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As the 2024/25 Premier League season fast approaches, teams are beginning to race for their main targets in the transfer market, looking to bolster their squads ready for the new season.

Julen Lopetegui has already got the wheels in motion, with the new additions of Max Kilman and Luis Guilherme at West Ham this summer, but it doesn't look like it is going to stop there for the Hammers.

West Ham are currently looking at more possible recruitment, with plenty of center forward links, left-winger appreciation such as Crysencio Summerville, right-full-back focus with links to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and even a partner for new centre-back Kilman.

West Ham's hunt for another defender

According to reports from talkSPORT, West Ham are among the clubs who are said to be 'very keen' on Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah, who has recently been left out of their pre-season tour squad. Crystal Palace are also reportedly interested in the English defender.

Chalobah made 17 appearances for Chelsea last season in all competitions, scoring one goal, and contributing to three clean sheets in his 1,227 minutes of football.

He has been described as an "exciting" talent by analyst Raj Chohan on X, referencing his ability to anticipate danger, positioning to cut things out, and ball-playing ability.

Chalobah and Kilman as a partnership

The right-footed Chalobah, and left-footed Kilman both stand at 6 foot 3. This could provide a very strong base, with a mixture of physicality, recovery speed, aggression and on-ball ability.

Both players are comfortable on the ball, Chalobah showing this with Chelsea (a more ball-dominant side), averaging 74.02 passes attempted per 90, and a 89.4% success rate.

Whilst Kilman played in a less ball-dominant side, he doesn't have as good numbers, averaging 60.76 passes attempted per 90, and an 85.7% success rate.

However, Kilman has the ability on the ball, is very composed, and these metrics are slightly lower due to style of play, rather than his individual ability.

Passes Attempted

74.02

36.22

Pass Completion

89.4%

83.7%

Progressive Passes

2.93

1.55

Tackles

1.51

0.76

Aerials Won

1.80

1.89

The current partner for Kilman would most likely be the Frenchman, Kurt Zouma. However, if Chalobah was to join, this would likely become Kilman's main partner. Therefore, it's worth looking at the metrics of both Chalobah and Zouma.

Whilst many of the passing metrics could be down to style of play for Zouma – much like Kilman at Wolves – it isn't even close in the ball playing stats, Chalobah bettering the current Hammers centre-back for passes attempted, completion rate of passes, and progressive passes.

This could imply Lopetegui's desire for ball-playing defenders, and a change in style for West Ham, from the more pragmatic, counter-attacking philosophy of David Moyes.

Jacek Kulig (Football Talent Scout on X) has labelled Chalobah a "monster", referencing his stats when he broke into the Chelsea side under Thomas Tuchel, back in 2021. West Ham could be set for a bargain, therefore, and a perfect partner to their already expensive defensive signing of Kilman.

West Ham leading race to sign “remarkable” CF who’s better than Duran

West Ham assessing forward options, looking to add a new talisman

1 ByConnor Holden Jul 23, 2024

Things are starting to happen at West Ham United. Technical director Tim Steidten moved quickly to sign Luis Guilherme and Max Kilman this summer, and now further exciting deals are being worked on.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Crysencio Summerville are both closing on transfers to the London Stadium, though strides must yet be taken to secure the players' signatures.

The centre of the park could also do with some tinkering, and West Ham may well move for a new midfielder after present deals are brokered.

West Ham transfer news

According to L'Equipe – via Sport Witness – West Ham are in with a shout for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler, who has been linked with a move away from the Ligue 1 champions this summer.

The Premier League has been touted as a possible destination, with Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion also sniffing around. It's unlikely that PSG will offer him a starting berth with regularity this term, so there's a real opportunity to secure a shrewd signing here.

What Carlos Soler would bring to West Ham

Soler signed for PSG from Spanish side Valencia for €20m (about £17m) in 2022, though he has never really nailed down a role of importance in the French capital, starting 26 Ligue 1 matches across the two campaigns.

Once hailed as the "complete midfielder" by former Valencia star Curro Torres, Soler has performed across a range of roles throughout his career but is principally fielded in the centre, where his playmaking qualities shine.

Central midfield

142

27

16

Right midfield

92

11

18

Attacking midfield

28

2

1

Left midfield

25

4

1

Defensive midfield

9

3

1

Right-back

5

1

2

Left-back

2

0

0

He ranks among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 15% for assists and the top 18% for passes attempted per 90, as per FBref, highlighting the potency he would bring to Julen Lopetegui's team, instilling a new level of ball-playing quality too.

