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It's patently clear that West Ham United are eager to start a new chapter in east London and replace David Moyes in the dugout when his contract expires next month, though the whole process is rather nebulous at this stage.

But that's okay. The Hammers have almost a month of Premier League football still to play and, while unlikely, a concerted effort must be made in fighting for European qualification.

The Athletic's David Ornstein sent Irons social spheres into a frenzy when revealing that highly-coveted Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim is the club's "top target", bringing him to London for face-to-face discussions.

However, Portuguese outlet Record believes Amorim will not be appointed by either West Ham or Premier League rivals Liverpool this summer, and thus plans are being drawn up to identify and obtain the perfect successor to carry on the work completed under Moyes.

West Ham eyeing Ruben Amorim alternative

According to GiveMeSport, West Ham sporting director Tim Steidten has mapped out three possible successors to the manager's role at the London Stadium, with Amorim not included.

Whether this is because this week's negotiations hit a standstill is unknown, but the list is comprised of some exciting names: Bayern Munich's Thomas Tuchel; Lille manager Paulo Fonseca; and Marco Silva of Fulham.

The latter might be viewed as the most pragmatic option, but the Portuguese has worked wonders at Craven Cottage and could be the perfect heir to Moyes' position.

Why West Ham are eyeing Marco Silva

Silva, 46, was reportedly on Tottenham's shortlist last season as the north London outfit sought to rebuild, and while Ange Postecoglou was appointed Silva's credentials were underscored after a masterful return to the top flight with the Cottagers.

Lauded for his "sensational" work by The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke last season, finishing in the top half, Silva's Fulham have not quite had the same gusto about them this year but are on course for a comfortable finish, 13th in the standings with a 17-point buffer over the relegation zone.

Citing ambition and courage as the foundation of his philosophy, Silva demands hard graft of his players, instilling discipline and defensive unity. He's not a negative manager though, simply focused on building a steely base to allow his attacking outlets to find space and success in attacking sequences.

Fulham, while boasting an ostensibly inferior attacking contingency, have only scored four fewer goals than West Ham this season, who boast Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta, Michail Antonio.

He wouldn't differ wildly from Moyes' system but he would refine and polish it, sprinkling some much-needed attacking impetus and refreshing the ranks.

Given that Silva – who secured the double over West Ham in the Premier League this season – has been of long-standing interest to the Irons and has demonstrable prowess on English shores, he might just prove to be the perfect successor to Moyes' place at the helm.

He's not going to implement the kind of gushy sparkling football that Amorim would ostensibly bring from Portugal, but he might just be better suited to West Ham's brand. An upgrade on Moyes, but not a radical revamp.

£108m duo sign: How West Ham's lineup could look under Ruben Amorim

The London Stadium could look very different indeed come August.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 24, 2024

The progress that Aston Villa has made since the arrival of Unai Emery has been nothing short of remarkable.

Even with their recent mini-injury crisis, the results have shown no signs of taking a turn for the worse, with Villa winning all of their last three.

From now until the end of the season, the squad will face the challenge of balancing European action with their Premier League duties, with a top-four finish arguably being the priority.

However, Villa have a player in the pipeline who’s already played in the Champions League this season and could end up replacing Matty Cash in the near future.

Matty Cash’s 23/24 season

Polish right-back Cash has featured heavily this season for Villa, operating in his usual right-back role as well as a further forward right midfielder at times.

The 26-year-old has played in 24 Premier League matches this campaign, playing 36 times across all competitions. In fairness to Cash, he’s already shown a significant attacking improvement in the last year, picking up six goal contributions already while only registering one all last season.

However, FBref’s 23/24 Premier League scouting report suggests that Cash is actually performing at an extremely average level when compared to his positional peers in the league.

Passes into final third

2.65

Bottom 60%

Key passes

0.56

Bottom 63%

Shot-creating actions

1.74

Bottom 56%

Tackles won

1.23

Bottom 60%

Interceptions

0.87

Bottom 60%

With that in mind, Emery has shown a desire to improve and strengthen the position, even dipping into the transfer market in January to sign a potential long-term replacement.

