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Nottingham Forest have another season of Premier League football to look forward to in 2024/25, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s side winning two of their last three matches to secure their top-flight status for a second successive season.

Wins against Burnley and Sheffield United allowed the Reds to secure safety, despite having a four-point deduction earlier in the campaign following a breach of the Premier League’s PSR rules.

However, the deduction inspired the club to get the job done, with Nuno putting his stamp on the side and showcasing some brilliant free-flowing attacking football that has caused some teams no end of problems this season.

Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga’s blistering pace have often been useful for the Reds, with the duo finishing the campaign with 23 goal contributions between them.

In their second successive season back in the Premier League, the club have found it easier to find the back of the net, largely down to one player, with his creativity levels increasing further during 2023/24 following his move to the City Ground back in 2022.

Morgan Gibbs-White’s stats in the PL 2023/24

Over the last 12 months, there’s no role in the midfield or forward line that Morgan Gibbs-White hasn’t featured in – but best of all, he’s looked at home in every one of them.

Whether it’s central midfield, the number ten role or even off the left, he’s excelled producing some excellent numbers for the Reds in the process.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man finished the campaign with five goals and ten assists – a superb return for a player leading a club away from any form of relegation threat.

He’s also registered 74 chances created – a tally that is more than double any other Forest player could manage in 2023/24, with Hudson-Odoi taking second spot with just 36.

Assists

10

1st

Chances created

74

1st

Big chances created

16

1st

Expected assists

6.8

1st

Goals + Assists combined

15

1st

His xG of 6.8 expected assists, which like his chances created is the highest in the squad, demonstrates that he’s exceeded the tally he should be achieving based upon the goals he’s laid off for his teammates.

Gibbs-White has been at the heart of everything for Nuno’s side during the second half of the season, with his market value taking a sharp rise as a result.

Morgan Gibbs-White’s market value in 2024

Nearly two years on from his £25m move to the City Ground from Wolverhampton Wanderers, the 24-year-old has proved a lot of doubters wrong, with his value rising to a respectable £34m, as per Transfermarkt.

His subsequent increase sees him top as the Reds’ most valuable player, overtaking fellow midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, who’s now only worth £27.2m just over eight months after his £30m move to the East Midlands, which has seen him only feature 17 times.

Morgan Gibbs-White

£34m

Ibrahim Sangare

£27.2m

Taiwo Awoniyi

£23.8m

Danilo

£23.8m

Murillo

£21.2m

There’s no surprise that after the campaign he’s had for Forest, Gibbs-White is being linked with numerous clubs with a move away from the City Ground during the off-season.

Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are just two of the sides previously credited with an interest in luring him away from the Reds, but it would take a bid of at least £50m for the club to part ways with their star man.

The “unbelievable” talent, as described by writer Nathan Joyes, has been exceptional for the club since promotion, being a real spearhead in the attempts to avoid relegation – often proving to be the difference with his creativity.

It’s not outrageous to say that he’s simply irreplaceable for Forest, with the board and Nuno needing to stand firm in the window to avoid allowing him to depart for pastures new ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Nottingham Forest could also lose £80k-a-week hero alongside Gibbs-White

What a blow this would be for Nuno Espirito Santo.

