Tag Futebol

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has questioned Aston Villa manager Unai Emery for his team selection following the club’s shock recent defeat.

What’s the latest?

Over the past weekend, in the third round of the FA Cup, the Villans were dumped out of the tournament losing 2-1 at home to League Two side Stevenage.

Indeed, things looked to be going to plan when Morgan Sanson gave Villa a first-half lead. However, Leander Dendoncker was then shown a straight red card late on as Jamie Reid equalised from the resulting penalty before Dean Campbell scored a 90th-minute winner.

While speaking about the result on BBC Radio Show 606, Sutton questioned Emery for his team lineup and said it was a ‘damaging’ loss for the new manager.

He explained: “Were you happy about the change of personnel? I mean, Villa weren’t the only team to do it but, I don’t know, it always disappoints me, that.

“I mean, Villa haven’t been flying this season, of course. Unai Emery [now] in the door. But this is a damaging defeat for him, isn’t it?”

Big mistake?

Emery has done fairly well since taking over at Aston Villa shortly before the break for the winter World Cup. Indeed, he has managed the club for five Premier League games, winning three, drawing one and losing one.

However, tasting defeat in the FA Cup to League Two opposition certainly will not help win over any supporters who were on the fence about his appointment.

In his starting team, the Spaniard opted to start backup players such as Robin Olson, Calum Chambers, Jan Bednarek and Morgan Sanson. While the likes of Emi Martinez, Tyrone Mings, and Ollie Watkins were all benched.

Clearly, he underestimated Stevenage and his plan to rotate the team backfired. Villa last won the FA Cup in 1957 and they’ll have to wait another year now before they can challenge for the title again.

West Ham United could be set to move for one of the World Cup’s breakout stars…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to The Mail, who claimed that the performances of Azzedine Ounahi in Qatar have led to his reported £40m price tag.

His club Angers remain unwilling to part with him for any less than that, with interest from the Hammers, along with Premier League rivals Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, sure to drum up a substantial fee.

However, GSB hold reservations given the supposed gulf in quality between his performances for club and country.

The next step

Having finished in the European spots for the last two seasons, it is clear that David Moyes is looking for ways to continue bridging the gap between his team and the traditional ‘top six’.

The manager’s vast summer overhaul saw an expenditure of £158m, yet their current position of 16th will surely worry him. In order to turn the tide, he needs quality and depth in all areas, and central midfield has been lacking.

Declan Rice has been West Ham’s star man for many years now, shouldering the majority of the defensive burden in the engine room. However, his recent comments suggest that his ambitions might have outgrown the London Stadium.

Moyes will duly need to make a statement of intent in January, and spending £40m to give the captain this partner could be integral in taking that next step.

Such is Ounahi’s pedigree that Ray Parlour touted him for a move to Arsenal as he told talkSPORT (via Daily Mail): “Ounahi, the No.8, he is different class. Would I take him at Arsenal? Definitely!”

His displays alongside Sofyan Amrabat for Morocco have captured the imagination, with the perfect blend of defensive steel and attacking impetus once the ball has been reclaimed. 

The 22-year-old has recorded a 6.97 average rating across the tournament, recording 0.9 shots, 0.9 key passes and 1.3 tackles per game (via Sofascore). Even Jose Mourinho felt implored to praise the midfielder, labelling him “absolutely incredible”.

Although Ounahi’s average rating may be lower for his club, he arguably offers slightly more as his shots per game average increases to 1.6 and his key passes average is 1.2 per match.

For West Ham to place this beside their sensational captain who can also create and defend could be the catalyst for a sustained push for the Champions League places.

Leeds United could finally bring long-term transfer target Ryan Kent to Elland Road at the end of the current campaign.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Leeds Live, who claim that, having been heavily linked with a move for the Glasgow Rangers winger ever since the Whites’ return to the Premier League back in 2020, Victor Orta could finally land the 26-year-old next summer – when the attacker’s current contract at Ibrox is set to expire.

The report goes on to suggest that, while the Scottish Premiership side are likely to do all they can to tie the former England U20 international down to a new contract between now and the end of the season, a move to the top flight of English football on a free transfer could fit perfectly with the forward’s plans heading into his prime years.