Aston Villa were rinsed of £17m by Di Matteo's "lazy" player

Aston Villa made a poor decision in 2016 to splash out on a player who rinsed them dry

ByRoss Kilvington Mar 5, 2024 Kosta Nedeljkovic's 23/24 stats

Kosta Nedeljkovic is an 18-year-old right-back whom Villa purchased this winter for an undisclosed fee from Serbian side FK Crvena Zvezda.

The Serbian full-back only made his debut for his side in August, but by the time he had been signed by Villa, Nedeljkovic had already made four appearances in the Champions League.

The “brilliant” prospect, as described by analyst StatmanDave, returned to Crvena Zvezda on loan until the end of the season, where he will continue to gain valuable experience.

Nonetheless, the table below showing his average statistics in the Serbian top flight highlights what sort of profile Nedeljkovic has.

Starts

10

Assists

1

Key passes (P90)

1

Pass accuracy

86%

Tackles (P90)

1.5

Duels won (P90)

3.7

As you can see, it’s no surprise that Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig described the youngster as a “complete” full-back, adding that some of his strengths include: “Pace, physicality, tackling and, crossing.”

That description, along with his statistics, indicates that he’s an extremely well-rounded prospect who has the potential to thrive in the Premier League given his attributes.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

In truth, it’s a very small sample size, and of course, like any developing player, they’re far from the finished product, but he can certainly become Cash’s replacement in the not-so-distant future if he continues to improve and impress.

The defending champions have lost all four matches so far, and will hope the appointment can help turn their season around

Firdose Moonda19-Nov-2019Neil McKenzie, the former South African batsman and batting coach, has joined the Jozi Stars as a mentor and consultant for the remainder of the Mzansi Super League (MSL) season. The Stars, who are the defending champions after winning last year’s inaugural event, have lost all four of their matches so far.McKenzie, a stalwart in his playing days for the Johannesburg-based Lions, worked with the South African team during Russell Domingo’s tenure as head coach. He was not retained when Ottis Gibson took over in September 2017, with the job going to Dale Benkenstein, and McKenzie has most recently been in the Bangladesh camp, where he was part of their 2019 World Cup preparations.McKenzie is one of 10 former internationals involved in a management role at the MSL, at a time when South African cricket is desperate for their expertise and experience. That means all the MSL franchises have former national players involved. Ashwell Prince, Paul Adams and Hashim Amla (albeit in short-term capacity) are at the Cape Town Blitz, Mark Boucher is head coach of the Tshwane Spartans, Robin Peterson is Eric Simons’ assistant at the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants, and Gary Kirsten is the head coach of the Durban Heat. Paarl Rocks do not have a former international at the helm but are coached by Adrian Birrell, the former national assistant coach, who also worked under Domingo, and count Justin Ontong and JP Duminy among their backroom staff.While McKenzie’s appointment will allay fears that South Africa’s former greats are being sidelined, especially in the aftermath of Graeme Smith pulling out of the race to become the first director of cricket, it is also much-needed for the ailing Stars. Their batting has got worse as the tournament has progressed as they went from a promising 198 for 5 in a narrow 15-run defeat in the season-opener against the Blitz to being bowled out for 108 by the Giants last Saturday. Not only has their line-up has been overly reliant on Temba Bavuma and Reeza Hendricks, but their other senior batsmen, Chris Gayle and Rassie van der Dussen, have barely contributed and their game plan needs work.The Stars were forced to find a new coach after last season’s successful manager, Enoch Nkwe, was promoted to the role of South Africa’s interim team director, a new position created to replace the traditional coach’s role. Nkwe was assigned to take the team to India, where they drew a T20I series and lost the Tests 0-3, and even though it is not confirmed whether he will continue in the role, he was replaced at the Stars. Donovan Miller, who assisted Nkwe last season, has taken over but had a difficult start, and will hope McKenzie can help him turn things around.

Leeds United extended their winning run in the Championship to eight matches as they Plymouth Argyle 2-0 at Home Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Whites are currently sat in second place in the division – in the automatic promotion places – but have played a game more than Southampton in third.

Team	Position	Matches played	Points
Leicester City	1	33	78
Leeds United	2	33	69
Southampton	3	32	67
Ipswich Town	4	32	66
West Bromwich Albion	5	32	52
Coventry City	6	33	51
Current Championship top six (18/02/2024)

The race for automatic promotion back to the Premier League is hotting up and Daniel Farke's side are positioned well at this moment in time.

