Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is apparently preparing to hand more game time to a "phenomenon" youngster at Spurs.
Spurs fixtures and results
This start to the 2023/2024 campaign is one Lilywhites supporters could've scarcely imagined. After losing all-time club record goalscorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in the summer, Spurs haven't looked back; winning eight out of their opening 10 Premier League matches while remaining unbeaten in that time.
Postecoglou's men have also just come through two games in the space of five days totally unscathed; clinching wins over London neighbours Fulham and Crystal Palace. The days of Antonio Conte seem like a very distant memory, as Spurs' popular new head coach becomes more and more of a hero as the weeks go by.
Speaking after his table-topping side's latest 2-1 win over Palace on Friday night, Postecoglou heaped praise on his Tottenham players for the character on display, especially at a very tricky ground like Selhurst Park.
"Top of the table is great and the results are great but it's more in the manner we're doing it," he told the media (via football.london).
"Pretty much from the first game we've had all sorts of different challenges we've had to overcome. Every time there has been a real focus and clear-headedness about the group collectively to deal with that. That has been a really pleasing thing and because they're getting rewards from that then that gives us opportunity to accelerate the growth of giving them more tools out there to help them for whatever we need to overcome.
"Like I said, I thought tonight was going to be a real difficult game for us coming here…Palace's result last week, it's a tight ground, they'd only conceded three goals in the four games so far and how were the lads going to cope with the fact we weren't going to create as many chances as we had been. I really liked the way we worked through that as a group."
The north Londoners take on Chelsea next on November 6, which gives Spurs plenty of time to rest and recuperate before their next big challenge against former boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Alejo Veliz "being prepared" for Spurs chance
Summer signings like James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, who've started every single top flight encounter for Tottenham thus far, have proved crucial in Postecoglou's new system. Maddison has been praised for his electric start to life, with former Spurs striker Mido hailing van de Ven and his suitability for the Premier League.
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One new arrival who's struggled for opportunities, though, is young striker Alejo Veliz. The Uruguayan, signed from Rosario Central, has played just 10 league minutes across three substitute appearances. However, reporter Dean Jones has now claimed to GiveMeSport that Veliz is "being prepared" for game time by Postecoglou over the second half of 2023/2024.
Aerial duels
Finishing
Headed attempts
Long shots
Supporters may well get to see more of the 20-year-old soon, who has even been called a "phenomenon" by 1978 Argentine World Cup winner Daniel Bertoni. It will be interesting to see if he can contribute to Tottenham's meteoric rise over the coming months.
The pacer picked up 5 for 43 to bowl Tasmania out for 151 after Jack Edwards’ 68 helped the Blues to 239
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2018Getty ImagesSean Abbott’s second consecutive five-wicket haul helped New South Wales register their first win of the season, by 88 runs over Tasmania, in their JLT One-Day Cup clash at the North Sydney Oval.The Blues rode on Jack Edwards’ quickfire 68 off 50 balls, before Gurinder Sandhu hit back for Tasmania. The pacer picked up 4 for 42 to help bowl the opposition out for 239. Abbott, though, dented Tasmania’s chase by removing their top three batsmen within the first nine overs. Daniel Sams also picked up two wickets, as Tasmania found themselves struggling at 7 for 98. A 53-run eighth-wicket stand between Clive Rose and Jackson Bird only helped save some face, as they were bowled out for 151 in 31.3 overs.Earlier, after being sent in to bat, the Blues lost Daniel Hughes in the fourth over of the match, but Edwards and captain Kurtis Patterson took the side past 100. Edwards did most of the scoring during their 86-run association, hitting 11 fours and two sixes. Sandhu dismissed Jay Lenton and Sams in successive overs to reduce the Blues to 6 for 158 in the 30th over.Chris Green and Nick Larkin took the side to 200 with a 42-run stand for the seventh wicket, before Sandhu struck twice in two overs once again to end the innings in 47.3 overs.In response, Tasmania lost Matthew Wade in the first ball of the chase, when he fell lbw to Abbott. Abbott proceeded to wreck the top order, while Sams made life hard for the middle-order batsmen, with the wickets of Jordan Silk and George Bailey, both caught by wicketkeeper Lenton.Almost every Tasmania batsman got a start – eight of them reached double figures – but they needed some to carry on. Only Clive Rose crossed 30, before he was dismissed by Abbott for 35. Aaron Summers was bowled next ball, giving Abbott his best figures in List A cricket. Riley Meredith avoided the hat-trick, but Ben Dwarshuis had Bird caught by Lenton, for his fifth catch of the innings, in the next over to wrap up the game.
