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Arsenal are a side who have reaped the benefits of possessing an impressive academy set up in recent years, with the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka having all graduated from the Gunners’ youth ranks before establishing themselves as regulars in Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad.

However, arguably one of the club’s most talented academy prospects in recent memory, Reiss Nelson, is yet to fulfil his undoubted potential at The Emirates. And, with a matter of months remaining on his current contract in north London, time is running out for the 22-year-old to prove he has what it takes to make it at the club.

Indeed, former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, previously stated his belief that Nelson “has shown that he can dribble, go past people and he isn’t fazed by the occasion,” while legendary Gunners centre-back Martin Keown claimed that the winger “showed the sort of touches you often see or associate with a Neymar or a real top player.”

There has been evidence of these claims on the pitch, with the £5.85m-rated talent having impressed during a loan spell at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim back in 2018/19, scoring seven goals and registering one assist over his 23 Bundesliga appearances, with Julian Nagelsmann going as far as to compare the attacker to another of Arsenal’s former academy graduates, Serge Gnabry.

Regarding Nelson, the former Hoffenheim manager said: “Reiss is a player whose qualities can be compared to those of Serge Gnabry, but just not so well developed.”

And, considering the fact that Gnabry now boasts a market valuation of £72m – having scored 67 goals and registered 43 assists over 182 appearances for Bayern Munich – just eight years after he left Arsenal for a measly £4.5m, it would appear extremely wise for the Gunners to learn their lesson from the 27-year-old’s rise and hand Nelson one more chance to impress before the end of his current deal.

Indeed, it is undeniable that the academy prospect possesses the potential to be a massive success in the professional game, perhaps even going on to match the level of the Germany international, but whether or not this development occurs at The Emirates looks to solely depend on whether or not Arteta affords the £15k-per-week starlet a final opportunity in an Arsenal shirt.

Everton remain unbeaten in their last five Premier League games and finally picked up their first three points last weekend when they hosted West Ham United at Goodison Park.

Frank Lampard will be delighted that his team is starting to gel and work well together, improving upon the disastrous campaign in the league last season that left the side in a difficult relegation battle, and there is no doubt the new signings made this summer have made a huge difference.

With James Tarkowski and Conor Coady forging a formidable centre-back partnership and Neal Maupay working well in the front line alongside Anthony Gordon, the future is looking bright for the Toffees, and a comfortable finish in the top flight is looking more achievable than it ever has over the last 18 months.

One newly acquired player who has been making a huge impact in the centre of the pitch is Amadou Onana, with the midfielder becoming the positive presence Lampard desperately needed to improve the quality of play in the midfield.

Last month, French football expert Julien Laurens heaped praise on the £33.5m Everton dynamo, comparing him to World Cup winner Paul Pogba:

“He’s a very exciting player, a midfielder who can play pretty much all across the midfield. For me he’s a great box-to-box because he’s powerful, he’s good on the ball, he’s tall, he’s strong, he will drive the ball very well.

“He’s very much like a (Aurelien) Tchouameni, or a Paul Pogba, but he’s got more of a defensive mind as well.”

That defensive mind has had a huge contribution to the Toffees’ ability to go unbeaten in the Premier League over their last five outings as he’s made 2.8 tackles, won 1.2 interceptions, completed 1.7 clearances and won six duels per game so far. Thus, Lampard will be thrilled he finally has a midfielder he can truly rely on to leave everything on the pitch in his performance.

Thanks to the signing of Onana, the Everton boss can finally ditch out-of-favour Allan with speculation that the £21m Brazilian dud could be about to make his exit from Goodison Park over the coming days and weeks.

Lampard spoke out in his pre-match press conference over the weekend about the midfielder’s exclusion from the team over the season so far:

“You have to make those decisions sometimes. We’ll see over the next week or two.”

The £120k-per-week midfielder who was dubbed “slow” by Gabriel Agbonlahor doesn’t appear to have any chance of getting back into this team after Lampard acquired the services of Onana and James Garner this summer, and now the team are performing with stability this season without Allan it is looking like his days are numbered.

With that being said, Lampard has a big decision to make on the Brazilian’s future at the club as he is not only one of the oldest members of the squad at 31 years old, but also one of the highest earners and if he is not in the manager’s plans he has to go.

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is set to lose his place in the team for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash against Ajax, according to Paul Joyce of The Times. 

The lowdown

The Reds host Ajax on Match-day Two in Group A, looking to muster a response to last week’s 4-1 defeat against Napoli.

Gomez started that game alongside Virgil van Dijk in the heart of defence but was withdrawn at half time, with Joel Matip sent on in his place.

Jurgen Klopp has picked the Englishman for the last five games in all competitions after Matip and Ibrahima Konate both suffered injuries.

