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Chelsea centre-forward Nicolas Jackson has enjoyed a strong start to the season in the Premier League under new head coach Enzo Maresca.

The Senegal international has racked up four goals and three assists in six appearances in the division so far this term, after a return of 14 goals in 35 outings in the 2023/24 campaign.

However, his 18 goals in the Premier League since the start of last season have come from xG of 23.3, which suggests that the striker has not made the most of his opportunities in front of goal.

That may be why Chelsea are reportedly still in the market to add another number nine to their squad in the upcoming January transfer window…

Chelsea's interest in Bundesliga star

According to Calcio Mercato, the Blues are one of a number of teams lining up a bid to sign RB Leipzig centre-forward Benjamin Sesko after the turn of the year.

The report claims that Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool are all prepared to splash the cash to sign the Bundesliga star to bolster their respective attacking options.

It states that the current feeling is that a fee of around €80m (£67m) will be needed to secure his services, whether that is in January or next summer.

Calcio Mercato adds that AC Milan have also been tracking the Slovenia international in recent years but that his price tag is unlikely to be affordable to any teams in Italy, which could give Chelsea a boost in their pursuit of the marksman.

Maresca could now land an upgrade on Jackson, and an excellent partner for Christopher Nkunku by securing a deal to sign Sesko in January.

Why Chelsea should sign Sesko

Firstly, the Slovenian star stands at 6 foot 5 and provides an imposing presence at the top end of the pitch, which could complement Nkunku – who stands at 5 foot 10 – well.

Sesko has won 67% of his aerial duels in the Bundesliga this season and could offer physicality in the number nine role that would then allow a smaller player, like the Frenchman, to shine in possession without having to worry about his lack of strength in those duels.

Alongside his physical attributes, Sesko is also a terrific finisher who could come in and offer more than Jackson as a goalscorer for Chelsea, based on their respective performances over the last 14 months or so.

Appearances

36

41

xG

8.57

23.3

Goals

16

18

Big chances missed

9

28

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old star has outperformed his xG by just over seven goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

Whereas, Jackson has underperformed his xG by just over five and this suggests that Sesko is far more clinical in front of goal, and more likely to make the most of the chances that Chelsea create.

Sesko, who was described as a “monster” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, could then create an exciting partnership with Nkunku, who has scored seven goals in ten games in all competitions this season.

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The France international, who has lost 53% of his duels in the Premier League this term, lacks physicality and the Slovenian giant could come in to offer quality in that side of the game, to free up the 26-year-old to shine with his finishing qualities.

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke had to deal with a host of changes to his playing squad during the summer transfer window, which slammed shut last month.

The German head coach had to watch on as a number of his key players from the 2023/24 campaign were sold, following on from the club’s failure to secure promotion.

A 1-0 defeat to Southampton at Wembley in the play-off final in May, after the Whites had finished third in the Championship during the regular season, consigned them to another year in the second tier.

Unfortunately, that meant that Glen Kamara, Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter all decided that their respective futures were elsewhere, as they sealed moves to Rennes, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Those exits did, however, allow Farke to dip into the market to bolster his squad with the additions of Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Joe Rodon, Ao Tanaka, Isaac Schmidt, and Jayden Bogle, among others.

Despite all of those signings, two players already at the club have been among the top performers in the final third for Leeds – Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph.

How much Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe earn

Both players are reportedly on £15k-per-week in the current squad and both sit within the bottom seven earners at the club, with back-up goalkeeper Alex Cairns the lowest earner at £5k-per-week.

Despite their relatively low wages, Piroe currently leads the team for goals and Joseph leads the team for assists in the Championship so far this season.

The latter has emerged as the first-choice centre-forward for Leeds this term and has caught the eye with his creative quality from the number nine position.

Appearances

6

Goals

1

Big chances created

4

Assists

3

Dribbles completed per game

1.0

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old marksman has only scored one goal in six games but has made up for that by creating four ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

Meanwhile, Piroe is the joint-top scorer in the side, along with Brenden Aaronson, with two goals in six appearances, despite starting one game, thanks to his goals off the bench against Hull and Cardiff.

These statistics suggest that Leeds are currently getting great value for money from two of their lowest earners. Meanwhile, Farke must be looking to ditch Max Wober, who has not done enough to justify his place in the wage structure.