Leeds are looking to return to the top-flight at the first time of asking and the German head coach, who was brought in last summer to lead the charge, is on course to achieve the club's goal.

He has been blessed with some star performers throughout the season. Crysencio Summerville has grabbed the headlines with his attacking output at the top end of the pitch but the real hero of the campaign for Farke has been versatile enforcer Ethan Ampadu.

Crysencio Summerville's Championship dominance

The 22-year-old winger has been in phenomenal form for the Whites with his outstanding contributions as both a scorer and a creator of goals on the flank.

He produced four goals and two assists in 28 Premier League appearances during the 2022/23 campaign as Leeds were relegated down to the Championship.

The drop to the second tier has allowed the Dutch sensation to flourish as Summerville is currently on a return of 15 goals and eight assists in 30 league matches this term.

His finishing has been extraordinary as he has scored those 15 goals from an xG of 11.62, which means that the talented whiz has more than made the most of the chances that have been created for him throughout the season.

Whereas, Summerville only has eight assists from an xA of 9.33. He has created 16 'big chances' for his teammates but they have not been clinical enough with the opportunities that the young maestro has provided them with.

The former Feyenoord prospect has also got supporters off their seats with his exciting and direct play on the wing as he has completed 2.3 dribbles per match, which highlights his desire to run and get past opposition defenders on a regular basis.

He currently ranks within the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Championship this season for shot-creating actions (6.65) per 90, and the top 2% for Expected Assisted Goals (0.37) per 90.

Summerville has been one of the best forwards in the division, as illustrated by his outstanding rank among his positional peers as a creator to go along with his 15 goals, and has been key to Leeds' assault on the top two.

He had a quiet match against Plymouth on Saturday, with zero goals and zero key passes, whilst Ampadu produced yet another fantastic display at the heart of the defence alongside Joe Rodon.

Ethan Ampadu's performance against Plymouth in numbers

The Wales international lined up at the back for Leeds and helped to keep the likes of Alfie Devine and Morgan Whittaker from causing too many problems, as the hosts only managed one shot on target all match.

Ampadu's strong performance played a pivotal role in his side keeping a clean sheet at Home Park, which provided the attacking players with the opportunity to go and win the match with their play at the top end of the pitch.

Ethan Ampadu	Vs Plymouth
Minutes played	90
Sofascore rating	7.4
Clearances	Four
Blocks	One
Duels contested	Six
Duels won	Five
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former Chelsea prospect was a dominant force at centre-back for Leeds as he won five of his duels, which means that Plymouth's players found it incredibly difficult to get the better of him in physical contests.

Ampadu was also composed and reliable in possession when passing the ball out from the back as he completed 91% of his attempted passes (74/81) throughout the game.

This was far from a one-off performance from the Welsh enforcer as he has been consistently impressive as both a defensive midfielder and a centre-back this season.

Ethan Ampadu's star role for Leeds

The £7m signing from Chelsea started the campaign in midfield alongside Glen Kamara and caught the eye with his defensive prowess in the middle of the park.

He currently ranks within the top 19% of midfielders for interceptions (1.43) and blocks (1.55) per 90 respectively, and the top 6% for clearances (2.21) per 90 in the Championship this season.

No midfielder within the Leeds squad has averaged more tackles (1.8) or interceptions (1.4) per match than Ampadu so far this term, which illustrates his importance to the side out of possession.

In 33 Championship appearances, the Welsh star has made 59 tackles, 46 interceptions, and a staggering 221 ball recoveries. He has also won an eye-catching 125 duels with a success rate of 57%.

Ampadu's defensive quality has been particularly eye-catching since Farke moved him to centre-back in reaction to Pascal Struijk's injury issue. He has started in the heart of the defence in eight of the club's last nine matches in all competitions, which has resulted in eight wins, seven clean sheets, and one goal conceded.

The 23-year-old tank has been a monster at the back alongside his international teammate Rodon, as they have only allowed one goal to be scored past them in seven league appearances as a centre-back pairing.

