Sheffield Wednesday are chasing what would be a great escape from Championship relegation and are now reportedly keen to add some firepower in the January window.
Sheffield Wednesday are on a Rohl…
Last Saturday, the Owls got themselves off the bottom of the league standings after Anthony Musaba's dramatic stoppage-time winner stole a monumental triumph for the visitors over Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium.
Danny Rohl's men are now unbeaten in their last three matches and are now just eight points off safety. At the same time, they will fancy their chances at Hillsborough next weekend to record another victory in a relegation six-pointer between themselves and Queens Park Rangers; nevertheless, Norwich City at Carrow Road will come first in midweek in another chance to pick up a result on the road.
In his post-match press conference, Rohl was delighted by his side's collective effort to gain three points in Staffordshire, as he stated: "We showed our improvements from the last weeks. Maybe four weeks ago we wouldn’t get a point in this game but now you are seeing the improvements from my team and I have to say also, thank you for my bench."
Sheffield Wednesday sign exciting new youngster on trial at Hillsborough
The Owls are looking to add some fresh faces to their youth ranks over the coming weeks.
ByChloe Chadwick Nov 30, 2023
"It’s not always easy to not be in the starting 11 but I told my guys that it is important we have everyone on the bench ready because they can decide the game."
Confidence is a key fixture in being able to generate results regularly; however, it is unusual for a side so far adrift to suddenly develop a habit of being able to deliver crucial performances, which is testament to the Owls' new-found siege mentality under the tutelage of their German boss. Looking ahead to January, Sheffield Wednesday are now said to be lining up a move for an experienced goalscorer who could further their cause for survival.
Sheffield Wednesday eye Scott Hogan
According to reliable journalist Alan Nixon's Patreon, Sheffield Wednesday are keen on Birmingham City striker Scott Hogan and could look to strike a cut-price deal for the 31-year-old in light of his contract being set to expire in the summer of 2024.
Scott Hogan's Championship key statistics in 2023/24 (Sofascore)
Shots per game
1.1
Shots on target per game
0.3
Expected goals
3.50
Passing accuracy
68%
Nixon stated on his Patreon channel: "Birmingham City striker Scott Hogan is in Sheffield Wednesday’s shortlist for a new goalscorer. Blues may let Hogan go before the end of his contract to get his wages off the payroll and Owls owner Dejphon Chansiri is willing to fund a major salary."
Republic of Ireland international Hogan, who has previously been labelled "dangerous" by former boss Pep Clotet, has made 17 appearances in all competitions this term, registering two goals and one assist (Hogan statistics – Transfermarkt).
Bringing experience to the table, the former Aston Villa man could add some added nous for the Owls heading into the second half of the campaign.
أكد حسين الشحات لاعب الأهلي حزنه الشديد بسبب إضاعة فرصة هدف محقق أمام الزمالك في نهائي القرن عام 2020، موضحًا تلقيه عروضًا خلجية خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية.
وقال حسين الشحات في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة ام بي سي مصر2: “أكثر فرصتين حزنت بسبب إضاعتهما في حياتي الأولى في مباراة ريال مدريد والعين، وكذلك الكرة التي ارتطمت في القائمة بمباراة نهائي القرن بين الأهلي والزمالك”.
وتابع: “حتى الآن أرى أن فرصة مباراة القرن هدف، وهي ضاعت بسبب ثقتي الكبيرة في تسجيلها، ونحن لا نعرف كيف نفرح في الأهلي لأنه يكون مطلوبا منك خوض مباراة بعد التتويج بـ يوم أو اثنين”.
وأردف: “بطولة إفريقيا أمام الوداد الأغلى بعد مباراة نهائي القرن، وعندما ذهبنا إلى هناك كان لدي يقين أننا سنحقق المكسب في المغرب، لا يجوز خسارة نهائي مرتين أمام الوداد”.
وأوضح: “عندما كنت أعترض على استبدالي كان يتم تغريمي، و(سيد عبد الحفيظ كان يقول تدفع كام؟)، وكان يوقع علي غرامة 50 أو 100 ألف جنيه”.
واستطرد: “تلقيت عروض كثيرة جدًا وبأرقام جيدة جدًا خارج مصر قبل تجديد عقدي، ولكن كل شيء كان متوقف وما الذي سيفعله الأهلي، متبقي في عقدي موسمين، أتمنى أختم حياتي داخل النادي الأهلي”.