In the summer of 2016, new Everton owner Farhad Moshiri sought to make a statement of intent in the transfer window by unloading a war chest of funds on several players.
Unfortunately, their business in that summer would foreshadow what was to come as a misfiring transfer strategy continues to be at the forefront of their demise seven years later.
The only two success stories to come from that window were the £1.5m acquisition of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin from Sheffield United and the £7.1m shelled out for Aston Villa's all-action midfielder, Idrissa Gueye.
The rest of the personnel that arrived all drastically failed in an Everton shirt as Ashley Williams, Morgan Schneiderlin and Ademola Lookman bled the club dry across their spells at the club.
Yet, the most disappointing name on that list was Yannick Bolasie, as the explosive winger was captured from Crystal Palace for a reported club-record fee.
The fee Everton paid for Yannick Bolasie
Described by former manager Alan Pardew as "exciting", Bolasie had Premier League defences on strings for years at Selhurst Park with his searing pace and exceptional trickery, so when Ronald Koeman splashed £30m on the player, Everton may have felt like they were getting their money's worth.
The DR Congo international spent a successful four years at Palace terrorising defences, forming an indispensable partnership with fellow electric winger Wilfried Zaha as that destructive duo helped the Eagles soar back to the top flight in 2013, recording 26 goal contributions between them.
After destroying the Championship, Bolasie would become a thorn in the back of Premier League defences, utilising his pace and athleticism to carve through teams on the counter, without having the goal contributions to show for it.
Yannick-Bolasie-in-action-for-Crystal-Palace
He did not manage to score and only chalked up four assists across the 2013/14 season, however, the explosive winger would soon turn his sensational build-up play into dynamite in the following term, supplying 11 assists and four goals with Jamie Carragher labelling his performances as "outstanding".
By the time the Toffees snapped him up in 2016, Bolasie had established himself as one of the most exciting wingers to watch in the division, with the Athletic aptly describing him as "Palace's entertainer".
During his association with the South London club, he produced some sensational moments worthy of getting supporters excited, including the profound 'Bolasie flick' and the role he played in the 'Crystanbul' draw with Liverpool.
The Goodison Park faithful envisaged seeing him take Merseyside by storm with his eye-catching and powerful performances, but they were to be disappointed.
Yannick Bolasie's performance at Everton
The hair-raising and magical Bolasie would soon turn into a shell of his former self, perhaps falling victim to the huge expectations and pressure applied on his shoulders.
There was always a question of what Bolasie's ceiling was, impressing with his excellent approach play and ability to glide past defenders, while his output in the final third was severely lacking.
Everton's manager at the time, Koeman, would have felt he could have transformed the 50-cap Congo international into a goal-scoring phenom, which would have propelled him towards the upper echelon of Premier League wingers.
However, he was incredibly unfortunate to have ruptured his ACL early on in his Toffees career in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United. This horrendous injury sidelined him for just over a year and saw him miss a total of 63 games.
Bolasie never quite recovered from this huge setback, seeing his progress in Blue stall as he only scored two goals and supplied four assists in 32 appearances across five years.
A handful of new bosses followed, as did an influx of players and this saw him loaned out to several clubs, including Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Anderlecht.
He was released by Everton in 2021 and is now a free agent following a prosperous spell at Turkish side Caykur Risespor, rolling back the years with 20 goals in 55 appearances.
The capture of Bolasie, who ended up departing on a free transfer, turned out to be a huge blunder on Koeman's behalf as his exciting £30m signing failed to make a significant impact on the pitch and left for nothing.
Tottenham Hotspur are soaring above anything that supporters could have imagined just a matter of months ago, with new manager Ange Postecoglou transforming the confidence and quality at the club since arriving in the summer.
The Premier League's current table-toppers are in fantastic form and have leapfrogged holding champions Manchester City into first place after a battling victory over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road (though City will reclaim their spot should they defeat Arsenal on Sunday).
