It’s been far from an easy ride at Everton over the past few years, as Sean Dyche continues to attempt to combat the on-pitch issues that have previously threatened the club with relegation.

Fans had to wait until matchweek four to see the Toffees net their first goals of the 2023/24 campaign, and matchweek six to see their side claim their first three points of the season, after a dreadful start to the campaign.

Last term, almost identical to the year prior, Everton were forced to have their fate decided on the final game of the Premier League season, as they flirted with demotion to the Championship due to poor form and lack of inspiration.

Change in personnel within the squad and from a managerial aspect has delayed any type of progression for the Merseyside outfit, however with three wins in their previous four games, there is hope that Dyche’s side can finally build some form.

With a squad replenished in the summer transfer window, there are vacancies there for new heroes to emerge at Goodison, with those that brought joy before, now just a memory.

One name that was a constant source of hope for the Toffees amid their relegation battle of the 2021/22 campaign was Richarlison, who departed the club that summer after cementing himself as a fan favourite on Merseyside.

While it was a painful goodbye to the Brazilian, hindsight has shown that the Blues got a strong deal in the sale of the forward, despite having to let go of his influence on the squad.

When did Everton sign Richarlison?

In the summer of 2018, Everton announced the signing of the highly-rated Richarlison from Watford, paying £40m for the striker who was 21 at the time of his move.

The Brazilian arrived at Vicarage Road the year before, and made a statement in his debut campaign in Europe by having a hand in ten Premier League goals, scoring five and assisting five to capture the eye of the Blues.

Marco Silva, the former Hornets boss who guided Richarlison at Vicarage Road, was the Everton manager responsible for bringing the forward to Goodison in 2018, where he praised him as an acquisition that was “very good technically” at the point of his arrival.

How much did Richarlison earn at Everton?

In making the move to Merseyside, Richarlison subsequently more than doubled his salary, improving his £1.3m-per-year wage at Watford to £4.6m at Everton, equating to a weekly wage of £90k, via Capology.

It was clear from the off how highly the Blues regarded the young marksman, as they handed him a wage that ranked him joint-fourth of the club’s highest-earners in the 2018/19 season.

The faith shown by the Toffees was quickly repaid by Richarlison, as he almost instantly made a name for himself, scoring two goals on his league debut in August 2018, where he was lauded as an “animal” by journalist Liam Canning.

How many goals did Richarlison score?

At the end of his first season, the Brazilian had found himself on the score sheet 14 times in all competitions, netting 13 in the Premier League to get fans excited about what was yet to come.

The following campaign, Richarlison replicated his scoring tally in the league with another 13 in the 2019/20 season, as well as scoring two goals in the Carabao Cup that year.

Along with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the versatile forward was repaying the price the Blues had paid to bring him to the club at 21, ending his stay on Merseyside with 53 goals and 14 assists in 152 appearances in all competitions.

Excluding the 2020/21 campaign, the £40m man never failed to score under ten goals in the Premier League while at Everton, with his lowest tally being the seven he claimed that season.

In his final term, amid the struggles going on at Goodison, the Brazil international had a hand in 15 goals in the league, scoring ten and assisting five, maintaining form in the wilted side that caught the attention of other clubs in the top flight.

How much did Everton sell Richarlison for?

They say all good things must come to an end, and that was the narrative that played out for Richarlison at Everton, as he bid farewell to the club after four years in the summer of 2022.

Tottenham Hotspur were the side that opted to splash the cash to sign the then 25-year-old, paying £60m for his services after their opening offer of £40m was rejected by the Blues.

As relayed by Sky Sports at the time, Everton were hoping for more for their talisman, but made the decision to sanction the move in order to hand manager Frank Lampard additional funds to orchestrate change in the transfer window to take forward.

By selling the 48-cap Brazil international, the Toffees generated a profit of £20m from the £40m they paid for him in 2018, highlighting the grasped opportunity for them to optimise their finances in what was a difficult time for the club.

In hindsight, the deal was an integral and successful one, as the now 26-year-old has seen his market value crash, and his form follow, suggesting that he played his best football at Goodison.

How much is Richarlison worth now?

To say that Lampard cashed in on Richarlison at the perfect time is an understatement, as his current market value sits at just €36.3m (£31m), £29m less than the price that he was sold for just a year ago, as per Football Transfers.

Richarlison's Premier League scoring record

Season

Club

Apps

Goals

2017/18

Watford

38

5

2018/19

Everton

35

13

2019/20

Everton

36

13

2020/21

Everton

34

7

2021/22

Everton

30

10

2022/23

Spurs

27

1

2023/24 TBC

Spurs

8

1

Figures via Transfermarkt

The dip in the forward’s form is answered solely by his abysmal displays in the final third during his first season at Spurs, another indication that Everton offloading him at the ideal time.

