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Arsenal supporters "might see" their club make an offer to sign one marquee star in January, according to reports.

Arsenal transfer targets – all you need to know

The gossip mill is well and truly in full flow as manager Mikel Arteta and Arsenal chiefs slowly approach the winter transfer window. Despite spending north of £200 million on new signings over the summer, it is believed that Arsenal have their eyes on strengthening a few key areas further forward.

Arsenal are reportedly keen on signing Ivan Toney from Brentford, for instance, as the Gunners arguably lack a world-class centre-forward option. While forward Eddie Nketiah scored a hat-trick against Sheffield United last weekend, an injury to teammate Gabriel Jesus arguably highlights Arsenal's need for more quality options like Toney.

Meanwhile, it is believed Wolves winger Pedro Neto is a target for Arsenal as Arteta seeks alternative options to Bukayo Saka out wide. Also, as per recent rumours, midfielder Thomas Partey is considering an Arsenal exit, so Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz is on Arteta's transfer radar.

To keep chase with England's elite, Arsenal have been urged to sign a new striker in particular, with club legend Ray Parlour sharing his doubts over Nketiah and Jesus to JBI Training.

"I always think that you need a bit of back-up," Parlour said.

"Eddie Nketiah did really well when he came into the team last season, but the Arsenal sides I was part of always had four really good strikers. I know that a lot of teams play with one forward now, but in my teams we had Nwankwo Kanu, Sylvain Wiltord and obviously Thierry (Henry) and Dennis (Bergkamp). I do think we need that extra striker. If Gabriel Jesus gets injured again, is Eddie going to be able to come in and do well enough in the Champions League?

"I know that we could play with a false nine, but I would like that security of having an out-and-out striker."

Arsenal could bid for Toney

Sharing an update on one of Arsenal's targets, journalist Paul Brown has told GiveMeSport that Arsenal could bid for Toney in January. The reporter claims supporters "might see" an offer placed for the forward who scored a brilliant 20 league goals under Thomas Frank last term.

“It wouldn't surprise me if they look for another striker in January," said Brown.

"Toney is someone who's going to interest quite a lot of clubs when he's back and available again. I think he's a player on Arsenal's radar, and you might see them bid for him. So, I think he's a watch this space on that one.”

Reports suggest Toney could cost around £80 million to prise away from Brentford, a marquee price tag indeed. However, star midfielder Declan Rice has previously heralded the 27-year-old as a striker who has the lot.

Aerial duels

Direct free-kicks

Through balls

Finishing

"I think from the moment he stepped in the Premier League he's taken it by storm," said Rice on Toney to talkSPORT.

"If you look at what he does for Brentford, how consistent he is and what he does for his team, he's fully deserving of a call-up. He's kind of like Harry Kane in a way where he's not only an out-and-out striker, he's a playmaker as well – his left and right footed passing, the way he picks out his teammates is a special technique to have."

West Ham United have been patchy this season so far, picking up a victory often to then have it followed up with a demoralising loss.

October was a difficult month in truth for David Moyes' Hammers, thumped on their travels to Villa Park up against Unai Emery's devastating Aston Villa 4-1 whilst a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Everton saw the likes of Jarrod Bowen and other crucial attackers for Moyes' men fire blanks as Dominic Calvert-Lewin ultimately won the tight contest for the Toffees.

Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta are standing out as fan favourites for the Hammers, the two midfielders providing eight goal contributions between them in all competitions with Kudus proving to be an instant hit with the London Stadium faithful after leaving Ajax for the Irons at the end of August.

The Hammers, however, have a star away from the club at this present moment in time that is now outscoring both Kudus and Paqueta in Andy Irving, the Scottish midfielder sent back out on loan to far-away SK Austria Klagenfurt to ply his trade after signing for the Hammers surprisingly on deadline day.

He has picked up immediately from where he left off in a Klagenfurt jersey, slotting straight back into central midfield as the side's main creative, goalscoring spark.

Irving's style of play

Formerly of Hearts of Midlothian and third-tier German side Türkgücü München before venturing further to new pastures, Irving caught the attention of West Ham off the back of his stylish displays in Austria.

