All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Manchester United are set for a huge defensive overhaul during the 2024 summer transfer window.

This comes after a season which saw them concede 58 Premier League goals and 15 times in the Champions League group stage, which is the most by a Premier League side in the group stages of a Champions League campaign.

The Red Devils could let up to four defenders leave this summer. Raphael Varane has already departed the club upon the expiration of his contract, with fellow centre-backs Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof also potential departures. Aaron Wan-Bissaka could also leave Old Trafford if the right offer arrives.

Of course, with all of these departures, there must be incomings to balance the books and add depth to the squad. United have been heavily linked with Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich, with the former Ajax captain thought to have agreed terms with the Red Devils. They have also placed a bid for exciting young French defender Leny Yoro, although it remains to be seen if he will pick United over Real Madrid.

However, there is another name on INEOS' list of potential centre-backs, and they have been heavily linked with this player during the entire transfer window.

Man Utd target Premier League defender

The player in question here is, of course, Everton and England centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite. After a superb season with the Toffees in 2023/24, the defender has been linked with a move to Old Trafford regularly this summer.

Now, according to a report from Graeme Bailey, the Red Devils are currently 'working on making' a third bid for the defender. This comes after United had two previous offers, the most recent one worth around £50m, rejected by the Toffees for the talented England star.

However, despite a tough negotiation at the moment, it might not all be plain sailing for United when it comes to doing a deal for Branthwaite this summer.

Manchester City could challenge their biggest rivals in a bid to bring Branthwaite to the blue side of Manchester instead.

In terms of a price for Branthwaite, Everton have been firm in their stance that he is worth around £80m, in line with deals for Josko Gvardiol and Wesley Fofana. Bailey confirms that United are preparing their third bid, with internal talks finalising 'what level they will come in at' to try and sign the young defender.

Why Branthwaite would be a good signing

Branthwaite was a pivotal player under Sean Dyche for Everton last season. The 22-year-old played 35 Premier League games for the Toffees, helping to keep an impressive 12 clean sheets and chipped in with three goals, including one in the Merseyside Derby, backing up the claim of scout Jacek Kulig that he is an "absolute monster".

He is highly rated by those close to Old Trafford, including one of Erik ten Hag’s soon-to-be coaches, and the club’s legendary striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Dutchman managed Branthwaite at PSV two seasons ago, when the young defender had a loan spell at the Dutch side. Van Nistelrooy called Branthwaite a “great talent”, before explaining that he is a “very complete” centre-back.

Should United sign Branthwaite, he may not just become a superb option for Ten Hag at centre-back, but also at left-back, allowing him tactical flexibility and more depth. This would be bad news for £150k-per-week earner Luke Shaw who is the Red Devils’ first-choice in that position. He has struggled with injuries, and having a player like Branthwaite could be an excellent alternative to the England international.

As is the current tactical trend at the moment, Ten Hag could choose to set up in a 3-2-5 system when his side have the ball. With Branthaite at left-back, it could be the case that he tucks into left centre-back when United are in possession, a role he has superb attributes for. Football analyst H also explained that he believes the 22-year-old is “capable of playing” on the left side and tucking into centre-back with the ball.

He is an excellent wide defender, able to use his long stride to cover wide spaces with ease. This is also somewhat reflected in his stats on Sofascore, averaging 5.2 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, as well as winning 2.5 ground duels each game. He is also a wonderful box defender, which could come in handy at left-back especially when defending the far post.

Ball recoveries

5.2

Tackles

1.9

Interceptions

1.4

Aerial duels

2.7

Ground duels

2.5

Clearances

4.5

One issue with Branthwaite playing left-back ahead of Shaw means that the former Southampton man would not be able to strike up his successful partnership with Marcus Rashford. Over the years, the pair have formed a brilliant understanding, and Shaw is deadly on the overlap as Rashford operates in the left half-space.

Rashford discussed his and Shaw’s partnership in 2021, describing that the things they do on the left-hand side are “simple but they’re effective”, before explaining that he thinks the pair are a “threat” when operating together on that left-hand side.

However, with Branthwaite operating at left-back, it would mean that Rashford does not have that overlap from Shaw, or indeed from any left-back, and has to hold the width on the left himself. This is not Rashford’s best role, and he would be better utilised in the left-half space with a flying full-back.

With that being said, it could be necessary for some games to play the Everton man at left-back, and Ten Hag can lean on that aforementioned tactical flexibility to help him get through games and make his side better equipped to beat the best sides.

Whilst it may be an expensive deal to do, Branthwiate could be at the heart of the United defence for the next ten years. He is a wonderful player, as shown by his stats and well-rated by the likes of van Nistelrooy. It could be a superb addition to United’s centre-back ranks this summer.

Better than Branthwaite: Man Utd plot bid for "monster" CB on top of Yoro

This would be a colossal statement of intent from INEOS.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 9, 2024

Arsenal, led by sporting director Edu Gaspar, have agreed to pay £86 million to sign a very in-form forward for manager Mikel Arteta, according to a report this week.

