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West Ham United reportedly sent scouts to watch a Championship star in action as they look to add some firepower to their frontline in the upcoming transfer window.

Julen Lopetegui is under pressure after a lacklustre start to life in east London, and looks set to seek inspiration from the transfer market as he aims to turn the Hammers’ fortunes around. And as a result, scouts were thought to have been in attendance in the second tier this past weekend.

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ByConnor Holden Nov 24, 2024 West Ham scouts watch Middlesbrough ace

Middlesbrough thrashed Oxford United in the Championship on Saturday to move within five points of the league’s automatic promotion places.

A hat-trick from striker Emmanuel Latte Lath, two goals from Finn Azaz and another from Tommy Conway sealed an impressive 6-2 victory for Michael Carrick’s side, which saw them climb into fifth.

The game was the third on the bounce in which Boro have scored four or more goals – something they last achieved back in 1947. It was also the first time they’ve scored six in a game for 64 years. Unsurprisingly, Carrick was seriously impressed.

“It’s just really enjoyable watching them perform at the moment, seeing them express themselves and getting their rewards for it,” the former Manchester United midfielder, who took over as Middlesbrough boss in 2022.

Carrick was particularly delighted with Latte Lath, who has now scored five goals in his last three games. “Emmanuel has found his stride,” explained the English manager. “He’s showing that extra bit of sharpness, that zip that he’s showing us he’s got.”

Latte Lath on West Ham's radar

Latte Lath was Boro’s top scorer last term with 18 goals in all competitions and attracted interest from Premier League clubs over the summer. One of those clubs was Ipswich Town, who submitted a bid in the region of £20 million for the Ivorian on deadline day, which was rejected.

With seven goals to his name this term, the interest in Latte Lath from the top flight hasn’t faded. According to Sky Sports Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, West Ham sent a scout to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday to watch Latte Lath, whom they are monitoring ahead of a potential swoop in January.

Emmanuel Latte Lath's career

Latte Lath began his career in Serie A with Atalanta, where he burst onto the scene with a goal against Juventus on only his third substitute appearance for the club.

That appearance, however, proved to be his last in an Atalanta shirt as he spent the next six years out on loan with various teams in Italy, before moving to Middlesbrough permanently in August 2023.

He’s since gone from strength to strength at the Riverside Stadium, and was called up to the Ivory Coast national team for the first time earlier this year, making his debut in a World Cup qualifier against Gabon.

Last season, he drew high praise from teammate Luke Ayling, who said he loves playing alongside the striker.

“For the first few games I was here, he was out injured. Once he came back, I noticed immediately what a good player he is. He’s a dream to play with,” Ayling said.

“He runs his socks off up there, he’s so strong for such a little man, and he leaps so well, too. I’ve got a few assists from him where I know that if I put it into an area, he will probably be there. He’s made me look a bit better with my crossing! I’ve really enjoyed playing with him.”

It was deja vu all over again for Bangladesh. If it was South Africa in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, it was Australia in Dubai on Thursday, and the punishment on this occasion was even more severe. Sent in to bat, Bangladesh were bowled out for 73, their fourth sub-100 total of the year in T20Is, and their second of the tournament.It was the result of some superb bowling – particularly from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood early on and then from Adam Zampa, who polished off the lower order to pick up his maiden five-wicket haul in T20Is – but the batting was quite dire for most part too. There was a sense that Bangladesh simply sleepwalked their way to their doom, with a number of their top-order batters getting out to shots of imprecise intent, neither attacking nor defensive.

Watch cricket live on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the USA. Match highlights of Australia vs Bangladesh is available in English, and in Hindi (USA only).