Absolute steal

Considering just how impressive Kent has been for Rangers in recent seasons, coupled with the fact that Leeds have been linked with a £20m move for the winger for the past two years, should Orta manage to seal the signing of the 26-year-old on a free next summer, it would undoubtedly represent an absolute steal for the Premier League side.

Indeed, the £15m-rated talent has been a continuous source of goals and creativity for Gers over the past four and a half years, hitting the back of the net on 31 separate occasions and providing his teammates with a further 53 assists over his 196 appearances for the club – averaging a direct goal involvement every 189 minutes of football played for the Light Blues.

The £52k-per-week winger particularly impressed over his 37 Premiership outings in Rangers’ title-winning campaign back in 2020/21, scoring ten goals, registering nine assists and creating nine big chances for his side, in addition to taking an average of 2.3 shots – 0.9 of which were on target – making 1.8 key passes and completing 1.9 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the player who Andrew Dickson dubbed “completely unplayable” and “on a different level altogether” average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.23, not only ranking him as Steven Gerrard’s fourth-best performer in the league but also as the seventh-best player in the top flight of Scottish football as a whole that season.

Furthermore, over the forward’s 1465 Champions League minutes in the current campaign, despite his side’s disastrous showing in football’s most prestigious club competition, FBref still rank Kent in the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s big five leagues for dribbles competed per 90 – highlighting just how effective the 26-year-old is with the ball at his feet.

As such, it is clear to see exactly why Kent has been a long-term target of Orta and Leeds, as the winger would undoubtedly make an exceptional addition to Jesse Marsch’s current wide attacking options at Elland Road – especially on a free transfer.

Unai Emery got his Aston Villa career off to a blinding start as he beat Manchester United 3-1 in his first Premier League match in charge last Sunday.

The club are now 14th in the table but could still head into the World Cup break level on points with the drop zone if results do not go their way next weekend.

Villa have not enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign, losing seven of their 14 matches, and Emery could use the upcoming January transfer window to bolster his squad.

One player Villa are reportedly looking at ahead of the market opening is Villarreal winger Nicolas Jackson, who worked with the Spanish coach earlier this season and last term.

Fellow Premier League sides Newcastle and Everton are also said to be keen on the gem but his pre-existing relationship with Emery could give the Villans the advantage in this particular race.

The Spanish head coach could unearth his next version of Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar at Villa Park by securing a deal to sign Jackson in January.

Reporter Ashley Preece recently described him as a player with “bags of potential” and talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that the winger is known as “Neymar” in his home country of Senegal. 

In an article about Jackson for Kulig’s website, Harold Monteiro Macedo wrote: “He is an attacking midfielder who can also play one both right and left wing and as a striker. He is very good on the ball, good at dribbling and passing. He likes to carry the ball to create danger and create chances for his teammates.”

This suggests that the attacker, who has a £27m release clause, is similar to the Brazilian sensation in the sense that he can play in a multitude of roles across the frontline and is adept at moving past players with the ball at his feet, much like the PSG star – who has completed 4.3 dribbles per game across his career.

The Spanish tactician will already know all about the 30-year-old with Neymar featuring 30 times under Emery. During their spell together in Paris, the Brazil international scored a remarkable 28 goals and also registered 18 assists. It is far-fetched to suggest Villa’s latest transfer target could reach the same heights but it shows why the comparison is such an exciting one.

Jackson has shown signs of having the end product to match his phenomenal build-up play, scoring two goals and providing two assists, whilst creating four ‘big chances’ in eight La Liga starts for Villarreal this season. That comes after producing five goals and seven assists in 25 appearances in the Spanish third tier for the B team last term.

At the age of 21, the forward has plenty of time left on his hands to develop and improve his final ball and this means that he could grow into a more consistent and impactful winger with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Therefore, if the wing wizard can fulfil his undoubted potential, Emery could well be staring at his new version of Neymar. Exciting times.

Pundit Tam McManus claims that Callum Wilson being picked in the England squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar would be ‘huge’ for Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: In 55-man list

As per The Athletic, Wilson is on Gareth Southgate’s 55-man longlist for the upcoming tournament, which has to be cut down to 26 before it starts.

