Newcastle United are "obsessed" with the idea of securing the signing of a "world-class" international champion, according to a new transfer claim.
Newcastle keen on January signings
The Magpies find themselves in an extremely difficult period at the moment, with Eddie Howe's squad looking both threadbare and tried.
A combination of constant fixtures and an unfathomable string of injury problems mean that Newcastle look like a shadow of the team that impressed so greatly last season, with Saturday's limp 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth in the Premier League indicative of their struggles.
Sandro Tonali's 10-month ban is an added kick in the teeth for Howe, who is having to make do without so many key players at the moment, whether it be Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes or Alexander Isak, to name just a few.
Newcastle's current issues mean that January signings could be needed to add some freshness and depth to their squad, with Tonali's absence for the rest of the campaign meaning that various midfielders have been linked with a move to St James' Park.
The Magpies reportedly want to sign Manchester City ace Kalvin Phillips, with the England international arguably standing out as their primary target in that area of the pitch, but they could also look for reinforcements in other positions.
That's where a new transfer update comes into play, as Newcastle look to acquire the services of an elite attacking maestro.
Newcastle "obsessed" with Federico Chiesa
According to a fresh update from Tutto Juve [via Sport Witness], Newcastle remain keen on signing Juventus star Federico Chiesa, with the report claiming that they are "obsessed" with him and want to snap him up "at all costs".
Juventus forward Federico Chiesa.
The Italian is believed to be "evaluating the future" at his current club, as he weighs up the idea of enjoying a fresh challenge, with Arsenal and Chelsea also mentioned as potential suitors.
Chiesa is someone who could be such an eye-catching signing for Newcastle, possessing so much pedigree in the game, despite not always proving fortunate in the injury department.
Chiesa's statistics and achievements highlight what a talent he is, having tasted Euro 2020 with glory with Italy after beating England in the final, and shining throughout the tournament. He has also now made 105 appearances for Juve, as well as winning 42 caps for his country and scoring five times.
Appearances
105
Goals
26
Assists
21
The 26-year-old has even been described as a "world-class" footballer by former Italy international Alessandro Pierini, who has said in the past that he could even become a better player than his father, Enrico Chiesa:
"He’s world-class. He has all the ability and desire of a great player. If he improves then he’ll be even better than his father [Enrico]. I have loads of respect for Enrico and all he has done to help Federico come on as a player until now."
Newcastle arguably look a little lacking in wide attacking areas at the moment, especially with Miguel Almiron now also injured, and Chiesa could add a magic spark in the final third, combining direct running and a reliable stream of end product.
Arsenal remain unbeaten in the Premier League so far in the 2023/24 campaign, as Mikel Arteta hopes to improve on his squad’s successes from last season.
The Gunners missed out on their first league title since 2004 by five points, after leading the table for the majority of the term, only to be beaten by treble winners Manchester City on the home straight.
Arteta’s squad struggled with issues of depth towards the end of last season, as injuries to key players left the favoured XI short on quality which subsequently tarnished the Gunners’ title charge.
It was integral for Arteta and Edu to fill in the gaps this summer and bolster the squad in the transfer window, which was achieved to some degree as four new faces arrived in north London, and over £200m was spent.
Gabriel Martinelli
While the new signings have settled well to the new surroundings, there remains a feeling that the squad remains in short areas, particularly in defensive roles as £38m summer arrival Jurrien Timber was ruled out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the opening day of the season.
Away from the defence but staying with defensive duties, Arsenal bid farewell to Granit Xhaka in the transfer window, leaving a slight gap in deep midfield despite the £105m acquisition of Declan Rice.
Rice has made a formidable start to life with the Gunners – having been dubbed "outstanding" by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher – yet as fellow midfielder Thomas Partey battles injury woes, the role that Xhaka once excelled in remains a void in the middle of the park.
There could be some encouraging movements for Arteta in the upcoming January transfer window, however, with the latest reports suggesting that one of Arsenal’s previous targets is once more being eyed at the Emirates.
Could Arsenal sign Douglas Luiz?
According to Fabrizio Romano, as relayed by Caught Offside, Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz is a player that remains an admired player in north London with a move being monitored.
