All posts by n8rngtd.top

Lionel Messi's outrageous hat-trick for Argentina against Bolivia helped him create more history even after equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's record.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Argentina beat Bolivia 6-0
• Messi was involved in five of the six goals
• First to net three hat-tricks in CONMEBOL WCQ history

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Messi was at his absolute best as he powered Argentina to a commanding 6-0 victory over Bolivia in a 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match. The Argentine captain was unstoppable, scoring a hat-trick and delivering two assists in a game that helped him match Ronaldo’s record for the most international hat-tricks (10).

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In addition to matching Ronaldo’s record, Messi made history by becoming the first player ever to score three hat-tricks in the South American World Cup qualifiers. He also became the third player in the competition’s history to score two hat-tricks against the same national team, Bolivia, joining the ranks of Brazilian legends Tostao (vs Venezuela) and Zico (vs Bolivia).

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Messi's remarkable display also made him the first player to be involved in five goals in a South American World Cup qualifier since Bolivia’s Joaquín Botero, who achieved a similar feat in 2009 when he scored three goals and assisted three more in a 6-1 victory against Argentina. With this win, La Albiceleste remains firmly on course for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they stand atop the CONMEBOL standings, three points ahead of Colombia, who sit in second place, and six points clear of their fierce rivals, Brazil.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR LIONEL MESSI?

  After this impressive performance on the international stage, Messi is set to return to his club duties with Inter Miami. Fans can expect to see him back in action this Saturday when Inter Miami takes on the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer (MLS) and his form with Argentina will undoubtedly be a boost to The Herons as they push for a strong finish to the league stage.

Celtic head into the upcoming summer transfer window knowing that they will need to dip into the market to land a new long-term number one at Parkhead.

Veteran goalkeeper Joe Hart departed the club last month and retired from professional football after an excellent three-year stint with the Hoops in Glasgow.

He won the Scottish Premiership title in all three of his seasons with the club and won the domestic double, of the title and the SFA Cup, in his final campaign at Paradise.

Brendan Rodgers must now bring in a replacement for the former Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur titan and is reportedly eyeing up a multi-million pound signing to start the window perfectly.

Celtic's interest in £4m+ star

Football Scotland recently reported that the Scottish giants have been in talks with Czech side Sparta Prague over a deal to sign goalkeeper Peter Vindahl Jensen this summer.

The outlet claimed that the Danish shot-stopper is at the top of their shortlist of candidates to come in and replace Hart between the sticks at Parkhead.

It also stated, however, that Sparta do not want to lose their goalkeeper, who just signed on a permanent deal from AZ Alkmaar after a loan spell this season.

Football Scotland reported that the 'feeling' is that they are set to demand a fee in excess of £4m, but it remains to be seen how much Celtic are prepared to pay for him.

The article added that Jensen is known for being good with his feet and likes to throw the ball out quickly to start attacks, which means that he would suit the way that Rodgers wants his goalkeepers to play.

Former Premiership goalkeeper Tomas Cerny backed that up by telling the Celtic Way that the Sparta star's style "suits" the Northern Irish head coach.

Why Peter Jensen would be a perfect start to the window

Rodgers could start the transfer window, which opens later this month, perfectly by securing a deal to sign Jensen from Sparta over the coming weeks.

Firstly, the 26-year-old colossus seemingly suits the way that the manager wants to play, according to Football Scotland and Cerny, which means that there should not be any issues with his performances in possession.

Jensen could also be a perfect signing to open up a summer of incoming business due to his potential to be an upgrade on Hart for the Scottish giants.

As you can see in the table above, the Danish titan outperformed the former England international in a number of key goalkeeping metrics at league level this term.

He saved a far higher percentage of the shots on his goal and was significantly more efficient in his sweeping and duel actions to prevent opposition players from getting more efforts away.

Celtic keen on swoop for £10m-rated "warrior" who'd be perfect for Maeda

The Hoops target is reportedly desperate to make a move back to Parkhead this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 9, 2024

Therefore, Jensen, who is also 11 years younger than Hart, could be a phenomenal signing and upgrade for Celtic who could be their number one for many, many, more years to come, which is why Rodgers could start the window perfectly with a £4m+ deal for him.

