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As Bayern Munich step up their pursuit of Luis Diaz, Liverpool are now at risk of losing another star man amid reports that one European club are now readying an improved offer for his signature.

Bayern Munich submit opening offer to sign Diaz

With just two years remaining on his current deal, Diaz’s immediate Anfield future has been thrown into doubt courtesy of interest from Bayern Munich. The German giants have reportedly submitted an offer worth just £45m to sign the South American and have unsurprisingly been told that the winger is not for sale, especially at that price.

Given that Diaz, himself, is reportedly keen on the move though, it will certainly be interesting to see whether Liverpool’s stance changes in the coming weeks. If it does, then the Reds could reportedly demand around €80m (£69m) to sanction the Colombian’s exit ahead of next season.

It’s a transfer saga which could force Liverpool back to the market for incomings in unexpected fashion. Just who they would turn to as a replacement for Diaz is the unanswered question, however.

Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon reportedly remains a target following long-standing interest and the Magpies’ decision to sign Anthony Elanga may at least leave the door ajar for the Reds to make their move for the Liverpool-born winger.

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Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair

Meanwhile, as interest in Diaz begins to steal the headlines, the exit door could also be about to open for another Anfield star in the coming weeks.

Napoli readying fresh £48m Nunez bid

According to Caught Offside, Napoli are now readying a fresh offer to sign Darwin Nunez from Liverpool this summer. The Italian giants have already reportedly agreed personal terms with the Uruguay international and are now preparing a bid worth more than €55m (£48m) to secure his arrival ahead of next season.

Like Diaz, however, Liverpool value Nunez at more than £48m this summer. In fact, reports are suggesting that the Premier League champions could demand as much as €70m (£61m) to sanction the South American’s exit. Whether Napoli agree with that hefty valuation remains to be seen.

Whilst there’s no denying that Nunez’s Anfield spell hasn’t gone the way anyone would have wanted, the forward has still had some important moments, with late goals against Brentford and Nottingham Forest particularly standing out.

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Ultimately, however, a departure is best for all parties as the Red continue to chase a deal for Hugo Ekitike and, therefore, an instant upgrade on their struggling forward.

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool record (via Transfermarkt)

Appearances

143

Goals

40

Assists

26

Once dubbed “wonderful” by former manager Jurgen Klopp, Nunez now seems destined to leave Liverpool after just three seasons at the club.

As Manchester City look to commence their summer rebuild, they’ve reportedly set their sights on a Champions League star who those at the Etihad already know all about.

Man City transfer news

For the first time in a decade, the Citizens are in need of an overhaul. Whilst the amount of injury setbacks that they’ve suffered has shocked many, those injuries have simply been a consequence of their success on all fronts in the last four seasons. Not even Pep Guardiola’s side can outrun the eventual exhaustion of winning four Premier League titles in a row and a treble along the way, and they’re now suffering from that success.

What that success has done, however, is put them in a position to welcome some much-needed reinforcements this summer and, with that in mind, the Citizens have already reportedly set their sights on one target.

According to reports in Spain, Manchester City are now plotting a summer move to sign Michael Olise from Bayern Munich in what would see the winger return to the Premier League just one season after leaving Crystal Palace.

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Posts ByBrett Worthington

The winger has only kicked on at Bayern Munich in what should come as little surprise. The Frenchman is as talented as they come and whilst the likes of Jeremie Doku have struggled for end product at Manchester City, Olise has been firing on all cylinders in front of goal.

At just 23 years old, the best is yet to come from Olise, who may well find the form of his career back in English football, with Guaurdiola seeing him as a perfect fit in Manchester.

"Special" Olise would replace Doku

In many ways, Doku’s recent performance in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Premier League leaders Liverpool perfectly encapsulated the best and worst of his talent.

Whilst he ran Trent Alexander-Arnold ragged, it was ultimately the right-back who came out on top after the Belgian failed time and time again to produce the killer pass needed after an impressive take-on – much to City’s frustration. Mohamed Salah at the other end, meanwhile, was decisive without those take-ons.

Finding players who are both clinical and skilful is rare, but City are certainly looking in the right direction in search of that. Olise even showcased those very traits to silence the Etihad when he scored a 95th-minute penalty to secure a shock 2-2 draw for Palace against Manchester City last season.

