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Sam Kerr has suffered Olympic heartache, with an ACL injury preventing the Chelsea and Australia superstar from gracing Paris 2024.

Knee ligament damage suffered in JanuaryLong road to recovery being taken inUnable to form part of gold medal bidWHAT HAPPENED?

The 30-year-old forward suffered knee ligament damage during a training session with her WSL employers in January. A long road to recovery is being taken in, and that will extend beyond the start of a gold medal bid in July.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT AUSTRALIA SAID?

Announcing their squad for a trip to France, the Matildas said: "Attacker Amy Sayer (ACL) and forward Sam Kerr (ACL) remain on the sidelines with long-term injuries. Kerr and Sayer will continue their rehabilitation programs in their home club environments and subsequently will not be available for selection for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”

Head coach Tony Gustavsson added on having to get creative with some of his selections: “This window will be a tough one for me and my staff in terms of evaluating players, where they are, and then the final selection process for Paris.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Kerr is her country’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 64 efforts to her name. She has plundered 99 goals for Chelsea, while helping them to five WSL titles, and been nominated for the Ballon d’Or Feminin on an annual basis since that prize was first awarded in 2018.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Kerr has narrowly missed out on medals with Australia and the last Olympic Games in Tokyo and the 2023 World Cup, which took place Down Under, but is one of several leading figures in the women’s game – including the likes of Leah Williamson and Vivianne Miedema – to have suffered an ACL injury in recent times.

From the highs of reaching two cup finals and finishing third in the Premier League last season, Manchester United are currently mired in something of a crisis, following early exits from both the League Cup and the Champions League, as well as a shaky start in the top-flight.

With the 2023/24 campaign almost at its halfway point, the Red Devils find themselves firmly outside the top four having been consistently inconsistent to date, with questions no doubt being asked regarding Erik ten Hag’s long-term future in the dugout.

While the Dutchman must take a large chunk of the responsibility for his side’s failings this season, his players are certainly not exempt from blame, with far too many first-team figures having deeply underwhelmed over an extended period.

With that in mind, we at Football FanCast have put together our mid-season player ratings (out of 10) for the Old Trafford outfit. Only players to have started on more than five occasions have been included.

Goalkeepers Andre Onana

3 – While it is still early days in Andre Onana’s time in England, the David De Gea successor has certainly been a major issue thus far, with his embryonic United career littered with glaring mistakes. In Europe, in particular, the former Inter Milan man endured high-profile blunders galore, while conceding 15 times in just six group games. Grim.

Altay Bayindir

N/A – The Turkey international hasn’t yet been handed a chance to impress despite Onana’s woes, but the Cameroonian’s possible involvement at AFCON next month could allow him the opportunity to nail down a regular role for himself in the sticks.

Full-backs Diogo Dalot

6 – The jury is still out on whether Diogo Dalot is the man to nail down that right-back berth despite only recently signing a new long-term deal, notably enduring a particularly rough outing at St James’ Park – where he lost the ball 23 times. That being said, efforts like his late stunner against Sheffield United have shown that there is a quality player in there somewhere.

Aaron Wan Bissaka

6 – The Englishman has as ever been solid, yet unspectacular, having seen his involvement limited this season due to a hamstring injury.

Luke Shaw

6 – Like the man above, Luke Shaw has largely been on the sidelines in recent months, although has been a welcome return to the side in recent weeks, with Ten Hag hailing the way he “strengthens” the team.

Sergio Reguilon

5 – Brought in as an emergency loan signing on deadline day to cover for the loss of Shaw and Tyrell Malacia due to injury, the Tottenham Hotspur man has flattered to deceive in a United shirt thus far, with his high energy style often countered by his “poor” decision-making on the ball – as was noted by GOAL following the defeat to Bournemouth.

Centre-backs Harry Maguire

7 – Tipped for an exit and stripped of the captaincy over the summer, Harry Maguire’s recent resurgence has been one of the few positives this season, the 30-year-old only recently winning the Premier League’s Player of the Month award for November.

Raphael Varane

6 – As was evident at Anfield recently – in which the Frenchman was “immense”, according to journalist Sam Pilger – Varane is a real asset when at his best and was bizarrely overlooked by Ten Hag for a spell. That being said, the World Cup winner’s repeated spells on the treatment table continue to frustrate.

