Summer signing Jeremy Doku absolutely shone as Manchester City smacked six past Bournemouth at the weekend, managing to set two different Premier League records in what was just his 14th appearance in sky blue.
The rapid winger, who joined Man City from French side Stade Rennais in the most recent transfer window, has only just completed more than a dozen matches for the treble-winners and has only played eight league games and just sixth from the starting lineup.
However, it hasn’t taken the young man long to make his mark in Pep Guardiola’s side, having already impressed both domestically and in Europe, registering three goals and six assists already.
But it was Doku’s dazzling display against the Cherries on Saturday that saw him enter a very exclusive club, becoming not only the youngest person to equal the record for the most assists in a single Premier League game (four) but the youngest player to ever be involved in five goals too. Wow.
5 & 4 – With one goal and four assists at the age of 21 years and 161 days, Jérémy Doku has become both the youngest player in Premier League history with five goal involvements in a single game, as well as the youngest player to assist four goals. Griddy. pic.twitter.com/ipIAYBqK6C
Speaking after the game, his manager insisted that the youngster might have got off to a bit of a “shy” start but that not only is he “the fastest over five metres” you’ll find anywhere in Europe and is “an incredible footballer”, adding that his direct dribbling is somewhat of a rarity these days.
Doku has no doubt given Jack Grealish a bit of a challenge on that left-hand side now too, with the Catalan coach saying that he wants the England star to be “angry” whenever he doesn’t play. You can see the full highlights from City’s 6-1 rout against Bournemouth (a.k.a. his personal showreel) below:
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Pep‘s squad is that they also recorded such a comprehensive victory without their two main goalscorers contributing to the tally on this occasion, as neither Erling Haaland nor Julian Alvarez got on the scoresheet this time.
When you have the numbers Haaland can put up, as well as an emerging striker like Alvarez, and now goals coming from everywhere else in the team too, that’s a force to be reckoned with.
With Doku already announcing himself as a record-breaker so early into his time not only at the club but in English football in general, the Blues look like they might just have another world-beater on their hands — unlucky for everyone else in the league.
Meanwhile, over on the other side of Manchester, while Erik ten Hag’s side might have gotten back to winning ways with a dramatic late goal from captain Bruno Fernandes — who Roy Keane has argued shouldn’t even have the armband – but they’re breaking all kinds of unwanted records this season.
Featured Image — Manchester City/Jeremy Doku (via Instagram)
Sport
Everton are reportedly already hoping to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City permanently
Danny Jones
Everton FC are reportedly already considering signing Jack Grealish on a permanent deal after an impressive start to his spell on loan from Manchester City.
The former Aston Villa talisman has struggled to remain in the starting XI under Pep Guardiola since joining the club in 2021, but since arriving on Merseyside, he’s already been a difference-maker in every match for the Toffees thus far.
Grealish has not only registered four assists in just two starts for Everton but also won the very first player of the month award in the Premier League this season for his contributions.
Safe to say he’s fast made a big impact over in Liverpool – hence why it is now thought that manager David Moyes wants to make his transfer permanent.
Becoming just the 10th Toffee to ever win the accolade, the Birmingham-born creator is now thought to be the primary transfer target, despite the summer window having only recently closed.
He writes that despite the deal between Everton and Man City already including a £50 million option to buy next summer, that number is “not fixed and is more a consequence of accounting than a set price.”
The England international still has two years on his contract in the blue half of Manchester, but the previous valuation (which is half the amount City paid for him in a then record fee for a British player), so it is believed that he could be signed for an even better cut-price offer as his deal runs down.
Put it this way, it looks like the supporters would do just about anything to keep him at the Hill Dickinson.
Jack Grealish giving his shirt to an Everton fan after their brilliant win away at Wolves today.
Bascombe goes on to explain, however, that his salary considerations could be a significant obstacle. Grealish is estimated to be earning approximately £12m a year, which is almost certainly too rich for Everton’s blood.
Taking that into account, it’d be a case of whether or not the Brummy forward would be willing to accept a much lower wage to depart the Etihad Stadium for Everton long-term; alternatively, waiting for him to become a free agent in a few transfer windows’ time would also be an option.
What about you, Blues: would you like to see Jack Grealish stay and fight for his place under Guardiola, or would you understand/support him making his Everton permanent?
Interestingly, there could be yet more shuffling of the pack in the middle of the park for Pep, as a forgotten man is apparently going to be given another chance to revive his City career…
Kalvin Phillips is reportedly set to be reintegrated into the Manchester City squad
Danny Jones
Long-exiled Manchester City player Kalvin Phillips is reportedly on the verge of being reintegrated into Pep Guardiola’s squad this season.
The ex-Leeds United star, who signed for the Blues back in 2022, has still only made just 16 appearances for the club, but could now be eyeing up a potential renaissance.
Man City have made plenty of signings this year, but with a number of outgoings and several injuries in key positions, it looks like there could be an avenue for the one-time England international to fight his way back into the team.
As per Telegraph Sport‘s Mike McGrath, Kalvin Phillips is set to be reintroduced to City’s 25-man Premier League selection; the question is, can he make it into a first-team XI?
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Kalvin Phillips has chance to resurrect career at the Etihad Stadium after failed loan spells with Ipswich and West Ham
According to McGrath, Phillips will be “given a chance to resurrect his career at the Etihad Stadium” with the meat and potatoes of the 2025/26 campaign still yet to get properly underway.
Now 29, the Yorkshireman is well and truly within the crucial ‘prime’ years as an athlete, and after such an extended period on the sidelines, he’ll be more motivated than anyone to get his career back on track.
The central defensive midfielder – who was formerly considered a key cog in the middle of the park for Leeds – has spent two loan spells away from the Etihad, but neither really worked out for the undeniably talented footballer.
Having joined West Ham for the latter portion of the 23/24 term and spending the last 12 months on loan at struggling Ipswich Town, his time at both clubs was pretty forgettable, punctuated by little more than a couple of unfortunate red cards and more time on the bench.
Speaking to Sky Sports fairly recently, he confessed that the last couple of years have been very difficult and was visibly emotional discussing his struggles since moving to Man City.
It’s also worth noting that Guardiola himself has admitted to feeling “so bad” for Kalvin Phillips’ situation – perhaps why he now looks like he could be given a second chance.
CDM-wise, Rodri and Nico González are considered the go-to options, but Stockport-born Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovačić have also been used in the role.
Once again, although Man City face somewhat of an injury crisis ahead of the Manchester derby this weekend, any prolonged absences could at least see an opportunity arise for the forgotten man.
What do you make of Kalvin Phillips’ chances of being restored to the Manchester City squad and maybe even putting himself back into national team contention ahead of the World Cup?
Danny Jones -
6th November 2023 
