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Sunderland are in desperate need of picking up some form in the Championship, after seeing their season fall off a cliff first under Michael Beale and then their campaign go from bad to worse under Mike Dodds.

Dodds is still winless back in the interim Black Cats management position, with Sunderland last tasting victory back when Beale was still in charge last month against Plymouth Argyle.

It could well see Dodds play some unexpected rolls of the dice to try and mastermind a rare win therefore, trying anything in his power to muster up an elusive three points.

Away from any changes however, the temporary Black Cats boss must stick with Adil Aouchiche in the attacking midfield role for the trip to Cardiff City tomorrow, the Frenchman having shone in the stalemate with Queens Park Rangers right before the international break.

Adil Aouchiche's performance vs QPR in numbers

Aouchiche would be gifted his first Sunderland start since the end of December up against QPR, with his display against the Hoops suggesting he will be kept in Dodds' XI for the trip to Wales.

The former Paris St. Germain youngster was a handful for Marti Cifuentes' men to handle all afternoon, managing to complete three successful dribble attempts and hit the woodwork with one of his three efforts on the QPR net from an explosive 90 minutes.

He couldn't quite add to his solitary goal for the Wearside outfit he managed against Birmingham City earlier in the campaign, but Aouchiche's moment in the spotlight will come again soon if he continues to plug away.

The playmaker also won his fair share of duels in the 0-0 draw, winning six of the 13 ground duels he launched himself into to try and add some bite into an otherwise flat affair.

Patrick Roberts' inclusion back into the starting eleven after battling back from injury alongside Aouchiche could really unsettle the Bluebirds too, with the former Celtic man a menace to deal with when firing on all cylinders.

Why Patrick Roberts should be back in the Sunderland team

The likes of Romaine Mundle and Abdoullah Ba have failed to be as lively and as effective as Jack Clarke and the aforementioned Roberts when both have been in the treatment room, meaning the 27-year-old should find it straightforward to slot back into the XI if fit.

Roberts would replace a lacklustre Ba, with the Black Cats number 17 managing to make just seven accurate passes against QPR before being hauled by Dodds on the 58-minute mark.

Failing to complete any of the four dribble attempts he attempted too, the 20-year-old winger will find his spot up for grabs if a reemerging Roberts passes a late test to be deemed suitable to play.

Once described as being a "magic" footballer by football journalist Josh Bunting, Roberts was key to Sunderland winning their last Championship game against Plymouth before their season unravelled.

Therefore, Dodds could view bringing him back in as a way to pick up a rare three points finally.

Only misplacing two of his 38 passes in the 3-1 win, Roberts would also manage to pick up an assist when teeing up Pierre Ekwah for the equaliser on the day.

It could well be seen as a risk bringing back in a rusty Roberts, but with Dodds constantly racking his brain for who to select to pull off a first Championship win in seven matches, he could view starting the 27-year-old attacker as a gamble worth taking.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

As the start of the new season approaches, no major moves have been made while several stars are said to be unsettled

Saudi Arabia shook up the world of football in the summer of 2023. Approximately £750 million ($957m) was spent on 97 signings, with Karim Benzema, Neymar, Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez and other high-profile players following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, who had joined Al-Nassr during the preceding window.

As Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola pointed out, "the Saudi Pro League has changed the transfer market. Just a few months ago, when Cristiano was the only one to go, nobody could have imagined the amount of top, top players who would go to play there. I think in the near future it's going to happen more and more."

However, while there have been some notable new arrivals since this summer's window opened last month, the Pro League's clubs have not been anywhere near as active last year. So, has the Saudi bubble already burst? Is the SPL set to suffer a Chinese Super League-like crash? Or can we expect more superstar signings in the coming weeks?

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  Salah staying put

  Pro League director of football Michael Emenalo admitted in May that Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne were the "types of players" that the league would target this summer. "This particular coming window," Chelsea's former technical director told , "if there’s an opportunity to spend significantly on someone that we think will bring exactly what we need or what is needed, then we will do that."

