Tag Futebol

Being one of the biggest clubs in England, Tottenham Hotspur have been blessed with a plethora of sensational players over the years.

The likes of Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker, Ledley King and Harry Kane are just some of the supreme talents who have etched their names into the club’s illustrious history, but as the fans will attest, for all the greats they have seen pull on the shirt, there have been plenty of flops as well.

One such example was Spanish striker Roberto Soldado, who joined the club as part of the not-so ‘magnificent seven’ in the summer of 2013.

The former Valencia ace thoroughly underwhelmed in North London and is rightly remembered as one of the most disappointing transfers in the club’s modern history, but just a few years later, Daniel Levy and Co signed another promising attacker who was arguably even worse and went on to cost the club a pretty penny.

Soldado's underwhelming Spurs stint

In the aftermath of Gareth Bale’s £85m move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, Spurs went on a spending spree to try and replace the Welshman’s world-class output, and while the players they signed were nicknamed the ‘magnificent seven’, it would be hard to claim any of them were successes, bar Christian Eriksen, of course.

Soldado’s £26m move to the Lilywhites, a club-record deal, was arguably the standout signing in this batch of new arrivals, and in Levy’s defence, it looked like a superb deal at the time.

In the two campaigns prior, the Valencia-born poacher racked up an astounding tally of 57 goals and 11 assists in 97 matches, meaning he was averaging a goal involvement once every 1.42 games for his hometown club.

Unfortunately for Spurs, his simply sensational goalscoring form came to a shuddering halt in England, and while he still managed to produce a middling return of 16 goals and 11 assists in 76 games for the club, there can be no denying that he was ultimately a flop and a costly one at that.

However, as disappointing as the club’s record-signing was, Levy and Co would make a similar mistake just a few years later, when they signed another prolific forward who ended up being even worse than Soldado in North London.

Vincent Janssen's costly Spurs career

Yes, the goalscorer in question is Dutch centre-forward Vincent Janssen, who joined Spurs in the summer of 2016 alongside Moussa Sissoko, Victor Wanyama and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou.

The then 22-year-old cost the club around £18.6m, and while that sounds like a lot of money, he was arguably worth it at the time.

For example, like Soldado, the promising striker was in a rich vein of form when Levy and Co came knocking, having scored 32 goals and provided seven assists in 49 games for AZ Alkmaar the campaign prior, but like the former Valencia star, this incredible ability to find the back of the net all but disappeared once his transfer had been completed.

In his first season in England, the Heesch-born ace looked totally out of place and could only muster up a rather paltry return of six goals and four assists in 38 games.

Unsurprisingly, this was not enough to justify a place in the first-team squad, and the following season saw him move on loan to Fenerbahçe before he spent his third and final season as a Spurs player sidelined with a foot injury before being sold to Mexican outfit Monterrey for just £6m in July 2019.

Overall, the underwhelming striker, whom Lineker once brutally described as a “poor man’s Soldado,” left Spurs with a tally of six goals and four assists in 42 games, which means that due to his £18.6m transfer fee and the £2.75m he earned in the two campaigns he was actually in North London, he cost the club a whopping £21.3m.

That means that the former AZ ace cost Levy and Co around £507k-per-appearance, £3.5m-per-goal, £5.3m-per-assist and £2.1m-per-goal-involvement.

Transfer Fee

£18.6m

Wages

£2.75m

Total

£21.3m

Appearances

42

Cost per Appearance

£507k

Goals

6

Cost per Goal

£3.5m

Assists

4

Cost per Assist

£5.3m

Goal Involvements

10

Cost per Goal Involvements

£2.1m

Ultimately, while Janssen is far from the worst Spurs player in recent memory, he is one of the most underwhelming ones, and considering the amount of money he cost the club, he can’t be considered anything other than a major flop.

Brennan Johnson is now being outperformed by a player Spurs let go for £0

Spurs may have made a mistake in allowing the talent to leave the club.

1 ByEthan Lamb Oct 23, 2024

Glasgow Rangers finally delivered a performance that the Ibrox faithful have been waiting for during their 2-0 Europa League win on Thursday.

