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An update has emerged on Sunderland and their attempts to add a new centre-forward to their squad during the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Sunderland striker transfer news?

According to The Sun, the Black Cats are eyeing up a deal to sign Everton striker Tom Cannon ahead of the 2023/24 Championship campaign.

The report claims that they are plotting a bid of £3m plus bonuses as Kristjaan Speakman looks to tempt the Premier League side into parting ways with the young forward.

It states that newly-promoted Luton Town and Preston North End, who he spent the second half of last season on loan with, are also interested in signing the Republic of Ireland youth international.

Tony Mowbray is said to want him on a permanent deal rather than on loan as the head coach views the player as a solid investment for the future.

How old is Tom Cannon?

The Everton centre-forward turns 21 in December and would arrive at the Stadium of Light as a young prospect with the potential to improve over the years to come.

He showcased his ability at Championship level with Preston last season and could come in as Ellis Simms 2.0 for Sunderland, after the now-Coventry ace's impressive spell on Wearside.

Simms scored seven goals in 17 league outings for the Black Cats on loan from the Toffees as he proved himself to be a reliable goalscorer in the second tier of English football. The 22-year-old also created five 'big chances' for his teammates and registered two assists.

Despite returning to Goodison Park in January, the 6 foot 3 finisher still ended the campaign as Sunderland's fourth-highest scorer – behind Ross Stewart, Amad Diallo, and Jack Clarke.

Speakman can now repeat the masterclass he played with Simms by securing a deal to sign another impressive marksman from Everton – Cannon.

The 20-year-old dynamo scored eight goals and created four 'big chances' for his teammates in 19 league starts on loan at Preston last term, which shows that the exciting youngster already knows how to be a reliable scorer at that level.

Cannon enjoyed his loan spell at Deepdale after an outstanding EFL Trophy campaign during the first half of the season with Everton's U21 side. He plundered five goals and three assists in five appearances in the competition to go along with an average Sofascore rating of 8.00.

The Irish talent produced 51 goals and 14 assists across 97 matches for his club at U21 and U18 level combined. These statistics highlight his ability to be a prolific scorer and he showed glimpses of that during his time at Preston earlier this year.

North End boss Ryan Lowe hailed him as a "fantastic talent" and the lethal number nine's aforementioned form backs that up. Cannon is a player with the quality to be a huge threat in the final third while also having plenty of time left ahead to develop as he gains more experience.

Therefore, the Everton prospect could be a terrific signing for Sunderland as they would be signing a striker with the quality to replicate Simms' success at the Stadium of Light whilst also investing in his exciting potential.

Trent Boult has been ruled out for the third Test against South Africa after failing to recover in time from a groin injury sustained during the first Test in Dunedin

Firdose Moonda in Hamilton23-Mar-2017

New Zealand’s pace attack has been dealt another blow ahead of the third Test in Hamilton against South Africa with the confirmation that Trent Boult will be unable to play after failing to recover from a groin injury that had kept him out of the second Test in Wellington. Boult sustained the injury in the first Test match in Dunedin.Scott Kuggeleijn has been called in as cover after Lockie Ferguson was unavailable due to an injury sustained in the Plunket Shield. In November last year, Kuggeleign made himself unavailable for national selection after he was charged with rape. He was eventually found not guilty when the verdict was read on February 27. It was Kuggeleijn’s second trial relating to an incident that occurred on May 17, 2015 after the jury in the first trial could not reach a verdict. Kuggeleijn returned to the Northern Districts side after the February verdict and currently sits third on the Plunket Shield wickets tally with 31 at 25.48.Boult’s injury means that New Zealand are down to two frontline quicks in Neil Wagner and Matt Henry after it was announced on Thursday that Tim Southee would be sidelined with a hamstring tear. Wagner has played in both Tests and is New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker in the series with nine at 29.44, while Henry has not played a match so far. Henry’s last Test was against Pakistan in November last year at Seddon Park.At the other end of their line-up, New Zealand are without their most experienced batsman Ross Taylor, who suffered a calf tear in the first Test and was unfit to participate in the remaining two. Boult and Southee have IPL contracts but there is no word on whether these injuries will affect their participation in this tournament.”Trent did everything possible to get himself ready for this Test and is extremely disappointed to be missing out,” selector Gavin Larsen said. “While he has made good progress, after training yesterday we spoke with medical staff and it was agreed that Trent required a little further time to be ready for the demands of Test cricket. Not having Trent or Tim available tests the depth of our squad, but we’re confident of the job that Neil and Matt can do for us.”New Zealand will likely choose between three of the five quicks available to them, which includes allrounders Colin de Grandhomme and James Neesham, and play both specialist spinners, Jeetan Patel and Mitchell Santner on what is expected to be a slow, turning surface. The two tweakers also featured in the Dunedin match, at the expense of Southee, who returned in Boult’s place in Wellington.Since Trent Boult’s debut in December 2011, New Zealand have only played three Tests without both Boult and Southee. Two of them were against South Africa in the 2012 series, including the Hamilton match which decided the series.South Africa have an injury concern of their own. Quinton de Kock suffered damage to a tendon on his right index finger and could need up to six weeks on the sidelines. A late call will be taken on de Kock’s availability on Friday afternoon.

