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A key feature of Manchester United’s recent resurgence under Erik ten Hag has been the club’s impressive recruitment of late, with the likes of Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro in particular having all made an impact this season.

Such astute business has not always been the norm for the Red Devils in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, though, with the club having routinely splashed the cash erratically in the recent past, as well as passing up potential opportunities to sign exciting talents.

One name which may well fall into the latter category is Lyon sensation Rayan Cherki, with the teenage starlet having gone on to blossom in recent times after previous links with the Old Trafford outfit.

Were Man United ever close to signing Cherki?

The promising Frenchman has routinely been tipped for a move to Manchester over the years, with The Telegraph’s Sam Wallace reporting back in 2019 that the Premier League side – along with La Liga giants Real Madrid – had been considering a move for the youngster.

The 5 foot 9 dynamo subsequently went on to sign his first professional contract with the Ligue 1 outfit later that year at the age of just 15, with Lyon chief Jean-Michel Aulas having since confirmed that both United and Madrid had been keen to secure Cherki’s signature.

That interest in the playmaker has clearly not gone away, with reports last summer having suggested that Ten Hag and co were again keeping tabs on his situation. The teenager only had a year to run on his deal the time, although he has since signed a 12-month extension.

How is Cherki performing for Lyon?

Since that uncertainty just over six months ago, the £39k-per-week wizard has gone on to truly blossom for Lyon so far this season, having scored four goals and provided four assists in 24 games in all competitions so far this season.

Still only 19, the precocious dynamo was particularly impressive in his club’s recent league outing at home to RC Lens, notably producing a stunning finish from an acute angle to fire his side to victory.

That standout performance earned the France U21 international praise from ESPN’s David Cartlidge, who dubbed him “remarkable”.

Respected journalist Julien Laurens also offered a glowing assessment of Cherki’s talents, stating: “Watching Rayan Cherki playing like this tonight is such a joy! So elegant, so silky, so two footed: assist with his left foot, goal with his right. He takes inswinging corners with each foot too. Only 19 years old! And he is consistently good lately.”

The versatile asset – who can play on the flanks or in an attacking midfield role – has also earned unsurprising comparisons to another player with Lyon connections in the form of Karim Benzema, and it is some feat to be likened to a superstar who boasts 405 club career goals.

Like the Real Madrid superstar – who claimed the Ballon d’Or award in 2022 – Cherki is also something of a “generational talent”, according to journalist Andres Onrubia Ramos, with the expectation now for him to go on and showcase his quality on a more consistent basis in the years to come.

To have missed out on such a glorious gem will no doubt be a bitter pill to swallow for those back at Old Trafford…

Newcastle United are still interested in the possibility of signing Conor Gallagher over the coming hours before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

What’s the latest?

Eddie Howe is set to see his squad lose a midfielder in the coming hours with Jonjo Shelvey headed for a late move to Nottingham Forest.

One of the names thrown into the mix is the Sheffield United midfielder, Sander Berge, with the Magpies believed to be eyeing a potential loan deal for the 24-year-old.

However, there has been a long-standing interest in Chelsea’s Gallagher with the Toon said to be a big admirer of the England international.

And speaking on Sky Sports News, Keith Downie has said the Magpies are definitely interested in Gallagher with just a matter of hours remaining in the January window:

(18:00) “He’s a player that Eddie Howe really likes. Tried to bring him in in the summer, failed to do so on transfer deadline day when Chelsea decided they did not want to do transfer business with Newcastle who they see as a rival for the top four for the Champions League positions.

“But I think Newcastle will hope that maybe their stance has softened what will make it difficult is that Gallagher does want to stay at Chelsea.”

“I think if he was allowed to leave on loan, Newcastle would be right in there desperate to sign him. But that decision remains with Chelsea.”

Late move for Gallagher?

There has been some concern surrounding whether Newcastle’s proposal for Berge would be the most appealing to Sheffield United this month with Fulham potentially offering a more attractive buy deal.

However, this could lead Newcastle to being pushed out of the race for the Norweigian which may be good news for those who would like to see Gallagher join Newcastle.

In comparison to the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Gallagher has actually provided more shot-creating actions and tackles per 90 minutes so ar this season (via Fbref).

