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Chelsea kicked off the year in the most Chelsea way imaginable: firing their manager.

Enzo Maresca’s departure was announced on New Year’s Day, and within a week, Liam Rosenior was announced as his permanent replacement.

The former Strasbourg manager might be a relative unknown to most Premier League fans, but he made quite an impression in France, winning 32 of his 63 games in the dugout, drawing 14 and losing just 17.

However, managing in the toughest league in the world is something else entirely, but Chelsea can help him get off to the best start possible by making some signings this month, and if reports are to be believed, the manager has already identified someone who could be the club’s next Reece James.

Rosenior wants Chelsea's next James

It’s been a campaign of mixed performances for Chelsea’s squad so far this season, with the likes of Jamie Gittens and Tosin Adarabioyo underwhelming, while Moises Caicedo and Estevao have impressed.

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However, when it comes to picking out the club’s best player so far, it can only be one man: James.

The right-back-turned-midfielder has been immense in all phases of play, and in games against Arsenal and Manchester City, was the best player on the pitch.

It’s therefore hardly a surprise that new boss Rosenior is keen for the club to bring in another international star not too dissimilar to his captain.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims the manager has already identified Trent Alexander-Arnold as one of his top targets for this month.

The report has revealed that the new boss sees the Englishman as the perfect signing for the right-back position and would like to sign him on a short-term loan with an option to buy.

Interestingly, Real are not opposed to shipping the former Liverpool player off, but wouldn’t want to loan him out; they would rather do so for a fee of at least €40m, which is about £35m.

It would be a hugely shocking transfer, but given Trent’s sensational ability, one that Chelsea should go all out for, especially as he could be another James-esque signing.

Why Trent could be Chelsea's new James

The first similarity between James and Trent, and one of the main reasons Chelsea should be looking to get this deal done, is that the Real Madrid star is an offensive monster.

Now, the Blues captain is also a defensive powerhouse, but at their best, the two full-backs are excellent attacking weapons.

For example, during his time on Merseyside, the former Premier League winner was a crucial cog in Liverpool’s attack, whether it was his crosses from deep or his ability to play utterly sublime long balls for the likes of Mo Salah to get on the end of.

Moreover, beyond passing the eye test, his underlying numbers showed he was one of the most creative players in the league.

According to FBref, he ranked in the top 1% of full-backs for progressive passes, expected assisted goals, passes into the final third, through balls and more, all per 90.

Trent’s Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

xAG: Exp. Assisted Goals

0.28

Top 1%

Progressive Passes

8.83

Top 1%

Progressive Passing Distance

432.42

Top 1%

Passes Completed (Long)

7.73

Top 1%

Passes into Final Third

7.88

Top 1%

Passes into Penalty Area

2.47

Top 1%

Through Balls

0.46

Top 1%

Switches

1.22

Top 1%

Shots Total

1.71

Top 2%

Crosses into Penalty Area

0.76

Top 3%

Crosses

5.82

Top 3%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.73

Top 3%

Key Passes

1.98

Top 5%

All Stats via FBref

In fact, the Englishman’s chance-creating abilities have only become more apparent this season as Arne Slot’s side look far less dangerous without him.

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Another similarity between the two Englishmen is that they’ve shown an ability to play in different roles.

The Blues captain might be more versatile, but the “generational” Madrid star, as dubbed by content creator Asim Mahmood, has also played in the middle of the park on occasion for club and country.

Therefore, there is no reason to think he couldn’t be a tempo controller from the base of midfield once again.

Finally, both players are full England internationals, and there is every chance that both end up going to the World Cup in the summer.

Ultimately, it would be a hugely surprising deal, but with how much of a game-changer Trent can be, Chelsea should do everything in their power to bring him to Stamford Bridge this month.

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Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing to sign a “ridiculous” new forward, who could be brought in as an alternative to RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande.

Spurs eyeing new forward as Frank sets out to be more attacking

Speaking after the recent 0-0 draw against Brentford, Thomas Frank made it clear that he plans to play a more expansive brand of football in the future, but the present injury situation makes it difficult.

The Spurs boss said: “I think what will 100% happen is that we will score a lot of goals and be much more dominant in a lot of games, but in the current situation with a lot of players out, it makes it more tricky with a lot of games.

“We want us to be free-flowing. I think, a couple of things I want to reinforce positively is the last two away performances. To stand on the foundation we are building was very strong against Crystal Palace and Brentford.”

Ultimately, the Lilywhites haven’t been good enough during Frank’s tenure to date, having suffered disappointing defeats against the likes of Nottingham Forest and Fulham over the past month or so.

As such, the manager must take his fair share of criticism, but the players are also culpable, and it is clear the manager wants to improve his personnel, with an enquiry recently being lodged over a deal for RB Leipzig’s Diomande.

However, Tottenham are also looking at alternatives to the Ivory Coast international, according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states they are now pushing to sign AS Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche.

