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Bruno Fernandes. A true leader who knows exactly what it means and takes to wear the Manchester United shirt.

On his Man of the Match debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, it was obvious that the 29-year-old was destined to lead the side out the Old Trafford tunnel, and since then, he’s gone from strength to strength.

In truth, there simply aren’t enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe how priceless the Portuguese magnifico is to the Red Devils, with his 144 goal contributions in 231 matches speaking for itself.

From the fans' perspective, the captain is without doubt the Red Devils' most valuable player, but CIES Football Observatory says otherwise, with one player in particular now worth the same as Fernandes.

Scott McTominay’s United career

Since making his debut against Arsenal back in 2017, Scott McTominay has developed into a reliable first-team player for Man Utd.

Although amongst the fanbase he resembles a Marmite player, it’s no coincidence that every manager has utilised the Scot, being a favourite of Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and now Erik ten Hag.

The midfielder has racked up an impressive 250 appearances for his boyhood club, becoming known for being a "monster,” as dubbed by the Norweigan boss, standing at 6 foot 4.

As he reaches the peak of his career, McTominay has developed into a clutch player for the Red Devils, and this upturn in influence has seen his market value skyrocket.

Scott McTominay’s value in 2024

This season, McTominay has been enjoying his most successful campaign so far on a personal level, despite only starting 17 Premier League matches.

Operating mainly as a box-crashing number eight, the number 39 has found a new lease of life in his new role, which enables much more positional freedom.

The Scotland international has shown up multiple times when it matters most, notably scoring crucial goals against Brentford and Aston Villa to turn two points into six.

With one game left in the league season, the midfielder has netted seven goals, which makes him United’s joint-third-highest scorer. It’s also his best return of his career thus far, surpassing his four-goal 2020/21 campaign.

Man Utd's PL Top Scorer's Market Value
Player (goals)	Value
Bruno Fernandes (10)	£51m
Rasmus Hojlund (9)	£86m
Alejandro Garnacho (7)	£86m
Scott McTominay (7)	£51m
Marcus Rashford (7)	£86m
Via CIES' Football Observatory & Sofascore

His upturn in performance has clearly had an impact on his value, as he’s now among the most valuable players in the entire United squad.

McTominay’s worth stands at an impressive £51m, which remarkably is the same as Fernandes’, who is the Red Devil with the most goals and assists this season.

One reason why the academy graduate is worth so much is simply due to the fact that he’s a goalscoring midfielder, a rather rare-to-come-by profile in the market.

Furthermore, he’s showcased his leadership qualities when called upon, wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of the Portuguese number eight, which is another desirable trait.

Overall, it’s quite clear that United truly hit the jackpot on McTominay, who cost the club £0, and if he continues to perform, his worth is only going to head in one direction.

Ratcliffe plotting £52m Man Utd swoop for "young Saliba" to replace Varane

The Man United target has been described as a “young Saliba”.

By
Tom Lever

May 17, 2024

Birmingham City are entering into the unknown somewhat dropping down to League One, knowing the lowly division can be a cruel customer for a sleeping giant.

Sunderland were submerged in the third tier for longer than anticipated when relegation was confirmed in 2018, staying put in the league for four seasons before promotion was secured, whilst the likes of Preston North End also didn't instantly bounce back upon relegation either, and even finished 15th during their first dire campaign back at the level in 2012.

That's why this next managerial appointment at St. Andrew's feels so pivotal, needing to hire a boss who can instantly get the Blues back to where they belong, instead of being trapped in the division below for an extended period of time.

This could be why Birmingham are trying to be incredibly ambitious with who they bring in as Tony Mowbray's successor, therefore, with one candidate having just competed in the Championship play-offs instead of worrying about a basement battle.

Birmingham could hire Championship manager

It was reported late last week by Football Insider that Carlos Corberan was in the sights of Birmingham as a potential next manager, with the Spaniard's representatives even in contact with the Blues to iron out some details.

However, already having their work cut out owing to relegation, the task to try and tempt Corberan to drop down a division has been made even more difficult when you consider football journalist John Percy has revealed he is a major target for the Leicester City vacancy too.

It would also cost in the region of £3.5m-£4m for Leicester or any suitor to sign up Corberan, who is still contracted to West Brom, which could be too much money for a bruised Birmingham to fork out after slipping to League One.

Yet, the ambitious American owners at Birmingham might well have this cash ready, knowing that the current Baggies manager – who has been described as a "genius" by former Leeds man Romario Vieira – would be perfect to show their League One rvials that they mean business.

