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Aston Villa have been longing for an offensive catalyst since the £100m departure of beloved homegrown talent Jack Grealish to Manchester City in 2021, the fleet-footed demon's feats for the Lions undoubtedly going down in the club's folklore.

Sure, Ollie Watkins has been prolific in the Premier League of late; Emi Buendia is easy on the eye with his gliding gait, but no one has captured the panache and efficiency of the former gem.

A wholly contrasting skill set, but Villa's Finn Azaz could be the optimum name to send Villa Park into rapture once again, with the midfield maestro out on loan at League One high-fliers Plymouth Argyle this season and forging a season of emphatic success; a centrepiece to the club's promotion-pushing efforts.

Argyle are table-toppers after 38 matches, five points clear in the automatic playoffs with just eight matches to play.

The Republic of Ireland international Azaz has indeed been fantastic for The Pilgrims and will certainly be in contention for a spot in manager Unai Emery's system next year, so arresting has he been in his trade.

Who is Finn Azaz?

Azaz has been on the Claret & Blue's books since the summer of 2021, when he was signed from Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion and immediately loaned out to Newport County, praised as "exciting" by the club's official website.

WhoScored highlights Azaz's most arresting traits as his 'key passes', 'dribbling' and 'finishing', and his offensive midfield deployment could indeed provide the Villans with the offensive spark to complement the front-line next season.

Emery sold Danny Ings to West Ham United for £15m in January and only signed 19-year-old prospect Jhon Duran for £18m to bolster the offence, the dynamic Colombian precocious but perhaps not quite ready for the talismanic role.

The activity hints at a marquee addition in the summer, with the likes of £44m Lille sharpshooter Jonathan David touted, and as such, a creative and enterprising force situated behind would indeed go down a treat.

The 22-year-old Azaz has recorded an average Sofascore rating of 7.14 this term, scoring seven goals and supplying eight assists and complementing his direct return with 1.7 shots and 1.9 key passes per match, hailed as a "baller" for his exploits by journalist Alex Dunne.

If Emery does decide to offer the one-cap U21 international a platform, he could stake a claim for Philippe Coutinho's place in the team, with the distinguished Brazilian branded “disappointing” by former Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor.

The £125k-per-week man has scored just one goal and provided no assists from 22 outings across all competitions this season, recording a mediocre Sofascore rating of 6.66 and offering just 1.1 shots and 0.4 key passes per outing, inferior to Azaz's output, granted, playing two divisions below but exhibiting all the prowess requisite for success in the English top-flight.

How the "imposing" Azaz – as dubbed by Ashley Preece – has carried himself in the third tier this term has been extremely impressive, and if he can continue to nurture his abilities at Premier League level with Villa, he could become a shrewd, homegrown sensation in the midlands.

He might not quite have the flair or elegance of the likes of Grealish and Coutinho, but the mechanical, industrious way he exerts his authority and dynamism cannot be understated.

Leeds United boast a wealth of youth talent, many of whom have been handed their big break in the first team in recent years.

Marcelo Bielsa, Jesse Marsch and now Javi Gracia all have employed academy graduates, whilst acquired talent like Wilfried Gnonto also have earned acclaim for their sensational performances that belie their youth.

However, amongst all this academy production, one name has been somewhat pushed to the wayside despite his immense potential.

Cody Drameh was widely seen as one of the shining lights of the Whites' youth setup, with the expectance being that he would soon hold down their right-back spot for the foreseeable future.

However, having been shipped out on numerous loans and seemingly replaced in the market, his hype has died somewhat.

Given his sparkling displays during his current spell away from the club, he is surely playing his way back into contention, especially given the underperformance of his rivals in his role.

How is Cody Drameh playing at Luton Town?

The 21-year-old joined Luton Town in January as one of many questionable decisions made by Marsch, however, the young defender is currently proving why he boasts more than enough talent for a starting spot in a Premier League team.

This came almost exactly a year after he was handed his first loan, as he was sent to Cardiff City where he too was a big hit. Drameh would even win the young player and player of the season awards after just six months in the Welsh capital, an outstanding feat.