  However, Salah somewhat surprisingly decided to stay at Liverpool, and it is believed that the Egyptian winger, whom Al-Ittihad tried to sign last September for £150m ($190m), will end up extending a contract that expires at the end of the season.

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  No deal for De Bruyne

  As for De Bruyne, the 33-year-old made no secret of his interest in a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. "At my age, you have to be open to everything," he explained to . "You're talking about incredible amounts of money in what may be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that.

  "If I play there for two years, I will be able to earn an incredible amount of money. Before that I had to play football for 15 years. I may not even reach that amount yet.

  "Then, you have to think about what that could mean next. I still have one year left on my contract, so I have to think about what could happen. My eldest son is now eight years old and knows nothing but England. He also asks how long I will play for City. Once the moment comes, we will have to deal with it in a certain way."

  However, it now appears highly unlikely that City will allow De Bruyne to depart before the close of the transfer window, with Guardiola making it very clear that he wants to hold onto his key creator.

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  Richarlison's rejection

  Al-Nassr were also frustrated in their bid to sign Ederson from City – despite the Brazil goalkeeper's reported interest in a money-spinning move to the Middle East, having already won pretty much all there is to win in Europe. The goalkeeper's international colleague, Richarlison, was nowhere near as keen, though.

  Even with current club Spurs on the verge of signing Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth, which will likely mean even less game time for the struggling striker, Richarlison rejected the chance to join an unnamed Saudi side earlier this week.

  "There has been an offer, but my dream of playing for the Selecao and in the Premier League speaks louder," he told .

  The Richarlison snub serves as a reminder of the difficulties that the Pro League still has in attracting players in or approaching what should be their peak years. Even someone like Romelu Lukaku, who is 31 and has spoken positively about the Saudi Arabian league in the past, is still holding out for a reunion with Antonio Conte at Napoli rather than accepting an offer from a Middle Eastern side because he believes he still has much to offer – and arguably prove – at the highest level.

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  Lowering the average age

  In that sense, it's hardly surprising that the Pro League is still bringing in ageing stars like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is coming off the back of a brilliant season at Marseille, and former Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez.

  Emenalo remains acutely aware that Saudi Arabia is an attractive destination for veterans looking to "extend their careers" and N'Golo Kante's return to the France fold in time for Euro 2024 made plenty of people sit up and take notice, as it suggested that previously injury-prone players could benefit from playing in a less physically demanding league.

  However, there have been other, more significant signings than Aubameyang and Nacho in recent weeks. Indeed, the pair have joined newly-promoted Al-Qadsiah, who are backed by the national oil company Saudi Aramco and have also signed Ezequiel Fernandez (22) and Julian Quinones (27), from Boca Juniors and America, respectively.

  Elsewhere, after failing with their bid to sign Ederson, as well as Juventus' Wojciech Szczesny, Al-Nassr instead snapped up Bento, the highly-rated 25-year-old Brazil goalkeeper. In addition, Benzema's Al-Ittihad have made clear their intent to atone for last year's dismal title defence by paying €60m for Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby (25) and an additional €12m for Algeria midfielder Houssem Auoar (26).

  These deals are representative of the Pro League's drive to not only add quality but also lower the average age of the overseas signings, with a great emphasis now being placed on young players across the league.

Glasgow Rangers face arguably their most important match of the season so far at Ibrox tomorrow afternoon, with the third Old Firm derby of the 2023/24 season nearly upon us.

Celtic are a point ahead in the Premiership table, yet the Light Blues have a game in hand against Dundee next week, but a win at Ibrox tomorrow could give Philippe Clement and his men a massive psychological boost heading into the final seven games of the campaign.

Just in time for the climax to the season, it appears Clement’s injury woes are finally starting to dissipate, with several players soon becoming available for the title run in.