A £14,000-a-week Celtic defender has dropped a fairly blatant exit hint regarding his future, suggesting he has played his final game for the Hoops.

Celtic transfer news

Brendan Rodgers will be looking to strengthen his squad as much as possible in the summer transfer window, ensuring that his side once again go all the way in the Scottish Premiership next season, but also make more of an impression in the Champions League.

One player who has been linked with a move to Celtic before the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign is Stuart Armstrong, who has recently helped Southampton earn promotion from the Championship to the Premier League. Rodgers is believed to be a big admirer of the midfielder, who is out of contract with Saints at the end of this month, and has won 44 caps for Scotland.

The retirement of Joe Hart has heightened the need for a new goalkeeper to join the Hoops in the near future, and Sparta Prague stopper Peter Vindahl Jensen is one rumoured option there. Liverpool ace Caoimhin Kelleher is also a target, with a potential £10m move being plotted, as he looks to be a No.1 elsewhere.

A reunion for former Celtic hero Kieran Tierney is being weighed up, too, according to certain reports, with the left-back seemingly allowed to leave Arsenal after fallen out of favour, having spent the 2023/24 season on loan Real Sociedad.

£14,000-a-week Celtic player hints at exit

Speaking to Fotbollskanalen [via Sport Witness], Gustaf Lagerbielke has admitted that he is looking forward to a new challenge away from Celtic this summer, suggesting his time at Parkhead has come to an end:

"I know that there are a number of teams that are interested, but not much more than that. There are interested teams in Italy and also other leagues.

"Very instructive. I have developed a lot and become a better player. I have brought a lot with me. I’m looking forward to the future and I think I’ll take a lot from Celtic to the next team I join. It is difficult to say anything before something is ready. I have a contract with Celtic, but it’s no secret that I want to play."

In truth, this summer does feel like the right time for Celtic to offload Lagerbielke, even though his current contract doesn't actually expire until the summer of 2028.

Just four Scottish Premiership starts came the £14,000-a-week defender's way in the whole of 2023/24, and a total of only seven appearances in the competition, while a move to Italian side Lecce failed to come to fruition during the January transfer window.

Celtic could start the window perfectly with £4m+ swoop for star target

The Hoops are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the shot-stopper this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 10, 2024

Lagerbielke's contract situation does mean that Celtic can at least demand good money for the 24-year-old, rather than losing him on a free transfer or on the cheap, so it must now be a case of getting as much money as possible for him.

Neymar's boyhood club Santos paid tribute to the Brazil icon as he returned from injury after a year out injured.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Santos pay tribute to Neymar
• Brazilian returned to action after a year
• Al-Hilal beat Al Ain in a thriller

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 32-year-old attacker ruptured his ACL on international duty a year ago, but on Monday, he finally returned to action with Al-Hilal in their dramatic AFC Champions League win against United Arab Emirates club Al Ain. The Brazilian was introduced to the pitch in the 77th minute, replacing Nasser Al-Dawsari.

Advertisement

• WHAT SANTOS SAID

  As the star attacker made a comeback, his boyhood club Santos paid a heart-warming tribute, writing on X: "It was more than 12 months away from the pitch, with an immeasurable longing to return to doing what he loves so much. Neymar is not just a star. He is not just a genius. Neymar is synonymous with joy in football. His return brings joy to millions of fans around the world. And when it comes to fans, the Santos nation has an incomparable feeling. A more than special bond with the best Brazilian player in recent years. It's good to see you back, eternal Village Boy. Go get them!"

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Neymar made a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain. However, he has endured a difficult start to life in the Middle East. Neymar was sidelined with an injury after appearing in just five matches for his new club, where he scored once and provided three assists. He also missed Copa America 2024 as Brazil were eliminated at the quarter-final stage.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?

  The former Barcelona star will likely be back in action this weekend as the reigning Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal face Al-Taawoun in a league clash on Saturday.

