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Much has been made of Manchester United’s new boardroom setup under the INEOS regime, but it’s fair to say that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co have merely kicked the can down the road with regard to Erik ten Hag’s position.

Leading up to May’s FA Cup final, the Dutchman was a dead man walking, but having overseen a shock Wembley triumph, the powers that be decided – eventually – to back their man. (Well, they extended his contract by a year, at least.)

Whether they were swayed by fan sentiment or the euphoria of the cup win, the new hierarchy opted for a U-turn on their Ten Hag stance, seemingly overlooking a season of turmoil that had left the club languishing in eighth in the Premier League table.

A ruthless outfit would’ve sacked the 54-year-old regardless of whether or not he had bettered Pep Guardiola’s side, with INEOS now left in a scenario where a change in the dugout may have to be made mid-season – costing the club a reported £17.5m if they are to part ways with the former Ajax boss.

For many among the United faithful, the hope was that Ten Hag could finally be the man to shake off the spectre of Sir Alex Ferguson, and while two trophies have been acquired, the current campaign is already gearing up for disaster.

Back-to-back 3-0 league defeats at Old Trafford to rivals Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur has brought with it a palpable sense of Deja Vu, echoing the last days of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and David Moyes – the pair both having been humbled at home to the Anfield side and Manchester City before facing the axe.

Ten Hag now heads into a pivotal week with away trips to Porto and Aston Villa to seemingly save his job, although with the October international break to follow, a new face could well be taking charge later this month…

Man Utd's manager search

Fresh from leading England to the European Championship final, Gareth Southgate – who worked under Dan Ashworth at the FA for a time – has long been touted as Ten Hag’s successor, with reports recently indicating that the ex-Three Lions boss is willing to wait to replace the Dutchman at the Theatre of Dreams.

According to the Daily Star, however, Southgate isn’t the only candidate that the Red Devils are believed to be considering, with Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi deemed to be a ‘serious contender’ for the role.

The report suggests that while Ratcliffe is ‘reluctant’ to sack Ten Hag just a matter of months after extending his contract, there is a feeling that a change may need to be made, with Inzaghi among those to have ‘impressed’ the club’s new hierarchy.

As per the piece, the 48-year-old – who led Inter to the Champions League final in 2023 – only signed a new deal earlier this year, with it yet to be seen whether he would be willing to take on the poisoned chalice that is being United’s main man in the dugout.

Why Inzaghi would be a good appointment

While United have toiled under Ten Hag’s watch, Inzaghi has been instrumental in steering Inter back to the top of the European and domestic scene, having seen his side only narrowly beaten in Europe’s showpiece last year.

Had it not been for Rodri’s late strike – and a handful of Romelu Lukaku missed chances – the Nerazzurri could well have curtailed Man City’s treble charge, showcasing just why the United target has been lauded as a “genius” by Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry.

While the in-demand coach did miss out on that occasion, he is certainly no ‘nearly man’ when it comes to winning silverware, having claimed five Italian Super Cups and three Coppa Italia’s, as well as last season’s Serie A title.

In 165 games in charge of the Milan giants, the former Italy international has achieved a stellar points per game average of 2.13, with Ten Hag, meanwhile averaging just 1.87 from his 123 games in charge of United. An upgrade, indeed.

What also sets Inzaghi apart from the man he could potentially replace is his clear identity, with Ten Hag – who Rene Meulensteen claimed has “no playing style” – seemingly the opposite.

The Inter boss notably utilises his preferred 3-5-2 formation at San Siro, with that tactical set-up potentially set to help revive a certain Bruno Fernandes if deployed at Old Trafford.

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How Inzaghi could revive Bruno Fernandes

At his current side, Inzaghi has worked wonders by overseeing the transformation of Turkish playmaker, Hakan Calhanoglu, with the former AC Milan star having been successfully converted from a number ten into a deep-lying midfield asset.

Hailed as arguably “the best midfielder in the world” by national team boss Vincenzo Montella, the one-time Bayer Leverkusen star – who, like Fernandes, is now 30 – was instrumental in his side’s title success last season, scoring 13 goals and providing three assists in Serie A, while also enjoying a 92% pass accuracy and registering 2.9 tackles per game, as per Sofascore.

In his final season at Milan in 2020/21, by contrast, the experienced asset registered just 13 goals and assists, while recording an 87% pass accuracy and winning just 1.3 tackles and interceptions per game, indicating the improvements that have been made under Inzaghi’s watch.