Edu and Arteta targeting four key signings for Arsenal

According to some reports, Arsenal are targeting four key signings before the summer window deadline on August 30 – coming in the form of a new goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward.

"Special" Arsenal player agrees to leave as West Ham chase quick deal

They want it done this week.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 18, 2024

As talks remain ongoing over a deal for Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, as widely reported, a large section of supporters are especially keen to see a talismanic new striker come through the door at London Colney.

A goalscoring out-and-out centre-forward has long been seen by many critics as the final missing piece of Arteta's jigsaw. Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Brentford star Ivan Toney to fill the role last summer, but murmurs of a move for the England international have since cooled.

Bukayo Saka

20

Leandro Trossard

17

Kai Havertz

14

Martin Odegaard

11

Gabriel Jesus

8

While their fondness for Toney appears to have waned, the north Londoners are still believed to be in the market for a new striker if the right opportunity presents itself.

Arteta is rumoured to be a fan of Ajax striker Brian Brobbey as a possible alternative to Gabriel Jesus, while more marquee options like Napoli star Victor Osimhen have been mentioned in parts as well.

Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz bagged a brilliant 51 goals between them in all competitions last season, but Arteta apparently wants a striking partner for Havertz going forward next season.

Arsenal made a good proposal to RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko to fill the role earlier this window, but Edu and co were met with a swift rejection as the Slovenia international chose to stay in the Bundesliga and further his development at his current club.

There are other opportunities for Arsenal in the market, but they may have to invest heavily, with an interesting report now claiming they're willing to do just that.

Arsenal agree to pay £86 million to sign Viktor Gyokeres

As per Leonino, via Standard Sport [17/07/2024, 07:00], Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres remains on Arsenal's wanted list after being heavily linked earlier this year.

It is now claimed that Arsenal have agreed to pay Sporting £86 million to sign Gyokeres, which is believed to be the value of his release clause. The Swede, called "unplayable" by former Coventry City teammate Maxime Biamou, scored a phenomenal 43 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions last season.

Gyokeres bagged a further 15 assists as well, totalling 58 goal contributions over what was a truly exceptional debut season in Portugal. There is a growing clamor for his services as a result, and it will be interesting to see if this report comes to fruition as Edu looks to end the club's long search for a new vocal point up front.

Leeds United have made four additions to their first-team squad during the summer transfer window, since they failed to earn promotion to the Premier League last season.

The Whites lost 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley in May and are now preparing for a second season in the Championship.

Daniel Farke swooped to bring in Joe Rodon on a permanent deal from Tottenham Hotspur after his spell on loan at Elland Road during the 2023/24 campaign, with Archie Gray going to Spurs in a separate deal.

Leeds then signed Alex Cairns to provide back-up to Illan Meslier and Karl Darlow, central midfielder Joe Rothwell joined on a season-long loan move from Bournemouth, and Jayden Bogle has been snapped up from Sheffield United.

Farke may want to make additions to his attacking options over the coming weeks, though, after his side struggled badly in front of goal in the second tier.

The West Yorkshire side racked up 82 goals from a whopping 94.57 xG in the Championship, which shows that the manager's side missed far too many high-quality chances.

Leeds' finishing struggles last season

The Whites underperformed against their xG by a significant amount as a number of their players endured frustrating seasons when it came to finishing off high xG opportunities.

Three of Leeds' four first-team striker options were within the top five Leeds players who underperformed against their xG, which illustrates a clear issue within the squad.

Georgino Rutter

16.05

7

-9.05

Patrick Bamford

11.11

8

-3.11

Joe Rodon

2.51

0

-2.51

Ethan Ampadu

2.3

0

-2.3

Mateo Joseph

2.43

1

-1.43

As you can see in the table above, Georginio Rutter and Patrick Bamford combined for an xG differential of -11.16. This was a staggering underperformance and may have been costly in the race for automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

Leeds finished third in the table and could have broken into the top two ahead of Ipswich Town or Leicester City, if they had matched their xG total, or even overperformed.

These statistics, therefore, suggest that Farke needs to bring in higher-quality finishers to bolster his squad in order to make the most of the high-quality opportunities that his team can create on a consistent basis.

With this in mind, Leeds must take notice of Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony's plea for the club to sign Blackburn Rovers star Sammie Szmodics, to guarantee promotion to the top-tier.

The Ireland international could come in as a dream signing for Rutter at the top end of the pitch, to make the most of the Frenchman's creativity.

Georginio Rutter's creative genius

The former Hoffenheim whiz is a fantastic creative talent who can consistently split open opposition defences to create chances for his teammates in the final third.

In fact, Rutter ranked within the top 2% of forwards in the Championship for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.29) and the top 2% for assists per 90 (0.39), which shows that he was one of the best players in his position when it came to creating for others.

Not many forwards in the division created high-quality opportunities as regularly as the left-footed sensation did for Leeds during the 2023/24 campaign.