At the age of just 22-years-old, a loan move away for Gallagher – who Thomas Tuchel hailed as “extraordinary” – could be the best option for the Englishman although there is the belief that he is still happy with his situation at Stamford Bridge.

Although Gallagher has still made 19 appearances for the Blues in the Premier League, only nine of those appearances have come from the starting XI.

And Chelsea do currently have a list of players who could be set to return to Graham Potter’s side over the coming weeks from their respective injuries.

With this in mind, it would be interesting to see if the young Englishman would consider a late loan move away from the Bridge and if Chelsea would deal with the high-flying Newcastle.

On the one hand, judging who is the best of quite frankly, a stellar bunch of candidates to be the best Liverpool manager should be an easy process. You simply look at trophies lifted, games won, goals scored. The length of time also comes into play. But there are a lot of other factors that serve to muddy the water. The place the club were in when that person took over, not just in terms of league position, but the players at his disposal, the moral of the club is a big factor. The state of the competition at that time should not be ignored either. Finally the state of the club after he left should be taken into consideration. All of those factors need to be considered if you are to come up with the best manager of all time. So how does Klopp rate?

The Statistics: In terms of silverware, Bob Paisley is head and shoulders ahead of anyone else, with 19 from his nine seasons at the helm. Bill Shankly and Kenny Dalglish (over his two spells) come in joint second with ten trophies each. Klopp’s haul currently stands at third place, though currently he’s having a tough season, the team is usually on comparison platforms such as oddschecker on the odds to win the Premier League.

When it comes to winning percentage, the German comes out top, with a 61.33 winning percentage from his 256 games in charge. Dalglish is the only other person to get over sixty percent, with 60.93% for his first spell, registering just 47.3% in his second. Paisley’s 57.57% is particularly impressive, achieved as it was over such a sustained period. Shankly incidentally achieved 52.11%.

The points per game (adjusted for when it was just two points for a win) again shows it is Dalglish and Klopp occupying the top two spots. Kenny’s first spell garnered an average of 2.08 points a game to Klopp’s 2.04. The next is Paisley on 1.97.

The way that Liverpool have played in these last two seasons in particular has been something that has been behind a lot of the praise for Klopp’s regime. That is borne out in the goals per game stats. Jurgen’s reign has seen the highest figure of any manager, coming in at 2.06. Dalglish’s first spell is the only other one to get higher than two (2.01).

One stat that may be surprising is the average goal difference per game, as the defence under Klopp has been held up as a corner stone of the team’s success. It is at 1.05, still better than any other manager apart from Dalglish, again in his first spell, when he registered a very impressive 1.17.

The thing with all of those statistics however is that they should not be viewed alone. For every one of those sets of data, the years preceding Klopp’s tenure at the club showed some of the worst, if not the worse figures in the club’s history. Those preceding Dalglish, were healthy looking, he was able to build on the success that Paisley and Shankly (and Fagan) had built. Klopp has not just started to achieve success, but he has had to almost from scratch, built a squad capable of achieving that success.

Not A Case of Buying Success

Know we’ve digested the hard stats, it will be good to look at some softer, less black and white factors. The season before Jurgen arrived at Anfield (2014/2015), the Reds finished 6th. They had lost Suarez the previous summer, and that season was Gerrard’s last, likewise for Raheem Sterling. It was a side filled with decent EPL players, but with very few stars, players you could point at and say were genuine not just match winners, but title winners.

Critics point to the amount of money Klopp has spent (£424,000,000 since his arrival in October 2015, on 23 players). That is considerably lower than the likes of the two Manchester clubs, and you have to look at the comparative base those three clubs were coming from in terms of squad value at that time. And that word value is key to this.

Because of the millions of pounds spent at EPL clubs, it is easy to forget that value is something held so close to the heart of clubs and their boards. It is easy to look at Klopp’s big money buys, but perhaps his biggest success stories have been in the way he has got the most out of not just those, but all members of his squad. Divock Origi for example played a crucial part in the Champions League success a couple of seasons ago. The way he has been able to get Oxlade Chamberlain back looking like the player he looked like he was going to be in his early Arsenal days is also a testament to Klopp’s coaching and man management skills.