Lisandro Martinez

5 – Had played just six times before sustaining a foot injury that has kept him sidelined since September. A “warrior” last term – as per pundit Adrian Mariappa – the Argentine had looked shaky in the early weeks of the season as United slipped to three defeats from their opening five league games.

Victor Lindelof

6 – The experienced Swede remains an able deputy and even featured at left-back on occasion earlier in the campaign.

Jonny Evans

7 – It may appear a generous rating, but summer signing Jonny Evans has certainly exceeded expectations since his return to the club over the summer on a free transfer. The Northern Ireland international was particularly impressive in keeping Liverpool at bay last week, having been “outstanding” on the day – according to ex-United man, David May.

Midfielders Casemiro

5 – Like many this season, the Brazilian has been absent for a fair chunk of the campaign due to injury. A return is on the cards in the near future, yet Ten Hag will be looking for a vast improvement on his early season form, with the 31-year-old notably “torn to shreds” on the opening weekend against Wolverhampton Wanderers, in the words of Gary Neville.

Christian Eriksen

5 – Another only just making his way back from injury, Christian Eriksen has seen his impact limited this season after starting just six league games.

Mason Mount

5 – A return of no goals and only one assist is grim reading for a £55m summer signing, yet it feels too early to judge Mason Mount too harshly, amid his own injury woes.

Bruno Fernandes

6 – Not at his sparkling best by any means, yet a return of five goals and five assists from the United skipper is solid stuff indeed, with the Portuguese magician notably netting crucial winners against the likes of Burnley and Fulham.

Scott McTominay

7 – The doubts remain over the Scotland international’s quality on the ball, yet it is hard to argue with his impact in the final third this season, having netted six times in all competitions thus far – including that late show at home to Brentford.

Sofyan Amrabat

5 – “Off the pace” was how Peter Schmeichel described Amrabat’s performance in the Manchester Derby and that has set the tone for his early United career as a whole. Looks a long shot that the loanee will be snapped up permanently, on current evidence.

Kobbie Mainoo

7 – Still early days to award Kobbie Mainoo anything higher than a 7/10, but the signs so far are certainly exciting, with the “unreal” talent – as hailed by ex-teammate Anthony Elanga – looking like the Red Devils’ next poster boy.

Forwards Antony

4 – There have been signs of life from Antony of late, yet no goals and no assists this season in all competitions says everything there is to know. Time is running out for that £86m fee to be justified.

Alejandro Garnacho

7 – Deserves a high rating for that moment of magic alone at Goodison Park, with the teenager deservingly keeping Marcus Rashford out of the side of late.

Marcus Rashford

4 – Speaking of Rashford, the England international has seen his form nosedive since bagging 30 goals across all fronts last term, with his drop-off having arguably been one of the most frustrating and disappointing features of the campaign so far. Perhaps a new year could spark a much-needed revival for Ten Hag’s one-time talisman.

Anthony Martial

4 – With his contract running down after over eight years at Old Trafford, Anthony Martial continues to frustrate when he is called upon – notably producing an abject display away at Newcastle in which he was frequently berated by his own manager. An exit can’t come soon enough.

Rasmus Hojlund

5 – Still only 20, Rasmus Hojlund needs time to properly settle before he can truly be judged, although his goalscoring woes in the league are becoming a real concern. That being said, the Dane’s haul of five goals on the continent have provided a taster of what United can expect in the years to come.

Facundo Pellistri

5 – Just over three years on from signing, the diminutive Uruguayan remains a bit-part player having started just once in the league this season.

Jadon Sancho

N/A – A January exit for Jadon Sancho looks increasingly more likely by the day, having been exiled since his public spat with Ten Hag back in September. Such was his limp form prior to that – having scored just 12 goals in 82 games since arriving in 2021 – few have longed for his return to the senior set-up.

Manager Erik ten Hag Reporter shares what he’s heard on Erik ten Hag’s Man Utd future

Will Sir Jim Ratcliffe look to replace the Dutchman?

