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There has been very little to celebrate for Tottenham Hotspur fans this season.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have been incredibly poor in the Premier League and, in the last week, have crashed out of both the League Cup courtesy of Liverpool and the FA Cup at the hands of Aston Villa.

The North Londoners were comfortably the second-best team in both games, and while there was nothing positive about the 4-0 hammering at Anfield, the fans were at least able to see new boy Mathys Tel open his account at Villa Park.

The loanee has a £45m option to buy inserted in his deal, and while fans will be hoping that it gets activated in the summer, Daniel Levy might look to one of their most exciting youth players who’s tearing it up on loan as a way to save millions on the Frenchman.

Why Spurs should sign Tel

So, if we step away from the money involved in this potential deal, why would Spurs want to sign Tel?

Well, in short, the 19-year-old gem looks like he could be a future superstar in the making, and while it’s hard to come to that conclusion from his lack of football this season, you can get a better idea of his ability from how well he played last year.

For example, despite playing just 1406 minutes of first-team football across 41 appearances for FC Hollywood, the Sarcelles-born dynamo racked up an outrageously impressive haul of ten goals and six assists.

That means that the teenage phenomenon maintained a simply unreal average of a goal involvement every 87.87 minutes.

That’s not all, though, as on top of being an incredibly dangerous attacker, the “mind-blowing” prospect, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is also positionally versatile, so while he can certainly play on either wing, he’s just as comfortable down the middle, or as a second striker.

Appearances

33

33

13

Goals

7

5

4

Assists

5

1

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.36

0.18

0.38

However, and this is the part fans might not want to hear, that’s the role one of their own promising loan stars has played before, and therefore, there is a chance Levy and Co see him as a cheaper alternative to Tel.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The Spurs gem who could replace Tel

One of the few positives to come out of this season for Spurs has been the emergence and development of their younger players, be that Mikey Moore making his way from the academy to the first team or Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray taking to Premier League football like ducks to water.

However, while they understandably don’t garner as much attention from the fans or media, the Lilywhites also have several genuinely exciting talents out on loan, with Jamie Donley perhaps being the most compelling of the lot.

The 20-year-old has spent the season in East London with League One side Leyton Orient, and to say he’s thrived at Brisbane Road would be an understatement.

For example, in just 31 appearances for The O’s, the “sensational” talent, as dubbed by Kulig, has found the back of the net on five occasions and provided six assists for good measure, which comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.81 games.

Moreover, the Antrim-born prospect grabbed the headlines over the weekend when his brilliant long-range effort bounced off the back of Stefan Ortega and into the back of the net against Manchester City in the FA Cup.

However, while he’s primarily played in attacking midfield this season, the young Englishman who’s blessed with “a left foot of pure gold” per Kulig, spent much of his time in Tottenham’s academy playing up top or as a second striker.

That means he could be viewed as a viable alternative to Tel by Levy and Co should they decide against splashing the cash on the Frenchman.

Ultimately, Spurs have an incredibly exciting homegrown talent in Donley, and they should do all they can to create a path to the first team for him, but to help the club move forward, that shouldn’t be at the expense of Tel.

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Nottingham Forest are keen on signing an “exceptional” Premier League player this summer, and he is now expected to leave his club, according to a report.

Forest planning for the summer

Forest could be in a strong position to attract some top-quality players in the summer given their unexpected push for Europe this season, and they have already started weighing up their options.

The Tricky Trees are said to be readying a new move for Brentford forward Yoane Wissa after having a £22m bid knocked back in January, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo believed to be a big fan of the 28-year-old.

The Bees were insistent that Wissa was not for sale in the winter, and while it remains to be seen whether they soften their stance over the next few months, Nuno has now started to identify potential alternative targets.

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Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta is one of the names on the list, with the striker still deliberating over whether to commit to a new contract at Selhurst Park.

