Unai Emery has acted swiftly this summer with regard to bolstering the first-team squad at Aston Villa as they prepare to face Europe’s elite in the Champions League next season.

So far, six new arrivals have landed in the Midlands, with a seventh seemingly set to be confirmed following reports that academy graduate Jaden Philogene will return to the club after just a solitary season at Hull City.

This extensive early recruitment has , however, been offset by a few departures which were required in order for the club to remain within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations.

The likes of Douglas Luiz, Tim Ireogbunam and Morgan Sanson have all left Villa in recent weeks, freeing up some space in Emery’s squad while bringing in some funds which could be used for future transfers.

They won't be the only players leaving as it now looks like someone who was only signed last summer for a club-record fee is close to making a move away from the Premier League.

Latest on Moussa Diaby's future

According to journalist Gianluigi Longari, Diaby has reportedly agreed on personal terms to join Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad this summer, with negotiations set to begin with Villa over a transfer fee.

It looks like the Middle Eastern side are going to invest €60m (£50.4m) in order to lure him away from England and this could see Emery cash in on the French winger after just a single season in the Premier League.

The club would effectively be recouping the fee they paid to sign him from Bayer Leverkusen in the first place and this cash influx could give the Spaniard some flexibility in the transfer market in terms of new signings.

The Frenchman was seen as a marquee signing, but he failed to really live up to the hype of a club-record transfer.

Moussa Diaby’s season in numbers for Aston Villa

Upon his arrival, it looked as though Villa had hit the jackpot by signing a player of Diaby’s class.

The supporters were genuinely excited. After all, this was a player who had registered 97 goal contributions in just 172 games for the Bundesliga side, showing how effective he was in front of goal.

Moussa Diaby's stats for Aston Villa last season

Metric

Premier League

Conference League

Goals

6

3

Assists

8

1

Big chances created

13

0

Successful dribbles per game

0.8

0.7

Key passes per game

1.2

0.7

Via Sofascore

Despite this wonderful spell in Germany, Diaby found a much harder time in England, scoring only ten goals last season in all competitions, chipping in with nine assists too.

Decent, but hardly spectacular, especially for a player who cost in excess of £50m. Failing to gain a consistent run in the starting XI didn’t help matters, but he struggled to cope with the demands of the Premier League.

Should Diaby depart the club in the coming weeks, Emery will no doubt be eyeing a replacement who could come in and make an impression straight away.

Could he turn to Serie A in order to find an heir to the Frenchman? As it appears, Emery is keen on making a move for a player who has plenty to prove.

Aston Villa showing interest in Serie A star

It is no secret that the club are keen on bolstering their squad with talent worthy of performing in the Champions League. Could Federico Chiesa be a player worth signing?

According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (via 90min), Villa have been mentioned as a club who are keen on bringing the Juventus winger to Villa Park this summer.

The Italian dynamo could even be available for a fee as little as €25m (£21m), which is a third of what Diaby could be sold for, which makes a move for Chiesa a real no-brainer.

Chiesa hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best of times over the previous couple of years, but a move to Villa and the fresh start that goes with it could be all he needs to recapture past glories.

Why Federico Chiesa could be a good signing for Aston Villa

The 2020 European Championships saw Chiesa at his very best. Not only did the winger feature for an Italian side that won their first continental title since 1968, but he also scored twice during the competition as Italy defeated England on penalties in the final.

The sky was certainly the limit for the "magical player" after this glory – as hailed by journalist Raj Chohan – but a spate of injuries has hampered his progress at the Old Lady since 2021.

Over the previous three years, he has missed 80 games for club and country due to a succession of injury issues, but he did find some form last season for Juventus.

The winger managed to make 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring ten goals while registering three assists as he began to put his injury issues behind him for good.

Among his teammates last season, Chiesa ranked second for goals and assists (11) in the Italian top flight, along with ranking second for shots on target per game (0.8), first for big chances created (12), key passes per game (1.6) and for successful dribbles per game (1.1), showing how vital he was to his club last season.

If he could carry this type of form into the 2024/25 campaign, there is no doubt Chiesa would make a wonderful impact in the Premier League.

Described as “world-class” during Euro 2020 by journalist Zach Lowy, Chiesa could be a perfect replacement for Diaby next season should the French winger move to the Middle East.