Malmo were expected to pose a difficult start to the competition for the Light Blues, but the win was as comfortable as could be, with the only complaint being there should have been more goals scored.

Nevertheless, it was a positive display for Philippe Clement’s side, and he will be hoping this momentum will carry on to the clash against Hibernian on Sunday.

Due to the sharp turnaround between games, the Belgian will likely make a few changes to his starting XI this weekend, especially as a win is crucial in order to keep within touching distance of Celtic, who are leading the Premiership.

Several players will retain their places due to solid displays in Sweden, while some could drop to the bench. With this in mind, here’s a look at the starting XI that Clement could unleash against the Edinburgh side, with two potential alterations from the midweek triumph…

1 GK – Jack Butland

The Englishman recorded his third clean sheet in a row since the international break and this will surely give him plenty of confidence.

He didn’t have much to do against the Swedish side in midweek as the Light Blues were by far the superior side, yet Butland will be eyeing yet another clean sheet against Hibs.

2 RB – James Tavernier

The captain hasn’t quite been at his best this season, scoring just once in ten games, while registering three assists in the process.

Clement has started him in every single game so far this campaign, and sooner or later, he is going to run out of gas.

The defender turns 33 at the end of October and with his contract expiring in 2025, he might not have long left in Glasgow.

3 CB – John Souttar

Souttar was in wonderful form against Malmö. Not only did he win 100% of his aerial duels during the match, but the centre-back also made six clearances and wasn’t dribbled past once.

This means he will retain his place in the starting XI, especially as he and Robin Propper are beginning to form a solid partnership at the back.

With Connor Goldson departing during the summer, Souttar has taken on the mantle of becoming a key player under Clement, something that he appears to be relishing thus far.

4 CB – Robin Propper

Like Souttar, the Dutchman delivered a solid performance in the Europa League as he won 50% of his total duels, while he was also extremely comfortable in possession, taking 70 touches during the game.

He is slowly integrating well into the squad, and it looks as though the club finally have a central defensive pairing which Clement can trust.

5 LB – Neraysho Kasanwirjo

Given the fact the clash against Malmo was Kasanwirjo’s first start for the club, it was an inspired performance, one that could have ended up with a goal.

The Dutchman missed a glaring chance in the dying minutes, but overall, he was impressive. He only lost possession six times, while making a key pass.

This should see him retain his place in the starting XI against Hibs.

6 CM – Connor Barron

The former Aberdeen starlet is fast becoming the finest piece of transfer business by Clement during the summer, as he has already established himself as a key member of the starting XI.

Indeed, the midfielder has started all but one of the club’s games this term, forming a dynamic partnership with Mohamed Diomande, one that could see the Gers return to the summit of Scottish football.

7 CM – Mohamed Diomande

The Ivorian enjoyed one of his finest performances for a while against Malmö. The midfielder finished the game with a 94% pass success rate while winning seven of his 11 total duels and making two key passes.

He dominated the centre of the pitch and more of this will be expected against Hibs, no doubt about that.

8 RW – Ross McCausland

Vaclav Cerny started against the Swedish side in midweek, but he failed to really get into the match. The Czech winger should have scored his second goal for the club but curled what appeared to be a simple finish wide of the post.

Ross McCausland replaced him with just 20 minutes left and enjoyed a wonderful cameo. He scored his second goal of the season with a neat finish on his weaker foot, while succeeding with 100% of his dribble attempts.

Dubbed a “superb talent” by journalist Josh Bunting, the Northern Irishman will come into the starting XI in place of Cerny for the clash against Hibs.

9 AM – Nedim Bajrami

The Albanian opened the scoring after just 55 seconds in midweek as he was deployed on the left wing.

Against Hibs, however, Bajrami will move across to his favoured slot as an attacking midfielder, which should allow him to showcase his creative talents even more.

10 LW – Jefte

The Brazilian was suspended for the Malmö game due to being sent off against Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League qualifier last month.

The youngster has been a breath of fresh air for Rangers at left-back since filling in for Ridvan Yilmaz, succeeding with 71% of his dribble attempts while winning over 50% of his total duels in the Premiership.

With Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo missing, Jefte will push into a more advanced role this weekend.

TalkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara has shared his verdict on one Tottenham player who he believes is “miles” off the pace, following their disappointing 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the North London Derby on Sunday.

Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal as Postecoglou concedes to weakened Gunners

Given the amount of star absences in Mikel Arteta’s line-up over the weekend – with club captain Martin Odegaard, summer signing Riccardo Calafiori, Spain star Mikel Merino, Declan Rice and Oleksandr Zinchenko all missing – Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou had a real opportunity to seriously upset the club’s fierce rivals.

Ange thinks £120k-per-week ace has no Tottenham future after drop in form

The Australian is considering drastic action.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 13, 2024

The Lilywhites did dominate possession and created a host of chances throughout the 90 minutes, but Tottenham’s lack of cutting edge and set-piece weakness eventually cost them dearly.

Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes scored the only goal of the game, leaping above all of his opponents to guide a close-range header past the helpless Guglielmo Vicario, who had real trouble defending his six-yard box from the corner.

This was enough for Arteta’s side, who held on to their narrow lead past the hour mark to come away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with all three points, in what was a regrettable afternoon for Postecoglou and co.

Dejan Kulusevski was criticised against Arsenal for his attacking display, with the Sweden international unable to unlock Arteta’s back line on enough occasions. Meanwhile, a lot of debate has also centered around Vicario’s lack of confidence when it comes to dead balls.

Kulusevski’s game in numbers
Minutes	95′
Expected Goals	0.16
Goals	0
Expected Assists	0.11
Assists	0
Touches	49
Passing Accuracy	17/25 (68%
Crosses (Accurate)	5 (0)
Shots on Target	1
Dribbles (Successful)	3 (1)
Duels (Won)	17 (5)
Possession Lost	20
Dribbled Past	3
All Stats via Sofascore

Tottenham must now lick their wounds, reassess and come back stronger in their next Premier League game against Brentford on Saturday, but before that, Postecoglou’s squad travel to face Coventry City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

Jamie O'Hara slams "miles off it" Brennan Johnson after Arsenal loss

O’Hara hasn’t held back with his criticism of Spurs after the home defeat, and one player in particular – winger Brennan Johnson.

Taking to X on Sunday, O’Hara called Johnson a “frustrating” Tottenham player to watch, and he’s since shared a further verdict on the Wales international who cost Daniel Levy around £50 million to sign from Nottingham Forest last year.

Indeed, speaking to talkSPORT, O’Hara has also claimed that Johnson is “miles off” the pace at Tottenham, with the 23-year-old proving ineffective on many occasions against Arsenal and beforehand.

“We played well but we don’t score – take your chances. We’ve brought in good players and you expect them to do the business,” said O’Hara. “But I look at it and think have we brought in top players? Solanke, one good season at Bournemouth and we signed him for £60million.

“Brennan Johnson, a good player and a young player at Nottingham Forest. We signed him for £50million and he looks miles off it. Then I look at Archie Gray who we signed from Leeds, he’s a Championship player and then we signed Odobert from Burnley.

“Daniel Levy has built this big shiny stadium and it’s only enjoyable to go to when Beyonce’s on! We’re not signing a top player from Barcelona or Atletico Madrid or someone who is actually at the level of where we want to be.”

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has been tipped to unleash an "exciting" teenager this season, especially in the Europa League, with the north Londoners looking ahead to a long and congested fixture calendar.

Transfer window closes as Spurs prepare for Newcastle trip

The summer transfer window is now officially closed, and no more new arrivals will come through the door until January, so Postecoglou will have to make do with his current crop of players as he aims to compete on a quartet of fronts.

Pundit slams "disappointing" £35m Tottenham regular who Levy should've sold

He’s apparently been “underwhelming”.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 31, 2024

Tottenham will be aiming to secure a place in the top four and subsequent qualification for the Champions League, and Postecoglou will also have his eyes on clinching the club's first piece of major silverware since 2008.

To boost the north Londoners' chances of a successful 2024/25 campaign, chairman Daniel Levy managed to get a quartet of summer deals over the line before transfer window deadline at 11pm on Friday night.

