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Aston Villa chiefs have told a £17 million striker's camp that they want to sign him before deadline day, with the Midlands club also informing his club of their serious interest.

Villa spend £150m on eight major signings to back Unai Emery

Despite concerns surrounding PSR throughout the transfer window, coming after Villa announced a near-£120 million loss for the 2022/23 season, transfer chief Monchi, NSWE and the wider recruitment team have still garnered funds to strengthen Unai Emery's squad.

Related Agreement reached: Aston Villa lining up PL star who's better than Watkins

Unai Emery could land a Premier League striker this summer…

Posts ByRoss Kilvington

Joao Felix is attracting serious interest from Villa Park as well, so the Premier League side may not even be done just yet, having spent £150 million in total on eight major signings so far with weeks of the window still remaining.

Emery's men most recently announced their bold capture of Belgium international midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton, who joined in a £50 million deal from Goodison Park, with the 22-year-old backing himself to go to the "next level" under Emery.

All of Aston Villa's confirmed summer deals

Player

Fee paid

Amadou Onana

£50 million

Ian Maatsen

£38 million

Jaden Philogene

£18 million

Cameron Archer

£14 million

Samuel Iling-Junior

£12 million

Lewis Dobbin

£10 million

Enzo Barrenechea

£7 million

Ross Barkley

£5 million

via Transfermarkt

"I’ll be playing in the Champions League again and that’s very exciting," said Onana (BBC).

"We also have a manager that’s one of the best in the business and I think he can take my game to the next level. Youri [Tielemans] played a big part in me being here because he told me lots of good stuff about the club."

Villa's qualification for the Champions League brings a more congested fixture list and added pressure to succeed for Emery, so reinforcing the squad with needed upgrades is a necessity before 30th August.

To balance the books concerning PSR, Monchi facilitated some high-profile exits, with Moussa Diaby joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad for around £50 million and Douglas Luiz making a move to Serie A giants Juventus.

In total, Villa have brought in around £108 million through player sales, meaning they've registered a net spend of £42 million in what has been a very busy window for them.

Jhon Duran could still leave Villa in the coming weeks as well, so Emery and could will need to source a replacement for the Colombian and bring in a backup for star striker Ollie Watkins.

Aston Villa tell Jean-Philippe Mateta's camp they want to sign him

As per Standard Sport journalist Dom Smith, that player could well be Crystal Palace marksman Jean-Philippe Mateta.

It is believed Villa have informed Mateta's camp that they want to sign him for Emery, and they've also told Palace this, coming after he scored 19 goals and registered a further five assists in all competitions last season under Roy Hodgson and then Oliver Glasner.

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The Eagles are trying to tie him down with a new contract, as his current deal expires in 2026. Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Torino are also keeping tabs on Mateta, who is currently representing France at the Olympics in Paris.

The 27-year-old scored France's winner against Argentina in their quarter-final clash on Friday, setting up a semi-final tie, with the prospect of an Olympic medal very much alive.

Reports have claimed the forward could cost around £17 million to prise away from Selhurst Park, but it remains to be seen if this will be enough as Palace attempt to secure his future.

Manchester United could "go all out" to sign a defensive target and appear ready to rival Real Madrid for his signature this summer in a bid to bring him to the Premier League.

Man Utd centre-backs

Erik ten Hag's side may well be in need of a defensive overhaul this summer. Jonny Evans, only drafted in as an emergency option last summer, has become a far too familiar option in the heart of United's backline this season. He is out of contract this summer, while question marks surround all of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane.

Man United's centre-back options

Player

Contract expires

Harry Maguire

2025

Raphael Varane

2024

Jonny Evans

2024

Lisandro Martinez

2027

Victor Lindelof

2025

Willy Kambwala

2025

With that in mind, United may need to spend big in the centre of defence to find cover for Lisandro Martinez, as well as potential replacements for their outgoing players.