His boss at the time, Steve Morison, reserved special praise for the relentless dynamo, as he noted: "He is like a Duracell Bunny, isn't he? He just keeps going and going."

Meanwhile, this season Ayling has endured an average rating of 6.71, a slight depreciation from his supposed successor in Rasmus Kristensen. The Denmark international has only mustered a slightly improved 6.87 rating himself, marking both out as disappointments.

To compare this with their young counterpart, who has marked himself out as both an outstanding creative and defensive threat in the Championship, they will surely be fearing for their positions in the squad.

Drameh is earning a 7.11 average rating for the Hatters, where he is recoding 1.8 key passes alongside 3.3 tackles and 2.0 clearances per 90, via Sofascore.

He is the standout with regard to form, and his youth makes him a thrilling prospect that would surely get fans excited too. Should Gracia keep the Yorkshire outfit up and retain his place in the dugout, his first port of call next season must be to ditch Ayling for the sensational youngster who has earned his big chance.

Journalist Charles Watts has indicated that Gabriel Jesus could be set to return to full training soon, in what would be a massive boost to Arsenal.

What’s the latest on Gabriel Jesus?

The Brazilian has been absent since picking up a long-term injury during the World Cup, but Arsenal have kept their spot at the top of the Premier League with Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard deputising for the striker.

He has been in light training but could be set for a return to full training with the squad soon, as Watts pointed out a detail following Arsenal’s dramatic victory over Bournemouth at the Emirates.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts pointed out that Jesus took part in a squad warm-down following the game, including intense five-a-side drills with the ball, indicating that he could be set to return to action.

“Gabriel Jesus was there and was taking part which is a great sign. if you see after the game, he’s on the touchline celebrating with all the players as they came off and he’s in his training gear,” he stated.

“Even Elneny, but he’s obviously in his usual clothes, but Jesus was in his training gear and he went out and he took part in that training session with the substitutes that played in the match. It was quite intensive and he was part of it.

“I think that’s a really big step in terms of his recovery, to see him doing that and twisting and turning, taking part in the match. There weren’t huge goals going in or anything like that, but it’s still a really big indication that he’s fit, and must be very, very close now to coming back and joining in full training.”

How important is Jesus to Arsenal?

The £45m summer signing from Manchester City settled in instantly at the Emirates, scoring twice on his home debut, and quickly impressed with his work rate and technique as he led the line.

Arsenal lost just one league game with him in the side, and despite going on a goalless run pre-injury, his role in the team helped the likes of Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli hit their own scoring form.

Xhaka is yet to score this season without Jesus in the side, and his eventual return will provide a massive boost as Mikel Arteta’s side aim to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

Arsenal could already have a perfect heir to Granit Xhaka.

According to The Secret Scout earlier this week, the Gunners have tied down “one of their top academy players” in 16-year-old sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly to a new contract.

It’s no secret that the famed Hale End academy is capable of producing real stars of the future, with Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah being the finest and most recent examples.

There is also a belief that the north Londoners are looking to bolster the engine room in the coming months as moves for the likes of Declan Rice of West Ham United and Moises Caicedo of Brighton and Hove Albion being mooted.

But manager Mikel Arteta may well already have his natural heir to the Swiss vice-captain, with Lewis-Skelly catching the eye for the youth setup.

The teenager has recently been dubbed as “one of the most talented U17s in England” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who has also put together a profile of the relatively-unknown jewel.

It’s thought that he has very strong passing, vision and athleticism attributes which makes him comparable to a former Premier League monster in Mousa Dembele – ‘energetic, hardworking, and determined in the defensive phase with good anticipation sense to provide key interceptions and tackles,’ he wrote.

Lewis-Skelly was part of the U18 side to defeat Watford earlier in the week and his performance saw The Sun journalist Daniel Cutts suggest that the youngster “could be absolutely anything in the future.”

