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Whether you're planning to build a dynasty on a foundation of the best young players in the world or you're looking for top untapped talent to profit from by selling on, we've got you covered.

Football Manager 26 is out now and, if you're anything like us, you'll have the game fired up, ready to embark on a new challenge.

One of the most rewarding and exciting aspects of Football Manager (like Championship Manager before it, for those of us of a certain vintage!), is unearthing hidden gems and nurturing wonderkids appropriately so that they reach their full potential and become masters of the ever-expanding football universe.   

Keeping your eye out for young talent is a key consideration, whether you're managing the biggest club in the world or scraping at the lower end of the football pyramid, where one or two bright sparks can ignite a blaze of glory through the divisions.

Here, GOAL brings you the best young players under the age of 20* to sign on FM26, based on their potential ability.

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  Football Manager 26 wonderkid strikers & forwards

  Player	Club	Age	Pos.	Nationality
  Endrick	Real Madrid	18	AMR, ST	Brazil
  Eli Junior Kroupi	Bournemouth	19	ST	France
  Dastan Satpayev	FC Kairat	16	AMRL, ST	Kazakhstan
  Daulet Orynbasar	FC Kairat	16	ST	Kazakhstan
  Sami Bouhoudane	PSV	17	ST	Netherlands
  Emre Unuvar	Ajaz	17	ST	Netherlands
  Francesco Camarda	AC Milan	17	ST	Italy
  Harry Gray	Leeds United	16	AMRC, ST	England
  Jayden Danns	Liverpool	19	AMLC, ST	England
  Jaime Barroso	Real Madrid	17	ST	Spain
  Djylian N'Guessan	Saint-Etienne	16	ST	France
  Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez	Lyon	17	AML, ST	England
  Semih Kilicsoy	Besiktas	19	AMRL, ST	Turkey
  Marc Guiu	Chelsea	19	ST	Spain
  Stefanos Tzimas	Brighton	19	ST	Greece

  Scoring goals, they say, is the most difficult thing to do in football, but there is no shortage of talent lining up to become the next great goalscorer. 

  While things may not have taken off as he would have liked in the real world, Real Madrid forward Endrick is the top of the list in FM26 when it comes to the high-potential strikers in the game. Of course, given his worldwide reputation and the fact that he is a Madrid player, he will cost a pretty penny if you want to sign him, especially early in the game.

  Kazakh duo Daulet Orynbasar and Dastan Satpayev are much cheaper alternatives, if you are working to a budget, or you might have some joy seeking a loan move for Endrick's Real team-mate Jaime Barroso. 

  Harry Gray looks like he could be the next big thing for England, with high hopes for the striker at Leeds United, alongside the likes of Lyon's Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez and Liverpool teen Jayden Danns.

  READ MORE: NXGN profile on Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez

  READ MORE: NXGN profile on Eli Junior Kroupi

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  Football Manager 26 wonderkid midfielders

  Player	Club	Age	Pos.	Nationality
  Lamine Yamal	Barcelona	18	M/AMR	Spain
  Estevao	Chelsea	18	AMRC	Brazil
  Ethan Nwaneri	Arsenal	18	MC, AMRLC	England
  Franco Mastantuono	Real Madrid	17	AMRC	Argentina
  Luca Williams-Barnett	Tottenham	16	AMRLC, ST	England
  Rodrigo Mora	Porto	18	AMLC	Portugal
  Ayyoub Bouaddi	Lille	17	DM, MC	France
  Gilberto Mora	Tijuana	16	AMLC	Mexico
  Abdellah Ouzane	Ajax	16	M/AMC	Morocco
  Can Uzun	Frankfurt	19	MC, AMLC	Turkey
  Guille Fernandez	Barcelona	17	M/AMC	Spain
  Lucas Bergvall	Tottenham	19	DM, M/AMC	Sweden
  Kerim Alajbegovic	Salzburg	17	ML, AMRLC	Bosnia-Herzegovina
  Gabriel Mec	Gremio	17	AMRL	Brazil
  Rio Ngumoha	Liverpool	16	AMRL	England
  Nathan De Cat	Anderlecht	16	DM, MC	Belgium
  Marc Bernal	Barcelona	18	DM, MC	Spain
  Kennet Eichhorn	Hertha BSC	15	DM, MC	Germany

  When it comes to midfield, whether you're looking for a rock-solid defensive midfielder or a dazzling attacking midfield playmaker, there are loads of young players to get excited about in FM26. 