Since reaching new levels at Bayern – scoring 13 goals and assisting a further 12 in all competitions – manager Vincent Kompany has been full of praise for his summer signing.

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The former Manchester City captain told reporters earlier this season: “He’s a special talent. It’s a luxury at Bayern to have so many good players. Michael did very well.

“His start at FC Bayern couldn’t have been much better. He has to keep going. I haven’t got the feeling that he’s a player who feels much pressure. He just enjoys football.”

It’s been a whirlwind few years for Ipswich Town, as Kieran McKenna has led them from the depths of League One to the heights of the Premier League in the blink of an eye.

The Tractor Boys have made a good account of themselves in the top flight so far, as while they are without a win, they have picked up five points.

Moreover, a few of the club’s summer signings have quickly established themselves as key players for McKenna and look like brilliant buys.

Ipswich’s PL record

Match

Opponent

Result

1

Liverpool

2-0 Defeat

2

Manchester City

4-1 Defeat

3

Fulham

1-1 Draw

4

Brighton & Hove Albion

0-0 Draw

5

Southampton

1-1 Draw

6

Aston Villa

2-2 Draw

7

West Ham United

4-1 Defeat

8

Everton

2-0 Defeat

9

Brentford

4-3 Defeat

10

Leicester City

1-1 Draw

All Stats via the Premier League

However, that cannot be said of all of them, including one who simply cannot be trusted to play for the first team again this season.

McKenna's brilliant buys

So, before we get to the offending player in question, let’s look at a couple of the club’s more successful signings this season, starting with the best of the lot: Liam Delap.

The Tractor Boys agreed to pay Manchester City up to £20m for the up-and-coming striker in mid-July, and while there was some excitement around the potential so many believed him to possess, few would have expected him to play as well as he has for the Suffolk side.

In just 11 appearances, the Winchester-born poacher has scored five goals, including a brace against Aston Villa, and if the club are to beat the drop this season, it’ll undoubtedly be largely down to his impressive output.

Now, another star that McKenna welcomed to Portman Road this summer is Sammie Szmodics, and while he hasn’t been able to quite replicate the ludicrous form that saw him rack up 33 goals and four assists in 48 games last season, he’s shown glimpses of quality here and there.

For example, he’s found the back of the net twice in ten appearances from an expected goals figure of 2.01 and, given that he’s missed three big chances on top of that, he could see his tally balloon when he’s fully acclimated to life with the Blues.

However, alongside some of their excellent to middling transfers, the club also made what is now looking like a poor decision to sign another vastly experienced star on loan, a star who might not play for the club again.

Ipswich's transfer mistake

So, the player in question is Manchester City ace Kalvin Phillips, who put pen to paper on a season-long loan deal in mid-August.

The first thing to say is that even though he has had a rough few years, the former Leeds United star showed just how talented he was when playing with the Peacocks, and only last year John Stones commented on his “outrageous” passing abilities.

However, in the last few years, we have not seen the player who starred for the Whites.

The 28-year-old seriously struggled on loan with West Ham United last season, playing just 320 minutes across 14 poor performances that saw him pick up a red card in just his fourth game before ending the season out of the squad entirely.

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Unfortunately, his form has not improved much this season, and despite making just eight appearances for the club, he has already picked up a red car, which completely turned the tide of the game against Leicester City on Saturday.

Moreover, reports have now revealed that discussions are being held at the club over potentially cancelling his loan deal due to serious concerns over his conditioning, with some at the club supposedly “amazed” at his ‘lack of mobility and running power.’

Ultimately, Phillips has shown in the past that he is a Premier League-level footballer, but so far this season, he has looked way off the pace, and after costing the club what should have been their first win of the season, he shouldn’t be trusted to play in the league again.

Related Left for £0m: Ex-Ipswich star is outperforming Hutchinson & Szmodics

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes

Based on the way he’s performed over the past six months, Kobbie Mainoo has the potential to be a future legend for Manchester United.

The 19-year-old’s quality and class continue to impress week in and week out, and he looks set to become a crucial player for England during the knockout stages of Euro 2024.

Mainoo’s performances and three goals over his 24 Premier League starts last campaign earned him a spot on the plane, and he’s certainly not letting the opportunity pass him by.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will look to build around the fantastic teenager next season, and he could start with a move for a fantastic talent who’d make the number 37 world-class.

