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Aston Villa will embark on an exciting adventure when they return to the Champions League next season. It will be their first time playing amongst Europe’s elite since the competition rebranded from the European Cup in 1992. In fact, they haven’t played in the Champions League since 1982/83, having won the whole thing the season before, in 1981/82.

Villa’s pathway to qualification for the Champions League last season saw them finish fourth in the Premier League, two points clear of Tottenham Hotspur who occupied fifth and therefore the Europa League spot. In total, the Villans ended the campaign with 68 points.

However, according to Understat’s expected points tally, they hugely exceeded their expectations. In reality, instead of their 68 points, Unai Emery’s side should have got 55.43xPTS, which would have placed them seventh in the top flight instead. However, their overachievement shows just how impressive the Midlands side performed last season.

Indeed, with their Champions League adventure awaiting them next term, the Villans will need to add players to their squad who can enhance their chances of a good performance in the competition. In fact, they have recently been linked with one player who could bring plenty of European experience to their squad.

Aston Villa target Premier League striker

The player in question here is Chelsea and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku. Since returning to Stamford Bridge for £97.5m in 2021, the all-time record goalscorer for Belgium has become something of an outcast in Blue, and could now permanently leave this summer after several loan spells.

According to a report from Italian news outlet Calcio Mercato, the Villans are ‘pressing hard on the Belgian striker’, and could launch a bid and leave other suitors in the dust as they look to beat competition to his signature.

Indeed, the other side showing the strongest interest in Lukaku this summer is Italian giants Napoli. However, for Gli Azzurri to do a deal this summer, Victor Osimhen must depart the club. The Nigerian striker was linked with Chelsea, but a deal to Stamford Bridge may now be off after they are set to sign Samu Omorodion from Atleti.

Should Villa nip in front of Napoli in the queue to sign Lukaku this summer, they will have to fork out a fee of £30m, assuming Chelsea ask for the same price the 2022/23 Scudetto winners were charged for the Belgian.

Why Lukaku would be a good signing

It has certainly been an interesting few years for Lukaku, who put up some impressive numbers for his second club in Italy, AS Roma. The 31-year-old Belgian scored 21 goals and grabbed four assists in 47 games in all competitions last term. He grabbed 13 goals and three assists in 32 top-flight games in Italy, as well as seven goals and an assist in 13 Europa League games.

One thing that Lukaku can bring to Villa next season if he joins the club that could be crucial is experience and goals in the Champions League. He is vastly experienced in the biggest club competition in Europe and boasts an impressive record.

Lukaku's Champions League record by season

Season

Club

Games

Minutes

Goals

Assists

2017/18

Man United

8

704

5

N/A

2018/19

Man United

9

546

2

1

2019/20

Inter

5

405

2

2

2020/21

Inter

5

446

4

N/A

2021/22

Chelsea

6

320

2

1

2022/23

Inter

8

177

3

1

Stats from Transfermarkt

The 31-year-old’s excellent goalscoring record amongst Europe’s elite is better than some legends of the game. Italian icon Francesco Totti has only scored 17 goals in the Champions League, and legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo boasts just 14 goals in 40 games.

Having played in a Champions League final, albeit ending up on the losing side, the former Inter striker could bring plenty of experience to a Villa side taking an unknown step into arguably club football's biggest competition.

Not only will he bring goals and experience in the Champions League, but the signing of the Chelsea man would mean he is the first Belgian striker to play for the club since Christian Benteke between 2012 and 2015.

The Belgian, who, like Lukaku, is something of a journeyman himself, was superb for the Villans during his time at the club. He played 101 games, getting himself on the scoresheet 49 times as well as grabbing 12 assists, before getting a big £32.5m move to Liverpool.

Benteke was a talisman for Villa, and the signing of Lukaku would certainly have shades of that prior deal, given he has an exceptional goalscoring record and could become a cult hero at Villa Park if he manages to find his best form.

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One of the only stumbling blocks for a deal to sign Lukaku for Villa this summer could be his wages. The 31-year-old is currently earning an eye-watering £325k per week at Stamford Bridge according to Capology, which would see him be the highest earner at Villa Park by some distance.

The highest-paid players in Claret and Blue currently are Boubacar Kamara and his Belgium teammate Youri Tielemans, who both earn £150k per week. The Chelsea striker currently earns £175k per week more than those, and even if he accepted a wage reduction, it could be hard to negotiate a weekly wage in line with Villa’s current wage structure.