Having started the day with a net run rate that was worse than South Africa’s by more than a run per over, Australia suddenly had a chance to leapfrog their nearest rivals in a tight semi-finals race. They began their chase knowing that they’d leapfrog South Africa’s NRR if they won in 8.1 overs or less. And their captain Aaron Finch brought to this task exactly the intent that was required. It was a slog a ball, virtually, and although there were a number of swings and misses, he also connected enough to slap his way to 40 off 20 balls. That innings set the tone as Australia romped home in 6.2 overs, leaving a massive 82 balls to spare.With that performance, Australia moved to second on the Group 1 table, equal on points with South Africa but with a superior net run rate – 1.031 to their 0.742. Both teams have a tricky final group game on Saturday; Australia take on West Indies, who may or may not still be in contention by then, and South Africa meet the group’s runaway leaders England.2:15

Nafees: Very painful for me to watch my team crumble

Starc, Hazlewood crash through top order
Starc began the match with three attempted yorkers aimed at the stumps. Mohammad Naim blocked the first one and inside-edged the second to fine leg for a single. The third angled across the right-handed Liton Das before swinging in late. Das pushed at it with an open face, looking for a single into the covers, and inside-edged into his stumps.That set the tone for Bangladesh’s top-order collapse, as two more wickets fell to strike-rotating attempts in the next two overs. Soumya Sarkar played on to Hazlewood while looking to steer him to third man, then Mushfiqur Rahim was lbw while looking to work Glenn Maxwell into the leg side. Bangladesh 10 for 3.The Adam Zampa show
By the time the powerplay ended, Bangladesh had lost another wicket, Hazlewood’s extra bounce cramping Naim into a miscued pull in the sixth over. Thereafter, it was all Zampa.He struck with his first ball, and the mode of dismissal – a wrong’un floated across the left-handed Afif Hossain and finding his edge – repeated itself two more times with slight differences in the variation out of the hand or the length. Zampa could have had a hat-trick too, had Matthew Wade clung on to another outside edge from a left-hander at the start of the 15th over, but the ball plopped out of his gloves and Taskin Ahmed survived. Not for long, though, as Zampa ended the innings with the fourth and sixth balls of the same over.Only three Bangladesh batters got into double figures – the opener Naim, the captain Mahmudullah, and Shamim Hossain, who provided the innings its only real moments of spark when he slog-swept Starc and Zampa for a four and a six soon upon arrival.Finch’s intent leads Australia home
Were Australia looking at their NRR target? The first over answered the question emphatically. Only four runs came off it, but Finch swung and missed at two balls outside off stump, and went hard at a pull that he failed to middle.The intent would soon find its reward. Sometimes it wasn’t quite off the middle of the bat – a four through extra-cover off Mustafizur Rahman in the second over, a miscued leg-side whip that just cleared a leaping Soumya Sarkar in the third – and sometimes it was – a flicked six off Mustafizur, a lofted drive over extra-cover off Taskin – and the runs simply kept coming. David Warner chipped in as well, with a trio of fours in the fourth over, and Australia were romping home with ease.Both Finch and Warner were bowled while attempting big slogs, but they’d done their respective jobs by then. Mitchell Marsh, recalled in place of Ashton Agar for this match, finished the job in the seventh over, clattering Taskin for a four over mid-off and swatting a short ball over the midwicket boundary to seal the deal on a near-perfect day for Australia.

Teenage allrounder Alice Capsey, winner of the PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year award, has received her first professional contract in the expanded list announced by the ECB for 2021-22.The expected increase means the eight regional teams now all have six contracted players, with extra funding at Northern Diamonds and Thunder bringing the total number of women on domestic deals to 51 – in addition to the 16 centrally contracted by England Women.Alongside Capsey, who starred for Oval Invincibles as they won the inaugural Women’s Hundred while still studying for her A Levels, the other players on their first full-time contracts are: Ami Campbell, Katie Levick, Bess Heath, Charlie Dean, Danielle Gregory, Grace Scrivens and Laura Jackson.Related

