There’s no denying the last few seasons have been nothing short of an embarrassment for Manchester United – especially considering the glory days achieved under Sir Alex Ferguson.

From Carabao Cup first round exits against League Two opposition, to 15th-placed Premier League finishes, it truly has been a period to forget for the fanbase on the pitch.

However, Ruben Amorim has shown glimpses of transforming the situation over the last couple of outings in the Premier League, with key results starting to arise.

A win against Sunderland saw the Red Devils keep their first clean sheet of the 2025/26 campaign, before claiming a remarkable 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Such a performance saw Amorim’s side limit the defending league champions to limited opportunities throughout, with goalkeeper Senne Lammens producing the goods between the sticks.

However, it’s safe to say it’s not been a straightforward process for the manager, especially considering the failures his side suffered last campaign.

How bad United were defensively throughout 2024/25

If a side as big as United are finishing 15th in the Premier League table, there are evidently fundamental problems within certain areas of the pitch – many of which needed addressing.

The defensive department came under huge scrutiny throughout 2024/25 and rightly so, given the lack of quality that was on display for prolonged periods of the campaign.

When delving into their underlying figures, the Red Devils’ woes were truly something to behold, as seen by their tally of 46 goals conceded in just 38 outings.

Their average 1.42 goals conceded per 90 was the ninth-worst of any side in the division, with such a tally undoubtedly contributing to their demise in England’s top-flight throughout 2024/25.

Amorim’s men also produced an xG against of 55.1, a figure that was the 8th worst in the league – showcasing that other sides were easily able to create opportunities in front of goal at will.

Whilst Lammens has fixed the situation between the sticks, the manager will likely still want to improve the situation at the back to help his chances of success at Old Trafford.

However, one first-team player should remain crucial to any attempted efforts, especially if his recent showings in the Premier League under his guidance are anything to go by.

The United player who’s becoming Amorim’s best player

Despite £200m worth of new additions during the summer transfer window, very few of the funds were directed to the defensive unit – with the majority being invested into the forward line.

Bryan Mbuemo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha were all brought to Old Trafford, with the former of the trio already proving his worth with his strike at Anfield on Sunday.

Harry Maguire also found himself on the scoresheet in such a triumph, once again popping up with a clutch goal for the Red Devils despite his usual defensive role.

The Englishman appears to have forced himself back into the manager’s plans, but he’s not alone in doing so with the 40-year-old’s preferred three-man backline.

Matthijs de Ligt was originally brought into the club last summer for a reported £42m, with real hope of providing key experience at the back given his time at Bayern Munich and Juventus.

However, the Dutchman endured a season to forget in England, only starting 25 league outings and coming under fire for his lack of positive displays by one well respected player in England’s top-flight.

Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher labelled the 26-year-old as “awful” – further highlighting how disappointing he was during his debut campaign at Old Trafford.

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His displays in 2025/26 have been night and day, with De Ligt now becoming a crucial member of Amorim’s squad – subsequently starting all eight league games to date.

Matthijs de Ligt – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

8

Minutes played

720

Pass accuracy

88%

Duels won

5.6

Aerials won

3.3

Interceptions made

1.1

Dribble success

50%

Tackles won

1.9

Stats via FotMob

The centre-back’s underlying stats are just as impressive, subsequently winning 5.6 duels per 90 – a tally that ranks him within the top 20% of all players in the Premier League.

He’s also won 3.3 aerial battles and made 1.1 interceptions per 90, with such numbers undoubtedly handing the side the defensive presence they lacked last season.

De Ligt’s 6”2 stature at the back has allowed him to be a dominant presence within the defensive third, which has led to him undoubtedly being one of the Red Devils’ star performers this season.

There’s a real hope emerging at Old Trafford that he could be a vital player in any success achieved this season – but he desperately needs to stay on his current path.

If the club are to rise up the table, the Dutch international will likely be a key component, with Amorim needing to utilise him on a regular basis throughout the months ahead.

West Ham defender Oliver Scarles was hauled off in their 2-1 loss to Leeds United with what looked to be a serious injury, and insider ExWHUemployee has now shared how long he’ll be out for.

