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Georgia Stanway has warned that the Lionesses risk being burned out this summer as they confront yet another busy period – even without the Olympics.

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Stanway hit out at England's busy summerWiegman echoed the same sentiment Players and manager unhappy with summer international windowsGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Despite failing to secure qualification for the Olympics on behalf of Team GB, the Lionesses are slated for international camps in June and July due to Euro 2025 qualifying commitments. This demanding schedule, coupled with potential Champions League qualifiers for some clubs in early September, means that many players will miss out on a much-needed break.

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Numerous members of the England squad have endured a gruelling sequence of tournaments, having participated in three consecutive competitions – the 2021 Olympics, Euro 2022, and last summer's World Cup. Additionally, some players were involved in youth tournaments prior to these major events.

WHAT STANWAY SAID

Stanway expressed her disappointment, stating, "When we didn't qualify for the Olympics we thought it was the perfect opportunity to have the summer off, maybe travel a bit further. We realise it's not quite as simple as that but the best thing we can do is work with countries and clubs to find the best solution.

"Hopefully the best solution is giving us a good enough time of rest but also the most important thing is we want to qualify for Euro 2025 – we will do anything to put ourselves in the best possible position to go to that tournament. It is a potential burnout but Football is our life. Everything we do is to be successful on the pitch."

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GettySARINA WIEGMAN AGREES WITH STANWAY

England manager Sarina Wiegman echoed Stanway's concerns, revealing that they have appealed to FIFA and UEFA to reconsider the international calendar. However, she conceded that significant changes may not be feasible until 2026.

"There's no tournament so that should be an opportunity to get some rest, but because of the window in June and the window in July how are you going to take some time off?' Wiegman said.

"Then after that, there is some time off, in England the WSL starts later, but then round one of the Champions League starts in early September, which takes away the summer from the players. That's what we need to take care of and we've asked FIFA and UEFA to look at that and change that in the future so players can have some rest. It's great that we have players that love football, but we have to take care of them too so we have to do something about the calendar.

"We can't change it so you're trying to do the best to take care of the players and at the same time perform to the highest level and take out the highest risks of getting injured, in collaboration with clubs. The clubs and we as the FA don't have any control over the calendar."

We’ve observed him from afar, sat through cliché-riddled press conferences and become infuriated at his brooding demeanour. Will the real Duncan Fletcher please stand up?

Will Luke18-Nov-2007


We’ve observed him from afar, sat through cliché-riddled press conferences and become infuriated at his brooding demeanour. Would the real Duncan Fletcher please stand up?At last, in his autobiography, , he has – and how. The week preceding the book’s publication caused an understandable media furore, with revelations of Andrew Flintoff’s drinking and of the back-room decisions Fletcher was forced to make. Equally predictably, though less understandably, Fletcher was made a scapegoat for revealing these brilliantly juicy insights.Anyone who has read the anodyne (and often premature) autobiographies of sporting figures which litter the shelves won’t mind one little bit. may be slightly ill timed – no cautious forward press, here – but dull it is not.Fletcher is a man who places great emphasis on trust and loyalty, and it comes as no surprise that Steve James, his former comrade at Glamorgan and friend of many years, helped write it. Broken up into 13 chapters, the book spans his life from childhood right up to the World Cup, when he resigned.He begins with a fascinating background to his happy childhood in Zimbabwe, growing up on a farm with a protective (and revealingly, loyal) family. His five siblings – four boys and Ann – were, we are told, far more talented at sport than the young Duncan. This rivalry instilled his determination and sharpened his mental focus on his one sport, cricket.It’s the later chapters, involving his time with Glamorgan, and then as England coach, that contain the most salacious insights. His difficulties with David Graveney; his surprise when offered the England coaching job; his spat with Henry Blofeld (surprising), and the “mutual dislike” of Geoffrey Boycott (less surprising). And, of course, the Flintoff saga in Chapter 13 which is rather dramatically entitled “The Winter from Hell”.But something jars. The book lives up to its title – we are certainly given an insight into a previously mysterious man – but it has an underlying seam of bitterness and resentment which, for someone who has achieved so much, is a disappointment and a little sad. Chapters are sprinkled with insistences that the reader “must understand”; that the media twisted his words and cheated the truth; that he is right and everyone else is wrong. If he never cared about the media during his tenure, why bother now?But this is Fletcher, after all. Dogged, determined and stubborn as a mule. Forthright views are no less than we expect. He and James should be lauded for producing a book that remains interesting from cover to cover while never dodging sensitive issues from the past.