It could also be rather beneficial for veteran striker Lukas Jutkiewicz after seeing what the Spaniard did at Huddersfield Town, transforming Danny Ward during his time with the Terriers.

Why Corberan could be perfect for Jutkiewicz

Still yet to agree a new deal with the Blues, Jutkiewicz could have a fire back in his belly to succeed with Corberan at the helm, who turned around the fortunes of another inconsistent attacker in Ward when managing in West Yorkshire with Huddersfield.

Only scoring four goals last season in total, Jutkiewicz's story is similar to that of Ward's when Corberan arrived at Huddersfield in 2020, having bagged just one solitary league strike during the 2020/21 season before the current West Brom man worked his magic.

Ward's goal record at Huddersfield – before and after Corberan
Season	Games played	Goals scored
2023/24	21	3
2022/23	36	5
2021/22	43	14
2020/21	20	1
Sourced by Transfermarkt

The 5 foot 11 forward hasn't ever quite been able to reach the heights of his 2021/22 output since Corberan's departure, as the 41-year-old boss turned the Yorkshire-born attacker into an unlikely fan's favourite, with 14 goals scored across a near promotion-winning campaign.

Ward will line up for the Terriers next season in the same division as Birmingham, potentially reuniting with his old boss, who could well get Jutkiewicz firing on all cylinders again in a similar vein, especially in the drop-down.

Praised for being a "brilliant" manager who makes his teams "horrible to play against" by Sky Sports commentator Don Goodman, Corberan's approach to setting his sides up to play physical football would suit Jutkiewicz to a tee, who has excelled in the past as a target-man style striker for the Blues.

Imposing with his 6 foot 1 frame, the 35-year-old could also be inspired by Derby's use of veterans in their recent promotion story to succeed at this level as Birmingham aim for an immediate return back to the Championship.

Birmingham could hire Mowbray successor who's perfect for James

Birmingham City could charm Jordan James into staying around knowing this managerial appointment is up their sleeve.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 3, 2024

An eighth-tier village club have postponed this weekend's fixture because of too many international call-ups.

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• Lancing FC rearrange game
• Four players called up by countries
• 'Unheard of' at eighth tier of pyramid

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  BBC Sport reports that Lancing FC's clash with Crawley in the Isthmian League South East Division has been postponed because four Lancing players have been called up for international duty. Knory Scott and Luke Robinson have both been called up by Bermuda to play Dominica in the CONCACAF Nations League.

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  Bizarrely, two players have also been called up by England's six-a-side team for the upcoming World Minifootball Federation U23 World Cup. Lancing are currently 20th in the Isthmian South East League and have only won one game this season.

• WHAT LANCING SAID

  Lancing FC chairman Barry Sutton said: "It's ridiculous for a club at this level. To have one person called up was something we celebrated but to have four off in the same week is unheard of."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Lancing will be keeping a close eye on the progress of their players as they jet off for international duty.

Aston Villa failed in their attempt to increase the allowable losses over a rolling three-year period to £135m to combat concerns over appeasing the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules and now an unthinkable prospect is seeping into Unai Emery's transfer window.

According to numerous reports corroborated by Fabrizio Romano, Villa are in negotiation with Serie A giants Juventus for the transfer of Douglas Luiz, with a full agreement close.

Okay, Monchi and Emery are making the most of a bleak and convoluted situation and have engineered the swap signings of talented winger Samuel Iling-Junior and midfielder Weston McKennie, but Luiz is "one of the best 6s" in English football, praise bestowed upon him by journalist Adam Gilks.

Villa are still expecting to recoup around £17m in hard cash for the Brazil international, but Emery and Co must really consider whether this is the best course of action for their side, having incredibly qualified for the Champions League with a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Douglas Luiz's importance to Aston Villa

Luiz has been one of the Premier League's standout midfielders over the past year, proving to be Emery's veritable heartbeat on the field as he dictates the tempo and knits the facets of the Villan machine into one, wrapping the thirds in on themselves.

It's been said that those involved in his rise at Villa have dubbed him "world-class", with a truly complete and polished skill set making him an indispensable component of a team that has transcended expectations when Emery was appointed as Steven Gerrard's successor.

