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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is a big fan of an "unlikely Euro 2024 hero", with the north Londoners now eyeing a move for him this summer.

Edu and Arteta seeking four key signings for Arsenal

Not counting the permanent deal for David Raya, it is believed that sporting director Edu is in the market for a new backup 'keeper among other positions, with a new defender, midfielder and forward also on the agenda at London Colney (Simon Collings).

Arteta personally wants Arsenal to sign £30 million Jesus alternative

The Spaniard thinks he’s ideal.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 9, 2024

The Gunners are closing in on their second major signing of the summer after Raya, as they look to tick the addition of a new defender off their list. Bologna starlet Riccardo Calafiori is on the verge of joining Arsenal, according to Fabrizio Romano, with the Italian already agreeing personal terms last week.

With the likes of Mohamed Elneny departing, and Thomas Partey widely tipped to follow the Egyptian, a new midfielder is thought to be high on Edu's agenda over the coming weeks.

Partey has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia and the Turkish Super Lig, as the 31-year-old enters the final 12 months of his contract. If he does end up moving on to pastures new, Arsenal will need a replacement and alternative/partner to star man Declan Rice in the engine room.

A few very interesting names have cropped up as targets in the past few weeks, via reports in the media. Arteta reportedly admires Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, with former Everton CEO Keith Wyness claiming Arsenal have held discussions over signing Everton's Amadou Onana.

Edu has also been offered PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte, according to GiveMeSport, so the Premier League title hopefuls aren't exactly short of options.

Arsenal targeting Mikel Merino who Arteta really likes

According to a report by The Athletic, former Newcastle United ace Mikel Merino has attracted attention from the Emirates.

The Real Sociedad midfielder, interestingly a teammate of Zubimendi's, has been called "Spain's unlikely Euro 2024 hero" by journalist Pol Ballus and scored his country's quarter-final winner against Germany to send them into the semis – which they also won on Tuesday night at the expense of France.

The 28-year-old, whose contract includes a £52 million release clause, has not gone unnoticed in north London. The Athletic claims Arteta really likes Merino for his talent and physicality with Arsenal now targeting him.

At club level, Merino chalked up 45 appearances for Sociedad in all competitions last season – scoring eight goals and bagging a further five assists. His disciplinary record is perhaps something to watch out for, though, as the Spaniard also totalled 14 bookings in that time.

Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market this summer, selling a score of players and bringing in a host more. Business, it should be known, is far from done.

Enzo Maresca has now been welcomed as the Blues' new manager and, having now conducted his opening press conference has commented on his desire to instil "the right mentality and culture" in west London.

Todd Boehly and Co can hardly be rebuked for a lack of ambition since assuming ownership at Chelsea in 2021, but market strategy has been errant and must be streamlined if the canyon between the Blues and those at the forefront of Premier League and European football is to be narrowed.

There is much to do, but Mauricio Pochettino's efforts last term have ensured that optimism has taken root in the Stamford Bridge soil, with purposeful moves being made and the outfit's flotsam being sifted through and disposed of for financial gain.

There's an undeniable emphasis on establishing a youthful foundation, and while recent reports suggest that another teenage talent is being targeted, this one might just be the cream of the crop.

Chelsea transfer news

According to reports relayed by Football Transfers, Chelsea have made signing Stade Rennais starlet Desire Doue their top priority this summer.

The 19-year-old has been linked with most of the Premier League's heavy hitters already at this fledgling phase of his career but Chelsea – alongside Tottenham Hotspur – are now gearing up for a concerted approach toward securing his signature having held talks with representatives.

Rennes hope to make Doue their record sale, and after Manchester City signed Jeremy Doku for £55.5m last summer, this is expected to be in the ballpark of £60m.

Why Desire Doue is so sought-after

Despite his youth, Doue has established himself as a mainstay in Julien Stéphan's Ligue 1 side, having already completed 76 senior matches, scoring eight goals and adding seven assists.