How much Max Wober earns

The Austria international is reportedly on £35k-per-week at Elland Road and is within the top nine earners in the squad, following his return to the club this summer after a loan spell with Borussia Monchengladbach, which means that he earns more than Joseph and Piroe combined (£30k-per-week).

Despite being the ninth-highest earner at Leeds, Wober has not made a single appearance in the Championship this season and has been an unused substitute in three league matches.

His only appearance of the 2024/25 campaign, to date, came in the 3-0 loss to Middlesbrough at Elland Road in the League Cup, as he played 63 minutes alongside Rodon at centre-back.

The left-sided defender lost 100% of his aerial duels and did not do enough to convince Farke that he was ready for minutes in the Championship, as dud was left on the bench in the next two league games.

Rodon and Pascal Struijk have been preferred ahead of him in the centre-back positions so far this season, with the former taking the spot on the left side of the pairing.

The Dutchman’s performances in the second tier have been impressive and it does not appear as though Wober is likely to get a chance any time soon, barring injury or suspension.

Appearances

6

Pass accuracy

92%

Clean sheets

4

Ground duel success rate

53%

Aerial duel success rate

68%

As you can see in the table above, the former Ajax youngster has helped Leeds to keep four clean sheets in six league matches, whilst dominating opposition players on the deck and in the air.

Therefore, Farke should be looking to cash in on Wober in the upcoming January transfer window, as he is one of the top earners at the club and is not contributing to the team on the pitch.

Money wasted for Leeds

At the start of the January transfer window in 2023, former Whites head coach Jesse Marsch swooped to sign the central defender from RB Salzburg for a reported fee of £11m.

He had already worked with Marsch, and played alongside Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen, during his time in Austria, and was tasked with making the step up to the Premier League.

The West Yorkshire side were relegated from the top-flight that season, as the 26-year-old centre-back was unable to help them avoid the drop.

Appearances

16

Clean sheets

2

Error led to shot

1

Penalties committed

1

Duel success rate

53%

As you can see in the table above, Wober made two direct errors in 16 appearances and only helped the team to keep two clean sheets in that time, whilst barely winning the majority of his physical duels.

The Austrian flop did not opt to remain at Elland Road and fight for promotion from the Championship last season. Instead, he opted to sign for Borussia Monchengladbach on loan in the Bundesliga.

Wober played 25 matches in the German top-flight during the 2023/24 campaign but did not do enough to convince them to pull out all the stops to sign him permanently this summer.

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This meant that the left-footed dud remained at Leeds, instead of leaving for the second summer in succession, and now he is wasting away on the bench.

Therefore, the Whites have currently sunk £11m down the drain, along with his £35k-per-week wages, because Wober is not contributing on the pitch. This is why Farke must push him out of the door and cash in on the flop in the upcoming January transfer window.

Following their failure to sign Martin Zubimendi in the summer, Liverpool chiefs now reportedly believe that one of the most coveted midfielders in European football is the perfect profile for Arne Slot’s side.

Liverpool transfer news

To Slot’s credit, he’s turned to Ryan Gravenberch since missing out on Zubimendi with the Dutch midfielder playing his best football since arriving from Bayern Munich last summer. No longer a bit-part player, Gravenberch has arguably been the standout player in the early stages of the new manager’s tenure, even dictating play at San Siro as Liverpool came from behind to defeat AC Milan.

Given just how busy Liverpool’s schedule is, however, there will come a time when they will need to hand Gravenberch a rest and turn to alternative options, which is where issues could be presented to Slot to solve.

Without Gravenberch, the manager’s next option is likely to be Wataru Endo, who represents a more combative midfielder to the controller type that Slot prefers. Losing that element at the heart of his side in certain games will undoubtedly prove costly and should be the first problem that those at Anfield solve in 2025 using one particular player.

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool chiefs now believe that Nicolo Barella is the perfect profile for Slot and are keeping tabs on one of the most in-demand midfielders in Europe ahead of next summer.

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The Reds are not alone in their interest, with Real Madrid and Manchester City also eyeing moves to sign the Italian to form quite the race for his signature when next summer arrives. If Liverpool want to become serious title contenders again, then signing such a player to work alongside Gravenberch would certainly go a long way.

Barella would complete Liverpool's midfield

It’s taken longer than expected thanks to their unsuccessful and tiresome search for a defensive midfielder, but after adapting by using their current options, Liverpool could now complete their midfield with the addition of Barella next summer. The 27-year-old would join Italy teammate Federico Chiesa and transform the Reds back into title contenders in an instant under Slot.