The Hammers are second-bottom in the Premier League and have conceded more goals than any other side in the division thus far.

In his last two games, under-pressure new boss Nuno Espirito Santo has gone with a centre-back pairing of Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, with both men struggling to deal with opposition attacks.

West Ham have precious few alternatives to Kilman and Todibo, with Konstantinos Mavropanos sidelined for the foreseeable future.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

The Greek international, who had been selected for nearly every game since West Ham’s only victory of the campaign at Nottingham Forest, faces up to six weeks out after picking up a hamstring injury at home to Brentford (GiveMeSport).

The last thing Nuno needs is another defensive injury, but according to insider Ex, Scarles has joined Mavropanos on the sidelines with the extent of his injury revealed.

The academy graduate was deployed at full-back against Brentford and started again away to Leeds, but was forced off in the opening 20 minutes after fracturing his collarbone.

West Ham have since confirmed that the 19-year-old has undergone successful surgery on the problem, with Performance Director Richard Collinge estimating he could return in December.

However, while this is the official line from the club, insider Ex believes that Scarles could be out for even longer.

West Ham dealt Scarles blow with real return timeline revealed

Writing via his West Ham Way Patreon, Ex states that Scarles actually faces as long as three months on the sidelines — meaning the teenager might not be back in action until 2026.

The England Under-20 international seriously impressed at youth level for West Ham before breaking into the first-team — even bagging three goals and 14 assists in 50 appearances for the Under-18s.

The attack-minded full-back also notched 13 goal contributions (six goals, seven assists) for the Under-21s, with Scarles since making 19 senior cameos in total for the east Londoners.

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He was clearly starting to impress Nuno too, after being given the starting nod in each of West Ham’s last two Premier League games, so this layoff will be a major blow to him personally.

It was Julen Lopetegui who handed Scarles his Premier League debut last season, with Graham Potter then using the youngster on a pretty regular basis towards the end of 2024/2025.

With Mavropanos out injured too, it represents a golden opportunity for summer signing Igor Julio to battle his way into the starting eleven.

Nuno must give Igor Julio a chance amid West Ham defensive crisis

While Arsenal have signed their fair share of superstars, they’ve also got a proud history of producing them.

The likes of Tony Adams, David O’Leary, Ashley Cole, and Ray Parlour got their start at Hale End before going on to have careers that most players could only dream of.

Even today, the Gunners’ most important player and talisman, Bukayo Saka, is a product of the world-class academy, and Max Dowman looks like he could be the next one up.

However, not every highly rated prospect goes on to fulfil their potential, with Jack Wilshere perhaps being the most unfortunate example of that.

Fortunately, Mikel Arteta has another Hale Ender in his side who could go on to become the player Wilshere was supposed to be.

Wilshere's Arsenal career

Before the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Dowman, Wilshere held the title of Arsenal’s youngest league debutant thanks to his appearance against Blackburn Rovers in September 2008.

The youngster would go on to make eight appearances that season and then seven in the first half of the next campaign before he was sent out on a short-term loan to Bolton Wanderers, where he scored and assisted a goal in 14 games.

With this vital experience, Arsène Wenger opted to give the teenage talent a significant role in the side the following season, which saw him make 49 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals and providing nine assists.

It was this campaign that saw him deliver his famous performance against Pep Guardiola’s legendary Barcelona side, in which he practically single-handedly outplayed the Catalans’ midfield of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets.

It was around this time that the then-England manager compared the Hale Ender to a young Andrea Pirlo, so to say that there were sky-high expectations around him would be an understatement.

It’s easy to see why many thought the Englishman would be an absolute world-beater, though, as he had incredible close control, an eye for a pass, the ability to carry the ball through the middle of the park, and the perfect attitude.

However, not long after his iconic game against Barça, the Gunners’ great hope began to suffer injury after injury, and from the 11/12 season to 16/17, when he left North London, he missed a staggering 228 games for club and country.