In the 2022/23 campaign, the 6 foot hotshot scored once in 27 appearances, scoring his only goal of the entire Premier League season in April after a period of stagnancy relating to the element he was signed to thrive in.

There remains hope that the former Toffees sensation can rediscover his confidence in front of goal, with signs there that this season may be more encouraging as he matched last campaign’s league tally on match week five of this term.

Regardless of whether Richarlison can salvage the form he showcased at Goodison, Everton struck gold by selling the striker for £60m, especially when seeing how dramatically his value has dropped in the year following his departure.

Manchester United have failed to recapture their form from the end of last season as Erik ten Hag is currently suffering from second-season syndrome, and he will need to get his act together swiftly, otherwise he could be out of a job.

Having won their first trophy in six years by claiming the EFL Cup last season while finishing third in the Premier League, it looked as though United were heading in the right direction and that Ten Hag was the true successor to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Just five wins from 11 matches this season, however, has slowed their ascendency down slightly and while the Dutchman managed to lure the likes of Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund to the project he is currently building in Manchester, he did miss out on some transfer targets, namely Harry Kane.

He isn’t the first United manager this has happened to, and he won't be the last, even 'Fergie' missed out on players who then shone elsewhere.

The Red Devils could’ve had Alan Shearer leading their line during the 1990s, yet he turned down the club to move to Newcastle United. They even had a chance to sign Frank Lampard before his move to Chelsea, think how good Fergie’s midfield could have been with the former England international starring for him?

Ferguson also failed to lure another future Chelsea icon to United when they were going through a barren spell, as Didier Drogba ended up moving to London instead of Manchester and there is no doubt he could’ve significantly bolstered his squad at the time.

Did Man Utd nearly sign Didier Drogba?

In the summer of 2004, Jose Mourinho was announced as the new Chelsea manager and with that, United’s era of domination ended.

With the club securing just the FA Cup during the 2003/04 season while witnessing Arsenal’s unbeaten Premier League campaign firsthand, Ferguson turned to the transfer window in order to strengthen, with Drogba on his list of potential new signings.

He said: “We went to check him out [at Marseille] but the club wanted £25million and Chelsea moved in for the kill before we had made up our minds.”

United went and signed Wayne Rooney towards the end of that summer instead and that move obviously worked out extremely well, yet Drogba would’ve been a great signing.

What happened to Didier Drogba?

Mourinho was smitten with Drogba and shelled out £24m to sign one of his top transfer targets as he aimed to lead the Blues to their first league title since 1955.

The Ivorian scored 16 goals during his maiden campaign in London to help the Blues win the Premier League, while he also starred in the League Cup final too and the £24m was certainly proving to be quite the bargain.

40

7

35

13

46

13

44

37

42

14

32

15

60

33

41

16

41

16

Another 27 goal contributions followed the season after as the Stamford Bridge side retained their title, and it looked as though the next few years were going to be all about Chelsea and Mourinho was the mastermind behind the success.

Despite a League Cup and FA Cup double during 2006/07, a poor start to the following season ensured Mourinho was sacked after a fractious relationship with chairman Romain Abramovich and Drogba went through a series of managers during his remaining few years at the club.

He did win another league title in 2009/10, netting 29 goals in just 32 matches, yet it was the 2011/12 season where he enjoyed his greatest success.

Abramovich had spent big since taking over the club in 2003 and Champions League glory was his only prerequisite. They lost the 2008 final to United in a rain-soaked Moscow but having defeated Barcelona in the semifinals, they faced Bayern Munich, in Munich, to see who would claim the title in 2012.

Knowing this was his final game for the club (during his first spell), Drogba certainly lived up to his reputation of being a big game player and against Bayern, this was no different.

Heading into the dying embers of the tie, Chelsea were down 1-0 and defeat looked certain. Drogba, however, powered home a header to send the tie to extra time.

He did concede a penalty, yet this was missed by Arjen Robben and the final was to be decided by the dreaded shootout. The Ivorian went on to write his name in Chelsea folklore, scoring the winning penalty and wheeling away in jubilation.

How many goals did Didier Drogba score for Chelsea?

The one-time Guingamp marksman returned to Chelsea during the 2014/15 season and won yet another Premier League title before eventually retiring in 2018. He ended up scoring 164 goals across 381 games for the Blues and this type of record would’ve made him a huge success in Manchester, absolutely no doubt about it.