طالع | حسين الشحات يكشف تضحياته للانتقال من العين إلى الأهلي.. ويصرح: هذا سر تألق أفشة
وتابع: “لدي أكثر من عرض في الفترة الحالية من الخليج السعودية والإمارات، يوجد عروض في النادي وعروض شفهية، وأنا بعيد أترك الأمر لوكيل أعمالي والأهلي”.
وزاد: “الأهلي لو أراد مني الخروج سنة على سبيل الإعارة وبعد ذلك أعود لكي أختم حياتي داخل النادي الأهلي لا يوجد لدي مشكلة، من وقت انضمامي من العين الإماراتي للأهلي كل سنة أتلقى 3 أو 4 عروض”.
وأضاف: “عندما انتقلت من العين للأهلي كانت أحصل على عقود الفئة الثانية أو الثالثة، وبعد ذلك أتعدلت وأصبحت في الفئة الأولى، أقل عرض وصلني كان بقيمة مليون ونصف دولار في الموسم”.
واختتم: “علي معلول لاعب كبير جدًا هو ملك الحلول، ومحمد الشناوي حارس مرمى كبير جدًا ولا يوجد أحد يقدر يتحدث عليه، منذ قدومي للأهلي وأنا أراهن على مصطفى شوبير، ومقتنع به جدًا ويتدرب بشكل جيد جدًا”.
Much has been made of Todd Boehly and his approach to transfer dealings at Chelsea as the club have splashed the cash on plenty of signings during his time in London so far. The Blues have left few stones unturned in the transfer market as they have brought in players all over the pitch in an attempt to return to their former glory on the pitch.
Mauricio Pochettino was appointed as the club's head coach over the summer and the likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, and Axel Disasi, among others, were snapped up, after their splurges on Enzo Fernandez, Benoit Badisahile, Raheem Sterling and the rest last season.
The upcoming January transfer window will provide Boehly and Pochettino with another chance to add to the squad and one player who could be on his way to Stamford Bridge is Kobenhavn's Roony Bardghji.
Chelsea transfer news – Roony Bardghji
According to Danish outlet Tipsbladet, Chelsea could soon be knocking on the door to make an approach to sign the teenage prodigy. The report claims that Blues chiefs are "crazy" about the talented winger and that they are one of many big clubs, although the others remain nameless, eyeing him up.
They also carry quotes from former Real Madrid and Everton midfielder Thomas Gravesen, who does not want the club to cash in on the young ace.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino.
The former Denmark international claimed Kobenhavn must not sell a "star" of their team and should not be looking to move on a player with "so much potential". So, it remains to be seen how much the Danish club would be willing to sell him for, if they are even willing to entertain an auction in January.
The statistics that could show why Chelsea are interested in Bardghji
The exciting prospect, who only turns 18 later this month, has been in fantastic form for his side so far throughout the 2023/24 campaign and has shown big potential for his age. Despite his inexperience and youth, Bardghji has racked up seven goals in 14 Superliga appearances this season, 12 of have come as a starter.
He is yet to register his first assist of the campaign but has provided his teammates with 15 key passes and created one 'big chance' in those 14 outings, which suggests that the 17-year-old whiz is somewhat unfortunate in that respect.
His form this season comes off the back of a return of three goals and one assist in four league starts for Kobenhavn throughout the 2022/23 season. Whilst it is difficult to judge how it would translate to Premier League football, Bardghji's impressive seven-goal haul as a left-footed right winger is an excellent record in comparison to Pochettino's current options.
Chelsea's PL top scorers last season (via WhoScored)
Player
Goals
Kai Havertz
Seven
Raheem Sterling
Six
Joao Felix
Four
Conor Gallagher/Mason Mount
Three
Nicolas Jackson is the club's top scorer with five top-flight goals and only Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer (three) have managed more than two outside of the Senegal international.
These statistics show that Chelsea lack multiple consistent goalscoring threats, centrally and out wide, and the 17-year-old Blues target has shown – albeit in Denmark – that he has the potential to provide another one.
This means that the Swedish talent could be an exciting addition for Pochettino to make in January, even if it is one with a view to the future rather than to make an immediate impact on the pitch.
Leeds United return to action at Elland Road this afternoon as they welcome Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town after two away games in succession.
The Whites had mixed luck on their travels as they followed up a stunning 3-2 win at Carrow Road against Norwich City with a 1-0 defeat away to Stoke City in midweek.