Sky Sports presenter Dougie Critchley once described Lukaku as an “absolute phenomenon”, and if he can rediscover his best form, such as what he showed at Everton or during his first spell at Inter, Villa could have one of the best strikers in the Premier League on their hands.

There is no doubting Lukaku’s quality, and if he gets on a goalscoring run, Emery’s side could find themselves progressing through the Champions League thanks to one of the most exciting strikers of his generation.

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Posts ByRoss Kilvington

Aston Villa are readying an audacious bid for a man wanted by plenty of the Premier League big-hitters, according to reports coming out of Italy, with Sporting Director Monchi hot on the case.

Unai Emery's side making history

Despite having won just one of their previous five Premier League games, Aston Villa and Unai Emery are still on course for a historic season.

Related Aston Villa agree fee to sign £48k-p/w "future superstar" wanted by Arsenal

Unai Emery has personally pushed for the deal to be done.

Posts ByBen Browning

They sit fifth in the Premier League and are set for Champions League football next season, which will be their first time in the competition since the 1980s. The Villans remain in the hunt for European silverware this season too, with a showdown against LOSC Lille in the UEFA Conference League before a potential semi-final against Olympiacos or Fenerbahce en route to the final of the competition.

But attention is already turning to summer business, and the latest reports suggest Emery's side are set to be ambitious in the market once again as they look to push on to bridge the gap to the Premier League's traditional heavy hitters.

Villa eyeing Zirkzee with Monchi leading the charge

Now, it has emerged from reports in Italy that Villa are the latest side to show an interest in Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, who has enjoyed a fantastic campaign to date in the Italian top flight.

The Dutch attacker has found the net on 10 occasions in Serie A so far this season, as well as grabbing four assists, and has caught the eye of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool among other clubs across Europe as plenty scramble to try and find a striker before the new season.

According to Italian media [Via GIVEMESPORT], Villa have now joined the race for his services and could even have an advantage over their rivals despite the calibre of the other sides in the hunt for his signature.

That is because of Sporting Director Monchi, who knows Serie A intimately from his time in charge at Roma. He is keen to land Zirkzee and has enlisted the help of super-agent Kia Joorabchian, who already represents Villa duo Douglas Luiz and Philippe Coutinho.

Bologna boss Thiago Motta has already revealed just how special the striker could be, discussing his "extraordinary" qualities earlier in the campaign.

“‘It was an excellent goal from a player with extraordinary qualities. He scored a similar goal in training. Joshua is very talented, but I want to emphasize that he also works very hard for it,” Motta stated after Zirkzee scored against Sassuolo in October.

Zirkzee in Serie A 23/24

Appearances

29

Goals

10

Assists

3

Shots on Target (per 90)

1.03

Expected goals

8.5

Any deal would depend on Villa clinching Champions League football for next season, though that seems more of a formality than anything else at present given their advantage over Manchester United in the Premier League.

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It would reportedly set Villa back between 60m and 70m euros (£52-£60m), while he would also demand an almost four times increase on his current £900,000 (£18,000 per week) wages.

With Ollie Watkins ploughing an almost lone furrow at the top of the pitch for much of the season, an addition feels necessary for Emery's side ahead of playing in four competitions once again, and the versatile Dutchman could be the perfect solution.

Glasgow Rangers return from the international break straight back into domestic proceedings with a clash against Aberdeen this afternoon.

Between now and January 2, the Light Blues face 12 vital matches which could arguably make or break their season.

Included in this run is a League Cup final against the Dons, two crucial European matches and a trip to Parkhead to face Celtic in the Premiership.

If Philippe Clement can emerge from this busy run with a trophy, a place in the Europa League knockout stages and having closed the gap on Celtic in the league, it will be a job well done.

The signs have been positive over the previous few weeks as the Gers have won six and drawn one of the last seven matches and the Belgian has brought some confidence back into a squad which had stagnated under Michael Beale.

The main thing now is to build on these performances while also managing the first team with regard to workload, as there have been far too many injuries this season.

Slowly but surely, certain players are returning and Tom Lawrence was one of the many who had missed large chunks of the season before making just his third start of 2023/24 and the first since Real Betis in the tie against Livingston a couple of weeks ago.

Tom Lawrence’s game in numbers vs Livingston

The Welshman had proven during his maiden season in Glasgow that, when fit, he could be a valuable asset to the club.

Before suffering a season-ending injury in August 2022, Lawrence had scored three goals and registered two assists, and it was clear that the Light Blues missed his creativity during a dismal campaign.