Operating predominantly from central midfield – although Irving has played in an unorthodox centre forward from time to time – Irving's main set of skills involve his passing range despite being an imposing 6 foot 2 presence – accurately distributing six of his eight attempted long passes last time out for Klagenfurt in a 2-2 draw versus RB Salzburg per Sofascore.

Clever and intricate on the ball – creating space all over the pitch regularly to begin attacks – the ex-Hearts man is also adept at finishing off opportunities with his numbers in front of goal this season seeing him outperform West Ham first-team stalwarts Kudus and Paqueta.

Irving's numbers this season

Irving has six goal contributions of his own in the Austrian Bundesliga from 12 matches played, crucial in his side's efforts to finish high up in the division to compete with SK Sturm Graz.

In his first match of the season, Irving would single handedly drag his team over the line to a victory over WSG Tirol with two goals and an assist resulting in Klagenfurt overcoming their opponents 3-1.

Receiving a near-perfect 9.6 Sofascore rating from this encounter, the Edinburgh-born midfielder was instrumental in every positive to come from that game from a Flagenfurt perspective – the opener resulting from a delightful Irving delivery into the box, twisting and turning his marker before sending in the cross for Sinan Karweina to head home.

The Scotsman then got two goals of his own, the second of which saw the Klagenfurt number 19 dance on the ball in injury time before hammering an effort into the net past the WSG Tirol goalkeeper for 3-1.

He has three league goals in total and has showcased his ability to make a big impact from midfield, whilst Kudus (one) and Paqueta (two) have combined for two Premier League strikes.

A transfer deal that felt like a bolt from the blue at the time – the Hammers picking up an unheard talent from the Austrian Bundesliga – now feels like a shrewd bit of business, with Irving readying himself for first-team opportunities when he jets back to England at the end of this loan deal.

Manchester United returned to winning ways as they secured a 1-0 victory over Luton Town in the Premier League this afternoon.

Erik ten Hag will be relieved to see his side head into the international break having secured all three points, but there are still plenty of problems at Old Trafford and an expected win against the Hatters won’t change that. While the Red Devils dominated possession throughout the tie, they couldn’t finish Luton off and missed several big chances during the match.

Defender Victor Lindelof was the unexpected match winner, scoring the only goal in the first half, but there were several poor performances, most notably Rasmus Hojlund.

Rasmus Hojlund’s game in numbers vs Luton Town

The Danish striker entered the game having scored another Champions League double, taking his total in Europe to five goals this term, yet oddly, he had yet to score in the Premier League. His drought didn’t end today either, as the youngster wasted two big chances during the match, including what looked like a simple tap in.

Hojlund took just 18 touches before he was substituted in the 79th minute, fewer than Andre Onana in goal, while he completed just five of his eight passes, indicating how isolated he was up front.

The former Atalanta frontman also struggled in one on one battles this afternoon as he failed to win a single duel, losing all three along with losing possession eight times in total, and despite shining on the continent, it appears as though he still has a lot to learn in the top flight.

Rasmus Hojlund’s season in numbers

There is no doubt the 20-year-old will eventually find his feet at United, and he would get on better if he was given better service during matches. His form in the Champions League is promising and among the United squad in the competition, Hojlund not only ranks first for overall Sofascore rating (7.55), but also first for goals and assists (five), shots on target per game (1.5) and fifth for key passes per game (0.8), demonstrating he has what it takes to shine in Europe’s premier club competition.

For whatever reason, he hasn’t been able to translate this form onto the domestic scene, and he drops down to seventh across the squad for shots on target per game (0.5) and ninth for key passes per game (0.9) and this is something Ten Hag will be working on to improve.

His first league goal surely will be just around the corner, yet missing two glaring opportunities against Luton wont exactly help his confidence. Perhaps the international break comes at the right time and with Denmark playing Slovenia and Northern Ireland over the next nine days, it gives Hojlund a chance to add to his seven goals across just ten matches for his country.

It wouldn’t do his confidence any harm and the young talent may just arrive back in Manchester ready to break his Premier League drought and push United up the league table in the process.

