All posts by n8rngtd.top

Saturday evening confirmed several things for Tottenham Hotspur.

One, Harry Kane's £100m transfer to Bayern Munich is not the world-ending scenario some have feared.

And two, manager Ange Postecoglou's freshly implemented system tantalises an exciting, refreshing new chapter for the club.

Dispatching Manchester United 2-0 after opening the seasonal account with a battling 2-2 draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium has hinted that goals and points will flow this term, but there remains space, unequivocally, for a new forward.

Richarlison has led the line for the opening two matches, whilst young striker Alejo Veliz, aged 19, has penned a £13m deal from Argentinian outfit Rosario Central.

What's the latest on Ernest Nuamah to Tottenham?

According to Football Insider, Spurs are preparing a formal offer for Danish side FC Nordsjaelland's teenage forward Ernest Ernest Nuamah, with the Daily Mail claiming he is rated at £22m.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Premier League rivals Burnley, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United are also interested, so Postecoglou and co will have to act swiftly and incisively to secure his services this month.

How good is Ernest Nuamah?

The dynamic Ghana sensation, who can play across both wings and centrally, has started the 2023/24 campaign with aplomb, scoring four goals and providing one assist from four matches in the Danish Superliga.

Still only 19 years of age, this follows an impressive breakthrough season where Nuameh plundered 15 goals and four assists from 34 matches for Nordsjaelland across all competitions.

Profiling the youngster, his former manager Flemming Pedersen said:

“Ernest is first and foremost a dribbler. He is incredibly fast, has a huge acceleration, and a good agility. He is primarily left-footed, but can also use the right. He is a great individualist with tremendous power, who has great potential to also become a skilled team player.”

While he is not naturally a forward, preferring to utilise his blistering speed and force as a forward-surging vehicle out wide, Nuamah, who has also been dubbed the "Ghanaian Flash" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, boasts an average Sofascore rating of 7.53 in the league this term, having complemented his prolific return with two shots per game and a crisp pass success rate of 83%.

Given his ability to flourish both wide and as a centre-forward, Nuamah could prove to surpass Richarlison's presence with the Lilywhites, with the Brazilian forward only scoring three goals and supplying four assists from 37 outings since completing a £60m transfer from Everton in July 2022.

The 44-cap international only managed to record a score of 6.73 across 21 Premier League appearances last season, taking just one shot per game and completing 73% of his passes.

With Kane gone for pastures news, Richarlison might feel he has a new lease of life under Postecoglou's wing, and while he has indeed started the first two games this year in the talismanic role, an average rating of just 6.5, taking one shot each match, hardly evokes confidence following a disappointing introduction to life in north London.

Nuamah might be young and inexperienced, but he looks to be a true talent and if he can retain his cutting edge with a move to Postecoglou's project, Tottenham might unveil the perfect new attacking outlet to cement a starring role, surpassing Richarlison.

Manchester United target Sofyan Amrabat could become a Red Devils player on deadline day, with a big update emerging in the last 24 hours.

Are Man United signing Sofyan Amrabat?

Erik ten Hag and those at Old Trafford have been relatively busy so far this summer, with marquee big-money deals for Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund from Inter Milan, Chelsea and Atalanta all sealed earlier in the window.

Another player who is also on course to move to Manchester is Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon, with a verbal agreement in place with Spurs over a loan deal.

There could be room for one more eye-catching transfer, though, with Amrabat heavily linked with a move to Manchester in recent weeks. The Morocco international previously worked under Ten Hag at FC Utrecht, registering 10 assists in 50 appearances under the Dutchman and appears to be a top target to bolster the club’s midfield ranks even further.

Recent reports have claimed that United saw an initial loan offer turned down by Fiorentina for Amrabat, who has been training away from the first-team squad. However, it now looks as if there has been progress over a transfer, with Football Insider sharing an update on Man United and Amrabat.

The report claims that the Red Devils have made a breakthrough in their pursuit of the player, with Fiorentina giving the midfielder the green light to travel to Manchester for talks and a medical after late-night developments on Wednesday.

It is added that United are putting the finishing touches to a marquee move, but don’t add whether a move will be a loan or permanent transfer.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

Amrabat is naturally a defensive midfielder who can play slightly further forward in a central midfield role if needed and has been with Fiorentina since 2020, making 107 appearances for his current employers.