Chelsea captain Mille Bright continued her rehabilitation from injury as she sat out the Lionesses first game of the year.

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Bright continues rehab in mud and rainChelsea skipper missing since NovemberMisses Lionesses first fixture of 2024Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The defender has missed the Lionesses winter camp in sunny southern Spain and will be absent when her colleagues take on Austria in Andalusia on Friday evening. But Bright shared some news on social media of her working hard on her recovery in soggy Surrey.

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"Silently grafting, fun in the sun and mud today," posted Bright on her Instagram account alongside a photo of herself at Chelsea's training complex.

Instagram @mbrighty04

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Bright has been on the sidelines since suffering the recurrence of a knee injury in November. The skipper is not the only high-profile casualty for the Blues as star forward Sam Kerr suffered a season-ending ACL injury in January. Mia Fishel was recently struck down with the affliction on international duty too.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MILLIE BRIGHT?

An exact return date for Bright remains unknown but the 30-year-old will be hoping to be back in action for the business end of the season as Chelsea chase silverware in four different competitions with the Emma Hayes era drawing to a conclusion at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester City are now keen on signing a record-breaking striker, but they will have to do battle for his signature with some of Europe's top clubs, according to a report.

What's the latest Man City transfer news?

Man City will be in the market for a new left-back in the January transfer window, considering Sergio Gomez is their only natural option in that area of the pitch, and Football Insider has revealed they are now confident about signing Boca Juniors' Valentin Barco.

Although the Boca defender has a release clause of around £10m included in his contract, the Sky Blues may have to stump up a fee of £15m, as there is considerable interest in his signature, with Brighton & Hove Albion also being named as potential suitors.

Barco is not the only young left-back that City have been credited with an interest in, as it has been reported they are also keen on signing Chelsea's Ian Maatsen, amid the uncertainty surrounding the 21-year-old's future at Stamford Bridge.

The vast majority of the Citizens' transfer targets are under 21, having also been linked with a move for Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, and there have now been reports they could make a move for another young striker.

According to a report from CalcioMercato, Man City are now interested in signing 15-year-old AC Milan striker Francesco Camarda, who is attracting the attention of several top European clubs, as they are "convinced" he has a great future ahead of him.

The Milan starlet continues to break "record after record", recently netting a brace against Newcastle United on his debut in the UEFA Youth League, which meant he became the youngest Italian ever to score in the competition.

In light of the impression the youngster has made for AC Milan, there are a number of clubs vying for his signature, with Borussia Dortmund also being named as potential suitors, but there is an indication he may not be on the move anytime soon.

The Italian club are currently in the process of handing Camarda his first professional contract, and he "dreams" of making his debut for the Rossoneri in the Serie A.

Who is Francesco Camarda?

The Milan-born forward has started to make a name for himself at youth level, having scored one goal in three Primavera 1 games this season, while he recorded three goal contributions in his first-ever UEFA Youth League outing, bagging two goals and an assist.

The Italian has also made his breakthrough on the international scene, having found the back of the net three times in three appearances for the U17s, during which time he has also recorded one assist.

It is no wonder some of Europe's top clubs are queuing up for Camarda, as he clearly has a lot of potential, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauding him as an "unbelievable" talent just a few days ago.

However, the Milan academy graduate does not seem to have much interest in leaving his hometown club at the moment, so Man City should keep him shortlisted for the future.

A weak batting display from the Indians left South Africa with a target of 211. They have the advantage, but history indicates that it might not be a cakewalk. Cricinfo looks at the stat highlights of the fourth day