Man Utd eye up £60m teenage star

Now it has been reported that Manchester United could rival Real Madrid for teenage star Leny Yoro as they look to bolster their backline ahead of the new season, and are willing to offer as much as £60m to get a deal done this summer.

As per an update from Spain, the Red Devils, and by extension Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are in the race and aren't afraid to "go all out" to secure his signature before the new season, which could involve having to pay his massive €70m (£60m) asking price.

Related Man Utd eyeing double deals for "outstanding" ace and 6'5 "monster"

The Red Devils could take a shortcut in their rebuild.

Posts ByBen Browning

The 18-year-old defender burst onto the scene for Lille last season and has gone on to nail down his spot for the French side and has started every game when fit, attracting attention from across Europe in the process.

Yoro has been described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as "one of the most talented young centre-backs in world football" with "world-class potential", something that is sure to excite Manchester United fans.

Meanwhile, teammate Remy Cabella has compared the sensation to Arsenal defender William Saliba, who also excelled in France before making the move to England.

"At Marseille, I knew Boubacar Kamara, at Saint-Etienne, William Saliba and Wesley Fofana, and now there's Leny Yoro," Cabella explained. "He has all the qualities and potential to do something huge. He's very humble, and that's another of his strengths."

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Real Madrid were thought to be leading the race for Yoro's signature, but recent reports have suggested that Los Blancos are not set to be drawn into a bidding war this summer, with the club already trying to sign Kylian Mbappe and Alphonso Davies.

Yoro's contract expires next summer, meaning that Carlo Ancelotti's side may try to snap him up for free in 12 months should he still be available. United, however, could be trying to ensure that he won't be.

Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement to appoint a new key man behind-the-scenes figure, according to an update from a reliable journalist.

Tottenham's board changes

Back in April, Fabio Paratici resigned from his position and was soon followed out of the exit door by Gretar Steinsson, who left his role as performance director two months later, so there has been plenty of change in the recruitment department, but arguably for the better.

The Lilywhites have started making some really exciting additions, most recently in the form of Johan Lange, who started his work as the club’s new technical director this week, but there is another off-field figure who is set to follow in his footsteps and make the move from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

Football Insider days ago reported that Daniel Levy and Ange Postecoglou had entered advanced talks with the Midlands outfit’s head of recruitment, Rob Mackenzie, as they hope to create a reunion between him and Lange, and he has a great backlog of experience.

Since the start of his career, the 38-year-old has carried out senior roles at Leicester City, Derby County and OH Leuven, not to mention that he previously had a spell at Spurs as a scout (Transfermarkt – Mackenzie profile), and if the following update is to be believed, he’s now expected to return for a second time.

Spurs complete deal to recruit Rob Mackenzie

Taking to X, The Daily Telegraph's Matt Law confirmed that Tottenham have agreed a switch for Mackenzie, who will begin his new role within the next seven days.

"Rob Mackenzie has left Aston Villa and will join Tottenham as chief scout next week – linking back up with Johan Lange, who has made the same move. Mackenzie has worked at Tottenham before in the past."

Spurs’ excellent start to the new top-flight campaign, which has seen them win eight and draw two of their opening ten fixtures, highlights that they aren’t in desperate need of signing several fresh faces at the beginning of next year, but they are still being linked with candidates who they have their eye on ahead of January.

Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley is of interest to Postecoglou who is hoping to reunite with his former talisman, as well as Al-Ittihad’s Jota, as per the same outlet, with the winger having fallen out of favour since his big-money move to Saudi Arabia over the summer.

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During his first spell at the club, the incoming scout was responsible for helping identify the likes of Son Heung-Min and Kieran Trippier, with the former now being the captain and the latter going on to have a hugely successful career, so he’s shown the calibre of players that he’s capable of picking.

With Tottenham being very data driven when it comes to identifying targets, Mackenzie’s arrival should be a match made in heaven for both parties, and this looks to be the start of a very exciting new era for supporters.

