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Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hoping to put their disappointment at losing to Coventry City in the FA Cup behind them as they return to Premier League action this weekend.

They face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday evening and the tie promises to be an exciting one. Gary O’Neil will be missing a few players, however, as Pedro Neto and Hwang Hee-Chan will both be unavailable for the match this weekend due to injury.

Matheus Cunha, Craig Dawson and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde are also struggling with injuries, but they will be assessed over the next couple of days to see whether they could play a part or not.

Suffering injuries at this stage of the season is unavailable, but O’Neil will be hoping it does not steer the Old Gold off track. The former Bournemouth manager must wish he could call on some of the players he currently has out on loan in order to fill the gaps in his first-team squad.

How Wolves’ players are doing out on loan

O’Neil shipped out a few fringe players during the summer and winter windows on temporary deals for them to gain some much-needed game time.

Daniel Podence is currently shining for Olympiakos this term, scoring 12 goals and chipping in with eight assists for the Greek side this season, indicating that he could have a part to play for Wolves next season.

Fabio Silva has scored four goals during his spell at Glasgow Rangers, while Luke Cundle has impressed in the Championship this term, spending time at both Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City.

Wolves players currently out on loan

Player

Club they are playing for currently

Goncalo Guedes

Villarreal

Daniel Podence

Olympiakos

Fabio Silva

Rangers

Yerson Mosquera

Villarreal

Sasa Kalajdzic

Eintracht Frankfurt

Luke Cundle

Stoke City

Ki-Jana Hoever

Stoke City

Chiquinho

Famalicao

Bendequz Bolla

Servette FC

Joe Hodge

QPR

Chem Campbell

Wycombe Wanderers

Louie Moulden

Northampton Town

Via Transfermarkt

These two youngsters could force their way into contention next season, especially if O’Neil gives them a consistent run in the starting XI.

The Old Gold have a plethora of attacking options at their disposal, but it looks as though the English coach needs to invest in some more defenders ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Yerson Mosquera is currently with Villarreal until the end of the season, but there is no doubt the Colombian has what it takes to be a long-term option for O’Neil at the heart of his defence.

Yerson Mosquera’s statistics for Villarreal

When it was clear that first-team football was going to be hard to come by at Wolves, the defender joined the La Liga side on a deal until the end of the season.

"Yerson had a fantastic loan at Cincinnati, being one of the highest performing centre-backs in the league,” said Matt Hobbs, current sporting director at the club.

"What we've seen really excites us for next season. It was a difficult decision, as we could have kept him around, but we wanted him to get a bit more football week in, week out, ready to come back and fight for a starting spot next season."

The move made sense and since arriving in Spain, the youngster has made nine appearances, scoring against Marseille in the Europa League last 16 defeat earlier this month.

Despite only arriving in January, the Colombian currently ranks in the top ten in the squad for accurate passes per game and clearances per game, proving he has already made a positive impact on the team.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed the centre-back as “dominant” back in 2021 when he was making his breakthrough with Atlético Nacional in his homeland.

With Craig Dawson coming to the end of his career, could there be a space for Mosquera in the starting XI next season alongside Toti Gomes?

Toti Gomes’ statistics for Wolves this season

Gomes was another centre-back at the club who was underused prior to O’Neil arriving. This season has seen the Portugease titan become a mainstay in the starting XI, improving with every game.

Not only does he rank third among his teammates for accurate passes per game (38.3), but the 25-year-old also ranks fifth for tackles per game (1.4) and fourth for interceptions per game (0.8), showcasing his defensive abilities in what has been a solid campaign for the Old Gold thus far.

The centre-back has also displayed excellent attacking statistics. When compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Gomes currently ranks in the top 4% for assists per game (0.11), the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90 (0.81) and the top 8% for progressive passes received per 90 (0.99), indicating his love of taking opposition players on while showing intent in getting into more advanced positions on a regular basis.

These attributes have stood him in good stead so far this season, making 32 appearances for Wolves, scoring once, and grabbing three assists, ensuring he could be a long-term partner for the returning Mosquera.

O'Neil typically utilises a three-man defence which could see the Colombian slot in for Dawson next season, especially as the Englishman will be 34 years old at the start of the campaign.

