Category Uncategorized

Aston Villa have always been an ambitious club, but now with the deployment of Unai Emery in the dugout, the club’s gaze is cast beyond a return to the top half of the Premier League table and towards European nights under the lights.

What’s the word?

An illustration of these aspirations comes in the shape of Joao Felix, with the Atletico Madrid offensive maestro subject to intense focus on his future across recent weeks, with tensions with Atletico boss Diego Simeone reportedly at boiling point.

Signed for the Spanish giants for an eye-watering £113m back in 2019 from boyhood club SL Benfica, Felix has been touted for a move to Villa Park with recent reports, via Sport Witness, suggesting the club are making a ‘huge effort’ to sign the Portuguese sensation next year.

A dream first signing

Felix emerged onto the scene in Portugal and swiftly established himself as the country’s glittering young jewel; he scored a commendable 20 goals and served 11 assists from just 43 senior appearances with the prominent outfit.

It was this fiery entrance that left him touted across Europe, with Simeone’s Atletico indeed winning the race, however with just 33 goals from 129 outings for the Colchoneros, a departure might suit all parties.

The efforts that the ace made in Qatar, at the 2022 World Cup, were evidence that slotted into a more forward-minded, free-flowing side, and Felix, who was hailed as a “starlet” by Semra Hunter, might just flourish.

As per Sofascore, the 28-cap star recorded an average rating of 7.03, scoring a goal and registering two assists across his four outings for his nation, dazzling with slick passing and fluid transitional play.

At Villa, Felix could forge his path under Emery’s tutelage, adopting the talismanic role and becoming the focal point, the main channel of attack.

It is this level of responsibility that could bounce off both club and player, with the £43.9m-rated gem appearing something of a dream signing given his reputation and room for potential.

Despite his wayward success in front of goal, FBref highlights some excellent metrics that will bode well for him ahead of a prospective transfer; he ranks within the top 11% for progressive passes and 13% for dribbles completed when compared to forwards across Europe’s major leagues this past year.

Now worth a reported €100m (£88m), the signing for Villa Park would be immense, eclipsing anything the club has seen in a long time, and the success on the pitch would surely be soon to follow, with former coach Renato Paiva telling The Athletic that the ace would leave people “open-mouthed” with his effortless talent. 

Despite only scoring four goals and three assists across 18 appearances this season, Felix has only started nine times, and given a platform to assume central standing, he will finally hit the ceiling that stands high above the ground.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has reportedly told Jude Bellingham to make a move to the Etihad Stadium. 

The Lowdown: Big interest in Bellingham

The Manchester side have been linked with a transfer move for the Englishman, as have numerous other clubs across Europe.

Those clubs will have the chance to see the 19-year-old in international action as he features for England throughout the World Cup in Qatar.

With City taking Haaland away from Dortmund during the previous summer transfer window, it seems as though the Norwegian has had a word with his former teammate about making a move to Pep Guardiola’s side.

The Latest: Haaland tells Bellingham to join City

In a recent Twitter post from Ben Jacobs following England’s 6-2 win over Iran, where Bellingham opened the scoring for Gareth Southgate’s side, the journalist had this to say about the midfielder and the transfer interest in him.

He said:

“A standout performance from Jude Bellingham. Dortmund planning for a summer 2023 departure. Liverpool and Real Madrid are the frontrunners but it’s an open race. Erling Haaland has already told him to join Manchester City. Chelsea also in the race and they want Declan Rice, too.”

The Verdict: A star signing for City

In terms of what he’s done for Dortmund this season, the teenager has played every minute of Bundesliga action for the German club, scoring three goals and delivering two assists in the process.

With that, Bellingham has racked up more shots at goal (31), progressive passes (86), successful tackles (26), blocks (27) and interceptions (21) than any other Dortmund player.

Lauded as a “Rolls Royce” midfielder by journalist Mark Douglas for his performance against Iran, the Englishman certainly has what it takes to be a star signing for City and Guardiola.

Taking all of this into account, it’s easy to see why Dortmund have reportedly slapped a €150m (£129m) price tag on their star midfielder. Moving forward, if City are keen on signing the player, they’ll have to hope that Haaland’s plea to Bellingham to join him at the Etihad will work in their favour and make it easier for them to sign him.

With an EFL Cup fixture against Blackburn Rovers looming tonight, West Ham United have been handed a draw that is far tougher than initially seemed.

The Lancashire club are in a rich vein of form, having won five of their last six in the Championship, which has allowed them to break into the automatic promotion spots.

