Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing left-back Julio Soler from Argentine club Lanus this summer.
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New Zealand star smashes 72 not out from 45 balls after claiming 1 for 16 with the ball as the Strikers cruise to a six-wicket win with 28 balls to spare
Alex Malcolm19-Oct-2019
Sophie Devine heaves through the leg side•Getty Images
A sublime all-round display from New Zealand’s Sophie Devine helped Adelaide Strikers to a win against Melbourne Renegades in their opening WBBL fixture at Karen Rolton Oval.Devine made 72 not out from just 45 balls to single-handedly run down the Renegades target of 118 after earlier delivering four overs for just 16 runs and picking up the key wicket of Renegades skipper Jess Duffin.Strikers elected to bowl first and it paid off immediately with their star-studded attack claiming four wickets in the Powerplay. Devine tied up an end as Megan Schutt and Stafanie Taylor tore through the Renegades’ talented top-order.Dani Wyatt was sent back by Schutt after absorbing six dot balls, and he fast bowler then took a superb caught and bowled two balls later to dismiss Sophie Molineux. Taylor picked up Claire Koski and Tammy Beaumont in the last over of the Powerplay to leave the Renegades at 4 for 21. Renegades never really recovered despite the best efforts of Duffin. She made 44 off 32 with five boundaries but Josie Dooley was the only other player to reach 20 as they limped to 7 for 117 from their 20 overs.Strikers’ chase did not start well with Lea Tahuhu dismissing Suzie Bates and Tahlia McGrath in the second over to leave the home side 2 for 4. That become 3 for 32 in the 5th over when Bridget Patterson was bowled by a brilliant inswinging yorker from Maitlan Brown.But Devine took control, while Taylor provided a steady hand from the other end in a 62-run stand. The Renegades could not contain Devine’s power as she struck six fours and four sixes to see her side home with 28 balls and six wickets to spare.
An interesting update has come to light on the future of West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta, amid claims he is attracting serious interest from elite clubs ahead of the summer window.
West Ham facing battle to keep Paqueta
The Brazil international has been David Moyes' superstar player alongside winger Jarrod Bowen this season.
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Paqueta has started 20 league matches under Moyes this season, scoring two goals and netting five assists, with his dynamism and creative quality in abundance for all to see.
The former Lyon star was actually attracting huge interest from Man City last summer, who were pushing to sign him but eventually pulled out due to an investigation into Paqueta's alleged gambling breaches (Fabrizio Romano).
However, once that investigation clears, it is believed Paqueta could be subject to bids from City, Aston Villa, Arsenal and even Tottenham.
If West Ham and Moyes elect to continue their work together past this season, increasing interest in the South American will come as a real worry for the Irons head coach who surely won't want to lose him.
They already had to part company with fan favourite and former club captain Declan Rice last year, who made a £105 million move to London rivals Arsenal.
West Ham make Paqueta promise behind-the-scenes
According to journalist Dean Jones, sharing some background on their attempts to keep Paqueta at the London Stadium, West Ham are making promises to Paqueta behind-the-scenes as they try to thwart potential buyers.
“I don’t think that Aston Villa would be a bad move for Paqueta, to be honest. But, if he is going to leave West Ham, it's going to take something special in terms of what they are promising him for the future," said Jones to GiveMeSport.
Lucas Paqueta's best performances for West Ham in the league this season
Match Rating (via WhoScored)
West Ham 3-0 Wolves
8.88
West Ham 3-2 Nottingham Forest
8.20
Luton Town 2-3 West Ham
8.02
Burnley 1-2 West Ham
7.86
Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham
7.79
“Considering his performances across the season, you could probably say that he is West Ham’s most important player in terms of making that team tick. Villa obviously have their work cut out in terms of signing him because I have heard that Manchester City are still interested in him and might have something to say about where he goes next.
“I can't believe for one second that Villa would be able to sign Paqueta without some competition from Manchester City. It's a tough deal to do – and probably expensive – but I think it is also a reflection of just where Villa are right now and where they're heading.”