Last season for FC Cincinnati, Mosquera was outstanding at the heart of their defence. Not only did he win a staggering 7.1 total duels per game – a success rate of 61% – but he also helped his team keep nine clean sheets, made 1.8 tackles per game along with being dribbled past just 0.7 times per match, fully demonstrating his physical strength and defensive nous.

Combine this with Toti’s penchant for moving the ball forward from the back and advancing forward whenever possible, it looks as though O’Neil has an ideal defensive partnership just waiting to be unleashed next season.

While he may like to delve into the transfer market to bring another centre-back into the squad, the return of the 22-year-old from his loan spell could be like a new signing, as the old cliché goes.

There is no doubt he needs a run in the team to see if he can handle Premier League football, but his performances for Villarreal this term suggest that playing in the English top flight shouldn’t faze him in the slightest.

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Posts ByRoss Kilvington Mar 22, 2024

Liverpool have looked like Premier League title challengers for some time but face a problem in that Manchester City and Arsenal are also relentlessly fighting for domestic gold.

Jurgen Klopp's side have the lead after 24 matches but their rivals are just two points behind – with City holding a game in hand as they look to defend their title.

With a trip to London to face Brentford next up in the division, the Merseysiders know that anything other than three points could be detrimental, but they will have to do it with a host of injuries threatening disruption.

Liverpool team news vs Brentford

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai have both been ruled out of this afternoon's fixture, while Thiago Alcantara is nowhere near a return after re-injuring himself during his cameo against Arsenal a few weeks back.

In brighter news, however, Mohamed Salah has been in full training this week and is in contention, with Alisson Becker and Joe Gomez recovering from illness and Conor Bradley returning from compassionate leave.

Ibrahima Konate is also likely to feature from the outset after missing last weekend's 3-1 victory over Burnley due to suspension, while Wataru Endo may well retain his starting berth at the anchor of the midfield.

Why Wataru Endo must start vs Brentford

Liverpool were far from their best against imperilled Burnley but quality prevailed and victory was secured, and while the frontline caught the eye with their attacking efforts, Endo's return from international duty with Japan cannot be understated.

Wataru Endo's Performance vs Burnley
Stat	#
Minutes played	89'
Touches	84
Pass completion	88%
Key passes	2
Duels won	9/21
Tackles	4
Source: Sofascore

Handed a 7/10 match rating by the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle, Endo kept it crisp in the engine room and tidied up nicely for the Anfield side, completing 88% of his passes, winning nine duels and making two key passes for his teammates, as per Sofascore.

He might not have the silkiness of Alexis Mac Allister but the 31-year-old sure knows how to break up play and hold the midfield together, once dubbed a "proper warrior and leader" by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard.

Given that Brentford's Ivan Toney is fit and firing once again, having posted three goals from four matches since his anticipated return from suspension last month, Endo must be on the top of his game, taking control in the centre of the park and inhibiting the England international from receiving service and space in key areas.

It's worth noting that while Toney is a high-class centre-forward, admired by many top outfits, he is not the most accurate with his distribution and has completed just 53% of his passes in the Premier League this season.

While this is largely down to his creativity and unceasing urge to make things happen, the 5 foot 10 Endo can negate his threat by stamping out the opportunities that come his way.

A collective effort will be needed for Klopp's side to win, with Bradley required to pick up from where he left off last month to ensure that Alexander-Arnold's absence is not sorely felt.

The 20-year-old right-back has been in electric form of late and plundered a goal and five assists during a bewildering run of form in January, and he will be important against a Brentford rearguard that will stand resilient and obstinate in its attempt to swat the Reds away.

But Liverpool want that title and one would think that if the likes of Endo and Bradley are on their a-game, strengthening the base and allowing the devastating frontline to wreak havoc, victory will be secured.

West Ham United chairman David Sullivan and the club's board could now move to offer a 34-year-old a player-coach role at Rush Green.

Moyes future remains unresolved at West Ham

Just when manager David Moyes was beginning to ease the pressure on himself with back-to-back Premier League wins, West Ham unfortunately lost the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie on Thursday evening.

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Freiburg snatched a 1-0 win over West Ham in Germany, giving Moyes' side the task of turning over their deficit if they're to reach the quarter-finals and potentially go on another impressive run. Moyes was vocal in his praise for West Ham's record in Europe before their defeat to Freiburg, but the Scotsman was in less good spirits when commenting on his side's denied last-gasp penalty appeal.