He had managed only one assist before starting against Livi, yet his performance on the plastic turf was excellent, and he could certainly throw a spanner in the works regarding Clement’s future plans.

The 29-year-old was deployed just behind Cyriel Dessers in an attacking midfield slot and ran the show, making five key passes while also grabbing an assist.

The midfielder also created a big chance, succeeded with his only dribble attempt, and won two of his three duels, demonstrating his strength in one-on-one battles.

It was a display which showcased Lawrence’s talents from the number ten role and one that surely pleased the manager.

With that in mind, however, Clement faces a selection headache ahead of the tie against Aberdeen, especially when Todd Cantwell is performing well in the same role.

With plenty of games to come in the next few weeks, keeping players fresh and healthy will be his main concern and this could see the Welshman return to the bench against the Dons today.

Todd Cantwell’s season in numbers

The Englishman endured a difficult start to the season under Beale as he was played out of position several times and while he grabbed an assist against Servette in the Champions League qualifiers back in August, that was his last goal contribution until Clement arrived.

Cantwell suffered a knee injury against Celtic at the start of September and this meant he missed the next seven matches, disrupting the progress he had built since joining the club in January.

Since returning to the first-team fold, however, he has been in solid form and even scored his first goal of the season against Sparta Prague last month.

The Belgian has deployed him on the right side of the attack, yet the playmaker is more effective from the attacking midfield slot.

During the second half of last season following his £1.5m move from Norwich City in January, he scored four goals and grabbed four assists from the number ten role in just 11 games in that position.

Following the end of last season, journalist Josh Bunting lavished praise on the former Norwich gem, saying:

“Really interested in seeing how Todd Cantwell goes next season. Has proved to be an excellent bit of business and I don’t think it’s unfair to say he’s probably a level above this league. With the momentum he has he’s going to be the catalyst in that Rangers side. Has that desire.”

Due to his injury, his performances have taken a while to get back to that sort of level, but with more game time under the Belgian plus some added confidence following his goal against Sparta, he should be raring to go now.

He was given a 12-minute cameo against Livi a couple of weeks ago and during his time on the pitch, he completed 100% of his passes (10/10) along with succeeding with his only dribble attempt, and he should be fresh to start against the Dons.

Todd Cantwell’s market value

Since joining the Glasgow side less than 12 months ago, the 25-year-old has shown a significant improvement on the pitch and this has led to his market value increasing slightly.

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According to Football Transfers, Cantwell is now currently worth €3.6m (£3.1m) and this is a decent rise on the £1.5m that the club signed him for at the start of the year.

Related Jack benched & £26k-p/w machine unleashed in Rangers predicted lineup vs Aberdeen

The Gers return to league action against Aberdeen on Sunday

Posts ByRoss Kilvington

It means that the Ibrox side could potentially cash in on him if they received an offer too good to turn down, or if the player failed to adapt to Clement’s tactical system and style of play.

Hopefully this is not the case, however, as the Gers currently have a player who was valued at around £40m just a few short years ago, and he appears to be shining north of the border.

Although Lawrence made an impressive return to the starting XI against Livingston before the break, his game time should be managed in order to ensure he will be fit once the fixtures start rolling in thick and fast leading up to the festive season.

This should give Clement the licence to unleash Cantwell from the first whistle and if he performs like he has done since joining the Gers, he could certainly cause the Aberdeen defence plenty of problems, that’s for sure.

A win today would exact revenge for the 3-1 defeat suffered against the same opposition in what turned out to be Beale’s last game at the end of September.

It's fair to say, the Light Blues have come a long way since then.

All of the news surrounding Crystal Palace currently relates to the loss of Wilfried Zaha and understandably so. As a result, attentions now turn to the future of key attacking duo Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze.

Will Eberechi Eze Remain at Selhurst Park?

Every year, Zaha was linked with a move away only to stay put in South London. When he did eventually move on, it was on a free transfer and so the Palace faithful will hope that Eze doesn’t follow suit.

Talking of Eze’s contractual situation and his £30k-a-week deal will expire in two years' time, hence the desire to strike a new agreement. His exploits for the England national team will only see his stock rise higher to the point that bigger clubs who can offer bigger wages will come calling.

When asked a couple of months ago if he is playing the best football of his life though, as per the Evening Standard, the former Queens’ Park Rangers man had this to say: “Yeah probably. I feel like I’ve got the freedom to play, to do my thing. I’m just happy to be enjoying my football.”

