David Ornstein (2:09)

Absolute hell. It's some way to start the new year for sure. We've had Mareska what was that Thursday New Year's Day? It was starting to rumble on New Year's Eve and then we were starting to get noises in and amongst the reporting of the Maresc story. Even though there was no link to what I'm about to say. People telling me You've got to keep your eye on the Reuben Amarim situation at Man United. And you're thinking, hold on a sec, I'm just dealing with one major explosion to get 2026 underway. Can't even get your head round another. But very quickly you start pivoting and making calls, sort of triangulating your information in a not too dissimilar way to how we would deal with any story, transfers, contracts or ownership situations. And suddenly, you know, you're forming. And I think I've used this analogy before, it's almost like a. A police diagram. You know, when you've got different faces and they're all linked in different ways from different stories and there's alibis and you're trying to think of, you know, how best to check out these situations and what's happened and how authoritative and reliable the information you're receiving is. And you scrutinize it and it's head spinning. There is a hell of a lack of sleep. And I say that to you today, having gone to bed at 2 in the morning.

Ayo Akimolere (3:40)

Wow.

David Ornstein (3:41)

Got up at 5 in the morning. I don't recommend this. This should come with a health advisory warning. Still had time to walk the dog in the snow and shower.

Ayo Akimolere (3:50)

Men can't multitask.

David Ornstein (3:52)

Get down.

Ayo Akimolere (3:53)

Look at this guy.

David Ornstein (3:54)

Get the granola in the ginger shot a black coff and we go again. We rev up the engines and that's what it's all about, whether it be January, the summer or, to be honest, any other time of the year, because these things can happen. It's just remarkable that, you know, two of the biggest clubs in world football, two huge names within the managerial world, have both departed in a matter of days. The transfer window is open and the fun is just getting started.

Ayo Akimolere (4:21)

Yeah. If we're going to use David's analogy of this being a bit of a detective kind of situation, Carl, I'm going to go all Colombo on you right now. I mean, look, is there any link between the two situations with Maresca and also Amadin speaking up publicly about the hierarchy, but also, I don't know if you notice both the winning manager of the month in the last two months.

David Ornstein (4:39)

Yeah. Who's next? Premier League, who's next?

Ayo Akimolere (4:41)

Exactly.

Carl Anker (4:42)

I mean, if you're Pep Guardiola, you should be looking over your shoulder, aren't you? I think what we're looking at is two clubs in Manchester United and Chelsea who have been very successful in the Premier League, very successful in the 21st century, two clubs that have very Reasonable expectation to be in the Champions League spot season after season after season, but in a more competitive, more dynamic version of the Premier League don't necessarily end up in those top five, top four spaces by default. And then you have this sort of toing and froing where they are trying to commit to long term plans, trying to decide upon a figurehead to redefine their version of the club to which the figurehead goes. Okay, well, if I'm going to be the person that you're going to commit to for the next four or five years, I want more say so on parts of my job to which both of these clubs, their hierarchies have gone. Oh, oh, no, not really. In both circumstances it seems like just a very, very pronounced and quick falling out between a head coach or football manager, however you want to describe it, and one of their bosses. David, is that a fair enough assessment?

David Ornstein (5:48)

Sorry, I was actually just dealing with a transfer story. Can you repeat, can you repeat the point in brief? Because it sounded.

Ayo Akimolere (5:55)

Everything I just said about multitasking, throw out the window.

David Ornstein (5:59)

Us men were useless. Can you repeat it in summary? Because I want to get my teeth stuck into it.

Carl Anker (6:04)

I think both the Enzo Maresca situation and the Ruben Amarin situation have been two head coaches, managers who have gone. Well, if I'm supposed to take this club to the next level, I want more say so. To which their bosses have gone? No, to which both of these figures have gone. Well, then I'm leaving.

David Ornstein (6:21)