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Yorkshire have provided funding for two further contracts at Diamonds, awarded to Netherlands batter Sterre Kalis and Rachel Slater; while Lancashire will also support an additional pro player, with Phoebe Graham moving across the Pennines from Diamonds.Sophia Dunkley moved on to an England contract in the summer, with Kirstie Gordon now on a domestic deal. Marie Kelly has switched from Central Sparks to Lightning, with Abbey Freeborne going in the opposite direction.”It’s absolutely fundamental to the future of women’s and girls’ cricket in England and Wales that we’re able to continue increasing the depth of our regional game by offering more professional contracts to our players,” Clare Connor, the ECB’s managing director of women’s cricket, said.”We cannot overstate the impact that a new professional structure is having on our game. We’ve already seen the positive impact it has had on players’ performances in a relatively short space of time. The players are thriving, raising standards across the game and deepening the potential talent pool for England Women.”Just as important is the visibility of these players, showing young girls that cricket is a game that can offer them a professional future.”Professionalising the women’s game is a significant chapter for our sport and I’m thrilled that we’re able to continue that momentum by increasing the number of professional contracts on offer.”

ECB women’s professional contracts 2021-22

Central Sparks: Emily Arlott, Ami Campbell, Gwenan Davies, Abbey Freeborn, Eve Jones, Issy WongLightning: Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce, Bethan Ellis, Kirstie Gordon, Lucy Higham, Marie KellyNorthern Diamonds: Hollie Armitage, Jenny Gunn, Bess Heath, Beth Langston, Katie Levick, Linsey Smith, *Sterre Kalis, *Rachel SlaterSouthern Vipers: Georgia Adams, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Tara Norris, Paige ScholfieldSouth East Stars: Alice Capsey, Aylish Cranstone, Alice Davidson-Richards, Danielle Gregory, Tash Farrant, Bryony SmithSunrisers: Amara Carr, Kelly Castle, Naomi Dattani, Jo Gardner, Cordelia Griffith, Grace ScrivensThunder: Georgie Boyce, Alex Hartley, Laura Jackson, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Ellie Threlkeld, ** Phoebe GrahamWestern Storm: Dani Gibson, Alex Griffiths, Georgia Hennessey, Sophie Luff, Fi Morris, Nat Wraith*Funded by Northern Diamonds regional host, Yorkshire CCC
**Funded by Thunder regional host, Lancashire CCC

Reporter Pete O’Rourke has dropped a massive update regarding the future of a “special” Everton player, with Dan Friedkin making his presence felt straight away.

Everton takeover and manager news

The Blues picked up a vital 2-1 win at home to Crystal Palace last Saturday, in what was their first Premier League victory of the season, easing a significant amount of pressure on manager Sean Dyche.

The Englishman has been battling to save his job after some dreadful results in the early weeks of the campaign – they blew back-to-back 2-0 leads at home to Bournemouth and away to Aston Villa – which inevitably led to candidates being backed to replace him, including David Moyes and Gareth Southgate.

A recent claim has suggested that Dyche is safe for the time being, especially after the Palace triumph over the weekend, but he will still know that his job is under scrutiny, as The Friedkin Group look to make the right decisions when they take control.

Keeping hold of the important players at Goodison Park is of the utmost importance for the manager, as he looks to steer his side well clear of danger in the coming weeks and months.

Big update on "special" Everton star's future

According to Football Insider‘s O’Rourke, Friedkin is “unwilling” to sell Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite in the January transfer window, with the Blues’ incoming new owner “keen to not send out the wrong signals to Evertonians or other Premier League clubs” by moving him on.

The 22-year-old was constantly linked with a move away from Goodison in the summer, with the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United seen as suitors, but he ended up remaining on Merseyside, and Friedkin plans to make it clear from the off that the Blues will not be bullied into selling their stars.

This is a decision that will be met with such positivity by Everton supporters, considering the £35,000-a-week Branthwaite is one of the most prized assets in their squad currently. The Blues centre-back has such a high ceiling as a player, with Jamie Carragher under no illusions about his ability.

