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Aston Villa are reportedly targeting Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto in a move that could bolster the attacking options at Villa Park.

With Youri Tielemans already on board, Unai Emery and Monchi are setting their sights on firing the Midlands club to new heights with added fuel this summer.

Could Aston Villa sign Wilfried Gnonto?

Football Insider reported on Wednesday that the Villans are interested in Gnonto and have 'made a move' to sign him, with the player expected to depart Elland Road following the Whites’ relegation.

A separate report from Football Insider earlier this year claimed that Leeds would be reluctant to let their gem go for a fee lower than £40m, with his contract valid until 2027.

The winger would be an affordable asset to Villa, who have a reported £150m to spend, however, they will have competition with Everton also listed to be in the race for the Italian.

What could Wilfried Gnonto offer to Aston Villa?

Elland Road has only got a taste of the teenager's ability so far, after he arrived in Yorkshire last summer from FC Zurich.

The Inter Milan academy graduate gave Premier League viewers a snapshot of exactly the level he could consistently operate at in the future, posing as a significant threat on the flanks.

At just 19-years-old, Emery could equip his side with one of the most explosive young talents in Europe, who stood out in his debut Premier League season, registering two goals and four assists in 24 appearances.

Averaging only 56 minutes per game and making just 14 starts, the teenager quickly imposed himself on the league, described as “magic” by journalist Phil Hay.

There’s an extensive list of attributes that the Italian could bolster Emery’s attack with, being a player that excels in the final third with a desire to achieve as a young talent.

Having already signed Tielemans, the Spaniard could give his attack a new look by deploying Gnonto to the right of the Belgian, who is acclaimed for his playmaking abilities.

The former Leicester City midfielder has been branded a “phenomenon” for his creative know-how and passing strengths.

The numbers support the idea that the two could cause havoc at Villa Park, focusing on the Italian’s threat in possession and movement off the ball paired with the 26-year-old’s distribution.

As per FBref, Gnonto received an average of 9.04 progressive passes per 90 in the Premier League last campaign, highlighting his intuition to get on the end of a pass and advance in the final third.

On the other side, Tielemans averaged 6.95 progressive passes, as well as 6.49 passes into the final third per 90, as per FBref, showing his attacking prowess from central midfield.

The Belgian could provide the Leeds United man with plenty of ammunition to cause problems in front of goal, with the teenager always looking to create a goal-scoring situation. That's best highlighted through his 5.12 attempted take-ons per 90 last term, a number that ranks him within the top 13% of positionally similar players in the division.

Deploying a talent as confident and flamboyant as Gnonto could give the youngster room to flourish and excel with those around him, which could only prove to be a positive for Emery’s project in the Midlands.

At just 19-years-old, the Spaniard could unleash a talent for the ages by securing the Verbania-born gem’s signature at a price affordable for the Villans.

ألمح رئيس نادي باريس سان جيرمان، ناصر الخليفي، لرحيل مهاجم وهداف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، كيليان مبابي، بنهاية الموسم الحالي.

وينتهي عقد مبابي في 30 يونيو المقبل، وهناك الكثير من الأنباء التي تفيد أن الفرنسي سينتقل إلى ريال مدريد بعد اتفاق مع الفريق الفرنسي على كل التفاصيل.

هناك تلميحات أيضًا من طرف المدير الفني لنادي باريس سان جيرمان، لويس إنريكي، في الفترة الماضية بأن مبابي سيرحل ولكن ليس وحده.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فوت ميركاتو توضح حقيقة عرض باريس سان جيرمان لضم يامال

الآن، يتحدث الخليفي عن ذلك بطريقة غير مباشرة ولكنها أقرب للحدوث، وقال القطري في تصريحات لقناة “RMC Sport” الفرنسية: “رحيل مبابي؟ لقد قلنا من بداية الموسم، أننا نريد بناء فريق للمستقبل”.

وتابع: “فريق يمكنه اللعب معًا لمدة 6 أو 7 أو 8 سنوات أخرى، لدينا أصغر فريق في الدور ربع النهائي لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، من بين أفضل عشرة أندية أوروبية”.

وأضاف في النهاية: “رحيل ميسي، نيمار وراموس كان جزءاً من المشروع الجديد، لاعبون رائعون وكانوا أيضًا لاعبين جيدين للغاية، إنه لشرف أنهم لعبوا لفريقنا ولكن الآن لدينا مشروع جديد”.