Timo Werner

RB Leipzig (loan)

Dominic Solanke

Bournemouth

Archie Gray

Leeds

Wilson Odobert

Burnley

Lucas Bergvall

Djurgarden

Min-hyeok Yang

Gangwon FC

Tottenham signed Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth for around £60 million, while Timo Werner extended his loan at the club to run through to the end of this season. Alongside Werner and Solanke, both English sensation Archie Gray and young winger Wilson Odobert completed moves to N17, with both men carrying stellar reputations.

Solanke unfortunately injured his ankle away to Leicester City on the opening weekend, so he won't be available for Spurs' trip to Newcastle United on Sunday.

"Dom is close but we're going to be a bit cautious with him, we've got a big programme post the international break, so he'll miss out on Sunday," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's team news for Newcastle.

"The only other one we got midweek is Richarlison, who unfortunately picked up an injury in training, so he'll probably miss the next few weeks.

"Rodrigo is all good, he's passed all the protocols we need to, and more importantly he feels really good and the medical team are really comfortable with him being available for Sunday."

Tottenham tipped to unleash Wilson Odobert with "a lot" of minutes

While Solanke recovers, it is unclear as of yet if Postecoglou will unleash fellow summer signing Odobert at St. James' Park.

Pundit John Wenham, speaking to Tottenham News, has tipped Odobert to get "a lot" of minutes at Tottenham this season, particularly in Europe, calling the Frenchman's acquisition an "exciting" signing, albeit a pricey one.

“He was at the Olympics with France, which shows that they’re aware of his potential,” Wenham said.

“Last season he played 33 times in the Premier League, so he has got that experience behind him. I think he will get a lot of opportunities at Tottenham, especially in the UEFA Europa League.

“It is an exciting signing. However, I think his fee was expensive, it was perhaps a little much. I consider myself a bit of a football fanatic and I don’t remember him from his time with Burnley last season.

“However, I trust the scouting team at Tottenham. Our signings over the last 18 months have been good, so I expect this to be more of the same.”

England look like they have another electric forward coming through the ranks, with the 18-year-old making a real mark in the Cityzens' latest win

If Lily Murphy goes on to become a stalwart for Manchester City and England, then Thursday will be remembered as the night she announced her potential to an audience wider than that inside the Etihad campus. Amid a growing injury list that features Lauren Hemp, Khadija Shaw, Vivianne Miedema and Chloe Kelly, the 18-year-old made her full debut for the visit of St. Polten in the Champions League and, after being the Cityzens' liveliest performer through a goalless first half, her effort just before the hour set the hosts on their way to an important 2-0 victory.

City rarely looked in danger of losing this game, with their opponents struggling to really test their defence – it was just about whether or not they could produce a moment of quality to break down the Austrian side. It looked like Murphy would be the player to do that, given how often she broke through down the left, but it would actually be Aoba Fujino, on the right, who supplied the teasing cross for the teenager to tap in, before repeating the trick just 11 minutes later for Kerstin Casparij to profit from to make it two.

It's a win that leaves City firmly in control of top spot in Group D heading into the final matchday next week, meaning that they will finish there if they can avoid defeat in Catalunya, away at European champions Barcelona. However, they may have to take on that tall task without their captain, Alex Greenwood, whose nasty injury midway through the first half will leave a sour taste in the mouth on an otherwise encouraging night that saw a potential future star make her mark.

GOAL rates Man City's players from the Joie Stadium…

• Getty Images
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Ayaka Yamashita (6/10):

  Had some rather strange moments in possession but nothing that cost her team at goal, at least. Had little to do in terms of shot stopping.

  Kerstin Casparij (6/10):

  Got forward plenty and although her final ball was poor at times in those important areas, she popped up in the right place at the right time to double City's lead.

  Alanna Kennedy (7/10):

  A more confident and settled display from someone who has looked out of sorts at times this season.

  Alex Greenwood (6/10):

  Was having a great game in all areas before being stretchered off.

  Leila Ouahabi (6/10):

  Like Casparij, she consistently supported the attack, though sometimes lacked the accuracy in her passing that would've made a greater impact.

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• Getty Images
  

  Midfield

  Yui Hasegawa (7/10):

  A typically good display from the midfielder, featuring quality on the ball and a flurry of well-timed tackles.