The 27-year-old appears to be at the top of his game right now with a career-high €30m Transfermarkt valuation, a figure which rocketed following a successful World Cup in Qatar last year.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Hailed as a "monster" by broadcaster Carlo Garganese, Amrabat was praised by former England manager Fabio Capello for his displays in Qatar which saw Morocco reach the semi-finals, with the Italian describing Amrabat as a 'great runner' and the 'Gennaro Gattuso of Morocco'.

"If I have to name one name, besides the well-known Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi, it would be Amrabat. He is essential for balance and a great runner. I read that he covered more than fourteen kilometres against Spain. I see him as the Gennaro Gattuso of Morocco."

As per FBref over the past 12 months, Amrabat has shone when compared to his positional peers, ranking in the top 1% and 2% for passes completed and attempted respectively. He also ranks extremely highly for passes into the final third and progressive passes, showing his quality on the ball.

Off the ball, Amrabat ranks in the 85th percentile for tackles in midfield, so could compliment the likes of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in a potential midfield three, and by the looks of things, a move may well materialise before the 11pm deadline.

Tottenham Hotspur’s start to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign has been solid, with Ange Postecoglou leading his side to two wins from three, including a wonderful victory over Manchester United.

His transfer business has also been impressive, managing to secure the signings of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario among others as the Australian looked to build a squad that could challenge the top four and secure a return to European competition.

They were also interested in a move for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher on transfer deadline day, according to reports, yet the former Celtic boss missed plenty of other chances to improve his midfield throughout the window.

What is Conor Gallagher good at?

The Englishman has been in decent form for the Blues so far this term, ranking third across the squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.4), while also ranking in the top five for accurate passes, big chances created and shots on target per game, showcasing his talents across a wide range of metrics.

It represents solid progress by the midfielder, as last term he struggled to display the form that saw him shine at Crystal Palace during the 2021/22 campaign, where he scored eight goals and grabbed five assists for the Eagles.

This dropped to just three goals and one assist last term. Perhaps a move and a fresh start away from the hustle and bustle of Chelsea could have reinvigorated the 23-year-old.

Could Postecoglou have made a more concrete effort to sign a midfielder who has shone on the continent, however? Nicolo Barella was linked with a move to the club during the embryonic stages of the transfer window in June and would arguably have been a better option, albeit an expensive one at a potential £69m.

How good is Nicolo Barella?

The Inter Milan sensation was an integral part of their success during the 2022/23 season as the Serie A side won the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup while also reaching their first Champions League final for 13 years, losing 1-0 to Manchester City.

Barella displayed his attacking talents throughout the campaign, registering 19 goal contributions – nine goals and ten assists – across all competitions, whilst in the league, he ranked third for key passes per game (1.6) across the squad and first for successful dribbles per game (1.1), further evidence of his attacking skillset.

He could certainly have been a big upgrade on Gallagher. Indeed, the £152k-per-week gem ranked in the top 8% for non-penalty goals, the top 9% for progressive carries and the top 12% for shot-creating actions when compared to positional peers over the previous 12 months.

In comparison, Gallagher ranked outside the top 20% when compared to positional peers for the same metrics, and it proves that the Italian is more effective from an attacking point of view and this would have given Postecoglou something different in the midfield area.

Renowned scout Jacek Kulig had plenty of praise for the Inter player, lauding him as a “little warrior” back in 2019, and it looks as though Spurs have missed out big time by failing to bring the 26-year-old to the Premier League during the summer.

Gallagher may prove to be a hit for Spurs, yet the statistics state that Barella would have been the far better choice.

Wolverhampton Wanderers attempted to bolster their squad during the recent summer transfer window as they brought in eight new signings.

Who did Wolves sign this summer?

The Old Gold, who started the window with Julen Lopetegui and ended it with Gary O'Neil in the dugout, made seven permanent additions to the group alongside one loan deal.

They snapped up Tommy Doyle on a season-long loan from Premier League and Champions League champions Manchester City, in a move that saw Matheus Nunes go the other way on a permanent basis.

Wolves also brought in Matheus Cunha, Matt Doherty, Tom King, Enso Gonzalez, Boubacar Traore, Santiago Bueno, and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to improve their options across the pitch.

Doherty was a particularly interesting addition to the team as the Republic of Ireland international joined on a free transfer three years after his move away from the club to sign for Tottenham Hotspur.

Wolves played a masterclass with the right-back during his first spell at Molineux as Mick McCarthy struck gold by signing him in 2010.

How much did Wolves sign Doherty for in 2010?

