da dobrowin： West Ham United have made some clangers in the transfer market over the years, and despite streamlining the strategy under David Moyes, there have been some big misses over the past several years.

da heads bet： The London club have, to be fair, enjoyed three successive seasons in European competition and won the Europa Conference League last year, Jarrod Bowen springing through Fiorentina's high line in the dying embers of the final, latching onto Lucas Paqueta's threaded pass, to score and send a proud club into rapture.

Both players have been signed under Moyes' eye and indeed there have been a wealth of impactful additions over recent years, but punctuated within are several unquestionable clangers.

Perhaps the worst of the lot, Kalvin Phillips' costly loan spell in east London, initially so promising, has devolved into the stuff of nightmares.

Why West Ham signed Kalvin Phillips

This season, West Ham rebounded from a 2022/23 campaign that had seen silverware conquered but domestic results display the true measure of the squad's standing, and when Declan Rice was sold to Arsenal in a record £105m move, there was heightened pressure to bring in influential players.

But Moyes succeeded and West Ham enjoyed some fine early-season form to cement and sustain a position in and around continental-qualifying contention in the Premier League, the likes of Mohammed Kudus, James-Ward Prowse and Edson Alvarez superb after signing.

Phillips didn't join the ranks until January, signed on loan from Manchester City after starting just two top-flight fixtures in a season-and-a-half following his £45m transfer from Leeds United, where he had made his name.

While it hadn't worked out with the champions, the established England international had been described as a "monster" by one-time Crystal Palace star Yannick Bolasie for his feats at Elland Road and, still now, ranks among the top 18% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 11% for passes attempted and the top 8% for aerial wins per 90, as per FBref.

How much Kalvin Phillips has cost West Ham

The Guardian, when covering the news, revealed that the Hammers had agreed to cover the entirety of Phillips' earnings at Manchester City; he earns a pretty penny but his core qualities appeared to have won Moyes over.

But it's not just financial cost that has affected the Irons, with Phillips embroiled in a protracted run of mistake-filled performances that have only lowered his stock, with commentator and host Tom Rennie branding him a "disgrace."

Still, the fact that Phillips earns a pay packet of £150k each week at Manchester City and Moyes' side is covering the scale of it is hardly a depiction of cash well spent, actually marking him as the joint-highest earner at the London Stadium.

West Ham: Highest Earners 23/24

Player

Salary

Kalvin Phillips

£150k-per-week

Lucas Paqueta

£150k-per-week

Danny Ings

£125k-per-week

Kurt Zouma

£125k-per-week

Alphonse Areola

£120k-per-week

Jarrod Bowen

£120k-per-week

Sourced via Capology

When the 5 foot 10 Phillips' time at West Ham wraps up in June, he will have cost the club over £3m in wages. His salary actually sees him take home three times the earnings of Nayef Aguerd, who has had his detractors in recent times but joined from French club Rennes for £30m in 2022 and is one of the highest-profile stars on the books.

Moreover, given that The Guardian reported that the Premier League champions demanded a £7m loan fee, it can be concluded that the total outlay for Phillips' services stands at around £10m. That's after half a year of duty.

It's an abominable loan signing and while Phillips has some high-level latent ability somewhere within, he simply hasn't offered a slice of the skill set that once earned him acclaim and he might just be the worst signing of Moyes' tenure.

da aposte e ganhe： Manchester United have felt like a team in transition for over a decade, and while the interminable wait for a 21st top-flight title rages on, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS cohort have sown the seeds of hope at Old Trafford.

da 888casino： It certainly hasn't been plain sailing for Erik ten Hag since he was anointed as first-team manager two years ago, but for all the rebuke, the hardship, Man United have won a trophy in each of the Dutchman's two terms – the Carabao Cup in 2022/23 and the FA Cup last season.

Bruising injury issues precluded any chance of competing against the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in a fight for the Premier League title, and while the Red Devils were disjointed and unacceptable in their performances for much of the season, Ten Hag had a point when consistently pointing toward his club's medical room.

The defence was often the point of concern, and now that Raphael Varane's £350k-per-week contract has expired, INEOS are essaying to bolster their backline with an exciting addition.