Not only did he score the same number of goals as Diaby, but as mentioned, he could only cost around £21m this summer to join from Juventus.

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While Villa are in a solid position off the field, Emery still has to be smart with regard to future signings, such as with the impending return of young Philogene for a reported fee of just £13m.

If interest in Chiesa is also concrete, then this should be one that Emery is intent on getting over the line as soon as possible so he can settle into life at Villa.

For £21m, Villa will be getting plenty of value for money should a move go through in the coming weeks.

As one of Celtic's biggest names is linked with an exit this summer, the Scottish Premiership winners look set to seal the deal for a possible long-term replacement.

Matt O'Riley linkd with Celtic exit during transfer window

The big story developing at Parkhead surrounds the future of Celtic star Matt O'Riley. The Danish midfielder had a stellar season for the Hoops last time out and is now attracting interest from both the Premier League and Europe.

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Ruthless from the Bhoys…

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Leicester City had long been seen as the front-runners for O'Riley, but they are now joined by both Southampton and Atalanta in the race for the 23-year-old. O'Riley contributed 19 goals and 18 assists for Celtic in all competitions last season and will be sorely missed if he is to depart Parkhead this summer.

Assists

0.56

99th percentile

Shot-creating actions

4.07

91st percentile

Touches

2.41

89th percentile

Tackles

2.59

82nd percentile

Interceptions

1.30

76th percentile

Whilst O'Riley's departure from Celtic is yet to be confirmed, it has not stopped the club from looking for new players to replace the Danish ace. Middlesbrough's Riley McGree is one name linked with a move to Celitc with Ange Postecoglou having previously tried to tempt the Australian to Parkhead during his time at the club.

With fresh faces in the middle of the park a possible priority for Rodgers and co this summer, it appears that Celtic are now tipped to complete a deal for a new midfielder before the end of the summer window.

Deal for loan star "will get done" this summer

As reported by Football Insider, Aberdeen’s former CEO Keith Wyness has claimed that sources have told him that Paulo Bernardo's move to Celtic will be completed during the summer window. Speaking to the outlet, Wyness said that the deal "will get done":

“It will get done. I spoke to someone in Portugal about this deal the other day and they said the deal will end up around £6million. The wages won’t be a problem. He’s a talent, and he’ll do well in the Scottish game.”

This claim by Wyness follows a story from earlier in the week which suggested that a deal for Bernardo was in its closing stages with Celtic ironing out the final details with the 22-year-old's current club Benfica. This previous report stated that the figure involved was in the region of £4 million, a fair bit shy of what Wyness is now claiming.

Regardless of the amount of money changing hands, having Bernardo back at Parkhead will be a massive asset for Rodgers' side going into next season. The Portuguese youth international featured for the Hoops on 33 occasions last season, contributing 4 goals and 3 assists in the process.

With the aforementioned O'Riley attracting interest from south of the border, bringing Bernardo back to Celtic could see the 22-year-old step up and take on a bigger role than he had on loan last season.

Arsenal have come a very long way over the last few years, from midtable mediocrity to successive title races.

Mikel Arteta has turned the Gunners into a serious proposition in the Premier League, and one of the players who's been with him since the start is Gabriel Martinelli.

The young Brazilian – he's still only 22 – joined the club for £6m in 2019 and is one of the most talented players in the squad.

However, he didn't have the best of campaigns by his own lofty standards last season, and based on reports, the club seem to be interested in another young winger who has lit up the Euros this week and won comparisons to the Arsenal man.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a report from The Athletic earlier this month, Arsenal are interested in Athletic Bilbao's exciting young winger, Nico Williams.

Alongside the Gunners, the report claims that Chelsea, Newcastle United and Barcelona are keen to land the Spaniards' services this summer.

While the competition is far from ideal, the good news is that according to The Athletic, the 21-year-old has a €55m – £47m – release clause inserted into his current contract, which should simplify that part of any possible transfer.

Overall, it could be complicated to get over the line, but given his stellar campaign last season, impressive form at the Euros, and comparisons to Martinelli, Williams seems like a player well worth signing.

