All posts by n8rngtd.top

Tottenham Hotspur are now "betting heavily" on FC Porto striker Mehdi Taremi as a replacement for Harry Kane, having already tabled an offer of €24m (£21m), however the Portuguese side are holding out for €30m (£26m), according to reports.

What's the latest on Harry Kane's future?

Bayern Munich have seen another offer rejected for Kane, so time may be running out for the German champions to sign the striker, as he wants to have his future sorted before Tottenham's Premier League opener against Brentford on Sunday.

Ange Postecoglou has recently told the media that he also wants a decision to be made sooner rather than later, in order to have clarity about where he needs to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season, but the striker's future remains up in the air.

The Lilywhites can now sit patiently and see if Bayern were being genuine about their third offer being the final one, though they will of course need to line up potential replacements in case the Bavarians come back and meet the price tag all of a sudden.

Read The Latest Tottenham Transfer News HERE

As such, the Lilywhites haveallegedly now made an offer of €24m (£21m) for Taremi, just shy of Porto's asking price of €30m (£26m), according to reports from Portugal (via Sport Witness).

The striker has "always" desired to play in England, but Porto will not make his departure easy, and he is protected by the €60m (£52m) release clause included in his contract, although his deal is due to expire next year.

Jorge Mendes is intermediating the talks between Tottenham and Porto, delivering the first bid, and it seems as though the north Londoners only need to increase their offer by £5m to secure the Iranian's signature.

Who is Mehdi Taremi?

The 31-year-old forward started out in his homeland of Iran, but it is with Porto where he has started to make a real name for himself, weighing in with an outstanding 31 goals and ten assists for the Portuguese side in all competitions last season.

Seven of those goal contributions came in the Champions League, indicating the Iran international, who has 33 goals for his country, is very much capable of competing at the highest level, and he has received high praise from members of the media.

Back in March, journalist Zach Lowy claimed the 6 foot 1 striker could be "the best Asian player in football right now", as a result of Heung-Min Son's poor form last season, and he could be a very good signing at around £26m, despite his age.

That said, Taremi is unlikely to be a long-term replacement for Kane, and there may be some concerns over the fact that he is still yet to play in one of Europe's "top five" leagues at this stage of his career.

If Spurs do lose their captain this summer, it is important they re-invest the money they receive on another top striker, and it is unclear whether the FC Porto striker is truly in that bracket.

Burnley are reportedly preparing a move to sign Queens Park Rangers midfielder Sam Field and have made contact ahead of a potential transfer.

What’s the latest Burnley transfer news?

Vincent Kompany is currently preparing for the Premier League opener on Friday against treble winners Manchester City, but it looks as if work is still going on behind the scenes when it comes to further additions.

The Clarets have already nine signings, with Zeki Amdouni, James Trafford, Jordan Beyer, Dara O'Shea, Michael Obafemi, Luca Koleosho, Nathan Redmond, Lawrence Vigouroux and Jacob Bruun Larsen all sealing deals ranging from permanent moves, free transfers and loans.

One player who appears to be close to joining Kompany’s side is Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge. Talks have taken place over a potential move and Fabrizio Romano has said a deal is close with a verbal agreement with the Blades almost completed.

Alongside Berge, though, it looks as if Burnley could look to sign another midfielder in Field.

Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke shared an update regarding Field on Tuesday, claiming both Burnley and Rangers are big admirers of the player.

It is believed that sides have made contact over a deal by registering their interest and are plotting offers. Field is into the final 12 months of his Loftus Road contract, and it looks as if a move to either Turf Moor or Ibrox could be on the cards.

Who is Sam Field?

Field progressed through the academy at West Brom and went on to make 45 senior appearances for the Baggies – 22 of which came in the Premier League.

Primarily a holding midfielder who can also play further forward if needed, the 25-year-old spent time out on loan with Charlton Athletic and Queens Park Rangers before joining the latter on a permanent basis back in 2021.

Since then, the player has gone from strength to strength and won three awards at QPR last season, including Supporters’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year.

He appears to be in his prime with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation of €3m and has turned out on 97 occasions for The R’s, scoring four times, one of which came against the Clarets last season.