أعلن الاتحاد الإيطالي لكرة القدم عن استبعاد مدافع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي إنتر ميلان، فرانشيسكو أتشيربي، من معسكر شهر مارس الحالي بسبب العنصرية.

وتم اتهام أتشيربي بتوجيه بعض العبارات العنصرية تجاه مدافع نابولي، خوان جيسوس، في مباراة الأمس في الدوري الإيطالي والتي انتهت بالتعادل 1-1.

وأصدر الاتحاد الإيطالي لكرة القدم بيانًا رسميًا منذ قليل يؤكد من خلاله استبعاد أتشيربي من المباراتين الوديتين في مارس أمام فنزويلا والإكوادور.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيفا يعلن تأهل نادِ إيطالي إلى كأس العالم للأندية 2025 بعد خسارة نابولي أمام برشلونة

وأفاد الاتحاد الإيطالي أنه كان هناك تحقيق مع أتشيربي الذي وضح روايته بشأن الاتهامات الموجهة له بالعنصرية ضد مدافع نابولي.

وتابع البيان: “مما قاله مدافع إنتر ميلان، تبين أنه لم يكن لديه أي نية لتوجيه عبارات مهينة أو عنصرية تجاه جيسوس، ومع ذلك، مازلنا نختار استبعاد أتشيربي من قائمة منتخب إيطاليا، وبالتالي، سيعود إلى ناديه وسيتم استدعاء مدافع روما، جيانلوكا مانشيني”.

وكان جيسوس مدافع نابولي قد أخبر الحكم، فيدريكو لا بينا، بالعبارات التي وجهها له أتشيربي خلال المباراة وبعدها، اعتذر مدافع إنتر ميلان في لقاء تلفزيوني.

وبحسب تقرير “فوتبول إيطاليا” أن اللاعب إذا ما تأكدت عباراته العنصرية قد يوقف لمدة عشر مباريات على الأقل.

Newcastle United are in pole position to win the race for touted transfer target James Maddison after failing with a £50m bid for his signature one year ago.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Newcastle?

That's according to the ever-reliable Athletic, who claim that the 26-year-old attacking midfielder's future 'almost certainly' lies away from the King Power Stadium following Leicester's relegation from the Premier League this season.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all vying for his services themselves but it is Eddie Howe's Magpies who are the frontrunners.

Due to the Foxes' current situation and Maddison having just one year left on his current deal, 'several intermedieries' have priced the England international at just £40m – which could be an absolute steal as Newcastle look to consolidate their newfound stature.

How would James Maddison perform for Newcastle?

Make no mistake, despite playing a central role in a relegated outfit, Maddison is a "world-class" – as praised by England manager Gareth Southgate – midfielder and he has maintained a commendable direct return this term.

While Leicester's defence floundered like a fish out of water, the offensive efforts still held some air of cohesion, with Harvey Barnes and Maddison notably impressing.

Maddison would score ten goals and supply nine assists from just 30 appearances, and there is a case to be made that had injury not plagued the £110k-per-week phenom across the remaining eight clashes, his side would have discovered the two additional points needed to preserve top-flight status.

