Manchester City have now made contact over a deal for a 58-cap international, who is able to play in a number of positions.
Man City looking to increase squad depth after Bayer Leverkusen defeat
Pep Guardiola clearly had a lot of faith in some of his back-up options heading into the Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen, having made ten changes to his starting XI, but his side came up short in a 2-0 defeat.
The Spaniard has since admitted he probably made too many alterations, saying: “I always had the belief of the long season and everyone had to be involved but maybe it was too much. They played not to make mistakes instead of doing what we had to do.
“It was not the performance that we thought. I take full responsibility. We missed something. We missed an incredible opportunity and now we need to fight in the next games.”
Despite limiting the German side to an xG of just 0.51, the Blues conceded two goals for the second game on the spin, and having kept one clean sheet in their last seven games, they have now joined the race for a new defender.
That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Man City have now made contact over a deal for versatile AS Roma defender Zeki Celik, who is able to play as a wing-back, full-back and at centre-back.
Celik could be available for a bargain fee in the January transfer window, given that his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, but if the Italian club are unwilling to sanction a departure, City could wait to snap him up on a free next summer.
Worse than Savinho: Man City star is in danger of becoming another Grealish
This Manchester City star is in danger of becoming the next Jack Grealish after another off-performance versus Bayer Leverkusen.
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There may be competition for the defender’s signature from a plethora of rival Premier League clubs, however, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea also making enquiries of their own.
"Perfect player" Celik impressing for club and country
The 58-cap Turkey international was recently lauded by national team manager Vincenzo Montella, who said: “He’s the perfect player for any coach,”
“Celik is professional, reliable, does his job wherever you play him. In a locker room it is always needed to have guys like him.”
The 28-year-old has also put in some impressive performances for AS Roma as of late, recently scoring and recording a 95% pass-completion rate in his side’s 2-0 victory over Udinese, with the latter statistic indicating he could be ideal in a Pep system.
As such, Celik could be a solid addition to the Man City squad, particularly on a free transfer, with Guardiola clearly keen on bolstering his options at full-back, given that a Bundesliga star has also been identified as a potential target…
Manchester United are interested in signing Levante attacker Karl Etta Eyong, rivalling the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona for his signature.
The Red Devils are looking for a fourth straight Premier League win on Saturday afternoon, with their trip to Nottingham Forest giving them a good opportunity to achieve that goal.
For Ruben Amorim, it has been quite the turnaround in recent weeks, with the Portuguese under immense pressure before the victories over Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton.
It’s now a case of United being ruthless, however, and getting the better of a Forest side sitting in the Premier League relegation zone, although it may be a slightly trickier task now that Sean Dyche is in charge at the City Ground.
The Red Devils’ new attacking signings have thrived so far this season, especially Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, but that’s not to say that added depth isn’t needed in that area of that pitch. With that in mind, the English giants have now been linked with a move for an exciting young player.
Man Utd want to sign £35m Karl Etta Eyang
According to a new front page report from Mundo Deportivo [via Sport Witness], Manchester United want to sign Levante star Eyong, with the striker also a target for Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Manchester City and Arsenal are seen as potential suitors for the 22-year-old, too, with the calibre of clubs keen on him outlining what a talent he is. He has a £35m release clause in his current deal for Premier League clubs.
Eyong is hot property for a reason currently, having scored five goals in just seven La Liga appearances so far this season, as well as being praised for being “on fire” by scout Jacek Kulig.
Man Utd also targeting a shock move for Vinicius Jr with price tag revealed
The two-cap Cameroon international is a centre forward by trade, and with Rasmus Hojlund potentially joining Napoli permanently at the end of the season, and Joshua Zirkzee’s future far from certain, the Levante ace could be considered strong competition for Benjamin Sesko.
Carragher said Man Utd star was "terrible", now he's Amorim's key player
Manchester United now have a talent who has managed to transform his career at Old Trafford.
ByEthan Lamb Oct 30, 2025
United need to be in a position where they are signing the brightest attackers in the game, as was often the case under Sir Alex Ferguson – and if they managed to pip the likes of Madrid and Barca to Eyong’s signature, it would be a big statement of intent.