Max Holden, who will skipper England Under-19s on their impending tour of India, has been loaned by Middlesex to Northants for the first half of the 2017 season

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jan-2017

Max Holden, who will skipper England Under-19s on their impending tour of India, has been loaned by Middlesex to Northants for the first half of the 2017 season.Holden, a correct opening batsman who has yet to make a first XI debut for Middlesex, will take part in Northants’ pre-season tour of the Caribbean and remain with the Division Two club until the end of June when his loan spell expires.He already has good memories of Wantage Road, having struck a century on the ground for England U-19s against Sri Lanka last summer.”Ultimately I want to play as much cricket as I can,” he said. “Seeing Haseeb Hameed progress the way he has and break into the England team has really given me a push. Obviously the ambition is to play for the England Test eleven – that’s the dream.”Holden first caught the eye of Northamptonshire’s head coach, David Ripley, aged just 13: “I have followed his progress since I first tried to get him to join our Junior Academy back in 2011. I’m delighted to add him to the squad and add competition for places.”He will be available in both the Specsavers Championship and the Royal London One-Day Cup, although it is the four-day game where he can be most confident of playing time.Cambridgeshire born and raised, Holden began a four-year contract with Middlesex in 2016 after graduating from their Academy. He has established himself in the 2nd XI with Middlesex for the last two years despite continuing his education.Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s managing director of cricket, said: “At Middlesex CCC we are fortunate to have a number of exciting young cricketers, of which Max is one. These young players are desperate to play first XI cricket and at this moment in time at Middlesex there are batsmen ahead of Max.”We believe he is ready to get a taste of first XI cricket and are happy to loan him to a county that will, in the short term, provide him with a better chance of achieving this goal.”Holden will lead England Under-19s in two four-day matches next month. The one-day section of the tour begins at the Wankhede Stadium next Monday with England captained by Yorkshire’s Matthew Fisher.

Tottenham Hotspur's lacklustre season culminated in an eighth-place Premier League finish and a continuation of the absence of silverware that has plagued the north London outfit for the past 15 years.

News of Harry Kane's possible departure has been filtering in like an acrid smell over recent weeks too, with just one year left on the world-class talisman's contract and European giants reportedly pursuing the England captain.

Ange Postecoglou has left Celtic for a shot at steadying the Lilywhites ship, and now has the summer transfer market to rectify the mounting wrongs under chairman Daniel Levy as well as fashioning an outfit capable of competing at the top of the table and sustaining pursuits of silverware – a domestic cup run will surely be among the priorities next year.

One player who could help to return the club to greener grass is Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, with the Ivorian titan failing to make his mark at Camp Nou this season and consequently being linked with a move away.

According to Spanish outlet AS, the 26-year-old, who is valued at €35m (£30m), could make the summer switch and earn a more prominent role with Spurs – one which could bear fruit for all involved parties.

Should Tottenham sign Franck Kessie?

Hailed as an "amazing player" by former Spurs shot-stopper Paul Robinson, Kessie's sensational performances for AC Milan in the 2021/22 campaign led to La Blaugrana snapping him up on a free, and while he perhaps hasn't taken to life in La Liga as anticipated, he remains a first-rate star.

As per Sofascore, he recorded an average Serie A rating of 7.07 as Milan won the Scudetto, scoring six goals, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 1.3 tackles per game and succeeding with 73% of his dribble attempts.

And while he has made 43 displays for Xavi's distinguished side this term, winning the league and scoring three goals and assists apiece, Kessie only started seven times in La Liga, as well as on three occasions in the Champions League – opening the door for an exit just one year into his contract.

As per FBref, the £149k-per-week ace still ranks among the top 27% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past 12 months for non-penalty goals, as well as the top 12% for touches in the attacking box and progressive passes received, which, if replicated in north London, could allow him to flourish at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as a box-crashing midfield force, adding a new dimension to Postecoglou's budding system.

Likened to former Spurs star Etienne Capoue by FBref's 'Similar Players' model, Tottenham could finally have a player in the mould of the aggressive Frenchman to transcend his two seasons at White Hart Lane, where he played just 36 times before being shipped off to Watford for around £6m in 2015.

Since conquering the Europa League with Villarreal and becoming an integral part of the Yellow Submarine's system, the 34-year-old was something of a late bloomer, but appears to boast many of the attributes Kessie does despite entering the twilight phase of his career.

Indeed, he ranks among the top 12% of midfielders for pass completion, the top 25% for non-penalty goals, the top 22% for progressive carries and the top 15% for successful take-ons per 90, with a striking similarity to the physicality and imposing demeanour on the pitch to that of Kessie.

Hailed as a "warrior" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 60-cap Ivory Coast international could be the perfect addition to an already robust midfield consisting of the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma, and Tottenham must sign to complete their midfield under Postecoglou.

