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Carlo Ancelotti could add a new striker to Everton’s attacking armoury this summer as questions marks continue to rise surrounding the position…

What’s the word?

According to Caught Offside, the Toffees are one of several teams in the hunt for Club Brugge talisman Emmanuel Dennis this summer and they’ll face competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Leeds as well as Inter Milan, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig.

It’s claimed that offers have been made to the versatile forward, though none have met the Belgian outfit’s valuation.

The Jupiler Pro League champions will let their star depart for around €40m (£36m).

Striker situation

It would be an interesting move, to say the least.

Ancelotti currently calls upon both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to lead the line and both delivered this year, scoring 13 goals each in the English top-flight.

There is, however, question marks over the future of divisive Italian Moise Kean – despite his manager claiming he has a big part to play next season, he continues to be linked with an exit.

So perhaps a move for the impressive 22-year-old is seen as a potential replacement.

Dennis announced his name on the big stage back in October, bagging a brace against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Champions League. Those were just two of his nine for the season, per Transfermarkt.

His ability to play anywhere along the front three has led to fans dubbing him the ‘Nigerian Neymar’ – obviously, he has a very long way to go to live up to such a tag but moving to the Premier League could help release that potential.

Ex-Toffees striker Gary Lineker called him a “menace” following that sensational Madrid display and Brugge’s two-up-top formation means he could slot right in at Goodison Park.

AND in other news, Toffees’ £22.5m “warrior” target is shades of Idrissa Gueye…

Referees aren’t just the guys in the middle of the pitch making sure the rules are being followed anymore, now they’re almost just as talked about as the players themselves.

Nine times out of ten they’re making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Whether it’s a dodgy penalty, missed handball, a goal kick given instead of a corner, and more recently, VAR and goalline technology mishaps, referees all around the world are now well-known names amongst the fans.

As a result, many are accused of favouring certain clubs over others and some have built reputations for being either no-nonsense or just a soft touch. Whether it’s Mike Dean or Michael Oliver, fans will have their opinions on them, mostly without much substantiation other than the fact they made one or two mad decisions that went against their team once upon a time.

Judging referees is a football fans’ favourite pastime in modern football, but do the stats back up the opinions? Well, TOFFS have recently completed a very interesting referee report that will completely change some fans’ opinions on the most recognised referees in the Premier League.

Click through the gallery to see what clubs are favoured more by certain referees, and those who should always dread having a specific man in the middle the next time they play…

Arsenal

Over the last decade, Mike Jones is the referee who has overseen the highest Arsenal win percentage (80%) when refereeing games involving the Gunners, while Michael Oliver has the lowest win percentage (22.22%).

As for cards, Stuart Attwell has the highest cards-per-game ratio for Arsenal matches in the Premier League with 2.67, although Mike Dean has dished out more cards to Arsenal players than anyone else.

Aston Villa

Lee Probert is Aston Villa’s luckiest referee over the last 10 years with a win percentage 42.86%, while Phil Dowd only ever refereed one Aston Villa victory during his career in the middle!

Mark Clattenburg has shown more cards to Villa players in the Premier League than any other referee, while Neil Swarbrick’s average of 2.13 cards-per-game is the highest ratio where Villa matches are concerned.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth fans will be hoping to see more of Kevin Friend in the near future, with the referee officially being the Cherries’ luckiest referee.

That said, Friend also loves to show Bournemouth players cards!

Bournemouth’s unluckiest referee is Lee Mason, who has only overseen one Bournemouth victory from the 12 games involving the club in which he has refereed.

Brighton

John Moss is the referee Brighton fans will not want to see in the middle of their matches in future as the referee has never been involved in a Seagulls victory from six Premier League matches.

But Craig Pawson is Brighton’s luckiest, ref, with a 50% win percentage!

John Moss also holds the record for the highest cards-per-game average for Brighton with 2.67 while Chris Kavanagh is the referee who has shown Brighton the most cards in the Premier League – 20!

Burnley

Martin Atkinson dominates the rankings here for Burnley.