In truth, Everton will be aware that there is going to continue to be plenty of interest in Branthwaite, given his status as a potential future starter for England, but it is refreshing that Friedkin is digging his heels in, rather than simply cashing in and receiving huge money.

It is unlikely that the defender will spend the rest of his career at Goodison, with his ambitions likely to see him wanting to join a Champions League-playing team, but retaining his services for as long as possible can only aid Dyche and the current direction of the club.

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Should Branthwaite demand a move away, it is then a case of The Friedkin Group receiving as big a fee as possible, before using the funds to considerably strengthen the squad moving forward.

It’s only been a month and a half since the season kicked off, but it already feels like a million and one things have happened.

Arsenal have played the likes of Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur away from home in the Premier League, demolished Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup and kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 0-0 draw away to Atalanta, courtesy of a sensational double penalty save from David Raya.

Yet, even with all of that, suspensions to key players and injuries to others, Mikel Arteta’s side stand in good stead in the league and in Europe, although with a game against Paris Saint-Germain to come tonight, that might be less true come ten o’clock.

The manager will likely make several changes to the team, with talk of summer signing Mikel Merino getting his first run out for the club, but he should avoid doing that and start one of his most reliable stars instead.

Why fans should be excited about Merino

Okay, so yes, we’d say that considering he fractured his shoulder in late August, it is probably too early to play Merino tonight and certainly far too early to start him, but that doesn’t mean the fans shouldn’t be eagerly anticipating his eventual inclusion in the team.

For example, while Arteta’s team are already incredibly physical and hard to dominate, the European Champion will only help make the North Londoners even more formidable, as standing at 6 foot 2, the 28-year-old is not the stereotypical Spanish midfielder who is a wizard on the ball but easily pushed off of it.

Moreover, he puts his stature to good use, as according to Squawka, the former Real Sociedad midfielder was the leading duel winner in Europe’s top seven leagues last season, winning an unreal 326 of them across the campaign.

Lastly, while his off-the-ball work and sheer presence in midfield will help make Arsenal an even more unpleasant team to play against, the former Newcastle United ace is still a technically proficient player and someone who will be able to help in building up play and pitch in with goals and assists when needed.

For example, in his 45 appearances for La Real last season, the Pamplona-born dynamo scored eight goals and provided five assists, equating to a goal involvement once every 3.46, and with the left-footed Riccardo Calafiori behind him and Gabriell Martinelli ahead, the Gunners may finally have a left-hand side that can match the attacking prowess of their right.

Appearances

45

Goals

8

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.28

However, with all of that said, even though Merino is rumoured to be in the squad for tonight’s game, Arteta should not risk playing him, especially when he can turn to one of his most trusted players instead.

Why Jorginho should start

Yes, the man Arteta should be turning to this evening is Italian veteran Jorginho.

Now, there may be calls to keep the midfield the same from the weekend and to start Thomas Partey alongside Declan Rice, but for as talented as the Ghanaian international is, he has started seven out of eight games so far this season, and with his worrying injury record, he should be rested for the games to come.

Moreover, in the former Chelsea ace, the manager already has a trustworthy and experienced midfield general who is undoubtedly a “big-game player”, as dubbed by Daily Mirror journalist Darren Lewis, and proven in last season’s games against Liverpool at home in which he was named Player of the Match, and the draw away at the Etihad.

Furthermore, in the 19 games he started for the Gunners last year, they won 11 of them, drew four, and lost just four, which is pretty good going for a player who is not a regular starter.

Lastly, Arteta once again turned to him for the game against Spurs last month, and while he wasn’t spectacular, he didn’t need to be. Alongside Partey, he helped keep Ange Postecoglou’s uber-attacking side quiet for 90 minutes.

Ultimately, fans should be excited about Merino’s coming back into the team and recovering from his shoulder injury so quickly.

