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Everton have been on a fairly strong run in the Premier League recently, and are beginning to pick up crucial points in their fight against relegation. The Toffees have lost one in their last six games, a humbling 4-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

However, outside of that, they have been defensively diligent. In the last six games, they have only conceded those four goals against Ruben Amorim’s side, keeping clean sheets in the five other outings.

Despite being so low in the table, they have been defensively sound and are keeping teams out, including Chelsea and Arsenal in their last two games.

With Manchester City up next, they will be hoping to keep this good defensive form up.

Everton’s defensive record in 2024/25

It is not common for teams threatened by relegation to have good defensive records. This season is a prime example of that. The bottom three clubs are leaking goals so far, with Wolves conceding 40, Ipswich Town 32 and Southampton 36. 17th place Leicester City have let in 37 goals.

So, in that sense, the Toffees are massive anomalies. As per Sofascore, they have shipped the third-fewest number of goals in 2024/25 so far, letting in just 21 in 17 games. That works out at just 1.2 goals conceded per game on average.

It is helped by the fact Jordan Pickford is, yet again, having a season to remember. He has been an ever-present for Sean Dyche’s men, keeping seven clean sheets, including those two against London giants Chelsea and Arsenal. As Liverpool Echo journalist Joe Thomas said, he is in “brilliant form”.

What perhaps makes the Toffees’ defensive record even more impressive is that they are not even conceding many chances. As per FBref, they have an expected goals against tally of just 21.3 xGA. That ranks them joint-sixth in the top flight.

Credit must go to Dyche, Pickford and the defenders in front of him, who have all contributed to their superb record. Jarrad Branthwaite has impressed once again and is certainly a player Man City could do with.

Branthwaite’s stellar season

Whilst Everton have been flying high of late, the same cannot be said for Pep Guardiola’s City side. They have won just one of their last 12 games, conceding 27 goals in that time, an unfathomably poor run.

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Earlier in the season, after a 3-3 draw at home to Feyenoord in the Champions League in a game in which they were 3-0, there was particularly scathing criticism with Alan Shearer telling Amazon Prime viewers “they look weak, they look light, they look frail” in defence. Clearly, that has not improved much since then.

Branthwaite, however, has been classy this season. The 22-year-old struggled with injury at the start of the season but has since got himself back to full fitness. He has played 90 minutes in Everton’s last six top-flight games, which coincides with this strong run of form.

He was nearly flawless against both Arsenal and Chelsea in their two 0-0 draws, both excellent results for Everton.

The Liverpool Echo’s post-match player ratings saw him receive a 7/10 for both showings. Against the Gunners, the defender was praised for performing well in “a determined defensive display”, and against the Blues, a “superb” tackle on Cole Palmer was noted.

Branthwaite stats vs. Arsenal & Chelsea

Stat

vs. Arsenal

vs. Chelsea

Touches

35

32

Pass accuracy

87%

78%

Passes completed

20/23

18/23

Clearances

6

2

Tackles won

1/2

4/4

Duels won

3/5

5/5

Stats from Sofascore

Branthwaite’s form is seemingly back to the high standard we saw in the 2023/24 season when football statistician Statman Dave described him as a “colossal” defender. He is a huge reason as to why Everton are performing so well defensively of late, and it is no coincidence that this run has come at the same time as his good availability.

Dyche must start him against the Citizens. The form Branthwaite has shown against some of the Premier League’s most threatening attacking sides recently has been too good to ignore, and he will be imperative to keeping City out.

His current form is so good that he would probably get into Guardiola’s side, and could actually help them a lot and stop this run of poor form. Luckily for Everton, he will be playing in royal blue rather than sky blue, and will be hoping to contribute to another huge result as they look to climb the table.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Dec 24, 2024

Aston Villa are interested in signing an Argentine striker who has been likened to former Manchester United and Manchester City star Carlos Tevez, according to reports.

