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Harry Kane has revealed his desire to keep both Bayern and Tottenham fans happy led to his goalscoring display against Arsenal last season.

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• Bayern faced Arsenal home and away
• German club drew in London and won in Munich
• Kane scored at the Emirates

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kane scored at the Emirates in the Champions League quarter-finals last season as Bayern beat Arsenal over two legs. The England captain netted from the penalty spot in the 2-2 draw in London, and played as Bayern won 1-0 at the Allianz Arena, thanks to Joshua Kimmich's header.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Now, a documentary produced by Bayern shows Kane explaining his motivation for the fixture beforehand, and he insisted he had to keep both Spurs and Bayern fans happy by putting the Gunners to the sword. Kane actually has a remarkable record against Arsenal, and has scored eight goals and laid on six assists in 21 clashes with the club.

• WHAT KANE SAID

  Speaking in Bayern's documentary, titled 'Chasing Wembley', Kane said: "Arsenal are having a really good season, they're a really good team, so it'll be a tough game. Of course, for me personally, it'll be a special game for many reasons. Of course, it puts the pressure on because it's not only Bayern Munich fans I'm trying to keep happy. I need to try and keep the Tottenham fans happy as well!"

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Bayern, who are currently unbeaten at the top of the Bundesliga, play Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday. Kane will hope to bounce back after a dismal performance in his side's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Champions League in midweek.

It could be a long summer transfer window at Everton, who are already reportedly eyeing a move to sign a midfielder who could replace Amadou Onana, should the Belgian decide to leave Goodison Park in the coming months.

Everton transfer news

In an ideal world, Everton wouldn't need to sell players of Onana's quality, but without the completion of a takeover and concerns over even more FFP sanctions, the Belgium international is reportedly a player they are willing to sacrifice in a big-money sale with the likes of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain interested in his signature.

Everton struck gold on "top-class" signing who's worth more than Phillips

He’s catapulted himself into a key player under Sean Dyche this season.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 29, 2024

The sale would follow Sean Dyche's earlier prediction, having admitted to The Guardian at the start of May: "If the [777] takeover doesn’t ­happen, or a takeover, then it will probably be juggling dust, not sand.

"Because who knows then? You are having to self-generate ­everything then, I would imagine, because it’s not like there is a pile of cash anywhere so you’ve got to self-generate. And if you self-­generate, how do you get in what you are ­losing? If­ ­someone leaves, how do you get the next one in who is as good as the one leaving? There is no time for development [of young players] because this club hasn’t got time for that.”

With that said, if Everton do sell Onana, they'll still need a replacement and reports suggest that they've lined one up in the form of a former Premier League loanee. According to TuttoJuve, Everton are eyeing a move to sign Weston McKennie alongside interest from both Newcastle United and Aston Villa in a deal that would be worth between €20m and €25m (£17m and £21m) this summer.

Whether Everton will be able to afford such a fee remains to be seen, however, in what sums up their struggles once and for all ahead of a difficult few months.

"Incredible" McKennie isn't without his risks

Whatever Everton spend this summer, they must make sure that every deal makes a significant enough impact to prove worthwhile, and after McKennie's failed stint on loan at Leeds United last season, he's a risk they must weigh up. Goodison Park saw the American and the rest of his Leeds teammates fall short in a 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park in the last campaign in a crucial result in the relegation battle, but he has since bounced back at Juventus.

Whilst Onana's ability off the ball is better, McKennie's creative output and ball-carrying ability would hand Everton an added dynamic alongside the similar Abdoulaye Doucoure.

What's more, even whilst at Leeds, McKennie earned plenty of praise, including from former manager Jesse Marsch, who said via Leeds Live: "He's got incredible flexibility and can play almost any position on the pitch and I've seen that. He's aggressive, he's confident and he has quality.

"At Schalke they played a little bit similar to the things that I like to do, so now even sitting and talking to him about what we think his role will be, he's pretty clear on how to integrate himself. Training over the past week, he's been outstanding."

Paul Pogba admits that his relationship with ex-Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was “like boyfriend and girlfriend”, as they squabbled regularly.