It will be interesting to find out exactly what West Ham are "promising" Paqueta, but if they do have to sell, reports suggest West Ham could well bank £85 million if any club decides to trigger that buy-out clause in his contract.
MatériaMais Notícias
No próximo domingo (2), Brusque e Avaí se enfrentam pelo primeiro jogo das semifinais do Campeonato Catarinense 2021. Com um empate e uma vitória nas quartas de final, o Quadricolor despachou o Joinville, enquanto o Leão da Ilha, com duas vitórias, eliminou o Próspera.
RelacionadasFutebol NacionalEm ótima fase, Jhemerson do Tombense projeta semifinais com o Galo e ‘desenha’ futuro promissor na carreiraFutebol Nacional30/04/2021Futebol NacionalFelipe Surian, técnico da Portuguesa, projeta partida contra o Fluminense e afirma: ‘Estamos confiantes’Futebol Nacional30/04/2021FlamengoLéo Pereira se reapresenta ao Flamengo e realiza exame para Covid; zagueiro será multado por faltaFlamengo30/04/2021
Classificado na segunda posição da primeira fase, atrás somente da Chapecoense na tabela geral, o Brusque não perde há 10 rodadas no estadual, maior marca de todo o Brasil, empatado com o Atlético-GO.
– Por tudo o que a gente vem fazendo, é mais uma competição que conseguimos chegar em uma semifinal. O Catarinense é uma competição difícil, são 10 jogos sem perder – disse Jerson Testoni, técnico do Brusque.
No comando da equipe desde setembro de 2019, sendo o treinador mais longevo entre os times das Séries A e B, Jerson apresenta ótimo retrospecto diante do Avaí. Em quatro confrontos tem 100% de aproveitamento, além de ter marcado oito gols e não sofrido nenhum.
– Cada jogo tem a sua história, seu momento, será um jogo muito difícil, muito competitivo, as duas equipes vem em um momento bom dentro da competição. Chegamos preparados e esperamos fazer dois jogos sólidos, consistentes para alcançar o nosso objetivo, que é a classificação – finalizou.
Manchester United’s season has been massively impacted by injuries.
The latest of those, which could be season-defining, is the absence of Lisandro Martinez, just three games after recovering from another setback.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at a former star who would have eased the Argentine’s injury woes.
Daley Blind’s time in Manchester
Almost ten years ago, Daley Blind moved to United from Ajax in a deal worth £13.8m, joining forces with former Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal.
In his first season, the defender would go on to play 25 times for United in the Premier League, despite missing 13 games through injury. Throughout the season, he picked up two goals and two assists apiece, operating as both a left-back and a defensive midfielder.
Over his four-season spell in Manchester, Blind made 141 appearances for the Red Devils, before moving back to Ajax for £300k more than what they sold him for in 2018, making him just one of four players United have profited from in the past decade.
After enjoying a successful second stint in Amsterdam, the Dutch defender moved to Girona, where he is now leading the side towards a La Liga title charge.
Blind would have been the dream Martinez replacement
Martinez is one of the only players in the United team who is guaranteed to play every minute when fit, but since April he has had a torrid time with injuries, missing 34 games prior to the setback he picked up against West Ham recently.
Nonetheless, the number six brings so much quality and intensity to the United side, both in and out of possession, with even Blind admiring the Argentine:
“Martinez is a great centre-back. He is so aggressive, he’s really good with his feet, he’s really good at tackling.”
However, Blind himself excels at similar duties, especially in possession, and the table below from this La Liga season shows exactly what United have missed out on by selling the 33-year-old.
Blind's 2023/24 La Liga Stats
Stats (per 90)
Blind
League Percentile
Passes completed
68.11
Top 5%
Touches
86.19
Top 5%
Passes into final third
8.04
Top 2%
Passes into penalty area
0.91
Top 2%
Progressive passes
6.68
Top 2%
Stats via FBref
As you can see, Blind is simply among the best in Spain for his passing ability, confidence on the ball, and understanding of when to control the play and when to progress the ball, which is what makes him so “magical,” as per football creator Liam Canning.