Appearances

45

Goals

6

Assists

15

Big chances created

22

Key passes per game

1.9

As you can see in the table above, his teammates did not make the most of the 'big chances' he created as they only scored 15 times from 22 of them.

His remarkable ability to spot and play a pass that cuts through the heart of a defence makes him a constant menace to opposition teams, who have to find ways to isolate him in matches. But, as you can see in his statistics, defenders rarely manage to keep him quiet in the second tier.

This suggests that Rutter could benefit from having a striker alongside him who knows how to finish at an exceptional rate, as Bamford and Joseph – as shown by their xG underperformance – are yet to prove that they are that player.

However, Szmodics could be that player if you take into account his performances for Blackburn during the 2023/24 campaign, as he proved himself to be a lethal finisher.

Why Sammie Szmodics could be a dream signing for Georginio Rutter

The Irish forward racked up a staggering 33 goals in 48 matches in all competitions for Rovers, despite the majority of his appearances coming as an attacking midfielder.

This immediately suggests that the Blackburn star is a terrific attacker who can find the back of the net on a regular basis whilst playing for a Championship club.

In fact, Szmodics ranked within the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the division for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.62), which speaks to how frequently he found the target compared to his positional peers.

At the age of 28, Leeds would be signing a player who is in the prime years of his career and could come in to hit the ground running for them next season, rather than gambling on a young prospect or a striker from abroad who has no experience in the Championship.

Appearances

44

xG

22.36

Goals

27

Minutes per goal

145

Conversion rate

19%

Big chances created

7

Duel success rate

42%

As you can see in the table above, Szmodics scored 27 goals from 22.36 xG in the league and that is a staggering overperformance of more than four goals.

This shows that the Irishman, who was hailed as "incredible" by ex-boss Jon Dahl Tomasson, has the finishing acumen to make the most of the high-quality chances that his team are able to create for him week-in-week-out.

Therefore, he could be the dream signing to play alongside Rutter as the French magician could provide him with ample supply to be a lethal goalscorer for Leeds moving forward.

Leeds could perfectly replace Kamara by signing £40k-p/w star

The Whites have been linked with a swoop for the defensive midfielder this summer.

ByDan Emery Jul 15, 2024

This is why Farke must now swoop to sign the Blackburn attacker to form a formidable pairing with Rutter in the final third at Elland Road next term.

After two campaigns of coming incredibly close but just falling short, next season feels like it could finally be the year for Arsenal to topple Manchester City in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta's side came within two points of doing so last year, and while they produced a far better defence than the eventual champions, they scored five fewer goals than them, which is an area that can be improved.

Fortunately, over the last week or so, the Gunners have been linked with several talented forwards, and according to recent reports, they are interested in Bournemouth's inform poacher, Dominic Solanke.

However, while the Englishman proved his goalscoring ability last season, there is a feeling that he might not be of the level required to win the league, which cannot be said of another striker recently touted for a move to the Emirates.

Arsenal's striker search

According to a recent report from Italian journalist Gianluca DiMarzio, Arsenal are back in the picture regarding Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

DiMarzio has revealed that the Nigerian's potential move to Chelsea, which has been grabbing headlines in recent days, is now not going to happen and that while Paris Saint-Germain 'remain on the trail' of the superstar, 'Arsenal could also get back into the game'.

The journalist does not mention how much the experienced international might cost the North Londoners. However, reports from last week suggest that Napoli could still demand clubs pay his €130m release clause, which converts to about £109m.

It would be a seriously significant investment from Arsenal, but given Osimhen's quality, it might prove worth it, and he'd be a better signing than Solanke.

How Osimhen compares to Solanke

Now, given how well Arsenal played last season, the one thing they need their new striker to do above all else is put the ball in the back of the net or, at the very least, provide the pass for a teammate to do so. But out of Solanke and Osimhen, who comes out on top in this regard?

Well, while the Englishman scored more goals last season, it's the Serie A winner who unsurprisingly comes out on top over the last five years, and by quite some margin at that.

For example, since the start of the 2019/20 campaign, the "world-class" marksman, as dubbed by José Mourinho, has scored 94 goals and provided 24 assists in 171 appearances, which equates to a seriously impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.44 games.

In contrast, the former Chelsea prospect has scored 77 goals and provided 30 assists in 206 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.92 games, a significant portion of which were in the Championship.

However, it's not just in raw output that the former LOSC Lille ace beats out the Cherries star, as when you compare the pair's underlying numbers, he comes out ahead.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.66

0.55

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.68

0.58

Progressive Passes

1.05

1.63

Progressive Carries

1.55

1.41

Shots

3.86

2.97

Shots on Target

1.63

1.02

Shot-Creating Actions

2.45

2.14

Goal-Creating Actions

0.36

0.16

Aerial Duels Won

1.68

2.63

For example, in every relevant metric bar progressive passes and aerial duels won, the Lagos-born dynamo comes out on top, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, goal and shot-creating actions, shots and shots on target, and progressive carries, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Solanke proved he was a Premier League-level striker last season, it's clear from his underlying numbers and long-term output that he just isn't comparable to Osimhen. Therefore, if Arsenal find themselves with the opportunity to sign the Nigerian international this summer, they have to take it – he could win them the league.