The renowned journalist named Wolverhampton Wanderers star Pedro Neto as a potential target, as well as name-dropping Luiz as being a player that has “always been appreciated” at the Emirates.
It’s common knowledge of just how highly Arsenal regard the Brazilian, as they failed to sign him last summer after having three bids rejected by the Villans, with the offers said at the time to be around £25m, via the Guardian.
The 2022 window wasn’t the last time that Luiz was mentioned with reference to Arteta’s side, with The Sun claiming this summer that the Gunners were ready to challenge rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the bid to secure his signature.
Nothing prevailed from the speculation, as the 25-year-old remains at Villa Park, with his consistent performance seeing him become one of Emery’s most treasured figures in his current squad.
How much is Douglas Luiz worth?
Signed by Villa from Man City in 2019, the £15m fee that the Midlands club paid to obtain the midfielder looks to be more and more of a bargain each time he steps onto the pitch.
Currently, the Brazilian has a transfer value of around €50m (£43.4m), as per CIES Football Observatory, a figure that if the Gunners were hoping to purchase the 25-year-old, would likely rise due his importance and current contract at Villa Park.
After penning a new deal last October, Luiz extended his stay at Villa Park to 2026, boosting his earnings from £30k-per-week to £75k-per-week to reinforce his importance to the club.
With three years remaining on his current deal, his price tag will almost certainly rise if Arsenal decide to once again come knocking for the midfielder, with it likely that the Gunners will have to pull a bid far more lavish than £25m to lure the whiz away.
Why is he worth that much?
Previously lauded as “outstanding” by Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor, Luiz has become one of Villa’s most integral players, leading by example in midfield.
Last season, the former Etihad outsider showcased just why he is so highly regarded in the Midlands, as he had a direct hand in 12 Premier League goals, as well as being a reliable figure to reduce threat in the engine room.
In 37 appearances, the Brazilian scored six goals and registered six assists, ending the campaign as Villa’s best performing player with an average Sofascore match rating of 7.10 in the Premier League.
Despite being deployed in a deep role in midfield, Luiz was one of Villa’s key creators last season, as supported by his average of 1.2 key passes per game while maintaining a pass completion rate of 86%, via Sofascore.
Consistency is the most admirable element to the 25-year-old’s game, with his performances last term suggesting that he is reaching his prime, as his form continues into the 2023/24 campaign.
In eight league appearances so far, Luiz has already scored three goals and has maintained an average match rating of 7.38, cementing his importance to the Midlands club who will be desperate to keep hold of his commanding presence amid speculation.
What could Douglas Luiz offer to Arsenal?
There are a host of elements that Luiz could offer Arsenal based off his skill set alone, however with reference to the lack of fulfilment of Xhaka’s advancing role from deep, the 25-year-old could be the ideal acquisition.
With Kai Havertz showing better form when sitting around the striker, and Partey being dealt consistent injury blows, Luiz could be the perfect addition to Arteta’s midfield plans.
Prior to last season, Xhaka was identifiable as a brute, a combative and ill-mannered midfielder with a hot head, however last term he blossomed into a glorious advancing presence.
The Swiss scored seven goals in the Premier League last season, playing a similar game to that of Luiz at Villa, in being both an attacking threat and an uncompromisable presence in the heart of midfield.
Granit Xhaka vs Douglas Luiz 2022/23 Premier League stats per 90
Granit Xhaka
Douglas Luiz
Goals
7
6
Assists
7
6
Progressive passes
5.89
4.55
Progressive carries
1.26
1.48
Tackles
1.02
2.24
Carries
33.44
35.11
Dribblers challenged
1.23
1.94
Figures via FBref
As highlighted in the table above, the two midfielders have similar strengths, adding to Luiz’s potential claim to fit into Arteta’s budding squad, with the numbers suggesting that he could quite easily fill the void left by Xhaka’s departure.
After signing Rice, the Spaniard bolstered the stability of his midfield, but again by losing Xhaka, the balance in transition became slightly disrupted, which is where links to the Brazilian could become encouraging.
There is no doubt that the 25-year-old has an obscene amount of quality that has passed the Premier League test with flying colours, however, whether Arsenal are serious once again to battle for his signature remains as speculation.