Man Utd want to sign a defensive midfielder

As per a report from Sky Sports, via Dharmesh Sheth, Man United are weighing up a move for Manuel Ugarte.

The Red Devils have made an ‘initial approach’ to Paris Saint-Germain regarding the Uruguayan midfielder.

Despite there being no bid just yet, it’s said that ‘discussions continuing internally over next step.’

Luckily for United, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has announced that the French club are willing to sell the 23-year-old this summer.

Why Ugarte could be perfect for Mainoo

This time 12 months ago, Ugarte was regarded as one of the most highly rated young midfielders in Europe, hence why PSG splashed around £50m on him last summer.

The defensive midfielder started the campaign in the Ligue 1 side's best lineup, but as the season progressed, his involvement decreased.

This meant that across the entire league campaign, Ugarte made just 21 starts in 25 appearances, often operating as a lone defensive midfielder in a 4-3-3.

However, his performance levels were extremely impressive, and given the statistics he produced, he’d be an absolutely perfect fit alongside Mainoo.

Ugarte vs Mainoo vs Casemiro 23/24 League Stats

Stats (per game)

Ugarte

Mainoo

Casemiro

Passes completed

48.5

31.1

46.5

Pass accuracy

91%

87%

83%

Tackles

3.9

2

3.3

Interceptions

1.6

0.9

0.7

Balls recovered

7.2

4

5.3

Duels won

6.4

5

5.8

Via Sofascore

Last season, it was mainly Casemiro who partnered the English midfielder, and the Brazilian was tasked with providing the majority of the defensive support.

However, as you can see from the table, Ugarte is just on another level entirely, particularly defensively and from an athletic standpoint.

The Uruguayan plays with intensity, tenacity, and aggression, which often makes him horrible to play against, and his tackles alone prove how effective he truly is, and it is why he's been called a "machine" by football scout Jacek Kulig.

On top of that, he can read the game brilliantly and mop up loose balls continuously, which would make United much more secure on the counterattack.

This means that Mainoo could be handed the license to impact the game more frequently in the final third, as he has that defensive foundation behind him.

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As you can see from the clip below, this is arguably where Mainoo is at his best, due to his technical class, creativity, and ability to pitch in with goals.

On the other hand, Ugarte is also extremely composed on the ball himself, and he retains it brilliantly, which would enable the academy graduate to get on the ball much more frequently.

Another aspect that would make Ugarte an incredible signing is his reliability and availability, which would enable him to strike a telepathic relationship with Mainoo, as he’s only missed five matches in his entire career.

Overall, Ugarte ticks every single box that Man Utd so desperately need, and if he can even make Mainoo better, Ratcliffe must surely look to secure his signature.

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Posts 1 ByTom Lever

Aston Villa's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League suffered a significant blow on Sunday as they lost 2-1 to Manchester United at Villa Park. Douglas Luiz had cancelled out Rasmus Hojlund's opener, but Scott McTominay came on to score the winner for the visitors late on.

Villa have now dropped to fifth after failing to respond to Tottenham's dramatic 2-1 victory over Brighton on Saturday. That may still be enough to make it into the Champions League, but United have closed the gap to five points with their second win against the Villans in the space of seven weeks.

In general, Unai Emery's side are stuttering at the moment – either side of a resounding 5-0 win over a seemingly doomed Sheffield United, they suffered home defeats to Newcastle in the Premier League and Chelsea in the FA Cup. They hadn't lost a league game in front of their own fans since February before this recent stretch.

Premier League form (last seven gameweeks)

Rank

Team

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

1

Manchester City

6

6

0

0

11

18

2

Liverpool

7

5

1

1

11

16

3

Spurs

7

4

2

1

3

14

4

Arsenal

7

4

1

2

11

13

5

Man Utd

7

4

1

2

3

13

6

Aston Villa

7

2

2

2

2

8

And in another devastating blow, it emerged after Sunday's game that Boubacar Kamara, who came off in the second half, has suffered a "significant knee ligament injury". Kamara will see a specialist for a full prognosis, but a long-term lay-off seems inevitable.

Villa injury luck has become a "joke"

Quoting an earlier tweet about Villa's misfortune, Sky Sports presenter and Villa fan Dan Bardell said the situation had become a "joke" following the news of Kamara's injury.