Aston Villa have been linked to a fellow Premier League ace ahead of the summer transfer window, as Unai Emery aims to improve his squad.

The Spaniard has introduced joy that not many could have predicted since arriving in the Midlands in October, and with European football confirmed next campaign, the only way is up.

While Villa’s achievements have been rightly lauded, the club will reportedly look to bolster the squad this summer, as relayed by Emery reportedly being handed a £150m kitty.

With quality comes a price, and the four-time Europa League winner could find a significant midfield upgrade in a certain Premier League-winning star.

What’s the latest on Kalvin Phillips to Aston Villa?

As reported by Football Insider earlier this week, Aston Villa are “not put off” by Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips’ desire to remain at the club.

The site reported the initial news of Villa’s interest in the 27-year-old back in April, and have claimed that the Englishman remains a “key midfield target”.

The report suggests that despite his desire to stay, the former Leeds United man may still be sold by the champions with concerns about whether he will fit into Pep Guardiola’s style of play.

What could Kalvin Phillips bring to Aston Villa?

After signing for City last summer for a reported £45m, the midfielder anticipated that his game time was not guaranteed, despite being a top performer for Leeds that prompted the big-money move.

Almost a year down the line and the Englishman has made just two starts for the Sky Blues, with them both coming on occasions after City had won the Premier League title, showing the midfielder’s placement in the exemplary squad.

While the 27-year-old’s worth in comparison to Rodri is incomparable to Guardiola, the Leeds-born gem has a quality that could be exemplary to a squad less flawless than that on show at the Etihad.

The midfielder is in a critical stage of his career, where game time is essential and where there is interest should be an opportunity to either prove his talent to Guardiola elsewhere or find a club more suitable for his situation.

Villa would be a perfect place for the potential £35m man to find his form, in a midfield with a licence for freedom under Emery.

While John McGinn has been a revelation for Villa in midfield, the Scotsman could be forced to the sidelines in order to accommodate the potential arrival of Phillips.

Comparing the 28-year-old’s numbers this season to the City midfielder’s in his final year at Leeds reveals the step-up that Emery could discover if the deal was to pull through this summer.

In the 2021/22 campaign, Phillips showcased his talents at Elland Road to the Premier League, excelling in deep midfield as highlighted by his monstrous averages of 3.05 tackles, 1.35 interceptions and 2.09 blocks per 90 – as per FBref.

In comparison, when playing in central midfield, McGinn averages 2.21 tackles, 0.80 interceptions and 1.33 blocks per 90, showing the levels that the “phenomenal” Yorkshireman – as per Fabio Capello – can produce.

Emery will face a battle in luring Phillips away from City, with the player evidently keen to continue to push for game time, however, there is little to doubt just what the Spaniard could retrieve from the Englishman at Villa Park.

Aston Villa are on the path to great success with Unai Emery at the helm.

The Villans have two games remaining to potentially end the season with European football lined up for the 2023/24 campaign, their first full term with the Spaniard in charge.

When Emery took over from Steven Gerrard at Villa Park in November, the club were nearing the relegation zone and in abysmal form with just two wins from their opening nine games.

Fast-forward to now, and Villa have registered 17 wins and sit in seventh just behind Tottenham Hotspur in 6th on just goal difference alone, amounting to two goals.

Despite the success of this season, Emery has reportedly already turned his attention to the summer transfer window, with a host of players being linked to a move to Villa Park.

News emerging over the weekend has placed the Midlands club as one hoping to sign a La Liga star as per the wishes of incoming Director of Football, Mateu Alemany from Barcelona.

What’s the latest on Ferran Torres to Aston Villa?

As reported by Spanish news outlet AS – as per Sports Witness – Alemany has pointed to Barcelona forward Ferran Torres as a potential new signing for the Villans ahead of the transfer window.

The news picked up as fellow Spanish outlet Sport told that the two clubs are “already negotiating” the potential transfer of the former Manchester City winger, who signed for the Catalan giants just last winter.

The report furthered talk by stating the forward will not be leaving Barcelona for at least a fee of €40m (£37m) to cover the costs of his €55m arrival in Catalonia from Manchester.

What could Ferran Torres bring to Aston Villa?

Speaking to The Athletic in April, the Villa boss expressed his desire to sign another forward in the summer window to “play with” Ollie Watkins in a bid to add depth and improve the team.

Watkins has found the net 14 times so far this season in the Premier League from 34 starts, with Torres netting four in just 13 starts for Barcelona in La Liga.

Lauded as "world-class" by Xavi, the wide forward ranks higher than Villa’s striker in a range of areas, including registering more successful take-ons per 90 minutes, as well as more touches in the box per 90 minutes – as per FBref.