Field didn’t miss one Championship fixture last season as the club narrowly avoided relegation, and he has been hailed by one of his former coaches, Gary Megson, who said that Field is “big” and “one of the best two-footed players” he’s seen.

"If he can just grow into himself in terms of confidence and get that little bit of belief in himself it wouldn't surprise me if he goes on to have a real top-class career.

"He's big, he can run and he's got a great left foot. He's one of the best two-footed players I've seen and he's got a great amount going for him."

Therefore, it looks as if a move to Turf Moor could be one to keep an eye on in the final weeks of the window, however, Kompany’s side may need to beat Rangers in the race for Field's services, with the Scottish side able to offer European football at Ibrox.

West Bromwich Albion have been fairly quiet throughout the summer transfer window as they have only added two new players to their squad to date.

Who have West Brom signed this summer?

Carlos Corberan secured his first signing of the off-season by snapping up Jeremy Sermiento on a season-long loan from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

Former Sunderland centre-forward Josh Maja then arrived on a free transfer from Ligue 2 outfit Bordeaux to bolster the club's attacking options.

They could dip back into the market to make further improvements to their roster before next month's deadline, though, as they were touted with interest in Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo earlier this month.

The former Monaco prospect spent last season on loan at Coventry City and has reportedly been valued at £2.5m by Steve Cooper's team.

How good is Jonathan Panzo?

Panzo is a proven Championship performer whose displays at this level last season suggest that he would come in as a big upgrade on Erik Pieters if Corberan can secure his signature.

The 22-year-old enforcer would be a perfect fit for the left-sided centre-back role in a back three as he is proficient at playing centre-back and left-back, whilst he also played as part of a back three at Coventry.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.99 for the Sky Blues across 29 league appearances and caught the eye with his strength in the wide central defensive position.

Panzo, who was once hailed as being "outstanding" by his former Coventry boss Mark Robins, made 3.3 tackles and interceptions combined per match and won 58% of his duels, as per Sofascore, which shows that the English titan came out on top in the majority of his physical contests.

Meanwhile, no West Brom defender managed more than 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game and Pieters produced two per outing to go along with a duel success rate of 57% last season in the Championship.

This suggests that Panzo would provide more quality in defence due to his ability to cut out opposition attacks more frequently with key defensive interventions, which could create more counter-attacking opportunities for the likes of Jed Wallace, Maja, and John Swift to exploit.

Pieters, who has started on the left of a back three in two of the club's three competitive matches this term, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.82 across 36 league matches for the Baggies during the 2022/23 campaign.

The Dutch defender ranked 12th within the squad for his rating, whereas Panzo's score of 6.99 would have placed him fifth. This shows that the £2.5m-rated ace would also be an upgrade on the 35-year-old battler in terms of his average performance level.

At the age of 22, the Forest titan would also come in with the potential to grow and develop under Corberan. He has plenty of time on his hands to improve, as he is 13 years younger than Pieters, and would, therefore, be an excellent signing for the long-term as well as a player who can immediately be an asset to the side.

The Baggies head coach must now push to get a deal over the line for the young talent before the end of the window in order to land an upgrade for his defence.

Celtic look set to miss out on one of their reported transfer targets this summer as Dominik Livakovic is closing in on a move to Turkey.

What's the latest Dominik Livakovic transfer news?

It was recently reported that the Croatia international is poised to sign with Super Lig side Fenerbahce from Dinamo Zagreb for a fee of €9m (£7.7m).

The report claims that the shot-stopper will sign a four-year contract, that will have a one year extension clause, with the Turkish giants.

Earlier this month, Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph claimed that the Hoops were monitoring the Croatian titan's situation ahead of a possible swoop to improve their options between the sticks.

Now that they appear to have lost the race for his signature, Brendan Rodgers could land a fantastic alternative to Livakovic by swooping for Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher.

How good is Caoimhin Kelleher?

The Ireland international, who was linked with Celtic and valued at £30m earlier this year, is a fantastic young goalkeeper who could be an excellent addition to the squad.

Fabrizio Romano stated that clubs could look to sign him on loan if the Reds decide to let him leave on a temporary basis and the Hoops must push to secure his services on a temporary or permanent basis.

