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Aston Villa have rarely struggled to remain consistent in achieving an adequate number of clean sheets over the course of a Premier League season. It shouldn’t come as surprise, however, when looking at the underrated yet always impressive goalkeepers that they’ve boasted throughout the years.

Just to list a couple of big hitters, David James and Peter Schmeical are among the names to have worn the number one shirt at Villa Park. Meanwhile, the likes of Shay Given and Brad Friedel have enjoyed success in between the sticks of the Midlands club.

These days, the task is left to Emiliano Martinez to keep the clean sheets. And what a job he’s doing. The Argentine has enjoyed some rise to the top since his days sitting on the Arsenal bench. He’s now considered to be one of the best goalkeepers outside of the Premier League’s top clubs.

Martinez will hope to continue his rise next season, and put himself in contention to jump up a few places in the list below – which ranks every goalkeeper to have worn the No.1 jersey for Villa in the Premier League by top flight clean sheets.

Stats revealed by TransferMarkt.

Every Aston Villa No.1 ranked on clean sheets

Mark Bosnich – 51 clean sheets

Thomas Sörensen – 46 clean sheets

Brad Friedel – 35 clean sheets

Brad Guzan – 20 clean sheets

David James – 12 clean sheets

Emiliano Martínez – 11 clean sheets

Shay Given – 8 clean sheets

Peter Enckelman – 8 clean sheets

Peter Schmeichel – 7 clean sheets

Tom Heaton – 4 clean sheets

As you can see from the list above, it is Mark Bosnich who leads the way – the very first number one in Aston Villa’s Premier League history. As it turns out, they started with the perfect goalkeeper, with his tally of 51 clean sheets placing him clear at the top.

Meanwhile, Thomas Sörensen, with 46 clean sheets, is the closest a No.1 has come at Villa Park to surpassing Bosnich. Five clean sheets short, however, Sörensen just couldn’t do enough.

As for the rest, the likes of Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan didn’t have bad spells at the Midlands club, either, keeping 35 and 20 clean sheets respectively.

Now with Martinez, who kept 11 clean sheets in his first season wearing the number one jersey, Villa will look to reach new heights next season. Under Steven Gerrard, Villa feel like a club on the up.

Individually, meanwhile, Martinez will be looking to surpass David James on 12 clean sheets, whilst edging closer to Guzan and Friedel on 20 and 35.

Former Premier League manager and Sky Sports pundit Alex McLeish has given his reaction to some takeover news that he has now heard from Everton.

The Lowdown: Talks

As per The Daily Telegraph, a group fronted by former Manchester United and Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon are in the early stages of talks to buy the Goodison Park outfit from Farhad Moshiri.

He values the Merseyside club at over £500m, once their debt is taken into account, which is far more than the £300m it took for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium to take over at Newcastle United back in October.

The Latest: McLeish reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish has now given his reaction after hearing the news, claiming that the Toffees are an ‘enormous’ club and £500m is an ‘amazing’ price to get:

“It’s interesting. Obviously there’s a big stadium shift, isn’t there, onto the Mersey.

“It’s a really amazing price when you think of the Newcastle takeover. They’re an enormous club.

“I don’t know the ins and outs of these situations. I’m sure whoever takes over is going to make sure they’re competing in the top half of the table.”

The Verdict: Sell up

Given the concerns held over the Blues’ recent financial losses, and the cost of building the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, now would provide the optimum time for Moshiri to sell up.

They need a fresh start after being dragged into a relegation battle that they really should not be involved in, and the business side of the club has been disastrous under the 67 year-old.

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Indeed, a lot of the failures have been down to poor recruitment in from Moshiri, who was responsible for funding big-money flops like Davy Klaassen and Cenk Tosun, among others.

Nonetheless, it is time for him to hand over the club to someone else to hopefully push to look forward rather than behind them.

In other news, find out who EFC now hold an advantage over signing here!

An update has emerged regarding Sunderland’s interest in signing Ravel Morrison in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, the Black Cats are eyeing up a move for the 29-year-old as Kristjaan Speakman looks to improve the squad ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

The report claims that Preston North End and Huddersfield are prepared to challenge Alex Neil’s men for the midfielder’s signature.

His contract with League One side Derby County expires at the end of next week and he is set to leave Wayne Rooney’s team on a free transfer.

Alex Pritchard 2.0

By securing a deal to sign Morrison this summer, Speakman could land Neil another Alex Pritchard to select in Sunderland’s midfield next season.

The Black Cats snapped up the former Norwich player on a free transfer from Huddersfield last year and he enjoyed a sublime debut season in red and white.