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• Frenchman returned to Old Trafford in 2016
• Record-breaking deal done by Portuguese coach
• Did not always see eye-to-eye in England

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  French midfielder Pogba became the most expensive player in world football when completing an £89 million ($116m) transfer to Old Trafford in 2016. It was Mourinho, fresh from taking on the Red Devils’ managerial reins, that put that deal in place.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pogba, who had left United as a free agent in 2012 and headed to Juventus, enjoyed a productive debut campaign on his return to England as Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League trophies were lifted. He was, however, to butt heads with fiery Portuguese coach Mourinho.

• WHAT POGBA SAID

  Mourinho was sacked in December 2018, with Pogba telling the of why his relationship with the demanding tactician was not always smooth sailing: “Our relationship was like boyfriend and girlfriend, we were breaking up and making up all the time. It started great, he was one of the reasons I went back to Manchester because I spoke to him and he convinced me to come back.

  “I don’t know why it turned into a nightmare and us fighting. Because I wasn’t fighting. I didn’t start the fight. We disagreed like managers and players do sometimes. But there’s a lot of respect from me to him. If I see him tomorrow it’s a big hug! But one day we will have to sit down together and discuss it.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Pogba was critical of Mourinho’s supposedly conservative tactics, with it suggested in 2021 that the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss treats players like they “don’t exist”. World Cup winner Pogba – who is now back at Juve – has been discussing his career after seeing a four-year doping ban reduced to 18 months on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Tottenham Hotspur took a stride forward last season but Ange Postecoglou is searching for improvements across the board as he looks to take his team further, with patchy form pulling Spurs away from the Premier League's top-four, settling for the Europa League.

Is this a cloaked blessing? Postecoglou has been adamant that the Champions League will not define success as he continues to build, but Europe's elite club competition attracts the finest players, provides the firmest footing.

A defensive midfielder is coveted but, equally, Tottenham are hoping to sign a versatile wide forward to strengthen and dynamise the existing options. The Londoners might have found a big boost in that regard.

Spurs lining up talented forward

According to Tutto Juve, Tottenham are set to tussle with Manchester United and Newcastle United for the signing of Samuel Iling-Junior, who has been transfer-listed by Juventus for €15m (£13m).

The 20-year-old left winger broke into the Serie A side's first team this season but has been deemed expendable as the Old Lady seek to strengthen this summer.

For such a cheap price, it would almost be foolish not to at least lodge an offer and enter formal discussions; Iling-Junior is highly talented and might even have the perfect skill set to partner up with another summer target.

Dream Eberechi Eze partner

Speaking of Iling-Junior's qualities, former Chelsea and Tottenham academy coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst said in 2022: “Samuel brings the full package to the party, he has got everything. He is almost like a street footballer with his skill and balance. He brings almost everything to the table. He can play seven, eleven, a 10 or even in central midfield.”

Iling-Junior featured 27 times across all competitions, scored one goal and added two assists, with his "explosive" ability – as described by analyst Ben Mattinson – making him a tailor-made prospect for an ambitious Premier League outfit, and he could be the perfect partner for fellow Spurs target Eberechi Eze, someone who would no doubt be an exciting acquisition for the Londoners.

The Juve starlet is a maverick, ranking among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for progressive carries and the top 19% for tackles per 90, as per FBref. Pace, power, creativity, and combativeness all feature prominently in Iling-Junior's game.

The former Chelsea youth product, furthermore, has also been praised for his "high energy and work volume as well as dreamy ball skills" by journalist Antonio Mango, suggestingly that he is exactly what Postecoglou needs to add a layer to his left side.

And if Daniel Levy matches Postecoglou's ambition with incisive action and secures Eze's signature this summer, who, as per the Daily Mail, has a £60m release clause in his contract and is attracting interest from Tottenham, then a wonderful new partnership could be born.

Both players favour the left but Eze played regularly as a No. 10, attacking midfielder, last season, scoring the lion's share of his goals when central. Moreover, the Eagles phenomenon averaged 2.6 dribbles and five ball recoveries per top-flight match and thus would bring the energy needed to succeed at Spurs and bounce off the facets of Iling-Junior's game.

With Richarlison among those mooted for a departure this summer and Heung-min Son featuring prominently at centre-forward – which may maintain its regularity even if a new striker is signed – Iling-Junior could find himself earning ample opportunity to impress down the wing, with his playmaking skill leading him to be described as an "assist machine" by journalist Michele Neri.

This would prove especially beneficial in regard to his partnership with Eze, who brings a host of attributes to the table but notably thrives through his goalscoring, actually ranking among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers for non-penalty goals scored and the top 5% for shots taken per 90.