How Williams compares to Martinelli

So, where do these comparisons between Williams and Martinelli come from then? Well, the first comes from FBref, which looks at every player in Europe's top five leagues and creates a list of the ten most similar players in their position, and in the case of the Bilbao man, they place the Arsenal ace as the seventh most similar winger in the top five competitions.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.46

0.58

Non-Penalty Goals

0.20

0.27

Progressive Carries

5.70

5.67

Progressive Passes

2.63

2.90

Shots on Target

0.76

0.89

Goals per Shot

0.09

0.10

Tackles

1.24

1.34

The best way to see this is by looking at the pair's underlying numbers, such as their non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, their actual non-peanlty goals, progressive passes and carries, shots on target, goals per shot and the naumber of atckles they make, all per 90.

However, it goes beyond just their statistics as well.

For example, after watching the Spaniard, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed is "on another level", run Italy ragged on Thursday night – for which he won the Player of the Match award – the Daily Telegraph's Sam Dean claimed that his "willingness to run at defenders" reminded him of what Martinelli can do at his very best.

This explosiveness out wide, which he shares with the Brazilian, is one of the main reasons he's such a fantastic addition to the Gunners' attacking corps.

Despite the buzz around his name at the moment and the incredible return of eight goals and 17 assists he racked up in 37 games last season, data analyst Ben Mattinson claims the Pamplona-born gem still possesses bags of "untapped potential" and that as "one of the best wingers on the market."

Ultimately, this combination of his incredible form at club and international level and his similarities to Martinelli should be more than enough to convince Edu Gaspar and Co that Williams would be a spectacular signing this summer.

Arsenal could sign Odegaard 2.0 in £51m Euro 2024 star

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 21, 2024

Azeem Rafiq has filed a legal complaint against Yorkshire County Cricket Club, citing “direct discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race”, as well as “victimisation and detriment as a result of his efforts to address racism at the club”.Rafiq told ESPNcricinfo in August that he had been left “on the brink of suicide” by the club’s failure to respond adequately to his allegations of institutional racism, and says he has taken this action, under the Equality Act, in a bid to seek “closure”.”Those who have, like me, been on the receiving end of racism and discrimination will understand how hard it is to open up about the pain and suffering it causes,” said Rafiq.”I feel a sense of relief to finally speak about it and that my healing process can now begin. I hope this claim will give me the closure I need and that the recommendations from the Tribunal will help bring about change for our future generations in cricket.”Rafiq’s claim against the club alleges that he was given a racist nickname by his team-mates, as were other Yorkshire players with an ethnic minority background, with the term “P***” and the phrase “go back where you came from” frequently heard within the dressing-room.The claim further alleges that Yorkshire failed to respect ethnic beliefs of Pakistani players and players of Pakistani descent, “including the non-provision of Halal food facilities and attempts to enforce the drinking culture of the club on them”.Yorkshire is also accused of failing to provide Rafiq with pastoral care after his son was still-born in 2018, shortly before he left the club for a second time, and Rafiq claims that he was denied the same professional opportunities as his white British team-mates, including an opportunity to play T20 franchise cricket in the off-season.Rafiq’s original allegations, which were laid out in the course of three separate interviews in the course of the English season, led to Yorkshire commissioning an investigation, which is still ongoing.”Racism has no place in our society or in our sport,” Yorkshire told ESPNcricinfo in a statement. “We have taken the allegations made extremely seriously, launching a thorough, independent investigation and now await the results and recommendations from this early next year.”This is an important investigation for the club and a distressing time for all involved but with this process underway and the investigation team currently conducting interviews, it would be inappropriate for us to go into further detail on any ongoing legal matters at this stage.”Rafiq’s lawyer, Asma Iqbal, added: “Azeem is a victim of institutional racism who has taken a brave step to whistle blow on an institution which now accepts it needs to embrace change; if only they had recognised this in 2018 when Azeem was crying out for help and support.”Crucially, the YCCC can do the right thing and accept this claim, which will allow the action to go ahead. If YCCC is serious about tackling racism, it will do just that.”