Aston Villa latest news

After a poor run that saw them win just once in nine games across all competitions, Aston Villa now seem to have rediscovered their best form. Unai Emery’s side have won each of their last three games, beating both Brentford and Southampton in the Premier League, as well as RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

Villa’s impressive 3-2 win over the German side saw the West Midlands club all but clinch a place in the tournament’s knockout stages, with victory leaving them third in the new-look league phase with just two games to play.

Colombian striker Jhon Duran earned most of the plaudits on the night, coming off the bench to score a screamer in the second-half, taking his tally for the season to 10 in all competitions.

Speaking about Duran, who has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, after the game, Emery said: “His potential is massive. He scored a great goal and he works and we are trying to get the team strong with a tactical approach. Tactically he is improving and today he played a fantastic 45 minutes.”

Villa eyeing new striker

Though Duran is impressing, Villa are still reportedly keen to add more firepower to their arsenal. According to CaughtOffside, Emery’s side are one of a number of Premier League clubs alongside Arsenal and Newcastle United eyeing a potential move for Bologna forward Santiago Castro.

The Argentine, 20, has scored five goals and produced six assists in 20 games for Bologna this season. CaughtOffside claim that Juventus and Inter Milan are also interested, and that Bologna could sell for a fee in the region of £33 million. They expect Villa to be a “tempting project” due to the prospect of more playing time than the likes of Arsenal, as well as the chance to work under Emery.

Castro only joined Bologna from Velez Sarsfield in January and has quickly emerged as a key figure for Vincenzo Italiano’s side – especially since the departure of Joshua Zirkzee to Manchester United in the summer. According to Foot Italia, Castro’s idol is his compatriot and Inter Milan striker Lautro Martinez, however it’s another Argentine striker he’s been likened to in terms of both his style of play and stature.

“Santiago Castro looking even more like a Tevez 2.0,” wrote Italian football analyst Ben Mattinson of the young forward on X earlier this year. In a separate post, Mattinson also described him as an “Argentine prospect with a complete forward profile”.

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He’s a man in-demand…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 17, 2024

Castro, however, doesn’t like being compared to others: “I prefer to be talked about for who I am. I want to be judged as Santiago Castro, nothing more,” he said in a recent an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Match referee Madugalle said the pitch did not offer an even contest between bat and ball

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Mar-2022The pitch in the Rawalpindi Test between Pakistan and Australia, where 1187 runs were scored for the loss of 14 wickets, has been rated “below average” by match referee Ranjan Madugalle.”The character of the pitch hardly changed over the course of five days and that there has been no deterioration apart from the bounce getting slightly lower,” Madugalle said in his report. “The pitch did not have a great deal of pace and bounce in it for the seamers nor assisted the spinners as the match progressed. “In my view this does not represent an even contest between bat and ball. Therefore, in keeping with the ICC guidelines I rate this pitch as below average.”Related

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“We note and accept the ICC’s decision,” a PCB spokesperson said. “This is the first time any Pakistan venue has received a demerit point. The PCB wants to see and prepare pitches that provide even and exciting contest between the bat and the ball. In this regard and in line with the PCB Chairman’s vision, a massive project to overhaul and relay all pitches in Pakistan is already underway.”The PCB remains confident and optimistic that we will not only see good contests in the Karachi and Lahore Tests but in all future domestic international matches as well.”The drawn first Test surface that was described as “dead” by Steven Smith and “not a good advertisement for Test cricket” by PCB chairman Ramiz Raja has therefore been given one demerit point. Had the pitch been marked as “poor” or “unfit” then the ground would’ve earned three or five demerit points respectively.According to the laws, “when a venue accumulates five demerit points (or crosses that threshold), it will be suspended from hosting any international cricket for a period of 12 months, while a venue will be suspended from staging any international cricket for 24 months when it reaches the threshold of 10 demerit points.” Demerit points will remain active for a rolling five-year period.The ICC had revised its pitch and outfield monitoring process in January 2018. Under the guidelines, each pitch hosting an international game receives one of the following six ratings: Very Good, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor, Unfit. The Pallekele pitch was the last one to get the ‘below average’ rating for the second test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2021.The three-Test series is part of the World Test Championship, with the second match set to begin on March 12 in Karachi and the third one on March 21 in Lahore.