George Binoy05-Jan-2007

Would you have bet on Sourav Ganguly scoring the most runs in the series for India? © AFP
331 – Is the highest target successfully chased at Cape Town; by Australia in 2002. However, the second-highest target chased is only 179, also by Australia in 1967.175 for 6 – The highest target South Africa have chased at Cape Town. However, they scored 335 in the fourth innings against New Zealand in 1962 and 224 against England in 1927 but lost both games.This is only Rahul Dravid’s third series (at least two Tests) in which he has failed to score a half-century. The previous two instances were in Australia in 1999-00 and against South Africa at home in 2000.214 – Sourav Ganguly, averaging 42.80, is the highest run-scorer for India in this series. Sachin Tendulkar is second highest with 199 at 33.16.15.1 overs – The amount of time Dravid and Tendulkar took to add 24 runs for the fourth wicket. The innings run-rate before Tendulkar and Dravid began their partnership was 2.84.4 – The number of innings out of five at Cape Town that Tendulkar has batted at No.5. It’s a remarkably high percentage considering he’s played only 20 of his 216 innings in that position.25.71 – Tendulkar’s strike-rate against debutant Paul Harris against whom he scored 9 off 35 balls. He didn’t score a run against ten balls from Shaun Pollock.69.7 – The number of overs South Africa took to dismiss India for 169. Munaf Patel was the last man out off the seventh legitimate ball of Dale Steyn’s over.16.00 – Pollock’s bowling average in this series. His haul of 13 wickets is second to Makhaya Ntini for South Africa. He’s also scored 150 runs at 37.50, the third highest tally and average for South Africa after Ashwell Prince and Graeme Smith.

Manchester United have finally seen Sir Jim Ratcliffe's move to acquire a 25 percent stake at Old Trafford approved by the Premier League and the FA.

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Ratcliffe agrees deal in DecemberPremier League approve it on TuesdayFA follow suit on WednesdayGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority takeover at the club was approved on Tuesday following an independent review, as the Manchester-born billionaire now looks set to acquire a 25 per cent stake in the team moving forward. The Football Association also approved the deal on Wednesday.

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A statement released by the Premier League read: "'Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of 25 per cent of Manchester United FC, and further investment of $300 million in the club, has been approved by the Premier League Board following the completion of the Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT).

"The Board agreed to the change of the club's ownership structure last week, and this has now been officially ratified by an Independent Oversight Panel.

"The Premier League’s Owners’ Charter has also been signed. This is the first acquisition of Control to be reviewed and approved by a new Independent Oversight Panel following changes to the process which were agreed by Premier League clubs in March 2023.

"The Premier League now awaits confirmation of the transaction’s completion."

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Ratcliffe completed the initial deal to acquire the share of the club back in December and has now passed the Premier League's Directors' and Owners' test. The 71-year-old is set to gain complete control over footballing operations, despite only owning a minority share at Old Trafford. Completion of the deal is expected by the end of the week when Ratcliffe finalises his purchase of Class A shares.

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Getty WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

For now, United themselves will look to continue to impress on the pitch following their late winner against Aston Villa last weekend. Erik ten Hag's men are currently on a five-game unbeaten run across all competitions and face Luton Town in their next fixture.

Manchester United's summer transfer business was heavily focused on the present, with the likes of Andre Onana and Mason Mount arriving to bolster Erik ten Hag's options right in their primes.

Things haven't quite gone to plan for the Premier League giants so far this season, however, with three losses in their opening five games representing a disastrous start.

Those at Old Trafford could be set for a positive boost yet, though, with the Red Devils keeping a keen eye on future talent, perhaps in an attempt to avoid any significant collapses such as the one they are currently experiencing.

With that said, according to reports, Manchester United recently sent scouts to watch one particular star for the future, amid their interest in securing his signature.

What's the latest Manchester United transfer news?

Even when the transfer window is shut, a club of Manchester United's calibre does not stop seeking reinforcements, particularly when in poor form. During the summer, they spent a reported €207m (£178m) on welcoming a total of seven fresh faces, hoping to mount a potential title challenge.

Their 3-1 loss against Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford shows that they are anything but ready to join the title race, with injuries, off-field issues and poor form bundling the pressure on Ten Hag to turn things around.

The Red Devils could at least give their fans some good news in January, however, with reports suggesting that they're interested in Red Bull Salzburg youngster Oscar Gloukh.

According to The Sun, via Football365, United sent scouts to watch Gloukh's performance for Israel against Romania, in a game that saw the teenager score a crucial goal for his country aiming for Euro 2024 qualification.

Any deal for the Salzburg man may prove to be difficult, given that he only made the move from Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Austrian club in January. The Premier League giants are also not the only club interested in Goukh, with Liverpool and Arsenal also interested in the 19-year-old.

Who is Oscar Gloukh?

A midfielder by trade, Gloukh has impressed for Red Bull Salzburg since making the January switch, with eight goal involvements in just 25 appearances. He'll only get better at the Austrian club, too, who have developed talents such as Erling Haaland and Dominik Szoboszlai in recent years. If Gloukh reaches anything near the level of those two, then United, should they pursue a move, could have themselves a game-changer.