Glasgow Rangers appointed Philippe Clement on the weekend and the Ibrox side will be hoping this can kickstart their season which has been rather underwhelming thus far.
Michael Beale won only eight of the opening 14 games of the season, slipping to woeful defeats to Kilmarnock, Celtic and Aberdeen in the Premiership while dropping out of the Champions League after a 7-3 aggregate demolition at the hands of PSV Eindhoven.
The loss to the Dons was the final straw for the Ibrox hierarchy, and he was sacked within hours of the defeat, with the Gers having to go through the managerial hiring process yet again.
Indeed, Clement is their third permanent manager since Steven Gerrard departed for Aston Villa in November 2021 and the club have won just one Scottish Cup since then.
Much will be made of whether Clement can bring the best out of this squad, in particular the summer signings. Big money was spent on the likes of Danilo, Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers, but the Gers have yet to see a decent return on their investment.
AS Monaco's former managerPhilippe Clement.
Dessers, in particular, has been poor and considering Beale shelled out £4.5m to sign him from Serie A side Cremonese, the supporters were clearly expecting more from the striker.
How has Cyriel Dessers performed for Rangers this season?
With Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent leaving upon the expiration of their contracts at the end of last season, Beale’s main focus was to replace these two crowd favourites.
The Ibrox side were linked with numerous names throughout the summer, but it soon became apparent that Dessers was one of Beale’s main targets.
The 28-year-old has scored 111 goals during his club career and while far from prolific across every season, it looked as though he would add 10–15 goals a term for the Light Blues, yet he has failed to showcase his true talents at the club so far.
Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers.
Indeed, for his Premiership displays during 2023/24, Dessers ranks in a lowly ninth spot among his teammates for goals and assists (one) while also finishing first for big chances missed (six) and eighth for successful dribbles per game (0.6), indicating that he has failed to take chances which have been presented to him and has yet to have a decent impact on the team.
Overall, the Nigerian international has made 15 appearances across all competitions for the Gers yet has found the back of the net on just three occasions, a woeful return.
With the Light Blues linked to a plethora of attacking talents during the summer window, could Clement potentially reignite a move for one during the January transfer window?
Lawrence Shankland was linked with a potential move, yet nothing materialised, but the Belgian must make another Gers approach for the Scot.
Where Rangers interested in Lawrence Shankland?
It was back in June when talk of Shankland to Rangers resurfaced as Beale aimed to replace Morelos, who was due to leave.
It wasn’t the first time a swoop for the Hearts' striker was touted however as former Gers captain Barry Ferguson claimed back in January that the club would be keeping an eye on Shankland ahead of making a potential move for the player, yet Beale made only two signings during the winter window.
Having cost Hearts just £500k ahead of the 2022/23 season, his excellent form during his maiden campaign meant Steven Naismith was valuing the striker around the £3m-£4m mark when clubs began to circle just a few months ago.
Although maybe not the marquee name many of the Ibrox faithful expect, there is no doubt Shankland would be a reliable source for goals throughout a season and Clement could do a lot worse than lure him to Glasgow.
How many goals has Lawrence Shankland scored for Hearts?
The 28-year-old is a well-known Rangers fan and having enjoyed wonderful stints at Ayr United and Dundee United – scoring 101 goals for both clubs combined – and this led to a move to Belgian side Beerschot in 2021.
Belgium wasn’t a happy hunting ground for the striker however, as he scored just five goals for the club, and it was the Tynecastle side who offered him a reprieve in Scotland.
Shankland has certainly repaid the club during his spell in Edinburgh so far, scoring 28 goals throughout the whole of the 2022/23 season as they finished fourth in the Premiership while also playing group-stage European football for the first time since the 2004/05 season.
Lawrence Shankland's clubs
Games
Goals
Dundee United
74
40
Ayr United
73
61
Hearts
61
33
St Mirren
55
14
Queens Park
43
14
Beerschot
28
5
Morton
18
4
Aberdeen
17
0
Dunfermline
14
7
Stats via Transfermarkt
Journalist Joel Sked lauded the player for his displays, saying: “Lawrence Shankland has been different class for Hearts. So much more to his game than goals.
