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Chelsea, having already announced the arrival of Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa, have reportedly turned their attention towards landing an international gem for Enzo Maresca this summer.

Chelsea transfer news

It's already been a fairly busy summer for the Blues, who have welcomed the likes of Kellyman and Tosin Adarabioyo with a deal also sealed to sign Estevao Willian this summer. The three arrivals will all hope to make impressive impacts, be it in the future or as soon as next season, as Maresca looks to guide Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four next season.

Speaking for the first time since completing the move, Kellyman told Chelsea's official media channels via BBC Sport: "It is fantastic to be standing here as a Chelsea player. It’s a massive club with an amazing history, so it is great to join. It is a dream come true for sure. I’m buzzing to have put on the shirt and can’t wait to get started."

He's like Jackson: Chelsea enquire over £120k-p/w Dewsbury-Hall partner

He is available for transfer for £100m this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 30, 2024

Following the departure of Ian Maatsen, however, Kellyman seems unlikely to be the last name through the door. Leicester City's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall looks set to be the next to sign for £30m.

Also, according to The Athletic's Tom Bogert, Chelsea are also in advanced talks to sign Caleb Wiley from Atlanta United this summer. The USA international is just 19 years old and could arrive to instantly fill the void left behind by Maatsen at left-back.

Whilst the deal is not done yet, Wiley would certainly follow the Chelsea trend of young players making their way to Stamford Bridge in place of academy graduates, although a move to Strasbourg first before the Blues is also a possibility.

"Amazing" Wiley can succeed Chilwell

With a difficult history of injuries at Chelsea, Ben Chilwell remains an unreliable option at Stamford Bridge despite his position as vice-captain behind Reece James. And that could see an opportunity eventually emerge for Wiley if he can fend off competition from Marc Cucurella.

Though the American is still just 19 years old, he's earned plenty of praise throughout his career, including from former Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda, who said via 90Min: "Yes, for Caleb it’s [the goal] amazing. I think it was a good play overall. I think those were the moments where we were probably putting a little bit of pressure and then I think Caleb with his speed, his power and decision, he is going to get a lot of those. So, I am happy for him, he did a tremendous game."

Scoring once and assisting a further two times in all competitions last season, Wiley will hope that a potential Premier League move only results in improvement and opportunities in what is arguably the highest-quality league in world football. It's in England's top flight that he could quickly emerge to become a wise piece of business by Chelsea.

Let’s make no mistake here, Liverpool have not had the prolific start to the 2024 summer transfer window that Anfield and its faithful would have hoped for.

Is this a problem? No it is not. Arne Slot has been in daily communication with sporting director Richard Hughes to discuss strategies for the next two transfer-oriented months, and an incisive pounce is a matter of when, not if.

One of the most prominent plot points for the red Merseysiders thus far has been the pursuit of Lille defender Leny Yoro, regarded as a ‘generational talent’ and also coveted by Manchester United and Real Madrid, the latter of who are expected to win the race for the 18-year-old.

The latest on Liverpool's defensive situation

Yoro is out of contract in one year and does not look likely to pen a new deal with the Ligue 1 outfit, and while the Reds will pounce if Los Blancos falter in their bid, it is deemed a “unique market opportunity” that does not align with FSG’s long-term vision.

Why is this the case? Virgil van Dijk is one of the finest defenders in the world and a stirring leader, though he’s entering the last year of his £220k-per-week contract and turns 33 in less than a week.

Ibrahima Konate: fearsome and formidable, though prone to the odd nosedive in form and injury-prone moreover. Jarell Quansah has enjoyed an incredible breakout season and has been hailed as “an absolute monster” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, but he was playing in League One 14 months ago and cannot be expected to carry the weight of the world.

With long-time servant Joel Matip now gone after his contract expired last month, fans are in their right to question Liverpool’s ostensible stance that bolstering the backline is not paramount, that the crop is sufficient.

Liverpool do actually have another talented star in their rearguard, but will he feature?

What's going on with Sepp van den Berg

We’re talking about Sepp van den Berg, who went from strength to strength out on loan with Mainz last season, clocking the fastest pace (34.78kph) of any defender in the German Bundesliga last season.

Interest in the 23-year-old has not been in short supply over these past several months, with Liverpool placing a £20m price tag on the player, who feels somewhat aggrieved by his lack of opportunity at Liverpool and wishes to search for pastures new, having only completed four senior appearances since signing from Netherlands club Zwolle for an initial £1.3m fee in 2019.