Unfortunately, it was this inability to remain fit that utterly derailed Wilshere’s career, as he had all the ability someone would need to become one of the best midfielders in the world.

The only positive for Arsenal fans is that Arteta now has someone in his squad who could become the player Wilshere was supposed to be.

The Arsenal star who could fulfil Wilshere's promise

While fans might immediately think of Nwaneri or Dowman in this situation, the Hale Ender who could end up becoming the player Wilshere was supposed to be is actually Myles Lewis-Skelly.

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Yes, the youngster is currently seen as a left-back in Arteta’s squad, and the second-choice one at that, but that is unlikely to be his long-term position.

After all, the Islington-born gem spent most of his time in the academy playing as a central or defensive midfielder, and when he does come into the first team, he does not overlap; he inverts in the central area.

Lewis-Skelly’s U21 record

Position

Games

G+As

Defensive Midfield

11

1

Left-Back

5

1

Central Midfield

4

1

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, his best traits, which he shares with the former Gunners star, lend themselves to becoming a world-class central player.

For example, although he’s still relatively inexperienced, he has consistently demonstrated a brilliant eye for a pass and an exquisite left foot to match.

On top of that, in a similar fashion to Saka, the 19-year-old is far stronger than he appears and consistently wins physical duels against opposition players.

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Finally, like Wilshere, the young dynamo is already an excellent carrier of the ball, and is unoutbaly among the best in the squad when it comes to doing it through a congested midfield.

This was on full display against Atlético Madrid last month, when he beat half the side to provide a perfect assist for Gabriel Martinelli to make 2-0.

In addition to all this, the Hale Ender also shares a similar approach and attitude towards games.

For example, his goal and celebration against Manchester City last term more than back up Declan Rice’s description of him as “fearless”, and when you combine that with everything else, it’s easy to see why club insider Hand of Arsenal has dubbed him a “future captain.”

Ultimately, there is still a long way to go, but thanks to his impressive ability, skill set and mentality, there is a strong chance Lewis-Skelly could become the player Wilshere was supposed to be.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s efforts in the Champions League against PSG last night were a vast improvement from the North London Derby, but it still wasn’t enough to claim all three points.

Luis Enrique’s men secured a 5-3 triumph at the Parc des Princes, but the night could have been a lot better for Thomas Frank’s side at one stage.

The Dane’s side twice took the lead against the reigning Champions League winners, with Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison putting the Lilywhites ahead before and after the break.

However, numerous moments of madness from numerous players subsequently cost the side all three points, with Frank’s side now winless in their last three outings.

During such fixtures, the first team have shipped a total of 11 goals, many of which have been down to failures of one player – as demonstrated in Paris once again yesterday.

Cristian Romero’s dismal display against PSG yesterday

After Frank’s arrival as manager over the summer, he made an immediate impact by naming numerous first-team members as part of his Spurs leadership group.

Centre-back Cristian Romero was named as part of the group, with the Argentine wearing the armband in every one of his starts for the Lilywhites this campaign.

That was no different on Wednesday night, but the 27-year-old did nothing short of lead the side to a positive result, with his various errors costing the side against PSG.

His questionable pass into the feet of Pape Sarr saw the Senegalese star robbed of possession, which led to Fabian Ruiz firing the hosts into the lead for the first time.

Romero also charged down Vitinha on the edge of his 18-yard box, but his sliding effort saw him block the Portuguese international’s strike – which resulted in a penalty and all but killed off the game.

His underlying stats also showcase his lack of positive impact at the Parc des Princes, with the defender losing 50% of the duels he entered – subsequently being dominated by the opposition’s frontline.

The Spurs star who was as bad as Romero against PSG

After the manner of the Derby Day defeat on Sunday, it was clear that manager Frank needed to make various changes to try and avenge such a disappointing result.

As a result, the Dane made five changes to his starting eleven, which also saw a switch from a five-back to a more familiar four-back system – one which Romero was at the heart of.

The likes of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray were handed rare starts at the heart of the side, with the duo often linking up with intricate play in large spells of the first half.