Ball-winner Kamara joins Buendia and Mings

You can certainly see why Bardell is so frustrated. Kamara is actually the third Villa player to go down with a long-term knee problem this season after Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings, neither of whom have played since the opening day of the Premier League season.

Kamara's absence in particular will sting because he's been a crucial player for Emery this season. While he's been suspended for four matches (once for an accumulation of yellow cards and once for a straight red against Brentford), he's started every single game for which he's been available.

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Posts ByRoss Kilvington

The 2022 acqusition from Marseille has been a vital ball-winning presence at the base of the midfield, winning more tackles (2.2) per game and notching more interceptions per game (1.1) than anybody else in the squad. It remains to be seen who replaces him in the side, but Youri Tielemans looks the most likely candidate.

Wolverhampton Wanderers cashed in on a number of players over the course of the most recent summer transfer window as they attempted to overhaul their squad.

Fosun raked in funds from the sales of Matheus Nunes, Conor Coady, Ruben Neves, Nathan Collins, Raul Jimenez, and Ryan Giles, among others.

The club were able to make a profit on several of those stars and one of the fantastic signings who they struck gold with was central defender Coady, who completed a move to Leicester this summer.

How much did Wolves pay for Coady?

Former Wolves manager Kenny Jackett swooped to sign the English brute from Huddersfield Town for a reported fee of £2m ahead of the 2015/16 campaign.

At the time of the transfer, Coady was valued at €750k (£650k) by Transfermarkt after he had played 45 Championship games for the Yorkshire-based outfit throughout the 2014/15 season.

He started his career at Liverpool and only made two first-team appearances for the Premier League giants before his switch to the Terriers.

Although, the commanding centre-back did play 50 senior matches, and scored six goals, in a loan spell with Sheffield United before his move away from Anfield.

How many appearances did Coady make for Wolves?

Coady went on to rack up an outstanding 317 appearances in all competitions across an eight-year spell for Wolves after Jackett brought him to the club in 2015.

The former Liverpool enforcer played a key role in their promotion back to the Premier League during the 2017/18 campaign as they won the Championship title under Nuno Espirito Santo.

He played in 45 of their 46 league matches throughout the season as they fought their way back to the top-flight and was named in the Championship Team of the Year, which highlights how impressive his performances were.

Coady was a constant presence at the back for the club over the subsequent four years as he only missed one Premier League game in four seasons, which resulted in 151 league appearances in that time.

Former Old Gold boss Bruno Lage once hailed the ex-Wolves captain's leadership around the club and hailed him as "one of the best" in that regard.

How much did Wolves sell Coady for?

Wolves eventually decided to part ways with the England international this summer, after his season-long loan spell with Everton last term, for a reported £8.5m package as Leicester swooped for his services.

The former Huddersfield man now has the opportunity to win another Championship title and promotion to the Premier League as the Foxes are currently top of the second tier with nine wins and one defeat in their opening ten matches.

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His move to the King Power did spell the end of his time with the Old Gold and his tenure at Molineux turned out to be an excellent one, which means that Jackett struck gold with his decision to sign the then-22-year-old back in 2015.

Coady's value rocketed up by a whopping 325% from £2m to £8.5m within the space of eight years. This meant that Wolves were able to make a significant profit on the English titan whilst they also profited from his excellent performances on the pitch, at Championship and Premier League level, over the years.

After another difficult evening for Celtic in the Europa League, they’ve now discovered the extent of the injury that Callum Osmand picked up in another frustrating blow.

The Bhoys fell to a 3-1 defeat against Midtjylland and remain with just the one win to their name on the European stage this season – making qualification into the next round a mere fantasy at this stage.

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For all the good work that Martin O’Neill has done so far this season, not even the Northern Irishman could turn his side’s fortunes around outside of domestic action and he once again distanced himself from the permanent job.

What the defeat has certainly done is pile the pressure on Dermot Desmond and the rest of the Celtic board to get their next decision right and get it done sooner rather than later.

Ange Postecoglou pulled out of the race for the job in the early stages and that dealt the Bhoys an undeniable blow. Since then, however, other impressive candidates have emerged such as Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen and Kieran McKenna.

Reports have even gone as far as to suggest that McKenna is open to the job in what could hand Celtic quite the boost. The Ipswich Town boss has struggled to get the best out of his side in the Championship so far this season, but no one will be forgetting the history that he made at Portman Road anytime soon.