In the 2021/22 League One campaign, Pritchard produced four goals and nine assists from attacking midfield, creating nine ‘big chances’ for his team-mates and making two key passes per match. He set up both goals in the 2-0 win in the play-off final at Wembley against Wycombe, teeing up Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart to fire their team back into the Championship.

Sunderland can now repeat that masterclass by striking a move for Morrison in a similar deal to the one which brought Pritchard to the Stadium of Light.

The Derby playmaker started 26 games in the Championship last term and was directly involved in eight goals, with four strikes and four assists.

Rio Ferdinand previously quoted Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder as saying: “Rav – unpredictable, maverick, humble, a natural, and frustrating.”

These quotes suggest that the 20-year-old will be an exciting player for the fans to watch, as he takes risks with the ball and can entertain the crowd with his unpredictability in possession.

The £4.7k-per-week maestro created six ‘big chances’ in total and made one key pass per match in the division above the one in which Pritchard was playing last season, showing that he has the ability to make things happen in the final third at that level.

Morrison is a proven Championship performer who could slot into Sunderland’s starting XI and have an immediate impact, much like the former Tottenham man did in League One in 2021/22.

It is now over to Speakman to convince the former Manchester United gem that a move to Wearside is the best next step for him ahead of the likes of Preston and Huddersfield.

AND in other news, Huge Sunderland behind-the-scenes development emerges, supporters will be buzzing…

Fabrice Hawkins has dropped an update on the future of reported Leeds United transfer target Arnaud Kalimuendo.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, the French journalist revealed that both Leeds and Inter Milan are keeping a very close eye on the situation of the Paris Saint-Germain centre-forward ahead of a potential move this summer, with the Ligue 1 Champions believed to be demanding a figure in the region of €22m (£19m) in order to part with the 20-year-old.

Hawkins goes on to suggest that, despite the new PSG manager, Christophe Galtier, previously being eager to sign the France U21 international during his time at OGC Nice, all things still point to the striker securing a move away from Le Parc des Princes ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

In his tweet, the journalist said: “Arnaud Kalimuendo is well tracked by Inter Milan. His relatives were even invited to see a match in Milan a few weeks ago. Leeds are there too. The trend is towards a departure even if Christophe Galtier wanted to recover him when he was coaching Nice.”

Jonathan David 2.0

Considering just how exciting a prospect Kalimuendo undoubtedly is, it is not difficult to understand why Orta would be plotting a move to bring the centre-forward to Elland Road this summer.

Indeed, over his 34 Ligue 1 appearances for RC Lens last season, the £17m-rated talent was in deadly goalscoring form, hitting the back of the net on 12 separate occasions, as well as creating three big chances for his teammates and taking an average of 1.8 shots, making 0.6 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

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Furthermore, according to FBref data, the £6.6k-per-week forward also ranks in the top 28% of centre-forwards in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as the top 1% for passes completed, the top 19% for progressive carries and the top 11% for progressive passes received over the past 12 months.

These metrics see FBref compare the 21-year-old to some of the most recognisable centre-forwards in European football, such as LOSC Lille’s Jonathan David, Lazio’s Ciro Immobile and Sampdoria’s Francesco Caputo.

And, with Jacek Kulig dubbing Kalimuendo a “prolific” forward – as well as listing the youngster’s strengths as his “pace, finishing, instinct, movement and technique” – it is easy to see the similarities between the PSG starlet and the 69-goal David – who Leeds were linked with a move for in 2020 and who has more recently been tipped to become Robert Lewandowksi’s heir at Bayern Munich.

As such, considering the fact that the signing of a new forward is reported to be one of Orta’s priorities ahead of the new Premier League campaign, it would appear highly advisable for the Spaniard to do everything in his power to seal to deal for the 20-year-old ahead of Inter this summer – as Kalimuendo could well prove to be the Whites very own David at Elland Road next season.

AND in other news: Victor Orta now given green light for “sublime” £13m Leeds signing, he’s “unstoppable”

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Jude Bellingham over the last few months, and now there has been a new update on the club’s progress in making the signing.

What’s the latest?

According to 90min, Liverpool are now confident they can sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham next summer.

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As per the report, Liverpool’s interest in the star could come as a blow to Real Madrid – who are also interested in signing Bellingham in 2023.

Imagine him & Thiago

It has been reported that Liverpool are making the signing of a midfielder a priority this summer, but with the latest update on Bellingham, it may be that the club will wait another season to improve their midfield.

The Reds will be wanting to inject some youth into the centre of the pitch with Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Thiago Alcantara all now in their 30s, and the Bundesliga youngster would be the perfect fit for Jurgen Klopp’s team of the future.