Daniel Farke's side endured a frustrating night on Wednesday as Patrick Bamford missed a penalty just minutes before Pascal Struijk's own goal secured all three points for the home side.
Leeds will now be hoping to return to winning ways against the Terriers in the early kick-off today and one move the manager must make in order to give his team a better chance of doing so is unleashing Crysencio Summerville from the start over Wilfried Gnonto.
The Dutch winger was reduced to a cameo role off the bench against Stoke as he has been playing with painkillers to deal with a shoulder injury but is said to be available for this clash.
Wilfried Gnonto's statistics against Stoke
Gnonto should be moved out of the XI after his disappointing display against the Potters in midweek as the Italy international failed to make the most of his opportunity to impress.
The 19-year-old gem played 70 minutes and, yet, failed to make a significant impact in or out of possession before being taken off the pitch before Leeds won the penalty that Bamford ultimately missed.
Leeds forward Wilfried Gnonto.
He failed to register a single shot on target and did not create any chances for his teammates from a wide position, along with a 0% dribble success rate (0/1).
In total, Gnonto has chipped in with one goal and one assist in seven Championship games and is yet to prove that he has the consistency to be a reliable starter week-in-week-out.
Summerville must now be brought in to take his place on the wing as the Dutch wizard has been in sublime form throughout the 2023/24 campaign to date.
The statistics that show why Summerville should start against Huddersfield
The 21-year-old magician, who was hailed as "impressive" by journalist Leon Wobschal earlier this term, has caught the eye with his ability to score goals and create chances for others.
Only Joel Piroe (five) has scored more Championship goals for Leeds than the Dutch ace (four) and this shows that he is one of Farke's biggest goalscoring threats.
Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville.
They are the only two players with more than two league goals to their name so far this season and Summerville's absence for the opening 70 minutes was felt as the Whites failed to score against Stoke.
Summerville's creativity has also been a key feature of his play as the young dynamo has produced a superb 2.6 key passes per match, which is at least 0.2 more per game than any other player within the squad has managed.
Gnonto, meanwhile, has only created 0.6 chances per clash to go along with his one league goal and this suggests that he is an inferior attacking option to the 5 foot 6 sensation, due to their respective outputs in the final third.
Therefore, Farke must move the Italian youngster aside in order to bring Summerville straight back into the starting XI after his reduced role against Stoke.
Aston Villa have found their stride under Unai Emery, as the Villans continue their form from the 2022/23 campaign into the 2023/24 season in the bid to progress further from the successes of last term.
The former Arsenal boss took charge of Villa almost a year ago in October 2022, changing their trajectory from a struggling relegation-threatened side lacking inspiration, to a squad fuelled with ambition and competing in Europe.
While there is still a long way to go in this campaign and in Emery’s plans for the Midlands club, the Spaniard looks on course to take Villa to highs that haven’t been reached in years at Villa Park, in what is an exciting time for the current squad.
Raising player performance has been a key element to the four-time Europa League winners, with some overlooked squad members becoming star members of the 51-year-old’s side, with the resurgence of John McGinn and Tyrone Mings most notable.
Every club has their blockbuster names and their formidable squad numbers beneath them, with Villa following suit over the years as many players fell in the shadows of the spotlight to Jack Grealish.
Without the work of others in the squads at Villa over the years, Emery wouldn’t be in the position he is now, however some could argue that the Spaniard could be in even better stead if he had the help of one offloaded squad member of the past.
When did Aston Villa sign Trezeguet?
Signed in 2019, winger Trezeguet arrived in the Midlands as a fairly unknown player, joining Dean Smith’s side from Turkish outfit Kasimpasa.
The Villans paid a fee of £8.5m for the Egyptian forward, who had scored nine goals and recorded nine assists in the Super Lig the season prior to his move to England, telling of the threat he could administer in the final third.
mahmoud-trezeguet-villa
Smith described his new acquisition as the “direct” wide player he’d been seeking, explaining that he was a winger that “causes problems” and “scores goals”.
There were some questions over the solidity of the signing, considering that the Villans had just been promoted back to the Premier League from the Championship, as reinforced by journalist Gregg Evans.
Speaking on the 1874 Villa podcast, the Athletic correspondent explained how he first saw Trezeguet as a player that “wasn’t cut out for the Premier League”, an opinion that changed as his game developed at Villa Park.
How many goals did Trezeguet score at Aston Villa?