The fact that the 5 foot 11 star ranks in the top 2% for passes into the final third, passes into the penalty area and progressive passes shows that he has the technical ability that United have missed without Martinez, as the left-footed duo can both take almost all of the responsibility to get the ball into attacking zones.
However, Erik ten Hag knows all about Blind from their time together at Ajax, where the boss often played the former United ace as a left-back, which shows he’s “versatile,” as per journalist Elko Born. The United boss could have done with that kind of player, especially as Luke Shaw has had his own injury issues this campaign.
Overall, it’s clear that Blind would have been a superb player for United under Ten Hag, and one that the boss wishes he had in his team at this current moment.
West Ham United laboured to a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Thursday night and David Moyes bemoaned the Premier League's decision to place the match on the evening of deadline day, at a time when multiple pillars were shifting at the London Stadium.
Said Benrahma's expected loan move – with an obligation to buy for around £17m – was called off, leaving the French club irate and demanding answers following late issues regarding paperwork, although that deal – as well as Pablo Fornals' departure to Real Betis – has now been confirmed.
It's all a bit frenetic, with deals pursued for a left-sided attacker falling through too, Al-Ittihad's Jota and teenage sensation Ibrahim Osman both failing to make moves to England's capital.
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Moreover, the Hammers failed to sign a striker despite several links throughout the January window; with Michail Antonio sidelined with a long-term knee injury and turning 34 next month and Danny Ings flattering to deceive as a goalscoring presence, it was a priority for Moyes.
Chelsea's Armando Broja was on the club's radar over the past few weeks and while the 22-year-old made a cross-London switch, it was not to West Ham, completing a deadline-day loan move to Fulham.
Why West Ham wanted Armando Broja
Broja has been a regular presence in Chelsea's squad this season but has only started six times in the Premier League, scoring once, and with Christopher Nkunku's return to fitness it's probably a good move to have made.
Once dubbed an "animal" by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell for his promising performances on loan with Southampton, Broja is a powerful, imposing striker with an underrated technical ability and crispness in his link-up play.
Indeed, as per FBref, the 6 foot 3 star ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 17% for progressive carries, the top 3% for successful take-ons, the top 7% for touches in the attacking box and the top 12% for blocks per 90.
From such metrics, it's clear to see why Moyes held such a vested interest in Broja's signature, with his ability to progress the play and maintain precision in his passing attributes that would be perfect for the Hammers' counter-attacking system.
He's not averse to getting stuck in either and has made many a block in attempting to help Chelsea in their defensive efforts.
The move to Fulham is auspicious-looking and gives him a chance to replicate his maiden Premier League feats on the south coast, where he scored nine goals in all competitions for the Saints during the 2021/22 campaign.
Moyes may well be miffed by his club's myopic approach to the culminating stage of the January transfer market and West Ham may now rue the failure to shift the cogs in a pivotal moment, but Jarrod Bowen has performed admirably in a centre-forward role this season and Antonio hopefully faces only one more month in the medical room.
Ings, it must be said, is dwindling as a sharpshooter and has only bagged three goals and three assists apiece for the Irons since transferring from Aston Villa in a £15m deal one year ago.
This season, the 31-year-old yields a return of zero goals and one assist across 21 outings and can hardly be entrusted with a talismanic role going forward.
Hammers fans need not fear, however, with Divin Mubama the perfect option to take the next step in his development and cement a regular starting spot in the first-team, proving to Moyes that the correct decision was made in not pushing for a short-term fix in Broja.
Divin Mubama is a bigger talent than Broja
Mubama is still only 19 years old but he has enjoyed an emphatic rise from the Hammers academy into first-team football, winning the Europa Conference League last season after scoring and assisting in his two appearances.