Kelleher did not get much game time at Anfield last term but did impress during his short time on the pitch. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.53 over three Premier League and League Cup appearances combined, and did not make a single error leading to an opposition shot or goal.

The 24-year-old ace also caught the eye in limited minutes during the 2021/22 campaign as he averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.72 over six matches in the aforementioned competitions.

His League Cup performances that season were particularly impressive as the Irishman averaged a Sofascore rating of 8.03 across four games, and he saved 84% of the shots on his goal without making a single mistake leading to an opposition shot or goal.

Livakovic, meanwhile, saved 74% of the efforts against him and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93 across 35 league outings for Dinamo Zagreb last season.

Current Celtic number one Joe Hart, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 over 37 league clashes and finished the campaign with a save percentage of 65% to go along with four errors directly leading to opposition shots.

These statistics suggest that Kelleher, who was lauded as "exceptional" by Ireland boss Stephen Kenny, has the potential to be an imperious figure between the sticks for Celtic and an upgrade on Hart, which would also make him a dream alternative to Livakovic.

However, he would need to prove himself to be capable of performing on a consistent basis over the course of a season, rather than just on the odd occasion when he is called upon by Liverpool.

His form for the Reds indicates that he could save a higher percentage of shots than Hart whilst making fewer glaring mistakes, which could, therefore, improve Rodgers' team as that would lead to fewer goals being conceded.

At the age of 24, he is four years younger than Livakovic and 12 years younger than the Bhoys number one. This means that the Liverpool titan would come in with more long-term potential than both of them if they are able to snap him up on a permanent basis.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has received a major update in his pursuit of Aris Thessaloniki winger Luis Palma as speculation continues to rumble over his future, according to reports.

Is Luis Palma joining Celtic?

Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos has issued a major update on the future of Palma amid reports linking the 23-year-old with a move to Celtic, as he stated on X: "Not confirmed 100% yet, but seems Luis Palma will be out of Aris Thessaloniki squad for the match v Lamia on Sunday. Celtic and two non European clubs offers are on the table. Palma wants Celtic."

The journalist, who works for Greece-based outlet Sportime, has since dropped further insight on Palma's potential next career steps and has indicated that the Honduras international is now closing in on a switch to Parkhead, stating: "Celtic are really close to sign Luis Palma from Aris Thessaloniki. Agreement in principle between the clubs, €4,1m. plus some bonuses. Palma 's contract €650.000 per season, probably for a 4 years contract."

Palma has been a coveted presence this summer, attracting interest from the Hoops' city rivals Rangers, Anderlecht and Watford among others; however, he now looks set to link up with former Liverpool boss Rodgers in Glasgow following a whirlwind couple of days where swift negotiations between both parties now look to be veering toward their conclusion.

Of course, Celtic have been in the hunt this window to find a replacement for Portuguese winger Jota, who was sold to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad for £25 million earlier in the summer, as per Sky Sports.

Rodgers has already signed off on six signings since returning to Parkhead in the form of Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, Odin Thiago Holm, Marco Tilio, Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Yang Hyun-jun, as per Transfermarkt.

In light of Palma's seemingly impending arrival, Celtic fringe man Sead Haksabanovic could find himself further down the pecking order at Parkhead and Football Insider claim that the Montenegro international is looking for an exit before the transfer deadline.

Is Luis Palma a good fit for Celtic?

Palma certainly fits the profile in terms of the style of recruitment Celtic have adopted this window, which has entailed bringing in young stars with potential with the aim of eventually selling them on in the future for a considerable profit.

His statistics also make for pleasant reading in his time at Aris, where he has notched 17 goals and 11 assists in 52 appearances for the Greek outfit encompassing all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

The Honduran arriving at Celtic would also spell the end to a long, drawn-out search for another wide option at Parkhead. Wolverhampton Wanderers star Daniel Podence was considered according to reports; however, it always seemed unlikely that the Hoops would fork out anywhere near the funds needed to satisfy his mooted £12 million price tag.

Scotland international Ryan Fraser was also courted by Celtic, though he is on the verge of completing a season-long loan move to Sky Bet Championship side Southampton, as per The Daily Echo.

Manchester United are closing in on what looks to be their final transfer of the summer window, with Erik ten Hag creating a framework to build on last season's exploits.