Unlike with the red ball, the pace of pink ball goes up when the lights come on, says the India vice-captain

Sidharth Monga15-Dec-20202:00

Rahane: ‘Batting in twilight period will be challenging’

India captain Virat Kohli has often spoken about not losing focus and having that one awful session that loses you a Test. He didn’t mean sessions where the opposition had kept you under pressure for long periods and then reaped the rewards. He meant when India had largely been in control of the game and then given it all up in one quick burst.The two clearest examples were Durban 2013-14 and Brisbane 2014-15. On both occasions, India had won the toss and looked in control in the first innings. In Durban, they went from 198 for 1 to 199 for 4 – and then eventually bowled out for 334 to lose the Test – against reverse swing. In Brisbane, they scored 400-plus in the first innings, got off to a good start in the second, looked set to save the Test, and then an injury in the nets kickstarted a collapse on the fourth morning to lose them the Test.Since then, India haven’t really had such standout poor sessions out of nowhere, but the many variables in a day-night Test bring about the possibility of one. Vice-captain – and captain-elect for the last three Tests – Ajinkya Rahane has called for increased focus all the time during the day-night Test because it can be like playing two entirely different innings. If the set batsmen lose their way in the twilight period, it can be extremely difficult for the new batsmen to start an innings, which is a recipe for collapses.Related

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India have played only one day-night Test so far, in India with the SG ball. Rahane did speak, though, from experience of the one first-class game he took part in as build-up to the Adelaide Test. He made an interesting observation that the pace of the ball increases once the lights come on.”The pace of the red ball stays the same throughout the day,” Rahane said. “With the pink ball, the pace changes completely in those 40-50 minutes. Of course, the new ball moves a little for a while but it gets easy to bat after that. Then the twilight period can be challenging because the pace of the ball increases. Both off the wicket and in the air. If we focus hard during this period, it can get slightly easy again.”It behaves differently during the day and behaves differently once the lights are on. So that is a challenge. So as a batsman focus will be the key. As long as you can focus and concentrate, communication will be the key among the two batsmen. Batting in twilight, those 40-50 minutes is the key. If you bat well in that period, it becomes really good.”As David Warner has shown in day-night Tests in Australia, there are periods of cashing in but you have to earn them. Rahane, who likes to start rapidly before settling into an innings, knows that and knows he will have to be more flexible given the time of the day he walks in.”I feel when you bat at No. 5-6, you have to read the situation and play according to the situation,” he said. “For me it is all about playing with intent, playing what the situation is and what the team demands from me. I visualise that and play accordingly. It is all about having that intent. Intent means not going there and playing all the shots. Intent comes with your defence, your leaving the ball. That positive mindset I feel is really important. It’s not like I decide every time to go out there and play my shots but I think having that intent helps me a lot.”

Ireland A wicketkeeper Neil Rock has been included as back-up to the regular Lorcan Tucker

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2020

George Dockrell clobbers one through the off side•Associated Press

Ireland have named a 16-man squad for back-to-back ODI series against UAE and Afghanistan in January 2021, which will be their first international matches since a 2-1 ODI series loss in England this August. The squad comprises the majority of the group that travelled to England over the summer, though there is no place for George Dockrell, William Porterfield and Boyd Rankin, as head coach Graham Ford continues to bring through a new generation of young players.Gary Wilson also misses out, staying at home to attend the birth of his second child, and will be unable to join the squad afterwards due to Covid-19 protocols. As a result, 20-year-old Ireland A wicketkeeper Neil Rock has been included as back-up to the regular Lorcan Tucker.Twenty two-year-old fast bowler David Delany has also been included in the ODI squad, and is in line to make his ODI debut. Delany, who is allrounder Gareth’s cousin, had played in the T20 World Cup qualifiers in 2019 but has since been missing through injury. He was preferred to Peter Chase, who had travelled with the squad to England but whose last ODI had come against Afghanistan in 2018.Ireland had hoped to play a series in the UAE before Christmas and made plans for a triangular tournament also involving Scotland and the hosts, but the boards were unable to come to an agreement in time.Instead, they will now play a four-match ODI series against UAE in January, with dates to be confirmed in the coming days. The fixtures will form part of the same tour as their World Cup Super League series against Afghanistan, which is due to be staged in Abu Dhabi.Several players and support staff will remain in “Covid-safe conditions” at home in case replacements need to be flown out at some point in the series, according to a Cricket Ireland media release.Ford said that despite playing only three internationals since March’s lockdown, he felt as though his squad had made good progress during the year.”It goes without saying that 2020 has been a difficult year, but the lads have acquitted themselves well and can be proud of what they have managed to achieve,” he said.”We’ve beaten the T20 World Champions West Indies in a T20I in the Caribbean [this year], beaten Afghanistan for the first time in a T20I in the subcontinent and beaten the current World Cup champions England in their own backyard [during the ODI series in August]. Those wins have helped build self-belief within the players and have demonstrated the progress we are making as a squad.”We have two challenging series ahead of us, but we’re looking to create a sense of momentum going into a big year – a year that will feature multiple tours, a full home season and a T20 World Cup at the back end.”The tour will be Ireland’s first since Stuart Barnes joined the support staff as assistant coach and national bowling lead on a full-time basis, after his secondment from Somerset during the England series last summer.Ireland ODI squad to play UAE and Afghanistan: Andy Balbirnie (capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, David Delany, Gareth Delany, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Kevin O’Brien, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young

