Kelechi Iheanacho moved from Belvoir Drive cold to a hot topic in less than a week. After his cameo match-winning performance against Everton, the Nigerian stepped forward again at Aston Villa. His renaissance could make the difference for…

Cyriel Dessers is on course to fulfil a childhood dream of representing Nigeria instead of Belgium at international level. However, the 24-year-old Eredivisie top scorer risks extinction afterwards. He must tread carefully.  It isn't…

There’s been a moving of the tectonic plates in Turkey. Sivasspor drives the force to end a four-team Super Lig hegemony. Top of the standings with 27 points from 13 matches, Yigidos is gathering serious momentum. Can Rıza Çalımbay's…

Vinicius Junior had the world at his feet before his European sojourn. Being Brazil's most-expensive teenage export after Neymar, he was tipped to follow the illustrious path of his superstar compatriot. A dip in form, managerial preferences…

FC Metz's characteristically poor Ligue 1 return isn't a surprise. By a margin the best side in French second tier last term, Les Grenats struggles among the elite continue to linger. With 14 points from 14 matches,…

Lucas Perez was part of West Ham's summer clear-out. He dashed to Spain, rejoining boyhood club Deportivo Alaves. Lucas isn't just catching up with old friends there; he's enjoying the game once again. After initially firing…

Signed as the breakout star of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Aleksandr Golovin was tipped for greatness at AS Monaco. Conventional wisdom held that the principality was a brief stop on the Kaltan native's rise to the big time. His lights and…

Alvaro Morata is on a hot streak scoring at a rate of a goal per game over his last half-dozen appearances. His superb run of form comes at the best possible time for Atletico Madrid. Off the pace in La Liga, the Rojiblancos need a lift. It's…

Patrick Vieira is under immense pressure at OGC Nice. Another disappointing result against Bordeaux plunged Les Aiglons into a crisis of confidence. Is the Frenchman suffering a familiar second season syndrome at Allianz Riviera?  Two…

Marcus Thuram schleps a lofty burden throughout his career. He must uphold a famous family legacy. Another awaited in Germany last summer; filling Thorgan Hazard's huge void. Unheralded, Thuram has done both with aplomb, in the process,…

Bayern Munich is in dire need of a new manager following Niko Kovac's dismissal. The Bavarians will bide time with Hansi Flick until a substantive successor is found. Some highly revered names are in the mix. Of all, Erik Ten Hag appears…

A massive auction occurred at Sevilla last summer. Almost €100m found its way to the Andalusians’ coffers. Wissam Ben Yedder was the most valuable commodity on display, yielding almost half that figure. Unsurprisingly, though, his…

Chris Smalling arrived at AS Roma out of the blue at the end of the transfer window. He had limited time to adapt to a new team, league and country. Being a vegan in the carbonara capital without the compliment of pre-season seemed like…

Victor Moses is reportedly on his way back to Chelsea from Fenerbahce. Frank Lampard is understood to be clearing the path, and heck, who wouldn't under such conditions? Still handicapped in the transfer market, loan returns…

Samuel Chukwueze's breakthrough came at a time Villarreal regressed. He was a silver lining behind the dark cloud in Castellon. Exactly one year on, both may have swapped destinies. The Nigerian lags behind while the Yellow Submarines crest…