West Ham United are still on the lookout for Declan Rice's midfield replacement, two weeks on from their captain departing for Arsenal in a British-record deal.

Who are West Ham signing to replace Declan Rice?

David Moyes' side have been linked with countless midfielders in the weeks before and since Rice's exit, namely Fulham's Joao Palhinha, Everton's Amadou Onana and Juventus' Denis Zakaria.

Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse is another name that refuses to go away, even if the England international is not strictly a like-for-like replacement for Rice in terms of their playing style.

According to The Guardian, West Ham are looking to bring in two midfielders with the windfall they received through Rice's sale, and have now stepped up their interest in Ward-Prowse.

How many free-kicks has James Ward-Prowse scored?

Southampton are said to value Ward-Prowse in the region of £40m, which is a large fee on the face of it considering the Saints were relegated to the Championship last season.

The 28-year-old boasts plenty of Premier League experience, however, having played 343 times at that level since making his Southampton debut in the competition on the opening day of the 2012/13 season.

Ward-Prowse has also played 11 times for England – though not since last year – and has scored a couple of goals in heavy wins over Andorra and San Marino in 2021.

With nine goals and four assists in a poor Southampton side last season, Ward-Prowse ranks in the top 13% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for goals scored, as per The Analyst.

The Portsmouth native is also in the top 15% for chances created, showing that he is more than capable of doing a job in the Premier League, even if he was captain of a relegated side last time out.

Three of those nine goals were scored via direct free-kicks – the most of any player in the Premier League last season. Indeed, only Manchester United legend David Beckham (18) has scored more than Ward-Prowse in the competition's history.

That ability to both score and pick out a team-mate from set-pieces would be a major asset for Moyes, and would also bring back memories of fan favourite – at the time, at least – Dimitri Payet.

Payet has scored 14 direct free-kicks in his career, as per Transfermarkt, six of those during his 18 months at West Ham.

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Indeed, after a run of netting via that method for club and country in 2016, Payet revealed he had stopped practising them on the training ground as there was no way to further improve his technique.

It is not too dissimilar in the case of Ward-Prowse, with former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl previously hailing the midfielder as a "quality" player whose set-piece prowess was – and is, for now – "such a good weapon" for the Saints.

That is not the only similarity between the two players, either. Taking Payet's only full season at West Ham in 2015/16 and potentially Ward-Prowse's final season with Southampton last time out into account, the pair each scored nine Premier League goals.

The only notable difference is in attitude, with Ward-Prowse very much a team player. While he may not be able to replace Rice on his own, the Englishman can at least bring a bit of the past back to the London Stadium should he arrive.

Manchester United are seemingly set to bolster their centre-forward ranks this summer, with manager Erik ten Hag likely to be craving a long-term solution in that role, following years of stop-gap signings such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo and – more recently – Wout Weghorst.

The acquisition of the latter man has only further showcased the need for a new, reliable goalscoring option to lead the attack, with the towering Dutchman having scored just twice for the club to date following his January arrival.

While the former Ajax boss has also suggested that United play their "best football" with current number nine, Anthony Martial on the field, the Frenchman is among those who could well be allowed to leave this summer, having been hampered by injury yet again this term.

Although the name on everybody's lips at present is that of England captain and Tottenham Hotspur talisman, Harry Kane, recent reports in Spain have suggested that Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins could also be a possible target, with the 27-year-old having been on a real hot streak of late after bagging 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League games.

The former Brentford man has undoubtedly been in red-hot form since Unai Emery's arrival at Villa Park earlier in the campaign, with that glut of goals sparking suggestions that the Englishman could command a sizeable fee this summer, as journalist Pete O'Rourke told Football FanCast that the marksman's price tag could be around £70m.

Would Watkins be a good signing for Man United?

The hope would be that the in-form Watkins would be able to emulate the success of another striker to trade the Villans for Old Trafford in the form of Dwight Yorke, with the prolific ace having been snapped up by Sir Alex Ferguson and co on a £12m deal in the summer of 1998.