Man Utd transfer news

As per Fabrizio Romano, Bayern Munich's Matthijs De Ligt has given Man United the green light ahead of a potential summer transfer, with efforts being made over the past week to bring him to the club.

De Ligt is currently performing for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 which will naturally slow down negotiations, though there is a willingness from all parties to get the deal done.

Bayern are hoping to collect a fee of €40m (£34m) for the 24-year-old's sale, who is now set to try his hand in the Premier League after a prodigious start to life on the major stage with Ajax – under the tutelage of none other than Ten Hag.

Why Man Utd are interested in Matthijs De Ligt

There is something of a theme at Man United concerning Ten Hag's preference to target former stars, tried and tested under his wing previously, though this has worked out to varying degrees of success.

Lisandro Martinez might have endured a luckless 2023/24 campaign for the Red Devils, beset by injuries, but the Argentinian centre-back is a high-quality player. Antony, purchased from Ajax for £86m shortly after Ten Hag's arrival, hasn't quite had the desired effect, scoring just once in the league last term.

But De Ligt is a brilliant player and would be nothing other than a coup for the Premier League side, described as a "monster" by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard.

Signing for Bayern from Juventus two years ago for a fee of £68m, the 6 foot 2 titan has featured 73 times, scored five goals and won the Bundesliga 2022/23 Bundesliga title, but his efforts last year were ruined by injury, limiting him to just 16 starting appearances in the top flight.

Still, he more than managed to showcase his skills. As per FBref, De Ligt ranked among the top 12% of central defenders in the Bundesliga last season for goals scored, the top 2% for pass completion, the top 7% for progressive passes, the top 18% for passes attempted and the top 20% for aerial duels won per 90.

Had he found better fortune on the fitness front, the former prodigy might have been able to provide Thomas Tuchel's outfit with a greater chance of retaining their league title and staving off Bayer Leverkusen, but it wasn't to be.

Why De Ligt could be a significant signing

De Ligt is an elite-level defender, having been praised in the past as a "real phenomenon" by retired Italian footballer Sergio Brio.

His rousing leadership, steely defensive skills and modern-day tailored passing range make him the perfect player to join Man United and lift the club closer toward the forefront of the Premier League.

Earning £260k per week in Munich, the 45-cap Netherlands star would not come cheap but the aforementioned Varane's recent departure mitigates the issue of funding the acquisition.

Partnering him alongside Martinez, there's no telling how slick and stylish the Old Trafford rearguard could look down the line, and it might even be a deal to convince Bruno Fernandes to remain at the club.

Fernandes. Manchester United's Magnifico. The Portugal international has been quite the talisman since signing from Sporting Lisbon for an initial fee of £47m in January 2020, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, posting 79 goals and 66 assists over 233 fixtures and playing an instrumental role in the trophy-winning success of the past few years.

He ranks among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for passes attempted and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90. In a few words: he's cut from the finest cloth.

However, the 29-year-old is about to enter the penultimate year of his contract and has been at the centre of rumours regarding interest from the Saudi Pro League of late, and United must now show their commitment toward returning to the very top of the European game to retain the services of an irreplaceable leader and playmaker.

Let's not forget, United might have won silverware but this has cloaked over a dismal overall campaign that saw an eighth-place finish in the Premier League (with just 60 points) and a bottom-place finish in their Champions League group phase.

Man Utd: 23/24 Performance Record

Competition

Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

Premier League

38

18

6

14

Champions League

6

1

1

4

FA Cup

6

4

2

0

Carabao Cup

2

1

0

1

TOTAL

52

24

9

19

Stats via Transfermarkt

De Ligt might not have enjoyed the most auspicious of campaigns in Bavaria but he is a wonderful player and would surely serve as an upgrade on Varane, with years yet to ply his trade formidably in the Premier League.

Fernandes is the fulcrum of all that flows freely toward the final third at Man United, and losing him would simply be detrimental. INEOS must prove that they mean business; there needs to be an exodus at the Theatre this summer, but the Portuguese cannot get lost among the outgoing flotsam.

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Posts 2 ByMatt DawsonJul 4, 2024

da betobet： Arsenal may have ended their campaign without a major trophy again this year, but there can be no doubt that Mikel Arteta's side took another step forward this season.

da apostebet： The North Londoners made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in over a decade and ended their Premier League campaign with the second-best attack and the best defence in the league.