The latest

Joyce reports that Klopp is expected to make at least one tactical change to his line-up when the Eredivisie outfit visit Anfield.

Gomez is likely to be dropped to the bench, with Matip partnering Van Dijk instead.

The verdict

Gomez can, ultimately, have few complaints off the back of his display in Naples.

His SofaScore rating of 6.1/10 was the second lowest in the Liverpool side, bettering only James Milner (5.6).

He gave the ball away in his own defensice third twice, and while Van Dijk bailed him out in the first instance through a goal-line clearance, he was punished the second time round as Giovanni Simeone scored.

Matt Addison of Liverpool.com called it a ‘woeful’ display, podcaster Joseph Cousins dubbed him a ‘liability’ and journalist James Martin said he’d endured an ‘absolute nightmare’.

Celtic were left to reflect on what might have been on Wednesday evening, as the Parkhead outfit were held to a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in what was a lively Champions League group stage encounter.

Although Ange Postecoglou’s side were finally able to get a point on the board after having slipped to a 3-0 defeat at home to 14-time champions Real Madrid last week, the overriding feeling will have been one of frustration, with the Hoops once again coming up short in front of goal.

As was the case against Los Blancos, last night’s clash in Warsaw saw the Old Firm side spurn a number of clearcut chances to surge ahead, after the explosive Mykhaylo Mudryk had cancelled out an early own goal from Artem Bondarenko.

Both Daizen Maeda and Giorgos Giakoumakis inexplicably fired wide late on with the Glasgow side having firmly taken control of proceedings, as the ‘visitors’ were ultimately forced to settle for a point against the Ukrainian outfit.

The aftermath of that stalemate has seen skipper Callum McGregor criticised for his “terrible decision” to chase the ball in the build-up to Shakhtar’s equaliser – in the words of Chris Sutton – although one man who also somewhat underwhelmed was usual talisman, Jota.

While the Portuguese magician did offer a typically devastating threat off the flanks, the 23-year-old was arguably far more wasteful in possession than usual, notably squandering possession on 20 occasions in his 90-minute outing – the most of any player on the night.

Arguably the most “infuriating” element of his performance, however – according to journalist Sam Tabuteau – was the former Benfica man’s failure to “pull the trigger” despite having a clear sight on goal, having twice fashioned a brilliant opening for himself.

In two almost identical scenarios, the fleet-footed gem had majestically weaved his way into the opposition box, only to then belatedly decide to shoot after seemingly doing too much to try and deceive the opposition.

While it may be somewhat harsh to criticise a player who has sparkled for the Hoops to date – with 35 goal contributions in just 48 games thus far – the £6.75m-rated man appears to still have a way to go to truly become the finished article.

Fulham have been linked with Jason Denayer recently and the free agent could prove to be the next Joachim Andersen in Marco Silva’s side.

Recent reports have suggested that Fulham could look to bring in the Belgian centre-back, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Olympique Lyon earlier in the summer.

The former Manchester City man enjoyed the most fruitful spell of his career thus far in France, making 139 appearances for Les Gones, in which he contributed eight goals and three assists.

Denayer has experience of Premier League football, having featured 27 times for Sunderland during a loan spell in the 2016/17 season and could return to the top flight a much better player than the one who left Manchester City for Lyon in 2018.

Last season saw the 27-year-old defender make just 15 appearances in Ligue 1 for Lyon, so it is easy to see why he left the club on a free transfer, but Fulham could be the ones to benefit.

Should he arrive at Craven Cottage, he could prove to be another Andersen, with the Danish defender becoming a fan favourite at the club during the 2020/21 Premier League season despite relegation from the top flight.

The centre-back, who joined Fulham on loan from Lyon, looked a cut above in the Cottagers’ side and was ranked by WhoScored as their fourth-best performer across the season of those to make at least 10 starts.

He has since gone on to establish himself as a solid centre-back in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, with his physicality and passing ability evident in his performances for the Eagles.

Andersen’s former coach Svend Graversen spoke highly of the defender’s passing ability to The Athletic, saying:

“He was the leader in defence — I put him at centre-back but he was normally a midfielder. You could see the calmness on the ball, his awareness, especially the space in front of him in the defence was very good.”

Denayer could emulate this in Fulham’s side should he make the move to Craven Cottage, as FBref ranks him in the top percentile for pass completion when compared to other centre-backs.

Even as a youngster, Denayer’s ability on the ball as a defender was evident, as former Belgium boss Marc Wilmots testified.

He said: “Always calm. I’ve never seen him nervous; he has a lot of confidence and there will be someone with experience standing next to him.”

Therefore, the similarities between Andersen and Denayer are clear to see and considering he is available on a free transfer, it is surely a no-brainer for Silva to bring him to Craven Cottage.