What's the latest on Sofyan Amrabat to Manchester United?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are finally securing the services of Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, with the 27-year-old "on his way to Manchester shortly" to complete a medical.

The Fiorentina ace, who is joining on an initial loan deal with a 25m (£21m) buy option, has been of a vested interest to the Premier League outfit all summer, and they now look set to seal a deal at the final stage.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

With fears of a deal stagnating, United director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves flew to Italy earlier today to finalise a deal, and it now looks like he has succeeded.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

The Red Devils have been tracking the pass-proficient midfielder after his stunning performances with his nation at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he starred as the fulcrum of Morocco's fourth-placed finish.

Having been hailed for his “masterclass” of a performance against Spain in the last-16, the £32k-per-week powerhouse cemented his name as one of Europe's first-class midfielders with his international escapades, and his sustained performances with his Italian outfit Fiorentina have affirmed to Manchester United the decision they are making is the correct one.

As per FBref, the 6 foot 1 machine ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 2% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90.

He has also been lauded for his "defensive instinct" by pundit Joe Cole, and very much looks the high-octane force the Old Trafford side covet to enhance the club's fluidity and cohesion in the engine room.

With such iron-clad protection in the centre through his defensive application and the assurance that a superlative passing presence will keep the play ticking in metronomic style, Red Devils captain and chief playmaker Bruno Fernandes could take his prolific game to the next level.

Hailed as a creative "genius" by journalist Muhammad Butt, Fernandes has posted 65 goals and 55 assists from just 188 outings for United since joining from Sporting Lisbon for an initial £47m in January 2020.

The £240k-per-week star ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for passes attempted and the top 3% for progressive passes per 90, and Amrabats' supplementation and presence in the deep-lying role would allow the Portugual star to maintain this and then some.

The fact that Fernandes also ranks among the top 11% for tackles and the top 7% for clearances per 90 underscores his own defensive work rate and tenacity, which would allow Amrabat to implement his game on English shores and perhaps be the foundation of a stunning new midfield partnership at the Theatre of Dreams.

Ten Hag must ensure that an unthinkable late slip does not occur as Manchester United home in on Amrabat, with the midfield "monster" – as said by reporter Carlo Garganese – just what the Premier League club needs to close the gap on those at the top of the league ladder.

Arriving in January, Georginio Rutter didn't exactly enter Elland Road at an ideal time, with the Leeds United in the middle of what would prove to be an unsuccessful relegation battle, and managerial changes coming thick and fast.

Despite being just 21-years-old, the pressure was instantly on Rutter to hit the ground running, having made the move for a reported £36m. The general consensus around January signings is that they're brought in to play the role of game-changers, ideally luxury additions who arrive in a steady system and inject that extra bit of quality.

That is something that Rutter failed to do, partly due to his own form but also due to the circumstances, and he has since cut a frustrated figure, even struggling to make his mark in the Championship.

Following his most recent poor display, coming in a 0-0 draw against Sheffield Wednesday, Daniel Farke has revealed he's been holding direct discussions with the striker about his mentality in front of goal.

What has Daniel Farke said?

Sometimes, all a player needs is an arm round their shoulder and a confidence boost, and Farke has seemingly recognised that. The Leeds manager revealed that he spoke to Rutter after the Sheffield Wednesday stalemate, saying, via Leeds Live: "I think what is (important) for him is that he's not injured, that he's fit, he comes into his rhythm and I think his performance was improved last weekend at Ipswich. He is actually in a really good shape.

“I was a striker as well; you can’t really explain. Sometimes you have times when you find it unbelievably difficult to use your chances to score, and sometimes you just have to look at the ball and the ball goes in anyhow. It feels a bit like Georginio is in this period.

“But I spoke to him and told him ‘listen, the solution is not to overthink things too much. When you have a situation, when you find it difficult to bring the ball in the back of the net, then don’t try to be too artificial in your approach’.”

The former Norwich City boss will now hope to see an improved performance from his forward after the international break, having held what could prove to be crucial talks with an arm round the shoulder.

How has Rutter performed this season?

In five Championship appearances so far this season, Rutter has managed just one goal, which came in Leeds' only league win of the season, against Ipswich Town.