The hope would be that similar could occur if the Italian is to take charge of Fernandes this season, with the Portuguese maestro having started the new campaign in miserable fashion, chalking up just one goal involvement in the league, while also – harshly it must be said – seeing red against Spurs last time out.

The United skipper was particularly underpar in the draw away at Crystal Palace after losing the ball on 34 occasions, with Ten Hag seemingly not getting the best out of his talisman at present.

While the creative genius has dazzled in a number ten role for the Red Devils to date – chalking up 149 goals and assists in all competitions – he has previously outlined his desire to drop into a deeper number six berth in the latter stages of his career, thus ensuring he could mirror Calhanoglu’s revival in the near future.

Metric (*per game)

23/24

24/25

Games (starts)

35 (35)

6 (6)

Goals

10

0

Assists

8

1

‘Big chances’ created

21

2

Key passes*

3.3

1.0

Pass accuracy*

79%

80%

Tackles*

1.9

2.5

Interceptions*

0.8

0.5

Dribbled past*

1.7

1.2

Total duels won*

43%

52%

Possession lost*

19.9x

16.8x

Fernandes points to the 2-0 win against Everton back in April 2023 as one of the finest of his career, a game that, interestingly, saw him deployed as a number six, rather than off the striker:

“In fact, against Everton, I played no.6 and I still think it was one of the most complete games I’ve played, at all levels. In terms of passing, game organisation, defence, tactics. I have a little thought in my head that I’m going to end my career further back, because everyone who started there and went to no.10 ended up retreating on the field at the end.”

Perhaps a change in manager could be just what is needed for the £300k-per-week star to get back to his best or even to reach a new level, with Inzaghi – and his 3-5-2 set-up – potentially the perfect solution for this struggling United side and its skipper.

Man Utd have already sold ideal Bruno Fernandes replacement for just £200k

Bruno Fernandes hasn’t been at the races over the last week.

ByMatt Dawson Oct 1, 2024

One manager has admitted he would say “yes” to a move to Manchester United, amid pressure on Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag.

Managers linked to replace Ten Hag at Man Utd

Despite winning the FA Cup last season and signing a new contract extension at Old Trafford over the summer, there is already plenty of speculation regarding Ten Hag’s future in Manchester.

A disappointing start to the season continued in the week, with United only managing a 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente in the Europa League. In the Premier League, Man Utd have won just two of their opening five games, sitting in the bottom half of the table as things stand.

As a result, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been linked with making a managerial change, with former Juventus boss Max Allegri and Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi both mooted as potential targets.

More recently, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has also been linked with taking over at Old Trafford, amid apparent tension behind the scenes at St James’ Park with sporting director Paul Mitchell.

Noises out of Man Utd have claimed that some senior figures are unhappy with Ten Hag for the lack of goals his side are producing and that “patience is beginning to wear thin”. Now, some huge comments have emerged from a manager who Red Devils supporters will know very well.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer open to Man Utd return

As relayed by Fabrizio Romano, former Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted he would say “yes” to an Old Trafford return.

The 51-year-old is currently working as a match analyst for UEFA, as per Transfermarkt, with his last managerial role coming with the Red Devils.

After taking over as caretaker back in December 2018, Solskjaer was then handed the job on a permanent basis months later and spent almost three years in charge of the club.

Games

168

Wins

92

Draws

35

Losses

41

He did eventually leave halfway through the 2021/22 season, with Gary Neville talking about Solskjaer’s final few months in charge.

“Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] was tough, for me and Roy Keane, when he was manager of [Manchester] United. People at the end abused him, but me probably more than Roy, the idea of going against Ole, that’s never going to happen.

“I can say, ‘He’s under pressure, the team aren’t playing well’ – we said all those things – but the idea of going a step further which says, ‘He should lose his job, he should be sacked’ – never. That’s what people want but I would never go into that. I’ve never once [done that].”

Whether or not Ratcliffe and INEOS would be open to bringing Solskjaer back remains to be seen, but the Norwegian’s latest comments will definitely get fans talking, potentially making this one to watch should things not improve for Ten Hag.

Liverpool have been boosted in their efforts to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer, with a report claiming the "doors are opening" for the move to take place.

Is Romeo Lavia a transfer target for Liverpool?

The Belgian saw his stock rise significantly last season, having joined Saints from Manchester City and made an immediate impression at the base of his side's midfield. While the south coast outfit ended up being relegated from the Premier League, finishing bottom of the table, he came away with his reputation enhanced, let alone in-tact.