This points towards his short-term future remaining at Crystal Palace, a club who he enjoys playing for. That being said, the departure of Zaha and lack of any fierce summer recruitment may have Eze nervous of the relegation zone looming again.

What is Alex Crook's update on Eberechi Eze?

He had this to say when talking to Give Me Sport:

“They want to tie Eze down to a new contract, but I’m not sure he’s going to be keen to commit his future yet. I think he believes that he’s going to get interest as well.”

It stands to reason that the club would be wanting to offer the 25-year-old a new deal given just how significant an impact he made last season. Not only did Eze reach his highest return of Premier League minutes to date but he contributed more goals and assists than the two seasons before combined. Eze appeared in every single league outing and across those games he amassed 10 goals and four assists, including some box office moments.

Who Could Join Crystal Palace Ahead of the New Season?

There is only one new arrival at Selhurst Park at the time of writing in the form of Jefferson Lerma. The midfielder arrived from AFC Bournemouth on a free transfer and is likely to be a very solid option in that area which is regularly occupied by Malian international Cheick Doucouré.

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One name that has been heavily linked, as per Caught Offside, is Perr Schuurs. Palace are reportedly ahead of fellow Londoners West Ham United in their pursuit of the Dutch defender who currently plies his trade in Italy. The 23-year-old arrived in Turin just last year after a strong few seasons with Ajax. Regarding the fee and the whole process, “talks are at an advanced stage with [the] £34m-rated” centre-back, though it remains to be seen as to whether anything will get done.

Tottenham chief Donna Cullen is pushing for the club to appoint former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, but Daniel Levy disagrees.

What's the latest Spurs manager news?

Spurs have a number of pressing concerns to alleviate before kick-starting their plans for next season, with the north Londoners still missing both a permanent Antonio Conte successor and sporting director.

Conte left N17 nearly two months ago and Levy's manager search is dragging on, while Fabio Paratici's resignation means Tottenham are eager to source a replacement club chief quickly.

The Lilywhites are apparently stepping up their chase for a new managing director to step in Paratici's shoes, even despite the appointment of Scott Munn as Chief Football Officer.

Back to their managerial search, Tottenham's list of candidates appears to be getting narrower, with former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann out of the running and Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso confirming his plans to stay.

As of the names still in the frame, it is believed Feyenoord's Arne Slot, Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim and Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi are still in contention.

Another tactician who has been linked with the job is Rodgers, who left Leicester City earlier this season, with a report by Football Transfers and journalist Steve Kay sharing an update.

According to their information, Cullen, a member of the Spurs boardroom, is pushing for the appointment of Rodgers, but Levy is against the idea of his hiring.

Cullen apparently holds hope that the 50-year-old can persuade both of his former stars, James Maddison and Youri Tielemans, to follow him to Spurs.

Levy is still saying no, though, with the report describing this difference of opinion between Tottenham's chairman and executive Cullen as a boardroom tussle.

Who is Brendan Rodgers?

The former Celtic boss, who guided the Scottish giants to a plethora of SPFL titles, also won both the Community Shield and FA Cup during his time at Leicester.

Rodgers has been courted by Spurs in previous years and was a rumoured candidate to replace Jose Mourinho in 2021.

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Given his status as a readily-available free agent, along with past achievements, it's little surprise his name has been circulating again in regards to the Spurs job.

West Ham boss David Moyes certainly rates Rodgers, calling him a "super manager" in reaction to his Leicester exit.

The Scotsman said:

"Really disappointed for Brendan. Super manager. Really good coach. He won’t be out of a job long."

Journalist Beren Cross has claimed that Leeds United won’t try and sign James Milner on a free as the club want to prioritise youth signings.

What’s the word?

The veteran midfielder signed a one-year extension with Liverpool last year but with that set to expire this summer his future remains up in the air.

Of course, the 37-year-old started his career way back in the early 2000s coming through the Leeds academy to play 53 games for the senior team.

Speaking to the press recently, manager Jesse Marsch claimed that the club could have actually brought Milner but they opted to go for Weston McKennie instead.

He said: “It would have been easy along the way to bring James Milner back or try to do some things like this to bring in Premier League experience or veteran players that understand the league.”

Writing for LeedsLive, Cross elaborated further on the decision explaining how the Leeds hierarchy prefer to sign younger players with “room to develop” and so a move for Milner is unlikely in the summer too.