أثار محمود عبد المنعم كهربا، لاعب الاتحاد الليبي الحالي، حالة من الجدل الواسع بعد نشره رسالة غامضة، أثارت الكثير من التساؤلات بين متابعيه حول مغزاها والمقصود بها.

وكتب كهربا عبر خاصية “ستوري” على حسابه بموقع “إنستجرام”: “في رمضان والأيام المفترجة.. حسبي الله ونعم الوكيل في اللي ظلم، واللي أعان على الظلم، واللي وقف يتفرج من غير ما يقول كلمة حق كانت ممكن ترفع الظلم عن المظلوم، واللي قرر ياخد جانب الظالم عشان مصلحته معاه، واللي صدّق، واللي أساء الظن، واللي تهاون في رد الحقوق لأصحابها.. بدعيلكم”.

وجاءت هذه الرسالة بعد أسابيع من إعلان نادي الاتحاد الليبي تفعيل بند شراء عقد كهربا من الأهلي، ليغادر اللاعب صفوف القلعة الحمراء بشكل نهائي بعد فترة قضاها داخل النادي منذ انضمامه في يناير 2020.

طالع أيضًا | حسام عبد المجيد: أتمنى انضمام لاعب الأهلي إلى الزمالك.. ووسام أبو علي “بيتعبني”

وكان كهربا قد انتقل إلى الاتحاد الليبي خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية الماضية على سبيل الإعارة، قبل أن يقرر النادي الليبي ضمه نهائيًا، لتنتهي بذلك رحلته مع الأهلي، والتي شهدت محطات مختلفة بين التألق، والأزمات، والعقوبات.

خلال مشواره مع الأهلي، حقق كهربا العديد من البطولات، من بينها دوري أبطال إفريقيا، الدوري المصري، وكأس مصر، بالإضافة إلى برونزية كأس العالم للأندية، لكنه أيضًا واجه فترات صعبة بسبب إيقافه على خلفية أزمته مع الزمالك، إلى جانب بعض المشكلات داخل الفريق التي أثرت على مشاركته.

England allrounder hits captain Root on helmet as he targets improvement in second Test

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Dec-2021Ben Stokes has allayed concerns about the knee injury that hampered his bowling at Brisbane last week, after coming through an energetic nets session at Adelaide ahead of Thursday’s second Ashes Test.Stokes, 30, bowled just 12 overs in England’s nine-wicket defeat in the series opener, and was in obvious discomfort during his latter spells after appearing to jar his knee while chasing a ball to the boundary.However, he was back to full pace in the Adelaide nets on Tuesday, where he bowled for an hour under the supervision of head coach, Chris Silverwood, and also struck England’s captain Joe Root on the helmet and the arm in a lively display.”We will find out over the next couple of days,” Root had said before the net session. “He obviously had a bit of a jar in his knee in the last game. Hopefully it’s something he’s shaken off now, and he can get back to full intensity and all options are on the table. We will have to manage that and see where we are at.”Writing in his column for the Mirror, Stokes confirmed that his knee had affected him at Brisbane, but also that it was not a new issue that had arisen during the match.”People will have seen me rubbing my knee from time to time when I was in the field, but rest assured I’m fine,” he wrote. “It is an old injury that flares up every now and again, but I know how to manage it.”It just gets a little bit uncomfortable every now and again in and around my cartilage. But it just looks worse than it is by the way I try and get off it as soon as I can.”The contest was Stokes’ first Test appearance since the tour of India in February, and his first competitive fixture since taking a lengthy break during the English season to manage his mental health in the wake of a badly broken finger. He made scores of 5 and 14 in his two innings, and also reprieved David Warner with a no-ball, after over-stepping while bowling him in Australia’s first innings.”Having a long break is going to show itself I guess, but there are no excuses from me,” Stokes added. “I didn’t do anything whatsoever except take a catch and bowl a few no-balls, so the one positive is that I probably can’t get much worse than that.”Stokes’ ability to play as a frontline seamer is crucial to England’s hopes of balancing their attack, and may offer a reprieve to the spinner Jack Leach, whose 13 overs were hit for 102 runs in the first Test. His selection for that match was described by the former England left-armer Phil Tufnell as a “hospital pass”.Related