Rangers team news vs Celtic

The 50-year-old spoke to the media on Friday ahead of his second Old Firm derby in charge of the Gers, discussing the club’s injury news regarding Ridvan Yilmaz and Abdallah Sima in particular.

“Ridvan not sure yet, we will see tomorrow and make a decision,” said Clement during the press conference.

“Everyone else from last week is available. Sima is fit enough to start but could not play 90 minutes. I have a decision to make on when best he will have an impact.”

Having Yilmaz and Sima available for the match will be a huge boost for Clement and the squad, as the duo have been outstanding this season when called upon.

Borna Barisic deputised for the Turkish left-back last weekend in the 3-1 victory over Hibs, yet his performance in that game, combined with poor displays in previous Old Firm clashes, mean Clement should go with Yilmaz, even if he isn’t quite 100% fit…

Borna Barisic was poor against Hibs

The Croatian is out of contract at the end of the current season, with rumours circling that Trabzonspor are close to securing his signature at the end of the season.

The experienced defender has started just 14 Premiership matches this term for the Light Blues, but only four in 2024.

Against Hibs, the 31-year-old delivered a poor performance, proving how much Clement is relying on Yilmaz.

During his time on the pitch, Barisic won just two of his eight contested duels, lost possession 18 times, was dribbled past once and made only one tackle.

His defensive stats were poor, while his attacking ones weren’t much better, if truth be told. Normally excellent going forward, Barisic was accurate with just five of his 14 attempted crosses, completed two key passes, succeeded with just one successful dribble attempt, and created zero big chances for his side.

He was taken off with just over 20 minutes remaining, replaced by Ross McCausland. Barisic was also given a match rating of just 5/10 for his display by Glasgow World, showing just how poor he was at both ends of the pitch last weekend.

His recent history in the fixture has been pretty dismal too, indicating that while Clement may be taking a risk by unleashing Yilmaz, it could perhaps be the best decision he makes.

Ridvan Yilmaz’s season in numbers

The £12k-per-week sensation has emerged as one of Clement’s finest performers since the turn of the year, a far cry from where he was a year ago.

Upon his arrival at Rangers in the summer of 2022, Ross Wilson heaped plenty of praise on the youngster, saying: "Gio and I were clear in our desire to invest in a high-potential and high-quality left-back.

"We have now secured that in the signing of Ridvan Yilmaz.”

His maiden season was a topsy-turvy one to say the least, making just 15 appearances in all competitions as a series of injuries derailed any sort of consistency he managed to get going.

After scoring his first goal for the club against Livingston earlier this season, Yilmaz has gone from strength to strength. The 22-year-old has made 28 appearances so far, scoring twice and grabbing an assist, but it is his attacking qualities which have shone through.

In the Premiership, the left-back has not only created seven big chances, but also averages 1.7 key passes per game, succeeds with 1.3 dribbles per game and takes 0.8 shots per match, indicating how impressive he is bursting down the left wing during matches.

These statistics prove that Yilmaz must be the starting left-back against Celtic, otherwise Brendan Rodgers will make sure his players target Barisic throughout the game, which could prove decisive.

Ridvan Yilmaz’s last match against Celtic

The Turkish star missed the first Old Firm derby of the season through injury, which meant Dujon Sterling was given a baptism of fire as Barisic was also ruled out of the tie.

He started the second one in late December, however, playing the full 90 minutes at Parkhead in the eventual 2-1 defeat.

He acquitted himself well, winning four of his four ground duels during the match, making two tackles, three interceptions and two clearances, although he did lose possession 17 times, which was due to his constant charges up and down the left wing throughout the match.

Going forward, Yilmaz succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts while delivering one successful cross, but he was powerless to prevent another derby defeat.

A lot has changed since then, with the Gers dropping points only once, in a 2-1 defeat to Motherwell last month, while Yilmaz is now firmly established as the first-choice left-back in the squad.

This match wont determine where the championship ends up, but a win for Rangers could deliver a significant blow to Celtic’s hopes, meaning they have to win the final Old Firm clash after the split.