  Laura Blindkilde Brown (7/10):

  Made lots of great runs into the box from deep, elevating the attack, and brought a lot of energy to the table in her pressing.

  Jess Park (6/10):

  Didn't quite come off for her tonight, with City getting more joy out wide rather than through the middle. Worked hard, still.

• Getty Images
  

  Attack

  Aoba Fujino (8/10):

  Showed lovely footwork with some mazy runs and delivered two perfect crosses to result in two important goals.

  Mary Fowler (6/10):

  Worked hard and was positive when she got on the ball, just didn't get a ton of service in the No.9 role.

  Lily Murphy (8/10):

  A really lively full senior debut. Got in behind the defence a lot and caused a real threat from the left, either as a creator or a goal-scoring threat, eventually breaking the deadlock just when City needed it.

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• Getty Images
  

  Subs & Manager

  Laia Aleixandri (7/10):

  Replaced Greenwood in the first half and settled well into the centre of defence despite the surprise nature of her introduction. Brought her usual quality in possession.

  Gracie Prior (N/A):

  The youngster got some more minutes under her belt in the latter stages of this game, having started last time out in the Champions League.

  Codie Thomas (N/A):

  Another teenager who added to her limited top-level experience off the bench.

  Gareth Taylor (7/10):

  There was little he could do from a team selection perspective, given the injury list he is dealing with, but it was nice to see young Murphy given a run out here and especially nice to see her repay that faith with a great performance. Gave some more young players some experience late on, which could be important if this injury list continues to grow.

Looking to seal their seventh arrival of the summer, Nottingham Forest have reportedly made their first enquiry to sign a new winger ahead of Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

The Reds have so far enjoyed a busy summer which saw another addition earlier this week – their sixth of the window – in the form of Portuguese winger Jota Silva. The 25-year-old joins the likes of Nikola Milenkovic, Elliot Anderson and Carlos Miguel in Forest's list of arrivals as they gear up to move away from relegation trouble.

Welcoming Silva, Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson told Forest's official website: “We can see how excited Jota is to continue his career journey beyond Portugal where he has enjoyed such a strong period in the Primeira Liga with Vitoria Guimaraes, which resulted in him earning his debut for the Portuguese National Team back in March.”

After Jota Silva: Nottingham Forest want star who'd make Awoniyi unplayable

The Reds are one of several Premier League sides interested in his signature.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 1, 2024

Wilson may well be welcoming more talent before the summer ends too. According to Ole in Argentina via Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have made their first enquiry to sign Nico Gonzalez from Fiorentina ahead of Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion this summer. With talks underway, Forest are now expected to present the Italian club with a formal offer.

The deal to sign the winger will be far from easy, however, given that Juventus are also interested in securing his signature. Forest may hope that the attraction of the Premier League will play a vital part in his decision this summer. At 26 years old, Gonzalez could be at the very top of his game, making the substantial interest in his services little surprise. It would be some coup if those at the City Ground won the race for his services before the end of the month.

"Intelligent" Gonzalez can unleash Awoniyi

If Forest manage to add Gonzalez to Nuno Espirito Santo's squad, then attack may well be the best form of defence in the forthcoming campaign.

The winger would instantly combine with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and goalscorer Taiwo Awoniyi, who could thrive even more with greater service.

Goals

12

6

Assists

2

3

Key Passes

22

10

Ball Recoveries

84

33

In Gonzalez, Forest would have quite the outlet who, in an added bonus, works off the ball to record impressive ball recovery numbers. Potentially amid a relegation scrap, a winger of his calibre can quickly prove to be the key to unlocking Premier League safety.

Fiorentina boss Raffaele Palladino was full of praise for Gonzalez at the start of his tenure, saying via Viola News: "His position is as a right attacking midfielder, but he can play in multiple positions because he is an intelligent player and the more we have, the better."

With a matter of weeks left until the window slams shut, Forest could yet steal the headlines one last time in the Premier League for what would be a seventh summer arrival.

Celtic are interested in making a move for an "incredible" 26-year-old before the summer transfer window shuts, according to an update from Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.