  The likes of Lamine Yamal, Estevao and Franco Mastantuono have long been heralded as the next world-class stars in football. Their abilities mean they have been on the radar for an age already, with Yamal and Estevao in particular already lighting things up at Barcelona and Chelsea, respectively. You'll need a huge transfer budget if you want to have a chance of luring these talents to your team.  

  However, there are always cheaper alternatives that are not far behind the top-tier talents. Ethan Nwaneri at Arsenal and Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha are on the fringes at their clubs at the moment, so they might be open to loan moves, for example, while you might have joy convincing players from Belgium, such as Nathan De Cat, to move to a bigger league.

  READ MORE: NXGN profile on Luca Williams-Barnett

  READ MORE: NXGN profile on Gilberto Mora

  READ MORE: NXGN profile on Marc Bernal

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  Football Manager 26 wonderkid defenders

  Player	Club	Age	Pos.	Nationality
  Saba Kharebashvili	Dinamo Tbilisi	16	DLC, WBL	Georgia
  Myles Lewis-Skelly	Arsenal	18	DL, DM, MC	England
  Pau Cubarsi	Barcelona	18	DC	Spain
  Leny Yoro	Manchester United	19	DC	France
  Joffre Torrents	Barcelona	18	D/WBL	Spain
  Finn Jeltsch	Stuttgart	18	DM, DRC	Germany
  Davinchi	Getafe	17	D/WBL	Spain
  Luka Vuskovic	Tottenham	18	DC	Croatia
  Jorrel Hato	Chelsea	19	D/WBL, DC	Netherlands
  Matteo Palma	Udinese	17	DRC	Germany
  Jesus Fortea	Real Madrid	18	D/WBR	Spain
  Daniel Banjaqui	Benfica	17	D/WBR	Portugal
  Benjamin	Real Madrid	17	D/WBR	Italy
  Karim Coulibaly	Werder Bremen	18	DC, DM	Germany
  Axel Tape	Bayer Leverkusen	17	DC, D/WBR, DM	France

  Georgian defender Saba Kharebashvili is one of the best young defenders in the game, and at just 16 years old, playing for Dinamo Tbilisi, he is very much an attainable commodity for bigger clubs. Capable of playing in the centre or at full-back, Kharebashvili represents a dynamic prospect. 

  If you are able to open the chequebook and splurge, it is worth scouting Myles Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal and Pau Cubarsi at Barcelona, or else Luka Vuskovic at Tottenham, all of whom are capable of fitting in at the highest level already.

  In the event you are tight on money, but building a long-term vision, have a look at Benfica's Daniel Banjaqui, Axel Tape at Bayer Leverkusen and Matteo Palma at Udinese. These three have less of a reputation than the aforementioned, but are quite capable of becoming elite-level defenders. 

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• Football Manager 26 wonderkid goalkeepers

  Player	Club	Age	Pos.	Nationality
  Kerem Matisli	Bursaspor	18	GK	Turkey
  Quenten Attigah	AZ	16	GK	Netherlands
  Alessandro Nunziante	Udinese	18	GK	Italy
  Tommaso Martinelli	Fiorentina	19	GK	Italy
  Dennis Seimen	Stuttgart	19	GK	Germany
  Julian Eyestone	Brentford	19	GK	United States
  Sherkhan Kalmurza	FC Kairat	18	GK	Kazakhstan
  Theodore Pizarro	Freiburg	17	GK	Switzerland
  Ben Vickery	Manchester City	16	GK	England
  Mike Penders	Chelsea	19	GK	Belgium
  Lucca Brughmans	Genk	17	GK	Belgium

  Goalkeeper is a difficult position for young talents to break through into, with many of the world's best shot-stoppers only truly maturing later in their careers. Nevertheless, now and then, a pretender comes along and proves their worth early on, especially if they get given a chance at a smaller club. 

  Not many managers are likely to thrust a 16-year-old into the limelight as a first-choice goalkeeper, but, if you're one of them, Ben Vickery at Manchester City is worth scouting, while Genk's 17-year-old Lucca Brughmans is also worth a look. 

  The likes of Kerem Matisli (18), Julian Eyestone (19) and Dennis Seimen (19) might be safer bets if you are looking for a young player, but one who is on the cusp of graduating to prolonged first-team action.

West Ham United chairman David Sullivan has held talks with a top candidate to replace Graham Potter, with the tactician seemingly making his demands crystal clear.

The managerial candidates to replace Graham Potter at West Ham

Potter has recorded the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham manager in Premier League history, behind only Avram Grant, with pressure mounting on the Englishman as he faces a stay of execution.