With both players aged under 20, there’s no denying that they will have huge parts to play in the immediate and long-term future for the Lilywhites in their quest for success.

However, there will certainly be question marks over a few of the other starters, with Pape Sarr one player who was unable to take full advantage of his recall to the squad.

The 23-year-old was named as a substitute against Arsenal, but was given the chance to stake his claim for a starting role again last night – but he may look back on the game as a missed opportunity.

Sarr certainly wasn’t solely to blame for the host’s third goal, but his lack of awareness after Romero’s pass saw him lose possession in the build-up to Luiz’s emphatic finish.

Pape Sarr – stats against PSG

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

84

Touches

44

Passes completed

26

Errors leading to goals

2

Possession lost

7x

Tackles won

50%

Dribbled past

2x

Blocks made

0

Stats via FotMob

He also could have done more to prevent Willian Pacho’s strike, with the Senegalese international unable to get ahead of the defender to clear the loose ball in the penalty area.

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The youngster’s underlying stats were just as poor, with the midfielder only able to win 50% of the tackles he entered, whilst also being dribbled past twice.

Sarr’s lack of positive impact was highlighted in his tally of possession lost, as he gave the ball back to the opposition on seven separate occasions – often presenting a careless figure in possession.

There’s little denying he put in a shift when out of possession, but he did so to little avail, ultimately leading to journalist Alasdair Gold handing him a 5/10 match rating upon the final whistle.

After such a showing, it’s evident that Bergvall and Gray are both ahead of him in the pecking order, with Sarr needing a huge reaction in the upcoming matches to dislodge the pair.

As for Romero, it was yet another evening to forget, but given his role as captain, he must pick himself and the rest of the team up ahead of Saturday’s clash with Fulham.

Related New Kane & Son: Paratici plotting to sign two mega-money forwards for Spurs

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Liverpool are probing the market for reinforcements after a poor start to the Premier League season and could now be ready to break their transfer record in the process.

Despite returning from the international break determined to arrest their slump in form, the Reds were on the end of a comprehensive defeat to Nottingham Forest that hammered home some of the frailties Arne Slot has been trying to address since the beginning of the campaign.

Nevertheless, David James is a firm believer that Liverpool can still have a solid season despite losing six of their last seven top-flight matches, claiming that the Champions League may be where they are most likely to earn success.

He told BBC Sport: “Liverpool do not recruit for one season, they recruit for the future. I believe with the players they signed they can be good, but I was one of those that expected them to be fine from the get-go.

“The test for Arne Slot as manager is whether he can turn this around. Not winning the title this season doesn’t make it a bad season. Comparatively it does compared with last season but he wasn’t expected to win it last season. He has already ticked that box if we are looking at the broader picture. The Champions League now becomes more important and winning it would justify everything this season.”

PSV Eindhoven visit Anfield in midweek as the Reds bid to move well into the top eight of the league phase, which would result in an automatic place in the last 16 if they were able to finish the job.

January and beyond will be pivotal for Liverpool as they look to build for the challenges ahead, and they could now be willing to shatter their transfer record to land a premium target.

Liverpool submit club record bid for Federico Valverde

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have submitted an offer worth over £131 million for Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde. The Reds would also be willing to make the Uruguay international, who Toni Kroos called one of the ‘top three’ players in the world, their highest earner on over £500,000 per week.

Liverpool's record signings ranked

Willing to double his current wage at the Santiago Bernabéu, the Reds see Valverde as someone who could revolutionise their midfield after falling into a sticky patch under Slot. Simply put, he fits their tactical framework and England’s reigning champions are ready to convince him that Anfield is a place where he can thrive.

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Internally, there is debate at Real Madrid over whether letting one of their high-profile stars leave the club would offer up the opportunity to invest elsewhere, as the size of the offer has caused discourse within Los Blancos’ higher ups, something that may give Liverpool a fighting chance of landing their man.

Federico Valverde at Real Madrid

Appearances

339

Goals

32

Assists

35

With any transfer more likely to occur in the summer, it now remains to be seen whether Valverde will become a statement addition on Merseyside.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl should be delighted with the way that his team ran out 3-0 winners against Kilmarnock with relative ease on Saturday night.