Having Sima and potentially Yilmaz available could be the good news that Clement has been looking for over the previous few weeks. Both of them might not start together, as this could leave the Light Blues weak down the left-hand side, but hopefully at least one of them will be unleashed from the first whistle.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Any win will do for Clement and his side. if every player steps up and performs how they have been of late, they will send Celtic back to Parkhead with a first Old Firm defeat of the season.

Arsenal have reportedly agreed to sign Mikel Merino with the Gunners striking an agreement to sign the midfielder for €38.5m from Real Sociedad.

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• Arsenal on the verge of signing Merino
• Spanish midfielder expected to sign a four-year deal
• Euro heroics led the Gunners to step up their pursuit

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to the North London club will shell out €33.5 million (£28m/$37m) upfront with an additional €5m (£4m/$5m) tied to various performance-related variables to land Merino from the Basque outfit. He is expected to commit to a four-year contract with Arsenal, with an option for the club to extend the agreement by an additional year.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With only one year remaining on his current contract with Real Sociedad, Merino had long been on Arsenal’s radar as a key target to strengthen their midfield options. Mikel Arteta urged the board to step up their pursuit of the midfielder after he put in several impressive performances at Euro 2024 and played a key role in guiding Spain to the championship.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Merino is no stranger to English football, having previously spent a season with Newcastle United. He initially joined Newcastle on loan from Borussia Dortmund before the move was made permanent a few months later. However, after a year in the Premier League, Merino opted to return to Spain, joining Real Sociedad in the summer of 2018. During his time with the Basque club, Merino made 242 appearances, scoring 27 goals and providing 30 assists, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and reliable midfielder.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MERINO?

  Should the transfer be completed, Merino will become Arsenal’s third major signing of the summer after David Raya and defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna. With his experience in both La Liga and the Premier League, the 28-year-old is expected to provide the depth and quality that Arsenal need in midfield to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title.

Since becoming a Tottenham Hotspur player last summer, James Maddison has made a relatively impressive start.

The number ten’s statistics further support that point, as he currently boasts an output of four goals and seven assists in 22 Premier League matches.

However, in recent weeks, his performances have unfortunately taken a slight hit, failing to register a goal contribution in his last five games.

With that in mind and the midfield developing into an issue, Ange Postecoglou wants to acquire a new midfielder who has the potential to bolster Maddison.

Spurs’ search for a new midfielder

According to reports from Turkey via TEAMtalk, Spurs are lining up a £17m bid for Sebastian Szymanski.

The Polish midfielder currently plays for Fenerbahce, having previously thrived in Russia and the Netherlands for Dynamo Moscow and Feyenoord.

Tottenham have been keeping an eye on the 24-year-old for some time now, and the report states that they’ve already made contact over a deal.

However, the Turkish giant will demand around £22m this summer, and Spurs will have to be prepared to battle the likes of Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen for his signature.

How Szymanski could bolster Maddison

Szymanski isn’t a name that many of the Spurs faithful will have heard of before, but the Turkish Super Lig star has certainly been making waves in Europe.

The number 53 is a left-footed attacking midfielder who also has the ability to play slightly deeper as a box-to-box number eight.

The Poland international has been at the epicentre of Fenerbahce’s title challenge, playing 31 league matches for a side that’s lost just once this season in the Turkish top flight.

His statistics really do speak for themselves, as he’s scored and assisted nine goals apiece in the league this season, which proves he’s able to put the ball in the back of the net as well as create.

The table demonstrates how extremely well-rounded the player is, which means he could easily operate alongside Maddison in a 4-3-3 setup in front of a defensive midfielder.

Szymanski is the type of player who is desperate to make things happen, even shooting freely if the chance presents itself. This could add another dimension to the Spurs attack, with the profile of a box-crashing midfielder missing in the squad.

Unlike Madison, who loves to always be involved in the play and get on the ball at any opportunity, Szymanski likes to stretch the pitch via excellent movement, often popping up in dangerous spaces in between the lines.