Having proven himself more than capable of making the difference in the Premier League during his time in the Midlands – after bagging 80 goals in 255 games in all competitions for the club – the Trinidad and Tobago international was able to continue that golden touch at the Theatre of Dreams, having made an instant impact in his debut campaign at the club.

The now-retired ace would prove instrumental in United's remarkable treble success in that 1998/99 season, having bagged 29 goals and provided 19 assists in 52 games in all competitions, forming part of a mouthwatering centre-forward pool involving Andy Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham.

That stunning first season with the Red Devils helped to solidify Yorke's cult status at the club, with the enigmatic talent ultimately departing Manchester in 2002, after having scored 66 goals in 152 games across all fronts.

While Watkins may not be expected to help lead a charge towards a treble next term under Ten Hag, the 5 foot 11 speedster – who has reached double figures for league goals in each of the last three seasons – could well follow in Yorke's footsteps in making a smooth transition from Villa to United.

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The one-time Exeter City ace has also showcased his class at Old Trafford this season after netting in the League Cup clash back in November, having burst clear of Harry Maguire before expertly dinking the ball over the onrushing Martin Dubravka.

As analyst Michael Lahoud noted, the dynamic marksman simply left the United skipper "exposed" due to his ability to run in behind and stretch the defence, with such characteristics likely to be appealing to Ten Hag and co.

With the case of signing Yorke having been such an overwhelming success, it could prove another transfer masterclass with the addition of Watkins.

Liverpool are reportedly ‘no longer in the race’ to sign Brighton and Hove Albion central midfielder Moises Caicedo.

The Lowdown: Liverpool interest

It was reported earlier this week that Liverpool are ‘exploring’ a deal to sign Caicedo, alongside fellow Premier League rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano then gave an update on the Caicedo situation on Friday morning, saying that while Chelsea have had a £55m verbal proposal rejected by Brighton, Arsenal have submitted a £60m bid for the Ecuador international, which has since also been rejected.

This comes after reports that Brighton have splashed an £100m asking price over Caicedo’s head, so it looks like a very difficult deal to do in January.

The Latest: Liverpool pull out

Taking to Twitter, journalist Kevin Palmer says that the Anfield outfit are ‘no longer in the race’ for Caicedo, quoting the reported £100m asking price for him as ‘insane’:

“Liverpool are no longer in the race to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton amid claims the asking price is £100m. A decent player but that fee is insane.”

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The Verdict: Not at that price…

The Reds are right to walk away from a deal for Caicedo if they would have to pay £100m for him.

Granted, the 21-year-old is a great player in his own right, as no Seagulls player can match his average of 2.9 tackles per match in the Premier League so far this season, while he also ranks highly among his team-mates for for interceptions, key passes, long and through balls (WhoScored).

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However, paying £100m would be a huge gamble for Jurgen Klopp’s side, given that he would be their club-record signing by far and they already paid a large amount of money for Darwin Nunez in the summer (Transfermarkt).

Thus, they should focus on securing cheaper alternative targets, with recent reports linking them with a move for Sheffield United’s Sander Berge, who would be expected to be much less expensive given that he would be coming from the Championship.

Manchester Evening News journalist Alex Brotherton has reacted to VAR’s decision not to award a penalty during Manchester City’s clash against Brentford in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Honours even

The Sky Blues hosted the Bees at the Etihad Stadium but suffered a shock 2-1 defeat, with two first-half goals coming from Ivan Toney and Phil Foden, before Thomas Frank’s number 17 netted the winner in stoppage time as he doubled his tally for the day.

One of the most notable moments other than the goals was when Rico Henry stuck out an arm on the edge of the penalty area to try and prevent Bernardo Silva’s cross coming in from the byline, but despite a VAR check, no spot kick was given.