However, it looks like Edu Gaspar and Co want to build on the team's biggest strength, as the latest player touted for a move to N5 is an exciting full-back likened to Jurrien Timber, and his potential arrival could spell trouble for Ben White on the right.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Dutch publication De Telegraaf, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in Feyenoord's star right-back, Lutsharel Geertruida.

The report claims that, alongside the Gunners, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are big fans of the talented full-back.

The player is a crucial member of De Stadionclub's squad, but they are happy to finally cash in and sell him for around €32m, which converts to around £27m.

It wouldn't be a cheap deal to complete, but with comparisons to Timber and an impressive body of work in the Eredivisie, signing Geertruida would be a brilliant idea, even if it impacts White's long-term future at the club.

How Geertruida compares to Timber and White

Now, the similarities between Geertruida and Timber are relatively straightforward and on the nose. For example, like the Arsenal defender, the Feyenoord ace is a fully-fledged Dutch international who has spent his entire career thus far developing at a major club in the country.

Moreover, while he excels in a certain defensive role – right-back in his case – he's more than capable of shifting and starting games as a centre-back or even a left-back when the need arises, a testament to the "sublime tactical nous" that U23 scout Antonio Mango claims he possesses.

These two traits and the recent links to the Gunners are why data analyst Ben Mattinson described the 23-year-old as "one of the most similar profiles to Timber" at the start of the season.

With that said, if Arteta and Edu can get their man in the coming weeks, his preference to play on the right of the defence would put White's place in the team under threat, but how do they stack up against one another?

Well, from a pure output perspective, it's an easy win for the Rotterdam-born ace. In 47 games this year, he's scored nine goals and provided five assists, whereas the Englishman has returned four goals and five assists in 51 games.

Geertruida vs White

Player

Geertruida

White

Appearances

47

51

Goal

9

4

Assists

5

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

0.17

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, when looking at the pair's underlying numbers, the Dutchman again comes out on top in most metrics.

For example, while he comes out second best for blocks, interceptions and clearances, he's the clear victor for statistics such as non-penalty expected goals and assists, progressive passes and carries, shot and goal-creating actions, shot and shots on target, successful take-ons, ball recoveries, non-penalty goals and assists, all per 90.

Geertruida vs White

Stats per 90

Geertruida

White

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.37

0.15

Non-Penalty Goals

0.21

0.12

Assists

0.15

0.12

Progressive Carries

2.54

1.33

Progressive Passes

7.93

5.78

Shots

1.16

0.39

Shots on Target

0.47

0.18

Passing Accuracy

89.6%

84.0%

Shot-Creating Actions

2.96

2.59

Goal-Creating Actions

0.27

0.21

Tackles

1.45

1.45

Tackles Won

0.92

0.84

Blocks

0.53

1.45

Interceptions

0.92

0.96

Clearances

1.45

2.32

Successful Take-Ons

0.68

0.27

Ball Recoveries

5.38

3.61

All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 League Season

Ultimately, while there will always be an element of risk in signing a player from the Netherlands due to the league's lower level overall, Geertruida's numbers are so impressive that Arsenal should be doing all they can to bring him to the Emirates this summer, even if his arrival costs White his place in the starting lineup.

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Posts ByJack Salveson HolmesJun 8, 2024

da wazamba： When we look back at the 2024/25 campaign, it won’t be remembered for Liverpool’s premature exit from the Champions League.

da aposte e ganhe： After such indomitable success in the group phase, Liverpool were rewarded for their first-place finish with an unsavoury meeting against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, arguably the toughest opponent possible.

But you’ve got to beat the best to be the best, as the maxim goes, and Liverpool can issue little complaint over their shootout agony, for PSG were well worth their victory over the two legs.

Anyhoo. Liverpool’s first campaign with Arne Slot at the helm will be remembered for winning the Premier League (fingers crossed). With nine matches to play, the Reds are 15 points clear at the top of the table. It’s turning into a procession.

However, Slot’s not one to forget a defeat and Liverpool’s Champions League defeat will rankle for some time.

It will also have confirmed in the Dutch coach’s mind – were it not already sealed – that Liverpool need a new striker. But will it be Alexander Isak?