The fact he did not certainly plays into the hands of his suitors and while there is a vested interest from numerous angles, Newcastle's lingering interest could persuade him to don black and white this summer, with the enticing proposition of injecting superlative creativity and flair into a burgeoning outfit with a ceiling too daunting to conceive.

While it's clear that the two-cap gem would enhance the Toon's offensive calibre, let's delve a little deeper into the intricacies of just how this "football nut" – as manager Dean Smith heralded Maddison – would affect an outfit already boasting success beyond measure, given that just 18 months ago the Magpies fretted over their own battle against the claws of relegation.

The arresting element to his game is the goals, thumped from range, deftly guided from close; his assists, whipped, curled, placed with the perfect clarity of an innate artist.

But Maddison has proved that he is the all-encompassing and tenacious star Howe needs to continue to keep the club's togetherness and resilience woven, embedded into the squad's chemistry, without seam.

As per FBref, the one-time Norwich City ace ranks among the top 17% of attacking midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of tackles per 90, while Sofascore illustrates his defensive work-rate by referencing his 1.7 tackles per game – in the Premier League this term – and his success in 57% of his contested ground duels – omnipresent in his work.

The "monster" – as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting – would enrich the hopes of his teammates' individual success, and while his work across the field will provide variegated members with increased fortunes, none may flourish with richer support than that of prolific talisman Callum Wilson.

The 31-year-old Englishman has been in scintillating goalscoring form this term – his best Premier League season on an individual level – and has plundered 18 goals from just 21 starts.

The £46k-per-week striker ranks among the top 4% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 8% for rate of assists per 90, and given Maddison's own prolific nature, the two could meld gloriously to wreak havoc on their foes.

Maddison will bolster the whole gamut at St. James's Park, and given the success that the outfit have found this year, it must be terrifying for rival opposition to consider the leaps and bounds that may still be made.

Dale Steyn has been ruled out of South Africa’s Test series in Australia and could face up to six months out of the game with a fractured right shoulder. He did damage to the shoulder, which he had broken last season, while bowling on the second morning of the first Test in Perth.”I felt this pop or like a thud in my shoulder. There was a lot of pain,” Steyn told Channel Nine. “I had to go off the field and have an MRI. I did something very similar against England in December in a similar area but it wasn’t as bad. That was a stress reaction, which is like a very hairline little crack. This time it’s more like a fracture. It’s kind of broken the whole bone. I will probably have surgery and a plate in there. So we’re probably looking at a minimum of six months before I’m up and going again.”The last time took about three months and I was up and running and ready to play. As the scheduling goes, there’s a lot of cricket to be played and people want you to play. I didn’t have the full time to recover. I have been dealing with this for quite some time and I was wanting to rush and get to the Twenty20 World Cup, I wanted to go to the IPL. I wanted to play. This time I have to take the time to let it heal properly.”Steyn will return to South Africa after the WACA Test to see a shoulder specialist and it is “highly likely” according to South African team manager Mohammed Moosajee, who is also a medical doctor, that he will require surgery. Steyn is five wickets away from overtaking Shaun Pollock as South Africa’s leading Test wicket-taker.”He is extremely disappointed at the moment but knowing Dale, he will come back stronger,” Moosajee said. “We need to to give him the best opportunity to recover because South Africa and the world wants to see Dale Steyn play again.”Steyn complained of discomfort in the first session and went down after delivering the fourth ball in his 13th over – his seventh of the day – after picking up the first wicket of the morning. “He heard something thud or pop when it happened,” Moosajee said.Steyn remained on his haunches in his followthrough and held his right shoulder while grimacing in pain. Keshav Maharaj and Hashim Amla were the first of his team-mates to arrive at his side before physiotherapist Brandon Jackson walked him off the field, 42 minutes before lunch. He was taken to the hospital where scans revealed the fracture. He returned to the ground and watched his team-mates bowl Australia out but will not take the field at all and will only bat if “absolutely necessary” depending on the state of the game.The cause of Steyn’s injury is not entirely known except that it may have stemmed from trauma, such as a motor-vehicle accident, and was not caused by action on a cricket field. Injuries of his nature are so rare that Moosajee said there was only one documented case of it affecting a cricketer in the literature. The bowler, a 27-year-old from Staffordshire, was not named in a report Moosajee had with him but required the lengthy recovery time.Steyn has already spent several months tending to this injury. He broke the shoulder late last year and broke down in the Boxing Day Test against England and was ruled out of the rest of that series, including the limited-overs’ matches.Steyn had returned from the injury at the World T20 in March, when he played in two of South Africa’s four matches. He was then left out of the Caribbean triangular series in June – officially rested but unofficially dropped – and allowed to play in the NatWest T20 Blast to regain form. He returned for South Africa’s Tests against New Zealand and seemed back to his best with eight wickets in the Centurion win. He also played in four of the five ODIs against Australia and was occasionally seen holding the shoulder but did not need treatment at any stage.Before this series against Australia, Faf du Plessis stressed the importance of Steyn staying fit for the thee Tests because of his role in leading South Africa’s attack. Now, that responsibility will fall to someone else, most likely Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, but South Africa may consider flying in a replacement.Morkel is not playing this Test after concerns over his match readiness following two months on the sidelines with a back injury. He has only played one first-class match since making his return but has also bowled in the warm-up matches on this tour. “Morne is progressing quite nicely since he injured his back. During the build up to this week he looked pretty good. It looks like he will be available for selection for the second Test,” Moosajee said.Should Morkel not be 100% ready, South Africa have a fifth specialist seamer in Kyle Abbott. Others who could come into contention are Hardus Viljoen, who debuted against England last summer and is currently second on the first-class competition wicket chart with 21 scalps at 23.04, or Marchant de Lange, who has not played a Test since 2012 and is fourth on the list. Chris Morris and Wayne Parnell are also both injured.

Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as a possible destination for Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane this summer, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's the latest on Harry Kane's future?

The striker is entering the final year of his contract at Spurs, and with the Lilywhites failing to qualify for the Champions League or challenge for major honours, the 29-year-old could leave in search of trophies.

He is believed to be Manchester United's top target for a summer transfer, but it remains to be seen whether Spurs would be willing to sell him to a rival, or indeed sell him at all.

Paris Saint-Germain have now emerged as a possible destination, with Lionel Messi and Neymar expected to depart the French capital this summer.

Speaking on The House Of Champions, Romano revealed that the French giants could explore a move for the England captain.

"I would also keep an eye on Paris Saint-Germain, because Paris Saint-Germain are going to look for a top striker in the summer, and in case Harry Kane will be on the market, he could be one of the options to keep an eye on, so this Harry Kane situation is still open," he stated.

"But again for Tottenham, there is a chance to keep the player and the chances to pick the right manager, the right director to offer him a project and not just a contract, not just money. This is crucial for Harry Kane."

Should Kane move to PSG?

PSG are French champions again, and if Kane does move to the Parc des Princes, he could give himself a good chance to win silverware.

With Messi and Neymar both set to leave, Kane could line up alongside Kylian Mbappe as the main stars in the team, and could help PSG in their quest for Champions League glory.

The Parisians have often struggled to reach the latter stages of the competition, and it is a trophy that has evaded them despite heavy spending over the past decade.

Spurs could be happier to sell Kane for a large fee abroad rather than to a rival, and PSG may be best equipped to offer enough money to convince Daniel Levy to part ways with his forward.

However, Kane himself may prefer to run down his contract and leave in a year's time. Playing abroad may not appeal to the £200k-per-week attacker right now, given that he is chasing Alan Shearer's Premier League top scorer record, and if he is able to move for free, he could have his pick of Europe's top clubs.

Chelsea are reportedly eyeing a sensational summer swoop for Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar in the upcoming transfer window.

What’s the latest on Neymar to Chelsea?

According to recent reports from France, the Brazilian is looking increasingly likely to leave Paris at the end of the season.

The Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has been described as 'extremely keen' on bringing a star-studded talent to Stamford Bridge and he could find his man in Neymar.

Speculation surrounding the 31-year-old’s departure has been fuelled by his deteriorating relationship with the Parisian fanbase. Supporters recently gathered outside the star’s house and began chanting 'Neymar get lost' as in over five years at the club, he has been unable to deliver a first coveted European title.

As well as Chelsea's interest, Manchester United are also rumoured to be preparing a move for the attacker, but the Red Devils would prefer a loan move.

