As the Premier League season enters the final stage, Manchester City are already starting to prepare for the summer transfer window and are now willing to make a £60 million offer to sign a “magician” for Pep Guardiola, according to a recent report.

Man City eye new midfielder to possibly replace Bernardo Silva

Given how busy the Blues were during the January transfer window, it is expected to be even busier at the Etihad this summer, as the club looks to potentially move players on and bring in new, young, and hungrier replacements.

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Ben Gray

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Over the weekend it was reported that Portuguese giants Benfica are interested in a move to sign Bernardo Silva from City. It is claimed that Silva is willing to take a pay cut on his current wage to secure a move to his homeland and to return to his boyhood club. His exit could be granted by Guardiola and the City chiefs, as his contract expires at the end of next season, and the Blues seemingly have their eyes on both a future successor and an immediate replacement.

According to The Star, City have seen an offer rejected for Sheffield Wednesday’s Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri. The attacker is only 15 years old, but the Blues see him as a player who has a bright future in the game, and the Premier League champions are willing to spend a seven-figure deal on him to secure a transfer. He may not be ready-made for the Premier League, but he could be seen as a long-term replacement for Silva.

Man City prepared to offer £60m to sign “magician”

If Silva does leave the Etihad, the Blues have their eyes on finding a more ready-made replacement as well. According to a report from Spain, Man City have made Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison one of their transfer targets ahead of this summer.

The report states that the Blues are looking ahead to the future, and Maddison’s excellent campaign for Spurs hasn’t gone unnoticed by Guardiola. So much so, that City are now willing to offer £60 million to secure the Englishman’s signature. Maddison isn’t seen as a player who can just become a squad player; in fact, they see him as the perfect replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, who is leaving City at the end of the campaign.

Maddison, who has been dubbed a “magician” by Statman Dave in the past, is seen as the perfect player for Guardiola’s system, and the City boss hasn’t hidden his admiration for the player, calling him “quality” this season.

James Maddison’s Premier League stats
Apps	221
Goals	56
Assists	48

Maddison has netted nine goals and recorded six assists in 30 league games this season, and that has been achieved in an underperforming Tottenham side. The 28-year-old is a key player for Spurs and Ange Postecoglou and is under contract until 2028, but they will consider a possible sale should they receive an offer of £60 million.

A reporter has now revealed that Leeds United could sign a “superb” West Ham United player for just £10 million this summer, according to a recent report.

Leeds planning for Premier League return

The Whites secured promotion to the Premier League last weekend, and while they still have the Championship title to play for, focus will be turning towards the summer and what they hope to do ahead of their return to the Premier League.

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It emerged earlier this week from The Daily Mail that the 49ers could be looking to axe manager Daniel Farke despite the fact he guided them to promotion. It’s claimed that a decision hasn’t been made on his future yet, but Leeds have candidates in mind if they decide to sack the German.

But Farke currently remains in the Leeds dugout, and he is already putting plans in place for the summer, as he has his eyes on one or two new additions.

It’s been reported that the Whites are among the teams interested in signing Moussa Soumano from French side Ajaccio. He is not the only forward Leeds are looking at, as the Championship side are also keen on signing George Hirst from Ipswich Town, but the Tractor Boys are working hard on agreeing a new contract with the Scotland international.

Reporter says Leeds could sign "superb" West Ham player for just £10m

It’s not just adding to their forward options that Farke wants to prioritise this summer, as the German also wants to strengthen his midfield and holds an interest in signing Tomas Soucek from West Ham. Now, according to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Leeds could sign Soucek from the Hammers for just £10 million.

O’Rourke states that the Hammers will listen to offers between £10-15 million for the Czech Republic international this summer. Farke is keen to add proven Premier League experience to his squad over the summer, and Soucek is seen as the “ideal” player to further strengthen his squad.

