Leeds United have already bolstered in a number of key areas this January window, with Victor Orta looking to avoid another repeat of last season’s narrow escape from the drop.
Unloading a club-record deal on a forward and reuniting Jesse Marsch with Max Wober strengthened up front and at the back, whilst Weston McKennie continues to be a top target of theirs.
However, one name that persists and was only mentioned again earlier this week was that of Michael Keane.
The Everton defender has endured a tumultuous time at Goodison Park ever since his £30m move, and despite the imminent arrival of his old boss Sean Dyche it remains to be seen whether he has a future on Merseyside after so many poor performances.
He could be offered an exit plan though through the Whites, who would welcome him as a solid option to potentially be the perfect foil alongside Wober.
When confident, the Englishman is a solid centre-back with a better passing range than many give him credit for. The issue is that since leaving Burnley he has struggled for consistency and so he has not garnered enough belief in himself.
Under Carlo Ancelotti however, he showed glimpses of what he could do when given the backing of his manager, as he earned a 7.06 rating across the 2020/21 campaign.
During this season he would average 4.5 clearances and 1.5 interceptions per 90, alongside an 87% pass accuracy (via Sofascore).
The 6-foot-3 titan uses his hulking frame to dominate his opposition and shares plenty of similarities with the aforementioned Austrian.
In fact, Keane was being lauded as recently as February last year, with Harry Redknapp labelling him “immense at the back”.
This is made more impressive given his stark drop-off in game time since the arrival of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski.
Before making the switch to Elland Road, Wober was averaging a 7.24 rating and had been dubbed “a leader” by journalist Beren Cross.
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The 24-year-old would then showcase his more creative assets through his 0.7 key passes per game and five big chances created.
His presence beside Keane could be the catalyst to getting the best out of the 30-year-old, with their dominant stature sure to frighten any centre forward and the classy qualities of Wober sure to shine through further.
Combining these two could be the foundation that ends their defensive troubles, of which only four other teams in the league have conceded more.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is in line to receive a welcome boost, with one star now expected to make an earlier return from injury.
Mikel Arteta shares Arsenal injury update pre-Fulham
The return of Premier League football after another tedious international break, much to the delight of Gunners supporters, is now imminent.
Arsenal take on Marco Silva’s Fulham at Craven Cottage, with Arteta looking to extend his side’s seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions and maintain their place atop the Premier League table.
The North Londoners have failed to win at Fulham’s ground in each of their last two visits, losing 2-1 there at the end of 2023 and drawing 1-1 a year later.
Silva has worked wonders on a shoe-string budget since guiding Fulham to promotion and an immediate return back to the top flight in 2022/2023, and the Whites are currently faring much better than a few of last summer’s much more lavish spenders.
Premier League Clubs ranked by summer Net Spend
Rank
Club
Gross Spend
Sales
Net Spend
15.
Crystal Palace
£48.9m
£67.5m
+£17.7m
14.
Aston Villa
£28m
£43m
+£15m
13.
Fulham
£35.1m
£8.7m
-£26.4m
12.
Burnley
£97.7m
£31m
-£66.7m
11.
West Ham
£131.3m
£55m
-£76.3m
See where Arsenal rank here…
Arteta currently has a few key players out as well, with club captain Martin Odegaard, summer signing Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all unavailable for their trip across London.
Jesus is still recovering from his ACL tear, which has kept him out since last winter, and reports suggest that Arsenal could even sell the Brazilian in January following the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres.
Madueke was in red-hot form before he was sidelined with a knee problem, which was a major blow for the England international, and Odegaard swiftly returned to the treatment table with his own knee issue after just coming back from a shoulder injury.
Havertz, meanwhile, played just half an hour this season before he too suffered a knee complication.
Speaking of the German, reliable club insider HandOfArsenal has shared a very encouraging update on Havertz’s progress via X, which provides further insight into what Arteta said in his pre-Fulham press conference.
Kai Havertz could return "earlier than expected" with Arsenal staff "blown away"
It is believed the attacker is striving to make an earlier return than anticipated, and his performances in rehab have even left Arsenal staff blown away.
This is undoubtedly excellent news for Arsenal, as the 26-year-old has become a crucial figure for Arteta.
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Last campaign, Havertz was a key man in their attacking lineup across all competitions, showcasing his creativity and versatility with 15 goals and 5 assists — including four strikes in the Champions League.
These numbers would’ve been even greater if not for a hamstring injury which kept him out for three months towards the end of 2024/2025, and his potentially imminent presence will relieve some of the creative burden on Arsenal’s available forward line.
Havertz will also keep Gyokeres firmly on his toes, with the Swede currently on a six-game streak without scoring.
Pundits, journalists, and fans alike often talk about the ‘magic of the FA Cup’. What exactly is it, however, that makes the FA Cup so special?
Is it the fact that the competition is the oldest in football’s history, even pre-dating the World Cup? Certainly. Is it because it remains one of the only free-to-watch domestic football tournaments on British television? Perhaps.