His goal contributions have placed the 25-year-old among the elite in that category, ranking among the top 16% of central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 17% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Premier League Stats 23/24: Douglas Luiz
Stat (per 90)	#
Matches played	35
Matches started	35
Goals	9
Assists	5
Pass completion	89%
Big chances created	10
Key passes	1.5
Ball recoveries	5.3
Tackles	1.7
Duels won	4.2 (51%)
Dribble attempts	0.7 (60%)
Stats via Sofascore

But for all of Luiz's sharp striking movements and well-placed creative choices, it is undoubtedly his energy, intelligence and technical crispness that has established him as one of the division's best, with Villa fighting off a trio of official bids from Arsenal in 2022 and seeing Juventus joined by the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United in pushing for his signature in recent weeks.

It might feel that this bitter deal is edging inexorably toward completion but Luiz is not the only player to have been touted with a move away, and given that there's a player in Jacob Ramsey who has previously been linked with a move away for a similar figure, Monchi must surely consider an alternative to losing the lifeforce of Emery's reign.

Who Villa could sell instead of Luiz

Last month, The Telegraph revealed that Diego Carlos was among those most likely to face an exit from Villa Park, with the centre-half one of the Lions' most lucrative earners at £100k-per-week but enduring an injury-stricken 2022/23 campaign that he failed to recover from with on-pitch performance, criticised for his "sloppy" defending by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell.

While he wouldn't fetch a pretty penny, Carlos would whittle down the wage bill considerably, but he's not the only one mooted for departure in that report, with Ramsey also named as a sellable asset.

Ramsey is a homegrown hero, a product of the club's academy, and, as such, if he were to be signed by a suitor Villa would take in pure profit, which is a dream financial scenario in relation to the PSR conundrum.

The 23-year-old only started eight Premier League matches last term as he battled against injuries but has previously been valued at £50m, with Newcastle, Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur all sniffing around back in January.

Hailed for his "stunning" finishing ability by journalist Gregg Evans back in 2022, the dynamic midfielder is undoubtedly talented and, with good luck on the injury front, will forge an excellent career for himself, wherever that may be.

But, frankly, Emery exceeded expectations and secured his outfit a place among Europe's elite next season without the full force of the Birmingham-born gem's qualities, suggesting that his departure would be far less likely to strike a detrimental blow to the Spanish manager's ambitious plans.

It's understood that Villa do not wish to sell Ramsey and neither does he want to leave his boyhood club despite the prestige of some of the suitors, and that a sale will only occur if other players fail to be sold.

Surely Luiz does not fall into that bracket? The £75k-per-week phenom will certainly be considered untouchable in his head coach's mind. But then PSR threatens to blot the progress like a spreading stain, and clearly the ongoing series of events are a by-product of a hand forced.

Financial Fair Play: What is PSR, how does it work and who's in trouble?

Leicester City have become the latest club charged with an alleged PSR breach, but what could happen next?

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 16, 2024

McKennie, Luiz's likely replacement if the deal with Juventus is ratified, has enjoyed a solid campaign in Turin, starting 29 matches, but Premier League supporters will hardly have forgotten his struggles on loan with Leeds United the season before, with his lacklustre efforts dissuading the Whites in their previous plans to activate his £30m transfer clause.

This all feels a bit tricky, and while McKennie has enough innate ability to resurrect his Premier League career with success at Villa Park, Douglas Luiz is simply too good to allow to leave if another option is feasible, and every possible effort must be exhausted in keeping him put.

Selling Ramsey, unfortunately, might be the best way to ensure that he does indeed end up batting away the Old Lady's growing chances of a swoop.

Exceptional Luiz replacement: Premier League ace wants to join Aston Villa

Unai Emery is eyeing up a reunion with one of his former players in the Midlands…

By
Ross Kilvington

Jun 10, 2024

Under-pressure Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag had a long conversation with Wrexham coach Phil Parkinson as they collected awards on Sunday.

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• Managers exchange views at awards ceremony
• Ten Hag eased pressure with Brenford win
• Parkinson chasing third-successive promotion

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ten Hag picked up a prize at the Football Writers Association (FWA) Northern Managers Awards for leading United to win the FA Cup over arch rivals Manchester City last season. Parkinson was also honoured at the dinner for inspiring Wrexham to League One, the Red Dragons' second-successive promotion.

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  Ten Hag, who enjoyed a much-needed win over Brentford the day before the awards ceremony, was seated next to Parkinson, who was also celebrating after Paul Mullin had fired his side to a 1-0 win at Rotherham. And the two managers were seen deep in conversation throughout the dinner.