Two goals from Bojan Miovski and a strike off the bench from Mikey Moore sealed all three points for the Gers, who had drawn their previous two games to Dundee United and Falkirk in a frustrating manner.

The German head coach should be particularly pleased with Miovski’s two-goal burst because it will provide the centre-forward with some much-needed confidence after a poor start to life at Ibrox

Why Bojan Miovski has been Rangers' most frustrating player

Out of all of the club’s summer signings, the Macedonia international has been their most frustrating player because he has not delivered at the level that everyone knows he is capable of.

Unlike most of the other signings, Miovski arrived as a proven Scottish Premiership performer who is in the prime years of his career, at 26, after a return of 32 league goals in two seasons with Aberdeen.

Prior to Saturday’s game against Kilmarnock, though, the left-footed forward had only scored one goal in nine league starts for the Light Blues, per Sofascore, and has lost 68% of his physical duels in the division.

Miovski was much improved against Kilmarnock, with two goals, which makes his poor form up to that point all the more frustrating, because that is the kind of performance that he can deliver.

It’s a display that Rohl recognised too. In quotes taken from PA Media, the manager said: “We had a conversation with each other and then he made step-by-step a huge step forwards against Dundee United. He had some good chances. He’s more adaptable at the moment, not just staying on the last line, it helps in building up as well.

“I’m happy when a striker scores two goals, it’s fantastic. In general, we spoke about what I demand from him. He told also what he is thinking at the moment. And then I think, especially after the Falkirk game, we spoke about spaces, what I want to see from the centre-forward and big spaces.”

The 26-year-old marksman is not the most improved player under Rohl, though, as that title has to go to Nasser Djiga, who has stepped up in recent weeks.

Why Djiga is the most improved Rangers player under Rohl

After Rohl’s fourth match in charge, against Celtic in the League Cup, Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar described the Wolves loanee as a “rotten” signing.

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Football FanCast even suggested playing James Tavernier at centre-back at the start of November because of Djiga’s poor form for the club up to that point.

That criticism was fair after several high-profile errors, including a red card against Dundee, an inexplicable defensive mix-up against Club Brugge, and Four Lads Had A Dream claimed that he “genuinely looks lost” during the loss to Celtic in the semi-final defeat that led to Edgar dubbing him “rotten”.

It did not seem like there was any way back for the Premier League loanee, who was as ‘rotten’ as Miovski was, but his run of form since John Souttar and Derek Cornelius picked up injuries has been an impressive response to that criticism.

Because there was an argument, due to his high-profile mistakes, that Djiga was the worst performer in the club, it is only logical that his recent showings make him the most improved player in the squad.

Whilst Miovski scored two goals against Kilmarnock, the striker had not scored in his previous 11 games and is yet to show his quality consistently, and the Wolves defender has now strung several performances together.

Since John Souttar’s injury

Premiership

Nasser Djiga

Appearances

4

Sofascore rating

7.3

Clean sheets

2

Tackles won

6/8

Clearances

18

Ground duels won

14/18

Aerial duels won

7/14

Error led to shot or goal

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Djiga has really stepped up in the right-sided centre-back role since Souttar picked up an injury on international duty with Scotland, winning an eye-catching 14 of his 18 ground duels in four league outings.

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The Burkina Faso international has shown that he can be reliable at the back for a stretch of games, with no direct errors leading to shots or goals, whilst being dominant in his defensive duels.

Rangers have kept two clean sheets in the last four league games with Djiga at the heart of the defence alongside Emmanuel Fernandez, and Rohl will be hoping that his new defensive partnership continues to shine over the festive period.

The 23-year-old loanee, in particular, needs to prove that his current form is not a flash in the pan and that he has put the mistakes that he made earlier in the season behind him to be a reliable option for the German manager moving forward.

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On current evidence, Djiga is the most improved player under Rohl, going from “rotten” to reliable, but now he needs to do it over a prolonged period of time.