To nail the point home, the aforementioned Mattinson has even predicted that Iling-Junior, England U21 international, could become a “[Bukayo] Saka rival” for England, offering the kind of snap and style in his athletic play to rival that of the Arsenal star, who scored 20 goals and supplied 14 assists in all competitions last term for Mikel Arteta's elite side.

Saka, while catching the eye with his clinical touch, solidifies his position as one of the Premier League's finest with remarkable underlying numbers, ranking among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers for shot-creating actions and the top 10% for tackles per 90. It's for this reason that Spurs' transfer target could successfully imitate his countryman.

Tottenham undoubtedly lack an element of pace down the left, and when athletic full-back Destiny Udogie found himself sidelined in the later stretch of the campaign, this was accentuated and then some, with Brennan Johnson pulled away from his favoured right side to try and inject some speed, proving to be less effective however.

With the requisite natural prowess and the ever-improving ability in important moments, Iling-Junior would be a credit to Postecoglou's project and would add the depth and skill needed to impress across multiple fronts next year.

Postecoglou will demand silverware of his players and without signing the likes of Iling-Junior, the Lilywhites simply won't have the firepower to maintain the charge across these different roads of the campaign.

What Spurs' starting lineup could look like after £201m spending spree

Spurs will want to give Postecoglou everything he needs to build a successful side this summer.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 9, 2024

Manchester City are set to register Claudio Echeverri with their senior squad in January after rejecting River Plate's loan extension request.

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• City to bring in Echeverri in January
• Rejected River Plate's loan extension request
• Signed the Argentine in January 2024

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  City signed the 18-year-old playmaker from River Plate in January and allowed the Buenos Aires-based outfit to keep him on loan until the end of the year. With his pre-agreed loan spell ending this December, the Premier League giants are now all set to register him with their first-team squad in January, according to Manchester Evening News.

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  Echeverri has been in red-hot form this season and has performed consistently in the Argentine top-flight. As a result, River Plate approached City to extend his loan agreement until next summer. However, ESPN Argentina (via AS) reports that the Cityzens have rejected the request as they want to bring the teenager, who has been dubbed 'the next Lionel Messi', to England as early as possible.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  With Echeverri's future now decided, City will focus on finding a quality defensive midfield option in January, as they are still in search of a replacement for Rodri, who is out for the season due to an ACL injury.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

  Pep Guardiola's side will be back in action after the international break this Sunday as they take on Wolves in a Premier League away fixture. Echeverri, meanwhile, could start for River Plate again when they face Velez Sarsfield on October 18.

Whilst Ipswich Town and Southampton are both already looking ahead to a potentially positive season in the Premier League, with Kieran McKenna and Russell Martin both still at their respective helms, Leicester City are eagerly hunting out Enzo Maresca's successor before any talk of the future takes over.

The Foxes have been linked with a long list of names since the Italian walked out of the King Power Stadium for the Chelsea vacancy, as they look to finally appoint his replacement shortly.

The blow of losing a manager that just clinched the Championship title for the East Midlands outfit would no doubt be softened if an ambitious appointment gets over the line, with a target funnily enough occupying the Stamford Bridge hot-seat himself in his last job post.

Leicester talking to ambitious Maresca successor

According to TalkSPORT, Leicester director John Rudkin is 'pushing hard' to get a deal in motion for Graham Potter to be the next Foxes manager, with the newly promoted side also allegedly speaking to the former Chelsea manager's agent.

This would be an ambitious swoop if pulled off by the recent Championship title winners, considering Potter was reportedly in the running for a spectacular return to Brighton and Hove Albion not too far back, alongside the fact his last role was at Chelsea way up the division compared to Leicester aiming for survival as a minimum next campaign.

Yet, after his time in West London saw his glowing managerial reputation take somewhat of a battering – with a turbulent spell at Chelsea seeing him pick up a lacklustre 12 wins from 31 games – Potter might well welcome any job opening he can get, to remind everyone of his prowess away from the Blues misfire.

How Potter is a Maresca upgrade

He could well be the perfect manager for Leicester at this point in time, therefore, considering the 49-year-old managed to consolidate the Seagulls as a Premier League club when in charge of the South Coast outfit.

Alongside this, he has also masterminded three wins against the Foxes in his managerial career to date, with a view to now managing in the King Power dug-out instead of getting the better of them.