Arsenal target Merino alternative who'd be unreal next to Rice & Odegaard

The “world-class” midfielder would be an excellent signing.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 6, 2024

Wolverhampton Wanderers are ready to take on the 2024/25 Premier League campaign. The backline might need a bit more work but there's enough there to fill Gary O'Neil and the club's many supporters with optimism.

Pedro Neto's £54m sale to Chelsea this week does hand the Old Gold some financial leeway, and while that defensive line still needs some work, there's no doubt that landing another wide forward to replace the Portuguese talent wouldn't go amiss.

Wolves transfer news

According to Sport over in Spain, Wolves are a shock contender to sign Ansu Fati from Barcelona this summer. The winger is surplus to requirements at Camp Nou and his sale would help the financially-stricken giants in strengthening their frontline.

Having completed a middling loan spell with Brighton & Hove Albion last year, Fati proved that he has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League, albeit being pulled back by injuries that have marred his once-prodigious development.

But Molineux could present the perfect conditions for the 21-year-old to rebuild his career, with his agent Jorge Mendes looking at multiple suitors and willing to engineer an initial loan stint with a buy clause inserted.

Why Ansu Fati could be the perfect Neto replacement

Neto is undoubtedly a first-class winger, easily Wolves' most technically talented star last year, but for a player who averaged 15 top-flight stats per season to be sold for £54m is something of a no-brainer.

2023/24

20

18

2

9

2022/23

18

13

0

0

2021/22

13

5

1

1

2020/21

31

30

5

6

2019/20

29

9

3

3

Fati, while hardly free of fitness setbacks himself, could fill that Neto-shaped hole with his fleet movements and ability to blend into various attacking combinations has led former Barca boss Xavi to praise his "extraordinary" potential.

While only scoring four goals and adding one assist across 30 matches for the Seagulls, Fati was only handed nine starting berths across all competitions, and deeper statistical analysis suggests that he could bear fruit in a second shot at English football.

As per FBref, Fati ranks among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for shots taken per 90 and the top 1% for pass completion.

Speaking of an innate goalscoring quality and technical sharpness that could reap rewards for Wolves, completing a deal for this talent could be a masterstroke in hindsight, and O'Neil must fiercely consider landing him instead of fellow target Yoane Wissa.

How Fati compares to Wissa

Wissa has perhaps gone under the radar at Brentford, with the DR Congo international not quite viewed in the same breath as Bryan Mbeumo or Ivan Toney but still forming a crucial part of Thomas Frank's frontline.

A tenacious and versatile forward, Wissa has been a constant threat throughout three terms in the English top flight, signed from French side Lorient for £8.5m in 2021, shortly after the Bees' promotion from the Championship.

The Athletic's Jay Harris called him "simply incredible" last year and his seven-goal (x2) and 12-goal (last season) returns in the Premier League have highlighted a clinical quality that a team like Wolves could really benefit from.

According to The Telegraph's Mike McGrath, Wissa is among the options at Molineux following Neto's sale, with funds readied to launch at such a player, whose dynamism fits into the mould of the Portuguese's multi-functioning wide role.

But in Fati, six years younger than the Brentford man, O'Neil could have a weapon of mass destruction in his grasp, possibly requiring awhile to revivify his teenage talent – talent that led Xavi to also laud him as a "generational player".

Moreover, Fati still proved himself prolific last season, as FBref's data crunch will tell you. Just imagine the kind of quality that could be bestowed on the outfit if injury issues are put firmly to bed.

His £160k-per-week wages with La Blaugrana might seem to present an issue, but Brighton only paid £128k-per-week last year, and while Wolves' top earners pocket £90k per week, the Spain international's bleak few years could convince him to take a reduction and repurpose his career as a highly-rated forward.

1.

Ivan Toney

83

36

2.

Yoane Wissa

102

26

3.

Bryan Mbeumo

98

22

4.

Mathias Jensen

100

8

4.

Vitaly Janelt

104

8

Wissa would be a safer pick, but let's make no mistake: he's a good player, with stripes earned and pinned in the Premier League. The £25k-per-week ace even ranked among 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the league last year for goals scored and aerial won per 90, shining a light on the clinical edge and robust body that would be cast into Wolves' attack.

But, again, let's consider the possibilities. Fati has proved himself as something rather special, walking into life on the senior stage with a strut in his step, scoring eight goals from 33 matches in 2019/20 as a 16-year-old.

Injuries have truly wrecked his chances of standing in his early 20s as one of Europe's most exciting players in a generation, but the talent is there nonetheless, latent, waiting to be channelled.

It might seem overambitious to imagine such a player could join Wolves, and not try his hand with an outfit in the Champions League, but his time at Brighton proved that he needs such a ground to host his potential and allow it to bloom.