Next Generation Arsenal, who frequently covers the Gunners’ academy, once claimed that the Hale End gem was “like a train thundering down the line,” whilst he has clearly already caught the eye of Arteta as he was part of first-team training before the north London derby last month.

Xhaka very much plays a Dembele-like role for the Spaniard, so even if their top target in Rice were to join in the summer, then you’d imagine Lewis-Skelly’s chance at progressing isn’t actually thwarted at all.

Given the aforementioned reviews of the 16-year-old prospect, it’s clear that Hale End has produced yet another immense talent and in the “very highly-rated” Lewis-Skelly – as lauded by journalist Jeorge Bird – Arsenal could well have a midfield machine for the future.

AND in other news, Arteta could unearth the new Saka in “skilful” Arsenal teen who’s “Hale End’s finest”…

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has slammed Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton after he took a terrible dive to try and win a penalty in the club’s most recent game.

What’s the word?

Things have been going pretty brilliantly for Eddie Howe and his side this season. After all, they currently sit fourth in the Premier League and have a Carabao Cup final to play in the near future.

However, they suffered a slight setback on the weekend as they were held to a 1-0 draw at home against West Ham United as Lucas Paqueta’s 32nd-minute strike was enough to tie the game despite Callum Wilson firing the Magpies into an early lead.

During the game with the scores level an hour nearly played, Joelinton drove into the box and threw himself to the ground when Nayef Aguerd challenged him for the ball.

However, clearly, there was no contact made and the Brazilian was subsequently booked for his theatrics. While speaking about the incident live on BBC 606, Sutton didn’t hold back on his criticism.

He said: “The winner of this week’s simulation game, Joelinton. A double dive from Joelinton.

“No, no, Joelinton. You’re better than that. Newcastle, come on, sort it out. But the award which you don’t want to win, Joelinton has won it. They’ve had a great season. But you are better than that, Joelinton.”

Poor sport

It seems as though Sutton isn’t the only one to have an issue with this terrible attempt to win a penalty with fans online mocking the “absolutely shameful dive” (via Daily Star).

That incident was a notably low point for Joelinton in a game where he and his teammates really struggled to deliver any real moments of quality beyond the early goal they scored.

Indeed, the Brazilian picked up a SofaScore player rating of 6.6 which was the fifth worst of all the Newcastle players who featured in the game.

Still, Howe kept the midfielder on for the full 90 as he finished the match with 86 touches and 81 per cent passing accuracy while giving the ball away 19 times and making four fouls – which includes the dive that he was booked for.

With all that in mind, there’s certainly room for improvement next time out.

There is ‘growing interest around’ Newcastle United transfer target Ivan Fresneda, according to a fresh update from renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Fresneda linked with Newcastle move

The Magpies are still looking at potential signings in the January transfer window, as Eddie Howe looks to give his squad an extra boost for the second half of the season.

Fresneda is someone who has been linked with a move to St James’ Park recently, having impressed at right-back for Real Valladolid this season, making six La Liga starts, despite still only being 18.

Newcastle looks set to have competition for the youngster’s services, however, and a new update has now emerged.

The Latest: New update emerges

Taking to Twitter, Romano confirmed the Magpies’ interest in Fresneda but admitted that two big European clubs are also eyeing him up:

“Interest growing around Iván Fresneda. Valladolid RB’s attracting Newcastle, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus as called weeks ago but also more top European clubs have now joined the race.

“Born in 2004, Fresneda’s highly rated waiting for decision on his future.”

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The Verdict: One for the future

Fresneda is a player of huge potential, having been hailed as ‘remarkably complete’ by La Liga Lowdown’s Matt Clark earlier this week, so Newcastle should do all they can to sign him.

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At 18, he wouldn’t necessarily come in as a key man from the off, especially with Kieran Trippier playing so well currently, but he could be viewed as a long-term replacement for the Englishman.

Fresdeda’s current Valladolid deal doesn’t expire until 2025, so Newcastle may not be able to sign him on the cheap, but he is already showing that he is worth taking a punt on.