Bellingham has been impressing during his time at Borussia Dortmund, and again last season proved he possesses the star quality that could be a huge asset at Anfield.

The £80m talent scored three goals, delivered eight assists and created 10 big chances over his 32 Bundesliga appearances last term, as well as making 1.3 key passes, 1.6 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game, in addition to winning the majority of his duels combined (51%) and successful in completing the majority of his dribble attempts (57%) – proving that he is the complete midfielder.

Bellingham has been the recipient of high praise, with the England manager Gareth Southgate hailing the 18-year-old “phenomenal” and an “exciting player” in a press conference after naming the young talent in his Euro 2020 squad.

Southgate claimed: “Jude is phenomenal. Just in training in the last couple of days, to have a 17-year-old, who wants to compete with senior players, not only has the technique, but the competitiveness and maturity, he’s a hugely exciting player.”

Klopp could form a formidable partnership in the centre of the pitch between Thiago and Bellingham if he makes the move to Merseyside combining the Spanish star’s experience with the Englishman’s raw talent, as the side continue their pursuit for trophies.

With that being said, the powers at Anfield must prepare for competition when it comes to signing the wonderkid next summer, as Bellingham will add high quality to the heart of the midfield in any team he joins.

AND in other news: Klopp can land his own Tchouameni as Liverpool now plot £5m offer for “absolute star”

Celtic have been handed a blow to their hopes of securing a summer deal for Ferencvaros striker Ryan Mmaee.

What’s the news?

When asked in a Q&A (via the Daily Record) about the possibility of Mmaee joining Celtic this summer, Ferencvaros sporting director Tamas Hajnal said that a move this summer is probably not possible: “He is currently recovering from his injury. We are waiting for him to help us when he is in good condition. It is almost impossible for him to leave before the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year.”

However, Hajnal didn’t totally rule out a move, as he said:

“At the moment, every position has the right competitive situation. Based on the composition, we can play football in different game systems. But I cannot conclusively state that there will be no more changes. There is still a lot of time until the end of the transfer window.”

Celtic supporters will be gutted

These comments from Hajnal could be a ploy just to get the Bhoys to come in with a substantial offer for the player but with a move now seemingly off the table this summer, it will surely leave Ange Postecoglou and the Parkhead fanbase gutted.

After scoring 25 goals in 59 appearances for his previous club AEL Limassol, the 24-year-old joined Ferencvaros during the previous summer transfer window.

In his debut season with the Hungarian club, the Moroccan found the net 17 times and supplied 11 assists in 36 appearances across all competitions, proving what a menace he can be in the opposition’s penalty area.

It backs up why he was labelled as “prolific” by journalist Maher Mezahi on Twitter, as in 142 club appearances at senior and youth level, the striker has bagged 49 goals and also registered 26 assists.

Thus, with the Parkhead club struggling to pull off a deal for Mmaee this summer, it will surely have lots of Celtic fans gutted given how impressive the player has been in front of goal throughout his career.

While it could be a challenge to get Ferencvaros to allow their star attacker to leave the club summer, it is something that the Hoops should definitely explore as he’d improve the team significantly.

AND in other news: Postecoglou can land Kyogo 2.0 as Celtic eye move for “deadly” £1.35m-rated dynamo

The Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has revealed that there is ‘interest’ from Championship clubs in Newcastle United duo Ciaran Clark and Dwight Gayle.

The Lowdown: On the fringes

Both players were on the fringes of Eddie Howe’s squad last season, with just 23 appearances made between them in total.

As per The Daily Mail, they are both training with the under-23s at the moment alongside Jeff Hendrick, so they seemingly do not have a long-term future at St James’ Park.

The Latest: Championship ‘interest’

Taking to Twitter, Hope has revealed that there is ‘interest’ in Gayle from Middlesbrough, while they and Stoke City are boh ‘interested’ in Clark.

The reporter outlined: “Middlesbrough & Stoke also interested in Ciaran Clark. Boro had shown interest in Dwight Gayle but, as it stands, that is unlikely. Some at Boro like Jordan Rhodes but Huddersfield asking for too much, I’m told.”

The Verdict: Get rid

Given their lack of game-time last term, and with a few strikers and centre-backs ahead of them in the pecking order, it would be best for Newcastle to just get rid of the duo if the opportunity arises.

Clark currently earns £42,000-per-week on Tyneside, while Gayle is on £37,000-per-week, so overall they could trim a handy £79,000-per-week off the Magpies’ wage bill, along with whatever transfer fees they can get for the pair.