“His ability to drop in, act as that focal point and link player, his awareness and the way he creates space for himself. All so good and so vital.”
He has continued this rich vein of form into the current campaign, already netting five goals across 14 appearances and despite going through a lull recently, his positive performances led to him being called back up to the Scotland national side for the tie against England in September.
He didn’t come off the bench, but it is clear his displays for Hearts are impressing the Scotland manager, Steve Clarke.
Having scored five times, he has outscored Dessers by two so far this season and the Scot has missed fewer big chances (two to six) than the Rangers player, while averaging more key passes per game (1.5 to 1.1) and more shots per game (three to 2.3) and this indicates that he could be a solid upgrade on the Gers misfiring marksman.
Hearts attacker Lawrence Shankland.
Clement will have his own transfer targets of course and these should be explored, especially if they can add some quality to the squad.
Returning to players who didn’t move to the club, however, could also be a solid strategy as Shankland has showcased that he can score often in Scotland and this is the type of player the Belgian will require going forward.
He could cost a decent transfer fee, but having scored 33 goals for Hearts across just 61 matches, there is no doubt that he would be worth the money.
Leeds United are in fine fettle on the pitch, but BBC pundit Alan Hutton has been left disappointed by the injury news surrounding one of the club's star men.
What's the latest news involving Leeds United?
Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton has praised young Leeds defender Charlie Cresswell for his attitude toward proceedings at Elland Road despite first-team minutes being hard to come by for the 21-year-old this term.
Hutton stated: "It’s always hard to break into the first team as a young player. But if you’ve got the right personality and a bit about you, and the other boys take to you – it always helps. They want to keep you involved and part of the group. I think that’s always a good thing, and it helps you settle in.
"His time will obviously come at Leeds, it will happen, but it’s good to see that he’s got the right attitude even though he’s not playing at the moment. It can be very difficult, so to hear that from the manager is quite refreshing and good for the player."
Presenter Joe Wainman meanwhile has indicated to GIVEMESPORT that there may be no way back for Leeds United trio Luis Sinisterra, Tyler Adams and Jack Harrison at Elland Road due to the fact they sought moves away from the Yorkshire giants during the summer transfer window.
Southampton await Leeds this weekend at St Mary's Stadium and Whites' boss Daniel Farke will be keen to build on a solid start to life back in the Sky Bet Championship, which has yielded a six-match unbeaten streak and four consecutive clean sheets.
Nevertheless, the German coach will have to do without the services of talented attacker Wilfried Gnonto, who is scheduled to be out until after the next international break and will require minor surgery on an ankle issue, as per Leeds Live.
What has Alan Hutton said about Wilfried Gnonto?
In conversation with Football Insider, former Scotland international Hutton, who is also a pundit for the BBC, thinks that Gnonto is one of Leeds United's 'star' players and believes his injury is a 'real shame' and is 'not ideal' for Whites manager Farke to contend with as he chases promotion.
Hutton said: "Sometimes it can be tough when you’ve had a tough pre-season and you’ve been on international duty. He’s not really had a break and the Championship is a really hard league. But Gnonto is now one of the star players at Leeds, who are doing alright. “I thought he would’ve got a move away, but it didn’t happen. It’s a real shame for him. No time is a good time to get injuries, but this is really not ideal when Leeds need him to help chase Leicester down at the top of the table."
Verbania-born Gnonto has managed to make six appearances in all competitions for Leeds United this term, registering a solitary goal against Ipswich Town, as per Transfermarkt.
As always, the former FC Zurich man has been a tricky presence in the final third for opposition backlines to contain, averaging around 1.8 shots and 2.6 completed dribbles per fixture in the Sky Bet Championship, as per WhoScored.
Leeds boss Farke will be desperate for the youngster to re-enter the fold before too long as the Whites aim to secure a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Na noite dessa quarta-feira (28), o Palmeiras recebeu a Ferroviária no Allianz Parque, em jogo válido pela ida das quartas de final do Brasileirão 2020. Após ter perdido os dois confrontos diante da ‘Ferrinha’ no ano, desta vez a história foi diferente e, com uma boa atuação, o Verdão venceu por 2 a 1, construindo uma vantagem mínima para o segundo e decisivo jogo.