Those are the factors that will get lost over time – in much the same way that players’ and managers’ stock improves year after they have actually been active in the game. They are a vital piece of the jigsaw though and certainly should not be ignored when evaluating Klopp’s performance. There is one huge aspect missing, and parallels can be drawn with Arsène Wenger. No matter how good your record, the state you leave the club in does go a hell of a long way to how you are viewed, especially in the short to mid-term. Wenger was undoubtedly one of Arsenal’s greatest managers, but the club he left in a poor state, with the fans divided and a squad not fit for purpose.

For Klopp to be considered the best in Liverpool’s illustrious history, he still has some way to go, and it will not be achieved merely courtesy of winning percentages. He needs to get the club expecting to, and actually winning trophies year on year, and when he does decide hang up his manager’s coat, he needs to leave the club in a position where his successor can continue in the same, or similar vein. This is about the club, not one man. At the moment, the signs are very good, that both Klopp and Liverpool are on their way to achieving that.

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The finances involved in any deal to bring Wout Weghorst to Manchester United on loan could block the move from happening, journalist Laurie Whitwell has claimed.

What’s the word?

The Dutchman has been linked with a move to United as Erik ten Hag seeks a short-term striking addition to provide depth up front.

Weghorst is currently on loan at Besiktas from Burnley but is thought to have an option to buy in his loan contract.

Whitwell has claimed that this could prove problematic for United, as Burnley may not want to risk losing out on a future fee, with the Red Devils unlikely to keep the striker beyond the end of the season.

Speaking on the Talk Of The Devils podcast, Whitwell explained why this might put the deal in jeopardy.

He said: “Wout Weghorst, he’s obviously got a contract at Burnley and he’s over on loan at Besiktas. We have held talks about it, United, with Burnley and the player.

“I think he’s up for the move. He’s pushing for it, you can see why he would want that. But it’s a complicated one because Besiktas have a €10m option to buy.

“Would they actually relinquish that? And also, Burnley, they would probably want compensation because there’s an asset there for them. Besiktas would need financial remuneration, I think Burnley might as well.”

How much should United pay?

With Man United reportedly confident of signing the striker, you would have to say that Burnley suddenly leaning towards compensation in the form of the option to buy from Besiktas would be both a shock to United’s system and a twist in their chase.

Even if they have to pay a compensation fee, it would still represent a low-cost deal to pad United’s depth until the summer.

However, if Burnley ask for a large upfront fee or for an obligation-to-buy clause to be inserted into any deal, United should perhaps avoid Weghorst altogether.

Any outcome which results in the club being stuck with the player beyond the end of the season is arguably not desirable, as they may want room in the squad, as well as on the wage bill, to spend big on a top-class forward in the summer.

That said, if they could agree on a low-fee deal with Burnley, we believe it would still represent better value than other potential options on the market on higher wages and transfer fees.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is now willing to sacrifice Jack Grealish if it means securing the signature of AC Milan winger Rafael Leao, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Man City’s Leao interest

As per Spanish sources (via Sports Mole), Guardiola was promised by the Man City board that the club would make an attempt to bring Leao to the Etihad Stadium, with the Spaniard identifying him as his leading target in that area of the pitch.

When recently asked by RDP Africa whether he wants to play in the Premier League at some stage, the Portugal international said: “Yes, in the future. But now I’m 100 per cent focused on Milan. I’m at a top club and I’m under contract. I also like the city of Milan.” (via Metro)

While he seems to be settled at Milan for the time being, the 23-year-old may now have the opportunity to complete a move to England…

The Latest: Guardiola hatches transfer plan

According to Calciomercato, Guardiola is willing to offer Grealish on a plate to Milan in a proposed swap deal in order to sign Leao in the summer, given that the £100m England international has never really managed to deliver on his huge price tag at City.

However, the Serie A club are unconvinced by the exchange, owing to the 27-year-old’s high wages – which they would need to match – as well as him being a few years older than Leao.

The Verdict: Fair swap?

Lauded as a ‘diamond’ by AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini, Leao is enjoying yet another fine season in Italy, with six goals and five assists to his name in Serie A so far. He is also thriving in the Champions League, with five goal contributions in six games.

On the other hand, 29-cap England international Grealish has only scored once in the Premier League this term, while he is also still struggling to hold down a regular place in the starting line-up, having played the full 90 minutes on just two occasions.