It's a far cry from the mess the club was in before the turning of the season, with Antonio Conte's dismissal in March – Spurs' fourth managerial sacking in as many years – the result of a failure to establish a clear identity and understanding on the pitch, Tottenham languished to an eighth-placed finish.
Harry Kane, star striker and record goalscorer, was consequently sold to Bayern Munich for £100m and Postecoglou was appointed from Celtic, viewed as a more grounded and astute approach than moves for Conte and Jose Mourinho.
Player
Price (via Sky Sports)
Dejan Kulusevski
£25.6m
James Maddison
£40m
Guglielmo Vicario
£17.2m
Manor Solomon
Free transfer
Ashley Phillips
Undisclosed
Pedro Porro
£39m
Micky van de Ven
£43m
Brennan Johnson
£47.5m
Alejo Veliz
Undisclosed
While the departure of a stalwart club legend such as Kane was a moment no Spurs fan wished to see, the money recuperated has allowed club chairman Daniel Levy to invest in quality additions across the pitch, and the results have so far been nothing short of emphatic.
Victories over Manchester United and Liverpool, a noteworthy draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, the Lilywhites are demonstrating title-winning credentials and while this would not have been conceivable before the summer, it is very much a possibility at present.
On top of the superb summer signings, Postecoglou has worked wonders in reviving some previously struggling stars, with captain Heung-min Son and star centre-back Cristian Romero looking like world-beaters this season.
Perhaps most impressive, however, has been the resurgence of midfield machine Yves Bissouma, who has been praised for his "standout" performances by The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare.
He didn't enjoy his finest hour against the Hatters, picking up a yellow card and hence receiving a one-match suspension before inexplicably diving and being given his marching orders just before the break.
On top of departing the pitch a little hot under the collar, the Malian ace's absence now means, of course, that he will need replacing, and while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg might appear the obvious choice, Postecoglou might want to think twice before deploying him from the start against Fulham.
How did Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg perform vs Luton?
While proving his worth and then some across the majority of his Tottenham career, Hojbjerg has not found a regular spot on the pitch this season,
An industrious and intelligent midfielder, the Dane has yet to make a Premier League start this season, called on as a substitute seven times, but flattered to deceive this weekend.
Tottenham's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Coming on at half-time against the Hatters to combat the loss of Bissouma, the 28-year-old did not perform with the conviction his manager might've hoped for, picking up a yellow card, winning just 25% (1/4) of his duels, getting dribbled past once – as per Sofascore – and getting "skinned" by the energetic Chiedozie Ogbene, as was noted by Eccleshare.
Of course, he's a tried and tested midfielder and has been ever-present for the lion's share of his time in London, but given the success of his positional peer Pape Matar Sarr this season, Postecoglou might be inclined to offer 18-year-old starlet Rio Kyerematen a shot in the starting line-up.
Who is Rio Kyerematen?
Hojbjerg's lack of mobility has left him banished to the periphery under Postecoglou's wing, but his loss could be Kyerematen's gain, with the teenage prospect praised by club insider superhotspur, who wrote: 'Always looking to make decisive forward passes, Rio is a very good passer of a football, and he has a good range of passing'.
With Sarr alongside him, some might question the youthful tint to the Spurs centre, but the London club are already demonstrating the benefit instilling some precocious exuberance can have.
Certainly not a like-for-like change, Kyerematen has posted 13 goals and 11 assists across just 51 matches at youth level, and while he hasn't yet made his senior debut, it wouldn't be the first time an unknown commodity has announced themselves from the unknown. In addition, he is also 'very reliable on the ball, is very good at dribbling with the ball and at turning with it, and he uses the ball really well' – as per superhotspur.
Stepping up to the plate, the "big talent" – as he has been called by Tottenham podcaster Chris Miller – would bring a fresh angle to unlock a robust Fulham outfit, and enveloped by so much quality, he could be in a good position to impress on his prospective debut.
Kyerematen would have big boots to fill though, there is no question about that; Bissouma has been the engine behind his side's success, the flooding waterfall to fill the pool that is Tottenham's rising wealth of talent.
As per FBref, the £55k-per-week phenom ranks among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 8% for passes attempted, the top 16% for successful take-ons and the top 21% for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.
Such attributes appear tailor-made for a prodigy such as Kyerematen to assume, offering his own ball-playing prowess to serve as a conduit between the backline and the creative James Maddison.