Yeah, I think that's a good summary. You've got to remember that. And unless we're missing something here or promises have been broken, the rules of engagement would likely have been set out at the very outset by the clubs. You know, they both hire head coaches on this occasion, which was a departure for Manchester United because Ten Hag was manager by title. And I think it's only the second head coach in Manchester United's history, first in the sort of modern era, Chelsea, that's become the norm under this regime. And at that point, you know, you had two young coaches, relatively inexperienced, neither had managed in the Premier League previously. In the case of Amarim, this opportunity doesn't come along very often. And when it does, I imagine as a 39 year old, which he was then having only really coached in Portugal, Sporting Lisbon, yet success there, but this, your eyes light up. And although he had a lot of power in that negotiation, which has probably led to him enjoying a pretty strong severance deal, you know, for a start, he didn't question the head coach title. At the time, he's questioning it now, but that's with hindsight. So maybe he gave some concessions, maybe he was honored to be taking that position. Enzo Maresca had just been offered the opportunity to leave Leicester City. Yeah, he led them to the Premier League, but to step up to Chelsea, you know, a title winning juggernaut with such modern history in particular and the potential to work with some of the best talents in world football and, and have a shot at more success which he, he helped them towards. I'm sure he would have been in awe somewhat at the, at the outset and, and then as they work their way into these positions, they do become emboldened, which you can kind of understand. Maresca picking up a Conference League title, a club World cup qualifying for the Champions League. He changed his representative to the so called super agent George Mendez. There's talk that he wanted a, a new contract. And we reported that he was having conversations with Manchester City about a potential future candidacy if and when Pep Guardiola is to leave. Juventus were rumored in and amongst that as well. Meanwhile, you have Amarim, who it sounds like suggested to Man United that he would start with his three at the back. But that would be a model, a method, a system that would perhaps change over time once he's brought some stability, some, some calm to the chaos of, or the perceived chaos of 10 Hag. And you know, it was, it's all very collegiate at the start. Everybody's on the same page. But then you understand sort of that egos grow and politics within clubs and you realize that you, this isn't a Pep Guardiola, cheeky Bagheera stain friendship that dates back to the Barcelona days. And believe me, they have had their issues over the years. These are people coming into new relationships and as time passes, you see, you know, different agendas, you see different priorities, you know, you know, for a lot of the Amoran reign at Manchester United, we know from stories that have come out about players, he would have been protecting the squad. As time passes, it seems more recently that he was protecting himself and fighting for his own reputation and future. And maybe you could say the same with some of the comparable comments and utterances and outbursts from Enzo Maresca. And I think it leads to this very salient point and question that is being asked throughout journalism, sports world at the moment is, is the structure, you know, the rise of the sporting director, you know, the structures that are, that are running these clubs now where coaches are being asked to slot in. They are not the most important person at the club which maybe wounds their pride. And I think at those clubs you, you're gonna have to understand if you're in the mix to join them, that it's their way or the highway, not your way or the highway. And if it's going to be your way, you're going to have to do something pretty extraordinary to gain that authority and trust.

Ayo Akimolere (10:34)

Carl, whilst we're talking about Man United and I want to focus on this because obviously you are a Manchester United correspondent in that respect. What's the last 24 hours been like? But also in what David's saying about sporting directors, should we be hearing from the sporting director at this point? Because this is a big decision.

Carl Anker (10:50)

I would love to hear more from the sporting director at Manchester United. I would really, really, I really think the fan base would benefit from having Jason Wilcox come to the front. And to use the verbiage and explain some of the decisions there, this is something you see a little bit more in German football. So it's not uncommon in the Bundesliga for a sporting director to come out and explain decisions regarding the hiring or necessary dismissal of head coach. On more than one occasion you will see a Bundesliga sporting director come out after a transfer window and also explain their methods. And Manchester United have tried this in the past. So at the end of the last summer window we had a sit down roundtable with Omar Berarda and Dan Ashworth to explain how that window went and their methods and for example, why Jadon Sancho departed for Chelsea at the time. Joshua Xerxe Dan Ashworth went on the record to explain his job role for a little bit. Now of course one of the awkward things there was the game that happened just after the end of that transfer window was their match against Arne Slots Liverpool. So many of the comments in that discussion were colored by the fact Liverpool had beaten Manchester United 30 within two hours of everything that had been said. So that caused some confusion. And since then obviously Dan Ashworth has departed and there's been a quite a big change round in regards to who does what. And we at the Athletic really, really like trying to make a family tree or a football club to say this is this person reports to this person, this person reports to this person. I can hear David chuckling there because very often the moment you create a family tree in the Athletic about how a club structure operates, one of the individuals leaves or disputes where their position is on the family tree. So to one side I would like Jason Wilcox to speak more about what is going on at Manchester United because it is my job to know what's going on at Manchester United and I'm a little bit confused. The second bit in this sort of bizarre institutional chaos here is the situation of Ruben Ammon. Really feels like this is a situation that was quite collegiate, I'd say, up until towards the end of November. But then quickly things have dissolved between Wilcox and Ruben Amron over December period. Possibly over player trading, possibly over this. Loads of conversation over Ruben Emeron's system and his adherence to a343 and whether or not it was ever going to change to a back four and that really seems to be in a pressure point as well.

Ayo Akimolere (13:10)

Well, whilst we're on Manchester United, let's talk about Darren Fletcher, who's in place in the interim right now. David, we're looking at any other names who might take charge of Manchester United for the foreseeable.