The combination of Maddison’s creativity and the former Feyenoord ace’s movement could be a deadly combination, potentially even becoming a new version of the Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli partnership.

Both Dele and Eriksen were capable of playing superbly well between the lines with the former contributing to 67 goals and 59 assists in a Lilywhites shirt. The latter, meanwhile, was the scorer of 69 goals at Spurs, registering a further 90 assists. Fine work indeed from two of the finest midfielders to don a Tottenham jersey.

It’s not only in the final third that the “superb” Szymanski – as dubbed by football scout Jacek Kulig – brings to the table, as he has an endless amount of energy.

This enables him to press with ease while also helping the side prevent counterattacks, with his 2.2 tackles and 3.9 duels won supporting this.

In truth, almost all the creative responsibility tends to fall on the shoulders of Maddison, and signing Szymanski could just take the pressure off the number ten, from both a performance and mentality perspective.

For £22m, the midfielder seems like an absolute bargain, and Spurs must do all they can to beat the competition to his signature. Wouldn't it be quite the sight to see another version of Dele and Eriksen in north London?

A behind-the-scenes documentary of Manchester United may be in the works following Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS's partial takeover of the club.

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• Man Utd recording behind-the-scenes footage
• Ratcliffe keeping a video diary at Old Trafford
• Has hired journalist to write a book

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ratcliffe has been keeping a video diary since his group took control of the club's football operations, reports, while the club's own cameras have been catching goings on behind closed doors. The report says the club could turn out a documentary series, but have not sold the rights to streaming services, as Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham have done recently.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Since INEOS's arrival, United ended last season in eighth place – their worst ever Premier League finish – and have endured a rocky start to the current campaign after handing Erik ten Hag a new contract. The Red Devils won their first game against Fulham, but have since been beaten by Brighton and Liverpool, sparking calls for the club to sack the Dutchman.

  As well as bringing in a new CEO and sporting director, United spent big to strengthen Ten Hag's squad, bringing in the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro over the summer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While it remains unclear if a documentary will ever be released, there will at least be a book on United's development since the partial takeover, as Ratcliffe has brought in Matt Dickinson, chief sports writer, to record the events going on at the club.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

  Ratcliffe will hope that the many changes his team have made will help turn results around amid their worrying performances. The Red Devils will attempt to bounce back in their next game against Southampton on September 14.

A Sky Sports pundit says one player in particular will be leaving Tottenham this summer, and it's "100%" from what he knows on the situation.

Postecoglou pleads for change with Tottenham set for long-term rebuild

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has grown more and more animated on the touchline over these last few weeks, and for good reason, as his side have been far below par and seem a shadow of their former selves who started the campaign so brightly.

Ange told to sell Bissouma and build Tottenham team around £90 million star

The player in question would set Tottenham back a hefty sum.

By
Josh Barker

May 5, 2024

Some were even backing a potential Spurs title challenge at one point after Postecoglou made the best start of any new manager in Premier League history, but a combination of injuries and inconsistent form have set the Lilywhites back.

Now, barring a last-gasp collapse from Aston Villa, Tottenham appear set to miss out on fourth and Champions League football next term, with Postecoglou admitting that the north Londoners require a long-term rebuild and real change.

"We need change. Change has to happen," said Postecoglou on Tottenham needing to overhaul the squad.

"You can’t want to alter your course and expect the same people are going to be on that. It’s just not going to happen.

"And that’s not for everyone. Whether it’s Liverpool or Arsenal, if you look at the beginning of their journeys, by the time they win the competition or have success, the team’s almost unrecognisable. That’s the reality if you change [and we’ve] done a major pivot here, so that definitely is the case [for us], yeah."

To make room for key new additions, with Spurs plotting to upgrade a few key areas this summer, players will need to go the other way. One of them could well be defender Joe Rodon, who's enjoyed a fantastic loan spell at Leeds United this season.