He drew praise from ex-teammate Frank Lampard a few years ago, who said: “I always say Didier Drogba and John Terry [were my favourite to play alongside], for different reasons so it’s like a double-headed answer really.

“Didier for me was amazing, to have him in your team in a final, you felt Didier in the dressing room before a big game that it was a different Didier, he was like an animal.

“His preparation, the intensity in his eyes and then he always produced.”

Imagine this type of striker leading the line under Ferguson at United, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney providing chance after chance for the player.

It could have been a dream attacking triumvirate, yet it clearly wasn’t to be for the future Chelsea “legend” – as so dubbed by their summer arrival Nicolas Jackson – as he forged his own glorious story in England with a different club.

Ferguson’s mistakes in the transfer market were few and far between, yet during his final decade or so in charge, he began to let some excellent players slip through his grasp who may have enabled him to secure more silverware.

Drogba was one of those names and if he had joined United instead of Chelsea in 2004, might they have returned to the summit of English football sooner than they did?

Who knows, but the now-retired ace would have been outstanding in the red of United, and he remains one of the Premier League's finest-ever strikers.

Glasgow Rangers are currently attempting to land their next head coach to take on the job at Ibrox after Michael Beale was relieved of his duties earlier this month.

The Scottish giants are in the market for a new manager after the English tactician failed to bring tangible success over the course of his tenure at the club.

Rangers are already seven points adrift of the top of the Scottish Premiership table and failed to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League under their former boss.

Matches

Five

Wins

Two

Draws

Two

Losses

One

Whoever chairman John Bennett and chief executive James Bisgrove decide to hire will arrive with an uphill task to get the Light Blues back on track in order to compete for major honours this season.

They will also have a job on their hands to unlock or get the best out of the numerous signings who have struggled so far; including Belgian striker Cyriel Dessers.

What's the latest on Philippe Clement to Rangers?

Nieuwsblad recently reported that the Gers have made a contract offer to former Club Brugge tactician Philippe Clement and he could rock Ibrox by unlocking the summer signing's goalscoring potential.

The Glasgow outfit are said to have sent their proposal to the out-of-contract manager and he is now in 'pole position' to become Beale's eventual replacement before the end of the international break.

The report from Nieuwsblad also claimed that the Belgian tinkerer is expected to turn down the opportunity to go to the Saudi Pro League with Al Shabab, despite talks with the team last week.

Would Clement be a good appointment?

On paper, the 49-year-old boss has the potential to be an excellent appointment by Bisgrove and Bennett if he can translate his success in Belgium over to Scottish football.

Clement won an impressive three league titles in three seasons between the 2018/19 and 2020/21 campaigns with Genk and Club Brugge and has lifted four Pro League trophies throughout his managerial career in total.

The former Monaco chief also has an impressive record in qualifying matches for European competitions, which is where Beale struggled earlier this season for the Gers.

He has won nine and lost one of his 12 qualifiers, for the Champions League and the Europa League combined, and this shows that the Belgian mastermind knows what it takes to be successful at that level.

These statistics suggest that Clement could come in as a big upgrade on Beale, who has not won a single trophy throughout his managerial career to date and has no track record of being able to coach a winning side.

The 4-4-2 tactician has, on the other hand, showcased his ability to win league titles and achieve relative success in Europe at multiple clubs, with titles in charge of both Genk and Brugge.

Therefore, Clement could be a fantastic appoint by the Scottish giants if he accepts the offer that is reportedly on the table from the club.

Getting the best out of Dessers could be one of the first priorities for the 49-year-old boss if he does take charge of the Gers, as the striker has struggled this season.

How much did Rangers pay for Dessers?

The Scottish giants reportedly agreed a deal worth £4.5m to sign the Belgian centre-forward from Italian side Cremonese after they were relegated from the Serie A last season.

They brought him in off the back of a fairly underwhelming season in the top-flight of football in Italy as his side failed to avoid the drop-down to Serie B.

Dessers produced six goals and two assists in 26 league appearances for the club throughout the campaign and missed five 'big chances' in total.

The Nigeria international's lack of physicality was also a concern as opposition players got the better of him in 70% of his duels and 75% of his aerial contests, which suggests that the experienced forward was too weak for the Serie A.

How many goals has Dessers scored this season?

Dessers' lack of consistent quality at the top end of the pitch has carried over into the current campaign as he has only scored three goals in 15 appearances for the Gers.

His Scottish Premiership form has been a particular cause for concern. The 28-year-old marksman has produced one goal and zero assists in eight league outings for the Light Blues and lost a staggering 81% of his duels on the ground in that time, as per Sofascore.