The journalist explained: “James Milner’s return would have been the easy route for Leeds United, but Jesse Marsch and the hierarchy would rather pursue youth with room to develop. This summer marks 19 years since arguably the city’s finest footballing export moved onto pastures new.

“Now 37, Milner signed his latest Liverpool contract last summer to extend his stay at Anfield by another season. It remains to be seen what the veteran chooses to do this summer, but there have been no reports of a fresh deal as yet.”

Project youth

With Milner’s contract expiring, Leeds may have been tempted to try and get him in on the cheap this winter to help with their fight to avoid relegation this season. And they may still be considering a move for him in the summer for free but that doesn’t look to be a likely outcome.

With McKennie arriving, he should be able to bring plenty of energy – after all, at 24, he is 13 years younger than Milner – but he doesn’t have the same experience.

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Indeed, the Englishman has won the Premier League on three occasions, the Champions League, as well as multiple League and FA Cup wins.

The American, on the other hand, has never played in England before but he has won silverware in Italy with Juventus so it’s not as if he’s some unproven teenager.

Of course, other winter signings such as 20-year-old Georginio Rutter only further go to prove the plan to develop youth but it remains to be seen if this tactic will work or not.

Tottenham Hotspur journalist Alasdair Gold has shared some details regarding a behind-the-scenes meeting between Antonio Conte, Fabio Paratici and Daniel Levy ahead of the upcoming January transfer window. 

The Lowdown: Spurs’ transfer business under Conte

Since the Italian took charge of the north London club just over a year ago, he has been backed in the transfer market and been able to bring in numerous players.

Names such as Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Richarlison and Yves Bissouma, among others, have all made moves to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With the January transfer window set to open for business shortly after the conclusion of the World Cup, it seems that some behind-the-scenes details have emerged regarding what may happen in the window.

The Latest: Gold shares behind-the-scenes meeting details

In a recent online Q&A on the Football.London website, Gold was asked what he thinks the priorities will be for Spurs in terms of strengthening the side in January and when a meeting between Conte, Paratici and Levy will take place to discuss the upcoming winter window.

In response, Gold said: “Personally I think an attacking midfielder and a centre-back are priorities plus any upgrades Spurs can find in the market. As I said below, a right wing-back might end up becoming a requirement depending on Conte’s decision when it comes to Djed Spence.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-3/” title=”Tottenham latest news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”] 

“The meeting between Conte, Levy and Paratici should happen after the head coach returns on November 28 when first team training resumes at Hotspur Way. Paratici and Conte speak most days so you would imagine they will still have some dialogue even during this rest period for the latter at some point.”

The Verdict: Reinforcements needed at Spurs

Given the hefty amount of deals that Spurs have been involved in since Conte took charge, this should fill a lot of supporters with confidence that the same thing can happen again this time around.

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In terms of what areas of the squad Spurs may need to strengthen in January, the fact that they have conceded more goals (21) than the likes of Brighton (19), Crystal Palace (18) and Everton (17) this season, some extra defensive reinforcements is what Conte needs for his side.

Also, with only two clubs making more errors that have led to an opponent’s shot at goal than Spurs (8), this is something that the manager will want to work on with his current players and whatever new faces come in during the January window.

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst has handed an injury boost over the fitness of summer signing Tom Lawrence…

What’s the talk?

Gers reporter Joshua Barrie has revealed that the manager has allayed any fears that the Welshman has suffered a serious blow after the 4-0 win over Ross County in the Premiership.

The attacking midfielder appeared to come down with a knock towards the end of the match but it does not seem as though it will keep him out of action for any of the upcoming matches.

Barrie said: “Van Bronckhorst says Tom Lawrence is fine, no concerns after he went down late on.”

Van Bronckhorst should be delighted

The Ibrox head coach should be delighted by this news as the summer signing has been a terrific addition since he arrived in Glasgow on a free transfer from Derby County.

He came in to bolster the attacking options available to the manager and he has hit the ground running in Scotland with a number of eye-catching performances.

Lawrence played a huge role in helping the club qualify for the group stages of the Champions League this month. He scored a long-range free-kick, albeit aided by some less-than-convincing goalkeeping, against PSV in a 2-2 draw at Ibrox, before the Gers won 1-0 away from home in the second leg.

Meanwhile, he has also been superb in the Premiership this season. In five appearances, the midfielder has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.14 – the seventh-best in the entire squad – and produced two goals and one assist – starting four of those matches.