The former Old Gold head coach was reportedly impressed by the then-18-year-old full-back during a pre-season friendly against Irish side Bohemians and swooped to secure his services for a fee within the region of £75k in 2010.

McCarthy took a relatively small gamble, given the size of the figure spent on him, by signing Doherty and it turned out to be an outstanding decision by the ex-Ipswich boss.

The teenage defender made 33 appearances for the club's U21 side and enjoyed loan spells with Hibernian and Bury FC before he made his first-team breakthrough at Molineux.

His first season of semi-regular senior football came during the 2012/13 campaign as he played 13 Championship matches on their way to relegation to League One, where he then featured in 18 games throughout their promotion season.

Doherty then established himself as a regular starter during the 2014/15 term as he assisted five goals in 33 Championship outings.

Including that term, he went on to play 33 or more league matches for Wolves in each of his last six seasons for the club, which included four second division campaigns and two in the Premier League.

How much did Wolves sell Doherty for?

The Old Gold eventually opted to cash in on the defender for a reported fee of £15m in the summer of 2020 as Tottenham secured his signature.

This came after Doherty produced an eye-catching eight goals and 11 assists in 74 Premier League appearances for Wolves across the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns.

The Republic of Ireland international, who was hailed as a "machine" by journalist Tim Spiers, proved himself to be an excellent attacking threat from a right wing-back position and this caught the eye of those at Spurs, who decided to splash out to sign him.

This meant that Doherty's value soared by a staggering 19,900%, from the initial £75k that was paid to Bohemians, over the course of his ten-year stay at Molineux.

Evidently, McCarthy well and truly struck gold by snapping him up from the Irish side after being impressed by his pre-season display against the Old Gold. Indeed, it ended up making the club an incredible profit whilst also giving them a reliable performer who racked up 303 first-team appearances.

Yet to really get out of second gear, Arsenal have still managed to remain unbeaten in their opening four Premier League games, with their most impressive win coming last time out in dramatic style against Manchester United.

Their draw against Fulham aside, it has been as expected from the Gunners, who are looking to push Manchester City all the way again having missed out on the league title in the previous campaign.

Those at The Emirates have certainly backed Mikel Arteta, too, splashing the cash in the summer transfer window on reinforcements who could bridge the gap to Pep Guardiola's side.

If the summer arrivals don't do the job, however, the North Londoners have already turned their attention to January additions, with reports indicating that Mikel Arteta has already made contact with one particular target.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

When looking at the current Arsenal squad, there's not a lot, if anything, that they urgently lack, meaning that it could simply be a case of extending their quality even more in January and looking towards the future with a luxury signing or two.

With the Champions League to think about this season, and that hopefully still being the case come January from Arsenal's perspective, there's no limit on the depth that a side needs.

With that said, according to Voetbalkrant, Arsenal are among the sides interested in Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa in January, and Arteta has already reached out to the 18-year-old over a potential move in the winter transfer window.

The Gunners will have to act quickly if they are to secure the teenager's signature, however, given that AS Monaco, Liverpool, Ajax, Lyon, and Borussia Dortmund are all also reportedly keeping an eye on him. Meanwhile, Chelsea also reportedly had a €30m (£26m) rejected for Nusa in the summer, suggesting that Brugge would want a fairly big offer to sell their future star.

Should Arsenal sign Antonio Nusa?

With the foundation for success already built at The Emirates, Arsenal would be doing themselves no harm by pursuing stars for the future. And that's where Nusa could come in.

The youngster has attracted plenty of interest from across Europe, which will only entice the Gunners even more when January comes around. That interest comes as little surprise, too, given that the winger, at 18, is already so heavily involved in first-team action in Belgium.

When at his best, Nusa has earned plenty of deserved praise, including from Arsenal star Martin Odegaard, who praised his fellow Norwegian, telling TV2, via Sport Witness: "Fantastic! He is an incredibly exciting player. You see it, everything he gets the ball, it’s exciting. He is still young and will get even better. It was cool to see him. He deserved to get the chance that he takes it to such an extent. Incredibly cool!

“He must continue as he has done. Work hard, be humble. He’s a nice boy. Very calm and nice type. It’s going to be just fine. He just has to enjoy the football and continue to deliver as he does. Then it will be good.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has enjoyed a number of huge successes in the transfer market over the years throughout his time at Anfield.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Alisson were all signed by the German head coach and went on to become influential players for the club, with some of them remaining key figures to date.