He could even find himself absorbing Lucas Paqueta's role, with the Brazil international's future uncertain amid FA charges for spot-fixing breaches, with prospective sanctions speaking of a lengthy suspension.

One of the highest-quality players in the Hammers' modern history, Paqueta has been integral since signing for a club-record £51m figure two years ago.

Across his two campaigns, the 26-year-old has clinched 27 goal contributions, threading the pass through to Jarrod Bowen to win the Conference League in 2023. He also averaged 6.3 recoveries, 2.3 tackles and won 7.6 duels per match in the English top flight last term, as per Sofascore, boasting a 'complete' skillset almost unmatched for playmakers in the division.

Paqueta has linked back up with West Ham's first team as Lopetegui and Co gear up for the forthcoming season, but a long-term spell on the sidelines looms like an ominous shadow.

In Soler, United could find a tailor-made replacement to ensure that east London is blessed with creativity and spark at the start of a new era, regardless of Paqueta's future on the field.

After Summerville: West Ham battling to land £17m Rice replacement

West Ham still searching for their long term Rice replacement

ByConnor Holden Aug 2, 2024

A forward who was once valued at around £85 million has been offered to Tottenham, with chairman Daniel Levy and the Spurs hierarchy tempted by the proposal.

Tottenham in market for striker and a potential new winger

On Thursday, reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano shared an encouraging update on the Lilywhites' transfer plans for the remainder of the window, with just a matter of weeks left before deadline day on August 30.

Tottenham consider swap move for £162k-a-week forward with Ange "obsessed"

The Australian is desperate for a new attacker.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 1, 2024

So far, Spurs haven't exactly been one of the more active Premier League sides when it comes to incoming transfers. The north Londoners sealed a £40 million deal for English sensation Archie Gray from Leeds United, with Joe Rodon heading the other way in a separate £10 million move.

Before that, they extended Timo Werner's loan deal until the end of next season, which includes a revised option to buy set at around £8.5 million. Tottenham also put pen to paper on a move for 18-year-old South Korean starlet Min-hyeok Yang, but he's seen more as one for the future.

Son Heung-min

7.30

James Maddison

7.17

Pedro Porro

7.05

Cristian Romero

7.04

Dejan Kulusevski

7.03

Ratings via WhoScored

Supporters will be eager to see a few more senior players come in ahead of the new season and Ange Postecoglou's second full campaign in charge, as Spurs look to build upon their fifth-placed finish last season. There is also the added pressure of Europa League football and the extra games that come with it, so Spurs need more strength in depth if they want to challenge near the top of the table.

Romano, taking to X, moved to alleviate concerns and stated that Tottenham are in the market for a new striker and potentially a new winger, depending on the opportunities available to them.

As well as Solanke, it is believed Brentford star Ivan Toney is keen on joining Tottenham to potentially replace Richarlison, so the England star could be one to watch too.

In terms of wingers, Spurs are being repeatedly linked with Juventus star Federico Chiesa.

Chiesa offered to Tottenham with Levy tempted to sign him

Once valued at around £85 million by Juventus, the forward's contract expires next year, meaning he could leave for around £25 million.

According to journalist Dean Jones, speaking on the Ranks FC Ultras podcast (via TBR), Tottenham are tempted to sign Chiesa after being offered him.

“I was quite excited for Spurs in the sense of tracking Chiesa’s availability,” Jones said.

“The versatility of Chiesa would be ideal for that team. I actually had it played up to me last week the transfer and the prospect of it. Chiesa has been offered all around the Premier League and Tottenham, I was told, had a bit of a nibble on that. When you consider what they’d have to pay for Neto or Eze, Chiesa would be cheaper than that.”

Chiesa scored 10 goals and assisted three others in all competitions under Massimiliano Allegri last season, and boasts over half a century of caps for Italy. This move seems very doable as well, considering the apparent eagerness from his camp to get him to England.

Unai Emery has spent considerable amounts this summer bolstering his Aston Villa squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

With a first foray into Europe’s premier club competition in over 40 years, there was no doubt that more high quality signings were needed. So far, the Spaniard has delivered.

Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen are perhaps the most impressive additions, joining from Everton and Chelsea respectively, as the chance to play in the Champions League has proven to be a wonderful incentive.