Compared to Gravenberch, it’s clear that the Inter Milan star suits the profile of midfielder that Slot wants in his side whilst offering the experience that the Dutchman lacks. Offering the best of both worlds, Barella shares similar traits whilst representing an option who has performed on Europe’s biggest stages.

Progressive Passes

6.67

7

Tackles Won

0.74

1.75

Key Passes

6.30

6.75

Ball Recoveries

5.19

6.25

The numbers highlight just how excellent Gravenberch has been. The former Bayern Munich star has been as smooth as anything on the ball, progressing play at a world-class level, and just as impressive going in the other direction. Add a player like Barella next to him and the Liverpool star could be unstoppable for years to come at Anfield.

After an international break that saw them lose Martin Odegaard, Arsenal resumed their Premier League campaign over the weekend with a brilliant 1-0 win over fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

It wasn’t a vintage performance from Mikel Arteta’s side, but they managed to nullify their opponent’s hyper-attacking style of play and claim all three points courtesy of a Gabriel Magalhães header in the second half.

However, while the fans should still be basking in their club’s derby win, the team have to prepare for their first match of the Champions League tonight, away to Atalanta.

With the format being changed to a league competition, the Gunners have to get off to a winning start. As such, Arteta needs to put out another strong lineup, although he should make a few changes, one of which is dropping Gabriel Martinelli.

Gabriel Martinelli's recent form

Over the last 18 months or so, Martinelli hasn’t been in the greatest form. He ended last season with eight goals and five assists in 44 games, a far cry from the 15 goals and six assists he racked up the campaign prior.

There was some hope that the former Ituano gem would return to his best at the start of this season after a reasonably impressive showing in preseason.

However, after four appearances, three of which have been starts, he still hasn’t scored or assisted a single goal and has amassed a paltry expected goals figure of just 0.25, which is seriously underwhelming.

In his defence, while he missed that big chance against Spurs on Sunday, he was lively and kept Pedro Porro on his toes while also providing some defensive cover to Jurrien Timber, but it is starting to feel like last year all over again.

Overall, the Guarulhos-born gem is clearly a talented player, but it would make sense for Arteta to take him out of the spotlight, give him a rest for tonight’s important game, and start another winger who has an awful lot to prove in his place.

Why Raheem Sterling should start

Now, the first thing to say is that, yes, Raheem Sterling is in a similar boat to Martinelli at the moment in that his stock has fallen quite dramatically over the last couple of years.

However, there are two key differences. The first is that the Englishman’s struggles have come in the context of a massively dysfunctional Chelsea side, where Kai Havertz was also struggling before he moved to North London.

Second, while he’s not been at his best, the 29-year-old has still been productive.

Appearances

43

Minutes

2759′

Goals

10

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.41

Minutes per Goal Involvement

153′

For example, in his 43 appearances for the Blues last season, the “incredible” winger, as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, scored ten goals and provided eight assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 2.38 games.

Moreover, with a must-win clash away to Manchester City coming up on the weekend, the 82-capped international might not get another chance to start a game until next week, which in turn could make him less sharp when called upon in other matches.

Ultimately, despite putting in a useful performance against Spurs on Sunday, Martinelli’s struggles in front of goal continue, and even though his reputation has taken a hit, Sterling was surprisingly productive last year.Therefore, the Brazilian should be dropped from the starting lineup for the Englishman this evening.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai, as Julen Lopetegui aims to bolster his defence this summer.

The Midlands club have focused their transfer window so far on offloading players for profit, and having made almost £80m in sales, the Old Gold could be nearing the point of prioritising incomings.

With Nathan Collins sold and Max Kilman linked with a move away from Molineux, the links to Szalai have come at an encouraging time.

Could Wolves sign Attila Szalai?

As reported by Turkish outlet As Marca, Wolves have submitted ‘official offers’ to sign Super Lig duo Victor Nelsson and Fenerbahce’s Szalai.

The Hungarian is contracted to the Turkish side until 2025, with the Midlands club reportedly having bid a £12.5m opening offer for his services.

Lopetegui could land a financially smart deal in signing the 25-year-old, who could be a strong asset to Molineux in light of recent sales.

How good is Attila Szalai?

Kilman’s journey at Molineux could be nearing an end, after making a name for himself in the Midlands after signing from Maidenhead United back in 2018.