Or is it because its first major fixtures traditionally begin on the first weekend of the new year, when the spirit of Christmas still lingers in the air and grounds across the country are shrouded in a yuletide mist? Most definitely.
More than any of those things, however, the FA Cup is ‘magic’ because, more than in any other competition, it’s an opportunity for the underdogs to upset the big boys and pull off an infamous giant-killing.
Crystal Palace's Joel Ward and MarcGuehicelebrate with the trophy after winning the FA Cup
Any club that is part of the English Football League system can partake in the FA Cup, meaning the likes of AFC Marine can end up playing Tottenham Hotspur, and Havant & Waterlooville can earn a trip to Anfield.
Marine and Havant weren’t able to pull off major upsets, but over the years, there have been plenty of others who have. So, with that in mind, here are our picks for the ten greatest-ever FA Cup upsets, ranked by shock value and importance.
10 Man City 0-1 Wigan, 2013 Watson's wonderful header wins cup for Latics
Manchester City weren’t quite the omnipotent footballing force they are today back in 2013, but Roberto Mancini’s squad was still full of world-class stars like David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero.
So when they faced relegation-threatened Wigan in the 2013 FA Cup final, only one outcome was expected. Instead, the Latics pulled off a remarkable upset, with midfielder Ben Watson scoring a 91st-minute winner for Roberto Martinez’s side in a historic 1-0 triumph.
Their celebrations didn’t last too long, though. Just three days later, Wigan were relegated from the Premier League after being thrashed 4-1 by Arsenal. They remain the only team to win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season.
9 Liverpool 0-1 Wimbledon, 1988 The Crazy Gang beat the Culture Club
Liverpool were the most dominant side in English and European football in the 1980s. But in the 1988 FA Cup final, they came unstuck against Bobby Gould’s rough-and-ready Wimbledon side.
Dons midfielder Vinnie Jones set the tempo for the game early on, crashing into Steve McMahon in the opening minutes. From there, Gould’s team started chipping away at the Reds and got their reward in the 37th minute when midfielder Lawrie Sanchez headed home a Dennis Wise free-kick.
With an hour on the clock, Liverpool were given a lifeline in the form of a penalty. John Aldridge took it, but it was saved by Dave Beasant, and Wimbledon held on for the win.
At the final whistle, BBC commentator John Motson delivered the famous line: “The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club.”
The 9 most successful teams in the FA Cup
The FA Cup has been won by some of the biggest teams in the country since its inception in the 19th century.
ByRoss Kilvington 8 Man Utd 0-1 Leeds, 2010 Brilliant Beckford bests Red Devils
Jermaine Beckford. Remember the name? Sir Alex Ferguson certainly will.
In January 2010, Manchester United, the reigning Premier League champions, hosted Leeds United at Old Trafford in the third round of the FA Cup. One of their biggest rivals, Leeds had sunk down to League One by this point, and as such, Ferguson’s side were expected to dismantle their visitors.
Beckford, however, had other ideas, with the Jamaica international scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win for Leeds, which left Ferguson fuming.
“I am shocked by the performance because our preparation for the game was very good. But we never got going,” the Scotsman said after. “We spoke about Beckford’s pace up front and we were caught napping.”
7 Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal, 1992 Red Dragons shock champions in gargantuan upset
Wrexham were rooted to the foot of the Fourth Division when they met Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.
It looked like it was going to be a routine win for the Gunners after Alan Smith put them in front, however a superb 25-yard free-kick from Mickey Thomas with 10 minutes to play left things in the balance.
Wrexham sensed blood and then pushed for the winner, which they got late, late on through Steve Watkin.
Not only was the win one of the biggest in Red Dragons’ history, but it also proved to be the catalyst in turning the club’s season around as they went on to escape relegation by finishing 14th in the league.
6 Shrewsbury 2-1 Everton, 2003 Toffees dumped out by fourth-tier Shrews
In January 2003, Third Division side Shrewsbury Town pulled off a huge upset as they beat Premier League high-flyers Everton 2-1 in the third round of the FA Cup.
Shrewsbury, who were managed by Everton’s most successful captain Kevin Ratcliffe at the time, took the lead through veteran Nigel Jemson, who curled in a superb free-kick from the edge of the box.
Substitute Niclas Alexandersson looked to have spared the Toffees’ blushes when he equalised on the hour mark, but Jemson then scored again with just a minute left to play, this time heading in Ian Woan’s free-kick at Richard Wright’s near post.
It was a joyous moment for the Shrews, but their season ended in dismay as they were relegated from the Football League.
5 Bournemouth 2-0 Man Utd, 1984 Harry Redknapp's Cherries knock holders out
Prior to losing to Leeds in 2010, the last time Manchester United were beaten by lower-league opposition was by Bournemouth in the third round of the 1984 FA Cup.
On that day, a young Harry Redknapp was in charge at the Division Three side, who emerged as 2-0 victors against the previous year’s winners thanks to goals from Milton Graham and Ian Thompson.
