Newcastle United are reportedly looking towards the Championship to boost their midfield options for the forthcoming Premier League season, as they look to finish in the top four once again.
Eddie Howe has already welcomed Sandro Tonali this summer, and now looks interested in adding another option in the middle of the park.
What's the latest on Yaser Asprilla to Newcastle United?
With the search for a midfielder on, Newcastle are interested in signing young Watford midfielder Yaser Asprilla this summer, according to Antena 2, via Sport Witness.
The Magpies may have to act quickly to secure the Colombian's signature, however, with Brighton & Hove Albion also reportedly interested in signing the Watford teenager, alongside La Liga side Real Sociedad, and Portugal side FC Porto.
The midfielder reportedly wants to play in the top flight, and, therefore, according to Atena 2, could force a move out of Vicarage Road in the coming weeks.
It remains to be seen how much Watford demand for Asprilla, but, according to Transfermarkt, he is currently worth just €4.5m (£4m), potentially giving the likes of Newcastle a bargain deal.
With plenty of clubs interested in the 19-year-old, he's certainly one to keep an eye on for the remainder of the summer.
Should Newcastle United sign Yaser Asprilla?
As Newcastle build into a formidable force in the Premier League, welcoming the likes of Tonali, they can't forget to invest in their future, and that's exactly what Asprilla would be for.
At just 19-years-old, he played a key role for Watford last season, making 37 appearances in the Championship, even getting on the scoresheet once, and assisting a further two times.
Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…
At such a young age, the only way is up for the Colombian, whether that be through a move to St James' Park this summer or continuing at Watford, where the Hornets will be aiming for the play-offs in England's second tier.
Rightfully earning praise during his time at Watford, former manager Slaven Bilic said, via the Watford Observer: “He is a young boy of rare talent. His touch, we see that in training on a regular basis. He’s going to be special.
“He has things that you can’t teach. But he’s 18 and he’s a kid that has moved not just to a different country but to a different continent. He doesn’t speak a word of English, so it’s not easy for him. But the club and everyone in it is helping him.
“He is a very explosive player. I’m not going to say the sky’s the limit, but then I’ve just said it! It’s up to him and he will get our help.
“The key thing is he is willing to learn and that is so important. When he came on today he was very active, he played some good balls, and he’s willing to defend.”
With the world at his feet, Asprilla looks set to have a tough decision on his hands this summer, and Newcastle will hope that his choice ends with a move to the Magpies ahead of the start of the Premier League season.
Everton are looking at concluding two transfers in the coming days with Sean Dyche, Farhad Moshiri and co seemingly busy as the market nears its conclusion in a few weeks' time.
Who do Everton want to sign?
Reports on Sunday afternoon suggest that Everton's interest in Leeds winger Jack Harrison is now 'very advanced'. That said, he is not the only forward on Dyche's radar after the season kicked off this weekend.
Indeed, according to Football Insider on Saturday, they are working on securing Portuguese attacker Beto on a loan deal with an obligation to buy, with talks advancing over the past few days.
The Toffees have been monitoring his situation all summer but were reluctant to meet his €30m (£26m) price tag, though an initial short-term contract could work in their favour.
Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…
Everton's Premier League campaign began with a 1-0 home defeat to Fulham this weekend, accentuating the need for offensive reinforcements despite the signings of Arnaut Danjuma and Youssef Chermiti.
Everton could repeat the signing of Richarlison by luring Beto to Goodison Park, with the Brazilian leaving the club for Tottenham Hotspur in a £60m deal last year but departing as one of the club's most distinguishable stars of recent memory.
How many goals did Richarlison score for Everton?
Arriving from Premier League rivals Watford in 2018 for £50m, the 26-year-old scored twice on his competitive debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers to kickstart a 53-goal haul across 152 outings while plying his trade on Merseyside, with former manager Carlo Ancelotti claiming he is "among the best forwards".
Standing at 6 foot, the 44-cap star – with 20 goals for Brazil – is not the tallest of forwards but utilises his aerial dominance superlatively, ranking among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for aerial wins per 90, as per FBref.
Udinese's Beto in action.
Hailed as a "warrior" by former Spurs boss Antonio Conte, the £90k-per-week gem brings an imposing element to his game and this is something that Beto could replicate under Dyche's wing on Merseyside, with the 52-year-old's management style focussing heavily on aerial dominance and dogged determination.