As such, Leao would appear to be a big upgrade if Guardiola is able to tempt AC Milan into an agreement, particularly given that he is still just 23 and has plenty of time to develop, but it seems as though the Serie A champions do not have any interest in a deal of that nature.

Arsenal have undergone a drastic transformation under the helm of youthful and vibrant manager Mikel Arteta, now topping the Premier League by five points after 14 matches played of the 2022/23 season. 

What’s the word?

Despite the successful start, the Gunners now find themselves without their star talisman, Gabriel Jesus, for several months following the Brazilian’s knee injury sustained against Cameroon at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

And now, with the business end of the club campaign set to commence, Arsenal may need to target a replacement to bolster the squad and ensure a slide from form does not occur during the dogged battle for Premier League gold. 

Italian outlet Tutto Juve has confirmed that the Gunners have entered the race to sign Memphis Depay, who will become a free agent next summer.

Edu could be lured to the player’s versatility and mobile approach which bears similarity to Jesus, something the club could receive bounteous benefits from implementing. 

A new talisman?

Currently, only Eddie Nketiah serves the north London club as a centre-forward in Jesus’ absence, and while other offensive stars can step up in his stead, the risk of disruption to the finely poised balance of Arteta’s churning machine could be of detriment to the eventual goal of major silverware.

And with Depay a striker boasting a whole host of tools on his belt, he could be the man to lead the club to glory and continue to thread the offensive department of the team together with the midfield, without seam. 

Having plied his trade across several countries in Europe, Depay has amassed a collective total of 147 goals and 92 assists over 396 senior club appearances. 

From a financial standpoint, Depay’s deal also indeed expires in the summer, therefore meaning a low offer could test Barca’s resolve, who have been embroiled in a notorious financial crisis across recent years.

And the player himself would bring a kaleidoscope of talent to the Emirates Stadium, a clean goalscorer and a creative eye, Depay is a quick, dangerous and multifaceted player with a relentless work ethic.

Indeed, as per FBref, the 28-year-old ranks within the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area and progressive passes received when compared to attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s big five leagues this past year, easily translating to centre-forward duties when required.

And his return of 0.50 non-penalty goals per 90, alongside his rank within the top 5% for total shots, also further highlights the calls that he can assume the role at Arsenal.

Labelled one of the “best players” in Europe, by Barcelona teammate Riqui Puig, Depay has been earning plaudits for some time for his offensive prowess, and he, and indeed Arsenal, could reap the rewards of combining in the near future, searching for silverware with a shared platform to flourish.

Mikel Arteta has led Arsenal to the summit of the Premier League table while also securing Europa League progression in what has been an excellent first half of the season for the North London side.

The World Cup break means the league season won’t resume until Boxing Day and this can give the Spaniard time to assess what areas of his side he needs to strengthen during the January transfer window.

One thing is for certain, the defence won’t need to be bolstered, with the club conceding just 11 league goals all season, joint lowest with Newcastle United and this will play a big part in whether they end the season as champions.

Ben White has often been used as a right back this season due to injuries, however, it may be at the heart of defence alongside William Saliba where the Frenchman really excels in the future.

Pete O’Rourke gave his thoughts to Football FanCast, discussing the long-term plan that Arteta will put in place:

“So, I think long-term plans still will be for Ben White to play centre half and I’m sure an exciting partnership with him and William Saliba, who are both young and full of potential and they could be a great partnership in the making for years to come.”

The £120k-per-week defender has impressed when deployed at right back this season, starting every one of Arsenal’s league matches while averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.04/10 in the process.

The 25-year-old ranks third in the squad for clearances per match (1.8), second for tackles per match (2.0) and fifth for pass success rate (86%), proving he is an integral part of the starting XI.

His main strength is in the heart of the defence, however, and going forward, he should replace Gabriel Magalhaes and form the partnership alongside Saliba.

The Brazilian has been excellent, receiving a rating of 7.14/10 via SofaScore for his performances this season, however, White’s versatility could potentially make him a more viable long-term partner for the Frenchman and this could become Arteta’s defensive duo for the next few years, especially according to O’Rourke.

Wolves are already planning for the January transfer window under Julen Lopetegui and it seems as if the Spaniard is keen on a reunion with Nacho Fernandez.