Taking delight in the youngster's stunning start to life on the major stage, journalist Josh Bunting said: ”Divin Mubama with his first West Ham senior goal. Has been flying for the youth teams this season but he has a massive future ahead of him. Is quick to adapt into different play styles. Not just a goal-scorer but has that link-up play. Protects the ball very smartly for his age.”
While the 6 foot Mubama is not a seasoned senior, he has a wealth of experience for the U18s and U21s and has showcased his potential as a prolific focal point under Moyes' wing with a remarkable goal record, displayed below.
Level
Apps
Goals
Assists
West Ham United
18
1
1
West Ham United U21s
31
16
2
West Ham United U18s
57
40
5
Source: Transfermarkt
Having been heralded for his "incredible" 2022/23 season by Academy Manager Kenny Brown, Mubama was awarded the Academy Player of the Year honour and having only been handed one start this term, must now be provided with a platform to perform.
He has scored in both of his displays in the EFL Trophy this season, complementing his tally with one key pass per game and an 82% pass success rate, highlighting that he can match Broja in his crisp distribution.
Broja might have experience on his side but he hasn't actually proved himself as a clinical goalscorer in the Premier League yet and given Mubama's age and record thus far, it might be worth providing him with a string of starts.
The Australia and Perth Scorchers opener revealed she took an indefinite break because “people couldn’t see behind closed doors where I was really struggling”
ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-2019Australia opener Nicole Bolton has spoken about her battle with mental health following her return to action after a five-month break and said if it hadn’t been for stepping away from the game she may have been forced to retire.When Bolton started her indefinite break in the middle of the fourth edition of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in January, citing personal reasons, an air of concern hung over her withdrawal. It wasn’t, after all, a drop in form that had triggered the decision; she had just smashed a fifty for the Scorchers against Sydney Thunder and picked up 2 for 26. However, that Player-of-the-Match performance also brought the curtain down on Bolton’s season.More than five months on from the start of that hiatus from competitive cricket – she was unavailable for selection for the three-match home ODI series against New Zealand in February – which ended with a recall to Australia’s Ashes squad, Bolton revealed that her pull-out had been down to “alarm bells” around her mental well-being that nearly forced her to consider retirement.ALSO READ: Nicole Bolton relieved after bouncing back from first-baller ahead of Ashes”Personally a few things happened to me away from cricket which was a bit of a challenge in itself,” Bolton told . “There is still a lot of stigma around mental health, depression and anxiety. I don’t think I’d be sitting here talking to you if I didn’t take a break. I potentially would have retired to be honest.””It was what people couldn’t see behind closed doors where I was really struggling. Physically my body started to fail me in a sense. It was like alarm bells because I was like ‘this isn’t normal’.”A battle that has been faced by some of Bolton’s top-flight competitors such as England’s Sarah Taylor and Kate Cross, posed her a similar challenge: to speak up. And Bolton admitted she “wasn’t completely honest” with the Perth Scorchers team doctor, to whom she had only described symptoms of potential burnout.”I was almost covering up how I was really feeling,” Bolton said. “I didn’t want to rush it. It was something I knew that if I was going to take the time off, I had to do it properly. If that meant never coming back to play for Australia, then that’s what it meant.”During her time away from the game, Bolton found a confidant in the Australia and New South Wales men’s allrounder Moises Henriques, who had taken leave from the Big Bash League in late-December 2017 due to mental-health reasons.”He doesn’t know the role that he’s played, but it’s unbelievable really,” Bolton said of Henriques, who would try to lift her with words of encouragement on WhatsApp.Nicole Bolton gets set to play a sweep•Getty ImagesAt the time, Bolton’s decision to step away from the game was met with support by her club and national team-mates, including the likes of Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry.”You speak to anyone around the country in women’s cricket and she would have had an impact on them in some way or another,” Perry, the Sydney Sixers captain had said. “She’s a great mate of mine and I know she’s got a huge amount of support from everyone. She won’t be a stranger, that’s for sure.”Bolton’s Scorchers and Australia captain, Lanning, echoed Perry. “It’s a family at the Scorchers and we’re right behind her,” Lanning said. “She knows that so hopefully she can get into a good spot and we’ll see what happens from there.”The support from her colleagues has been palpable since her return to the Australia squad for the multi-format seven-match Ashes, which starts next month and will kick off a busy international season that includes a tour of Sri Lanka in September, a tri-series involving England and India in January next year, leading up to the home T20 World Cup in February-March. There’s also the first standalone WBBL, running from October to December, on the domestic calendar.”Coming back into the squad, they were just rapt and even the staff were pumped,” Bolton said. “I never once felt alone, I knew I had the support I just needed a bit of help to get there. To be picked to play for Australia again I think is a massive achievement.”You get so caught up in the pressure and expectations and it can just grind away at you. Now I feel like I’ve got other things going on in my life that if cricket is not going well, well it’s okay. In time, I hope I can share my experience and maybe help someone else. It was an important time in my life and I’m glad I’ve been able to come through it.”
