All posts by z3u9t.icu

All of Aston Villa’s summer transfers have performed well this season, which proves that their recruitment strategy has been spot on.

Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby were the two big summer purchases, with both becoming important players.

However, there is one individual that Unai Emery didn’t have in his plans, which is a decision that could come back to bite the Spaniard.

Moussa Diaby’s start to life at Villa

Diaby became Villa’s club record signing in the summer as he swapped the Bundesliga for the Premier League in a deal worth £51.9m.

The 24-year-old has been handed lots of opportunities by the former Arsenal boss, playing 34 games across all competitions, with a goal contribution record of 12.

Emery has been able to trust the attacker in multiple positions, whether it is on either flank or as a second striker behind Ollie Watkins, which is where he has mainly been deployed.

However, Diaby is often subbed off in the Premier League, as his average minutes per game is 62. Over his 24 league games, he’s scored four times and provided six assists.

The former Bayer Leverkusen star has been relatively impressive, but in truth, he hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations of his record-breaking fee just yet.

Jaden Philogene-Bidace since leaving Villa

Jaden Philogene-Bidace only made six appearances for Villa’s first team, registering two assists in the process. One of those came in the opening match against Newcastle United, when he was subbed on for Matty Cash minutes from time.

Nonetheless, the 22-year-old moved away from the club permanently in September, when he joined Hull City for just £5m, after numerous spells in the Championship at Cardiff City and Stoke City.

Since moving to the Tigers, the dazzling winger – who can operate on both flanks – has been extremely impressive, with his performances often being game-changing for his side.

The table below showcases his stats from this season, and how he compares to his positional peers.

Goals

0.46

Top 12%

Assists

0.33

Top 9%

Successful dribbles

2.90

Top 5%

Shots total

4.02

Top 1%

Carries into final third

3.03

Top 4%

Touches (Att pen)

6.45

Top 8%

Tackles

2.30

Top 11%

As you can see, Philogene-Bidace is a "fantastic" player, as per Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, and he's been absolutely immense in the Championship this season, scoring seven goals and picking up five assists, which puts him among the elite category of wingers who can provide both creativity and goal-scoring threat – while also eclipsing Diaby's top-flight return.

The latest goal involvement came last night with the youngster pulling off an audacious rabona. On first viewing it looks as though it sails straight in but it takes a slight deflection and soars into the net, cruelly going down as an own goal.

Even still, that "unreal" piece of quality has showcased the full array of the playmaker's talents – as hailed by reporter Alex Howell – with it easy to see why the Hammersmith native had even "surprised" Emery during pre-season, in the words of Howell.

The England U21 international is extremely confident, as displayed by his high shot total and direct approach via his dribbling. The latter is where most of his creative magic stems from, as he can drive past opponents with a direct approach to reach the penalty box.

Philogene-Bidace would have suited Emery’s intense approach perfectly from an out-of-possession perspective, as he ranks in the top 11% for tackles, which shows he works extremely hard off the ball to regain control for his side.

Overall, selling the in-form whiz for just £5m without giving him a real opportunity to shine could just be one of the biggest mistakes the club has made in years, representing arguably the most notable blunder of a relatively serene stint in charge so far for Emery.

Tottenham Hotspur are seeking to sign another fresh face after already completing deals for both Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin, with journalist Nizaar Kinsella sharing more news on an "exciting" potential addition.

Spurs tipped to be busy on deadline day

Before the January window even opened, manager Ange Postecoglou publicly expressed the importance of getting players through the door in quick fashion.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The club granted his wish by getting Dragusin and Werner, with the former bolstering Postecoglou's defensive ranks and providing a solid alternative option to the likes of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. The latter, meanwhile, has bagged two assists in two Premier League games since joining from RB Leipzig on loan.

Timo Werner

Arrival

Radu Dragusin

Arrival

Djed Spence

Departure

Eric Dier

Departure

Japhet Tanganga

Departure

Sergio Reguilon

Departure

Ivan Perisic

Departure

Ashley Phillips

Departure

Despite already bolstering their squad sufficiently, with Spurs among the division's biggest spenders this month, selling Harry Kane last summer for pure profit means they have more wiggle room financially where other clubs do not (Luke Edwards).

This has resulted in suggestions Tottenham could make a third January signing after Dragusin and Werner. Indeed, there are still reports surrounding Chelsea star Conor Gallagher as one target, with reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano refusing to rule out a late deadline day bid.