David Ornstein (13:21)

Anyway, let's show a bit of respect to Darren Fletcher. He's a great guy. He's Manchester United legend and has done some time at the club and in different roles. Very popular. And you don't know you've seen in these positions before, like when Michael Carrick stepped in. I remember that Villarreal Way game, I think it was. He's got a chance to calm things down, put a bit of an imprint on it, get some smiles back on faces and. And you never know what effect that will have. Starting at Burnley and then. And then Brighton, I think we'll see about four, that's pretty certain. And Man United are considering then a more permanent interim solution, as in obviously Fletcher is. Is fresh to this, so that might just be a game or two. And then do you bring in saying Oligonner Solskjaer, Michael Carrick with help from Johnny Evans reportedly on the Athletic and elsewhere. Other names I'm sure will be under consideration. Jason Wilcox at the time of recording this, we hear is starting a process to hold conversations around that and potentially put an interim team in place depending on how Fletcher does until the end of the season when we expect nothing setting in st around timelines that Manchester United will then do a permanent appointment. They will have a much bigger market. Then there are contracts expiring in the Premier League, the likes of Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner. There is also a contract expiring for Iriola at Bournemouth. Still no news on that one. Then you have the World cup names. So off the top of my head, Thomas Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino, Carlo Ancelotti and then there could be other managerial changes around Europe that present a very different landscape. There are coaches who will have clauses at the end of the season that are not applicable now. You'll have options who would like to move in the summer as opposed to at this point in the season. And so I can understand why Man United are planning to take their time around that. And you know how this industry work. The names are going to be running wild. They already are. But to my knowledge there's nothing concrete by any means in Manchester United's thinking just yet.

Ayo Akimolere (15:33)

Okay, Carl, very quickly, Olegona Solskjaer potentially back to Manchester United again. And we've seen X pros from Manchester United take the club on in sort of an interim basis. And I've actually done quite well. Would this be welcome news for Manchester United fans if it does happen?

Carl Anker (15:48)

I think it'd be a way to unify a fan base right now that seems quite divided and quite disappointed. Taking a cursory look at the inbox of Talk of the Devils and there's quite a few fans say, I'm done, I've had enough, I'm fed up. Whereas the return of a club legend that are going to Solskjaer could be a way to give everyone a lift, Manchester United would not be the first football club to return back to a club legend for a second stint in times of. I don't want to use the word crisis, so let's say times of necessity. Zinedine Zidane has had more than one stint at Real Madrid, for example. So I'm sure there is appetite among the fan base for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. I definitely think if he walked in to the training ground and said alone with his wonderful press conference demeanor, that bring a lift as well. And he knows quite a few of those players quite well. So this is a really interesting time for the Premier League in general in that you've got three very strong teams right at the top in Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa. You've got two spots in the Champions League spaces that are. You can essentially call them fair game, sort of just a large scrapping battle between Liverpool, Manchester United and others. And then, I mean, this congestion between 5th and 14th is going to cause mighty chaos, not just for United in the manager market, but I also think quite a few other clubs. I mean, I think every single manager that Ornstein has just listed there might be on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur as well. For example.

David Ornstein (17:12)

I'm just pleased you didn't mention Liverpool, Newcastle West Ham.

Ayo Akimolere (17:16)

We still got time.

David Ornstein (17:17)

I really think the managerial market is about to explode in the coming months.

Ayo Akimolere (17:21)

And so this is you not sleeping.

David Ornstein (17:22)

For the next year.

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David Ornstein (19:09)

Par le to francais, Hablas espanol par le italiano.

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Ayo Akimolere (19:54)

Let's get into one of the questions from one of the someone from the YouTube community. And this one's from Evan8000. And this is kind of harking back to what we've just spoken about in terms of Manchester United and Chelsea says. Why would a manager want to take a head coach role for a team like Chelsea or Manchester United when they know they won't be getting the power to push for their ideas and influence the club and the team? That being said, if a yes match is what these clubs want, who could you see being the right man or right fit for Manchester United?

David Ornstein (20:25)

Well, that's a great question and I'd like to say straight away. It's one of the biggest misnomers and, and, and falsehoods I think that seems to perpetuate around football is this idea that who would want that job? I could name you about a million people, ourselves included.

Ayo Akimolere (20:42)

And I'm. I'm out, I'm out, I'm out.