How good is Beto?
Standing at 6 foot 4, Beto is a taller figure and has averaged 1.8 shots and 2.2 aerial wins across the duration of his career, as per WhoScored, but has hit double-digits across all four league campaigns of his career, including 22 goals across his two years in Serie A.
The 25-year-old also ranks among the top 20% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons, the top 10% for clearances and the top 25% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref, illustrating his Richarlison-like tenacity and relentlessness that could slot into Everton's system seamlessly.
He has been lauded for his "quality" and intelligence by journalist Josh Bunting, and his ten league goals and 1.8 shots per match last term, as per Sofascore, were not bettered by Everton forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Neal Maupay and Demarai Gray.
With journalist Sam Tighe also waxing lyrical over the ace's ability to "spook defenders", claiming that makes the opposition panic with his brutish presence and physicality, he could emulate Richarlison in his imperious former role at Goodison Park, and could perhaps finally restore some offensive verve to the Toffees' frontline.
Everton have been pursuing a move for Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto all summer long, and they have received a fresh boost in their efforts.
Do Everton want to sign Wilfried Gnonto?
The 19-year-old has arguably been one of the most talked-about players during the summer transfer window, with his future very much up in the air. He became an immediate key man for Leeds after joining last summer, but their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship is making it tough for them to retain his services.
While the Whites are clearly digging their heels in and doing all they can to keep hold of Gnonto, it has also become obvious that the Italian wants to seal a move away from Elland Road this summer, rather than languish in the second tier of English football for at least a year.
It is Everton who have arguably stood out as the favourites to acquire the winger's signature between now and the end of the month, with various reports emerging regarding their strong interest in him.
Gnonto may still be a Leeds player as it stands, but there is still time for that to change and a new update will be viewed as a positive one by Everton supporters.
What's the latest on Wilfried Gnonto to Everton?
According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Gnonto "has only one goal" at the moment, and that is to secure a move away from Leeds before the transfer window slams shut at the end of August. The report also states that he "chases the Premier League" in order to "save his place in the national team", acting as a further boost for the Blues, who have had offers rejected for the forward.
Everton then get a mention as a club that the Leeds youngster "could be saved" by, with the Merseysiders already "winking" at him throughout the summer and therefore still keen on signing.
This is certainly a good update for Blues man to hear, with Gnonto's intentions clear and his mind firmly set on a speedy return to the Premier League. Whether Leeds budge at any point remains to be seen, but the Blues must further test their resolves with an improved bid for him.
While the Italy international may not necessarily come in and transform Everton's fortunes on his own, he would add an unpredictable spark to the attack from the off, combining speed, trickery and solid end product for his age, having registered six goal contributions (two goals and four assists) in the Premier League last season.
Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…
Gnonto has been hailed as "absolutely crucial" for Leeds by football talent scout Jacek Kulig in the recent past, as well as "superb", and his long-term potential makes him someone who could be a fantastic addition at Goodison Park for a number of years to come.
It is still so clear that Everton are in huge need of more firepower in their attack, both out wide and in central areas, but if they could get a deal for Gnonto over the line, it would be a massive positive, hopefully nailing him down for many years to come.
West Ham United will be hoping to add some more fresh faces to their squad before the transfer window slams shut on Friday.
David Moyes has led his side to a wonderful start to their Premier League campaign, but with European group stage football to come between now and Christmas, along with their domestic commitments, the Scot may try and add some depth to his senior side.
With this in mind, Moyes could be preparing to resurrect a move which looked all but dead a few weeks ago.
Will West Ham United make another signing?
Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth has given an update on Harry Maguire and his future as it looks as though West Ham may go back in for him.
He said: “West Ham United considering whether to go back in for Manchester United defender Harry Maguire.
"They had £30m deal agreed earlier this month, only for Maguire to decide to stay & fight for his place. It’s thought West Ham exploring loan deal.”
It looked as though Moyes was close to signing Maguire a few weeks ago before everything fell through, meaning it could be second time lucky for the club.
Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…
The £190k-per-week defender may well see the move to London as a chance to secure regular game time and Moyes will be desperate to sign him before the window closes.
Will Harry Maguire improve West Ham?
West Ham have already signed one defender recently, luring ex-Arsenal centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos from Stuttgart after he enjoyed a brilliant campaign for the German side.