However, with how many must-win games there are going to be this season, the manager should not be looking to play him tonight, especially when Jorginho is the ideal person to bring in for a game such as this.

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Derbyshire set to lose promising seamer as he returns to Hove for second stint

George Dobell11-Jul-2021Fynn Hudson-Prentice is to join Sussex from Derbyshire at the end of the season.Hudson-Prentice, the 25-year-old seamer, developed through the Sussex pathway and played seven first-team games for the club in 2014 and 2015. He was released at the end of 2016.The MCC Young Cricketers programme gave him another chance, though, and he was signed by Derbyshire in 2019. He is the club’s equal leading wicket-taker (with 21 at 24.95) in the LV= Insurance County Championship this season. He also made 99 in his maiden first-class appearance for the club and featured in the side that made it to T20’s Finals Day in 2019. As such, he is seen as a multi-dimensional all-rounder who can contribute in all formats.”I remember encountering Fynn at a Lord’s Test match when he was with the MCC Young Cricketers and really noticing a change in the way he was going about things since leaving Sussex,” Sussex’s T20 Head Coach, James Kirtley, said. “I kept tabs on him as he went off to Derbyshire and it has been exciting to see him do really well over the last couple of years.”Fynn has grown as a player and a person. He’s a Sussex lad, he’s a performer, a match-winner and his skill-set gives us real balance in our sides in all three formats. That ticks the boxes for us with the strategy we’ve got and will continue to pursue.”The news is a blow to Derbyshire, though, who are in the middle of a poor season. They are bottom of the North Group in the Championship and seventh in the North Group of the T20 Blast. They are also being sued by a former club stalwart, Tony Palladino.”I’m massively grateful for the time I’ve spent at Derbyshire over the past three seasons,” Hudson-Prentice said, “and I wish the club all the best for the future.”Although I enjoyed my time at the club, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to go back home to where it all began. I’m really looking forward to the next chapter of my career at Hove.”

One of the areas in which Wolverhampton Wanderers have always had a particularly strong squad since they returned to the Premier League in 2018/19 is in midfield.

The Old Gold are currently littered with a few big names in the centre of the park, including Brazilian duo Joao Gomes and Andre, with the latter being a summer signing in 2024.

They have also had the likes of Matheus Nunes and Joao Moutinho play for the club since promotion, with the enterprising Portuguese pair having represented their national team numerous times.

However, perhaps their best midfielder since they returned to the top flight six years ago was another Portugal international, Ruben Neves.

Ruben Neves’ record at Wolves

The 27-year-old enjoyed six seasons at Molineux before making a move in the summer of 2023. He switched the Midlands for the Middle East, joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in a deal worth around £47m.

Whilst the sale was far from Ideal for the Midlands club, they certainly made a healthy profit on the deal. The midfielder joined the club from Portuguese giants FC Porto for what was a then-record fee of £15.8m. Not only did they get years of quality service from the midfielder, but also made a healthy profit.

It was certainly a departure that rocked Molineux, given that Neves captained the Old Gold for a number of seasons. He was a pivotal figure for the club, making 253 appearances both domestically and in the Europa League in 2019/20. The 27-year-old could play everywhere in midfield, from a disciplined sitting number six to an enterprising number 10.

One thing that was synonymous with the former Porto midfielder’s time at the club was his ability to score wonder goals from range. In total, he scored nine goals from outside the box in the Premier League, as per FBref.

Outside the box

9

Inside the 18-yard box

12

Inside the 6-yard box

0

Average distance of PL goals

17.5 yards

He is certainly a hard player to replace, and so far, the Old Gold have not found the person to fill such a big void.

However, there is one player in the academy who could be tasked with stepping into Neves’ boots, and that man is Luke Cundle.

Wolves' next Ruben Neves

22-year-old Cundle is a midfield prospect whom Wolves fans can certainly get excited about. He has made seven appearances for the Old Gold’s first team now and has had three Championship loans two with Swansea City and one at Plymouth Argyle.

