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West Bromwich Albion fans will hope their team can get back on the horse when Championship football resumes this coming weekend, after stuttering as of late in the second tier despite a very bright start to the season.

The Baggies are now winless in their last three games in the challenging division, but will view an away trip up next at Oxford United as a feasible way to bounce back after the break.

Carlos Corberan will be crying out for more from his players in an attacking capacity, after he saw his goal-shy troops register back-to-back blanks versus Middlesbrough and Millwall recently, with Tom Fellows one performer who arguably needs to up his game for the trip to the U’s this Saturday.

Fellows' form this season

Fellows had started the season in scintillating form, but much like the rest of his teammates, has found his powers have started to wane.

The homegrown Baggies winger has a stunning five assists next to his name from nine Championship clashes to date, but struggled to unlock both Boro and Millwall in his team’s last two uneventful encounters, with just one of those assists coming in his side’s last four league matches.

It hasn’t been through a lack of trying however for Fellows in terms of his output somewhat drying up, with the 21-year-old registering three key passes against the Lions last time out, but to no avail as an unsatisfactory 0-0 draw was the final outcome.

Corberan’s rage about West Brom’s recent lack of clinical finishing could well result in the Baggies dipping their toes into the transfer market when it swings open this January, with a rumoured move on the agenda for this EFL sharp shooter already bubbling away.

West Brom battling to sign "insane" striker

According to football journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, West Brom will battle it out with a number of clubs for the services of Thomas Cannon this January, who is already making quite the impression out on loan at Stoke City away from parent employers Leicester City.

The Foxes reportedly have an option to cut Cannon’s loan stint at the Potters short, which will no doubt raise the eyebrows of many of his admirers, with Sheffield United also allegedly keen on snapping up the Stoke star if he becomes available again.

It could result in a frenzy over a loan-to-buy deal happening, with the Foxes valuing Cannon in and around the £10m ballpark, which is a hefty fee but a justifiable one based off his excellent displays for the Potters so far.

Cannon amazingly hammered home four strikes in just one Championship game at the start of this month for his loan employers, further reinforcing his tag as a top marksman for the division, with football journalist Pete Smith even labelling his four-goal display versus Portsmouth as “insane”.

He hasn’t managed to bag any more goals minus this whirlwind display in the league, but if Cannon was to enter in through the door this approaching window, Josh Maja would be nervous about his concrete starting spot under Corberan as the leading man up top all the same.

Maja does boast three more strikes this season in the league, but when you examine their overall records in the division away from this campaign in isolation, Cannon’s numbers better the ex-Sunderland man’s, from fewer games too.

Games

38

53

Goals

14

10

Assists

2

4

Minutes played

2490

2437

The Irishman’s numbers could soar to even loftier heights if he does end up donning a Baggies strip soon, with Fellows content at just regularly putting chances on a plate after bombing down the left wing for a deadly attacker to then latch onto and fire home.

Corberan will know that the full Championship season can be a gruelling affair, and with some January additions like Cannon potentially entering the building, a freshness could enter his ranks that will undoubtably help in their ongoing promotion push.

Left for £10m: West Brom struck gold selling star now worth millions less

West Bromwich Albion will be glad they sold this star on when they did.

1 ByKelan Sarson Oct 8, 2024

Nottingham Forest had representatives in place for a Championship game on Tuesday night as they took a closer look at a promising midfielder, according to a recent report.

The Reds brought in several new faces during the summer, and that has helped them make a strong start to the Premier League season, losing just one of their opening six games. Despite the good start, it appears as though it could be a busy January for Forest as their transfer plans become a bit clearer.

Nottingham Forest ready to accept "huge" offer for "excellent" £30k-p/w ace

It would be a massive loss for the Garibaldi.

ByBen Browning Sep 29, 2024 Nottingham Forest transfer news

The January transfer window is still quite a bit away from opening, but Forest already have their eye on what business they may like to conclude. It has recently been reported that Forest are interested in signing Luca Koleosho from Burnley.

The Reds are set to be stepping up their interest in the player, with Brighton and Wolves fighting alongside Forest to secure his signature. Forest have taken in live games of Koleosho, and they see him as a player who can add more depth to their attacking line.

It has also been claimed that the Premier League side are also looking to move players on, with Forest said to be ready to cash in on defender Murillo, but only for a big transfer fee. Murillo has been an impressive performer for Forest since joining the club, but they could be willing to sell the player next summer if they receive a huge offer. And they may already be plotting how to spend that money.