ByHenry Jackson Dec 17, 2023

4 – Still has credit in the bank after last season, yet that stock is swiftly tumbling. Has commendably held firm with the Sancho saga, yet a few head-scratching decisions – including his use of Varane in recent times – are hard to defend. Could be a big few months for the former Ajax boss, if he is to save his own skin, as well as the club’s troubling form.

Liverpool emerged from the Etihad Stadium without the bitter taste of defeat, with Jurgen Klopp's side battling hard to fight back and secure a point against Manchester City through Trent Alexander-Arnold's incisive equaliser.

The result in the Premier League means that the Reds remain just one point behind Pep Guardiola's outfit, though Arsenal have now taken pole position after defeating Brentford on Saturday.

While snapping the Citizen's 23-match winning run on home soil was galvanising and a massive step forward, it would be remiss not to acknowledge that Liverpool rode their luck at times and endured an erroneous affair at times.

However, Alexander-Arnold's goal was a product of the Anfield side's resilience and ruthlessness, two yardsticks of Liverpool's success under Klopp.

However, Darwin Nunez did not embody such values on the pitch and endured one of his tougher matches of the campaign, having performed so well for the most part after a testing 2022/23 term.

Darwin Nunez's performance vs Manchester City

Liverpool's £85m club-record signing arrived with great expectation last season after plundering 34 goals from 41 appearances during his final campaign in Portugal with Benfica.

The 24-year-old scored 15 times across all competitions but missed 20 big chances in the Premier League alone, with Klopp forced to stress that the Uruguayan's success on Merseyside is a "long-term project".

Well, he's certainly raised his game since the summer and has landed a direct goal contribution every 80 minutes this season, but against Manchester City, the £140k-per-week forward failed to grasp his opportunities – handed a poor 4/10 match rating via GOAL after the contest.

Nunez was lively against the treble winners and did take four shots, but he failed to inspire with any meaningful efforts, took just 25 touches and lost both of his contested ground duels, as per Sofascore.

He will need to build on his better displays this season and prove himself as the ruthless figure up front that Klopp can rely on to finish off the lightning-quick breaks that have become a trademark over the past several years.

It was always going to be one of the trickier contests of the calendar, however, and there is plenty of cause for optimism given the discernible improvements since the summer.

The bigger quandary that Klopp and co will now be wrestling with will be working out the perfect partner for Dominik Szoboszlai in the midfield, with Curtis Jones also enduring an ineffective afternoon in Manchester.

Curtis Jones' game vs Manchester City in numbers

Jones has been one of Liverpool's unsung heroes in 2023, emerging as a centrepiece of the side's resurgence in the later phase of the 2022/23 season and starting all 11 of the Reds' culminating league fixtures, leading one analyst & scout to remark at his "complete" skill set.

He'd been crucial in the current campaign's early phase for a contentious dismissal against Tottenham Hotspur in September, with The Athletic's James Pearce noting the "flying" start that had yielded a 93% pass success rate in the Premier League, as per Sofascore.

But, on his return against City, the 22-year-old did not enjoy his finest hour and was indeed hooked after just 54 minutes, having taken just 34 touches, made just one tackle and failed to create a single key pass.

Nunez might have been branded with a 4/10 score but the Englishman was handed a lowly 3/10 match rating by GOAL, with Tom Maston writing: 'Gave the ball away on far too many occasions as City's midfield looked to swarm him and force him into mistakes. Replaced by Gravenberch early in the second half.'

Jones is a composed, intelligent midfielder and will play a key part for his outfit over the coming months, but when considering the impact that Ryan Gravenberch made off the bench, it's hard to argue against the Dutchman's claims for a regular starting berth.

Ryan Gravenberch must start for Liverpool

Liverpool completed the £34m transfer of Gravenberch from German giants Bayern Munich in August to complete Klopp's midfield overhaul this summer, and he has since been hailed as “unbelievable” by former Reds midfielder Didi Hamann, who spoke with incredulity over Die Roten's failure to bring out his best attributes.

The £150k-per-week midfielder only earned three Bundesliga starts and clinched just one goal and one assist, though, since his move to Merseyside, he has already bagged four direct contributions, dubbed a "special player" by Liverpool coach Pep Lijnders.