Liverpool know all too well the benefits of unearthing a gem from their academy, with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler among the extensive list of graduates at Anfield.

Currently, Jurgen Klopp is reaping the rewards of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s progression on Merseyside, however the boss could soon have another starlet to uncover from the comforts of Melwood.

One name that is making noise from behind the scenes of the first team is 17-year-old Jayden Danns, who has started the 2023/24 campaign off magnificently, suggesting that he could be moving in the right direction towards the senior side.

Jayden Danns' career in numbers

After joining Liverpool at the age of eight, the 2006-born marvel has excelled through the ranks, showcasing the ability and versatility to play as either a striker or as an attacking outlet in midfield.

Born in Liverpool, Danns has made a name for himself within the club’s U18’s side, primarily acting as the squad’s centre-forward thanks to his clinical nature in the final third.

Last season, the teenager gained 17 appearances in the U18 Premier League, where he netted nine goals and secured two assists, a tally that has already been matched this campaign.

In only seven league appearances in 2023/24, the “unplayable” forward, as lauded by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has found himself on the scoresheet nine times, as well as assisting twice to mirror last term’s tally in the early stages of the calendar.

What the future holds for Jayden Danns

Such progression should be highly celebrated at Melwood, considering the striker has scored in seven consecutive games this season to announce himself as one of the most in-form forwards at the club.

Fortunately for Danns, the teen could see his breakthrough higher up the ranks come sooner rather than later, thanks to the lack of conviction that Klopp is currently battling in the first team.

While the 17-year-old has a lot of developing to do before he reaches first-team calibre, the forward is showing signs of a prolific nature and innate confidence, fundamentals that can’t be said this season about some of the Reds’ senior strikers.

Between Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, the manager has two forwards who show the capability of scoring when needed, yet lack the consistent reliability to be considered irreplaceable.

11

10

11

4

2

4

4

0

0

11%

13%

18%

10

2

1

1.5

0.5

0.7

Below the duo is Cody Gakpo, who is also lacking in the final third in 2023/24, having scored two goals in ten Premier League appearances so far, averaging only 0.5 shots on target per game to relay his recent frailties in front of goal.

Aside from the Dutchman's lack of confidence, Nunez's rash decisions in the final third have seen his critics resurface, with him already missing ten big chances in 11 appearances in the league this season, stressing the need for a reliable source of goals.

If his form continues, Danns could seek a way into the senior side in the near future, with the youngster's streak in front of goal evidently far more ruthless than that of Gakpo and Nunez, with only Mohamed Salah outscoring the teen out of the first team this campaign.

Only time will tell if Liverpool’s difficulty in getting their centre-forward’s firing continues, however, at Melwood, the U18s talisman is certainly making waves of great magnitude to boost his claim to a future promotion.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is coming under increased pressure at Old Trafford, with another high-profile boss in the Red Devils' thinking to take over at the Premier League giants.

Erik ten Hag under pressure…

Despite spending over £170 million in the summer combined on Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, Sofyan Amrabat, Andre Onana, Sergio Reguilon, Jonny Evans and Altay Bayindir, the Red Devils languish outside of the top four while sitting bottom of their Champions League group in early December.

Furthermore, Ten Hag's side lost their grip on the Carabao Cup trophy earlier this year owing to a disappointing 3-0 defeat over Newcastle United at Old Trafford, concluding that things in the North West are far from rosy at the time of writing as the Dutchman continues to face external pressure.

Recent reports have detailed that internalised doubt over Ten Hag's managerial ability has grown in the Manchester United dressing room following the Red Devils' lacklustre display in a 1-0 loss away to Newcastle United on league duty last weekend.

Some players are still believed to be behind the 53-year-old; however, his intense training methods alongside his treatment of outcast Jadon Sancho have complicated his situation at Old Trafford, with the latter point explained below by Sky Sports chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol.

Now, new indications detail that another experienced coach could soon be looked into as a potential replacement for Ten Hag in the United dugout.

Man Utd eyeing Julen Lopetegui

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are eyeing former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Julen Lopetegui, who has also had interest from the Saudi Pro League in recent times as they continue to build their footballing project in the Middle East.