Glasgow Rangers endured a season to forget during 2022/23 as they failed to win a trophy while finishing bottom of their Champions League group.
After a shaky start to the current campaign, the appointment of Philippe Clement has galvanised the Gers, and they secured their 28th League Cup triumph with a victory over Aberdeen just prior to Christmas.
With the midway point of the season fast approaching, the turnaround under the Belgian has been remarkable, and they find themselves in a Premiership title race.
Some of the players haven’t quite pulled their weight thus far, however, and with this in mind, we at Football FanCast have put together our mid-season player ratings (out of ten) for the members of the first team squad who have made five starts or more during 2023/24.
9 – The former Crystal Palace goalkeeper has arguably been one of the signings of the summer as his presence in goal has helped the club massively this term.
Butland is enjoying somewhat of a career resurgence in Glasgow and long may it continue as he secured the first trophy of his career during the recent League Cup final victory.
8 – The captain has once again proven to be one of the main attacking threats at the club and his contributions won't be truly appreciated until the defender finally departs Ibrox.
He completed his domestic medal haul by scoring the winner against the Dons at Hampden a couple of weeks ago and thoughts now turn to winning bigger prizes.
7 – The centre-back is one of the first names on the team sheet and his performances have been solid, especially under Clement.
He will play a big part during the second half of the campaign.
8 – Signed by Michael Beale in the summer, Balogun joined the club for the second time and his spell has been a success thus far.
The Belgian has tended to deploy him domestically alongside Goldson, and it has worked a treat, with the 35-year-old showcasing all of his tactical nous and ability to wonderful effect.
5 – The defender has certainly failed to live up to his £4m transfer fee and has struggled at times this season.
The former Liverpool centre-back started every single Europa League match, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him depart either in January or in the summer.
6 – Souttar started the season well after recovering from a serious injury which disrupted his debut season at the club, yet the last few months have been stop-start for the Scot.
If he can regain his early season form, he will be an asset during the second half of the campaign.
6 – The left-back is currently entering the final few months of his contract and will be hoping to impress Clement to be offered an extension.
His performances have been rather inconsistent, and he could depart sooner rather than later.
5 – The defender played just 15 times following his arrival last summer, and he was expected to kick on during the current campaign.
Despite a first goal for the club against Livingston, it hasn’t really happened for him and Yilmaz will need to have a big second half of the season to force his way into Clement’s plans.
8 – The former Sheffield United midfielder has enjoyed a resurgence under the Belgian amid a disappointing season in 2022/23.
His contract is also up for expiry next summer and if he continues these displays, he will extend his stay at Ibrox.
6 – Seen as somewhat of a coup when arriving in January, Raskin has failed to build on a promising first six months in Glasgow.
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He has shown glimpses of his class, but an injury sustained in October has kept him out of action, and it remains to be seen when he will return.
