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With an average squad age of 27.3, Manchester City have the eight-oldest squad in the Premier League at this moment in time, with 36-year-old Fernandinho being the joint-oldest player alongside goalkeeper Scott Carson, who is the same age as the Brazilian.

Taking this into account, and with the midfielder’s current contract at the Manchester club set to expire next summer, it seems as though the Premier League champions should be thinking about his eventual exit and who they could get to replace him.

However, we think that the club may not need to go out and spend a significant amount of money on a new player, as they have done in the past, to replace Fernandinho, and instead turn to 17-year-old defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia.

The teenager joined City’s under-18 side back in the 2020 summer transfer window from Belgian club Anderlecht for an undisclosed fee.

Since then, the midfielder – who has been described as an “aggressive” player by former City defender Vincent Kompany – has made 14 appearances for the under-18 side, as well as 25 appearances for City’s under-23s in which he has managed to score two goals and provide three assists, which we feel is quite impressive for a defensive midfielder at such a young age.

Lavia, who is currently valued at £900k by Transfermarkt, has also made one appearance for Guardiola’s first team in the 6-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup last month, where he played the full 90 minutes.

For his performance against Wycombe, Lavia earned himself a decent overall match rating of 7/10 from the Manchester Evening News, who said that he “clearly likes a tackle, and his passes over the top and through the lines were Fernandinho-esque”. That further highlights him as a potential ideal long-term replacement for the Brazilian at the Etihad Stadium, if the veteran leaves when his current contract ends in the summer.

Moving forward, if Lavia can keep playing regularly for the under-23 side and make the most of any future chances that he gets in the first team, we believe he could well find himself becoming a significant part of Guardiola’s squad in the coming years.

In other news: 95% pass accuracy, 91 touches: £140k-p/w MCFC ace was Pep’s only shining light against West Ham

Former Aston Villa centre-forward Gabriel Agbonlahor has claimed that Ivan Toney would be a brilliant fit for Villa.

What’s been said?

Speaking recently on talkSPORT (via Birmingham Live), Agbonlahor stated his belief that the Brentford forward has the ability to play for a team that is fighting for European qualification in the Premier League, before suggesting that the 25-year-old would make an ideal strike partner for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

Speaking about the centre-forward, Agbonlahor said: “I think he’s got what it takes to be in a team that’s fighting for Europe… somewhere like Villa as a target man, playing with Watkins.”

Lange must move

While there are no concrete links being reported regarding a potential Aston Villa move for Toney, considering just how impressive the 25-year-old has been for Brentford this season, it would be difficult to disagree with Agbonlahor’s claim that the striker would make an impressive addition to Dean Smith’s options in attack.

Indeed, over his eight Premier League appearances so far this term, the £28.8m-rated man has already scored two goals, registered two assists and created four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.3 shots and making 1.4 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the player Thomas Frank claimed boasts the “mindset of a lion” earn a remarkable average SofaScore match rating of 7.47, ranking him as the Bees’ best performer in the top flight, as well as the ninth-best in the entirety of the division.

As such, the prospect of the £21k-per-week Toney lining up alongside either Watkins – one goal in six league appearances – or Danny Ings – three goals over eight league fixtures – is certainly a mouthwatering one.

And, while it would appear an incredibly unlikely scenario considering their highly impressive start to the season, should Brentford find themselves being relegated to the Championship at the end of the current campaign, and the opportunity to sign Toney presents itself, Johan Lange simply must do everything in his power to secure the 25-year-old’s arrival at Villa Park.

In other news: “Outstanding” Aston Villa gem who won just one duel failed Smith in derby collapse

Out-of-favour Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek would be a good fit for Everton, Alex McLeish has told Football Insider. 

The lowdown

The £35m signing was limited to just four Premier League starts during his first season at Old Trafford and has only played five minutes so far this term (via WhoScored).

Furthermore, his agent has said that the return of Cristiano Ronaldo to the club is ‘bad news’, as it will further limit the 24-year-old’s game-time.

The player’s camp held talks with Marcel Brands and Farhad Moshiri over a move to Everton, but United stepped in to prevent any such deal.

Van de Beek has shown occasional flashes of his ability since moving to the Red Devils. For instance, Owen Hargreaves said he was ‘close to perfect’ in a 4-1 win over Istanbul Basaksehir in last season’s Champions League.

The latest

McLeish has said that the Dutchman should be willing to ‘drop down a little bit’ from a title-contending side to one on the periphery of Europe, as that is apparently his best chance of proving himself at Premier League level.