ByHenry Jackson May 24, 2024

He is charting out training plans as players wait for action to resume

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jun-2020

BCCI

R Sridhar, India’s fielding coach, believes players can return to peak fitness “within four to six weeks of resuming training” post the forced break due to Covid-19. Presently, the BCCI is still looking at the feasibility of starting training camps for the national players even as the Indian government has slowly relaxed lockdown norms.”Fast bowler needs around six weeks, batsmen might take a bit less time,” Sridhar told PTI. “Once we get a date [on start of national camp] from the BCCI and approved by the government of India, we can start working backwards (starting from scratch). The challenge is to proceed in right phases, as players can get excited when they play after 14 or 15 weeks. It is pertinent that we move in right manner forward. Don’t want to look too much ahead.”Sridhar, who has been part of India’s support staff since 2014 (barring a short period in between, when Abhay Sharma was fielding coach), stressed on the need to manage workloads well and was wary of pushing the players too hard early. Currently, training for the country’s top cricketers has been restricted to gym sessions and personalised training charts prepared by Nick Webb, the trainer.ALSO READ – Sridhar interview: ‘Fitter fielders mean faster fielders. That means saving more runs’ (June 2019)”Initially, we have to give them progressive workload,” Sridhar said. “You can’t have a sudden spike in workload which could lead to injuries. First phase, it will be ‘low volume-low intensity’, followed by ‘moderate volume-low intensity’, ‘high volume-moderate intensity’ and then starts ‘high volume-high intensity’ training. This is how we will go.”[To begin with] may be the fast bowlers will bowl two overs from half or quarter run-up. The deliveries will be bowled at 20 or 30% intensity. For a fielder, it will be at the maximum, six throws over 10 metres or six throws over 20 metres at 40-50% intensity. For a batsman, it will start with five to six minutes of batting against moderate pace bowling. For catchers, it will start with semi-soft balls, intensity will be slow and volumes will be less. Then we can slowly pick it up as we cross one phase after another.”We can’t do same training every day as we start with low volume-low intensity training,” he said. “Once we get to the fourth week when high volume-high intensity training starts, the hands will get used to hard balls coming at 140km an hour, 130km an hour, that’s when match-training will start. The sharpest minds will take six weeks to get into Test match mode.”In his second stint with the Indian team, after the Champions Trophy in 2017, Sridhar has helped set up a process to record each ball at a fielding session and cumulative scoring for each player is arrived at through a rating and points systems. Catches are categorised into grade one, two and three, each having a set number of points. Such innovations have helped improve the overall approach to fielding and catching. Now, with players needing to ease themselves back after a long period of inactivity, Sridhar is working on few other innovative ideas to help make the transition smooth.”I am still working on it,” he said. “There are few things on my mind and when we go back and start the camp, basically my mind is working on how to plan the sessions once we get back. In a phased manner, we will incorporate a lot of drills, external props would be used to increase their reflexes, reaction drills, deviation methods, all those things, I have a few things and once the camp starts, it will be there for everyone to see. We will be more realistic as to what elite level cricketers need, we will make innovations that are pertinent to our plans.”

Tottenham Hotspur know that their fate hinges on their ability to create a winning streak in the closing stage of the Premier League, with the fifth-placed side currently six points behind Aston Villa in the top four, albeit with two games in hand.

The London club's form has been disappointed chequered since a blistering start to life under Ange Postecoglou back in the early phase, though improvements have been made this season and this is the foundation of – hopefully – a prosperous new era.

Regardless of whether Spurs will clinch a spot in Europe's elite competition next year, there have indeed been tantalising glimpses of what is to come, with the £43m signing of defender Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg last summer proving to be one of the catalysts of the campaign forged – and the likely linchpin of the success yet to come.

Micky van de Ven's season in numbers

Van de Ven might only be 22 years old but he has enjoyed a barnstorming maiden year in England, with his performances leading respected journalist Henry Winter to describe him as one of "the buys of summer."

As per Sofascore, the Dutchman has completed 21 Premier League appearances so far, scoring twice, completing 95% of his passes, winning 61% of his duels and averaging 1.9 tackles, 2.7 clearances and 5.7 ball recoveries per outing.

He's the real deal and Tottenham will go from strength to strength with him and Cristian Romero holding down the fort in central defence.

But he's being let down this season, not covered effectively in his backline role. Indeed, Yves Bissouma is starting to present himself as a liability and he must be sold this summer.

Why Spurs must cash in on Yves Bissouma

Once described as a "monster" by journalist Aaron Stokes, Bissouma is losing his way at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, culpable for some poor performances over recent months.

There's no question that he's a highly talented player, ranking among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 14% for successful take-ons, the top 5% for tackles and the top 7% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

But statistics can be deceiving and the Mali international is not protecting the defence and charging the attack with the fluid fortitude needed.

He's not the highest earner in Tottenham's ranks but his £55k-per-week salary does surpass that of Van de Ven (£50k-per-week), and it might be prudent to relieve the wage bill of his signature, freeing up space to move for an improved star.

Newcastle United (A)

4-0 loss

3/10

Nottingham Forest (H)

3-1 win

6/10

West Ham United (A)

1-1 draw

7/10

Luton Town (H)

2-1 win

5/10

Fulham (A)

3-0 loss

3/10

As the table conveys, Bissouma has been on a downward spiral in recent fixtures, his early-campaign imperiousness long in the past, and is failing to hold his own in the engine room as Postecoglou's side fight for Champions League qualification.

This is reflected in his current market value of just £11m, as per Football Transfers, lower than the prices of peripheral midfield teammates such as Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Tottenham might seek to cash in this summer.

While it's unlikely that Daniel Levy would recoup the same £35m figure that was parted with for Bissouma's signing from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022, when Nuno Espirito Santo was at the helm, there's every chance that Tottenham will move for a new specialist No. 6 in the months to come.