Elsewhere, Swedish sensation Lucas Bergvall is central to a tug-of-war between both the north Londoners and Barcelona. Spurs have been continuing their policy of signing some of Europe's rising stars on buy-to-loan-back deals, in a similar fashion to how they first brought first teamers Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr to the club.

Postecoglou's side are apparently attempting to hijack Barca'a deal for the 17-year-old, who is emerging as one of Scandinavia's most exceptional talents.

Both Spurs and the La Liga giants have apparently made proposals to sign the Djurgårdens IF.winger, and he is said to be deciding whether to make a move to England or the Nou Camp.

Decision pending as Bergvall eyes Tottenham and Barcelona moves

According to Nizaar Kinsella of The Evening Standard, who shared an update on the matter today, Bergvall's decision between Barcelona and Tottenham is "pending" in what he calls an "exciting" potential move for the club.

The teenage sensation was meant to be making his call last night (Kinsella), but it appears the pull of N17 is giving him something to seriously think about.

Bergvall has been lavished with praise for his potential by members of the media like journalist Antonio Mango, who perhaps explained in December exactly why he's being highly coveted by Tottenham.

Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly interested in signing a player who used to be on the books of a Premier League giant, according to a new update.

Sheffield Wednesday transfer news

The Owls continue to fight for their lives in the Championship as they look to pull off something of a miracle escape act under Danny Rohl, but there is still plenty of work to be done to survive an immediate return to League One.

Rohl's side remain in the bottom three after defeat to Coventry City this weekend, but they have picked themselves up after a horror start under the previous management.

Wednesday have been linked with new signings in the January transfer window, and it could make sense to bring in a few new faces in order to strengthen the depth at the manager's disposal.

Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden is among the Owls' potential transfer targets, having been earmarked as an experienced head who could add quality to the midfield.

Now, another update has emerged regarding the Owls' January transfer business, with a defensive ace being looked at as a target.

Sheff Wed want Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill

According to Football Insider, Sheffield Wednesday are keen on signing Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, with the left-back once at Arsenal and now playing abroad in Hungary.

"Sheffield Wednesday have enquired about signing ex-Arsenal defender Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, sources have told Football Insider. Ormonde-Ottewill, [28], is currently plying his trade in Hungary with Puskas Akademia FC and is in the final six months of his contract with the club.

"Sheffield Wednesday are considering offering the left-back a return to the UK, while several Major League Soccer sides are keen to lure the former England youth international to the US."

Ormonde-Ottewill may be something of a relative unknown to Wednesday fans, but he is someone who could provide Rohl with the aforementioned depth that he needs between now and the end of the season given his experience.

The fact that the 28-year-old was even at Arsenal at any point in his career speaks volumes about the quality that he possesses, and he made a total of 32 appearances for the Gunners' Under-21s during his time at the club. He is also a one-time capped England Under-19 international, while 49 appearances in League One shows that he has an element of experience in the Football League.

Ormonde-Ottewill could provide good competition for Marvin Johnson on the left flank, assuming the latter stays put at Wednesday beyond the January window – he is reportedly in talks with fellow Championship side Ipswich Town over a move to the promotion hopefuls – and at 28 years of age, he is both experienced and hopefully having entered his prime years.

Sheffield Wednesday eyeing Cadamarteri upgrade who’s been “a joy to watch”

Danny Rohl could add another exciting striker to the Owls ranks this January.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 20, 2024

If the signing goes through, it may not necessarily be an earth-shattering piece of business, but should Rohl see Ormonde-Ottewill as someone who can suit his style of play and system, the Owls manager should be trusted.

Despite spending Christmas Day atop the Premier League tree, it has been a pitiful couple of weeks for Arsenal, in which they have lost three games on the bounce.

While there are often multiple reasons a team goes through a poor patch, with the Gunners, it is painfully obvious what is letting them down: their attack.

Mikel Arteta's front line have been misfiring for much of the season, but the performances against West Ham United and Liverpool at the Emirates were perhaps the worst games the attack have had in quite some time.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The good news for Arteta and the Arsenal faithful is that the latest player touted for a move to N5 has been scoring for fun this season: Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke.

Arsenal transfer news – Dominic Solanke

According to the Daily Star, Arsenal are still on the lookout for a new striker this January, and while Brentford's Ivan Toney remains a player they are keen on, Bournemouth's Solanke is another number nine that they would like to bring to north London.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, this won't be a cheap deal to complete, with the Mirror reporting that any move for the former Liverpool striker will cost at least £50m, which would represent a serious investment for a winter signing.