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England’s hopes of squaring the series at Adelaide may also be boosted by the impending recall of James Anderson, who claimed his first five-wicket haul in Australia in the corresponding day-night fixture four years ago, and who bowled for 40 minutes in the nets after sitting out the opening match.England have lost ten of their last 11 Tests in Australia, and have not won in the country since their victorious tour of 2010-11. No England team has bounced back from an opening Test defeat Down Under since Len Hutton’s men in 1954-55, but Stokes remains confident that they can buck the trend.”We have a good track record of bouncing back pretty well after a defeat early in a series,” Stokes added in his column. “We came back against South Africa to win, we came back against the West Indies last year to win, so we’ve done it before and we can do it again.”Now is not the time to panic. It is about keeping a clear head and staying calm and making sure that our cricket is at the level we want it to be.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras enfrenta a Ponte Preta, nesta quarta-feira, às 21h35, no Allianz Parque, pela primeira rodada do Paulistão-2022. A última vez que os times se encontraram foi no ano passado, também pelo estadual e aquela partida trouxe uma curiosidade interessante, que ajuda a entender o sucesso da base palmeirense, que acabou de conquistar sua primeira Copinha na última terça.Seis jovens campeões atuaram no Moisés Lucarelli naquela ocasião.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVídeoVÍDEO: veja os gols do Palmeiras na campanha do título da CopinhaVídeo25/01/2022Palmeiras‘Ofuscado’ pelo título da Copinha, profissional do Palmeiras encerra preparação para jogo com PontePalmeiras25/01/2022PalmeirasLeila volta a falar em responsabilidade e elogia gestão do futebol do Palmeiras após títuloPalmeiras25/01/2022

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2022 clicando aqui

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GALERIA
>Confira a duração dos contratos dos jogadores do Palmeiras na Copinha

Naquele dia 9 de maio de 2021, pela última rodada da fase de grupos do Campeonato Paulista, o Verdão ainda estava lutando pela classificação para o mata-mata. Além de precisar vencer a Macaca, tinha que torcer para o já classificado Corinthians vencer o Novorizontino na Neo Química Arena. Por incrível que pareça, o rival colaborou e saiu vitorioso com o placar de 2 a 1.

Vale lembrar que no Paulistão-2021, por conta do calendário apertado e de uma temporada grudada na outra, Abel Ferreira usou times bastante alternativos durante a competição. E mesmo precisando de uma vitória na última rodada da fase de grupos, ele não mudou a filosofia. Dessa forma, a escalação alviverde reuniu alguns nomes das categorias de base.

No time titular, além daqueles que já estavam integrados ao profissional desde a temporada anterior (Danilo e Wesley), Abel escalou três nomes da base: Michel, Vanderlan e Giovanni. Enquanto Fabinho, Gustavo Garcia e Pedro Bicalho saíram do banco de reservas na segunda etapa para ajudar a equipe a vencer por 3 a 0. Gustavo Scarpa foi o destaque, marcando um gol e dando duas assistências. Wesley e Willian Bigode anotaram os outros tentos.

A curiosidade é que pouco mais de nove meses depois dessa partida, o Palmeiras volta a encontrar a Ponte Preta, justamente um dia após Fabinho, Gustavo Garcia, Giovani, Pedro Bicalho e Vanderlan conquistarem o tão sonhado título da Copinha. Michel, não atuo por conta de lesão, mas estava inscrito e também está entre os campeões que entraram para a história.

Sendo assim, seis jovens que naquele dia ajudaram o Verdão a se classificar para o mata-mata do Paulistão estavam de volta para a categoria de base para levantarem a taça da tradicional competição para a garotada.