Nottingham Forest track new possible Danilo replacement

According to TBR Football, Nottingham Forest scouts were at the Hawthorns on Tuesday night to watch Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney. Boro claimed a 1-0 win over West Brom courtesy of the midfielder’s goal, and it was a chance for Forest to take a look at Hackney, who also has admirers from Aston Villa and Wolves.

Hackney has played over 70 games for Boro so far, being rather impressive since making his debut, and that hasn’t changed this season. The midfielder has now scored two goals in eight Championship games this term, and Tuesday night was another impressive display.

The 22-year-old was Middlesbrough’s best performer in the game against the Baggies, according to SofaScore’s player ratings system. Hackney completed 73 of his 84 passes in the game, which gave him an 87% pass accuracy, and eight of nine long balls completed shows he isn’t playing it safe, instead looking to break lines and start attacks. That also aligns with him making five progressive passes in Tuesday night’s game, as he looks to keep getting the ball forward.

Minutes played

90

Goals

1

Touches

105

Accurate passes

73/84

Key passes

2

Long balls (acc)

9 (8)

Big chances created

1

Ground duels (won)

7 (4)

Interceptions

2

Forest may see Hackney as a potential replacement for Danilo, who looks set to miss the rest of the season through an injury he picked up in the opening game of the Premier League season. The Brazilian has been an important player for the Reds since he joined, and Nuno Espírito Santo will be keen on finding a suitable replacement after such a terrible injury.

Tottenham stormed to a historic 3-0 win over a despondent and dire Manchester United at Old Trafford to record their second consecutive Premier League win, but Ange Postecoglou remained a frustrated figure on the touchline at times.

Spurs make history in Man Utd rout

Tottenham lay down a marker for the rest of the Premier League as they thrashed Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford, leaving Erik ten Hag clinging to his job. After back to back wins in the Premier League and then the Conference League, Postecoglou’s side headed to Manchester with the wind in their sails, but were helped by an abject performance from the hosts.

It took just three minutes for the north London side to open the scoring, as Micky van de Ven ran half the length of the pitch before putting the ball on a plate for Brennan Johnson, who tapped home unmarked.

It could have been several more before the break as Spurs created chances at will against a stagnant Red Devil defence, with only a good save from Andre Onana keeping out an effort from James Maddison.

Already well outplayed, a sending off for Bruno Fernandes seemed to take the fight out of Manchester United, and Tottenham cruised through the second half, adding two more goals courtesy of Dejan Kulusevski and record signing Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham’s dominance vs Manchester United

Tottenham

Manchester United

Possession

61%

39%

Shots

24

11

Shots on target

10

2

Expected goals

4.59

0.96

It was the highest expected goals that any side have recorded yet this season as they flew to victory, but Postecoglou remained keen for more from his players.

Postecoglou left fuming with Spurs teenager

Such was his desire for more from his side that Postecoglou was visibly frustrated as the game wore on. One of the subjects of his ire was talented midfield substitute Lucas Bergvall, who provided the corner for Tottenham’s third. However, after that he was wasteful, losing the ball four times in his 13-minute cameo.

Arriving in the summer and penning a deal until 2029 worth £7,500 a week, the midfielder is certainly a hot prospect for the future, but was guilty of wasting two promising attacking opportunities against the Red Devils.

Spurs may have just unearthed their new Christian Eriksen vs Man Utd

The incredible international is on fire at the moment.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 30, 2024

As per Football London, this left Postecoglou fuming on the touchline. They report that the Spurs boss was “raging twice” as promising moves broke down at the feet of the teenager.

Postecoglou took issue “first for taking a shot from distance rather than passing the ball to the unmarked Mikey Moore and then later when the Swede attempted to find his fellow teenager rather than playing the ball to the right to two unmarked team-mates”, with the Austrialian wasting no time in letting him know about it.

It is not the first time that Bergvall has been on the receiving end of ire from those around him, with Guglielmo Vicario shouting at the Swede on his debut as they drew with Leicester City. Fortunately, the result was far better for Tottenham this time around.

Arsenal are now open to selling a “world-class” player in 2025, and it could be as early as January, as one key reason leads to his potential exit.

Players who could leave Arsenal next year

A host of senior players – including Hale End academy graduates Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah – departed north London over the course of the summer transfer window, but there are still a few current Arsenal squad members with uncertain futures.