David Moyes, who guided West Ham to successive European campaigns and ended their 43-year wait for a major trophy during his time at the London Stadium, could even be the man to put one of the final nails in Potter’s coffin this weekend.

In a real piece of irony, Moyes’ Everton side, who are faring much better than West Ham right now, may have a big say in whether Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers board elect to hand Potter a P45.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12 Graham Potter

26.1%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

It is hard to see Potter remaining in the West Ham hot seat if they suffer a humbling defeat at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with club insider ExWHUemployee previously reporting that, if he does survive past that point, the ex-Chelsea boss is likely to be sacked after their trip to Arsenal.

West Ham are deep into their contingency plans to replace Potter, and there are a number of very interesting names under consideration.

Sullivan, as ever, is dipping into the free agent market.

Former West Ham midfielder Gary O’Neil is a favourite for the potential job, according to Miguel Delaney, with another ex-Hammer in Slaven Bilic — who was in charge between 2015 and 2017 — also in the frame.

Bilic is even said to be making plans for his West Ham backroom, in the event he is chosen as a short-term option until the end of the season, and Sullivan is believed to be personally in favour of bringing the Croatian back to East London (Pete O’Rourke).

Managers who are already in work haven’t been definitively ruled out, either. West Ham have internally discussed the possibility of appointing Scott Parker, following his rise to the Premier League with Burnley, but one man stands out above all the aforementioned names.

Nuno Espírito Santo's demand after holding West Ham talks with Sullivan

Former Tottenham, Wolves and Nottingham Forest boss, Nuno Espírito Santo, is believed to be the favourite to succeed Potter as things stand.

As per the reliable ExWHUemployee, Nuno has already held talks with Sullivan over a potential move to West Ham if Potter leaves, and the Portuguese’s stock is at an all-time high after making history at Forest last season.

However, according to Sports Boom, West Ham face another roadblock in pursuit of Nuno, following some reports that ‘legal issues’ are delaying his arrival too (Pete O’Rourke).

The outlet reports that Nuno’s big wage demands are a hindrance to West Ham and could prove to be a real obstacle, with Bilic ready to join the Irons as an alternative.

Why West Ham must not give up on Nuno

Nuno guided Forest back to Europe for the first time since 1995, and if it wasn’t for a public fallout with Evangelos Marinakis, he’d still be at the City Ground now.

The appeal for West Ham is obvious. Nuno steered Forest away from the drop zone in his first season, transforming them into a robust, hard-to-break-down outfit with a clear counter-attacking identity.

He also helped to fix Forest’s glaring set-piece weakness, something which has really plagued West Ham this season, having conceded 7 of their 13 Premier League goals so far directly from corners.

Managing to get the best out of his players, Forest ended up being last season’s major surprise package thanks to Nuno’s work, and the 51-year-old’s availability as a free agent makes this potential appointment an arguable no-brainer.

Tottenham supporters have continued to vent their frustration as work on a massive hotel springs up next to their ground, which they claim will block the view of their home for those visiting the stadium. The building will also block the skyline view of London’s famous landmarks for fans inside the ground looking south into the capital.

Big plans for hotel development

The Northumberland Development Project (NDP) includes a Hotel and Residential Tower located just south of the stadium. It was originally approved as a 22-storey building, but plans for the tower were resubmitted and received approval from Haringey Council in December 2023 and the Greater London Authority in March 2024 for a 30-story structure. Construction began in August last year, with a target completion date of June 2028, aligning with the Euro 2028 games, which the stadium will host. The building, designed by F3 Architects, features a distinctive slender, blade-like appearance and will house a 180-room hotel, 49 residential apartments, and 64 car park spaces. It is envisioned as a 4-star lifestyle concept hotel and is expected to become the third-largest conference venue in London. The project also aims to benefit the local community through employment and training initiatives in the hospitality sector.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTottenham fans dismayed at building progress

Tottenham fan Chris Cowlin, who regularly posts videos about the club, said: “HOTEL UPDATE: Next to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: 29-storey hotel, designed by F3 Architects. It is currently under construction with a planned completion date of June 2028.

All the responses to the video are negative, including from @footfishbike, who said: "Ruining the view of the stadium. Terrible idea."

Elsewhere, @ThingsTottenham added: "Will ruin the stunning view coming down the high road, not a fan of the positioning of it at all."

Continuing the theme of the impact the building will have on the view of the impressive ground, @__LaFlamee said: “So it’s going to obstruct the view of the stadium nice."