The Dutchman will be assessed by Slot over the next few weeks before a decision is made – barring an unanticipated bid totalling the aforementioned price – and he would certainly stake a claim toward making a positive impression at the dawn of a new era.

As per FBref, he ranks among 16% of central defenders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 2% for blocks and the top 1% for aerial duels won per 90.

However, it’s unlikely that the 6 foot 3 star would oust Konate on the regular, and chances are decidedly infinitesimal that Van Dijk would be taking a chair under Van den Berg’s shadow – Quansah, too, has proved himself to be one of the Premier League’s most formidable young prospects.

Matches played

33

17

Matches started

31

13

Goals

3

2

Clean sheets

8

2

Pass completion

81%

89%

Tackles per game

1.2

1.5

Clearances per game

4.7

2.3

Recoveries per game

5.3

4.2

Duels won per game

7.0 (65%)

4.5 (64%)

For £20m, shouldn’t Liverpool take the money and run? Sure, Van den berg is performing at a high level, perhaps even more so than Quansah, but last season’s Mainz loanee is two years the Liverpudlian’s senior and already looking unlikely to knock him from his spot in the Liverpool team – Quansah started six of the final eight top-flight fixtures of Klopp’s reign.

The 6 foot 5 Quansah, moreover, ranks among the top 3% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 3% for passes attempted, the top 19% for pass completion, the top 17% for progressive passes, the top 15% for successful take-ons, the top 19% for tackles and the top 11% for aerial duels won per 90.

That, perhaps, is the more accurate yardstick from which to gauge Quansah’s dizzying potential. Newcastle might be circling, seeking to tempt Liverpool into including him in a deal to sign Anthony Gordon last weekend, scrambling to appease the Premier League’s PSR rules, but Liverpool refused it faster than the aforementioned Matip flies up the field during one of his trademark surges.

PSV Eindhoven are reportedly the latest side to have canvassed a proposal FSG’s way. There will remain a hope that Liverpool will sign a centre-half this summer and, if so, Van den Berg’s prospects will look rather narrow. It’s surely time to cash in lucratively on a defender signed for a nominal fee – indeed, that £20m figure marks an impressive 1438% rise in market price since the five-years-ago signing of a promising youngster.

Not bad, that. Slot might be keeping his options open but for such a profit, and taking his likely role in Liverpool’s first team next term, it’s surely time to let him wander off toward another club.

Slot could land "elite" Diaz upgrade who wants to sign for Liverpool

Arne Slot would adore this winger.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 1, 2024

Mikel Merino is in awe of the height of his Arsenal teammates and compared them to basketball players.

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Merino himself is 6'2"Feels less imposing compared to Arsenal teammatesKai Havertz and William Saliba stand at 6'4"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Merino is a mammoth presence in midfield and won the most duels (326) in Europe's top-five leagues last season. He considered himself one of the tallest players at Real Sociedad but after his summer move to the Emirates for £27.4million ($35.5m), he now finds himself dwarfed by several members of Arsenal’s physically imposing squad.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT MERINO SAID

At a press conference, Merino humorously compared his new team-mates to a basketball lineup due to their overwhelming height.

"It is crazy," he said. "I am in the corridors of the training ground just walking, and back at my old club I used to be one of the tallest, so everyone was smaller than me. Now, I look around and everyone is taller than me. We look like a basketball team."

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Arsenal’s set-piece dominance has become a key aspect of their game, making them a fearsome opponent, especially in aerial duels and corner kicks. suggests that Arteta has even incorporated basketball principles into his training sessions, showing his players clips to help them better use their height and create space on the pitch. During their recent Premier League match against Bournemouth, nine of their eleven starters were over six feet tall, with William Saliba and Kai Havertz leading the charts at 6'4".

Merino added: "Football now has changed and you need a strong team. Physicality is key and we need to be the most complete team possible. You need the physical aspect, the technical aspect, the tactical one, you need to be a total team to achieve big things as we want to do. It is not only about being tall and big, you need mentality. If you are tall and big but don’t go with the 100 per cent intention to win the ball, it’s just nothing. Set-pieces are a big part of the game and you can win or lose a lot because of that. We train a lot and have the physical advantage. But the main thing is the mentality and we have that."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MERINO?

The Gunners are preparing for their upcoming Champions League fixture against Shakhtar Donetsk as they aim to return to winning ways after a shock 2-0 defeat to the Cherries at Vitality Stadium.