And while he is only young, and very much inexperienced, Bissouma will only be unavailable for one match and, as such, this really could be the opportune moment for this stunning starlet to pounce and impress at senior level.
Neither team has really dominated yet this season, and both need to iron out niggling issues before the competition truly heats up
The Preview by Karthik Krishnaswamy14-Apr-20184:04
Agarkar: RCB need to consider McCullum’s spot
Big PictureThe IPL is a long tournament in terms of just how many matches there are, but it’s also a short one in terms of the length of time those matches are squeezed into. Form, personal and collective, can therefore begin to snowball before you even realise it, and minor areas of concern can turn into season-destroying weaknesses.Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals have each played two games, losing one and winning the other, and neither team has really clicked into gear yet. RCB’s middle order and sixth-bowling option remain worries, despite their having assembled a squad that should, in theory, contain solutions to both issues. Royals’ Indian bowling contingent looks less than frightening, and it remains to be seen if their batting order truly makes best use of their best players. Big-name players from both sides are yet to find their best form too.A sense of unsettledness, therefore, hovers over both teams, and where they finish on the league table could well depend on how quickly they banish it.In the newsJofra Archer, who missed much of the PSL with a side strain, is yet to feature for Royals. He only arrived in India on the eve of their second match, against Delhi Daredevils on Wednesday, but the three-day gap between the two games could possibly have given him enough time to gain full fitness. On the eve of the game, Archer was one of only two people along with Ben Stokes to both bat and bowl in the nets. If Archer does make Royals’ XI, he will most likely come in for the Australian seamer Ben Laughlin.Stokes, who has bowled only two overs in two games to begin the IPL, bowled for over 45 minutes, dispelling concerns over how his back is holding up.Big hitting South African batsman and wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen, who is yet to play this season, also had a bat in the nets.The likely XIsRoyal Challengers Bangalore: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Brendon McCullum, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 AB de Villiers, 5 Sarfaraz Khan, 6 Mandeep Singh, 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Kulwant Khejroliya, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalRajasthan Royals: 1 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 2 D’Arcy Short, 3 Sanju Samson, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Rahul Tripathi, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 K Gowtham, 8 Shreyas Gopal, 9 Dhawal Kulkarni, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Ben Laughlin/Jofra ArcherESPNcricinfo Ltd
Stats that matter In the three previous seasons of the IPL, Sanju Samson had a Smart Run Index of -3.71, which means he scored 3.71 runs less than the average batsman who came in to bat at a similar stage of the innings. He has made a much stronger start to this season, returning a Smart Run Index of 22.10 in his first two innings. Ajinkya Rahane loves batting in Bengaluru in the IPL. In five innings here, he has scored 245 runs at an average of 61.3 and a strike rate of 145.8. That tally includes his only T20 hundred, an unbeaten 60-ball 103 in 2012. Washington Sundar is one of eight bowlers with a Smart Economy Rate of less than 6 an over among those who have bowled 100 or more balls in the IPL since the start of the 2015 season. His traditional economy rate is 6.72 and his smart economy rate is 5.95. AB de Villiers has only managed to score 13 off 15 balls against Ben Stokes across two T20 meetings so far. Yuzvendra Chahal has taken 71 wickets for RCB, and needs two more to surpass Vinay Kumar and become their all-time leading wicket-taker.Strategy puntIn RCB’s last match against Kings XI Punjab, Virat Kohli did not bowl any of his spinners during the Powerplay overs. That could change against Royals’ openers. In all T20s, D’Arcy Short scores at 7.73 per over against spin and at 9.90 against pace. Ajinkya Rahane, meanwhile, scores at 6.92 against spin and 7.28 against pace, and has been out to Yuzvendra Chahal twice in three innings while scoring 17 off 18 balls against him.Fantasy pickD’Arcy Short has made a slightly freakish start to his IPL career, getting himself run out in his first two innings for Royals. He’ll be keen to make amends, and he has the game to do so most spectacularly, having come into this tournament after top scoring in BBL 2017-18 at a Smart Strike Rate of 164.36. If either Tim Southee or Colin de Grandhomme play for RCB, they’d better watch out too: Short hammered a combined 54 off 22 balls against the two of them during the recent T20I tri-series featuring Australia, New Zealand and England.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp knew the importance of a fruitful summer after falling by the wayside last season, with a fifth-placed Premier League finish the product of ineptitude on the transfer front and a startling loss of form and confidence.