Julen Lopetegui honours as a manager (Transfermarkt)

Europa League winner with Sevilla in 2019/20

Under-21 European Championship winner in 2012/13 (Spain Under-21)

Under-19 European Championship winner in 2011/12 (Spain Under-19)

The outlet claim that Lopetegui's success in the Europa League with Sevilla, coupled with his ability to qualify the La Liga outfit for the Champions League group stages on three separate occasions have put him closer to another important European job rather than a tilt at Saudi football. His reputation gained for developing young players doesn't appear to have gone unnoticed at Old Trafford, and one of the 'important clubs that are thinking about him as the head of a project' is United.

Favouring an attacking 4-3-3 formation for his sides to operate in, Lopetegui, who still lives in England, was labelled "excellent" by Wolves executive chairman Jeff Shi upon his appointment at Molineux and he certainly made an impact in his last post, comfortably keeping the Old Gold in the Premier League despite arriving last December where the club were bottom of the pile.

Should Ten Hag continue to come under immense pressure at Old Trafford, Lopetegui is someone who has proven his capacity to improve sides in a short period of time and could be a shrewd choice to replace him.

While Manchester United supporters will be focusing on any potential incomings at Old Trafford next month, the club's priority in the January window appears to be on getting players out the door instead, with a handful of key names seemingly up for grabs.

The latest indication is that Donny van de Beek is set to seal a loan move to Bundesliga side, Eintracht Frankfurt, while the likes of Raphael Varane, Casemiro, Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho could also potentially be offered around – the latter man, in particular, amid his ongoing exile.

Man Utd now eyeing £80m+ deal for "incredible" player to replace Martial

Martial will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season…

BySean Markus Clifford Dec 19, 2023

Erik ten Hag will also have a decision to make with regard to any youngsters who may also have their eye on a temporary switch until the end of the season, with recent speculation indicating that academy sensation, Dan Gore, could be on his way to the EFL in 2024.

Man Utd transfer news – Dan Gore

According to a report from Manchester Evening News, the 19-year-old is attracting loan interest from Championship side Preston North End heading into the winter window, with the second-tier side only recently taking on Alvaro Fernandez from the Red Devils for the 2022/23 campaign.

The report does not suggest whether United would sanction an exit for the teenager in the new year, although it does reveal that the club are willing to let some of their young talent head out on loan in order to aid their development.

The Old Trafford outfit have no doubt had great success in the past by loaning out emerging talents to clubs lower down the pyramid, with Preston, most notably, having played a part in David Beckham's progression back in the early 90s.

David Beckham's spell at Preston

If Gore is to head to Deepdale next month, he would be following in the footsteps of treble-winner Beckham, with the ex-England skipper spending a brief period at the club back in 1995.

For a player who went on to win trophies galore at the Theatre of Dreams – as well turning out for the likes of Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain – such a stint is understandably overlooked, yet Beckham himself has spoken of the "great memories" he has from the loan spell:

“To be honest, great memories. I arrived thinking that Manchester United didn’t want me anymore. It’s what Sir Alex Ferguson used to do, with a lot of young players who needed toughing up. He’d send them out to the lower leagues to get kicked around a little bit and that’s exactly what I did. I went there, played four or five games, scored a couple of goals, set a few up and it actually went very well. But, I definitely got kicked around a little bit.”

While on at Preston for a matter of months, the 48-year-old did still manage to score twice in just five appearances, even scoring the first free-kick of his professional career to provide an early indication of his unique talents.

Not to suggest that Gore will also go on to become a football superstar like his compatriot, yet a spell in the second tier could well be crucial in helping to nurture this special talent.

Dan Gore's style of play

Amid the mounting injuries that Ten Hag is facing in the midfield ranks of late, Gore has been a regular fixture in matchday squads this season, notably making his senior debut against Crystal Palace in the League Cup back in September.

That first-team bow had been a long time coming for a player who has blossomed at youth level in recent years, having been the subject of hefty praise from coach Mark Dempsey for his standout showings:

"I like to see him play football because he’s one of them to get fans off their seats. He smashes into people, technically he’s fantastic and he’s been terrific all season. He’s been captain a number of times and personality-wise, he’s a quiet boy, but he’s a leader.