Alas, before any manager can arrive, it’s up to O’Neill to get the Hoops back to winning ways and do so without recent Old Firm hero Osmand.

Celtic discover extent of Callum Osmand injury

As revealed by O’Neill at full-time, Osmand suffered a pulled hamstring against Midtjylland and will now be missing for at least a few weeks. It’s a major blow for the 19-year-old, who just took his place in Celtic’s Europa League squad off the back of putting Celtic out of sight with his effort in the Scottish League Cup semi-final against Rangers.

With Celtic’s attack already coming under fire this season, they now have the task of squaring off against Kilmarnock and others without one of their most promising talents.

Celtic frontrunner McKenna now wants Hoops job

Newcastle United and iconic centre-forwards go hand in hand. Both Hughie Gallacher and Jackie Milburn made massive impressions for the club during the first half of the 20th century.

The former helped the Magpies win the First Division title in 1926/27 and scored 143 goals in 174 matches, while the latter scored 200 goals for the club and won three FA Cups during his spell in the north-east.

The 1970s saw Malcolm Macdonald emerge as the next big thing, before Kevin Keegan and Peter Beardsley made their mark during the 80s.

Andy Cole’s spell on Tyneside was short, but boy was it sweet. He netted 68 goals in just 84 matches, but departed for Manchester United after only two years.

Elsewhere, Alan Shearer goes down as the best centre-forward in the club’s history. His ten-year stint with his boyhood team might have finished trophyless, but the Englishman broke Milburn’s scoring record in February 2006.

Supporters of the current generation have Alexander Isak, and what an impression he has made during his three years at Newcastle.

Alexander Isak’s Newcastle record

Eddie Howe made Isak the club’s record signing when he splashed out a staggering £63m to bring the Swedish hitman to the Premier League.

Fast-forward three years and the move is arguably one of the finest in the club’s recent history. Since joining, Isak has registered 73 goal contributions – 62 goals and 11 assists – across just 109 matches.

He may have suffered from injury issues during his first campaign, but ever since, Isak has been a goal machine.

The 25-year-old enjoyed his best season yet during 2024/25. A tally of 27 goals in 42 appearances helped the Toon secure a Champions League place next season.

Furthermore, he also scored in the League Cup final against Liverpool, ending the club’s 70-year major domestic trophy drought. There is no doubt he will go down as one of the finest strikers in the history of the club.

Alexander Isak’s PL stats for Newcastle

Metric

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

10

21

23

Assists

1

2

6

Shots per game

2.3

2.6

2.9

Goal conversion percentage

20%

27%

23%

Key passes per game

0.7

0.9

1.2

Via Sofascore

Compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Isak ranks in the top 8% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 over the previous 365 days, while also ranking in the top 12% for non-penalty goals during the same period.

These statistics suggest that Isak is one of the best strikers on the continent and the longer Howe can keep hold of him, the better.

Of course, his performances have caught the eye of several teams, Liverpool included. The Anfield side have earmarked the 25-year-old as their number one striker target.

The Magpies are demanding a British record transfer fee of around £150m for the sale of Isak, which Howe will hope puts many teams off.

Regardless if he moves or not, Isak’s form over the previous three seasons places him in the bracket of one of the club’s most impressive signings of recent times.

Might Howe be looking to land the club their biggest signing since with a move for a current Premier League star?

Newcastle's search for a new forward

Despite actively looking to bolster their squad ahead of another campaign filled with European football, Howe hasn’t had much luck in the transfer market thus far.

He has targeted moves for both Anthony Elanga and James Trafford, but deals have yet to materialise for the pair.

One move which may be close to finally being sealed is that of Joao Pedro. According to the Chronicle, Newcastle are now in advanced talks to sign the Brighton and Hove Albion star.

Discussions have been ongoing this week. The Magpies valued Pedro at around the £50m mark, although Brighton are holding out for a fee closer to £60m.

It would be an excellent first signing to make this summer for Howe, especially considering that the Brazilian has plenty of experience in the Premier League and will be ready to hit the ground running.

Dare I say it, but he might be the biggest signing the club have made since Isak.

Why Newcastle must sign Joao Pedro

The Magpies have made some impressive signings since the arrival of Isak in the summer of 2022.