The reigning champions end the weekend back at the top of the table after their main title rivals played out a draw in north London

Arsenal and Liverpool played out a 2-2 draw on Sunday in a fraught and fiery encounter between two of the Premier League's leading title contenders. The Reds end the weekend having surrendered top spot to Manchester City, while the Gunners failed to close the gap on the champions following a subpar start to the 2024-25 season.

Mikel Arteta vowed for his men to come flying out of the traps, and they duly delivered on that promise when Bukayo Saka beautifully lashed in the opening goal with only nine minutes on the clock. That joy, however, proved short-lived as Virgil van Dijk headed in an equaliser another nine minutes later.

On the verge of half-time, Mikel Merino scored his first goal in Arsenal colours when he thundered a header from a Declan Rice free-kick beyond Caomhin Kelleher, with the effort allowed to stand after a desperately long check by VAR for offside.

Liverpool found it difficult to break the stubborn Gunners down, but eventually found a way through when Trent Alexander-Arnold's searching ball found Darwin Nunez, and he cut back for Mohamed Salah to score and snatch a late point.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Emirates Stadium…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WINNER: Ben White

  Because he's spent so much of his spell at Arsenal as a right-back, it's easy to forget that Ben White was a damn good centre-half when he first rocked up in north London from Brighton in 2021. However, with William Saliba missing through suspension, Arteta called on the 27-year-old to play in the middle just like old times.

  White's gormless grace and unbothered attitude is as good an example that looks can be deceiving as they truly come. Without much time to get readjusted to his former role, he slotted back in seamlessly and was arguably the hosts' best player on the day.

  His now fully-formed partnership with Saka was also on display despite being separated by a new right-back, Thomas Partey, in his place. Only nine minutes had passed when White floated a delectable ball into the channel for the winger to chase, and after Saka turned Andy Robertson inside-out to find the net, he had an assist to his name.

  The recent rise of Jurrien Timber had brought into question whether White would be made redundant in this system when everyone is fit, but this was a timely reminder of the quality he brings and why dropping him wouldn't be a simple choice. Perhaps new England boss Thomas Tuchel should consider picking up the phone and making amends between White and the national team setup; it'd be daft to not even engage in such a conversation.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  LOSER: Gabriel Magalahes

  Oh, Gabriel. It was all going so well. For little over one half of football, the imposing Brazilian had nonsense-extraordinaire Darwin Nunez completely under wraps. The trajectory of the game leant itself to his second-to-none box defending and aerial prowess.

  But down he went. An off-ball collision with Nunez saw Gabriel's knee buckle awkwardly. He tried his darnedest to run the ailment off and put it to the back of his mind, only to go down wincing again.

  Arsenal's defence was makeshift as it was already, but this took the Gunners into territory they hadn't previously walked before. Jakub Kiwior came on in Gabriel's place and, for the most part, actually did a half-decent impression of his superior. One long Alexander-Arnold pass over the top and the Pole's confidence dried up completely, however.

  Arteta will have everything crossed in hope that Gabriel's problem is nothing serious having been seen nursing his leg with an icepack upon his return to the bench.

• Getty Images
  

  WINNER: Bukayo Saka

  In more positive injury news, boy were Arsenal glad to have their starboy back. Saka lit up their fine first half and, on a day that was previously dominated by Cole Palmer's heroics across London at Chelsea, reminded the Premier League why he's still up their with the world's best.

  It wasn't just that Saka scored, rather the manner in which he did so and what it meant in the context of his career so far. A seasoned veteran and former world champion like Andrew Robertson, who isn't even that far removed from his prime, will be glad to have seen the back of him.

  Saka kept the Scot guessing and ground him up before lashing a fierce strike beyond Kelleher, his 50th for Arsenal in the Premier League alone and their youngest player to reach that milestone. To Saka's credit, it's a tad surprising he isn't closer to the 100 club just yet.