Forest are clearly looking to refresh their attacking options in the summer, but they are also looking to strengthen at the other end of the pitch, with a report from The Boot Room revealing that they still hold an active interest in Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

The Tricky Trees were keen on a move for Kelleher last summer, at which point the Reds were unwilling to sanction his departure, but there is now a feeling he will leave the Premier League leaders this summer.

Arne Slot is ready to sell the Irishman, who could be brought in to replace Matz Sels, despite Nuno being happy with his goalkeeper’s performances this season.

Kelleher outperforming Sels on key metrics

Although it must be noted that Kelleher has a stronger defence in front of him with the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate making up the backline at Anfield, he has outperformed Sels on some key metrics over the past year.

Statistic per 90

Caoimhin Kelleher

Matz Sels

Goals against

1.09 (85th percentile)

1.36 (50th percentile)

Save percentage

73.7% (72nd percentile)

68.3% (34th percentile)

Clean sheet percentage

30.4% (67th percentile)

28.2% (62nd percentile)

Crosses stopped percentage

5.8% (46th percentile)

4.3% (22nd percentile)

Not only that, but the Ireland international has also been described as “exceptional” by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, and he has received high praise from teammate Andy Robertson this season.

The 26-year-old is unlikely to come cheap, with reports indicating the Reds could look to hold out for a fee of £30m, but there are clear indications he could be a real upgrade for Forest between the sticks.

That said, signing a new ‘keeper may not be a priority given that Sels has been largely dependable this season, and Nuno is happy with his performances.

Liverpool are interested in signing a 23-year-old superstar in the January transfer window, according to an update from reliable journalist David Ornstein, and may now use a current player as part of the deal.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds have had a slight wobble in recent days, drawing 2-2 at home to Manchester United in the Premier League and then losing 1-0 away to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

There is certainly no need to panic, but supporters wouldn’t be against the idea of new faces coming in this month, in order to bolster a squad that may be feeling a little jaded. Liverpool have been linked with a move for Bayern Munich legend Joshua Kimmich, who is out of contract at the end of the season, as his club look to potentially receive some money for his services in January.

Another Bayern player, Leroy Sane, has also been mentioned as a possible option for the Reds, should Arne Slot want to add even more quality in wide areas. He does turn 29 years of age this weekend, however, so wouldn’t be a long-term addition, like Kimmich for that matter.

Darwin Nunez continues to flatter to deceive in a Liverpool shirt, with a summer exit not out of the question, and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been backed to come in as a replacement for him. The Nigerian is currently on loan at Galatasaray.

Liverpool could sell player to sign Kvaratskhelia

Writing on X on Thursday evening, Ornstein claimed that Liverpool are interested in signing Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in January, should the chance arise to snap him up amid PSG’s race to secure his signature.

Now, TEAMtalk report a new development that the Reds are willing to offer Federico Chiesa as part of a deal to sign the Georgian superstar, following a disappointing start to his Anfield career. The Merseysiders are reluctant to pay as much as £67m, so the Italian would be used to bring that number down.

The 23-year-old Georgian could be an unbelievable signing by the Reds, considering he is one of Europe’s most devastating wide players on his day, wreaking havoc with his dribbling brilliance and end product – he has 59 goal involvements in 107 appearances for Napoli.

Kvaratskhelia has terrorised Liverpool in the past, assisting against them a 4-1 win in the Champions League in 2022/23, and Jurgen Klopp has said of him: “He has speed, he is cheeky, he goes inside, he can go outside, that makes it always really difficult.

“A good player and I thought Trent played a really good game against him, was really on fire, didn’t get frustrated by one or two situations where he was second-best, stayed in the game and I liked Trent’s game tonight.”

Granted, some may feel that another left winger isn’t a priority for Liverpool, with Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz both great options there, but you don’t pass up the opportunity to sign such a special player if it arises.

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Not only that, but if Nunez does leave, Diaz could be used centrally moving forward like he has at times this season, allowing Kvaratskhelia to battle Gakpo for minutes. The idea of him in a Reds shirt is mouthwatering, and it will be fascinating to see if anything develops.