There are still several positions in which new bodies are required. Ollie Watkins can't carry the pressure as the main striker throughout another season, hence the need for another centre-forward or two.

Could it be another defender who is the next arrival at Villa Park? Emery is looking at signing another right-back prior to the window slamming shut at the end of the month.

Aston Villa eyeing swoop for Feyenoord defender

An update from Fabrizio Romano surrounding a potential new signing for Villa has emerged recently.

He said via X: “EXCL: Aston Villa have added Lutsharel Geertruida to their shortlist as he remains also on RB Leipzig radar. RB Leipzig wanted Geertruida already last summer, Villa are monitoring him as potential new option.”

According to Dutch outlet Voetbal International, Geertruida is keen to leave the Eredivisie side ahead of the new season.

Manchester United have also emerged as another option to sign the defender as it looks as though a move to the Premier League is the priority for the player in a bid to take the next step in his career.

Player

Club signed from

Ross Barkley

Luton Town

Lewis Dobbin

Everton

Samuel Illing-Junior

Juventus

Enzo Barrenechea

Juventus

Cameron Archer

Sheffield United

Jadon Philogene

Hull City

Amadou Onana

Everton

Ian Maatsen

Chelsea

Feyenoord could cash in on one of their prized assets for a fee of around €32m (£27m), which is certainly more than affordable for the Midlands side this summer.

Emery had to utilise centre-back Ezri Konsa on the right side of the defence in spells last season due to Matty Cash suffering a few injuries.

This is the time for an improvement to be made to this position. Can Geertruida be an upgrade on the English-born Polish international?

Matty Cash’s statistics last season

The right-back made a total of 46 appearances across all competitions for Villa during 2023/24, yet he started just 23 Premier League games, as Konsa was preferred during certain matches.

Five goals and three assists was a decent return, but it could have been much better from this area of the field if Emery had someone more impressive going forward.

Defensively, he wasn’t at his best. In the Premier League, Cash lost possession 10.2 times per game, while he won only 47% of his total duels in the top flight. He also helped the club keep just two clean sheets from his 29 league games along with being dribbled past once per game on average.

This is definitely an area of the pitch which needs an upgrade, and fast, especially as they could be set to face some of the best teams on the continent in the Champions League.

Geertruida, on the other hand, was superb at the back for Feyenoord. Not only did he lose possession just 9.1 times per game, but the Dutchman won an impressive 61% of his total duels in the Eredivisie, was dribbled past on just 0.3 occasions per game and helped his club keep 15 clean sheets during his 34 league matches.

These defensive statistics prove that he would be an ideal upgrade on Cash ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. Could his attacking abilities also allow him to shine with a current Villa star who enjoyed a sublime 2023/24 season – Leon Bailey.

Why Lutsharel Geertruida could be excellent for Leon Bailey

Bailey took his performances to new levels under Emery last term. Across his first two seasons at Villa, the winger had registered just 12 goal contributions – six goals and six assists, hardly the form of a player who cost the club £25m back in the summer of 2021.

Under the Spaniard, however, he was transformed into a different player. In all competitions, Bailey scored 14 times while grabbing 14 assists as he emerged as one of the main attacking threats in this vibrant Villa side.

He was one of the reasons the Midlands side finished fourth in the Premier League. Emery will be hoping he can replicate these performances over the next few months.

Signing Geertruida could be key in this aspect, as the defender offers much better attacking qualities than Cash. The 24-year-old scored a remarkable eight times from right-back in the Dutch top flight last term, adding five assists, creating seven big chances and averaging 1.2 key passes per game.

The right-back even succeeded with 58% of his dribble attempts for the club, suggesting that he regularly bombs down the right flank and this could indicate that Bailey would get plenty of support going forwards.

U23 scout Antonio Mango hailed the Dutchman towards the end of 2023, saying that he had “sublime tactical nous” while claiming that Geertruida is a “modern day versatile defender”, yet more evidence of what he could bring to Villa.

When compared to his positional peers, Geertruida ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes (7.94) and for non-penalty goals (0.21) per 90, while also ranking in the top 10% for total shots per 90 (1.16) and in the top 15% for touches in opposition penalty area per 90 (1.9) across the men’s next 14 competitions.

His versatility and skills going forward, plus incredible defensive output mean Geertruida would be an excellent signing for Emery this summer as he looks to bolster the right side of his defence.