Will Liverpool sign Alexander Isak?

Back in December, Jamie Carragher hailed Isak for being “the best striker in the Premier League right now,” with his goalscoring quality, powerful running and intelligent movements proving too much for the division’s defences.

Premier League 24/25 – Top Scorers

#

Player

Apps

Goals

1.

Mohamed Salah

29

27

2.

Erling Haaland

27

20

3.

Alexander Isak

24

19

4.

Chris Wood

28

18

5.

Bryan Mbeumo

28

15

Stats via Premier League

As you can see, Isak is indeed one of the best forwards across English football, though that man Mohamed Salah still stands mightily above him in the charts.

Though Isak would be a brilliant addition to Liverpool’s ranks, certainly an upgrade on the misfiring Darwin Nunez, it’s been reported Newcastle will demand in excess of £150m for his signature this summer, with further Tyneside reports revealing Eddie Howe hasn’t received any inkling his talisman wants to leave.

Liverpool will be there, but their options stretch beyond that of one man, evidenced when the pursuit of Jude Bellingham was abandoned and an amalgamation of midfield talent was signed instead (Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo).

Whatever FSG do this summer, it’s clear a striker needs to be signed. With Nunez reportedly set to depart, Liverpool should have funds to invest, however sporting director Richard Hughes may want to think about selling Diogo Jota too.

Liverpool need to cash in on Diogo Jota

Liverpool may lift some silverware by the end of the season, but there’s going to be plenty going on this summer, especially with Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk’s contract quandaries still unresolved.

Market Movers

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Although selling both Nunez and Jota would be something of a bold move, opening space for not one but two new centre-forwards, it might be worth the hassle. Both stars have flattered to deceive for much of the campaign and Slot needs to stamp his design on Liverpool’s first team.

Jota, typically regarded as one of the most clinical players in the Premier League, has cut a frustrated figure in recent weeks, going eight games without a goal after suffering more injury misfortune. His interminable fitness problems finally appear to be wearing him down.

With only eight goals all season, the one-time Wolverhampton Wanderers talent admitted “I don’t feel my best” at the moment, toiling to little avail.

And anyway, the Portugal international is entering the penultimate year of his £140k-per-week deal. He’s still worth a hefty figure at 28, but if his fitness problems and loss of potency in front of goal persist, Liverpool might find themselves taking a far more minimal fee.

According to Football Transfers, Jota has actually been deduced to be worth about £50m in the current market, which makes an interesting comment on his underlying quality, even if he’s out of sorts at the moment.

Indeed, across the past 365 days, he ranks among the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 17% for assists per 90, as per FBref.

There’s a real player in there, evidenced by Jota currently boasting a worth higher than Salah (£25m) and Alexander-Arnold (£45m).

Of course, both stars are out of contract at the end of the season but this still highlights the high regard Jota is held in from a financial standpoint, with all but a select few Redmen towering above the £50m-rated Iberian, it may indeed be worth cashing in now that signs of regression are starting to show.

In fact, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg revealed at the beginning of the week that “a reshaping of the squad is planned,” with Jota among the potential sales.

He’s been a terrific servant for the club, scoring 64 goals and providing 22 further assists across 173 outings, winning the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup twice, maybe making that thrice after the weekend. Of course, Liverpool are also 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League, all but set to lift the title in May.

Liverpool signed him from Wolves for £45m in September 2020 and he’s more than paid his due since, but Jota’s time may be coming to an end, with Slot set to welcome some fresh faces to freshen the ranks and continue the pursuit of glory.

BBC analyst Raj Chohan hailed him for his “deadly” goalscoring instinct in the past, but with that trait beginning to desert him, Liverpool indeed need to act before his lofty value starts to depreciate.

Liverpool need to prepare for the summer ahead, and if Hughes and co fail to tie down the likes of Salah and Trent to new deals, it may well be that Liverpool need to cash in on Jota as well as Nunez, for a spree of spending will be required to revamp the squad.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Mar 14, 2025

da fazobetai： Chelsea's hopes of qualifying for Europe for next season were dealt another blow as they were hammered 5-0 by rivals Arsenal at The Emirates on Tuesday night.

da roleta： The Blues, who lost in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday, had the chance to move level on points with Newcastle United in sixth place with a win in North London.