"If we'd had it given against us, we'd probably think it was harsh, but ultimately I have to say what are you doing with your hands above your head?" said Moyes on West Ham's denied penalty against Freiburg.

West Ham's best-performing players in the league this season

Match Rating (via WhoScored)

James Ward-Prowse

7.15

Mohammed Kudus

7.14

Lucas Paqueta

7.14

Jarrod Bowen

7.09

Tomas Soucek

6.97

"They are trying to claim there might have been a slight push and that's why it wasn't given – but they should have restarted the game with a free-kick if they said it was a push. It certainly wasn't enough of a push to warrant a free-kick, so that shouldn't mean that it should even come into consideration. The boy has two arms above his head.

"In the Premier League, I am not sure that would be given, but in UEFA competitions in Europe they're normally given by the referees. I watch Spanish football and German football and nearly every handball is seen. If you think of the one we had against Kurt [Zouma at Everton] the other day, but we just have to take it and move on."

This defeat abroad perhaps reminds the Hammers hierarchy of an imminent decision facing them over Moyes' future. The 60-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season, and there have been reports that West Ham are assessing alternatives to Moyes.

In the meantime, though, it is believed Sullivan and co are plotting another staff change.

West Ham could offer Aaron Cresswell player-coach role

According to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, defender Aaron Cresswell could be set for quite the promotion.

Indeed, as per their information, West Ham could offer Cresswell a player-coach role to remain at the London Stadium past 2023/2024. The left-back has been a wonderful servant for West Ham over his near-decade-long spell, and with his contract expiring this summer, it is believed the Irons may offer him a route into staying for the foreseeable.

The former Ipswich Town defender has been a bit-part member of Moyes' squad this season, playing just four league games.

One Rangers player is set to leave Ibrox this week after an agreement was reached outside of the UK transfer window, according to new reports.

Rangers’ January window

The Gers and Philippe Clement were active in the winter window, with three new players arriving on loan for the remainder of the season. Fabio Silva, Mohamed Diomande and Oscar Cortes all moved to Glasgow from Wolves, Nordsjaelland and Lens respectively.

Meanwhile, there were some departures with Sam Lammers joining FC Utrecht on loan and Adam Devine heading to Motherwell for the second half of the season. Ibrox icon Barry Ferguson is happy with the club’s January business, though, saying:

“I’m quietly pleased with what I’ve been seeing and with the progress that’s clearly being made under Clement. He started early by bringing in Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves before January had even begun and by adding Mohamed Diomande and Oscar Cortes over the past few days, he’s added to the options available.

"The signing of Diomande looks particularly shrewd and not just because of the way the numbers were structured. They’ve landed an exciting talent on loan without having to stump up a significant fee until the summer.

"That’s smart financially but it also means the player will have an extra six months to bed into the squad and to familiarise himself with the club and with Scottish football. I suspect it might be next season until we see the best of him – and it might be a similar case with Cortes because the young man hasn’t played a lot of football so far this season in France.

"But Clement will gently bleed both of them into his team over the coming weeks and that will come as a huge boost – and maybe even a bit of a challenge – to the guys who have been there for some time. I know how I felt during my own playing days, when I was still a youngster trying to hold on to my place in the starting 11."

There is still time for exits with windows still open around the world, and it looks as if a move away is on the cards for one particular player.

Jose Cifuentes transfer update

There has been plenty of speculation in recent days regarding Jose Cifuentes, despite the midfielder only arriving in Scotland last summer. He reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Cruzeiro on the weekend, and it appears as if a move is progressing.

According to a new update from Brazil, Cruzeiro and Rangers have an ‘agreement well underway’ for the loan Cifuentes for one season. The report adds that Cifuentes, previously hailed as “terrific” by Tim Vickery, will leave Scotland on Friday and will head to his native Ecuador, where he will stay for around six days before hopefully moving on to Brazil to undergo a medical and sign a Cruzeiro contract.

Cifuentes has made 20 appearances for Rangers this season, 14 of which have come as a starter. However, he has been Rangers’ worst-rated player to have started six or more games, as per WhoScored, so a temporary move away could be best for all involved.

On Sunday, Liverpool lost 3-1 against Premier League title rivals, Arsenal. The sides have seemed to have developed something of a rivalry over the past couple of seasons.

The Gunners' win against Liverpool was arguably one of their best performances of the season with veteran, Jorginho, putting in a stellar performance.