That said, for a striker who has 12 goals and one assist in 19 Premier League appearances this season, he could prove to be worth every penny for a title-chasing Gunners side.

Moreover, club legend Thierry Henry seems to be a fan of the Englishman, telling Amazon Prime (via the Metro): "I guess it was a bit too much when he was younger. But what he is doing right now is brilliant."

Arsenal could sign £60m “pace monster” to rival Saka

Arsenal could sign a £60m Premier League star to provide competition for places in attack.

ByMatt Dawson Jan 8, 2024 Why Dominic Solanke could unlock Arsenal's attack

Now, last season proved that Arsenal's attack is not to be taken lightly; from Gabriel Martinelli to Eddie Nketiah, practically every attacker at the club played their part in running Manchester City close for the title, but it just wasn't enough. Indeed, their top four scorers, Martinelli included alongside Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard all netted double figures in 2022/23.

Unfortunately, the attack hasn't been able to produce the same output this season, and the need for a clinical number nine has been painfully obvious, which is precisely where Solanke could come in.

The 26-year-old has already reached double figures for the season and looks set to breach the 20 goals a season mark, which is only made all the more impressive considering he is doing it for a Cherries side that many had tipped for relegation just a couple of months ago.

In comparison, Jesus has scored just three league goals, Martinelli has scored twice, Saka has found the back of the net six times, and Nketiah has scored five goals.

So the "predatory" number nine, as described by Soccer Saturday pundit Kris Boyd, has the Arsenal attackers beaten when it comes to pure goalscoring, but how do his underlying numbers stack up to the Gunners' recognised strikers?

Well, given his performances this season, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see that the "complete" Solanke, as described by his manager Andoni Iraola, comes out on top in most striker-related metrics.

Goals

0.64

0.29

0.46

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.60

0.60

0.43

Shots on Target

1.12

1.35

0.93

Goals per Shot on Target

0.52

0.21

0.50

Aerial Duels Won

2.13

0.96

1.57

The Cherries ace has a better non-penalty expected goals and assists figure than Nketiah, and while Jesus has more shots on target per 90, Solanke has a far better conversion ratio than the Brazilian. Likewise, his propensity to win aerial duels would add an extra layer to Arsenal's attack.

Ultimately, while it would cost the club a significant amount of money if Arteta is serious about ending Arsenal's two-decade title drought, he should be pushing for this transfer.

Back in December, Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou revealed that signing a centre-back was his priority for the January transfer market.

In the days before the market opened for business, it became clear that the pursuit of previous top target Jean-Clair Todibo had been abandoned, with Genoa's Radu Dragusin targetted instead.

A deal for Dragusin is wrapped up to follow the surprise loan acquisition of forward Timo Werner – formerly of Chelsea – but there is still a key area of the pitch that has yet to be addressed.

Postecoglou is understood to have notified technical director Johan Lange that he desires a centre-midfielder this month, and now, with other moves tied up, such an endeavour can receive full focus.

Spurs transfer news – midfielders

Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are playing at the African Cup of Nations for the next month in what accentuates the need for a fresh face in the engine room, though a move is unlikely to be carried out in haste and for this reason, it's unlikely that £50m will be forked out on Chelsea's Conor Gallagher.

Every Premier League player at 2023 AFCON

Ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, which Premier League clubs could be affected most through missing players?

ByBrogan Clasper Jan 5, 2024

With this in mind, a move for linked star Adam Wharton might be a good move, with Football Insider recently revealing that Blackburn Rovers might be compelled to accept a bid of £15m for the 19-year-old, who is enjoying quite the start in the Championship.

Spurs – alongside Crystal Palace and Everton – have been impressed with Wharton and could now find the perfect opportunity to complete the winter spending without rocking the boat too hard with a 'marquee' addition.

Adam Wharton's style of play

While Gallagher would be a brilliant addition, he would demand regular match action and this could be detrimental to the fluency and cohesion of the current crop.

Wharton, however, could be the perfect addition, still in his teenage years and likely happy to play a bit-part role initially, integrating him into the starting set-up with greater regularity over the coming seasons.

