Earlier today, we held our weekly feature on The Athletic ’s website and app, Ask Ornstein.
This is an hour-long question-and-answer session in which subscribers can ask me anything about the world of football. Questions this week ranged from Evan Ferguson’s future to the appointment of Wayne Rooney by Birmingham City, while we also revealed that Arsenal Under-18s coach Jack Wilshere is holding talks with Colorado Rapids.
I’ve pulled together some of my favourite questions from the third edition of Ask Ornstein below.
Please join me next week for another session.
_ Chris D asked:Arsenal pride themselves on developing players from within, but they have recently shifted to purchasing more experienced players in the chase for immediate success. Who is next to break into the first team?_
David Ornstein replied: Arsenal recently announced Myles Lewis-Skelly’s first professional deal, Chris, and have tied down Ethan Nwaneri, too. Max Dowman also made headlines by playing for the Under-18s at just 13. Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri — among the most exciting prospects in English football — have developed under the watchful eye of Wilshere, who also handed Dowman his debut last month.
Wilshere has made a strong impression since being appointed under-18s head coach in July 2022, taking his side to the FA Youth Cup final within a year. People at Arsenal talk of his incredible work ethic, living and breathing the job.
His progress has already caught the eye of other clubs and brought him into contention for current or potential vacancies. One is at Colorado Rapids.
The MLS side have included Wilshere among their candidates to take charge after the sacking of Robin Fraser on September 5. The U.S. franchise — owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, like Arsenal — made a formal approach to speak with the ex-England international and were granted permission. Wilshere is thought to have impressed in his interview and the Rapids now need to make a decision.
Teams in Europe and further afield have noted Wilshere’s impact, too, and are monitoring the situation. I hear he is keen on moving into senior management if the right chance arises.
Wilshere overseeing training at Arsenal (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
_ Ben C: WillChelsea sign a striker in January?_
David: Hi Ben — there is a very good chance of this happening. They have Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja, but it would not surprise me if Chelsea recruit another top striker. It may look far-fetched at the moment, but they really want and need to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
For that to happen, they may feel a new goalscorer mid-season could be an important addition. As we’ve talked about on here before, though, that’s easier said than done; the demand for prolific strikers far outweighs the supply at present.
Chelsea will be considering all of the options, but I’m not aware of them focusing on getting a particular deal done.
_ Callum B: WillNewcastle have to sell a valuable player or two to buy big next summer or should Champions League and kit money cover them?_
David: The Champions League money and sponsorship revenues are providing Newcastle with a major financial uplift, Callum, but they’ve invested quite heavily and the only notable sales have been Allan Saint-Maximin and Chris Wood. So, like most of the top clubs, it will require some departures to ease the financial fair play situation and give them more muscle in the market.
_ Shane M: WillBrighton consider selling Evan Ferguson next summer if a large offer is received? I expect they would cash in for a transfer fee at or above what they received for Moises Caicedo._
David: The future of Ferguson is increasingly being talked about. That’s a testament to his quality, the progress he has made and his potential, and a reflection of the position he plays. He is also a fantastic boy, by all accounts.
Good strikers are high in demand but low in supply. Brighton have no intention of selling him, especially after tying him to a new contract until 2028, but he is on the radar of the biggest clubs so, if he continues to shine, the pressure will mount.
Brighton do not stand in the way of players (or staff) leaving when the time, opportunity and money are right. And they will hope none of that is right for a fair while yet. That time will surely come and all factors considered — past sales such as Caicedo’s, market inflation, scarcity of top centre-forwards and so on — I can see Brighton breaking transfer records once again.
Ferguson has excelled at Brighton (Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
_ Sagar R: Any chances ofPremier League teams looking to hire Paul Mitchell who just left Monaco? I believe Liverpool are still looking for a director…_
David: The English clubs know Mitchell well, Sagar. He was at Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur before dealing with many of them while working for RB Leipzig and Monaco. He is among a relatively small number of candidates who come under consideration when the top teams are looking for somebody in this role and that has included Liverpool.
GO DEEPER
Paul Mitchell: Innovator, workaholic, organiser - one of the most wanted signings in football
_ Dean P: What’s the best transfer saga you have reported on?_
David: One immediately springs to mind, Dean. January 2018 — Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Olivier Giroud, Michy Batshuayi, Fernando Llorente… Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham. It still gives me a headache thinking about it!
Merry-go-round: Giroud was lined up to replace Aubameyang at Dortmund then got offer from Chelsea & was keen, so Dortmund turned to Batshuayi. But Chelsea baulked at Giroud fee so discussed Batshuayi/Llorente swap with Spurs, which nobody agreed on. Deadlock #AFC #BVB #CFC THFC pic.twitter.com/HA6ymZ6IiN
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 29, 2018
_ Callum O: There have been a few concerns around theEverton takeover by 777. Do you think any of these could derail the deal?_
David: It would be wrong of me to speculate, Callum. The feeling at Everton and 777 is that the deal will go through, but it seems this could be a long and complicated approvals process involving the Premier League, English Football Association and Financial Conduct Authority. The glare of an independent regulator for English football also ups the ante on this one. There’s another massive, concerning question in all of this: if not 777, then who?