  Arteta was also far more liberal with his demands of Saka going the other way, allowing him to stand right on the last line and stretch play, a liberation when his side needed one with Martin Odegaard still on the treatment table.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  LOSER: Andy Robertson

  Where do you think you're going, Andy? Oh heavens no, that criticism in the last section was far from a throwaway comment – it's time to talk about what's been going on, buddy.

  For the second week in a row, Robertson has been given the runaround by the swift wingers of Premier League present, and his own standing is starting to look like one of the distant past. Noni Madueke made mincemeat of the 30-year-old seven days ago, and it's clear that Arsenal drew up a plan to similarly isolate Saka with him.

  Robertson was put out of his misery early in the second half when Arne Slot called down the touchline for Kostas Tsimikas to get his shinnies on. At this rate, the Greek left-back will need to be ready from the off. This may be a mere blip and dip in form, but we see all the time players the wrong side of 30 lose their legs and that extra bit of athleticism that set them apart.

Arsenal have been excellent under Mikel Arteta, who has taken the Emirates from being perceived as non-contenders at times and fashioning the club into an elite category that strikes fear in opponents both domestically and on the continent.

The last two campaigns have been especially brilliant, fighting against Manchester City for the Premier League title on both occasions and raising a talented squad to an exceptional level, picking up 173 points in total.

However, a bitter by-product of entering the ascendancy is that certain sacrifices have to be made. Talented players, many homegrown, have to be sold for the greater good. This is part and parcel, but one of them might just come back to bite the Gunners.

Arsenal transfer news

It's understood that both Nottingham Forest and West Ham United have made approaches for Reiss Nelson, aged 24, while Emile Smith Rowe – 23 – has been transfer-listed for £30m and 25-year-old Eddie Nketiah may be allowed to leave after starting just once in the Premier League since December.

This is the result of the wheel of success. Heightened fear surrounding PSR rules means that cashing in on such homegrown products would be financially worthwhile. Moreover, it's unlikely that any (barring maybe Smith Rowe) would cement starring roles at the club in the future.

As per the Evening Standard, Arsenal youngster Amario Cozier-Duberry is also set to leave the club upon the expiry of his contract this summer, with offers from a range of countries overseas as teams circle around him.

However, this one could prove detrimental to Arteta's outfit, with the 19-year-old a top talent who may have the skills to become a leading figure for a rival further down the line if he fulfills his potential over the years to come.

Why Arsenal could regret letting Cozier-Duberry leave

Cozier-Duberry failed to make his professional debut for Arsenal but he was called to the bench for fixtures against Sevilla in the Champions League and Brentford in the EFL Cup. Despite an eagerness to tie him down to a fresh deal, the teenager has decided to move to a club that can offer him first-team football with regularity.

In total, Cozier-Duberry has scored 30 goals and supplied 18 assists across 83 fixtures for Arsenal's respective youth levels, improving year after year and performing excellently in the Premier League 2 last season.

Indeed, having posted nine goals and five assists from only 17 matches in the division, the England U19 international will undoubtedly have a long list of suitors eager to snap him up, with Jack Wilshere previously gushing over his qualities too.

“Amario is very exciting and Mikel [Arteta] likes him,” said Jack Wilshere, discussing the youngster's talents in 2023. “He reminds me of Bukayo Saka, plays in the same position as him, needs to get better with his decision-making like Bukayo did, but he’s definitely exciting.

“In some moments he’s unplayable. You give him the ball and he can make things happen. You can set up a team and have a game plan, but when you’ve got individuals like that you’ve got a chance.”

Given that competition for Saka's place on the right flank is a little thin, compounded by the likely departure of Nelson this summer, fans are understandably disgruntled, with Cozier-Duberry capable of offering relief to the Three Lions sensation.

If the teenage maestro does indeed manage to translate that natural-born skill to honed performance on the major stage, at senior level, then there's a good chance that he could leave Arsenal rueing his departure, with Cole Palmer's resounding rise at Chelsea evidence of making such a blunder.

Manchester City sold Palmer to Chelsea in a £40m plus add-ons transfer last summer, with the talented attacking midfielder pushing his way out of Pep Guardiola's side after rising through the academy levels in search of regular first-team football and a platform to showcase his abundant talents.