Despite Maresca being a disciple of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, having once been on the backroom staff at the current Premier League champions, Potter has been showered with praise by the serial winner in the past away from the Italian boss, with the Spaniard once labelling him as an "outstanding" manager.

That praise was justified as well, particularly when considering his remarkable record with Ostersunds in Sweden, taking them from the fourth tier to the top division. It really is the stuff of dreams.

He's more than proven himself in English football too, the 49-year-old managing to steer the Seagulls to a ninth-place finish during the 2021/22 season, their highest-ever position in the elite division before Roberto De Zerbi walked into the building following Potter's ill-fated switch to Chelsea.

He will want to do the same for a Leicester side that has recovered from their nightmarish drop down to the Championship well, with everything in place still for the Foxes to move back up to the Premier League and thrive, even with Maresca upping and leaving.

Potter's appointment could be enough for the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to stay put ahead of the next top-flight season, knowing that the ex-Brighton boss could get Leicester back to their previous heady heights, which saw them lift the FA Cup only a matter of years ago alongside that infamous Premier League title success.

With Maresca also dividing opinion whilst at Leicester, despite lifting the second-tier title under his tenure, the time could well be right for a brand-new re-set in the East Midlands, with Potter potentially the man ready to lead the Foxes back into the Premier League.

Leicester hold talks to appoint 4-3-3 boss who'd be a dream for Mavididi

The Foxes are eyeing up a possible move for the former Premier League manager.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 7, 2024

With an analyst's view he calls 'as cold as they come' the ex-USMNT striker joins Mic'd Up to discuss the state of the national team

When Herculez Gomez is critical of the U.S. men's national team, it comes from a place of familiarity, experience, understanding and hope. Like many others in American soccer, he wants this team to succeed, especially because he was actually part of it. With six goals, 26 caps, a World Cup run and a Gold Cup trophy on his USMNT resume, he has the proper credentials, knowing all of the highs and lows that come with playing for this program on the international level.

Gomez, though, understands that there's a difference between being optimistic and being a cheerleader. His post-playing transition to a soccer analyst is a way for him to keep pushing the game forward and, at times, that means telling hard truths. He tells plenty of them as part of his work with ESPN, and that's largely because, over the last few years, that's what has been required of anyone covering the USMNT.

"I try to be as unbiased as I can, so I'm very desensitized to it," Gomez tells GOAL. "If the U.S. men's national team wins or loses, it's not my problem. I couldn't care less. I'm there to analyze the situation. From my job perspective, that's the way I treat it. From an ex-national team player's perspective, I'd like to be known for being part of a winning program.

"I'd like to be known for representing certain values and being part of something that meant something so that when you wore that jersey, you knew the importance and the weight of it. I'd like to see the same responsibility held by today's generation and tomorrow's generation and those before that or after that. But when it comes to my job, I'm as cold as they come. I'm very far removed."

That objectivity takes time to establish, especially since passion is such a vital part of being a successful athlete. But he knows that the ability to step back and fairly assess players, coaches and teams is a requirement for a sports media role.

"It did take time, and it will for anybody," he admits. "I think that's the importance of doing your job: to separate yourself. Everybody's going to have friends who play in leagues, who play in teams and play a match or whatever the case may be, but you can't do your job properly unless you do it the right way.

"I'm not trying to do this for the short term. I got into this business because it's what I want to do for a very long time, and the only way I can properly do it is by being that way."

Gomez, host of ESPN's Futbol Americas and the Vamos podcast, has a unique perspective on the USMNT, Mauricio Pochettio's arrival, the striker position, and how American soccer should continue to progress. He discussed all of that and more in this edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL US taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.

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  ON THE USMNT STRIKER COMPETITION

  GOAL: You're a former USMNT No. 9, so you know what is required of that position at this level. What do you make of the striker race right now?

  GOMEZ: I still think it's a wide-open competition. I think people waited for Folarin Balogun for a while, and right when they were about to give up on him, he scores a banger against Panama and gave people something to latch on to. The reality is not one single nine, whether it's Balogun, Haji Wright, Josh Sargent – who's never really available for the U.S. men's national team and when he is available just can't find the back of the net – or Ricardo Papi, who can't find the field, whether it's club or country although, when he does, he scores … Nobody's made it their own.