Like many others, Evans’ views on the Egyptian altered, as he told the 1874 podcast, describing the forward's turnaround as “incredible” as he became a part of the furniture during difficult times at the club.
In his first campaign, the £8.5m signing was drawn into Villa’s battle for survival, as Smith’s side ended the 2019/20 season in 17th with form that highlighted the jump in standard between the second and first tier.
Trezeguet ended his debut term as the Villans’ second-highest scorer in the Premier League, netting six and assisting two in 34 appearances, with only Grealish outscoring him with eight goals.
The strong first impression in the final third, and his desire to work for the team saw the Egyptian settle well into life at Villa Park, however it all came crashing down in his second term, as his form dipped off and injury struck.
The winger netted two goals in the league in the 2020/21 campaign, making his role in the squad more rotational than crucial as he slipped down the pecking order.
In the winter of 2020, Trezeguet missed over 50 days of action due to sustaining a head injury, which was only the beginning of his injury battles that season, as in April 2021, he was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a blow to the knee.
mahmoud-trezeguet-villa
During a fixture against Liverpool, the Egyptian suffered ligament damage to his knee which required surgery.
As a result, the winger was away from activity for a recorded 238 days, returning to the bench in December 2021 before being sent out on loan to rediscover his form and fitness.
Ultimately, his injury marked the end of his time in the Midlands as he was sold after returning from his loan spell at Basaksehir, ending his time at Villa Park having scored nine goals and registered five assists in 64 appearances.
How much did Aston Villa sell Trezeguet for?
In the summer of 2022, Villa sold Trezeguet for a fee of just £3m to Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, ending his three year association with the Midlands club.
While the price he was sold at was a fraction of the £8.5m fee the Villans spent to welcome him to the side, it prevailed to be a good deal for both player and club, as he was given a chance to thrive in Turkey once more while being sold above his market value.
At the time of his sale, Football Transfers documented Trezeguet’s expected transfer value (xTV) at just €2.5 (£2.1m), suggesting that Villa did well to receive £3m for his services from Trabzonspor.
What is Trezeguet doing now?
The 29-year-old remains in the Super Lig today, and continues to showcase his ability for Trabzonspor, as highlighted by his form during his debut campaign.
In the 2022/23 season, while Villa were progressing under Emery, Trezeguet was outperforming the Villans’ talisman, Ollie Watkins.
Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins.
Throughout the campaign, the former Villans winger scored 13 goals and registered ten assists in all competitions, ending the term with 23 direct goal contributions to cement himself as a key player for his new club.
In England, Watkins secured his highest Premier League goal tally by netting 15, however in all competitions, the Englishman contributed to fewer goals than the 29-year-old, recording 16 goals and six assists in 2022/23.
Watkins vs Trezeguet – 2022/23 league campaigns
Ollie Watkins
Mahmoud Trezeguet
Appearances
37
28
Goals
15
11
Shots on target per game
1.3
1.3
Big chances missed
20
8
Key passes per game
0.8
1.4
Figures via Sofascore
Ending the season with 22 goal contributions, the striker provided one contribution less than the £3m wide player, relaying the sanctuary that the Egyptian has once again found in Turkey.
While Villa fans would much rather have Watkins in their squad, the majority will be happy to see Trezeguet performing so well for Trabzonspor after his injury that ended his career in the Midlands.
From a questionable acquisition under Smith, to a forward with more goal contributions than Watkins, Trezeguet will be remembered at Villa for his strong first season and resilience to start again after his surgery.