Chelsea endured a frustrating season last term as they failed to win a single major trophy under Mauricio Pochettino during the 2023/24 campaign.

The Blues lost to Liverpool in the final of the League Cup, which was the closest they came to silverware, and finished sixth in the Premier League, which means that they do not have Champions League football to look forward to.

Todd Boehly and his team made the decision to part ways with Pochettino at the end of that season and Enzo Maresca has been brought in from Leicester City, after winning the Championship title last term.

The Italian coach is now tasked with returning Chelsea to the glory days and competing for a top four place next term, if not for the title with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City.

Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have already been snapped up by the Blues in their attempts to bolster the squad to achieve their goals, but there could be more work to be done before the end of the transfer window.

Chelsea's pursuit of Bundesliga speedster

According to Caught Offside, the Premier League side are preparing an offer to sign Karim Adeyemi from German giants Borussia Dortmund.

The report claims that the London giants are set to bid €30m (£25m) to sign the Germany international to improve their options on the wings ahead of next season.

It states that Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United also have an interest in the forward, but Chelsea appear to be moving quickly to get in ahead of their rivals.

Caught Offside adds that they plan to offer Adeyemi a long-term contract that would see his future secured through until the end of the 2030/31 campaign.

However, the report does not reveal whether or not the planned £25m offer will be enough to tempt Dortmund into cashing in on the Bundesliga speedster, whose pace was on full display against Chelsea a couple of seasons ago.

Caught Offside does, though, suggest that the 22-year-old dynamo could be brought in as a replacement for Raheem Sterling, who has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli could make a move to tempt the former England international into ending his stay at Stamford Bridge and move away from the Premier League, but he is said to be settled in London at this moment in time.

Instead of being a replacement for Sterling, though, Chelsea could sign Adeyemi to help them forget about a move for Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams.

Chelsea's interest in Nico Williams

It has been reported that the Blues are one of a number of teams interested in signing the Spain international before the end of the summer window.

Barcelona, Arsenal, and Liverpool are also said to be keen on the impressive winger but it is said that there are question marks over whether or not any of them are willing to meet his £49m release clause.

Due to it being a release clause, rather than a negotiated price between clubs, any team wanting to sign Williams would have to stump up the full fee upfront, unless Athletic Bilbao are willing to negotiate a different structure.

Signing Adeyemi for £25m, possibly spread out over several payments and add-ons, could, therefore, be a fantastic alternative to the Spanish whiz.

Williams, who has produced one goal and one assist in four Euro 2024 matches, enjoyed an impressive season in LaLiga for Athletic Bilbao last term.

Appearances

31

xG

6.02

Goals

5

Big chances created

10

Assists

11

Key passes per game

1.5

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old left winger showcased his superb creativity with ten 'big chances' put on a plate for his teammates, and 11 assists, in 31 matches.

Williams, who is a right-footed and direct forward on the left flank, did struggle somewhat with his finishing, though, with five goals from 6.02 xG in the Spanish top-flight.

This shows that he is far from the finished article and would be coming in as a project player for Maresca, which would also be the case with Adeyemi – who is only one year older.

Why Chelsea should sign Karim Adeyemi

The signing of the Dortmund forward would help the Blues to forget all about Williams and his expensive £49m release clause as he is also an explosive, rapid, winger who operates down the left flank.

It would need a bit of patience and faith from Chelsea supporters, though, as Adeyemi is coming off the back of a poor season at Dortmund, in which he scored three goals and provided one assist in 21 Bundesliga outings.

Whilst that could be looked at from a negative perspective, it could be seen as a fantastic opportunity to sign him for a low fee – possibly the £25m quoted – and look to unearth his potential.

In the 2022/23 campaign, the German speedster produced six goals, from 5.05 xG, and created nine 'big chances' in just 20 Bundesliga starts for Dortmund.