Three of his six goal contributions for the club came in his four Champions League qualifying appearances earlier this season, which included one goal and two assists.

What's next for Dessers?

Journalist Dean Jones claimed, in August, that Dessers could go on to become a "cult hero" for Rangers if he is able to turn his form around over the months or years to come.

Clement could, therefore, rock Ibrox and impress supporters by fulfilling this prediction and helping the ex-Genk striker find his feet at this level.

He favours a 4-4-2 system and this means that Dessers could play alongside another forward and thrive away from being the main focal point for the side, which the Nigerian flop has clearly struggled with as he does not have the physicality to consistently compete and win duels against defenders.

Playing as part of a front two could allow him to focus solely on his movement off the ball to find the space to score and create goals.

His form for Feyenoord during the 2021/22 campaign suggests that the quality is there for him to turn his fortunes around at Ibrox if Clement's system can get the best out of him.

Dessers produced a sensational ten goals and one assist in seven Europa Conference League starts and managed nine goals in nine Eredivisie starts for the Dutch side, as per Sofascore.

No Rangers striker managed more than 14 league goals for the Gers last term and the ex-Cremonese forward's goal record for Feyenoord suggests that the forward, who also scored 29 goals in 40 matches for NAC Breda earlier in his career, could be a lethal scorer for the Scottish giants if he can get back to those levels.

Therefore, Clement could get supporters at Ibrox rocking with joy if they start to see the 6 foot 1 finisher firing in the goals on a regular basis in a 4-4-2 set-up.

Getty Images

Blazing knocks by Chris Gayle and Rassie van der Dussen, complemented by a devastating cameo by Mahmudullah, helped St Kitts & Nevis Patriots clinch the fourth and final playoff spot in CPL 2018 with a dramatic seven-wicket win over Jamaica Tallawahs via the DLS Method at Warner Park. Patriots were cruising at 65 for 1 in 6.3 overs, chasing 207, when rain sent the players off for a 40-minute delay.The match had already been delayed an hour at the start due to early evening rain. With more interruptions anticipated, Patriots captain Gayle’s decision to bowl first was vindicated, when the target was revised to a very manageable 53 off the final 4.3 overs following the restart. Despite a brief stumble, characterised by two wickets in the first four balls after play restarted, Mahmudullah erased any doubt with 28 not out off 11 balls to finish off the match with five balls to spare.Ka-PowHaving not faced a single ball because he was held back – a strategic blunder that cost Patriots a win over Barbados Tridents in Florida – Rovman Powell has made up for lost time in his last three innings with a total of 183 runs. Sunday night featured his career-best knock in T20 cricket, as he smoked the Patriots attack at better than two-runs-a-ball.Powell entered in the seventh over following the loss of Johnson Charles and Kennar Lewis and wasted little time in tearing into the Patriots bowling unit. He ended the eighth over by smashing Fabian Allen’s left-arm spin for six, four and six, and barely slowed down after that.Powell brought up his half-century off 26 balls and got a second life a short while later, when Sheldon Cottrell dropped a straightforward chance at deep midwicket – one of several sloppy efforts in the field for the Patriots. The Jamaican seemed to be in with a good chance of bringing up a maiden T20 century before missing out on a knee high full-toss to Ben Cutting with nine balls to go in the innings. But by that stage, the Tallawahs had a very competitive total.Not standing patGayle got the chase off to a scintillating start by scorching 18 off the opening over from Krishmar Santokie. Tallawahs hit back in the first ball of the second, when Oshane Thomas cleaned up Evin Lewis with an inswinging yorker. But that was a minor speed bump for the Patriots as van der Dussen came in and stroked four boundaries to help take the hosts to 62 for 1 in the Powerplay.A potentially costly miss for the Tallawahs occurred on the last ball before play was stopped, when van der Dussen’s flat drive off Santokie toward Russell at long-off was spilled despite a phenomenal diving effort by Russell. The let-off ensured any recalculations with overs lost would remain favorable to the Patriots.Oh MahmaFollowing the 40-minute delay, Gayle drove the first ball from Santokie for six over long-on, but fell two balls later, skying a catch to the point sweeper. Legspinner Adam Zampa was brought on for the eighth over and struck immediately, going past Cutting’s swipe across the line to bowl him for a golden duck. At the time, the visitors needed 47 off 23 balls.Enter Mahmudullah. The Bangladesh allrounder had only faced nine balls in the previous four matches for the Patriots, and had batted at No. 9 in his most recent innings. After a few singles against Zampa, Mahmudullah showed that he has plenty of firepower to contribute when needed.Van der Dussen also swung momentum back the Patriots’ way, heaving a pair of sixes over the leg side off Thomas, before Mahmudullah took center stage. Two glides behind point – one streaky and one much more deliberate – went away for fours, before a clean wallop over midwicket made it 27 for the over, meaning Patriots had wiped out more than half the required runs in six balls. Another glorious inside-out six over extra cover two balls later, off Zampa, brought the required rate under a run a ball. Mahmudullah then slapped Powell over the infield for a brace, in the first ball of the final over, to seal Patriots’ spot in the playoffs.