He ranked second in the squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.26) while also ranking fourth for accurate passes (41.5), tackles (1.8), and first for interceptions per game (2.2), showcasing his astute defensive abilities in the Bundesliga.
Indeed, his rating would have ranked him first across the entire West Ham squad last term while the defender would have ranked second for accurate passes, fifth for tackles and first for interceptions per match, indicating that he could be a huge improvement on what West Ham currently have.
He could also form a wonderful partnership with current target Maguire, despite the United defender struggling for game time last season.
Harry Maguire
The 30-year-old started just eight Premier League matches under Erik ten Hag, yet he still ranked in the top 10% when compared to positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for aerial duels won per 90 (3.11), showcasing his physicality at the heart of the defence.
Mavropanos also ranked highly for aerials won per 90 when compared to peers (3.35) while sitting in the top 8% for progressive carries per (1.92) and shot-creating actions per 90 (1.38), demonstrating that he a brutish threat both defensively and going forward.
Equally as powerful, Maguire could form a dream partnership with the Greek centre-half as the England man could focus on his physical skill set, all while allowing Mavropanos the opportunity to drive forward often, utilising his passing abilities in the process.
The United defender has been hailed as a “colossus” by Simon Jordan previously and this immense strength could only be an advantage for Moyes’ starting XI as he aims to chase more glory this season.
Arsenal’s start to the Premier League term had been decidedly unconvincing despite where they sit in the table, as narrow victories over Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace either side of a 2-2 draw with Fulham has hardly inspired fans.
However, that was all washed away with their win last weekend, as they dug deep to pull an outstanding win against Manchester United out of the bag with two late strikes.
In a result that could mark a turning point in their early season, Mikel Arteta will hope to use that clash as inspiration to take into their game with Everton in just under two weeks’ time, before their Champions League campaign also gets underway.
However, despite the respite such a victory offered, it was still far from a perfect display, with VAR seemingly salvaging a draw as they chalked off Alejandro Garnacho’s finish that would have surely turned the tie in favour of the visitors.
2022/23 season
5 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses
2nd
2021/22 season
2 wins, 0 draws, 3 losses
5th
2020/21 season
3 wins, 0 draws, 2 losses
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2019/20 season
2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss
8th
2018/19 season
3 wins, 0 draws, 2 losses
5th
They need to get back to their old ways, where free-flowing football was a prerequisite for every encounter they were involved in.
Whilst it might seem unlikely, perhaps an injection of youth could offer that creative impetus with which they could recapture their spark, especially given the glaring vacancy of Jurrien Timber that they still need to fill.
How long is Jurrien Timber injured for?
Edu’s summer spending marked an incisive showing from the Brazilian, as he welcomed Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, David Raya and Jurrien Timber way before the Deadline Day.
He acted with speed, and bolstered the key areas where it could be argued that they suffered deficiencies the year prior.
So, to see the Dutchman struck down in just his first league start was a true hammer blow, made even worse by the fact had sustained an ACL injury that will likely see him out for around seven months.
The former Ajax star had shone in his homeland, making a name for himself as one of the best ball-playing defenders in the world. Having just made his big switch to England too, it was a cruel twist of fate to see the 22-year-old now sidelined for so long.
Especially given, when compared to other centre-backs across Europe, he sat in the top 4% for passes attempted per 90, the top 2% for pass completion rate per 90, the top 1% for progressive passes per 90 and the top 4% for progressive carries per 90, via FBref.
However, where there is a negative situation like this it often breeds an opportunity for someone else, with Ben White the star expected to continue to deputise at right-back for the bulk of the campaign.
A solid defender with a history of featuring at centre-back, he has provided balance to Arteta’s system over the last 12 months. The England international's 6.91 average Sofascore rating in the Premier League emphasises this, as a figure upheld by his 1.6 tackles and two clearances per game. Although, it certainly remains a part of their squad that could have been improved, hence their £38m move for Timber.
ben-white-arsenal-james-sweet-academy
Despite that, White has been lauded for his services too by Arteta: “I think he is really enjoying it. He finds himself with a bit of freedom and you can see, when he has space, how he likes to attack. I think he is happy there.”
“He has this capacity. Physically he is a really special player. He is very intelligent and very gifted, and he has a lot of courage to play this game. If you tell him to play in midfield, he will. And he will give his best.”