Not only this, but their lead marksman Ben Brereton-Diaz seems once again to have found his form, and will be looking to show the Hammers exactly what he is about with reports continuing to link him with a move there. He has nine goals already this league campaign.

David Moyes will have to decide on his priorities with this match in mind, but one decision he must make is to return Pablo Fornals to the starting lineup.

Not only does he offer a tricky and clinical option in the midfield, but it could provide some added rest for the likes of Lucas Paqueta or even Jarrod Bowen for their Premier League game this weekend.

Having been benched for their clash with Crystal Palace, the £22m-rated man was their standout performer in midweek as they cruised to victory over FCSB to top their Europa Conference League group.

His two goals earned him a 9.2 rating, as he stood up when his youthful teammates needed him most. 

The Spaniard was at his creative best in this game, with his 65 touches managing two key passes and a 93% pass accuracy.

A brace marked his third goal of the season, with his other being the only goal in their narrow win over Aston Villa.

Likely with aspirations of a run in the competition, Moyes will be keen on getting a result of some sort tonight. To do that, he might actually have to remove Bowen from the team given his lack of form.

With just two league goals so far in 14 games, he is a shadow of the marksman that found the net 12 times and assisted 12 more.

Fornals would provide a touch of class and a calmness to pick apart a resilient Rovers defence, using his “skilful” assets to full effect, as labelled by David Cartlidge.

It is something of a no-brainer, as he is a more than capable stand-in to face a stubborn lower-league opposition.

Usman Khawaja is leaving BBL franchise Sydney Thunder so he can be closer to his family in Brisbane next summer.Khawaja said seeking a release from his contract with the Thunder was the toughest decision of his cricket career. His wife Rachel is expecting their second child, due in April this year.The 35-year-old, who was contracted by the Thunder until the end of the next BBL season, said he wants to spend more time in the Queensland capital with his family next summer.”It’s the toughest call I’ve made as a cricketer because Sydney Thunder…mean so much to me,” Khawaja said in a statement on Friday. “However, it is for family reasons.”And while I’m leaving, people who know me realise a big part of my heart will always remain with Thunder. I don’t want people to think I’ve cut my ties…because I’ll always care about the club, the players, the entire organisation.”Khawaja’s statement didn’t specify if he wanted to continue his BBL career with the Brisbane Heat.Khawaja, an inaugural Sydney Thunder player, is the franchise’s leading run-scorer with 1818 runs at a strike rate of almost 130.Cricket NSW’s head of male cricket, Michael Klinger, said Thunder had tabled a long-term contract extension to Khawaja.”It’s disappointing … Sydney Thunder and Cricket NSW definitely wanted him to stay and we offered a highly competitive contract,” Klinger said in a statement. “However we appreciate Usman’s decision has been made for his family, and we respect and support that.”Khawaja returned to Australia’s Test team during the 4-0 Ashes series win against England and departs this weekend for a three-Test tour of Pakistan, the country of his birth.

Aston Villa have invested heavily in the playing squad over the last few summers, with Steven Gerrard having had the chance to make his own mark over the most recent summer.

Arguably his marquee signing was to tempt Diego Carlos to Villa Park, with expectations of him being the domineering centre-back to lead them up the Premier League table.

However, disaster struck just two games in as he ruptured his Achilles against Everton, ruling him out for the foreseeable future.

It has led to a long-term recall for Tyrone Mings alongside Ezri Konsa but leaves them incredibly light at the back now.

Gerrard might have to call upon the youth squad to find added depth, and in there he could actually find an heir to the 29-year-old Brazilian.

One such prodigy is Josh Feeney, who seems to have all the hallmarks of a really impressive centre-back.

The 17-year-old stands at an outstanding 6 foot 3 and has already captained the England under-18s side on numerous occasions.

 There is a reason why BirminghamLive reporter Ashley Preece labelled him “highly-rated”.

Mature beyond his years, he has even been called up to Villa’s U23 side and has one goal in his opening two appearances this season in the Premier League 2.

Last season was when he truly made the step up to this level, featuring just three times in the under-18s Premier League before making 18 appearances in the higher age group.

Already standing way above Carlos’ 6-foot frame, he clearly has the physical attributes to compete with the former Sevilla defender.

Last season in La Liga he averaged 1.0 tackles and a mammoth 3.5 clearances per game, which was impressive as he led his side to a fourth-placed finish.

He was instrumental, so it makes his freak injury even more frustrating.