He’s not only Burnley’s luckiest ref with a win percentage of 55% from 20 matches involving the Clarets, but he’s also the man who has shown more cards to their players than any other referee over the last 10 years in the top-flight – 45 yellows and 1 red, averaging 2.3 cards-per-game.

Burnley will dread seeing Michael Oliver appear in the middle of the park for their matches in future, as the ref has only see Burnley win once from 12 games he’s been involved in.

Chelsea

Over the last decade in the Premier League, Neil Swarbrick has been Chelsea’s luckiest referee with a win percentage of 83.33% from 12 games.

While Kevin Friend is the ref who has the lowest win percentage for Chelsea – 45%.

Mike Dean has dished out more cards to Chelsea players over the last 10 years (88), while Anthony Taylor has the highest cards-per-game average with 2.23.

Crystal Palace

Lee Mason is Crystal Palace’s luckiest referee with a 50% win percentage from the 12 Eagles matches he’s refereed. Kevin Friend is their unluckiest, having been in charge of one Crystal Palace victory in 13.

John Moss is the man who seems to love showing Palace players cards, having dished out 52 to Eagles stars with an average of 2.26 per-match.

Everton

Everton’s favourite referee over the last 10 years is Paul Tierney, who has a win percentage of 60%. Then man in the middle they’ll dread seeing in future is Craig Pawson, who has reffed three Toffees victories out of a possible 15!

Michael Oliver has dished out the most cards to Everton players over the last decade with 53, but Bobby Madley has the highest cards-per-game average with 2.2.

Leicester City

Anthony Taylor has overseen the highest win percentage for Leicester City over the last decade, with 53.33%. Martin Atkinson is the Foxes’ unluckiest ref with a win percentage of just under 19%.

Mike Dean is the man who loves showing Leicester players a card the most, with 37 cards shown in 21 games, but Chris Kavanagh is the most card happy where Foxes players are concerned – he averages 2.27 cards-per-game.

Liverpool

Liverpool’s luckiest referee over the last 10 years is Lee Probert, who has reffed a Reds victory in almost 77% of the 13 games he’s been involved in.

Howard Webb is Liverpool’s unluckiest referee, so Reds fans will be delighted that he’s no retired.

Martin Atkinson is the man in the middle who loves giving Liverpool players cards the most – he’s handed Reds players a whopping 71 cards in the 44 games he’s been involved in.

Manchester City

Over the last decade, Neil Swarbrick is the referee who has overseen the highest Man City win percentage (90%) when refereeing games involving City, while Mark Clattenburg has the lowest win percentage (39.29%).

As for cards, Chris Foy has the highest cards-per-game ratio for Man City matches in the Premier League with 2.12, although Mike Dean has dished out more cards to Man City players than anyone else.

Manchester United

Over the last decade, Lee Probert is the referee who has overseen the highest Manchester United win percentage (75%) when refereeing games involving the Red Devils, while Michael Oliver has the lowest win percentage (39.29%).

As for cards, Mike Dean leads way for cards in Man United matches. He’s dished out 96 cards at an average of 2.34 cards-per-game – more than any other referee over the last 10 years.

Newcastle United

Over the last decade, Chris Foy is the referee who has overseen the highest Newcastle win percentage (47.37%) when refereeing games involving the Magpies, while Mike Jones has the lowest win percentage (16.67%).

As for cards, Howard Webb has the highest cards-per-game ratio for Newcastle matches in the Premier League with 2.34, although Andre Marriner has dished out more cards to Newcastle players than anyone else.

Norwich City

Over the last decade, Howard Webb is the referee who has overseen the highest Norwich win percentage (55.56%) when refereeing games involving the Canaries, while Mike Jones has the lowest win percentage (0%).

As for cards, Kevin Friend leads way for cards in Norwich matches. He’s dished out 29 cards at an average of 2.23 cards-per-game – more than any other referee over the last 10 years.

Sheffield United

Andrew Madley, Jon Moss, Peter Bankes and Robert Jones have all refereed a Sheffield United win in the one and only game they’ve overseen involving Chris Wilder’s side.

Lee Mason, Mike Dean and Simon Hooper are all among the most card-happy referees in games involving the Blades.