Bond, who replaces Daniel Vettori, played at Edgbaston for Warwickshire in 2002
Matt Roller05-Nov-2025Birmingham Phoenix have appointed Shane Bond as their new men’s head coach on a two-year deal. Bond, the former New Zealand fast bowler, will replace his compatriot Daniel Vettori, who is set to join the newly-rebranded Sunrisers Leeds as Andrew Flintoff’s successor.Bond is a highly-rated coach within the franchise world who has worked as an IPL bowling coach for the last decade, with both Mumbai Indians (2015-22) and Rajasthan Royals (since 2023). He has also previously worked as a head coach, with experience at Paarl Royals in the SA20 and Sydney Thunder in the BBL.His appointment marks the first major change at Phoenix under their new ownership model, with the franchise now run jointly by Warwickshire and the American investment firm Knighthead Capital, which also owns Birmingham City Football Club.James Thomas, who joined Warwickshire from Manchester City as performance director in June, has emerged as a key figure at Phoenix and ran the recruitment process for a new coach after Vettori’s departure.”We’re thrilled to appoint Shane as head coach,” Thomas said. “His elite coaching experience, proven success in global franchise leagues, and passion for player development will be a major asset.”Throughout a competitive selection process, his vision, tactical insight, and ability to build high-performing environments really stood out. He understands the demands of modern franchise cricket and what it takes to perform at the highest level.”Bond had a brief stint as an overseas player at Warwickshire in 2002, taking 12 wickets in four appearances, and said that he has a “strong connection to the club and the city of Birmingham” as a result.”I know what it means to walk out onto the Edgbaston pitch and represent the people in the stands,” Bond said. “I want to instil that into our players and create an environment which breeds success… I want my team to play a fearless, exciting brand of cricket which ultimately delivers success for the Birmingham Phoenix.”Bond’s appointment extends Phoenix’s New Zealand connection, with Vettori signing Trent Boult, Adam Milne and Tim Southee as his three overseas players last season. It remains to be seen whether any of them will return for 2026, with teams only permitted to make a maximum of four signings and retentions before the inaugural auction in March.There has already been significant movement among men’s Hundred coaches as new investors make their mark on the tournament: Andy Flower has joined London Spirit from Trent Rockets, Tom Moody has left Oval Invincibles for a global role with Lucknow Super Giants (including the Manchester franchise) and Flintoff has left Sunrisers after turning down a new contract.Vettori is expected to be confirmed as Flintoff’s replacement in the coming days, while former Hampshire coach Adi Birrell is set to take charge of Sunrisers’ women after coaching Southern Brave men in 2025.
Sam Allardyce has named a Crystal Palace star in his Premier League Team of the Season so far, with an Arsenal counterpart snubbed.
Palace pushing for Europe once again
Off the back of winning the first major trophy in their history last season, Palace have started the current season in style, having taken 20 points from their opening 12 Premier League games, which leaves them just three points adrift of second-placed Chelsea.
Oliver Glasner has made his side very difficult to beat, with only Everton and Arsenal chalking up wins against the Eagles so far this season, and a solid defensive record has been the key to their success, keeping clean sheets in four out of the last five matches in all competitions.
Having managed to retain the services of Marc Guehi in the summer, despite deadline-day drama, Glasner’s side have shipped just nine goals in the Premier League this term, the second-fewest of any side, behind only league-leaders Arsenal.
However, Guehi hasn’t been the only player to catch the eye, with Allardyce recently naming another Crystal Palace star in his Premier League Team of the Season so far.
Speaking on the ‘No Tippy Tappy Football’ podcast, the former manager chose Dean Henderson ahead of David Raya between the sticks, while also adding: “He’s so confident in himself, he believes when someone’s got a penalty he’s gonna save it – you can see, it’s bordering on a bit arrogant.”
The 71-year-old justifies his decision by asserting that Raya doesn’t face enough shots to make it into the team, given the Gunners’ fantastic defensive record, most recently limiting Tottenham Hotspur to an xG of just 0.06 in the 4-1 North London derby thrashing.
Henderson must be in Tuchel's thoughts ahead of World Cup
Jordan Pickford has been England’s first-choice goalkeeper for quite some time, having now amassed 81 caps, and it is difficult to envisage Thomas Tuchel dropping him for the World Cup next summer, but the Palace shot-stopper is certainly pushing the Everton star all the way.
Player
Club
Premier League clean sheets
David Raya
Arsenal
7
Robert Sanchez
Chelsea
7
Dean Henderson
Crystal Palace
6
Nick Pope
Newcastle United
5
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Manchester City
4
Robin Roefs
Sunderland
4
Jordan Pickford
Everton
4
Guglielmo Vicario
Tottenham Hotspur
4
Djordje Petrovic
AFC Bournemouth
4
The 28-year-old has already picked up six clean sheets in the Premier League this season, two more than Pickford, while also saving two penalties in the shoot-out against Liverpool to help the Eagles clinch the Community Shield for the first time in their history.