Arsenal worried that £150,000-per-week star is also nursing an injury now

The Gunners have a few key players sidelined right now.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 24, 2024

Manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar will be relieved that they didn’t offload either Thomas Partey or Jorginho, with both men proving pivotal to making up their numbers amid real injury blows.

Club captain Martin Odegaard is out with ankle ligament damage, while another midfield man in ex-Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino is sidelined after a shoulder fracture.

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Liverpool (home)

October 27

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

This has left Arsenal short in the middle, and it is believed Odegaard will be out for weeks until he’s able to return to action.

“They are, obviously (concerned). He’s a crucial player. He’s the captain. He’s a fantastic player,” said Fabrizio Romano in a recent update on Odegaard.

“So, obviously, they know this injury is a problem for them. But at the same time, they hope it’s not super long. So, in this moment, in terms of medical staff, they are doing their best to have Martin back as soon as possible. For sure, we will have to be patient. It’s not something imminent. It will take weeks before we see Odegaard back to action.”

The presence of both Partey and Jorginho has helped to mitigate both Odegaard and Merino’s absences, but their long-term futures are more uncertain. Partey has been described as almost certain to leave Arsenal next year, while Jorginho is also out of contract in the summer.

Alongside the duo, it is believed that currently injured defender Takehiro Tomiyasu could be shipped out as well. Tomiyasu missed Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Man City through a knee injury and is yet to feature this season, with an update emerging on the Japan international’s future.

Why Arsenal could now sell Takehiro Tomiyasu in January

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal have concerns over Tomiyasu’s availability and fitness record lately, and that could force them to take drastic action.

The £100,000-per-week ace only signed a contract extension earlier this year, but Edu and Arteta may decide to offload next year. It is believed that Arsenal could sell Tomiyasu as early as January, however unlikely, with a summer transfer more possible as things stand.

Tomiyasu is attracting interest from elite Serie A sides as well. AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus and Napoli are all monitoring the 25-year-old, who may soon have a chance to bring the “world-class” ace back to Italy.

“Tomi is amazing. He’s the best right-back I’ve ever played with. He’s always focused. It’s an honour to play next to him,” said Ben White to DAZN Japan (via The Metro).

“Tomi does the simple things at a world-class level. He is very alert and he isn’t careless in games. From the beginning he’s completely understood English and speaks as well as I do.”

Tottenham Hotspur have enquired about the availability of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Is Sancho leaving Manchester United?

When the Red Devils brought Sancho back to England in 2021 for £73m, there was a general consensus that, despite the enormous price tag, United had secured one of football's future superstars.

Following his dazzling performances in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, there was little doubt that Sancho was to flourish in the Premier League, using his pace, close control and creative output to push United back towards the summit of English football.

However, what has followed has been underwhelming. Sancho has struggled to get to grips with life at Old Trafford and has often floundered when given opportunities to impress the managers he has worked under.

Erik ten Hag has managed to get Sancho performing at a higher level, but it still hasn't been enough to ensure him of regular starts.

As a result, rumours linking him with a move away from Old Trafford have surfaced during the transfer window, and Ten Hag may have the slightest of temptations to cash in on the 23-year-old this summer.

According to Ben Jacobs, Tottenham are the club sniffing around any uncertainty and have made an enquiry about Sancho's availability.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs said: "With Jadon Sancho, Tottenham have enquired. I'm not aware that they've advanced anything beyond that at this point. They've also got good other business done now, quite early in the window, including James Maddison."

United will still be hopeful that Sancho can turn his Old Trafford career around and convert those purple patches of form into more consistent, longer spells of significant contribution to the team.

Any discontent at United will be pounced upon by Spurs, however, who have already been busy in the transfer window with the additions of Maddison, Gulgielmo Vicario and permanent deals for Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro.

Daniel Levy is keen to back new manager Ange Postecoglou with enough funds to transform Spurs this summer following a dismal campaign of underperformance which saw the Lilywhites languishing in eighth-place last season.

Postecoglou's man-management style and ability to improve players quickly may appeal to Sancho as he looks to rescue his Premier League career, but a deal between United and Spurs would likely be difficult to conduct.

How did Sancho fare last season?

Sancho, who has been called an "unusual" player, managed just 26 Premier League appearances last season, a total that stretched to 41 in all competitions. The winger registered seven goals and three assists in total, a tally which he will undoubtedly be slightly disappointed with.