Praising the youngster, Football Talent Scout wrote: "As for his role, Oscar is a pure playmaker that’s distinguished with qualities to operate either an “8”, a “10” or a winger.

"At 170cm tall, he has a low center of gravity, which contributes to his balance and changes of direction, is technically gifted, and is quite agile. In contrast to the rest of the Israeli talents, he has an extremely unique and complete profile, which seems to fit top-flight football."

With that said, whilst they'll face a fight for his signature, if United can secure the signature of Gloukh in January or next summer then it could go down as one of their best deals in recent years.

Leeds United return to action at Elland Road on Wednesday night as they prepare to host Welsh side Swansea City in the Championship.

The Whites are currently third in the table and are on the hunt to chase down the top two in the division – Ipswich Town and Leicester City.

They gained one point on the Tractor Boys over the weekend and now sit seven points behind them but are ten off the Foxes at the summit – despite securing a 1-0 win over Enzo Maresca's side earlier this month.

This means that it will take a colossal effort for Leeds to overtake those above them to earn an automatic promotion place but they still have 29 more matches to gain ground and secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Daniel Farke's side need to focus on their own results and hope that other teams slip up along the way and three points against Swansea this week could be an important step on their way to success.

They head into this game off the back of a frustrating 1-1 draw away at Rotherham United last Friday, with Crysencio Summerville scoring the only goal of the game for the Whites.

Farke could now make some alterations to the starting XI for that match in the hope of a return to winning ways against the Swans at Elland Road.

1 Illan Meslier

Between the sticks, French ace Illan Meslier could retain his position in goal. He has started all 17 of the club's league games this term and there were no major errors against Rotherham to warrant him being dropped for this clash.

2 Archie Gray

The 17-year-old starlet – Archie Gray – could continue to impress at right-back, away from his natural position in midfield. He won seven of his 12 duels against the Millers and won two tackles for the team.

3 Joe Rodon

At the heart of the defence, Joe Rodon should start again after a dominant display last Friday night. The Tottenham Hotspur loanee has been an impressive addition to the squad and showcased his quality last week.

Leeds titan with 90% duels won was Farke's true hero over Summerville on Friday

The impressive colossus stood up to the task on Friday night against Rotherham.

ByDan Emery Nov 25, 2023

As you can read in the article above, he dominated the opposition with his defensive prowess and deserves to keep his place in the XI after that performance.

4 Pascal Struijk

The first change that the head coach could make to the XI is to bring Pascal Struijk back into the side in place of the experienced Liam Cooper.

He started on the bench against Rotherham after dealing with a hernia over the international break but was pressed into action with ten minutes to go as Cooper was forced off with a knock.

The Dutch colossus has started 15 of the club's 17 Championship matches and could come straight back into the XI after being rested for the majority of last week's clash.

5 Sam Byram

At left-back, Farke could make another change to his team with Sam Byram coming back in for Junior Firpo, who could be ditched after his first start of the campaign.

The former Barcelona defender lost eight of his 16 duels and only competed one of his three attempted dribbles throughout his 70 minutes on the pitch.

It was a sloppy display from the full-back and Byram, who was an unused substitute after recovering from a knock, could return to the line-up.

The English titan has started 13 Championship matches so far this season and contributed with 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game for the Whites.

Since joining on a free transfer from Norwich City, the veteran defender has been a strong defensive presence for the German boss and could play a key role tonight with his ability to win possession back for the team if selected on the left.

6 Glen Kamara

The Finland international has been a superb addition from Scottish giants Rangers and should start in midfield. He has been calmness personified in possession with a pass success rate of 92% for the Whites.

7 Ethan Ampadu

Like Kamara, Ethan Amapdu has been in impressive form for Leeds since his summer switch from Premier League side Chelsea and should start in the middle of the park. The Wales international has made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game so far in the Championship.

8 Ian Poveda

The third and final change to the XI could be Ian Poveda being unleashed on the right side of the attack in place of Wales international Daniel James.

Poveda completed 100% of his attempted passes and one dribble in 20 minutes off the bench against Rotherham after the former Manchester United forward endured a difficult night.

James only found a teammate with 59% of his attempted passes and failed with all four of his attempted dribbles. The lightweight lost all seven of his duels throughout the game and could now lose his place in the XI as a result of that disappointing display.