Raya may have kept more clean sheets than the Englishman, but the Spaniard won’t be happy by Richarlison recently lobbing him from distance in the North London derby…
As such, Henderson’s selection is fully justified, and the goalkeeper has a huge part to play as Palace look to qualify for Europe for the second year running.
Crystal Palace star who "they don't want to lose" now has his agent testing an exit
The Eagles must look to keep hold of their star striker.
Trouble may be brewing at Real Madrid, with Los Blancos’ dressing room said to be divided when it comes to head coach Xabi Alonso and the methods that he has introduced since taking the reins in the Spanish capital. Precious points have been dropped over recent weeks, leading to uncomfortable questions being asked of those underperforming on and off the field.
Precious points: Real have slipped from La Liga summit
Real’s latest setback came in a 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Girona. They have been held in their last three La Liga fixtures – having also failed to emerge victorious against Rayo Vallecano and Elche – and now trail Clasico rivals Barcelona by one point in another intriguing title race.
Alonso’s side have played four successive games away from home in all competitions – battling to a 4-3 victory over Olympiacos in the Champions League – since their Santiago Bernabeu home played host to an NFL fixture on November 16.
Travel sickness appears to have set in, with reporting on a “certain division of opinion in the dressing room” following a run of forgettable results and performances. That is not considered to be terminal just yet, with no “significant impact on the relationship between the players” being seen.
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Who is to blame? Finger pointing at the Bernabeu
Alonso has, however, found himself under scrutiny for some time. It was revealed back in October that his “personal approach and some of his footballing concepts had not gone down well with a significant number of the first team” in Madrid.
It is claimed that a meeting has taken place at the Bernabeu which saw Alonso and his players attempt to get to the bottom of any supposed issues. First-team stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga have attempted to quash talk of their being rifts in the Real camp.
claims that there is “currently a mix of players who remain unconvinced about Alonso’s methods and others who argue that the manager is not to blame”. Someone that falls into the latter of those two camps has said: “This is not the coach’s problem, it’s very obvious.”
Another source at the Bernabeu has said: “The problem is not Xabi. Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and (Jude) Bellingham are incompatible; you can’t have a balanced team with those three.” It is said that Alonso’s messages are “not getting through to the players”, leading to disjointed displays.
Alonso challenges: Tricky tests for Blancos boss
Others inside the coaching team have acknowledged the difficulty that Alonso faces when it comes to “changing the dynamic” that he inherited from predecessor Carlo Ancelotti. There is seemingly no quick fix to the problems that he faces.
With that in mind, the former Blancos midfielder is not under immediate pressure when it comes to his job. It is, however, being reported that upcoming clashes – starting with another away game at Athletic Club on Wednesday – are “important not just in terms of results, but in terms of image”.
An insider has conceded that things look “very difficult” at the moment because Real are “playing very badly”, with that stalemate on the road at struggling Girona being viewed as a “disaster”.
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Right man for the job? Alonso must prove his worth
That does not bode well for Alonso, who has only taken in 25 games at the helm – winning 18 of those matches and coming unstuck in only three. He was brought back to Madrid after impressing as a coach in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, whom he led to an unbeaten Bundesliga title triumph in 2023-24.
Some prominent figures there questioned his approach on the back of a return to Spain, with success not enough to keep everybody happy. Similar discussions are now taking place at the Bernabeu.
Alonso still has plenty of time in which to get things right this season – having already overseen a win over Barcelona – and has enough talent at his disposal in order to deliver major silverware. Mbappe, Bellingham, Vinicius and Co must, however, buy into his vision in order for collective triumphs to be enjoyed.
As Manchester United midfielder Casemiro strolled off the field on Saturday evening on the 70-minute mark, there was a customary embrace from a delighted Ruben Amorim. The veteran Brazilian had done his job.
It said a lot of the 33-year-old’s renewed importance to the Red Devils that his withdrawal was then followed by something of a late collapse from his side across the remaining 20 minutes or so, with the hosts looking all at sea against the Seagulls in the closing stages.
Thankfully, a thumping finish from Bryan Mbeumo at the death helped to secure a third successive victory for the Old Trafford outfit, with Amorim left to reflect on what was largely another positive display from his resurgent side.
Key to that newfound success has been the quiet emergence of a strong spine in the United starting lineup, with Matthijs de Ligt now a firm fixture ahead of new man Senne Lammens in the sticks, while the likes of Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha are beginning to flourish at the top end of the pitch.