Celtic transfer rumours

Mateusz Bogusz is the latest player to be strongly linked with a summer move to Parkhead, as Brendan Rodgers looks to perfect his squad before the end of the month. The Los Angeles FC midfielder is wanted by the Hoops, who are believed to have held talks with his current club over a potential transfer.

Similarly, Lausanne-Sport ace Alvyn Sanches is also reportedly the subject of talks with Celtic, with the 21-year-old someone who Rodgers thinks could become his side's version of Cole Palmer, who has impressed so much for Chelsea since arriving from Manchester City.

Away from players who could join the Hoops this summer, there is also the ongoing saga regarding the future of the influential Matt O'Riley at Parkhead, as he looks to seal a move away.

The Dane could now join Brighton in the coming days, although a deal is yet to be agreed with the Seagulls, at least giving Rodgers some hope. It does feel inevitable that he will leave at this point, though, acting as a huge blow to the Scottish Premiership champions.

Celtic eyeing move for "incredible" defender

Writing on X on Thursday afternoon, Joseph claimed that Celtic are interested in signing Sheffield United ace Auston Trusty this summer, with the 26-year-old costing the Blades £5m last year.

Trusty could be an ideal summer addition for Celtic, considering that he has 32 appearances to his name in the Premier League, showing that he can perform in arguably the world's most famous and demanding league. He has also appeared 44 times in the Championship and won two caps for the USA, so he has plenty of pedigree.

The defender has been hailed by George Friend in the past, too, with his former Birmingham City teammate saying of him: "I think Trusty has been incredible. I don’t think in the whole time I have been in the Championship I have seen anyone better at coming from a league abroad and just taking to the Championship so easily."

The fact that Trusty is adept as both a centre-back and a left-back can only be a good thing for Rodgers, in terms of versatility and squad depth, and it would suddenly improve his options greatly, as Celtic look to impress across all four competitions this season, not least the Champions League.

Celtic in talks to sign "dangerous" player for Rodgers with £8m deal close

He could replace O’Riley…

ByTom Cunningham Aug 22, 2024

The Sheffield United ace is also at a perfect age, picking up lots of experience in his career but also still potentially awaiting his peak, so it is a deal that the Hoops should be looking to get over the line.

Questions continue to be asked of Neymar’s short-term future, but long-term he may be based in Dubai after snapping up a €50m (£42m/$53m) penthouse.

Article continues below

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• Brazilian plying his trade in Saudi Arabia
• Has splashed out on luxury apartment
• Will now boast a base in the Middle East

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• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Brazil international is currently based in the Middle East with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal. An early termination of his contract is being speculated on there after enduring a wretched run on the injury front. Neymar is back on the sidelines at present, having only recently returned to action after 12 months out with knee ligament damage.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There has been talk of Neymar reuniting with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at MLS side Inter Miami, while a return to his roots at Santos is also being discussed. For now, he continues to work on his fitness in Riyadh.

• THE GOSSIP

  Neymar is looking to put down roots in that region, with it revealed that he has splashed out on a lavish apartment in Dubai. The property in question forms part of the Residences by Binghatti project – with iconic car manufacturers Bugatti branching out into the world of luxury residences.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Neymar’s new abode is said to boast a private elevator, a lift for his fleet of cars, a private swimming pool and panoramic views of the city – with the cost of apartments in the stunning new construction ranging from €246,000 to well above €50m.

Aston Villa are showing no signs of complacency in the current transfer window as Unai Emery looks to strengthen his first-team squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign – having most recently secured the return of academy graduate, Jaden Philogene, from Hull City.

With Villa Park hosting Champions League football, it is imperative that the club make the right signings in order to continue their recent upward trajectory.

It looks as though the club are closing in on signing a current Barcelona player who has plenty of Premier League experience…

Aston Villa pursuing move for former Premier League star

According to Spanish outlet Sport, Villa are keen on bringing former Leeds United star Raphinha to the club this summer, with that interest coming amid the claims that Moussa Diaby's move to Saudi side, Al-Ittihad, is advancing.

It looks like the La Liga side are set to demand a transfer fee of around £50m in order for a deal to go through, and clubs such as Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal could be set to hijack the deal.

Emery will be hoping that the sale of Diaby, who has a price tag of £60m, can go through sooner rather than later, which would allow him to fund the signing of Raphinha.