After a difficult start, Leeds United have finally found their feet under Daniel Farke, and now look on course to challenge for a place at the top of the Championship. Much of the credit for their turnaround deserves to go to the recruitment team, with Joel Piroe's arrival particularly strengthening the Yorkshire side in the final third this season.

That same team could be at the centre of things once more come January, too, when they'll look to find the players capable of making a difference for Leeds in the final stages of the campaign. And that could include the addition of one particular goalkeeper who is a man in demand.

What's the latest Leeds United transfer news?

In total, the Whites welcomed nine reinforcements during the summer transfer window, with Leeds' summer spending reaching around the £36m mark. Proving their ability to spend, the winter transfer window may open the door for further reinforcements for the 49ers Enterprises and Farke at Elland Road.

Player

Price

Joel Piroe

€14m

Ethan Ampadu

€8m

Ilia Gruev

€6.5m

Glen Kamara

€6m

Djed Spence

€1m loan fee

Karl Darlow

€400k

Sam Byram

Free

Jaidon Anthony

Loan

Joe Rodon

Loan

One position that Farke could strengthen is the goalkeeper role, with the latest Noel Tornqvist transfer news reporting that Leeds are interested in the shot-stopper. According to Fotbollskanalen, via Leeds Live, officials of the Yorkshire club actually sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old goalkeeper in action for Mjallby AIF prior to the international break. Mjallby AIF sporting director Hasse Larsson confirmed that scouts were there to watch Tornqvist, saying, via Leeds Live:

"That’s right. There were two more clubs, two Dutch clubs, who were also there to watch. There is an interest, absolutely. We’ll see what happens, we haven’t received anything concrete. We have only received requests.

“I think we have a contract for four more years. It is difficult to answer [of retaining him beyond January], but we are happy to keep him for a while longer. Then we’ll see, it depends on what comes. It’s fairly broad. There were four clubs that looked at him and there have been clubs that looked at him before.”

Who is Noel Tornqvist?

A left-footed goalkeeper, Tornqvist played an important role for Mjallby AIF last season, starting 23 of his side's 25 Allsvenskan games. Tornqvist's clean sheets were also impressive, with the 21-year-old keeping an impressive total of 11 throughout the season in all competitions. With that said, he could provide current Leeds number one Illan Meslier with plenty of competition, perhaps even taking the starting role from the Frenchman, should he end up leaving in the future.

Mjallby coach Anders Torstensson has previously been full of praise for his goalkeeper, saying:

“It was a question mark we had before the season. We know that Noel is a good goalkeeper. Then it’s about defending the shirt as the first-choice goalkeeper. He made a mistake against Varberg and also had back problems in that game, but I think he responded in a fantastic way.”

When the January transfer window swings open, the Whites may well be a club to keep an eye on, with their interest in Tornqvist potentially taking centre stage.

Kylian Mbappe was on fire for Paris Saint-Germain as he scored three and set up another goal in a 6-2 annihilation of Montpellier on Sunday.

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PSG smash six past MontpellierMbappe involved in four goalsNow 12 points clear in Ligue 1GettyTELL ME MORE

The French forward's importance to the team was on show throughout the game as PSG, despite their dominance, let Montpellier back into the match in a shaky spell late in the first half.

It looked like it was going to be an easy day for PSG when they opened the scoring inside the first quarter of an hour. Mbappe worked the ball to Vitinha outside the box and he easily stepped beyond one Montpellier player before unleashing a strike from the edge of the area to send his team into the lead. PSG then hit Montpellier with a rapid counter attack that ended with Mbappe combining with Randal Kolo Muani before the former rolled into the net from a tight angle.

Montpellier managed to pull a goal back through Arnaud Nordin and Wahbi Khazri had a great chance to score an equaliser but his effort was cleared by Danilo. They did not have to wait much longer to get the equaliser, though, when Danilo's awful pass back put Gianluigi Donnarumma under pressure and he collided with Tanguy Coulibaly and the referee pointed to the penalty spot, which Teji Savanier blasted into the top corner.