#

Player

Club

1

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

2

Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool

3

Khephren Thuram

OGC Nice

4

Conor Gallagher

Chelsea

5

Joelinton

Newcastle

*Sourced via FBref

Very much the all-encompassing midfielder, Gravenberch ranks within the top 20% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, shot-creating actions, pass completion, progressive passes, progressive carries, successful take-ons, interceptions and blocks per 90, as per FBref.

Brought into the action in the second half (for Jones), the 11-cap Netherlands international played an important part in Liverpool's equaliser after gliding up the pitch into the danger area, forcing the hosts into a defensive structure that was swiftly breached.

In his second-half cameo, Gravenberch made a key pass and impressed with his positivity, with Maston writing that he made 'some good defensive interventions from the Netherlands international after coming on for Jones', which showcases the multi-functionality of this dynamic ace.

Described as a "Rolls-Royce" by journalist Declan Carr, the 6 foot 2 whiz looks increasingly influential in the engine room and is willing to carry the ball forward with penetrative effectiveness to ensure the Reds have a steady, reliable offensive threat from deep, complementing the likes of Mohamed Salah and Nunez in the final third.

The very fact that Klopp now boasts multiple options in the centre of the park will be most pleasing after last year's struggles; indeed, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara have been plagued with injury all season and will hope to make an impact after the new year.

But Gravenberch is staking a claim for a prominent position to rival the most cemented stars in the squad, and after returning to action in style at the Etihad, Gravenberch must now be unleashed from the outset over the crucial coming matches in the Premier League.

Aston Villa could decide to make a move for a new central talisman should they lose Douglas Luiz in January, according to a reliable journalist.

Arsenal's interest in Douglas Luiz

NSWE, Monchi and Unai Emery will be aware that Arsenal are long-term admirers of Luiz, but he’s also been attracting significant interest from Manchester City and Liverpool ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

The Midlands outfit are adamant that they won’t be entertaining offers from any of his potential suitors no matter the size in the new year, as per the same outlet, but should they receive a bid they can’t refuse, they will have to enter the market to find a suitable replacement.

Latest Aston Villa transfer news: Unai eyes £40m deal; Saudi club want star

It’s a huge summer for Aston Villa and Unai Emery as they prepare for the Champions League.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 11, 2024

Manchester City defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips first joined Pep Guardiola’s side from Leeds United last summer, but it’s fair to say that he’s remained significantly low down in the pecking order during his time so far at the Etihad Stadium.

The England international has made zero starts and just four substitute appearances this season in the Premier League (WhoScored – Philips statistics), showing how out of favour he is, and the 27-year-old’s situation has alerted chiefs that there’s a chance he could be available for transfer in January.

Aston Villa monitoring Kalvin Phillips

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Neil Moxley suggested that Aston Villa could sign Phillips if they were to sell Luiz, but he made it clear that his arrival could force the manager to slightly alter his style of play.

“I think they would. The only slight sort of drawback to that would be that Emery would probably be playing with a defensive two in front of his back four, and he does sort of do that with Luiz and Boubacar Kamara at the moment, but Luiz is allowed to move a little bit more forward.

“Phillips is, as we know, a defensive midfielder, he gets and gives the ball from side to side and he doesn't really venture forward too much. His defensive capabilities are what's got him the move to Manchester City.

“Do I see it as being a natural fit? If Phillips was to go to Aston Villa, it may need a tweak in the tactics which are being deployed.”

Phillips is a "Rolls Royce" in the centre

Over the last 365 days, Phillips ranks in the 99th percentile for pass completion by midfielders, so he’s extremely calm and composed in possession, whilst also listing in the 95th percentile for clearances, proving he isn’t afraid to get stuck in and get rid of the danger before it reaches his backline (FBRef – Phillips statistics).

Guardiola’s £150k-per-week earner (Man City salaries), is capable of operating in three positions in the midfield alongside as a centre-back at the heart of the defence, so his versatility means that he would be able to easily adapt to the demands of Emery.

The “Rolls Royce” England international, as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting, even shares the same representative, CAA Stellar, as Ezri Konsa and Bertrand Traore (Aston Villa agents), so this existing connection that his management already have to the club could give the board a small advantage should they try to get a deal over the line in January.