For a fee of around £27m, the move could turn into a real bargain, absolutely no doubt about that. The next few weeks will be exciting indeed for the supporters as they look to see another one or two players added to the squad ahead of Villa’s most important campaign in years.

Perfect for UCL: Aston Villa want £325k-p/w "phenomenon" who's like Benteke

He is set to leave his club this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 8, 2024

Leeds United fans would have been understandably relieved after Friday night's clash away at Sheffield Wednesday, picking up their first three league points of the season at the expense of Danny Rohl's Owls.

The 2-0 win would be secured via goals from Brenden Aaronson and Daniel James, as the Whites largely dominated proceedings at Hillsborough, with more possession and shots in their favour compared to the hosts.

Still, Daniel Farke and Co will be desperately trying to get more deals in through the door between now and the end of the transfer window getting closer, with this midfield gem still firmly on the Championship club's radar.

Leeds still chasing deal for Koln star

As per a recent report from German outlet BILD, Koln midfield star Dejan Ljubicic is still pushing for a late move to England, with the Austrian target keen on leaving Koln behind for pastures new at Elland Road before the deadline on Friday.

Further backed up by a report in the Sunday Mail – as relayed by MOT Leeds News – which states that snapping up Ljubicic's services is a main priority now, after Manor Solomon completes a medical to join on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, everything seems to be going full steam ahead on the transfer front in West Yorkshire.

Whilst the signings of Solomon and Ramazani in through the door will undoubtedly help Leeds in their depleted forward positions, picking up Ljubicic would also benefit the Whites in their holding midfield positions, away from over-relying on the likes of Ilia Gruev, whom he could be an upgrade on.

The Bulgarian arguably struggled against Wednesday – with a lack of attacking presence coming from the 24-year-old throughout – whilst Ljubicic would offer Farke's men a more attack-minded option from deep, to complement the battling nature of Ethan Ampadu who will do the dirty work instead.

What Ljubicic would offer Leeds

The wantaway Koln number seven would show off his obvious strengths when it comes to his attacking game versus Eintracht Braunschweig last time out in Bundesliga 2 action, with Ljubicic firing in two goals from the middle of the park.

The final scoreline would read 5-0 in Koln's favour, with the likelihood now that the £23k-per-week ace – as per Salary Sport – could swap Germany for West Yorkshire, to play for another fallen giant swamped in the second tier.

Stat

Ljubicic

Minutes played

77

Goals scored

2

Assists

0

Shots on goal

7

Touches

54

Accurate passes

29/37 (78%)

Key passes

3

Duels won

3/6

Stats by Sofascore

Unlike Gruev, who failed to register a single shot on James Beadle's goal during Leeds' Friday night win, Ljubicic was a constant livewire for Koln going forward versus Braunschweig, with seven shots registered in the 5-0 demolition job just from the Austrian alone.

Also showing his willingness to play dirty in that exciting Bundesliga 2. contest, with three duels won, the current Koln number seven could end up displacing Gruev, who was also purchased from Germany once upon a time after lining up for Werder Bremen.

Of course, the former Bremen man has performed for the Whites in the past – with a sublime free-kick soaring in last campaign from the 24-year-old helping Leeds to a dominant 4-0 play-off semi-final win over Norwich – but there will be a concern in the air that Farke's men are not sweeping opponents aside with ease, having amassed 13 total efforts on the Wednesday goal.

With Joe Rothwell waiting in the wings too who can give Leeds more going forward from the middle of the park, alongside Ramazani and Solomon exciting the Elland Road fanbase with what they can add up top, Ljubicic joining feels like the next logical step Farke and Co will make in this frantic window.

He could well go on to become a better talent than Gruev in the first-team mix for the Championship side, as Leeds go about strengthening in areas that need more depth before deadline day.

8/10 Leeds star with 133 touches was as important as Joseph

The Whites titan enjoyed a brilliant evening at Hillsborough on Friday night.

1 ByDan Emery Aug 24, 2024

Leeds United dipped into the market during the recent summer transfer window to bolster their squad with a host of new additions for Daniel Farke.

Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Isaac Schmidt, Joe Rothwell, Joe Rodon, Jayden Bogle, Alex Cairns, and Ao Tanaka were all snapped up by the Whites.

The West Yorkshire side, who lost Georginio Rutter, Glen Kamara, Archie Gray, and Crysencio Summerville, have made those moves in the hope that they will contribute to a promotion-winning season this term.