South Africa’s batsmen had a rough time in the Tests, but when it comes to ODIs, there are few places better to be right now than Sri Lanka. That is what batting coach Dale Benkenstein is hoping anyway, and his thinking is this: with several top teams fielding wristspinners in their ODI attacks right now, South Africa’s batsmen need to be primed against high-quality spin ahead of next year’s World Cup. With the hosts likely to stack their attack with spin options, and with tracks on the island likely to take some turn, this is as good a place as any, for South Africa to hone their skills ahead of the World Cup.”It’s huge value for us to be here – we’re not in the subcontinent again for a while,” Benkenstein said. “Even though we’ve had a poor Test series, there’s been a lot of work done on spin for a lot of batters. There’s been a lot of learning going on. We’re seeing this as a great opportunity to just get better. Not only the guys who are playing, but some of the young guys who are with us now. We tell them to use these conditions. Use the nets. Ask people around you. Try and get as much out of it as you can, other than just in the matches that are going on.”Among the skills Benkenstein is trying to teach his charges is to pick spinners out of the hand. South Africa had struggled substantially against wristspin in their 5-1 home series defeat against India earlier in the year, when Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav took 33 wickets between them. Sri Lanka’s ODI spinners have been nowhere near as prolific as India’s wristpsinners, but they do pose unorthodox challenges as well. Akila Dananjaya is ostensibly an offspinner, but also delivers an accurate legbreak and a good googly. South Africa may also have to contend with left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan through the course of the series.”Picking the bowlers is massive,” Benkenstein said. “It’s something that’s fairly hard to coach. You’ve got to have a lot of experience. Now we are lucky – we’ve got some technology that you can go and watch bowlers, and try and pick up anything that can help you out. But ultimately, the guys have got to go out there and work it out for themselves.”One of the big things is trying to take out one form of dismissal. If you’re not sure which way the ball’s going, it’s always better to be covering your own stumps until you start to find that you’re picking him. Often with wristspinners, once you get one wicket, they get two or three. It’s just trying to prevent that. The senior guys have got no problem – they’ve been there before. It’s really for the younger guys who are trying to understand that you can’t actually face a ball that’s spinning both ways until you can actually read it. It’s really those first 10 balls – to make sure they’ve got a gameplan to cover one way. With spinners, if you face them longer, you start to pick up the changes the bowler has.”South Africa’s first spin challenge of the series is likely to be posed by Dananjaya, who took seven wickets in the SSC Test. Although he is unorthodox, South Africa’s top order can be confident of picking him, said Benkenstein. But just picking him doesn’t mean they will automatically play him well.”One of the impressive things is that Dananjaya is very consistent. Even though he bowls three different styles, he does tend to land the ball in the right place. He’s not a massive spinner of the ball. But I think it’s just his consistency that you have to be aware of. So I think it’s just [about] getting yourself in. Once you’ve got in, then I think it’s a lot easier. It’s just really [about] being calm and not panicking when you’re finding it a bit tough. That’s probably the key to our success.”
Manchester United are going through somewhat of a Jekyll and Hyde campaign under Erik ten Hag, winning just half of their Premier League matches thus far while struggling in the Champions League.
The Dutchman is still looking to get his summer signings firing as the likes of Mason Mount and Andre Onana haven’t exactly enjoyed the most productive of starts to their careers at United.
It isn’t just the new arrivals who are failing to hit the ground running, as Marcus Rashford has scored just once across all competitions, failing to replicate last season’s wonderful form in which he netted 30 times in total.
The former Ajax boss is having to rely on Bruno Fernandes yet again to be his main creative output and the Portuguese attacking midfielder has already racked up four goal contributions in ten matches.
The 29-year-old is arguably at his peak, yet the Red Devils won't have him forever and Ten Hag may need to think about potential heirs to his throne.
He could of course delve into the transfer market for a replacement when the time comes, or the 53-year-old could turn to the academy, where Shola Shoretire has been sparkling in the same position for the U21 side this term.
How good is Shola Shoretire?
The 19-year-old has been at Old Trafford since the age of nine and signed his first professional contract back in 2021 having clearly impressed the hierarchy of his potential.
Shola-Shoretire-Manchester-United
Journalist Daniel Brown hailed Shoretire as a “wonderful talent” and as someone who “has all the qualities needed to be successful in the senior game” following a two-goal salvo against Chelsea for the U21s last season, and he has shone during the 2023/24 campaign.
The youngster has already managed to register three goals and three assists and while operating in an attacking midfield role, Shoretire has scored twice and grabbed three assists, indicating that it could be his most effective position.
His attacking qualities shouldn’t be underestimated as the Englishman has netted 29 times while registering 22 assists across spells at U21, U19 and U18 level and these statistics certainly suggest he could be an ideal heir to Fernandes, especially considering his statistics while playing in the number ten role.
How many times has Shola Shoretire played for Manchester United?
The talented teenager has already made five appearances for the senior side and therefore knows what it's like to represent the club at the highest level.
He made his debut against Newcastle United in February 2021 and has played in the Premier League, Europa League, and the Champions League, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clearly rated him highly enough to present the youngster with these opportunities.
Shoretire has yet to feature under Ten Hag however, but his form for the U21 side this season may soon be enough to warrant another chance in the first-team squad before the season is over.