O primeiro tempo foi bem equilibrado entre os dois times. Quase no final da primeira etapa, Bianca cobrou um escanteio e Thais subiu para cabecear sozinha e marcar o primeiro gol alviverde na partida.
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No segundo tempo, o time alviverde se organizou e dominou a partida, tanto que logo no início da segunda etapa, Camilinha recebeu no campo de defesa, carregou a bola até o campo de ataque, e soltou uma bomba, no ângulo, para ampliar o placar.Foi o terceiro gol da camisa 9 neste Brasileirão.
No final da partida, a equipe de Ricardo Belli não conseguiu suportar a pressão do time de Araraquara e sofreu o gol de Sochor, mas a reação parou por aí.
As Palestrinas enfrentam novamente a Ferroviária no domingo (1), às 19h30, na Fonte Luminosa, valendo uma vaga na semifinal do Brasileirão 2020. Um empate garante o Verdão entre as quatro melhores equipes do torneio, enquanto uma derrota pelo placar de um gol leva a decisão para os pênaltis.
Com os desfalques de Ary e Rosana, o Palmeiras conta com o retorno das duas para tentar se classificar fora de casa.
Carla Nunes, artilheira e destaque do time, saiu com dores no tornozelo esquerdo após voltar de quatro jogos sem atuar e passa a ser dúvida para o duelo decisivo.
Arsenal and sporting director Edu Gasper by extension are prepared to move for an "elite talent" who manager Mikel Arteta loves.
Who have Arsenal signed this summer?
The Gunners have prepared for this 2023/2024 Premier League season by showing real ambition over the summer window, having sealed deals for club-record signing Declan Rice, defender Jurrien Timber, forward Kai Havertz and sweeper keeper David Raya.
All four major signings, barring Timber due to his ACL injury sustained on the opening weekend, look set to provide Arteta with both quality and significant strength in depth.
Arsenal are gearing up for a fierce title challenge with last season's treble-winners Man City, coming after they fell just short of their first league crown in nearly 20 years last term.
So far, they've won three out of their opening four league matches; with victories over Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and, most recently, Man United at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal haven't exactly been firing on all cylinders so far, having just scraped their wins over Forest and Palace, while also dropping points at home to Fulham courtesy of a dramatic late equaliser from Joao Palhinha.
However, the fact they remain unbeaten and near the top despite not playing at their very best is the sign of a very, very good side who simply need to click into gear.
Arsenal also didn't strengthen certain areas of the squad, like their failure to sign an out-and-out striker, but reports suggest they have their eyes on Napoli star Victor Osimhen for next year.
Lead by transfer chief Edu, the Gunners may already be working on ways to reinforce Arteta's squad further heading into the new year.
What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?
According to reports out of Europe this week, Arsenal have their eyes on exciting talent abroad, and could well move for one player in the near future.
Indeed, Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande is said to be a player attracting their very serious interest, with a report by Record sharing the latest on their pursuit of the Ivorian.
Arsenal boss Arteta is apparently a fan of his, and while they didn't make a move during the summer, it is believed a move next year is certainly on the cards.
According to the Portuguese newspaper, as translated and shared by Sport Witness, Diomande could well end up at the Emirates Stadium in 2024.
Arsenal were ready to offer €35 million (£30m) for the 19-year-old over the transfer window. Sporting weren't willing to entertain such a bid, with Diomande's release clause coming in at around £69 million.
However, Record say that Arteta's side and Edu have made a "promise" to go back in for the Ivorian next year.
In terms of Diomande's quality, Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has been effusive in his praise for the starlet recently.
"You rarely see a player with such high ball-playing and pure defender skills," said Kulig on X.
"There are some tactical improvements but I'm quite sure this kid will play for the best teams in the world. The signs of elite talent."
While Arsenal may have to spend big on the African, claims like this suggest that there is certainly a player of huge potential there.
Arsenal are in dreamland at the moment, with there seemingly being nothing that Mikel Arteta can do wrong. Having inherited the troubled managerial position in late 2019, he had methodically crafted a truly exceptional squad over the years at the Emirates, culminating in last season's title push.