Leeds last won promotion from the Championship in the 2019/20 campaign and one of Victor Orta's signings that year – Jean-Kevin Augustin – turned out to be a significant flop.

Jean-Kevin Augustin's Leeds career

The Whites got to the January transfer window of that season and decided that they wanted to add more firepower to the group to ensure that they finished the job and secured a place in the Premier League.

Orta eventually finalised an expensive deal to sign Jean-Kevin Augustin from RB Leipzig on loan until the end of the season, with an obligation to make it permanent for £18m in the summer if they were promoted.

The Championship side, who went on to win the title, also had to cover his wages during that loan spell, which were reportedly in excess of £75k-per-week.

Unfortunately, though, Augustin fell out of favour under Marcelo Bielsa fairly quickly and only made three league appearances, totalling 48 minutes of action.

Despite the team winning the division and earning promotion to the Premier League, Leeds pulled out of their £18m 'obligation' to sign him permanently.

Fifa, having been contacted by Leipzig, then ordered them to pay £24.5m for the striker, due to the £18m fee and his proposed five-year contract on £93k-per-week, which would make him the current top earner at Elland Road.

Patrick Bamford

£70k

Junior Firpo

£60k

Pascal Struijk

£50k

Dan James

£50k

Brenden Aaronson

£45k

The Whites had attempted to appeal the decision but eventually opted to withdraw their protestations earlier this year, meaning that they had to spend £24.5m on a loan player they did not sign permanently.

Where Jean-Kevin Augustin is now

Augustin, who turned 27 this summer, is currently a free agent after being released by Swiss Super League giants Basel at the end of last season.

The French attacker played 11 times for Nantes after his nightmare spell in England before completing a move to Basel for the 2022/23 campaign.

He scored eight goals in 51 appearances for the Swiss outfit and missed a whopping 26 matches through injury across his two seasons in Switzerland, which may be why it has been a struggle for him to find a new club.

Augustin, who had scored 20 goals in 67 games for Leipzig before his loan move to Leeds, was a big nightmare for Orta and the Whites for a multitude of reasons.

Not only did they end up paying a lot of money for a player they did not sign permanently but he was also not good enough for Bielsa to utilise him regularly in the Championship.

Leeds messed up selling "unplayable" ace who's now worth more than Ramazani

The Whites even tried to re-sign the exciting attacker this summer.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 4, 2024

This suggests that Orta did not pick the right player to sign to suit what the Argentine boss needed in the second half of the 2019/20 campaign, and that ended up being an incredibly costly error by the Spanish sporting director.

Where did it all begin? Jurgen Klopp dug Liverpool out of the trenches after replacing Brendan Rodgers at the helm, crafting a dynasty that restored the Premier League side as a global superpower.

He was a brilliant manager, and he worked wonders on Merseyside, inculcating an absorbing style of football that claimed silverware across every front. The whole gamut.

Partnered with Michael Edwards' transfer expertise, Liverpool thrived, and one of the biggest masterstrokes, if not the biggest, has got to be the £34m signing of Mohamed Salah from AS Roma.

The legend of Mohamed Salah

Salah earned a second shot at the Premier League back in 2017, having flattered to deceive as a younger, unpolished prospect with Chelsea, scoring two goals for the Blues before moving to Italy.

You know the rest… he's now one of the finest forwards in Premier League history, having scored 214 goals and added 92 assists across 352 appearances, hailed for his "world-class" ability by analyst Raj Chohan, among many others.

The Egypt international is an extraordinary forward, with peak athleticism, deadly finishing and elite-level technique and creativity that makes him a unique attacking asset.

1.

Mohamed Salah

44

25

0.56

2.

Darwin Nunez

54

18

0.33

3.

Cody Gakpo

53

16

0.30

4.

Diogo Jota

32

15

0.47

5.

Luis Diaz

51

13

0.25

Salah turned 32 in July, but he's started life under Arne Slot with utter dispatch, posting three goals and three assists apiece across Liverpool's opening three Premier League fixtures, recently tearing Manchester United to shreds.

He continues to shine as Liverpool's centrepiece, but what if the signing of Salah was not actually Liverpool's watershed moment?

It was actually an outgoing transfer that had the biggest effect on Klopp's dynasty and the present-day fortunes of Slot's Reds. It was the sale of Philippe Coutinho.