His passing quality in that position has also been impressive, as Ampadu currently ranks within the top 13% of central defenders in the division for progressive passes (4.58) per 90.

This shows that the Leeds gem is a forward-thinking player who wants to progress the play for his team by breaking lines and finding teammates in dangerous positions, which is backed up by his rank within the top 4% of centre-backs for shot-creating actions (2.03) per 90.

The Welsh colossus has been Farke's real hero of the campaign as he has provided quality in possession, with his progressive and reliable passing, and out of possession, with his dominant and aggressive defending.

He has also offered outstanding versatility with superb performances as both a midfielder and a centre-back, along with his leadership qualities as the head coach has handed him the armband in the absence of Liam Cooper and Struijk.

Therefore, Ampadu has been the true star of the season over Summerville due to the complete nature of his performances and the platform that his play has provided the Dutch winger, and his fellow attackers, to go and work his magic in the final third.

Perhaps it was the gorgeous Bank Holiday weather; maybe it was the opportunity to see a Lancashire side which is excellent T20 form at present; quite possibly it was what we shall soon have to call “the Stokes effect”. But whatever the cause or combination of causes 14,752 spectators turned up at Old Trafford this Monday afternoon, most of them hoping to see the home side clinch top spot in the North Group of the Vitality Blast.And as is so often cricket’s endearing way, Lancashire’s record crowd for a non-Roses T20 match saw Derbyshire secure their place in the last eight with a thoroughly deserved 11-run victory. There is therefore still a chance that the county coached this season by Dominic Cork will qualify for their first Finals’ Day, although they will certainly be away in the quarter-finals.One doubts that prospect will daunt Billy Godleman’s team. Lancashire have been arguably the most powerful team in this year’s Blast but Derbyshire gave as good as they received. First they posted a competitive 162 for 3 and then they defended that total with a fielding display which was far from faultless but was still competent in the later overs when it mattered. When Lancashire needed 75 off eight overs and Liam Livingstone was going well, the odds were on a home win but Livingstone was caught at the wicket by Daryn Smit for 58 as he attempted to cut Alex Hughes and none of the succeeding batsmen could stay long enough to see their side home.The run out of Dane Vilas for 19 off the first ball of the 18th over when 28 runs were still needed was clearly crucial. The result was more or less decided by the start of the last over but Ravi Rampaul picked up the wicket of Liam Hurt with the final ball of the match and added it to those of Steven Croft and Josh Bohannon, whom he had dismissed with successive deliveries in the early exchanges.Derbyshire’s victory was all the more impressive given that their total looked no better than par on wicket which played well, albeit it was a used pitch. Indeed, having been 96 for 1 after 12 overs and 112 without further loss after 14, Derbyshire may have expected more than their eventual 162 but their limited progress can partly be explained by the fact that three of those later overs were bowled by James Faulkner.The problem for Derbyshire was that they lost their two main scorers within six balls of each other at a crucial point in their innings. Having made 69 off 39 balls, a tally that included three leg-side sixes, Wayne Madsen was caught by Danny Lamb off Glenn Maxwell when attempting a paddle sweep. Five balls later Godleman, the country’s leading scorer in white-ball cricket this season, hit Matt Parkinson straight to Livingstone at long-off and departed for 57. The later batsmen found it difficult to accelerate but Cork’s Derbyshire are a hard-working team and will be a match for anyone their meet in the last eight.Nor did the home supporters seem particularly disappointed by what is only Lancashire’s second defeat in the Blast this season. The good humour and general bonhomie following the Headingley Test was very clear across the Pennines this afternoon and was shown at its most trivial when a bloke on a sofa in the Thomas Cook attempted to catch one of Livingstone’s sixes and not only failed to do so but also fell backwards with the furniture toppling over on top of him. How everybody roared.More seriously there was a mood that cricket was a game which had even more reason to be proud of itself after the third Ashes Test. “Stand up if you love Ben Stokes,” sang the crowd for no more reason than that they wished to do so. The next Test begins here a week on Wednesday and it is all but certain that the country’s new hero will receive a standing ovation when he walks out to bat in England’s first innings. This thing will run and run.The quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast are due to be played during the Manchester Test, so although Lancashire have qualified for a home game, they will travel to Stokes’ home patch up at Chester-le-Street. Derbyshire, on the other hand, have won their last three Blast games and do not mind where they go next as long as their journey ends at Edgbaston on September 21, preferably late in the evening and with a trophy in Godleman’s hands.