And @clyne_mar said: “A high rise hotel, just yards from the spot where our great club was founded. 🙁” 

Finally, @Saucysausage666 added: “There used to be a football club there once 😡”

Here's how the works, which are still in their infancy, look: 

What other plans are there for around the stadium?

The NDP aims to regenerate the surrounding area. This includes not only the stadium itself, which boasts innovative features like a retractable pitch for both football and NFL games, but also significant residential and infrastructure developments. Plans feature four high-rise residential towers near the stadium, ranging from 19 to 35 storeys, offering up to 585 apartments. A series of three-storey townhouses are also included in the designs. These developments are part of a broader High Road West regeneration scheme which includes a major redevelopment of the White Hart Lane site masterplanned by Allies & Morrison. The stadium and surrounding projects are intended to be a catalyst for a 20-year regeneration plan for Tottenham. Improvements to public spaces, transport links like step-free access at White Hart Lane station, and a focus on generating jobs and supporting local businesses are also key components of this long-term vision.

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Getty Images SportFans can make their own mind up this weekend

Spurs host Aston Villa this weekend where a win will maintain their position in the top four, but their recent home record is diabolical. Tottenham have won just three of their last 17 Premier League home games, following the dreadful spell under previous boss Ange Postecoglou. And there’s more bad news as boss Thomas Frank has never beaten Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side in the Premier League in five attempts, having drawn two and lost three, all with Brentford.

Ivan Toney could make a sensational return to the Premier League in a last-gasp bid to be included in England manager Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans. Toney left Brentford last year to join Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, but has dropped down the Three Lions’ pecking order and could make a dramatic move to force his way back in.

Major snub from boss Tuchel

Tuchel was criticised by some for his handling of Toney, following the striker’s move to Al Ahli. He was recalled to the England squad but received limited playing time, in the World Cup qualifier against Andorra, he was an unused substitute. And he was then brought on as a substitute in the 88th minute of a friendly against Senegal, a match England lost 3-1. Some claimed Toney had been "humiliated" by Tuchel, but the Three Lions boss defended his decisions, stating that he viewed Toney as a "specialist for these situations" and is most effective when the team is "putting a lot of balls into the box". 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportA short spell back home?

Speaking on talkSPORT, reporter Ben Jacobs said: "I think Ivan Toney is speaking very positively about his time in Saudi Arabia. But what's going to be really interesting in the next few months is, will Thomas Tuchel tell him definitively, 'By being in Saudi, you're further down the pecking order'? And Toney's aspiration is to play in the World Cup. Plus the fact the way the calendar falls, there's a Ramadan break and that is in the months, at the moment, of February through to mid-March. There's also a break for the festive period as well, so it wouldn't actually be a bad idea for players that want to stay sharp, to do a half-season loan, and then maybe even go back to Saudi Arabia.”

Toney’s record for England

Toney made his England debut in 2023, as a substitute in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine, and his first international goal came from the penalty spot against Belgium on March 26, 2024, in a friendly, which was his first international start. He was also part of England's Euro 2024 squad, coming on as a substitute in the Round of 16 against Slovakia and assisting Harry Kane's winning goal. Toney also scored in the penalty shootout victory against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

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Getty Images SportWho are Toney’s potential suitors?

On the next steps Toney could potentially take, Jacobs added: “I think there'll be interest in Ivan Toney. Al Ahli sources say they don't want to sell, there's a brand new sporting director there and he doesn't want to let Ivan Toney go. And then as far as Premier League interest, I think we've heard links with Tottenham due to the Thomas Frank connection. I'm not aware of any Spurs approach at this stage, some have even said Manchester United, and again, I think Manchester United are banking on Benjamin Sesko and they've also got Matheus Cunha, who can play at No 9. But if Joshua Zirkzee left, you never know, another striker could come in at Old Trafford but at the moment, it's all quiet as far as a Premier League return is concerned. And again, even if there is interest, Toney would have to agitate for the move with his World Cup chances in mind, because Al Ahli don't want to let him go."

Leeds United’s squad of 2019/20 will go down in history, with the Whites sealing a return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence under Marcelo Bielsa in what was the club’s 100th anniversary.

Patrick Bamford played a key role in that side, but after seven years at Elland Road, has now left the club. The striker was not in Daniel Farke’s Premier League plans after Bamford became a two-time Championship winner with Leeds and mutually had his contract terminated.

Back in 2020, Bielsa had 18 players in his Leeds squad who made 10 or more Championship appearances as the Whites eventually won the league by 10 points ahead of West Brom.