Instead, Mauricio Pochettino's side were swept aside with ease by Mikel Arteta's men, including a brace from former Chelsea man Kai Havertz, and remain in ninth with six matches left to play in the Premier League.

One player who must now be sold by Todd Boehly in the summer after his display against Arsenal, and the general standard of his performances this season, is centre-back Benoit Badiashile.

Benoit Badiashile was worse than Axel Disasi against Arsenal

Whilst neither player covered themselves in glory, Badiashile was the worst of the two centre-backs for Chelsea, as Axel Disasi outperformed him.

Firstly, GOAL reporter Tom Maston handed the left-footed defender a dismal match rating of 2/10, citing his 'abysmal' play in possession and slow reactions to close down opposition attackers, whilst Disasi earned a score of 4/10.

Former Manchester United and England star Rio Ferdinand claimed that Arsenal "destroyed" Badiashile in his post-match analysis for TNT Sports.

Vs Arsenal (23/04/24)

Benoit Badiashile

Axel Disasi

Minutes played

90

90

Duel success rate

57% (4/7)

100% (4/4)

Pass accuracy

90%

99%

Error led to shot or goal

1

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Disasi was far more reliable in possession, did not make any direct errors that led to shots or goals, and was dominant in physical duels, whilst his defensive partner fell short in those metrics.

Badiashile did not cover himself in glory for either of Havertz's goals, with the ball going in behind him for the first and the defender giving him far too much space to find the corner for the second, and allowed Ben White to drift off the back of him for his first.

Why Todd Boehly must cash in on Benoit Badiashile

Italian giants AC Milan were linked with an interest in the French titan earlier this month, and Boehly must take advantage of any potential suitors and sell him this summer.

The 23-year-old dud, who has been an unused substitute in two of the last three matches, has only been handed nine league starts by Pochettino this season, which does not suggest that the Argentine boss trusts him to play regularly at the back.

He has made one error that led to a shot, one that led to a goal, and given away one penalty in those nine starts – one major error every three starts on average.

Badiashile has been at Chelsea for over a year, since his move from Monaco in January of last year, and is yet to prove that he has what it takes to be a top performer in the Premier League.

Therefore, the 2/10 flop, who was just 'destroyed' by Arsenal, should be brutally sold – if Milan act upon their interest – by Boehly to make way for a, hopefully, higher-quality replacement in the summer transfer window,

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Posts ByDan EmeryApr 22, 2024

da bet nacional： Despite Newcastle United's recent injury crisis, Eddie Howe's side have had a decent campaign with the Magpies still in with a shout of European football next season.

da brdice： His side fell to a first defeat in five Premier League games against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, but still sit seventh in the Premier League, just three points behind Manchester United.

In recent weeks, Howe's defence has thrived despite losing players such as Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman to Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries.

The Magpies have kept two clean sheets in their last three league outings, including one in the 4-0 hammering of Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park.

Their various setbacks have allowed Dan Burn to shift to a more central role, as a wide left-sided centre-back, but, ahead of the summer, the Magpies are still looking to strengthen their backline, with the club targeting one player to help solve their defensive woes.

Newcastle leading the race to sign new defender

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Newcastle have overtaken Liverpool in the hunt for Sporting Lisbon's 20-year-old centre-back Ousmane Diomande, having also made an approach for the young starlet.

The Ivorian has excelled in Portugal this campaign, starting on 22 occasions and scoring two goals – a record that has put both Premier League sides on red alert.

The youngster has an €80m (£69m) release clause, as per the report, with Howe's side potentially having to offload some first-team members if they are to afford a deal for the centre-back, as confirmed by the club's CEO.

However, despite the release clause, Newcastle hope to be able to negotiate a deal with Sporting to try and strike a deal that would benefit both parties – with the Magpies needing to prioritise his addition given his recent stats and plaudits.

Why Diomande could be the answer to Newcastle's defensive issues

Diomande, who's been likened to a "hybrid" of Arsenal defenders William Saliba and Gabriel by scout Ben Mattinson, has produced some phenomenal stats in Liga Portugal during 2023/24 – even beating the Gunners' star defensive duo in multiple key areas.