His last appearance for the Three Lions came in 2019, but his exceptional form this season, which has seen him score six goals and make two assists in nine games in the Premier League (Transfermarkt), means that he is in the conversation for a place on the plane.

The Latest: ‘Huge deal’

Speaking to Football Insider, McManus has claimed that it would be ‘massive’ for Wilson if he made the squad, and the 41-year-old added that it would also be a ‘huge deal’ for the Magpies:

“He should absolutely go to Qatar.

“He is in fantastic form, and he must have convinced Southgate with that performance against Villa. As a striker, what more can you do to convince a manager?

“I think Newcastle will want him to go. There is the risk he gets an injury and misses some of the second half of the season but Newcastle have other options. Isak is still coming back.

“The club will be supporting Callum, I’m sure of that. Just think what it would do for his confidence if he went to the World Cup and scored.

“It would be massive. If he goes, it’s not the end of the world for Newcastle. It would be a huge deal for the club on and off the pitch.”

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The Verdict: Deserved

Wilson deserves a place in the squad given his form so far this campaign and the fact that he has managed to keep himself largely constant injury problems throughout his career at St. James’ Park.

Only Harry Kane and Ivan Toney have scored more goals than him in the league in terms of English forwards, and only Kane is averaging more goals per 90 minutes.

His team-mates Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier will also be hoping to be on the plane alongside Wilson, which would be big for Eddie Howe’s side to have three representatives at the tournament.

Nonetheless, with Kane a certainty to go as England captain, there is a space left for his depute, and Wilson looks to be one of the strongest candidates to take that spot at the moment.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has ‘told’ Fabio Paratici that he wants to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, according to Serie A journalist Enrico De Lellis.

The Lowdown: Striker links

The Premier League giants have recently been linked with a move for Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez, who the 53-year-old boss worked alongside during his time at the San Siro.

However, it appears that whilst rumours are circulating regarding a reunion with the Serie A star, a different player has been identified as Spurs’ number one attacking target, and the Italian is serious about landing him.

The Latest: Conte makes Osimhen request

Speaking to Calciomercato.it (via Sport Witness), De Lellis revealed that Tottenham’s aim is to sign Osimhen, with Conte already making a transfer request to Paratici to get the deal done.

“In addition to his salary, he will have a budget of around €200m [£175m]. There are rumours about Lautaro, but the real name that Conte told Paratici is Osimhen.

“The Napoli striker is also very popular with Bayern Munich and Manchester United, although the Germans closely follow Sesko as well. Their policy is to carry out operations under 100 million, consequently Osimhen is a secondary option.

“The Nigerian is the classic Premier League footballer and it turns out to be the real goal of Tottenham. But it will be necessary to understand his will: he is demanding for the future and not only from an economic point of view.”

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The Verdict: Kane successor?

Harry Kane’s future has been uncertain for a while amid links to Bayern Munich, but should he leave or simply require a long-term successor, Osimhen would be the perfect candidate.

The Lagos-born talent has scored 32 goals and provided ten assists in just 70 appearances since joining Luciano Spalletti’s side, and currently averages a remarkable 4.8 shots per league game.

Osimhen, labelled ‘unstoppable’ by BBC Africa’s Mimi Fawaz, isn’t likely to come cheap given his record, but if Spurs receive big money for Kane, this sum can be put towards future transfer funds to potentially sign the likes of the Nigerian.

Ryan Kent has reportedly rejected a ‘big-money’ contract offer from Glasgow Rangers.

The Lowdown: Kent’s contract expiring

The 25-year-old’s current deal at Ibrox is set to expire next summer, which means he will be free to leave for nothing if a new contract is not agreed by then.

Premier League club Aston Villa have been linked with a pre-contract agreement for the winger in the January transfer window, so Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side are in real danger of losing him over the next few months.

The Latest: Contract offer rejected

As per Football Insider, Kent has now rejected a ‘big-money’ contract offer from Rangers, as he is setting his sights on a move to the English top flight.