Highly versatile, Doue is silky-skilled and tactically flexible, with fluidity in his overall play and a capering sparkle to his movements that speak highly of his future presence at the top of the continental game.

It's no surprise that talent scout Jacek Kulig has already gushed over his qualities, calling him a "fantastic mix of dribbler and creator" and a "pure joy to watch".

After stepping onto the major stage during the 2022/23 campaign and starting 11 league matches, Doue played a starring role last term, scoring four goals and supplying six more across 43 matches in all competitions, starting 17 Ligue 1 fixtures – including the final eight in succession.

He is blooming into a highly-talented player, and given his breezy gait and elegance with the ball at his feet, he might be the perfect player to lift Maresca's Chelsea side to the desired level, perhaps even proving to be the west London club's own version of Jamal Musiala.

Desire Doue could be Chelsea's own Jamal Musiala

Chelsea once had Musiala in their clutches, but sold the prodigious talent to Bayern Munich when he was just 16 years old, with the bloated Cobham academy holding its fair share of potential and requiring a sacrifice.

BBC presenter Gary Lineker hailed the German's "magical" qualities during one sublime showing at Euro 2024, with Musiala evoking awe through his ball-carrying expertise.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 16% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for pass completion, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90.

Chelsea must rue the day they allowed him to waltz out of England's capital, but now they could rectify past wrongs by moving to sign Doue.

The up-and-coming Frenchman carries a similarly dynamic sheen to his skill set, ranking among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and successful take-ons and the top 15% for tackles per 90.

Clearly both progressive players with a knack for wrong-footing their opponents with their slick and stylish movements into the final third, shuttling through on goal with ease.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has noted the player's semblance to Musiala's kind of profile. Simply, he's an entertainer. And while Chelsea are crafting a team with variegated options and an impressive range of talent, Doue could be the kind of player to lift Stamford Bridge's roof and offer something truly unique at the start of an exciting new project.

Mattinson has also pronounced Doue a "special talent" and it's clear to see that with apt nurturing, he could flower into one of the standout players of his position – whatever that ends up being.

In Ligue 1 last year, the teenager averaged 2.1 dribbles per game (winning 67% of his efforts). Musiala, in comparison, averaged 3.0 dribbles per match in the German Bundesliga, succeeding 60% of the time.

Doue is fast establishing himself as one of the most talented young midfielders on the continent, and while Chelsea are pushing to land a variety of teenage talents, this one could bypass such peers in west London and earn an instant place at the front of Maresca's first team.

Chelsea in constant talks to sign "electric" Mudryk upgrade

Chelsea looking to add new direct speedster to their ranks

By
Connor Holden

Jul 8, 2024

The Inter Miami manager highlighted the league's financial regulations as a reason why his side can't sign Neymar

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• Neymar linked with MLS move after buying house in Miami
• Tata Martino admitted 'anything can happen' due to Barcelona ties
• Blamed 'strict rules' for difficulty of a potential deal

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Inter Miami manager Tata Martino discussed the latest Neymar to Inter Miami rumors Friday, admitting an MLS move for Neymar would seem unlikely, highlighting the league's strict salary regulations as the primary reason.

  The Brazilian forward has been linked with a move to MLS for years, and a recent purchase of a mansion in Miami fueled speculation that he could be eager to join up with former Barcelona teammates Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in South Florida. The manager, for his part, was reluctant to link Neymar's real estate acquisition to a deal to play in the U.S. top flight, and also suggested that any transfer business would be a non-starter under league rules.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Miami has repeatedly shown financial leverage to bring big names to South Beach. Messi is the highest paid player in the league, making $20.4 million per year. Busquets, his former Blaugrana teammate is third, pulling in $8.8 million. Under league rules, Neymar might be able to sign a similar low-paying deal to Suarez – who penned a $200,000 per year deal – but it would be a drastic decrease from the over $80 million annual salary he is set to make for Al-Hilal.