Wolves simply have to move for Fati over players like Wissa. Talented as the Brentford star may be, he's not going to rise to the highest level of football, whereas Barcelona's wayward prodigy – who once inherited Lionel Messi's number ten shirt at Camp Nou – could restore his giddy potential and lift the Old Gold with him.

Wolves targeting "unplayable" PL machine who could be Hwang 2.0

He seems set to leave this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 13, 2024

Newcastle United’s transfer business after potentially signing defender Marc Guehi may still not be over.

The Magpies have been productive in this market but have had to do it in a patient way, as the club makes sure they abide by the financial fair play rules. Eddie Howe’s side will be looking to do as much business as they can between now and the end of the window, while also hoping to continue their good start to the Premier League campaign after beating Southampton last weekend.

He's like De Ligt: Newcastle target move for £26m Guehi alternative

Eddie Howe is desperate to bolster his defence during the current transfer window

ByRoss Kilvington Aug 20, 2024 Newcastle United and Marc Guehi latest

Newcastle have made five additions to their squad so far in this transfer window, with those signings being a mix of youth and experience. They have added two new goalkeepers to their side, as well as signing Lewis Hall on a permanent basis and bringing in William Osula, who looks to be a promising player.

Lewis Hall

Chelsea

Odysseas Vlachodimos

Nottingham Forest

William Osula

Sheffield United

Lloyd Kelly

Bournemouth

John Ruddy

Birmingham City

The Premier League side has turned their attention to signing a central defender now, and they have made Crystal Palace defender Guehi their top target for that position. Newcastle have been serious about their pursuit of the player, as the club has made four bids for the England international.

Their latest offer was said to be around the £65 million mark, but that evaluation is said to have fallen short of what Palace want for the player. However, it now appears as though the Magpies are edging closer to signing Guehi, with Sky Sports reporting that there is “cautious optimism” that a deal can be struck before the weekend.

Newcastle’s latest offer wasn’t said to have been rejected despite falling short of the club's valuation. Instead, talks have continued between the two clubs over the structure of the deal. Palace believes that it would be beneficial to sell Guehi, as he’s only got two years left on his contract. But as well as looking to sign Guehi, Newcastle could follow up on his signing by chasing a midfielder.

Newcastle are set to make a £17m bid for midfielder

According to journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos, Newcastle are set to make an offer for Olympiacos midfielder Santiago Hezze. The update states that the offer is said to be more than €20 million (£17 million) for the 22-year-old.

Hezze has been with the Greek side since August 2023, when he joined the club from Argentinian side Huracan. The midfielder played over 120 games for the Argentine side, scoring nine goals and chipping in with eight assists.

Hezze played 50 times for Olympiacos in his first season at the club, as he was a prominent figure for the club in all competitions. He played the majority of his minutes in the league, but he also played an important role in the club reaching the Europa League and then winning the Europa Conference League.

The versatile midfielder, who can feature in holding, central or attacking roles, has played in the club’s opening game of this season, meaning he has now played 51 times for the Greek side, during which time he has scored one goal and recorded three assists. Hezze is contracted to the club until the summer of 2028, meaning Newcastle will have to make a good enough offer for the club to consider selling him.

While their campaign didn't get off to the best of starts on Monday night, Tottenham Hotspur have a massive season ahead of them in the Premier League this year.

Ange Postecoglou is no longer the new guy, and there is an expectation that after a busy summer in which the club have spent well over £100m on new players, he'll lead them back into the Champions League.

However, while Daniel Levy and Co have already splashed the cash this year, recent reports have touted even more players for a move to N17, including one who's won comparisons to Manchester United new boy Matthijs de Ligt, although he could spell trouble for Destiny Udogie.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Spain, Tottenham are one of several clubs interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.

The report claims that, alongside the Lilywhites, Liverpool and Atlético Madrid are incredibly keen to land the versatile 22-year-old this summer, meaning a bidding war could soon erupt.

The story does not mention a potential price, but separate reports from earlier this month revealed that a fee of around £50m could tempt the German champions into selling.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but given Hincapie's form last season, positional versatility, and comparisons to De Ligt, it is one well worth making, although Udogie might not welcome it.

How Hincapie compares to De Ligt and why he could challenge Udogie

Okay, so before we look at how Hincapie could compete with Udogie for a place in the starting lineup at Spurs, let's examine this comparison to De Ligt and where it comes from.

It primarily stems from FBref, which compared all centre-backs in the Bundesliga last season, created a list of the ten most similar players for each one, and concluded that the Dutchman was the fifth most similar centre-back to the Leverkusen ace in the league.

You can see their similarities in how closely they rank for specific underlying metrics, including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive passes, shots on target, passing accuracy and ball recoveries, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.15

0.12

Progressive Passes

6.18

6.36

Shots on Target

0.36

0.39

Passing Accuracy

91.1%

93.9%

Ball Recoveries

4.73

4.74

So, it's clear then from his comparison to United's new defensive stalwart that, as a centre-back, the "tenacious" 22-year-old star, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is immensely gifted, but that is not the reason he's going to threaten Udogie's place in the team, the reason he could do that is the fact that he's an accomplished full-back as well.