"He leads by example. He’s a local lad, he loves the football club and you see that in the way he plays. Whether he’s playing at Old Trafford, a three-a-side at Carrington or at The Cliff, it’s the same performance from the kid and we’ve all got a lot of time for Daniel."

The hope will be that the young playmaker – who has been described as a "Roy Keane-type" by his former Burnley youth coach Lewis Craig – can eventually form a midfield partnership with fellow teen, Kobbie Mainoo, with the 18-year-old currently shining in Ten Hag's ranks.

Lauded as "unbelievable" by Keane after making his Premier League debut against Everton last month, Mainoo has grasped his opportunity with both hands and looks set to be a mainstay in the side for the years to come, with a loan departure now seemingly out of the question.

That's not to suggest that enduring a temporary stint would derail Gore's hopes of also making that step up to the United first team, with the Englishman only needing to look to Beckham's example for inspiration.

Wolverhampton Wanderers secured a point against Nottingham Forest over the weekend and heading into the busy festive period, the club currently occupy 13th position in the Premier League table.

Ties against West Ham United and Brentford before Christmas are certainly winnable, but the Old Gold will have to be at their best to secure three points in both matches.

Gary O’Neil will be hoping to get through the next few games unscathed heading into the January transfer window as it appears he is keen on a fellow Premier League midfielder…

Wolves transfer news – Josh Brownhill

According to the Mirror, the Molineux outfit are preparing a move for Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill during the January transfer window, and they could secure his signature for a cut-price fee of just £7m.

His contract is set to expire at the end of the current season, but the player and club are embroiled in a standoff at the moment and unless Burnley sell him in January, they will lose him for nothing.

He is valued at £20m, yet due to his contract scenario, £7m could well be enough to lure him to Wolves in the coming weeks.

Wolves could land Cunha upgrade by signing £15m gem who's like Kane

Wolves could look to sign an upgrade on Cunha in the January transfer window

ByRoss Kilvington Dec 7, 2023

The former Bournemouth manager could do with another midfielder and Brownhill may be an ideal replacement for former player Ruben Neves.

How Josh Brownhill compares to Ruben Neves

The Portuguese gem left Molineux during the summer in a £47m deal to join Al-Hilal, and it marked the end of a six-season stay in the Midlands for Neves.

The midfielder made over 250 appearances for the club while he helped establish them as a steady top-flight club after their promotion during the 2017/18 campaign.

The Old Gold have certainly missed his goals from midfield, as only two midfielders have found the back of the net during the current campaign, and O’Neil is clearly looking to sign a player who can chip in from the centre of the pitch.

Neves scored six times in the league last term, while Brownhill netted seven – albeit in the Championship – along with grabbing eight assists, and this type of player is exactly what the club need going forward.

2017/18

42

6

1

2018/19

40

5

4

2019/20

54

4

3

2020/21

40

5

2

2021/22

36

4

2

2022/23

41

6

1

During the 2023/24 season so far, the 27-year-old Brownhill has scored three Premier League goals and he currently ranks second in the squad for goals and assists (three), along with ranking third for key passes per game (0.8) and for tackles per game (1.7), showcasing his abilities across a range of metrics.

He has been impressive during his debut season in the top flight and a move to Wolves would allow him to continue this, especially as he could be filling the boots of Neves.

The midfielder was hailed as “brilliant” by Jack Cork in 2022 and O’Neil has an excellent chance of landing a player who may only get better for a reasonable fee in the coming weeks.

The move makes perfect sense and while the club signed Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Boubacar Traore, while also adding Tommy Doyle on loan, none have managed to really replace Neves.

By signing Brownhill, they will sign a Premier League standard player for a fraction of his valuation, and it could turn into a shrewd investment by the club.

Leeds United slipped further away from the race to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking as they were beaten 1-0 by West Bromwich Albion on Friday night.

The Whites are now nine points behind Ipswich Town in second and six points adrift of Southampton in third, having now lost their last two Championship matches.