Mbappe came to the rescue early in the second half when he received the ball outside the box, had a glance at goal and then smashed it over Dimitry Bertaud and in off the bar. Right after it, Lee Kang-in issued a challenge to Mbappe for the best goal of the game when he played a one-two with Kolo Muani and curled in a beauty from outside the box.

Outgoing talisman Mbappe took back the limelight from his Korean co-star, however, when he raced through to complete his hat-trick. After Montpellier were denied a penalty through VAR, Vitinha teed up Nuno Mendes for a fantastic goal to finish the game off at 6-2.

AdvertisementGettyTHE MVP

At his illustrious best, Mbappe showed the quality that PSG will sorely miss when he leaves on a free transfer. He was tremendous from start to finish and showed his individual brilliance in all three of his goals after helping spark the team into life with the assist for the opener.

GettyTHE BIG LOSER

PSG centre-back Pereira had a role in both of Montpellier's goals. He tried to meet a cross and ended up knocking it to Nordin for a simple header from close range. Despite his vital clearance to prevent Khazri from equalising, the Portuguese defender's awful pass to Donnarumma caused the penalty.

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WHAT COMES NEXT?

PSG are now 12 points clear of Brest at the top of Ligue 1 and will hope to protect that lead when they return to domestic action against Marseille on March 31.

Former England opener Sam Robson has finally found form, but it’s too little too late to join the list of potential Test openers in Sri Lanka

ECB Reporters Network20-Sep-20181:38

Worcestershire relegated after Essex hammering

ScorecardMatt Critchley became Derbyshire’s youngest ever centurion at Lord’s – but his side will face an arduous challenge to overcome Middlesex on the final day of their County Championship clash.The 22-year-old all-rounder top-scored for the visitors with 105 before picking up four wickets as Middlesex ended day three with a healthy advantage of 327 runs.Critchley’s ton made him the youngest Derbyshire player to achieve three figures at Lord’s – Stan Worthington was eight months his senior when he scored 101 on the ground 90 years earlier.Despite Critchley’s efforts with both bat and ball, Middlesex hold the upper hand after Sam Robson’s knock of 73 enabled them to reach 199 for 7 in their second innings.After a morning downpour had delayed the start by an hour and a half, Critchley immediately set about knocking off the 52 runs still required for Derbyshire to avoid the follow-on.Resuming on 87, he drove James Fuller for successive leg-side boundaries and then cut another four past gully to bring up his century.But James Harris (4 for 83) regained the initiative for Middlesex, persuading Critchley to attempt a hook shot that somehow sailed into the hands of second slip, and then removing Anuj Dal and Tony Palladino in quick succession.However, Hardus Viljoen, with an unbeaten 31 from 25 deliveries, and Lockie Ferguson threw the bat as they put together a crucial last-wicket partnership of 43.Ferguson smote Tim Murtagh back over his head for six to save the follow-on before the Middlesex bowler took revenge, uprooting his off stump as Derbyshire were dismissed for 295.Boosted by his first innings century, Robson looked in good nick again as Middlesex began the task of extending their lead of 128 as swiftly as possible.Robson went for his shots on both sides of the wicket, displaying sound timing and dominating an opening stand of 58 with Nick Gubbins, ended in bizarre fashion when the left-hander dislodged his bails while attempting to leg-glance Ferguson.Critchley then regained centre stage with his leg-spin, bamboozling Stevie Eskinazi for a leg-side stumping and having Dawid Malan caught after his sweep struck close-range fielder Gary Wilson and ballooned up to backward square.And Critchley also accounted for Robson on the stroke of the tea interval, running the opener out from mid-off after he had been sent back by Max Holden to end his hopes of completing a second ton in the match.Holden was one of two further victims to fall to the leg-spinner in a truncated final session, but Martin Andersson accumulated an undefeated 23 from as many balls, increasing Middlesex’s lead beyond 300 before bad light brought play to a premature close.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag could be dealt a cruel blow on the injury front as one of his star players is now awaiting assessment for an injury picked up on international duty, according to reports.

Man Utd latest news: Sheikh Jassim withdraws, injury problems, Sancho exit

Recently, huge news has hit the headlines in regards to a Man Utd takeover after Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani withdrew from the bidding process to try and acquire 100% of the club. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is now close to agreeing a deal to buy 25% of the club, in an agreement that would still see the Glazer family hold a verticle of control at Old Trafford; however, the exact terms of any potential deal upon ratification are yet to be fully established.