Tottenham really want to sign "mega money" midfielder alongside Gallagher

Postecoglou is eager to reinforce his engine room.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 11, 2024

Having amassed 49 appearances for Rovers thus far, Wharton has scored three goals and supplied five assists, starting 12 times in the Championship last season (including the final five fixtures of the campaign.

His manager Jon Dahl Tomasson was delighted with his progress and touted him for big things after this emphatic introduction, saying: "Adam, on the ball, he has a Champions League level. I've been a Champions League player myself, I've coached in the Champions League so I know what you need."

This year, as per Sofascore, the Englishman has started 20 times in the league already, posting one goal and three assists, completing 84% of his passes, averaging 1.4 key passes, 2.3 tackles and 5.5 ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 67% of his attempted dribbles.

One scout has also said that he "has excellent ball control, great passing technique, good agility and quick decision-making contribute to his effectiveness in both offensive and defensive phases, versatile playmaking abilities."

Increasingly confident as a multi-functional midfielder, Wharton also ranks among the top 19% of midfielders across divisions similar to the Championship over the past year for progressive passes, the top 15% for interceptions and the top 22% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

With such a skill set, Spurs could get their mitts on an industrious and elegant midfielder, blending tenacity and technique to great effect to possibly even emulate the success of revered former star Mousa Dembele.

Imagine Adam Wharton & James Maddison

"For me, he is a genius. An unbelievable player."

The words of erstwhile Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, whose effusive remarks concerning Dembele perhaps encapsulate his brilliant style, with his countryman Kevin De Bruyne even going as far as to say that the former Belgium international was "the best in the world" in his position.

Completing 249 appearances for Tottenham, Dembele was renowned for his control and command in the centre of the park, with opponents outthought and outfought each and every game and Spurs fans in awe of his effortless displays.

Passing

Finishing

Tackling

Dribbling

Defensive contribution

*Sourced via WhoScored

With such a remarkable balance of quality in his craft, if Wharton could replicate some of said talents then it would only serve him well as he pushes for prominence at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Young Wharton certainly possesses some of the same traits – he can pass, recover the ball with great efficiency and beat opponents with his dribbling ability.

And with James Maddison pulling the strings ahead of him, Postecoglou could even create the new version of Dembele and Christian Eriksen, with the latter even saying in the past that Dembele is the best player he has ever played with.

Eriksen signed for Tottenham from Ajax for £11.5m back in 2013 and chalked up 305 appearances, posting 69 goals and 90 assists and earning acclaim as one of the finest playmakers across Europe.

Now 31 years old and playing for Manchester United, the Dane is not the player he once was but he does have a worthy successor down the N17 in Maddison, who signed for Spurs from Leicester City for £40m in the summer.

Described as a "magician" by Statman Dave, the England international scored three goals and supplied five assists from 11 Premier League outings this season – winning August's Player of the Month and impressively averaging 2.9 key passes per game – before an injury in November halted his progress.

Nonetheless, the 26-year-old will return soon and could be bolstered by an all-encompassing talent such as Wharton, who could develop quite the partnership with the midfielder over the coming months.

Given that Wharton is available for such an affordable fee, it's a no-brainer that Postecoglou makes his move swiftly and maintains the balance and fluency as Tottenham continue to improve and bloom as a force in the Premier League once again.

Aston Villa's unprecedented Premier League title pursuit has hit a little snag over the past week as the Midlands club disappointingly dropped two points against Sheffield United before letting a 2-0 lead slip to lose to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

Nevertheless, with some winnable fixtures on the horizon and the winter market set to open up, Unai Emery's side could potentially get themselves back on track in January.

Aston Villa could sign dream Coutinho replacement in swoop for £50m "jewel"

The Villans have been touted with an interest in the talented attacking midfielder.

ByDan Emery Dec 16, 2023

Emery certainly won't be disappointed in his side's efforts thus far into the season but may still feel there are one or two areas in the starting lineup that could be strengthened.

Aston Villa transfer news – Crysencio Summerville

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa are keeping tabs on Leeds United attacker Crysencio Summerville ahead of the winter transfer window. Summerville moved to Elland Road for a paltry £1.3m back in 2020 but has seen his price rapidly increase in value. It has also been reported that the attacker has a £20m release clause in his contract that Villa could activate over the coming weeks.

The "explosive" winger, as he was described by football scout Jacek Kulig, has been in excellent form this season for the Yorkshire club as Daniel Farke's men are making a push for the automatic promotion spots.