A "tireless" Everton player will leave Goodison Park this summer, claims a report in his homeland, with a huge club apparently already starting the bidding for his services.

Everton set for summer sales amid FFP crisis

The Blues' struggles this season have been well-documented, with a 10-point deduction in the Premier League proving costly and leaving them languishing in the relegation zone.

There is now a genuine threat of Everton heading to the Championship for the first time, having survived late in the day in the past two seasons, and that would likely lead to an exodus at Goodison, due to their need to align with the league's Profit and Sustainability guidelines.

Jarrad Branthwaite has been a hugely impressive performer throughout the 2023/24 campaign, and he is being eyed up by Manchester United, who reportedly see him as a strong option to bolster their back-line for years to come.

Midfielder Amadou Onana is also a player Everton would find it extremely difficult to keep hold of, and a recent report has claimed that Newcastle United are in pole position to seal a big-money move for him.

There are others who could depart in the summer, too, with England's No.1 Jordan Pickford not wanting to be in the second tier, and the same applying to the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Chelsea in talks to sign Amadou Onana

According to Voetbalkrant, Chelsea have entered negotiations for Everton star Onana ahead of a summer move to the club, with Kevin Thelwell and Co already receiving the first bid, which is thought to be below the asking price.

The Merseysiders will demand a fee of €60m (£51m) for the 22-year-old's signature, and the report also states that one bid has already been rejected, Onana "will" leave Merseyside this year. Even if Everton do retain their place in the Premier League then, there does seem to be an inevitability about Onana moving on for a new challenge in the summer transfer window.

1. Romelu Lukaku

£72m

2. Richarlison

£49.3m

3. John Stones

£47.2m

4. Anthony Gordon

£38.7m

5. Wayne Rooney

£31.4m

6. Marouane Fellaini

£27.5m

=7. Lucas Digne

£25.5m

=7. Idrissa Gueye

£25.5m

=7. Moise Kean

£25.5m

10. Joleon Lescott

£23.3m

The Belgian has impressed this season, doing his best to keep the Blues away from danger and winning an average of 2.5 tackles and 2.1 aerial duels per game in the league, with his presence in the middle of the park often standing out.

In truth, it would be hard to begrudge Onana a move to one of the world's biggest clubs, should they meet Everton's price tag – their financial situation means it could benefit them in the long run – and given his age, it is easy to envisage him growing into an even more formidable player over time.

"Huge fees" – Journalist shares big double Everton exit update

Two stars have been linked with a move away from Goodison Park.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 13, 2024

Of course, the idea of him staying at Goodison is an exciting one – Alan Shearer has hailed him as "tireless" – but it feels far more likely that the Blues will cash in on him, at which point they must nail a replacement or two.

Spectator was heavily apprehended after running on the field at the end of England v Afghanistan match at Old Trafford

George Dobell19-Jun-2019

A section of the crowd during the England v Afghanistan World Cup match at Old Trafford•Getty Images