Throughout his career, he has started 89 games at centre-back, 39 at left-back, and another 12 in left midfield, which should help him feel more at home attacking from the full-back position.

It's not just at club level where the "future legend", as dubbed by Kulig, has played there either, as he started there for all four of Ecuador's games at the Copa América this year and even picked up a freak assist in the team's 3-1 win over Jamaica in the group stage.

It's this quality experience at playing at left-back that could see the Esmeraldas-born gem really challenge the Lilywhites' talented Italian prospect because, as things stand, he doesn't have any genuine competition in the squad, which isn't ideal for fostering a competitive spirit within the team.

Ultimately, Udogie proved that he's one of the most exciting young full-backs in the Premier League last season, but players need competition to thrive, and based on his performances over the last few years, Hincapie could be that competition – the comparison to De Ligt is just a nice bonus.

Spurs struck gold on "frightening" ace worth millions more than Skipp

The promising youngster has a very bright future ahead of him.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 21, 2024

Liverpool supporters' transfer-window discontent went into remission following a stunning 3-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford to maintain Arne Slot's 100% start.

Few could have envisaged such a scoreline in spite of recent history, regardless of the wall-to-wall disparity between the arch-rivals over the past decade. Slot, indeed, designed success through every department on Sunday afternoon, and is yet to drop points or even concede after three Premier League fixtures.

Surely it wasn't supposed to be this way? Farewell, Jurgen Klopp – rival fans cheer, for Liverpool are headed for the scrap. But no, Slot looks every bit the elite-level boss, every inch the fitting leading coach for Anfield's red-golden array of talent.

There is so much still to do; Slot and his Liverpool squad will not get carried away. The Reds will pause for the imminent international break before jumping into the thick of more action in the league, wedged by Champions League and Carabao Cup ties that will put the club's depth to the test.

One man, it will not be surprising, is performing with some level of gusto right now. Mohamed Salah's future is an anxious thing, but the Egyptian dominated the Theatre of Dreams, as is his way.

Mohamed Salah's incredible form

Salah fizzled out toward the end of the 2023/24 campaign, and with Klopp leaving and the soon-to-be 32-year-old about to enter the final year of his £350k-per-week deal, many thought he had reached the end of his glory days.

How wrong they were. Salah has scored three goals from three matches under Slot, claiming three assists and leaving Manchester United icon Roy Keane in awe of his "world-class performance", having dismantled the Red Devils in their own backyard. Again.

Premier League

14

12

6

FA Cup

2

3

0

Luis Diaz carried a brace into the half-time break, supplied by Salah from the right both times. He's evergreen, and more dangerously for his rivals, he's revitalised. Salah might have lost some of the snap-jerk motion that saw him obliterate Premier League backlines upon arriving back in 2017, an electric-paced superstar with a deadly ball-striking ability, but he's morphed into a first-rate playmaker.

His intelligence is second to none, and there's simply little chance that Salah will not play an instrumental role in Liverpool's campaign, rivalling the younger Erling Haaland and Bukayo Saka to take the crown as the division's foremost forward.

United were abject on Sunday, pulled apart by their nemeses blistering counters and struck further by their own internal malfunction. But mistakes are a part of football, and Salah's creative balls for Diaz were pinpoint, his first-time finish after latching onto Dominik Szoboszlai's exquisite pass, placed with the deftness of an artist applying the finishing touch.

It's a measure of Liverpool's brilliance that Salah actually squandered a glorious opportunity to make it four shortly after netting, and while he was the attacking architect, his headline display was enabled by Ryan Gravenberch, who was the real hero on a victorious day.

Why Ryan Gravenberch is Slot's real hero

You can't help but wonder if Martin Zubimendi cast a rueful gaze Liverpool's way on Sunday evening, watching the Premier League outfit maintain their perfect record with some style, while Real Sociedad suffered a goalless draw against Getafe in La Liga, consigned to 12th place and one win from four attempts.

Zubimendi, of course, made his choice and deserves a measure of praise for his loyalty in an ever-more perfidious landscape, but he was perfect for Slot's Liverpool, who fought fiercely to bring him to Merseyside in August, felt they were set to win the battle, but didn't.

Sociedad refused to let up and the Spanish Euro 2024 champion stayed put, leaving sporting director Richard Hughes in dismay, with the 25-year-old profiled as the dream addition. FSG, who never jump the gun, did not find an apt alternative.

Luckily, Liverpool already have one in Gravenberch, who has long carried the properties for a deep-lying midfield role but lacked temperament, holding a boyish immaturity that is starting to dissipate.

Gary Neville said that the Dutchman, 22, "absolutely destroyed" Man United's midfield last weekend, having now performed three matches as Slot's anchorman to a top standard.