Freshening the ranks was always going to be expected, especially considering that James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all departed in June upon the expiry of their contracts.
Such was to be expected, and indeed needed, but the Saudi Arabian raid on Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson created a brewing sense of panic; apt replacements were paramount.
Well, the early-season narrative suggests that the Reds are on the rise once more, with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all additions to reshape and remould a once thriving midfield that had been sapped of vitality.
Indeed, the Anfield side have impressed thus far, winning three matches in succession after drawing to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to kick their campaign off, and while he has not enjoyed his crowning moment on Merseyside yet, Mac Allister is looking to be a remarkable piece of business already.
How much did Liverpool sign Alexis Mac Allister for?
Liverpool were like a caged animal for the majority of last term, ravenous and desperate for respite, but haplessly incapable of finding a way out.
This was largely down to the midfield's failure to competently protect the defence, inviting waves of pressure and looking as discordant and disjointed as the club has looked under Klopp's illustrious stewardship.
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A big summer rebuild was touted, and to kick off the incomings, sporting director Jorg Schmadtke completed a remarkable transfer for Brighton & Hove Albion's Mac Allister, who joined in a bargain £35m deal to get the red half of Merseyside rocking.
The dynamic midfielder had made 112 appearances for the Seagulls – scoring 20 goals and providing nine assists – after signing from Argentinos Juniors for £7m in January 2019, remaining at the Argentinian outfit until the end of the season.
Described as "magic" by pundit Jack Collins, the 24-year-old has been integral in Albion's ascent over the past several years, a centrepiece to their 2022/23 season in qualifying for the Europa League and instrumental in Argentina's triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
How much is Alexis Mac Allister worth now?
Mac Allister's £35m acquisition by Liverpool was met with universal respect; the Reds had signed a rising star with the world at his feet for a relatively small fee.
For reference, another Klopp target this summer, Mason Mount, moved to Manchester United in an initial £55m transfer despite flattering to deceive over the past 12 months.
To illustrate just how shrewd a piece of business it was, CIES Football Observatory already value the £150k-per-week Mac Allister at €80m (£68m), which is a 94% increase from the fee parted with to secure his services.
To corroborate this valuation, there were scores of rumoured fees flying around the transfer market to highlight the high regard in which Mac Allister is held, with the Mirror revealing that the Anfield side were ready to pay £70m to sign the ace.
The fact that Klopp and co succeeded in meeting the contractual clause to permit such an economical move permitted lucrative funds to be spent on the rest of the midfield rebuild.
Should the Reds decide to sell Mac Allister – not that they would – they would undoubtedly cash in lucratively, eclipsing the fee paid for the burgeoning midfielder.
Why is Alexis Mac Allister worth that much?
The 17-cap international truly rose to prominence in Qatar last year, but his displays with Brighton were the foundation of Liverpool's vested interest, having complemented his ten goals and two assists in the Premier League with an 87% pass success rate, averaging 1.3 tackles and two tackles per game and winning 58% of his duels.
Comparing this with Jordan Henderson, for example, who completed 85% of his passes, averaging 0.9 key passes and tackles per match and winning just 50% of his duels, emphasises the increase in robustness that has already been felt this term.
While Liverpool did not swoop for the Argentine solely because of his international exploits, it did not exactly work against Mac Allister that he produced a scintillating series of showings as his nation secured the gilt-encased trophy.
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As per Sofascore, he recorded an average rating of 7.05 at the World Cup, posting one goal and assist, completing 89% of his passes, making 1.5 tackles per game and winning 67% of his ground duels, hailed by Gary Lineker for his “sumptuous” defence-splitting assist to Angel Di Maria in the final against France.
Where Liverpool flopped and foundered last year, now the engine looks oiled and in gear once again, with Mac Allister praised for his "impressive" start to life on Merseyside by Neil Docking.
Once described as "intelligent" by compatriot and legendary Premier League striker Sergio Aguero, Mac Allister boasts the qualities to orchestrate many a memorable match for Liverpool, pulling the strings and driving the play forward, very much the energetic presence that was absent at Anfield last term.
He currently ranks among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for progressive carries and the top 14% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, underscoring a driving presence from the middle, weaving into dangerous positions to effectively supplement the attack.