It was a promising start to the campaign. A wonderfully taken goal against Liverpool on matchday three was followed by a similarly cool finish away at Leicester two games later.

However, his season slightly tailed off, albeit still punctuated with smatterings of brilliance. Sancho was omitted from England's World Cup squad that travelled to Qatar, which cannot have helped his confidence, and the youngster struggled to make a defining impact when the Premier League resumed.

When you consider that Sancho registered a combined 114 goals and assists in 137 matches at Dortmund, United will be frustrated with his lack of progress up to this point.

Whether or not they decide to sell the 23-year-old after only two seasons is another matter, but Spurs will be waiting in the wings just in case.

West Ham United are "interested" in James Maddison and would "enter the discussion" if a deal is agreed for Declan Rice, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

West Ham United transfer news – what's the latest on James Maddison?

Declan Rice's departure from West Ham has already become the summer's biggest transfer story, with Arsenal and Manchester City seeing their £90m bids rejected by the Irons over the last seven days.

While David Moyes and Co. will be smiling at the thought of a possible £100m bid for their star, they will want the deal to be concluded as quickly as possible as they have their own business to attend to over the summer, business that will heavily rely upon the sale of their club captain.

The names consistently linked with the East London side over the last few weeks have been similar in profile, hard-working, defensively solid midfielders, names like Joao Palhinha, James Ward-Prowse and Amadou Onana, to name but a few.

However, one name linked to the club could have Hammers everywhere very excited, Maddison.

Despite their relegation to the Championship last season, Leicester City have set the price tag for their prized asset at £60m, per the Telegraph.

West Ham will have to compete with the likes of Newcastle United, who have the player 'at the top' of their summer wishlist and Tottenham Hotspur, who are also keen on the player.

However, with the money from Rice soon to be burning a hole in their pockets, maybe they snatch the player from under the opposition's noses.

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about James Maddison to West Ham United?

Jones has highlighted that while the Hammers are certainly interested in the services of the England international, they must conclude their business regarding Rice before splashing the cash on a player like him.

Writing for GIVEMESPORT, he said: "West Ham United are another club interested in Maddison and while they are certainly outsiders for now, they would enter the discussions if possible after a Declan Rice exit is sorted."

Would James Maddison be a good deal for West Ham United?

Although, the Hammers' chances of even getting a sniff of signing him look very slim as he's supposedly getting closer and closer to joining Tottenham Hotspur.

While the most logical replacement for a player such as Rice would probably be a more defensively-minded midfielder than Maddison, the Hammers massively struggled to create chances last season, and so should they have the opportunity to tackle that deficiency with the capture of the ex-Norwich City gem, they should.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, Maddison sits in the top 1% for non-penalty goals, assists, expected non-penalty goals and assists, shot-creating actions, all per 90

He also had a great personal season last year, despite playing for an incredibly dysfunctional Foxes side. According to WhoScored, the 5 foot 9 dynamo managed a genuinely impressive average match rating of 7.24 across his 30 Premier League appearances.

It's unsurprising then that his former Brendon Rodgers hailed the player as "one of the best in the Premier League" last season.

The biggest hurdle for the East London club in their pursuit of Maddison isn't the fee of £60m, it's the competition they'll face to secure his signature, but if Moyes can work his magic and convince him that joining his project at the London Stadium is a good idea, the club will look much, much better for it.

Everton managed to clinch survival on the final day of the Premier League campaign, and have now been linked to a star from a club that couldn’t maintain his place in the division.

It’s set to be a busy summer for Sean Dyche, as he aims to ensure the Toffees don’t slip to the lows of the previous two seasons, which has seen them battle relegation to the final minutes.

The latest link could prove to be a significant upgrade in attack, with a player that has already passed the Premier League test.

What’s the latest on Wilfried Gnonto to Everton?

As reported by Football Transfers, Everton are interested in Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto.

The report suggests that Everton have ‘ongoing talks’ with Leeds over attacking duo Jack Harrison and Gnonto, with the Italian’s price in need of a ‘compromise’ for a deal to be reached.

While a price is yet to be named, the winger's expected transfer value sits at €30m (£26m).

What could Wilfried Gnonto offer to Everton?

Hailed as a “diamond” by U23 talent scout Antonio Mango, the 19-year-old lit up the Premier League when given the opportunity at Elland Road.

In 24 appearances, the winger scored two goals and registered four assists for the relegated side, via Sofascore, earning sufficient praise for his exploits and trickery on the left wing.