Aston Villa are now eyeing their latest ambitious swoop in the transfer market as Unai Emery looks to strengthen his squad for a tilt at Champions League qualification, according to a report.

Aston Villa continue to shine…

This term, Aston Villa have once again proved to be one of the most entertaining sides in the Premier League as they continue to go from strength to strength under Spanish coach Emery, netting the second-most goals in the division with 29 strikes, only being bettered by Manchester City.

With 12 games gone, the Villans have racked up an impressive 25 points from 36 available and will be hoping to continue their positive run of form on Sunday; however, Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur will provide a stern test of their capabilities in N17.

Heading into the January window, Aston Villa will once again be keen to bolster their ranks in key areas after the additions of Nicolo Zaniolo, Moussa Diaby, Clement Lenglet, Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres in the summer. According to reports, acquiring another final third threat is high on Emery's agenda in the New Year, with Athletic Club attacker Inaki Williams now emerging as a potential target for the Villans as they aim to add some extra firepower.

Outgoings will undoubtedly also be part of Aston Villa's plans in January; however, The Evening Standard claim that Emery is desperate to keep hold of Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz, who is attracting interest from Premier League high-flyers Arsenal as they try to compensate for Thomas Partey's absence. Mohamed Elneny is also set to join up with Egypt for the upcoming African Cup of Nations; nevertheless, Luiz is viewed as a pivotal part of the furniture at Villa Park.

Aston Villa's recent results – all competitions

Opponent & result

Venue

Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham

Villa Park

Aston Villa 2-1 AZ Alkmaar

Villa Park

Nottingham Forest 2-0 Aston Villa

City Ground

Aston Villa 3-1 Luton Town

Villa Park

AZ Alkmaar 1-4 Aston Villa

AFAS Stadion

Instead of losing ground in the engine room, Emery could now be set to bring in another body to help boost his options, according to a report.

Aston Villa keen on Bryan Cristante

According to TV Play, Aston Villa are one of a number of clubs interested in Roma's Bryan Cristante, who could be attainable if a proposal is put forward for his services worth more than €30 million.

Nevertheless, Aston Villa will need to fend off stiff competition to sign the Italy international, as Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are also courting him. The Villans could have an advantage in negotiations, though, as president of football operations, Monchi, played a role in facilitating his transfer from Atalanta to Roma in 2019.

Attracting the attention of Emery, Cristante has gone on to be a key player for Roma during his time at the Stadio Olimpico, registering 13 goals and 16 assists in 244 appearances for the Serie A giants (Cristante statistics – Transfermarkt).

Described as a player who is "under-estimated" by Roma director Tiago Pinto, Cristante has made his presence known on the field this term, completing an average of 1.8 tackles and 1.8 clearances per match in the Italian top-flight (Cristante statistics – WhoScored).

Conceivably, Cristante could add some extra bite to an already stacked Aston Villa midfield as they aim to go to the next level in the near future.