Who are Klopp's most expensive Liverpool signings?

Klopp has not been afraid to splash the cash when provided the chance to do so by FSG and has struck gold a number of times since his move to the club in 2015.

Whilst it is easy to focus on the big-money signings who caught the eye and became stars for the club, Klopp also played a blinder with the bargain signing and then sale of winger Xherdan Shaqiri.

He was a solid and reliable performer for the Reds during his spell at Anfield and the German boss went on to sell him at the perfect time before his market value plummeted.

How much did Liverpool pay for Shaqiri?

The Reds reportedly splashed out a fee of £13.5m to sign the Switzerland international from Stoke City in the summer of 2018 after they activated a relegation clause in his contract with the Potters, who dropped down to the Championship that year.

Klopp described it as a "perfect" move and a no-brainer for the club as the talented forward had already proven his quality at Premier League level. Coincidentally, he'd also proven himself to be a little like one former Red. After scoring at Euro 2018, just a month before his move, one football writer Andrew Beasley said: "That Shaqiri goal reeks of Suárez against Everton at the Kop end in 2014."

The Swiss joined Stoke from Italian giants Inter in the summer of 2015 and enjoyed an impressive few years at the club with 15 goals and 15 assists in 92 appearances in all competitions.

His most productive season in a Potters shirt came during the 2017/18 campaign as he contributed with eight goals and seven assists in 36 Premier League starts.

The Switzerland forward averaged a phenomenal Sofascore rating of 7.24 which happened to be the highest score within the squad, ahead of second-placed Kurt Zouma's 7.07.

Shaqiri was unfortunate to end the season with only seven assists as the left-footed winger created a whopping 14 'big chances' for his teammates and provided 2.1 key passes per game, as per Sofascore, 1.2 more per match than any other Stoke player with more than one league appearance.

That sublime form came after the ex-Bayern Munich prospect produced four goals and two assists in 21 Premier League starts during the 2016/17 campaign. In that time, he created five 'big chances' and delivered two key passes per outing.

These statistics show that Liverpool were bringing in a player who had already proven himself to be an effective forward in the top-flight of English football for a relatively low fee.

How many goals did Shaqiri score for Liverpool?

The Switzerland star racked up eight goals in 63 appearances in all competitions for the Reds in three seasons with the club before his exit in 2021.

Shaqiri, who joined as a back-up to the likes of Mane and Salah, caught the eye when called upon by the ex-Dortmund head coach throughout his first season on Merseyside.

The talented attacker scored six goals and provided three assists in 11 Premier League starts for the Reds, which worked out as an average of one goal contribution every 1.2 starts. Evidently, he was a reliable option for Liverpool to bring in when one of the frontline options needed a rest or missed a game through injury or suspension.

Only Roberto Firmino, Mane, and Salah scored more league goals for Liverpool than Shaqiri during the 2018/18 campaign, illustrating how impactful he was in spite of his limited game time on the pitch.

He also provided two assists in two Champions League starts for the club that season as Klopp's side went on to win the competition with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the final.

However, Shaqiri then struggled even more for minutes on the pitch over the next two years as he managed seven Premier League starts in his final two campaigns at Anfield, in which time he chipped in with one goal and two assists.

Where is Xherdan Shaqiri now?

Liverpool ended up playing a blinder with the Swiss gem as they opted to sell him to Lyon in the summer of 2021 after his lack of game time. Since then, his value has plummeted, suggesting a sale was made at precisely the right time.

Football Transfers rated his Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at €11.2m (£9.8m) in December of 2021, shortly after his move to France.

Shaqiri only played 16 matches for the Ligue 1 outfit and contributed with two goals and three assists before a move to MLS side Chicago Fire in 2022.

He has racked up 12 goals and 11 assists in 59 appearances for the American team to date and has scored three goals and produced three assists in 26 MLS outings in 2023 so far.

At the time of writing (25/09/2023), FootballTransfers has his xTV at €2.9m (£2.5m), meaning that his market value has dropped by a staggering 74% in just two years since his move from Liverpool.

Klopp clearly made a terrific decision to cash in on Shaqiri when he did as the 31-year-old has struggled to get back to his best and currently finds himself playing outside of Europe's major leagues with a decreasing market value.

Liverpool picked him up for a fairly cheap price and enjoyed his talents throughout the 2018/19 season and, although they may be disappointed with how the next two years went, have now been able to watch on as he has struggled since moving on from Anfield.