Should this happen, Bissouma will sink further into the fringe, and his valuation might diminish further. He must be sold to continue the revival under Postecoglou's leadership.

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Barcelona may turn to Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman after being left frustrated in their pursuit of Nico Williams.

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Barca could consider signing ComanFrustrated in their pursuit of WilliamsComan has offers from several clubsWHAT HAPPENED?

Barcelona have been linked with a move for the young Spanish attacker all through the summer, however, Athletic Club recently dropped a hint that the winger would stay put. The Catalan giants are looking to bolster their squad ahead of the 2024/25 season and are desperate to add another attacker alongside Dani Olmo.

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Now Fabrizio Romano reports that the Blaugrana have started discussing alternative names and could turn to the out-of-favour Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman. The Bavarian club have already informed the Frenchman that he has been deemed surplus to Vincent Kompany's demands and is free to leave Allianz Arena this summer.

DID YOU KNOW?

While Coman does have offers from multiple clubs in Europe including Paris Saint-Germain, he could consider moving to Camp Nou as manager Hansi Flick is known to be an admirer of the player.

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Flick's side will be next seen in action on Monday against AS Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy final before starting their La Liga season against Valencia on Saturday.

With a new era approaching at Liverpool, one Anfield star is reportedly ready to put pen to paper on a new deal in Merseyside, much to the shock of FSG and Michael Edwards.

Liverpool transfer news

Whether they win the Premier League title or not, Liverpool are in for a busy few months behind the scenes. Before anything, the Reds need to find a replacement for Jurgen Klopp, which seems an almost impossible task. As things stand, it looks likely to be Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim who comes in, even though he chose to shut down any questions about his future in a recent press conference.

Amid Klopp's exit, meanwhile, Liverpool must make sure that key players don't choose to start fresh too, with Luis Diaz among those linked with an exit, while the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all nearing the last year of their deals.

Previous reports have linked the Colombian in particular with a summer switch to Paris Saint-Germain or Barcelona in a move that would see him bring his time at Liverpool to an end just over two years since arriving for a reported £37m. There's since been a U-turn in those reports, however.

Related Liverpool must now unleash a "special" talent who's Wijnaldum 2.0

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Now, according to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Diaz's agents have told FSG and Liverpool that he is ready to sign a new contract at the club, leaving them shocked given that his current deal still has three years remaining. Those behind the scenes at Anfield are also reportedly unhappy with how transfer rumours have unravelled regarding Diaz's future and will not make his new deal their top priority this summer.

"Special" Diaz is becoming an important part at Liverpool

Whilst it took him a while to find his form this season, Diaz has finally got back to his scintillating best in a Liverpool shirt as of late, providing the Reds' attack with an added flair it has otherwise lacked at times. It could be easy to take aim at the winger's end product too, but 13 goals and four assists in all competitions so far this season suggests that Diaz knows exactly where the back of the net is.

He's a player that Klopp will undoubtedly miss coaching, with the German previously singing his praises via the official Liverpool website. Klopp said: "He's a natural player. I love him, absolutely love him. It's unbelievable. He's so football smart, moving in the right areas, naturally defending from his position, goal threat, speed, cheeky. Very, very special player, I have to say. We missed him a lot."

It could now be Amorim who benefits from a player of Diaz's calibre for years to come, especially if Liverpool eventually get to offering the Colombia international a new contract at the club to finally put an end to any exit rumours.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has showcased his willingness to trust and develop academy talents in his debut season with the Yorkshire-based side.

The German boss worked the likes of James Maddison, Ben Godfrey, Max Aarons, and Emiliano Buendia during his time with Norwich City, and has now provided Mateo Joseph and Archie Gray with opportunities to shine this season.

Gray, who was 17 at the start of the campaign, made his senior debut under the Whites manager this term and has racked up 36 appearances in the Championship so far.

The England U21 international is the first-choice option for Farke at right-back, whilst Joseph is currently the back-up to Patrick Bamford in the number nine position, and this shows that the tactician is prepared to bring academy gems into the team if they are good enough and ready to feature.

This bodes well for the array of talent currently occupying the U21 and U18 teams at Thorp Arch, as they know that the club have a manager who will not ignore them if they perform to a high level, in matches and in training.

Current U18s star Josh McDonald is one player who could have his eyes on a future place in the first-team, and Farke could eventually unearth him as a homegrown heir to Dan James, who has had somewhat of a revival at Elland Road this season.