Nesse meio tempo, eles ainda fizeram parte do grupo que disputou as últimas três rodadas do Brasileirão-2021, com duas vitórias e um empate, quando o elenco principal estava de férias depois da Libertadores.

Essa curiosidade mostra que a “casca” que esses garotos da Copinha adquiriram nessas idas e vindas no profissional foi um dos diferenciais para a conquista. E isso também será essencial quando eles fizerem a transição definitiva para a equipe de cima, uma vez que não irão sentir tanto o impacto, principalmente por se tratar de um time estruturado e vencedor, que não jogará a responsabilidade dos resultados para cima desses meninos.

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When Brendan Rodgers rocked up back at Celtic last summer, few would have anticipated that a certain Liam Scales would emerge as a key figure under the Northern Irishman.

Signed from Shamrock Rovers for a reported fee of just £500k back in the summer of 2021, the promising centre-back went on to make just 13 appearances in all competitions during his debut season under Ange Postecoglou, having typically been deployed in a left-back berth.

That bit-part role ensured that Scales was then sent on loan to Aberdeen ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, with the move sparking controversy among Dons fans who had become weary of the procession of Celtic stars who had joined the club on a temporary basis.

To his credit, the “old-fashioned” defender – as described by then-boss Jim Goodwin – went on to more than prove his critics wrong at Pittodrie, ultimately making 39 appearances in all competitions, while notably netting a long-range stunner against Rangers.

A return to Aberdeen was subsequently mooted at the end of that fruitful season, although Scales has since managed to upset the odds by forcing his way into Rodgers’ first-team plans at Parkhead.

Liam Scales' record at Celtic

There was much upheaval in the centre-back ranks in Glasgow in the summer of 2023, with regular starter Carl Starfelt departing for Celta Vigo, while the youthful pairing of Gustaf Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki arrived from Elfsborg and Legia Warsaw, respectively. Nat Phillips was also plucked on loan from Liverpool late in the day.

With Yuki Kobayashi and Stephen Welsh also on the books at the time – behind nailed on first-choice, Cameron Carter-Vickers – it appeared difficult to see any route into the side for the returning Scales.

Amid injury disruption at the start of 2023/24, however, the Republic of Ireland international found himself in the starting lineup for the goalless draw away St Johnstone. In truth, he hasn’t looked back since.

While the likes of Lagerbielke, Kobayashi and Phillips have departed – with Nawrocki also something of a forgotten man after featuring just once this season – Scales has surpassed them all, nailing down a role alongside Carter-Vickers at the heart of the defence.

Rewarded with a new four-year deal back in May, the 26-year-old has now chalked up 68 games for the club across all fronts, while registering ten goal involvements in that time.

7 games (7 starts)

1 goal

0 assists

131.9 touches*

91% pass accuracy*

6 clean sheets

2.3 tackles & interceptions*

4.1 balls recovered*

77% total duels won*

78% aerial duels*

7.77 avg. match rating

The Dublin-born warrior is not without his limitations, but he’s quickly becoming a key figure for Rodgers and co. The hope will be that the Hoops can replicate that success with another star who is catching the eye out on loan.

Celtic can repeat Scales success

While there was a degree of luck involved in Scales’ rise, amid the litany of injuries at Parkhead at the time, the versatile defender no doubt benefitted from the chance to prove himself in the Premiership with the Dons.

Perhaps, promising midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu can do the same amid his second temporary stint away from Celtic at Hibernian, having previously spent time at St Mirren in the second half of last term.

Signed from Busan IPark last summer, the 23-year-old was unable to break into Rodgers’ side in the first-half of 2023/24, hence the decision to allow him to try his hand with the Saints.

Now on the books at Easter Road, the Korean – who has been dubbed a “great athlete” by Hibs boss, David Gray – has started five league games in a row and is beginning to showcase what he can do.

Previously descibed as a player who can offer “real composure on the ball”, as per Stephen Robinson, he has enjoyed a pass accuracy rate of 84% and averaged one key pass per game in the Premiership this season, as per Sofascore.

