Celtic have enjoyed a sensational start to the 2024/25 campaign by winning all eight of their competitive matches in all competitions, conceding just four goals.
The Hoops have won all five of their games in the Scottish Premiership and are yet to concede a single goal, as Brendan Rodgers targets a second successive title since his return to the club last summer.
Because of the club’s success and the huge standards in the first-team squad, it is incredibly difficult for young players to make the breakthrough from the B team to the senior group.
One player who appeared to be on his way to bridging the gap was Ireland youth international Rocco Vata, before his exit from Parkhead in the summer transfer window.
Rocco Vata's potential
The 19-year-old starlet scored 23 goals in 34 appearances for Celtic B and was given opportunities in the first-team by Ange Postecoglou and Rodgers.
Vata scored his first goal for the senior side under the Northern Irish head coach last term, against Buckie Thistle, and ended his career at Parkhead with that being his only strike in six appearances.
Rocco Vata
The teenage whiz opted to turn down the chance to sign an extension at Paradise and signed for Championship side Watford, with compensation to be agreed between the two teams due to his age, and he came off the bench for the Hornets in their 2-1 League Cup defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday night.
Vata appeared to be a great prospect for Celtic, given his 23 goals for the B team and his smattering of first-team outings, but will now not have the chance to fulfil his potential at Parkhead.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Rodgers, however, may already have a bigger talent than the 19-year-old Irishman brewing in the academy in the form of centre-forward Daniel Cummings.
Daniel Cummings' goal record for Celtic
The 18-year-old star, who only turned 18 in April, has been in prolific form for the B team in the 2024/25 campaign, with a stunning 12 goals in eight appearances.
Cummings has scored ten goals in seven Lowland League games this term, and also fired in 12 goals in 19 Lowland League matches last season, which means that the forward has racked up 22 goals in his last 26 league appearances for the B team.
That works out as a goal every 1.18 Lowland League games on average, compared to Vata’s return of 23 goals in 34 matches for the same team – a goal every 1.48 matches on average.
The Scotland U17 international has scored two goals and provided one assist in six appearances in the UEFA Youth League, whereas Vata only managed one goal and zero assists in 12 outings in that competition for Celtic.
These statistics suggest that Cummings, who is a year younger than the Watford man, has the potential to be a greater goal threat as a centre-forward, as he outperformed his former teammate in the same competitions.
It is now down to the 18-year-old marksman to prove to Rodgers, if given the opportunity, that he has a future as a regular starter for Celtic, as he could be a star for the Hoops if his B team form can be translated to the first-team.
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Chelsea made the perfect start to their Europa Conference League campaign last night, beating Gent 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Renato Veiga secured the win for the Blues in what was a much-changed starting lineup.
The victory made it five successive wins for Enzo Maresca’s side, as the Italian looks to have settled perfectly into life as the Blues boss.
Whilst many expected it to be an easy night’s work for Maresca’s outfit, his side demonstrated a professional display, controlling possession and taking their chances in the final third – restricting the Belgian opposition to very few opportunities.
The display allowed two Chelsea players to shine once again, showing why they deserve a regular starting spot under the Italian in the Premier League.
Neto & Nkunku’s stats against Gent
Neto and Nkunku once again found themselves on the scoresheet for Chelsea, highlighting the excellent recruitment conducted by those behind the scenes in recent months.
The Portuguese winger registered his second goal in as many starts, whilst also creating five chances – the most of any player on the pitch during the victory.
The 24-year-old also managed to complete 97% of the passes he attempted, with two successful dribbles, as he provided a constant threat to the opposition backline throughout the encounter.
As for Nkunku, he continues his excellent start to the 2024/25 campaign, with his strike last night taking him to seven goals already this season despite featuring as an impact player in the league.
The Frenchman endured a quiet evening, only completing six passes, but popped up when Maresca’s side needed him the most – helping them on the way to a successful first Conference League outing of the season.
However, not all the players who started the game enjoyed a good outing, with one player failing to take his rare start with both hands.
The Chelsea player who disappointed against Gent
Benoit Badiashile was handed a rare start for the Conference League clash and was part of a back four that conceded twice despite the opposition only managing three shots on target all night.