As for Chiesa, on £150k a week at Anfield, he needs to kick on quickly if he is to remain at Liverpool beyond the summer, having not started a single Premier League game this season.

Oval Invincibles are defending champions in the Hundred and eased to a nine-wicket win on the opening night of the women’s competition on Wednesday. But three days later, their season is in turmoil after they made a shock call to omit captain Dane van Niekerk from their side, then slipped to a 12-run defeat against Southern Brave in a rematch of last year’s final in the south London sunshine.Marizanne Kapp was fit to return after missing the opening game through illness and her return demanded a tough call, with four top-class overseas players in the squad and only three permitted in the playing XI. Jonathan Batty, Invincibles’ head coach, was expected to leave out Suzie Bates, but her innings of 46 off 34 against Northern Superchargers saw her keep her place.Instead, van Niekerk made way, and Invincibles never got going in her absence. Smriti Mandhana hit the first two balls of the innings for four after Bates, deputising as captain, chose to bowl, and her innings of 46 led Brave to 153 for 8, the highest women’s Hundred total at The Oval. In the chase, Kapp, Bates and Lauren Winfield-Hill made bright starts, but failed to turn their cameos into innings of substance as Brave’s spinners closed out a comfortable win in front of a 14,525 crowd.Mandhana magic
Mandhana missed the final week of the Hundred last year, returning home to see her family before flying to Australia for India’s tour, and their batting wasn’t the same without her: in the final, they folded to 73 all out – which represented something of a recovery from 14 for 6. While there is no guarantee she would have kept out Kapp’s high-class opening spell on that day, this was a reminder of what Brave had missed.She was up and running immediately, creaming her first ball – from Kapp, no less – through the covers for four and hit six fours in her first 13 deliveries, punishing Kapp and Shabnim Ismail when they missed their lengths. When she slog-swept Mady Villiers for four at the start of the ninth, she was a hit away from a half-century after just 24 balls, but was beaten in the flight by her 25th and stumped by Winfield-Hill.”I was timing the ball well,” Mandhana told Sky Sports at the interval. “When you get a first-ball boundary, that gives you a lot of confidence. I was really disappointed to get out – I think it’s a crime to get out in the 40s after batting so well – and really disappointed that I couldn’t play at least until the 90th ball.”Sophia Smale had the wickets of Danni Wyatt and Tahlia McGrath to show•ECB/Getty Images

Brave keep coming
Invincibles took regular wickets through the middle phase, with 17-year-old left-arm spinner Sophia Smale keeping a lid on the scoring, but Charlotte Edwards has made a point of building a side with a long batting line-up and they continued to attack throughout the innings: Mandhana aside, no batter reached even 25 but their intent dragged them up to a defendable total.Freya Kemp and Georgia Adams’ partnership of 45 off 24 balls for the sixth wicket was particularly crucial, and highlighted the extent to which Brave’s lower-order firepower has emboldened their batters to attack: rather than a major setback, each dismissal resembles one batter handing the baton over to the next.Oval’s overseas dilemma
Batty’s decision to leave out his captain, and the MVP across the tournament’s first season, was a gamble that backfired. “She led them to the trophy last year,” Lydia Greenway said on Sky. “From a coach’s point of view, if you feel like you need to make a big call like that, you have to go for it. The challenge they will have is if they lose today, how will they manage that?”In her absence, Invincibles needed their overseas trio to step up and prove their worth; perhaps inevitably, they struggled to make any impact. Kapp and Ismail were uncharacteristically loose with the new ball and at the death, returning combined figures of 0 for 67 from 40 balls. With the bat, Bates hit 15 off 8 balls and Kapp crunched 19 off 9, but both fell without making a lasting impact.With Alice Capsey sidelined due to the ankle injury she picked up fielding in Invincibles’ opening game, their domestic players were left with too much to do. Ryana Macdonald-Gay’s late hitting put a dent in Amanda-Jade Wellington’s figures but by then, tight spells from part-time offspinners Adams (2 for 16 from 20) and Danni Wyatt (2 for 16 from 10) had seen the asking rate spiral out of control.