The former Derby man has created 1.8 chances per game, whilst completing 86% of his attempted passes, and this shows that he is efficient and effective in possession. He is able to deliver quality passes to unlock doors in the final third without giving the ball away on a regular basis, which suggests that his passing has been of high quality in the top-flight.

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Ryan Kent (3.0) and Borna Barisic (2.4) are the only players in the squad who are creating more chances per match than Lawrence, who has also shown that he is willing to put the hard work in off the ball.

Only Barisic (2.2) and James Tavernier (2.6) have made more tackles per outing than the Welshman’s 1.8. This means that he tops the chart in this statistic out of all of the midfielders and attackers at the club, which shows how much effort he puts into winning the ball back for his side.

Therefore, van Bronckhorst will be delighted that Lawrence has not suffered a serious knock and will now be hoping that he will be fit and available for selection against Celtic in the Old Firm clash next weekend.

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an Everton transfer claim which will please both Frank Lampard and the Premier League club’s supporters.

What’s the word?

The Italian journalist tweeted: “No changes on James Tarkowski deal. Medical already completed one week ago, full agreement with Everton on personal terms and agent fees. Official statement pending.”

This is great news for Lampard, and it now seems just a matter of time before the ex-Burnley defender joins up with the Toffees’ squad in time for pre-season training.

Tarkowski can improve Everton’s defence

Having endured a tough start to his time in charge at Everton, Lampard managed to guide the club to top-flight safety following a 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace in their penultimate fixture of the season.

This won’t be enough to keep the supporters happy, though, and the 43-year-old faces a hugely important first month or so at the start of next season to prove to the fans that he is the right man to take the club forward.

Improvement is needed all over the pitch, especially in defence, as the Toffees conceded 66 goals in the Premier League last term, the fifth-worst record in the division.

With the signing of Tarkowski imminent, he could make a massive difference at the heart of the Everton backline, and that is exactly what Lampard needs.

Despite Burnley’s relegation, the 29-year-old ranked first in the squad with a rating of 6.97 on WhoScored, while also winning an incredible 4.4 aerial duels per match, the most of anyone at Turf Moor in 2021/22.

Compared to positional peers in the top five European leagues, the 29-year-old ranks in the top 1% for blocks (2.67 per 90) and in the top 3% for clearances (6.26 per 90), as per FBRef.

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Tarkowski also won 42 tackles last season, more than any Everton centre-back during the same time period; along with winning 171 aerial duels over the course of the campaign, 50 more than Michael Keane, who led the way for Everton.

These figures clearly show that the defender could be a crucial signing for Lampard as the Toffees manager looks to improve on the disappointing 16th-place finish from 2021/22.

AND in other news, Dele Alli 2.0: Everton plotting swoop for “average” £20m dud, supporters will be fuming

Crystal Palace have been enjoying a comfortable season, with Patrick Vieira bringing in a number of young new players this season to improve the squad, and all of his signings so far have made a great impact on the team.

Michael Olise, Conor Gallagher, Odsonne Edouard and Marc Guehi were all brought in last summer in the French manager’s pursuit to inject more youth into the team, as last season Palace had the oldest squad in the Premier League.

They have been doing an incredible job of integrating into the team so far, with Guehi and Gallagher in particular getting senior England call-ups this season as a result.

Despite building a team for the future, Vieira will have a dilemma hanging over his squad this summer as Gallagher is set to return to his parent club Chelsea when his season long loan deal ends, and Palace will be set to lose one of their most impactful players this season.

Gallagher has been having a season that all young footballers dream of having, with the 22 year old netting eight goals and assisting his teammates five times across all competitions so far this season from his midfield position and was named Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards earlier this month.

Chelsea are in a vulnerable position with financial sanctioning taking hold of the club recently, as they await new owners to take over the club they are not able to make signings or offer new contracts to players currently, so bringing back Gallagher to play for the Chelsea team could be one of their only options moving forward, which means Crystal Palace’s chances of signing the player permanently are put into jeopardy.

It is clear that losing the £17k-per-week star who was hailed as “Kante with goals” by Tony Cascarino, would leave a huge hole for Vieira to fill if he did depart from the squad this summer, especially when you consider that the Eagles lost three out of the four games he didn’t play this season.

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The Palace boss will need to work hard to find a way to tempt Gallagher into a permanent move to the club as he has been a key component to their successes this season, and will be important in the final push for a top half finish for the club in the remaining games of the season.

In other news: Vieira must unleash CPFC’s £79k-p/w “special talent”, he’s being wasted at Selhurst