David Ornstein (20:43)

And many million reasons why these people would be queuing up for these jobs. You seriously think Chelsea will struggle to get candidates? Manchester United will struggle to get candidates. To the contrary, they'll have to be fighting them away because these are plump jobs. Irrespective of circumstances, trials, tribulations, alleged interference and meddling crises. There's an opportunity there at every club, let alone these big ones. And, and whoever gets it right, Manchester United, which will happen at some point, I'm sure. Future. And, and Chelsea, you could say it already is. They've had an element of success within last year, then they've got hero status. They've got all manner of accolades and, and benefits financially, footballingly, reputationally, to come with it. But there is a point here in that those who prefer the sort of managerial influence which appears to be what Reuben Amarin was saying after Leeds on Sunday, will have to think twice about whether it's the right fit for them. Because clearly that the hierarchies are very influential. And I totally agree with Carl. It would be really nice to hear from sporting directors of more Premier League clubs. Chelsea have got a number of them. Manchester United, Arsenal. When Adu came from the Brazilian fa, he used to give the press conferences himself. He used to name the team for the Brazilian Celestial. And he came to Arsenal, he wanted to speak more, I think, but it's a bit taboo here and I'm not really sure why. So Manchester United with their model, I don't know. And I don't want people to take this as David Ornstein saying what Manchester United are doing. It's just we're conversing about potential scenarios they really liked Kieran McKenna last time and I don't like. I think it's disrespectful, the yes man thing. These coaches have, you know, worked incredibly hard in their careers to learn their trade and, and they pride themselves on professionalism and they are surrounded hopefully by good people and a yes man model just doesn't seem to work. But I get the, the theory of.

Ayo Akimolere (22:53)

Working under a much bigger structure.

David Ornstein (22:55)

Exactly. I just think it's a harsh way of putting it. So someone like McKenna. I think United saw a lot of attraction in him. His coaching which was influential at United when he was there previously for much bigger names like Mourinho, his association to Manchester United think we're now starting to see it's a unique job and place and environment in which to work. Just because you're a great coach or a great name, there are more qualities that are needed that are maybe intangible, maybe in your DNA. And that's why Oligona Solskjaer tends to put smiles on faces at Old Trafford. But, but there are so many names that you could draw to this. I know a lot of people have talked immediately of like Glasner. I'm not sure how realistic that is. Eddie Howe, he's ruled himself out in his news conference while we've been record recording this. I don't know if he was ever in. So we're gonna have that song and dance for a long time to come. But yeah bit intrigued by like the McKenna bracket of coaches and IBS which won't like to hear this. I'm not saying he, he's going to be in the frame or get it but that, that breed who've got a bit of United and real coaching pedigree and then that top bracket of sort of modern day elite coaches of the likes of Tuchel or, or Zerby. I, I love Carlo Ancelotti but I, I think maybe in his stage of his career in life and Man United.

Ayo Akimolere (24:19)

One a bit younger you're thinking that's.

David Ornstein (24:20)

What I, I could suspect. Oh and I didn't. Sorry, sorry. I didn't even throw in like an Emery figure. Now again, again I'm, I'm, I'm not saying the Spanish Armada is.

Ayo Akimolere (24:29)

Villa fans won't want to hear that.

David Ornstein (24:32)

Absolutely not saying that that's one that's going to happen or even be explored and that is such a huge undertaking for any club and fair play to Villa for taking. Not because the amount of staff that come with somebody like Unai Emery executive football Data medical side of things. Like people describe it being like the Spanish Armada, that. And so when, if and when they ever leave Aston Villa, there will be a huge chasm there to fill for, for the, for the ownership and the hierarchy. But you know, he is a top level coach and he will be linked with the biggest jobs because of his body of work. And, and so that's, that's a bracket as well within that. I mean he fits into the, the Tuchel Group, really. But that Premier League experience seems to be crucial because obviously Amarim didn't have it. It's not gone so well. Ten Hag didn't have it. It didn't go so well. And so the, the rumblings coming out of United in these last 24 hours. Multiple media reports say that Premier League experience is going to be really important to them.

Ayo Akimolere (25:36)

Them. What about Liam Racinha, Carl, who's been confirmed as the new Chelsea head Coach? Contracted till 2030 to a man you and I interviewed on a, on a previous podcast. So make sure you take a listen to that. But I mean, what challenge do you think he has ahead of him? Some might say no real Premier League experience, but the work is done at Derby, the work is done at Hull City. I mean that's what got him the job at Strasbourg. Fundamentally. We've spoken to this guy, he speaks well, got great ideas, but he's walking into Chelsea.