Wolves reportedly rejected an offer from Serie A winners Napoli for the Englishman, however the pursuit of the defender’s services have not ended with Tottenham also eyeing the Londoner.

After selling Collins to Brentford, Lopetegui could be left short in the central defence department, leaving him with little option but to recruit defenders this summer.

Hailed as an “elite talent” by members of the media, Szalai could be the perfect target for the Spaniard to chase this window, after impressing in Turkey last season.

The 25-year-old made 32 league appearances for Fenerbahce, contributing to ten clean sheets in the club’s second-place finish campaign, cementing himself as a key figure in defence.

Winning 62% of his total duels, with an average of 3.4 won per game, via Sofascore, the 6 foot 3 centre-back could be the perfect figure to succeed Kilman should he opt to depart this summer.

As per FBref, the Hungarian boasts better per 90 averages than the Englishman over the past year, flexing an innate skill set in defensive areas.

Szalai averaged 1.63 tackles and 1.25 interceptions per 90 over the past year, in comparison to Kilman’s recorded averages of 0.98 tackles and 0.52 interceptions in that time frame for Wolves.

The 25-year-old also came out on top over Kilman in terms of his distribution, averaging a pass completion rate of 85.0% per 90, as well as attempting 64.88 passes, suggesting this confidence on the ball.

Wolves’ ace averaged an 83.0% pass completion rate, attempting 57.34 passes per 90 as well as registering an average of 3.46 progressive passes per 90 to the 25-year-old’s 4.50 per 90.

Having a higher rate of progressive passes is a plus for Lopetegui, who could add a competent outlet in defence to spark movements in midfield and beyond, with fellow centre-back Craig Dawson averaging just 2.61 progressive passes per 90.

The Spaniard could uncover a hidden gem in Szalai, who at 25 could become an important figure at Molineux having displayed strengths in the fundamentals in Europe last season.

With West Ham United rejecting the latest big-money bid for Declan Rice, this time from Manchester City, it is clear the Hammers are being serious with their £100m valuation of the midfielder.

While that saga continues to drag on, with the ball now firmly in Arsenal's court, West Ham will no doubt be on the lookout for midfield recruits of their own.

What is the latest with Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana?

Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana is one of those to have been touted as a target for David Moyes' side earlier this month, but they have now been joined in the race by Premier League rivals Arsenal and Newcastle United.

According to L'Equipe, it is likely that Fofana will be sold to the highest bidder, with a fee of around €35m (£30m) possibly enough to prise him away from the Principality club.

That may seem like a high valuation for a player with a year left to run on his contract, but Monaco have the option to extend that by a further 12 months, so they are not in desperate need to sell.

Is Youssouf Fofana a good option for West Ham?

First things first: No matter which midfield target West Ham sign this summer, they will not tick as many boxes as outgoing Rice. Then again, none of their targets will cost a nine-figure sum.

Fofana is the same age as Rice, the pair play in the same central-midfield position and they were each regulars for teams in Europe's top five leagues, so comparing the two only makes sense.

Rice added an attacking edge to his game last season, and that reflects in the statistics as he averaged 0.16 goals and assists per 90 minutes, as per FBref, compared to 0.09 for Fofana.

There are plenty of similarities in other areas, however, such as their number of shots on target (23.9% for Rice and 24.6% for Fofana), their shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (2.54 v 2.41), with that metric factoring in passes and take-ons leading up to a shot, and tackles won (1.26 per 90 v 1.30).

The pair also won a very similar number of aerial duels (58.3% for Rice, compared to 56% for Fofana), which all suggests the Monaco man would be a good like-for-like replacement alongside Tomas Soucek, or indeed another new midfielder Moyes brings in.

Fofana is not exactly an under-the-radar gem, having already been capped ten times by France at senior level. Indeed, the Paris-born midfielder showed he can more than hold his own alongside some of the game's biggest names, with Statman Dave hailing his "exceptional" debut against Austria last September.

That game showcased many of Fofana's qualities, as he completed 100% of his dribbles, won 12 out of 14 ground duels and played one key pass. It is in terms of take-ons Fofana arguably brings something a little different to Rice that West Ham could do with, completing 1.36 per 90 last season to the Englishman's 1.02.

Potentially available for less than a third of the sum they will get for Rice, West Ham must ensure they are ahead of their Premier League rivals in the race to sign the talented Fofana.

The summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and Aston Villa have made one signing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign so far.