Selling Coutinho was Klopp's watershed moment

It was, at the time, as if a hole had ripped Liverpool's beating heart asunder. Klopp's tenure was in full swing, and the Merseysiders were starting to establish themselves as an incredible attacking force.

The iconic front three: Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino. They enjoyed over five years together and won it all during that timeframe, but for five balmy months, they were supplied by the ball-playing brilliance of Coutinho.

Matches (starts)

14 (13)

Goals

7

Assists

6

Pass accuracy

79%

Key passes*

2.9

Dribbles*

2.8

Tackles*

1.2

Total duels won*

5.6

Coutinho only made 14 Premier League in 2017/18, before he fled during the winter, but what a masterclass in scoring, in assisting, in dominating. Lucas Leiva, former Redman, hailed him as a "magician" and, honestly, it's fitting.

But alas, Coutinho had caught wind of Barcelona's interest, and, let's be frank, was playing out of his skin to convince Barcelona to pay the big bucks to secure his signature, having enjoyed several successful years in England, joining Liverpool from Inter Milan for just £8.5m in January 2013.

In August 2017, the former Brazil international handed in a transfer request as he sought to force his way through to Catalonia, and though this was rejected by Klopp and Co, La Blaugrana returned in January with an offer that could not be refused.

Barcelona paid £146m to bring Coutinho from Anfield to Camp Nou in January 2018. Look, he was rather irreplaceable, but he wasn't that irreplaceable. That's quite the payday for FSG, no doubt giddy and in need of a lie down upon the official bid.

After all, that sale meant that he left for 1570% more than was once paid for, which can only go down as brilliant business.

It was the most important bit of transfer business that Liverpool have conducted in a long, long time. More so than the signing of Salah, more so than the signing and sale of Luis Suarez, an iconic centre-forward of which Liverpool may never see the like of again.

Why? It opened up a world of opportunity, of course. Liverpool went on to sign Virgil van Dijk (£75m) and Alisson Becker (£67m), in the year that followed, ending a Klopp side that teemed with attacking talent but suffered for its defensive fragility.

They revolutionised the squad, proved to be transcendental deals that took a good team and turned it into a great one. It's a Liverpool side that still enjoys the veteran performances of both players today, and looks ready to tackle the obstacles for the biggest prizes under Slot's leadership.

Coutinho made it all very real. He proved to be the winning lottery ticket toward a golden age. We love him for his performances in Red, but we thank him for moving to Barcelona and sparking the most illustrious of periods.

Liverpool dud who left in 2016 would now cost more than Nunez in 2024 money

This expensive dud really struggled when he was on the books at Liverpool.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 9, 2024

Glasgow Rangers return to Premiership action on Sunday for the first time since their Old Firm defeat at the start of the month.

The 3-0 defeat to Celtic was certainly an eye-opener for Philippe Clement, and he will soon have to get positive results in this fixture, otherwise he might start coming under serious pressure.

Judging by the performances and results so far, the Belgian should be starting to feel some nerves with regard to where his team are going, as three wins from seven games is poor.

Several players will miss the clash, as Ridvan Yilmaz, Danilo, and Rabbi Matondo face a few more weeks on the sidelines.

This opens up a few spaces in the squad for a couple of new signings to come in and stake a claim in the starting XI, that’s for sure.

Ahead of the match, we at Football FanCast predict the starting XI that Clement will unleash at Tannadice on Sunday afternoon…

1 GK – Jack Butland

The Englishman hasn’t quite been at his imperious best so far this season. The goalkeeper has featured in every minute of every match for the club but has kept just three clean sheets across those seven matches.

He conceded three times against Celtic and could have done better with at least one of the goals as Kyogo Furuhashi found the back of the net from range with ease. Pressure will be on for the former Stoke shot-stopper to help the Light Blues secure all three points on Sunday.

2 RB – James Tavernier

The captain has also struggled to perform to the levels of previous seasons, registering only two assists from seven matches.

Last season, he scored 24 goals in all competitions, yet he doesn’t look like scoring. Could this be the final chapter at Ibrox for the defender? He will have only one more year on his current contract at the end of the season.

3 CB – John Souttar

The Scot has emerged as Clement’s first-choice centre-back since he took over last October and Souttar will start against the club at which he made his league debut aged just 16 back in January 2013.

Having played alongside Robin Propper and Leon Balogun so far during the current campaign, will Clement start either of these two players? Or will a summer arrival slot into the starting XI for the first time?