Holding it all together in the centre of the park, however, is talismanic skipper Bruno Fernandes, and the aforementioned Casemiro, with the latter man’s remarkable revival showing no signs of ending.
How Casemiro came back from the brink
For all the talk of Carlos Baleba and the need for a new midfielder over the summer, it was Casemiro and co who no doubt won the midfield battle last weekend, with the ex-Real Madrid icon popping up with a goal and an assist amid United’s first-half onslaught.
There was a sense that this was the £350k-per-week star back to his 2022/23 best, having memorably told his agent – prior to joining the club – that he would “fix it”, after witnessing the early-season dissection from Brentford.
The £70m outlay remains a contentious point, but it’s hard to argue with his impact in that debut campaign, with United’s Carabao Cup final scorer described as the “cement” in the side by a beaming Erik ten Hag that season.
Just over a year later, however, the infamous “leave the football, before the football leaves you” line from Jamie Carragher, amid a dismal display at Crystal Palace, was followed by his absence from the FA Cup final squad. The end looked nigh.
Even at the start of 2024/25, the five-time Champions League winner appeared to be tumbling even further, notably hooked at the break after making two notable errors in September 2024, at home to eventual champions Liverpool.
As Amorim has since stated, there was a time in his tenure that Casemiro was “even behind Toby [Collyer]” in the midfield pecking order, although he quietly emerged as a key figure in last season’s Europa League run.
Of course, who can forget his two assists for Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire at the death against Lyon, having cleverly won a penalty minutes earlier. Big players produce big moments.
Such momentum has continued this term, with United’s elder statesman scoring against Chelsea and now Brighton, while returning to training early from international break ahead of starting at Anfield.
A starter in seven league games this season, the midfield warrior is a key cog in Amorim’s machine again, having successfully made Carragher and co eat their words.
Considering his age, and his current contract status, however, his long-term future in Manchester is up for debate. Just who can replace him?
How Man Utd can replace Casemiro
Just a matter of months ago, the thought of extending Casemiro’s contract would have been unthinkable, with his current deal set to expire in June 2026.
While his status as the club’s highest earner still ensures an exit appears inevitable, keeping him around on reduced wages may be an option to consider, not least with Amorim hardly blessed with midfield depth.
Regardless of what does happen come next summer, a suitable long-term successor needs to be found, with recent reports suggesting that the likes of Jobe Bellingham could be targeted heading into 2026.
Back at Old Trafford, Amorim does already have another defensive-minded presence in the form of Manuel Ugarte, although might it be Mainoo who is the perfect Casemiro replacement in waiting?
Indeed, for all the talk of the Brazilian being a deep-lying, holding midfielder in Madrid, it is actually his attacking quality that has shone in recent years.
Be it his last-gasp header at Stamford Bridge, his Wembley opener in February 2023, or his stunner under Ruud van Nistelrooy against Leicester City, the one-time Porto man regularly delivers the goods in the final third.
In Mainoo then – a player lauded as a future “£100m-plus footballer” by United writer Alex Turk – Amorim should seemingly have a worthy successor, rather than attempting to mould the 20-year-old into Fernandes’ replacement instead.
Like Casemiro, the promising Englishman might not be the most mobile, but it is easy to imagine him taking on the role that his senior colleague had against Brighton, knitting things together nicely on the edge of the box, even when operating in a midfield two.
Of course, Mainoo’s own cameo left a lot to be desired, but that could be an impact of his limited involvement this term, having yet to start a league game in 2025/26.
Mainoo vs Baleba – 24/25 PL stats
Stat (per 90)
Mainoo
Baleba
Non-penalty goals
0.00
0.10
Assists
0.00
0.03
Shot-creating actions
1.85
2.23
Pass completion
86.5%
87.4%
Progressive passes
3.54
3.99
Progressive carries
1.20
1.45
Successful take-ons
1.25
1.12
Tackles
2.51
2.67
Interceptions
1.04
1.56
Aerial duels won
1.04
1.32
Stats via FBref
When fit and firing, his quality was evident during his breakthrough 2023/24 season under Ten Hag, having been described as the Dutchman’s “best player” amid his stunning emergence.
Like Casemiro, Mainoo has shown his quality around the opposition penalty area, be it his dramatic winner at Molineux, or his curling efforts against both Liverpool and Lyon.
He may not cover the ground in the manner of Ugarte, but he has that silky quality in possession that belies his years, notably ranking in the top 12% of European midfielders for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
It’s not as if he doesn’t possess a defensive instinct too, memorably clearing the ball off the line on his first Premier League start against Everton, while currently ranking in the top 23% for tackles made per 90.