This is largely due to Mikel Arteta's men having most of their first-team available for selection. Whilst Liverpool's performance was below par, this could be due to the number of injuries they sustained in the lead-up to the game.

Throughout the Premier League campaign thus far, a number of Liverpool's players have had stand-out seasons, although one man, excluding Alisson and Virgil van Dijk's mishaps, was below par at the Emirates.

What Curtis Jones did wrong against Arsenal

Curtis Jones' performance on Sunday certainly left a lot to be desired.

His outing was quite possibly the Englishman's worst showing of the season by a country mile. More often than not this term, the Academy graduate has been one of the first names on Klopp's team-sheet but could find himself back on the bench next time out.

On this occasion, although, Jones was the second-best starting midfielder for Liverpool and managed to garner a rating of 6/10, as per Liverpool ECHO, it wasn't his finest afternoon.

Jones' poor display is further backed up by Sofascore as the midfielder only managed to touch the ball 57 times throughout the entirety of the game. To put that into context, Alisson managed to touch the ball 60 times, which outlines how little of an impact the 23-year-old had on the game.

Furthermore, he lost possession of the ball on 12 occasions and only won two of his seven duels, being bypassed on a number of occasions in the centre of the pitch,

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During Sunday's clash, it felt as if he had little to no energy after the start of the game. But, when he was moved to a deeper role after the interval, he did seem to get more of a handle on the tie.

The 23-year-old will be looking to improve his performance before the Reds' next game against Burnley on the 10th February, otherwise Klopp may look to replace him with one of his teammates.

Two players could fulfil Curtis Jones' role

As the season goes on and Liverpool get ever closer to winning the Premier League title, they will need all the help that they can get.

Hence, why the fitness of the Reds' first-team squad will be essential towards the latter end of the campaign.

Crucially, Thiago featured for the first time under Klopp in Sunday's clash after sustaining an injury all the way back in April. Since arriving at Anfield in 2020, the Spain international has sustained a number of injuries.

However, when fit, he has often been one of Liverpool's best players. He plays an important role in the side and is often lauded by fans and pundits alike, notably described as a "world-class" figure by Diogo Jota. Although he doesn't contribute to many goals, he is often the pass before the assist.

Indeed, Thiago is the first port of call between the defence and the midfield, meaning his off-the-ball work is often a key part to his game. The 32-year-old could be an ideal stop-gap for Liverpool as Jones attempts to re-find his good form.

Another option Klopp could look towards is Dominik Szoboszlai. The midfielder was absent from Sunday's clash due to injury, but throughout the season, he has arguably been Liverpool's best player after Mohamed Salah.

His range of passing and creativity are second to none and this is proven by his nine goal contributions this season, a tally bettered by no other midfielder in the squad. Once the Hungary international has returned to the first-team fold, he will likely be the player Klopp chooses.

We are all set for another busy few months of comings and goings across European football with some huge names potentially changing clubs

After an extraordinarily quiet January window, the transfer cogs appear to be spinning at top speed once again. Some of the biggest names in the game are looking like they're on the move, and they won't come cheap, meaning we could be in for some record-breaking spending over the next few months.

The Saudi Pro League is expected to be a big player in the market once again as they execute the second phase of their plan to permanently alter the constitution of top-level football. Meanwhile, the financial issues that prevented several Premier League clubs getting their business done this winter are set to play less of a role in proceedings this time around.

Below, GOAL takes a look at 30 of the biggest transfer sagas to keep an eye out for this summer…

GettyJarrad Branthwaite (Everton)

The next big thing when it comes to English defenders, it seems Jarrad Branthwaite is destined for the very top after a breakout season with Everton. The centre-back formed part of one of the most staunch backlines in the Premier League, inevitably drawing admiring glances from some big hitters.

Manchester United have been linked with him for some time, while Manchester City and Newcastle have entered the picture in the weeks leading up to the transfer window creaking open. Everton's asking price may well prove to be a stumbling block, though, with the infamous 'English tax' coming into play with his £80 million ($102m) valuation.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesGleison Bremer (Juventus)

Juventus defender Gleison Bremer is among a host of centre-backs who could be on the move this summer. Having impressed in Serie A for both Torino and Juve, the Brazilian has admitted his desire to test himself in the Premier League or La Liga.