Anthony Gordon joined the club in January 2023, while Sandro Tonali followed that summer. Both have since proven they are excellent signings, but Pedro’s arrival could take the club to new heights.

Since making the move to England more than five years ago, the forward has scored 54 goals and grabbed 18 assists across spells with both Watford and Brighton. For comparison, Gordon had scored just seven goals in 78 games at Everton, prior to making the switch.

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In the Premier League, 32 of these goal involvements were recorded, indicating that he will have no problem performing in the top flight under Howe; that much is certain.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Pedro ranks highly over a range of performance metrics.

Indeed, not only does he rank in the top 12% for assists (0.28) and shot-creating actions (3.33) per 90, but the Brazilian also ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes (3.6) and for progressive carries (3.05) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

These stats prove that while he is a major threat in the opposition penalty box, Pedro is also capable of generating chances for others while successfully getting the ball into dangerous areas.

He was even hailed by commentator Kevin Hatchard for his “magical” ability on the ball, and this is a move that Howe must be desperate to get over the line sooner rather than later.

If so, it will surely give the whole club a major boost. The St James’ Park faithful will hope that once one player has been signed, the rest will follow.

Keeping Isak will be vital if Newcastle want to go far in the Champions League next term, while aiming for another trophy win.

Should an offer too good to turn down arrive, however, Pedro would make for a more than able replacement heading into the 2024/25 campaign.

Related Self proclaimed "world-class" star has now "agreed" terms to join Newcastle

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Posts 2 ByHenry Jackson

Nottingham Forest are now keen on signing a “complete” forward after watching him in action recently, but there will be plenty of competition for his signature from rival Premier League clubs, according to a report.

Forest planning for the summer

Forest are enjoying a remarkable season in the Premier League, surpassing all expectations and pushing for Champions League qualification, which may mean their most important task this summer will be keeping hold of their best players.

However, new targets are also being identified, with Nuno Espirito Santo seemingly particularly keen on strengthening in the attacking third, given that a number of forwards have been linked with moves to the City Ground.

Contact has been made over a deal for Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto, while the Tricky Trees are also eyeing a move for AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at AC Milan.

Related £25k-p/w Nottingham Forest star being targeted by PL rivals with Murillo

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Posts ByDominic Lund

Matheus Cunha was also heavily linked with Forest in the January transfer window, and the Wolverhampton Wanderers star is not the only Brazilian on the list of targets.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Nottingham Forest are now keen on signing Marseille forward Luis Henrique, who has put in some impressive displays in Ligue 1 this season.

In light of Henrique’s performances in France, he has been tipped to receive a Brazil call-up, and he could also be in line for a move to the Premier League, with a number of clubs believed to be queuing up.

Newcastle United and Everton are also credited with an interest in the forward, with all three clubs watching him in action in recent weeks, so there could be plenty of competition for his signature this summer.

Henrique impressing for Marseille

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi is clearly very pleased with the Brazilian’s performances this season, having singled him out for praise earlier this month: “He is having a fantastic season. He shows us that he is a complete player, with or without the ball. In terms of finishing, he scores goals. He is young and has to be determined to keep improving. He is one of the most important players for OM.

As such, it may be difficult to prise the left-winger away from Marseille this summer, especially considering the French side are in a strong negotiating position, as he is under contract until the summer of 2028.

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However, should the 23-year-old move to the City Ground, there is every indication he could be a fantastic signing, having amassed seven goals and four assists in Ligue 1 this term.

Nuno is not short on top-quality wide players, with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga both enjoying impressive seasons.

However, if Forest qualify for Europe next season, they will need strength in depth, and Henrique’s performances for Marseille suggest he could be a solid addition to the squad.

Tottenham Hotspur meet Aston Villa in the Premier League this afternoon, and though fans were delighted with a win over Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, this is a different test entirely.

Unai Emery’s high-flying side perch five points ahead of Spurs, who have only won four of their nine top-flight fixtures thus far. They were defeated by Crystal Palace, who were previously winless, last weekend.

While Ange Postecoglou and his squad are hardly in dire straits, there is a feeling that defeat in north London against the Villans – for the second season running – would place a sour taste in the fanbase’s proverbial mouth.

It’ll be a tough test indeed, there are no two ways about it. Aston Villa are unbeaten on the road in the Premier League this term and have only been beaten by Arsenal, way back in match-week two.