The 23-year-old may have managed 159 successful passes and registered 175 touches, but it was his poor defensive display that could see him lose his place ahead of the weekend.
Badiashile gave possession away 12 times, the third most of any Blues player, whilst only winning one of the three duels he entered, and failing to complete a single tackle.
He also missed a big chance in front of goal, which could’ve made the game even more comfortable for Maresca’s side, with the Frenchman unable to make a positive impact at either end of the pitch, having been awarded a measly 5/10 match rating by the Evening Standard’s Dom Smith.
Benoit Badiashile’s stats against Gent
Statistics
Tally
Minutes played
90
Touches
175
Passes completed
159 (94%)
Tackles made
0
Times dribbled past
1
Possession lost
12x
Big chances missed
1
Duels won
1/3
Stats via Sofascore
Whilst it was a routine win for Chelsea, Maresca will be wanting to extend his side’s current excellent winning run when they face Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Neto and Nkunku have certainly staked their claim for a starting spot, whilst Badiashile must surely expect to lose his place after his dismal display once again last night.
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Manchester United informed that Lisandro Martinez has suffered an ACL injury, which is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the season.
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Martinez was stretchered off vs Palace
Scans revealed he has suffered an ACL injury
Major blow for Amorim amid defensive struggles
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Martinez, 27, was stretchered off in the latter stages of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace which ended in a 2-0 loss for the Red Devils. Amorim, speaking after the match, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, describing it as a “serious situation.”
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WHAT MANCHESTER UNITED SAID
On Thursday, the club officially confirmed the nature of the injury in a statement which read: "Assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the appropriate course of treatment and the timescale for his rehabilitation. Everyone at Manchester United wishes Lisandro Martinez strength for a successful recovery and we will be supporting him every step of the way."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Martinez’s absence represents a significant setback for Amorim as he looks to guide United out of their current slump in the Premier League. His leadership on the field and defensive capabilities have made him a key figure in the squad, and losing him at this stage of the season leaves United with limited options at the back.
In addition to Martinez’s setback, United are also facing renewed concerns over Luke Shaw’s fitness. The left-back, who has been struggling with injuries for an extended period, has not started a match for the club in almost a year. His prolonged absence has left United short of options in defence, further compounding the team’s issues.
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DID YOU KNOW?
United’s defeat to Crystal Palace marked yet another disappointing result in what has been an underwhelming campaign so far. They currently sit 13th in the Premier League table, and the loss to Palace was their seventh defeat in 13 home games this season – a worrying statistic for a club of their stature.
Neymar says it feels like he is going "back in time" after sealing an emotional return to boyhood team Santos.
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Neymar has Al-Hilal deal terminated
Joins boyhood team Santos
Sends emotional message on return
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The 32-year-old's contract at Al-Hilal was terminated this week after a disastrous, injury-ravaged 18 months in the Middle East. Now, the Brazilian has confirmed he is moving to Santos, a club he played at between 2003-2013 before joining Barcelona.
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WHAT NEYMAR SAID
He said in a video montage: "Hey, guys. Feels like I'm going back in time. I'm here with my friends and family and they helped me to write a few things. I just can't hold it in until tomorrow (Friday). My family and my friends already know my decision. I'll sign the contract with Santos. I want to thank my fans from all over the world wishing for this moment to come true for a long time. It's been nearly 12 years since I left for the most famous club in the world and it seems like yesterday. My feelings for the club and fans have never changed."
He added: "Now I need to play again. And only a club liek Santos can provide the love I need to prepare for the coming challenges in the next few years. And all of you, regardless of your club, know very well what I mean. I hope you're all with me on this next step of my life."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Neymar is in desperate need of a fresh start after his disastrous €90 million (£77m/$98m) move from Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal in 2023. The forward may yet be able to resurrect his career and what better place to do that than at his old stomping ground, Santos.
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WHAT NEXT?
Neymar seems set to play for Santos in Serie A next season after the Brazilian giants' promotion to the top-flight in late 2024.