The 22-year-old is currently Leeds' top goalscorer this term, having found the net 11 times in 22 games and registering six assists in total. Only Southampton's Adam Armstrong has more goal contributions in the Championship across the 2023/24 campaign than Summerville.

Now, Summerville could make a move to Villa Park, swapping Yorkshire for the Midlands by the end of January and Emery would certainly be silly not to sanction this deal, particularly since the Dutchman is performing better than one key Aston Villa star.

Crysencio Summerville's stats this season

Not only is Summerville one of the top goalscorers in English football this season, but he also has more goals and goal contributions than Aston Villa's entire squad, except for Ollie Watkins. That includes star winger Leon Bailey, who has 15 in all competitions, as well as Villa's £52m summer signing and club-record transfer Moussa Diaby.

The Frenchman has struggled to fit in at Villa Park since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen. In Diaby's first seven games, he managed to score two goals and register four assists, meaning he was averaging a goal contribution every 0.86 games. However, over his last twelve matches, he has scored one goal and bagged one assist, an average of 0.17 goal contributions per game.

Diaby's drop-off in form has been quite worrying, particularly given the weight of expectation behind his expensive arrival since he was the club's most expensive signing of all time. Despite starting the three matches before Boxing Day, Emery dropped the 24-year-old for Villa's trip to Manchester, bringing him on with 13 minutes to go which could be a sign that the manager is losing faith in his big-money purchase.

Summerville could be the perfect player for Emery to rectify his error as the former Feyenoord gem has outperformed Diaby in several key areas this term – albeit in a lower league.

Goals

0.56

0.23

Expected Goals

0.42

0.21

Assists

0.3

0.23

Expected Assists

0.36

0.16

Progressive Passes

4.04

3.17

Progressive Carries

5.41

3.78

Key Passes

3.5

1.71

Successful Take-Ons %

51.9%

46%

Stats via FBref

Hindsight is 20/20 and Summerville had yet to have any impact at Leeds United before this season commenced. However, the young winger could now be the perfect signing for Villa to ease the blow of Diaby's dip in form and for less than half his overall price.

Aston Villa head into today’s match against Crystal Palace with a chance to finish in the top half of the Premier League table, something which looked unlikely when Steven Gerrard joined from Rangers in mid-November.

The 41-year-old has endured a turbulent campaign so far, but the chance of a top-half finish would be an excellent base to build upon for next season as Gerrard aims to take Villa into Europe.

What’s the news?

However, there is some worrying news from a Villa perspective ahead of today’s match, and it concerns striker Ollie Watkins.

Gerrard stated after the midweek defeat to Liverpool that “there might be a small injury to Ollie and we will have to analyse that”.

Although no more information was given, it could mean that the striker will miss the last three matches of the Premier League campaign. This will be a big worry to Gerrard, who might need to make a few tactical tweaks this afternoon.

Gerrard will be gutted

Watkins has scored 10 times this season whilst having 2.39 shots on target per 90 minutes. That tally might not seem like much over the course of the season, but he is currently Villa’s highest scorer, with Danny Ings second on seven goals.

This shows the importance of the 26-year-old and may spark fears that the Villans could struggle for goals against Palace, although new permanent signing Philippe Coutinho could well stand up and power the team to victory.

Its clear that Gerrard needs further firepower if he wishes to take the next step with Villa, with a move for Lille’s Jonathan David being touted during the summer transfer window as part of a potential overhaul of the Midlanders’ attacking options.

It looks like an exciting time to be a Villa supporter if that move comes off, but the possible absence of Watkins for the rest of the current campaign could be a big setback in the short-term which will leave Gerrard gutted.

AND in other news, Lange plotting Villa swoop for “fearless” 87-goal monster, he’s even better than Watkins

Celtic are back from the international break and find themselves preparing for a tough run of fixtures, including the start of their Europa League campaign under Brendan Rodgers.

The Irishman has spoken in frank fashion about the frustration he faced during the summer transfer window, claiming his side ‘weren’t ready’ for their Champions League playoff match against Kairat Almaty after the Parkhead hierarchy failed to push critical deals over the line.

Not Nygren: Rodgers must bench Celtic flop to hand new signing a debut

Brendan Rodgers must drop this Celtic lightweight to unleash one of his new signings.

ByDan Emery Sep 14, 2025

Nevertheless, the Bhoys brought in ten new players by the end of the market period before Kelechi Iheanacho was released from his Sevilla contract to sign as a free agent.