Farke hailed Poveda as a "creative" talent who has impressed in training and could unleash him from the start for the second time in the league this term.

9 Joel Piroe

In the number ten position, Joel Piroe could keep his place after a return of one goal, three key passes, and one 'big chance' created in his last two league outings for the Yorkshire-based side. He has plundered six Championship goals in total since his move from Wednesday night's opponents.

10 Crysencio Summerville

Arguably the easiest decision that Farke has to make with this XI. Crysencio Summerville scored his seventh league goal of the season in the draw with Rotherham with a superb curled effort into the bottom corner and is able to provide a huge attacking threat on the left flank.

What the numbers say about Old Trafford

S Rajesh10-Aug-2005

Shane Warne: ready to add to his tally of 17 wickets from two Tests at Old Trafford © Getty Images
At Edgbaston, Ricky Ponting’s decision to insert England after winning the toss might have been influenced by the recent trend at that venue – teams fielding first had won nine of the 14 previous Tests – but he is unlikely to make that mistake at Old Trafford should the coin roll his way on the morning of the third Test. In 69 Tests at Manchester since 1884, only eight times has the captain won the toss and opted to field first. Seven of those matches were drawn; the only decisive result in those games was in 1993, when Graham Gooch bravely put Australia in to bat and suffered the consequences, as England went down by 179 runs. Considering that no team has won a Test here after putting the opposition in to bat, and given all the pre-match talk about another turner at Manchester, the decision at the toss should be a no-brainer. Old Trafford also has a high propensity for drawn games – 33 out of 69 (48%) have ended in a stalemate. Of the remaining 36 Tests which did produce a result, 25 went in favour of the team batting first, another reason for the captain to do just that after winning the toss. England have a 21-14 win-loss record here, and while Australia’s is only a modest 7-7 against England, they have won the last three matches, and haven’t lost a Test here since 1981. (Click here for all England-Australia Tests at Old Trafford.) You’d expect the pitch to get far more difficult for batting as the game goes on, but that isn’t necessarily so, as the table below indicates. Since 1995, the average runs per wicket is highest in the third innings, while the fourth-innings figure is a respectable 32.7. (Click here for the Test records – highest and lowest totals, best batting and bowling performances etc – at this ground.)

1st innings2nd innings3rd innings4th innings

36.032.337.732.7 The track for Thursday’s match is expected to assist the spinners, but over the last ten years, fast bowlers have done pretty well here, as the table below suggests. The last time a spinner turned a match around here was in 2001, when Saqlain Mushtaq, aided by umpire David Shepherd’s generosity in ignoring no-balls, took four wickets as England slumped to 261 all out in their second innings.

Pace – wicketsAverageSpin – wicketsAverage

18632.695140.22 The most famous bowling performance at this ground is of course Jim Laker’s 19 for 90 against Australia in 1956, but in their current squad the Australians have one spinner who has been tormenting England for a while now. He answers to the name Shane Warne, and he has especially enjoyed the conditions at Old Trafford, taking 17 wickets in two Tests at less than 15 apiece. Only one short of reaching the 600-wicket milestone, chances are he’ll go well beyond that figure by the time this Test is done. Add a batting average of 35.50, and Australia have an outstanding allrounder in their midst, at least at this ground.

Warne at each venue
in EnglandTestsBowling averageBatting average

Old Trafford214.5935.50Trent Bridge

318.1418.33Lord’s419.588.75Edgbaston

421.7624.50The Oval323.3021.50Headingley

389.330.00 Among England’s current lot of players, only Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick, Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Giles have played more than one Test at Old Trafford. The first three have done pretty well (click on the player names for Vaughan, Trescothick and Hoggard stats at this ground), but Giles’s nine wickets have cost him more than 38 apiece.

Arsenal enjoyed a fine summer of spending in the recent window, overseeing the purchases of Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, alongside the shrewd loan acquisition of David Raya.

Instantly Mikel Arteta had bolstered his squad all over the pitch, and it seemed like the Gunners were ready to once again challenge for the title as they did so relentlessly last year, stumbling late on to allow Manchester City to emerge victorious.

However, such a hefty outlay was not to be without the major sales too, with the need to balance the books integral in ensuring an intelligent business model remains the focus for sustainable growth.

After all, their steady rise back to the top of English football has likely boosted their coffers massively, but they will still want to avoid potentially falling into the same pitfalls that led their title rivals to be accused of making over 100 FFP breaches.