Newcastle United would have left the Goodison Park pitch at the end of Saturday’s early evening kick-off frustrated with how the contest played out, as that decisive goal to win the Premier League clash constantly eluded them.
It’s not as if Everton couldn’t have snatched the three points either, as Sean Dyche’s men amassed eight shots on Nick Pope’s goal, but the clash would end as a drab 0-0 stalemate come the full-time whistle.
Of course, former Toffee Anthony Gordon could have made that different for the away side if he had managed to convert a first-half penalty past Jordan Pickford.
Gordon's performance in numbers
Pickford once again came up trumps for the Merseysiders in-between the sticks, denying Gordon’s weak spot-kick to send Goodison Park into raptures, as their former academy product fluffed his lines.
It would have been a frustrating afternoon in truth for the England international, who was jeered throughout whenever he attempted to make something happen for Eddie Howe’s side after he jumped ship to the Magpies without hesitation last year to bring his long-standing Toffees association to a close.
The roar of the home faithful didn’t see Gordon completely recede into his shell, however, with the slick 23-year-old nearly winning the tight contest late on, only for him to blaze a golden chance over the bar with nine minutes left on the clock.
Gordon just couldn’t add to his two-goal tally for the campaign, as the visitors from Tyneside had to make do with a share of the points due to some wasteful finishing from their forward players.
The 23-year-old was not the only culprit for Howe’s visitors, as Harvey Barnes also looked low on confidence when advancing forward for this team.
Harvey Barnes' performance in numbers
Barnes wouldn’t even register a single effort on Pickford’s busy goal during the 0-0 draw, with Gordon at least adventurous enough to test out his former side with some shots to try and hand his current employers a win.
Unsuccessful with both of his dribble attempts during the draw too, the former Leicester City man was nowhere near his rampaging best, with Howe then substituting off his below-par number 11 just after the hour mark.
Barnes vs Everton
Minutes played
62
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
39
Accurate passes
18/22 (82%)
Shots
0
Successful dribbles
0/2
Possession lost
13x
Total duels won
4/11
Stats by Sofascore
Alongside his weak showing in front of goal, Barnes also squandered possession a costly 13 times for his side and made just 18 accurate passes in the process, leading to Howe rightly hooking him off.
It was an uncharacteristically quiet display from the usually bright Newcastle number 11, who had three strikes and one assist next to his name this season in the top flight, before heading into this clash versus a side loitering near the bottom of the Premier League.
No such away day heroics like this sumptuous goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers from last month were on show, however.
Indeed, Barnes had to make do with a lacklustre 5/10 rating post-match from Newcastle World writer Jordan Cronin instead, who stated that the ex-Foxes winger would have been ‘disappointed’ with how little he threatened Dyche’s men.
Barnes will hope he can dust himself down and go again afresh when the Magpies face off against Brighton and Hove Albion after the international break, with Gordon also potentially re-energised and raring to go after his unwelcome trip back to Merseyside.
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Roberto De Zerbi sent out a fiery warning towards Paris Saint-Germain as he outlined his target with Marseille.
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De Zerbi throws warning at PSG
Marseille 10 points behind PSG
Les Phoceens beat Angers 2-0 on Sunday
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WHAT HAPPENED?
After finishing eighth in the 2023/24 Ligue 1 campaign, Marseille saw a change in their fortunes when Roberto De Zerbi walked into the club in the summer. The club's performances have significantly improved under the former Brighton manager as Les Phoceens currently find themselves second in the league, 10 points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
After a comfortable 2-0 win over Angers in a difficult Ligue 1 away fixture on Sunday, the Italian coach has urged his players to push hard for the league title and give PSG a run for their money. He also outlined his ambitions with the French side in the future.
WHAT ROBERTO DE ZERBI SAID
Speaking to reporters after the Angers clash, De Zerbi said: "If you don’t have the ambition to aim higher, it can be frustrating and even humiliating. Obviously, you may not achieve your goals, but that’s okay. If you want to be part of this club, you have to be ambitious, obsessed with looking ahead, with humility, but always with respect.