Leeds’ 2019/20 Championship stats
Wins	28
Draws	9
Losses	9
Points	93
Goal difference	+42
Biggest win	Leeds 5-0 Stoke City

Now, following Bamford’s Leeds exit, we’ve had a look at where the rest of the 2019/20 squad are in 2025.

18

Kiko Casilla

36 appearances

Goalkeeper Kiko Casilla officially left Leeds in 2022, having his contract terminated a year early.

The Spaniard made 36 Championship appearances in 2019/20, and after leaving the Whites, signed for Getafe before retiring in 2023.

17

Luke Ayling

37 appearances

A regular at right-back and the scorer of that wonderful volley against Huddersfield Town, Luke Ayling is currently at Championship side Middlesbrough.

He initially moved to the Riverside on loan in 2024 before making a move permanent and is under contract until 2026.

16

Ben White

46 appearances

Starting every Championship game that season, Ben White would seal a big-money move to Arsenal in 2021, where he has gone on to be a regular.

Costing around £50m, White has featured as a centre-back or right-back and is under contract at the Emirates until 2028.

15

Liam Cooper

38 appearances

Captain of the side, Liam Cooper, left Leeds in 2024 after making 284 appearances for the Whites.

He swapped Yorkshire for Bulgaria and CSKA Sofia, but after just over 12 months, became a free agent in 2025.

14

Ezgjan Alioski

39 appearances

Initially a left-winger, Ezgjan Alioski turned into an attacking full-back under Bielsa and scored five Championship goals in 2019/20.

He featured regularly in the Premier League in 2020/21 but left that summer for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. Alioski also played for Fenerbahce before returning to Swiss side FC Lugano, where he is under contract until 2027.

13

Kalvin Phillips

37 appearances

A vital member at the base of Bielsa’s midfield was Kalvin Phillips, who sealed a £50m move from Leeds to Manchester City in 2022 after starring under the Argentine.

Things didn’t go to plan for the holding midfielder at the Etihad, though, with Phillips having loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich Town. In the summer of 2025, he was looking for another new club but is still under contract with City.

12

Stuart Dallas

45 appearances

A versatile star under Bielsa, Stuart Dallas transformed into a Leeds legend but suffered a serious injury against Manchester City at Elland Road in 2022.

He would officially retire from football two years later after failing to recover, ending in 267 Leeds appearances in all competitions. Dallas now works as a pundit for Sky Sports’ EFL coverage.

11

Helder Costa

43 appearances

A loanee for the 2019/20 season, Helder Costa’s Leeds move became permanent in 2020, however, he had spells with Valencia and Al-Ittihad before being released at Elland Road in 2023.

The winger then played in Portugal with Estoril and China with YN Yukun, but as of the summer of 2025 and at the age of 31, Costa was without a club.

10

Mateusz Klich

44 appearances

Box-to-box midfielder Mateusz Klich became a cult hero at Elland Road and, after starring for Leeds, was allowed to join DC United in 2023.

The Poland international joined Atlanta at the end of 2024, and then in August 2025, returned to his native country with Cracovia, where he is under contract until 2027.

9

Jack Harrison

46 appearances

Still at Leeds is winger Jack Harrison, who had two loan spells with Everton following Leeds’ Premier League relegation back in 2023.

Having work to do to get the Leeds fans back on side, Harrison is still under contract at Elland Road until 2028 and appears to be in Farke’s plans.