Organisers of the Cricket World Cup are “reviewing circumstances” after a spectator sustained a broken arm at the end of the game between England and Afghanistan in Manchester on Tuesday.The spectator ran on to the playing field at the end of the match and, as he approached players, was apprehended by stewards. He fell heavily and was subsequently taken to hospital where the broken arm was diagnosed.But it is the events leading up to the incident that may concern organisers just as much. Earlier in the game another spectator – who had been sitting close to the group who came on at the end of the match – ran on to the pitch and removed the bails at both ends. He was not apprehended until he crossed the advertising hoardings on the opposite side of the ground.Other spectators in the same stand claim passive stewarding did nothing to prevent the incident. They also claim the spectator – who they say was young and inebriated – was not removed from the ground but kept in a holding area by a public bar for several hours. As a result, they suggest there was little disincentive to deter other pitch invaders.Pitch invasion is considered a criminal act in the UK. An announcement is made before each match warning spectators that anyone encroaching on the playing area will be prosecuted for aggravated trespass and could face heavy fines. A spokesperson for the Cricket World Cup was unable to clarify whether any further action had been taken against any of the pitch invaders.”A spectator, who was involved in a pitch invasion at the England vs Afghanistan match, slipped awkwardly and suffered a suspected fracture of his arm,” the spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo. “The individual discharged himself from medical care at Old Trafford before transportation to a local hospital was arranged.ALSO READ: World Cup Central: Hashmatullah bounces back for sake of mum”CWC19 and the venues take the security of everyone involved in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup very seriously and we work closely together to ensure the highest safety standards are adhered to regarding spectators. CWC19 is thoroughly reviewing the circumstances of this accident with the venue.”Armed police and a large numbers of stewards are no longer an unusual sight at sports events in the UK. The global heightened security threat, combined with a fear of further attacks on sportspeople – incidents such as the stabbing of Monica Seles and the assault on Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish during the derby match with Birmingham City spring to mind – have created a zero tolerance attitude towards spectators encroaching on to the playing area.Andrew Symonds and Terry Alderman are among the players to have taken matters into their own hands when approached by pitch invaders. Symonds memorably stopped one such spectator especially abruptly with a shoulder barge in March 2008 while Alderman sustained a dislocated shoulder in November 1982 when tackling a spectator who had run on to the pitch and punched him.

Manchester United have endured a difficult season so far as they have struggled domestically and in Europe throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

Erik ten Hag's side secured a top four finish in the Premier League and won the League Cup in a solid first year in English football for the Dutch head coach.

However, he has not been able to kick on this season as his team have failed to perform on a consistent basis to compete for major trophies.

The Red Devils are currently sitting seventh in the Premier League table and are eight points adrift of the top four places as it stands, whilst having played one match more than Arsenal in fourth.

Bayern Munich

1

Five

16

Kobenhavn

2

Two

Eight

Galatasaray

3

One

Five

Manchester United

4

One

Four

United also finished bottom of their Champions League group and do not have knockout European football to look forward to over the coming months.

The Red Devils are now reportedly interested in a deal to sign an impressive performer from one of their rivals in that group to bolster their defensive options.

Manchester United's search for a new right-back

According to ESPN, the club are admirers of Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey as they plot a revamp of their defence ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

The report claims that United want to make changes to their options at the back with players coming in and out of Old Trafford over the next two transfer windows.

It states that they have an interest in central defenders Jarrad Branthwaite, Matthijs de Ligt, and Jean-Clair Todibo, with Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans both out of contract at the end of the season.

They are also prepared to cash in on Victor Lindelof or Harry Maguire if a 'significant' offer arrives on their desk for either of them this summer.

This suggests that they are keen to make wholesale changes to their options at the heart of the defence to improve the spine of ten Hag's squad.

However, they are also looking at the full-back positions as Boey is a right-back by trade and would come in to compete with Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

There is no mention of whether or not United are prepared to make an offer for the talented gem or whether they would like to bring him in this month or in five months.

ESPN do not state how much Galatasaray would want for their star defender but Turkish outlet Fanatik touted a potential fee of €20m (£17m) for him earlier this season.

If they are able to strike a deal to sign the French whiz over the next 12 days or so, though, then ten Hag could secure a big upgrade on Wan-Bissaka at right-back.

Wan-Bissaka's limitations on the right flank

The current United defender is a solid and reliable option for ten Hag but he is a limited player due to his lack of quality in possession down the right flank.

Wan-Bissaka, first and foremost, does provide value off the ball for the side. He currently ranks fifth and first in the squad for tackles (2.1) and interceptions (1.7) per match in the Premier League respectively.

He has also won 59% of his physical duels across 12 top-flight appearances and this suggests that opposition players have found it difficult to get the better of him in 50/50 contests.

However, the English full-back ranks 17th within the squad for key passes (0.4) per game – below the likes of Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, and Casemiro.

Over the last 365 days, Wan-Bissaka sits within the bottom 45% of full-backs in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for assists (0.06) per 90.

He also ranks within the bottom 47% of his positional peers for progressive passes (3.70) and the bottom 23% for shot-creating actions (1.58) respectively per 90.