  Haji is probably the guy that I would say has the biggest claim. One, because he's played for the U.S. men's national team in a big tournament, the World Cup, and he's scored a goal in the World Cup. Then when he comes in, in moments of need, he's been there. He's a guy that has a big frame. You can play multiple ways but for some reason, whether it's club and now at country, they put him out wide. I don't know what to make of it. What I will say is it's a wide-open competition. It wouldn't surprise me if any of these guys were who Pochettino made his nine. I don't think anybody has made that position their own. It's crazy because U.S. Soccer really has not had that consistent nine since….

  GOAL: Since Jozy Altidore.

  GOMEZ: Yeah, and people say Clint [Dempsey], but Clint wasn't a pure nine. Clint was a serviceable player at the nine position, a very good player, but that wasn't his position. That wasn't the one where you'd say he was at his best. It really is since Jozy. I mean, if we go back to it, pre-Haji Wright's goal at the World Cup, the last time a nine scored at the World Cup was Brian McBride?

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  ON MEXICAN AMERICAN REPRESENTATION

  GOAL: When you're a Mexican American playing for the USMNT, you represent more than just yourself. A weight comes with that. As someone who shouldered that, what was it like?

  GOMEZ: I had Ricardo [Pepi] on my podcast Vamos, and we spoke about him being the closest thing to a Mexican superstar that U.S. Soccer has had. That's a reality. There are millions of Mexican Americans in the continental United States, and he may be the closest thing that U.S. Soccer ever had, and he's still very young. It says something, whether it's the lack of Mexican Americans able to break in or the lack of opportunities for them, but it just hasn't happened.

  I can tell you, because I think I'm the only one who does this in North America – I'm in a unique position because nobody else has done it. There are no other Mexican Americans that cover both leagues, both national teams, the way I do it. It's a weird territory to be in because it's by default. When Mexico and the U.S. play or when there's a Leagues Cup, I'll be a trending topic in Mexico. I'll be on both sides. It's just a weird kind of sensation when it's really by default. By no means did I beat out 100 other Mexican Americans. I'm the only one right now. I'm pretty sure that's how Ricardo feels, too.

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  ON POCHETTINO AND DUAL-NATIONALS

  GOAL: Mauricio Pochettino is here, and that'll change many things. One that is obviously worth discussing is dual-nationals. The USMNT has done a great job on that front over the last few cycles, but Pochettino gives this team something they haven't really had before: a Spanish-speaking figurehead. What kind of difference will that make?

  GOMEZ: It's a massive difference. I think it may be the tipping point, if we're being honest here. It's one thing to – and with all due respect – send Joe Schmo and get him to make a phone call, but it's another thing if it's somebody who's been there, done that, and it's a known commodity. Oh, and he speaks your language.

  When you're talking about the Hispanic American players, or any dual national prospect, there are two sides, or let's say three. There's whatever countries are at play, and then there's the individual, but you need to get to all three – whether that's the parents and the individual – but you need to make everybody have common ground. That also includes the person making the phone call. If you can't reach these kids, if they can't see and feel comfortable with you and a future, it doesn't matter who it is. It's very important.

  I think it's a good thing to have a coach that's reachable, that has a wide net, not just with the players, but with media and fans. People want to be represented in everything.

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  ON USMNT LEADERSHIP

  GOAL: When looking at your national team era, you were surrounded by dogs. Guys like Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard set a tone. Right now, it doesn't seem like the USMNT really has many of those guys who can really hold their teammates accountable. Is that how you see it?

  GOMEZ: My national team days, It was Michael Bradley, Jermaine, it was literally everyone. You could name the whole team, and everyone was very unafraid of telling people that stuff. They didn't have to tell you; it just wouldn't happen. Accountability across the board, that comes from the coach, whether it's Bob Bradley or Jurgen Klinsmann, there's accountability across the field.

  I see a group that lacks accountability because they shouldn't need one guy cracking the whip, keeping him in line. If that's what we're clinging on to, that there's not one leader… you don't need to have one guy yelling at you to make sure you do a good job. You do your job and be accountable. Be a professional.

  A lot of these kids don't have the minutes anywhere, and I don't care if it's Major League Soccer or Europe or whatever, they're not having these type of moments where they learn from it and then they transmit that and they carry on. So yeah, it's nice to have a Tyler Adams. It would be nice to see Christian Pulisic every once in a while, or Weston McKennie be that guy, even though that's not their personality.

  But the reality is, you shouldn't have to have that. There should be accountability with the national team. All these players are great players in their own right, and that's why they're there. They don't need to be babysat by anybody.