The 23-year-old averages 5.86 touches in the penalty area per 90 minutes, slightly more than Watkins who scores 4.71 per 90 in this area.

The winger also averages 1.97 successful take-ons to the Englishman’s 0.51 per 90, showing the areas of his game contrasting to the Villa forwards.

While both score almost evenly in their ability to get goals through their average number of non-penalty goals per 90, Torres with 0.38 and Watkins with 0.39, the two could be a formidable force for Emery’s front line.

Combining Torres’ strengths in going forward on the ball with Villa’s number 11’s efficiency in front of goal, the Spaniard could create an attack to fire the Midlands club to another level, should the deal pull through.

Only time will tell if the club can get the Spaniard to trade the Camp Nou for Villa Park, however with Alemany and Emery’s influence, things look all the more possible.

Manchester United are eyeing up a move for Marco Verratti this summer as Erik ten Hag aims to continue rebuilding his squad ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Marco Verratti to Manchester United?

According to sources in Spain, United are one of three teams interested in signing the Italian midfielder from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer transfer window.

Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur are the other two clubs which will be fighting it out with the Old Trafford side and the battle for his signature could heat up relatively soon.

The 30-year-old has a contract until 2026 with the French giants and is currently valued at €36.1m (£31m) by FootballTransfers, meaning it could cost United a significant fee for them to prise the player away from Paris.

Could Manchester United sign Marco Verratti?

It isn’t out of the realms of possibilities that Ten Hag will be wanting to add another world-class midfielder or two to his squad ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Over time, there will naturally be players leaving and Brazilian midfielder Fred, who has just one year left on his contract, could be moving on sooner rather than later.

Verratti would be the perfect heir for the United star, and he could bring a much-needed winners mentality to the Red Devils, having won 20 major honours during his club career while helping Italy win Euro 2020 and this elite mindset could benefit Ten Hag massively.

The 30-year-old machine could thrive alongside Casemiro at the heart of United’s engine room, especially with his passing ability and tenacious nature. According to FBref, Verratti ranks in the top 5% across Europe’s big five leagues for pass success rate (92.5%), progressive passes per 90 (9.91), tackles per 90 (3.36) and blocks per 90 (1.90), clearly proving he is one of the best on the continent for dictating play and defensive acumen.

His importance to PSG is underlined by the fact he ranks first in the squad for accurate passes and fourth for both interceptions and key passes per game, suggesting the club could struggle should he move on, yet United could get the full benefit of his excellent midfield attributes.

His former Italy and PSG teammate Gianluigi Buffon once lauded Verratti for being “the only genuine talent in Italian football at the minute” a few years ago and being hailed by one of the finest goalkeepers in history suggests he is doing something right.

Fred may still be a United player next season, but his long-term future doesn’t look great, and the Dutchman will be planning on signing a replacement for him sooner rather than later.

In Verratti, they could land a ‘genuine’ world-class talent and this will only strengthen them going forwards.

ScorecardDale Steyn collected 3 for 22•Getty Images

A four-wicket haul for Michael Hogan and Dale Steyn’s first three wickets for Glamorgan allowed their team to set up a simple victory against visitors Hampshire.Dismissed for just 141 off 18.3 overs the Hampshire total was chased down by Glamorgan with relative ease. A second successive T20 fifty from Aneurin Donald allowed Glamorgan to reach the victory target with 23 balls remaining as a lively Cardiff crowd cheered their side home.Having bowled just one over in Wednesday’s defeat to Essex, Hogan was the pick of the Glamorgan bowlers as the Hampshire batsmen struggled to get him away. Steyn returned at the end of the Hampshire innings to claim the wickets of Gareth Berg, Gareth Andrew and Tino Best but it was Hogan that ripped the heart of the visitor’s batting. Coming on first change he dismissed both openers, including the dangerous James Vince who looked well set when he was bowled by Hogan for 27.The Hampshire total could have been a lot less if not for the late order hitting of Shahid Afridi. Coming to the crease with his 93 for 5 in the 13th over, Afridi made 32 from 20 balls before he too fell Hogan, well caught at long-off by Colin Ingram.The top-scorer in the Hampshire innings was Adam Wheater who offered some stability after the big names at the top of the order failed. His innings of 39 off 26 balls looked like it was going to be the base around which a competitive total could be built but when he was stumped off the bowling of Dean Cosker it left too much for the lower order to do.Hampshire would have been hopeful of mounting a defence of this total when they reduced Glamorgan to 9 for 2 in 2.1 overs. Despite the loss of both David Lloyd and Jacques Rudolph they did not slow up. Having made his first T20 half-century against Essex on Wednesday, Donald made it two in two with 55 runs from 27 balls. But he was lucky to make it that far; he top-edged a ball from Best that landed between three fielders and then he hit the same bowler straight to Darren Sammy at midwicket when on 34 and the West Indies T20 captain dropped an easy chance.Donald shared an excellent stand with Colin Ingram worth 94 from just 54 balls which finished the game as a content. Ingram departed soon after Donald to leave two new batsmen at the crease, but by then the required rate was down to just over four an over. Even the loss of Graham Wagg for just two runs was not enough for Hampshire to claw their way back into the contest, with Chris Cooke seeing the home side the victory.

