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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.

Former Scottish midfielder Stephen McGinn has been reacting to Celtic’s reported interest in Fabian Rieder.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

The Hoops have made a start on bolstering their squad ahead of the new season under Brendan Rodgers, who has reportedly been handed a £30m transfer budget this summer.

Cash has already been spent on Odin Thiago Holm and winger Marco Tilio, who have both signed from Valerenga and Melbourne City on five-year deals. More arrivals could soon be on the way, with Scotland internationals Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay linked with potential moves to Parkhead.

Gangwon FC forward Yang Hyun-jun is another who may soon be on the way to Glasgow, with a £2.1m fee already agreed between the two clubs. A transfer ‘breakthrough’ has emerged in recent days, with rumours suggesting that the K League 1 side are now ready to allow the forward to leave immediately instead of in January.

Alongside Yang, Rieder is another player who the Hoops are reportedly interested in. The Young Boys midfielder could cost upwards of £15m, though, but it looks as if the funds are there, especially following Jota's £25m move to Saudi Arabia.

Talking on Go Radio's Football Show, relayed by Glasgow Times, McGinn said that Reider could be a “next level” signing in a possible deal worth £15m – which would be a club record fee for Celtic.

"With all the talk of Brendan Rodgers and taking them to the next level in Europe it's probably the first signing that suggests that. Some of the players that have been suggested and have been signed so far are the type of signings Celtic have been making in the last five or six years.

"I think Reider is one of those next level signings. I think as far back as 25 years the signing limit for Celtic has been around that £5-£6million mark.

"It would take upwards of £14-£15million to sign Reider and it's the 'wow' signing that shows that it's not a fantasy about taking Celtic to the next level and the board saying 'we have the money here so to make that progression we are not just going to sign the projects, we are going to sign the next level projects'.

"It's the first player of this kind of new vision of taking Celtic to the next level."

Who is Fabian Rieder?

Rieder is 21 years of age and is primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play in a deeper midfield role or out on the right-hand side.

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The Swiss U21 international is valued at a career-high €15m Transfermarkt valuation and has come through the Young Boys academy.

Rieder already has plenty of experience under his belt, making 116 senior appearances for his current employers, scoring 14 goals and providing 23 assists. Therefore, he could provide Rodgers with a solid versatile midfield option and could represent a statement signing both in the short and long run.

It looks as if a deal could be one to keep an eye on, but the Hoops may need to write a big cheque for his services.

Celtic are open to offers for forward Liel Abada with an approach already being plotted this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Abada scouted in January

The Hoops winger only made the move to the Scottish Premiership back in 2021 so isn’t out of contract until 2026, but being Ange Postecoglou’s second top-performing offensive player, has been generating interest.

The Athletic report that Southampton have identified the 21-year-old as an ideal target having sent scouts to watch him in January, with a view to making their move at the end of the season.

Maccabi Petah Tikva president Avi Luzon, the player’s former club, recently admitted that he thinks the Israel international will leave Parkhead at the next available opportunity. He said:

“I believe he will be sold in the summer to the Premier League. There were talks already in the last window, but he didn’t want to be sold.

“They offered him a contract extension and I know he didn’t agree, because he wants to be sold. I don’t know the names of teams, but there are offers and I believe at a probability level of over 90% that he will move to the Premier League in the summer.”

The Latest: Saints plotting approach

According to the Daily Mail (via the Southern Daily Echo), Southampton are ‘ready to pounce’ for Abada following a ‘breakdown’ in talks to extend his stay at Celtic.

The St. Mary’s outfit are claimed to be ‘long-term admirers’ of their target and are ‘likely’ to try their luck ahead of the new term.

It’s stated that a fee of £10m would be ‘enough to tempt’ the Bhoys into sanctioning a sale with the boss having already committed to using transfer funds to invest further into his squad.

The Verdict: Don’t let him go

Abada won the Best Young Player award in the Scottish Premiership in 2022 and considering the positive impact he makes, it’s important that Celtic don’t let him leave in the summer.

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The Hoops attacker has posted 15 goal contributions in 29 league outings so far this season and he’s currently averaging 3.55 shots per game, form which has seen him receive three man-of-the-match awards.

The Petah Tikva native is also comfortable playing out wide on both the left and right flanks alongside up front, making him an extremely useful option to have in the building.

Abada has been dubbed a ‘dangerous’ player by journalist Josh Bunting and even the thought of losing him is a huge blow.

Everton are ‘pushing’ to complete the signing of Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma but ‘many clubs’ are keen, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

The Lowdown: Danjuma linked with PL move

The Dutchman has found himself struggling for playing time at Villarreal so far this season, only making ten La Liga appearances, of which just six have been starts.

Aston Villa are arguably the club who have been most strongly linked with a move for Danjuma, with a switch to the Premier League potentially on the cards.

Now, it looks as though Everton could also be in the mix, having already been tipped to snap him up.