A summer exit from St Mary's is now almost certainly on the cards for Lavia and he is reportedly wanted by some of the biggest teams in the country, including Arsenal and Chelsea. It is Liverpool who have emerged as arguably the favourites to sign him, however, with the Reds seeing him as a great option to bolster their midfield, especially with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson heading off to pastures new.

The 19-year-old is still at the Southampton for the time being, but it seems increasingly clear that the Merseysiders are working hard to get a deal over the line sooner rather than later. Now, a fresh update has emerged that sheds further light on the situation, as Liverpool look to complete some exciting transfer business.

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?

According to Belgian newspaper La Derniere Huere [via Sport Witness], the "doors are opening" with regard to Lavia's move to Liverpool coming to fruition in the near future. The player himself is believed to be "on alert", as he waits for a significant update from his agent.

He is described as a "priority" target by the Reds, while a move to London is mentioned as being less likely at this point, suggesting Arsenal and Chelsea and lagging behind in the race to sign the Saints starlet.

Liverpool have the luxury of "time and patience" being on their side, according to the report, with plenty of the transfer window remaining and Southampton knowing they will likely have to offload key talent at some point this summer.

With each passing week, the more it looks as though Lavia is destined to head to Anfield before the 2023/24 season gets started, in what would be an eye-catching and long-term piece of business.

The teenager's ceiling looks extremely high, considering he has already stood out as a star man for a Premier League team, while City manager Pep Guardiola has said the following about him as a player:

"Really impressed with what Romeo is doing, we had and have an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him but we thought maybe he doesn’t get enough minutes like he’ll get in Southampton."

Lavia could help fill the void left in the No.6 by Fabinho, and Henderson to a lesser extent, but it is also important that another new arrival in that position also comes in, in order to ease the burden on him. Expecting a 19-year-old to boss Liverpool's midfield from the off is asking too much, and it is vital that he is given time to settle instead.

Crystal Palace has had an extremely quiet transfer window. Whilst the future of Wilfried Zaha – who is yet to commit his future to the club following the expiry of his contract – dominates the headlines, news surrounding their incomings has barely touched the surface.

Jefferson Lerma on a free transfer remains their only piece of business this summer. But, to keep their relatively comfortable Premier League status, Roy Hodgson must continue to refresh the squad with sufficient depth.

The Eagles will want to avoid a similar fate to what Leicester City has suffered. The Foxes had recently won the FA Cup and had established themselves as a reliable mid-table outfit, but they failed to add enough quality, and it ended with an unexpected relegation.

However, the club is beginning to act and Matheus Franca has emerged as a new possible forage into the transfer market.

What’s the latest on Matheus Franca to Crystal Palace?

According to The Athletic, Palace is to be rivalled by Chelsea for Franca.

This outlet had previously reported that Palace were interested in the 19-year-old and had made him their primary target to replace Zaha. It also details that Palace could look to sign him even if the Ivorian opts to stay.

It will certainly be a difficult deal for Palace to navigate, given who they are competing against for his signature. Under Todd Boehly, the Blues have made a habit of signing various young talents from across the globe with a bulldozer approach fuelled by a seemingly limitless budget.

It has been noted this transfer fits with both clubs' models of signing prodigies with huge potential and high resale value.

In a previous tweet by Fabrizio Romano, it's been suggested that the playmaker could cost up to €25 (£21m).

Who is Matheus Franca?

Similarly to Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior, the South American began his career at Flamengo and has enjoyed a meteoric rise to become of the nation’s most prestigious talents.

It was two years ago when Franca began to regularly display his dazzling flair as he captained his side to the Brasileiro and Copa do Brasil U17 titles. His impressive trophy haul is anchored by his ridiculous statistics as the playmaker averaged a goal or assist every 45 minutes for the U17 and U20 teams.

This was highlighted by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who described Franca as someone “who can play almost everywhere” and “one of the most exciting teenagers in Brazil.”

This esteemed reputation secured his senior debut and he has scored 19 goals in 59 games for Flamengo.

The star-studded gem has been praised for his supreme technical gift, intelligence, and the progressive tendencies of his play.

Fabio Matias, his former coach, has said: “He has many important aspects to his game. In addition to technical and tactical ability, he has a very good understanding of the game.

"That makes him stand out because he interprets spaces well. The most talented players have an understanding of space and how to manage that. He also has the ability to be decisive in front of goal and is a great finisher."