Batsman stars in new role at No.4 as Eoin Morgan credits England for victory despite ‘average’ day

George Dobell27-Nov-2020Jonny Bairstow insists he doesn’t mind where he bats for England, as long as he has a role in the team.Bairstow hit an unbeaten 86 from 48 balls – his highest score in T20I cricket – to carry England to a narrow victory with four balls of the game remaining in the first match of the series against South Africa in Cape TownBut he did it from No. 4 in the batting line-up having been demoted after England opted for Jos Buttler and Jason Roy as their openers and Dawid Malan as their No. 3. That left Bairstow – who is the only England player in the top 10 of the ODI batting rankings – batting outside the top three for the first time in more than two years and potentially facing a fight for his position with the likes of Joe Root and Sam Billings, neither of whom are in the team at present.Given that this rejig came after he had lost both his place in the Test side and his full central contract, as well as being dropped by Sunrisers Hyderabad for the final rounds of the IPL, Bairstow could have been forgiven for expressing some disappointment. Instead, he said he is determined to use his experiences in a constructive manner.”I think you’ve two choices,” Bairstow, who made his maiden Test century on the same ground in 2016, said. “You can be disgruntled or you can use the experiences you’ve had previously – whether for England or at the IPL – and utilise them in the best way possible. I’m really happy with where my game is at. The calmness and composure was really pleasing. Seeing England over the line is important.”I want to be playing cricket for England. I don’t mind [where I bat]. As long as I’m contributing and putting in match-winning performances, so be it.”I was really pleased with how I played tonight. It’s a different role to what I’ve played previously, so going out and gaining confidence and contributing to winning the match is what it’s all about. I was delighted with the pace in which we structured the innings. To win with three or four balls left… I’m really happy.”ALSO READ: A victory for England, a victory for the IPLHowever, aside from Bairstow and a couple of colleagues – notably Sam Curran – England were not at their best. With 25 deliveries of the match remaining, they still required 55 runs and knew that, with Kagiso Rabada to deliver one of those overs, their chances were diminishing by the moment.But then Beuran Hendricks bowled a horrible over – the 17th of the England innings – which occupied nine balls and cost 28 runs. Without it, England may have struggled to overcome what Eoin Morgan, England’s captain, termed “an above-par score” set by South Africa.Jonny Bairstow sealed victory with a six•Getty ImagesFor while Morgan declared himself “very pleased” with the victory, he was not allowing it to mask a performance he admitted was “pretty average”.”I thought we were pretty average apart from two or three guys,” Morgan told Sky Sports. “And when you win games of cricket like that when you don’t play your best cricket, it is very pleasing.”There are areas with the ball that we missed; we were a tad too full in certain periods of the game. And then with the bat we were three-down early and did not build partnerships. But Jonny has had an unbelievably good day out on a wicket that was two-paced.”When you win games like that and you’ve a lot [of improvement] to make up in all three facets [of the game] you can be pleased. I would imagine the more time we spend together and the more we play, the more we will get used to roles that we play and start to gel like we have in 50-over cricket. It is not doom and gloom but hopefully we will improve and progress in the next couple of games.”

Arne Slot is enjoying a record-breaking start for a Liverpool coach as the Reds reclaimed pole position in the Premier League after beating Brighton.

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Liverpool come from behind to beat BrightonHave now won eight of 10 matches under SlotReds go top as Arsenal and Man City loseFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

As Arsenal and Manchester City both faltered on Saturday, Liverpool had the perfect opportunity to capitalise. The Reds found themselves in a precarious position after Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu scored a well-placed goal, giving the visitors a deserved lead. Recognising the need for swift action, Slot made significant adjustments, introducing Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz and transitioning to a more aggressive formation.

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The substitutions injected new energy, allowing Liverpool to unleash their full force on the visitors. The pressure paid off as Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah scored in quick succession, turning the game in Liverpool’s favour as the passionate home crowd at Anfield witnessed Slot’s tactical mastery that turned a potential setback into a valuable three points. Liverpool had already edged past Brighton in a hard-fought Carabao Cup encounter at the Amex Stadium earlier in the week and this is the second time in a row that the Merseyside club came out on top.

DID YOU KNOW?