It's worked out, quite well indeed. A debutante campaign as a Blue saw Palmer plunder 25 goals and 15 assists across all competitions after scoring terrific goals in the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup for City at the start of the campaign.

Unshackled and allowed to play his football at an outfit that has placed him at the top of the talent pool, the 22-year-old Palmer has established himself as one of the finest players in the Premier League, with no player in the division notching more direct goal contributions than his 33 last term.

Might Cozier-Duberry have taken note of Palmer's stunning success and decided to follow suit? It's a possibility but had Arteta given the youngster a smirch more investment over the past few years, giving him a few minutes here or an extra nod of encouragement there, we might be looking at a very different picture.

As it is, Cozier-Duberry is going to be heading for new turf, and Arteta will likely be hoping that he chooses to follow the interest in his signature from elsewhere, with clubs in Belgium, France, Netherlands and Germany all attentive to his decision.

However, given that he's yet to make his decision, he might be waiting for English clubs to knock on his door, with domestic regulations preventing him from holding formal discussions with Premier League competitors until July 1.

Ultimately, Arsenal have a superabundance of quality and are in good stead to fight fiercely for the Premier League and Champions League titles next year, with the likes of Saka continuing to impress as one of the country's finest.

But if Cozier-Duberry does live up to his giddying potential, playing for a rival, Gunners supporters might just shake their heads with pathos-emitting dejection, victims of their own success and architects of their own Palmer situation, leaving them feeling how Manchester City may be feeling watching the England international from afar.

Arsenal table opening bid for £34 million star after claim he wants to join

The Gunners have submitted an offer.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 22, 2024

Despite falling to the third tier last season, Birmingham City look to have no interest in restricting themselves to the League One market as they eye a move for a player with no shortage of European pedigree.

Relegation won't stop Blues spending spree

Seemingly undeterred by the division they now find themselves in, the Blues have been active in the transfer market this summer, making a number of high-profile moves.

Birmingham could forget about Paik Seung-Ho by signing £0 EFL star

Birmingham City can bolster their midfield away from their South Korean talent with this buy.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 27, 2024

A fresh face between the sticks was clearly high on the list of priorities for the higher ups at St Andrews with both Hull City shot stopper Ryan Allsop and Northern Ireland goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell moving to the Midlands in the early passages of the summer.

The Blues have also been linked with a number of outfield players who could make the move to St Andrews during the window. Sparta Rotterdam centre-back Mike Eerdhuijzen is one name that has been doing the rounds, alongside Brighton want-away Marc Leonard.

With Birmingham clearly far from finished in the transfer window, the Blues are now linked with a move for another player with no shortage of top level experience.

Birmingham set to go for Goldson this summer

As first reported by the Scottish Sun, Birmingham are targeting a move for Rangers defender Connor Goldson this summer. The 31-year-old central defender grew up in nearby Wolverhampton and could be tempted by a move back to the Midlands during the transfer window.

Goldson first arrived at the Ibrox outfit in a £3million transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion back in 2018. Since touching down in Glasgow, the defender has gone on to make 309 appearances for Rangers playing every game of their title winning season back in 2021.

It was during this triumphant campaign that Goldson received the plaudits of then Rangers boss Steven Gerrard who said of the defender: “Connor has been an absolute mountain for this team, a warrior.

“He has had a lot of stick over the years, wrongly in my opinion. But he has continued to improve and strive to improve from a personal point of view."

Signed under Gerrard's tenure, Goldson has struggled for form following the Englishman's departure for Aston Villa in 2021. With current boss Philippe Clement looking to stamp his authority on his side this summer, it is likely that Goldson could be shown the door to make way for new signings.

A report back in June even linked Goldson with a move to Gerrard's current club Al-Ettifaq. The Saudi Arabian outfit were said to be preparing a bid for Goldson alongside his Rangers teammate James Tavernier.