Aston Villa and Tottenham are looking to battle Liverpool to the signing of Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, a report claims.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Gomes signed new Wolves deal this week
• Premier League sides still want to sign him
• Liverpool, Spurs & Villa all eyeing midfielder

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The midfielder signed a new contract with Wolves on Tuesday, tying him to the Premier League team until 2030. Nevertheless, reports that a few Premier League teams are still determined to lure him away from Molineux Stadium in the summer.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The report says that Gomes has no release clause in his new contract, giving Wolves the power to demand a large fee for his services, with Spurs, Villa and Liverpool all said to be eager to snap him up.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 24-year-old joined Wolves from Brazilian side Flamengo in January 2023 and quickly established himself as a first-team regular. He is aiming for a starting spot in Brazil's starting XI at the World Cup in 2026. He has 10 caps to his name, last starting for the Selecao in July last year.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  With Wolves lingering near the bottom of the Premier League, Gomes could feel he would benefit from a step up in the near future, especially with the World Cup on the way.

What a tough season it has been so far for Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Old Gold find themselves 19th in the Premier League, which might be a shock to many including Phil McNulty, the chief football writer for BBC Sport. He said “I think Wolves can avoid danger” at the start of the season, but so far it is not working out like that.

It will be all change in the next few weeks too, after Gary O’Neil’s recent sacking. Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira is officially the new manager, and he has a lot of work to do to salvage the season.

With that in mind, here’s a look at Wolves’ dream lineup using Pereira’s favoured 3-4-3, with some potential January signings, too.

1 GK – Sam Johnstone

It has been a lean season so far for Wolves, conceding 40 goals, the most in the Premier League. Sam Johnstone and Jose Sa have battled it out for the gloves, with Sa being O’Neil’s preferred choice.

With that being said, Johnstone has conceded 17 goals in seven games in the top flight, which is made to seem far worse given he let in five in one game against Brentford. He averages fewer goals conceded per game than Sa, with 2.42 compared to 2.55. He could well get the nod.

2 RWB – Nelson Semedo

Newly appointed Wolves captain Nelson Semedo will surely be a key player under Pereira. It seems unlikely that his countryman will rock the boat further by removing the Portugal right-back’s captaincy.

From a defensive standpoint this term, the former Barcelona defender has been crucial. As per FBref, he has made the most clearances amongst Wolves players with 59, and the fourth most tackles and interceptions with 39. He is a crucial player.

3 CB – Craig Dawson

Experienced centre-back Craig Dawson had a moment to forget a few weeks ago during the clash against Everton. His two own goals contributed to half of the goals they conceded in a 4-0 win at Goodison Park.

His poor form meant O’Neil dropped him for his final two games in charge, but that did not make much of a difference for the Midlands club. It could be that Pereira could reinstate him, looking to lean on his experience.

4 CB – Ben Godfrey

The first of the two new potential signings in this hypothetical XI is former Everton man Ben Godfrey. According to the Daily Mail, the Old Gold are ‘understood to be among the clubs keen’ to sign him on loan, alongside the likes of Nottingham Forest.

The defender has been a bit-part player for an incredibly successful Atalanta side this season, who he joined in the summer from the Toffees. He would bring experience to the backline at Molineux, given he has played 112 times in the Premier League, exactly the sort of addition that could help keep them up.

5 CB – Toti Gomes

25-year-old Portuguese international Toti Gomes has been another important player for the Old Gold in 2024/25, despite their defensive frailties. He has made 14 Premier League appearances this term.

One thing the Wolves number 24 can bring to their defence is progression on the ball. This season, he has played 31 progressive passes, more than any other centre-back, with Dawson the second-highest on 19. Not only is he a solid defender, but a big asset if Pereira wishes to play out from the back.