It seems he has plenty of interest in England too, and the opportunity to make that dream a reality could well present itself. Manchester United have been linked with him for some time, but as the transfer period draws closer, Chelsea have emerged as another potential suitor. It's said the Bianconeri would be willing to do business if an offer in the region of €60m (£51m/$65m) arrives.

(C)GettyImagesAlphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)

Alphonso Davies has been on Real Madrid's radar for some time, and it was reported in February that they had reached a verbal agreement with the Canada international for a transfer to take place either this summer, or in 2025. The Spanish giants are waiting for Davies to respond to Bayern Munich's latest extension offer before making any formal approach, however, as they refuse to spend upwards of €60m (£52m/$64m) on a player in the final year of his contract.

There are few full-backs in the game more electrifying to watch than a fully-fit and firing Davies, and a transfer to Santiago Bernabeu feels like a natural next step for the 23-year-old. But the price has to be right for Real – who are already putting most of their resources into the Kylian Mbappe deal – and they won't be held to ransom by Bayern, especially given the fact they already boast a top left-back in the form of Ferland Mendy.

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Getty Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)

Eberechi Eze also took his game to new heights at Crystal Palace this campaign, positioning himself as a possible wild card pick for England ahead of Euro 2024 this summer.

Eze also edged into double figures for Premier League goals and established his reputation as one of the most fearsome ball-carriers in England. Tottenham are understood to have identified him as a target and they're unlikely to be his only suitors this summer.

USA Cricket selected ACE as its strategic partner to conclude a multi-stage evaluation process that began in November 2018

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2019

Rob Tringali/ESPN

USA Cricket has received a boost of over $1 billion investment from American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) for the development of a domestic T20 league. USA Cricket selected ACE as its strategic partner to conclude a multi-stage evaluation process that began in November 2018. The launch of the league is slated for 2021.The billion-dollar deal is one of the biggest for the development of domestic cricket in the US. ACE is backed by Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan, the founders of Willow TV (the largest cricket broadcaster in North America), and Satyan Gajwani and Vineet Jain, of the Times of India group. USA Cricket had started the process by publicly inviting proposals for a US-based T20 league. They chose ACE whose proposal combined a large financial commitment to invest into the league, key deals for infrastructure and broadcast distribution, experienced and knowledgeable leadership, and a data-driven, analytical business strategy, which affirmed their ability to build a longstanding institution that will elevate US cricket.”USA Cricket is excited to partner with ACE to launch a professional cricket league in the United States. We were thoroughly impressed by their comprehensive proposal,” Paraag Marathe, USA Cricket board chairman said. “Vijay, Sameer, Satyan and Vineet provided a vision for the growth of cricket in the US on all levels, and we’re confident they will create a world class T20 league here in America. This is a watershed moment for cricket in the United States and we look forward to a long-lasting, successful partnership.”ACE has commenced major infrastructure investment towards international grade cricket venues in several US metropolitan markets. ACE is also working to develop additional turf cricket pitches and auxiliary facilities in more than a dozen locations. Based on a major/minor professional league model, the new facilities will provide, for the first time in the US, the ability to stage and support major domestic and international cricket at all levels. In addition, ACE will provide support for USA Cricket’s men’s and women’s national teams to ensure they can capitalise on their recent successes at the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 and the ICC Women’s Americas Qualifier, respectively.The league is expected to feature top international players from the USA team and around the world, combined with a focus on pathways to develop a homegrown player pool for USA Cricket and the league. A major component of ACE’s plans is the developmental academies around the country that will be aligned to the league teams and will help foster and develop talent at the youth levels to ensure a strong pipeline of cricket players.”Cricket has the second-largest audience in the world, and yet has little presence in the largest professional sports market,” Gajwani said. “We want to develop a lasting institution that brings to the US the excitement and passion of cricket, enjoyed by billions of people globally. True grassroots development of any sport takes decades and we are excited and committed to play a role in developing world-class cricket in America.A key highlight of ACE’s proposal is distribution, sponsorship and exposure for the professional league and for USA Cricket’s national teams via major TV and digital broadcast platforms, led by Willow TV which has over 4 million subscribers. In addition to the Willow assets, ACE and USA Cricket will seek out “free to air” platforms as well to ensure mainstream audiences are exposed to the league.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou revealed that the loss to Manchester City was his "worst managerial experience" of his career.