Sri Lanka Cricket will conduct an inquiry over allegations that Dasun Shanaka left a first-class match in Colombo hours early, in order to play for the Dubai Capitals in the UAE that same evening, on February 2.The board’s chargesheet to Shanaka includes the allegation that first-class match referee Wendell Labrooy had been led to believe Shanaka had a concussion, in order to approve a substitute. This is according to SLC CEO Ashley de Silva, who told ESPNcricinfo “SSC [Shanaka’s first-class club] would probably be conducting their own inquiry as well”.Shanaka, however, told ESPNcricinfo that de Silva and others had been aware that he would have to leave the first-class match early. According to Shanaka, he had left the ground soon after being dismissed on the third morning of the the three-day match. He said he visited a doctor at a nearby hospital first, to inspect a blow to the neck he had sustained while playing a sweep shot that morning, and then headed off to Dubai to play that evening’s T20, after a separate physiotherapist had cleared him to play.”SLC and the club knew I had to leave,” Shanaka said. “I only came back because there was a request from the SSC to play this first-class match. But my other team wanted me back, as I’d helped win two games for them earlier in the tournament.”For SLC, however, exiting a league game early, particularly with suspect reasons, is problematic, not that it has yet been established if there actually was any pretense involved. The board CEO de Silva explained that while Lasith Malinga had also famously played a Mumbai Indians match and then broken records in a domestic match in Pallekele match the next day, Malinga had played until both those matches reached their conclusion.On the surface, though, Shanaka’s looks like a spectacular cricketing feat. He had been among the three players called back from the ILT20 by the SSC for their fixture against Moors Sports Club in the Major League Tournament, as SSC strove to avoid relegation. Shanaka had played the first two days of this three-dayer, bowling 21 overs and taking a wicket in Moors’ innings, before finishing on 39 not out at the end of day two.Day three is when the absconding is alleged to have occurred, but before he left, Shanaka crashed a further 84, hitting 123 off 87 balls in total, 88 of those runs coming in boundaries. Though SSC’s innings ended not long after he got out, Shanaka did not bowl an over in the next Moors innings (the third of the match), and played no further part in the game.What is clear is that several hours later, he appeared for the Capitals in Dubai, and struck 34 off 12 at No. 5, helping his team to 217 against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. He didn’t bowl in the Knight Riders’ innings either, however.Capitals would go on to win the ILT20, Shanaka playing three further games for them. He has not appeared for SSC since February 2.

To describe this summer as unprecedented for Arsenal would be an understatement.

The Gunners have spent big in windows past, but they have never spent as much as they have this year, nor have they made so many quality additions to the side.

Mikel Arteta has been handed a new starting striker, a new starting six, the sensational Eberechi Eze, a host of quality squad options and may now get his hands on Piero Hincapié.

Yet, with the window open until next week, the club look set to make even more additions and are being linked with someone who might have more potential than Hincapié.

Arsenal target ace alongsid Hincapié

Arsenal fans were still getting over the excitement of the Eze transfer this morning when news broke that the club were looking to hijack another of Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer targets.

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This time, it was Bayer Leverkusen’s Hincapié, who had been touted for a move to N17 for some time this summer, but now looks like he could be donning red and white next month.

The versatile centre-back looks like he could be an excellent addition to the Gunners’ already formidable defensive unit, but now it looks like the club is keen on another ace who has an even higher ceiling.

At least that is according to a recent report from Europe, who has claimed that Arsenal are interested in Jeremy Jacquet.

The Belgian journalist has revealed that, alongside other sides such as Real Madrid and Al-Hilal, the Gunners are targeting the highly-rated French defender.

It does not state how much the Stade Rennes gem could cost the North Londoners, but as his £10k-per-week contract is set to run for another four years, he’s unlikely to come cheap, with previous reports stating their asking price is as much as £43m.

However, with the way he is spoken about by those in the know, and the experience he already has, he may well be worth splashing the cash on, especially as he could have even more potential than Hincapie.

Jacquet's sky-high potential

So the first thing to say is that if Arsenal sign Hincapie this week, he would represent an excellent bit of business and seriously strengthen the backline.

However, with him set to turn 24 during the season, we can see the player he is today, and while he will improve, it’s unlikely he’s going to dramatically improve in the coming years.

On the other hand, Jacquet has only just turned 20, is already playing in a top-five league and has caught the eye of top teams like the Gunners and Real Madrid.

In other words, there is a sense that the Frenchman could be one of the next great defenders in world football, much like William Saliba was considered back in 2019.

It might sound like hyperbole, but we aren’t the only ones saying this.

Take respected analyst Ben Mattinson, for example, who has called the youngster a “Rolls Royce” of players and the “world football’s next highly coveted CB.”

More than that, he has claimed that he “has the tools to be a ‘Top 5 in The World’ CB” and that he plays “with a level of composure which makes actions seem so effortless.”

The data backs up a lot of these predictions as well.

According to FBref, despite being so young, the Rennes gem ranks in the top 1% of centre-backs in Europe’s top-five leagues for tackles plus interceptions, just interceptions and long pass completion, the top 6% for percentage of aerial duels won, the top 7% for tackles won and more, all per 90.

Jacquet’s Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Pass Completion % (Long)

79.7%

Top 1%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.57

Top 1%

Interceptions

2.28

Top 1%

Tkl+Int

4.55

Top 1%

Dribblers Tackled

1.30

Top 5%

Dribbles Challenged

2.03

Top 5%

% of Aerials Won

71.4%

Top 6%

xAG: Exp. Assisted Goals

0.07

Top 7%

Tackles Won

1.46

Top 7%

Tackles

2.28

Top 8%

npxG + xAG

0.13

Top 9%

Successful Take-Ons

0.49

Top 9%

Assists

0.08

Top 10%

Carries into Penalty Area

0.08

Top 10%

All Stats via FBref

These numbers paint the picture of a defender who’s nearly impossible to get past while also being brilliant with the ball at his feet.