9 – Alongside Butland, Sima has been one of the best signings the club have made this season. He is only on loan, but his goal record has been wonderful this term.
If there is a chance of signing him on a permanent basis, Clement must surely make the move.
6 – While Jack has been decent whenever he has featured this term, his niggling injury worries will surely mean Clement moves him on next summer.
His contract expires then and he has missed a total of 118 matches since joining in 2017 and the manager can't afford any passengers.
5 – Another player who was heralded upon their arrival but has struggled to adapt to Scottish football. Cifuentes is an excellent player and just needs some time and if he gets a consistent run of matches in the new year, he could prove to be a valuable asset.
7 – Cantwell has tended to play out of position on the right wing during spells this season, but when Clement deployed him in a number ten role, his performances improved.
The Englishman is far more effective in a central role and his influence will be important in 2024, but he will need to add more goals and assists during the second half of the season.
3 – It soon became apparent that Lammers wasn’t going to be a dangerous threat up front during his first few competitive matches and the Dutchman has failed to shine.
A rating of three out of ten is generous and if Clement needs funds in January, the former Atalanta forward should be sold.
5 – Injury problems continue to plague the Welshman, but there was a spell in November where he looked like he could give the Belgian an option in the heart of the midfield.
If he can't stay fit, however, he must be moved on.
6 – The Brazilian cost £6m and for this sort of fee, goals were to be expected. Six goals and five assists across 21 appearances isn’t the best tally and the forward will be out until April having suffered a knee injury against Hearts. The jury is still out on the player.
4 – Like Lammers, the Nigerian has failed to sparkle in front of goal this term and if it weren’t for Danilo’s injury, he may well have been a candidate to be sold in January.
With a second chance coming, Dessers must take advantage, otherwise he will be yet another big money flop at the Gers.
6 – Injury-prone is beginning to feel like a recurring theme going through the full squad, but Roofe embodies this like no one else.
Since joining in 2020, the forward has missed 84 games through injury, yet he scored a crucial winner against Real Betis to secure passage to the knockout stages of the Europa League.
His ability to pop up and net in big games is perhaps what is keeping him at Ibrox and if he can get fit, he could play a big part from January onwards.
7 – The youngster has been the man of the moment recently, especially after signing a long new term contract until 2027.
Since making his first appearance of the campaign against Aris Limassol in October, he has scored his first goal for the Gers and forced his way into Clement’s first-team plans.
Watch out for him in 2024 as he will go from strength to strength under the Belgian.
6 – The Welsh winger put a poor maiden campaign in Glasgow behind him as he registered four goal contributions during the early part of the season.
Injury disrupted his progress, but he is back fit and his pace and trickery on the wings could be a big asset for the 49-year-old coach.
Despite picking up seven points from their last four and winning 3-2 last weekend against Burnley, Aston Villa have been slightly shaky recently.
It took an 89th-minute penalty to get past the ten men Clarets, with the win putting them second in the Premier League.
20
13
6
1
45
25
20
13
3
4
42
16
19
12
4
3
40
24
20
12
4
4
40
17
With the Villa squad lacking in depth, Unai Emery is desperate to add another attacker to his side in January.
Aston Villa transfers latest – Crysencio Summerville
Last week, Fabrizio Romano took to X to state that Aston Villa are one of numerous clubs that are keeping an eye on Crysencio Summerville.
The 22-year-old, who has been described as “sensational” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, is worth £25m + to Leeds, as per Football Insider.
The winger is a vital player for Leeds, and the club is reluctant to sell him this January as they aim for instant promotion.
Crysencio Summerville’s style of play
Ollie Watkins has arguably been the best striker in the Premier League this season, scoring nine goals and registering nine assists in 20 matches. Only Mohammed Salah and Erling Haaland have more goal contributions than the Villa man, but the potential signing of Summerville could take Watkins to the next level.