However, with the lack of depth, it could now present a fine opportunity to slowly move Feeney up through that last step to senior football.

Blessed with incredible height, and clearly a threat from set pieces too, this miserable period could be the marking of a long-term successor to Carlos birthed through his own injury.

West Brom supporters ‘booed’ defender Kyle Bartley shortly after Birmingham City’s third goal on Wednesday, according to reporter Joe Chapman.

The Lowdown: Another defeat

The Baggies fell to a midweek defeat to their local rivals, making it five games in all competitions without a win.

Steve Bruce’s side have won just one of their first nine Championship fixtures, with Scott Hogan scoring a hat-trick at The Hawthorns. The result leaves West Brom in 20th place and only out of the relegation zone due to goal difference.

The Latest: Chapman’s post

Chapman provided updates from The Hawthorns on Twitter and described Bartley’s involvement in Hogan’s third goal as “properly bad”.

He then stated that the centre-back’s first touch after the restart was “booed by the Albion fans”, with Bruce taking him off after 76 minutes.

The Verdict: Evening to forget

You can see why a number of supporters were unhappy with Bartley, with SofaScore giving him a match rating of 6.3/10. He failed to make an interception or tackle all evening, lost possession on 12 occasions and also completed just one of six attempted long balls.

The defender has been one of the club’s worst performing players in the second tier, as per WhoScored, so it wouldn’t come as a shock if Bruce left him out of the side for this weekend’s trip to Norwich City.

Manchester United are believed to have made a late enquiry for Everton forward Anthony Gordon, with the Englishman also attracting in interest from Chelsea of late.

What’s the word?

As per The Athletic – in David Ornstein’s Monday column – the Red Devils made a ‘late check’ on the 21-year-old’s availability before pressing on with their pursuit of Ajax winger, Antony, having since agreed a €100m (£85m) fee for the Brazil international.

The Toffees man has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge throughout the window, with the Blues believed to have been willing to pay as much as £60m in order to prise him from west London.

This report suggests that interest could well have cooled, with the youngster looking likely to remain on Merseyside beyond the September deadline.

Dodged a bullet

The reaction of journalist Rhys Jones to that eye-catching news will no doubt be a view shared by most of a United persuasion, as he stated that the club had “dodged a bullet” by not making a concrete approach for Gordon in the latter stages of the window.

Although an exciting prospect, the £10k-per-week man’s form to date has seemingly not warranted such intense interest from the Premier League’s elite clubs, with it something of a headscratcher as to the size of the fees that have been mentioned.

While the £18m-rated ace netted his first league goal of the season in the draw with Brentford at the weekend, that effort was in fact just his fifth league goal in his top-flight career to date, having also chipped in with just three assists in that time.

With only 53 league outings in the top tier to his name, it somewhat beggars belief as to why he has been linked with such high-profile moves, with the Liverpool-born winger yet to truly prove himself on a consistent basis.

There may be potential doubts over the hefty fee that is set to be paid for the aforementioned Antony, although the 22-year-old will arrive with far greater senior experience under his belt, having recorded 46 goal involvements in just 82 games in all competitions during his time in Holland.

Equally, the former Sao Paolo star also offers the added benefit of having worked under manager Erik ten Hag in Amsterdam, with the player having seemingly been desperate to spark a reunion with the 52-year-old this summer.

Had the Old Trafford outfit turned to Gordon as an alternative for the nine-cap gem there would no doubt have been uproar among supporters, with it unwise to splash the cash on a player whose Premier League record is only marginally better than that of Anthony Elanga (three goals and three assists), albeit with the Sweden international making just 27 appearances.

As Jones alluded, United may have well and truly dodged a bullet.

Wolves are the favourites to sign Sporting CP midfielder Matheus Nunes, with a fresh update claiming they are the ‘most interested club’ currently.

The Lowdown: Nunes reports constant

The Portuguese maestro’s future has been a big saga throughout the summer transfer window, with a host of clubs interested in acquiring his signature.

Wolves are one of them, with constant links emerging in recent weeks, as Bruno Lage looks to make a significant midfield signing to bolster his team before the deadline.

It appears as though Wanderers are still pushing hard to get their man, following a new update.

The Latest: Fresh update arrives

According to Sky Sport Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg on Twitter, Wolves are in pole position for Nunes, although Premier League titans Manchester City and Liverpool are also interested:

“Matheus #Nunes: Been told that Wolverhampton is the most interested club at this stage. #MCFC is still in. #LFC keeps an eye on him but it’s not very hot. Sporting will be open for offers around €35m + resale participation in the future.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“398117″]

The Verdict: Positive news

It is encouraging to see Wolves still be in the mix to snap up Nunes, with the Sporting man someone who could forge an outstanding partnership with Ruben Neves, should he stay put.