Player

Club signed from

Ian Maatsen

Chelsea

Lewis Dobbin

Everton

Samuel Iling-Junior

Juventus

Enzo Barrenechea

Juventus

Ross Barkley

Luton Town

Cameron Archer

Sheffield United

Jaden Philogene

Hull City

It would be an excellent signing by Villa, especially as Raphinha is similar to one of the Premier League’s finest performers of last season – Phil Foden.

Why Raphinha could be Unai Emery’s very own Phil Foden

The Manchester City gem has won all there has to be won in the club game, despite just turning 24 in May.

Having made his debut under Pep Guardiola way back in 2017, the Englishman ended last season having scored 27 goals and registering 12 assists across all competitions.

He even finished fourth in the standings for goals in the top flight last term, while even being named the Premier League’s player of the season due to his stunning displays.

Therefore, adding someone to his squad who is similar to Foden could help Emery’s side next term.

According to FBref, Foden is the fourth-most comparable player to the Brazilian gem and, given how impressive the City sensation has been in recent years, it would be an excellent piece of business to sign Raphinha this summer.

Indeed, the pair even registered similar statistics in their respective leagues last season, which included assists (nine vs eight), shots per 90 (3.62 vs 3.31), shot-creating actions per 90 (5.86 vs 4.54), successful take-on percentage (52.2% vs 46.1%) and crosses (82 vs 89).

Lauded by former Barcelona boss Xavi as an “extraordinary player” in 2023, the Brazilian enjoyed a decent enough 2023/24, scoring ten goals and grabbing 13 assists for the Catalan club, despite starting just 25 matches in all competitions.

During his two seasons in the Premier League with Leeds United, the 27-year-old netted 17 goals while chipping in with 12 goal contributions, showing that he has the required abilities to shine in the English top flight.

This makes the signing a no-brainer, which could give Emery’s squad a major boost heading into their first-ever Champions League group stage campaign.

Diaby upgrade: Aston Villa confident of signing £50m star

He’d be something different to strengthen Unai Emery’s frontline.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 18, 2024

With Sunderland looking to finally appoint a new permanent manager, Sky Sports' Keith Downie has provided an update on their pursuit of Lorient man Regis Le Bris.

Sunderland manager news

A month since a disappointing Championship season came to an end, Sunderland are yet to appoint a new boss. Several names have been linked, but not one has arrived, be that Paul Heckingbottom, Pascal Jansen or Will Still. Those at the Stadium of Light are clearly keen to get things right after their nightmare Michael Beale appointment midway through the last campaign.

Under Tony Mowbray, Sunderland found themselves battling for a place in the Championship's top six. Not content with where they were, however, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and co decided to part ways with the former Blackburn Rovers boss and turn to Beale fresh from his Rangers sacking. What followed was the story of Sunderland's season, with Beale winning four of just 12 games in nine weeks, before the Black Cats pulled the plug on a decision to forget.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 19, 2024

By the end of the Championship campaign, they found themselves as low as 16th as interim manager Mike Dodds headed for the exit. Now, however, as pre-season approaches, Sunderland look to have finally found their man in Regis Le Bris. According to Downie, Sunderland are hopeful that Le Bris will travel to Wearside next week to confirm his appointment just before the start of pre-season.

Downie claims that the "feeling within the club" is that, whilst Le Bris was relegated at Lorient in Ligue 1 last season, he was handed a difficult hand and impressed enough in the 2022/23 season when leading the French club to a top ten finish.

Months after Beale's exit, it finally looks as though Sunderland's next manager is on his way, as the Black Cats gear up for significant improvement in the Championship next season.

Le Bris appointment isn't without risk

On paper, appointing a manager who was just relegated with his current club is hardly a move that will instantly win the fans over, and rightly so – Sunderland's move for Le Bris certainly isn't without its risks. The 48-year-old has taken charge of just one club in the form of Lorient and has endured two incredibly mixed seasons. What Sunderland are betting on is a manager who took his side to the highs of 10th, before they then suffered relegation.

Those in Wearside will hope to see the boss replicate his first Lorient season which did exceed expectations, but only time will tell whether their risk pays off.