first-team experience. If they impress elsewhere, a regular spot at their parent club is often the end reward. With all that in mind, GOAL has listed the eight best Premier League loanees of the 2024-25 campaign so far, starting with a forgotten man still on the books at the Emirates Stadium…

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  Nuno Tavares (Arsenal)

  Nuno Tavares hasn't kicked a ball for Arsenal since 2022, and his career reached a new low point last season as he was restricted to just 12 appearances across all competitions on loan at Nottingham Forest. Still, the Portuguese full-back managed to fall on his feet, as Lazio swooped for his services in the summer.

  The Italian side have an obligation to buy Tavares outright if he meets certain sporting conditions during his loan spell, and so far, he's done everything within his power to secure the permanent move. In just nine Serie A appearances, Tavares has laid on eight assists, one more than Bukayo Saka has managed for Arsenal this term.

  The 24-year-old's superb performances have helped Lazio emerge as early contenders for the Scudetto. Marco Baroni's side can rely on Tavares to give them an extra attacking outlet on the left flank, and he's also significantly improved his defensive game, culminating in a first call-up to the senior Portugal squad.

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  Callum Doyle (Manchester City)

  At just 21 years of age, Callum Doyle has already made over 70 Championship appearances, having previously enjoyed successful loan spells at Sunderland, Coventry and Leicester. The Manchester City defender is still waiting for his first senior outing with the Premier League champions, but Pep Guardiola won't be able to ignore him for much longer given how well he is performing at Norwich.

  Doyle is a versatile, ball-playing defender who loves to drive forward. He's strong, reads the game well and always keeps calm under pressure, which is why he has drawn comparisons with John Stones.

  Norwich are struggling in mid-table at the moment, but Doyle has been a real bright spot. He's played almost every minute for Johannes Hoff Thorup's side this season, and has also racked up six-goal involvements. If he can keep it up through to May, Doyle will deserve his long-awaited shot at the big-time in Manchester.

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  Ben Doak (Liverpool)

  Once dubbed 'The Scottish Messi', Ben Doak has generated insane levels of hype ever since his graduation from Celtic's academy as a 16-year-old in 2021. Liverpool bought into his potential the following year, but in a cruel twist of fate, he missed most of the 2023-24 campaign due to a serious knee injury.

  Doak eventually returned to full training after recovering from surgery in June, and Liverpool then decided to loan him out to Middlesbrough. That has proven to be a masterstroke, with the pacey forward registering four goal contributions in just eight Championship starts to date. In fact, Doak has impressed so much that Liverpool boss Arne Slot has even joked about potentially recalling him early.

  Having only just turned 19, Doak is displaying a maturity and skill level well beyond his years, while giving Middlesbrough fans real value for money with his electrifying runs down the right wing.

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  Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton)

  Facundo Buonanotte made his senior debut for reigning world champions Argentina in June last year aged just 18, and went on to appear in 36 games across all competitions for Brighton in 2023-24. It was something of a surprise, then, when the Seagulls loaned Buonanotte to newly-promoted Leicester City in August, but the deal was accompanied by a new contract that ties the teenager to the Amex Stadium until 2028.

  It may have been a risk, but Brighton wanted to accelerate Buonanotte's development at a club where he is guaranteed to start almost every game, and it's already paying off. The former Rosario Central midfielder has scored three goals, including a brilliant solo winner against Bournemouth, and laid on another two assists in his first 10 Premier League outings for the Foxes.

  Buonanotte has provided a touch of class going forward that could be the difference between Leicester staying up or going down. He's a risk-taker with an elegant left foot who carries the ball with confidence and opens up defences with his passing range. If the Argentine ace carries on like this, Brighton could be fielding offers from top clubs across Europe for his services next summer.