4 CB – Neraysho Kasanwirjo

Robin Propper struggled to cope with the pace and relentlessness of the Celtic front three a few weeks ago, which means he could well be dropped in place of his compatriot.

Kasanwirjo arrived on a season-long loan deal from Feyenoord, where he made two appearances in the Eredivisie earlier this season.

He has operated at right-back recently, but centre-back is where the defender is most comfortable, indicating that he could make his first start for Rangers against United.

5 LB – Jefte

The Brazilian will continue as the main left-back until Yilmaz recovers from his injury, which may take another couple of weeks.

Jefte has made five appearances this season, with two coming in the Premiership. He has demonstrated his attacking qualities by succeeding with 1.5 dribbles per game and this could come in handy on Sunday at Tannadice.

6 CM – Connor Barron

The former Aberdeen starlet has settled into the Gers midfield with ease, showcasing why he was wanted by a host of teams during the summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old has played in every match so far, establishing himself as a key member of the starting XI, and he will only continue to get better.

7 CM – Mohamed Diomande

Alongside Barron, Diomande has also been performing fairly well. In four league matches, the Ivorian has created two big chances, averaging 0.8 key passes per game while succeeding with 1.5 dribbles per game, underlining how effective he is going forwards.

Defensively, the midfielder has won 50% of his total duels per game along with being dribbled past just 0.3 times per match, showcasing his skills when his team does not have the ball.

8 RW – Vaclav Cerny

The Czech winger made one appearance for his country in the Nations League recently, grabbing an assist against Ukraine, while also creating one big chance and succeeding with 100% of his dribble attempts during the match.

He should be unleashed in the starting XI due to this performance, and he has all the tools to cause chaos for the Dundee United defence on Sunday.

9 AM – Nedim Bajrami

The Albanian attacking midfielder was a deadline day signing by Clement, but he didn’t make the squad against Celtic due to paperwork issues.

His time could come against United, however. Bajrami played twice for his country in the Nations League, yet he failed to score or grab an assist in either match,

Hailed as an “intelligent” player by Kai Watson, founder of the Rangers Journal, the midfielder could give the club that extra bit of quality they are craving in the number ten slot.

10 LW – Oscar Cortes

The winger has been out injured since the opening weekend of the season, but Clement stated that the Colombian had played 60 minutes in a closed-doors game during the international break.

With Matondo out injured, there aren’t many players to choose from on the left flank, which suggested Cortes may be thrown in at the deep end, but this could prove to be a gamble due to his lack of match fitness.

Lionel Messi is perhaps the best footballer to ever walk the planet and Aston Villa may well have had the new version of the great Argentine once upon a time. Fancy that, eh?

Scoring 737 times at club level with 109 goals for his country, and winning eight Ballon d’Or trophies, he was pretty damn good. The Barcelona legend finally won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, with many marking this occasion as the moment he became the undisputed best of all time.

With such high-profile names, many young players coming through the pipeline at the same club get bundled with expectation to become “the next” version of that player, which often hurts their progression, and puts an unfair pressure on young shoulders.

This has happened to many Premier League youngsters in recent years, with Charly Musonda at Chelsea, Adnan Januzaj at Manchester United, and even Rhian Brewster at Liverpool.

However, there’s one example who played at Villa Park many moons ago…

The early years of Adama Traore

Adama Traore is another player that suffered from this early labeling as “the next Messi”, being at Barcelona.

The 20-year-old (at the time) was compared to Messi when coming through the Barcelona ranks, and was told he was “the fastest in the club”.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

The “speed king” as he was dubbed by the Daily Mail, showed huge promise at a young age, beating players at his own peril. However, the end product had to improve to take a step forward, as Traore made the move from Barcelona to Aston Villa aged 20, for a reported £7m fee.

The winger only managed 12 appearances for the Villans’ first team, scoring once and assisting once in his 262 minutes played.

After not only being at the club for a year, the Spanish winger made the switch to Middlesbrough, joining them for around €8.25m (£7m), which is less than Villa bought him for just one year prior.

Adama's Traore's numbers since leaving Villa

Since leaving Villa back in 2016, Traore’s main problem has always remained, he has all the ability and physical traits to beat his man and get into dangerous areas, but the decision-making and final product continue to lack quality.

Traore has played for several clubs since leaving Villa Park behind, enjoying a two-year stay with Middlesbrough, before moving to Wolves, where he found a home for five years, making 194 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing 18 assists.