Erik ten Hag is adamant Manchester United's one-sided derby defeat to Manchester City did not reflect a gulf in class between the two rivals.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• City outclass United to win 3-1
• United led through Rashford stunner
• City dominated thereafter

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United boss pointed to injuries and "small margins" following the 3-1 loss at the Etihad. Marcus Rashford had given his side an early lead with a sublime long-range strike, but City dominated thereafter and claimed derby bragging rights with three second-half goals.

Advertisement

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT TEN HAG SAID

  However, speaking after the game, Ten Hag insisted that the result and City's supremacy in the game did not reflect an overall gulf in class between the Manchester rivals.

  "No, I don’t think so, absolutely not," he responded when asked if there was a clear gap between them.

  "We have many problems in injuries and still we had an opportunity. Really small margins, we could have scored the second goal in a debatable moment [when Rashford went down before City's equaliser].

  "We can be competitive and we showed in theFA Cupfinal against them when it was close but City is in this moment, don’t forget this; they are the best team in the world."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City outperformed their neighbours in basically every statistical metric as they piled the pressure on after going behind so early to Rashford's strike. Ten Hag's side had just 26 percent of the possession, 60 fewer touches in the opposition penalty area and only attempted one shot after the 23rd minute. The also completed a massive 223 fewer passes than their rivals, per .

  The result leaves United down in sixth, 11 points off fourth-placed Aston Villa with 11 games to go, and thus facing an uphill battle to qualify for the Champions League. City, meanwhile, sit 18 points ahead of them in second place.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Finishing in fifth place could also provide a Champions League place depending on the UEFA coefficient, but United are still six points behind current occupiers Tottenham, who have a game in hand. The Red Devils will look to get their pursuit back on track when they host Everton on Saturday.

Eric Dier labelled Harry Kane as the "most reliable goalscorer in the world" after the striker netted a double against Lazio in the Champions League.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Kane hailed by Dier after Lazio win
• English forward bagged a brace
• Fired the Germans to the UCL quarter-final

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The England international stole the spotlight with a brace against Lazio to inspire a second-leg turnaround. A goal in each half from Kane and another strike from Thomas Muller inspired the Bavarians to a 3-0 victory over Maurizio Sarri's men to seal a Champions League quarter-final spot on Tuesday evening at the Allianz Arena. After the dust had settled down, Dier, a long-time teammate of Kane, hailed the prolific striker as one of the best for putting rising to the occasion when the stakes were high.

Advertisement

• WHAT DIER SAID

  Speaking to after the match, Dier said: "Incredible. I am so happy for him tonight as he got his goals. Yeah, he is the most reliable goalscorer in the world. Anyone would be happy to play with him and obviously being a friend, it is nicer and makes it easier for me to settle in as well."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Dier has been awarded for his consistent performances with a permanent contract by Bayern and the defender admitted that he is relishing the fresh challenge in Gemrnay with a new club and teammates.

  "It feels great the way the players, the club and the fans have received me. It has helped a lot," he said.

  "It has made it very easy for me to settle in. Obviously, I am enjoying something new. A fresh start – it was something I needed individually. New country, new club and everything is going well. But a lot of things have to be done yet. Always looking to improve."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Bayern will hope to carry their continental form into the Bundesliga as they are set to host Mainz in a vital league clash on Saturday.

In the post-2000-era, Manchester United's unrelenting dominance of the Premier League was built on a squad of superstars as Sir Alex Ferguson nurtured some of the best young prospects to grace the beautiful game.

Of course, prising Cristiano Ronaldo away from Sporting Lisbon for £12m in 2003 will go down as arguably the greatest piece of business the club has ever done, but the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney arrived as young prospects for big money and departed the club as legends.

While the pillars of their success were built on their eye for talented youngsters that they developed into superstars, Ferguson also did some underrated business in the transfer market, capturing Nemanja Vidic for £7m from Spartak Moscow in 2006 – who became a colossus at the back alongside Ferdinand – Patrice Evra for £5.5m from AS Monaco and PSV Eindhoven's Ji-sung Park for £4m.

It is fair to say the 2005/06 season was a hugely successful one in the transfer window as that trio played a huge role in helping United dominate on the domestic and European front.

Similarly, luring Antonio Valencia from Wigan Athletic in 2009 was another time when the Red Devils struck gold in the transfer market, as the Ecuador international became an integral cog in Fergie's winning machine.

How much did Man United pay for Antonio Valencia?