However, a move to the capital has gained momentum due to the impending appointment of former PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino, which would lead to a reunion between the pair for a potential price tag of €60m (£52m).

Should Chelsea sign Neymar?

The playmaker hasn’t featured since February after having to undergo ankle surgery, but his statistics still translate into extremely impressive reading – registering 35 goal contributions in 29 outings in all competitions to underline his status as one of the world’s most scintillating players.

His current manager Christophe Galtier has labelled Brazil’s joint-record scorer as an "artist" and he could definitely bring an injection of creativity, trickery, and dynamism into an underperforming Chelsea frontline.

The Blues’ attack has only mustered 36 goals in as many games and has desperately lacked potency and invention for months.

Therefore, the former Barcelona man could be the answer to all their woes, perhaps proving to be Boehly's most stunning signing yet given Neymar's calibre in the game.

Indeed, Pep Guardiola has previously lauded his magisterial elegance and said: “I remember watching clips of Neymar there and then thinking this is the king of Santos.

“If Neymar had stayed at Barcelona, they would have won two or three Champions League more. Him, Messi and Suarez were the best up front. I am an admirer. He makes football a pleasure.”

A player of his personality, calibre, and character would certainly add to the soap-opera feeling in west London and who knows how it will affect the already disrupted cohesion in the dressing room.

But, what is undeniable is Neymar’s extraordinary gift, and when we look back at his glittering legacy when upon his eventual retirement, we would most likely ridicule any club that would pass up the unmissable opportunity to have this magician in their ranks.

Aston Villa have enjoyed a season of surprise under Unai Emery, who took charge of the club back in November in his return to the Premier League.

In just over six months in charge, the Spaniard has taken the Villans from being a team looming towards the bottom three, to one fully charged and two games away from confirming European football next season.

With their form and the pending added influence of FC Barcelona Director of Football Mateu Alemany, Villa are on the path to special things ahead.

Despite their success so far, Emery’s side are reportedly already looking towards the summer transfer window in order to strengthen at the end of the campaign, with several targets reportedly identified.

The 51-year-old has been linked with a number of his former players from LaLiga, and recent news has revealed yet another individual to follow this pattern.

What’s the latest on Giovani Lo Celso to Aston Villa?

As reported by renowned transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Villa are said to have “concrete interest” in Giovani Lo Celso.

Romano added that the player would be “keen” on the move, depending on the movements in the managerial role of his parent club Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

The current Villarreal midfielder is contracted by the Lilywhites until 2025, with a market value in the region of €20.1m (£17m), as per FootballTransfers.

What can Giovani Lo Celso bring to Aston Villa?

The £100k-per-week midfielder, once praised by Emery as being “great” and “versatile”, has worked with the Spaniard on two occasions before, at both Paris Saint-Germain and Villareal.

At 27-years-old, the creative Argentinian has maintained an impressive Sofascore match rating of 7.10 in LaLiga this season, ranking him as the club’s third-highest performer.

The attacking midfielder has contributed to four goals in 18 appearances this term, having assisted three and scored one goal so far.

Notable for his passing abilities, the Rosario-born playmaker averages a passing accuracy of 86% per game, as well as being strong in the middle of the park winning 58% of his ground duels (4.1 per game) – as per Sofascore.

The Argentinian maestro could offer a lot to Emery’s style, having worked under the Spaniard before, their relationship could continue at Villa Park with lots to offer in the squad’s midfield areas.

He has even been likened to Kevin De Bruyne in terms of statistical profile by FBref, the midfielder ranks in the top 1% of Europe’s top five leagues for expected assists, averaging 0.26 per 90. Lo Celso also ranks highly for progressive passes, averaging 7.70 per 90, placing him in the top 11% of those in his position.

In signing the 27-year-old, Alemany could land Emery his very own De Bruyne, given his ball-playing and pinpoint passing ability from a deeper-lying role, in what could be a move to inspire those already in Emery’s set up in the Midlands.

Also heralded as a “magnificent player” by Sevilla president Jose Castro, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder could continue his impressive form under Emery at Villa Park in a reunion that would surely delight many at the club.