Youri Tielemans is set to join on a free transfer from Leicester City and Unai Emery could be looking to make further additions to his side to make the most of the lure of European football.

A seventh-placed Premier League finish last season ensured that the club will be playing Europa Conference League football next term and they must use that to their advantage to tempt top-quality players into making the switch to Villa Park.

Juventus attacker Federico Chiesa is a reported €60m (£51m) transfer target for the Villans this summer and Emery could land a big upgrade on Emi Buendia by securing the Italy international's services in the coming weeks.

What is Federico Chiesa's style of play?

Since arriving at the club from Norwich for £38m in 2021, Buendia has struggled to provide consistent quality in the final third. The Argentine scored four goals and provided six assists in 35 Premier League matches in his first campaign with Villa before his return of five goals and two assists in 38 outings in 22/23.

He has produced 0.07 assists per 90 over the last 365 days in the Men's Big Five Leagues which places him among the bottom 13% of his positional peers in those competitions.

Chiesa, on the other hand, has recorded 0.42 assists per 90 for Juventus in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days, ranking the Italian dynamo in the top 4% of players in his position.

This suggests that the 25-year-old could offer more creativity from an attacking midfield or wide position than Buendia, as he has provided his teammates with assists far more frequently than the Villa magician.

The Old Lady wizard's form in the Serie A prior to his ACL injury also indicates that the potential is there for him to be a greater goal threat than the former Canaries star.

Chiesa, who former teammate Gianluigi Buffon once lauded as "impossible to stop", averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.19 and chipped in with nine goals and nine assists in 33 league outings in 20/21, showing that the £153k-per-week hotshot has the quality to make telling contributions in the final third with regularity.

No Villans midfielder managed more than six goals or seven league assists last term while Buendia has not averaged a Sofascore rating higher than 6.95 in the Premier League since joining the club.

Douglas Luiz (7.10) was also the only player in the squad with a Sofascore rating higher than 6.99, meaning that Chiesa could come in as one of the top performers on the roster if he can recapture his previous form.

This, therefore, suggests that Emery would be improving his attacking options in the middle of the park by convincing the Italian marksman to sign for his team.

Aston Villa are thought to be preparing a €30m transfer offer to sign Napoli winger Hirving Lozano.

What’s the latest Aston Villa transfer news on Hirving Lozano?

Unai Emery looks set to be backed by owners NSWE this summer with a “huge” transfer budget. The Villa manager sealed a brilliant turnaround in the Midlands last season after taking over back in November, with the club finishing seventh in the Premier League to guarantee Europa Conference League football next season.

As a result, new signings appear to be on the agenda, with an agreement already reached with Youri Tielemans. A new attacker appears to be next on the wishlist, with transfer rumours of a move for Lozano circling in recent days, and it looks as if Villa are ready to take the next step.

One Spanish outlet shared an Aston Villa transfer update on Friday regarding Lozano. The report stated that Villa Park is viewed as one of the most attractive options for the player, with Emery’s side ready to make their move after missing out on Marco Asensio to Paris Saint-Germain.

An offer worth €30m (£25.6m) is being prepared by Aston Villa, with the story saying that ‘Lozano would be a huge boost for Aston Villa as he would add speed, skill and goal to their attack’.

Who is Hirving Lozano?

Lozano, sponsored by Nike, is primarily a right-winger but can also turn out on the left if needed. The Mexico international actually shares the same agency as Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey and has been with Napoli since 2019.

During that time, the 27-year-old has made 155 appearances for the Serie A side, scoring 30 goals and registering 17 assists, helping the side to the Italian title last season. Journalist Derek Clark described Lozano as "frightening" earlier this season, and he could be a player that fits the bill for Emery’s side.

As per FBref, Lozano ranks in the 99th percentile for crosses into the penalty area, something star striker Ollie Watkins could thrive from, and he also contributes defensively for an attacking player. He ranks in the 97th percentile for blocks and the 92nd percentile for tackles made in the attacking third.

Emery tended to play either a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 system last season, so Lozano could occupy a role on the right-hand side next season as the Villa boss looks to take the club to the next level, and with a bid being readied, it looks as if a deal is one to keep an eye on.

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a move for Leicester City defender, Timothy Castagne, with the Belgium international potentially up for grabs following the Foxes' recent relegation.

What's the latest on Castagne to Arsenal?