Southampton

Over the last decade, Martin Atkinson is the referee who has overseen the highest Southampton win percentage (57.14%) when refereeing games involving the Saints, while Lee Probert has the lowest win percentage (0%).

As for cards, Bobby Madley has the highest cards-per-game ratio for Southampton matches in the Premier League with 2.3, although John Moss has dished out more cards to Saints players than anyone else.

Tottenham

Over the last decade, Neil Swarbrick is the referee who has overseen the highest Tottenham win percentage (81.82%) when refereeing games involving Spurs, while Lee Probert has the lowest win percentage (25%).

As for cards, Craig Pawson has the highest cards-per-game ratio for Tottenham matches in the Premier League with 2.4, although Mike Dean has dished out more cards to Spurs players than anyone else.

Watford

Over the last decade, Roger East is the referee who has overseen the highest Watford win percentage (50%) when refereeing games involving the Hornets, while Martin Atkinson has the lowest win percentage (16.67%).

As for cards, Mike Dean has the highest cards-per-game ratio for Watford matches in the Premier League with 2.64, although Anthony Taylor has dished out more cards to Watford players than anyone else.

West Ham United

Over the last decade, Martin Atkinson is the referee who has overseen the highest West Ham win percentage (41.94%) when refereeing games involving the Hammers, while Phil Dowd has the lowest win percentage (7.14%).

As for cards, Neil Swarbrick has the highest cards-per-game ratio for West Ham matches in the Premier League with 2.21, although Martin Atkinson has dished out more cards to Hammers players than anyone else – 65!

Wolves

Over the last decade, Phil Dowd is the referee who has overseen the highest Wolves win percentage (50%) when refereeing games involving the Molineux club, while Peter Walton has the lowest win percentage (11.11%).

As for cards, Stuart Attwell leads way for cards in Wolves matches. He’s dished out 38 cards at an average of 2.92 cards-per-game – more than any other referee over the last 10 years.

Leeds United’s recruitment team could have a lot of work on this summer.

The Whites are back in the Premier League, and if they want to be competitive in the top-flight they’ll have to upgrade their squad as it is still largely filled with the same players that led United to a 13th placed Championship finish before the arrival of Marcelo Bielsa.

One area that desperately needs bolstering is at centre-half.

Ben White’s loan is up at the end of the season, while Gaetano Berardi looks set to leave on a free, meaning Liam Cooper could soon be the only senior centre back on the books.

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Luckily, United seem to already have a contingency plan, with Football Insider reporting that the club are looking at Branimir Kalaica due to his excellent data metrics.

While Kalaica may turn out to be a good player, Leeds must be careful not to get carried away with their stats-led model, because it’s already been shown that an over-reliance on stats when conducting transfer business can land you in trouble.

Fulham’s Premier League plight could well be the best example of this.

Players such as Jean-Michael Seri, Andre Franck Zambo Anguissa and Maxime Le Marchand were brought in by Tony Khan, who has always been a big backer of using moneyball-type analytics when making signings, and by the end of the season, not only were Fulham relegated while spending £100m, but the aforementioned players were voted amongst the worst signings of the campaign.

The problem is that stats in football aren’t the same as in other sports.

The moneyball system works in baseball and to an extent American football because they’re very play-by-play sports with one goal, either gaining yardage or getting on a base, while in the beautiful game there is more than one way to skin a cat, and players can often be caught out when moving between leagues due to the different styles.

Brighton are another club who are rather reliant on data when making signings, and it hasn’t quite worked out for them either.

Alireza Jahanbaksh looked to be a real player before arriving in England, he’d just won the Eredivisie Golden Boot, and there were hopes that he’d add the same sort of firepower to Brighton.

Yet, two seasons later the Iranian has scored just two league goals, and perhaps the Seagulls would have seen that coming if they weren’t as reliant on their analytical models.

Data is a big part of modern football, and simply ignoring it isn’t the answer, but if you become too reliant on it, it can become a slippery slope with dangerous consequences, and that’s something Leeds can’t afford to do on their return to the top-flight.