However, the lack of synergy between the Celtic board and Rodgers has been on show for all to see, and one of his lesser-spotted summer signings has now sent an intriguing social media message that may explain his own situation in a little more detail.

Celtic loanee Jahmai Simpson-Pusey sends cryptic Instagram message

Taking to Instagram, Celtic summer signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey changed his profile picture on the platform to reflect a message that said ‘Delays teach patience, which prepares you for blessings’ after failing to make a first-team appearance since arriving on loan from Manchester City.

Becoming the Hoops’ eighth addition of the window, the 19-year-old has also been left out of the Bhoys’ Europa League squad by Rodgers alongside Callum Osmand, Shin Yamada and Hayato Inamura, causing some to question why he was acquired in the first place.

For now, Lennoxtown product Dane Murray appears to be ahead of Simpson-Pusey in the pecking order and is usually first in line to come off the bench when Rodgers decides to shuffle his backline around.

Regardless, there is a long season ahead for the reigning Scottish Premiership champions, and there is every chance that the England youth international could have a part to play as his loan club pursue another domestic treble.

What has Brendan Rodgers said about Jahmai Simpson-Pusey?

Shortly after his arrival in Glasgow was confirmed, Rodgers admitted to the press before his side defeated Aberdeen in August that Simpson-Pusey may be some way off featuring regularly due to his lack of a full-intensity pre-season.

He stated via Sky Sports: “He’s a little bit away in fairness to Jahmai. He’s been training with the small group at Manchester City and isn’t quite up to speed yet. You can see his quality straightaway and it’s just going to take a bit of time in terms of his fitness and the intensity.”

Clearly, Simpson-Pusey is a man with plenty of talent, given he claimed the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award last term and also made six appearances in the first-team under Pep Guardiola.

Now, he faces the challenge of nailing down a regular slot in Celtic’s backline, which may require persistence as the Manchester-born man looks to unseat the likes of Liam Scales, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty over the coming months.

Lucas Paqueta has been put through the wringer over the past few years, but there is light at the end of the tunnel for the West Ham United midfielder, having been cleared of wrongdoing in an FA betting scandal.

The spot-fixing charges pinned against the Brazil international would have had a ruinous effect on his career, had he failed to clear his name.

The 27-year-old can now turn his focus back to his football, and it’s a good thing too, for he struggled to capture his previous form under David Moyes last term, patently distracted by the off-field issues.

Graham Potter’s controlled, technical game aligns perfectly with the style of Paqueta, who has been described in the past as a “magician” by journalist Robbie Mustoe.

But he could do with some extra creative help in the middle of the park, and Potter is lining up a new dance partner.

West Ham in talks for new midfielder

Potter has welcomed Kyle Walker-Peters and El Hadji Malick Diouf to the Hammers ranks this summer, but after losing Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur for a £55m fee, more is needed across the midfield and attack.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, according to GIVEMESPORT, West Ham have pitched their proposal to Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, who is weighing up his options after falling down the pecking order in Unai Emery’s system.

Villa don’t particularly want to cash in on their homegrown product, but it’s felt that a bid of £40m would seal the deal.

Tottenham also have a long-standing interest in the versatile Englishman.

What Jacob Ramsey would bring to West Ham

Paqueta’s struggles make the perfect comment on how bad patches of form can affect any player. But class is permanent, and Ramsey could join the South American in leaping back into the ascendancy if signing for West Ham.

Still playing for his boyhood club, Ramsey has featured 167 times for the men’s team, though the past few years have indeed been testing and it might be the right time for him to jump ship and try his hand elsewhere.

A resurgence may yet be on the cards; Ramsey was regarded as one of the finest talents in English football when he burst onto the scene, journalist Charles Watts singling out his “special” quality.

West Ham are happy to give him that chance. Energetic, creative and a confident dribbler, there’s a lot to like, with Sofascore recording that the 24-year-old created five big chances in the Premier League last season, also completing 66% of his dribbles and winning 59% of his duels.

But that’s not to say that Ramsey doesn’t have the potential to become a standout in the Premier League and a regular in Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad, with Statman Dave once claiming the attacking midfielder is capable of “magic” things on the ball.

24/25

29 (19)

1

3

23/24

16 (8)

1

1

22/23

35 (31)

6

7

21/22

34 (29)

6

1

20/21

22 (6)

0

0

The past two campaigns have been frustrating on an individual level for Ramsey, with injuries and consequent slides in form leading to a more peripheral role, but along with Paqueta, who also has a flair for shifting between the left wing and a central midfield berth, Potter could create something special indeed.