Nunes has been hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by former teammate Goncalo Santos in the past and his technical ability when driving with the ball is really a sight to behold.

[freshpress-poll id=“399044″]

He and Neves know each other at international level with Portugal and their ball-playing expertise, coupled with strong out-of-possession work, means Wanderers could dominate midfield battles.

At 23, Nunes represents a long-term investment, and his 86.2% pass completion rate and average of 2.5 dribbles per game in the Primeira Liga last season highlight the technical class at his disposal.

Fulham gave their supporters a lot of goals to celebrate as the west London club cruised back to the Premier League from the second division last season.

With 46 games played, the Cottagers racked up an impressive total of 106 goals, as well as more shots at goal (738) and shots on target (277) than any other side in the division.

One player in the squad that made a rather small contribution to Fulham’s impressive goal haul last season was Ivan Cavaleiro.

Despite making 18 league appearances throughout the campaign, the winger could only score two goals, both of which came during Fulham’s second game of the season where they beat Huddersfield Town 5-1.

With a few weeks left until the summer transfer window closes, this period could give the west London club and Marco Silva the chance to potentially bring in someone that can be an upgrade on Cavaleiro and have a better chance at becoming an important figure for the team in the Premier League.

One figure that has been mentioned with a move to Craven Cottage recently that could fit this bill is AS Roma winger Justin Kluivert.

With 220 club appearances to his name at senior and youth levels, the 23-year-old has 47 goals and 47 assists to his name, which shows just how dangerous he can be in terms of not only scoring goals but setting them up for his teammates as well.

Having done it with clubs in countries such as the Netherlands, France, Germany and Italy, the winger, who has been hailed as a “limitless” player in the past by Nick Mercadante, has shown how capable he is of adapting to playing in different leagues and teams but still being an attacking threat.

To further highlight his attacking talent, in addition to scoring four goals and providing five assists in 27 Ligue 1 appearances with OGC Nice where he spent the season on loan, the Dutchman also racked up the second-highest number of successful dribbles (33) and more crosses (81) than any other player at the French club.

With Cavaleiro only delivering 28 crosses in the Championship last season, this would be one significant area where Kluivert would be an upgrade on the current Fulham attacker.

If the west London club are able to secure a deal for the winger before deadline day, this would not only further add to their attacking options but also put to bed any concerns there may have been about having to rely on Cavaleiro to help them through the season.

Nottingham Forest have long been linked with a permanent move for Djed Spence following his successful loan spell at the City Ground, but there has now been a less than encouraging update from a reliable source on the player’s future.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has stated that the Middlesbrough full-back has completed his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

The transfer insider tweeted: “Djed Spence has just completed his medical in London. He’s gonna sign his long-term contract as Tottenham player, just waiting for final details and official contracts. Here we go confirmed.”

“Middlesbrough will receive £12.5m fixed fee plus add-ons, bit less than £20m.”

Supporters surely gutted

There is no doubt that Forest supporters will be gutted to see Spence go to Spurs this summer, especially when you consider his amazing output which ultimately contributed to the club’s promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

The 21-year-old scored two goals, delivered four assists and created six big chances, making one key pass, 1.4 tackles and 1.5 interceptions and winning 5.8 duels per game over 42 Championship appearances, proving that he is both an attacking threat and a reliable defender.

He spoke out on his future following the victory in the play-off final at Wembley, telling Nottinghamshire Live: “[This club] means everything to me. We lose together and win together. We’re going up together. This means everything to me.”

“I would love to stay, but it’s not in my hands. We’ll see what the future holds.”

Steve Cooper will likely be as gutted as the Forest fan base, although he was clearly prepared for the possibility of Spence taking his talents elsewhere as the club signed right-back Neco Williams this month to come in as a replacement if the 2021/22 Reds loanee did not stay at the City Ground.

The Forest manager will be hoping that the former Liverpool full-back can emulate or even improve upon Spence’s performances when the team make their Premier League return next month.

With that being said, the newly-promoted club have shown their determination to focus on the future at Forest by not waiting around to see if they could seal a permanent deal for Spence, and ultimately it was the right decision now that the player is heading for north London.

AND in other news: Paul Taylor issues huge transfer claim that’ll excite Forest supporters