However, they seem set to go one further this term, having started the Premier League near-faultlessly despite performances somewhat lacking, and just recently crushed PSV Eindhoven on their return to the Champions League.
The Gunners have been waiting for their much-anticipated return to the pinnacle of English football, and it finally seems to have come due to the risk the hierarchy took to employ the 41-year-old Spaniard with no prior experience as a head coach.
However, this campaign is not to be without its own trials and tribulations, as they found out the hard way last year with William Saliba's persisting injury woes. Fortunately, the squad is at the necessary strength where, should they suffer once again, they can react with added proficiency.
That's not to suggest that Gabriel Martinelli's recent blow will not worry him…
How long is Gabriel Martinelli injured for?
Racing through on goal at Goodison Park, the Brazilian winger finished in trademark fashion, opening up his body and curling a right-footed finish into the bottom far corner. He wheeled away in celebration only for a marginal offside to wipe the smile from his face, before pulling up with an injury just minutes later.
Stats via Sofascore
Martinelli (PL 23/24)
Martinelli (PL 22/23)
Martinelli (PL 21/22)
Martinelli (PL 20/21)
Martinelli (PL 19/20)
Games Played
5
36
29
14
14
Goals
0
15
6
2
3
Assists
2
5
6
1
0
Average Rating
7.16
7.17
6.93
6.83
6.53
The 22-year-old slumped to the ground not far from the dugout, and it took no time for Arteta to ready Leandro Trossard and swap the two stars. He was not to take a risk with a player of this quality in a match where they had dominated up until that point; a decision vindicated as his substitute ended up scoring the winner.
Following that result, the boss would offer an update on the speedster in the run-up to their Champions League clash: "He felt something in his hamstring and we need to do some further tests to assess if there is any big damage or no, but he will be out for tomorrow’s game [PSV], that’s for sure."
As the north London derby looms, it could prove a step too far to assume he would be fit given what Football London wrote on the issue: "If it is a grade one hamstring injury, then the absence could be roughly two weeks, while anything more severe than that could be looking at months out."
Given his growing importance, the hope will be that they can avoid the latter and nurse him back to health with speed and care.
Could Leandro Trossard replace Gabriel Martinelli?
It would be the natural decision to replace Martinelli with Trossard, given that is clearly the natural swap Arteta saw on the day of the injury.
Especially given the blistering form enjoyed of late by the Belgian wizard, who added a goal and an assist to the two strikes he has enjoyed beforehand. Already he seems on track to emulate his stunning last season, which saw him score eight and assist 13 in the Premier League across periods at the Emirates and with Brighton and Hove Albion.
However, it must be noted that the 28-year-old is far from the same profile as the Brazil international, offering a more versatile and certainly a better creative presence on the left flank. He is much more suited to forging chances for others than scoring himself at times, whereas Martinelli is quite the opposite.
Arteta outlined that back in March: "He [Trossard] got three assists and could have scored two. I think he was really impressive. It makes a big difference in the team. We needed him today and his contribution was superb. It’s football intelligence. He’s really clever to understand straight away what we want, what’s required. He’s executed it really well."
Meanwhile, last season saw the former Ituano ace in Martinelli score 15 and assist just five in the league, as one of the club's joint-top scorers.
Therefore, whilst it might seem the natural decision to continue playing the former Seagulls star whilst he is performing so admirably, perhaps it could also mark an opportunity for another left-sided star who puts far more impetus on goalscoring than creating.
Having fought hard to overcome a string of unfortunate injuries, Emile Smith Rowe finally seems fit and ready for a return to first-team action. The only issue is that, during his absence, the side has evolved dramatically.
What are Emile Smith Rowe's best qualities?
The 23-year-old faces an almighty task to reemerge into the starting side after such a lengthy period on the sidelines, with his last full campaign coming during the 2021/22 term.
There, however, he showcased that clinical cutting-edge that could make him a more natural replacement for Martinelli on the left wing. In an Arsenal side that would finish fifth, throwing their Champions League spot away to rivals Tottenham Hotspur with a torrid run of form, the Englishman still managed to score ten and assist two.
Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.
Not to mention that, within Arteta's system, there is a huge reliance on working the ball in order to isolate the wide men against their full-backs. Only then do they spring into action, attacking their opposite man with pace and aggression.