When comparing the trio's stats during the current campaign, Diomande has dominated in and out of possession, albeit in a lower-quality division.

The defender has averaged 1.7 tackles per 90 this season, as per FBref, with Saliba and Gabriel only able to notch a tally of one and 1.5 respectively, for that same metric.

Despite his successes off the ball, the 20-year-old has also trumped the Arsenal centre-back pairing with the ball at his feet, averaging a whopping 5.3 progressive passes per 90, with neither the Frenchman or Brazilian able to average over four per 90.

Diomande is also capable of dribbling the ball out from the back, averaging 0.9 progressive carries per 90 – a tally that is the same as the Gunners' defenders combined this season.

Diomande vs Gabriel & Saliba in 23/24

Statistics

Diomande

Gabriel

Saliba

Passes

74

65

76

Pass completion

91%

89%

92%

Tackles

1.7

1.5

1

Progressive passes

5.3

3.6

3.8

Successful take-ons

0.4

0.03

0.2

Progressive carries

0.9

0.4

0.5

Stats via FBref

His ability is there for all to see, with Howe's side desperately needing to push in the race for his signature, to avoid missing out on one of Europe's top young talents – with the aim of establishing a long-term partnership with Botman, once the "incredible" Dutchman, as described by pundit Leon Osman, returns from injury.

Whilst Diomande may cost the club nearly double what they paid for Botman, it would be a worthwhile investment, with the Ivorian having the talent to star at the back alongside the 24-year-old for Newcastle for many years to come.

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Posts ByEmilio GalantiniApr 25, 2024

da fazobetai： Aston Villa's pursuit of Champions League qualification has been one of the stories of the season, but if recent reports are to be believed, those at Villa Park are only looking to improve even further when the transfer window swings open.

Aston Villa transfer news

da heads bet： As things stand, Villa will complete an incredible campaign under Unai Emery, inside the Premier League's top four with Champions League qualification close to sealed. It's the type of achievement that they'll only want to kick on from, however, and the summer transfer window should help them do just that, especially when it comes to adding squad depth.

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Posts ByRoss KilvingtonMay 2, 2024

With that said, the Villans have already been linked with a backup for Ollie Watkins in Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho. The forward's current deal at the Foxes is set to expire at the end of the season, handing Villa the chance to land a bargain free deal this summer to add to Emery's attacking options.

Meanwhile, Jonathan David has also been linked with a move to Villa Park to compete with Watkins, with that seemingly being one of the aims in the Midlands this summer alongside competition for Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno.

According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa sent scouts to watch Ian Maatsen in Borussia Dortmund's semi-final first leg win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and are now eyeing a move to sign the left-back. On loan from Chelsea, Maatsen has enjoyed an excellent spell in Germany to attract the interest of Manchester City, Villa and Bayern Munich.

Borussia Dortmund will be among the leading contenders too, especially with how successful the left-back has been in Germany and after his father's own admission via Fabrizio Romano.

It will be a difficult race for Villa to win, but the fact that they've now got Champions League football to offer should go a long way in convincing players of Maatsen's calibre. When the summer window swings open, the left-back will undoubtedly be one to watch.

"Excellent" Maatsen can become better than Digne

Still just 22 years old, £11k-a-week- Maatsen has shown exactly what he's capable of on the biggest stage, having been part of a Dortmund defence which managed to keep Kylian Mbappe quiet in their Champions League semi-final first leg. Earning the praise of Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig as a result, Maatsen's performance was described as "excellent".

Now, it's Villa who will hope to benefit from such performances, as Chelsea run the risk of losing another impressive young player to a Premier League rival and one who is on course to become better than current Villans left-back Lucas Digne.

da dobrowin： Leeds United might have been fearing a nervy night at Elland Road against Norwich City was in store, but the reality ended up being very different as the Whites turned on the style.

da fezbet： Daniel Farke's men tore Norwich to shreds from minute one in West Yorkshire, the Canaries taken aback by the ferocity of Leeds' attacking game and they just couldn't cope with the punches the hosts constantly landed on them.

4-0 would end up being the final scoreline in the favour of the home side, as Leeds' stadium turned into even more of a cauldron of noise at full-time with scarfs held aloft as their heroes on the pitch took in rapturous applause.