The 30-year-old hasn’t been a regular under Graham Potter and therefore could be someone they look to cash in on. However, Soucek is under contract until 2027, so unless Leeds pay West Ham’s asking price, he may not end up leaving the London side. The report adds that Soucek’s work ethic and qualities he brings to both ends of the pitch make him someone who can be a key asset for Farke.

Apps

189

Goals

34

Assists

9

Soucek, who has been dubbed “superb” by EXWHUEmployee, joined the Hammers on a permanent basis in 2020 and has been a key part of their recent success, especially in the season they won the UEFA Conference League.

But his time with West Ham appears to be coming to an end, as it’s been reported that the midfielder is unhappy at the club after losing his place in the starting XI, and he is reportedly open to a move to Elland Road.

And just like that, Tottenham Hotspur’s worst season in a generation is just one game away from becoming their most memorable.

Last night, Ange Postecoglou’s side travelled to the Arctic Circle to play the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, and while they were still favourites, all the ingredients for an upset were there.

However, as they have in so many of their European games this season, the North Londoners rose to the occasion and ran out comfortable winners in the end.

While practically the entire team did themselves and the manager proud last night, two players, including Pedro Porro, really stood out.

Porro's performance vs Bodo/Glimt

While Porro has come in for plenty of criticism for his defensive failings this season, much of which has been justified, the Spanish full-back has massively stepped up both legs of this semi-final.

He was instrumental in the home win, providing a perfect pass for James Maddison to score the side’s second goal, and he was arguably even better last night.

Not only was he pretty solid in defence, but he was a complete menace in attack, testing the keeper with a brilliant free-kick in the first half and then getting his just rewards with a cross-come-shot that sailed into the top corner in the second 45.

It was practically the complete performance from the former Sporting CP star, which explains the 9/10 match rating Alasdair Gold gave him at full-time.

It might sound hyperbolic, but we can assure you it’s not, as exemplified by his statistics from the game.

Minutes

95′

Expected Goals

0.11

Goals

1

Expected Assists

0.12

Clearances

3

Interceptions

1

Dribbled Past

0

Ground Duels (Won)

3 (2)

Fouls

0

Key Passes

2

Shots on Target

2

Dribbles (Successful)

1(1)

In 95 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goals plus assists figure of 0.23, made three clearances, won two of three ground duels, made one interception, wasn’t dribbled past, played two key passes, took two shots on target, was successful in 100% of his dribbles, won one foul and didn’t give any away himself.

Overall, it was a superb display from Porro, but there was another starter who might just have pipped him.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Spurs' best player vs Bodo/Glimt

Now, there are certainly a few players you could pick from for this title, like Dominic Solanke, Micky van de Ven or even Rodrigo Bentancur.

However, for our money, the player who really stood up and stood out last night was Cristian Romero.

The Argentine international has not had a great season, with constant injuries and the odd mistake defining it thus far, but just like he was in the first leg, he was sensational for Postecoglou last night.

It goes without saying that the World Cup winner is undoubtedly built for big games, and from the first to the last minute, he was incredible in the Arctic Circle.

On top of being a wall at the back and cheering every block or tackle like it was a title-winning goal, he also managed to provide the assist for Solanke’s opener, which all but ended the tie then and there.

Unsurprisingly, Gold was just as impressed, awarding the centre-back a 9/10 match rating at full-time, while Spurs fan and content creator Ben Bowman simply described him as “unreal.”

Such appraisals are more than backed up by his statistics as well, as in 95 minutes of action, he made five clearances, blocked one shot, wasn’t dribbled past even once, made one interception, won three of four ground duels, lost the ball only once, completed 96% of his passes, played one key pass, was accurate in 100% of his long balls and created one big chance.

Minutes

95′

Clearances

5

Shots Blocked

1

Dribbled Past

0

Interceptions

1

Ground Duels (Won)

4 (3)

Lost Possession

1

Passing Accuracy

26/27 (96%)

Key Passes

1

Long Balls (Accurate)

2 (2)

Big Chances Created

1

Ultimately, the entire team played well last night, but Porro and particularly Romero were even better, so much so that the latter may now be the club’s best player.