Plenty of Manchester City fans have been reacting to a tweet from German football journalist Christian Falk about the possibility of Leroy Sane being sold to Liverpool.

Sport Bild’s head of football tweeted (via @cfbayern) that the Anfield club had shown an interest in signing the winger, who dismissed the idea as he doesn’t want to swap Manchester City for a direct rival and instead desires a move to Bayern Munich.

The Bundesliga champions had reportedly lined up a transfer offer of €100m (£87.13m) for the 24-year-old last summer, according to Sport Bild, and they remain keen on trying to bring Sane back to Germany. Last week, The Telegraph reported that Bayern are considering a bid of £56.75m for the player, whose contract at Manchester City is set to expire next year.

The notion of Sane going to Liverpool sparked a mixture of reactions from these City fans on Twitter – some thought gleefully about the possibility of Sadio Mane being displaced at Anfield while others baulked at the idea of the Premier League champions selling a prolific winger to a club with whom they have developed an intense rivalry.

Scroll down to see further reaction from some Manchester City supporters:

Man City fans, what did you make of the rumours about Liverpool’s interest in Sane? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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Newcastle fans on Twitter have been running the rule over their 3-0 win against Cardiff, as an incredible performance from Fabian Schar lifted the Magpies out of the relegation zone.

Newcastle are now two points clear of Saturday’s visitors from Wales, as Rafael Benitez’s side put in perhaps their best performance of the season.

The Toon Army were the better side for most of the afternoon, and centre-back Schar broke the deadlock in atypical fashion, wading through the Bluebirds’ defence like Lionel Messi before slotting into the bottom corner.

Check out Neymar’s controversial new haircut for 2019 and Xherdan Shaqiri as you’ve never seen him before in the video below…

Schar, who has proved to be an absolute bargain since signing for just £3m this summer, then added a second from close range after a Matt Ritchie corner.

Ayoze Perez netted the third in a momentous win for the Magpies, but Schar is taking much of the credit for the result.

As well as his two goals, the 27 year-old won three aerial duels, made two tackles and five clearances.

You can find some of the best reactions from Newcastle fans on Twitter below…

Birmingham City have opened the door for Wayne Rooney to join Tom Brady at St. Andrew’s, with manager John Eustace surprisingly sacked.

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Blues riding high in the second tierHave parted company with bossLinked with ex-England captainWHAT HAPPENED?

The Blues currently sit sixth in the Championship table, with an 18-point haul from 11 games enough to have them perched inside the play-off places. The Blues enjoyed a 3-1 derby win over West Midlands rivals West Brom last time out, but Eustace has now been axed as the club prepares to head in a different direction.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT THEY SAID

Birmingham have said in a statement on the club’s : “It is essential that the Board of Directors and the football management are fully aligned on the importance of implementing a winning mentality and a culture of ambition across the entire Football Club. With this in mind, Birmingham City has today parted company with Head Coach, John Eustace. Eustace departs after 15 months in charge, having helped to stabilise and strengthen the Club on the pitch following his appointment in July 2022.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Blues have also said that “a new First Team Manager will be announced in the coming days who will be responsible for creating an identity and clear ‘no fear’ playing style that all Birmingham City teams will adopt and embrace". It may be that Manchester United legend Rooney is charged with the task of guiding the second tier club forward.

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Rooney has walked away from his role at MLS side D.C. United, with the ex-England captain and former Derby boss planning a return to his homeland. His profile would fit the bill at St. Andrew’s, with Birmingham drawing up ambitious plans after already seeing NFL icon Brady invest in the club alongside Knighthead Capital Management LLC.

The 30-year-old has been mocked over the fact that the team he left is now top of the Premier League – but he made the correct call

The online trolling of Harry Kane began as soon as the full-time whistle blew in Bayern Munich's shock DFB-Pokal second-round loss to third-tier Saarbrucken. Having already suffered defeat in the the DFL-Supercup in his very first outing for the Bavarians back in August, this latest blow in his bid to lift a team trophy for the first time in a 14-year professional career was viewed as further evidence of Kane being cursed; destined to retire without any major honours to his name.