Despite winning league titles and playing in the Champions League, Goldson is also no stranger to putting in the hard yards in the EFL. Across a three season spell with Shrewsbury Town, the defender made 55 appearances in League One, showing that the 31-year-old is no stranger to the third tier.

The potential stumbling block for any deal could be Goldson's wage packet which currently stands at a reported £37,000 per week. Despite this, the Blues have shown that they are not shy of splashing the cash especially for a player of Goldson's pedigree.

Weah got a hero's welcome at Lille, a club with which he won a Ligue 1 title, while McKennie also subbed in

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Weah returned to Stade Pierre-Mauroy as Juve player
• Weah starred for Lille for four seasons
• McKennie made cameo in 1-1 draw

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. international Tim Weah rose to prominence as a player starring for Lille, helping the club secure a Ligue 1 title along with a Trophée des Champions in four seasons at the club. So when the winger was subbed on in the 68th minute in Juventus' Champions League match against Lille Tuesday, he was greeted by a well-deserved loud applause at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy faithful.

  It was the standout moment in an otherwise drab 1-1 draw between the two sides. Weah's USMNT teammate Weston McKennie also featured in the match, coming on at the same time.

  Fellow CONCACAF star Jonathan David, who plays for Canada, got the proceedings going with a stunning goal in the 20th minute. In the second half, Juventus would respond with an equalizer off Dusan Vlahovic's penalty.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Juventus now sit 10th in the new Champions League table with seven points in four matches. The draw is a result manager Thiago Motta will live with, though questions still remain about how he sees McKennie in his plans

  The midfielder came off the bench for the second-straight game, after a stretch where he started three-straight matches. Under normal circumstances, this would be considered standard rotation, but Motta made it clear he didn't envision McKennie as a part of his plans during preseason and opted against utilizing the American until after the transfer window.

  McKennie is one of the USMNT's key players and an uncertain role could present issues for the player and his national team with the 2026 World Cup approaching.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Weah got his professional start as a member of PSG, one of Lille's rivals in Ligue 1. The winger won two domestic titles as a member of the French giants, though he was a bit player for the club. During his time in Paris, Weah made six overall appearances and scored two goals.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR JUVENTUS?

  Juventus have one more match before the international break, playing local rivals Torino on Nov. 9.

The Brighton striker has struggled horribly for form and fitness since making Premier League history but there are signs of a return to his peak

Almost exactly a year ago, Evan Ferguson signed a new contract with Brighton. It was his second extension in the space of seven months – and yet it made perfect sense. Since his previous renewal in April 2023, Ferguson had cemented his status as one of the most promising young forwards in world football. Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool were all being linked with the teenager.

After hitting a hat-trick against Newcastle, he was nicknamed 'Erling Ferguson' and Gary Lineker admitted that he could see "a hint of Haaland" in the Irishman, while Arsenal legend Ian Wright enthused on 'Match of the Day', "He's got everything. Great movement, fantastic first touch, takes up great positions. He's only going to get better."

Ferguson hasn't improved, though – at least not yet. He's scored just three times since committing himself to Brighton until 2029 and talk of a transfer to a top team has died down. In fact, Ferguson's focus right now is just trying to get back into the starting line-up at the Amex after a year from hell.

So, what went wrong for the forward? And, ahead of Ireland's Nations League clash with England at Wembley on Sunday, could he be about to get his fledgling career right back on track?

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'He can become the top scorer in Europe'

  Irish football has been in the doldrums for well over a decade at this stage, so it was inevitable that Ferguson's emergence would spark giddy excitement among the nation's long-suffering football fans.

  From the moment he made his first appearance for Bohemians in a friendly against Chelsea at just 14 years of age, his every move was closely monitored, and each step forward greeted with glee.

  However, it became clear after Ferguson's subsequent switch to Brighton that Ireland's great hope was a genuinely prodigious talent. Ferguson scored 10 times in all competitions during his first full season with the Seagulls' senior side and manager Roberto De Zerbi felt there was no point in trying to downplay the striker's superstar potential.