With relegation confirmed, it’s likely that Leeds will offload a host of talent seeking first-division football, as well as aim to keep their wage budget sustainable to adhere to the drop in finances that comes with demotion.

The Italian forward could add an abundance of talent to Dyche’s Everton side, identified as a skilful presence in the final third and keen creator, as highlighted by his average of one key pass per game this season, via Sofascore. That may not seem too impressive but compare it to those in the Everton ranks and it places him fourth for last term, behind Demarai Gray, Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi.

At just 19-years-old, Goodison Park could obtain one of Europe’s most encouraging talents in Gnonto, with a player that could excel in Dyche’s system reliant on the traditional role of a wide player.

The teen could not only fit perfectly into the squad but could challenge some of the side’s best players for a spot based on the potential he displayed in his opening Premier League campaign.

The aforementioned Iwobi is a player that’s deployed primarily in attacking midfield, however, rose to fame in the division through his ability on the wing, and is used at times on the left side by Dyche.

When comparing the numbers of the Nigerian and Gnonto, the teenager proves to be a potential candidate to compete with the former Arsenal gem as the top pick in the side.

As per FBref, the Leeds star averaged 0.27 assists per 90 to Iwobi’s 0.19 this campaign, as well as scoring higher than the Everton player of the season in terms of progressive play.

The Verbania-born ace averaged a huge 4.39 progressive carries to Iwobi's 2.40, as well as 9.04 progressive passes received to his 3.86, communicating the added threat he could equip Dyche with in the final third, via FBref.

Everton could add firepower to their attack in Gnonto; a player that could rise to be one of the most explosive wide talents in the league.

Arsenal look keen to begin their summer recruitment with a bang as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad significantly ahead of next season.

A move for Kai Havertz is “very close” according to reporter Florian Plettenberg while the Gunners are continuing to chase Declan Rice, and these two signings would certainly improve Arteta’s first-team squad, especially with their quality.

The Spaniard will surely be hoping for more than just these two, however. Champions League football will be gracing the Emirates for the first time since 2016/17 next term and this suggests a stronger, more in-depth squad will be required ahead of bigger challenges.

With this in mind, the Gunners have recently been linked with a move for Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze, who is also attracting interest from AC Milan and Real Madrid due to his performances of late.

Any potential move could cost the club around €80m (£68m) which could well prove to be a stumbling block regarding a move, yet with his ability on the wing enabling him to register 24 goal contributions last term combined with his likeness to Gabriel Martinelli, might this convince Arteta to make a move?

Could Samuel Chukwueze flourish at Arsenal?

Judging by his excellent 2022/23 campaign, where he managed to score against Real Madrid, he shouldn’t have a problem shining for the club should Arteta make his move.

Chukwueze and Martinelli share similar styles of play as the duo share dribbling as a key strength and according to FBref, the Brazilian winger is the first-most comparable player to the 24-year-old star. With his rise to prominence over the previous two years, scoring 21 goals and grabbing 13 assists certainly suggests it isn’t a bad comparison to have.

Indeed, over the previous 365 days, Chukwueze ranked in the top 19% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (5.5) and progressive carries per 90 (5.12) across the big five leagues, while Martinelli ranked highly for both metrics too, sitting in the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (6.99) and top 23% for progressive carries per 90 (3.95), indicating that the pair love to get forward as often as possible and poses a danger in the opposition box.

With both Chukwueze and Martinelli scoring over ten goals last season from the flanks (13 and 15 respectively), once they get into the opposing penalty area, they tend to thrive.

It’s no wonder the Villarreal star has been dubbed a “permanent threat” previously by his boss, Quique Setien and if Arteta manages to secure his signing, he would add another goal threat to an already stacked Arsenal forward line.

Mason Mount's Chelsea future looks like a transfer saga that will drag on right until the end of the summer window.

Manchester United remain eager to sign the England international, but there is a big gap between both sides' respective valuations, with the Red Devils supposedly only willing to offer £50m.

Chelsea want closer to the £70m mark for a player about to enter the final year of his contract, but allowing the rigmarole to continue deep into the summer would be damaging for the Blues.

Instead, it may be a case of accepting United's offer now and looking for a replacement – or indeed searching within their ranks for a ready-made alternative of sorts.

Who is Chelsea youngster Cesare Casadei?