These statistics show that he has the potential to be as creative as Williams, who provided ten 'big chances' in 31 league games last term, whilst possibly offering more quality as a finisher by overperforming his xG.

Appearances

29

Starts

24

Goals

19

Assists

5

Big chances created

8

As you can see in the table above, the Chelsea target also showcased his goalscoring prowess in his final season in the Austrian Bundesliga with RB Salzburg prior to his move to Dortmund.

These statistics show that Adeyemi, who was described as a "nightmare" for defenders by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has previously proven his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals in Austria and in Germany.

His downturn in form during the 2023/24 campaign should be looked at as an opportunity for Chelsea to revive his career and get him back to his very best.

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That would then allow the club to forget all about Williams as they would have a left winger with the ability to cause constant problems for opposition defenders, for almost half as much money if they can bring him for £25m.

After missing out on Michael Olise, Chelsea remain in the market for a creative winger, as they look to add firepower to their attack ahead of the next Premier League season.

The Crystal Palace winger bettered the season of all Chelsea's wingers (except Cole Palmer, who played as a right-wing and number ten), making 19 Premier League appearances, scoring ten goals, and providing six assists in 1,278 minutes.

So, as Chelsea look to add that extra spark and G/A output to their attacking ranks, who could they turn their attention to after Olise made the decision to join Bayern Munich?

Chelsea transfer news

According to reports from Dutch outlet telegraaf, Chelsea still hold interest in Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville, who is also attracting interest from PSG, Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool and Fulham.

An enquiry has been made, according to reports, and Chelsea seem to be sounding out the potential of a deal for the Championship POTY, as an option for their attacking reinforcement.

However, after the recent sale of Leeds star Archie Gray, the club will be in a much stronger position to hold firm and ensure they get the fee they are looking for in regard to Summerville, with the Yorkshire club probably hoping for a bidding war with such interest.

How Summerville compares to Olise

The 22-year-old had a sparkling campaign for Leeds in the Championship, making 43 appearances, scoring 19 goals and providing nine assists, earning himself the division's POTY award in the meantime.

Of course, it is worth comparing his Premier League statistics the year prior, as Summerville made 28 appearances (1,415 minutes), scoring four goals and providing two assists.

Whilst his output was far worse, the winger showed glimpses of making things happen in one of the "weaker" sides in the league, and it should be considered how these stats improved when playing as one of the more ball-dominant sides in the Championship.

Both Olise and Summerville offer a high level of ball progression through their ability to carry the ball and beat their man 1v1. Olise averages 4.8 progressive carries per 90, and completes 2.82 successful take-ons per 90.

Summerville, in comparison, averages 5.04 progressive carries per 90, slightly bettering Olise in this metric, but slightly underperforms Olise in take-ons completed, with 2.52 per 90.

Both players rank in the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90 across Europe, whilst Summerville also ranks in the top 6% for progressive carries per 90, showing his ability to drive the team forward and get his team into attacking zones through his ball-carrying.

Where Olise's quality shines through is with his final ball, and chance creation. The 22-year-old Palace winger has produced 0.42 assists per 90, whilst putting up an xAG (expected assisted goals) of 0.41 per 90, ranking in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for this metric.

Summerville still displays good creative numbers, producing 0.23 assists per 90, putting up an xAG of 0.30 per 90, and also actually bettering Olise for shot-creating actions with 6.1 per 90, compared to Olise's 5.79.

The "sensational" Leeds star – as he was described by scout Jacek Kulig – has many top attributes for a winger, with a good blend of ball progression via carrying, creative actions, and ability to provide G/A output. He could well be Enzo Maresca's answer to Olise.

Chelsea have hit gold with £30m signing who's now worth more than Olise

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Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi was left bloodied after being caught in the face by Crvena zvezda's Uros Spajic, and required 10 stitches after the game.

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Cubarsi kicked in the face in 5-2 winDefender needed ten stitches after matchHansi Flick says the 17-year-old is 'fine'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

During the latter stages of Barcelona's 5-2 drubbing of Crvena zvezda away at Rajko Mitic Stadium, Cubarsi was caught in the face by Spajic's high boot inside the box, and the 17-year-old went straight down holding his face prompting Barcelona and Zvezda players to flag the medical team to hurry on to the field for assistance. Cubarsi was then replaced by 19-year-old Barca Atletic defender Sergi Dominguez. Hansi Flick has now provided an update on the youngster's injury and played down the severity despite the youngster receiving 10 stitches to his face.