Fortunately, this is a trait where the Englishman excels, as Jamie Carragher pointed out during that aforementioned season: "Emile Smith Rowe will get England caps, absolutely no doubt. There are so many good young players. He'll have to bide his time, there are other young players ahead of him right now but I absolutely love that lad.
"I always want him to do well, you're urging him on. To watch him in full flow, I've said he's the best player in the Premier League running the ball. He's so exciting, the pace, moving with the ball. He's a special talent. He can pop up in different positions, he has that ability to play all four positions up top and that's a real bonus."
With the time having seemingly arrived for him to announce himself as a star ready to fight for a place in Arteta's team once again, perhaps this Martinelli injury could provide the perfect opportunity for the 6-foot youngster to prove why he should be ahead of Trossard in the pecking order.
Glasgow Rangers are willing to sanction a temporary exit for Leon King this summer, and a reliable journalist has revealed that he's already got a whole host of clubs queuing up to secure his services.
When did Leon King join Rangers?
Rangers have had King on their books for the whole of his career having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to the first team last summer, but during the previous campaign, he only made nine starts in the Scottish Premiership.
The Scotland youth international’s contract isn’t set to expire for another three years, but it looks like he’ll have to complete a move elsewhere should he want to receive more regular game time moving forward, and if he departs, he won’t be short of potential suitors.
According to Football Insider back in March, Premier League sides Manchester United, Newcastle and Leeds all sent scouts to watch the 19-year-old live in action ahead of a possible move this window, and they have now been given a boost after learning that their target has been put in the shop window.
Glasgow Rangers defender Leon King.
Is Leon King leaving Rangers?
Taking to X, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph revealed that Rangers and Michael Beale are happy to listen to loan offers for King so that he can get some more minutes under his belt, but equally wouldn't mind him remaining at Ibrox beyond September 1st. He wrote:
"Rangers are exploring loan opportunities for centre-back Leon King. Clubs in England & Europe are keen. It's not a foregone conclusion that he will leave, but to gain more experience, Rangers are open to loaning him to a club that will suit his style of play & development."
What height is Leon King?
Standing at 6 foot exactly, King isn’t the tallest of centre-backs, but he still possesses a great physical presence at the heart of the backline when handed the rare opportunity to play, as shown by the level of his performances last season for Rangers.
The CAA Base Ltd client, who earns £4k-per-week, averaged 1.9 clearances and 1.3 aerial wins and tackles per league game during the previous term, via WhoScored, so is a no-nonsense defender and is strong at clearing the danger both on and off the ground.
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The Barrhead native also has the ability to operate at left-back and right-back alongside his usual position, so he would provide any manager with wonderful versatility, another reason as to why he would be an attractive option for plenty of clubs considering a swoop.
King has bags of potential to offer and will no doubt go on to become a “big player” for the long-term future of the Teddy Bears, according to journalist Josh Bunting, but for now, it could make sense to send him out on loan so that he can gain the necessary experience and exposure that he needs before returning to fight for his place north of the border ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, making this one to watch in the final days of the window.
Aston Villa have backed Unai Emery in the summer window so far as they have brought in three new signings and smashed the club's transfer record.
Who have Aston Villa signed this summer?
The Villans brought in Belgium international Youri Tielemans on a free transfer from Leicester City, who were relegated to the Championship, as their first piece of incoming business.
Monchi then worked his magic to secure a £35m deal to sign central defender Pau Torres from Spanish side Villarreal before the club splashed out a record £51.9m to sign Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen.
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They looked set to bring in a fourth in the form of Jack Harrison on Sunday night as Fabrizio Romano reported that they hijacked Everton's deal for the then-Leeds United forward.
However, the Villans opted against a move for the former Manchester City man as he is due to be out injured for a number of weeks and the 26-year-old dynamo completed a switch to the Toffees on Monday morning.
Emery and Monchi could now forget all about Harrison by pursuing a deal for reported transfer target Joao Felix, who the club are considering a swoop for.
How good is Joao Felix?
The Portugal international is a terrific forward who can play in a multitude of roles across the frontline, which would make him a versatile option for the head coach.