“He’d be going to a club who are really ambitious, trying to get into the top six,” the former Scotland manager told Football Insider. “Maybe just drop down a little bit.

“He is highly regarded. The only way that we’re going to see how highly regarded he is is by seeing him on the field on a regular basis. I can see him at Everton.”

The verdict

In theory, Van de Beek would be an excellent signing for Everton if they could pull it off. Indeed, some might say it woud be following the ideal model of plucking talented players from the periphery of the elite clubs.

However, if Rafael Benitez is sticking with his 4-2-3-1 formation, then there could be issues. Van de Beek can’t really slot into the defensive midfield two and shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a number 10 either. If it’s all about game-time, he should be looking at clubs who play 4-3-3 instead.

In other news, many Everton fans were pleased with this transfer news.

Pundit Noel Whelan has been reacting to the news that Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi could be out of action for two to three weeks.

The Lowdown: Woes continue…

Furuhashi was brought on for Albian Ajeti on Thursday against Real Betis in a Europa League dead rubber clash, with the Swiss striker needing to be withdrawn with a hamstring problem.

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The Japan international also suffered a hamstring issue after coming on as a substitute and needed to be replaced in the 3-2 win over the La Liga outfit.

Ange Postecoglou confirmed on the weekend that the Celtic medical team believe Furuhashi will be out of action for ‘two to three weeks’, meaning he could miss the Glasgow derby on January 2 as well as the League Cup final next Sunday.

The Latest: Whelan’s comments

James Forrest was the latest Celtic player to suffer an injury at the weekend in a 1-0 win over Motherwell.

Whelan, who contributes for BBC Radio, was talking to Football Insider about Celtic’s injury problems and the latest on Furuhashi, to which he said:

“Every injury to that Celtic squad is going to be a massive blow – they don’t have the greatest depth.

“They’ve got the cup final coming up next weekend, and players like Jota, Forrest and Kyogo are potential match-winners.

“Those players have got the experience to make the difference in the title battle as well. This is a period in the season that can make or break your title challenge, and that’s the case now for Celtic.

“Big decisions are going to have to be made by Postecoglou, some players are going to have to step up and be that shining star.

“It’s not easy to get it right, they won’t want to be rushing these players back and risking them being out for longer.”

The Verdict: Will it ever end?

Celtic now have a shortage of attacking options with Ajeti, Forrest, Furuhashi, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Jota and Karamoko Dembele all sidelined.

Postecoglou has never really had a fully fit squad at his disposal since coming to Glasgow, but his attacking options have never been hit this hard during his Parkhead tenure.

Youngsters Liel Abada and Mikey Johnston are the only two fit and available senior attacking options at this moment in time, with David Turnbull starring in a false nine role against Motherwell.

The Hoops may need to go with that again on Wednesday, and hopefully at least one forward will be back in time for the League Cup final on Sunday.

In other news: Devlin claims ‘special’ Celtic ace may have broken bone amid ‘conflicting’ info. 

Slavisa Jokanovic is still waiting for his first Championship win with Sheffield United, as the Blades were held to a goalless draw with Swansea City on Saturday evening.

Having suffered defeat at the hands of Birmingham City last weekend, United would have undoubtedly been hoping to kick start their 2021/22 campaign with an impressive performance and result at the Liberty Stadium this time around.

However, it could easily be argued that neither of these hopes came into fruition, with the Serbian’s side managing just two shots on target over the course of the 90 minutes, as well as having just 37% of the ball and managing almost 250 fewer passes than Russell Martin’s Swansea side – with the game ultimately finishing 0-0.

Perhaps unsurprisingly considering their obvious lack of attacking edge, one of the worst performances in the fixture was given by a Sheffield United forward – in the shape of Oli Burke.

Indeed, over his 59 minutes on the pitch, the 24-year-old was extremely ineffectual, mustering no shots – either on or off target – failing with all three of his attempted dribbles, completing a mere six passes and touching the ball just 15 times – less than half of the 37 Aaron Ramsalde managed between the Blades’ sticks.

The £5.4m-rated man also lost all four of his duels (100%), made no key passes, failed with his one attempted cross and gave away possession of the ball on seven occasions.

His weak attempts on the right-flank were a large reason to why Jokanovic’s side struggled to create much in the attack against this much-changed Swansea side, who still dominated possession at 63%.