Liverpool fans have been locked in purgatory this season, Arne Slot’s side so far removed from their title-winning selves last season.

But we have seen some progress in recent weeks. Liverpool are unbeaten in four Premier League matches, and their 2-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League has tightened their foothold on ascension to the knockout phase.

And yet Slot’s side need to improve. The Reds have shown themselves to be tactically imbalanced this year, and with each loss, more confidence has been stripped away, leaving the Premier League champions denuded of their reputation as one of Europe’s most dangerous forces.

Slot deserves respect, and it’s clear that FSG are not ready to push the button and eject him from his seat. But something still needs to give, and with the January transfer window less than a fortnight away, sporting director Richard Hughes is weighing up a bid for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.

Liverpool's plans to sign a winger

Liverpool want Semenyo this winter, but so, it seems, does the rest of the Premier League. His signature is red-hot, and while Liverpool stand as good a chance as anyone in the race, it would be negligible not to sound out alternatives.

There’s no question that Liverpool miss Luis Diaz, whose pace and directness in the final third now belong to Bayern Munich.

But Nico Williams shares with Semenyo and Colombian similar physical and athletic attributes, and Spanish sources believe FSG are preparing a €95m (equating to about £83m) offer.

The Spain international came close to joining Barcelona in the summer, but he remains with Athletic Bilbao, who are struggling for attacking fluidity in La Liga.

With Semenyo the top target, Liverpool may want to look at the wider picture, with Williams bearing the potential to become one of the very best in the world.

Why Liverpool want Nico Williams

When Spain won the 2021 European Championship, they did so with Williams taking centre-stage. Now 23, Williams was only announcing himself at the time, growing into his skin as one of Spain’s brightest talents.

He isn’t yet as refined as Semenyo, but the sky is truly the limit for this one. Williams’ blistering speed and ability on the ball have caused critics to marvel, gushing over qualities that some defenders simply don’t have answers for. In this, he is already “world-class”, as has been said by journalist Zach Lowy.

While Williams’ output has decreased for Bilbao, this year and last, this speaks of deeper offensive issues at the Basque club. They have scored 15 league goals all season, which means the Spanish winger has been directly involved in 40% of the goalmouth action.

Nico Williams – La Liga Stats by Season

Season

Apps

Goals + Assists

25/26

13

3 + 3

24/25

29

5 + 5

23/24

31

5 + 13

22/23

34

0 + 0

21/22

2

0 + 0

Data via Transfermarkt

Williams hasn’t been in the finest fettle this season, but he’s still one of the most dangerous and dynamic wingers in the game. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 11% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90.

Even so, it would be ridiculous to try to deny his quality and potential. Hailed as a “nightmare for defenders” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Williams matches Semenyo’s thrill factor, that fleet-footedness which differentiates him.

Semenyo, of course, is riding the crest of a wave in the Premier League. The 25-year-old has scored seven goals and supplied three assists in the division this season. The talk of the town, he boasts a formidable array of underlying metrics, winning 6.6 duels and averaging 1.6 tackles and dribbles per game in 2025/26, as per Sofascore.

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But Williams is several years his junior, and he has already demonstrated a capacity to thrive and stand out on the biggest stages. Liverpool need a winger, and while Semenyo would provide instant results, Williams might just be worth the longer investment. He really is that good, and he’s only getting better.

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Posts ByRobbie Walls

Liverpool are not the same team that they were last season. Quite literally. Many changes were rung before the 2025/26 campaign, and perhaps Arne Slot and co have bitten off more than they can chew as the Merseyside outfit struggle for fluency and form enough to secure

Forget the Premier League title. Liverpool are not stable enough, and they have too many holes across the backline. Defensively, it’s been a bit of a mess this year.

Liverpool did sign a centre-half last summer. In August, sporting director Richard Hughes wrapped up a £27m deal for Parma prospect Giovanni Leoni. The Italian is billed as one of the most talented young defenders in the world, but he ruptured his ACL on his Reds debut.

Loeni, 19, will be a key asset when he returns, but Liverpool cannot wait for reinforcements at the rear, with plans drawn ahead of the January transfer window, which is now upon us.