There's so much to like, three games into the new era. Gravenberch has averaged 74 touches per Premier League game so far, as per Sofascore, completing 89% of his passes and averaging 2.7 tackles and 5.7 ground duels per game.

What's more, Gravenberch ranks among the top 19% of central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the top 16% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, further emphasising the technical skill he possesses, tailored for success in his new position.

His press resistance and smooth forward passing have raised chatter that his boss Slot, a fellow Dutchman, is sculpting him into a world-beater at no. 6.

Indeed, he was so good against Erik ten Hag's men, so dominant in the central battle, that The Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle awarded him a 9/10 match rating, writing: 'Helped Liverpool increasingly dominate midfield, played important role in opener and kept the visitors nabbing possession in key areas. Superb performance.'

Liverpool are only three games into the season. There will come a point when Slot will taste defeat, and Gravenberch will shake his head following a poor performance – these things are certainties, not eventualities.

But the idea of a prosperous new age at Anfield has taken root within the mind of the fanbase, and Gravenberch has showcased his acumen and suitability. Given that Zubimendi's signing fell through, he might just be the most important cog in the system.

As good as Diaz & Salah: Liverpool star is becoming a monster under Slot

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1 ByDan Emery Sep 1, 2024

It's been an interesting few years for Tottenham Hotspur.

Just a couple of seasons ago, the fans were being subjected to incredibly dull and pragmatic football at the hands of Antonio Conte, and now they are being entertained by the thrilling, albeit occasionally naive, football philosophy of Ange Postecoglou.

The North Londoners produced the sixth-highest expected goals figure in the Premier League last season, per Understat, and with the addition of Dominic Solanke, we wouldn't be surprised to see them rack up even more chances this year.

However, the Englishman has already missed two games this season and should he miss anymore, the goalscoring burden will likely fall to Richarlison, who has shown glimpses of real quality here and there but was outscored by a former Spurs flop last season.

Richarlison's recent form

Spurs paid Everton around £60m in the summer of 2022 to secure Richarlison's services, and in the two years since, it would be fair to say that he hasn't had the best of times.

In his first season with the club, the Brazilian international could only muster up a measly return of three goals and four assists in 35 appearances, meaning he maintained a poor average of a goal involvement once every five games.

However, following Harry Kane's departure last summer, the Nova Venécia-born poacher was given more goalscoring responsibility, and to his credit, he improved upon the previous campaign.

For example, in his 31 matches for Postecoglou, he scored 12 goals and provided four assists, so while he wasn't a goalscoring machine, he did maintain a far more impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.93 games. That said, while Richarlison improved, he was still outscored by a former Spurs flop who left the club five years ago.

Vincent Janssen's 23/24

The player in question is Dutch striker Vincent Janssen, who regularly features in the lists dedicated to Tottenham's worst signings under Daniel Levy.

The Heesch-born poacher joined the North Londoners in the summer of 2016 from Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar for around £19m.

While that might seem like a lot of money for a player who struggled as much as he did, it's because in the season prior, he racked up a frankly ridiculous haul of 32 goals and seven assists in 49 games, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.25 games.

However, things didn't work out for him in N17, and he left the club three years later to join Mexican giants Monterrey for £8m, with just six goals, four assists, 42 appearances and one loan spell in Turkey under his belt.

In Mexico, the 22-capped international scored 24 goals and provided five assists in 93 appearances. While that's not exactly spectacular, it was enough to earn him a move back to Europe in 2022 to play for Belgian side Royal Antwerp, where he won the league in his first campaign.

Appearances

48

31

Goals

17

12

Assists

6

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

0.51

Janssen maintained his reasonable form into last season and racked up 17 goals and six assists, just beating Richarlison's total. However, the caveat here is that the Jupiler Pro League is obviously not on the same level as the Premier League.

Ultimately, while Janssen has gone on to rediscover his goalscoring touch in Mexico and Belgium, Tottenham were certainly in the right to sell him when they did, and it was in the best interest of everyone.

Spurs flop was sold by Conte in 2022, now he's outscoring Solanke

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 5, 2024

It’s that time of year again: EA Sports has created the latest instalment of its EA FC videogame series (we’re still calling it FIFA), with FC 25 set to hit the shelves this week.

The player ratings are a source of anticipation each year, and this one is no different – with EA’s boffins determining which players are armed with the best skills on the game.

Below is how this year’s ratings lists across the men’s and women’s games look, as we go into the top 11 players in a bit more detail.

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Rank

Player

Club

Nation

Rating

Kylian Mbappe

Real Madrid

France

91

Rodri

Man City

Spain

91

Erling Haaland

Man City

Norway

91

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

England

90

Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid

Brazil

90

Kevin De Bruyne

Man City

Belgium

90

Harry Kane

FC Bayern

England

90

Martin Odegaard

Arsenal

Norway

89

Gianluigi Donnarumma

PSG

Italy

89

Alisson

Liverpool

Brazil

89

11 Alexia Putellas – 90 CM, Barcelona & Spain

Pace

82

Shooting

89

Passing

90

Dribbling

91

Defending

72

Physical

78

Highest attribute

Ball control (92)

Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas has suffered a slight downgrade this year, with her overall rating going down by 1. Putellas’ rating has been in the 90s ever since the year of her first crowning as women’s football’s best player, with the second coming despite an ACL injury.