The 21-year-old would have been hoping to build on that goal against Sheffield Wednesday, but instead endured a performance to forget. As per Sofascore, Rutter actually lost the ball as many times as he completed a pass, with ten apiece, in what is the most worrying statistic of all, implying when he's not on the scoresheet he's also not providing much in the way of general play.

Meanwhile, the Frenchman also missed two big chances, and won just four out of 13 duels. The fact is, the numbers show that it wasn't just a day to forget for Rutter, it was a day in which his Leeds career was perfectly summed up.

There's still plenty of time for him to turn things around at Elland Road, and fans will hope Farke's careful approach with the youngster proves to be the right one.

Chelsea defender Reece James has been a subject of interest for one of Europe's top clubs, and a report has now revealed whether he is likely to leave in the near future…

Which Chelsea players could leave in January?

Having spent over €1bn (£862m) in the three transfer windows since Todd Boehly took over the club, Chelsea may need to balance the books with some sales in the January transfer window, and there are several players who could be shown the exit door.

Tottenham Hotspur are planning a January swoop for Conor Gallagher's services, although the midfielder is currently happy at Stamford Bridge, and is planning to prove his worth to Mauricio Pochettino and secure a new deal, despite the signings of Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and Lesley Ugochukwu.

The Blues accepted offers for Ian Maatsen and Trevoh Chalobah in the summer transfer window, and while the duo turned down moves elsewhere and plan to fight for their futures at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino's willingness to let them leave indicates they could still depart in January.

Bayern Munich are plotting a new approach for Chalobah, having held a strong interest in the summer transfer window, with Football Insider reporting the 24-year-old may find game time difficult to come by at Chelsea this season.

As reported by Football Insider, there have been fresh links touting James for a move to Real Madrid in recent days, with the Spanish giants said to be long-term admirers of the defender, but the Blues are desperate to keep hold of him.

Club chiefs are hoping the right-back can steer clear of his injury problems and become a key player under Pochettino, off the back of being named club captain earlier in the summer, and they are under no pressure to let him leave anytime soon.

The Englishman signed a fresh six-year contract last year, so he is committed to Chelsea for the long-term future, and the club should be in a strong negotiating position, if Real Madrid's interest materialises.

In the meantime, the 23-year-old remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained in the draw against Liverpool on the opening day of the season.

When is Reece James back from injury?

Pochettino has confirmed the club captain is "recovering well", with the manager hopeful that he will play some part before the next international break in October, and his return could be a real boost for the Blues.

The England international could be a perfect fit in Pochettino's 3-4-2-1 system, which has been implemented in every game so far this season, given that he poses a real threat going forward, as highlighted by his performances in the 2021-22 season.

During that campaign, the "unreal" defender weighed in with five goals and nine assists in 26 Premier League appearances, averaging over one goal contribution every other game, showcasing his attacking talent.

Chelsea will be hoping that James can put his injury woes behind him after he recovers from his latest issue, but until then Malo Gusto is likely to remain the first-choice option, having made five appearances in all competitions this season.

Manchester United have endured a tough start to the 2023/24 season as they have secured just six points from 15 available in the Premier League.

Erik ten Hag would have been hoping that the club could use the momentum gained from the end of the previous season as confidence that they could perhaps challenge the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, yet the signs are looking ominous that this may be some way off.

Their form is made to look even worse considering United spent a grand total of €196.7m (£169m) during the summer transfer window on players such as Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Mason Mount.

Although it takes time to settle into a new club, spending lavish amounts like this should generate results fairly quickly and the trio haven’t really hit the ground running as yet.

Recent years have seen the Old Trafford side spend and spend during in the transfer market, while releasing players who were once signed for massive fees, wasting vast amounts of money in the process.

Think back to the likes of Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez across the previous three seasons and a narrative begins to form that the Red Devils have been extremely poor in the market.

One player who they sold actually brought in a profit for United, and he has struggled since leaving the Theatre of Dreams in 2021; Daniel James.

How much did Manchester United sign Daniel James for?

During Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first summer window in 2019, he began to overhaul the squad, spending overinflated fees to lure Harry Maguire (£80m) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£50m) to United as he looked to begin a revolution.