6 LWB – Rayan Ait-Nouri

Rayan Ait-Nouri has been one of the only players who have performed to a high level for the Old Gold this term. He is yet to miss a top-flight game, although will be banned for their next outing in the Premier League.

The Algerian left wing-back has been flying up and down the flank for O’Neil this season, and his three goals and three assists so far show what kind of impact he can have. There are question marks over his future at the club, with Manchester United linked with a £60m move as per GiveMeSport. However, Pereira would be no doubt desperate to keep him at the club.

7 CM – Andre

It has been a tough start to life in the Midlands for summer signing Andre. He has played 12 times in the top flight but has not been a first choice in the middle of the park, featuring for just 733 minutes in total.

However, it seems like Pereira might back him given the new manager’s experience in the midfielder’s native Brazil. Having managed Corinthians and Flamengo, he will have faced the former Fluminense man before and will know the quality he has to offer.

8 CM – Joao Gomes

Andre’s midfield partner could well be another Brazilian, Joao Gomes. He was a mainstay in the Old Gold midfield this campaign until the most recent game against Ipswich Town, playing in 15 from 16 games.

Gomes’ ability in the middle of the park to win the ball back is vital for the Molineux side. He has made 80 ball recoveries this season, more than any of his teammates, and has also completed 60 tackles and interceptions so far. His work rate without the ball will be crucial for Pereira.

9 AM – Miguel Almiron

The second of the potential new signings for the Old Gold in January is Miguel Almiron. According to The Sun, the Newcastle United winger is of interest to Wolves on loan, with Leicester City and Crystal Palace also keen.

The attacker, who earns £60k-per-week at St James’ Park, could slot into the side as a number 10 or a false winger, replacing former club captain Mario Lemina in the side.

He hasn’t played much this season, but is a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, scoring 11 times in the 2022/23 season.

10 AM – Matheus Cunha

People are running out of superlatives for Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha. He has been sublime for the Midlands club again this term, with eight goals and three assists. That includes two goals and one assist in Wolves’ second win of the season against Fulham.

Everything good that has happened for the Old Gold has more than likely been because of Cunha. He makes things happen and has the highest number of shot-creating actions per 90 minutes amongst teammates who average five full games or more, with 3.91.

Chelsea are willing to make a big-money bid, and offer out winger Mykhailo Mudryk, in exchange for a highly-rated attacking player they want – as Enzo Maresca’s side plot feasible ways to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea transfer chiefs targeting new striker for 2025

It has been reliably reported that the west Londoners are keen to bring in a prolific new target man at some point next year, despite the fine form of current number nine Nicolas Jackson, and there are a few interesting names on their shortlist.

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Indeed, reputable Chelsea journalist Simon Phillips backs reports of a distinct possibility that co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley will move to sign a prolific striker, coming after they missed out on both Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen last summer.

Chelsea made a proposal to Sesko in an attempt to lure him away from RB Leipzig, but the Slovenia international snubbed Marsesca, Arsenal and Man United in favour of signing a contract extension.

Chelsea’s next Premier League fixtures

Date

Fulham (home)

December 26

Ipswich Town (away)

December 30

Crystal Palace (away)

January 4

Bournemouth (home)

January 14

Wolverhampton Wanderers (home)

January 20

However, the 21-year-old is believed to have a “gentlemen’s agreement” that he can leave in 2025 or 2026, so he could re-emerge as an option for Chelsea.

Chelsea did make a last-minute summer attempt to sign Victor Osimhen as well, alongside Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli, but neither side could complete a deal for the Nigerian who later joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan.

Osimhen, Sesko, Victor Boniface, Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres are the strikers reportedly being considered by Chelsea as we head into next year (Simon Phillips), and reports from Italy now suggest that Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez is also firmly on their radar.

The Argentine only signed a new five-year deal in August, so it would make him an expensive option, though Chelsea are apparently ready to push the boat out.