These returns saw the £19k-per-week forward earn an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.2, the lowest rating of any player to feature in the game at the Liberty Stadium.

As such, should Sheffield United have any hope of going on to secure an immediate return to the Premier League this season, considering the distinct lack of wide attacking options Jokanovic currently has in his first-team squad, they will undoubtedly need Burke to up his game considerably in the coming weeks and months, as his performance against Swansea was simply not good enough.

In other news: Sheffield United dealt blow over “superb” £26k-p/w gem, Jokanovic will be fuming

West Ham United are keen on signing Luka Jovic this month…

What’s the word?

According to Eurosport, the Irons are considering turning their attention to the Real Madrid striker, who is said to be a long-term target.

It’s claimed that Jovic is not in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for the new season, so the La Liga giants are prepared to let him leave before the transfer deadline on August 31st.

David Moyes and co have struggled to find a new forward and are desperate to find competition for the injury-prone Michail Antonio.

However, the Hammers face competition for the 23-year-old from at least three Bundesliga sides. It remains to be seen just how much Jovic will command, with both Transfermarkt and CIES Football Observatory valuing him at £18m.

 A statement signing

Whilst the 6-foot Serbian has struggled to make much of an impact at the Bernabeu since a €60m (£50m) move in the summer of 2019, even returning to his former club Frankfurt for a loan spell last season, he would still be quite the coup for the East Londoners.

During the 2018/19 season, Jovic bagged a whopping 27 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions, via Transfermarkt, also striking up quite the partnership with Sebastien Haller, whose own exploits saw him make the switch to the London Stadium.

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His form, particularly that year, earned glowing acclaim from teammate Filip Kostic, who described the talisman as “just unbelievable” to Bundesliga.com.

Furthermore, Jovic has been likened to Radamel Falcao, largely due to his ability to use either foot, as well as his head, to find the net. It’s perhaps why another former teammate, Kevin-Prince Boateng dubbed him a complete striker.

“He has everything to become [a world-class striker]. You see that in training. He has football in his genes, he’s a street footballer, and he has a nose for goal,” Boateng said. “He scores with his head, right or left foot. He is technically good and can shoot well with both feet. He just has everything a striker needs.”

Also lauded as “fast, robust and technically savvy” by Haller, it’s easy to see why Madrid splashed the cash on the 14-cap Serbia international and you could forgive him for not living up to the expectations and pressure that comes with playing for Los Galacticos.

Hammers boss Moyes should absolutely consider a move for Jovic before the end of the month. Given his impressive goalscoring record and experience across Europe, he could be exactly the sort of signing that takes the club.

The self-proclaimed “fox in the box” is well worth a late punt to solve the Scot’s striker nightmare.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Antonio: West Ham must seal move for “special” £31.5m-rated goal machine…

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has described Marcelo Bielsa as ‘incredible’, following a revelation which sums up his dedication at Leeds United.

The Lowdown: Bielsa transforms Leeds

The 65-year-old has arguably been the most influential figure at Elland Road for many years, transforming the Whites’ fortunes and guiding them back into the Premier League.

Bielsa has got Leeds playing some of the most entertaining football in the club’s history and his down-to-earth nature means he is adored by supporters – he recently stopped by a local youth team for an impromptu coaching session.

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The Latest: McLeish hails ‘incredible’ Argentine

It has now emerged that the Argentine hasn’t even taken a summer holiday after a gruelling season, instead overseeing upgrades being made at Thorp Arch.

Speaking to Football Insider after that news, McLeish waxed lyrical over Bielsa, lauding his all-round brilliance:

“The guy just lives and breathes football, doesn’t he? The Leeds fans adore him. It would be like losing a family member if he was to leave Leeds.

“That is why they are acquiescing to a lot of his visions for the club. A pure football genius. He’s an incredible man in terms of the nature he goes about things.

“He is certainly an awesome coach when you consider the improvement to the many teams he’s been at.”

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The Verdict: Please stay, Marcelo

This story perfectly sums up Bielsa’s remarkable work ethic and obsession with football, highlighting why Leeds need him to stay on for as long as possible.

He is a truly an enchanting character, much in the way Jurgen Klopp is at Liverpool, and it will be a desperately sad day when he eventually leaves the club.

The hope is that is still a long way away, however, with a new deal potentially being signed imminently.

In other news, a pundit has revealed who he thinks would be a perfect fit at Leeds this summer. Find out who it is here.