What the keyboard warriors found particularly amusing was the fact that Kane had quit Tottenham during the summer in a desperate pursuit of silverware – and yet the north Londoners now sit proudly on top of the Premier League. And there would certainly be a cruel irony in Spurs winning the title for the first time since 1961 the season after the loss of their all-time leading scorer.

So, has Kane made a monumental error? Has he left Tottenham at precisely the wrong time? And for the wrong club?

Getty Images'I don't agree with his move'

Michael Owen certainly thinks Kane has jumped ship too soon. The Ballon d'Or winner believes the all-round attacker should have seen out the final year of his Spurs contract before joining Barcelona, Real Madrid or whomever he wanted on a free transfer next summer.

"I don't agree with his move from Spurs to Bayern," Owen told . "If he was so desperate to leave and to win trophies, then he could easily have stayed for another season and then had the world in his hands by going on a Bosman transfer.

"That way, if Spurs miraculously started playing well and looking like title challengers, he could have always [extended his contract], but, regardless, he would have had his destiny in his hands and gone to any club he wanted, all while he was getting closer to that Premier League goalscoring record and creating the perfect legacy with the club he's been at all his life.

"Bayern are undoubtedly one of the biggest clubs in the world but for me to win a trophy, I don't think there's anything really special about going and guaranteeing yourself a Bundesliga trophy. Bayern will win the league with or without Kane, so I don't think that was particularly a reason to leave."

AdvertisementGetty'I was crying my eyes out'

Owen's perspective should obviously be respected, given he knows a thing or two about leaving a boyhood club for one of Europe's elite. He was painfully torn over swapping Liverpool for Real Madrid in the summer of 2004.

"I didn't sleep for a week beforehand," he previously told GOAL. "And even on the drive to the airport, I was crying my eyes out, I don't mind telling you."

But Owen's view of the Kane transfer is understandably coloured by the negative outcome of his Madrid move. He scored goals in La Liga – 13, to be precise – but he realised long before the end of his one and only season in Spain that he was never going to be a first-choice during the dying embers of Florentino Perez's ultimately disappointing Galactico era. So, keen to avoid jeopardising his place in England's starting line-up ahead of the 2006 World Cup, Owen pushed for a return to the Premier League.

His goal was to rejoin Liverpool, who had just won the Champions League without him, much to the delight of some bitter Reds supporters who were still furious with the forward for leaving. But he instead ended up at Newcastle, and then Manchester United, as the second half of a once-glittering career was derailed by one incessant injury issues.

Getty ImagesKane gamble 'will pay off'

However, as Owen said himself to GOAL, "You never can plan your career perfectly. You think you're going to be a Liverpool player for life but then you think, 'Oh my God, it's Real Madrid, I'll regret this forever if I say no.'

"So, while I didn't get the chance to spend the rest of my career at Liverpool, I had an incredible experience in Madrid."

It's slightly curious, then, that Owen has come out so vehemently against Kane's Bayern switch, given his compatriot is demonstrating the same level of ambition. Furthermore, all of the early signs are that it is a transfer that will work out far better than Owen's short spell at the Santiago Bernabeu.

For starters, Kane represented a hugely significant signing for Bayern. He wasn't merely an expendable element of a vanity project. He was their top transfer target, the belated Robert Lewandowski replacement, the complete No.9 they needed to sign at all costs to turn Thomas Tuchel's team into legitimate Champions League challengers.

And that's precisely why a club renowned for its relatively prudent approach to the transfer market committed to a nine-figure fee (including bonuses) for a 30-year-old with less than 12 months left on his contract. Bayern, as Lothar Matthaus pointed out, had probably slightly overpaid in the circumstances but he, like the club, presumed that the gamble "will pay off".

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Getty'You notice his aura immediately'

Kane is certainly proving value for money so far, with 12 goals in his first nine Bundesliga outings, including two hat-tricks – and a strike from the halfway line that even David Beckham felt compelled to comment upon.

Kane's also netted in two of his three Champions League appearances, though, with his crucial strike in last month's win at Galatasaray prompting Tuchel to come up with a rather novel and amusing way to hail his striker's ludicrously composed finishing.