Dan James' initial struggles at Leeds

In the summer of 2021, former Leeds duo Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta swooped to sign the Wales international from Manchester United for a reported fee of £25m.

The forward started regularly throughout the 2021/22 campaign for Bielsa, and then his replacement Jesse Marsch, but failed to deliver goals and assists at an impressive rate.

He produced four goals, with eight 'big chances' missed, and assisted four for his teammates, with 0.8 key passes per game, over 31 Premier League starts.

His less-than-impressive form at the top end of the pitch, after a big £25m move to Elland Road, led to a loan to league rivals Fulham for the 2022/23 campaign.

Appearances

24

Starts

7

Goals

2

Assists

1

Key passes per game

0.4

As you can see in the table above, James also struggled during his time with the Cottagers as he only racked up three direct goal contributions in 24 matches.

His lack of end product on the wing in the Premier League may have contributed to Fulham's decision to send him back to Elland Road last summer, instead of attempting to sign him on a permanent basis.

That did, however, provide Leeds and Farke with an opportunity to help him regain his confidence by playing regular football in the Championship this season.

Dan James' impressive form this season

The 26-year-old speedster has started 24 of his 34 appearances in the second tier for the Whites so far this season, and has showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

James has plundered an eye-catching 12 goals and seven assists in those 24 starts – a return of one goal or assist every 1.26 starts on average in the league.

Only Wilfried Gnonto (2.72) has outscored his Expected Goals by more than James (1.8) within the Leeds squad, as the electric winger has found the back of the net 12 times from an xG of 10.2.

This shows that the former Manchester United forward has been efficient in front of goal, and not wasted many opportunities to get his name on the scoresheet.

The Welsh wizard has also showcased his creativity with 12 'big chances' created and 1.5 key passes per game across his 34 league matches for Leeds this term. He ranks within the top 5% of Championship attacking midfielders and wingers for Expected Assisted Goals (0.29) per 90, and the top 8% for assists (0.30) per 90.

These statistics show that the Whites star has been an excellent operator as both a scorer and a creator of goals, whilst having the quality to operate on either the right or the left wing for Farke.

In total, James has racked up 16 goals and 12 assists in 77 appearances in all competitions since he made the move to Leeds in the summer of 2021, which is a return of 2.75 matches per game on average.

Josh McDonald's Leeds potential

Leeds swooped to sign McDonald from Scottish side Hamilton Academical in the summer of 2023, at the age of 16, amid interest from Premiership giants Glasgow Rangers.

Football Insider quoted an unnamed Scotland U18 coach as describing the talented teenager as an "exceptional" young gem, which is why he played for his country at U18 level despite being just 16 at the time.

The outlet noted the club's desire to bolster the quality of their youth teams across the board, which is why they were keen to sign the 16-year-old to add him to their U18 group.

McDonald has been playing for Leeds at that level so far this season and has caught the eye with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Like James, the Scottish wizard has the ability to play on either the left or the right side of the attack, rather than being restricted to one or the other, and that could help his first-team chances as he could fill in for multiple positions.

As you can see in the table below, McDonald has featured regularly for the club in the league and the cup during his debut campaign in English football.

Appearances

4

17

Minutes played

344

1,028

Goals

0

5

Assists

1

3

He has racked up eight direct goal contributions in 17 appearances for the U18s this season, which is a return of one goal or assist every 2.13 outings on average – better than James' Leeds career average of one every 2.75 games.

These statistics show that McDonald, like the Wales international, can both score and create goals at a decent rate from either the right or left wing.

At the age of 17, the Scottish maestro also has plenty of time left to develop and progress over the years to come, and could be a player Farke keeps an eye on for the future as a possible long-term homegrown heir to James, who is nine years older than him.

It would be a dream scenario for Leeds and the German boss as the club would not need to splash out millions on a replacement for the Welshman, should McDonald continue to progress and emerge as a senior option.

In recent times, Everton have had to work on a shoestring budget given their FFP troubles, with most signings either on free transfers or low transfer fees.

The FFP issues have allowed boss Sean Dyche to work closely with his squad, creating a tight-knit group that can fight relegation despite their points deduction this season.

Players such as Jarrad Branthwaite and Jordan Pickford have been crucial in the defensive third for the Toffees, with Dyche's side currently boasting the best defensive record of any side outside the Premier League's top four.

The duo have both been named in Gareth Southgate's latest England squad – reflecting their sensational displays for the club so far in what has been a tricky campaign for the club.