  MLS Commissioner Don Garber has previously voiced support for MLS's salary cap rules, claiming that they keep the league in a better position than most European divisions: “In terms of governance, we'd probably change things: maybe not have strict salary caps, maybe not have a centralized entity like the league office making a lot of learned decisions based on committees and the like,” Garber said. “But I think we have a model that has driven our success, and I think if that model was adapted around the world, football would be in much, much better shape.”

  One way in which Miami could make the deal work is if Neymar is willing to accept a similar pay structure to Suarez and Alba – he could be paid using Miami's remaining general allocation money – earning him a maximum of roughly $1.7 million per year.

  Or, it can get complicated. The could make Neymar their third designated player – someone whose salary is exempt from certain salary limits – and offer him more money. However, that would mean shifting their financial structure, and would force them to sell off one of their earmarked U-22 initiative players to comply with league rules – effectively getting rid of a valuable rotation piece to account for a new star man.

• WHAT MARTINO SAID

  Martino quashed rumors that a Neymar deal would be financially possible, saying is a news conference, "With [Messi] and the boys already here, anything that can happen. What I can't imagine is if the league doesn't make the salary issue more flexible, how it would be carried out. After writing it or saying it in the media it's all good, nothing happens, it doesn't have any consequences, but what would the implementation be like? And the reality is that if there is something that the MLS has, it is that the rules are strict and can't be broken, unless the MLS decides to change."

  He also laughed off the suggestion that Neymar's new property could indicate transfer activity: "I arrived in Barcelona at the same time as [Neymar]. It was a good year and for me being able to coach such high-ranking players will always be a very special memory. The truth is that one cannot talk so easily and freely about whether a player could come or not. It seems to me that when we talk about this, another type of support is needed. We cannot talk or mention a player because he bought a house here or has a girlfriend from Fort Lauderdale."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR AND INTER MIAMI?

  It would seem that a deal for the Brazilian is unlikely, unless there is an update to the salary structure in MLS. On the pitch, focus is on their playoff fixture with Atlanta United Saturday evening. A win there could see the club sweep the best of three series and set up a clash with the winner of Orlando City and Charlotte's matchup.

Even amid profit and sustainability concerns, Nottingham Forest reportedly now want to beat Premier League rivals Manchester United in the race to sign a potential future star this summer.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

Those at the City Ground felt the punishment of the top flight last season when they were deducted points for breaching profit and sustainability rules. Now, looking to avoid a repeat, Forest are reportedly among the sides who have to sell players before the end of June. According to John Percy of The Telegraph, they must raise as much as £20m to comply with the rules.

With that said, the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White have already been linked with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in a sale which would instantly solve Forest's PSR problem. Meanwhile, any names who do come the other way may well have to be bargain buys, rather than the excessive spending we've seen at the City Ground in recent seasons. And that could see a future star arrive.

According to Football Transfers, Nottingham Forest now want to sign Archie Stevens from Rangers for Nuno Espirito Santo, having been eyeing a move since January. They're not alone in their interest in the 18-year-old, with Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, old rivals Manchester United and also West Ham United eyeing moves to sign the winger this summer.

Nottingham Forest make official £4m offer to sign teenage gem this summer

He is very much considered one for the future.

By
Ben Browning

Jun 20, 2024

One for the future, Stevens may struggle to turn down the chance to return to English football just two years after he swapped AFC Wimbledon for Rangers. Forest, in need of bargain buys, will hope to beat their rivals to the youngster's signature with a pathaway to senior football.

"Energetic" Stevens is one for the future

If Forest want to build a more sustainable model then looking towards and adding to their academy will be more than important than ever. The likes of Stevens have shown signs elsewhere that they have a bright future ahead, including at Rangers where he made his first-team debut at just 16 years old.

It's a rise that his former Wimbeldon academy manager, Michael Hamilton, saw coming too, telling the club's official website a few years ago: "Archie joined us just over two seasons ago and has made massive strides in his development as a player, but also as a person. He is an energetic midfielder, who is capable of playing in numerous positions and is known for his goal scoring and creative ability."