Moreover, Micky van de Ven has picked up another injury and faces a spell on the sidelines. Fans can only hope that it doesn’t prove to be a detrimental blow.

Micky van de Ven's injured – again

Van de Ven is a fantastic footballer, endowed with the highest calibre of athleticism and keeping things crisp from Tottenham’s backline, one of the sharpest distributors in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old has been plying his craft in the English capital for over one year now, joining from German side Wolfsburg in a £43m deal in August 2023. He’s been brilliant; it’s quite easy to forget how porous Spurs were in defence before his advent.

Indeed, the Dutchman ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs in the English top flight this season for assists, the top 14% for pass completion, the top 11% for progressive passes, and the top 14% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref. Such metrics underscore the complete nature of his skill set.

He’s a singular player, irreplaceable, even. His lightning-quick pace and muscular physique make him the prototypical defender to nullify Aston Villa’s frontline, with the likes of Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, once he is inevitably unleashed past the hour mark, certain to be emboldened by his absence.

Tottenham worries have been compounded by the potential absence of Cristian Romero too, with Postecoglou revealing that the Argentine titan was left feeling “a bit sore” following the victory over City.

That eventuality is bound to send a frisson of fear lancing through Lilywhites supporters near and far. Although, saying that, it’s not all doom and gloom.

Radu Dragusin is set to start in central defence, regardless of Romero’s fitness. The 22-year-old Romanian won his only ground duel against City on Wednesday, as per Sofascore, also making five clearances to keep the visitors at bay.

Who else to promote to the rearguard? Archie Gray is one option, but he’s young and inexperienced, and would not fare well in a moonlit position against a team like Villa.

Ben Davies, then.

Ben Davies could replace Van de Ven – again

Davies has been at Tottenham for some time. In July 2014, the Wales international arrived from Swansea City in a swap deal worth £10m.

He’s been a loyal servant down N17. A decade later, Davies, now aged 31, has made 335 appearances for the north Londoners, scoring nine goals and supplying 23 further assists.

An 89-cap international, he’s as experienced as they come and hardly averse to playing from the outset in the Premier League – albeit, Postecoglou is yet to dispatch him in the league this season.

That said, Davies has played every minute of Tottenham’s Europa League campaign so far, keeping a clean sheet at centre-back against AZ Alkmaar last time out.

As per Sofascore, he’s completed 91% of his passes across those three fixtures while averaging 85 touches per game. This bodes well for Davies’ potential replacement of Van de Ven, for he’s not afraid to star at the centre of the action in central defence and is a top-class passer besides.

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He’s also proven himself to be capable of stepping in for the Netherlands star last season, proving to be something of a hero during the threadbare spell of Spurs’ 2023/24 season, when Van de Ven was sidelined throughout the winter period.

The £80k-per-week ace is of course not as good as Van de Ven. He’s not as mobile, and nor is he blessed with the same athletic prowess. Having said that, though, the Welshman’s metrics do align quite nicely when contrasting them against his Spurs positional peer, as you can see below.

Micky van de Ven vs Ben Davies (past 365 days)

Stat

Van de Ven

Davies

Pass completion

93%

90%

Passes attempted

72.1

71.6

Progressive passes

4.90

5.54

Shot-creating actions

0.72

1.14

Progressive carries

0.72

1.42

Successful take-ons

0.52

0.28

Stats via FBref

Davies might not carry some of the same natural-born properties as Van de Ven, sure, but he’s a reliable and robust defender who doesn’t earn as much match action as perhaps he deserves.

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Only last season, as stated, the defender stepped in for his peer and produced some composed and cultured performances in the face of adversity, starting 12 matches, completing 91% of his passes, and winning 68% of his ground duels.

So then, he’s not just competent on the continent, against ostensibly lower-level opponents. Davies is assured and will not find his fluency knocked by an absence from the Premier League field.

In fact, the long-serving Spurs man’s industriousness may well blend nicely with the more dynamic defending of Dragusin, sure to start against Villa later on today.

Of course, Romero’s unavailability is not something that Tottenham supporters would hope for, but it’s perhaps a testament to Postecoglou’s project that he’s created a team with ample cover for such conundrums.

Davies has what it takes to send Emery’s outfit packing, and he should be unleashed. Who knows, if Romero does receive the green light, maybe his particular profile would be best served in the starting line-up, instead of Dragusin.

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