Also adept defensively, Kwon has also averaged 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premiership this season, while winning 69% of his aerial duels, with Gray noting that he has “done really well” in the centre of the park, alongside former Sunderland man, Nectarios Triantis.

It is still early days, but if the towering asset can maintain consistency for the Edinburgh outfit, he could well be an option to consider for Rodgers next season, particularly amid the lack of depth in that defensive midfield role, behind Callum McGregor.

Having witnessed the success of Scales who was previously out in the cold in Glasgow, Kwon can look to the Irishman as a reason for optimism in 2025.

Celtic have struck gold with Hoops ace who's similar to a £105m star

The Hoops maestro did not cost a penny when he joined the club.

ByDan Emery Oct 15, 2024

National League veteran Haydn Hollis showed his class by rouletting past Tottenham's Pape Matar Sarr and Timo Werner in the FA Cup.

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Article continues below

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• Tamworth took Spurs to extra time in FA Cup
• National League side earned huge credit
• Defender Hollis showed his class with spectacular skill

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  It took Premier League side Tottenham until extra time to breach National League opponents Tamworth, a team that had failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight games in all competitions before the FA Cup clash in Staffordshire. Much of their solid defending was done by Hollis, a 32-year-old with previous experience at Notts County and Forest Green. He even put on a show for the 5,000 people in the stadium by pulling out a sensational spin past Sarr and Werner, players who likely earn more in a week than Hollis does across an entire calendar year.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Those who did not watch the game may assume that Tamworth gave Tottenham's reserves a good game, but Ange Postecoglou selected a very strong starting XI. The likes of James Maddison, Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson all started, although Timo Werner was deployed as a striker and received some scathing reviews online for his performance.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Spurs will return to their multi-million-pound training complex to rest ahead of the north London derby against Arsenal on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Tamworth players will bottle their memories of the match before returning to work on Monday morning, as they balance life in the National League alongside full-time jobs.

Aston Villa have a fight on their hands to retain one of their up-and-coming talents, according to a new report.

The Midlands side return to Premier League action this weekend as they welcome Everton to Villa Park looking to make it three wins from their opening four games.

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He revealed he has high hopes for the youngster.

ByBen Browning Sep 10, 2024 Aston Villa eye Jonathan David

The Villans had a very busy summer, as Unai Emery was backed by the board with eight new additions, their most expensive capture being Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana. Despite the flurry of activity, Villa seemingly still have their eye on more transfer business they can conclude, but this one would be for next summer.

Amadou Onana

Everton

Ian Maatsen

Chelsea

Cameron Archer (now sold)

Sheffield United

Jaden Philogene

Hull City

Samuel Iling-Junior (now loaned)

Juventus

Lewis Dobbin (now loaned)

Everton

Enzo Barrenechea (now loaned)

Juventus

Ross Barkley

Luton Town

It has been reported that Aston Villa are one of the sides in the running to sign Jonathan David on a free transfer next summer. The Premier League side is said to have had contact with Lille this summer, but a move didn’t come to fruition. The striker is now in the final year of his contract with the French side, and he is yet to put pen to paper over a new deal, though he has indicated that he would be willing to do so.

If a new deal isn’t agreed, David will become a free agent next summer, and Emery is a big fan of the forward, and therefore, Villa could be in the running to sign him on a free transfer, but they are said to also face competition from Inter Milan. While Villa look into a deal for next summer, the club have a fight on their hands right now, as they look to tie down a striker already at the club to a new contract.

Aston Villa may lose young striker in cut-price exit

According to the BBC, Aston Villa remain in contract talks with striker Rory Wilson as they try to secure his long-term future at the club. The 18-year-old is in the final year of his contract at Villa Park, and he could leave for just £228,000 in compensation if he moves to a European club.

The Premier League side is said to have tabled several contract offers to the young striker worth five years, as they want to get the contract completed before the January transfer window.