After spending last season in the academy set-up at Rangers, Stevens has quite the decision to make this summer. If Philippe Clement's incomings so far are anything to go by, then the focus is on young talent this summer, but the lure of English football may just be too tempting to turn down for the Rangers gem in the coming months. And it's Forest who will be hoping to benefit.

Barcelona are ready to make a move for unhappy AC Milan star Rafael Leao in the summer of 2025.

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• Barca tracking Rafael Leao
• Portuguese unhappy at AC Milan
• Rumours of a rift with manager Paulo Fonseca

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to a report from Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona are attentive to the situation of Portuguese winger Rafael Leao at AC Milan, amid rumours of a strained relationship with coach Paulo Fonseca.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Catalans have begun the 2024-25 campaign with a bang, scoring 47 goals in 14 games under new manager Hansi Flick. The German coach has found his perfect front three in Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal.

  Consequentially, Ferran Torres has had to make do being a substitute, which has put his future in uncertain territory. In case Torres leaves the club, Barca want Leao to add depth to their attack next summer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  It was reported last weekend that Arsenal are pushing for a January transfer for Torres, with Unai Emery also keen to bring him to Villa Park. However, Torres is not too keen on an exit.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Barcelona will take on Espanyol in a fierce Catalonian derby on Sunday, November 3, before travelling to Belgrade to take on Crvena zvezda in the Champions League next week.

  Leao, meanwhile, will be hoping to have a more prominent role in Milan's upcoming games: against Monza in Serie A (November 2) and Real Madrid in the Champions League (November 5).

West Bromwich Albion will look back on their 2023/24 campaign and arguably think about what could have been after folding in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-finals away at Southampton, to crash out as 3-1 losers.

If they'd managed to get to Wembley, who knows what the final outcome could have been for their season, with Carlos Corberan potentially getting one over on his former employers in Leeds United in a theoretical final.

Instead, they're now preparing for another 46-game slog in the second tier, with the likes of Cedric Kipre potentially leaving for free very soon, with his contract up at the end of June.

The Baggies will, no doubt, have plans in place already for the expected exit of Kipre from the Hawthorns, with a youngster potentially benefitting from the imposing centre-back's departure.

West Brom's young Kipre replacement

Capable of playing at left-back and left-midfield, alongside in the centre-back spot, Zac Ashworth might well feel more first-team opportunities are overdue ahead of the season to come, regardless of Kipre leaving.

The versatile 21-year-old has accumulated 58 appearances in total for the U18s and U23s after joining his boyhood club all the way back in 2012, with six senior games to date being gifted to him as a result.

Ashworth's willingness to play in a number of different positions will certainly make him a desirable player next season for Corberan to give more chances too, with the Baggies in need of more reinforcements down the left-flank too with Adam Reach now gone, alongside needing more centre-back options.

Bolton Wanderers must have been avid fans of Ashworth to gamble on loaning him last season, which the 21-year-old took in his stride, to further justify getting more chances next campaign.

Zac Ashworth's numbers at Bolton

Predominantly used as an option down the left-hand side by Ian Evatt's men, Ashworth displayed for his new loan side that he is worthy of time in Corberan's XI next campaign, by picking up three goals and three assists from 23 clashes.

The Trotters loanee did find his minutes hard to come by towards the latter patches of the season, with only two appearances being handed out to him in the last three months of his loan stint, but his flashes of quality for the League One side should be enough to be considered for more senior opportunities soon.

Unusually, despite only really playing on the left for the third-tier side, Kipre leaving the building could see Ashworth take on a role at centre-back, one that he's arguably more comfortable in based on the number of games he played there on youth pitches for the Baggies.

Caleb Taylor, who was also on loan at the Trotters alongside Ashworth, will also fancy his chances at breaking into the first-team to offer Corberan more depth at the back, notching up seven appearances for Evatt's side before returning back to home comforts at the Hawthorns.