"It’s something that will not necessarily come right away, but in my adventure, just like with Pablo Longoria, Medhi Benatia, but also players like Rulli, Rabiot, Højbjerg, Bennacer, and Kondogbia – I’m not here to finish second."
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WHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?
Marseille will be back in action on Saturday in the Ligue 1 when they take on St-Etienne at Stade Velodrome.
Lee Carsley was named as England’s interim manager in August following Gareth Southgate’s decision to step down after eight years at the helm.
With Southgate having guided the Three Lions to two European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024, Carsley knew he was stepping into big shoes. Thus far, however, his short reign has been a resounding success.
Naming much-changed squads featuring a number of young stars he previously managed for England’s U21 and U20 sides, Carsley’s England first beat the Republic of Ireland 2-0 in the Nations League, recording their first win on Irish soil since 1985. That victory was followed up by another impressive 2-0 Nations League win over Finland.
The two results, and more specifically, the brave, exciting style of play Carsley’s England displayed (something Southgate’s England were widely criticised for not doing), have led fans and pundits alike to call for the former Derby County and Everton man to be given the job full-time.
By his own admission, Carsley himself is up for the challenge. “I am up for it. I think I am up for it,” the 50-year-old told the press shortly after England’s win over Finland. “I think I’m very grounded. The most important thing about this job is the football for me, making sure we create a good environment for the players to perform in.”
Right now, Carsley might be doing and saying all the right things to see him named as Southgate’s permanent successor. Nothing, however, is written in stone just yet. In fact, there are plenty of reasons he still might not get the job, even if he does fit the mould.
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1
Lack of experience
England gig would be Carsley's first senior role
Carsley, for all his free-flowing football and experience of tournament success with England’s youth sides, arguably lacks that know-how at the top level. For a team aching for major silverware, would his appointment represent a risk? It stands to reason that the FA could be thinking in this way.
Despite his years working within the FA, Carsley’s time in top-level football is rather limited. Other than holding the fort for a number of Championship clubs, his coaching career to this point may suggest the demands of being in charge of the nation’s best may be better suited to someone else.
Whether the FA would factor this into their decision-making remains to be seen, but it would depend on how much importance the powers that be weigh on his existing international experience.
Lee Carsley coaching career history
Club
Years
Role
Coventry City
2012-2013
Caretaker Manager
Sheffield United
2013
Assistant Manager
Brentford U21
2014-2015
Manager
Brentford
2015
Caretaker Manager
Brentford
2015
Assistant Manager
England U19
2016
Assistant Manager
Man City U18
2016-2017
Manager
Birmingham City U21
2017
Manager
Birmingham City
2017
Caretaker Manager
Birmingham City
2017-2018
Assistant Manager
England U21
2018-2020
Assistant Manager
England U20
2020-2021
Manager
England U21
2021-2024
Manager
England
2024-present
Caretaker Manager
2
60 years of hurt
Desperation for success could lead to pragmatic appointment
While he may have faced heavy criticism for his style of play and questionable tactics during his reign as England boss, Southgate did a fantastic job.
He took the Three Lions back to heights not seen since the days of Alf Ramsey, firmly establishing England as an international force to be reckoned with, even if it wasn’t always pretty to watch.
What Southgate was unable to do, however, was get England over the line and win an international tournament.
Whoever is appointed as his successor will be expected to do that – and quickly, so as not to waste the abundance of world-class talent in the current squad, with some players, such as Harry Kane and Kyle Walker, entering their twilight years.
Instead, it’s not unlikely the FA would prefer someone with winning credentials at the top level, whether domestically or internationally, to finally help England lift a major trophy.
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By
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3
The FA is open to a foreign successor
FA could seek ruthless appointment by looking further afield
Since England started appointing managers way back in 1946, there have only been two that aren’t English.
First, there was the late Sven-Goran Eriksson, who took charge of the Three Lions between 2001 and 2006. Fabio Capello, who managed England between 2008 and 2012, is the most recent non-English boss.
Eriksson’s reign was underwhelming but by no means a failure, with the Swede guiding England to three consecutive major tournament quarter-finals – and a shootout away from the semis on two occasions.