In other news, The Athletic have recently reported that Man Utd's injury latest is being investigated as their list of absentees continues to mount over the course of the season. Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lisandro Martinez, Amad Diallo and Tyrell Malacia are all currently on the sidelines long-term due to various concerns; meanwhile, summer signing Mason Mount, Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon have missed chunks of action due to sustaining knocks. Director of Football John Murtough has shed some light on the next steps to try and combat the Premier League giants' injury crisis, stating:

"We’re also looking at why we’ve had so many injuries to see if there are any patterns to improve prevention in future. Some of them have been impact injuries, such as Kobbie’s and Amad’s, which are unpredictable. Others have been muscular and could reflect the sheer volume of games played over the past year, including last year’s World Cup."

Meanwhile, Barcelona are said to be keen on a cut-price move for Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho next summer; however, the England international would need to significantly lower his salary demands to push through any deal either on loan or permanently.

Jadon Sancho at Manchester United – statistics per season since arrival

Signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee in the region of £73 million in 2021

Statistics 2021/22: Appearances in all competitions – 38

Goals: 5

Assists: 3

Statistics 2022/23: Appearances in all competitions – 41

Goals: 7

Assists: 3

Statistics 2023/24: Appearances in all competitions – 3

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Man Utd injury update – Casemiro suffers concern on international duty

As per a fresh Man United injury update on Casemiro from the club, the midfielder suffered an ankle injury on international duty with Brazil against Venezuela and was substituted in the 79th minute after asking to be taken off.

Reports since have claimed he did not train on Saturday due to his ankle being 'badly swollen' and he will undergo further assessment to determine the severity of the injury, which could lead to a spell on the sidelines for the veteran midfielder, who has previously been hailed as "magnificent" by Ten Hag.

Casemiro has been a major contributor for United since completing his move from Real Madrid in 2022, registering 11 goals and seven assists in 62 appearances across all competitions (Casemiro statistics – Transfermarkt).

Nevertheless, it looks as if he could now be unavailable for some upcoming fixtures at Old Trafford, though United will need to wait and see on that front.

Chelsea have shown glimpses of their potential under Mauricio Pochettino, but so far just that. The Argentine is yet to get a consistent run under his belt at Stamford Bridge, with the size of the project that he is responsible for quickly becoming apparent. He will hope that the promising signs shown in the Blues' draw against Arsenal will act as a springboard for a successful run in the Premier League, as Chelsea look to make a return to Champions League football.

Many of the headlines in the summer were centred around Chelsea's transfer business, with a flurry of talents heading for the exit door, whilst Pochettino began his rebuild with a number of arrivals. With their goalscoring problem very much still their biggest weakness, however, the Blues could now turn to a former academy player.

Chelsea transfer news

It could be argued that Chelsea's excessive spending is yet to solve many, if any, of their problems. They remain on course for a disappointing finish and have suffered defeats against Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa already this season, also drawing against Bournemouth. Nonetheless, it looks as though Todd Boehly could return to the transfer market once more, given the latest Miles Leaburn transfer news.

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea and Brentford are mulling over a move for the Charlton Athletic striker, who still has two years remaining on his current deal at the club. Leaburn, of course, is all too familiar with Chelsea, having come through their academy before joining the Addicks in 2019. Charlton are in a strong position when it comes to keeping hold of their talented teenager, after they reportedly rejected an offer worth £3m from the Bundesliga in the summer.

When the January transfer window does open, as well as next summer's edition, it will be interesting to see whether Chelsea, or in fact Brentford, push ahead to sign Leaburn, who may still have dreams of Stamford Bridge success.

Miles Leaburn is "not just a goalscorer"

Leaburn's stats show just how well he has started for Charlton this season, scoring a goal every 86 minutes. The 6 ft 5 in giant has found the back of the net six times in just 515 minutes of action, which is just under six games. The fact is, the 19-year-old has been on fire this season, and has more than earned the reported interest of Chelsea.

His form has rightly received a lot of praise, including from former Charlton boss Dean Holden, who said, via London News Online: “It proves he’s not just a goalscorer. His all-round game, as much as he’s got to learn, is solid. He is not just a fox-in-the-box, he’s not just someone who will run in behind and he’s not just a targetman.

“All of those different parts of his game will improve because it is his first season in senior football. Why can’t he get to 12 or higher than that? He is such a great lad to work with – he wants to improve. He doesn’t for one second think he is the finished article, which is really exciting. Huge potential.”

The international break is now over, and Arsenal return to Premier League action against London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this evening, with sights set on extending their unbeaten run to the league season.

Last year, Mikel Arteta led the Emirates Stadium side to a second-placed finish in the English top-flight, ending five years outside of Champions League qualification.

But the late-season slump that saw an indomitable Manchester City side leapfrog the Gunners to win their third successive Premier League title and enable treble success left more than a bitter taste after such a gallant and inspiring effort.