The Red Devils haven’t enjoyed the best of starts and the Dutchman is having to rely on a few members of his squad to bail him out at times. Fernandes is an integral part of the team, yet he won't be at the club forever and Shoretire must harbour ambitions that one day he could be an ideal heir to the former Sporting CP star.
The summer transfer window for English clubs officially closed at the start of this month but Aston Villa were still able to offload one of their players last week.
Who has left Aston Villa this summer?
Philippe Coutinho became the 11th player to depart from the Villans this summer after he recently completed a season-long loan to Al Duhail.
Departee
Type of deal
Viljami Sinisalo
Loan
Philippe Coutinho
Loan
Morgan Sanson
Loan
Jed Steer
Permanent
Wesley
Permanent
Jaden Philogene
Permanent
Ashley Young
Permanent
Keinan Davis
Permanent
Cameron Archer
Permanent
Aaron Ramsey
Permanent
Marvelous Nakamba
Permanent
Unai Emery has been ruthless with his squad building and has allowed a number of players to move on, including some promising young talents, with the former Barcelona man proving to be the latest to make way.
The transfer window may be closed but the Villans head coach could unearth a player who could be like a new signing for Villa in the form of academy starlet Omari Kellyman, who has already made his first-team debut.
How old is Omari Kellyman?
Kellyman is a 17-year-old attacking midfielder who has been playing for the club’s U21 side this year, despite still being eligible to play for the U18 squad.
The talented maestro seemingly caught Emery’s eye during pre-season as the Spanish head coach opted to select the youngster against Hibernian in their Europa Conference League qualifier last month.
Kellyman has showcased his big potential at such a young age and could be a future ace for the Villans, which is what Ashley Preece hinted at when the journalist dubbed him a “star in the making” earlier this year.
Aston Villa midfielder Omari Kellyman.
Coutinho’s exit could now provide him with more opportunities to display his quality at first-team level, without being needed to emerge as a regular starter throughout the campaign.
How many games did Coutinho play for Villa?
The Brazil international has played 22 Premier League matches for the club since the start of last season and his bit-part role could be perfect for Kellyman’s first year of senior involvement.
It would allow him to gain vital experience being around Emery’s squad whilst also getting the odd chance to show off his ability on the pitch when required, whether that is off the bench or from the start if injuries and suspensions rule out the frontline options.
Coutinho, who has played 43 games for Villa in all competitions since his initial loan move from Barcelona in January 2021, failed to make a consistent impact on the pitch after making his permanent switch last summer.
Aston Villa midfielder Philippe Coutinho.
The 31-year-old averaged an unimpressive Sofascore rating of 6.66 across 20 Premier League clashes during the 2022/23 campaign. 17 players within the squad averaged a higher rating than the ex-Liverpool maestro, which shows that he was far away from being one of the team's top performers.
Coutinho was unable to showcase the best of his abilities as he ended the season with one goal and zero assists to his name. He also failed to create a single 'big chance' for his teammates and provided a measly 0.4 key passes per game.
To put that into context, ten Villa players managed more key passes per match than Coutinho, illustrating how little he offered at the top end of the pitch as the Brazilian was not among the side's top creators.
Therefore, it makes sense that Emery was willing to allow him to depart on loan as the experienced technician was not offering enough on the pitch to make him a viable first-team option.
Kellyman, however, is a player who has the potential to make the step up to be an upgrade on Coutinho, or at least the version of him who played last season.
How many goals has Omari Kellyman scored for Aston Villa?
The 17-year-old has racked up ten goals for the club's academy sides to date but is yet to score his first goal at senior level, although the talented teenager has only played one match for Emery's team so far.
He made the move to Villa Park from Derby County in 2022 for a reported fee of £600k as the Villans took advantage of the then-Championship side's need for funds to secure one of their promising young talents.
Aston Villa midfielder Omari Kellyman.
Kellyman slotted straight into the U18 team and initially struggled during the second half of the 2021/22 campaign as he produced one goal and one assist in nine outings.
The versatile ace, who can play out wide or in a central or attacking midfield position, then managed five goals and five assists in 22 matches for the U18 and U21 sides combined last season. This showed that the exciting talent is capable of delivering goals and assists on a regular basis, something Coutinho struggled with on both fronts in the Midlands.
He then started the current campaign on fire for the U21s with a stunning four goals in two Premier League 2 matches against Southampton and Manchester City last month, which seemingly caught Emery's eye and led to his first-team bow against Hibernian.