Tottenham Hotspur manager candidate Julian Nagelsmann could bring a long-term vision to Spurs similar to that of Mikel Arteta at Arsenal and Erik Ten Hag at Manchester United, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest news involving Julian Nagelsmann?

As per The Daily Mail, Tottenham are keen on recruiting Brentford's technical director Lee Dykes as their new sporting director following Fabio Paratici's resignation from the role.

The report states that Nagelsmann wants a new sporting director in place before choosing whether to join the north London outfit as manager while Johannes Spors is also another name in the frame for the position.

Nagelsmann is still technically on gardening leave at Bayern Munich, meaning Spurs could be forced to pay a hefty compensation fee of over £10 million to bring him to The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, according to The Telegraph.

Furthermore, the 35-year-old will want clarity over the future of Tottenham talisman Harry Kane, who is out of contract at the club in 2024 and is a target for Manchester United.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that Nagelsmann could replicate what Arteta and Ten Hag have achieved at their respective clubs by setting out a long-term vision for the future.

Jones told FFC: "I think if you look at what Arteta and Ten Hag have done for their clubs is they've brought in a vision and started to implicate it very quickly and show success in doing so. I think in terms of replicating that, then Tottenham would look for Nagelsmann to be another version of that for sure. I mean, he's got a very exciting philosophy and style that he looks to put in place. You know, he wasn't totally able to implement it in his time at Bayern Munich, but the potential was there for him to do it, so I can still understand why they gave him that job. That was a very high pressured job and situation, but I guess he just fell short of expectations in that role."

Who else has been linked with the Tottenham Hotspur vacancy?

Several other contenders have been linked with the Tottenham role, such as Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Arne Slot, Brendan Rodgers, Roberto De Zerbi and Ange Postecoglou.

All of these coaches possess different expertise. However, it shows that Spurs have made sure to cover all bases as they look to finally replace Conte in the dugout.

Nevertheless, Nagelsmann looks to be the clear frontrunner for the position and the Bundesliga champion would be a high-profile name to steady the ship following a turbulent period on and off the pitch for the Lilywhites.

For now, at least, all attention at Tottenham will be on trying to finish the season with a flourish under interim Ryan Mason. It looks unlikely at this point that a top-four spot will be in reach; nevertheless, securing continental qualification in the form of the Europa League or Europa Conference League is a real possibility as they seek to end 2022/23 on a positive note.

Former Aston Villa forward and pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has been reacting to the club’s reported interest in Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

What’s Agbonlahor had to say on Villa possibly signing Phillips?

Villa have seemingly been long-term admirers of Phillips which dates back to 2019 when he was with Leeds United in the Championship. Those at Villa Park were even looking at a move for the England international last summer, but as we know, he ended up moving to the Etihad Stadium.

Things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Phillips in Manchester, though, with the player yet to start a Premier League match this season. That has led to rumours of an exit this summer, with Villa once again showing a strong interest in a possible club record £45m transfer. It is thought that Unai Emery is after a “top-class signing capable of running the midfield”, and the Spaniard feels the 27-year-old fits the bill.

However, talking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor feels that Phillips would struggle to get into Emery’s first-choice XI, believing Boubacar Kamara “is a better player”.

“To be honest, I don’t think he starts. I think Kamara is a better player. “We’ve also got Luiz, Ramsey, McGinn. I think Villa are ok in central midfield, I really do.

“I don’t think Phillips starts in our midfield. With the price Man City would want for him, £45million – I just can’t see Villa being interested and following through with a deal.”

Should Villa look elsewhere?

As Agbonlahor mentions, Villa currently have a number of solid midfield options, players which Emery is getting the best out of which has resulted in a late push for European football.

NSWE are ready to back the manager with a “huge” budget which could involve the club record for a transfer being smashed, but writing a big cheque for Phillips could be a gamble given he has played just 390 minutes all season.

A new versatile midfielder could be of use to bolster Emery's ranks, with Valencia’s Andre Almeida another who has been linked with a move to the Midlands. The 22-year-old would provide a more attacking option over Phillips, with the Portuguese ace primarily a central midfielder who can turn out further forward or on the right.

However, a move for Phillips looks like it will once again be one to keep an eye on in what could be a busy few months ahead of Emery’s first full season.