For comparison’s sake, Hincapie ranks in the top 1% of just one metric for centre-backs in Europe’s top-five leagues: non-penalty expected goals plus assists.

In other words, while the Ecuadorian international is an exceptional defender, the data suggests his ceiling is not quite as high as the 20-year-old’s.

Ultimately, while he wouldn’t necessarily get lots of game time this season, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Jacquet before the window shuts.

He looks like he could be a future world-beater, and the last high-potential centre-back signed from Ligue 1 has done rather well for himself at the carpet.

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Everton are in the thick of their pre-season preparations, and David Moyes is looking to recapture the form that allowed him to make such an impressive (second) start to life as the Toffees boss.

The exodus on the blue half of Merseyside was needed at the end of the 2024/25 season, even though Everton rallied and leapt away from the relegation zone in the half-season with Moyes in charge, finishing 13th in the Premier League.

More is needed, but the seeds have been planted. The Blues have welcomed Thierno Barry to the fold for a £27m fee, replacing Dominic Calvert-Lewin at centre-forward.

But Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom were both carried away in the stream of summer exits, loan spells wrapped up. Both flattered to deceive last season, but now a right-sided forward is needed.

Everton searching for new winger

Everton have been locked in talks with French club Lyon for their talented winger Malick Fofana in recent days, and though a breakthrough is close, the Belgian is holding out for a suitor with the allure of Champions League football.

But the 20-year-old would have the chance to nail down a starting berth at Everton, fostering his dynamic attacking qualities over the next few years.

Should the Friedkin Group’s effort prove fruitless, however, Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Everton have made an enquiry to Real Sociedad for Japanese winger Takefusa Kubo, who has a €60m (£51m) release clause.

The 24-year-old principally plays down the right wing, and so would be an ideal positional fit for Moyes’ side.

What Takefusa Kubo would bring to Everton

Kubo has 41 goal contributions for Real Sociedad across 137 appearances, having played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid’s youth academies.

He’s a talented man, endowed with ferocious athletic skills and charged with a tenacity which once led Spanish-based journalist Kiyan Sobhani to say this: “Kubo is dusting defenders this season and has been an unrelenting offensive menace. Constantly in attack mode.”

While Kubo might not be the most prolific winger on the block, he ranked among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers in La Liga last season for progressive carries, the top 6% for successful take-ons and the top 19% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Fofana is also a high-speed runner with a burgeoning sharpness in the final third, but Kubo may well have a bit more about him, a bit more completeness.

League Stats 24/25: Takefusa Kubo vs Malick Fofana

Stats (* per game)

Kubo

Fofana

Matches (starts)

36 (27)

29 (16)

Goals

5

5

Assists

0

4

Shots taken*

1.2 (0.4)

1.1 (0.5)

Big chances missed

2

4

Pass completion

77%

84%

Big chances created

9

6

Key passes*

1.3

0.9

Ball recoveries*

3.3

2.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.4

1.1

Dribbles*

2.1

0.8

Total duels (won)*

5.3 (52%)

2.9 (50%)

Stats via Sofascore

Sure, Kubo didn’t register an assist in La Liga last season, but his creative numbers bespeak his playmaking ability. Moreover, he dribbles forward with far more consistency than the electric Fofana, who has already garnered a reputation for his ball-carrying ability.

He’s also far more active in the duel, something that would please Moyes as he constructs a balanced and hard-working outfit, capable across the different phases of play.

If Fofana proves unattainable this summer, Everton must push ahead for Kubo. He might even prove the better pick.

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Melbourne Renegades quick will miss a third straight WBBL season due to injury

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2024Luckless Australia and Melbourne Renegades fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck has been ruled out of the WBBL for the third consecutive season following the shoulder dislocation she suffered in the T20 World Cup.Vlaeminck, 25, dislocated her bowling shoulder just moments into Australia’s World Cup match against Pakistan which was her first at a major tournament since 2018.She was subsequently ruled out of the World Cup and Renegades confirmed on Friday that she would play no part in the WBBL that starts next Sunday.Related

Vlaeminck dislocates shoulder on T20 World Cup return

Vlaeminck has not played in the WBBL since November 2021 when she was playing for Hobart Hurricanes. She signed with Renegades ahead of the 2022-23 season but has not managed to play a single game due to an extraordinary run of injuries.Vlaeminck has twice dislocated her left shoulder. The first came playing for Victoria in the 2017-18 season. Then, during the Australia A tour of England which coincided with last year’s Women’s Ashes, she dislocated the same shoulder again while bowling, which led to corrective surgery.Before she made her debut for Australia, in 2018, she had undergone two ACL reconstructions. Stress fractures in her foot also forced her to miss the 2020 home T20 World Cup as well as the 2022 ODI World Cup, the Commonwealth Games later that year and the 2023 T20 World Cup. Her foot injuries led her to spend time training with professional dancers at the Australian Ballet as part of her rehab work.