• WHAT TEN HAG SAID

  "I can say as I have some experience, it's not so easy to win titles, all the levels in English football are very competitive, to win a title demands huge sacrifice, sacrifice with your family but also sacrifice to get the team doing what you want," Ten Hag said in his speech. "You don't do this alone. You need good players, without good players, any manager is poor. Players can't do it without coaching so thanks also to my coaches, we did an incredible job to win this FA Cup."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Pep Guardiola also won a prize for retaining the Premier League title with Manchester City although the Catalan was unable to attend the ceremony, as his side were in action against Wolves. Guardiola gave an acceptance speech via video. Jurgen Klopp was honoured for leading Liverpool to win the Carabao Cup in his final season, but he was also not in attendance.

The football legacy of France is one of brilliance, inventiveness, and success. Those special French players who have transformed into World Cup heroes and Ballon d'Or winners have personified the spirit of French football.

It's safe to say that this France team certainly knows how to win, which is backed up by the fact that they've won two World Cups and two European Championships.

With that, here is the list of who we believe are the ten greatest French footballers, based on their overall impact at either club or international level during their careers…

Rank	Player	Career span
1	Zinedine Zidane	1989-2006
2	Thierry Henry	1994-2012
3	Michel Platini	1972-1988
4	Raymond Kopa	1949-1967
5	Patrick Vieira	1993-2011
6	Just Fontaine	1950-1960
7	Lilian Thuram	1991-2008
8	Olivier Giroud	2005-present
9	Kylian Mbappé	2015-present
10	Marcel Desailly	1986-2006

All stats correct as of 14th June 2024.

Euro 2024 Group D: Teams, players, fixtures and venues

Football FanCast takes a look at Poland, Netherlands, Austria and France ahead of Euro 2024.

By
Charlie Smith

Jun 10, 2024

10

Marcel Desailly

1986-2006

Marcel Desailly is well-known for his strength, agility and strength on the pitch. The Frenchman's career is distinguished by notable accomplishments and contributions to some of Europe's finest clubs as well as the French national team.

The defender won two Champions Leagues in 1993 and 1994, becoming one of just four players to win back-to-back European Cups with different teams. He also won Serie A titles while at Milan and also won the FA Cup in 2000 with Chelsea.

He was also a key member of the French national team, winning 116 caps and contributing significantly to the country's triumphs at Euro 2000 and the 1998 World Cup.

International caps	116
International goals	3
Clubs played for	Nantes, Marseille, Milan, Chelsea, Al-Gharafa, Qatar SC
France honours	1998 World Cup, Euro 2000

9

Kylian Mbappé

2015-present

Some of you may feel that Kylian Mbappé deserves to be higher up this list, but let's not forget that he's just 25 years of age with a large part of his career still ahead of him.

The Frenchman already has an outstanding record on the international stage, with 47 goals to his name in just 79 appearances. And he's even more lethal at club level for Paris Saint-Germain, having bagged 256 goals in 308 games. Who knows how many he'll bag for Real Madrid next season and beyond…

His achievements at such a young age are astounding. He's already got a World Cup and UEFA Nations League medal to his name internationally, as well as 14 domestic trophies. That's not including the seven Player of the Season awards he's received in France.

International caps	79
International goals	47
Clubs played for	Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain
France honours	2018 World Cup, 2021 Nations League

8

Olivier Giroud

2005-present

Olivier Giroud is a name that many may not have expected to be on this list, but that's simply because he's massively underrated.

The 37-year-old is France's record goalscorer with 57, which is a sensational achievement when you think of all the greats to have pulled on the blue jersey. He helped Les Bleus lift the World Cup in 2018 and the UEFA Nations League in 2021, and even grabbed four goals in the most recent World Cup.

At club level, he managed to lift the Champions League back in the 2020/21 season with Chelsea. His career tally sits at 283 goals and 101 assists in 708 games, which includes stints at current club AC Milan and Arsenal.

International caps	133
International goals	57
Clubs played for	Grenoble, Istres, Tours, Montpellier, Arsenal, Chelsea, Milan
France honours	2018 World Cup, 2021 Nations League

France's top international goalscorers of all time

France have had some wonderful players over the years – here are the very best goalscorers for Les Bleus…

By
Stephan Georgiou

Mar 16, 2024

7

Lilian Thuram

1991-2008

Lilian Thuram is recognised by many as one of the best defenders in football history. His career is notable for its extraordinary longevity and accomplishments at club and international level, when he demonstrated his versatility by playing at centre-back and right-back.