Under Slot, Liverpool have managed a record-breaking eight wins from their first 10 league games, drawing one and losing just one. This remarkable feat marks the best start for any manager in Liverpool’s storied history, underscoring Slot’s impact on the squad’s performance and morale.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Following their thrilling Premier League victory, Liverpool now turn their attention to the Champions League, where they are set to host Bayer Leverkusen, managed by former Liverpool player Xabi Alonso. The fixture promises to be another high-stakes encounter, as Slot seeks to extend his team’s winning form on the European stage.

‘I’m sure a few New Zealand coaches there have got their eye on him’

Deivarayan Muthu07-Jan-2021Everyone wanted a piece of Kyle Jamieson in New Zealand’s international home summer, with the Bay Oval crowd even standing up to sing ‘Happy birthday’ to him when he turned 26. While he had a dream first year in Test cricket, Jamieson also made his T20I debut this home summer, taking three wickets in four matches at an economy rate of 7.75. So, do the IPL franchises want a piece of Jamieson as well?Gary Stead, who has overseen Jamieson’s progress from his domestic side Canterbury to the national team, reckoned that the presence of New Zealand coaches in the IPL might be “one of the advantages” for him. Brendon McCullum, the Kolkata Knight Riders head coach, and Stephen Fleming, the Chennai Super Kings head coach, have also commentated on the 6ft 8in quick for Spark Sport. Meanwhile, Mike Hesson, the former New Zealand coach, works with the Royal Challengers Bangalore as their team director.Related

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“See, I’m not sure. Maybe they [the franchises] will [come knocking at his door] and maybe they won’t. Sometimes, it’s a bit of the luck of the draw with the IPL and how you get in there,” Stead said of Jamieson’s IPL prospects. “I guess one of the advantages is a few New Zealand coaches that are head coaches there as well that I’m sure have got their eye on Kyle as well as other people in our set-up as well.”Earlier this season, Jamieson’s team-mate Tim Seifert, the wicketkeeper-opener, had also caught the attention of Fleming who told Spark Sport: “There’s a team in yellow [Chennai Super Kings] that might have a look at you as well. Not just Brendon’s [Brendon McCullum’s] team, there are other teams out there!”Even before Jamieson made his T20I debut, Shane Bond, who is part of the Sydney Thunder and the Mumbai Indians backroom, foresaw an IPL opportunity for him.”I’m looking forward to see how he goes in T20, and there’s always opportunities in the T20 game as well,” Bond had said. “With another IPL around the corner, who knows what can happen. Things in this game can change pretty quick, so looking forward to seeing what he can do.”Jamieson’s USP is his towering frame that enables him to bounce out batsmen, but he has shown that he can be just as threatening by pitching the ball up and swinging it both ways. In all T20 cricket, he holds the record for the fifth-best figures, having claimed 6 for 7 for Canterbury Kings against Auckland Aces in January 2019. All up, he has 49 wickets in 33 T20s at an average of 19.81 and economy rate of 7.96.Jamieson said after the Christchurch Test that he had honed his inswinger during the winter, and the day after that game, Stead delivered a glowing appraisal of him, saying “the world could be his oyster”.”I mean it’s just keeping him grounded as well. We all know he’s got some great attributes and some great skills and who knows the world could be oyster his with what’s ahead and what’s coming up,” Stead said. “But, at the end of the day, he’s still a cricketer and he’s one of our boys when he gets together with us and we treat him that way. He’s got everything there in front of him, but hopefully he stays fit and he will be a big part of New Zealand cricket I’m sure.”

Celtic kick off their 2024/25 campaign in less than a month as they prepare to welcome Kilmarnock to Parkhead on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership season.

The summer transfer window officially opened for business last month and the Hoops are yet to dip into the market to make their first signing, ahead of the first league game of the term.

However, they are reportedly closing in on the arrival of Kasper Schmeichel on a free transfer to finally replace Joe Hart as the number one in Glasgow.

The Daily Mail reports that the club are in advanced talks over a two-year deal to sign the Denmark international, who previously worked with Brendan Rodgers during their time together at Leicester City.

However, Schmeichel may not be the only player on his way to link up with the squad ahead of the tour of America in pre-season as they are reportedly eyeing a move for one of their loan players from last season.

Celtic submit bid for midfield maestro

According to the Daily Mail, the Scottish Premiership champions have officially submitted a bid to sign Paulo Bernardo on a permanent deal from Benfica.

The report claims that the Bhoys have put an offer of £3.5m on the table in an attempt to secure the Portugal U21 international's signature ahead of next season.

Bernardo spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Parkhead from the Portuguese side and helped the team to a domestic double, lifting the Premiership title and the SFA Cup.