Ashworth won't want to head back to West Brom and recede back into his shell in the youth sides, after starring for Bolton in spurts, with the potential for the 21-year-old to take the bull by the horns and dive headfirst into the first-team now, to try and soften the immense blow of Kipre leaving for nothing if it does happen.

West Brom could convince Corberan to stay by sealing "special" £6m move

Carlos Corberan could be convinced to stay at West Bromwich Albion if this transfer is sealed.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 17, 2024

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has claimed that Erik ten Hag's Manchester United sacking was "almost inevitable".

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• Postecoglou weighs in on sacking
• Ten Hag dismissed earlier this week
• United lost 3-0 to Spurs this season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Postecoglou guided Spurs to a comfortable 3-0 win over United earlier this season, and he has claimed that Ten Hag's sacking became "almost inevitable" given the level of scrutiny he was facing. United are currently 14th in the Premier League table and have won just three of their nine games thus far.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Postecoglou has faced criticism of his own this season, with Spurs sitting eighth, five points behind the top four. They were beaten by Crystal Palace at the weekend, and the Australian accepts that the demands facing managers in the Premier League are almost unrealistic.

• WHAT POSTECOGLOU SAID

  Postecoglou told reporters of Ten Hag's sacking: "I'm not really shocked. Disappointing as it was, it was almost inevitable with the scrutiny he had.

  "If you look at Erik, he was there for two and a bit years. He won a trophy in each year, they finished third in his first year. If he was here with that record would he have lost his job? I don’t know. Would he be under the same scrutiny? I don’t know, because everyone tells me all I have to do is win a trophy, but I have got a feeling it would be the same because, just the nature of the world today.

  "As a manager you have to hit a sweet spot where you get success, you play football everyone likes, you get every signing right. In that moment you seem to get some sort of validation. Anything other than that, it seems to be for some clubs they want trophies not football, others want football. It is a difficult task.

  "But what you have seen in the past, I’m sure Erik will bounce back from that because he is a good manager. You have seen it with other managers. I’m sure his career will continue to go on strongly."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  United appear poised to appoint Ruben Amorim as ten Hag's replacement at Old Trafford, having communicated their desire to pay his release clause to Sporting CP. In the meantime, they face Leicester in the EFL Cup this week, while Spurs play Manchester City.

Vincent Kompany has praised Barcelona for finding a replacement for club legend Lionel Messi so soon in Lamine Yamal.

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• Kompany hails La Masia impact
• Sees Yamal filling Messi's boots
• Bayern & Barca to clash in UCL

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Messi's departure from Camp Nou in 2021 created a big void at Barcelona, however, the club have somewhat recovered from the setback within the last two years, largely thanks to the emergence of Yamal. The Spain wonderkid has had a big impact in club and international football and is now a talismanic figure for Barca under Hansi Flick.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ahead of their midweek Champions League clash against the Catalan giants, Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany heaped praise on Barca's La Masia academy for identifying a talent like Yamal, who he believes is already following in Messi's footsteps.

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  WHAT VINCENT KOMPANY SAID

  Speaking to reporters, Kompany said: "It's exceptional for Barça as a club [to have Yamal] so shortly after the departure of a player like Messi. For my generation, Messi was one of the key figures of our era. To shortly after this player leaving already have potentially a player who can replace him is quite unique. Full credit to [Barça's academy] La Masia for always trusting these players and giving them the chance.

  However, the Bayern boss also insisted that his team won't fall into the trap of only focusing on Yamal, adding: "The question for us is not about stopping [Yamal], but trying to win a game against Barcelona, which means [stopping] all the players, not one. The focus is on the team, not one player, but he's an exceptional player."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?

  After travelling to Catalunya to face Flick's side on Wednesday in the Champions League, Kompany's in-form Bayern side will be back in action in the Bundesliga on Sunday as they take on VFL Bochum. Barca, meanwhile, will face Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season a day earlier.