Finals can often become turgid one-sided affairs. The final of the Coca Cola Champions Trophy at the CBFS Stadium in Sharjah could not have been more one-sided. However, what it lacked in competitiveness it made up for in sheer, undulated drama. Seldom can Sharjah have seen such scenes.Sri Lanka defeated India by 245 in one of their most intimidating performances in the history of Sri Lankan cricket. The architect was, Sanath Jayasuriya, who rescued an innings that was dipping into the doldrums, with a breathtaking 189 from just 161 balls, the second equal highest score in the history of one-day international cricket.Then, with India needing to score a mammoth 300 runs to win, the Sri Lanka bowlers ripped through the top order. Within 24 balls, both Tendulkar (5) and Ganguly (3) were left brooding in the dressing room. India’s chances of winning had been squashed and any self-belief that had previously lingered had now vanished.The Indian middle order capitulated. The only batsman to reach double figures was Robin Singh (11) and India were bowled out for just 54 runs. This was the lowest total ever in the history of one-day cricket in Sharjah and the third lowest in the world.Chaminda Vaas finished with a career best 5 for 14 from his 9.3 overs. Both he and Zoysa bowled aggressively, perhaps fuelled by the inspirational batting of their captain. Everything they did appeared to bring dividends.Ganguly, Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh (3) all played too early and were caught in front of the wicket. Vinod Kambli (3) was brilliantly caught at slip by Jayasuriya, and Zoysa picked up his first wicket when Badani (9) top edged a pull shot straight to Russel Arnold. India were 5 wickets down for 30 and Mutiah Muralitharan had not even marked out his run.When he did, it brought instantaneous success. His third ball, a fizzing, dipping off spinner clean bowled Dahiya (4). Then, in his next over, an arm ball deceived Robin Singh and he too was bowled. To add insult to injury Sunil Joshi was run out in school boyish fashion before Muralitharan and Vaas wrapped up the innings.The batting was piteous, of that there can be no doubt. However, it was the innings of Sanath Jayasuriya that sapped the self-belief of the Indians, and, ultimately was responsible for Sri Lanka winning their fifth match in succession and securing their second triangular tournament title in five months.Sri Lanka were on the ropes. After a brisk start the Indian fast bowlers had fought back and the run-rate had slowed. When Kumar Sangkkara flayed nonchalantly at Tendulkar and dragged the ball onto to his stumps, Sri Lanka were 116 for 4 in the 28th over. The batting became subdued and the running nervy.However, crucially, Sanath Jayasuriya, was still at he crease and he was joined by Russel Arnold, who exerted a calming influence upon his leader. The pair rescued the innings. Arnold was content to nurdle the ball into the gaps to give Jayasuriya the strike.From the very first delivery he faced, which was dispatched to the cover fence, he missed no opportunity offered. His iron wrists and bulging forearms created immense power in his shots and he hit four sixes and 21 boundaries in total.When he reached his century he ran amok, scoring 89 runs from 43 balls and took the game away from India. Ganguly admitted as much afterwards: “We are really disappointed. We had reduced them to 116 for 4 but, then, Sanath batted brilliantly and batted us out of the game. All credit should go to him.”During the carnage, somewhere in the outfield lurked a distraught Sunil Joshi. He had committed the cardinal sin of dropping Jayasuriya when he had made just 93. The left arm spinner had just been recalled into the attack after a miserly first spell of seven overs for 21 runs. Jayasuriya shimmied up the wicket and offered the bowler a relatively simple catch. So confident was Joshi off catching it that his arms flew, prematurely, into the air in celebration. Alas, the ball remained on the turf and with it disappeared India’s chance of winning the match.Unsurprisingly, Jayasuriya dominated the awards ceremony and made a small fortune for his troubles. He won the best batsman, best fielder, fastest fifty, most sixes, the man of the man match and, finally, the man of the series.When interviewed afterwards, he was his normal modest self, albeit with a brighter twinkle in the eye: “We have played as a team throughout the tournament and that is why we have won all fours games. It has been fantastic and I would like to thank all the players for being so supportive.”Murali too, paid tribute to the team ethic: “I am of course happy to have broken the world record, but I have to thank the team because without them it not have been done. I feel that I am bowling the best that I ever have and am really enjoying it.”They are right of course. The key to this Sri Lankan team has been the togetherness. The team play together, live together and enjoy each others company. They consider themselves, not individuals, but part of a whole. It is a state that Ganguly would dearly love to re-create.

Arsenal may now be "willing to pay" market value for one club's "incredible" striker as a possible alternative to heavily-linked Brentford star Ivan Toney.

Will Arsenal sign a striker?

One gaping hole in Mikel Arteta's side, as widely believed, is the lack of a world-class centre-forward. While the Gunners are currently joint-top with north London rivals Tottenham on points, winning six out of a possible eight and remaining unbeaten in the Premier League, many of their victories have come through narrow one-goal margins. The title hopefuls, as a result, are eyeing up a new striker for 2024.

While some reports, like one from Football Transfers this week, have suggested that Arteta prefers to sign an alternative to Bukayo Saka – the vast majority have claimed that Toney is of real interest to Arsenal and a January move is possible. The Englishman, who scored 20 league goals, would seriously bolster Arteta's ranks and some pundits like TV journalist Piers Morgan say that the club's supporters are "kidding themselves" if they think Arsenal don't need a forward.

“I think that in January we have to go and get Ivan Toney or someone like him because we need a proper striker," said Morgan.