While in the early phase of his Liverpool career, Mac Allister looks very much the assured presence needed, having completed 87% of his passes for the Anfield team, making 2.5 tackles and 6.5 ball recoveries per match and winning 59% of his duels.
Once dubbed Brighton's "golden boy" by content creator Ryan Adsett, the 5 foot 9 midfielder can now develop as Liverpool's glittering beacon of hope after a miserable campaign.
Resplendent in red, Liverpool have secured a gem and one who will ply his trade diligently under Klopp's stewardship, and the Kop will sing his name in a din of adulation for years to come.
Even after keeping hold of Michael Olise, who penned a new deal at the club, Crystal Palace are still seeking attacking reinforcements before the summer transfer window slams shut.
The London club are yet to replace Wilfried Zaha, who left as a free agent at the end of last season, before joining Galatasaray. As the season gets up and running, the Eagles have reportedly turned to Sporting CP and Issahaku Fatawu to potentially solve that problem.
What's the latest on Issahaku Fatawu to Crystal Palace?
According to A Bola, via Sport Witness, Palace have already seen an €10m (£9m) bid rejected for winger Fatawu, with Sporting valuing their young winger at €15m (£13m), plus a 20% sell-on clause.
Given that Fatawu originally signed a contract which included a reported release clause of €60m (£50m), clubs could still consider Sporting's current price an incredible bargain. As things stand, if the reports are to be believed, Palace are just €5m (£4m) short of the winger's valuation, potentially making the deal doable and "negotiations" remain "ongoing".
From the player's perspective, as per A Bola, he is comfortable staying at Sporting even though he is not currently in the plans of manager Ruben Amorim.
Palace could still convince Fatawu, but with the transfer window slamming shut in just under two weeks, the London club may need to act fast.
Should Crystal Palace sign Issahaku Fatawu?
Issahaku Fatawu
A deal for Fatawu doesn't come without its risks, considering that he has failed to impress enough at Sporting since making the move to Portugal. Nonetheless, it is arguably a risk that is worth taking for Palace, who could help the 19-year-old realise his potential.
Prior to his move to Sporting, the winger attracted plenty of praise, with Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig saying: "Issahaku Abdul Fatawu would be an amazing signing for ANY top European academy. 17 years of age. Top prospect."
Kulig also went onto say: "I watch or maybe try to watch every AFCON U17/U20 but it's very rare that a player like Fatawu makes an impression like that. Rough diamond. Enormous potential."
With that said, Fatawu could be an ideal Zaha replacement at Selhurst Park this summer. Statistically speaking, too, the teenager has shown more than enough potential in limited minutes for Sporting's first-team.
According to FBref, in barely the total minutes of two full games, Fatawu made eight progressive carries and completed four progressive passes, whilst also completing six take-ons. The numbers suggest that Palace are targeting a player simply waiting to burst into life.
The London club could do with reinforcements, that's for sure, having signed just two players this summer, in the form of Jefferson Lerma and Matheus Franca. Keeping hold of Olise will be seen as a major positive, but whether the Frenchman is enough to keep Palace afloat remains to be seen this season.
Roy Hodgson's side got off to an ideal start, even without a busy summer, by defeating newly-promoted Sheffield United 1-0. They will hope that the result is the start of a solid run of form to get the season underway, with or without Fatawu.
Liverpool "desperately want" to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, with a deal now "there to be done", according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?
The Reds' pursuit of Lavia continues to drag on, with the Saints recently knocking back a third bid in the region of £45m, as they are thought to be standing firm on their £50m valuation, given that he has four years remaining on his contract.
Southampton boss Russell Martin has now claimed he does not expect any departures before the weekend, which suggests the 19-year-old will not arrive at Anfield before the Reds' first Premier League game.
Martin said: "I don't envisage anything changing between now and the weekend, but it's football, right, so anything can happen."
There have been reports that Liverpool have already tabled a fourth bid for the midfielder, with journalist Ben Jacobs claiming they have already made an "improved" fourth offer, although it is unclear if they are willing to match the Saints' asking price.
Read The Latest Liverpool Transfer News HERE
In a recent interview with GiveMeSport, Sheth has now provided an update on the Reds' pursuit of the Southampton star, in which he suggests they are still in a very good position to sign him this summer.