"Harry has beer calm," the former Chelsea boss told . "If you have scored 4,800 goals in your career, then you just have less [of a] pulse! He has a very natural self-confidence and knows that he doesn't need many chances."

Indeed, Leon Goretzka says that Kane is a humble, "wonderful guy", the England captain has an "aura" about him that inspires confidence in everyone around him. "You notice it immediately in the dressing room," the midfielder said. "He helps us so much. He's a leader."

Leroy Sane is clearly loving linking up with Kane, with the former Manchester City winger enjoying the best season of his Bayern career to date, while the promising young striker Mathys Tel is already benefiting enormously from learning from one of the best finishers of the modern era.

"He's a role model for me," the teenager recently told the Bundesliga's official website. "It's important to have people to learn from technically and in terms of finishing, and, often I don't even have to ask him. He just comes over to me and tells me: 'Mathys, you can do that, or that'.

"He pays close attention to the little details and he's looking to help me in any way he can. He's supporting me a great deal."

Interestingly, when asked what he admired most about Kane, Tel responded, "His mentality. He is very strong mentally. He's very calm."

The Blues have surprisingly turned to the 21-year-old Villarreal forward in attempt to end their attacking woes in 2023-24

Chelsea did not get a lot right during the 2022-23 season. However, out of all of their problems, few issues irked supporters more than their dire finishing. Kai Havertz bore the brunt of the criticism for his side's measly goal return, but he was not the only guilty party.

In the end, Chelsea would underperform their xG by 13.89. Only Everton and Manchester United were statistically less clinical. With this in mind, it's little wonder that the Blues have made finding a new centre-forward their priority this summer – even if they have already splurged close to £600 million ($769.2m) over the past two transfer windows.

The latest recruit on the Stamford Bridge conveyor belt is Nicolas Jackson, whose arrival at Stamford Bridge in a £32m ($37m) was confirmed on Friday. Jackson is far from a household name, coming close to joining lowly Bournemouth in January. However, he has shown plenty of promise at Villarreal, and snuggly fits the profile of the type of player Chelsea have signed since Todd Boehly's takeover.

GOAL takes a look at his story so far, as well as figuring out why Chelsea have been so keen to snap him up this early in the transfer window.

Getty ImagesWhere it all began

Born in The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, Jackson was raised in neighbouring Senegal and would go on to commit to the Lions of Teranga at international level. He spent his childhood in the westerly-located city of Ziguinchor and joined local side ASC Tilene.

It did not take long for the giants of the region, Casa Sports, to take notice of Jackson's talents, though. And at 16 he would be placed with the first team, helping them to a mid-table finish in the Senegal Premier League.

International recognition arrived not long after. In November 2018, Jackson was called up by Senegal's Under-20 side, with manager Youssouph Dabo hailing his ability to "put on a show" and crediting his fine dribbling ability.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break

Like many Senegalese footballers before him, Jackson's big break came when he was snapped up by a European club. There wasn't much fanfare to greet his arrival, with Villarreal not even bothering to announce his signing in summer 2019.

He struggled to shift this anonymity during his early days at the Yellow Submarine, with a loan to second-tier Mirandes returning just one goal in 16 league appearances. He came back to Villarreal with his tail between his leg, but this retracing of steps would end up being the making of Jackson. Playing for the club's B team, he netted five times and registered seven assists to help his side get promoted to the Segunda Division.

He was handed a few first-team minutes during the 2021-22 season too, as well as a full debut in the Copa del Rey. Many people were now sitting up and taking notice of a player who wasn't even deemed worthy of a signing announcement just a few years earlier.

(C)Getty ImagesHow it's going

The 2021-22 season was Jackson's breakthrough, while 2022-23 marked his arrival as a fully-fledged first-teamer. He seemingly set the tone for a life-changing campaign on the very first day, ghosting in at the back post to finish off Yeremi Pino's low cross for his maiden senior goal.