  "He can become big, big, big," the Italian told after the hat-trick against Newcastle in August 2023. "His qualities are enough to become a great player. He can become one of the best, the top scorer in Europe. He was born in 2004, he's 18 – I don't know many players that young that score like him."

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  'Help himself first of all'

  However, after making it four goals in his first four appearances of the 2023-24 season with his historic treble, Ferguson added just two more to his tally before his campaign was brought to a premature end by injury at the end of March – and everyone wanted to know why.

  De Zerbi was largely supportive of his struggling striker but he also pointed out that Ferguson still had a lot to learn – which seemed fair enough, given his tender age.

  "There is a time when [young players] play very well and they score," the Brighton boss told in December of last year, "but, in different moments, they can suffer [from] the level of competition.

  "In the last two months, Evan suffered, from injury and other things, and he can play better. The level of Evan is higher than the level he is playing at in this moment, so we have to help him.

  "But he has to help himself first of all, to understand better the play. He’s very young, though, he is like my son and I try everything to help him become a great player, for sure."

  By February, though, De Zerbi intimated that Ferguson wasn't just being held back by nagging fitness issues. "The team needs Evan," the former Sassuolo coach said, "but Evan at 100 percent of his physical and mental condition."

  There were suggestions, though, that De Zerbi wasn't exactly helping Ferguson get out of his rut.

• Getty
  

  'So bad for the boy'

  Eyebrows were raised when Charlie Mulgrew expressed some concern over how Ferguson was being utilised by De Zerbi while preparing for certain fixtures last season.

  According to the former Celtic midfielder, who attended Brighton training sessions as he looked to make the transition from player to coach, De Zerbi organised practice games between his likely starting line-up and an 11 charged with replicating the set-up and tactics of their next opponents.

  Ahead of a meeting with Forest, Mulgrew says Ferguson didn’t even get to touch the ball.

  "They’ve got two or three coaches coaching the ‘other team’ and this is different, I’ve never seen this before,” the Scot explained on the podcast. “So, they’ve got Forest on this particular weekend and, obviously, Forest are a bit of a low block in a 4-4-2, so [De Zerbi] has got [his assistants] coaching the 'other team' exactly how they (Forest) move.

  "Bibs on, 1-11 is a Nottingham Forest team, and they're pressing how Forest would press… It must be so bad for the boy Ferguson training like that two days in a row… it's all build-up [play] coming towards him, and he's got [the coaches] just moving him, swinging his shoulders and body position.

  "Whenever the ball comes up to Ferguson, they'd blow the whistle and go back to the start. They saw the play through but the 'Forest team' never, ever got the ball. [Ferguson] must have been [raging] but obviously he's got that much respect for the manager, he's just coming through… that [the forwards] all go work on their finishing themselves and they're desperate for a five-a-side, they must be."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  Change of coach

  Former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall also claimed that Ferguson's lack of game time in the Premier League so far this season (just 101 minutes across six appearances) is down to the fact that he's having to adapt to a whole new style of play under Fabian Hurzeler, who took over from De Zerbi during the summer.

  "You can't forget he's still a teenager," Aspinall told Albion Unlimited' podcast just a few days before Ferguson turned 20 on October 19. "He's just trying to integrate into the first team. The injury set him back a long way but so did the De Zerbi way of coming short for everything. I don't think Hurzeler wants his centre-forwards to do that.

  "So, Ferguson has to get his game going again – stretching teams and playing as a natural centre-forward, and not in the De Zerbi way of coming short all the time."

  However, there have been encouraging signs in the last few weeks that Ferguson is starting to find his feet.

It has been pleasing to see West Ham United show proactivity in the transfer market this summer, instead of biding time and being forced into reactive moves after one disappointing development or another.

Technical director Tim Steidten clearly held some positive talks at the maiden stage with Julen Lopetegui, who has replaced David Moyes, for teenage winger Luis Guilherme has been signed for £25.5m and centre-back Max Kilman has been welcomed to the rearguard for £40m.

More is yet to come. The fact remains that signing a striker is the east London outfit's most pressing concern, and if reports are to be believed, the transfer cannon has been levelled in that direction.