It was another disappointing performance and result for the Yorkshire-based outfit and one that makes the prospect of finishing in the top two all the more unlikely for Daniel Farke's side.

The usually-reliable defensive midfielder Ethan Ampadu was caught out for the match-winning goal from Grady Diangana but it was Joel Piroe who let the head coach down with another poor display.

Ethan Ampadu's performance against West Brom in numbers

The Wales international was not aware of his surrounding in the penalty area as the West Brom forward was able to ghost behind him to score from Jed Wallace's cut-back during the first half.

Ampadu was not switched on around the penalty spot and allowed the ball to go past him and to the Baggies attacker, when he was in the perfect position to cut out the cross.

He did, however, win 50% (1/2) of his duels in the middle of the park and completed 89% of his attempted passes to keep things ticking for Leeds.

No West Brom player was able to dribble past him all match and this also suggests that the midfielder stood his ground and was not beaten easily outside of Diangana getting the better of him for the goal.

Meanwhile, Piroe started in the number ten position and struggled once again to make a tangible impact on the match behind Georgino Rutter.

Joel Piroe's performance against West Brom in numbers

The Dutch attacker was described as "invisible" by analyst @Louorns on X after the loss to Preston and that was the case once again on Friday.

He has now managed one goal, which came in the 4-0 rout over Ipswich, and zero assists in his last six Championship appearances for the Whites.

Piroe did not offer much in the way of a physical outlet for his side to hit as the left-footed lightweight lost 75% (3/4) of his duels, which included both of his battles on the deck and one of his two aerial contests.

In possession, the former Swansea star did little to justify his place on the pitch. He did not create a single 'big chance' or complete a dribble in 90 minutes on the pitch.

The Leeds number seven also saw all three of his attempted shots blocked by the opposition, which suggests that his decision-making in front of goal was poor as West Brom found it too easy to cut out his efforts before the goalkeeper was troubled.

These statistics show that Piroe offered very little to the side in and out of possession throughout the game as he let Farke down badly in the final third.

Therefore, he was worse than Ampadu, who was solid enough in midfield aside from that split-second lapse in concentration for Diangana's goal, and needs to improve his level of performance quickly to keep his place in the XI moving forward.

Aston Villa have been exceptional this campaign with Unai Emery at the helm of the club's revival.

This is highlighted by the Villans being second in the Premier League, winning 13 of their 20 matches.

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6

1

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25

20

13

3

4

42

16

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3

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4

40

17

Nevertheless, the boss is still keen to bolster his squad in January, with lifting a trophy their main aim for the second half of the season.

Aston Villa transfers latest – A signing to help Watkins

According to Italian outlet Corriere Della Sera, Aston Villa have contacted Paulo Dybala’s agent regarding his availability.

On Wednesday it was reported that 'in the last few hours', Chelsea and Newcastle, alongside Villa, had begun talks over a potential move.

It seems set that the Argentine will leave Roma this window, as he has a £10m release clause that will expire soon on January 15th.

Saudi Arabian clubs are also interested in the former Juventus star, but the playmaker isn't appealed by such a move. Either way, Villa clearly won’t have a free run at his signature.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 How Paulo Dybala would benefit Ollie Watkins

Ollie Watkins has been a reliable goal-scorer ever since joining Villa from Brentford for £28m, underlined by the fact he’s scored 49 goals in 129 Premier League appearances.

However, he has developed into an elite number nine under Emery, and this season, he has netted nine goals and assisted eight in 20 Premier League games.

However, the potential signing of Dybala is one that could take Watkins to an entirely new level, with Emery’s 4-4-1-1 perfect for the duo to thrive alongside each other.

Dybala has featured in 18 matches for the Italian club this season across all competitions, scoring six goals and registering six assists, while operating mainly as a second striker.

However, the 30-year-old's time in Rome has been disrupted by injuries, which have seen him miss 28 games since the start of last season. Despite that, with depth in that second striker role, Emery would be able to protect the World Cup winner and manage his minutes.

The table below shows a handful of Dybala’s 2023/24 Serie A statistics that prove he would supercharge Watkins.