Meanwhile, Capello’s time in charge, despite boasting the highest win percentage of any English manager in history (excluding Sam Allardyce), was considered a disaster.
At the 2010 World Cup, his side crashed out in the last 16 at the hands of Germany, albeit in controversial circumstances. The following two years were then marred with controversy after controversy, with Capello often being heavily critical of his squad, players moaning about his ruthless tactics, and the Italian failing to learn English, despite promising to do so when he was first appointed.
It all ended in tears, with Capello quitting on the spot after the FA decided to strip John Terry of his England captaincy after he was accused, and later found guilty of, racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.
Since Capello, the Three Lions’ last three permanent bosses – Roy Hodgson, Allardyce, and Southgate – have all been English.
After Southgate stepped down, however, the Football Association hinted that they may be ready to try the foreign route once again.
According to The Guardian’s Matt Hughes, in early August, the FA gave “formal approval for the appointment of a foreign manager” to replace Southgate. Hughes wrote that the decision was made at the request of FA chief executive Mark Bullingham, with all nine of his fellow board members endorsing the request without putting it to a vote.
This open mind could spell bad news to Carsley’s hopes, even if he played internationally for Ireland himself.
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4
There's a lot of candidates
Crowded field could be bad news for Carsley
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Despite being widely seen as a poisoned chalice, there is still an enormous number of candidates to replace Southgate as England boss.
Among them are some of Carsley’s fellow English-born managerial peers – Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard to name but a few. The former two, both of whom boast more experience than Carsley in the dugout, are among the frontrunners for the job.
Then there are the international candidates. BBC Sport named the likes of Jurgen Klopp (who is now heading upstairs at Red Bull Group) and Thomas Tuchel as potential next England managers earlier in the summer, while Pep Guardiola, who is entering the final year of his contract at Manchester City, was also mentioned as another possible candidate.
Klopp, Tuchel, and Guardiola all tick the FA’s two hypothetical “next England boss” boxes. They are all foreign and have won trophies at the highest level. So who will it be? Right now, nobody knows.
One thing is for sure, however. Carsley will be England manager for the Three Lions’ next two Nations League fixtures against Greece and Finland on 10th and 13th October.
Continue to impress, and he will no doubt give the powers that be some serious food for thought about whether he could take the job full-time. But with the FA having made it no secret that Carsley was only to step in while its “recruitment process for a new permanent head coach continues”, it may not be a major surprise if he didn’t land the job, no matter how appealing his football may be.
Avram Glazer ended speculations about a potential sale of his stake in Manchester United with a firm response when asked about his future plans.
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United in dire financial condition
Spent £14.5m on compensation to football staff
Yet, Glazer has no plans to sell the club
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WHAT HAPPENED?
United released their quarterly financial report, which highlighted significant expenses related to managerial changes. The club has spent £14.5 million on severance costs following the departure of key football staff, including manager Erik ten Hag and sporting director Dan Ashworth. In fact, their dire financial situation has been laid before with the club’s total debt having now exceeded £1 billion, including £731 million in financial liabilities and an additional £300 million owed in transfer-related payments.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Glazer family’s reign at Old Trafford has been a source of frustration for United supporters ever since their controversial leveraged buyout in 2005. Many fans had hoped Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment would usher in a new dawn, but several measures taken by the INEOS chief, including increased ticket prices, have incensed the fans even more.
WHAT GLAZER SAID
While in Miami, Glazer was questioned by about whether he would consider selling United, to which he gave an emphatic one-word reply: “No.”
He was also asked about Ratcliffe’s recent decisions, particularly the 250 staff layoffs that have taken place since he took control of the club’s football operations. Reports suggest that further job cuts could be on the horizon as Ratcliffe seeks to streamline the club’s operations. However, Glazer opted not to comment on the issue, instead stating that he was on his way to meet President Donald Trump.
"I'm on my way to see the president right now," he said. "I don't think it's appropriate to talk about it right now."
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WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?