However, in Timber the thought process was clearly to add more creativity to that backline, securing a viable counterpart to Oleksandr Zinchenko on the opposite flank.
So, in an effort to emulate the success earned with the former Manchester City star, who saw his career start as an attacking midfielder, perhaps Arteta could seek to transform one of his malleable young midfielders into the perfect inverted full-back.
Fortunately for him, there already seems to be one brewing in Hale End's James Sweet.
Who is James Sweet?
Billed via Arsenal’s official website as “an indefatigable midfielder with exceptional technical quality”, the fact that James Sweet has already been shining at right-back will likely have Arteta keenly interested.
With all of his career having been geared towards creating chances for others, this new position of his lets him now do so from deep, allowing his defensive credentials to shine too whilst other attacking players can come into the side.
Players of his ilk are the ultimate facilitators, with his role even lauded by academy expert Jeorge Bird: “James Sweet has progressed really well. He looks a major threat down the right with his dangerous crosses.”
The 19-year-old Welshman would be more than capable of stepping up to fulfil Timber’s role with a bit more first-team experience, thus adding that touch of technical class from the right flank that their head coach is likely seeking.
After all, his performances in the EFL Trophy last term offered just a glimpse into the well-rounded asset he has been for the U21s. He maintained an 87% pass accuracy alongside an 80% dribble success rate, whilst also posting three tackles and 1.5 clearances per game too, via Sofascore.
Then, as if to emphasise his growing creativity, his sole performance in this season’s iteration of the competition was a standout one with two key passes recorded.
This has fed into his stellar Premier League 2 showings too, with one goal and one assist in their opening three games. It truly has been an outstanding start to the season for the young defender, who is certainly knocking on the door after years of steadily progressing through the youth setup.
Perhaps, should Arteta hand Sweet that show of faith he needs, the creative full-back could shatter all expectations by growing into the perfect defender to fill a hole during the painful absence of Timber.
Things aren't going well for Newcastle United at the moment and they have now suffered a fresh injury blow alongside the concern for Sven Botman, according to a new update.
Who is injured for Newcastle?
The Magpies had such an impressive season last time around, finishing fourth in the Premier League and getting back into the Champions League, but things aren't going to plan in 2023/24 to date.
Having cruised to an emphatic 5-1 win at home to Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the campaign, things have gone very wrong since, with three defeats in a row. They were beaten 1-0 away to Manchester City, which certainly wasn't a disaster, but losing to 10-man Liverpool was hugely disappointing, as was Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Brighton.
It means the mood at St James' Park is fairly bleak heading into the international break, and the absence of the influential Botman was felt against Brighton, with Newcastle looking more open at the back without him around. Joe Willock is also currently absent, having not yet featured this season, and now another blow has emerged during the international break.
According to an update from Newcastle World, Magpies youngster Alex Murphy has now also been sidelined through injury, being ruled out of the international break:
"Newcastle United’s young defender Alex Murphy has been forced to withdraw from international duty because of injury. The 19-year-old was called up to the Republic of Ireland’s Under-21 squad for Euro qualifiers against Turkey and San Marino but has been replaced by Wigan Athletic defender Baba Adeeko.
"In a statement released by Ireland on Monday morning, they revealed Murphy suffered an injury during the young Magpies’ 4-0 defeat to Manchester City Under-21s on Saturday and was therefore unavailable."
While Murphy certainly isn't a key man at Newcastle currently, this is still clearly another setback at a difficult time for the Magpies, with Eddie Howe no doubt beginning to feel like the world is against him and his depth is dwindling – there are also rumours about Joelinton's fitness.
The 19-year-old is a talented centre-back who has made 22 appearances for the Under-21s, not to mention winning nine caps for the Republic of Ireland's Under-19s, while Howe himself has lauded him in the past, saying:
"I thought he was excellent, really really good. It's a very tough environment to come into, especially slightly out of position. But he was very composed, and defended really well. I was really, really pleased with him.
"I've always liked Alex. I think he's a very good technician. But it's really when you find out about players when you're in this environment- a full crowd, Premier League opposition. He can be very pleased with his night's work."
The hope is that Murphy's absence is only a short-term one, allowing him to be fit once the international break is over, as he continues to mature as a footballer and hopefully push for first-team football in the near future.