In such an electric team performance, individuals still managed to stand out for the now play-off finalists with Crysencio Summerville delivering yet again on the big stage for his slick side.

Crysencio Summerville's performance in numbers

The sensational Dutchman took his goalscoring account for the season to 21 wtih the final strike in the rout for Leeds, calmly stroking the ball home for 4-0 to really rub salt into Norwich's gaping wound.

The 22-year-old winger could have had more than just one goal next to his name in the demolition job, firing four shots at a shaky Angus Gunn in the contest but also showing his creative side with six key passes accumulated.

Summerville's numbers vs Norwich

Minutes played

90

Touches

53

Key passes

6

Shots on goal

4

Big chances created

2

Successful dribbles

2/3

Stats by Sofascore

At his best venturing forward with blistering pace and trickery against the hapless Canaries, as can be seen glancing at the table above, Farke will pray Summerville is similarly on his A-Game for the final to come at Wembley to seal an immediate passage back to the Premier League.

There was an unlikelier play-off hero away from the Dutchman, however, on the night in the form of Ilia Gruev who bagged his first-ever Whites goal in spectacular fashion to kickstart a fantastic win.

Ilia Gruev's performance in numbers

A steady presence in the Leeds first-team all season, without ever really looking dangerous going forward, Gruev decided his moment to shine in the spotlight as a goalscorer would come in this crunch second leg.

Catching Gunn out with a smartly taken free-kick within the opening ten minutes, which wrong-footed the Scotsman in the Norwich net, the ex-Werder Bremen man's sweet strike would set the tone for a game that was played on cruise control from then on in by the deadly hosts.

Only misplacing two of his 51 passes in the comprehensive drubbing also, the Bulgarian midfielder was very worthy of his 9/10 rating from Leeds Live journalist Beren Cross after the game who showered the Whites number 44 with wild praise by stating he was at his "destructive" and "protective" best in the one-sided affair.

Norwich's central midfielders struggled battling against Gruev in the middle of the park consequently, mainly Marcelino Nunez who stood out for the Norfolk-based side in the first leg funnily enough with 10 duels won, as David Wagner's men completely folded on the big occasion.

Gruev vs Nunez – head-to-head stats

Stat

Gruev

Nunez

Touches

62

59

Accurate passes

49/51 (96%)

44/48 (92%)

Key passes

1

0

Accurate long balls

4/4

1/4

Duels won

3/7

4/13

Possession lost

3x

7x

Stats by Sofascore

Farke and Co will be thankful that they took a punt on Gruev this summer from the Bundesliga now, with the 23-year-old worth every penny of his £5m fee after that standout showing.

The classy operator will want to be key again at Wembley, with the Leeds camp now aware that they need to win just one more pressurised contest to return back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

Norwich, however, showed what happens when nerves get the better of you in a huge match by dreadfully collapsing with Leeds sticking the dagger in mercilessly.

da bwin： The nerves will already be in the air in West Yorkshire ahead of tonight's decisive Championship semi-final second-leg clash between Leeds United and Norwich City, with a winner coming out victorious at the end of play no matter what even if a penalty shoot-out is required.

da pinnacle： Daniel Farke's Whites will hope it's a more straightforward affair sealed in normal time for the sake of the tense Leeds fans watching on around Elland Road, with the promotion hopefuls wanting to attack from minute one to score early to calm down anxiety levels.

To achieve that, the German boss could be prepared to make some bold selection calls which could even see Sam Byram drop out of the starting XI despite putting in a valiant defensive effort in the stalemate first leg in Norfolk.

This could well be the switch that makes the Whites more gung-ho on the ball, as opposed to allowing the Canaries to play on the nerves of the home team struggling to break them down to then try and eke out a result.

Sam Byram's performance vs Norwich in numbers

Byram, up against his former employers, put in a rock-solid shift at right-back to ensure Leeds weren't breached making the trip down to Carrow Road.

Completing five tackles in total, which included one heroic effort to thwart an advancing Borja Sainz for David Wagner's men, the 30-year-old full-back also won an impressive eight duels from the 13 he attempted on the day.

Still, the defender's attacking game in Norfolk arguably left a lot to be desired which has been the case for the majority of the season too.