Goals

0.46

Top 27%

Assists

0.55

Top 1%

Key Passes

2.49

Top 3%

Shot-creating actions

4.62

Top 1%

Progressive passes

6.59

Top 1%

Passes into the penalty area

2.22

Top 1%

On the evidence of the above, it is no surprise that the small, left-footed Argentine has been compared to his international captain, Lionel Messi, previously by ESPN’s Frank Isola.

Indeed, as you can see by the assists, key passes, and shot-creating actions, the ex-Palermo star provides much more than just goals. Dybala is a creative demon who loves to float in the pockets, just like Messi. He has a wand of a left foot that would create an endless number of chances for Watkins in each game.

His combination play and vision would work perfectly alongside Watkins, who has elite movement and link-up ability, as highlighted by his eight assists already this season. Based on Dybala’s progressive passes and passes into the penalty area, a frequent pattern of play would be a deft one-two with the Villa forward in and around the box.

Not only would Dybala – dubbed a "genius" in the words of Italian football expert Carlo Carganese – enhance Watkins’ goal-scoring traits, but he would also elevate his technical side of the game, which is particularly vital when playing against lesser teams who sit in deep. £10m for such quality is a bargain, and he could be the key to unlocking Villa’s and Watkins' full potential.

Following on from the highs of last season was always going to be tough for Eddie Howe and Newcastle United, but with the halfway point of this year's campaign now gone, it would be fair to describe 2023/24 as a disappointment.

The Toon are already out of the Champions League, tenth in the Premier League and look miles off of the European places.

However, with the number of injuries and unforeseen suspensions they have dealt with, it's not all that surprising.

That said, one of the biggest on-pitch problems for the Magpies has been their porous defence, with 12 teams having conceded fewer goals than them, so fans should be delighted with the latest player touted for a move to St James' Park as he could form the perfect partnership with Sven Botman.

Newcastle eye right-sided centre-back

According to a report from The Mirror last week, Newcastle are interested in signing Sporting CP's exciting young centre-back Ousmane Diomande this month.

The publication has revealed that with the young Ivorian valued at £70m by the Portuguese giants, the Toon will likely have to break their transfer record to complete the deal, a transfer record that was set when Alexander Isak joined the side for an initial £58m in August 2022.

Unfortunately for the Magpies, it isn't just the steep price they'll have to contend with, as according to reports from Portugal, both Arsenal and Chelsea are also keen on the 20-year-old.

That said, if Newcastle can get this deal over the line, they could sign the perfect partner for Botman and secure their backline for the next decade.

Ousmane Diomande could be the perfect partner for Sven Botman

With Botman returning from his latest injury setback last month, he has resumed his role as the starting left-sided centre-back at Newcastle, often starting alongside Swiss international Fabian Schar.

Now, were the club to complete the signing of Diomande with the idea of pairing him up with the Dutchman, that would essentially spell the end of Schar's time as a Newcastle starter, and while that could be seen as somewhat harsh on the 32-year-old, it would make the team stronger.

This can be seen when the pair's underlying numbers are compared, as in the majority of relevant metrics, the "elite" Diomande, as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, comes out ahead.

For example, he wins more tackles per 90 and wins a far greater portion of the tackles he makes. Moreover, he is better in the air than Schar, a more competent passer, and he recovers the ball more often.

Stats per 90

Diomande

Schar

Passing Accuracy

91.0%

84.8%

Tackles Won

0.97

0.85

Percentage of Tackles Won

83.3%

52.4%

Touches

80.9

76.5

Dispossessed

0.21

0.40

Ball Recoveries

5.97

5.22

Aerial Duels Won

1.94

1.64

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season

Described as a defender who "thinks faster than others" by Mango, Diomande would be an instant upgrade on the Swiss veteran, and the fact that he is right-footed means that he could slot right into the Toon's backline and not disrupt those around him.

Ultimately, with defence the Magpies' most significant on-pitch problem this season, the signing of Diomande would go a long way in helping to solve it, and alongside Botman, the pair could form a long-term and effective defensive partnership at St James' Park.