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Leeds United have a huge summer ahead of them in the coming months, needing to build a side capable of surviving the drop in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.

The Whites will be attempting to do something which no side has managed in the last two seasons, in maintaining their top-flight status after securing promotion from the Championship.

Southampton, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United have all tried and failed, handing Daniel Farke a huge task to prevent the club from being added to such a list.

The German has already had questions asked about his future at Elland Road, with the Whites manager potentially being replaced before the start of the next campaign.

Regardless of the situation, the foundations have already been laid for the summer window, with numerous players already linked with a summer switch to Yorkshire.

An update on Leeds’ hunt for new signings this summer

Over the last few weeks, rumours have emerged over Leeds making a potential move for Newcastle United’s midfielder Sean Longstaff, but could face huge competition from other top-flight sides for his signature.

Everton have been named as the latest side to enter the race for his services, with the Magpies only demanding a £10m fee to part ways with the 27-year-old.

His experience in the division could be vital for the Whites’ chances of securing survival next season, potentially being joined by Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, if recent reports are to be believed.

It was reported by BILD via Sport Witness that the Whites are keen on a move for the 27-year-old this summer, looking to cement his place as number one under Farke.

It also states that no asking price has yet been set for his services, but that he could be open to a move to the Premier League to further his career at the top level.

Why Leeds’ target could be Farke’s next Tanaka

The 2024/25 season has been a hugely successful one for Leeds, ending their stay in the Championship, but also landing key talents such as Ao Tanaka in the process.

The Japanese international joined from Fortuna Düsseldorf last summer for a reported £3.5m fee, cementing himself as a key player in Farke’s starting eleven throughout the last few months.

He’s managed to rack up 44 appearances across all competitions, notching six combined goals and assists – even being named in the Championship Team of the Season.

Such a deal has been one of the club’s best in recent years, playing a pivotal role in their success and hopefully taking the Premier League by storm after his debut year in Yorkshire.

However, the manager could be about to land his next version of the star this summer in the form of Dahmen, who could follow in Tanaka’s footsteps by joining the Whites from a German side.

If he manages to get anywhere near the level of the Japanese star, he will be a fan favourite in no time, potentially playing a vital role in their chances of staying up.

The German has excelled in recent months, making 16 appearances, keeping nine clean sheets and conceding just ten goals during such a period – leading to journalist Christian Pohlmann labelling him as “extraordinary”.

Finn Dahmen’s stats for Augsburg in the Bundesliga (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

16

Clean sheets

9

Goals conceded

10

Save percentage

85%

Saves made

3.5

Errors leading to goals

0

Pass accuracy

68%

Stats via FotMob

His staggering numbers don’t stop there, saving 85% of the efforts that he’s faced this campaign, averaging 3.5 saves per 90 – handing Farke that added solidity he needs at the back.

Dahmen has also not made a single error leading to a goal, and is more than capable of playing out from the back, 68% of the passes he’s attempted throughout 2024/25.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the shot-stopper would set the club back this summer, the stats he’s produced are incredible, certainly bolstering the ranks at Elland Road.

Their dealings with landing players from Germany in recent months have been successful, as seen with Tanaka, which could lead to Dahmen being the next star to make the switch to England.

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Arsenal’s aim this summer is clear: add more goals to their squad.

Despite being second in the Premier League and through to only the club’s third Champions League semi-final, the Gunners’ lack of goals has unquestionably held them back.

So, do Arsenal lead the race to sign “one of the best wingers on the market”, described as Mikel Arteta’s dream signing?

Arteta's dream attacking signing

According to reports in Spain, via Football365, Arsenal are readying a ‘serious offer’ as they attempt to sign Athletic Club Bilbao forward Nico Williams, whom is believed to be Arteta’s dream target.