Celtic had an option to make the deal instantly permanent for a pre-agreed price of £6m but have decided to haggle with Benfica, in an attempt to almost half that fee – to £3.5m.

The Daily Mail claims that the Hoops are hoping that add-ons on top of the £3.5m offer and a sell-on percentage included in the deal will convince the Liga Portugal side to cash in on Bernardo.

It adds that they are hoping to also iron out personal terms with the 22-year-old central midfielder to ensure that he remains at Paradise heading into next season.

Appearances

22

Starts

11

Goals

3

Assists

3

Big chances created

4

As you can see in the table above, Bernardo was not a regular starter in the middle of the park but he did showcase his attacking quality in the few starts that Rodgers did award him with.

The Portuguese youngster could now come in as a long-term option for the manager to have at his disposal, with the 22-year-old having plenty of time on his hands to develop and improve.

Celtic do, though, already have a similar player on their books who the Benfica gem will have to push past in order to become a regular starter – Reo Hatate.

The Hoops have struck gold with the Japan international, who was signed by Ange Postecoglou, as his value has soared in recent years, to a point where he is currently worth more than Bernardo.

How much Celtic paid for Reo Hatate

In the January transfer window at the start of 2022, the former Bhoys head coach swooped to sign the midfielder from J-League champions Kawasaki Frontale for a reported fee of £1.4m.

Hatate did not take long to make an impression in Glasgow as he started 15 of his 17 appearances in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign in the Premiership.

The right-footed midfielder immediately showcased his attacking quality with a return of four goals, two assists, and four 'big chances' created in those 15 outings.

He followed that up with an impressive year in his first full Premiership campaign with the Scottish giants under Postecoglou's management during the 2022/23 season.

Appearances

32

Goals

6

Assists

8

Big chances created

10

Ground duel success rate

56%

Aerial duel success rate

59%

As you can see in the table above, Hatate was directly involved in 14 goals in 32 appearances from a central midfield position, and more than held his own in physical duels.

The 26-year-old star won the majority of his battles on the deck and in the air against opposition players in the Premiership, which shows that he offered plenty of quality to Celtic in and out of possession.

Reo Hatate's soaring value

Former Aberdeen chief Keith Wyness recently told Football Insider that Hatate is worth around £15m and even claimed that he is worth "more" than that to Celtic.

Meanwhile, at the time of writing (14/07/24), Transfermarkt has the central midfielder's current market valuation at €10m (£8.6m), a bit less than Wyness' valuation.

Irrespective of whether you decide to go with the £15m or £8.6m value, it is clear to see that the Japan international's stock has soared over the past two-and-a-half years at Parkhead.

Celtic and Postecoglou struck gold by bringing him to Scotland for just £1.4m as he has become a key player on the pitch and his value has skyrocketed, to a point where he is currently worth significantly more than the £3.5m the club have offered for Bernardo.

Hatate, unfortunately, missed 40 matches for club and country with a hamstring issue and two calf injuries last season, which limited his involvement in the Premiership.

However, he did show glimpses of his quality when fit with his ability to make a big impact when bursting forward from midfield to make things happen at the top end of the pitch.

Appearances

16

Starts

12

Goals

3

Assists

4

Big chances created

3

Key passes per game

1.1

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old star was directly involved in seven goals in just 12 starts, more than one every other start on average.

His aforementioned statistics in the Premiership show that he is a proven performer who can provide goals and assists from a number eight position for the Scottish giants.

Tom Rogic 2.0: Rodgers keen on Celtic swoop for "terrific" £9.4k-p/w star

The Hoops have been linked with an interest in the attack-minded midfielder.

ByDan Emery Jul 13, 2024

This is why Bernardo will have to prove himself to be a better option than Hatate, if the club get a deal over the line for him, as the Japanese dynamo, whose value has soared in recent years, is an established star who will need to be pushed out of the XI.

In just a couple of years, Newcastle United have gone from having an average frontline to being home to multiple of the very best talents in the Premier League.

At the start of the 2020/21 campaign under Steve Bruce, the Magpies had a front three of Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson and Andy Carroll, ending the campaign with a measly 46 goals scored – an average of just 1.2 per game.

However, fast-forward nearly four years, boss Eddie Howe has the likes of Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes at his disposal, with the trio scoring a combined 37 between them last season.

The Magpies ended 2023/24 with a total of 85 Premier League goals, an increase of 39 from a couple of years ago, whilst averaging 2.2 goals per outing, an increase of one per game – demonstrating the added quality on Tyneside.