Reports from Spain have suggested that Lopetegui is keen to reunite with both Fernandez and Mariano Diaz, having spent time managing the duo in his brief spell in charge of Real Madrid.

The 32-year-old centre-back is reportedly not in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans and could be allowed to leave in January, having spent the entirety of his career with Los Blancos.

Dream first signing

Fernandez came through the youth academy with the La Liga giants and has gone on to make 285 appearances for the first team, scoring 15 goals and assisting nine.

The experienced defender has had to compete with world-class defenders such as Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Raphael Varane and David Alaba during his time with the club but has always been a reliable member of the squad, which suggests that he could be a quality addition at Molineux in January.

Given Wolves have won just twice in the Premier League so far this season and currently sit 19th in the top flight, Lopetegui will need some natural winners both on and off the pitch if he is going to turn things around.

Fernandez, who earns £129k-per-week at Madrid would certainly bring a winning mentality with him should he make the switch to the Midlands club in January, as he has helped Real Madrid to five Champions League titles and three La Liga titles during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

There is little doubt that Wolves need more depth in defence after Bruno Lage allowed Romain Saiss, Willy Boly and club captain Conor Coady to depart during the summer transfer window, bringing in just Nathan Collins as a replacement.

Although scoring goals has been Wolves’ main problem this season, Lopetegui should have Raul Jimenez available when he takes charge of his first game after the World Cup break, so he should prioritise bringing in a defender.

Fernandez is well-known to Lopetegui, having made 11 appearances under him at Madrid, and would be a cheap and experienced player for Wolves to have for the rest of the season. All they need is more options and if they boost the appeal of being experienced and a winner, it can only be a good things for the club.

Those positives, along with the pairing’s pre-existing relationship would make him something of a dream first signing for the Spaniard if Fosun can get a deal across the line.

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has revealed that Stuart Dallas will be involved in the squad’s training camp in December.

The Lowdown: Serious injury

The Northern Ireland international has been sidelined since the end of April after suffering a serious injury against Manchester City.

The Northern Irishman sustained a femoral fracture following a challenge on Jack Grealish, which required specialist surgery in London.

The 31-year-old has been working his way back in recent months, with Marsch providing a further update on his situation on Friday.

The Latest: ‘Big progress’

Marsch confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Dallas’ recovery continues to go well and he will be included in what Leeds decide to do in December during the World Cup.

He said an announcement on those plans is due ‘soon’, saying Dallas has made ‘big progress’.

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The Verdict: Good news

It looks as if Dallas will have every chance of featuring in the second half of the season, which can only be viewed as a big plus for everyone associated with the club.

He has been a key member of the Leeds squad in recent years, turning out in midfield and left-back, and was always one of the first names on the team sheet under Marcelo Bielsa.

Leeds may need the experience of Dallas in the second half of the season, and hopefully, he’ll be close to full fitness come January 2023.

Leeds United attacking duo Rodrigo and Patrick Bamford could both start the Whites’ Premier League clash against Crystal Palace, according to Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Leeds head to south London

Jesse Marsch’s side are back in league action on Sunday afternoon as they make what could be a potentially tricky trip to Selhurst Park.

Leeds battled their way to a hard-earned 0-0 draw at home to Aston Villa in their last outing, having to make do without the red-carded Luis Sinisterra for almost all of the second half.

Ahead of this afternoon’s clash in south London, a positive update has emerged regarding Rodrigo and Bamford, both of whom had been struck down by recent injuries.

The Latest: Leeds duo could be fit

Taking to Twitter on Friday afternoon at the manager’s pre-game press conference, Hay shared a claim from Marsch that the attacking pair could both be in contention to start for Leeds against the Eagles.

The Athletic reporter tweeted:

“Marsch talking up Summerville and also mentioning the possibility of Rodrigo and Bamford both starting at Palace.”

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The Verdict: Potentially massive boost

To have both Rodrigo and Bamford available against Palace would be a significant boost, giving Marsch great options and firepower for a tough game.

The former has four goals in six league starts this season, while the latter’s pedigree is undeniable when he is fully fit, having netted 17 times in the league in 2020/21.

It remains to be seen if either or both of Rodrigo and Bamford will start proceedings today, but if Marsch feels that they are ready to feature, they could forge a potent partnership at Selhurst Park.