More important for Newcastle right now is getting Botman back fit, though, with the centre-back someone who the Magpies cannot afford to be without for an extended period of time, as the defeat away to Brighton showed, with goals conceded simply too easily.
Former Spurs striker turned pundit Darren Bent has made a "bonkers" James Maddison claim at Tottenham Hotspur.
Who have Tottenham signed this summer?
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy moved to bring in goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker Maddison, winger Manor Solomon, striker Alejo Veliz and forward Brennan Johnson over the summer.
The north Londoners sealed seven major signings in total; bolstering Postecoglou's squad to great. Meanwhile, star striker Harry Kane, Sergio Reguilon, Joe Rodon, Djed Spence, Harry Winks, Alfie Devine, Troy Parrott, Dane Scarlett, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndombele all moved in the opposite direction.
It was quite the busy transfer window for Tottenham before it shut on September 1, with Postecoglou orchestrating a major overhaul to reshape the Spurs squad in his own image.
So far, the Australian has been totally justified in his decisions off the field. Spurs currently sit second in the Premier League table, just behind last season's imperious treble-winning Man City.
The Lilywhites, during that time, have won three out of their opening four league matches; scoring nine goals in the process with brilliant victories over Man United, Bournemouth and Burnley.
Maddison, after joining from Leicester City in late June, has been one of the shining lights in this exciting, new-look Postecoglou side at Tottenham.
The England international has dazzled with two goals and two assists already in a Spurs shirt; putting in Man of the Match performances whilst truly justifying his £45 million price tag.
Maddison, speaking in a recent sit-down with The Telegraph, explained his love for the beautiful game and how he is overjoyed at being a Tottenham player.
"When you start playing football as a kid, you don’t play for anything,” said Maddison.
“There’s no politics, nothing like that. You play because you love playing football and you do the things you love and you become the player you become because of what you do and what you’re good at.
"And that will never change for me. That’s non-negotiable. That’s how I play. I’m never going to change and that’s why my journey has gone like this and I’m happy to have ended up at Tottenham.”
What's been said about James Maddison?
Heung-min Son and James Maddison
The former Norwich City star and Spurs are seemingly a match made in heaven; as the club have long missed a serial creative playmaker in the mould of Christian Eriksen.
Pundit Bent, speaking live on talkSPORT this week, has heaped praise on Maddison for his start to life under Postecoglou.
The former Aston Villa striker has also made a "bonkers" claim involving the 26-year-old, amid his imperious run f form in the top flight.
As transcribed by TBR, when asked if Maddison is now worth £90 million, Bent said: “Easy, because he’s been that good, that impressive."
He also called the £45m fee paid for his services an absolute "bargain".
“For James Maddison, I think it’s a bargain, even at £45 million. It sounds bonkers, it’s a bargain."
If the Englishman can maintain these superb run of performances through the 2023/2024 season, it's safe to say chairman Daniel Levy has pulled off a masterstroke.
Aston Villa's renaissance continues following a stunning Premier League victory over Chelsea, as the Midlands side came away from Stamford Bridge with a 1-0 win and all three points.
The result ensures Unai Emery’s men remain in sixth place in the table, having suffered just two defeats in the league and – comparing the club to this stage last year – it is like night and day.
Indeed, comparing the club now from when they first achieved promotion back to the top flight in 2019 is incredible, especially in terms of the quality of player they can now lure to the Midlands while having a world-class manager in charge.
Under Dean Smith, Villa spent big on players such as Tyrone Mings (£21m), Wesley (£22m) and Marvelous Nakamba (£11m) alongside a host of other players who failed to really make the grade at the club.
Dean Smith
In total, he spent over £300m in assembling a squad which could cope with the demands of top-flight football, while trying to re-establish the club as one of the biggest sides in the top flight.
League finishes of 17th and 11th in Smith’s two seasons in charge weren’t exactly spectacular, however, while his successor Steven Gerrard failed to inspire much confidence either, finishing 14th during the 2021/22 season after he had been appointed in November 2021.
Very few of the signings made by the 52-year-old had any sort of meaningful impact at the club. Ollie Watkins is shining under Emery, while Tyrone Mings impressed last term, although he suffered a serious injury during the first match of the season and is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign.
Matty Cash is another who has made a significant impact during his spell at Villa and this has seen his market value soar.
How much did Aston Villa sign Matty Cash for?