In a report from the Evening Echo after the match, reporter Colin Smith wrote: “Bournemouth bubbled while United toiled – and were troubled. They say the Cup is a great leveller. But it was not the case this time, because the home side outclassed their opposition.”
4 Sunderland 1-0 Leeds, 1973 Revie's men rolled over in finale upset
Sunderland were all the way down in Division Two when they faced all-conquering Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup final.
In a turn of events that nobody saw coming, however, the Black Cats turned over Don Revie’s side, with a 32nd-minute goal from Ian Porterfield and a Gordon Banks-esque reflex save from goalkeeper Jim Montgomery enough to secure Sunderland their first FA Cup since 1937.
“I should pack it all in. there’ll never be another moment like it,” Sunderland boss Bob Stokoe said after the match.
3 Chelsea 2-4 Bradford, 2015 Bantams bite the Blues at Stamford Bridge
When Chelsea hosted Bradford City in the FA Cup fourth round at Stamford Bridge in January 2015, the Blues were top of the Premier League while the Bantams were in League One.
On the day, things started as expected, with the hosts soaring into a 2-0 lead within 38 minutes thanks to goals from Gary Cahill and Ramires.
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Against all odds, however, Bradford then mounted an astonishing comeback, starting with a goal from former Premier League striker Jonathan Stead and ending with an added-time strike from Football League journeyman Mark Yeates.
To add insult to injury, former Chelsea academy star Filipe Morais was also on the scoresheet for the visitors.
2 Sutton United 2-1 Coventry, 1989 Super Sutton stun Sky Blues
In 1987, Coventry City won the FA Cup for the first time. Less than two years later, however, they were sent crashing out in the third round at the hands of a team four leagues below them.
Managed by Welshman Barrie Williams, Sutton United beat the Sky Blues 2-1 in front of 8,000 fans at Gander Green Lane, with Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan scoring the vital goals.
One of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history, Williams said after: “The enormity of this result will reverberate throughout the whole of soccer.”
It wasn’t until 2013 that another non-league side beat a team from the top tier of English football, when Luton Town beat Norwich City 2-1.
1 Macclesfield 2-1 Crystal Palace, 2026 Delight for sixth-tier Silkmen
From one non-league shock to another. This is the biggest upset we have ever seen in the competition’s illustrious history.
In 2024/25, Crystal Palace surprised everyone when they won the FA Cup under Oliver Glasner. However, football can change quickly and as they attempted to defend their crown, were dumped out of the competition by sixth-tier Macclesfield in the third round during the 2025/26 campaign.
Once known as Macclesfield Town, they were competing in National League North at the time of this giant killing, making their remarkable 2-1 win over the Eagles even more impressive.
Managed by Wayne Rooney’s brother, John, Wazza fought back the tears post-game after seeing his sibling achieve the greatest accomplishment of his managerial career to date.
Paul Dawson’s fabulous first-half header opened the scoring for the hosts before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts shocked Palace further when he netted in the second period. Yeremy Pino gave the visitors hope by finding the net in the 90th minute but it was too little too late for the cup holders.
The best FA Cup runs by non-league teams
These teams are proof you don’t have to be in the Premier League to enjoy an FA Cup run…
Leeds United march on. The Whites continue their excellent form after beating Fulham 1-0 at Elland Road, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Lukas Nmecha.
They are now eight points clear of the relegation zone and have extended their run of form to just one defeat in their last nine games.
Indeed, they were the better side against the Cottagers, despite it taking until the 91st minute for the deadlock to be broken. They had less possession, with 47% to their name, but created five big chances and an expected goals tally of 1.49xG. Perhaps a 1-0 scoreline does not reflect how the game went.
The goal itself was impressive. Daniel Farke’s side utilised their new direct nature and high wing-backs well, using their two centre-forwards to hold the ball up and get it out wide to the right-hand side.
From there, it simply took a cross into the box, which Nmecha fired home from inside the penalty area. It secured a huge three points for the West Yorkshire outfit to further increase the distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
There were certainly some standout performers in that famous White shirt, particularly in midfield.
Leeds’ best players vs. Fulham
What a performance it was from a couple of key Leeds players, midfield pair Ethan Ampadu and Brenden Aaronson.
Captain Ampadu was yet again exceptional, setting up the goal which sealed the three points with a searching cross towards matchwinner Nmecha.
However, he made a huge contribution outside of that. He was excellent off the ball, tasked with lots of defensive responsibility, which saw him win four out of five ground duels and 100% of his tackles.
He also created four chances, including the goal.
Next to him, Aaronson put in a standout performance. The American’s work rate in that deeper midfield role is important to Farke’s side.
He did miss a chance he should have perhaps taken, but created two chances and made five recoveries.
The pair both earned 8/10 ratings at the end of the game from Leeds Live journalist Isaac Johnson. He praised the skipper for how he ‘played the anchor role’ and said Aaronson was ‘really positive and productive’ at Elland Road.
It is fair to say they outshone one of their teammates.