AdvertisementWHAT FLICK SAID

Speaking to the media, Flick said: "He needed stitches, but he's fine. He has a scar, he is young and will recover."

Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Cubarsi has easily been one of the best defenders this season with pundits and fans being full of praise for the centre-back, who only turned 17 years old this year. The Spaniard was fast-tracked into the Catalan side's first-team last season by Xavi Hernandez following a number of injuries in the squad. Under Flick, Cubarsi has formed a formidable partnership with Inigo Martinez, who is almost twice his age, as the duo have been responsible for creating one of the most accurate offside trap systems in football. So far this season, Barcelona have caught their opponents offside 108 times in just 16 matches.

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WHAT NEXT FOR CUBARSI?

It is still uncertain whether Cubarsi will be fit for Barcelona's crucial clash against Real Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium on Sunday as the Blaugrana look to maintain their lead over Real Madrid before the start of the international break.

Everton have been heavily restricted as to what they can spend in recent transfer windows, following their recent financial situation which resulted in an eight-point deduction last season.

Sean Dyche’s side have desperately lacked investment, with the club needing to act in a sensible manner this window if they are to pull further clear of any looming relegation worries.

However, the Toffees have wasted no time in bolstering their ranks, signing the likes of Tim Iroegbunam and Iliman Ndiaye from Aston Villa and Marseille respectively.

Despite the recent flurry of activity, Dyche and Co are still looking to further improve the squad to give the side the best possible chance of building on the superb end to the previous campaign.

Everton have identified one player who could be a huge hit at Goodison Park, forming an excellent partnership with one player on Merseyside.

Everton interested in deal for £7m talent

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Everton have registered interest in Hellas Verona right-back Jackson Tchatchoua, who could be available for around €8m (£7m) this summer.

The Cameroonian spent last season on loan at the Italian side, before joining them on a permanent basis for £2.5m earlier this week after an agreement was signed when he joined Verona on a temporary basis a year ago.

The report claims it could be a good move for both parties, with Everton gaining a talented player, whilst Verona make an instant profit on a player who succeeded during his loan stint in 2023/24.

Tchatchoua made 26 appearances in Serie A last season, featuring for 1,725 minutes, contributing with two assists – with the one-time winger settling into his new role at full-back.

His talents suit the Premier League down to the ground, with his playstyle allowing one new addition to thrive after his move to the club during the off-season.

Why Tchatchoua could form a lethal partnership with Ndiaye

Earlier this week, the Toffees forked out £15m for the services of former Sheffield United star Ndiaye – a great move for a talented player

who could set England’s top flight alight.

He’s previously showcased his talents in England, registering 26 goal contributions for the Blades in their promotion-winning campaign in 2022/23, before his subsequent move to Marseille that summer.

If he is to replicate or get anywhere near those numbers during his stint at Goodison, the potential arrival of Tchatchoua could allow the Progressive passes per Senegalese star to reach the heights many supporters expect from him.

The Cameroonian has been brilliant defensively, winning an average of two tackles per 90, whilst also completing 1.2 interceptions – showcasing that he’s more than capable of slotting into Dyche’s defensive system.

However, it’s his attacking capabilities that could allow the 22-year-old to form a great partnership with Ndiaye, completing an average of 42 passes per 90, with 2.8 of those being progressive, demonstrating his intent to play the ball forward where possible.

Jordan Tchatchoua's stats in Serie A (2023/24)
Statistics	Tally
Games	26
Assists	2
Passes per 90	42
Progressive passes per 90	2.8
Progressive carries per 90	1.8
Tackles per 90	2
Interceptions per 90	1.2
Stats via FBref

He’s also averaged 1.8 progressive carries, enjoying to run with the ball at his feet, undoubtedly a feature of his play that was key during his previous stint as a winger, which shows that he can carry and progress the ball into dangerous positions for Ndiaye.

All things considered, Tchatchoua would be a great addition to Dyche’s side, with the club potentially signing an excellent talent for a bargain price.

He has the potential to improve further whilst also cementing his place at right-back and, if he reaches the levels expected of him, making the club a tidy profit down the line to boost their PSR battle.