The right-back signed from Nottingham Forest for a fee of around £16m back in 2020 as the club were looking to make progress ahead of the 2020/21 season.
Matty Cash
Smith praised the defender upon his arrival, saying: “We are delighted to welcome Matty to Villa and believe we have secured one of England’s brightest young prospects.
“He has an excellent playing record for a young player and we believe he will settle in easily and continue his rapid development into a top full-back.”
Having made 141 appearances for Forest, Cash arrived in the Midlands with a wealth of senior experience and the move has turned out extremely well so far, emerging as a key player under Emery.
How much is Matty Cash worth now?
Since making his debut for the club in 2020, the English-born Polish international has racked up over 100 games for Villa in just three years and the initial £16m transfer fee now appears to be a very wise move indeed.
Cash has seen his value rise steadily since September 2020 and according to Football Transfers, the defender is now currently valued at €37.1m (£32.2m) and this represents an increase of 101% from his transfer fee.
His value actually rose to €47.1m (£41m) in August 2022 yet with his recent performances, there is no doubt this could rise to a similar number in the next few months, or perhaps even higher.
Regardless of his value, Villa will be able to make a staggering profit on the 26-year-old should they wish to move him on, but he is turning into an integral part of the senior setup as Emery chases glory.
Why is Matty Cash worth this much?
Although Villa failed to reach the heights expected of them under Smith, Cash went on to make 28 Premier League appearances in his debut season, while the following term, he showed remarkable consistency by starting every single league tie for the club.
He even scored four times during the 2021/22 campaign while creating three big chances, averaging 0.8 key passes per game, and succeeding with 56% of his attempted dribbles, demonstrating his attacking abilities from a full-back role.
Last season saw him start only 20 league matches as the club were enduring some mid-season turbulence, yet he made the Poland squad for the World Cup, where he went to play all four matches for the nation as they qualified for the last 16 for the first time since 1986.
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His performances in Qatar even drew praise from former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, who said “Matty Cash has wonderful attributes, he’s a terrific talent!” while also explaining that “he’s got the potential to go to a big club & be comfortable at #UCL level.”
High praise indeed from someone who represented England on nine occasions and Cash has certainly taken his game to the next level during the current season.
Emery has unleashed him in the starting XI in all six matches thus far, and he has repaid this faith by scoring twice in the league, while winning 52% of his total duels and recovering 4.3 balls per game, indicating that he is strong in the tackle and is keen to mop up any loose balls in order to give his team plenty of chances to create goal-scoring opportunities.
In terms of performance across the whole Villa squad, Cash ranks fourth for overall Sofascore rating (7.15) along with topping the pile for shots on target per game (1.2), fifth for tackles (2.2) and sixth for interceptions (0.5) per game, underlining his class.
Matty Cash
The £80k-per-week gem has all but made the right-back slot his own under the Spaniard and if he continues to perform like he has this term, he may attract the attention of some top clubs in the near future.
The former Forest defender has established himself as a consistent player who not only can defend but can also showcase his attacking talents to full effect, as evidenced by the two goals he has netted this term.
Having cost just £16m three years ago, it appears that Villa has struck gold on the right-back, especially considering his value has soared over double that amount in those 36 months.
Emery won't want to sell him, yet if the time comes when an offer arrives for the player, it could well be too good to turn down and the Midlands outfit will rake in a stunning profit on Cash, there’s no doubt about that.
Southampton made an official summer move for a managerial alternative to Russell Martin, but a journalist has revealed that he rejected the opportunity to move to the St. Mary's Stadium.
How have Southampton started the season?
In the Championship, Martin’s side have made a mixed start to the new term having secured four wins, one draw and suffered four defeats from their opening nine games, meaning that they have so far taken 13 points out of a possible 27, as per BBC Sport.
Speaking on the 'What The EFL?!' podcast, Adrian Clarke, who is a pundit covering all of the football leagues in England, claimed that the south coast boss won’t be able to lead his team to promotion and predicted that he would be sacked before the end of the season.
However, Sport Republic are fully understanding of the current situation and have put their full backing behind the manager, according to the man himself in charge at St. Mary’s, but details have emerged that he wasn’t actually their first-choice target over the summer.
Did Southampton want to appoint Enzo Maresca?