This season, Arsenal have returned to emphatic form and currently hold six victories and two draws from eight matches, behind table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur only due to goals scored.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are 11th in the league after an ignominious 12th-place finish last season, though after appointing Mauricio Pochettino in the summer, they are now starting to show signs of improvement.

Having picked up successive away victories over Fulham and Burnley, there is now a golden chance for the Blues to make a statement of intent by handing their rivals their maiden loss of the league term.

Date & Ground

Result

02 May, 2023 – Emirates Stadium

AFC 2-0 CHE

06 Nov, 2022 – Stamford Bridge

CHE 0-1 AFC

20 Apr, 2022 – Stamford Bridge

CHE 2-4 AFC

22 Aug, 2021 – Emirates Stadium

AFC 0-2 CHE

12 May, 2021 – Stamford Bridge

CHE 0-1 AFC

26 Dec, 2020 – Emirates Stadium

AFC 3-1 CHE

Sourced via 11vs11

Such efforts, however, will require some doing, with Arsenal winning five of the last six Premier League encounters – including their previous three visits to Stamford Bridge.

There are concerns over the fitness of stalwart Bukayo Saka, but Arteta will know that his cohesive, free-flowing outfit boast enough quality to halt Chelsea's mini-revival and continue their own purple patch.

What's the Arsenal team news vs Chelsea?

Arteta admitted this week that he will have to assess the fitness levels of Saka, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard ahead of today's crucial contest, with the trio all pulling out of their respective international squads before the recent break.

Thomas Partey is fit and could come in for Jorginho in the centre of the pitch to inject some power and physicality against a robust Chelsea midfield – likely consisting of Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher.

In particular, the possible absence of Saka will be a major concern for Arteta, who will know of the England international's devastating ability to dismantle resolute defences such as Chelsea's.

Is Bukayo Saka fit to play vs Chelsea?

Saka ended an 87-match appearance streak in the Premier League against Manchester City, but his absence did not stop Arsenal from securing a galvanising victory.

The prodigious winger, aged 22, has posted five goals and assists apiece this term from just ten matches across all competitions – having scored 14 goals and supplying 11 assists in the Premier League last season.

The £195k-per-week sensation ranks among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 7% for progressive carries, the top 3% for touches in the attacking box and the top 11% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

He is one of the most dynamic and deadly of his position across Europe, and he would likely walk into the lion's share of European outfits, having been praised by podcaster and radio host Boyd Hilton, who said: "Saka must be one of the best players in the world right now. Unplayable."

Should he indeed be sidelined, Arteta will at least be boosted by the likely return of Gabriel Martinelli to the starting line-up, with the South American star proving his worth and then some last time out, bagging the late winner against Pep Guardiola's side.

Should Gabriel Martinelli start vs Chelsea?

Martinelli has been an integral member of Arteta's team and its noteworthy resurgence over the past several years, though he has spent much of the past month or so sidelined after injuring his hamstring against Everton.

Signing from Brazilian outfit Ituano Futebol Clube for a reported £6m fee in 2019 as an 18-year-old, Martinelli has now completed 137 matches for his London team, plundering 55 direct goal contributions despite his youth.

In 2021, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp made some rather effusive remarks about the starlet, claiming that he was the "talent of the century", which, impressive as he may be, certainly appeared to be a little over the top.

Last season though, the 22-year-old started to strut his stuff with the panache of one of the division's best, and played a definitive role in the Gunners' enthralling title charge, scoring 15 goals and providing five assists across 36 matches in the top-flight.

Indeed, speaking to Football FanCast in April, journalist Pete O'Rourke claimed that Martinelli had taken his game to "another level" during the 2022/23 season, cementing his stature among the finest forwards that the Premier League has to offer.

The injury sustained against Everton in the first half at Goodison Park in September meant that he would miss the ensuing two Premier League fixtures, though he returned against Manchester City to score the winner off the bench.

Also dubbed "unbelievable" by a keen admirer in Klopp, Martinelli ranks among the top 11% of his positional peers for goals and the top 2% for touches in the attacking box per 90, and it's easy to see the kind of cutting-edge at his disposal that puts him in such high standing under Arteta's wing.

Martinelli only boasts one goal against today's opponents, but it is a strike that will last long in the memory of the Gunners faithful; he does, however, have four victories against the west London side from just six matches.

Having got off the mark in his latest Premier League appearance, the 5 foot 10 phenom will be confident that he can start making a marked impact on Arsenal's season.

And while Chelsea may be clicking into gear right now, they face a beast of a different magnitude in Arteta's men, who will look to extend their unbeaten streak and continue their convincing title charge with another big win.