These statistics show that the 26-year-old enforcer is a below-average performer when it comes to creating chances for his teammates and making things happen in the final third.

Therefore, there is room for United to improve their team by signing a right-back who can provide quality at both ends of the pitch – as Boey could.

The stats that show why Boey could be better than Wan-Bissaka

The 23-year-old dynamo is a progressive full-back who has the ability to make an impact in the final third, whilst still being a solid defender for his side.

Over the last 365 days, Boey ranks within the top 2% of full-backs in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for tackles (3.33) per 90 and the top 7% or higher for blocks (1.67), clearances (3.33), and aerial battles won (2.00) per 90 respectively.

He has also averaged 3.4 tackles and interceptions combined and 6.4 ball recoveries per game across 18 appearances in the Turkish top-flight this season.

These statistics suggest that the Galatasaray star is not a liability at the back and has the ability to cut out opposition attacks at an impressive rate, as has been the case with Wan-Bissaka this term.

However, Boey could be a big upgrade on the former Crystal Palace man due to his superior quality in possession when it comes to creating chances and progressing the play.

United got a first-hand glimpse of his silky skills on the ball when he "made fun of Rashford" – as per journalist Furkan Bozoglu – with a delightful nutmeg on the right flank at Old Trafford in the Champions League earlier this season, as shown in the clip above.

The defender appeared to be in a difficult position by the touchline as the Red Devils forward closed him down but cleverly worked his way out of trouble by using his dribbling.

Shot-creating actions

3.67

1.58

Progressive passes

6.83

3.70

Progressive carries

3.00

2.37

Successful take-ons

1.17

1.08

As you can see in the table above, Boey has consistently offered progressive and attacking quality for Galatasaray on the right flank in Europe over the last year.

He has provided considerably more shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90 than Wan-Bissaka, whilst they can both cut out opposition attacks at an impressive rate.

This means that the French whiz could elevate United's attack by finding the likes of Rashford, who he made fun of, Alejandro Garnacho, and Bruno Fernandes in dangerous positions to then create or score goals more frequently than the English dud does.

Liverpool have reached the midway point of the 2023/24 Premier League season and are three points clear at the top of the table, still in with a shot across the different cup competitions too.

League football takes a bit of a pause through January, with the upcoming weekend's action taking place in the FA Cup before the following two match weeks are split into halves to provide each team with a break.

With so much at stake, Jurgen Klopp would be forgiven for being somewhat short-sighted and ensuring that the January transfer window is utilised properly, and with Joel Matip suffering a season-ending ACL injury in December, it certainly seems like the defence will receive priority.

But, according to reports, plans are being drawn up to complete last year's midfield rebuild with a marquee signing at the end of the campaign, with Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich targetted.

Liverpool transfer news – Joshua Kimmich

According to a report from Spanish outlet AS in the days preceding the winter transfer window, Liverpool and Manchester United are poised to battle for the signing of Kimmich, with Barcelona still interested after failing to sign the Germany international last summer.

The 28-year-old is out of contract with Bayern in 2025 but is yet to enter negotiations for fresh terms, and suitors have picked up on the knowledge that he is considering his options.

Valued at £48m by Football Transfers, Klopp and Liverpool's technical director Jorg Schmadkte – who has many Bundesliga connections – may well be enticed by the chance of doing business for a bargain fee; if Kimmich refuses to put pen to paper, then the Bundesliga champions will have little choice but to cash in.

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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 Joshua Kimmich's style of play

Bayern signed Kimmich from Stuttgart as a teenager in 2015, since winning every honour available at club level across 367 appearances, posting 41 goals and 100 assists.

The 82-cap international has been regarded as one of the finest players in world football for some time, with erstwhile Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge declaring him the "very embodiment of world-class."

This season, Kimmich has only played 11 times in the German top flight after missing fixtures due to injury and suspension, but he has played 20 matches across all competitions and racked up important assists against Manchester United and Galatasaray in the Champions League.

He would bring new levels of creativity to Liverpool's midfield, ranking among the top 8% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for passes attempted and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

While some Reds supporters might feel that he doesn't offer the kind of defensive security that is needed to complete Liverpool's new engine room, the £322k-per-week star actually averages the second-highest number of tackles in the entire Die Roten squad this season.