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the Gunners have opened negotiations regarding a summer swoop for the 27-year-old, with the former Atalanta ace viewed as a potential alternative to fellow right-back target, Ivan Fresneda.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider stated: "#ArsenalFC now going for Timothy #Castagne ! Considered as a number 2 target behind I.Fresneda for the right-back position, #AFC started the talks with #LeicesterCity in order to find a deal for the #DiablesRouges.

"I understand things could develop quickly. Wait & See."

The versatile full-back has just two years left to run on his existing deal at the King Power Stadium, having previously been snapped up by the Midlands outfit on a £21.5m deal back in the summer of 2020.

Should Arsenal sign Castagne?

There may be Arsenal supporters who would doubt the wisdom of signing a player who has only recently suffered relegation, although the north Londoners only need to look to the success of Aaron Ramsdale to firmly quash any such concerns.

In the case of the latter man, the Englishman was snapped up on a £30m deal back in 2021 after suffering not one, but two successive relegations for Bournemouth and Sheffield United, respectively, with pundit Danny Mills notably summing up the thoughts of many after branding that deal "bizarre".

Since those early doubts surrounding the young goalkeeper, however, Ramsdale has certainly made his presence felt at the Emirates after establishing himself as the club's first-choice option, with pundit Jamie Carragher stating that he has "never been more wrong" than he has been about initially questioning the 25-year-old's signing.

Now "up there" among the club's best signings of the decade – according to journalist Pete O'Rourke – the 6 foot 2 ace now looks like something of a steal due to his rise over the past two years, with CIES Football Observatory valuing him at around £51m.

That soaring valuation is another indication of what a successful signing Ramsdale has been for Arteta, with the hope being that Castagne can follow suit and also shine in the capital over the coming years.

The £65k-per-week ace has certainly proven his worth despite Leicester's woes of late, having scored two goals and provided three assists in 37 league games from his full-back berth in 2022/23, after previously being described as a "constant threat" by journalist Josh Bunting.

Comfortable at right-back or on the opposite side, the 31-cap machine can also offer a real impact defensively as he ranks in the top 9% among his European peers for clearances and in the top 17% for aerial duels won, proving himself an asset at both ends at the pitch.

That all-action style has certainly made Castagne an attractive option for top-flight clubs, with Arsenal needing to ensure a repeat of their Ramsdale masterclass by signing the Belgian menace.

Everton chiefs are keeping tabs on Sunderland forward Jack Clarke ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Who is Jack Clarke?

Clarke is naturally a left-sided winger who completed his permanent move to the Stadium of Light last summer from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, following a successful loan spell the season before. As per Transfermarkt, across both periods up north, he's made a total of 70 appearances to date, scoring 12 times.

In the Championship, the 22-year-old started all 46 games last season and firmly established himself as Tony Mowbray’s second overall best-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 7.11, and this impressive form has been catching the eye outside of the northeast.

Football League World previously credited Glasgow Rangers, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Toffees all with an interest in the forward who is, as stated by the outlet, expected to be sold during the upcoming window, and Sean Dyche’s admiration has now once again been brought to the surface.

Are Everton signing Clarke?

According to iNews, Everton scouts are “paying attention” to Clarke’s situation and there is a definite “interest” in signing him ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Sunderland are, of course, reluctant to lose their prized asset, but it’s stated that offers of around £15m could “prompt a conversation”.

The Black Cats attacker’s agent Ian Harte, however, has claimed that his client is “happy” where he is and currently has “no intention” of pushing for an exit. The one thing worth noting though is that “every player has a price” and neither the talented prospect, nor his representatives, have “any control” over whether the club decide to accept any offers that arrive at their door.

Should Moshiri splash the cash on Clarke?

Everton should be focusing on signing an out-and-out centre-forward this summer but any kind of positive attacking reinforcement can’t be turned down, and having been dubbed “unplayable” by journalist Josh Bunting, Farhad Moshiri should definitely empty his pockets to bring Clarke to Goodison Park.

The York-born talent racked up 20 goal contributions (11 assists and nine goals) in 45 Championship appearances last season, form which saw him collect six man-of-the-match awards, and even his displays were outstanding when he wasn’t on the scoresheet.

As per FBRef, the SMI Sports Management client recorded a total of 147 shot-creating actions which was more than any other of his fellow teammates, and whipped 96 crosses into the box which was the second-highest number, so he’s always looking to pose a threat in the final third and is a player that would make a significant difference for Dyche on Merseyside.