The Leeds star who struggled vs. Fulham
It was an afternoon to forget for midfielder Ilia Gruev. Lining up in the middle of the park alongside Ampadu and Aaronson, the Bulgarian struggled to get a hold of the game against the London side.
Johnson gave the 25-year-old a harsher rating than his teammates at the end of the game. He explained that Gruev both led the press and dropped deeper into defence, and also said that his set-piece delivery was not ‘brilliant’
Indeed, his stats from the game reflect how poor of an afternoon it was for the midfielder. Gruev, who played 81 minutes, had just 37 touches of the ball and lost possession nine times. He also failed to make a tackle and won just three out of seven duels.
Gruev vs Fulham
Stat
Record
Touches
37
Opposition half passes completed
8/11
Number of times ball lost
9
Duels won
3/7
Chances created
1
Tackles
0
Stats from Sofascore
It was certainly not an eye-catching performance from the Whites’ number 44. Replaced by Ao Tanaka with a little less than ten minutes to go, it will be interesting to see if he keeps his place in the side.
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Anton Stach also missed out on selection against the Cottagers, so he could come back into the team.
In fact, perhaps his future at Elland Road is up in the air. Gruev has struggled to lock down a consistent place this term under Farke, playing 13 times and notching up just 652 minutes. It certainly seems hard to break into that midfield.
With that in mind, it would not be a surprise to see Farke decide to cash in on Gruev this January. His performances, as he showed against Fulham, have not been at the level he might need to break into the team.
Selling Gruev could help raise funds, so Leeds can upgrade in other positions. It would be a bold call, but one that might benefit the Whites in the long run.
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Leeds United are reportedly interested in a deal to sign a star who would be perfect for Facundo Buonanotte.
There’s been no such thing as home comforts for Manchester United of late, with Tuesday’s dour draw with bottom-side Wolverhampton Wanderers having been the fourth time in their last five Old Trafford outings that the Red Devils have failed to win on home soil.
In the absence of Bruno Fernandes and co, Ruben Amorim’s men were simply devoid of creativity and spark, with it taking a fortunate deflection for Joshua Zirkzee to eventually nudge the hosts ahead.
Pegged back before the break, there was to be no second-half surge akin to the win at Molineux not too long ago, with United’s desperate night epitomised late on, as the ageing Casemiro was caught out after labouring on the ball inside the Wolves half.
A collective groan went round the Theatre of Dreams as the 33-year-old had his pocket picked, with the midfielder failing to slide in Brazil teammate Matheus Cunha ahead of him.
In truth, the pairing of the £70m man and Manuel Ugarte simply didn’t work against Rob Edwards’ plucky outfit, with a new midfielder a necessity when the window opens next month.
Man Utd already making calls over midfield signing
After a summer that saw United sound out a possible deal for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, rumours are also rife that INEOS could look to Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson in 2026, following a breakthrough few months for the England international.
The problem? Neither of those two Premier League rivals is set to sell on the cheap, amid reported £100m plus price tags, with it far more likely that any deal would have to take place over the summer instead.
Indeed, there needs to be a sense of realism over what United can and can’t do in the market next month, after an over £200m outlay last time out, with more affordable, short-term deals needed in January.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It would appear that the club themselves are aware of that, with journalist Ben Jacobs revealing that INEOS have already been making calls over a possible move for Al Hilal star Ruben Neves.
That interest isn’t believed to have progressed to anything more, although that contact comes amid the Portuguese’s expiring contract, ensuring he could be available for a knock-down price in the winter window.
Prior reports have indicated that the ex-Wolves man could be available for as little as £20m.
Why Neves signing could spell the end for Casemiro
Ignoring his significant fee and £350k-per-week salary, Casemiro has been a solid servant for United in recent years, scoring 21 times in all since his arrival in 2022, four of which have come this season.
That said, with his own deal running out in January, the Brazil skipper is coming to the climax of his Old Trafford journey, with Tuesday’s display again highlighting his physical shortcomings.
In all, the experienced warrior has now been dribbled past 1.1 times per game in the Premier League this season, as per Sofascore.
For context, Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo have been dribbled past just 0.5 and 0.7 times per game, respectively, in 2025/26.
Perhaps Casemiro is merely being exposed by Amorim’s tactical set-up, but either way, a suitable replacement needs to be found. Neves might just be that.
Lauded as arguably the “most underrated player in world football” in recent years by analyst Raj Chohan, the 28-year-old is a man of proven Premier League experience, having made 177 appearances in the competition during his stint at Molineux, chalking up 30 goal involvements in that time.
While not prolific, the one-time Porto captain does have that knack for the spectacular, regularly seen rifling home from range during his days with the Old Gold.
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Of course, there might be concerns that he has been plying his trade out in Saudi Arabia for the last two years or so, although he has registered 39 goals and assists in 108 games in that time, while remaining part of the national team set-up.