** Greg J: What are your thoughts onBirmingham sacking John Eustace to bring in Rooney as manager? And what do you see them trying to achieve with this change, when Eustace was doing a pretty good job?**
David: Good and pertinent question, Greg. I feel sorry for Eustace; he was doing a good job and was popular with the fans. Football can be cruel, but it’s not the first time we’ve seen a decision like this — I immediately think back to Southampton’s controversial decision to replace Nigel Adkins with Mauricio Pochettino in 2013. That generated huge criticism but turned out to be the right call.
Apologies for the horrible cliche, but only time will tell. If Rooney does well — and he has the potential to — everyone will say it was inspired.
I was fortunate to spend some time with Rooney in the U.S. this summer and found him to be focused, ambitious, hugely determined and very likeable. I was impressed.
GO DEEPER
Wayne Rooney - The Ornstein interview: Glazers, Kane, Greenwood, Messi, MLS, Everton and more
He did well at Derby County in difficult circumstances and will be better for the experience of managing and living in a different country with DC United.
Rooney is returning to England with Birmingham City (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)
Clearly, Birmingham think Rooney can take them to a level Eustace couldn’t — on and off the field. Let’s give it some time and then form our judgements. It’s a big risk but could bring an even bigger reward.
** Callum B: Do you thinkEmile Smith Rowe to Newcastle United is a) plausible and b) would be a good move?**
David: I wouldn’t be surprised if there is admiration for Smith Rowe at Newcastle and elsewhere. He’s a top talent and things have not been going his way at Arsenal since he returned from injury.
There have been some encouraging signs of late and Arsenal fans will hope to see him back playing a prominent role again, but clearly if that doesn’t happen, talk of a departure is likely to increase. He is a valuable asset — contracted until 2026 and zero on the balance sheet, so pure profit if he was to be sold.
I saw the reports this morning and completely respect the work of fellow journalists, but I’m not aware of Newcastle pursuing him. It isn’t clear where he would fit into Eddie Howe’s team unless somebody leaves and there has not been any contact between any of the parties involved. His situation, though, is one to watch.
Smith Rowe vies with Newcastle’s Callum Wilson in 2022 (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
_ Adnan A: What are the chances of Arsenal signing Victor Osimhen? If not him, which striker is on Arsenal’s radar?_
David: In terms of price and profile, Adnan, I don’t see Arsenal going for Osimhen. I suspect the Napoli striker is on their list, as he will be for all the top sides. The pool of quality strikers is so small that any big club looking to sign one in January or next summer are likely to be studying the same names — Osimhen, Lautaro Martinez, Ferguson, Benjamin Sesko and Victor Boniface among them.
I don’t think Arsenal are focusing on recruiting a striker in January. That is more likely to be on the agenda next summer.
Things can change — injury, bids for your existing players and other factors. However, Arsenal have Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Kai Havertz, as well as goalscoring contributors including Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard. They will hope that serves them well this season and then they can look at the situation later.
_ Deniz O: Bit of a random question, but how do you eat your steak? Hope this finds you well and keep up the good work._
David: Depends on what country I’m in, Deniz. Tend to go medium/rare in the UK and medium/well done in France, for example. I don’t mind a bit of blood but won’t go to blue and if I get jaw-ache from having to chew too much, it’s being sent back!
_ Ryan O: Any movement on theManchester United sale/takeover? Who is more likely to win at this stage? Sheikh Jassim or INEOS/Jim Ratcliffe?_
David: Understandably, Ryan, we’re getting question after question on this. I’m assured there has been movement and, contrary to reports that it is going the way of Sheikh Jassim, I keep hearing that INEOS taking a minority stake and building from there remains more likely.
That said, I was previously told it was going to Sheikh Jassim! This shows either the momentum keeps swinging or that nobody really knows. Perhaps even the Glazers don’t know. And I guess therein lies the answer to your question.
_ Liam C: What do you predict as the biggest transfer in the January transfer window?_
David: The market is so quiet at present, Liam, but it will burst into life and I’m wondering out loud if Paris Saint-Germain try to sell Kylian Mbappe to avoid losing him on a free next summer.
There are so many factors here… can they get him to extend his contract? If not, would he agree to be sold in January? How much would it cost? Who would be willing to meet the asking price six months before he becomes a free agent? How would PSG feel about Mbappe walking away for nothing? But if — if — he moves this winter, it would surely be the biggest story of the window.
Could Mbappe be the biggest move of the January window? (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
_ Syed H: Hi David. Whenever you appear on TV or_ The Athletic _ ’s various media channels, I can’t help but adore your neatly arranged books. What are your favourite football books and, if you are feeling brave, non-football, too? My personal favourite is The Barcelona Legacy by Jonathan Wilson._
David: They may look nice, Syed, but I don’t get time to read them! I enjoyed The Club — that lifted the curtain on the formation of the Premier League and gave great insight into the way it has been built, the issues it has faced, the politics and so much more. At times, it was like being a fly on the wall in the shareholders’ meetings. Highly recommended!
Non-sport I’ll need more time to think… let’s come back to this next week!
(Top photos: Getty Images)