According to Football Insider sources, Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on Peterborough United prodigy Ronnie Edwards.

The Lowdown: Highly-rated defender

Edwards, just 18, has already made seven senior appearances for Peterborough United, starting two games in last season’s League One promotion season.

The teenager joined Posh from National League side Barnet in August 2020 and is highly-rated within the club.

Edwards has made two appearances this season – one in the cup and one in the league – while Spurs have previously shown their trust in young talent from the Football League with the likes of Dele Alli and Joe Rodon.

The Latest: Spurs keen to sign him

In the report by Football Insider, transfer sources reveal Fabio Paratici and Tottenham have set their sights on signing the young defender, with a number of top clubs across the country tracking him after he burst on the scene last season.

Spurs sent scouts to watch Edwards play for Peterborough under-23s against Watford last week, with the view to a potential transfer to bring the Englishman to the Premier League.

Edwards’ involvment with the first team this season would see his price tag drastically increase and Spurs will be monitoring him as the season goes on.

The Verdict: Another Rodon

The 18-year-old prodigy is yet to cement himself in Darren Ferguson’s side above the experienced Frankie Kent and Mark Beevers. And with Spurs’ nature of recruiting players for the first team of the future, it would be hard for Edwards to say no.

Rodin meanwhile has appeared for Spurs 15 times so far and is showing great promise, hailed as a ‘special player’ and ‘flawless’ by Wales Online journalist Ian Mitchelmore.

The arrival of Edwards will be a bonus for the under-23s side and a statement of thinking ahead for the future of the club.

With Japhet Tanganga and Rodon already options at the back, it could be a very youthful Spurs defence in the years to come with the arrival of Edwards.

In other Tottenham news, an offer has been tabled for ‘extraordinary’ midfielder. Find out more here.

Leeds United have reportedly lost interest in signing Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi this summer, with a potential deal now off the table.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Batshuayi move

The Whites will be looking to make inroads in the next transfer window, perhaps focusing on quality over quantity, in order to push on again next season after a brilliant first campaign back in the big time.

One player Leeds have been linked with is Batshuayi, with the Belgian unwanted at Chelsea and spending last season on loan at Crystal Palace.

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The Latest: Fresh update emerges

According to Goal’s Chelsea transfer update, the Whites have ceased their interest in bringing the 27-year-old to Elland Road, with Chelsea demanding £15million for his services.

It looks likely that Marcelo Bielsa will now look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements, in order to provide more competition for Patrick Bamford.

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The Verdict: Right decision by Leeds

Batshuayi has definite pedigree, having scored 22 goals in 34 caps for Belgium, but he also hasn’t performed well at the top level for a sustained period now.

The striker managed just two goals in 18 Premier League appearances for Palace in 2020/21, and he hasn’t reached double figures in a league campaign since 2015/16, when he was at Marseille.

Leeds signing Batshuayi would have represented an expensive gamble, so it makes sense to look at alternative options.

In other news, Leeds United are reportedly eyeing up a move for a relegated Premier League player. Find out who it is here.

Journalist Jordan Cronin has slammed both Richarlison and Anthony Gordon for their antics as Everton lost 2-0 away to Liverpool on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Everton tactics

Frank Lampard clearly set up his team to frustrate the hosts at Anfield, as they committed eight fouls in total and picked up five yellow cards (SofaScore).

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One of those was for Gordon, who was booked for simulation in the first half, while Richarlison was also cautioned late on after a nasty tackle on Jordan Henderson, amid the Brazilian being accused of play acting and deliberately time wasting throughout the game.

The Latest: Cronin reacts

Taking to Twitter, Cronin slammed Richarlison and Gordon for their antics on the pitch, saying:

“There’s trying to frustrate Liverpool and then there’s Everton. Embarrassing at times, especially Richarlison and Gordon.”

The Verdict: Nothing to show

Ultimately, the tactics employed by Everton did not pay off, as Jurgen Klopp’s team won 2-0 in the end.

Richarlison and Gordon did show some bright sparks in the match, as they won a combined 13 duels between them and also recorded four successful dribbles and two key passes in total (SofaScore).

However, they were guilty of giving the ball away no fewer than 33 times combined, and ultimately they could not make the most of their strides toward Alisson’s net.

Nonetheless, the Toffees will want to put this result behind them now and focus on Chelsea at Goodison Park next weekend as they aim to climb out of the relegation zone.

In other news, find out which Premier League club are now eyeing this Toffees centre-back