Carl Anker (26:04)

He is, he's walking to Chelsea, which is one of the more unique footballing ecosystems in the Premier League. Chelsea, I'm speaking a little bit more under Roman Abramovich, had no problem changing their mind on a manager because they believed very much it's not a mistake as long as we change it quickly. And Chelsea on the Bluco have attempted to go for a more long term, sort of sustainable model, but have also gone, oh well, if that's not working out for. So here we go. So I was very, very, very enamored with Liam Rosenhe from our interview in October. I think he spoke very, very well about his approach to coaching, about the way he decided wanting to run a dressing room. He spoke incredibly glowingly of his coaching staff at Strasbourg as well. He has more experience, he probably has the most experience from it than anyone about what it's like working on the Bluco. So the sort of movable feast, the situation where Chelsea have, David, you can correct me here, five sporting directors.

David Ornstein (27:05)

Yeah. There or thereabouts, there's obviously the two main guys in Lawrence Stewart, Paul Winstanley joined by Joe Shields and Sam Jewell. They've brought in Dave Fallows, formerly of Liverpool and even in the wider group they've got David Ware too. So it's a. An eclectic mix.

Carl Anker (27:22)

So Liam Rosenue has spoken to. I imagine you're spoken.

Ayo Akimolere (27:28)

That gasp said it all car that gasp.

David Ornstein (27:30)

I'm brief.

Carl Anker (27:31)

I'm sure Liam Rosenho has at least three of their phone numbers already and I think that will help him. I also think the Chelsea squad has a lot of interesting disparate elements that if blended correctly could make a very, very good squad. And it seems like from his work at Strasbourg he's good at bringing together very disparate elements. The way he's from our October conversation and the way he spoke about trying to get all these different elements from all these different parts of the world together into one melting pot of addressing reflection him was really, really interesting. I am very intrigued to see if he starts handing out player fines for leitness because obviously he said he doesn't do that at Strasbourg and he said he let certain players sort of activate when they began, when they believe they're ready to activate. I think he might, might change a little bit over time, but we'll see. I think we're in a really, really interesting position in terms of the managerial market. I spoke to John McKenzie about this more than once because he believes the managerial market might be a bit thinner than maybe 10 years ago. And I believe it's a situation where two or three of the big clubs have simply just gone through so many managers so quickly that it's created just a sort of a weird perceived aggro, if this makes sense. So I'm going to use Tottenham Hotspur as an example. Now Tottenham Hotspur have had a lot of former Chelsea managers and now Enzo Maresca is available and I'm sure there is someone among the spurs fan base has gone, should we go for Enzo? And their friends has gone, no, we can't have another former Chelsea manager. And that's caused this sort of weird back and forth. Okay, so what actually is our version of what's a Chelsea manager in the 21st century? What's a Manchester United manager in the 21st century? There's also certain things of, you know, the amount of compensation that's being paid out and loads more managers now seem wary about jumping in mid season. So for Liam to jump in now and say I have to, this is an amazing opportunity. All the best to him.

David Ornstein (29:26)

Six year contract. Carl. I'm reading.

Carl Anker (29:28)

Wow, that's.

Ayo Akimolere (29:30)

Yeah, but what does that even mean though, if they're not doing the job. I mean, we talk about these things, but does that really mean much if Chelsea don't qualify for Champions League next season or, you know, they don't qualify for European Football League?

Carl Anker (29:43)

We have to see. We'll have to see. I think Chelsea are in a really interesting situation that they have undoubtedly spent a lot of money on player trading, bringing players in, bringing players out. But also there are times when you look at the squad and you go, you could probably use with another center back, which is one of Enzo Maresca's complaints. And they could probably do with I'll be super interested to know if Liam Rosenho has gone. Is there any chance of getting Nico Jackson back from his loan from Bayern Munich? Because I think but I think Chelsea could benefit from Jackson coming back.

Ayo Akimolere (30:15)

Yeah.

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Ayo Akimolere (32:03)

Let's move over to transfers because the second deal sheet of the January Transfer window dropped on Tuesday morning. So make sure you check that out. The name on everyone's lips, David, is Antoine Semenya, of course. What's the latest on him?

David Ornstein (32:19)

The next Bournemouth match is on Wednesday. That's what I was trying to get my head. Yeah. It's against Tottenham and it will be the final match of Antoine Semeno's Bournemouth career.

Ayo Akimolere (32:29)

Wow.

David Ornstein (32:30)

Yeah. Breaking news.

Ayo Akimolere (32:31)

Great news. Great news.

David Ornstein (32:32)

Well, it depends of what persuasion you are if you're in Manchester United City fan, because that's basically the agreement that was struck between all parties, the two clubs and the player that he would take part in Bournemouth's matches against Chelsea Arsenal and Tottenham before heading on his way after he reached an agreement or decided of all the suitors that he wanted to.