The Gunners have a long-standing interest in Williams; alongside Barcelona, they were chasing his signature last season, but the 22-year-old decided to stay at Athletic, aiming to help les Leons win the Europa League at their home stadium San Mamés, on course to achieve this, preparing to face Manchester United in the semi-finals.

Now, Marca are reporting that Barça’s interest in Williams has cooled, partially as a result of their ongoing financial concerns, but also due to the fact that Raphinha has been on fire this season, scoring 28 goals and registering 22 assists across all competitions.

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Thus, Aditya Gokhale of Goal believes this leaves Arsenal as the front-runners to sign Williams come the summer, with analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as “one of the best wingers on the market”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him “brilliant”.

Pol Ballús of The Athletic documents that Williams’ release clause is just €55m (around £47m), which he claims to be a ‘bargain’ although, according to Capology, the winger earns around £171k-per-week, so would therefore become one of Arsenal’s highest-earners, should he choose to swap the Basque Country for North London.

How Nico Williams would improve Arsenal

Arteta has previously stated that he wants to add “more firepower” to his forward line, and these statistics underline why.

The Gunners have scored one goal or fewer on 22 occasions this season, doing so in 50% of their 32 league fixtures to date, with the table below showing how this compares to previous campaigns.

Arsenal’s lowest-scoring league seasons (1988-present)
Season	Goals	Goals-per-game	League finish
2024/25*	57	1.78	2nd
2020/21	55	1.45	8th
2019/20	56	1.47	8th
1998/99	59	1.55	2nd
1995/96	49	1.29	5th
1994/95	52	1.23	12th
1993/94	53	1.26	4th
1992/93	40	0.95	10th
1989/90	54	14.2	4th
*season ongoing: 6 fixtures remaining
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As outlined in the table, since 1988, Arsenal have only failed to score 60+ goals in a league season on eight occasions, primarily enduring miserable mid-table campaigns whenever they do, requiring three goals from their remaining six fixtures this season to avoid adding to this tally.

This is also quite the comedown, considering the Gunners scored 91 goals last season, their most in a single campaign since 1953.

Despite netting at the Bernabéu this week, Gabriel Martinelli is often widely criticised, with this only his eighth goal of the season so far.

Given that Martinelli is first-choice on the left-wing, it is his place Williams would be looking to take in the team, so let’s assess how the duo compare.

Nico Williams vs Gabriel Martinelli 2024/25 comparison
Statistics	Williams	Martinelli
Appearances	42	43
Minutes	2,946	2,905
Goals	11	8
Assists	7	6
Shots on target %	42.2%	45.2%
Shot-creating actions	166	85
Goal-creating actions	20	7
Attempted take-ons	264	137
Take-on success %	40.2%	33.6%
Progressive carries	177	141
Ball recoveries	127	95
Duels Contested	471	306
Touches per 90	41	34
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and Squawka

Remarkably, as outlined in the table, Williams and Martinelli have played almost a near-identical number of minutes this season to date, there are just 41 between them, which is useful when it comes to comparing the duo.

The table suggests that Williams would be an upgrade on the Brazilian, considering that he’s scored more goals and registered more assists this season, while he is also a more proficient dribbler, and is more dangerous in front of goal.

So, if the Gunners are finally going to end their 22-year wait for a Premier League title next season, the Spanish Euros winner would be an excellent addition.

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Sheffield United head into this afternoon’s clash with Blackburn Rovers at Bramall Lane knowing that the result of the match is largely irrelevant to them.

The Blades have already finished in third place in the Championship and will head into the play-offs with the aim of gaining promotion back to the Premier League.

Irrespective of whether or not Chris Wilder and his men achieve that goal, Sheffield United are likely to be in the market to bolster their squad in the summer transfer window, and that could be bad news for club captain Jack Robinson.

Why Sheffield United need to upgrade on Jack Robinson

The long-serving defender, who has been at the club since his move from Nottingham Forest in 2020, has been a regular starter in the Championship this term.