Celtic could be closing in on their first summer signing, with one report now saying they’ve had a bid accepted for a long-term target.

Celtic want new goalkeeper

The Hoops and Brendan Rodgers are yet to make a summer signing following a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double last season, but a new goalkeeper to replace Joe Hart appears to be at the top of the list.

Alongside a shot-stopper, a winger and striker are also wanted at Parkhead, but when it comes to ‘keepers, there hasn’t been a shortage of targets.

Celtic hold talks to sign prolific teenage forward

He scored 16 goals in 17 starts last season.

By
Charlie Smith

Jun 25, 2024

Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher, Trabzonspor star Ugurcan Cakir, Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson, Werder Bremen colossus Michael Zetterer, Southampton’s Alex McCarthy, Koen Casteels of Wolfsburg and Dominik Livakovic are just some of the goalkeepers that have been linked with the Hoops.

Rumours have intensified over a move for Fenerbahce’s Livakovic who has been starting at Euro 2024 for Croatia, with a €9million (£7.6m) bid submitted to bring him to Scotland.

Celtic have Livakovic bid accepted

According to Turkish outlet Fotomac, Celtic’s offer for Livakovic has been accepted, with the player wanting to leave Fenerbahce this summer.

The €9m figure was mentioned again, and it is stated that an ‘official announcement will be made shortly’. Fenerbahce will reportedly replace Livakovic with Mattia Perin from Juventus, with Livakovic on course to become one of Celtic’s most expensive signings of all time, should a deal go through.

It looks as if Celtic could be about to seal a marque goalkeeper signing, and Croatian football expert Richard Wilson has explained to The Herald what he could bring to Scotland, highlighting his reflex saves as his main strength.

“His main strength would be his reflex saves, and he has that knack of getting to shots that 90 percent of goalkeepers can’t get to. It’s such a small difference between a good goalkeeper and a great goalkeeper at that level, and his reflexes have been shown to be among the true elite.”

Wilson then said a move to Celtic could be a “statement signing” for the Hoops.

“For Celtic to land a goalkeeper of his stature would be a statement signing, absolutely. Fenerbahce paid the best part of 7m Euros for him last summer, and they will make a profit on that, but if you compare Livakovic’s stature to Joe Hart’s, well, Joe Hart hasn’t been in World Cup semi-finals for instance.

“He’s one of the few goalkeepers that Celtic could get with a trophy cabinet of that size. It makes sense to me though because Celtic have been in for him before, so it is a renewal of interest.”

It could be just a matter of time until Celtic get their man, making this one to watch over the coming weeks.

Aston Villa's summer transfer window is well and truly underway, with the Midlands outfit having taken significant strides since concerns started to fester concerning the Premier League's PSR rules.

But such fears have been allayed following some tactical sales, with Douglas Luiz joining Juventus and youngsters Omari Kellyman and Tim Iroegbunam sold to Premier League rivals Chelsea and Everton respectively.

More signings are needed, however, and with the £100k-per-week Diego Carlos mooted for a departure and Tyrone Mings having been sidelined for nearly a year with an atrophic knee injury, Unai Emery certainly wouldn't be remiss to move for a brand-new centre-half.

Aston Villa transfer news

According to Italian outlet Tutto Juve – via Sport Witness – Aston Villa have made contact to register an interest in Juventus' Dean Huijsen, with the 19-year-old centre-back passing his loan test at Roma last term with flying colours.

The talented defender is said to have a range of suitors sniffing around and has been transfer-listed at €30m (£25m) by the Old Lady, which shows that he is available in the market.

That might seem a little high for one so young, so untested, but Villa holds a strong line of communication with Thiago Motta's outfit following the Luiz deal – with Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior both heading the opposite way – and if the intrigue is concrete, this could be one to keep an eye on.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not the Villans are prepared to meet their asking price after making initial contact with the Italian giants.

Why Aston Villa are interested in Dean Huijsen

While there has been a flurry of all-angles action at Aston Villa over the past several weeks, it's rather clear that more needs to be done to requisitely reinforce a side heading into the Champions League.

Villa's meritorious journey up to the top shelf of European football has opened up a whole new realm of possibility, but while fans might itch for a 'marquee' name to join the fray, Huijsen could be the perfect shrewd signing.