The Villa academy prospect recorded a Sofascore rating of 7.1 and played the full 90 minutes against the Scottish side in the Europa Conference League qualifier as he registered one assist, for Leon Bailey, and created two chances for his teammates in total.
Amazingly, Kellyman matched Coutinho's number of goal involvements (one) in his 24 matches since the start of last season on his debut for the club.
The former Derby prodigy's academy form this term also suggests that the potential is there for him to add goals to his game at first-team level if he can translate his performances over to the senior setting.
His impressive outing against Hibs and his production for the youth team indicates that Kellyman could be a fantastic option for Emery to call upon when needed this season, particularly if the likes of Bailey, Ollie Watkins, or Moussa Diaby suffer an injury.
Indeed, by unleashing Kellyman as a regular member of the first-team squad, the Spanish head coach could already have his dream replacement for Coutinho.
Negociado com o Grupo City em agosto, Vinícius Souza, enfim, foi apresentado no SK Lommel, da Bélgica e que pertence ao conglomerado dos Emirados Árabes Unidos – cujo principal clube administrado é o Manchester City. A jovem promessa do Flamengo assinoupor cinco anos com a nova casa.
No site oficial doSK Lommel, além das boas-vindas ao volante de 21 anos oriundo de um clube “top do Brasil”, é destacada a sua alta estatura (1,87m).
Vinícius Souza tinha contrato com o Flamengo até dezembro de 2021. Sem espaço no clube da Gávea, o meio-campista estava no Fla desde o 13 anos de idade e, a partir de 2019, passou a integrar o elenco profissional de maneira definitiva. Era constantemente elogiado por Jorge Jesus.
Ao todo, o volante acumulou oito partidas pelos profissionais do Flamengo, sendo quatro na temporada passada e o restante, nesta, quando iniciou os quatro primeiros jogos do Carioca, comandado por Maurício Souza.
Vinícius se juntará ao lateral-esquerdo Caio Roque, de 18 anos, cria do Ninho e também negociado com o Grupo City, inclusive sendo repassado ao mesmo clube belga.
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Aston Villa had a sensational summer of business in the transfer window, bringing in five new faces to bolster Unai Emery’s high-flying squad.
Not many could have anticipated the positive effect that the Spaniard has installed at the club, taking the relegation form side of Steven Gerrard and turning them into a team finishing with a European spot.
The former Arsenal manager has excelled so far on the field, with his success translated into the market as he and Monchi teamed up to deliver some valuable new additions to the ranks at Villa Park.
The club record-breaking deal for Moussa Diaby saw the Villans spend £51.9m on the winger, with the move later proving to be highly beneficial as the Frenchman has already netted two goals in the opening four matches of the Premier League season.
Villa’s progression and rise in ambition on the pitch seemed to be reflected in the window, as big names were not only recruited but eyed by the club in what was a statement of intent for Emery’s first full term in charge.
Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby.
While high-profile names walked through the doors of Villa Park, other rumoured targets weren’t delivered, with some names having the potential to be marquee deals in the club's market history.
Who were Aston Villa linked to over the summer?
After dipping into the La Liga pool to obtain Pau Torres, it seemed for a moment that Emery would once again buy from his homeland, with two Barcelona talents linked with moves to the Midlands throughout the course of the window.
Ferran Torres was mentioned as a target for the Villans, with news in Spain suggesting that the Spaniard could make a sensational return to the Premier League as part of a loan deal to Villa Park.
The former Manchester City forward found his form in pre-season, making a move relatively impossible as the Catalan giants saw his true worth.
Another Barcelona star that could have made his way to Birmingham was Ansu Fati, who was linked to the club before making the move to Brighton on loan.
Barcelona winger Ansu Fati.
Having seen the Seagulls pull off a coup as audacious and impressive as Fati, it will have been a disappointment for Emery to have not sealed a deal for the 20-year-old, who was hunting for game time away from his boyhood club.
Within the Premier League, Jadon Sancho was another figure that was suspected to be wanted by the Midlands side.
In hindsight, the move would have been beneficial for the player as he continues to duel with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
A report from Football Transfers suggested that the Red Devils were open to selling the Englishman earlier in the summer, with Villa named as a club interested in the 23-year-old, who was said to be valued in the region of £60m.