Throughout his playing career, Thuram represented Monaco, Parma, Juventus and Barcelona. He had great success during his tenure at Parma, where he won the 1999 UEFA Cup. The Frenchman also established himself as a world-class defender at Juventus by helping the team win several Serie A titles.

With 142 caps, he is the second-most-capped player in the French team's history. Thuram demonstrated his leadership qualities, defensive skill and capacity to step up to the plate when it mattered most during France's victories at Euro 2000 and the 1998 World Cup. Notably, the only two goals he ever scored for his nation came in the World Cup semi-final against Croatia, which helped seal France's place in the final.

International caps	142
International goals	2
Clubs played for	Monaco, Parma, Juventus, Barcelona
France honours	1998 World Cup, Euro 2000

6

Just Fontaine

1950-1960

Just Fontaine is regarded as one of the greatest attackers in football history and has a special position in World Cup history. Despite having a brief career owing to injuries, Fontaine scored a lot of goals for club and country, displaying his remarkable pace, cleverness and finishing touch.

During the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, Fontaine's most illustrious accomplishment was setting a record of scoring 13 goals in a single tournament, which is a record that still remains today.

This incredible accomplishment, which included a hat-trick in his World Cup debut and a four-goal showing against West Germany in the third-place play-off, launched him to global prominence and solidified his position as a World Cup legend.

Highlights of Fontaine's career at club level include successful seasons with Nice and Reims. He was a major factor in Reims' domestic and European accomplishments, winning several French league titles and reaching the inaugural European Cup final.

Even though Fontaine's injury ended his career at the age of 28, he had a significant impact on the game. With 30 goals in 21 games for the French national team, he retired with an outstanding scoring record.

International caps	21
International goals	30
Clubs played for	USM Casablanca, Nice, Stade Reims

5

Patrick Vieira

1993-2011

Patrick Vieira is regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. During his playing career, Vieira stood out due to his outstanding defensive and attacking performances, as well as his ability to control the midfield.

The Frenchman's club career took off at Arsenal, where he contributed significantly to his side's accomplishments under manager Arsène Wenger. His arrival in 1996 had an instant and significant impact on the team, as he helped Arsenal win four FA Cups and three Premier League crowns, which included captaining the Invincibles in 2003/04.

Following his unforgettable time at Arsenal, Vieira went on to play for Juventus, Inter and Manchester City. He added more trophies to his collection during this time, winning an FA Cup with City and several Serie A titles with Inter before retiring in 2011.

Vieira was also an important member of the French national team, winning 107 caps and helping the team win Euro 2000 and the World Cup in 1998.

International caps	107
International goals	6
Clubs played for	Cannes, Milan, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter, Man City
France honours	1998 World Cup, Euro 2000

4

Raymond Kopa

1949-1967

Raymond Kopa was a legendary French football player renowned for his exceptional dribbling skills, playmaking talents and vision.

Real Madrid and Reims are most famously linked to Kopa's club career. He was instrumental in Reims' 1956 run to the European Cup final and their domestic victories.

Real Madrid were drawn to his skills, and he ended up being a key member of Madrid's 1957 La Liga-winning squad and went on to win three straight European Cups from 1957 to 1959.

He won 45 caps and bagged 18 goals on the international stage. His contribution to France's 1958 FIFA World Cup voyage to the semi-finals was pivotal, and it ended up being their best finish prior to winning the competition in 1998. Playing with another man on the list, Just Fontaine, at the tournament, Kopa's exploits earned him the Ballon d'Or that year, establishing himself as Europe's finest player.

International caps	45
International goals	18
Clubs played for	Angers, Stade Reims, Real Madrid

3

Michel Platini

1972-1988

Michel Platini is a legendary football player known for his amazing goalscoring ability, innovative playmaking and incredible skill as a midfielder. Platini had a successful club career, where he won multiple titles with Juventus in Italy, including the European Cup, the Coppa Italia, and Serie A. He also enjoyed success with AS Nancy and Saint-Étienne in France.

Platini had an equally remarkable international career with Les Bleus. He was the tournament's top scorer and best player at the European Championship in 1984 to help France win the tournament, scoring a record nine goals in a single tournament.

His contributions in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups saw France advance to the semi-finals in both competitions, firmly establishing his reputation as one of the all-time great French players, with 41 goals in total in his 72 caps.

International caps	72
International goals	41
Clubs played for	Nancy, Saint-Etienne, Juventus
France honours	Euro 1984

2

Thierry Henry

1994-2012

No one can dispute that Thierry Henry is one of the most legendary forwards in football history.