Aston Villa are looking to return to prominence in the Premier League under the tutelage of the distinguished Unai Emery, and could deploy a new talisman into the ranks during the winter transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to French outlet Jeunes Footeux, Villa are among several English suitors, including Manchester United, to be eyeing a swoop for Genk’s Paul Onuachu, who has been sensational with his clinical edge in Belgium.

This follows up an earlier report from the same publication stating that Onuachu might be inclined to try his hand at a  major European league after such prolific form with Genk, with the outfit touting him at €25m (£22m). 

At the end of last year, Genk chief Dimitri de Conde told Het Laatste Nieuws (via voetball24), “Onuachu’s situation remains something special. At his age you never know what will happen”, amid the rising interest in his signature.

Ditch Ings

Aston Villa have certainly made considerable gains since the dismissal of Steven Gerrard after only 11 months in charge in October, but there is a long way to go until the pedestal the club strives to reach becomes the standard, as evidenced by the shock 2-1 home defeat to League Two outfit Stevenage in the FA Cup.

Since arriving, Emery has won three of his five Premier League matches, losing only at home to Liverpool, but despite the upturn in form after Gerrard left the outfit languishing near the pit of the Premier League table, reinforcements are paramount.

The 28-year-old Onuachu would embolden the Claret & Blue ranks and could finally bring a devastating talismanic force to the club, having recorded a remarkable 15 goals in 18 games for Genk this term, providing an imposing presence to ensure the club make a respectable finish before Emery has the summer to truly instil his philosophy ahead of his first full season in charge.

Ings, signing from fellow top-flight outfit Southampton for £25m in 2021, has failed to replicate the form and goal-scoring prowess that earned his lavish praise on the South Coast, and while he has netted seven goals this season, the levels of his performance leaves a lot to be desired.

As per Transfermarkt, the 30-year-old Englishman has only started eight of the possible 17 league outings for his side in 2022/23, including just one under his new Spaniard manager; despite this, he has managed six strikes and maintains the striking instinct that has led him to plunder a total of 68 goals in the Premier League.

In Onuachu, the 6 foot 7 Nigerian would offer a different kind of threat. The Belgium-based forward is one of the tallest in the game, being hailed as such for his qualities in the air. Former teammate at FC Midtjylland Alexander Scholz once said: “Years ago, when he was with us, he was already the best striker in our championship. It’s impossible to beat him because he’s so tall.”

Thus, if the attacker can continue his devastating purple patch over to English soil, the “generational” talent, as dubbed by one data analyst, might be able to ascend Villa Park back to the forefront of the pack, helping to ditch the out of form Ings in the process.

Arsenal have been dealt a huge blow in their bid to bring Ruben Neves to the Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Times, who claim that, despite the central midfielder entering the final 18 months of his contract at Wolverhampton Wanderers in January, Julen Lopetegui is unwilling to part with the 25-year-old this winter, with the Spaniard preferring to wait until the summer before considering cashing in on the Portugal international.

This is sure to have come as a huge blow to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, with the 40-year-old manager reported to be interested in a £40m move for the former FC Porto star in January, while the likes of Barcelona, Liverpool and Manchester United are also thought the be keen on the Wolves talisman.

Dream Rice alternative

Considering just how impressive Neves has been so far this season, coupled with central midfield undoubtedly being the area of Arteta’s squad that is in need of the most work heading into the second half of the current campaign, the argument that Arteta simply must move for the Portuguese sensation – even if it means paying a premium – in January is an easy one to make.

Indeed, despite Wolves’ struggles in the league this season, the £34.5m-rated talent has nevertheless shone over his 14 Premier League appearances, having already hit the back of the net four times – making him his club’s top scorer – as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots, making 0.9 key passes and completing 0.4 dribbles per game.

The £50k-per-week engine has also impressed in metrics more typically associated with his position, making an average of 2.9 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 2.4 clearances and winning 4.5 duels – at a success rate of 53% – per match, as well as playing an average of 7.1 long balls, 5.1 chipped passes and completing 52.1 total passes – at a success rate of 85% – per outing.