Neves vs Casemiro – 25/26 League Stats
Stat (*per game)
Neves
Casemiro
Games
10
17
Goals
4
4
Assists
0
1
Big chances created
3
1
Key passes
1.5
0.6
Pass accuracy
91%
82%
Total duels won
58%
52%
Dribbled past
0.9
1.1
Stats via Sofascore
The 63-cap Portugal star was also mixing it with the Premier League’s best during his final season in the Midlands, with FBref noting that two of the most statistically similar midfielders to him in the division at the time were the aforementioned Rice and Caicedo.
He was in good company then, and a move back to England could well see him emerge as a vital, if not underrated, figure in Amorim’s midfield unit, with such a deal potentially set to prove the final nail in the coffin for Casemiro’s Old Trafford stay.
Experienced, but still in his peak years, Neves is the ready-made successor to the South American that United are in desperate need of.
Amorim must never start £470k-p/w Man Utd duo together again after Wolves
Manchester United rounded off 2025 with a typically limp performance at Old Trafford.
Hugo Ekitike scored both goals – including the fastest of the Premier League season – as Mohamed Salah made an earlier-than-expected return in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton at Anfield, but it was another Reds star drawing all the praise.
Liverpool rampant in win over Brighton
Cameramen barely had time to shift their focus off Salah, back in the squad after being dropped for his explosive comments about being “thrown under the bus” by the club, when Ekitike struck after just 46 seconds.
Salah held talks with Arne Slot on Friday after his midweek Champions League omission and would have expected to wait until the second half for a chance to redeem himself – at least in most observers’ eyes.
But Joe Gomez’s injury released him from the bench, where he was for his fourth successive match sharing the occasional joke with Andy Robertson, midway through the first half.
It was not the change Slot wanted to make with the game still evenly poised but one he could not avoid without creating more headlines. However, set-piece coach Aaron Briggs gave the instructions as Slot was in conversation with Dominik Szoboszlai, his new right-back.
And it was the Hungary star, not match-winner Ekitike, who was impressing BBC commentator Chris Sutton, in part due to that ability to move into different positions.
Dominik Szoboszlai
vs Brighton
Touches
70
Passes (successful)
53 (49)
Shots
2
Duels (won)
5 (3)
Salah immediately combined with Alexis Mac Allister to almost set up Ekitike and the Kop broke into Salah’s song before he was involved again as Ekitike volleyed wide.
Liverpool’s 4-2-3-1 formation, with Florian Wirtz playing off the left, does not suit Salah due to the additional work-rate required but when from a Brighton counter-attack Szoboszlai made the lung-busting run to snuff out the danger Salah was not far behind in the tracking-back stakes.
And after the Egypt international forced Bart Verbruggen into his first save of the second half at the expense of a corner and the unmarked Ekitike headed home the chant for the Frenchman was quickly replaced with a louder one for Salah, closely followed by another for Slot.
Last weekend Salah, now destined for the Africa Cup of Nations, had suggested this could be his last match but talks will continue between the club and his representatives in an attempt to resolve the situation.
He finished the game paired with Alexander Isak, the British record-signing bought to eventually replace his weight of goals, but – perhaps symptomatic of his season – missed his moment by firing over Federico Chiesa’s cross in added time.
Salah applauded all four sides at the final whistle, lingering in front of the Kop as they sang his praise, and fans will hope this is au revoir and not farewell.
Amid the Salah circus it was easy to forget the improvement in the Liverpool’s performance, their third win in five unbeaten, and the growing prowess of Ekitike.
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His first-minute goal, taking a touch before unleashing a shot which was still rising as it hit the roof of the net, came as a result of Yankuba Minteh’s risky cross-field clearance headed down by Joe Gomez.
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3 ByFFC Staff
Minteh and Diego Gomez both had chances to equalise but the first half was controlled by Liverpool aided by the growing understanding between Wirtz and Mac Allister.
Ekitike continued to pose a threat in the second half but could not find a finish to match the quality of his driving run, although Brighton were becoming more dangerous with Diego Gomez hitting Alisson’s right-hand upright and Brajan Gruda dragging wide.
After Ekitike fired over when Mac Allister released Salah the Egyptian took matters into his own hands with the shot which led to the Frenchman’s second goal.
Any Glasgow Rangers fan who uses social media every day will likely have seen the clip going around of Hamza Igamane’s goal for Lille at the weekend.
The Morocco international, not for the first time this season, provided the Gers with a reminder of what they are missing with a brilliantly worked goal for the French side.
Igamane was sold to Lille for a fee of £10.4m in the summer transfer window, due to a release clause in his contract that existed before Kevin Thelwell’s arrival at Ibrox.
Ranking Rangers’ attempts to replace Hamza Igamane
It is fair to say that, on current evidence, have failed to replace the Moroccan star with the work that they did for Russell Martin heading into the 2025/26 campaign.
Igamane, as shown in the graphic above, provided a big goalscoring presence as a maverick playmaker, who could play out wide on the left or through the middle as a centre-forward, in his one season with the club.
Rangers signed six wingers and strikers in an attempt to replace the mercurial talent in the summer, and Djeidi Gassama, with six goals, is the only one of them to have scored more than two goals so far this season, per Transfermarkt.