Rodon will "100%" leave Tottenham this summer

Leeds are very keen to strike a permanent deal for Rodon. However, whether or not he signs on at Elland Road indefinitely, Sky pundit Paul Robinson has told Football Insider that Rodon will "100%" be leaving Tottenham this summer based on what he knows.

“Joe Rodon… regardless of whether he stays at Leeds or goes elsewhere, he won’t be integrated back into the Spurs side, and will move this summer on a permanent deal, it’s 100% from what I know,” said Robinson.

The 26-year-old was signed by Jose Mourinho at Spurs in 2020 from Swansea City, and Ben Davies has called him a "terrific" player, but there appears to be little room for him in Postecoglou's rebuild.

USMNT star Christian Pulisic is bracing for a "big challenge" against Liverpool in the Champions League after thrashing Venezia 4-0.

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• Milan thrashed Venezia 4-0
• Pulisic was on target from the spot
• USMNT forward geared up for Liverpool challenge

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The match at San Siro was charged with emotion, as fans organized a demonstration that served to both inspire the team and express growing impatience following a disappointing start to the season, where Milan had only managed to secure two points from their initial three matches. Pulisic was instrumental in Milan's commanding victory, as he converted from the spot and set up Youssouf Fofana from a corner.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Milan's going is set to get tougher as the Rossoneri will lock horns with Liverpool in their opening Champions League group stage match on Tuesday, followed by the Derby della Madonnina against rivals Inter in Serie A on September 22. The European fixture is expected to be a formidable challenge, given Liverpool's strong pedigree in the competition, and Pulisic has warned his team-mates that they cannot afford to rest on their laurels in order to get the better of the Reds.

• WHAT PULISIC SAID

  “It’s our first Champions League game of the year against a big club, of course, it’s a big challenge," the USMNT forward said.

  "But playing in our home stadium, hopefully, we have some confidence from this game. We have to come up with a good performance if we want a result.”

  However, after the resounding victory, Pulisic expressed his optimism about the team's performance ahead of the tough schedule.

  “It’s the start of hopefully some good momentum from us,” added Pulisic. “It’s a good win, but we have some important games coming up and hopefully it’s just the start.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PULISIC?

  The win against Venezia was crucial for Milan, providing a much-needed boost in confidence. As they head into a period filled with high-stakes matches, the emphasis will be on maintaining their form and translating it into positive results against top-tier opponents. And Pulisic needs to play a key role in attack to inspire his team to victory in the Champions League and Serie A.

Aston Villa demonstrated their powers of recovery to draw against Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday night and edge closer toward a place in next season's Champions League – an accomplishment now sealed – but where did it all start?

Did it start when Unai Emery was anointed as Steven Gerrard's successor in October 2022, tasked with lifting an outfit boasting talent but unable to mesh it all together?

Did it start one year ago, when Brighton & Hove Albion were defeated at a deafening Villa Park on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign to secure seventh and a place in the Europa Conference League?

Or did it start when Jack Grealish was sold to Manchester City in a British-record £100m transfer back in August 2021? The captain was a lionised figure in the Midlands but such lucrative reward was hardly able to be turned down in good conscience.

Might Aston Villa now be coming full circle, with those aforementioned powers of recovery used quite literally, to bring an icon back home?

Aston Villa eyeing stunning coup

According to Football Insider, Villa director Monchi is indeed plotting a stunning bid to bring Grealish back to Villa Park after the England international was deemed one of the more expendable superstars in Pep Guardiola's team.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed a mixed campaign after thriving throughout last year's treble-winning season and though he's contracted until 2027, the Etihad Stadium side may well move to cash in for a lucrative amount while they can.

Jack Grealish's season in numbers

Grealish has amassed 125 appearances in the three campaigns he's been at Man City but he's only scored 14 goals and supplied 18 assists in this timeframe.

This season, in all competitions, Grealish has only posted three goals and three assists apiece across 36 matches, and while he's never been the most prolific of wingers, that is not his game, it does represent a decrease, reflecting his diminished importance under Guardiola.