15/16

1

1

16/17

0

1

17/18

5

12

18/19

1

3

19/20

6

12

20/21

3

2

21/22

1

4

22/23

3

1

23/24

2

3

The 28-year-old also spent a short loan spell on loan with Barcelona during 2022, returning to his ex-club, before leaving Wolves permanently in 2023, to join Fulham on a free transfer.

As you can see from the stats, Traore always struggled to put up consistent goal/assist numbers, only achieving 10+ in two seasons, the highest after that being five G/A in multiple seasons (20/21, 21/22, 23/24). His best season came for Wolves in 19/20, scoring six goals and providing 12 assists in 3,838 minutes.

Looking at the career Traore went on to have, Villa won’t be too disappointed about their decision to sell him, but there will always be a huge “what if” factor around the rapid winger, if he could have added extra quality to his end product, to match that frightening build and speed.

Sold for £15m: Aston Villa hit gold over star who's now worth millions less

They sold him for just £15m

1 ByJoe Nuttall Sep 26, 2024

Former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie has heaped praise on an “exciting kid” at the club, and suggests that he could even be their next Jarrod Bowen.

Lopetegui under pressure after poor West Ham start

New manager Julen Lopetegui has big shoes to fill after David Moyes, who guided the Hammers to their first major trophy in decades and successive campaigns in Europe, having taken over when they were fighting for their Premier League status in 2019.

Ex-West Ham chief makes board claim and shares why Lopetegui may face sack

The Spaniard is under pressure already.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 1, 2024

The Hammers have won just two games in all competitions since Lopetegui took charge – a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace in the league and a 1-0 cup victory at home to Bournemouth – and West Ham’s expensively-assembled new-look squad suggests they should be doing much better.

Lopetegui was backed with a near-£120 million summer spend on nine new signings, but they’ve failed to record a single win since late August and pressure is mounting on the Spaniard.

West Ham have been criticised for their showings in both an attacking and defensive sense, with Sky Sports reporter Ron Walker saying that much more should be expected of this quality side on paper.

“When you’re in a bad run of form and you concede with 41 seconds on the clock, you fear the worst. In that context, the way West Ham bounced back to earn a point at Brentford is a positive,” said the journalist.

Match

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

#8

28/09/2024

Brentford (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#7

25/09/2024

Liverpool (A)

Carabao Cup

5-1 loss

#6

21/09/2024

Chelsea (H)

Premier League

3-0 loss

#5

14/09/2024

Fulham (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#4

31/08/2024

Man City (H)

Premier League

3-1 loss

#3

28/08/2024

Bournemouth (H)

Carabao Cup

1-0 win

#2

24/08/2024

Crystal Palace (A)

Premier League

2-0 win

#1

17/08/2024

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

2-1 loss

“But that’s still as good as it gets. For a team with the depth and quality of this Hammers side, the lack of memorable moments they produced is still a concern. The Hammers’ defending has been a major cause for concern but their attacking return is an even greater worry when Julen Lopetegui was tasked with delivering a more expansive style.

“That will take time but with an expected goals tally lower than Southampton despite Lucas Paqueta, Mohamed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen featuring in every game, even their individual quality should be enough to produce more than this.”

Frank McAvennie compares Crysencio Summerville to Jarrod Bowen

West Ham, and especially the under-fire Lopetegui, will need all the help they can get to turn this form around.

Over the summer, West Ham agreed a £25 million-plus deal for winger Crysencio Summerville, and he is yet to get off the mark over his seven appearances in all competitions.

The Dutchman comes with plenty of promise, though, having scored 20 goals with a further nine assists in the Championship for Leeds last season. The winger could be pivotal to adding that extra bit of dynamism to West Ham’s attack, and he could follow a similar path to Bowen given his London Stadium switch from the second tier.

Indeed, McAvennie suggests Summerville could be West Ham’s new Bowen, and adds that the attacker “hasn’t had much help recently” in a glowing endorsement of the 22-year-old.

“I think he’s been bright, always looking to get at his opponent,” said McAvennie to West Ham Zone.

“The more he plays, the better. Jarrod Bowen came from Hull City, and it took him a few games but David Moyes believed in him.

“That’s what is going to happen with this guy. He’s another young, exciting kid, who has no fears. I like that. He goes to get the ball and he doesn’t care about who they’re playing. He just hasn’t had much help recently.”