Carl Anker (32:56)

That's a bit cheeky, isn't it? Go play against. I think it is. Go play against all City's rivals and then you can come and.

Ayo Akimolere (33:05)

Doesn't seem to have worked out true.

David Ornstein (33:09)

He's played well. Bournemouth have played well. They just haven't got the results.

Ayo Akimolere (33:12)

Got the results.

David Ornstein (33:14)

And it was also, Carla, an injury risk for him, but so far he's navigated it well and fingers crossed for the boy that he does so on Wednesday night against spurs and then after that I would expect the steps to be taken to try and get that one wrapped up. It's not completed yet, but there's every expectation it will be. And we'll have to wait and see on the finances, whether it's the clause, whether it's outside the clause, which sometimes people do to improve the payment terms, contract lengths, medicals and all that sort of thing. So Pep Guardiola is going to have Antoine Semeno at his disposal for the second half of the season, which I think will excite Manchester City to City fans and a lot of neutrals like myself who have come to really admire Semeno. He's one of the most productive players attackers in the Premier League. I was at Liverpool for Bournemouth opening match at Anfield on that Friday night where he tore them apart. He scored a couple. Could have had more. And he's. He's really fascinating. His journey's great. Rejection, setbacks and now success. Bournemouth, it leaves with a problem. A hole they'll need to fill it they.

Ayo Akimolere (34:23)

Another hole they need to fill. I mean, they've had so many.

David Ornstein (34:25)

They have. And credit to Bournemouth because they've got better each time. This is a test period for them. But having sold so many of their best players and to still be competitive, high quality is a tribute to the coach Iriola and to the executive structure and ownership up to Bill Foley. It's not been easy. They, they wanted Brennan Johnson as their first choice. He's gone to Crystal Palace. They've looked at some other options. They will continue to. They're going to have to step that up and get some reinforcements in. I'm not so sure it will be like for like maybe more that they improve in, in different areas to compensate and, and that's a, a big transfer, possibly the biggest of the entire window.

Ayo Akimolere (35:03)

Okay, Carl, do City need him? And we've got some great wide players already and we spoke to Dean Holden on this podcast and he spoke to us about how great this player is. But there's a certain Jeremy Doku many people will be saying is actually having quite a decent season.

Carl Anker (35:16)

Yes, I mean I think Doku's having a great season. He seems to really have connected the dots on what he needs to do in the final third and he looks frightening. Do they need Anton Semeno? Probably. I think Savinho doesn't appear to be to Pep Guardiola's tastes and this can happen. Pep Guardiola has quite specific requirements from his wingers and he can change his mind and whether those wingers are up to the task. And as Savinho seems increasingly deprioritized, it seems like the need for another player who is multi talented and multifaceted in the final third is really, really important. I think Semeno's work as part of the Arroyo's high pressing machine has a great appeal and when I thought he might possibly join Manchester United, I watched a bunch of Semenya games, wrote a piece on the Athletic and my sort of glib takeaway for everyone to drop in their WhatsApp group chats was Semeno in 2025 is what Saudi Armane was in 2016. In that Mane's final season at Southampton, you were looking at a player who could play across the front three, who could get a hat trick in a game and who very, very clearly was Champions League quarterfinal quality. To my mind, Semenu will make City better. Semenya going to City makes me sad.

David Ornstein (36:33)

Embarrassment of riches.

Carl Anker (36:34)

Gluttonous. How greedy. Gluttonous.

David Ornstein (36:37)

How greedy. Let's continue the festive spirit. Just when I was trying to get back to full fitness.

Ayo Akimolere (36:43)

All right, more questions in from the YouTube. City. This one is still on City. We have actually had quite a few on City. David, this one says with all their injuries in defense, what's the likelihood City try to sign Marc Gahey, given his contract, runs out in the summer. One of many suitors.

David Ornstein (36:59)

I can imagine they're very interested. They have been for a while. That has continued coming into this market and the idea was that it would continue to next summer. The reason why it has increased in terms of their interest is because of the injuries. Gvardiol with his tibia.

Carl Anker (37:19)

Yes.

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Ayo Akimolere (37:21)

Yeah.