However, in the near future, the pair might be joined by a Toffees teammate within the England setup after his impressive season under Dyche.

James Garner's stats at Everton

Since arriving at Goodison Park during the summer of 2022, midfielder James Garner has impressed in multiple different positions under Dyche.

He's often been utilised at right-back and right-midfield before finally cementing his place in the Toffees' midfield alongside Idrissa Gueye, with Abdoulaye Doucoure playing slightly further forward.

The former Manchester United youngster has made 51 appearances since his switch to Goodison, scoring twice including a stunner in the Carabao Cup tie against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

His stats this season are very impressive, with the former Nottingham Forest loanee averaging 1.6 interceptions per game in the Premier League this season – a figure that ranks him within the top 7% of all midfielders in Europe's top five leagues this season.

Garner also averages 2.6 tackles per 90 this season, with the midfielder demonstrating his ball-winning qualities in the middle of Dyche's side.

The 23-year-old has also excelled in possession for the Toffees, averaging 3.6 progressive passes per game with the midfielder racking up two assists in the Premier League so far this campaign.

James Garner's market value in 2024

Garner joined the club for £9m back in the summer of 2022 from fellow Premier League side Man United, with the midfielder once having a big future at Old Trafford.

Nearly two years on from his arrival in the North West, Garner now has a market value of €30m (£25m), with the 23-year-old currently worth just over six times more than in-form teammate Doucoure, who's value sits at €5m (£4m) – as per CIES Football Observatory.

While at 31, Doucoure's age may be a factor in that minimal market value, the expectation would have been that a player who has netted six league goals this season would be one of the most valuable members of the squad, yet it is Garner who is seemingly on the rise.

The "exceptional" midfielder, as dubbed by former Premier League 'keeper Paul Robinson, has been key to Dyche's side this campaign as they look to avoid relegation to the Championship.

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With Garner only being 23, he has a huge future ahead of him at Goodison Park, with the versatile talent for sure in line to receive a senior England call-up in the near future.

West Ham have considered appointing a three-at-the-back coach to replace David Moyes as Tim Steidten's stance on keeping the 60-year-old becomes clear.

Fans protest Moyes as West Ham pressure mounts

During their 2-0 defeat away to Nottingham Forest last weekend, supporters were seen hoisting "Moyes out" banners aloft as West Ham remain winless since the turn of the year.

"Exceptional" manager wants to replace David Moyes at West Ham

It was another defeat on the weekend.

By
Charlie Smith

Feb 19, 2024

Moyes' contract expires at the end of this season, and if things keep slumping on this downward trajectory, the tactician could potentially find himself out of a job even before then.

There have also been complaints over his pragmatic style of play from certain sections of the fan base, but after their defeat to Forest, Moyes publicly came out to defend his position and remind supporters of their Conference League triumph in Prague last year.

West Ham league finishes under Moyes	Season
14th	22/23
6th	21/22
7th	20/21
16th	19/20

“I don’t think we can ever please everybody, but I think it would be hard to say there have been many better times at West Ham," said Moyes.

“I think they’ll (the fans) honestly have to say that it’s as good a time as there’s been at the club regarding winning a trophy (Conference League) and league positions. Maybe they’ll be managers who excite them more, possibly. But the one who’s sitting here wins more.”

In any case, Moyes' brand of football has even drawn criticism from pundits, like ex-Irons defender Rio Ferdinand – who suggested the manager's future could certainly be brought into question.

“If the manager, David Moyes, doesn’t play the brand of football that West Ham are used to seeing over the years then, yeah, that is something to be talked about," said Ferdinand to talkSPORT.

“He’s brought a European trophy to the table. How many managers over the last 30/40 years have brought a trophy like that to the table? But they’ve all played a brand of football that maybe West Ham fans like to see.”

In terms of the rumoured candidates to succeed Moyes, a potentially more exciting coach could be former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca. Indeed, Fonseca has been linked with a move to West Ham recently and is known for his attack-minded philosophy (Eric Devin).

West Ham consider Fonseca as Steidten stance on Moyes clear

As per The Guardian and journalist Jacob Steinberg, West Ham have indeed considered Fonseca to replace Moyes, with technical director Tim Steidten expected to be in favour of parting company.

Other reports suggest Steidten and Moyes don't exactly have the most harmonious relationship, and it is believed that West Ham are under pressure to convince their club chief to remain amid growing concerns that he's becoming unhappy in east London.