Chelsea prepared to offer big money and three players for Lautaro Martinez

Calciomercato, citing Argentine sources, report that Chelsea are prepared to offer “a lot of money” and three players for Martinez, and one of the trio of players they’re ready to float towards the San Siro is suspended winger Mudryk.

The 23-year-old tested positive for meldonium in a recent drugs test (The Times), which has resulted in his provisional suspension from football, and it appears Chelsea could attempt to find him a new home at Inter as they pursue Martinez.

Benoit Badiashile and Carney Chukwuemeka are other players who could allegedly be offered in exchange for the £262,000-per-week striker, as Chelsea evaluate the possibility of making a move for him.

Martinez has bagged six goals and four assists in all competitions so far, but the Nerazzurri captain did bag a prolific 27 strikes in total last season.

It’s safe to say after the hype around the appointment of boss Julen Lopetegui, coupled with the over £100m investment from the hierarchy over the summer, the belief was that West Ham United would be sitting in a better position than they find themselves in.

The Hammers currently sit in 14th place in the Premier League, just five points clear of the drop zone after the opening 11 games of the Spaniard’s tenure at the London Stadium.

Lopetegui has only claimed three league wins since his appointment over the summer, ultimately failing to provide the upgrade on former boss David Moyes that many fans were hoping for.

However, he still has time on his hands to turn around the early season slump but will need to produce the results in the coming weeks if he is to keep his job in East London.

His chances of retaining the support of the board could’ve been aided had former boss Moyes kept hold of numerous key talents who all departed the club during the same transfer window.

West Ham’s transfer window in January 2024

West Ham saw numerous first-team players depart the Hammers during the January transfer window in 2024, in an attempt to free up space in the squad for the other new signings.

Spanish attacking midfielder Pablo Fornals departed the club, joining Spanish side Real Betis in a £6.8m deal – ending his four-and-a-half year stint at the London Stadium.

The 28-year-old made over 200 appearances during his time with the club, scoring 23 times in the process – with numerous having a huge impact under Moyes.

Undoubtedly, his most important effort came in the Europa Conference League semi-final win over Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, securing their place in the final against Fiorentina, one they would go on to win and create new history for the football club.

Fornals wasn’t the only player to depart the side, with defender Thilo Kehrer also leaving, albeit on a temporary basis to join French side Monaco.

The German made 50 appearances in his 18 months as a West Ham player, before turning his move with the Ligue 1 outfit permanently ahead of the ongoing campaign – with Lopetegui’s side receiving £9.5m for his services.

The aforementioned duo weren’t the only pair who left that window, with one former Hammer starting away from the club since his transfer to his new outfit.

The former West Ham ace who’s outperforming Paqueta & Kudus

Winger Said Benrahma joined the club back in the summer of 2020 for a £30m fee from fellow London outfit Brentford – looking to add that firepower to the club’s attacking unit.

The Algerian struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League during his debut campaign, scoring just once in his first 30 games in England’s top flight – but did manage to register six assists.

Sadly, Benrahma never lived up to the hype he arrived at the London Stadium with, making 155 appearances but only registering 24 goals – an average of one every 6.5 matches he appeared in.

His lack of form would see him shown the door in the same window as Fornals and Kehrer, joining French side Lyon, provisionally on loan, before a permanent deal was signed over the summer for £15m.

2020/21

33

1

7

2021/22

48

11

6

2022/23

52

12

5

2023/24

22

0

2

Total:

155

24

20

The move has allowed for the “unbelievable” 29-year-old, as dubbed by Statman Dave, to recapture some impressive form, scoring once and assisting twice in the opening seven league matches this campaign. In total, the Algerian has chalked up four goal involvements in all competitions thus far in 2024/25.

Benrahma’s subsequent tally of assists is higher than current first-team stars Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta, who have both failed to register a single assist in the Premier League. Equally, the pair have registered just three goal involvements and two goal involvements, respectively, across all fronts this term, thus placing them behind the Lyon man in that regard.