Sunderland are reportedly fighting a number of their rivals in the Championship to sign Sean Clare.

The Lowdown: Great start

Clare has had a great start to the season at Charlton Athletic, helping his team to two wins and two draws in their opening five games in League One, while also qualifying for the third round of the Carabao Cup (Transfermarkt).

Hailed as someone who ‘plays out of his skin every week’ by talkSPORT’s Tash Everitt, it is no surprise to see clubs showing interest in him.

The Latest: Sunderland interest

As per Football League World, Alex Neil’s side are among a number of clubs interested in Clare, with fellow Championship rivals Huddersfield Town and Norwich City also battling it out for his signature.

However, Charlton are keen to tie him down to a new contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

The Verdict: Get it done

With both Norwich and Huddersfield also sniffing around for Clare, this is a deal that the Black Cats need to get done as soon as possible.

If he does not sign a new contract at Charlton, then the Addicks may be tempted to cash in on him before the transfer window closes, at the risk of losing him for free next year.

This could give SAFC a potentially bargain price to pay for a player who can play in several different positions across the pitch.

Nonetheless, Clare is 25 years of age, and so will be hitting his prime over the next few years, with versatility and talent for Neil to tap into long-term.

While the end of the transfer window may be on the horizon, one issue which remains at Wolverhampton Wanderers is in their centre-forward ranks, with manager Bruno Lage still seemingly suffering for the lack of a new striking recruit.

Despite only recently completing the signing of Valencia forward Goncalo Guedes – along with the permanent capture of Hwang Hee-chan from earlier in the year – the Molineux club are still in need of a new target man, with neither of those being a true number nine.

With Raul Jimenez currently sidelined with injury – after scoring just six league goals last season – and with goal-shy youngster Fabio Silva having been shipped out on loan to Anderlecht, the need for a new marksman at Wolves has only increased.

One man who could be the answer to Lage’s prayers is Southampton striker Che Adams, with the Old Gold among a handful of Premier League clubs who have been linked with the Scotland international of late.

The 26-year-old – who could reportedly be available for a fee of at least £15m – has been a steady performer for the Saints since his arrival from Birmingham City three years ago, having scored 20 goals and provided ten assists in his top-flight career thus far.

The £30k-per-week menace had previously been a prolific presence during his time at St Andrew’s, notably netting 22 goals in 46 Championship games in 2018/19 to alert the attention of his current club.

The 19-cap hotshot – who has netted six goals for his country so far – would no doubt add increased firepower to a team which scored just 38 goals in as many league games last term, with only the three relegated teams having netted fewer.

While it may not appear the most exciting addition for Wolves supporters, it is worth noting that the Leicester-born gem has previously earned comparisons to Brazilian icon Ronaldo.

His former Ilkeston teammate Matt Baker said of Adams: “He reminds me a little bit of the old Ronaldo. He had that raw ability. I wouldn’t say he was electric quick but he was powerful and strong. He would brush people off and he could go through people. And he always had a finish at the end of it.”

That claim – which likely stems from the similar physique and size of the two strikers – will no doubt have caught the attention of Lage and co, with it undoubtedly lofty praise to be considered to such a great of the game.

The now-retired genius was a truly devastating forward in his pomp, winning a plethora of major honours at domestic, European and international level, while also scoring goals galore in a glittering career which saw ‘Il Fenomeno’ enjoy stints at some of Europe’s elite clubs.

In total, the World Cup winner plundered 295 goals in 450 club career appearances, while also adding a further 62 goals in 98 games at international level, with such a record seeing him revered as arguably one of the finest strikers of the modern era.

Of course, while Adams is a long way from replicating such feats, it is a marker of his natural raw talent that he can be compared to such a legendary figure, with those at Wolves surely eager to see the dynamic forward unleashed under Lage this season, if a deal can be struck.

The former Benfica boss would no doubt love to have a Ronaldo-esque presence like Adams in his forward line, especially given his team’s goalscoring woes.

Arsenal’s hunt for a new winger could soon take them to Holland and it wouldn’t be for the first time.

The Gunners have been linked to several names in recent weeks, having missed out on Raphinha after technical director Edu Gaspar admitted that he had an interest in the former Leeds United star but he had his sights set on FC Barcelona instead.

Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo of PSV Eindhoven is one player to have been mooted with a switch to the Emirates Stadium and it’s thought that the north Londoners are leading the race for his signature.

“Arsenal are favourites to sign Gakpo for sure,” revealed transfer insider Dean Jones less than two weeks ago.

It’s thought that the Eredivisie outfit could cost in the region of €40m, which would set the Gunners back around £34m, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The last time Arsenal went shopping in the Netherlands, it paid serious dividends as ex-Feyenoord striker Robin van Persie was not only a prolific goalscorer but he also took the captain’s armband, too.