Receiving such footballing education in the second tier can be crucial for a player; take Neves as a prime example. Whilst he was highly rated before his move to Molineux, his period in the Championship no doubt helped shape him into the player we see today.

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The similarities do not end there, however, with the 22-year-old also being a versatile player. Like the former Wolves skipper, Cundle can operate in a deeper role as a six, an advanced role as an eight or even further forward as a number 10.

He has a good goal involvement record to show for it, too. Across his three loan spells, 77 games in total, the young midfielder has scored ten times and has registered 12 assists, playing in three different roles in the centre of the park. He has also been known to get on the scoresheet for the Wolves academy sides.

The youngster’s future is not necessarily secure, and the Potters launched another attempt to sign him over the 2024 summer window. However, he has impressed Gary O’Neil, and there is every chance he will stay and fight for his place at Molineux.

Cundle was described as a “gifted” player by former Swans boss Russel Martin, who is now managing South Coast outfit Southampton. The 22-year-old could be the dream Neves replacement, and finally fill the boots of a player whose departure left such a void at Molineux.

Wolves must regret selling PL star who's now worth more than Gomes

He’s gone on to tear the Premier League apart in recent times.

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The batter has a grade one strain and will look to return to action next week

ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-2021

New Zealand will have their fingers crossed that Ross Taylor’s injury isn’t serious•AFP via Getty Images

Ross Taylor has been diagnosed with a grade one calf strain after he limped out of New Zealand’s first training session ahead of their departure for England with a calf injury.*He was batting in the marquee that has been built at the high performance centre in Lincoln to enable the squad to train over the next couple of weeks. An update from NZC on Tuesday said he would remain with the squad for his rehab.”Taylor will to return to batting and running next week before linking up with the Test squad ahead of their departure for England next weekend,” a statement said.Taylor said he had felt the tightness last week as he continued the rehab from the hamstring injury which disrupted the end of his home season but was confident he had time to get right before the England Tests.”Pretty happy with where it is, timing has been really good,” he said. “Would like to be injury free, obviously, but timing-wise it’s not too bad.”New Zealand coach Gary Stead admitted any injuries this close to a tour were a concern. “You are always worried when any injuries happen but someone of Ross’s standing and calibre as a Test player you always have a little bit of a concern,” he told reporters on Monday. “Fingers crossed everything is good and we still have time on our side, but we’ll just have to wait and see what the medical team say.”Related

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The New Zealand squad are due to depart for England in the middle of May ahead of the two-Test series that begins on June 2 to be followed by the World Test Championship final against India in Southampton.Stead hinted that even if there was some doubt over Taylor’s immediate fitness he would likely make the trip. “Ross has a great Test record behind and we want him in our team,” he said.New Zealand are likely to be without their IPL-based Test players – Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell Santner – for at least the first match against England and potentially both given the strict quarantine rules now in place for arrivals from India that require 10 days isolation.They have named an expanded squad of 20 for the two England Tests which will be trimmed to 15 ahead of the WTC final.Devon Conway is in line for a Test debut while the uncapped Rachin Ravindra has also been included. All the players in New Zealand have had their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and will have their second before leaving.Monday was the start of two training camps they will have prior to departure with conditions created to as closely resemble what they’ll encounter in England as possible.”We’ve got two open wickets, the groundstaff have done an amazing job in getting the facilities up pretty close to what I think English conditions would be like then we have the marquee as well,” Stead said. “We are still a month away from playing England so there’s still four weeks of good, solid preparation so today is the start of that for us.”11.52pm GMT, April 3 – the story was updated with details of Taylor’s injury

Aston Villa's campaign got off to a flyer as Unai Emery masterminded victory over West Ham United in their Premier League curtain-raiser.

Many onlookers will have their reservations for a side that have taken a significant step in their development by qualifying for the Champions League before the summer, dubious over their ability to survive the trials and tribulations of a rigorous, multi-focused campaign.