The teenage talent impressed in Italy's capital last term; as per Sofascore, he scored two goals and completed 88% of his passes in Serie A – and that's despite only starting four matches.

His rangy, 6 foot 5 frame, deceptive strength and slick speed make for a unique defensive skill set. Moreover, he is two-footed and could make a real difference for a Lions backline eager to impress across four different fronts next year.

Given that FBref's meticulous statistical database has drawn Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa as one of his most comparable players, there truly is cause for optimism that this could be a prosperous move in hindsight.

Konsa has been an utter stalwart for the Villa, signing from Brentford for £12m in 2019, even proving to be one of the Premier League's finest defenders last season, starting 35 matches, completing 92% of his passes and impressively winning 76% of his duels – the same, would you believe it, as Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

This shows that he is a dominant enforcer who has the physicality and positioning to consistently get the better of opposition forwards in contests, allowing him to protect Emi Martinez's goal admirably.

The 26-year-old, who alternates between central and wide defence, was described as a "Rolls-Royce" of a defender by the man who signed him at Villa, Dean Smith, and it's not exactly difficult to ascertain why.

His dynamic style, sharp passing, and first-class combativeness in defensive phases have given Konsa the mark of a top Premier League defender, and Huijsen could now follow suit

The metrics collated within the table above tell the tale of the players' ball-playing acumen above all else, but Huijsen's eagerness to jump into challenges and swat away danger also deserves credit, for he has stepped into the professional game with a robust and tenacious approach that will serve him well in the years to come.

Moreover, the Amsterdam-born ace's fast-blooming creativity is something that sets him in good stead to thrive at the height of the game for the duration of his career, well suited to the rigours and demands of modern-day football.

If there ever was a way to showcase a rising starlet's talent in apt fashion, befitting their natural-born quality, Huijsen's goal against Frosinone in Serie A last season would serve as the epitome.

Collecting from deep, shuttling forward with a gliding gait that simply doesn't stay attached to a central defender, he is a talent in possession who can drive the team forward.

He was principally deployed at centre-back during his short-term stint at Roma but was pushed further forward and out wide on occasion, performing as a right-wing-back and even sitting at the base of the midfield.

Juventus' demands of £25m to part with their teenage talent might feel somewhat overly costly but there is simply no way that such a brilliant young player could be allowed to leave for a nominal fee.

For Villa, having taken steps to establish a lead in the race for his signature, now is the time to strike and land him at this young age, before rival suitors, before his talent hardens into something rigid.

Presently, he's malleable, and Emery could get straight to work in fashioning the precocious Spain U21 international into something truly wonderful at Villa Park. He already carries the right profile, so why not?

Praised for his "ridiculous" quality by analyst Ben Mattinson, Huijsen truly is the complete package and would be a tailor-made fit for Emery's system.

After all, given his stylistic similarities to Konsa, surely he's got what it takes?

Aston Villa racing to sign £49m star who could become their own Gordon

This would be a significant statement of intent at Villa Park.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 5, 2024

Victor Osimhen has been enjoying his loan stint so far with Galatasaray, and the Nigerian striker has provided an update on his future.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Osimhen in top form for Galatasaray
• Nigerian linked with Chelsea again
• Denies speculation and commits to Turkish club for season

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Osimhen sought to leave Napoli during the summer 2024 transfer window, but found his options limited. After a late move to Al-Ahli fell through on deadline day as the Saudi Pro League side decided to sign Brentford's Ivan Toney instead, Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan, and the Nigerian striker has been on top form for them as they lead the Super Lig standings.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Chelsea had been interested in signing Osimhen in the summer, but a move never came to fruition. Over the last few weeks, following Osimhen's progress in Turkey, reports have suggested that Enzo Maresca's side are looking to reopen negotiations with the Nigerian over a January move. However, Osimhen has now put those rumours to bed.

• AFP
  

  WHAT OSIMHEN SAID

  Speaking to the media after scoring twice in a 3-2 win against Tottenham on Thursday, Osimhen said: "I will not leave in January, I am at Galatasaray until the end of the season. I do not know what Galatasaray and Napoli are talking about afterwards, but if they come to me, we will talk. Galatasaray is a nice club that I like very much. I am very happy at Galatasaray."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR OSIMHEN?

  Osimhen can now fully concentrate towards spending the rest of the season with Galatasaray. They will be in action next when taking on second-placed Samsunspor in a top-of-the-table battle on Sunday, November 10.