Ranking Rangers’ attempts to replace Igamane
Rank
Player
1
Djeidi Gassama
2
Mikey Moore
3
Thelo Aasgaard
4
Youssef Chermiti
5
Oliver Antman
6
Bojan Miovski
Thelo Aasgaard, in theory, should have been the Igamane replacement as he is a number ten with good technical ability and flair, as evidenced by his wonder goal against Dundee United at Ibrox, but he has only scored one goal all season.
In terms of the strikers, Bojan Miovski has scored two, and Youssef Chermiti has scored one, per Sofascore, but the latter is five years younger and could develop into a star in the future.
Meanwhile, we have ranked Mikey Moore in second place for now, but he could rise up to first if Danny Rohl unleashes him in a central position when he is back fit.
The new position Mikey Moore should be unleashed in
The 18-year-old starlet is currently out with a muscle injury, which he is set to return from later this month, so he will not be available for selection against Dundee United on Wednesday night.
Chalkboard
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However, when he is back and available for selection, Rohl should unleash Moore as a number ten in the 4-2-3-1 system, which is the role that Thelo Aasgaard has played, as he has not had an opportunity in that position yet.
Per Transfermarkt, the only two matches that the Englishman has played as an attacking midfielder came against Hibernian and Roma as one of two 10s in a 3-4-2-1 system, which meant that he drifted wide more than being the central pivot of the attack.
Moore, as shown in the clip above, produced his best moment in a Rangers shirt against Dundee when he drifted into a central area from the right wing to spark an attack and score a brilliant goal, in Igamane-esque fashion.
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Like the former Rangers playmaker, the teenage whiz has the technical quality, explosive burst of pace, and finishing potential to emerge as a real star for Rohl as a number ten or second striker.
The Spurs loanee, who was described as an “outrageous” talent by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists in 24 matches for Tottenham’s U19s, per Transfermarkt, which shows that the potential is there for him to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.
However, the vast majority of his appearances for Rangers have come out wide, on the left or the right, and he has only scored one goal and registered two assists in 17 games, which is why Rohl should look to unleash him in a new position.
If Moore thrives in a central role and starts to display the kind of form that he did at U19 level for Spurs, Rangers will have a super talent on their hands and could finally say that they have replaced Igamane’s mercurical quality at the top end of the pitch.
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From overhead kicks, last-gasp winners and routine thumpings, the November international break was full of moments of jubilation. But, in between that jubilation, came the heartbreak of missing out on a place at the 2026 World Cup.
For many players, it was their final opportunity to reach football’s biggest stage, only to see it snatched from their grasp once more. Whilst Scotland may still be in party mode and Ireland preparing for the playoffs after Troy Parrott heroics, the likes of Hungary and Nigeria have been left to wonder what might have been.
With the tournament fast approaching, some of the world’s most impressive stars have now had their fates sealed and face the heart-wrenching task of watching on from home as their club teammates do what they can only dream of next summer.
From Victor Osimhen to Dominik Szoboszlai, we’ve taken a look at the best XI of players set to miss out on a place at the 2026 World Cup.
Goalkeeper and defence
GK: Jan Oblak (Slovenia & Atletico Madrid) – Part of Slovenia’s disastrous qualification attempts, Jan Oblak could do nothing but watch on as his side earned just four points from six games in a group with Switzerland, Kosovo and Sweden.
By the end of qualifying, the standings weren’t even close as Kosovo’s 11 points were enough to finish second and leave Slovenia in third to sum things up.
RB: Ola Aina (Nigeria & Nottingham Forest) – If Oblak’s situation was frustrating then Ola Aina’s was on a whole new level over the international break. The right-back could only watch amid his recent injury woes, as Nigeria crashed out of qualifying in a disastrous penalty shoot-out.
The Super Eagles’ manager, Eric Chelle, limited his penalty options by taking off attacking players to hold on for the shoot-out, before suffering the consequences.
CB: Willi Orban (Hungary & RB Leipzig) – As Parrott wheeled away in celebration for Ireland, Willi Orban was one of several Hungary players suffering the heartbreak of late defeat.
They had their World Cup fortunes in their grasp, only for it to be snatched away in the most harsh way possible. Now, the RB Leipzig man, at 33 years old, may never get the chance to feature in the tournament.
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CB: Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia & Nottingham Forest) – It makes Serbia’s struggles all the more confusing, the fact that they also had a defender of Nikola Milenkovic’s calibre at their disposal, but it sums up his season. The Nottingham Forest star has struggled to replicate last season’s form at club level and took that form into the international break.
LB: Milos Kerkez (Hungary & Liverpool) – It’s been a difficult season for Milos Kerkez. The left-back has failed to hit the ground running at Liverpool and recently lost his place back to Andy Robertson. Now, he’s had his World Cup dreams shattered to coincide with his dream move slowly but surely becoming more of a nightmare.