Henry's Premier League career at Arsenal took off, and he went on to become the team's all-time top scorer with 228 goals in all competitions. He played a major role in Arsenal's Invincibles season of 2003/04, as well as winning two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, and four Premier League Golden Boots. After his triumph in England, he relocated to Barcelona, where he won two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, and the Champions League in 2009.

There's no doubting that he played with distinction for France at international level, notching 51 goals and accumulating 123 caps. His contributions to France's victories at Euro 2000 and the 1998 World Cup helped him lay the foundations for his legacy, despite the controversy during the 2010 World Cup campaign that tainted his latter years.

International caps	123
International goals	51
Clubs played for	Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona, New York Red Bulls
France honours	1998 World Cup, Euro 2000

1

Zinedine Zidane

1989-2006

One of the most recognisable players in football is Zinedine Zidane. Throughout his playing career, Zidane stood out for clubs like Juventus and Real Madrid, as well as the French national team, due to his skill with the ball, vision and exceptional ability to score important goals.

Zidane made a name for himself as one of the best midfielders in the world at Juventus, winning two Serie A titles in Turin. His famous volleyed goal in the 2002 Champions League final, which secured the trophy for Real Madrid, was the pinnacle of his time in the Spanish capital. His tenure at Madrid also saw him win the Intercontinental Cup and La Liga, which he also led Los Blancos to as manager.

His talent was crucial to France's success at Euro 2000 and the 1998 World Cup, emerging as a key player in both competitions. His reputation as a national hero was solidified with his two headers against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final. Despite the controversy of his red card in the World Cup final of 2006, Zidane's contributions to the sport as a whole are not overshadowed.

International caps	108
International goals	31
Clubs played for	Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid
France honours	1998 World Cup, Euro 2000

Arsenal are exploring ways to expand the Emirates Stadium beyond its 60,000 capacity as they look to catch up to their rivals.

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• Arsenal open to Emirates expansion
• Aim to catch up with their rivals
• Stadium currently holds 60,000

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners are looking to increase their matchday revenue by adding more seats to the stadium, reports, though doing so in a cost-effective way without renovating will prove a tough task. It has been suggested the club could consider changing their elliptical roof, which is shaped to allow more sunlight to reach the grass.

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  Arsenal have already seen north London rivals Tottenham surpass them as the team with the biggest stadium in the English capital, while West Ham now have a greater capacity, too, after moving into the London Stadium and they have plans to increase that number to 68,000. Manchester United are aiming to build a stadium that could hold 100,000, while Manchester City will bring their limit closer to 60,000 by the end of 2026.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Arsenal earned almost £103 million ($133m) in matchday income in the 2022-23 campaign, which is believed to have gone up by a further £120m ($155m) last season because of their involvement in the Champions League.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  While the Arsenal board consider their options to expand their stadium, Mikel Arteta's team will continue their challenge for the Premier League title. They are next in action on Sunday when they face Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.

Aston Villa are certainly acting fast with regard to doing the majority of their business before pre-season starts.

Unai Emery is on the verge of selling Douglas Luiz to Juventus, with an agreement in place that will see Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior move in the opposite direction as part of the deal with the Italian side.

Furthermore, Villa are also close to selling youth prospect Omari Kellyman to Chelsea, while another exciting talent, Tim Iroegbunam, has moved to Everton.

Of course, the club have been forced to sell players before the end of the month in order to comply with financial fair play regulations, plus the money raised from sales will allow Emery to sign a few players this summer.

Financial Fair Play: What is PSR, how does it work and who's in trouble?

Leicester City have become the latest club charged with an alleged PSR breach, but what could happen next?

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 16, 2024

The Spaniard is showing interest in a few new additions to his squad in order to bolster his midfield options.

Aston Villa close to signing another midfielder

Although there have been a few players moving on, Emery is close to sealing a deal to sign Ross Barkley.

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who said on X: “Aston Villa are prepared to enter into formal stages of Ross Barkley deal after agreement with Luton Town.

“Fee around £5m, contract details already agreed and now waiting on medical.”

This could be a smart piece of transfer business by Emery. Barkley knows the Premier League well, has played for Villa before and for such a bargain price, could add some much-needed depth to the squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

If the club do sign the Luton man, he could follow another midfielder to Villa Park…

Aston Villa's other midfield targets

According to the Express, Villa are eyeing up a move for a Real Sociedad midfielder, Brais Mendez, as Emery seeks to improve his options in the middle of the pitch.