Fonseca, who deploys the 3-4-2-1 formation, has been praised for his "perfect" dressing room management. The Portuguese also boasts nine trophies across spells in Ukraine and his homeland.

"He is perfect in the dressing room and perfect in his relationship with the players, which is something really needed at Tottenham at the moment," said Fabrizio Romano on Fonseca in 2021 during his links to Spurs (via talkSPORT).

“He likes to play a 3-4-2-1 formation and likes to play with quality and fast players behind the striker."

Elliot Lee announced the beginning of his pre-season campaign at Wrexham with a topless photo as his side prepare for the upcoming League One season.

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Wrexham players return for pre-seasonMidfielder Lee posts shirtless photo Looking ahead to League One campaignWHAT HAPPENED?

The former West Ham academy product played a huge role in securing Wrexham their second-straight promotion by finishing in the top two of League Two to ascend to League One at the first time of asking. After enjoying a celebratory trip to Las Vegas with the Red Dragons squad as part of his summer break, the 29-year-old returned to the Welsh outfit to be put through his paces this week.

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The former Luton Town player posted a shirtless photo of himself in an Instagram story at Wrexham's training ground, and captioned it: "Back at it."

He also posted a clip of him interacting with team-mate George Evans on the pitch.

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Lee's Wrexham, arguably, face their biggest test yet when they prepare for life in League One. Former goalkeeper Ben Foster said the squad are good enough to play in the English third-tier when they were in the National League. So now that they are at this level, this will truly test their credentials – as they aim to create history with a third-straight promotion.

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After finding out their fixture list for the upcoming campaign, Wrexham will step up their pre-season efforts before heading out to North America for friendlies against Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Vancouver Whitecaps in the coming weeks.

The Aston Villa faithful must be in dreamland this season, with Unai Emery working his magic to continuously exceed expectations.

Villa's latest result was a huge 2-1 away win against Fulham, which was vital after their 2-1 loss at Villa Park against Manchester United last weekend.

However, the intense schedule is finally catching up with the squad, with the defence looking particularly thin after the injuries to Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos.

That said, they could also do with another midfielder to fill the void left by Boubacar Kamara, and one former star would have been perfect for Emery's side.

When Kamara could play for Villa again

Although the defeat to the Red Devils could be looked upon as a missed opportunity later on in the season, it will be the loss of Kamara that the Villa fans will be concerned about.

The French midfielder was substituted in the second half after clashing knees with a United player, and at the time, it looked like a short-term impact injury.

However, it was reported earlier this week that Kamara had actually ruptured his ACL, which will keep him out for the rest of the season. It's been stated that we won't see him back in action until September or October.

The 24-year-old is a vital cog in Emery's system, providing defensive security to the team and a perfect balance to the midfield alongside Douglas Luiz. Kamara is the only midfielder in the squad whose main focus is on the defensive side of the game, as highlighted by the fact that he averages the most tackles and interceptions in the squad, and his absence could just be season-defining.

Replacing him will be hard but they could have had the perfect stand-in had things gone differently a few years ago.

Aston Villa sold the perfect replacement

Stamford Bridge is now the home of Carney Chukwuemeka after he swapped his boyhood club for Chelsea in 2022. The midfielder, who has been described as a "superstar" by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, left for £20m during Steven Gerrard's reign and could well have now been the perfect man for Villa's midfield.

At just 20 years old, he has plenty of quality that he has yet to show to the Premier League since moving to the Blues. During this spell, Chukwuemeka has played 22 games for Chelsea, but Mauricio Pochettino showed his trust in the youngster by starting him in the first two games of the season.

However, he has had a horrific time with injuries this season, which has seen him miss 23 matches already this campaign, but he has shown glimpses of his quality, scoring and assisting in five games for the Blues.

His best performance in a Chelsea shirt was against Man United towards the end of last season, which proves he could have provided great cover for Kamara.

Minutes

82

Pass accuracy %

93%

Touches

73

Successful dribbles

2/2

Duels won

5/5

Tackles

2

It's clear that Chukwuemeka is an extremely confident player when on the ball, whether it be when he is passing the ball or using his 6 foot 2 frame to breeze past opponents, as shown by his high touches and pass accuracy, along with his 100% dribble success rate.

The former Villa gem also made two tackles and won 100% of his duels, which shows that he would have been more than capable of performing the defensive duties that the injured 24-year-old usually takes on.

Although Villa did benefit financially from the midfielder's exit, signing a player with a similar profile and potential would cost much more than the £20m fee they let him go for, and he would have excelled under Emery if he had never left.