This electric start proved hard to maintain, though, with Jackson netting just once more in the league before a hip injury ruled him out for a spell in the new year. This time away from the field proved to be a blessing in disguise, though.

When he returned, Jackson took no prisoners, with his comeback game representing one of the most chaotic 30-minute cameos in La Liga history. After netting a superb goal, where he beat three Real Sociedad defenders before finding the bottom corner, he conspired to pick up two yellow cards in the final 10 minutes of the contest, leaving him suspended for his side's trip to the Bernabeu the following weekend.

Not to be deterred, Jackson responded perfectly after coming back, netting nine goals in Villarreal's final eight games to help them cement their place in the top five. This quite astonishing burst of scoring form padded his end-of-season stats nicely (13 goals and five assists in 38 appearances).

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Getty ImagesBiggest strengths

There is a hell of a lot to like about Jackson's game. His finishing is his most obvious quality, with the caveat that a significant portion of his senior goals came during a purple patch towards the end of last season.

Even still, his record stacks up very favourably against some of the best young players in the world. No player aged 21 or younger boasted a better non-penalty goals per 90 minutes rate than Jackson in Europe's top five leagues during the 2022-23 campaign, with his numbers bettering those recorded by Evan Ferguson, Youssoufa Moukoko and Jamal Musiala.

Jackson has recorded plenty of poacher's efforts during his short career so far, impressing with his ability to produce one-touch finishes inside the box. However, he can create his own openings too. His lightning quick feet and pace gives him the tools to create separation between defenders before firing an effort at goal. His excellent strike against Real Sociedad displayed these qualities, and it's also reflected in the numbers.

Jackson completed 62.2 percent of his take-ons last season, with only five centre-forwards in Europe's top five leagues having more success in this regard. He is always a positive ball-carrier too, capable of picking the ball up out wide or in a deeper central position before driving towards goal. Jackson averaged 2.75 progressive carries per game last season, more than Mason Mount, Diogo Jota and Marcus Rashford.

His off-the-ball movement is another highlight. In a possession-heavy side like Villarreal – only Barcelona and Real Madrid enjoyed more of the ball than them in La Liga last season – getting in behind the opposition defence can be tricky. Jackson has had no such problem, regularly popping up in dangerous areas with space to run into.

This speaks to his footballing intelligence. Jackson knows when to pick his moments to spring in behind, which is an extremely promising sign in such a young player.

Luke Young admits a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Stockport has delivered a wake-up call to Wrexham’s players, coaches and owners.

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Dragons suffered drubbing at Edgeley ParkRemain inside the play-off placesEverybody intends to offer positive responseWHAT HAPPENED?

The Welsh outfit, who have Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney calling the shots at boardroom level, suffered a humbling setback in their latest League Two fixture. They were three goals down before half-time and were unable to find any way back into the game at Edgeley Park.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Wrexham have conceded five goals in three fourth-tier matches this season, with Young conceding that they have much to work on as a collective. He has told : “This was a bad day at the office. But I have no doubt in my mind — and I back everyone in that dressing room on this — that we will put this right, starting on Monday. The standard has gone up (since winning promotion) and we have had to raise our game. Until Stockport, we were slowly adapting to the step up and slowly finding our feet. This has been a step backwards and something of a wake-up call.”

WHAT THEY SAID

Wrexham remain seventh in the table – and inside the play-off places – on the back of their latest thrashing and Phil Parkinson is another vowing to put things right. The Dragons boss has said: “We had got ourselves in a strong position with recent performances. But that was as bad a first half as I can remember. Now, we have to look at the reasons why it didn’t go right against Stockport. We will do that and put it right next week.”

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Wrexham have a week to lick their wounds and work on plugging defensive leaks before welcoming Crewe, the side sat directly above them in the table, to SToK Racecourse on Saturday – with the hope being that a spark can be rediscovered there and that star striker Paul Mullin can record his first goal of the season.

After ticking off Champions League and Bundesliga debuts, the 18-year-old looks set for a breakthrough season in Bavaria

When Germany took to the famous Wembley pitch in July for the Euro 2022 final against England, they did so with a team stacked full of young talent – one that, despite their eventual extra-time defeat, promises an incredibly bright future for one of football’s most successful nations.