Leeds United are enjoying raiding the Bundesliga for some exciting talents this summer transfer window.

Indeed, away from Sean Longstaff’s recent £12m arrival last week, every other pick-up so far this window has come from the German top division, with that trend clear for all to see once more with the imminent £17.4m signing of Anton Stach from Hoffenheim.

Daniel Farke clearly trusts in the Bundesliga when attempting to make wholesale changes to his squad, with yet another target now on the Whites’ agenda from this happy hunting ground.

Leeds interested in move for £8m star

It’s not just the Bundesliga that the Whites are looking at when it comes to top European leagues; however, as reports suggest that Leeds have also cast their net out to Serie A when eyeing up Juventus forward Timothy Weah, alongside delving deeper into La Liga by reportedly approaching Getafe midfielder Christantus Uche.

Moreover, there are still Premier League stars on their mind, too, with Fulham centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz very firmly on their radar when attempting to strengthen their forward positions, as Patrick Bamford is now deemed surplus to requirements at Elland Road by Farke.

Whilst that fresh development will make a new striker a top priority, it’s not quite as pressing as Leeds’ need for a Premier League-standard goalkeeper, with the Whites’ wishes for a top-flight-ready keeper potentially coming true in the form of Augsburg stopper Finn Dahmen.

A report from German outlet BILD states that Leeds are interested in sealing a deal for the 27-year-old, who is valued at around £8m according to Transfermarkt, with this deal being considered more important to secure than Stach’s much-talked-about arrival on the scene.

Why Dahmen is a more important signing than Stach

Whilst Stach’s versatility – as can be seen looking at the table below – will be useful for Leeds as they make their way up to a gruelling new division, Farke would love to add Dahmen to his camp even more as Illan Meslier is ditched once and for all.

Stach’s numbers for Hoffenheim by position

Position

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

DM

49

3

5

CB

13

0

0

CM

8

1

1

RM

1

0

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Last season in the Premier League saw all three promoted sides return to the EFL with a whimper, having leaked a combined 248 strikes between them.

Therefore, it will be absolutely pivotal to Leeds’ survival chances that they possess a stopper ready for the intense challenges in the Premier League, and they could have just that in their new 6-foot-1 target if his Bundesliga heroics are anything to go by.

Staggeringly, across all the major German leagues, Dahmen was voted as the goalkeeper of the season for his standout exploits during the 24/25 campaign, with the former Germany U21 international managing to give up just 19 goals in total from 19 league outings.

Dahmen’s consistent excellence between the sticks would help Sandro Wagner’s men to a comfortable 12th finish in the overall league standings come the final match day of the season, with Leeds aiming for a similarly easy-going final position back in the Premier League.

Stach did chip in with one goal and two assists himself, fighting it out for Hoffenheim, but his superb showings were nearly all in vain as Christian Ilzer’s side were narrowly close to the shock of relegation, still, in 15th spot.

Dahmen’s Bundesliga numbers for Augsburg (24/25)

Stat

Dahmen

Games played

19

Goals conceded

19

Goals conceded per game

1.0

Saves

65

Goals prevented

+6.86

Ball recoveries per game

7.2

Clean sheets

9

Stats by Sofascore

Without Dahmen, Augsburg might well have been looking over their shoulder, too, with a mammoth 6.86 goals prevented from hitting the back of the net courtesy of the number one stopper.

In stark contrast, Meslier, away from letting in 27 goals, prevented -2.73 goals, with his errors nearly costing Leeds dear in their promotion run-in.

Therefore, there will be plenty of hesitation on Farke’s end about persisting with the shaky Frenchman, with Augsburg’s “1-on-1 king” – as he’s been dubbed by football journalist Archie Rhind-Tutt – instantly displacing him on his arrival.

Stach might well have to fight it out for a starting spot, on the contrary, whilst Dahmen readies himself to become Leeds’ number one stopper as another golden German export.

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