While financial concerns dominate discussions off the pitch, United’s performances on it have been equally troubling. The Red Devils are currently enduring one of their worst Premier League campaigns in decades, languishing in 15th place in the table. The combination of poor results, instability within the club’s hierarchy, and financial uncertainty has left fans increasingly frustrated. The Red Devils face a tricky trip to Goodison Park next to take on Everton on Sunday in their next Premier League fixture.
A report has shared what Chelsea are ready to give Arsenal in talks over a permanent switch to the Emirates Stadium for loanee winger Raheem Sterling.
Sterling's mixed start after summer move to Arsenal
The former Man City star was sporting director Edu Gaspar’s biggest-name signing by some distance in the summer.
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Sterling, who boasts over 80 caps for England at international level, was a serial trophy winner during his time at City as well – and his experience on the most noteworthy stages of high-level football was seen as a real plus-point of his addition on deadline day.
Arsenal were offered a late summer chance to sign Sterling on a temporary deal from Chelsea after head coach Enzo Maresca deemed him surplus to requirements and not part of his long-term plans at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal’s next five Premier League games
Date
Liverpool (home)
October 27
Newcastle United (away)
November 2
Chelsea (away)
November 10
Nottingham Forest (home)
November 23
West Ham United (away)
November 30
It was a chance they grabbed with both hands, as manager Mikel Arteta knows the player very well from their time together at Eastlands. Commenting on his decision to reunite with the £162,500-per-week winger, Arteta revealed that it took him “10 seconds” to green-light a deal for Sterling.
“The first call I had with him I knew in the first 10 seconds we have to bring him because he really wanted it,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s decision to sign Sterling.
“That was my only question mark: ‘What stage is he at in his career?’ After ten seconds I knew already before the next questions that we needed him here. What I see is hunger. He’s a player that wants to play every minute of every game. When that’s not the case, he’s not happy.
“He wants to play every single day and I see that. His commitment and the level of energy that he’s bringing to the team is a big boost.”
Fast-forwarding to now, Sterling has endured a slightly mixed start. He’s off the mark in terms of both goals and assists, but his only contributions in that regard came during a 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup.
The former Liverpool forward is yet to bag a goal or assist in the league over his four appearances, having started just two top-flight matches with his other cameos coming off the bench.
What Chelsea are ready to give Arsenal in talks over Sterling deal
However, there is still plenty of time for Sterling to convince Arsenal chiefs to sign him permanently.
According to Football Transfers, Chelsea have already offered the north Londoners an opportunity to take him off their hands at the end of the season. As well as this, Chelsea are ready to give Arsenal a bargain price for Sterling.
It is believed the Blues are prepared to sell for around £25 million, which is far below Sterling’s estimated value of around £38 million. However, while this may seem generous, Edu is only willing to pay around £15 million as things stand – so this could lead to a stalemate in talks.
It is added that Arsenal are currently debating the possibility of striking a permanent move for Sterling internally, so there is still plenty of work to be done before he’s a Gunners player for years to come.
Erling Haaland has been named in Manchester City's starting line-up to take on Tottenham having missed the last two games through injury.
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Man City face Tottenham on Wednesday night
Haaland missed last two games through injury
Back in XI but De Bruyne among those dropped
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Norwegian sustained a knee injury in the latter stages of their 4-0 win at home to Newcastle on February 15. Though he was named on the bench for their 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League a few days later, he remained an unused substitute and was then dropped from the matchday squad for Sunday's 2-0 loss at home to Liverpool.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Pep Guardiola was hopeful of recovering Haaland in time for Wednesday's game at Spurs. Indeed, the Catalan coach named the striker in the starting line-up in one of four changes. Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias and Mateo Kovacic have also been drafted into the XI, with Rico Lewis, Nathan Ake, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden all dropping to the bench.
DID YOU KNOW?
City are looking to avenge two defeats to Tottenham already this season following a 2-1 loss in round four of the Carabao Cup and a 4-0 humbling on home soil in the reverse Premier League fixture.
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WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?
The race for the European places is well and truly on, with only five points separating Nottingham Forest in third and Aston Villa in 10th. Heading into a busy Wednesday of Premier League action, City sit fifth on 44 points, with a trip to Forest coming after Saturday's FA Cup tie at home to Plymouth.