The Latest: Everton ‘pushing’ for signing

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano put the Blues’ name in the hat regarding the signing of Danjuma, with Nottingham Forest also name-checked:

“For Danjuma, there are many clubs interested. I’m told Everton are one of them. It’s true that Everton are pushing, but Nottingham Forest are also among clubs exploring this move.”

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The Verdict: Strong wide option

Danjuma may have struggled to get going so far this season but he could still be an inspired signing by Everton, providing Frank Lampard with much-needed attacking thrust.

[freshpress-quiz id=“418944″]

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The 25-year-old scored 17 goals in 52 times for Bournemouth during a previous spell in England – an impressive return from out wide – and 22 in 51 for Villarreal is an even better record.

Danjuma has been described as a ‘nightmare for defenders’ by Kevin Phillips and his arrival could help Everton stave off the very real threat of relegation to the Championship.

Everton striker Neal Maupay put himself in ‘absolutely glorious positions’ during the Toffees’ 2-0 Premier League defeat to Tottenham, claims journalist Paul Brown.

The Lowdown: Maupay’s Blues career

Since arriving at Goodison Park this summer in a deal worth £15m, the Frenchman has scored just once in five top-flight appearances for the club.

However, this can be partially explained by the number of touches of the ball the 26-year-old is getting. This figure has decreased each week since Maupay scored the winning goal over West Ham in September, with the former Brighton man often tasked with a selfless role up front.

In 66 minutes of play against Spurs on Saturday, the forward only touched the ball 15 times, failing to register a shot.

The Latest: Should have scored

Despite these seemingly underwhelming stats, Brown believes Maupay has Demarai Gray to thank for not getting on the score-sheet at Spurs.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the journalist pointed out the Frenchman’s positioning on the winger’s breakaway:

“The best chance they had in the first half of that game, or one of them, fell to Demarai Gray. And I watched Maupay, live and then through the replays, get himself into two absolutely glorious positions for a simple tap in if Gray had seen him and played the pass, but Gray went for glory and blazed it over instead.”

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The Verdict: Needs better service

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, Maupay ranks in the 13th percentile for non-penalty goals. However, having amassed 27 goals in 107 Premier League appearances for a relegation-battling side in Brighton, the Frenchman’s finishing ability is certainly not the reason for his recent lack of goals.

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Whilst he has ranked in the 85th percentile for pressures, showing the shift he is putting in up top, the 26-year-old sits in the 38th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area (via FBRef).

This suggests the attacker isn’t getting the service needed from his teammates, forcing him to drop deep to pick up the ball.

Frank Lampard needs to figure out a way to get more service to both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Maupay, a ‘unique’ threat in the words of former Seagulls boss Graham Potter, or risk becoming stale as an attacking unit.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has delivered his verdict on the injury suffered by Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate on the eve of the new Premier League campaign. 

The lowdown: Konate takes a knock

Partnered alongside Joe Gomez for the final pre-season friendly ahead of the 2022/23 season getting underway, Konate was forced off in the second half against Strasbourg on Sunday evening.

After the match, it was confirmed that the 23-year-old France international would undergo a scan to assess the extent of the issue suffered in a collision that saw the giant centre-defender limp off soon after.

Upon hearing about the injury, one pundit has had his say on the impact being without Konate could have on the Reds…

The latest: ‘Blow’

Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United shot-stopper and Sky Sports pundit Robinson claimed that losing the two-cap ace would be a big ‘blow’ to Jurgen Klopp’s plans.

He said: “It would be a blow because he ended the season so well. You have to look at the strength in depth Liverpool have got though. Klopp will want a full strength squad available but that is not always the case.

“They have got plenty of players in that position who can cover. They can cope with it. Joel Matip and Joe Gomez are both top centre-halves. Losing Konate will be a blow though because he was a revelation last season.”

The verdict: Fingers crossed

Even though Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk were seemingly being geared up to start the opening day clash with Fulham having paired up against Manchester City and Gomez is a more than capable deputy, the potential absence of the £36million valued Frenchman from the squad would be a major setback in the preparations.

A clear favourite of Klopp’s, it will be hoped that the injury isn’t a significant one, having already lost Diogo Jota and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the opening weeks of the new term.

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Furthermore, any lengthy layoff for the man who earns £70,000 per week at Anfield could restrict the possibility of Nat Phillips getting a move away amidst links to newly-promoted Bournemouth and Fulham.

Last season, Konate earned an impressive 6.99 Sofascore rating whilst winning 5.0 duels, making 3.4 clearances and 1.5 interceptions on average per game in what was a superb debut campaign following a move from RB Leipzig.

Hailed as a ‘machine’ by Jamie O’Hara for a standout UEFA Champions League performance against Villarreal, the powerful defender will be desperate to return to full fitness and win his place back in Klopp’s starting XI as soon as possible.

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.

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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.

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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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Posts 2 ByJack Salveson Holmes