The latest on Liverpool's plans to sign a centre-back

Liverpool need a centre-back, with defensive mistakes and a lack of security and composure at the back forming the crux of the Anfield side’s problems.

It was a fantastic summer transfer window, but the failure to land Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace does appear to have come back to bite an imbalanced and discordant side.

Should Liverpool fail to secure Guehi’s signature at the end of the season (or in January), FSG have drawn plans to land Club Brugge rising star Joel Ordonez, with the Equadorian, 21, touted with a move to Merseyside last month.

Reports even stressed that the Reds are among the frontrunners, with Ordonez even described as “something remarkable” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

After all, he scrubs up pretty cleanly against Virgil van Dijk; even if they play at different levels, it tells us something of the South American’s potential.

However, Liverpool remain intent on tying the struggling Ibrahima Konate down to a new deal, and with Leoni supposedly good enough to nail down a spot, the Reds may want to hold fire on their transfer plans, especially when one of the most exciting up-and-coming talents has quietly been secured.

Liverpool already have a future defensive superstar

As per transfer insider Ben Jacobs, Liverpool have agreed a deal with Austria Wien for the transfer of 17-year-old defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe at the end of the season.

The Austria youth international is a towering centre-back with a prodigious command of his technical faculties, already described as “one of the most exciting young talents” in his country by scout Jacek Kulig.

While he will be expected to link up with Rob Page’s U21 side, Ndukwe has made the bench on a number of occasions, and Slot has shown that he is willing to give young stars their debuts.

Youngest Liverpool Debutants under Arne Slot

Player

Competition

Age

Rio Ngumoha

FA Cup

16 yrs, 04 mths

Trey Nyoni

Carabao Cup

17 yrs, 04 mths

Trent Kone-Doherty

FA Cup

18 yrs, 07 mths

Giovanni Leoni

Carabao Cup

18 yrs, 09 mths

Amara Nallo

Champions League

18 yrs, 02 mths

Data via Transfermarkt

Hailed by journalist Bence Bocsak for his “really impressive” start to life on the major stage, the 6 foot 6 prospect is endowed with steely, snappy agility and natural prowess in the air.

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While Liverpool won’t want to overburden this young talent, he turns 18 in March and won’t arrive on Merseyside until the summer. And he’s got the right frame of character, having name-checked Van Dijk as his idol during an interview with Austrian television in October, also saying, “in five years I’ll be playing professionally in the Premier League.”

It looks like he’s on the fast-track with that one.

It is hardly out of the question that he could leapfrog a few and emulate Leoni by establishing himself in the senior side next season, perhaps allowin FSG to forget about an equally unpolished talent in Ordonez and maybe even Guehi too.

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An insight into the future of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has been offered by Sam Lee of The Athletic.

Since joining Palace in 2021, Guehi has risen to the rank of club captain and guided the club to the 2025 FA Cup, their first-ever major honour, before helping them win that year’s Community Shield. Under Oliver Glasner’s management, Guehi has been a crucial cog for Palace’s recent brilliance.

Despite this, much talk about Guehi this season has been about a potential departure. The centre-back is in the final year of his contract and following a failed bid late in the summer, Liverpool have long been touted as the defender’s most likely destination. Palace, meanwhile, seem resigned to the fact that their skipper will depart.

Guehi’s importance has only increased in the light of Palace’s recent injury woes. Daniel Munoz and Nathaniel Clyne are both sidelined, hampering Glasner’s right-hand side almost entirely. Elsewhere, Chris Richards only recently returned to action, whilst fellow centre-back Chadi Riad has been hampered by injuries since joining the club in 2024.

Understandably, Palace are keen on reinforcing their defence, though it appears that will be done in the absence of Guehi, who has seemingly revealed which club he would prefer to join if and when he moves on Selhurst Park.

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The Sky Blues are adamant behind-the-scenes.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Guehi prefers to wait until summer and join Liverpool

The Let Me Talk podcast, hosted by The Athletic’s Sam Lee and David Mooney, were discussing interest in Guehi from Manchester City. Recent injuries to Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol have only strengthened the club’s need for defensive depth.