He appears on a frightening trajectory, with sparkling versatility, skill, and flair – three traits that have embodied Zaha’s long stint at Selhurst Park, in which he has bagged 90 goals and 76 assists in 458 games in all competitions.

Whilst it would be difficult for a teenager with no Premier League experience to immediately fill the unfathomable chasm that could be left by Zaha, Franca's sky-high potential could well see him surprise a few people if he was to make the move to England this summer.

Hearts are continuing to work to land players this summer, and Football Scotland has revealed that the club have a centre-back as their top priority in the transfer market at present.

Have Hearts signed any players this summer?

The Scottish Premiership side have yet to make a single signing as of yet this summer, with the club instead seeing plenty of their own players head out the exit door. Josh Ginnelly, who featured 30 times for them in the league last season, has been allowed to leave and join Swansea for nothing for starters, which will be a blow to the club.

He bagged 12 SPL goals last time around and also had four assists – career-best totals for the winger. However, he opted not to stay on with the side and has now left for the Championship again,

Further to that, the Jam Tarts have also lost youngster Scott McGill to Raith Rovers. He only ever featured in one league outing for the side mind, and will now play his football elsewhere. Euan Henderson has left to join Hamilton, having spent four seasons in Edinburgh. He struggled to get going with Hearts though, scoring only three times in the league for them, and spent the 2022/23 season with Queen's Park. Five more players have also been let go.

Who has been linked with a Hearts transfer?

It means there is certainly room for more bodies and improvements in the squad as things stand. Hearts had been eager to wrap up a deal for Riku Handa, but that deal collapsed. The defender has featured heavily in Japan in the J1 and J2 Leagues for Gamba Osaka and Montedio, and it looked like a switch to Scotland could be on, but Steven Naismith and Co will have to move on to other targets.

According to a report from Football Scotland's reliable Mark Hendry, the Jambos have identified what area they would most like to strengthen this summer. Naismith, who is currently their technical director, has been working hard to find potential incomings and a central defender is seen as the main area for improvement this transfer window. It looks likely then that any linked names in the coming days and weeks will fall into that category.

Henry also adds that a right-back is also quite high up on the shopping list – so it appears that most of their focus, at least for now, will be on improving their backline in front of Zander Clark.

With Hearts finishing in an impressive fourth in the Scottish Premiership last season, they will not want to let their standards slip ahead of the new campaign. With Ginnelly having left, it will be hard to replace his goals and creativity. However, the Jam Tarts staff worked hard to take their team into the top four last time around and have proven their ability to do so. Supporters will have to trust that they can now get the job done again and bring in the right players this transfer window.

Fulham have set their sights on Leeds United striker Rodrigo this summer but face stiff competition from Saudi Arabian side Al Rayyan, according to journalist Bruno Andrade.

Who are Fulham signing?

It's been a summer of transfer links for manager Marco Silva as the Whites, following a successful first campaign back in the top flight, aim to strengthen their ranks.

As a result of last season's impressive performances in parts, major clubs across England could look to poach a few key Fulham players, most notably the likes of Joao Palhinha and Antonee Robinson.

The former could apparently command over £90 million to sign as Fulham set a marquee price tag, and if any side decide to pay in and around that figure, some of the funds could be re-invested into Silva's squad.

There are no shortage of players linked with a move to Craven Cottage, including Southampton star James Ward-Prowse, Japan international Ao Tanaka, Coventry City's Viktor Gyokeres, Fenerbahce defender Ferdi Kadioglu and Roma centre-back Ibanez in recent weeks.

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi will also be made available for just £15 million, a development which has apparently sparked Fulham's interest in the Englishman.

Rodrigo, who starred for Leeds last season, is now also on Fulham's radar as Gyokeres apparently nears a move to Sporting Lisbon.

The Spaniard was heralded as Leeds' player of the season last year by members of the media like The Athletic's Phil Hay, with Silva eyeing a move.

However, Saudi Arabian side Al Rayyan are looking to continue this growing summer trend of players making the move away from Europe to the Middle East.

Al Rayyan are confident they can Rodrigo, but according to journalist Andrade of UOL Esporte, Fulham are still pose a very real threat.

"Al Rayyan remains confident in signing Rodrigo Moreno, but has already learned that the Spanish player is also in Fulham's sights," the reporter said on his personal Twitter account.

How many goals did Rodrigo score last season?

The 32-year-old finished 2022/2023 as Leeds' top scorer in the English top flight, standing out as their star player with 13 goals and one assist (WhoScored).