The money earned from selling the duo could then be used to help fund transfer targets in other areas of the pitch, as Howe looks to get his squad finalised before the new campaign starts in four weeks’ time.

Leeds United could look to reignite their interest in Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico this summer.

The Lowdown: Left-back move

The Whites have been hard at work already in the transfer market, bringing in six new players at a cost of £95m.

Victor Orta and Jesse Marsch aren’t planning on stopping there, though, with a new forward, a left-back and an experienced goalkeeper on the agenda.

A new left-back could be even higher up on Orta’s wish list following an injury to Junior Firpo, and Tagliafico – who was linked with a move to Elland Road last year – has come back up in conversation.

The Latest: Tagliafico claim

Leeds Live journalist Kyle Newbould looked at four left-back options that the Whites could target following Firpo’s latest injury. One of those was Tagliafico, who he claimed is still looking to leave Ajax in what could be a potential ‘bargain’.

The report states that the defender ‘could be signed for just £4-5million – although the left-back has plenty of suitors including Chelsea, Brighton and Barcelona’.

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The Verdict: Yes please

Tagliafico, who Kevin Campbell dubbed a “top-quality player”, is a 40-cap Argentina international who has plenty of experience at the highest level for club and country.

The 29-year-old is into the final 12 months of his Ajax contract and can also play as a centre-back or left midfielder if required.

Marsch appears to want his full-backs to chip in going forward, and with Tagliafico having 48 club goal contributions to his name, a move for him could be a brilliant piece of business by Leeds.

Wolves have been linked with a move for Inter striker Edin Dzeko recently and the former Manchester City man could form a dream partnership with Pedro Neto in Bruno Lage’s attack.

Reports from Italy have suggested that the likes of Wolves, Everton and Leicester City are all interested in signing the Bosnian hitman, who could be set to leave the San Siro, despite an impressive debut season at the club.

The 36-year-old signed from Roma after a prolific spell with I Giallorossi and contributed 17 goals and ten assists in 48 appearances, which emphasises that he still has the ability to produce at the top level.

It is no surprise to see Wolves linked with such a consistent goalscorer, considering their lack of goals in the top flight last season, with only the relegated sides scoring fewer.

Raul Jimenez has not been the same player since his head injury, while Fabio Silva has left for Anderlecht on loan after failing to find the net last season, so a new striker is definitely required.

Should the Old Gold convince Dzeko to make the move to Molineux, the veteran striker could excel alongside Portuguese winger Neto, who may well feel like a new signing after missing much of the last campaign through injury.

The 22-year-old made just 13 appearances in the Premier League last year having been one of the star performers in the 2020/21 season, and he will be hoping to make a similar impact in the upcoming campaign.

Jamie Redknapp was full of praise for Neto last season, saying:

“He’s not going to be a good player, he’s going to be a world-class player once he comes back from injury.

“You could see last year when you were watching him he was developing every single week.”

With Neto’s pace and ability on the wing, he is sure to create goalscoring opportunities next season, and who better to put them away than the “fantastic” Dzeko.

AND, in other news: Wolves plotting bid for £20m target who’s “full of assists”, he’s Lage’s dream signing

Leeds United have ‘no plans’ to sell winger Jack Harrison to Newcastle United, reliable journalist Phil Hay has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Harrison linked with exit

The Whites have lost key duo Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha this summer, with the pair joining Manchester City and Barcelona, respectively.

Harrison is another influential figure who has been linked with a move away from Elland Road, however, with Newcastle United eyeing up an official offer.

The Englishman’s current Leeds deal runs out in 2024, and while no new contract is close to being agreed yet, Hay has now weighed in on the rumours with a pretty encouraging update.

The Latest: Hay delivers significant update

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, The Athletic‘s Hay claimed that Harrison is expected to stay with the Whites, only allowing him to leave for upwards of £35million:

“No plans at Leeds United to sell Jack Harrison. Valuation would be £35m+ and Newcastle are a long way off that. Assuming he’s here beyond the end of the window, contract will need attention.”

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The Verdict: Keep hold of him, Whites

Harrison may not always have been the first name on Leeds’ team sheet but he has been an important figure throughout a memorable period in the club’s history, being described as a ‘brilliant’ player by Noel Whelan.

A tally of 28 goals and 22 assists in 166 appearances is a testament to that, with his crucial strike at Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season helping secure safety in 2021/22.

Should Harrison depart because Newcastle meet their valuation, Leeds would at least earn a huge sum of money that could be spent on new arrivals, rather than losing him on the cheap. Keeping hold of him takes precedence, though, given his quality and consistency for the club.