It would appear that, despite City’s interest, Guehi remains committed in his desire to join Liverpool. The Reds have endured a shaky title defence and after 21 matches in the new season, sit 14 points adrift of Arsenal atop the table. The Gunners are, reportedly, also keen on Guehi, though it seems that the England international is more inclined to moving to Merseyside than to North London.

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Jarell Quansah’s summer departure and Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury on debut meant that, aside from starting duo Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool have just Joe Gomez to rely on. Gomez is a great player, but has struggled with injuries throughout his career, meaning there is no reliable cover in that position for Arne Slot.

It has shown throughout the season, too. Neither Virgil nor Konate have been at their brilliant best and a contributing factor to this, no doubt, is Liverpool’s lack of feasible rotation options for either of them. In Guehi, Liverpool would be signing one of the Premier League’s most reliable centre-halves and can only be bolstered by his evident desire for a move to Anfield.

Aston Villa remain in the Premier League title conversation, but their challenge suffered a significant blow following recent dropped points.

Unai Emery’s side currently sit third in the table, seven points behind leaders Arsenal after their goalless draw against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night raised serious questions about their ability to sustain a title push.

Villa enjoyed a remarkable 11-game winning streak in all competitions during December, including memorable comeback victories over Leeds United, Brighton and Chelsea that saw them earn 18 points from losing positions this season.

However, their failure to find the net against an out-of-form Palace side who were winless in six league matches represented a significant missed opportunity.

The stalemate ended a 10-game scoring run for Villa in the Premier League.

Striker Ollie Watkins had scored four goals in his previous three games but was denied by Dean Henderson’s save, Maxence Lacroix’s goal-line block and the woodwork late on.

Palace have become Villa’s bogey team in recent seasons, with this marking the seventh match in all competitions that Emery’s side have failed to beat them.

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The Villans have got their man.

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Villa’s earlier 4-1 defeat at the Emirates against Arsenal brought their 11-game winning run to a shuddering halt. The humbling loss demonstrated the gap between themselves and the league leaders, with Arsenal’s second-half display underlining just how devastating Mikel Arteta’s side can be when firing on all cylinders.

Emery recognizes that improved depth represents crucial to maintaining any realistic title challenge.

The Spaniard has moved decisively in the January window, with Villa having already agreed a deal to sign Brazilian teenager Alysson from Gremio for £8.7m excluding add-ons.

Villa are also in the mix to sign Atlético Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, with reports stating Emery’s side are looking to sign the 25-year-old England international on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.

The Villans face competition from Newcastle and Tottenham for Gallagher’s signature, but Atlético are rumoured to be open to a loan exit with an obligation to buy, with the midfielder seeking regular game time to impress Thomas Tuchel ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Alongside the former Chelsea star, a report from The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath now reveals this afternoon that Villa are considering a reunion with Tammy Abraham.

Aston Villa eyeing January move for Tammy Abraham

As per the reporter, via X, Villa are eyeing a January move to re-sign Abraham amid his productive loan stint at Besiktas.

The 28-year-old striker is currently on loan at Besiktas from Roma and has rediscovered his goalscoring touch in Turkey, netting 12 goals and providing three assists across 24 appearances in all competitions this season.

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Abraham has fired on all cylinders since joining the Süper Lig giants in July, averaging 0.55 goals per game and playing 1,726 minutes for his new club.

The England international has particularly impressed in European competition, scoring a hat-trick in Besiktas’s 4-1 victory over Irish side St Patrick’s Athletic during the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.

Abraham enjoyed a legendary loan spell at Villa Park during the 2018-19 season, firing 26 goals in 40 Championship appearances to spearhead their promotion via the play-offs under Dean Smith.

However, the striker’s move to Besiktas is set to become permanent for around £11 million depending on specific conditions. His weekly wages of around £115,000 could complicate any potential January transfer too, with Roma holding his registration until June 2026.

It remains to be seen how Villa will navigate this, but the interest is apparently there.

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