No other Leeds player managed more attempts at goal per than Rodrigo either, making him a credible alternative to Aleksandr Mitrovic in the Fulham forward line (WhoScored).

Hay, writing for The Athletic, also praised his attitude and demeanor during Leeds' scrap against the drop – saying Rodrigo looked up for the fight.

"The noticeable thing about Rodrigo this season is that he has looked game for the scrap," said Hay.

"His attitude and body language have been more feisty and, as much as it is possible to do this when results are imploding around him, he has looked like a forward who is ‘having himself’, a forward who expects to score."

Meanwhile, former Whites striker Noel Whelan branded the forward "very invaluable" last year, with reports suggesting Rodrigo has a meagre £3 million release clause in his deal after Leeds' relegation.

This could certainly be a price more than worth paying.

Liverpool are thought to be leading the race to sign highly-rated Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga this summer, according to a fresh update.

Did Veiga shine last season?

The Spaniard enjoyed an eye-catching season for his current side in 2022/23 and was the club's third-best performer over the course of the previous campaign. Veiga proved to be a reliable source of goals from midfield, scoring 11 times and also chipping in with four assists across 36 appearances in La Liga.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for the 21-year-old a number of times in recent months, seeing him as one of their primary midfield targets. The Reds have already brought in Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, but a couple more signings are required in that area and the Celta Vigo gem could be one who comes in.

Now, a new update regarding Veiga's future certainly suggests that the Reds, and by extension new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, are serious about snapping up the youngster.

Are Liverpool favourites to sign Veiga?

According to The Transfer Room, Liverpool are in fact now the front-runners to sign Veiga before the new Premier League season begins:

"Sources close to The Transfer Room have claimed that Liverpool are well ahead of any club in the race for Veiga. Chelsea, who were pushing hard, have now taken a step back and are assessing other targets. The main 'problem' with the deal for Liverpool is the €40million release clause.

"Despite Chelsea dropping their interest in the Spanish midfielder, two other Premier League sides, Newcastle United & Manchester United are also following his future closely. Even though Liverpool are now leading the race, many twists and turns could still take place as his future will not be decided until he returns back from the U21 Euros which is taking place currently."

This is a very positive update regarding Liverpool's pursuit of Veiga, suggesting that he could well be the next man through the door at Anfield, joining Mac Allister in transforming an ageing Reds midfield.

His performances last season showed exactly what he is capable of – football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded his "great season" – and he already has 49 appearances to his name in La Liga, showing that he can compete at the highest level.

At 21, Veiga, labelled as a "very electric player" by Fabrizio Romano, would be considered both an immediate key squad player and a future star – he may have to accept not being a guaranteed starter from the off, especially given Curtis Jones' end-of-season form – and if he came in along with either Khephren Thuram or Romeo Lavia, it could continue a highly productive summer.

Glasgow Rangers look set to be in for their busiest summer transfer window in quite some time as Michael Beale aims to overhaul a playing squad which has become stagnant across the previous 12 months.

Out go the likes of Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Filip Helander as the wage budget has been trimmed, while Beale has quickly signed four players – and there will be more as the weeks go on.

Another squad player who could leave this summer is Scott Wright, as Preston North End had two bids rejected recently and it surely won't be long before he departs Ibrox after a woeful season.

The £5.6k-per-week dud played 34 times during 2022/23 and registered a paltry two assists – a dreadful return from the winger, and it’s clear he isn’t of the required quality needed going forward.

Could Beale turn to a January transfer target that is back on his radar in order to replace Wright if he does in fact move on from Rangers this summer? As Morgan Whittaker remains firmly in the 42-year-old's plans, according to The Daily Record, perhaps the Gers boss has a plan in place.

Could Rangers sign Morgan Whittaker this summer?

In all honesty, a move should have occurred back in January, as the Gers had three bids rejected by Swansea City for the pacey winger, with their final offer of £2m not enough to prise him away from Wales.

During the first half of last season, he spent time on loan at Plymouth Argyle in the English third tier and was arguably their standout performer, registering nine goals and seven assists across just 25 league games, demonstrating his abilities from the right wing.

His form on the south coast was so devastating that he ranked second out of the whole squad for overall rating (7.1/10), despite playing just half a season, while also ranking third for goals and assists, as well as key passes per game and big chances created, underlining his importance to Plymouth.

His output dropped once he returned to Swansea, however, scoring just once in 15 Championship games, although he did only start two matches.