Signed in the summer of 2009, Man United captured the signature of highly-rated Wigan winger Valencia for £16m.

Valencia became Ferguson's first signing since Ronaldo departed for £80m in the same summer, and although he was never going to be a direct replacement for the outgoing superstar, he was a player that the Scot was chasing for a while.

Upon the completion of the transfer, Ferguson said: "Antonio is a player we have admired for some time now, having spent the last two years in the Premier League with Wigan, I am sure his pace and ability will make a significant contribution to the team."

Possessing the raw pace and power that was a staple in Ferguson's well-oiled machine, Valencia arrived at the club after producing 17 goal contributions in 89 appearances for the Latics – whilst that record is nothing to write home about – a move to Man United would be the catalyst for the 24-year-old's development.

How good was Antonio Valencia at Man United?

Valencia was built in the mould of an old-fashioned winger; difficult to defend against in one vs one's, utilising his fast, powerful and direct attributes to fashion a space for a cross and flash a ball into the danger zone.

Although defenders knew what was coming, Valencia was excellent at crafting a yard of space to send a telling and often quality delivery into the box, a movement that saw him record an impressive seven goals and 13 assists in his first season at Old Trafford.

United went on to lose out on the Premier League title by a single point to Chelsea, preventing them from lifting a fourth consecutive title and while they would return to the top of the tree in the following season, Valencia's campaign was hampered by a dislocated and fractured ankle, though he did return in time to help the Red Devils lift their 19th league title.

In the following season, the explosive winger began his transition into becoming a dependable right back and the switch to a more defensive role allowed him to thrive from a deeper position, chalking up an incredible 14 assists in 27 appearances in the top flight as he scooped the United’s Fans and Players’ Player of the Season awards.

Rewarded with the number 7 jersey that was donned by Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Ronaldo previously, Valencia's form subsequently dipped, contributing to half the number of goals and a quarter of assists in Ferguson's final campaign.

During the David Moyes and Louis van Gaal eras that followed, Valencia's output declined – as did United's powers in English football – and it wasn't untill Jose Mourinho arrived in 2016 that the 5 foot 11 "beast", as dubbed by former teammate Juan Mata, was allowed to flourish once more.

Valencia was someone who the Special One had admired since his days managing Real Madrid and although Mourinho didn't turn him into the flying fullback, the process began long before his arrival.

“I tried to sign Antonio when I was at Madrid,” Mourinho said. "Even though he was not playing right-back at the time, I thought he could be phenomenal in that position.”

Mourinho showcased his love for Valencia even further by labelling him as the "best right back in the world" in 2017, paying an ode to the longevity and consistent quality that he produced.

After tallying up 87 goal contributions in 339 appearances, current manager Erik ten Hag can only dream of having a right-back capable of producing that level of output in the final third with Diogo Dalot, for instance, only contributing to nine goals in 115 appearances for the club so far.

Remembered fondly by supporters for being a winger turned world-class right back, who was adored by Ferguson and Mourinho, Valencia was one of several unsung heroes at Manchester United during their glittering period at the top and is now retired following stints in Ecuador and Mexico.

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka and Nando's have come up with a new variant of sauce named 'PERi-PERi Saka'.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Saka and Nando's come up with new sauce
• Consists of Saka's favourite flavours and PERi-PERi
• Featured in Nando's advertisement last year

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  World famous restaurant chain Nando's have added a new variant to their sauces as they collaborated with Arsenal and England winger Saka to launch a new 'PERi-PERi Saka' sauce.

Advertisement

• Nando's/PA
  

  THE GOSSIP

  'PERi-PERi Saka' consists of the player's favourite flavours – smoky BBQ and tomato sauce – along with Nando's signature PERi-PERi. The resulting taste is sweet with a fiery kick, which makes it unique. It is medium spicy compared to the traditional PERi-PERi sauce. The new variant will soon be available across all Nando's restaurants in England.

• WHAT BUKAYO SAKA SAID

  Speaking about his new venture, Saka said: "The sauce mixes sweet, spiciness and smokiness. I love it and can’t wait for everyone to try it. I’ve been going to Nando’s since I was little so to have my own PERi-PERi sauce in every restaurant in the country is quite mad! My family’s really important to me so I wanted to make sure they liked it, too. As soon as my Dad said he was a fan, I knew it was the one."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 22-year-old has long been commercially associated with Nando's, having featured in their 'This Must Be The Place' advertisement last year. He even celebrated his father's birthday at the restaurant in the past.