A deal for the forward would be on the expensive side, as the French club are expected to hold out for over £50m, but interest from Spurs persists, having made checks on Akliouche during his side’s 3-1 defeat against Lyon on Saturday.

The north Londoners are looking to make a game-changing attacking signing, and there is plenty of evidence the Monaco star could be a solid addition to Frank’s forward line.

"Ridiculous" Akliouche could tear it up at Spurs

Lauded as “ridiculous” by scout Ben Mattinson, the 23-year-old has been a key player for Monaco over the past three seasons, regularly contributing with goals and assists in Ligue 1.

Maghnes Akliouche’s performance by season

Ligue 1 appearances

Goal involvements

2023-24

28

11

2024-25

32

15

2025-26

16

5

Having impressed at club level, the winger has now been capped five times by France, and manager Didier Deschamps praised him back in November, saying: “Even if there are lots of attacking players and lots of absentees, he has moved up a notch to be more decisive.”

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Akliouche is a good age to be a long-term success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and having established himself as a key player for Monaco, while also impressing for France, the right-winger could be capable of immediately pushing for Mohammed Kudus’ starting spot.

Liverpool started 2026 with a labouring draw against Leeds United at Anfield, and it was a match that illustrated the myriad of creative and build-up problems Arne Slot is still puzzling over.

It is quite a thing to have smashed the British transfer record last summer and signed a number of elite attacking players, only to regress so significantly.

Rueful gazes have been cast back at Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, but the South American duo faced their detractors throughout their stints on Merseyside, ebbing and flowing in front of goal. That’s worth bearing in mind.

Alexander Isak, currently out with a broken leg, has been well below the anticipated standard, and Florian Wirtz is flattering to deceive too – might Liverpool already be planning to upgrade on the German playmaker?

Liverpool lining up attacking midfielder

The crux of Liverpool’s problems are of a tactical nature, but Wirtz isn’t blameless. The 22-year-old lacks the creativity, sharpness and athleticism that have been expected after a £116m purchase, though he has undoubtedly gone from strength to strength in recent weeks.

But with Dominik Szoboszlai so strong in a number ten berth, it might be necessary for sporting director Richard Hughes to sign a touchline winger, even if that comes at Wirtz’s personal expense. Liverpool need better balance, smoother fluency, after all.

It appears FSG are on board, with Spanish sources revealing that Liverpool are preparing an offer worth €90m (converting to about £78m) for Real Madrid star Rodrygo, who is considering his options at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Arsenal and Manchester City are also among the interested parties, so the Anfield side will need to act quickly.

Why Rodrygo could be a Wirtz upgrade

Rodrygo, 24, is one of the finest forwards in the world, and if he were to leave Real Madrid this January, he would leave a two-time La Liga and Champions League winner, having posted 70 goals and 55 assists in all competitions.

Los Blancos are nothing if not stacked with talent, and Rodrygo has rightly taken a regular starting berth along with Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe in the frontline in recent years, but he’s suffered a less-than-impressive 2025, going 32 games without a goal before bagging against Manchester City in the Champions League in December.

He’s enjoyed something of an uptick in form in Xabi Alonso’s system recently, but it’s clear to see that Rodrygo needs a change of scenery if he is to establish himself as a talismanic force for a team competing at the apex of European football.

Liverpool could give him that olive branch after many battles in recent years.

Given Rodrygo’s natural skill as a winger and his desire to cut inside and score, he could be just what Slot’s side need, providing more depth and balance than Cody Gakpo and more suitability than Wirtz, whose future surely sits in a more central position.

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Looking at the respective ‘superstars’ metrics over the past year emphasises this.

Rodrygo vs Florian Wirtz (past 12 months)

Stats (per 90)

Rodrygo

Wirtz

Goals scored

0.31

0.15

Assists

0.19

0.24

Shots taken

2.80

2.15

Shot-creating actions

4.94

4.64

Touches (att pen)

6.40

5.03

Pass completion (%)

85.4

79.3

Progressive passes

4.10

6.25

Progressive carries

5.79

3.20

Successful take-ons

2.34

2.12

Ball recoveries

4.02

4.28

Tackles + interceptions

2.07

1.47

Data via FBref

Rodrygo and Wirtz aren’t too dissimilar as players, but it’s clear that the Los Blancos man is more snappy with his pace, whereas Wirtz is a fleet-footed dribbler, but not someone to dominate up and down the wing.

It is for this reason that Rodrygo would be an ‘upgrade’ on the German international, ironing out the creases in Liverpool’s attacking system, settling the equilibrium that has been out of kilter for a while – Liverpool’s 52% win percentage across the 2025 annual year underscores the depth of Slot’s struggles in the dugout.

That, and the fact that Rodrygo is a “world-class superstar” unto himself, as has been said by Real legend Luka Modric. He has the potential to become a leading man in the Premier League, and he has the track record to confirm this.

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