The Sky Sports reporter said: "Talks are ongoing, so I think there's a deal to be done there. The fact that Liverpool have made three bids would suggest that they desperately want to bring in the player.
"The latest bid was around £45million all in, including add-ons. Even though that's only £5million short of what Southampton are standing firm on, we haven't really got all the information on how that deal would have been structured.
"If Southampton are standing firm on £50million, they might actually have another caveat to say they want the majority of that £50million paid up front, followed by the performance-related add-ons. They would also want those performance-related add-ons to be achievable, but the fact that they're still talking would imply that the deal is there to be done."
What type of player is Romeo Lavia?
It appears as though the starlet is being targeted as a like-for-like replacement for Fabinho, as he is a defensive midfielder, making 60 tackles for Southampton in the Premier League last season, the third-highest amount of any player in the squad.
The youngster's former teammates are well aware of his quality, with Nathan Redmond lauding him as "unbelievable", while Oriol Romeu, now of Barcelona, also gave him high praise, saying: “Romeo was a talent, if you’re that young and playing that well, you’re going to be special.”
There have been a number of key departures for Jurgen Klopp's side this summer, particularly in midfield, with six central midfielders leaving the club, including club captain Jordan Henderson, while only Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have been brought in.
As such, it is vital that Liverpool strengthen their midfield soon, with their first game against Chelsea pencilled in for this Sunday, so it is good news that Southampton are still open to letting Lavia go, and they should try and wrap up the deal as soon as possible.
Arsenal are in "advancing" talks to sell USA number one goalkeeper Matt Turner to Nottingham Forest, according to reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Who is leaving Arsenal this summer?
So far, the north Londoners have officially confirmed a handful of departures, with defender Pablo Mari, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and long-serving midfielder Granit Xhaka perhaps most notably leaving.
Many more could follow the aforementioned trio out the Arsenal exit door as forwards Nicolas Pepe, who is wanted by clubs in Turkey, and in-form striker Folarin Balogun continue to attract interest.
Albert Sambi Lokonga, who is a target for newly-promoted Burnley, is apparently nearing a move to Turf Moor on loan as manager Vincent Kompany looks to sign his fellow Belgian.
Another name rumoured to be hovering towards a departure is Turner, as Forest have been attempting to prise away the Arsenal 29-year-old whilst shoring up their goalkeeping options.
Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…
Interestingly, this comes amid the Gunners' talks to sign Brentford's David Raya, with the Spaniard already agreeing personal terms as both the Bees and Arteta's side continue negotiations
It appears Raya in, Turner out is a very realistic scenario this summer and renowned media source Romano has a "crucial" update on the American's potential switch to the City Ground.
Writing on social media, the journalist says Arsenal are in "advancing" talks to sell Turner to Steve Cooper's side and they've submitted an "official bid" for his services.
Arsenal and USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner
Forest want him on a permanent deal as the Gunners keep negotiating for Raya.
"EXCL: Nottingham Forest submitted an official bid for Matt Turner," wrote Romano.
"Understand the proposal has been made for permanent transfer, talks advancing with Arsenal. Crucial step in goalkeepers domino as #AFC keep negotiating with Brentford for David Raya, deal getting closer."
Turner was largely a back-up option to Aaron Ramsdale last campaign, where he played in five Europa League matches and multiple FA Cup games under Mikel Arteta (WhoScored).
How good is Matt Turner?
Having signed from MLS side New England Revolution just last summer, it appears the likelihood of Turner departing after just one year is a very real one.
Arteta, commenting after his side secured a deal for Turner in 2022, heaped praise on the 'keeper as a new asset with "high quality" and an "experienced" name.
Arteta said: “Matt is an experienced goalkeeper who will bring high quality to our squad – he was great in MLS”.
Arsenal's manager, speaking ahead of pre-season, also revered Turner for his attitude and application – going on to say he was "superb" when called upon last campaign.
The Spaniard also said Turner is a "competitive" player who helps to keep some of his teammates playing at a certain level.
When asked what the 'keeper should do next season, Arteta said:
“First of all the same as he did last year, which is a great competition to the squad goalkeeping unit because he’s so competitive – he keeps everyone at the level every single day.
“I think he did great with us and (with) the national team, I think he was superb as well. He needs some holidays. It’s been a long year for him.
“I don’t know how many competitions he played in but there’s so many so he needed a break. When he has the break he will be back with us.”