West Ham bid for new striker

West Ham have submitted a bid to sign FC Metz striker Georges Mikautadze, who was one of the standout performers for Georgia during their impressive Euro 2024 campaign.

It was Football Insider with the reveal, though they do stress that interest is thick and it would take an offer of €25m (roughly £21m) to convince the Ligue 1 outfit to sell.

With a throng of suitors eyeing up the dynamic striker, Steidten better kick on with negotiations to ensure that Mikautadze moves to the London Stadium.

The Georgian isn't the only striker the Irons could bring to the capital this summer, however, with Aston Villa's Jhon Duran a player said to be on their radar. Fabrizio Romano has even suggested that personal terms have been agreed with the player.

What Mikautadze would bring to West Ham

Rumour has it that Danny Ings is heading back to Southampton, with the respective Premier League sides currently haggling over a £6m figure. The 31-year-old hasn't exactly been brilliant for the Hammers, scoring four goals from 52 appearances.

Moreover, Divin Mubama has left the club after his contract expired and Michail Antonio is now 34, starting just 21 Premier League matches last year as he battled against injuries.

Mikautadze, 23, would be a brilliant addition to shape the frontline with fresh clay, ranking among the top 11% of centre-forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

The Georgian ace was in prolific showing in the French top flight last year, scoring 13 goals and supplying four assists across just 20 appearances, averaging 1.1 key passes, 2.1 dribbles and 4.3 successful duels per game to boot, as per Sofascore.

If there have been concerns in the past concerning how the nimble star's skills would translate to life on the major stage, he has dispelled such notions with his talismanic efforts in Germany over the past month, hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig as the "living legend" of his nation.

Georgia, a nation with less than half the population of London, earned the loftiest of laurels during their historic run to the round of 16, defeating Portugal to rise from the group stage for the first time in their history. They achieved this illustrious feat not through regimented pragmaticism, but through the breezy, free-flowing football of an awe-inspiring side.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia deservedly takes the plaudits as Georgia's prized possession, but Mikautadze proved that he is a figure of similar importance, notching three goals and an assist across four outings.

It might not be the easiest of deals to engineer, with Monaco pressing to complete a deal and a host of further suitors lingering, but West Ham will hope that the allure of the Premier League and the promise of a starring role as the Irons spearhead could tempt the 5 foot 9 forward to make the move to London.

Given Mikautadze's athletic ability, he must be prioritised as the top target to fight for a place as United's focal frontman, and Lopetegui must discard interest in Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri to get the move over the line.

How Mikautadze compares to En-Nesyri

As per Spanish reports in June, West Ham have been considering a swoop for their long-term target, who has been transfer-listed for an affordable €20m (£17m) by the Spanish club with his contract set to expire in one year.

The 27-year-old has been described as a "pure goalscorer" by Kulig and indeed would arrive off the back of a sharp scoring season, posting 20 goals across 41 fixtures in all competitions.

He's an imposing target man at 6 foot 3 but not quite the most mobile of players, and as the chart below will show, the Morocco international is one of the lowest-ranking forwards regarding his passing metrics.

Lopetegui will strive to implement more of a passing focus at West Ham than that of his predecessor, with a balanced but flexible structure opening up fluid passing play.

Mikautadze would be the perfect player to add to the mix in this regard, not least because of his crisp and creative emphasis. The Georgia star, further to the point, is progressive and would be able to effectively influence attacking sequences through his driven, penetrative approach into the final third.

Furthermore, the electrifying support of stars such as Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and the earlier-mentioned Guilherme makes for the perfect, balanced frontline that would see Mikautadze thrive.

While West Ham have already been active in the transfer market this summer, there's no hiding from the fact that signing a new centre-forward is the priority.

Mikautadze could be the poster boy for years to come, with so much yet to give but so much already showcased. Steidten and Co need to get this one completed with dispatch.

West Ham enquire about £32m striker who'd make Kudus unplayable

East London could finally land a top-class centre-forward by sealing this signing.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 5, 2024