After the Lionesses' triumph, a tearful Lena Oberdorf – the 2020 NXGN winner – collected the Young Player of the Tournament award at the tender age of 20. Right-back Giulia Gwinn, still only 23 years old, would earn a place in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament alongside Oberdorf and Klara Buhl, the 21-year-old who sadly missed the final due to Covid.

With 19-year-old Jule Brand starting the final and a trio of 22-year-olds – Nicole Anyomi, Sydney Lohmann and Lena Lattwein – all featuring from the bench, this was a tough day for Germany but also one that showed how much potential there is for the years to come.

That is not restricted to those involved in that tournament, either. As Germany’s triumph at the UEFA Under-17 Championship during the same summer showed, this country has exciting young players in abundance.

One who has really risen to the fore in this 2022-23 season is Bayern Munich’s Franziska Kett, the 18-year-old who is making a serious impact at one of Europe's biggest clubs.

But who is she and why is she set for a breakthrough campaign? NXGN has all you need to know…

GettyWhere it began

Born in Bavaria, Kett would play for FC Edenstetten before moving onto her hometown club of Deggendorf. The young forward played with the boys in the Regionalliga and it was there that she was spotted by Bayern Munich.

“She was the only girl in her boys' team, quite a good boys' team, and she stood out,” Bianca Rech, the sporting director of the German giants, tells NXGN. “She's a really quick and fast player. She has something special, I would say.”

After that, it was “a very easy decision” to approach Kett to sign for Bayern, Rech says. “You could see her talent and that she had big potential to be a great player in the future.”

As a young teenager, Kett would move to Munich, attend a sports school and live in a house with other young sportspeople as she set about making her mark at Bayern, an experience which would naturally help her mature.

She was also involved with the youth national teams from a young age, starting in the U15s.

AdvertisementFC Bayern MunichThe big break

After a couple of torrid years with injuries, Kett signed her first professional contract in March 2022, four days after being included in a first-team squad for the first time in a league fixture against Hoffenheim.

She was on the bench the following week, too, for the Women's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, but would have to wait for the start of the 2022-23 season for her senior debut – in a 3-0 win over Werder Bremen.

Marking her first senior start with a goal, in a win over Meppen in October, the 18-year-old was also included in Alexander Straus' lineup for the game against Barcelona at Camp Nou in November. It was her full debut in the Women’s Champions League.

GettyHow it's going

Kett is now a fixture in this Bayern team, be it off the bench or from the start.

“Every time she comes on the pitch, she has an impact on the game and shows her quality,” Rech says, with the teenager having netted her second goal for the club in the win over Essen at the end of November.

She’s also an important player for her country, constantly a livewire for Germany’s U19s, and the feeling within the federation about her potential is a good one.

“She's ambitious but also down to earth,” Kathrin Peter, head coach of the country’s U19 and U20 teams, tells NXGN. “She's maybe the silent type and a little bit reserved when you meet her, but she knows her goals and she has a really clear mind.

“When you talk to her, you know that she has her aims and she's really ready to give her all for them. She's only 18 now and, overall, a really great person that is fun to work with.”

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GettyBiggest strengths

There’s a lot to like about Kett’s game, on both sides of the ball. Her work ethic is impressive for a young attacker, with her not shying away from her defensive responsibilities.

As for when she’s on the front foot, she’s so difficult to stop that there is a growing bank of images of defenders hanging off of her shirt, trying to find a way to halt her progress.

"She's really explosive and her dynamic is combined with outstanding technique,” Peter explains. “Some players can run fast but have problems with the ball at high speed, others have a really good technique but do not have the speed. Franzi is just comfortable on the ball even at high speed. On top of that, she can use both feet and also has great finishing skills.”

"She doesn't think too much and is strong in one-v-one situations,” Rech adds. “She fits perfectly in the system [under Straus]. She's a very dangerous player in the final third and can almost play every offensive position.”

That ability to use both feet helps to make her a versatile forward as well as a dangerous one and adds an element of unpredictability to her game that can be a big asset.