In Cesare Casadei, Chelsea appear to have a midfielder who is ready to step up and play in the Premier League under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

According to the Evening Standard, Pochettino is weighing up whether to include the 20-year-old as part of Chelsea's pre-season training camp after he caught the eye at the U20 World Cup with Italy.

Casadei ended the tournament as top scorer with seven goals – this as a midfielder, remember – to follow in the steps of the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Sergio Aguero.

But rather than having the next Messi on their hands, Chelsea will settle for something close to the next Frank Lampard, a player who scored a club record 211 goals for the West London side.

With eight goals in nine appearances for Italy at U20 level, Casadei will now look to get close to the mark Lampard managed for England U21 when scoring nine goals in 19 caps.

The youngster is not strictly one of Chelsea's own, having been recruited from Inter Milan in a reported £16m deal last summer, before then being loaned out to Championship side Reading in January.

Casadei scored one goal in 15 appearances for the relegated Royals as he made his first foray into senior football. While he caught the eye with his goals at the U20 World Cup, it was more the defensive aspect of the youngster's game that stood out at Reading.

He averaged 1.87 blocks per 90 minutes, as per FBref, which was the third-most of any Reading player, while also ranking highly for the percentage of aerial duels won with 70.6 – again, only two others bettered that figure.

For comparison, Mount averaged 1.31 blocks per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season and won 29.1% of his aerial duels.

Italy head coach Roberto Mancini was glad to see Casadei go out and get some regular football, and he now looks set to step up and feature for the U21 side during the 2023-24 campaign.

"Cesare Casadei is really good. He had already impressed me [before the U20 World Cup]," Mancini told Corriere dello Sport last week, via Football Italia.

"He went to England and played in the Championship, a tough and formative league, almost like the Premier League. If it wasn't for the U20 World Cup, he would be playing for the U21 side already."

Given Chelsea's hugely bloated squad, it may well be that Casadei has to be patient for his chance. But if nothing else, the past six months suggest the Blues have another talented midfielder on their hands, regardless of whether Mount stays or goes.

Aston Villa are out in full force ahead of the transfer window as a Ligue 1 ace has been linked to the club.

Unai Emery will hope to bolster his squad this summer, after securing European football for next season.

With Sevilla sporting director Monchi speculated to be joining the fellow Spaniard in the Midlands, it could be a busy summer break at Villa Park.

What’s the latest on Matteo Guendouzi to Aston Villa?

As reported by French outlet Telefoot (via journalist Yassin Nfaoui), Aston Villa remain interested in January target Matteo Guendouzi.

There was a winter transfer window saga between the Villans and the Marseille man, ending with Fabrizio Romano denying any official move for the player.

Telefoot’s report this week claims that Villa, along with Newcastle, Inter Milan and Juventus are interested in the midfielder who is under contract at Marseille until 2025.

What could Matteo Guendouzi bring to Aston Villa?

The Frenchman has a strong relationship with the Villa boss already, having been one of the Spaniard’s signings at Arsenal when he joined the club in 2019.

At the age of 19, Emery saw something in Guendouzi that prompted him to not only bring him to the Premier League but to give him valuable game time in north London also.

While things didn’t work out for the Poissy-born star at Arsenal, a second Premier League spell could be on the script for the talent dubbed as a “warrior” by Gunners legend Robert Pires, via The Athletic.

Emery could bring a talent ranked in the top 3% of attacking midfielders in Europe in terms of progressive passes via FBref, averaging 7.34 per 90 over the past year, as well as having the potential to unearth a deadly duo in the middle of the park.

Having signed his ex-Marseille teammate Boubacar Kamara last summer, the Spaniard could reunite the two monsters in claret and blue.

Playing alongside each other in the 2021/22 Ligue 1 season, Guendouzi won an average of 52% of his total duels, with Kamara getting the edge on his partner with a successful total duel rate of 58%.

The Villa ace averaged 2.0 tackles per game that season, with Emery’s summer target averaging 1.2 per game, showing that the pair could combine to be a strong force in midfield with their added chemistry.

Most prominently, the former Arsenal gem is an expert passer of the ball, maintaining a successful pass rate of 88% this season, as well as creating six big chances with numbers that showcase his ability offensively from deep midfield.

Emery could reconnect two bonded souls to create a dangerous duo in his midfield and unearth a French core in the Midlands and with plenty of clubs interested in the £42k-per-week powerhouse, the Spaniard will have to work his charm once more to lure the Frenchman.