Although overspending, these moves looked to be additions that would benefit United for the next few years and the Norwegian boss went and raided Championship side Swansea City for young winger Daniel James in what was one of the more surprising moves of the window.

Upon moving to Manchester for a fee in the region of £22m, he was praised by Solskjaer, who said: "Daniel is an exciting young winger with lots of skills, vision, exceptional pace and a good work ethic.

"He had a great season with Swansea City and has all the attributes needed to become a Manchester United player.

"We are delighted he has signed with our club and we are all looking forward to working with him. This is the perfect environment for Daniel to continue his development."

What happened to Daniel James?

The Welshman made 46 appearances for the Old Trafford side during his maiden campaign, registering 11 goal contributions in the process – four goals and seven assists – and it looked as though it could be the start of a wonderful career at Old Trafford.

It didn’t quite pan out that way however, with James playing only 26 matches during the 2020/21 season, while his goal contributions dipped from 11 to seven, and he began to look out of his depth on numerous occasions.

Indeed, for his Premier League performances that term, the winger ranked in a lowly 22nd across the squad for overall Sofascore rating while finishing tenth for goals and assists, 12th for big chances created and 14th for successful dribbles, indicating that when he did get a chance, the winger failed to consistently showcase his qualities.

Instead of making progress, the Welsh winger's career seemed to be going backwards and during the summer of 2021, after only two years at Old Trafford, Solskjaer sold him to Leeds United for a fee of £25m, which even represented a profit for the club, quite staggering considering how poor he had been recently.

Where is Daniel James now?

A move to Leeds was the chance for the former Swansea starlet to get back on his feet and gain regular game time for a club where the pressure perhaps wasn’t as severe as it was in Manchester.

His first season saw the player make 35 appearances across all competitions, while he managed to score four times and grab five assists during his Premier League games, which suggested a slight return to form.

The statistics tell a different story, however, as he failed to even crack the top 20 across the squad in regard to Sofascore rating, while ranking top of the pile for big chances missed and seventh for key passes per game. Damning figures indeed.

He was even criticised by writer Tom Dutton towards the end of that particular season, who said: “Dan James is a pace merchant with poor final ball and awful decision making. Not sure how he ever got a move to United.”

A loan stint at Fulham last term failed to rekindle any of the magic which saw him move to Old Trafford three years prior and according to FBref, when compared to positional peers, James ranked in the lowest 1% for shot-creating actions per 90 (1.27) while even ranking in the lowest 11% for successful take-ons per 90 (0.79) as his attacking input dipped significantly.

These poor performances have led his value to drop dramatically since departing Manchester. He now looks like a shadow of the £25m that Leeds paid for him just two years ago and according to the CIES Football Observatory, the 25-year-old is now valued at €10m (£8.6m), which represents a major decline.

Such a figure is even lower than the underperforming Maguire who is valued at £17m and McTominay, who is expected to cost around £26m. For what it's worth, another flop in Donny van de Beek is rated at only £4.3m now.

Evidently, it appears as though United sold him at precisely the right time and struck gold on the Welshman, who doesn’t look as though he will capture the form displayed at Swansea during the embryonic stages of his career.

Although a wonderful move at the time for him, perhaps moving to a club as big as the Red Devils had a negative effect on his career. He flourished in spells during his debut season, but the candle is nearly extinguished on what was a bright flame.

James has grabbed two assists in just four Championship games so far during 2023/24, while creating two big chances and making 2.3 key passes per game, encouraging statistics, as he looks revitalised.

Could this be the start of a career resurgence? Only time will tell.

Developing and nurturing exciting young talent is something which is simply engrained in Manchester United's DNA, with the club's glittering history having witnessed the iconic Busby Babes and the famed Class of 92'.

In more recent times, the shining light of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson has been that of Marcus Rashford, with the local lad rising up from the academy to become arguably the main man at Old Trafford of late, having scored 30 goals in all competitions last term.

As is the way at United, however, the conveyor belt of talent does not end there, with the England international now faced with a direct rival for his starting berth in the form of teenage sensation, Alejandro Garnacho.

How good is Alejandro Garnacho?