It would be a brilliant signing, providing Liverpool with a specialist No. 6 to rival Wataru Endo in the anchor, perhaps even mirroring title rivals Arsenal's summer swoop for Declan Rice, who joined from West Ham United for a staggering £105m fee.

How Joshua Kimmich compares to Declan Rice

Said to be a "passing master" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kimmich has never plied his trade outside his homeland at club level but could now be preparing for a move to England to try his hand in the Premier League.

And should it be Liverpool that get their hands on the player, Klopp could indeed hold the perfect weapon to match Rice, aged 24, in the centre, who has chalked up 28 displays so far.

Football Transfers list Rice as the second-most comparable Premier League player to Kimmich (behind Manchester United's Casemiro), with the pair's innate passing prowess, intelligence and energy surely something that would win Klopp over in his pursuit for Kimmich, especially after registering an interest in Rice last summer.

Over the past year, the England international ranks among the top 19% of midfielders in Europe for goals, the top 15% for pass completion, the top 16% for passes attempted, the top 11% for progressive passes, the top 6% for interceptions and the top 17% for clearances per 90.

Matches played

11

20

Goals

1

3

Assists

3

1

Pass completion %

90%

92%

Shots per game

1.2

1.4

Key passes per game

2.7

0.8

Tackles per game

2.0

2.1

Interceptions per game

0.8

1.5

Clearances per game

0.5

1.7

Ball recoveries per game

6.3

5.1

Duel success rate %

56%

51%

So what can be ascertained from the table above? While both midfielders offer similarities, crisp in their passing and active in tackling and recycling possession, Rice is utilised in a more industrious role, far more active in his defensive duties across the park.

Kimmich, however, is the more creative distributor, though his deeper-lying role facilitates such inventive passing. If Liverpool signed the German, Klopp would need to find a way to increase his activity in such phases.

Kimmich would play a similar role to Liverpool's Thiago Alcantara – who has yet to feature this season due to injury and is out of contract at the end of the campaign – which only adds fuel to the fire when considering the possibility of a summer swoop.

Kimmich and Rice are not identical, but there are comparisons to be drawn and the Bavarian phenom could have a transformative effect on the Reds' centre in the same manner as Rice at the Emirates Stadium, having been hailed for his "sensational" displays by journalist Matt Scott.

The transfer would not come cheap, but with so many young, exciting stars rising to the fore in the Liverpool engine room, perhaps Kimmich could be the general to command illustrious success over the coming seasons.

Western Australia had few alarms chasing down 243 after South Australia lost Dan Worrall to injury

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2019

Josh Philippe pulls•Getty Images

Western Australia made light of batting conditions that had proved tough thus far by chasing down 243 for a six-wicket win over South Australia as Cameron Bancroft and Josh Philippe struck half-centuries following a career-best 6 for 67 by Matt Kelly.Bancroft and Philippe are two batsmen who have generated much conversation for differing reasons. Bancroft has shown outstanding Shield form on return to first-class cricket after his nine-month ban, while Philippe was one of the breakout stars of the BBL and earlier this season struck his maiden first-class century against Victoria.Bancroft laid the foundations of the chase in an opening stand of 112 alongside Sam Whiteman with his third fifty-plus score in four innings. Philippe wrapped up the match with a dashing 53 off 62 balls as he dominated the unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 63 with Hilton Cartwright.Only briefly did South Australia threaten to get themselves back in the contest when both openers fell on the same score. Whiteman was caught at point and then Bancroft was bowled by Luke Robins.Their cause was not helped when Dan Worrall, who has been tipped to push for a place on the Ashes tour, limped off with a hamstring injury after one over.South Australia resumed the third day with what appeared a handy lead of 220 on a surface where both first-innings totals were low. But Travis Head fell in the opening over as Kelly completed a five-wicket before ending a last-wicket stand of 22 by removing Robins.The defeat left the Redbacks, who have had a miserable Shield season, facing the wooden spoon for the second consecutive summer with four losses from their eight matches and two games remaining.Western Australia moved to third on the table although some way adrift of the top two while Tasmania could move back above them depending on the result against Victoria.