The one that truly got away from the hopeful grasp of Emery was Joao Felix, who was reported to be “on their radar” by journalist Rudy Galetti via GIVEMESPORT.
Did Aston Villa nearly sign Joao Felix?
After leaving his loan spell at Chelsea, Felix was left with the keys to discover his next club, with his future at Atletico Madrid unimaginable after a falling out with Diego Simeone.
The forward was linked with a host of clubs who would have benefitted from his signature, with interest from the Premier League and Saudi Arabia noted.
A recent report from Spain, relayed by GOAL, revealed that the Portuguese turned down a potential move to Aston Villa, Manchester United and Liverpool in the bid to join Barcelona, his dream destination.
For most, dreams are an escape from reality, however, the 23-year-old made his dream a reality as he penned a loan deal with La Blaugrana, marking his return to La Liga away from the hostility at Madrid.
Signing the former Benfica starlet would have arguably been the Midlands’ biggest-ever capture, however, it wasn’t meant to be as the former Chelsea man yearned for the Spanish champions.
How much could Joao Felix have cost?
While it was a dream to have even eyed Felix, there were huge questions over his cost, with the 23-year-old on both a huge salary and with a monumental price tag.
Signed by Atleti for a staggering £113m at the age of 19, it was expected that Simeone’s side would expect a fee of a similar amount to sanction his departure.
Joao Felix for Chelsea
It was reported that the Spaniards were firm on their valuation of €100m (£86m) for the versatile forward, with the magnitude of his wage being another vast obstacle that Villa would have had to consider.
From earning £3,900-per-week to making £238k-per-week at Atletico, Felix would have walked into the side at Villa Park as the club’s highest earner with ease. That said, Football Transfers placed a much more realistic expected transfer value on the play of £39m.
In football nowadays, it’s somewhat arguable that you get what you pay for, however, in the instance of a talent hailed as “generational” by development coach Aldo Sainati, the price is surely worth paying.
What could Joao Felix have offered to Aston Villa?
Deployable all over the front line, the 23-year-old is truly a master at playing the false nine role, with strengths in finishing, playmaking and the gift of innate flair.
Before the opening of the summer window, Emery identified a partner for Ollie Watkins as a target for the market when speaking to The Athletic, with Felix fitting the description perfectly.
Tipped by Cristiano Ronaldo to repeat his success in La Liga, it’s easy to forget just how early the Portuguese gem is into his career path, due to his formidable records in both Spain and Portugal.
With Premier League experience now under his belt too, the forward has become a decimal more employable by admirers in England, able to display his ability in one of the world’s best leagues.
Joao Felix Domestic League Record
Club
Season
Apps
Goals
Assists
Benfica
2018/19
26
15
9
Atletico Madrid
2019/20
27
6
1
Atletico Madrid
2020/21
31
7
6
Atletico Madrid
2021/22
24
8
4
Atletico Madrid
2022/23
14
4
3
Chelsea
2022/23
16
4
0
All figures via Transfermarkt.
For Villa, Felix would’ve undoubtedly been the main man, and a figure adored in the Midlands which given the status of his career in Atletico could have almost certainly boosted his performance and confidence.
As for his potential role in the squad, the free-roaming forward could have added a significant amount of quality to the front line, with a spearhead of Watkins, Diaby and Felix one of monstrous capability under Emery.
Leon Bailey would be the man to make way for the Portuguese talent should he have arrived in the Midlands, a player who has failed to hit true form since arriving at Villa Park from Bayer Leverkusen.
While the Jamaican has shown glimpses of his ability in the wide areas of attack, the 26-year-old has netted only six goals in 54 Premier League appearances so far in claret and blue, suggesting that the end product is missing.
Representing Genk, Leverkusen and Villa in his domestic career, the winger has never hit ten goals in a league campaign, with his highest tally being the nine Bundesliga goals he recorded on two occasions.
For Felix, his numbers in the final third are more than assured despite being three years younger than the Villa man, with his best scoring season recording 15 Liga Portugal goals for Benfica as a teen.
To communicate the calibre between the two forwards, Felix equalled Bailey’s highest-scoring Premier League tally in his debut 16 appearances in the league, scoring four last term to match the four scored by the Jamaican in 33 appearances.
Villa could’ve quickly forgotten about their winger by signing Felix, who could have epitomised the change in direction since Emery’s arrival.
Ultimately, no club would have sufficed for the 23-year-old, who simply wanted Barcelona to be the next destination to rediscover his form.