“Every Arsenal fan knows this and I think we’ve been kidding ourselves for too long that we can exist without one and the truth is that we can’t.”

Dusan Vlahovic transfer update

However, while links continue to surround a move for Toney, that isn't to say there are no alternatives. Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who's started this season with real aplomb, is one name to be mentioned recently. A report from Tutto Juve and journalist Massimo Pavan, sharing the latest Vlahovic transfer update, has claimed that Arsenal (and sporting director Edu Gaspar by extension) may now be "willing to pay" the Serbia international's market value of around £70 million to get a deal done.

However, there is some bad news for supporters concerning this, as Vlahovic's club are set to demand much more money than this. Indeed, a figure of around £90 million could even be the yard stick according to this report. Given Vlahovic's start to the new Serie A campaign, this is hardly surprising, as the former Fiorentina star has already scored four goals in six league appearances already this season.

Former Juve star turned commentator, Massimo Mauro, has also called the young striker "incredible" and "like he has always been" in Turin with the Old Lady.

Direct free-kicks

Offside awareness

Long shots

Defensive contribution

Finishing

Discipline

“Vlahovic is incredible," exclaimed Mauro to TUTTOmercatoWEB (via the Juventus official website).

"It almost seems like he has always been there, he hasn’t undergone the change of environment at all like it happened in Florence also in Turin, he takes the field and scores goals. And now Juve is starting to scare again, if the others continue to take pauses for reflection, the Bianconeri are ready to return fully for the title fight.”

The match provides Malan a chance to find some form ahead of the Test series while Sam Curran also leaves the one-day squad to face India A at New Road

Andrew McGlashan15-Jul-2018

James Vince walks off after making 171 from 126 balls•Getty Images

James Vince has been called up to England’s one-day squad for the deciding match against India at Headingley with Dawid Malan released to take up his place in the Lions side, to face India A in a four-day match at New Road, ahead of the Test series against India next month.Sam Curran, the Surrey allrounder, has also been let go from the one-day side to face India A which he was originally selected for. He made his debut against Pakistan at Headingley and further opportunity could arise when Ben Stokes is unavailable because of his trial in Bristol which starts the day after the first Test is due to finish.Malan is likely to feature in the middle order although he is under some pressure after two lean Tests against Pakistan where he made 46 runs in three innings. Since that series finished in early June, Malan has only played five matches – all for Middlesex – and his last four innings across various formats have been 0, 0, 2 and 0 including a pair in the pink-ball Championship match against Kent.He had been called into the one-day squad on the day of the first match after Alex Hales injured his side. After the England Lions game he has a Championship fixture against Warwickshire – there is a round of matches shoe-horned in amid the ongoing T20 Blast – before the Test series against India begins on August 1.England Lions team to face India A

Rory Burns (capt), Alastair Cook, Nick Gubbins, Dawid Malan, Ollie Pope, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Dom Bess, Matt Fisher, Jack Leach, Jamie Porter

As was the case with Malan, Vince won’t feature unless there is an injury to one of England’s top order ahead of the match on Tuesday but his call-up is acknowledgment for an impressive Royal London Cup campaign where he made 527 runs and captained Hampshire to the title.Vince, who lost his Test place at the start of the season, played the last of his five ODIs back in 2016 on the tour of Bangladesh when Hales and Eoin Morgan both opted out of the trip due to security concerns.He has been selected ahead of Sam Billings, who has been a regular part of the one-day squad but made precious few appearances. He was left out after the series against Australia and said there had been discussions between him and national selector Ed Smith that it was better to get a run of matches for Kent rather than carry the drinks for England. Billings has since found some form with 75 in the Royal London final and a T20 career-best of 95 not out, both against Vince’s Hampshire.There remains the possibility that there is one batting berth up for grabs in England’s World Cup squad next year with Billings, Vince and Malan perhaps in a three-way tussle.Surrey’s Rory Burns will captain England Lions against India A – a side that will also feature Alastair Cook and Chris Woakes – with a chance to further press his claims for Test selection. He is the leading run-scorer across all Championship cricket with 722 runs at 65.63 and could be the next man in line for a chance at the top of the order if another change is needed.Keaton Jennings was recalled in place of Mark Stoneman for the second Test against Pakistan, so will likely start the series against India, but Burns is breathing down his neck along with Nick Gubbins who is also part of the Lions side.

Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic claimed that Jadon Sancho was 'dissatisfied' even after scoring his maiden goal of the season.

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• Terzic revealed he spoke to Sancho
• Sancho was 'dissatisfied' after scoring maiden goal
• Sancho returned to Dortmund on loan in January

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The English winger netted his maiden goal since returning to Dortmund on loan from Manchester United as he scored in the club's 2-1 win over Werder Bremen during the weekend. After the game, manager Terzic addressed Sancho's issues as he claimed that the player was 'dissatisfied' even after picking up his first goal.

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• WHAT EDIN TERZIC SAID

  Speaking to reporters, the Dortmund boss said: "In the last few days and weeks, I’ve gotten many, many questions about why he isn’t where he was yet. For us, it makes complete sense if you take into account what his last 12 months looked like, and yet last week he was very dissatisfied and there was a long conversation.

  "After the game, he was dissatisfied because he said he lost the ball too many times, especially in the second half, and that’s what I like about him. He is not just focusing on his goal but taking in the entire performance. Even though he hadn’t scored in the last few weeks, we’ve seen that he’s well on his way there. We know he’s not 100 per cent yet but we’ll get him there."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Earlier, Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl had blamed Manchester United for Sancho's poor run of form while praising the player's performance against Bremen. Kehl claimed that getting banished from the squad earlier in the season had affected the 23-year-old performance and went on to compare his absence from the pitch to suffering an ACL injury.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JADON SANCHO?

  The Red Devils loanee will be next seen in action in the Champions League on Wednesday as the Bundesliga side take on Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in the second leg of their round of 16 clash.

It has been reported that a "phenomenal" Tottenham Hotspur player is now "at odds" with the club, and he is currently working to leave.

What's the latest Spurs transfer news?

Despite the signings of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, assured defender Micky van de Ven, England midfield star James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon, exciting striker Alejo Veliz and Wales forward Brennan Johnson over the summer transfer window, Lilywhites bosses apparently have their eyes on January.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has seriously impressed over his first six Premier League matches as manager, with his side currently boasting an early-season unbeaten streak. Indeed, the north Londoners have won four out of their opening six league games and stand out as one of the division's highest-scoring sides. Next up, Tottenham battle fellow high-flyers Liverpool on home turf tomorrow – a match which is shaping up to be a very interesting encounter.

However, their success on the field could well be hampered by potential injuries to star players. A scare surrounding Maddison this week highlights this in particular, and you could argue there are few options behind fellow summer signing van de Ven if the defender were to be sidelined. Potentially as a result, chairman Daniel Levy and new Chief Football Officer Scott Munn are reportedly considering targets for the winter window.

The likes of Gleison Bremer (Juventus) and Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth) have been mooted as targets by the press, while Spurs could also allegedly move for Brentford star Ivan Toney.

Who could leave Tottenham?

To make room for these potential new additions, it is believed that a fair few fringe squad members may well depart. The likes of Giovani Lo Celso and Ivan Perisic, despite their injury woes, are being tipped to leave when the transfer window reopens for business.

Eric Dier, who is yet to play a single minute for Postecoglou this season, is another who could make way as there have been reports of serious interest from Roma. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, regardless of his status as a real mainstay under Antonio Conte last season, is another apparently eyeing the exit door.

The Dane has struggled for regular starting places under Postecoglou, as he doesn't quite fit in to the Australian's new-look system, with Calciomercato providing an update on his future.

According to the Italian news outlet, Hojbjerg is "at odds with Tottenham", with both the player and his agents putting feelers out to various clubs across Europe. This would allow the midfielder to "say goodbye" to Tottenham, and Juventus are named as a possible destination for him.

However, due to their financial problems, they cannot afford Spurs' £26 million asking price. They are hopeful that a loan can be negotiated through representatives, as Juve won't be able to afford a permanent deal unless "excellent sales" are made – according to the report.

Hojbjerg stood out as one of Spurs' best-performing players per 90 last season, according to WhoScored. The 28-year-old also bagged four goals and five assists in that time, with Jose Mourinho previously calling him a "phenomenal player".