If a deal cannot be agreed before January, Wilson will be able to speak to clubs outside of England and sign a pre-contract should he wish to do so. The report states that several European clubs are interested in signing Wilson, with one of those being Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Wilson was in phenomenal form last season for Villa and Scotland’s under-21s, as he scored 46 goals in 52 games in all competitions, but that form has failed to get him an appearance in the first team. The 18-year-old, who joined Villa in 2022 from Rangers, has started this season in great form once again, scoring one goal in three Premier League 2 matches and will be doing his best to get a chance in the first team at some point this season.

Chelsea has been the home to numerous elite-level talents over the years, with many capturing the hearts of the fanbase.

Didier Drogba was a striker who produced consistent moments of magic in the final third for the Blues, starring in the Champions League final back in 2012 – scoring the crucial equaliser before sliding home the winning penalty in the shootout.

John Terry is another player who’s cemented himself in the club’s history forever, making 546 appearances for his boyhood club over a 17-year period from 2000 to 2017.

He often featured alongside midfielder Frank Lampard, with the former England international still to this day the club’s record scorer after notching a total of 211 goals during his 13-year stint at Stamford Bridge.

However, in recent years, the club haven’t had as much success as they would’ve liked, with one player standing out as a fan-favourite after his own contribution to the football club.

Eden Hazard’s time at Chelsea

After joining the Blues in a £32m deal back in 2012, Eden Hazard arrived at Chelsea, unknown to many and loved by everyone, after his spell in West London.

The Belgian quickly caught the eye with his quick dribbling and his eye for goal, immediately becoming a fan-favourite at the Bridge.

No goal can quite sum up his talents other than his solo effort against Arsenal back in 2017, where the winger picked up the ball up in the middle of the park, before shrugging off numerous players before slotting home.

Arguably his best performance came in his final game for the club, scoring two against the Gunners in the Europa League final victory, before departing in a seismic £150m deal to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Whilst no fan wanted the star to depart the club, it was a move that made sense given his achievements for the Blues, allowing Hazard to go and feature at the very top level of European football.

Since his departure in 2019, the club have failed to sign an adequate replacement for the winger, but new boss Enzo Maresca could unearth his own version of the Belgian in the months ahead.

2012/13

62

13

21

2013/14

49

17

8

2014/15

52

19

12

2015/16

43

6

7

2016/17

43

17

7

2017/18

52

17

13

2018/19

52

21

17

Chelsea's next Eden Hazard

Mykhalio Mudryk has endured a tricky start to life at Chelsea, only scoring seven times in his 62 appearances following his £89m move to the club from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023.

He’s only started one league game under Maresca so far this season, struggling to cement his place in the side following the form of Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke – alongside new addition Pedro Neto.

As a result, Maresca could unleash youngster Kendry Paez upon his move to the Bridge, with the 17-year-old able to make his first appearance for the club on his 18th birthday in May – with the club forking out £17m for the talent last summer.

Despite his tender age, he’s already demonstrated that he’s a bigger talent than big-money signing Mudryk, whilst also being the perfect player to fill the boots of Hazard.

When comparing their respective stats from the last 12 months, youngster Paez has contributed with more goals and assists in fewer matches – whilst also averaging more progressive passes per 90 – demonstrating his talent in the final, potentially following in Hazard’s footsteps.

Games played

18

31

Goals + assists

9

7

Shot-creating actions

4.5

3.4

Progressive passes

6.1

2.6

Progressive carries

3.34

5.15

Pass accuracy

82%

68%

Carries into penalty area

2

1.3

Passes into final third

4.1

1.4

The Ecuadorian averaged more carries into the final third per 90, showcasing his dribbling ability, similar to that of the Belgian fan-favourite who loved to attack the opposition 1v1. He may register fewer progressive carries than a certain Mudryk but he still evidently excels in that area.

Although it’s still very early days in his professional career, Paez has shown that he has all the abilities to thrive in his career, hopefully being able to transfer his skills to Stamford Bridge upon his move in the coming months.

As for Mudryk, Paez’s move could spell the end of his time at the club, with the Ukrainian needing to demonstrate his talents between now and May to avoid losing his place to the 17-year-old.

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ByFreddie Taylor Oct 13, 2023