Speaking to GiveMeSport, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs confirmed that Southampton made an approach for Leicester City's Enzo Maresca, but he turned down the chance to join because he preferred the project on offer at the King Power Stadium. He said:
"I think he was sold on Leicester because their foundations and the strength of their squad going down were just stronger. So I don't think that Maresca ever seriously entertained, Southampton, but it's absolutely true that he was approached.
“The appeal of Southampton would have been there's a few that have obviously moved or had at the time (from Manchester City), because Romeo Lavia has gone now to Chelsea and Gavin Bazunu is another one, though, that is still there who had come from Manchester City, that he would have known very well.”
Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca.
What is Enzo Maresca's record at Leicester?
Since taking to the dugout at Leicester back in July, Maresca has overseen 11 games in total, and from that, he’s racked up an outstanding nine victories, losing on just two occasions, with this form meaning that he’s averaging 2.45 points per match in the Midlands, via Transfermarkt.
The Italian, who has a preferred formation of 4-3-3, also already knows what it takes to beat Martin’s side having produced a 4-1 thrashing at St. Mary’s in September, so if he can have this positive impact when leading the opposition, imagine what he’d be capable of if he was in charge of the home outfit.
Furthermore, the 43-year-old shares the same agent, Wasserman, as Ryan Manning, James Bree, Flynn Downes and Ryan Fraser, so his representative will already hold a strong, existing connection to the hierarchy, making it even more of a shame that an agreement couldn’t be reached.
However, if the club don't start climbing the table as expected, Maresca is certainly a candidate that chiefs should consider targeting once again should they decide to sack Martin in the near future.
Tottenham Hotspur have made inroads to bring in a new teenage addition following recent developments at Hotspur Way, according to reports.
Latest Tottenham news…
Spurs overcame a tough test on Saturday against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, running out 1-0 victors over the Premier League newcomers thanks to a smart finish from defender Micky van de Ven. Despite being reduced to ten men due to Yves Bissouma's sending off on the stroke of half-time for a second bookable offence, Tottenham rallied against a dogged opponent to dig out an excellent three points, something which delighted boss Ange Postecoglou in his post-match press conference.
Cited by Football London, Postecoglou stated: "I thought the lads handled it really well (Bissouma red card). They stayed calm and composed. They gave up a couple of chances but for the most part, kept them away from our goal. We were always a threat going the other way. As you said, in the end just the sheer will and effort of them to make sure we won, not just the starters but the guys coming on, it was a great collective effort."
In other news, Football Insider report that Tottenham are set to be one of several competitors for the signature of Al-Ittihad winger Jota in the January transfer window. The outlet claim that Jota could be targeted owing to long-term injuries sustained by Spurs duo Manor Solomon and Ivan Perisic, which could breed a reunion between the Portuguese attacker and his former manager Postecoglou, who brought him to Celtic in 2021.
Tottenham also have belief that they could win the race to sign Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher if he doesn't put pen to paper on a new deal at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham transfer news – teenager on trial
Tottenham signings since Ange Postecoglou's arrival
Player
Previous club
Fee
Brennan Johnson
Nottingham Forest
£47.5 million
Guglielmo Vicario
Empoli
£17.2 million
Dejan Kulusevski (deal made permanent)
Juventus
£25.9 million
Micky van de Ven
Wolfsburg
£43.5 million
Pedro Porro (deal made permanent)
Sporting Clube de Portugal
£39 million
Manor Solomon
Shakhtar Donetsk
Free agent
Alejo Veliz
Rosario Central
Undisclosed
Ashley Phillips
Blackburn Rovers
£2 million
James Maddison
Leicester City
£40 million
All fees courtesy of Sky Sports News
Reliable journalist Alan Nixon provided a Tottenham transfer update on Patreon, claiming Spurs are looking to sign Norwich City's teenage goalkeeper Dylan Thompson and have taken him on trial at Hotspur Way. Tottenham appear to be keen on signing the youngster and would be happy to pay a compensation fee for his services, with movement on a potential deal possibly happening in the near future.
Securing the arrival of young talent could be key to long-term planning processes in north London as the Lilywhites aim to challenge at the top end of the English pyramid for the coming years. Northern Ireland-born England youth international striker Jamie Donley has already been in and around the first-team squad at Tottenham this term and it remains to be seen who else could enter the fold over the course of the coming months, with a move for Thompson one to watch over the coming weeks.