Midfield
CM: Carlos Baleba (Cameroon & Brighton) – Carlos Baleba is undoubtedly destined for big things, but the world stage will have to wait for his presence as Cameroon crashed out of qualifying against DR Congo. At 21 years old, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder will still have more opportunities in his future and those may yet coincide with an impressive move at club level.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary & Liverpool) – Szoboszlai was lost for words after Parrott’s late winner. When his side took the lead before half-time, the Hungary captain would have had his sights set on the World Cup.
Just 45 minutes later, however, he saw his dreams torn apart in cruel fashion. A rare standout for Liverpool this season and often dragging Hungary to victory, Szoboszlai has certainly been hard done by.
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RM: Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon & Man Utd) – Like his international teammate and potential future club teammate, Belaba, Bryan Mbeumo will be missing the 2026 World Cup.
At the peak of his powers and with everything beginning to come together at Old Trafford, there would have been plenty of hope around Cameroon that the winger could drag them through the qualifiers. Ultimately, though, he struggled to land a mark on DR Congo.
LM: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia & PSG) – As talented as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is, Georgia were always likely to be underdogs in World Cup qualifying. They finished third in Group E and won just once in six games, as Spain and Turkey took the top two spots, and they were forced to settle for third ahead of Bulgaria.
Attack
ST: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria & Galatasaray) – The biggest stage has continuously passed Osimhen by in recent years. Since falling out with Napoli, he’s played much of his club football at Galatasaray, despite endless rumours linking him with some of Europe’s biggest clubs and leagues. Now, he’s set to miss the World Cup and didn’t even get to take a penalty for Nigeria as they crashed out after he was substituted off.
ST: Serhou Guirassy (Guinea & Borussia Dortmund) – Serhou Guirassy is quietly one of the most impressive strikers that European football has to offer. He’s consistently starred in the Bundesliga in recent years, yet won’t get the chance to do the same for Guinea next summer. His side finished fourth in Group G, despite losing just three of their 10 games.
Tottenham Hotspur are back in action in the Premier League this weekend as they prepare to welcome London rivals Fulham to North London on Saturday night.
Spurs are looking to bounce back from successive defeats to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in their last two games, losing 5-3 to the French giants in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Lilywhites have not won in the Premier League since they beat Everton 3-0 at the end of October, with one win in six in all competitions since, which is why it is so important for Thomas Frank’s team to win this weekend.
They will have to get one over Fulham in order to do so, though, and it is a club that they have many connections to through players who have played for both.
Ranking Fulham players who have played for Spurs since 2010
Counting all players who played for Spurs since 2010, there have been ten players who either played for Fulham before or after their time in North London.
Perhaps most notably, given that Dimitar Berbatov left Tottenham in 2008, is central midfielder Mousa Dembele, who played 240 matches for Spurs between 2012 and 2018, after signing directly from the Cottagers.
Ranking Fulham stars who’ve played for Spurs since 2010
Rank
Player
1
Mousa Dembele
2
Scott Parker
3
Clint Dempsey
4
Joao Palhinha
5
Carlos Vinicius
6
Lewis Holtby
7
Paulo Gazzaniga
8
Manor Solomon
9
Josh Onomah
10
Ryan Fredericks
As you can see in the table above, academy players like Ryan Fredericks and Josh Onomah rank at the bottom, with several less notable Spurs players before the top four.
It is hard to say anyone other than Dembele should be at the top, given that the Belgian star, renowned for his ability on the ball, is the only player on the list to play more than 100 games for the club, with 240, per FBref.
He was once ‘irreplaceable’ for Spurs, as shown in the post above from 2018, and Frank can unearth his own version of the midfielder by playing Lucas Bergvall on Saturday night.
Why Lucas Bergvall could be Tottenham's next Mousa Dembele
One of Dembele’s most notable attributes during his time with Spurs was his dribbling. Speaking about his former international teammate, Youri Tielemans once said: “His dribbling was amazing, you just couldn’t take the ball off him.”
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
He was brilliant at carrying the ball up the pitch from the middle of the park, and Bergvall is a central midfielder who can offer similar qualities for Spurs in the present day.
Per FBref, the Sweden international ranks within the top 9% of his positional peers in the Big 5 Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for progressive carries per 90 (2.30) and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.55).
This shows that he is one of the most productive dribblers among central midfielders in Europe, which is why he could develop into being Frank’s own version of Dembele in the middle of the park.
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Bergvall, like the Belgian, does not carry a huge goal threat, having scored once in the Premier League this season, but he can get the team up the pitch with his ability to drive forward with the ball at his feet.
The Swedish star, who was dubbed a “generational talent” by the club’s head of scouting Rob Mackenzie, started as part of a box midfield against PSG earlier this week, but playing further up the pitch ahead of Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur restricted how much he could drive from deep.
Therefore, unleashing him in a midfield three against Fulham on Saturday could allow him to provide supporters of both teams with a reminder of a player who once starred for them.
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Bergvall only attempted one dribble, which he completed, against PSG, and playing him further back on the pitch to use as a threat in transition could help Spurs to win their first Premier League game of the month this weekend.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has a chance to recalibrate now that the Premier League has put the brakes on for the November international break.