Robinson has started 31 of his 34 appearances in the division, but has had some struggles of late. The 31-year-old dud lost three of his four ground duels and five of his eight aerial battles in the disappointing 2-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

Wilder dropped him for the following game against Cardiff and it led to a 2-0 win over the Bluebirds, before he came back into the team for a 2-1 defeat to Burnley.

This suggests that Robinson, who has given away two penalties and made one error that directly led to a goal this season, is a player whom the club could improve upon in the summer transfer window.

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It was recently reported that Sheffield United are one of the teams, alongside Middlesbrough and Norwich City, interested in a deal to sign Oxford United centre-back Ciaron Brown, who could come in as an upgrade on Robinson.

Why Ciaron Brown would be an upgrade on Jack Robinson

Wilder could finally move on from the English defender as a regular starter and ditch him from the side by swooping to sign the Oxford United star this summer.

Firstly, Brown could provide more of a goal threat from the centre-back position. The left-footed defender has scored four goals and provided three assists in 41 matches in the league this season, compared to Robinson’s zero goals and zero assists in 34 games.

The Oxford United colossus, who former manager Gary Holt claimed has “real hunger”, could also be more reliable in his defensive work, as he has not made a single error that has led to a shot, goal, or penalty for the opposition this season.

Appearances

41

34

Goals

4

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.9

1.8

Clearances per game

6.3

4.8

Ground duel success rate

66%

72%

Aerial duel success rate

67%

61%

Error led to shot, goal, or penalty

0

3

As you can see in the table above, Brown has the beating of Robinson in several key defensive statistics, whilst also providing a greater goal threat from set plays, which suggests that he could prevent Michael Cooper from being worked as much by making vital clearances, tackles, and interceptions.

He is also four years younger than the Sheffield United man and could, therefore, be a longer-term option for Wilder in the left-sided centre-back role.

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This is why the Blades must pursue a deal for the Oxford United brute in the summer transfer window because they could improve their play at both ends of the pitch by ditching Robinson to bring Brown into their starting XI next term, whether that is as a Premier League or a Championship club.

A Bundesliga side are “ready” to sign a Rangers star valued at more than £20m this summer, according to a new update.

Rangers exit Europa League as worrying 49ers takeover update shared

The Gers’ hopes of winning the Europa League came to an end on Thursday evening after a 2-0 defeat to Athletic Club. Rangers were hoping that they’d be returning to Bilbao at the end of May for the final, however, goals in either half from Oihan Sanchet and Nico Williams ensured it would be Athletic Club taking on Man Utd in the semi finals.

For those at Ibrox, attention will soon turn to the 2025/26 season, especially as they currently trail Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership by 15 points.

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The 49ers Enterprises are currently in the process of completing an Ibrox takeover, however, ex-Aberdeen CEO Keith Wyness has heard that the American investors aren’t aware of how passionate Rangers fans are and are viewing the deal as a “business transaction”.

“I’m hearing some very interesting things from my sources at Rangers this week. They’re saying that the 49ers are looking at this like a business transaction, they don’t really get what they’re going into – in terms of the fans, the sectarian situation and the religious connotations.

“The Rangers fanbase have a massive passion. It’s alright to see it occasionally, but you’ve really got to live in it and get to know it if you’re going to invest like this. It’s an unusual beast and it’s very powerful. What I’m hearing is that the 49ers don’t quite understand that side of it.”

One of the first tasks for the 49ers will be to appoint a new permanent manager, however, they could also lose a number of players.

Recently, Hamza Igamane has been linked with a move away from Glasgow, with Marseille making a serious move. Meanwhile, Leon Balogun is unlikely to be offered a new Rangers contract and looks set to leave for free.

Borussia Monchengladbach “ready” to sign Rangers star Raskin

Now, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, relayed by Sport Witness, Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach are “ready” to sign Rangers star Nicolas Raskin this summer.