As such, Granit Xhaka was one outstanding casualty, who despite starring the season prior was pushed towards the exit door as he no longer complied with their youth-focused philosophy. His 14 goal contributions from the engine room in the league proved imperative, but the hope is that Havertz can provide similar firepower once he finds his feet.

All the pieces are seemingly in place for another successful campaign at the Emirates, with their fine results in the opening four Premier League fixtures perhaps papering over the cracks of poorer performances.

It might even lead Arteta to wish he had a young, hungry and dynamic striker to lean on, the likes of which he also sold in the summer; Folarin Balogun.

Why did Folarin Balogun leave Arsenal?

Having enjoyed a true breakout year during his loan spell in Ligue 1, it was unlikely that Balogun was going to go willingly back to a place on the bench. After all, scoring 21 goals in a top European league unsurprisingly drew attention, the likes of which he likely entertained given the competition faced back at the Emirates.

For all his injury woes, Gabriel Jesus remains a remarkable striker who perfectly spearheads the Gunners' play style, with his pace, trickery and intelligent pressing all vital. However, having undergone knee surgery last term, and missed the opening few fixtures of this campaign, a worrying pattern is starting to form for the Brazilian.

Therefore, many assumed that upon the conclusion of his loan deal, Balogun might return from Stade Reims to challenge for a starting role.

However, they were swiftly proven wrong. In June the 22-year-old issued the ultimatum that Arteta would either have to play him or sell him, with the Spaniard opting for the latter as his revolution rumbled on.

The £25.7m fee amassed marked huge money for an academy product, whose only real success at senior level had come during that loan spell. Especially considering the aforementioned signings they had made, the sum of which took their spending to over £200m.

Balogun would speak following his permanent move back to France, revealing his thoughts in his first interview following the switch: "For me, I don’t have any regrets. Football is a competitive sport, and of course, the manager sometimes makes choices: sometimes there are opportunities for some players, and sometimes it’s a bit difficult. I wanted to play, I wanted to prove to people that I can compete at this level."

"I think the decision was natural, but I wouldn’t say there is any regret. As a young player, I want to play."

With a return to the division that he terrorised last term, it is expected that the young forward will continue his upward trajectory following his departure. And now for Arsenal, attention must move towards developing the next young star who could be the heir to such an academy success story. Step forward Omari Benjamin.

Who is Omari Benjamin?

When delving into the world-renowned Hale End, there are a number of young prospects just raring to take their opportunity when it comes their way. After all, such consistently stunning performances at academy level are sure to earn a call-up eventually.

To highlight arguably the most in-form youngster tearing up the youth football scene, fans need to look no further than the 17-year-old marksman Benjamin.

Describing his own talents, the teenage wonderkid simply claimed: "I’m a forward, my playing style is attacking, but I do like to entertain the audience by beating players with skill. I love scoring goals – it’s an art that I’ve had since I was young and that has never left me."

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool)

£32.6m

Nicolas Anelka (Real Madrid)

£30m

Alexis Sanchez* (Manchester United)

£29.1m

Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona)

£29.1m

Robin van Persie (Manchester United)

£26.3m

Alex Iwobi (Everton)

£26.1m

Such a notion has certainly been proven correct with his recent form, as he has been starring at a level far above his current age. Last season saw him make great strides, having scored 11 and assisted a further two in just 16 U18s Premier League fixtures.

To move into the U23s marked the next natural step up, especially given the four goal contributions he had produced in their FA Youth Cup run to the final (where he would score their only goal in a 5-1 loss), his explosive displays earned him his first five Premier League 2 appearances too.

Comparing this kind of form with Balogun at youth level, it is clear that they share similar goalscoring prowess that could easily see Benjamin emulate his success. The current AS Monaco ace would score 38 times in just 42 U18s appearances, and notch a further 37 in 62 games for the U21s, via Transfermarkt.

Were the young Welshman to continue his form, these are figures certainly attainable. Especially with his cutting-edge having already been lauded, with Arsenal academy expert Jeorge Bird writing: "Omari Benjamin looks like a good prospect. Can play up front or out wide. Has been prolific for the U16s this season. Wales youth international."

Despite the unfortunate sale of a promising youngster, the proficiency of Hale End means that fans will never be far away from the next big academy star.

The hope will be that Benjamin can emerge in the coming years with added emphasis, in an effort to force the issue and usurp Jesus as Arteta's perfect striker.