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy by extension are considering Mainz boss Bo Svensson for the job, according to broadcast giant ESPN.

Who could replace Conte at Spurs?

There has been no shortage of managerial candidates who could replace Conte at Spurs, with the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Arne Slot and even Brendan Rodgers mentioned in the last few days.

Levy is still well and truly searching for a new manager candidate to take the reins at Tottenham as interim boss Ryan Mason becomes tasked with leading them to the end of this Premier League season.

Spurs are outliers in the race for a top four finish after a series of dampening results, including an abysmal 6-1 loss to Newcastle United which cost former temporary head coach Cristian Stellini his job.

The Lilywhites will have one eye on next campaign and whoever Levy appoints to take over from Conte will be crucial, both for reinstalling positivity as well as attracting world football's brightest stars.

Alongside the likes of Nagelsmann and Slot, it is believed that a new name has entered contention for the role, with one source telling ESPN that Mainz boss Svensson is now being considered.

He joins the likes of Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou alongside the usual suspects to be linked with the Tottenham job.

What could Svensson bring to Spurs?

While the 43-year-old arguably comes as a lesser known name compared to the likes of Nagelsmann, he could still be a brilliant candidate for Spurs, especially going by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp's glowing recommendation.

Commenting on the 3-4-2-1 tactician two years ago, Klopp has given his thumbs up in regards to Svensson's work in the Bundesliga with his former club, stating to Bild (via Bundesliga):

“We spoke on the phone Thursday,""I only saw him as a player for a year. As a guy, he was a grenade even then. As a coach, he's a great, great talent and has done an outstanding job so far."And he has a heart for Mainz 05, that's important. He brings the right mood to the club again. I'm very optimistic that things are going in the right direction with him now."

Svensson could be an outside contender and less well-known name to help build a project at Tottenham, with former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino's time at the club showcasing that a trophy-laden star coach isn't always the best solution.

Chelsea still have a good chance of signing Declan Rice in the summer transfer window, according to a key update from journalist Simon Phillips.

Could Rice leave West Ham this summer?

The 24-year-old may be playing for a struggling West Ham side currently, but he has still had another strong season on an individual note. He has enjoyed an 88.5% pass completion rate in the Premier League, as well as averaging 2.2 tackles and 1.1 aerial duel wins per game.

Given Rice's standing as a key man for England, it looks increasingly likely that he will depart the Hammers at the end of the season, in order to move to a bigger club. He is out of contract at the London Stadium next year, so this summer will be the last opportunity for the east Londoners to receive lots of money for his signature.

Chelsea have been linked with a move for the Englishman numerous times in recent months, as the Blues look to bolster their midfield and bring in younger legs. Now, a new update has emerged, with a switch to Stamford Bridge still potentially on the cards.

Is England man off to Chelsea?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Phillips claimed that Chelsea remain in the mix to sign Rice in the summer window, with Arsenal also getting a mention:

"It’s been described to me as a lot more open the race to signing you know, we’ve been hearing Arsenal are well ahead and laying down the foundations and they’ve got a better chance.

"But the reason I’ve been told this is Arsenal aren’t prepared to pay the high fee that they’re being quoted by West Ham for Rice at the moment so that leaves Chelsea very much still in this race, because they would be prepared to pay what it takes."

Rice joining Chelsea this summer could be a match made in heaven, with the 41-cap England international someone who is blossoming into a truly formidable footballer, being hailed as "unbelievable" for former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. He has developed into a box-to-box player who can provide both lung-busting runs through the middle of the park to support attacks, but also break up play at the other end.

That is highlighted by an average of 2.2 interceptions per match at the 2022 World Cup, where he also completed a hugely impressive 94.3% of his passes.

The fact that Rice is also a boyhood Chelsea fan acts as an extra bonus, with the West Ham potentially wanting to test himself at the club he loved growing up, as well as his family. He and Enzo Fernandez could forge a long-term partnership in the Blues' midfield, proving to be a dominant duo.