As the man who powered the Red Devils to FA Youth Cup glory in 2022 – scoring twice in the showpiece victory over Nottingham Forest – it has been evident for a while that the 19-year-old is destined for big things at the Theatre of Dreams.

Following in the footsteps of his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, the Argentina international is the new golden boy among the United faithful, with chants of 'Viva Garnacho' regularly ringing around Old Trafford as a clear show of affection toward this emerging superstar.

Stats via Transfermarkt

Likened to a 'young Ronaldo' by the likes of Paul Scholes, Garnacho already has six goals and five assists to his name in 42 appearances for the club at senior level, notably getting off the mark this season with a well-taken strike at home to Crystal Palace in midweek.

While Erik ten Hag has warned that the teenager needs to do more to establish himself as a regular fixture in the starting XI moving forward – as he was "not good enough" when handed that chance earlier in the season – there can be little to temper the excitement surrounding the Madrid native.

For all the hype is coming Garnacho's way, however, there could well be an even bigger talent lurking in the academy ranks…

Who are the best academy players at Man United?

The quality of United's youth system has already been evident in the early weeks of the season, with young Hannibal Mejbri having started each of the last two games, after previously scoring from range in the defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Tunisian international is part of a trio of exciting midfield talents who have all forced their way into Ten Hag's plans over the past 12 months or so, with both Kobbie Mainoo and Dan Gore – who made his debut earlier this week – looking set to have a role to play both this season and beyond.

The player that is sparking "lots of excitement", however – in the words of GOAL's Tom Maston – is 16-year-old sensation, Shea Lacey, with the precocious winger seemingly a figure who could go on to shine even brighter than Garnacho when his time comes in the first team.

Who is Shea Lacey?

It may be a bold statement to make that the teen starlet could be even better than Garnacho, yet this is a player who has already been likened to Manchester City counterpart, Phil Foden, due to his undoubted gifts.

Also looking perhaps like "the next Messi" – according to one journalist – the promising playmaker simply has a "left foot made of gold", as per talent scout Jacek Kulig, having terrorised opposition defences with his innate dribbling ability.

As Daily Mail journalist Chris Wheeler recently stated, those at United appear to have high hopes for their "new wing wizard", with there having been a sense of delight that the Liverpool-born forward did agree to sign a first professional contract with the club last month.

That had come despite rival interest in the fleet-footed whiz from other top-flight clubs – as per the Manchester Evening News – with the Red Devils likely keen to avoid a repeat of the impending departure of Harrison Parker to Manchester City.

With Lacey having now signed on the dotted line, both the player – and United – can look forward to the impact he can make at the club in the years to come.

What does the future hold for Shea Lacey?

Amid the dearth of options in Ten Hag's ranks on the right wing – with the likes of Amad, Antony and Jadon Sancho all unavailable for various reasons – would it be too ridiculous to suggest that a chance could come for Lacey before too long?

While still only 16, the England youth international is already a firm fixture in the U18 set-up, having scored three goals and provided two assists in just 15 games at that age group in all competitions to date.

A player who can operate on the flanks or in a number ten berth, the silky gem could look to the impact that Lamine Yamal is making at Barcelona as inspiration, with the 16-year-old already featuring regularly at senior level for both club and country.

The 5 foot 11 Spaniard has already contributed three assists from seven La Liga appearances so far this season, having made a space for himself in a star-studded squad that includes the likes of Raphinha, Ferran Torres, Joao Felix and Robert Lewandowski.

With the Catalan giants reaping the rewards of that show of faith, perhaps United could follow suit with young Lacey, with Ten Hag believed to have already held talks with the winger – among others – regarding the potential demands of playing first-team football for the club.

Of course, history would dictate that with the player still only 16, he will not be rushed into the senior ranks if he is not yet ready, with the likes of David Beckham, for instance, going out on loan before eventually breaking into the team under Sir Alex Ferguson.

As Daily Express reporter Alex Turk has noted though, "Carrington has another very, very special player within its gates" with regard to Lacey, while according to journalist Thomas Alencar, he even appears to be the reincarnation of club legend, Ryan Giggs.

Amid the wealth of plaudits that are flooding his way, it is clear to see that United have a truly exciting talent on their hands – and one who could explode if given the chance to impress in the near future.