These qualities are showcased through Grealish's FBref metrics, where he ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 2% for successful take-ons, the top 5% for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 18% for shot-creating actions per 90.

For all his glittering talent, Grealish is a cog in a many-layered system, albeit described as "world-class" by pundit Dean Saunders in the past. At Aston Villa, he was a figurehead of legendary status, truly staggering in his performance level and galvanising effect.

Imagine Ollie Watkins & Jack Grealish

If Emery's outfit were to succeed in bringing Grealish back to the club this summer, he would offer something that no other can bring to the table, with his fleet feet, deft dribbling and artful motions across the frontline adding a dimension to a team that is already blessed with an abundance of quality in the front third.

Villa Park's current creme of the crop is Watkins, who has spearheaded the exploits over the term to emphatic effect, scoring 27 goals and adding 13 assists in all competitions and being hailed as "virtually unplayable" by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell.

It's not like Watkins and Grealish haven't enjoyed success together in the past, with Grealish offering the creative, talismanic spirit during his Three Lions teammate's first year at the club, signing from Brentford in a club-record £28m.

The clip above shows Villa decimating Liverpool 7-2 at Villa Park, with Watkins bagging a hat-trick and Grealish contributing toward two goals and a hat-trick of assists.

Grealish served Watkins up for his first two goals in a Villan shirt on that incredible day, with the centre-forward repaying the favour to pass to his playmaking peer for his first strike.

This was an Aston Villa team still several years away from reaching its potential, under Emery, and it would be a wonderful partnership that could see the club find success across domestic competitions and under the European lights next year.

Not just a fluke either, Watkins would go on to plunder 14 goals and five assists across 37 Premier League matches that season.

Grealish, in comparison, remarkably created 14 big chances from 26 matches that term, averaging 3.2 key passes, 2.5 dribbles and 8.9 successful duels per outing. This is an extraordinary level of performance and reforging the erstwhile bond at club level could lift player and club.

The table above highlights a downswing in prolificness since moving away from Aston Villa, with his role at Manchester City characterised by a sharp tactical understanding of his distinctive deployment within the system.

To put it another way, where once Grealish played with the freedom of a lion in the wilderness, now he is caged in a more grounded, intricate position, tasked with performing high and wide to stretch the opposition and open up space for his more clinical teammates – roll up, roll up Erling Haaland.

Football is cyclical. It is a never-ending, brilliant rotation of results, twists, turns, ups, downs and all. Might Aston Villa be preparing to make moves to epitomise the circular nature of the game, and indeed bring Grealish back to the club in a 360 transfer venture?

Aston Villa target £52m Emery favourite who plays like Grealish

Unai Emery’s team would solidify their hopeful status among Europe’s elite with this ambitious signing.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 7, 2024

Whether it would be worth the effort remains to be seen at this point but Grealish knows the club, knows the city. He's a high-class player with a singular skill set that might prove to give Emery's operation an additional dimension to continue this remarkable journey to heights uncharted in many, many years.

With a new coach in place, GOAL analyzes the biggest developments for the biggest USMNT players in European leagues

It was a busy week for Mauricio Pochettino and, right now, American soccer's eyes are squarely focused on the U.S. men's national team's new head coach. There are just many reasons to be excited, and just as many mysteries. He hasn't coached a game yet, and, until he does, everyone will be wondering what he thinks of it all.

Pochettino will have plenty of studying to do over the next few weeks but, over this weekend, he got his first real glimpse at USMNT stars with their clubs as this new era begins.

That will be good news for several players, who stepped up with the types of performances that will excite the new USMNT boss. Others, though, were underwhelming. There are still a few weeks to impress the coach before the U.S. convenes for Pochettino's first camp, but there's nothing more important than a first impression, is there?

That process has started. Which players made their mark, and which will need to step up in the weeks to come? GOAL takes a look at the weekend that was for Americans Abroad.