Much like Casemiro too, a stunning start in the United first-team has since been followed by a real crash back down to earth, with his limited role under Amorim even sparking talk of a January exit in this vital World Cup year.
It is far too soon to write him off just yet, however, and having seen 2025 prove to be the year of Casemiro’s creditable comeback, why can’t 2026 be the same for Mainoo?
Casemiro replacement: Man Utd prepare to make offer for £60m "duel monster"
Manchester United are preparing to make a move to sign a star who could replace Casemiro in midfield.
Nothing sets the mood for playoff baseball quite like a Capital One ad.
As the Blue Jays were two outs away from their first World Series appearance since 1993, the Fox broadcast cut to an advertisement for Capital One, a move that did not gel well with the built-up tension for fans watching at home. Check it out below:
The importance of each pitch in playoff baseball, let alone in the ninth inning of Game 7 in the American League Championship series, is impossible to overstate. So viewers were not happy about the interruption, to say the least:
Toronto prevailed in the end, shutting the door on the Mariners in a 4-3 win thanks to George Springer's electric go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. Springer's dinger powered the Blue Jays to overcome homers from Seattle stars Julio RodrÃguez and Cal Raleigh earlier in the game.
Game 7 of the ALCS lived up to the hype despite the vibe killer of an ad during the ninth inning. Let's all hope Fox learns from its mistakes during the World Series, where the Blue Jays are off to meet the defending champion Dodgers in a Game 1 slated for Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
Postseason baseball is the best, with drama on each pitch. Let's keep it that way.
Principais contratações do Corinthians para 2024, Igor Coronado e Rodrigo Garro dificilmente atuam juntos como titulares. António Oliveira só começou com a dupla de meias nas derrotas contra o Juventude e RB Bragantino, pelo Brasilerão.
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➡️ Vai dar Brasil? Aposte no Lance! Betting e fature com a Copa América
Embora o retrospecto de Coronado e Garro atuando desde o início não seja animador, António Oliveira não fechou as portas para utilizar a dupla em mais jogos, mas ainda busca o equilíbrio necessário dentro do sistema de jogo para os dois meias receberem mais minutos juntos.
➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão
– É evidente que o talento sempre terá espaço, mas existe uma coisa que se chama equipe e nunca irá se priorizar da equipe, quando eu achar que a equipe estará equilibrada com os dois juntos é ok. Quando eu não achar que isso não é possível, vamos ter paciência, mas é assim, são jogadores muito talentosos, que vão nos ajudar, vão ter oportunidade, que trabalham muito, que estão querendo muito ajudar e estamos muito satisfeitos e orgulhosos do trabalho deles – salientou António Oliveira após a vitória na Sul-Americana.
continua após a publicidade
Enquanto Garro se estabeleceu como titular absoluto no Corinthians, Coronado sofreu com problemas físicos e ainda não se adaptou a intensidade do futebol brasileiro. Além de lidar com a dengue, o camisa 77 ficou afastado por cerca de três semanas por um problema no quadril.
➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão
Existe a expectativa de que Garro e Coronado atuem juntos na próxima quarta-feira (22), quando o Corinthians recebe o América-RN, pela partida de volta da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil.
Friday night was filled with celebration at Dodger Stadium as the team paid tribute to pitcher Clayton Kershaw in the final regular season start of his career.
Kershaw announced his intention to retire at the end of this year’s campaign earlier in the week, after spending 18 seasons in the majors, all with the Dodgers. He will go down in history as one of the best pitchers the game has ever seen.
The tributes for Kershaw started early, with his teammates allowing him to take the field alone at the start of the game to soak in the praise from the crowd. After a bit of time on the mound, Kershaw cheekily encouraged his teammates to join him out on the field.
Listen to this ovation.
On the mound, Kershaw delivered a strong performance for his final act, though it started out a bit rough. Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos apparently didn’t get the memo that it was Kershaw’s big night, and hit a leadoff home run to start the game.
But Kershaw would settle in from there, pitching 4 1/3 innings and giving up two runs while striking out six. He would not be credited with the win, but the Dodgers would score enough late to seal the victory for the team.
After the game, Kershaw was again praised by the crowd, and offered his thanks back to the fans that had cheered him on for nearly two decades.
For Kershaw and the Dodgers, the journey isn’t over quite yet. With the win, Los Angeles clinched their spot in the postseason, where they will look to defend their World Series title.