Those in Glasgow have recently valued Raskin at more than £20m, and according to Tavolieri, Monchengladbach are prepared to swoop.

He doesn’t state if Rangers are willing to do business, however, Raskin himself recently admitted his desire to “compete at a big club” ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Games

90

Goals

3

Assists

10

Yellow cards

15

“I’ve been here for two and a half years. It’s gone very well for me, especially this season. You have to see what the club wants, what comes on the table, and try to do the best for everyone. As a footballer, you always want to look ahead and see what you can do better.

“If you want to give yourself the best chance of playing in an international competition, you have to be able to compete at a big club. But the goal isn’t to go to a club where you’ll play less and lose that advantage of playing every week. It’s a balancing act that needs to be found.”

A move away from Ibrox could therefore be one to keep an eye on for the Belgium international.

Liverpool have now made contact over a move for an “unbelievable” £126m star, who they are interested in bringing to Anfield this summer, according to reliable reporter Ben Jacobs.

Reds stepping up summer transfer plans

The summer transfer window isn’t officially open until June, but the Reds have already made progress towards securing an early signing, with a deal for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong now believed to be close.

Frimpong has been identified as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the right-back set to join Real Madrid this summer, and while Virgil van Dijk has committed his future to the Reds, Arne Slot is also keen on strengthening in the centre of defence.

AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is among the more ambitious targets, but amid interest from Real Madrid, talks have now been opened over a deal for Benfica centre-back Tomas Araujo.

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There is also a sense that Slot is keen on improving his squad in more attacking areas this summer, having opened talks to sign Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki, who could be available for just £19m.

Cherki’s low asking price could make signing the Frenchman an attractive proposition, but Liverpool also have their eye on a much more expensive target, namely Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, with a deal for the German likely to amount to around £126m.

Taking to X, Jacobs has now provided a new update on the Reds’ Wirtz pursuit, stating “contact” has been made over a deal for the attacking midfielder, who they are “interested” in bringing to Anfield.

However, the reporter also clarifies that an in-person meeting hasn’t taken place, contrary to other reports, with Slot’s side of the belief the 22-year-old will either join Bayern Munich or stay at Leverkusen, rather than moving to the Premier League.

Wirtz could be "unbelievable" signing for Liverpool

Leverkusen have been on a real journey under Xabi Alonso, winning the Bundesliga title without losing a game in the 2023-24 campaign, while once again qualifying for the Champions League this season.

The 22-year-old has played an integral role in their success, picking up 57 goals and 65 assists in 196 first-team appearances for the German side, bagging six goals in nine Champions League outings this season.

As such, the Germany international places extremely highly on some key attacking metrics over the past year, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Successful take-ons

2.88 (96th percentile)

Assists

0.37 (92nd percentile)

Progressive passes

6.91 (94th percentile)

Wirtz is exhibiting world-class potential, but it appears as though a move to Bayern is the more likely scenario, and Liverpool would have to break the bank to get a deal done, given his £126m price tag.

Aston Villa gave their Champions League ambitions a massive boost after they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on Friday evening.

Spurs had one eye on the Europa League final next week, but Unai Emery’s side delivered a confident performance.

The game was even balanced before Villa opened the scoring courtesy of Ezri Konsa, who netted from six yards out following a flick-on from Ollie Watkins.

Boubacar Kamara doubled the lead 15 minutes later with a shot from the edge of the box that all but sealed the victory.

In the end, the three points were well deserved, and the starting XI was excellent. Konsa must receive extra praise, not just for his goal but also for how imperious he was at the heart of the defence.

Ezri Konsa’s game in numbers vs Spurs

The Englishman has missed just four Premier League games for Villa this season, becoming one of Emery’s key players as they seek to make the Champions League group stages yet again.

Although used on the right side of defence at times this season, Konsa is at his best in the middle, using his incredible physical strength to win duels.

Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur – Key Statistics

Metric

Highest-Ranked

Accurate passes

Pau Torres (114)

Key passes

John McGinn (3)

Tackles

Amadou Onana (4)

Ground duels won

Amadou Onan (6)

Shots on target

Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins (2)

Via Sofascore

Against Spurs, he made three clearances and two tackles and won four of his six ground duels throughout the match.

Furthermore, he only lost possession twice and committed two fouls, but he was in total control against the North Londoners.

He will be integral to Villa should they finish in the top five and secure a spot in the promised land next term, that’s for sure, due to his fantastic defensive work.

Someone else who could also prove influential is Amadou Onana, who made just his fifth league start since the beginning of February on Friday evening.

Amadou Onana is now undroppable for Aston Villa

While plaudits have gone to Youri Tielemans for the superb job he has done in the Villa midfield this term, Onana may give Emery plenty to think about due to his display against Spurs.

The Belgian not only completed 91% of his passes, but he also succeeded with 100% of his dribbles, made a single key pass, and lost the ball only four times when he was on the pitch, which shows how reliable he was with the ball at his feet.

Four tackles and winning six of his seven ground duels proved his tenacious nature was on show for all to see, and it certainly gave the likes of Morgan Rogers and Marco Asensio more freedom to express themselves in the final third, as he constantly broke up Spurs attacks to regain possession for his side.

Journalist John Townley gave the former Everton man a rating of 8/10, saying that ‘Onana covered ground effortlessly and showed his range in possession, playing accurate balls out wide and combining well in tight areas. A strong all-round showing’, which shows that he was as good and as effective as Konsa.

Villa need to win their final game against Manchester United, who will either be on a high or despondent after the Europa League final in midweek, to secure a top-five finish in the top flight, and Onana’s performance against Spurs shows that he should be undroppable heading into that match.

If they perform like they did against Spurs, United will stand no chance.

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Newcastle United are now considering a move for a £27m striker, who could be brought in to partner Alexander Isak, according to a report.

Race for Isak heating up

It is no surprise that so many clubs are keen on signing Isak this summer, given just how impressive the Swedish forward has been this season, most notably scoring against Liverpool in the EFL Cup final to help end Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a trophy.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League

33

23

6

EFL Cup

6

3

0

FA Cup

2

1

0

Arsenal are now ramping up their pursuit of the striker, with a jaw-dropping £127m offer now being prepared, while he has also been identified as a dream signing for Liverpool, having left manager Arne Slot impressed at times this season.

That said, the Magpies remain in a strong negotiating position, with the 25-year-old contracted until the summer of 2028, so they may be able to retain his services beyond the end of the campaign.

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However, according to a report from Spain, Newcastle are now considering a move for Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth as a potential replacement for Isak, should their talisman move on this summer.

Alternatively, the report adds Sorloth could be brought in as a partner for the Sweden international, should Eddie Howe’s side secure a place in the Champions League, with the Tynesiders weighing up the possibility of forming a top-level attacking duo.

There is a belief that the Atletico forward would be able to adapt to life in the Premier League, and his qualities make him a good fit for Howe, who is looking for a strong and aerially dominant forward.

"Stellar" Sorloth impressing in La Liga

The Norwegian has not been at Atletico for long, arriving in a €32m (£27m) deal last summer, but he has certainly caught the eye during his debut campaign with the Spanish side, netting 21 goals in all competitions, including 17 in La Liga.

The 29-year-old didn’t manage to make the desired impact in the Champions League, with Atletico exiting the competition at the hands of Real Madrid, but the Spanish side should be encouraged by his first season in Spain.

The Norway international ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to other strikers, while also placing in the 95th percentile for aerials won, showcasing the threat he poses in the air.

Lauded as “stellar” by journalist Zach Lowy, there are signs that Sorloth could be a fantastic signing for Newcastle this summer, but it seems unlikely that Atletico would be willing to cash-in, given his exploits in his first campaign with Atletico.