David Ornstein (37:21)

No full prognosis on Ruben Diaz, but we expect him to be out for a period of time. And so it looks like they're gonna have a little push now. It will depend on whether a proposal comes to Crystal palace and what that proposal is. Whether a proposal comes to Mark Gahey, what that proposal is, how both Crystal palace and Mark Gahey respond to that. It is no guarantee that they'll look favorably upon it. And there is an informal mutual understanding between Crystal palace and Mark Gahey that we reported first in the Athletic transfer radar on Black Friday. I think it was that he will see out the final months of his contract and leave as a free agent next summer. And I think minds are still in that place. It can change, of course, and let's see what the next days bring. Because City are a tough proposition to turn down, but there will be strong considerations on his part. Does he want to leave palace now he's captain in European competition. This was meant to be the final season he had Liverpool last summer. He will have multiple options. Liverpool, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and whoever else next summer. He's got a World cup to focus on. Does he want to stay settled? Does he want to move up to Manchester? Does he want to be part of the City team for the rest of the season? There's been a bit of uncertainty about Pep Guardiola's future, about Manchester City's wider situation with the charges which remain unresolved. So much for him to consider Crystal Palace. Every player has their price. I'm sure they would do a deal. Will the number be right for them? Will it be good enough if it comes in to persuade Steve Parish to part with his captain, his talismanic center back, for the final six months of the season? Or do they say, no, we're just going to sit and benefit from him until the summer? This is by no means a foregone conclusion. Yes, they are there, but it's impossible to predict how it will end and there is no guarantee that he will go there.

Ayo Akimolere (39:28)

Yeah, Carl. Manchester City currently six points behind Arsenal. They've dropped points at Sunderland. They've also dropped points against Chelsea. Which one of these two players, do you think they need the most in order to close that gap? Gehe or cement?

Carl Anker (39:41)

Honestly, I think they need a solid defense. It's a really interesting one in obviously City had a very active January last year. They bought quite a few defenders and yet I don't think those defenders are currently equipped for this moment in time of the Premier League. It's a bit similar to Chelsea in that they have quite a few centre backs but if I went who is the best centre back in the air? You go a little bit which obviously is a little bit funny because we're talking about Mark Que who has many, many strengths but he's not the most aerially dominant. So I can absolutely see why City are looking at the situation going we need a center back. We've had some injuries. Nathan Akaz also isn't playing as many minutes as he played in let's say the treble winning season for them as well and absolutely need one and a deal for Gohi seems possible but I'm not sure he's the sort of center back they should be going for this January. So much to be said, much to be done. I have similar thoughts about about Mark going to Liverpool as well. Of just surely you need someone who's just a little bit more aerially dominant. But who knows, maybe in a different environment, maybe on the different side of coaching, maybe you can find a way to maximize his strength and making his. I don't even want to say it's a weakness, just not as not his strengths less prominent. So we'll see. We'll see. I think it's a. I think he's a very, very good football player and I think he's entering a very intriguing part of his career not just for club but also for country.

Ayo Akimolere (41:05)

Okay, final question on City here, David. This one's From RO via YouTube saying City are popular. I say very popular. David, are Manchester City interested in Elliott Anderson? And what about the future of Rodri? He only has 18 months left on his contract.

David Ornstein (41:21)

No updates on Rodri. Obviously he's critical to Manchester City, but we can't get away from his struggles returning from that horrible injury. And it wasn't just the ACL recuper, but the collateral in terms of muscle strains and things that players who have followed similar paths incur. And you wish him all the best. There have been suggestions of new contracts. I just don't know where man City are with that yet and where Rodri is with it in his head because it would largely be a decision for him as well. It will not stop Manchester City planning for the future with or without him. Yet Elliot Anderson, we hear, is a player that they like. No surprise. All the top clubs like him, and most of them will be in the mix potentially, maybe with the exception of Arsenal. They're the ones who have a full midfield. So whether it be a Manchester United, a Bayern Munich, teams on the continent. I heard Chelsea at one point, so I'm just saying that the. The leading lights will be after Elliot Anderson. No January move. That goes without saying. It will be too high a price. Even those that might be willing to commit the funds. I don't. I don't know how easy it would be from a PSR financial fair play perspective. You also need squad space. If you're bring in somebody like that. He's already earning in excess of £100,000 a week, so you're gonna have to take him higher, which means you'll probably have to move somebody of significant earning potential out because there's no real gaps in Premier League squads with all this financial requirement these days. Above all of that, Nottingham Forest have zero appetite to trade him. Right now. The summer is a different story. Every player has their price. We're hearing figures 80, 100 million, maybe even more. He'll have a World cup, fitness permitting, and prob start out there. Although people are telling me that that won't affect the transfer in terms of, oh, you get a higher price or you get more suitors or fewer suitors. They all like him. They know the kind of price they'll pay it. Maybe stuff will even happen before the World Cup. And when you speak to the clubs in the mix, they all expect City to be vying for his signature. Where he will end up is unclear right now.

Ayo Akimolere (43:33)

Yeah, Manchester United need a midfielder. We've talked about Ba, who's actually now into the quarterfinals with Cameroon for afcon. But he could be a really good acquisition for Manchester United. Could he?