Failing to complete a single accurate cross in the contest, on top of zero on-target efforts and zero key passes being registered, the ex-Norwich man didn't ever really strike fear into the Canaries down the flanks.

Byram vs Roberts over full Championship seasons

Stat per 90 mins

Byram – 2023/24

Roberts – 2022/23

Goals scored

2

4

Shots per game

0.7

0.7

Goal conversion

9%

14%

Assists

1

6

Touches

48.0

81.1

Key passes

0.6

1.0

Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the table above, Roberts could well give Leeds more of an attacking impetus from down the channels if selected ahead of Byram tonight with the Welshman raring to make a difference after a stop-start loan switch to date with Farke's side.

How Roberts could impact the game

Roberts' directness as an attack-minded full-back helped Burnley to pick up the Championship title during the 2022/23 season, hopeful, in the here and now, that he can aid Leeds in their own promotion story.

The 28-year-old's "boundless energy" – as it was referred to by The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell – would be a very effective calling card for Farke to play tonight, especially if Norwich sit back.

Indeed, Roberts could just run and run until the Canaries can't keep the Leeds attacks at bay any longer.

Already scoring a big goal this season in front of the Elland Road masses, firing home the equaliser against Leicester City in February when automatic promotion still looked achievable, Roberts is the man for the big occasion as was showcased with the Clarets.

His strike against Middlesbrough towards the latter stages of the 2022-23 campaign clinched promotion up to the Premier League for Vincent Kompany's men, with the potential for him to play another starring role if selected against Norwich.

Leeds will know Norwich won't be pushovers and will come with a staunch gameplan in mind, with the likes of Blackburn Rovers winning by a solitary goal in the regular season by frustrating the home side in this manner.

But, in such a huge contest, the Whites will need to be firing on all cylinders in attack and Roberts could be a smart call to start alongside the usual suspects of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.

Related Farke drops Rutter to the bench in predicted Leeds lineup vs Norwich

The possible starting XI that the German boss could select to take to the field on Thursday night.

Posts ByDan EmeryMay 15, 2024

da bet vitoria： Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are in contact to bring a Manchester United legend back to Old Trafford, according to a new report.

Man Utd manager rumours

da roleta： The Red Devils are preparing for an FA Cup final against rivals Manchester City this weekend in what could prove to be Erik ten Hag‘s final game in charge.

There has been plenty of speculation over with Sky Sports reporter Gianluca Di Marzio saying that a decision has already been made to say “goodbye to Ten Hag”. Publicly, Ratcliffe refused to give his backing to Ten Hag, saying:

"This is not about the manager, if you look at Manchester United in the last 11 years, it's not doing terribly, none of the managers have done terribly well. There's been some really good coaches that have come to Manchester United so you know the conclusion from that has to be that the environment for the coach has not been a successful one because none of them have been successful.

"And, you know, Erik's working in that same environment, so our focus is on how do we change that environment and the structure that provides the environment for the coach.”

Related "Can confirm" – Fabrizio Romano drops manager news he's heard from Man Utd

There have been rumours about Mauricio Pochettino.

Posts ByCharlie SmithMay 23, 2024

Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Kieran McKenna, Gareth Southgate and Roberto De Zerbi have all been linked with taking over from Ten Hag ahead of the 2024/25 season. Should one of the aforementioned bosses take charge, they could have some communication with former Man Utd defender Jaap Stam.

Man Utd in contact with Jaap Stam

According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Man Utd are in contact with Stam over an Old Trafford return. The 51-year-old has gone on to manage the likes of Reading, PEC Zwolle, Feyenoord and Cincinnati, but his potential return to Manchester wouldn’t be as a manager.

It is believed that United could offer Stam ‘a position which would be a link between the club and the technical staff’, potentially talking to players who could report any issues. A move at this moment in time is being ‘evaluated’, so it looks that everything is at an early stage.

Stam spent three years at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson between 1998-2001, playing his part in the famous treble-winning campaign. However, he was sold to Lazio, a decision which Gary Neville recently called a “massive shock” and a “travesty”.

However, it looks as if he could soon return to Old Trafford, making this situation one to keep an eye on, alongside a potential new manager of course.