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Arsenal needed a favour from derby rivals SpursTottenham lost 2-0 to Man CityPostecoglou opened up on his bitter experienceWHAT HAPPENED?

Tottenham's fixture against City not only held significant implications for both clubs but also had huge ramifications on the Premier League title race as Arsenal hoped to get a favour from their North London rivals to maintain their edge over Pep Guardiola's troops in the standings. However, a 2-0 victory for the reigning champions almost dashed their hopes of conquering England again after two decades.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Given the fierce rivalry between Tottenham and Arsenal, many Spurs supporters wanted their team to go down despite having their top-four hopes on the line. This infuriated the Aussie manager and in the immediate aftermath of the defeat, Postecoglou did not shy away from delivering an honest assessment of the situation and went on to criticise the club for having "fragile foundations".

WHAT POSTECOGLOU SAID

Addressing the media again on Friday afternoon ahead of Tottenham's final game of the season against Sheffield United, Postecoglou revisited his comments and admitted that he got "cold sweats" before the match as the result could have had many questioning his integrity.

"That's probably the worst experience I've had as a football manager in a game," he said. "Once I realised I'd got it wrong in terms of what the atmosphere was going to be like and what people felt. I got a real anxiety within me of, what happens if Man City, the best team in the world, who were disposing of teams quite easily in the lead up – four at Brighton… – what if we play as well as we can but they beat us 5-0? I got cold sweats thinking about people questioning my integrity and the people I work with."

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GETTYWHAT NEXT?

The defeat to City marked the end of Tottenham’s hopes for Champions League qualification, with Aston Villa now secured a top-flight European berth. However, they have all to play for against Sheffield United as they must avoid defeat at Bramall Lane to stop Chelsea from displacing them from the fifth spot in the standings.

To say that Aston Villa are flying under Unai Emery this season would be an understatement. The Villans sit as high as third in the Premier League and just four points adrift of league leaders Arsenal, who they play next. By the end of the weekend, the Midlands club could sit just one point away from the top of the league with Christmas fast approaching, summing up just how impressive they've been throughout the current campaign so far.

Their last victory, coming over champions Manchester City, was arguably their best yet under Emery. But it's not all good news for those at Villa Park as the January transfer window approaches, with one particular player potentially on the move when the winter window swings open.

Aston Villa transfer news

When it comes to incomings, Aston Villa got it fairly spot on in the summer. Moussa Diaby's stats, four goals and five assists show just how quickly he's settled in alongside Pau Torres, whilst Youri Tielemans and Nicolo Zaniolo begin to find their feet under Emery. All of that has resulted in new heights for the club in the Premier League as we near the halfway point. Amid their successful summer, however, is one man who is yet to make his mark and could already leave the Midlands club.

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According to Bild, Bayern Munich are interested in Clement Lenglet, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa from Barcelona. The La Liga giants are reportedly open to the move as long as the German side cover the defender's wages in full. Villa, meanwhile, reportedly want to see out their loan move for Lenglet, keeping him until the end of the season as planned.

This comes as a surprise, given Lenglet's game time. The Frenchman has not played a single minute in the Premier League and has been handed all of his opportunities in the Europa Conference League. Despite that though, Villa reportedly want to keep hold of their loanee.

"Quality" Lenglet needs move

When Lenglet secured his return to the Premier League after an impressive loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur last season, he would have been full of hope over his Aston Villa role – but things just haven't worked out. Whether it be Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres or Diego Carlos, Emery has opted for other options ahead of the Barcelona loanee, who may need a move elsewhere if he is to receive regular minutes in the current campaign.

With Bayern Munich reportedly interested too, Lenglet may not get a better chance to secure an end to a stint in the Midlands and a move to a club in the Champions League. It's a surprise that things haven't worked out so far at Villa, with Emery full of praise for Lenglet upon his arrival. Emery said:

"Lenglet was a very good opportunity on loan for one year. He has experience in Barcelona, Sevilla and Tottenham playing at a high level, playing in Europe. I'm very happy with him because he is joining us with his quality, his experience."

While Arsenal may not be at their scintillating best, the Gunners currently sit second in the Premier League table, just a point behind Liverpool, and they are certainly right in the mix for a first league title for two decades.

They haven’t won since a 4-3 win over Luton Town at the start of the month and have scored just once in their previous two matches.