Carl Anker (43:43)

Elia Anderson is very much on Manchester United's shortlist, as is Carlos Baleba. Baleba's been playing very well for Cameroon on their way to the quarterfinals. It's going to be an intriguing quarter final for them at the Afghan tournament as well. I can't see either one of these players moving in January for very simple reason. Baleba's not expected back to England for another five, six days, which will make doing all that finagling for that sort of money quite difficult. And as David has said, Nottingham Forest have absolutely no appetite to sell Elliot Anderson at this current point in time, if only because Nottingham Forest aren't quite safe from the relegation battle. One thing I want to get out the door right now is Elliot Anderson, phenomenal football player. There's a very, very high chance he's going to be exhausted in August, so didn't get last summer off because he was with the England on 21s for their Euros. He's likely to play play the majority of England's minutes at the World cup is doing the job of one and a half midfielders right now in Nottingham Forest set up because Douglas Luis is injured. Ibrahim Sagar is currently away at afcon. Ryan Yates is injured as well. Like he's done, he's doing a lot of running and whoever gets him in the summer, and I believe it's he's not going to stay at Nottingham Forest is going to get a very, very good football player. I just want to get out the door right now. He might not running unnoticed. He might be a little bit knackered at the start of next season.

Ayo Akimolere (45:05)

Well, let's wrap this up because the final question comes in about the league leaders. With Arsenal seemingly on course to a title halfway through this season, is there a sense from, from the hierarchy to get one or two reinforcements in the January window? Arteta has alluded to this in a press conference. I don't know how concrete that is. David, any news?

David Ornstein (45:26)

I'm not aware of Arsenal making moves in the January transfer window at this point in time. We always add the caveat here. You don't know how things will develop and what opportunities arise. The can move in weird and wonderful ways and, and that's why, you know, we address as the one to watch in the deal sheet this week, Manchester United. They're not planning to do anything of note. They're keeping their powder dry for the summer because largely of the situation Karl just described around the midfield, despite the Amarim exit, the direction of travel remains the same. However, you never know if there are unexpected departures, there needs to be replacements and it's a similar situation in Arsenal, Liverpool and other clubs. But I don't have any information to suggest Arsenal are looking at bringing players in at the moment. They've had periods of really heavy investment prior, most recently last summer. They have built an excellent and deep squad with sufficient resources even to withstand injury crises for the first time in history. And they are well blessed, well stocked. I don't see them really needing anything in this market month based on what you can get from the market. And so they will look to strengthen again in certain positions in terms of probably starting and depth in the summer. That's the way they've been working under the Kronkes and Mikel Arteta and now Andrea Berta sales as well. Yeah, exactly. It will have to, no doubt because they've not sold a great deal and. And there will need to be some book balancing that goes on. So you never know if they bring in any younger players in January and I'd extend that to other clubs, Man United, etc. But I think we're talking more here about senior maneuverings. You would think maybe there was a point where could there be departures in January to get people playing like Gabriel Jesus as he was coming back from acl, but then he starts playing at Arsenal was an important goal, scores an important goal and seems like actually he should stay. And people have said about players like Wanyeri not playing and Louis Skelli and all this sort of conjecture, but there will be game time and opportunities. They're all valued members of the squads. There will be need through injuries, people can come in and out of form. We often just knee jerk into. He's going to go, he's going to stay signings but. But actually I think it will be a calm month at Arsenal and I'm not expecting a great deal of activity.

Ayo Akimolere (47:49)

Would it be greedy for Arsenal to get another couple of players, Carl, just to get it over the line.

Carl Anker (47:55)

I think they're going to get over the line. I think they've done very well to deal with their center back injury mini crisis there and the way they've bounced back from the defeat to Aston Villa suggests to me, I mean, I've said it two or three times, I'll be so surprised if they don't have one of the big trophies come the end of the season. And when I mean big trophies, I'm talking Premier League, Champions League. They've done so well to address their weaknesses from the previous seasons in a way that seems simple if you're playing FIFA or football manager, but is incredibly hard to do in real life. And even this sort of center forward conversation that I keep seeing when I'm talking to Arsenal fans seems to be resolving itself quite soon because Gabriel Jesus is returning to full fitness and Kai Havertz is coming back soon as well. So if you're an Arsenal fan, this is a great place to be. And no, you don't need to be greedy, you just need to wait for your big shiny trophy come May, let's leave it there.

Ayo Akimolere (48:50)

What a way to end Carl. David, appreciate your time and also thank you guys for listening. We'll catch you soon.

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