The Dutch forward has developed into one of the most dangerous forwards in the Championship this season, as he has netted 12 times and assisted six goals in 23 matches. That said, he has much more to offer than just goals, as shown by the table below that showcases his 2023/24 Championship stats and where he ranks among positional peers.
Goals
0.60
Top 2%
Assists
0.30
Top 8%
Key passes
3.48
Top 1%
Shot-creating actions
6.86
Top 1%
Successful take-ons
2.98
Top 8%
Carries into final third
3.18
Top 4%
As you can see, Summerville's output in front of goal is immense and among the best in the league. His goal-scoring traits have massively improved this campaign, and he is Leeds’ top scorer. His goals would help Watkins by taking some of the pressure and goal-scoring responsibility off the number 11.
It is clear that Summerville is a mixture of the modern inverted forward and traditional winger. The 22-year-old's ability to use his direct dribbling, rapid speed, and quick feet to beat an opponent is arguably the most impressive aspect of his game, he’s the type of player to get the fans out of their seats.
His chance creation and shot-creating actions are extremely impressive, as the Leeds star has the maturity and decision-making to be effective and even more dangerous in the final third. Combine that with the aforementioned dribbling, and Emery would have a constant outball that would create endless chances, allowing Watkins to stay central and operate in the box where he thrives.
Summerville would also create more space for the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz to operate in, which would only increase the service that Villa’s top scorer would get and, in turn, boost his output.
The Dutchman is still a young player who is showing traits to become an elite winger. His performances are already superb, and therefore Villa wouldn’t just be buying someone to instantly improve them now but be a long-term star also. At just over £20m, the 22-year-old would be an absolute steal.
Arsenal have made contact to express their interest in an overseas striker ahead of January, according to an update from a reliable journalist.
Victor Osimhen links
The Gunners are known to be in the market for a new centre-forward next year, and one of the candidates that they have recently been linked with is Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, with the talisman facing an uncertain future having not yet signed a new contract.
Edu and Mikel Arteta are reportedly leading the race to secure Nigeria’s international as it stands ahead of Premier League rivals Chelsea and Real Madrid, but should a deal for him fail to come to fruition for whatever reason, the hierarchy may have identified an ideal alternative who could be a more realistic target.
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Santos FC's Marcos Leonardo has firmly established himself as Marcelo Faria Fernandes’ best-performing offensive player so far this season (WhoScored – Santos statistics), and the 20-year-old’s impressive form has caught the eye of the board at the Emirates Stadium.
Back in October, Brazil’s youth international was the subject of interest from chiefs in the capital who were at the time considering making an offer for him, and if the following update is to be believed, the club have now taken their admiration one step further prior to the upcoming window opening.
Arsenal want to sign Leonardo
Taking to X, Rudy Galetti revealed that Arsenal are interested in Leonardo and are one of the clubs who are hoping to strike a deal for him having made their interest known. He wrote:
“Real Madrid, Arsenal, Newcastle and AS Roma are among the clubs that showed interest in Marcos Leonardo by contacting his entourage. Santos were adamant last summer, but now – with a suitable offer – they are open to let him go.”
Leonardo can be "deadly" in the final third
Since the start of his career, Leonardo has posted 65 contributions, 54 goals and 11 assists, in 167 appearances across all age levels, showing how prolific he can be in the final third, and how he’s constantly able to pose a threat to the opposition’s defence (Transfermarkt – Leonardo statistics).
The Itapetinga native has recorded 73 shots over the course of the current campaign which is more than any other of his fellow teammates (FBRef – Santos statistics), highlighting what a standout performer he is in the attacking areas of the pitch compared to his peers.
Sponsored by Nike, Arteta’s target even only pockets £9k-per-week as it stands (Santos salaries), so he would be a more than affordable player to recruit because that would make him the lowest earner on the books should he put pen to paper in N7 (Arsenal salaries).
As hailed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Leonardo is “deadly” with his movement off the ball and has a natural “instinct” in the penalty area, so it could be a coup if he decided to join the current league leaders over their fellow competitors in January.