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  The prolific Pulisic

  This isn't hyperbole. This isn't exaggeration or bias. It's statistically true. For the last year or so, Christian Pulisic has been one of the most prolific attackers in the world.

  On Saturday, Pulisic scored one and assisted one in a 4-0 win over Venezia, continuing his hot start to the season. He already has two goals and two assists in four Serie A matches. The campaign is just beginning, but Pulisic has wasted no time in getting going.

  This isn't just a hot start, though; it's been a hot year. Since the beginning of last season, Pulisic is one of only 12 players with double-digit goals and assists in a top-five European league. There's only one other in Serie A: teammate Rafael Leao. Pulisic has been sensational, doing everything Milan could have possibly dreamed of when they signed him from Chelsea.

  Another compelling stat: with his goal on Saturday, Pulisic is now 10-for-10 on penalty kicks for club and country. He's reliable as can be, whether that's from open play or from the spot.

  Pulisic is one of very few USMNT players really playing at an elite level in a top, top league. Antonee Robinson may be the only other one. If only the rest of his USMNT teammates could play to this level.

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  What's up with Weston?

  Pochettino is now in charge, and he'll be keeping a close eye on what everyone's doing on the club level. Right now, that isn't great news for Weston McKennie.

  McKennie was left on the bench once again this past weekend as he failed to appear in Juventus' 0-0 draw with Empoli. There was some good news in the form of Tim Weah's return, but the real story, at least from a USMNT perspective, is McKennie.

  The midfielder has played at total of just 23 minutes since the start of the season. Despite re-signing with the club, McKennie has barely earned a glance from Thiago Motta, who seemingly doesn't know what to do with him.

  Under Gregg Berhalter, that may not have concerned McKennie much. He'd proven himself under the previous USMNT boss. The resume was built and the performances were there. Berhalter would bet on McKennie to figure it out.

  Will Pochettino make a similar bet? We'll find out but, right now, McKennie might just be on shaky ground with the USMNT as the new boss comes in.

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  Luca Koleosho watch continues

  OK, so he isn't a USMNT player just yet, and, to be fair, he may never be, but American fans can dream, right?

  That aspiration will only become more intense after Luca Koleosho's stunning goal for Burnley over the weekend, one that shows exactly why several countries are chasing him. The run, the composure, the finish – Koleosho flexed it all with that finish in the 1-0 win over Leeds.

  As things stand, it seems the USMNT is losing the race for Koleosho's international allegiance. The Connecticut-born star most recently played for Italy's U21s, and it seems the Azzurri have the inside track at the moment. The USMNT isn't even the only other team chasing him, as the 20-year-old winger is also eligible to play for Canada and Nigeria, too.

  All four countries are on high alert, but the USMNT does have a new wrinkle that could change things. Don't underestimate the power of Pochettino, who is clearly has the stature of a coach that could influence this type of player chase.

  For now, though, Koleosho will keep chugging along with Burnley and, if he keeps scoring goals like this, the interest will only intensify.

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  Sargent is back?

  It really was disappointing to see Josh Sargent miss out on minutes during this international break. He's earned them, to put it lightly. Sargent has dominated the Championship but has been unable to bring that form to the USMNT.

  That's because of injury issues. An ankle ailment kept him out against New Zealand. Sargent, though, was healthy enough to start for Norwich this weekend.

  Sargent's start is obviously good news. It's encouraging that his ankle injury wasn't serious. It's great to see him playing a key role for a club with legitimate Premier League ambitions. Sargent is one of the few players in the USMNT who is legitimately key to how his team plays. Any time he shows that, it's a real positive.

  Still, Sargent's start only reinforces how unlucky he's been with the USMNT. He's played less than 30 minutes since the World Cup, which is nowhere near enough for a player at his ability level. Hopefully, he'll be back in the mix in October, but seeing him out there this weekend only reinforced how much of a missed opportunity this September window was for him.