But Villa have showcased their rising quality as a behemoth of English football, and with one more signing, they might be a monster to be feared…

Aston Villa transfer news

That final signing may well arrive in the form of a full-back, with The Athletic reporting that Aston Villa hold an interest in Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, with Anfield's longest-serving first-teamer assessing his options.

But a host of clubs are interested in the Liverpool dynamo and it might be wise to turn toward an alternative option. Luckily, Villa are also looking at Feyenoord star Lutsharel Geertruida, who might just be the real deal.

According to Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad – relayed by Soccernews – Monchi is looking to sign Geertruida this month, with the 24-year-old among the standout performers under new Liverpool boss Arne Slot last term.

The Netherlands international – who is said to be waiting to see 'which clubs are willing to take action' – has stepped into the final year of his contract, and while RB Leipzig have also shown an interest, the Premier League side may well hold the advantage.

With Geertruida valued at €25m (£21m), Leipzig are struggling to cough up the dough and might need to cash in on a squad option first, leaving Emery's unit in pole position to complete a swoop.

What Lutsharel Geertruida would bring to Aston Villa

Principally a right-back, Geertruida has impressed through his positional fluidity over in the Dutch Eredivisie, playing a crucial role in a trophy-laden period in Feyenoord's recent history.

The athletic defender has also been known to feature in central defence and even in a holding midfield role, with his strong ball-playing quality enabling success across a range of roles.

Indeed, as per FBref, he ranked among the top 2% of positional peers in the Eredivisie last season for goals scored and pass completion, the top 10% for passes attempted and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90, emphasising the kind of technical quality that Emery would welcome to the fold.

Lutsharel Geertruida: Career Stats by Position

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Right-back

147

23

7

Centre-back

99

15

2

Defensive midfield

20

1

2

Left-back

5

0

1

Central midfield

2

0

0

Right midfield

1

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, Geertruida excelled in drifting infield last season, which was a requirement in Feyenoord's system. The 6 foot 1 star's ability to operate in different areas and showcase various elements of the ball-playing craft speaks volumes of his suitability under Emery's wing.

His press resistance and security on the ball are no doubt arresting elements for the Villa manager, but his roundedness and quality in defensive phases might just see him arrive in the Midlands this month, brought in ahead of fellow target Gomez.

How Geertruida compares to Joe Gomez

There's no doubt that Gomez is a talented defender, and, moreover, tried and tested in the Premier League. His “renaissance” – as noted by writer Joel Rabinowitz – was wonderful to witness for Reds supporters last season, but it did underline past problems that might dissuade Emery and his transfer team.

The England international also bears an injury record that leaves plenty to be desired, recorded to have missed 245 matches due to injury/illness throughout his Liverpool career.

Like Geertruida, the 27-year-old is a versatile defender, playing across the backline under Jurgen Klopp last season and earning a call-up to Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad as a result, though he didn't feature.

But he was culpable of a glut of poor performances throughout Liverpool's 2022/23 season, even branded as "finished" by Liverpool podcaster Graeme Kelly after the final game of the campaign, as Liverpool drew 4-4 to relegated Southampton.

Having lost Klopp's trust previously and been unused for nine of the final ten matches before that Saints show, it did look like his time on Merseyside was up.

His resurgence has spoken loudly on his character and resolve, but Emery might be keen to shape his outfit with an up-and-coming talent in Geertruida – especially considering that FSG have transfer-listed Gomez for around €40m (£34m).

23/24 League Stats: Lutsharel Geertruida vs Joe Gomez

Stats (*per game)

Geertruida

Gomez

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

32 (17)

Goals

8

0

Assists

5

1

Clean sheets

15

5

Touches*

79.9

50.6

Pass completion

92%

86%

Key passes*

1.2

0.7

Dribbles*

0.7 (58%)

0.5 (56%)

Ball recoveries*

5.4

3.5

Tackles*

1.4

1.5

Total duels won*

3.6 (61%)

3.4 (54%)

Stats via Sofascore

When collating Gomez and Geertruida's metrics from the 2023/24 season, what can we ascertain? Both are clearly blessed with that 'complete' skillset that is oh-so coveted over on English shores, but Geertruida outstrips his positional peer in the duel, creatively and from an athletic standpoint.