Mikel Arteta may be able to call on Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah as options to lead the line, but if he wants to win a league title and go far in the Champions League, more firepower is clearly required.

Arsenal could sign the next Martinelli in £17m "special talent"

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With the January transfer window fast approaching, could the Spaniard delve into the market to bolster his attacking options?

Arsenal transfer news – Marcos Leonardo

According to reports from Spain, Marcos Leonardo has been attracting attention from some of the biggest clubs on the continent, with Arsenal included.

The Gunners have reportedly made a bid of €20m (£17m) as per the report and, on the surface, this could turn out to be a shrewd investment indeed.

The likes of Manchester United and AS Roma have previously been credited with showing interest in the youngster, but with Champions League football available at the Emirates, London could be the ideal destination for the starlet.

Arteta could take full advantage of Santos being relegated for the first time in their history to secure the signing of the promising talent for a much lower fee than first anticipated.

He has never played outside his native Brazil, yet with Gabriel Martinelli, Jesus and Gabriel Magalhaes all enjoying life in north London, Leonardo could find three teammates who would help him settle in fairly easily.

Not only that, but a move for the striker would give Arteta the chance to repeat Arsenal’s Gilberto Silva masterclass from 2002.

Gilberto Silva’s Arsenal statistics

After leading the club to just their third-ever domestic double during the 2001/02 season, Arsène Wenger was aiming to further bolster his first-team squad in the hope of building a proper dynasty at the club.

The Frenchman clearly kept one eye on the 2002 FIFA World Cup that summer as Silva was an integral part of the Brazil side that claimed their fifth global crown.

A £6m move was agreed to sign him from Atletico Mineiro and he swiftly emerged as one of Wenger’s finest signings for the club.

The Premier League title eluded Arsenal during the 2002/03 season, yet the following campaign saw Silva become the beating heart of a midfield which went unbeaten in the top flight as he made 32 appearances and chipped in with eight goal contributions.

In total, the Brazilian spent six years in north London, making a total of 243 appearances under Wenger in what was the most successful era the club enjoyed since the 1930s.

50

141

6

37

149

73

64

33

35

153

243

2

127

80

His success paved the way for more Brazilians to join the Gunners and Arteta has certainly enjoyed exploring the South American market for teenage gems who could blossom once they land in England.

Leonardo has made his mark on Brazilian football and his next step will surely be a move to Europe. The question is, will Arsenal be the club that manages to sign him?

Marcos Leonardo’s statistics this season

Leonardo is one of the most in-demand players in Brazil and, despite suffering relegation, the 20-year-old still found the back of the net on 13 occasions while scoring 21 times over during the campaign and their season could have been so much worse without his goals.

The striker ranked first across the squad for goals and assists (15) in the top flight along with ranking first for shots on target per game (one) and for scoring frequency (a goal every 200 minutes), as he demonstrated his class throughout 2023.

South American football expert Nathan Joyes even lauded the youngster as a “special talent” during the summer transfer window when a few teams were showing interest.

Marcos Leonardo could fit right in at Arsenal

The Santos gem has also shone on the international stage for Brazil, emerging as one of their finest players during the U20 World Cup a few months ago.

The striker bagged five goals across five matches while creating three big chances and scoring once every 80 minutes, and it surely won't be long before he makes his senior international debut.

Jesus and Nketiah have scored six goals apiece during the current campaign and while the duo are both fighting it out for the same role, Arteta has had to rely on the likes of Bukayo Saka (eight) and Martin Odegaard (seven) for the bulk of Arsenal’s goals this season.

Leonardo certainly has the quality to arrive at the club and make a breakthrough into the starting XI. Despite only turning 20 in May, he has already made 168 senior appearances for Santos, scoring 54 goals during that time.

Arteta has a reputation for developing young talents and turning them into players who could star for the club on a regular basis and Leonardo would fit right into that category.

Martinelli arrived from Brazil and has become a mainstay on the left wing, while the likes of Nketiah, Saka and William Saliba have also become key players for the Gunners as they chase the Premier League title.

Having the chance to sign the 5 foot 8 gem for a much lower fee due to Santos’ relegation to the second tier should be all the incentive that Arteta needs as the transfer window comes into focus, and he could make a big statement of intent by securing his signature.

If the Brazilian U20 international can translate the form he has shown in South America to the Premier League, he will turn into yet another gem from a country that Arsenal has had so much success with buying players in the past.