The Latest: Brotherton’s reaction

Taking to Twitter, Brotherton was shocked by the decision and insisted that City should have been handed the chance to score from the 12-yards spot.

He fumed: “Peter Walton saying on BT Sport that there was no conclusive evidence that the handball took place inside the box – looked pretty clear to me that the ball was on the line. Should have been a penalty.”

The Verdict: No need to panic

With the incident taking right on the edge of the penalty box, it did seem difficult to conclusively deduce if it was in or outside the white line, but Brotherton’s stance is understandable when such a marginal call could easily have gone for the home side on a different occasion.

Whilst City would have wanted to secure victory against lower-placed opposition, there’s definitely no cause for concern when it comes to the Sky Blues’ form this season.

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The Manchester outfit have won 10, drawn two and lost just two of their opening 14 league games, leaving them two points behind current leaders Arsenal ahead of their trip to Molineux tonight.

The title race will rage on for some time given how tight it is at the top, and Guardiola will be given the perfect chance to regroup his team during the international break and get them ready for the return of domestic action after Christmas.

Tottenham Hotspur have an admiration for James Maddison but may have to wait to sign him…

What’s the word?

The English playmaker has been linked with a move to Spurs throughout the summer transfer window.

Journalist Dean Jones claimed that the north Londoners had “touched base” over potentially signing him and also suggested that the Leicester City star was keen to join them over Newcastle United.

But since then, Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that talks were underway over a new deal, though that won’t stop the 25-year-old from leaving in the future, should the Lilywhites revisit their interest.

“I think that Maddison sees himself in the next year or two, playing regular European football,” claimed CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs to GIVEMESPORT.

“That might be Newcastle, so there’s an element of persuasion there of joining the project from the ground up and help us get there.

“But there’s a sort of vague admiration from Spurs. They’ve not done anything with it, but I think it’s that type of club, if they come in for Maddison in a future window that may make him wait.”

Future Erisken heir

Spurs have long lacked someone in the no.10 mould that is capable of not only providing goals and assists from midfield but also has an immense ability on set-pieces.

Indeed, since the departure of Christian Eriksen to Inter Milan back in January 2020, no one has really stepped up to fill his void.

Over his seven seasons in north London, the £11m Dane provided Spurs with 69 goals and 90 assists across 305 appearances, averaging one direct contribution every 151 minutes, via Transfermarkt.

Dele Alli has since departed as his career hits the rocks, Tanguy Ndombele (one G/A every 272 minutes) has also moved on having joined Napoli on loan and Giovani Lo Celso (one G/A every 326 minutes) has left too.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-paratici-conte-levy-gossip-more” title=”Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and so much more!”]

The trio really couldn’t fill the gap left behind by the 30-year-old, who Josh Wright dubbed a “wizard.”

But Maddison could well be that man, even if Tottenham have to wait until next summer.

The England international was impressive last campaign as he provided 18 goals and 12 assists across 53 appearances in all competitions – a rate of one contribution every 120 minutes, as per Transfermarkt.

Those returns are instantly better than the aforementioned Spurs failures and not just that, his ability on free-kicks has been likened to one of the best to ever do it in David Beckham.

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It’s why he has also been lauded as a “genius” and as a “special talent” in recent times.

At one stage this summer, it was believed that Maddison was available for £50m but if his form continues into this campaign, which looks to be the case after two goals and one assist in their opening three games, then the Liltwhites may have to pay up even more to seal his signature in the future.

Whether it be this week, in the winter, next summer or even beyond, the north Londoners must continue to keep tabs on the £110k-per-week maestro as he could well be the long-term Eriksen heir that they’ve been desperate for all this time.

Paratici shouldn’t give up on Maddison, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Paratici could seal “stunning” 8th signing as Spurs eye £17m “cannon” perfect for Conte…

A report out of Italy has now shared some interesting Manchester City transfer news involving manager Pep Guardiola and Inter Milan sensation Alessandro Bastoni.