Given his form away from the capital, they must regret offloading the winger, with his form undoubtedly providing that added attacking edge that Lopetegui’s men have missed in recent weeks.

However, unfortunately for the Spaniard and the club’s supporters, it will remain a case of what could’ve been had they kept the Algerian beyond the summer.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers have sold some key players over the past two summer transfer windows. It has certainly had a knock-on effect for Gary O’Neil’s side, who are struggling this term, albeit while having now won their last two Premier League games.

Indeed, whilst they made a healthy profit from those departures, they have no doubt halted the team’s progress under both former managers and current boss O’Neil alike. In 2023, Portuguese midfield duo Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes departed the Old Gold.

In the most recent summer, Max Kilman was one of the detrimental departures, given he was club captain and a key component of their defence.

However, perhaps the most impactful sale has been that of Pedro Neto.

Neto’s Wolves career

Despite an injury-riddled time at Molineux, Portuguese winger Neto was superb for the Old Gold. He signed for the club from Italian side Lazio, for a reported fee of £14.1m in August 2019.

It is fair to say that the tricky winger’s time at the club was a success. He played 135 times for the club, scoring 14 goals and grabbing 24 assists in that time.

His best campaign was in 2023/24, where the Portugal international scored twice and grabbed nine assists in just 20 games.

Sadly, injuries did play a part throughout his time in the Midlands. He had a total of seven injuries across his four years at the club, leading him to miss several lengthy periods of time. That included 297 days and 52 games for club and country with a knee injury.

However, the winger bounced back well from his fitness issues, and his form earned him a £54m move to Stamford Bridge to join Chelsea. He has played 15 times for the Blues so far, scoring three and assisting three in that time.

Neto was certainly a major sale for the Old Gold and is no doubt a player they miss this season. Worryingly, there could be someone else who follows in his footsteps and leaves the club for a large fee.

Wolves’ next big sale

The player in question here is Rayan Ait-Nouri. The 23-year-old wing-back has been superb in a largely poor season for the Old Gold so far, continuing his impressive form from the past few seasons. He cost the club £9.5m from French side Angers in 2021, after spending the previous campaign on loan from the club.

He has been sensational for O’Neil’s side in 2024/25. The Algerian international, who was described as “underrated” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, has played 12 times in the Premier League, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists. That included a goal and assist against Brentford in a losing cause, a game that ended 5-3 to the Bees.

There can be statistical comparisons made between the Wolves defender and some of the most enterprising attacking left-backs in world football. One of those is AC Milan and French defender Theo Hernandez, who has two goals and two assists in ten Serie A games this term.

The pair are both the types of full-backs who often act like wingers, and with their creative flair it might not be surprising to see their passing stats are so similar, as noted on FBref.

This term, Ait-Nouri averages 1.08 key passes and 3.24 progressive passes per game, with the Milan star slightly more, playing 1.62 key passes and 4.73 progressive passes. The Old Gold defender has even more impressive stats when you consider he is playing for a relegation-threatened team.

Stat (per 90)

Ait-Nouri

Hernandez

Progressive passes

3.24

4.73

Key passes

1.08

1.62

Assists

0.2

0.27

Passes into final third

2.25

4.59

Passes into penalty box

0.69

0.81

Defensively, the two left-backs are neck and neck again. The Wolves number three averages 3.24 tackles and interceptions and 4.61 ball recoveries. In comparison, Milan’s French full-back averages 2.43 tackles and interceptions and 4.86 ball recoveries.

It is certainly possible that Ait-Nouri could be the next big Wolves sale. Given he is statistically similar to Hernandez, his valuation could follow the same trend. The Frenchman is worth £50m as per Transfermarkt, and GiveMeSport have previously suggested Wolves would want £60m for their Algerian star.

Losing their number three would be a blow for O’Neil’s side after so many of their other stars have departed over the past two years, and they will no doubt be doing everything they can to hold onto him.

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