It has not been good enough this season. Ahead of the latest pause, Newcastle needed to get something from their trip to the Gtech. It didn’t happen, and Keith Andrews’ side emerged 3-1 victors and with Dan Burn sent off to boot.
The truth is that the Magpies need a reset. It was always going to be tough to match the form of last season, with Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak charging an incredible winter winning run that led to triumph in the Carabao Cup. Isak has been sold, and the summer transfer window was a turbulent one.
Premier League 25/26 – Oldest Average Starting XIs
Team
Position
Av. Age
Everton
13th
28.0
Aston Villa
6th
27.9
Newcastle
14th
27.6
Fulham
15th
27.6
Burnley
17th
27.1
Data via Transfermarkt
But United are getting old. Too many starters this season ripened some time ago, and in this, Howe must work toward developing further the younger members of his squad.
Newcastle must promote their future
Newcastle might have a somewhat elderly Premier League squad, but that’s not to say they lack up-and-coming stars.
For example, injuries have kept Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall on the sidelines for much of the campaign. 22 and 21 respectively, the dynamic full-backs will be integral to the rekindling of Howe’s system. Last season, Alice Talks Footy hailed Hall as “the best left-back in the league”, and his fellow Cobham graduate as a “super impressive” up-and-comer.
Alexis Mac Allister challenges Tino Livramento
Likewise, Lewis Miley has shown signs of development this season, growing into his skin in central midfield. The Geordie talent has impressed alongside Tonali and the all-action skipper, Bruno Guimaraes, and he could end up replacing a teammate in Joelinton, who has flattered to deceive at times this term.
Has the 29-year-old Joelinton exhausted his physicality? Undoubtedly, the Brazilian is missing some of his usual sharpness and intelligence in the middle of the park.
Joelinton in the Premier League (Tackle & Duel Success)
Season
Tackles per 90
Duels won per 90
25/26
1.4
4.2
24/25
2.0
5.7
23/24
2.0
4.9
22/23
2.2
7.0
21/22
2.1
6.9
20/21
1.1
6.0
19/20
0.9
7.5
Data via Sofascore
Joelinton has played so much football at Newcastle, no holds barred, that it’s understandable he might be slowly winding down.
However, there’s another Toon star whose form this season has been more concerning, for they have yet to reach their prime, and there is a worry that so many injuries have knocked this talent too far out of kilter.
"The future of this club" is now struggling
Newcastle have always been resilient and organised under Howe’s wing, and even amid the frustration of wretched away form this term, Newcastle’s xGA (expected goals against) total stands at just 11.1 in the Premier League, a more impressive figure than all in the division save for Manchester City and Arsenal.
But, even so, improvements need to be made in central defence, and the form of Sven Botman is admittedly becoming a concern for Howe as he waits for his star man at the rear to click into gear.
Sports writer Joel Bland actually commented on Botman’s “embarrassing” effort to clear one of Brentford’s notorious long throws at the weekend. The ball was cannoned in after the interval, Newcastle one goal to the good after Harvey Barnes’ first-half finish, but Botman’s tame clearance allowed Kevin Schade to nod home from close range.
You might call it a schoolboy error. When dealing with aerial danger, it is well-known to sweep the ball away, not divert it cross-box and into the melee.
In this, Botman failed in his duties, and newspaper Chronicle Live saw it fit to brand the centre-half with a 3/10 match rating, having been ragdolled by Igor Thiago all afternoon besides.
Botman needs to recover his former level of security and completeness at the back. He was redoubtable in front of Nick Pope in 2022/23, his debut year in England, keeping 11 clean sheets and conceding only 33 goals all season, the joint-best record, shared with champions Manchester City.
It was only at the start of the current campaign that Bruno described the Netherlands star as being “the future of this club”, along with Malick Thiaw, who swapped AC Milan for St. James’ Park in a package worth around £35m this summer.
But Thiaw has outperformed his counterpart this season, and that having suffered regular injury issues of his own in Italy over the past several years. With Botman having spent plenty of time in the thick of the Premier League action this term, having started seven matches in a row, he should be sharper and more commanding at this point.
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The fact that this is not the case is bound to be on Howe’s mind, though the manager may feel that the reintegration of Hall on the left side of the backline could smooth out some creases and allow Botman to connect with a more natural wide fit that Burn, whose industriousness can only stretch so far.
This all comes with the addendum that Botman has indeed been ravaged by injuries in recent years, stripped bare by setbacks after that tremendous debut campaign in England’s north east.
It is only natural he would take some time to rebuild himself to that one-time level, but Newcastle need quick results if they are to shape this campaign, and the £90k-per-week defender has entered the penultimate year of his contract, and he will need to convince PIF that they would be foolish not to extend his career on Tyneside.
But the Dutchman needs to improve – fast. His form has slumped in recent weeks, and he is paling in comparison to Thiaw beside him, the summer recruit very quickly establishing himself as the cream of Newcastle’s defensive crop.
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