The South American playmaker spent the lion’s share of the 2024/25 campaign in central areas, and Potter will likely seek to retain that next year, especially with Ramsey charging up and down the wing, latching onto Paqueta’s passes.

Ramsey might not be the flashiest name out there, but he could bloom into a superstar yet, and West Ham might look back at this one as a shrewd bargain, should he sign this summer.

Potter's new Bissouma: West Ham accelerate move for "outstanding" £20m star

West Ham want to sign at least one midfielder this summer

1 ByJoe Nuttall Aug 1, 2025

It is set to be a season-defining week and a half for Rangers, both on and off the park.

Back on Tuesday, the Light Blues’ Champions League dreams went up in flames very quickly, 3-0 down at home to Club Brugge inside 20 minutes at a mutinous Ibrox, with Danilo’s goal shortly after half time unable to spark a full-scale comeback.

Thus, baring a miracle at Jan Breydelstadion next Wednesday, Russell Martin’s team will have to settle for the consolation prize of a spot in the Europa League.

Just four days after their visit to West Flanders, the first Glasgow derby of the season takes place in Govan and, with Rangers already four points below fierce rivals Celtic, after just two matches, this Old Firm fixture feels must win already.

The transfer window will then slam shut the following day, and expect Rangers to be busy in the market between now and then, so could they land a “powerful” new centre-forward reminiscent of their best striker of the post-liquidation era?

Rangers searching for a new striker

Rangers do have three strikers on their books, namely Danilo, Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, but none of the trio, thus far, have come close to making the impact that Alfredo Morelos managed during his time in Glasgow.

The Colombian international played an instrumental role in their recent success, winning the Premiership title in 2021 and reaching the Europa League Final the following season, so could they be set to sign a striker with similar characteristics?

Well, according to a report by AfricaFoot, Rangers are in talks to sign striker Karl Etta Eyong from Villarreal on a permanent deal to bolster their attack.

They add that ‘negotiations are continuing’ between the two clubs for a player whose estimated transfer value is around £5.6m, after the Gers had a loan offer turned down for the forward.

The Light Blues have already signed ten new players this summer, so could that tally soon rise to 11?

What Karl Etta Eyong would bring to Rangers

Etta Eyong has certainly enjoyed a rapid rise in recent months.

After joining Villarreal from Cádiz last summer, he starred for the Yellow Submarine’s B team, scoring 18 goals in 30 Primera Federación appearances, impressing all onlookers of Spain’s third-tier.

This earned him his senior debut towards the end of last season and, mere seconds into only his second appearance, he headed home a last-gasp winner against Girona at Montilivi, a key moment in securing Champions League qualification for Villarreal.

Now, following the sale of Thierno Barry to Everton, Etta Eyong started in La Liga for the very first time on the opening day last Friday night, again breaking the deadlock with a towering header during a 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo at Estadio de la Cerámica.

Writer Kai Watson labels the 21-year-old a “powerful penalty box striker”, praising his “determination…. anticipation and aggression”, adding that Villarreal “are willing to let him go” for the right price.

Etta Eyong’s characteristics certainly sound similar to those of Morelos, but would he be able to replicate the Colombian’s success?

When Morelos arrived in Glasgow, he was also very much a lesser-known talent, joining from HJK Helsinki, having featured just 62 times for the Veikkausliiga side.

Known as el Buffalo, the Colombian would go on to score 124 goals in 269 appearances for Rangers, of which 29 were scored in UEFA competition, becoming the club’s all-time record scorer in Europe, breaking Ally McCoist’s long-standing record by netting against Benfica at Estádio da Luz in 2020.

In fact, when qualifiers are included, only three players have scored more goals in the history of the UEFA Cup/Europa League than Morelos’ tally of 32; Klaas-Jan Huntelaar​​​​​​​ (34), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang​​​​​​​ (37) and Henrik Larsson (40).

​​​​​​​So, given that Etta Eyong is unproven, signing him comes with an element of risk, but this could ultimately pay off spectacularly.

Often left frustrated by Dessers and Danilo, the Ibrox faithful are craving a talismanic centre-forward to get behind, and the 21-year-old Cameroonian appears to have the skillset to fulfill that role.

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Aug 22, 2025