Despite his side’s impressive form in front of goal, Howe is still targeting more reinforcements in the final third to further bolster their chances of a return to Champions League football.

Newcastle make bid to sign attacking talent

According to QS La Nazione via Viola News, Newcastle have made an offer to sign Fiorentina’s Argentinian forward, Nicolas Gonzalez.

The 26-year-old, who featured at the Copa America during his country's triumph earlier this month, was subject to a £36m bid from Brentford last summer, but it was immediately rejected.

Gonzalez had another tremendous campaign in 2023/24, registering 12 goals and two assists in his 29 league appearances – catching the eye of the Magpies ahead of the upcoming season.

The report goes on to state that the offer presented by Howe’s side is lower than that of Brentford’s a year ago, but should it be rejected, they will return with another offer for the forward.

He would prove to be an expensive addition for Newcastle, but a much cheaper alternative to another player they’ve previously been targeting in recent months.

Why Gonzalez could be Jarrod Bowen 2.0 for Newcastle

During the off-season, Newcastle have been linked with a move to sign West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen after the forward scored 16 Premier League goals in 2023/24.

However, Julen Lopetegui’s side are demanding a £100m transfer fee to part ways with their star talent, in a season where the Hammers will be aiming to qualify for the Europa League once more.

Undoubtedly, the £100m fee for his services is an absurd amount, with Howe’s side exploring other options such as Anthony Elanga and Gonzalez as potential alternatives.

Whilst he would command a significantly lower fee, the Argentinian could prove to be just as an exciting signing, with his playstyle very similar to that of the West Ham attacker – as noted by FBref.

Games played

29

34

Goals + assists

14

22

Progressive passes

4.7

1.6

Shots attempted

3.9

2.5

Pass accuracy

71%

69%

Take-ons completed

1.6

1

Aerials won

3

1

Both are left-footed right-wingers who like to cut inside and either create opportunities or trouble the keeper, but, Gonzalez has produced various statistics that blow Bowen out of the water.

Whilst he’s contributed with fewer combined goals and assists, the “excellent” Fiorentina talent, as described by journalist Liam Tharme, has averaged more shots per 90, whilst also completing more successful take-ons.

He’s also dominated in finding teammates in attacking areas, completing over three more progressive passes per 90 and averaging a higher pass completion rate.

Whilst Bowen may be a more proven Premier League forward, Gonzalez has showcased his talents, proving to be a better option in forward areas than the England international, with it no surprise that pundit Don Hutchinson has suggested he can reach "unbelievably high levels".

He would also save the Magpies a huge chunk of money, which could further allow Howe to invest in other areas and potentially prevent the club from a FFP or PSR breach in the near future.

Bigger talent than Gordon: Newcastle could land £30m "monster"

The attacker has been a man in demand this summer, with Newcastle needing to act quickly.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 24, 2024

Join us for updates, analysis and colour from the first day of the Brisbane Test

Varun Shetty15-Jan-2021*Most recent entry will appear at the top, please refresh your page for the latest updates. All times are local.
5.30pm local/1pm IST: StumpsAustralia will be pleased with the day. It didn’t begin particularly well, with two wickets, but India gave them a sniff by dropping Labuschagne early and he’s anchored a positive innings on the day one. India were hamstrung with their best two bowlers going out, and the new faces might have felt like they were doing a decent job until Australia flipped the pressure on them through flowing knocks from Smith, Wade, Green and Paine right at the end. By the end of the day, India looked like a fading team, and the hosts have capitalised on that. India have also ended the day a bowler short. It could be a long day tomorrow.4.30pm local/12pm IST: The pitchGetty ImagesIt’s been a difficult pitch to assess from afar. Natarajan’s two wickets were deliveries that kicked off the surface and got big on two pull shots. The only real instance of that any time previously was the delivery off which Labuschagne was dropped earlier in the day. And these all came off different bowlers, and form differing lines. So what do you put it down to? The range of pace? The likelihood of a bowler getting it to grip? Cracks in the pitch? And in that case, the cracks would have to be on both the left- and right-handers’ sides. Which sounds far fetched so early in a Test. Perhaps the only characteristic that an be gauged confidently is its slow nature.3.56pm local/11.26am IST

Navdeep Saini has complained of pain in his groin. He is currently being monitored by the BCCI medical team.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/NXinlnZ9W5

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021