Of course, the Premier League would represent a big step up for the player, but Villa would offer a stable platform from which to build future success.

BBC pundit Alan Shearer has also noted that Gomez "makes too many mistakes", and so when bringing all the facets together, perhaps it would be wise to move for Feyenoord's talented ace, who would relish the chance to prove himself in the Premier League.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has hailed the Dutchman as "a pivotal player for Slot’s title-winning Feyenoord team", and now he has the chance to translate his qualities to England, where he might just prove to be the dynamic defender that Emery needs to shore up his backline and ensure that success is found across multiple roads this year.

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Posts ByRoss Kilvington Aug 17, 2024

It's set to be a big transfer window for Tottenham Hotspur this summer as Daniel Levy and Co look to land the right players for Ange Postecoglou's exciting project.

The Australian managed to bring the team back into European football last season, but a collapse towards the end of the campaign meant it was the Europa League, not the Champions League.

To take that next stop, the North Londoners will need to sign some quality additions over the next couple of months, and based on recent reports, that may well happen.

The latest star touted for a move to N17 is an incredibly exciting winger who would help bring more goals to the side and challenge Brennan Johnson for a spot in the starting lineup.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are interested in signing Juventus and Italy star Federico Chiesa this summer.

The 26-year-old's £150k-per-week contract expires next summer, and according to the report, the Lilywhites have matched the €6m-per-year offer the Old Lady have made him, which converts to around £5m.

However, it's claimed that the winger wants a wage of closer to €8m-per-year – £7m – and, according to reports earlier this week, it'll cost North Londoners around £25m if they want to prise him out of Turin a year early.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but given Chiesa's quality, it is one worth pursuing, especially as he could be a fantastic rival for Johnson.

How Chiesa compares to Johnson

So, if Spurs can get their hands on Chiesa this summer, he'd likely come in primarily to play off the right of a front three, as that is the position he has played most in his career.

In which case, Johnson would be one of his main competitors for a place in the starting lineup, but how do they compare?

Well, when it comes to their raw output last season, the Welshman just about edges it, scoring five goals and providing ten assists in 38 matches for the Lilywhites, equating to a goal involvement on average every 2.53 games.

In contrast, the "unstoppable" former Fiorentina ace, as dubbed by Giorgio Chiellini, scored ten goals and provided three assists in 37 appearances, producing a slightly worse average of a goal involvement every 2.84 games.

However, when it comes to their underlying numbers, the tables turn, and it's the Italian "wizard", as dubbed by football media personality Roger Bennett, who comes out ahead.

Chiesa vs Johnson
Stats per 90	Chiesa	Son
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists	0.49	0.73
Non-Penalty Goals	0.33	0.19
Assists	0.08	0.39
Progressive Passes	2.87	2.83
Progressive Carries	4.55	4.07
Shots	3.03	2.05
Shots on Target	1.02	0.74
Passing Accuracy	69.9%	71.7%
Key Passes	2.21	1.78
Goal-Creating Actions	0.37	0.62
Shot-Creating Actions	4.79	2.98
Successful Take-Ons	1.43	1.05
All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 League Season

For example, while the former Nottingham Forest ace produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, more actual assists, higher passing accuracy and more goal-creating actions, he's comfortably second best for actual non-penalty goals, progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, key passes and shot-creating actions, all per 90.

Ultimately, if Chiesa is available for the reported fee, then Spurs cannot afford to miss out. While he might not be clear of Johnson, for example, he is clearly talented and could push the other wingers in the team to improve, if not outright replace them in time.

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