Like now-Everton gem Harrison, Felix is capable of being deployed on either flank or through the middle as a supporting striker or as a centre-forward.
This suggests that he has the adaptability and skillset to be used in the positions that Emery was eyeing the English magician for before his move to Goodison Park.
Felix, who scored four goals in 11 Premier League starts on loan at Chelsea during the second half of last season, could offer more to the Villans than the ex-Whites at the top end of the pitch.
Former Chelsea loanee Joao Felix.
The talented maestro has produced 25 goals and 13 assists in 55 LaLiga starts for Atletico Madrid to date, which works out as a goal contribution every 1.45 starts on average.
Meanwhile, Harrison managed 21 goals and 16 assists in 100 Premier League starts for Leeds, which is a direct involvement every 2.7 starts on average.
These statistics suggest that Felix, who scout Jacek Kulig described as a "nightmare" for defenders, could make a greater impact than the English attacker in the final third due to his ability to score and assist goals at a more impressive rate.
The Portuguese maestro's underlying numbers also back up his superiority. Over the last 365 days, the 5 foot 11 ace ranks within the top 6% of his positional peers among the Men's Big Five League and European competitions for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90 respectively.
Meanwhile, Harrison does not rank higher than the top 39% in either statistic and is in the bottom half of players in his position for progressive passes per 90 over the last 365 days.
Therefore, Felix could provide more quality in deep possession by driving the team up the pitch, either by carrying the ball forward or finding teammates between the line.
This is why Emery could forget all about Harrison by securing a deal for the Atletico Madrid forward as he has the potential to be a sublime signing for Villa as an alternative to the new Everton wide man.
Elsewhere, Keenan Vaz and Amogh Desai steadied Goa after Bengal’s Ashok Dinda struck to pick three wickets on the day
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-2017Anmolpreet Singh’s unbeaten 252 propeled Punjab to 645 for 6 dec in Amritsar. This is Anmolpreet’s second double-century this season, his previous being his career-best 267 against Chhattisgarh in Raipur earlier this month. In reply, Services were off to a shaky start as they finished the day on 130 for 4.After a 99-run partnership with Shubman Gill (129 off 142 balls), 19-year-old Anmolpreet struck two century partnerships on the day – 146 runs with Gurkeerat Singh Mann and 125 runs with Abhishek Gupta – to take Punjab past 500 before lunch. He also stitched an 87-run stand with No. 7 Taruwar Kohli to push Punjab’s total past 600.Services, however, endured a top-order wobble as they lost their top three batsmen within 12 overs for 33 runs. It was the 72-run stand between the captain Rahul Singh and Nakul Verma for the fourth wicket that saved them from further trouble.Amogh Desai (53*) and Keenan Vaz (40*) steadied Goa after Ashok Dinda’s three-for rattled their line-up as they finished on 191 for 5 against Bengal on the second day in Kolkata.Resuming from their first day score of 305 for 5, Bengal lost their overnight batsman Writtick Chatterjee in the day’s fourth over. In the 96th over, medium pacer Heramb Parab struck back-to-back to remove Boddupalli Amit and Kanishk Seth. In the subsequent over, Lakshay Garg dismissed the overnight centurion Anustup Majumdar (119 off 208 balls), to finish with a four-for. Within the next three overs, Bengal were bowled out for 379.In reply, Goa were off to a decent start and were 115 for 3 at tea, after which Dinda effected a couple of wickets, leaving them reeling at 130 for 5. It was Desai and Vaz who sparked the resistance to add a 61-run partnership for the sixth wicket.The captain Faiz Fazal (125*) and Sanjay Ramaswamy (104*) struck a 237-run opening partnership to give Vidarbha the upper hand against Himachal Pradesh on the second day in Nagpur. The pair had earlier made the highest opening stand in the team’s history, heaping 259 runs in the match against Bengal in the previous round.Starting the day from their overnight score of 287 for 6, Himachal Pradesh surrendered within the first 18 overs for 353 on the day as Rajneesh Gurbani picked three wickets to finish with a six-for. In reply, Vidarbha saw a strong start, with Fazal and Ramaswamy bringing up their 150-run partnership shortly before tea, as Himachal bowlers found no respite.