They have reportedly made contact with his entourage ahead of making a swoop, but they face some serious competition to secure his signature.

Manchester United are keen along with Serie A sides Juventus and AS Roma, meaning the playmaker has no shortage of options should he wish to leave Sociedad this summer.

Mendez has a release clause of £52m and this would break Villa’s transfer record for a player, overtaking the £51.9m they splashed on Moussa Diaby last term.

With the 27-year-old at the peak of his powers, Emery could strengthen his side by signing the player, especially with Champions League football on the horizon.

Aston Villa's top five most expensive signings
Player	Transfer fee	Club joined from
Moussa Diaby	£52m	Bayer Leverkusen
Emilano Buendia	£38m	Norwich City
Pau Torres	£33m	Villarreal
Leon Bailey	£30m	Bayer Leverkusen
Ollie Watkins	£28m	Brentford
Via Birmingham World

How Brais Mendez compares to Ross Barkley

Aged 29, Barkley is certainly nearer the end of his career rather than the beginning. Might the capture of Mendez prove to be a better deal for Villa in the long run? Indeed, the Spaniard enjoyed a more productive season during 2023/24, especially in front of goal.

The Sociedad gem thrives either as a number ten or out wide, where he can showcase his excellent attacking abilities, whereas Barkley tended to occupy a deeper position, either in the heart of the midfield or just in front of the defence for Luton Town last term. That said, he first started out as an energetic attacking midfielder with an eye for goal.

The Englishman still managed to record five goals and six assists across all competitions in what was a solid season for the Hatters, thus earning a move to Villa Park, but Mendez enjoyed a far more fruitful season in the final third.

In 44 matches for Sociedad, Mendez scored eight goals while registering nine assists, which included four goal contributions in the Champions League against the likes of Inter Milan and Benfica, demonstrating how effective he can be in Europe’s premier club competition.

Brais can count the likes of key passes, direct free-kicks and through balls as major strengths according to WhoScored, while Barkley can count aerial duels, concentration and dribbling as his, which suggests the pair offer different sets of skills.

With the likes of Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans all slotting into the heart of the midfield, Emery is clearly well-endowed in this area.

With regard to a proper number ten, however, Mendez could fit into this slot with ease and become one of Emery’s finest signings this summer.

Brais Mendez’s season in numbers for Sociedad

Mendez has been wonderful in front of goal, but he also offers many more qualities going forward.

Among his teammates, Mendez ranked first for shots on goal (2.1) in La Liga last season, while also ranking second for big chances created (nine), second for key passes per game (1.3) and sixth for successful dribbles per game (0.8), again, evidence of his tremendous attacking capabilities which could serve Villa well next term.

It wasn’t just among his own squad that the midfielder sparkled either. Indeed, when compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Mendez currently ranks in the top 3% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.25), the top 10% for assists per 90 (0.21) and in the top 2% for total shots per 90 (2.42), proving he was one of the best in his position across these three attacking metrics.

Emery has had plenty of success at recruiting from Spain. Alex Moreno has been a solid option at left-back since January 2023, while Pau Torres acquainted himself well with the Premier League during his debut season, winning over half of his total duels and finishing the campaign with an 88% pass success rate.

Mendez – lauded as a “smooth operator” by journalist Zach Lowy – could become the latest Spanish talent to move to the Midlands and make a name for himself in the English top flight.

£52m is certainly a lot of money, but if the manager is serious about continuing Villa’s progression in the Premier League, plus being competitive in the Champions League, then investment is vital.

It might not work out, but given how well he has done in Spain over the previous 12 months, it looks as though Mendez could thrive in England, improving even more as a player under the watchful eye of Emery.

Transfer window 2024/25: All the latest transfers from England and Scotland

With the summer transfer window coming to a close, here are all the latest deals involving clubs from England and Scotland.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Aug 30, 2024

Fans left stunned as Erling Haaland surpassed Arsenal striker's Premier League goal tally – in 143 fewer games after scoring against Southampton.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Haaland struck early to put City in the lead
• It was his 74th strike in the Premier League
• Surpassed Jesus' tally of 73 goals in style

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Norwegian striker was on a three-match goal drought in the Premier League after netting 10 in his first five appearances. However, it was just a matter of time before Haaland once again found his scoring boots in the league and on Saturday afternoon the talismanic striker took just five minutes to get his name on the scoresheet against the Saints at Etihad to restore normalcy.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Haaland has now 74 English top-flight goals in just 73 appearances – which is simply sensational even by his own lofty standards. To further put matters into perspective, Arsenal frontman, Gabriel Jesus, has managed to net 73 times so far in his entire Premier League career in 218 appearances across nine seasons. Interestingly, Haaland moved into Etihad in the same summer Gabriel Jesus signed for Arsenal. And now he has surpassed the Brazilian's goal tally in 143 fewer games!

• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  Football fans could hardly comprehend the mind-boggling stat and took to social media to express their bewilderment.

  @tmofficially wrote: "This is an embarrassing stats, to even imagine that dame Jesus wants to lead Arsenal's attack to win the EPL makes it even more outrageous."

  Whereas, @ani_ukpanah, wrote: "143 fewer games. Damn, that's some stats."

  @IMbaezue wrote: "He is seriously cooking 😂".

  @TheWant04150377 seconded him and wrote: "He is goated a bit."

  Meanwhile, @jostezz_, labeled Haaland as a "Goal poacher."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR HAALAND?

  Haaland is leading the Premier League scoring charts with 11 strikes. He is followed by Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo and Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood who are on seven goals each. He will be back in league action on November 2 against Bournemouth but before that, he has to see off Tottenham in an Carabao Cup round of 16 fixture on Wednesday evening.

The next couple of months are crucial for Everton, with the club needing to keep hold of multiple key players if they are to build on last season’s 15th-placed finish in the Premier League.

Sean Dyche’s side put together an excellent run towards the end of the campaign, winning five of their eight remaining fixtures, maintaining their ever-present Premier League status.

Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana were both integral parts of Dyche’s squad last campaign, attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal as a result of their excellent displays.

They would undoubtedly raise the club a lot of money, making them hefty profits on the fees they paid, but they would be losing two stars who could push the club towards a comfortable mid-table finish in 2024/25.

Should Branthwaite stay at Goodison Park, he could form an excellent partnership with one star who’s been linked with a move to Merseyside this summer.

Everton make bid for former PL talent

According to Turkish journalist Ali Naci Kucuk (via Futbol Arena), Everton have made a £16m offer for Galatasaray centre-back Davinson Sanchez as Dyche aims to further bolster his defence.

The Colombia international enjoyed a six-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur, making over 200 appearances for the club before departing the north London side for Turkey last summer.

Many Toffees may remember Sanchez for his mistakes during his time in the Premier League – having even been booed off by his own supporters at one stage at home to Bournemouth – but his stint in the Turkish Süper Lig has reignited his career, with the defender looking

more like the player whom Spurs forked out £42m for back in 2017.

The former Ajax ace has enjoyed a brilliant campaign with Gala, with the defender potentially a shrewd pick-up, as his experience in England’s top flight makes him an ideal partner for English youngster Branthwaite.

Why Sanchez would be the perfect partner for Branthwaite

Even though Everton had the best defensive record outside the top four in the Premier League last season, Dyche is targeting reinforcements, with Sanchez one player he evidently admires given the recent bid.

His Premier League experience would be key for someone like Branthwaite, as despite his stellar campaign in 2023/24, he is still coming to grips with the demands of England’s top flight.

However, when comparing the two centre-backs from the previous campaign, it’s the Colombian who managed to produce the better stats – some being in key areas for a player in Dyche’s system.

The "dominant" defender, as described by former boss José Mourinho, blew the Toffees youngster out of the water in possession – with Sanchez’s ball-playing ability up there with the best in the Champions League and Europa League last term.

He managed to put himself within the top 10% of central defenders playing in European competition for progressive carries last season, with his ability to drive forward with the ball allowing the Toffees to move away from their current low-block system.

Sanchez vs Branthwaite in 2023/24
Statistics	Sanchez	Branthwaite
Blocks	1.9	1.5
Interceptions	1.5	1.4
Progressive passes	4.8	2.1
Progressive carries	1.5	0.1
Passes per game	64	40
Stats via FBref

Sanchez also managed to make more blocks than Branthwaite, with the Englishman’s tally of 1.4 unable to get the better of the former Spurs talent, who has excelled since his move to Turkey.

While no Toffees supporter would want the partnership of Branthwaite and James Tarkowski to be broken, the potential arrival of Sanchez could do just that, while benefiting Dyche’s side.

Sanchez has demonstrated his abilities over the last 12 months, looking back to his best after his fresh start, potentially ready to slot into Dyche’s defence and help return them to their former glories.