Everton very much need a victory away at Sunderland this coming Monday night after a pretty disastrous October to date.
The month did open with the Toffees battling it out at home to Crystal Palace and picking up a hard-fought 2-1 win, but since then, it’s been two Premier League defeats on the spin, with the most recent loss at home to Tottenham Hotspur – with Thomas Frank’s men running out emphatic 3-0 victors – exposing Everton’s clear weaknesses from set-pieces.
Moyes will have also left those two defeats frustrated by what Beto is offering his side up top, with a few missed chances here and there from the goal-shy number nine, leaving him rooted on just one goal for the season so far.
Even more frustratingly, Everton have been blessed with some top attacking talent this campaign – excluding the ex-Udinese striker from the conversation – despite things often falling apart at the final decisive moment.
Everton's best attackers this season
This late winner against the Eagles very much sums up the Merseyside giants this season, with Beto missing a glorious chance, before someone else – thankfully – mops up the next opportunity.
In that case against Oliver Glasner’s tricky visitors, it was Jack Grealish who managed to be in the right place, at the right time, to fire home, handing himself his first Premier League goal since 2023 in the process.
Away from breaking his goalscoring duck, though, the Manchester City loanee has been a “revelation” in Everton blue so far – as pundit Chris Sutton recently put it – with the disenchanted playmaker at the Etihad now a focal point of many a Toffees attack, as seen in him creating a Premier League-best 19 chances from open play.
Next to him in attack, who has also turned around his playing days after a failed big move, is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, with the 27-year-old able to quickly move on from his Chelsea disappointment under Moyes’ wing.
The brand-new number 22 has also created four big chances, himself, with 4.6 duels won on average across his eight league outings, as per Sofascore, also displaying a tenacious number ten option.
Yet, it’s neither Grealish nor Dewsbury-Hall that could now be considered one of Everton’s biggest talents since the golden days of Romelu Lukaku, with suggestions even emerging that the star in question is one of the best in his position in such a daunting league.
Everton's biggest talent since Lukaku
Everton would love to have a striker of Lukaku’s clinical edge on their side at the moment, with the Belgian a firm fan favourite throughout his 166-game spell on Merseyside.
Indeed, the intimidating centre-forward would hammer home a weighty 87 goals in total for the Toffees, leading to one of his ex-managers in Ronald Koeman, heralding him as a “world-class” finisher.
In the here and now, Iliman Ndiaye is also being lauded week in week out for his standout showings in attack, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher – despite his Liverpool connections – going out of his way to label the ex-Sheffield United man as a “superstar” earlier in the year for his electric ability to bamboozle any defender in his path.
He certainly showed off why he’s been considered a maverick since leaving Marseille behind for Everton against Manchester City, with Ndiaye constantly bombing down the right wing at the Etihad to harass the home side’s defence, much like Lukaku would consistently terrorise defenders during his Toffees pomp.
Journalist Patrick Boyland, after the 2-0 loss, even hailed Ndiaye as being “one of the best in the league in his position” after he proved to be a major thorn in the side of Pep Guardiola’s hosts all afternoon.
Indeed, Boyland also noted that his “mesmeric” nature against City has further been matched with plenty of grit and fight this season for Moyes and Co.
Games played
9
Goals scored
3
Assists
1
Expected assists
2.16
Ball recoveries*
6.4
Ground duels won*
6.6
Total duels won*
7.0
His first Premier League season in Everton blue saw him tally up a whopping nine league goals in total, but he wasn’t always the most creative talent, away from cutting a lethal presence in front of goal.
Now, he looks to be a far more well-rounded talent, worthy of being in the conversations Boyland has started, with the Senegal international leading the way overall with his expected assists numbers this campaign, on top of also beating out the likes of Bukayo Saka down the right by winning a high seven duels on average, next to the Arsenal forward’s 6.4.
He does need to fine-tune certain aspects of his game, but Ndiaye is undoubtedly in these conversations now, as a talent capable of “standing out a mile” with his genius, as ex-Toffees player Mark Pembridge noted last season.
While true superstars have been few and far between in recent times, Ndiaye certainly stands aloft as arguably the club’s biggest talent since £75m man, Lukaku – a fact only further enhanced by his soaring £49m market value, as per CIES.
Like the Belgian, he has that knack for tearing through a defence and winning games on his own for Moyes and co, seemingly relishing that talismanic status.
Long may he continue to dazzle at the Hill Dickinson.
How Richarlison feels about January return to Everton as Friedkin prepare to go all in