Gakpo has been compared glowingly to the Dutch sensation.

“I always refer to Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie – he’s not at that level yet. But they came into the Premier League as left wingers and were turned into strikers under Arsene Wenger and did very well,” claimed Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan to Sky Sports News. “He is slowly being transitioned into a striker because he has had some good coaching from [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy.”

Last season, the 23-year-old put up some remarkable numbers in what was his best season in a PSV shirt. He found the net 21 times and also put up 15 assists – such form being comparable to the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in terms of young talent in Europe.

Whether manager Mikel Arteta wants Gakpo to play on the wing or up top remains to be seen but this versatility is a key attribute of his and only adds to the attraction of signing him before the transfer deadline on September 1st.

Once lauded as “phenomenal” and “special” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Netherlands international could well become the ‘next Robin van Persie’ at the Emirates Stadium.

Only Ajax’s Dusan Tadic registered more big chances created than the 6 foot 2 machine, whilst his expected goals and assists saw him rank fifth overall in the Eredivisie, as per Fotmob.

Edu must now look to close a deal for the Dutch sensation in the coming weeks as he looks to hand his manager a new threat in attack.

AND in other news, Arsenal could secure £34m “enormous talent”, may be bye-bye to Emery’s “utter disaster”…

Leeds United have been dealt a blow in their bid to bring Che Adams to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claim that, despite Victor Orta being heavily linked with a move for the Southampton centre-forward in recent weeks, it is Nottingham Forest who now appear to be leading the race for the 26-year-old’s signature – with Steve Cooper’s side believed to have opened talks with Saints regarding a deal for the Scotland international.

The report goes on to state that the Reds are looking to add more firepower to their frontline ahead of the new Premier League season, while Leeds are looking to bring in support for Patrick Bamford up top, with both clubs having identified Adams – for whom Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are reported to be demanding a figure of £10m – as a suitable candidate.

Orta must now act

With the Whites’ Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon now just a little over 48 hours away, and, at present, Orta having yet to add a new out-and-out centre-forward to Jesse Marsch’s squad in the summer transfer window, time is very much running out for the Spaniard to seal a deal before the 2022/23 campaign kicks off.

And, with Forest now reportedly in talks with one of Leeds’ well-known attacking targets, Orta simply must join the Reds in the race for Adams’ signature if he truly does wish to bring the striker to Elland Road in the coming weeks.

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Indeed, while the £16.2m-rated forward would by no means be the Whites’ biggest-name signing of the window, the Scot is a Premier League-proven option who would add substantial depth to Marsch’s options in attack.

Over his 30 top flight fixtures – only 23 of which came as starts – last season, the £52k-per-week hitman impressed for Saints, scoring seven goals, registering three assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.6 shots, making 0.9 key passes and completing 0.7 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the 26-year-old average a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.85 – a rating which, if the forward were playing for Leeds, would have ranked him as Marsch’s joint seventh-best player – alongside Kalvin Phillips – in the top flight of England football last time out.

As such, considering the fact that Adams clearly knows how to find the back of the net in the Premier League, in addition to it being reported he would cost an extremely reasonable £10m this summer, Orta simply must launch a move to rival Forest in their pursuit of the Southampton hitman in the coming days – or else the Spaniard could find himself empty handed come the transfer deadline on September 1.

Leeds United have rejected Newcastle United’s €40m (£33.5m) offer for Jack Harrison, according to French journalist Santi Aouna.

The Lowdown: Harrison transfer rumours

The Whites have already cashed in on two star players this summer in Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, pocketing just over £96m following their respective moves to Manchester City and Barcelona.

Harrison has been linked with becoming the next high-profile player to leave Elland Road, with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe an admirer.

The 25-year-old was coy when quizzed on his future following a pre-season friendly against Aston Villa last month, and it looks as if the Tyneside club have submitted a big-money bid.

The Latest: Bid turned down

Aouna took to Twitter on Monday morning to provide an update on Newcastle’s interest in Harrison.

He revealed that Leeds have turned down a €40m (£33.5m) bid from the Magpies and are holding out for €47m (£39.4m).

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The Verdict: Wow

Harrison, who was labelled a ‘cracking player’ by pundit Kevin Campbell, is valued at a career-high £16.2m by Transfermarkt.

Leeds previously placed a £35m price tag on the winger, but it looks as if that has increased slightly, should Aouna’s claim be accurate.

Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises paid £11m for Harrison last year, so they could have made an eye-catching profit if they were to cash in on him.

It’ll be interesting to see if Newcastle return with an improved offer, especially with Harrison seemingly taking the number 11 shirt at Elland Road for the new season.