These returns have seen the player who David Cartlidge dubbed “unreal” average a quite staggering Sofascore match rating of 7.29, not only ranking him as Wolves’ best performer in the league but also as the joint 13th-best player in the top flight of English football as a whole.

Also, considering that Arsenal will likely have to cough up around £70m – £30m more than Neves’ asking price – in order to land another of their reported central midfield targets in Declan Rice this winter, and with Neves currently outperforming the England international in the league, the Wolves star could well be an unreal alternative to the 23-year-old.

As such, even if Arsenal were to pay slightly over the odds for Neves this winter, it would very much appear worth beating the likes of United and Liverpool in the race for the midfielder’s signing, as the 25-year-old would undoubtedly represent an “astonishing” – in the words of Graeme Bailey – addition to the Gunners’ current options in the middle of the park.

Newcastle United are scouting Brighton and Hove Albion forward Leandro Trossard at the World Cup, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Trossard selected by Martinez

The Premier League star was named in Roberto Martinez’s 26-man squad to represent Belgium and is currently in action in Qatar, but that hasn’t stopped any speculation surrounding his future at the Amex Stadium.

Trossard’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and having not yet put pen to paper on fresh terms, he has been linked with a move to the likes of Chelsea alongside the Magpies.

The Latest: Newcastle scouting Trossard

According to Chronicle Live, Newcastle’s scouting team have been ‘keeping close tabs’ on Trossard, who has been involved in both of Belgium’s opening group games at the World Cup.

The Magpies’ sporting director Dan Ashworth made the 27-year-old one of his ‘first signings’ during his time on the south coast, and the Tyneside outfit have been ‘tracking’ their target ahead of a potential approach in the winter.

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The Verdict: It could happen

Newcastle are currently nine points above Chelsea in the Premier League table, so it would be a massive coup for Eddie Howe if he could beat the Blues to Trossard’s signature.

The Seagulls ‘wizard’, as dubbed by Charlie Haffenden, has netted seven goals and provided three assists in 14 league appearances this season and is currently averaging 2.6 shots per game.

The Magpies have had a hugely impressive start to the campaign, and putting that into consideration alongside his existing connection with Ashworth, there’s no reason to believe why Trossard wouldn’t be eager to make the switch to St James’ Park.

Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey has been backed to thrive for his team when playing in a wide role under Unai Emery. 

The Lowdown: Ramsey’s recent role

Since the 51-year-old was appointed as Villa’s new manager earlier this month, the young midfielder has started all three games the club has played across the Premier League and Carabao Cup.

Ramsey’s two previous outings for Villa saw him deployed on the left and right of midfield as opposed to his usual central role.

With that in mind, one pundit has shared their thoughts on this role swap for the 21-year-old and what it could mean for Villa going forward under Emery.

The Latest: Ramsey backed to shine

Speaking to Football Insider, Kevin Campbell said: “I like Jacob Ramsey, I think he’s a brilliant young player. He’s so dangerous. And the fact that a midfielder is running beyond the striker, can only be a good thing for Danny Ings.

“He’s thriving right now in his position. Ramsey is taking the attention of the centre-backs, and that gives Ings the room.

“It’s really smart from Unai Emery to come in, and recognise and use the talents that Ramsey has to create a bit more space for his attackers. I expect him to improve in this new position because it suits him, and he’s a really good player.”

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The Verdict: A question for Emery

Despite Campbell’s exuberance towards the 21-year-old and his wide role under Emery, Ramsey’s performance in Villa’s 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League was not spectacular.

Playing on the left-hand side of the pitch, the youngster had just 20 touches of the ball before being replaced by Ashley Young after 69 minutes.

Having only made nine accurate passes in the game, Ramsey failed to have one shot at goal, key pass, tackle or interception for his side.

This display ultimately earned him an overall match rating of 6.5/10 from SofaScore, making him the lowest-rated Villa starter on the day.

With that in mind, even though it was just one game, we feel that starting the £70k-per-week Villa figure in a wide role is not something that Emery should look to do at every opportunity.