Daily Star journalist Paul Brown has dropped a big claim on reported Aston Villa target Tomas Soucek.

The lowdown

Football Insider reported that there is tension between the Czech Republic midfielder and his manager David Moyes behind the scenes at West Ham after a falling-out.

Villa sporting director Johan Lange is considering midfield options, and journalist Ashley Preece has raised the possibility of a move for Soucek (Birmingham Mail, via FootballFanCast).

The £40.5m-rated midfielder has two years left to run on his £67k-per-week contract with the Irons, having joined permanently in July 2020.

The latest

Brown has said that Soucek may be on his way out of the London Stadium this summer after as-yet-unconfirmed claims of an argument with Moyes.

He told GiveMeSport regarding the West Ham midfielder’s situation: “There was talk a couple of weeks ago that he’d fallen out with the manager.

“That’s never been confirmed by anyone at West Ham, but it does seem like Soucek might leave this window.”

The verdict

Soucek could be a good addition for Villa, who will no doubt be looking to reach West Ham’s level in qualifying consistently for European competition.

The 6 foot 4 midfielder is a dominant presence, winning more aerial duels (134) than any other central midfielder in last season’s Premier League.

Champions League-winning manager Thomas Tuchel has raved about the 27-year-old, calling him ‘incredible’ and saying that he can do ‘everything’ in the middle of the park.

Villa have already signed Boubacar Kamara for their midfield ahead of next season, so adding Soucek would furnish Gerrard with some quite enviable depth in that department.

Despite their impressive early summer transfer business, Aston Villa appear intent on adding further additions in the coming weeks, with one key area to address seemingly that of the centre-forward ranks.

Although previous links to Steven Gerrard’s former Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez failed to bear fruit, the belief is that the Midlands club are still chasing a new striker this summer, along with a new left-sided defender and a midfielder.

One name who has been somewhat tentatively linked with a move to Villa Park of late is Lille striker Jonathan David, with Birmingham Mail journalist Ashley Preece suggesting that the Villans have been tracking the 22-year-old since his days at former club Gent, whom he left in 2020 to move to France.

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has also noted the Premier League club’s longstanding interest in the Canada international, although he stated that while the Villans ‘would be interested’ in a player of his quality, there has not yet been any ‘serious push’ to sign him.

The £40.5m-rated gem has become a real player of interest following his explosive form in recent years in Ligue 1, having scored 32 goals and provided five assists in 96 games in all competitions for his current club, including 28 league goals across the last two seasons combined.

With 20 goals to his name already for his country in just 30 appearances, the £35k-per-week speedster – who has been dubbed “fearless” by his national team coach John Herdman – looks set be a player who will get even better in the coming years.

Described as an “emerging superstar” by journalist Musa Okwonga last year, the Brooklyn-born starlet would seemingly add a real sprinkling of star quality to Gerrard’s attacking unit, with goals having been in short supply last term.

Villa’s top scorer in all competitions was Ollie Watkins with just 11 goals – all of which came in the league – with fellow striker Danny Ings trailing behind with a fairly underwhelming tally of seven league goals, albeit while providing six assists.

The latter in particular appears to be facing an uncertain future at Villa Park despite having only signed on a £25m deal from Southampton last year, amid reports that NSWE could be open to selling him this summer.

According to pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, the partnership between Watkins and Ings is simply “not working”, with it likely to be the latter who will make way if the latest rumours are to be believed.

The £100k-per-week marksman has failed to recapture the stunning form that he showed at St Mary’s – where he scored 41 league goals in three seasons – while his chequered injury history may spark concerns as to whether he can ever be a reliable figure to lead the line.

Should Ings be moved on in the current transfer window, the younger and hungrier option of David would no doubt be an ideal replacement and upgrade. The thought of the devastation that he could cause in Villa’s front line would be frightening for Premier League defences.

AND in other news, Lange eyeing Villa move for £30m “goalscoring machine”, he’d be their own Darwin Nunez