The Lowdown: Sky Blue summer spending spree?

Sky Blues chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, speaking in his annual end-of-season interview last week, confirmed that there will be more arrivals following the Premier League champions’ moves for both Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez.

After retaining their domestic crown in emotional and dramatic fashion, Guardiola could be about to oversee a real summer of change at Eastlands with Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus all heading into the final year of their contracts (The Times).

Defensive exits are also possible for the likes of Nathan Ake and Oleksandr Zinchenko, according to reports, with City allegedly keeping an eye on options for their backline as a result.

The Latest: Guardiola eyeing Bastoni…

According to FC Inter News, one of City’s potential targets is Nerazzurri centre-half Bastoni, even despite the notion he wishes to remain at the San Siro.

It is claimed that Guardiola is personally eyeing a move alongside Spurs and Paris-Saint Germain, with the Spaniard personally appreciating Inter’s gem.

The report goes on to claim that Bastoni, amid all of this interest, is ‘seriously in danger’ of being sold this summer.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Even if Ake departs the Etihad Stadium, competition will be fierce for a starting place in Guardiola’s backline, with England international John Stones even struggling for regular game time despite his phenomenal 2020/2021 campaign partnering Ruben Dias.

Bastoni, valued at €70 million (£60m) by Inter, would certainly come with a glowing reputation as members of the Italian media have already branded him ‘world class’ (Kaustubh Pandey, GIFN).

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The £122,000-per-week ace, still just 23-years-old, has even been tipped as an heir to Italy international legend Giorgio Chiellini in the centre of defence.

However, taking into account the form of both Dias and Aymeric Laporte as a partnership over 2021/2022, he will have to seriously impress Guardiola behind-the-scenes.

In other news: ‘I understand’ – Journalist says Man City attempt to sign ‘phenomenal’ star is ‘in motion’…find out more here.

A big Newcastle United injury update has emerged on Joe Willock and Jonjo Shelvey after they missed out on the clash with Chelsea.

What’s the latest?

Chronicle reporter Lee Ryder has revealed that the pair were both absent due to illness and did not miss out because of any injury concerns.

Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game as he brilliantly brought the ball down in the box and prodded past Martin Dubravka, ending the club’s long unbeaten run in the Premier League before they could reach 10 matches.

That came after the Magpies had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down earlier in the second half. Jacob Murphy was sent tumbling down by Trevor Chalobah and the referee waved away all appeals.

Ryder Tweeted: “Shelvey and Willock have an illness #nufc.”

Relief

Howe will be relieved that both players are ill instead of being injured as it hopefully means they can swiftly recover from their ailment before being available to face Everton on Thursday night. Whereas, there may have been more concern had they both sustained knocks.

Losing either player for an extended period of time would have been a huge blow and that is why the head coach will be delighted that they are not injured.

Shelvey’s SofaScore rating of 6.91 makes him the fifth-best performing player at the club this season – second if you exclude January signings – and Willock has hit form of late with two goals in his last four Premier League outings.

Having both players out was a setback for Howe against Chelsea because he was unable to call upon their quality and it left him with almost no option but to select Sean Longstaff. The Newcastle academy product struggled at Stamford Bridge as he completed just 68% of his passes and only made one tackle, whilst failing to make any key passes, clearances, interceptions or blocks – as per SofaScore.

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This shows why it would have been incredibly concerning for the Magpies had Willock and Shelvey sustained injuries prior to the game as Longstaff proved that he is not up to the task of replacing them. Instead, they are both ill and will, hopefully, recover in time for the huge clash with Everton on Thursday night – with the Toffees currently sitting 17th in the table as it stands – and Howe will be relieved.

They are nine points behind the Toon but a win for them would make that six and they have two games in hand on Howe’s side, which could make bring Newcastle back into trouble if they win those matches.

AND in other news,  Forget Burn: NUFC dud who lost possession every 3.2 touches wasted a golden ticket…