Beale is clearly a big fan of the 22-year-old winger, having previously lauded him as “excellent” – and the chase for him still appears to be very much alive.

The next few weeks could prove crucial with regard to a potential move, as the manager is aiming to get the vast majority of his business done early in order to focus on the Champions League qualifiers at the start of August.

Tottenham Hotspur hold a 'genuine' interest in Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this window, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Jadon Sancho?

As per The Daily Star, Tottenham are keen on Sancho this summer and are lining up a high-profile swoop to try and entice the £350k-a-week ace to Hotspur Way.

The report states that Spurs are 'definitely interested' in the 23-year-old and Ange Postecoglou is also said to want Leicester City midfielder James Maddison as the Australian boss eyes a squad rebuild.

Sancho has endured an inconsistent time of things at Manchester United since completing a £73 million move to the Red Devils from Borussia Dortmund back in 2021, as per BBC Sport.

talkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist has been sympathetic to Sancho's predicament and backed him to find his feet again, stating: “He hasn’t shown enough at all. You’ve got to find a way to overcome it. There’s a million excuses out there if you want to go and look for them. The fact is you’re not going to get game time if you’re not showing the manager in training that you can do a job. I feel sorry for him, he’s got to get away and get his career back on track and honestly, I don’t think it would be a bad thing if he went back to where he came from.”

FootballTransfers claim that Manchester United would be open to selling the winger this window and Aston Villa are also monitoring his situation.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has stated that Spurs do hold a genuine attraction towards Sancho as they target him this summer.

Jacobs told FFC: "At this point, they've not approached Manchester United directly. They've not put an offer down on the table, but it is fair to say that the interest in Sancho is genuine. He's an option for Spurs for sure, but there's still work to be done if they're to progress the deal in any way."

Would Jadon Sancho thrive at Tottenham Hotspur?

Sancho, who was called an "unusual player" by The Athletic, is someone who possesses extreme talent; however, it is fair to say that he has struggled to deliver on his early career promise shown since his move to Manchester United and a new challenge may suit the London-born attacker ahead of next term.

In 2022/23, the former Borussia Dortmund man amassed 41 appearances in all competitions, registering seven goals and three assists, as per Transfermarkt.

FBRef take into account that Sancho has been an efficient chance provider for the Red Devils this term, successfully completing 113 shot-creating actions in total.

WhoScored further lend credence to his creative qualities and detail that Sancho made an average of 1.7 key passes per match in the Premier League.

All things considered, Tottenham may be the perfect environment for Sancho to find his feet and produce consistent performances looking ahead.

Arsenal are “very confident” of signing Kai Havertz alongside a move for Declan Rice and personal terms are "advanced" for both players, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

How many goals has Kai Havertz scored?

Havertz joined Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen back in 2020 with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and it’s fair to say he hasn’t lived up to expectations in the Premier League.

The 24 year-old has scored just 19 top flight goals in 91 showings, also providing ten assists, though he has continued to thrive for Germany during that time, finding the back of the net 13 times for his national side in 35 games.

His underlying numbers suggest he is a still a player with bags of potential though, as he ranks highly for a number of metrics amongst other forwards in the big five leagues, namely passing, dribbling and tackling, so one has to think if he can find some end product as he matures there is still a top player in there.

And Mikel Arteta clearly thinks so, as reports now suggest the Gunners are “in advanced stages” with the manager personally stepping in to "push" the move.

That’s according to Sky Germany’s Plettenberg, who says: "News Havertz: Been told Arsenal is very confident to sign both Rice & Havertz! Despite of the fact that Chelsea has rejected the first offer. Arteta is pushing for Havertz!

“Arsenal are in advanced stages with both players. No Bayern offer for Havertz yet. Arsenal is planning the next steps. Bayern‘s next transfer meeting scheduled next week.”

Would Havertz be a good signing?

Havertz certainly has his admirers, with Thomas Tuchel’s interest at Bayern no surprise given what the former Blues boss had to say back in March of last year: “What he gives us is huge volume. He covers a lot of metres, he covers a lot of metres in high intensity, so he finds the intensity no matter what the system the opponent defends against us, he finds intensive runs, he finds distances.”

BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves believes Havertz is a “brilliant” player with elite “courage and composure”, while Graham Potter has hailed his “fantastic” talent.

Clearly then, Arsenal would be getting a player who is extremely highly thought of in the game, and his ability to operate in six different positions across midfield and attack means his arrival would add depth in a multitude of areas for the Gunners.