Having made her comeback since and added the World Cup, Nations League and two Champions Leagues for Barcelona to her abundance of trophies, Putellas’ standing in world football is reflected with her latest EA FC rating, along with a First Touch Playstyle+.

10 Caroline Graham Hansen – 90 RW, Barcelona & Norway

Caroline Graham Hansen proved herself as one of the best wide players in the world as she brought home the Golden Boot in Spain’s Liga F with 21 goals for Barcelona on their way to a fifth straight league title.

Such is Barcelona’s depth of world-class talent, Graham Hansen is not even the best player in her team, but with 5-star skills and a Trickster Playstyle+, she’s among the must-haves for this year’s Ultimate Team.

9 Harry Kane – 90 ST, FC Bayern & England

Harry Kane is one of a number of Englishmen at the top of this year’s player rankings, with the Bayern Munich striker starting his second season in Bavaria among the goals once again.

Fresh from scoring four in the Champions League as we near the game’s release, anyone who doubted the ex-Spurs man’s talents following a relatively underwhelming Euros campaign may think again when it comes to squad building online.

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1 ByAlex Caple Oct 2, 2024 8 Jude Bellingham – 90 CAM, Real Madrid & England

Jude Bellingham’s stellar 2023/24 campaign for club and country has catapulted him into the highest echelons of EA’s virtual stars.

An increase from his 86-rated card last term, most notably with his Shooting average rocketing from 75 to 87, is perhaps just reward for his exceptional season in front of goal during his debut year for Real Madrid.

Rank

Player

Club

Rating

Rodri

Man City

91

Erling Haaland

Man City

91

Kevin De Bruyne

Man City

91

Martin Odegaard

Arsenal

89

Alisson

Liverpool

89

Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool

89

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

89

Phil Foden

Man City

88

Ruben Dias

Man City

88

Ederson

Man City

88

7 Kevin De Bruyne – 90 CM, Man City & Belgium

Kevin De Bruyne has yet to show signs of ageing as far as his footballing ability is concerned. The Belgian may have ended the most recent campaign on a flat note at Euro 2024 and earned just the one domestic trophy with Manchester City, but his excellence shone through, even when battling his way through persistent injury struggles.

As the highest-rated CM on the game, De Bruyne’s place among the sport’s elite is assured, with an unrivalled Passing average of 94 setting him apart from his peers.

6 Sam Kerr – 90 ST, Chelsea & Australia

Not even an ACL injury could deter Sam Kerr from gaining a 90+ rating – and remaining the WSL’s top player in the process.

Her injury was a cruel blow to the Australian, who had not long battled back to feature in her home World Cup (and threaten to break England hearts in the process).

She is also the best female centre-forward on the game on rating alone, although gaining in-forms this year may rest on how Kerr performs upon her long-awaited return under Sonia Bompastor at Chelsea.

5 Vinicius Junior – 90 LW, Real Madrid & Brazil

Vinicius Junior’s heroics in the Champions League final alone heralded calls for the Brazilian to claim the Ballon d’Or later this year. Given the year that he had for Real Madrid, winning the Champions League and La Liga, he has to be in the running.

But should he fall short of that particular individual award, he can take solace from an impressive 90-rated card on EA FC. We can expect Vini to terrorise plenty of defences online over the coming months.

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1 ByLuke Randall Sep 4, 2024 4 Aitana Bonmati – 91 CM, Barcelona & Spain

Still the best player in women’s football, Aitana Bonmati continues to reign supreme in the gaming world, too.

Alongside many of her fellow Spanish Barcelona teammates, an elusive Olympic gold prevented Bonmati from achieving the perfect season, which followed Spain’s World Cup triumph in Sydney.

It is difficult to find a fault in the 91-rated virtual version of the 26-year-old, who looks set to remain at the summit of the game for a long while yet.

3 Erling Haaland – 91 ST, Man City & Norway

There are few remaining superlatives to describe Erling Haaland – his record speaks for itself. And just like last year, he is joint-top of the men’s player ratings on EA FC, having been the cover star of FC 24.

With his finishing rated at a lethal 96, no current active player can top the Norwegian’s accuracy in front of goal – though Gerd Muller and Ronaldo Nazario’s Ultimate Team icons can boast finishing ratings of 97.

2 Kylian Mbappe – 91 ST, Real Madrid & France

No one will be surprised to find Kylian Mbappe at the top of the EA FC player ratings once again. Now at Real Madrid, the Frenchman is set to take his levels of super-stardom to new heights, with a 16th Champions League crown in Los Blancos’ sights.

Rated 91 for a second season running, Mbappe is poised to not only be one of the most anticipated players to use this year, but given his summer move to Spain, who knows what kind of special cards await in Ultimate Team this term?