The winger is believed to be ‘confident’ that he will receive ‘strong interest’ in the new year, and he reportedly has a £20m release clause in his current deal.

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The Verdict: If the offer is right…

If there is a club willing to pay Kent’s release clause between now and the summer, it may be worth Rangers letting him go.

It would be the second-biggest transfer fee that they have received for a player, and with just a few months left on his contract, £20m would be a very nice sum to reap.

Kent has perhaps not been at his best this season either, receiving criticism for some of his performances, so maybe January is the right time to sell him if a decent offer is made.

Fulham have been linked with Jason Denayer recently and the free agent could prove to be the next Joachim Andersen in Marco Silva’s side.

Recent reports have suggested that Fulham could look to bring in the Belgian centre-back, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Olympique Lyon earlier in the summer.

The former Manchester City man enjoyed the most fruitful spell of his career thus far in France, making 139 appearances for Les Gones, in which he contributed eight goals and three assists.

Denayer has experience of Premier League football, having featured 27 times for Sunderland during a loan spell in the 2016/17 season and could return to the top flight a much better player than the one who left Manchester City for Lyon in 2018.

Last season saw the 27-year-old defender make just 15 appearances in Ligue 1 for Lyon, so it is easy to see why he left the club on a free transfer, but Fulham could be the ones to benefit.

Should he arrive at Craven Cottage, he could prove to be another Andersen, with the Danish defender becoming a fan favourite at the club during the 2020/21 Premier League season despite relegation from the top flight.

The centre-back, who joined Fulham on loan from Lyon, looked a cut above in the Cottagers’ side and was ranked by WhoScored as their fourth-best performer across the season of those to make at least 10 starts.

He has since gone on to establish himself as a solid centre-back in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, with his physicality and passing ability evident in his performances for the Eagles.

Andersen’s former coach Svend Graversen spoke highly of the defender’s passing ability to The Athletic, saying:

“He was the leader in defence — I put him at centre-back but he was normally a midfielder. You could see the calmness on the ball, his awareness, especially the space in front of him in the defence was very good.”

Denayer could emulate this in Fulham’s side should he make the move to Craven Cottage, as FBref ranks him in the top percentile for pass completion when compared to other centre-backs.

Even as a youngster, Denayer’s ability on the ball as a defender was evident, as former Belgium boss Marc Wilmots testified.

He said: “Always calm. I’ve never seen him nervous; he has a lot of confidence and there will be someone with experience standing next to him.”

Therefore, the similarities between Andersen and Denayer are clear to see and considering he is available on a free transfer, it is surely a no-brainer for Silva to bring him to Craven Cottage.

Christian Benteke left Crystal Palace earlier this week but Patrick Vieira may already have a natural replacement for the Belgian in Luke Plange.

After six years at Selhurst Park, the former Liverpool man departed for D.C United, leaving Vieira with Odsonne Edouard, Jordan Ayew and Jean-Philippe Mateta as his main striking options at Selhurst Park.

However, the Frenchman could call upon 19-year-old Plange, who featured in pre-season and remains in the squad, taking his place on the bench for the opening day defeat against Arsenal.

The youngster is yet to make his first team debut for the Eagles, and only has one appearance for the academy side thus far, so it is no surprise that Vieira gave him a chance in pre-season to get a proper look at him, and he certainly impressed, scoring a hattrick in a 4-2 win against Ipswich Town

Last season saw the teenage forward join Derby County on loan, where he made 26 appearances in the Championship, contributing four goals and two assists.

Wayne Rooney was a big fan of the former Arsenal forward and sang his praises after he scored on his full debut against Blackpool.

He said:

“Luke Plange has a bit of everything in his game.

“He can run in behind teams, he’s quick and he is also strong enough to hold the ball up. As well as that, he’s a clever player and also a finisher.

“With players like that, you know that if they get a chance that they are more than likely going to score.”

Rooney certainly knows what he is talking about when it comes to strikers, considering he was one of the best of his generation in the Premier League, so to hear him talking so highly about Plange will no doubt delight Palace fans.

Rather than Vieira spending millions on a new striker to replace Vieira, the French manager might consider promoting Plange to his first team and giving him some chances this season.